The two children were playing barefoot in ankle deep sand, making castles, which the mighty ocean lashed against and broke every time. The children set about to build another, enjoying the whole things.

The sun rays fell on the white beach which glimmered. A lady sat there on a beach chair in a red polka dotted frock, her wrinkled hands folded gently over her lap. The lines of aging were evident on her tanned face, but the unnatural glimmer in those sharp eyes signified a soul that was still young and craving for adventure.

The green sea, with the continuous surge of waves, and the frothy white foam, touching her feet, and going back again seemed to be beckoning to her to return to the place where she belonged too. Living a sedentary life was never her way, but age was catching up fast.

"Gramma, see that ship!" one of the kids shouted.

Sure enough there was a majestic vessel floating in the sea. It had sturdy wooden masts and intricately designed mermaid on its sides. The cannon holes dotted its edges and the flags on the mast waved tall and pretty.

"Is it a pirate ship?" the older girl of fourteen asked.

"Yeah it is," she mumbled, with half the enthusiasm of the kids.

Pirates were legends now and such ships were objects for entertainment and luxury cruises. People make false ships, get passengers and make money. The ship was pretty, but it was a poor representation of what an actual ship looked like. The ships were generally battered due to multiple battles, but the way they moved was predatory. Nor pirate ship would float lazily on water like the cruise ship out there.

"How come you never tell us pirate stories? Like all children say that their granddads used to set sail on the high seas and encounter pirates and how captain Zelda used to come to the rescue..."

"She was a super hero of the seas as we hear..." the other child chirped in.

The old lady sighed. Thousands of memories were fleeting through her mind. She shivered remembering those days.

"You want to hear stories of Captain Zelda? The real ones? Well, I'm telling you then..."

The twelve year old immediately squatted on the sand at her feet. The other girl kneeled by her chair, holding her hands as she started her story, a story that had long since been hidden under the rumors of growing civilization and changing times.

"Captain, there is a merchant here to meet you," said the sailor, shaking his head.

Zelda turned around in her chair, blowing a puff of smoke, her eyes half open, "And what does he want?"

The sailor shrugged.

"The usual," she commented, utterly disinterested.

"Yes, captain," he rubbed his hands nervously, no one wanted to anger the most infamously famous Captain Zelda. Her fury was known far and wide across the seas. No one, merchant or pirate dared cross her path even occasionally. No ship would dare cross her as the majestic Nova cut the water and advanced, spreading its sails like majestic winds. Clad in a blood red sailor's frock, dirty white shirt and heavy leather boots, captain Zelda was a figure everyone respected and adored.

She pursed her lips, the gears in her head running fast. The sailor stood there, heads bowed, his heart thumping wildly but Zelda was in a good mood.

"Bring him in," she commanded.

Captain Morris stuck his head in at that moment, "captain Zelda, I need your help please."

"Busy, Morris. Later," she said, without turning around.

"But it's important," he whined.

"Not more than the matter at hand."

The merchant who was standing outside the door now came in and stood before her, fidgeting with his fingers and looking at the floor. It was a signal for Morris to leave. His eyes were glassy as he left silently.

She got up from her wooden throne and walked up to him, her boots crunching on the floorboard, and paced a hand on his shoulders.

He flinched, "M...m...Madame Zelda....I...I...wanted to s...say..."

"That one-eyed Captain Florian has attacked your bourgeois again and looted it dry," she interrupted him.

The merchant released his pent up breath, "Yes, Madame."

"You're from France?"

"I am, and I've been sailing in the Italian waters for almost a decade. Never did we have such a problem I went to the sheriff and the mayor and they said this matter is beyond their grip. Someone from my crew recommended that I come to you. Madame, I have heard a lot about your quests and your battles. If you could please..."

"Hmmm," she went back to her chair, "I've heard about this Florian from many sources. He is a nuisance that needs to be eliminated. Don't worry, I'll look into it. But what do I get in return?"

"Madame, I..."

She whipped around, her eyes glowing, "Answer me, why should I help you?"

"I...I didn't know I had to pay you."

"Oh okay," she said, striding up and looking at him, her eyes smoldering dangerously. I go out, risk my crew, fight and help you all, and you all repay me with a thank you? No my man, you need to pay me half of what they have looted if I get back all your stuff and ensure that this doesn't recur."

"Yes, Madame. Anything you want..." he spoke.

"And I need you at my beck and call henceforth..."

"I'm ready for all your conditions," he gulped.

She took another puff of her pipe and said, "Very well, I'll help you.

Alisson's eyes widened as she clung to her scooted closes, grabbing her grandmother's dress.

"What happened then? Did she beat the pirates? Oooooo, swords, cannons and stuff..."

"Those aren't easy. The pirates were very active when it came to merchant ships, but they avoided Zelda's vessel generally," said the oldie.

