"Don't be afraid to be different, be afraid to be like everyone else," someone once said, though I can't remember who. This advice was the only thing keeping me sane on this pirate ship.
I'm Ethan "Storm." They say my last name is Storm, but I don't believe it, just as I don't trust anyone on this ship. Because here, anyone would sell each other out for a few coins.
Today, I need to be more careful than ever because today is the day I get a real weapon. Every pirate turning 15 chooses their weapon and can join raids from then on. But I don't think I want that. Still, having a dagger or a sword wouldn't be bad.
My thoughts were interrupted when my door suddenly opened. Red Roger had entered. He had blue eyes and red hair and beard. Those blue eyes looked so wildly that I rarely made eye contact with him.
"The time has come, Storm," Roger said. I immediately got up and followed Red Roger out of my cabin onto the deck.
Our captain, Blackbeard, and his five-man crew were on the deck. They all had their unique crazy look. Cat Fur Jack always wore a hat made of cat fur. I had always been disgusted by him because he hated animals.
We shouldn't forget One-Eyed Willy and Long John Silver, the only ones who treated me well on the ship. Lastly, there's the only woman and a person with a surname on the ship, Anne Bonny, who was as tough as any man here.
Captain Blackbeard walked across the deck with his wooden leg tapping in delight. One-Eyed Willy quickly placed a small table filled with weapons before Blackbeard. I approached the table. A silver dagger with a black-dark purple handle caught my attention.
It felt like that dagger was a part of me. It was like my sixth sense. When I took it in my hand,
"What can you do with that in a fight or raid?" Cat Fur Jack mocked me.
Then Bonny chimed in, "Jack's right, kid. What will you do? Clean your enemies' teeth?(!)"
Before things escalated, Blackbeard intervened with his booming voice, "Bonny and Jack, stop mocking Ethan! He made a choice."
After Blackbeard defended Ethan, he took a deep breath as if carrying the heavy atmosphere of the ship on his shoulders. "Alright, let's get back to work," he said firmly and started walking to his cabin, his wooden leg tapping rhythmically. His eyes held a mixture of sadness and thoughtfulness, perhaps pondering over this new young pirate.
After Blackbeard's cabin door creaked shut, a hush fell over the deck. Everyone paused momentarily, seemingly finding their place amid the echoes of their leader's stern but just words.
One-Eyed Willy stepped forward to break the tense silence, his usual mischievous grin lighting up his face, and the bandage over his right eye seemed to glow with a bright light. "Hey, what are you all standing around for? We've got a rich pirate ship to plunder!" he said, his voice tearing through the silence like an echo. "Cheer up and get ready!"
Willy's words suddenly shifted the atmosphere on the ship. A few crew members started joking, shedding their tension and worries. Cat Fur Jack, with a sneaky grin, approached Willy and said, "I'd love to see what's under that eye patch of yours, buddy. Maybe then we'd all feel a bit more spirited."
Willy burst into laughter, "Maybe someday, but let's finish this raid first!"
The crew began preparing. Anne Bonny was inspecting her weapons, sharpening her knives and swords. Long John Silver was checking the gunpowder and ammunition hidden in the ship's corners. There was a wave of movement, an energy that swept across the deck. Everyone was readying themselves for the plunder; the excitement that rippled through the ship became as visible as the pirate flag fluttering on the masts.
Ethan gripped the dagger tightly in his hand. He felt like a part of this energy, his anxiety giving way to a confused excitement. One-Eyed Willy passed by Ethan, winking, and asked, "Your first plunder is always unforgettable, my young friend. Are you ready?"
Ethan took a deep breath and replied, "I'm ready," with a tremor in his voice. He held the dagger tightly as if it gave him strength and courage. As the crew finished their preparations, they were ready to set sail and embark on new adventures.
As the sun set, they sailed into the dark waters, leaving behind memories that shaped their stories, moving forward into the unknown adventures ahead.
When Blackbeard and his crew finally reached the ship they were about to attack, the evening sun was beginning to set on the horizon. The enemy ship's flag indicated it was part of a pirate fleet, signaling that the loot would be plentiful but the struggle fierce. The tension reached its peak as a long, sturdy plank was laid between the two ships, serving as a bridge. With the plank rested against the enemy ship, they understood that a clash was inevitable.
Blackbeard took the first step, bold and determined, followed by the other crew members. Ethan stepped onto the opposing ship, his muscles filled with adrenaline. In the midst of the chaos and screams, his heart raced, his mind entirely consumed by a survival instinct. The dagger in his hand felt like an extension of himself, yet in this new, bloody reality, he chose to use it solely for defense.
The enemy pirates were outnumbered; they came at them like shadows emerging from the sea itself. Swords clashed, guns fired, the smell of blood and gunpowder filled the air. But Blackbeard and his crew, with their experience and bravery, resisted their enemies.
Anne Bonny fought ruthlessly, One-Eyed Willy confused his opponents with agile moves, and Cat Fur Jack fended off his adversaries with his usual sly grin.
Ethan, in the midst of the commotion, was defending himself, watching his surroundings and swinging his dagger. He found himself more in a defensive stance than attacking; he wasn't aggressive towards his enemies, only blocking incoming blows. After parrying an attack from a pirate, he paused to catch his breath in a brief moment of respite. He was participating in a battle for the first time and felt lost, yet the survival instinct kept him standing.
Blackbeard cut through his enemies with strong, decisive moves. His combat skills and leadership inspired the crew. The enemy ship's captain was a tough opponent, but Blackbeard's strategy and the crew's cohesion dictated the battle's course. The enemy pirates began to retreat gradually, losing morale after their leader fell.
In the end, Blackbeard and his crew emerged victorious. The enemy pirates were either captured or fled. Victory cheers rose around them, but Ethan remained silent. He had just experienced a life-or-death struggle up close for the first time, and the adrenaline still coursed through his veins. As he looked around, he saw the crew beginning to collect the spoils. Ethan, trying to understand what this victory meant, also felt the relief of having survived.
Blackbeard approached Ethan and placed a hand on his shoulder, saying, "You did well, kid. The first battle is always tough. But you survived." Ethan nodded slightly in response, his mind still echoing with images of the battle. This experience would strengthen him, and perhaps next time, he would learn not only to defend but also to attack like a real pirate.