The Kitten, the Witches and the Bad Wardrobe - Willow & Tara Forever

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 Post subject: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:18 am 
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8. Vixen

Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:38 am
Posts: 729
Topics: 22
THE ADVENTURES OF CAP’N RED ROSENBERG
DEAD MAN’S ISLAND

Author; WillowTaraLover

Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant
Enemy and Fox. I own all original characters, concepts and anything else they can’t lay their grubby little paws on.

Rating; PG-13 to R for sex, violence and naughty swearing.

Story; Rough, tough pirate captain ‘Red’ Willow Rosenberg is on the hunt for treasure but gets more than she bargained for including romance with a blonde beauty, betrayal by a crew member and danger from a necromancer, and his army of the undead, who is intent on resurrecting an evil goddess.

Acknowledgment; I would like to give a huge thanks to my new friend Ariel for being my beta on this story and providing me with so many useful reference materials as well as aiding in the editing process and making this story so much better than it would have been, thanks Ariel, you’re awesome

All thoughts are in italics

Chapter 1

Captain Red Rosenberg stood on the bridge of her schooner, the Slayer, with two man-o-war in dangerously close pursuit of her, The Queen Cordelia on the port side and The Spike on starboard. As the two larger ships prepared to fire on her smaller ship she braced herself.

There was a thunderous explosion as the cannons from the two men-o-war fired out cannon balls at the smaller schooner. There was a sudden crack and a splintering of wood as one of the balls impacted against the side of the Slayer, the pirate vessel trying to evade capture from the enemy ships, smashing the side rails.

“Fuck!” cried out Captain ‘Red’ Rosenberg as the cannon ball struck her ship. “Xander, you’re supposed to be getting us out of this mess.”

“I’m trying Will,” Xander replied as he turned the steering wheel furiously first one way, then the other, determined to prevent the Slayer being turned into matchwood. “But if you haven’t noticed, there are at least two men-o-wars after us from Kemah. We have to outrun them.”

“Right, they’ve just fired, we have a moment. Xander, hard a port. We’ll bring our side cannon’s to bear against them then swing her back straight.”

An instant later she shouted the orders to hoist sail to her first mate, Buffy, then addressed the gunners mate. “Alex! Side cannons fire then head aft for a final volley.”

“Aye Cap’n.”

Xander grasped the wheel, knuckles white as he concentrated. “We have it…”

The young man suddenly found himself being jerked out of the way by the redhead as another cannonball struck the pirate vessel, narrowly missing the steering wheel and slamming into the mast. An instant later, the Slayer’s side cannons fired, shattering the mainmast of one of their pursuers.

Xander jumped to his feet and grabbed he wheel again.

“Phew, thanks for that Will,” he said holding his close friend’s gaze. “That could have killed me.”

“I know, but a good helmsman is hard to find. You’re my best friend and besides, who else is gonna get us out of this mess,” she grinned at her oldest friend.

Xander grinned back at his dearest friend then rose from the deck and quickly went back to the wheel. “Will, how far are we from the base?”

“At least two miles.”

“Good, we should be able to make it in twenty minutes, if we can get to the base we can hide…”

“... Behind the shield spell, of course. I’ll do it. Swing her straight into base.” She shouted, “aft cannons” at the gunners mate then the pirate queen dashed to the opening that led to below decks and ran to the aft section of the ship. “Alex, Alex” she roared as she sped along the magically expanded corridors of the Slayer.

“Alex, are you ready for firing on the enemy?”

By now, Willow had reached the aft area where the cannons were and was addressing a young woman with dark red hair, brown eyes and silver studs in either ear. She wore a short sleeve black shirt and trousers tucked into calf length boots. She was giving orders to about a dozen girls dressed similarly who were working on two small cannons repeatedly placing cannon balls into them, filling one end with gunpowder and then lighting the fuses so that seconds later the cannon balls would fire out of the gunports.

“Aye captain, that we are but these aft cannons have the same power as the side cannons. The balls aren’t even reaching the enemy ships Cap’n.”

“Hold fire, but have balls loaded at the ready in case they begin to close on us. Mister Harris says we’re nearly at the base. Once there we’ll be safe behind the shield. I’m going to have to go back up top to help steer us home, can you handle it down here?”

“Aye cap….tain,” she finished as Willow raised her eyes at the overly familiar greeting. “We should be fine down here long as we get back to the island safely.”

With that, Willow gave a nod to Alex and headed back up to the main deck where she returned to stand by her friend at the helm. There was another young woman there also. A petite blonde, whose eyes never seemed to stop looking round the ship ensuring everybody was doing their delegated tasks.

“All the sails are down Cap’n we’re starting to pull away from the Kemah ships. Xander says we’re ten minutes away from the base.”

“Aye Buff, I can see it from here,” the pirate captain turned around and checked on the distance between her own vessel and that of her pursuers, which was widening by the second. By now, they had stopped firing as their cannon balls were just hitting the water and barely even splashing against the stern of the Slayer.

“Land oh,” she said to Xander.”

“I see it,” he replied and made a slight adjustment of the steering wheel so that the ship steered around a small isle. The Slayer was now aimed more accurately at what appeared to be a large rocky outcropping close by.

As the Slayer skimmed over the blue water’s it slowly came closer to the rocky island. It appeared to be made up solely of rocks jutting out at various angles and looking as if there was no place for the ship to land at all.

Most of the crew dashed to the aft of The Slayer as the ship seemingly started to vanish into the rocky island itself, as if it were a ghost ship.
The rocky out-croppings slowly faded from view to be replaced by a huge cavernous opening, which was flanked on the left side by a vast white sandy beach on to which the waves of the crystal blue ocean rushed. On the right side of the cavern were more of the treacherous rocks though these were very real, as many a cocksure captain in pursuit of the Slayer had discovered to the cost of his own life and that of his crew.
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The illusion had been created by Giles, a renegade from a powerful guild of sorcerers who had come to disapprove of the guilds belief that their powers should make them the absolute law and all others should bow down before them.

Willow and her crew had bumped into Giles by chance when he, like they, was hiding out on an island that offered shelter. It occurred when one of Willow’s crew had tried to pick Giles pockets only to get her hands caught in a mousetrap.

After calming a tense situation Willow spoke with him and learned of his hatred of the ruling figures of the all the local islands.

Not knowing of his abilities, they had offered the renegade safe passage. However after he saved the ship by hiding her in a mist cloud when the island governor sent three battle ships after them, Willow offered him a place with herself and the Slayerettes, which he had gratefully accepted.

Since that fateful day five years ago, Giles had become the only other male who was a member of Willow’s crew. He usually took care of things on the island base while the pirate was seeking new adventures and treasure out at sea.

The Slayer slid smoothly into the cavernous opening. On the far side was Slayer II, Willow’s other ship so that when one was in the docks for repairs the other could be out at sea. A small rope bridge spanned the little river that flowed out from the inner caves where the living quarters were based within the interior caves.

As the pirate ship slid into its moorings the crew watched, jeering and laughing mockingly as the two Kemah ships sailed right past the island, the shield spell duping them into believing that the pirate vessel was still out there running from them.

The Slayer finally came to rest and the anchor lowered to the rocky seabed the crew began to leave the ship, greeted by their friends. As they did so, outside Giles’s spell fell back into place once again making it appear as just another isle with rocky out croppings making it impossible for anyone to land their craft on the island, while to the Slayerettes the sun still shone warmly through cracks in the rocky surface lighting up the dusky interior.

“Willow, it’s good to see you back safe again,” said Giles warmly to the captain as she descended the gangplank to the rocky floor of the island cavern.

“It’s good to be back safe Giles,” the redhead replied happily crossing to the sorcerer. “It’s starting to get a little boring out there nowadays though. No one wants to fight ‘Cap’n Red’ anymore; I guess they’re all too scared. I’m just gonna have to start searching further afield or move to the other side of the world and see what’s out there.”

“Be careful Willow, you should never be overconfident of your own abilities. No matter how good you or your crew are, there will most surely come a time when you will run into a foe vastly more powerful than yourself.”

“Well thanks for that Giles,” the pirate captain said wryly. “You really know how to make a gal feel wanted.”

“That’s precisely the point Willow; you are a wanted woman on most of the nearby islands. If the militia on any of those islands capture you, Xander, Buffy or any of the girls…”

The sorcerer let the unspoken thought linger in the air. Despite Willow’s jovial air, she knew he was right, and this disturbed her greatly. She hadn’t set out to become a pirate but it had been the best means to save girls from fates worse than death. These fates included being made slave’s, whores in brothels, concubines and sacrificial victims to unnameable dark and terrible gods in secret temples beneath the palaces of the rulers in the Lone-Star Isles.

“I’m careful Giles, I’m always careful. You know what the girls mean to me. There is no way in the hells that I would risk any of their lives.”

Giles regarded the young woman before him gently. He loved her as if she was his own daughter and he knew that Willow was sincere in all she said. However, he also knew that this life of piracy was not one that the girl should be living. She should be and free somewhere, living with someone she truly loved.

“I know how you feel about the girls Willow; I just want you to be careful that’s all. Each time you go out I dread never seeing you again and Buffy or Xander telling me you’ve been killed during one of your adventures.”

“Don’t worry, I promise you Giles that’s something you’ll never hear. I plan to live a long and healthy life and when I die I’ll be an old woman with lots of grandkids,” she smiled warmly at the man who returned the smile and hugged her warmly.
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On the other side of the cavern, Buffy was overseeing the accounting of the treasure that the Slayer had amassed. There were the usual chests of gold and jewels that would be distributed to the poor people on the surrounding isles. The money would give them a chance to pay the high taxes that the governors demanded for their outrageous lifestyles. Then there were letters documents and orders, which, after being checked out for importance would be destroyed in fires at the communal feast to be held that night.

“Ma’am, ma’am, there’s something odd about this chest,” the speaker was a girl named Laragh. She and her friend Alex had been rescued from a slaver vessel as the majority of the Slayerettes had.

The duo had been rescued two years earlier after the Slayer had caught a slave galleon and Buffy had gone down to inspect the hold and had found at least fifty women and girls chained up inside the inside the bowels of the ship.

After releasing the female prisoners on the ship, at least forty of them, mostly the older women, just wanted to go back to their homes and families and the Slayer did just that. The remaining ten joined the crew of the Slayer some living on the pirate ships island base, the rest joining Willow on her adventures aboard the Slayer.

Alex and Laragh chose to join the crew both agreed it had been the best thing they had ever chosen to do. If they had stayed at home, they would have been forced to marry some boy against their will and just have babies until finally released by either death or old age. Instead they’d had adventures, fought evil, seen places they never knew existed. It had opened up a whole new world to them.

“Show me what you got,” Buffy said as she approached Laragh.

“It’s this chest ma’am, from the looks of it, it has a false bottom. I’m just a bit nervous that it may be enchanted or have some kind of weapon if someone opens it .On the other hand it could be treasure.”

Buffy thought for a moment then made her decision.

“First my name is Buffy. Please don’t call me ma’am, save that for the captain. Second, you got an axe. We’re gonna open this crate up.

Laragh turned to Alex who offered her a hatchet. A couple of the girls helped roll the chest so that it lay on the open chest lid. Buffy then got the girls to stand back in case of poison, raised the hatchet and bought it down on the base of the chest.

It shattered instantly sending splinters flying. Buffy turned her head and a couple of the splinters brushed against her cheek.

After the dust and slivers of wood had settled Buffy checked out what remained.

There amongst the broken remains of the strongbox was a large leather pouch. Buffy warily lifted the bag free from the remnants of the box, alert in case there was a pressure sensitive trap beneath the pouch. Once it was free of the chest, the second-in-command took a large step back.

Once satisfied there was no danger she considered the leather pouch in her hands. It was quite light with only a slight weight to it. The leather itself was loose and floppy. Even the wax seal was still quite fresh but the writing on the seal was completely unknown to Buffy. She approached Laragh and clapped her appreciatively on the shoulder.

“Well done, you may have found something even more valuable than all the other trinkets we’ve taken on this expedition. Come on you found it, you get the right to pass it over to the Captain.” With that she handed the pouch to Laragh and escorted her and Alex across the rope bridge to where Willow and Xander were checking over the Slayer for any battle damage.

“Aye Cap’n. Repairs will start tomorrow morning.”

“Good.”

They both looked up as Buffy came over to them with Alex and Laragh.

“Cap’n,” the blonde said brightly to her friend “Laragh here found something for you.”

“Did you now,” Willow turned towards her crewmember with interest. “And what exactly did you find Laragh?”

Laragh raised the leather pouch and presented it to the redhead, explaining how it had been concealed. All the while Willow examined the pouch but didn’t open it. When the Slayerette had finished her explanation, Willow turned to her admiringly and, like Buffy, clapped her on the shoulder.

“That’s some good work you’ve done there Laragh. How’d you and your friend like to dine at the captain’s table tonight?” She indicated Alex who was standing nearby but keeping out of things. She didn’t want to ruin her friend’s opportunity to get in to the captain’s good graces, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to miss out on a chance like this.

To be invited to dine with Willow and lieutenants Buffy, Xander and Giles was an honour given to only a select few. It was considered a high mark of distinction to the crewmembers and all the girls under Willow’s command were determined to achieve it.

“D…do you mean that?” Asked Laragh astonished that she and her close friend had been invited to dine with the captain.

“I really mean that,” said Willow with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. “So what’ya say, you wanna eat with a lowlife pirate like me tonight.”

“Oh please Will…I…I mean Captain,” Laragh was stopped mid sentence as the pirate queen laughed good naturedly at the exuberance of the girl whose eyes sparkled and had a smile as wide as the ocean itself plastered on her face.

“Go on back to your work and I’ll see you tonight at the table.” She happily watched Laragh go back to her friend and her smile widened even further as the two girls hugged each other.

“Well I think I’m gonna turn in for a few hours,” Willow said to her companions, “and I’ll check this out too,” she added indicating the pouch that had been handed to her. With that, she headed to a smaller side passage that led into the labyrinthine interior of the Slayerettes home base and to her quarters.
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As the redhead stepped through the heavy, velvet curtain that separated her private quarters from the rest of the pirate base, she dropped the pouch and stripped off her clothes, leaving them in an untidy mess on the floor and pulled back the blankets of her bed to find a ghost lying there.

As Willow looked down on her bed, she sighed heavily as she remembered her first and, to date, only serious lover, Roberta. She had been beautiful in a wild, untamed way with a thick mass of untamed black curly locks; she had an olive complexion and dark brown eyes. Her body completely smooth with full breasts, perfect mounds of heaving flesh topped with darkened nipples, like berries ripe for the plucking.

Willow closed her eyes and, for a moment, remembered the beautiful young woman who had once shared her bed.

Regularly she invited various girls to spend the evening with her but Roberta had been the one Willow had invited most often. The pirate queen enjoyed sharing their nights together, in fact she enjoyed the nights she shared with any of the girls who stayed overnight with her. All the girls were very good under the covers but there was never any kind of romance between the pirate captain and any of her crew. Apart from Roberta that is.
The two had grown significantly closer during the time they spent together, not just in bed. Sometimes they went for walks around the island base, holding hands and just talking. They grew so close in fact that Willow believed that Roberta might be the ONE. Their lovemaking was, as far as Willow was concerned the stuff that dreams are made of.

Then disaster had struck. While raiding a rival pirate ship and relieving the captain of his treasures Roberta noticed that one of the crew wasn’t as unconscious as he had made out and was about to fire his flintlock at Willow.

Without a second thought to her own safety Roberta had ran and shoved her lover out of the way. However, she was not swift enough to avoid the bullet herself. It had struck her full in the head smashing into the skull, sending fragments of bone into the brain killing her instantly.

At the death of Roberta Willow had cried out vengeance and immediately executed the captain where he stood, slicing her sabre deep into his neck, letting his blood spurt out over her. Despite her reputation as being peace loving, Willow’s rage at the death of her love would only have been sated if she had slaughtered the rest of the ships crew. Fortunately for them Buffy and Xander held her back and instead they just killed the one who had taken Roberta’s life, in the same manner as used on the captain. Afterwards, they let the other ship sail off despite Willow’s demands that it be scuttled.

The death of Roberta shattered Willow completely. She barely left her chambers, never went to the communal feasts, in fact it was a rarity to see the pirate queen at any time. Eventually she did get over the death of Roberta and continued in her work as the pirate queen but nobody had ever replaced that first girl who had loved her.

Willow sighed deeply once more, climbed into the bed, pulled the covers over her body and, trying to fight back tears of loneliness she settled down to a fitful sleep.
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The main hall, where everyone gathered for meals, lay at the very centre of the island. Because of this, it was lit up all around by hundreds of torches in sconces on the wall and multiple candelabras. The tables were arranged in a circle, the captain’s, larger than the other tables to accommodate her lieutenants and any guests, facing the entrance. In one corner was a large cooking area with a spit large enough for cooking large hunks of meat such as beef, pork or mutton, usually gifts from people from the nearby islands because of some helpful deed that Willow had done for them.

As soon as she entered the main hall, Willow was almost thrown to the floor as she received a huge hug from Dawn, Buffy’s sister, who admired Willow and considered her another sister and her best friend. Already Dawn had determined to follow in the pirate captains footsteps. Several times, she had asked if she could go on an adventure with the redhead but each time Willow had told the girl that her education was more important.

“Willow, you’re so cruel doing this to me,” the girl said with a pout amusing the pirate.

“Aye lass, well I am a pirate, cruelty tends to go with the job. Tell me what’s got you sulking now?”

“It’s not fair. Why won’t you take me with you? I can pull my own weight.”
Willow studied the slender brunette appraisingly. She did know what the girl could do. However, Dawn was still just a girl, and a young girl at that, she was also Buffy’s sister. More than that Willow genuinely liked and cared about the girl and didn’t want to see her hurt or killed.

“Please Willow, I’m not a babe-in-arms anymore.”

“Willow took in the slender brunette before her weighing her up. “A babe indeed,” she said, her voice soft, then in a harder voice than normal she continued. “Dawn, the first part of a pirates life is obeying orders, the second is earning her keep. It takes more than a hot temper and an ability to swing a sword to serve aboard the Slayer.”

“I am tired of being left behind. All I ask is that you give me a fair chance.”

