@xiaolindude
Once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens. Where it landed, a magical golden gemstone, warm to the touch, formed. It was discovered by a woman and dubbed the Sun's Tear.
Now, the magic of this stone was profound. It granted the gifts of healing, longevity, and near-invulnerability. But not everyone can use the stone. Only the woman who found it, and other women of her bloodline, have the capability. Because of this, those women became custodians of the gem and its power, passing it down from generation to generation. It is a great gift, but also a great responsibility. Those who would seek the power of the stone must first locate she who holds it and ask a boon, or else find a way to take the power for themself.
Unfortunately for the current holder, she is being hunted. Fortunately for her, she is difficult to locate...
The wind whipped through Rapunzel's hair as The Chameleon cut cleanly through the waves of the Atlantic. Today was a very important day; it was the three-year anniversary of the day she had become a pirate, having run away from home after her father accepted a proposal from an admiral she despised on her behalf. It was also her 23rd birthday.
Her crew, a cutthroat band of ruffians and thugs, were all smiles as they made their way south toward the equatorial band. Warm seas and fair winds called, as did the merchant ships that sailed from Europe.
Though she had been born noble, Rapunzel had taken to a life at sea with little problem. It offered a freedom that her home did not, as well as adventure and travel -- all things denied her as the daughter of a marquis -- plus, it made her a moving target in an impossibly large sea. For Rapunzel was also the custodian of the Sun's Tear, having been gifted the gem by her mother on her 18th birthday. For five years, she had cared for, used, and kept secret the gem, wearing a non-magical replica around her neck as a red herring. And for the past three years, she had been hunted mercilessly by the man who she had been promised to. Whether it was out of pride, vanity, or revenge, she did not know, but The Chameleon was a fast ship, one of the fastest in the ocean, and had an uncanny ability to blend in with its surroundings. She didn't know how or why it managed it, but there had been so many close calls where her pursuers had sailed past without seeing them.
But for now, she wasn't hiding.
"Hook Hand!" she called out, and was promptly answered by her first mate, a burly man with a bald head and a thin mustache that drooped around the sides of his mouth.
"Aye, Captain?"
"Let me know the moment the Bella Seraphina is spotted."
"Aye, Captain! Her cargo will make an excellent birthday present for you. Happy birthday, by the way!"
She couldn't help her warm smile. "Thank you!" she answered with sweet sincerity. "But I'm more interested in our anniversary celebration tonight! Happy anniversary, Hook Hand!"
"Happy anniversary, Captain!"
