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James Hess, or more commonly known as Johnathan Black, tapped a claw on the wooden railing of his ship as he impatiently watched Cutlass Conway's ship lead them closer and closer to the ships bearing Blackbeard's colors. William stood next to him, watching intently and somewhat nervously. He had asked repeatedly what they should do, whether they should turn around or start firing cannons. James had thought about both options, but Conway's ship was faster than his if he chose to run, and Conway had bigger cannons, meaning he could take James's ship down without much damage done to his. He felt pinned, trapped, and he hated it.

The other crew members were starting to fret as well, but all had enough faith in the wolf that they never asked what should be done. James thought, and thought harder, but there was no possible way he could get out of this. Upon looking over the incoming enemy ships, they were all low grade and none of them was the Queen Anne's Revenge, so Blackbeard himself wasn't here. The wolf and his crew could probably take out at least three of the six ships, but that still leaves Conway, which could blow away James without flinching.

He bit his lip and chewed on his whiskers. "Ready the cannons..." he said quietly, but loud enough for Aakash to hear and carry out the demand to the rest of the crew. He could see William look over to him from the corner of his eye, but he kept staring at Conway's leading ship.

"You really think we can take all of them on?" William asked, taking a bandana and tying it around his forehead to force his hair back.

"No, but something doesn't feel right about this whole situation..." he sighed. "I just want to be ready."

"Conway's stopping!" Greg yelled down from his perch at the top of the main mast.

"Raise the sails!" James stepped away from the railing and walked over to a random crew member; a tall raccoon. James drew the raccoon's sword from his belt then tossed it to William. "You might need this."

The prince fumbled to catch it without touching the razor sharp blade. "And what makes you think I'm any use with one of these?"

James flashed the boy a smile. "You used to take Fencing lesions a few years ago right?"

William grumbled as he held the blade. Thankfully, it was very lightweight, like the practice swords he used back at home, but it was still very much sharper than what he was used to, and he was now holding someone's life in the palm of his hands. It might not have seemed like much to the others, but to him, that was a huge ordeal.

The wolf walked over to the main mast and looked down to where Kahn was still tied up. The Dalmatian sneered when he saw the wolf, but neither said anything for a long while. Then, quicker than William could register, James had pulled out and swung his sword at Kahn's chest, cutting the ropes free around his torso and arms. For a moment, William thought that the wolf might have hit the Dalmatian a bit in that quick burst of movement, but when Kahn stood up, not a scratch could be seen on him.

The wolf held out his hand to his right and someone threw a sword into his hands. He caught it without looking and brought the blade facing down in between the two. Kahn put a hand on the hilt of the sword, but James didn't let go. "You try anything," James said so low that it was almost scary to hear him talk. "I will not hesitate in killing you this time."

Kahn didn't say anything, instead he just stood there glaring at the wolf until James finally let go of the sword and let it drop into the Dalmatian's hands. Kahn leaded against the mast he had been tied to when James finally walked away, heading back towards the captains quarters. William let go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding, relieved that they didn't try killing each other with more than just their deadly gazes.

James sighed again when he entered into his quarters. He walked up to his desk and inside of a drawer, he found a little, single shot gun that he kept just in case of emergencies. He plucked the gun from the drawer and stuffed it into his boot. "He's not trying to kill you, ya know." A familiar voice said from behind him, startling James and he spun around and drew his sword.

From the corner of the room, in a shadow that was too dark to be natural emerged Hector; green eyes seemed to glow and move like the ocean's surface. "Hector?" James said, lowering his sword a bit. "How the hell did you-?"

"I have my ways." The fox said smugly. "Anyways, Conway isn't ambushing you, you're going to ambush Blackbeard's ships."

James looked confused. He had no idea what the fox was talking about. Sure, between him and Conway, they could probably take the enemy ships without breaking a sweat, but how is that supposed to help him find new crew members and ships?

Hector chuckled as he fully stepped out of his shadow, eyes still glowing brightly even in the mid-day sun. "Follow me," he said, walking to (and through) James's quarter's door.

"Oooookay James," he said, slowly walking to the door, unsurely. "You really have to cut back on the coconuts and sunbathing..."

When James opened the door to the main deck, it took him a moment to find where Hector had gone. The fox had somehow made it to the front of the ship and was sitting on the railing with his feet and tail dangling over the edge. The strangest part to James, was that no one else seemed to notice him.

