Chapter II

After trekking through swamp-like lands, of the floating island we found ourselves on, we eventually found a small ghost town with a train station. It was near dusk by the time we reached our destination.

As I looked at the prices for a ticket, I nearly fell to the floor. "5 pieces of silver for a ticket, that's outrageous!"

"So what do you have to trade?" Arthur asked, crossing his arms as he looked around. There wasn't a soul in sight. Most of the buildings were simple huts or hut agencies, and large condos. But the tracks clearly showed that there was a train that arrived there from time to time. The question was, where were the people of the town? A question to focus on later, as our main objective was getting off that rock.

"I'm not tiny," I grumbled at Arthur, before searching through my pockets. "They confiscated everything I had. What do we do now? Besides, there's no one here."

Arthur looked at me with a disappointed expression, as if it were my fault we were in this mess. I wanted to argue that it wasn't, and I wanted to yell at him that this was his idea. But instead, the moment he walked away from me and headed into the woods, I turned to Gamba, who was searching around for anyone.

Picking up a rock as if someone was going to just be underneath it.

"There's got to be a way off this rock," I sighed, defeated, slouching in my stance.

"For me, there is," Arthur replied in his chipper voice. "For you, and that troll, good luck."

“What!” my head snapped back in fury

“I told you, you're on your own, find your own damn way off this island. “ he called back.

“And how are you going to get out of here,” I yelled.

“That’s none of your concern.” his tone raised in pitch.

“You said you’d get me and gamba free!”

“And I did, your welcome.” he shrugged, never slowing down from.

“Stranding us on an island isn’t free!”

“Would you rather be back in that prison cell?! He yelled, as he turned on his heel towards me.

“At least there we had food and shelter, " I moaned as I crossed my arms like a spoiled child.

“He stemmed at that, baring his teeth, one of them being fang -like. Listen you, I have my own things to deal with, I have no time for this stupidity.”

“Oh yeah, says the man who literally sat in a jail sale for a few weeks!” Just then a loud gurgling caught our attention.

“Gamba hungry,” the troll moaned, as he approached us. “And no one sells food here.”

Both of our stomachs growled at that moment. With a groan, Aurther collapsed his head into his hand grumbling under his breath,“This is why I never help anyone.” Raising his head up, I could only see one bright sapphire eye shine out of his black locks, as the darkness of the night began to shade the daylight.

“Look, I’ll make you a deal tiny…”

“Not my name,” I reminded him, with a sarcastic up in my pitch..

“Don’t care,” he replied, matching my tone exactly, before lowering it back down to a serious one. “If I get you off this island, you,” he pointed at me, “must swear to leave me alone. “as goes you troll,” he grumbled in Gambas direction

“Oh, no, no, no,” I shook my head. “I’m not going to fall for that again.” i said with a wave of my arm.

“Fall for what?” He snarled, with a swing of his arms.

“You're going to get us off this island, and with any luck we won’t be dead,”I sarcastically smiled, before drooping my lips to a frown. “or stuck in a worse place.” With a stomp of my foot, I declared, “No, I say you get me and Gamba here back to civilization, a modern town no less, where we can restart our lives.”

“Deal,”

“No I… what?” I stumbled, barely catching up to what he just said.

As he set his weight on his other leg, he continued. “If that will get you to leave me alone then fine,” He crossed his arms.

“Ah and, and no, no tricks? I asked, shaking my head, cautious of him.

“No tricks, once I get you back to civilization, we go our separate ways, is it a deal?” He emphasized the word deal.

“Deal," I shrugged and turned to Gamba, who nodded, only for his stomach to remind us all of our current state.

“But first we should find something to eat. I told him with a rub of my stomach.

“There's got to be something in this forest,” grumbled Arther, as he drew his wooden sword.”Come on, follow me, " he growled, clearly wishing we weren't there.

…

After stumbling through the forest of palm trees for what felt like hours in search of food, we came up empty-handed. Which was weird, considering the forest - you would think we'd hear some birds or animals nearby. But other than the swing of Arthur's wooden sword banging against the trees and bushes, not a sound could be heard. It simply seemed abandoned of all life, except for the crawling ants and spiders.

