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Chapter Text

The legends of grand tales do not fail to skip small port villages. Tales of grandeur and bravery, plunder and victory. Ruthless pirate captains and their love of the sea, rum, and their loyal crews. Stories of mer and sirens, one helping and one drawing some to their deaths. Magic only the mind of a sea hardened man can imagine.

There’s Captain Technoblade, one of the most ruthless pirates to sail the high seas. He plunders any ship he comes across and leaves no survivors. He is a brave and strong warrior that not even the royal navy can beat.

There’s also Wilbur Soot, thought to be the son of a siren and man because his singing can make you forget your worries and bring you aboard his ship. His crews are always joyful and songs are never silent. But remember that he and his crew are dangerous and just as ruthless.

Mer and sirens, although they may be just tales and stories of waterlogged minds, are said to influence the waves and tides, bending earth’s patterns to their wills. Sirens like to lure ships to sharp rocks, where mer like to smooth the rocks for a safe passage.

And when these tales reach those small seaside towns, small children gather ‘round the pirates, all distrust lost for the stories, and they listen. 

 One of these children being Tommy Innit, an orphaned dockhand and part-time tavern waiter. He leaned close to the pirate speaking, eyes wide and bright.

 “Oi! Tavern boy!” His boss called. Tommy frowned and flipped him off without even turning around.

 “My ship was being forced towards the rocks, their sharp pints just barely sticking up out of the water. We all thought we were doomed!” The sailor said in a low, mysterious voice. All the children leaned a little closer.

 “And suddenly, as if by magic, the points vanished. We could all see a couple tails flicking in the water below, just barely blending in. And we all knew it was the mer. The mer had saved our ship!” The sailor finished.

 Tommy grinned and clapped along with the others.

“Tavern boy!” His boss called again.  

 The sailor looked at him and Tommy felt a little thrill of excitement run up his spine.

“You might want to keep runnin’ drinks, son.” He said deeply. Tommy nodded and hurried off.

 He carefully wove his way through all of the tables, making sure to to bump any one of them.

 “What do you want?” Tommy asked snarkily once he finally made his way to the bar.

“If you want to get yer pay, then you gotta do yer work, not goofin’ off with salt deranged sailors.” His boss hissed.

 Tommy nodded sadly and stepped behind the bar. At least he could still hear some of the pirate’s tales from here. Sorta… kinda… not really.

_[\\//]_

 He was finally handed a small handful of gold coins and was forced out of the tavern's door.

 “Thanks sir-” He started, just as the door was shut in his face.

“Yeah, yeah, I can tell when you don’t need a big man like me.” He muttered under his breath as he walked down the cobbled street. The sun was just barely coming up over the horizon and he stopped to watch it as it glinted lightly over the water.

 “But who doesn’t need a big man like me?” He asked himself as the sun finally rose above the water.

 The bell in the church tower chimed and he jumped and started to run home. He was very, very late now.

He hurriedly changed out of his drink stained tunic and stuffed his handful of coins in his trouser pocket. He grabbed his small knife, which he had forgotten the night before, and ran back out of the small rent-home.

The docks were thankfully only a short walk away from the home and he was able to make it before the unloading truly began.

 Tommy watched the passing ships as he carried crates from one end of the long dock to the other.

 He could spot commercial travel ships, which were big and luxurious, and small itty-bitty couple man crew ships for short distance travel.

 There were even a couple naval ships, with their big guns and new coats of paint, docked right next to pirate ships.

 Tommy enjoyed identifying the ships. He liked making up stories for each one, and the people that landed with them.

 That dingy could have been used for a daring escape from a burning ship and caused that massive burn mark.

 That merchant ship could have fallen to the winds of piracy and those bullet holes were from that.

 And this little ship… wow, it’s so small! How does it even manage across the ocean?

Tommy stepped a little closer, pretending that he was actually loading a couple crates onto the small, beautiful ship.

 It really didn’t look like it was able to sail the high seas, but it had gotten itself here, hadn’t it? Tommy smiled as he set down the crates.

 You know, it really was a shame. This was such a pretty ship and Tommy, well, Tommy was the only one here that could recognize that.

 See, those tales the sailors told, never deterred Tommy from wanting a life of crime and triumph. Each one had given him more reason to start his life as a criminal, a pirate.

 Stealing this beauty of a ship would definitely make him a criminal. The reasonable part of him knew of the consequences of stealing a ship and being a pirate. None of which were pleasant.

 But Tommy was a big man and not a little whiny bitch that followed the rules. So he quickly looked through the supplies, untethered the ship, and sailed off, not a hitch in the winged plan.

 Well…

“Hey you! Dockhand! What the fuck do you think your doin’?” Somebody shouted. Tommy shivered in fear and climbed the rigging to unfold the sails. Then he pulled up the anchor and tried to maneuver his ship out of the harbor.

 He ducked as a couple shots rang out, hissing as a bolt of pain brushed past his left arm.

 “That hurt you motherfucker!” Tommy yelled back, flipping them off.

Then he ran to the helm and guided the ship away, ducking as more shots were fired at him.

 And thus started his journey through the raging waves and ever changing tides.

Chapter Text

 Getting out of the harbor was the easy part. Sailing was surprisingly difficult, especially because he was only one man.

 He probably should have thought this out because now he was on the open water and he was slowly realizing that this ship… might not have been designed for this.

 There were no islands or any land anywhere and the sun was very hot on his back and face.

 His arm was starting to throb uncomfortably as well and red was slowly seeping through the tight cloth he had tied around it.

 All in all, Tommy was not having a good time. He was in fact, fucked. Very, very fucked.

But that didn’t stop Tommy Innit, the biggest man alive, from finding ways to enjoy himself!

 … He found weapons on the ship and he wasn’t sure how to use them so he decided to train.

 If he was to become a great pirate, he was going to have to learn how to use these!

Starting with the long lance-like sword shit thing.

 “Why does this thing have to be so fucking difficult?” Tommy complained as he lay face down on the boards of the ship.

 He had hung some spare bits of wood from the rigging and had spent a good part of the morning trying to hit them.

 Tommy had gotten one out of the three. 

What a day to be him, that’s for sure.

 “How about I go look through some of those papers in the captain’s cabin?” Tommy muttered to himself, pushing himself up and wandering over.

 The papers and books had been stored in small built-in alcoves above the desk beside the bed. He pulled a couple of them out to find maps.

 He did not know how to use maps.

He grabbed a couple and walked back to the helm to keep an eye on the wheel and try to make any heads or tales of the nonsensical diagrams.

 Eventually he got distracted by a couple of dolphins that were playing around his ship. They were beautiful creatures of nature and Tommy hadn’t seen many like this by the harbor he had grown up on.

 The sun dipped below the horizon and Tommy realized that he had yet to eat anything. He looked through the crates he had put on the ship before and found that there was one barrel of water and a couple things of food and lamp oil.

 Did this ship even have lamps? 

He grabbed some dried fruit and a cup of water to munch on as he watched the stars rise out on the deck.

 On a normal day he would be heading back to the tavern for another long night of serving people.

 Now he was free to do whatever he pleased out on the open seas.

The joy of it all caught up to him and he stood, whooping into the night breeze.

 He only stopped when he heard an echo of it.

Tommy suddenly realized that he was all alone. He had nobody to share this victory with him.

 Great. Stupid lack of social interaction, makin’ me all depressed.

He sighed and got up to tie the ship’s wheel on course and sleep. He snuggled into the nice covers and drifted off to the waves gently rocking the ship.

_[\\//]_

 After the thrill of his grand escape wore off, Tommy decided that he was going to need a schedule. 

 He started his day by eating a small breakfast and continuing to try and puzzle out the maps and use the compass.

 By midmorning he forced himself to work with the weapons, or try and learn how to tie various knots he found in the ropes around the ship. He also learned which ropes did what to the sail or other things.

 He had limited supplies so he often skipped lunch. He would spend the hottest parts of the day whittling a fishing pole out of a spare stick to become more self-sufficient.

 When the hot hours passed he stood at the helm, keeping the ship pointed towards the sun, knowing he was going west, which by the map, looked like he would hit an island eventually.

 As soon as the sun set, he would eat another small meal, make sure all of his lamps had been blown out, tied the wheel to make sure it didn’t move as he slept, and fell into bed.

 There would often be small mishaps in this tight schedule though.

Tommy accidentally slipped while he was whittling and cut himself and the blade itself was getting dull.

 He would get frustrated with the slow progress his fighting and accuracy was making and would often be on the verge of quitting.

 The waves sometimes crashed over the side of his ship and he would spend long hours trying to bail out the water.

 He would get distracted easily, awed by the appearance of sea creatures he had never seen before.

 The ropes he messed with stayed messed up if he wasn't careful and the knots he tied were weak and flimsy.

 The maps were confusing and he still couldn’t make heads nor tails of the ridiculous thing.

 His food supplies were running low after about a week and his water supply was even less.

 He was lonely.

I should have kidnapped somebody back at the dock. Tommy thought grumpily as he sat on the deck, looking over the maps once more, Somebody that kew what the actual fuck they were doing.

 After two weeks of the open sea, Tommy was starting to get desperate. His food was almost nonexistent and the fishing rod he made didn’t pull anything up.

 He was also starting to imagine things in the early morning fog. He could sometimes see a large tail disappear under the water or big ships looming out of the gray, but when he looked again, nothing was there.

 On the third day of the third week Tommy was lying face up on the deck and had just about given up hope that he was ever going to make land again when a fat raindrop hit his face.

 He bolted upright and squinted up at the gray clouds covering the sky.

“It’s raining- It’s RAINING!” He shouted, jumping up and grabbing his freshwater barrel. He dragged it into the middle of the deck and put buckets out to collect the rainwater. 

 He then sat to watch the waves carefully. He wanted to make sure that this wasn’t going to be a big storm because his ship couldn’t take it.

 He desperately prayed to any god out there that he was going to get lucky once again when he saw a great big wave barreling towards him.

Chapter Text

 Tommy’s eyes widened as the wave crashed over the edge of his small ship, dousing the small flame from the light and almost washing his barrels straight off the deck.

 “Fuck!” He yelped, running and slipping to try and grab a couple of the barrels, “I need those. Give those back, Ocean!”

 The ocean didn’t listen and another wave crashed over the deck and he was almost swept off.

 Tommy clung tightly to the railing as wave after wave pounded his ship.

This isn’t going to get me anywhere. I need to find a way to steer myself out of the depth of this storm.

 He opened his salt-stung eyes and glanced desperately around the soaking wet deck.

His maps had been, thankfully, stored in the cabin, and the door had been closed tight. The only things he really needed to worry about was the possibility that his ship was going to capsize and dump him in the unforgiving ocean.

 He yelped as the ship heaved and threatened to do just that, capsize.

“Fuck!” He shouted again as his grip slipped from the rail and he was almost thrown from the ship.

 “What to do? What to do?” He cried, desperately trying to think of ways to save himself.

 He heard a cracking sound and he looked up at the mast. The strong wood was waving dangerously in the wind, pulled along by the outstretched sails.

 “I need to furl the sail.” He muttered.

Tommy quickly let go of the rail after another strong wave and bolted to the mast. He scrambled up the ropes to try and fold the sails back.

 Instead he was flung off and landed on his shoulder on the hard deck. A wave crashed over him and he was swept into a railing before getting washed off the ship.

 Tommy tried to keep afloat, only to lose the battle to the raging waves. His shoulder pulsed with pain that seemed to triple everytime he moved it.

 He took one huge breath before his head went under the water and he watched his ship bob dangerously before the mast had dipped into the water.

 Tommy tried to kick to the surface but each new wave kept [pushing him further under.

See, Tommy had always been a strong swimmer, but his ability to hold his breath was never great.

 So each time a wave pushed him down his shoulder pulsed in pain and his vision got darker.

 Tommy was sinking.

So much for being a great pirate.

 The black covered his vision and Tommy blacked out.

_[\\//]_

 Tommy coughed violently as he came to.

He lay there, gasping for breath as he stared up at the clear skies.

 Once he had managed to catch his breath, he sat up and promptly doubled over, clutching his shoulder.

 He looked at it, finding bright bruises and the joint not looking quite… right…

“What happened?” He wondered allowed. He looked around and found himself on his water-washed ship on calm water.

 Wasn’t there… a storm? Didn’t I drown?

He looked up at his mast and found that the sails had been furled.

 “I need to unfurl that if I plan on getting anywhere.” Tommy said to nobody in particular.

The task proved to be much more difficult than he had initially planned. His shoulder was stiff and he couldn’t lift it very high.

 His chest also hurt for some reason and his breathing was ragged and uneven.

But he still couldn’t really remember what had happened.

 That night he lay in his bed, trying to pop his, most likely, dislocated shoulder back into place.

 He couldn’t.

A little after the moon rose to its highest, he gave up, gasping in pain. The exaggerated breaths hurt more and his throat was dry and sore.

 It’s like I swallowed a large amount of salt water-

“Shit.” Tommy whispered as the memories of the storm from the previous day flooded his brain. 

 He had nearly drowned.

How had he not drowned?

 He was alone out here. He didn’t even have any rats. It’s not like he had enough food to keep them alive to begin with either.

 So how the everloving fuck did he survive passing out underwater?

“Either way, I have a fantastic story to tell people when I get to a port.” Tommy said happily as he changed into slightly less salt soaked clothes.

 It was difficult to pull on a shirt, so he just gave up on the idea and lay on his back. His bed smelled like sea salt and it made his eyes water.

 “If I make it to a port.” he added darkly, the thought striking him, “I mean, I don’t have any water left. The food I do have isn’t enough, even if I ration it. I’m hurt and can’t perform the most basic tasks.”

 He sighed and closed his eyes, letting sleep take him and falling into dreams.

The waves raged and he clung tightly to the rails of the small bobbing ship.

 Wait, hadn’t this happened before?

Tommy looked up and saw a dark shape circling his ship.

 It looked… like a big bird.

The only birds that could fly out here were wandering albatrosses and that… didn’t look like one.

 “Hello?” He called.

A wave washed over the ship and he ended up getting swept with it.

 He opened his eyes and he was floating in the dark water, no bottom in sight and his ship sinking far below him.

He however, just seemed to be floating in place.

As he tried to take a breath, salt water flowed into his nostrils and stung.

He coughed and suddenly he could breathe.

He tried to kick to the surface, only to find that he was trapped in a large creature’s talons. He wiggled violently.

 He looked into the big black eyes of the Death Crow and screamed.

Tommy shot up in his bed, sweat covering his skin, His shoulder screaming in pain as he pulled himself out of bed.

 He grabbed some stabbed sailcloth tightly wrapped his injured shoulder to make sure it didn’t move anymore than needed.

 Then he pushed open his door and stepped out on his deck.

The skies were still clear and he could clearly see the stars.

 A gentle wind cooled the sweat on his skin and he breathed deeply though his sore throat.

 The breeze smelled fresh and a sudden thought struck Tommy.

“The wind didn’t smell like this before the storm. It smelled stale and cold.” He said out loud.

 Now he knew at least one thing to warn him from more near-death experiences in the future.

 As he looked out over the dark water, a couple lights lit up the horizon.

At first he thought it was the sun coming over the water, but no, it was still too early for that and the sun was didn’t rise in the west.

 That could only mean one thing.

“LAND HO!”

Chapter Text

“LAND HO!” Tommy shouted gleefully, managing to forget the dull pain in his shoulder for a second.

 “I’m not going to die out here!” He laughed, dancing around the deck of his ship.

He hurried to unfurl the sails, hoping to get to land soon.

 Tommy stood at the wheel, guiding the ship closer to the lights on the horizon, excitement racing through him.

 However, as his ship got closer, he realized that he was in fact… not heading towards land.

 He was heading towards a full blown naval battleship.

And they already knew he was there.

 Shit.” Tommy muttered as he climbed his mast, tying the white flag of surrender to the top of the flagpole, “Shit, shit, shit.”

 He hurried back doan and desperately tried to pull on a shirt, which only managed to agitate his shoulder worse.

 He didn’t really want to make a bad impression, also they could probably see him and were wondering why the hell a skinny blonde dude was dancing around his ship shirtless.

 “Us pirates, what can you say?” Tommy laughed as he gave up, clutching his shoulder.

The larger ship was approaching fast now, almost all sails at full mast, and he was starting to get nervous.

 “I need a cover story.” Tommy muttered as he locked his cabin door, and ran back to the wheel.

 He gently guided the ship away from the fast approaching battleship. He could try and slowly steer clear of them before setting his sail at full mast and making his grand escape!

 “Hello boys in blue!” He called, waving at the pale white faces lit by the lanterns of the bigger ship.

 “Kid, get your captain.” Somebody called. Tommy narrowed his eyes, unable to make out who it was in the early morning.

 “Move it!” Another voice barked.

He jumped and bowed.

 “Well gentlemen, you so happen to be in the presence of the greatest captain in the world!”

 His face flushed in embarrassment as he heard laughter from the deck of the bigger ship.

 “No, kid, bring us the actual captain.” Somebody chuckled.

Tommy glared and turned to the cabin. 

 Let’s give these bitches a show they won’t forget.

He unlocked the door and grabbed his stolen pistol. 

 He hadn’t practiced with the gun very much, but at this point, it was either hit or miss and his life depended on the fact that he couldn't miss.

 He slowly walked out of his cabin and he could still hear the deep laughter from the naval crew.

 “They aren’t going to be laughing for very much longer.” Tommy muttered to himself.

“Look, the kid’s back! Did you get your captain?”

 Tommy looked up at the ship and grinned wickedly.

“Show me your captain before I show you mine!” He shouted back.

 There was more laughter and general agreement from the ship and Tommy chuckled, stopping quickly when the motion sent a spike of pain through his shoulder.

 Suddenly there was another lamp hanging over the edge of the larger ship’s deck and Tommy could make out a magnificently dressed man looking over the railing.

 “You look quite dressed up for a life on the seas.” Tommy laughed, nearly doubling over in mirth.

 “You upstart scum Bring out your captain.” The naval official ordered.

Tommy stopped laughing and leveled his pistol at the man, using the added lamplight and the rising sun to guide his sight.

 The laughing men hanging over the edge all stopped and froze, eyes wide as they watched the hilariously skinny teen on the deck below them.

 “I said that I am the captain and you have no right to order me around.” Tommy shouted coldly.

 The captain’s eyes were wide with fear and determination and Tommy made sure not to blink.

 “Do not move or I will shoot.” Tommy yelled as he saw somebody move out of the corner of his eye. The motion stopped and he smiled.

 “Good. Now I am going to start unfurling my mainsail and you will make no move to stop me.” Tommy said, slowly taking steps toward his mast.

 Nobody moved for a moment and Tommy took that as a good sign. He turned and climbed his rigging with as much finesse as he could muster.

 He quickly finished unfurling the sails and made his way back to the solid wood of his deck. He looked up at the crew of the bigger ship and smiled, bowing again. He could feel the slow movement of his ship pushing forward under his feet.

 “Thank you for your cooperation, my fine sailors! Now I’ll be on my way-”

He stepped to the side as a gunshot sounded and a bullet hit his deck.

 Final straw.

“You shouldn't have done that.” He laughed, aiming at the terrified looking captain.

 He pulled the trigger and found that his aim was pretty good for only a couple days of continuous practice.

 The captain cried out and fell backwards, prompting a couple members of his crew to peel away to help him and the other to open fire on him.

 “That was sadly not as thought out as I had hoped.” Tommy muttered as he raced to his wheel just as a strong gust of wind caught his sails and his ship sprang forward like a bullet from a gun (Hehe pun).

 “Suck it losers!” Tommy laughed as his smaller ship, which had been dwarfed by the battleship, quickly pulled away and raced along the waves, “You’ll never catch me while I’m on the deck of the Clemetine!”

 The last thing those naval sailors heard of the cheeky teen was the shout of, “And this’ll be that last you’ll see of the great Tommy Danger Kraken Innit, the best one man crew to exist!”

_[\\//]_

 Tommy shook from the hunger that seemed to constantly drag at his body. The rush of adrenaline that had come from outrunning the battleship had long since faded and now he was just tried.

 He was still in pain and his throat was sorer than before. He couldn’t sleep without nightmares and the hope of finding land again was starting to fade.

 “I just had to get my hopes up.” Tommy complained as he lay flat on his deck again. It was nearly dusk and he had taken to watching the wandering albatrosses far above him.

 Except… they weren’t Albatrosses any more. They were flying closer, and they were much smaller.

 Seagulls.

And where seagulls were, land was surely close. Seagulls couldn’t withstand the crazy weather the ocean often stirred up and they tended to stick closer to land.

 He laughed and shot to his feet, unfurling his sail and watching the seagulls for any particular direction they were going.

 West. They’re going west.

He gently turned the wheel, making the Clementine follow the white seabirds.

 In a couple minus Tommy was able to see an actual shape on the horizon, set apart from the sea by the backlight from the sun.

 “I think this might actually be land this time. What do we say?” Tommy asked, looking up at the birds high above.

 They… didn’t answer. Figures. 

The land was fast approaching and Tommy climbed the rigging again to trim the sails a bit, slowing his pace. He needed to see if this island was inhabited and by whom.

 Naval bases were often stationed on random islands across the archipelago and there were a couple ports that absolutely despised pirates with a passion.

 Upon closer inspection, the island looked inhabited by normal seaside people so he drove his ship into a lonely dock and helped a dockhand tie his ship down, making sure he wasn’t going anywhere.

 He stepped off his ship and leaned against a tall stack of crates for a moment, not used to the stillness of solid ground.

 Once he had adjusted he walked down the streets of the small town. He ignored the odd looks he was getting at his sling and his lack of a shirt.

