2 hours and 14 minutes later…

Okay now I'm very worried! What happened to Tara, and maybe Red Rust, but mainly Tara! Maaan I'm worried sick, i'm pacing back and forth here! Come on, have faith. Have faith.

"Mari calm down", Gaspard said, "You'll give yourself a heart attack"

"Easy for you to say!"

"Look, I know they've been gone a long time-

"TOO LONG OF A TIME!", I shouted, "FOR ALL WE KNOW THEY COULD BE CAUGHT BY THE-uh…..oh, they're back", I said doing a double look.

Oh man I ran straight down to the docks with the others following me. When we arrived and the ship boarded, we saw…Rebecca fiercely taking off the mask and hat while storming off the ship.

"Whoa wh-what happened?", I said confused.

"SHUT UP!", Rebecca shouted me while storming passed us.

"….Again, what the heck happened?"

"….We…were too late…", Tara said in a sad tone, "The Armada took the map piece weeks ago"

"What?!"

Tara explained to all of us what went down while they were undercover. How all information on Marco Pollo was completely taken to the Armada, and destroying everything in Granchia. So THAT'S what happened to this place. It's terrible. I already knew these rust buckets were horrible, but knowing more makes them even WORSE. The only thing Tara and Red Rust got out of those two places were two unicorns, one named Ridolfo the other being Lorenzo, and a blue wind stone. Well this is just great! We came all the way here for barely nothing. Now what do we do?

"Wait, there may be one last hope", Steed said, "I once knew a unicorn by the name of Varo, he revered Marco Pollo and his finest student"

"Varo, vaaaro hmmmm", I said rubbing my chin.

"Was he that unicorn at St. Bonobo's Abbey?", Gaspard said.

"Riiight, that must be him", I said.

"He alone heard the explorer's last words beside his deathbed", Steed said, "If anyone might know more about the map, Varo does"

"Guess it's back to Monquista it is", I said turning towards the docks.

"Wait young one" Ridolfo said to me, "The Resistance in Valencia is shattered, your crew is the best way to continue the fight. Will you take my sword?"

"Heck yea!", I said with a smile, "The more the merrier, welcome a board!", I said extending a welcoming hand.

30 minutes later….

Man the Armada ship was a beast in Avernus. We got out the windlane like three times and barely got hit by any debris, what luck! Now we're back in Monquista and the place is STILL hot as heck, phew. At least this will be quick, I hope. When we got to St. Bonobo's Abbey I made sure to switch out ships, so we don't get mistaken as our enemy. Geez this place is ssooo dry, I don't miss this place one bit. Or it's small buildings. At least the Queen's tower is big enough.

"Why hello there, how can I help you?", Varo asked.

"Yes, do you…know about Marco Pollo's map?", Tara whispered.

"*Gasp*….Let us go outside", Varo said walking pass us, "…..Why do you wish to know such knowledge?"

"We plan on getting all the pieces before the Armada, who have terrible plans for it", Tara explained.

"Then listen well, for I break a vow to tell you this"

"You're secret is safe with us", Tara said.

"He spoke of his map, whispering that Christopher Clark, his navigator, kept it in Cool Ranch, the land of Pollo's birth"

"Cool Ranch", Milo said, "That's such a long way"

"Don't worry Milo", I said, "With the blue windstone, we'll be able to get there no problem"

"*Sigh* more Spiral traveling I see", Tara said, "I'm going to need a new staff when we get back to Skull Island though"

"Oh man right, we're going to need some more stuff", I said turning around, "We'll need mushrooms, barracuda steaks, a couple plant herbs, a couple things of fruit, so on so on"

"Oh goody", Gaspard said with joy while rubbing his hands together.

"What is it Gaspard?", Tara asked.

"Mari is going to cook"

"What?", Red Rust questioned, "Yyou, can cook?"

"Heck yea I can", I said with confidence, "Better get those taste buds ready, 'cause they're going to have a party"

Red Rust just rolls her eyes, but I know she will looove it. Guarantee.