As we sail into the next level, we'll get a few hints and see some old faces!


Part 2: Cowboys and Pirates

The tournament rules said that ships weren't allowed to fly, but nothing was said about using wheels! Shimmy extracted train-like wheels to steer over the sandy sea, though they likened it to a car driving through mud. It got stuck going up dunes and would sway at sudden times. "Y'know, we shoulda brought Spike." Christina figured, her body aflame as the team warmed their selves around her. "Bet ya he'd make a good pirate."

"Oh, heck no!" Jason shouted. "Although… if Sector W joined as a rival crew, I coulda wished something from them. Darn it."

"What would you take from Spike?" Isabelle asked.

"Shave his spikes off."

"Ohhhhhhh."

"I think we're still on Earth somewhere." Laruta said, retrieving her phone. "Maybe my map can-"

"Oi, we don't need a map!" Jason said. "We just gotta sail 'til we see something cool!"

"No, we just need to follow wherever the compass is pointing us." Ralph said, the compass in his palm. "Shimmy, rock pillar! Make a left swerve!"

"Yeah, yeah!" Shimmy steered around the obstacle. "AAH!" A green cloud of gas combusted further toward the left.

"What the-?!" Isabelle gasped. "Don't tell me this is a mine field!"

"Sniff, sniff. It smells stinky! It's gas!" Mali said.

"Okay, which of you was it?" Christina asked.

"NOT ME!" both poisonbenders screamed at once.

"Wait, something's coming from that way!" Ralph alerted.

Isabelle gazed through a telescope, enhancing her already keen eyesight. A trio of horsemen came galloping, wearing cowboy hats and pale tan capes. "They're bandits!"

"Bandits don't belong in a pirate game!" Jason yelled. "Fire the watermelons!"

The crewmates loaded the cannons with inedible watermelons, rotten and modified to explode. As they went launching toward the thieves, one of them drew a large popgun and fired large Gas Bombs. The Sunny, being a bigger target, took several hits from the compact bombs, while the horsemen easily evaded the melons. In fact, the melons would only backfire on the kids: one of the riders used a lasso to rope a melon and hurdle it back, while the lead rider seemed to seize the melons in their bending and throw them back. "That one's a poisonbender!" Laruta deduced.

"Then we need to fire the hot sauce cannons!" Christina set up what seemed like a giant sauce bottle. Pumping it with firebending, jets of flaming sauce burned the ground before the bandits, halting their advance.

"Try some of THESE!" Jason spun and punched and array of Light Spheres, the lead bandit shooting them away with well-aimed shots. The third bandit galloped behind the train-ship and pulled out a guitar, strumming soundwaves that ruptured the hull.

"A Music-type!" Isabelle dropped onto the sand and dashed opposite of the train, using her own bending to counter him.

"Music…!" Mali felt that these bandits seemed familiar, but now she was certain. "Guys, these are the Kim-Kam Gang!"

"Who?" Chris asked.

"Oh!" Laruta gasped. "They're a bandit gang that terrorizes North America's desert! Mali's dad's friend is their leader!"

"Uh-huh!" Mali faced down at the other two with a smile. "That poison lady is Ms. Kimaya! And that rope lady is Patty's mom, Ms. Sandy!"

"Howdy!" Sandy Winston revealed her dark-red hair and waved at the giant. "If you know my son, I'm guessing you're a KND op!"

"Ah dunno many others who'd drive a ship through a desert!" Kimaya Diaz revealed her light-blonde hair and green eyes. "What brings you runts out h-" She dodged a punch from Jason.

"Jason, you don't gotta hit them!" Mali cried. "They're friendly!"

"Pirates and bandits are natural enemies! Don't show 'em no mercy!"

"Hey, I'm fine if you wanna play that!" The music bandit, Django, drew a trombone gun, shooting jets of bad notes that ripped Isabelle's dress. "We were gonna rob you, anyway!"

