Fedje was a small town, built with several small houses and businesses. Small brightly colored houses lined the dusty roads, which were few. It was a quite town with very little action. The small fishing vessels and the ferryboats for the mainland sailed in and out of the docks. If Fedje had a lot of one thing, it was boats. Fedje's pride was not its boats, but a recently built lighthouse, the Hellisøy lighthouse. The enormous iron tower rested on an island a dozen meters to the west. The base was completely surrounded in thousands of bricks, as the top was pitch-black iron. A marvel of engineering, for it was built upon flooded soil, not rock. But from the top of the tallest structure in Fedje waved a black flag: The Jolly Roger!

                Seagulls floated in the air on their silvery wings, taking a glimpse at the scene below. Two large oxen were hauling the wreckage of the Hockenheim into town. Surrounding the bulls were the three friends Falcon, Rouge, and Galuda. Galuda was maintaining the animals, as it was his talent. Rouge and Falcon were conversing about their plan.

                "Hmmm, nobody seems out today…" Falcon said.

                "Yea, it's like a ghost town." Rouge added.

                "We can blame ol' Captain Kraken for that. Where's an airplane mechanic when you need one?" Falcon asked himself.

                "Galuda, put the ox's to a halt, I think we found something!" Rouge shouted.

                "Right." Galuda called. His wrists gestured the reigns in a way that slowed the beasts to a stop. He quickly leaped from the Hockenheim's injured wing and walked towards the other two, protecting his eyes from the setting sun with a hand.

                "What's so special Rouge? Is it a machine shop?" Falcon asked eagerly.

                "Yes, what is so special?" Galuda had to ask.

                Rouge smiled. "Look for yourself." She pointed to the earth below her feet. On the ground wwere many Noks, Norse currency.

                "Well what do you know? Blinkin' money! 'Suppose Kraken's trasure trove is around here then!" Falcon grinned.

                "Exactly! And we need money to pay for the Hockenheim's repairs don't we? Come on! It's a treasure hunt!" Rouge pulled on Falcons arm, tugging him down the gravel street. Galuda made chase.

                "Say, there's a whole flippin trail of Noks! This'll be easier than a barrel roll after tea!" Falcon said.

                "Easier than shooting deer in winter time!" Galuda said.

                "Or card tricks! Come on it leads into this barn!" Rouge brought herself to a finish at the Barns large doors.

                Falcon tapped on the door. "How many guards you think are in there?"

                Galuda put his ear to the door and shut his eyes. It was only a couple seconds until he retracted. "Three."

                "Three? We can take three! Come on then, hup two heave ho! Push!" Falcon put his weight on the barn door. It began to open…

** *

                The brilliant colors of the evening sky reflected off the ocean below. The town of Fedje was in sight and the lighthouse on. Great beams of light circled around in loops, brining in ships in the twilight. But the only ship coming to Fedje this night was the ghastly King Octopus.

                Kraken stood by the helmsman, watching the town come into view. He was content with the day, despite the mutinous behavior before. Perhaps heading south was the best thing for him and his crew. He didn't want to fight his beloved crew, they were family to him, and after all he risked life and limb to bring them back.

                "Harhar, We have quite the booty to pull in today, eh King? Yarr." Kraken nodded to his helmsman.

                "Aye Cap'n. Quite the haul indeed sir! It'll take a day and a half to pull her in, Haha, a day heehe." King laughed.

                "Arr, but we have plenty a folk to do that, the people of Fedje can do it! And afterwards, they can cook us a big old dinner! Yarr." Kraken suggested.

                "Captain, docks ahead. We slow?" King asked.

                "Of coarse we slow, ya fool. Bring her to a stop get the gangplank ready! The boys are back! Yarr!"  Kraken shouted out orders.

                From the corner of his right eye, Ebenezer was able to make out Octo and Puss hastily retreating to the cabin. Without moving a finger, the Captain spoke. "Well if it 'taint Mr. Octo and Mr. Puss! Come to my side boys! Come to my side. Yarr."

                Octo swallowed. He raised his wired spectacles nervously, sliding to the captains blue coated side carefully. "Hey Cap'n! 'Ow you doin? I'm doing fine! Never better! Heh heh heh, You know that's kind of funny because-"

                "Did you find a place to sail to Mr. Octo? Yarr." Kraken interrupted.

