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Alice grit her teeth, stabbing another large bug before slicing its head off. Taking in a deep breath, she wiped sweat from her brow as she walked up to Jack. He froze another large bug, using his staff to shatter it to pieces.

"Man… they just won't stop coming!" Jack exclaimed.

"Wick wasn't kidding when he said they were relentless…" Alice said, plopping down on a rock. "That was the last of this round… but he will send out more."

"What is up with this guy? I mean, if Wick is even having a hard time with him…" Jack sat down beside Alice.

"Well, you can't expect him to burn the whole forest and the town, do you?" Alice said. "According to what North told me… ever since this wicked cur arrived, he's given the town's mayor nothing but grief. He was another one of Pitch's- Kozmotis'…" Alice corrected herself. "… his old allies. He even inspired his nickname from him."

"Touching." Jack rolled his eyes. "Who is it?"

"His name is Oogie Boogie. Ridiculous if you ask me, no wonder people stopped taking him and his 'Bug Day' seriously. However, he is still quite resentful about it… when he came here, he decided to take over the town and create his own bug empire. Fast forward to recent events; North sent Wick here, as per the Mayor's agreement, to make this his new realm as guardian. However, with all this mess still causing chaos, it's no wonder the poor thing has been so stressed." Alice said.

"He isn't too smart as it is… not holding it against him… but yeah, I can see why he needed a break." Jack sighed. "But Alice… James is still out there. We have to think about our son."

"I know…" Alice sighed, closing her eyes. "I asked Wick if it was possible that he could find him… I gave him a special compass of North's… once he finds them, I asked him to help bring them to safety in London."

Jack glanced over at her flatly. "Out of all the guardians, you asked him. HIM? No offense, Alice, but-"

"Sandy is in over his head with his own battles, Tooth is trying to juggle between assisting him and her own duties as well as North and Bunnymund. As hard as it is, Jack… we're all being stretched far too thin." Alice said.

Jack hung his head, shaking it. "When did everything become such a big mess…? I thought things were going to get better… I can't even think."

"We must press on." Alice replied. "I know this is difficult, but… unfortunately, I'm used to doing simply that." Alice rose to her feet, sheathing her vorpal blade. "Let's retreat for now. We'll resume patrolling after we take some time to refresh ourselves. That slime bath in the lagoon was unexpectedly refreshing."

Jack rose a brow, snickering then. "I think you've eaten one too many slices of pumpkin pie, Alice." She playfully nudged him in response, the pair holding hands as they exited the dark forest.

~Inside The Abandoned Castle~

Victor stared into the flickering flames of the hearth, poking at them lightly with metal prongs. His trance was broken only when he heard someone shuffle near him, turning his head to see Beth take a seat beside him. He gave her a light nod before resuming his prior occupation, even when she stared at him for several moments before doing the same.

"Something happened." Beth finally broke the silence.

"Hm?" Victor replied, glancing over at her.

Beth turned her head to look at his face. "You've acted distant towards me since we found each other… and not so towards James."

Victor blinked, gulping a bit. "Beth… I… I didn't mean anything, I… it's been an arduous time for all of us, so if I made you upset, it was unintentional."

Beth stared at the fire for a few moments, taking in his words. "… I see her, Victor."

He tilted his head in response. "'Her?' Who…? Aggie?"

"Well, yes… I saw her a couple times… but… she is not who I am referring to." Beth said. "I have been seeing my mother."

Victor's eyes widened, remembering Alice's words in that moment as he stared at her. "What has she said to you?"

"Victor… I am afraid. My future… my dreams… they are all at stake." Beth answered.

"But why?" Victor asked. "I don't understand-"

"I love you." She answered, and the two stared at each other for a few tense moments as Victor's expression softened. "And it is that love that made me do something awful to my best friend."

"Beth, you've done nothing wrong…" Victor said.

"But I did." Beth smiled sadly. "The letter that Aggie received, the one she thought Judge Hopkins wrote… it wasn't him. It was me. I did it to frighten her… to stop her from loving you. If I had never done it… she wouldn't have been killed…" Beth began to tremble, tears running down her face as she hugged herself. "I never wanted her to die… I loved her like a sister… but… I can't take it back now…" She began to cry quietly. "My mother said I will take up her crown… her throne… I will follow in her footsteps… I'm so confused, Victor… I love mother… I miss her… all I want is for her to love me but… I-"

Beth gasped lightly when she felt Victor's hands take hers, falling silent. "Beth, you must listen to me closely… there is something I must tell you, but… you must keep it a secret between us. Do you understand?" When she nodded, he sighed lightly. "Beth, do you remember the guardian named Alice, the one who helped us in Burgess?"

