Disclaimer: The Mad Doctor claims no ownership to the Kingdom Hearts franchise. It belongs to Disney and Square Enix.

Notes from the Mad Doctor: Greetings readers! I forgot to mention that if you need pictures to go with the names of Hook's pirate crew, they can be found on the Disney wiki (except for Damien Salt whose name was taken from his counterpart in the Epic Mickey series). Anyway, here's the big battle scene! Enjoy!

Chapter 12: The Battle of the Jolly Roger

Never Land

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

"No sign of the beast anywhere!" exclaimed Damien Salt as the pirates continued to peruse the waters.

"There's not even a bloomin' ripple," said Bill Jukes.

"Now men, we can still hear the ticking. So, until we don't hear it anymore, we keep looking," said Smee.

"Perhaps the captain was only hearing things," said Mr. Starkey.

"Then how come we all can hear it?" asked Mullins.

"Simple. We've put up with the captain's paranoia for so long that now whenever he thinks he hears the crocodile near, he has a way of making us all think we're hearing it," said Mr. Starkey.

The other pirates began to consider this outlandish notion. But ever faithful Smee refused to believe. "Now let's not have any bad talk about our captain, men. He'd take it as mutiny talk," he said.

Suddenly, everything went silent. The ticking had ceased. The pirates gazed around in confusion.

"There, you see. The crocodile probably realized the captain wasn't out, so he finally left," said Smee.

"Then how come we didn't see it?" asked Damien Salt.

Smee shrugged. "Maybe it's trying to be sneakier. Heh-heh. Not that it would help it in the slightest. I mean the moment we hear that sound; we know immediately…"

"COCK-A-DOODLE DOO!"

The sudden crowing caused Smee and the pirates to nearly jump out of their skins. They barely had the time to recover from the shock when a flash of green flew out from behind them and float in front of them, laughing his head off.

"It's Pan!" exclaimed Black Murphy, an unshaven pirate dressed in green.

"Hello, fellas! Nice day, we're having, isn't it?" asked Peter as he tipped his hat.

"Why, yes, it is," said Smee pleasantly causing the other pirates to glare at him.

Realizing that he was not striking the proper tone, Smee cleared his throat and said, "Peter Pan, what business brings you to the Jolly Roger?"

"Oh, no reason. Just thought I'd drop by and teach you ruffians a lesson about using my friend as a bait for my other friend!" shouted Peter angrily.

"Friend?" asked Smee confusedly.

"He means me!"

Smee turned around and gasped as he found himself face to face with Kairi as she pointed the tip of Destiny's Embrace right in his face. Pluto, Tink and the Lost Boys stood around her glaring at the pirates.

"If there's one thing you pirates should know, it's that I don't appreciate being kidnapped to be involved in plans against my best friend," Kairi declared as her friends nodded in agreement.

"The prisoner!" exclaimed Bill Jukes.

"She's been freed!" exclaimed Mr. Starkey.

"Say your prayers, blackguards! We'll teach you a lesson about how to treat a girl!" shouted Peter as he flew down to Kairi's side and took out his dagger.

"Get them!" shouted Damien Salt as the pirates, with the exception of Smee, took out their weapons and charged at the Kairi and Peter's crew.

"Scatter, everyone! Except you, Kairi! You stick with me and Tink!" said Peter.

"Right, Peter!" exclaimed Kairi as she ran alongside Peter and Tink while the Lost Boys spread all over the deck with the pirates charging after them.

Smee, however, just stood where he was and watched the battle unfold. 'The girl has a Keyblade? Oh, the captain is not going to pleased about this at all.'

Then he realized what he should have been doing. "The captain! He should know about this!" he exclaimed as he began to run toward the end of the ship where the captain's cabin was.

But before he could get far, he was intercepted by Pluto. His teeth were bared as he growled savagely.

"Uh nice dog?" asked Smee timidly.

Pluto responded with rapid-fire barking. With a shriek, Smee ran with the dog in hot pursuit. Coming to one of the masts, he leapt onto it and began to climb.

Before he could get far up, Pluto leapt and caught the seat of Smee's pants in his mouth. The pants ripped revealing his underwear. Smee scrambled up further until he was finally out of reach of the dog's teeth.

"Shoo, dog! Shoo!" Smee shouted as he kicked his leg at Pluto while clinging on for dear life with the irate Pluto barking at him as if he were a cat he chased up a tree.

In the meantime, the entire deck of the Jolly Roger had erupted into chaos. Members of both sides were now scattered around engaged in combat with each other.

Kairi and Peter's side, unfortunately, was at a disadvantage. The pirates were in far greater numbers and since Kairi and Peter were the only ones who could take the pirates head-on, Tink and the Lost Boys were outsized and outgunned due to the pirates being bigger and bearing better weapons.