                "Oh Captain! This is a very complicated manner of strategy and science! It will take time and I really am working hard, aint I Puss?" Octo nervously answered.

                "Working hard." Puss repeated.

                "Good. I am glad to see my crew being efficient, ahar! However we need to sail before the storms start setting in, so I'm giving you twenty-four hours to find a nice warm place to plunder and loot! Got me? Yarr?" Kraken blinked.

                "Y-yes sir! I got you loud and clear! Crystal clear! Water clear! If the ocean were so clear I could see the locker of Davy Jones! Heheh, how clear is Puss?"

                "Very clear Octo."

                "Then we're clear. You're dismissed. Now start haulin me booty to shore or it will be your booty! Arharharharhar! Yarr!"

** *

                The inside of the barn was much like the inside of any barn. Dark, for lack of any light, and stuffy. In this barn there wasn't an animal to be seen. But in the place of livestock were mounds of gold! Let me tell you that even the richest palaces seemed to be a home to a popper compared to the riches bestowed upon this barn! Gems of every kind and shape, polished or rough, laid about in the most fitting of manner. The light from the creaking barn door reflected on every gold coin, creating a vibrant lighthouse. The perfect burglar alarm.

                "YAAAAAAAAWWNN… 'Ey Cap'n, izzat you?" A voice came from a wooden balcony.

                Rouge stopped halfway in the door. The light from the door reflecting on the door must have awoken the guard! She paused thinking.

                "Arr of coarse it is me! Yohoho and a bottle of rum! Shiver me timbers! Arg!" Falcon tried his best to imitate the captain.

                "'Ey capn' wots wrong wit yer voice? Sounds more livly and energetic, like you've lost fifteen years!" the voice asked.

                "Arr… uh…. it be the blackberry pie I had! Arg! That stuff will put a beard on your chin and a bounce in yer step! Arg!" Falcon shouted.

                "Blackberry pie Cap'n? Can we 'ave some?"

                "Of coarse me laddie buck! Jus' come down and get it, one at a time! Trust me it be worth yer time, arg!"

                Rouge glanced at Falcon with a confused and stern look. "What do you think your doing sending them down here?"

"Relax." Falcon whispered. "One at a time right? There are three of us, mate!"

"That's a good plan Falcon." Galuda said.

"Of coarse it is, I came up with it!" Falcon laughed.

The wooden stairs creaked and moaned as feet walked upon them. The stairs curved around a large pole from the balcony, hiding the front gate from the pirate's eyes.

"I'm ready fer dat pie Cap'n! Wait a second! You're not the Cap'n!" The pirate was astonished.

"No kidding!" Rouge smiled as she kicked the pirate square in the jaw. The pirate was out cold after one blow.

"Hey I thought these guys were supposed to be immortal." Falcon rubbed his head.

"Mayhap he was hired help. Shhh! Someone's coming!" Galuda warned.

The barn doors swung open in a loud crash as the real Captain Kraken and his men stood at the entrance. The men were all lifting heavy crates and barrels, all stuffed with gold. Kraken took a step backwards as he noticed his guard out cold on the ground and three intruders standing near by. Falcon, Rouge, and Galuda had the look of a rat trapped in a corner. Kraken's look of surprise came to a look of anger.

"Arg! You be a dead man walking for intruding into me treasure cove! Yarr!" Kraken sneered.

"Now hold on a tick! We come to-" Falcon was interrupted.

"Arr I don't care for yer excuses! Yer in me treasure cove and dats enough fer me and me crew! Capture 'em! Yarr!" Kraken shouted.

"Let's make a run for it!" Rouge suggested. The other two quickly nodded as they made for the staircase behind them leading upwards. The pirate crew made chase, taking careful measure to avoid crushing the knocked out guard to death in a stampede. As they got over, the thirty pirates got stuck at the staircase bottom, each one trying to push and shove to be first up the stairs.

Kraken pulled his eyebrows in a gesture of embarrassment. "You stupid oafs! Can't ye do anything right! One at a time, you stupid fools! Yarr!"