"Oi, guys!" Shimmy alerted. "We're comin' up to solid land! But it looks pretty mountainy, so I'm makin' a right turn!"

"But the compass is still pointing that way!" Ralph said.

"Then Oi reckon the compass we need is up that way!" Jason said. "Mali, load the catapult and launch me!"

"You expect us to fight these bandits ourselves?!" Laruta asked.

"Oh, you aren't telling me I can't take these guys." Christina scoffed.

"I got faith in me crew, that's why! Besides, why would these bandits attack us when there's a whole valley of treasure over there?!"

"Since when does Deadstaurant Valley have treasure?" asked Kimaya.

"Don't just tempt them into following you!" Ralph shouted.

"It's too late!" Jason jumped on the seesaw. "Mali, launch!"

"Hai!" Mali smashed the opposite end and flung Jason toward the desert mountain.

"Main reason we were out here is 'cause we heard a new gang moved into this valley." Django said. "Did the KND send you to deal with them? I thought Sector M was closer."

"We're not on KND business, we're pirates!" Isabelle corrected. "And I'd like to go support my captain if you'd stop being in the way."

"Bandits gotta protect their turf." Kimaya smirked. "Lessee if you pirates are worth your salt!" (Play "Jelly Jamboree" from Donkey Kong!)

Map 1: Deadstaurant Valley

Destination: The Hungry Hippo

"YIPES!" Jason crashed in a sand pit in the center of some cacti. "That could've started badly!" A trail of cacti with flower tops lead across the spike-covered path, the captain jumping the safe platforms across. He landed on more open ground with several twitching cacti lain about. "RUFRUFRUFRUFRUF!" Chihuahuas sprung out of the cacti, needles lodged in their teeth as they gnashed at Jason. Punching them directly would result in his knuckles getting punctured, so he dodged the puppies and relied on ranged light attacks. Once they were down, Jason contemplated where to go next. There was a torch, an oven against the cliff, and every few seconds, a tumbleweed would blow down from above. Jason caught one of the weeds, set it on fire, "Ouch ouch ouch!" and hastily threw it into the oven. Lighting it to life transferred energy through cords, causing a sequence of grills to fly up from a chasm via rockets.

Questioning who designed this setup and why, Jason jumped the grills. The last grill ended before a series of hanging lanterns, which Jason was able to swing via Light Ropes. He landed on a platform that seemed artificially paved with tiled stone, a small staircase leading to a run-down restaurant. "The Cactus Bar? Well, Mum said cactus juice was for grown-ups." He casually broke the door open, but was assaulted by mustard-shooting cowboys called Must-Args! "Hey, you ain't in the right theme to be usin' pirate puns!" Infuriated by these offensive westerners, Jason lay the beatdown. The last Must-Arg retreated to the kitchen, Jason following in time to see him retreat down a sewer grate. But he wouldn't follow before taking the hidden chest in the refrigerator.

The sewer grate dropped Jason into a cactus-floored cavern, though it had the grungy walls and ceiling of a restaurant's sewer. There was a tumbleweed tangled up with stale, curly fries, big enough to stand on. Jason pushed the weed onto the cactus ground and balanced on it to traverse. More Cachihuahuas burst out of cacti, Jason KOing them before they made a meal of his fryweed. Collecting all the gems around the cave, it made a right turn down a path where Salty Sams took aim at him with saltshaker miniguns. Jason maneuvered his ball in evasion of their salt rounds, and his eventual Light Kick KO would leave them feeling salty. Jason led his fryweed into a shaft, and by turning a valve, the entrance sealed as the shaft flooded with cactus juice. It rose level with a crack in the pipe, allowing Jason to punch through and pour out onto safe ground.

This area seemed to have outdoor restaurant tables, and said tables were his only safe way to cross another cactus ground. There was a peculiar, bearded camel resting on one. "COOL, A CAMEL!" Jason mounted it like a horse with natural saddles.

