Starsea - Part VIII - Silver and Gold

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Realm! Last time I kinda lost my train of thought a sort of just trailed off. With that being the case, there will be a minor time skip of maybe a week or so, maybe two weeks. I don't want to do much longer due to a certain plot device that I need to get to. Now venture forth into the next segment of Starsea!

The Terror of the Deep had spent almost two weeks confined to bed rest so that the Dark Captain could finish recalibrating their shared body. During that time, he had attempted to calm the Star Child who had spent the first two days as a broken record, consistently apologizing. The only reason why she stopped was because he had slapped her. He didn't like the fact that he had to strike her but there was no other way to break through to her.

She did go quiet after that and quite often had to stop herself from crying, knowing that her Captain would take control and he really needed to focus on the task at hand. Killian eventually coaxed her into talking and by coaxed, he meant dropping the cannonball that the love she had felt from him was actually Hook's and not his own. She had raised an eyebrow at that statement, a knowing look in her eyes and a small smirk on her lips. The former lieutenant was surprised by how one simple expression had him wanting to pin the woman to the closest flat surface and make love to her.

In the days that followed after he was no longer confined to his bed, he did as his counterpart suggested and spent as much time with her as he possibly could. He oftentimes had to go in search of her and more often than not she was either with Mister Smee in the ship's library or in the kitchen with Mister Silver. After a while, his curiosity got the better of him and he asked about the Magi of Light that had made his first mate into a vessel of power.

'First Mage of the Blood Guard, Commander of the Medical Corps, the Magi of Light, Scheherazade. She is Venus of the Prism Guard and she is my daughter...and yes, she is actually my daughter by blood.'

'You make it sound like you're surprised she even exists.'

'That's because I am. Killian...I can't have children...and before you ask, it's a tale far too long and complicated to even attempt to explain it to you now. It would just give you a massive migraine.'

The younger Jones didn't press for more, despite wanting to know exactly how and why she couldn't have children. He also promptly ignored the feelings of sadness and disappointment he had felt upon learning that the woman he cared for would never be able to have a child with him. He knew from his interactions with Silver that she was, in fact, an absolutely wonderful mother...though she could use some help in the naming department.

'*scowls at him* For starters, Silver is short for Silverfrost. I gave him that name in honor of a fallen friend from long ago. He was the one that chose the last name of Jones. I never really understood why he was so adamant about it, but I figured that it probably had to do with my God of the Sea. Poseidon helped me raise Silver in the Realm before telling me that the boy's father served aboard the Jolly Roger. 

Still trying to work that one out. *he comments about the name Venus* Venus is her title within the Guard. It's not the name she was given at birth, ya numpty.'

He then asked what the woman's birth name was and his entire world turned on its axis...figuratively speaking.

'Emma...Emma Swan Lanaria. I don't know if Silver ever told you this but my daughter was his governess...such a sweet kid. When I received word that Torrin was heading towards the port town where my daughter and her charge were currently living, I set out immediately but I was too late.

The whole town was in ruin, the fires still burning. I found my daughter rendered powerless by a radahan; battered and beaten, wailing in despair next to what was left of her charge. That poor boy...to this day, it still haunts me. When my Captain ordered me to kill my godson as proof of my loyalty...for a brief moment, I didn't see my godson. I saw the boy that called me His Blue Eyes...I saw Erin.'

Killian Jones fled from his quarters with the Star Child following after him, asking him what was wrong. He needed to know...were they truly the same? Was Silver Jones the son he believed to be forever lost to him? Was he Erin Clarence Oswald? He practically ran through the galley and straight into the kitchen, but the boy wasn't there, making him growl in frustration.

He looked down when the redhead touched his arm gently and his body relaxed...she had no idea. She asked if he was looking for Silver and he nodded. She pointed towards a specific wall and he realized what she was trying to convey. He was in one of the storage rooms, probably gathering provisions for the evening meal. They made their way to the storage area and sure enough, the silver haired lad was going through a check list for all the ingredients he needed.

'Silver...we need to talk.'

The boy glanced his way briefly before returning to work and like the smartass he was, he said they talked all the time...what made this time any different from the last?

'I didn't know who you were the last time or any of the other times before that...Erin Clarence Oswald.'

'I'm sorry. Did you just say Oswald? Silver, was Clare your mother?'

'You knew my wife?'

'If you're referring to Clare Ravenwood Oswald then who do you think raised her?'

They both looked over at the oddly silent silver haired chef that currently had his back to them.

'I'm not Erin Clarence Oswald. He died when he was eight years old. My name is Silverfrost Jones.'

'Erin...'

The room began to ice over, the temperature dropping drastically and swiftly. The cook of the Jolly Roger turned just enough so that they could see his face. He had tears in his eyes, tears of rage.

'I am not Erin...because Erin was nothing more than a defenseless child that watched his big sister be tortured and raped right in front of him! Erin was a child that was powerless to stop the bastards from killing him in front of his godmother! I am not the boy that she *gesturing to the ginger* nearly killed herself trying to save.

*tears slip down his cheeks* I am Silver Jones, a child of the sea and snow. I am the son of the Star Child and her God of the Sea. I am the man that can go toe to toe with the Scourge of the Sea, the Chef of the Jolly Roger. I am finally the person I always wanted to be, someone my papa would be proud of...I am the son of Killian Jones.'

That did it...the Captain of the Jolly Roger crossed the room and pulled the boy into his arms, embracing him tightly and never wanting to ever let go. All this time, his son had been alive. That didn't really explain how he had met the boy prior to his demise, but since it was impossible, he knew the Star Child and her Guard were involved. Speaking of which...he turned to look at her but she was no longer there.

'*releasing him* You had best go find her before she goes spiraling into another depression. *asks why* My mother crossed paths with a woman she had believed was in an abusive relationship. So...she did what she has always done. She was kind. She gave the woman two pieces of advice. 

The first was to get out. If you don't like the situation then remove yourself from the equation, but as most women commonly do, she said that she could never escape him. Thus leading into the second piece of advice...the only power anyone has over you is the power you give them.'

Those words...he recognized them. Hook had used them to describe the crimson haired woman, but going further back in his memories...he inhaled sharply, his eyes widening as he realized why they had struck such a familiar chord...Milah. Milah had disappeared and was gone for almost four days. Upon her return, he had snapped at her and she looked him square in the eyes, saying those exact words. 

That single moment of defiance, grit and determination...that was what started it all and he realized that the woman he had truly fallen for was Artz. After that day, Milah's personality had shifted radically and he now knew that it was nothing than a farce. She was pretending to have the same kind of personality that both Artz and Clare possessed because she knew that he would be sucked in by the lie, blind to everything else.

'After what happened at Port Rhianna, Emma regressed her age to that of a ten year old girl so she could grow up with me, but before she did, she told mother about that fucking bitch. It took the combined efforts of quite a few people to keep her from dropping like a stone or blowing up a planet.'

'Are you saying that she blames herself for the destruction of Port Rhianna, for what happened to her daughter, for your...death?'

'No, she blames herself for being kind, believing that it was her kindness that got hundreds of people killed. That it was her kindness that destroyed Emma and killed me, but the worst thing of all...she believes that it was her kindness that shattered your soul. And to find out that you're my father...'

He didn't have to say anything because the Terror of the Deep didn't need to be told. He kissed his son's head before begrudgingly leaving the room in search of the impossible woman that had saved the life of his only child. He immediately went above deck to speak to Mister Smee. If anyone knew where the redhead had went, it would be William.

He didn't even get a chance to speak, his first mate gesturing to the crows nest high above them. As hiding places go, it was a damn good one because even if you knew they were there, you would have a hard time getting to them...unless you were him. Killian Jones knew his ship and he was able to get up there quite easily...though it did mean that the crew would to redo some of the rope. 

He looked inside the nest and sure enough, she was there. Her arms were wrapped around her legs and her face was buried in her legs. She looked so small, curled up like that, and so very fragile which was quite the contrast to what he was used to seeing from her. He climbed into the crow's nest and sat down next to her. They sat there for some time before she finally raised her head enough to speak, her hair preventing him from seeing her face clearly.

'I would say I'm sorry but I don't want to be slapped again. It doesn't make it any less true though. The one thing I never wanted to do was hurt you and yet...that's all I ever seem to do.'

'Am I right to assume that we knew each other in the past...and possibly the future?'

'Yes...for both of them. My past is your future. You, my Captain, and my Light...the three of you saved my life. You literally saved me from the end of the world, the world I originally came from that is. *multiverse?* How did...Emma...of course she would.

