A Pirates Tale

*this is not a poem, this is a short story. This started as a dream and developed into a story. I hope you enjoy. "Open your mind and allow your imagination to spread its wings and fly freely"*

Our tale takes us back to a time when pirates trolled the seas and governments had sailors to capture them. This tale is before black beards time and is far beyond the time of Captain Jack Sparrow, this is a true Pirates tale.

It was the year 1810 when a fisherman by the name of Francis Black at the age of 30 took his crewman to pirate other fishing boats for its catch and bait. Killing anyone that got in their way and salvaging the boats for any type of money or anything of value that could be sold. Upon gaining enough funds, he and his crew built a ship of their own. This led to the capture of Merchant boats/ships and other fishing boats. The more Francis gained the better the weapons for him and his men.

These were known as the first pirates although history does not tell of them. As the years grew on he acquired a bounty upon his head that even got the attention of the government and it's Navy. Once Francis realized that the government was on his heals, he started to shift from coast to coast, from sea to sea. Some say that he went as far as the edge of the world and back but, all he did was conquer the seas and raise a fleet of pirates under his command.

One day in the year 1830 on the 50th year of his life he realized that he had no son to take over that which he had conquered. Upon his patrols he came across several merchant ships and two slave ships. He decided to keep the slaves and take them in but, in order for them to be a part of his crew they had to prove themselves.

This gave the men a chance to relax and allow new blood to show what they got. It had been two weeks and the slaves grew restless and started fighting amongst themselves, killing one another to claim a part of Francis Black's crew. Out of all the slaves only a hand full of about 20 now stood alive. Francis was happy but not completely. He gathered the young slave together and spoke to them. He informed them of his plan and how he is looking for a worthy young lad to take over when he dies.

The young slaves had grown used to the Great King of The Seas. After a year had passed the boys had became of age and finally their true test was here. A Naval ship was on patrol near the area. � One of the young men by the name of Jack Wilson at the age of 20 noticed the ship from afar and gathered the other young men and took two of the life rafts as the crew slept. However, Francis Black didn't sleep that night. Francis grew curious and had an eye out for young Jack. With the two life rafts the young men found themselves along side the Naval ship. Jack led the charge as the young men laid waste to the sailors aboard and freed the prisoners.

Upon the morning as the pirates awoke, the young boys were arriving with the Naval ship. Frightened at the site of a government vessel the men prepared themselves for a fight until Francis gave them the command to stand down. The men were curious until they say young Jack at the helm leading the other young men.

The crew cheered for the young lad as Francis announced his successor. That night the men drank to joy but were to complacent. Upon that night as rum was passed another Naval ship had reached their starboard side. A flag ship supporting 64 cannons aimed at Francis' ship prepared to fire. Through the passing of rum, young Jack spots the vessel that took aim and yells to his men "Man the guns!", informing them that they were about to enter into combat with another ship.

The passing of rum was put to a halt as the men rushed to man the cannons. � With every shot from each ship, laid chaos to each other. As the two ships got closer, the pirates prepared to board the Naval ship, with swords and rifles at the ready. The first to hop aboard the flag ship was Jack Wilson, clearing a path for the rest to follow. The next to board the vessel was the the Great King of the Seas, Francis Black. The other pirates halted at a pure site of elegance as the two danced with swords, back to back laying waste to any sailor that tried to past.

A glorious portrait for any painter to paint, a portrait of father and newly declared son supporting each other in combat. Their grew a still silence where the two could hear each others thoughts until, three sailors ganged up on Francis Black and killed him. For a moment it was like time stopped as Jack saw the Great King fall to his knees for the first time.

With that site in mind the pirates grew ferocious and destroyed every sailor as if they were possessed by the spirit of a thousand Francis Black's. Pillaging the ship of all it's value and carrying their Great King to the helm of his ship while the others burned the flag ship where it float. The great King gave his last words as old Death came to give him a watery grave.

The crew mourned the life of their King for three months but soon welcomed the rise of their new King....

To be continued.....