Chapter Edited by: Cimar-WildeHopps

Her eyes opened slowly. A sudden pain filled the left side of her head. Instinctively, her paw went to the place aching and she felt something viscous. Placing her paw open in front of her, she saw blood. What had happened? She wondered, until her blue eyes paid attention to the environment around her. Grids. Big steel iron bars…they'd caged her.

"I see you're awake, princess!" The voice was husky and deep.

Alyanna's attention landed on the mammal in front of her through the steel bars. His clothing denounced what that jackal was.

"Where am I?" the words came out in anger.

"Welcome to the Black Sapphire, my princess." He took a clumsy bow. He made no mention of having good manners in front of royalty.

"Black Sapphire?" Alyanna repeated the words. Words that were not unknown to her, but that she could not remember where she had heard them before.

"I see your father kept you quite safe inside the adorned walls of the castle."

"Don't be reckless, pirate. I may be a princess, but I've been well taught." The princess's eyebrows came together, demonstrating the displeasure of that jackal's behavior.

"Well..." the jackal laughed. "I'm sorry your stay isn't perfect, but the captain made no mention of accommodating you elegantly, if you know what I mean."

It was then that Alyanna remembered where she had heard the name, Black Sapphire. It was the name of the most wanted ship in the kingdom. Commanded by the worst pirate of all time. Captain John.

"Why?" she asked atonically. She knew many pirates wanted her, especially to marry her and take the throne. But, John? Father had said that at other times, they were both business friends. Even though he knew John was a pirate, Mark had never had a reason to have him as an enemy. What is the plan?

"Questions for later, princess. John will speak to your highness when the time comes." The jackal spat on the floor before he turned his back on the vixen and grabbed something from a crude table.

In his paws appeared a wooden bowl and a spoon. Crouching down, the jackal put the bowl on the ground and stared at the vixen who looked at him strangely.

"It's not for me to let a female die." He shrugged his shoulders. Then he got up. "You need to eat, princess. John doesn't want you dead."

Alyanna collected the bowl through a small hatch that opened and closed shortly after. The mixture was weird, but it smelled delicious. Besides, her stomach complained when the delicious smell entered her nostrils. How many hours has it been since she had eaten?

"Don't worry. I didn't put poison in the food. It may be that color, but I guarantee it's good." The jackal winked at her and turned his back on her. Alyanna turned her attention to the bowl and took a ravenous bite.

Everything was out of control. The female he loved the most had escaped his skillful paws. His heart was broken. That vixen was important to him, more than just the crown and the kingdom. With a long sigh, he closed his eyes and savored the sea. He could not deny it. Being on the ocean, was his freedom. Endless journeys, enjoying the pleasant scent of saltwater, the wind over his fur; all that was what his adventurous spirit loved. Nick might not have a good reputation, but he didn't regret choosing to be a pirate.

"Captain!"

Miriam's soft voice woke him up. Turning his head to his left, he saw the rabbit approaching him.

"Yes?"

"You can come in now if you want. Clawhauser has finished putting on new bandages."

"Thank you." Leaving his paws on the wooden parapet of the ship, his back found the comfort of the wood. A smile of relief reappeared on his lips.

"How is she?"

"Good. Fever is down, fortunately."

"Great!" said Nick, walking away and, passing Miriam, started the path towards his room.

However, his walk was interrupted. A paw was put on his arm, making Nick stop and turn to the rabbit.

"There's something I need to tell you, Captain." In her face, a greatly concerned expression was perceptible. "Before you go to your room, will you sit with me?"

"What's up, Miriam?"

"I ask that we speak out of other mammal's ears. Please!" she begged.

Nick felt the pressure of her grip on his arm. Miriam had started squeezing his arm, indicating that the conversation really couldn't be done another day.

"Alright. Follow me."

Letting go, Nick took a step back to his office. Miriam followed him closely.

Inside the office, Nick pointed Miriam to sit in the chair in front of the big desk. The rabbit did so, and the fox also settled comfortably in front of the rabbit.

"What's the matter, Miriam?"

"You know it's me who's been taking the food to Judy. Well, at least most of the time." Miriam laughed timidly, as it was often the captain who would pick up the food for his friend. "What I mean is... well... the first time was nothing but undecipherable murmurs. When I'd just walked into the room and put the tray down on the table next to her, I heard Judy mumbling something while she was sleeping."

"That's always been a habit she's had since she was a little girl," Nick answered dryly, remembering that when they were little, they used to sleep together, and Judy always mumbled in her sleep.

Miriam kept quiet for a moment and thought very carefully before saying the following words: "And was she crying by any chance?"

Okay, that was news. Normally, Judy would mumble and smile. Cry? Never!

