"...I'm just a product of what I grew up in. There's no denying it; my parents eaten by a sky squid, growing up in Krokotopia and most importantly being accused of Treason by the treacherous Armada. This is my tale, do with it you will; just don't doubt a word of it as it is all true. Now let us begin before the sky becomes black and your eyes start to droop, loosing all the precious details that have never been heard by living ear. Hush now, and listen well for this tale shall never be told again..."
Chapter one: Welcome to my life
It was a hot day in Krokotopia. It was almost always hot and dry; for the sun always shown and there was hardly any moisture in the air. When rain did come it was considered a gift from the gods. That day though wasn't one of those days. It was a miserably hot day, worse than usual, and I was working on the docks. I lived on one of the major trading ports and helped build ships. I was fourteen, not yet a man but not a boy either. My adoptive father was always going about how he should have left me as an Arena slave. That was what happened to orphans after all.
The sweat was pouring off my back as I pounded the last nail in. I had many more ships to build and the pay was low. Children were always paid lower wages, that was why there was so many of us slaving ourselves away for one of the lizards. (No offence to my adoptive father of course.) Sometimes I wished that I was a mander or krok, because then I would've never had known my parents death, or even have had my parents. I'm not telling you that they were bad because they weren't. In fact they were great. They always made time for me and they had even taught me how to wield swords and daggers; I didn't take after my mother in the magical arts but I had in looks. I had her fiery red hair and pale skin, but I had my fathers deep blue eyes. No one would ever have doubted I was their child. Unfortunately that wasn't always a good thing; like that particular day, for example.
I was called up to the Boss. I wasn't sure his name, he always liked his little workers to call him that. It probably just made him feel more powerful, like we were his subjects or something. He was of course loyal to the Pharaoh; it was foolish not to be. Those who were disloyal died horrible deaths, were tortured or "miraculously" became an Arena slave. You could say that I wasn't a fan of the Pharaoh. In fact that was an understatement. I loathed him; he kept on the good side of the Armada. So it wasn't uncommon for them to show up and inspect everything. At those times I was usually kept hidden inside some cabinet somewhere. I was always considered tiny, but stubborn. Once I made up my mind on something, there was no changing it.
"Fergus, my dear boy, someone wants to see you." The Boss told me giving me his best grin, which trust me was terrifying. You could see all 72 extremely sharp white teeth and the evil glint in his eyes. It was enough to make you do whatever he wanted, which in this case was to meet someone. I prepared myself for the worst and kept a straight face as I entered the Bosses office like shop.
A Marleybonian wearing his finest was inside sitting in a traditional ivory chair that was used for guests. Whoever this person is he was important. I did my best to smile and not to seem nervous. (I did say try right?) In truth I was probably shaking. Who would ever want to see me? The Marleybonian gestured for me to come forward, and so I did. I didn't want to displease the guest after all. I could be killed for such an offence.
"You look so much like your parents Fergus." The Marleybonian dog told me. I could only nod. He told the truth. I couldn't deny it. I was stubborn not stupid. "You can speak lad." He told me. I wasn't sure what to do. I wasn't always this legendary outspoken person everyone thinks I am. In fact I was the opposite.
"Um... sir?" I asked him uncertain. "Call me Norton." He interrupted. "Um... Norton what do you want?" I rephrased my question. What else was there to say? "I'm an old friend of your parents, who has some favors that I need to repay... and now that I've finally found you I can - such a tragedy how they died." He told me. Why does everyone always bring up my parents death? I get that they were famous pirates and they were eaten a giant sky squid, sometimes I wonder if they know that I was there too. I was the one survivor of that wreck, and I'm proud of it, only a few people survive those. But that didn't mean I wasn't scarred, because I have one on my back where the wood of the ship had embedded itself into my side. I barely survived; if the wood had landed anywhere else I wouldn't have. I was always considered unbelievably lucky. Though I tend to think that the lucky ones were the ones who died. They didn't have to deal with the emotional trauma. I didn't speak for an entire year afterwards.
"...Lad, I'm going to take you in." He told me. I would be lying to you if I told you I wasn't a little surprised. The last five years I had endured a krok who only used me as a source of income and didn't care about my personal needs past that point. I was nearly forgotten about; except for when the Armada came, but I think that was for his personal safety, because of who my parents were...
"Okay." I replied, unsure of what to do. I knew that favors traveled through family and as I was the last remaining Hawkins the favor passed to me. It's just like favors are passed to those who owe someone else a favor. I think I spent too much time with Toad when I was younger. He was almost always with the Frogfather, except when he babysat me. I don't get why my parents asked him to baby-sit me. Maybe they had something on him. I wouldn't be surprised. Gullet is pretty much the capital of the criminal underworld in Skull Island. Pretty much if the smell didn't kill you the people would…
"Now let's get going. I'm sure you don't want to stay here." Norton told me. He was right. I didn't, but what would the Boss say or even worse my adopted father. But if I didn't tell them then I could just run away. And so that was exactly what I did. Some would call me stupid, but I would call this opportunistic. You know what they say, "never look a gift horse in the mouth."