Captain Zelda had no peace that night. Lots of people had come to her with hope that she could curb Captain Florian, the most notorious pirate of the South Seas. He had lost an eye in fight and had a tin leg as his had been bitten off by a shark. But the menace in his voice and the barbarity in his ways made him no less deadly for a ship, than a mid-sea hurricane.

He plundered, killed, captured, enslaved and got satisfaction from the most heinous crimes. No one knew where he used to come from, or where he used to go. He had a pattern of attack. When rain torrents would flood, his ship would be seen advancing from behind the curtain of waters. He'd shoot, kill, loot and disappear in the storm. He never attacked on calm seas and Zelda actually preferred to sail in calm waters. Besides it was winter and chance of rain was negligible, so it was all the more difficult to lure Captain Florian out.

"We need the costliest of the silks and a collection of jewels aboard," shouted Zelda.

"But Captain..."

"No buts, Morris. Florian knows his prey. He never attacks larger vessels, which brings me to the conclusion that he has someone to inform him of ships which are richly laden. So I want to spread the message far and wide that Capricorn is sailing with very valuable good to present to the maharajas of India. That will definitely draw the attention of Florian. We'll be ready on our own Nova, which would hide nearby Capricorn," she declared.

"Captain Zelda, I need to discuss something urgent with you," there was a nervousness in the eyes of Captain Morris.

"No time Morris, later," she waved him off, calling out to the crew, "Get ready everyone, tomorrow, we set sail."

"Ahoy captain," her crew responded as she beamed at them.

The story was interrupted by a turtle which had crawled up and settled behind the young girl, without any notice. She had accidentally placed her feet on it.

The girl jumped up, screaming and the poor turtle quickly withdrew its tiny head into the shell. Jessica rolled on the sand, clutching her stomach in laughter.

"It's difficult to understand who is the most frightened one,' chuckled grandma, "So where were we?"

"They were gathering supplies," chirped the older girl.

"Yes," she nodded, laying back more comfortably on the beach chair, looking at the evening sun which was making the water glimmer, "So Zelda and her crew set sail."

Things weren't easy for them and the friendly sea soon became rough and tumultuous. Waves towered over their mast, threatening to engulf the vessel. It tossed about like a piece of cork on water and yet Zelda's ship was sturdy.

Poor Capricorn didn't have that much luck and for the first time Zelda was actually afraid that the ship laden with riches might sink.

As the rain and winds swirled over the deck, Zelda stood there, her dress dripping wet, looking out on the horizon for the outline of Capricorn. The curtain of grey obliterated her view from which the ship was peeking at times, almost as if it was playing hide and seek.

She watched it with almost motherly affection. Suddenly a lightning flashed, blinding her for a moment and when it cleared, Capricorn was nowhere to be seen. Instead, another vessel loomed in the horizon. From the distance even, the sign of death on the black mast was visible.

"Florian," she hissed, turning around around and shouting for her crew. Immediately they set to work, flaring the mask to catch the wind, navigating Nova towards the attacked ship.

Nova hit the Capricorn from the other side and the vessel was sandwiched between the warriors. Zelda and her crew effortlessly used ropes to swing onto the other vessel. The sailors jumped on the pirates, both parties armed with swords and a bloodbath started.

Zelda avoided all these fight, cutting her way through the deck and going down the stairs to the ship's cabin where Florian generally held the captain in his grip.

And sure enough, Florian was standing there, baring his yellowed teeth, grinning obnoxiously as he held the sword at the captain's throat. He had been securely tied up and was in no position to move soon. Zelda moved cautiously and crept up behind Florian, lifting her sword.

But he was cautious and deftly jumped apart, tackling her sword with his own. A clang of metal ensued as the deadly fighters got engaged in the dance of death. At some time, the sword missed their hearts by inches and yet none could defeat the other.

Zelda was edging closer to the Captain by inches, while keeping up the fight. The captain still squirmed in his ropes. Finally she could shield the captain completely, bur Florian was relentless in his blows. Her hands had sustained considerable damage, but there was no sign of any injury or fatigue on the part of Florian.

And just as she aimed for Florian again, something hit her leg, slicing the skin into two as it ripped apart her muscles.

She dropped to the ground screaming, wondering where that unexpected blow came from. The captain was standing there, a bloody sword in his hand and Zelda could see herself sitting on a pool of blood, seeping from her leg.

"What the hell?" she cursed, loudly.

The captain was still standing there, holding the sword like a club, wondering what to do with it. Florian yawned as if utterly bored.

"Go ahead, Captain Morris. What are you waiting for? I didn't pay you to look at her face. Get over with it fast..." he said, lighting his pipe and striding to the other side of the room.

"What does it mean? Morris, you tricked me?" she tried to get up, but her leg was badly injured, 'What did he pay you for?"

