“Unless the part about there being a girl who can use the gem to destroy the master is true.”

1. June and her mother stumbled out of the burning building. “Is that everyone?” June asked, breathing heavily. Her mother surveyed the group of people that they had managed to evacuate. “Yes, everyone made it out.” June let out a sigh of relief. “They took everything. Even the seaberries and dragonfruit that you worked so hard to gather,” her father said, looking distraught. “But it’s worse than that. They took the heart of the deep. The prophecy has come true.” At this, June gasped. “June, I’m so sorry, but we need you to get that gem back. You’re the only one who can harness its true power.” June looked around at the chaos and destruction that the pirates had caused, and her fists clenched. She was going to make them pay. “My pleasure.” And June headed for the sandstone cliffs.

2. “Set course to the sandstone cliffs. We need to get the gem to the caves before sunset” Natasha ordered, biting into a piece of fruit to hide her nerves. She couldn’t believe it. Here she was, the most feared pirate in the seas, shaking like a penguin at a seal colony. “It’s a pleasure making such a deal with you” the voice of the cloaked figure echoed in her mind. “Why would anyone even dare try to use this gem?” Her conscience nagged at her. Before she had time to ponder what would await her, the voice of her first mate suddenly called out. “Captain! We’re being followed!”

3. June spent the next several hours helping the village recover from the pirate attack. Fortunately, when all was said and done only a couple of villages had lost their lives, though several buildings were burnt down in the raid. After a long day of helping survivors, June took a moment to relax with a simple pleasure: fruit from the great apple tree that stood on top of the sandstone cliffs. As she plucked the bright red fruit from the leafy branches she took a bite. The Black Hawk could barely be seen on the horizon, but June knew it was only a matter of time before it returned. Suddenly, dark clouds began to form above the distant ship and loud thunder filled June’s ears. This was no ordinary storm. Something was wrong. Something unnatural.

4. Distracted by the stream of goods going over the sandstone cliffs, June didn’t see a blond girl sidle up beside her. Speaking softly in June’s ear, “Cap’n’s gonna be happy for swamp beets; almost good as fruit.” June gasped slightly and tried to calm her heart while staring at this girl who apparated from nowhere. “Ladies by themselves get mistaken as goods.” She whispered, as she put a small dagger into June’s free hand. “Pirates shoot cannons at enemies. Damsels are for pleasure; and not their own.” The blond took off and motioned to June to follow. She followed.