Fortunately, they had ways of compensating for that. They had their small size, their cleverness and they knew how to use the environment to their advantage.

"Come back here!" shouted Black Murphy as he chased after Nibs. But the rabbit-suited boy kept running until he lured the pirate right where he wanted him.

Before Black Murphy knew it, the Twins pulled a cannon across his path. He tripped over it and slammed face first into the deck. He moaned in pain.

"You really ought to watch where you're running!" said the Twins as they and Nibs ran off.

At the same time, Cubby had come to a pile of cannonballs. Using all his strength, he struggled to pick one up. Just as he finally did, he was confronted by Mullins who pointed a knife at him.

"Drop it!" the pirate commanded.

"If you say so," said the boy as he dropped the cannonball right onto Mullins' right foot. The pirate screamed in pain and clutched his foot while Cubby made his getaway.

As Mullins continued to hold his foot, he hopped backward. He was so engrossed in pain that he didn't see the looped rope on the deck. Once the foot he was hopping on was in the loop, Slightly and Cubby pulled on a rope and hoisted Mullins so that he was dangling from a beam much like Pluto had been earlier.

"It worked!" exclaimed Cubby as he and Slightly tied the rope down to leave Mullins where he was.

"Good thing you set up these traps while we were distracting the pirates with our ticking," said Slightly.

"Well, let's go see who else needs our help," said Cubby as he and Slightly rushed off.

"Come on! You almost had me that time! Do you want me to slow down a little?" taunted Peter as he dodged a punch from the large tattooed pirate.

"Is it really a good idea to mock your opponent like that, Peter?" asked Kairi as she crossed her Keyblade with Mr. Starkey's sword nearby.

"Of course it is, Kairi. It's actually one of my favorite ways to fight. You see, the angrier your opponent is, the more careless they get. It makes the battle easier and a lot more fun," said Peter as he dodged another blow from the pirate, zipped around behind him and stuck him in the rear with his dagger causing him to yelp in pain.

'I don't know about making a battle more fun. But getting an opponent mad to make them careless in battle? That actually sounds like a good strategy,' thought Kairi as she blocked another slash from Mr. Starkey.

Throughout the entirety of the battle with the pirate, Kairi had been trying to find a way to defeat him without killing or hurting him too badly. Though she knew that even Sora had taken lives in battle, she didn't want to resort to that unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, this had kept her on the defensive and she had yet to make a single attack against Mr. Starkey.

"How pathetic! If that's the best you can do, girl, then you're better off giving up!" cackled the pirate as he raised his sword for another slash.

'Maybe if I just hold back a little, this could work,' thought Kairi as she saw an opportunity and raised the tip of her Keyblade to the sky.

"Thunder!" she shouted causing a small bolt of lightning to shoot out of her Keyblade. It struck Mr. Starkey's sword like a lightning rod and shocked him into a daze.

'Can't believe that worked!' thought Kairi.

Suddenly, Tink flew to Kairi's right ear. She tinkled while pointing in an upward direction. Kairi followed the fairy's instructions and looked up to see Bill Jukes swinging toward her on a rope while waving his sword.

But thanks to Tink's timely warning, Kairi ducked just before the deadly blade could take off her head. Jukes sailed past her and over the railing. Before he could swing back, Kairi threw her Keyblade at the rope, slicing through it and sending the short pirate falling into the water.

"You're doing pretty good, Kairi!" complemented Peter as he dodged another blow from the tattooed pirate.

"Thanks," said Kairi as she caught her Keyblade as it returned to her. She then turned her attention to Peter's fight with the tattooed pirate. Then she looked behind herself and what she saw gave her an idea.

"Tink, could you tell Peter something for me?" she asked as she turned to Tink who nodded in response.

Kairi whispered something to the fairy. After she finished, Tink flew to Peter's ear and whispered what Kairi had told her. Peter nodded in understanding.

Positioning himself between the tattooed pirate and Kairi, Peter stuck his thumbs in his ears, wiggled his fingers and mocked, "Hey, you big lug! Nah nah! You can't get me!"

That was the last straw for the tattooed pirate. With an enraged grunt, he charged at Peter like a bull.

But before he could lay his hands on the boy, Peter dodged to the right just as Kairi shouted, "Light!"

A bright blast of light emitted from her Keyblade blinding the pirate. Kairi and Peter then stuck their feet out and tripped him. The pirate careened headfirst into a cannon. The force caused the cannon to flip up and slam down on his head. He was knocked out cold.

"Alright! Your idea worked, Kairi!" exclaimed Peter.

"Yes. It actually did," said Kairi who could hardly believe it herself. She even had a hard time comprehending the fact that she had taken three opponents out of the battle. She felt a sense of pride in that accomplishment.

'I can't believe I'm actually pulling this off. Glad all that training these last few months is paying off.'

