However, deep in the heart of the town, down a suspiciously dark back alley, one tavern was noticeably unnoticeable. The door was ajar, but only because it was hanging off a single hinge. A skull adorned its face, marking this as a haunt for the most piratical of all pirates.

Around a table in a dusty corner were gathered a number of blank-faced pirates.

“Right,” said one of them with an exasperated tone to their voice, “Let me run through just once more for those of you who seem to have trouble understanding this quite simple plan…

A Bruce nodded fervently. "Aye, cap'n!"

The Lupe eyed him with a dubious look on her face. "All right. And we know the governor has been known to take the occasional stroll to the Smuggler's Cove, aye?"

"Aye!" Cheered the Bruce.

"So the governor likely has some goodies stowed away in his fancy house, aye?"

"Aye!" Now an Ogrin and an Acara had joined in the chant.

"So, we can go take a tour of the mansion, have a little look-see for ourselves, and perhaps leave with our pockets a mite bit heavier than before, aye?"

"Aye!" The Bruce stood up on the table and pumped his fist in the air.

A smile curled across the Lupe's face. "Well, McCoy is finally on board. Anyone else?"

The Acara had just opened her mouth to speak when she was interrupted by a new speaker: "I wouldn't advise that, if I were you."

The pirates turned as one to face the source of the voice. Nearly hidden in the gloom, a lone Neopian leaned against the wall.

"Oh? And why's that?" the Lupe challenged, paw dropping to the cutlass on her hip as she straightened out of her seat.

"Because..."

"Hey!" the Acara interrupted, "we are not--"

The Bruce elbowed their companion in the ribs. "We kinda a--"

"I don't like your odds," the stranger repeated, drowning out the crew's bickering, "without a trick up your sleeves."

"A trick?" the Ogrin asked.

Beneath her hood, the newcomer nodded sagely. "And I know exactly what you need."

The Lupe was no stranger to Krawk Island's machinations, and while the other three grew excited, he grew skeptical. "Oh yeah? And what's in it for you?"

"Well, naturally there is something I need in exchange," she said, pushing back her hood. "You see..."

The crew all leaned closer at the same time.

"A map," she went on, her eyes shining in the dark light. "A very old one. Hidden in the governor’s private room. It shows the way to something much greater than coins or little things... but I cannot get it alone."

The Lupe looked at her with narrow eyes. "And you want us to help you take it... while we also steal our own things, yes?"

"Exactly." The stranger smiled bigger. "You get your gold... I get my map... and we all leave richer than before."

The Bruce smiled. "Sounds good to me!"

But the Lupe still looked serious. "Or maybe you trick us the moment we open the vault."

The stranger laughed softly. "You will have to trust me, Captain... or..."

The Lupe chewed on the side of her jowls. There had to be some sort of balance in this bargain so as to not tip the scales, but what could that be?

“How about we just… sign a contract?” the Bruce suggested.

“About stealing from the Governor’s mansion? Aye, I’m sure Governor McGill would love to rule in on that one,” the Acara chided, knocking her crewmate in the back of the head with a hooked hand.

“I’ll do ye one better, stranger. Ye ensure a clear path to yer map, scarin’ off the mansion staff and other pirate crews, and we’ll get ye what yer after,” the captain said, stretching out a paw. “And if ye don’t ensure both of our success, consider that map torched to smithereens.”

“You’ve got yourself a deal, Captain…?” a pink paw gripped onto the Lupe’s.

“Captain Odessa Blackthorne. This here is McCoy, O’Malley,” she motioned to the Ogrin. “and Buckley,” she finished, pointing a paw towards the Acara. “And who are ye?”

“Loretta Fontaine,” she said, stepping out into the light. The mysterious Neopian was a Pink Aisha with auburn hair and crimson red lips, stunningly beautiful and strangely innocent looking. “I work at the Golden Dubloon, but it’s about… time I get myself out of that place…”

Loretta paused for a moment, as if lost in thought or memory.

“Anyways, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the Aisha cooed. “Are you ready for the first order of business?”

“Aye!” all four pirates said in unison…

"This is the bottom floor of the mansion. And this," Loretta placed a paw on an 'X' drawn on the side wall, "is the servants' entrance. That is where you will be entering."

Captain Blackthorne rubbed her jaw. "So we'll need disguises."

Loretta nodded. "I will watch the entrance from a safe location. Once you enter, I will wait fifteen minutes and then create my distraction. I should be able to guarantee you a few minutes uninterrupted to grab the map along with any other treasure you can carry."

"What about the other crews?" cut in Buckley. "They ain't gonna just sit idly by and let us take this haul."

Loretta smiled. "You just let me worry about them. Be at the mansion in two hours - just after it opens to the public."

"Aye, looks like we got ourselves a plan then," said Blackthorne. "Next time we all meet, we'll be filthy rich!"

The other three pirates of the crew let out a cheer, then the crew and Loretta left the tavern separately...

