They all jumped into the well’s enormous bucket, that suddenly got loose, and fell from the sky with the three of them screaming. However, the giant bucket fell on something that felt like water. Amy helped his friends get out of the bucket on her back, and they found themselves in the middle of the sea!
“Um… now what?” Amy asked.
“I’m not sure, but don’t worry.” Red said. “Fay will not take long to appear and she’ll tell us what to do next.”
Just like he said, Fay appeared, and told them:
“Nice work, guys. All you have to do now is wait. With luck, you’ll be rescued by some unexpected friends… That’s why this ocean is called the Lucky Seven Seas.”
Then she disappeared. So the trio had no other option than waiting. They waited for quite a while, until they saw something big approaching overseas.
“Guys, are you seeing what I see?” Red asked.
“What is it?” Amy asked.
“Looks some kind of boat…”
The boat got closer. It had a huge sail with a skull on it.
“Aah! It’s a pirate ship! Pirates are mean!” Travis said.
The ship stopped by the giant bucket. The captain of the pirate crew greeted them on board.
“Ahoy, me mateys!” He said. “What do ye think ye’re doing, floating all by yourselves in a gigantic bucket?”
“We just descended from the clouds.” Red said.
“And we were waiting for someone to save us.” Amy said.
“Well, we’re here now. So how about if ye join our crew? Get’em, ye scurvy dogs!”
The pirates jumped from the ship and tied them up with ropes.
“Red, they captured us!” Travis said.
“Trust me. It’s all right.”
“Now, if ye excuse me, I’ll introduce meself. I’m Captain Hook.”
“Captain Hook? Like, the one and only Captain Hook?” Travis asked. “Oh, I love your stories!”
“Shiver me timbers! A connoisseur!” Hook said, pleased.
“I’ve always wondered. Is that a real hook?”
“Nah, it’s just an accessory. I still have both hands. I’ve had this little toy since I was a wee sea wolf.”
“Uh… cool!”
“Say, will ye join our crew, then? If not, it’s walking the plank for ye!”
“Red…” Amy said, nervous.
“Calm down.” Red said. “They are the unexpected friends Fay was talking about. We have to say yes.”
Then he turned to pirates and said:
“Aye, sir! We would love to join your crew.”
“Blimey! Well said, me hearties!” Hook said. “Everyone! Let’s celebrate the arrival of these three new mateys with a chantey!”
The pirates began playing music and dancing. A pirate cut their ropes with a sword so they could dance, too. So Red and his friends didn’t waste the chance and also began dancing. When they finished, Hook spoke to them:
“Say, me hearties, as ye see, we were on a treasure hunt.”
“Yes, we’re looking for a magic staff.” Another pirate said.
“Quiet! Yer captain is the one speaking. Then we found ye. Ye’re so lucky to join us in our adventure!”
“Yes, we are. After all, these are the Lucky Seven Seas, aren’t they?” Red said.
“Aye! Now, onward, to where the treasure lies!”
The pirate ship sailed across the sea, heading to the island where they would find the magic staff. However, a storm suddenly began to brew.
“Arrrrgh!” Hook said. “All hand hoy! Batten down the hatches!”
The pirates got on board and prepared the sails and the rudder to survive the storm. However, it wasn’t the only danger they would face, because out of the depths of the sea, came a giant squid!
“It’s the Kraken! Blast it down!”
While they were still trying to survive the storm, the pirates began firing at the Kraken with their cannons. Red also helped by firing a cannon. The Kraken defended itself by attacking the ship with its enormous tentacles. Travis had an idea. He tied together the long fuses of three cannons and asked Amy to breath fire on them. The three cannons fired at once, hurting the monster very badly.
“You know what they say. If one doesn’t work, triplicate the power.” Travis said.
Then he helped the pirates by building catapults to throw powder barrels at the Kraken, while Amy flew toward it and breathed fire at it. Working together, the trio and the pirates successfully beat the Kraken and sent it back to the depths of the sea, this time for good.
“Yo ho ho! Congrats, me mateys!” Hook said, happily. “I knew ye had the skills to be pirates!”
“Look, land in sight!” Amy said.
“Shiver me timbers! We made it!”
Red, Amy, Travis and the pirate crew finally arrived to the island, safe and sound. There, they entered a cave. The magic staff was supposed to be there. But when they arrived to its pedestal, it was gone!
“Arrrrgh! They beat us to it!”
Amy noticed there was something strange written on the portal. Something like an ancient tongue.
“Oh, good thing I brought my book of ancient tongues.” Travis said.
“You brought a book of ancient tongues?” Amy asked.
“Yes, along with other books, in case I got bored.”
Travis pulled it out from his bag, and translated the message.
“Are you seeking true power? Do you hunger for conquering kingdoms and villages? The power to impose fear and respect in your enemies, dwells within the Stone Staff. From the moment you wield this staff, your life will be linked to it, and you will have the power to leave your foes petrified. From now on, your title will be… The Fatal.”
Suddenly, Red had a realization.
“Fahid…”
“What?” Amy asked.
“Fahid the Fatal. He’s the evil wizard I talked you about. He is the one who put the spell on the princess. He took the Stone Staff, and used it for his evil doings.”
“So an evil wizard got the treasure before us!” Hook said.
“I think that’s good.” A pirate said. “Did you heard what it said? Whoever got the staff would have his life linked to staff! That’s terrifying!”
“Silence!”
“So, what do we do now?” Amy asked.
“Excuse me, do you know where a place called the Mysterious Mine is located?” Travis asked.
“The Mysterious Mine? I’ve heard from it. It’s not too far from here on a volcanic island.” Hook said.
“You heard, it guys? We’re close to where the magic crystal slippers are!” Red said.
He turned to Captain Hook and asked him:
“Could you please take us there?”
“Ye want us to take ye there? And what’s in for us?”
“Well, we’re trying to save a princess. If you help us, you will be recognized for helping a us break the spell that imprisons her in a tower. You will be heroes! Heroism is such an invaluable treasure.”
“Besides, we helped you fight the Kraken.” Amy said.
“Admit it, Captain. If it wasn’t for us, your ship would already be sunk.”
“Hmm… Ye’re right. Hoist the sails, me mateys! We’re taking our friends to their destination!”
Thus, the pirates took the little fox, the dragoness and the troll to the volcanic island where the Mysterious Mine was. Before they entered, Captain Hook stopped Red to tell him something:
“Hey, kid. I really thank ye for helping us with the Kraken. Ye are indeed smart, nimble and brave. However, ye can’t come with us. Ye are destined for something bigger. I knew it since we found ye. But let me give ye something special to thank you.”
He handed Red a cutlass.
“Also, we declare ye honorary pirates. Me hearties, let’s give a cheer to our honorary members!”
All pirates cheered. Then Red and his friends said goodbye to Captain Hook and his pirate crew, who left on their ship. Without further ado, they entered the mine.
TO BE CONTINUED