Treasure Hunt

" Avast, me hartees!" Kurt called upside down from a branch. Pirate talk sounds silly enough without his German accent.

" Kurt, like, give it a rest," Kitty sighed. " You're not even in a boat. You're fishing on the bank of a river."

" Aw, c'mon, Kitty," Evan laughed, " Let him have some fun. He's not hurting anybody."

Kurt smiled. He tossed himself right-side up on the branch and crouched on it. He then tossed himself upside down again.

" I'm glad he's having fun," Scott chimed in. " We've been here for hours and still haven't had a bite on our lines."

" Don't sweat it, Cyc." Kurt laughed, " I am promising you that I'll catch a fish. IT'll be big enough for all of us to eat."

" Ewww," Kitty crinkled up her face. " I am, like, so eating salad tonight."

Evan shook his head and turned to the branch, " Scott's right, Kurt. Today isn't a very good day for fishing."

" It's a day for advenytures!" Kurt shouted, swinging himself around and again, upside down. Suddenly, his pole began to bend. " See?!" Kurt pointed, flipping out of the branch and porting over to his pole. He loosened the drag and began to reel. What a fight!

" Got him! Bet he's a huge pike! Or, or a catfish. Oh, I love fresh catfish! Oh, man, I can taste it already."

Everyone remained quiet as Kurt went off at the mouth, hooting and hollaring wildly as he brought in his line, ‘ Evan, get the net, here he comes!"

Evan leaned down and scooped up the catch. It was a....box? An old rusty metal box snagged onto the lure on Kurt's line.

" Yummy," Evan chuckled. Kurt blushed. With the holo-watch, his reddish cheeks were apparent.

" Would love a taste of that, Kurt," Scott laughed, " But, I promised Jean I'd take her to a movie.

" One more hour," Kurt pleaded, " I'll catch a fish, I swear it!"

" Sorry."

" Kitty?" His eyes turned hopefully to her. She crinkled up her face, " Like, no way. I've got to go home and, like study for a test tomorrow."

Scott and Kitty got up and headed back to the mansion. Kurt turned to Evan, " You got a lame excuse too?"

" Sorry, Kurt. I couldn't think of one fast enough." They both laughed at the reply. Kurt smiled and pryed the box open. Inside was an old map of the river.

" Wow, a treasure map!"

" Kurt, it's a map of upriver."

Kurt squinted his eyes and drew an "X" on the map randomly, " Now, it's a treasure map! Let's follow it!"

Evan opened his mouth to protest, but caught sight of those pathetic kitten eyes he had. He tried to resist that pathetic look. Turned away, but kept looking back into that face. " Oh, alright! But, it goes upriver. I really don't fel like hopfooting all the way upriver."

" Hardy har, me bucko," Kurt began with the pirate talk, " What we need is a boat. A boat! We can pull one from the mansion's array of transportation and drift it back here. Make it a nice day on the water. Whattaya say? Let's get our barnacles in gear and set sail for the treasure at hand!"

***Not far away***

Their conversation didn't go unheard. Toad had been nearby chasing butterflies for his lunch and stopped to evesdrop. A treasure? Like in the books? Like in Treasure Island and all those other buckaneer tales? The thoughts flooded his mind. He made up his mind that he wanted to go on this adventure too...but knew he'd never be allowed to go. Those goody-goods wouldn't trust him enough to allow him a trip aboard. Not that he blamed them. But, if he couldn't go treasure hunting with porcipine and fuzzball, he'd find his own crew.

***Later***

Pietro sat on a park bench. He had been out for a jog and had stopped to tie his shoes. He finished in no time and stood up to stretch his legs. He was about to zip off when he saw Toad leaping over and waving him down.

" What?! Can't you see I'm out for my run?" He held out his hands to show his attire. Blue sweatpants, a white sleeveless undershirt and a blue and white sweatband across his forhead along with two smaller sweatbands on his wrists. Nevetheless, Toad hopped next to him. " You won't believe what I just overheard. Two of those X-freaks are looking for a treasure."

" You're right," Pietro remarked, " I don't believe you. Don't waste my time, okay? I have a record I'm trying to beat."

" But it's true!" Toad insisted. " They found a map of the river and are going to prepare to leave at any minute. Imagine if we could find that treasure before they did."

Pietro looked into Toad's face and saw his excitement. When he hopped around and talked like that, it was usually after spying on someone. And, he was usually quite accurate in relaying the things he saw.

" Fine. Give me a couple of seconds, ok? I wanna go around the park one more time before I jet home, get a shower, get into some clean clothes and meet you back here."

Toad nodded as he sat on the bench to wait for him.

