Fishing was one of her favourite activities and every day she went to Ye Olde Fishing Vortex to catch some fish for lunch or dinner, as well as to hone her fishing skills. Usually, Eullerin was very satisfied with a few Blandfish or Lesser Spotted Fish, they were tasty, but she also loved it when she landed a Giant Giant Squid. That guaranteed her lunch for the next two or three days, at least, but even so, she still went fishing.

Eullerin positioned her fishing pole and cast out the hook, which made a dripping sound on the surface of the water. She knew that good fishing required a lot of patience, so she was never in a hurry.

But that day, it seemed that luck wasn't on her side, because a few hours had passed, and nothing had hooked her bait yet. There were days like these when she didn't get anything or ended up catching an Old Rotten Boot or a Rusty Old Can, which left her extremely frustrated. Suddenly her fishing line began to bob and Eullerin's eyes widened. She gripped the fishing pole tightly and tried to pull it back, but realized she would have to pull a little harder than usual.

"Boy, that's a big one! Is it a giant squid this time?" She thought with a smile and continued to pull hard on the pole. But she pulled from one side, and her prey pulled from the other, until Eullerin fell backward just as her prey's strength dissipated. She hit the ground and squealed in pain, but soon got to her feet and stood up, pulling on her line to check what she had caught. Her smile of victory immediately faded when she realized that what she had caught was not a fish, but a bottle!

An old, dirty bottle that some rude Neopian had thrown into the sea.

Annoyed, Eullerin removed the hook that was wrapped around the bottle and inspected it more closely. It was capped with a cork and there was a rolled-up piece of paper inside. Eullerin tilted her head to the side, curious, and then decided to open the bottle. She took the paper, unrolled it, and began to read...

Eullerin found the rest of the words illegible. Water had reduced them to nothing more than inky blotches on the soggy paper. She rolled her eyes as she crammed the note back into the bottle, certain it was nothing more than a pranksters idea of a joke. She tossed the bottle aside before carefully reset her rod and prepared to cast her line again.

Before she could get her line in the water her stomach let out a growl that would rival the roars of Bearog. She looked at the note beside her and sighed. “Well, the fish aren’t biting today, so what could it hurt to grab a bite to eat?” she muttered to herself.

***

Kelp was the fanciest restaurant in all of Maraqua, and Eullerin had never actually eaten there. She felt under-dressed in her simple pirate clothing when she entered to find everyone in their cleanest attire.

“I believe you may be in the wrong place, my dear, “ a Maraquan Scorchio told her smugly from behind the maitre d’ station.

“Actually, I have a reservation,” Eullerin replied as evenly as possible as she tried to not let her annoyance bubble to the surface. “It is under the name Frida- I mean Friedal Harquin.”

“Oh, of course,” the maitre d’ said as he eyed the Krawk up and down. “Pardon me for my earlier behavior, and feel free to follow me.”

Eullerin felt the distinct feeling of being watched as she followed the Scorchio to a small table in the corner, right next to the kitchen. At first the final lines of the message raced through her mind, until she remembered she likely looked out of place since she was woefully under-dressed for such a fine establishment. The Scorchio told her a menu as she took a seat and then swam back to his station at the front of the building.

Seconds later, a Maraquan Uni had appeared before her. She placed down some Foozette Juice and a small covered plate in front of Eullerin.

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t ordered yet.”

“Of course,” the waitress said. “These are actually on the house. Compliments from our management for such a loyal patron.”

Eullerin watched the waitress swim away, confused. She slowly lifted the lid on her covered plate to see a distinct looking Maractite key.

“So you’re searching for it too, are you?” Eullerin heard someone say from right beside her. She looked up and saw…

"My name is Verticus Flint," said the Kyrii, holding out a paw that Eullerin politely shook. His voice contained a lyrical lilt to it that Eullerin imagined the snobby maitre d' had instantly taken a liking to. "My companions here are Gert--" he motioned to the Wocky, who merely grunted, "-- and Topps."

Topps gave Eullerin a quick once over, her beady eyes narrowed. Eullerin was quickly beginning to suspect she might be in way over her head here.

"N-nice to meet you," she replied. "I'm Eul-- uh, I mean, Friedal Harquin."

"You're Friedal Harquin?" Flint said, blinking twice. "Well, I suppose I shan't judge by appearances, not yet, at least. I'd started to give up on ever arranging a meeting with you. Rumour had it you had just disappeared. In fact, I was beginning to wonder if you might have gone back on your word and ventured to Old Maraqua without me. And that would have been most impolite, wouldn't it?"

