Chapter Text
You should pick a side, maybe you could die
Go down with some all star heathens
Everybody killing, ain't nobody really willing
To think of all the chaos and the blood spilling
-Fever 333, “Hellfire”
Armando Salazar’s mission was simple: purge the seas of pirates. Only then will the sea be pure. For too long, pirates have been terrorizing hard-working and honest sailors. In Salazar’s perspective, pirates weren’t human. They were wild animals. Pirates did not only loot ships; they destroyed them and butchered the innocent sailors who were on board.
Starting at a young age, Salazar had felt a pull towards the sea. Since pirates killed his grandfather and brought the downfall of his father, Salazar knew his mission in life. Salazar would stop at nothing to cleanse the seas of pirates and their filth. He would succeed where his father failed. Salazar would rise above his father and bring his family’s name back from ruin.
True to his word, Salazar rose through the ranks. He eventually earned the title of capitán of La Maria Silenciosa, the formidable Spanish galleon. Under Salazar’s leadership, his crew destroyed dozens of pirate ships. Nothing could stop La Maria Silenciosa. Pirates learned to sail far away from Salazar’s reach. They eventually gave him a nickname: El Matador del Mar, The Butcher of the Sea. Salazar thought it was a fitting name. He was the butcher, pruning the sea of filth and scum.
Presently, Salazar watched as La Maria Silenciosa broadsided the last of the pirate ships. The pirates had banded together to try to defeat Salazar, but they soon realized it was hopeless. Their small ships were outgunned and outmaneuvered by the mighty Spanish galleon. Salazar stood on the quarterdeck, watching the ships explode into fiery infernos. By his side, Guillermo Lesaro, first teniente and steadfast companion, carried out Salazar’s orders.
“Hit them below the waterline!" Salazar shouted over the cannons, "Vais, vais!”
One by one, the ships sank to the inky depths of the ocean. And when the last ship finally sank, Salazar felt a sense of relief. His lifelong mission was finally complete. The pirate’s wretched flag would no longer stain the seas. Salazar felt a swell of pride for his crew and accomplishment. Now, all Salazar had to deal with were the survivors.
Lesaro and Madga were on the main deck, watching as the pirates clung to the wreckage of their ships. Salazar squared his shoulders, ready to end piracy once and for all.
Lesaro acknowledged Salazar. “They are begging for mercy.”
Salazar cocked his head, “Mercy? There is no mercy.” Taking a bite of his apple, Salazar walked off, humming a tune. He was so close to eradicating the pirate plague.
Lesaro nodded and turned to face his men, who were ready with rifles. “Ready, aim, fuego!”
Magda and Lesaro watched as the order was carried out. The pirates screamed and disappeared into the inky waters as the bullets hit them. Salazar ignored their cries and final pleas for mercy. Pirates were animals, and they would die as such. Squaring his shoulders, Salazar returned to the wheel to address his crew. Their mission was finally complete.
“Hombres,” began Salazar, “our mission is complete!”
A cheer erupted from the deck. Crewmembers hugged and shouted compliments at their leadership. Lesaro gave his friend a pat on the back. Salazar allowed himself to feel a moment of pride. He nodded and gave his crew a rare smile. But the moment of victory was shattered by a voice, calling to Salazar across the sea.
“Oy capitán!” The voice called, "Capitán, over here!”
Confused and annoyed, Salazar took the proffered telescope from Lesaro. Salazar focused in on one pirate ship that did not sink. The pirates were attempting to escape through the smoke! Salazar felt a surge of rage as he viewed the pirates. He followed their gazes to the crow's nest, and Salzar was confronted by a…pirate boy. The boy couldn’t have been older than 25. His skin was relatively untouched by the sun’s harsh rays. Unlike the other pirates below him, the boy was well groomed. His hair was in neat dreadlocks, which were tied back by a clean bandana.
Undeterred, the pirate boy continued. "The way I see it, it’s just the two of us left. Surrender to me now and I’ll let you live. Simple, I’ll let you live!”
Jumping down from the crow’s nest with a laugh, the boy hoisted the battered pirate’s flag. Salazar snapped the telescope shut in irritation. Around him, Salazar’s crew was laughing. Lesaro was wheezing and banging his fist against the railing in amusement. This pirate boy could not be serious. He was so young! Salazar had years of experience over the boy. Does this boy really think he could outrun El Matador del Mar?
