"What does it say, Madame Vadima?" Wolf asked eagerly.
"Hmm," she said, "From this I can lead you to the land you seek, but first answer this: what is it that you truly seek?"
Wolf stood without word, contemplating his reasons.
"En garde!"
Lafitte swiftly brought a blade to Michael, and the sound of clashing metal filled the room as a spark ignited between the attacking and defending blades.
"I swear you do this every time, Lafitte."
"It's my job to make sure my darling prodigy is always prepared, isn't it?"
"Well I guess I can't complain when you put it that way."
"What brings you here, my prodigy?"
"You know," he began, "just wanted to see if there was anything left for you to teach me."
"There is much I have yet to teach you, when you are ready."
Of course, because the maximum level hasn't been raised.
"Who's to say I'm not ready?" he challenged for what felt like the hundredth time.
"A'ight then, since you're so persistent, I'll show you a little something."
Jordan stood at the life fountain in Avery's Court waiting for the other two. He honestly didn't expect to get this far, he figured it was just another one off Michael's schemes to ease his overflowing boredom.
He was soon joined by Wolf, who came carrying a rolled up piece of parchment.
"Well?"
"I got a map. It'll show us where we need to go to get under the clouds."
Jordan seemed less than amused. He was internally surprised that such a fable could actually have ground. They stood there waiting for their third. An entire twenty minutes later Michael showed up showing signs of fatigue, though they were too impatient to notice.
"I'm back," he breathed.
"Good, let's get going," Wolf said.
Now adrift in Port Regal Skyway aboard Michael's ship, the trio head for the unexplored edge. Wolf began explaining the situation.
"The writing mentioned 'soft spots' in the sky. We think this refers to areas with low density, which causes ships to become unstable and sink below normal level."
As they drew near the edge Wolf began reciting an incantation. A glow of magic illuminated the area, and an outline big enough for a ship appeared.
"Normally we can't bypass this 'invisible wall,' which is actually a strong wind current. However, with this spell we'll be able to get through and find a weak spot in the clouds to break through."
"This all seems rather interesting," Michael began as Jordan stood moodily for unknown reasons, "but why does no one else no about all this - the clouds, the wall?"
"It turns out this wall is actually a spell. It was meant to keep people from drifting away and falling deep into the clouds because they couldn't get back up. Time passed on and the strong magic kept in place, but the story was lost to time."
Michael pondered in a moment of silence. At that moment, a creaking noise could be heard. The noise generated from the ship's sudden movement.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"We seem to have hit a weak spot," Wolf explained readying his staff to blast through the clouds, his intention being to fall through.
"Better hold onto something," Jordan warned.
Wolf used his special magics to weaken the cloud layer, allowing them to sink deeper.
"So this is what it feels like when your ship sinks..." Michael said with uncalled for calmness.
"So you've never been sunk?" Jordan said.
"I'm cautious, okay?"
"Guys," Wolf interrupted.
The clouds had parted and revealed a fall so far the bottom could not be seen. Cries were let out as the wind filled more than their sails. The sound of wind filled their ears and the gusts blasted their faces as they literally fell from the sky.
"So how are we going to land?" Michael asked clinging to the ship's railing.
"I thought you had that figured out! Surely you saw this coming?" Wolf shouted so as to be heard over the wind.
"Well, I didn't think that far ahead," he admitted.
"How are you even a captain?" the landlubber said, for Wolf was no pirate.
"Well, if you want my nautical rank, it's admiral, but-"
"Captains are supposed to kno- wait, you're a what?!"
Talk was cut short as a vast surface of blue came into view.
"Brace for impact," Michael added.
"We know!" the other two shouted in unison.
The ship splashed into the sea, sending water everywhere. Droplets fell like rain and wood flew all over. The fierceness of the impact alone shook them all, and tore the ship to pieces. Michael gasped for air as he spread his arms over a piece of the wreckage. He looked around for Wolf and Jordan, but found neither.
He felt his eyelids grow heavy as he continued to scan, spotting three figures.
'Wait a minute... Guys?'
He saw no more, for that second he lost consciousness.
Michael's eyes fluttered open. The sun was bright and he had to use his hand to shield himself from its rays. He felt beach sand under him as he rose, rubbing his head.
"You awake?" a familiar voice called.
"Bonnie?"
Bonnie walked up and gave him a slap to the back of his head.
"You git," she said.
"How did you..?"
"We stowed away in the cabin, we knew you'd be too busy on your adventure to check there until you needed to."
"Did you honestly expect us to stay back while you had an adventure of your own?" Sarah added.
"I guess I am kinda doomed without my first mate... Wolf, Kirk, are they okay?"
"Hello? I'm here too, you know," Catbeard said.
"We lost them in the shipwreck. We have no idea where they are or if they're still alive..." the mouse said.
"I see.."
"Just ignore me then," Catbeard added.
Michael stared off the shore. He'd normally expect to see clouds, but he instead saw endless blue. Behind him were palms and other island things. He would have trouble becoming accustomed to this strange world. To think it had existed below his this whole time.
"I've never seen so much water in one place before..." he said deciding to overcome the situation at hand before worrying about others.
"Well, we're goin' to need a ship," Bonnie said.
"Right," Michael replied.
He took out a bottled ship from a backpack that can only be assumed to be magical. He unscrewed the cork and held it out.
Nothing.
"That's weird," he said looking over it, assessing its details, "It's not working."
"Maybe try a different one?" Catbeard suggested.
It couldn't hurt. Michael uncorked another ship bottle in hopes of it performing its usual magic.
Still nothing.
"Maybe our ship magic doesn't work here?" Michael suggested putting the bottles back into the apparently well concealed backpack.
"Uh-oh," Sarah noted, "then we don't have a ship to sail."
