Cookie took Gizmo to her orientation, a mandatory class for all potential crew mates. She took her seat and watched her instructor, Ms. Goldman, place a booklet on each of their desks. Gizmo jumped off her shoulder and onto the desk, he swiftly flipped through the pages and scoffed.

"Nothing here about catching a flying pirate ship." He muttered.

Cookie shushed the teddy bear and looked ahead at Ms. Goldman. The instructor had finished with the chalkboard, she had written just three words, but Cookie could see her classmates leaned forward with excitement.

"The Caravan King." Ms. Goldman sang ominously. "Can anyone here tell me what it means to hold this title?"

A young man raised his hand and cleared his throat.

"The Caravan King is a captain who has sailed all Seven Seas," he said. "The title is given by the emperor himself, but only one captain has ever done it."

"Yes," Ms. Goldman said. "The Caravan King was Davy Jones. A man who chose to abandon his crown and become a pirate in exile," her eyes swept the classroom and rested on the young lady seated in front of Cookie. "You there! Can you tell me why you've chosen to join your caravan?"

The girl shrunk in her seat, but her crew mate quickly shook her shoulder to respond.

"I...I trust my captain, madam?" The young woman said, her face red as a cherry. "I trust he'll look out and protect us."

"Do you?" Ms. Goldman squinted. "I trusted my captain too, he was a brave man, but his blood would boil often. He died on our third year. The average caravan last only 5 years, we couldn't even manage that. You better be sure who you choose to place your trust."

Her crew mate rose his hand next.

"Miss, is it true Davy Jones can only be found by the Caravan King?"

Ms. Goldman looked impressed by his inquiry, her hand seized a piece of chalk as she walked toward the blackboard.

"There is a place rumored to reveal itself to someone who has traveled the Seven Seas," she had begun to draw seven circles and drew a line from each toward the center. "If Davy Jones were to hide, he would likely have chosen this fabled place. But, seeing as only one Caravan King has ever existed, it would be impossible for anyone to know. What is certain is at over 1 billion diamonds, the bounty for Jones is the highest the Emperor has ever set on a single individual. You are all young and free, but be wary. Every captain wants to take the crown from Davy Jones, every captain will gladly sacrifice your life to become the Caravan King."

Cookie was out by noontime, grateful for all she learned about caravans and excited to start her own journey. Gizmo looked satisfied too. He sat comfortably on Cookie's shoulder as she walked along the boardwalk, free to gaze upon the women of Port Ruby. Her eyes were rather upon the treasures on display, vendors with loot from the caravans that had returned home.

Her heart raced at the thought of it, soon she would be finding treasures from distant corners of the world. The citizens of Port Ruby, however, were not as fixated on caravan treasures, their eyes were upon the sky, the clouds still split from where Blackbeard had sailed away. As they reached Sarah's ship, Cookie looked further down the boardwalk and saw one of the houses struck by Blackbeard's attack. The pink townhouse had collapsed from the inside, a mother sobbed as she held her lifeless child in her arms.

Cookie walked toward the rail of the ship to get a better look, but a loud slam startled her. Charlotte had swung the Captain's door open and stormed out the den. Sarah stepped out after her, her eyebrows and teeth clenched.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sarah demanded.

"Away from you," Charlotte clenched her fist and made her knuckles crack. "Before I knock you in your face."

Cookie approached Charlotte and grabbed her shoulders gently. Charlotte snapped her head up at Cookie, almost prepared to shout at her. Her kind face and blue eyes caused Charlotte to lighten her face, she quickly looked away to hide her blushed cheeks.

"What's going on?" asked Cookie, her face looking quite concerned. "It's not good for us to fight."

"Well, maybe let them fight a little bit." Gizmo suggested. He smiled widely and tapped his fingers deviously together.

"I'm not trying to fight her," said Sarah, her finger pointed toward Charlotte. "But she needs to understand how it's going to go on this ship. You can be my second in command, but I'm the Captain."

"You don't even have a Secreto," Charlotte retorted. "How can you be a Captain, you're not even the strongest person on this ship?"

Rocky walked out of Sarah's den and stood by her side, Kyla also rose her head from her bucket of fish and let out a low cry. Charlotte's eyes darted between the creatures and found Sarah's green gaze. The silence between them unnerved Cookie, who could only hear the muffled voices of those on the boardwalk.

"I was strong enough to make it here," said Sarah, her voice as cold as her glare. "I was strong enough to get a Dragun and a friend to join me. What have you done? I heard from the others in town, they deny you because you're alone. Don't ever look down on me because of what I don't have. Your Secreto is what's strong, Charlotte, not you."

Her eyes widened, Sarah regretted her last words as soon as she spoke them.

Charlotte shook her head slightly and gave Sarah bored look. "I'm glad you were honest."

