(I'm in the game room playing Kingdom Hearts 2)
Crow: (Comes in) Hey man. What's happening?
Me: Oh, just playing a game right now. What brings you here?
Crow: It's Leo. He's gone.
Me: Gone? What do you mean?
Crow: He left to see a movie a couple of hours ago and he never came back. I worry something happened to him.
Me: We better figure that out, then.
(We leave for Leo's last known whereabouts)
Pirate101: The Pirates of Lore
Chapter 2: The Search for Riches Begins
While Hunter and his crew are out to meet the dockmaster, Avery has gathered his five court members: The Commodore of Privateer's Office, Mordekai of Buccaneer's Den, Morgan Lafitte of Swashbuckler's Hall, Madame Vadima of Witchdoctor's Sanctum and Ol' Fish Eye of Musketeer's Roost. "Ah, everyone's here. Good."
"What is it that you gathered us here, Avery?" Morgan asked.
"I have good news and bad news. The good news is the pirates of the prophecy have been gathered, thanks to Boochbeard." Avery reported.
"And the bad news?" Vadima asked.
"Unfortunately, they are still children and I can't risk their safety. Once they come to you for training, you will give them these crystal bands." Avery gives each of the court members a wristband with a blue crystal embedded on it. "These crystals will allow you to remain in contact with your student at any time, without the need of meeting face-to-face. They will also inform you if they are in great danger. Now, return to your stations. The pirates are due to return soon, regarding the ship I promised them."
Meanwhile, at the Skull Island Shopping District, Hunter and his friends deliver their writ to Dockmaster Dan, who is accompanied by a blind old cat known as Blind Mew. Behind the two is a spectacular ship.
"You must be Dockmaster Dan." Ryan guessed.
"Ah, Avery sent you five to claim a boat, I see," Dan said. Hunter gives him the ship writ. "Let me be the one to say congratulations, you're the proud owners of this mighty ship."
The other pirates are breathless at the sight of the ship, but Hunter seemed suspicious. "Is something wrong?"
"No, it's just I have this strange feeling that that's not our ship," Hunter said.
The Dockmaster looks back at the ship. "Oh, you're right, Pirate - my mistake. That isn't your ship."
"What?!" Lindsey gasped.
"There's your ship over there, and what a ship she is! You'll be the terror of the skies in that beauty!" Dockmaster Dan laughed. The pirates see that instead of the mighty frigate, they are rewarded a rickety old raft.
"Ahem." Blind Mew cleared his throat to gain the pirates' attention. "If I may be so bold, young Pirates, that boat is indeed the saddest excuse for a ship that ever moored at this harbor. I may be blind, but even from here, I distinctly hear its worn planks creaking and groaning like a sick yak."
"I can't believe it! Avery tricked us!" Kyle shouted.
"We better head back and tell him about this!" Hunter suggested.
"Good call, Hunter. Avery will pay for his trickery!" Lola agreed. So they head back to the court to confront Avery.
Shortly after the court members left, Hunter and the crew entered Avery's office. "Hey, Avery! I should've known you'd only honor the letter of our agreement, but that 'ship' you gave us is nothing but a wooden death trap!"
"Unfortunately, you are right. I did honor the letter of our agreement." Avery admitted. "Though I can't promise you a better ship, I can promise you something a pirate loves more than his ship: treasure."
Hunter's look of disdain shifted to one of interest upon the mentioning of treasure. "I'm listening."
"Have any of you heard of the tale of Captain Gunn?" Avery asked and told the pirates his tale. "He was one of the richest pirates in Skull Island history and he discovered the reason on one of his travels to Mooshu: Yum-Yum Fruit. Gunn smuggled tons of the fruit by the ton and sold as much as he could. Before his retirement, Gunn became the richest pirate in history. Since his death, no one knew where the rest of Gunn's gold is. And its location is hidden within his last will, which had been lost for years – until now. One of my associates found the will and I can get you on their crew, for just one small favor."
"Which is…?" Kyle asked.
"Among the treasure is a chalice wrapped in sailcloth. Deliver that one piece to me and you are welcome to have the rest. You five have potential and I know the best teachers to help you out. Hunter, Morgan Lafitte down in Swashbuckler's Hall is one of the best fencers in the Spiral, and I'm sure she'll teach you everything you need to know to become a master Swashbuckler."
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "And my friends?"
Avery nods. "Ah, yes, your friends. The best place for Ryan to go would be Musketeer's Roost on the East Bastion. Ol' Fish Eye's the best sharpshooter I've met. As for Lola, Mordekai will surely mold her into a true Buccaneer. The Commodore is a bit off, but I'm sure Kyle will learn a thing or two from him. And Madame Vadima is a splendid instructor for Lindsey. Morgan is good friends with the crew's leader. Seek her out and she'll set you on their trail."
