Hello! This is just a story I wrote because I wanted to. It takes place in the movie 'The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything', and my character, Joan, is in it. This is nothing like your regular Veggie Tales story, cause it's rather violent in some parts. For Veggie Tales, that is.

Sadly, I do not own anything in here except for Joan. (Oh how I wish I did though…)

Hero

Heroes can come from anywhere, even from the most unlikely of places.

Smoke. That was all I could see. I could hear screams. Screams of pure agony. I was coughing. I couldn't breathe. I felt a pair of strong arms around me, and I felt the sensation of running very fast. Then...I could breathe. But I could still hear it. I could still hear those terrified screams of torture. Everything became blurry, and I felt myself falling into darkness.

I woke up with a small scream. I was breathing heavily, and I noticed that I was all sweaty. 'Dammit! I shouldn't have fallen asleep!' I thought as I got up. The boat was softly rocking, swaying with the wind and water. I went up to the deck of my little dingy, 'The Jade Wolf', same as my name. But I preferred to be called Joan. Or Jo. I stood at the bow, watching the sky. It was almost dawn. The sun was slowly coming over the horizon. The salty sea air whipped across my face, fully waking me up. I yawned and stretched. I looked over to my right. There, sticking out of the water was what looked like a giant stone island. I quickly changed course and headed for it. 'Robert's going to kill me if I'm late again!' Which he probably would, knowing Robert. The sun was now casting a golden orange glow across the water, making it a breath taking sight. I paused, letting the moment sink in. That was just about the only good thing about being raised in the middle of the ocean. You never miss the amazing sunsets or sunrises. I reached the pass that was called the Clapping Pass just as it opened. I sailed through, not worrying about where I was actually headed. I saw the lookouts in one of the towers in the ancient looking castle that lay before me. He saw me, and ran. I sighed, knowing what was going to happen. 'Great. Now he's gonna catch me!' I docked my boat in the cave, and got out, grabbing my sword as I went. I passed a group of smoking pirates.

"So, you actually came back? We thought you left us!" one cried, obviously drunker than any one person alive should be. I sighed.

"Ooh! Jo's in big trouble!" they all cried.

"Shut-up." I said as I passed, knocking over a bucket of water set on a ledge in the cave. It fell on their heads. I smirked as I passed. I turned back to them. "Don't mess with me." I said, putting emphasis on each word. Then, I continued walking up the winding staircase that would lead me to Robert's chamber. Another group of pirates passed, and I walked even quicker, knowing very well that one of my least favorites was among them. I saw him, but he didn't seem to see me. When they were long gone, I sighed in relief. 'Now all I have to do is get past Robert, and I'm home free.' But as I approached his door way, I heard someone else on the other side. The door opened and I saw two burly pirates, Jack and Seth, go past. It looked like there was a boy in between them. I caught a brief glimpse, but then my attention was diverted away when a mug was thrown against the opposite wall. I jumped. 'I am so dead.' I sauntered into the room and saw Robert, with an empty tankard in his hands, swinging it around, seriously drunk. But he was able to focus enough when he saw me.

"So," he said quietly, as he put his drink on the table. "You finally decided to come back, did you?"

"Listen, I was only gone for a few days!" I said, backing up a bit when he came forward.

"You were gone for three weeks!" he said as he banged his fist on the table.

'Wasn't as drunk as I thought.' "Look, I tried to come back, but there was this storm that kept me from coming! Really!" I lied smoothly.

"Fine. But either way, you're still late." he said.

"And I never will be again!" I said as I tried to open the now closed door. Robert came up behind me and put his hand on it.

"You're going to do something for me as a punishment."

I sighed. "What is it?"

"I'm leaving tonight. You're staying here."

I whirled around to face him, my long braid almost whipping me in the face. "WHAT?" I cried. "STAY HERE? ARE YOU INSANE?"

"JOAN!" Robert yelled. "Watch your mouth! Yes, you're staying here! And that is final!"

I opened the door and slammed it with such force I was sure that I broke a hinge. I ran to my room in one of the towers, and slammed that door also. Robert may have been one of the most blood-thirsty pirates of his time, but that didn't stop him from treating his favorite with special things. That would be me. Easily. I was his favorite. I fell on the bed and daydreamed. I dreamed of the one thing I didn't have here. Freedom. Oh, how I longed to be free from Robert, to go my own way and live the life I wanted to live. I wanted so badly to get away from here, and be my own person! Then, I heard a ruckus coming from down there. I sat up, and recognized Robert yelling. I opened the door and went down. I met Robert. He was livid.

