The gloomy gray clouds in the sky on this particular day indicated to people that it would rain later that night. It was also not going to be a light affair. The wind was starting to press in. Its atmosphere was spreading with the calming scent of raindrops. You could feel it throughout the kingdom, everyone. One never knew what would happen when it poured. There was rarely serenity during the storms, only constant devastation. Their plants appreciated the rain, for sure, but they also sensed that it was bringing a companion.

Jazmine had watched from her chambers how gloomy the day was going. She could also tell it was going to rain. Jazmine was nervous because today was the day her parents were going to leave her and leave her in the hands of the White Shadow. Her parents had to wait another day because they were meant to go last night, but the boating crew wasn't prepared to leave.

They had many errors, so they didn't feel safe leaving. Jazmine felt there was a storm approaching nearby. Fear coursed through her body because she felt as if this would be the last she would see her parents for a while. When it came to the storms and seas, that was not a good combination of nature. Something bad always happened and it was making Jazmine feel uneasy.

Due to time ticking, she decided not to waste it by sitting around and moping all day about her parents leaving. Instead, she got dressed so she could make her last moments count with them. Before the princess left her chambers, she looked into her mirror and calmly brushed her hair. It would sometimes be the only thing that kept her at ease. She took deep breaths before leaving her chambers.

Jazmine walked over to her mother's chamber. Jazmine wanted to see her before she left because she hadn't had a chance to see her yesterday. The bond between Jazmine and her mother was not entirely clear. Jazmine was aware of her mother's love for her in her heart, but occasionally she felt embarrassed to be her child because of her adultery with the king, who she saw as her father. She had a limited understanding of her mother's emotions. Jazmine believes that her mother has a somewhat firm mindset at all times. She would have a more stable mental state if she had stopped using the drugs that were brought into their domain. However, her mind was constantly elsewhere.

Jazmine could already hear people moving about in response to her mother's commands as she got closer to her mother's chamber doors. Since it was her mother, Jazmine allowed herself into her room without knocking. Why wouldn't she be allowed to come in? Jazmine normally knocked on everybody's door, but since it was her mother's she let herself in. She had observed many of her mother's ladies in waiting hurrying to pack up everything she would need for the next few months, just as she had anticipated. Standing in the center of attention and evaluating each piece of clothing her father had purchased for the queen, her mother appeared worn out.

"What about this your majesty?"

"No"

"Your majesty the king had requested that you wear this at night," one of her ladies-in-waiting said holding an inappropriate piece of clothing.

"No!" her mother sternly said. The lady ushered off in fear as they could feel her anger that was aroming around the room. Sarah pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Majesty?"

"I swear if you show me another ugly and distasteful piece of clothing I'm going to kill myself," Sarah threatened.

The lady in waiting just looked at the dress and didn't know what to say.

"I-I-I I don't know Your Majesty," she said in fear.

"Well if you don't know then pick another," Sarah said out of irritation. The lady in waiting left and almost shed a couple of tears.

Jazmine just shook her head and felt bad for her mother's ladies-in-waiting. Her mother was a nice woman, but when it came to her father, the king, he made her go 0 to 100 real quick. This is one of the reasons she was always doing drugs. She couldn't stand him and she was just waiting for him to die any time now.

"Your Majesty..." another one of her ladies-in-waiting said in fear.

"What is it this time?" her mother asked through with all of them.

"Your daughter, Princess Jazmine is here," she pointed to distract the queen away from them. Queen Sarah looked back at her beautiful daughter who was watching everything she had just done. Sarah switched up her attitude and smiled.

"Oh Jazmine!" she said in her sweet tone.

"How is my sweet little poodle doing?" she asked approaching her. Jazmine awkwardly smiled at the nickname her mother had given to her. Jazmine was never a fan of her mother's nicknames and Sarah couldn't pick a common one for the life of her. Jazmine has been called many things by her mother.

'Poodle' because of her hair.

'Cotton Drop' again because of her hair.

