kingdom hearts iii trials of the keyblade the remake

by prcollins110466

a re-remake of Darius Almighty adaption of KHIII with new friends and enemies, join Sora in his new adventure, as he tries to stop the Keyblade War from consuming the worlds in darkness once again. AU of an AU.

71. Chapter 69 battle at the maelstrom

Chapter 69: battle of the maelstrom

I do not own kingdom hearts or the properties shown in this fanfic. They belong to the respective owners and the original story is based on the works of Darius Almighty. Kingdom hearts and trials of the keyblade is owned by square Enix, Disney, and Tetsuya Nomura. Please support the official release.

Right. Now for the final conclusion of the at world's end arc and port royal! The original fanfic writer return to his work at 2013! Been 10 years since he's done that! I hope he responds to all of this because there's gonna be a million fanfic writers and supporters gonna adapt his work or continue where he left off.

With that out of the way, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

The cheers of the pirate forces were heard even across the vastness of the ocean separating them from the Company Armada. Maleficent stood on the deck of the Endeavour, narrowing her eyes when their defiant cries reached her ears. It seemed they wouldn't be giving Kairi up without a fight. She expected nothing less from Sora. "The enemy has opted for oblivion," she heard behind her as Cutler Beckett addressed the captains of his navy. The Horned King stood beside him, a menacing presence that caused the soldiers to shift uncomfortably. "We have shown them our terms, and they have responded with scorn. The time for diplomacy has ended, gentlemen. War is now upon us." Beckett smiled coldly. "Show no mercy to these pirates."

"But do not harm the girl," the Horned King suddenly cut in, his red eyes scanning over the frightened men. "If she is in any way harmed you will have me to deal with….." The mere threat from the demonic king was enough for every man to follow his word, much to Beckett's annoyance. "Kill them all. But bring the girl to me…alive."

As the men hurried off to prepare their companies, the Horned King turned next to Beckett. "Signal the Dutchman. Have Jones lead the attack. I want every one of those ships out there at the bottom of the ocean. Or it's you I'll send him after next." Beckett stiffened and swallowed, but nodded obediently nonetheless. It was only when the Horned King shuffled off to rejoin Maleficent did he allow himself a knowing smile.

He nodded to his signalman, and the man gave a series of flag waves to the Flying Dutchman floating just a few hundred metres away.

Those signals were received by acting captain Pete, who gave a lopsided grin when he saw what was being ordered. "Alright boys!" he shouted to the ship filled with monsters and Company soldiers. "We got our orders! We go in, we kick butt, we take the girl, and I get all the credit!" He guffawed loudly, much to the annoyance of the crew. "After all, it's only fitting you be lead into battle by me! Captain Pete!"

There was a sudden clicking noise behind his head, and with a confused frown, Pete turned to face it, and immediately wished he didn't. There stood Beckett's right hand man, Mr. Mercer, pointing a loaded pistol straight at his mug.

"This ship is now under the control of the East India Trading Company," he stated, much to Pete's shock. "And Lord Cutler Beckett."

"W-Wha?" Pete stammered. That's when Company soldiers advanced on Pete with rifles at the ready, and he could only raise his big hands in the air. "Th-This is mutiny! You can't do this! Do you know who you're messing with?! Maleficent will cook you guys up good!" Ignoring Pete's protests, Mercer walked up to him and grabbed the key to the Dead Man's Chest hanging around his fat neck, and promptly ripped it off.

"Lock him in the brig," Mercer ordered as he tied the key around his neck, and the fat cat was lead off at gunpoint by the soldiers he commanded but a minute ago.

"You think you can get away with this?!" Pete hollered as he was lead down the steps from the command deck. "I'm taking down all your names! Every one of them! Hey! Jones! Jones, over here!" Davy Jones was standing just nearby, and turned to Pete with a less than amused expression. "You gotta get me out of here! Whip out your Keyblade! Help me out!"

But Jones merely sniffed in derision. "Why?" And for the life of him Pete could not come up with a reason before he was shoved below deck on his way to the brig.

With his men preparing for battle, Jones was about to head for the wheel when something caught his eye. The sky, once clear and bright and shining with sun, was rapidly filling with dark and stormy clouds. Before he knew it, the entire sky was black with clouds that sparked with thunder and lightning. The winds had picked up, and the sea, calm enough just a minute ago, had quickly turned torrential, buffeting the Dutchman with mighty waves. It was terrifying. It was powerful. It was….familiar.

"Calypso…."

And that was when the rain began to fall. Fast and heavy droplets dropped from the sky, almost like the heavens were crying. The water cascaded across his slimy skin, and he closed his eyes, and he knew immediately what this was. It was her. It was Calypso. She was free.

She was free.

Jones opened his eyes, which were now wide with fury. His breathing rate increased, he bared his teeth and, in a flash of light, his Keyblade appeared, cutting through the rain to raise above his head with a defying and terrifying yell. His crew immediately followed suit, shouting and snarling with weapons drawn.

The Flying Dutchman was going to war.

KHKHKHKH

"Oh, that's just great!" sonic shouted amongst the torrential downpour that had seemed to come out of nowhere, instantly drenching him. "It would have to be raining, wouldn't it?"

"Hardly the worse thing that's about to happen," Aladdin said dryly as he lugged a cannonball to one of the Black Pearl's many armaments.

"Says you," Silver grumbled as he loaded energy clips into his robot arm., ammo for his laser weapon. "You're not the one in threat of rusting!"

"Hoist those sails!" Gibbs ordered to every man within earshot. "Keep that powder dry! We're not losing this fight on account of a little rain! Now hoist that mainsail!"

"I'm hoistin'! I'm hoistin'!" po shouted back, and with a grunt of effort started turning the crank to the wheel to raise the massive black sails. Ropes were tightened, cannons were loaded, and weapons were drawn. From the Black Pearl to all across the Brethren Fleet, all prepared for the inevitable battle. Soon, all was ready, and all that was needed was the order.