“Willow’s voice was soft, but her emerald eyes remained hard. “Be careful what you wish for. There are plenty of women who wanted to try the pirate’s life and now their bones are at the bottom of the oceans. It’s not an easy life, not even for the likes of me.”

“I don’t want easy,” for the first time the young brunette dropped her eyes so her gaze was aimed at the cavern floor. “I want to be like you.”

Willow looked down on the girl with a sad smile at the girl who wanted to grow up so fast that she was throwing away her youth.

“Dawn, There’s plenty of time for you to join the crew”

“You just don’t think I’m good enough yet but wait till you see me fight tonight, you’ll see.”

As Dawn stomped off angrily, Buffy came up beside her friend.

“Dawn still wants to go on a voyage.”

“Aye Buffy, that she does. I’m just a little wary of taking her away with me. I don’t want her to get hurt, partly cos I’m so fond of her, but also she is your sister and only remaining family.”

“Will, have you considered that maybe taking her along is the best thing to do. If she finds out for herself what life is like aboard the Slayer first hand maybe she’ll stop bothering you about going on further voyages.”

“Aye maybe, well we’ll see. It may be a while though before I do any pirating in these waters. That was a bit too close for my liking today with those Men-o- war. In the meantime, I’ll undertake young Dawn’s training meself. I’ll teach her to box, handle a knife; I hardly think she should be running around with a sword, and I’ll teach her some stuff about work on the Slayer. Now I don’t know about you but I’m hungry. Lets get some grub before we starve to death,” and with that the two friends headed up to the main table where plates of meat and flagons of ale and wine awaited them.
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The only one who was obvious by his absence was Giles who had been given the package by the pirate captain herself so that he could investigate it more thoroughly. He wasn’t fond of parties anyway, preferring to spend his time researching the occult and honing his magical powers.

The meal that night was a great affair with at least one cow being cooked along with several chickens and a lamb as well.

At the large captain's table where Willow, Xander and Buffy were sitting were Laragh and Alex. They still couldn’t believe they had been this lucky and they waved to their friends who looked over at them enviously.

There were wrestling contests from some girls who wanted to show their hand-to-hand fighting skills before Cap’n Red in the hopes she would take them on her next adventure. Willow herself even got in on the wrestling action taking on three newcomers at once, and winning.

Finally it was Dawn’s turn in the ring. She was paired up with Alex who immediately started to complain.

“Cap’n, you can’t seriously expect me to fight Dawn, why she’s just a babe-in-arms?”

“You’re just saying that cos you’re scared Alex,” the would-be pirate called back. “It’s because you’re older than me and you’re getting slower in your old age.”

Willow smirked at this and leaned over to Buffy to talk quietly in her ear.

“She has quite the mouth on her, your Dawn, doesn’t she?”

“Gods, tell me about it. She’s the only person I ever knew who could turn
the term for mother into a four-syllable word. Ya know when they go moooom.” With that, the blonde sighed deeply and shook her head while Willow patted her gently on the shoulder sympathetically while trying unsuccessfully to stifle the attack of giggles she was getting.

Back in the ring Alex had slipped out of her seat and she and Dawn were having a name calling match, which Dawn appeared to be winning from the extremely pissed off look on Alex’s face. Finally, the young brunette delivered the final insult by impersonating a chicken’s clucking sound straight into the experienced pirates face.

That was the final straw for Alex. She withdrew her sword from where it hung at her side and flung the scabbard away while Dawn did likewise. Both girls looked to Willow who gave a curt nod and the fight was on.

Alex lunged with her sword only to find it easily deflected by Dawn, the two continued the dance for a while with Alex leaping to attack only to have her opponent easily sidestep or repel each strike. Then without warning, Dawn suddenly dodged to one side from Alex’s swordswing and tripped Alex up so that she fell flat on her face on the sandy floor, the spectators chuckled and there were some cheers for Dawn.

Alex quickly picked herself up off the floor and leapt back over to Dawn who stood ready. Alex made a series of vicious slashes, which Dawn could only just prevent as she was steadily forced back towards the tables by the stronger pirate. The younger girl felt her back hit something solid and she knew she had to think of something fast.

Dawn suddenly rolled back onto table so that her legs were off the floor, she bunched them up tight to her, then kicked out hitting Alex hard in the stomach, fortunately she was barefoot but it was more than enough to send the dark haired girl staggering back and gave Dawn room to manoeuvre.

Before Alex could recover, Dawn dashed in and with her free hand punched her. This, in combined with her still wobbly legs, knocked Alex to the floor. Before she could pick herself up, the younger brunette threw herself atop and they started to wrestle on the sandy floor, each trying to gain a stronger purchase hold on the other.

By now Willow was paying serious interest in the fight and watching what Dawn did with great awareness. She again turned to Buffy speaking quietly in her ear.

“Dawn’s very good. A lot better than I assumed she would be. You haven’t been giving her extra lessons have you?”

“No, not me. But then again when we’re away at sea anyone could be teaching Dawn tricks. And all she has to do is pay attention to what is going on around her during a class and she could learn stuff that way.”
“Hmm hmm,” Agreed the pirate captain as she went back to observing the fight with a greater awareness of Dawn’s fighting abilities.

By now, the entire hall was filled with the sound of cheers for the combatants. There were shouts of people going ‘smack her one Dawn, give her a black eye’ and others cheering on Alex saying ‘show that kid how we slayers do it’. Money was also changing hands as people took bets as to who would win the fight.

Both girls had, by now scrambled up off the floor and still battling away with one another but their swords were long forgotten and they were using their fists and just battering at each other. A hard fist caught Dawn in the abdomen and a follow on struck her left cheek. All Dawn did in response was ram herself equally hard into Alex throwing them both to the floor again, this time dangerously close to the roasting fire.

Hmm, so she can take it as well as give, Willow thought as the fight continued. By now Alex was on top but Dawn headbutted her, which dazed both girls but made Alex lose her grip on the younger girl. Dawn threw her off and scrambled for the swords only for Alex to do the same.

They both reached the weapons and bought them up at the same time. Dawn suddenly had her head gently forced back as she found Alex’s sword at her throat.

“It’s no shame to lose. After all I am a better swordswoman,” Alex said smugly.

“Erm, I think you should take a little look down at your chest,” Dawn replied lightly. Alex did so only to discover Dawns sword pointed at her heart. At this the dark haired girl’s eyes went wide and her jaw dropped for a moment only for it to turn into an enormous face wide grin. She withdrew her sword from its place at Dawns throat and began to laugh, a rich full sound that filled the chamber.

“Gods girl, I was wrong about you! You’re no babe in arms anymore,” She looked admiringly at the young brunette who had dropped her sword to the floor the moment Alex had begun to laugh.

“You’ve got spirit girl and I’d be glad to have you fighting by my side anytime,” and with that she put her hand out and Dawn took it and they shook amid much cheering from the assembled crowd. Willow rose from her seat and, after the noise had died down, made her decision.

“I declare this fight between Dawn and Alex to be a draw. However I give special commendation to Dawn for her quick thinking, ingenuity and spirit in battle.” At this there were more cheers and Buffy looked towards her sister with a great, proud smile on her face.

“So does this mean I can go to sea with you now Willow,” Dawn asked eagerly her blue eyes shining brightly. “You know I can fight and defend myself.”

Willow sighed deeply as she realised she should have seen this coming.
“Maybe one day Dawn, but not yet. But I promise you when I know you’re ready, I’ll take you with me.”

“When YOU know I’m ready Cap’n, and when exactly will that be,” Dawn snapped at Willow. “When I’m old and grey and I won’t be any use to you at all.”

“Dawn, you know it wo…”

“No forget it Willow, you obviously don’t think I’m good enough,” the brunette yelled out, a tear coursing down her cheek, “But I’ll show you with or without your help!” with that she left the chamber crying.
Everyone was now feeling a little uncomfortable.

“Maybe I should go after her,” Willow said starting to rise from her seat.

“No Will, leave it for now,” Buffy caught Willow’s arm but her voice was gentle. “She’ll get around it and come around, she always does. Well at least she has in the past.”

“Erm, Cap’n do you think maybe I should…you know…do something to help the lass?” enquired Alex, still standing in front of Willow’s place at the table.

“No, no you get back to your friend,” Willow replied indicating Laragh with a nod of her head.

Xander stood up “I’ll go see that there’s no boats free that Dawn can take. Don’t want her doing a runner now do we.”

“Xander,” one of the girls called, “Where do you want me?”

“My chambers, half an hour,” he replied before heading off into the labyrinth of tunnels.

“And Studly Dudley strikes again,” Buffy whispered in Willows ear prompting a small smile from her friend.


Finally after most of the eating had been done Willow got out her squeeze box and started to play it as she began singing a sea shanty and slowly but surely the rest of the crew of the Slayer started to join in.

She had a dark and roving eye
And her hair hung down in ringlets
She was a fine girl, a decent girl
But one of the rakish kind
A roving, a roving, a roving I ay
I’ll go no more roving with you fair maid
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Slowly but surely the night wore on and as it got later more and more of the girls went to bed either in their couples or with friends till there were only a few of them left.

Finally even Willow herself decided she had had enough and was tired out. She said her good nights to everyone and, collecting her squeezebox, returned to her chambers.

She was disappointed to not find Katarina waiting for her in her bed, but also a little relieved, as she was so tired. After safely packing her squeezebox away in its case, stripped off her clothes and dived under the covers before falling into a deep sleep.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile in another chamber on the island base plans were being made.

“And you believe that we can take the ship easily?”

“I know we can. On her next trip out we wait until Willow decides she has enough in the hold. Then we’ll mutiny when she sets sail for the base and take over the Slayer. All we need is enough people to run the ship after we’ve killed the captain and anyone loyal to her.”

“Willow is well-liked, do you seriously believe we can find enough people to help us overthrow her?”

“I’m sure we will after we promise them a share of the treasure. The main ones to watch will be her lieutenants then Alex and Laragh. They’ll support her to the last drop of their blood, so they are the main ones we’ll have to get rid of. Now I believe I was licking your tits.”

There was a deep moan and someone said, “Oh gods yes.”

To Be Continued


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:47 am 
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6. Sassy Eggs

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Dibs

Interesting story. I like how you're using some Kitten authors' names. Can't wait for Willow to meet Tara.


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:04 am 
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Wow. Dude... Can't wait for more :)
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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:49 pm 
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OMG! I really liked this a lot. I can't wait to find out more, and how Tara ties into this. Kick ass Dawn was pretty awesome. Who would dare betray the great Red Rosenberg? They shall perish in Davy Jones' Locker!

Wolfie


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:16 am 
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Woo and a hoo. This story kicks some major ass. ;-) I can't wait for you to update so we can all see where Tara ties into this lovely story ... and even more importantly, where Willow may tie her to!!! :blush

With a very vibrant blush and a cheeky smile, please update soon. Thankies. :peace

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:29 pm 
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Dun dun dun. The plot thickens! lol

Using the Kitten's names made me smile. Update soon?

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:34 am 
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8. Vixen

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THE ADVENTURES OF CAP’N RED ROSENBERG
DEAD MAN’S ISLAND


Author; Willowtaralover

Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. I own all original characters, concepts, and anything else they didn’t use.

Rating; PG13-R for sex, violence and naughty swearing.

Story; Rough, tough pirate captain Willow ‘Red’ Rosenberg is on the hunt for treasure but gets more than she bargained for including romance with a blonde beauty, betrayal from a crew member, and danger from a necromancer, and his undead army, who is intent on resurrecting an evil goddess.

All thoughts are in italics

BUFFYFAN4ever You won’t have to wait long as Tara will turn up in a couple of chapters.

Werekitty ToshiGoth Thank you for your kind words. It makes the writing of this adventure all the worthwhile.

Wolfsbane I’m glad you like the story a lot, Tara is going to fit into the story in a big way as will Dawn. As for the betrayer; they’ll make themselves known sooner or later and when they do, they’ll suffer the wrath of Willow.

Vanessa Don’t worry, you’ll find out where Tara ties into it soon enough but what or where Willow ties her to, now that remains to be seen. All I will say is that Tara will have an interesting time on her own at one point.

Promethea128 You wanted an update, here it is.

Chapter 2
Plans
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The redheaded pirate captain arose the following day at cockcrow with the feeling that a battleship was trying to bust its way out of her skull from the inside using all of its cannons.

Gods she thought, why did I drink so much last night, oh yeah that’s right because it’s the big feast we have each time we return safely from a voyage. I’m just gonna have to start drinking milk or water at these events. All this liquor is really getting too much for a pirate like me.

With that, she rose from her bed and walked to another curtained chamber at the far end of her quarters. Where there was a large pool of heated water, which Willow sank into. She had had no need to undress as she had slept naked, as was her fashion.

Giles had once explained that some kind of vents that lay deep in the ocean beneath the island. Into these vents poured some kind of hot liquid called lava and this lava kept the water in pools around the island base heated. At least that’s how Willow understood what Giles had told her.
The one thing she did understand though is that it made her feel better straightaway.

The cannons pounding away at her skull were gradually dissipating. It wasn’t even a battleship now, now it was just a sloop, albeit an armed one and a smile grew on her face as her hangover pain eased.

An hour later and she was ready to start her day. She went to one of the workout chambers to practice with her sword skills with Buffy. Ninety minutes after that and she spent another hour working on her fist fighting and wrestling before finally going to swim in the ocean found the island taking care not to go beyond the spell wall and break Giles illusion.

Eventually after all her exercising and refreshing her body, Willow went for breakfast. Her repast consisting of the left over meat from the previous nights feast, cheese, some eggs an apple and milk to drink.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After breakfast, she went into the small interior harbour where she met up with Xander who was overseeing the repair work that needed doing on the Slayer after its recent adventures in the seas.

The pirate vessel had been hauled onto a slipway on dry land via a series of wooden rollers. He was also looking over Slayer 2 and ensuring that it would be a ship-shape, well, ship.

“How’s it looking Xander, she survive the run in we had with the Kemah Men-O-war?”

“Aye, it don’t look to bad Will. Most of their cannon balls just bounced off her; the main damage is to the ships rails that’ll need replacing cos they’re too badly broken. They’re all in splinters, I’m checking on the masts as well. I don’t want us to suddenly lose a sail when we’re on the run from enemy vessels like we were yesterday.

"Any I think are unsafe I’m gonna have taken down and I’ll replace with fresh ones.

“The main problem has been with molluscs. It’s probably why the Kemah ships were able to keep with us so easily yesterday. When the mollusc returns to the sea, it leaves its shell behind and if there’s enough shells left, they can slow the speed of a vessel.”

“So what do we do?” Willow asked. She knew how to sail her ship and lead the crew into raiding another ship laden with riches, but nothing of the day-to-day care of her own vessel. That she left to her friend

“Oh that’s easy,” Xander replied with a grin at his friend’s lack of knowledge. “We’ll use knives or some other sharp tools to extract the shells. Must be a couple ‘a hundred shells in the hull, that’s where they breed, mebbe even a thousand. After the shells have been removed, I’ll fill the holes with wooden pegs then finally paint tar all over it. That should keep the molluscs out for a while and keep her seaworthy,” and he patted the ship’s side affectionately.

Willow nodded approvingly and wandered over to Slayer 2, which lay in the water, ready to set sail at a moments notice.

“You like her?” Xander asked, though he could tell from the pleased expression on his old friend’s face that she was.

“Oh yes, did you add that little…extra I asked for?”

“Aye, I had the girls make one while on that last little expedition. It’s about five foot and made of iron.”

“Good work Xan, I know I can always rely on you. Next time the Kemah’s cross our path they’re going to have a bit of a shock. There’ll be a meeting in Giles’s quarters about noon. See what he’s made of the package that Laragh found.”

“I’ll be there Will; I’ll set to, start clearing out these mollusc shells.” With that, he returned to Slayer, extracted an incredibly sharp, long slender knife from a pocket in the side of his pants, and set to work checking for mollusc boreholes while Willow set off to start tutoring Dawn in reading oceanic maps, if she could find her that is, after last night's little spat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, in the quarters she shared with her sister, Dawn was sat, Indian style on her bed, glaring at the bedcovers, still in a sulk after her argument with Willow the night before. Buffy was busy in another area of the base organising the sewing and repairing of the sails

“You can’t go yet Dawn, you’re to young Dawn, you’re education is more important, you have to be able to fight Dawn. Yeah right, Buffy had barely been aboard for two weeks before she got to run around with a sword.” She sighed deeply and went back to glaring at the bedcovers.

And that was when Dawn got the idea; Oh yeah, she thought, that’s it, that’s just what I’ll do.
With that, she uncrossed her legs and lay down on her bed, a smug smile on her face.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come noon Willow, Buffy, and Xander were all gathered in Giles’s room. It was the largest on the isle with two other curtain, separated rooms. One was his bathroom while the other was where he kept his altar, practised his magic and worshipped his gods.

In the main area, were shelves stacked with books, some from when he fled the sorcerer’s council, others bought to him by Willow after she found them on her travels. Apart from that, the only other furniture in the room was a large bed with plenty of blankets on top, a table, which currently held some platters of chicken legs, cold meats and fruit as well as several documents, the main of which was the parchment that had been discovered the day before and a few maps.

Around the table were four chairs on which were Buffy, Willow, Xander and in place of honour, Giles.

The parchment, which neither Willow nor her two lieutenants could resist looking at, was an old piece of thin leather. It was a yellowy, white colour due to aging but it was still clearly a map. The chart showed the Lone Star Islands and a route that appeared to go from there to an isle right at the top of the piece of leather. It was clear to Willow’s trained eyes that wherever the other isle was, it would be a long voyage to get there.

“So what did you find out about the package we found yesterday?” The pirate queen asked, eager to find out what Giles had learned.

“Not a lot unfortunately, I was unable to translate much of it. It erm…it appears to be a map of some kind,” the renegade replied. “It mentions a place called Verminas. It’s some kind of island from what it says here. This actually jogged something in my memory so I spent a good deal of the night looking it up in some of my reference books.” He indicated a huge pile of books by his chair.

“It appears that three centuries ago there was a sorcerer in the council called Salomon. Salomon was incredibly powerful and quickly rose through the ranks to become arch mage, which is virtually the highest position you can get. This however was not good enough for him; he wanted the highest position in the council, that of sorcerer supreme, and become the leader of the council. To try and achieve that goal Salomon turned to dark magicks and started to secretly worship the chaos goddess Negara.”