 He was looking for a doctor and a couple vendors, he didn’t have time for useless socialization.

 Tommy the pirate had landed.

Chapter Text

 He found the doctor’s house easily enough, having asked a couple locals where it was.

It was getting the care he needed without paying that was the problem. He didn’t have enough money to pay for both food and a medical bill.

 And he wasn't evil enough to leave a town without a doctor, so murder was out of the opinion.

 Tommy sighed and knocked on the door.

He didn’t have to wait very long before he was being let in by a kindly looking doctor. He greeted them with a smile and a polite nod.

 “What seems to be the trouble sir?” The doctor asked, sitting Tommy down on a cot and taking out a clipboard.

 “Well, I’m having trouble with my shoulder. I hit it pretty hard on the deck of my ship a little while back.” Tommy answered pointing at the offending appendage.

 “I’ll take a look.” The doctor concluded, standing and peering closer.

Tommy stared off in the distance as they did their thing.

 “Sir… this is a major dislocation of your shoulder joint, along with massive amounts of bruising.” The doctor reported.

 “Is that bad?”

The doctor sighed and rubbed their face.

 “Can you tell me your day-to-day routine and what you’ve been eating for the past couple of weeks?” The doctor asked.

 “Sure thing Dr….” Tommy trailed off, squinting at the doctor’s name tag.

“Ponk.”

 “Ok Dr. Ponk! Well, I start my day with some water and bread, or fish if I have some. I mess around my ship for a good part of the morning. I take shelter from the hot sun ‘cause I don’t got any water left. Then at night I eat another small meal and go to bed, usually consisting of, again, bread and water.” Tommy listed, counting off with his hands.

 “And how did you say you got this injury?” Ponk asked.

“I fell off my ship’s mainmast during a storm maybe a day or two ago.” Tommy replied.

 “We were hit by that storm. Any ship caught in that was sunk almost instantly.” Ponk said, eyes wide in surprise, “How the fuck did you not die?”

Tommy gave a one armed shrug.

“Beats me. I’m pretty sure I was drowning at one point.” Tommy said nonchalantly.

 Ponk’s face paled and Tommy was worried they were going to pass out or something.

“Let’s fix up that shoulder and get you back on your way, alright kid?”

 Tommy nodded, but stopped.

“Hey! I’m not a kid, dickhead!”

_[\\//]_

 Tommy muttered to himself as he was shooed out of the kind doctor’s office. Ponk had sent him off with a bottle of rum to help stave away pain. They had also given him a nice, uncomfortable sling for his arm after they had painfully reset it.

 Let’s just say that Tommy didn’t ever want to do that ever again.

Ponk’s warnings were also ringing in his ears as he walked down the streets of the small seaside town.

 He was still getting odd looks, but he was also wearing a shirt now, so he was a bit less suspicious. The streets were a bit more crowded as well, giving him the cover that he needed to get his supplies and be off without paying too much.

 A storefront caught his attention before he could get too far.

A mapmaker.

 He grinned and changed course, cutting through the crowds with ease, still pretty oblivious to the locals' apparent superstition.

 A small bell announced his arrival into the quiet and dainty little shop. He spotted a bored looking worker and walked up, smiling charmingly.

 “Hello! Is there any way you could help me with a couple problems I’ve been having?” He called, shattering the silence with his loud voice.

 The worker looked up and smiled.

“Sure. Let's see what you need help with.”

 Tommy explained his trouble with maps and the compass on his ship.

“I can never find north on the compass. I only know east and west because of the sun and that’s during the day.” Tommy complained.

 “The red arrow is north, see. It correlates with the top part of this little thing here, called a compass rose. That’s how you can tell the direction you’re going in.” The worker explained.

 “And how do you know how far you’ve traveled if there are no landmarks?” 

“You use this little helpful tool.” The worker said, pulling out a little metal tweezers with sharp points.

 They explained the exact use of the device and Tommy was fascinated.

“And to think I’ve been struggling with this thing the past three weeks!” He exclaimed, grinning widely.

 “It is a matter of skill and the lesson learned. Also, haven’t you had crew members to help you out with this? It’s pretty difficult to man a ship alone.”

 “You tell me. No, I have not had people with me for the past three weeks and I think I might remedy that in a bit. Thanks for the free lessons!” Tommy called as he walked out of the shop.

 The worker sputtered behind him and Tommy giggled, waving over his injured shoulder as he blatantly grabbed paper, books, and pens.

Yeah, he had this pirating thing down to a ‘t’. 

“Hey! You can’t just steal that stuff! You need to pa-”

 The owner’s panicked voice was cut off by the abrupt slamming of the door as Tommy took off down the streets.

 His ship was in sight and he grinned even wider.

There were barrels stacked on the deck and all the lines were neatly tied again.

 He was ready to go.

“Get back here thief!” The shop owner shouted.

 Tommy turned and flipped him the bird before sprinting to his ship, unfastening the lines, unfurling the sails and shooting out of the bay.

 At least there were no gunshots this time-

Ah fuck. There they were.

 Tommy ducked as metal flew past his head.

“Can you stop shooting shit at me? I only stole knowledge and a couple things!” Tommy shouted, piloting his ship farther and farther out of view from the shore.

 He laughed uproariously as he watched the tiny black dots of the people get smaller and smaller.

 What a great day to be a pirate.

That night, Tommy treated himself to a good meal and some rum. But as he was cleaning up his plate one of the barrels behind him started to make noise. Which was very unlike something barrels were supposed to do.

 “Uh… Hello?” He called, walking closer, his hand on a small dagger he had tucked into the waistline of his pants.

 The top of the barrel popped off and he jumped back, his dagger in his hand and pointed at the head sticking out of his barrel.

 “Who the fuck are you?” Tommy demanded, hsi hands surprisingly steady as he glared at the intruder.

 “Hi. I’m Tubbo. I think I’ve been kidnapped.” The kid said in a cheerful tone

Chapter Text

“Milord!” the messenger cried, “I bring news from the helm of Mighty Storm!”

 The king sat up in his seat and nodded.

“Relay the message.”

 “The captain has fallen under weather. An injury from a bullet has gone unhealed and he is requesting leave for recovery. The ship has been hit with storms on the high seas and many of the men are sick. Also requesting leave penchant.” The messenger read.

 “Are they at the dock?” the king asked.

“Yes milord.”

 “Very well then. I will make an appearance and then give my word. In the meantime, find my navel head, tell him to meet me in the cabin of the Mighty Storm. I need to have a word with him.”

 The messenger bowed deeply and quickly left the room.

The king sighed and rested his chin in his fist, watching the seagulls fly outside his high palace windows.

 The Mighty Storm’s captain was one of his fleet’s most capable. If he had been bested in a duel, then he would have the rise of a pirate tyrant on his hands and he wouldn’t be able to stop it.

 He pushed himself out of his chair and regally walked out of his palace and through the streets of his city.

 The docks were one of his favorite places to be, but now, they were filled with yelling sailors and navel soldiers. 

 “The king requests an audience of Captain Sapnap. His crew will be given the day off and the dockhands are to steer clear of the cabin!” A town crier yelled. 

 The motion on the dock halted and the soldiers slowly started to make their way to one of the nearby taverns.

 The king smiled slightly and walked himself to the cabin at the back of the ship. He pushed open the door to see the captain laying on the bed, sickly pale and sleeping.

 “Sapnap.” He said.

The captain’s eyes opened and he frowned.

 “Hey George. I’m pretty sure we didn’t take you with us when we left.” He rasped.

“You didn’t. Your ship has docked and you are back home.” George said regally.

 “Nah…” Sapnap muttered, pulling the thin blanket further up over his chest.

“Yes. And you can not just address me as George now Captain. It is King George.”

 “Gogy, me an’ Dream are the only reason why you have the position.” Sapnap slurred. George frowned.

 “You are on thin ice. Any more of this insubordination and I’ll have you remember how the dungeons feel.” George said hotly. He then turned away from the sickly man and waited for his right hand man to show up.

 “Hey boys!” Dream called merrily from the door as he entered.

“Dream, this is not a meeting between friends. You are here on important matters and I expect you to honor those matters.” George said.

 Dream shrugged and walked over to sit next to Sapnap.

“What happened to you?” Dream asked, looking over his friend.

 “Got shot and the wound got infected.” Sapnap muttered, eyes lidded.

“Which brings to light another issue. How did you come about this injury? Tis nearly impossible to defeat you in a fair duel.” George asked.

 “Aw, it wasn’t a fair duel, or a duel at all! The kid came out of his cabin, shot me, and then shot off with that little beauty of a ship.” Sapnap said.

 “Wait, hold on. What kid? What ship?” Dream asked, putting a hand on the man’s shoulder.

 “The kid was skinny. Can’t have had more than a couple meals in him. His shoulder was all weird, bent and out of place. You could tell because he didn’t have a shirt on. His blonde hair shined in the sun and he had a determined look in his blue eyes…” Sapnap trailed off, eyes going foggy.

 “Sap, did you catch his name?” Dream asked.

“Oh, my men tell me that his name is Tommy Danger Kraken Innit and his ship is named the Clementine.” Sapnap said.

 “Good. Now, did he have a captain? What do you think his age was? This ship, what was it like?” George asked, leaning forward slightly.

 “He was the captain. Actually I think he was the only one on that ship. He looked around fifteen or sixteen. The ship itself didn’t look like it should be on the high seas, looking worse for wear. Kinda like a river traveler and a small bay skipper mixed in one with sail ship features added.” Sapnap described.

 George nodded, pulling one of the cabin’s pads of bound paper towards him and writing down everything his friend had just described.

 “Dream, please don’t let Gogy go out and find this kid. He’s actually pretty talented for a one man crew. He managed to survive one of the worst storms I’ve ever seen at sea.” Sapnap muttered, grabbing tightly onto Dream’s arm.

 “You know I can’t stop his royal majesty once he’s got his mind set on something.” Dream sighed.

 “I can hear every goddamned word you say.” George growled.

“Good. That way you can hear me say, you don’t need to find this kid! He’s not a problem to your empire!” Sapnap yelled, pushing himself up. The covers slipped off his bandaged torso and George winced.

 “He hurt you, yeah? Then I have every means to enact revenge. Besides, we can’t have word of a dirty little pirate on the rise. I will not have it.” George said, eyes glowing angrily.

 Sapnap sighed. Dream had been right. Nothing could stop George when his mind was set.

 George kept on writing his wanted papers as Dream and Sapnap chatted quietly with each other.

 “Dream, I want every capable Captain and crew you’ve got looking around the archipelago for this little bastard. When you find him, bring him here to me. Give these papers to every town you find and start the manhunt.” George said when he was done. He handed Dream the papers and smiled in satisfaction as Dream’s eye glinted manically.

 “George I’m telling you, this isn’t going to get you anywhere but into a world of hurt.” Sapnap muttered wisely, laying back on his bed.

 “Captain Sapnap, I don’t want you or your crew out just yet. I need you to recover fully with the help of my medical staff in my castle.” George said, turning back to his bedridden friend.

 “Yay… Royal drugs. How nice.” Sapnap whispered, already almost asleep.

George laughed and ordered some of his men to bring the captain to his castle as he walked off the ship.

 This land had once belonged to the unruly pirates, but now that he had come to power, there will be order. 

 And god help his soul if he should ever let it go back to the way it once was.

Chapter Text

Tommy stared at the small teen sitting at his small table. Tubbo was munching away on some of the food Tommy had just given him.

 “Why did you sneak onto my ship?” Tommy asked.

“Because I was sick of land life and wanted adventure!” Tubbo said happily. Tommy raised an eyebrow.

 “And you thought getting on a pirate ship would get you an adventure?” Tommy asked.

Tubbo nodded and finished off the piece of bread.

 “Well, you also looked lonely and I thought you needed company.” Tubbo said.

Tommy glared.

 “I’m not wrong. I know what it’s like to be all alone.” Tubbo said sadly.

That’s it, this bitch is going overboard.

 Tommy grabbed Tubbo by the shirt and dragged him out on the deck.

“Give me a reason to not throw you to the sharks.” Tommy hissed, staring into the other tean’s fearful eyes.

 “I can cook?”

“I can do that.”

 “I’m nice?”

“I don’t care.”

 Tommy started moving toward the railing and Tubbo sputtered frantically.

“I can tie knots!” he shouted.

 Tommy stopped and looked at the teen. Tubbo sighed deeply.

“That… is actually something I need.” Tommy said, letting Tubbo go. Tubbo took a step back and blinked.

 “How are you a one man crew that can’t tie knots?” 

Tommy frowned and lunged at him again, but Tubbo jumped back.

 “You’re going to need to be faster than that if you want to catch me!” Tubbo cried. Tommy frowned, but only to hide his smile.

 “No you don’t you fucker!” He shouted, chasing Tubbo back and forth across the deck.

 The moon reached its highest point, shining brightly over the cal waters as Tommy and Tubbo lay panting on the deck.

 “Truce?” Tubbo asked.

“Truce.” Tommy groaned, rubbing at his sore shoulder. He had accidentally bumped it against the mast, hard.

 “You ok?” Tubbo asked, sitting up and looking Tommy over.

Tommy flipped him off.

 Tubbo rolled his eyes and layed back down.

They both sat in silence, staring at the stars, listening to the gentle sounds of calm water under the ship’s hull.

 It was peaceful and Tommy decided that he kind of liked having Tubbo with him. He wasn’t nearly as lonely and the world didn’t feel so insurmountably big.

_[\\//]_

 Tommy groaned as Tubbo missed the target for the tenth time.

“Are you even aiming?” Tommy asked, watching as Tubbo attempted to point the gun again. His friend’s hand was shaky and uncertain.

 “I am, belive me! It just keeps curving!” Tubbo cried.

“Here, let me show you.” Tommy took the gun and nudged Tubbo out of the way. He pointed the gun, following the sight and shot, hitting the target, dead in the center.

 “I think I’m just better suited for the knives.” Tubbo mumbled.

“You need to know how to use all of the weapons on board! You never know when we’ll get attacked!” Tommy cried, turning on the other teen.

 Tubbo frowned and stared at the deck.

“Maybe I’m just not as good as you at this pirating thing. I’ve been on this ship for a while now and havn’t gotten the hang of anything.” Tubbo muttered.

 Tommy sighed and took his friend’s shoulder.

“Well, you’ve never shot a gun before and you’ve done well for your first time. You did well with the knives and you’re pretty good with the cutlass.” Tommy encouraged.

 “And it’s not just about the fighting and weaponry. You can fish, providing us a good source of food. You came up with a clever water purifiying system below and you are great at the knots and you are an amazing teacher.” Tommy continued, “That’s what I think pirating is about.”

 “But the stories just make it seem like it’s kill or be killed, running from authorities and stealing pretty ladies from castles.” Tubbo said, still not looking at Tommy.

 “Those are stories.” Tommy laughed, “And yes, there are some things that are fn, but it’s mostly just living.”

 “A way of life, nought for those of the faint of heart.” Tubbo said, sounding like he was quoting something from what he heard before.

 “Of course.” Tommy said, smiling.

Tubbo hugged him tight an Tommy blinked in surprise for a moment. It had been a very long time since he had been hugged like this.

 “Thanks Tommy.” Tubbo muttered. Tommy patted his friend’s back.

“Are you hungry?” Tommy asked after a moment. Tubbo laughed tearily and they walked below decks together to start making their lunch.

 “Do you have any tips for shooting better?” Tubbo asked as he cut up some fish in their small kitchen.

 “Close your right eye instead of your left. Have confidence in what your doing.” Tommy said, lighting the small fire under the water sanitizer Tubbo ahd built.

 “It’s that easy?” Tubbo asked, turning and glaring at Tommy with the knife held threateningly in his hand. Tommy shrugged.

 “You need a lot of practice too, but confidence is a lot of it.” Tommy said.

Tubbo scoffed and turned back to the fish.

_[\\//]_

 That night Tommy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Tubbo was sleeping soundly next to him. They found it to make more sense if they just slept in the captain’s cabin together becaus ethere was only two of them.

 But Tommy wasn’t sleeping. He couldn’t really.

How had he gotten so good at weapons in such a short time? He had only started practicing a couple weeks ago, yet he was able to hit a man far above him with accuracy.

 He had also gotten better at usng the cutlass and he was able to through a knife with ease.

Weapons weren’t the only thing he was getting better at too quickly. He had seen Tubbo working around the ship and very easily picked up a couple useful knots and slang terms for the ropes.

 He could climb the mast like a monkey, something he wouldn’t have been able to do before that storm…

 The storm.

Tommy sat up in bed and blinked.

 “Tom…?” Tubbo muttered sleepily.

“I’m fine Tubbs, go back to sleep.” Tommy said softly, sliding out of bed and putting on a coat.

 He then walked out of the cabi and onto the deck and looked up at the stars.

“Something happened during that storm.” He said to the night, “When I went overboard, i should have died. Drowned. My ship should have gone down.”

 The stars twinkled merrily.

“So why didn’t I?” Tommy asked the twinkling stars.

 He shrugged and went around the ship blowing out the laturns the two of them had forgotten to blow out before they went to sleep.

 Then he turned back to his cabin to try and sleep. He pushed open the door and found Tubbo getting ot of bed.

 “What are you doing?” Tommy asked.

“You left!” Tubbo cried, looking at him with tears in his eyes.

 “For two minutes!” Tommy laughed, sitting next to the other teen and letting him hug him.

“Don’t leave me.” Tubbo muttered into Tommy’s injured shoulder.

 “I won’t.” Tommy promised.

They got back into bed and fell asleep.

 Tubbo was looking at him with fear. 

Fear of him. No, fear for him.

 Tommy looked down at his hands and found them bloody.

Blood was everywhere.

 He looked back up at Tubbo, only for his friend to vanish, his cries of Tommy’s name echoing across a vast sea of black.

 Tommy blinked and he was on a ship made of white bone and dark sails dripping with blood.

He was paralized and a wave of black crashed over the edgeof his ship, pushing him over.

 He was trapped in the water, drowning on blood ad fear.

Then he was being pushed back out, up above the dark water and onto a plank floating, still at mercy of the stormy waves.

 Tommy tried to shout, to call for Tubbo, anything, but his throat seemed to be sealed, no sound escaping.

 A shade rose out of the ocean and Tommy’s eyes widened as he found himself faced with the Crow of Death.

 The demon wasn’t actually a crow, but crows followed the monster werever it went, despite there no land.

 Tommy tried to scream as the Death reached out a clawed hand, running it through his hair.

“You are precious.” The death whispered.

 “Please-” Tommy choked, the word leaving as his throat filled with the dark water, the piece of his ship sliding away and dropping him back into the water.

 “You are special.” Death muttered, diving below and facing Tommy with pearly eyes and sharp teeth.

 Tommy’s world started to go black as bubbles rose from the depths, enveloping him.

“Mine.” 

 Tommy woke up, taking heaving gasps of breath. Tubbo sat next to him, patting his back as he yawned.

 “Bad dream?” Tubbo asked. Tommy nodded.

“Sorry about that, man.” Tubbo said, getting out of bed and getting dressed for the day.

 “What’s for breakfast?” Tommy asked, trying to forget the nightmare.

“I was thinking about trying to make some pancakes. Try out that new pan we found a couple days ago.” Tubbo said, holding the door open for Tommy to follow.

 They stepped out and found in the morning light, a large naval ship heading their way.

“Shit.” Tommy whispered, turning to a pale Tubbo, “Looks like you’ll get your adventure.”

Chapter Text

 Tubbo shivered and Tommy took his shoulder.

“We’re going to be alright. Follow my orders and we’ll get out of this alive.” He said confidently.

 Tubbo nodded.

“So what are we going to do, boss?” 

 Tommy looked back at the bigger ship and saw the distance they had.

“Turn. Back into the mist and away before they notice us.”

 Tubbo ran off to turn the sails as Tommy manned the wheel, catching the wind and attempting to vanish back into the early morning mist before they were hailed.

 “Tommy, they’re advancing!” Tubbo shouted from his perch in the ropes.

“Do they have their cannons out yet?” Tommy called.

 “Yeah.” 

Tommy shuddered and jerked the wheel and they turned in a near circle.

 “What are you doing?” Tubbo shouted, pulling the ropes again to compensate for the sudden turn.

“If the cannons are out, we’ll slide by and try diplomacy. If they fire, they hurt their own ship too.” Tommy said, eyes narrowed as they sped towards the other ship.

 “You better not be leaving me.” Tubbo yelled.

Tommy beckoned him from the ropes and he jumped down, landing softly.

 “If they board I want you to hide. Do not let them find you. I have done worse than you and you will not take the fallout from my actions. Do you understand.” Tommy said, grabbing Tubbo’s arm.

 “And if they take you-”

“Let them take me. I will make it out.” Tommy muttered. 

 Tubbo frowned but nodded. His eyes were dark and Tommy could see a storm gathering in them.

“Looks like they’ve seen us.” Tubbo said, turning back to the naval ship, a lanturn waving over the bow.

 Tommy could tell that his friend was mad at him, but he didn’t care. He needed to know that Tubbo was going to be safe if he was right about what the people on the ship wanted.

 “Get ready to deploy Plan Diplomacy!” Tommy called, a smile plastered on his face.

Tubbo snorted and hid himself in the ropes, out of sight for the time being.

 “Crew of the Clementine!” a gruff voice from above called. Tommy looked up, hand shielding his eyes from the brightening sun.

 “Hello!” He shouted back.

“Requesting access to the deck?” 

 Tommy sighed. It was better than him walking into their grasp.

“Access granted, welcome aboard.” Tommy called.

He looked up at the spot Tubbo had previously occupied, but found the teen nowhere in sight.

Good. 

 A fancily dressed captain landed on his deck from a rope far above and Tommy stifled a disbelieving laugh.

