Lance listened to the story with only slight interest. He had heard stories about pirate raids before, just from the other side. He wondered if the pirates knew the people they terrorized if they would care but he rather doubted it. He wished he could go look at the sea or even the island coming up but he thought that might be dangerous. Better to sit and listen. He did love the water and wind though.

When they were finally done with the story he managed to get a word in. "You were suprised earlier that I would call your captain a lady but what else would I call her. I can not call her by name since she is my captor. And she simply is a woman. There is no changing the fact. No matter some idiots in my kingdom it is still a show of pride to be able to talk to a Lady Captain or Lady Knight. They just prove they had to work even harder to get where they are."

"How noble. But all of us know she doesn't act like a woman, she doesn't show feminine charm. Just look at her!" They all started getting quiet once Victoria glared at them. "I wouldn't want to show feminine charm anyway. I want to show people that I mean business, and that I'd kill them if they thought otherwise." She yawned. "Besides. You all know that I'm not a lady. I'm the Gold Eye Devil. I killed countless of people. I can hear all of their screams. I can still smell their fear. I can still see their blood on my hands. And I enjoy it. Now tell me prince. Do you think I'm a lady now? Call me Captain. Just Captain. Everyone else calls me that...More, or less they call me monster."

She then began to steer them to dock. "Keep an eye on him. I'll go alone. Try to make sure you protect the ship. Dante might be here, and try to trap you somehow. I'm just going to get a messenger bird, and then I'll be back." She said, and she walked away.

The towns people stared at her, fear in their eyes. Who couldn't recognize that gold eye. She simply walked into the shop where the messenger bird's where bought, and looked around to see which one she liked best. "Are you going to buy that Victoria?" "Oh, Dante, don't you know that I never buy anything?" "I don't want to fight you." Victoria raised an eyebrow, and turned around to see her old rival. "You've gotten older. I can see gray hair's. You lost that blood thirst in your eyes. Too bad. I might have to kill your wife to bring it back." "She wouldn't lose to you." "You wanna bet? Well, I'm not here to fight. I'm here for a bird." Dante crossed his arms, and let out a sigh. "For what may I ask?" "You'll find out in five...Four...Three..." "Here ye, Here ye! The Lord George's mansion has been completely raided! George is found missing!" Dante raised an eyebrow. "That's not the news I expected. Guess they didn't find out yet. Ah well, let me rephrase that. You'll find out later." She began to walk out the door with a bird in its cage. "Goodbye Victoria." "...I preferred you to call me monster..."

Lance laughed. "You may be a monster, you may kill, and you may not act like a woman but it does not change the fact that you are a lady. But as you wish," he bows gracefully, "I will leave off the lady, Captain."

Lance watched the golden eyed woman leave the ship. He supposed he was safe enough with the crew but he wished for some strange reason that she would be back quickly.

Victoria came back to the ship with a black raven bird on her right shoulder. "It's a girl. But Fred shall be the name anyway." She glanced over at the prince, and then to the crew. "I would of preferred you bring George. I would have had a lot more fun. But now, this has seem to become bothersome." She gestured for them to raise the anchor. "Hurry up. We might have some royal guards on our trail in a little while. Best to be ahead of them." "Aye, aye."

"Look into the sea,
Ocean full of wonder.
Oh so full of Plunder.
Searching for adventure,
Running from the Law,

The Gleam in the stars,
The fear in their eyes,
The hate in their hearts,

Oh, The Pirate's life for me.
The Pirate's life for me."

Victoria sung in a low voice as she looked into the ocean. Bored.

((Mind if I brainstorm with you?))

Lance looked at the bird with uncertainty. It wasn't that he disliked ravens. They were actually kind of pretty and they were smart. He just had never seen one used as a messanger bird or for that matter one named Fred.

Lance didn't know what to do now. He wasn't being asked for stories or to mop the deck. He wasn't as fast or as good as the pirates with the sails. He stood still for a moment before finally walking over to the edge of the ship a few feet from the Captain. He listened to her singing. She had a really nice voice. He stared out over the waters wishing for something to happen. Being kidnapped was bad enough but just having to stand there doing nothing was even worse.

When she finished her song he spoke. "Your voice is very nice. Very suprising considering the time you must spend on salty waters. Usually that corrupts the voice."

