He swam there expecting the worst, but he had not expected the laughter.

The Red Tuskaninny sat upright in a tide pool outside the Cove. He brought with him only his trusty dagger, and the treasure tied safely to his belt. Scraps of ship-sails stretched as makeshift awnings outside the Cove- surely, he thought, they were open for trade.

He slid forward towards the Cove, but stopped short at the entrance. His eyes were slow to adjust to the shade, after having been so long in the bright Krawk Island sun. He didn't see them until they were right in front of him!

"What brings you here, little Tuskaninny?" said a Pirate Jetsam. Beside her was a Pirate Peophin, sporting an armoured tail.

"I'm Milo, and I'm here to trade," Milo said with rehearsed confidence. "I've brought with me something so rare that-" Behind him, a voice called out, "This isn't a marketplace, Tusky!" Milo dared to turn around, and saw that a Pirate Quiggle was behind him, arms crossed.

The Quiggle sauntered forward, joining her Pirate companions. "We accept dubloons and dubloons only. No trades. No take-backsies. We source our goods only from the most prestigious establishments. Or, wait? Is there a place called the Red Tuskaninny that's too good for us?" The trio erupted into laughter.

Milo's face burned. He swam for days- crossed half of Neopia!- only to be mocked. Fighting back tears, Milo turned away.

Then, a voice echoed from deep within the Cove. "Come on back, Milo. Let's see what you have for trade,"...

"Oy, we didn't mean 'im any harm Cap'n," the Peophin called, a nervous flush spreading across his cheeks.

"Yes, yes," insisted the Quiggle. "Just informing the lad of the rules here at the Cove. Thought it best to—"

A figure stalked out of the shadows and held up a hand to silence the Quiggle.

Milo's eyes went wide as he beheld none other than Garin, captain of the famed Black Pawkeet. The Tuskaninny darted his gaze around the bay to inventory the surrounding vessels, and, sure enough, anchored off the shore was the legendary ship. Milo had grown up hearing tales of Garin, Jacques, and the crew's adventure to save Maraqua. He couldn’t believe he was seeing the captain right here in the flesh.

The Usul captain grinned at the sight of Milo. "Ah, I can see by the expression on your face that you recognize me. Most do. So, you fancy yourself a little pirate trader in the making, do you? Well, are you going to stare at me all day, or are you going to show me what you've got there?" Garin asked as he nodded down to small sack tied securely around Milo's belt.

"Yes, uh, yes, of course. Yes, sir. Uh, captain," Milo sputtered as he united the sack with shaky fins. He reached inside and withdrew a gold necklace strung with five rubies. Four dubloon-sized jewels framed the centre ruby, easily the size of a Pawkeet egg.

The smile fell off Garin's face as he took a cautious step forward. He began to reach out his paw before seeming to think better of it and quickly shoved it into his pocket.

"You don't have any idea what you've got there, do you?" he asked, the serious timber of his voice sending a shiver down Milo's back. If the Tuskaninny didn't know any better, he'd say the normally devil-may-care, brash pirate had a tremble of fear in his voice.

The captain continued. "Where on Neopia did you find that?"...

"Through the generations a map has been passed down, McCoy to McCoy, with the legend stating that untold riches lie at the end of the road. But. It's not that simple. Each member of our family has searched their whole lives for the meaning and direction behind this map. My father has been travelling since I was just a knee-high Tuskaninny".

"Oh, get on with it..." the Peophin muttered under his breath rolling his eyes. Garin glared in his direction.

"We had not heard from my father in months, and feared the worst, last we heard he was travelling through some uncharted lands outside Geraptiku, and we all know the many perils one can come across out there. But then last week a package arrived, wrapped, battered and looking like it had travelled three times backward around Neopia. In that package was the necklace, and this note..."

Milo nodded and passed him the tattered paper.

“‘My dear boy,’” the Usul began, reading aloud.

“‘I’m writing to you as the first McCoy in our lineage to be successful in Albertus’s treasure hunt that he began so many years ago. I wanted to send this necklace as proof of my discovery, but know that this is only the beginning! There is a trove of valuables here, but the hardest part of my journey has yet to come to fruition. I must safely traverse the Lost City of Geraptiku and its surrounding forests with my plunder before I can bring it home. If you don’t hear from me or see my safe return within the week, I want you to know my location. I found the treasure due south of…’”

“Due south of what? Where did he find the treasure?!” the Jetsam asked impatiently, enthralled by the letter and its promise of loot.