 They keep getting even gaudier uniforms, disgusting.

“Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?” The captain asked, bowing slightly in greeting.

 “Captain Tommy Innit sir.” Tommy said, a warm smile in place on his face, “and you?”

“I am Captain Punz of Moonlight Hunter.” The captain said. Tommy tried to remember where he had heard that name before.

 “What do you want from me and my small ship, Captain?” Tommy asked, hands tucked behind his back in a picture of politeness.

 In reality he was grabbing his knife’s handle in preparation for a fight.

“Is there a place we can talk in private?” The Captain asked.

 “I am the only one on this ship, sir. This is as private as a place is going to get.” Tommy said, smile hardening. 

 He was not going to be trapped in an enclosed space with this dangerous man. He was smarter than that.

“Very well then.” Captain Punz said.

 “What do you want?” Tommy asked again. He was getting impatient, but the captain didn’t notice.

“I just needed to see your credentials and…” The Captain paused and Tommy tensed.

 Then, faster than he could blink, Punz whipped out a pistol and pointed it at Tommy’s face.

“Now I can take you in, pirate. You’ll hang and we can be done with your chaos.” The Captain growled.

 Tommy sighed and let his eyes wander.

“And what will become of my ship?” He sounded nonchalant, perfectly at ease. But he was tense and he needed to know… Needed to know what was going to happen to Tubbo.

 “We will tow this ship back to the providence where you stole it.” Punz said, taking a step forward and grabbed Tommy’s arm.

 “Let go.” Tommy said quietly. I have to put on the show of my life.

“And what will you do,” Punz smiled, disgusting satisfaction dripping from his tone, “If I don’t?”

 Tommy didn’t say anything, eyes directed at the ground. The picture of a man with no plan and no way out.

 Captain Punz didn’t know that Tubbo was watching the entire time from his hiding spot, eyes alight with fury at the idea that they would kill his friend. 

 But Tommy had a plan. Tommy always had a plan.

I guess I have to read that paper now.

_[\\//]_

 Tommy grunted as he hit the solid wood of the brig. His hands were firmly shackled behind his back and his shoulder ached a fair bit.

 The barred door slammed shut behind him and he sighed, resting his head against the wood for a long moment.

The world was quiet and peaceful and he was able to float in silence for a while.

But then he was pulled out of the comfort and into a world of pain.

 “You alive?” 

Tommy lifted his head to see the other person in the brig’s cell.

 “No.” he muttered, resting his head back down again. The crew hadn’t been gentle with him, that’s for sure.

 Did they purposefully try to break my ribs? Because they definitely broke something.

“You don’t really look dead.” The other prisoner said. Tommy sighed and sat up gingerly.

 “Do you not understand sarcasm?” Tommy asked, eyes narrowed, but refraining from insulting the man. He wasn’t sure why he was in here, but any reason would make him dangerous.

 “Oh, I didn’t think-” the prisoner paused and sighed, “It’s been a bit. Sorry.”

Uh…

 “How long have you been down here?” Tommy asked, getting gingerly to his feet and stepping over his arms so they were in front of him instead of behind his back.

 “I’m not sure. I think they got me in the middle of spring, right after a freak storm nearly sunk my ship and then wrecked it against some rocks. Then these bastards found us and now I’m here.”

 “What-” Tommy paused and took a breath, “What happened to your crew?”

“They were picked off. I’m the last. Too bad this captain didn’t go down with his ship.” the prisoner said, turning his face away from Tommy.

 “I’m ah- sorry man. That sucks.” Tommy said, tucking his head in his knees as he ignored the pain from his bruised ribs.

 He was affected by that storm too. I wonder if he also gets nightmares. Does the Death Crow follow him too?

 “What happened to yours? You are alone too.” The prisoner said. 

This man talks like a fucking poet. Or a scholar. Either one really. Annoying prick.

 “I was a one man crew for a while, then I had a stow-away.”

The other man’s face twisted in concern and another emotion Tommy couldn’t identify.

 “He’s safe, and our ship is being towed behind this one.” Tommy finished, The prisoner nodded and leaned his head back against the walls of the cell. Somehow that wasn’t what the man was curious about, Tommy noticed.

 “How are you able to maneuver a ship single handedly?” The prisoner asked.

Tommy shrugged his not-aching shoulder.

 “I just… figured it out. It’s a small ship, but a pretty steep learning curve-”

“You mean you had no sailing experience before you set off on a one-man journey?” the prisoner asked, looking at him with admiration.

 “Yep. I didn’t even have a full inventory when I set off. Well, I did steal the ship.” Tommy chuckled.

“No wonder they want your guts.” The prisoner said.

 “Actually it was probably after I shot that naval captain when they laughed at me. Or it could have been after I stole those cartography supplies.” Tommy counted off.

 “And you’ve been on the sea for… how long?” The prisoner looked at him with amused eyes.

“About three weeks before that storm. I got caught in it too, but I'm surprised I didn’t drown.” Tommy recounted.

 “Like I said, freak storm. Maybe it was a chain connected to a hurricane.” The prisoner said. Tommy nodded. It would have been a real major hurricane…

 They sat in silence and Tommy thought about how the sailors had probably attached the towing cables and were dragging his beautiful ship back to the dock Tommy had originated from.

 They had to be a couple weeks out, so Tommy probably had time to figure out a plan out of here.

_[\\//]_

 The navy sailors seemed excited when they had brought the new kid into his cell. Their excitement made Wilbur wary and nervous, but there wasn’t anything he could do while tied down with all kinds of heavy and painful chains.

 The kid had stayed unconscious for three meal rotations, meaning he had been there for a day and a night.

Then the blonde had woken up. 

Wilbur watched the new prisoner with a mix of amusement, worry, and wariness. 

 It took a great deal of luck and skill to pull off what the teen says he did. And to do it for the first time, on his own, seemed pretty implausible.

 But watching the blonde pace around the cell, looking in all the nooks and crannies, he could see the determination and confidence in the straightness of his back and the up tilt of his chin.

 If Wilbur was any other person seeing a confident, probably bloodthirsty, pirate would send him into a panic.

 But he wasn’t just any other person. 

He was Captain Wilbur Soot, singer of the siren songs and one of the best known captains to sail the high seas.

 In short, he was a pirate too, and it was concerning that the kid hadn’t even recognized him yet. 

“Are you going to just keep staring at me, or are you going to help get out of here?” The blonde demanded, casting him a harsh glare.

 “I’m fine staying here.” Wilbur sighed.

It’s not like he could move if he wanted to. One of his ankles was sprained pretty badly, which hadn’t healed in the apparent couple weeks he’d been here, and he had heavy chains weighing him down.

 He even had a gag at one point, but after he had chewed through the first three, they gave up tying his mouth.

 The blonde gave him a long look and sighed, but his breath hitched painfully. Wilbur shifted but the kid shrugged one of his shoulders and just… brushed off the older man’s concern.

 It was something a couple younger members of his crew had done for a long time after he had taken them in.

 They would brush off his concern, thinking it was pity or that he would use the little weaknesses against them.

 But eventually they would get more comfortable with him, some faster than others, and they would let him help them.

 Then he had let them all down by getting his ship run into rocks. Most had died on impact, and those that had survived didn’t last long.

 Wilbur had been on his last leg when the navy ship showed up and even though he was dying, they wouldn’t drop the charges against him and let him free in a close-by port.

 And now he was watching a blonde teenager walk around their small cell in obvious pain and he couldn’t do anything to help.

 “What’s your name?” Wilbur asked after a couple more minutes of the pained breaths echoing through the cell.

 “Tommy Innit.”

“I’m Wilbur.”

 Tommy turned to face him with wide eyes.

Now he recognizes me.

 He smirked slightly and Tommy’s brows furrowed in confusion. 

“How the hell did you get caught? Haven’t you been running from the authorities for almost all your life?” Tommy cried.

 “Yep. Just had a bad day and ended up here.” That is a massive understatement.

“Wow.”

 Wilbur nodded.

“Do you want to come sit with me?”

 Tommy contemplated for a moment then walked over and plopped down next to him.

“You’re much nicer than the stories say they are.” Tommy muttered, a hand pressed to his ribs. Whatever was hurting him was really hurting him.

 “That’s because the stories are about me protecting my crew members. They’re also told by the navy and royalty.” Wilbur sighed, smiling slightly.

 “Are you trying to help me get you out of here?” Tommy asked accusingly.

Wilbur laughed and shook his head.

 “No, I’m just telling the truth.”

Tommy nodded and frowned faintly at his knees.

 “What are you thinking about?” Wilbur asked, leaning a little to look in the kid’s face.

“My stow-away. He’s not really a stow-away now and I'm worried about him. The last thing I told him was promising to stay by his side no matter what.” Tommy muttered.

 Wilbur wanted to wrap this kid in a big hug and not let anything ever hurt him again.

“He’ll be ok. As long as they don;t find him and throw him in here, he will most likely escape the fate of all pirates.” Wilbur said as gently as possible.

 “I gave him a paper.” Tommy muttered.

“What?” Wilbur asked.

 “A paper with a plan in case I was ever taken captive and our ship was still intact.” Tommy said.

“And the plan is?” Wilbur prompted, looking around quickly, making sure there were no guards to hear his young friend.

 “He is to wait until I break out of the cell, knock a lamp off the edge of the crows’ nest, into the ocean, and then start untying the ropes. Then we escape.” Tommy whispered, noticing Wilbur’s precaution.

 “Sound plan.” Wilbur praised. Tommy beamed with pride and then yawned.

“Imma go to sleep now.” Tommy muttered, resting his head on Wilbur’s shoulder.

 Wilbur rolled his eyes, smiling fondly.

Tommy could never replace the people he lost, but maybe, just maybe, the teen would let himself be another person that Captain Wilbur Soot cared for.

Chapter Text

 “Treasure, stay safe.” The Death whispered from the dark of the twinkling bright stars.

“Leave me alone!” Tommy shouted back, eyes blazing with a fiery light as he looked around for the creature that liked to haunt his nightmares.

 “I only want you safe.” A whisper from above said and Tommy rolled his eyes.

“I don’t care! I want sleep, not fucking cryptic messages!” He yelled into the spacless void surrounding him.

 It wasn’t only his eyes that were blazing a bright red now. It was his entire body, lighting up the abyss, showing…

 Two blank eyes stared up at him from the side of his ship, unblinking and unchanging.

“You can’t follow me everywhere.” Tommy whispered sadly.

 But he didn’t feel like himself. He felt… odd.

A sense of calm washed over him and a black mist descended on his ship, a kind of blanket if you will.

 “You are mine. I don’t let what is mine get hurt.” Death whispered.

“Not ominous at all, big man.” Tommy muttered, a blinking star swirling around him, casting heat into the cold space, “And you’re a bit late.”

 “Treasure is protected.” The voice cooed. Tommy sighed and grabbed the hand reaching out for him, using it to help climb the tall stairs of his small ship.

 He looked around for the maps to chart his course, but he only found night and darkness and nothing.

 The hand on his own squeezed gently and he squeezed back.

“You are never alone. You are mine.” Death whispered in his ear, its breath warm on the back of his neck.

 “I’m not YOURS” Tommy roared, pushing the Death Crow away and the black mist lifted.

He ran into the storm, the water holding his weight as he watched the tumbling waves.

 Crashing on a distant shore, lights shining bright in the middle of the long night.

But each wave he leaped, he only seemed to be dragged back further, ships surrounding him on all sides, the noose tightening around his neck.

 Then it all stopped.

The waves.

The ships.

The ropes.

 “You are mine, treasure.” The Death whispered, looking into his eyes as the scene stayed paused for all eternity.

 “And they will regret ever hurting what’s mine again.”

Tommy gasped as he shot up, but froze as a wave of pain crashed through his body and he stifled a whimper.

 “Tommy?” Wilbur muttered, eyes half open in the dreary lantern light.

“Yeah, yeah, just a stupid nightmare.” Tommy breathed, taking shallow breaths to try and ease the pain, “Hey, uh, do you have any rum by chance?”

 Wilbur raised an eyebrow and snorted.

“What do you think?”

 Tommy breathed a slow sigh and nodded sadly. Worth a shot.

“I have food, if you want it.” Wilbur offered instead. Tommy looked at it critically, but shook his head. He… wasn’t hungry.

 Whenever he dreamed about the Death Crow, it meant something big was going to change, or he was in trouble.

 “Arlight. Tell me if you get hungry though, I’ll save some for you.” Wilbur said kindly, wrapping up a portion in some palm leaves.

 Where the captain had gotten palm leaves, nobody knows, and it was concerning to Tommy.

Tommy leaned against the older pirate for a long moment, absorbing as much of the man’s heat as possible.

 What? It was cold down here and he didn’t have any blankets.

Besides, Wilbur didn’t mind. He was probably the clingiest person ever, only second to Tubbo of course.

 “So we’re getting out tonight, right?” Tommy muttered, eyes watching the door and making sure no sailors walked in.

 “Yes. You’ve been here for a bit and that means we must be nearing your port.” Wilbur said.

Tommy nodded and got up, starting to pace again. 

 “You need to save your energy. You haven't been sleeping well and this is going to be difficult.” Wilbur advised.

 Tommy rolled his eyes and sat, and picked up the file next to Wilbur’s chains. 

He had managed to steal the thing from a passing guard and had promptly gotten to work filing the metal that tightly bound Wilbur to the side of the ship.

 After a week of constant filing and plenty of close calls, the chains looked about ready to snap.

Good thing we’re doing this tonight. No better time, actually.

 “Ok. Now try it.” Tommy said, stepping back. Wilbur pushed against the wood and the chins snapped, a loud metallic ring echoing through the empty brig.

 “Aw it feels good to stand again!” Wilbur sighed, pulling off the chains and throwing them to the side.

 Tommy laughed and kicked open the door. He slowly padded up the wooden stairs to the large deck.

 He stopped at the top of the stairs, frozen in fear.

“Tommy?” Wilbur asked, seeing the blonde’s silhouette against the bright stars at the top of the stairs.

 “And the rats finally climb out of the sewer.”

Tommy shuddered when he heard Punz’s voice, but he quickly steeled his nerves and frowned, glaring harshly at the navy captain.

Wilbur stepped up next to him and stood tall, a comforting hand on Tommy’s shoulder.

“Says the biggest rat himself.” Wilbur growled and Tommy remembered what Wilbur had said before.

 How the stories had told of acts of cruelty and violence because somebody threatened his crew. His family.

 “Ha!” Punz shouted, his smile never reaching his eyes. The wind picked up and Tommy’s hair whipped into his eyes.

Tommy continued to glare and gripped the file tight. It would serve as a good weapon if the sailors attacked.

“Tommy, run when I start singing.” Wilbur whispered, just barely loud enough to be heard over the howling wind and Tommy gave him the barest nod he could manage.

“You vile scum.” Punz growled, taking a step forward.

At the action Wilbur took a deep breath and started singing. Tommy stuck to his word and sprinted to the mast, climbing the ropes like a monkey and reaching the crows nest quickly.

 He was met with a sailor, which he punched square in the face. He took a lanturn and threw it into the ocean.

 Tommy smiled as he watched the light as it was snuffed out by the stormy waters before climbing to the edge of the nest and launching himself off, grabbing a rope to stop his fall, but getting rope-burn on his hands.

 It felt like he had left his stomach back at the top, but it was exhilarating, flying through the air.

His joy was cut short by a shot ringing out, loud despite the roaring storm around the ship.

 “WILBUR!” Tommy screamed as he saw the man fall to his knees.

He let go of the rope, rolling in a summersault as he hit the unforgiving deck of yet another ship, running to Wilbur’s side.

 “You were supposed to run.” Wilbur groaned, hand held to his arm as blood seeped through his fingers.

 “And you weren’t supposed to get fucking shot, you goddamn martyr!” Tommy yelled back, dragging him to the stern and using the ropes to help pull the man across to his ship.

 “Tubbo!” Tommy shouted, looking around for his friend.

He found the teen sawing away at one of the huge ropes binding their small ship to the big one in front of it.

 “Tommy!” He shouted, abandoning his work and running up, “who the fuck is this?”

“This is Wilbur. He needs a bandaid and to get to the cabin. I’ll take care of the- DUCK!” He pushed dall of them down to the deck as shots rained down on the deck from above, miraculously not hitting any of them.

 “I got it out here!” Tommy shouted over the wind, which seemed to just keep getting louder.

Tubbo nodded, and dragged the captain away and out of danger.

 Satisfied, he turned and grabbed one of the cutlasses the sailors conveniently left laying around on the deck and started hacking at the thick ropes

 He ducked as another bullet raced towards him, slowed only by the rain starting to fall.

He finally managed to cut almost all of the ropes, but was met with sailors using the last one as a zip line from their ship to his, Punz waiting on the deck for his minions to do his bidding.

 Tommy glared up at the man, but focused again on the bigger threat at hand.

Namely the large number of unwelcome navy sailors on his ship.

 “I will give you one fucking second to get back n your ship and leave me and my crew alone.” Tommy said threateningly, and a crack of thunder seemed to shatter the sky above him, lightning lighting up the broken pieces.

 “My soldiers have faced much worse! You will be nothing but a little prize for them to pick off.” Punz laughed from above.

 “Let’s see about that.” Tommy muttered, grabbing a nearby gun and taking aim at Punz.

“You move and I kill him.”

 The world seemed to stop spinning for a long, dragging second. The sailors held their breath and Punz laughed from on high, unaware of the danger he was in.

 “Get him!” Punz yelled gleefully, his voice high and cackling, the sound of a man insane at sea. 

He hadn’t been like this before.

 Captain Punz had been calculated and calm, not reckless. Not insane.

Maybe Wilbur’s song had done something, turned the man’s mind and destroyed his sanity.

 Or it was…

Nevermind.

 Tommy shrugged off the thought and spotted a movement.

A raised gun in his direction.

 Tommy grinned and he pulled the trigger to his own pistol. 

Punz cried out in pain from above and immediately some of the sailors looked up and Tommy took the opportunity to slash through the last rope, his ship finally detached from the other, the navy sailors facing the open ocean and a pirate’s fury.

 “You should have left.” Tommy said coldly and he quickly cut through a majority of the sailors, but was met with a barrel to his forehead as he spun around to face more enemies.

 It was the same guy as before, the same gun pointed in his direction.

Tommy’s eyes widened and he breathed slowly, letting calm fill him as he stared into the eyes of the man that was going to kill him.

“Oh, don’t be like that, little pirate. I’m not going to kill you.” Lair, lair, lair.

“I’m going to make this hurt as much as possible though.”

And with a wicked grin, the trigger was pulled, but instead of going into his head… a slice of pain shot through his side and he screamed, agony crashing over him.

“Bastard,” Tommy hissed out, looking up at the man from his knees, only to see the sailor fading away like a wisp of darkness.

“What the fuck?” He gasped, getting to his feet, and somehow managing to stay on his feet.

He cleared the bodies from his deck and turned the rudder to head them in another direction.

 All the while thinking, what the fuck, what the actual fuck?!

Then he stumbled to the cabin and pushed the door open.

Tubbo gasped when he saw Tommy, wet hair plaster to his face and neck, blood splattered across his clothes and skin.

Then Tommy passed out.

Chapter Text

Tubbo groaned as he caught Tommy’s unconscious body before it hit the floor. He winced when he felt the wet spot on his friend’s side.

 “Tubbo?” Wilbur muttered from the bed, “what’s happening?”

“Tommy got shot.” Tubbo grunted as he dragged his friend to the bed and laid him next to the older pirate.

 “What?” Wilbur gasped, sitting up quickly with a hand over the bandages on his arm, looking over Tommy's pale face.

 “He’ll be fine, just lay back down before you hurt yourself more.” Tubbo growled, grabbing a needle and thread. Wilbur nodded and complied, holding Tommy's hand.

 Clingy bastard. Seems on par for somebody Tommy would befriend.

Tubbo rolled his eyes and tirelessly tended to Tommy's injuries.

 It was near morning by the time Tubbo allowed himself to collapse in a chair next to the desk.

 Tommy was sleeping restlessly and Wilbur seemed to be half asleep, watching Tubbo with half-lidded eyes.

 “Tommy said that you were a stowaway.” Wilbur whispered. Tubbo blinked awake and frowned at the man.

 Does he not understand boundaries? Or that we all need to sleep? Where the fuck did Tommy find this guy?

 “Yeah. What about it?” Tubbo asked.

“He really cares for you. He’s not really built for being a pirate.” Wilbur sighed.

 Now, that's simply not true. Tubbo knew that for a fact. 

Tommy may care for him, but Tubbo's seen him… 

 Aggressive.

Tommy didn't often care what his habits of stealing amounted to, and he could be ruthless towards the people that tried to hurt him.

 He was possessive of his stuff and could often be driven by drink and treasure.

“You're wrong. He's no less capable of being a pirate than you, Wilbur Soot.” Tubbo hissed.

 Wilbur blinked then smiled.

“Good to know that the one he cares so much for him is willing to defend him just as strongly.” Wilbur muttered.

 “Go to sleep, you daft poet.” Tubbo groaned, his head thudding back against the back of the chair.

Wilbur huffed a laugh and fell asleep, leaving Tubbo awake in the quiet.

I don't think I trust this pirate, but if Tommy thinks highly of him, I guess I can let him stay.

_[\\//]_

 Tubbo could not believe that he was basically babysitting a grown man and his best friend.

Furthermore, he couldn’t believe that he had let the two get into the stash of rum they kept on board to help Tommy whenever he got his various injuries.

 A drunk Tommy was not fun to deal with.

A drunk Wilbur however… he was kind of funny. 

 So he stuck them in a little chalk circle he had drawn on the deck.

