TUH: Well guys, I have terrible news.
TN: And that would be?
TUH: I'ltorien is slightly smaller this time around.
TN: But, my part is larger than usual. . .
Wood Dog: Hehehehehehe
TN & TUH: *facepalm*
TN: Hey Penguinlord352 and Jecht! Get over here.
*They waltz over*
TN: Jecht, you know what to do.
Jecht: JECHT SIGNATURE BACKHAND MARK LXXIII AND A HALF!
*Read Penguins story, comprehend the scream of Sephiroth and multiply that by 9001 to understand Wood Dog's pain and scream*
*And he's blasting off again*
*Twinkle*
TN: Well, anyway, thanks guys.
TUH: Anyway. . . the chapter is smaller than the last one.
TN: Well, I feel like a tease should happen in the post-note. . . I have nothing else really to say right now.
TUH: Okay, I still say this chapter is less sexy.
TN: Next chapter, well. . . It shall. . . be what everyone has been waiting for.
TN: Ready for the disclaimer?
Tibarn: So, since I'm about to be sent into obscurity for a time I. . . "kindly asked" to make this disclaimer. So. . . something about not owning KH and anything inside the fic outside of some OCs or something. . . whatever! This was a bad idea.
Tibarn: PS: I broke their ankles.
Chapter XI
And a Bottle of Rum
I'ltorien
July 18 2010
"W-what?!" One gasped in horror, taking both hands to her chest and backing off.
"Tibarn, what are yo-" Ike began, only to have Tibarn talk over him.
"Shut up Ike. If I get the answer I want we'll be over this and back on our way!" Tibarn exclaimed, shutting Ike up for a moment. While Ike did not like the way this was going, he knew that the best way to go about this was to try and take the peaceful way out. No matter how hard it seemed. "Alright, it's a simple question. Why did you run?"
"H-huh?" One questioned, still scared out of her mind.
"When the lab was destroyed. Why did you run from the city? Why not just stay with the Empire?" he asked once again. One felt uncomfortable under his gaze. She felt like he was sizing her up, asking himself when and where he could attack. Still, she knew the answer. It was obvious.
"I couldn't stay there any longer. They. . . they don't treat you like a human in there. Like a person. They treat you like cattle. You can't call each other by your names, they do. . . things to you. Or try at least. They make you fight to the death. Th-they. . . I just couldn't take it! I didn't want to be there anymore!" One said, hardly managing to push her memories away. Tibarn looked at her, impassive for a full minute, closing his eyes to think before shaking his head.
"Well, so you are with Merlina's group just because you could not stand the torture?" he said coldly, his eyes sharp an perceptive, just seeing how One covered her mouth with her right hand was enough for him to understand. "Well then, I see you're being honest, but what makes it so you can't be just spying for them? They could have just offered you a ticket out of experimentation in exchange for a little double-agent job," he attacked, pointing his finger accusingly at One, Ike taking a step in front of her while she took a step backwards.
"Back off. She's clearly not one for those kinds of things. She can barely look at me in the eye!" Ike said, standing in-between One and Tibarn, defiant. The Hawk King laughed.
"It's always the quiet ones. How do you KNOW that's her? How do you know she hasn't been faking this entire time. Can you prove it, little girl?" One took a look to the side and said:
"I-I can give my word!" but she knew she wouldn't get lucky with just that.
Sunny. . . that guy is pissing me oooooooff!
"Please don't. . ." One said inwardly, feeling the burn on her chest intensifying. Tibarn laughed, shaking his head.
"That doesn't work like that girl. We Laguz know that there's only one way to draw out your true self. And it is a duel to the death!" Tibarn shouted, Ike immediately reacting by throwing himself at him but he got back-handed in the neck, followed by a suplex into the ground and an elbow drop on the back of the head, completely knocking him out.
Ooooooh, he really wants to go! Well then, let's get crackin'!
"Please, Tibarn, don't! I. . . I don't know if I can control myself!" One warned, taking another step back as fumes started to come out of her cheek.
"Oh, that's exactly the point. To show me your true self!" Tibarn seemed to smile nigh madly at this as he walked towards her. "Besides, I can't say I can either. . ." with a large squawk and colliding fists, he exploded into a hawk and dove at One. "Besides, as far as I know, every other thing that left the laboratory is now the Emperor's bitch."
And her mind went snap.
HoL:TS
Port Royal
August 11, 2010
Rain pattered against the cobblestone streets of Port Royal. The afternoon was bleak and gray as Sora, Kairi and Merideth rushed under an outlying canopy. Wind rustled their hair and the water sprayed their feet. Sora felt exhilarated, even with the given weather. He had loved his last trip here. He was excited to see Will and Elizabeth again. And of course, he was really wanting to see Captain Jack Sparrow.
Just as he was about to head to Will's smithy, a treadling patrol of guards, Redcoats, passed them by, their bayoneted rifles at the ready. They were escorting Will Turner of all people. He was dressed in fine clothing. His clothes were damp while his feathered hat was drenched. His head was held high, but with a grimace as the chill wind tore through the dark streets. And he was in shackles!
"Will!" Sora yelled, running back into the cold and pelting rain to his side. The guards paid him no mind and let him walk. Kairi and Merideth reluctantly followed.
"So this is Will?" they asked. Sora nodded.
"Sora! It is great to see you again! Though I wish it were under different circumstances," he said dreadfully. He winced as the shackles cut into his tanned and taut skin.
"I'm glad to see you, too. What is with this, though?" Sora asked, perplexed at his condition.
"I am under arrest," he simply replied as the guards made a right turn, heading to the docks. Sora and the girls followed him.
"Well this isn't the best way to kick off this world," Merideth said. The others silently agreed as the rash wind assaulted them and the rain puttered down.
The guards had led them to another group, with whom was Elizabeth. She shrieked and ran to him, embracing him at once.
"Will? Why is this happening?" she asked, brown eyes teary. He met hers with love. Sora beamed at their love, regardless of what was happening.
"I- I don't know, but you look beautiful," he said to her. She smiled, showing her pearly teeth.
"I think that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding," she answered back. Then she saw Sora.