"Alice…" Beth breathed. "She… mother said she-"

"I know what she is to you… what she was to your mother. Alice told me everything. She doesn't trust you because of that, but I don't care, Beth. You are my friend, and you shall remain so. I know there is good in you."

"Victor… I've done terrible things… I've stolen… lied… killed." Beth replied. "Humans have treated me so horribly in the past… my first memory of a human was watching my mother's murderer take her life."

"I'm going to take you away from all of that, Beth. We will stay together. I will draw the goodness out from you, it will prevail over the curse." Victor said.

"Curse?" Beth tilted her head. "What curse?"

Victor shut his eyes tightly for a moment. "This is why this must remain a secret between us. Mr. and Mrs. Larson; James and Aggie's parents… a little over a decade ago, they wanted a child. However, they tried and tried but they could not bear one. So… they asked the closest family they had to bear one for them."

Beth blinked. "Wait… the Larsons… aren't James' real parents?"

"No, they are not." Victor replied. "One of the other guardians… Jack Frost… he is Mrs. Larson's brother. He is their real father… and their mother is… is Alice." He bit his lip when Beth did not move a muscle, shocked beyond belief. "The curse… is that as long as her and your mother's bloodlines continue… that bitter enemies will the generations remain and produce much suffering."

Beth shook her head slowly, emitting a shaky breath as her brows twisted. She saw her mother's face flash in her mind, whimpering as she clutched the sides of her head. After a few moments, Victor took her hands in his again, gracing his thumbs over them in an attempt to calm her.

"James will loathe me… Aggie must already… curse my blood… curse my lineage…" Beth choked a sob.

"No, Beth. The curse will not rule us. Your mother will not rule us. She only wishes for you to do her bidding, to finish what she started. We can overcome all of that together. All of the hatred you have known will be replaced with nothing but love…"

Beth slowly smiled lightly through her tears, the two facing each other as they gently leaned their foreheads against one another. The fire created a silhouette, and in that moment, both their hearts felt a bit lighter.

~The Following Morning~

The three children, Jiminy, and Mr. Qwerty gathered their things to begin their new journey together. James and Victor mounted the horse, each with one of their smaller friends on their shoulders. Beth put on her cloak, drawing the hood over her head as she walked alongside the horse. James held a map for Mr. Qwerty, the caterpillar directing them until they reached the shoreline hours later.

"Well, we are here now... but without a proper vessel, how are we to travel the seas?" Mr. Qwerty asked.

"I'll take care of that." James smiled, Victor helping him down before approaching the gentle waves. He took a deep breath as he produced the enchanted peach from inside his coat, hoping this would work. He held it out, placing it into the water. He blinked when it sunk like a rock, rolling about in the submerged sand and doing little more than that. He furrowed his brows after a minute, angrily plucking the fruit out before tossing it back into the water again. "She lied! She said it would work if it touched ocean water!" He turned and plopped down onto the sand, holding his head in his hands. "Every time we turn around, we run into a snag!"

"James?" Victor called his name quietly.

"Perhaps we can find a nearby port... if we scrounge something together it will be enough to make payment." James continued.

"Uh, James...?" Victor called quietly again.

"Yes?" James finally lifted his head.

The other four were staring at something with wide eyes, Victor slowly lifting his arm to point at it. James tilted his head, standing up and turning around. His expression instantly matched theirs, a glowing light upon the surface of the water revealing something emrging; it grew bigger and bigger, until it was the size of a building. There before them, several yards away from the shoreline, stood the now gargantuan peach.

"My goodness..." Mr. Qwerty breathed. "What a spectacular occurrence! Why, it's more magnificent than anything I've ever read! But, how are we to sail such a vessel?"

"Hm..." Victor scratched his chin. He saw some discarded wood along the shore, grunting as he picked it up. "We can penetrate the peach with these... like two standing poles. Then we can make a sail... A BIG sail."

"But with what? We haven't any sails, or even a tarp." James remarked.

"No... we have something more durable. Beth... your silk, can you make a concentrated form from it?" Victor asked.

"I suppose I can try..." She smiled. "Here, let me get up there."