"Hey Johnathan," William said, but it was nothing but a distant voice as James made his way up to the front of the ship.

When James came to stand next to Hector, the fox looked up to him with a smile that was too sweet to fit his demeanor. "See over there?" the fox pointed to the horizon behind the enemy ships.

"See what?"

"Here," Hector held his hand over the wolf's eyes. James just thought it was silly at first, but then, something started to move in the fox's hand. He could see THROUGH the fox's hand. It was like looking at the surface of moving water, like the fox's eyes, only everything seemed to be outlined a misty green. Though everything moved like water, James could actually see clearer than he could with his own eyes.

When he looked back to the enemy ships, he didn't just see the small distant boats from his angle, but he could now see every single person on the ship. Not only could he see even the people below deck, but when he looked at them, he automatically knew their name and age, and something he could feel that didn't make much sense to him. "What the hell is this?" James asked, as he looked to the next ship and the same thing happened.

Hector giggled. "Just look, look beyond Blackbeard's ships."

So James did. When he tried to look past the ships, it was like he was moving forward with his vision. He started to feel sick to his stomach, but he could hold it until he saw what Hector was trying to show him.

Looking past Blackbeard's ships, James saw another group of ships that seemed to follow the enemy. When James looked at the colors they were flying, he started to feel a little better. The ships following Blackbeard's were flying Hess's colors. "See," Hector said, taking his hand away from James's eyes. The world seemed to stand still and it took a moment for the wolf's eyes to readjust. "Conway's not leading you to doom. He's testing you though, seeing what you can do."

"What do you mean?" James asked, looking to the fox, who was still smiling coyly.

"You'll find out."

James looked back to the distant ships. "What about you? What are you? How are you doing this? Who are you really?"

"James?" William asked, looking at the wolf oddly as he came up behind him. "Who are you talking to?"

The wolf looked from Hector to William. "What do you mean 'who am I taking to?'? I'm talking to-"

"James," Hector cut him off. "They can't see or hear me. I'm not really here, I'm only in your head."

When James looked back to the fox, all he saw was an empty space of there the fox was. "Uh," James said, looking back to the concerned prince, and noticing the curious looks of the other crew members. "N-no one, just myself." He cleared his throat and pushed by William. "Get ready to be boarded."

‾*‾

"Alright Johnny my boy," Conway said as he twisted his mustache. "Time for a little test. You see Blackbeard's ships over there?" he pointed in the direction of the incoming enemies, but James didn't look or say anything. "My colleagues and I have been tailing these buggers for a while now. Turns out that Blackbeard had found something quite... special, let's say, so he can wage war on England. Well, I personally don't give a damn if the old loon attacks England or not, I just want what he found."

"What are you getting at, Cutlass?" James asked impatiently.

"I want you to go and fetch it for me." he said, smiling wickedly.

"By myself?"

Conway's smile widened even more. "You want to lead a battle against Blackbeard, prove that you're a worthy leady by taking on six ships with your little dinky... thing..." he said, waving at the Glass Sea.

James huffed. Was it worth it? Was it worth possibly losing his men just to prove a point? He thought about it. Conway was a snake, he already knew that, but he was also a great ally to have; powerful, fleets under his rule, ships, weapons. With him on the wolf's side, things would be off to a great start in raising an army... but Conway was also known for betrayal.

It wasn't just Conway he was fighting for though, not anymore anyways. If what Cutlass said was true, and those enemy ships really are carrying something special that could help win a war, then that was another something that could show people that he was serious.

He bit his lip and chewed his whiskers again as he tapped the hilt of his sword with a claw. "Fine." He said through his teeth.

Conway laughed and clasped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit!"

"But!" James added before the man could go on. "If I succeed, I get to keep whatever it is that's so special, and you make me head of your fleet." Insurance, that's what he was bargaining for. He didn't want to go into a suicide mission and not get anything from it.

Conway's smile faded and the crew of both parties started listening more intently. Conway didn't seem so smug now that he wouldn't be gaining very much out of this little bet, but even so, James could see something hatching in the man's eyes when he said "Deal," and they both shook hands.

