Chapter 7

I do not own Happy Tree Friends. All credit goes to Mondo Media(Also shout out to Better A Freak Than A Fake for helping me with this chapter)

Russell darted down the left hallway after following the bluenette's instructions, making his way towards the end of the hall and was surprised to not see any organization members. He slightly stopped and glanced around. "This looks way too easy," He muttered. "Like they're trying to lead me on."

"It's probably a trap."

"Maybe, but what other choice do I have?" Russell lowered his head towards the floor and gripped his sword tighter. The more he thought it was a trap, the more concerned he became for Umi. The former pirate believed that they were using her as bait to lead him, and then ambush him so he would have no escape. Russell chuckled to himself at the thought and shook his head. "No way they would pull that." He said before continuing on.

It didn't take him long to reach the end of the hall, and he was greeted with a pair of double doors. He released the breath he was holding in and gripped the handle tightly. The former pirate mentally prepared himself for whatever was in the room before pulling open the door and peering inside. He was greeted with a dark room that he found odd and took a few steps inside, having a tight hold on his sword. Russell glanced around cautiously before he was grabbed from behind. He would have been thrown to the ground if he didn't stab his assailant, who pulled away with a loud grunt and fell to the concrete floor below them. "Can't believe they actually went with that." He muttered.

Lights were switched on and his eye widened when he saw Keplinger on the other side of the room, and Umi was crouched a few feet away. Keplinger smiled at the sight and crossed his arms. "It's been a long time, Captain."

"N-No way," Russell took a step back in disbelief. "You're with them?"

"I see that you're doing well," Keplinger replied as he turned away. "You see I was just telling your daughter about our tales on the sea, mostly about you and your kills." Russell jerked his head towards the toddler, who shrouded away from his gaze. He wondered how much his old crewmate had said, which increased his concern for his daughter's sanity. Russell began to fear that Keplinger had told her everything about his past. "Umi, whatever he told you, don't listen to-"

"To what? The truth?" Russell averted his gaze and causing his bangs to cover his eye. He lowered his head as the other continued. "And you had the nerve to show yourself in front of your child in that state," He pointed out the blood on the bluenette's clothes and sword. "Face it, Captain. She's terrified of you at this point if she wasn't already. Maybe your boyfriend should have gotten her instead."

Russell's head shot up with a death glare as he aimed his sword at his former crewmate. To him, it sounded as though Keplinger was doubting his capabilities as a parent, although he knew that's not what his retort meant; it was a challenge to see if the former pirate would go to any lengths to save his daughter, even if it meant scarring her. He let out a breath and took a step forward, the look in his eye beginning to calm even though the glare hasn't disappeared. "You see Andrew, there are two difference between my husband and I," He began to pick at the dried blood on his nails as he continued to speak. "The first being he has no idea what you're capable of, unlike me. Although I can't really count that as a difference because he can adapt quickly in a fight. And secondly," He lifted his gaze with a smirk. "Unlike me, he would probably do whatever he could to make sure he wouldn't scare Umi, so he would probably hold back his true strength. But I'm not like that."

Russell held his gaze as Keplinger lifted an eyebrow when he heard husband escape the other's lips. He placed a hand on his hip with a smile, slowly pulling his sword from the sheath that was around his waist. Russell tensed up slightly and got into a fighting position. "I see. Congratulations. Although, I hate to break up a marriage like this." In a flash, he lunged for the bluenette, causing Russell to dodge a lethal blow. He winced and pulled away when he felt a cut on his cheek, although the distraction didn't keep his attention for he parried the next attack by the other. "I see you didn't lose your touch."

"You're as rusty as ever." Russell wiped the blood from his cheek before darting forward in a rush, aiming straight for Keplinger's chest so he could hurry and get this over with. However, that attack was soon dodged, and the former pirate found himself being thrown onto his back with a thud. He rolled out of the way once a sword was close to piercing him once again and got back to his feet. "Nice trick, but it won't be enough to finish me."

"As expected of my former captain." Keplinger smiled until it turned into a frown as a presence rushed by him before he felt pain in his side. He looked down to see a blood stain on the side of his shirt, watching it expand onto his front. "But, you have much more to learn, my former crewmate."

"You never cease to amaze me." The other complimented before he turned to face the bluenette. Russell prepared for another attack as Keplinger slowly began to step towards him. Over the course of a few seconds, the two had clashed swords once again, never losing the glares in their eyes nor their stances. Russell had made sure that their fight got nowhere near the toddler in fear of her being hurt, and he made sure the other didn't have a chance to go near her.