Behind Flint, Gert cracked his knuckles. Eullerin smiled weakly, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger in her belly and the sudden race of her heartbeat. Perhaps following the strange bottle's instructions hadn't been the most brilliant of ideas.

"O-of course not!" Eullerin exclaimed, brandishing the key. "I was just here to collect this before continuing our correspondence. Wouldn't want, um, the wrong hands getting a hold of it."

Flint's jaw set. "Indeed. Well, Ms. Harquin, now that we've been acquainted, there's no time to waste. As you know, I am Maraqua's most accomplished salvager, and Gert and Topps are the best hired hands around. With your set of skills by our side, there's simply no way we won't find it, the thing we call..."

In an attempt to draw more information out of Flint without giving away her lack of knowledge, Eullerin began with compliments and inquiry, “Absolutely. You and I are the perfect team. What about our arrangement excites you most?” The Pirate Krawk coyly laced her taloned fingers together and rested her chin upon them. She may have been an angler hours before, but right here in this moment, she was an actress.

“What a great question, Ms. Harquin. I think it’s our combination of your detective prowess and my ability to… Get things done,” Flint mused, motioning to his cronies. “Wouldn’t you say?”

“I’d have to agree. And the Cursed Jewel… I can’t wait to see it in the flesh. All of the stories we’ve heard about it? Oh my Fyora, I’m sure it’s just bewitching to see in person,” Eullerin said, looking off into the distance as if she could imagine this treasure she has yet to see in her mind’s eye.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Topps was glaring at her, as if the Skeith didn’t buy her story. The Pirate Krawk decided to ignore this, as she believed Flint was eating her act up.

“Forget about seeing it! I’m far more excited to use it,” Flint admitted emphatically, waving a flamboyant hand as he spoke.

“Pray tell… What do you plan on using it for?” Eullerin asked, almost achieving her goal.

“That’s none of your business!” asserted Gert in a snarl.

“Oh, pish posh!” the dapper old Kyrii said. “We’re business partners now. We trust each other to keep secrets. Isn’t that right, Ms. Harquin?”

“Yes, of course,” she replied sweetly with as sincere a smile as she could muster.

The two towering guards huffed and crossed their arms over their chest, obviously still wary of Eullerin.

“The Cursed Jewel of the Drenched is an amulet created by the Drenched themselves - the three Dark-Water Faerie sisters who wreak havoc on the Neopian seas from their underwater cave. It contains their evil and cursed powers… This stone is so filled with dread that, when its power is harnessed, it could destroy entire cities,” Flint explained.

Eullerin gulped as fear began to set in. She was starting to lose her composure.

The Kyrii continued, leaning in, “When it’s in my hands, I plan to…”

Eullerin felt her skin prickle, her mind was swirling with fear – for her home island, her friends, her entire world… she muttered, “… but Maraqua has been rebuilt, and that pirate curse is lifted, everyone has access to the Maraquan Ruins… it was not destroyed.”

Flint eyed her, as if seeing her for the first time and Gert grunted. Eullerin was sweating, she needed to turn things around and quick! She continued, “Of course, it is nothing to its former glory & exacting revenge is just what those Pirates deserve.”

She noticed Topps’ watchful gaze and followed his eyes to her pirate garb. She was really panicking now and started spinning a story with the first thing that came to mind, “I left Krawk Island years ago, after my brother turned on me…he was competitive our whole lives and as we got older our paths strayed in very different directions. This created a bit of malevolence between us and for a while, he was constantly challenging me to battles in the Battledome. When I kept winning, he got mad – he could not stand getting bested by a girl. He left our beach-front home to train with a league of shifty Pirates. They later ran me off Krawk Island… so count me in on some Pirate revenge.”

Eullerin tried to memorize the words coming out of her mouth, this little adventure was moving far too fast and was becoming far too extreme. She looked up to see if Topps or Gert saw through her lies, but to her satisfaction they looked placated.

Flint nodded, also looking satisfied with her answer “Ah I see, that’s how you ended up in Mystery Island then. It is all coming together now…it is clear that is why your battle skills are so renowned Ms. Harquin – training both at the Swashbuckling Academy and the Mystery Island Training School! Very few Neopians do both. That is great to hear as we will certainly need your best moves if we want to make it past the…”

Eullerin never considered that. It would make sense that the Drenched would keep a close watch over an item that contained their power. And though she did have some battle skills, she didn't think she could take on three Water Faeries.

"So what's the plan?" Eullerin asked.

