A loud, rapid clanking noise jarred Alice away from her sleep. She briefly stumbled, trying to re-adjust to the strange surroundings. Rubbing her eyes, she could hear the harsh, brutish voices of burly men up above. Something about anchors? She figured that they must’ve hit shore or something; ship wasn’t swaying so much.

Stifling a yawn, she carefully shuffled about, trying to peek from the barrels and get a view past them. The massive Sominai man she saw earlier was hauling an oversized barrel up to deck, as a shorter man passed by him on the stairwell and walked towards the barrels Alice was hiding behind.

She held back a gasp and quickly went back into cover, desperately trying to hold her breath until the pirate walked away. She heard a small grunt, and felt the pile she hid by shake slightly as its weight redistributed. He walked to the upper decks, a small barrell in tow. Judging by the voices coming from outside, there was something going on.

Curiosity took a hold of the girl, spurring her on to creep into the open. She looked to her left and right for any incoming men, similar to how she watched the road for incoming cars. Just like Jack told her too.

She let out a guilty sigh. Her sister was probably worried sick by now. Out of all the Apples, she was the one closest to her family. Sure, every Apple was, but... Jack was more than most.

The sooner I listen in to what’s going on up on deck, the sooner I can find Luna. And then the sooner I can go back home, she told herself—reassured herself. The floorboards creaked under her weight as she went across, but the commotion upstairs probably would have drowned out her noises.

Crawling up the stairs, she peered about for any more pirates. They were loads of ‘em. Luckily, most were distracted by whatever was going on...

Alice took a deep breath, then sprinted across the deck as fast as her legs could take her. Then, she jumped, diving behind some crates near the mast. She hid for a couple of seconds, then turned back, looking at whatever the heck the fuss was all about.

Dozens of men sat around, loudly drinking and telling stories. The most obvious, the Sominai man, held two tankards and was alternating which one he dove into with every breath. The ship’s cabin door opened, and a stern looking Gilda marched forward, a pistol in her hand. The others, save the giant man, paid her no mind. She promptly lifted her gun into the air and fired. Several of the men yelped, one instinctively reached for the gun at his waist, only to have the massive hand of the giant Sominai rest on his shoulder and calm him. Alice herself flinched, although she did not yell.

“Formation, maggots!” Gilda called, adjusting the collar of the jacket she wore.

Her men promptly lined up. each puffing their chest out and staring straight ahead. Gilda marched in front of them, looking even more hateful than she did at the bar.

“Status reports to me, men! Food supply, Will!.”

The giant stepped forward. “Over a month’s worth, and even then, we can reinforce it with hunting small prey, captain.”

“Good. Ammunition, Naomi.”

A lanky, narrow woman with as gruff of a look in her eyes as Gilda crossed her arms, wiping at a grime spot on her cheek. “Enough bullets to blow out a whale’s snatch. Not to mention three guns for every man on board, captain.”

“Good. We got enough for repa--”

“We’ve got everything,” a man’s voice said, rolling his eyes. “We just restocked, we even sent you the Goddamn papers. We’re fine.”

Gilda scowled, obviously perturbed by his insubordination. She marched down the line towards him, and, without breaking stride, snapped her elbow up, cracking him across the jawline. He fell hard on the dock and moaned, clutching at his cut face.

“Forgot to say ‘captain’ at the end,” she said, casually looking over her gun. She took a step back and pocketed the pistol, before putting her hands behind her back and observing her men.

Alice observed the events, letting out a quiet, shocked gasped as Gilda hit the man. She knew by now that this woman was tough as nails, but to show such aggression towards her own crew was something else.

Then again... they were pirates. Alice remembered the times when she went out of line with her folks. Spanks hurt, but they taught her a lesson. Maybe pirates were like that, but ‘cause they were adults, they needed bigger hits?

“The reason I asked about our fucking supplies, is because we’re going to be stationed here for a bit. Seeing how we do have plenty, there’s no Goddamn excuse to leave this place again until we’re done.”