"BOOOO!" cried Gobi the Camel. "Nooooo. Don't take my water. There's almost no clean water in this mountain."

"Don't be picky!" By pounding Gobi's humps, the camel would spit bursts of water that would instantly make some cacti grow flower platforms. Gobi could little but comply in jumping the flowers for Jason's sake. They reached a platform full of Hawtys; flaming beavers. Spitting water on them reverted them to their normal Gnawty state, Gobi stamping them unconscious. Their next path took place over a long grill, scalding hot. Water alone wouldn't cool it, but Gobi was able to eat ice from a nearby freezer. The camel's cooling saliva allowed for safe passage over the grill, which seemed to originate from another restaurant. First, they spat cooling saliva up an alternate set of grills to reach a treasure chest!

In the first dining room of the Spicy Burrito, a Krunch Kow charged at the pair, Gobi dodging while Jason socked him with a Light Sphere. It took a few more good punches until the muscular Kow was KO'ed. Jason broke down a weak wall, leading to a storage room with several tall shelves on wheels, along with large rats called Neeks they decided to KO. Jason had to move the shelves in escalating order so they could reach an opening above the room's entrance. This led to the 2nd floor of the restaurant, where Soda Snakes guarded the kitchen. They could swiftly dodge Jason's spheres, and just as swiftly nip them if they tried to pass. There was a soda machine with different flavors, and the snakes matched those flavors' colors. Jason had Gobi slurp the soda and spit it at the respective snakes, pleasing them as they slithered away.

The kitchen was flooded with soda, but Gobi was able to swim through it. A gate prevented the camel from going further, so Jason dove underneath. The soda was extremely flat and flavorless, and because of that, he struggled more to hold his breath. There were flat Flotsams (Flatsams) covering switches, Jason struggling to tug the fish off. Hitting the switches opened the gates, allowing Gobi to pass. "This soda's awful! Why do you torture me so?!" Gobi cried. Jason rode him to an exit, following a long path that ended at the edge of a cliff. If Jason got a running start, he could glide to the next cliff… but he wanted to take Gobi with him. He had the camel get a running start while Jason spun his tail, and by holding Gobi tight, he was able to carry him in his Tail Glide. Jason couldn't attain the same height with Gobi's weight, but they reached the opposite cliff regardless.

They crossed a snaky path where cowboys threw Orange Grenades. "BOOO!" Gobi was hurt by one, the camel kicking Jason off and galloping further up. An angry Jason violently beat the Klumps to senselessness. The road led to a run-down western town, where more chihuahuas seemed to stalk the houses. Each dog seemed to be terrorizing innocent house cats, and the cats would mew in gratitude upon being saved. Jason found Gobi cowering in a corner, giving a quick "Sorry about that!" before remounting the camel. Come chihuahuas were hidden in buildings, but Jason steadily defeated each one and rescued the cats.

When all 20 cats were saved, they gathered around a dry fountain in the center of town. By performing a dance, the fountain bloomed to life, and a monochrome kitten in cowboy clothes danced on top, dancing as she shot popguns to the air. The sparkling water was immensely refreshing to Gobi, but more importantly, it could be used to water a budding star plant in a corner of the town. The plant grew very tall with several platforms, which brought Jason up to a secret room loaded with treasure. Jason rounded up all that treasure for a massive point bonus! But among that treasure was a torn notebook page with some rather rough writing, and some misspelled words.

I never questioned why I was raised on a pirate ship. My uncle had a small krew, he took me in… and none of them told me about my parents. Working as a kabin boy, the pirates were tough with me. Not too abusive, but not too kind, the kind of treatment that would make a sailor strong. We made our living shooting down trader ships, but stayed hidden from official eyes. When I asked my uncle if other kids lived like this, he said that most kids lived softer lives. Privileged lives. Even kinder lives. He asked if I would rather have such a life… but I didn't think it was so bad here.

