The Great Disney Adventure III: Heroes and Villains

A Disney story by talking2myself

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter 1

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Let me just say that I had every intention of getting this written and posted earlier. But God continues to mock my plans. I experienced both a flat tire and an overflowing toilet. Oh the joys of living on my own.

Chapter. 36 Soft and Swift as Shadows

Emma bobbed up and down as she clung to Rob's back. Her pointed straw hat with the wide brim had fallen down onto her back, and her arms were wrapped around his neck. He had clasped her legs under his arms. They scampered across the dark streets as they made their way to the docks. Screaming and fire still echoed all around them and the smell of smoke was thick in the air. Over all this noise, Rob could hear Emma's quick breath in his ear. Even though his cousin had insisted over and over "that she was a big girl and could walk" Rob was extremely reluctant to put her down. There was a good possibility that she could swept away in the darkness and he would never forgive himself if something would happen to both her and Kelsey.

Plus she was scared. He could tell.

Alice moved alongside him as they made their way through the darkness. Every once in a while she would slip her hand into his and squeeze just to assure him that she was still there. There was a splashing sound as a rowboat was dropped into the water. Emma let out a tiny squeak of fear and her grip tightened around his neck. Rob made a gurgling sound and loosened her grip with his fingers. "Easy there Emma," he stammered.

"I'm not scared," Emma whispered, staring out at the docks with big eyes.

That was a blatant lie, but Rob could not help but be proud about how brave his cousin was trying to be. He patted her tiny hand and smiled. "Of course not."

"Jim!" Alice whispered loudly. She hurried ahead a few paces. Rob squinted in the darkness as Jim and Squire Trelawney emerged from the darkness. Alice's feet caused the deck to squeak beneath her. Jim let out a sigh of relief before he approached her.

"Alice, are you guys alright?" Jim asked.

"Yes, we're fine," Alice said. "What about you?"

"We're all well," Jim said. "That crazy self-firing cannon may have saved our lives. They couldn't keep up."

"That's wonderful," Rob interrupted, genuine relief in his voice. He hurried to their side. "But you need to get out of here. Sao Feng is covering our escape but he can't do that for long. We really don't have time for long goodbyes."

"But what's going on?" Jim asked.

"It's Beckett," Rob said. "It's a long story, but he doesn't like us and he won't like you. You guys need to bail... like yesterday."

"Of course," Squire Trelawney sighed. "You know Captain Hatter. The entire crew would be willing to come with you on your journey."

"Don't take this the wrong way," Rob said with a small smile. "You guys have been an awesome crew. But we can't ask you to risk your lives any further. Go back to New Bristol."

"Very well then," Trelawney said sadly. He pressed his finger to his ear. "Mr. Bimbo says he wishes you all the best."

Rob smiled at the dopey bear. "Right back at ya Mr. Bimbo."

"Rob!" Will whispered fiercely. "Hurry!"

"Goodbye," Rob whispered. Jim waved sadly before the two scurried back to their own ship. Will gripped Rob's shoulder hard and pulled him hard into the longboat. "Hurry up." he whispered. "We don't have much time. We have to be quiet and get out of here as fast as possible."

Soft and quick as shadows we must be.

The quote came unbidden to his mind. It took him a few moments to place it before he realized that it was from The Lord of the Rings. His sister's favorite book. His sister's favorite non-Disney movie. He shook his head hard.

Give me a break! He pleaded with his sub-conscious. I'm doing my best to save her.

-888-

Rob climbed aboard the ship known as the Hai Peng. He held out a hand for Alice as she climbed aboard. Emma slid down his back and landed on the floor. Sophia was close behind him and Jackie and Aaron following. "Alright," Sophia said once she was aboard. "You know the drill." She gripped Emma's shoulders and led her towards the stairs that led below.

"Go find a new cowering place?" Emma asked.

"Yup," Sophia said with a smile. "You too Jackie. Find somewhere to lock up Aaron while you're down there."

"This is getting really old," Aaron grumbled.

"Smile and nod boy," Emma grumbled. "Smile and nod."

As Sophia corralled his cousin, Rob leaned over the edge of yet another new ship. He watched The Hispaniola as the "floating psycho ward" vanished into the fog. Another ship had come and gone. Another place that he had grown to love and call home.

The Hai Peng would never become home. Rob had decided that instantly. He had retrieved The Spirit from the alleyway and landed it before going back to the inn to retrieve Emma. It was tied down on the decks. Sophia was already inspecting the ship for dust. Aaron was sulking below deck while Jackie played with Emma. It was nearly the same layout as the Hispaniola.

But it wasn't home.

There were too many pirates… not the friendly kind either. Tai Huang kept shooting him dirty looks and Rob would glare back. He vowed to make sure someone was with Emma at all times. Lest someone try to steal her… or even sell her.

Alice stood near the edge besides him and they stared out at the ship as it sailed away. "Well," she said with a faint smile. "Here we go again."

"Yup," he sighed. "Just jumping off the edge of the world. No big deal."

Alice clasped his hand and squeezed. "We'll find her."

"I know," Rob said softly.

Alice leaned forwards and kissed his cheek. "I missed you."

Rob smiled. "I missed you too."

Rob squeezed her hand back as they sailed into the night.

-888-

"Oh Dr. Facilier you shouldn't have!"

