The sky was as black as death. The painful winds forced the sea to rage against the ship. She was in Jayden's cabin, caught in the act of trying to take his precious map. Sarah dreamt of this day for more nights than she could count. She tried to wake from it, but it seemed the gods wanted her to relive her pain again.

"You thought I wouldn't find out," said Jayden. "But you were wrong, Sarah. These eyes can see through the lies of men. Why would you think I wouldn't see through you?" 

He sat on his desk, one hand on his knee and the other around a bottle of wine.

"You've changed," replied Sarah. "This isn't like you. We were out here trying to make the world a better place," she raised the map between them, her eyes glazing. "Then I find you with this. A curse meant to hurt people. The Blue Moon. Why would you even want to go looking for it?"

The Blue Moon, one of the legendary Thousand Treasures, like Winter's Kiss. Such relics were highly sought after by the royals, worth thousands of diamonds, some worth millions. The Blue Moon was a blue pearl, the size of a melon, with the power to transform men into stone. They had learned of it just a week prior, on the deck of Blackbeard's ship.

"That isn't for you to know," Jayden rose from his desk and reached for his gold pistol. "I made a deal with Blackbeard and you sabotaged it. You betrayed your Captain, Sarah. I don't care if we've laid together. If I don't take care of you, I'll lose respect on my own ship."

Sarah didn't know Jayden to bluff, though she wished he had been. The door of the Captain's den swung open as she ran for her life. The Caravan had waited by the door and was shocked to see her still alive. Four of the men seized her, and pushed her against the mast.

Their drunken bodies were husky enough to keep her pinned. One of them grabbed her breasts and was sent reeling back from a headbutt.

"Don't touch me," she barked, her forehead aching. "Let me go!"

The stricken man clenched his blood stained teeth and moved on her again. A gunshot traveled through the ship and the man toppled near Sarah's feet. She saw the wound in his forehead, a bloody bullet left steaming on the wooden floor. The captain stepped out of his den, his silver eyes rested on the men holding Sarah.

"You heard the woman, let her go," said Jayden. The men obeyed and backed away from her. Jayden scanned the ship, his eyes surveyed every face onboard. "This is still my Caravan, and you'll do as your Captain commands. This girl betrayed me...it's only right I pass the judgment, a sin for a sin," his silver eyes turned toward her, his head nodded toward the front of the ship. "Go on, let's see how far you get."

He cocked his pistol and pointed toward her chest. Sarah backed away slowly, fearful to turn away from Jayden's pistol. She looked around almost pleadingly at the crew, but she found no friends among the men she had sailed with. Sarah quickly ran up the stairs from the main deck and stepped onto the bow.

She glanced back once more and saw Jayden's silver eyes had begun to glow. His Secreto gave him unnatural vision, the ability to see hidden things, to never miss his chosen target. Sarah saw the flash of the gun and felt the bullet tear through her chest. The recoil sent her back over the rail and into the cold sea.

The memory of freezing water brought her out of her dream. She rose up from her bed and found herself in her own den. With a trembled hand, she wiped a streak of sweat over her brow. Rocky licked her face and soon her panicked breath began to ease.

She grabbed her left breast, her thumb circled around the wound Jayden had left her. She heard a slam and jumped. The captain was not alone, to her embarrassment. On her desk sat Gizmo, who silently focused on her atlas.

"Bad dream?" asked Gizmo, his gaze shifted from the book to her face.

"A bad memory." She muttered.

"You should lay off the rum then," he shook his head and returned to the book. "Good news is Port Ruby ain't that far. We'll probably be there in an hour."

The door to her den swung open, her hand instinctively reached for the pistol near her pillow. To her relief, Cookie stood at the door. Her tall companion ducked her head just to fit through the door. Her lips stretched into a smile, and her red shoes clicked against the wooden floor as she walked in.

"Good morning," Cookie sang. She swooped around the den and gave them both a kiss. "How are you my loves? My spirit is so bright today."

"What's with the dress?" asked Sarah.

Cookie looked down at her red dress, it ended high above her knees, but hugged her curves comfortably. Gizmo wiped his brown diamond eye, as entranced as a doll could look.

"I bought it back on Crescent Island," she spun around and then held her hips, her joyful face became concerned. "Why, does it look bad?"

"You look like a lover." Sarah gave her a bored look.

