Horsenado had mixed feelings about being out on the open water once again. After all, it was only a week ago when a storm had ripped him from his friends and nearly killed him. Now he was back out here, consciously waiting for the same to happen again. The crew of the Sunshine, the ship that Melville's crew had procured, was certainly much more prepared than his crew was. While larger, they were much more organized. Everybody played their roles and stuck to them perfectly, not a hair was out of place. The ship's chef, a Koala named Dodongo, had made an incredible spread of different breakfast foods for the crew to enjoy. Horsenado wasn't hungry though, as his stomach was still tossing and turning as he adjusted to the water. Melville, in the middle of chewing on a piece of toast, waved at his fellow horse to come eat. "C'mon, son. Not gonna do yourself any favors if you don't fill up that stomach. An empty stomach is just as vulnerable to the waves as a full one. Might as well enjoy yourself in that case?"
The ship's captain, a fox named Cloud clambored down from the second deck to come join the early diners and nodded his head. "Got to agree with him. I've been on a lot of voyages, and not one where I didn't regret not eating. Heck, just a bite is better than nothing, at least that's what I always say."
"You never say that you old coot." an armadillo who was shoving down two plates of pineapple bread quipped between gorging himself on the delicious treat. "You always say something like "Get back to Amy.""
"You're right. Shouldn't you be running the masthead right now? Get back to work, Amy." the fox responded, earning an uproar of laughter from the remaining crew as the armadillo slunk off with their plates of food. "Don't worry Horsenado, we're all friends here. She'll be back when her stomach starts to rumble again."
The red and cream horse convinced himself to sit down at the table and make a token gesture to eat as he conversed with the crew. The prior night he had been introduced to everyone, but had went to his quarters almost immediately after getting on the ship to sleep. There were so many Toons it was difficult to remember everybody's names. Fortunately, there was generally only one of each species, so he could at least memorize by face. With the exception of gorillas, in which there were three of. He kept accidentally referring them to Big Monkey which had caused a noticeable wince from Melville, who was reminded of his old friend he had left behind. "So, how do you guys know where you're going? Have any of you been to Toontown before?"
Cloud chuckled and slid a plate of pineapple bread across to Horsenado. "Not once. However our ships have sailed the seas far and wide in many directions and have never hit Toontown. That just means we need to sail further and we will get there. Melville here has told us you sailed for about three weeks before you were overthrown, so I assume it will take about that long. We have three months of supplies on the ready. Plus we have an expert crew. Even a storm is going to be a bug on the starboard for us. No offense to your crew, I'm sure they're great, but we have decades of experience together. Right everyone?" the crew lifted their glasses and cheered" "I think we could be there in two weeks if the weather holds."
"That's great, Cloud." Melville exclaimed. "Although I sure hope Scurvy and the rest of their crew is doing okay. I wonder what they are up to right now?"
Scurvy stared surprised at the captured Toon. Just minutes before, Cross had come running screaming they had found another "killer monkey" prompting the rest of the crew to come running to their aid. When the blue cat had arrived, much to their surprise, there was something that LOOKED like a monkey. However unlike the other ones they had encountered, this one was dressed and was much calmer. It didn't speak, but it also didn't seem intent on harm. "Aye, this be the trouble causing primate? He ain't look too bad? Heck, he's dressed nicer than any of us be, harr harr." Scurvy chuckled.
Cross scowled. "You don't understand, Captain. He's bigger than that one killer monkey. He could easily kill all of us if he wanted to!"
Ignoring the mouse, Scurvy walked over and pulled out their aoogah sword. Wish a flash from the sunlight, Big Monkey winced in horror was the sharp metal swung down. Much to his, and the rest of the crew's surprise, the only thing it sliced through was the ropes. "We ain't savages and neither be this Toon, crew. Now, maybe I b regretting this but I can't be givin' a Toon a prison sentence or an early death fer doin' nothin' Any of ye even try talking to him?" Scurvy knelt by the large ape who was still shaking in horror as Scurvy sheathed their blade. "Ain't no need to worry, ye gentle creature. We ain't meanin' you no harm. We're just simple travelers on the look out for a new world. Mebbe you can be helpin' out."
