She stood on the cold stone floor, a course rope tied roughly but tightly around her hands, her sea blue eyes on the court above her.

"You have been put on trial for the crime of piracy, first degree," The High Judge said, staring down at her. "You were captaining a pirate ship, and now, in punishment for your thieving ways, you shall be beheaded."

She yawned, and shuffled her feet to the side. Was the floor always this cold in the trial room? Her toes curled, and she glanced down at them. She had always had shoes on the ships...

The High Judge continued to state all of her wrongdoings... when would he realize that she wasn't listening?

"Do you follow me, Black Fox?" The High Judge asked.

"Huh?" She looked up at him, momentarily taken aback. She had been wondering what had happened to the rest of the crew since they had been caught.

"Are you listening?" he demanded, leaning forward.

"Eh?" She blinked at him, feigning stupidness. "Parlez-vous francais?"

His eyes narrowed. "You know English, Fox."

"Je ne comprend pas," she said, "je suis uh... erm... je ne. comprend pas..."

"Shut up." the Ralthani said, standing up. "Stop playing stupid with us, Pirate. We already know that you understand us."

She shrugged. "Whatever. I suppose that you're going to kill me then?"

"Weren't you listening?" The High Judge demanded.

"Of course not," the Ralthani said, just as Black Fox cheerfully said, "Nope!"

She glanced at the Ralthani. He scowled back.

"You're death sentence will be given out tomorrow at noon," The High Judge said, rather irritably. "After ward, there will be a grand celebration at your death."

"Wonderful!" Black Fox beamed at them. "I love parties!"

The Ralthani coughed, and the pirate looked down, grinning. She and the Ralthani had a history together. He used to be a pirate too, well, he ran away for a short time, joined her crew, but was unfortunately captured again by his father. After all, the heir of the last one could only hold the position of the Ralthani. He was so different now, however. He had been a good pirate, scrounging the seas, never complaining, hoarding gold, and of course, drinking for the long life of the Midnight Serpent's female captain. She chuckled at the thought. Now he'd be drinking for her journey in the After World.

"Is something funny?" the High Judge demanded, leaning forward, his eyes on Black Fox.

She smiled kindly up at him. "No, High Judge, nothing's funny. I was just wondering... what is my means of... er... Expiring?"

"A hanging of course. Or would you rather break all pirate traditions and be shot?" The High Judge asked, glaring at her.

"No, no... A hanging is fine... Delightful in fact!" Black Fox beamed up at them, not failing to notice the Ralthani rolling his eyes.

"Good. You punishment will be brought out this afternoon," the High Judge declared.

So soon? Black Fox wondered, confused. They really must want me dead!

Black Fox slid into step beside the two guards who were leading her out into the open courtyard, known to the pirates simply as 'The Hanging Yard'. A crowd of people was milling around the podium where, true to the High Judge's words, was the rope, just waiting for her neck.

She yawned, and turned to one of the guards. "Are you going to be in the picnic this evening?" She asked.

He grunted.

"Got a lady love?" She grinned up at him, and this time, he ignored her. She yawned, and turned to the other guard. "How about you, chum?"

"Shut up," he snarled, pushing her into the courtyard.

Black Fox smiled, but her insides dropped. There was the Ralthani and his fiancée, standing together, chatting with the High Judge and his wife.

What had happened to the Ralthani? He used to be such an awesome pirate... but now... and that stiff looking ditz standing next to him, giggling every other word...

"You don't need to push," she informed the guard behind her, who was prodding her with his spear. "I'm going up."

She stood up on the platform, looking over at the jeering crowd. "Hmm." Someone was missing... well, quite a few people, actually. It was traditional for the crew to attend their captain's hanging, but hers... "Is not here..."

"Shu' up," the black hooded man snarled, fitting the rope around her neck.

She began to hum, and her eyes traveled around the group. They landed on her old friend, who was standing in his fine robes, arm in arm with his pretty little idiot girl. His eyes met hers, and she turned away, bristling. Stupid fake pirate! How could he just stand there watching her as she was about to die.

The drum roll began, and she saluted the High Judge, nodded to the crowd, and ignored the Ralthani.

Suddenly, the drums stopped, and...

"Huh?" She looked down. The rope was tight around her neck, but the trap door hadn't fallen! She was alive!

The hang man stared at her dumbly, and she took the opportunity to swing around and kick him in the stomach. He grunted, and she kicked him again. She would run away... but her hands were bound together and there was a rope around her neck.

"Somebody get up there!" The High Judge snarled, pointing a shaking finger at Black Fox.

The pirate grinned, and glanced at the Ralthani. Or... where the Ralthani had been three seconds ago...