The sunlight shined into the sleeping girl's eyes, penetrating a black haze she didn't realize was there until it was broken. When she finally opened her eyes, she was in a bare bedroom, with just the bed she was laying on in one corner, and a dresser in another. The only wall decoration was a map of the world opposite a plush window seat. The door was just next to the map. Alaniana slid her right arm back to sit up. Then she attempted to slide her left arm back, only to be met with sharp pain.

The door opened and the girl found she couldn't slide back down, even with all the pain that came from that position.

"Woah. Don't sit up. Your shoulder still needs to heal." He easied her back into a more comfortable position.

"Who are you?" Alaniana asked.

"I am John Bluebeard. I'm the captain of this ship."

"Did you raid my ship?"

"My crew did, yes."

"Did you see it was decked out in royal banners? Did you know not to attack a royal ship?"

"That was a royal ship?" he frowned. "Are you royal?"

"Yes! I am High Crown Princess Alaniana Lilliana Rose Moana Rouge."

"Wow! Even a normal girl would be scared when pirates attacked! Much less, a Princess! I've never seen such a courageous princess.

"It's nothing! I hate my title."

"It isn't nothing! No royal would ever attempt to do what you did two months ago!"

"Two months ago! Was I out that long?"

"We put you in a medical coma. Lydia thought you would fight."

'Who's Lydia?" Leyba frowned.

"The nurse on the ship we raided?"

"Oh. I didn't know she had a name."

"Well, she thought you would fight, so we put you under. Sorry." he blushed.

"I would not!"

"I can tell she was right, you are a fighter. Which is good for my crew." He placated quickly, "We need more fighters."

"Wait. Are you offering a place on the ship?"

"Yeah. I mean, I like you-Not like love-like friend like."

"I like you too- as a friend. But don't you think Alaniana Lilliana is too princess-y?" she asked.

"Yeah." he said, flustered by the conversation change.

"How about 'Lanie' or 'Lane' for short-er." she suggested.

"Yeah. I like that!" he recovered his wits. "Now to look the part." he pointed to six trunks lined up along the same wall as the window seat. "Here, I'll leave you alone." He gave her a dagger after pulling her to a standing position and walked out of the room.

Lanie grabbed her left shoulder and spun it in a circle once, twice, three time. She grimaced from the pain, but was grateful she could still use it.

Lanie took the dagger and cut the shoulders off her white nightgown in a ruffle pattern first. Then she pulled a red skirt out of a trunk. She cut the skirt into the same ruffle pattern as her nightgown, except the ruffles started at her waist and pulled the rest of the fabric up higher. Lanie frowned, looking in a mirror above the trunks. Lanie flipped the dagger then sliced the long nightgown into a shirt and leaving a thin line of blood on her sternum. The nightgown turned shirt showed her stomach so she found a black corset and gasped as she pulled it into its intended position. She loosened it, preferring comfort over fashion. She dug through her trunks to find a pair of breeches she had snuck in the trunk, back when her intent was to sneak off to be a sailor. Lanie opened the trunk of shoes, throwing slippers out until she found her only pair of boots. Regrettably, the heel was high and thin, but unless she wanted to go barefoot, they were the only option.