A.N.: Hi! I hope you've been great. I'm determined to finish this story in case you were wondering :p Enjoy!
"Look, he's waking up"
"That took a while"
"Sora, we have to do something"
Kairi hissed as she stood next to the Keybearer behind a hut. "We can't just look"
"I know, Kai, but if they shoot us with those sleeping darts it's over. We need a plan" Sora peered his head and continued observing the peculiar scene unfolding before them.
Kairi groaned in frustration. He was right. "We'd better hurry and come up with something then. Will must be wondering where we are. What I don't get is what Jack's doing over there"
Sora chortled. "I told you you'd be surprised when you met him" He turned his head to his childhood friend, only to meet her frown. She usually laughed at his jokes, so whenever she didn't, Sora knew he had to focus at the task at hand and it was time to get serious.
Clearing his throat, he lifted a shoulder with an apologetic smile. "Sorry." He turned his head to the front again "Will looks desperate. I don't see the rest of the crew either".
"We're lucky that only he saw us. But we still gotta find everyone else". Letting out a sigh, Kairi ran a hand through her hair. "Riku's gonna be so mad"
"Yep." Sora breathed in, resigned to the lecture that knew would occur later. "But we're here to save a friend, so we're good". Considering the circumstances Riku would surely come around. Maybe. In the meantime they had something else to worry about.
A few feet away from them, a man slightly covered in dirt with messy brown hair hung from a bamboo pole carried by natives, that were ready to present their prey to their new king. The rest of the tribe followed right after.
"Jack! It's me! Will Turner!"
The man Sora and his friends came to know as Captain Jack Sparrow stood in front of him. Pairs of eyes had been painted in his eyelids and cheeks. His hat had been replaced by a red large and extravagant ornament, wrapped by dead snakes, a skull, the bones of a hand and thick, long strands of brown and red hair (at least not Rapunzel kind of long). Jack held a thick black feathery scepter that resembled a huge duster in Sora's opinion. Behind the renowned pirate was a wooden throne, decorated with spears and several skulls and bones in the backrest. Looking down at Will as if he were nothing but an insignificant insect, Jack poked him twice and then turned to one of the natives.
"Wa-say kohn"
"Een dah-lah. Eeseepi." The native displayed Will proudly.
Sora's eyebrows furrowed. "What's Jack doing?"
"Eeseepi" The whole tribe echoed weakly in agreement, as if scared their leader wouldn't be satisfied.
"Tell 'em to let me down." Will demanded. A flicker of disconcert and fear crossed his eyes.
Carelessly, Jack exchanged words with the native crowd. They laughed and yelled something in response enthusiastically, pumping their fists in the air. Jack made a sweeping gesture.
"Sora, something's wrong." The redhead's voice shook.
"Let's just wait a sec. Maybe he told them to let him go" Sora gulped.
The natives began chanting and taking Will away with maddening gazes on their faces. Multiple voices began to fill the air and Jack simply turned around to head back to his throne. Sora's and Kairi's eyes popped open.
"Jack! The Compass!" Desperation audible, Will yelled at the top of his lungs and the natives stopped. "That's all I need, Elizabeth is in danger. We were arrested for trying to help YOU. She faces the gallows!"
The Keybearers gasped and Jack Sparrow halted for three full seconds. He stylishly turned around and casually walked back to his once ally. No visible sign of recognition and what was worse, no visible intention to release him.
"I don't get it. Why isn't Jack doing anything?" Sora groaned. Kairi summoned her Keyblade.
"Kairi, uh, what are you, uhm, doing?" Sora asked slowly. She pointed her Keyblade to the other side across the crowd of natives. "We have to stop this"
"Wait! Ka-"
"Fire" She whispered.
A yellow spark of magic traveled unseen to a far bush that instantly caught flames. All the attention was immediately drawn to it and the tribe quickly moved to put out the sudden wild fire that was already beginning to scatter and sending smoke everywhere. Kairi's Keyblade dissipated.
"Wow" Sora was in a daze but forced himself out of it. "C'mon!" He grabbed her hand and they began sneaking around the tall grass and palm trees, taking advantage of the sudden diversion. They reached the back of Jack's new throne and pressed their backs against it.
Unfortunately for the Keyblade chosen ones, the fire had become more than the simple time-buyer they'd hoped for.
"BOOM-SHOO-BOOM! BOOM-SHOO-BOOM! BOOM-SHOO-BOOM! BOOM-SHOO-BOOM!"
Claps, laughs and louder chants were heard from the whole tribe. They pointed frenziedly to the fire and some even began bowing to it.
Suddenly, Will found himself being taken away again. Only with a lot more excitement from his captors.