As for your past, I ran across you quite by accident. I was taking Graham on a pilgrimage so that he could meet the people that he would one day lead. We were walking along the beach when Graham suddenly took off and I had to keep an eye on him otherwise a war was going to break out.

When I caught up to him, he was being held by a boy with eyes the color of the ocean and when I learned his name...I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was. You never did tell me how we first met. You did say that I came on a bit strong after you had become a pirate and tried to jump your bones every chance I got, so you can blame yourself for that.

Okay...you are just sitting there, letting me ramble away like an idiot. Aren't you mad at me? It was my kindness that destroyed your life!'

He pinned her to the floor of the crow's nest, bit of a tight fit but that did not stop him from kissing her. She tried to push him away but her attempts were half hearted at best. He kept her head in place with one hand, the other wrapping around her back to pull her closer to him. Unfortunately they did have to breathe which made them separate far too soon for his liking. He stared directly into her eyes. 

He remembered everything his wife, his Swan Lake, and his son had said about her though he hadn't known it was her they spoke of at the time. His son had spent night after night with Hook, talking up a storm about the Star Child. Every time he returned to Port Rhianna, Emma would regale him with tale after tale of her mysterious mother with a heart like no other. Clare...his beloved Clare had been raised by her godmother, said godmother being the woman currently pinned beneath him. She always said that her godmother was her personal hero, the woman she aspired to be like though her godmother always insisted that Clare add her own flair because she didn't want Clare to be her. She wanted Clare to be Clare.

'Don't speak, just listen. Thank you. *attempts to speak but he silences her with another kiss* I'm serious, love, because of you, I had the privilege of loving and marrying one of the most impossible women in the world. Because of you, I was able to become a father. Because of you, I have made life long friends like William and Emma. Because of you, I have learned that just because something is dark does not mean that it's evil. Because of you, this body still lives. Because of you, my shattered soul was born anew and is stronger than it ever was before. Because of you...my son is alive, he is a good man, he is strong and kind...he doesn't hate me for not being there, for letting him die.'

'He did once but then he forgave you once he realized that the only reason why I was alive after saving him...was you. *looks at her in confusion* You have not yet been named or granted your purpose because you are not ready to receive them but you will. *still confused*

Third Captain of the Blood Guard, Commander of the Shield Corps, The Terror of The Deep. Poseidon of the Prism Guard and he is my God of the Sea.

That's who you will be one day but only when your own soul has deemed you ready. You already possess the brand, just as my Captain did. He needed to accept who he was meant to be in order to be claimed, but I don't know what it is that you need to do. You wouldn't tell me in the future. You just kept saying over and over that in order to become my god of the sea, you had to shatter a mirror that was not your own.'

Killian could only stare at her, for many reasons. One...he was Poseidon or would be at least. Two...he was a water elemental or would be because Silver had said that Poseidon was a water elemental. Three...he was somehow able to travel through time, into the past to save Artz, and subsequently raise his son. Four...he had to shatter a mirror that was not his own...Hook. No...no way in hell. He may not fully trust the man but he sure as hell believed that he loved the Star Child and he would never do anything that could take him away from her again...once was enough, thank you very much, lesson learned.

He pushed those thoughts away as he lowered his head and kissed her again, gently and full of unexpressed emotions and desires. He pulled back when he got a bit light headed, only to realize that they were no longer in the crow's nest but in his quarters...on the floor to be exact. He looked at her and was immediately entranced by her eyes. They were glowing with ethereal light from within and sparkled like stardust. He smirked, causing her to frown.

'You really shouldn't have done that because I'm going to show you exactly how I feel.'

Artz: And....CUT!!!!!

Hook: Seriously, wench?

Artz: Not good?

Poseidon: Leave her alone. She's got a headache. Besides I absolutely love that bit with Silver. Bloody impactful that was.

Hook: She still petered out at the end.

Poseidon: She usually does. That's why she breaks it up into so many articles, to limit just how much that situation occurs. Doesn't like inflicting bad writing on people.

Hook: Just bad grammar and spelling.

Yuna: Now hold up one damn minute! Its not her fault that the phone can't keep up with how fast she types. It doesn't even register some of the words despite the fact that she actually did type them in!

Artz: *wanders off to find some media, leaving them to argue as much as they want*

Starsea - Part VII - Through The Mirror Darkly

Hey everyone and welcome back to the Realm! I know you're all dying to know what happens next considering I kind of left the last article as a cliffhanger and for good reason. Up until now, Killian has believed that Hook was a monster and should he ever rise again, then the Star Child would pay the price. He has spent all of his time with Artz trying to shield her from Hook which was a very bad thing to do. Why because there is nothing she would not do for her Captain.

The man known as Killian Jones could only stare at the sight before him, a horrified expression on his face. He had rushed at the Dark Captain, hoping to save the Star Child he loved so much, but she jumped in the way. His sword was now about two thirds through her chest, blood dripping off the blade. Why...why would she protect a monster? Had Hook truly broken her? He was taken by surprise by the Dark Captain's next words.

'Damn it, wench, not for me! The brat was supposed to protect you from me, from yourself and now you're dying...again! You're dying again...for me, but this time is different...this time you will not embark on this journey alone.'

The former lieutenant gasped in shock as the Scourge of the Sea reached around her and wrenched the hilt from his hand, making him stagger back a few steps to regain his balance. His eyes were wide and unblinking as the man he had once viewed as a monster drove the sword completely through her while simultaneously plunging the sword into himself until there was no room between them. Why...why would he do that? Killian was extremely confused, both his mind and heart in chaos.

'Wherever you go, I will always follow.'

'My Captain.'

'My Wench.'

In that moment, the younger Jones had a revelation. Hook didn't hate her...he loved her. That's why he couldn't remember a good chunk of their time together because the Scourge of the Sea had been falling in love just as he had, but why make himself out to be a monster? There was so many contradictions and empty spaces...too many unanswered questions.

He was broken out of his thoughts as the Captain and his wench fell to the floor, the ginger letting a quiet cry of pain. He moved forward to try to help, only to be stopped by Mister Silver.

'Stay back. If you come into physical contact with him, he'll be absorbed back into your body and the two of you will trapped inside the same body together for a very long time before another opportunity arises to separate you. *to Mister Smee* William, attend to my mother while I try to save the idiot I view as my dad.'

The ocean eyed man could only watch, feeling absolutely helpless with the guilt burning and churning inside his stomach. He caused this. If he hadn't been so focused on trying to be her shield and instead embracing her as he wanted to, he would have learned the truth about the Scourge of the Sea and this entire thing could have been avoided.

The golden light emanating from his first mate's hands gradually healed the wound and she let out a relieved sigh before falling unconscious. He looked over at the Dark Captain to see him standing on his feet, his left hand pressing against the wound. He noticed the brand on said hand which proved that the so called monster had been radically altered by the Star Child, resulting in his recruitment and it proved that he was completely wrong about Hook.

'Come here, brat.'

'I was told to stay away or we'll get stuck together again.'

'My wench is no longer dying but I am and I won't let her lose me because of your stupidity. You have two choices, brat; willingly or forcefully. Either way, it's gonna happen because I am a selfish bastard that will never that woman go.'

'Dad, just give me some time. I might be able...'

'I'm sorry, son. Truly I am, but I can't and won't take that chance. I can already feel my heartbeat slowing down, it's getting harder to breathe, my internal organs are starting to shut down and I can barely see. *sees the tears in the man's eyes* 

I know that you hate me and you think I'm a monster. *tears slipped down Hook's face* Yes, I altered my memories so that you wouldn't associate yourself with my actions, so you could be your own person and not a reflection of me. *more tears and is being supported by both Smee and Silver*

So much of what you remember about me is a lie, but you need to understand why. She died for me. It was her love for me that got her killed. Every day she drank my evening wine...slowly being poisoned by diluted Dreamshade. I never saw the effects because she had altered my perception. All I ever saw was the feisty wench that refused to yield yet obeyed every order I had given her.

*coughs up some blood, his body sagging and he was forced onto his knees* Every time she called me Her Captain, she was saying I love you. All that time and when I finally worked it out...she died...she died in my arms in the middle of the night...less than ten minutes after I told the bloody wench that I loved her. She was already unconscious by then.

I made you hate me so that you would protect her, not just from me but from herself. I pushed you forward, fully intent on never breaching the surface again, but when I no longer felt the constant warmth of her pendant, I began reaching out. It took some time but...*coughs up more blood, gasping for air*'

He didn't get the chance to continue because he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, his eyes coming back into focus and mirrored obsidian met ocean blue...an ocean blue that shimmered with unshed tears.

