Previously, on Pirates In Love...

Guard 1 - "Take her to the doctor!"

One of the guards scooped me up and began running with me. We hadn't gone far down the road when he barreled through a door into a house. The man inside yelled out in frustration, but quieted immediately when my guard told him the situation. The man, who I assumed was this doctor they spoke of, said to set me down on the table. He tore open my dress so he could begin cleaning my wound. I could feel the cool water running over my chest. It stung so much. It felt so heavy. I coughed violently, spurting blood everywhere. I heard the doctor say, "Oh, that's not good," before I passed out.

The Sirius was barely at half mast, slowly navigating the rocky waters. They had finally reached Skull Island, but first they had to go through the forest of stone pillars to reach the main, also stony, island. The dense fog didn't make things easier. Tattered sails and broken beams were scattered all over these rocks, swirling into view out of the fog. The ship pushed through canals filled with splintered wood. Clearly many ships had come in, and never made it out. Eventually the island came into view. The cliff face was surrounded by circling black birds, who occasionally perched in the divots of the rock face, which eerily resembled a skull. The ship slowly came to a stop as it came up on the sandy shore. The crew disembarked.

Morgan - "This is Skull Island…"
Eduardo - "The map indicates the treasure should be near the base of the mountain over there… On the north side."

Eduardo started walking towards the mountain.

Morgan - "Eduardo, not so fast. Let's look around first, make sure there's no -"
Eduardo - "We don't have time for that, we need to get back to Reiz as soon as possible."
Morgan - "I know that, but if we blindly run into trouble we'll never get back to Reiz."
Russell - "We're the Sirius crew, Cap, we'll be fine!"

Russell followed Eduardo. Morgan sighed. The crew always went amuck whenever they came close to treasure. It usually ended in them getting into some kind of trouble. This time they couldn't afford any recklessness. Thomas didn't have much time left. But he was a fighter, and the crew knew that. No one was too worried about Thomas, except maybe for Christopher. Everyone else was far more worried about their dear Alex. Alex… He knew she could take care of herself, but that girl was a magnet for trouble. On the way here, his chest hurt every time he thought about her.

Morgan - "Be very alert men, no mistakes."
All - "Aye, Cap."

They started toward the mountain, heading into the dense forest, Eduardo leading the way. It became very humid once they got into the thick of it. Eduardo kept looking behind him, a habit he had developed from always checking on Alex whenever they went out together. She had a bad habit of wandering. He gritted his teeth. He had gotten too used to having her around. He found himself getting irritated at the crew since he didn't have her to shout orders at. And he was irritated now, too. Why did it have to be her left behind? He had a bad feeling in his stomach this whole time. He just felt like something bad was going to happen, as it always did when she was out of his sight.

They reached the base of the mountain. The sides were more like sheer cliffs, almost vertical. The rock was wet and shiny from the humidity. It was almost like they were underwater. By now their clothes were sticking to their skin, their faces beading with sweat. They continued around the base of the mountain, to the north side. It looked like they were going in circles, the mountainside looked the same all around.

Eduardo spotted a slim crack in the side of the mountain, enough for two people to fit in. It was pitch black inside. Christopher took a match and lit the lantern they had brought with them. He went into the crack first. A flurry of bats flew out instantly, forcing the crew to duck.

Christopher - "I hope that's the only surprise in here…"

Christopher walked slowly. The ground was uneven and slippery. As they went along, the cave got wider and wider. Pristine stalagmites and stalactites grew larger as they went deeper, and pools of water started to dot the ground. It was silent except for their footsteps, laboured breathing, and the dripping of water.

Christopher was glad that they were finally on Skull Island. The whole time on the ship he worried about Thomas. Would they even find the island, would Earth Palm even be there, and even if it were, would they get back in time? Would it even work, as the legends say? But now he could concentrate on the task at hand, traversing this cave. He could take his mind off Thomas for now, until they got back onto the ship. He tightened his hand into a fist. How was Alex doing, tending to Thomas? He wished he was the one who stayed behind. If Thomas died before the crew came back… He didn't want Alex to be the one to see that. He didn't want Alex to be the one who would feel responsible for it, being the only one there. He knew how that felt, and he didn't want her to go through the same thing. She didn't need anything more added to the weight on her shoulders.

The crew reached a fork in the road.

Nathan - "Which way, Cap?"
Eduardo - "Should we split up?"
Morgan - "No, we need to play it safe this time 'round… Let's go right."

Morgan kicked a stalagmite on the path to the entrance. It broke off.

Morgan - "Now we know which way we came from. Let's go."

The crew continued, alternating their choices whenever they came to a fork in the road. They hoped this would lead them to the centre of the mountain fastest, which is where they assumed the treasure would be. They eventually reached a cavern, but it was small and at the other end was what looked like a large round door. Christopher walked up to the torches on both sides and lit them. The cavern was illuminated.

Strange markings were etched all over the cavern, from floor to ceiling. Eduardo was very curious about them, but they didn't have time to read them. They walked up to the door. It was embedded into the wall, with no edges to grab, push, or pull it open. Morgan scratched his head.

