#Pirate101 Fanfiction

[wizardo-yo]

hey y'all! the time has come!! i just finished a very short Wizard101 (and slightly Pirate101) fan game called Passageways!

in it, you retrace the steps of a lost adventuring group through a mysterious world and try to uncover what happened there

the link is here if you'd like to download and check it out for yourself!

[short-circuit-the-great]

It's in the Programming

A faulty Clockwork? In my Armada? Goddammit!

Rating: T

Warnings: violence

Characters: Optimus Viridis, Seraphus Brutus | Bruno (OC)

POV: Optimus Viridis

[fireember345]

Chapters: 29/? Fandom: Pirate101 (Video Game) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Characters: Original Female Character(s), Lasko - Character, Egg Shen, Bonnie Anne (Pirate101), Ratbeard (Pirate101), Armada - Character, Deacon (Pirate101), Captain Avery (Pirate101), Player Character (Pirate101), Emmet (Pirate101), Frogfather (Pirate101), Gaspard de Vole Additional Tags: Angst and Tragedy, Action/Adventure, Humor, Fluff, Alternate Universe, Pirates, Originally Posted on FanFiction.Net, FanFiction.Net, Adopted Children, Team as Family, Rats, Sky Pirates, Mystery, Fantasy, Magic, Crew as Family, Ghosts, Backstory, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Story Arc, Undead Summary:

remake of my old story. A young girl from a family of famed pirates must take her place as the Pirate queen and stop the Armada. Will she be able to stop them or will her bloodline end with her?

[thistooisyuri-ttv]

fanfiction is so weird like I COULD be writing it about the blorbos from my current hyperfixation but no I've two WIPs current and one is for the 2008 childrens mmorpg that I never even played until after I started writing the fic and the other is for an anime I watched in my edgy teen phase when I was first getting into anime. I do also have another WIP but it's a long term project that isn't a fic, its an original story that I'm writing using my DnD OCs.

[rainbows-fanfics]

Help Unwanted (Chapter 1)

Summary: After losing the Pirate, Deacon is unwillingly paired with a partner to help with his job. The only problem is - they can't stand each other, and time is dwindling until he can re-capture all his lost prisoners.

Human AU of the Armada from Pirate101.

Pairings: Deacon/Queen!Deacon, Deacon/OC

--

A caped figure leaned against the side of a building, watching the waves of the ocean gradually stretch over the horizon. He listened to the distant splashing from the shore and birds flocking from above. In any normal circumstance, this would be considered a peaceful sight - but to him , it was all but a grave reminder of what transpired last week. 

The Erebus was destroyed after his run-in with Boochbeard and his accomplice, Gandry. He’d been in the middle of delivering prisoners for questioning when his ship was overrun with pirates. He had a long, almost annoying streak with this ruffian - who trailed after him and thwarted his plans as of late. He lost a few convicts under Boochbeard’s foiling before…but nothing like the Erebus. 

It sank. He lost nearly all his prisoners, grabbing only a couple with him on his escape boat. Least to say, it wasn’t anywhere near what was expected that day, and he suffered for it. He stomped through Valencia afterwards, soaked from head-to-toe, relaying to Kane how he lost his ship and everything on it. To his superior, this was not good news. 

It was the most humiliated he’d ever felt. Rooke was present and didn't improve the situation, expressing his disappointment in Deacon, accompanied with Kane’s belittling. He asked, desperately , if his father ever received the letter he’d written a week prior - about the rise of piracy on ports and shipping, and his aggressive sweep for criminals and undesirables. He learned shortly that it was intercepted by Boochbeard and Gandry. His efforts were nearly in vain. 

He thought his life couldn’t get any worse. But things spiraled downwards from there. 

For the past week, he was put on hold as an Emissary - refused missions and conferences, not even allowed on Armada ships. To him, this was an unfair punishment. He’d rather be put on standby, out on the seas somewhere, contributing * something * to the Armada. Instead, he drank his problems away and read depressing novels in his free time. 

He was happy to be called in today. He’d be receiving a new ship and finally put back on duty. But he remained weary – something didn’t feel right about this. 

Deacon inhaled his cigarette from under his mask before releasing his breath. The smoke filtered from under the bauta and was carried away by the wind. The door opened. An Armada Soldier peered in his direction. They made eye contact before the other man stepped aside and gestured politely. 

“My lord is ready for you.” 

The spymaster sighed. “Of course he is.” 

He extinguished his cigarette before entering the office. The soldier escorted him to the door. He found a man propped against a desk facing his direction, his gloved fingertips touching one another as his blue eyes studied his figure. The room was filled with tense silence - no implication of any conversation prior to him opening the door. Deacon cleared his throat and shut it behind him, stepping forward while he tapped his cane on the ground. His eyes wandered as he went. He noticed Queen sitting to the side, leg resting over the other and smiling at him. 

He stiffened. There was no reason for her to be here. Did *everyone* have to know his business? His failure? He clenched his jaw at the thought. 

“ Ciao. ” Kane greeted, breaking the silence. He sounded impatient and unhappy. Deacon bowed and moved a hand behind his back. A habit of his, for concealing his pistol. 

“Kane…thank you for seeing me. You will not regret this.”

“Exactly what we need to talk about.” The Supreme Commander snapped to the empty chair across from him. There was no argument as he sat down. His eyes momentarily flicked to the extra company, but went back to Kane when he leaned forward. 

“Deacon, I have high expectations of you. I completely entrust you as my representative - your image is my own. You’re expected to execute my businesses for me. Failure to do so is not only a burden on you , but on me as well.” 

His posture deflated. “ Hai ragione .” 

“When you sank the Erebus last week, you lost valuable intel. Criminals who were going to be questioned and used to our advantage. Not only are we missing * them *, but an expensive ship as well. These matters were in your hands.” 

“They did not get away without a fight.” Deacon defended. They had this conversation already. He was tired of being reminded of his mistakes. “The prisoners were freed and conspired together. I did the best I could, being outnumbered.” 

“Be that as it may, the results are still the same. I’ve invested in a new ship for you - but not one you will captain alone.” 

He quirked an eyebrow under his mask. “What do you mean?” 

“You’re being assigned a partner.” Queen finally spoke, earning his attention. “She will help with your navigation, execute your businesses, and provide a helping hand in case of another… mutiny .” 

The spymaster didn’t know how to process this information. He preferred working alone so he wouldn’t be slowed down - burdened by anyone who couldn’t keep with his pace. He was constantly moving, never staying in one place for a long time. He was known for two things: being brief and remaining anonymous. Leaving no trace of his presence or involvement. A coworker would challenge that. 

One word managed to leave his lips. “-’She’ ?” 

She smiled behind the mask she held. He could tell by her tone. “A friend of mine.” 

This did nothing to assure him. Kane noticed his distress and moved a hand in the air. “She meets all the qualifications. She has prior experience in your field and even basic training. Most importantly, she has no records of negligence.” 

Deacon trailed his hands over his cane. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was he so incompetent they had to *hire* someone to *help* him..? His fingers twitched in irritation. He was disappointed with himself. How could he prove to be this inept? It felt like a slap in the face, despite Kane and Queen presenting this as a privilege . A punishment worse than being refused any work… 

“This is strictly for business.” The Supreme Commander resumed. “You two will not convene after-hours, unless so desired. She knows nothing about your identity, as you do with hers. She’s supplied with a mask to keep things incognito. Disclosing any information about yourselves is purely out of consent.” 

He relaxed in his chair. So he didn’t have to know anything about her. Or even care at all. ‘That’s a plus’, he thought. He wanted nothing to do with this “helping hand”, supplied to him out of pure pity. The situation was already degrading enough, in his eyes. 

“She'll meet with you tomorrow at the docks, to your new ship.” Kane wrote something down. “You two will track down your lost convicts. The Pirate is already showing interference with our plans. Every one of them is your responsibility, and you are expected to catch them once more.” 

“I can do that by myself. Is the company necessary ?” He sat back exasperatedly. Kane tilted his head, unimpressed. 

“Need I remind you this is your mistake. Since you couldn’t do what was asked of you the first time, this is simply a compromise, to make sure that doesn’t happen again.” 

Deacon decided to be quiet. The only smart decision he’s made in this conversation. Kane shared a glance with his Queen before rolling up the paper and handing it to him without a word. He saved it in one of his coat’s pockets, to read it in his spare time.

"I want to see improvement from this fiasco. You have three months to track down every inmate you lost and bring them in for questioning. If this does not happen, you'll be moved somewhere less… important ."