“Er, if he was doing all this secretly, how come you know all about it?” Xander asked while munching on a chicken leg.

“I was just about to come to that,” said Giles glaring at the young man for having interrupted him. Xander just shrugged and took a swig of wine to wash down the meat.

“It slowly started to come to the attention of members of the council that strange things were happening. The dead were crawling out of their graves, no matter if they were recently deceased or dead for many years. It appears that Negara had given Salomon the ability to raise the dead, so that he may speak with them and gain new powers from already dead magicians and wizards.”

“You mean he became a necromancer?” Buffy asked and Giles nodded his concurrence.

“Yes Buffy, he did and that, Xander is how we knew he was doing it secretly. Necromancy is one of the major Darkest Magicks and as such is banned by the council. Very few members of the council even possessed such a power and after a gret deal of investigating we discovered he was the source, very late in the day,” he finished sadly.

Xander just nodded his head in understanding and took another swig of his drink.

“What’s a negro dancer?” Willow asked completely baffled by this new word. “Is it some kind of coloured dancer?”

“Will, its necromancer,” Buffy told her. “They’re a kind sorcerer whose main power is to be able to communicate with the dead. I hear they’re very popular on Sativa as it gives the departed an opportunity for a last talk with their friends and families.”

“Doesn’t always work out though,” Xander grinned, “I was at one funeral and the necromancer successfully got the spirit to talk, but it just let out all the secrets the family had been keeping from one another. Who was sleeping with whom, identities of baby’s fathers, hidden stashes of money. It was fantastic when the family kicked off with one another, one of the best fights I ever saw. Then when the will was read the deceased had left all his money to an orphanage.”

“Whose funeral was it?” Buffy enquired.

“Me dad’s,” he replied chuckling at the memory of while his friends just looked at him, then one another, eyebrows raised questioningly.

Finally, Giles got back to the story of Salomon.

“Eventually, Salomon became so powerful he attempted to assassinate the sorcerer supreme of that time. Fortunately, his attempt was learned of and a trap was set so that when he attempted his assassination he found himself restrained by the mass magicks of the entire council. He was then stripped of all his powers and banished to the Island of Verminas.
“Verminas was an island owned by the council and they used it to imprison Salomon so he could no longer pose a threat to the rest of the world. If someone had a map to this island they could trigger off untold dangers to the world. Not just this part that we know of, but all of it.”

“So what would a map of an island prison be doing on a merchant ship bound for Kemah?” Buffy asked wonderingly.

“That I just don’t know,” the renegade sorcerer replied. “But it has me very worried.”

“How far away is Verminas?” Willow piped up. A glint in her eye the others recognised straightaway. This was the opportunity for her to go back to sea on another adventure, even though she had been back at base less than twenty-four hours.

“I’d say at a guess at least six weeks travel from here,” Giles replied. “But even then the island should be blanketed by an invisibility spell so that if any ships accidentally end up in that area they won’t be tempted to go there in search of fresh food and water.”

“Whoa there Will, are you seriously considering going in search of this island?” It was obvious from the tone of his voice that Xander was concerned about his friends and captain’s plan.

“Why not?” Willow asked him directly. Xander lowered his head, staring at the floor and chewing on his lower lip before raising his head and holding his friends gaze he answered.

“Will, you heard Giles, this Isle is owned by the sorcerers council AND they imprisoned a dangerous magician there. The idea of going there, it makes me nervous you know how I feel about magic.”

“You’re not scared are you?” Buffy asked him, teasingly a faint smile on her face, “Not after everything we’ve faced.”

“Could you face off against a necromancer,” Giles asked lightly.

The question took the slim blonde off guard and she looked at the elder man.

“A necromancer is one of the most dangerous of dark sorcerers,” he said solemnly. “They could kill you on the spot just by looking at you so a sword wouldn’t do much good,” he turned to the young pirate captain.

“Willow, if you seriously intend to go to Verminas you are going to need someone who has a great deal of magic power and the ability to use that magic. I can’t leave; you know I have to stay here to keep the barrier spell intact. The further I travel from the base, the weaker the barrier becomes until finally, you’re isle will be visible to everyone.”

“Is there anyone you know who would be willing to help?” Willow asked.

“There may be someone who can help on this island here,” he said picking a chart of the area and pointing to an island a few miles from the base. “There’s a man who lives there, one of my former tutors. He’s in one of the academies now teaching about herbs and their medicinal uses. But Lineno, that’s his name, should still have a fair amount of power and he may be able to help translate the rest of the parchment.”

Willow took all this in and seriously thought about it. She glanced at Xander knowing that he would follow her to hell and back if need be without question. She was also aware that the idea of magic would unnerve her friend. However, with this new information maybe he’d be a bit more willing to go.

“Xander, what do you say now?” she asked him. Willow understood Xander’s apprehension about going to Verminas. The thought of going up against a dark sorcerer unnerved her as well but as captain she couldn’t show it. A scared captain would mean a scared crew and a scared crew could make mistakes.

The young man looked first at Willow, then at Giles. Both had expectant looks on their faces along with Buffy. He took a long breath as he made his decision.

“I’m in,” he said to his friend. “I just hope Giles is right about this friend of his.”

“I am,” the sorcerer replied, “I’ll stake my reputation on it.”

Willow sat there looking into the middle distance, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Xander,” she said finally “how soon could the Slayer 2 be ready?”

“Not long, about a day or two at the most. I’ll need to have extra wood put aboard in case of damage to the masts and anywhere else she gets hit. Then we’ll need extra material in case the sails need repairing.”

“Could you….,” the redhead began.

“Already on it Will,” Xander said and with that he stood up and gave a look at his friend. A look which meant, you’d better be right about this, before leaving to get started on preparing the Slayer 2 for her next voyage.

To Be Continued


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:44 am 
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7. Teeny Tinkerbell Light
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Dibsiddy dibsiddy dibsiddy!!! (Woohoo, my first dibs! :blush)

Awesome update! Haha this part was so funny. I could just picture Xander saying that with a smug look on his face

Quote:
“Doesn’t always work out though,” Xander grinned, “I was at one funeral and the necromancer successfully got the spirit to talk, but it just let out all the secrets the family had been keeping from one another. Who was sleeping with whom, identities of baby’s fathers, hidden stashes of money. It was fantastic when the family kicked off with one another, one of the best fights I ever saw. Then when the will was read the deceased had left all his money to an orphanage.”

“Whose funeral was it?” Buffy enquired.

“Me dad’s,”


Hopefully Tara makes an appearance in the next update ... like as the witchy apprentice Giles was talking about instead of the old dude Lineno.

Please update soon! :pray :pray Can't wait to read more.

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Alyson, oh, Alyson why don´t you join my band? So you could play the flute like this one time in band camp.
I Am Forever / A Special Christmas of Sorts / Maybe It's Just Me / Honeysuckle Rose /Blackouts and Breakthroughs / When Love Arrives


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:59 am 
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6. Sassy Eggs

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Great Update.

It's interesting that in this story, Buffy is the brainy one who has to explain things to Willow.

I'm looking forward to meeting Tara. I'm guessing she's going to be Lineno's assistant.

Can't wait to see what happens next.


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 12:37 am 
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2. Floating Rose
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Hehehe...Great update.
I reckon different to everyone else...I reckon Tara will be on the island with the evil wizard...forced into being his slave...maybe the council gave her to him...
However the other idea would be nicer. I just have a pessimistic and sadistic mind.

Great update. Please keep going
_-_Ja ne_-_
:kgeek
Toshi

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 3:01 pm 
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I wish I coulda seen Xander's dad's funneral. Would have been hilarious.

I was assuming that Tara would be the magical backup, but Toshi's idea seems like fun too. Whichever you decide.

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:39 pm 
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Quote:
“You can’t go yet Dawn, you’re to young Dawn, you’re education is more important, you have to be able to fight Dawn. Yeah right, Buffy had barely been aboard for two weeks before she got to run around with a sword.” She sighed deeply and went back to glaring at the bedcovers.

And that was when Dawn got the idea; Oh yeah, she thought, that’s it, that’s just what I’ll do.
With that, she uncrossed her legs and lay down on her bed, a smug smile on her face.


Really like what you've done with Dawn, made her a player in her own right while still true to the character. I think she's either going to stow away OR help the wrong side OR maybe both! I'm interested to see what's next!

Also, gotta jump on the bandwagon with the hilarious bit about Xander's father's funeral - topnotch funny! Well done!

Keep that pirate flag flying!

Ariel


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:39 am 
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Ariel Sweetie, you were the only one who seems to have picked up on the one thing I was hoping they would all pick up on, Dawn's plotting. Still never mind, you all liked the piece about Xander's fathers funeral and again thank you so much for your help in preparing this story

Promethea128 It was quite a fun little piece that about Xander's funeral aand I enjoyed writing it, as for Tara she will be providing some magical mojo to help Willow and the others but she will also be in danger herself from elements both on the Slayer 2 and elsewhere.

Werekitty ToshiGoth So you think Tara will be on the island as a prisoner of Salomon eh. Well I couldn't possibly comment on that but you may be right. Then again you may be wrong heh heh heh.

BuffyFan4ever Yeah, I've done that on purpose and I plan later in the story to reveal how Buffy and WIllow met and their very different backgrounds. As for Tara being Lineno's assistant hmmm, we'll see. Evil [b]smirk[/b]

VANESSA Glad you liked the piece from Xander about his fathers funeral, and yes Tara will be making an appearance very, very soon.

And now on with the show

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[center]THE ADVENTURES OF CAP’N RED ROSENBERG
DEAD MAN’S ISLE[/center]

Author; willowtaralover

Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant enemy and Fox. I own all original concepts, characters and anything else they can’t lay their grubby hands on.

Rating; PG-13 for sex, violence and naughty swearing.

Story; Rough, tough pirate captain Willow ‘Red’ Rosenberg is on the hunt for treasure but gets more than she bargained for including romance with a blonde beauty, betrayal from a crew member, and danger from a necromancer, and his undead army, who is intent on resurrecting an evil goddess.

All thoughts are in italics

Chapter 3
Preparation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Right ladies,” came the authoritative, commanding voice of Captain Red Rosenberg as she addressed her crew of Slayerettes. “I know I’ve only just returned from sea but I am planning a new expedition and I’m looking for volunteers.”

It was later that same day after Giles had read through the mysterious chart that Willow had shown him. Giles had told the pirate of the dark sorcerer Salomon and how after, attempting to kill the Sorcerer Supreme, he had been stripped of his powers and imprisoned on the isle of Verminas.

Willow had decided to go in search of the island without delay to discover what exactly was on the island other than a, hopefully deceased necromancer. After checking on the seaworthiness of Slayer 2 she had immediately called for all the Slayerettes so she could get a crew together for the expedition and set off in a couple

Four hands shot up immediately, Alex’s, Laragh’s, Dawns. And Katarina’s. Willow had known that Dawn would put her hand up to go on the next adventure with the young female pirate captain whom she admired so much and wanted to emulate, but Katarina, that was a whole different situation

Katarina was one of a group of girls that Willow had rescued from a lifetime of servitude as a whore in a brothel that catered to the twisted, perversions of the rulers of the Star Fall isles. Katarina had instantly attached herself to Willow which the pirate captain hadn’t minded, taking the girl under her wing and teaching her some of the fundamentals of life at sea.

Katarina had quickly become a useful member of the crew, always willing to lend a helping hand and rescuing others who, she was practically the perfect shipmate, she just had two problems. One is that she had a great disregard for following orders. Many was the time that one of the Slayerettes or Willow or her two loyal lieutenants Buffy and Xander would have to save her from getting killed after Katarina had gotten herself into a tricky situation during a raid on another vessel.

The other problem is that she had a great, unrequited crush on her captain which made her something of a nuisance to Willow as Kat would go out of her way to prevent other crewmembers from approaching the pirate captain, even going so far as to threaten some of them, if she considered them to be coming on to Willow.

It was when Willow discovered Kat lying in wait for her in her bed one evening during one of the Slayers adventures that enough had become enough. The pirate queen made it quite clear to the young wannabe that she neither wanted nor needed a permanent lover and even if she did, she would not choose Katarina. Willow suggested that the girl seek out another girlfriend from amongst the crew to be her own lover and not keep deluding herself in believing she stood a chance with Willow.

Kat, however, had never given up hope of becoming the captain’s woman for in gaining that lofty position she would have an equal running of the ship as opposed to Willow being in complete charge. And she was willing to do anything to get what she wanted.

“Cap’n, where’s the expedition headed to?” asked Rona, a young, slightly chunky, coloured girl with her hair in cornrows. Willow liked Rona she was a loyal crewmember and never shirked her duties whether it was hoisting the sails or just cleaning something to make sure the Slayer remained seaworthy.

“Where we’re going is an island called Verminas, whereabouts it is I gotta say I don’t really know. Only that it’s west of here, we only know of the direction thanks to a chart that Laragh found and we showed to Giles. According to him it’s a prison isle that the Sorcerers Council own.”

“So it’s likely to be dangerous right?”Came Rona’s next question.

“Darn tootin, wouldn’t be worth going if there were no danger involved now would there?” Willow replied with a grin.

“Well I’m in then,” Rona finally said and Willow was happy to know that she had at least four crewmembers sorted for the upcoming voyage.

Over the next hour, Willow answered questions thrown at her by other Slayerettes about the expedition as best she could with what scanty information she had. At the end of it though she had a full ships compliment ready to join her on the voyage to Verminas.

As the crew went back to their work on the island base Willow wryly noted Dawn approaching her.

“Can I help ya there Dawnie,” the pirate asked straight faced but inside she was smiling for she knew the reason Dawn was coming to see her.

“Willow, please can I come with you pleeeaaasssee,” pleaded an eager Dawn, eyes bright with expectation.

Willow had been expecting this, but had made her mind up as soon as the youngster had raised her hand.

“No Dawn, I’m not gonna take ya on this expedition, but don’t get me wrong lass, it’s not cos I want to break me word to ye lass, but on this voyage even I don’t know where we’re going exactly. I don’t even know if I’m going to return so I’m not going to risk your life, you’re too young and there’s so much for you to see and experience in life. For me to take that from you would be wrong.”

Willow took a good look at the youngster who stood facing her, chewing her lip as if thinking how to answer. Whatever reply Willow expected to hear from Dawn, she certainly didn’t expect the one that Buffy’s sister gave her.

“Hmmm, ok Will, I’ll stay here with Giles and keep up with my weapons practice and reading charts, but only if you promise to take me with you on your next adventure.”

The pirate queen gave a wry smile at the teenaged girl before her, admiring her bargaining skills and her willingness to stay on the base but not entirely trusting her, particularly after the girl’s strop the previous evening.

“Alright Dawn, you’ve got yourself a deal, but if ye should break your word, I swear I will never, ever take you on a quest with me. Now do we have a deal?”

“We have a deal,” Dawn replied and with those words Willow put her right hand up before her and spat on it before holding it out for Dawn to shake. The girl imitated the pirate’s actions and, taking Willow’s hand in a firm grip, shook it once. However, as the redhead turned to check on the supplies being loaded aboard Slayer 2 she missed the smirk on Dawn’s face.
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Two days later as the Slayer 2 prepared to set sail, the crew-members hugged their friends and lovers who would be remaining on the Slayer island base under Giles’s supervision.

“What’s wrong Buff, ya look as if someone’s given ya a copper coin for a gold one?” remarked Willow upon seeing her friend looking distinctly down in the dumps and a little bit peeved.

“Dawn’s not come to see us off like she usually does. I’m missing not hugging her before we leave.”
Willow gave her loyal lieutenant a sympathetic smile.

“Aye, I’m sorry to hear that, and I’m sorry too cos it’s most likely my fault. I just said no to her when I could, should, have let her join us on at least one trip, even if only to Narina.”

“Maybe we’re both to blame,” the petite blonde said getting a raised eyebrow and wry smile from the pirate captain.

“Aye, mebbe,” Willow replied. She placed an arm sympathetically over her friends shoulder and began to lead her to the ship. “C’mon Buff, we’ll try and see if we can find her a nice dead wizards skull as a peace offering for the lass.”
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They had barely been at sea for two hours before Captain Red Rosenberg became bored hanging round the deck, checking that everyone was doing their jobs correctly or reading the navigational charts. She clambered up the rigging and swung herself into the crows nest. The pirate looked down with a grin at Buffy who just rolled her eyes and grinned back before heading to the helm to check on Xander. Even though the majority of sea captains never did jobs like steering their ships or being lookout in the crows nest, it was a well-known fact that Red Rosenberg did whatever the hell she wanted, being one of only a few successful women pirate captains. She faced into the wind, scanning the seas alert for any and all dangers.

This is how life should be, thought Willow ‘Red’ Rosenberg as she stood keeping watch from the crow’s nest of The Slayer. The fresh wind blew through her hair and the sun warmed her pale, freckled skin as the Slayer 2 skipped over the blue ocean on its latest adventure.

To Be Continued
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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:11 am 
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6. Sassy Eggs

Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:43 am
Posts: 434
Dibs

I'm sure Kat is one of the crew members planning a mutiny. I'm still not sure about the other one. I hope it's not Dawn. Maybe Rona? She sounds loyal, but I don't really know her.

I'll be surprised if Dawn hasn't snuck onto the ship. I wonder if she'll end up saving Willow from the mutiny.

Can't wait for the next one.


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:33 pm 
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11. Fish in the Bowl

Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:35 pm
Posts: 1487
Topics: 2
Location: California
Avast there, me hearty!

Another rollicking adventure ahead!

Quote:
She clambered up the rigging and swung herself into the crows nest. The pirate looked down with a grin at Buffy who just rolled her eyes and grinned back before heading to the helm to check on Xander. Even though the majority of sea captains never did jobs like steering their ships or being lookout in the crows nest, it was a well-known fact that Red Rosenberg did whatever the hell she wanted, being one of only a few successful women pirate captains. She faced into the wind, scanning the seas alert for any and all dangers.