"Sora! You're here, too?" she asked, hugging him as well. He laughed.
"Yeah. I wanted to visit you all and see how Jack was doing," he replied.
"That's great, but where are Donald and Goofy?" she asked him.
"Oh, they can't be here right now. The King needs them. But I do have Kairi and Merideth with me," he told them. Kairi and Merideth introduced themselves, moving the damp hair away from their eyes.
"Oh, you really are so beautiful," Elizabeth said to Kairi, who blushed highly.
"What do you mean?" she asked curiously.
"Well, Sora told us all about you," Will replied as a man started to walk in their direction.
"Did he?" she asked with a small smile, blushing more. Sora's face became red as he looked away hurriedly.
"William! Elizabeth!" Governor Swann was heard as he ran towards the group, being stopped by marines with poleaxes. The other man had walked over. He was short and had a peachy face beneath his powdered wig. His sharp eyes calculated the area and he had his assistant open up a box.
"Ah, Governor Weatherby Swann, it's been too long," this man said. His voice was laced with power and authority.
"Cutler Beckett?" Governor Swann asked, pushing past the marines.
"His Lord, now," Lord Beckett replied.
"Lord or not, you have no authority to arrest this man!" Sora answered hotly, sticking up for Will/
"In fact I do," Lord Beckett replied haughtily. He took from the box a warrant.
"The warrant for the arrest of William Turner," he announced, almost happily. Governor Swann seized the warrant, not wanting to believe it.
"This warrant is for Elizabeth Swann," he read in incredulity.
"Oh is it?" Lord Beckett asked. "That is annoying, arrest her," he simply stated. The guards threw her in a pair of shackles as well.
"Ah, here is the one for Mr. Turner. Here is one for Mr. James Norrington as well," he announced, though Commodore Norrington was not present.
"Commodore Norrington resigned some months ago," Governor Swann said, his voice choked.
"Hm. And at last, here is one for a young man of Sora and his friends. Arrest them as well," Lord Beckett ordered. Before they knew it, Sora, Kairi and Merideth were roughly shackled, the cold steel biting into there skin, chaffing it.
"Wait! Why? What have we done? Under what charges?" Sora demanded, wincing at the cut.
"The charge is conspiring to free a man convicted of crimes against the Crown and Empire and condemned to death. . ." Governor Swann read off, trailing the last of the sentence into nothing, only for Lord Beckett to continue with a smirk on his face.
". . .for which the punishment regrettably, is also death," he said masochistically. "Perhaps you all remember a pirate named Jack Sparrow?"
"CAPTAIN!" Will, Elizabeth and Sora shouted at him.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Sora corrected him, a fire in his heart and deterministic flare in his eyes.
"Ah, I thought you might. Take them to the cells," he ordered. The teens, along with Will and Elizabeth, were roughly marched to the dingy and ragged dungeons. Two cells were empty. Merideth and Elizabeth were thrown into one while Sora, Kairi and Will were thrown into the next. The shackles had been removed and the iron barred doors slammed shut, echoing down the depressing and torchlit passageways. Sora slumped against the back wall, grime and slime covering his jacket as his butt fell hard on the straw that barely concealed the inky stone. Kairi made her way to him and sat next to him, her face in disgust at the condition of the messy cell. Will walked to the separating bars and locked hands with Elizabeth.
And so they waited for about an hour when a couple of guards came to them.
"Master Turner and Master Sora. You have been summoned to Lord Beckett's office," the first one said through gritty teeth. Without a word, Will went to the gate, becoming cuffed once again. Sora looked at the girls.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. We'll get this worked out," he said. He let them cuff him again and followed the procession to Lord Beckett's office.
"Lord Beckett. The prisoners as ordered, sir," the second guard mumbled.
"Ah, welcome," Lord Beckett said in his smug voice. "And those won't be necessary," he said to the guards, motioning at the shackles. The guards unlocked them and retreated out of the door, leaving the three men in the room together.
"The East India Trading Company is in need of your services," he said to the two of them, absent mindlessly pouring an amber liquor into three crystal goblets. He offered the drinks to the two of them. They both rejected the offer. He shrugged his shoulders and picked up his glass, steadily sipping at it.
"We wish for you to act as our agents in a business transaction with our mutual friend, Captain Sparrow," he stated, walking to the roaring stone fireplace. He grabbed a piece of steel from it, a branding iron with the emblem of a P at the end. It was cherry red and hissing. He smiled at it and cast it back in the fire.
"More acquaintance than friend," Will replied.
"How do you know him?" Sora asked, crossing his arms.
"We have had dealings in the past. We have left our marks on the other," he replied amiably. "By your efforts, Jack Sparrow is free. I want you two to find him and recover something that is in his possession," he said, walking back to them and draining his goblet.
"Recover? At the point of a sword?" Sora asked.
"No. A bargain," Lord Beckett replied with a small smile. "Letters of marque in the equivalent of a full pardon to all parties in return for his employ with England."
"I hardly doubt he will find employ the same as being free," Will replied harshly.
"Freedom. Jack Sparrow is a dying breed. The world is shrinking, the blank edges of the map filling in. Jack must find his place in the New World or perish with the Old," Lord Beckett said nobly. "But not unlike you Mr. Turner and Sora. Your fiancés and yourselves face the noose."
"You and Kairi are engaged?" Will asked, a smile finally changing his face. Sora felt his blood rush.
"No! We're just friends. Lord Beckett has been mistaken," he replied hurriedly, looking out to the sea and the docks, busy with workers as a massive clock was pulled up, ready for installation.
"My apologies," Lord Beckett muttered.
"So you will get both Jack and the Black Pearl?" Will asked.
"The Black Pearl?" Lord Beckett asked confusedly.
"The property that you want that he possesses," Sora answered back.
"A ship? Hardly. I want something much smaller and something he keeps on his person at all times. A compass," he said. Both Will and Sora knew immediately what he meant.
"Ah, you know it. Bring me that or there is no deal," he offered.
