***
Kelvin had just won the third Armada game between him and Larry. A few pirates had gotten off the ship and were carrying huge crates of food back on board. There were also a few crates carrying miscellaneous things. Whether they raided nearby stalls or paid for the items, Kelvin didn't know. To be honest, he didn't care either. Their stock was dwindling at an alarmingly fast rate so it wasn't the time to think about ethics and such.
"Say Larry," Kelvin began, out of curiosity, "why were you planning to betray the Captain?"
"Lemme ask you this. Did ye think a [i]magical[/i] island would exist? It sounds so stupid. I would believe it maybe if ye said it was near Faerieland or sumthin' but Krawk Island?" He shook his head and sighed. "Them pirates have pea brains, I tell ye. Believin' all kinds of dung they hear. It's not even on the map, for pirates' sake!"
"But we did find it," Larry responded and shrugged.
The Skeith let out a gruff laugh. "By chance. But eh, 'tis could just be some tiny 'normal' island that's not marked in the dung of a map the Captain's got, y'know."
Although Kelvin didn't believe the legend, there were faults in Larry's argument too. However, he was spared from replying his companion when the both of them heard a faint, continuous scream from the forest to the east of the ship.
"Didja hear that?" Larry asked.
"Yeah." He knew that the Skeith had known he heard it too but replied anyway as he made his way to the bow.
It was only a matter of seconds before the Captain bolted out of the forest, yelling incoherently, with Bubbles trailing far behind him. The mutant looked like he was about to cry as they clambered on to the rowing boat and paddled with all their might toward the ship.
"STEER THE SHIP! THEY'RE COMIN' FOR US!" the Captain screamed as he scrambled up the plank and was hoisted on to the deck by two shipmates. What little hair that was left on his head was a total mess but other than that, he didn't look injured. The Xweetok came up seconds later, looking stricken but otherwise fine too.
Kelvin wondered if the Captain was exaggerating because he didn't see anyone emerging from the thicket of trees as they set sail. Larry, who was beside him, turned away from the view.
"Where's the gold?" the Skeith asked.
"There was no way we could get 'em," the Captain replied, already recovered from his panic a short while ago. "Bloodthirsty, I tell ye. Ye'd be scared outta ye wits." Bubbles nodded feebly.
"Tch." Larry's face wore a look of disgust. "Whatever."
"The trip isn't a total waste," Kelvin piped up, "since we've got some loot." He pointed towards the stacks of crates at the stern. Inwardly, he was glad that there was food and water. Nothing else really mattered to him. Even if the Captain's story sounded dubious, he didn't want to question him. He just wanted to go home.
***
A group of old Neopets sat in a circle inside the cave. A fire crackled merrily as they talked and laughed.
"The youngins would probably have a fitful sleep tonight," an elderly Kacheek giggled.
An Ogrin of similar age put down his carved wooden flute on the flat surface of a felled tree that was used as a table. "My magical flute works wonders," he beamed. "Hear one note and anyone will be entranced by its beautiful melody ... and the illusions are gorgeous."
The others guffawed. "Didn't seem like they enjoyed it," the Kacheek replied, wiping a tear away.
"Gotta let the legend of the Midi Island musicians live on," the Ixi beside the Kacheek uttered. "They could have forgotten how 'fearsome' we are. It's just a little reminder."
"Yeah, you're right," several voices agreed, and they carried on chit-chatting until night fell. The End.
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