This is how life should be, thought Willow ‘Red’ Rosenberg as she stood keeping watch from the crow’s nest of The Slayer. The fresh wind blew through her hair and the sun warmed her pale, freckled skin as the Slayer 2 skipped over the blue ocean on its latest adventure.


Love the visual, can almost smell the sea air and feel the sunshine!

Keep it up!

Ariel


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:39 am 
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8. Vixen

Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:38 am
Posts: 729
Topics: 22
[center]THE ADVENTURES OF RED ROSENBERG
DEAD MANS ISLE[/center]
Author; willowtaralover

Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. I own all original concepts, characters and anything else they can’t lay their grubby fingers on.

Rating; PG-13 to R for sex, violence and naughty swearing.

Story; Rough, tough pirate captain ‘Red’ Willow Rosenberg is on the hunt for treasure but gets more than she bargained for including romance with a blonde beauty, betrayal from a crewmember and danger from a necromancer, and his undead army, is intent in resurrecting an evil goddess.

Thoughts are in italics

Chapter 4 Tara
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The Laughing Lobster tavern was considered one of the finest in the port city of Narina. The fact that the port side tavern was like a pigsty with filth and excrement mixed together with straw on the stone floor proved that what was considered fine in Narina was not necessarily so in reality. The beer served there was rarely drunk by the locals, however passing sailors and travellers who drank just one small sip from a tankard of the stuff would find themselves passed out within a matter of seconds. The locals would then help themselves to all their gold so the inhabitants of Narina always considered that there was an upside to everything, no matter how bad.

Whenever Willow came to Narina, she always did business at the Laughing Lobster, despite the lousy alcohol primarily because of the excellent escape opportunities available. At most times, a fight could be in progress in the tavern, which could always be guaranteed to hinder the militia from arresting the pirate queen whilst she made good her escape by slipping past the guards and the tavern owner and sneaking out the back, this night however it was quiet and peaceful.

Willow, Buffy and Xander were sat at a table at the back of the tavern and each ordered ale to drink, more to keep up the pretence that the trio lived locally than a liking for the beverage. As they awaited the return of the serving wench, they discussed the plans for the next part of the voyage.

“What do we do next?” Xander enquired

“Wait for Lineno to get here and hopefully he should be able to help us read the map and get to Verminas. When I sent Rona and Jinni to get in extra food for the voyage I also sent them to the college where he works earlier with a message supposedly from Giles asking to meet. If what Giles has said about this Lineno is right then he should be able to translate,” said Willow.

“Aye, well I just hope we’re not recognised,” Buffy interrupted “if anyone spots us and remembers us from previous visits we’ll be arrested on sight. Then Xander and me will either be jailed or hung, YOU will definitely be hung and the rest of the girls will be sold back into servitude and god only knows what will happen to Dawn, there’s only you and me she listens to Will. There’s no way that Giles cold control her.”

At that moment the serving wench, a rotund young woman with ginger hair and a solemn expression on her drab face, returned with three pewter mugs filled with a dark liquid that resembled mud more than any ale known to man. Willow took a swig from the mug and instantly spat it out again.

Not only did the vile looking drink look like mud, it tasted like it too. Never had she drank anything this unpleasant in all her life, even her own attempts at cooking, such as the soup she had tried to make the night before, were at least half-edible. Certainly, the turnips and potatoes were still half-raw and not cooked thoroughly but the carrots were fine and the water was warm this time round. Everyone agreed though, the captain should stay up top and never descend to the galley again other than to talk to whoever was cooking down there.

As she painfully swallowed down the foul concoction, Xander spoke again.

“It’s all very well Giles telling us to seek out this Linen.”

“Lineno,” interrupted Buffy.

“Lineno then,” Xander continued glaring at Buffy “but how’d we know he won’t sell us out to the authorities for a few coins. It’s what I’d do if I knew a bunch of pirates were waiting for me to help em.”

“Ah, don’t worry Xander,” Willow replied with a broad grin at her friend. “He won’t do nothing like that, not if he wants to keep certain parts of his body attached to him.” Her smile became darker as she withdrew her dagger from its hidden sheath in her boot and she drove its tip deep into the wooden top of the table. Xander gulped and groped his pants, checking that his own personal parts were still attached while Buffy smirked.

Willow focused her gaze on the entrance to the tavern, waiting for Lineno to arrive. As she did so, she took in the bar and the disreputable group of scum and villainy there. The majority of them were sailors awaiting ships who needed crewmembers or adventurers seeking passage to the foreign lands of Afasham, Shang-Tzu or Nelaca.

The rest were the typical bar flies that could be found in any inn or tavern anywhere on the world of Ligiade. The kind of man, or woman, who for the price of an ale or ten would tell you some wildly over the top tale of their life at sea. Such as how they were swallowed alive by a whale and lived in it’s belly for a year before escaping or, alternately, fought off fantastic odds to escape with a fabulous treasure and a king’s daughter, the kind of stories that had lured Willow out to sea in search of danger, adventure and excitement.

The bar itself was very basic, a wooden counter, heavily stained with spilled beer and blood from the many fights that had occurred there over the years. There were three separate taps on the counter providing beer to the patrons. Illumination was provided mainly by torches in sconces set in to the walls and two or three lanterns hung from hooks on the ceiling. This combination was arranged in such a way that that it provided enough lighting that the customers couldn’t quite see what their ale of choice looked like but the landlord could be sure he was getting paid enough for the ale, and that he was giving as little change as possible. A small door set to the right hand side of the counter led to the outside toilet which was primarily a hole in the ground in which the customers urinated, defecated, vomited, or in more extreme circumstances all three; sometimes at the same time.

Along the opposite wall were eight, four seater tables each of which were in various states of dilapidation, along with their inhabitants who were as rough and as grizzled as they came with scarred and/or tattooed faces and several having stubbly beards. It was essentially a convention hall for buccaneers, pirate-con as it were.

While she was keeping the entrance to the tavern, Willow suddenly noticed a movement from beyond the end of the counter. There was another doorway, more brightly lit, however it was dimmed by a figure standing in front of the entranceway.
The figure moved further into the room and now both Willow and Buffy, who had seen where her friend’s gaze was directed; saw that it was a beautiful young blonde woman. Her feet were bare as she walked, though shuffled would be neared the mark, timidly in to the bar area, attempting to avoid the filth strewn floor as much as possible.

The girl’s blonde hair was a shade darker than platinum colouring of Buffy’s own. It was the colour of ripe wheat and a little longer than shoulder length, the hair had been swept over her right shoulder where it came to rest just above a bosom straining to escape the confines of the tight fitting plain cotton dress she wore. The only part of her that wasn’t really clear was the face as the girl had it kept towards the floor.

The dress, which looked more like a sack, was cut off just below the wrists and knees revealing creamy white flesh while light from the assorted torches glinted off a small silver earring in the girls left ear.
In either hand, she carried a bowl of what was the day’s special, stew, though to the trio it appeared more as a combination of pigswill, cat’s vomit and dog excrement. However, appearances must have been deceptive as some of the other customers were tucking into the meal with gusto. This, though, did not stop the three friends from wrinkling their noses in distaste.

Willow reckoned that the girl must have been new as she had not been there five months earlier when the pirate captain had last been on Narina to fence some stolen booty the proceeds of which she had then distributed to some of the poorer folk of the isle.

As the serving girl came further into the tavern, Willow noted that the blonde’s face was indeed beautiful but it had been marred. Around the left eye was a large purple/black bruise, which showed that she had been hit with some force while a thick red mark on the opposite cheek indicated that she had been slapped hard, and recently too, though someone had tried to hide it by smearing mud over it. She was also incredibly thin, as if someone purposely had avoided feeding her

As if she could somehow sense that someone was looking at her, the blonde girl raised her head slightly and looked straight at Willow. The pirate was more than a little startled by the girl looking straight at her and after a second or two turned her head down toward the table, but the huge blush on her face didn’t go unnoticed by Xander and Buffy who exchanged a look with one another. After Willow turned her face away, the blonde serving girl turned her gaze back toward the floor.

Though her eyes were cast downward, the blonde girl somehow missed the foot that was sticking out from under a table. Her foot got caught on it and she went flying across the mud and straw strewn floor. The two bowls of stew crashed to the ground spattering the foot that had tripped the girl. She fell heavily to the ground, her head still turned down toward the floor but Willow was pretty sure she caught a glimpse of a tear streaming from the girls eye.

Willow had a tendency to think before acting but not now, she instantly stood up and crossed the floor to where the girl still sat on her knees, head still face down while all around the other patrons of the tavern sat pointing and laughing at the poor young woman’s calamity, all apart from Willow, Buffy and Xander.

The redhead felt the anger rising in her from the gut upwards. She despised this, the mocking of someone else’s misfortune. She instantly felt for the girl and got up out of her seat. Buffy placed a hand on her friends shoulder but Willow merely smiled at her.

“Don’t worry,” she assured her friend, “I’m not going to do anything stupid. Well not today at least.” With that, she set off down the centre of the tavern towards the girl.

The blonde felt a shadow over her and slowly, fearfully turned her face up and saw a face gently smiling down at her. Willow knelt down in front of the young woman, picked up both the fallen dishes and offered them to the girl giving a gentle, sympathetic nod.

The blonde serving girl looked deep into Willow’s emerald eye’s and saw only care and compassion there. The young, redheaded pirate similarly gazed into her eyes, which were a sapphire blue and gasped in awe. Never had she seen a sight so stunningly gorgeous in all her life. Even despite the marks where she had been beaten, there was still a loveliness to this girl that no other girl possessed, except maybe for Roberta.

Tentatively Willow reached out and took a hold of the blonde’s warm hand, noticing a small tattoo in the shape of the sun. Both girls received a shock as something passed between them making the two young women look at each other in astonishment. Whatever it was, they weren’t sure, but it was different, and it made them feel nice.

The two women were lost to the world as they gazed at one another so they didn’t hear the loud shouting emanating from behind the bar. They didn’t see the fat, angry, ginger haired man come stomping round to where they still sat on their knees, in fact, neither girl heard anything until…

“Tara, what in the name of the god’s do you think you’re doing?”
The blonde girl started as if she had been slapped and her hand slipped from Willow’s who immediately missed its softness and gentle warmth. The girl, whom Willow now knew to be Tara instantly stood but her face was turned back down to the floor.

“Well,” the man began again, “what do you have to say for yourself .” He indicated the mess made by the stew on the floor.

“I…I’m sorry father but I was…” The girl could only whisper her reply but the fear was evident in her eyes.

“Shut your mouth you stupid bitch,” the man practically roared in her face. This made Willow bristle even more, a parent yelling at their child was not god for the pirate’s demeanour. As the father looked back at Willow, his face immediately assumed an apologetic expression.

“I am so sorry miss. I can’t apologise enough for the stupidity of my serving wench.” The man snarled out the last five words looking at Tara with eye’s filled with pure venom.

“I’m afraid she’s not very bright, she’s a little,” he continued, swirling his finger by his head, “if you catch my drift.

All the time the man was talking Willow heard a sniffling noise from Tara and her eyes glanced in the blonde girl’s direction. She saw a tear make its way down her face and seeing the girl in so much pain made the supposedly hard-bitten captain’s heart melt all the more and she already knew what was going to do. Back at the table Buffy and Xander watched with interest ready to leap into action if things should suddenly turn ugly.

“Anything you want, it’s on the house,” the tavern owner spoke again, hoping that Willow wouldn’t damage him or his establishment in any way. “And you,” he growled at Tara, “get a mop and clean this mess up.”

As Tara turned away, the man raised his arm, ready to smack her on the back of the head. As the mans arm descended to strike his daughter it was suddenly halted in mid descent by Willow who held it in a firm grip which, despite her slender frame felt like iron to the tavern owner.

“If she is such a poor serving wench then sell her to me.” She spoke calmly and smiled sweetly, but looked the tavern owner straight in the eye’s, not blinking once.Willow reached into the pocket of her trousers and brought out several gold coins. Still smiling she said.

“There are fifteen ducats in gold, I think that’s a fair price for one as beautiful as she, don’t you agree?” The question wasn’t directed at the innkeeper but rather at Buffy and Xander who had come forward as backup for their captain.

“Aye it sounds very fair t’me skipper,” agreed Xander, Buffy just kept staring at the innkeeper, almost daring him to do something stupid.

The innkeeper noticed that Willow’s smile didn’t reach her eyes and quickly understood that he was not to mess with this stranger. He looked between Tara and this green-eyed girl whose grip was causing serious injury to his wrist.

He looked thoughtfully at Tara, her head still bowed, and the trio of buccaneers could see the cogs of his brain turning. On the one hand, to get some money for this worthless apology of a daughter would be something. On the other, using her as a serving girl saved him from having to hire one of the local girls and create unnecessary expenditure. Finally he gave his daughter one last look then came to a decision.

“Go, take her out of my sight. But never return here with her again.”

“Oh don’t worry, we won’t. Your ale tastes like you shit in it, so there’s no doubt in my mind you do the same with the food.” At this, the innkeeper outwardly bristled but said nothing. All the time Willow just kept smiling sweetly at him, but there was a danger in her eyes that was more than enough for Tara’s father to keep his tongue still.

It suddenly dawned on the innkeeper that the inn was incredibly quiet. He looked around and saw that all the occupants of the tavern were watching the events with great interest, some were even laughing at how old ‘Mad-dog’ Maclay, supposedly the baddest man on the entire island of Narina was being beaten on his own territory, and by a woman no less.
Willow turned her attention from the ‘Mad-dog’ over to the blonde girl.

“Tara, that’s your name isn’t it? Do you have anything you need to collect before you leave?”

"Tara raised her head slightly to look at Willow before replying. “I h…have some clo…othes and a few books in m…my room, bu…but that’s it,” she stammered out. She was wide eyed at the events surrounding her, yet didn’t feel afraid near Willow and her two friends.

“You go get them then,” Willow said smiling at the young blonde. “Xander go with her,” she gave the young blonde a reassuring smile “don’t worry he’ll take good care of you, or I’ll make him walk the plank,” she gave a quick wink to Tara who gave a small smile in return before looking downward again, then she led the way to her quarters.
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The place where Tara slept was reached via the kitchen. As Xander walked through, he just avoided stepping on a rat the sight of which made him blanch slightly. If the bar area of the tavern had been the equivalent of a pigsty then the kitchen was the equal to a toilet. A very well used toilet that no longer had a flushing mechanism. The smell was extremely pungent and Xander had to hold his hand to his nose to hold back the overpowering stench, which was virtually making him gag. He wondered how Tara was able to stand it; certainly, he believed, there was no way he’d be able to put up with working in an environment like this.

To Xander’s right was a large cooking range with various pots and pans all boiling merrily away though with what Xander could only guess. Along the other wall was a washing area where one girl worked alone against a veritable mountain of dishes, pots, pans and beer mugs. In the centre of the room was a huge oblong table heaped with meat that looked like it had come from animals caught in the back alleys of the port and vegetables that looked as if they had been rescued from compost heaps where they had been quietly rotting away. At the table, hacking away with a large cleaver at what appeared to be rancid meat stood a younger incarnation of the landlord.

He stood about a foot taller than Xander and carried a lot less weight but his arms bulged slightly with well-developed muscle, obviously built up from dragging carcasses from whichever back streets they were found on back to the tavern. He wore a simple cloth shirt though the sleeves were torn off at the shoulder.

As the chef turned to face the young woman and her guard, Xander noticed that the young man had a straggly beard dangling from his chin, as opposed to the rough stubble that decorated the face of Tara’s father.

“Tara you idle bitch, where the fuck have you been. You know Sabina can’t do all those by herself,” he indicated the girl at the wash area who had turned her head at the shouting. Her face was the colour of the night sky while her hair was in tight curls on her head. From her appearance, Xander knew that Sabina was from the continent of Nelaca.

“Well, what are you pissing about for; you can fuck your man later, now work,” the younger incarnation of the landlord yelled at the young woman.

“Tara doesn’t work here anymore ,” said Xander interceding on the blonde girl’s behalf. “From now on she’s with me.”

The young man took in the sight of Xander, a shirt slightly open at the upper chest, leather trousers with a sword hanging from a belt and calf length, leather boots. He sneered at the sight before him and spat on the floor.

“And who the fuck is you pretty boy, the son of the lord of Sonolam isle? Tara don’ go nowhere till I says she can.” He said all this with a vicious smile on his face and Xander saw that he was missing several teeth.

“I am Tara’s new friend, and I say that if Tara is coming with, then she comes with me, now,” Xander replied calmly but ready to leap into action if necessary.

The Butcher, as Xander had dubbed him, raised the cleaver and tapped it against his other hand, the grin on his face grew wider and the pirate prepared himself for a fight.

Without warning the butcher threw himself forward directly at the two young people. Xander instantly pushed Tara to the ground so she was out of the line of danger. As the butcher approached wielding his cleaver, Xander spread his left leg to his widest while he dropped using his right leg. The butcher ran into the cooking range smashing his shin against the metal door of the ovens.

As he winced at the sudden pain, Xander punched the cleaver wielder in the stomach winding him, the male pirate then stood up and socked his opponent hard in the jaw stunning him. The butcher staggered back a little, slightly stunned by the bruising punch Xander had delivered. He finished the guy off with first a right hook, then a left making the butcher reel backwards and collapse only to strike his head against the table that held the meat and vegetables.

Satisfied there was no longer a threat to his ward or himself, Xander walked back to Tara and offered the girl his hand to help her up. As she stood, Tara went over to the collapsed man and checked his head, a move that surprised Xander. Content Tara made her way back to Xander.

“I j…just wanted to be sure that he was still alive,” she said in a voice that was barely a whisper, “he may have disliked me but I wouldn’t have wanted him to die.”

The young blonde woman then continued to lead the way into a much smaller room that had meat and vegetables stored in it. Most of the food had mould growing on it or had rotted into a strange, dog diarrhoea coloured puddle which the two avoided very carefully, particularly Tara.

A flight of steps in the corner led down and a lit lantern hung on a peg on the wall. Tara removed the lantern and led the way down the flight of ice-cold stone steps. Again, Xander wondered how Tara was able to do this day in, day out especially if she was always barefoot as she was now.

I guess girls really are tougher, he thought remembering something that Willow had told him constantly.

