Luka, Joe, Gai, Don, and Navi wanted nothing more than to rush to Marvelous' side... But there were other things to consider. They couldn't just get off the planet without worrying about the incoming Zangyack Fleet. And what about that Treasure that Drake was talking about? If it was in the Zangyack Computer Main-Frame, what were they to look for? The Zangyack could appear any minute, and from what could be seen on the battle between Drake and Vlad, death was imminent for one of them. Drake's helmet was already lost and his forehead was red from the blood.
"Me-na," uttered Joe. "Right now, we came here to find the Second Greatest Treasure in the Universe." There was a silent agreement from all. "Let's get on with our mission. Gai ,Luka!" commanded Joe. "Take Navi and ready the Galleon for any attack. Doc, come with me." Everyone looked again at Marvelous and Ahim in the distance, and looked back at the group. "Hai!"
The only building remaining was right behind the Galleon, a small, rectangular, single-story hut. Inside, Joe and Don discovered all the digital information machines. Don ran in, turned to his left, and knelt on one knee. Both he and Joe put on their headsets. "Navi! You there?" ask Joe. "Hai, Doc!" said Navi. Gai stood at the main screen in the living room, ready to process information. Luka was on lookout at the steering wheel, ready to fire any weapons they needed.
Don rerouted the wires in the computer towers. "It'll be ready soon." Joe looked out the door to the outside. Drake and Vlad were now letting blasts and blade waves at each other. They were on the ground, struggling to get up, let alone fire at each other. "Doc! How much longer?" called Joe. "It should be ready right... about.. NOW!" And with the press of a button, all of the information from the computer systems was being filtered by a search for the "greatest treasure", and heading straight to the Gokai Galleon's computer. Gai and Navi started going through it on the screen in the main room while Luka went through the same information on the screen in the cockpit.
What appeared on screen where pictures of wall cravings in the ancient Zangyack writings. The Galleon had this language logged into its' database, and Gai and Luka activated the translation process. Navi read the translations to all the crew:
"Oh, people of darkness...your error of living will not last. Our ancient creation shall be the death of your people. Your ancestors have ensured the ultimate seal on your soon-to-be dark reign. For one, of another kind, beyond the suns, of the dangerous yet natural nature, shall bring down the ones you believe to be mighty...and when you feel your reign may rise, that one beyond the stars will inherit our ancient creation. They will meet on our desolate wasteland. All that is necessary is for this chosen one to declare what is true in his heart..."
The message seemed cryptic. Luka, Don, Gai, and Joe seemed befuddled. It'd seem more of an omen of destruction than a message to the Greatest Treasure in the Universe. After about a minute of contemplating, Navi chimed in. "I GET IT NOW!" Every seemed puzzled at Navi's new enthusiasm. " I understand it! The "ancient creation" is the Second Greatest Treasure! Marvelous is the "chosen one", and now that he's here, he has to do only one thing to get it!" Navi called up Ahim's Mobirate.
Both Marvelous and Ahim were slowing walking back to the Galleon, his left arm cradling her into his side. Her Mobirate rang. "Yes, Navi?" "Ahim-San! I need you to ask Marvelous what is "true in his heart!" "Nani?" "Ahim-san, Please! I just need you to ask him that!" She looked up at him. He didn't know what to make of her confused, unsure expression. "A-no...Marvelous..." she didn't know how to go about this, so she decided the sooner she asked, the better the tension could be handled. "Marvelous...what is...true in your heart?"
Although she was told to ask Marvelous that question, the look in her eyes told him otherwise. She truly wanted to know, so it could settle his restless heart. So it could settle her restless heart. After some silence, he finally answered, with a swashbuckling confidence that was missing for a bit in his person:
"I am Kaizoku. I found all of you to seize our dreams. My only dream...is to keep protecting the bonds I've found with you. That we've all found with each other...That I've found with you."
Ahim's heart melted. She didn't realize he hadn't closed her Mobirate, and everyone had their resolves strengthen as a result. The pirate and the princess embraced. They looked into each other's eyes...and kissed was the lava in the background blew into the sky.
