"Are you sure you don't want us to go with you?"

Stella climbed down the ladder into the shallow waters of Shipwreck Bay, Briggsy's skull under her arm, "I'll be fine. Trust me on this. If something goes wrong, I'll shout a code word."

"What's the code word?" Koa asked. "Help me, help me, oh Ancients, help me?" Zhen chuckled. "That's a good one! Let's go with that?" Stella laughed, "'Help me, help me, oh Ancients, help me!'"

"Fair enough." Koa replied, "Good luck. And stay safe."

Stella nodded as walked onto the island, heading to where they fought Briggsy. Upon arriving, she saw a group of skeletons roaming the area. They noticed her approaching and went to charge at her with their weapons, but Stella quickly held her arms up, "Whoa, whoa, it's ok! I came to give her back! I just wanna talk!" The skeletons stopped, glancing at each other before one of them growled, "…fine…"

Stella nodded and walked to where she saw the remains of Briggsy's skeleton resting in a pile on a rock. She gently placed the skull on top and took a few steps back. A moment later, the bones began to glow as the skeleton began to reassemble itself before there was a bright flash and there was Briggsy, sitting on the rock, holding her head. "Urgh…my head…" Briggsy groaned before noticing the pirate in front of her, "YOU!" Briggsy lunged at Stella, grabbing her by the edges of her cloak, "WHY I OUGHT TO-!"

"Wait, wait, wait! I'm not here to fight!" Stella interjected, "Please, just let me explain!" Briggsy seemed to glare at Stella from behind her mask before finally releasing her, "Make it quick before I rip you to pieces."

"I brought your skull to the Order of Souls to find out the locations of the Shroudbreaker gems. But I never wanted to kill you, so I brought your skull back." Stella explained.

"Well, aren't you noble? Happy you did your good deed for today, hero?"

"That's not the only reason why I brought you back. I overheard you talking about how you didn't ask to be cursed. How did you turn out like this?"

"What's it to you?"

"I want to help."

Briggsy laughed, "Ha! You? Listen, kid, I understand you want to be like your old woman, but-"

"I'm not doing it because it's something mom would do." Stella cut her off, "I'm doing it because I want to do."

Briggsy was silent, looking Stella up and down as if to judge her. Briggsy sighed, "Alright, fine. You want to know so badly? Then listen up. Only because I haven't told a story to someone that isn't one of these boneheads."

Stella nodded understandingly as she sat in front of Briggsy.

"Like most pirates who've heard of it, I wanted to set foot on the Shores of Gold. It would be the ultimate adventure worthy of the great Captain Briggsy! And I succeeded…well, more or less. I accidentally wrecked my ship when I landed there. Making the best of my admittedly embarrassing situation, I decided to explore the island. Oh, it was a sight! Ancient statues, hidden vaults, it was magnificent! My exploration led me to a hidden vault with piles and piles of treasure, some nearly reaching the ceiling. I know it's called the 'Shores of Gold' for a reason, but it was somehow even better than I'd imagined it. I decided I might as well take a little memento with me since if I did find a way off the island, I wouldn't be able to take all of the treasure with me. Besides, as a great legend once said: it's not about the gold, it's about the glory. And all I really needed was something to remember this great adventure by; something to prove I'd been there. Little did I know that the trinket I chose would be my undoing. The changes were small at first. I wasn't getting as tired as I used to be. Or hungry. Or thirsty. It got to the point where I didn't feel the need to eat, sleep or drink at all. By the time I realised how odd it was, it was too late. I could see my flesh disappearing from my body, leaving only bone. It started with my arm but slowly spread to the rest of my body, until all that was left is what you see before you. Not long after, I met…him."

Briggsy growled out the last word as she clenched her fists. "Him?" Stella asked. "The Gold Hoarder. A Skeleton Lord that resided in the vaults of the Shores of Gold. The one who calls the shots in the Gold Hoarders association. He promised me that if I followed his orders, do exactly as he said, he'd find a cure for me. What other choice did I have? Some when they become Skeleton Lords embrace the power that comes with it. Not me. I hate this form. I hate how I look. I hate myself!"

Briggsy slammed her fist into the cliff face behind her. She took a deep breath to calm herself down before continuing, "I keep hope that he truly does have a way to free me…but so long has passed and it feels like the only thing I've been is nothing but a puppet for that gold-obsessed freak. But just in case he is telling the truth, I disassembled the Shroudbreaker and hid the gems in places only I know, so I'd be able to return when the time comes."

Briggsy looked back to Stella, who was listening intently, "So there you go. You happy now?"

"That…that must've been awful…" Stella muttered.

"Save your breath. I don't need your pity. Face it. You can't help. So, leave me to spend the rest of my immortal life in solitude."