They finally arrived at the bottom of the steps and the Slayer’s only male crewmember realised that he was in the sewers, beneath the city. Dark water, filled with excreta like bloated, overgrown slugs flowed sluggishly along while the lantern cast dark looming shadows on the walls.

There was a stone banking on either side of the sewage canal upon which rats with matted fur that looked as if they could bring down a large dog ran. For some strange reason, despite her being barefoot, not a single rat tried to chow down upon Tara’s toes. The banking on which they stood was a small haphazard bed made of straw on the floor. By the ‘bed’ was a small wooden chest.

“This is where you sleep?” he asked in astonishment. He found it hard to believe that in a so-called civilized society someone would be forced to sleep in the sewers. Even Willow would never force the worst behaved member of her crew to sleep in a place like this.

The nod of her head was barely perceptible and Xander was just able to make out the sad expression on her face.

“My things are in there,” Tara said quietly indicating the chest. Xander had noticed that the girl had barely raised her head, once or twice maybe but that was all.

He walked over to the chest and tested it’s weight. It was surprisingly light and he hefted it onto his shoulder.

“Anything else?” He asked the blonde in a soft voice, but she just shook her head. Though her head still faced the ground, Xander could guess the expression on Tara’s face. Sad, frightened and slightly hesitant but at the same time the possibility of hope that she may be moving on to a better place. Xander approached Tara and rubbed her upper arm gently. This simple act of compassion and affection startled Tara and made her jump a bit.

“Sorry,” said Xander apologetically, a sheepish smile on his face. “I didn’t mean to scare you like that, I just wanted you to know that Willow will look after you and that you’ll be perfectly safe on the Slayer, that’s our ship. A good crew too, all girls and they watch each others backs so you’ll be fine.”

The mention of an all girl crew interested Tara a great deal. She was already greatly attracted to the redheaded pirate. However having seen Willow with Buffy made her realise she didn’t stand a chance with the pirate captain. Still there may be other options available she thought as she proceeded to lead the way back from her former bedroom and back up the stone staircase to the tavern kitchen.
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Back in the tavern itself, Willow still held the tavern keeper’s wrist in a firm grip. She and Buffy were looking around the building as if it were a majestic cathedral.

“What do you think,” the redhead asked her friend in a disarming manner, which belied her fearsome nature.

“Nice place for a visit,” Buffy replied, in an equally charming manner, “but I’d hate to live here. Isn’t Lineno running late?”

Willow didn’t get a chance to reply to Buffy’s question as at that moment Tara and Xander returned.

“If you slept where Tara did, you’d really hate it here,” said Xander grimly as he re-entered the tavern with the girl in question close on his heels.

“Why, where was she?” enquired Buffy.

“The sewers,” Xander replied, utterly disgusted that a father could do that to his own daughter. Working with a large group of young women had made him far more sympathetic to the plights of women than most other men were.

“The sewers ya say,” said Willow. She still held Tara’s father by his wrist and while her voice appeared to be calm, her two lieutenants could both see the rage that was burning in her eyes. Her grip tightened and the tavern keep yelped in pain as he was forced on to his knees.

“You make your daughter sleep in the sewers,” Willow’s contempt was clear for all the audience in the bar to hear and some of them looked upon Maclay with a similar disgust the to the piratical trio’s. In their minds, it was one thing to trip Tara, to have a bit of fun at the girl’s expense, but another thing entirely to make the lass sleep in the sewers. Tara’s father looked around but saw nothing other than contempt in the eyes of all those around him.

“I promise ye now ya fat bellied shit, I’ll make sure that every pirate and smuggler in the entire Lone-Star isles knows how you treat your own daughter. Believe me, ye will soon run out of business when the likes of me stop coming to buy that bilge water you pass off as ale. An if ye dare tell the local lord or governor or whichever fancy pants fop runs this isle I was here, I’ll come for you in the middle of the night and no one will ever know that I were ever here, but there’ll be nought left of you.”

With that promise ringing in his ears Willow, Buffy, Tara and Xander bringing up the rear, still carrying the newly liberated girl’s chest on his shoulder. Tara was still in her old cotton dress and barefoot but it was a balmy night and Tara herself knew she would survive till they reached the ship, then her new life would begin and though outwardly she was still very nervous, inside she was very excited.

After the four of them had left and his level of fear of come down somewhat ‘Mad dog’ felt a strange dampness in his pants. At some point He had pissed himself.
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Despite the fact that one of the most fearsome brigands to ever sail the oceans was on the island, the local militia didn’t seem too interested. Willow’s party had been passed by several squads of guards but none had stopped them. Now the foursome were nearing where Slayer 2 was moored when Laragh came running up to them. She was dressed in a cloth shirt, light blue britches and short leather boots. A rapier was loosely slung at her side, her face, a picture of nervousness.

“Cap’n, am I glad to see you,” the Slayerette began, “we’ve had some trouble aboard the Slayer.”

“What kind o’ trouble?” Willow asked fearing the worse.

“Katarina went ashore. She said she wanted a bit of excitement and that as she was the captain’s woman your rule about staying aboard didn’t apply to her. She’s been gone about two hours now me and Alex thought we’d give her that opportunity to get back before you but she’s still not arrived so I came to find you while Alex stayed behind to take charge.”

Gods, how fucking stupid is she, the redhead was angry and frustrated aat this new revelation. “Alright, just give me a moment,” she said to the Slayerette before turning to Buffy and Xander.

“Buff, Xan get back to the Slayer with Tara and get ready to cast off and make sure Tara get’s some food and drink in her. Poor thing looks as if she’s not eaten in a month. I’m going with Laragh to try and get Katarina back.”

“You want a hand with that?” Xander asked. Like all the Slayerettes he knew of Kat’s ability to get herself into serious trouble and while he didn’t doubt her ability with a sword, the brunette was also known for biting off more than she could chew.

“Nah I’ll be fine with Laragh, just see to it that Tara gets safely on board and that the Slayer is ready to sail when we return.” With those words she put an arm around Laragh’s shoulders and they disappeared into the night. Buffy and Xander just looked at one another, shrugged and continued toward their vessel. Buffy put a comforting arm round Tara.

“Don’t worry, Willow will be back soon,” she told the blonde giving her a reassuring smile. Tara gave a small smile in return then went back to gazing at the ground as she walked in the company of pirates.


To Be Continued


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:57 am 
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11. Fish in the Bowl

Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:35 pm
Posts: 1487
Topics: 2
Location: California
Hi Rick!

I just finished my show last weekend: swordfighting for both men and women AND swinging in to battle on a rope SO I am a sucker for a good pirate yarn!

I particularly like the sly humor you throw in, very funny!

I'm grateful though that I wasn't eating breakfast when you described the tavern which, amazingly enough, was even more disgusting than your description of the sewer - YEESH! :paranoid :paranoid :paranoid

Here's the heart of this chapter, for me though:

Quote:
All the time the man was talking Willow heard a sniffling noise from Tara and her eyes glanced in the blonde girl’s direction. She saw a tear make its way down her face and seeing the girl in so much pain made the supposedly hard-bitten captain’s heart melt all the more and she already knew what was going to do. Back at the table Buffy and Xander watched with interest ready to leap into action if things should suddenly turn ugly.


I love that they're all set for the tavern brawl. It didn't happen this time, but I know you'll give me at least one - right? right? :pray

Quote:
“And you,” he growled at Tara, “get a mop and clean this mess up.”

As Tara turned away, the man raised his arm, ready to smack her on the back of the head. As the mans arm descended to strike his daughter it was suddenly halted in mid descent by Willow who held it in a firm grip which, despite her slender frame felt like iron to the tavern owner.


O, yeah! Willow is fighting for her soon-to-be girl AND for common decency to human beings in general!

Rock on and keep the good times coming!

Ariel


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:24 pm 
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2. Floating Rose
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Oh my god! This has been quite awesome. First off, "Mad Dog" Maclay -- what a vile piece of shit! Your description of the rancid squalor of the pub was delightfully disgusting; my face was all scrunched up from the imagined smell.

Secondly, Xander: I must say I hate stupid!Xander fics or when Xander is made out to be less important/written out of the story entirely. I love this protective big-brothery Xander who kicks ass and takes names, and is kind and caring too. I'm very happy that this Xander has found something that makes him important to the crew.

Thirdly, Captain Willow: Way to go all large with the butch! The idea of Willow being somebody awe-inspiring (not to mention pants-wet-inducing (I didn't originally intend that in the sexy way, but both the fearful and the sexy work, I suppose)) is really cool. Not to mention the sexy pirate gear and cutlass. And I bet this Willow is ab-tastic too, like Halloween Willow in season 2....

Where was I? Oh yes! Epic Willow. What's going to happen with Willow and Roberta's death? How will she deal with these new tingly feelings she has for Tara? And for god's sake, what's Dawn going to get into this time? Let's just hope that Katarina doesn't get the crew into too much trouble before they haul anchor.

~~Wolfie

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Halfway Home

Me: In the dictionary, next to BAMF, there's a picture of Tara Maclay.

Kristin from E!, on Sara Ramirez's voice: It's like butter dipped in magic!


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:36 am 
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8. Vixen

Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:38 am
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Topics: 22
Ariel Hi, I'm glad you're enjoying the story and just for you this chapter does contain a bar brawl, I hope it's good enough.

Wolfsbane I'm glad you enjoyed that particular aspect of the chapter. I did ahve to undertake a lot of research in pubs and bars to get the atmosphere right for the story. Yeah, I hate those stories where Xander is kinda sidelined so I purposely put him in the position where he kicked ass and showed what he could do. Willow will have to do some soul searching before getting together with Tara, but I assure you she will. Dawn is definitely gonna show upbut will prove to be a big help to Willow, Buffy, Xander and Tara and Katarina,well she's just gonna be an almighty pain in the butt till Willow deals with her permanently. Just keep reading and enjoying and many thanks for your comments.

Due to the Christmas break I was unable to post so for your pleasure here are chapters 5 and 6 back to back.

[center]THE ADVENTURES OF CAP’N RED ROSENBERG
DEAD MAN’S ISLE[/center]

Author; willowtaralover

Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. I own all original concepts, characters and anything else they can’t lay their grubby hands on.

Rating; PG-13 to R for sex, violence and naughty swearing

Story; Rough, tough pirate captain ‘Red’ Willow Rosenberg is on the hunt for treasure but gets more than she bargains for including romance with a blonde beauty, betrayal from a crewmember and danger from a necromancer, and his undead army, who is intent on resurrecting an evil goddess.

All thoughts are in italics
Chapter 5
Escape
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If the Laughing Lobster had been comparable to a pigsty then the streets of Narina were the compost heap. The roadway was covered in a putrefying mix of rotting meat, fruit and vegetables, excrement from both animals and humans, animal and human vomit. This was then tinted a pinkish shade of red as blood from corpses strewn about the street mixed with it. The bodies were in various states of decomposition with differing types of insect making their homes in the rotting bodies that lines the streets.

As well as the pungent scent, which was emanating from the bodies making the girls gag the way was lit by the moon, which hung low in the sky like a huge silvery pearlescent globe. A precious jewel set amongst the stars and shining down on a hive of scum and villainy.

“Right, start at the beginning,” said Willow as she and Laragh walked into the centre of the isle. The way was well lit by the light shining on the street from the houses, shops and the inns and taverns that lined all the roadways. At this late hour, Willow was sure that if she sought out the worst looking inn then she would find Katarina.

“Kat said that she had heard about a card game in one of the taverns and was going to join it. Said she planned to win a lot then spend it on something fancy for you.”

“Delbar’s teeth, is she stupid or what,” the pirate captain said, more to herself than for the benefit of her companion who sneaked glimpses of her furious leader out of the corner of her eye, too afraid to actually speak up in case Willow let her anger loose upon her.
The pirate captain was noted for her calm and even disposition and didn’t often get angry. However when she did it was as if the flame had reached the end of the wick on a stick of fire powder and exploded without warning, but it did take a lot for her volatile nature to actually reveal itself and one of these was ignoring her rules.

“I assume you and Alex both told her I hadn’t given permission for anyone to come ashore after the evening meal?”

“Y…yes, but as I s…said earlier, Kat told us she was the captain’s woman so the rules didn’t apply to her.” Laragh blurted out her answer hoping against all hope that the fiery tempered red head didn’t yell at her.

“Fuck!” Willow spat the word out as if it was another draught of the beer she had drank at the Laughing Lobster. Katarina could be relied on in a tight spot but she did love to break the rules.

Laragh suddenly put her hand on the pirate captain’s shoulder and halted their proceedings. “Cap’n, do we actually have to go get Katarina, I mean no offence as you had rescued her but…”

Willow raised a hand to halt Laragh’s speech and with a small smile said “Laragh, it’s Willow. Right now, just you and me it’s just Willow and Laragh, ok.”

Laragh gave a shy smile back to her leader and said “ca… I mean Willow, I didn’t mean no offence by what I said, but she always get’s us into more trouble than we need, constantly ignores your rules and no one aboard the Slayer likes her. I’m sorry I’ve spoke out of turn,” with that, the Slayerette lowered her head and looked to the floor as Tara had done in the inn.

Willow put her hand under her crewmembers chin and raised it gently so that the dark haired girl was facing her again and they continued on their way. “Laragh, I understand exactly what you’re saying but you know the first rule of the Slayerettes , never leave…”

“A shipmate stranded,” Laragh finished the first rule of the Slayerettes in unison with Willow. She bowed her head again.

“Don’t worry,” Willow reassured the girl clapping her amiably on her shoulders. “Once we have her back I’m gonna put that Katarina in her place, good ‘n proper.” Willow put her arm out and stopped Laragh in her tracks.

“Listen Laragh, don’t your worry about Kat, she’s my responsibility. You watch over the others, you’re a good crewmember, one of my best, and you work well with Alex so I need to rely on you both to make sure the girls are safe then I can keep an eye on the more troublesome crewmembers.”

Laragh nodded dumbly; never had she been given such praise from any of the senior officers aboard the pirate ship. To hear Willow tell her she was one of the best aboard the Slayer and to be asked by her captain meant so much to the girl that her heart fair swelled with pride.

“T…thank you Willow,” she said quietly, “I’ll try not to let you down.”

“I know you won’t.” the redheaded pirate said confidently. “My woman so the rules don’t apply to her,” Willow scoffed, wait till I get her back to the Slayer. Suddenly Willow stopped, bringing her compatriot to a halt with her.

They were before a tavern in a dilapidated part of the port town of Narina, the Hangman’s Rest. From within came a riotous noise, a combination of people screaming, swords clashing and pistols firing. Through the windows, a fire could be seen burning away at the drapes. The door suddenly burst open and two men crashed through it, both were heavily bruised and battered. From within, over all the noise came a loud female voice shouting, “piss off ya drunken bastards.” Willow and Laragh looked at one another and Willow sighed, saying “Katarina”. She took a deep breath and the duo entered the inn.
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Within the Hangman’s Rest chaos reigned supreme. Half the tables were overturned or destroyed; the stairway to the second floor was in complete ruins, tongues of fire licked out of the windows from the flaming curtains and the few tapestries that adorned the walls, used mainly to hide the mould that grew on the walls. There were several fights taking place throughout the bar and in the centre of all this disorder was Katarina.

The Slayerette was in her element standing atop one of the few still intact tables, fighting off at least three much larger men with just a slender rapier whilst they had a broadsword each. Her hair was sweptback into a ponytail which flowed smooth as water she turned to parry each thrust, slash and hack.

The dark haired girl jumped to dodge one of the attackers as he attempted to slice into her thigh with his heavy blade. As she landed, Kat quickly the man in the face, sending him sprawling backwards into one of the demolished tables. Katarina grinned fiercely, this is what she loved, what she lived for; the sound of steel clashing against steel, the fire of battle burning in her veins.

Katarina was so enthused by the battle that she failed to notice Willow and Laragh enter the tavern. The captain and her compatriot quickly spotted their fellow Slayerette in the thick of the fighting. The redhead clapped a hand over her face and shook her head in disbelief.

This was meant to be a simple trip ashore to get provisions and information. So Katarina decides to leave the ship of her own accord, finds the worst tavern in town and gets into a fight that has practically destroyed it. I’m amazed the militia haven’t arrived yet but gods she is going to be the end of the Slayerettes the way she behaves.

She approached the area where Katarina was still fending off the two remaining men with great ease and tapped one of them on the shoulder. He turned to face the young woman and nearly tripped over his own feet feeling slightly woozy, a combination of too much hard liquor earlier in the evening and exhaustion from fighting a smaller, lighter opponent for what to him, felt like hours with a large, heavy sword.

The fist that hit him, despite being from a person of a smaller stature than himself, had more than enough power behind it so send him staggering backwards towards the bar where a panicked maid smashed him over the head with a bottle.

Blood flowed from the deep gash in his scalp, down his face like a red waterfall as he slumped, unconscious to the floor. He would never rise again.

Laragh had barely entered the tavern before she was set upon by two men, both taller and more heavily built than she. The first man had greying hair and beard, his stomach was a big round ball of fat from too much food and beer. He wore a thick woollen shirt and pants.

His companion had a more slender frame, but his face was grizzled with dark stubble while his head was a shaven pate, a silver earring dangled from his right lobe.

Laragh was struck in the face sending her staggering back against the wall. She just righted herself when they came to attack the pirate again.

As the first man went to hit her in the face again, Laragh dodged to the side avoiding the punch. The man cried out in agonised pain as his fist crunched against the solid brick of the wall. The girl then punched him hard in his bloated stomach and as he doubled over, gasping for air Laragh kicked the other man in the knee, as he almost fell to the ground the Slayerette grabbed a hold of the piercing and tore it out of his ear. The man let out a scream as the metal of the earring ripped through the flesh and blood spilled onto the ground.

She finished him off with a left hook that sent him staggering into the other wall where he smashed his head against a sconce and fell to the ground in a stupor.

The first man had by this time recovered enough to stand straight again only for Laragh to kick him in the balls making him bend over again, once more gasping for air. She then kicked him in the head sending the man reeling backwards where he fell tripped one of the one of the overturned tables and crashed into a guard who, attempting to stay upright, accidentally slashed the man’s throat with a sword.

It appeared that everything was dying down in the tavern with most of the combatants either unconscious, dead or having fled the tavern when Willow arrived. Then the last thing she wanted turned up. Ten militiamen suddenly entered the inn and the battle started afresh.

