text: [Themes: historical]
  
  Several months later...
  
  Your entire world had flipped. Captain Teach stayed true to word, ransacking the Revenge and marooning the entire crew on an island while abandoning the ship in some nearby island. Even a few days after that, those who had been part of Teach's crew began to riot and were immediately tossed off the ship, not leaving many men on board your ship.
  
  However, not long after that, Captain Teach did the unexpected. He accepted the pardon of Governor Eden and was retiring his streak of piracy.
  
  You were dumbfounded. Was this the same man you met almost a year ago? It seems insane although you still respected Teach who would take you in and treat you as a close comrade.
  
  Teach found himself a home while you, Fin and the few left on your crew would go stay in inns or sleep on the Vindicta. The next several days after that, Teach attempted to live out life as a landlubber, going out to get drinks with the crew, gambling and taking trips out to Hands' and his favorite spot, Ocracoke Inlet. However, it grew too boring to him and soon he returned to piracy once more, using your ship as his vessel although he allowed you to drive the ship.
  
  It was late 1718, you and Teach were out with a few others, entertaining each other on an early morning in Ocracoke Inlet. It was quite misty and the Vindicta was anchored while you and the crew spoke.
  
  "That woman, I swear, she could have been a bear! Hairy and scary she was!"
  
  The men explode in laughter including yourself at Captain Teach who was telling stories to pass the time. Fin spat out his whiskey and quickly apologized as he attempted to restrain his laughter.
  
  "I did not think you would into animals sir." Fin replies to Captain Teach who laughs and retorts.
  
  "Not after that! I rather be sent to Hell then be with that!" Captain Teach takes a chug of whiskey from his own bottle and gives a hearty laugh.
  
  The conversation goes on for a while when suddenly one of the crew members runs into the lower decks.
  
  Fin looks at the man who has ran and questions you, "Where is he going? Forget to get his share?"
  
  Suddenly you hear the cannon and everyone on the deck snap their heads toward the direction of the shot. A small boat with Union soldiers on it, barely get hit by the cannonball which splashes nearby. They quickly retreat as you and the crew quickly stand up.
  
  Captain Teach stands, his hand on one of his flintlocks as he announces to those nearby, "Those government scum! They have come for our heads! Prepare for battle if need be!"
  
  Captain Teach runs over to the anchor cable and slashes it with his cutlass as the crew unfurls the sails and you begin to get out of the area. As you do, you spot two sloops which both unfurl their Union flags prompting you to point your starboard side at them in case of attack.
  
  "Into the channel by that beach!"
  
  You turn the ship toward the way that Teach had announced as you constantly glance at the sloops which quickly approach toward the Vindicta.
  
  After a few minutes, you enter a narrow channel, barely large enough for you to sail through but you carefully steer the rudder toward the right direction. The two sloops are extremely close to your frigate, prompting the crew behind to fire a volley straight at them. A crash of thunder rings throughout and the result in devastating as one of the sloops is completely torn up, crashing itself into the sand nearby where it goes out of commission.
  
  The other sloop is heavily damaged with a few bodies flung out of the sloop as the cannonballs make contact. However it continues to sail, despite its wretched state.
  
  It begins to inch closer and closer until they are just about touching. Suddenly Teach yells to the crew,
  
  "Get the hooks! We are boarding and taking these men down to Hell!" The entire crew shouts in response and adrenaline begins to pump through you as you quickly swing a hook onto the sloop, pulling it closer.
  
  The two ships make contact and the entire crew yells as they jump onto the sloop, ready to fight against the few men visible on the main deck. One of these men, dressed in formal Naval attire approaches Captain Teach with a blade in his hand.
  
  "Blackbeard... I have heard much about your infamous ways. You have made quite the name for yourself however it ends today! I am Lieutenant Maynard and I plan to be the one to take down you demons!"
  
  Captain Teach gives a laugh and draws his cutlass, "Let me inform you that I plan to give no quarters to you nor will you give any to me!"
  
  Maynard smirks then retorts, "I was not expecting quarters nor was I planning to give you any!"
  
  With that, all the latches on the ship open to reveal that the rest of Maynard's crew had hidden beneath the main deck, only to reveal them for a surprise attack. All of you are shocked as they shout and begin to shoot, one of the bullets grazing one of the pirates who flinched then charges.
  
  "Give them no mercy!" Captain Teach runs toward Maynard draws his flintlock and fires but misses. Teach does the same and to the same effects, prompting both of them to throw aside their pistols and draw their blades. They clash while you draw your own pistol and fire upon one of the soldiers.
  
  The bullet enters the soldier's body who groans as you take your blade and slash his neck, pumping out a spray of blood as he falls to his death. You stood for just a second, you mind wrapping around the fact that this was the first man you killed.
  
  It was an odd feeling, one of remorse yet hate. However you forget it and charge another man. You begin to clash while the entire pirate crew fights against the soldiers. There is rampage of shouts and screams as well as the sounds of gunshots as they whiz by or knock out unlucky souls. The fighting is fierce and you begin to sweat as the sharp ringing of your sword against the enemy plays every time you parry.
  
  As the battle drags on, the pirate crew and yourself begin to slowly move toward the bow where you catch Captain Teach in the corner of your eye as you kick the enemy soldier you had been fighting. The soldier tries to get back up however he is shot and a puddle of blood begins to soak his coat.
  
  As this happens, you notice that Captain Teach is mortally wounded. Most of his clothes are ripped and torn apart, he has a few bullet holes in his body and at least a dozen bloody slashes across his chest and back. However Teach continued to fight Maynard who is getting visibly tired.
  
  "What are you?! Why will you not fall already?!" Maynard screams as Teach swings against his blade.
  
  "I am Edward Teach! And you are going to Hell first!" Teach then shatters Maynard's sword who looks in disbelief as shards of metal go flying. Maynard then pulls out another pistol however Edward charges, his sword aiming for Maynard's neck.
  
  It was in that instant, you catch another soldier run toward Teach with a sword drawn. You stand right next to the soldier and right now you could jump to save Teach. However your life might be over...
  
  > save yourself
  You hesitated, unable to throw your life on the line when suddenly you see Captain Teach get slashed in the neck. Teach yells then is chopped once more in the neck before he falls to the deck, his eyes filled with fury.
  
  Suddenly the fighting had stopped, the pirates looked in fear at the dead pirate captain who Maynard now stood on top of.
  
  "Was this the infamous and terrifying Blackbeard I heard so much about!? Pathetic, I thought he would put up more of a fight!" Maynard then held up his body by the collar with one hand, using the other hand to grab another blade and use it to slash and behead Captain Teach.
  
  His head dropped onto the deck, blood oozing and staining the black heard of Captain Teach as Maynard held his head up for all of see.
  
  "All of you will not be getting the same luxury as your captain. However surrender or you die here with him too."
  
  The pirates dropped their weapons as you do too, your mind filled with anger and torment. Maynard then kicks Captain Teach's body which goes overboard into the waters below. Your eyes widen and you grit your teeth at being unable to do anything.
  
  "Your lives as pirates are over. I hope you are ready for Hell."
  
  Blackbeard is written into history as the cover image of every pirate that had ever lived. However your name was barely mentioned as you were just another name that died to the executions in North Carolina.
  
  Most of the pirates were publicly executed in the gallows including you. As you stepped up to the rope, you only had regret in your mind. With one last glance, you look over to Fin who stands with complete dismay in his face, next to be executed. Your neck is then tied up then body dropped as your neck snaps and your life is lost.
  
  There was the end of Blackbeard and his crew. Even if you did not make a mark in history, you would always be a pirate who worked under one of the infamous pirates of all time.