She cracked her knuckles and walked past the line of men, grabbing a tankard and filling it from one of the barrels resting on deck. She took a drink, then returned to the front of the group.

“We’ve gotten a few new faces after we docked at Misemo, so I’ll give you the rundown, in case Will hasn’t said anything. ‘Course, that’s pretty fucking rare.”

“Not that much of a talker,” he complained, looking dejected.

Alice suddenly clamped her hands over her mouth and did the unthinkable: she giggled. She knew she couldn’t but... seeing a man that big act like a little child looked so funny!

Thankfully, they seemed to not notice, Gilda simply glared hard at her men and began talking.

“We’ve been here, close to this same situation before. We’re dealing with some serious shit.” She pointed starboard. “The exiled princess Luna is, obviously, our target and prize. Shame she’s hiding behind her men, somewhere on the island. That, and her guards have seemed to have struck up some kinda agreement with the tribals. We’re in for a hell of a fight with the locals.”

A spotty, skinny man raised his hands and shook his head. “Wait wait wait... you’re telling me those Luna fanboys have made an alliance with them dirty apes?!”

“Bingo,” she agreed. “That’s why we’re in this with some other lads--we’re docking off-shore for a few days and waiting on them to arrive. I expect you to treat them like one of us. Am I clear on that?”

Despite her authority, there were grumbles all around.

“I thought we could take these assholes on our own...”

“I ain’t sharing the spoils with a bunch of newbies!”

“Well... this is bullshit.”

“They’re gonna take all the loot for themselves and stab us in the backs!”

Gilda looked blankly at the group. “Are you done bitching yet?” She waited, daring any one of them to speak again. There were a few grumbles amongst them, but no further outcries. “Thought so.”

She took to pacing once more, clenching and unclenching her hand. “You’ve seen what the grass-skirts around here can do,” She pointed towards one of the men. “Donnelly. Tell the others what happened at one of our camps while you were away hunting.”

“You all ain’t gonna like it,” he told them, twiddling his toothpick in between his grubby fingers. “Came back with what we could find. Found ‘em—all dead. Some had their chests impaled, others with their brains blown out. Shit, one poor bastard seemed to have been impaled through a damn rock.” He tossed away his item, snarling. “Didn’t think Luna’s boys would’ve been dragged to their level, but the evidence was there, clear as day. And covered in blood.”

Alice tried hard not to imagine the details, but it all seemed so vivid. Although she knew it would’ve been worse to stumble upon such a scene. Such a grim attack didn’t seem like the Queen’s style. Even more strange was the fact that she was starting to feel a level of sympathy for these swashbucklers.

“And whoever was fucking bitching about them stabbing us in the backs: Do you know who in the hell you’re talking to?” Gilda leaned in closer to the group, jabbing her chest sharply with a thumb. “Anyone pulls any shit and they wind up dead.”

“S’alliance of convenience then,” one man spoke up, rubbing his stubbled chin. “Still doesn’t answer what’s gonna happen to the loot rights. Captain,” he hastily added.

She smirked coyly. “Depends on how the kids act. They play nice and we’ll play nice back, let them have their toys. Besides, I’ve already called the lion’s share--Luna’s coming with us. Meaning...” Her smirk turned into a full on, feral grin, exposing her unnaturally sharp teeth. “We’re raking in that fucking bounty.”

The mood of the crew improved considerably after that, a few cheers going around. Alice twitched nervously. She couldn’t let them take Luna away... but what could one girl do against a whole gang of pirates? Leaving Stephanie and Sarah behind didn’t seem like such a good idea after all...

Unless she used her intelligence. She wasn’t the brightest in her class, yet Miss Cheerilee always said that she worked hard. So, maybe—just maybe—she could turn this around.

The crew were talking amongst one another, providing a perfect backdrop for her plan. She waited a few moments, before clearing her throat and speaking out in the deepest voice she could muster, “What if we work with Luna’s lot? We might get royal rewards ‘n’ stuff... like gold!”

“Who said that?” Gilda asked.

A lot of shrugs went around. Alice bit her thumb. She froze.