When Conway was back on his ship and he turned around to gain a safe distance, everyone on James's ships started to question why the wolf would agree to this. Everyone was asking questions over each other except for Lance, Kahn and William. "SHUT UP!" James yelled over everyone else once he was tired of hearing everyone. Dead silence rolled over James's ship. He fixed his coat and hat. "There, now, I know what you guys are thinking and I understand, but if we manage to pull this off, that puts us at a huge advantage and that much closer to taking on Blackbeard." He tried to explain, but as soon as he was done talking, more questions started to erupt. "I SAID SHUT UP!!!" He yelled again, only even louder. "Listen, you may now see it now, but we need England to prosper. Think about it, think about how things will change if Blackbeard rules England, and what happens when he wants more than just one country?"

"I don't see what so bad about letting a pirate rule," one of the crew members said. "Then fellow pirates would be able to make port without the chance of facing the gallows."

Several of the other crew members nodded in agreement along with mumbles. "You really think that Blackbeard would be more merciful than the king and queen? I mean really? Most of you were once civilized men, so think; would you rather have a barbarian over a rational rule?" That seemed to catch the attention of the crew. "And not only that, but think about how grateful England would be if they knew that we saved their country? Rewards, money, women, you name it." Now the crew started seeing it in James's light, all except for the silent three in the back.

While James continued his speech, Kahn leaned over to William and whispered; "Do you really think that the king and queen would grant a bunch of pirates all of that?"

"While I'm with them, yes. I think Johnathan is counting on my good word if all of this doesn't go to hell." William said, crossing his arms but not taking his eyes off from the wolf.

"What if something happens to you?" Lance asked.

"It all goes to hell."

‾*‾

"Fire!" James yelled and a row of cannon's all burst simultaneously.

It was just as James thought; Blackbeard's ships were pretty low grade, made for speed more than battle. He was careful not to fire at the ship in the middle of the other five; that's where he guessed the 'special' thing to be. Taking down the first two ships before they got too close was easy, but as they drew nearer, James noticed that the defending ships had blades coming out of its sides.

"Son-of-a-" James started but was cut off when one of the ships had gotten close enough to attach itself to the Glass Sea. The ship rattled on impact, sending most of the crew, James included, off their feet and onto their backs. "Fire! Fire!" James yelled, stumbling to get back up as his ship and the enemy's ship twisted in the water.

When the cannon's fired at the attached ship, it loosen its grip enough that James was able to pull it away. "Don't let them get too close!" James yelled, spinning the wheel of the ship so that he was going in the direction on the main ship.

Conway wasn't lying; Blackbeard's ships were defiantly trying to protect something, and whatever it was, it was on that ship. "Relies all sails!" James shouted. He got a few concerned looks from the crew, and he knew why, if the sails were destroyed, they would basically be sitting ducks and wouldn't have a chance of getting away, but James knew what he was doing, at least, everyone hoped he did.

When the sails dropped, a gust of wind caught it almost immediately and James had to hold on to the wheel so that he wouldn't get thrown off. "Ready the front cannons!" He demanded, keeping the ship pointed at the main enemy. Front facing cannons weren't common on ships, so Blackbeard's ships (and Conway) probably weren't expecting what was coming when James yelled "Fire," and the ship started to slow down.

"Get ready to board!"

"God, he's crazy!" William said, holding onto the railing so that he didn't get thrown overboard. "There's still two more ships defending it!"

"I wouldn't worry about those," Lance said with a disturbingly positive demeanor. "The Cap always seems to make his raids fast, no matter what stands against him."

"I do hope you're right..." William clung even harder to the retailing when they got close enough to the ships and their sails lifted, abruptly slowing the Glass Sea to keep pace with the other ship.

By now, the other two defending ships had already started to turn around with their bladed bodies at the ready. "Aakash," Was all James had to say and the crocodile took the helm while James mad his way to the side of the ship. "Ready?" he asked, and nearly half the crew (including Kahn) grabbed a free rope and got ready to swing.

Just before James leaped, William was sure he saw the faint enjoyment of a smirk on the wolf's muzzle. Yes, James was in there somewhere, but whoever it was that was about to plunder a nearly defenseless ship was not him.