((of course not, you can pm me or post it in here I don't care which))

Victoria glanced over to the Prince, and gave a small sigh. "Usually? Won't ever corrupt me. My voice, and body is much stronger, and can usually withstand anything." She wasn't being arrogant, she was just stating the truth. "But thank you. I don't hear that compliment much. But, don't get used talking so normally to me. Remember, you are not a guest. Just a captive. What I see when I look at you is money. And Money shouldn't talk to it's owner. That is all." She left the railing, and went into her Quarters.

A few minute later, she came out. The bird on her arm had a rolled up note tied to it's leg, and then she threw it up in the air, and it took off. "Won't be long before they figure out the prince is missing---" She glanced into the ocean, spotting a ship into the distance. "What--That's too fast. Oh that George probably ratted me out for a couple of gold." She sighed. "Once we get rid of you Princey, then I'll take care of George. Ready the Cannon's!"

(I'm not a good action writer...Do you want to explain it, or should I do a small time skip?)

Lance smiled as she walked away. She had seemed almost nice for a moment. Her comment about money just reminded him of his parents. They saw people the same way. Which made him fearful of all of this. He was loved by his parents but he had gone against their wishes. He was the only child but they were still young and he only had that spot because they only wanted one child. If they needed to they could have more kids. And if the captain asked for too much they might just leave him. He sighed at the thought.

He watched as the bird soared off. That must be the randsom note. Lance noticed that the Captain was staring off into the distance and looked in the direction she was looking. He gasped, there was a ship coming this way. As it got closer he noticed that it looked like a ship from his land. It was one of their fast moving war ships. While others might think this was a good thing for him he knew it wasn't. The high ranking members of the army and navy did not like him. The low born fighters liked him and the officials worried that this would cause problems for them. So he knew that they might try to rescue him or they could, more easily, shoot him or dump him overboard and say the pirates did it.

Before he could do anything the ship was upon them. Thy turned to run alongside the pirate ship. Both sides shot of cannons but the royal ship sailed past barely damamged. They swung around again this time the crew jumped on board the pirate ship. The fighting started among the pirates and the royal crew. Lance ran over to the Captain. He didn't know any of the royal crew on board. He would not be safe with them.

((I'll edit in the action part when you respond to my pm))

((sorry that's the best I could think of. I hope it is alright.))

( Its fine ^^ )

Victoria sighed, and shoved Lance behind her. "How troublesome. I don't have time for this at all. My ransom note hasn't even got to the castle yet." She glanced behind her. "My Crew can take care of themselves. But can you Princey?" She didn't give him even a second to answer, she just threw him over her shoulder without even the slightest hesitation, and then she jumped off the ship, landing on the getaway boat. "They say Captain's stay with their ship, and go down with their ship for honor. But, I don't really care about Honor." She sighed, as she cut the rope holding the boat to the ship. The boat fell down hard on the water, but Victoria didn't waste any time as she grabbed unto the paddle's, and started to row.

( I apologize, this was all I could think of doing o_o )

((I think it is great.))

Lance started to respond to the Captain but the was hefted over his shoulder. He really had expected that. Maybe her pushing him off the ship to the boat below but not this. When they landed in the row boat she had placed him down and grabbed the paddles. They were soon moving away from the ship. He knew if he shouted the sailors would be on them but he stayed silent. He sat down and kept an eye out to see if anyone noticed them escaping.

"To answer your question I can take care of myself. Though sadly your crew took my sword. I am best with it and only slightly capable fighting unarmed. My parents' thought the only noble weapon was the sword and that hand to hand combat is only for the lowest class of people. I managed to learn a little in travels. I am better with daggers, but I seem to be without them too."

He paused. He was unsure if he should tell her the next part but he didn't think it could hurt. "Those men back there, they weren't here to take me back. They were here to kill me."

( Thanks : ] )

Victoria didn't look at him, she just closed her eye, and listened to the waves, and listened to the fight going behind them. Though still, she listened to him. "Still. Wither you could use it or not, I wouldn't give a weapon to you. So, if you're not that experienced with fighting unharmed, I suppose you wouldn't fair well against ten or more people surrounding you." It was already night time, the only light you could see was the one going on behind them. But when she opened her eye, it seemed to give a light glow.

"I wouldn't let them kill you. I won't let anyone kill you."

Victoria seemed to be very caring at that moment, but that went away once she spoke again. "After all, you're ransom, and I wouldn't let anyone kill you other then me." She gave a smirk, before looking behind her. "Wow, they're really going at it." She sighed, before looking forward again. "I guess the ransom money will be used for repair's. See. This is why I don't like doing Ransom's. They always end up costing more then what you get."