"I'm almost afraid to ask." I said.

"It's only the new captive we got two days ago." he growled. "He just won't give in! I know that he knows! But I-" he suddenly looked at me. "What are you doing?"

"Leaving?" I said as I was walking away.

"Joan, while I'm gone, I want you to keep an eye on that brat and make sure that he doesn't get away!" Robert called after me.

"Whatever." I answered.

From my window, I watched Robert leave in his ship, the 'Stub'. I sighed as they went through the pass, wishing that I could go. When I went, I was away from here. I left the window, and paced the room. 'Maybe I should go check on that captive Robert mentioned earlier.' I walked out of my room, and grabbed my sword on the way out. I walked down to the dungeon level. I went through the doorway and saw him. In one of the cells was a young boy with blonde hair. He looked like he was sleeping. I crept closer, but then slipped on a wet stone and fell on my back.

"Ow!" I cried, forgetting that there was a sleeping boy in the room. But I soon remembered. I saw him sit straight up and look around wildly. I didn't have any time to hide, so when he saw me, I grinned sheepishly. I stood up as he did. I noticed that he had ocean blue eyes.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Sh! Do you want-"

"Robert's not here." I said, putting my hands on my hips.

"Oh. Well then. My name is Alexander. Prince Alexander of Monterea. And you are?"

"Jo." I said simply.

"Jo?" he said with an eyebrow raised. "Is there more to it?"

"Of course there is! It's Joan!"

He blinked in surprise. "You're a girl?"

"Of course." I said, flipping my braid. "What did you think I was?"

"Um...well..."

"Never mind, don't answer that."

He smiled. "You know, you're different than the rest of them."

"That's because I'm still a human being. And I've never drank in my life." I added. We talked for a bit, and I had the horrible feeling that I was slowly gaining his trust. I did that once before with another prisoner when I was six. Robert found out, and the next thing I know, the person's dead. Then, I get a sudden idea.

"Hey, you know, if you want I can get you out of here." I whispered. His eyes widened.

"What? You'd do that for me?"

"Of course I would! I can get you away from here."

"No."

My mouth fell open. "What?"

"I said no."

'He's mental!' "Why?"

"Because if I escape, then Robert will trace me back to my sister. And I don't want her getting involved in all this."

I couldn't say anything. I was completely shocked. 'Oh. My. God. He's so...brave.' Then, I heard something. I knew what it was at once. 'Robert.' I turned to Alexander.

"Robert's back and I'm really not supposed to be talking to you. Bye!" I ran out, getting to my room as soon as he came up. I breathed a sigh in relief. 'I made it! But what am I going to do about the Prince? He doesn't want to escape because he's afraid that Robert will trace him to his sister. I don't think that I've ever met anyone as selfless or brave.' I then made a decision. I was going to make sure that nothing happened to him. No matter what.

The next few days, Robert was gone even more than usual, and I still wasn't allowed to go. I also tried to prevent myself from making a stronger bond with Alexander. I was terrified that something would happen to him because of me. Then, about three days later, Robert called me down. I went to his chamber.

"What do you want Robert?" I asked irritably.

"Crabby aren't we?" he said teasingly. "I want you to be here when I question our captive again." he said as he turned his back to me.

I felt myself get paler. "Why do you want me here?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.

"I want you to take my place one day, and this is an opportunity to show you how it works."

I rolled my eyes. 'Here he goes again.' Then, there was a noise outside the door. I quickly retreated into the shadows as Robert opened the door and pulled the boy in. He didn't see me, and I was glad.

"What do you want Robert?" he growled.

"Isn't it obvious? I want the throne, the crown! For years I watched my 'noble' brother use the wealth of Monterea for every family's benefit except our own!" he said as he slammed his fist down on the table, making Alexander jump. "Feed the poor, help the sick! The widows, the orphans, blah blah blah." he said.

"When I have the crown, I can once again enjoy the benefits of royalty."

"You're not strong enough to take the crown from my father's head!" Alexander cried.

"Well, perhaps not." Robert replied. "But with you and your sister out of the way, I'll be next in line for the throne. And if your father should have an unfortunate 'accident'." he smiled evilly.

Alexander paled. "What do you mean?"

"Ambition is the mother of all invention." he said as he pulled a cloth off of a strange looking object on the table. I knew what it was at once.

'A bomb.'

"A little something I worked up in my 'exile'. Amazing what black powder can do floating just beneath the surface." He walked over to the window. "A little demonstration."

