The sun rose on a Saturday morning in the slave section of the town, making their community visible as the day broke. To rouse the slaves from their sleep, the roosters began to crow. Before the following day was the Lord's day or their day off, everyone was getting ready for another workday. They had one day off per week, which they used to worship the Lord, spend time with friends and family, and unwind from being watched by their superiors. Sundays were always looked forward to by everyone in the community. Debra woke up slowly from her slumber in the Freeman home. She had waited until after midnight for her sons to come home.
They never showed.
Huey went to the cotton field to let off steam after he and Debra had a falling out. Riley trailed after him. She sobbed uncontrollably after their argument. She was upset—both with herself and with Huey. He said what was on his mind regarding the kids stealing and getting hanged for it. Sadly, he had a legitimate reason to be outraged. Because of the unfairness of their leaders, a group of children in their village are gone. It sounded evident to her that the children were pilfering. Their ragged, ill-fitting garments did a poor job of concealing the food. Debra wished a lot of things had gone differently to keep them from dying.
She wished the five boys had asked her or any of the other elders for assistance getting food. They all live in a small town and support one another during difficult times like these. Seldom do their supervisors leave enough food for them to enjoy with their families. Either those who live inside the castle or the village beyond the walls receive everything. They have to pay to receive more than they would want to feed their families, and their wages is insufficient to cover the cost of the additional food. Their only means of subsistence is to pay for their homes and other expenses.
It was foolish to require them to put in a lot of overtime, pay them, and then take that money away with the touch of a finger. Everything they had labored for had been in vain. In the community, Debra and a few others never seemed to be able to make ends meet. That was before Huey and the other village boys began their careers as pirates. The money started to roll in like crazy as soon as they did that and started to become well-known for their job. Making ends meet was not a concern for them. They were able to save money rather than throw it away on frivolous things, and they could afford to buy extra food if necessary.
Nearly all villagers were grateful for AFRO BRUH's contributions to the village. The negros always supported one another financially and with food, and they mostly sent money to support their families. Since they were beginning to influence where everything went, their superiors failed to acknowledge this. Their supervisors would always try to make them take ten steps back every time they made progress toward something better. They could seldom have anything nice for themselves, which was unpleasant.
When Debra went to check on Huey and Riley in their room, she discovered they weren't there. The fact that she hadn't seen their faces this morning disturbed her. Because of curfew, she hoped that they would have returned home. They never did, but Robert turned up. She finally gave up, hoping to see them now, and went to sleep. It seemed to Debra that her two sons had gotten up early to start the day. They dislike taking extended breaks to rest. She hardly gets to see any of them because they are constantly on the move.
Huey and his pirate crew never remain in the village for more than fourteen days. They are always prepared to go. Debra was afraid for her son's safety and, although she hated to admit it, she missed them. She had heard tales of the places pirates went and the tasks they had to complete. When the white men are too afraid to complete the task, they usually try to send the negreos. Huey has said on a few occasions that every time the king assigns them a challenging job, the white soldiers always make fun of them beforehand, and then when they survive and complete the mission, they are stifled.
Huey made a good name for himself and became known as Captain Huey Freeman of the Seven Seas. According to other sources that was a big deal around here. For someone, Huey's age was a huge accomplishment. Most of everybody had admired him and he would most likely be written down in the history books.
Except for Debra, everyone urged the lads to become pirates. She had justifications. Pirates were never taught to be good people when they were growing up. Their entire purpose was to kill people and steal from others to satisfy their greed. Debra believed that everything they did was wrong overall. When they chose to go on missions that required harming other people, her father used to tell her they gave their life away to the Devil. It wasn't until Debra was older that she understood what her father had told her. She saw black males from all over the world become pirates throughout the years.
Every one of them ended in death. Their white superiors don't seem to give a damn about them or what they've accomplished for their country. Debra always questioned why people couldn't see that. Huey asked if Riley, him, and the other young boys in the community might become pirates, and she immediately responded no. Naturally, this led to a fight between the two, but Huey persisted and didn't take no for an answer. Debra felt angry, scared, astonished, and depressed. She was unsure of how to communicate her emotions and what to feel.
Ultimately, all she felt was disappointment.
Debra went into the kitchen where she saw Robert, Huey and Riley's grandfather, and her father-in-law. He was sitting at the table eating cornbread and pork. Something they usually had as leftovers. She sighed and tiredly sat across from him at the table.
"Well good morning to you Ms. Sleepy Head!" Robert greeted.
"Morning Robert," Debra sluggishly spoke.
He could already sense something was wrong so he asked, "What happened now?"
"Oh nothing," she tried to lie. Robert already knew his daughter-in-law too well and knew she was lying.
"Don't go tellin' stories now," Robert warned.
Debra already knew her tone wasn't convincing so she decided to give in. "It's Huey..."
"I figured," Robert said smacking on his food. "What happened this time?"
"You didn't hear? He stepped into an altercation between Uncle Ruckus and five little boys who were stealing food from the fields. According to our community, they said he took the whip and started whipping Ruckus with it till the White Shadow had to step in," Debra fussed as Robert started to laugh at the part where Uncle Ruckus got whipped.
Debra glared at Robert, "It's not funny, Robert!"
He continued to laugh and almost nearly choked on his food. "You can't tell me that's not funny and well deserving. Ruckus has been having that ass whoopin' comin' since he decided to double-cross us 60 years ago! He thinks he all high and mighty because he's 'white'," Robert laughed.
