Chapter 268: The Kindest Pirate

"We're homeward bound! From the Arctic Ground!"

"Rolling down...to Old Maui~♪♫!"

A cheerful tune to himself as the ships shift to and fro, his time whittling some wood to make a small trinket for his own amusement. A Young child with a heart of gold, wearing nothing else but an oversized white shirt, black pants, and having a personalized eyepatch he'd wear for fun. As he'd spent his time within the ship's barracks, a knock on the door was heard. A more stern figure, with a toothy grin, would yell from below. "OI! SEARCHER! YER UP, MATE! C'MON!" The boy would have his eyes lit up in excitement as he'd drop his things and run up the stairs, letting him be met with the sun's rays and the salty air, looking out in the distance of an island nearby. A Luscious forest and a docks set perfectly for them to arrive and stay ashore with. "Oi, listen closely. Your main job is to get a good recon on the island. See what's a good approach. We'll meet with those natives soon once you give us a good opening." The captain stated, supplying the boy with a small rowboat, as well as a floaty around his waist. He'd see two people approach the child, his parents, giving the boy a strong hug for their departure, before letting him sail off into the island.

This was his job every time he found an island.

He can recall the first time that he did such a job when he and his parents were being pillaged, their home ransacked, their lives spent as prisoners atop a ship. Despite such miserable conditions, however, the boy would oftentimes play with the other crewmates, much to their dismay. That boy, regardless of his situation, was dubbed as 'the Most Innocent Sailor in the Seven Seas.' Every time he was set to his voyage, the boy would often distract himself with the native's animals or children, playing all sorts of games and even telling wild stories. Despite his role being a grim one, his charm had no equal, so much so that even the other children wished to become part of the crew, just so that they can listen to more stories and play more games. The Captain, annoyed at such antics, would always allow this, as it means more men to supply their hands, more men to help with such pillaging, more soldiers to fight in his stead. Over the few years, however, the boy started to catch more and more hearts of the people, and over the years, the Cold Captain began to soften himself, easing himself, declaring the boy to serve as his First Mate, the one to lead his ship after his life is past. As he'd pass on, the band of bandits and barbarians that was on that ship slowly but surely became a family.

The Worst Pirate to have ever lived, to offer compassion in a world of naval war.

A fateful day arrived as fast as they could ever react. A warring ship that wanted to clash against the First Mate's crew. As much as they tried, they would sadly fall. The Captain of the opposing ship grabbed the boy by his neck, tossing him straight into the mast, and laughed on, watching him struggle to get up. "So, this is the legendary Calico Jackawok, eh? Not really legendary to me, judging from what I'm seeing" The Captain gloated, watching as Calico tried to cast a spell, but would be nullified due to the Captain's magic: a confection wafting around the air. A confection that quickly drained away the magic within the vicinity upon consumption or breath. The Captain would take out that confection, unwrapping it from its packaging, and took a large bite off of it.

Chocolate Magic.

"Sho..." He'd began, crumbs of the candy falling out of his mouth as he talked. "wha are whe s'phosed to do wi'h you, eh?" He'd look at the crew, watching them desperately try to remove their binds and escape from their captives, just to try and strike at the man, seeing his own crew struggling to keep them at bay. He'd swallow his candy as he'd gain a wicked grin. "I know...Let's KEELHAUL THE LOT OF THEM! LET'S HAVE THEIR BLOOD BE FED FOR THE SHARKS! THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO!!" He'd yell proudly, much to the horror of Calico. He'd try once more to get up, yet the Captain would prevent it.

SHIKK!!

A Scimitar, straight into Jackawok's gut. "ALRIGHT, LADS! SLAUGHTER THE CATTLE! LET HIM HAVE A GOOD SHOW, AYE!?" He'd command, his messy hands forced to have Calico's eyes wide open. One by one, the family he adopted back when he was a child would slowly die off. Slices at their neck for some, stabs into the chest for others, all of which he can hear their screams and cries in desperation, all of which slowly shattering his innocence, all of which brought him back to reality. A kind pirate is a dead one. There is no such thing as peace within her waters. Soon, there would only be two left. His parents. Despite his silent pleas as he's stabbed into the mast, he'd watch as the two that still smiled, silently vowing for him to stay alive, would perish, their neck slit, their bodies pushed off. Calico looked on in devastation, his mind flooded with such thoughts, their very faces buried into his consciousness. All the Captain could do was laugh, laughing away alongside his crew, as they sustained their victory against the pirate. "There we go! That wasn't so hard, now isn't it! Now, Let's start ransacking this baby! Gather all the goods you can find, Lads! We're having a feast for the ages 'ere!!" He'd command once more, taking another bite on his chocolate, before seeing something in his hand: A pattern of roses, slowly encroaching from his palm to his arm, to finally, his chest. He'd look on in horror at these flowers, a sharp stare directly at Calico, yet it was too late.

He, too, was also covered by such roses, and such a pattern began to infect the other barbarians in the ship. "Wha's t'ah mattah? Yous left me for las', aye? Let me off meself then, save ye the trouble..." He'd state, as his energy began to spike up, nearly destroying the ship itself.

"HEY! DON'T BE PLAYIN' TRICKS WITH ME, BASTARD!!" The Captain yelled, trying to get his flintlock whilst trying to reign in the energy with his magic, yet it was useless. The sudden spike was enough to push away the smooth aroma, leaving him wide open to cast a spell. A Secondary Gambit, a Secondary final attack, his trump card.

Ring around the Rosie.

To this day, the ship has since been discarded, the crew disappeared without a trace, and despite his injuries, Calico served as the last surviving member to this day. The one blight within his sweet memories, the sour taste that lingered as much as death. The vision he shared would never go away, tainting his innocence, his joy, into nothing but a carnal mess.