Afterwards, Jason and Gobi returned to the main path, a snaky road over a chasm and leading to a huge, sturdy gate. Jason could pick up a nearby powder keg, Gobi carrying both.

However, another Krunch Kow came charging from behind them, Gobi bolting from the beast. The bomb's weight wouldn't let Jason do a running glide, so they could only jump whatever cacti and chihuahuas tried to stop them. Once close to the gate, Jason threw the keg and blew it open. Gobi dashed into it as a boulder fell from the explosion, crushing the Krunch Kow. There was a sign with a "ban" mark over a camel, but when Gobi tried to pass it, "BOOOO," he poofed into thin air, leaving only a treasure chest. "Uhhh…okay." Not going to question it, Jason took the treasure and proceeded.

The captain came upon a wider restaurant: the Hungry Hippo. Its entrance was framed with the gaping mouth of said animal, and a pirate flag with twin eyepatches flapped on the roof. No doubt that was Blackeyes' flag… so, Jason had a good feeling the compass was in there. The boy bravely marched through the door.

"Orm, orm, orm, orm…" A huge, purple hippo in gold and black armor was munching on roasted kittens. "Running out of the little pricks. Are those dogs done, yet?"

"Wot in BLAZES are you EATING?!" Jason exclaimed.

"Horm? Uhr-uhr-uhr-uhr!" The hippo chortled and pushed up on his feet, easily dwarfing Jason by four times. "Looks like I found something crispier to eat. You with the gang that wanders this desert?"

"Oi'm Jason the Rising Sun! Raccoon Pirate and Dead Man Racer!"

"That woulda been my second guess. Uhr-uhr…looks like I landed me a hell of a rookie. I'm Hippopothanos, the Plum Plump!"

"Oh, I know who you're dressed as!"

"That's right, boy! I modeled myself after the legendary alien warlord, Than-"

"Murray, the hippo guy from the Cooper Gang! They were an old band of Mobian thieves, me mum told me stories-"

"THAT'S NOT RIGHT AT ALL! I've been hoping to meet you ever since my boss assigned me to this post. I love eating cats, you see. They're as sweet and chewy as marshmallows. And I always thought… raccoons were kind of catlike, too. Tastier, even. It must be a blessing you would wander into my den!"

"What I just heard was anything but a blessing…"

"So, let's see what the new Raccoon captain is dishing, shall we?!" (Play "Big Top Bop" from Donkey Kong!)

Boss fight: Hippopothanos

Hippopothanos jumped beside a barrel full of plum juice and chugged it up, his bulky and armored exterior withstanding Jason's Light Fists. Once plump with plum, Hippopothanos spat large violet bubbles, fast as cannonballs. Jason was forced into the wall by one bubble, allowing Hippopothanos to land a combo. The density of the liquid balls wasn't too painful for Jason, but the hippo was already filling up for the next round. Jason evaded the bubbles with more caution and waited until he was out: the hippo would give an empty burp before needing to refill, so Jason quickly punched a sphere down his throat. The hippo gagged and fell on his back, giving Jason the chance to Ground Pound his belly. The contracting force in his stomach pumped tears out of the plump hippo, but it was enough of a shock to get Hippopothanos back up.

For his next trick, Hippopothanos pressed a remote to lower the restaurant's floor. Plum juice began to flood the room, prompting Jason to retreat on the floating tables. His foe was submerged under the purple, Jason watching out for the bubbles that gave away his position. When said bubbles neared his table, Hippopothanos would flip it over and bite whatever was on top. Jason would keep jumping tables, but their bobbing weight would indicate where Hippo should go. One of the tables had a barrel on it, so when Jason tricked Hippo into flipping it, he instinctively chomped the barrel. Hippo resurfaced and struggled to shake it off his teeth, but Jason gave him a hand by Ground Pounding his head. Hippo crunched the barrel, but was left with a concussion.

