"You know, Queen Annabell," Ramone said, as the Whaleboat shoved off from the Lightning Straits. "It probably would have been a good idea to hire a navigator for waters like these. I know Big Joe Rogers' crew had that fancy orange haired lady who seemed quite proficient. "

Chloe threw her hand forward and laughed. "C'mon Rammy, we've got several sets of eyes to find these rocks in the mist. Even though that Navi lady was fine, right Vinnie?!"

Vinnie still had his arm around Monica and when she shot daggers at him with her gaze, he laughed, "No can do,. micro toots. After dat last arc, I'm a kept man. Even if hypothetically, that Navi might be a 9.5 over my chica's 9.4, da connection we forged makes her a perfect 10."

Monica nodded. "That's a good chico. Honest, but not so much that I'd like to kick you in the cajones."

Vinnie chuckled and put his fingers through his belt loop. "My cajones are safe for another day! Now how's this mist looking Abacab!"

Abacab peered over the ships wheel with his telescope in hand. "Arr mateys. It's looking rather...misty."

Ramone sighed. "I forgot that pirates are hardly poets."

Chloe pulled out her own telescope. The mist coming up was so thick she could hardly see past the airborne soup.

"He's right," she said. "It's thicker than clam chowder. Let's all keep our eyes peeled so we can spot the rocks."

"Oh boy!" Laura said bouncing up and down. "I love talking to rocks so it will be fun to find more friends. Yippee!"

The party gave one collective sigh as the whaleboat penetrated the fog.

"Remember," Chloe said. "These rocks will grown in numbers if we're going the right direction so Abacab, you steer and we'll direct you!"

"Lassy," Abacab said. "It will be my pleasure. Now everyone, up to the funnily titled poopdeck."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Everyone marched up to the top of the whaleboat. They had all armed themselves with telescopes and were ready to direct Abacab so he would not lead them in the wrong direction.

"One rock," Ramone said, "Coming up on your left!"

Chloe turned her telescope to the left and found an jagged rock cragging out of the ocean. "Good job, Rammy. You really got some sharp peepers!"

"It's the only way I can thread a needle when sowing, my queen!"

"Senor Abacab!" Monica exclaimed as they sailed past the first rock. "Dos rocks coming up on the right."

"Aye sassy lassy!" Abacab responded, turning the creaking ship. "I see them."

He sailed between them with great ease.

"Hey..." Vinnie said with a smile. "Now I see three rocks off to the far right!"

"Aye aye Vinnie!" Abacab responded and took a sharp right turn.

Vinnie let out a deep chuckle. "This is kinda fun!"

"I agree, Eely hands!" Chloe said. "Who needs a navigator anyway. We're master rock spotters!"

"Ooh guys guys guys!" Laura shouted bouncing up and down. "I see a rock! I see a rock!"

"Where Sunny?" Vinnie asked kindly.

"Off to the right again," the quirky clowngirl announced. "Oh hold the shell phone!"

"What?!" Everyone asked

"I see rocks on the left too! Oh and the center too. Rocks rocks rocks all around! Yippee!"

"First off wacky lass," Abacab shouted. "No one these days says yippee and second, do you see four rocks? That be the number we're looking for."

"Uh I lost track," Laura answered. "just go right again."

Everyone looked at Abacab nervously. At last, the good captain sighed. "It's worth a try. Unless any of you see any rocks!"

Ramone answered. "I do, but they're pretty far away. This kooky clown girl is probably right. The rocks over there are probably the way to go."

Chloe grimaced. For the first time, she wished she had hired a blasted navigator instead of relying on a silly girl who reportedly talked to rocks.

As the whaleboat cruised by the rocks, everyone toon a closer look. Everyone began to count the rocks.

"One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

Five...six...seven!"

"Sixty-ten!" Laura shouted.

"Oh merciful Neptune!" Ramone gasped. "It's the wrong amount! My dear girl, you've doomed us!"

"Quick!" Chloe shouted. "Abacab! Sail back! We still have time!"

"Nay my pirate queen," Abacab cried. "This whaleboat is too big for its blubber. I must keep sailing on into the great unknown!"

Panic gripped the crew and Monica and Vinnie held onto each other for dear life. Ramone decided to get in on the action and hold Vinnie too.

"Do I look like a squeeze urchin!" Vinnie shouted at Ramone.

"Sorry," Ramone chortled. "You're the closest thing to a handsome man on this boat."

"Closest?!" Vinnie screamed, nearly livid.

But soon, the fog got so dense no one could see each other. Chloe grabbed onto Ramones hoof, being he was the one she was most comfortable with. They all screamed as everything went all white.