Starsea - Part II - Black Ice

Hey everyone! Welcome back to the Realm. Gonna keep this intro short so onwards into Starsea!

It had been roughly a year since the Captain of the Jolly Roger had taken the body of the traitorous hag, Milah, to shore and burned it to ash along with the name of Killian Jones. The man he became was dark, cruel, brutal, tyrannical and had a rather active libido, countless women either charmed into his bed or forced and all of them were broken. To the outward observer, this creature was the very soul of evil made physically manifest to torment all that was good in the world...yet to the crew of the Jolly Roger, their captain did possess a single soft spot...it couldn't even be called a weakness since said soft spot could actually best their captain every three out of five duels, a feat no other had been able to accomplish since the death of Clare Jones.

The fact that said soft spot held the last name of Jones often made the crew wonder if the two were related in some way, but none of them were brave enough to actually voice this question. After the destruction of Port Rhianna, their captain had changed drastically. No longer did he carry himself as a suave yet daring gentleman, but as a ruthless predator that had no qualms in killing his own crew...well he attempted to which was the incident that resulted in one Silver Jones joining the crew of the Jolly Roger as the chef. The Captain had met the oddly silver haired man several times before the fall of Port Rhianna so his interference was not unlikely but incredibly annoying...after a rather lengthy duel with the crew member's life at stake, said crew member was allowed to live and the lad that had so valiantly defended him joined his crew. 

The tyrannical pirate was often found in the galley late at night, having quiet discussions with the level headed and always calm lad that actually had the gall to sass their captain on a regular basis, but the effect was highly noticeable to the crew because the silver haired man had brought out some sort of stability from within The Scourge of the Sea. He was less genocidal towards his crew and did not lash out at them as often. This calming effect had disturbed the master of the galley, Lawrence Hawthorne, and he was one of the few that the captain wouldn't kill instantly because the poor bloke, along with Black and even Jefferson, had been duped by the dark haired bitch...he brought his concerns up with the Captain and said captain took on a rather contemplative expression whilst waving him out of his quarters so he could think in peace.

James Hook had to agree that the ship's new chef did indeed have a certain aura about him. Every time he came near the lad, the chaos within him would settle down into gentle roar, still present but more easily managed. Not to mention that the boy's presence made the near constant ache in his head to go away. There was simply something about the young man that called to him on some deep yet unseen level, but there was no lethal intent, no tiny feeling in the back of his head...like with her...he growled as the storm of his darker and deeper emotions began to surge once more along with a massive headache. Even the bloody ship felt like it was being buffeted by something, almost like the sea itself was reacting to his pain.

There was only way to fix the issue, alleviate his discomfort, and to get the answers he needed to satisfy the efficient yet nagging annoyance that was the Master of the Galley. The dark haired pirate left his quarters before heading deeper into his ship, heading straight for the kitchen itself. He stopped just outside the kitchen and watched the boy work, a secretly pleasing past time of his. Mister Silver definitely knew his way around a kitchen which was rather surprising for someone his age to be so proficient in the art of cooking. Imagine his surprise when streams of water flowed through the air and into nearby pots on the stove. He continued to watch, noting that the lad excelled in finite control but not in raw power...something he had learned from his still missing friend, Emma Swan. Both she and what was left of her charge had mysteriously vanished, along with a good chunk of the island's inhabitants...yet another mystery.

The silver haired chef called out to him, asking him if he was going to join him in the kitchen or not. Now that got Hook's attention because the water wielding lad didn't even bat an eyelash at being discovered while using his powers. Silver simply smiled at him, his ocean spray colored eyes dancing in mischief and amusement, reminding the Captain of a certain adventurous woman that rendered him speechless since the very beginning. He entered the kitchen and leaned his left shoulder against the wall, crossing his arms and legs in a relaxed manner but clearly expecting an explanation. The boy chuckled softly and asked him why they always seemed to cross paths with one another all the time.

The pirate's answer to this was that they were meant to meet...something else he had learned from the blonde...meeting someone repeatedly was not mere chance. Silver responded that although the Captain was partially correct in his assumption, it wasn't the only reason. When Hook gave him a look that translated to Are you going to tell me or leave me in suspense, the man revealed that he was looking for his father. The reason why he kept running into the Jolly Roger was because his adoptive mother told him that his father was on board that specific ship. The Captain naturally asked about the mysterious woman that had told her adoptive son such a thing.

'Now that would be telling. *chuckles at the pointed stare from the somewhat frustrated brunet* The woman...she adopted me, raised me as her own, and punted my sorry ass towards the Jolly Roger...*laughs*...she doesn't actually know who my father is, she just knew that he was on this ship. How you may ask? My adoptive father was the one that told her and he would never lie to her and not because he didn't want to but because even if he did, she would call bullshit.

She always knows when those she cares for are lying to her and has stated quite clearly that if they couldn't tell her the truth then simply say nothing at all...oh and spoilers...which usually results in her sulking for the better part of the day. *Hook interjects saying the word rambling* Right sorry. It's a bit of habit that I picked up from my mum. She loves to talk and to run and to explore everything, to know the unknown, to help as many as she can, to give love to all the people willing to accept it, to do the impossible...like saving me. 

The reason why my hair is silver is because she gave me second life. *sees the confusion on Hook's face*  My mother has a very unique gift, the ability to latch onto the lingering life force within a person's body and essentially reversing time while pushing her own life force into them. *the captain was still confused*

Damn it, this is hard to explain on a good day and I'm not a wordsmith like my mum. Um...okay, say you chopped off a person's arms, legs, and head *the pirate's jaw clenched slightly*...my mother reattachs everything because if not...um, yeah not pretty. Anyways, she then *uses his water powers to pick up a shriveled up apple and hold it in the air* attachs her power to the core of that person. Then pushes life into them while reversing time to before they were killed. *uses the water to bloat up the apple before it explodes*

Sorry about that. I don't have my mum's time thing so...boom, but overall that's how she saves a lot of lives. She can bring back those that have recently died but it does have limitations like depending on how long they had been dead, how traumatic that death was, and the state that the body is currently in. The furthest she's been able to go is just over seven days and that's with an almost perfectly preserved body. *sees the question in the brunet's eyes and answers it before he could ask*

Less than two days...violently...let's just say that...um...it would have been very difficult to identify my...remains, but I was lucky. Turned out her daughter was my governess and was close enough to the area so that she could reach the town in time. I still remember...how I died...but I also remember my birth mother telling me that I needed to go back, that I had to protect my father...that the woman fighting so hard to revive me was worthy of being my mother...that and to have lots of kids, a whole brood. *watery laugh*

When I woke up, I was in the arms of my adoptive father who was carrying me to where my new mother was because she was just waking up too. Bringing me back, it almost killed her...she had to undo so much before could even begin the revival process...the only reason she survived was because of my adoptive father...he has the power to control water like I do...something referred to as a water elemental. Though mum always said that I was a child of the sea and snow. I'll explain that later if you want.

Anyways, when I heard her yelling, I jumped out of his arms faster than he could blink and raced toward where I heard her voice...and there she was, standing in the sun...she was beautiful, still is, but that day...eyes of the bluest blue and so vibrant too, crimson hair that shined like a golden fire in the sunlight. The moment she saw me, she ran towards me and I ran towards her. She hugged me a long time, practically sobbing because she had been able to save a single life on that horrible day and it was mine.'