"I didn't mean that," Sarah's eyes followed her as she walked toward the boarding ramp. "Shit! I'm sorry, I was just angry!"

Charlotte ignored her and stepped off the ship, Cookie followed close behind her.

"Charlotte," Cookie shouted. She chased Charlotte till they reached the foot of the boarding ramp. "Hey wait up, don't leave. Talk to me."

Cookie grabbed Charlotte's shoulders and spun her around. The tactician adjusted her glasses with a finger and gazed at the boardwalk floor.

"I can't sail with her," said Charlotte. "She's a bitch, you heard her back there? I knew this was a mistake."

"Look, I get that your upset," said Cookie softly, her hand gently held the side of Charlotte's face. "But listen, I promise she's a really great person once you get to know her. Sure she can be a hothead, but aren't you one too?" Charlotte softly chuckled, which put a smile of relief on Cookie's face. "I know you wanted to be a Captain, but I think what you want more is to be in a Caravan. They never let women sail, but we can be the first to do this. Everyone is doubting us, you can help us prove them wrong."

Cookie hopped at the feeling of something against her leg. Rocky jumped onto Charolette and licked her chin, the wolf's affection put a smirk on her face.

"We need you to prove them wrong," said Sarah, the Captain hopeful stepped off the boarding ramp and stood in front of Charlotte. "I know it sounds crazy, but I think we were meant to sail together. So, what do you say, will you be my Vice-Captain?"

"Vice-Captain," Charlotte smiled widely. "Is that even a title?"

"It is now," said Cookie. She grabbed both of them and pressed their heads against the bottom of her breasts. "So be happy, girls. Were about to be a true Caravan."

"Slow it down, Big Red," said Gizmo. He climbed on Rocky's back and slapped the wolf's side, the grey beast began to walk down the boardwalk. "We need the Chancellor's blessing first, come on."

They reached the town hall minutes before their scheduled hearing. The laborers were hard at work fixing the front steps. Holes in the streets showed the damage from Blackbeard's cannon fire. They walked down the long hallway and reached the arched door at the very end. Sarah could hear hundreds of voices beyond the door, the anticipation had caused her knees to shake. It's going to be fine, she thought to herself. She took a deep breath and swung the door open.

Sarah's eyes snapped open as they stepped into the grand courtroom. The benches were full of citizens, royals and commoners alike. The crowd fell silent as the ladies walked down the aisle, several people whispered to each other with their fingers pointed at them. Julius and the other judges waited with folded hands, and eyed the ladies till they stood before their table.

"Sarah Dreamstead," said Greymore. His hand appeared out of his oversized sleeve, he rested a finger upon an open book and scanned the page. "I see you were an occupant of a pirate ship a few years ago. Curious indeed, you care to explain before we continue further?"

"I was kidnapped by their captain and forced to clean the decks," Sarah shrugged. "That's all. I have no loyalty to him or any other pirate crew."

"I understand you were present during Blackbeard's attack." said Julius, over his folded hands.

She could see the bags under the Chancellor's eyes. His frown was firm, as if it were carved upon his face. Sarah looked at the man with pity, she could tell he was sick with worry for his daughter.

"That's right, sir." replied Sarah, her back straightened for the Chancellor.

"And did you happen to hear anything else," said Blusef, his eager face leaned forward. "Anything you forgot to tell the Imperials yesterday?"

Sarah hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to be associated with Blackbeard in anyway, but she couldn't take the risk of being caught in a lie.

"The Captain who kidnapped me," replied Sarah. "He was the one who took your daughter, Chancellor."

"Jayden," said Julius softly, he then turned to other judges. "He was a pirate all along?"

"Not possible," said Greymore, as he shook his head. "I have records of every man who calls himself a pirate in the Red Sea. If Jayden was a pirate, my Greys would have gotten wind of it."

"Wait," Sarah blinked wildly. "You command the Greys?"

"Of course, I thought my name made that obvious," Greymore chuckled. "They were given to me to carry surveillance across the Red Sea," he turned toward the others and scoffed. "Are the islands so blocked off from the mainland's dealings?"

"Your Greys attacked my Captain on Crescent Island," Cookie protested. "They were trying to kill her."

"You're mistaken," Greymore's voice was stern. "I've come to understand my spies have assassins posing as them. It looks like you were merely attacked by imposters, I'm afraid."

"Still, perhaps we should bring your Greys in," said Blusef, looking concerned. "They could know more about Mia's captors."

"Tyserra's tits, you can't be serious," Greymore barked. "You understand how idiotic that sounds? The Greys are the sons of royals, they wouldn't be caught dead helping a pirate."

Charlotte and Cookie both turned to Sarah, their Captain in an intense glare with the Chancellor. Julius sighed, his purple eyes lowered to a squint as he raised his hand.

"There's only one way to know for sure." said Julius, his eyes were bright like purple flames. "My Secreto can see into the hearts of others...let us see what's in yours."