“If I see either of you move in the next thirty minutes I will throw you overboard and the sharks will tear you to fucking pieces.” Tubbo threatened as he turned to check the maps.

 He needed to get Tommy to a seaside port with a hospital so that the bullet wound didn’t get infected because Tubbo wasn’t a doctor and he didn’t trust Wilbur, despite the man’s ‘experience’.

 “Why would you throw us to the sharks?” Wilbur whined. The man had become a child in his drunken state and it made Tubbo laugh.

 “Because I don’t want to deal with your whining.” Tubbo stated

Wilbur pouted as Tommy leaned quietly on his shoulder. Drunk Tommy was very quiet, but could also be a little menace. 

 Tubbo grinned as he spotted a little island with a mark town and then calculated the direction.

They were heading in the-

 “Hey!” Tubbo shouted as he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

 Tommy was trying to step outside the circle and when Tubbo noticed, he giggled and dashed to the cabin, where Tubbo had stashed the rest of the alcohol.

 “Dude, why?” Tubbo complained as he grabbed the blonde pirate and sat him back in the circle, “You are in time out and you have to stay in time out.”

 “Oo, Tommy got in trouble.” Wilbur laughed. Tubbo shot the pirate a glare, but Wilbur was a little too drunk to care.

 “Guys, I’m trying to get us places!” He pleaded, continuing to hold Tommy down. Then he noticed the red on the bandages around Tommy’s torso start to redden and he groaned.

 “You ripped your stitches boss man! I told you to stay- FUCK!” Tubbo shouted as Tommy leapt up and tackled him to the deck.

 By the time Wilbur had pulled him to his feet Tommy had vanished below decks.

“He realizes that we don’t have any rum or gold down there?” Tubbo asked. “I don’t think he does.” Wilbur said intelligently.

 “Can I trust you to stay in the goddamn circle until I come back up?” Tubbo asked, turning to Wilbur and staring the man in the eyes.

 Wilbur nodded and Tubbo sighed.

“Thank you. Now I have to catch a drunk, blonde gremlin with a hole in his side. Fantastic.”

 If Tubbo knew why Tommy hid in small spaces when he was drunk, Tubbo would die happy. But he didn’t and he had forgotten to lock the kitchen after he had found the two drunk idiots.

 Taking care of a drunk Tommy was not fun.

_[\\//]_

 Tubbo frowned as he stitched up Tommy’s side again. The injury was starting to look… painful. 

It wasn’t healing and no matter how much Tubbo scolded him, Tommy wouldn't sit still or relax.

 At this rate he’s gonna get an infection. I doubt that will deter him from running everywhere anyway.

 Wilbur was actually pretty helpful. 

Actually, he was a godsend and Tubbo wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to take care of Tommy if he wasn’t there, piloting the ship.

 “Tubbo, I’m going to be fine, just let me do what I do!” Tommy argued with Tubbo’s disappointed silence.

 “No.” Tubbo said shortly.

“You act like I’m going to die!” Tommy yelled. Tubbo rewrapped his side and helped him off the bed.

 “One, you have an open wound that hasn’t healed a little bit in the two weeks you’ve had it. Second, you have signs of an infection starting to develop and we are a week from any port to get you help. Three, you have other injuries, like broken ribs and a bruised shoulder, that your body is trying to heal!” Tubbo listed as he sat his friend on the makeshift lounge chair in a bit of shade on the deck.

 “And?” Tommy groaned, “I’ve dealt with-”

“If you finish that sentence I am drinking this rum and you will suffer.” Tubbo hissed as he held the tiny cup tight in his hand.

 Tommy pouted and Tubbo sighed.

“You’re doing very well, Tubs,” Wilbur laughed from the wheel, “Great resilience to the famous ‘Puppy eyes’!”

 “Shut your eloquent mouth up or I’ll do it for you!” Tubbo roared and Tommy snatched the cup from his hand.

 “What-”

Tommy smiled sweetly at him and Tubbo facepalmed.

 “What the fuck am I going to do with you?”

_[\\//]_

 Tommy was getting sicker by the day and the storms were not helping. The bad weather kept pushing them off course and they were all feeling the stress.

 At least the blonde was finally actually resting these days, but that was the only good news.

Wilbur was worried whenever he caught a glimpse of his vibrant friend. His face was pale and he shivered despite the heat of the day.

 Tubbo wasn’t any less worried, being Tommy’s allotted caretaker.

“Are we any closer to port?” Tubbo whispered one night, staring into the lantern in front of him.

 “That last storm pushed us too far off course. We have to find another place to land.” Wilbur whispered back, looking over the maps.

 “What about that one?” Tubbo asked, pointing to the small island close to the ship marker Wilbur had put down.

 “Tubbo, that one is called ‘isle of the skeleton ships’. Why would you want to risk an island that is named anything like that?” Wilbur asked.

 “Well, a lot of ships have a fair amount of medicinal things, right? If we land, we might be able to get a good stash going and it’ll last us until we reach another port.” Tubbo smiled.

 “And if there isn’t anything on those ships?” Wilbur asked, “We could be wasting Tommy’s little time and we might-”

 Tubbo held up a hand, stopping him before he could voice the unthinkable.

“There will be something, trust me.” Tubbo said more confidently than he felt.

 Wilbur looked at him with much skepticism and Tubbo frowned.

“This is your call. You are first mate-”

 “We’ve never actually talked about that actually.” Tubbo interrupted. Sitting back and glancing over at the motionless figure on the bed.

 “We can talk about it now. Tommy’s the captain, because it’s his ship. You are the first mate because, well, yeah. I’m just a part of the crew because I got here last.” Wilbur said.

 Tubbo hid a smile.

“What?” Wilbur asked, noticing Tubbo’s face.

 “It must be a big difference from being one of the best known captains to just a part of a three man crew.” Tubbo laughed quietly.

 “Fuck you.” Wilbur pouted.

“Very well put, good man, I couldn't have said it better.” Tubbo grinned.

 “Oh, I’m sorry. Let me put it differently. Very kindly go and jump to the sharks and may you fucking suffer.” Wilbur said in a dramatic poet fashion.

 Tubbo started to laugh, but stopped when Tommy shifted and groaned.

“I’ll go get him… something.” Wilbur whispered, “You keep an eye on him.”

 Tubbo nodded as Wilbur closed the door quietly.

He stood on the deck and looked up at the skies.

 “Please,” he pleaded, “please let Tommy heal.”

The stars winked back and Wilbur sighed, going below deck to grab some water and a rag to help lower Tommy’s fever.

 He didn’t see the bright white eyes watching the ship from below the surface of the water.

Or hear the quiet promise back.

 “My treasure will not die, I swear to you.”

Chapter Text

 He had lost track of the days he had spent wasting away on this godforsaken island.

But he refused to die.

 That’s what his crew wanted, and that’s what he will not do to spite them.

The island was basically a dead wasteland that ships came to after their sailors died in storms or ironically, mutinies.

 He chuckled to himself as he looked through yet another blood-stained ship. There was actually a lot of gold in the hold, probably what prompted its arrival on the island.

 He was real damn close to calling the place his island at this point.

“Hey Phil!” He called to the waves.

 A blond head popped above the waves and grinned at him. He shivered involuntarily when he looked into the empty-looking white eyes.

 “Yeah?”

“I have something for you.” He said, holding up a couple gold necklaces.

 It was always a good idea to keep the creature happy, especially since he was the one keeping him alive.

 Because Philza was mer and his laws were unfamiliar to the stranded man, and he really didn’t want to end up having more legends than he already had.

 “Ooo! Thanks, mate!” Phil said happily.

He reached a taloned hand out of the water and grabbed the glittering gold.

 He sighed and turned away from the gently lapping waves and back towards the ship he was currently calling home.

 “Wait!” Phil chirped from the waves. He turned and found the idiot trying to pull himself onto the sand.

 “What do you think you’re doing?” he yelled, running back and trying to push him back into the ocean.

 “I have something I need you to do.” Phil smiled. The mer used the gesture too often, having learned it from a nasty group of people that used it while Phil was a pup.

 Don’t worry, he’s listened to all of Phil’s stories.

“What is it?” He growled.

 “Another ship’s coming this way and I really want you to-”

“Did you try to drown another crew? Phil!” He scolded, succeeding in pushing the heavy mer back into the sea. Phil’s tail flicked and he was in a deeper part of the bay.

 “No, actually. These people, one of them’s hurt bad. And I’ve seen the port they were trying to go to. It wasn't going to help any of them-”

 “So you pushed the ship off course to bring it here because you thought I would help them?” he asked, his heart sinking. Phil had too much faith in his good will towards others.

 “Yeah.” Phil said sadly, “But, please, I promised them. I swore that I'd keep them safe.”

“I have to think about it.” He said. He sighed and waved Phil away.

 He heard a small splash and he knew that the mer had dove back underwater and was probably going to spend time with this new crew.

 He was admittedly a little jealous that his only friend had more friends than just him.

He walked back to his ship home and stared deep into the eyes reflected back at him from the ornate mirror he had scavenged.

 His face was tanned and he looked exhausted, a shell of the legendary captain he had once been.

He was Technoblade, just Technoblade now. His crew had thrown him off his own damn ship and left him here to die.

 And now a mer wants him to help another crew that he gave a promise to.

“That damn idiot!” Techno shouted, punching the wall beside the mirror.

 Looks like he’s going to be helping more people.

Curse his soft heart.

_[\\//]_

 Phil had been watching the Clementine since the ship had shot away from that port with bullets racing after it.

 The human child that had stolen it intrigued him.

He didn’t think the term the humans used for these sea-faring people, ‘pirate’, didn’t exactly apply to the little blonde human child.

 But…

As a small pup Phil had wanted to explore the wide oceans, but it had ended up with him getting caught in human nets.

 And he didn’t want another young soul to get caught in the nets of the ocean’s strong calls.

So he followed the child.

 After a while it became apparent to Phil that the child had no idea what he was doing. He was far from any land and he was getting thinner by the passing sunrise.

 No pup should look that thin or be that alone. 

The sight tugged at Phil’s insides and he knew that he had to help somehow.

 So he called up a storm. It might not have been the best idea because he watched the little child hit the wood while the ocean raged.

 And then the human was in Phil’s domain and he was able to help the child.

And then he cleared the storm and the child looked like he was going to be ok for a while.

 And Phil was able to go and watch over his other charges.

Why did the mer like keeping the humans from dying? Any other of his people would gladly let them die, but Phil always felt different about them. 

 He watched Techno struggle with the mutiny of his crew as he walked around the small island of beached shipwrecks and sang a song that called a couple more wrecks to the beaches.

 The pink haired human was understandably confused but Phil didn’t stay to talk.

He had another human to check on.

 Wilbur was struggling with his crew on another island, their ship sinking because of the huge storm Phil had called to help the little human child.

 There were definitely better ways to help the child, but what’s done was done.

Then he was back with the child, watching as he finally made it to a port and got help.

 He so desperately wanted to tell the little human of the stowaway below decks as he walked back onto his ship, but he didn’t know how well the child would react to him.

 But he watched as the human child bonded with the other child and he decided that he was going to help that one too.

 And then they ran afoul of a big navy ship. The ones that like to take his humans and kill them in a place that rises off the cliffs of a small island country.

 His blonde child was taken and his brown haired child was left alone. 

The human child aboard the navy ship was badly beaten and he could only watch and sing quiet songs of reassurance and sadness.

 But Wilbur was also on that ship, so Phil wasn’t too worried.

He had been watching the sweet-songed human since he had set sail and his legends had been growing. He had been the one to teach the half-siren of his power, but Wilbur didn’t know that.

 He wasn’t sure the half-siren even knew of his origins.

Phil sadly had to leave to check on Technoblade for a bit, keeping the lonely pirate company for a couple hours.

 But then he felt something pulling him back to the blonde child’s side. 

His treasure was in pain and he had let it happen-

 He took revenge on the one that had hurt his treasure and gave the little human the strength to get back up and go to the other human child and Wilbur.

 Then he followed the ship’s wake as he felt his precious human treasure slowly getting sicker and sicker. 

 Wilbur was fighting his storms too.

He didn’t want them to go to that port. They were waiting to take them back to that cliff kingdom and they would all die.

 Phil refused to let any of his humans die until the crows told him they had to.

And the crows knew of his attachment to his treasure, they refused to take his treasure, so he had to do something.

 Finally Wilbur stopped fighting the storms and they were on track toward Techno’s island.

Technoblade was a kind human. 

 Phil had no doubt that he would take these other humans in and heal his treasure.

Besides, Phil had promised, repeatedly, that his treasure was going to be kept safe.

Chapter Text

 Techno watched the horizon ever since Phil had asked him to take care of his other humans. He wasn't going to be caught unawares again.

 Despite how he trusted Phil, he didn’t know if he could trust another full crew.

On the second day of careful vigilance Techno spotted the ship Phil must have directed towards his island.

 It was laughably small, clearly not built for the huge waves of the seas but it seemed to have the wear and tear of a well cared for ship.

 “There can’t be too many people on that ship, that’s for sure.” Techno muttered to himself, trying to soothe his nerves.

 Was it a good time to mention that Techno had become extremely introverted over the course of his stay on his island?

 As he watched the ship he spotted a blonde head pop out of the water a short distance off the shore.

 “Phil!” Techno called, walking into the break so the mer didn’t accidentally beach himself to talk to him again.

 “Techno!” the mer chirped, smiling brightly with his sharp teeth. Techno had long grown accustomed to the sight and no longer felt fear.

 “Is that the ship?” Techno asked, waving noncommittal at the ship that had grown bigger over the course of the hour.

 “Yep!” Phil said, “These humans are good, you don’t have a need to worry, friend.”

Techno raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

 He was going to be the one to determine that.

“Do they know about you?” Techno asked, sitting in the waves and watching the ship.

 “Nope! I’ve kept myself pretty much out of view while they sailed.” Phil said, still smiling as he waved a hand through the water and then splashed Techno.

 “Hey!” he yelped, shaking the salt water out of his eyes, “if you haven’t talked to them, why did you talk to me?”

 Phil stilled and techno watched the mer warily.

“I have shown myself to you because you were becoming unhealthy without the presence of other humans. You needed a pod.” The mer whispered, looking at him with wide eyes.

 Techno blushed and glared at the mer playfully.

“Why is your face doing that?” Phil asked, poking Techno’s cheek, “None of the humans I watch do that! Are you ok?”

 Techno batted at the mer’s sharp claws and smiled.

“You haven’t been around too many humans then. It’s normal.” Techno laughed. 

 How was it easier to talk to a mythical creature than actual humans?

“I have been around so many humans!” Phil cried, angrily splashing the waves with his tail.

 Techno chuckled again and went back to watching the ship.

It was a lot closer to shore than it had been a couple minutes ago.

 “Phil, if you haven’t shown yourself to them yet, I suggest you swim out now before they land.” Techno muttered, getting up and walking back to the hot sandy beach of his island.

 Phil nodded and the last thing he saw of the mer was a flick of the mer’s long tail as he dove back into the waves.

 A couple minutes the ship pushed into the sand of the beach and Techno watched the deck warily.

He winced as a loud shout from the cabin echoed across the beach and he sighed.

 “Curse the gods, I hate socializing.” Techno muttered.

He stepped up to the ship and called to the occupants nonetheless.

 “Captain and crew of this ship! May I request permission to board?” Techno shouted up.

A small brunette head looked over the side and his eyes widened.

 Techno might have forgotten one special detail before hailing the crew.

“You’re Captain Technoblade!” The brunette gasped, his brows furrowed.

 “Nah, just Technoblade.” He sighed, trying to keep the conversation light.

“Permission Granted!” The brunette smiled, throwing down a rope ladder for the stranded man.

 The deck was small and the short brunette seemed to be the only one onboard.

Until another brunette ducked out of the cabin and techno blinked when he recognized the man.

 “Wilbur?” Techno asked, taking a miniscule step towards the side of the ship, ready to make a dash for it if the other man of legends took to violence.

 “Technoblade! Tis’ been a minute since I've seen you!” Wilbur smiled, looking exhausted with large bags under his eyes.

 Not the reaction I was expecting, Techno frowned.

“Wil, how do you know Technoblade?” The currently unnamed kid asked.

 Wilbur smiled, telling the kid that it was a story for another day while Techno stared at his old friend, trying to remember when he ever mentioned ditching his crew for a kid.

 “Hey Techno, do you happen to have medical supplies?” Wilbur asked, breaking Techno’s train of thought.

 “I do. Are you hurt?” techno asked, looking both people over again.

“Not us.” The small brunette muttered sadly, “my friend. He’s in the cabin.” Then the kid got a look on his face that techno was all too familiar with. He ignored it.

 There was a story in the kid’s eyes and Techno shuddered.

“Show me.”

 He was led into the cabin and he was immediately met with the sight of a very sick looking kid resting on the bed.

 “What happened to him?” Techno asked, putting a hand on the kid’s forehead, wincing when he felt the heat from the kid’s skin.

 “Shot while we were trying to escape a navy ship.” Wilbur sighed, sitting in the chair not too far away.

“Then he refused to stop moving and it got infected.” the brunette added, and Techno really needed to get his name. Calling him ‘the brunette’ was going to become problematic.

 And the kid was still looking at him with suspicious glances and Techno could feel the hair at the back of his neck standing on end.

 “I think I have stuff for this if you can get him to my place of residence.” Techno said, getting up and looking around for anything that looks like it can be used as a stretcher.

 Wilbur nodded and Techno turned to walk out of the cabin, only to be stopped by the small brunette.

 “Why are you helping us?” he asked, his eyes bright with fury and suspicion.

Techno raised an eyebrow.

 “Did the question just occur to you?” He asked. It hadn’t and Techno knew that.

“Don’t worry Tubbo, he’s trustworthy. Besides, he can help! He’s great with his medical stuff!” Wilbur reassured.

 “I highly doubt that.” Tubbo hissed, his eyes narrowing.

“Kid, your friend is dying. I don’t think this is the best time to be questioning my innocence.” Techno sighed.

 “Then tell me why you, the famous Captain Technoblade, is stranded on an island, alone.”

Chapter Text

Techno sighed as the kid glared at him. Wilbur had moved to place a hand on Tubbo’s shoulder, but the kid shrugged it off and kept staring the pirate down.

 He put up his hands defensively, but held his ground. 

Tubbo was a scared and almost cornered animal thinking he was a predator. He would attack, verbally or physically, if he showed even a sign of weakness and Techno didn’t feel up to beating up one of Wilbur’s new friends.

 “If you must know, shorty, I am here on Mutineer’s Island because well…”

Techno trailed off as he saw the realization dawn in the kid’s eyes.

 And then the anger and betrayal. 

“Why did your crew revolt? I was right! You don’t want to help us! You just want to kill us and take our ship so you can leave!” Tubbo yelled, stepping forward and shoving his finger into Techno’s chest.

 Techno should have felt angry at the accusations. Really, this should have bothered him.

Maybe the betrayal of his crew had affected him more than he thought. 

 Guilt hardened in his throat and he looked up at Wilbur, who was giving him a sympathetic look

Despite the other captain’s charm and loyal crews, he knew how a mutiny can… dampen a soul. There had been many disgraced captains that told their stories in seaside bars.

 “Kid…”

“You have no reason to help us-” Techno raised an eyebrow before he remembered that Phil hadn’t told them anything as of yet, “And you’ll probably kill us if you get the chance! Wil, start getting this ship off the shore. We’re heading to another port.”

 Tubbo pushed past Wilbur and tried to shoulder Techno out of the way.

He was not letting that happen.

 Phil had told him to help them and he had been against it beforehand, but now he was determined to help the sickly kid on that bed.

 “Tubbo, you have no other choice than to let me help. Whatever happened in my past does not matter right now, nor does my reason to help. But I am going to help because that kid will die if you leave this island.” Techno hissed, grabbing Tubbo’s Shoulder tightly and turning him to look up into Techno’s face.

 “Tubbs, please listen to him.” Wilbur whispered. The poetic ass pirate was being awfully quiet, Techno should probably also check in with his old friend later.

 Tubbo sighed and jerked his shoulder out of Techno’s strong grip.

“Fine. You may take Tommy back to your dwelling and do what you came for him. If he dies, you die.”

 Wilbur shot him a smile and a cautionary look.

“You aren’t in any place to make demands, little man, but fear not. Your friend will come to no harm under my care. Pirate’s honor.” Techno laughed, walking back to the bed and scooping the child up in his arms.

 Phil had been right. This kid was much too young to be a pirate.

Then again, Techno had been sailing the seas practically since he had been born.

 Maybe he’s been listening to too many of Phil’s stories these past couple of weeks. He’s getting soft.

 With the blonde kid in his arms Techno jumped over the edge of the boat and landed heavily in the sand, surprised that the jolt hadn’t woken the kid, before running back to the wreck he called home.

 He placed the sickly teen on the bed below decks and did his best to patch the hole.

_[\\//]_

 “So… Techno. What did happen? Last I remember you were sailing away proudly from that naval wreck.” Wilbur asked, turning the fish over the fire.

 “I’m not sure.” Techno sighed. He was sitting with his elbows on his knees and staring at the fire, “One moment we were sailing on smooth waters, any storm over a hundred knots behind us, and moods light.” 

 “Maybe they realized what a piece of shit you are.” Tubbo hissed. He was sitting just outside the ring of fire and glaring at Techno.

 “Tubbo.” Wilbur scolded softly, “Techno was one of the best captains sailing the seven seas. He protects his crews with as much ferocity as I do.”

 He hated to see Tubbo so distrustful of an old friend.

Although, he wasn’t the one Techno had saved from that hanging block.

 “Maybe they realized his tactics were brutal and finally wanted him gone.” Tubbo said.