'Shortcake' for one of two reasons. Due to the color of her hair and the fact that her mother was a couple of inches taller than her.

'Sunshine' just because she brought joy to her mother and everybody else.

'Cherry Blossom' because those were her mother's favorite flowers.

Jazmine favored the last few nicknames but her mother barely uses them. "I'm good and you, Mother?" Jazmine asked.

"I'm fine!" Sarah lied.

"Are you sure?" Jazmine asked her mother.

"Yes, I'm positive! I'm just a bit stressed out about this trip," Sarah admitted.

"Oh, is it because of father's health?" Jazmine asked. Sarah looked at her daughter in disgust and shook her head. "Jazmine, please forgive what I'm about to say for the love of God, but I could care less about your father's health. We all know he's going to die. If you haven't noticed he's very very very old," Sarah nonchalantly pointed out.

'Wow,' Jazmine internally thought.

"The kingdom doesn't have anything to worry about since you'll be his next and only heir in line for the crown. As long as you're safe, we have nothing to worry about!" Sarah assured Jazmine.

"I'm just upset about this trip because your father is trying to drag me along with him to Hell," she exclaimed.

"Mother, don't say such a thing!" Jazmine said a little upset. She didn't like it when her mother talked about death and Hell. Jazmine believed no one should go to such a place. Well everybody except the White Shadow. She felt that was a place for him when he actually left this Earth. Something about him seemed diabolical to her.

"Why shouldn't I? Your father is a pain in the ass and ignorant to his own people, and worse his workers. People will be glad when he leaves this Earth," Sarah fussed.

"I'm surprised those pirates who work for him haven't raided the castle by now," she unknowingly confessed.

"Excuse me!?" Jazmine interrupted her mother who stopped in her tracks.

"The pirates? Why would they need to raid the kingdom?" Jazmine said in deep worry.

"No reason, my sweet Angel!" Sarah lied. Jazmine got even more worried because her mother was using normal nicknames instead of the terrible ones she came up with.

"Mother, why would you put that on this kingdom around this time?" Jazmine scolded. One thing she hated was when bad things were mentioned. She understood it happened but she hated when they were spoken and brought into effect. What Jazmine's parents didn't know was that she had seen the pirates as clear as day. They were very tall men and they looked dangerous and furious.

The leader for some unknown reason sparked an interest in Jazmine. She had never had these feelings for someone before. Every time she thought about the man with the huge afro, butterflies would always appear in her stomach. Last night she couldn't stop thinking about him. She kept questioning what she was feeling. It was nice but it felt scary at the thought of her attraction.

He was a black man. Jazmine knew better than anybody that negros were not liked. The white men surely didn't want them taking their women. She was a product of that outcome. It would be wrong to have these attractions towards a man who doesn't know she exists. He might have looked at her but her cloth covered her. He probably just saw her with no face.

Jazmine shook her head at the thought and blushed in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Jazmine...I didn't mean to make you worry before your father and I leave for the next couple of months," Sarah said bringing Jazmine in for a hug. "It's just that he isn't who you think he is. He will never show that cold-hearted side to you because you are his daughter. One thing I admire about him is that he has never treated you badly. Even with needing a male heir to the throne, he has never held your gender against you. Your Father and I love you!" Sarah said softly.

Jazmine shredded a tear. Sarah raised her chin up and lastly spoke, "Whether we make it back or not from this trip, I just want you to know that I'm proud of you and I know that you will make Maryland great again!"

Jazmine felt nervous at the thought of being Queen of Maryland. Everybody knew the king would soon pass. Time was ticking and before she would know it her carnation day would be approaching soon. Or so she thought.

...

On the other side of the kingdom, the villagers were in deep agony like always. They woke up to another day of harsh labor and abuse. The AFRO Crew took it upon themselves to follow their captains' orders and get jobs for the time being. Since they weren't going to be receiving any quests from the king they had to make ends meet by working in the fields.

It was shameful and embarrassing. Their name had been ruined and by this upcoming full moon, everybody across the seven seas was most likely gonna hear about it.