"Jack, what did you tell them? No! What about Elizabeth?" Will kept moving his head to look at the now king of the island. "Jack...!" His voice gradually got lost in the natives' cheers. Exchanging a few words with the tribe, the captain of the Black Pearl went back to sitting in his throne, allowing a new mad joyfulness take place among his subjects. He wasn't bothered by it.
"Pssst. Psst. Jack"
Jack Sparrow's eyes widened, eyebrows furrowed. Then his brown orbs moved to one side.
"Psst. Here."
Then to the other.
The thought that the lack of rum was starting to affect him crossed his mind.
"Behind you. It's me, Sora"
Jack's eyebrows lifted but didn't say anything in response. One of his guards stared intently at him. But if he wanted a ticket out of this 'rumless' island this was it.
"Jack, where are they taking Will? And where's the rest of the crew? We need to-"
"Save me" Sparrow said flatly the second his guard got distracted. He was now staring at the new fire the natives were preparing right at the center for everyone to see. A very suspicious fire.
Confused, Sora tilted his head. Luckily for him, his companion grasped the situation.
"Okay, just tell us where to find Will and the crew"
For a second Jack wondered who this new voice belonged to, but didn't give it much thought and stood up. Baffled, Kairi and Sora watched him walk away in that unique way of his.
Just as they were about to jump to conclusions Jack started talking to the guard and the natives in that strange dialect Kairi suspected he was making up. With one hand, he pointed up to the left as if discussing some birds in the sky and driving away their attention as he did so, talking in a voice that made anything sound as if it were of an extreme importance. Before the Keybearers could exchange glances, Jack's left arm was placed behind his back and shook his feathery scepter repeatedly to the right.
Sora squeezed Kairi's hand lightly. "Let's go save Will"
"I think we're almost there" Riku panted and Rapunzel nodded. They had been moving side by side through the jungle for a while now, successfully keeping their distance from the suspects without losing them. If they'd really captured their friends Riku thought he might as well teach them a lesson. However, he reminded himself of his true mission. After finding Sora and Kairi, they needed to see how Heartless acted towards Rapunzel in this world. Maybe only then they could get a clue as to why she had such an effect on them. But… where were the Heartless? They should've encountered at least one by now.
"Riku, look!" Rapunzel said, coming to a halt behind more palm trees and he followed her lead. The voices and the beat of drums had been getting louder and louder for the last minutes, but at last they'd found what they were looking for.
"Oh my gosh, who's that?" Rapunzel trembled and Riku tried to hide his shock.
Hands and ankles tied, a man hung from a bamboo pole over a huge pile of kindling wood yet to be lit, while native guards observed him with pride. Others danced around him. "Nice job" The man acknowledged calmly in spite of his position.
Riku's eyes hooded, all shock gone. "That would be Captain Jack Sparrow for you"
Rapunzel gasped. "That is Captain Jack Sparrow? Oh no! What are we gonna do?"
Riku lowered his gaze as he attempted to come up with some kind of plan. First Sora and Kairi went missing and now his best friend's pirate buddy was about to become the next snack of a bunch of cannibals. He was very close to think that now nothing could go worse but he knew better. Better than to tempt fate. Aquamarine orbs met emerald ones. "I'll go untie Sparrow. You stay here and-"
"But I want to come" Rapunzel said. "And before you say anything else, I'm sure we can both figure something out. Two heads think better than one, right?"
He shook his head and Rapunzel pouted knowing he'd come up with some kind of rational argument. "Look." He motioned his chin to where Sparrow was, and she reluctantly did as told. –more natives came into the picture. The more that came, the more frantic they got.
"There's too many of them, Rapunzel. And they keep comin'. I gotta fight my way through. No point in risking both of us."
With those words, Rapunzel lowered her gaze in defeat. He didn't say it out loud but she still didn't know a thing about fighting. Which meant she could help by stepping aside.
She didn't look convinced, but nodded feebly in agreement to his logic.
Seeing her deep in thought, Riku softly touched her shoulder. "Hey, no need to worry. I've got this."
But she wasn't worried. Not this time. She yanked her head back, before meeting his eyes. "Okay. Maybe you're right." She exhaled heavily and looked slightly more convinced. "But if you do get in serious trouble I'll come out and help you" She warned.
Riku's soft smile smoothly grew into a smirk. "Then I guess I'd better make this quick so I won't bother you, huh?"
Rapunzel felt a smile drawing on her lips. "That's right. You absolutely don't want to make me go out there to save you" She said and they both laughed, forgetting for an instant the setting around them.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Rapunzel turned her head to where Jack Sparrow was and Riku followed her gaze. The noise the natives made kept increasing.
"It's a good thing Sora and Kairi aren't there. That's a relief"
"Yeah" Riku's eyebrows furrowed. "I guess… I hadn't seen it that way. Hm."