"That negro can say he white all he wants till he black and blue in the face. He gets treated the same way as us and thinks he getting ahead. I'm surprised the White Shadow even stepped in," Robert truthfully spoke.
"If you ask me, I think he only did it because it was Huey," Debra mumbled.
"Debra, he did it because they were generally making the disciplinary folks look bad," Robert corrected.
"Sure...I have an itching feeling that the White Shadow only came because it was Huey. He's always been after him on a lot of things," Debra suspected. "What Huey did would have got him executed, easily, but instead, the White Shadow let him and Riley go."
"It's a miracle...he knows that if he had killed them then they wouldn't have anybody to go retrieve their white ass treasure," Robert said. "You notice, if we weren't here, they couldn't do anything alone? White people always go looking for someone to do their job so they have a decent livelihood. I don't think they dumbasses know how to properly boil water or how to take care of their kids. They buy half the women here to do that and play with them."
Debra couldn't help but laugh. Her father-in-law always knew how to cheer her up. She needed it most of the time. She couldn't help but always worry about everything. She wanted to relax but with the world they lived in that wasn't possible. "I've noticed...Robert...what do you think I should do?"
"With Huey and Riley?" Debra nodded. "I think you should just let them be men and go out and enjoy the world. If I had thought about being a pirate at their age and I was good at it I would keep doing it. It's a good way for them to get paid for what they love! They're doing so good at it and the king is simply going to put them on punishment till they learn their lesson," Robert explained.
"You're right!" Debra agreed.
"I am?" Robert was shocked that his daughter-in-law actually listened to them. "Yes, you are right...I should lighten up on them. After all the damage they caused in less than the 2 days they've been here, and they're still alive...I shouldn't have anything to worry about."
Debra started to laugh at all the things she heard her sons had done. Especially her eldest, Huey. He has stood up to King Wuncler, Uncle Ruckus, and the White Shadow. He still remains alive after all of that. At this point, he's practically invincible.
"What more could they do after all the stunts they pulled in the past two days?" Debra continued to laugh. "It can't get no worse than this!" Robert laughed.
"Right, what they gone do next, steal from the castle and get away with it?" Debra rhetorically put out there.
"At that point, they lost their minds!" Robert cried in laughter.
There was a random knock at the door. This caught Robert and Debra's attention and stopped them from their outrageous laughing.
"Is there somebody here for you?"
"No, not that I know of," Robert responded.
They looked at one another before looking at the door. They were silently awaiting to hear another's voice on the other side.
Another knock had happened but this time it was louder and more aggressive. Whoever was on the other side almost knocked the door down. Debra got up from her seat. "Let me go check who it is before they break my door."
"I ain't got the energy to be fixing no damn door a white man broke down," Robert preached.
"I know that's right!" Debra agreed. She went to open her door to be met by the king's guards. There were a lot of them standing all over the place in the village. A lot of them were pushing people over and walking through them. Debra noticed they were specifically going to the houses where the members of AFRO BRUH lived.
'What do they want?' Debra asked herself.
"May I help you with anything?" Debra respectfully asked.
"Yes," the lead guard answered. He and the other guard next to him pulled out two rolled-up papers. They unrolled one of them to reveal a 'WANTED' poster of Huey Freeman dead or alive. "Do you happen to know who this negro is?"
"Yes, that's my son," Debra truthfully answered. The white soldier immediately pushed her aside as he went into her house without permission. Others followed behind him as they started to rampage through their stuff. She started to feel her heart rapidly beating as she didn't know what to expect.
"Excuse me!" Debra sternly spoke. She caught the lead guard's attention as his men continued to mess up her house. "Why are you tearing apart my house and what is this all for?" Debra glared at him.
"You better correct your tone nigger! I can have your head removed if you spit your words at me again," the lead guard warned. Debra bit her tongue to refrain from saying something smart. She could nearly taste her own blood.
"Are you aware that your son, Captain Huey Freeman of the Seven Seas has committed treason against his country?"
"For?" Debra asked confused. There were many things her son alone has committed these past two days. "You have to be specific, Sir!"
"Does this have to do with King Wuncler, Uncle Ruckus, or the White Shadow?" Debra asked trying to get an idea of what exactly her son was in trouble for.
"Neither!" the soldier answered as he pulled out the other rolled-up paper. He unrolled the other paper and asked: "Are you aware of who this woman is?"
Debra looked at the paper to see a very pretty woman who looked strangely odd for a white woman. The lady had a tiara on her head and was dressed with elegance. This let Debra know that she was of high class. "No, I never seen her a day in my life. Tell me, what does she have to do with my son?" Debra asked, confused.
"Well, you old thoughtless hag, this is Princess Jazmine of Maryland, the one and only heir to the throne. Your criminal of a mind of a son has kidnapped her," the lead guard informed as Debra was taken back.
"How-, that's not even possible...no one knows what she looks like," Debra denied.
"Oh shut your pie hole! Your son has been in the castle many times to know who she is. The whole point is that your son and his crew have committed treason against not only their kingdom but their country. They've committed many acts that could put them to death," the soldier exclaimed.
"What did they do?" Debra's voice cracked.
...
The lovely circle in the sky was obscured by clouds as the sun set and the moon rose, hiding its splendor rather than illuminating the kingdom. Tonight, the powerful winds, deafening thunder, and striking lightning revealed their gifts. Nothing good ever emerged of the nighttime loud noises. It left everyone feeling anxious. Around this time, a lot would occur. There would be loud noises from everything—ships wrecking, houses collapsing, crimes happening. Nobody ever had serenity because of the storms.