'Shut up, idiot and get back in here before you keel over. We'll sort this out later.'

Both Silver and Smee assisted in reintegrating the two pirates back together and Killian lost consciousness but not before hearing the Scourge of the Sea say Thank you, Killian.

When the younger Jones awoke, he found himself floating underwater...the seascape again but why was it so dark? He couldn't see anything. Hell he couldn't even see himself. He shifted slightly, only to become aware of another body behind and a pair of arms wrapped around him.

'I wouldn't suggest moving, brat. I'm still trying to rebalance our body's life force. My brief stint outside caused me to have the majority of our physical energy. Now it's just a matter of finding the right amounts for everything.'

'Why's it so dark?'

'This is where you put me. Your anger and hatred shoved me to deepest recesses of your mind, but it's your fear and uncertainty that causes the darkness. I've actually gotten used to it. If you wish for it to be brighter than your feelings towards me would have to change and as of right now, I have done nothing to warrant your favor.'

Killian didn't respond right away, simply stayed still and silent. After several minutes, the water directly surrounding them became a little brighter, the darkness being pushed back enough so that they could at least see each other.

'How about we finish that conversation we were having before...that is if you can call it a conversation. I stood there, you rambled, and now is as good a time as any to continue.'

The Scourge of the Sea started laughing, true and genuine laughter. The younger Jones couldn't help but smile because it wasn't the laugh of a tyrannical monster rather the laugh of a good natured man. Hook managed to calm himself then cleared his throat.

'Right then, where was I? Ah yes, it took me some time to breach the surface considering you were actively trying to keep me inside, but I had to keep trying. I may not have been able to feel her emotions but I sure as hell felt yours and I knew that it was only a matter of time before you would try to send her away.

My wench...I knew she would never leave you. She's extremely stubborn when it comes to the people she cares for. Good ol' William can recount many a tale to you about that bloody minded wench. The problem lies within her loyalty to me and her feelings for you. She could not in good conscience allow you to keep suppressing me, but at the same time, she didn't want to hurt you.

Every tear that she shed was like a beacon, so I followed them and then I saw it...her pendant, shining like a star and I heard her crying out to me. To hear her screaming like that, so much anguish and grief, I finally just said to hell with this shit. The wench wanted her Captain and I promised Yuel that wouldn't hesitate, that I would go to my wench. I didn't actually expect us to split apart like that. Came as a bit of a shock.'

'That's putting mildly. I bloody panicked. The Scourge of the Sea was free and heading straight towards the very woman I had been fighting so hard to protect...only to end up running her through with my sword.'

The Captain of the Jolly Roger told the former lieutenant that the moment he had seen him draw his sword...he knew his wench would undoubtedly do something insanely reckless that would more than likely get her killed. Had he known that their first mate had the ability to heal, he wouldn't have acted so foolishly though he didn't regret his decision. He had spoken honestly and passionately, making it perfectly clear to his wench that he meant every word of his vow, that he would always follow her wherever she went.

The longer they conversed, the brighter their mental seascape became. It was still murky beyond the reefs but there was an entire patch of beautiful light colored sand and there was a light projecting through the surface of the water which just added a prismatic effect to the sand. All-in-all, it was utterly gorgeous and the ambience really helped to calm Killian's heart and mind. 

There was still a lot that they had to overcome because questions needed answering, memories needed revealing, and there was a crimson haired goddess waiting for them to wake up...to which they had spent a great deal of time debating. Killian wanted Hook to take control so that he could once again be with the woman he loved, but the Dark Captain refused on the grounds of the wench's actions towards the brat.

'You need to go back. *cuts off the brat before he could start arguing again* You're not a member of the Guard so you can't hear it, but the wench is begging you to come back. You, not me. She didn't mean for things to end up like this and right now she is scared out of her mind because she can barely sense you at all. She is terrified of losing you. 

That's why you need to go back. You take care of the wench while I focus on our body. Lord knows how much time has passed but I do know that she has cried herself to sleep many times then called out to you in her dreams. There'll be plenty of time for me to be with my wench later but for some inexplicable reason, I have this feeling...like I know that you need to be in control. Most likely Yuel's doing, she was the one to put me asleep after all.

The point, Killian, is that your feelings for the wench are not your own. They're mine. I may have made your mind forget but I couldn't contain my heart. Even now it's still effecting you...you need to go back, sort yourself out, spend some time with her, and don't be surprised when you wake up one day and realize that she's stolen your heart. She makes it so easy...to fall in love with her. Don't be afraid to love her, brat.

One final thing before I punt your sorry ass out of this little piece of aquatic paradise...don't make her cry. I will know if you do and I won't hesitate to take control. She's gone through enough, damn it! She deserves some bloody happiness already! Now get OUT!!!'

The younger Jones awoke with a gasp, his eyes flying open. He let out a low groan of pain because it was rather difficult to breathe, but he soon understood why. The ginger haired woman that had come crashing into his life was currently asleep on his chest. He sighed quietly, knowing it was no use to move nor was it any use to argue with the Dark Captain.

Artz: Hmm...that's a first. I blanked mid thought. I was going somewhere with this but now I can't rightly recall exactly where. Oh well, it's a good place to stop anyways because the next segment of Starsea takes on an entirely different tone. Just a forewarning...the exact timeline of Killian's origin story has yet to be fully ironed out so if you get a little lost, its okay because I'll post a revamped version later.

Poseidon: Now she just has to find some images or gifs for this thing and she'll be able to post it...hopefully.

Hook: Oh yes, by all means, brat, go ahead and jinx the bloody woman.

Poseidon: And you might want to rephrase that. *pointing to the first image*

Hook: *rolls his eyes* Come on, brat. *kicks his legs out from under him, grabs the right ankle and proceeds to drag him away*

Poseidon: Seriously?! Let me go, you bastard! *is ignored and dragged down a different hallway and out of sight*

Hope: *pops up* That's what he gets for making his cameo too long. *shakes her head but then waves at everyone before slipping out of frame*

Ren: *drags herself into frame, waves lazily, then promptly falls asleep*

Anna: *sighs* And as always, I'm on clean up duty. *drags the out cold Ren towards the opposite frame*

Artz: Hey don't look a gift horse in the mouth. She's out cold so no social interaction.

Starsea - Part VI - Twilight of Life

Hey everybody and welcome back to the Realm! Last time ended pretty abruptly and the opposite will be true for this article because this is no longer about Hook...at least for the time being...but about the man once known as The Terror of the Deep, Killian Jones. There is actually a reason why he is known by that particular title and it's basically the ultimate joke. More on that in a future post. Venture forth into Part VI of Starsea!

He stood in front of the wall mirror, staring at the image depicted within. The image was of Killian Jones, Captain of the Jolly Roger. He had short brunet hair and eyes the color of the ocean but in his recent memories, those eyes had been different. Pitch black orbs that shined with lust and cruelty...he shook his head, trying to rid himself of such horrible feelings. He knew that for a time he had gone by the name of James Hook, The Scourge of the Sea. It was so hard to believe that he was ever like that creature.

The things he did...evil, just plain evil. He destroyed everything he touched, took whatever he wanted, killed all who got in his way, but it was the women that paid the ultimate price. Hook had captured and broken countless women and Killian knew that he would never do that. He had promised his beloved Clare and his Swan Lake to never go that far and yet for some reason he had. No! He was Killian Jones! He was not that monster, that abomination! He was not James Hook! He was not the man that murdered Alice! His tirade stopped abruptly as he remembered brief snippets of his time with the fiery woman that bore the same name as his mother.

He sank into his chair, one arm on the table and the other arm rubbing his face like he was in pain and utterly exhausted which to be fair, he kind of was. The Scourge had bedded and beaten Alice so fiercely and so often that his own body was paying the price. He tried desperately not to think about what that bastard had done to her...he enjoyed every bit of it; stripping her of her freedom, bending her to his will, reveling in her pain, and loving every single moment when he made her lose herself to pleasure, making her scream for more and beg for his touch.

Killian felt like he was going to be sick and moments later, he threw up in a nearby bucket that was placed in his room by his first mate, Mister Smee. He asked how he had become his first mate and the man replied that his former first mate, Simeon Black, had attempted to use Alice's godson as leverage to make her submit to him, Hawthorne, and Jefferson which had genuinely surprised him. Mister Smee explained that Hook didn't like the fact that someone else had touched his wench and sent them to a place where they would live out their lives in agony. He was then promoted due to his friendship with Alice because it guaranteed that his property would not be tarnished by another.