"This is it, guys!" Sora shouted from the bow of the Pearl, rain whipping across his face, but hair still maintaining its gravity defying shape. "Now on behalf of our newly crowned Pirate King…." His Keyblade whipped to his hand, and swung it in the direction of their enemies. "Let's take it to em'!" His declaration was met with a unanimous cheer from the assembled crew of pirates and Keyblade bearers.

"I am loving the energy here!" Jack Skellington noted with a clap of his hands. With the order given, the Brethren Fleet advanced, but the legendary speed of the Black Pearl caused her to break ahead of the pack. Likewise, across the way, the Flying Dutchman burst ahead of the advancing Company Armada. With both of their own forces left in their dust, the Pearl and the Dutchman were heading for a full on confrontation. Two legendary vessels crewed by beings that the universe had never known were about to collide.

Through the rain and the lightning, Sora stared straight ahead at the approaching enemy, gripping a nearby rope to withstand the buffeting waves that rocked their own ship. His blue eyes narrowed in determination. He was soon joined by Kairi who, like everyone else on board, was drenched from head to toe. He looked at her, and his expression soon grew worrisome. "You realize you being here is a big mistake?" he asked.

"Yup," Kairi replied simply.

"Cause you're the one they want?"

"That's what I hear."

"And they're gonna come at you with everything they have?"

"Yup." She looked at him now with a smirk, and her own blue eyes twinkled mischievously. "Bring it on." Sora had to return the smirk then. But deep down the worry was still there. This was different than anything else they'd been through together. This was war. And it was about to get ugly.

"Wait," Will suddenly said as he joined them, but he was looking straight out at sea. "What is that?" The two teens followed his gaze, and soon discovered what he saw. The waters in the path of the Pearl and the Dutchman were growing worse and worse as the storm they sailed through began to pick up. Powerful currents began to take form, beginning to take the shape of a large swirling motion, and it was growing larger and larger by the second.

"Sora…." Kairi said worriedly, as she had come to the same conclusion he did. They were island dwellers. They knew exactly what this was.

"MAELSTROM!"

"Gesundheit!" Jack Skellington shouted back.

Right in the path of the Pearl and the Dutchman a massive whirlpool formed. The waters and the wind had become so violent they had manipulated a swirling torrent of sea water spanning at least a full kilometre before dropping into an abyss to the bottom of the ocean, the likes from which there was probably no return. It appeared so quickly and without warning it was almost impossible. Forces beyond comprehension were clearly at work here.

Soon the massive pull of the maelstrom took hold of the Pearl, and before the crew knew it they were being taken in. "Ah, this is probably bad," Ragetti whimpered looking over the rail.

"Definitely a bad sign," Pintel agreed.

"Someone get on the helm!" Elizabeth commanded, quickly taking charge amongst the growing chaos of the situation. "We need someone to pilot this!"

"Well, looks like it's up to me!" po declared with a toothy grin, already manning the wheel, looking pretty damn sure of himself, despite having no clue what to do. "Fear not me hearties! I'll steer us out of this, or my name isn't Captain po-"

"Get out my way!" Hector Barbossa shouted, literally kicking the ninja boy away from the wheel and taking a firm grasp of it himself, assuming full command of the ship. "Brace up the yards ya soggy bottom morons! Dying is a day worth living for!"

"Oh man," Sora stammered. "This is gonna sUUUUUUUUCCCCKK!" And with a mad cackle and a strong spin of the wheel Captain Barbossa actually steered the Black Pearl headlong into the maelstrom, everyone hanging on for dear life to whatever they could find. They lurched downwards before they rode on its mighty pull, and began the ride along the abyss.

KHKHKHKH

"Veer out!" Mr. Mercer commanded in a panic. Of all the things to happen in this battle a whirlpool appearing out of nowhere, right in the path of the Flying Dutchman, was not something he expected. "Veer out we'll be lost!"

"Nay, full speed!" Davy Jones hollered with fire in his voice, immediately taking the helm of his ship with his mighty lobster claw, Keyblade grasped in his other slimy hand. "I did not come all this way to run at the sight of a little raging water! Full pour and into the abyss!" He spun the wheel and his monstrous crew laughed in eager anticipation as their captain sailed straight into the monstrous storm.

Mercer and the human crew on the other hand were less than enthusiastic. "Are you mad?!" he stammered. Jones was fixed with a fierce glare, clearly showing a bit of madness.

"What's the matter?" he asked with a sneer. "Afraid to get wet?" And with another mighty turn of his wheel the Dutchman plunged headlong into the maelstrom, joining its nemesis the Black Pearl in the whirlpool pull.

Meanwhile below the deck of the coral covered ship, more specifically in the brig, its only two occupants were making the most of themselves. "Oh, they are so not getting away with this," Pete growled as he paced about his tiny cell, muttering and grumbling to himself. "Steal my new ship away from me, will they? I finally get to captain a boat again and some shorty with a puffy wig thinks he can take it from me? Why I'll shove so many Heartless down his throat he'll be shittin' shadows for weeks!"

"Do you mind? Some of us are trying to lose our minds over here." In the cell next to Pete's was where Jones had stuffed Captain Jack Sparrow who, unbelievably, was having a crisis of conscience at the moment, standing pressed against the bars of his Keyblade-proof cage. Every scheme he had pulled had led to him being here, from when he was in space to when he got back. But…where does he go from here?

"Well, there's really only two choices, aren't there, Jacky?" Jack rounded to the bed of his cell, where Devil Jack #1 now sat, full size now instead of his normal six inch size, perhaps a sign of his growing indecisiveness. "Stab the heart…."

"Or don't stab the heart!" Jack rounded again, and there in the corner was Devil Jack #2, also full size and grinning mischievously. "Little hard to do in this cell though, eh?"

Jack ran his hands across his face. "Go away!" he groaned. "This isn't something I can flip a piece of eight over! Stab the heart, live forever on this...ugh….lovely ship. Don't stab the heart….still be Jack."

"Jack the hunted Keyblade warrior," Devil Jack #1 reminded.

