Captain Drakken and the secret in the middle cove

by Kitty Petro

Number two in the series. I´ll put it upp even if nobody likes it. It has gone a few years since Drakken left but now a new secret has commed through and our heroes must hide it from the pirates who have returned for revenge

6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

James, much as one would expect, turned red with an awesome anger, jumping to his feet, his cutlass whistling from its sheath. "You lousy pirate!" he growled.

Kim, meanwhile, had finnally removed the last of her bonds, and ran silently across the beach toward her mother's inn.

Tim Pirate blinked, looking away from where James and Captain Drakken were squaring off. He frowned. "But…the girl…." he murmured.

Drakken, eyeing James warily, growled. "GET THE GIRL!" he commanded, before turning toward James, whirling his rapier up to parry James' whistling cutlass. "Aye…well now, isn't this the oddest feeling of déjà vu, James me boy?" he heckled, grinning.

Tim quickly motioned to his brother, then the stake with the heap of ropes lying around it, the girl gone. Jim clapped a hand over his eyes, groaned softly, then motioned to his brother to follow him. They caught sight of Kim dashing toward the inn, and Jim and Tim took to their heels after her, leaving Shego free to enjoy the boys' clash of swords…well, she did, at least, until Aunt Katherine broke free from her grasp, picked up her trusty broom, and begn bashing the startled pirate woman handily about her head and shoulders with it!

Meanwhile, James inadvertantly tripped over a coiled line, and fell growling into the water, having to swim back on to the beach. He got to his feet and grabbed the first thing he could get his hands on to help him out of the water, which proved to be Katherine's cape that was heretofore hiding the Gabriel the Horrible's anchor…the unveiled secret of Middle Cove…a shaved off section showing it was solid gold!

Captain Drakken, ever the gold hound, blinked, stopping in the middle of a stroke at James. "Ho!" he called. "Gold!"

Jim and Tim stopped trying to corral the spirited Kim, which for those two was a near impossible task to look.

Shego too stopped also to look, finally having wrested Katherine's broom out of her hands.

Drakken smiled greedily. "Well now…ain't this a pleasant surprise then, eh? It seems that Gabriel the Horrible had himself another secret. That bein' that his anchor is made of pure gold!" he crowed.

The other pirates stopped what they had been doing, cheered exuberantly, and ran single-mindedly over to the anchor. Shego smiled avaricioulsy, taking in the small spot James had scratched off, baring the pretty gold beneath. "Aye, Cap'n…now we can live like Kings the next hundred years!" Shego said in a hushed tone.

Jim and Tim meanwhile danced about in a circle singing, "We've found gold!"

Drakken smiled again. "Come then, me pirates. Ignore these landlubbers! Let's get this golden beauty aboard in the Dark Lady, fast as ye can!" he ordered.

James growled, taking one last errant swing at the retreating Drakken. "Blast!" James murmured, glowering.

Meanwhile, Aunt Katherine and her Kim clung to one another, mother and daughter sharing a hug.

James then rested his cutlass point down on the dock. "Beware yer greed, Captain Drakken," James warned them ominously, his voice deep and sonorous. "Legend has it that Gabriel the Horrible vowed revenge against any who try to make off with his anchor."

Captain Drakken snorted at that. "Is that so, James?" Drakken scoffed, laughing raucously. "Aye then…you seem to have forgotten the fact that Gabriel the Horrible ain't been alive in over a hundred years. I expect he doesn't really have much of a need fer it anymore."

"So you claim," James told him, sighing. "Be it on your head then, Drakken…you were warned." James put on a brave face, but realistically there really isn't much of anything he can do but to watch as the pirates attempt to free the massive anchor from its place in the beach's sands.

"Come on then, me hearties!" Drakken cajoled, watching as Shego, Jim and Tim together tried---rather vainly, by the way---to lift the weighty anchor. "Heave!"

Suddenly, ominously, the skies went dark and the wind began to grow in intensity, beginning to softly howl. Aunt Katherine and Kim, plainly afraid, moved over to hug James, seeking comfort from him. "Oh my! What is happening, James?" Aunt Katherine called over the sound of the wind's howling.

"Weren't you listening, Katherine?" James questioned. "I told that fool, but he's too proud to listen!" James shook his head wearily. "Watch, ladies… Gabriel the Horrible is coming now…coming to mete out his retribution on those that try to take his own!" James voice carried well…even to Drakken and his pirates.

Shego paled hearing James dire prediction, then she looked out over the sea. "Captain! Look!" she called out in a panicked voice, pointing ahead.

Drakken frowned, then looked where the normally unflappable Shego pointed. Much to his consternation, he saw a blossom of eerie a yellow light illuminate a sport on the turbulent sea. The light grew, and the water's boiled to a froth…from this foam the head of a man appeared, and then his shoulders, and finally a tall figure of a man stood seemingly upon the waves! "What's this?" Drakken demanded, his face paling.

