Micheal awoke swinging on a hammock in an unfamiliar room. The walls, roof, and floor were made of poorly cared-for wooden boards. The room had an air of salt, and he could feel the moisture in the air. He got out of the hammock he mysteriously woke up in and felt like vomiting as soon as he was on his feet. As he tried to get his bearings, he stumbled to the doorframe and tumbled into the hallway.

“CAPTAAAAAAAAAAAIN,” Someone nearby shouted out at the top of their lungs, “HE’S AWAKE NOWWWWWW.”

Micheal attempted to get up but immediately fell back down. “Looks like ye ain't gotten your sea legs yet mate,” the man, clearly a pirate, looked down at him, “Lemme help ya up.” He had faint stubble and had an eyepatch over his right eye and a bandana on top of his head.

Micheal, supported by the pirate man, began to steady himself on the ship. “What happened?” He asked the man.

“Oh yeah, it's a pretty short story. We was running from another ship out on these waters when we’s almost crashed into the district border. We saw ya just floating there in the water so we’s decided to haul ya onto the deck. Then we left ya in the room right over there,” The pirate man pointed toward the room he was just in.

“So do we go to the captain or is he going to come here?” Micheal asked.

“‘E should be comin’, unless somet’in’ else importants happenin,” The pirate man said.

“Ok,” Micheal replied, “What’s your name?”

“Me name is Steve.”

“Just Steve?”

“Yeah, me name is Steve. I’m not important enough for a title. Some people jus’ call me Regular Steve.”

“That sure is an interesting nickname.”

“Yer the first person to think that. Now c’mon. Captain Jack should be here soon.”

“Jack?!? Like Nightmare Jackk?!”

“That old western fearbag? Hell no. Captain Jack’s the nicest guy you ever gonna meet. He’s the district warden roun’ here. He is still a form of evil incarnit’ so be aware of ‘im.”

“Oh ok. That’s a relief. Wait he’s the warden?!”

“Yeah. Although why’s a simple guy like you wonderin’ ‘bout Nightmare Jackk and Captain Jack bein’ the same guy? Most wardens are pretty nice ya know.”

“Because Nightmare Jackk sent out a message or something to everyone in all the districts about capturing me.”

“Damn man. That ain’t no good at all. I guess that means it’s time we have a little fun on this boat. C’mon. It’s mutiny time.” Steve smirked with a slight maniacal twist.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Steve and Micheal walked up the old worn wooden stairs to the top deck. Micheal looked towards the horizon, captivated by the endless blue. He slowly scanned the deck, registering everyone on it. He saw the captain at the wheel, wearing his eyepatch and his pirate-esque hat with a parrot on his shoulder. He saw a man with a hook for a hand in the crow’s nest and a peg-legged woman barking orders at the other crewmates. She too had an eyepatch and a pirate-esque hat. A monkey in a little jacket scampered down the mast and onto the railing near Micheal. He held the sheath tight in his hands. He didn’t feel it was safe among these people.

“You there!” The peg-legged woman shouted at him.

“Me?” Micheal said.

“Yes, you! Who else is standin’ around doin’ nothin’?” She yelled at Micheal. “Swab the deck or somethin’. Make yourself useful.”

“Um. But I’m not a part of the crew.” Micheal’s reply was unsure.

“Does it look like I care?” The woman barked at him, “Now get workin’ or I’ma have to throw you off the ship!”

“Ok,” Micheal said as Steve picked up a protesting Captain Jack and threw him off the ship.

“Today! Today is a new beginnin’ for us all! Together we will rule the high seas once again! No warden! No rules! Piracy forever!” Steve yelled.

A cry of joy rang out from the entire crew. Steve walked over to the peg-legged woman’s head and exclaimed, “The new captain! Peg-leg Petunia!” Another cry rang out from the crew. Steve walked down from the raised part of the upper deck and walked down to Micheal.

“Aye, new kid. Yer safe here now. Ain’t no warden gonna come and take ya now,” Steve told him, “Yer safe on this ship. If ya leave ya can come back wheneva ya wants to. As long as ya can find us.”

“Thanks, Steve,” Micheal said.

“I should be thankin’ you, kid. There wasn’t no excitement on this goddamn ship. Now where’s ya looking to go?” Steve asked.

“What? You can take me somewhere?” Micheal asked, surprised. “Where can you take me?”

“Of course I can. This ‘ere ship can travel the multiverse if she wants to.”

“Wow. I want to go home. Or back to that desert world. Or maybe I stay here,” Micheal told Steve.

“Aye. I’ll get ya there. I won’t need ta if ya stay here. But if ya decide to go, I’ma need ya ta take this wit’ ya,” Steve handed Michael the beak of a squid that had been shaped into a calling horn of sorts. I had intricate designs on it, showing that it wasn’t made by the pirates.

“What is it?” Micheal asked.

“If ya blow into it we here on the ship ‘ill hear yer call. I’ll tell Captain Petunia that we needa get ta ya fast if we hear it. Only use it in emergencies though, otherwise ‘tunia ‘ill skin ya. Those things are hard to make too. Requires a Kraken Beak. None of us can even make ‘em. They also sometimes only work once. Not always though.”

“Ok,” Micheal said as he tucked the Kraken Beak Horn into a leather rucksack he had also gotten from Steve. “Now how do you travel? Realms I mean.”

“Well, we can take ya somewhere or ya can do it all by yerself. If ya wants to do it by yerself ya just gotta hold that magic sword in fronta ya’s chest like this,” Steve told Micheal, miming himself holding a sword point down in front of his chest.

“Like this?” Micheal said, putting the sword in front of his chest in the required position.

“No no no, don’t do it now unless ya really want to leave and yer focused on your destinatio…,” Steve said as Micheal shifted realms once more, “Well, I guess I’ll see him aroun’. ‘Ey Petunia! Let’s get this ship offa this shitty world and take it somewhere we can be pirates again!” The crew erupted in cheers once more.