HoL:TS
The Black Pearl
August 11, 2010
"Ugh, why is the rum always gone?" Captain Jack Sparrow muttered as he descended the steps of his Black Pearl, passing the loud snores of the crew and the whimpers and stenches of the animals. He unlocked a ragged and slime covered door into a storage room. A whole wall had been dedicated to holding alcohol, predominantly rum. He walked goofy, like he always did, and peered into one of the slots with disgust. He watched as many subterranean life forms shrank back from the fierce light of his oily lantern. He turned away, and was pleased to find a bottle jutting out down the row. He popped the cork and held it upside down, letting grainy sand pour out instead.
"Time's run out, Jack," a deep, watery voice said, resonating from the darkness. Jack's heart nearly stopped as it rushed up into his throat. He turned slowly around and walked toward the other end of the room, lantern poised in front of him. Bootstrap Bill Turner appeared.
"Bootstrap. Bill Turner," he whispered, his voice still somewhat lost.
"You look good, Jack," he answered back.
"Is this a dream?" Jack muttered, not believing his eyes.
"No," Bill replied.
"I thought so. If it were, there would be rum." Bill raised his hand, offering a bottle of rum. It was crusty and stuck to his hand, but hell, Jack loved his rum. He pried it from Bill's hand and wrenched the cap off. He took a swig and got a better look at Bill. His clothes were tattered and sopping wet. Bits of barnacle were clung to it along with some clams and seaweed. His skin was deathly pale and half of his face was covered with a bright starfish.
"So I see you have the Pearl back," Bill said nonchalantly.
"I had help in retrieving it, you know. Your son," Jack told him, remembering the adventures with Will and that one boy. Zolo, was it?
"William? He ended up a pirate after all," he said with a downward face.
"And what do I owe the pleasure in your carbuncle?" Jack said, taking a seat.
"He sent me. Davy Jones," Bill replied simply.
"Ah. So he shanghaied you into service, eh?" Jack asked as he drank more rum. He really loved rum.
"I chose it. I am sorry in the part I played in the mutiny against you, Jack. I stood up for you. Everything went wrong after that," Bill said meekly. He looked outward into the darkness, or was it memory of things too horrid?
"I was being crushed by the depths, unable to die. I would have traded anything to get out of that," Bill said.
"It's funny what a man will do to forestall his final judgment," Jack said sarcastically.
"You made a deal with him, too, Jack. He raised the Pearl from the depths for you. Thirteen years you've been her captain," he stated.
"Well, technically—"
"Jack, you won't be able to talk yourself out of this one. The same terms apply to you. One hundred years of service upon his ship," Bill interrupted.
"Well, seeing as how the Flying Dutchman already has a captain, I—"
"Then it's the locker for you!" Bill interrupted again. "His terrible leviathan will find you and drag the Pearl down to the darkness and you along with it!"
"Any idea when Jones might send out said terrible beastie?" Jack asked, the color drained from his face. He felt fear unlike any other.
"I already told you, your time is up. It comes now," he said, wiping Jack's hand with his own, the dreaded Black Spot appearing. "It comes for those that wear the Black Spot."
"Well that's not good," Jack replied, looking at the disgusting thing upon his hand.
"And that's not all. He has been talking, collaborating with some witch. Dark she is, and she has dreadful power. Jones has partook in it and creatures have been seen on the ship and in the waters. They are black and horrible things. She is promising him something grand in return to stop someone named Sora," Bill explained to Jack. Ah, so it was Sora, not Zolo.
"Well, that. . ." Jack looked to an empty chair as Bill had vanished. Jack ran to the deck, waking the crew, and setting for land. Ideas were formulating in his head and a plan for escape was on the unseen horizon.
HoL:TS
Port Royal
August 11, 2010
"Here now, you lot can't be here," some guard said to Sora and Will as they rushed down the rough stone stairs into the cells. Governor Swann protested to the guard as Will went straight to Elizabeth. Sora unlocked Kairi's cell with the Oblivion and let her out.
"What's going on?" she asked dazedly as Sora closed the empty cell.
"Merideth," Sora said, "we need you to stay with Elizabeth while we go and find Jack."
"Okay," she said, understanding the importance of it.
"Elizabeth," Will said, taking her hands in his and putting their foreheads together. "We have secured a deal with Lord Beckett. I can trade Jack's compass for all of our freedom. You just need to give us the time to do it," he explained.
"We will start in Tortuga. We should find a lead there," Sora informed.
"Keep a weather eye on the horizon," Will said, kissing her goodbye.
"Come on Kai, we have a pirate to find," Sora said eagerly. He was ready for some real adventure.
HoL:TS
Tortuga
August 13, 2010
It felt great for Sora to get off the ship and stretch his legs. He had to have a quick refresher on how to crew a ship, but Kairi needed taught fully. Roxas and Naminé had been able to help as well. They arrived at Tortuga in two day's time. Even in the late morning, pirates and layabouts were drinking, fighting, and living a life free of problems. Sometimes he wished he could do this, but it just wasn't meant for him. They walked down the salty dock and formed a plan.
"Okay. Sora and Kairi, you go one way while I search another," Will said, keeping it short and simple. Sora nodded in understanding while he and Kairi ran off into town while Will stayed around the water's edge.
The village stank of stale alcohol, animal droppings, and unclean men and women. Dirt kicked around their ankles as drunken people weaved to and fro, completely oblivious to the children in their presence. They asked all around for Jack, and they had gotten all sorts of different results, none of which were solid enough to go off of. Kairi had kept close to him, slightly afraid of the looks the older men were giving her. She had remarked on them about how they looked. Their dank and clumpy hair, usually in patches, was yellow. Scabs covered them and they smiled with little to no teeth. She was starting to dislike pirates.
"How could you enjoy this world?" she asked, nauseated by the behavior and appearance of the pirates.
"I don't know. It just gives me thrills," he replied happily. They then came to a couple of women.
"Is your name Scarlet?" he asked the redhead, remembering the stories and descriptions Jack had once given him.
"Yes, and you are?" she asked back.
"I'm Sora. I'm looking for my friend Captain Jack Sparrow. Have you seen him?" he asked.
