Elvengirl10: Well, here I am with chapter nine of this fic...it's scary but this one is almost complete. What do you think of that? Thanks to all who have reviewed all the way. Those reviews meant a lot guys.

Reviews:

Firelien: I'm glad you liked my Matthew/Leila scene. I'm glad you think I'm improving.

Elvengirl10: I'm not going to spend time rambling like I usually do. Except that I had my birthday recently. A new Fanfic might come from one of my new CD's I don't know. Here's chapter nine.

(Written during the longest hour in the world.)

As they neared the island, Ephidel soon realised that they were going around the back, to a part of the island that was relatively unexplored. He soon learned that Valor was a lot bigger than he had thought.

"I wonder if Lord Nergal knows it's this big?" he thought to himself, "Or if he's aware of the cursed pirates? I wonder if he even knows we're coming?"

Ephidel was soon woken out of his thoughts by Jack.

"Well mate, we're coming up to a good landing spot. Do you want to stop here?"

Ephidel looked ahead. There was a small cove hidden by some high cliffs. There was enough space for a boat to fit in it, and was in a very defensive position.

"Yeah, that looks good. We'll stop here and figure out our plans."

"Right. It'll be a tight fit but I think I can get us in there. Just tell the crew to hold on tight."

Meanwhile on the lower deck, Serra had woken. She would have been complaining, except Lloyd had tied a gag around her mouth. She was still talking, except it came out as muffled gibberish.

"Mmmmffffff!!!!!" Serra yelled, sort of.

No one paid any attention. They had all gone into the captain's cabin to determine the next step in the rescue of Ninian.

"Alright," Ephidel began, "We're at the pirate's lair. Jack, do you know the surrounding area?"

"You bet I do. I even have a map right here." Jack stuffed his hand into his coat pocket and drew out a, burnt, slightly damp, slightly faded map. Ephidel looked at it. There could be no doubt that it was a complete map of Valor. Jack laid it out on the table for all to see.

"We are currently right here," He began, pointing at the cove where the ship currently sat. "The pirates," he continued, "should be right about here." Jack pointed at a small mountain not to far from them.

"They're in the mountain?" asked Linus, raising an eyebrow dubiously.

"The mountain is obviously hollow," replied Limstella, slightly annoyed.

"Are there any ways into the mountain?" asked Elbert.

"Yes, there's the main way, which is no doubt the way the pirates entered. But, there's also the secret escape route that they, my former crew don't know about."

"Why didn't you tell them?" asked Nino.

"Because if I did, it wouldn't be a secret anymore would it?" replied Jack.

"Then why have it? It's not as if you're going to be found," remarked Nils.

"Ummmm.... fire hazard."

"A fire inside a mountain?" laughed Matthew.

"As humorous as that is, can we please get back to the task at hand?" asked Ephidel, not trying to hide the smile playing on his lips.

"Right, getting back to that. The secret escape route is located not to far from us." He pointed to a building not to far from them.

"You mean The Dragon's Gate?" asked Leila, recognizing it.

"So that's what it's called," said Jack, earning him another round of stares.

"So where is the route located in the building?" asked Ephidel.

"On the third step in front of the big gate-looking thingy."

"I always wondered why that step seemed hollow," remarked Limstella to no one in particular.

'I wonder what Lord Nergal is going to think about this,' Ephidel thought, 'at least I'm carrying out his orders,' he thought with a sigh.

"So how are we going to do this?" asked Lloyd.

"I would say that the best way would probably be to split up. One half of us will go the Dragon's Gate and enter the route. The other half would stay behind on the ship and distract the pirates from the front. Then the first group would rescue Ninian and get her into the route while the pirates are busy fighting us."

"It's a good plan, Ephidel, but how do we break the pirates curse?" asked Leila.

"I can answer that," said Jack, pulling out a coin.

".... What can that do?" asked Jaffar, who had remained silent for most of the meeting.

"It can break the pirate's curse."

"Really, how?" asked everyone.

"If you all bothered to watch the movie you would know how."

"The authoress is getting lazy," Lloyd whispered to his brother.

"At any rate, everyone get to bed. We need to do a lot tomorrow," said Ephidel.

(To end or not to end, that is the question.)

Soon, everyone had vacated the room, except for the two morphs.

"Ephidel, are you all right?" asked Limstella.

"I'm fine, it's just...I'm worried about what Lord Nergal will think."

"That's been on your mind ever since you found out we were coming here, hasn't it?"

"Yes."

"It's alright, he probably doesn't even know we're here."

"But he's so powerful, he-"

"But you have to remember, he's kind of oblivious."

At the Dragon's Gate:

"I wonder what's happened to Ephidel and Limstella? I haven't heard from them in a while."

Elvengirl10:Okay, I have to apologize, but could not resist putting that in. And the fire route thing. I love Friday nights.

Sain: All right, no more writing fanfiction after Canada Comedy Night for you.

Elvengirl10: heh heh. Please Read and Review