(Connor, Amaya, and Greg are playing Mario Party Superstars when I came in with a tablet)
Connor: Hey. How's it going?
Me: Not so well. The Chaos Emeralds have been stolen.
Greg: Gasping geckos!
Amaya: Did you see who it was?
Me: That's what I'm trying to find out. I'll look over the security videos one more time.
Connor: Who would want to steal the Chaos Emeralds? And for what?
Amaya: Whatever it is, it can't be good. We better investigate. PJ Masks, we're on our way!
Connor, Amaya, & Greg: Into the night, to save the day!
Pirate101: The Pirates of Lore
Chapter 14: Gunn's Gold
After hearing that the Waponis, who Ratbeard sent to steal Captain Gunn's treasure from his tomb, intend to throw the gold into the volcano as an offering to their Fire God, our crew swiftly headed to their home island of Waponi Wu.
"We better hurry and get that gold before the Waponis destroy it!" Lindsey said. They start climbing up the rope ladder and see a lot of Water Moles defending the route to the volcano.
"We must fight our way to the treasure. To battle!" Subodai shouted. The crew then engaged the Water Moles to clear the way to the summit. They then fought their way to the base of the volcano.
Bonnie Anne whistles. "What a view! Looks like we fight our way to the top, guys. I hope none of you are afraid of heights!"
"Come on! We better get that gold!" Kyle said. As they begin their trek up the volcano, they come across a Lava Fish. They easily take it down before fighting the Waponis, all the way to the peak. Once there, they see some Water Moles throwing the gold into the volcano mouth, with Ratbeard hanging from a rope by his leg.
"Help! I beg ye, get me down from here!" Ratbeard pleads for help.
"What the Devil?! Guys, look! The Water Moles are throwing Gunn's Gold in the volcano!" Lucky Jack shouted.
"Oh no! We better stop them before it's all gone!" Lindsey said.
"Gugu! Goonigugu!" They hear a large Water Mole named Chumba Wumba speak.
"Any idea what he's saying?" Ryan asked.
"No idea, but we can't let those Moles destroy the gold!" Lindsey said. They engage the Water Moles to protect the gold. Ryan provides cover fire for Kyle and Lindsey and Lola backs up Hunter against Chumba. They manage to defeat the large Water Mole, but he gets back up with a battle cry.
"Whenever we knock him down, he gets back up again!" Bonnie Anne said with gritted teeth.
"We never going to keep him down!" Old Scratch added.
"At this rate, all the gold will be gone forever!" Hunter scowled. "How do we stop him?"
From his suspended position, Ratbeard notices three stone idols. He then came up with an idea. "Hey! Those idols! Break them and you break his will!"
"Good thinking!" Kyle thanked the rat pirate.
"For a thieving scoundrel, you sure have some good ideas." Hunter smirked. "Sarah, Barnabus, Wing Chun! You three take down those idols! We'll cover you!"
"On it!" Sarah said as the three of them broke from the group to break the tiki idols that energize Chumba. Sarah took out the first idol and Wing Chun smashed the second, but just as Barnabus reached the third, he was stopped by Water Mole Witchdoctors.
"You shall not pass!" One Witchdoctor barked.
Barnabus scowled. "I got your back, Barnabus!" Lola shouts as she jumps off Barnabus' shoulders and over the Water Moles. With one swing of her halberd, the last tiki idol is smashed to pieces and with it Chumba's fighting spirit. The Waponi Sumo kneeled in defeat.
"Now, we make Chumba tell us what happened here." Old Scratch said.
"Assuming any of us can understand what he's saying." Lola argued.
"Wouldn't hurt to try." Hunter said before he aims his pistol at Chumba. "Alright, tell us why you and your Waponi pals were throwing mounds of Gunn's treasure into the volcano."
"Goonigugu! Goonigugu!" Chumba Wumba spoke.
"I told you we wouldn't be able to understand him." Lola sighed. Chumba then turned around and jumped into the volcano.
"Did he just…?" Kyle asked in total surprise.
"I saw it too." Chantal said.
"Good riddance." Subodai said. "But what happened here? Ratbeard must tell us."
"I'll tell ye everything! Now get me down from here, please!" Ratbeard pleaded.
"How's the weather up there? Hot enough for you, you lying rat?" Sarah taunted him.
"I think he's had enough, Sarah. Let's get him down." Emmet said.
"The old rat, here him come." Old Scratch said. The crew looks up and see Ratbeard swing from the rope he's tied to and it breaks. He lands perfectly onto the platform they're standing on.
"I thank ye for saving me hide, young ones, though I'm sure I don't deserve it." Ratbeard said.
"On that one thing, Ratbeard, we agree." Louis glared.
"But one thing bothers me: how did you end up suspended over the volcano?" Lindsey asked.