Lance smiled for a moment. She seemed at least a little caring. He laughed at the thought of fighting off ten people. "Oh, I can use a sword but I couldn't fight off that many people. Maybe if I was in a tight space but not on a ship. I might be able to hold back three people."

He muttered softly, "Then I hope, for both of us, that my parents get the note soon..." even softer he continued "and that you didn't ask for too much."

He looked forward trying to see where they were going. "What are we doing? Trying to wait out the fight or going somewhere?"

"Waiting for the fight to be over will be too risky. They'll probably figure out that we are gone...And the fight will last for a while. There's an island over there. I've been there before, so I know there is a nearby cave that we can hide in for the time being."" Victoria, shrugged.

It took about ten minutes before they got the the island. She stretched her arms, acting more like this was a vacation then actually running away from the battle. The fight could still be seen, and heard. "Help me pull this boat into the woods." She jumped out of the boat, the water splashed all over her trousers. She waited for Lance to get out of the boat, before she started pulling. She was going to pull the boat with, or without him, wither he'd help or not.

They finally pulled the boat into the forest, and then she started placing some leave's on it. "Alright Princey. Follow me." She grabbed his arm, and continued into the woods.

It wasn't long before they reached the cave. "You cold? No I won't get any firewood. Just lay down, and go to sleep on the cold floor. Don't bother trying to escape, because I'll just find you. It'd be less bothersome if you stayed in place." She fell to the floor, and closed her eye.

Lance hopped off the boat and helped her pull it in. He quietly followed behind her to the cave. When they reached the cave he sat on the floor with his back propped up. Quietly he said, "I wouldn't dream of escaping. There's no where to run and right now your the only one who doesn't want to kill me." He sighed and closed his eyes trying to listen to the sounds of battle.

"Doesn't want you?" Victoria turned her head, and looked over to Lance. "Princey. I never said that. It's just that I can't kill you if I want the money." She shrugged before turning away. "But...You and me are alike in that way. Everyone wants to see the Gold Eyed Pirate captain decapitated. Even my own crew. They just know they can't survive without me." She sighed. Memories raced through her mind. "But, while I think about it. There is still some people who don't want to kill you." She took off the gold necklace, and threw it over to Lance. "Seems that girl likes you enough to give you her second favorite necklace. That's never happened to me."

"Means the same thing at least for the moment. Any reason not to kill me is still a reason not to kill me." Lance opened his eyes and looked at the pirate captain. "I'm sure there are some that wouldn't want to kill you. That lord of the island we went to. He didn't seem to be in a hurry for your death." He picked the necklace up off the ground. He looked at it for a moment before putting it back on. "No people just want to kill me because I want to help my kingdom and the people." He tilted his head up then closed his eyes. "And I wouldn't kill you given the chance."

"That's because he has something restraining him." Victoria sat up. "If he didn't have his kid's, if he didn't have his wife. Then he would of slit my throat. He had be trapped, cornered you know?" She stared at the entrance of the cave, she continued to talk, but she had a suspicious look on her face.
"That's a good reason to commit murder. I wouldn't want anyone to help a kingdom. Makes it easier to raid." She gave a small smirk. "That's because you just met me. You don't know what I've done." Her golden eye grew brighter. "I'll be back." She suddenly jumped up, and ran out of the cave, vanishing into the woods.

Strangely enough, she'd been gone for thirty minutes, and for that thirty minutes, strange noises where heard, other then the shouting, and cannon balls falling from the ships. Then, she came running back, breathing heavily for some reason. Her clothe's where torn, probably from the tree branch's, brushing against her. "They're really going at it." She fell down to the floor in exhaustion. But was she really checking the fight? "Its going to rain soon." She looked over to Lance. "Even when the fight is over, they'll have a hard time looking for us. Since there are other unoccupied islands around here."

He watched her jump up and run out. As soon as she was gone he said to the empty air, "I'm not stupid. In five years I will be taking over as King and I know everyone that might go against my land. I know of you and the things you have done. I might not know them all but I know enough."

He stared at her when she came back in. "What happened to you out there? When we came in here you didn't get hung up on a single branch, unlike me."

((sorry it is so short))

(Np)

"Don't you know your place? Like I told you before, you're not in the place to ask questions!" Victoria snapped at him, she glared at him, and for a little moment, snarled, but not soon after she went back to her normal expression. "Cheh. Lots of money...Its going to take a lot of money to get those repairs done." She shrugged before turning over, so that her back faced Lance. "Bothersome. This is all so bothersome."