"To lure you here and kill you. You were a supposed hindrance to his path."

"And why would you do that? Are you so greedy, you bloodsucker?" Zelda spat.

"He has my family held captive," he sighed, "He isn't paying me. He's threatening me."

"And you always knew you could say that to me right? I could have helped you..."

"You bloody well didn't listen every time I tried to tell you. You were too busy with helping out some merchant, planning to defeat Florian, when he was plotting against you for a long time. You were a fool, Zelda. Think of all the times I tried to tell you about them..."

"Enough of talking," said Florian, coming over and kneeling down beside her, "Your captain had an easy and quick way to kill you, but he's too loyal and too naïve to do that. Seems like we need to choose the hard way out."

"What would you do with me?" she hissed.

"Feed you to the sharks! The smell of blood attracts them like anything, even from a mile."

He reeked of tobacco and alcohol and Zelda gritted her teeth, trying to gather her strength to get up, but her legs were failing her.

"People, tie her up and take her overboard. We need some fun..."

"Oh my God!" the younger one hid her face in her hands with fear, "But Zelda is a legend. She can get defeated, can she?

"Zelda was a ferocious Captain. one that maintained law and order in the seas. When you're reverenced by all, you need to take life in your hands and just jump in, not caring about the co sequences and Zelda was that daring kind. Even on being held captive, she had no regrets about her mission. Captain Morris had disappeared from the scene completely," said Grandma irritated.

Obviously she didn't like the interruption in the most exciting part of her story. The two children pressed closer to her, eager to hear the next part of Zelda's crazy adventure.

"Go," barked Florian.

"No," Zelda's grave voice held as much command as it would have held on her own ship.

"Jump or else," Florian held a sword to Zelda's throat, barely grazing it.

The poor sailor of Zelda's crew shook like a withered leaf as he stood at the edge of the deck. He was torn between his duties towards his captain and his life.

"Can we make a deal?" asked Zelda, her eyes blazing, even as the sword pressed down on her throat, drawing blood.

Florian narrowed his eyes and cocked his head.

"I take that as a permission," she raised her eyebrows, looking straight into his eyes, "I want you to take the members of my crew into your team. Don't kill them. They are well trained sailors and can brave any adversities at sea. They need a leader. They'll be of use to you. And about Morris, now that you got me, leave his family and stop threatening him, let him stay in peace."

"Very well," Florian brought his mouth closer to her ears, "I would do all these, but what do I get in return?"

"You get me. Tie me with stones and throw me into the water or do whatever you like. You got what you wanted. My crew has done you no harm," she said through clenched teeth.

"Very well, you're correct, but choose your words carefully captain. I own you and do whatever I like with you in exchange for it. Would you be my slave if I want? Serve me for as long as you live? I could as well as you to jump into the water, burn yourself in fire or just thrust the sword in your heart. Will you do all that if I accede to your request?"

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she kept her head high and looked straight at where her crew was standing, tied and in silence. All of their eyes were determined. They were even ready to die for her.

"Captain please. Don't do that," someone pleaded.

She shook her head in defeat.

"Yes, I submit myself to you. You can do anything you like."

"Very well then, release everyone," Florian's voice rang out, loud and clear.

Immediately his crew released hers. They stood huddled in one corner of the vessel, wondering what to do next.

"So," Florian circled around the post, which had Zelda tied to it. "What should I do with you?"

"Be over with it quick, Florian. You always wanted that, right?" she hissed.

"First tell, me, why did you want to make this deal? What provoked you to save your crew? How did you trust me that I won't kill all your men after I eliminate you?"

"I didn't trust you, then. I don't trust you now. But I won't be that captain who sees her crew being sentenced to death before her eyes, for no fault of theirs. I'd fight till the last to protect them. They are not my crew. They're my family."

Florian stumbled on his way and came to a standstill.

"How come my crew never does that? I pay them so well."

"Payment and care isn't the same Florian."

His eyes were burning ember. He didn't reply and unsheathed his sword. Coming closer menacingly. Zelda knew it was her end. But she didn't close her eyes.

The sword gleamed in the sun and came down straight, slicing neatly through the roped, not even scraping her skin.

"You can go," muttered Florian, making a hand gesture to his crew.

As if on a cue, they all started getting up on ropes and swinging back to their ship.

"I'd like to see you again, Zelda. Someday, somewhere, maybe in another life. We'll meet, we'll talk. I've a lot to learn."

Soon his ship sped away and was lost in the horizon.

"Grandmamma, did Zelda meet Florian again?"

Just then an old man with a tin leg came trotting to the beach.

"Grandpapa will tell that story," she smiled and winked at him.

3000 words completed

Written for the Collab Contest by talesofthedeep and SecretTreasures

Thanks for reading Pipigrin MaryFahey teamhathaway KashishBelikov lindajonesAuthor

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