Bourbons Capture.

There was once a land long forgotten, hidden behind a misty veil. If you sailed for 11 days straight, headed straight off the map, maybe you'd eventually get there.

There was no way to tell how long Bourbon had been at sea. Months? Days? No ones really knew. Although he thought he should be the one to know, being that he was the Captain of the Secret Vessel.

He had named it that because, well, because it was always supposed to be secret. Something only he and his crew knew about.

He pondered these things as he rose to his feet on the deck of the ship, hauling himself up by holding on to the railing for dear life. He hadn't known how long he'd been sitting there, but as he stood, he felt his legs wobble beneath him, his back softly ache.

It had been a lot longer than 11 days at sea. 11 days he could handle. But this was something else. It was as if there was some force set on keeping them away from their destination.

''Captain, how are you faring these days?'' asked one of the lowly shipmates, walking up to check on his captain. Bourbon squinted his eyes and looked out at the sun reflecting off the water. How was he faring? badly, but that was the same for everyone.

''Same as you, Quin-tin'' he said plainly, another bout of nausea churning his stomach. His grip on the railing tightened as his knuckles turned white.

Quin-tin nodded his head and turned his gaze out to the sea.

''Captain, some of the men have begun to grow restless,'' he said quietly. Bourbon hung his head and took shallow breaths.

''This I am aware of. But we've came to far to turn back now'', he doubted his own words as they came forth.

''captain, the crew has started to doubt you, and your capabilities'' Quin-tin fidgeted with the button on his worn leather jacket. ''there are rumors of a mutiny beginning to form'' he lowered his tone to a whisper, becoming quite sheepish.

Bourbon's heart sank. He'd bitten off way more than he had intended to. Maybe it was time to run around before anything could actually happen.

''Thank you, mate, but I do believe we will all be just fine. Have a little trust in me'' he said as he raised his head and gave the same charming smile he always had at the ready. Quin-tin nodded his head and left without another word.

That night, Bourbon sat in his captain's quarters. A map of the many lands and seas lay out in frontof him on the old red wood table. The ship creaked as he traced over the dotted lines that charted their course.

These lines led to the edge of the map, into nowhere. absolutely nowhere. Sitting next to his map was a chart of stars. The stars had always interested him. Even when he was a young boy, he'd escape out onto the roof of his bedchamber to gaze at them with his sister. The thing about these stars was that he'd found a pattern in them.

They made a dotted line of their own. And this one led far beyond the map.

He took his feathered quill and dipped it into the ink pot. He drew some things on this map, made a couple of X's here and there. Marking where they had been, and where they were headed. He furrowed his brow as he looked over these papers again and again; none of it made sense.

As he wrote the last X's and picked up his quill, a shout came from outside his quarters.

Setting his maps and charts aside, he flung on his jacket and rushed towards the steps leading to his door. He swung it open and looked around them. His first mate, Elbert, caught his eye and rushed over.

''Captain, we've spotted a ship'' he said loudly, the wind whipping about them and drowning out all noise. ''Actually several,'' he corrected himself, seeming in distress. ''They are coming up on us fast. what should we do?'' he shouted once more. Bourbon walked to the edge and brought out his spyglass, looking around at anything moving.

After a moment of swaying back and fourth his eyes locked onto a fleet of around 6 ships, with navy blue sails and maroon painted hulls. Bourbon lowered his spyglass, a feeling of disdain and dread washing over him. His crew gathered around him. waiting with bated breath.

If these ships were friendly, they were saved, but if they were foes, he may as well have just killed them all. But he knew, Bourbon knew without a doubt, that they were in fact not friendly. They were low on all supplies, and the cannons had run out of black powder long ago. What other choice did he have? What other option?

He cast his eyes up to the stars, that twinkled back in absolute defiance. ''hail the ships, put up the white flag, and lower all cannons. let them board us'' he said sternly. Many gasps and whispers emerged from his crew.

Elbert wore a face of concern as he rested one hand on his captain's shoulder ''Captain Bourbon, we don't have to do this...we can fight'' he said, although he sounded unsure himself. Bourbon turned around, shrugging Elberts hand away.

''We do what I command. We are low on supplies, and half of us are malnourished, sun sick, or sea sick.'' He took in a deep breath, steadying his feet. ''If we fight, we die. If we run, we would be far too slow, and in what direction? back the way we came?'' he shouted at his men, his eyes sharp and gaze narrow. ''I have seen these ships before'' his voice boomed as the crew went quiet.

''These are Her Royal Majesty's ships. Queen Lyanna's ships. There is no fighting or outrunning. We surrender under my command. Any man who disagrees seals his own fate'' he said, turning from them all.

As the ships approached, the crew of The Secret Vessel hailed them. raising the sails and dropping anchor. Bourbon went to his captain's cabin and quickly made sure all his maps were destroyed. He splashed ink on them all, ripping up the star charts. His eyes didn't even swell with tears, but rather relief overtook his soul.

Whatever lay beyond the veil, one day would be his to discover. But not today.

As the Queens' men boarded the ship, Bourbon was put in metal shackles. An Admirel with a big maroon hat walked towards him, holding a scroll. ''You, Captain Bourbon, are here by arrested in the name of her Royal Majesty Queen Lyanna of the shared shores and its outstanding ports.'' As the man rambled on, he watched as a few of his men tried to fight, and were quickly disarmed and put to rest. As Bourbon was pulled off his ship and to the bottom of the brig, he said a prayer, up to the stars. In hopes that they might help him live.

Bourbon never thought that 6 months in captivity would go by quickly. Much to his dismay, he would learn that they had not sailed even close to the map's edge, but rather towards Port Rapture. And there on that Port, he spent the next 4 months in prison, awaiting his own hanging.

Bourbon missed his freedom. He missed his home, he missed everything he had taken for granted.

He sat one morning in his prison, which was a dirt pit with metal bars covering the top. He counted the passing shadows. Until one very large shadow came into view. ''Admiral says it's your day to die, pirate,'' one of the guards spat, as he took the metal grid off and pulled Bourbon to his feet.

An easy smile spread across the Captain's face.

He'd waited so long for a moment to escape. This was it. Captain Bourbon of the Secret vessel would be free once more.

Little did he know, fate also agreed with this. From the shadows of the realm, certain people pulled strings in his favor. One day, these faces would step into the light.

The End..or so it seemed.