“There’s water damage to the letter… It’s ripped and the ink has bled,” Garin said.

“And we haven’t heard from my father in two weeks now,” Milo explained. “That’s why I’m here. I wanted to trade this necklace for anything that could help me find my father.”

Tears began to well in the Tuskaninny’s eyes. “I’ll take anything. Weapons to protect me in Geraptiku, gear to help rescue my father… Anything!”

“How about this…” Garin proposed, placing a paw on Milo’s shoulder and handing him back his letter. “We go with you to find your dad and bring him home safely. Not if, but [i]when[/i] we do so, we’ll take a small cut of the treasure. How does that sound?”

“That would be incredible!” Milo exclaimed, wiping his cheeks.

“Did you say, ‘small’, Cap’n?” the Peophin asked in a jeered whisper.

Garin ignored him, rolling his eyes.

“Grab your things, landlubbers! We’ve got a Tuskaninny to save.”

The four pirates made their way toward the Black Pawkeet with Milo in tow, smiling from ear to ear…

"Listen up," he said. "We know Milo's father made it to the treasure. That necklace is the evidence. What we don't know is what happened afterwards." His paw traced a path through the dense jungle illustrated on the map. "Geraptiku isn't friendly territory. Dense forests. Ancient ruins. Hidden traps. Plenty of places fer an explorer to disappear."

Milo swallowed nervously.

"However, there'll probably be some signs to show us if he passed through an area recently," Garin continued. "When we arrive, we're not charging into the jungle blindly. Keep an eye out fer any footprints or disturbed soil, carvings in tree bark or rocks, discarded supplies and broken branches.

"Aye," the Jetsam, Quiggle and Peophin chimed in unison. The captain then pointed a finger at Milo.

"As for yer, stick close to us and don't wander off on yer own," he instructed. "Yer the one who knows yer father best, so let us know if ye spot anything special that might relate to him. We'll take care of the rest."

"I can do that!" the Tuskaninny saluted.

"Then it be settled. We'll arrive at Geraptiku before sundown."

As they left the room one by one, the Peophin nudged Milo and smirked. "I hope ye had yer lunch because there's none fer ye," she mocked before heading for the kitchen.

***

The skies had turned deep pink and orange by the time the four pirates and Milo disembarked onto the shore. They made their way towards the entrance path leading into the Lost City of Geraptiku, which seemed far less welcoming than the sea. Towering trees crowded together overhead, their branches weaving into a thick canopy that swallowed much of the remaining daylight. Vines hung like ropes from every direction, forcing the quintet to cut their way through with blades and machetes. Twisted roots snaked across the ground beneath their feet, threatening to trip even the most careful hiker. It didn't help that it was getting darker every minute. Milo panted from the effort.

"Remember," Garin reminded as they pressed deeper into the forest, machetes and cutlasses held at the ready, "observe carefully fer any helpful signs."

The group traversed through unfamiliar territory, eyes scanning their surroundings. It wasn't long until Milo saw something and alerted the rest.

"Look over there! It's ..."

It was stuffed deep between a crack of an old tree as if someone purposefully hid it from sight. It seemed undisturbed as flora had started to grown around it from months of absence from its owner. The red Tuskaninny quickly wobbled his way towards the bag, hands grasping on the corner of the bag and pulling it towards him. The bag did not give in the slightest, still tightly tuckered between the tree.

“It’s stuck!” Milo yelled out disheartening from the lack of strength he seemed to possess.

“Well why are we all waiting ere? Help the lad,” the captain bellowed out towards his crew waving his usul arm towards the Tuskaninny. His eyes narrowed at the gazing clueless crew.

With that the crew sprung into action quickly forming a crowd around Milo. Each one observing the tree before one spoke up.

“Perhaps we cut it out Cap’n?” The pirate Jetsam quipped holding his curved blade towards the tree.

“Well? Get on with it?” He shouted as he lifted his torch helping illuminate the area.