"Darn..."
"Maybe there's a shipwright in town, we could buy a new one there," Bonnie suggested.
"I should have the money," Michael said hand in chin thinking of his usual 50,000+ gold budget. "Wait, town?"
"We ended up on a pretty good sized island, I spotted a town nearby while ye were dozin'."
"Well, I suppose."
The group walked through the center of town in hopes of finding a shipwright. Oddly enough, not a soul was seen in the street. Windows were boarded up, and doors were barred. The atmosphere produced by the silence was ominous.
"Place looks like it's been raided," Michael said.
"Oh, I was under the impression that the townsfolk just had horrible sense in décor," Catbeard responded.
'A captain's hat with a skull and crossed swords... Pirates!"
They all heard the footsteps behind them, as they all had senses enhanced by combat. Michael eyed behind him.
'A kid?'
The furious boy armed with a mere stick swung at him. He was easily dodged, Michael simply stepped to his side.
"Hey, wha-"
"No one's gonna take any more from here, filthy pirates!"
"Dear!" a woman said grasping the child. "Please forgive my son, don't hurt him, please!"
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I'm not gonna hurt you, but we need a ship and-"
He was interrupted by an empty can flying at his head.
"Get out! Pirate trash!"
"Leave us alone!"
"I wonder what has them in such a bad mood..." Michael wondered sarcastically.
"I guess we ruined their mood," Sarah said.
They took the uproar as a queue and made their exit whilst avoiding an onslaught of garbage.
"Well," Catbeard complained, "that was rude."
"We can't help it," Bonnie reasoned, "these folks have been oppressed by pirates for probably a while now."
"Well then, if we can't buy a ship, since we're pirates, we'll-" Michael was interrupted by Steele.
"We'll steal one, because we're pirates?"
"I, for one, am not opposed to the idea," Catbeard said.
"I'm sure if we explain ourselves we can come to an understanding," Bonnie proposed being the voice of reason.
"Sounds boring."
"Seconded."
"Well whatever you do, I'm goin' back to the town. It won't help them to have a ship stolen."
Bonnie began walking in the direction of town.
"Coming?" she directed at Sarah who nodded and went with her.
"I have a plan," Michael said ignoring the split up.
"Ooh, I do love a good scheme!"
"Okay," he began grabbing a conveniently located stick as he drew in the sand for emphasis. "You and I will scout different sides of the island and look for a shipyard and eventually meet each other."
Catbeard nodded as Michael spoke.
"If they have a shipyard, it'll be on the shore."
"Don't you mean dock? A shipyard is where ships are made and repaired. It wouldn't make se-"
"If I made a shipyard I'd make it near the docks!" he said, seemingly ignorant of his mistake. "Anyway, one of us will find the shipyard-"
Wouldn't it just be easier to steal a docked ship?"
"Good idea! Then again, I kinda want our own... Anyway, we'll take a ship, and leave gold to pay for it, plus a little extra for doing it without permission."
"Oh? What if the ship happens to be terribly overpriced?"
"Hmm... No tip then!"
"Brilliant!"
Bonnie and Sarah reentered the town, this time without unpleasant creating. Odd, it would make more sense if the townsfolk just ran them out again the moment they stepped foot in town.
"What's going on over there?" Sarah said pointing. A few figures could be seen at a distance. They appeared to be bickering over something.
Bonnie raised her rifle and peered through her scope revealing two armed men confronting an elderly man.
"We have nothing left for you to take!" the man said.
"Stop lyin'!" the pirate threatened raising his sword.
At that moment a burst of electricity struck him and he held himself in pain.
"Who's there?!" his partner yelled.
Two silhouettes emerged at a distance. Their figures dramatically emerged as the distance between them closed. Both figures were feminine. One with a rifle slung over her shoulder, another with a rapier and similarly fashioned knife at her sides.
"So who are you then?" Bonnie said more than asked.
"You, did you hit my partner with that shock thing just now?" he said as said partner brought himself to his feet.
"Yeah, what about it?" she replied nonchalantly, knowing well her superiority to these not-even-amateurs.
"You wench!" he threatened as he pointed his gun at the elderly man he was mugging. "Try anything funny and the old man kicks the bucket!"
"Now that you've drawn your pistol," Steele said, "put your life on the life."
"Huh?"
"I'm saying those things aren't for threatening people."
In an instant Bonnie let out a barrage of sparks from her rifle. The sparks flew and all smacked right into the body of the outmatched pirate. His untrained body just couldn't stand up to her firepower. While his partner was distracted the mouse held her fancy dagger to his throat, and his face turned to one of fear.
"You'd do best to be on your way now."
Being left out of the death hold, he grabbed his partner and scampered away, defeated.
"I'll remember this!"
The two girls walked up to the scared old man, and Bonnie extended a hand. He accepted it and she helped him up.
"I thought I was done for."
It wasn't until just now that they had noticed all the tense eyes peering through all the shuddered windows and whatnot. After their valiant spectacle, however, their tensions were eased and they began exiting their homes to pay respect to the first ever people to stand up to the villains in their town.
"Thank you, we were wrong about you," he continued.
"It's fine," Sarah assured.
"We've been ransacked by that same pirate group for weeks and we have nothing left! The town can't go on like this! Will you please help us?"
The duo sighed in familiarity.
"It's wherever we go, isn't it?" Sarah said.
"I definitely didn't have that sort of thing in mind when I jumped onto the captain's crew. We'll help you get your village back, granted the captain approves."
"Aye, that he will."
BOOM!
A loud explosion was heard and everyone turned to face the sound.
"Ye don't suppose Michael got himself into trouble again?" Bonnie asked despite already knowing the answer.
"Probably."
"Let's go see what it's about then," Bonnie said heading in that direction.