His life was Hell.

[quills-house-of-fiction]

The Shy, the Wicked, and the Cynical - Chapter 1

Summary

A former do-gooder pirate, Shy Kelsey de Bouff now works for the Armada underneath Deacon due to circumstances beyond her control. But after failing to complete her previous mission, Kelsey volunteers a target to make up for it: former friend and rising Witchdoctor, Wicked Saffron Bosworth. However, the stakes are much higher than she realizes, and she must work with a team of unusual clockworks in order to set the Spiral right. Or as right as it can be, anyway.

The satchel of gold fell lazily onto the ship vendor’s outstretched hand. He opened it greedily and laid the contents out on his hand. Several moments passed. Gold clinked against one another. He stopped and looked up at Kelsey, beaming from ear to ear.

“All accounted for,” he chirped. “Might I ask what you’re buying this for? I’ve seen you around plenty of times on different ships.”

Kelsey swore in her mind. She had forgotten her mask today, otherwise she would have dodged the question entirely. She couldn’t afford to waste time here. She glared at him as she offered her answer, not wanting him to press further. “My old one is in repair.”

He looked at her incredulously, but thankfully, he got the message. Kelsey didn’t care what he thought. He held the bottle out to her. She took it a little too quickly, unbottling the ship as soon as it touched her hand. She strode towards it quickly. She shouldn’t waste any more time on Cooper’s Roost docks.

The galleon itself was of Bison origin, something she wasn’t all that comfortable with for cultural reasons. She didn’t bother to name it. The ship would serve its purpose of getting around discreetly well. It wouldn’t be out of place for Cool Ranch, nor would it have a flag to identify her with. She couldn’t afford to have her usual markers on display either. Kelsey had already purchased the necessary equipment should broadside combat become an issue. Good enough.

The small Armada crew she had been allotted for this mission stood at the edge of the docks away from most of the ship vendors. She nodded towards them and they approached. They were an odd sort even for the Armada’s branding, which is why they had been assigned to her. They consisted of four soldiers of different designations: Parallax, a modified Battle Angel serving as a diplomat; Paradox, a lively and jovial clockwork jester with a colorful face that moves; and finally, Custos Decimus and Custos Sentus, an Armada Dragoon and an Armada Marine respectively. Both were considered defective. Custos Decimus’s programming was never quite right, and he was far too soft-hearted to enter combat as a regular Dragoon. Custos Sentus, on the other hand, had gained a disobedient streak after an incident during the arrest of another Witchdoctor left him with full sentience. If Kelsey was honest, he was the most aggravating of the crew, even with Paradox’s backhanded nature taken into account. Surprisingly, it had been Deacon who vouched for both of them and recommended that they be assigned to Kelsey.

Parallax, her first mate and trusted confidant, approached. She tapped her finger on her arm impatiently. “Awaiting your orders, Captain. Are you ready to depart?”

Kelsey nodded. Parallax was proactive-minded, which was a quality that Kelsey didn’t mind about her. As a whole, Kelsey felt an inexplicable kinship to her new crew, for perhaps she was the most different of them all. “Help me prepare and we’ll be off.”

Within the hour and the help of Kelsey’s crew, they set sail. Kelsey steered clear of the various factions roaming Cooper’s Roost Skyway and went for the pink wind-lane that she knew encircled the outer edges of Cool Ranch. They were considered neutral territory, and thus safe for her to leave the helm alone if she needed to. The winds would carry the ship if such a thing occurred.

Two days passed before Kelsey finally sailed into Tumbleweed Skyway. She had passed navigation and sailing duties onto Parallax while she rested uncomfortably over those cold nights. She had Decimus and Sentus–her nicknames for the pair–take inventory of the ship in the meantime. Paradox stood in the crow’s nest of the ship for the majority of the ride, keeping eyes on the skyways around them. Kelsey stood at the helm again, guiding the ship beyond the borders of Big Sky and into Tumbleweed.

Parallax approached from the deck. “Captain,” she said quietly as she leaned down. “We are almost at your destination. Are you sure what you are doing here is worth it?”

Kelsey nodded. “Yes, it is.” She paused. “Just before we dock at Tumbleweed, gather everyone else and take them below deck. You all are to stay down there until we set sail again. It is critical that my contact does not know that I am working with the Armada.”

Parallax bowed slightly. “As you wish, Captain.” She strode off to pass her instructions to the other crew members on deck.

Kelsey swore she could hear a hint of exasperation in Parallax’s voice, but she wouldn’t complain. Parallax wasn’t too keen on backwater places like Cool Ranch. After all, she had been working in the courts of other nobility alongside her sister, Paradox, prior to their assignment under Kelsey. But that did not–should not–matter here. Kelsey would be the one doing the information gathering. She vitally needed their skills in combat.

If the rumors Kelsey had heard were true, her target would be too difficult to capture on her own.

Kelsey lowered the board to the dock just as the sun was setting over Cool Ranch. She carefully stepped down, trying not to make note of the long way down in her periphery should she miss a step. Despite sailing for years, she didn’t think she could ever get over that intrusive fear of falling into the skyway. When she touched the docks of Tumbleweed, she almost wanted to kiss them.

She left her mask and cane behind this time. She needed to pass as her old self as much as she could. But each ever-so-slight limp towards Tumbleweed proper grew to be a huge ache in her half-clockwork heart. She climbed up the ramp, which she heard had been renovated courtesy of her contact, and finally set foot into Tumbleweed. Just to the left of the entrance was the Desert Rose Tavern. She made for it.

The tavern smelled of cinnamon and nutmeg. It was warm and lively today, if not a little busy. A pianist sat at the upright piano in the corner. Her hands moved elegantly from key to key as she played upbeat ragtime music. Kelsey found her fingers tapping along to it unconsciously. People from all walks occupied the tables, but Kelsey found an open spot at the bar.

Kodak the Barkeep–or better known to her as Cynical Jonah Landon–was a flurry of movement behind the bar. Patrons signed to him their orders and he made them with few questions.

She sat down and waited for him to finish with another customer. She was eager to get out of the dust storm that was Cool Ranch. Her heart pounded in her ears. Every thought in her mind shouted at her to turn around and leave the bar, to return to her ship and set sail again. She shouldn’t get Jonah involved, she shouldn’t–

Before she could turn around and leave, his green eyes met with her hazel ones. Jonah smiled and gestured for her to wait one moment. Kelsey nodded and compiled. Guess I’m staying put after all. He placed a cocktail for another customer at their spot at the bar, then approached Kelsey.

His hands became water as he signed to her. “Hey Kelsey!” His smile widened.

Kelsey’s voice shut off as hers found the same flow. She wanted to retch at how fake it must have seemed, but she didn’t. “Jonah! Long time no see!”

“How have you been? Where have you been? What can I get you?”

“A bottle of Yum, please. I’ve been fine,” she lied. “I’ve been sailing around, keeping up with the same old adventures we used to have.”

Jonah tilted his head at her. She assumed that it was the fact that she was not, in fact, fine. Nor was she having the adventures she said she was. She wanted to tell him everything that happened to her over the past five years, but her mission depended on keeping that critical information from him. He would not be pleased to find out who exactly her target was, but she wanted to ease him into that realization.

Kelsey had always been a terrible liar, even in her childhood. And Jonah’s uncanny ability to read facial expressions had been mastered at a young age due to his profound deafness that occurred in the middle of his childhood.

Thankfully, he didn’t press any further and went to the back. Kelsey let out a sigh she’d been holding and stiffened when she heard him come back. He uncorked the bottle for her and slid it over the countertop. She caught it in her organic hand. Kelsey took a sip of it and set it gently on the table. She lifted her hands to sign again.

“Do you know where Saffron is?”

Jonah’s face fell. “Always so business-minded, Kel. Why do you want to know?” He crossed his arms and glowered at her.

Kelsey paused. “To make amends,” she signed back. But that wasn’t the truth, not even close. She wasn’t sure how much he knew, but Kelsey wanted to make Saffron pay for the suffering she inflicted on her all those years ago. Maybe Jonah could read that on her face. But it didn’t matter to her. “I miss her a lot.” The signs felt vile on her hands and face, but she tried to keep face as best as she could. Her expression fell flat.

Jonah pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. Regardless of whatever he found in her expression, he began signing again. “There were rumors of her being in Haunted Skyway. I don’t know why in the Spiral she would want to go there. It’s a mad, mad place.”