Rouge, Falcon, and Galuda were on the balcony. It was dark up there with dusty rails and no sign of gold. There was also no sign of an exit. Hay was originally stored here, but now two awakening pirates took hold.

Galuda picked up a barrel. "This should slow them down some." He rolled it down the staircase as the advancing pirate crew came into view. In shouts of dismay and screams of terror, the pirates ran down the stairs in a futile attempt to dodge the barrel.

"Like a game of ten pins my friend!" Falcon laughed.

"Arg! Wot are you three doin here? The Cap'n won't like it!" One of the pirate guards said.

"Yea we figured that out! How about going back to sleep for me, huh?" Rouge asked as she gave a powerful and fiery jab to the pirates face. He was out of the game in a flash.

"'Ey you lot! Get yer ugly mugs together and get back up those stairs! And you…." Kraken turned  towards Octo and Puss. "go 'round back and climb up der ladder! Git em from behind! Yarr!"

Aye aye Cap'n!" Octo saluted.

"Aye Aye!" Puss saluted as well. The two ran out the barn and made for the back.

Falcon and Galuda were trying to hold off the stair way with all sorts of furniture and props they could find as Rouge advanced upon the third and last guard. The guard did not seem happy one bit.

"You stay back er I will kill you! Arr!" The pirate said half heartedly as he swung his scimitar around

"I wouldn't dream of hurting you little pirate man! I just want to return you to your friends…" Rouge said in a mocking baby voice.

"Huh? How?" The pirate asked. Rouge bent down and lifted the loose board he was standing on, sending him falling over the edge. She turned back to her friends.

"How are we holding up?" She asked.

"There's a whole flippen do da parade of pirates on the other side of this mess! Wot do you think?" Falcon replied.

"This should hold them for a little while. I think that we are O.K for the moment." Galuda reassured his friend.

"For the moment anyway. We're stranded up here. What do we do next?" Rouge asked.

Just then tow unnoticed dirty window curtains kicked open, and the thin wiry pirate Octo and the large bulky pirate called Puss jumped in.

"Well well well, wot have we got here? A couple of rats in a trap, eh Puss?" Octo sneered as he raised his rapier.

"Rats in a trap Octo!" Puss repeated, holding his great club.

"When will you guys ever learn?" Rouge sighed. She left her post and approached the two pirates, smiling the whole way.

"You got a lot of guts lady! Too bad for you though! Hehehe!" Octo jested.

Rouge didn't bother to reply. She called upon her talents as a Firedancer, drawing flames from her body as she danced. Then she sent a burning blow to Octo's face, crushing his purple tinted glasses. In another moment she had Puss's great club pretending to be a torch as it quickly burned away. Octo and Puss fell to their knees in front of the dancer.

"Please don't kill us yer greatness! We be only following orders! We already have enough on our mind about finding a new place to sail! Kraken a be sure to kill us if we fail both times!" Octo pleaded.

"Captain threaten us if we don't sail somewhere new too." Puss allotted.

"I don't care! I'm about to send you flying out the way you came!" Rouge said.

"Wait a second Rouge! This could be of use!" Falcon said, as he grew closer.

"How? These two are more pathetic than normal pirates!" Rouge asked.

Falcon looked down at the groveling pirates. "What are your monikers?"

"We be Octo and Puss, your greatness! Don't kill us!" Octo replied.

"Well Octo, I'm Falcon. You say you need to sail south somewhere eh? I believe we can work out a deal?" Falcon said.

"Anything your great Falcon sir!" Octo continued to grovel.

"Anything." Puss repeated.

"Good. Look, we need Captain Kraken's help with something down south in Manches, France. You get your Captain to help us, and we'll let you into Manches' port. If you don't, well you'll be either fish food or worm food. Your choice."

"Of coarse Falcon sir! We can do that! Kill two birds with one stone! Hahahaha! Yea, we'll go now and do that right now if you don't mind so just let us go and don't kick us punch us burn us or stab us just let us go down the ladder like this now bye!" Octo and Puss were down the ladder faster than the wind.

Rouge looked at Falcon. "Do you think it will work?"

Falcon puffed out his chest. "Of coarse it will. It is my idea."

** *