(We explain the situation to Sonya)
Sonya: So Kano's the one who took Leo.
Me: Yep. I haven't seen him since I visited Brazil.
Crow: We're going to need a little help if we're going to save Leo.
Voice: That can be arranged.
(We turn around and see Whis and Lord Beerus)
Me: Lord Beerus! Whis! Why are you here?
Whis: Oh, your memory sure eludes you, doesn't it? You invited us here.
Beerus: I was looking for something to satisfy my appetite when I walked by and heard your predicament.
Crow: Yeah. My friend Leo was supposed to return from seeing a movie, but a thug named Kano nabbed him.
Whis: That doesn't seem very terrifying. I'm sure we can take him no problem. Where can we find him?
(Crow types in something on his Duel Disk. It shows a map. A red dot flashes in the upper left)
Crow: He's taken him to Russia.
Beerus: Russia, huh? Whis can take us there in a flash.
Me: Okay, but first, I need to gather some fighters, just to be safe.
Pirate101: The Pirates of Lore
Chapter 3: Zadok and the Golden City
Once they used the rickety Raft to reach Blood Shoals, Lola noticed footprints heading towards the cave. "Based on these tracks, it's likely a crowd walked into that cave," Lola reported.
"I don't see any tracks leading out. Ratbeard must still be inside." Kyle noted.
"Ratbeard will pay for his treachery," Sarah said as the crew entered the cave.
Lindsey took a short whiff and the cave smelled of death and sea salt. "Ugh. This place reeks of death. We need to be careful."
As they searched the cave, they saw the bodies of four Wharf Rats. Hunter remembered them from the tavern. They heard a voice and looked to see the four dead rats' spirits rise. Seeing the spirits made Lindsey scream in shock and cling onto Kyle's arm. Seeing her cling onto his arm made Kyle blush. "Wait! You still live and breathe – please, pirates, you must stay and hear our tale of woe."
"I can already tell you just passed, yet here we are." Hunter nods.
The first of the four ghosts named Lasko nods. "Look upon us, pirates who yet breathe, and pit our cruel lot. Ratbeard, our captain, told us of a treasure for the taking. We helped him win the will, as ye well know, and sailed back here to feast in celebration. "We'll soon be rich, boys!" That's what he told us. But Ratbeard turned against us! He poisoned the food and left us to die, a feast for the crabs. He'll have all the treasure for himself. Unless you stop him, that is…"
Lindsey let go of Kyle and approached Lasko, feeling somewhat sorry for him. "You poor ghost. How can we help you?"
"You can grant me peace by making sure Ratbeard never gets his hands on Gunn's treasure, but it won't help me shipmates Manny, Moe, and Jack," Lasko said. "They all have unfinished business that must be settled before I can help catch Ratbeard."
"First stealing Gunn's will, and now this. Ratbeard will pay for this. We'll help your friends find peace." Hunter nods.
"Thank you, Pirate. This means a lot to me. Once I know that Manny, Moe, and Jack will rest in peace, I'll be more than pleased to help you find Ratbeard." Lasko understood. "Manny there betrayed his former captain and Ratbeard's treachery showed him the errors of his old ways. Moe wronged the love of his life and cannot live with himself until he sets things right. And Jack hides dark secrets within his heart and can't move on as long as they stay."
To continue their search for Ratbeard, the crew must help Lasko's shipmates ease their longing pain. They start with Manny. "There is a debt I owe, and I can't move on from this world until I pay it back."
"What is this debt of yours?" Lindsey asked.
"Before I joined Ratbeard's crew, I sailed with a pirate named Zadok. He set out to find a lost city of gold, and we found the way to it." Manny told his tale. "The passage to that city lies in this very cave, through that tunnel." The pirates notice a tunnel with a stone door. "Zadok found the Key that opens that ancient door. We were rich! We thought… But then we heard a terrible roar from the passage. The lads and I turned tail and left the captain behind! Fearing our doom, we shut the door! I'd pilfered Zadok's key, you see. I locked the door, sealing me captain in forever!"
"That must be how Traitor's Cave got its name." Ryan deduced.