Kelsey’s eyebrow raised. What Jonah said about the skyway itself was indeed true. Undead plagued the skyway like nobody’s business. Between the undead pirates and the sky snakes made of bones, venturing in there was a madman’s errand. But if there was anything Saffron liked, it was spooky aesthetics and anything Hoodoo-related she could get her hands on. The skyway was filled with bad mojo according to Old Scratch, but it would be a perfect draw for Saffron. It was too early to tell for sure, but that would be the place to start.

She went to sign again, but found that Jonah’s attention had been pulled away by another patron flapping their hand in his periphery. Kelsey took this brief moment of reprieve to sip from her bottle of Yum and let it soothe her soul. The body of it was pleasantly heavy on her tongue, with a fruity and floral flavor that almost reminded her of lavender. It was a comfort she needed given the arduous task ahead of her. She would have to thank Captain Gunn’s corpse later for the bastard’s ingenious idea to bottle it.

Jonah returned. “Anyway, yeah. Haunted Skyway. People have told me she’s hanging around her. Some brave folks are saying she was last spotted in Miranda.”

Her eyes widened. “Miranda?!”

He nodded. “I don’t know why, nothing good came of that place.”

She agreed. It was where they had taken down Captain Blood, but the sheer sight of that ghost town left lasting memories on herself and Jonah. The undeath and trauma alone had been suffocating. Saffron, on the other hand, was eager to explore the town despite the horrible tragedy that occurred there years prior to their intervention. Jonah and Kelsey looked at her like she was crazy then. Saffron, of course, didn't care.

“If I had to guess, she found something else magical about that town.” Jonah rolled his eyes. “You’d best stay out of that skyway, Kel. Find a way for her to come to you. Talk then.”

Kelsey wanted to retort that she didn’t have time to find an artifact that Saffron would like, but she kept her hands and face together on that one.

As she raised her hands to sign, Jonah had once again been pulled away by other customers. Kelsey opted to leave him be. She had finished her first bottle of Yum and found herself craving a second. Another bartender stepped out from the back and got to work, Kelsey asked them for another bottle. She slid the coins just as they had slid the bottle to her.

It would be a long while before Kelsey would ever be able to have an evening like this. She decided she would make the most of it. The exhaustion from all the sailing she had done these past few weeks was wearing on her. She was eager to spend the night on dry land for once. Tonight, she decided, her crew could wait. She could spare a little time to rest before the arduous task ahead of her.

Kelsey was halfway through her third bottle of Yum when Jonah appeared and tapped her shoulder, startling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the lit candle he had in one of his hands and raised her brow. He motioned for her to follow him, and they went over to one of the secluded tables underneath the second floor. He set the candle in the middle of the table. It illuminated the space between them and not much else.

“I’m on break,” he signed. “Tell me what’s really going on. I know you wouldn’t look for Saffron just for that, Kel.” He scowled at her. “There’s more to this.”

Kelsey sighed. So he had spotted her lie after all. She pursed her lip, trying to put her thoughts together into an acceptable explanation. She chewed on her lip, glancing at the table, the floor and anything that wasn’t Jonah. But in her peripheral vision, she got the impression he was still scowling at her. Her expression slipped somewhere between sorrowful and earnest, perhaps both.

“Can you promise you won’t be angry with me?”

Jonah raised a brow. “I can’t. But if it’s why I think you’ve been missing for all these years, then…”

Her face fell. “I’ve been forced to work with the Armada. To make a long story short, they saved my life, and as a result I have a debt to pay to them.”

“So the rumors were true. About you working with them.”

She nodded slowly. She glanced away, only turning back as he signed.

Jonah pinched the bridge of his nose. “And even with what they did to my parents, you’re still just going to help them anyway?”

“I’m at their gunpoint, Jonah. I can’t do much else. Hell, I’m lucky to be out here by myself right now.”

He let out a long sigh. “Okay, fine. So how does Saffron play into this? Why do you need her?”

Kelsey’s lips stretched into a frown. She explained her side of the story: that the Supreme Commander believed that she would also be a threat to his operations if she wasn’t dealt with right away. So as punishment for her previous failure, she was sent to capture Saffron, alive ideally. At least, that was partially true. That was all he needed to know.

In reality, Kelsey was the one who volunteered Saffron as a target. She was still angry with Saffron for setting her up all those years ago, only to take the fall for Saffron’s smuggling operations. She had no qualms about carrying out this mission, even after the trio worked together for Marco Pollo’s Map post-Erebus breakout. But those days were long gone, and any truce they had was dust in Cool Ranch’s winds. Jonah retired with some of Pollo’s gold to take over the Desert Rose, and Saffron had gone her own way altogether.

“I haven’t been told good things about Saffron, either. I heard she was amassing an undead crew. An army, some called it.”

Kelsey’s eyes widened. “Why?” Her expression shifted into confusion and concern.

Jonah shook his head slowly and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, Kel. But even if it’s for the Armada, you still have the best chance of stopping whatever scheme she’s got going on. She’s going on a dark path that’s only getting darker, and I wouldn’t be enough to save her anyhow.”

“Jonah…” she sighed. Her shoulders slumped and she leaned against the table. “You know, I really did try to continue our work after Cool Ranch. But at Knossos…” she paused as she manually signed the name of the island. “Between the Minotaur’s sons and the Armada ambushing us there, I didn't have a choice. The only way I was going to leave there alive was with them.”

“Kel, you don’t need to explain yourself. I trust your judgement in whatever it is that you’re doing.” He lowered his head and continued signing. “But please, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.”

Kelsey furrowed her brow. She really couldn’t discern what was what anymore.

Jonah stood up from the table and took the candle with him. He extinguished it with a quick breath. Kelsey followed quickly and grabbed his hand.

“Can I stay overnight in one of your rooms?”

Jonah nodded. He retreated to the back of the bar once more. Kelsey fished out a pouch of gold from an interior pocket and counted out the gold for one and a half night’s stay. When Jonah returned with the keys, Kelsey handed it to him. He counted quickly, then looked at her confused.

“Please, keep it. You need it more than I do.”

“Thank you,” he signed, the back of his flat hand extending towards her, and led her upstairs to a door on the side of the floor.

The door opened up into a mildly dusty hallway, with many more doors lining it. He led her to one at the end of the hallway on the back wall and gave her the keys.

“Here you go. Best room on the block. Return the keys to the barkeep in the morning.” He turned and walked away, but stopped and turned back to her. “And Kel, please come back sometime. Knowing you, you’re probably gonna set off at sunrise. Just…tell me what happens.”

Kelsey half-smiled and chuckled to herself. “You got me. I will though.” Whether it was a half-truth or an outright lie, Kelsey couldn’t tell. After everything that would happen, there was some part of her that believed that Jonah would hate her guts just as much as Kelsey hated Saffron’s.

Jonah left her to the comfort and privacy of the guest room, which was rather quaint. She sighed and undressed into her undergarments. The room got chillier as she did so, making the bed all the more inviting. She decided her crew could wait for a little bit. She wanted to sleep on dry land just this once, she got the feeling that she wouldn’t have this luxury for a long, long while.

She plopped on the bed and got to work unstrapping her prostheses for her left arm and left leg. As she gently pulled off the arm, she admired the intricate details required to craft such a sensitive thing. The design was partially her own, perfected by the Armada’s–no, Kane’s–intervention. She set her metal limb aside and looked at the stump that was the upper half of her forearm. The illusion of connectivity she had shattered, and she waved it about uselessly, if only for her amusement and no one else’s. She did the same to her leg, stripping it down to the barest half-limb. She ran her hand over the stump. Despite it being removed years ago by some of Valencia’s finest surgeons, she couldn’t ever not be amazed by it.

Kelsey got comfortable underneath the bed sheets and let her mind wander. First about Saffron, then Jonah, and where she would be after all of this. Would she even be the same person? A vague unsettling feeling crept into her stomach. It was too early to make any sort of prediction. But with the news that Saffron was amassing an undead crew, she found it harder to get comfortable. What in the bloody biscuits of Marleybone could she possibly be doing this for?

It didn’t take long before the desire to rest overtook her.

When the sun shone warm beams of light through her window, Kelsey stirred. She awoke from a deep and comfortable sleep and sat up in her bed. She rubbed the sleep away from her eyes and mentally planned out her day.