Hook was honestly astonished...it was one hell of a story and he actually believed it. There was no way it couldn't be true...the boy's eyes had been completely unshielded and were storming with so much emotion. A thought occurred to him when he realized that his initial question never got answered but this time he asked about both of the lad's adoptive parents. The air within the kitchen became quite chilled, the temperature falling rather fast and the Captain could actually see his breath. He looked over at the silver haired chef and noticed that the things around him were starting to frost over. The brunet stilled completely upon the boy's next words.

'My mother is the Star Child, my father...her God of the Sea...her beloved Poseidon. I know what they say about her, what they call her, all the lies and rumors, all the complete and utter bullshit they're always spouting off about her. They call her a vile and wretched beast that would spread her legs for anyone or anything. They say that the Blood Guard are bound to her, especially those of the Prismata, that she breaks them, corrupts them, uses them, then brands them like cattle to always be at her beck and call. 

They couldn't be more wrong. The Blood Guard, they're a family...brought together by the Star that shines so bright. She is good and kind and fair, way too forgiving, never gives up and by all rights, she should have so very long ago. The things she's witnessed, endured, and lost...she walks through history, untouched by time, and forced to watch as the very people she fought so hard for and loved so much grow old and die, everything turning to dust.

And that's just here...she has suffered far worse things before ever coming here. Even I don't know how much she has lost, I wasn't taken to the Hall of Memories like everyone else. All of this...stories told to me by Poseidon and other members of the Guard, their eyes spoke more than their words ever could...haunted...shadows and echoes of days long since passed but never forgotten and always felt. 

They love her, each and every one of them, and just as each person is unique, so too is the bond of love she shares with them. No one is the same, no bond is the same, each love tailored specially for them, no greater or lesser than any others...though everybody knows that she favors the Prismata over the rest, and that's their fault because they use whatever means necessary to make her happy, even if it does mean that they have to monopolize her time just to keep her from having too much time to think.'

The temperature of the room began to rise as Silver started ranting about his mother thinking herself into a downward spiral of guilt, sorrow, and grief for the past and dread for a twisted future. The frost melted and the boy absent-mindedly waved his hand to clean the water up and it sloshed into a nearby bucket. The Captain interjected only once to remind him of his duties as a chef but allowed the boy to ramble away. It was clear that Mister Silver loved the Lady of the Blood Guard very much, but he was curious about the one called Poseidon due to his last name being Jones and thus the reason why Silver bore that name...though his mother had not been very original with naming the boy Silver.

After that day, the crew would always see their captain randomly go to the galley just to speak with the chef and many of them went bug eyed when the notorious Scourge of the Sea started cooking in the kitchen alongside Mister Silver. Admittedly they were afraid for their lives or at least their digestive tracks but after seeing the chef eat it himself and not...ya know...die or get outrageously sick, they started eating it as well...none of them noticed the conspiratorial smirks on the captain's and chef's faces...the next several days had been rather entertaining for the pair.

They had deliberately laced the main batch with a few herbs, the effects varying from person to person, and the hilarity that ensued...ah, it was definitely something that neither of them would ever forget...and the crew had to stay on their toes because although the Jolly Roger still pillaged and plundered, they had to be quite weary of their captain and their chef, especially while they were in the same room....pranking...the Scourge of the Sea and the self proclaimed Wave Rider that was Silver Jones...were constantly pulling pranks on the crew...no one was spared, not even themselves though no one but Silver dared to prank the Captain without having a one way ticket to Davy Jones' Locker.

It was during the late night meetings that the Captain had genuinely surprised Silver, throwing him for a complete loop. How you may ask...by making a vow to the lad that should the Star Child ever board his ship, she would be welcomed, accepted, and well cared for. He shocked the chef even further when the dark captain said that the Jolly Roger was as much her home as it was his and that she was to be considered the Lady of the Jolly Roger. 

Then the silver haired man actually fell onto a nearby stool, his legs being unable to hold him when Hook declared that she and she alone would be able to counterman his orders and control the ship and its crew...it wasn't like he'd be able to stop her anyways...the Scourge of the Sea started laughing at the chef's bewildered state like he couldn't believe his own ears. The next day...he made it official...the entire crew on deck as he declared his standing orders in regards to the Star Child, the Prismata, and the Blood Guard...Silver gaping like a fish on dry land...priceless.

Things changed rather abruptly when they docked at a friendly port to restock the ship. A young man with dark hair and pale blue eyes boarded his ship without permission and when his men tried to stop him, they were flung back...by magic...the intruder's hand outstretched and his eyes flashing gold for a moment. Hook took a moment to assess the man; skinny, clothes plain looking but of good quality, the shirt was blue and the handkerchief around his neck was red...magic. The Captain said a name...Noel...and the intruder immediately gave him his attention and said intruder apologized but that it was absolutely vital that he speak with Silver immediately about a rather important and time sensitive matter.

Hook granted him passage, wondering what was going on and why the Archmage of the Blood Guard had to come personally. When the dark haired man returned topside, Silver was right behind him...with his belongings. The Captain descended the stairs and demanded to know what was going on, catching the boy's arm before he could leave the ship. Silver's ocean spray eyes were filled with panic and fear...he was scared and wanting to run...why? Noel ran back up the ramp and apologized again.

'I'm sorry but we don't have time to for this.'

The Archmage raised his hand, his eyes flashing gold but nothing happpened because a man in a simple black suit, wearing white gloves, had black hair, pale skin and seemingly glowing red eyes had one of his hands gripping the wrist of the warlock's outstretched hand, preventing the magic from being expelled.

'I must apologize for my associate's actions, Captain. He meant no disrespect but there is somewhere else that both you and Master Silver need to be. Unfortunately those two locations require you to part company for the time being. This is a rather sensitive and delicate...' 

'Spoilers...seriously, if it's that important then say spoilers and go.'

'Spoilers indeed, my dear Captain.'

Silver and Noel ran off the ship like they were on fire, the silver haired man glancing briefly at the Jolly Roger before catching up with the Archmage. The mysterious individual in the black suit, placed his right hand near his left shoulder and bowed slightly in respect, his body disappearing into a darkened shadow at his feet until there was nothing left. 

The Captain of the Jolly Roger was now thoroughly pissed that the one person that he could safely call friend had to leave, that bloody Archmage was going to attack him for trying to stop said friend from leaving, and even more pissed off that he didn't have any bloody answers as to exactly why his friend had to leave in the first place! 

He barked out orders at his crew to get the provisions and cargo loaded in two hours then to set sail for open waters or he'll be finding himself a new crew. He then went below deck and into his quarters. Once alone he clutched his head as pain lanced through his cranium. This was why he didn't want the boy to leave. Whatever was causing these blasted headaches seemed to disappear when he was around the lad. He wasn't even gone five minutes and his head felt like it was about to explode. In a fit of rage, he shoved everything off the table which cleared it completely, but the motion of the action had made him extremely dizzy. He staggered about a bit before falling against a nearby cabinet, knocking several things to the floor. Why wasn't the pain going away this time? 