Jazmine was among the few individuals who didn't feel safe. She had a feeling that something unpleasant was about to occur tonight, but she was unsure of what. Every few minutes, Jazmine would observe lightning and thunder from her higher-floor view. She felt as though a ship had been taken out each time it hit the waves. Jazmine was fiddling with a necklace that was a 16th birthday gift from her mother. The necklace was made of gold and had pink diamonds, with an engraved Jasmine Petal in the large diamond at the bottom. Jazmine is often perplexed by what such a thing may accomplish.
The necklace was something Jazmine had always seen her mother wear. In an attempt to never have an occasion to remove the necklace, Queen Sarah would make an effort to wear ensembles that complemented it. If she had to remove it, she would either tuck it into her pocket or store it somewhere safe. On Jazmine's sixteenth birthday, she handed it to her one day. Jazmine couldn't understand why her mother would part with something that meant so much to her. Sarah's necklace was apparently given to her by her real father. She claims that if and when she does encounter him, he will recognize her. Jazmine's memory of her father's appearance was never crystal clear.
Jazmine had no memories of her dad. She questioned her mother endlessly about his appearance. She never said anything more than that he was a respected guy in their country, a black man, and a messenger. During this era, people had to be painted or drawn by artists or other creatives in order for their faces to be remembered. Other reports claim that negros were not given the preferential treatment of having their faces painted before they are completely forgotten. Perhaps there was an artist in their region of the kingdom, but they were unable to work with the well-known artist. There was no way Jazmine was going to see a photo of him. They hardly ever visited her mother's side of the family in England.
Going to see Sarah's side of the family was something King Ed Wuncler detested. He thought they were too polite and prissy for strangers. Negros had multiple avenues to freedom, even if they were still in slavery in England. This was never to King Wuncler's liking, nor was he pleased with the occasional deference the English royals showed to them. He believed they ought to have been cruel to them and kept an enforcer around. England never felt the need to do that since it was wholly unnecessary for them to do so.
In simple words, Negros weren't as harmed by slavery as Maryland was. Almost a lot of countries weren't as harsh. They had opportunities to do other things other than slavery. Now if one were to ever break the rules then they would suffer harsh punishment of torture.
Once more, lightning and thunder struck, startling Jazmine out of her reverie. She began to pace back and forth, her eyes fixed on the scenery, out of anxiety and worry. It so happened that one of Jazmine's caregivers was passing by holding some towels. The anxious princess was noticed by Betty Brown, the caregiver, who immediately went into duty and went into mother mode. Betty said, "Your Royal Highness," as Jazmine continued to fiddle with her mother's jewelry and glanced at her. "Yes, Betty?" Jazmine froze where she was. "You look quite anxious and agitated. To help you relax, would you mind moving away from the window?" Betty urged.
Moving away from the window, Jazmine headed in the direction that Betty was going. Betty moved to walk beside her after catching up to her. "Your Highness, what is causing you to be in such great worry?" Betty enquired. Still playing with her mother's jewelry, Jazmine turned to face Betty and said, "The storms...I fear it could destroy my parents' ship and result in their demise." "Your Highness, God will watch over them and make sure they make it to their destination in safe travels," Betty said, looking worried. Remember them in your thoughts as you pray tonight. You shall receive if you ask God."
"I'm not sure if God will keep an eye on them tonight. Too many lives are on the line," Jazmine uttered doubtfully. "Look, everything that occurs in life has a purpose. This may be God's humorous attempt to get us ready for something bigger in life. Should King Wuncler die, you would become our country's first and future queen. You're going to open up a lot of doors for better things for us, the people, women, and kids. This would be the first time we have seen one of our own people in your position and we haven't seen our queens and kings in a long time," Betty said, her eyes wide with fascination at the realization.
"What if I'm not ready to be Queen of Maryland?" With a heavy heart, Jazmine said out loud, "I don't think people will embrace me because they haven't seen my appearance. The folks in court don't seem to be taking me seriously, particularly the White Shadow. It seems like he is forgetting that I am going to be his queen in the future and that he is meant to be my right-hand man. I don't always trust him or his motives with this court. I've noticed that he unnerves everyone, including me."
"I'm strongly considering removing him from the court. He shouldn't be mine just because he was my father's and our predecessors' right-hand man. I might as well do us both a favor and have him dismissed from court since I don't like him, I don't trust him, and he appears to have no interest in aiding me." Jazmine uttered those words as lightning and thunder struck once more, frightening her. "He can find somewhere else to go." She paused outside the library and gave Betty a quick glance. "I might go read a book before turning in for the night. When Jazmine hurried off to the library, she whispered anxiously, "You know, just to calm my nerves." Betty grinned, shook her head, and continued her duties.
Jazmine went on to stroll by the section of the library where a number of books were stacked on top of one another on the table. She took a few paces to check which books were open. Jazmine discovered the White Shadow reading and writing a lot at the same time she saw something similar a few months prior. He left the library in disarray once more, so she knew this was his fault. He alone would act in such a thoughtless manner. He behaved like a baby who constantly required someone to clean up after him, but most people would at least clean up after themselves.
