Beyond the Horizon

Author's Note
This is my second and last installment in the saga. Why? Well, because it includes the entire rest of the saga! In this last installment, multiple new characters will be introduced, all of which will have vivid, unique personalities as planned! I'm also going to be putting some ambient music in each chapter to further boost your enjoyment of the story. There's really not much else besides that. Brace yourself for an emotional, yet action-packed story!

Current Characters
Zoomer: A young pirate who washed up on the shores of Driftwood after escaping Jolly Roger. A usually unmotivated fellow, he has mastered using the Sword.

Bronze John: A hermit who's been living on Driftwood Island since his sense of adventure led him away from his last one. A real fatherly figure who has mastered using the Throwing Knives.

John Smith: A living epitome of the "riches to rags" phrase. After running the Gretchen aground on Driftwood Island, He's been living with best friends Zoomer and Bronze John as part of the trio.

Chapter 0: Tidbits of the Past - Part I


''The date was August 19th, 2010. Yes, that's a day I'll never forget..''

"Say, I'll be letting ye live, but the sharks may not be so charitable.."Said the tall undead man.

I was overcome by fear as I jumped off that plank. I don't regret doing it now, but back then I was pretty certain that I would be eaten by a hungry shark if I wasn't turned into an undead by that.. evil.. being. Jolly Roger was its name.

"What are you waiting for? SINK HER! NOOOOOWWWW!!!!!" Echoed Roger's voice behind me. I began to swim as fast as I can - and I was determined to go as far as I can as well. I'm really glad I did that.

I must have swum for at least a day before I even saw land. I began to swim faster and faster... until when I reached the shore, I relaxed. I gazed up at the bright summer sky, and let out a sigh of relief. Before I knew it, I had blacked out, and I began to drift into a peaceful slumber...

''BOOOOOM! KA-RAAASH!'' I was awoken by a sound so loud, I can almost swear my hearing got a bit worse on that day. Some clumsy man had just run his ship aground on the same island! Great, now I'm not alone!

"Um, excuse me... EXCUSE ME, SIR!" I raised my voice at the lone person on that ship, and to my surprise, he limped away from the helm... and fell face-first on the shore. I think I heard something crack, when I think back on it.

"Uuuughh..."The man managed to let out a grunt of pure pain.

"WHAT'S ALL THIS RACKET?!?!?"A rough, mature voice yelled from behind me. I jumped nearly 2 feet in the air, and when I looked back, it was a man in his mid 30s, with a blonde hair and beard.

"W-Well, you see, sir, this fellow here just ran his ship aground here. He looks like.. he's in bad shape." I replied in a low voice. Honestly, judging by that scream earlier, I thought I had run away from death... and straight into it again.

"Oh! Well, why didn't you say so in the first place? Here, let's take him to my shack. Judging by how he looks, he may need a few hours of rest. Follow me, too... um.."

"Zoomer." I gave him my name.

"Follow me, too, Zoomer! Do you know this man's name?" He asked in a less intimidating voice.

"No. Actually, I just washed up on shore here. He crashed his ship here shortly after I did." I replied. Honestly, that was all I knew so far. I ran from Jolly Roger. Ended up here. He knows the rest. I was clueless. I didn't even know where I was!

We went into his shack. It's not a bad place, really. There was a shelf where he put his water and rum, a small stove, and a table. There were some flour sacks lying around, and I assumed he used those as pillows and beds.

"Say, Zoomer, do you have a Sword? I need you to go hunt some Stone crabs. They're meat is tasty, if you catch my drift."

I reached into where I put Will Turner's sword... and I found nothing. I must have lost it when I was swimming for my life. Curses.

"It's ok. Here, have this." The man said as he tossed me a proper Sailor's Cutlass and two large bags.

"Oh, and, the name's Bronze John. Nice to meet you!" Said the man.

I gave him a salute, and I went outdoors to hunt some crabs. This is where I first really got into using the sword. I must have gotten REALLY into evading pincers and slicing crabs up, because by the time it was night, I realized I had filled up both of my bags long before that and that I had just being fighting crabs for the mere fun of it.

I went back to Bronze John, who was sitting on the steps, and as soon as he saw me, his jaw dropped.

"GOOD HEAVENS! We're going to be eating good for a couple weeks!" Bronze John said, astonished.

"Yep! It was fun hunting those crabs, actually. I'm looking forward to hunting some of the bigger, tastier, and more dangerous crabs!" I said enthusiastically. Wait. Did I honestly just speak like that to a person I'd just met a few hours ago? I mean, it was good to make friends, but..

"Well, you'll be a master of the Sword in no time! By the way, that young man's name over there is John Smith. I put him to sleep. It looks like he broke some bones, but I took care of that with a makeshift splint. These plants here are really helpful, you know!" Said Bronze John, proud of his survival skills. I could tell he'd been living alone here for quite some time.

He had a right to, actually. I'd never meet such a skilled hermit again. Then again, I never met another living being other than the people of Cuba, Tia Dalma, and the Navy Soldiers who came here. Yeah, we threatened them for their coal.

---> STOP MUSIC <---

And the rest, as they say, is history...

