(After returning to base, I explain to Vivian what happened at the Xiaolin Temple)

Vivian: Shang Tsung has returned?!

Me: Yeah. He took us down easily with the Eye of Dashi. If Master Fung hadn't stopped him, he'd have taken our souls.

Vivian: That is troubling indeed.

Me: Sofia and the others need to recover. Keep an eye on them until I return.

Vivian: Where are you going in a hurry?

Me: There's something I need to pick up.

(I leave Vivian to treat their injuries)


Pirate101: The Pirates of Lore

Chapter 6: Off the Hook!

The crew made their way to the Kraken Skulls Tavern, where Skinny Pete is the barkeep. They intend to ask him about the Dutchman and his golden hook so that they can trade it for Gordon.

"You lot again! What do ye want this time?" Skinny Pete asked.

"We're here to ask you about the Dutchman's Hook," Lola told him.

"The Dutchman's Gold Hook, eh? Lost it was in the skies with the Marie Celestia – she foundered with her whole crew. Well, nearly the whole crew."

"Nearly?" Ryan asked.

"Old Jim Doyle was just a slip of a lad when the Dutchman took him on as a Cabin Boy. Not many know that about him," Skinny Pete told his tale. "They found him floating in the Skyway on a barrel of hardtack, white as a ghost and quiet as the grave. He's the only survivor of the wreckage who knows what happened to that ship. You'll find his shack nearby down the beach. I'd ask him about that hook."

"A shack down at the beach, huh? Thanks, Pete," Hunter thanked the barkeep and left the tavern. Lindsey looked suddenly solemn.

"What's wrong, Lindsey?" Kyle asked.

"Jim Doyle was the last survivor of the wreckage, right?" Lindsey told them. "He must've seen something so haunting to make him hide around here."

"Lindsey, I know you're concerned about Jim, but that hook is our only chance of rescuing Captain Gordon. Wilhelmina will be devastated if we fail." Hunter assured her.

"You're right. I must focus on the mission at hand," Lindsey said.

"There you go!" Hunter smiled. They see Jim's shack. Before Hunter can knock on the door, they hear a commotion inside. "Sounded like someone beat us to him. Come on!" They bash their way inside and see some rats interrogating Jim.

"Alright, you old coot! You know that Golden Hook, right?" One of the rats, Louis Jerry interrogated. "I like it, I like it! You're gonna tell me where it is." He notices the crew. "What? Who are you?"

"So you're after the hook as well, huh?" Hunter glared. He draws his pistol. "If anyone's getting that hook, it's us!"

"Don't be so sure! Let's get them, lads!" Louis and his goons attack the crew. Sarah Steele crosses swords with another mouse fencer. Kyle and Lola fought off more rats and Ryan finishes off Louis with some cover fire.

"I thank ye all, young Pirates," Jim thanked the crew.

"No problem, but from what we saw, I think everybody's after the hook these days," Lola said.

"Those rats are muscling in all over the Island. And now they want the Dutchman's Hook." Jim Doyle told them.

"That's what we're looking for!" Hunter confirmed.

"That Hook, an' what happened to the Dutchman… it chills my bones to think of it. The Dutchman was desperate to make up for lost cargo."

"Lost cargo?" Ryan asked.

"He heard tell of a case of Mojo Potions some Witchdoctor was hoarding. If he brought that case back to port, it'd pay for all his loss and more!"

"Captain, a Mojo Potion is the greatest cure ever!" Sarah noted.

"Sarah's right! They're more valuable than Yum-Yum Fruit!" Barnabus agreed.

"Aye, they fetch a pretty penny. I guess that's why the Dutchman went so mad when the Witchdoctor wouldn't give them up." Jim continued the tale.

"So out of desperation, he forcibly took the case?" Lindsey asked.

"Yes, and for that, the Witchdoctor cursed the Captain and his ship to never return to port! Sure enough, as we rounded about the Cape, we were seized by clouds of ghosts!" Lindsey shivered at the thought of ghosts. "They dragged the Marie Celestia into a cave called Perdition's Cauldron. Woe betides any that seek that place. I was able to jump ship before she foundered in the Cauldron. The screams of the crew still haunt my dreams. If the Hook still exists, she's in there."

"So that's where the Hook is. Well, I suppose we need to visit this Cauldron ourselves." Egg Shen suggested. They left Jim's shack.

"I've heard that Perdition's Cauldron is one of, if not THE spookiest places in all the skies," Ryan commented. "That the Hook would be there of all places sends chills down my spine."