"Oh, Jack Sparrow?" she said in high-pitched voice, looking at the other beautiful women at her side. "No, but when you find him, will you give him a message?" she said. She strutted forward, hauled her hand back, and slapped Sora extremely hard against the face. He spun around from the force and let out a hiss of pain. A hand print was already visible on his smooth cheek, red and stinging.
"Damn! That smarts," he said a few minutes later, rubbing his cheek. Kairi had felt sorry for him while Roxas had made fun of him within his mind.
"Come on, it's been a couple hours. Let's find Will. Hopefully he found some leads," she said. And so they made their way back to the water. Sure enough, they found Will talking to a shrimper.
"Guys! Good news. We have a heading!"
HoL:TS
Pelegosto Island
August 14, 2010
"There she is, Kai. The Black Pearl," Sora said with glee. It was beached at the moment, tethered down. The shrimper had gladly taken them here, free of charge, but would go no closer to the island and would not tell them why.
"My brother will take you all ashore," he said to them, knifing a block of wood. They hopped in the shaky rowboat and headed out on the sea, closing in on the Pearl. They continued like this for a bit when suddenly the man stopped. He spoke in a different language that they did not understand. This continued until they were forced to dive out into the water and swim to the shore. They climbed out of the water, soaking wet, and stood on the arid sand, letting the warm rays of the sun dry them.
"Jack! Cotton! Marty!" Will shouted at the top of his lungs, heading towards the jungle.
"Anybody?! JACK!" Sora shouted, joining him and Kairi. They soon found themselves wandering into the dense forest. The canopy above blocked out the sun, humidity striking them, along with mosquitoes and other bugs. The tangles and undergrowth were thick and patchy, ensnaring their legs and causing much irritation.
"Well this is just peachy," Kairi breathed sarcastically. They wandered around, searching for any clues when Will shouted for them. They rushed to him, as best as they could, to find that he had found a clue.
"Look, it's Cotton's parrot," he told them. The blue, yellow, and green bird fluttered and reared, talking all the while.
"Rarwk, don't eat me! Rarwk!" it screeched.
"We're not going to eat you," Sora said, perplexed.
"Rarwk! Don't eat me!" And then he flew away from them. They continued in the way he had flown from, slightly confused.
"Look guys!" Sora said, rushing ahead and grabbing a dangling object that was a canteen. He unscrewed it and smelled the contents. Rum.
"Gibbs," he told them. Then next to it was a line, a trail of sorts. Sora took the thick twine within his hands and followed it, Kairi and Will trailing him, eager to find the crew and Jack. They followed it into a small clearing where it suddenly ended. They were looking around when the trees came to life! Or so Sora thought until he realized that tribal natives had disguised themselves with paste, looking just like the environment they were hiding in. Suddenly, Sora, Kairi and Will were hoisted up by their ankles in a trap. They brandished their swords at the natives. Then, he felt a painful prick in his neck,and darkness followed.
HoL:TS
Pelegosto Island
August 14, 2010
"Wh- wha- what the hell is going on?" Sora mumbled groggily, his vision slowly returning. Sunlight struck his eyes, and sent him into a dizzying headache. He was bobbing up and down and his ankles and wrists were tied very tightly to a pole. The bristly rope was chaffing his wrists again and he felt very nauseated. He saw the natives carrying him on a pole and noticed that Will was ahead of him and Kairi behind him. He looked down with his peripheral vision and his heart thundered. They were over a shaky bridge that was above a drop of about a few miles. Kairi and Will were waking up, as well.
"Sora! What's going on?" Kairi asked fearfully. He tried to crane his neck for a better view of her.
"I- I don't know. Just wait. We'll be fine," he assured her, not really knowing. They were carried high into plateaus, bordered by mountains overlooking the lush forest and sea on a high bluff. It was a beautiful sight that he would have otherwise enjoyed. They winded through many trails and Sora soon forgot the path. They heard shouts and drumbeats growing ever louder and closer. They must have been coming up on the village. They stopped in front of a throne for their chieftain. It was none other than Captain Jack Sparrow.
"Kali kali te'en daga!" the natives that carried them said to Jack. He had ridiculous makeup on, a collection of eyes upon his cheeks. His hair had extra beads and he wore a necklace of human fingers and toes.
"Oh my. That's disgusting," Kairi exclaimed, looking away.
"Jack! Jack Sparrow! I can honestly say I'm glad to see you!" Will exclaimed, half laughing. The tranquilizer was still messing with him apparently. Jack's eyes shot to him, then to Sora and his look became slightly curious. "It's me, Will Turner! Sora is here to with his friend Kairi!"
"Ba se co!" Jack said to the natives. They were silent and then responded.
"Ji'in daga, izipi," they replied. Jack seemed to know what they meant.
"Tell them to let us down!" Sora told Jack, nearly pleading. He was starting to hurt and his wrists had begun to bleed.
"Ke'le lam. Lam peeky-peeky. Lam eensy-weensy," he said, motioning over Will. "Lam se, eunuchy. Snip-snip." Jack told them. They all bowed their heads in pity.
"Ah. . . eunuchy," they chanted.
"Jack! The compass. That's all we need. Elizabeth is in danger for trying to help you. She faces the gallows!" Will exclaimed. Jack stopped walking away from them, turned on his booted heel and walked back to them. He surveyed them and stroked his chin.
"Se'se lam shup shup sha, shmani lami shuku! Savvy? Ba liki liki!" he yelled out, throwing his arms outward.
"Ba liki liki!" they all screamed in unison. Jack then leaned in to them and spoke English.
"Save me!" he whispered, before going back to the throne.
"Jack! What did you tell them! Wait! NO!" Sora shouted as they were taken away. What were they going to do?
HoL:TS
Port Royal
August 12, 2010
As Sora and Kairi were sailing towards Tortuga with Will, Merideth sat in her cell with Elizabeth. The moon shone in through the barred windows and the passages reeked with the stench of other prisoners. The cell next to them was filled with grimy and greasy pirates, all different ages, but mainly old. They were whistling at her and Elizabeth, beckoning to come towards them. There was no way in hell that was happening.