She would leave the inn and set sail alongside her crew for the Haunted Skyway within the hour. She was not thrilled to be returning there, as she was certain that the Armada’s intervention had awakened Captain Blood and put the skyway in the state that it was. She wasn’t eager to return to Miranda either, as after the game between Death and Captain Blood, she was sure it would be a ghost town in the truest sense of the phrase. Too quiet for comfort. Even subtle movements wouldn’t go unnoticed.

And it was also in the Haunted Skyway where she destroyed Deacon. She wasn’t sure if he had forgiven her for that one, or if he ever would. She had an inexplicable sense of sympathy for him, though she would never admit that to her friends or either of her crews.

But most of all, it was also where she’d find one of her former best friends gathering an army of undead pirates for Saint-Fido-knows-what purpose. The threat of the Armada aside, none of this situation had good prospects for the rest of the Spiral.

Kelsey wasted no time getting ready and leaving the Desert Rose Inn. The air still felt cool and dry, making it a pleasant time to leave. She hurried past the folks in the early morning, barely slapping the room key on the counter for the bartender to take back. She jogged out of the doors into Tumbleweed, and down the rail to the docks.

The board was already waiting for her when she reached the docks. She carefully climbed it, trying to avert her gaze from the skyway below. She didn’t have time for those intrusive thoughts to play now. When she was fully boarded, Kelsey caught sight of a certain clockwork Marine leaning nonchalantly against one of the masts.

“It is about time you showed up,” Custos Sentus said, his hollow eyes meeting hers.

Kelsey folded her arms. Her brows furrowed. “I thought my instructions to stay below decks until I returned were abundantly clear, Sentus.”

“It was too warm.”

Her eye twitched. “I don’t have time for this today,” she groaned. She glanced over to the Captain’s Quarters, where Parallax waited, peering through the circular window in the door. Kelsey motioned for her to come out.

She must have spied the concerned look on Kelsey’s face as she hurried over to her position. “Is everything alright, Captain?”

She shook her head. “Not in the slightest. Gather the rest of the crew and prepare to set sail. We’re going to Haunted Skyway.”

[internetgiraffekid1673]

FEED ME FANFIC!

Ya'll I play Pirate101 and Wizard101. I love the world of the Spiral, and the characters and story from both games are so amazing to me! And now I have a desperate need for crossover fanfics with a very specific plot:

Wizards with a bad lot in life get forcibly adopted by pirates.

Like, everyone talks about how the young wizard went through some serious trauma throughout the story and how it gets extra tragic when compared to the young pirate who starts out at rock bottom and gains unbreakable friendship.

And I would love to read more of that.

But, like, the young wizard isn't the only wizard city resident who's been through shit. There are so many kids who have been isolated, watched their homes burn, kidnapped, hurt, and who just don't fit the mold of wizard society. Like, think about the main kids you're helping on each of the Wizard City Streets. Their homes have all been overrun by undead and basically got told "man that's too bad, deal with it yourself."

I want any number of pirate101 kids to meet these poor traumatized wizard babies, say "man that's fucked up! No way in hell am I leaving you to deal with that! You know what? You're being adopted into my crew now, I will fight God for you." And then have them all go sock Ambrose in the face.

I also have a brain itch for the pirates' unconventional fighting styles to really appeal to the less skilled wizards.

Oh, you're not good at magic? And that makes you defenseless? So sad, anyway, here's a GUN!

Oh, you're scared of direct confrontation? Makes it impossible to fight in spell circles? My dear friend, let me teach you the art stabbing people in the back! Literally!

And also everyone in Wizard City being freaked out by voodoo. Just like, "No, that's not how magic works," while breaking down in the corner, and the resident witch doctors are just like, "That sounds like a you problem."

Basically, I want fanfiction where the pirates of Pirate101 show up in Wizard City, get really pissed on behalf of the Wiz Kids, and chaos ensues.

And just as an extra optional treat, have Prospector Zeke be an instigator. Like, he hears one too many Wizard sob stories and goes "fuck it," and then not-so-subtly unleashes unhinged pirate gremlins in Wizard City.

[saved-by-spiral]

It's officially too late for me, I've made a BNHA blog.

Welcome! I'm Spiral. my main is @save-the-spiral (Yes, it's a Wizard101 and Pirate101 blog).

You may also know me from my Ao3, where I've posted some BNHA fanfictions. I'm a writer! Currently my fic, Fate In The Looking Glass, is 164K words long (though I've only written the first semester).

I love A Lot of BNHA characters, but especially the 1-B class!! I have read a lot of BNHA fanfiction on Ao3, but haven't interacted with the tumblr fandom besides looking at fanart. I don't plan on interacting with the fandom much aside from reblogging fanart and posting my own headcanons/thoughts in the tags, because I'm not caught up with the manga and don't want spoilers (as much as I can).

I'll probably post snippets, progress updates, and general thoughts on bnha stuff while writing.

[hiddenobject-fanblog]

Introduction Post

Hello and welcome! This is my main blog that I've now repurposed into a Hidden Object Game-fanbased space. My pronouns are they/them and you may call me "Rainbow"!

My favorite HOPA games:

Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome

Weird Park: Broken Tune + Scary Tales

Whispered Secrets: Morbid Obsession

Mystery Legends: The Phantom of the Opera

Nightmares From the Deep: The Cursed Heart

Bonfire Stories: The Faceless Gravedigger + Heartless

Other games/series I've played:

Engimatis and Ghost Files series + lots of Artifex Mundi games

Mystery Case Files

Dark Parables (Not too invested in them, though, sorry!)

True Fear: Forsaken Souls 1 & 2

Otherworld: Spring of Shadows (Currently playing the other games)

Seeker's Notes: Hidden Objects

Phantasmat (Currently playing the other games)

The Invisible Man

-And many more!

On this blog, I plan to share & create content, headcanons, theories, fanart, reviews, fanfiction, etc. based upon Hidden Object games. You can send me an ask about the games I post, for mine/your own recommendations, and/or anything! Feel free to DM me as well. I'd love to meet other people that play these games!

More information below the cut:

My sideblogs are as listed:

@tnbc-thoughtsandheadcanons (Nightmare Before Christmas fanblog) @rainbows-fanfics (Fanfiction/writing blog) @rainbowfox-art (Art/reference blog) @piecesofchess (Pirate101 fanblog) @rainbowthefox (Personal blog, where I first posted about Hidden Object games) @haveyouplayedthispinball (Poll blog for pinball machines)

--If you see me following you, it may be for any of these fanbases. I cannot change my Main blog, so please bear with me. <3

Additional Info:

-I try to tag all potentially upsetting/triggering material. If I missed anything, feel free to let me know in a DM! I will tag/delete posts properly.

-Please do not repost, trace, or steal my art without permission.

-While I am 21+, please don’t send me NSFW-related anonymous asks. I’d rather talk about that with people I know personally and not anonymously.

-My icon is Curioso from Whispered Secrets: Morbid Obsession (drawn by @/psychicaves), and my header is Oscar from Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome! (Drawn by @/mosswyrmz)

-Please do not send any anonymous hate, and keep an open mind that I have personal opinions on the games I play.

[roxas--munchkin]

*looks at the 3-4 wizard101 and Pirate101 fanfiction I've been working on for 3+ years off and on*

I couldn't *possibly* understand what your talking about at all /sarcastic

On a serious note, I am working on both fanfic and original content stories, so if anyone's interested, ping me and you'll probably get a flood of information lol

“I can fix him” but it’s writers and they’re determinedly talking about that book they’ve been working on for ten years. 

[kingarise]

Update

So to everyone who liked the Starter Call, I’ll be busy tomorrow so Sunday night, I’ll work on the Starters for y’all.

Tonight, I’m working on Fanfic chapters for The Dragon’s Flight and The Light of Valencia so hopefully, y’all who read those stories will have new chapters tomorrow.

[writerofthespiral]

The Machine

Author’s Note: So you know, I recently finished Pirate101 for the first time after getting back into it since I was like eight (and now I’m getting back into Wiz) and I must say I genuinely enjoyed it. I laughed a lot and cried some — it was great! The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the ending (I liked it, but I was just sad to see it end, ya know). So, I decided to write it from the p.o.v of my pirate — hope you enjoy! Comment down below!

Word Count: 2400

Trigger Warning: Blood, gore, asphyxiation

The time for the final battle had come upon Ingrid and her crew — to defeat Kane himself. She looked around the lower control room of The Machine, a strong sense of disgust running through her veins. Around her was smashed machinery, oil stains, and the twitching remains of masked automata on the gold and steel platform, some of which had fallen onto the cold, brown marble flooring below. But, that wasn’t where her attention lay.  