Rapunzel looked at the guards busily moving and exchanging words while some others danced around the pirate, when she suddenly felt a gaze on her. After seeing a bit of movement out of the corner of her eye, her orbs shifted slightly and she turned to the Keyblade master expecting to meet his eyes. Nonetheless he was intently looking at Jack, his body stiff, and his features plain serious.
He cleared his throat. "So I'll cut Sparrow's ties and we'll come your way. Then we're run for it until we lose whatever cannibals are after us. That part will get tricky but nothing we can't manage. After that-"
Rapunzel finished the sentence "We find Sora and Kairi."
Riku nodded "Pretty sure Sparrow we'll know where they are, so that solves our problem. You sure you're okay with this? I can figure out a different plan if you-"
"I've got it" Rapunzel said with determination. "I'm ready".
He pursed his lips. "Okay. At the count of three, I'll jump out and the games will begin. Stay hidden and be on the lookout for cannibals. I'll be back with Sparrow." His body turned towards the pirate as his Keyblade materialized in his hand. Rapunzel stood next to him. His muscles began tensing ever so slightly as he mentally prepared for the action that was about to begin. "Here it goes." He breathed to himself. "One… two…"
"Wait!" Rapunzel's hands reached out his thick wrist and Riku stared into her forest green eyes, a little confused. "What's wrong?" He asked.
Rapunzel didn't answer right away. Her lips were pressed in a straight line. "Nothing, just uh…" She awkwardly let go of him. "Just… be careful, okay?"
A flash of puzzlement crossed Riku's face. That took him by surprise. The corners of his mouth rose in a cocky grin. "I have to. Otherwise there's this blonde girl that threatened to bring chaos to everyone just to save me if I'm not"
Rapunzel's shoulders relaxed and she felt a soft heat rush to her cheeks as she smiled back. "Yeah, I would definitely listen to her"
Riku stifled a laugh and got focused again, walking to the edge of their hiding spot. The noise the cannibals kept making was dangerous now. Torches had been lit and everyone surrounded the poor pirate. Riku prepared to jump into what soon would turn into a hopefully not so fierce battleground.
Nonetheless a scrawny teen with a worried expression and a skull for a hat came into view. He'd come running from a weak-looking wooden bridge as he held a long, thin spear. Following his gut, the Keyblade Master chose to wait. Luckily for Sparrow, so did the tribe, whom stopped just a second before they began roasting the infamous captain.
Panting, the boy urgently explained something to the rest. Riku didn't like his tone.
Surprised faces spread quickly through the crowd and every gaze turned to the man about to be cooked. Silence.
Jack Sparrow lifted his head "Well, go on. Go get them" He ordered.
"Ehlala" One yelled.
"EHLALA!" The tribe echoed and with more battle cries, every single one of them ran towards the same direction, emptying the place.
Riku's stomach did an ominous flip. "Sora and Kairi" He muttered.
A burning torch came out flying backwards and fell exactly in the kindling wood, below a now forgotten Captain Jack Sparrow.
Rapunzel and Riku exchanged knowing glances. This was their cue.
Both jumped out of their hiding spot. Rapunzel sprinted directly towards Jack, whereas Riku's eyes scanned the area, his grip tight on his Keyblade.
Sparrow's eyes widened looking at Rapunzel, her hair obviously being the first thing noticed, but his expression turned into a relieved one as the silver-haired Keybearer came into sight. Luckily for him, his Keyblade put the fire out with an ice spell. "So I think it's safe to say you met the monkey, aye? Long time no see, mate."
Riku walked backwards, ignoring the comment on his appearance, his eyes still looking for possible threats. "Not long enough."
Rapunzel unsheathed her sword to begin cutting Jack Sparrow's ties. "Hi, Captain Jack Sparrow. I'm Rapunzel. Hope you're okay"
"'Ello, lass. Captain Jack Sparrow, eh? Looks like you already managed to get in me in your good side. Hey, Riku, I see you and Sora decided to renew your crew. Thank goodness for that. Though it would be dishonest to say I won't miss the duck and that other… mate too. Careful, darling." Jack muttered to Rapunzel as she cut the ropes around his feet, easily recognizing someone's first time with a blade.
"Sorry" She apologized meekly.
"You saw Sora and Kairi? Where are they?" Riku's Keyblade dispelled in his hand.
"Turner. And what's left of the crew…" He muttered the last sentence.
"Is that where everyone went?" Riku groaned in frustration already knowing the answer. He'd been hoping he was wrong. "We gotta get there. Fast."
The thick ropes around Jack's feet fell and just as he was about to talk, the three of them realized they weren't alone anymore.
"Heartless!" Rapunzel pointed with her sword and felt her blood turn to ice. Three Neoshadows walked closer, their intention to surround them clear enough. Eyes on the blonde. Riku let out a curse.