The brunet pushed off the cabinet, the mirror on the wall above it almost falling from the vibration. He wasn't even halfway across the room before he fell to the floor next to his bed. He had started to roll over when he spotted something in the small space between the bed and the floor. He reached for it, his fingers grazing the object and for a moment the pain in his head lessened which allowed him to fully extract the object...a flute. Just a plain old flute but where did it come from? It took a few moments for him to recall the memory.

Liam...his elder brother had given it to him shortly after they had become orphans, told him to practice with it every day and that one day, it would guide them to their star. He sat up fully, his back against his bed. The pain in his head had dulled a fair bit but he was still breathing heavily. Why? Why did Liam always insist that they needed to find their star...even as he died...she shines only for you now. Wait...star...did he mean the Star Child but how....he hunched over in pain, his eyes watering from the intensity of the pain lancing through his brain. He really needed to stop thinking about this...just shove it all away...don't focus on anything...just breathe...

He looked up, only to discover that he was somewhere else completely and underwater. He was breathing the water like it was air...a dream. It had to be a dream.

'The Scourge of the Sea.'

He turned around to see the amber skinned woman once again, her body glowing in a golden light but barely piercing the darkness of their current environment. Pain lanced through his body and he tried to move away from her, believing that she was the one causing it to begin with.

'No, Captain. I am not the one harming you. There are two mirrors; one breaking and one that has already been broken. You are attempting to unshatter the mirror that is not yours. You are harming yourself and you do not understand why you are trying so very hard to save that which has already been broken...only that you must.'

She walked over to him and he actually grabbed her neck, her golden light flickering in and out like he was draining her or at least shutting her up. A force, feeling very much like a tidal wave, pushed him away from the blue clad woman. When he was back on his feet, he could only stare because it was him...it was Killian Jones. How did he know this...the eyes...that man had ocean blue eyes, but then he noticed something. He leaned a little to the right and he was honestly surprised. The man before him was simply a reflection...a reflection from a fragment...what did it mean?

'Even now and in such a state...you are still a child of the sea...still trying to protect those you cannot even remember.'

The pirate captain with mirrored obsidian eyes wanted answers, damn it, and he was going to get them, one way or another. He stalked towards the woman but was suddenly blinded when a blue orb appeared from her chest, shining with light and swirling like the sea itself. She walked towards him and he discovered that he couldn't move. Try as he might, he couldn't get away and whatever that thing was...it terrified him...why...it was powerful. It was a whole hell of a lot stronger than he was and he honestly believed that she was about to kill him.

'Do not be afraid, James Hook. You are just as important as he is. This...*gesturing to the orb*...will give you what you need but only once. Do not waste it, for such an opportunity will not happen again for a very long time.'

The orb was pushed into his chest, filling him up...he felt like he was going to burst. He screamed but not from pain. He had no words to describe whatever it was that he was being forced to absorbed but then he felt it...a heartbeat...it sounded and felt like a heart beating...but why? Blue...everything was blue...blue eyes...a woman with blue eyes...?

Hook awoke harshly, the flute clattering to the floor because of the sudden motion. It took him a moment to realize that the pain in his head was gone like it had never been there at all. He looked down at the flute briefly before picking it up. He managed to get on his feet, his neck and back popping in several places from sleeping on the floor. How long had he been out for? He noticed that they had already left the port which was good, he didn't want to be around anyone right now. He placed the flute on a shelf before heading towards the entrance of his quarters and demanding his evening meal be brought to him at once. 

After he had eaten, he simply sat in the chair with a cup of wine in his left hand. He only drank rum when on dry land whether it be from his personal flask or at the tavern. He preferred wine while at sea because it didn't effect him nearly as much as the rum did which was a necessary component for one's survival when at sea. The stigma that all pirates drank rum all the time was just plain ridiculous, not to mention the difficulty of maintaining such a habit. Wine was easier to transport, store, access and in increased quantities than rum which was a far more troublesome beverage to contend with and not worth the headache. Speaking of headaches, now that Mister Silver was gone...he was more likely to gut the majority of his crew. The chef had channeled the captain's emotional intensity into something more benign and less destructive.

What was he supposed to do now? He did not want to think about what the disturbing man in the suit had said, but he also had nothing to truly occupy his time. He glanced briefly at the flute...he could and probably would but he would tire of it quickly. One of the many conundrums that a ship captain had to endure...boredom. As captain, all he had to do was delegate when aboard the ship or choose their next target. On land, he could cut loose a bit but his crew still did most of the actual pillaging. His obsidian eyes shined with an idea as he polished off the rest of the wine pitcher...a wench. He needed a wench but not just any woman would do...no, he wanted one with spirit, stubborn and strong willed. Yes...he wanted a woman that would not easily break but when she did...it would be glorious. 

Artz: And Cut! That is a nice place to end, I should think.

Poseidon: Love, why don't you just write the novel already because seriously... *waving hand up and down at the article*

Hook: That would not be the best course of action because in this case, much of the content has yet to be fully finalized and is subject to change.

Anna: Not to mention that she doesn't want to get bogged down by getting caught up in all the details. She's trying to leave things loose and a bit ambiguous so that the readers *when she actually gets some* will draw their own conclusions or make suggestions and offer advice, etc etc.

Poseidon: She can at least do it in script format so that she can hold a decent conversation.

Artz: He's not wrong and neither are either of you. I'm trying some new stuff out. Ya know, poke at the ones and zeroes until my bank account runnith over.

Poseidon: *rolls eyes*

Hook: *shakes his head in a fond exasperation*

Anna: *downing coffee like it's going out of style before dive bombing her paints while laughing maniacally*

Hook/Poseidon: *glance at each other* Run? Yep. *flee like the wind*

Artz: *raises an eye brow* I wonder when they'll realize that they always run into the very thing they were trying to run away from.

Anna: *snickers as they hear the aqua lads squawk as both Light and Mars pull out their latest project, fully customized by King and Wolftech, and practically drown them in a wide variety of paints, glitter, feathers and...egg yoke* Did you seriously just pull off a Hook reference in an article about Hook?

Artz: *runs a hand through her hair, a smug yet satisfied look on her face* Yep, still got it.

Anna: *snorts* Like you ever lost it to begin with.

Artz: *giggles* Below is the scene with both the egg yoke and paint lost boy style.

Starsea - Part I - Dark Water

Hello everyone! I would say welcome back to the Realm but this is the official beginning of Starsea, the origin story for both the Third and Fourth Captains. Their actual profiles will be done at a later date so no intros at this time, but the events depicted within this article are quite dark and extremely emotionally traumatic.

WARNING: Some content within this article is too graphic for those that are thirteen years and younger. Also this article may include triggers for depressants so read at your own risk. 

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Erin, up on his father's favorite cliff, was the first to notice the fleet of approaching ships that bore the insignia of the Royal Navy and there was no mistaking the course. They were heading straight towards Port Rhianna, so he fled through the forest as quickly as he could and made it to the closest warning bell, ringing it repeatedly before pointing out to sea. People started running and shouting; the elderly preparing for battle to defend the port so that the many families could make it into the hidden tunnels, the men without families of their own joined their ranks and even the women did as well. Meanwhile the parents were trying to get the children out of the port town but it was proving difficult because they had been in the middle of the solstice celebration, so much of the paths were blocked off with directions and stalls.

