The crew of the Melville gathered around the eating table once they had felt sufficiently distanced away from that horrible island. None of them had really spoken much about what had just happened. Mariner had been healed, but was still suffering from a bit of aching pain, as unfortunately Toonup did not help with that. Everybody sat silently, waiting for Captain Scurvy who made their way across the deck. "Alrighty mateys, sorry 'bout that. Just had to be sure we not runnin' into anything while we meetin'" sitting down in the last empty chair, they gazed around at six confused and distraught faces. "I know we be tryin' to deal with everything that just happened. Tis ain't an easy thing to see that kind of sight. Ain't never in me life have I ever thought I'd witness such a horrible sight. Toons eatin' Toons just ain't right."
"Captain. I was thinking. Maybe it is best that we just turn around and call this one a loss. I mean we almost died. How do we know things won't get any worse? What if that WAS "The Old World?" I don't think it is, but we can't rule it out. We also don't know what "The Old World" would be like if we did find it. How do we know there isn't something worse? I mean the explorers left for a reason. Do we really know that it is safe? What does everyone else think?" Edmund spoke, looking around the silent group before landing his eyes on Horsenado.
The red and cream horse was lost in thought. The image of his sword connecting with that monkey, the lifeless body. Horsenado had killed someone. No matter how he tried to justify it to himself, he had taken a life. He had hid in his room and cried for a bit after, before he was called to join the meeting. Doing his best to stay composed, he listened as the others spoke about their journey. "I think we should keep going." he added in, quietly.
"Five-o..." Cross whispered sadly.
"Guys, we have already made it this far, we can't give up now." Calypso stood up confidently. "Now, the Old World was quite a different place. While we don't have a lot to go off about it, nowhere in any of my studies did it mention cannibalistic Toons. Wherever we just were was not where we are going. Besides, the ancestoons took weeks to reach Toontown. We've been sailing for a day. I know that we're scared. I certainly am. But think how scared our families would be if we aren't able to push on. How long can Toontown last how it is? We need to do this. For our families, for our friends." Calypso looked to Captain Scurvy. "For ourselves."
Edmund bit his lip. "I guess. But I'm just saying we should be a bit cautious."
"How did you get caught anyways, Edmund?" Cross questioned her friend.
"I'm actually not too sure myself. I was running and then the next thing I know I'm waking up in a camp surrounded by monkeys. I guess they knocked me out somehow, but I'm not really sure. I'm really sorry guys. I guess I just feel bad about it. If it wasn't for me this never would have happened." Edmund tried to laugh to cover his own worries and sadness.
Mariner, with bandaged arms and chest shook his head. "Man, don't say stuff like that. None of us could have predicted something like that happening. For all we know, it could have been me if I went. Anyways, we're out and we're safe. Plus the stop wasn't a complete disaster. While you guys were gone me and John found some coconuts. We were able to split a few open and we made a nice treat for everyone. We chopped up the pineapple and it is soaking in the coconut milk!"
"That sounds... disgusting. Pineapple belongs on pizza, not in coconuts" Cross quipped.
"Your loss!"" John licked his hips as he salivated over the milky fruit.
Scurvy laughed watching the crew shift from the heavy topic to something more lighthearted. "Mateys. You all be the best crew a Captain could ask fer. I agreein' with Calypso. I think we best keep lookin'. It be gettin' late though. This old body has had enough fer one day. Think gonna go lie down. Now the ship should be okay. Sail is down and the skies be clear. If anything come up, please wake me." standing up, the blue cat stretched their arms and yawned. Waving goodnight to the crew, they walked down the stairs and into the sleeping quarters. Nearly dragging themselves into bed, Scurvy embraced the warm, soft bed. Digging themselves into the safety of the blankets, the blue cat drifted to sleep.
Scurvy's eye powered itself to open. The blue cat winced in pain as their body fully came alive. The sound of medical equipment beeping and buzzing alerted them that they were no longer out on the sea. Groggily twisting themselves onto their side, Scurvy stared at the interconnected tubes and wires that were attacked to their body. Their mind exploded with thoughts as the memories flooded in. The last they they remembered was being chased by that Holey Mackerel. Had they dreamed it? Such a creature couldn't possibly exist. Flipping back onto their back, the cat could feet an itch discomfortably attacking their leg. Reaching out with their right foot to scratch the itch, they felt a sinking feeling as the scratch was not coming from nails, but rather wood. Panicking, the cat threw off the blanket and screamed. Their leg was missing, and in it its stead was a long, wooden pole. As the cat began reaching around for something to get themselves out of the bed, an emerald green cat wearing a white coat walked into the room in a hurry. "Miss Scurvy, I see you are awake."
Ignoring the misappropriation of their gender, the blue cat reached out and grabbed hold of the doctor. "What happened! Where am I! Where is my leg!" Scurvy stumbled over their words, asking more questions than their brain was capable of processing at once.