“We’re pirates.” Techno defended and they all went silent for a moment. 

“True.” Tubbo sighed.

“I guess it’s story time now.” Techno sighed, stretching his back and leaning against the outside wall of the cave his home of a ship was lodged inside.

 Despite Tubbo being against the man, he leaned forward and Wilbur had to stifle a smile.

“Like I said, the seas were calm and there wasn’t much reason to be angry. Well, I guess there had been because out of nowhere I was attacked and tied up.” 

Wilbur watched as the face of the man he had admired wrinkled in suppressed tears and guilt.

It was never easy to deal with a betrayal this deep.

 “I couldn’t fight back. They were my crew and it happened in a split second.”

The fire seemed to become the stage of Techno’s words.

 “Then my first mate stood in front of me with a paper held in his hands. My crew cheered for my death. My first mate took a deep breath and started to read the page.”

 The world seemed not to breathe for a long moment as Techno collected himself. The scene played on in the flames.

 “‘You have served us well and we thank you for your service towards us and this ship,’ he had taken a long pause as my crew went silent, the wind picking up as the man in front of me smiled cruelly, ‘And the battles you led us through, the treasures you provided for us will not be taken for granted. But you’ve overstayed your position at the head of the helm. You have made risky decisions and done riskier things for what you think is right.’”

 Tubbo blinked back tears as he scooted closer to the grieving pink hair pirate as he took a shuddering breath before continuing.

 “‘Things that aren’t right. Now we have fought with you, for you, with no question. But that comes to an end. Today we, your once faithful crew, wish to cast you out and place another in your stead. Another that will led us with a better judgment and more lucrative treasures!’”

 Techno smiled to himself.

“It was actually a pretty put together speech for a bunch of uneducated sailors.”

 Wilbur raised an eyebrow and Techno sighed, glancing down at an enthralled Tubbo staring at him with wide eyes.

 “And I shouted back, ‘You have described nothing that would give you any reason to do this! I have brought you treasure, rum, victory, and a home! I have taken you from your impoverished homes and made you the richest of the rich! No captain you replace me with will ever do better than I did for you!’ And my crew laughed. A raucous thing that seemed to take my will to keep my head high and I felt ashamed.”

 “You had nothing to be ashamed of, my friend” Wilbur reassured, pulling the fish off the spite and handing the plate to Techno, along with a bottle of rum.

 “But I let them get that angry, that discontent with me. I got boring and they got bored of winning. And they locked me in my own brig and then dropped me off here. They left me with a pistol and one bullet.”

 “Where is it?” Wilbur asked, a shock of fear shooting through him. He knew Techno but… this was a new low. He needed to be sure.

 “I shoved sand into every important hole and then threw it out to sea. Then I used that bullet to catch some pretty big fish.” Techno chuckled, taking a big swig from the bottle, “That gun ain’t gonna be shot again, even if I tried fishing it out of the waves.”

 Wilbur nodded and put another fish on the spit.

“Well, that was a pretty good story. Didn’t think you were one for the like, Technoblade.” Wilbur teased. Techno rolled his eyes and offered some of the meat off his fish to Tubbo. The ever hungry took it, all distrust lost.

 “How about you tell me how you came to these two kids? You were always better at telling the stories than I was.” Techno said, tossing the bottle of rum to Wilbur.

 “Well, it all starts on a calm day, not unlike yours. Unlike yours, my ship was caught in another issue all pirates must face and fear. A huge storm arrived on the horizon, coming faster than any should travel…”

_[\\//]_

 Tommy slowly crawled out of the slippery slope of his fever dreams, trying to ignore the heat and explosive pain his mind seemed to be a slave of.

 He blinked awake suddenly, his eyes and mind clear for the first time in a long fucking time.

Meaning he felt the hole in his side a lot stronger than the fever had let him before.

 “Fucking hell-” Tommy panted, doubling over, “stupid fucking bullet-”

He looked around, trying to figure out where he was. 

 Certainly not in his cabin on the Clementine, that’s for sure. 

So where-

 Where was Tubbo and Wilbur? Tommy blinked and sat straight up, ignoring the pain and pulling off his covers. He needed to find them, he couldn’t be fucking sick while they could be in trouble or something-

“Fuck.” he whined, leaning against the splintery wood of the below decks he seemed to be housed in. 

 This pain was just holding him back. Tommy could ignore it.

He needed to find his brothers.

 There were two holes in the hull of the ship he was in. one opened up out on a beach, where a fire was burning low with three dark shapes around it, sleeping.

 Tommy didn’t know if they were hostile or not and he wasn’t in the shape to find out.

The other hole led into a cave, one that seemed to be lit by glow worms.

 Tommy smiled as he walked closer, looking in and finding a small lake in the middle, light above and below by glowing algae and worms, mimicking the starry night sky.

 “It’s beautiful.” Tommy whispered, sitting at the edge of the lake as the cave echoed his voice.

It was magical actually and Tommy smiled, closing his eyes, feeling the cool air on his skin.

 “Hello pup.”

Tommy’s eyes flew open and he jumped away from the lake’s edge.

 “What the fuck!” He yelped, holding a hand to his throbbing midsection and leaning heavily against the cave’s wall.

 He stared wide-eyed at the person propped on the edge of the lake.

His eyes were pure white with black and green scales trailing down his neck and torso, connecting to a white and dark green dappled tail.

 He was staring at a mer.

Not just any mer too, the Crow of Death.

 “I know who you are, mer, and you aren’t getting my soul for your crows any time soon!” Tommy shouted.

 The mer blinked and then smiled, his sharp teeth thankfully out of sight.

Tommy had heard stories of what those teeth can do.

 “It's ok, mate. I do not wish to harm you.” the mer said happily, holding out a taloned hand, “And the crows aren’t mine and they do not call for your soul.”

 Tommy cocked his head.

“Come, pup, you are injured and I want to help.”

 “No.”

The mer tilted his head as well and sighed, a strangely human gesture, even if the gills on the mer’s neck fluttered.

 “Very well. But I wish to introduce myself. I am Philza, a deepsea mer. I protect the sailors of my seas that the others do not wish to care for.” the mer clicked and Tommy pushed off the wall, dipping his feet in the lake again.

 “Hello Philza. I’m Tommy.”

“I know. I have been keeping an eye on you for a long time. The others do not care for the pups at sea, but I do.”

 “I’m not a pup- wait, you’ve been watching me?!” Tommy shrieked, leaning away from the mer.

“Yes? I watch many others. How do you think I have been able to keep you alive?” Philza asked.

 “Because of my very obvious awesomeness! Not some weird fish person magic!” Tommy yelled, panic freezing every other appropriate action than to just sit and talk from his mind.

 He was stupid when he was scared, it wasn’t his fault.

“You are much too young to be on the waves, pup. The others do not see it, but I do. Tommy, you are my treasure and I will not let the crows take you before your time.”

 And then Tommy was finally able to place the voice, even if he had placed the face and name.

“You butted into my nightmares bitch!” Tommy yelled.

 “I was simply stating my claim and trying to keep an eye on you while I was… occupied elsewhere. Your night dreams often didn’t show what was actually happening. It was a very unreliable way to talk to you.” Philza stated, resting a wet hand on his shoulder after he pulled himself out of the water to sit on the ledge next to Tommy.

 Tommy didn’t try to push off his hand. He was in shock.

"What do you mean you won't let the crows take me?"

Chapter Text

 The seas raged as he stood with his back to the cliffs.

“Please, I just wanted what was best for the people!” He screamed over the crashing waves, pleading with the dark figure that stood out against the black skies.

 “The people had everything before you tried to usurp my throne, you pitiful excuse of a boy.” the king of the times before said, grabbing the handle of his sword and pulling it out.

 He cringed as the blade scraped the scabbard but he stood his ground. One step back would send him tumbling over the edge.

 “And now I will make an example of you, scum. The people will once again have everything they need and you will no longer be a threat to my power!” the king cried, his eyes shining through the sheets of rain pouring from the skies.

 “The people will starve! You are killing them! I will not be the last that tries to destroy your throne if you continue to abuse your power!” he screamed, casting frantic glances at the crowd that stood back and watched.

 They should have been here by now. 

They should have stopped this by now.

 “Well then. To the people of my beloved country…. You will suffer because this one wanted to revolt! You will die systematically under my power if you try this little stunt again. Am I understood?’

 A shiver ran through the crowd and he knew that this wasn’t right.

This never happened.

 THE KING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD.

The king raised the sword, the blade glinting in the flashes of lightning, and swung.

The poison should have worked. 

He stared down at the blood starting to seep onto his dirty shirt from the slash in his chest. He tipped over the edge and-

 The blood loss from his wounds should have killed him, even if the poison didn’t work.

This never happened.

 And George needed to WAKE UP.

His eyes flew open and he sat up in bed, panting as he pulled the suffocating covers off his body.

 “Gogy?” a sleep voice called from beside him.

George cast a panicked look around the room.

 “Gogy?”

His eyes shot to Dream’s and he saw the concern in the green depths.

 “Same nightmare again huh?” 

George nodded and Dream pulled him into a hug.

 “It’s ok. We got there in time. He didn't stay in power. He was the one that went over the edge.” Dream whispered in George’s ear and he finally took a deep breath.

 “Did we do the right thing?” George asked, resting his head on Dream's shoulder. He felt Dream sigh rather than hear it.

 “It only would have gotten worse had that pirate stayed in power. He was greedy and was killing the people. We did the right thing by replacing him. You’re doing a phenomenal job.” Dream said.

 George nodded again.

“You want to go see Sap?” Dream asked, pulling away and looking at George’s face.

 “Yeah. See if he wants more ‘royal drugs’ as he calls it.” George chuckled. He grabbed his cloak and pulled it over his shoulders. He didn’t really need it, but it was cold in the castle.

 "Then after that we can go to the docks and see if we can get more information on that kid.” Dream offered.

 “You think the mer is back? She only left a couple of days ago for that tradition thing.” George said, thinking back to the blind mer he and his friends had to enlist to get the information they needed.

 “Mer travel fast.” Dream said, turning the corner and holding open the door to Sapnap’s room.

“You would think she would want more time before she goes back to spying.” George muttered.

 “Who’s spying on you now?” Sapnap asked, sitting up far too quickly for his condition.

“Lay back down, you overachiever.” Dream teased, sitting down on the edge of the bed and rough pushing Sapnap back down. The captain didn’t protest.

 “I’m not sure what I’m overachieving at here.” Sapnap commented.

“Oh shut and take your drugs.” George huffed, handing the man a small bottle. Sapnap rolled his eyes but did as told.

 “But we could use your help, Sap. you know mer better than we do.” Dream said, glancing at George and raising an eyebrow.

 “Why do you have dealings with the mer?” Sapnap asked, sitting back up with an alarmed expression.

 “Eret isn’t like the ones you are thinking about. They’ve been blinded by their own people and are faithful to those that show her kindness.” George said, sitting on Sapnap’s other side and putting his arm around his shoulder.

 “That’s not any more reassuring. You shouldn’t trust mer. Their rules and laws are much different from humans and they aren’t afraid to be… lethal.” Sapnap warned.

 “I understand that, but we need her help. She can travel across the ocean in a couple minutes and she can get us information on that pirate kid.” George argued

 “Her information isn’t as good as you may think Gogy.” Dream broke in, “She has told us that there are times where she can’t even find the kid. And others she’s vague on his dealings.”

 “It’s better than the nothing we’ve received from the other captains.” George sighed darkly.

He missed the shared glance between Dream and Sapnap, trapped in his own mind and dark memories of the rise of another pirate king.

 “Gogy, you know sea travel takes a while. And you’ve only sent those ships out around a month ago. You have to be patient.” Dream said, reaching over and patting the king’s back soothingly.

 “How am I supposed to be patient when patience nearly killed me before?” George shouted, standing up and starting to pace around the small recovery room.

 “He had the nightmare again didn’t he?” Sapnap whispered to dream, and got a nod in return.

“George, times have changed. People have changed.” Dream said seriously, standing as well, grabbing George's shoulders to stop his pacing.

 “And suppose I am patient. Suppose I wait for this pirate to come knocking on my door. What happens then?” George asked, eyes blazing with a kind of anger he hadn’t felt for a long time.

 “We prepare.” Sapnap said, making no move to get up from the bed, knowing full well that he would only be told to lay back down.

 “How?” George asked, the anger draining out of him as he wilted against Dream.

“We get weapons. We train the people to defend themselves against pirate invasions. Tighten security around you.” Sapnap offered, “and you don’t send me out anymore. I will stay by your side, and Dream will too.”

 “And if it’s not enough?” George asked, pleading now.

“Then we’ll be on time.” Dream said, smiling softly.

 “You better be.” George grumbled, his mood improving as he was led to the bed. He rested his head on Sapnap's shoulder as the three friends sat in comfortable silence.

_[\\//]_

 Sapnap blinked awake as the birds chirped outside his window.

He could feel his two friends’ heat at his side and he smiled, reminded of the times before the old king, before George was placed at the head of a rebellion, before his friend was pronounced king.

 Early mornings where he would sit and watch the sun dance across the ceiling as he waited for Dream to wake up.

 The two of them would whisper to each other until George woke up and then they would all go to the market and talk to the kind shop owners there.

 Times like that are long gone now, but it felt good to reminisce every so often.

“Hey Snapmap.” Dream whispered, “I think I’m stuck.”

 “Suffer.” Sapnap breathed, knowing that George must have hugged onto Dream’s neck sometime after their midnight talk.

 “Do you want me to pass him to you?” Dream threatened quietly.

“Nah, I’m injured.” Sapnap laughed quietly.

 “If you can say you're injured then you clearly aren’t. I think we can finally take you off bed rest and send you back out to sea so we don’t have to see your ugly face.” George said tiredly.

 “You aren’t supposed to be awake, your highness.” Dream said cheekily.

Sapnap laughed as he heard a pained grunt, knowing without looking that George slapped him.

 “He is right though, Gogy. If you are awake you have to do kingly things and if you have to do kingly things you get tired and if you get tired you can’t do any kingly things.” Sapnap said.

 “Looks like I’m caught in the cycle of life, how sad.” George deadpanned. Dream laughed.

“Well, in any case, I’m going back to sleep. Night.” Sapnap said.

 His eyes were forced open by the door being slammed open by a frantic guard.

“Purpled? What’s wrong?’ Dream asked, hurriedly getting out of the cramped bed and running to the young guard’s side.

 “It’s my- a ship just docked and- and you might want to see it.” The kid panted, eyes wide and filled with unshed tears.

 “We’re coming.” Sapnap promised, getting out of bed and pulling on an acceptable shirt before following his friend and the guard through the halls of the palace.

 “Is the king coming?” Dream asked as Sapnap easily kept up.

“Probably, but I think we should check out the situation before he gets there. We don’t want him to have any more nightmares.” Sapnap said, trying to joke despite the heavy atmosphere.

 “He’ll have them regardless.” Dream said darkly, running out the place gates and down to the docks and seaside market.

 It had been the trio’s favorite place to be at one point.

Not any more.

 “I-it’s that one.” Purpled the guard said, pointing up at the ship with a shaking hand.

“That’s Punz’s ship.” Sapnap whispered to Dream.

 “Thanks kid. Wait here for King George and bring him to the ship if he arrives.” Dream instructed. Purpled nodded and stood at attention as Sapnap left, running up the gangplank and onto the ship.

 “You!” he called, pointing to the only man standing on deck, “tell me what happened here.”

“I don’t know. I am not of this ship’s crew.” The man answered, “I just docked the ship.”

 “Then where is the crew?” Dream asked, coming up behind Sapnap.

The man simply glanced at the forward decks and walked away.

 Sapnap shared a glance with Dream and they ran to the forward deck.

They found a partially decayed man in a navy uniform.

 “Punz.” Dream breathed, stepping back.

“Somebody killed him. The ship must have been drifting for a while. Meaning the crew must also be dead,” Sapnap said solemnly, turning and walking to the cabin.

 “Where are you going?” Dream called.

“Captains are required to keep detailed records of their travels. I’m going to see if they found anything.” Sapnap said, eyes narrowed.

 Minutes later George was guided into the room, panting and swearing from the run.

“Ok guys, what’s going on in here. Captain Punz is dead, as is the rest of the crew below decks.” George said, closing the door behind him.

 Sapnap didn’t bother looking up.

“Sap? Dream?” 

 Sapnap just held up the captain’s log and George read it out loud.

“‘Captive taken and thrown in the brig with the first pirate around sixteen days into the voyage. New captive is described as a blonde adolescent male with a loud mouth and an attitude.’”

 “It’s the kid that hurt Sap.” Dream said, “But keep reading.”

“‘Day five of the two captives abroad. My men have been reporting strange sounds on the blonde’s ship and they think it’s haunted. I think it’s just an animal the kid kept. We have been given intel that the kid was sailing alone. We’ve also been keeping a steady watch on the brig, knowing the two captive’s plans for escape.’”

 “The kid was alone when you reported it.” Dream commented, patting Sapnap’s shoulder.

“He was. George, keep reading.”

 “The handwriting’s different in this one. ‘The captives have escaped together and have cut the ropes tying their ship to ours. Captain Punz was killed after ordering half the crew on the deck of the other ship. The captain had been acting odd the hours leading up to his death. This is the second day after the attack and an illness is ravaging the remaining crew. We will die before we reach the docks.’”

 The silence was heavy in the cabin.

“The pirate killed them.” Sapnap breathed.

 “This kid is a bigger threat than we originally thought. He does not seem to be coming our way, but we will need to be prepared. But we also can't let this get out or panic will spread.” Dream said. 

 He truly sounded like the commander of the fleets and the armies of the king.

“Mark my words.” George whispered, eyes now on Sapnap, “he is going to do great things. Great things that will lead to my downfall.” Sapnap felt a chill crawl up his spine.

 “We won’t let that happen.” Dream promised.

“We didn’t let it happen before, and I swear on my life that we won’t let it happen now.” Sapnap said.

 The friends all exited the cabin, minds stuck in memories, and prepared to prevent them from repeating once more.

Chapter Text

 After the initial shock of knowing that a powerful mer had taken a liking to him and decided to basically adopt him, Tommy decided that the mer wasn’t that bad actually.

 “Let me get this straight, you put a spell on me to help me become a better pirate? And you have put this spell on all of the great pirates of the stories?” Tommy asked, leaning on Phil’s cool, scaly shoulder.

 “Yes, but most of them start out as buccaneers and the spell doesn’t have to be as potent.” Phil answered, running a taloned hand through Tommy’s tangled blonde hair.

 “Did you seriously have to nearly drown me though?” Tommy whined.

“I admit it wasn’t the best course of action, I simply forgot that humans can’t breathe water.” Phil sighed, patting Tommy's head and staring into the depths of the small lake with those pure white eyes.

 “Must be nice.” Tommy muttered, taking a deep breath and marveling at the small ache of the wound in his side, which had been throbbing painfully only a couple hours before.

 They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching small waves lap gently at the edge of the pool. Phil’s long tail flicked in the water every so often and disturbed the glowing algae of the lake and Tommy watched the stuff swirl beautifully in the water.

 “The waters hold many beauties, don’t they?” Phil asked, catching Tommy’s expression.

“Yeah. I guess it’s one reason I took to being a pirate. It’s not just all stealing and running from authority, even if it’s hella fun. But you can see things on the waves that land dwellers could never even imagine.” Tommy breathed, smiling as he remembered the stories he listened to throughout his childhood.

“And it’s cool that I’ve met a literal legend and he’s pretty much how he is in the stories.” Tommy laughed, kicking at the surface of the waves with his shoeless foot.

“Wilbur?” Phil asked.

“You know him?” Tommy asked, looking at Phil’s face.

 “Yes. I have closely followed his journeys as well. He needed a potent protection spell too, but I was never allowed into his night dreams.” Phil said.

 “Is that why they say he can sing like a siren and control people who listen to the song?” Tommy asked, remembering how Wilbur had sung to distract the guards.

 “No, I had almost no part in his power. He is of siren blood, even if he doesn’t know it.”

“‘Almost not part’?” Tommy asked.

 “I tried to teach him the songs of his ancestors, but he could never really hear me. It made me sad, but I understood why. I think he would only hear me if I had shown myself to him.” Phil sighed.

 “And you didn’t. Why?” Tommy asked, leaning forward.

“Because mer law says not to interact with the surface and land dwellers if it can be avoided. They don't want the humans to know we exist to protect our own existence.” Phil said sadly, his fins fluttering under another heavy sigh.

“That’s smart, but kind of sad.” Tommy whispered, nudging Phil gently.

“That is why I am seen as an outcast. My brethren do not think I should be helping the humans in their seafaring.” Phil said, “But I do not care. I do not see the others as my people. You and your friends are my people now, even if they can’t know.”

 “You can tell them.” Tommy said, “If we tell anybody people would just think it’s another story that has no factual background. And you’ve shown yourself to me with no real consequences. Besides, Wil would probably love to know how you steered the ship to this island.”

 Phil laughed and the sound was like a bunch of dolphins chittering to each other. An interesting sound.

 “I did promise to keep you safe. I guess a good way to do that is to stay by your side.” Phil said.

“Why did you do that?” Tommy asked, head tilted, the question popping up out of nowhere.

 “Because a promise can never be broken in my people’s culture. And you were a lonely pup with no help other than the powers of the sea. You needed that promise, Treasure.” Phil said fondly and Tommy blushed.

“Thanks old man.”

Phil nodded and Tommy rested his head back on the mer’s shoulder, falling asleep as magic finished healing his injury.

_[\\//]_

 Tubbo woke quietly in his spot around the ashes of the fire from the night before.