"Hush... Fancy clothes or not, this is still Krawk Island. A couple of scarred up bilge rats in dress robes are hardly out of the norm." Blackthorne chimed, peering over her shoulder to ensure the coast was clear before she produced a ornate dagger and got to work on the impeding lock. "This'll be a quick in 'n out, assuming our friend here manages 'er end of the deal..". An audible clack rang out as the latch gave way, exposing a a dimly lit hallway as the pirates scurried inside, shoving into the closest storage room shortly after.

"What now?" barked Buckly, shoving a desk drawer closed as the crew salvaged the nearby crates to no avail. "This be just a bunch of junk!". The captain shot him an annoyed glance, opening her mouth to retort before an unnatural chill shot up all of their spines, freezing their limbs in place and leaving only their eyes to dart around the room in panic.

"Come now..." a shadowy figure chuckled, as it rose from a makeshift throne of crates toward the back of the room. "How could I miss out on a heist like this?" He grinned, a purple glint in his eyes...

"That's on a need to know basis," the figure said, "And all you need to know is that I'm here to help."

"Help with what?" barked McCoy. "There's nothing here left to pilfer."

Buckley sighed at their current situation. This was turning into way more than they had originally bargained for. Buckley shot the rest of the crew a weary glance, uncertain if this new acquaintance of theirs was trustworthy or not. Captain Blackthorne picked up on this hesitation immediately.

"Hrm, is that the stink of fear coming from me mates?" Blackthorne asked sternly.

"No, ma'am!" the crew said in unison, standing upright as if on command.

"Do we shy away from the call of adventure?" Blackthorne continued.

"No, ma'am!" responded the crew.

"Aye," Blackthorne concluded, satisfied with the enthusiastic response. "Now then, stranger, where were we?"

The stranger's lips curled into a smile as they approached a nearby crate and gave it a sturdy push revealing a trap door underneath. They pulled the door open with a creak and a faint glow could be seen emanating from within.

The stranger beckoned them towards a ladder that led into the hatch. "Please, come with me..."

The pirate crew exchanged hesitant glances. O’Malley nudged McCoy to signal for the Bruce to follow the stranger, while McCoy shoved Buckley to urge him ahead. This quickly evolved into a quiet yet chaotic mini scuffle between the members like they were back in school.

Behind the crew stood a fuming figure. Blackthorne parted the members with force and impatience and stormed assuredly towards and down the ladder, with visible anger boiling as steam above her head. The Acara, Ogrin and Bruce all looked at each other again, shrugged, and quickly followed suit to avoid incurring further wrath from their captain.

The ladder leads to another dark tunnel, with the only light source being the dimly lit lamp carried by the stranger. He walked on around the vein-like bends and turns like he had the entire tunnel memorized, with the crew scurrying hurriedly behind him, but this time, audible sounds were apparent above their heads, which must be the public visitors of the mansion. What seemed like a long endless journey came to an abrupt end behind a back profile of a large painting. “This is where I stop, and you to carry on, captain” a smile apparent beneath the hood...

How will this story end?

The hooded figure simply smiled. "Oh, you know what's there."

The Lupe paused. "And who are you?"

"A trivial detail, names," clandestinely muttered the stranger. "I'm just... a citizen, concerned about that map falling into the wrong hands. Take it, cut out Loretta, and seek your fortune. And remember," she added with a nod, "I was never here."

Captain Blackthorne paused, then gave a single, firm nod. "Aye."

"Aye." The stranger slipped back into the inky hallway.

***

"Ugh, I CAN'T believe I trusted them," Loretta complained to her sister and closest confidante, fellow barmaid at the Golden Dubloon. "I bet you right now those good fer nothin' pirates and their floozy Cap'n have my map and are makin' off with the treasure that would have made me RICH!" she scowled.

Rosetta Fontaine sighed. "I bet so, sis. I bet so."

The Green Aisha knew so. For she had been the one to convince those pirates not to surrender the map to her sister. Loretta had babbled on and on about this supposed heist and her plans for some time -- that it would be the Pink Aisha's ticket out of the dingy ship on which they worked -- but not once did Loretta offer or even imply that she would likewise lift Rosetta out of their life of servitude. Rosetta knew she had to do something to sabotage her plans.

But, deep down, the Green Aisha was scared. Scared of a life without her sister. Much like Hannah took off and never came back once she'd found wealth and tasted excitement.

Rosetta found her job demanding, but it was... comfortable. Altogether safe. She wasn't ready to chase treasure for a living. And she certainly wasn't ready to be all alone here.

"More Sweet Potato Fizzy Drink, please!" called Gooblah from one of the tables. Per usual, he was seated in Loretta's section with two Cybunnies.

The Pink Aisha sighed and buried her face in her hands. "I can't do it today."

"Hey..." the Green Aisha started as she set her paw on her sister's shoulder. "I'll serve them today. You relax. You've had a tough time of it." She gave her shoulder a squeeze.

"Thanks sis," Loretta replied between a sniffle. "I'll get out of this forsaken job. One day. One day soon."

"Don't worry about it," Rosetta replied with a wink and a calculated smile before she went to fetch the fizzy drink. "One day."

The End.