Hunter nods and thanked Avery. Once they leave the office, Hunter spoke to his crew. "Okay, I want you to meet with the people Avery recommended to you. I'm heading over to Swashbuckler's Hall to see Morgan Lafitte. When you're done with your training, meet me by the Life Fountain." The group split up and Hunter entered Swashbuckler's Hall.
Morgan Lafitte smiled upon meeting Hunter and welcomed him. "Ah, so you're the Swashbuckler Avery mentioned. I was expecting you, but he never mentioned you to be so handsome!"
Hunter tried to hide his blush from his instructor. He cleared his throat. "There's more to this business than flirting, Miss Lafitte. I understand you're supposed to train me and get me in contact with the crew hunting for Captain Gunn's gold?"
"Ah, of course, that is true. Once our training is done, seek out Sarah Steele, my sister-in-arms. You can ask the barkeep in the Kraken Skulls Tavern. Now, en garde!"
Morgan and Hunter quickly drew their swords as they clash. "My years in Scrimshaw taught me how to keep on my toes, even with just one hand." He dodges an overhead attack from Morgan and swings, just stopping his blade before it reaches her neck.
"It appears you have a basic sense of speed and reflexes. Take this crystal band, it will allow you to contact me whenever you need advice or help." Morgan purred lightly.
As Morgan handed him the crystal band, Hunter put it on his left wrist and kissed Morgan's right hand like a gentleman. "Until we meet again, madam." He said his farewells.
"Handsome and a gentleman." Morgan giggled. "I'll enjoy teaching you."
Hunter met up with the rest of his crew. "Morgan told me to meet with Sarah Steele's crew at the Kraken Skulls Tavern."
"I don't like the idea of working with another crew, but if she found the will, her crew is entitled to it as well." Ryan sighs.
"That's the idea, Ryan." Lola agreed. "Let's head for the tavern."
They ask the barkeep at the tavern for Sarah Steele, he tells them they're meeting in private down in the cellar. Once the pirates step down into the cellar, they hear a woman arguing with a Wharf Rat Pirate. "Mind your tone with me, rat! The ship may be yours to command, but the will is mine! I lead this expedition!" They see the argument over the will. Among those gathered are a crab with a harpoon, a sloth with a battle-ax, a mouse woman with two swords, an otter in naval clothing, and a Water Mole in tribal clothing holding a staff. The mouse woman was the one who spoke to the Wharf Rat.
"So, I'm nothing more than a lowly pilot then?" The Rat Pirate scoffed. "How do we know you even have the will?"
"Not to worry, the will's right here." The woman pulls out a parchment, confirming the will's existence.
What the pirates heard next shocked them. "Ha! Get 'em boys! And take that will!" With a shout, the rat pirate tackled the mouse and swiped the will from her hands. "I've got the will! The treasure's mine, you lubbers! Finish them off, lads – I'll meet you at the hideout!"
"Oh no! He stole the will! He's getting away!" Lindsey shouted.
"We'll deal with him later! Right now, Sarah and the others need our help!" Hunter and his crew stepped in to help Sarah's. They managed to drive them off.
"Thanks, young captain. My crew and I owe you our lives. I ask to repay this debt to you by joining your crew." Sarah spoke to Hunter and introduced the rest of her crew. "As you may or may not know, my name is Sarah Steele. These are my crewmates Louis LeBisque, Barnabus, Ensign Emmet, and Mormo. The thief that left with the will was Ratbeard."
Hunter smiled at Sarah. "It would be an honor having you aboard. I'm Hunter. This is Kyle, Ryan, Lola, and Lindsey. What do you say we go catch that thieving rat?"
Once Hunter and his new, larger crew left the cellar, a man with a red bushy beard turned over to them. "You guys chasing Ratbeard? He came barreling through here like a greyhound with his tail on fire! Ran right out the front door! Go get him!"
The crew left the tavern and spotted Ratbeard's footprints in the sand leading to the docks. Once they reach the docks, Kyle growled. "He must've got on his ship already! How can we find him now?"
"I believe I can be of help, young pirates." The crew turns to see Blind Mew. "I may be blind, but I have acute hearing and smell. I distinctly heard a group of six pirates running by and from the smell of salt on their coats, they were more than likely Wharf Rats. I heard Ratbeard call out to make off to their hideout, located on Blood Shoals. If you wish to catch him, you must take that death trap – I mean boat."
They thanked Blind Mew and walked up to the Raft. "It's no galleon, but I'm sure it can get us there," Hunter commented.
"Next stop: Blood Shoals," Sarah said as they boarded the Raft and left for Blood Shoals.
(We reach the movie theater Leo was last seen. We ask the ticket booth operator)
Operator: Oh yeah. I just saw him leaving.
Crow: What else happened?
Operator: Well, this guy came up and just grabbed him out of the blue.
Crow: Did you get a good look at what he looked like?
Operator: No, but I did see that his right eye was metallic.
Me: A metallic right eye? Sounds familiar.
Crow: Sonya's not going to like what we have to say about this.
Me: We better break it to her. She has to understand. You know what to do here, readers. Excelsior!