The crew of the Lyre had boarded the Great Kolama's vessel in hopes of finding Tito's uncle still alive. Tito trembled and paled in the tropical sun as they stood on the deck and Elise figured this was the best time to place her hand in his.

"Thanks...speck...I mean, Elise!" Tito said with slightly watery eyes.

"She sells sea shells!" Elise said, her eyes brightening behind her rosy red glasses. "You said my name!"

Tito blushed and looked away. "Seemed the right time."

As they entered the cabin, Elise feared the worst. She hoped desperately that she or Tito wouldn't see his uncle massacred by this evil lady pirate.

A sigh of relief came upon seeing the contents of the room. Merchandise of all kinds- ranging from nautical knick-knacks like brassy barometers and shellphones to lots of bananas and coconuts-were scattered around the cabin. Torn pinups of mermaids hung from the wall and a giant treasure chest full of gold remaining gleaming on floor. Archibell traced the room for signs of blood or a struggle but there was only signs of the latter, none of the former.

"Dis is truly odd," Tony remarked from Sincirce's arms. "Why didn't she take da treasure? I guess she's not a gold digger like this here witch!"

Sincirce squeezed Tony so tight he gagged."I'll be your gravedigger if you keep those remarks up."

Archibell put his hand to his scruffy chin. "That is mighty suspect indeed. But perhaps Sugar Southerncross already owns all the gold she needs. She might be searching for something else."

"What could my uncle have that she'd want?" Tito whined. "And where is my uncle?"

Archibell turned his head, and looked at Tito with his eagle eye. "If I was to venture a guess, he was probably taken to her pirate lair, the Forbidden Fortress, one of the most nefarious crow's nests in the four great seas!"

There was a shiver in Elise's bones, but it was felt more for the sake of Tito's uncle. "How bad is Lady Sugar Southerncross?" she pleaded.

"Ah yes," Archibell said, "I don't mean to scare you about this, but in the Southern Sea, there is no one feared more than this sassy frassy lassie. Her name may be Sugar but don't let her false sweetness fool you, she's lead more men to salty graves than a good half of us male pirates."

"Welp," Tony said, "Per'aps we should let 'im sleep with da fishies. I 'member our one encounter with her. She made this witchy woman here seem like a witchy girl."

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Tito's lips wobbled and that made Elise squeeze his hand ever tighter. "We're going," Elise said, puffing out her red cheeks.

"Wha!" Tony cried, "But kid, do ya really want to lose your spleen? Dis lady loves to rub sugar in people's wounds!"

"We're going to the Forbidden Fortress," Elise proclaimed. "Tito doesn't deserve to lose his uncle!"

"Thanks, Elise," Tito sniffed.

"Anything for you big boy," Elise said, trying to make herself sound sultry like Sincirce.

***

Back on the boat, the crew headed out towards the Forbidden Fortress. Using Tito's navigation skills and Archibell's knowledge, they'd get there by midnight. In the meantime, everyone prepared for what could be their final fight.

Elise and Tito were sitting together after dinner, watching the waves lap at the boat. The deep blue resembled a dark, watery pudding that shines in the silver moonlight. It was a rather romantic setting, Elise thought, until they heard Sincirce scream, "Son of a witch!"

Immediately sitting up, Elise and Tito ran to the source of the hubbub. Sincirce was examining the ring she and Tony had pilfered from Raz the bachelor. "I knew this thing was too small!"

"I knew ya were a size queen," Tony smirked, "But what's wrong with it?"

Sincirce turned bright red, hopping up and down, and kicked Tony. "Owch!" he cried. "Not da fins!"

"This is not the whole Diamond of Life!" Sincirce said, "Someone managed to cut it into pieces."

"What does that mean?" asked Tito.

"That means that without the whole thing, I'll still grow eldery and pruny!" the witch shouted.

Even when she held the ring, her blond strands turned yellow but the roots remained grey. "I cannot believe this! Who would do this to me?"

"A lot of people," Tito responded. "You kind of kidnapped an entire army of sailors and turned them into pigs."

"And you were gonna eat me!" Elise peeped up.

"It was nothing personal," Sincirce said, patting Elise on the head. "Just following some witchy anti aging trends!"

Everyone glared at her. "Ok…" she sighed. "You're right. A lot of people have a cauldron to bubble with me."

"Yep!" Tony said, crawling back to the witch's feet. "Including me! Considering I'm still a flippin' fish!"

Rather than squeeze him or yell at him, she merely picked him up. "But ya can always change. I was a hood before I became a pirate!"

"Not much of a change," Sincirce said, "We don't really do much pirating here. Either way, I'm gonna try and fix this and fix you, Tony."

"There we go!" Tony said, and he raised a fin. "Gimme a one!"

Sincirce touched her manicured hand to his fin. And everyone began to cheer.

"I hate to interrupt this sappy goodness," Archibell squawked, "But we're here!"

The Lyre came to a slow stop, edging itself beside a cluster of rocks

Everyone turned their head to an enormous hulking landmass rising out of the ocean. It was dark and jagged with many windows with golden lights shining out of them. With several searchlights cast out onto the dark blue sea, and enormous patrol boats in the water, Elise realized this was going to be the hardest mission she ever endured.