In Freeman's residence, the family hasn't yet gotten started with the day. Debra Freeman, Huey and Riley's mother were tending to them and making sure their fresh wounds were doing okay. She didn't want them catching anything so she made sure to apply ointment and bandage them.

Riley was wide awake and sitting at the table where he and his family used to sit together and enjoy one another's time. So much has changed these past couple of years. Ever since he, Huey, and the others left for the sea to get away from Maryland they had all rarely seen their family members. The only time they would see them was during the holiday. Huey wouldn't let them stay for too long. They'd be back in the sea to go find more quests.

Unlike Riley, Huey was still asleep. As Debra watched she would pray to God that he was okay and that he would awake soon. The White Shadow had done a lot of damage on him. Fresh wounds all over his body. Almost bigger than his war scars.

While Huey was silently sleeping, he was dreaming about 'her' again. This time it was more peaceful.

He could see the woman with the cloth as clear as day. Her soft fair skin, emerald green eyes, strawberry blond hair, diamond-shaped face, pulped pink lips, and pear-shaped body. Huey couldn't lie, he thought she was the most beautiful woman in his eyes.

Lord if his family and friends found out he was attracted to this white woman they would kill him. He has never been attracted to one before. He had to admit he thought all women were beautiful in their own way but something about the woman he kept seeing in his visions was having a pull towards him. He wanted to believe she was fake, a figment of his imagination.

The more he kept seeing her the more real she became!

Huey felt as if he was seeing her more in-depth. At first, he kept seeing her with the flower but now he's starting to see her in her natural state.

You could tell by the way she dressed she was an elegant woman of high class. She lived in the castle. She was admired by all the people. Even the negros admired her and her beauty. What was so special about her to the point everybody showed admiration and respect towards her?

Huey had never seen anybody from two different worlds show a mutual feeling towards the superior race. It had to be something special about her.

Could it have been her hair color?

He rarely seen any woman with strawberry blond hair.

Was it her lustful green eyes?

Could she have been a witch?

No, it was so rare to see a witch nowadays. He knew of one but she looked like no witch in his eyes.

Maybe a princess!

No...there was no way she was a princess. Or could she be one? She was indeed in a castle with people watching her every move. Even he was watching her. She went to her chambers where she sat down in front of her mirror and she started to brush her long hair.

Her long unique colored hair that she looked disappointed to own. She started to tear up at the sight of it as she continued to brush.

Huey wondered why she was crying about her hair. It was beautiful and unique. How could someone ever hate their crown? He loved his to death. He felt his afro represented him as a person and how far he's come along the way to grow as a man.

Now, why wasn't she happy about her crown?

What secrets was she hiding?

The young maiden looked into the mirror and she was looking directly at him with her piercing green eyes. It felt as if she was looking into his soul. She held up her index finger to her mouth "Shhhh!"

Why was she telling him to be quiet?

All of a sudden he felt this uncomfortable feeling once again. Something he was strangely use to by now. He only felt this way when he came around!

White shadowy smoke started to appear out of nowhere making Huey and the strawberry blond girl uncomfortable. Out of nowhere, the White Shadow appeared from the shadowy smoke. Just by the look of her body, the woman was not fond of his presence. He came up behind her and started to mess around with her hair which made her scared to death. Almost as if he would find something.

Jazmine continued to stare at him in the mirror. She could see him but the White Shadow had no idea he was there. She mouthed: "Help me!"

She was pleading for him. He felt an urge to save her at that moment, but then all of a sudden his world started to crumble apart and all he saw was darkness.

Huey woke up and he realized he was back in the real world where everything sucked. As he sat up in his bed he felt this aching pain around his body. "Mhmm" he groaned.

This alerted Debra who wasn't too far from him. "Oh my baby!" Debra cried as she ran into the room where Huey and Riley slept. She reached over and had given Huey a big painful hug due to his fresh scars.

"You had me worried, I thought you would never wake up," she said out of relief.