Chapter 1: A Pirate's Life For Us
"Hey, John..." Bronze called me.

"Mmhmm?" I asked, still half-asleep.

"It's been a grand total of one-thousand four-hundred sixty-one days and nights since you crashed here on Driftwood Island. Today's our four-year anniversary!" Bronze replied, excited.

"Oh. Oh no. You're trying to remind me of the day you had to wrap that Poison Ivy around my arm. Do you not know the PAIN I had to suffer through for days, Mr. Bronze? You may have healed my fracture, but that does not mean I must make a sacrifice for you!" I said, remembering the torture I had to go through on the day I arrived on this island.

"Grrr. Then again, I think me and Zoomer can both say we're glad we chose to come to this island to escape our troubles. You have helped us a lot."

"The pleasure is mine. Anyways, today we have to take our Light Sloop to-

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Shouted Zoomer, who was deep asleep mere seconds ago.

"Good morning to you, too" I playfully replied.

He then got up immediately and ran out of the house. Strange, I thought. He's never done this before...

"I'll go check on him. You tend to our food." Said Bronze. I did just that. The crabs here always turned out good. Everything here did. This must be some miracle island, because I've never had so much fun in my life, even back when I was rich.

"''Curse those Navy fools..." ''I muttered. Every since they raided my house, I've been forced to become a working-man. At least here, I don't have to do anything except shoot crabs. Which is much more fun than it sounds. The satisfaction of turning a Devourer Crab into a big pile of food with just one shot is overwhelming. Going for a swim near the shore, making any Navy/EITC folks who came to inspect our island cower in fear, these were all awesome. Nothing rivals sliding a Steel Bullet into a well-greased chamber and shooting an unsuspecting foe. The only crabs we don't kill are the Sand ones - they help us get treasure. Somehow. Bronze John seems to understand Sand Crab language. I'll never know how.

I stood up, and as soon as I did, Bronze and Zoomer came through the door.

"I'm all good." Zoomer assured us. "Now are you ready for the trip to Cuba?" He asked.

We gave each other that mischievous look. Of course we were...

---> START MUSIC <---

We raced to our light sloop, kicking up sand at the beach as we ran.

We all got on our little ship... and as soon as we set off, it was time to cause a little trouble in the high seas, if you catch my drift...

"WOOOOOOO" I screamed as we set off to Cuba. "Hey, there goes a Ferret! Starboard side! Get 'er!"

"AYE, AYE!" Replied Zoomer and Bronze John.

Zoomer manned the cannon while Bronze reached into our grenade sack to pull out Stink Pots.

"GET THOSE FOOLS!" shouted the unfortunate Navy Sergeant as Zoomer tore a hole in one of the masts.

"NOT TODAY, OLD MAN!" Replied Bronze John as he threw a very well-aimed stink pot that landed straight in the middle of the ship. The Navy scrubs were struggling for air, and it was time to let 'er sink..

"FIRE!!!" I ordered, and we were able to sink the Ferret with a round of Broadsides and a bit of Zoomer's cannon skills. Two cargo crates drifted towards us, and Bronze John lowered himself on our rope and passed 'em to Zoomer.

"Great plundering work! We can open those babies when we get to Cuba!" I shouted, excited as much as they were.

"Look! Here comes a good one!" Said Bronze John, pointing at an EITC Sentinel.

"AMBUSH THEM!" Zoomer shouted. We agreed. As soon as we were within shooting range of the Sentinel, I let loose a whole round of broadsides, just as Zoomer fired 3 perfectly aimed Chain-Shots at the mast. The masts were broken!

"I'm gonna go in for a Broadside Port! Switch sides, fellows!" I warned them in advance.

"YES, CAP'N!" Replied both of them, playfully. As I turned the ship masterfully and let our Port Side make contact with their back-side, I once again fired a whole round of Broadsides, while Zoomer tore holes in the Light Galleon, along with Bronze John intoxicating the crew with Stink Pots. As the ship sunk, we laughed in their faces. Two treasure chests drifted towards us!

We were nearing Cuba now.

"Just imagine what juicy stuff could be in here!" Said Bronze John.

Zoomer, on the other hand, seemed down. He was more pale than I'd ever seen him. Whatever dream he had must have chilled him to the bone, but what kind of dream would do that? Even bad ones don't after you realize they were just petty nightmares... So what could have happened? He's not the type to get scared so easily, either...

---> STOP MUSIC IMMEDIATELY <---

We had arrived at Cuba.

"Alright, time to open thes-"

"HALT! Are you Zoomer?" I was cut off by an armed guard at the entrance. He didn't seem Navy or EITC. What would he want?

"Yes! What happened?" Zoomer answered, clearly concerned.

"You are to go to Tia Dalma with that treasure at once! We're not allowing anyone to be outside of Pantano River right now. Go with your friends, NOW!" The guard replied loudly.

What could be happening? Does Bronze know? Does Zoomer know?

We all went to Pantano River, completely confused. It was now that I noticed the green-ish sky. An invasion? What's so important about that?

I looked over to Zoomer.

His expresion was blank. No fear. No confusion. Just blank.

What's going on?