The moment one crawled into my hair, I wiggled out, flinging my hands through my hair, hoping to get it out. "Get it off! Get it off! GET IT OFF!" I panicked, only for Gamba to squish it and punch me right in the head while he was at it, forcing me to go splat into the mud below. "With a muttered 'thank you'," I said to Gamba, and got up once again covered in mud. Hilariously enough, it still smelled better than whatever I had on me in the jail cell.

“Gamba hungry,” he cried.

“Oh shut it will you,” Arthure griped. “I don’t get it, not an animal in sight, nor were there any people in town. At most I have just found these,” he said, picking up a centipede.

As I withheld my stomach acid, I shouted, “there is no way I’m eating that.”

“Gammba will,” the troll snatched the bug, and stuffed it in his face. Both me and Arthur watched in horror as the troll gobbled up the large bug. He swallowed before asking “what, trolls eat bugs, if nothing else is found” , he said, catching another and tossing it into his mouth. “Want some," he offered us a taste.

“Uhhhh no, no we’re good,” the two of us replied with a grin, simultaneously, disgusted by the sight.

With that settled and no food in our stomachs except Gambas. I found a dryer spot before collapsing onto the ground. My companions joined me. staring up past the trees at the night sky, seeing the stars, along with the floating islands of our world. After a moment or two of laying in the dirt, a smile spread across my lips, as I stared at the highest island, in the sky. “The crown capital.”

“Do you really think the stories of old are true?” I asked them both.

“Tinny means the one about the realms once being one place?” Asked gamba.

“Oh please,” groaned Arthur, with a yawn.

“What, you don’t believe them?” I asked.

“No they're real,” he groaned, as his gaze shot straight to the capital. “Tell me Tiny…” he mumbled as his stomach growled again. “How many?”

“What?” I raised an eyebrow.

“How many islands have you come to step on,”he asked with a wave of his hand.

“Oh uhh,” I thought for a moment, biting my lip, “about four.”

“Four!” He shouted as he lifted his head just enough to look at me. “Out of over a hundred islands, you have only walked across four.”

“So, I argued.”

“Haha, Tiny only four, hahahah-,” mocked the troll.

“Alright and how many islands have you visited then.” I asked him.

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“Gamba Ben to fifteen,” he grinned.

“ makes sense, trolls often travel between realms, for trade.

“And Arthur, how many Arthor been two,” asked Gamba.

Twelve, he stated, setting his head to the side away from us.

“Haha, Gamba been, more places,” he grinned.

.“You have the freedom to go wherever you want, and do whatever you want,” Aurthur narrowed his eyes. “Why would you ever waste it?”

I lowered my gaze pondering the question for a moment. before laying back and giving my answer. “Some think it’s greener everywhere else but where you're at, and others are just comfortable where they are. “I guess I'm just content. I never wanted to go anywhere but my home island. Until those stupid pirates chased me out.

“Seems like an excuse if you ask me…” Aurthur groaned.

“ hay I liked living in Calvas, wish I was there right now, I gripped.

“Calvas, the countryside of Tropica realm, he snorted. “Ha, not far from here, how'd you end up in that prison cell?”

“I told you.” I huffed at his question. I could hear his laughter, at my story of black beard the pirate.

“So you have never been out of, Tropica realm.

“Why would I want to be, it’s too weathery… everywhere else.” I snorted, in annoyance.

“Hahaha, weathery no word,” Gammba told me. The irony of a troll mocking me for my choice of words, when his speech patterns were basic at best, did not pass me. But I didn’t dwell on it, as I watched Aurthur carefully. For a moment I even questioned if he were alive, being so still, but at the sound of his voice, it told me otherwise.

“I haven’t thought of the old stories in many years,” he whispered, with a half laugh before gnawing off to sleep.

…

With the sunrise, landing right in my face, I stumbled awake, with a yawn, and a scratch of my legs and arms. I didn't even know when I fell asleep last night. Or how with this mud all over my face, making it somewhat uncomfortable. It was dry and crusty and fell off me in patches for the most part. But my skin began to itch underneath it. I immediately tried to scratch it off, but after a few minutes i gave up, accepting the fact that I would just have to deal with it. Momentarily scratching from time to time when it got real bad.