Technoblade was snoring quietly with his back restinga against the logs he was sitting on before and Wilbur was breathing evenly with the empty bottle of rum propped up against his arm.

 It was a peaceful scene and Tubbo was thankful that he hadn’t drunken enough the night before to get drunk.

 Now he just needed to check on Tommy. 

The stories Technoblade had told the night before had put to rest a few of his worries, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to entirely entrust Tommy's health over to the infamous pirate.

 He got up and walked back to the broken and battered ship Technoblade seemed to have called home while staying on the island.

 Tubbo blinked when he stepped inside the ship, looking intently at the very empty bed Tommy had been resting on before they had all fallen asleep.

 “Tommy?” he called, looking around and finding another hole in the ship’s hull leading into a sort of cave.

 He seriously wouldn’t be stupid enough to go in there, right?

“Tommy, where the fuck are you?” He called out again, taking a lantern into the cave and finding that his friend had managed to get out of bed and that he was not alone.

 His friend was leaning heavily on a sleeping mer’s shoulder and Tubbo felt fear at the sight.

“Tommy, wake up!” Tubbo shouted, his voice echoing nearly deafeningly around the cavern.

 Tommy blinked awake and the mer chirped and dove into the water, splashing the walls of the cave with water, soaking a half awake Tommy and an angry Tubbo.

“Hey Tubbs.” Tommy muttered, clearly not feeling at all ashamed at being caught sleeping in a place that was clearly not his bed.

“You goddamn idiot!” Tubbo roared, grabbing Tommy's arm and pulling him back to the bed, “You are going to rip you fucking stitches again!”

“No?” Tommy said, tilting his head as he watched Tubbo unwrapping his side to check the wound.

“Yes you will, you fucking shit head! You’ve done it-”

 Tubbo pulled away the bandages to find that the stitches were completely gone and the area just showed a faint scar where the bullet had hit.

 “The fuck?” Tubbo breathed.

“You scared Phil off and look what he did for me.” Tommy whined, flopping back dramatically on the bed.

 “Who the fuck is Phil, Tommy?” Tubbo asked, his voice edging on dangerous anger as his thoughts raced.

 “He’s a friend and a good mer. He likes me and he likes you too. You shouldn’t have yelled.”

This lovably idiotic pirate, how the fuck had he survived this long?

 “What’s going on in here?” a voice called from the door/hole in the hull.

Tommy froze and Tubbo groaned.

 “Nothing bitch, go back to sleep.”

“Alright.” Technoblade said, and Tubbo heard his footsteps go away from the ship.

 “Tubbo.” Tommy breathed and Tubbo frowned at his friend.

“What?”

 “That was Captain Technoblade.”

“Yep.”

 “You are jealous that I have a mer friend while you’ve been hiding the fact that you’ve met Captain Technoblade?” Tommy hissed, grabbing Tubbo’s arm painfully tight and Tubbo smiled.

 Then he frowned and glared at Tommy.

“Who the fuck said I was jealous of the mer?”

Chapter Text

Wilbur blinked awake in the bright early light, only slightly confused about why the ship below him wasn’t swaying like it should.

 Then he remembered that they had found Techno and Tommy was hopefully going to be ok.

He sighed and closed his eyes again, hoping to fall back asleep.

 “Get your ass up Wil, I have something to show you.”

Wilbur groaned and rolled over, trying to ignore Tubbo because just because the sun was up, doesn’t mean it was time to be awake yet.

 “You want to know the best way to wake him up?” Wilbur frowned as he heard Techno’s voice.

“Yeah?”

 “Like this.”

Wilbur gasped and sat straight up as cold saltwater flowed down his face and soaked his clothes.

 “You bitch! What the fuck was that for?” Wilbur shouted, getting up and angrily trying to wring his soaked shirt out.

 “I said I wanted to show you something,” Tubbo said smugly.

Wilbur wanted to smack him across the face.

 But, he followed the teen to the ship they had put Tommy in the night before and blinked in surprise when he found the blonde sitting up in bed and looking healthier than before he had even met him

 “Uh… what the fuck?” Wilbur asked, his brain short circuiting.

“Hi Wil! Good morning!” Tommy said cheerfully, getting up and hugging the dumbfounded pirate.

 “Hi Tommy. Why the fuck are you out of bed-”

“Oh, shut. Tubbo you were supposed to tell him before you brought him in here so he didn’t scold me!” Tommy complained, turning his face to Tubbo and frowning grumpily.

 “Tell me what?” Wilbur felt like this kid was purposefully trying to make him have a heart attack before he really should.

 “Tommy’s magically healed because of his new mer friend and now he think’s I’m fucking jealous, even though I really don’t care,” Tubbo explained, even though it didn’t explain anything.

 “Mer?” Wilbur asked, blinking like a bewildered owl, something he seems to be doing a lot this morning.

 Really, it was too fucking early for this.

“Yeah! His name is Philza, he likes us, and he’s the biggest man in the seas! He healed me and Tubbo scared him away.” Tommy again shot a grumpy look at Tubbo, who simply ignored it.

 “The mer likes… all of us?” Wilbur asked, slowly sorting through the myriad of questions.

“Yep. He’s been watching over all of us since we set sail, and he even caused a storm to knock me overboard so that he could, I don’t know, save me from dying of thirst?” Tommy frowned before looking up into Wilbir’s face, “But he means well! He just forgot that humans can’t breathe underwater.”

 “He caused the storm that killed my crew.” Wilbur muttered, blinking harshly to try and hide the tears that suddenly welled up in his eyes.

 “He really didn’t mean to hurt anybody, he just wanted to help me. And I think he might have come back by now if you want to meet him.” Tommy said gently.

 “I don’t want to meet a murderer.” Wilbur said finally, turning away with Tommy still tucked under his arm.

 “We’re all murderers.” Tubbo said matter-of-factly and Wilbur frowned at him.

“Besides, if I let you meet Phil, that means you have to introduce me to captain Technoblade.” Tommy said hopefully, smiling sweetly up at Wilbur, who was still glowring at Tubbo.

“No. We need to make sure that mer didn’t do anything to you and then get back on the ship.” Wilbur hissed.

“We can’t leave him.” Tubbo whined.

Wilbur frowned. These were his kids now and he needed to protect them. He knew Techno well and enjoyed having the pirate around… but he had been through a lot and he didn’t want the man to snap and kill everyone on that small ship.

 “You were the one almost completely against letting him help Tommy.” Wilbur shot back, coraling them out of the wrecked ship and towards their own.

 That was until Tommy spotted something out at sea and took off running faster than Wilbur could grab his arm.

 “Toms! Come back!” Wilbur shouted, taking off after the blonde.

Tommy only flipped him off and crashed into the break and hugged something that looked to be just under the surface.

 “What-” Wilbur breathed, stopping and watching as a blonde man with scales running up his back and sides and irisless eyes rose out of the waves and hugged Tommy back.

 “That’s Philza.” Tubbo said.

“No dip sherlock.” Wilbur bit back, slowly walking closer to try and catch the conversation and to make sure the mer didn’t drag the teen back into the waves and drown him.

 “Wil!” Tommy called, waving Wilbur closer and smiling brightly.

Wilbur sighed and walked up to the mer and stuck out his hand, surprised when the mer grabbed his hand and shook it.

 “Hello Wilbur Soot, I am sorry for what I have caused for your crew. I was too focused on helping this pup and it was my mistake. I hope you may forgive me?”

_[\\//]_

Techno walked back to the main beach of the island with his arms full of coconuts, and blinked when he found the beach to be completely empty.

“Uh…” Techno looked at the water and found that their ship was still anchored so they couldn't have left. 

Now do I try to find them or should I just go about my day and ignore their existence?

Techno shrugged. Whatever the others were doing wasn’t his problem or his business.

 He was about to go back to his ship before he spotted them standing in the waves in a half circle around something.

 See, Technoblade was a curious motherfucker, not that you could blame him.

So he set his coconuts in the sand and started walking out into the waves to see what his guests had found. Maybe Tubbo had caught another fish.

Another thing that caught Techno’s interest is how Tommy was standing with the other two, looking worlds better than he had the night before.

And then he spotted Phil in the center if their half circle and he started sprinting across the sand, fear in his heart of what the pirates might do to his friend-

“Oh! Hey Techno!” Tubbo smiled at him, waving him over, “Come meet Phil!”

Techno blinked in surprise. Tubbo was being… nice to him?

“How did you guys find him?” He asked dumbly, casting a pointed look at the sheepish mer.

“Well, technically he found Tommy and healed him, and then Wilbur and I got to meet him out here.” Tubbo relied, elbowing Tommy in the stomach.

Tommy blinked and Techno raised an eyebrow. Something told him that he was going to have trouble with this one.

Then he glanced at Wilbur and frowned. His friend was quiet, staring at the waves with a grief stricken look on his face. The look of somebody completely hopeless.

 “Why does Wilbur look like a kicked puppy?” Techno asked, a little bit blunter than he intended.

“He killed my crew.” 

 Techno blinked owlishly.

Yep, that would do it.

 “I am truly sorry Wilbur, I didn’t mean-” Phil tried to butt in, holding up a hand, but Wilbur glared at him.

 “It doesn’t matter. Thanks for healing Tommy, I guess.” Wilbur hissed before turning away and stomping back out of the waves. 

 Techno watched him go.

“You don’t seem surprised to see Philza.” Tubbo said, drawing him back into the conversation.

 “Call him Phil.” Techno said absentmindedly.

“I think that’s why he’s not surprised to see him.” Tommy stage whispered to Tubbo, smiling behind his hand.

 Techno raised an eyebrow and Phil laughed.

“I guided you to this island for a reason, mate!” Phil smiled, splashing a little bit of water up onto Tommy.

 “I thought that was just because Technoblade was a famous pirate and you liked how he sounded or something.” Tubbo frowned.

 Phil shook his head and Techno sighed.

“He’s been my only friend for a while, keeping me company and keeping this island stocked full of ships for me to plunder. I’ve never stopped feeling like a pirate.” Techno said.

 “You’re just like a super dad.” Tommy said, sitting in the waves and resting his head on Phil’s shoulder. Phil beamed and Techno felt like he was being demoted from the favorite child at this point.

 “Hey, I’m going to make sure Wil’s ok…” Tommy said, jumping up and running back across the beach to where the dark shadow of WIlbur was on the sand Tubbo shot a quick smile at Phil and ran after his friend, leaving the former captain and the mer alone.

 “You really did adopt us, old man.” Techno sighed.

“I don’t know what that means.” Phil said matter-of-factly.

 “Of course you don’t.” Techno sighed again, “But we need to set sail eventually. You said they couldn’t go to a port because the navy’s after them?”

 Phil nodded.

“I think I know a couple islands we can stop at where we won’t get caught.” Techno offered.

 “I’m not the one to make the plans, you guys are. Good luck!” Phil said, disappearing back into the water.

 “Hey! Don’t just leave me to interact socially!” Techno shouted after him.

It was a lost cause at this point and Techno turned away from the water, walking back across the sands to talk with the rest of the crew.

Chapter Text

 Tommy stood on the deck leaning over the rail and watching the ocean pass as they traveled. He took a deep breath of the salty air and felt the wood beneath him sway gently.

 It was calm and beautiful and he smiled down at Phil when he noticed the mer wave up at him from the water.

 “Whatcha lookin’ at boss man?” Tubbo asked, coming up behind him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

 “Meh, just the waves.” Tommy answered, waving at Phil and turning away, “Has Techno charted the course to his stashes yet?”

 “Nope, he wants you to help him.” Tubbo said, rolling his eyes.

“He's a big man, why does he need my help?” Tommy asked, “It’s not like I know where his shit is.”

 “It is your ship.” Tubbo shrugged.

“True.” Tommy sighed, wandering back to his cabin and pushing the door open to find Techno bent over his maps, his brows furrowed in concentration.

 “Soo… how’s it going?” Tommy asked.

“Fine.” Techno answered.

 “Really, cause you look like you’re struggling.” Tommy teased, sitting on his bed and grinning evilly at the pirate.

 “Shut it, runt.” Techno sighed, handing him a notebook and quill, “I need you to write down what I say.”

 “Why?” Tommy asked curiously.

Techno raised an eyebrow and shook his head, “Are you gonna do it or do I have to get Wilbur?”

 “No, no I got, leave Wilbur out of this.” Tommy said frantically. He was not about to let the overgrown man-child steal his opportunity to spend time with Technoblade.

 “Mhmm.” Techno hummed, looking over the map again, “Alright. I need you to write down: The sun sets on the horizon, the path of the light creating the road to the island of all wishes. The stars then shine on the mountains of the island that contain the shrine of all knowledge-”

 “Wait, what is this crap?” Tommy asked, picking the quill off the page and read through it again, “I thought we were going to your stash not on an entire fucking adventure.”

 “Can I finish?” Techno deadpanned, looking exhausted.

“Sure. Go on. I’m not stopping you.” Tommy chuckled, putting the quill back on the page.

 “You are the only reason I stopped.” Techno groaned, “And I lost my train of thought.”

“Are you alright man? Do I need to get Wilbur?” Tommy asked, getting up and putting a hand on the older pirate’s shoulder.

 “I’m fine.” Techno sighed, rubbing his forehead and standing, but almost immediately sat back down, “You know what, I don’t think so.”

 Tommy raised an eyebrow and put a hand under his friend’s elbow.

“I’ll help you to your bunk and you can get some rest. Maybe you're just not used to being back on the water. It’s a bit of a transition.” Tommy said kindly.

 “No. This doesn’t feel like seasickness, and I’ve never gotten it this bad before.” Techno sighed, “It’s something else.”

 “Well, you still need to rest so you go to sleep. I’ll get Wil to check on you once I figure out what that weird rhyme thing is.” Tommy smiled, leading the pirate to the small crew cabin off the kitchen and helping him lay down in a hammock.

 “Yeah, thanks.” Techno breathed, closing his eyes and curling up.

Tommy shrugged and turned, running back up the stairs to do what he promised.

 “Wilba!” Tommy cried, tackling the man to the deck.

“Hi Tommy.” Wilbur groaned, rubbing his side and sitting up with Tommy sitting on his lap, “what do you want that is so important that you had to tackle me?”

 “You need to go check on Techno. Something’s wrong with him and he says it’s not seasickness.” Tommy said seriously, helping Wilbur up to his feet.

 “Huh, alright then. I’ll go check on him.” Wilbur muttered, patting Tommy’s head.

Tommy smiled and pulled Tubbo into his cabin to try and figure out what nonsense Techno had been spouting.

_[\\//]_

 “Does this look like your mystery island?” Tubbo teased, looking at Techno as the shadows from the mountains grew over the small ship.

 “Yep. Unchanged actually.” Techno said, smiling faintly as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

“So what’s in that ‘shrine’? Gold? Rum?” Tommy asked, grinning like a gremlin.

 “While that would be fine, I hope it’s a garden with fresh food.” Wilbur chuckled, pushing Tommy to the side and getting ready to throw the lines over to dock the ship.

 “I don’t think so.” Phil called from the tide below, "It doesn't look like the place where humans would grow things.”

 “How do you know where humans grow things?” Tubbo asked.

“I can swim up rivers.” Phil protested.

 “Are they even deep enough for you?” Tommy asked.

“Meh.” Phil chuckled, diving back under the water, splashing Tommy in the process.

 “Come on guys.” Techno said quietly, jumping down off the ship and hosting his travel pack up onto his shoulders.

 “I’ll be here when you get back!” Phil chirped, waving at the four as they trekked into the dense forests.

“Bye Phil!” Tommy called over his shoulder before promptly chasing Tubbo off into the forest, shouting profanities as he did.

“Ah, to be young again.” Wilbur chuckled, leaning on Techno’s shoulder.

“Heh, the days.” Techno chuckled, subtly pushing Wilbur off and shuddering.

 “You alright?” Wilbur asked, noticing despite Techno’s subtleness. 

It was the opposite of subtle then, wonderful.

 “I’m fine.” Techno sighed, stepping a little faster to catch up to the two teens that had pulled pretty far ahead.

 “Says the man that is very obviously depressed and traumatized.” Wilbur muttered.

Techno whirled around and stared him down.

 “No.”

“You’re going to have to face it, Tech. They hurt you, and coming here isn’t helping. Being with Tommy and Tubbo isn’t necessarily helping.” Wilbur pointed out, crossing his arms.

 “Like I said, I’m fine. I’ve lived through worse and I survived that.” Techno dismissed, continuing to walk.

“You’ve never been betrayed this bad before-” Wilbur continued.

“The navy betrayed me, my parents betrayed me, hell even the ocean’s betrayed me before, this ain't new and I’m fine.” Techno shouted.

 Wilbur blinked at him and nodded.

Techno huffed and turned, stomping up the path, following the sounds of excited laughter.

 The group stopped in the morning, pulling out blankets and falling asleep under the shade of trees as the sun rose and the day warmed up.

 They woke up around dusk and began their trek up the mountain again, Tommy and Tubbo sticking closer to Wilbur and Techno now as their energy started to drain.

 They made it almost three quarters of the way up on the second day, but had to stop again when the sun came up again. 

 “Why are we only traveling during the night?” Tubbo asked curiously as they walked on the third day.

 “Because it’s cooler at night and we don’t have to stop as much to take breaks.” Wilbur answered, handing Tommy a canteen full of water.

 Tommy took a sip of the water as Tubbo nodded in understanding, spitting it out and looking at it in disgust.

 “What’s wrong?” Wilbur asked, taking the canteen back and patting Tommy on the back.

“It’s water!” Tommy cried.

 “Yes?” 

“I thought it was rum! You’re supposed to have rum in those things!” Tommy said, pointing an accusatory finger at the offending canteen.

 “You can put whatever you want in those things.” Techno sighed, taking the canteen and taking a drink, “We’re almost there, and when we get to the shrine, don’t touch anything.”

 “Ok with me, boss man.” Tubbo said with a thumbs up. Techno facepalmed and turned away, continuing to walk.

 “What’s with mister sourpuss.” Tommy whispered from behind his turned back.

“He’s still not feeling good.” Wilbur whispered back.

 “We should have left him on the ship then, so he can rest!” Tubbo said loudly.

“I’m fine.” Techno called over his shoulder, smiling faintly when he saw the marble steps of the shrine, “we’re here anyway.”

 “Finally!” Tommy cheered, running inside the marble building.

“Don’t touch anything-” Techno shouted, only to be interrupted by a shrill shriek.

 “Tommy!” Wilbur yelled, running inside with the other two following close behind.

They found Tommy staring wide eyed at a skeleton with a large gem in its hand.

 “That’s what happens when you touch something you’re not supposed to.” Techno sighed, taking Tommy’s shoulder and leading him away.

 “That’s my stash.” Techno said, pointing to a bag hiding behind a pile of gold.

“And what’s in there?” Tubbo asked, “That thing can’t be bigger than a satchel.”

 “That’s not what we’re here for. We’re here for what's under the bag.” Techno sighed, pulling the bag away and opening the trap door.

 “Oh sick.” Tommy whistles, jumping down into the dark hole.

“You know that there isn’t a light down there, right?” Techno called, smiling faintly.

 “I… realize that now.” Tommy said, his voice wavering, “Can you come down now, I’m scared.”

“You walked through a creepy forest to get up here and you weren’t scared.” Tubbo chuckled, sliding down the ladder with a lit lantern that Techno had not seen him light.

 “That’s because there was a moon and you guys were there.” Tommy said in a small voice, attaching himself to Tubbo’s arm, “And I knew to some point what was in front of me.”

 “Child.” Wilbur teased.

“We can establish our base of operations here, or just grab supplies and be on our way.” Techno said, lighting more lanterns and revealing his stash.

 “Why the hell do you have multiple chests of straight, fresh potatoes?” Wilbur asked.

“I’m surprised they are still fresh. Take a bunch, they’re a good source of starch.” Techno recommended, grabbing a couple bags and throwing them at his crew.

 “Can I take a couple bottles of this very aged looking rum?” Tommy asked.

“You’re the youngest of us, and yet you are the one most addicted to alcohol.” Wilbur chuckled, ruffling the blonde’s hair.

 “I’m just craving it, I can live without it.” Tommy protested.

Techno chuckled and rolled his eyes.

The walk back down the mountain was a lot quicker than the walk up, lasting only about two days instead of the three it took going up.

 Tommy complained about his feet all the way down, and Tubbo continued picking up sticks and poking Wilbur just to annoy him.

 Techno was too stuck in his own memories, thinking about when he had last gone up this mountain. 

 It hurt, but he thought that he enjoyed this crew's company better than his last one… but he was just telling himself that because he didn’t know what else to think.

 Tommy climbed up a rope onto the deck of his ship, kicking down the ladder and letting everyone else up after the lines had been pulled up.

 “Where’s Phil?” Tubbo asked, looking out into the water as Tommy maneuvered the ship out of the cove.

 “Maybe he went to find another human to watch over?” Tommy wondered.

“He said he would be here, and Phil never goes back on his promises.” Techno said.

 “True…” Tommy nodded, looking a little concerned now, “He does, but there might just be another reason.”

 “Like what?” Tubbo asked, “He’s always there, even in your nightmares.”

“Again true…” Tommy muttered, “Then where could he be?”

 “I don’t know, but this feels wrong.” Wilbur said, coming back up from the kitchens where he had been organizing their new supplies.

 “I have an idea.” Techno said with a determined look in his eyes, “And it’ll require Wilbur to learn how to use his siren song.”

 “My what?” Wilbur asked, blinking owlishly at his old friend.

Chapter Text

 “I’m not a siren.” Wilbur protested. The idea was absurd and frankly not important in light of the fact that Phil was missing for all they knew.

 “Actually Phil said that you were half-siren.” Tommy said, as if reading his mind.