The crew lifted their shining metal swords, with an enthusiastic hurrah, began to hack away fiercely around the bag hoping to loosen it up. Milo stepped back giving the pirate crew enough room but also hoping not to have one of his flippers be chopped away. After a few minutes the pirate crew took a step back admiring their work. The tree itself was not too damaged but the location of the bag seemed carved up enough to be able to be yanked out.

“Just needs a little tug and it er should pop out,” the peophin enthusiastically commented, “put some muscle into it and ya got it.”

Milo sauntered over to the bag, placing his red flippers around the edge of the bag. He began to tug with all his might feeling the bag resist first like the first time then with a sudden plop it gave out! Milo fell back, quickly surprised of how easy it was to pull out. The bag fell to the floor unraveling and spilling its contents onto the dark grass below them revealing….

Milo picked up the books and began to read the page that the book had fallen open to, "I've been travelling in circles for weeks. It feels like the trees move on their own. Like the vines form mazes for me. The forest doesn't want me to leave. If only I could translate this book. Perhaps I should set up camp and study it more... but each night there is this sound... like I'm not alone in this jungle. Something else is here, following me..."

There were previous entries that told of his journey to the treasure. Through traps and twisted trails, even a couple of ferocious beasts he'd had to avoid... but nothing of what this mysterious follower could have been.

Just then a loud growl came from the depths of the looming shadows in the trees. Milo closed the book and looked to Jaren, he had never practiced fighting anything in his life... but that creature in the shadows snarled once more and the old book behind his father's journal...it seemed to glow...

The whole crew turned to the noise, their swords at the ready when suddenly...

For a moment, the pages glowed and fluttered despite the still air. As Milo and the pirates watched in awe, the light emitted from the pages danced and shrank into itself until it turned into one long beam. Everyone’s eyes followed the beam of light as it pointed into the same copse of trees the pirates had their swords towards.

The red beam of light illuminated the shadows and Milo looked into an angry pair of eyes. A creature unlike any Neopet Milo had ever seen slithered out. Like a Red Hissi without wings, and long bright blue leaf shaped hairs adorned its head wildly.

“A Quetzal!” Garin was the first to shout to his crew. “They’re Petpets native to Geraptiku, but this one is giant! Swords at the ready, crew!” With a smirk that seemed to say he had been waiting for some action, he held up his sword high.

“Are we slaying the creature, cap’?” The Jetsam asked, eager to charge ahead but awaited his captain’s orders.

“No, no… creatures like this, in places like these, they’re always here to guard something.” Garin explained. “We just need to scare it so it runs home.”

“And home is where…” Milo was coming to understand what Garin was planning.”

“That beam of light is pointing to, and possibly where your father is. So hold that book open and leave the fighting to us, boy!” The pirates chuckled. With a command from Garin, they all charged toward the giant Quetzal…

Milo froze, enchanted book and father's journal clutched tightly in his hands, an expression of terror painted across his face.

The giant Quetzal lunged in his direction...

-- it slammed into the book in Milo's hands, toppling the Tuskanniny to the ground and disappeared in a burst of cursed light as the book slammed shut.

For a moment, Milo stared at the ancient book, his heart racing in the wake of what he'd been certain, for the briefest moment, would be his end.

"What in the seven high seas," Garin swore behind him.

Sabres rattled as they were slid back into their sheaths, and slowly, sloooowly, the shock wore off.

Milo examined the old book in his hands, turning it over and over.

"Shut your mouth kid, before a Moquot flies in there," the Pirate Peophin said. A pair of agile hooves took the book from Milo and examined it too.

"That ol' Greenbeard's book?"

"Aye, I thinkin' so," the Peophin confirmed.

Milo, his heartbeat almost normal again, stood up and brushed himself off. "Greenbeard?" he asked.

"Most ancient Pirate there is," Garin said. "Disappeared with his treasure hundreds o' years ago, they say. Left a map to a book behind and said he'd hid 'imself and 'is treasure in its pages, but ain't no one who e'er found it, see. Your father musta found it in that cursed ruin, carried it out here, and got sucked in."

The McCoy map led father to this book? A... a pirate's treasure?!

"Well, nothin' left for it boys. Open 'er back up, let's go in and see if we can't get this boy 'is father back."

"Wait, what?" Milo said. "What do you mean go--"

But before he could finish objecting, the Pirate Peophin had opened the book once more, and its light enveloped them all...

How will this story end?