The sound of clashing steel rang throughout the room as sparks flew off the swords as the militia engaged the remaining clientele and the three pirates

A huge man came out of the back room, he was powerfully built with muscles like cannon balls bulging from his biceps. His bare chest was as solid as a brick wall. His face, heavy with stubble, was set in a permanent scowl.

As the newcomer looked about the tavern, he saw the three pirates battling against the overwhelming odds and winning so decided they must be the cause of all this trouble. Having worked this out he decided to even the odds slightly and went over to the bar. After a minute of checking, he found an empty barrel and carried it out to where the battle was raging.

He saw Katarina, her back to him, fighting one of the bars patrons and a militiaman. Lifting the barrel above his head, an extraordinary feat of strength to anyone else but to him he barely broke a sweat. He was preparing to bring it smashing down on her head. Laragh saw this and for a moment, she considered not saying anything til she heard Willow’s voice with the first rule of the Slayerettes running through her head.
Never leave a shipmate stranded.

“Kat, get out of the way,” she yelled just as the strongman began to bring the barrel down towards the other girls head. Kat dropped to her knees and the barrel came crashing down on the heads of the patrons and the militiaman, who both slumped to the ground unconscious. As she rose to her feet Kat turned to Laragh and nodded her thanks. A move Laragh reciprocated before getting back into the fray.

Willow, her arm red with the blood from a slash caused by another sword, and face bruised from punches, was duelling fiercely with a rough looking young man with long black hair, a red nose and bloodshot eyes. Though his sword was heavy and would cause serious damage to the young woman if it struck her. However the man wielding it was clumsy with no real idea has to how to use the sword to its optimum effect.
The man raised his sword high, ready to smash it down on Willow’s head. As the heavy blade fell towards her she pirouetted behind him and brought her cutlass down onto his shoulder. His scream was terrible to hear as the cold steel of the pirate captain’s sword cut through flesh, muscle and bone as the redhead almost severed his arm. He fell to the floor, crying and clutching his arm, trying to hold it in place.

Katarina kicked a chair at the legs of an advancing militiaman tripping him then turned back to the other two men fighting her. Her blade was like a silver flame as it danced in the air blocking each thrust, each parry and proving herself to be a far more capable opponent than the two guards she was taking on had given her credit for. The blades flashed in the candlelight as they clashed together. Suddenly there was a gap in one of the guards defences, Kat saw the opening and quickly thrust her sword through the leather armour of the militiaman, twisted her blade as she ran him through.

That left one guard. He hesitated a moment and Kat saw the fear in his eyes. She raised her lips in an evil smile and licked her lips. She slashed her sword between them in a stylised X and the fear in his grew. His eyebrows shot up till they practically touching the hairline. The guard let out a small yelp of fear and ran out of the tavern, Kat laughing after him.

As a guard came at her, Willow smashed into his face with the hand guard of her sword giving him a gash over his eye from which blood flowed. As he stumbled back over an overturned chair, she seized her opportunity and slashed the blade of her cutlass into the man’s chest, cutting through his heart, killing him instantly.

As she stopped for a moment to catch her breath the pirate queen heard a bell ringing loudly in the distance, someone was sounding the alarm. That would mean more guards would be on the way soon.

Shit she thought as she looked around the wrecked tavern. All the taverns occupants were either unconscious or groaning in pain.

“You two, get going back to the Slayer,” Willow barked at Katarina and Laragh. Laragh sped off, not needing any further encouragement. Kat however hesitated, not wanting to leave her beloved captain’s side.

“What are you waiting for, go back, I’ll be right behind you,” The redhead said noticing that her crewmember was still in the room with her. Kat cursed to herself but slowly headed out of the tavern before heading down the street in the same direction as Laragh. A few seconds later, after having made a final sweep of the tavern to ensure that no one would pursue her Willow followed her girls.
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The docks of Narina were set in a box shape with one entrance and one exit to the sea. Separating these two passageways was a man made island made from solid rock and set in between the two routes to and from the ocean. On the island was a tower also made from rock. Within the tower were twelve guards, six for a day shift and six for a night, plus two cannons. There were also similar emplacements on either side of the docks, one guarding the entrance, the other the exit to the island.

These gun emplacements were set up, essentially, to fend off any pirates who attempted to raid the island, but it was also used to prevent any ships that the militia wanted from escaping. Ships like the Slayer 2.

Fortunately, at the present moment, no one was firing at the Slayer 2 but the crew were all tense, knowing that at any moment militia guards may come and take them all prisoner returning them all to the lives of slavery and degradation that, with Willow's help, they had escaped from. This was something that they all feared as the pirate captain had shown them all that their lives were far more valuable than men, the so called rulers, had lead them to believe. Willow had shown these young women their true worth and for that, the crew owed her and would follow her into hell if she asked them too. Yet still, they couldn’t help but be afraid of what may happen to them if they were all taken captive.

Rona was in the crows nest keeping an eye on the port using the telescope to keep an eye on the captain and her two companions. She was bored, as she had seen no one in several hours, certainly not since the captain and her two lieutenants, then ten minutes later Katarina leave the ship.

Something caught her ears, the sound of rifle shots echoing, shouts and booted feet running. She bought the telescope up to her eye and observed the road leading from the harbour to the centre of the city. She couldn’t be sure but was that the captain, Laragh and Katarina running pell mell up the road, and being chased by a squad of the militia?
Rona hurriedly clambered down the rigging and jumped the last two feet to the deck, and hurried over to where a concerned Xander was watching the commotion down the road from the side of the ship.

“Mister Xander sir,” she began in her soft voice.

“Aye, what is it Rona,” he replied

“I think the Cap’n is comin’ and she’s got the army after her.”

Immediately the young man sprang into action. “Rona pull in the gangplank, get Buffy to help you.” With that, he set off below decks to rouse the rest of the resting crew.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I can’t believe that this happened, Willow grumbled to herself. We should be just in the tavern having a drink and letting Lineno tell us what the map says. Instead, we get a new crewmember, she is a looker though, then I end up in a bar brawl because one of my crew is mentally deficient. Now we’re being chased by the militia, perfect end to a perfect evening. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the girls got nearer to the docks Xander gave the order to raise the anchor, went to the helm, and began to turn Slayer 2 so that it would be in motion once Willow and the others were aboard. Buffy, meanwhile had armed the crewmembers with rifles and flintlocks and they waited at the port side of the schooner for the enemy to arrive.

Willow saw her ship begin to move slowly and increased her speed so she could land safely on the ship. Seeing her, Laragh and Katarina copied the actions of their fearless leader and prepared to jump.
As one the three girls made the leap from the side of the harbour to the ship and landed safely on board

“Xander, get us out of here now,” Willow yelled out to her friend as she scrambled up from the deck of the Slayer 2, noticing with relied that Tara was safely aboard.

“Girl’s, get your guns ready, the militia are on our asses. Buffy get too…,” the pirate stopped and thought for a moment before turning to the cause of her current problems.

“No ye can do it, ya fucking retard,” she growled at Katarina.

“What is it Cap’n,” said the dark haired girl, “what would you like me to do?” She enquired in a sensuous voice, fluttering her eyelashes at an obviously pissed off Willow. “Would you like me to warm your bed for you?” Kat asked, still attempting to sexually entice Willow, despite their current situation.

“No you fucking moron,” the redhead yelled at her, “Seeing as we’re in this mess because of your stupidity you can be responsible for lowering the sails. Hopefully we can catch some small breeze from somewhere and we can try and make good our escape.”

Long as they don’t have their best warships on patrol, otherwise we [i]may as well surrender now,[/i] the redhead thought.

Katarina just stood staring at her captain for a long moment before Willow barked at her,

“Well, what are you standing there for? I thought I told you to get those sails down,” she complained at her crewmember before going off to check her crew were armed, muttering about having to do everything her damn self.

After ensuring that Willow was out of earshot Katarina then turned to Alex and Laragh.

“Alright you two, you heard the Cap’n get those sails sorted and now, she wants out of the area and fast.”

“Umm Kat, didn’t the captain just tell you to do that?” Laragh enquired, wondering why the person who had caused their troubles, and who wasn’t even a commanding officer as Buffy and Xander were, was telling them what to do.

“I’m sorry; did I just hear you question a direct order from a superior officer? Kat asked politely with a pleasant smile on her face. “Perhaps we should take this up with the captain. I’m sure the little matter of mutiny and disobeying a superior’s commands will go down well with her.” Kat edged forwards a little so the only people who could hear her were Alex and Laragh.

“To be honest she’s not at her best right now, so she may well throw someone overboard, and that someone could be you. Now if you want to stay aboard the Slayer then you’d be best off doing everything you’re told, right?”

Katarina said all this a though she were addressing infants and looked at them with a placating smile on her face.

The two Slayerettes looked at each other, shrugged and nodded before setting off to the rigging and sails.

“We do need to get a better class of slave aboard this ship,” Kat murmured to herself before heading down to the galley to see if there was any food available.

“What, a bitch,” Laragh muttered to her friend, and after I saved her life too.”

“You know what she’s like,” Alex replied, she has a face like a monkey, the attitude of a dog without a bone when all the others do and she seriously thinks the Cap’n will take her as her woman.”
Laragh chuckled at this, “aye, ya got that right, but you forgot one thing.”

“Oh, and what’s that?” Alex enquired, an eyebrow raised in curiosity while an amused look played about her features.”

“Katarina looks like a facially deformed monkey.” With that both girls burst into a fit of giggles and it was a good ten minutes before they were in any fit condition to get the sails ready.
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“How’s it looking Xander,” Willow asked her friend as she approached the steering area.

“It’s gonna be tight Will, I’m not saying I can’t make it but the outgoing inlet could be blocked by other ships either coming into or leaving the port, then there’s the two gun towers, one on the exit side and the other on the island in the middle. Now as long as they don’t realise that we’re escaping we should be able to put a fair distance between Narina and ourselves, otherwise I hope ya packed some clean pants cos we’ll be in deep doo doo.”

“How deep is this doo doo exactly?” Willow asked in a mixture of curiosity and fear that she wouldn’t have enough pairs of clean pants.

“How deep do you want it to be?”

“Ankle deep will suit me just fine Xander.”

“Yeah, well I think it’ll be a little deeper than that Will, but I’ll do my best.”

“You always do that and more my friend,” said Willow grinning as she slapped him on the back.
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Despite the Narina militia being in pursuit and shooting at Slayer 2 from the harbour side, no one in any of the gun emplacements seemed to have noticed and the crew believed that they were going to make it.

Then the last thing they needed happened. The gun emplacement on the exit side of the Narina harbour started to fire upon the escaping pirate vessel. Heavy balls of hot metal began to rain upon the Slayer 2 forcing everyone to dodge out of their way.

Buffy sent some of the girls down to the cannons on the port and starboard sides so they could return fire on the gun emplacements. The ship was making its way through the exit and fire and cannonballs rained down on the small vessel.

Two of the large Narina battleships had also started to fire upon the small craft as it tried to make its way to the exit. One of them was just coming through the entrance to the port when the look out saw the battle and Willow’s ship firing back at the authorities. The captain was notified and he promptly gave the order to fire upon the smaller ship. Fortunately the battleship was unable to use its more powerful guns for fear of hitting the gun emplacements so the weaker guns that they used could only get the cannon balls so far before they plummeted into the water sending sprays of water up against the side of the Slayer 2.

By now all the gun crews were up and in action, all the cannons in the emplacements were firing at the ship, yet somehow despite all the destruction being aimed at the vessel, more by luck, and Xander's steering, than design, very minimal damage was being wrought upon her.

Eventually the ship made it to the exit passage. All around cannons and rifles were firing, and here and there flames licked up from The Slayer 2 turning the night-darkened docks into a scene from hell. Some of the girls not using weapons, started a chain hauling buckets of water up and putting out the fires on the ship before they came into contact with the stores of gunpowder.

Guns were firing all round, both towards and from the ship. By now the militiamen had moved from firing at the aft of the ship and gone round to the side, where the gun emplacement was. However the cannons of The Slayer 2 quickly made short work of them, smashing into and completely destroying their ranks.

Despite all this the small vessel was able to make it through the exit, yet still they were not free from their persecutors.

The pirates had just made it through the exit passage from Narina, the cannons, both on the main quays and on the dividing island, were still firing at Slayer 2 and were being joined by the two battleships in pursuit of the pirates. Despite the schooners sails being at full drop, there was only a minimal amount of breeze so none of the ships were moving very fast. The Slayer 2, being only a relatively small but light craft could move swiftly enough. However, the two battleships had twice the sails and were swiftly gaining upon the pirate vessel.

Willow was yelling out orders left and right while Xander was steering in an erratic pattern to avoid as much damage to the ship as possible while Buffy was in command of the girls firing their rifles and the cannons at the enemy vessels.

And standing at the side, completely forgotten about while all this was happening around her stood Tara, still barefoot and in the same simple dress she had been wearing in the Laughing Lobster. She stared about her wide eyed, in a mixture of fascinated curiosity and fear, and wondering if she wouldn’t have been safer back with her father.
Deafening explosions were going off all round the pirate ship as the gun towers on the embankments and the centre isle fired on Willows vessel. Despite Xander’s steering the balls still smashed into the side of the craft, injuring and killing some of the crew.

“God’s dammit,” Xander cried out in alarm as one of the metal balls slammed into the deck, almost smashing into his foot.

And in one area of the ship, below decks, a hidden figure wept in fear at the thunderous explosions going on around them.

The Slayer 2 fired back at the towers trying to dislodge bricks hoping to bring at least one of them down so that they could then concentrate more of their firepower on the enemy.

A cannon ball suddenly bounced off the port side on which Tara stood rocking the ship slightly and almost making her fall to the deck startling her so that she gave a little eep of terror, however she was able to grab a hold of the handrail and stay on her feet.

The blonde girl, hearing and seeing the sights and sounds of battle all round her decided it was time to take action. Tara took some deep breaths to calm herself then, looking up at the sails, began to mutter under her breath. She held her hands before her, folded into fists, and as she began to speak they unfolded, palms upward. Her hands began to glow pure white and then she gently blew, as if blowing specks of sand off her palms, towards the sails.

From nowhere, a wind began to blow though no one noticed immediately.
It started out gently, just little wisps that blew at hair and loose pieces of clothing. It quickly grew in strength though, filling the sails and making them billow out, aiding the escape of the much smaller schooner as it pulled away from the two Narina battleships. Eventually Jenny, a small girl with brown hair under Buffy’s command called out, “ma’am, we’re pulling away.”

Both Willow and Xander looked up at the sails and saw them swell with a wind that didn’t seem to be actually blowing. Certainly, the two pursuing battleships didn’t seem to be getting any wind in their sails like the Slayer was. Though they kept firing their cannons at the schooner, they were no longer hitting the smaller vessel and soon the small ship was headed out to sea and leaving both the island of Narina and her two battleships far behind.

To Be Continued
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[center]THE ADVENTURES OF CAP’N ‘RED’ WILLOW ROSENBERG
DEAD MANS ISLE[/center]
Author; Willowtaralover

Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. I own all original characters, concepts and anything else they can’t lay their grubby hands on.

Rating; PG-13 to R for sex, violence and naughty swearing.

Story; Rough, tough pirate captain ‘Red’ Willow Rosenberg is on the hunt for buried treasure but gets more than she bargains for including romance with a blonde beauty, betrayal from a crewmember and danger from a necromancer, and his undead army, who is attempting to resurrect an evil goddess.

All thoughts are in italics

Chapter 6
Welcome -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A half hour later and the wind spell that Tara had secretly cast, died away. Once that happened, Willow had the sails furled up and had the crew clear an area in the centre of the deck.

Whilst Buffy helped the injured, with aid from Tara, and Laragh, Rona and Alex put away the rifles and ammunition while the pirate captain went to talk to her other lieutenant.

“Xander, How much wood do we have in stores?”

“Enough to cover any damage near the waterline and the rafts.”

“Make the rafts, we’ll deal with the damage in the morning.”

Xander nodded, his face grim but there was a sadness in his eyes. “Will,” he said as the young woman turned to go check on the injured. She turned to face him eyebrows raised. Instantly he threw his arms round his friend in a hug and Willow returned the hug.

“I know Xan, I know,” she said softly as she heard him sniffing. “Ya did good back there, real good,” and she gave him a soft kiss on his cheek and a small smile. He returned the smile and she saw a trail where a tear had coursed down his cheek as she rubbed his arm gently. “Come on, we got work to do,” and they set off to their tasks.

Two hours later and everything was prepared. On the deck were three small rafts and arranged upon the rafts were the bodies of the three dead Slayerettes wrapped in cloth and surrounding the bodies were lit candles.
Standing around were the rest of the Slayerettes, each holding a candle high and with a sword and sheath fastened at the hip.

Willow stood in front of the helm with Buffy and Xander on either side of her while Tara stood a little behind. The captain was in her dress uniform. A long leather coat over a white shirt, the shirt however was the one that she wore during the fight in the tavern thus still smeared in bloodstains. She had exchanged her cotton pants from earlier for her leather ones and calf length boots. At her side hung her cutlass and her modified flintlock. On her head, a red bandanna held her hair down while a tricorn hat topped it off. Her two lieutenants were similarly dressed only without hats and coats.

All was quiet for several minutes, the only sounds were the gentle lapping of water against the side of the schooner and the muted sniffles and crying of pirates who had survived the battle, these were being comforted by the other girls. Eventually Willow spoke.

“We are here to celebrate the passing of Jessica, T’gon’Wa and Philippa, loyal Slayerettes all. These girls did not die as slaves to greedy merchants, kings and princes, they did not die as whores to the so-called rulers of the lone star islands, they did not die as sacrificial victims to their gods. Instead Jessica, T’gon’Wa and Philippa died the way that they lived, as free women.

“Now in accordance with Slayerette custom we commit their bodies to the sea so that their spirits may continue to roam the world as freely as they did in life.” Willow then drew her sword and held it high and the Slayerettes followed her example, “Slayers hai, slayers hai, slayers hai,” the redhead called out thrusting her cutlass into the air almost as if she could rend a tear in it. Her crew following her example with both sword thrusts and shouts. Willow replaced her sword and turned to the only man aboard the Slayer 2,

“Mister Xander,” she said to him and he turned smartly on his heel and went down the small flight of steps to the main deck where the rafts with bodies lay. He tapped two of the girls on their shoulders and they joined him as he attached a rope, which was attached to a pulley system, to either end of the first raft. The girls then each took a rope and hauled the raft high into the air. Above the deck.