The others stumbled awake along with me, before we set out on our journey in hopes of solving one issue. Our stomach pain. The air, was moist and soggy as ever. But at least in the morning their was little heat slowing us down. “This way, arthur called out, when his ers picked up on something. I could see how his ears twitched unhuman like. Though due to his magic, i don't question it since i didn't know a thing about it.

As we crawled through the bushes, and pushed through the trees, i could here the splishing sounds, of a river. The very second it hit my ears, my dry mouth was drawn to it. Quickly i ran past arthur and into the river, slurping up what i could. I dint really care how fresh it was. Wich to my surprise it was quiet refreshing.

“Finally, somewhere we can find food,” Arthur groaned, thanks to the pain in his stomach.

“Fish,” I nearly gagged, but beggars could not be choosers.

“Forget fish, how about a turkey, " he smirked, as I looked up to see what he was talking about. a thin wild turkey was plucking bugs out of the water, on the other side of the water. “I snickered at the thought of Arthur trying to catch that thing, as i pulled out a bottle from my pocket, and filled it with the watter, before splashing it over my face, in hopes to clean off the mud on me.

Aurthur wasted no time, drawing his sword and attacking the bird. “Gamba, cut it off on your left. Arthur ordered the troll. only for the bird in question to be startled and run in the opposite direction. Arthur to my surprise out ran the bird, with far more energy than I thought he had. It ran through the palm trees, jumping over logs and ducking under vines, hoping to escape. Not wanting to be put down by Aurthur.Gamba chased in pursuit of the bird, but never got close to it like arthur. But when Arthur jumped in front of the bird, only for gamba to take a swipe at it. But it ducked beneath the trolls legs and flew past him. Arthur, groaned at the trolls inability to catch it, and jumped over the troll.

From the riverbank, I sat cleaning my face, entertained by the scene as Gamba and Arthur chased after the turkey. Gamba's arms flailed wildly as he tried to catch the bird, while Arthur jumped over him, attempting to stab it. However, the bird flung its head back, easily avoiding the wooden blade. The spectacle made a mockery of the two, and I couldn't help but laugh at their antics.

“Coming I yelled only for something to hit the back of my foot from behind. I turned around finding another bottle with something inside of it, floating down the stream. I picked up curios of whatever it was. I turned my head, and gassed inside, moving the bottle every which way trying to see inside. Until I heard the sound of someone screaming out “run.”

I looked up to find a good ball of a man, dressed in a maroon jacket, and knee high boots, running wild, through the stream waters.

With a tilt of the head, I questioned what was going on until I saw the band of Pirates chasing after the man.

“Author we got company, I yelled out, he stopped chasing the bird, to see what I was talking about. His eyes widen at the sight of the large group coming our way. “Dammit run, " he yelled , giving up on the bird, and began heading away.

Luckily Gamba grabbed me by the leg and ran with me over his shoulder. Despite being sacked in the face by a tree, and smelling his stench, I supposed it was better than being stampede by an angry mob. As we ran down stream, the warmers became quicker and quicker until now we were floating down a rapid river. All the while trying to avoid the blast of gun fire, from behind us. Next to me, the man who started all of this, ran up.

“You got the bottle kid, " he asked.

“I’m twenty six!” I yelled at him.

“Wow, you're kinda short for twenty years old.” He told me only for a gunshot to knock off his feathers hat. “Keep that bottle safe, kid, don’t let them have it. He yelled at me.

The fact that I was five feet tall, I guess, was considered short for my age apparently. “Tha, this thing,’ I said realizing. I still held the bottle in my hand.

“Who the hell are you!” Asked Aurthur as he came up to the man’s side.

“Names Trever, good day for a run huh?” He asked, began to loose his breath., “and you three?” he huffed

“Gamba is Gamba, this is tinny and that’s,”

“Don’t say it!” Yelled Arthur.

“Arthur pendragon.” gamba said any way.

“Pa.. pen dra-,” stumbled Trevor.

