CHAPTER 11

Several days went by before One and Leena finally arrived at Oceantown. During the trip, Leena had been especially distant, silently protesting One's decision to give up pursuit of Rottenbeard. She knew she couldn't force him to do anything, and even though she was annoyed, she had to admire him. One was a good, honest man, and he never went against his word. He told her father he'd bring her back, and that's what he was doing. He promised Rottenbeard to help take back the ship from the ghosts, and he stuck to it to the end. He even saved that conniving no good pirate's life, at the risk of his own.

As much as she tried, Leena couldn't stay angry at the above average hero for long. There was something about him, something that put her at ease, and made her feel completely safe. Even though they had barely spoken the entire journey home, she began to realize how strongly she felt for him.

- - - - - - - - -

With the S.S. Infinity docked at the Oceantown ship port, One and Leena made their way up the steps leading to the town hall. Captain Harvey had appeared at the entranceway, looking incredibly relieved at the sight of his daughter.

"Thank you, One." said an emotional Captain Harvey as he came to meet them, and hugged his daughter tightly. When they had finished, Captain Harvey lead them both into the building and up to his office. The entire building was incredibly fancy, and very spacious, with white marble walls and priceless antiques scattered throughout.

"I must admit, I had my doubts that you'd succeed." confessed Captain Harvey, as he sat at his desk. "But you have obviously proven me wrong. Please know that I am truly grateful for your help in bringing my daughter home. May I ask what you will be doing now?"

"I'm going after Rottenbeard again." One quickly replied and turned to face the door, a look of determination on his face.

Leena grew wide eyed as she took in what he had said. He was going to do it! He was going to go and catch Rottenbeard after-all!

"But you've already found your crystal and saved my daughter." countered John Harvey, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Well like they said, I've seen and heard too much to just walk away now." admitted One, as he turned back around. "I have to bring him to justice."

John Harvey nodded in understanding, and leaned forward in his desk.

"How will you know where to find him?"

"I've got a pretty good idea." replied One. "When we were in Rottenbeard's cabin, I noticed a map. Every town had a large red X through it, except for one. It was called Lazytown."

"You think he's headed there?" asked John Harvey, intently.

"I'm sure of it. It's the last town on his list." One explained. "After that, who knows where he'll go. He has to be stopped now."

"Alright, I'll get my best men and ships to go with you."

One raised his hand, and shook his head.

"No, you must let me do this alone, Captain. The more ships we have, the easier we'll be spotted. I need to catch him by surprise."

"Very well. I'll give you a head start." agreed Captain Harvey. "But we'll come shortly afterwards, just in case you need back up."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Good luck, One." said Leena softly, as he headed toward the door. He stopped for a moment, surprised to hear her voice, as she had been unusually quiet ever since he had forced her to return home. He turned and smiled at her. Deep down he wished she was coming with him again. He found her presence to be strangely uplifting, and he knew he was going to miss it. He then took a deep breath, and without wasting another second, turned to the exit once again, and hurried to his ship.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Lazytown? What kind of a name be that?" asked Zigzag as he steered the pirate ship across the sea, towards the large land mass that had just appeared on the horizon.

"Beats me, Zigzag." replied Tricks from up in the crows nest. "But it sounds like the cap'ns kinda town!"

Quicksail was busy fixing the door on the cabin that Rottenbeard had smashed, but stopped for a moment and turned to his crew-mates.

"What be the big deal about this Lazytown place, anyway?" he asked, to no one in particular.

Pinchpenny cleared his throat as he prepared to impart his vastly superior knowledge on his lowly subordinates.

"It be the only town we 'avent plundered yet, of course!" he explained, pompously. "Once we loot this town, we move onto the eastern sea!"

"Aye, ye be correct there Pinchpenny." said Rottenbeard, as he surfaced from below deck and joined his crew. "Lazytown is prime lootin' grounds, me hearties. The lubbers there be so lazy, I reckon they won't be puttin' up much of a fight when we walk out with all their booty."

"Booty.." cooed Pinchpenny, practically foaming at the mouth. "I want it all!"

"Easy there laddie, it'll be ours soon enough!" Rottenbeard assured him with with a slight look of concern. Sometimes he wondered about Pinchpenny. His habit of going completely loony whenever treasure was involved was a little disturbing.

"LAND HO!" Tricks voice suddenly blared from above, informing her crew that they were about to arrive.

Quicksail hurried to drop the anchor, while Tricks climbed down from her perch, and Zigzag positioned the ship.