She formed a silk rope, lassoing the stem of the peach to climb up. She then lowered it to the boys, helping them one at a time to get up along with some of the wood. The boys lugged some of the wood up with them, taking some of the shorter pieces to make a spiral staircase along the outer side of the peach.

"Where did all of this wood come from, I wonder?" James asked.

"Most likely from ship wrecks washed ashore." Victor replied. "Certainly helps us out a bit."

When they finished assembling everything and Beth made a nice sail from her silk, she wiped her brow. "I need to rest... I'm not going to be able to make silk for a week at this rate." She chuckled lightly.

"This is wonderful!" Jiminy beamed. "But how will we be able to keep out of the elements?"

They hadn't thought of that, the group stumped; there was no telling what they would face, already having seen some pretty terrifying things out in the deep seas. Mr. Qwerty perked up then, gently tugging on Victor's pant leg. "If I may offer a suggestion... perhaps we can solve two problems with one! We will also need nourishment during our voyage; could it be possible to simply eat our way to the center of the peach, and make a small shelter that way?"

"That's... that's a brilliant idea! But... wouldn't it take a while for us all to eat that much?" Victor asked.

"Well... perhaps for you, but I must admit I have a rather big appetite; I'm a worm after all, and though this isn't necessarily food for thought, it looks quite appetizing nonetheless. Just leave it to me! Don't fret, I'll leave enough to spare." Mr. Qwerty said.

As the caterpillar began to feast, Victor adjusted the sail so the peach began its voyage out to sea. He used a small protruding piece of wood to adjust the direction, James approaching him.

"So... how were you able to get to the castle?" He asked, sitting beside him.

"I had a bit of help... I was also told of Mr. Qwerty." Victor replied.

"I see..." James said, taking in a deep breath. "The air is rather fresh out here." He glanced over at Beth, curled up in her own little spot as she rested. "She looks so worn."

Victor glanced over at her also, sighing as he nodded. "Indeed. I hope that she can finally settle into a single setting once we reach London."

"So do I." James replied. "At least we made some new friends along the way."

"And reunited with old ones." Victor smiled, receiving one in return.

They remained silent for some time, the only sounds around them being the calm waves, Jiminy muttering to himself as he looked over the map while Mr. Qwerty munched away at the peach. "Did your parents go out to sea often?" James asked.

"Well, father did... he and my grandfather's fishing business has gotten considerably better over the years... thanks to your father, also." Victor smiled, even though he knew now that James and Gustav shared no blood relation.

"Yes... it's odd, though. My father is a Viking, but... I never really felt like one myself. I have no disliking towards that portion of my family... I rather enjoyed my visits to Berk, actually. But somehow, there was no... real deep connection to it. As if... it somehow wasn't meant for me." James replied.

Victor didn't answer for a few moments. "James?"

"Yes?"

"... do you think... if you do the wrong thing... for someone you care about... that it is acceptable?" Victor asked.

"How do you mean?" James tilted his head.

Victor bit his lip. "James, you're a dear friend... and I just... I'm so conflicted. You see... I-"

"Victor, I see something out on the horizon!" Jiminy said suddenly. Mr. Qwerty emerged from the hole he had started, Beth perking up from her slumber. James walked over, taking a spyglass they had brought along with them to look through it. "It's another ship... they're heading east, they must be going to England!"

Victor approached, taking the spyglass from James to take a look. "Yes, it's a merchant ship. They must be coming back from their trade rounds."

"Don't you think they'll find it odd that there's a giant peach heading for port?" James asked.

"We can explain to them our situation once we reach there... just as long as we reach England, that's all that matters." Victor replied. "Perhaps they even know my father, they say I look much like him."

As they began to follow the merchant ship, a swell of small waves arose from under them, rocking the peach a bit as the source pushed forward.

"What was that?" Beth asked, looking over the edge.

"Oh dear..." Victor bit his lip. "I hope it isn't... Monstro..."

"Don't even say his name! I don't want to deal with that whale of a whale again!" Jiminy cried.

"Monstro, what's Monstro?" James asked, concerned.

"He's the most feared creature in the ocean... nothing could be worse!" Jiminy exclaimed.

Not a few moments after those words passed Jiminy's lips, something suddenly burst out from beneath the waters, startling the group. When they saw what looked to be a ship covered with barnacles and seaweed, led by a crew which seemed to be a hybrid of men and sea creatures, they gasped as it blocked their path to their destination. As the ship began to attack the British merchant ship, Beth gasped, realizing that they were in danger as they lingered not far behind.

