When I was 10 and my brother was 12, a notorious pirate entered the bay, known as Blackbeard.

Myself and my brother were playing in the port area of Annaria, where most of the ships would seek port, stock and supply there ships. It was fairly huge, we had a few rookie pirates come through and now and then a few notorious pirates like Blackbeard or Roger J would pass by.  It we wouldn't have any trouble with them, if anything they where fun people to be around.

But today, Blackbeard appeared. First time in several years since I saw him, I was but a young lass.

He still had his distinctive beard. Although his facial appearance had changed a lot. His bright green eyes, and his weathered skin. He had a scar from his left eyebrow to the bottom of the right side of his nose which seemed fairly new. His face has aged, and he was still quite tall.

We decided to go greet him and ask if he would tell us some of his stories.

"Hey Mary, Do you think he will be kind enough to tell his adventures?" My brother asked with a hesitant voice.

"Yes jack, I do believe he will." I persisted.

We waited till he went to the local tavin, then decided to ask, luckily a few of our friends worked there. So we knew we could go in there anytime we wanted.

As we walked in, we were actually greeted by Blackbeard himself.

"Hello young ones, how Ye today?" He asked

"We ar alright, yourself?" I replied

"Aye, I'm alright too! So, what brings you here at this time of night?" Blackbeard asked.

"W,w,well, sir, we were wondering if you could tell us about your stories." My brother said softly.

"Story's? Well I suppose I could tell you a few! Come and sit with me, over here and I shall tell you the story of our most recent adventure!" He said happily!

We walked over to the bar and my brother just bought us a juice each. Then we followed blackbeard over to the pirates corner. The pirates corner was the place in the tavern no marines or police where allowed to go. It was state law. We never had any trouble since the marines, never really go to the taverns because of the law set in place. We were allowed there though, we knew it was safe because we knew all the pirates, and they where all friends of ours.

We followed Blackbeard to his table where we sat and talked for a while before he told us the story.

"So what do you young ones plan on doing when you're older?" Blackbeard asked in a curious voice.

"We want to be pirates" I mumbled

"YOU WANT TO BE PIRATES? Why didn't you just say so!" He said excitedly!

My brother and I just looked at him confused.

"When you hit the ages of 17 and 15 I'll take you two on! How about that!" Blackbeard said with a friendly smile.

"Sounds great!" My brother yelled!

"But isn't it bad luck for a woman to be on board?" I whispered.

Blackbeard laughed and

 "It's only bad luck if you believe it is! Each pirate ship has its own set of rules. These rules are called the pirate  code!" He explained.

"Pirates code? I thought pirates don't live by any rules?" My brother jack asked, he was abit confused about the situation.

"Argh! Aye, see we don't follow the rulers of country's and seas. We follow the one we pick as captain, no others! Our captain sets out the code on the ship! Most codes do indeed have no woman on board! Because of that myth, although I don't believe in that bullshit. Although if you break a rule, you will get a punishment depending on which rule you break. Some are just smack on the wrists, some are bloody and gory and need cleaning up and others take there time before the rat dies!" Blackbeard said in a serious voice.

"Oh okay."Jack said worrying tone.

"No need to worry children!" Blackbeards said laughing.

Blackbeard calls over his first mate over. He was skilled in swords as you could tell, with the two swords he carried around. They had blood stains on them and they had a smell to them, not to sure what it was though. Maybe it was just the scent of death? I'm not sure. His first mate had something about him I couldn't pin point. Although maybe it was just the way he looked. With his long and ratty blonde hair, his clean and flawless skin except for the scar down his left arm, that looked about a year old.

"Edward! This is, umm what's your name again?" Blackbeard asked.

"I'm Mary and this is my brother jack." I said intrigued.

"These will be our new crew mates in 5 years! Iv known these guys since they where small! They told me they wanted to be pirates, like us!" Blackbeard stated.

Edward looked at us, then laughed. He seemed surprised. Was it because Blackbeard has known us longer or is it because I'm a girl?

"These two aye? Maybe we should just let them on our ship now! Just to give them a head start! We do need our deck cleaned after all! " Edward said trying to be funny.

"Your making us clean?!" My brother asked Blackbeard.

"haha, of cause not!" Blackbeard said firmly

"Of cause I'm joking, mate you need to take a joke." Said Edward sarcastically.

"Hey, Blackbeard! You were meant to tell us about one of your bloody adventures!" My brother said.

