CHAPTER 12

Within two days, Rottenbeard had managed to successfully spread his rottenness all across Lazytown. He took whatever he wanted from the townspeople, and no one could do a thing about it. They had to do whatever Rottenbeard told them to do, or there would be serious consequences to suffer. The people were afraid to even leave their homes, on the off chance that they'd have a run in with one of the pirates. It was clear to Rottenbeard that he pretty much had the entire town wrapped around his finger, only there was just one thing that he couldn't figure out. Despite all that he had done to them, the people of Lazytown remained in high spirits. This made such little sense to Rottenbeard, that it began to wear away at his patience, frustrating him to no end.

"Why in the blazes is everyone here so bloody happy, even when I've taken everything they own?" complained Rottenbeard as he laid on his favourite chair in the mayor's office, snacking on a large piece of cake. "By all accounts, they should be miserable, but instead they be full of nothin' but joy!"

"It's the Lazytown stone, Cap'n." said Pinchpenny, as he sorted through a pile of money.

Rottenbeard fumed as this new piece of information was revealed to him.

"Lazytown stone? Why didn't any of you swabs tell me about this?"

"It's just a stupid stone that they worship." grumbled Tricks as she stared out of the window towards the sea.

"I don't care!" shouted Rottenbeard furiously, smashing his plate against the wall. "It be the only thing standing in me way of completely rulin' this town! I want it! Show me now!"

Rottenbeard had grown increasingly irritable and angry over the last few days. So much that his crew was becoming overly frightened of him, and what he might do to them if things didn't go his way.

"I'll take ye to the stone, captain." offered Zigzag timidly.

"Right, come on then." muttered Rottenbeard, and sat up. He stomped his way across the room, making sure to knock over Pinchpenny's money pile as he walked past, then followed Zigzag down the stairs and out of the building.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Listen mates, I can't take this no more!" Tricks exploded, turning to face Pinchpenny and Quicksail. "The captain's gone batty! The power from rulin' this towns' gone straight to his head."

Pinchpenny nodded, as he picked up the coins that were now scattered across the floor.

"I agree." he grumbled, taking her side for what was possibly the first time ever. "Ever since we got here, his temper's been worse than ever."

"Bein' in this town's turnin' him in an even lazier, good for nothin' oaf than he used to be." added Quicksail with a frown.

Tricks was glad that her crew-mates felt the same way as she did about the situation.

"What are we doin' here anyhow?" she asked. "Pirates are supposed to be out sailin' the seas, not sittin' around in a boring ol' town doing nothin'!"

"Y'know what'd be great?" joked Quicksail. "If we made off with the ship, and stranded the cap'n here in this precious town of his."

"Quicksail, yer a genius!" exclaimed Tricks, and jumped to her feet. "We're doin' it, matey's! C'mon!"

Quicksail shrugged in agreement, but Pinchpenny didn't seem so sure.

"Hang on a minute here. What's to stop me from goin' to the cap'n right now, and tellin' him what yer plannin'?" he speculated. "I'd be well rewarded for that bit of information."

"Nothin's stoppin' ya Pinchy." admitted Tricks. "But by the time you go and rat on us, we'll already be sailin' away with all of yer precious booty."

"Good point. When do we leave?" he asked impatiently.

- - - - - - - - - -

Night had begun to fall when Rottenbeard and Zigzag arrived at the Lazytown stone. It was hard to see it clearly in the darkness, but there appeared to be a flat piece of stone resting on a pedestal, with a message engraved on the top of it.

Zigzag brought his lantern over, as Rottenbeard approached the pedestal, and picked up the stone in both hands. He cleared his throat and began reading aloud the message it contained.

'Lazytown should always be happy.'

"Hah!" he laughed. "Ye gotta be kiddin', matey! Yer tellin' me that the only reason these landlubbers are happy is because a bloody stone tells them to be?"

Zigzag nodded.

"Well it can't tell em anythin' if I take it from em!" sniggered Rottenbeard.

Just then, the area lit up in a bright light as the people of Lazytown arrived, lanterns in hand.

"You can't have it, Rottenbeard!" shouted one of the townspeople.

"You may be able to take away our material possessions, but you can never take away our happiness." yelled another.

"Oh really, is that so?" asked an enraged Rottenbeard as he lifted the Lazytown stone high up above his head.

Then suddenly with a mighty swing, he brought it down and smashed it against the pedestal, breaking the word 'happy' right off of the bottom of the stone.