"He's not going to understand you, Captain. I mean, we don't even know if they can speak at all." Mariner stood at a distance, physically preparing himself for an attack from the large Toon."
"I very well much can understand you. Calling me a savage? Well listen here, only a true savage would run around capturing innocent Toons on their morning walk. Quite a shame if I do say so myself. I should be asking you all who you are and where you come from? Who taught you manners? Only one of you with any decency is this here creature with the wooden leg. I'm glad that my generation was taught respect for their elders, ahem." Everybody stood, completely stunned. Did-did this monkey just talk? Nobody knew what to say, including Scurvy who nearly stumbled over backwards from pure shock. "What, you were all so eager to speak about me just moments ago. Don't think I wasn't listening to all that poppycock. Now, I ask again. Who are you and why are you here throwing nets onto innocent Toons?"
Everybody looked to each other. After another minute or so of complete silence, Scurvy finally decided as the leader to speak. "You, you can understand us? You can speak our language?" Scurvy's long beheld accent disappeared as a normal dialect broke through, which also confused the crew.
"Well of course I can speak. Didn't I just tell you? We're not a bunch of savages. If anybody is a savage it is you all. I will ask once again, who are you Don't make me seek out additional assistance. Then you might all see what it means to be a savage."
"Sir, we are from a place called Toontown." Calypso who had been ravaging his notepad as quickly as his hands could keep up with his mind had to say something. "I know that likely doesn't mean anything to you. It is a land far from here. It is full of Toons as well. Some that look just like you. We're very sorry for previous actions, as you see on our journey we had been attacked by savage creatures that looked very similar to you. We could not take any chances."
Big Monkey stood up and dusted himself off. "Even then, could bloody well ask somebody's name before throwin' a big old net over them. Anyways, that's behind us now I presume." thinking for a moment, the realization hit Big Monkey. "Wait, did you say Toontown?"
"Wait, you know Toontown?" John stood wide-eyed. Still in amazement at what he was seeing. "How do you know about Toontown?"
Taking a deep sigh, Big Monkey made an arm motion to indicate the crew could follow. "This way. I think it may be easier to show you."
Nobody spoke as they followed the gorilla through the jungle. Emerging from the shade of the trees, they stepped back out onto another sandy beach. To even more surprise, there weren't just Toons here, there was an entire community. Houses made of some kind of weird material with roofs made of giant leaves. Furniture made of driftwood littered the outside on the beaches. Toons, the like the crew had never seen, stopped and stared at them curiously. "Big, what is going on?" a bat whispered as the group walked by.
"I will explain later, Zumba. I believe these are friends of Leader." Big Monkey quietly responded, trying not to bring any more attention on the new visitors. For their part, the Toontown residents tried to take everything in. This couldn't be a dream, this had to be real. There were species of Toons that even fantasy novels could not have predicted. Other than the gargantuan monkey, nobody quite fit any description that Calypso could come up with to relate in his writings.
As the group ascended the hill up to one estate that was separate from the rest, Mariner turned and faced down on the village below. "This is incredible. There is an entire society here. Captain, could this be?"
"Aye, I think it may be. I think we have finally found our Old World." Scurvy stuttered out.
"Old World? You're now the second Toon I've heard reference that? What is this Old World you speak of?" Big Monkey turned and faced the crew, now standing just outside of the home, he scratched his head. "It couldn't be... could it?"
Cross stepped forward and threw her arms up. "Did you say somebody else mentioned it. Who else would know about The Old World? Does that mean somebody beat us here? Wait, if that's the case they must be here! They can help us out in explaining what's going on here. That's probably how this guy knows about Toontown. Other explorers probably came here first!"