"Okay, just calm down please. I know that this must be very overwhelming. Let's just take it slow. Can you please take a deep breath for me?" the doctor grabbed Scurvy's hands and gently loosened the cat's grip. Waiting for the patient to inhale slowly, they smiled. "Very good, Scurvy." pulling a chair from nearby, the doctor sat down. "My name is Doctor Gemstone. I am the head surgeon here at Donald's Dock Memorial. Let's start with that. You're in Donald's Dock. You're safe for what happened, I can only give you what I know. You were brought in by a group of Sea-Rangers who had found your boat wreckage out off in the water. When they found you you were missing your leg and bleeding out. Fortunately they were able to find you in time to stop the bleeding and get you here safely. We can't say what happened to the limb though. Unfortunately we were unable to find your missing leg so we had to go with our plan B. Unfortunately our best option was a wooden prosthetic."
"Wait! Did you say wreckage! The boat was fine! What happened? Where's Mel?" Scurvy pleaded with the doctor.
Scratching their chin, the older doctor looked at the blue cat like they were speaking in another language. "Oh, Scurvy. Don't you remember? He was eaten by those monkeys. You were there!" suddenly the hospital room had transformed to a jungle clearing. In the middle, a group of monkeys danced around a fire. The doctor had disappeared, and Scurvy was all alone. Standing up, the blue cat, still in their gown walked over. Nobody seemed to notice them walking over. Over the fire, a brown horse sat tied to a large stick which was being slowly rotated. The horse looked up at Scurvy with sad eyes.
"Melville!" Scurvy screamed. Trying to push through the horde, the sea captain was unable to find an opening. More and more monkeys piled in, like a wave the Toons washed over Scurvy and pushed them further from their fiancee."Mel! Mel!" further and further they were pushed away. More and more monkeys of every shape, size, and color crowded around the fire, screeching and laughing. Letting out one last bloodcurdling scream. Scurvy fell and looked to the sky.
Bursting from underneath the blankets, Scurvy gasped for air as they scanned the dark room. Reaching up, they felt their brow which was drenched in a sweat. gathering themselves, they reached over and checked their clock. Nearly midnight. They had been asleep for hours. Reaching down, they felt for their right leg. Still wooden. Kicking their legs out over the bed, the blue cat felt their bare feet press against the cool wood. They needed some water. Walking across through the darkness, they felt their way until they found the doorknob, slowly pulling open the door and stepping outside. There were few things as beautiful to Scurvy as a clear night on the sea. Away from the city lights, the stars in the sky gleamed down, illuminating the empty boat. The moon in the sky was big and round, much like the horse who was standing up on the second deck staring off into the water. Ignoring their thirst, Scurvy clambored up the stairs and quietly joined the horse gazing off onto the water. "Aye, Five-o. What ye be doin' out here this late?"
Looking at his captain, Horsenado shrugged. "I just couldn't sleep. Needed some fresh air... What are you doing up, Captain?"
"Same as ye matey. Just havin' a rough time I guess. What's on your mind matey?"
Sighing, Horsenado felt a tear roll down their cheek. Watching as the salty stream slowly descended his face, dropping into the sea below. Maybe the sea was just the tears of sad Toons, Horsenado thought to himself. "Captain... Have you ever hurt somebody, or you know... killed them?"
Pondering the question, Scurvy sighed. "I'm not sure about that myself, Five-o. There are times I ask me self the same question. If me and Mel didn't go out on the boat that day. I took us out so far, wanted to show off me craft."
"Oh, Captain. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked..." the red horse scowled at his question.
"No. No, please don't be sorry. It's been a long time now. Ain't nothin' this old captain can do to change history. Are ye still thinkin' about that monkey ye slayed?" Scurvy wrapped his arm around the horse who was now sobbing. "Shh. Shh. It be okay matey."
Horsenado wiped their eyes and tried to remain calm. "Captain. I took a life. Who knows if that monkey had a family? What if he had children? They will never know!"
Scurvy stood back and turned Horsenado to face them. "Horsenado. Just imagine how Mariner's family would be feelin' if they found out he wasn't comin' home. What about Calypso or cog forbid your family? You don't think they'd be feelin' somethin' awful if you met an early demise? Son, you did one of the hardest thing a Toon could ever do, and did so admirably. Those savages have taken more lives than we probably know. They be understandin' the way of life they chose. Don't be beatin' yourself over things, pal. Things gonna work out alright. If you really wanna make up for what ye did, then live. Live a long life. Help others." Scurvy hugged the young horse who was young enough to be their grandson.
"Thanks, Captain. You're right. No use crying now. We can't change the past, we can only look forward to the future." looking back up to the stars, Horsenado managed a small laugh. "Hey, Captain. What do you think The Old World will be like?"
"Arrrgh, Things like that be hurtin' my brain. I just hope whatever it be like, there be more of that pineapple. Never knew it would taste good in coconut milk. Guess even an old fogey like me is capable of trying new things." The pair stared silently, watching as the boat slowly drifted through the calm waters. The sound of the waves brushing against the ship was music to their ears.