"That's right! Alright were shall I start? About 3 months ago, we were off to Blamioa, like always we had to travel through the Black Sea of Addorma. It was a routine route I suppose. But then we hit a storm. The clouds were as black as my belt! The waves were the size of a castle, the winds were roaring as if the gods themselves where angry! Our ship was having a hard time with it, but once we hit the eye of the storm. We heard a roar, that was angrier then the winds, more violent than an angry lion. I had no idea what it was.. Until I saw it. The legend that all sailors, marines and pirates alike, know about! One of the Sea Serpents! The eyes were blood thirsty as if it knew what it was doing. His teeth were as sharp as a sword, his body was 3 times longer then my ship! He snatched up one of the crew members and bit him in half. We saw our own conrads heart spill out of his body! We watch his insides fallout of the serpents mouth. And as the serpent finish he goes after my first mate ere, Edward!" He said in a more paronoid voice.

Edward looks at his scar and rubs it as if he was reliving the pain. I looked over my brother and he was getting more and more intrigued. I was more focusing on trying to keep my dinner down.

"Edward has dealt with the beast before! He grabbed his sword with his right hand and stabbed the serpent in between the eyes. Enough for him to let go. We thought it was over. But then we saw the serpent circle around the ship continuously. Me and Edward had no idea what we should do ! So we yelled an order to go back into the storm where we could possible loose it. But instead it flung it's tail right towards me. And that's how I got this scar on my face. I was lucky i only got hit with the tip of the tail. A few more inches and It would of cut my body into two! We decided to get out one of our cannons and wait for it. But before we could have it ready, it came up and aimed for another one of my crew members! That poor sea dog, was only new to the crew aswell. We tried to save him. But he was almost instantly bit in half. Edward yells at me telling me the canon is ready. So while the serpent was eating one of my crew, we fired and hit it right in the head! We heard a loud raw and saw it swim off . We decided to get out of there as soon as we could. After we got through the storm, we saw what was left of our crew mates. It wasn't pretty. There insides were everywhere! They were unrecognisable! So instead of completely disrespecting our crew mates, we found land and burnt the remains. The ashes were tossed out to sea!" He continued.

Me and my brother looked at each other, my brother had the biggest grin! I tried to read him, but I couldn't. Blackbeard looked at us and asked "Are you sure you want to be pirates?"

"Of cause we do! Your story only made me want to go out to sea sooner!" Jack said while laughing!

"Well I'll tell you what! If Ye, so inclined. In 5 years on this day, we shall come back and return here and Ye shall be the new members of our crew! How about that? "

"Sounds great!" I said enthusiastically!

"Well Jack and Mary, we better head off back to our ship! You're welcome to come! I'll show Ye around!" Edward said happily.

"Aye!" Jack and I replied!

We walked out of the pirates corner and walked into the main part of the tavern. Jack and I told Blackbeard and Edward we will meet them at the docs. We are just going to talk to James the bar man! So Blackbeard and Edward left.

"Hello Mary and Jack! I see you were talking to Blackbeard and his first mate. I hope you aren't getting in any trouble!" Said James sarcastically.

"Haha, not really. Blackbeard said we can join his crew!" Jack replied

"Not for a few more years though." I added.

"Oh sounds fun! Although are you sure? There's a lot of risks! The possibility of getting a bounty on your head. The risks of dying at sea alone can scare anyone off! Haha." James replied.

I just laughed. "That's the thrill of it! That's the Adventure! No dreams can be chased without risks. No risks, no dreams. I'd rather die doing something I love than die doing something I hate." I explained.

"Is that right? Well, bring me back some treasure will ya?" James said with a cheeky smile.

"Will, do! Hey, Mary? We probably should get going!" Jack said

"Yeah, sure! Bye James!" I replied.

We headed down to the Bay Area, where Blackbeard and Edward was.

"Mary, Jack! This is the Queen Anne's revenge!" Blackbeard said

 It was huge! The ship itself was magnificent! It had a distinctive skull on its bow, looked like it was hand carved out of pure Ivory, with a black wash over it to define the lines and make it more realistic! The sails were a dark grey with little bits of white coming through! It was quite a site! The ship itself was black and brown! It was quite clean for a pirate ship anyways. It was beautiful!

"Hey Mary and Jack! Want a look around?" Said Edward with a smerk on his face.

"Sure!" I awnsered!