Killian rinsed out his mouth and splashed water onto his face, the blue box around his neck catching his eye. It belonged to the feisty redhead that went toe to toe with the Scourge of the Sea...until he killed her. The image of her cold lifeless body laying on a bed of flowers flashed across his mind's eye and he felt such horrible guilt. Hook used his body to kill that woman and the bastard had been so fucking sadistic that he actually used diluted Dreamshade to slowly weaken her until one day, shortly after he had finished using her body yet again, she died.

Hook was a disgusting and foul beast unlike anything Killian had ever experienced before. He had been possessed or infected with a terrible evil that made him commit countless atrocities against a single woman that had done nothing to invoke his wrath yet treated her like she was nothing more than inanimate object to be used however he saw fit. He thought back to when the shift had occurred and it initially started at Milah's betrayal but went into full swing after he had taken her body to shore and burned her remains. Did that traitorous bitch curse him from beyond the grave or did he simply inherit the combined evil of Augustus Torrin and his filthy bitch?

Time was meaningless to the younger Jones and he was honestly surprised that his crew hadn't turned against him from the lack of adventuring. They just kept on sailing the sea he called home, restocking as needed before simply departing yet again. William Smee was turning out to be an incredible first mate. He was the perfect choice for his second in command. The only reason why he had reverted to Black after Clare died was because he didn't know any of his crew well enough to not stab him in the back. Only for that very man to torment poor Alice, but it still pissed him off that Hook viewed the woman as nothing more than a play thing. She was his property, not his lover. He called her his wench, basically telling the world that she was a slut that spread her legs only for him.

There was so much missing from his time with Alice. In fact, the last year or so of her captivity was nothing but a blur of sex and sleep. He couldn't recall anything specific at all except the fact that the Scourge held no regard for her physical health because he just continued using her while her body practically caved in on itself. She had lost so much weight that her skin had sunken in and he could see almost every bone in her body. Her pale white skin had always been so cold and dry, the lack of proper nourishment and rest taking its toll. Sweet lord, the bruises...there had been so many of them.

He felt the nausea coming but managed to keep the contents of his stomach from erupting though his chest and throat now burned quite painfully from the lingering stomach acid. He remembered the changes to her hair most of all because his favorite color was crimson red followed ironically by sapphire blue, a dark sapphire at that. Her hair had darkened during her captivity, turning from the shining crimson he loved so much to a dingy and dull brown color with a few dark auburn highlights. It was so dry and brittle that it had started thinning out. Another year or so and she probably would have been bald.

There was one thing about the memories of those times that really confused him...her eyes. Those deep sapphire orbs, exhausted and in terrible pain, but they never changed. Her eyes were always warm and kind, open and welcoming, and full of an emotion that should never have been directed towards that beast...love. She had loved him...right from the start which didn't make sense because that would imply that she had met him before...met Hook before, but how could that be?

'To change the future is to change the past.'

That's what the blue clad woman had said in his dream after he had just found out that Clare had been pregnant with Erin.

'Lightning, it flashes bright then fades away. It can't protect, it only destroys. The sea makes for a much better shield than I could ever be. Find her...find our star...she shines only for you now.'

Liam...was the star he spoke of The Star Child? Is...was Alice the Star Child and he simply hadn't known it because he definitely recalled the times Hook spent with Silver Jones. How would the boy feel when he finds out about all the terrible sins committed against her by that monster? He wouldn't even be able to look the lad in the eye because his only excuse was that it wasn't him, but he had no physical proof of this. 

In fact, the only proof he had that Alice had been there at all was the pendant around his neck and a rather odd looking fob watch, a large one at that. It was a deep blue, almost black...very similar to the sea on a moonless night. The engravings were silver and in some kind of circular language that made his heart ache every time he looked at it, but the front of the watch was the most puzzling of all. At the center of the front side was a smooth circular stone that had an almost ethereal shine. It was extremely thin, so much so that he should have been able to see through it easily, but he couldn't...even if it went through the whole watch...it felt so deep like his beloved sea.

The former lieutenant was startled out of his thoughts, jolting slightly as there was a knock on the entrance of his quarters. He allowed the knocker entrance which turned out to be a rather excited and grinning Mister Smee. He asked the man what had made him so happy and his answer filled his stomach with dread and apprehension.

'Mister Silver is at the nearest port and is requesting permission to come aboard. It's been six and half years since we last saw him. Oh I bet he has a bunch of new dishes he wants to cook for us! Permission to head to the nearest port and retrieve Silver Jones, Chef extraordinaire of the Jolly Roger, Captain?'

The ocean eyed man nearly refused his first mate's request, but seeing his eyes so full of life and hope...he simply couldn't do it. So much pain and sorrow had occurred aboard this vessel already, no need to add to it simply because he was bloody petrified of their chef's possible reaction to certain events.

'Granted.'

He was taken off guard when the man hugged him briefly, having been too caught up in the moment before dashing out of the captain's quarters and informing the crew of a change in course. He heard quite a bit of cheering when William Smee told the crew that the Wave Rider was returning home. Killian sank onto his bed and stared blankly at ceiling. Was Alice the Star Child...he needed to find out before they reached the nearest port. Fortunately, they were still several weeks out, having decided to sail in deeper waters for a time.

In the coming days, the Terror of the Deep searched through the ship's library...an idea that Alice had come up with apparently and Mister Smee had implemented. Most of the books were more fact than mythos or even historical. The Star Child and her Guard held a very long history...eons supposedly. There had to be something! He swore his first mate could either read his mind or simply had the best timing in creation because he walked into the library carrying a stack of historical records and a bag with several large scrolls containing mythological tales.

'Oh...hello, Captain. Are you looking for something to pass the time or did you have something specific in mind?'

The pirate captain weighed the pros and cons of telling his first mate his suspicions...could he truly trust William Smee? All of a sudden his world spun and he found himself on the floor. There was a terrible ringing in his ears and he could not stop making the room spinning around. He was moments away from hurling, his stomach churning most mightily from extreme nausea. 

A gentle warmth spread through his body and the nausea faded. The warmth continued to move through his body until the room finally stopped going all over the place, but that's when he noticed that the palms of his first mate, Mister Smee, were glowing in a soft golden light that reminded him so much of his missing Swan Lake.

'Over exertion, lack of proper nourishment, dehydration, and a bit of liver damage but to be expected from someone that consumes alcohol on a semi-regular basis, but you have clearly been neglecting your personal health for the last seventeen months. That is unacceptable, Captain.'

His first mate's hands moved to his head and the ringing disappeared, along with a pressure that he hadn't even known was there, and out popped a woman's name.

'Kali.'

Killian Jones found himself once again in that golden field, but something was wrong. The sky had been filled with the light of the setting sun the last time, but this time...it was so dark and stormy...ominous.

'Kali!'

That was her name! The blue clad woman with amber skin was named Kali but where was she? She had appeared straight away last time yet now she was nowhere to be seen. The ground beneath his feet gave out and he was plunged into water. Fortunately this was a dream so he knew he wouldn't drown, but when he breathed in the water...he kind of wished he hadn't because the water around him brightened and could see everything quite clearly...including a very large sea creature with tentacles and glowing red eyes...and it was staring straight at him.

He stared straight back, trying to understand why he wasn't bloody terrified out of his mind. He was a bit uncertain, yes, but there wasn't any actual fear. Then he did something completely stupid and started talking to the damn thing like it could actually understand him.

'Something's happened to Kali. She didn't come to me when I called. I need you to find her or at the very least find out what happened. I may not understand everything just yet but I know that she is important to the ocean that I sail and that you call home. I also know that I'm not afraid you and by all rights I should be but I'm not.'

The tentacled creature let out a whale like noise as it raised one of its tentacles towards him and stopped a short distance from him. He hesitantly reached out with his right hand and touched the tentacle.

The Captain bolted upright, breathing heavily. His chest was bare and he was covered in sweat. What the bloody hell was that all about? After he had touched the sea creature, he had some kind of weird vision thing but it had felt more like a memory but it was impossible. Why because Alice had been there. Under normal circumstances, this would not be an issue but he had been a child in that vision and she looked the same as the day Hook captured her ship.

He looked up as his first mate entered his quarters, carrying what appeared to be fresh water and clean rags. How long has he been out for? The moment Smee saw that he was awake, he hurriedly set down the tray and rushed over to him, attempting to push him back down.

'You need to rest, Captain! You've been gravely ill for almost a month!'

Month? He didn't feel ill...just confused. He looked at his first mate, really looking this time and he could see the genuine worry, not mere concern, but actual worry in the man's eyes. 

'Tell me something, William Smee...do you view me as a friend?'

