Under the direction of Captain Scurvy, the rag tag crew was finally coming into their own as they made their preparations. None of the remaining Toons had ever been on a boat this large. Most had not even been on the small Donald's Dock boat, and now they would be part of the most important expedition Toontown had been on since Funny Farms was discovered. The Toons were given adequate time to get their affairs in order, and to ensure that any loose ends were not missed. Calypso had stepped away from the rest of the group and walked over to a quiet area closer to a shipment of crates. Holding his whisper device to his ear, he listened nervously as the ringing continued, two, three, four times. "The Toon you are trying to reach is not available to take your call at this time. "Marbles Cousteau" is not available at this time. Please leave a whisper after the beep." Calypso closed his whisper device and sighed. Scurvy had warned them that whisper devices would not work well once they got outside the limits of Toontown proper. Calypso had called four times, but every time it had gone to voicemail. Not being able to hear his son's voice one last time was certainly weighing on his mind and heart as he made his way back to the others were were hauling large boxes of supplies.
"Aye matey. Be ye getting a hold of your boy?" Scurvy turned around and faced Horsenado and John B who had let a rope slip through their hands, dropping a crate back to the dock below with a loud thud. "Avast ye scallywags! Be trying to send me to an early grave! Dead Toons tell no tales and neither do they be heading a crew. Now get them supplies up all ship shape!" the blue cat had noticed that their navigator was looking down immediately. Clacking their way down the long plank that connected the ship to the dock, Scurvy sighed. "Bucko, I ain't never had no kids of me own, but I know the worry you be feelin'. Tis never easy to leave behind one ye love, but we have a job to do. These landlubbers be amazing mateys, but they be quite inexperienced in the voyage. I need ye matey."
"Thanks, Captain. I have been having second thoughts. I mean, you have a dream your entire life. You plan it, soaking in the most minute detail. In your mind it is your destiny. Something so unthinkably meant for you, it is unconscionable to imagine it not happening. But then it does happen and suddenly everything feels like a nightmare. I mean, I'm thirty-eight. I have a job. I have a son. Can I really just drop all of that to go sailing off into the nothingness?"
Scurvy placed an arm around the blue duck's shoulder and laughed. "Yo ho ho! Don't be gettin' weak in the legs now me boy. Take it from this old sea-dog. I searched out that dream for naught but a score and four years and never found it. But I wouldn't trade it for all the booty in Toontown if it had found me old Melville. Your boy will be proud of his old dad. Sometimes ye need to let yourself be free from the oar chains and let the wind blow through yer sails."
"Thanks, Captain. You're right. Why stay somewhere I am unhappy? I'll never get this opportunity again. Plus I couldn't ask for a better bunch of hearties to take this voyage with!" pausing Calypso scratched his head. "It's hearties, right?"
Horsenado had never worked this hard in his entire life. Valentoons generally disliked physical labor, and he was no exception. Hauling up one last crate of noodles, the red and cream horse dropped backwards and laid on the cool, wooden planks of the ship's floor. "Who needs this much spaghetti? Captain wasn't kidding when they said their favorite food was sea-salt spaghetti." he joked to a blue dog who was trying to push the crate over towards another large stack of boxes.
"Yeah. What even is that? Like, do we just get sea water to boil it? I brought my own food. No offense to the captain, but I'd rather not die on this journey." the dog struggled to get the crate over the small cracks in the wooden flooring, causing the edges of the box to get stuck. "Hey man, can you come help me mate?" widening his eyes, the dog screeched. "Oh cog, I'm already talking like them!" reaching for his eye, the dog breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew still there!" Horsenado and the dog chuckled as the pair helped to finish moving the heavy supplies together. Dusting their hands the pair went and leaned over the railings, staring into the deep blue waves slapping the hull like the boat owed it money. "So, I didn't really want to tell anyone, but I think I can trust you..."
"Me? I mean, yeah absolutely you can Mariner. But why me? We just met like two days ago." Horsenado was honored by his new crew mates' words. "What's up?"
Pondering his response, Mariners reached into his pocket and pulled out a small picture. "This is my sweetheart. Her name is Jade."
"She's beautiful, Mariner. Actually, she kind of looks like Calypso. Well, you know. If Calypso was a girl and all. Have you guys been together long?" Horsenado smiled, trying to cheer up his new friend.
"I guess. About eight months." pocketing the picture, Mariner kicked out his foot between the small gaps in the metal poles that barred them from falling overboard. "The only reason I'm doing this is for her. She's a sheriff in the Rangers. She works extremely hard and she does so much for me. Honestly, you could say she saved my life. Well, she literally saved my life. I'll have to tell you that story someday. Anyways, I've been out of work almost since the day she met. I started my own business and it failed miserably. Well this whole time she's been supporting me y'know? I try to help around the house and do nice things for her, but how can that relate when she's been working double shifts to support me. When I was told that they were paying almost two years my old salary for a few weeks work, I had to jump at it. I didn't even ask what it was about. I just agreed. I want to buy a really nice ring to propose with. I want to be able to buy our own estate. I want to, I don't know, I just want to make her realize how much I appreciate everything she does for me."
