K, last part of "For Freedom"
Thanks for the reviews, I think… both honest, good points (don't know if they mean my writing sucks or if they're just helpful tips, hehe). Thanks Foxyjosh for the recap on physics, I'm horrible at that stuff… I try not to make too many 'real life?' reference mistakes, like I did a lot of research on nautical stuff while writing this. But oh well, physics is beyond me XD.
Hm, here we go then!
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"Where are those two?" Torq asked impatiently, pacing the deck of their stolen ship, which was fully provisioned and ready to set sail. The Vaporeon glanced at the cliff. She could see a small figure standing there. It was Skipper, for sure. He was alone, having gotten to the top before the pirate hoard. "He's waiting for us," Torq thought guiltily.
"Look!" Tottle yelled, pointing to the right of the bay.
Dorian and Flint waved at them, then continued swimming towards the craft.
"We'll meet them halfway! Buso, the ropes!" Torq took the wheel.
The cook undid the ropes from the cleats. Wind filled the sail, pushing the vessel out with a sudden burst of speed. They were out!
Then came the rain. It came down in massive droves, like swarms of millions of bees. Still, the ship plowed onwards. It didn't take long for the two groups to rejoin.
"What took so long?" Torq teased, shouting above the gale. Flint and Dorian just smiled back at her, panting from their excursion.
"Where's Buso?" Dorian asked.
Even in the storm, an aroma reached their nostrils. The cook was already at his station.
"Right, let's get Skip!" Flint nodded towards the cliff.
The group looked up, and gasped. Even through the rain, it was clear that Skipper was no longer there, and neither was the ledge he was standing on.
"Come on, we're getting closer." Flint ordered, keeping a calm posture in front of the others. On the inside he was as tumultuous as the sea. Skipper had to be okay.
The little vessel fought onwards toward the mouth of the bay.
"Trim the sail!"
Dorian and Torq furled the sail so that the ship wouldn't shoot past the opening. Without the wind, it slowed to a stop, bobbing up and down on the tossing waves. There was no sign of the Buizel.
"Hey, what's that?" Tottle pointed at something below the water, coming towards them fast.
Flint leaned over the rail and bellowed, "Skip! Is that you mate?"
But as it drew near, it was clear that it was not the sea weasel, or anything resembling a weasel. It was long, thick, and swift. And it rammed into the ship.
The whole craft lurched! Then, it abruptly stopped, sending everybeast crashing onto the deck. The ship was surrounded by ice. Some parts were jagged, others smooth, as the rain pattered off of the uneven surface. Suddenly, a Walrein splashed out of the waters and onto the frozen platform. It raised its head and sounded a bugle-like cry; ivory tusks glinting as the sky flashed. "Nobeast escapes from this island!"
So the pirates had allies guarding the bay's mouth as well!
They were stuck. Parts of the hull and the keel were firmly encased in ice. With a satisfied sneer, the Walrein waddled, quite rapidly for his bulk, back towards the harbor, creating an icy bridge as he went. Along the bay, the pirates were lined up, a giant, dark mass through the downpour. A few water types were already beginning to swim towards them. Once the bridge was done, they'd be able to reach the crew of five aboard the stalled ship.
"Get that sail down!" Dorian ordered, trying to find a way to get them out of this situation. They were right at the mouth… so close!
"NO!" came a unanimous reply from Flint and Torq.
"We ain't leaving without Skip!" Flint glowered, outraged that the Golduck could come up with such a traitorous plan.
"Look, we'll come back for him, if he's still alive, once we get away from them." He motioned towards the mob back on shore, "Deadbeasts can't help anyone!" Dorian countered, trying to be rational.
"Coward!" the gator jeered.
"Ye dare call me a coward?!" the Golduck glared daggers at the younger beast. He was not a coward.
Torq interjected, "Stop it you two! We shouldn't be fighting each other. Dorian, I disagreed with your plan because the mast might snap when the wind fills the sail. We're frozen in the ice, remember?"
The two stared sheepishly at each other as they muttered apologies, especially Dorian, having been corrected by a young maid.
Bmp! The ship trembled a bit.
"Oh no! Is that Walrein back?" Tottle asked, peering nervously over the edge.