The only reason he was asking was because he was in desperate need of a willing ear, someone he could go to for advice without blabbing it to the entire crew, and then there was the fact that the man's powers felt similar to Swan's.

'No, Captain. You're family.'

Now that took him off guard. He hadn't expected the man to feel so strongly for him...especially after everything that had transpired with the Scourge of the Sea. He was broken out of his thoughts by his first mate, only to render him speechless.

'I knew that you wouldn't recognize me considering the last time I saw you was shortly after you met Her Ladyship. You and Liam were practically obsessed with her. For a long time, I was jealous and even angry because in my mind, she had stolen my only friends. When I became an adult, I decided to join the Navy so I could get as far away as I could and who was the first person I collided with...the daughter of the Star Child, the Magi of Light, Venus.

She sensed something inside of me, something that was trying to claw its way into being, devouring my soul in the process. Venus...she saved me. She drove out the creature within me but in order to keep me safe, she made me into a vessel of power...her vessel. She filled my entire being with her golden light and told me to use it only on you and her mother.'

'Alice...was Alice the Star Child?'

Bloody hell, why did he just blurt out his thoughts like that? Was it because they had supposedly been friends when they were children...why doesn't he remember William?

'Seeing as we'll be reaching port in a few hours, I'll answer that question and the answer is yes and no. The woman you knew as Alice was indeed the Star Child but Alice is not her true name nor is she dead.'

Killian's eyes widened in shock. Alice wasn't dead?! That was impossible! He...Hook had seen her lifeless corpse, had slept next to her as the warmth of life had faded away...it's impossible, absolutely impossible!

'There is a saying associated with the Child of the Stars. If something is impossible then she is definitely involved. Her Guard were able to successfully revive her, but it took her quite a while to recover and if I was a betting man, I'd say that when Silver comes on board so will she.'

His first mate left to get him something to eat and suggested that he make himself presentable. Wouldn't want to make a bad impression, now would he? The younger Jones followed the man's advice, getting cleaned and dressed. He reached for his coat, but then remembered how much Hook had loved that coat. He grabbed it and tossed it in the back of the closet, not wanting anything to do with it or him. He looked down at what he was wearing...too similar.

He went digging through his clothes, trying desperately to find something that didn't scream Hook. He was surprised when he found a trunk at the bottom of the closet...that hadn't been there before. He knelt down to examine it, looking very much like an ordinary trunk. He undid the latches and lifted the lid, smiling slightly at the rather foreign looking clothing. He remembered Swan wearing clothing of similar design, albeit surprisingly feminine for such a masculine style. He quickly dressed and took a look at himself in the mirror. Blimey, he looked good...exotic too.

Smee called to him, saying that they were about to dock, and he took a few moments to steady himself, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. He reopened his eyes and went above deck, watching his crew work diligently to tie off the ship and securing it fully to the dock. The Terror of the Deep put on a mask of calmness as the silver haired lad boarded the ship, more like jumped on the ship with a massive grin on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but Silver spoke first.

'Killian Jones, as I live and breathe. It's been a while since I last saw you. I had hoped to see the Captain again, but no use lingering on what was. There is, however, a slight problem in whether or not you remember the orders he left about my mother.'

So it was true...that part of the Scourge's memories was indeed accurate, but that conflicted with the beast that Killian remembered. The Hook in his memories would not have given orders like that, especially after how he had treated Alice aftet said orders were given. It was a moot point. That creature was gone and he was once more in control of his own body.

'Aye, I remember and I will honor his words.'

A cloaked figure came on board and the younger Jones had to keep himself from audibly gulping and balling his fists to hide his sweating palms. He was taken off guard when the cloak collapsed in on itself, falling to the floor, and moments later, a small weight disappeared from around his neck. He reached up and realized that Alice's pendant was gone, resulting in one very pissed off Captain demanding for its return.

'Oh do say please, you arrogant sod. Nice to know some things never change, little Killi.'

That voice...Alice! He looked up and caught the briefest glimpse before she started jumping about then pushed off from the main mast, spinning and flipping several times midair, before landing like a badass directly in front of him with a smirk that would have made the devil proud. Around her neck was the blue box that he has worn every day for eighteen and a half months.

His eyes soaked up every detail about her. Her hair was once more the majestic crimson he loved so much, woven into a single braid. Her dark sapphire eyes sparkled and shined, glowing with a light from within. Her skin held a healthy glow and her bones were no longer on display. He realized that she wore clothing that was far too similar to the Scourge's for his liking, specifically the vest and he wouldn't be surprised if it did once belong to Hook. She wore dark trousers similar to Clare's and a white long sleeved shirt similar to Swan's. It was like she was an amalgam of the people in his life. Even his brother was represented in the way her sword was attached to the back of the belt instead of to the side...though she carried two and they were shorter than the average sword.

He was broken out of his thoughts when the woman he had been silently analyzing for two minutes started kissing him and rather passionately at that. He wasn't entirely sure what to do; should he respond or should he push her away? At the very least, he wanted to know what to do with his damn hands?! Dear God, why was it always the most impossible women that were capable of rendering him speechless and unable to move?!

Fortunately she relinquished him, giggling at his shell shocked state. He stared at her with his hands slightly raised, very much like with Clare though less pronounced. He lowered his hands and cleared his throat before welcoming her aboard the pirate vessel known as the Jolly Roger. He gestured to his first mate, saying that he would get settled into her quarters.

'That won't be necessary, William. I'll be staying in the captain's quarters. *looks to Killian who is about to suggest that she would feel more comfortable elsewhere* Don't bother, little Killi. I happen to quite like them. Besides this will allow us to discuss private matters without having to constantly seek each other out.'

What did she mean by private matters? Oh he found out relatively quickly over the next few weeks. How you may ask...by preventing the woman from jumping his bones. She was rather adamant in her pursuit, her advances being quite passionate, but he refused her every time despite the fact that every part of him wanted her. For it was through Hook's memories that he had fallen in love with her which was all the more reason to stay away. 

The dark haired pirate refused to let that beast harm her anymore, but every time he denied her, the more frustrated she became, bringing her to tears quite often and making his heart break every time...but it was the only way he could protect her, to shield her from the darkness within himself...a force that was building inside him and he was fighting so hard to keep the monster restrained. It was at the beginning of her fifth week on board that he realized that if she stayed on board, the Scourge would rise again, so when they made port that evening, he told her to get off his ship and never come back. He kept his back to her so that he wouldn't see her face and she wouldn't see his pain.

'Killian...why are you doing this? Why are you pushing me away? I know what is in your heart Killian Jones, I've always known. Every day you wore my pendant, I could feel you and the love you have for me. That's why I chose to come with Silver, even though it meant acknowledging the fact that my Captain was no longer here.'

Killian snapped, his rage and pain fueling his words.

'How can you call that thing, Your Captain?! After everything he did to you, how much he hurt you?! How can you have any kindness for that terrible creature?! He beat you, used you, tortured you...he bloody murdered you! Tell me...tell me why, during that whole time, your eyes never changed!'

'Because he is my Captain. He has always been my Captain and he always will be. Oh and for the record, he didn't kill me...that was the trio of idiots; Black, Hawthorne, and Jefferson. They are the ones that killed me, not him...never him. Why because he loves me.'

'No, he doesn't and i remember quite clearly how he felt about you. He enjoyed every second of bending you to his will, using you like you were a toy to play with and nothing more. He hated you, despised you...I'll admit that he was possessive but that's only because he viewed you as his property, calling you his wench and declaring to the world that the Star Child was his own personal whore. 

He never loved you at all and you need to accept that because I won't be able to protect you from him forever. He's already trying to claw his way out and sooner or later, I will lose which is why you have to leave. I'll do whatever it takes to shield you from that monster!'

The look on her face, it was wrecking his heart and his resolve was wavering. His control was beginning to slip and he could feel Hook pushing even harder. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she begged him to release the Scourge of the Sea, to give back her beloved Captain. No! He refused to give up!

'CAPTAIN!!!'

He watched as she fell to her knees and just wept...he couldn't do this, but he didn't understand. Hook was a monster...wasn't he? The one single moment of doubt was all the Scourge of the Sea needed to fully extract himself from the best and Killian watched in shock and alarm as Hook emerged from his body...with a body of his own.

'On your feet, wench. *the redhead's eyes snapped upwards and she smiled* Your Captain has given you an order, wench, and you will obey.'

'As my Captain commands so shall it be.'

She rose to her feet, wiping away her tears in the process. Hook took a step towards the Star Child and Killian's mind filled with images...the memories of everything the monster had done to her. He shouted out No! before pushing the bastard to the opposite side of the ship. He had to push the ginger in the other direction to prevent her from going to that terrible creature. He drew his sword from its sheath and charged at the Scourge of the Sea, fully intent on killing him and not a single shred of doubt in his mind.