"We need to find their lair. Once we do that, we sneak out way in, find the amulet, and take it. Once I have it around my neck, I should be able to wipe Krawk Island clean off the map. This time, for good," Flint replied. "And if we find the Drenched are home, you will fight them as a distraction while the rest of us collect the amulet."

Eullerin's breath caught in her throat. If the Drenched were in their lair, she would have to fight them...alone? She hoped to Fyora that they were out when they made it there. Otherwise, she may be in trouble when they show up.

"Of course, this is all pointless if we can't find the lair," Flint said, cutting into her thoughts. "I know of only one that was taken to their lair and lived to tell the tale, a pirate named..."

Eullerin quietly followed Flint and his cronies out of the restaurant, head spinning. Of course she remembered when Jacques was taken captive by the Drenched. Beloved first mate of the Black Pawkeet, Jacques had made headlines when he was abducted. He had been rescued by dear friend Garin and Isca if Eullerin's memory served her right. While Jacques indulged in piracy and sailing the high seas, he was known for his loyalty: to his friends and to his home. So Eullerin could discreetly recruit him to help stop Flint's plot, she was sure of it!

"Then our travels must take us to Krawk Island before we uncover The Drenched's lair and engage in battle," Eullerin managed to make herself utter with a forced sly smile. "Lucky for you, I know Jacques' usual haunts. Er, from when I used to live there," she added hastily, sticking to her I abandoned Krawk Island lie. "To the Golden Dubloon!"

The trip to Krawk Island was quick and uneventful although Eullerin could feel Gert and Topp's heated suspicious glare trained on her back the entire way. They were not as dense as they looked and they trusted her even less than Flint did. She prayed it would not become a problem later.

When they arrived at the Golden Dubloon, Eullerin spotted Jacques' classic green bandana and pirate garb right away. He was seated at the bar, loudly regaling the restaurant patrons with his adventure stories.

Eullerin straightened her shoulders and took the lead. She had to prove to Flint she was good for something as part of her portrayal of whoever Friedal Harquin was. "Excuse me, Jacques, but my colleagues and I need a moment of your time," the Pirate Krawk said with confidence as she tapped the boisterous Kyrii's shoulder.

He glanced over at the group and raised a curious eyebrow before excusing himself from his eager listeners and ushering them to a secluded booth at the back of the dim restaurant. "Sure, what can I do for you?"

Flint looked slightly manic as he launched into an explanation of his grand plan and what information they were seeking from Jacques. While he was rambling on, Eullerin took the opportunity to quietly slip a hastily scrawled note into Jacque's palm under the table. It was all in the loyal Pirate's hands now...

The note in his hand read, “Krawk Island will not fall. Follow my lead.” Jacques was careful to tuck it away into the chest pocket of his shirt without ever taking his eyes of off the Elderly Kyrii before him.

While Jacques wasn’t the most honest pirate in Neopia, he still had a track record of good intentions and a strong morale compass. Regardless of some of the pirates who called Krawk Island home, Jacques the Swift would never and could never be a part of a scheme to destroy any Neopian land… Even the home of one of his greatest enemies, Captain Scarblade. Eullerin knew this and planned ahead.

Following suit with their covert agreement, Jacques interrupted Flint.

“I’m hearing you and I think your plan could be successful, but I will only give you the location of the Drenched on one condition,” the Red Kyrii said with a sly smile. “You have to take me with.”

“Oh my! Absolutely, we would. You would be a wonderful asset to our efforts. Isn’t that right, Ms. Harquin?” Flint asked, utterly excited by the idea.

“Of course. We’d love to have you. While I’m a capable combatant, I could always use a hand,” the Pirate Krawk said, a snaggletooth smirk creeping across her face. With this, Eullerin understood Jacques’ swift planning and finally saw a means to an end.

“I appreciate the welcome invitation… Well, what are we waiting for? We have a trio of wretched sisters to defeat,” Jacques stated in a hushed tone, leaning in towards his new companions. He pushed his chair back and headed for the door, sword in a scabbard on his hip, without looking back to see if anyone was following him.

The five motley crewmates made their winding way to the lair of the Drenched…

Jacques swam ahead, promising that once they would be able to breathe once they were inside the underwater caverns.

Eullerin expected Flint to have more trouble holding his breath as they swam, but he must have trained himself with this mission in mind as he expertly swam close behind her.

As the group was about to hit what looked like a solid, rocky wall, Jacques dove further down and slipped into a hole that was hidden towards the bottom of the wall.