***Ten minutes later***

" Grrr! Sorry, I took so long. Bathroom was occupied." Pietro explained. Toad shrugged it off. " So, where's this treasure you want so bad?"

" Well, if we hurry...." Toad stopped himself mid-sentence. What a stupid thing to say to Pietro. " They'll be at the river by the old willow. They didn't say when they were leaving though. If we're lucky, we might just catch them."

" Might? We will catch them." He crossed his arms, " But, first you show me where they are. I'm not going to waste my energy on a goose chase."

***At the river bank***

" Where are they?" Pietro growled. Toad shielded himself. " I know they're coming!"

It wasn't long before Pietro saw his old rival, Evan pacing on the bank. Along upriver came a boat with Kurt at the wheel.

" Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!" He sang aloud, " Ahoy there, Evan! Come aboard. Ye will be me first mate."

Evan laughed. Kurt maneuvered close to the bank and helped Evan aboard. He set the supplies aside on the pontoon. Mostly it was food and a first aid kit. Also were a couple of jackets and the little things, in case anything went wrong.

" Okay, Captain Kurt," Evan laughed, " What kind of things do you think we'll find upriver?"

" A king's ransom, m'boy! Get your sea-letgs going, Landlover, we're off to find the best of gold, silver and jewels!"

Pietro dashed back to his hiding place. Toad smiled. He was right...and that made him feel good.

" Wow. A treasure? Here?"

" Should I get the others?"

" What?" Pietro panted, " No. No, let's....keep this as our little secret. Between you and me." He put an arm around Toad's shoulder, " Just the two of us have to know. We could split the share into halves instead of quarters."

" You'd share it with me?"

" Of course," Pietro smiled, " After all, I'd have never known of it had you not told me."

" Great," Toad beamed, " But....where do we get a boat?"

***Upriver***

Kurt steered the pontoon with his feet while he sipped a can of soda with one free hand and cradled his head in a relaxed manner with the other. He swooshed his tail from one point to another contently. It was such a lovely afternoon.

" Kurt, what if we come across a rough current? Or rapids? We can't exactly call for help. Even is we could, no one would get here in time to save us."

" Do you see rapids on this map?" Kurt insisted, holding it before Evan's face by his tail. " Just smooth sailing all the way upriver.

Evan gave a nod and peered into the water. It was much cooler. Both of them had put on their jackets as the breeze began to pick up.

***A good three hours later***

Upriver, they had reached the end of the road...er...river...whatever. They had ended up drifting into a cave. Both became semi-nervous.

" Should we turn back?" Evan asked. Kurt seemed split. He wanted to go back, for fear of what lay ahead. But, his adventurous side took over and he shook his head and pointed into the void.

Once the boat hit land, they stepped onto terra firma. Kurt peeked at the map and at the "X" he had spontaneously marked. He shrugged and followed. " Come, m'lad! Let's find me treasure."

Evan sighed. There was no living with this guy. Kurt was having far too much fun to see any possible reprecussions. However, he followed him. After a few minutes, everything seemed okay, so he relaxed and played along.

" Captain Kurt, may there be booby-traps?" He asked in a pirate voice.

" Aye, matey," Kurt sounded so rediculous using the same pirate voice, but trailed by a German accent, " But, we be too crafty for the likes o'them."

***Not long after***

They turned a corner. They entered a small cavern. Across the cavern was a stone wall of sorts. At the base was a small set of....crossbones?

" Look!" Kurt squealed. " The X! The X! There really IS something here! I was RIGHT!"

" Great," Evan replied in disbelief, " Let's dig it out!" They glanced at each other. DUH! Neither of them had remembered to bring shovels. " Uhm, so, what do we dig with?"

Kurt thought on the notion. He snapped his fingers and pulled a couple of spades from his bag. He handed one to Evan, " We dig with these. Muschnell!"

***After an hour of digging***

" Eureeka!" Evan cheered. He hit something.

" Eh? Excuse me, Evan," Kurt panted, " I've been sweating and I'm covered in dirt. Why don't YOU do that with a coat of fur and see how good you smell."

" No, not wreak. Eureeka. We hit something!"

Kurt brushed the dirt from his face. And then he brushed the dirt from the object. It was a medium sized box. Like a jewelry box. Evan gasped, " Kurt, there really is a treasure! I thought you made it up!"

" Ja. Me too." He pulled it up and set it on a flat rock protruding from the ground.

" Open it!" Evan urged. Kurt began to lift the lid...

Wham!

The lid was pushed shut and swift words followed the action, " Well, well. Did my old buddy go on a treasure hunt and not invite little ol' me along?"