"Them Chasers won't be giving up anytime soon," Devil Jack#2 agreed.

"ARRGH!" Jack screamed turning and slamming his head against the cage bars. "I! Really! Want! Some! Rum! Rum! Makes! Things! Right!" he shouted, emphasizing each word with a bang against the cage wall.

"Uh, you've clearly got some stuff to work out," Pete said slowly, having watched the whole thing unfurl, starting with when Jack started talking to himself. "So I'm just gonna go to the far corner of my cell…..way over here…" And he scooted away from the raving lunatic as quickly as he could.

KHKHKHKH

Back outside amidst the pouring rain and the deadly lightning the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman now rode within the maelstrom together. Within the chaos of the whirlpool the Black Pearl's superior speed was nullified, as was the Dutchman's ability to dive underwater. With both ships now on equal footing, the stage had been set for an explosive confrontation. "Prepare the broadsides!" Elizabeth commanded with as loud a voice as she could muster over the rain and lightning. "Powder those guns! Take aim at the Dutchman! Fire on my command!" The biggest guns were rolled out and prepared as quickly as they could be, and across the abyss the Dutchman was no doubt doing the same as both ships were preparing a volley. "Keyblades at the ready!"

"As we'll ever be!" Mulan declared. The big guns weren't just limited to the cannons. Several of the Keyblade bearers stepped up to the frontlines, individual Keyblade at the ready. "I mean, we are standing in the line of fire."

"I know. I'm excited too!" sonic chuckled, twirling his massive Keyblade in hand. "Bring it on!"

As the ships lined each other up across the gaping abyss both captains held the order to fire. Every shot here had to count. "Steady lads!" Gibbs shouted. Fingers gripped flints tightly; Keyblades appeared in bursts of light, spells were charged to their fullest. "Steady!" All that was left was that one order, that one command that would come when both ships lined up squarely. And when that moment came….

"FIIIIIRRRREEEE!" came the shout from both Elizabeth and Davy Jones.

And all hell broke loose.

Cannons went off on both sides with deafening booms of fire and gun powder, blasting cannonballs across the maelstrom's deep abyss, which came crashing into the opposing ships on the other side. Wood splintered and broke under the firepower, blasting holes each into the other, catching several men in the crossfire. Over and over again the cannons of the Pearl and Dutchman went off. The Dutchman had the firepower, but the Pearl had the Keyblades. With amazing skill and force their wielders batted opposing cannonballs away before they collided with their ship, and retaliated with firaga, blizzaga and thundaga spells all aimed at their enemy. Cannon fire and magic spells cascaded through the monstrous storm, hammering both ships with unprecedented might. Men cried and men died but no quarter was given.

"It be too late to alter course now, mateys!" Barbossa cackled madly amongst the carnage.

KHKHKHKH

"Eeeeek!" Pete screamed as another cannonball rocked the Dutchman, lying flat on the floor of his cell with his hands covering his head, just where he had been ever since the battle kicked off. More than a few had come blasting through the brig, along with the odd magic spell. "This is the worst place for the captain to be during a battle! In the brig?! On the frontlines?! It's just not done!"

"Fear not, my fat feline," Jack Sparrow assured one cell over, although he was in the exact same cowardly position as Pete. "I've escaped from brigs twice as impressive as this. Twice as filthy as well. In my experience, the best thing to do is to wait it out."

It was at that moment another cannonball collided, this one blasting right over an alarmed Pete's head with a loud crash. Shaking like leaf, Pete, dared to open one eye, and what he saw caused him to stop shaking. He slowly stood up, and saw that that last blast had gone straight through the lock of his cell door, leaving a gaping, cannonball-shaped hole in its wake. He tapped the door with one finger, and with a metallic groan the door swung open.

Pete grinned widely at his change of luck. "Looks like Captain Pete is still in the game after all! Later, loser!" With another arrogant laugh the cat rushed his way out of the brig. "Jones is in for one heck of a heart attack!"

"O-Oi! Wait! Me, too!" Jack pleaded as Pete left him alone, his cell unfortunately still intact, but the henchman wasn't listening. "Cut me some slack here! Captain to captain! We can make a deal! Would you like me jar of dirt? Oh bugger!" Left to rot in the brig Jack was forced to come up with a plan. And fast, or Pete will make his decision about the heart for him. "Come on. What have I got? What have I got? What have I got? What have I-?" He suddenly stopped when he caught sight of the hinges to his cell door. Their type was very familiar. "Leverage!"

Summoning his Keyblade in a flash Jack wedged it beneath the bottom of the door, and pushing down on it the door popped right out of its hinges before falling to the floor with a loud clang. Jack grinned saucily and looked down at his Keyblade. "Can open any door or lock," he recited. "Who knew?" And with that Captain Jack rushed out of the brig to set his plans into motion.

KHKHKHKH

With another loud shout Sora knocked another cannonball away with his Keyblade, then raised it again to fire a firaga at the approaching Dutchman. "Keep firing!" he shouted amongst the chaos of the storm and cannon fire.

"Aw yeah! Come at me, bitches!" sonic shouted after knocking a multitude of cannonballs out of the way and, in some cases, simply cutting them in half. "Is that all you got?! Come on! I'm standing right here!" A cannonball almost immediately collided into his stomach, and he skidded several feet across the deck before coming to a stop on his feet. The ball was clutched in his clawed hands, and he promptly dropped it. "Ow….."

"They're getting closer!" Aladdin shouted. It was true that with the pull of the whirlpool both ships were moving closer and closer to the gaping hole of watery death in the middle.

"Get those lines ready!" Will ordered the crew, moving about them and placing long ropes tied to the sails in their hands. "Hands, grapnels, at the ready! Prepare to board!"

KHKHKHKH

"Get those lines at the ready!" Davy Jones ordered as he too saw the Black Pearl growing closer, and was preparing the same boarding actions on the Dutchman while at the same time steering it. Grappling hooks were passed out amongst crew monsters and Company soldiers as they readied themselves to take the fight to the heroes. "Make carcasses out of them! Slaughter every soul aboard that cursed ship!"