The next morning, Victoria was up early. She was staring at the entrance. She then looked over at Lance, making sure if he was awake or not. "Hey. Get up. Let's go out to the beach. They're probably looking for us now."

(Mine's sort of short too...If you want, you can explain how they got to the beach.)

Lance sighed. It would have been so much better if this attack hadn't happened. Now she wanted more money. He leaned back and fell asleep.

The next morning he woke up to the captain's voice and a cramp in his neck and his legs numb. Even in the poorest place he stayed he always had a bed. He stood up rubbing his legs and neck. Life could only get better he hoped but he knew it probably wasn't true. He sighed when she said she wanted to move out.

At first he followed right behind her but when she held a branch till he walked almost past it letting go so that it would slap him in the face he moved back and slightly to the side. On the walk back he managed to fall into a thorn bush and had to be pulled out by the captain. When they finally reached the beach he was still pulling thorns out.

"Ahhh... Their checking the island right beside us...." Victoria pulled out some binoculars, and stared to the island right next to them. Suddenly, she felt something hit her foot. She glanced down, and saw that it was a broken board. She picked it up and examined it. "I got this Halfway across the world from here. Do you know how much this costs? How good the quality of this wood is?" The wood broke in half as she clenched her hand into a fist. While some girls obsessed over Jewels, she obsessed over her ship, and her money. She then saw more broken wooden boards wash up unto the shore. "...My beautiful red dragon..." She fell to her knee's. "I don't know who to blame. Me for not leaving you. You for being at the wrong place, at the wrong time, or My crew for not killing those guards any faster!"

Lance watched everything unfold. As soon as he saw the boards washing up he knew it wasn't good. He didn't know if it would be better for him now just to stay still, to take off across the island, try to get the attention of the people on the island next to them that wanted to kill him, or just to start swimming. He knew his parents would not pay enough to cover the ship and leave a lot extra. He was simply doomed. I wonder if she would take a payment plan? The money my parents sent for the ship, then I could send them money. In five years when I become the King I could finish the payment. Finally he flopped down on the ground and sighed. He rather doubted she would do that and he knew the kingdom would not be happy about it.

He knew it wasn't good to say anything but he couldn't stop himself. "What's your plan now?"

Victoria glanced over to Lance. She had a sour face on. "You obviously don't listen to the 'No questions' rule." She looked out into the sea. "I wonder if I could get some good gold for selling you into slavery. I bet they'll pay a lot for a prince...Plus the gold from the ransom." She scratched her head. "...But...Witch's..." She looked back at Lance. "They pay a lot for a prince. They use them for entertainment by turning them into frogs...They can use Prince's blood...They can use a Prince's hair..." She pondered at that for a while. "Bothersome! So Bothersome!" She groaned. "I'll make my decision after I get something back from the ransom note." She looked back into sea, noticing that the ship was going to their direction. "My beautiful red dragon...What have they done to you?"

Lance sighed once again. Fine no questions. I can do that. He looked off at the coming ship. "Great. First I'm George, then I'm a captive, next a slave, and then a frog. If I ever make it out of that my people will never let me live it down. I shall be known as the Unlucky King and my reign will be short." He stopped then continued "I wonder if I would be a good looking frog." He looked down at the boards. "I think if they catch us they will do the same thing to us as they did to your ship."

"Do you actually think you're going back to your kingdom?" Victoria muttered, not to him, but actually to herself. She then turned to Lance. "What? You don't think Frog's are good looking?" Once she realized what a ridiculous she said, she quickly moved unto the next subject. "I've been on the sea for a long time. They never catch me. Even if they do--I always escape." She grinned, before looking back to the ocean. "Ah...They're waving at us."

"Captain!" The crew shouted once they where close enough for her to hear. But they wanted to turn away once they saw the expression on her face when she saw the condition of the ship. "...Let's go to the nearest town. Let's see if they have something good on the new's. I wonder if they accepted my offer. Get the Prince on the ship. Let's hurry."

Lance quickly climbed on the ship. He was really tired of being pushed around. "Great, we'll go to town and a giant rat is going to try to eat me. No. Let's see we'll get there and my parents will have accepted and then I'll get to be sold to a witch and made into a frog or they will not accept and I'll still be a frog. Yay!"

He stared off the side of the boat till he saw land. He waited for someone to grab him or someone to yell at him. Maybe if they took him on land too he could run away.