Laputa Returns

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: A Pirate's Tale

Avalon's ship, The Wind Rider, was larger than Dola's Tiger Moth, and was made of metal, just like any other ship. It had mechanical wings on the sides, allowing it to catch and ride the wind, which is where it got its name. Pazu and Sheeta were currently in the control room with Avalon and Ray, watching as the land below flew by.

"This is some ship, Avalon." Pazu observed.

Avalon cleared her throat. "While on my ship you are to address me as Captain." She ordered.

Pazu laughed. "You do sound just like Dola."

Avalon shrugged. "You still have to call me Captain."

"Aye, aye, Captain." Said Pazu and Sheeta together.

Avalon cut her eye at them. "Don't do that."

"Aye, aye."

"I'm not kidding."

Ray laughed. "Better be careful, guys. Avalon-"

"Captain!"

Ray rolled his eyes. "Ok, Captain may be nice and stuff when she's on the ground, but when she's on her ship she's the always serious captain."

"That I am?" Avalon growled. "And as captain I'm ordering you to dish duty for the rest of the week."

Ray groaned. "I hate dish duty."

Avalon shook her head as she looked over her compass and map. "Hmm, we should make good time. If my calculations are correct, we should reach Smuggler's Paradise at zero six-hundred tomorrow. As long as we don't run into any bad weather." She sat back and rolled her head around, cracking her neck. "I wonder how old Dola is doing. It's been so long."

"How did you meet Dola, Ava-Captain?" asked Sheeta, just catching her mistake.

Avalon smirked. "I was wondering when you would ask me that. Yes, it was about 22 years ago. Ray and I were just rookie pirates, but we still managed to get by. One day we heard a rumor of a moving castle, owned by a powerful wizard named Howl, that contained something sacred inside it. My brother and I went to investigate. As it turned out, the sacred item turned out to be nothing more than a fire-demon, so that job was practically a waste of time. I say practically because that was also the day I met Dola and her gang. They were pulling the same job as us, attempting to get inside the castle, which really moved by the way.

"Ever since then, the two of us have been friends. We always had a friendly competition over who can reach treasure first. Laputa has been our biggest job, but it looks like Dola beat me to that one."

"That's really cool." Said Pazu. "What other jobs have you pulled?"

Avalon chuckled. "Well, nothing like your adventure on Laputa, but we have had our share of adventures. Not all of them were profitable though. The job before Laputa was where I had my... accident." She tapped her metal hand on her metal leg.

"What happened?" asked Sheeta.

"Shark attack." Avalon replied. "We were trying to get into Atlantis. We had to retreat after I..." She shook her head. "Well, that's all in the past. All we can do is look to the future."

"What do you plan to do in the future?" Pazu asked, wondering what other legendary treasures Avalon and Dola would go after.

Avalon laughed. "There are several places I still plan to search. Whether I find treasure there or not is another story. And even if there is treasure, I would have to beat Dola to it."

"Where are you still planning on going?" asked Sheeta, just as curious as Pazu.

Avalon gave them a smug look. "If you're trying to distract me to get you out of your duties, I'm afraid it won't work." She smiled more broadly. "It's time to get to busy. What did you do on Dola's ship?"