"But I'm not a lover anymore," replied Cookie. "I'm...of easy virtue. Besides, Port Ruby is known for attracting people from all over the world." She turned to a long mirror on Sarah's wall and examined herself. "I may want to lay with one or two before we set sail again."

"My God," said Gizmo, in awe. His paw clenched onto his chest. "If only I could break my curse."

Cookie giggled and swooped over to kiss his forehead. "You're my little buddy aren't you? Don't worry, you're cute just the way you are."

"Yes...of course." Gizmo sounded devastated as he hung his furry head.

Sarah looked unamused by Gizmo's perverted advances. She rose from her bed and strapped her pistol to her side. The atlas was her prime concern. She sat at her desk and pulled the large book toward her.

"Did you find anything in here, Gizmo?" asked Sarah.

"Huh...oh right," he had to force his eyes away from Cookie, who continued to survey herself in the mirror. "I was checking Port Ruby for any unique Secretos, and I found someone you might want to pledge to your ship."

He pointed at a photo near the top of the page. The photo was of an auburn haired woman, with striking amber colored eyes.

Sarah looked down at the page and read the name underneath the photo. "Charlotte Black."

"She's from a family with a long history in the Caravan business," he gazed up toward Cookie, who had just walked over to the desk. Gizmo shook the thoughts of her out of his head and went on. "Uh, her grandfather was Captain Moody, a pirate turned Caravan Captain."

"Wow, she's so pretty." Cookie leaned closer to get a better look.

"Yes extremely pretty, I mean look at those eyes...and those full, soft, and dark..."

"Gizmo!" Sarah slapped him in the back of the head, the force popped out his brown diamond. "Focus, please. Why else would she make a good fit for the ship?"

"Alright, alright! She's a master planner," Gizmo picked up his diamond from the desk, and placed it back into his eye socket. "Her Secreto gives her the ability to teleport, I don't think I have to tell you how useful that could be. She's even went toe to toe with Blackbeard and lived, ain't that many people who could say that."

"Blackbeard?" Sarah's eyes shot up toward Gizmo, and her brow folded.

Like Jayden, Blackbeard had become synonymous with the pain of her past. He was a ruthless pirate, who enjoyed sailing the seas and killing off Caravans for sport. The Seven Seas were a place to plunder and discover the treasures of the world, but Blackbeard had changed things...because of him...the Seven Seas had become a field of water and blood.

"She must really be tough then," said Cookie. "Blackbeard's the strongest pirate in the world. I've heard he eats the hearts of all the men he kills."

"Gross." Sarah stuck her tongue out and poured herself a cup of wine.

"That may be," said Gizmo. "But we should find this girl as soon we make port." he turned away from the captain, and looked outside of her den. From the open door, he could see the main deck was empty and silent. Nothing but the sound of waves and seagulls traveled through the ship. "And maybe pledge some cooks, some musicians, have this ship look a bit more lively?"

He was right. Jayden's Caravan had cooks, shipwrights, and entertainment for the fighters on board. She would be a poor Captain to not provide the same for her own.

"Fair enough," said Sarah. "We'll look for recruits when we make port."

"And one more thing," said Gizmo. "I think it's time you show us what you took from that Grey. If it's personal I understand, but trust me, you shouldn't keep anything from your Caravan. That's a golden rule of the Seven Seas."

Her hand moved toward her pocket, and felt the parchment stuffed within. She didn't want to involve them, that much was true. Her revenge against Jayden was her own grief to bear. Gizmo did have a point though...how could she be a Captain...if she didn't trust her own crew?

"It wasn't anything useful," said Sarah, she took out the parchment and slammed it on her desk. "The Greys are usually given a drop off. A place to collect their bounty after they've done the deed. I thought I could use it to track Jayden and confront him. But look, it's just a bunch of imp scratches on the page."

On the parchment were letters crookedly written in black ink. The writings were familiar to the Oracle.

"This is Magi stuff. Those bastards, they always hide things in riddles," said Gizmo. He looked at the parchment and read its scratchy text out loud.

Safest with one
Doomed with many
Given to the selfish, never to be shared.
I can't exist if no one cares.
What am I?

"I wonder," Cookie edged her freckled face closer, her eyes narrowed till finally she gasped. "A cute guy! Heh, I'd never want to share him."