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

Artz: *sheepish* The article got a bit longer than I originally intended so that's why I'm stopping it here.

Poseidon: *staring at an image in her downloads file* Yeah nope, she's not dragging it nor is she going for suspense.

Hook: *walks over to him and looks at the image himself* Bloody hell, wench.

Artz: *giggles* Its perfect, I know.

Poseidon/Hook: Post...now.

Yuna: *punts them out of the article* What do you think she is trying to do, idjits!

Starsea - Part V - Nightfall

Hey everyone and welcome back to the Realm! This article will undoubtedly make you cry so you might want some tissues hand because it's a real tear jerker. This part of Starsea has existed from the very beginning, even before Hook and Poseidon were two separate souls as opposed to a dual personality. I can only hope I can do it justice without having to write up the full scene. Onwards into the storm!

Almost a year prior...Mordred bolted upright in his bed screaming out for his godmother. His mother was by his side in an instant, wiping the cold sweat from his ashen skin. She asked him what he had dreamt about and the boy refused to say but did comment that he needed to leave Camelot by morning, that if he didn't then the Captain of the Jolly Roger would never know that he still had a heart. What he didn't say was that worse still, the man known as James Hook would never understand what his godmother felt for her Captain because he would not have the assurance of where her true loyalties lied, having been betrayed both by a corrupt king and a traitorous woman.

His mother simply replied that she knew. She possessed the gift of sight after all and she was The Seeress of the Blood Guard. The year to come was in flux, constantly shifting within her sight. Her son's gift was different than her own...while she saw countless possible futures to better maintain her Ladyship's time line, her son's gift as of now only occurred while asleep and anything he sees within those dreams were fixed as in a fixed set of events that could never be altered. Mordred having a vision in his sleep had now solidified the future and she could see it clearly, the shifting images falling into a single path. She honestly wished that it didn't have to be that way, but to save the Blood Guard then Artz needed to be saved in the future which requires three very specific individuals that cannot be replaced...it must be them or all is lost.

That morning the boy set out for the Jolly Roger's next target, specifically crossing paths with one Simeon Black knowing that the man hated his godmother and would take him to her Captain. He stood there, watching his godmother shatter to pieces as her Captain ordered her to kill him, but he knew...he knew that the dark captain would stop his wench because he had seen it in his dream, but it also gave Hook the answer he was looking for and revealed that his heart was still there before promptly being stolen by his godmother.

During the next year, the Druid boy did his best to make that year wonderful and full of joy, knowing exactly how it would end. He used his pranking as an excuse to get into parts of the ship that he would normally not be granted access to and it was in one of the darker and harder to reach storage rooms where he found evidence of what appeared to be a rudimentary chemistry station specifically tailored towards the dilution of something. 

That was the one thing he didn't know...what was being diluted? He knew the who, the why, the when and technically the how, just not the what. The who was obvious...there was only one person on board with the skills and knowledge to build and utilize a chemistry station effectively and that was the master of the galley, Mister Hawthorne. Delivery of the what was easily handled by the supposedly clutzy Mister Jefferson who was a lot smarter than people thought, but he did possess a defect within his inner ears that caused him to be slightly unsteady but would not result in the theatrical behavior he oftentimes exhibited.

Then there was the one behind it all, their leader and commanding officer, Admiral Simeon Black. Upon Torrin's death, the title of admiral was passed to his second in command which was Black whom he had sent undercover aboard The Jewel of the Realm. When Captain Liam Jones was killed, he was to assume control of the ship because he was its commander but due to the crew siding with Killian Jones, he was forced to remain as a simple commander.

He did manage to inform his superior, the Butcher of the Royal Navy, Augustus Torrin, about what had occurred. The admiral promoted him to captain and ordered him to find a means in which to murder Killian Jones without drawing attention to himself, even better if he could get the crew to turn on their captain. Black knew that the crew would never turn against Killian so he paid a visit to Mister Hawthorne for a solution. Mister Jefferson had fulfilled a personal request of Hawthorne's while they had been within a certain realm and procured a specific item of great worth. It would take time to dilute its potency but if administered over time, it would drive the Captain mad, making the crew turn on him or cause his heart to stop and seemingly appear as a natural death.

It took years to dilute it, its lethal viscosity almost impossible to dissipate. By the time they were ready to begin, they hit a snag in the form of Silver Jones, appointed chef by the Captain and saw to his food and drink personally, which prevented any attempts at implementing their plan. To make matters worse, the Captain declared the Star Child and her Guard would always be welcome aboard his ship, that she should be treated with respect as The Lady of the Jolly Roger, and that should his life be taken, this ship and its crew were to declare loyalty and fealty to the Blood Guard.

This had royally pissed off the commander because unlike the others, he had met the Star Child. He knew what she looked like so when she was brought on board after capturing her ship, he neglected to mention her true identity to the slowly being poisoned Captain. He loved watching her being worked to exhaustion, then later to hear her cry out in either pleasure or pain as she was bedded or beaten by the Scourge of the Sea, but the circumstances changed and James Hook was somehow regaining his sanity. It took about another month to realize why. The Captain mentioned in a passing jest that he was never going to get his evening wine back because his wench kept drinking it.

Hearing this, Black had never been so happy in his life because it meant that she was intentionally poisoning herself to protect Hook, thereby weakening herself. He informed Hawthorne in a change of plans and to up the dosage in the wine, the master of the galley initially refused but soon did as requested after learning that the Captain's new wench was the Star Child and knew that the Captain was being poisoned so she drank it herself to protect him. 

After a year of drinking the higher dosage, Black was finally able to do what he has always wanted and that was to make the Star Child his bitch. She didn't have much choice in the matter because she was too weak to use her powers and if she did, the strain on her body would kill her which would leave her Captain defenseless. Every time the Captain was away, Black raped her and in time, both Hawthorne and Jefferson joined him...she was completely at their mercy, but the tide turned once more when the Captain lessened her workload and started bedding her more frequently until it finally reached the point where she never left his side which was extremely annoying. It left Black having to service himself with his left hand, using his memories of their activities to gratify himself.

It was just shy of four years of the wench being on board that Black crossed paths with a druid boy with very similar physical characteristics of the sorcerer that had barged onto their ship. Upon learning the boy's name, he smirked inwardly...the gods had smiled upon him for this boy was the godson of his bitch. Admittedly it was a gamble because he was a child and the destruction of Port Rhianna was still very much felt amongst the crew, but he brought the boy to the Captain and said Captain used the boy as a test of loyalty. 

The look on her face had actually made him come in his own trousers, creating quite a mess, but he was startled back into reality when she actually tried to fulfill her Captain's orders to kill the boy. She was a monster and if she hadn't been one before, she would be after she cleaved her godson's head from the rest of his body. This was bad...very, very bad. Breaking her was one thing but according to history, pushing the Star Child too far resulted in an emotionless state that transformed her into fearsome demon with an unquenchable bloodlust with nothing but death in her wake.

Fortunately the Captain of the Jolly Roger had stopped his wench but she still tried to fulfill his orders and attempted to kill the boy again. By the gods, what has he done? He never imagined that her loyalty to the bastard was so resolute that she would shatter her entire being for the man heralded as The Scourge of the Sea. Again the Captain managed to halt the woman's assault, rescinding his order to kill the boy at the same time. Said boy having just stood there, hadn't bothered to run away, almost like...like he knew what was going to happen.

He took a closer look at the boy as he walked by, the boy's eyes glancing at him briefly with a brief flash of gold that only he saw. Magic...the boy has magic. In that moment, it made sense...he knew why the boy had seemed so familiar to him. The boy's name was Mordred as in Mordred Pendragon; son of Morgana Pendragon, the currently reigning Queen of the kingdom of Camelot, the High Priestess of the Old Religion and the Seeress of the Blood Guard and then there was her husband and the boy's father, the most powerful warlock to have ever lived, the Dragonlord and the Archmage of the Blood Guard, Merlin of Ealdor...more commonly known as Yuel and Noel.

He was not at all surprised when he was stripped of his rank and duties, but losing his dominant hand came as a bit of a shock and he barely managed to tie it off to staunch the blood loss. Then that idiotic moron fully aligned himself to his wench and as Black picked up his severed hand, his eyes met Hawthorne's and the man blinked once before turning on his heel and walking away in a dignified manner as if scorning the former first mate, but in reality, he was nonverbally telling the now one handed officer that he agreed to his plan of action and would up the dosage immediately.