"Victor, we have to get out of here. We have to turn back!" She exclaimed.

"No! We're so close, we can't give up now!" James cried.

"We have no weapons, we are defenseless! If that ship comes after us, we're done for!" Mr. Qwerty said.

Victor gasped then when he saw something hurling straight towards them. "Look out!" He shoved James aside, a cannonball from the enemy ship just missing him.

It hit their sail, the webbing stretching before rebounding. It sent the cannonball flying back, knocking right into one of the bizarre looking crew members. The children gasped as the ship finished tearing into the merchant ship with cannonballs, blowing the entire vessel apart into charred remains. The captain of the ship stepped up front, his eyes narrowing as the children stared fearfully. He seemed to have a head like an octopus, arms like giant crab claws.

"You dare to lay attack upon the Flying Dutchman!" The captain shouted, the ship nearing the peach. "Never before have I seen a more pathetic excuse for a vessel... along with the lives upon it! You are barely wasting energy upon, but you've intrigued me." He motioned for one of his men to hop on the peach to capture them.

James jumped in front of Beth, staring up at the hermit crab headed pirate as he stood his ground. "Leave us alone!"

"You little worm, you're no match against Davy Jones." The pirate said as he lifted James by his shirt collar.

As the others began to cry out his name fearfully, he was suddenly dropped when Davy stepped forward, telling James to get up. They all stood still, tension thickening in the air. If he had eyebrows, he would have raised one, poking his sword into the surface of the peach.

"What sorcery made this... oversized abomination that you seem to appropriate as a ship?" Davy asked.

"It was given to us by a friend." James answered. "We're just trying to get home, so let us pass."

Davy Jones snickered before bursting into laughter. "This lad be bold! Do you have any idea who I am?"

"I don't sir... but I kindly ask you let me and my friends be." James replied.

"Unfortunately for you... I know nothing of kindness and mercy." Davy gripped James' shirt collar once more, yanking him forward. "Let me ask you this... James." He spat his name. "... Do you fear death?"

Before James could answer, Davy Jones whipped his head around when he heard something blast at his ship. He growled, storming back on it as his crew members scrambled.

"Captain, it came from the sky!" One shouted.

Suddenly, another blast hit the ship, the crew members putting out the fire. Something did in fact descend from the sky, a pair of metal bolted boots landing on the ship and nearly taking Davy Jones by surprise as a scythe clashed with his sword. They dueled for several minutes, the straw hatted assailant swinging his scythe for Davy to block it, fanning it down as the opponent drew his weapon back, hovering several inches off the ground.

"State who you are and your business with me; I would like to know whose life is about to be squeezed from them!" Davy shouted.

The assailant slowly lifted his head, glaring with hollow eyes at the ruthless captain. "The name's Wick. Just... Wick." He glanced around momentarily, clearing his throat before he resumed being serious again, gripping his scythe tighter. "And those kids are my friends, so you're going to leave them alone right now!"

"You don't command the captain of the Flying Dutchman, you bloated gourd! And for your folly, you along with they will not have the chance to keep your pitiful lives! You will be confined to a fate in which you never see the light of day again!" Davy Jones shouted.

Large bubbles started to erupt from underneath the waters, Wick frowning as Davy Jones smirked. When he heard the children exclaiming from behind him, he gasped, whirling around as large tentacles began to rise up from the sea, coiling around the peach. Davy laughed as Wick soared past him, blasting at the tentacles once he was close enough. Though it helped for the moment, the attack only angered the vicious creature at it became more persistent.

"Jiminy, you and Mr. Qwerty go into the hole he started!" Victor cried, the small cricket terrified as he joined the caterpillar in going to safety. He then gasped when he felt something slimy wrap around his leg, about to yank him off of the peach when Beth pounced forward. She held onto him, the horrifying creature surfacing more as it parted more tentacles, revealing a wide, gaping mouth with teeth.

Beth began to experience a new hallucination, her eyes widening as she saw not the terrible Kraken, but her own mother as the fearsome creature attacking the peach. She shook her head, shouting to it.

"Mother, no! Please, stop!" Beth cried, struggling to keep hold of Victor. "Please don't take him from me...! He isn't like the others!"

"Then answer this, dear child..." The Queen spoke in a deep, distorted voice as her teeth glistened. "... do you think he will choose you, or the other human boy, if the truth is made known?"

