I pause, realizing I still don't know his name. "What do they call you, anyway? Captain Scurvy? Admiral Barnacle-Beard?"
"You're a cheeky one—the name's Captain Gideon Sterling. And I'll have you know, I keep my beard meticulously groomed."
I can't help but grin at that, feeling a flicker of hope. If he's willing to banter with me, maybe there's a chance he'll hear me out after all.
"Captain Sterling, then. Look, I know this all sounds crazy. Portals, dark prophecies, ancient evils threatening to destroy the world. But I swear to you, it's all true. And whether you like it or not, you and your crew are now a part of it."
"Hold on, are you talking about the Sea Witch?" Gideon asks, his brow furrowed with concern. "That wretched wench is going to be the death of us all, mark me words."
I scoff. "Oh, come on. A Sea Witch? What's next? You'll tell me there are Krakens and Sea Monsters, too?"
Gideon fixes me with a look that suggests I've just committed the ultimate faux pas, like insulting his mother or questioning his pirate prowess. "Aye, lass. Those beasties be among us, and they're a right pain in the arse, let me tell ye."
I shake my head. Looks like I owe Disney an apology. Who would've thought thatUrsula,the sassy sea witch extraordinaire, was more than just a cartoon character?
I mean, really? After all the supernatural shenanigans I've been through, am I surprised that sea monsters and sea witches are a thing? Come on, girl. It's time to embrace the weird and accept that anything is possible in this crazy world of ours.
But as Gideon's words sink in, my amusement quickly fades, replaced by a growing sense of unease. I swallow hard, my face turning serious as the gravity of our predicament hits me like a ton of bricks.
Note to self: never,everdiscredit the existence of anything, no matter how bizarre or seemingly fictional. If you can dream it up, it's probably out there somewhere, waiting to make your life much more interesting.
I launch into my umpteenth recitation of the tale, detailing the Dark Prophecy and my unfortunate role in this cosmic catastrophe. It's like a well-worn script at this point, but I try to inject some enthusiasm into my voice.
As I speak, I can see the Captain's expression shifting from skepticism to something closer to disbelief. He looks at me like I've just asked him to swallow a bucket of nails, his face contorting as if trying to digest battery acid.
"Let me get this straight," his voice flat. "Yer somechosen one—an angel—destined to save the world from an ancient evil that wants to destroy everythin'? And you expect me to just take yer word for it and risk my crew's lives on some half-baked quest?"
I bristle at his tone, my frustration rising. "I know it sounds crazy, Captain. Believe me, I didn't ask for this either. But the fact remains if we don't do something and don't find a way to stop Moretemis, then everything we know and love will be lost."
Oh, how I wish I could whip out my supernatural party trick and be like, "Bam! There you have it, Captain. Proof that I'm not just some delusional damsel spouting nonsense."
But nooo, my powers have decided to take an extended vacation without bothering to send a postcard. Typical. The one time I actually need them to make a point, they're nowhere to be found.
His eyes narrow at the mention of Moretemis, a flicker of recognition passing over his face. "Moretemis?The Shadow Lord? Yer tellin' me he's real?"
I nod, "Oh, he's real alright. And he's not just coming. He's practically knocking on our door with a battering ram. The prophecy's got the whole 'epic final battle' thing down pat—light versus darkness, good versus evil, yada yada."
I lean in, resting my elbows on my knees. "But here's the deal, Captain. You thought you could sail through life, avoiding all this? Tough luck! Whether we like it or not, we're all guests at this shindig now."
The Captain leans back in his chair, his expression troubled. "I've heard the stories, the whispers in the dark. But I always thought they were just that—stories. Tales to scare children and keep sailors in line."
I shake my head, my voice urgent. "They're not just stories. They're warnings, glimpses of what's to come if we don't act. And right now, you and your crew may be the only thing between us and total destruction."
Oh, I'm not just laying it on thick—I'm slathering it on like a baker frosting a wedding cake! Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? If a little extra drama is necessary to get Captain Oblivious here to wake up and smell the impending doom, then hand me a metaphorical piping bag and watch me work my magic. He needs to see this prophecy for the cosmic-level, world-altering, can't-just-stick-your-head-in-the-sand-and-ignore-it situation that it is!
"Look, it's the truth. This darkness is coming and won't stop for a pirate parley. It's up to me and my friends to end it, or we're all doomed."
The Captain gulps his drink, eyes assessing me with a new intensity. "And you think my crew and I can help you stop this great evil, do ye?"
I shrug. "Honestly? I think we need all the help we can get. You seem like a nice guy, and who better to ask than a Pirate with a penchant for justice?"
Gideon strokes his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You've got a silver tongue, lass. I'll give you that. But this is no small thing yer askin'."
I nod, understanding his hesitation. "I get it, Captain. You've got your ship to run and your crew to look after. But think about it this way—if we fail, if this darknesstakes over, there won't be any more ships to captain or seas to sail. It'll be game over for all of us."
The Captain is silent momentarily, his gaze distant as if weighing the world's fate on his shoulders. Finally, he sighs, his shoulders slumping in resignation.
"I must be out of my goddamn mind," he mutters, more to himself than to me. "But I can't just sit back and do nothin', not if what yer saying is true."