" Pietro?!" Evan gasped. Pietro stood with one foot over the lid of the box. " Yeah, yeah. That's my name, don't wear it out."

Evan shot out a spike. Pietro dodged it as it zoomed past him. Toad leaped in and cast out his tongue, catching the spike. He used his tongue to toss it back. It missed Evan's head by only a few inches.

" We'll be taking that," Toad commented, casting out his tongue again, grabbing the box and leaped off with it.

" Bye, Daniels," Pietro laughed, " Catch ya later."

Zoom and he was off. He and Toad made way for their speed boat.

" Get em!" Kurt ordered, pushing Evan forward and following close behind. " That's our treasure!"

***The Boat Chase***

Toad and Pietro made it to the speedboat and took off just as Kurt and Evan came to their pontoon. Chances are, they'd never catch up to the Speed Demon. That was the name of Pietro's pretty blue boat.

" Ahh! Pietro, they're gaining!" Toad observed.

" Get off the boat," Pietro ordered.

" Come again?"

" I can get away faster if wieght is removed from the boat. Get off the boat and I can make a dash."

Toad didn't like the sound of that one bit. The current had picked up and the water was cold. Nevertheless, he leaped from the Speed Demon onto the pontoon. He spit goop into Kurt's face, making him fall back onto the rail. He teleported to shore just as Toad leaped for him. Toad hit the cold water. Feeling more pain in pride than body, he simply swam back to shore.

" It's just you and me, Pietro!" Evan called. Pietro switched up the motor, making the boat rev and go faster. Unforunately, he didn't even realize the current and the sudden speed set the boat into a spin. The Speed Demon collided with a rock, tipping the boat over {surprisingly, with only a scratch to the lovely blue paint job} and tossed Pietro inot the cold water. Evan glanced over the railing. He argued with himself. Should he save Pietro or not? He deserved to be punished for his attitude...but...he could...drown! Evan dove into the strong current. Toad and Kurt watched, dripping, from the shore with great angst.

Evan finally surfaced with Pietro. Pietro let out a cough as Evan dragged him against the current. Even protruded a spike and held tight to it as he offerd it ashore. Kurt grabbed Toad by his ankles and tossed him like a dirty blanket, keeping a firm grip on those ankles. Toad was not too happy with the action, but almost automitically, his tongue shot out and grabbed hold of the spike. The two began to pull.

They almost made it until....Evan's hand slipped! They slipped back into the current. Luckily they didn't go far. Evan slipped down the current, when he felt a firm grasp on the scruff of his jacket. He looked back. Pietro had managed to fight the current whe Evan let go to grab the spike himself, and, with his free hand, he held on to the back of his jacket. With what was left of his strength, Pietro pulled themselves ashore.

***On Shore***

" Why did you jump in after me?" Pietro asked suddenly, dripping wet and shivering. " I figured you would have just left me."

" That's probably what you would have done," Evan retorted. " Maybe that's the difference between us." Pietro gave a dirty look. Though a tempting idea, he wouldn't have let Evan drown either. Evan continued, " This stupid rivalry between us isn't worth losing our lives over. But, you? You're more bull-headed than I am. Why did you reach for me? I thought you couldn't wait to finally be rid of me."

" I'm not that impatient," Pietro replied very calm and casually. " So, we have a grudge rivalry. But, when did I ever say I wanted to be rid of you?" Evan glanced up into Pietro's face, examining that sincerity. Pietro continued, " What good are you to me dead?"

Evan gave an unsure smile. Neither could swallow enough pride to thank the other. But, as though able to read each other's minds, the felt the other's gratitude within their silence. Had no one been around, they probably would have hugged each other....but they were satisfied with patting each other on the back.

" What about the treasure?" Toad butted in. " We'll never find it in that current."

" Ja." Kurt agreed. " Now what?"

" I'm not going back in that water," Pietro commented. " I'm just gonna catch my breath, skip rocks over to my boat and get it home before my dad wrecks me!"

" Your dad gave you that boat?!" Evan shrieked.

" This year's birthday present." Pietro smiled proudly. Lucky for him the only damage to the boat was a scuff in the pain that was easily repaired. Evan felt the jealousy. He never got a boat for his birthday. He then shook his head. Kurt waited for the okay to do something. Evan turned to him, " Forget about the treasure, Kurt. It's not worth it. Help me turn Pietro's boat over so we can go home."

" But..." Kurt didn't get to finish. Evan tugged lightly at his tail. Kurt sighed, " Alright."

After turning the Speed Demon upright, the two sides parted. This pathetic game had gone sour. Neither side gained a treasure, except the treasure of keeping their lives. For now, that was enough for both of them.

END