"From the look on your face, I can tell she doesn't do that." Miriam took the conversation shortly after, giving the fox no time to answer. "On the first day, only murmurs. On the second, a few screams. At those moments, the poor rabbit seemed to panic. During those sudden attacks, I had to call Clawhauser to help me reassure her." She sighed in a sad sigh. In her mind, the memory of one of Judy's attacks. She screamed. She was calling out to someone. Someone dear to her. On her cheek, tears kept coming down. In those moments, Miriam was petrified. She wanted to help her, but she didn't know how. "She called her brother constantly. Telling him not to go. Not to take your word for it." Nick sighed. It was understandable. "However, Captain, there is something else." Miriam bit her lower lip. Those words were still wandering in her mind as if they had been spoken seconds before.

"Miriam, I see what you're getting at." Nick crossed his arms. "Judy has suffered greatly these past few years. Part of the story you know. Besides, I'm her enemy, not John."

"That's where you're wrong, Captain. You're not her enemy. You both have an enemy in common. Captain John."

Nick's eyebrow frowned in confusion.

"What are you implying? In that rabbit's mind, the brilliant plans to kill me fill all her thoughts."

Miriam sighed deeply. Closing her eyes, in her mind came to the image of the day before when she had left the tray with food at the captain's request. After placing it on the table, Miriam looked at the rabbit and smiled. Her breathing was still, and her sick expression had disappeared. All that remained was for her to open her eyes so that Miriam could talk to her and become friends. After all, it was not every day that she met someone else of her kind. Satisfied, Miriam turned her back on Judy and began to walk the path back, when:

"Nick...please..."

Miriam stopped and turned her attention to the rabbit. Tears flowed down her cheeks. Thinking Judy had woken up, Miriam went back to her bed. When she got there, however, she noticed that she didn't. Once again, she was talking in her sleep.

"Nick, don't leave me. Please, don't go..."

Curious, Miriam decided to ask, "Where don't you want him to go, Judy?"

"Alyanna...Nick, don't leave me. You're the only important mammal I have. Please don't leave me."

That's when Miriam realized. Judy didn't hate Nick. Despite the stories the captain told, how much they were always arguing and fighting, she didn't hate him as he thought. Other than that, Judy loved him and loved him very deeply.

Returning to the present, Miriam opened her eyes and stared with emerald green eyes that asked her to continue.

"Captain, I'm sorry to have wasted your time. That's all I had to say."

"Miriam, I know there's something else. You're not just any mammal to call me aside when there's something important to be said."

And it was true. Damn! I should have kept quiet in the first place.

Trying to get away from it, but not running away completely, she said, "Captain, when Judy wakes up, I'm sure she'll react badly. No doubt about it. However, let me warn you. While you're obsessed with the search for your beloved, you really lose track of things around you." Getting up from the chair, she went to the office door, where she opened it.

Nick kept quiet, and incredibly confused by the words of his friend and her intention to have asked to speak to him alone. Before she left, she made it very clear to him to think a little. "Maybe it's not the princess you should really 'give'. Maybe it's not Alyanna your real passion. Your true sin and your true happiness. At your command, you have us all. Faced with your friendship, you have friends willing to do anything. But in the face of true love, you don't know the difference between "obsessed love" and deep love. Please, Captain, Judy has suffered enough. Open your eyes, listen to everything around you. Study the actions. Judy doesn't hate you. She may be hurt by the fact that she got the idea that you took her brother to his certain death. Simple words, an excuse, and an explanation will be enough for her to put that past behind her."

"Miriam, you're making me a little upset with that conversation of yours. Could you be more explicit, please? What are you getting at? Why the hell has this subject come up for nothing?" Nick was losing patience.

"Captain, Judy doesn't hate you. On the contrary, she loves you!" the words came out in a whisper, almost inaudible, and Miriam closed the door behind her.

In the face of such words that were not inaudible to Nick, the shock was perceptible in his expression.

Does Judy love him? She can't. No... No... he had misheard. He sure did. He hadn't slept properly for a few nights. That's it, his mind was playing tricks on him. It was impossible for Judy to love him. Doesn't she hate him? He knew that very well. Every time he tried to talk to her, he had the tip of the rabbit's sword stuck to his neck. That's not love...

To be Continued…

N/A - Hi, I know I didn't have any updates on this story, but I haven't forgotten about her. The ideas were gone, and I couldn't write anything down. But, ehehehe, today was the day. Done!

I had no intention of making Miriam say the magic words, but then I pondered. And why not leave a fox confused? Obviously, when confronted with such words, Judy will deny it. But I wanted to leave a fox more aware of a certain rabbit's intentions as soon as she wakes up, without ever losing the focus of the story: The Search for the Princess.

Anyway, I hope you like it.

See you soon. Kisses. ^^