The figure was clad in the armor from of another age past, his full cape billowing like the slashed wings of some montrous bat. They could all see that his armor and cape were festooned with seaweed, starfish, and other deterius of the sea. Atop the figure's head, he wore a tattered black felt tri-corner hat, the hat tilted down to hide most of the figure's face from view, allowing only his beard to be seen. The figure's head tilted up, and its face was obscured by a black mask, a mask that hid his features but for his mouth and beard…and his bright eyes. The figure's beard bore seaweed and salty brine in it. In his hand was the only anomaly…for the figure bore a huge shining sword, one of superb quality and workmanship. The figure then slowly strode toward the shoreline, leaving eerie footsteps in the waves as it strode forward. As he neared, the pirates and James and his friends could just make out his sepulchral voice singing a dirge-like song:

(Grusomme Gabriel)

Gabriel the Horrible

For a century

(I hundre år)

I have haunted the night

(har jeg spøkt om natten)

So that no scoundrels

(så ingen kjeltring)

take off with my treasure

(skal ta fra meg skatten)

Some poor little bandit

(en stakkars banditt)

Would be easy to be rid of

(er det lett å bli kvitt)

I can rattle and whine

(Jeg kan klirre og klynke)

Groan and laugh

(stønne og le)

Until he howls with fear

(til han hyler av skrekk)

until he runs away

(til han løper av sted)

Horrible Gabriel

(Grusomme Gabriel)

That´s my name

(heter jeg)

I am walking

(jeg går igjen)

And haunting you

(og spøker for deg)

Go back to the sea

(Dra til sjøs)

As fast as you can

(så fort du kan)

You lousy pirate

(din usle røver)

You simple Drakken

(din Sabeltann)

Gabriel roared then, and brandishing his bright sword, began chasing after the now fearful pirates as he continued to sing:

For a century

(I hundre år)

I have been in the neighborhood

(har jeg vært i strøket)

now I can do my job

(nå kan jeg jobben)

My haunting is good

(er flink til å spøke)

People shake with fear

(folk skjelver av skrekk)

before they run away

(før de skynder seg vekk)

Here rough bandits

(her blir tøffe banditter)

become fearful chickens

(feige og små)

You can stay with me

(du kan bli her hos meg)

Or choose to leave

(eller velge å gå)

Horrible Gabriel

(Grusomme Gabriel)

That´s my name

(heter jeg)

I am walking

(jeg går igjen)

And haunting for you

(og spøker for deg)

Go back to the sea

(Dra til sjøs)

As fast as you can

(så fort du kan)

You lousy pirate

(din usle røver)

You simple Drakken

(din Sabeltann)

Shego, Tim and Jim ran off screaming for the shelter of the docks, leaving Drakken behind. Before a moment more had passed, the Captain suddenly found himsel standing face-to-face with the spectral visage of Gabriel the Horrible, Terror of the Seven Seas! Drakken stood silent, shaking in fear that he tried to hide. Gabriel growled, causing Drakken to leap back, then rewarded him with hearty laugh and a small song just for his benefit:

For a century

(I hundre år)

I have learned to frighten

(har jeg lært å skremme)

So join the dance

(så bli med på dansen)

you´ll never forget!

(du aldri vil glemme)

Come to me

(kom til meg)

Come to me!

(kom til meg)

The land of Ghosts

(spøkelseslandet)

awaits you

(venter på deg)

Horrible Gabriel

(Grusomme Gabriel)

That´s my name

(heter jeg)

I am walking

(jeg går igjen)

And haunting for you

(og spøker for deg)

Go back to the sea

(Dra til sjøs)

As fast as you can

(så fort du kan)

You lousy pirate

(din usle røver)

You simple Drakken

(din Sabeltann)

Drakken blinked, his face ashen, his eyes huge. He stood his ground though…until Gabriel leaped forward, howling…and Drakken's courage broke, and he took to his heels, running as fast as he could manage---his pirates in tow behind him---to his beached longboat. "Heave to, you laggards!" Drakken howled as Jim, Tim, and Shego shoved, pushed, and heaved the two longboats back out into the water, while Drakken sat shaking in the stern of one. "I can't even imagine staying here even another moment longer!" he said to himself as his pirates scrambled aboard and began to ply their oars.

Shego (rowing a great deal faster than the others) called back her agreement. "Aye, Cap'n! We have a much better chance out here on the sea," she opined as she rowed.

As Jim puffed and panted, rowing for all he was worth, his brother Tim cried out to him. "Faster, Jim! I want to go home to…" he squealed. Then, both of the twins screamed the last word. "…MOMMY!"

The two longboats bearing Captain Drakken and his crew moved with haste, rapidly disappearing from sight.

Back ashore, Gabriel the Horrible stood standing at the waterline, his arms crossed before his chest, his bright sword resting against his shoulder.

James move hesitantly toward the dread figure. He swallowed, trying to talk. "Ahem! Well, I never thought I'd ever be glad to see a ghost," he remarked.

Aunt Katherine surprised them all, moving before the dread Pirate Ghost, and gave him a courteous little curtsey. "Thank you for helping us, Gabriel the Horrible," she told the silent figure.

