Day in and day out Shell Harbour was humming with activity from traders through to pirates. It was a large neutral port, the only one along a stretch of coastal islands where naval officers, traders and pirates could stand side by side and not dare to take any action.

Its sun beat hot, its waters crystal clear, and each day you could bet that one little girl in particular would be running up and down the beach, and back and forth along the piers that lined the port.

While most kids her age would collect shells, rocks, or the occasional message in a bottle that washed up, Remy had a different collection. She would beg sailors and pirates for their stories about their travels, treasures and conquests — a collector of tales.

Out of all the tales there was just one that would stay with her well into adulthood from the blistering afternoon she had heard it.

It was that one scorching afternoon that she saw a pirate that she had never seen before. His thick black beard salted and his skin a tanned shade of red from a life on the ocean. He squinted as he looked around the pier, hiding his bright but sun damaged eyes from the vicious glare of the seas.

He was slow but determined, using a makeshift cane to help steady his sea legs as he made his way along the dock. That was until he was rather abruptly stopped by what seemed to be an immovable object in front of him - a little girl — Remy.

The side of his mouth pulled up into a subtle grin, surprised as anyone that she dared to stand in his way with a confidence only a child could truly hold.

“Is that your ship?” She asked.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

He nodded and attempted to move forward but the end of his cane landed right next to two small feet causing him to stop and raise his head again.

“One day I’ll captain a ship faster than yours,” Remy said as she motioned over to his ship.

The pirate caption let out an annoyed grunt, “Oh you know of my ship do ye?”

“Mhm,” she nodded.

The ship in question was a schooner dipping up and down at the end of the pier. It was covered in worn black sails with a ragged old Jolly Roger sitting atop its main mast. Its cannons appeared battle hardened, much like the rest of the crew who were loading and unloading the ship.

She knew this ship, though it was the first time she had laid eyes on it. The Sevens Reaper. The ship looked exactly like she had been told — fast, deadly, and agile.

Although the port was neutral, people started to scatter as they too recognised the ship from stories. He was the feared unknown. Not Remy, though. She remained cool as the fresh sea breeze.

He let out a boisterous laugh.

“Oh. Is that right, little girl?”

The pirate captain then patted her on the head, gently swept her out of the way with his cane and continued down the pier.

Not before too long, a tug at his side brought him to a halt a third time. His frustration became more evident.

“Annoying little pest, aren’t you. What is it you want?” He snarled.

“A story.”

His scarred hand ran from his chin down his thick beard as he contemplated what to tell her.

“If I tell you a story will you leave me alone?”

Remy nodded in agreement and a smile began to stretch across her face.

“Okay girl. Take your pick.

“I’ve found the rarest treasures. Stolen ships. Battled with the navy. Seen sea creatures as big as boats, vicious animals as tall as trees, and –“

His voice took on a more ominous tone.

“I’ve seen the last dragons and the treasure they guard… ”

Remy’s eyes widened on the pirate captain's last words.

“Dragons? But they aren’t real!” She exclaimed.

“Ah, but they are. They guard a pile of treasure that you could only dream of,” he said with a mischievous grin.

“They are held up on a mountain by the sea. The biggest you’ve ever seen. The water boils yet your ship hits ice.  The sand is as black as the rocks that protect it and the sun never sets nor rises for time on end — enough to drive the most experienced sailors crazy.”

In awe as her imagination ran wild, the click-clack of the cane as the pirate Captain made his getaway snapped her back to reality.

“Wait mister. Where are they?”

“Go north to the ocean's end.”