Hippo employed a strategy where he would swim at Jason along the surface, the captain hurriedly jumping tables away from him. Jason noticed some restaurant lights had fallen from the higher ceiling, dangling. He used Light Ropes to swing them, his weight dropping the lights into the water as brief currents of electricity shocked Hippo. After the 3rd shock, Hippo remained stationary enough for Jason to slam his nose again. Hippopothanos pressed his remote to make the floor rise back to normal, the juice pouring out. The violet hippo boiled red with rage, storming toward Jason directly.

The captain met his challenge with a charged Light Fist to the gut, but Hippo withstood and bumped Jason into the wall, followed by crushing him against it. Hippo stepped back, smirking as Jason wobbled from dizziness, and was preparing to ram him again. Jason glanced up at a hanging ceiling light, and roped it to swing into Hippo's face once he charged. Stunned by the sudden action, Hippopothanos tripped on his back, Jason using his newfound altitude to Ground Pound his tummy. Furious, Hippo chugged another barrel of plum juice, belching a bubble big enough to raise the restaurant's roof! The bubble carried him high skyward, all the while Jason spun both fists, mustering as great Light Fists he could with his remaining stamina in what little light was available. Hippopothanos let go of his bubble and descended for a powerful Ground Pound.

Jason gave credence to the hippo for being more stubborn and resilient than the average enemy… but the young captain fought stronger foes beforehand. Jason threw both Light Fists before quickly dodging Hippo's impact, the shockwave still blowing Jason through the wall of the restaurant. But Jason's counterattack, coupled with the force of Hippo's collision knocked the animal out. (End song.)

"Well, that was a right nice workout!" Jason grinned, wiping the juice from his brow. The roof had collapsed into several platforms, conveniently leading to the flagpole. The young captain bounced up and realized the compass replaced the ball on top. Jason seized the compass, and by touching the top of the pole, the flag was replaced with a golden one with his Jolly Roger. Jason then dropped beside Hippopothanos. "I hope you brush your teeth after you wake up, mate."

"Ah'd share condolences, but mah teeth ain't lookin' fine either." A fake country accent said.

Jason spun to the entrance of the restaurant, shocked by the arrival of the blonde woman in heavy western gear. "KIMAYA!"

"Howdy, Jay. Just thought I should tell ya personally… I captured one of your little friends." She directed Jason outside: Laruta Grayson was strapped to the back of her horse, gagged as her little legs kicked. "Them friends of yours ain't bad. Sandy and Django wound up runnin' out of the fight, but I weren't about to let no pirates get the better of me."

"Well, you're about to if you don't let Laruta go!"

"Chill out, little sea-boy. Ah don't reckon you're packin' the gas I am, but I'll make ya a deal. You picked up a right amount o' treasure on this here mountain, right? I'll trade your pal's freedom for it."

"Hey, this treasure is ours, fair and square!"

"Ya hear that, shorty?" Kim glanced back at Laruta. "He cares about his gold more than you."

"I do not! I want this gold FOR us! To prove ourselves in the pirate world!"

Laruta rolled her eyes. "Ah didn't really know your ma that well," Kimaya focused back on Jason, "but I thought she was pretty she was a dang impressive gal. Pirate King ain't a bad achievement." A glob of sentient snot oozed from Laruta's nose, seeping under the rope. "I guess it's 'cause I was more into bandits that I never really hung with her. We natural enemies, ain't we?" Laruta puffed more snot down the stream to inflate it. "But I'd think she'd be decent enough to hand over a few li'l coins for her mate."

"Yeah, she would. But she'd have enough faith in her mates that she wouldn't need to make that call."

"?!" Laruta slipped out of the rope, having puffed a big snot bubble to split it open, the gymnast bursting a quick Gas Bomb as she fled. Kimaya bent the gas away, but Jason threw a quick Light Kick at her shin as he bolted past. The kick did nothing to knock the cowwoman off her sturdy boots. As Jason caught up with Laruta, he lifted the gymnast on his back and dashed up the snaky path he had come along. "You could've at least faked like you would give her the treasure!"