Black steered clear of the child and did not go anywhere near where he, Hawthorne, and Jefferson had been conducting their affairs with the Star Child which was not far from the hidden alcove where the Hawthorne's instruments resided. Jefferson, his idiot son that no one knew about, would constantly glare at her or trip and seemingly fall, only to bowl her over and sending her crashing into the wood rather harshly. He had been close enough a few times to actually hear bones breaking...which meant that she would be dead in under a year.

Hawthorne, on the other hand, was becoming far too paranoid about the brat and was actually calling attention to himself by disturbing Hook while he was bedding the wench...definitely not a good idea. Fortunately the Star Child kept the dark haired captain occupied, making certain that his attention rarely wavered from her. He had no doubt that it was to prevent him and his associates from forcing her to submit to them or they would simply find another way to kill her beloved Captain; however, the Druid boy was incredibly clever, cunning like his mother and gifted with his father's knowledge and magic, but he also had his godmother's persistence and stubborn will.

Through pranking, the child had successfully discovered the chemistry station and absconded with it, attempting to ascertain what was being diluted. Mordred honestly believed that if he could work out what kind of poison or venom was being used then he could save his godmother. Thus the reason why he had been constantly checking up on her, noting any changes in her condition to narrow down the list. He was close...so very close to having the answer, but will it be in time to save her, to spare her Captain such terrible pain?

The problem was that his godmother was showing symptoms from several different kinds of neurotoxins and poisonous herbs while the chemistry equipment was definitely used for only one toxin, herb, or venom...many of which his godmother already held an immunity to. In fact, she has been poisoned so many times and in so many ways that her body has actually learned, with proper food and rest, how to metabolize a vast majority of them. She showed symptoms from tetradotoxin, Ageratina altissima more commonly known as White Snakeroot, Oleandor, Rhododendron, aconite more commonly known as monkshood or wolf's bane, the rosary pea, and Atropa Belladonna.

After much deliberation and inconclusive experiments, he decided to ask Mister Smee for help. There was something he was missing, something vital, something so important, but for the life of him, he just couldn't see it because there were too many conflicting symptoms and not enough information. He showed Smee the instruments and the first mate frowned slightly while picking up a small and currently empty container. He told Mordred that he recognized it and that it had once been in Mister Jefferson's possession during their mission to Neverland.

The druid boy paled, all color draining from his skin and his eyes wide in alarm. He immediately grabbed his notes and starting rifling through them, making Mister Smee ask what was wrong. What was wrong was that Mordred did forget something...time. He forgot to factor in time, specifically the amount of time that Black, Jefferson, and Hawthorne had been on board and he knew for a fact that those three had been poisoning his godmother for years. That meant that they held some modicum of patience and when factored with Jefferson's supposed stupidity, Hawthorne's intellect, and Black's ambition... there was only thing it could be.

The papers slipped from his hands fluttering to the floor as tears rolled down his face. William Smee, to his credit, tried to remain calm but he had never seen little Morrie cry before. His godmother literally walking up to him to cut off his head or impale him with a sword...no problem. Hostile crew members with hidden agendas...no problem. So what was causing the boy that never cried to shed silent tears, his eyes filled with grief and guilt? Why? He got his answer the next morning when his captain shouted for the boy to be brought to him at once.

Mordred entered the Captain's quarters but he already knew what he was going to find because he had felt it when it happened. There stood the Scourge of the Sea, barely dressed in a shirt and trousers, with tears streaming down his face.

'Morrie...'

'I know. I felt it...last night, about an hour after midnight.'

About an hour after midnight was a less than ten minutes after the Captain of the Jolly Roger had confessed his love for his wench, his beloved Alice. He honestly didn't know how to feel because his mother had died young as well...had he cursed his wench with his mother's fate?

'It's not your fault, Captain, and no, you did not curse my godmother.'

'Did you just read my mind?'

'Of course. You're one of us now and you haven't been taught how to close your mind yet.'

'What do you mean by one of us?'

Mordred walked over to his godmother ...his dead godmother. Her body simply couldn't cope with the strain any longer. It was actually a good thing that the Captain had been bedding her so much. It had kept her alive long enough for her Captain to be claimed as one their own and one step closer to securing the timeline of the Star Child.

'What do you see, Captain, when you look at her? How does she appear to you?'

The dark captain looked at the lifeless corpse in his bed, but it didn't make any sense. She still looked the same way as she did when he first captured her ship and took her to his bed. He told the boy that her hair was a vibrant crimson, her skin held a healthy tan and she had all the right curves in all the right places. The boy took his left hand and held it, a soft silver glow coming from the back of his hand.

'Look at her now and tell me what you see.'

He did so and he was shocked, actually taking a step back but the child would not allow him to go any further. The woman currently in his bed looked nothing like the woman he had been with the last five years. Her hair was so dark that it was almost brown, a few highlights of dark auburn here and there, but it was dull, thin and brittle. There was a significant loss in weight as well and he could see a good portion of her bones quite clearly. Her skin was a sickly white color and countless deep bruises littered her body. 

Him...he had caused those bruises and they were piled up on top of each other, meaning that he had made new ones every time he had bedded her. His legs gave out and he sagged to the floor. He would have just let himself curl up into a ball on the floor and let the whole bloody universe pass him by but he could still feel the child's hand holding his. He looked up at the boy then noticed the glowing mark on the back of his left hand, the silver hook within the prism.

'The Prismatic star...that's the mark of the Prismata, The Prism of the Blood Guard. Why would I have such a mark? I'm not Blood Guard nor have I met the Star Child.'

'You have always been Blood Guard...even before she ever created the Blood Guard. She loves you very much and she waited such a long time...just to see you again. You were granted your mark when you accepted your name and who you are to her.'

'I don't understand.'

'Fourth Captain of the Blood Guard, Captain of the Jolly Roger, The Scourge of the Sea. You are Hook of the Prism Guard and you are her captain.'

The captain's head whipped towards his wench, staring at her body in a state of shock and denial. He ripped his hand away from the boy's, the mark fading away and once again, he saw the vivacious and vibrant vixen that he had wanted to break so badly, only to fall in love with her...only to lose her and to learn that she was the Star Child. He reached out to her, his hands roaming over her and brushing through her hair. 

It wasn't supposed to be this way! This was supposed to be her home! A place of refuge, a sanctuary, a place where she belonged and was respected, treated fairly with people that genuinely cared! He killed her...he killed his wench, his very soul lay dead before him, and then it hit him and hit him hard...he brutally beat, raped, and murdered the mother of Silver Jones...the young man that had never feared him, that he considered to be a dear friend...he really was a monster.

'Stop that. My godmother would slap you into the next century for even thinking that you're a monster. For starters...monsters don't cry and you're making your own damn sea. Secondly, those bruises were not caused by you. Do you have an idea how many times she has been bowled over intentionally on this bloody ship?! That's what caused and not you! 

You took excellent care of her and you didn't even know that you were. Your subconscious mind knew something was wrong so your body reacted and always saw to her needs which is why you started having sex with her almost constantly. Why because it's a highly intensive form exercise that helps my godmother metabolize any pollutants within her body...in this case, poison.'

'What? What poison? We shared everything together. I would be dead too if that were the case.'

'Not everything. You said it yourself...that you would never get it back and you were being poisoned but it wasn't enough to cause any kind of permanent damage...at least not yet...another few months and it would have been. My godmother has the ability to gain immunity to almost every toxin, venom, herb, poison, and chemical in existence. It's how so many lives have been saved because an antidote could always be produced from my godmother's blood, but only with proper food and rest. 

In order to metabolize the more lethal varieties, she has to keep ingesting it and have an insane amount of exercise. By you taking her to your bed all the time, she was actually being saved from the very poison that was meant for you. The reason why she's dead is because the dosage had been significantly increased.'

He stared at the boy, his mouth open and his mind going in circles. The boy walked over to the table where the remnants of the evening meal were still present and grabbed the wine cup. He dumped the contents of a plate into another so he could pour the remaining fluid out. The Captain stood, slowly walking over to the table. His eyes held confusion because the normally red tinted wine was an eery purple tinged in a sickly green. That kind of coloring he had only seen once...on the arm Liam Jones had cut with a certain poisonous barbed plant.

'Morrie...is that what I think it is?'

'Dreamshade and at its purest form. The reason she died last night was because certain individuals got tired of waiting for the diluted form to work, knowing that if she stayed alive long enough, she would forever gain immunity to it...and one day create an inoculation that would render dreamshade completely useless.'

'Who, Mordred? Who is responsible for this?'

'You won't find them, Captain.'