"Cookie!" Sarah covered her face, and stared at her through the gaps between her fingers. "Please, you're taking it too literally."

"Sorry," she hung her head and twiddled her thumbs. "I'm just trying to help."

Sarah sighed through her nose and smirked. "I know," she then took another sip of wine and grabbed the note. "Let's just deal with this at the port, alright?"

Cookie and Gizmo agreed with their Captain. They decided it best to prepare for their arrival at Port Ruby. While Cookie left to pack food, Sarah made her way to the front of the ship, and found Kyla staring at her. The Dragun let out a soft cry, it's green eyes flashed brightly.

"Cor-Ray." said Sarah.

The Dragun dipped its head beneath the water, and picked up speed. The ship was being dragged on her back, but it looked to be gliding quickly across the sea. It wasn't long before Sarah could see their destination. A lone grey dome sat out toward the blue horizon, she knew it to be the great wall which guarded Port Ruby.

"Oh, I'm so excited!" Cookie exclaimed. She and Gizmo stepped up to the bow of the ship, and stood beside their Captain. "I feel like I'm dreaming. I can't believe I'm finally going to see the world."

"Yeah," Sarah took a deep breath of sea scented air. A smile stretched across her face...she felt it too. "This is the day they'll write about, the day a woman became a Captain."

"That's right kid," said Gizmo, his paw patted the side of her knee. "This day is yours. Nothing can't stop us n-"

A massive bump knocked everyone to the front rail of the ship. Two large steel pillars had risen from the water, each standing about forty feet apart. Kyla rose her dazed blue head out of the water, she had swam into one of the pillars with great impact. Sarah was the first to rise from the moist wood floor, her eyes darted between the two pillars.

"What was that?" asked Cookie, she stood on her knees and straightened the top of her dress.

"Those are markers." replied Gizmo, he shook water from his paws and stood straight. "They're beacons that lead ships into a port island."

"I forget she can't see." said Sarah. With her right hand, she reached out and massaged Kyla's slippery neck. "It's to the right, Kyla. Feel the pillars, girl. It's okay."

Kyla let out small cry and stretched her head out. She felt the pillar to the left, and stretched to feel the one to the right. The Dragun swam briskly between the two markers and continued forward. New pillars would rise once Kyla had gotten close enough to them.

As the dome towered above them, Sarah looked ahead and saw a cavelike entrance had appeared. Kyla continued to swim through and they were surrounded in darkness. The pillars continued to rise in front of them, the markers blue light illuminated the path forward. A bright light at the end of the tunnel grew, from a small flicker to a bright flash.

The Dragun swam out the tunnel and they found themselves outside again. Cookie shook Sarah's shoulders, her blue eyes were wide and darted about. They were near the docks of Port Ruby, underneath the dome ceiling hundreds of feet above them. Sarah hadn't been on the island in two years, so much of it had changed.

The island was away from the grey dome that surrounded it, and enjoyed the full kiss of the sun. Kyla swam out of the shade of the dome and onto the sunlit water. The docks were filled with Caravan ships, and were far busier than the docks at Crescent Island. Kyla sensed the ships in the water and docked perfectly by the boardwalk.

Sarah stepped off the ship and onto white wood boards. Her eyes found a large white sign by the boardwalk, the blue letters read One Blue. Port Ruby was separated into two parts, One Blue and Town Square. One Blue contained dozens of smaller islands connected by short bridges. Town Square was a massive island at the center of Port Ruby, and the home of the Caravan Chancellor.

There were no roads in One Blue, only canals which cut through the islands and allowed smaller boats to sail through. Cookie gaped at all the different shops throughout the boardwalk, her heart raced with excitement. Sarah was equally delighted to be on a different island, but she remembered the Chancellor would end deliberations in the afternoon. She looked at her gold pocket watch, and saw that it was almost noon.

"Damn," she looked up and found Cookie by one of the shops. "Hey, Cookie! Come on, we have to go."

Sarah quickly found a small ferry to take them into Town Square. The sailor was friendly enough, he sang them a song as he sailed through the canals of One Blue. Cookie held Gizmo near her chest and pointed at several buildings. The Oracle happily told them the history of Port Ruby, and how it was just a barren archipelago when he was Captain.