"That won't happen, mother!" Beth cried, clenching her teeth as she dug her fingers into Victor's arms to keep a grip on him.

"He is the son of my greatest enemy, it is in his blood to seek out and ensure your downfall!" The Queen hissed.

"Don't take Victor from me, I beg you!" Beth screamed, her feet slipping a bit as the power of the Kraken was too much for her. "If it's Victor you want, then take me with him!" She said before hugging the boy, leaping over the edge with him as the Kraken dragged them down. As the despaired wail of the Queen echoed in her mind, it was slowly replaced by Wick's own scream as he dove down, blasting a fireball right into the Kraken's mouth. The creature roared, finally letting up as Wick returned the two children to safety.

"We've got to get out of here!" Wick exclaimed, pressing his hands against the peach and grunting as he began to push it into the other direction.

As James and a shaken-up Victor hugged tightly, Beth looked back at the sinking creature and the ship behind it speeding forth in pursuit of them. She closed her eyes tightly for a moment, the hope for a happy ever after in London once again eluding them. Wick angrily glanced back, crying out as he waved his scythe with one hand. The force from it stirred up a large wave, swelling up to increase the distance between the peach and the Flying Dutchman. As they continued their pursuit, another pirate ship came into view at their left, heading southwest.

"Oh no… we're really outnumbered now!" Victor cried.

When cannons fired once again, they all ducked. However, when the cannon balls soared through the air straight for the Flying Dutchman, they realized in that moment that this new ship was not a threat; at least, for now.

"They're helping us!" James exclaimed, beaming as Wick sent back one final wave, finally making Davy Jones cry out in frustration as he realized this was not a fight he wanted to continue in this moment. The algae covered ship sank beneath the rocky waters, disappearing into the dark depths along with the accursed creature it had summoned. When the threat was rid of, Wick climbed onto the peach, James smiling and thanking him for his help before looking to the approaching pirate ship.

"What in the hell is that?" A young woman exclaimed, peering over the side of the ship to look upon the gigantic peach.

"Please m'am, we must get back to England!" James begged. "It's where our home is!"

"There be no going back there for the time being, lad…" The captain stepped up, looking at them from the side of the ship. "Besides… stick around here long enough and Davy Jones'll be sure to come back… he doesn't care for those who challenge him."

"What can we do now? Where can we go?" Victor asked.

"Hm…" The captain tapped his chin. "I think I may know of a solution for you… but my services do not come for free."

"I'm afraid there's not much we can offer you, sir…" James bit his lip. "We had very little supplies and we lost most of that even in the fight."

"Tell me boy, what be your name?" The captain asked.

"… James, sir. James Larson. These are my friends… Victor, Beth, Wick, Jiminy, and-… wait, where is Mr. Qwerty?" He asked.

"He's in there." Beth said, pointing in the hole he had started. "He said he's not feeling well."

"Oh… w- well, perhaps he should just rest…" Victor frowned a bit.

"A rather odd bunch if I say so myself… but who are we to judge? I be Captain Barbossa, and this be my loyal- to a degree- and humble crew… almost as humble as me'self. And I'll make this as short as possible- but we are setting upon a perilous journey into a world beyond our own… and I tell you, James… it is quite fitting that if we are to sail into the unknown, that we at least have something delectable if it is to be our last feeding… allow us to feast upon at least a portion of this magnificent peach you've collected for yourselves, and I shall take you to some old friends of mine." Captain Barbossa said.

The children looked at each other, a bit unsure as Wick scratched his noggin, weighing out the options as he mumbled to himself.

"Do you think we can trust him...?" Beth whispered.

"He doesn't seem as threatening as the last pirates we dealt with." James said.

"It could be a trick." Beth replied.

"What do you think, Jiminy?" Victor asked. "What should we do?"

"Hm... I don't think we have much of a choice. We just don't have the means to fight Davy Jones alone. We'll have to take up the offer." He replied.

Victor nodded, turning to the sea captain. "Alright... we'll share some of our peach with you as long as you keep your promise."

"I am a man of me word, Victor... you've got yourself a deal." Captain Barbossa grinned.

Going to end it here for now! So, how did you like the inclusion of those Pirates of the Caribbean characters? Also, fret not, you will be seeing more of Halloween town in time! This will become quite a spooktacular journey! In the meantime, please keep an eye out for the next update, and thank you for reading! See you next time!