Attention all readers: the story is actually almost over. Yes, you have read all this and, if you're still here, you get to see how it ends. (Or will it…)

Captain Barbossa

Swords clashed and metal rang as the combatants jumped from ledge to ledge, pile to pile. Sora got knocked back by Barbossa, falling down the pile of treasures. "Sora!" Jack briefly looked to the side, then looked back to Barbossa.

"Compassion? C'mon Jack, its stuff like that that lost you the Pearl in the first place!" Barbossa lunged, Jack parrying the attack. Sora got up, watching the fight.

"C'mon Jack ! Get him!"

"What?" Jack looked over to Sora, and then lurched back. He looked down, Barbossa's sword sticking out of his chest. Jack staggered, then fell back into the moonlight. His skin dissolved and clothes tore as he transformed into a skeleton. "Well, that's different." He examined himself, then took the medallion out of his sleeve. Barbossa stared at the gold coin. "Sorry, mate. Couldn't help myself." Barbossa pulled his sword out of the pirate, then began to attack again. Sora turned in time to block a pirate carrying axes. Sora knocked him back, running up to Jack. Barbossa turned to the newcomer, swinging low. Sora stepped on the blade, Barbossa looking up at him.

"Sorry, Captain." He shoved the butt of the Keyblade up Barbossa's chin, knocking him back into the moonlight.

"Now!" Jack cut his hand with his sword, grasped the medallion, and threw it to Sora. Sora ran up to the chest, stopping when he heard a click. Turning, he saw Barbossa standing opposite him, a pistol pointed at his chest.

"Sorry, lad." He put his finger on the trigger, a shot ringing out. Sora flinched. Barbossa turned around, Jack's pistol smoking from the barrel. "Fool Jack, that was your only shot, and you wasted it."

"Not exactly." Sora dropped the medallion in the chest, blood dripping from his palm onto the coin as it hit the stack. Barbossa opened his jacket, looking at his shirt. Blood began to seep out, dying the white shirt a deep crimson.

"I-I-," he stammered. "Feel…cold." With that, Barbossa fell over, a number of other pirates following. The others realized what was going on, putting their weapons down. Donald and Goofy patrolled through them, keeping them under control. Jack looked over to Sora, who smiled. The moon shone down through the holes in the ceiling.

Jack walked along the deck, making preparations to set sail. Sora came up the ramp, Donald and Goofy following. "So, Jack, you got the Pearl."

"That I did." He moved ropes and barrels around, making sure everything looked right. "Now, I need a crew. I never did go to Tortuga." Sora shrugged, Donald and Goofy looking at each other. "How's about you three join me?" Sora jumped, then looked at Jack hard.

"What? Become a pirate?" Jack laughed.

"You don't have to become one. You already have. You sto- commandeered a vessel, took your crew to battle, and defeated a pirate captain. I'd say that's enough." Sora seemed to think about it.

"Sorry Jack, but we've got other things we have to do, too."

"Fine, I see how it is. Just take this." He handed Sora his compass. "You'll need it more than me." Sora looked at the needle, which spun around wildly, then pointed straight ahead. The Keyblade lurched in that direction, the compass sticking to the weapon. A light flashed, the two objects fusing. A Keyhole appeared on the double doors in front of them, the new Keyblade shooting a light out into it. The sound of an enormous lock rang through the air, the Keyhole disappearing. "Well, it never did that for me." Sora laughed.

"So, where are you going after you get your crew?" Jack leaned back on a barrel.

"I've no idea. We'll just follow the wind." Sora looked down at the Keyblade.

"Follow the Wind."