Chapter 3

The island is much larger than I initially thought. The mountain is at least 2 miles straight up, and the island is wider around than the mountain is tall. In addition, the island is a lot farther than we initially thought. In spite of my newfound abilities, the journey is still difficult, and Feri struggles to keep up with me. We swim for several hours, both using our tail and legs. Once we are within a couple hundred feet of the island, we simply try to allow the waves to wash us onto the beach. I let my arms and legs go limp as a particularly large wave crashes me onto the wet sand. I lay there without moving, letting my exhausted limbs rest after the journey. I wouldn't move even if I could. Even when the water washes over me and engulfs my body, I simply take a breath and wait for it to retract.

After what feels like hours but was probably only a few minutes, I lift my sluggish limbs off of the ground. My body is covered in sand and dirt and I am still exhausted, in spite of the long rest I just took. I am famished as well. The last time I ate food was before the pirates kidnapped us, more than two days ago. I look around for Feri, even though it hurts to move. I see him fast asleep on the sand a few feet away from me, face up. I stumble over to him and shake him on the shoulder.

"Feri."

He opens his eyes slowly. "Can't I just rest a little bit longer? That was really tiring." He mumbles.

"Sorry, but we can't," I reply looking up at the sky. "The sun is starting to set and we need to find shelter, and food and water."

"Fiiiiine." He grumbles. He rises to his feet after I help him up. We both look at each other for a moment, then turn and look at the jungle forest. The trees are so dense that I can't see between two of them as there is another slightly behind them to fill the gap. I approach the edge of the canopy cautiously.

"Sooooo… I guess we have to go in there." I remark.

"I guess we do." He says back to me. "You lead the way?" He asks.

"Sure." I set off into the jungle.

The going is extremely tough. The trees are incredibly dense, and so I have to climb over and around the branches of each tree. I can't see more than a few feet in front of me before my vision is obstructed by the next tree. At this point, I'm willing to give up and stop at the first clearing I encounter. I can only imagine how Feri is getting along. I turn to check.

He is nowhere to be found. I spin in a complete circle, hoping he is on another side of me. Nothing.

"FERI!" I yell his name. "Feri, can you hear me?" Panic is starting to fill me. After hearing no response, I start going back the way we came. Then I realize...I have no idea where we came from. I am completely lost.

"Cody?" I hear a voice say, from right next to me.

"AHHHH!" I yell, jumping up. Then I look down and sigh in relief. "Feri! You scared the crap out of me! Where were you?"

He rolls his eyes. "I was barely even very far behind you! You were just going a little too fast. This is pretty hard for me."

"I know, sorry." I sigh. "I guess I'll...slow down a little bit." Before I start moving again, however, I very faintly hear the sound of metal scraping on metal, like a sword being drawn. I freeze.

"Shhhhhh! Did you hear that?" I whisper to Feri, backing up against a tree.

He looks confusedly at me. "Hear what?"

I hear a twig break from somewhere in the jungle. "I heard a noise." I say quietly. "Don't make any sudden movements or speak loudly." My limbs are tensing up in anxiety as Feri and I stand silently, listening for the source of the noise. I hear another twig snap, then the rustle of branches being moved. Finally a voice calls out, breaking the tension.

"Wait a minute... It's the prisoners!"

Several figures step out from behind various trees in front of us. One drops down from the tree we are pressed against. At the front of them is none other than Liow, our guard. He sheathes his sword as he approaches us. The others reveal to be a Squirtle, Dewott, and two Oshawotts.

"You made it off the ship, by evolving I take it?" He asks me. I nod without saying anything. "Well now I thought we'd seen the last of you! What a surprise this is." The other crewmates simply stare at us, not saying anything. "You'd better come with us then. And don't try anything! We've had a tough day." He motions for his men to follow him away. I look at Feri. Once again, we come to the same realization as when we were first captured- we don't have a choice. I nod at him, and we both start following.

The crewmates lead us along a winding path through the jungle, somehow knowing exactly where to turn in spite of the fact that all of the trees look the same to me. They do not stop, and as a result both Feri and I are panting after a few minutes of walking, but we don't dare call out and ask for a break. After what feels like hours, we finally arrive at the entrance to a clearing. As I step through the opening in the trees, I see what appears to be a makeshift campsite. Multiple canopies made of large leaves are strung across tree branches to make shelters. Several wooden planks support a few of them. A few fires are lit here and there, and some crates are stacked in a pile by the edge. There are very few Pokemon at the campsite. I count three Squirtles, a Wartortle, another Oshawott, two Poliwhirls, a Murkrow, and a Swinub. There is no sign of Captain Bluebeard. I assume that he is off on another scouting trip, as this can't possibly be all that remains of the crew.

"Is this...all that's left of the crew?" I ask Liow as the rest of the scouting party disperses among the campsite.

"Aye." He responds. He sits down on a rock.

"What...happened?" I rejoinder.

He eyes me. "Guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you. Redbeard's ship started firing on us not long after we spotted them, and we knew we couldn't fight back after we were already sinking. Bluebeard gave the order to abandon ship, so we all jumped off and began swimming towards this island." He sighs and rubs his face with his arm. "Redbeard's men were waiting for us in longboats. They fired at us and starting cutting us out of the water. We tried to fight back, but...we were at too much of a disadvantage. I and the rest of these Pokemon submerged below the water to wait for the assault to abate. When they finally left, we made a break for the island. Everyone here is what is left of the mighty Bluebeards fearsome crew." He says bitterly.

"Where is Bluebeard?" I ask.

He looks up at me, a tinge of red in his eyes. "Bluebeard is dead."