The pirate ship, which Salazar noticed was called The Wicked Wench, started to sail away towards a cave. Jagged rocks were littered around the entrance. A cave would not protect the pirate ship from the might of La Maria Silenciosa. Without being told, Salazar’s crew sprang into action. One of the officers dutifully took the wheel.
“Follow him in!” Ordered Salazar. He grasped the railing so tightly that his knuckles turned white. This boy was mocking his powers. Salazar would show the boy why he earned the moniker El Matador del Mar. He would leave no survivors. And once the boy’s ship and crew were dead, Salazar could finally rest.
La Maria Silenciosa was closing in on The Wicked Wench. Salazar felt the thrill of the chase. He was so close to achieving his goal. Knowing Salazar would run his knife along the pirate boy’s neck, and when he was dead, Salazar would finish finally with pirate's life.
Suddenly, the pirate ship veered to the left, out of La Maria’s reach.
Caught by surprise, Salazar sprang into action and took the wheel. “Bootleg turn!”
It was too late to turn La Maria around; they were going into the cave. Chaos exploded on the deck as everyone ran to their stations to protect the ship from damage. Lesaro stood gaping at the pirate boy, surprised. Salazar turned to cast one last look at the boy who tricked him. The boy walked off without a care in the world, swinging his compass. Salazar felt a tidal wave of rage course through him.
The sunlight vanished completely as La Maria entered the cave. Salazar refocused his attention on guiding La Maria to safety. The ship rumbled over rocks as it entered shallow waters. Beside Salazar, Lesaro and Madga fell. Salazar gripped the wheel and focused on saving his ship and crew. There was a loud clanging sound before the front of the ship exploded. The ship shook with the impact. Sailors raced towards the fire with buckets of water, trying to contain the inferno, but it was hopeless. The barrels of gunpowder below deck were exploding. Soon, the entire ship was on fire. The mainmast crashed onto the deck and fell into the water.
There was no hope in saving La Maria. Salazar took one last look around before abandoning his post. Salazar was about to jump overboard when the mizzenmast hit him from behind. There was an explosion of pain in the side of Salazar’s head as he tumbled overboard. He felt his leg shatter on the impact. Taking a deep breath, Salazar plunged into the icy waters. The last thing Salazar remembered seeing was his beloved ship on fire.
Then, there was nothing but darkness. Salazar didn’t fear dying. Closing his eyes, Salazar accepted his fate. Fate, however, had different plans. Salazar felt waves of pain course through his body. His eyes shot open, and he gasped in pain, swallowing seawater. Choking, Salazar struggled to reach the surface. By some miracle, or curse, he was alive. Yet, something felt different. Salazar wheezed and managed to swim back to the ship, despite his broken leg. Using the last of his strength, Salazar climbed aboard.
The ship was no longer on fire. Salazar was greeted by a blackened and broken Maria. He felt a pang of regret seeing his ship in such a state. Looking around, Salazar could not find any familiar faces. The deck was abandoned. Salazar was used to the constant noise and bustle of the crew. Now, it was eerily silent, save for the howling wind.
“Capitan?” A voice rasped from the darkness of the captain's cabin.
“Si?” wheezed Salazar. Breathing was difficult. Salazar could feel the seawater in his lungs. That was when Salazar realized something was wrong. He should be coughing up the seawater, yet he found that he could not muster the energy. Even walking was difficult. Every step was agony on Salazar’s broken leg. Yet, somehow, he was still breathing and alive.
Salazar passed by a broken window and froze when he saw his reflection. Like the ship, Salazar’s skin was grey and blackened. And wait, was part of the side of his head missing? Noticing his posture, Salazar tried to stand up straight but found he could not. Waves of pain radiated up and down Salazar’s back. Tilting his head, Salazar realized his hair was floating, almost like he was still underwater. That can’t be possible, as hair cannot float.
Lesaro emerged from the darkness of the captain's cabin. His skin was also grey, but his appearance was off. Black cracks spread across skin and face. Parts of his face and clothes were missing, making Lesaro appear like an unfinished mosaic. Salazar looked down at his hands and noticed that they fared no better.
“Qué es esto?” Salazar whispered in horror. There was a soft whispering that broke over the ship as sailors began to appear and notice the state they were in. There were shouts of fear and terror. Some jumped overboard but were shocked when they landed on top of the water.
That’s when it hit Salazar; they were alive by the mercy of the devil. Salazar and his men were cursed to live as broken forms, doomed to this godforsaken cave, all thanks to that pirate boy. Salazar felt a surge of rage, stronger than ever, as he cursed piracy. The day Salazar could leave this cave, he vowed to have his revenge on that pirate boy…