"I'm fine Mama!" Huey assured as she parted from him and looked at him up and down to make sure he was okay and breathing.

"Good!" Debra breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Now...what in the hell were you thinking Huey Percy Freeman!" Debra exclaimed. Oh, she referred to him by his full name. He was in trouble.

"I was thinking about those kids," Huey answered.

"Kids...you mean the kids that were obviously stealing and knew they were going to get themselves in trouble?" Debra rhetorically asked.

"Mom, they were just like all of us, trying to survive in this tough world," Huey defended. He got up out of bed and he painfully grunted at the fresh wounds he had. He could feel it sting when moved. He grabbed a raggedy shirt that was beside his bed and slipped it on.

"And look at where that has gotten them. Five boys hanging from a tree till their bodies rot. Showing an example of what you will be if you don't stop this 'standing up to the man' crap!" Debra said in disgust.

"Mom..." Huey said.

"No, because all of this that you're doing is not gonna end well for you, Huey. Going on these quests, standing up to the white man, and stepping out of line is going to put you in the grave before you can even make it past the age your father lived to be," Debra fussed.

"He didn't get to live longer because of the unfairness-" Huey tried to argue.

"NO! He didn't get to live longer because you stepped out of line!" Debra snapped. Huey looked shocked, taken back, and felt guilty after his mother's outburst. She loved him dearly because he was her son, but she would never forgive him for his father's death. When his father died due to him saying something, his mother always had this deep hatred for him because of his actions. She felt she and his father didn't teach him right.

Something every slave should have known was to never talk back to your superior. It was a universal thing. Hell, even as loud and bold as Riley Freeman was he didn't step out of line. The only person in the village to do such a thing was no other than Huey Freeman himself.

"I stepped out of line because I was standing up for what was RIGHT!" Huey raised his voice.

"Right?! Was it right that your father and other people around you must be punished and put to death due to your actions? Is it right that you're doing all this quest stuff that is obviously not going to get you anywhere? Just because you're able to leave does not mean you're free and you know that better than I do! Those men on the other side don't care about you! If you and the crew die tomorrow all they're going to do is celebrate and laugh at your failure. You're a pawn in their game Huey!" Debra exclaimed.

"You just love rubbing that in my face, don't you?" Huey rhetorically questioned.

"Oh no, I hate rubbing it in your face. I wouldn't have to do it so much if you could wrap your thick skull around reality," Debra sternly spoke.

"HEY...I know what I got myself into! They ALL know what they got themselves into. I rather leave this place for a long period of time than stay here every day and have to walk on eggshells for these white assholes. And you're one to complain about breaking rules. They could hang your head for stealing from the fields and placing them in people's hair. You're just as bad as us! For the past five years, I've been sending you money so you, Grandad, and the house could be kept up in good shape. Even when things are going well you still complain. I swear there is no impressing you," Huey called her out.

"But you know what, you get your wish after all these years of wishing failure on us. We're going to go out of business because King Wuncler didn't want to give us the 30 lbs of gold he promised us. And yes, I did say something because we all know how FUCKING WRONG it is to get cheated out of a deal. They threw us out as if we weren't worth a GOD DAMN THING! I know of hundreds of places we could go where we could be treated better than this hell whole that we're stuck in. I created AFRO BRUH so we ALL could leave and explore the world. Why can't we have a taste of freedom Ma!" Huey cried. "Why do I have to bow down to the white man and give up my dignity to please them?!"

Debra started to tear up. She tried to contain her tears: "That's just the way it is Huey...it's always been that way."

"No one is going to change that. We all prayed to God to save us and he has yet to do so. No one is coming to save us from this Hell whole. It's been going on for hundreds of years and it will go on for hundreds of more. The best we could do is work and do the work correctly in order to survive," Debra lastly spoke.

Huey just shook his head and walked out of his room. He was disappointed in his mother. He hated how weak-minded she was. Hell, he hated how weak-minded everybody around him was. It's like no one got him.