“Who in the fuck said that?” Gilda repeated.

“Yeah, ‘cause whoever said that was an idiot,” one pirate said, looking around his colleagues.

Gilda scowled, looking over the men. “Must be a new member, ‘cause anyone who’s anyone on here knows we don’t play that fucking game.”

Alice hugged herself. The butterflies that were in her stomach had turned to hornets. All the pirates shared nervous, confused glances.

“The deepest pits of hell go to liars and backstabbers. We may be pirates, but we’ve still got some Goddamn idea of rules here.” She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pistol. “I’ll ask one more time: Who the fuck said it?”

“Uh, Gilda?” Will spoke, not even flinching at the Kvaat’s temper. “I don’t think it came from us. Sounded like...”

The girl closed her eyes. All she could was wait for the inevitable. Heavy footsteps crossed across the ship, followed by dozens of lighter ones. Soon, they rested nearby.

“Shit,” Will quietly said, turning quickly around. “Nothing here,” he plainly announced. “I know I heard something, though. Men, search inside the ship, bow to stern!”

Alice opened an eye, but she didn’t dare look. Some of the men grumbled, but gradually their presence faded. She could begin to hear a few below deck.

“Gilda, come here,” Will instructed.

“What?” she asked, stepping towards the man.

He took a few more steps and halted. “Check some of those boxes.”

“What am I, your fu--”

“Do it,” the giant firmly instructed. Gilda grumbled under her breath, but approached the freight anyway. She leaned over, finally coming into Alice’s view. Her yellow eyes widened in surprise.

Alice timidly raised her head, looking up at the captain. “H-Hi...?”

“Goddamnit kid!” Gilda hissed. “What in the hell are you doing here?!”

“Don’t throw me overboard!!” Alice pleaded. “Don’t shoot either!”

“Do you realize what you’re on? We’d shoot you, then throw you overboard!” Gilda snapped, gesturing to the side of the ship. “That’s what happens to stowaways, Goddamnit, kid!” she repeated.

“We can’t do that. I won’t do that,” Will said, stepping into view and staring at the woman. “Not to a child.”

“You don’t think I know that?” she shouted, throwing her arms to the side. “I don’t want to do it either, but you know I can’t just let this slide, she’s gotta go!”

“Your father wouldn’t do what you’re thinking.” He thrust a heavy, meaty finger hard against her collarbone. “And I won’t let you do it either.”

“Don’t bring him into this!” Gilda retorted, clenching her fists. “You’re on thin ice!”

Will shook his head, his braided goatee twisting with the jerking movement. “I don’t care how thin it is. You’ll think of something to tell the crew. We’re not doing this. I haven’t kept you in check all these years just so you can piss any decency you have in you away.” He turned to face the girl, squatting down to the ground in a half-hearted attempt to get eye-level with her.

“I... I can h-help around, if you like,” Alice said, finding strength as she looked at him. “I’m from a farm. I do a lot of work there.”

“You’re a stowaway. We can’t jus--” Gilda started, only to be shot down by a glare from Will. He turned his attention back to the girl.

“Extra muscle never hurt on board. Especially when it’s labor we can afford.” He smiled at himself. “Heh. Rhyme. Gilda,” He rose, popping his massive back and looking at her again. “Let her work off her debt to the ship. It’s the right thing to do here.”

Slowly, Alice rose. She saw no one else atop the deck, much to her relief. She turned to Gilda, although her glare was making it difficult to look at her. “I won’t get in your way... Captain?” She scratched her cheek, getting a little lost in thought. Does this make me a pirate now?

“Don’t call me that,” she tersely replied, turning away from the girl. She rubbed at her mouth, looking around and shaking her head.

“Er... okay. Sorry ma’am.” She couldn’t exactly help it; it what just part of the manners her family had taught her.

“Shit. This is gonna fucking bite me in the ass. I just know it.”

Alice chose to ignore Gilda’s protests, so she went to Will. “How am I gonna fit in?”

“We’ll think of something, kid. Until then, stick close to me. The men can be a little... intense at first.”