“After him Captain, for the Spiral!” El Toro exclaimed, a heroic smile beneath the bull’s white mask, but Ingrid barely noticed the bull.

She drowned out his voice as she descended the metal steps they previously climbed, her getas clicking against the floor. She stopped at the corpse of Gazpaccio, a sad old man killed by his own creation, his own child, Kane. But, could she blame the heartless monster for his actions?

Gazpaccio was the cause of all of this. The death of her parents, the need for a revolution to begin with, and the endangerment of the Spiral. All of this in the name of revenge against the Tortellini family. And of course, darkness bred darkness. It was only until his last days that he acted, wanting to give his son the heart he should’ve had to begin with. But, it was far too late.

Ingrid wanted to hate him for all the problems he’d caused, understanding how much it hurt to be born out of revenge. But, like her own parents, he had shown his creation love, and love was something Kane wasn’t capable of. Even without a proper heart, he never took the time to understand it — to try to feel it — for surely someone with a magnificent mind could learn to love. Even his chaotic creation, Phule, could love.

Either way, nobody should have to die as Gazpaccio did, nor should they be left to rot. Thus, in good conscience, Ingrid turned his body over, laying his arms across his chest.  She took off her headdress, clutching it to her chest and kneeling in prayer. She gently placed it on his chest and stood to her feet, a sorrowful look in her eyes. 

With that done, it was time to cover him. She took off her tattered robes, once a fine silk kimono from Mooshu colored black, white, and gold, now, worse for wear from combat. She never properly appreciated nor wore them as it was. And if they could give a man the peace he deserved, even for a fleeting moment, then she would do that for him. Though the sky pirate was used to death, and even able to revive the dead as a Witchdoctor, her mojo was nearly spent, not to mention his age making things more difficult. Besides, she could feel his tired soul reject life, and she would not raise the unwilling.

She felt a hand on her shoulder from her closest friend, if not father figure. He spoke in a gentle tone, “You tried your best, Dragonfly, the fault does not lie with you. We are at the end of our journey — let us not allow his death to be in vain.”

“But… Kan Po, isn’t it already in vain? He wanted to give his son a heart, to properly fix him, and that’s what we came for, isn’t it? Even if our main objective became saving the Spiral, that doesn’t take away from the original purpose, does it?”

“No, but, in a way, he would have died. Life is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; we would have killed off the evil in him in one way, Dragonfly, and now we will in another.”

She solemnly nodded in response. “Yes, I suppose. No mercy for a bastard.”

She took a moment to ready herself, checking to see if her chest was bound properly and that her hakama was aptly done. She wouldn’t want her pants to be too loose or come undone in the midst of combat. They hadn’t yet, but you could never be too sure.

‘You know,’ she thought to herself, observing her tan brown skin, ‘I never noticed how many scars I’ve gotten over all these years…’

She looked back up at the platform, Bonnie Anne motioning for her and Kan Po. “Come on, let’s go!” She yelled with urgency.

The young pirate nodded, rejoining the group with haste. This was it.

The crew rode in tense silence, stepping into the upper control room — the head of the near-destroyed Machine. The room was like a dome, decorated with silver and golden gears, and a map of the Spiral with magnifying glasses on the back wall. The green skies of Valencia were visible all around the crew from the glass, polluted by the smog of clockwork machinery. Above their heads was a strange laser-like contraption made from the ethereal purple crystals from the Isle Of Doom, which momentarily brought Ingrid’s attention to the ones kept in glass casings. And at the center of it all was Kane, his elites, and his marine pawns.

That’s when the young pirate took notice of the floor: it was a chessboard. All of this  —  her suffering, that of her crewmates, and that of the entire Spiral’s — was a game. His pursuit of perfection was just a game. With this realization, her doubts faded away. She had to end him.

“We’ve played a long chess game, you and I, and you’ve done far better than expected. But now it’s time I was rid of you. How about one final match? To be sporting, I’ll only use half my pieces — is that not generous?” Kane menacingly spoke.

“Deacon! Rooke! But how?” El Toro exclaimed in shock.

“Should’ve stayed dead,” Ingrid mumbled to herself, never one for words. She always was unnaturally quiet, even when her parents were alive. She didn’t like noise, nor did she enjoy parties or crowds. In fact, she found the rambunctious nature of the Unicorn nobles so unbearable that it took all of her will not to break down and cry. It was the main reason she stormed The Clock Works and The Machine without hesitation. 

Somehow, Valencian nobility was worse than Marleybonian nobility, and that’s saying a lot as her own mother was Marleybonian nobility. Ingrid could play diplomat, but wasn't completely socially literate. She knew better than anyone else that what she lacked in social skills, she more than made up for it with her combative abilities. Therefore, this battle had to be.

“They’re only machines. It was expensive to replace the children you destroyed, but I managed.” Kane stated. “Bishop, of course, you already know. Allow me to introduce Queen, greatest of my creations.”

“You flatter me, darling,” Queen spoke.

“Not at all. Kill them, my children. Kill them all.”

Thus, combat began. The Clockwork marines rapidly charged forward, striking with near-deadly accuracy. They were merely pawns, but could kill, and stab, and cut, and some of Ingrid's crew aren’t able to block or dodge as easily.

Ingrid focused her attention on Kane, her ruby red eyes widening in shock — he could teleport? Seeing as mojo was illegal by Armada standards, the fact that he had any was a surprise, and the fact that he could use it well was terrifying, especially because he was attempting to pick everyone off like flies…

Ingrid rushed over to Old Scratch, helping her fellow Witchdoctor strengthen their team and call upon the willing dead, creating a better chance for survival. Once finished, she jumped into the fray — she’d never been one to simply stand on the sides and cast spells like a Wizard. Her first target was Deacon; she hated him with her soul, so seeing him ‘live’ again… He wouldn’t live for long.

She took him by surprise like Kan Po had taught her to, summoning a mojo knife and slicing off his head. He’d already been damaged by Bonnie Anne’s spark gun, so he was an easy target.

El Toro, Contessa, Kan Po, Ratbeard, and Hawkules fought tooth and nail through hordes of Armada marines, facing Rooke, Bishop, and Queen. They faced bombs, clockwork traps, guns, and halberds head-on.

As the battle went on, neither side seemed to truly win. Bones, ectoplasm, oil, and Clockwork bodies filled the room. Most of Ingrid’s crew had fallen, and she could only hope they were knocked out and not dead. She’d seen Bonnie Anne subdued with spark guns, Mormo stabbed through, Ratbeard and Hawkules fall taking down Rooke, and El Toro hurt by one of Bishop’s traps. Kane’s army was no different, however, for all that remained standing was he and Queen. As for Ingrid, Contessa and Kan Po remained — everyone else was hurt or…

Ingrid didn’t have time to think about it; she focused on the fight. If this truly was only half of Kane’s pawns, then he needed to die, or everyone’s sacrifices would be in vain. Catbeard would surely scold her for that, and she wouldn't want Gracie's genius to be stamped out.

Ingrid looked to her still standing friends. They nodded at each other, knowing what had to be done. Ingrid used one of her abilities, soulreaver. Giant skeletal hands held Queen down, spirits attacking her as Contessa and Kan Po charged forward. But, the eloquent creation refused to go down so easily. With her dying 'breath,' she brought down Contessa, running her blade through the abdomen of the unicorn rebel.

Ingrid felt her heart sink at the sight of it, yet she continued to fight. "Just like the old times, eh? Just the two of us, Kan Po."

He nodded. "Let us finish our journey, Dragonfly."

She took a deep breath, sending a mojo blast towards Kane, magical lightning leaving her finger-tips. But to her dismay, he teleported away, and that's when she felt herself being shoved to the ground. She looked up in horror as she watched Kane slice through Kan Po's chest, bits of the goat's blood staining her clothing. He kicked the man's body aside, standing over the shocked pirate, tears in her eyes.

"Kan…P…" was all she could mumble before her staff was knocked away.

"Now that that's settled, it seems I've won," Kane spoke, holding his blade above the teen. "You really should have joined me — you and I were born out of vengeance; I could've used your prowess. You defeated Deacon, Bishop, and Rooke. Why, you even took Bishop's staff as a trophy. Too bad you've become obsolete."