He left the house and started to head towards the fields. "Hey wait up Huey!" he heard Riley yell from behind as he got up in a hurry. Huey ignored his brother and continued walking as fast as he could to release the tension in his body. He felt it shaking and all he wanted to do was hit or destroy something. All this built-up anger and stress was not healthy for him.

He was mad!

To the point, he wanted to kill somebody!

Particularly his white superiors...they had been terrorizing them for years and thinking they could walk all over them because they were white. They're beautiful, pure, and good-hearted as they would think. The negroes were considered ugly monsters. A mistake God created.

Huey teared up at the thought running through his head.

Although he was walking and planning to release his anger in the fields, all he could think was negative things. At that moment, Huey lost all hope and thought they would never be able to leave or make a difference. His superiors looked down upon him, his men, the people in the village, and worst of all his mother. Debra's judgment of him affected him the most.

Huey had always wanted to make his mother proud, but he never could. She always found something to be disappointed in him about. When he spoke up against the white man and got his father killed she resented him. She lost the love of her life because he had to say something. When he decided to step up and be the man of the house she didn't like it because she didn't think he was capable of doing it with an attitude and mindset such as his. She felt Robert, their grandfather should have been the man of the house but he was too old and fragile.

When he saved enough money to buy his boat she thought he was crazy and too young to own something with such big responsibility. The money could have gone elsewhere in her opinion.

When he shared with her that he wanted to become a pirate she thought he was joking. Soon after Debra found he was being serious she nearly almost disowned him since it went against their beliefs. Stealing from others was evil and an unforgivable sin. Debra found pirates to be sinful. She thought Huey was doomed and would never make it to Heaven due to his intentional wrongful acts.

The worst part about it is that when she told him no he went against her wishes and did it anyway. Riley, his closest friends, and the other boys in the neighborhood had joined his crew and that's how they were known as the Afro Bruh. They left without telling their families goodbye, hoping they would come back and succeed on their first quest.

They did... their families would have initially been upset but they were happy. All except his mother. When she had seen him and Riley come back from their first quest, she felt she had failed them as a mother. She was never disappointed in Riley because she knew deep down he looked up to Huey and would follow in his footsteps.

Debra's main disappointment was Huey, due to him always going against her wishes. The two never saw eye to eye with each other and that was the strain on their relationship.

"Huey!" Riley said once again which triggered him, "WHAT?"

Riley stopped in his tracks along with Huey, "Well damn, you ain't got to yell at a negro! I just wanted to see if you're okay."

Huey pinched the bridge of his nose, "No, Riley, I'm not okay! Does that answer your question?"

"Yeah, but just because you're mad at Mom doesn't mean you need to take this negative energy out on me," Riley pointed out.

Huey took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"You're right...I shouldn't take it out on you. You did nothing wrong in the situation and you're simply just checking up on me," Huey apologized to his little brother. "And..." he said gathering his words, "I have to thank you for trying to stand up for me. Many wouldn't do what you just did yesterday with the White Shadow."

"Yeah, man always! I'm not going to just let some old lonely and depressed white man keep whipping you. Although I got hit in the process," Riley laughed off as Huey cracked a smile. He couldn't help but let out some of the pain.

They continued to walk to the fields to pick cotton. It was best to get there early so you could grab enough to meet a certain weight requirement. As the two brothers saw the fields ahead of them and spotted the crew members picking cotton, Huey all of a sudden felt nervous to encounter them. Riley could tell something was bothering his older brother and asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

He already knew the answer. He just needed his brother to confirm it.

"Not really...I'm afraid for them to see my face after what happened," Huey admitted.

"Man..." Riley laughed, "Ain't none of them gonna look down upon you!"

"Riley, I embarrassed all of us as a whole and I can't do nothing about it to make it go away," Huey said ashamed of himself.

"Well, of course, you can't do anything to make it go away. But you do know that whatever decision you make from here we'll stand behind you! No matter how crazy it is," Riley assured.

"That's the thing, Riley...I'm scared of my own intrusive thoughts. They're not good," Huey warned.