Kairi and Peter then scanned the deck and the ongoing battle. So far, it appeared to be going in their favor. The Lost Boys had incapacitated many of the pirates who were either out cold, tied up or knocked overboard. Pluto still had Smee cornered up the mast causing Kairi, Peter and Tink to laugh.

"Once we finish with the crew, then it'll be Hook's turn," said Peter.

"Peter, about fighting Hook. I'd like to…" Kairi didn't get to finish her request when she saw something awful happening.

Currently on a plank overlooking the edge of the ship was Toodles. He was being forced near the edge of it by Damien Salt.

"Peter!" shouted Kairi pointing in the direction of the Lost Boy in trouble.

"Huh?" asked Peter as he turned to look. But just as he did, he was suddenly lassoed with a rope pinning his arms to his sides. At the other end were a couple of pirates laughing wickedly. Peter struggled to get free as the pirates attempted to pull him to the deck.

"I'll get you free, Peter!" cried Kairi as she aimed her Keyblade to throw it and cut Peter free.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, Kairi saw Mr. Starkey charging toward her. She quickly turned just in time to block his sword with her Keyblade. The pirate pushed her backward until she was up against the edge of the ship.

'I guess I held back a little too much with that Thunder spell if he recovered so quickly from it.'

"Tink! Go help Toodles!" she cried.

The fairy nodded and streaked across the deck. When she reached Salt, she immediately grabbed onto one end of his moustache and pulled it. The pirate stopped advancing on the Lost Boy and turned his attention to Tink, trying to swat her with his sword and free hand.

However, Salt had moved too far onto the plank. Even with Tink distracting him, there was no way for Toodles to get past him and back onto the ship.

"Slightly! Cubby!" Kairi called hoping that one of the other boys would hear her and help their comrade. But all of them were currently occupied with fighting their own opponents.

Mr. Starkey gave an evil grin. "Yer wasting your breath, girlie. I hope the sharks like the taste of skunk!" he cackled.

Finally, Salt sliced through his moustache with his cutlass sending Tinker Bell flying away from recoil. He then raised his cutlass and prepared to swipe it down on Toodles.

With no one to help him, it looked pretty bleak for the youngest member of Peter's crew. It looked like, for the first time, they were going to lose one of their own.

'No! I can't let that happen! I won't let it happen!'

Then, to the surprise of Mr. Starkey, Kairi's body began to glow with an ethereal white light. The light erupted into a blast sending him flying overboard.

In the blink of an eye, the princess then vanished into a streak of light. It travelled across the deck until it reached the plank. Kairi rematerialized directly in between Salt and Toodles just in time to block the pirate's attack with her Keyblade.

The pirate was stunned at Kairi's sudden appearance. But it was nothing compared to the princess's own surprise.

'What just happened? How did I do that?'

But realizing it would have to wait, she took advantage of the pirate's shock and leapt into action. She quickly used her Keyblade to knock Salt's cutlass out of his hand and then used the flat side of it to push him off the side of the plank. The pirate screamed as he splashed down into the water.

Kairi gave a sigh of relief and turned to the Lost Boy she just saved. "Are you all right, Toodles?"

The Lost Boy, as usual, said nothing. But with a big smile on his face, he hugged Kairi around the waist. Kairi smiled down at him.

"Great job, Kairi!" called Peter who was now flying above the water. He still had the rope tied around him with the two pirates who had been holding it now dangling from it.

"Let me give you a hand with those pirates, Peter," saidd Kairi as she threw Destiny's Embrace at the rope. The Keyblade sliced through the rope and the two pirates dropped down into the water like a stone.

"And that's the last of them!" announced Peter as he flew back to the ship and landed on the deck. Kairi, Tink and the Lost Boys gathered around him.

"Nice fight, everyone! I knew we'd win just like we always do," said Peter as Slightly and Cubby removed the rope from him.

"We may have won, Peter. But Toodles nearly walked the plank. Weren't you worried that he'd be hurt?" asked Kairi.

"Not at all. I knew he'd be fine. And he is, thanks to you and your incredible trick. You never mentioned you could do something like that. I never even saw Sora do something like that," said Peter.

"To tell you the truth, Peter, I have no idea where it came from," said Kairi who was still mystified about the mysterious power that enabled her to save Toodles.

"Smee? It's been far too long. Is the crocodile gone?" asked a familiar voice

The group turned in the direction of the voice. They saw that Captain Hook had finally emerged from his cabin. And upon seeing his crew incapacitated in many ways and his archenemy standing in the midst, his face contorted in anger.

"Smee! What happened?!" he demanded.

"Well, captain, it seems that while we were looking for the crocodile, Peter Pan and the Lost Boys snuck onto the ship and freed our prisoners. Then they attacked us with absolutely no provocation at all," said Smee as he continued to clutch onto the mast with Pluto growling below him.