“If they try anything...?” she asked, trailing off. She knew what could happen, but it didn’t make saying it out loud any better.

“They won’t do what you’re thinking of,” Will dismissed. “I see to that.”

Alice let out a thankful sigh, then stepped out of her cover. “So... where do I start?”

“You start by going to the captain’s quarters,” Will said. “You get rested up and we’ll show you off once Gilda explains the situation to the men.”

“Fucking joke...” the Kvaan said under her breath, crossing her arms and staring towards the ocean.

Alice bit her lip, gazing at Gilda. Tonight was going to be awkward. Even more so than that sleepover where Sweetie accidentally wet the bed. “Al... right...” Alice slowly said. “Ya’ll wanna take me there?”

Will offered his hand, hoisting her up easily. He turned and gestured to the only door on deck. “There.”

Alice offered the man a genuine smile. “Thanks!” Then she bolted for the door, quickly entering Gilda’s quarters and closing the door behind her.

“Will. What should I tell the men?” Gilda finally asked.

“That you have a student. Training to be the next captain. Her first exercise was to board the ship undetected and stay as a stowaway until we make it to the islands.” He crossed his arms. “Since she failed, she has to do menial labor. Once she pays off her ship debt, we toss her back at port. We’ll think of why we kicked her off later.”

She thought about it. “Not fuckin’ bad, ox. Brains and brawn--fitting for my second in command.”

“I’ve got charm coming out the ass too.” He smirked, then turned, heading towards the steps leading belowdecks. “I’ll call the men, you tell them what we discussed.”

“Owe you,” she said, a rare ghost of a smile on her lips.

“For more than this.”

Gilda’s personal quarters were rather refined compared to the rest of the ship, but not even they escaped the mess of a pirate ship. A comfy looking bed with a wooden headrest lay next to some windows, looking over the sea. A red rug with a complex gold design lay in the middle of the room, covering the scuffed floorboards. Weapons and basic looking paintings adorned the walls, as well as trophies of Gilda’s exploits; mainly animal body parts. A small washroom of all things tucked away behind a set of heavy curtains.

There were a couple of chests, one open with a variety of odds and ends pouring out. Alice considered playing with some of the cool stuff she found, but thought better of it. She also thought about lying in bed, yet she ended up staying on the rug.

A heavy creaking of a door hinge announced Gilda’s presence. She walked over, barely acknowledging Alice as she kicked off her boots, threw off her jacket and fell hard onto the bed. Alice kept quiet, looking away and fiddling with the frayed edges of the rug.

“You could've been killed. Ocean laws you should of been killed,” Gilda snarled, glaring hard at the girl.

Alice froze, gulping. “Uh... I’m jus’ lucky... I guess?”

She narrowed her brows. “You’re ‘lucky’ because I let you be lucky. So from now on, remember that I own you until you pay off your fucking debt. You’re going to follow everything I say, and there’s going to be no worming your way out of it. Understand?”

Alice blinked. Did she mean...? From the tone of her voice, she did. That meant that Alice was effectively a slave girl now, nothing more. “Yes, ma;’am...” Alice said, subdued and letting out a sigh.

“Repeat it.”

“But I—”

“Repeat it.” Gilda gazed hard at the girl, her calm, icy expression doing more to unnerve Alice than the loud, angry tones she had used earlier that day.

Alice closed her eyes, shaking. “Y-Yes ma’am.”

“Good.” She sighed as she looked over the kid. “When you eat last?”

“Not since this m-mornin’...”

Gilda rose, scowling as made her way wordlessly outside. Several minutes later she returned, unceremoniously tossing a small loaf of bread Alice’s way. “There’s water at the pump. Knock yourself out.”

Alice grabbed the bread, devouring it greedily, then rushed over to the pump and drank from the cold water. Wiping her mouth, she returned to her place on the rug, then mumbled a thanks while she ate the rest of the bread.

“I hope you know how to mop,” Gilda warned. “‘Cause that’s what you’re doing tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I d-do...” She shuffled about on the rug, trying to get comfortable, to not avail.