“Yeah, I was named after the late great king. Now it’s bad enough I got these morons to deal with. mind explaining to me why you're here and what’s going on!” the mage yelled

“Sorry mate, every man for himself, every adventurer knows that, " he said , swiping the bottle from my hand, before leaping onto a vine and swinging away, as bullies flew in the air, after us.

Author, grouled, both from his hunger, and the morning run, but kept up his speed.

“Hay, how about some magic, buddy, I asked him.”

“Can’t really do that,” he replied, as he ducked under a branch, avoiding gunfire.

“What, why, you're a mage!?”

“A hungry mage!” he yelled out as he came crashing into a wooden bridge. With a moan, he drew his sword. “I can't run anymore, I'm too hungry.”

Gammba grabbed him by the stomach as if were a suitcase under his arm, and continued his path. As we were swung back and forth by the running troll, we continued our conversation. “I don’t get it, why can’t you just blow them away, you did that to the royal guards.

“First off, I wasn’t starving then, magic takes energy, Tiny. Energy I don’t have at the moment.” He groaned as his lips dropped at the sound of his stomach once again. “Second, magic takes great concentration. How am I supposed to concentrate, when my mind is on food?!”

“You should eat like Gamba, Gamba can-” bam his head, smashed into a tree, mocking the three of us down.

“Why am I always under the troll,” I groaned as I was smashed under Gambas weight for a second time. But before I could say another thing, Aurthur put a hand over my mouth.

The pirates ran past us, get them men! Shouted one of them as they continued their pursuit of the man.

We laid there holding our breaths until we were setting why we’re far enough away.

“What in the world was that about,” groaned Aurthur as he stood up. But ultimately fell over onto a branch, clutching his stomach.

“I don’t know something about this bottle, " I told him, pulling out the object from my pocket.

“I saw that swindler grab it, where did you get this?”

“Naa, he grabbed my water bottle instead. All I know is he was saying not to give it to them.”

“Is that so,” Aurthur fumbled as he pulled the top off the bottle. The smell of boos was as apparent as its paper contents. Aurthurs nose wrinkled at the stench, but he unfolded the paper, to take a look.

Curious to know what it was, I and gamba both peeked over Arthurs shoulder. Our eyes grew as the realization struck us. “ treasure map,” we said in unison. It was a hand drawn painting of a large island and an. Trail marked.m, up a mountain.

“But it doesn't have a name, how are you supposed to know which island to go to?” I asked.

“That’s the point moron,” Aurthur grumbled as his eyes narrowed on the map, “strange, where have I seen…” he muttered to himself but trailed off, as he eyed the map.

“Not so fast blue eyes,” said a familiar voice, as he laid a knife to Arthurs back.

“You,” I muttered as I stared at the man who started this whole goose chase.

“Nice work switching the bottle on me kid, " he snarled as he threw the water bottle back at me. “I should have known your adventurers too… well now, you won’t be finding that treasure with no map, hand to me or die.” He warned, with a raise of his bushy eyebrows.

“You're no adventurers, you're a pirate on the search for treasure.” Aurthure told him.

“Guilty is charged,” he said as his golden tooth glinted in the sunlight. “ Now give me the map and we’ll all go our separate ways.”

Arthure carefully handed him the map. The pirate grin widened as her finger touched it, lowering his blade an inch, but otherwise kept it on Aurthur at all times. But as he finally had it in his fingers, Aurthur spun around quickly, snatching his arm with the nife, and tousled him down to the ground. Once there, Arthur twisted his arm, making the pirate cry out in pain, as his bone snapped, dropping the knife.

“Careful about carrying a knife so close to someone, they might pull a fast one on you,” smirked Aurthur as he grabbed the map, and tore it into pieces.

“No, no, not, " cried the pirate as Aurthur ripped the papers apart. “ do you have any idea what you’ve done!!!” He sensed.

“Ripped up a map that I already know. Believe me, Arthor teased, it’s not something thou are looking for.”

“You just cost me millions!” The pirate huffed! THAT WAS THE TREASURE MAP TO PETER THE PIRATE YOU FOOL! He yelled furiously, as his nostrils flared.