He brought down his blade to finish the job, but at the last moment, the witch grabbed  Kan Po's staff, managing to block his attack and kick his weapon away. Before she was fully a Witchdoctor, she was a sickly runt who got by by fighting in the pits of Krokotopia — she could still fight. She was badly bruised and bleeding, but she killed herself to continue on. Her physical wounds would never match her emotional wounds.

She tackled Kane, spitting in his face. With venom, she spat, "I would never join you." She did her best to beat him with the staff, her mojo low. But it was no match, he was physically stronger than her, rather easily knocking it from her hands.

They tussled around in the heap of the dead and dying, but Kane overpowered her, freed himself from her grasp, and knocked her into one of the walls. The white-haired witch weakly attempted to get up, only to be kicked in the stomach and collapse. He grabbed her by the neck, violently shoving her into one of the crystal containers, broken glass penetrating her back as he tightened his grip, slowly suffocating her. She wanted to let out a scream, but couldn't breathe.

"Now, now, close your eyes and fall aslumber — eternally. I must perfect myself, then the Spiral. There is no place for people like you, so go ahead and die for me."

She felt her consciousness fading, her body slowly going into a state of shock. And in what she believed to be her final moments, she saw visions of her parents. She felt… Her mother's embrace, hearing a silent, yet sweet, "I love you" in her ear. Her father, however, she could not hear, and yet, she felt him just as strongly. His demonic will echoed through her — fight. She had to fight.

Her mother lost nearly everything she cared for, but she fought for what she wanted — demanded it. The deal Alison Voss made with the spirits, along with the sacrifices it took to bring back both husband and child, is the only reason why Ingrid Voss was alive. And in return, as the Witchdoctor had found along her journey, she was to face the leader of the Armada. Their stories were tied, and fates sealed, one way or another. Thus, she fought against her own body.

Her ruby eyes glew a deep red as she weakly brought Kane into her embrace, showing affection to the mind that never knew love.

"If you're trying to fight me, it won't work," he spat, "I'm almost done just let me-"

Her face was turning a deadly shade of blue, but she shook her head and cut him off, mumbling, "I… forgive… you…"

"Forgiveness I-" This time, he was cut off by his limbs locking against his will — his hubris was his undoing as Ingrid used her mojo and his against him. Even just a little drop was good enough for her.

"Let's… die… together…" she muttered, sending a powerful electric blast of mojo through the both of them. Her screams filled the room this time, pain running through her from electricity, burning, and broken glass.

"No...not like this. Not like this. I must not…!" he desperately exclaimed, as he fell backward, his systems overpowered by the surge in electricity. As he fell and died, his iron grip dissipated from Witchdoctor's throat.

Heavily wounded, she collapsed onto the ground and closed her eyes, a smile on her face — she won. She heard the silent, yet shaky breaths of her crewmates, and in her heart, she knew they would live. She knew she would live, for she was destined to grow old and see the Spiral change, and she would do it with them. They would sustain, thus she could rest.

[short-circuit-the-great]

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child, or Rather, a Pirate Ship

Mormo wants the best for his captain.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child, or Rather, a Pirate Ship - NobleRunaway - Pirate101 (Video Game) [Archive of Our Own]

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: None

POV: Mormo

Characters: Mormo, Bonnie Anne, Ratbeard, Old Scratch, Orion Nightingale (OC), Slasher (OC)

[save-the-spiral]

InkWizTober Day Twenty-Six: Dark + Revolution

Welcome to day twenty-six of Inktober! Totally not day thirty! I’m back home from evacuating wildfires and such, finally can write again! This is a continuation of these two fics! Warnings for arachnophobia/spider stuff (paragraph right after ‘butterflies’ if you wanna skip), torture, and death mentions.

(link to prompt lists) (link to inktober tag)

Queen felt something wretched and crawling inside her abdominal cavity. For a moment she was concerned for her internal machinery, only to remember a human phrase.

Butterflies.

This nervousness, this dread, felt more like awful, hairy tarantulas like deep in the jungles of Skull Island, with far too many legs to be okay, all creepy and scrabbling through her wiring and gears. Queen shivered in fear and disgust, hoping to never encounter one in person. She might just scream and run the other way.

She drew herself out of her thoughts as Captain Avery began speaking again, his monologue wandering and so animated she wondered if he would bring out the puppets, as was pirate tradition. It would be more entertaining than his recalling of Queen and the young pirate captain’s past adventures, both stories she was very knowledgeable of.

It was only when he got to Valencia in his story that the faux heartbeat created by gears and pistons inside her began to almost audibly tick, and she was glad for the layers of muffling fabric and armor. The way Captain Avery grinned with several shining golden teeth, the way he savagely barked out his words, the glee as he described Kane and his court’s demise- her demise- it made her fingers twitch for her sword, to protect herself.

Her crew mate and fellow ex-armada soldier, Zircon, was standing even stiffer as she listened to Captain Avery’s words. She was almost creaking with the force of her tension, fingers gripping her mace too tightly, that Queen tried to settle her. One of her delicate gloved hands rested on Zircon’s slightly sturdier one that was already on Queen’s shoulder protectively. 

“While this tale is entertaining, Captain, I am sure we all could recite the story. I have informants from Valencia who told me as much.” Queen spoke up, glad she had modified her vocal systems after going pirate. It would be a shame if the young pirate recognized her within the minute and summarily killed her, especially when she just started lying and getting to the point.

“Of course, Captain.” Avery’s sly grin and sparkling eyes set Queen on edge in a way Kane and his lapdogs never could. There’s something so human about it, so mischievous for the sake of it. “Maybe proper names are in order, then. ‘Course, the young pirate has one, but everyone calls ‘em young pirate anyway. What about you? You have worked for over a year with too much mystery in a business so full of reputation.”

“I...” Queen wished desperately she had thought this far. Planning was more Sterling’s forte, she just edited the ideas into fun adventures. “Ferro. Captain Reyna Ferro.” 

I am. The stupidest creation in the Spiral. I just named myself something that translates to Queen Iron. Goodness, I wish I could be concussed just to slam my head into the table and forget this.

Captain Avery looked delighted, and the young pirate was exchanging wide eyes with their companion. 

“Well met, Captain Ferro.” The young pirate’s companion, a goose in Mooshu attire, spoke for the pair. “I am Egg Shen. We are fascinated by what you’ve accomplished.”

“Yes!” Captain Avery spoke again, putting down a gaudy tea cup on the table- without a saucer or a coaster, the monster. “Especially your work in Polaris and Marleybone. They’ve been beneficial for all pirates, guaranteeing that the two worlds will blame deserters from the other’s army! Ingenious.” 

“It was quite simple, really.” Queen demurred. “I am sure it pales in comparison to your own dealings with Marleybone, having created this haven, Captain Avery. I simply implied some things, made some people disappear who needed disappearing regardless.” 

“Still, Ferro. Not since my glory days have I heard of such an efficient and thorough plan executed with no mishaps- you must run the tightest ship this side of the Spiral!” Avery was eager, showing his hand. He was leaning too far into flattery, not getting to the point. It must be dangerous. 

Thankfully, Queen isn’t some man who needs their ego stroked. She knows what she is capable of, doesn’t need someone to compliment her when her work speaks for itself.

“It’s simply a matter of trust and similar circumstance, Captain.” Queen let her gloved finger trail around the rim of the wide, squat teacup in front of her, as if she weren’t thinking about her words. “I only hope my crew can be of assistance- I had come simply to meet you, but I am glad you seem to have a job that needs done. I’d love to prove that we have a place here in Skull Island.”

Goodness, playing the competent but in need of guidance pirate captain would grow old rather quickly. Luckily, Captain Avery was too determined to impress her more, the old washed up pirate he was. 

“Of course! We’re going to wipe out the rest of the Armada and their influence, as simple as that.” Avery stood tall now, chair almost tumbling on his thick decorative rugs. “We will finally rid the Spiral of their influence, my fellow captains! Together, we can pick off large fleets into bite sized pieces, chew them up, and spit out the cogs. Horrible for digestion.” He chuckled at his own joke, as if the young pirate and ‘Captain Ferro’ were not staring at him.

“Really?” The young pirate spoke for the first time, looking eager. 

“Really.” Avery was getting far too into this, considering his age. Queen hoped his heart didn’t give out, that would be annoying. “Currently they are leaderless- and we have all the connections in Valencia thanks to you, young pirate. We can do it all, and finally take them out. Valencia gets to set up a competent- a caring- government, pirates get to move far more freely through the Spiral, and we get credit for doing it!” 