Russell - "Do we need some kinda key or somethin'?"
Eduardo - "There's no keyhole…"
Russell - "What about these things?"

Russell poked at some small stone cylinders jutting out of the wall beside the door. Some were pushed into the wall, some were about a half a foot out.

Morgan - "It could be some kind of code to open the door. Push some in, pull some out."

Russell went to push a cylinder in. Nathan grabbed his hand.

Nathan - "That wasn't an order! We get the wrong code, might be booby trapped."
Russell - "Right."

Morgan and Eduardo started looking around the cavern to find clues as to what the code could be. Russell walked around, looking in a hurry. He wasn't a literary kind of guy like Morgan or Eduardo or Christopher, but he wanted to find it first. He wanted to find it now. He couldn't believe that Morgan would just leave Alex behind with that King. Sure, he had set up guards for her, but if they were anything like other guards he'd beaten to a pulp, they wouldn't be any good at protecting her. And what if they wanted to do something to her? She shouldn't be left with strange men. Why couldn't she just be with him right now, by his side, right where she belongs… To protect her! Not that he wants to be with her, it's just to protect her. If they didn't find the Earth Palm, the King might still hang her. Who knew if they could trust his word. They needed the Earth Palm to secure her safety. Russell got frustrated and swung his blade at the wall.

Christopher - "Russell!"
Russell - "What?!"

Christopher gave Russell a stern look.

Russell - "Yeah, I know…"
Christopher - "No, look."

The rest of the crew gathered around Christopher. There was an image on the wall that resembled the position of the cylinders. Small circles were arranged in the same pattern, some empty, some filled. A legend at the side seemed to explain what "filled" and "unfilled" represented.

Christopher - "Eduardo?"
Eduardo - "Yeah, I'll tell you which ones to move."

Christopher and Eduardo worked together to decipher the code. Whenever Christopher moved a cylinder, it settled in with a loud clunk. Christopher moved the last cylinder needed to complete the pattern. They waited.

Russell - "Nothing's happening! Is this even a door?"
Morgan - "Maybe it's not the right code."
Nathan - "Then we mighta just set somethin' off."
Morgan - "I certainly hope not."

There was a grinding sound that resonated strongly in the small cavern. The round door moved slightly and dust fell from its edges. Then it rolled smoothly into the wall. Christopher grabbed the lantern again and they headed down another corridor. There was a faint light at the end of the tunnel.

They stepped out into a massive cavern, many times bigger than what they were just in. A crack in the ceiling let a beam of light in, casting a soft glow on the mountain of treasure in the middle. Oddly, this room was very cool. The air wasn't humid, but it was misty. The crew could see their breath in the air. Nathan touched the bandana around his neck.

'I heard it's chilly over on Skull Island.'

Nathan remembered Alex's words. He smiled to himself. She was right, it is chilly. The crew headed in, laughing, oo-ing, and awe-ing at the treasure. Nathan scooped up some gold coins and let them slip through his fingers. He thought of all the food he could buy with this money, all the equipment he could upgrade. Maybe he could even get a proper 'baker's cap' for Alex, like the one she had in Yamato. The crew really appreciated his food, but he especially liked it when Alex was excited about his food. He enjoyed cooking for her. He wanted her to stay with them… Not just until Yamato, but more than that. He wanted her around all the time. He wondered how she was doing in Reiz. Was she eating well?

Christopher had completely ignored the treasure and went to the edge of the cavern. There was a mossy area with glossy green and purple leaves growing in bunches. He knelt down and felt them between his fingers. He had never seen Earth Palm before, but he knew from what he'd heard that it was an oval leaf with purple at the edges, and it grew in moist environments. This plant fit that description. He checked around the cavern while the crew looted, looking for other plants in case he might be wrong. It was the only one he found that fit the description. He collected as much as he could in the pouch he brought. It was the first time in days that he felt optimistic.

Christopher - "I've got the Earth Palm!"
Russell - "How do ya know it's Earth Palm?"
Christopher - "I've heard descriptions of it… This fits it exactly! Let's get back to Reiz as soon as possible."
Morgan - "Good! Men, grab as much treasure as you can for now. We can always come back!"

Everyone piled as much as they could in the sacs they had brought. Once finished, they headed back out. Christopher punched in a cylinder to close the door. It slammed shut, shaking the small cavern entrance. It sent a rumble through the walls. The rumbling didn't stop.

Morgan - "Is that… supposed to happen?"

The rumbling got worse. Dust and small rocks started to fall from the ceiling.

Eduardo - "Run!"

The Sirius crew booked it down the tunnels they came from. They made it out just in time before the original small crack they had entered caved in.

Nathan - "So much fer comin' back."
Christopher - "But we got what we came for…"
Morgan - "Yes, let's head back!"

The crew made their way back to the ship. The humidity didn't bother them as much now. They travelled back faster. They were even more determined now to make it out of Skull Island. Nathan and Russell pushed the ship back into the water, then climbed some ropes to get back onto the deck. They reeled in the anchor and set sail. They had to go slow again to maneuver around the rocks, but they made it out in one piece. Eduardo was frustrated with the slow pace. They almost crashed the side into a rock pillar due to their haste. Everyone wanted to get back as fast as possible.