"You're not in charge here, Jones!" Mr. Mercer immediately reminded him much to his annoyance. "You are not giving the orders here. I am!" A firaga spell suddenly collided right with the command deck with a powerful explosion, and Jones and Mercer were sent stumbling. The pained cried of Mercer's command staff soon filled their ears, incapacitated with some nasty burns. When the smoke cleared only Jones and Mercer were left standing. Seeing this Jones smiled, and without missing he beat he grabbed the still stunned Mercer, holding him fast.

"W-What are you doing?", the man demanded, unable to break free from the devilish captain's grip. Jones said nothing, but was still smiling. And the reason became clear. His tentacle beard began slithering its way up Mercer's face, every slimy strand crawling up his terrified features. "W-Wait! St-Stop! NOO-" Mercer's scream was cut off when the tentacles slipped into his mouth and down his throat. Jones' living beard slipped its way into every hole, down every orifice. Twisting, probing, squeezing, until-

CRACK

Jones' tentacles each slid their way out of Mercer, but not before plucking the key to the Dead Man's Chest off from around his neck. And then he allowed the limp man to drop to the deck. "You're relieved," he replied coldly. He looked to the tentacle holding the key aloft and smiled. It was time to reclaim what was his.

Meanwhile just below deck in the captain's cabin, Pete burst his way inside, shutting the doors behind him and panting tiredly. "Close one," he breathed. In the chaos of the battle no one noticed him slip inside, which he was more than thankful for. And then his big eyes lay upon his prize. There in a pedestal in the center of the room was the Dead Man's Chest. And inside it he knew was the still beating heart of Davy Jones himself.

Pete grinned widely and headed straight for the chest. "Let's see how those Company jerks like it when it's Pete in control of ole' Davy," he chuckled, wringing his hands together as he schemed it all. He may not have the key to it, but it was a good start in reclaiming control of the ship.

"Looks like you got it all figured out." Pete yelped and rounded to the door, where Captain Jack Sparrow now stood with a smirk.

"How did you get out of the brig?!"

Jack shrugged offhandedly. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow," he explained simply. "So this is your plan then? Take a chest you simply cannot open and somehow that will get you back the ship? What are you gonna do? Shake it like a snowglobe?" Pete blinked in astonishment and looked at his feet as he pondered.

"Well, I-"

Jack punched him right in his big jaw in mid-thought, spinning the henchman on his feet, and gave a goofy expression before collapsing unconscious to the floor. "Ponder that one for a bit," Jack told the sleeping cat as he stepped over his fat body to retrieve what he came here for. Once again Jack beheld the Dead Man's Chest, and the unmistakeable sound of a heartbeat came from inside. He grinned in triumph, took the chest in one hand, and made to leave with no one noticing. That was the plan anyway.

The plan wasn't to run into Davy Jones as soon as he left the cabin. "Oh…."

Jones blinked in astonishment at Jack, his eyes shifting to the chest held in his hands, before his mouth formed a sneer. "Well, look what we have here, boys!" he laughed to his crew, and the monsters quickly moved to surround Jack, sharp weapons and eager smiles at the ready. "A lost bird. A lost bird that never learned to fly!"

Jack smiled nervously, and slowly backed away from the advancing crew of fish-men. "To my great regret," he mused. Before they could get a hold of him, he grabbed hold of a rope that attached to one of the kelp sails, secured to the ship's rigging, and grinned cheekily. "But never too late to learn!" And with a swing of the chest he knocked the rope's rigging loose, and with a startled cry the errant rope yanked Jack up into the air, much to the surprise of Jones and his crew. The powerful winds whipped the screaming captain wildly about, to and fro through the rain and the lightning until, in an incredible stroke of Jack-like luck, Jack swung right up to the main sail of the ship, barely able to land safely upon it, and even then he had trouble maintaining his balance. "Haha! Another miraculous escape by Captain Jack-"

"Sparrow!" To the very wood of the mast he was standing on phased the Flying Dutchman's captain, now standing before a very astonished Jack's eyes. "The chest," Jones growled, and in a drawing motion his Keyblade appeared. "Hand it over!"

Jack scowled, and with a whip of his arm his own Keyblade appeared, the chest grasped tightly in the other. "I can set you free, mate!"

"My freedom was forfeited long ago! RAAAAGGH!" With a furious shout and a flash of lightning from above, both Keyblades met in thunderous clash.

As the battle between captains kicked off above, below their ships were preparing to board one another to make this fight up close and personal. Sora grabbed himself a rope to swing from in preparation as well. "Everyone ready?" he shouted.

"Ready!" Kairi shouted beside him.

"Same here!" Mulan replied with a firm tug of her own rope.

"Let's do it!" Aladdin hollered.

"Then let's go!" Sora yelled and, with that, he, his Keyblade bearing friends, a multitude of pirates, swung deftly off the ship using their ropes, heading straight for the Dutchman. Across the whirlpool, a party of Jones' monsters and Company soldiers did the same, swinging on masse on ropes for the Pearl. They met in the center, and each party hacked and slashed at each other on their way by, destroying many Shadow Clones and sending many men and monsters screaming into the abyss below. The rest managed to swing their way through, landing on each ship, and harsh close quarters fighting soon erupted. "You wanted a fight? You got it!" Sora yelled, and immediately crossed blades with the first monster he saw.

Back on the Pearl as monsters and men started landing on the ship the crew was hard pressed to defend themselves. "Is that all ya got?!", Silver laughed as he fended off enemy swords with his robotic sword arm. "It'll take more than abominations such as yourself to take down Captain Silver!" He blocked the sword swings of a Company soldier, and then promptly punched him in the face, only to immediately round and change his arm to a laser pistol and blow away the coral covered monster that tried to take him from behind.