Egg Shen was nodding. “We certainly have the resources. Our own crew is almost too many for our ship, and we’re owed favors from almost everyone important who’s worth knowing. That, plus Captain Ferro’s innovative plans and skilled crew, we could do it in a matter of months. We’ve already severed the snake’s head, this is just burning the body, ending it properly.”

Zircon’s hand on her shoulder was in danger of denting her metal plating. Queen stood, just so that her crew mate would release her, and so Queen would have level ground here. “I have terms.” 

“State them.” Avery said right away, slowly settling into his own chair, likely from aching joints.

“No one inquires as to the identities of my crew. We all have secrets, I am sure, and my crew’s faces happen to be ours. Also.” Queen felt something wrenching and awful in her gut, something wrong about just slaughtering beings that were like her, that bled oil and never slept, that had potential to feel but could not yet. “We capture as many as possible. My crew deals with them. I know that the Armada tend to die before accepting defeat, but-”

“No, no. I understand.” Avery cut her off. It pissed her off. “We all have grudges, the Armada’s likely effected you and yours as well. Just do your torturin’ and killin’ on your own time after battles.” He waved her off, and it made Queen wish she could cut that hand off. 

Having a man act as if she needed his permission made her furious. It made her feel helpless, like she was just waiting for Kane’s next order again, was just a puppet, a doll, a thing, existing only for the Armada, the cause-

Zircon’s free hand caught hers, held it- and goodness that gesture was just so alive, needing comfort was so alive, it helped snap Queen out of her rage, her flashbacks. She sat back down. 

“Of course. We are professionals.” Queen finally said, voice firm. Zircon finally sat beside her, no longer looming over the room. 

“Not too professional, I hope. Would be dreadfully boring, wouldn’t it, Captain Ferro?” Avery grinned.

“Oh no, Captain. I assure you, we know how to have fun.” Queen’s lilting tone was light, playful, coy. She tilted her head, masked face blank but the gesture full of an almost childish air. “I am sure there will be plenty of opportunity to show you while we decimate the Armada, no?” 

[piecesofchess]

favorite kane pirate101 fanfic moments

[rainbows-fanfics]

Help Unwanted (Chapter 16)

Summary: After losing the Pirate, Deacon is unwillingly paired with a partner to help with his job. The only problem is - they can't stand each other, and time is dwindling until he can re-capture all his lost prisoners.

Human AU of the Armada from Pirate101.

Pairings: Deacon/Queen!Deacon, Deacon/OC

--

“- Che piacere ! I win. Are you sure you don’t want to play something else?”

Dea furrowed her eyebrows together as she looked at Deacon’s empty hand, then glanced back to the cards still pinched between her thumbs and forefingers. She was hoping to win this game, but it was inevitable her partner would claim victory after the winning streak he’s had this past hour. She threw down her cards and sat back in her seat, crossing her arms in mock tantrum. 

“I think you’re cheating. Who wins these many games of crazy eights!?”

He cleaned up the table. She was sure he was smirking under his bauta mask. He gathered the cards and shuffled them again. She could tell he was an experienced player with how quickly and efficiently he made his bridge finishes. She was more surprised that his gloves didn’t get in the way of doing it. 

He paused before dealing their share. “What about blackjack? I don’t think we’ve played that one yet.” 

“If you promise not to hide your cards in your sleeve anymore.” 

“Fine. To prove you’re a sore loser, I’ll take my jacket off.” 

Deacon stood to his feet and shrugged off his outer jacket, hanging the blue accessory on the back of his chair. This got rid of those bulky, black cuffs she was so suspicious of. He had a habit of hiding his pistol in them, so what was the exception of a few playing cards? She was somewhat pleased that none had flown out of his pockets. He sat across from her and dealt the cards for their new game. 

As they got into the swing of things, Dea fell into a habit of eying him when he wasn’t looking. It wasn’t often she got to see him without his cape or even wearing fewer clothes like this…he wasn’t one to linger in his nightwear, so she never got a good look at him otherwise. Her thoughts returned to that disguise he’d been wearing back in Cool Ranch. She bit her lip at the memory. She wished she could see him in something like that again. 

Her mind wandered and she made a mistake in her next play. She swore at herself as she corrected her cards, flushing under her mask when Deacon tilted his head at her.

“Something on your mind?” 

Her green eyes met with his inquisitive ones. She doubted he caught her staring, but it was obvious something was amiss. She exhaled slowly, thinking of how to change subjects so he wouldn’t know she’d been secretly ogling him.

“I was thinking of what good mood you must be in, to want to play some games with me. You usually don’t. ” 

He sat up straight and lifted his head. “-I am in a good mood.” 

“Hmm. Read a good book lately?”

“Even better. We’re nearly done with our mission, Dea. We only have a few more fugitives to catch, then this operation will finally be over.” 

A feeling of dread washed over her at this news. She bowed her head to hide her reaction. Of course he would be happy that this was all nearly over - it was like a punishment to him, having to track down his lost convicts with some unwanted help. But in her eyes, they’d finally been making progress with each other…they were spending more time together, learning more things about one another…Not to mention this had been her temporary promotion, and when it was all over with, she’d be reduced down to her prior position in the Armada. 

..Which wasn’t anything impressive.

Just the thought made her sigh deeply. She couldn’t stop herself from doing this, earning Deacon’s concern. 

“Are you alright..?”

“I’m fine. Just…” She blew some air from her lips and pinched the bridge of the nose on her mask. This was a topic she wanted to avoid, but she’d have to address it eventually. “Thinking about what I’m going to do after this..” 

His eyes were trained on her. His attention moved to his cards before deciding that the game wasn’t nearly as important as the subject at hand. “-You’re going to be demoted, aren’t you?” 

“Well, ‘demoted’ is a harsh word…” She sucked at her teeth. “More like, back to what I was already doing…which was cleaning the cannons and stocking ammunition.” 

Silence hung in the room as she begrudgingly made her turn. Deacon was slow to make his play as well, thinking deeply on their conversation. She was feeling cold from this realization, wishing that things were different and she wouldn’t have to worry about losing everything she’d been given. 

“You probably won’t like this idea, but-" His tone made her look up from the table. She held her breath as she waited for his next words. “..I could pull some strings and have you work for me.” 

She curled her lips in amusement. “Why? So we could get sick of each other?” 

“Well, you know how I like my coffee, so you would make an excellent first-mate.” 

She rolled her eyes at his joke. If she took the opportunity to work for Deacon…it would feel strange having him be her superior, instead of the equal position they had now. It was a miracle she’d even been promoted to an alike status to an Elite to begin with. 

‘It wouldn’t mean he has an advantage over me,’ Dea sternly told herself, crushing the worrying feeling she had with the prospect. 

"Things would be going back to normal for you, wouldn't it?" She asked, idly fidgeting with the table cloth. Her chest felt tight. "Back to working by yourself, I mean."

Unbeknownst to her, the spymaster's lips fell . No. Things would not be normal. He would be sailing in complete silence instead of listening to her beautiful voice. Sleeping in an empty cabin without the hint of her perfume. Drawing up maps without her little notes in his margins. He wouldn't be seeing her again, and that made him feel…out of sorts.

He clenched his hands trying to cope with this reality. How surprising that this woman would hold such a tight grip over him. To suddenly step into his life and introduce him to a routine of comfort and companionship; to change things in a way that he always wanted.

He'd been so lonely before. He thought he was simply prioritizing his work before his personal life, but… god , he craved intimacy. A friend. A partner…* anything *. He would be stuck with his soldiers and spies again, but they didn't fulfill him like she did. No one would. 

Her voice snapped him out of it. "Deacon?"  

He looked up and noticed she was waiting on him to play his turn. He mumbled an apology before grabbing his card. She looked away from him sadly. 

"...Sorry if I ruined your good mood."

"You didn't. I suppose I wasn't as thrilled as I thought I was."

"Why wouldn't you be? This is your mission, espía . You'll finally be done. I'm honored to have helped you."

His breath hissed through his teeth. She had no reason to be saying this so far in advance. "Dea-"

"You won't have me nagging you around anymore, telling you how to do things. You'll be on your own again-"

"Stop." His voice was firm. It made her hush down immediately. "You keep insisting your company is some god-awful thing to me, but it isn't. How I acted before doesn't reflect how I feel now." 

She froze in her seat. She began tugging at her gloves nervously, attempting to process this information. She tried to tease him, but the crack in her voice gave her away. "Don't tell me you actually LIKE me being around..?"