They soon reached Town Square, which had become more industrialized than Sarah remembered. The rise of machinery in Darkonia had finally reached it's port islands. The massive factories had large funnels, often three or four, which pumped plumes of black smog into the air. Town Square was also full of motorcars throughout the cobblestone streets, a technology forbidden to the common islands.

"This place is amazing," said Cookie, in awe. "I never thought the other islands would be this different."

"I'm surprised too," Sarah's eyes followed a black motorcar which had driven past them. "Those motorcars were just prototypes before. I can't believe how much things have changed in two years."

"Well save that shock for later, kid." said Gizmo, he jumped off Cookie and pointed at a large building in the distance. "That's the town hall up ahead. We should head there before the Chancellor leaves."

"Hehehehehe."

The laughter shifted Sarah's eyes toward the sky, but she failed to find the source.

"Hehehehehe."

This time the sound echoed more loudly above her. Her eyes darted wildly, but still she saw nothing. A small thud caused her gaze to shift over her shoulder. An imp had dropped down behind them and pulled Cookie by her long ponytail.

"Ow! What the hell?" Cookie spun around and stepped back in shock.

The imp left her stunned by its grotesque appearance. It was short with skin like an olive and a large hooked nose. It wore tattered brown clothes and smelled strongly of vinegar. The imp showed Cookie a crooked smile and laughed. Another imp landed on her chest, and snatched the pendant from her neck.

"My pendant!" she shouted. Cookie chased after it but stopped, the imp had begun to climb up a green townhouse. "Give it back, you creep!"

Sarah bit into her middle nail and drank the black liquid inside. She felt the power of Golem's Juice running through her veins. Her hand closed into a fist and she threw a left punch in front of her. The wall of the townhouse rumbled, the bricks sprung to life and formed into a stone fist. The imp was punched just before it could grab onto the roof, the strike sent it into the red townhouse across the street.

There was a loud smack, and the imp fell along with a few red bricks. The other imp ran to take the pendant, but felt a blow across it's face. With glowing blue eyes, Cookie ran toward the imp and kicked it through a street lamp. A few locals ran as the lamp fell and crushed the sidewalk.

"What in the hell is going on here?" shouted a voice.

An Imperial Captain arrived with several of his cadets, the medals on their white outfits gleamed from the sunlight. The cadets pointed their rifles at Gizmo, who had just stumbled away from the imps.

"Woah! What's going on fellas? You can put those away," said Gizmo, his paws up in the air. "I ain't do nothing."

"Explain yourself then, Oracle," said the Imperial. "What happened here, and where's your Captain?"

"I'm his Captain." said Sarah, defiantly.

The Imperial didn't even bother to look in her direction. "I don't have time for games, young lady."

"It's not a game," said Cookie, angrily. She picked up her necklace and pointed at the unconscious imps. "Those little creeps tried to take my pendant. My Captain stopped them."

The Captain turned his dark eyes toward Sarah and then up at the buildings. He surveyed the damage more closely, the stone fist protruded out of the green townhouse, the cracked wall from the red home across, and the mangled streetlamp. The man's anger seemed to slowly grow as he turned his eyes back toward Sarah.

"You did all of this?" Asked the Captain.

"Sir." Said a cadet softly.

Sarah didn't hear the cadet, and neither did his captain.

She sneered at the man and shouted. "What was I supposed to do? I couldn't let them get away."

"Sir." Said the cadet, his voice had risen much higher.

The Captain ignored the cadet and approached Sarah. His eyebrows were clenched, and his face went red with rage. "You should have asked for assistance. This is Imperial territory. You can't just go causing a rampage in the streets!"

"Sir!" The cadet shouted.

"Damn it, what is it?!" The Captain barked back.

The cadet trembled and pointed up over his Captain. "Up there, sir. There's something over the wall."

Sarah turned her head with the Captain, both of their eyes went wild. Toward the sky was a dark grey war balloon, hovered just above the dome wall. The massive airship had black cannons mounted along its sides, and casted its shadow over the frightened townsfolk.

"What in the hell is that?" The Captain whispered.

Sarah saw the symbol of a jolly roger painted on the side of the balloon. She had seen the symbol before, a blazing skull with crossbones underneath. The war balloon continued to float slowly toward Port Ruby. One of the cannons fired without warning and shattered the street below with flame and smoke.

Sarah knew who had arrived in Port Ruby, his mere presence caused her teeth and fists to clench. "Blackbeard."