Scurvybones Volume 3, Part 1

The Adventures of Captain Scurvybones.

Volume 3

Part 1: Wake Up, Without a Care...

A loud yawn sailed across the dusty streets of Padres Del Fuego. A man wandered slowly across the dirt road with a satchel hanging from his hand. It clanked against his sheathed cutlass at every step which drew more attention to the blade than the man wanted. His shirt was hanging out and his trousers were dirty. He hadn’t washed for weeks and if he had it would not have been a good thing. The man was a Pirate, but not just any pirate; he was in the crew of one of the most feared pirates in the Caribbean.
“Excuse me, Mister Daggerbellows?” piped a young voice.
The pirate whirled around and placed his free hand onto the hilt of his blade and stared at the child who stood before him. He raised an eyebrow “who are you and how do you know me?”
“I-I-I don’t sir, I-I-I was just told by a man in a black cloak to g-g-give this to y-y-you” the boy stuttered.
Tobias removed his hand from his cutlass and took the object from the boy’s hand. It was an envelope addressed to ‘Captain Scurvybones’. Tobias looked at it and turned it over. It wasn’t sealed so he slipped the letter out and read it. His eyes widened and he ran back to the ship. The young boy simply stared at the spot where Tobias stood.
Tobias ran at full pelt across the town. He ran past the shops and shoved the people in his way to the floor. He shoved an old lady onto the ground and then drew his sword and ran it through the man who called him scum because of it. A while later Tobias would figure out that the man was indeed calling for his ‘son’, an easy mistake for someone who has had their ears destroyed by cannons booming.  It was a few minutes before he rounded the port and reached the dock where that majestic war galleon floated whilst getting repaired.
“Captain!” hollered Tobias “Capta-”
Tobias didn’t get to finish his holler before being thrown backwards by a huge stream of water. Gerard stood by the cannon connected to a hose on deck and stared down at Tobias
“Are you all right?” he called
“Aye” Tobias groaned whilst pulling himself up
“Another failure” Gerard said to Sven and then kicked the cannon. The cannon’s barrel flipped over from its previous position and was now facing Gerard and Sven. They both leapt out of the way to dodge the blast which was then fired. Leon was looking out over the bay when he suddenly became the first pirate to front flip three yards through the air and then perform a perfect spinning dive into the sea.
“I think the cannon has some potential” the captain said as he finished his apple. He was sitting on the steps to the upper deck. His coat hung on the banister and he was simply wearing his tan trousers. His hat was on top of the opposite banister and he ran his hand through his hair and yawned.
“Captain!” Tobias gasped as he hauled his dripping wet body onto the deck “letter for you”
“Tobias” Scurvy said and stood up “if ye had a letter for me I should be able to trust ye enough te get it here as ye received it, which I doubt was at the bottom of the sea!”
“But... but they fired at... I was dry when...” Tobias turned to Gerard and Sven. Gerard and Sven had long since fled.
Scurvybones snatched the letter from Tobias’ hands and took it out of the envelope. He read it aloud
“Dear Mario, please come to my castle, I have baked a cake for you, love Princess Toadstool. Peach” he looked at Tobias with a raised eyebrow “well this is all very well and good lad, but what does it have to do with me?”
“Captain, you’re reading it upside down” Tobias replied
“Oh?” Scurvybones said and then turned the letter around and read it once again. “Dear warriors of the world, I, the Great King Archimedes, having died without heir, invite all of you to my kingdom where you shall compete in the grandest challenge there has even been. The prize: My Kingdom”
The two pirates stood staring into space. Neither of them sure what to make of the letter. Scurvy read it once again and then looked at Tobias.
“What do ye think lad?” he asked him
Tobias looked at his captain and nodded “I think it’s worth checking out captain”
The sides of Captain Scurvybones’ mouth slowly climbed up his face until he was grinning as wide as his cheeks would let him. “Sounds like a plan te me”. He whirled around and roared into the air “ALL HANDS ON DECK!”
Gerard and Sven ran back up the walkway that connected them to land. Leon crawled up the side of the ship, fresh from his swim, and Rick simply plummeted through the air from the crow’s nest to the floor and then stood at attention.  The crew was now assembled, Tobias Daggerbellows, first mate, Gerard Darkskull, head cannoneer , Sven Gunflint, Voodoo man, Rick Seamorris, lookout and Leon Bladefury.
“Lads, we got a mission, we’re going te go to Archimedes’ kingdom and we’re going te compete in his grand challenge and we’re going te win us a monarchy!” Scurvy said majestically
His crew stared at him not knowing what to say
“Are you drunk?” asked Leon
“Lad it’s ten in the morning” Scurvy said angrily “so yes, very”
Leon sighed and the crew smirked “now come on!” Scurvy roared “Brace the mainsail! Secure the yardarm! Raise anchor! Hoist the colours! We’re off!”
The crew scurried about the deck ensuring that everything was in order. Leon, Sven and Gerard ensured the sail was ready, Leon checked their bearings and Tobias drew up the anchor all by himself. The Shadow Hunter exploded into life. The sails boomed with the huge wind which was cast around the island and slowly the majestic galleon glided out of the port. Leon tapped the captain on the shoulder a few seconds later and indicated that the ship was still tied onto the dock. Scurvy sighed and tried to ignore the splintering explosions coming from the pier as it was ripped to shreds.
The Shadow Hunter was now sailing at full speed, cutting through the waves like a rapier. It had its heading and was sailing towards the prospect of so much more.
“Wealth, power, wenches, all these things, when I am king, will appear around me. This world will sing when I am king!” Scurvybones laughed and the crew cheered and looked towards the rising sun as their new adventure began.

To Be Continued