"Whose is? Even my intrusive thoughts aren't good," Riley brushed off. Huey looked unsure because if he really knew he probably would be scared of what his brother was capable of.

"With all the cheeks I'm about to clap while I'm here," Riley imagined as he moved his hips and swung his hand back and forth. Huey looked at his little brother in disgust and just continued walking to the fields. His shamefulness just went away as his brother kept talking about all the women he planned to get with.

Unlucky for him, he was going to prevent that from happening. Their mother has preached to them many times to not bring any babies home. The only exception of grandkids she will accept is if they marry and decide to settle down and have kids. Like royals, she wants them to marry someone who is nice and fit to be a mother. She does not want them bringing bastards home.

The crew has all had their fair share of women. Huey, the Captain of the Seven Seas is well aware that it takes 2-4 weeks for a woman to find out if she is with child. Whenever they stay at certain places, a lot of the women want to get a taste of them. Of course, the pirates longing for some romance entertain these women. Hell, he can't act innocent because even he gets sucked into the lustful atmosphere of romance.

He doesn't have them stay for long because he knows most of his men don't use protection as they are instructed to. Since they are pirates, a lot of the women know they make decent money and they usually try to pin some of their babies on them knowing good and well they have entertained other men. Huey not wanting any 'Who's the father?' drama, takes him and his crew of the problem and leaves before any of them can accuse them.

Although they will most likely not have any incoming quest anytime soon, he's going to be on his little brothers' ass because he refuses to hear his mother fussing at them again. She'll be fussing at him more than Riley due to him being the oldest.

When Huey and Riley were able to check in, they grabbed their big bags so they could get started picking before the sun went down. They went to go find their crew who had stared them down as they walked along the trails. They seemed to have already been halfway done picking their cotton. Huey and Riley found Caesar, Cairo, and Duey who were picking cotton fast.

"What's the rush?" Riley asked making their presence known.

The three looked up in fear until they realized it was the two brothers. They let out a sigh of relief, "What are you two doing out here?" Caesar asked, worried.

"We came to pick cotton," Huey answered.

"We can see that, but we already told Mrs. Freeman that we were going to cover you guys for today so you could get some rest," Caesar explained.

"Cover?" Huey questioned as the three men showed the two brothers the bags they were picking for them. It was also halfway filled.

"Aw thanks you guys, you didn't have to do that!" Huey thanked them as he went to grab his bag.

"We kind of did," Cairo said. "Uncle Ruckus warned us that if you two didn't show to pick 1,000 lbs of cotton by the end of the week you guys would have gotten whipped once the sunset on Sunday," Duey added. Today was Friday which meant they only had three days to do so.

"Each or together?" Huey asked.

"Each," Cairo said as Huey rolled his eyes.

"We're registered as pirates, not cotton pickers," Riley commented.

"You're right, but the White Shadow told him that it was you guy's punishment for what happened yesterday," Caesar said.

"Of course..." Huey shook his head and started to pick cotton. This shouldn't have been a surprise to him.

"Yeah, so we thought we all come out here as a team to help you guys achieve your goal in one day so you don't have to worry about the next two days," Caesar assured.

"Wow, thanks you guys!"

"Yeah, we really appreciate it," Riley said.

They all continued to pick the cotton. Huey looked around him to make sure there were no overseers near them. Thankfully there were none in their area. Huey looked at Caesar, "Caesar!"

Caesar looked at Huey, "Yeah?"

"Tell the others to meet up at the secret hideout after we all get done picking cotton. Spread the word!" Huey said.

Caesar spread the word to the three and they spread the word to the others. Right when the sun was about to set they were all done picking their cotton. Everybody had turned in their bags and they were well over the weight limit for the Freeman brothers. They didn't have to worry about the 1,000 lbs.

Before they had to be in their houses for curfew, they all met in their secret hideout. Yes, it sounded very childish, but this is where they come to play and get away from their families and superiors. No one knew of it except for them. It was across the river in an abandoned house. A family got burned down in the house by the white superiors decades ago and nobody ever went into the area. Not even their superiors which was odd.