From there it was manoeuvred over the water where it was gently lowered again, the ropes were released and the raft started to follow the direction that the waves were pushing it further and further away from the pirate ship until only the candles illuminating its way in the dark were all that could be seen.

This was repeated for the last two rafts and all the occupants of the Slayer 2 watched solemnly as the rafts bobbed away on the ocean currents til not even the candles lighting the way for the spirits could no longer be seen. For her part Tara mouthed a silent prayer to her goddess, Honadel; goddess of the sun, that the spirits of the dead girls would find their way to her side.

Finally Willow gave the order for the crew to go and rest leaving a skeleton crew on duty and everyone retired to their quarters, but approached Buffy to go to the galley and get some food. The redhead then went a still wide-eyed Tara and took her gently by the hand.
“Come on with me and we’ll get you cleaned up,” she said to the blonde with a warm smile. With these words she led Tara to her cabin.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willow’s cabin, based at the aft of the ship, was quite spacious for such a small craft. The wooden floor was covered by a multitude of rugs, all richly coloured and made from the most expensive materials.

Along one wall was a huge bed, large enough to take at least ten people. Both the mattress and the duvet cover were full soft duck down and on the coldest night could keep the occupants as warm as if they were sitting before a log fire. There was a small bedside cabinet of teak, which held a deep china bowl and jug. These were held in place by hollows in the wood of the cabinet so they wouldn’t tip over during storms or sea battles.
The other side contained shelving which was full of scrolls, atlases, maps and books. Other maps were attached to the walls along with a series of wanted posters for Willow, each one growing in value.

In the centre of the room was a mahogany desk that stood in front of a large window, composed of many small squares of coloured glass and held in place by lead. By some miracle this window had not been damaged at all during the firefight in the harbour at Narina.

The desk also had more scrolls upon them, the main one being the map, which was the source of the pirate captain’s current adventure, she had also lain her weapons upon it. A padded leather chair, which normally stood behind the desk now stood in the centre of the room with Tara sitting in it. Next to her was the cabinet with the jug and bowl both full of water.

Illumination was provided by candles in candelabras placed all around the room giving a warm yellow glow to the cabin. At least two were on the large mahogany table, a third on the smaller bedside cabinet. Others were set in brackets on walls around the cabin. By some even greater miracle none had fallen to the deck or the papers on the desk.

The feel of the chair felt peculiar to the young blonde, being more used to the hard stone of the sewers of Narina as she was, however Tara was starting to get accustomed to the feel of the seat, on her seat. Willow stood before her, shirt sleeves rolled up, her jacket hung on the back of the door along with a smaller, lighter jacket of green velvet.

“Well me pretty young lass, let’s have look see what’s under all that muck eh.” The redhead went over to the cupboard, opened the door and took out one of the remaining three shirts. She tore off the sleeves and dropped her shirt to the floor. Willow wrapped the sheets together and placed them in the water, soaking them thoroughly before wringing them out and applying the cloths to Tara’s face.

The blonde girl winced a little as the water stung the mark on her face where she had been slapped at the Laughing Lobster. Willow winced with her in empathy.

“Ooh, sorry ’bout that,” she said, feeling a little guilty.”

Tara gave her a little smile, “It’s alright she said, “It doesn’t hurt as much now.”

Willow smiled back relieved she hadn’t hurt this gorgeous girl too much. She carefully wiped the muck from Tara’s face and gasped as her new recruits face was revealed.

To say that Tara was beautiful was an understatement. Angelic was a far greater definition for the blonde girl.
Her striking face was as pure white as fine bone china. Her eyes were as blue as the sky on a fine sunny day while her perfect lips were full and luscious. The blonde hair made Willow think of the warming sun. The redheads breath was coming out in ragged gasps, so overcome was she with the loveliness of the girl presently in her chair. Tara looked up in alarm at the woman who had just saved her life, and whom she had saved in return, worried that she may be about to faint.

As she looked up at the pirate captain Tara gazed, unable to tear her eyes from the young redheaded woman. The gently freckled face was open, warm and inviting, with a friendly mischief to it. It resembled that of a naughty schoolgirl about to coerce her new best friend into cutting class with her. Her eyes were as green as the…she couldn’t even think of anything to compare them with. Whilst Tara had heard of both emeralds and grass she had never seen either so could not say if Willow’s eye’s resembled one or the other. The only thing that Tara was sure of about the young woman who had saved her from the life of servitude she had endured was that she was now completely devoted to her and her two companions, especially the young man, who had helped to rescue her.
A knocking at the cabin door startled both girls back into reality.

“Will, are you both dressed in there,” came Buffy’s amused voice from the other side.

“Aye, it’s safe to enter Buff,” Willow replied with an overly dramatic roll of the eyes and a grin. This made Tara smile, somehow sensing the warm friendship between these two girls.

The blonde entered carrying a tray upon which was a steaming bowl of stew with a silver spoon, flat slabs of what appeared to be some kind of bread, two golden goblets and a small pewter jug of water.

“I got the food you asked for,” Buffy said as she entered the cabin. She crossed to the table placed the tray with the meal on it. noticing as she passed how Tara was secretly looking at Willow. By now the captain was quickly washing the hands, wrists, ankles and feet of the new girl, making them as clean as her face while Buffy looked on, a small smile on her face.

“There ye go, good as new,” Willow said to Tara, a broad smile on her face. “There’s some food there, ya look like ya need a bit of filling up.” With that she took Tara by the hand and gently lifted her out of the chair, moved the chair back to the table and ushered Tara back into it. The blonde girl looked at the tray in wonderment, hunger shining in her eyes.

“This IS for me?” she asked quietly, that she was unsure clear in her voice.

“Aye, well apart from this and this,” Buffy answered filling one of the goblets with water and grabbing a slab of the bread, these two she handed to Willow. Tara looked on for a moment longer, then deciding it was safe picked up the spoon and started to eat while the captain and her lieutenant stood to one side talking quietly.

She gobbled it down as if it were the first thing she had eaten in months, which in effect it was. There was something about the stew but Tara couldn’t quite put her fingers on it. Certainly the stew was edible enough and yet…and yet. Still it didn’t matter, it was food, real food. She poured a goblet of water for herself and swallowed it down quickly too.

The girl picked up the last slab of bread that felt hard to the touch, as if it were stale. She dunked it in the stew and bit, the bread stayed intact. Tara stared at the bread for a moment then tried again. Tara bit hard into the bread and tore at it, a piece of the bread came away in her mouth. She chewed it, and chewed and chewed and chewed. For some reason the bread wasn’t breaking down. Tara took another sip of water and it seemed to soften the bread a little but still she had to chew. After what seemed like hours she swallowed once, twice, thrice before it went down. After that she left the bread to one side. However she noticed that Willow didn’t seem to have any trouble at all with the flat bread, tearing off huge chunks and swallowing them down with very little effort. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Is the crew sorted for the night?” Willow asked.

“Aye, Xander’s got Yukio at the helm and Tracy in the crow’s nest keeping watch. Kelly and Lia are operating the sails so we’re pretty much sorted there.”

“Glad that wind came along when it did, if it hadn’t we’d have been in gaol by now, or dead. It’s just strange though, surely a wind as strong as that would have filled the sails of those Narina battleships as well. Yet we out sailed them ”

“Aye you’re right there but instead of questioning it, lets be grateful ok. So what do we do now?”

“First a good nights sleep. Then a meeting tomorrow after breakfast, you, me and Xander. Can you take Tara for tonight til we can find a place for her on ship.”

Buffy confirmed that she could accommodate Tara for the night. She and Willow went over to where Tara was just finishing her meal. She stood as they approached her.

“Tara, this is my friend Buffy,” the redhead though ya know that already cos I already said her name when we were bringing ya to the Slayer 2, which is this one obviously because if we weren’t on Slayer 2 we’d be on someone else’s ship entirely, anyway this is Buffy and you’re gonna be sharing with her tonight.”

God’s, did she really say all that without stopping for breath Tara thought staring in amazement at her liberator. Buffy on the other hand just smiled wryly at her friends babble.

Wow Will, you only just met the girl and you’re babbling already. You got
it bad my friend.

“Come on, it won’t be so bad,” Buffy smiled and she lead Tara to her cabin.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buffy’s cabin, which was on the starboard side of the ship, was smaller but as cosy as the captains was. A large bed stood against the wall to the left of the entrance draped in a big, down filled duvet, a porthole above it providing the only light which came via the full moon. By it stood a small cupboard, similar to the one in Willow’s cabin. And as in Willow's cabin, the lighting was provided by candles around the room

Opposite the bed was a wardrobe, again smaller than the redheads. Buffy took two plain cotton nightshirts out of it and went over to the bed where Tara stood nervously, her hands fidgeting. She handed one of the shirts over to her roommate.

“Here, this should fit, you’re about my size. Erm are you comfortable with changing your clothes in front of other women? I can leave the room if you want.”

“Umm, n…no it sh…should be fine,” Tara replied timidly. Whilst she had known that she was attracted to other girls for a long time now, she had never slept with another person in her life. Her only companions in her ‘boudoir’ were the rats and she had had to create a charm shield defence to keep them away from her when she was sleeping.

“If you’re sure, but I will at least change over here, give you a bit of space.” Buffy smiled at the newcomer to the ship and went over to the wardrobe and started to remover her clothes keeping her back to Tara all the time.

Tara gulped as she saw the smooth back of her fellow blonde the muscles showing as Buffy leaned forward to pick her top up off the floor and quickly turned so her back was towards the other girls. She shrugged off her dress and slipped the nightshirt over her head, then turned back just as Buffy did.

Buffy yawned, stretched and went over to the bed, blowing out the candles as she did so. She peeled back the duvet cover and ushered Tara in.

“God’s I need this,” she said as she yawned loudly again, setting Tara off too. For several minutes the two girls had a yawn fest. Eventually they looked at each other then burst into giggles. Finally they settled into the bed laying their heads down on the pillows, and settled down for a good night’s sleep. In her own cabin, Willow dreamt of Roberta and shed silent tears in her memory. And Slayer 2 continued its voyage into the dark unknown.
TO BE CONTINUED


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:13 am 
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DIBS!!!!

Quote:
As well as the pungent scent, which was emanating from the bodies making the girls gag the way was lit by the moon, which hung low in the sky like a huge silvery pearlescent globe. A precious jewel set amongst the stars and shining down on a hive of scum and villainy.


Love this quote! Beautiful old-style "dime novel' prose, especially the last line.


YES! Enjoyed the bar brawl. Kat IS a pain but you see her at her best in the brawl and it's a lot of fun! :party You definitely have an eye for action and I'll admit I like it too!

Nice to see Tara getting a decent meal and some attention and respect! Also liked her wind-spell. Look forward to more on magical Tara . . .

Also, the humor really works! Both in your tongue-in-cheek narration and also in moments between the characters. :laugh

Thanks again, you got me hooked!

Ariel


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:09 am 
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Wow great story soo far !
I wonder does WIllow have power too in your story ?
Can't wait to see when Willow is ready to a new relationship :)
What Dawn was up to ? Is she the one trying to take over willow ship ?
I really hope it's not her . . . .
Really really great story
Thank you so much !

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:21 am 
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Ms. Moderator Fantastico
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Wow, Rick, super cool so far!

And yea, kick-ass fight scene!

*rubs knuckles against my shirt proudly*

:glasses

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:54 am 
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OK, so this is beyond awesome. I'm so looking forward to the next chapter! The moment where Willow was cleaning off Tara was very sweet.

This is by far the most out-there W/T AU I've read -- in a good way.

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:29 pm 
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Why is Tara weird about the food? Just cause she was starved for so long, or what? I agreed with Story Laragh, they should have left Kat. I like Willow's loyalty, though. But can we see Kat get put in her place next time? And some more Willow-Tara time, even if the :wtkiss will be a while off.

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 6:53 am 
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Just had to pop back to say -

I love that I'm now being differentiated between real me and story me! :D

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:28 pm 
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i am absolutely entranced by this tale. you have made it so vivid. the pictures you paint with words have captured not only my mind but my imagination as well. the sights, sounds, and smells described are so real that i can almost believe that i am there. smelling the gunpowder from the cannons, hearing the crash of metals as the swords connect, seeing the ragged and tortured waif as she is gently cleaned and revealing the angel that she is (Tara).

i am impressed with the depth and realism that you have given to your characters. you have a gift for storytelling. thank you very much for sharing that gift with us kittens. i will be loyally following this story (even if i am unable to reply after each section you post). i will be avidly awaiting the next bit that you will share with us. please keep this amazing adventure going. i will be your loyal follower, ever praying for quick updates (when real life allows *grins*)

:kitty

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 7:49 am 
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ARIEL Glad you’re enjoying the story but it wouldn’t be half as good as it is if it wasn’t for your help, so thank you so much for all you’re doing to help with Red Rosenberg.

deviantART glad you’re enjoying the story, not sure yet about Willow having some power, but she and Tara are part of a prophecy in the follow up story. Willow just needs to get over her grief for Roberta before she can begin her new relationship, but Tara will help her there. As for Dawn, you’ll see what she’s been up to in this chapter.

Laragh Thank you for your kind remark, I never considered my story to be cool before so I am highly flattered by such praise. Of course you can kick-ass, you’re a kitten, all kittens kick ass, and now there’s two of you as well does that mean double trouble lol :) .

wolfsbane Hi Wolfsbane, glad you’re enjoying the story. I assure you there’s going to be more sweet moments between the girls and I’m sorry you add to wait so long for this new chapter but I hope it’s worth it.

Promethea128 Tara wasn’t really being weird about the food, but it was a bread called hard tack which was really tough to chew. As for gobbling down the stew, yeah, it was because she had been starved for so long and was grateful for real food for the first time. I couldn’t leave Kat behind as she has a big part to play in this epic adventure and I am planning more Willow Tara time in future chapters.

sapphoselene Thank you so much for your kind words, It is good to know I have a faithful follower, however a lot of that praise should also be given to ARIEL (How I Met Your Mother). She has been a wonderful friend, a great help to me in writing this story and the best beta I could ever hope to find. I am so sorry you had to wait so long for this new chapter but I assure you it will be worth it and I will try not to make you wait as long for future chapters. I promise I will only end this story when I have finished the last chapter, and even then, there’s going to be a follow up story to read


[center]THE ADVENTURES OF CAP’N ‘RED’ WILLOW ROSENBERG
DEAD MANS ISLE[/center]

Author; Willowtaralover

Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. I own all original concepts, characters and anything else they can’t lay their dirty hands on.

Rating; PG-13 to R for sex, violence and naughty swearing.

Story; Rough, tough pirate captain ‘Red’ Willow Rosenberg is on the hunt for treasure but gets more than she bargained for in the shape of romance with a blonde beauty, betrayal from a crewmember and danger from a necromancer who is attempting to resurrect an evil goddess and his undead army.

Again, I owe many thanks to my good friend and beta Ariel without whom this story would be nowhere near as good as it is. Thanks Ariel, you’re awesome. I also owe thanks to Alex and Laragh for their help and advice too on their scene.

All thoughts are in italics

Chapter 7
Stowaway

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willow paced her cabin while Buffy and Xander continued to pore over the map to their present destination, the isle of Verminas as well as a pile of charts and atlases. Willow whirled to face her two mates.

“We’re sailing blind! The Narinian navy will be scouring the seas for us and we missed that translator at the tavern.” She sighed and came to a stop, “and worse than that we lost three fine hands today.” Suddenly she smashed her fist against the table, “and none of this would have happened if it hadn’t been for that stupid bloody bilge rat.” She stood there, her face like thunder while her mates cautiously looked at each other but said nothing.

That’s when the captain’s coat weighs heavy on me, damn it, losing crew mates who were loyal and followed me orders to the last.

Buffy looked thoughtful, “Will, are there any other islands we could go to, maybe find a translator to help with the map.”

Willow was certain, “not after last night. Someone on one of the other islands is bound to have seen the fires from the battle at the entrance to Narina. The Narinian navy were raising the flag to put their fleet to sea as we left,” she looked at her two companions, the ghost of a smile on her face. “And we’re all a little too well known.”

She paused, her face grim, as she considered possible outcomes. “They catch us and we’ll all be tortured and hanged.” She swallowed; every girl on board was like family to her. “These girls deserve better than that, they deserve a fighting chance, not to die at the end of a rope like a dog.” For an instant, the mask of the fiery captain slipped and she dropped her head in despair.

Buffy and Xander looked at one another. They had never seen her this dejected before and they worried for her.

A silence fell amongst the three as they remembered the close escape they had had the night before. Willow finally turned to Buffy.

“I’d still like to know what the chart says, there has to be something there we can use. Look Buffy, you’ve had some schooling, d’ya think you could translate any of it?”

“Dunno Will, I can try but you have to understand, I didn’t do well with languages at the school. I can read and speak a little Nelacan but that’s it. I will do what I can though.”

Willow straightened “Time to heave ho old friends. Get our sharpest-eyed girls aloft to keep a look-out and start daily battle drills. We’re out-numbered and out-gunned; the only way for any of us to get out alive is to stay one step ahead!”

Buffy and Xander left to tend to their new orders while Willow allowed herself one moment alone to feel the tears pricking at her eyes as she mourned the loss of three gallant women.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tara woke the following morning, thanks to the gentle rocking of the boat and the slapping of the water against the side of the vessel, to find herself in a strange new world. Waking in a warm and comfortable bed was a totally new experience for her, especially after having spent most of her life sleeping on a cold stone floor in the sewers flowing beneath her father’s tavern.

She snuggled deeper into the bed, enjoying the feeling of security she got from it. She felt so snug in the bed she did not want to rise but stay there all day. Then she saw the tray on the bedside cabinet. It contained a goblet of water, more of the flat bread, slices of ham and cheese and an apple.

After her previous experience eating the flat bread, Tara decided to leave it and ate the rest of the food with relish, washing it down with the water. Then she noticed the note sticking out from under the platter. It informed her to go to the captain’s cabin as soon as she was awake.

