Chapter 4: The Ghost of Mad Eye Duke:
Pearl's POV:
Slippery and I were exploring an old ship. That's what humans use to travel the sea. Too bad they haven't developed a way to travel underwater.
"This place sure is creepy," says Slippery.
"What could happen," I asked, "all the humans down here are dead." I was pointing to a skeleton.
"The Dead creeps me out," says Slippery.
I then entered a room and saw a skeleton sitting on a chair. I then touched the skeleton, and a ghostly figure came out. "Well, what 'ave we got 'ere?"
"Are you... a ghost," I asked.
"Let me see." He then phases through a wall. "Looks like I be." He then laughs. "Mad Eye Duke's the name, gentleman o' fortune extraordinaire."
"Wow, I'm actually meeting a human... and he's dead."
"Yarr, well, that be life... or afterlife!" He then laughs again.
"What does a gentleman of fortune do," I asked.
"I be glad ye asked, Lassie."
Mad Eye Duke: Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
We burn up the city, we're really a fright
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
Stand up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!
"Wow, sounds exciting," I said, "wait, can you repeat some of the stuff that makes you sound like bad guys..."
"Would ye like to see somethin' really impressive?"
"What," I asked.
"Me treasure," says Mad Eye, "it be why I be called a gentleman o' fortune."
"I'm a treasure hunter too," I said, "I collect things from the surface."
"Ye be me kind o' mermaid," says Mad Eye Duke, "come an' follow me."
Slippery's POV:
I was searching through the ship when I found a picture of a really nasty looking human. I read the name. 'Mad Eye Duke'. I then saw Pearl following someone who looked like him. "Uh-oh."
Pearl's POV:
"Sad, isn't it," asks Mad Eye Duke, "me treasure's right 'ere with me, but I can't even touch it... because I be dead."
"What's in the chest," I asked.
"Gold, jewels, diamonds, ye name it," says Mad Eye Duke, "open the chest an' take a look."
I then opened the chest and saw the treasure inside. It was beautiful. I wanted to touch it and then I did.
"Pearl," says Slippery. He then sees Mad Eye Duke.
"Ahoy there," says Mad Eye Duke.
"I think we need to get out of here," says Slippery.
"Do we have to," I asked.
Slippery then pulls me away and we left.
. . .
Slippery and I were going through the halls of the palace. I saw the Royal Treasure. I never noticed how pretty it was. So... sparkly. So... shiny.
"Are you okay," asks Slippery.
"Huhh? Oh, I'm fine."
. . .
At night, I was dreaming about treasure. I wanted it. I needed it. I will get it! The treasure from Mad Eye Duke's ship. That's a start! I then swam out.
Slippery's POV:
I saw Pearl swimming. Even she wouldn't go anywhere this late at night. I had to follow her.
. . .
She was going back to that ship. Is she nuts? Then something was tapping on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Mad Eye Duke.
"Ahoy again, jolly to see ye," says Mad Eye Duke.
"What did you do to Pearl," I asked.
"Oh, that there, well, before I died, I placed a curse on me treasure. Anyone who touches it becomes as greedy as me. 'ad to find someway to 'ave someone continue me pirate legacy."
"You mean she's become a pirate," I asked.
"That be right, the first mermaid o' fortune!" Mad Eye then laughs.
"I have to stop her!" Just as I was about to, Mad Eye stopped me.
"I think she could use a first mate," says Mad Eye, "'ow would ye like to be a gentleman o' fortune?"
Pearl's POV:
Just as I was about to get to the treasure, Mad Eye came.
"Mad Eye, I was just..."
"Oh, relax, lassie, say, look who I found, yer little mate!" Mad Eye then reveals he had Slippery. "Maybe 'e'd like to see the treasure."
"Pearl, Mad Eye tricked you! That treasure cursed you! You have to fight it!"
"Isn't 'e jolly," asks Mad Eye.
"Slippery, the treasure's beautiful," I said, "you have to take a look." I then whispered to Slippery. "Then, we can take it while Mad Eye isn't looking."
"Perfect," says Mad Eye.
"What," I asked.
"He said he wants you to rob him," says Slippery.
"Touch the treasure, Slippery," says Mad Eye, "ye'll love bein' a gentleman o' fortune."
Slippery then looks at my bag and knocks it off my wrist. I then came down to grab it and... I looked at all the human items I've collected. True, it's not as pretty as Mad Eye's treasure, but... it's my treasure. And then I looked at my biggest treasure, my best friend, who is being held by that ghost! "Let him go," I said.
"What? Don't ye want me treasure?"
"I don't need it as long as I have Slippery," I said.
"Ye... ye... ye can't do this here to me!" Mad Eye then turns to a crocodile and chases after us.
. . .
We managed to get out of the ship and learned that Mad Eye couldn't. He couldn't leave the ship.
"I guess we're safe from him," I said.
"As long as we don't go anywhere near that ship," says Slippery.
"Ye rotten fish! ye will ne'er escape from Mad Eye Duke! we will meet again! ye can count on it!"
We then swam away.
. . .
I then kissed Slippery and once again forgot about the eel thing. "Thanks," I said.
"I'm just glad you're back to normal," says Slippery.
"Yeah. I don't need any of that beautiful gold or those pretty jewels, or those lovely diamonds..."
"Pearl," asks Slippery.
"Just kidding," I said.
In the next chapter, Pearl and Slippery end up in the lair of Bai Tza, the Water Demon.