"Wait, if that's the case. wouldn't we know about them? After all, we have no record of any explorers recently leaving for The Old World. I guess it's possible somebody set off on a solo journey, but it seems unlikely. Right, Captain?" finally taking his eyes from his pen and paper, Calypso looked to Scurvy, the only one who would really know about that kind of thing.
"Aye, I ain't heard a thing about that matey. Excuse me, sir. Could ye tell us a bit more about this Toon ye spoke to?" holding out the tiniest bit of hope, Scurvy prepared themselves to be disappointed.
Opening the door, Big Monkey ushered inside. "I think it will be easier if I just explain everything at once." the group quickly entered the hut and gazed astounded around. Aside from some furniture, this was almost nothing like a Toontown estate. There was no television! In the main room was a couch, a table, some desks, and a lamp. So there appeared to be electricity here at least, but still, no TV? What kind of savages were these? "Leader has mentioned Toontown before. Actually, when I saw you, um, Captain? Well when I saw you it reminded me of something I had seen before. Although it didn't seem QUITE right. But now that I have spoken to you, its become a bit more clear." the Toons walked into what appeared to be the bedroom. Immediately everybody stopped in their tracks. On the wall immediately in front of them, above the bed, was a painting of a blue cat with an eye patch. It was... Scurvy? It had to be. They didn't see any other cats here.
"Hey, what the heck is going on here?" Edmund pointed to the painting and yelled. "Captain, are you the one he is talking about? Have you been to Old World? is this some kind of prank?"
Scurvy was dumbfounded. It was a near perfect painting, down to the smallest details. Although the cat in the portrait was much younger, as if age was unable to take its toll on them. "I be confounded myself, Edmund." turning to Big, Scurvy teared up and pleaded for an answer. "Please, tell me what is going on. Why am I on this painting?" once again, Scurvy's pirate dialect had all but disappeared, as their voice broke and cracked with desperation.
"I can't say for myself. Leader always kept it in here as long as I can remember. He said it was a lost love, but I always thought it may have been a dream. However, now that I see you, I am a fool to have believed otherwise."
"Leader. This Toon's name was Leader? Who is he? What was he like? Was he the Toon you referred to earlier! Please, just give us some answers!" John begged, falling to his knees. All of the crew was desperate, realizing that they may be on the cusp of something huge. "Please!"
Sighing, Big Monkey sat down on the couch. "Very well. I suppose it would not be blasphemous to speak Leader's name in your company as he appears to be a friend. To us he is known as Leader, but in your world, he was known as Melville."
A few hours had already passed, as Horsenado didn't know what to do with himself. Unlike on the "Melville" where he was generally busy with doing various things, here he was expected to relax as the crew expertly handled everything from mast duty, rowing, cooking, maintenance, and everything in-between. It was still strange to see the Toons refer to Melville as Leader, with the exception of Cloud who called him by his name. Even with Melville's abundance of statements explaining they could call him by his name, the brown horse still appeared to be revered by much of the crew. For some, this translated to treating Horsenado in a similar way, in fear of angering Melville. The red horse mostly stayed in his room. He had found some books in the library that he had found interesting. One was a history book, detailing some of the Island's history. Another one was a piece of fiction, a murder mystery. It intrigued him that even in that world, Toons had many similar interests. Although for them they did not have movies or television, and for story-telling stuck to reading or speaking around the campfire. "Hey, I hope you're decent. Mind if I come in?" Melville knocked on the door and opened it slowly. "Oh, glad you're aware."
Horsenado placed a holder in his book and smiled. "Hey Mel. How are things going out there? Are we there yet?"
"Yeah, I wish. Only about two weeks to go. Just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. You don't have to hang out in here all day. The crew isn't going to bite ya. They're all great Toons. If they tease you it is all in good fun." Melville picked up the book Five-o had been reading and chuckled. "A Brief History of Lime: Island Fruits and How To Use Them. I didn't know you were into cooking, Horsenado."