"I have got to bring these guys back to Halloween Town!" Jack Skellington suddenly announced as he danced to avoid the many sharp blades his enemies tried to cut him down with. "I could make a whole theme out of it! I can see it now: 'Monsters from deep! Who are also pirates!' Oh, I'd have goosebumps if I had skin!" He swung his black Keyblade into the shin of a soldier, flipping the man head over heels in mid-air before he came down with a crash.

"So glad you have your priorities straight," Beast growled sarcastically, and with a swing of his mighty Keyblade he smacked an unfortunate Pufferfish clear off the ship, sending him screaming into the whirlpool.

"Elizabeth!" Will cried out to his love, fighting his way through soldiers and monsters with skillful swordplay to reach her, where with equal skill she ran her sword through the monster that was harassing her. "Elizabeth," Will said upon reaching her. "Will you marry me?"

The Pirate King gawked in disbelief. "What?" Another monster brought his axe down upon them, and as one they blocked it with their swords. "I want you to marry me!" shouted will. "This isn't exactly the best time!" barked elizabeth back and They both then knocked the attacking monster back before Elizabeth slashed him across the face.

"Now may be the only time!" Will persisted while clashing swords with a Company soldier, dispatching him with a quick cut across his backside.

"You're not getting any younger, honey!" sonic agreed as he performed acts of carnage with his massive Keyblade. He grabbed a Company soldier and, with demon might, threw him screaming off the ship, then parried the blades of two monsters before cutting both their heads off with a single swipe of his blade. "And at this rate you probably won't get any older either!"

"I love you, Elizabeth!," Will declared for all to hear, running his sword through the gut of a stingray monster before dropping him to the deck. "And if we are to die here, I want us to be as husband and wife!" Each of them slashed away at two more enemies before rejoining each other. "I've made my choice, Elizabeth. Now what's yours?" Elizabeth stared deep into the eyes of her lover and partner, and before she knew it the choice was made.

"Barbossa!" she shouted up to the command deck.

"What?" Barbossa shot back.

"Marry us!"

The villainous pirate ran his sword through two monsters at once. "I'm a little busy at the moment!" he hollered back before kicking both monsters away, sending them tumbling.

"Barbossa NOW!" Barbossa grit his teeth and rolled his eyes. Still battling soldiers and monsters with masterful swordplay and an air of brutality, he climbed a pile of crates so that all may see him.

"oh alright then! Dearly beloved!" he shouted amongst pouring rain and exploding cannons. "We are gathered here today to-" A soldier came running at his position and Barbossa promptly kicked him in the face to deal with him. "Take the gizzards with ya you clumsy cur! to take these two pirates in holy matrimony, if anyone tries to object or someone trying to kill me speak now and forever hold your peace! Now say your vows!"

"I always cry at these things!" Jack Skellington sobbed and, despite his emotional state, managed to spin with a flourish and cut down a soldier and a monster at the same time.

Elizabeth and Will fought back to back, flowing together as easily as water, with a bond only lovers could share. With every monster or soldier that came close they put them down as if they were dancing together. "Elizabeth Swann!" Will called, ducking under a monster's broad-axe before slicing him across the stomach. "Do you take me as your husband?"

"I do!" Elizabeth immediately and enthusiastically replied fencing a soldier before kicking him hard in the stomach.

"Great!"

When he doubled over she dispatched him with the hilt of her sword to the back of his head. "Will Turner!" she then shouted. "Do you take me as your wife in sickness and in health to death do you part?"

"Health isn't looking so good right now!" Beast snarled, using his razor sharp claws to just as much effect as his Keyblade, slashing many monsters to ribbons every time one came close to waylay him.

"I do!" Will answered with a wide smile on his face.

"Good!"

"Now pronounce us Barbossa!" hollered will.

Barbossa sliced the head off a slithering eel monster before it could sink its jaws into him. "and so by the power vested in me by the state of the caribbean as captain of this ship, I now pronounce you husband and wife!" The couple beamed at the new, but were quickly back to fending off monsters with their blades. "You may kiss-" a crew monster charged at Barbossa, and he quickly sidestepped to slash him across the back. "You may kiss..," he pulled out his pistol and blew away a soldier. "You may now kiss…"

"Oh, just kiss already!" sonic finally snapped. Will cut down a soldier, Elizabeth put down a monster, and then they turned to each other. And in a passionate embrace their lips locked together, their first kiss as husband and wife. Long did they hold each other amidst the terrible battle. For in that moment, there was no war. There were no pirates, no cannon fire, no monsters, no hedgehogs, no cyborgs, or storms woven by gods. There was only the two of them, and the deep love they shared that had brought them to this final union.

While marital rites were performed on the Pearl it was nothing but battle aboard the Flying Dutchman, where Sora and his friends lead the attack on the monstrous crew. And soon from out of the captain's cabin stumbled a dazed Pete, apparently having just regained consciousness. He rubbed his big jaw and grumbled darkly. "When I get my hands on that pirate I'll – EEEKKKK!" A soldier fell dead right in front of him, and he suddenly became aware of the violent conflict all around him. He gulped nervously. "Alright, cutting my losses short!" he wobbled his way to Dutchman's rail, climbed on top of it, and with a terrified scream jumped overboard, disappearing into a portal of darkness before the maelstrom could claim him.

"Hey, I got a question for you guys!" Sora shouted. Countless horrific sea amalgamations came at the boy, and each time he struck them down with his Keyblade. "Any of you guys see a Dead Man's Chest around here?" he asked before he struck the Boson across the face of a monster with his Kingdom Key in an attack that sent the monster down. "Didn't think so!"

"You guys wanted me? Here I am!" Kairi shouted fearlessly, swatting away opposing blades with Oathkeeper, and responding with quick and deadly force. She quickly side-stepped the next soldier that came at her, kicked him in the butt and sent him stumbling. "Tag out!"

"Tag in!" po laughed and clotheslined the errant man with his Keyblade to flip him head over heels before crashing him to the deck. "And he is out of here!" Another soldier came running at the boy, and he quickly kicked upwards, knocking the sword out of the man's hand and sending it skyward. po promptly punched the unarmed man in the face, dispatching him quickly before raising his hand and catching the falling sword. "I'm a freakin' dragon warrior pirate, bitches! You got no chance!" Keyblade in one hand, cutlass in the other, po charged into battle once more.