Much like with every journey back, it felt like it took less time to get to Reiz city. Russell was in the crow's nest when he spotted the thin edge of the Reiz in the distance. He yelled like a madman at the crew, telling them he could see the city. Everyone's hopes were up. They cheered and had a night of drinking before they reached the city. Morgan was relieved to have booze again. He was so stressed on the way to Skull Island he had quit drinking. That night, he stumbled back into his room. He fell onto his bed on his stomach, happy, drunk, and full of anticipation. He couldn't wait to see Alex's smiling face at the dock as they pulled into port. He'd hug her and twirl her in the air and… He frowned. He saw the dress he gave her on that first night peeking through the clothes hanging in the wardrobe. And that's as far as he'd ever let himself go. Unless he wanted to stop living a lie.

Eduardo sat at his desk in his room. He was staring at the unrestored Ullr map. It looked familiar. He swore he'd seen these islands before. But the map was different somehow. He slammed his fists down on the table. He wanted Alex there with him so he could yell his frustrations at her. He wanted to tell her how he couldn't figure this map out. He wanted to hear her tell him something that would make him feel better, like she always did. Right now, he felt like a failure. He felt lost. He picked up the seashell necklace he had on the table. He wanted to hear that sultry voice of hers as soon as possible. Somehow it intoxicated him just as much as his mug of ale, if not more.

Russell and Nathan stayed on the deck, still drinking. It was a calm night and not too cold. The ocean seemed brighter, like it was reflecting their mood.

Russell - "... Ya think she'll wanna go back?"
Nathan - "Huh?"
Russell - "Alex…"
Nathan scratched his face. "She said she'd stay with us 'till we found the treasure."
Russell - "When'd she say that?! And to you?"
Nathan smirked. "Jealous?"

Russell scoffed and looked away.

Nathan - "Ah, Russell, everyone knows ya got a thing fer Alex."
Russell - "I do not!"
Nathan - "Whateva."
Russell - "... Does that mean she's goin' back though? We found the treasure."
Nathan - "... I dunno. Up to 'er I guess. Captain will take 'er back if she wants to."

They both sat in silence.

Nathan - "I'm not gonna let 'er go back."
Russell - "What?"
Nathan - "She belongs with us… Just ain't the same without 'er, yknow?"
Russell - "Yeah…"

Russell agreed with Nathan. He wasn't about to let her just walk off this ship and back into a town that would likely arrest her. He didn't trust anyone in that town to take care of her properly either. Only he could do that for her, for sure.

Nathan had the intention of keeping her on the ship from a while back. That's why he cooked her food from Yamato. She doesn't need to go back if he does that for her. She doesn't need to go back to the bakery when she can bake here. And she can sing here, too. It's basically the same as home. She doesn't need to get married there… When she could get married here.

Christopher had went to the sick bay immediately when they had boarded. He went to work using various extraction methods, muddling the herb, boiling the herb, every method of medicine he could think of. He created several concoctions of Earth Palm. He wasn't sure how potent or effective it was, so he wanted various doses. He had worked tirelessly night and day. Now he stood in the sick bay looking at his work. He lightly touched the sapling he had potted of the strange purple leaf. He was very happy to have found Earth Palm. His life's goal was complete. He didn't have to worry about anyone dying on him ever again. He could travel the seas with confidence and… And do what? Now that he'd completed his goal… What should he do now? He supposed they still needed to return Alex to Yamato. Was that really the best course of action for her? Would she be safe? He rubbed his eyes. He was too tired to keep thinking about these things. Besides, giving Earth Palm to Thomas would ensure her safety, for now. And that's all that mattered.

The next day they docked into the port of Reiz city. The King was there to greet them, along with his guards. Morgan wondered why Alex wasn't with him. They should have seen the ship from a distance, why didn't she come running? He could feel that the crew felt the same uneasiness he felt. They walked up to the King.

King - "I'm glad to see you all back safe and sound. Were you successful?"
Christopher - "Yes, we found the Earth Palm. I don't mean to be rude, but I want to give this to Thomas right now."
King - "Of course, let's make haste."

The crew made their way to the castle. On the way up, Eduardo asked about Alex.

Eduardo - "Is Alex with Thomas?"
King - "Hm?"
Eduardo - "I'm just wondering why she's not here. She said she'd be at the docks when we came in. Did you lock her up somewhere?" His voice was tinged lightly with malice.
King - "Ah, yes, well. I was hoping you wouldn't ask for her so soon… A couple days ago, she got injured. It's just a flesh wound -"
Russell - "What happened to Alex?!"

Russell grabbed the front of the King's robe. The guards pointed their guns at him.

Russell - "What did you do to 'er!"
Morgan - "Russell, calm down!"

Morgan pulled Russell off the King.

The King patted down his front. "She's recovering… She hasn't woken up yet."
Eduardo - "Why not? Is she unconscious?"
King - "Not exactly… I'm afraid Alex hasn't been entirely truthful to you… Or else you'd have never had her on your ship."