"What, I knew you'd escape! She didn't cover your nose, so I knew you'd booger up something!"

Boogwendy poked out of her nose and yelled angry gibberish. "Wendy's right, Jason, you could stand to be more considerate."

Gas Bombs came launching from Kimaya's popgun, covering the path in gas, but Laruta cleared the way for Jason to see. "Captain, over here!"

"Isabelle!" Jason was delighted to see his first mate at the end of the path.

"I knew you'd be following us!" Laruta smiled.

"Jason, let's go for a flight! The ship should be sailing—I mean, driving past this way! Did you find the compass?"

"Yeah! Let's get outta this cowboy country! The next island AWAITS!" With a combo of Jason's Tail Glide and Isabelle's Song Road, the friends took flight down the valley.

Kimaya's horse charged for the edge, the woman about to leap off her steed and rocket after them… but she didn't account for the snot Laruta left on her saddle. The seat of her pants were stuck to the horse, causing her jump to be anchored and for Kimaya to plummet off the path, "WAAAAAAH!" pulling the horse with her. Fortunately, Kimaya softened their landing with a downward burp, but could only look on in aggravation as the kids escaped. "Ah right, pardner, I'll let you sail home free this time. Someone's gotta round up these trespassers, anyhow. Hmmm…" Kimaya had seen all the cowboys and animals Jason had beaten along the way. Well, they were just pirates playing cowboy, supposedly… and yet, there was something familiar about them.

Mushroomian Sky Sea

"WHOOOOA!" That was Jim Lad's reaction upon realizing their ship was teetering on the edge of the clouds, 10,000 meters above the fields of Mushroom. Well, they didn't really know what planet they were on, the important thing was, "Of COURSE this race would start us up on the White Sea!"

"Quick, turn the sails to starboard!" Mrs. Jolley yelled. "Dad, full throttle on that helm!"

"Now, hold on, darlin', Jim's the captain." her husband said. "What are your orders, Captain?"

"Uh, er…" Jim was so taken aback that he forgot that little agreement. True, he wanted to be captain… and he also really didn't wanna smash into a million pieces against the earth! "L-Let's do what she said! Ah, and let's go into the cabins and push everything to starboard side, put all the weight that way so we won't fall!"

"Good idea, Lad!" the father answered jovially.

"Round you go, sails, round you go!" Nugget cheered, swinging a rope to twist the mast around.

Jim breathed a sigh of relief as the ship stabilized itself on the floating ocean. "Orright, I think we're safe now. Compass says to head northeast! …Looks like we'll need to take a bit of a detour." Huge gaps in the clouds impeded the direct course. "Grandpa, let's keep along the edge; looks like it'll bring us around eventually. Don't steer too close to the edge, you never know when these clouds will give way."

"Jim, can't we have us one of those big fluffy ones?" Nugget pointed. "I wanna know if it takes like cotton candy!"

"I suppose we can sail through them."

"Ahem, uh, Jim?" Dad spoke up. "You know those are Island Clouds, right? Hard as icebergs, they are."

"Eek! Grandpa, stay clear of the fluffy clouds at all costs!"

"Oh, fish pee!" Nugget pouted.

"Watch your language, lassie." Mum said. "Phew, that was quite a scare though. We haven't been to the White Sea since you were five, Jim."

"You've been here before, Jim?"

"Aye, you were only just born, Nugget. Heheh, bet ya most lubbers don't get to celebrate a birth like that!"

"Yer brother sure wet 'imself a lot!" Grandpa chortled. "He was scared like the dickens, he was!"

"Because the last time, we rode a rising sea current!" Jim outbursted. "It was goin' so fast and I thought the clouds were a ceiling!"

"Well, your father also held you over the edge of the sea." Mother mentioned with a reprimanding look.