"I know it's scary, but we need to get that Hook. Captain Gordon is counting on us." Hunter reminded his crew. "Wilhelmina won't hear the end of it if we back out now. Besides, the more we twiddle our thumbs, the closer Ratbeard gets to the treasure. If we need to stop him, we need to help those in need!"

The other pirates expressed a sigh. "I guess you're right, Hunter. What kind of pirates are we to deny that?" Kyle spoke.

"Now, on to Perdition's Cauldron!" Everyone boarded the makeshift ship and headed to Perdition's Cauldron. Once they're inside, they feel an eerie vibe from the look of the cave alone.

"Perdition was a good name for this place. This is the spookiest place I've ever sailed to." Sarah commented.

"See? What did I tell you? This cave didn't get its name for nothing." Ryan agreed.

"Yeah, and if Jim is correct, the Marie Celestia must be… there!" Hunter spots the wrecked ship. It is surrounded by debris.

"There's too much debris around the ship for us to dock!" Lindsey noted.

"She is correct! We need another way on!" Wing Chun agreed. From their ship, everyone searched for another way onto the wreckage until Subodai spots five longboats lined up near a platform.

"There! That platform has some longboats! We can use them to row across!"

"Good thinking, Subodai," Hunter complimented as he moored the ship to the platform. They make their way to the Marie Celestia with the longboats. The ship is full of ghosts and undead pirates.

"We need to find the Dutchman. The captain's quarters will be aft – but it looks like we'll have to fight our way to the door." Bonnie Anne noted.

"Ghosts. Why did it have to be ghosts?" Ryan groaned. With their teamwork, the crew easily took down the ghosts guarding the door to the Dutchman's chamber. They get to the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"No good – it's blocked on the other side!"

"So much for the easy way in," Sarah groaned.

Kyle turned to the bow and saw an open hatch. "Guys, over there! We can make our way to his quarters through that hatch!"

"Great idea, Kyle!" Lindsey smiled.

"But the undead guard the other door as well – we must fight!" Wing Chun pointed out, spotting the Skeletal Pirates. They fight their way through the skeletons.

"This door's not blocked – let's get below!" Bonnie Anne noted as they enter the forward cabin. They are blocked by a few ghost pirates.

"Dead men tell no tales – and neither shall ye!" They fight off the ghostly crew.

"Those must the ghosts of the Dutchman's crew," Kyle noted.

"We've found the crew, now to get that Hook. Let's cut through the Hold, eh what?" Emmet spoke. They enter the hold and see that it is deep and full of ghosts and undead pirates.

"Welcome to Perdition, Pirates. Ye're never leaving!"

The crew took on the ghosts. Lindsey and Ryan gave them cover fire while Lola and Kyle fought them up close. They easily beat them and send them plummeting down to the bottom of the hold.

"Be careful, guys. One wrong step and you'll be at the bottom of the Cauldron before you know it." Bonnie Anne warned them. They clear the hold of the enemies before them.

"It's not in here," Lola sighs.

"That Hook better be in the Captain's Cabin or we've run a fool's errand," Sarah Steele commented. They finally reach the captain's cabin, where they find the Floating Dutchman and his Golden Hook.

"Come to take me Hook, have ye? Not over our dead bodies!" The Dutchman snarled.

"That's funny, seeing he's already dead," Ryan quipped.

"Joke all you want, my cabin shall be your tomb!" The Dutchman hissed as he blasted Lola and Kyle with green gas.

"Lola! Kyle!" Hunter shouted. They recover from that attack, but when they open their eyes, they glow green. They stand up like they're in a trance.

The Dutchman laughs. "Your friends are in MY crew now! An' soon I'll take the rest of you!"

"Not a chance, Dutchman!" Hunter yelled as he started attacking the Dutchman. "Everyone! I can handle the Dutchman! Cover me, but don't hurt Kyle and Lola!"

"Right!" His crew responds as they fought the possessed pirates. Hunter and the Dutchman clashed swords. The Dutchman had the momentary advantage, but Hunter outsmarted the ghost and knocked him to the floor.

"Care to surrender, Dutchman?" Hunter aimed his sword at the Dutchman's head.

"Hahahahaha! Foolish Pirate!" The Dutchman laughed. "You cannot kill what is already dead!"

Hunter glanced at the Golden Hook. He sheathes his sword. "You're right. I can't kill you." He spoke, earning a confused glance from the Dutchman. "…But I can take your Hook!" With one swift motion, Hunter grabbed the Hook attached to the Dutchman.