The Scourge of the Sea looked behind him but nothing was there. He felt a hand gently take hold of his ankle...a rather familiar looking gloved hand as he looked down. He was met by the rather creepy and glowing red eyes of the suited man that had prevented the Archmage from using magic against him. The figure removed his hand and it retreated back into the shadows.

'The three men responsible for my mistress's premature demise are currently in the care of myself and my two associates. I can assure you, Captain, that there are fates worse than death and they will most certainly wish for death...but it will never be granted. *turns his attention to the Druid boy* Young Master, your mother is waiting at the nearest port to Camelot. She will be taking custody of your godmother so that the extraction process may begin. She will need you to keep her Ladyship stabilized until the Dreamshade has been fully purged from her body.'

'She can be saved?' 

'Yes, Captain, but only because of your efforts and the joining of our ranks. She has gained a resistance to Dreamshade but will not be able to gain immunity to it. Any amount will inflame the permanent damage left behind and die in a matter of minutes, but aside from that, she can and will be successfully revived. Lady Yuel has foreseen this as has the Young Master. Now if you'll excuse me. My associates would like very much to give a proper welcome to our guests; Mister Simeon Black, Mister Lawrence Hawthorne, and Mister Paul Jefferson.'

The captain's shadow lightened as the red eyes vanished, but he was very far away from sanity or stability at that moment...Black, Hawthorne, Jefferson...these three were the ones that the wench had railed against the most. Looking back, he could see it. The reason why she had practically hung onto him all the time, not wanting him to leave without her...she was afraid of them. He spoke briefly to his first mate, telling him to make for the nearest port to Camelot which was a two and half day journey if the winds stayed in their favor.

When he turned around, he noticed that his wench was now on her back and was dressed in white that faded into a steel blue color at the ends, the style similar to the outfits worn by and an order known as the Confessors. It was a surprisingly good look for her though he hadn't kept much of a wardrobe for her in the first place. He had kept ripping her clothes off all the time until this past year where she rarely wore clothes at all because he was pounding into her on his bed.

He looked down at himself and realized that he should probably get cleaned up and dressed. He wandered about his usual routine of getting bathed and clothed, having to stop himself from trying to speak to someone who could not hear him any longer. By the time he was done, he was crying again but this time he was engulfed by rage, a blind rage at that because when he came back to himself, the entirety of the wall mirror along with a majority of glassware and liquor bottles had been shattered. Blood dripped from his left hand, glass shards embedded deeply in the skin, his hand was definitely broken as was his wrist, and it was throbbing like a bitch, but it paled in comparison to losing her.

He looked as a gold flash caught his eye, the pain in his hand easing away. The druid boy stood next to him and he realized that little Morrie had used magic to heal him. He watched the boy's eyes flash again and the damage he had done to the environment reset itself.

'I was right. You are Noel's son.'

'Yes, Captain. I am the child of the Seeress and the Archmage of the Blood Guard, Yuel and Noel, but you might know them by their birth names, Morgana and Merlin.'

Hook blinked at that because he had basically ordered his wench to kill, not only her godson, but the Crown Prince of Camelot. He swallowed when he realized that he and his ship were heading to the port where the boy's mother was waiting. He was about to have an upfront and close encounter with the bloody Queen of Camelot.

'You don't have to worry, Captain. My mother would never kill one of our own, but more importantly, she wouldn't kill my godfather...well one of them anyways.'

'Godfather...after...I don't deserve that title. I don't deserve anything except a very long a tortuous death. Everything I touch dies, Mordred...dies or leaves or breaks or was never there at all.'

'Sounds to me like you could use a vacation.'

'*bitter chuckle* I can't just stop existing, Mordred. It doesn't work like that.'

'Stop...no, but you can let him take control. Though it will be a bitch to come back out again.'

Him? Who was the boy talking about? His mind flashed to a dream he had shortly after Silver's departure from the Jolly Roger. In that weird seascape, there had been two of him but the other waa nothing more than a fragment...was it strong enough to take control?

'Not before, no, but you having constant contact with my godmother...a mirror once shattered has been made a new. He sleeps inside of you...the one known as Killian Jones...waiting to awaken.'

'But if the mirror has been reformed then what does that make me? An echo, a memory, the darkness...is that who I am? The darkness of Killian Jones; all his wickedness and cruelty, his lust and bloodlust, his rage and his hatred?'

'No...you are James Hook and you have a mirror of your own. You and Killian Jones are two separate beings trapped within the same body. You slept for a long time and became molded to his shape. Now that he has been remade, he must step into your shoes so that he may understand both you and himself.'

Hook glanced at the prone and still form of the woman that had claimed his blackened heart and had become the very light of his soul. She died for him. All of this pain and suffering just to try and protect him and he realized that if he did this, if he relinquished control to the brat...he didn't want to come back out. She died to keep him safe so he will gladly bury himself inside the brat's mind and never breach the surface again. He would protect her from himself but also from herself.

Two and a half days later, the Jolly Roger docked at the port and the Queen of Camelot boarded the ship, along with a bed of flowers. The Scourge of the Sea appeared above deck with the body of his wench and gently placed her onto it. He leaned down and kissed her goodbye, knowing that even if she returned, he would not be the one she would find but she would find the brat, one Killian Jones. He had spent the journey to the port editing his memories so that the boy would think the absolute worst of him and recoil away from Hook to become a different person entirely.

He stepped back as his eyes descended to the wooden flooring of the deck. He mildly surprised when the druid boy hugged him and saying that he loved him which caused the captain's jaw to clench as he fought the tears trying to flood his eyes. He did manage to hug the boy back and to stay in plenty of trouble...this earned a snort of amusement from his mother.

'Who do you think is always saving that idiot brother of mine and his so called elite knights? They would be dead a thousand times over were it not for my son or my husband saving them all the time.

*To her son* Gwaine has volunteered himself to ride with you. He has been saving up all of his notes on the new pranking ideas so off you go to get your head crammed full of ideas that I fully expect to be implemented once Her Ladyship has been confined to bed rest. She'll go mad otherwise.'

'Ya know, Mum, you could have just said Go away, Morrie, while I stay and watch your godfather have an identity crisis.'

His mother's eyes narrowed at her son before her eyes flashed gold, making the boy yelp in pain and rubbing the back of his head like he had just been Gibbs smacked. The child smirked, completely unrepentant before saying his final goodbyes to Mister Smee and the crew. 

The High Priestess of the Old Religion regarded the man known as The Scourge of the Sea...more like he wanted to drop into the sea and never come back up. The man before her was broken, splintered, but he had yet to shatter though that would change one day. The way he was looking at her, his eyes black eyes dull and clouded, like he was waiting for her judgment or perhaps to pass sentence on him. Sweet Menti Celesti...these people were hard work young and there was just so much...angst and emo bullshit.

'If you are looking for condemnation, James, then I suggest you seek it elsewhere because I have none to give. I bear you no ill will, no misfortune, nor do I carry any rage or hatred in my heart for you. In fact, my heart breaks for you. You are not the first she has died for and you most certainly will not be the last. I would ask you to change your course but I have already foreseen that you won't.

There is something I wish to give to you. You are the only person with the exception of her doctor and her truest believer that she would entrust it with. *walks over to Artz and removes her pendant then walks over to the silently crying pirate who doesn't even realize that he's crying.* 

You may not wish to ever return, but the same cannot be said of her. The exact moment is in flux but she will call out to you, crying and pleading for you to come back. I know that you love her, that she is your soul, so when that day comes, don't ignore her, don't hesitate, and this pendant will be your guide. *places the Tardis pendant around his neck* It is a physical manifestation of her soul and it's light will be a guiding star. She's not called the Star Child for shits and giggles.'

This comment made the captain let out a short bark of choked and wet laughter. Yuel gave him a small smile as she placed both hands on his face, cupping his cheeks and wiping away the steady stream of tears.

'Everything be alright...eventually but I know you're tired so I'm going to sing you a lullaby to make it easier for you to sail the land of dreams.'

Artz: And...CUT!!!

Light: Are you using Sleepsong for this one?

Artz: How the hell should I know? I haven't even picked out Yuel's or Noel's personal theme tunes either.

Light: But you did settle on mine, right?

Artz: Yep. Now enough jabber jawwing! We're literally stuck at a between stage where neither Hook or Poseidon technically exist or haven't you noticed that they haven't suddenly butted into this article?

Light: *blinks a few* Fuck me.

Artz: Must you always have sex on the brain, Light?

Light: It was a figure of speech but now that you mentioned it...

Artz: *punts him out of the article* Goodbye! Right then, back to work then I'll be posting this beaut asap.