Everything was silent aside from the sound of the waves lapping at the sides of the Icebreaker and the odd explosion from a distant volcano. The crew had been silent ever since they'd boarded the galleon at Flintlock Peninsula. Ali was steering the ship while Zhen leaned against the railings, looking out at the horizon. "How?" he sighed, finally breaking the silence, "How could we have let this happen…?"
"There's no way we could have known." Koa replied, adjusting one of the sails, "None of us knew that final skull was Flameheart."
"But the hints were there! And the fact that Jim-! I just-! Urgh!" Zhen threw his hands up in frustration. Koa sighed before glancing at the door to Stella's quarters. She hadn't left her room since they left the island.
Stella sat at her desk, head in hands as Nevado rubbed against her leg, trying to cheer her up. So many thoughts were running through Stella's head that she didn't know how to feel at that moment. Stupid? Angry? Betrayed? Upset? Scared? It was like a tornado of emotions, and she hated it. 'How much…?' Stella thought, 'How much of it were lies?'
"The waves are yours for the takin', so go get it and don't look back or care about what anyone else thinks of ya."
'Was any of what you said true…?'
"Can't get another friend like you though."
'Did you ever care…?'
"And for the record, I think you're pretty great."
Stella sighed as she leaned back in her chair, smacking her cheeks, "Argh…I can't think about that right now. Flameheart is back and I might be the only one capable of stopping him from taking over the Sea of Thieves. I need to focus." Stella folded her hands as she rested her chin on them, "Flameheart mentioned being 'betrayed by his own kind'…that he seeks vengeance…for what? For being sealed away? Graymarrow maybe? No…if it was Graymarrow, he would've made sure Flameheart's remains were never found. And that's not the case since we saw his crew bury him. Maybe against whatever set him on a rampage in the first place? But nobody knows what that is. Maybe against the Sea of Thieves in general? He didn't seem too happy with how things have changed. Agh…no matter what the reasoning is, he needs to be stopped before he does more harm." Stella sighed, placing a hand on her crystal, "I wish you were here, mom. You seemed to know Flameheart well. Maybe you'd know what to do…"
*knock, knock, knock*
"Stella?" Koa called from outside the captain's quarters, "We're almost at Morrow's Peak. You okay?"
"I'm alright." Stella called back, "I'll be out in a jiffy."
Stella gave Nevado a quick rub before standing up from her desk and heading out onto the deck.
"Well, you lot don't look too happy." Tallulah said as she spotted the Glacial Dragons walk into the tavern.
"Things have been…frustrating." Stella sighed as they approached the bar.
"I'll say. These are dangerous times, if the stories of pirates releasing Captain Flameheart are true. I know a few people who'd like a word with them about that."
Stella and crew tensed up a bit as Tallulah continued, "I mean, they used to say Flameheart lived for battle and bloodshed. Last time he was around, he nearly brought the Sea of Thieves to its knees. No-one could stand up to him...the only one who could – your mum – had vanished without a trace…then one day, he simply disappeared. Still, not everyone's afraid. Word on the seas is Pendragon is currently scamblin' to find crews to find Flameheart and stop him before he can regain his former strength. Since you're here, I assume that means we can count on your help."
"Of course." Stella nodded firmly, "Takes a dragon to take down a dragon, right?"
"Is that a thing?"
"No idea. But it has to have some weight, right?"
"True. Anyway, when we know more, we'll be in touch. In the meantime, do me a favour and take that journal back to Grace, would you?" Tallulah motioned to a journal that lay on the table with the Forsaken Alliance symbol on it, "She's always leaving it lying around."
"Will do." Stella picked up the journal and headed outside where Grace was pacing back and forth outside the tavern, stopping upon noticing Stella approach. "Is that my journal you're carrying? Don't tell me I left it behind again." Grace sighed as she took it from Stella, "Not that there's much in there. Just some notes of my time in the Devil's Roar and all the things I'd like to do...to..." Grace trailed off as a strange noise filled the air, "Wait. Can you hear that?"
"Yeah. Something's coming…" Stella replied, as a green glow appeared beside Grace, Pendragon stepping out of it. "You're here! Brilliant!" Pendragon let out a sigh of relief despite seeming frantic, "I need your help, and quickly, my crew are in danger!"
