Tales of the Pearly Kingdom (Pearly Tales Vol. 2)

21. The Weight of Godhood

A/N:

Hey Crew,

As a way to show my appreciation I want to post this additional chapter today and start giving shout outs to all my supportive crewmates.

I want to give this first one out to my dear friend and First Mate who has been around since the beginning of my Wattpad career. Thanks for sticking around through all my half finished books, my hair brained schemes, and my tendency to disappear without so much as a massage in a bottle. RahCol I'm all the better for having a friend as loyal as you.

Second is to a crewmate I just met who is pretty cool and has given me a lot of good feedback recently. Cameron_Jones the Pearly Tales series is all the better for just having you around.

I want to start reaching out some more since I really appreciate all of you. And this is a good way I can think of to do it. Not every shout out is going to be as long as these but I figured I'd start off with a bang.

Let us chase that horizon together my friends.

[We now return to your regularly scheduled Pirate hijinks]

** ** **

In a dark cell deep within the ninja keep a lone elemental man lay drained of all energy.

There was a loud ruckus going on upstairs, but he didn't have the energy to care. After decades of rotting in this cell he had long since given up on being saved. His only solace was the thought that as long as he was here, Loacoda was alive.

Then it was quiet.

Footsteps began approaching his dark cell. Finally, he could make out a strange yet familiar light as three figures stopped before his cage. He felt like he should be scared. Like every survival instinct in his body was telling him to run and hide, but he couldn't help but be comforted by its familiarity.

"Juan Dark, you sure are in a sad state." The familiar voice stated.

The smell of blood filled Juan's nose and he looked up.

"Captain," he said weakly. "Is it really you?"

"Juan, I'm sorry we're late. You have the Oracle to thank for sniffing out the rat that impersonated you." Cal slashed the bars of the cage with his black cutlass.

On either side of Cal stood Kadoka and Dakota.

"The glowing red eyes is a new trick, Captain." Juan said as Cal helped him to his feet.

"Like it? I think it adds to my flair."

"You did always like your flair." Juan's laugh hurt his sins, but it was worth it. Out of everyone who could have come and saved him, it was HIS Captain that had arrived.

"Speaking of which, a lot has happened since you've been in here, I think. For starters, I'm going to need you to wear this." Cal handed him a leather and hemp bracelet with a wooden charm in the shape of a skull.

"What's this for captain?"

"Until further notice Juan Dark is dead, and Clive is the newest member of our crew. Welcome aboard Clive."

"I won't pretend to know what's going on, but I trust you, Captain." Juan tied the bracelet around his wrist and his appearance changed.

*

The morning sun came over the horizon as Cal looked over the sea.

"You waiting for me?"

A beautiful blonde with long porcelain legs danced from behind him into view.