"Come on. Be good girls. We don't bite!" they said sickeningly, their bony hands groping and stretching through the gaps in the bars. Merideth and Elizabeth sat on the far end of the wall. Then suddenly, a guard opened the door and Governor Swann burst through, looking frazzled and angry, his wig slightly askew.
"Girls, come quickly," Governor Swann said as he unlocked the cell and led them out, amid much relief to Merideth. They hurried out behind him, walking down the nighttime and torchlit corridor outside the prison.
"Tell us what is happening," Elizabeth demanded. Governor Swann stopped in his tracks and faced the two young women.
"My name still has some standing with the King. I have arrived passage to England," he told them bluntly.
"No. Will, Sora and Kairi have gone to find Jack and finish the deal with Lord Beckett," Merideth told him. He scrunched his nose and sighed.
"We cannot count on William Turner, Sora or even Jack," he told them, leading onward to a carriage.
"They are better men than you give them credit for," she said angrily. He led them into the carriage and slammed the door, climbing up on the bench as it set off.
Later into the night, Merideth and Elizabeth had stealthily sneaked away from Governor Swann and into the locked office of Lord Beckett. He was still there and had not seen them yet. He had noticed however that the letters of marque were gone.
"No doubt you have discovered that loyalty is no longer the currency of the realm, as your father tries to believe," Lord Beckett called out into the shadows in which they were hiding. They showed themselves now. His smug face looked amused.
"Then what is?" Merideth asked him. She felt the cold nip at her skin.
"Currency is the currency of the realm, now," he said. "And power. Maleficent has promised me power, but first I need to control Jones," he said.
"You know Maleficent!?" Merideth exclaimed.
"Of course. She is very wise and powerful. I find that I will have a very profitable future with her help," he said with a slight chuckle.
"Never mind this, I care to negotiate our freedom," she said.
"I'm listening," he said. Elizabeth drew a pistol and cocked it. Merideth nocked two arrows.
"I'm listening intently. Just remember: killing me would highly displease Maleficent," he reminded them. They negotiated and left him in the subtle night, in pursuit of Will, Sora and Kairi. But what did he want with Maleficent? And what did he mean about controlling Jones first?
HoL:TS
Pelegosto Island
August 14, 2010
Sora hung in a cage over a deep and beautiful ravine. Again, he would love and appreciate the nature and beauty of this island if it weren't for the given circumstances. He was in a spherical cage with Will, Kairi, Cotton, Gibbs, Marty and two others that he didn't know. In an identical cage about a hundred feet from them were six crewmen he also didn't know. Sora felt cramped in the cage and was definitely afraid, though it hadn't fallen yet.
"Sora, I'm starting to really not like this place," she told him, slumping against the cage, her legs dangling out of it.
"Sorry, Kai. I never thought this would happen," he told her with a goofy grin. She smiled at him and then listened to and joined the conversation between Gibbs and Will.
"But why would he do this to us, if he was made their chief?" Will asked. Gibbs sighed and scratched his whiskery beard. He was filthy, like all the pirates were. He and Kairi were starting to become the same way.
"Aye. The Pelegostos made Jack their chief, but he only remains chief if acts like one for and to them," Gibbs explained sadly. Well that made sense. Will's eyes became downcast.
"So, he has no choice then. He's a captive just like the rest of us," Sora said, defeat creeping up on him. Gibbs shook his head and stretched what muscles he could in the cage.
"No, no, he has it much worse," Gibbs explained. "See, the Pelegostos believe Jack is a god in human form, and they intend to do him the honor of releasing him from his fleshy prison. They'll roast him and eat him," Gibbs said with wide eyes.
"Ugh! Why is this world so disgusting?" Kairi complained.
"Where's the rest of the crew?" Sora asked.
"Well, see these cages? Well, they weren't made til after we got here," he answered grimly, his face pale.
"Oh for god's—" Kairi turned around and vomited out of a hole in the bone cage. Sora felt his own stomach turn, but nothing more. He placed a hand on her shoulder and tried to placate her. She stopped and just sat there, not moving as she felt too exhausted. Gibbs continued.
"Once those drums stop, the feast will begin. Jack's life ends with the drums," he said.
"Well we just can't sit here and wait, can we?" Sora asked.
"Well what do you suggest we do?" Gibbs asked him. Sora broke out in a huge smile.
HoL:TS
"No! Oi! No, no! Big fire! BIG fire! More wood! I am chief. More wood, me want big fire!" Jack shouted at the Pelegostos. They understood him by his flailing of arms, representing the large flames. While they were busy, he sneaked away and ran to another part of the village, looking for a way back to the Pearl. He ran into a hut and found many things, many supplied by the East India Trading Company. He ran back out and found that the natives had followed him. He laughed meekly and they seized him roughly, and tied him.
They tied him up like that had Will and Sora. "Oh bugger," he muttered as they put him over the fire pit like a spit roast. They had added tremendous amounts of wood.
"Good job," he muttered sarcastically. Sora, Will. I need you guys right about now.
HoL:TS
"And forward!" Sora shouted. For the past five minutes they had been swinging the bone cages like large swing sets from back home. They swung back and forth, amid the terror of Kairi. The other crew members in the second cage had caught on to the what the thought was. Soon, they were all swinging, using their combined weight to add momentum and swing toward the cliff's rocky face. There, the plan was to grab the roots and thick vines and climb steadily to the top of the bluff. All the while, trying not to die.
"Come on lads! We're getting close!" Gibbs shouted. Sora reached out with Gibbs and Will to grab at the vines. They were just a meter or two away.
"And back! Now. . . forward!" Sora shouted. They leaned as far forwards as possible. The vines grazed their fingers and they almost grabbed them. Just a little bit more.
"One last time lads!" Gibbs roared. The ravine swayed beneath. They closed in, inertia taking over. They reached out and grabbed hold. All the guys and Kairi grabbed the vines and started climbing.
"Come on, guys. Let's climb! Put your backs and legs into it!" Sora ordered. He was still in disbelief that his idea was still working. The other cage had grabbed hold as well. They started their slow ascent.