"In any case, 'long as we watch out for holes, there ain't nothin' to be scared of here…" Jim gazed at the earth through his telescope. The rounded hills with eyes and the alien creatures weren't like any landscape he'd heard of on Earth. It was a valley he'd like to explore if he were able to now… Still, the fantastical scenery only upset him more, knowing Matilda wasn't here to experience it. They knew it'd be too risky to take her to the White Sea before, but if she were able to now… imagine the awe on her face, imagine her feeling the thrill only true pirates would feel. She'd never want to go back to Dull-on-Sea again. Imagine if they could fly to space, free to sail on any planet they want…

Scurvy Sands

"Looks like our scurvy racers are just about finished with their first islands!" exclaimed the announcer, Itomimizu, a thin man in a purple shirt, monochrome-striped hat, and a big mouth that composed most of his face. "The Gabi Gang finished earlier than the others. If they make it to the next ocean, they'll be in the lead! The Shorescrubbers lagged behind a little, so they better pick up the pace before a rival crew steals their next compass. And it seems the Raccoon Pirates had a nasty run-in with a local bandit gang! According to sources, the Kim-Kam Gang has over a hundred members, based all around the North American desert. I'd say our Raccoons are getting off a bit lucky!"

The race was broadcasted to all TVs in town, and to those in every pirate base. Naturally, only they would know the secret channel to tune in to. Even the Cruncher Club playground had their own tele to enjoy the show. "Hello there!" a voice greeted behind them. "Are you watching the race?"

The kids turned, stunned by the unexpected visitor: a blonde, pigtailed girl with an eyepatch and skull shirt. "It's Jim's lubber friend!" Katie exclaimed.

"Matilda!" one of the boys remembered. "Where the devil have you been?! Jim was all weepy-eyed that you didn't come!"

"Yeah…" Matilda bowed shamefully. "My parents started to feel bad, so we sort of rented a boat and drove up here. I didn't think we'd make it in time, but at least we can watch the race."

"Meh, wot can you do with lubber parents?"

"Gurdy!" Katie scolded. "Well, 'ave yourself a seat and watch with us. I'll fetch ya a snack and a soda."

"Don't mind if I do!" Matilda took a front row seat. The TV shuffled through clips of the various racers. "How are they broadcasting this? Are there just camera ships following them?"

"Nah, I heard it's the work of Lakitus; little creatures that float on clouds. They're usin' fancy cameras and radio towers to broadcast the race while stayin' hidden from the racers."

"Talk about a false sense of privacy. …Oh, there's Jim!" She recognized the Blackhole, surrounded by a school of green mantas along the White Sea. "What are THOSE?!"

"Looks like the Jolley-Rogers got caught up in a school of Jumbo Rays, a species of sky-dwelling mantas."

"They're sailing in the sky?!" Matilda was drowning in a sea of longing and regret. "That's so cool…siiiigh…"

"Yeah, but he's got quite the competition. That Lagoon Crew ain't show any mercy to them Hylian naval ships… and that kid there ain't a nice player either."

Superbia; Strong Island

"SHYAH! Boom boom!" Gabi riddled the Monkey Trooper full of bullets until it could breathe no more. "Superbia?! More like Turdia! You guys didn't put up a fight at all!"

Home to an array of mutant animals, the children of the Gabi Gang utilized caution and huntsman skills to survive the beasts of Strong Island. "Look, Boss Gabi!" Nel came prancing with several jeweled necklaces around herself. "Nel find treasure cave! Got lots!"

"Hee hee, that's my Nelly!" Gabi ruffled the child's bandanaed head with glee. "I think we got a good haul, so let's get back to the ship!"

"Gabi, wait!"

"What is it, Gilda?"

The spectacled girl gazed over the fallen Monkey Trooper with sympathy. "You know… Captain Augustus says we're indebted to eat whatever prey we kill. It's how we pay our respects to nature."

"Oh, yeah." Falco recalled; he had short, sandy-blonde hair and a grayish-blue jacket. "We should round up the animals we killed, right?"

