There I was, clinging to just a piece of wood in the middle of the ocean. I've probably been out here for more than a day and if I'm being honest AND I thought, for the rest of my life I will too. There was nothing around me, no island, no ship, not even a small boat that could have saved me. But then, I don't know if you should call it luck or destiny, out of nowhere, a huge fleet of about 40 ships appeared. If I wanted to live, I had to make them somehow aware of me, which resulted in me shouting and screaming for somone to help me, what normally shouldn't have helped at all as the waves crashing into the ships made it hard for even myself to hear my exhausted, squeaky voice. One man though, once he noticed me, jumped into the water, put me on his back and made it back to one of the ships without breaking a sweat. To this day, I don't understand how he was able to do that. One thing that I do understand though is that I owe him my life and that I would do anything to help him.

"Now everything that I just told you happened about 6 years ago when I was 10. But still, I'll forever be grateful for what our captain did for me that day."

"So the captain isn't just a heartless pirate that robs island for all their gold just to spend it all on booze?", a short, black-haired girl that was about my age asked me.

"Not just but that sure is the most defining trait he has", I chuckled. "But still, he did exactly what you just told me to your island and you still wanted to join his crew? Didn't he destroy your whole life by taking all that money?"

"He did, yes, but that's exactly the reason why I went with him. I have nothing left, no family, no friends no home and now, thanks to the alcoholic, no money. I had basically no reason to not accept his offer, had I stayed, I would've either died or had an even more miserable life with no money at all."

"My condolences."

"Nah, don't worry about it. My dad died so soon that I don't even remember how he looked and my mum always was out drinking when I got a bit older. It's not as bad as you might imagine.I can travel the world now at least, so your beloved captain probably was more of a blessing than anything else."

"Thats good to hear I guess? Well, anyways, I didn't ask your name yet, I'm Kai"

"Mira"

"Enough chitchat Kai, come here, the captain wants to talk to ya" , One of the crewmates on deck told me

"Aight, I'm gonna be right back", I said towards Mira as I walked up the stairs.

Once I entered the capain's cabin, He greeted me with the biggest smile I've ver seen.

"Guess what we found in that little town just now", the old man asked joyfully.

Without me being able to say anything he added, "We finally found a treasure map to old Blackbeard's treasure"

"So we finally know where that mythical weapon lies?"

"It's atleast very probable, yes.

My face lit up. If that treasure was real and this particular map really led us to it, we, no, I could change everything. Still, I had my doubts, especially why that map would be on exactly this small island.

"So why exactly are you sure that this is the right map? Why would it be here in this small town?"

"Second part of your question: I have absolutely no idea at all. But. You remember that me and Blackbeard had some clashes in the past? Well, we at least somewhat got friends from all that fighting. Once, he showed me how he would design a map towards his most beloved treasures. It woudn't directly lead to the treasure but rather would be a riddle that you had to solve to get closer to it. And if you look at this map it exactly depicts that, doesn't it?

"Alright. I still don't think that that's enough evidence but hey, at least we got a clue after all these years. So should I tell the men to set sail?"

"Captain, the Navy is engaging us! At least 50 ships including their flagship", One of the scoutsmen shouted towards us."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Suddenly, the captain calmed down. "So we did have a traitor onboard somewhere. He must've found out that we found the map. Kai, I'm going to be honest with you. I will die right here.

"What?", I asked, competely shocked. he never got that serious. Him then telling me that hes going to die? That couldn't be real. "Please tell this is just one very bad joke" I asked, no, rather plead.

No. This time I'm completely serious.", He paused and put the treasure map into my hands, "Make sure you and that omnious girl make it out alive. She has some kind of connection to the map, we found it in her home. We can't let the Nemor Empire get either her or the card. Take one of the rescue boats and hide. I'll fake one map in the meantime. That should give you enough time to escape, now GO!

I stood there in complete disbelief. My hero, the man who saved me, the one I owed my life to, told me he was going to die and that I shall just run. But then, suddenly a cannon ball hit our ship. I immediatly came back to my senses and ran as fast as I could.

"Mira, where are you, we have to flee", I shouted. then I saw her already in a rescue boat. about to be let down into the water. I ran for my life, hearing the canons shattering the ships, some men crying for help, some encouraging them to fight. I finally made it into the boat.

"What's going on?, Mira  asked competely overwhelmed, "Why in the world decided the navy to come to such an insignificant island like this?"

"No time to explain." I let the boat into the water and made sure to row as fast as I could. Some cannon balls came much to close to our boat, but still, we didn't get hit. After what felt like an eternity, I was able to get behind one of the huge rocks and could finally ease a little bit.

"So maybe you can explain now?, Mira asked in utter shock and disbelief

"Well, someone ratted us out to the navy, they came here as fast as they could and now are going to kill everyone on that whole fleet I suppose.", I responded," I still have to process this all by myself."

"But why now? Don't tell me this island is the perfect spot for such a huge fleet to attack us?"

"They're after this map", I said as I brought it out, "Supposedly, it will lead to Blackbeards legendary treasure".

"Legendary tresure?", She was just curious, as if she had forgotten what's going on just a mere Rock away from us.

"A mythical weapon that is said to be the strongest of all, able to beat everyone and everything. Blackbeard never wielded it because he thought it would be to unfair to use it, so he hid it away, for nobody to ever use it. Then, Just a few months before his death, at least captain told me, he made a map that lead to the treasure."

"Really, well that's nice to know, now hand it over.", A navy soldier stood right behind me,pistol to my head. He must've seen us rowing away and decided to follow us, I thought.

"Once I bring this to my boss, I'm sure to get a huge promotion, maybe ven becoming an admiral? He said in the bost drooling way possible. "Now brat don't you wanna give this?"

"Alright. alright calm down." I slowly put my hands with the map in my hands up. What I didn't notice was the boat slowling getting out of cover. The soldier took the map out of my hands. With that, everything me, my captain and our whole crew worked towards was gone, at least I thought. The soldier went put his left foot into his boat but then, his face went to utter shock. A bullet. It was flying right towards him, no time to evade. It pierced right through his chest, making him fall out of both boats. I tired to make out the source of the shot.

"That was close enough." Mira said grinning was she was stretching over the whole boat grabbing the map. I didn't notice nor didn't I care. The one who killed the soldier was my captain. One last shot before he got slashed down by his right hand man. Before he died, he still was able to get a smile out, which undoubtely, was meant towards me. The words he would've said to me would've been: "Go and find the legendary weapon.". I'm sure of it.