Ch. 9 The Ones We Love

"He should be here soon." Lenora sat on the docks of Skull Island, waiting for Kyle. Adam walked up to her.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I know that you don't approve, but I need to try to convince him to help us." Lenora turned away from Adam. "And I need to be able to say I had at least one decent conversation with my father." Adam put her right hand on her left shoulder.

"You want to try and protect the ones you love."

"No," Lenora responded, "I want to protect everyone."

"I can't tell you what to do; no one can, but someone I know once said that no matter how much darkness exists in someone, there's always a chance for them to come back from the edge." Lenora shed a tear. "That's true for Pedro and for Kyle. You have to have faith that he can find redemption on his own."

"You used my own advice against me," Lenora chuckled. "I just want the chance to know my father, but I should just hope that he'll do the right thing." Lenora looked out into Skull Island's skyway and turned to Adam. "Come on. Let's head back up to Avery's Court." The two pirates headed up the steps of the docks to Skull Island. As they walked away, Kyle moved out of the shadows and watched them leave. He pulled out a pistol and aimed at Lenora's head. The swashbuckler looked through the scope, ready to shoot. Then he saw Lenora, his daughter, his only flesh and blood, resting her head on his shoulder. He lowered his sidearm.

"I can't do this."

"On your left," Alexis shouted. She stabbed her sword into a clockwork's chest and sliced up, cutting it in half from the start of the wound. Blaze turned and put up his sword to block an axe swinging at his head. The two defeated the marines and took a breather.

"Maybe if I hadn't created the clockworks, my memories would be easier to fight off," Blaze chuckled. He shook off the gears that had stuck to his blade and sheathed his sword. "How much farther do we have to go?"

"All that's left is Tauros," Alexis responded, "And he'll be waiting for us at the exit." Blaze looked down.

"Alright, I'll take care of him." He started to walk away without Alexis. I can't lose her again. Alexis grabbed his shoulder, stopping him.

"What are you talking about? You need me to get to him." Blaze shook her off.

"I can take him by myself. I'm not going to let you die again."

"I'm not going to die again. I'm a ghost, remember?" Alexis ruffled Blaze's hair. Alexis walked ahead of him and saw Blaze just standing in place. "You're afraid, aren't you?"

"I watched you die once. If he kills you before I can get out, I don't think I could live with myself."

"You can't live with yourself now," Alexis yelled. Realizing what she'd said, the pirate took her son in her arms. "I'm sorry, but I've seen too many loved ones fight for the ones they love when the ones they love can take care of themselves." Alexis pushed her son away and held onto his shoulders. "I'm going to help you, whether you like it or not."

"I'm sorry."

"I don't know how you do it."

"Do what?" Brave laid on the ground with Will, their bodies facing the opposite directions.

"Keep going," Will stated, "After everything you've been through, I'd have thought you'd give up." Brave put his left hand behind his head.

"Well, it's not like I've never thought about it," Brave sighed. "You remember how I was when you first met me in Rajah. All I wanted to do was get out to save my own skin, but all of you showed me that there was a reason to keep fighting."

"Well, I'm glad that we've had that big of an influence on you," Will chuckled.

"I've always found something to fight for. I've fought for friends, my family, my people, and now you." The two turned their heads and gave each other a playful peck on the cheek.

"You know, we have about five minutes until I have to go on watch."

"Hey, Will!" Will turned and saw Jordan in the archway to Avery's Court. "Come on, you're on watch."

"I guess we'll have to wait until this is all over." Will got up and followed Jordan.

"I'll be waiting."

"Kyle, it's good to see you're back." Pedro greeted. "Did you do what you were sent to do?"

"No," Kyle responded plainly.

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"I mean that I didn't kill my daughter, and I won't." Kyle shoved the pistol Pedro had given him back into his hands. "I'm a human being capable of doing terrible things, but I won't add child killer to that list." The swashbuckler stormed off.

"I gave you an order, Kyle." Pedro quickly followed him. "Don't make me your enemy."

"You know you seem to make a habit of making your allies your enemies. First Ryan, then Adam's crew, and now me." Kyle stopped and turned to face Pedro. "Something that Adam told my daughter actually made sense in my head: 'No matter how much darkness exists in someone, there's always a chance for them to come back from the edge.' He said that it was true about me AND you." Pedro stepped back, baffled. "You can keep wasting your time trying to take someone that never really belonged to you back from your best friend, but I'm done driving my family apart." Pedro lunged at Kyle.

"Shut up!" Pedro and Kyle tumbled across the ground in Dragonspyre. Pedro pinned Kyle down and gave him a strong right hook across his face. "You don't know how much I've suffered; what I've been through! I love her!" Kyle raised his hand and stopped the next blow.

"If you really love her, let her be with the one she loves and stop fighting her. Be there for her as her friend instead of an enemy." Pedro lowered his fist and let go of Kyle. Kyle rubbed his face. "Flint is planning on taking everyone to Skull Island next. I'm not going to let him hurt my family." Kyle walked away again. "Maybe you should think about which side you're on."