Huey stood on top of the porches with Cairo, Riley, Caesar, and Duey right by his side while the rest of the crew stood in front of them. They had their lanterns in hand so they could see. As Huey stood quietly and observed everybody, they all awaited his orders.

This meeting seemed different. Their captain wasn't as relaxed as he always is. He looked tense, as if he was bottling something up. Huey was going to try to handle things maturely until he thought back to how they were treated by King Wuncler, the White Shadow, Uncle Ruckus, his mother, and the system itself.

It wasn't fair!

Why should they play by the rules and in the end get punished for their actions or not get appreciated for all the work they do for their country?

Huey had enough of it.

What do they have to lose at this point?

No quest, no money, and no freedom.

"What's the plan, Captain?" Caesar asked as Huey continued to stand quietly. Everybody waited for his next steps.

"I've decided what our next course of action will be," Huey started. Huey thought back to what Riley told him beforehand, 'Whatever decision you make from here we'll stand behind you! No matter how crazy it is!".

"I'm tired of us being treated like shit and always getting cheated out of our rewards. We do too much for this country, yet we don't get anything in return," Huey said. "At this point in time, the White Shadow and the others have made it known they want nothing to do with us and plan to ruin our reputation as pirates. The question is, what do we have to lose at this point? We're not of value to them anymore. Why don't we just leave and never come back," Huey exclaimed.

"With what?"

"We have no money."

"The White Shadow will come for us if he finds that we left."

"Where would we go?"

"What about our families?"

All these questions piling up once again.

"Don't you see what's happening?!" Huey exclaimed. They were all silenced.

"He's getting in your heads once again. Have you ever realized that maybe the only power he has over us is fear? If we stop being scared of him, what can he do to us? We're no value to him or the King so would they really care if we left and never came back?" Huey questioned.

"And our families...we will find quest elsewhere and we can still send money to them and eventually take them away from this Hell hole of a country and move them somewhere more peaceful."

"We could go wherever we want and do as we please!"

"Last but not least...when it comes to money, I feel we should take back what we deserve!" Huey evilly spoke.

"What are you implying Captain?" Caesar asked.

"I think you guys know what I'm implying!" Huey smirked.

...

On the other side of the kingdom, the ships were ready to board and the servants were moving the king and queen's items of luggage on the boat. The White Shadow was making sure everything getting on quick fast and in a hurry. Princess Jazmine watched as they moved her parent's stuff.

She looked up at the skies to see that it was not going to be a good night. Jazmine could already sense the storms about to come.

"Don't drop my luggage, you peasants! Half those things are worth way more than your life," she heard her father yell in the background. She was standing next to her mother who just watched her husband in disgust and annoyance.

"Oh my Lord...put me out of my misery now if you can," Sarah pleaded.

"Mother!" Jazmine sternly spoke.

"I'm sorry dear but you see what I have to put up with?" she rhetorically asked as they continued to watch King Wuncler make a fool of himself. Jazmine caught the eyes of the White Shadow who was once again staring her down. She felt uncomfortable with him doing it once again.

What did he have against her?

He always did this!

"Mother, do you and Father have to leave?" Jazmine questioned as she tried to stay calm.

"No, but in order for your father to have a peaceful death we have to," Sarah bluntly responded.

Sarah noticed her daughter was scared and felt uneasy about something. She had to soften her voice, "Look, I know it's going to be your first time by yourself, but you'll have the White Shadow and he's surely not going to let anything bad happen to you!"

Jazmine made eye contact with the White Shadow, "That doesn't make me feel any safer."

"He's going to make sure you're safe. You're the country's next queen...he has no choice but to protect you as he did with all the other kings and queens before you," Sarah sternly spoke. Then she thought out loud, "Damn how old is he?!"

'Thank you, someone finally asks the question?' Jazmine thought.

"SARAH!" King Wuncler whined. Sarah forgot all about her question and dreaded her husband saying her name.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" she tried to push her fake tone.