We walked onto the ship and I was amazed! It was the first pirate ship Iv ever been on and sure enough I fell in love with it! The creeks of the ship were haunting as if Captain Morgan himself cused this ship! As we continued walking up to the main deck, we looked apon the sea. Edward grabs me by the shoulder.

"Beautiful isn't it? The sea has more adventures then meets the eye! To be honest with you Mary, Iv only joined recently myself.. The sea is every sailors and pirates one love! We find the value diamonds and gems. But we are loyal to the ocean and it's wonders." Explained Edward

"HEY JACK! Come here!" Blackbeard yelled.

Jack walked over to Blackbeard. Edward and I kept on talking.

"I can see why, the sea is beautiful. It never ends nor never starts. It's incredible. 5 more years and I'll be out there with Ye and Blackbeard." I responded.

"That is very true. You know, I'm not that much older then you are. 6 years older from what Blackbeard told me. You're 10 years old are you not?" He asked.

"Ye I am, it's annoying though, I wish I was older. So I could just join already! I'm sick of being a land lover as you pirates put it." I responded in a sarcastic way.

"You pirates aye? Well, don't you want to be one? Abit of a bold statement when you want to be one!" Said Edward.

"Haha, that is true. I didn't know how else to put it." I replied.

"Maybe I can convince the captain.."

"EDWARD, MARY!" Blackbeard interrupted!

"Come over here! I have something to show you!" He continued.

We walked over to the captains quarters.

"Edward, Mary! Iv made me decision! Instead of 5 years, how about 3?"

Edward smiled! He was happy about it, maybe that was what he was trying to say earlier? I wonder why he wants us to join so badly? Only time will tell I guess.

"Sounds great!" I replied!

"Blackbeard and I were discussing it, while you and Edward were talking!" Jack said with a cheeky smile.

"I see! Well, we know who is more keen to see the seas!" I responded.

We climbed down to the lower deck, it was interesting to say the least! It was the armory, with cannons chained in place. I was intrigued. The swords were longer then my arm. Their guns were made out of ivory from what I could tell! They were definitely not poor for pirates anyways.

You could hear the creaks of the ship clearly, it was haunting yet calming. The wind would blow through the small cracks from the ship, you would hear a faint whistle. We continued onto the next room. It was the dining/entertainment room. There was a band playing, and half of the wenches and pirates alike where far from sober. But everyone was dancing and singing along.

"Some say we're bound for Livbro, some say we are bound for Rance!

Heave away, my Johnny heave away!

I think we are bound for Aria, boys give the girls a chance!

Heave away, my Johnny heave away! "  They were singing!

Honestly, it looked like a good Ol time! I can't wait to just sit there and sing along to the good Ol shanties! I know most of them thanks to the taven! But who knew it would be full of life?

"Ye, enjoying your self Ye lass?" Edward said with a cheeky smile.

"Yes, I am! This ship seems like great fun" I replied

"That's great! You'll have a great time! Now shall we continue?" Said blackbeard.

"Ye, let's go!" Said Jack.

Jack seemed to enjoy this show around more then I. He seemed like he knew he belonged here. He paid attention to everything that was said. He started talking like a true pirate. Mind you, he was the one that convinced me wanting to be a pirate. So I guess that makes sense.

We started walking down to the 3rd room on the lower deck, it was where the everyone slept. You could tell it was pretty basic, it was just a heap of rope hammocks stacked up. Each had sets of three. Top, middle and lower Along with chests at the end of the room.

We continued we headed down the deck underneath, it was pretty basic since it's the lowest deck. Half of it had bars for prisoners. Only about 3 of them. They were quite disgusting. It had people shit and piss everywhere. It smelt horrible.  Then the rest was just storage. Full of barrels, food And rope.

"So, what do you think?" Blackbeard said

"It's pleasin' to my eye!  The ship is so huge." Jack replied with the biggest grin

"She's not the biggest ship. But she's does the job! What do you think Mary?" Edward asked

"It's perfect. It's more then I thought it would!" I said intently

"Well, it's getting dark! I think you guys should head home. We will see you in 3 years! We are going to set sail soon!" Exclaimed Blackbeard.

"Aye! Good luck on Ye journeys!" Me and jack said!

Edward laughed, he gave me a hug. I was abit confused but I hugged him back. We said our goodbyes to Blackbeard and Edward! Awaiting for 3 years. So we can join their crew!