And then... for better or worse it all changed. Forever.
The exploding lava wasn't just a romantic backdrop. The bursts of magna out more violent. Drake and Vlad were too tired and beaten to move. Suddenly, the lava, became blue. A beam of blue light shone behind the fallen warriors in combat. The light bursted out, and the Gokaigers couldn't see a thing for a moment... When Marvelous was finally able to look, he couldn't believe what he saw.
Out of the planet rose a large, mechanical shark. It was about twice the size of the Galleon, with bright yellow eyes, white teeth, a blue topside with a grey belly. Out of its' fins shot rockets, spiralling in all directions, and when its' jaw opened, a mighty roar echoed throughout the planet. So, this is the Second Greatest Treasure in the Universe..., thought the Gokaigers in the Galleon and computer building.
"Ahim, get back to the Galleon, NOW!" Both ran back in a sprint. Joe and Don headed back as well. But Marvelous stopped short of heading inside. He looked back. He couldn't see Drake or Vlad anywhere. The mechanical shark was now flying in the opposite direction in the sky. He stopped suddenly... and his heart wept.
When he dashed out of the parameters of the base, Vlad was smoldering, smoke floating from his body. Marvelous started to sweat, and looked and ran frantically. He wasn't even sure Drake's body would be found. And then, he heard stuttered breathing and coughing.
He followed it to Drake. His father laid on the ground. His mechanical eye was broken. His shirt was ripped, unveiling a pierced metal cover as well as slashes cutting across the metal and his skin. His thighs were cut, and both uncovered metal parts over his legs down to his shins. His left arm was robotic, with wires and static sparks pouring out from battle. He was coughing blood.
"No, No, NO!" Marvelous cradled his father in his arms on the ground. "No...NO! FATHER! FATHER!" Drake looked up at his son. "Marvelous...I...am so sorry...ugh!" Drake coughed again. "I was not there for you and your mother. I had no business getting to know you and to intrude in your business..." "No, Father..." Marvelous reassured him. "I...am glad to have met you. You saved our lives, and...you went for what you wanted, no matter what was in your way...like a true pirate." Both men started to tear up. "I couldn't be prouder to have you as a father."
Drake managed to crack a smile, but he couldn't stay still, as he was growing weaker by the second. Coughing blood didn't help matters. "Father!" "Eh...Alexander..." He reached for his son's hands. When they met, both father and son henshined. "Son..." Drake took off his tricorne. "Take this." He put it on his son, whose uniform glowed. "...Father..." Drake reached for his weapons. "Take them." As Marvelous took his weapons, they powered down. "Alexander Vincent Rex... you are my son... the son of pirates, souls whose restlessness can only be cured by taking their dreams by their own hands." The coughing was becoming intense. "Don't stop. Even when everything seems gone... your hope has a way of...finding you." Both grasped each other's hands tightly. "Protect your bonds and dreams...That woman who took me down at that castle...Ahim is her daughter. She told me to...Find peace...in your heart...Please..."
His eyes closed and his coughing stop. All was silent. The shooting magma, the berserk shark in the sky, the hovering Galleon over his head. Marvelous didn't cry, didn't shout. He didn't move or make a sound. He simply lifted his father in his arms and walked to a pool of lava. All on the ship who looked down were lowered their heads as Marvelous laid his father to rest in the magma. And as his father burned and sank into the pit of fire, he quietly whispered a simple, final request:
"Stay Marvelous, Draco William Rex."
(Two chapters are left. Both will be up before Wednesday. Thanks for reading my first fanfic. I know I took too long in between updating, and in all honestly, this story probably was a little TOO big for its' boots. I do apologize for that. But I did have fun, and I do appreciate all the positive feedback I got.
You know, I find a common misconception about Fanfic people. Others think we are weird, anti-social people who troll the internet without a life "on the outside world." I like to think that Fanfic people simply marvel at the power of the imagination, and wish to laugh and play with joy in their imagination, so that their dreams and "the outside world" may someday be one and the same. Your imaginations are wonderful. Keep on to them. We need them. A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to all)