"Can you be a doll and shut your piping mouth up?! Get on the boat now, you're the reason we're late since you want to take your time packing!" King Wuncler fussed which caused Sarah to glare at him. She took a deep breath and bit her tongue because she wanted so deeply to curse him out. Not in front of Jazmine, that would be rude and a bad example of a queen.

Sarah looked at her daughter, "I must go now my little Poodle...but I want you to know that I'm proud of you and I think the people will be proud to have you as their queen and you'll make many changes. It's about time someone breaks the cycle!"

Sarah kissed Jazmine on the forehead. Jazmine felt this would be the last time she would see her mother and before she left she gave her a big hug. She wanted it to last forever till her father yelled, "Hurry up!"

Sarah once again dreaded the King's tone. "I must go now," she said parting from Jazmine. Her mother gave her one more loveable look of good luck before she left to get on the boat. The servants were almost done putting all of their luggage on the boat. As Jazmine watched them, she couldn't help but focus in on her father and the White Shadow.

King Wuncler was already cranky and upset with everybody. You could hear almost everything he said even when he tried to whisper. He was telling the White Shadow about some magical flower.

Jazmine sighed at the topic of it. She had been hearing about this flower since yesterday and she has yet to see it. She was almost curious of what it looked like and the power it possessed to make five pirates cause a scene in the castle. Jazmine thought about the man with the afro and felt her heart jump for a second. She shook her head to get him out of her head to focus on the flower.

She needed to see this flower. She was surprised her father didn't show her since he has a habit of showing her pretty things she found interest in. He told her that one day when he passes on she can keep all of his souvenirs and treasures. Jazmine knew exactly where he kept them at.

Inside she smiled at the idea of going to go find this Eternity Flower everybody speaks of!

Jazmine noticed the sun was going down which meant it was becoming dark. As her father boarded the boat and got settled in her parents left. She wasn't going to see them for the next couple of months and it scared her. Especially since she was going to be left alone with the White Shadow who seemed to be more serious and alert.

The servants started to make their way inside the castle while she just waited by the dock where she continued to watch her parents sail away. It was getting windy and there were sprinkles of rain coming in. There was going to be a huge storm tonight. That unsettling feeling just got worse as she continued to watch.

She did this until she couldn't see the boat anymore as it distanced itself away from the kingdom.

"Princess..." Jazmine heard the White Shadow say, "I think we should head in."

"I think we should too, Shadow," Jazmine agreed which shocked the White Shadow. She normally gave him attitude over the littlest things so it was shocking to see her in a calm state.

The two started to make their way towards the castle doors. It was a long walk but it was enough time for Jazmine to think and calm herself down. As she and the White Shadow continued to walk, Jazmine started to hear weird sounds around her. She kept stopping to look around. It was too dark and she could barely see a thing.

It got worse as she made it towards the castle walls because she could have sworn she had seen something moving through the dark. She stopped to look again. The White Shadow was noticing her awareness and assumed she might have been bothered by something.

"Is everything alright, Princess?" he asked.

Jazmine paused at the moment as she tried so hard to spot whatever was moving in the dark.

"Yes, Shadow," she answered.

"Are you sure?" he asked once again as Jazmine nodded her head, "I'm positive!" she lied.

The White Shadow observed her and tried to find any signs of her telling a story. Jazmine awkwardly laughed. The White Shadow shook his head and rolled his eyes. They made it through the gates and the guards took this as a sign to close it.

Jazmine started to calm down since they were inside the castle walls. The guards had everything from here and she was sure if she thought she saw something out there on the other side they were most likely gonna catch it. Or so she thought!

Without her and the White Shadow being self-aware of what was going on behind them, a group of men in black started to invade the castle walls. Thunder made itself known. With all the loud sounds going on no one seems to notice the guards being taken out.

Looking far off into the distance, a tall man with an afro caught sight of the strawberry-blond princess. She was not hard to miss.

"She's here..."

Thank you for reading!