-Chapter 5: The Key to Pirates-
-Part 1: The Anchored Navigator-
It was strange. The morning went by like a blur. Waking up, discussing plans, talking to Flavio by the docks, but already everything came to a halt.
They needed a navigator to move forth to Keelhaul Key.
Apparently, a man...err, a bob-omb named Admiral Bobbery lived in Rogueport, and was rumored to be the best navigator the town had to offer.
Now, here they were, in front of an old, rickety door, connected to a dilapidated house.
Dipper's Super Hammer uncomfortably rested on his shoulder. He took in a quick breath and knocked on the door with his free hand.
"Go away."
"Well that was quick." Robbie spoke. "This place blows, lets go." He started to walk off but Wendy stopped him and grabbed his wrist.
"We aren't going anywhere." She told him sternly. "We have a mission we need to fulfill whether you like it or not."
"Okay okay, lay off." Robbie rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "It's not like I want to do this anyway."
"Then stay here while we go to Keelhaul." Dipper said.
"So you don't want me around to save you butt?" Robbie said. "You know what? Forget it, it's not like I'd save your butt anyways…"
Dipper rolled his eyes and knocked again.
"Go away."
"Open up." Dipper demanded.
"I said go away!"
"And I said open up!" Dipper shouted. "We need a navigator, Bobbery! Get out here and come with us!"
"Why should I sail again?" The door creaked open slightly, and a yellow eye peaked out, one connected to a brown, spherical body with a white mustache and a captain's hat. "I've been through too much, the sea is a cruel place, so just go away and leave me be!"
The door slammed.
:::::
"Well this is going to be harder than we thought." Mario said. The group met in Central Rogueport to discuss what to do next. "How do we get him to come with us?"
"We might need to ask somebody why he's acting the way he is." Goombella suggested.
"Yes, that sounds like a good plan." Candy agreed. "But who do we ask?"
"Maybe Podley?" Pacifica spoke up. "We found Flavio at his place, maybe more information is there." They all agreed and walked off to the inn and bar they frequented most.
Upon arriving, they found Podley unoccupied at the counter.
"Oh, you guys are still here?" Podley asked as they approached.
"Yeah, we need to ask you about Admiral Bobbery before we leave." Dipper explained.
"Oh, Bobbery!" Podley exclaimed. "I knew him from childhood! What do you need to know about him?"
Little Dan spoke up, "Well, we're trying to sail to Keelhaul Key-"
"Forget it." Podley interrupted gruffly. "Getting Bobbery to sail again is impossible."
"Yet you say 'again', so he has to have sailed once before, correct?" Flurrie inquired.
"...yes, he has sailed in the past." The beanish bartender answered as he paused in polishing a glass.
"Then what is it that made him stop?" Manly Dan asked. "There has to be some kind of answer."
"...are you sure you want me to elaborate?" Podley asked.
"Yes, we need to hear the truth." Koops said.
Podley sighed. "...please, take a seat, and allow me to get you all some water. The following story is quite sad, so I must ask again; do you really want to hear it?"
"If it means getting to Keelhaul…" Dipper began. "...then yes."
Everyone sat at the bar and looked at Podley, who served them their drinks. "Well...it goes like this.
"Bobbery was born and raised here in Rogueport and sailed the seas frequently through his childhood, his teen years, and straight into his adult life. He enrolled in the military early on in his sailing career and became a well known navigator during the Mushroom Monarchy.
"During the period of time between the first and second half of the war, Bobbery returned home and met a beautiful platinum bob-omb named Scarlett. She shimmered like the sun reflecting off the sea, and Bobbery knew he was in love. The two quickly became lovers and got married. I was there, it was a great day, something beautiful for Rogueport for change…
"...but all good things don't last long, and one month after their marriage, Bobbery was called back to war, and he had a tough decision to make; leave Scarlett for the sea, or leave the sea for Scarlett. His decision was made by force, when Rogueport was bombed… Scarlett urged Bobbery to go out and save the community, and hopefully find a peaceful resolve to the war. And so he left, I was there with Scarlett to see him off…
"...but then, Scarlett fell ill not even a week after Bobbery had left. Doctors couldn't find a cure to stop the unknown disease, or something to slow it down, and after weeks and weeks of trying, they just gave up. She...she called me to her bedside and handed me a letter and told me to give it to Bobbery when he returned…
"...she died right there, a small smile on her face, and her last words were to tell Bobbery she loved him for who he was...Bobbery came back months later, eager to meet with Scarlett again...I never gave him the letter, I was too much of a coward, so I only spoke of the bad news to him.
"He vowed to never leave for the sea again, and fell into a horrible depression that he still hasn't gotten over. I still have the letter, though I feel terrible about giving it to him now…" Podley finished the story, and everyone was silent with their heads tilted down, their expressions solemn.
"...give us the letter." Dipper broke the silence.
"W-What?" Podley asked.
"I said give us the letter." Dipper looked up at him. "We'll deliver it to him, it might be the only way to get him to come with us to Keelhaul Key."
"...well okay then." Podley reached under the counter and handed the boy a slim envelope that had yellowed with age. "I hope Bobbery will be okay. Take care, everyone."
:::::
"Go away."
"Open up, Bobbery." Dipper knocked again. The door opened slowly.
"What?" The bob-omb asked gruffly. Dipper showed the letter to him. "What is this?
"Read it." Dipper said. Bobbery took it and opened it with his hypothetical hands.
"You don't have to be rude." Pacifica urged. Dipper sighed.
"I know, I just want to get going." He said.
"Oh...o-oh my!" Bobbery exclaimed. "This...this is Scarlett's handwriting!" Bobbery read over the letter. "Where did you get this?!"
"From Podley." Pacifica answered. "He got it from Scarlett a long time ago, but he was too nervous to give it to you."
"...excuse me for a moment." Bobbery stepped into another room and closed the door. After a few minutes, he returned. "Oh Scarlett...I've been a fool." He looked at the heroes.
"Well, let's shove off then! To Keelhaul Key!"
-(End Of Chapter)-
Finally back into writing things! This chapter didn't take too long to write, but I put this story off for so many months that I feel bad for the hiatus. Anyways, here's another chapter.
I hope you've enjoyed said chapter, reviews are highly appreciated (I'll write more if I get encouraging words!), and as always…
Stay Tuned!
~087-B