Story by me.
Proofreading and editing by SeverinadeStrango
Enjoy.
"Fishy Bird was here but friends took him away," Chief Omurtu explained as he showed them a picture of the scene.
The crew gasped. Four nasty looking pirates were dragging him into their ship. One was an otter with a glassy eye, another a crab with cracked claws, the third a guinea pig with rusty armor and a torn fancy hat, and the last one was a sloth. These were pirates that they'd never seen around Sky Island or any other island for that matter.
"That is definitely not good, not good at all." Lasko gasped as he stared at the picture in shock.
"Do you know where they went, Chief Omurtu?" Isabel questioned the Water Mole.
"Heard friends of Fishy Bird leave for Skull Island, no more though." The Shaman answered as he pointed to the island with his staff.
"Then that's where we need to go," Bonnie grunted as the crew returned to the ship to fly back to Skull Island.
After docking at Skull Island, The Golden Scorpions began their search for the group of pirates that kidnapped the fisherman with no clue where to start.
"The island is so big and we're losing precious time, how are we gonna find him?" Isabel questioned as she gave a huff of frustration.
"Let's talk to Skinny Pete, I'm sure if anyone has heard about the pirates that took Norville, he'll know." Bonnie Anne suggested as she pointed to the Skull Kraken Tavern.
"I guess that's our best bet, let's go!"
The group entered the tavern, which was occupied by a bustle of pirates and salty sailors, drinking themselves silly with the finest yum. When they entered, they saw the Tavern Keeper giving the group the evil eye.
"What do you sea dogs want? Came here to wreck up my business again?" Skinny Pete snarled as he washed the mug.
He was still miffed by the group of pirates messing up the cellar in the middle of the fight and leaving him to clean up the mess.
"Look, we're sorry about the mess - " Lasko began.
"I don't want to hear it! Just tell me what you want then scram!" He demanded.
"Have you seen a Pelican named Norville?" Egg Shen asked as he gave the barkeep a picture of the fisherman.
"Pelican? How should I know? Go ask Blind Mew. That old cat has an ear to every keyhole on this island! Now get!" The old man shouted as the group was flung out of the Tavern before the pirates could cause any trouble.
"We meet again. May I be of more assistance? I've been standing here awhile. I know everyone who's come and gone." The old cat meowed.
"Have you heard someone screaming or a group of pirates going by?" Emmett asked the old beggar cat.
"Actually, I have. I heard someone screaming for help coming from the Drainage system over there." He answered as he pointed to the sewage system behind them which had only small traces of footprints being washed away.
"Thanks, Blind Mew." Isabel said, placing a few coins in his cup.
"Alright, Scorpions. Let's go get our Pelican!" The captain shouted as she raised her fist in the air.
The group sloshed through the slime and goo of the sewage pipe. They could hear someone begging for his life.
The Golden Scorpions hid behind the wall and saw the missing Norville, tied up to his beak and gagged. The group didn't want to put the fisherman at risk and just jump into battle.
"We cannot risk of Norville being harmed." Egg Shen warned as they heard the pirates' conversation about waiting for someone.
"But what can we do, we are losing time! What do we do?" Itzen Kaan asked as the group began to think.
Then it hit the Monkey Conquistador.
"Isabel, do you think Goldy can distract the group long enough for me to untie the carpenter?" The Marchioness suggested. Isabel knew what to do.
The young pirate set the golden scorpion down and gave the order to attack. The creature hissed and launched itself at the dog pirate who screamed in terror. His crew tried to pry it off without being stung themselves.
The Marchioness untied the carpenter as the Golden Scorpions surrounded the group. Goldy bounced off of the pirate and onto its master's shoulder. The group turned around to see the smirk of Isabel Quinn as she crossed her arms.
"So boys, mind telling me what you were planning to do with our fine feather friend here?" She questioned in a mocking tone as the two groups of pirates charged into battle.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, Miss. Quinn! I thought I was gonna be a goner!" The carpenter groveled as the group set foot on the deck of Jonah Town.
"No problem, what did they want ya for anyway?" Lasko questioned as they headed up the stairs.
"I'm not sure, they were talking about selling me to pay off their debt. I have no idea what would happen to me if you hadn't shown up." Norville explained as he saw his father and rushed to his side.
"My boy, you're safe! Well, pirate looks like you're true to your word so now I'll take you to the secret town of Gullet, follow me." The elder Pelican grinned as he showed them to a hatch that lead to the inside of the whale.
Though Isabel had been to Gullet many times before, she was still disgusted by the smell.