"More than you think I do, clearly." She was still awestruck and he was getting nervous by it, so he gestured to their game. "Let's finish this up so we can get back to work."

She nodded, playing her hand and finishing up their game of blackjack. They weren’t talkative this time around. Dea’s mind was preoccupied with the fact that Deacon had just admitted to enjoying her company, and even offered to have her around longer. The Emissary himself felt a mixture of emotions, the most prominent being disappointment from the eventual wrap-up of their mission, and the inevitable time when they would have to go their separate ways.

----

He was fidgety the rest of that day, unable to keep his hands still. When he was at the captain’s wheel, he occupied himself by caressing the underside of his compass and adjusting the collar of his cape. When he was roaming around the ship, he constantly shifted his grip on his cane and tapped it more on the floorboards than was necessary. He grew aggravated with this restless behavior and moved into the cabin, where he sat on his bed and attempted to read a book to get his mind off of things.

His left hand kept reaching into the pocket that held his pack of cigarettes. Each time he caught himself doing this, he had to physically stop himself. It was a habit he was trying to break * again *. Each attempt felt harder than the last, and this particular subject was frying his nerves. It took an immeasurable amount of self-control to not break his newly-made promise. 

He heard the familiar steps of Dea’s boots and looked up to see her in front of him. She crossed her arms and looked at him with knowing, emerald-colored eyes. He had to look away, lest his feelings get worse and he would succumb to his urge to smoke. 

“Come on,” She urged, tapping her foot impatiently. “Tell me what’s going on with you.”

“Whatever do you mean?” He asked, pretending to read. 

“You’re going through withdrawal. You should talk to me when this happens, remember?” 

A few seconds passed before he sighed and shut his book. He threw it behind himself carelessly and brought his gloved hands under his bauta to rub his face. Being worked up like this was making him tired. Dea hesitated before sitting beside him on the mattress, keeping some space between them but also letting him know she was there. 

“Is there something stressing you out, espía?” 

He didn’t know what to say. Confess to Dea that he's going to miss her when she’s gone? That he hates the idea of being separated from her? So much so, that it's been driving him mad all day, to regret the time where they’ll have to say goodbye to each other? 

It was pathetic.

Before he could say anything, she reached into her dress’ pocket and offered him a stick of gum. He looked at the piece before taking it and unwrapping it. Popping it in his mouth, he recognized the taste of mint. His shoulders relaxed as he chewed on it. He hadn’t indulged in one of these in an awfully long time. 

“I didn’t know if you had some already, so I grabbed a pack to carry with me. You can ask for one if you ever need it.” 

“...Thank you.” He could tell she was pleased by his gratitude. It made him feel a bit more comfortable to speak. “Have you considered my offer? About working with me after this?” 

She blinked in surprise. She began to idly kick her boots, watching them move with lowered eyelids. “I didn’t think you were serious about it.” 

“I am; it wouldn’t be hard to make it happen.”

“But..” She chewed at her lip, clearly conflicted. “Why would you still want to work with me? Things haven’t been that smooth. We had that fight on our first mission, then I was nearly killed in Cool Ranch-”

“-That’s all in the past and we’ve learned from it. The truth is, you’re one of the most competent women I’ve worked with, and that’s saying something because I know a lot of people.”

His words made her feel happy and confident. It was the first time a man had made her truly feel this way. “..And you like my company?” She asked sheepishly. 

He let that question linger before he replied. “I do. Whether or not you like mine determines your answer.”

She entwined her fingers together, tapping them on her knuckles as she leaned back with a dramatic breath. “Sometimes you can be a pain, but I’ve learned to live with it.”  

She turned to him with bright eyes. He could tell she was smiling from the way she lifted her chin. She looked away and returned her hands to her lap. Her mood had fallen and the confidence briefly left him. 

“I’ll have to think about it.” She sounded like she wanted to say more, but hesitated to do so. He wished she would voice her thoughts, but respected that she couldn’t.

“Just let me know when you make up your mind. We probably have a couple more weeks to sit on it.” 

She nodded along, her eyes fixated on her hands. She was smoothing her palms over her gloves. After a second, she looked up and asked, “-So what was bothering you?” 

“I’d rather not talk about it…” 

“But if we don’t, you’re still going to stress over it.” She countered. She scooted a bit closer and leaned forward. “I promise not to tell anybody if it’s embarrassing.” 

“I still think you would tease me.” He kept his eyes away from her. She moved to try and get in his peripheral vision. 

“Promise I won’t.” 

“-And if you do ?”

“Then I’ll tell you something you can tease *me* about.” 

He paused. That actually sounded reassuring. It still didn’t make him feel any better about this, but maybe he should get it off his chest. He might never have a chance to say it otherwise. “I don’t think I’m ready to end our mission just yet.” 

“Why? Are there other prisoners we’ve missed?” 

“No.”

She attempted to think about why he would say this. He could actually see the strain she was putting herself through. He gathered the courage to tell her. “...I would rather still be working with you than having to part our ways.” 

She was astounded. “You don’t want me to leave?” 

“I…” He struggled for words. Why did he feel like this around her sometimes? “I would miss you. That’s all.” 

A pause. He waited before glancing back at her. Her eyes were wide as she stared at him. The silence felt nerve-wracking while he waited for her reaction. He was about to retract his confession before she squealed. 

“Aww, Deacon..!" 

“ Dea .” He groaned.

“I’m sorry!” She waved a hand at him. She was clearly getting a kick out of this, which frankly embarrassed him. He felt ridiculous for saying any of it aloud. “Okay. You want something to tease me about?” 

He leaned towards her in interest, resting a thoughtful finger on the sharp chin of his bauta. She waited a few seconds before telling him, “...I would miss you, too.” 

It was his turn to be surprised. “You would?” 

“Yeah. It would be hard not to, you know?” Her tone became quiet as she looked at the floor. She splayed her fingertips across his comforter. “I loved having this job, to get a promotion this big…I don’t think I really deserved it, but I’m glad I got it, because I never would have met you otherwise. You’ve…been a great friend to me. I don’t think I’ve been as close to anybody as I have with you.” 

He was speechless. He remembered what he told her not long ago. It was still true. He’d never met anyone like her. To hear that she was grateful for their meeting as well…it warmed his heart and gave him hope. 

Then he paused to think. Hope for what ? 

“I’m glad you said something because…I was feeling sad about it, too. Having to end our mission when things are just getting started.” She pouted, trailing her finger along the seams of the blanket. 

“Then why not take my offer?” 

She winced. He didn’t understand why this was a difficult topic. “I…I want to, Deacon. I really do. And I hope I will.” 

“What exactly is stopping you?” He asked curiously. 

There was a long pause. The longest he’d ever received from her. But he was patient and waited. Eventually, she removed her hand and sat up straight. She couldn’t look at him, shifting uncomfortably on the bed instead.

“I don’t have a good past with the men I’ve worked with before. I guess I’m still afraid that things will happen again.” 

The gears in his head were turning. “The ones who marked you for ‘insubordination’..?” 

She whispered a small ‘yes’ . He decided to drop that subject before it delved into something worse. He had a more clear suspicion now, which made him quick to reassure Dea of his offer. 

“I promise nothing like that will happen. We’ve worked this well for this long, haven’t we?”

“We have.” She met his eyes with a more comfortable posture. He was glad to see that green color again. “That’s why I think I will take it. But if I don’t…I hope you understand.” 

Disappointment flooded him and it showed in his posture. He still told her that he understood and respected her decision. Dea seemed to think about something before closing the gap between them and embracing her partner. Deacon was taken aback at the sudden contact, but gladly returned it, much to his own surprise. 

They never hugged before. The sensation was new, but welcomed by them both. The scent she wore was stronger in this proximity and he was instantly addicted. He didn’t want to let go…he wanted to enjoy this for as long as possible. To hold someone after all this time alone. The main contact he shared with others was the torture he inflicted on his enemies. Hugging Dea felt like a much better change of pace. 

As for his co-captain, she was pressing her mask against his chest and relaxing in his arms. She had been petrified to initiate something like this, but she was glad she did. Even more so when Deacon returned the gesture. It ignited something inside her - something hopeful and pleasant. 

The hope that he returned what she was feeling. 

She would be a fool not to accept his offer. She realized that now.

She lifted her head to speak beside his zendale, refusing to part from his grasp. "...Thank you." 

He shivered at the sound of her voice. It was so clear and so wonderful next to his ear. He found himself regretting every moment they had stayed so far apart.

"Thank you , Dea."