"Well, not really. Although I'm going to be here for a while so I figure I might as well read. Anyways, it's not that I'm afraid of anybody; they all seem wonderful. I feel bad for not helping. I mean, they are doing a tremendous thing for me and here I am making them do all of the work. I wish I could do something at least." Horsenado slumped forward, causing the mattress to dip forward and causing his book to slide off and hit the ground.
Melville leaned down and picked up the book, then looked to Horsenado, then back at the book, and one more at his friend. "Well, son. I think I may have just got an idea how you can help."
"That would be great! I'll do anything! I'll even clean the bathrooms!" Horsenado jumped up excitedly, ready to be helpful.
"Well, since you seem to have all of this new cooking knowledge, I'm sure that they could use some help in the kitchen. I think we only have one cook, so I'm sure he'd appreciate some help. Wouldn't you say so? Heck, if you're worried I'll even come with you to get started so you don't feel so nervous. How's that sound?"
Immediately jumping at the idea, Five-o was already at the door. "Absolutely! Come on, Mel! Let's do this!" the spry older horse had to use everything in him to keep up with the excited gallop of the much younger Horsenado. It brought him much comfort to see the younger Toon in such high spirits. After all, Horsenado reminded him much of himself in his younger days."
Scurvy and the rest of the crew had become a puddle of tears, confusion, and overall just a giant mess. The name Melville had hit the blue cat like a truck. After asking about thirty follow up questions to ensure Big Monkey was indeed referring to the captain's former lover, it had finally come to realization. Not only was Melville alive, he had been living here for thirty years. The news of Horsenado's arrival hadn't even dawned on them yet. For the rest of the crew, that was the moment of overwhelming emotion. While they had been quite happy for Scurvy, finding our their friend - someone they considered family - was alive? Even Big Monkey was choked up at their reaction. "They're both alive - and they were both here? This whole time, they were both here?" Calypso managed to squeak out. "This is beyond anything Hollytoon could come up with. It's just incredible." the blue duck was unable to even write the incredulous story unfolding.
"Yes, and unfortunately they set off back to Toontown last night. Horsenado and Melville waited a few days in case you guys arrived. What an awful coincidence." Big Monkey lowered his head in disappointment. "If only I had been able to convince him to stay one last day. I am ashamed, please accept my apologies."
"Please don't be apologizin' to us, matey. Ye ain't done nothing wrong. If it weren't fer everyone here, who knows if either of them still be breathing anything but salty water right now. So, ye say they have about a twelve hour head start on us if I had to guess." Big Monkey pondered, looking through the window at the position of the sun. "Well I guess we don't have much time. We best prepare and set off as soon as possible."
The Toon crew looked at each other confused. "What do you mean, we?" John inquired.
"Well I know these waters about as well as any Toon on this island. I used to be a sailor myself. Now I am just a simple land Toon myself. I have a pretty good idea which way they went and I know where they will be going. Of course I would not wish to burden you all."
"We could not ask you for such a huge favor, Mr. Monkey." conflicted, Edmund crouched down and closed his eyes. They had just gotten here and part of him wanted to check it out, as this was nowhere near anything Toontown had. At the same time, he wanted to see Horsenado and the mythical Melville.
Scurvy nodded. "I be agreein' with Edmund. That be too much to ask of one Toon we just recently tried to capture. Although we be glad to buy some of your rations for our return trip as we be runnin' a bit empty."
"Nonsense. Here we do not barter for such things. We all contribute and every Toon is welcome to partake in our flush of riches. Also to be honest, I long for the sea once again. Since I have been married, I have only set out just enough to fish. My heart yearns for the waves, for the smell of the salty water. You, Captain, must surely understand. The open sea is a magical place. To do so while also helping Toons in need? Well that's just a bonus. What say you, may I join you, if even for a short time?" Big Monkey was now the one pleading. Scurvy was only a few years older than Big, yet they completely understood the youthful gaze in his eyes as he spoke about his passion.
"Aye. I say thank you very much. Shall we start preparin'? We don't want to lose too much ground. Honey, I be comin' for you!"