She didn't see him anywhere. Jazmine was in the clear to go be nosy. She had wondered what the White Shadow was doing his research on. As she came across his table she spotted paper all over the place and books halfway open. Jazmine caught sight of drawings of the Eternity Flower. Out of curiosity for the pretty flower her father spoke so highly of she wanted to read the White Shadows research.
Jazmine had concluded that the White Shadow had horrible penmanship as she studied his handwriting. She thought some of the words seemed a little odd. Still, she gave it her all as she attempted to decipher his writing regarding the Eternity Flower. She sat down in the armchair that seemed reasonably warm to her, indicating that the White Shadow had been here not too long. She needed to move quickly because he was going to return soon.
Jazmine leafed quickly through the book, glancing over the White Shadow's summary of the Eternity Flower. While there were some items he had missed, most of what he wrote matched what she was reading. What the princess has read thus far: The Eternity Flower was a pink flower that drew in attention and bloomed once every 100 years. It was only found in the Enchanted Forest, where creatures guarded its priceless possessions. If consumed, the flower could grant a person eternal life.
As Jazmine continued to read she noticed that there was a twist to this. It could not be easily destroyed nor die once pulled from its roots. Whoever decides to take it must use it to their advantage and consume it right away. Only that's bad as well because the Eternity Flower was too rough and durable to consume by itself. You needed special ingredients to break it down into a liquid in order for easier consumption. There were certain items that could be found in hidden places in order to break down the material and attract its magical power.
Eruptica Scorchspire Island, the hottest spot in the seven seas, is the only place the bloom may be destroyed. Because of how hot it is, it has been rumored that both travelers and pirates detest approaching the island. Anything you want to get rid of may be taken there. Something like the seemingly unbreakable Eternity Flower might be brought to the island and destroyed; after that, it would take another 100 years for the flower to grow again.
Jazmine noticed a significant element penned in a different language scripture. She was naturally able to understand what was written because of her teachers. She observed from the White Shadow's note that he made no notes or takedowns. It had a single star as a mark. Jazmine was given the impression by this that the White Shadow was unable to comprehend the written scripture. Jazmine looked at the words as she started to translate:
Elantra vishara quessil,
Yalaren thalora verion,
Eilandra sylorin naethar,
Viranthra lunara,
Miraelthra tenorath.
Salarim arathion,
Laeria quorin helen,
Mitharos velaeris,
Zalathur enorath,
Eirianthra maralor,
Dralenthur shionareth.
Tirion thaelora,
Verisyn aelara,
Elareth orim sylvar,
Lunathal quorin laeris,
Aelithan vareth naelion.
"In the heart of the eternal twilight,
Where dreams entwine with the moonlight,
There blooms the flower of the ages,
A beacon of timeless wonder,
Guarded by the spirits of the forest.
In its petals lies the truth,
The essence of the ancient lore,
Woven with the threads of magic,
Where the whisper of time fades,
And the soul of eternity breathes.
Let the wanderers seek its grace,
In the realm where night embraces day,
For in its glow, the past and future dance,
And the forest sings its endless song,
Of life that flows beyond the bounds of time."
Elantra vishara quessil,
Yalaren thalora verion,
Eilandra sylorin naethar,
Viranthra lunara,
Miraelthra tenorath.
Salarim arathion,
Laeria quorin helen,
Mitharos velaeris,
Zalathur enorath,
Eirianthra maralor,
Dralenthur shionareth.
Lunathal sylvara,
Thalorim nealor,
Viranthra eirithan,
Quenathor illenara.
"Once in a century,
The Eternity Flower awakens,
In the sacred grove of time,
Its bloom is a rare gift,
Guarded by the forest's kin.
To seize its magic, swift be your feet,
For within its petals lies a power,
A boon of immortality and might,
A blessing and a curse entwined.
He who claims this ancient gift,
Shall unlock doors to boundless magic,
Yet bear the curse of endless days.
Beware the flower's gaze,
It sees the truth of your heart,
If malice shadows your intent,
It will bring swift demise,
But if purity guides your soul,
The Gods of the forest shall bestow
The gifts of their eternal realms.
Walk not into such power lightly,
For the weight of eternity is great,
And the magic's promise is both a boon and a burden,
As the flower grants its favor
To those who seek with a noble heart."
As Jazmine concluded reading the passage, her expression was one of fear. She recalled her father telling her that the White Shadow had advised him to locate the flower and give it to him. Jazmine felt that her father had never expressed any awareness of the Eternity Flower's powers. If he had, he would have moved quickly to try to collect the supplies he needed to live longer, but instead, he is heading somewhere to receive assistance. That leaves the White Shadow alone. 'Why would the White Shadow need something like this?' Jazmine asked herself.
Jazmine started to hear footsteps coming near her. She knew it was the White Shadow because she could smell his nice foggy scent nearby. On women's institution, Jazmine felt the White Shadow was up to no good with the Eternity Flower. He easily had access to things in the castle that were far beyond his limits. Out of fear, Jazmine ripped the page with all the important information regarding the flower. She stuck it away in her cleavage and turned to a random page that had the White Shadow's notes included. She got up from the table and started to usher off to the exit of the library.
With trepidation, Jazmine peered around to be sure the White Shadow couldn't find her. She ran into a hard chest by mistake not knowing where she was heading. "Ow!" Jazmine scratched her painfully stinging cheeks and whimpered. Jazmine's heart nearly skipped a beat when she looked up and saw the White Shadow staring down at her. Jazmine sternly murmured, "Shadow," not wanting him to hear her heart pounding. The White Shadow said, "Jazmine," with a trace of a grudge. Jazmine was so resentful of him that she wanted to roll her eyes. With an implication that she should go to bed, the White Shadow asked, "Why aren't you in your chambers, it is quite late isn't it?"