"HAH! Now you have to be miserable!" raved Rottenbeard as he spun in a circle, pointing his sword at all of the townspeople.

"You're wrong, Rottenbeard." said the mayor as he emerged from the crowd. "The stone may be broken, but our spirit isn't. We will still be happy, no matter what you do to us."

"We'll see about that!"

Rottenbeard began to violently push and shove the townspeople around, swinging his sword, and roaring at the top of his lungs.

"Stop bein' HAPPY!"

Tricks, Pinchpenny and Quicksail quickly hurried over after hearing the commotion, and stood with the terrified Zigzag, as their captain completely lost his mind.

- - - - - - - - - -

As if out of nowhere, a beeping sound suddenly filled the air, followed by a flashing light. It illuminated the figure of a man, standing on a wall with his hands planted firmly on his hips.

"I''m getting tired of coming after you Rottenbeard!" shouted a familiar voice. "Leave these people alone!"

Rottenbeard stopped what he was doing and turned to face the figure. He knew it! It was that cursed One, again. Somehow he had survived, and followed him here!

"I don't know how ye found me, but yer gettin' on me last nerve, matey!" snarled Rottenbeard. "Why can'tcha just stay outta me business!"

"I can't do that Rottenbeard." said One, crossing his arms. "Someone's got to stop you, and that someone's going to be me."

"I don't think so lubber! I'll never leave, this town be mine!"

Rottenbeard turned his back to One, only to find that the townspeople had retreated out of his immediate reach.

"I'm giving you a choice." announced One. "You can either cooperate and turn yourself in, or I'm going to have to bring you in myself."

Rottenbeard erupted in a fit of phony laughter.

"Are ye hearin' this mateys?" he called to his terror-stricken crew. "Funniest thing I've 'erd all week!"

They were not laughing.

"Blimey what's crawled up their backsides?" he wondered aloud.

"So what's your decision Rottenbeard?" insisted One. His patience was wearing thin.

Rottenbeard motioned to his four crewmen for support, while keeping his eye locked intently on One.

"Get him!" he ordered.

"Fight him yerself, Rottenbeard! We be sick and tired of doin' all yer dirty work!" retorted Tricks, while the rest of the crew nodded in agreement.

"Ye cowardly swabs!"

"I don't think they're going to help you this time, captain." One commented from his perch atop the concrete wall.

"Yarr! I don't need em." scoffed Rottenbeard, as he pulled out a sword from his belt. "I can take care of ye meself."

One had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but he knew that Rottenbeard wasn't going to go down without a fight.

"Ye'll meet the rope's end for all the trouble ye've caused me." Rottenbeard bellowed, charging at One.

"We'll see about that." countered One, as he jumped off of the wall.

Rottenbeard slashed his sword at One as he flew through the air, attempting to take him down before he even landed, but One was too nimble, and pushed off of Rottenbeard's shoulder to get out of the way. Rottenbeard backed up, then lunged forward with incredible speed, growling as he viciously swiped at One. One unsheathed his own sword just in time, and brought it up and around, slamming it right into Rottenbeards'. Both men leaned forward, putting all of their weight into their blades, as they tried to break through the others defenses. They struggled this way for several minutes, while their swords scraped against each other, emitting a horrible high-pitched screeching sound. When it was obvious that neither would budge, they both pushed off with all of their might, sending each other reeling backwards.

Rottenbeard and One began to circle each other, occasionally clashing swords, until Rottenbeard became fed up, and stormed forward slashing like a madman. Up until now, One had been trying to find an opening where he could knock out Rottenbeard without overly hurting or killing him, but Rottenbeard was out for blood, and he wasn't going to let One take him down that easily. One looked around frantically for an escape, and in desperation jumped back up onto the wall. The ledge crumbled slightly as he landed, which caused him to lose his footing. He nearly fell off, straight down onto Rottenbeard's outstretched blade, but he managed to regain his balance and steady himself. Rottenbeard took several swings at One's legs, but he hopped over each of them, infuriating Rottenbeard even more than he already was. One then pulled out his trusty sword from his back, and quickly somersaulted off of the wall. He flew straight over Rottenbeard, and landed behind him. Rottenbeard turned around ready to strike, but One suddenly dove to the ground and slid right under his legs. Before Rottenbeard could figure out what was going on, One kicked him from behind, and knocked Rottenbeard forward, face first onto the solid ground. The last thing Rottenbeard heard before he passed out, was the people of Lazytown cheering and celebrating his defeat.