"Aren't you Captain Pendragon?" Grace asked, caught a little off-guard by the sudden appearance of Pendragon's ghost, "Last thing I heard, you didn't have a ship left, much less a crew."
"Oh, my friends and I parted ways long ago, but their personal effects were still aboard the Blackwyche." Pendragon replied, "Stitcher Jim must have taken them to use in his vile ritual!"
"Did you say 'Stitcher Jim'?!"
"Yes, the same wretch who freed me from my painting and deceived myself and the Glacial Dragons into unleashing Flameheart. Not that I knew his name at the time, of course. They say he used to serve the Gold Hoarders, but it seems he's change allegiance once again."
"Oh, trust me, I know who Stitcher Jim is." Grace sighed, shooting a sympathetic look at Stella who stared at her feet in shame, "If he's working for Flameheart, we're all in trouble. Where is your crew now?"
"Rumours say he confronted them with an armful of Dark Relics and bound their spirits into some kind of cursed chest." Pendragon replied, "Madame Olivia believes he might try and use its power to summon an Ashen Lord to The Sea of Thieves."
"Ashen Lords…Koa told us about them." Stella spoke up, "They were Flameheart's generals and trusted crewmates, right?"
Pendragon nodded, "It seems Flameheart means to rebuild his army, and he's using my crew to do it. We must recover that chest from Stitcher Jim, whatever the cost!"
"I think I might be able to help with that." Grace handed her journal back to Stella, "I've always used my journal to keep track of Jim's whereabouts. Take it with you and use it to hunt him down... before it's too late."
Stella nodded as Pendragon disappeared before turning to her crew who had just emerged from the tavern, "Get to the ship. We have to stop Flameheart from summoning his Ashen Lords."
"Right!"
The crew began to hurry down to the docks, but Stella was stopped by Grace placing a hand on her shoulder, "And Stella? I'm sorry. I know you trusted him…but some people just can't change, even if they want to."
Stella solemnly nodded in understanding before following her crew back to the Icebreaker.
"Where to, cap?" Koa asked as Stella opened the journal, "According to Grace, Jim was last seen on Liar's Backbone. We might be able to find some clues there."
"Liar's backbone. Fitting." Zhen dryly chuckled. "I'll set our course. No time to lose!" Ali said as she hurried below deck.
The Icebreaker slowly came to a stop beside the small island that was Liar's Backbone. "Shall we?" Koa began as the crew gathered near the ship's ladder. "Um…if it's okay with you guys, can I go by myself?"
Ali and Zhen seemed confused, but Koa nodded in understanding, "Take all the time you need, Stella."
"I'll let you know if I need help." Stella smiled. "The usual signal then?" Ali chuckled. "'Help me, help me, oh Ancients, help me!'?" Zhen finished with a smirk. "¡Exactamente!" Stella laughed as she scaled down the ladder and waded onto the shore. She walked for a bit until she found a stone wall with a lever beside it. Stella noticed the Forsaken Alliance necklace wrapped around the lever. "This must be it." Stella muttered to herself as she pulled the lever, causing the wall to drop and reveal a cave. The inside was littered with boxes, opened chests, and a makeshift hammock with paintings of Flameheart's emblem on the wall beside it – a heart with a single flame emerging from the centre. The walls had skeleton glyphs carved into them with their meanings engraved underneath. One of them caught Stella's eye.
'HEART. You returned me from darkness. Wanda, my heart is yours; I will never leave your side.'
Why did that sting so much to read…? Stella shook the thought from her mind as she walked further into the cave. At the very back was what looked to be a shrine with a wooden heart on the wall and three turnable blocks on a stone ledge with a lever. "Hmm…I wonder…" Stella muttered as she took another look at the glyphs. Flame, ritual, king, lord, heart, and gold: those were the glyphs depicted on the wall. "No glyph for captain…but maybe…" Stella turned the blocks so that the glyphs engraved on them read 'King Flame Heart', before pulling on the lever. There was a cranking noise as the wooden heart began to open from the middle, revealing an orange stone key with the 'flame' glyph engraved into it. Beside it were papers with writing on them. Stella removed the pages and read them.