She found her dress folded neatly on the foot of the bed and a pair of soft shoes on the floor and the jug and basin on the side. After swiftly slipping on the dress and into the shoes, Tara washed her face removing little spots of grime that Willow had missed the night before. After checking her appearance in the reflective surface of the tray, the girl set off to Willow’s cabin.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex and Laragh had slept through breakfast then spent the last few minutes drilling the gun crew and were now on the hunt for food.

“How could you not hear the breakfast bell Alex,” Laragh grumbled. “I thought you had super hearing, or so ya boast anyways.”

“I do have super hearing oh ye of little faith,” Alex replied snarkily. “But it doesn’t work when the person you’re bunking with is snoring loud enough to wake the dead.”

“Hey ya cheeky bint,” Laragh said laughing and giving her best friend a friendly slap on the arm. “Come on, they should have summat in the stores,” and with that the young pirate and her friend went down to the storeroom where the food that had been purchased the previous day was.

The ships hold was down below, the only light provided came from a single torch on the wall by the door. This torch had been enchanted by Giles so that it never went out but stayed lit constantly.

The two girls made their way over to where several barrels stood with a small platter holding several gold and silver goblets. As Alex picked up two of the goblets, Laragh lifted the lid on one of the barrel’s, took in a good breath through her nose and scrunched her nose up as if in thought.

“Aye, it’s water,” she said and Alex dipped first one, then the other into the water. As Laragh replaced the lid, Alex proffered one of the goblets and the dark haired girl took it gratefully.

“Ah, I needed that,” she said after swigging the water down her throat. “Now let’s see what’s to eat.”

“There should be some apples round here in a barrel,” Alex informed her and went back to the door to get the torch so the duo could read the barrels better.

“Here we are,” Alex said and, handing the flaming torch to her friend, lifted the lid. She placed her hand firmly on top of the fruit and froze. Alex stood like that for several minutes before Laragh said,

“Y’know, ye picked a hell of a time to play statues,” more in puzzlement than annoyance. Why was her friend and bunkmate behaving like this?

“Lar, I think there’s a rat in the apples,” Alex whispered, the fear plain in her voice.

“Alex, you’re a pirate, just kill it. Stick your knife up its asshole and give it a serious case of constipation,” Laragh replied slightly nonplussed at her friends fear. After all, Alex and Laragh were two of the most fearless pirates in Willow’s entire crew.

A squeal from the barrel made Alex leap high and land in her friend’s outstretched arms, only to be dumped unceremoniously on the floor, on her butt. Meanwhile the magic torch burned merrily away without setting fire to anything else, a magical safeguard Giles had set in place.

“What now,” Laragh sighed, hoping she wasn’t going to go all day without food.

“It squealed and went under the apples,” said Alex as she picked herself up off the floor.

“I’ll take a look,” and Laragh picked up the torch and, holding it over the barrel placed her hand inside. She stepped back as a little squeal come from within the barrel.

“Well there’s definitely something in the barrel,” she confirmed while Alex rolled her eyes. “Here Alex, pass us yer knife. I’ll sort the little bastard out.”

“NO,” came the muffled squeal from under the apples. Alex and Laragh exchanged a look before they both placed their hands into the barrel. Within less than a minute Laragh was pulling something or someone up by the hair. When the two girls saw who it was their eyes went wide.

“Oh,” said Laragh.

“Shit,” finished Alex.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Girls aloft?”

Buffy nodded, “aye Captain.”

“Battle drills set, powder and balls inventoried?”

Xander nodded “Will, about the girl…Tara.”

Tara hesitated outside the Captain’s door, with her hand poised to knock when she heard her name from inside. She paused to listen, having learned in her life that it was well to gauge the temper of the company before walking in. Her toes were twitching nervously in the soft shoes she wore that were surprisingly comfortable to her feet after the cold stone floor of her ‘bedroom’.

Willow paused, that one word recalling the golden vision of that beautiful mistreated girl. Her voice softened, “so?”
Xander swallowed “Let her stay aboard. Find her some work.”
Willow looked keenly into his eyes. “You’ve a kind heart old friend. Nori is it?”

Xander looked away. Years ago his beloved sister had been stolen away by slavers and he and Willow had gone to sea is search of her. After five long years without hearing so much as a word about his sister, Xander had told Willow he was giving up the search, but Willow knew better. Tara was another Nori, someone in need of protection and he had already reached out to her.

Willow spoke, “She’s been as much a prisoner as any one of the rest of the girl’s and I like the cut of her jib. If she wants to work and earn her keep I’ll not deny her a fair chance.”

“Thanks Will.”

She gave his shoulder a squeeze. Then they continued poring over the charts hoping to find their passage to the Island of Verminas by comparing the various maps.

A moment later, Tara gathered her courage and knocked on the door.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The two girls were escorting an unexpected guest when trouble intercepted them in the corridor outside Willow’s cabin.

“What’s that little turd burp doing here?” Katarina asked in a contemptuous, mocking tone.

“Summat Wil…,” Laragh began,

“Who the fuck are you calling turd burp, ya rat faced gobshite?” came the angry retort from Laragh and Alex’s escort.

“You’ve got a big mouth on you girl,” Kat sneered at one she supposed was an underling. “Perhaps if I slice it off you won’t have as much to say for yourself.”

The stowaway glared back “Try it, I dare ya. Come on right now!”

Alex stepped in between the arguing twosome before anything really started, however…

“What, are you, her babysitter now?” Kat asked mockingly poking Alex sharply in the chest.

“Who the hell d’ya think you’re poking” Alex replied angrily, poking Kat in the chest just as sharply.

Alex suddenly found herself reeling after a blow to the face courtesy of Kat’s fist and she hit her head against the ships bulkhead. She quickly bounced back and threw herself at the other girl and the two quickly found themselves locked in combat.

Laragh, who was still standing there holding her escort back placed her hand over her face and, shaking her head, moaned “not again.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willow looked up sharply at the gentle knock, which was followed by the approaching roar of Alex and Kat fighting their way down the corridor.
“Come in,” she said quickly.

Tara walked in just as the door was flung wide open behind her, sending her flying across the room and into Willow’s arms.
Willow had approximately an instant to appreciate the soft swell of Tara’s breasts pressed against her own before her cabin door burst open and
Kat and Alex, both bruised, fell in.

Alex was on top and battering the hell out of her opponent. In fact so occupied was she in her attack that Alex didn’t notice the booted feet striding over to where she was beating the crap out of Kat. Currently she was very pleased to see that she had split Kat’s lips, gashed her forehead and was pummelling Kats face black and blue.

Kat, whilst fending off her enemy’s blows realised where she was and quickly formed a plan. As Alex launched herself back on top of Kat, the girl bought her foot up and booted her opponent in the gut. Alex rolled off, winded.

As she lay there gasping for air, Kat quickly got up and ran toward Willow, pushing Tara out of the way. She threw herself onto the redhead, weeping crocodile tears and her voice full of false crying. As Kat tried to wrap her arms tighter round Willow, Tara, having been helped up by Xander, looked at the woman who had rescued her being held by another, the sorrow clear in her eyes.

“Get off me,” Willow said angrily throwing Kat off her who put her head in her hands and made sobbing sounds. Willow gave a look of death at the two women who had come crashing into her cabin.

“What the hell do you both think you’re doing,” the pirate snarled out to the two women while Buffy and Xander looked on with interest grateful to have something that took their minds off their present problems. Only Tara stared at the floor unable to take in the sight of Kat staying close to Willow.

“It was horrible,” sobbed Katarina, partly moving her hands so no one could see her tears were false. “I just said ‘good morning’ to them and Alex attacked me for no reason.” She then started to wail again, even louder than before and Xander rolled his eyes in irritation at what he could tell quite clearly was an act.

Willow switched her attention to the other girl. “Well Alex,” she asked, not entirely trusting all that Kat was saying and knowing how she had pissed off crewmembers. However at the same time, knowing the fierce temper that Alex had and if Kat had annoyed her in any way at all, well…

Alex said nothing but glared murderously at the other girl. There was a sudden ‘ahem’ from the doorway making Willow and Buffy look in that direction.

“Ermm, we found this in the food store room,” Laragh said and she stood to one side to reveal …

“Surprise,” Dawn said weakly to a shocked and amazed Buffy, Willow and Xander.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Willow had quickly sent the warring Kat and Alex on their way she turned to Tara. “We can land you at our next stop or give you a berth here on the Slayer.”

Tara’s blue eyes met the Pirate Captains green ones. “H…here please,” she said softly.

“You worked in a tavern, can you cook?”

Tara nodded.

“Tis hard work and long hours. Try it then, you can leave if it doesn’t suit.

I’m not a slaver to bind anyone against their will.”

Tara smiled “So I c…can stay Captain?”

Willow’s voice softened “Yes lass, yes you can,” then her voice regained its commanding style. “Xander, escort our new cook to the galley and show her everything she needs.”
After Xander and Tara left she and Buffy set to work interrogating Dawn.

“What in the hells are ya doing here?” quizzed Willow, still shocked by the appearance of her best friend’s younger sister.

“Aye, I thought Willow said she would take you on the next voyage we took,” said a pissed and alarmed Buffy.

“Well, I decided I wanted to come on this voyage because I think I’m ready now,” replied Dawn, not caring if she antagonised her sister or her friend. She already knew that they were both pissed at her and she felt the same towards them. Dawn just wished that the two people to whom she felt the closest bond and loved most dearly wouldn’t treat her as if she were a small child.

“When you decided you were ready,” repeated a stunned Willow. She was so astonished at the sight of the young girl turning up on her ship that she was practically dumbstruck.

Buffy, on the other hand was so apoplectic with rage she could barely utter a word. Her face was as red as Willow’s hair.

“What the fuck are you doing here,” Buffy roared.

“I told you, I decided I was ready so I snuck on board the night before we departed.”

“You decided so you snuck aboard?” Buffy was incredulous at her younger sister. “Why in the gods would you do that?”

“You know why, I want to prove to Willow that I’m good enough to sail on the Slayer as a crewmember. This looked like the best way to do it so I did it.” The younger girl turned to the redhead who was her friend and mentor. “Willow, you said yourself how well I did in the fighting contest back on the base and I want to show you how useful I can be on board.”

“Aye, but I’m pretty sure I also said there’s more to it than just fighting. Ya have ta know how ta navigate without sun and stars…”

“You use a compass, that’s what you always taught me. Or was that a lie too, like your promise to take me with you.”

The venom in Dawn’s voice caught Willow off guard and she stood there, slightly stunned for a moment just staring at the girl before her, practically challenging her.

“I didn't lie to you Dawn,” the redhead replied angrily “But I have no idea where this quest will take us, or if any of us will return.” She said this last quietly and her green eyes showed fear for the first time on this voyage.

Buffy turned desperately to her friend. “Will, is there any possibility that we could take her back to the base?”

“No, it would mean going back through Narina waters. If any of their navy sees us they’ll try ta blow us outta the water for sure.”

Willow and Buffy both stood their glaring at Dawn who just glared right back at them, arms folded across her chest.

I’ll give her this, she’s got balls on her, specially staying in the storeroom during last nights attack, the redhead thought but the angry frown stayed on her face. No sense letting her see I have some admiration for her.Then a thought struck her and an evil smile formed on the captain’s mouth.

“So ya wanna be like me d’ya? Well ye can do it the way I did and start at the bottom. Buffy take her to Tara in the galley.”

Dawn’s face dropped, “the galley, you can’t be serious Willow, I want t’be a pirate like you, not a second rate cook!”

Willow smirked at Dawn’s outrage, “Ya wanna be a pirate, the first rule always do what ya captain tells ya. And I wouldn’t call Tara second rate if I were you or she’ll kick yer ass and put ya back in yer place".

Buffy had also started to smirk as she quickly grasped her friends plan. Make Dawn stay on board and see first hand how hard it was for the Slayer crew. “Come on Dawn, time to get on down to the galley,” her elder sister said.

“This is so unfair,” Dawn ranted, “I wanted to learn to be a pirate, not be a gorramn scullery maid.” That was it for Willow. The smile left her face which became even grimmer than before and a bleakness filled her eyes that quickly turned to rage.

“Dawn,” her voice was quiet but an underlying tremor of rage lay there just waiting to be unleashed. “Dawn, last night we lost three crewmembers. T’gon’Wa, Jessica and Philippa. They were good lasses who worked hard
and were well liked. Now, thanks to the stupidity of another crewmember, they are gone forever.” Willow paused, fighting to regain control of her voice before continuing to speak.

“Those girls will never see another sunrise or sunset, never eat another meal, never do another thing ever Dawn, do you think that’s fair? Do you believe that it’s right that they lost their lives?”

The two sisters stood facing Willow, her voice trembling with quiet rage while she tried to stay calm. Buffy was silent but she remembered the three girls who had died in the escape/battle from Narina the previous night. Dawn, for her part, was cowed by the redhead’s words and she bowed her head in fear.

Willow frowned as she thought she heard something from Dawn.

“What did ya say girl?”

“I’m sorry,” the voice was barely a whisper but somehow Willow heard her and the anger she had for her admirer instantly calmed.

The younger girl was nervous as she heard Willow’s booted feet approach her. That nervousness increased when she felt two hands on her shoulders. She dare not look into Willow’s eyes for fear of the anger she would see there. What did occur, however, she most definitely did not expect.

“Dawn, I understand why you did what you did. Hell, if I were your age again I’d prob’ly do the same,” she said softly. “But ya gotta understand, our life, a pirate’s life, is dangerous. Anyone of us could die at any time. D’ya think that’s a life I want for you? Where ya only have a limited life? When each day could be your last?

“God’s girl, you have so much life ahead of ya and I want ta see ya live that life to the fullest. Dawn, I don’t never see ya as an annoying little girl or as the sister of one of my closest friends but as a good friend in her own right, one with plenty of potential.”

Through all this, Dawn had kept her head facing the floor, tears running silently down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry Willow, I’m so sorry,” she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. The two young women stood there for a long time just holding each other, Willow comforting the younger. Finally, they separated. Dawn looked her friend and hero in the eyes. Willow gave her a small smile and a nod and Dawn gave her a little smile in return before turning and going over to Buffy who lead her out of the room and to the galley.

After the door had closed behind the sisters Willow let out a deep sigh and at last the tears of stress coursed down her face.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Tara, we’ve found an assistant for you,” announced Buffy as she entered the galley where already the blonde woman was busy sorting through the utensils and checking the food manifesto.

“Oh, th…thank you,” Tara replied a little taken aback, as she believed she would be working alone in the galley.

“This is my younger sister, Dawn, but don’t let that stop you from making her work. No special privileges, no easy jobs and no slacking off. See that she earns her keep as a scullery maid, Captain’s orders.”

Dawn glared resentfully at Tara and the blonde raised her head and met the younger girl’s resentful eyes and sighed.

This is not going to be an easy journey. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In another cabin aboard the pirate ship, hushed voices were discussing plans.

“We have a new crewmember on board.”

“I know.”

“Do you think she’ll join us?”

“Maybe, I want her watched before we approach her.”

“I’ll put Jules on it. Dawn’s on board too.”

“Is she now, well that little brat ought to keep Cap’n Red out of my hair.”

And provide some useful insurance if things go wrong.

“When are we going to oust the captain?”

“Once we reach wherever it is we’re headed. I’ve already persuaded some of the girls to our way of thinking so it should be easy to take over the ship. We’ll leave Willow and her friends on the island.”

“And then you’ll get the captains cabin, with its much larger bed, much better than this mouldy old hammock.”

“I like the way your mind works.” There was a seductive purr to the voice, however...

Who said you’d be coming with me?

TO BE CONTINUED


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:24 am 
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3. Flaming O
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Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:23 pm
Posts: 63
Location: Sunny California
Wow, very new and different. This is my first read. The sewers ugh! Her dad - double ugh! Glad Willow rescued her!

Kat, she's up to something!

Laragh? She never told us she was a pirate! lol

Really, really fun!

Keep the updates coming.

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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 12:01 pm 
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11. Fish in the Bowl

Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:35 pm
Posts: 1487
Topics: 2
Location: California
Rick,

I can sum it up in 5 words: Bravo, you've done it again! :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

Quote:
“Here we are,” Alex said and, handing the flaming torch to her friend, lifted the lid. She placed her hand firmly on top of the fruit and froze. Alex stood like that for several minutes before Laragh said,

“Y’know, ye picked a hell of a time to play statues,” more in puzzlement than annoyance. Why was her friend and bunkmate behaving like this?

“Lar, I think there’s a rat in the apples,” Alex whispered, the fear plain in her voice.

“Alex, you’re a pirate, just kill it. Stick your knife up its asshole and give it a serious case of constipation,” Laragh replied slightly nonplussed at her friends fear. After all, Alex and Laragh were two of the most fearless pirates in Willow’s entire crew.

This is 100% your dialogue and it’s freakin’ hilarious! Love it! Also Laragh’s groan when all breaks loose (again!). :pinky :party :pinky

“Ermm, we found this in the food store room,” Laragh said and she stood to one side to reveal …

Quote:
“Surprise,” Dawn said weakly to a shocked and amazed Buffy, Willow and Xander.

Nice how you raise the curtain to present Dawn.

Quote:
“When you decided you were ready,” repeated a stunned Willow. She was so astonished at the sight of the young girl turning up on her ship that she was practically dumbstruck.

Buffy, on the other hand was so apoplectic with rage she could barely utter a word. Her face was as red as Willow’s hair.

“What the fuck are you doing here,” Buffy roared.

Also very impressed by the scene between Willow, Buffy and Dawn. Effective mix of humor, drama, and tenderness.

You’ve thrown a lot of balls into the air: stowaway, Tara, Kat, and a conspiracy. I’m eager to see how you keep ‘em flying!

Great work! So write some more, already! :kgeek

Ariel


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 Post subject: Re: Red Rosenberg
PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:55 am 
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13. Big Knowledge Woman
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Hi there. Just wanted to finally add my 2 cents here. I'm absolutely loving this. So much going on -- action, adventure, evil conspirators. I also like how you show that even though they're pirates, they have good hearts and are doing what they do for good reasons. Very interesting mix, and I'm loving every bit. Please keep up the good work.


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