“No.” Wilbur frowned, crossing his arms.

 “Did you know your parents?” Tubbo asked.

“No…” He said hesitantly, but still trying to ignore the logic, “But that doesn't make one of them a siren.”

 “It doesn’t matter what you think or not.” Techno growled, “You just need to accept it and we need to get moving. Time’s ticking.”

 The pink-haired pirate stomped down the stairs, his anger affecting the entire crew.

“I… agree with Techno.” Tommy sighed, letting Tubbo take over the wheel and ducking into his cabin to grab his maps. 

 “You don’t actually believe that I am a part siren, right?” Wilbur asked, looking at the younger pirate.

“I don’t know,” Tubbo shrugged, “But you do have a tendency to make people go crazy when you sing.”

 “I just don’t believe this.” Wilbur muttered, turning to coil a couple ropes to distract himself.

He really never met either of his parents, and his earliest memory had been staring longingly out a barred window at the crashing waves below a prison where he figured he had been born in.

  Maybe he hadn’t been born there, maybe he lived on a ship before that and was put in that prison before he was released for being too young.

 But he couldn’t ignore that he had always felt a pull from the water, that he could hear a little song every now and then when the sun was going down.

 He could just be insane and all this was in his head.

Then again, the entire population of three people he spent his time with were saying that he could be… half-siren.

 And Tommy had said that Phil told him.

Wilbur knew now that the mer had been following him, all of them, since their journeys started. He could know about those songs as the sun sets, or the joy his singing usually induced.

 “Hey, big man!” Tommy called, breaking him out of his thought process, “Is this the first time you’re using your brain? You went all quiet. Those wheels must be so rusty.”

 “Oh, ha ha.” Wilbur deadpanned, throwing a fish bone at Tommy’s face.

“Hey!” Tommy yelped, rubbing his forehead and frowning, “I just wanted you to help me with mapping a path to Siren Cove. No need to get violent.”

 “So we’re actually doing this?” Wilbur asked.

“It’s probably the only choice we have right now. Phil comes from an entire world that we don’t know anything about.” Tubbo said, “And I think it’s the only way we’re going to get Techno back from the depths.

 “He’s actually really scary when he’s mad.” Tommy whispered, using his quill tip to trace different paths through islands.

 “That’s Tech for you.” Wilbur shrugged, “But this is the worst I’ve ever seen him.”

“I feel bad for him. He shouldn’t have had to deal with that mutiny.” Tubbo sighed, “In another world, I think he would have been a model citizen.”

 “That actually doesn’t sound like any of us.” Tommy laughed, “model citizen Captain Technoblade?”

Tubbo rolled his eyes and stole Tommy’s quill, starting a brawl between the two. 

 “Guys, come on…” Wilbur scolded half-heartedly.

_[\\//]_

 The cove was eerily quiet. The waves didn’t make a sound as they lapped against the walls of the cove, not even making a sound when they hit the sides of the Clementine.

 “I don’t like this.” Tommy whispered, the sound shattering the silence and sending echoes through the entire cavern.

 “The acoustics in here are amazing.” Wilbur breathed, his voice echoing less than Tommy’s had.

“Of course you would think that.” Tubbo sighed, “Fish bitch.”

 “Be nice.” Techno muttered, nudging Tubbo gently before putting a hand on Wilbur’s shoulder, “You ready?”

 “No.” Wilbur frowned, “This is still ludicrous.”

“Just do it man,” Tommy groaned, rolling his eyes.

 “Fine.” Wilbur sighed, taking a deep breath and picking a song. He closed his eyes and started singing.

The king and his men

Stole the queen from her bed

And bound her in her bones

The seas be ours

Beyond the powers

Where we will, we'll rule

Yo, ho, all hands

Hoist the colours high

Heave ho, thieves and beggars

Never shall we die

Yo, ho, haul together

Hoist the colours high

Heave ho, thieves and beggars

Never shall we die

Yo, ho, haul together

Hoist the colours high

Heave ho, thieves and beggars

Never shall we die

 The last note hung in the air and Wilbur opened his eyes, looking around at his crew before noticing their attention was on the water around the ship.

 He looked over the railing and blinked.

There were dozens of pale faces poking up from the water, eyes all trained on him.

 As the notes of the song faded, whispers started filling the cave, sharp claws pointed at him and Wilbur stepped away from the rail.

 “Wil?” Tommy breathed, his eyes wide.

“I want to leave.” Wilbur whispered back, unexplained fear crushing his lungs and making it hard to breathe.

 “We still need to find Phil. We didn’t come all this way for nothing.” Techno hissed, stepping closer to the railing and looking out over the sirens.

 “We come in peace. We only wish for knowledge of where our friend went.” Techno said, his voice echoing almost deafeningly off the roof of the cove.

 The whispers turned to hisses as the sirens dove back under the water, flicking their tails in anger and annoyance.

 “I think it’s a lost cause either way.” Tommy muttered.

“No, I think I have to talk to them.” Wilbur sighed, stepping up to Techno’s side and humming a few notes to call the sirens back to him.

 “What do you want, bastard child?” The biggest hissed, her sharp teeth flashing in the light.

“I want to have a guide show me where a mer named Philza went.” Wilbur said, his voice steady despite the crippling fear that was still trying to turn his knees into jelly.

 The sirens all screamed and shrieked and cried at the name, most diving back under, all but the leader and a couple younger sirens. 

 “Why would you be following the Crow of Death?” The leader asked, her eyes cold and calculating.

“He’s a beloved friend and he broke a promise.” Wilbur said.

 “A mer broke a promise?” A young siren chirped, bobbing closer to the ship with an inquisitive look in his eye.

 Odd, you don’t usually find a male siren. It’s quite rare actually.

“We think that it wasn’t his fault and something stole him. He’s missing and we want to find him.” Wilbur continued, “Which is why we need you to tell us what happened at Shrine Island, or lend us one of your pod to guide us to where he is.”

 “That is a very high demand for one bastard siren to ask.” The leader mused, “But your song was beautiful and sung well from the heart. That mer must have done something right by you.”

 “Thank you.” Wilbur asked, unsure whether or not he was just complimented or insulted.

“You may take that one. It knows these waters better than any living thing and will lead you to where the Crow of Death is.” The leader said, pointing haphazardly at the young siren that had spoken up.

 “We will return him to you in pristine condition.” Wilbur promised, smiling kindly at the nervous looking kid.

 “No, don’t bring it back!” The leader shouted, slapping her tail on the water in anger, “It is a gift, you cannot return it, don’t bring that thing back!”

 Wilbur started with wide eyes at the leader, faintly hearing the hustle and bustle of the other members of the ship working on pulling the ship out of the cove.

 “Wil, a little help here?” Tommy yelped, struggling against the wheel as the leader kept shrieking and filling Wilbur’s head with swears and words that cut into his brain and stabbed his heart-

 “I got you.” Techno said, grabbing Wilbur’s arm and pulling him below decks, thankfully silencing the shouts of the angered siren, “Stay here, we’ll get out.”

 Wilbur nodded and sat on one of the benches at the table, his head in his hands.

Maybe… maybe I really am a bastard siren child that was abandoned because of my human parent. I… think I believe now.

Chapter Text

 Tommy was getting concerned.

Wilbur hadn’t come up from belowdecks since their encounter at Siren Cove, three fucking days ago.

 The siren they were ‘given’ had hardly talked to them, and Tommy knew he had a story behind that leader’s major freakout.

 Tubbo was trying desperately to get the siren kid to talk to him, much to Tommy’s amusement, even if it wasn’t going too well.

 And then there was Techno.

It was understandable that he was concerned for his mer friend, he was the one that kept him company though the literal hardest time in his life, and Phil was just an innocent fatherly dude.

 But he was getting on Tommy’s nerves! It wasn’t like he was complaining about how slow they seemed to be going or even stomping angrily around anymore.

 Techno just looked sad and was just standing at the railing when he wasn’t tasked with doing anything.

 Tommy had been scared when the elder pirate got mad, found it funny when he said the most obvious things in a deadpan tone, but this was sad.

 It hurt Tommy’s heart to see Techno like this and he only knew of one sure fire way to get Techno to lighten up.

 To find Phil.

And to do that, Tommy needed to talk to the siren leading them to find out where they were going.

 “Go to bed Tech, I got the helm tonight. You need to sleep.” Tommy said, taking Techno’s arm and tugging him down the stairs.

 “I’m not tired.” Techno yawned, completely contradicting himself.

“Yeah, definitely.” Tommy chuckled, letting Techno’s arm go and pushing him into his room. Then he turned back up the stairs and checked on Tubbo in the captain’s quarters. 

 Even with two other people on the ship, Tubbo refused to sleep somewhere else. 

Clingy bastard. Tommy thought fondly.

 Then he stood at the wheel and kept a close eye on the flicking black and white tail of the siren.

The kid didn’t really look like a siren the more Tommy looked.

 The sirens he had seen in the cave were pale, with pale eyes and bleached hair. Their fish tails had been slim, similar to shark fins or dolphin fins.

 This siren looked pale too, but his hair was split into two sides, one white and the other black. His eyes were a glowing red and green and his tail was flowy and similar to a betta fish’s tail. He looked almost nothing like a siren.

 Tommy would even go as far as to say that the kid was a mer, but he had heard him singing.

The song had caused the same effects that Wilbur’s song had caused.

 “I wonder if he's a half siren too. Maybe half mer by the looks of it.” Tommy muttered.

He wanted to talk to the guy, but he didn’t want to lose focus on the task at hand.

 “Hey man, where are you leading us?” Tommy called, his voice raised over the night wind.

The siren’s head bobbed above the water for a moment and he blinked at him.

 “I kinda want to know where you’re taking us.” Tommy smiled.

“If I tell you, you would have no use for me.” The siren called back, his voice quiet and small, almost lost in the night.

 “What?” Tommy asked, raising an eyebrow.

“If I tell you where the Crow of Death is, you will kill me and go off on your own.” The siren said, his voice a little stronger.

 “Is that what your pod told you?” Tommy asked, growing slightly.

“Yeah? It’s what you humans do. Kill things you don’t need.” The siren said, his tone slightly confused.

 “Not us. We keep people.” Tommy winced at how that sounded, “We take care of the people that helped us and make them… family, I guess.”

 “You sound like you're just realizing this now.” the siren chuckled.

“I am.” Tommy admitted, smiling slightly, “But it’s true.”

 “You sound genuine.” The siren sighed.

“What’s your name, big man?” Tommy asked, looking over the edge of the railing and seeing the siren’s smiling face.

 “I am called Ranboo.” The siren answered, smiling with sharp teeth.

“Hello Ranboo, it’s nice to meet you,” Tommy laughed, “Now, where are we headed?”

 “Oh, the cliffside kingdom.” Ranboo hummed, “I don’t know how I know, but that’s where the Crow of Death is.”

 “The cliff kingdom?” Tommy asked, “I don’t know if I’m familiar. I’ll ask Wil or Tech tomorrow if they know anything about it.”

 Ranboo nodded and kept swimming alongside the ship, smiling to himself.

_[\\//]_

 Ranboo was ecstatic.

The small crew of the Clementine were kind people, and they seemed to accept Ranboo without a second thought.

 Tommy, the young captain, was fiery and set in his determination to find the Crow of Death. Ranboo never expected to know any human that would look for Death this much, but he didn’t know many humans.

 Tubbo, Tommy’s first mate, was loud and friendly. Ranboo had met him second, having been introduced by Tommy the next morning. He was sweet and pretty much immediately became his best friend.

Wilbur, the half siren, was kind and also became a quick friend. He was similar to Ranboo in a way. Not a part of any species due to his parents' idiocy, but unique in only the way he could be. He had paled when Tommy told him of where Phil was being held and Ranboo was concerned for the half-siren.

Then there was Techno, the quiet and stoic one. He didn’t seem to warm up to Ranboo, but he could tell that the pink-haired pirate liked him. He had also paled when Tommy told him about the cliffside kingdom, so it made Ranboo think it was a common thing.

“Hey Ran?” Tubbo called, looking down from the railing.

“Yes Tubbo?” Ranboo answered.

 “Are you a siren or a mer?” Tubbo asked, crossing his arms and leaning his chin over the railing.

“That’s a little rude.” Ranboo sighed, dipping back under the water before surfacing again.

 “I’m just curious.” Tubbo said, rolling his eyes.

“I’m both. Like how Wilbur’s a half-siren, half-human, I’m half-mer, half-siren.” Ranboo smiled.

 “Ohh, yeah that makes sense.” Tubbo shrugged.

“No it doesn’t,” Tommy interrupted, “How do fish people have kids with humans? I mean, I understand fish people crossing with other fish people, but humans?”

 “Well, I think it has something to do with how I can do… this.” Ranboo grinned, pulling himself up the side of the ship and shaking all the salt water off his scales, feeling them pull back into his skin.

 Suddenly he had two legs and no scales.

“Thank goodness you magically changed with clothes, I did not want to see that.” Tommy joked, punching a flabbergasted Tubbo’s shoulder.

 “How?” Tubbo asked, his voice a little strangled.

“Magic.” Ranboo answered, “Like literally, this is magic all sirens have.”

 “Can Wilba become a fish person?” Tommy asked, his eyes glinting dangerously.

“No, Tommy I don’t think-” Ranboo was cut off as Tommy ran down the stairs laughing evilly, “And he’s gone.”

 “Tubbo, are you sure these maps are up to date?” Techno called, stepping out of the captain’s cabin with a couple maps in hand, pausing for a second when he noticed Ranboo standing next to Tubbo, “I thought you were in the water last I checked. And you had a tail.”

 “Yep.” Ranboo grinned, “But now I’m not and I don’t have one.”

“Good, ok, uh… My question still stands. Tubbo-”

 “Yes, those maps are up to date, and we are about a week out from the kingdom.” Tubbo groaned, rolling his eyes and leaning against Ranboo.

 “Good.” Techno nodded, then turned to raise an eyebrow at the stairs when Wilbur came running up the stairs with Tommy running after him.

 “Come on! Just take a dip and try!” Tommy cried, “It’s just magic!”

“I’ve already come to terms with it, I don’t need any more revelations!” Wilbur shouted back, hiding behind Techno as Tommy tried to grab him.

 “Please! I wanna see-”

Wilbur stuck his tongue out at the blonde, then yelped as Techno picked him up and tossed him overboard.

 “What the hell, Tech?!” Wilbur shouted, treading water as he broke the surface.

“I don’t think he’s a fish person, Tommy, sorry.” Techno chuckled, patting the blonde’s shoulder as Tommy wilted sadly.

 “Is anyone going to let me up?” Wilbur asked.

“Nah.” Tubbo shrugged, walking back to the wheel and ignoring the pirate.

 “I’ll help.” Ranboo smiled.

“Thanks man.” Wilbur sighed, resting on the wooden deck once he was back onboard.

 Ranboo smiled and felt his heart warm. 

This was a good pod.

Chapter Text

 George opened his mouth to ask a question just as Dream walked into his throne room.

Dream held up a hand, stopping the king before he even said anything, “No, I have not heard from the mer, and no, none of our ships are back yet.”

 “Are you positive?” George asked, stepping down from his raised dais and standing face to face with his friend.

 “Yes George, I am positive, just like the last couple of times you made me go check.” Dream sighed.

 “It’s been fucking weeks since we’ve heard from anything!” George erupted, stomping his foot and turning, his cape swirling behind him as he paced, “For all I know, that little pirate took out all of my ships and that mer told him where they could be!”

 “I highly doubt that kid is working with mer.” Sapnap said, stepping into the room with a couple of his crew members following closely behind as he dictated tasks to them, “There are hundreds of sailors that go their entire lives not seeing scale nor tail of the mystical.”

 “And yet, this singular kid, a child, has managed to catch the attention of royalty.” George countered, “We have no clue what he’s capable of and he hasn’t been seen for a couple months now!”

 “Yelling isn’t going to help solve your problems.” Dream said, his arms crossed as he watched his friend stress.

 “It’s helping a lot right now Dream!” George yelled, whirling around and stomping up to his right hand man.

 “Do you need to work out this energy in a healthy and productive way?” Dream asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking.

 “If you make me sit down and do paperwork, I will start another revolution and overthrow my own reign.” George threatened.

 Dream rolled his eyes and grabbed his best friend’s arm, pulling both him and Sapnap down the winding halls and into a room specifically designed for the king’s training in self defense.

 “Is this what you meant?” George asked, his voice flat and unimpressed.

“Yep.” Dream said cheerfully, pulling a wooden sword off a wall and tossing it to George, “Work out your anger, alright?”

 “Maybe you can even pass time so that we can stop hearing about that goddamn mer!” Sapnap chuckled, ducking when George swung at his head with an unamused look.

 “Oi, what was that for?” Sapnap yelped, hiding behind Dream as George slowled turned with death in his eye.

 “Whatever it is, don’t use me as a shield!” Dream cried, slipping away from Sapnap’s hands and running across the room to pull down his own wooden sword.

 That left Sapnap standing alone in the middle of the room when George came crashing down on him. The sailor dodged, falling to his knees and rolling away, and coming up behind the king.

 Dream stepped in and blocked the kick Sapnap had aimed at George’s calves, only to turn and block the wooden sword aimed for his shoulder.

 Any outsider looking in would see a fierce battle between the three, every man for himself, but the men were actually having a lot of fun.

 Finally, they all collapsed to the floor in a sweaty pile, laughing quietly.

“Feeling better, your majesty?” Dream asked, looking over at his friend lying on the cool stone floor.

 “Maybe.” George smiled.

I can admit that… maybe. Maybe this helped.

 “Your majesty, there is somebody at the docks that wants to speak with you!” A young guard called from one of the doors. It was Purpled, the kid that lost his brother to that pirate kid.

 “Who is it?” George asked, getting up and brushing dust off his pants.

“I… don’t know her name, but a mer. At the docks. Said she really needed to talk with you.”

 That’s all the king needed to sprint off to the docks, his best friends on his heels.

_[\\//]_

The run wasn’t a long one, but Sapnap was winded by the time the trio made it to the waterside. He was a ship captain, meaning he didn’t need to run anywhere, and oftentimes he didn’t even have the space.

 “George, we don’t even know-” Dream said, trying to grab the king’s shoulder to try to accomplish something, but they all knew that once George had a plan, it wasn’t going to be stopped.

 “It has to be Eret, and you aren't stopping me from-”

“King George!”

 Speak of the devil.

The mer in question was waving from the water off one of the less populated docks, smiling like she hadn’t been one of the reasons for George’s anxiety.

 “Do you have news?” The king asked, kneeling at the edge of the water, looking hopefully at the mer.

 The sight made Sapnap a little uneasy. Eret could very easily grab George and drag him under, and with how desperate his friend was, he probably would let her.

 “I don’t have much news on the young pup, but I did find something that is of… use.” The Mer dove under the water and for a moment Sapnap wondered if she had just swum off.

 He shared a look with Dream before watching the water again.

Massive bubbles were rising to the surface, making him think a struggle was going on below the surface.

 Then up popped Eret’s head, along with another one, this one being blonde and trapped in a kelp net.

 “Eret, what’s that?” George asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sapnap’s eyes widened when he suddenly realized who this mer was.

 “Eret, why do you have the Crow of Death trapped in a net?” He asked, taking a step back, closer to Dream, who put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

 “This is the Death Crow? Huh, looks smaller than I imagined.” George muttered, casting a small smile back at the two men standing behind him.

 “He knows where the little pup you seek is!” Eret cried, “He blessed the pup and he knows where he is!”

 “‘Blessed’?” Dream asked.

“The mer have the power to bless sea-faring humans whenever they see fit, to give them the ability to survive better on the water, or just survive better in general.” Sapnap whispered, “But getting a blessing for the literal demon of the sea is… Unnerving.”

 “I am not a demon!” The Crow of Death hissed, snapping his sharp teeth at Eret and lashing his tail, churning the water into a bubbly froth.

 “I do not control how humans see you, but you can change that by cooperating!” Eret hissed back, baring her teeth and digging her claws into his arms to keep him from escaping.

 “I will not tell you anything about my pup!” The blonde mer howled, writhing against Eret’s grip and tinting the water red when Eret’s claws dug further into his skin.

 “Your pup?” George asked, his eyes narrowing. Dream and Sapnap stepped closer, pulling George a little further away from the ledge he had been leaning over.

 The king could swim just fine, but there were two hissing mer in the water and Sapnap really didn’t want to pull him out of that particular mess.

 “How could you adopt an evil little pirate?” George growled.

“Because humans like you want him dead and I am not forced to abide by your rules!” The Crow of Death snapped back.

 “Just tell us where the pup is and I’ll let you go.” Eret cooed, her demeanor completely changing. 

Sapnap blinked at the sudden change, reminding him that they weren’t dealing with humans, they were dealing with mystical creatures that could easily kill them. 

 One was named the Crow of Death for a reason.

“I will not.” The blonde mer said defiantly.

 “Fine.” George said, “Eret, keep him here. Don’t let him escape.”

The king stood and walked away, his friends on his tail.

 “What are you planning?” Dream asked.

“That little pirate is special to that mer, so if we keep the mer, the kid will have to come after him.” George said, “So I’ll get my people to make him a fish tank so that he can sit in my throne room while we wait.”

 “That’s all banking on if, and only if, the kid actually knows about the mer.” Sapnap pointed out, “I said that only a couple sailors ever meet them, and it’s true.”

 “How many fifteen year old teens are able to sail a ship single handedly for months, without getting caught or killed?” George asked, looking over his shoulder.

 “Not… many…” Sapnap answered.

“Then he’s got to have met the mer.”

 George grinned evilly.

“And when he finds out we have him, he’ll come running.”