I didn't need to see what was going to happen. I already knew. Then, I heard a BOOM!

"I can't just leave them waiting in the harbor, or I'll blow up my own ships. So I need to know something. When is the king returning?"

"He didn't say! But even if he had, I'd give my own life before I tell you!" Alexander cried.

I gasped. Maybe he was a little too brave.

"Ah, but would you give your sister's?" As soon as he said that, the door opened again and a little girl was thrown in.

"Alexander!" she cried. He ran to her.

Then, Robert remembered that I was in the room. "Ah! I almost forgot you were here Joan! Why don't you come over here and give it a try?"

I took one look at Alexander, who was giving me about the dirtiest look you could imagine, and then looked at Robert. I blew a raspberry in his direction.

"How many times have I told you to watch your mouth!" Robert yelled.

"Hm." I pretended to think. "For as long as I can remember. That would be roughly 12 years right?"

"You little smart mouth!"

"Would you just shut-up!" I yelled. Robert came at me, and I drew my sword. Robert paused, and I saw the look of astonishment on Alexander's face. Robert growled in frustration and turned to the Prince and Princess. They paled, and I knew what was going to happen. I rushed forward with my sword drawn and stopped Robert's blow with my sword. Time seemed to slow when my blue eyes met Robert's gray-brown. I put myself fully in front of Alexander and his sister. I gave a vicious swing at Robert's sword and knocked it out of his hands and into the wall. As he tried to release it, I turned to the two behind me. They just stood there.

"WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU?" I yelled. "MOVE!" Then, we ran and I led them to my dingy. On the dock, there were people that the girl said were her heroes. Alexander told her to go with them. So, we were alone.

"Into my boat!" I cried. We jumped in and as soon as I cut it loose, Robert came out. Before he could see me, I cut another boat loose, and pushed Alexander down.

"JOAN! WHERE ARE YOU!" Robert yelled. "I'LL FIND YOU! I'LL FIND THAT STUPID WENCH!"

'You couldn't find me if I was right under your nose!' We soon drifted out of the pass as it closed, and I sent up a prayer thanking God that we had made it. A few minutes later, we sat up.

"Why did you do that?"

"Hm?" I turned to Alexander. "What?"

"You attacked him. Why?"

"Well, I didn't want him to hurt you, so I took matters into my own hands. Is there a problem?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

"No! Oh no! I just...wondered why."

"Well, you have your answer now." I looked at him. "What?"

"Nothing. Do you know where we're going?"

I looked to my right. "I do. There's your sister on that island over there, so we should go there." I grabbed the wheel and changed course again. We reached the island in a few minutes. But just as we were about to reach it, we heard an explosion. Alexander and I whirled around and saw him. Robert. Even from there I could see his smirk. I growled.

"What are we going to do?" Alexander cried.

"Land."

"What?" he yelled, looking at me. "Are you crazy?"

"I said land!" I countered. I faced Robert's direction. "It's time that I finally settle the score between us."

Alexander's mouth dropped open. "WHAT?"

"Would you shut-up and land already?" I yelled at him. We landed the dingy. Elouise ran to her brother.

"Alexander! Look!" she cried, pointing to a ship that was closer than Robert's. "It's Father!"

A few minutes later the king came and ran to his children. He embraced them, and I drifted into the shadows, not wanting to feel the pain that I knew would come when I saw them with their father, and me about to commit suicide. I heard him say a few things to them, and then Robert came ashore. He spoke to the king, and then to my surprise he challenged him. But before the king could draw his sword, Alexander stood in front of his father, taking the challenge himself. My mouth dropped open. 'Oh yeah, he's way to brave for his own good.' Alexander drew his father's sword, and got into a battle stance. Then, Robert dealt the first blow. Alexander was really very good, and was winning, but then Robert decided to play dirty. He hit him in the face, and Alexander fell to the ground. He dropped his sword. I heard him.

"You lose nephew." he said. Alexander only grimaced, blood running from his nose. Robert was about to take the final blow, when I gripped my sword.

"Robert!" I yelled, drawing everyone's attention towards me. He smirked.

"Ah. I wondered where you hid. So, are you ready to accept your destiny and take over for me when I'm gone?"

'I wish he hadn't said that!' Everyone, including the king, looked at me with their mouths opened.

"Why should I?" I asked.

"Well, you are my daughter, so I think that it's only appropriate. Don't you?"