Khaos looked downright delighted at the sight that awaited them when they arrived in Singapore. He merrily leapt from their longboat and examined the ruined remains of Singapore's decks. It was morning when they arrived and it looked as though a bomb had exploded the entire city. The city still smelled like ash and soot covered the ground. Most of the buildings were toppled over. It seemed like there were more people wandering the streets than in their houses. Khaos grinned. "Creating all this chaos for me? What a welcome."

Dr. Facilier rolled his eyes. "It wasn't me you fool! The Thirteen didn't do this?"

Khaos frowned. "No? Then who?"

"Hmm," Mim examined the charred remains of a house. She knelt down and picked up an abandoned bayonet. "I'd say this has Lord Beckett's fingerprints all over."

"Oh Lord Becky?" Khaos asked.

Dr. Facilier quirked an eyebrow, "What?!"

"Lord Becky," Khaos repeated. "I heard that going around. Some of the sailors were cursing his name on their way to the grave. I imagine He doesn't like the name."

"That's putting it mildly," Mim grumbled. "She doesn't like anything that has to do with Kelsey…. Especially that nickname."

Dr. Facilier rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So… tell me witch. Why would Lord Beckett come to Singapore?"

Mim shrugged, "Pirate hunting I suppose."

"Right," Dr. Facilier said. "Though I don't imagine Beckett travels himself very often. Correct?"

"No," Mim admitted. "Mostly he sends his henchmen… especially Mercer. He sends him for the important jobs."

"Then, the question is," Dr. Facilier said. "What could be so valuable to send Mercer all the way out to Singapore?"

"I can only think of…" Mim froze. "The brother."

Dr. Facilier grinned. "We're gaining on them."

-888-

THE OCEAN

"No one said anything about cold."

Pintel grumbled as he shivered beneath a blanket. Jack the monkey's teeth was chattering as he struggled to stay warm. Emma had taken to carrying the little monkey around underneath her blanket like he was a teddy bear. The fact that he was undead clearly didn't bother the poor girl. Emma was wearing her dopey hat underneath her conical wide brimmed straw hat. Tinker Bell was sitting on top of Emma's head wrapped up in the cloth of her hat.

"It's not that cold," Emma said. "Probably only thirty below zero?"

"Only?" Pintel echoed.

"I'm sure there must be a good reason for our suffering," Ragetti murmured.

"Why don't that obe woman just bring Jack back the same way she brought back Barbossa?" Pintel cried.

"Because Barbossa was only dead," Emma and the two pirates jumped when Tia Dalma suddenly appeared behind them. "Jack Sparrow is taken, body and soul, to a place not of death but punishment." She said. "The worst fate a person can bring upon himself stretching on forever, that's what awaits at Davy Jones Locker."

She swept past them and continued to move towards the deck.

Ragetti shrugged before turning towards Pintel. "There, I knew there was a good reason."

Emma scowled and glared at Tia Dalma's retreating figure. "Don't listen to her," she snapped. "We're gonna get Kelsey back. And Jack too."

-888-

Rob could hear Alice sneeze loudly below deck as he made his way up to the main deck. He wasn't sure where they were, but it was cold. Rob eyed the ice in the water cautiously. The memory of breaking the ice so The Pearl could escape the ice titan was still all too fresh in his mind. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that again.

He made his way over to where Will was examining the maps. One of the pirates looked at his toe woefully. His bare feet were frost bitten and blue. When he tried to rub his feet he let out a yelp as his toe came off. Rob nearly vomited over the side of the ship, but instead hurried over to Will's side.

Will was shivering. His eyebrows were frosted over with snow. He looked up as Rob approached. "Where is your coat?" he asked in disbelief.

"In my cabin," Rob shrugged.

"Aren't you cold?"

"Not particularly," he said. "You see… I come from…."

"Wisconsin," Will finished rolling his eyes. "Right. This Wisconsin place must be some sort of icy northern land full of glaciers and tundra and… Vikings."

"Hey!" Rob snapped. "You take that back. The Vikings are to the left… and we're trying to build a wall."

Will stared at Rob for a few moments before he shook his head and returned his attention to the map. "What did you find?" Rob asked.

Will shook his head again. "Nothing here is set. These can't be as accurate as modern charts." Will moved the map and the map seemed to shift.

"No," Tai Huang agreed, "But it leads to more places."

Will peered at the map. There was some sort of riddle written on the map. "Over the edge, over again. Sunrise sets, flash of green."

"Flash of green?" Rob asked. "What the heck does that mean?"

"I don't know though someone on this ship might," Will said.

He scooped up the map and crossed the deck to the helm. Barbosa was reclined against the mast. He looked up at Will and Rob who was standing close behind him. He flashed them a smile. "Gentlemen?"

"We found something," Rob said. Will passed over the map to Barbosa

"Do you care to interpret, Captain Barbossa?" he asked.

Barbosa examined the map before he turned to Gibbs. "Ever gazed upon the green flash Master Gibbs?"

Rob rolled his eyes. "You couldn't just answer the question could you?"

Gibbs turned towards Barbosa, "I reckon I've seen my fair share. Happens on rare occasion, at the last glimpse of sunset a green flash shoots up into the sky. Some go their whole lives without ever seeing it, some claim to have seen it who ain't and some say…"

"It signals when a soul comes back to this world, from the dead!" Gibbs glared at the fellow until Ragetti gazed down at the deck. "Sorry."

Rob was staring at Barbosa. "Back from the dead?" he echoed. Kelsey.

Barbossa handed Will back the maps. "Trust me young Master Turner, it's not getting to the land of the dead that's the problem… it's getting back."