The son of Killian Jones had only one thing on his mind and that was to get to his godmother which was also proving difficult because it was like a fish trying to swim up stream while all the other fish went in the other direction. People started crying out in fear and surprise as flaming cannon balls fell from the sky all around them. Not good...because to have that kind of range and not even be passed the channel...elite navy. These were trained killers with one purpose and one purpose only...to eradicate all that was considered evil by their king or simply in the way. The only conclusion that the brunet child could come to was that the battalion that was attacking them was that under the command of the one known as The Butcher of the Royal Navy... Augustas Torrin...but how?

The only way to find Port Rhianna was for the captain of one of the ships to give out the coordinates to someone and that someone reported it to Torrin. He was blown off his feet by the shockwave of a cannon ball that had landed in the house he was next to. It sent him to the ground, his ears ringing and his vision spinning. His world became rather jumbled when he was picked up by someone...but not his godmother or his Blue Eyes. The person...a woman...carried him back home and that's when he realized that je was quite literally surrounded by naval officers...this was not going to end well...dread made his stomach twist itself into knots but he tried to remain calm on the outside, act like an innocent child rather than the child progedy that he was, but then he heard his godmother cry out in pain.

He was taken into his home and down to the basement. He was set on his feet and forced to turn around...he honestly wished he hadn't. There was godmother, strung up and was apparently being beaten with a whip...why didn't she use her powers? His eyes narrowed when he spotted a silver ring around her neck. It was something she had never warn before...did it somehow inhibit her ability to call on her powers, keeping them contained within and unable to reach the surface? She was struck again and he demanded that they stop hurting her. The man beating her simply smirked and gave orders for the boy to be held in place, making certain that he could not look away before continuing to whip her.

He beat her and smacked her, slapping her all around and yanking her hair back so that he could forcibly kiss her. Then he ordered two of his men to strip the blonde of her remaining clothing and Erin knew what was going to happen next. He struggled against his captors, tears in his eyes as he watched his godmother be brutally raped right before his eyes and was completely powerless to stop it. This treatment went on for hours until the boy dropped all pretenses and glared at them, demanding answers for how they found this port, what device was around the blonde's neck, and why they were targeting them specifically...his answers came in the form of a single name...Milah Torrin. The woman had stolen his father's heart had told her husband the coordinates after the Captain of the Jolly Roger had proposed to her.

Worse still, they knew that his godmother had powers and used a device called a radahan to trap that power within her, making her weaker than a newborn kitten. It was only temporary though because her power would eventually destroy the accessory given enough time. Then came the why for it all...him...Erin Clarence Jones. They came to Port Rhianna looking for Killian's only child and to exact revenge for the many times Milah had to let a monster bed her and all for the sake of destroying the so called evil pirates. Once all of his questions had been answered... they made her watch, they made his Big Sister Emma watch as they chopped him into pieces while he was still alive and conscious. His last thought before his heart gave out from the intensity of the pain was a single image of a glowing blue crystal cut into the shape of a trident and the one holding it was his father.

The last few days seemed to drag on for the Captain of the Jolly Roger. Didn't help that he kept having some rather bizarre dreams. So many different images and scenes and nothing was making sense. Every time he awoke, it felt like he hadn't slept at all and the dream he had just awoken from made his instincts scream; his son was screaming, Swan was crying...more like wailing, there was smoke and ash and dwindling flames...and blood, lots and lots of blood. Before the dream ended, the blue clad woman with amber skin had crossed the divide between and pulled something out of his chest...a glowing blue orb that swirled and churned like the sea and the currents that laid beneath. 

When several members of his crew started yelling in a panic, he exited his quarters only to see the port town they called home in utter ruin, black smoke billowing into the air and several large vessels were aflame but he managed to use his spy glass to catch a quick glimpse of the crest and his blood ran cold. He immediately started barking out orders, priming the cannons, prepping for battle and when they were in range, all hell broke loose. The few soldiers remaining were easily overtaken by the crew of the Jolly Roger and were slaughtered. He ordered his crew to search for their families and any other survivors. He cleaned and sheathed his sword before racing through the smoldering townscape, calling Swan's name repeatedly as he went.

He made it to their home and his breath caught in his throat. There was a fair amount of blood in and around the building, but he couldn't let that stop him. He entered the first room and did his best to ignore all the blood that was sprayed everywhere, calling out to the blonde once more. He heard a muffled response from presumably the basement...he never did like that cellar...and descended the stairs into the darkened room. He asked Emma to use her power to light up the room and she told him that she couldn't. He growled in frustration, stumbling about the room and locating what he needed to make an impromptu torch. 

Once lit, he turned to face her and he nearly dropped the damn torch. She was naked, covered in dark bruises and several lashings, her hair and body splattered with blood, she was shackled to the ceiling and she was crying a small ocean. He set down the torch and got to work on the shackles, her broken body collapsing into his arms once free from the restraints. He pushed her hair back so he could look into her eyes and asked her what happened and who did this to her. What she told him completely blindsided him because it was impossible...there had to be some mistake. He pushed those thoughts aside and carried his friend upstairs and into some clothing. 

He picked her up again and carried her to where she said his son would be and he barely managed to set the woman on her feet before rushing up to the quite bloody display. There before him was the remnants of his only child...chopped into pieces while still alive, made his godmother watch after being brutally beaten and raped, then set up this spectacle. His son was dead, he wasn't here to protect him, protect them both...his heart screamed as his dream became a reality when his blonde haired friend began wailing in grief and despair. He couldn't...it was too much...so he ran...collapsing briefly into a barrel before staggering back to his feet and walking further away. No...he couldn't believe it...Emma had said that it was his precious Milah that had betrayed him, that brought The Butcher straight to them...he just couldn't believe it.

Yes, Milah was a spirited lass; headstrong, defiant, adventurous, and could be quite the she devil but there was no way that she was capable of committing such atrocities. There was no way that she would betray the man she loved...he had made certain, a full and proper check into history and parentage...she couldn't...a sound off to his left made his head snap in that direction and despite the distance, he could still hear Swan's screams of anguish. He walked quietly into the darkened alley, silently pulling out his sword in case it was one of the stragglers from the Navy vessels still lurking about. He stopped short when he saw Milah pinned to a wall, her hands being held above her head, and a man in a naval uniform was pounding into her womanhood like he owned it.

The bastard was raping his woman! He moved to the side so that he could see who exactly his next victim would be, and he had to stop himself from doing something overly rash because it was him...the Butcher of the Royal Navy himself, Augustus Torrin. He had to get his love away from the Navy commander before he could contend with the man himself...then all thoughts ceased as his Milah cried out for more, to fucked harder and faster by her husband. His world turned on its axis as he realized the truth...Swan Lake had never lied to him and would never accuse someone of something unless she was absolutely sure...and here was the proof...and it was his own damn fault.