"Oh, I just wanted to get some late-night reading in before I turned myself in for tonight," Jazmine lied. "Is that so," the White Shadow said in disbelief. "Yes...I will be making my way to my chambers. It's getting so late that it's hard to keep myself awake. I feel it is best if I go to bed," Jazmine said trying to excuse herself. "I think that's a great idea!" the White Shadow eagerly agreed. Jazmine walked around him to leave the library until the White Shadow asked, "Jazmine?" she turned around to look at the White Shadow, "You didn't happen to touch a pile of books and paperwork have you?" Jazmine shook her head, "No, I haven't seen any piles of books to know."
"Good," he mumbled, "Well, you have a good night!"
"Same to you too!" Jazmine lastly said before leaving the White Shadow alone in the library. As soon as she was out of sight and out of mind she ran straight to her room. She didn't have long before he came to check up on her. Now that he knows she was the last in the library he's going to come ask her questions if he suspects she stole anything. Jazmine had to move fast and quickly.
When the young princess made it to her chambers, she quickly got out of her chokehold of a dress to switch into something more comfortable. She put on not her gown, but the regular clothes she wears to the village to fit in with the people. Make herself look more normal. Jazmine started to remember her father mentioning the flower and how he planned to keep it in a safe place away from the others. She knew exactly where he kept all his valuable treasures. King Wuncler had a safe full of valuable treasures the pirates and his soldiers collected for him over the years.
There was a safe located near his chambers. Jazmine only went in the safe every once in a while. Her father always showed her his collectables therefore not having to go into the safe. Whenever she did go, she always looked at the combination her father would put in.
Jazmine would assume the combination would be her birthday or the day that her parents married, but it instead was the birthday of 1st born heir to the throne, Ed Wuncler III. Jazmine would have been offended by her father at times showing hints that he misses his son and wishes that he were here. Jazmine had never met Edward Wuncler III due to being unborn at the time and her parents weren't married yet. King Wunclers first wife died due to childbirth, his second wife died due to the black plague, and his third wife was her mother. There was a rumor that once he got to his 2nd wife he wasn't able to produce sperm that well, allegedly.
Aside from the case, King Wuncler never boasted of his devotion to or pride in his wives. That is to say, he was always a horrible person to women and showed no regard for them; that is, until he started getting older, became less cruel, and eventually had a daughter named Jazmine. She always had a nice side to him that he kept hidden from everyone else. He was truly a daddy's girl but he would never admit to that.
Jazmine ran from the mirror after taking one final glance at herself and went to one of her room's hidden walls. She was always able to slip away from the others with such ease because no one else knew about this hidden passage. She possessed a hidden route that connected the entire realm. This was once Prince Brandon's quarters. Her uncle passed away from an unidentified illness, but she had heard rumors about him floating around the castle about how intelligent, eerie, and troubled he was all the time (not in a good way). The people in the kingdom believed he was insane and that he was being nefarious.
Jazmine was appreciative of his efforts regardless of whether he constructed it or just extended it. One of her secret walls opened when she pulled on her lamp in the space. As it closed behind her, she stepped inside. There were several routes Jazmine could take from her current location, but she needed to go quickly. Her father's room was on the other side of the castle from hers. She made her fastest possible move in that direction. Jazmine needed to arrive in time to avoid raising any suspicions from the White Shadow.
The White Shadow must already suspect something is odd with his studies. Jazmine did in fact rip out a page within the book that contained most of the important information. The White Shadow must be going nuts trying to find the page again. This encouraged Jazmine to run as fast as she could. She made it across the castle in no time. Jazmine was near the wall where her father's safe was located. She turned her head to the walls to listen for anybody nearby. Normally, the guards would be chatting amongst themselves. She didn't hear a thing; oddly, no one was guarding the safe that had her father's important valuables.
Jazmine continued to listen to see if she could pick up anything but she didn't. Before she went into her father's safe she could have sworn she heard someone screaming from a distance. Normally, she would go check to see what it was but she felt as if the guards would have it handled since it is their job. Little did she know she was in for a rude awakening.
...
A handful of members of the AFRO BRUH crew were surreptitiously entering the castle from the other side. They were able to enter like ninjas since it was dark and the storms were roaring through the night. The way they were moving, you could hardly hear a pen drop. Huey gave them the order to take their body armor and don it in order to enter the castle covertly after dispatching the guards at the gate.
With the number of times the young pirate enter into the castle, he almost knew it too well. The only part of the castle he didn't know too well is where the princess resided. No one from the outside was allowed to go anywhere near that part of the castle. There were only a strict number of individuals to gaze upon the princess's face. Huey would hear rumor going around the castle describing the princess to be as beautiful as spring. Unlike the other princesses in the other kingdoms, she had a unique appearance. Very beautiful to an odd individual, but ugly to the eyes of the beholders.
Huey always wondered what she looked like for people to have such high opinions on her. He didn't just hear about her around Maryland, but also across the 7 seas. Nobody could ever keep her name out of their mouths. The most he could gather from the rumors was that she was a princess and her name happen to be Jazmine. Which again was an odd name for a royal.