Gabriel turned, then bowed courteously back to the landlubbers, saying nothing.

Kim frowned, thinking. "Eh…now wait just a second here," she observed, taking a few steps closer to the ghost.

Aunt Katherine paled, and made to grasp Kim's wrist, missing. "Kim dear, what are you doing?" she demanded of her foolhardy offspring.

Kim just smiled, then tapped her finger against her chin a moment. "You know…there's something awfully familiar about yonder Gabriel there…both his voice, and that sword. I don't know for certain, mind you…but, I could swear I've seen---and heard---them both before…"

"That's right, little Missy," Gabriel replied in his deep voice, nodding to the brave girl. He then raised his arm and swept off his big tri-corner hat.

Aunt Katherine gasped as she too saw what her daughter had. "Aye, who knows, my Kim…perhaps the world's oldest pirate really is…"

Gabriel then removed his mask to reveal a most familiar tall blonde-haired boy with freckles.

"…the world's biggest landlubber!" Aunt Katherine finished, causing everyone to laugh in delight. Aunt Katherine smiled, shaking her head. "So, Gabriel the Horrible is none other than our very own Ron," she added, still laughing.

Ron joined in the laughter too, blushing just a bit. "Hey, I didn't realize that you guys were so afraid of ghosts," Ron observed with a grin.

They all laughed again, then James turned to Aunt Katherine. "Well now, that's over…now, Katherine, shall we tell them?" James asked in an oddly formal sort of voice.

Aunt Katherine nodded primly, yet a lovely smile bloomed on her face. James grinned, and turned to Kim and Ron. "On the wake of all this unpleasantness, you two…we---meanin' Katherine and meself, of course---have some happy news for you."

Aunt Katherine smiled, nodding her head happily. "Yes! You might say that I've finally been able to convince this old sailor just what he's been missing his whole life," she declared a bit mysteriously.

Kim smiled, understanding finally. "Ah, I think I know what this is about now," she observed, smiling over at Ron.

James smiled, then his cheeks turned a bit pink. "You see…Katherine and me, well, we both asked for each other's hands…and we both have said…" James began.

"YES!" both Aunt Katherine and James declared together.

Aunt Katherine smiled, and looped her arm with James'. "That's right, we are finally getting married," she said proudly.

Ron smiled, and not a moment to soon either, as Kim laughed, stating, "Look who's talking…I have been around those two longer than you have, buster!"

They all laughed happily again, and then James continued. "And, well, now that Captain Drakken's finnally gone, we can finally fill our lives with happiness and luck again, you see."

Aunt Katherine grinned, eyeing James fondly. "Now, there's to be a party here in Middle cove, and every one of our friends will be invited," she told them all. After saying this, she turned to James, and began to sing on a song of her and James future:

(bryllups sang)

We light a candle

(Vi tenner lys)

for love and for peace

(for kjærlighet og fred)

And gather good friends

(og samler gode venner)

at our own little place

(på vårt eget lille sted)

We have a small dream

(Vi har en liten drøm)

for our wedding day

(for bryllupsdagen vår)

may all of our days together

(Må våre dager sammen)

turn into many nice years

(bli til mange fine år)

So he has proposed

(Så har han fridd)

And I have said yes

(og jeg svarte ja)

There has never

(Det har aldri)

been any doubt

(vært noen tvil)

About who I want

(om hvem jeg vil ha)

He should of understood

(Han burde ha skjønt det)

A long time ago

(for lenge siden)

I knew he would

(Jeg viste han ville)

come around in time

(komme med tiden)

We played a game

(Vi spilte et spill)

that both won

(som begge vant)

Now it´s finally true

(Nå er det endelig sant)

We light a candle

(Vi tenner lys)

for love and for peace

(for kjærlighet og fred)

And gather good friends

(og samler gode venner)

in our own little place

(på vårt eget lille sted)

We have a small dream

(Vi har en liten drøm)

for our wedding day

(for bryllupsdagen vår)

That all of our days together

(Må våre dager sammen)

turn into many nice years

(bli til mange fine år)

Now it is ready

(Nå er det klart)

Let the jubilation begin

(Slipp jubelen fri)

The day is ours

(Dagen er vår)

And ours it will be

(og vår skal den bli)

The best in the world

(Det beste i verden)

That no one can steal

(kan ingen stjele)

A delight turned biggest

(En glede blir størst)

When many will share

(når mange vil dele)

Today it feels good

(I dag er det godt)

Just to exist

(å være til)

Hearing you say that you will

(høre deg si at du vil)

We light a candle

(Vi tenner lys)

for love and for peace

(for kjærlighet og fred)

And gather good friends

(og samler gode venner)

in our own little place

(på vårt eget lille sted)

We have a small dream

(Vi har en liten drøm)

for our wedding day

(for bryllupsdagen vår)

May all of our days together

(Må våre dager sammen)

turn into many nice years

(bli til mange fine år)

End