The dark captain maneuvered into a better position as to not be easily seen by the traitorous bitch and just as Torrin hit his peak, the pirate cleaved the man's head from his shoulders. This startled Torrin's wife as she landed on the ground and she tried to get away, but he caught her and yanked her up by her hair. He raised his sword to kill her too, his eyes shifting from oceanic blue to mirrored obsidian but he couldn't do it. He still loved her...but that didn't stop him from throwing her to the crew, revealing her treachery, and to do with her as they saw fit. For over a year, she had remained on board as nothing more than a glorified sex toy for his men...especially Mister Black, but then one day whilst Black was pounding away into her...she died...she had simply lost the will to live. He took her body ashore and burned it, not wanting to pollute the sea he loved so much with her filth.

After he returned, he threw away the name Killian Jones and chose a new one, James Hook and he went from being a well known pirate to one of the most infamous pirates to every sail the entirety of the ocean. He became The Scourge of the Sea and nothing and no one got in his way. He pillaged as he pleased, killed whoever he wanted, stole everything that he wanted, and captured and raped any woman he desired, but then the unexpected occurred...serendipity...or so it would seem and once again, another book closed and another opened. Only this time, it was a book that he never wanted to close.

Artz: CUT! CUT! CUT! I'm ending it there because if I don't, we'll be jumping into the ocean that is James Hook and the woman that has waited eons for him to meet her.

Poseidon: Bloody hell, love...that was even more brutal than the version you sent to Anna!

Anna: it's a work in progress, dummy. Of course stuff is gonna change because she has to Artzify this bitch.

Poseidon: isn't that what she did the first time? How can you Artzify something that is already artzified?

Hook: Simple...she's Artz.

Anna: And a woman...kinda in the job description to be changeable.

Hook: No that's in the description of a consultant criminal.

Artz: Enough. It's 6 am and I have to get up in like 5 hrs to go to work so good night. *punts them out of the article*

Through the Looking Glass

Don't let the title fool you because this article covers the time from Erin's birth to wherever it is I decide to stop because it's a bit difficult to find intermission points because once it gets rolling...it rolls and keeps on rolling. Now I would have named this as part of Starsea, but like I said the end has yet to be determined. I was, thankfully, able to locate a good stopping point so no warning label for this one.

Now then, Killian stayed at Port Rhianna for about two years until his reappointed first mate, Mister Black, finally convinced him to return to piracy. It took everything he had to relinquish his son to his wife's friend and now his as well. Emma Swan was the child's guardian, godmother, and governess. She would guide him, protect him, and teach him but she would never let the boy call her mother so he ended up calling her Big Sister Emma. The blonde woman always made sure that her charge remembered his parents, the woman that gave birth to him without regret and the man that protected him from the guile of the so called good guys.

Erin understood quite clearly that his father was not merely a sailor but was in fact a rather well known pirate. It didn't stop the boy from believing that his father was the real hero, albeit a reluctant one, but he was proud to be the son of Killian Jones. Of course he couldn't actually say that because his parents did have a long list of enemies and by his mother giving him her maiden name, she was protecting him. Then there was the enigma of the cloaked blue eyed woman that always showed up after his father had left. He didn't really get a proper introduction but he was pretty certain that she was in some way family to his godmother. It was a moot point but he did feel safe when she was near and sometimes...when he dreamed of his mother, she would tell him time and again that should he ever want a mother then to look no further than the mysterious blue eyes.

He was about to turn six years old when his father started acting oddly and his visits became less and less frequent but every time he did visit, he seemed so much happier and his ocean blue eyes practically shined with hope. Erin, on the other hand, was being filled with an ever increasing dread. Something wasn't right and he wasn't the only one who sensed it either...Blue Eyes and his Big Sister Emma, they sensed it as well. The tension was building, a pressure hanging in the air just waiting to pop and then his father told him what was making him so happy...a woman. He had met her at a tavern back before he had become a full fledged naval officer and the same night he had met the boy's mother. Killian told his son that he was being extra careful, making absolutely certain that his newfound love was honorable and true, someone worthy of his complete trust...worthy of his son.

The woman's name was Milah and she had shared in many of Killian's most recent adventures...though he would always drop her off at another port before coming to Port Rhianna...that he would never risk the safety of his only child and the families of his crew. He knew he had found someone special when he found Mister Black guffawing loudly and friendly at something the woman had said. If Black approved of her then she was most definitely worth his time...even the stern and highly efficient Mister Hawthorne had taken a rather unusual shine to the woman, probably because she was even more strict about the cargo and the efficiency of the galley. Then there was the man child with two left feet and a terrible sense of direction, Mister Jefferson...Milah was actually able to mitigate some of the foolishness the poor bloke got himself into and snapped at anyone that poked fun at him.

Most of the crew got along with her well enough but there was some friction being generated between the woman and his beloved Clare's crew but it was to be expected. A new woman coming on board, proverbially acting like she owned the place...he had known it would rub them the wrong way. Fortunately, he was able to smooth over most of the ruffled feathers but there were some that would never yield and he felt absolutely wretched when he had to boot them off the ship at Port Rhianna in order to keep the peace aboard his ship. A few flat out warned him that Milah couldn't be trusted, not with the port's coordinates and for a time, he agreed with them, but the more time he spent with her, he was starting to change his mind.

The Captain of the Jolly Roger found himself hanging on to her every word, reveling in the sound of her laughter, his heart becoming lighter every time she smiled, and then on a cloudy, moonless night, he took her to his bed and made love to her. His precious Milah was a little hesitant after that night and she wasn't quite sure of herself or where they stood but he was steadfast and held firm, giving her no reason to doubt him or his growing feelings for her. By Erin's seventh birthday, Killian knew that he loved her and if he was patient enough that she would agree to be his forever. He spent the next year doing everything he could to claim her heart and a few months after his son's eighth birthday and with the full support of his entire crew, he told her the coordinates for the secret port where the crew of the Jolly Roger called home...then on bended knee, he proposed to her and she said yes, her entire being radiating with joy.

They made plans to have two different ceremonies, one at Port Rhianna and the other at a quiet seaside town. The reason was so that his beloved Milah could have her parents and family see her get married. They already knew that he was a pirate and apparently wanted to make their wedding into the perfect day which meant that his intended bride had to leave the Jolly Roger for a time as to avoid the massive headache that came with planning a wedding and the constant bickering between all parties involved, something he was extremely grateful for.

His and Clare's wedding had been a very private affair, hidden away in the forest in a clearing with a fresh water spring and ethereal golden flowers. It was strange...the entire time he was there, he felt someone watching him...so happy yet so incredibly lonely. His wonderful Clare told him that it was the Guardian of the forest, a celestial spirit and the fact that they were permitted to the inner sanctum...the place where the spirit's very soul was said to reside...meant that the Guardian had chosen to grant them its blessing and bestow a precious gift to them. He asked what the gift was and his wife's eyes sparkled with mischief before rendering him speechless...by singing.

While his newly made wife had been singing, the golden flowers throughout the clearing began to softly glow, the light becoming brighter as golden sparkles blew softly through the air before slowly falling back to the ground below like a gentle snowfall. It had been one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen yet for some inexplicable reason, he wished that the sparkles of light had been blue and not gold though he had no clue why. He favored more earthly tones but his favorite color was red, a bright and gorgeous crimson red. Clare had interrupted his thoughts by kissing him softly, her honey brown eyes so warm and beautiful.