'My hard work is almost complete…the Blackwyche crew has been slain, ready to deliver my master his first Ashen Lord! The ritual must be performed in Captain Flameheart's lair deep within the Heart of Fire on the Devil's Thirst. Its entrance is hidden below the waves. But I can find it if I light the chalice overlooking the north beach…The Ashen Lords shall rise! All hail King Flameheart!'
Stella sighed as she tried to keep her emotions in check. As she took the stone from the shrine, she noticed a crumpled piece of paper at the back of the hidden compartment. Curious, she took it out and unravelled it.
'I feel awful. I know what we're doing is for the best but…that doesn't make it hurt less. I knew the plan was to have Pendragon enlist a crew to release Flameheart and those other two captains. But Stella was the last person I wanted to get involved in this mess. If what we're doing really is for the good of the Sea of Thieves…then why do I feel so guilty? When she finds out it was me…I don't even want to think about that. She'll hate me. And she has every right to, honestly. She trusted me even after learning of everything I've done, and I betrayed that trust. I can only hope she can forgive me once this is all over. I didn't expect it to hurt so much. But seeing her face when Flameheart was released it…Wanda's right, I need to stop thinking about this and focus on the task at hand. I need to find the crew of the Blackwyche and get a start on the ritual. Wanda says Flameheart's reign will bring true freedom to the sea. She wouldn't lie…right? What am I saying? Of course not! Still…please forgive me Stella.'
"Jim…" Stella gripped the page tightly before placing it and the rest of the pages into the journal.
"I know what I have to do now."
Torches lit up with burning fire upon Devil's Thirst as Stella returned to the Icebreaker, "Ok. The lair is underwater, so the easiest way to get down there is for you guys to ride on my back in dragon form."
"We get to ride a dragon?! Sweet!" Zhen cheered. Stella leapt off the ship and dove into the water before resurfacing in dragon form, "All aboard the S.S Stella!" Zhen, Koa and Ali jumped into the water and climbed into Stella's back as she dove beneath the waves, using her tail and wings to propel herself further down. As she dove further, Stella came across what seemed like a stone wall carved in Flameheart's image with a small stone pillar with a circular dent in it. Stella placed the stone key she found in the dent, causing the engraving to glow orange as it slowly opened up. Stella quickly swam inside and through a series of tunnels until they finally reached the surface. The crew gasped for air as Stella climbed onto the stony ground by the water. "So…this is the inside of the Devil's Thirst…?" Koa began, still a little out of breath from holding it so long. "Looks like it." Stella replied as the crew climbed off her back and she shifted back into a human.
"So, you've come to steal my chest and stop the ritual?" The crew jumped as Flameheart's voice echoed around them, "How brave you are! Such a pity you won't leave here alive."
"Flameheart!" Stella yelled, "You won't get away with this! As Captain of the Glacial Dragons, I will stop you!"
"Still playing pretend, are we?" Flameheart laughed, "I'm tempted to burn you to a crisp right now for your arrogance. But I've been sealed away for over a decade…I could use the amusement. So, if you really think you and your little friends can make it through, I invite you to try."
"What a jerk…" Zhen mumbled. "Well, he wants amusement…" Stella smirked, "So let's put on a show! Let's show him that the Glacial Dragons are the real deal!"
"Aye-aye!"
The crew traversed through the tunnels, nearly fell into a lava lake, and swam through underwater tunnels until they reached a central room with a river of lava and three doors. "What is this place?" Stella muttered. "These catacombs were here long before you were born. They will endure long after you have been burned to ashes." Flameheart replied with a growl. "We'll see about that." Stella mumbled before turning to her crew, "Looks like it's a good ol' fashioned split up, huh?"
"If...if it's okay with everyone…" Ali began, "I'd like to take on a path by myself."
"Are you sure, Ali?" Koa asked, earning a nod in response. "Every time we split up, someone goes with me to protect me. But this time…this time I think I can protect myself."
"If you're sure, then go for it, Ali!" Stella smiled.
"I won't let you down!" Ali beamed.
"Alright then." Koa nodded, "Zhen and I will take left. Stella can take middle, and Ali can take right."
"And we'll hopefully meet up at the end." Stella finished, "Good luck everyone!"
To Be Continued…