When James's feet hit the deck of the enemy ship, he was expecting (and somewhat hoping) to be swarmed with people and swords, but when he and his crew looked around, the deck was lifeless and vacant. He found that rather odd that a ship was steering itself, and even though he's seen some pretty odd things in his years as a pirate, he didn't find it physically or supernaturally possible for a ship to move without someone controlling it.

When James looked back up, he noticed that the defending ships weren't charging them. Instead, they just sat there motionless from a distance. "Search the ship," James ordered and everyone but him and Kahn started looking. It didn't take very long before one of the crew mates came back and said "I think you should see this boss..."

James and Kahn followed the mate below deck. The area was empty, no sleeping quarters, or kitchen, or anything. Nothing except for a door with a lock and red light seeping through the cracks.

James stepped up to the door and placed his palm on its surface. The wood was warm and, somehow, energizing. Like whatever was behind the door was powering the entire ship. He stepped back and brought his knee up to his chest before he threw his heel into the door.

The hinges broke when his foot came in contact with the door and it burst inward. As soon as it opened, a flood of red sparkling dust covered the area and it was bright enough to blind a man. James covered his eyes and felt his hat fly from his head, and as abruptly as the light and wind came, it stopped.

James slowly lowered his arm from his eyes, peeking over it to see a fox chained to the wall, completely nude. His eyes were closed, but he didn't appear to be sleeping, rather, waiting.

Kahn was still rubbing his eyes when James entered the small prison room. As soon as he got close enough, the fox chained to the wall opened his eyes, revealing bright red evil eyes. He sneered, but only for a moment before his body started to melt into the red dust. "It's a spirit..." James mumbled, slowly backing away. "Everyone OUT!"

Turning on his heal, James and his crew members bolted up from below deck and began running for his own ship. "Go Aakash! GO!" James was yelling as he, Kahn and a few of the other managed to grab a rope and swing back onto the safety of his ship. A few of his crew members didn't make it as the entire ship suddenly started to morph. It twisted and split apart before it exploded into another cloud of red sparkling dust.

Then a beam of read dashed out faster than a bullet until it to a ball in-between the two previous defending ships. Two beams shot out from the ball in between the ships and both of them exploded into another cloud of dust, leaving nothing but rocking waters in its wake.

James and his crew members watched in amazement as the spirit obliterated Blackbeard's ships. It was no wonder why Blackbeard wanted this, but how his men managed to capture it in the first place is what baffled the wolf the most. Spirits aren't beings that most had the pleasure of meeting and living to tell the tale, and the fact that Blackbeard nearly had this one meant that the old loon would stop at nothing and spare no extent to accomplish his will.

‾*‾

The waters and winds finally started to calm, but the crew could seem to stop looking at the red ball of light and dust the hovered above the water, now peacefully. James didn't know how a spirit could be much help, well, he could see how, but Spirits weren't being that people had the leisure of bargaining with.

He could already see Conway's ship getting close to his, and he wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't very well just go out and grab a spirit, so the most he could do was just leave it.

"Bravo, Bravo!" Conway said, clapping his hands as he stepped onto James's ship. "I'll be honest, I didn't think you could do it, but boy was I wrong!"

"And our deal?" James asked, turning to Conway. If the man was about to back out of a deal that required James to come face to face with a demon spirit and live to walk away from it, he was going to be sure that Conway DIDN'T walk away.

"In full effect! Oh, and it looks like our colleagues are coming to congratulate you as well." He pointed to the incoming ships that flew James's father's colors.

But before the ships could reach them, the spirit moved. It moved quickly, flying high into the sky and doing a few circles before it came to land roughly on James's main deck, rocking the entire boat and Conway's in that water.

It looked like a fox again, only this time, it was wearing cloth's that seemed to form from thin air. It stood up from its crouched position and looked around the startled crew. Its eyes came to rest on James's, and it just stood there, staring at him. William wondered what was going on, he's never seen a real life spirit before and this one seemed destructive and unstable, not exactly the best qualities to have when one thing owns that much power.

They stared for a long moment before the fox turned and walked away. It walked into the storage room, the same room that William was kept in when he was first on the ship, and the door slammed behind it.

Everyone on the ship exchanged glances. "Congratulations, Captain Black." Conway said, though, he didn't sound like his usual smug self, instead he sounded gruff. When James looked to the man, he noticed that his eyes were demonic red, as if he were possessed, "You've just earned yourself the Demon Alistair."