"We don't got time for that!" Gabi shouted. "We're after treasure, not gourmet. Besides, we don't even know what's in these mutants. Haven't we had enough drugs injected in us?"

"Er…you're not wrong." Don said. "Besides, I'm sure other predators will find them, anyway."

"True…" Gilda said. "Then, can I at least say a quick prayer before we go?"

"Fine, but make it snappy!" Gabi ordered, marching off in haste.

Gilda folded hands above the deceased ape and closed her eyes. Amidst the darkness in her gaze… she could see faint forms of glimmering mist: the souls of the animals they had killed. "May your souls find peace in the afterlife, and your bodies become nourishment to the beautiful planet…"

Don smiled, warmed by the soothing air her prayers provided. "What Gilda doing?" Nel asked.

"Gilda's a Ghost Whisperer, Nel." Don replied. "Her mom taught her. She's also a witch, but Gilda's still holding out for signs of magic."

"The spirits can't hear me with all this background nooooiiise." Gilda sang with a hint of frustration.

"S-Sorry, Gil."

"At least this first island ended without too much of a hitch." Falco said. "But we shouldn't let our guards down… you never know what might happen on this voyage." Falco knew the race was being broadcasted somehow, otherwise the pirate world wouldn't be as entertained. But if that were true, any one of their enemies could be watching… so, if they weren't careful, they could be sailing right into an ambush.

Deadstaurant Valley

"Sky Tunnel dead ahead!" Ralph alerted. "Get ready to fly, gang!"

"Their kids might be operatives, but those bandits didn't make it easy." Isabelle said as Laruta bandaged Trella's legs. "I hope the next sea lets us relax for a bit."

"Yeh, good idea." Jason kicked back on the keel. "Fightin' through them restaurants made me hungry!"

"You're way too laid back." Laruta sighed. "I really don't feel like the captain should run off on his own so much."

"What, it's just dividing up the work." Jason reasoned. "I run ahead and grab the treasure and you guys hold back the enemies! You guys don't need me leading you ALL the time, that's what makes you a great crew! I mean, I woulda liked you to come with me, but it couldn't be helped with those bandits on our tail…"

Laruta was still captured, you know. Trella signed, the former translating.

"And I knew you'd escape! Kimaya's mistake was bringing you to me in the first place, haha!"

"Ugh…"

"Look, it all worked out, so let's just hit the wind." Christina said. "Ralph, wanna say the classic line?"

"Hang on to your underweeeaaaaar!" Ralph cried in a fake, but spirited tone.

But flying through a Sky Tunnel, the kids hung onto more than just underwear. This tunnel seemed to carry them through space itself, leading them to question more how these tunnels were possible.

The sea they had landed was fairly calm, still blue waters under a soft pink sky. "Ahhhh!" Mali breathed in the sweet, refreshing atmosphere. "It's not cold here! I love it!"

"We picked a great place to rest!" Isabelle said, falling on her back.

"Yeah, but didn't they say we would encounter other racers?" Ralph asked. "We should still keep the ship going, anyway. Or we might lose the compass."

"Fine, but you takin' the helm, Ralphy." Shimmy stated. "I need me a food break!"

"I wonder what planet this—SEA HOLE!" Jason screamed.

"WHOOOOA!" Shimmy spun the ship away before they could drive off the edge of a waterfall. It seemed to extend for miles above a foggy chasm.

"Don't tell me we have to go down there!" Laruta said.

"No, the compass is… kind of pointing upward." Ralph replied. "…Oh!"

Further over the chasm was a mountain of clouds. They seemed to rotate around a taller, stone mountain that grew from the chasm. "I reckon we're going up there." Christina said.

"Hee hee! Oi don't got a problem with that!" Jason grinned.

Trivia: Hippopothanos originates from an RP me and Sarstar did! Our general theme is taking Gameverse and crossover characters and making animal versions for the Kittentias to interact with. XD