"NO! That Hook is what gives me life!" The Dutchman yelled as he started fading away. He limped to Hunter.

"Sorry, but there are lives more honorable than yours, Dutchman," Hunter told the ghost honorably right before the Dutchman faded to nothing. With the Dutchman gone, his spell on Kyle and Lola was dispelled.

"Ugh… what happened?" Kyle asked.

"The Dutchman struck you two and possessed you, but I was able to break it when I took this off him," Hunter revealed the Golden Hook in his hand.

"Now we have the Hook. I believe Captain Gordon and Wilhelmina will be pleased. And Buster, too." Egg Shen said. They left Perdition's Cauldron right quick.

Lola shivered. "Remind me never to go back there ever again."

"I'll make a note of that, Lola, but for now, let's get this Hook back to Buster. He's waiting for us." Ryan said. They make their way back to Red Hook Cave and bring Buster and his gang the Golden Hook.

"You lot actually got the Hook?" Buster Crab asked in shock. "I didn't think you all had it in you! Ye're full of surprises, Pirates. We're much obliged. Not that I fancy letting our good Captain Gordon go… but an accord's an accord. Take this Rat back to his lady friend." A pair of Crabs released Gordon. "Ye'd best avoid me from this time forward, little Pirates. Next time, you might not see me fast enough for Miss Annie to wave the white flag."

"Thank you all. I thought I had my doubts about you, but I was wrong." Captain Gordon said to the Pirates.

"You can thank us after we bring you back to Wilhelmina," Kyle said as they left the cave. They return to Gordon's house, where Wilhelmina waited for them.

"Wilhelmina!" Hearing his voice, Wilhelmina turned and saw her fiancée hale and hearty.

"Gordon, you're back!" Wilhelmina shouts with joy. "It's a miracle. Oh, Pirates, you've answered my prayers."

"Anything to help a lady in need," Lola smiled.

"Go tell Moe all is forgiven. Tell him he's made me the happiest girl in Skull Island skies!" Wilhelmina told them. The crew nodded as they left. Ryan looked back and saw them share an affectionate kiss. Ryan couldn't help but smile, knowing that he and his friends made those two very happy.

"I'll admit it. I'm happy for those two." Ryan admitted.

"It warms my heart knowing that they'll be together forever," Lindsey smiled.

"Same here. Let's give Moe the good news." Hunter said as they returned to Traitor's Cave and informed Moe of Wilhelmina's happiness.

"I thank you all. Now that I know Wilhelmina's happy, I can rest easy. Tell Lasko we're square." Moe gave them his final request as he departed. The Pirates turn to him.

"Moe's spirit is set free? I'm glad to hear it, I thank ye."

"Now that Manny and Moe are departed, all that's left is to solve Jack's troubles, right?" Ryan asked.

"Yes. You do this, and I'll reveal to you everything I know of Ratbeard."

With Manny and Moe departed for the afterlife, the crew finally turned to Jack.

"You must be Jack," Lola guessed.

"Aye and there is a great burden on my shoulders," Jack told them. "Before joining Ratbeard's crew, I worked for Captain Avery."

"At least we know he was in good hands," Ryan commented.

"However, there was a shameful secret I kept. The Cutthroats were paying me to spy on him."

"The Cutthroats sent you to spy on Avery?" Lindsey asked.

"Yes. I had the feeling they're up to something, something big, but I never learned what. The shame of my betrayal's too much – I can't rest 'til I know Avery is safe! I used to meet the Sharks in a cave just through that pool." The crew saw a small pool near the table. "I was due to meet them after dinner, but you saw how that turned out."

"What can we do?"

"I want you to go down to Grimtooth Cavern and lie in wait, and maybe you can wring the plan out of them! Please Pirates, help ease my conscience." They didn't hesitate to accept Jack's request. There has to be some kind of plan the Sharks are concocting and the crew will find out what it is, even if they have to beat it out of them.


(Within hours, I return with a small bag)

Vivian: You sure took your time. What did you pick up?

Me: I visited Korin and he gave me this bag of Senzu Beans.

Vivian: Senzu Beans?

Me: Yeah. Eat one of these and you'll be back to full strength. Watch.

(I feed Terra one of the beans from the bag. As soon as it hits his throat, he jolts awake, feeling much stronger)

Terra: Whoa! Suddenly, I'm feeling a lot better!

Vivian: Amazing!

Me: Sure is! I kept one on me in case someone got the drop on us. Give these to the rest of them, okay?

Vivian: Sure thing.

Me: I'll see where Kano went. Please review. Stay safe!