Captain Quint Pitchad’s Adventure at Sea

Captain Quint Pitchad was a captain never yet defeated. He was an ambitious leader who had never given in, no matter how many of his men died. He was not the only thing that had never been defeated at sea. A god-like creature named Cthulhu had destroyed every pirate that had ever dared to cross its part of the sea.

Cthulhu had wings like an eagle, tentacles like a squid growing from its face, and claws like a lion that could rip through rocks with one swipe. His green skin had ridges and bumps from all the battles he had won. His yellow eyes were piercing and if looks could kill, he’d be Medusa. Cthulhu guarded the Crimson Diamond. The Crimson Diamond is a precious stone that could bring one person back from the grave.

Quint wanted the Diamond more than anything. He wanted to bring his 12-year-old daughter, Joan who had died in a boating accident. Quint blamed himself for her death. If he hadn’t become a pirate when her mother had died, she wouldn’t have been around boats, so she wouldn’t have died.

Joan’s mother had died when she was 6 years old and her father couldn’t handle the grief, so he decided to put all in energy into the sea. And their new life had soon become traditional for them. They abandoned their proper ways for more efficient ones, and made friends (and enemies) they would never had before.

---

“Cranky!” Quint yelled to his right-hand man. Cranky came to his captain’s aid.

“Yessir?” Cranky replied, saluting Quint.

“I have a new mission for us to complete, and it is the most dangerous one yet.” The Captain said, passing around his study.

“I don’t think anything is too dangerous for you, sir.” Cranky tried to comfort his captain, as he could see that the prospect of this new adventure was troubling him.

“I have decided that we are going to go and attempt to uncover the Crimson Diamond.” Cranky looked up at Quint. Cranky was the only one who knew about the captain’s past because all the other crewmates had come aboard after his daughter’s death. And he seldom spoke about her, and when he did he would never say her name. She was always ‘the redheaded girl’ or ‘blue eyes’ or sometimes even ‘J’, but never Joan.

“That sounds like a good idea sir,” Cranky said, “And for the record, I think you will be able to overpower Cthulu.”

“I’m not sure,” Quint said, sitting in his desk chair, “I have never had so much on the line during a mission before. I mean… I could bring freckles back.” (Freckles was another common name for Joan).

“I have complete faith in you, sir, as a crewmate and as a friend.” Quint looked up and softly smiled at his companion. Cranky was the only person he could call a friend. Everyone else cared only because he was their caption and their fate depended on being loyal to him.

“That you, that comforts me greatly, now,” Quint went back to his usually stern demeanor, “Raise the sails and head straight for Seywellslon island, for that is where the monster resides.”

“Yessir” Cranky quickly turned on his heel, eager to obey his captions demands. Quint sat back down in his chair, pondering if he had made the right choice by pursuing this journey. He thought about his daughter’s bright scarlet hair, her sky blue eyes, the light freckles that covered her face and arms, her pure laugh, her smile, and everything that made Joan, Joan. He concluded that anything was worth bringing his baby girl back to the land of the living.

---

Days later they arrived at Seywellslon island and Captian Quint Pitchad was more confident than he ever had been, but also more scared than he ever had been. His happiness depends on whether he defeated Culthulu and found the Crimson Diamond or whether he went home empty-handed.

“Sir, we have landed,” Cranky said as he entered the captain’s study.

“Cranky, I know I had doubted this mission only a few days ago, Quint walked over to his companion and put his hands on his shoulders, “but I am now more determined than ever to return with the Crimson Diamond.”

“I am more than overjoyed to hear that, sir.” Quint looked sadly at him.

“I told you years ago, you can stop calling me sir if you wish.”

“I know,” Cranky replied, “but I do not wish to stop. You are a loyal friend, but you are my Captain still. I do not wish to disrespect you, sir.”

“You never could disrespect me. We have been through thick and thin together, and we are more equals than crewmate and captain. That is why,” Quint paused and took a deep breath, “If anything happens to me, you are to take over as captain.”

Cranky was taken aback. This was not what he expected to hear from his captain. 