Killian Jones knew that he would never stop loving his beloved Clare, but he also knew that she would want him to find happiness again which was why he had opened his heart once more...yet there was a part of him that kept being drawn somewhere else but every time he tried to follow that pull, it simply led him back to Port Rhianna and his rather troublesome best mate, Swan Lake. He honestly believed that woman lived to torment him and that thought alone drew him away from his memories and back into the present. The dark haired captain ordered the crew to gather the necessary provisions to take to Port Rhianna, not knowing what was to come or how it would change the course of his life, his very soul, forever.

Artz: And Cut!!! I have got to stop it there because the next bit is...*runs away*

Yuna: Yep, definitely saw that coming.

Durga: She's crying her eyes out...again. How many times does that make it?

Yuna: Dude, I've actually lost count and she's had this part planned practically from the start...before the Prismata even existed! Heck most of the Blood Guard wasn't even thought of back then.

Durga: It still doesn't change the fact that she loves him. She can't even look at an image or gif without...ya know...I think this is actually worse than her love for the Doctor.

Yuna: She's had a chance to explore his character but importantly, she understands the role in which the Doctor is meant to play in her life...the core of her soul, the foundation in which she has built upon. He made her Artz which is why we never needed the Doctor to be real in the other reality because we had her.

As for the conundrum that is her Captain and her God of the Sea...its mostly about the people born from a single character and a certain actor's portrayal as that character. I swear Colin O'Donoghue was born to play the part of Killian Jones, but then Artz realized why she liked him so much because they were very similar to each other personality wise...but unlike her, Killian didn't have anything to ground himself with so he descended into darkness and from that darkness...

Hook: I was brought into being and the wench has particularly bad habit of poking at a character until she accidentally creates something entirely brand new. I may have started from Once Upon A Time but I am nothing like the brat or the show's version of myself. To be perfectly honest, I'm a little insulted...do I really act that stupidly when drunk? Don't answer that, brat! *pointed stare at a nearby snickering Poseidon*

Poseidon: You have to admit that this is funny. *points to the YouTube above* Why because it's just plain ridiculous...not to mention that Killian gets jealous of himself.

Yuna/Durga: *muffled laughter as they walk away*

Hook: *watches them go* This isn't going to be pretty, Killian.

Poseidon: *softly* I know...still silver lining *ignores the are you serious look from his counterpart*...she is finally getting to Starsea which means it won't be long before...

Hook: ...all hell breaks loose. Come on, brat. Let's crack open a few barrels of rum and leave her to it, eh? *they leave*

Artz: *runs back in, looking refreshed* Damn allergies...welp, guess that's a wrap. Till next time, dearies!

The Return of Silverfrost - Part V

This is it, my lovely nonexistent readers. This will be the final article before the events of Starsea begins. I'm not sure how much will be revealed during this article so brace yourselves for a torrential storm of emotions and just to be on the safe side.

Warning: Content may be too graphic or emotional for readers under the age of thirteen. You have been warned.

Now then...we left off with Emma and Killian discussing plans for Clare's care and the health of his unborn child. The pirate captain decided to remain in Port Rhianna for the duration of his wife's pregnancy which allowed his crew. Their own respite because quite a few had family members that claimed the city as their home. Others, however, were not as enthused...these individuals being Simeon Black, Paul Jefferson, and Lawrence Hawthorne. These were members of the original crew that had been hand selected by Augustus Torrin to serve aboard the Jewel of the Realm.

No one was aware of this piece of information except for a single individual, Clare Jones. She had discovered a few things during her adventures with her husband but no solid proof. Now her husband would take a great deal on faith but even he had his limits. She needed hard evidence, actual solid and visible evidence that proved their guilt unquestionably. Unfortunately, Mister Black was quite clever, Mister Hawthorne capable of procuring and providing the necessary components, and Mister Jefferson was considered and an idiot and a blustering buffoon which often made people disregard any irregularities about his behavior...a tricky lot indeed.

Then there was the issue of a certain person's arrival, not long after her beloved husband had wandered off to collect his thoughts...Yuel. Of all the people to visit her that night, it was the First Oracle...from the future, a distant one at that. The Seeress of the Blood Guard showed her a series of visions that completely broke her heart, but there was nothing that could be done. Those moments were fixed meaning that they were going to happen and nothing and no one could stop it...not even her impossible godmother. Yuel had journeyed into the past to ensure that Clare's dormant heritage was transferred to her unborn child and given the name of Her Ladyship's fallen friend so that Silverfrost could rise again.

Once her work was complete, she returned to the future from whence she came but not before granting the woman one last vision that filled the pregnant woman's heart and soul with love and joy. Everything has its time and everything ends but if nothing ended then nothing would begin. Just because one book came to a close, did not mean that it didn't have a sequel or even an entire series to follow in its wake. Yes, she would make her story be one filled with love and happiness. She will make her husband bat shit insane whilst blind siding him at every turn. She will sate his physical lust then use him herself until he passed out, utterly spent by their activities. He will know without a shred of doubt that she loved him with her entire being and bring about the final vision, making it a reality...why...because she loved him...she loved them both.

The brunette's pregnancy progressed relatively well until she started going into labor too early...two months early. Clare knew why of course, Emma had sensed it, but poor Killian was clueless. The child's growth had been accelerated when Clare's dormant heritage was fused with it and her body had barely been able to keep up, much of her own life force being pushed into the child to keep it stabilized and healthy. The daughter of Eleanor Lyra Oswald knew what would happen and did it anyways. To save the future, her story had to end. The story of Clare Ravenwood Jones, wife of Killian Jones...was dying and her husband didn't even know it yet, supporting her and encouraging her as she gave birth to the only child they would ever have together.

The dying woman heard the cries of her newborn son and Emma cleaned and wrapped him in a blanket before placing the child into her friend's waiting arms. Clare's eyes filled with tears, her heart torn between the love for her son and the sorrow she was about to inflict upon the boy's father. She smiled as the tears flowed down her cheeks and she apologized before naming him.

'Erin Clarence Oswald.'

That caught the captain's attention immediately and he wondered why she give their child her last name instead of his, but then his beloved Clare gently pushed their son into his arms and he focused completely on the tiny, pudgy thing...so fragile...his son...their son. He was brought out of his revelry when the Swan girl started sobbing in grief, her hands glowing in a golden light. He knew that Swan had powers, she had told him so but he had never seen him use it before which made him wonder why she was calling on it now. That's when he noticed that his wife had her eyes closed and did not appear to be breathing.

He didn't know what to do or how to feel. He could only watch as his wife's best friend tried desperately to save the woman that had just given birth to their first born. She sobbing and crying, tears streaming down her face like twin waterfalls... begging her powers to work but nothing was happening. The bundle in his arms moved and he became hyperaware of the little baby currently being cradled in his father's arms...she knew. Somehow his Clare knew which was why she had given their son her last name...it was the only way she could protect him from beyond the grave...to keep him safe from his parents' many enemies.