"Funny you should ask; I deceived the Water Moles into making me their king so they'd steal me Gunn's gold, but they turned on me and tried to destroy the treasure!" Ratbeard explained.
"This is why you should never trust Water Moles. No offense, Mormo." Ryan said to Mormo, looking toward him and Nanu-Nanu.
"None taken." Mormo nodded.
"Surely I'm the lowest blackguard that ever sailed the sky, but after this experience, I see the error of me ways." Ratbeard said. "I'd join your crew if ye'll have me."
Hunter approached the rat pirate. "Ratbeard, I could trust you about as far as I could throw you, but after seeing what happened, I'd be no worse than you if I turned a blind eye."
"Are you crazy? Is that your problem?" Sarah argued.
"Effective immediately, I renounce my claim to what remains of Gunn's gold." Ratbeard said. "It's not much compared to the amount that was lost, but it's yours now. You've earned it."
"As much as I never wanted that fiend on this crew, he is a pirate's pirate." Ryan glared at Hunter.
"Okay, you can come along. But the second I see even a hint of betrayal, he's going overboard!" Lindsey said to Ratbeard, allowing the pirate to join. The crew then collected the last remnants of Gunn's treasure.
"Well, you've done all your parents proud." Lucky Jack said. "You've found your first treasure – you're real pirates for sure!"
"Hey. There's something wrapped in sailcloth." Kyle noticed the wrapped object.
"You are right – what be that?" Old Scratch asked.
"Hold on – didn't Captain Avery ask for a chalice wrapped in sailcloth when he sent us to meet Sarah and her crew?" Lola asked.
"He did. Let's go and give it to him." Bonnie Anne said. They left Waponi Wu and made their way back to Skull Island, with Gunn's gold in tow.
"We did it, guys! I feel like a real pirate!" Lindsey cheered.
"Don't celebrate just yet, Lindsey. We may have found Gunn's treasure, but our adventure's just begun." Hunter said.
"What do you mean?" Ryan asked.
"I've got a feeling that Avery sent us to bring him this wrapped chalice for a reason." Hunter deduced, eyeing the wrapped chalice in his hand.
"If there is a reason behind it, Avery would know." Kyle spoke.
They deliver the sailcloth-wrapped chalice to Avery in his office. "Welcome back. I hear you've found Gunn's treasure – well done!"
"Yeah, but thanks to those detestable Water Moles, we couldn't save all of the gold, which reminds me…" Hunter said before he reveals the sailcloth-wrapped chalice Avery requested.
"Ah, the chalice! You have my thanks, Captains." Avery thanked the pirates for the chalice's safe delivery. "I've good use for this. And there's another job for you, that is, if you're willing."
"What kind of job is it?" Lindsey asked.
"I'm glad you asked, dear Lindsey. For years, I've strived to get an imperial power to trade openly with us. A treaty will transform Skull Island into a true republic." Avery explained. "This cup's an heirloom of the Ortegas – a great Monquistan family. According to my research, Puerto Mico's Governor is an Ortega – he'd be grateful to get this back."
"So you're asking us to give the chalice to the Governor of Puerto Mico as a gift?" Ryan asked.
"Along with the treaty, yes." Avery answered. He also gave them a passport. "This passport should get you to the Governor. I'll pay each of you handsomely for this. Agreed?"
"If it ushers in an era of peace for Skull Island, we're in." Hunter accepted the agreement. Once they left Avery's office, Lola looked at the contents of the passport and sees the photo of a monkey sovereign.
"Is something wrong, Lola?" Peter Quint asked her.
"No, I was just looking at this passport Avery gave us." Lola answered. "It doesn't look anything like us."
Hunter looked at the passport. "True, but if this will get us to see the governor, we'll need to make do with what we have."
"If you say so. Let's get going." Ryan said as the crew left for Puerto Mico to try and earn a partnership with the Monquistans.
(Later tonight, I review the security footage. In the video, I see a robot arm take the Chaos Emeralds one by one)
Me: Huh…?
(I switch to the view of outside the treasure vault, where I see a spherical robot taking the Emeralds and giving them to a spiky-haired boy in a lab coat)
Me: Who is that?
?: His name's Romeo.
(I turn around and find three young superheroes in animal themed suits.)
Me: You know him?
Girl in owl suit: He's a maniacal genius who uses his inventions to try and take over the world.
Boy in lizard suit: We had many a run-in with him and his Robot companion.
Me: I see. But what would he need the Chaos Emeralds for?
Boy in cat suit: No idea, but whatever he needs them for can't be good.
Me: Then we better stop him. By the way, I didn't catch your names.
Boy in cat suit: We're the PJ Masks. I'm Catboy. This is Owlette.
Owlette: Honored to meet you.
Catboy: And that's Gekko.
Gekko: Greetings.
Me: Catboy, Owlette, Gekko, good to meet you. We better track Romeo down and get those Emeralds back. You know what to do here, loyal readers. Excelsior!