"Alright me buckos, we're gonna split up!" ordered Rottenbeard, as he threw large empty sacks to his crewmen. "I want each of ye to loot a different side of town! Take all that ye can carry!"

"Yo ho!" they all shouted at once, and prepared to go ashore.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Um, mayor, you might want to come take a look at this." a woman said nervously at the second story window of the Lazytown city hall.

"What is it?" asked the Mayor groggily as he awoke from a nap on his favourite couch.

"Just come and see, I think we're in some serious trouble!" the female secretary warned.

The Mayor reluctantly rolled off of the couch, and dragged himself over to the where she was standing.

He yawned and rubbed his eyes as he peered out of his office window.

"Oh my!" exclaimed the mayor as he spotted what his secretary had been looking at. "It looks like pirates. Yes, there appear to be pirates coming over that hill! I wonder what they want?"

They watched the advancing pirates charge down the hill and into Lazytown, where they then split up, each breaking into different houses.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Who are you?" asked a frightened man, who's family dinner had just been interrupted by a large bearded pirate holding a sword.

"I be Rottenbeard, ya lazy swabs!" he barked, the front door to the house still swinging behind him. "Gimme all yer valuables!"

"Okay, it's all yours, just please don't hurt my family!" he pleaded.

Rottenbeard laughed as he stomped past them and into their bedrooms, where he loaded the valuables up in his sack. When he had finished, he made his way back through the kitchen and noticed the family was still sitting at the table eating their meal. He frowned, and with a mighty kick, sent the table crashing to the floor, food and all. Finally satisfied, Rottenbeard departed from the house and moved on to pillage the remaining homes in his section of town.

- - - - - - - - - -

When the pirate crew had looted every last house in town, they all met up in front of city hall.

"Cap'n that was the easiest lootin' we ever done!" enthused Zigzag, as he rummaged through his sack, looking at what he had collected.

Quicksail dropped his sack on the ground in front of him, and dusted off his hands.

"Yea, you were right cap'n, none of these people even tried to stop us!"

"Aye I told ya." smirked Rottenbeard. "They be weak, cowardly, and most of all, lazy!"

"Shouldn't we be on our way Cap'n?" asked Pinchpenny, obviously eager to start sorting out this new treasure they had collected.

Rottenbeard scratched his beard for a moment, and tapped his foot as he thought something over.

The crew looked at each other, and shrugged their shoulders, clueless as to what he could possibly be thinking about.

"No Pinchpenny me boy." Rottenbeard finally replied. "We'll be stayin' here in Lazytown for awhile, methinks."

"Stayin'?" questioned Tricks, angrily. "What in the blazes for?"

Rottenbeard walked over to his cheery female crewman, and rested his elbow on her shoulder as he spoke to his crew.

"Listen up." he told them. "These lubbers be so lazy, I reckon we be able to take over the whole bloody town and no one could do nothin' about it!"

"Aye cap'n, I suppose so." grumbled Tricks. "Just get yer stinkin' arm offa me!"

"Good lass." Rottenbeard smiled, patted the back of her head, and began walking towards the town hall. His crew scurried after him.

- - - - - - - - - -

Just as they arrived at the front entrance, a man emerged from inside, and stood at the doorway.

"Get a load of this guy." Tricks chuckled, nudging Quicksail.

"You there! I'm Morris Meanswell, the mayor of Lazytown." stated the pudgy, bald headed man standing before them. "What is the meaning of all of this?"

"We be pirates and we're takin' yer town, Mayor." snarled Tricks as she unsheathed her sword.

"Oh dear, won't you reconsider?" asked the Mayor, holding up his hands in surrender.

"Afraid not." answered Quicksail with a shake of his head. "And we won't be leavin' for a long time, neither!"

"Any money you make goes straight to ME!" instructed Pinchpenny, pointing at himself as he spoke.

"And I want yer food!" added Zigzag, reaching out, and prodding the Mayor in the stomach with his finger.

The Mayor looked up at the tall pirate, who still had yet to say a single thing.

Rottenbeard shrugged his shoulders, as if it were out of his control.

"Yarr! Me crew has spoken!"

"Who are you?" squeaked the Mayor, still holding up his hands.

"I be Rottenbeard, the captain of this bunch of scalleywags. Now get outta the way, we're takin' over!" he ordered, shoving the Mayor aside, so he and his crew could invade the town hall.

The mayor watched them disappear into the building, and sighed.

"Well alright.. I suppose there's nothing I can really do..."