"Cut the ropes! Cut the ropes!" Jack demanded.
"No time for that!" Riku lifted the bamboo pole, pirate attached and everything, only to let him fall to the ground.
"Ow!"
"Run!" Riku took Rapunzel's forearm, helping her with her hair, leaving a somewhat immobilized Jack Sparrow to run with his body bent, a pole still tied to his back.
The Neoshadows followed their lead.
Rapunzel sheathed her sword and glanced back to make sure Jack was right behind them. She felt a small relief seeing he was.
They crossed the narrow, weak bridge and got to the tribe's small village. A few simple huts were scattered over the place, along with piles of fruit. The Heartless were gone.
"Did we… lose them?" Rapunzel panted, refusing to give into their hopes they had just yet.
"Dunno. Don't think so. Let's cut Sparrow's ropes" Riku replied and his Keyblade appeared once again.
"Aye" The pirate agreed almost too happily. But his glee didn't last long.
"Lift the cage! Lift the cage!" Sora yelled and the crew complied.
This mess was never part of the plan.
Kairi and Sora had established that as soon as they found the crew, they would get to work in order to help them escape. How hard could that be? They just had to be as swift as a coursing river and mysterious as the dark side of the moon, just like Sora had learned from Li Shang back in the Land of Dragons, right? That turned out well for them.
However, when they did find them, the crew had already developed a plan of their own.
If it could be called that.
It was a vision none of the Keybearers would be forgetting anytime soon. A bunch of men trapped inside round cage made of bones, designed to hang from long, thin ropes, over a treacherous cliff. Not only that, but the crew somehow managed to swing it enough to make it to one of the walls in order to climb their way up. And that's when they'd come into the picture.
Long story short, Sora and Kairi helped the crew up, cage and everything. It turns out the natives had found out about their plan, so almost the whole tribe came to retrieve their prisoners/food just as they made it to land. Kairi cut the cage loose, but there was no time for them to try and break it, so the crew rolled with it instead. The Keybearers ran after the bone ball, witnessing and wincing at the painful occupational hazards of the pirate life, as the cage violently whirled and jumped over the unsteady and rocky ground, only to be abruptly stopped by a palm tree.
If only things ever turned out according to plan.
"Hurry!"
"Lift it!"
The pirates did as told with the cage. Kairi warned them about the natives coming, which wasn't truly necessary, since the cannibals did that just fine by themselves.
Lifting the cage of bones, the men moved as quickly as their feet allowed them, adrenaline granting them a miraculous way to do so and not to trip with each other in the process. Kairi and Sora ran side by side, right next to them, performing a spell to shield them from the spears the cannibals occasionally sent them.
Sora deflected an arrow when Kairi grabbed his arm and warned the pirates against their own survival instincts. Which of course, meant she would be utterly ignored.
"Wait! Stop!"
It was worth the shot.
Sora noticed Will actually attempted to come to a halt, but it was too late. Screams were heard as the cage rolled down a cliff, completely disappearing from their view. Kairi gasped and Sora followed right after her to the edge, only to be relieved to see the crew had landed in a narrow underground cave full of water. There was movement –which meant they were okay- and the cage was broken.
"They made it!" Kairi beamed in a very Sora-like manner, which he noticed and would have made him smile had a spear had not flown right above his head.
"EHLALA!"
"EHLAAALAAAAAA!"
"WOOWOOWOOWOO!"
Right, they still they had their own problems.
"Jump!" Sora grabbed Kairi's hand, both Keyblades disappearing as the two of them joined the pirate crew into the cold crystal blue waters.
Everyone swam for dear life, the water failing to deafen the turmoil the cannibals caused in the surface. Arrows flew past them, which was incentive enough to go deeper so they wouldn't become easy targets. Kairi and Sora dodged as they could, holding their breaths for as long as possible, waiting to be on a safer spot to deflect their attacks with their Keyblades. It was taking longer than they'd hoped.
A hand grabbed Sora's arm and pulled him out of the water, depth gone and solid ground under his feet, until his body hit something hard. He was about to retaliate, when he realized it was Will. The crew was right behind him, Kairi among them, their backs pressed against the walls of the cave. They'd reached the end of it.
But apparently this time there would be no mercy or luck on their side, since the cannibals surrounded them from above, menacingly pointing their spears and arrows right at them. There was no place to hide or dodge. Kairi and Sora summoned their Keyblades ready to defend themselves and the crew when-
"Talecocho! Talecocho!" A short native boy came into the scene above them, pointing urgently to the side with his finger.
The cannibals yelled something unintelligible, even more enraged than before, and hurriedly left. The crew exchanged confused glances.
"That means it's time to go" Sora said.