 Dream and Sapnap shared another look.

One filled with uncertainty and concern.

Chapter Text

 Tommy lay on his bed with his arm covering his face, listening to Tubbo’s snoring and the soothing sounds of tiny waves hitting the sides of the ship.

 It was the middle of the night and it didn’t feel like they were any closer to the cliffside kingdom Ranboo had pointed out on the map.

 Ranboo said they were getting closer, but they hadn’t sailed past any of the landmarks to prove they were.

 The uneasiness of the two older pirates on the ship wasn’t helping Tommy’s anxiety levels either.

Wilbur had finally started hanging out with the crew again, but there was an annoying quiet reserve about him that made Tommy want to fill the emptiness with talking and loudness.

 Techno was finally acting more normal than he had been, and despite his obvious, and poorly hidden, hard feelings of the kingdom, he was a lot easier to be around now.

 Tubbo figured it was probably because he was finally getting used to being with people again, and while Tommy didn’t discount that, he had another theory.

 He finally knew where he was going.

Like, really had an idea.

 All four pirates were used to not knowing where they would land next, or not knowing where they were.

 But Tommy understood the comfort and stability of having one set goal that would be reached no matter what.

 And Techno happened to be one extremely driven individual.

Either way, Tommy was tired and he wanted to sleep, but he was far too stressed and Tubbo’s body heat was getting too hot, but he couldn’t seem to be able to roll away.

 He was going to stay there and suffer when a shudder rocked their ship and nearly threw both him and Tubbo off the bed.

 Tommy ran out of the captain's quarters with Tubbo right behind him.

He stopped to stare up at the ship blocking out the moonlight, reminding him of another ship, another night…

 “What’s going on-” Wilbur called, running up the stairs before stopping and watching as another round of cannonballs hit the sides of the Clementine.

 “Those jackasses are trying to sink my ship!” Tommy shouted, grabbing Tubbo by the shoulder and shoving him back into the captain’s quarters, that bitch ain’t getting hurt on Tommy’s watch, before taking the unattended wheel of the ship and trying to get them away from the naval ship.

 “They hit her hull below the water line, we’re taking on water!” Techno shouted, running up from below decks too.

 “Where’s Boo? Wasn’t he supposed to be watching the wheel?” Wilbur asked, looking around with a coil of ropes in his hands.

 “He probably dove back in the water after the first volley!” Tommy called back, “Techno, load the canon and fire back!”

 “We have goddamn cannons?” Techno asked.

“Only one, it’s up there!” Tommy yelled back, pointing. Techno nodded and ran to the cannon, getting off one good shot before the light of the naval ship cannons went off.

 They all braced themselves as another volley hit the stern. Tommy had just barely managed to get the Clementine far enough to hopefully decrease the damage.

Wilbur was thrown to the deck as Techno wobbled a bit on his feet. Tommy had the wheel held in a white knuckled grip.

 He was going to get them all out of this mess, they were all going to be fine.

“Wilbur, if you don’t have anything to do, go look for Ranboo!” Tommy called as he glared up at the limp sails. There wasn’t enough wind to make a quick getaway and there was too much water below decks.

 “I don’t think that’s our biggest concern.” Techno deadpanned, staring at his feet, watching the water come up from between the wood of the deck.

 “Tubbo, get out of there, she’s sinking!” Tommy roared, letting go of the wheel.

He… didn’t know what to do next. Tommy felt hopeless.

 One last volley of cannon balls hit the deck of the Clementine, reducing what was left of the deck to splinters and beams.

 Each of the crew members clung desperately to a beam, and were each pulled onto the deck of the naval ship to be thrown below decks.

 “Well, at least we know for sure that we’re going to the kingdom.” Tommy chuckled.

Wilbur sighed and rolled his eyes.

 “This is not how I expected we would arrive. I figured it was going to be more of a dramatic entrance. Guns blazing and all that.” Tubbo supplied, his head resting against the wall of the brig.

 Techno hummed in agreement.

“We do have a lot of time to talk now!” Tubbo smiled, turning to Tommy, “Starting with you telling me why you shoved me in a room while our ship was being blasted to smithereens.”

 “Good word.” Wilbur commenced.

“Thanks.” Tubbo answered.

 “I didn’t want you getting hurt.” Tommy shrugged.

“No, you just didn’t want me in the way.” Tubbo accused.

 “I didn’t say that. You are my first mate, and while I know you would do anything for me, I’d like you to stay in one piece if I can help it.” Tommy stared Tubbo directly in the eye, “And I can help it.”

 Tubbo opened his mouth, then closed it again and nodded.

“Great, now that we have that out of the way, why don’t we address the elephant in the room.” Techno broke in.

 “What’s an elephant?” Tommy asked.

“Shut it.” Techno sighed, “Why was the wheel unattended and where’s Ranboo.” 

 The brig was silent.

“They know better than to just dip in the middle of the night.” Tubbo muttered.

 “Maybe Ranboo needed to go for a swim and got distracted by something shiny?” Wilbur shrugged.

 “That’s just a ‘you’ issue, Wil.” Techno sighed, “You get distracted by shiny things.”

“All of us do, it’s our fatal flaw.” Wilbur said dramatically.

 “Guys!” Tommy barked, “Focus. We need to at least come to a consensus on what might have happened to Boo.”

 “Maybe he was taken by the same thing that took Phil?” Tubbo asked, lookin through the cell bars at Tommy with wide eyes.

 “That… could be possible. Which makes you wonder how the fuck our mer friends are being abducted and why.” Tommy agreed, his brows furrowed in concentration.

 “Which means they ended up where Phil is, which so happens to be the kingdom we’re going to be executed in.” Wilbur shrugged, “Win-win.”

 “Whoo, getting killed and our friends are probably being kept as exotic pets for the rest of time because mer live forever.” Tubbo deadpanned, glaring at the man.

 “I was just looking on the bright side.” Wilbur shrugged.

Tommy sighed as he rested his head back against the wall of his small cell, ignoring his crew’s chatter and closed his eyes.

 He may as well try to sleep for what might happen next.

Chapter Text

 The trip wasn’t as long as Tommy thought it was going to be, maybe a day or so.

It certainly wasn’t long enough for the four pirates to starve completely or anything, which was an upside. 

 But a day or two was just long enough for the crew of the naval ship to pull each of them out of their cells and use them as a punching bag.

 Tommy kind of understood. They were traitors to their ‘glorious purpose’ and there had to be a ton of built up tension between a crew of thirty or so sailors.

 By the way they punched, they all definitely had built up tension.

“Tommy, are you ok? You went quiet.” Tubbo whispered, doing his best not to wake up Techno or Wilbur, who had each fallen asleep half an hour ago.

 “‘M fine, Tubs. Just fucking tired,” Tommy muttered, wincing when his shoulder pulsed in pain. It was dislocated again, which was fan-fucking-tastic. One more thing to add to the shit pile that was Tommy’s life.

 “You should try sleeping.” Tubbo said with a breathy chuckle, stopping to cough. 

“Are you good, buddy?” Tommy asked, lifting himself up a bit to get a better look of his first mate.

 “My chest and side hurts a bit, but I’ll be ok.” Tubbo smiled.

“You and I know we’re both lying.” Tommy said with a faint smile on his face.

 “Big time.” Tubbo agreed.

“You guys are loud.” Wilbur whined as he blinked awake, wincing when he accidentally rubbed his black eye.

 “Says you.” Techno muttered from where he was laying down on the hard wood of the floor.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wilbur complained. Techno covered his ears and curled in on himself.

 Awesome, Tech’s concussion isn’t getting any better, and our lack of water isn’t helping. Wilbur’s as whiny as ever, but the least injured of all of us.

 Tubbo’s probably got broken or bruised ribs, and I have a dislocated shoulder.

All of us have friction burns from our bindings.

 Good thing it all won’t really matter soon.

Tommy blinked and shook away the morbid and depressing thought.

 “Guys, I don’t think the ship is moving anymore.” Tubbo whispered, making everybody still and fall quiet. Well, just Wilbur and Tommy because Techno hadn’t moved.

 “Well, this rat is good for one thing!” A cruelly smiling sailor said, stepping down the ladder into the brig, followed by a couple of his buddies, “Welcome to your last home before you hang!”

 Tommy frowned, but let himself be dragged up the ladder and out onto the sunlit deck of the ship.

He could see the cliffs that this kingdom was known for, and he shuddered.

 “Move along now, little pirate. But, can you be a pirate without a ship?” The sailor teased, jabbing Tommy harshly in the back to make him jump down to the docks where royal soldiers were waiting.

 He was grabbed roughly by the arms and led up a winding street to the castle, people lining the road and whispering to one another.

 Tommy grinned.

Sure, he was going to die.

 Sure, he was injured and so was his crew.

But he had accomplished what he had set out to do.

 Tommy Danger Kraken Innit had become a pirate, and now people knew his name.

“What are you smiling about, rat?” The guard holding his left arm asked, which so happened to be the side with his dislocated shoulder. 

 Tommy shook his head and chuckled under his breath.

His next challenge, next claim to fame?

 Survive this.

Find a way to get him and his crew to survive this.

_[\\//]_

 George was waiting.

Ever since Eret had dragged in the Crow of Death, he had been waiting.

 From what Eret had said, the blonde mer had gotten close to the annoying little pirate, had become something special to him.

 Which would undoubtedly bring the kid to his kingdom.

And then the helpful mer dragged back another creature of the sea.

 This one was younger, years younger, and looked odd.

Eret had told the king that this little guy was a hybrid. A bastard child of a mer and a siren.

 And the pirate had gotten close to this creature as well, trusting it with guiding his ship as he slept.

Eret said she had grabbed the creature from the kid’s ship after alerting a naval crew to the pirate’s presence, meaning they would be arriving soon.

 And now George had two pieces of leverage, tapped in a big fish tank that had been quickly built into one of the walls of his throne room.

 “You know, you’re making a huge mistake.” The Crow of Death said, starting up his plea to be released. 

“You don’t get to tell me what I’m doing wrong, mer.” George spat, glaring at the creature as he sat on his throne.

 “Tommy will kill you for taking us.” the other creature said, crossing their arms across their chest and glaring back.

 “I highly doubt that.” George scoffed, “He will pay for his crimes with his life. It’s the punishment of all pirates. It's how they all end.”

 “Don’t you dare!” The Death Crow howled, slapping his tail against the glass, making it shudder slightly, “Don’t you dare touch my pup!” 

 “George-” Dream said, stepping in and standing to the side of the throne, “George, I can’t help but agree-”

 “Dream?”

“You’ve gotten too obsessed with this kid, and he… you took two of his friends, if you could call these two that. Before… he didn’t really have a reason to come after you.”

 “So you're saying that I should have just let him grow in power?”

“You heard the Death Crow, he is just a kid.” Dream sighed.

 “A dangerous one. Dream, we’ve gone over this. This is the best option to keep our home safe.” George said gently, taking Dream’s hand and pulling him into a hug.

 Dream closed his eyes and rested his chin on his friend’s shoulder.

The hug was ended by the doors to the room being thrown open, his guards dragging in four bedraggled people.

 George was finally able to get his first good look at the little pirate that had been taking over his life.

He looked small and pathetic.

 Unimpressive.

He shouldn’t have worried.

_[\\//]_

 Tommy saw the king for the first time and he almost burst out laughing.

The guy looked exhausted, with deep bags under his soft brown eyes, a cloak thrown over his shoulder that looked far too big.

 It made him wonder what Wilbur and Techno were so goddamn afraid of.

A quick look around the throne room presented him with Phil and Ranboo trapped in a glass fish tank built into a wall to his right, and maybe nine guards, eight of which had dragged him and his crew into the castle.

 Tommy saw the moment the two mer recognized the pirates.

Ranboo’s eyes went wide and they shook his head sadly, while Phil pressed himself against the glass as if he were trying to get closer to him.

 Tommy cast a small smile their way before focusing back on the king, who was standing with his single guard at his back.

 “You.” The king said, his voice basically a hiss.

“Me.” Tommy said cheerfully, getting his feet underneath him and tugging his arms out of the grip of the two guards. His hands were still tied behind his back, but there was nothing he could do about that yet.

 “You have been brought to my throne because of your crimes.”

“And they are…?”

 “Piracy, treason, theft, conspiracy to stage a coup, and tax evasion.”

Tommy blinked.

 “I’ve never evaded taxes, I’m not even old enough to pay taxes. Don’t those start when you turn eighteen or something?” 

 The silence was heavy in the room.

Bingo.

 “George-” The guard behind the king whispered, and Tommy realized that the man was probably more than just a simple guard to the king.

 “Besides, I don’t earn enough to even pay taxes in the first place-” Tomm rambled on, trying to buy time and subtly wriggle out of his binds.

 “Shut up!” The king shouted, making him freeze and glare at the man.

Damnit, I needed to keep stalling!

 “No.” Tommy said smugly, sticking out his tongue like a misbehaving child.

King George stepped down from his raised throne and walked up to Tommy, and was just barely tall enough to look down on him.

 “You are a pirate, regardless of your age, and you will face the punishment all pirates face.” The king whispered, grabbing his uninjured shoulder, “You did this to yourself and your crew.”

 Then the king looked at the other pirates.

Wilbur shuffled on his feet and Techno looked half asleep, which wasn’t good.

 Tubbo stared definitely at the king, a smirk on his face.

“Speaking of your… crew. I didn’t know the all powerful Tommy Innit would ever extend his hand to those below him.” The king mocked as he took a closer look, “They look like they’ve been through hell.”

 “Blame your navy.” Tommy spat, glaring angrily.

“Hmmm. Oh, is this Wilbur Soot? I thought you were a captain. And I thought you were in the brig of one of my ships.” 

 Wilbur winced away from the man.

“Unimpressive. And Technoblade, back again at this castle. I recall you being a brilliant young navy captain under the old king… then you rebelled.”

 “You did the same. I just did it on the water and stayed there.” Techno deadpanned, lifting his head to look at the king with half lidded eyes.

 “Oh, but you became a pirate captain, so we are different. You had a crew too… I wonder what happened to them.”

 “Take a guess.” Techno sighed, “Whatever you think is probably not too far off.”

“Oh dear, mutiny then. And then this little man-”

 “Fuck off.” Tubbo growled, looking and sounding like a feral demon.

“Very rude, this one is.” King George said, looking over his shoulder at Tommy.

 “That’s just how he normally is.” Tommy shrugged.

Tubbo rolled his eyes.

 “That seems unpleasant to live with.” The king then turned away and brushed past Tommy, “Well, I know your crew and off to the gallows you can go.”

 “Nope.” Tommy chuckled, “I don’t think so.”

The eight guards had been slowly backing away from the pirates as the king had walked around them, leaving Wilbur to try to support a good portion of Techno’s weight.

 And the guards only had swords on them, not guns.

Unlike the king, who had a gun… at one point.

  That gun was now in Tommy’s hand.

Pointed directly at the king.

Chapter Text

 “Let my crew and the mer go and I won’t end your reign right here.” Tommy said, his voice cold and completely calm.

 He had promised himself that he was going to get his people out of this, and god be damned he was going to do it.

 This king just so happened to be a bold idiot that thought he was better than Tommy.

Ah, how karma comes to bite people in the ass.

 “If you shoot, you die.” The king’s guard, the one that had been standing on the dias the whole time, said, his own pistol out and pointing at him.

 “How about I make you a deal.” Tommy smiled.

“I don’t make deals with filthy rats like you.” King George scoffed.

 “Then you’ll die by the hand of a filthy rat.” Tommy said, his voice as cold as ice.

The king seemed to contemplate it for a long moment.

 “State your terms.”

“If I win a duel against your champion, you will let my crew, and the mer go. We will be provided a ship and rations enough to let us get far away from your island kingdom. We will not bother you again, unless you provoke us.” Tommy said.

 “And if you don’t win?” The king asked, raising an eyebrow.

Fuck, I didn’t think that far ahead!

 “How about, if you don’t win, I get to keep your beautiful mer as decoration in my throne room, they'll be treated well, don’t worry, Technoblade will go back into my navy, and I get to hang the other two.” The king said, a smirk on his face under his tired eyes.

 “Sounds reasonable.” Tommy shrugged.

“Tommy, what?” Wilbur asked, shifting Techno’s weight on his shoulder.

 Tommy winked at the brunette, and looked back at the king.

“Where’s your champion, your highness?” He asked, mocking the king.

 “I will.” the guard with the pistol said.

“Dream, no.” The king said quietly.

 “I will represent King George and his kingdom in a duel against you, Tommy Innit.”

“That’s Captain Tommy Innit to you… what’s your name again?” Tommy asked, looking at the man in a mocking way.

 If I get him angry enough, he won’t be thinking straight.

“My name is Dream, and I am the general of the King’s armies, Captain.” Dream said, stepping off the dais, his gun lowered.

 “Where is this duel going to be held?” Tommy asked, looking over the guard's shoulder at the king.

“Right here, right now. Earn your freedom, Captain Tommy Innit. Live and your crew will too.” The king said, sitting down on his throne.

 Alright, all I have to do is survive.

I got this.

 Tommy nodded and stood back to back with Dream, and took ten steps away.

“On the count of three, you may shoot.” The king called from his throne.

 Tommy narrowed his eyes.

“One.”

 Dream’s hand tightened on the handle of his gun and Tommy watched as the man’s body tensed.

“Two.”

 A light thud on the glass at Tommy’s back told him that Phil and Ranboo were watching intently.

“Three.”

 All hell broke loose.

Tommy raised his stolen pistol and fired faster than he could blink, but was still a fraction of a second slower than Dream.

 The glass behind Tommy broke with a shatter as Phil finally busted through.

Dream staggered for a moment and fell, and was surrounded by kings’ men a moment later.

 Tubbo ran over and slipped under Tommy’s good arm as he swayed on his feet.

Tommy looked up at the king with a triumphant look.

 “I won.” 

_[\\//]_

The ship was prepared faster than Tubbo had expected, but he figured that was because the people in the kingdom did not want pirates in their town for much longer.

 So a day after the duel, they were back on the water, and in Phil and Ranboo’s case, in the water.

Tubbo was standing at the wheel and listened to Tommy complaining to Techno in the Captain’s quarters.

 Techno was still pretty much out of it, but was getting better, and Tommy had another hole in his torso because he didn’t get out of the duel unscathed.

 Wilbur was sleeping below decks, and would probably wake up soon to make dinner.

This ship was a lot bigger than the one he had started sailing on, and Tubbo missed the Clementine, but he figured with a bigger ship, they could recruit more people.

 And when Tommy healed, he would rename this ship.

“Tubbo!” Ranboo called from the water.

 “What?”

“Wanna come swim with me?”

 “I’m sailing a ship Ranboo, I can’t swim with you.”

“Aww…”

 “You know, you can come up here and hang out with me. It’s not that bad. Besides, You don't have to lead us anywhere this time.”

 “Meh, I like being in the water. I run less of a risk of getting a sunburn.. It’s too hot up there.”

“That’s only because you’re up here.” Tubbo said, trying to hide a smile.

 “What?” Ranboo asked, sounding concerned.

“Dude, don’t flirt with the fish people.” Tommy sighed, stepping out of his room.

 “I wasn’t!” Tubbo cried in indignation. “I was- Wait.”

“Sure man, keep telling yourself that.” Tommy chuckled, resting his chin on Tubbo’s shoulder.

 “No, no, get off, you’re supposed to be resting!” Tubbo shouted.

“Ay, quiet. You’re too loud.” Tommy muttered.

 “Go back to bed! I do not want a repeat of last time!” Tubbo said, glancing at the water and locking eyes with Ranboo, “Take the wheel while I deal with this idiot.”

 “Alright.” The fish person shrugged.

Tubbo sighed and dragged Tommy back to his quarters and roughly pushed him back into his bed.

 “Sleep, doofus.” He hissed, doing his best to not wake up Techno, who was dozing in the hammock the crew had hung specifically for him.

 Who knew the pink haired man had such an affinity for hammocks?

“No.” Tommy whined, making grabby hands at Tubbo.

 “Ranboo has no clue where we’re headed.” He reminded the blonde.

“We don’t even know where we're going.” Tommy pouted, his hands still outstretched.

 “I need to plan that then-” Tubbo started, but was interrupted by Tommy.

“You haven’t slept since we started sailing, and that means you’ve missed a night’s sleep, on top of the fact that you didn’t sleep nearly enough in the couple of days in that brig.” Tommy said, his brows furrowed and a determined look in his eye.

 Tubbo sighed and rolled his eyes.

“Fine, scootch over.” 

 Tommy smiled as he wrapped his arms around his first mate and closed his eyes, falling into a sleep that was thankfully devoid of legendary mer.

 Tubbo closed his eyes too, surrounded by his brother’s warmth and on a rocking ship that he could call home.

 “What are you going to name the ship Tommy?” Tubbo muttered, a little while later.

“Mmm… I think her name will be… Loggstinshire.” Tommy hummed.

_[\\//]_

 And the legend of Captain Tommy Innit spread from that day on.

Pirates and townspeople alike whispered about how the kid had survived a duel against King George’s best duelist, and how he had gotten away even though he had managed to not kill the man.

 How he would make the seas run red with blood if anyone ever thought of hurting his people.

How The Crow of Death and the Shadow followed in his wake, causing both chaos and salvation.

 How he took people under his wing and gave them a home.

It didn’t matter that he was hardly eighteen, it didn’t matter that he was just a kid.

 He had sailed alone on a ship and survived.

He had met mer and sirens and survived.

 He had been captured and had survived.

He had survived storms and other seafaring misfortunes.

 He had come from a dockhand nobody and became somebody young children idolized and sailors told stories about.

 Tommy Danger Kraken Innit had done it.