The Flying Dutchman

Captain Jack Sparrow sat on the deck of the Flying Dutchman running his favorite sharpening stone along his cutlass. The activity would have brought a smile to his lips and a twinkle to his eyes, had he lips or eyes. You know, I be enjoying times like these, the calm before the storm ye might say. Enjoy it while ye may. We raise from these here waters and take to the sky with the coming moon. The voice came from the Jolly Roger bodiless skull and cross bones mounted on the main deck of the ghost ship. Sing us a song me lovely he asked of the Wooden Lady mounted on the bow of the ship. She started to sing a beautiful siren's song that filled the air and drifted throw out the lower decks. The skeletal crew stopped what they were doing to take notice. Even the pixies responded captivated by the haunting melody.

Captain Hook and Long John Silver debated the next target for plunder. I tell ye there we should go. The treasure of the ages just awaits ye. The Egyptian queen, Cleopatra her name be. And she’s parading right into the city of Rome with her coffers filled with gold and other fine dainties.

The Flying Dutchman turned and rose from the surface of the waters of Treasure Island’s lagoon. Sheading droplets as it took to the sky. As it pierced the clouds the ship’s Captains gathered on the main deck. Abash ye, secure the sails Captain Kidd hollered to the crew. He instinctively grasped the handle of his cutlass. Unique in it’s styling as all the Captains swords were beautifully styled and different from one another. As were their fancy pirates hats all different and distinctive. The pixies were fresh from Treasure Island. Some where chained to the small cages atop the cannons, most were below decks, captives of the great clockwork mechanism that would open a path to the nether regions. Cleopatra’s parade it is, said the Jolly Roger from his permanent station on the main bridge. Even he felt uneasy at the thought of passing through the nether regions. Here we go, he shouted. As the crew pulled aside the hatches to the lower decks, the sound of the clockwork like apparatus proceeded it’s emergence. As it rose into sight it began to spin and whirl. The lights of the whale oil lamps brought a red glow to the bridge and terrified the pixies inescapably chained near each one. In their terror they began to shed pixie dust. The mechanism’s dance grow more intense and ethereal as it reached full force and opened a funnel before the ship in the clouds. The Flying Dutchman plunged through the funnel and entered the nether regions.

A wave of fear washed over the Captains and crew as they braced for the horrors to come. Among the spectral lights and swirling mists the ghostly forms of great beasts began to form. Sea serpents and swarms of flying piranha fish noticed the ship and began their attack. Terrified the Captains and crew swung their swords uselessly in the air in self defense. Get ye away, ye sea devils, was heard shouted by many. Hold ye course yelled Captain Hook, or be drawn and quartered the lot of ye. The ship turned and plunged through the funnel to the next time zone above ancient Rome. A feeling of relief began to wash over the crew as they emerged from the nether regions and began to remember the horrors they had just experienced were nothing but harmless specters.

Prepare yee for plunder, our treasure awaits. Shouted one of the Captains. Below the long procession leading to the gates of Rome was visible. Cleopatra herself was seated on a thrown at the font of a giant moving Sphinx near the head of the procession. Spare the cannons and man the ropes. Several of the skeletal crew swung down on ropes armed with pixie dust enhanced swords and shields. They faced the Egyptian royal guards tasked to protect their queen and the treasure intended as tribute to Rome. Archers, javelin throwers and swordsmen were no match for the pixie dust enhanced shields of the pirate marauders. They were trusted aside and their bounties confiscated by the relentless skeleton horde. Captain Hook himself swung down and grabbed Cleopatra’s necklace made entirely of Roman gold coins. As he and the rest of the crew rose on ropes with the Flying Dutchman, he waved his hook and said, Thank ye for ye generous gifties.