He called softly to the distressed blonde who looked up at him, a silent plea in her almost colorless eyes. He told her to stop before she went too far because he needed her to take care of Erin. He had to make arrangements for his wife's funeral, acquisitions for his son's care, and inform the crew of some rather drastic changes... maintaining the secrecy of Port Rhianna, that the coordinates could only be given out by a ship's captain, all others spellbound to prevent anyone from being bribed or tortured for the information. This little island in the middle of nowhere had to remain safe at all costs. He would not let his beloved Clare's death be in vain. He would ensure the safety of their son, the blonde acting as his guardian, the families of his crew...he vowed to never let Port Rhianna fall.

Artz: I was gonna make this long but decided against it because there is a bit of a time skip here and in case you're wondering...no, Erin Clarence Jones is not the reincarnation of Artz's and Anna's friend from their world...he is, however, the one that will bear the name of Silverfrost, later shortening it to Silver because....*trails off as she realizes that she didn't put in a description of Baby Erin's appearance* Brunette like his father so dark brunette but his eyes will be closer to amber or honey like his mother's.

Poseidon: You just love dragging things out, don't you?

Anna: Now he gets it.

Artz: Its called suspense, sweetie. Not to mention, anticipation...that build up of emotion and then...

Poseidon: *deadpans* and falls flatter than a pancake because you can't keep your mouth shut.

Hook: I'm sensing a pot/kettle reference here. *Anna nodding in agreement*

Poseidon: What's that supposed to mean?

Durga: That you don't know how to keep your mouth shut when you come.

Artz: Wow...um...sorry?

Durga: *gives her a bemused look* Its not your fault that I'm your sonic screwdriver.

Artz/Anna: *enters the gutter simultaneously and just walk away*

Poseidon: *tries to follow but is dragged away by Hook and Durga*

A few moments pass...and a head pops up from below the screen.

Ren: *whispers* Hiya, I'm Serenity aka Ren. Just wanted to have a brief cameo before...*Hope, fellow fan of Artz's work pushes Ren back out of the screen*

Hope: Sorry about that. *keeps pushing Ren back down out of frame then gives a brief wave to the readers before punting Ren out of the article entirely*

The Return of Silverfrost - Part IV

Hey everyone and once again welcome back to the insanity that is The Realm. Today's article will focus on Clare Ravenwood Oswald. Clare is absolutely vital to story of Starsea because she was the wife of Killian Jones and the mother of their son, the one that is granted the name of Silverfrost, more commonly known as Silver Jones. Now as stated in the previous article, her mother died before her first birthday and was therefore raised by the Star Child herself. Artz did leave for a time but that was to take Graham to each of the packs that he would one day be responsible for. During that time, Van and Neptune volunteered to watch over little Clare. While on this pilgrimage of sorts, Artz and Graham crossed paths with Liam and Killian Jones. They stayed with them for about seven months before tragedy struck, ending in the deaths of the brothers' parents and the Star Child.

We were given a brief overview of this during Mars's profile and the story of Liam Jones. Now Clare herself was a bright and clever child, and whilst in public, she was refined and poised, everything that a lady of the times would want for a daughter. Once she was no longer within the public eye, all bets were off. The brunette child was full of mischief and mayhem. She lusted for adventure and to explore the world beyond her home land. To that end, she asked her godmother, after she had returned from Graham's pilgrimage, to be taught how to fight and how to sail.

The Star Child lifted an eyebrow at this so called request and stated quite clearly that should Clare wish to pursue this path, she must master both nobility and to the child's surprise, piracy. When asked why, Artz simply stated that she wanted Clare to get married to an outstanding naval officer...who would one day become a pirate and if she truly wished to be with him then she must prove it. Clare tried to weedle more out of her godmother but Neptune ushered her out of the room rather hastily. She heard quiet whimpering from the other room, the kind associated with deep wounds and she was immediately worried about her godmother.

The fourth mage refused to budge but the third mage simply bonked her on the head, saying that she would find out eventually anyways. This was when she first learned of the Jones brothers and and she honestly felt absolutely horrid for the younger Jones. He was going to go through so much and not even understand why. With eyes blazing with determination, the young girl dived head first into her studies, learning everything she could about being a noblewoman, a merchant, a sailor, a pirate, and a plethora of diverse skills across a rather wide spectrum of fields.

When she was old enough, Van and Neptune...acting as her parents...moved to the port town where the Jones brothers were currently living. One of the naval academies resided in this area which was why they were here at all. It took about four months before Clare and Killian crossed paths with one another. Serendipity truly at work because Killian Jones was in the middle of a brawl outside the tavern, supposedly for flirting with an already married woman.

He was definitely on the losing side given that he was alone, but overall he did hold his own for a short time. Clare smirked because she was currently dressed like a deckhand, her hair tied under a bandana, so she looked very much like a man. She didn't hesitate to get involved and fought them off long enough to get Killian onto his feet. The duo fought back to back and easily incapacitated their opponents, but then they heard the whistling of the approaching authorities so they ran.

Luck was on their side because none of the town guard had seen them in the first place. Killian introduced himself but was taken off guard when Clare pushed him against a wall and snogged him. She pulled back laughing as she let her down, revealing that she was in fact a woman. She was absolutely loving the stunned look on his face and the fact that his hands were still held up from where she had been kissing him. She walked slowly towards him, his eyes following her every movement and slid her hands along his chest as he swallowed hard. 

She was trying very hard not to laugh at the fact THE Killian Jones was completely speechless. She brought their lips close together and hovered, waiting for him to make the next move. She was not disappointed because his lips did meet hers, but she was annoyed at the imbecile that had the audacity to interrupt them...the Butcher of the Royal Navy, Augustus Torrin. He had yet to earn his more colorful moniker but he was still an asshole and was one Killian's current commanding officers that was temporarily in residence at the academy. He immediately ordered the younger Jones back to the academy, leaving him alone with one seriously pissed off Clare Oswald.

Then of course the asshat tried to rape her, believing that she was one of the port town's whores that catered to the Navy's specialized needs which resulted in him coming face to face with the Star Child herself. Let's just say that he didn't leave that encounter completely unscathed...he would never reproduce at the very least. Artz made certain to keep minimal contact with Clare because Killian would be instinctively drawn to her and that would blow a hole in the universe but it did make her happy...just seeing him again so similar yet so different but after so many years of waiting, she honestly didn't care that he was neither her Terror of the Deep or her Scourge of the Sea. She even found it hilarious at just how often Clare rendered him speechless by suddenly doing something completely bonkers.

It took about seven months before he and Clare were married and another year before the Jones Brothers graduated from the academy with honors. Liam was given command of their newest ship The Jewel of the Realm...the irony was not lost on her...and Killian was made a lieutenant. He would have been a commander had it not been for his brief encounter with Torrin. Killian was forced into leaving his young wife to go on a mission upmost importance with his brother, mere weeks later. Clare could see it in his eyes, her husband knew that something was wrong but for the life of him, couldn't understand why, but Clare did.

This mission would be the final days that the brothers would share together before Liam took his own life to save his baby brother from an even more horrific end. Not long after their ship left, Clare was packed and ready to go. She had been preparing for this practically her whole life but in the last few years, she had made quite the name for herself as a pirate. Her crew were Blood Guard so she never feared mutiny but she had kept it small, didn't want to call too much attention to herself just yet. The wait was now over, the guise of an elegantly refined noblewoman was no longer necessary. It was time for "******" to sail the seas once again and find that dastardly husband of hers, preferably beating the living shit out of him before fucking him into next week. Honestly that idiot...did he honestly think that she would reject him just because he became a pirate?!