Mulan's Keyblade was ablaze as she cut through her enemies, steam rising in billows as the rain fell upon it. Every hit with her weapon awarded her enemies with second and third-degree burns. She parried a soldier's sword the punched him clean in the face, then finished him an uppercut with her Keyblade. A monster then came at her and she deftly ducked under his axe, leaving it to embed in the mast behind her. With a shout she then plunged her flaming weapon through his stomach, and with a pained screamed the monster fell to the deck, the smell of burnt seaweed and fish reaching her nostrils. "Oh, that is so gross!"

"If you think the smell was the worst part of that you have some serious issues to work through!" Aladdin, by far the quickest on the ship, blocked and parried with unusual precision and quickness. He ducked under a monsters sword, grabbed him by his legs and then promptly dumped the screaming creature overboard. "Cuz, all things considered, this could be going a lot worse!" Aladdin then immediately rounded to block the weapon of the monster that snuck up on him, and his eyes widened in horror. For he had just blocked three golden claws.

Sa'luk's eyes widened with fury. "YOU?!" he snarled furiously. "RRRAAAAGGH!" With a rage-filled scream Sa'luk set upon a still stunned Aladdin, and the boy was hard pressed to block his rage fueled attacks, and old foes dueled once again.

As the fighting intensified on both ships it was up above on the sails of the Dutchman where the real battle was being fought. Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones, captains of their ships and legends in their own right, fought an intense duel with their mystical weapons amidst the torrential rain and the cracking lightning. Masters of the blade, they clashed again and again, never tiring, never yielding, each strike against each other's Keyblade creating an explosion of sparks. Jones was as skilled and fierce as his decades of experience made him out to be, but Jack would not go give up the chest in his left hand, the source of all this chaos. "You can do nothing without the key!" Jones snarled as they locked blades and he glared into Jack's eyes.

"No I don't. I've already got it!" Jack quickly covered.

Jones blinked in confusion, his eyes narrowing suspiciously before he brought up the tentacle that clutched the Dead Man's Chest key. "No you don't," he sneered. Jack raised an eyebrow at the sight of it.

"Oh, that key." In a flash Jack suddenly broke the lock, and before an astonished Jones could react, the pirate Captain swung his Keyblade upward.

"AAARRRRGGGHHH!" Jones screamed in pain and fury when in a precise move Jack sliced right through his tentacle beard, sending green blood spurting from the stumps and sending the key dropping down to the deck of the Dutchman. Jones watched it fall until it was out of sight, grinding his teeth before roaring in anger, and would have cleaved Jack in two, if something unexpected had not happened then and there.

The Pearl and the Dutchman, which had so far had been circling on the pull of the maelstrom, were now at its apex, skirting the edge of the abyss, until finally, with a loud crash, the masts of the two ships collided, tangling them up with each other and sending all combatants reeling, such as Jack who was sent tumbling off the sail, the chest with him. "NO!" Jones screamed in a panic, immediately diving for it, and catching the handle just before it fell into the maelstrom's abyss. He sighed in relief, clutching it tight in his tentacle hand, and pulled it back up….

And also pulled up Jack, who was hanging onto the chest by the other handle. "Appreciate the save, mate," Jack said with a sheepish grin. "Still BFFs?" Jones snarled in anger, and he started to shake the chest with all the force he could muster, trying to shake Jack loose. "Is that a no?" Jack stammered before in one final jostle he finally lost his grip on the chest, and with an alarmed scream he plummeted to the swirling waters below.

Or at least he would have if not for yet another stroke of Jack-like luck he managed to grab hold of an errant rope on the way down. He grasped it tight, swinging wildly through the air and rain, eyes his wide with fright. "Never learned to fly, my arse!" With Keyblade still in one hand and swinging rope grasped tightly in the other, Jack took careful aim at Jones, who now held the Dead Man's Chest triumphantly in his hand. With a wry smile, Jack's Keyblade emitted a burst of flame and fired a firaga straight at the mutated captain's hand. Jones screamed in pain and surprise and immediately dropped the chest, watching as it plummeted to the deck of his ship.

Meanwhile back on deck, Aladdin was forced to dodge and block the wrathful strikes of Sa'luk's golden claws, because while his enemy may have drastically changed in appearance, his deadly skill was the same as ever. "First, I'm going to stab you," Sa'luk sneered, swiping hard at Aladdin again, forcing the boy to block with his Keyblade. "Then I'm going to skin you!" He threw a heavy punch which a fatigued Aladdin was barely able to duck. "Then I'll drag your mutilated body back to your father, so he'll see exactly what I've done to you!" He lashed out with a kick, striking Aladdin in the chest, and with a grunt the boy hit the deck, Sa'luk standing over him menacingly. "Then, and only then, will I grant you the sweet embrace of dea-"

The Dead Man's Chest landed right on his head, bouncing off his skull and cutting him off mid-speech. A dazed look came about Sa'luk's face, and he stumbled drunkenly about the deck for a bit before he stumbled right into the ship's rails, and with an alarmed yell Sa'luk fell overboard into the chaos of the maelstrom, much to the shock and relief of Aladdin.

Fresh from battle on the Pearl came swinging in the newly wed Will and Elizabeth, landing on the Dutchman and immediately drawing blades. It was Elizabeth who spotted the chest first. "Get the chest!" she shouted to Will while she crossed swords with the first monster she saw.

"Got it!" Will shouted back, and set for where it lay. He made his way through fighting monsters, soldiers and Keyblade bearers, dispatching a few himself before finally reaching the Dead Man's Chest. But just before he could grab it he was suddenly, and painfully, struck across the face. "Ugggh!" Will cried out, stumbling backwards from the blow, and gazing upon the monster that struck him. He was a lanky one, absolutely covered in coral and barnacles, leaving barely any visible skin other than on his face, attached to which was a starfish….