"Don't look down, lads!" Gibbs yelled. The vines were rough and damp in his hands as he sweated, beads rolling down his face. He exerted his muscles and racked his legs. The combined effort was barely enough for them all, but they slowly made progress. The thought of death kept them going. Gibbs was looking around, craning his neck when he suddenly hushed them and made them stop. He pointed to the nearby bridge where a local was keeping patrol. The others stopped.
"Stop! If we get caught, it's over!" Will said to the other cage.
"Well, not all of us would be needed. Only six are really needed to crew the Pearl," one of the members said in the other cage. The same thought struck everyone at the same time. This just became a race against the others. The other ball started climbing again, not caring about the Pelegosto. Sora cursed on the inside as he watched them climb. Then, one of them let out a scream. Sora's head whipped that way and saw that one of them had grabbed a venomous snake. They all panicked and let go, flying down the ravine, snapping the cord and into the depths to their death.
Sora's muscles were screaming in pain as they continued to stall there. The local had noticed them because of the fall. He ran off towards the drumbeats.
"CLIMB!" Gibbs boomed. Everyone doubled their effort. Sora was sweating in places he didn't know he could sweat and using muscles he never had before. They were picking the pace up. His hair was now lank and falling down. He had to whip it out of his face to continue seeing ahead of himself. They were very close to the top now.
"One last effort!" Sora yelled. They all climbed up and over and broke free from the gravity and onto land. Sora just fell limp, letting his muscles relax and cool down.
"Cut the rope!" Kairi shouted. "Find a rock!" They did cut the rope, but now the cannibals were rushing that way, weapons in hand. Spears were flying their way, whistling through the air alongside arrows. They all scrambled into a standing position.
"Roll the cage!" Sora shouted, pushing forward. They all did the same and it slowly began to roll forward just like a hamster ball. They continued to do this away from the Pelegostos. Sora, and no doubt the others, kept hitting large rocks and roots, banging himself up with bruises and cuts. They rolled, gathering speed and then fell over a steep drop. The cage now rolled of its own volition, sending them hurtling into the sides, slamming against rocks, roots, and bumps. Sora grunted in pain as they rolled all around, until they finally came upon two trees, ascending them, and then back down. They slammed with a final thud into the hard earth. Everyone muttered and grunted, covered in all sorts of minor injuries. The cannibals were still hot on their trail.
"Lift the cage!" Sora barely managed to say.
"Hoist it like a lady's skirt!" Gibbs ordered. Everyone lifted it as such, much to their muscles' protest. Marty was completely lifted off the ground as they all hitched the cage up and ran as best as they could from the the Pelegostos. The high grass scratched their legs and they tripped multiple times over debris of the jungle. After some time, they fell over a bluff and down a long and deep chasm. The cage broke apart when it hit the water. Everyone swam as fast as they could manage to take cover from the projectiles. Just as they were about to receive another volley, the Pelegostos left them alone.
Sora burst into hysteric laughter. "Well that was fun," he said painfully, fighting the pains in his sides. He healed everyone in the vicinity. It took a toll on his energy, but an ether fixed that.
"To the Pearl!" Will shouted.
In due time, they had made it to the Pearl. Sora noticed that a mortal Pintel and Ragetti were casting off the Pearl.
"Haul loose the mooring line! The mooring line!" Pintel shouted up at Ragetti. Ragetti was scrambling after Jack the Monkey who had his glass eye.
"Ah. Our work's half done!" Gibbs said happily. The crew shouted in jubilee and started climbing the Pearl. Will stopped in the high tide.
"What about Jack!? I'm not leaving him behind!" he shouted as the crew finished preparations for the Pearl. Then they all stopped as savage yelling and screaming met their ears. Around a bend on the end farthing of the beach, Jack could be seen running for his life just like they had been. Everyone's smiles disappeared as they saw that then entire cannibalistic tribe was following him.
"Time to go!" Will said, running and climbing swiftly up the Pearl's side ropes. Jack was shouting at them to wait as the Pearl kicked off into the sea. Sora helped Kairi up onto the deck and they slumped down together against the railing, glad to be sitting again.
"My children! You shall all remember this day as the day you almost—SPLASH! Jack was cutoff as a large wave drenched him, soaking him to the bone with cold sea water. "Captain Jack Sparrow," he finished dejectedly. He climbed up to meet the crew.
"Let's put some distance between us and that island and head out to open sea!" Gibbs said, thankful to be away from the Pelegostos. Jack still looked terrified.
"Yes to the first, yes to the second, but only insofar as we keep to the shallows as much as possible," he said, confusedly, as usual. Sora stood up and walked to his friend.
"That seems to be a contradictory, captain," Sora told him with a smile on his face.
"Ah! Sora! It's great to see you again. And is that your young lass over there?" he asked, arching an eyebrow to Kairi.
"She's not mine, but she is my friend," Sora told him.
"Ah, I see," he said, surveying them with wide and dazed eyes. "Here to bring me that blade of yours?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Nope. I'm here to help Will," Sora replied.
"Still, I have faith in all of you. But were is that damned monkey? I want to shoot something!" Jack yelled in bottled up anger.
"Jack!" Will shouted, running to him.
"Ah, hello young William," he replied, heading for the captain's wheel.
"Elizabeth is in danger," he told him.
"Ever thought about keeping a better eye on her or locking her up?" Jack replied absently.
"She is locked up in a prison, bound to hang for helping you!" Will retorted angrily. "I need that compass of yours. To trade for her freedom." Jack eyed Gibbs and his eyes shot open in realization.
"Mr. Gibbs. We have a need to travel upriver," he said quietly. Gibbs' eyes became wide with fear.
"By need do you mean trifling need? A fleeting or passing fancy?" he asked shakily.
"No. An unyielding need," Jack replied resolutely. Then he faced Will and Sora.
"I will you trade you this compass if, in return, you help me find this," he said to them, pulling out a cloth with a drawing of a key on it. Sora gazed at it confusedly.
"You want me to find this?" Will asked incredulously.
"No. You want you to find this. Because the finding of this finds you incapacitorially finding and or locating in your discovering the detecting of a way to save your dolly belle, what's-her-face. Savvy?" Jack explained slyly and very weirdly. Sora had trouble keeping up with the whole monologue.