Silence. Then, a tinkling, glass like, shattering sound, as a creature broke out from under the ice.
"Hehe, did'ya miss me?" It was Skipper!
"Skip!" A resounding cheer came from the crew.
"Where were ye, matey?" Flint asked, relief washing over him.
Skip shrugged coolly, "Came off the cliff a bit early. Some Walrein saw me underwater, swam toward me like a bullet and smashed me into a rock. Then I guess ol' blubberguts heard you guys and left me for dead."
"Uh oh…" Tottle pointed at the harbor. The walrus had completed his task. The bridge was complete. Pirates stormed towards the ship as quickly as they could on slippery ice. It wouldn't take long.
Skipper turned serious, "Dorian, at the wheel! Torq, Tot, get ready to release that sail once we're free! Flint, to me!"
There were no questions, "Aye aye, Captain!"
Flint jumped off the ship and went to his friend's side, "Whaddaya want me to do, Skip?"
Skipper gave the gator a wink, "We have to break this ice! Do what you do best, mate!"
The Totodile nodded, then started gnashing at the ice encrusted on the hull. The Buizel took a running jump into the hole from which he burst out from. Speed was of the essence.
The sea weasel surveyed the predicament from underwater. If he could find a weak spot… there! The thickest part of the sheet was right below the stern. If he could weaken it enough, perhaps the ship could pull free! Skipper swam a few meters down. Then, he thrust forward, forked tail spinning like a propeller as he shot up through the water. Thmp! He hit the ice hard with his shoulder, but it didn't let up. Determined, he did it again, and again, and again, until at last, the smallest of cracks formed and began to spread.
"Flint, watch out!" Torq cried.
The hoard had arrived. Brandishing various weapons, they cheered victoriously as they neared the ship.
"We'll help you!" the Vaporeon shouted fiercely, grabbing her rapier and making a move to jump overboard.
"Hold your position!" Dorian ordered.
They stared, and they noticed… the ice was cracking.
The ship was beginning to creak as it leaned heavily on the breaking ice. It was the combined efforts of Skipper and Flint, along with the weight of the pirate mob. But it was not yet freed.
"Haha! We've got'em now!" One pirate yelled.
They were out of time.
Flint dared not stray from his task, intent on breaking off as much of the ice on the hull as possible. But just as he was about to be skewered by a spear, just as the pirates had surrounded the ship…
"Arckk! Kreeeeeeeeeee!!" It was a deafening sound.
Gully was back! The Chatot blared his cry directly at the hoard, causing the pirates to slip and trip over themselves. The Walrein toppled over and crushed a few unfortunate beasts under his mass. Even after the parrot stopped, they were still dazed.
"Hurry! They'll be up soon! Very soon!" Gully squawked. His chatter had only confused them temporarily.
But they were done. Like blood seeping out of a wound, a crack grew from the ice under the stern, spreading its branches this way and that. And then, one giant, crisp snap!, as the sheet broke into many small pieces floating on the sea.
Skip emerged, exhausted but still smiling, "Good job, mate! And thank your friend there too." He nodded at the parrot circling above.
Tottle shouted from the ship, "Come on, let's get out of here!"
"Well said, Tot!" Skipper grinned to the turtle.
A peel of lightning. The sail was dropped, picking up a gusty breath of wind. Thunder. And they were gone.
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They sailed fast and true, the island becoming a speck in the distance. Everything was behind them, even the concentrated storm cloud. A gentle breeze carried them forward. The sky was a pallet of reds and yellows. The stars were just going to sleep for the day, a few glimmers still visible. The moon was fading; a sliver of the sun was emerging. It was dawn.
Gully perched on the mast and flapped his wings, "Cap'n! Cap'n! Over there! Over there!"
Skipper looked back from the bowsprit, as close as he could get to the dawn rise, "What is it, matey?"
To everyone's surprise, the parrot gave but one word, "Freedom!"
The Buizel turned back to the horizon and grinned, the fire of the sun reflecting off his eyes, "Aye."
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THE END!
Haha, just kidding! (put those party hats away!)
There is more, 'cause I have another story arch.
But for now, cheers!
-Canyx