Will's eyes widened with horrid realization. "Father?" he whispered. Before him stood 'Bootstrap' Bill Turner, his very own father, but that may not have been true anymore. For there was no recognition in the man's eyes. "Father, it's me! It's your son!" But there was no answer from the man, other than an angry snarl, and with that Bill Turner lunged with sword in hand, and Will was forced to engage with his poor cursed dad.

With a heavy thud, Davy Jones landed on the deck of his ship after jumping off from the sail above, and with an expression that breathed pure rage he scanned the ship amidst the fighting, until his eyes landed on the chest laying not far off. Mouth twisted in a snarl, he stomped off towards it, Keyblade in hand, shoving aside soldiers and his own crew until he reached it. But then someone else decided to stand in his way. "Remember me, tentacle face?" Sora shouted, holding his own Keyblade at the ready, and Jones' eyes glared death at the boy.

"You and your pure hearted maiden have caused enough trouble in my waters, boy!" Jones declared, bringing his own Keyblade to bear. "And neither of you will receive any mercy from me!"

"Then bring it!" Sora yelled and, with a shout from both parties, Keyblades collided. Kingdom Key struck against Jones' Death's Deity as Keyblade masters from two eras battled it out across the deck of the Dutchman. Never fearing or faltering, Sora stood his ground against the octopus captain. Blocking, parrying, and striking back with his own attacks.

Still up above and swinging about like a madman was Jack Sparrow, screaming his head off as he whipped through the rain on the end of a rope, which was essentially a lifeline now. "I take it back! I can't fly! Can't fly!" In combination with the dampness of the rope and the speed at which it was flailing about Jack eventually lost his grip, and with even more panicked screaming from the captain he dropped to the deck of the Dutchman, landing face down in an ungainly heap.

Jack's eyes slowly opened from where he laid, his daze from the fall starting to wear off. This is one plan that was really taking a turn for the worse, as far as one of his plans went. And he must have fallen harder than he thought. Because he could swear that right in front of his face a severed tentacle was dragging an iron key across the deck.

Jack blinked away the remainder of his daze. Wait a minute….

Will grunted as his father struck him again, and then narrowly avoided the follow up sword swipe. "Father, please! Listen to me!" Will implored, but it was no use. There was very little left of Bill Turner. He was a mindless husk, unable to think for himself, only able to follow orders given to him. Everything he is or was belonged to the Flying Dutchman, to Davy Jones. And even though he was trying to kill him, Will could not bring himself to hurt his own father. "You have to stop this!" Finally, after another swing of his father's sword, Will ducked and tackled the man, pinning him against the ship's rail, knocking the sword out of his hand in the process. Then Will drew his dagger, the very same dagger his father gave to him what seemed like so long ago, keeping it against that same man's throat.

"I'm not going to kill you," he told Bootstrap, but he wasn't even sure the man inside the monster could hear him. This was something he himself he had to hear. "I made you a promise, that I would free you from this curse. And I swear I will uphold it!" He took the dagger and drove it into the wood right by Bootstrap's head, and then took off into the battle again, leaving his bewildered father in his wake.

Despite all his skill and tenacity Sora was slowly being overwhelmed in his duel with Davy Jones. The Dutchman's captain was powerful and quick, and had over a century more experience with a Keyblade than Sora did. If Sora didn't know any better he would swear he was facing one of the Chasers. He grunted as Jones knocked his Keyblade away again, and with a yell he tried a downward chop, only for Jones to catch it with is lobster claw. "For all I've heard about you, I expected more of a challenge!" Jones laughed before he flung Sora across the deck with a painful crash.

Jones sneered, and was about to set upon the boy when someone leapt onto his back. "Get away from him!" Kairi shouted, clutching onto Jones' back, pulling her Keyblade against his throat. Jones roared with fury, stumbling about, reaching backwards blindly until he grabbed a hold of her, and with an alarmed cry Kairi was flipped right off Jones, crashing into the deck. Now standing above her Jones growled furiously, and in an act to disobey his so called 'masters' he raised his Keyblade above the Princess of Hearts' head…

When Sora suddenly came from behind and plunged Kingdom Key straight through his chest. "GYYYYYAAAAA!" Jones screamed in pain, Sora's Keyblade impaled through his chest, the boy standing with gritted teeth behind him. "Nice try!' Jones' suddenly laughed, much to Sora's shock. "Did you forget? I'm a heartless wretch!" Sora suddenly found himself struck across the face with Jones' claw, and he skidded across the deck, leaving his Keyblade impaled in the Dutchman captain's chest.

Jones winced and reached behind himself, grasping the hilt of Kingdom Key, and with a pained cry he wrenched it out of himself. The wound in his chest had already started to heal when he tossed Sora's Keyblade away. "Sora!" Kairi cried when Jones advanced on the boy, wincing in pain, unable to get up and help him herself. Sora looked at her, also unable to get up, but silently told her to stay back as Jones came upon him.

But Jones suddenly stopped, looking between the two of them, as if he saw something he didn't, before his mouth curled into a cruel sneer. "Ah," he chuckled. "Love….such a dreadful bond. And yet…." He continued to walk towards Sora, Keyblade clutched in his slimy hand, and Sora could only back up against a crate, now finding himself cornered. "….one so easily severed. Tell me, Sora of the Keyblade; do you fear death?"

"Do you?", came a voice from behind.

Jones stopped where he was, and slowly turned around. There he stood, Captain Jack Sparrow, smug smile and all. And, clutched in his hand, beating loud and steady, was Jones' own heart. The octopus captain's eyes widened with horror, soon spotting the open and empty Dead Man's Chest at Jack's feet, the key still within the lock. "Ain't it a tonic?" Jack asked with a wink. "Holding life and death in the palm of one's hand?" Sora released his pent up breath and smiled in relief.

"You're a cruel man, Jack Sparrow," Jones spat, eyes darting between Jack and the heart.

"Cruel is a matter of perspective." At this, Jones suddenly smiled.