"This is going to save Elizabeth?" Sora asked.
"Just how much to you two know about Davy Jones?" Jack asked very seriously.
"Not much," they both answered.
"Then yes, it will save Elizabeth," Jack replied.
HoL:TS
Edinburgh Trader
August 13, 2010
Merideth sat moodily on a sea-slime covered barrel. Not only was she on a ship full of disgusting men, save Elizabeth, she was also forced to wear men clothing to stay in a guise until they reached Tortuga. Elizabeth's wedding gown had accidentally been found, and two of the crew members were fighting over it, both looking worried about it. They had caused a scene, and now almost all the crewmen were surrounding the two as they tug-o-warred over the dress. Then the captain, Bellamy, strode over, fuming.
"What's all this!?" he shouted at them, making them stop the quarreling. "If you both fancy the dress, you will have to take turns and share it," Bellamy said, gaining a heartly round of laughter from all the men.
"It's not like that, sir. The ship is haunted," the first man said.
"Oh is it? How?" Bellamy asked, humoring the men.
"There is a female presence on the ship. All the men can feel it," the other man said. All the crewmen mumbled their agreements.
"I say we throw it overboard and hope she follows it!" one man said.
"No, that'll anger it," another one said.
"Now, listen, all of you!" Bellamy shouted, his anger growing. Merideth walked to Elizabeth, who was staining a beam. "This appears to be nothing more but a stowaway on board. Just find her. And she's probably naked, too," he said.
All the men scattered, looking for the woman, Merideth and Elizabeth joining them to keep the ruse up. We're coming, guys. Just hold on.
HoL:TS
Upriver
August 15, 2010
Sora sat in a longboat with Kairi, Will, Jack, Gibbs and the rest of the crew. It was low in the water of the swamp. The marsh was depressing and misty. Dense jungle surrounded them as the boat crept steadily forward through the swampy river. Frogs croaked and crickets chirped, keeping the steady cadence of dark nature. Kairi sat close to Sora as the approached the mysterious shack of Tia Dalma.
"Why is Jack so afraid of the open ocean?" Sora asked Gibbs as they sailed ever so slowly. He wiped his face, slapped a bug on his neck and took a deep breath.
"Well, if you believe such things, there's a beast that does the evil bidding of Davy Jones. A fearsome creature with giant tentacles that'll suction your face clean off, and drag an entire ship down to the crushing darkness. The Kraken," he said dramatically. Sora felt fear seep into him a bit. This sounded like a creature he did not want to meet, ever.
"They say the stench of its breath. . . Imagine. The last thing you know on god's green earth is the roar of the Kraken reeking odor of a thousand rotting corpses," he said. He had captivated those that were listening.
"If you believe such things," he repeated. Sora shuddered as he sat down with Kairi again.
"How are you feeling, Kairi?" he asked her. She shrugged. She had not been in the best of moods since they had arrived.
"I still hurt and feel really bad. I just want to be back home," she said, on the verge of tears. Then Sora, sucking up his courage, put his arm around her and pulled her into a hug, placating her the best he could with just the action. She returned the hug and they shared that moment for just small time. All worries disappeared for a fraction of a minute before they let go of each other, returning to the real world.
"And the key will help Jack?" Will asked.
"That's the question he want's answered. Even enough to go to. . . her."
Later that night. . .
They had passed by many eerie and creepy sites of animals and people, all shrouded and lit by candles. There was an unnatural chill in the swamp as the boat silently continued. The water barely stirred and a thick tension permeated in the air. The shack came into view.
"No worries, mates. Tia Dalma and I go way back. Thick as thieves. Nigh inseparable we are," Jack said, somewhat fearfully.
"We've got your back,"Gibbs said to him.
"It's me front I'm worried about," he answered back. "Man the boat," he said to Gibbs.
"Man the boat," to Will.
"Man the boat," to Sora.
"Man the boat," to Kairi.
"Man the boat," to Pintel.
"Man the boat," to Ragetti.
"Man the boat," to Marty.
"Man the boat," to Cotton's parrot.
"Man the boat," to Cotton.
They all entered Tia's shack. All around the room were many oddities. Most things were in transparent jars. All sorts of organs, beads, and random objects adorned the walls. She appeared from out of a room. Tia was black with darker hair, fashioned in dreadlocks. She wore all sorts of jewelry and wore a charming yet intimidating smile. Sora felt lesser to her, as if she were some higher being.
"Jack Sparrow," she said in a thick and alluring accent.
"Tia Dalma," he retorted.
"I always knew the wind was going to blow you back to me one day," she said with a smile. Then she looked at Will.
"You have a touch of destiny, you do William Turner," she said. Sora was shocked, wide'eyed at how she could even possibly know Will's name.
"You know me?" he asked.
"Do you want to know me?" she replied. "And you two. You two are otherworldly, you are. I nothing of you two," she said mysteriously to Sora and Kairi. They felt weak under her gaze.
"I- I'm Sora and this is Kairi," he said shakily.
"We came here for help, and we're not leaving without it," Jack said assertively. "There shall be no knowing here."
"What service is needed? I do demand payment," she said in a more formal tone, retreating behind her counter.
"And we brought payment," Jack said. He held up a cage with Jack the Monkey in it. He took his pistol and shot it. It screeched but was unharmed.
"An undead monkey. Beat that!" he said, laying the cage before her. She opened it up and let the monkey loose.
"The payment is fair," she said.
"We are looking for this," Will said, showing her the drawing of the key. She was shocked and confused.
"They compass you bartered from me. It cannot lead you to this?" she questioned.
"Maybe. . ." Jack said hesitantly.
"Oh. Jack Sparrow doesn't know what he wants. Or maybe you do and don't want to claim it? The key go to a chest. And it what be in the chest you seek, don't it?" she asked them.
"And what is inside?" Gibbs asked eagerly.
"Jewels? Gold? Unclaimed properties of treasure?" Sora piped up hopefully. Kairi shot him a glare but smiled at his childishness.
"You know of Davy Jones, yes? A man of the sea. A great sailor. Until he ran afoul of which vexes all men," she said bitterly.