Before Stella could argue, a skeleton shambled over to her and pointed a shaky finger at her, "…Ice…wind…"

"Uhh…yeah, that's me."

"…Ice…wind…Ice…wind…h…h…he…" The skeleton tried to force something out, "Ice…wind…h-h-heal…"

"Huh...looks like someone was a fan of your mum." said Briggsy.

"Heal?" Stella cocked her head to the side, "Like my healing powers? What do you mean?"

"H-heal…h-heal…" The skeleton then pointed to Briggsy, "Ice…wind…heal…curse…"

"Wait…what?! Mom could heal curses?!"

"Why didn't you say this earlier?! I nearly killed her, you idiot!" Briggsy smacked the skeleton on the back of the skull before grabbing Stella's arm, causing her to yelp in surprise, "You! You can heal, right?"

"I mean…I've healed wounds before but not curses. I don't know if I can do that yet." Stella replied.

"I've literally nothing to lose here. If it means being me again and never having to see that golden idiot's face again, I'll do it!"

"O-ok…I'll try."

Stella held both of Briggsy's hands as her own began to glow blue. Stella's brows furrowed as she strained to produce the power needed. Her crystal began to glow brightly but began to flicker, seeming to also struggle with producing enough power to heal Briggsy. Eventually it gave out and Stella stumbled backwards, gasping for breath. "I…I'm sorry…I don't think I can do that yet…" Stella panted. Briggsy sighed, "It's fine. That's what I get for getting my hopes up." Despite not being able to read Briggsy's expressions as a skeleton – the mask certainly didn't help – Stella could feel the dejection in her voice. "I'm gonna make you a promise." Stella began, causing Briggsy to perk up a bit, "The moment I learn how to cure curses, I'll come back and heal you. I'll even visit often to try again, no matter how long it takes. I swear."

Briggsy was silent for a moment before chuckling, shaking her head, "You really are something else, icy. Y'know what? I'll bite. Even if it is fruitless, I wouldn't mind a bit of company every now and again from you and your crew. Just promise one thing." Briggsy's tone turned serious, albeit a bit solemn, "Don't tell Tasha and my crew where I am. I…don't want them to see me like this. Not to mention its hard to keep a handle on the bloodlust that comes with being a Skeleton Lord sometimes. If I ever hurt them…I don't know if I'd forgive myself."

"Your secret's safe with me." Stella smiled.

"Well, you have some jewels to find, so I better not keep you any longer." Briggsy said as she stood up, dusting off her coat, "Honestly, I think you're one crazy, stubborn pirate, but so was I. Hell, I still am. So, if I could make it there, maybe you can too. Just make sure to give the Gold Hoarder hell for me. And be careful of what you touch. I don't need you becoming a skeleton too."

"Thanks, Briggsy. I'll be back to visit the first chance I get."

As Stella went to leave, Briggsy called from behind, "Oh, and one more thing. That ginger girl, what's her name?"

"Ali. She's our navigator." Stella replied.

"Hmm, cute name." Briggsy muttered before speaking up again, "Tell her to keep training with those daggers of hers. There's some potential there."

"Will do!"


"She wants me to get stronger?"

Ali seemed surprised at the thought as Stella explained what happened with Briggsy.

"Looks like you made an impression when you defeated her." Koa added.

"I-I mean…can you really say I defeated her? All I did was stab her when she had an opening…"

"I'd count it!" Zhen grinned, "Either way, if THE Briggsy wants you to keep training, maybe you might end up becoming her rival!"

"E-E-EH?!" Ali squeaked, "I-I'm really not rival material! I don't know why she'd consider me!"

"Who knows?" Stella shrugged, "Either way, she seemed to be cool with me returning every now and again to try and heal her."

"I can't believe your mother could heal curses." Koa muttered, "Something like that is said to be impossible. She must've been more powerful that we thought."

"And the fact that those powers are yours now?" Zhen added with stars in his eyes, "You could end up being a bigger legend that Flameheart or even the Pirate Lord!"

"I don't know about that…" Stella scratched the back of her neck sheepishly with a small blush, "But I'll do my best!"

"Well, with all that said," Koa began, changing the subject, "Our next destination seems to be Ancient Spire Outpost, where we'll find Tasha. Zhen, you'll be happy to know it's a slightly shorter trip than the one back to Plunder Outpost."

"Oh, thank the Ancients!" Zhen let out a sigh of relief, "I won't die of boredom!"

"Alrighty then!" Stella gave a confident smile, "Let's get a move on! We have some jewels to find!"

"R-right!"

"'Ae."

"Duì duì duì, chuánzhǎng!"

To Be Continued…