Many things happened to me in that short span of time. I paled until you couldn't tell me from snow, and then blushed until I was the color of blood, my fists shaking with anger.

"I'm not your daughter!" I nearly screamed at him.

"You can't deny it. You've been with me for how long? Twelve years?"

"I'm thirteen." I said. "You kidnapped me from my family! Admit it!"

"That house was already on fire! I did you a favor! I saved your life! If I hadn't taken you, then you would have burned alive! Just like those good-for-nothing parents of yours!"

My mouth fell open as Robert covered his with his hand, just realizing what he had done. Tears came to my eyes as I remembered the fire. I drew my sword and ran to him. He blocked, but I wasn't concentrating on a tactic. I just swung with all my might. Some time during the fight, my hair came out of its braid. The length of my hair was revealed to be past my waist. Robert backed off for a minute to rest. I just stood there, my now loose hair blowing in the breeze, tears falling down my face because I had finally learned the truth. I wasn't going to restrain myself this time. I wanted revenge for the 12 years of near torture he made me endure. He was then ready again. I had a feeling that he was going to start playing dirty now, and got into a fighting stance. I was right. He tried kicking sand in my face, but I avoided it by jumping to the side and attacking. To my pure surprise, I actually hit him. There was a large gash on his arm where my double-edged sword had hit. It was bleeding, but I felt no remorse what so ever. Then he was arrested by the king's crew and before they could say anything to me, I ran. I wanted to get as far away as I could before they noticed that I was gone. But I heard someone running after me. I tried going faster, but then they called me.

"Joan! Wait!"

I turned around and saw Alexander running after me. I stopped and he came up to me.

"Why did you run?" he asked.

"I don't know, I felt like it."

"Where will you go?" he asked, knowing that I was running away.

"I don't know. Why is it any of your concern?"

"Because I care about you."

That last sentence left me speechless. I didn't know what to say. No one had ever thought about me that much. Ever.

"Come with me." he said. I snapped back to reality.

"Alexander, I can't." I tried to hold back the tears that were coming.

"Why not? Robert won't bother you anymore!"

"But what about your father! He'll hate me I know he will!"

"Why do you think that?"

"Look at me! I'm a pirate! I can't go with you! That's like committing suicide!"

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. And also, I can't be cooped up somewhere. I have to be free. I can't stay in one place for very long. That's just how I am. I've taken care of myself, by myself, for too long to be able to cope with that kind of change."

"Will I ever see you again?" he asked, a note of sorrow in his voice. I looked into his ocean-blue eyes.

"Maybe. Why?"

"I really like you Joan. A lot."

"Alexander, you shouldn't. You shouldn't like me. I'll only get you in trouble with your father. I am trouble."

"I don't care. I want you."

I turned away. "But I want you to be safe. I don't want to ruin the relationship you have with your father." I lowered my voice. "That would be selfish. And I'm afraid."

"Joan." he said, lifting my chin with his finger. We were almost nose to nose now. "Why are you afraid?"

"I don't want to get hurt." I whispered.

"I would never, ever hurt you. Please understand that."

"I know. I don't want to hurt you, therefore, hurting myself."

"Trust me." he said, getting closer.

"I do."

"Then why won't you try it?"

"Try what?" I asked, almost breathless. We were touching noses now.

"Falling in love." he said simply. Then, he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood there, enjoying the moment. When we parted, he was about to say something, but I stopped him.

"I still have to be on my own. Alexander, I'll try. I'll try to fall in love, and I hope that it will be you. But I have to go." I turned away from him and walked away, tears coming from my eyes. I then started running, feeling the stabbing pain of a broken heart. The pain that I myself had created. I ran even faster than before, one side of my heart wanting to get away, but the other side yearning to run the other way and jump into Alexander's waiting arms. But as I got into my dingy, and sailed off, I looked back. I saw Alexander standing alone on the shore. In the setting sun I could see his cheeks glistening with tears. I started crying again. My heart was cracking wide open. It was breaking. It hurt. I wanted it to stop, and I knew that it would stop if I went back to him. But what if that only caused even more hurt? I couldn't. I just couldn't. I looked back again, sobbing my heart out. 'I'll see you again someday Alexander. I swear I will.'

THE END

I hope you guys liked that. Yeah, I have a crush on Prince Alexander. (Who wouldn't? I mean, come on, look at him! He's blonde, he's a prince, he's 15, and he's way too brave for his own good!) Now I know I changed the story a bit, but I always do that. I really hope you like this! Please give me some nice reviews!