Sarah's green eyes glowed as a vortex spun around her body. The courtroom disappeared, only the people and the furniture remained. A bright light flashed, and the walls became a raging whirlpool. The citizens all gawked at Julius' show of power, mesmerized by the representation of Sarah's heart. She looked around with widened eyes, and saw the shadows of water dragons flying beyond the water.

Sarah then turned to the judges, all of them stared around the whirlpool with wild eyes.

"What is this?" asked Greymore, his expression between anger and shock.

"I don't know," said Julius softly, his hand still raised toward Sarah. "I've never seen a heart like hers before."

A booming chuckle surrounded them, Sarah looked to her right and saw the shadow of a man behind the water. A massive pirate stepped out of the whirlpool, and onto the white tiled floor. His green eyes found Sarah's, a smile stretched over his iconic black beard.

"It's good to see you again, Ms. Dreamstead."

Sarah stood still, she watched Blackbeard approach her and was unsure of what to do.

"Blackbeard?" Julius shouted. "What have you done with my daughter?"

Blackbeard chuckled as he continued his approach toward Sarah, the voices of the crowd were hushed and their eyes were wide with fear.

"Your young rose is safe, Chancellor," replied Blackbeard. "You needn't worry for her. She's fed, well rested. A more pressing issue is the one we have before us." He stopped in front of Sarah, his shadow swallowed her frightened face. "I've heard stories of you, stories you were forced to forget. You're as special as I thought, little one. How about you be a good girl, and tell me what you did with the map?"

She swallowed nothing in her dry mouth, her eyes darted about as she thought of what to do.

"How are you here right now?" she asked, her hand on the grip of her pistol.

"Jayden didn't tell you?" Blackbeard smiled and kneeled down toward Sarah, his massive height still forced her to looked up at his face. He reached and grabbed her chin, his green eyes lowered to a squint. "I wonder why he spared you?"

A loud bang caused Sarah's ears to ring, her eyes widened at the sight in front of her. The left side of Blackbeard's face was missing, black smoke slowly began to consume the rest.

"Hey, fur chin!" Charlotte shouted. Blackbeard glared at her with his one remaining eye, his gold and silver teeth clenched together. She stood firmly next to Cookie, with her smoking pistol still pointed at his head. "Don't touch my Captain."

Blackbeard let out a low growl and turned his cyclops gaze on Sarah. She watched with bated breath, as the smoke consumed the other half of Blackbeard's body.

"Ms. Rose is alive because I allow it," said Blackbeard. "I know you have the map, Ms. Dreamstead. If you don't deliver it to me in three days time, I'll return the young rose in a box," Blackbeard chuckled as the last bit of him dissolved into black smoke, his booming voice still echoed around her. "Hurry brave Captain, I'll be waiting for you...find me on Skull Island."

A bright flashed blinded everyone in the room, the whirlpool was gone and they had returned to the courtroom. Julius lowered his hand until his knuckles hit his desk, the threat on his daughter's life left him with wild eyes.

"Julius?" said Blusef, he stared at Chancellor worryingly. "Julius?!"

His shouting snapped the Chancellor from his thoughts, he turned to Greymore, unfazed by the frustration on his face.

"Why did Blackbeard appear inside the girl's heart?" Greymore demanded.

"I...I don't know." replied Julius, with a blank face.

Greymore fumed and glared at Sarah, his mouth was open to show his gritted teeth.

"It's time you came clean, girl," Greymore snarled. "What is there between you and Blackbeard that you haven't told us?"

"I've told you everything already." Sarah snapped back.

"Then explain, my lady, why did he appear inside of your heart?" asked Blusef, in a kind voice.

Sarah said nothing, instead her gaze shifted to the white tiled floor. Why was he in my heart? Sarah asked herself. The water dragons too, what does it all mean?

"She's clearly working with him," Greymore told Julius. "This map of theirs, it clearly leads to something dangerous. We should deny their admission, Julius. Confiscate this map from her and use it as leverage to bring Mia home."

"Don't listen to him," said Cookie angrily. "Sarah is a good person, she would never work with Blackbeard for anything."

"And is this court to take the word of a lover?" Greymore chuckled. "Do us all a favor and keep your mouth shut."

"What does that matter," Cookie retorted. "Don't act all mighty now. You've proposed to me before...or did you forget?"

The citizens gasped and whispered in their seats, the commotion caused Greymore's face to turn pink. A low growl caught Sarah's attention. Rocky approached her side and glared at Greymore, his fangs moist and sharp. Gizmo gave Sarah a smile from the back of her wolf, the support of her crew made her heart flutter. Her green eyes turned to Julius, with a triumphant smile stretched across her face.

"Give me three days, Chancellor," said Sarah. Her confidence brought new hope on Julius' distraught face. "I'll bring your daughter back to you...I swear to the gods, I will."