Many months had passed since Miss Blimey had helped Captain James Blade get his ship back and during that time he had gone on many adventures, caused much havoc and been in some nasty scrapes but always had managed to somehow talk his way out of them, until now. This time his luck may just have run out as his banter didn't seem to be turning the trick of explaining to his captors that it would be a really good idea to let him go. Maybe he shouldn't have taken that vintage bottle of wine from the captain's hand after the captain had just finished bragging about its rarity, and then opened it and drunken the whole thing himself whilst giggling his head off. Yes in hindsight that had been a tad disrespectful and not at all a good idea, especially as now the captain was going to make him walk the plank. Blade thought this was a bit of an old fashioned thing to make him do as a punishment but considering they were in fact in shark infested waters he wasn't going to argue with the gravity of the situation he now found himself in.

Thinking back to a couple of days earlier Blade was not now even sure how he came to be a guest on this ship. He dimly recalled drinking with the Captain, Romulus, in a small tavern, and telling tall stories until the early hours of the morning, but how he actually came to stay on Romulus' ship was a bit of a mystery. The days had passed in a bit of a blur also as they had sailed in circles around Blades own ship, the Nevermore, which he refused to leave on her own at port. Blade seemed to recall some heavy drinking had been done, involving vast quantities of wine and many songs but it had all gone south a short while ago when Romulus' pride had been hurt. Blade now sat in the small jail cell below decks and waited out his fate. A small voice inside his head kept telling him to contact Miss Blimey, but he hadn't seen her for a while now and if he did get in touch with her and found out she no longer cared for him, well he couldn't handle that so he just sat for a while in thought. How could he escape. The bars were sturdy, the roof solid, the window too small to get through. But the lock, ah the lock on the door was surprisingly quite flimsy, and easily came loose. Haha! Laughed Blade quietly to himself, remembering that one of the hallmarks of a good escape is to get away as silently as possible so as not to get caught again. True this would not be near as much fun as battling it out on deck, but Blade also knew that he did not have Miss Blimey's skill with the sword, though he was pretty damn good. He was also not quite as blood thirsty as Miss Blimey and liked to avoid messy situations if possible. Climbing softly up the stairs Blade forgot about the wind chimes hanging above (of course), and managed to alert the whole ship to the fact that he had gotten free by smacking his head into them violently. Damn it, he cursed and ran the rest of the way up to the main deck as gallantly as possible. Outside in the blinding sunlight Blade could see the Nevermore listing gently against the pull of the anchor, but what he saw sitting quietly in the water just behind that gave him a start. For it was the Raven, and on board Miss Blimey and Betty hates Veronica could see that Blade was clearly not aboard his own ship, which meant he was definitely in trouble, and that meant he had to be on board Romulus' ship. Miss Blimey had had problems with Captain Romulus before, and knew he wasn't what you would call a nice chap. She didn't even want to know how Blade had come to be cornered by Romulus' crew but she knew she had better get the Raven over there fast and sort this out.

Blade saw the Raven approaching and leant cockily on his sword, staring down at Romulus.

"And what are you smirking about Blade?" asked Romulus. "So you escaped from our jail? So what? You will still walk the plank, only you will do it now rather than later!"

"Somehow I don't think so," replied Blade confidently and waved to Miss Blimey as the Raven coasted along side Romulus' ship.

"What is this?!" screamed an infuriated Romulus and turned to see Miss Blimey and Betty H.V jumping aboard his ship. "So Miss Blimey, we meet again, how unfortunate," stated Romulus as Miss Blimey landed on the deck.

"Yes, unfortunate," agreed Miss Blimey.

"What do you want harlot?" Romulus asked Miss Blimey.

"Hmmmm," smiled Miss Blimey stepping forward and slapping Romulus hard across the cheek. "An apology for that remark for a start.... and then I think we'll be leaving with Blade"

Romulus wiped his cheek, and looked Miss Blimey in the eye. "You're lucky I don't strike your head off for that, but I want no trouble with you, as for Blade he has insulted me and must walk the plank."

"Oh come on, he insults everyone!" stated Betty hates Veronica but no one seemed to hear her.

"Don't you think making people walk the plank is a bit out dated?" asked Miss Blimey

"But you see I am a conventional kind of man, I like to stick to the old ways," drawled Romulus, all the time thinking he had the advantage.

"Times change old man, and where once I might have had the time and inclination to grant you mercy, those days are long gone and soon you will be to," answered Miss Blimey sternly, drawing her cutlass and holding it deftly at her side. Romulus glanced at his crew, the girls and Blade were surrounded on all sides and were indeed out numbered five to one. He smiled and nodded to his first mate who at once leapt forward and swung his sword hard at Betty hates Veronica. He never stood a chance and soon his blade fell, along with his arm, to the deck. The battle raged, with Blade and Betty H.V taking on the crew whilst Miss Blimey dispensed with their captain. After much yelling and screaming, clashing and mess it was all over and only Romulus was left standing, for he was still duelling with Miss Blimey. Betty hates Veronica and Captain Blade sat down on the decks and watched this impressive display of sword-ship but it was not long before Romulus' head rolled down the stairs and came to rest at Blades feet.

"That's two you owe me scoundrel," stated Miss Blimey wiping her cutlass on Romulus' headless body.

"I know doll, but am I ever glad to see you, I missed you," replied Blade kissing Miss Blimey on the cheek and hugging her tightly.

"Very sweet Blade, but again I ask you, isn't there another way for you to get my attention that doesn't involve massive amounts of violence? It's not very romantic," laughed Miss Blimey, happy to see her beau again.

"What now?" asked Betty H.V, silently cursing Blade's return.

"A drink!" smiled Blade. "I'm sure there's more wine here somewhere"

"Sounds like a fine plan, but I think I prefer my own ship to this bloody mess, let's get off this floating hell hole," agreed Miss Blimey and they jumped back on board the Raven.

The End