Eullerin followed Jacques in, thankful that she didn’t have a fear of tight spaces as they navigated a dimly lit narrow tunnel. Just as she was sure she was close to running out of steam, Jacques took a sharp turn and disappeared from view. When she did the same, she saw the tunnel sloped up and opened wide to form a small lake in a large cavern. She gasped for breath as she surfaced.

Jacques was already wading towards the shore when Flint and his cronies joined them.

“Is this it?” Flint asked, staring around the cavern as though he were trying to absorb every nook and cranny in the walls.

Jacques nodded. “This is the entrance my friends used when they came to rescue me, and the way we escaped.”

They regrouped at the edge of the lake and listened closely as Jacques described the route they would be taking to the main caverns where the Drenched lived. “There’s an enormous cave where they spend most of their time, but there are some smaller ones connected to it. I was kept in one of those small rooms that was outfitted like a prison cell. I think we should check the other small rooms first. They might have one where they keep all their valuables, and if we can avoid the centre of their lair then we stand a better chance of getting out of here without encountering the Drenched.”

Flint considered this idea and nodded. “Very well. But we should be quiet as we can in case they’re nearby, so we don’t alert them.”

There were two tunnels leading off the cavern with the lake they entered through, and Jacques hesitated before choosing the one on the left. As the group approached the left tunnel’s entrance, there came a loud sound from the tunnel on the right...

How will this story end?

"It's them, let's hurry!" hissed the Kyrii, his voice hardly above a whisper. "Come out!" he then yelled into the right tunnel.

The party then sped down the left tunnel.

They arrived in a large open cavern. "The centre of their lair," Jacques explained, his eyes soaking it in.

"But I thought you didn't WANT to come to the centre!?" Flint roared incredulously. "Pah, this is effectively a dead end -- our dead end... emphasis on DEAD!"

"Far from it," Jacques continued with a dismissive wave of his paw. "Besides, the Drenched were lured out of their lair when I shouted at them. They'll be back anytime, though. So we need to make our escape. And fast." He pointed to a nearby tunnel. "Ms. Harquin, escort Flint there. But... not too far in. I'll be on the lookout for the Drenched." He drew his sword and winked at her.

Eullerin understood and did as instructed, leading Flint inside but staying near the mouth of the small cavern.

The Kyrii ran his paw along the wall until he found what he was searching for. "NOW!" Jacques shouted. Immediately, Eullerin jumped out of the cave, and Jacques pulled the lever that dropped the steel bars sealing Flint inside, fast as a blink.

"You nasty double-crossers!" Flint shouted when he realized he was sealed inside with no escape. He shouted some more names and threats, but the two others ignored him.

"Now," Jacques started, "you and I need to--"

A rumbling was heard through the caverns, making all the Neopets' heads turn in its direction... the Drenched were making their way back to the centre of their lair!

"We need to get out of here, IMMEDIATELY," the Kyrii said, placing a paw on Eullerin's shoulder.

And then out of the corner of her eye, she saw it. On a faraway pedestal surrounded by a lake of water -- the Amulet of the Drenched.

"Woah!" Jacques uttered, turning to look at what caught her eye. "You actually found it! Legends say only the truly worthy are even capable of seeing it, let alone acquiring it."

Legends? Worthy? "I need to grab it and bury it, to ensure no one with evil intentions ever gets their paws or claws on it," Eullerin spoke slowly and softly, but with resolve.

The Kyrii sighed but understood. "Go. I am not that good a swimmer. But you're a Krawk, you can handle it." He removed his paw from her shoulder. "I will escape down that cave." He pointed to it. "Therein lies the exit. Good luck, mademoiselle."

And then the charming pirate dashed off. And she sprinted away too, toward the lake. She swam as fast as she could until she reached its small island and climbed the pedestal. She mustered her strength and courage, and lifted the amulet.

The Drenched were in their lair again. Eullerin tried to avoid looking straight at them. Time seemed to slow, flowing around her like water.

She was in the water, again... in the lake. Swimming. Swimming. She knew she could not swim across the lake. They would undoubtedly catch her. So she swam down, down, and felt the waves of the Drenched following her.

And then she spotted it -- a small hole at the bottom of the lake.

If it was a way out, it was her only way out.

She took that chance. It's what the real Friedal Harquin would have done.

And on the other side...

She found her freedom...

***

She resurfaced and opened her eyes. She was back in Ye Olde Fishing Vortex. She thrust her paw into her pocket...

It was the Amulet.

Smiling, Ms. Harquin drifted away, whistling an old sea shanty.

The End.