Gilda rolled her eyes and pressed herself against the far end of the bed. “Come here,” she instructed.

Alice turned to face her. “Wh-what?”

“Or do you want to sleep on the Goddamn rug?” Gilda barked, turning to face the wall as she lay on her side.

“Okay then...” Alice got up, then slowly approached the bed, sitting on the very corner of it. “... I’m fine on the floor if I just got a pillow or something...”

“For God’s sake...” Gilda hopped up and slammed a pillow down onto the rug. “Take the fucking bed, kid. Shit.”

Alice raised an eyebrow, looking at the bed, then at the floor. “Ya sure about that...?”

“What did I tell you earlier?” she asked in a warning tone.

Alice nodded, then hastily climbed into bed, putting the covers protectively over herself. “Thanks,” she said.

Gilda said nothing, instead resting her arms behind her head and staring at the ceiling. After a moment, she reached into a pocket and pulled out a silver coin, a hole punched towards the top and a chain hanging from it. She looked at it, running it over her fingers in a rhythmic, almost hypnotizing motion. The woman quietly mouthed some words, their tone and pacing reminding Alice of a nursery rhyme.

“I did not see what he slew, I wonder what will be in our stew...” She seemed to ponder the words briefly, then continued in a low, muttering tone, entranced by the coin rotating over and under her fingers. “Is it beef? Is it ham? The haunches of a Clicker man? Tor-a-liddle, for-a-di, of what meat are we about to dine?”

Alice quirked an eyebrow, resting on her elbows as she looked over at Gilda. “That sounds, er... cool. Whatcha singin’?”

Gilda paused, as if just realizing the girl was still in the room with her. “Nothing,” she quickly said, pocketing the coin self-consciously. “Just a Kvan folksong.”

“Ah,” Alice replied. For a moment, silence passed, Alice rubbing her leg under the bedsheets. “I don’t know many myself.”

She shrugged. “I don’t either. That’s just one my dad told me.”

Alice nodded. Silence fell again. The girl bit her lip, then blurted out, “Ya like apples?” Her cheeks went just about as red as one after that.

“What?” Gilda paused, raising her brow. “Uh, I guess so. Cobbler’s not bad.”

“Supposin’ you’ve never tried Apples from the Apple Family, then?”

“Named after a fruit and selling it.” She shook her head, then rolled her eyes. “No. Can’t say I’ve had an Apple’s apple.”

Alice looked away for a moment to scowl and roll her eyes. “Well, they’re the best darn apples ever.”

“What happened to being an orphan, by the way?”

Alice blinked, then went completely still. “Er... whatcha mean?”

“At the bar. You told me you didn’t have anyone to look after you. Apple.”

“I never said I was an Apple!” she defended, crossing her arms.

“You more or less did now. Apple.” She stared at the kid. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be having such a temper tantrum.”

“... darn.” The pillow that had once been behind her was now lying against the opposite wall. “Well, that was jus’ an act so you’d let me come along...” She shuffled. “I guess it was a bit stupid...”

“Goddamn right it was,” Gilda snapped. She put a hand to her temple. “You have any idea what the hell we’re going into?”

“Swashbuckling adventure? Booty an’ all that?”

“Are you that fucking stupid? Nobody is around with cutlasses and that kind of shit. We’re there to do a job, not go sailing around.”

Alice looked down at her fingers, fiddling them. “Ya sure do swear like a sailor,” she muttered.

“Sorry if I offend your virgin ears, stowaway,” she dryly retorted. “How about you shut up now and sleep? Tomorrow’s not going to come any later.”

“Sorry,” Alice hastily amended. She lied down and turned away from Gilda, holding onto the covers. “... G’night, I guess.”

“Yeah. Night, squirt.” Gilda replied, shutting her eyes and resting the back of her head on her hands. After a long, drawn out pause, she added. “More blankets under the bed. If you get cold.”

Alice only gave a nod in response, her eyes already shut. It wasn’t long before sweet sleep took hold of her.