Arthur, raised an eyebrow, about to say something, but before another word could be said, the others jumped from the bushes surrounding us in all directions with Guns and swords pointed at our heads.

“Gammba give up,” Gammba yelled out and flung his hands in the air. I at first shook my head, but ultimately raised my hands along with him

“Great, groaned the bushy eyebrow, pirate as he stood from the ground. A female pirate stepped forward. To greet him. “Nalla, nice Tuesday right, he smiled trying to. Rack the ice, but nalla slapped him upside the head.

“Where is it, where is that map?" she growled, taking a step forward.

“Uh yeah about that, his lips twitched into a grin, as he pointed down.

“Nalla followed his finger, finding the remnants of the torn map. “You destroyed it! She yelled, bringing her sword to his neck.

“Na, na, na , not me, him, " he pointed at Arthur, whose only rep once was a growling stomach, and an annoyed groan from his throat.

“Nalla blinked, unamused, before turning her attention to me. “Well well, well if it isn’t… What's your name again? She asked.

“It’s-“

“Tiny, and that’s Aurthur and I’m gamba! Sputtered the troll, as sweat began to fall off his face.

“Tiny, she repeated, with a tilt on her head, and hands on her hips.

With a straight face, and a droop to my lips, I slowly blinked, my companions words away, before muttering, hello black beard, how’s your father.

“My father died, I shall carry on the black beard name now.” She warned. “Unlike my brother here.”

“Dad, was supposed to give me the map!l cried out Trevor like a spoiled child.

“ you, the man, dad, removed from his will, other than the near mention, not to give you more than a bucket and a mop. Face it Trever, you were never cut out to be a pirate. That’s why dad made me captain!” she raised her voice.

“Wait, you were actually telling the truth, Tiny,” Aurthur asked me.

“Yeah this one stumbled onto our ship, in a barrel of oranges.” Sighed Nalla reforming my tale.

“I wasn’t trying to steal away on your ship! I just wanted a few or even and got stuck in the Barrel.

“You stole from the royal trade!” Nalla snapped at me.

“One, maybe two oranges, I was living on the streets!” I yelled back at her.

With a snort, Aurthur replied, “that is definitely a tale.” Only for Nalla to snap her fingers, and the pirate moved closer, with their swords.

“Well, I don’t know how you got out tiny, but giving you back to the royal custody should gain us, a few gold coins. She smirked. “After all, this island's inhabitants all work at that prison you escaped from. She snorted.

“Well that explains why the town was vacant, " Arthur grumbled.

“Boys, bring these prisoners to my shop, especially that one,” she snarled with a finger pointed at her brother.

“Wait!” Shouted Arthur, bringing them to a halt.

Putting on a familiar fake smile, the same one he wore when first greeting me, Arthur straintend his back. “Don’t you see, he said, “we are at a little crossroads.”

“Meaning,” Nalla asked with a raised eyebrow.

“You see, I and my band of fools, need a way off this island. You,” he smiled a toothy grin.” need to find that treasure, so…” he tilted his head. “Let’s say I know where to look, hello even know the island the treasure is on, and…”

Nalla rushed him , raising her blade to Arthurs neck. “If you don’t tell us we’ll kill you, she snarled.

“If I do you kill me, and if I do t you kill me, so why would I.” He said unphased by the threat. It’s simple we have what you want, and you have what we want, he raised his hands. A simple trade, get us some food, and take us off this island, and I’ll show you where the treasure is, you can have all of it, so long as me and my company go free.

Nalla squinted her eyes at Arthurs offer, tilting her head as she contemplated his proposal. “My father died trying to find that treasure,” she seemed. “ fine, bit longing business or I’ll,”

“Kill us, yeah we got that, " Arthur noted, with a chipper voice,

Her face scrunched up, as her eyebrows lowered to a sharp point. “Men, say hello to our new guest, she snarled as she turned around and headed her ship. Her other companion chuckled at that, as they set their weapons away. One of the pirates kicked me in the but, to get me moving. It was simple to say we were already in trouble. But as I walked, I watched the seemingly forever calm Arthur carefully, as we were led to a purest ship.