Imagine his surprise when he tries to loot a merchant ship already being looted by another pirate ship and he says that he was taking it from them, only to hear...

'You can't take what is already yours, sweetie, *uses the ropes above to land in front of him like a bad ass* unless you want to get a divorce?'

Killian is just stunned because his wife was standing in front of him then it took a few seconds for him to realize that she was a pirate and a few more to realize that she was a pirate captain. Things became completely bonkers when she told him that she was the legendary "*******" and that she had been a pirate ever since she was eleven years old, captain at thirteen. She scolded him quite thoroughly for just leaving her behind, not even giving her the choice and then spent the next two days having some rather torrential sex between the pair. 

Her crew joined his and there was minimal grumbling, but she was still weary of her husband's first mate, one Mister Simeon Black. There was something about him that seemed familiar and not in a good way either, the echo of a dream of a life never lived. She and Black butted heads quite often until her husband became involved, ordering them to have a duel and whoever won would be his first mate. Subvissive to say, Clare won and rather quickly too which was a major blow to the loser's ego. After things settled down, Killian and Clare went on adventure after adventure, their love soaring ever higher as if to touch the stars themselves. 

Things changed drastically when Clare started feeling quite ill and was nauseous all the time...not to mention the utterly outrageous cravings she was having and her sex drive had easily quadrupled, even wearing the infamous Killian Jones completely out. He was getting quite worried but apparently his wife was already several steps ahead of him. She had ordered that they return to Port Rhianna and she informed her husband of an old friend that would be able to give them an accurate diagnosis. Little did he know that this would be his first encounter with a rather spirited blonde that held a direct link to his forgotten past.

Upon arrival, Clare saught out her friend, Emma Swan, and the blonde verified the woman's theory...she was pregnant. Clare Ravenwood Jones was with child and it hit Killian like a ton of bricks. He was going to be a father, but his and wife's chosen profession was not exactly conducive to the rearing of a child and behind closed doors, he started panicking. He didn't know what to do or even where to begin and he certainly could not let his wife see him like this but what the hell was he supposed to do? His brother's voice echoed in his mind...she shines only for you now.

He forced himself to calm down, on the outside that is, and returned to the ladies. He told the blonde to look after his wife...both women giving him a knowing look...and he left the area. He walked through the city, noting that the sun was starting its descent. It would only be a few hours before nightfall and there was someplace he wanted to go to. This place was up on one of the forested cliffs that enshrouded the port town, making it very difficult to locate said town from a distance. He always found it odd that the island in which Port Rhianna was founded upon was in the general shape of a crescent moon and that not far off shore was a rock formation that paralleled the star in the sky that was always found near the moon.

He worked his way through the maze like forest with ease...like nature itself was guiding him...and there he stood, the highest cliff on the island. He watched as the sun sank lower and lower, the sea and sky blazing with reds and oranges, slipping ever deeper into the darker hues of blue and purple...twilight, a time that is neither light or dark...he didn't know why this particular time meant so much to him not did he understand why the stars always appeared so beautiful to him. He watched as each pinpoint of light appear in the deep blue sky, allowing his chaotic mind to calm as his thoughts ceased to race.

He sat down at the base of one of the nearby trees, resting his back against the trunk and shifting his sword to a more comfortable position. His eyes drifted once more to the star filled sky, trying to empty his mind...to find the answer within himself just as she taught him. He blinked...she...who...his eyes closed against his will as he fell into a deep slumber. 

Killian found himself in a field of golden grass, perhaps wheat or barley. He couldn't really tell because he wasn't a farm hand. The sky was filled with light orange clouds and the wind was blowing through the field. Just where the hell was he? A faint feminine giggle drew his attention to a beautiful amber skinned woman clad in blue clothing...the style struck a familiar chord in his heart. He walked towards her and a crack appeared between them, something akin to a never ending ravine of some sort and the place where she now stood was entirely water.

'Who are you? Where are we and why am I here?'

The woman smiled sadly at him, her eyes holding a forlorn hope. Her response was simple...he had unknowingly called to her and she answered instinctively. When he asked why, she did not reply but instead asked what it was that troubled him so. He wasn't quite sure why but he trusted her, he trusted the mysterious and enigmatic woman whose name he did not know...so he told her, told her about his Clare and his unborn child, about he and his wife being pirates, about everything that had happened in his life and he felt so lost, that he didn't know what to do.

'The answer you seek, dear one, lies within the swan lake, but tread carefully. There is darkness all around you; some are known to you, others will be hidden in plain view, and the darkness will rise from within and brought down by the shallow sleeper.

Do not be afraid, my dear child...for where there is light, there is hope and where there is hope, there are miracles. The impossible will occur not once, not twice, not three times but four. To save the past, you must first save the future...the star that shines so bright on the moonless night...find your star, Killian Jones and let her light guide you through the clouded way. To change the future is to change the past...go now, return to your world, and you will have all that you need.'

The pirate captain awoke rather harshly, his mind muddled and dazed, but the moment he heard a sword being drawn, he was on his feet. His eyes were still clouded over from such a deep sleep and he couldn't see properly but he still managed to hold his own against his would be assailant until said assailant was pinned underneath, their hands being held above their head in a tight grip. A woman...the body pressed firmly against his was that of a woman. 

Said woman chuckled but it was not an evil or wicked kind...goodnaturedly. He recognized her voice immediately as his wife's friend. What was her name again...Emma Swan...his brain came to a halt as his eyes cleared and connected to hers. Her eyes were currently a mix of blues and greens but when he had first met her, her eyes had been a forest green. Looking at her now, her eyes were similar in color to a lagoon or a lake...swan lake... Swan Lake...his answer lied within the swan lake. That was what the woman in his dream had said.

He allowed her to get up, each returning their swords to their proper places. As dawn approached, he and the blonde discussed the situation of Clare's pregnancy and together they decided upon a course of action that would drive his wife completely mental because of her adventurous nature but would lead the Captain of the Jolly Roger down a path he did not know he would take and if given the choice, he never would have but he needed to...something he would understand one day but not for a long time.

Artz: And that's a wrap for Part Four!

Hook: Took you long enough, wench.

Anna: No ADHD meds, dude. You're lucky she typed anything at all.

Hook: *look of understanding* Ah, well let's be off so she can put in the final touches and post it.

Durga: *arms crossed* You just want her to hurry up and get to your debut. Admit it.

Hook: *smirks* Speaking of debuts...*finds himself mummified in a variety of duct tapes*

Anna: *sitting next to a certain pyro pixie and a mound of empty duct tape rolls, sipping her coffee like nothing had just happened*

Clare: *walks in* If by chance you noticed a certain issue then by all means, leave your suggestions in the comment box below. If you didn't notice, it's because you were probably to wrapped up in the article. *several snickers are heard at the pun* Anywho, I am in desperate need of a badass pirate name because Artz really doesn't want to use Bloody Mary. Seriously, she wants something original and packs enough punch to render my husband speechless...again. *pushes everyone out of the article with Anna's help*