The royal families and people that was even close to the royal families got to see the princess but no one outside of the castle walls got to gaze upon her face. Huey always dreaded the idea of working with her one day after King Wuncler passes away. He expected she would be a worse ruler than him because it would be the country's first-ever queen. Most of the time the reason why King Wuncler had them go on so many missions is due to spoiling his precious princess. They all knew he didn't care too much to spoil Queen Sarah and vice versa.
King Wuncler never craved money. He craved materialistic things and his daughter was probably the same way. Again, the thought of working with another ungrateful royal just irritated Huey inside. He couldn't bear to do it again. That's why he and his crew had to take one last risky mission with Maryland. That was to get their gold and leave to never return.
Huey and his crew of men were successfully able to sneak into the castle. Practically going unnoticed by the other night guards due to their sleepiness. Huey could tell they weren't at their full awareness due to not even having the sense to defend themselves when they would silently take them out. Instead of leaving the guards out in the open, they would simply just hide them somewhere within the castle walls and take their place.
As long as Huey and them didn't run into the White Shadow they were in the clear. No one detected them as they got closer and closer to King Wuncler's safe. When they got down to their last man, Huey, Riley, Caesar, Cairo, and Duey peeked their heads around the corner to see that there was yet another who was practically sleeping on the job. The man struggled to stay awake as he listened to the sounds of raindrops and thunder.
"I got this!" Riley assured. This was a piece of cake since he was barely awake. Instead of Riley sneaking up on him, he walked towards him. This had Huey and the others looking at him as if he done lost his goddamn mind. Instead of the troublesome pirate taking him out, he acted like a predator playing with his prey. He moved around in a silly way by jumping around, tip-toeing, dancing, and even lastly shaking his ass before the night guard caught sight of his surroundings and pulled out his sword.
"Stop there nigger!" the guard said with a hard R.
"Oh shit..." Riley said knowing he was screwed.
Huey and the others slapped their palms on their foreheads and shook their heads.
'He's a dumbass!' they all thought.
"I know one when I see one," he said smirking as he was about to swing at Riley from the back till one of his fellow crewmates, Cairo pulled a straight trigger at the night guard's head, knocking him clean out. Riley breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the body hit the ground, "Thank God!"
"Will you stop messing around," Huey said in anger, "We're on a mission to get back our share of the flower.
"Now come on!" Huey sternly chanted. He took the lead as the others followed him.
When the five pirates made it to King Wuncler 'secret' safe, they were surprisingly met with no guards. Probably slacking off on the job. Huey smirked at the idea of this being way to easy for them. He pushed open the secret doors and found the safe itself. It had a combination lock to which Huey had the man to get it done. "Riley!"
"Aye, you ain't gotta finish the sentence," Riley smirked. "I already know what to do," he rubbed his hands together. He put his ear up against the safe and gently grabbed the lock and started to twist and turn. Click after click he was done in no time. When the doors opened the five pirates were greeted with many jewels, coins, and valuable items they collected over the years. They looked in awe as they gazed upon their past valuables.
"Ah shit!" Riley exclaimed.
"I didn't know we collected this many items," Duey said as he walked in.
Cairo walked over to a ruby that was shaped like a heart, he smiled at it as it brung back nostalgicmemories. "You guys, y'all remember this?" Cairo asked holding up the ruby.
"Oh yeah mate!" Duey said in excitement.
"I remember when Riley let a catfish swallow it and he had to go chase it down?" Caesar laughed.
"I ain't never seen a nigger struggle to catch a fish. He got so frustrated trying to catch it he tried to go into the water to track it down but then he ended up drowning in 4 ft of water," Cairo and the others (except for Huey and Riley) laughed.
"Aye, it ain't funny! Y'all could have helped a nigger out," Riley said in anger as they continued to laugh.
"Sure you needed help in 4ft of water!" Caesar said sarcastically.
"He really thought he was going to die too," Cairo cried. "He only had this much water in his system," Cairo pinched his fingers.
"Oh, since we bringing up 'funny' moments...why don't we talk about when Cairo had to fuck an old lady to get out of prison, Caesar got scared of a little dog, and Duey you was high on mushrooms them Asians gave you," Riley brought up.
"I thought we agreed to never talk about that," Cairo said a bit embarrassed.
"Look, ain't no one told you to get in that punani! You did that willingly," Riley laughed.
"Imma beat yo'-" Cairo spoke before Huey cut him off, "Last time, we're supposed to be collecting our value for that damn flower and I don't see anybody bagging the jewels and coins!"
Everybody snapped out of laughing and got back to their ultimate goal. Collecting their share of the money. They started to take more than what they were offered. Bagged as much as they could for all the hard work they did over the years for this country. As Huey bag was almost full he caught sight of the Eternity Flower. It was as beautiful as it could be!
He smirked at his internal thoughts and walked over to the flower. He was about to grab it until a mysterious figure in a random black cape appeared and swiped the flower away. This person came out of nowhere. Perplexed, Huey shook his head and yelled, "SOMEONE TOOK THE FLOWER...GRAB THEM!"
Riley, Cairo, and Caesar being caught off guard, they noticed at the last minute the figure running past them. "Oh shit!"
"Errr!" Huey grumbled out ofirritation. "I'll handle it. You guys get the jewels to boat, I'll meet you there," Huey ran after the figure.
"You heardhim men, let's get back to the boat," Cairo ordered. "But what about Huey?" Riley asked, worried. "He'll be fine...when has he ever failed?" Cairo rhetorically asked.