"Exactly. Zadok's been stuck in that cave all this time. The guilt's too much! I beg you – go save him. You'll find the key in that chest there." The pirates see a chest nearby. Kyle opens it and sees a circular stone. It didn't feel heavy.
"This must be the key," Kyle noted. He uses it to open the ancient door. "Let's go, but keep an eye out for trouble."
Once they go inside, they see an old pirate near a winch. The crew approaches him. "Excuse me, are you Captain Zadok?" Wing Chun asked.
"Who the blazes are you? Back! Stay back! I warn you, this place has mighty guardians!" Zadok yelled but calmed down when he noticed the pirates. "Are you… real? Or another dream? Been trapped here so long, I lost track."
"We're real, Zadok," Lola confirmed. "In fact, your old shipmate Manny sent us."
"Manny sent you? That mutinous rat! I… wait, who is Manny again?" Zadok said.
"Hunter, I don't think there's a city of gold here, just an old, loony pirate," Ryan said.
"You may be right, Ryan. Let's just head back and…" But before Hunter could finish, Zadok shouts to gain their attention.
"Wait, listen to me!" Zadok shouts and looks up to a hole in the ceiling. "See that hole in the ceiling? There's a lost city up there, a city of gold, just waiting to be plundered!"
"Guess I could be wrong about there not being a city of gold here," Ryan admitted.
"When the crew left me here, I had nobody to work this winch, you see. If I had a Jade Key, I could send someone up there and gather that gold, but those cave lizards took it from me." Zadok said. "If you can get that key, I'll take you and your crew up there."
"Fair enough. Let's look for that key." Hunter said as they fought off some Dinolizards looking for the Jade Key needed for the winch. After a third wave of the lizards, one drops a Jade Plate. Lindsey picks it up.
"A Jade Plate. This must be the key Zadok was looking for." Kyle confirmed.
"We bring key to Zadok." Mormo nods. They agree and return to Zadok with the Jade Plate.
"Who's there? Get back! This place has mighty…" Zadok shouts before recognizing the pirates. "Oh, wait, it's you again! You're back! And you have the key! Splendid! Now we can… but do we dare? The city – it's not empty. There are… things up there. Big things. The Old Book said that the Ancient Ones were gone – but they're not! The roaring, the thundering… No, it wasn't a dream! Wasn't it?"
"The Ancient Ones aren't the only ones who've gone. He's gone… gone completely barmy!" Bonnie Anne whispered to Lola, but Hunter heard her.
"I don't care if he's crazy or not. If there's a city of gold up there, then we may as well put our search for Ratbeard on hold for now and head up there to find out." Hunter spoke.
"Yes! But I must warn you: it's dangerous up there! Very dangerous!" Zadok agreed. "And besides, the winch can only be turned from down here. Climb in the basket in front of you and I'll work the winch. And the gold will be ours! Won't it?"
Though skeptical about this "city of gold" Zadok droned about, the crew climbed into the basket that was big enough to fit them all in. Zadok turned the winch, lifting the crew through the stone ceiling. Once up there, they saw a tribal village full of lizards in tribal garb.
"Uh, guys? I don't think we're in Skull Island anymore." Lindsey said.
"Yeah. I feel like we traveled back in time or something." Ryan agreed.
"Lords of Night! YOU!" They heard one of the lizards shout out to the pirates.
"Wait, us?" Lola asked. "No, no, no – we're actually pirates."
"Pirates, you say? Well, in any case, I will need your help." The lizard spoke.
To be continued…
(I return with Goku, Vegeta, Team Heroes, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs, and Jax)
Cassie: So Kano has returned and captured Leo.
Crow: And he's brought him to his Fight Club.
Jax: He'll never be able to survive out there on his own. I know he promised to protect Luna, but who will protect him?
Sonya: If I know Kano, he'll never want to kill a kid like Leo.
Whis: Quite correct, Sonya Blade. Odds are, he's just using the poor boy as bait, to lure us into his trap.
Sonya: If Kano wishes to fight, then I say we go there and show him what for!
Me: That's what I want to hear from you, Sonya! Let's get moving! All you readers may leave a review. Excelsior!