“Sir, nothing is going to happen to you!” But despite his disapproval, Quint persisted.

“Please Cranky. Promise me you will,” When Cranky didn’t respond, Quint continued his persuasion, “Please. Um… Joan actually wanted you to be captain. She joked about it all the time that you’d be better than me…” Quint’s voice was barely more than a whisper. Cranky was more than shocked that the captain had used his daughter’s name. He knew the matter must have been of great importance to his captain if he was going to utter his daughter’s name.

“Yes, it would be my honor sir,” Quint gave him a look, “...Quint” The captain smiled at his friend as they walked out of his study, and towards Seywellslon Island.

---

Cranky and Quint ascended the stairs up to the top deck of the ship. They walked off the ship together and took their first steps onto the island.

“I must admit sir- Quint, that this is quite exhilarating!” Cranky clapped his hands together on the last word, Quint patted him on the back in agreement. The rest of Quint’s men soon got off this ship with their armor and weapons, ready for Cthulu.

“Here you are, sir,” one of the pirates, Anne-Ford, said handing her captain a particularly shart sword.

“Thank you,” the Quint muttered, then he turned to talk to the entire group “Now, Cuthulu is like a god. He is very difficult to defeat. I’m not going to lie, many of you will perish in this battle. But you must instill faith in me if you want any chance of getting out alive. Understand?”

“Understand.” the crew responded at once. Leading the group, Quint and Cranky headed towards the large cave that heald the beast they wanted- needed to slaine.

---

The buccaneers walked inside the cave of Cthulu. It was dark and damp, people scattered throughout the group did have lanterns, but you still couldn’t see more than a foot ahead of you.

Suddenly, Cuthulu came out of a corner of the cave. His tentacles were the length of school busses, and his eyes lit up in the darkness. He was a forest green color but the bumps on his skin were a slightly lighter shade of green. The truth of the situation had set in for the pirates, but they were not afraid, but confident.

“GO!” Quint yelled, and all of his pirates rushed out from behind him, weapons raised. Quint quickly followed them into the attack. Everyone started attacking the monster from different angles. Cthulhu was confused and disoriented, but not for long. He started throwing pirates into the cave walls left and right. Quint, quickly he was losing the battle and looked to his right-hand man who was one of the few people left still conscious.

“Go further into the cave and find the Diamond!” Cranky yelled to him.

“NO,” Quint yelled back, “I can’t leave you here!”

“Yes, you can! Get your daughter back. Get Joan back!” He didn’t need any more convincing. He raised passed Cuthulu and towards the very back of the cave.

Every second felt like a minute, every minute like an hour, but he didn’t care. Each step was one step closer to his daughter. Quint eventually came upon a raised platform in the stone floor. This was it. He knew that the was the end of his suffering, his mourning. He could finally see her again. 

H went up to the platform, but the only thing on it was a silver crown. He was angry, sad, frustrated, all the emotions he thought he would never feel again after he brought his daughter back.

“I can tell you’re mad, let me explain.” Quint whipped around to see who the voice belonged to. It was a woman, about 24 or 25. She had long green hair and a tight green cocktail dress on. She had bright yellow eyes with cat-like pupils. 

“Who-who are you. Do you have the Crimson Diamond!” He yelled his last sentence. He was overwhelmed at the turn of events that had occurred before him.

“No, the Crimson Diamond never existed. I am Cuthulu, just in human form. The only way to reunite with your daughter is to use that silver dagger.

Quint realized what she was saying. Joan couldn’t come back to him, but he could go to her.

“Most sailors, such as yourself believe that when the legend says, ‘reunite with a loved one’ that their loved one would come back to life. When it is the opposite.”

Quint hadn’t given much thought to what he was going to do before he did it. He put the crown on his head and waited.

A few moments later his vision started to fade. The world slowly become white. He felt like he was floating, but also falling at the same time. He started to see the sky again, a pastel blue, the ground was white and fluffy. He felt safe. Quint turned around and saw someone.

Joan.

He ran into her arms and immediately started to cry tears of joy.

“I love you, Joan.”

“I love you, daddy.”