...
Huey was running after the figure. He could only stay on their tail because the man made a lot of noise. He was closing the distance between him and the mysterious figure till he ran into him...The White Shadow.
There was a white smokey atmosphere once again. The two alpha males stared into one another eyes showing no fear.
"You again!" The White Shadow said in disgust
"You came back for another lesson again I see," he said pulling out his whip. He whipped it out to full extent expecting Huey to flinch, but he didn't move not one muscle. Huey P. Freeman a.k.a Captain of the Seven Seas scowled at the White Shadow and stood tall. The white smoke started to disappear around the White Shadow. He noticed that Huey had a different demeanor compared to their last interaction.
To strike fear in him once again, the White Shadow swung his whip around and tried to hit Huey, but he was sadly caught off guard when Huey caught onto the whip. His palm started to drip blood down his arm. He didn't take his eyes off the White Shadow not once.
The White Shadow eyes widen as he gazed upon a nigger taking control of the situation. Huey took the chance and pulled the whip away from the White Shadow. It flung across the room, far away from the both of them.
"Oh, I see how it is now!" the White Shadow spoke in anger. He took his sword out as did Huey.
"You know, you've gotten away with a lot of stuff since I was little, and now I feel you deserve all that gratitude you gave me throughout the years," Huey threatened. "You don't say!" the White Shadow rhetorically spoke.
The tension crackles in the air as Huey and the White Shadow square off in the grand hall of King Wuncler's palace, its opulent walls flickering with the glow of nearby torches. The White Shadow steps forward, his blade gleaming like polished ice, and snarls, "You dare defile the king's sanctuary? You'll beg for death before I'm done with you."
Huey grips his cutlass, the well-worn hilt fitting snugly in his hand. He smirks, the corner of his mouth curling beneath his wide-brimmed hat. "Big talk for someone hiding behind someone else's crown," he retorts, the edge in his voice sharper than his blade.
With a roar, the White Shadow lunges, his blade slicing through the air in a vicious downward arc. Huey sidesteps at the last second, the steel whistling inches past his ear. He counters with a quick slash at the White Shadow's midsection, but the man pivots with unnatural speed, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks.
"You're quick, nigger" the White Shadow growls, his voice dripping with disdain. "But your kind is all bark and no bite."
Huey chuckles darkly. "Funny. That's what I say about tyrants."
The White Shadow presses the attack, his strikes growing faster and more precise as the room seems to darken. The torches flicker ominously as if feeding on the rising fear that he radiates. Huey feels the shadow of dread creeping in but shakes it off, rolling out of the way of a brutal thrust.
The pirate slashes low, forcing the White Shadow to leap back. Using the moment, Huey draws a flintlock pistol from his sash with his free hand.
"Cheating already, pirate?" the White Shadow mocks.
Huey smirks. "Who said pirates play fair?"
Before the White Shadow can react, Huey fires a shot straight into his foot. The crack of the pistol echoes in the hall as the White Shadow staggers, a guttural snarl of pain tearing from his throat. His power falters momentarily, the oppressive darkness receding as his focus wavers.
"You little—" he spits, but Huey is already moving.
With a sudden burst of speed, Huey charges, their swords locking again in a fierce bind. Huey uses his weight to push the White Shadow back, then with a deceptive flick of his wrist, he feints a high slash and thrusts his blade into the White Shadow's side.
The White Shadow gasps, his face contorting as he feels the cold steel pierce flesh and lodge deep in an organ. Huey doesn't pull it out—instead, he plants a boot against the man's chest and shoves him back, leaving the sword embedded in his body.
The White Shadow collapses to his knees, clutching at the blade. Blood seeps through his fingers, pooling on the marble floor. His eyes burn with hatred, but the strength to stand drains away.
Huey adjusts his hat, stepping over the groaning figure. "Enjoy your slow death, mate. You can tell the king I said hello."
He strides past the fallen adversary, heading deeper into the palace. His mind is fixed on the woman in his dreams—or rather, the enigmatic figure he believes has stolen the eternity flower.
Behind him, the White Shadow's breathing grows ragged, his once-imposing presence reduced to a fading ember. For all his fearsome power, he was no match for Huey's cunning and resolve.
Huey sprinted down the dimly lit corridor, his heart pounding in frustration. He had wasted precious time dealing with the White Shadow, and the mysterious figure had vanished. The faint floral scent of their perfume lingered in the air, a strangely delicate clue in the chaotic pursuit. Huey's keen nose tracked it across the sprawling castle until he reached a grand door, its ornate carvings hinting at someone important residing within.
On the floor near the door lay tiny traces of dirt—confirmation that the figure had passed this way. Without hesitation, Huey shoved the door open.
Darkness enveloped the room. He squinted, trying to adjust to the shadows, but the only thing catching his eye was the soft, ethereal glow of theEternity Flowerbeneath the bed's covers. Its vibrant pink light pulsed faintly, illuminating a lumpy shape that seemed to be hiding.
"Gotcha," Huey muttered under his breath.
Moving silently, he approached the bed. His hand hovered over the quilt for a moment before yanking it back. His heart sank at the sight: the flower lay nestled among an arrangement of pillows.
"Where's the guy?" Huey thought, his jaw tightening.
Before he could process further, a suddenthudstruck the back of his head. Huey stumbled forward but quickly regained his footing, thanks to the cushion of his thick afro. He spun around, just in time to see the shadowy figure raising their weapon for another strike.
