"A Few Kumquats Short"

Katarina and Will looked very relieved to see the Captain and his wife return to Pirate Island. Some of the other pirates were milling around, looking despondent. As Karnage and Scarlet and their children disembarked from the small plane, the red-haired vixen strode up to Karnage and handed him a piece of paper.

"What is this?" he asked, frowning.

Katarina smiled slyly. "A list of all the atrocities committed by the crew while you were off on your little holiday. Feel free to break kneecaps at will." Will cleared his throat. "Not you!" She rolled her eyes.

Mad Dog slunk up. "About number seven, Cap'n, I wuz framed, honest! I don't even own a pogo stick!"

Karnage skimmed the list and sighed. "Can I not rely on you boobie-brains to behave for even a few days? I will punish you all severely...later. Right now, we have some unpacking to do. Would you get the plunder, mi amor?" Scarlet handed him the shopping bag from the pile of luggage. "Feast your eyes on these!" He opened the bag and held it out for all to see. Will, Katarina, Mad Dog, Dumptruck and a few other pirates clustered around to behold the glistening pearls.

"Ooooooh!" they all breathed.

Katarina's hands twitched greedily, hungry to grab some of the pearls. "So, sis, were you planning on compensating Will and I for our services the last few days?"

Scarlet grinned. "As a matter of fact, yes! Here!" She grabbed another bag from the pile of luggage.

Katarina eagerly opened it. Her face fell. "Kumquats?" She slid a fancy gift basket out of the bag and wrinkled her nose.

"That was the most expensive gift basket in the whole marketplace."

"Gee, thanks," she said flatly. "Will, I hope you like kumquats..."

Will stifled a laugh, then bent over to talk to his niece, who was clinging to her mother's tail. "And how did you like the trip, Victoria?"

Victoria smiled, then cheerfully said a very nasty word.

"Victoria!" Karnage gasped. "Where did you learn such language?!"

The girl looked startled, not understanding what the word meant. "From Mad Dog, Daddy," she whimpered.

Scarlet put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "There, there, honey, it's okay. Just don't say that again. It's a naughty word."

"Mad Dog!" Karnage growled, whirling to face his first mate. "How dare you contaminate my darling daughter! Where did you learn such language?"

Mad Dog quivered in fear. "F-from Dumptruck, Cap'n!" he whined.

Karnage turned to the hulking bulldog. "Dumptruck! So it was you spreading such filthy words in the presence of innocent ears! Where did you learn such language?"

Dumptruck shrank back and stammered, "Derr, from you, Captain!"

Karnage stopped and blinked. "Oh."

Behind him, Scarlet and Katarina erupted into giggles.

Karnage spun on his heel and attempted to walk casually away. "Well...do not let it happen again."

Scarlet laughed until tears ran down her face. Yes, she thought, things were definitely back to normal. At least, as normal as they ever were at Pirate Island...

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