Keplinger interrupted the endless parries by grabbing the bluenette by the hair and pulling him forward, having his eyes widen in response and his sword slipping out of his hand. The former crewmate didn't hesitate to plunge his sword into Russell's torso repeatedly to inflict heavy damage. Russell began to cough up blood and he headbutted Keplinger so he would be released. He staggered back in pain, reaching down to grab his blade once again as Keplinger held his broken nose. "You rotten-"

"Say it. I dare you." Russell took a few deep breaths before he was able to stand tall and ignore his injury. He knew it would heal in about an hour so he wasn't too worried about it. Russell didn't let the other recover as he soon darted forward, aiming straight for Keplinger's left eye and watching as the blade destroyed it. Keplinger pulled back with a pained groan, cursing out profanity that would have scarred Umi if she wasn't already. Russell then threw a fist, but was caught in a tight grip. "Do you really think you can defeat me like this?" A loud crack in the air had Russell shriek in pain as his hand fell motionless in the other's hold, and he tried to pull away in response. Keplinger released him and he fell to his knees, cradling his broken hand and glaring at the one standing above him. "I realize how pitiful you look right now." Russell tried to ignore the pain in his left hand as he struggled to get back to his feet, but he was kicked down soon after. The moment Keplinger raised his sword, the bluenette jerked himself back to his sword only for his eye to widen when he felt a blade make contact with the injured appendage.

The former captain screeched and fell forward with a thud, hearing Keplinger laugh behind him. "What a shame. I was hoping to get more than a hand." Russell reached out for his sword and wrapped his fingers around it tightly and holding onto the stub on his left arm. He cursed under his breath and looked to see a lifeless hand not far from where he crouched. He almost didn't notice Keplinger raise his sword to strike a final blow, and before there was a chance, Russell swung his blade at the other's abdomen, causing blood to spew along with a few organs. The enemy stumbled back with a groan as he held his organs inside and sent a glare. "You'll pay for that."

"Try me." Russell panted as he attempted to get off of the ground, although his body refused to. He watched Keplinger began to walk towards him, slowed down by his injury, and take aim. "This is the end for you," He said as he stood a foot away from the bluenette. "Once I'm done with you, the bitch of a daughter of yours is next." A moment later, he looked down to see Russell's sword pierced in his chest, and a glare that was sent from him. He used the body as leverage so he could get to his feet. "Don't you dare say that again," He growled. "I will bring you from the afterlife and kill you a second time if you do." Russell harshly yanked his sword out of Keplinger's body and watched it fall lifelessly to the floor. He felt him self losing conscious due to the massive loss of blood, but he made sure to step over towards the frightened toddler. "Umi, everything's okay now. You're safe."

Umi took one look at her mother's state and tears began to roll down her face as she cried loudly. Russell looked down at his missing hand and the blood all over his clothes. "Yes, I know I look scary, but I'm not going to hurt you." The toddler didn't even bother looking at him again, and he turned around with a sigh. "Fine then. If you don't want to go home, then I suggest you stay here with people who are scarier than me." Umi's crying had ceased at once as she watched him head for the door. Not even a second later did she grab onto his leg and hid her gaze. "I wanna see Daddy," She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "Please Mama?"

"Of course." He took her hand as they entered the hall and made their way towards the front door. Every step had Russell's vision blur, and he felt lightheaded. The former pirate saw a blur of orange heading towards him before he passed out against the wall as Umi's voice called out to him.

With a moan, Russell awoke to see that he was in the backseat of the van they had arrived in, gazing up to see his head in Handy's lap. "Don't move okay? You lost a lot of blood."

"What happened?" He muttered quietly, noticing that the stab wounds on his torso had disappeared and his amputated arm was bandaged up. "Well Sniffles told me to help you out, and I saw you passed out in the hall. Umi was losing her shit, and I brought you back here for Sniffles could make sure you didn't die."

"Oh." The bluenette looked down at his injured arm once again with a sigh, causing Handy to follow it. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. It'll be back in a few hours, although I can't imagine going without a hand." The comment alone was enough to make Russell weakly punch him in the jaw, wincing from the aftermath pain of the stabbing. With the other male's help, he sat up in his seat and looked in the trunk behind him. The rescued children had fallen asleep from the shock, and were wrapped in blankets that were surprisingly already there long before they left Happy Tree Town: The triplets were huddled together under a blanket in a corner as though they wanted to make sure not to lose each other, Lilac was curled up against the backseat and whimpering about wanting to see his mother again, and Umi was faced away from the seat. Russell lowered his gaze and turned around as Handy reached over to pull his son into his arms. "I don't think you should worry about her," He said. "Give her some times and she won't be scared of you."

"Right." Russell replied sadly and he gazed out the window again as they waited for Flippy to finish his fight with Lovelace. He closed his eyes in hopes of forgetting this entire night along with his desire to go home growing every second.