"You picked the wrong pirate to mess with!" Huey growled, dodging the swing with nimble precision.
The figure pressed the attack, their weapon slicing through the air as they relentlessly pursued Huey. He sidestepped and rolled, his hands scrambling over the room's furnishings until they found a solid brass candlestick. With a swift motion, Huey swung it into the figure's head, earning a pained grunt as they staggered.
Not one to miss an opportunity, Huey launched into a flurry of blows. His fists collided with the figure's torso, each punch calculated to knock the wind from their lungs. He grabbed them by the throat and torso, slamming their body into every surface within reach—the bedpost splintered, the sofa groaned under the impact, and the dresser rattled with a deafening crash.
Finally, with a primal roar, Huey hurled the figure into the massive window. The glass shattered in a dazzling spray, fragments slicing into his arms as adrenaline dulled the pain.
The cloaked figure crumpled to the ground, motionless. Huey stood over them, panting heavily, his fists still clenched. He watched and waited, ready for another attack, but the figure didn't stir.
"Not so tough now," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Turning to the Eternity Flower, he grabbed it. Its soft pink glow bathed the room in warmth, a stark contrast to the violence that had just unfolded. But Huey wasn't done. Curiosity burned in his chest—he needed to see the face of the one who had led him on this chase.
Crouching beside the still figure, he held the flower's light close to their face. As the glow illuminated their features, Huey froze. His breath caught in his throat.
It washer.
The woman from his visions. The one who had been guiding him all this time, always near the Eternity Flower. A flood of realization hit him—shewas the one behind it all.
"What the hell?" Huey whispered, his voice laced with disbelief.
He staggered back, every piece of the puzzle clicking into place, yet leaving even more questions. Who was she? Why had she appeared in his visions? What was her connection to the flower?
Huey's jaw clenched. Answers would have to wait. He couldn't leave her here, not with the palace guards undoubtedly closing in. Without a second thought, he hoisted her unconscious body over his shoulder.
"We're getting out of here," he muttered.
Clutching the flower tightly in one hand, he bolted out of the room. His crew was waiting, and Huey intended to make good on his promise to return—with the prize and the answers he needed.
Huey's adrenaline surged as he bolted through the castle walls, his muscles burning but his determination unwavering. Rain pelted down in sheets, the thunder roaring like cannon fire above him. Each lightning strike illuminated the chaos behind him—the white guards in hot pursuit, their shouts drowned out by the storm. Huey gritted his teeth and kept moving, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Faster," he muttered to himself, clutching the girl tightly over his shoulder. Every step was fueled by the knowledge that escape meant survival—not just for him, but for the mission.
The storm worked to his advantage, slowing the guards on foot, but the distant sound of hooves signaled they weren't giving up. Huey's mind raced as fast as his feet. He could see the shoreline ahead, where his brothers, the pirates, waited on the ship. Their shouts carried through the downpour:
"Huey, come on! Move it!"
"You got this, Freeman!"
The encouragement spurred him on. He could feel his lungs straining, his muscles screaming for rest, but Huey knew better than to let up now. Years of relying on his speed and strength—gifts passed down through his lineage—were paying off in this moment.
The guards on horseback closed the gap, their riders urging the animals forward with desperate shouts. The heavy pounding of hooves grew louder behind him. Huey glanced back just long enough to see the glint of their weapons raised against him.
"Not today," he hissed, pushing his legs harder.
The ship loomed closer, its dark silhouette a beacon of salvation. The rope ladder dangled from the side, swaying in the storm's fury. Huey's crew stood at the rails, shouting and cheering for him, their fists pumping in the air.
With one last burst of speed, Huey leapt for the ladder, his fingers clutching the rough rope just as the nearest horse reared back behind him. The guards skidded to a halt, their curses lost in the howling wind.
The pirates erupted in victorious cheers as they pulled the ladder up, hauling Huey and the girl onto the deck. He collapsed onto the wood, chest heaving, rain mixing with sweat on his brow. But he didn't let go of the girl.
Standing, Huey cast a glance back toward the shore. The guards had gathered, their torches flickering in the storm's gloom. At their center stood the White Shadow, his silhouette rigid with fury.
"You won't get away with this, Freeman!" the White Shadow bellowed, his voice cutting through the tempest. "I'll track you and your little band of misfits to the ends of the earth!"
Huey smirked but said nothing, knowing the storm had already drowned out the rest of the man's threats. He turned back to his crew, the cheers still ringing in his ears as the ship surged forward, away from the hellhole they'd just escaped.
But as the adrenaline faded, a pang of guilt crept in. Huey leaned against the ship's rail, staring into the stormy horizon. His mind wandered to the family and community he'd left behind—the faces of his mother and grandfather etched into his memory. Had he done the right thing?
The girl shifted slightly on his shoulder, drawing his attention. He looked at her unconscious form, her features softened in the pink glow of the Eternity Flower he still clutched in his hand. She wasn't just some random thief or mysterious figure. She was something more—someone destined to play a role in something greater.
Huey sighed deeply, setting his jaw. Whatever her purpose, he knew she was tied to his mission. To his people. To the freedom he and his brothers sought.
As the ship sailed into the storm, Huey stood tall, determination replacing the guilt. The White Shadow's threats echoed faintly in his ears, but he knew one thing for sure: they'd made it out.
And now, the real journey was about to begin.
Thank you for reading!