Everything came to a stop and he landed hard on a wooden floor.

“Ow!” He said.

Garin and his crew cried in agony and staggered to their feet. They realized they were no longer standing in Geraptiku but instead, they found themselves inside a cavern illuminated by lanterns. Mountains of treasure seemed further away than Milo could see. Gold dubloons poured from chests like waterfalls and jewels were shining bright from every direction. Pirate ships rested on islands of stone and were suspended in the air.

The Quiggle whistled excitedly. “Now that’s a treasure.”

At the centre of the cavern stood a tower built entirely from books and sitting halfway up, reading from a journal, was a Tuskaninny.

“Dad?” Milo questioned.

The figure looked down and Milo’s father almost fell off the tower trying to climb down.

“Milo!” His dad cried out.

The two collided in a hug so strong that some of the journals fell from the stack around them.

“I knew you’d come looking for me,” his father said with a shaking voice. “I knew you wouldn’t give up.”

“We thought you were lost!” Milo exclaimed.

“I was at first,” his father admitted.

He looked around the cavern. “This place isn’t a prison. It is a test.”

“A test?” Garin questioned.

Milo’s father nodded. “Greenbeard hid his treasure here centuries ago. Anyone can find the riches and that is the easy part. The difficult part is leaving.”

He pointed toward the side of the cavern and there stood an enormous stone doorway covered in glowing symbols.

“I’ve spent weeks trying to understand those markings and every time I thought I solved them, the doorway changed.”

Milo remembered the beam of light from the book. “So the Quetzal was guarding the answer?” He asked.

“The Quetzal?” His father questioned.

The book started to float from Milo’s hands and the cover opened by itself. A glow of red filled the cavern and from the pages emerged the Quetzal once more. The creature no longer looked angry and it slithered toward the doorway and rested beside it. The symbols carved into the door began to shine one by one, and words would appear.

NOT THE GREEDY.

NOT THE FEARFUL.

ONLY THE WORTHY MAY LEAVE WITH THE TREASURE.

“Sounds ominous,” the Peophin muttered.

Then the final line appeared and said,

WHAT IS THE GREATEST TREASURE?

The Jetsam raised a fin. “Gold.”

The Quiggle stepped forward. “More gold.”

But the doorway remained shut.

“You’re both hopeless.” Garin sighed.

Everyone took turns offering answers but the doorway did not move. Milo’s father looked down at his son.

“I think I know.” He said.

He stepped forward. “The greatest treasure is the people who come home to you.”

The cavern shook and the doorway began to open. Golden light flooded through the gap. The Quetzal let out a cry.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! The answer was friendship?” The Peophin groaned.

“Family,” Milo corrected with a smile.

The pirates laughed and as the doorway opened up, the treasure surrounding them began to fade. The piles of gold became dust and the jewelled mountains disappeared. The floating ships turned into mist but one small chest remained and it was Greenbeard’s true reward. Inside were a handful of gold coins, a collection of rare maps, and a note. Garin unfolded the note and read it.

“To the pirate who made it this far, if you’re disappointed there wasn’t more treasure, then you missed the point.”

The captain burst into laughter. “Now that’s a pirate after my own heart.”

The group stepped through the doorway together and the jungle of Geraptiku reappeared around them. The book slammed shut and fell into the grass. The Quetzal turned into red light and returned to the pages forever. Garin tossed the small treasure chest to Milo’s father.

“A deal’s a deal. We will take our small cut.” Garin said.

The captain reached into the chest and removed a single dubloon.

“One dubloon?” The Peophin asked.

“We said a small cut,” Garin said smugly.

The crew starting to complain as they began the long walk back to the Black Pawkeet. Milo laughed but he was glad his father was safe. The mystery of the McCoy map had finally been solved. And as they emerged from the jungle and caught sight of the sea beyond the trees, Milo realized that the treasure hunt that had consumed generations of his family was over.

But looking at the horizon, endless and blue with the sun rising, he couldn’t help but wonder what other secrets were still waiting to be discovered. Far out at sea, a shape appeared above the waves at a distance. It looked like another island that wasn’t marked on any map. Every one noticed it.

“Well, that looks interesting.” Milo said.

The Black Pawkeet’s sails caught the morning wind, and beyond the horizon, a brand new adventure was already beginning.

The End.