"By the way, Hook, how'd you like the clock impressions we gave you? We've been working on them for quite some time. So good to know that they work because they certainly fooled you," said Peter smugly as the Lost Boys laughed.

"You mean I was tricked? Blast you, Pan! This be the last straw!" shouted Hook as he drew his sword.

"Come face me, boy! Today, we settle it once and for all!"

"You've said that so many times before. But I'm always happy to give you a fight so say your prayers, Hook!" shouted Peter as he drew his dagger and prepared to fly off to face the captain.

But before he could, Kairi held out an arm in front of him. "Wait, Peter. Let me fight him. One on one."

Peter and his crew gasped. "Are you sure about that, Kairi? The other pirates are easy opponents, but Hook is the best swordsman out of all of them. He won't be as easy to defeat," said Peter.

"I need to do this, Peter. Remember what you said about teaching Hook a lesson? About using friends as bait for other friends? I have to be the one to teach him that lesson. He really crossed a line when he captured me as bait for Sora and he needs to answer for that," said Kairi with determination.

"Kairi, I'm as mad about that as you are. But that doesn't mean you have to face Hook alone. Sora didn't even do that. Even if it was just you and me, we could beat him," said Peter.

"I know we could, Peter. But it's not just about that. It's also not just about teaching him a lesson," said Kairi.

"What do you mean?" asked Peter.

"I don't know what I am going to face on my journey. There may be worse enemies than Hook out there and I may not have anyone to help me. I need to know that I can hold my own in a fight against a major enemy and not just minor ones. It's the only way I can get stronger so I can find and save Sora. So, please Peter. Let me do this," pleaded Kairi.

"But Kairi, what if you lose?" asked Slightly.

"Then you won't be able to find your friend at all," said Nibs.

"I'm aware of what may happen, boys. But, unless I call for you or it looks like I am going to lose, none of are you are to help me in this fight."

Kairi then heard a whimper. She turned and saw Pluto approaching her with a worried look on his face.

"The same goes for you too, Pluto. So, can you all promise me you'll let me fight Hook on my own?"

Everyone looked reluctant to make that promise. Kairi couldn't blame them for that. Truthfully, she herself would never have wanted to watch a friend try something so risky even if they felt it was something that needed to be done.

Finally, Peter smiled and put his hand on Kairi's shoulder. "If it's that important to you, Kairi, then we'll stay out of it. We give you our word. Right, everybody?" he asked causing Tink, the Lost Boys, and Pluto to nod.

"There you go. We'll cheer you on from the sides then. But we'll be watching the fight and the moment you call for us or it looks like you need help, then we're jumping in no matter what."

Kairi looked at everyone surrounding her who were all nodding in agreement. She smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Peter. Thank you all."

"What keeping you, boy?! It's bad form to keep your opponent waiting," cried out Hook.

"Sounds like he's getting impatient. Better not keep him waiting any longer. Also, here's a little advice. Remember what I said about getting your opponent mad so they'll get sloppy in their fighting? Try it out on Hook. It's quite effective," said Peter.

"I'll keep that in mind," said Kairi.

"Go get him, Kairi!" cheered the Twins.

"Show him that no one messes with our friends!" exclaimed Nibs

"Knock him overboard!" exclaimed Slightly.

"But be careful. We don't want to see you get hurted," said Cubby.

Tink tinkled encouragingly while pumping her fist in the air.

Pluto let out several encouraging barks.

Toodles, silent as always, gave Kairi another hug around the waist. She smiled and patted him on the head before he let go.

With a grateful nod to everyone, Kairi made her way to the stairs that would take her up to where Hook was. Behind her, she heard the cheering, tinkling and barking of encouragement from her friends.

'I guess I should be grateful the Wayfinder brought me to a world where I can put my skills to test against a relatively easy enemy. Compared to the likes of villains like Maleficent, the members of the Organization or Xehanort himself, Captain Hook is definitely not in the same league. Still, I'd better not take this battle lightly because the boys are right. I lose this fight and Sora's lost forever.'

Kairi steeled herself for the upcoming duel with the pirate captain. Whether it would end in her first great triumph over a major opponent or in a disastrous defeat remained to be seen.

Notes from the Mad Doctor: Hope I did a good job with the battle scene. Like I've said before, they're not easy to write and I'm sure other writers have the same struggle. I had to find some creative ways for the Lost Boys to participate in the battle because we never actually see them fighting the pirates in any of the Disney Peter Pan movies (apart from dropping stuff on the pirates from a crow's nest). Also, if you are wondering exactly where that strange ability that Kairi exhibited came from, you'll just have to keep reading because it will be explored later down the road. Next chapter, it's the boss battle: Kairi vs. Captain Hook. Will she defeat her first Disney Villain? You'll just have to come back to find out. Reviews are much appreciated! Stay tuned!