Sobbing on the inside, Horsenado tried to keep composed. "Mariner. I guarantee she knows. I can't say I really understand what it feels to be in love or anything, but how could she not love you? You're a bigger catch than Holey Jack! She's going to be real proud of you when we get back!"
"...If we get back." Mariner whispered.
"What was that, buddy?" the red horse inquired.
Walking away, Mariner shook his head. "We both heard the story, Five-o. Let's just hope you're right."
"Hey guys. What do you think this is for?" Edmund started climbing up the lookout pole and laughing to himself. "I bet I can see my estate from here!" the young brown dog finally reached the top and gallantly gazed on the rooftops of the buildings below him. "Nope, nevermind!"
"What a goofball." Cross pinched her nose. "I mean, I know he's younger than me but how do you not know what a lookout tower is?" staring up, the yellow mouse cupped her hands and screamed out. "Come on, hurry down! We still have to get a few things done and I'm not letting you out of it!"
A green crocodile wiped his forehead as he carried a few small boxes across the deck. "Come on you two, stop fooling around. I'm older than BOTH of you and I'm breaking my back over here. The least you could do is give this old man a breather... and let him go check out the lookout tower!" pushing his way around Edmund who had just descended the ladder, the older crocodile chuckled as he stared down at the pair of younger Toons. "Suckers! Now get to work you bilge-sucking, scallywags!" spinning around and taking in the sight, John B was too preoccupied to care about his aching back.
"I guess he's right. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can relax in the sun. I've never been on a cruise after all!" Edmund grinned with anticipation.
"This isn't a cruise, doofus. We're the crew! Now... once we get paid? I think maybe I will go on a cruise after that. Watch somebody else do all the back-breaking work. Sounds like fun! Drinking seltzer water, dancing, karaoke! Sounds like paradise!" Southern squeaked, clapping her hands quickly.
Sliding down the ladder, John B stood and gave the Toon Salute to the pair. "John B, here to report! At o' four-hundred a captain approaches, sir!"
"Blow me down! Ye all be done with the haul? I say this may already be the best crew me eye has laid on since I started sailin'." Scurvy nodded impressed as the entire " Ye all be done with your work and we still have an hour remaining! How about we all celebrate with some of me famous spaghetti?"the blue cat chuckled as the other three ran off looking for work to be done. "Blimey! Didn't know me dish was that popular, they practically overboard with excitement!"
With one last push, the crew had finished their pre-voyage work. All of the supplies had been loaded and secured, this time actually impressing Scurvy who had been busy making one last check of the ship. "Lookin' mighty fine, buckos!" Captain yelled out, as he stood on the upper deck and watched his crew shuffle their feet. "I think we best be getting an idea of what's going on before we set sail. Everybody has their assigned role. Ain't nobody to be deviating from their positions or it could spell doom for us all. Now if everybody be ready, I let our navigator take over!"
Calypso stood blankly for a few seconds waiting, before realizing Scurvy was referring to him. "Oh, yeah. Sorry, that's me. Not used to that yet." making his way to the front of the group, the blue duck bowed. "Well everybody. My name is Calypso and I will be your navigator on this trip. Like everybody else here, I don't actually know a lot about sailing. I do know a bit about history though. Now, through written records, Histoonians have gotten an estimate of where the first Toons came from and how long it took them to get here. Diary logs from a Toon who was on the first voyage to Toontown show the ship sailed for about twenty-four days. Now, this was a much more primitive time, technologically. Plus, this was with no real direction or goal. They were initially just out searching for coconuts and ended up discovering Toontown and staying there. Some of the records are lost, but based off of landmarks I assume we will be sailing head north and continue straight. It should be a pretty straight-forward journey. I'd anticipate with no major disruptions that it should take us about two weeks. Of course we will re-evaluate if needed. Any questions?"
"Aye, I have a question. When be dinner?" Horsenado joked, getting a burst of laughter from the nervous crew.
"You be walkin' the plank if you be impersonatin' your beloved cap'n like that, sailor. You all must be exhausted after that long day. How bout' we rest up and relax and kick off fresh in the morning. This be a good time for everyone to find their quarters and get comfortable. For the next few weeks, these will be your home. Don't want anyone to hand the jib when they decidin' they not happy with their choices." licking their lips Scurvy felt their stomach growling. "Old belly be tellin' me it's time for some grubb. If anyone be hungry, join me in the barracks for a nice meal. You mateys won't regret my ol' spaghetti. I use real sea water! Gives it that authentic taste."
The crew all politely excused themselves to find their rooms and make themselves comfortable for the long journey. Everybody except for Horsenado. "Aye Captain. Do you really use sea water in your food? That sounds kind of... gross?"
Giggling with glee, Scurvy rested their arm around the young horse. "Tis an old run of the rig on the crew. We got plenty of fresh water. Not a single bit of the sea makes its way onto this ship. Mariner be cookin' up something good later. Young lad ran a fantastic little shanty that went out of business. Real shame it was, he's a good kid. Deserved a break. He'll warm your belly and fill it with vittals til' you burst. You be off now and get yourself ready. We be in for a long trip, sonny."
"Aye aye, Captain!" Horsenado saluted and ran off. Fear all but gone as the excitement and confidence of his captain infected him.