"A woman," Jack said knowingly. Sora thought that wouldn't vex men, but maybe they could.
"A woman," Tia repeated. "Him fell in love with a woman," she said.
"I thought it was the sea he fell in love with?" Gibbs said. Sora was latching onto every word. He loved stories.
"Same thing, different versions, all are true. See, it was a woman as changing as the harsh and in-tameable sea. Him never stopped loving her. But the pain it caused him was too much to live with but not enough for him to die," Tia explained to them all.
"What exactly did he put in the chest?" Kairi asked.
"Him heart," she replied with a small smile. "He carved it out, locked it in a chest and now keeps the key on him at all times. And not even your Keyblades can unlock this chest," she said to Sora and Kairi.
"How did you know—" Sora was asking but she hushed him.
"Well now we know. Best be off," Jack said, turning around to leave.
"Let me see your hand," she said with authority, standing up. Jack stopped and reluctantly held out a bandaged hand. She unwrapped it and a black mark was seen.
"Black Spot!" Gibbs cried, wiping his chest, turning and spitting on the ground, followed by Pintel and Ragetti.
"I have just the thing," she said, leaving and rummaging through another room. She came back and handed him a jar of dirt.
"This is a jar of dirt," he said. "Will it help?"
"If you don't want it, give it back," she answered.
"No," he answered, holding it dear to him.
"Then it helps," she replied with a smile.
"It seems we have a need to find the Flying Dutchman," Sora said to her. She smiled and brought out broken bones. She rustled them in her hands and chanted to them, then finally spilling them onto the counter saying:
"A touch of destiny!"
HoL:TS
I'ltorien
July 18, 2010
Hot tears streamed down One's face, evaporating moments after leaving her dilated eyes. Tibarn breathed heavily on the ground below her, several burn marks across his entire body, along with deep lacerations. He wasn't even in hawk form anymore. She? Her head was about to burst out, or so she thought. She had to push her other self-back and lock her away forcefully, which was the mental equivalent of pulling a deranged tiger of its pray and have it claw at you at every step while you put it back in its cage. Her own gash on the left side of her neck proved that, as her other persona had self-inflicted that in retaliation. Still, it had paid off, as her right hand, now fuming and returning to normal had dug its way deep into. . . the earth right next to Tibarn's neck. It was going for the throat. As she sat there, crying, Ike slowly woke up to see the girl pour her feelings out.
"Please. . . please don't make me. . . don't LET me do this! Please, please. . . I. . . I lost the only people I cared about. My best friend got murdered trying to get me out and the one I called a sister got forced into being a soldier for what she WAS, not what she believed in. I am alone. I'm going to have to fight her. I just want to. . . I just want to set things right. I want to save her and I want to make the Emperor stop. . . to make him pay. Pay for ruining thousands of lives inside that facility. Millions outside. I am on your side. . ." she looked at her hands and cringed, seeing her gloves had vanished with the steam, as had her entire garments.
"Maybe I'm what you say. Maybe I'm a monster. But you need monsters to fight monsters. I will fight for you. Just. . ." Tibarn covered her mouth and shook his head.
"Monster, you? Give me a break," he cringed as he forced himself up, but he took One out of his chest and did it anyways. "You have seen monsters, girl. You should know better. What you are ain't a monster," as One knelt there, she could only look up, in shock and awe at Tibarn's sincere expression. Despite his wings, he skillfully removed his green trench coat and laid it on her now bare shoulders. "You're as much of a 'monster' as we are. And I take offense to that," he gave her a snarky smile as he took her hand and raised her to her feet. "Now chin up, I have something to give you!" One took a step back but did what he demanded.
The Hawk King reached for his feather necklace and removed it, hanging hit above One's neck. As it came down, Tibarn explained:
"Those who wear this necklace are considered to be of the same flock as the Hawk King. No one tribe in Mìelthrì will not think thrice before even attempting to insult you, let alone harm you. For that means war with the Hawks. Unless you find yourself surrounded by Ravens, one look of this necklace will send them reeling back," he explained, smiling knowingly as he put it on One, who was simply speechless. "Now, I know you are going to deny it and say you aren't worth it. But YOU defeated me in a duel. You are strong. I admire strength. I saw your heart in that fight. When you stopped your final blow. And it is purer than mine actually. And for that, you are one of my own. . . Christina," he said, winking as he did. One, or should We say, Christina, yelped loudly and took a step back, muttering a 'how'. To which Tibarn responded: "The eyes of the Hawk King see all. The ears listen to what's left," before turning to Ike. "No hard feelings, huh?"
"Give me a rematch on my terms and I'll make it so," Ike coughed, rubbing his neck. Tibarn laughed heartily and nodded.
"Well then, let's get this trip over with. I shall have a banquet to tell everyone of this battle!" Tibarn exclaimed, transforming into his hawk form. "Into the wild blue yonder!"
Knowing better than annoying Tibarn, Christina and Ike nodded at each other, leaving any questions for later and grabbed onto the feathers of the king as he shot into the blue skies.
It did not take long for them to take sight of the fort. It was then that a very strange but wanted feeling entered into Christina's heart. Because, as she saw it, for the first time in her life, she saw a place, not a group of people, that she could say it loud a proud. . . that it was a place she belonged to.
TUH: All Hail Lord Goomy.
TN: *sigh* If this continues, chapter 12 may be forever away. . .
TUH: Swaglamence.
TN:Anyway, teaser, anyone?
TEASER
And as he knelt there on the deck, the rain pelting his bare and exposed back, all sound in the world vanished.
And then he heard the high, whining whistle of the whip.
He heard the crack of flesh parting.
And he heard his screams rip from his vocal chords as the leather fell from his mouth.
Righteous white fire filled his vision. . .
TEASER END
TUH: *Goes back to Pokémon X* Cya... whenever... goomy goomy goomy.
TN: Hey readers! I love you all. Herald loves you, too! Thank you so much for everything you have done for us. All the support! We can't thank you enough. But we can give you this. . .
Chapter XII: Reunion and Sacrifice
Let the build up for SoKai begin. . .
May the Love of Anuwëy guide you when all Hope is lost
TorNathan
The Unknowing Herald