"Is it?" And then the captain suddenly rounded back to an alarmed Sora, his Keyblade reared back, and plunging it downward on the boy with a roar, stabbing it towards his chest.

And it would have succeeded had not Will dived in the way of the blade, it plunging into his chest instead.

"WILLLLLLLL!" Elizabeth screamed in horror. Jack Sparrow's eyes widened with shock.

"WILL!" Sora cried out as his friend collapsed in front of him, Keyblade still sticking from his chest. Jones, undeterred by this turn of events twisted the Keyblade deeper into Will's chest, relishing in the man's cries of pain. Deeper and deeper he dug it in as Will's cries grew weaker.

Then something unexpected happened. Something even Jones didn't expect. "MY SON!" screamed 'Bootstrap' Bill Turner, tackling a surprised Jones and pushing him off of Will. "Stay away from my son!" Against all possible odds or explanation, Bill Turner had broken through the spell of the Flying Dutchman as soon as he had seen Will get stabbed by Jones, and his rebellion against his captain had begun.

As soon as she was clear, Elizabeth rushed to Will's side. "Will! Will, stay with me! Stay with me!" Elizabeth pleaded desperately clutching her husband's hand, her tears mingling with the falling rain.

"Kairi, get back to the ship!" Sora shouted as he, too, kneeled beside Will.

"But Sora-" Kairi started.

"Just go!"

"You heard the man! Let's get out of here!" Mulan was suddenly beside Kairi, grabbing her hand and dragging the reluctant girl away.

"Last one there gets to die!" po hollered and the Keyblade bearers all swung back to the Black Pearl, leaving Sora behind on the Dutchman.

Jack Sparrow, meanwhile, was still rooted to the spot, Davy Jones' heart in one hand, and dagger in the other. Exactly where he had fought and schemed so hard to be. And yet…..he looked at Will, surrounded by Sora and Elizabeth, his breathing shallow and laboured. He looked down at the heart, beating strongly, and inches from his knife.

"Stab the heart, live forever."

Jack's hand trembled with the blade, his teeth grinding together.

"It's not about living forever, Jackie. It's about living with yourself forever…."

"Heal! HEAL!" Sora shouted desperately with Keyblade in hand, but the magic would not come to Will's aid, for the wound itself was caused by a Keyblade that was still sticking out of his chest, which none of them dared to remove. A blow that was meant for Sora. His blue eyes welled with tears. How could he have ever doubted Will after what he just sacrificed for him?

Nearby, Jones had finally gained the upper hand in his brawl with Bootstrap, and with a roar he pinned the man against the ship's rail. Never in his long history as captain of his ship had anyone been strong enough of will to break free of his control. And he wasn't about to let the one who had stay alive any longer. "You are relieved of duty, Mr. Turner," Jones snarled, and reared back his lobster claw for one fatal strike.

Then all the sudden, a sharp, terrible pain struck him like the very lightning in the sky, and he gasped in both pain and shock. The pain was unbearable, leaving him barely able to draw breath, and he stumbled back from Bootstrap, his tentacle beard beginning to spasm uncontrollably. Slowly he turned his head, and saw exactly what was happening. For Jack had stabbed the heart.

But he had placed the blade in Will's nearly limp hand.

As his vision began to dim, Jones looked upon the heroes that had defeated him, before turning his eyes to the still stormy sky, and with his final breath, whispered one word:

"Calypso….."

He stumbled overboard, over the edge, plummeting into the maelstrom's abyss, returning to the arms of the seas, and Davy Jones, Keyblade wielding captain of the Flying Dutchman, was no more.

Back on the Pearl, the situation had become grim. The monsters and soldiers had been fought off, but now the pull of the whirlpool threatened to pull in both tangled up ships. "She's bringing us down!" Barbossa hollered, dumping a dead soldier off the ship's wheel. "Make it quick or it's the locker for us all!" It was then Beast stepped up, Keyblade at the ready, looking straight up at their tangled masts.

"We can't leave yet!" Kairi implored running up the steps to the main deck. "They're still over there! We can't leave them!"

"If we don't, we'll all go down together!" Barbossa argued as he took hold of the wheel again. "Now do it!" With a mighty roar Beast whipped his thick Keyblade up high, sending it rocketing upwards towards the sails. With both speed and power behind it the Rumbling Rose crashed right through the Dutchman's sails, freeing it from its embrace with the Pearl. As soon as they were loose Barbossa spun the wheel hard, and riding on the current of the Maelstrom he steered the Black Pearl right out of it, breaking back into calmer waters.

Alone on the Dutchman, a rapidly fading Will was surrounded by Elizabeth, Sora and Jack. His barely open eyes settled on Elizabeth, whose face was wet with tears and rainwater. "Will….please don't leave me...please..." Sora tears flowed down his cheeks, unable to believe what was happening, his heart breaking as he watched the two of them. Jack, for once said nothing, and could only look on in sorrow.

"Elizabeth," Will whispered weakly, barely able to speak clearly anymore. "I-I…lo-love…." Slowly Will's eyes began to close, his grip on Elizabeth's hand began to slacken, and finally he just stopped moving all together as his final breath left his lips. Surrounded by loved ones, William Turner passed on.

Elizabeth's eyes widened in horror as Will's hand went limp in her grasp. "N-No! NOOOO!" Sora clenched his fist and grit his teeth, tears streaming down his face. Jack closed his eyes, his final respects to the departed Will. "No! Will, please come back! Come back to me!" Elizabeth sobbed over the now deceased body of her husband, but it was useless.

"Part of the crew, part of the ship." It was Sora and Jack who noticed it first when Bootstrap Bill spoke, chanting the same phrase over and over again, and soon it wasn't just him. Before their very eyes the entire frightening crew of the Flying Dutchman began phasing out from all around the ship. Hammerhead, Pufferfish, Boson, Sora even spotted Sa'luk amongst them, and all them were chanting that phrase in unison like a mantra. As one they started to approach the heroes in a sort of trance, guided by whatever power still held them.

Sora wiped his eyes quickly, anger boiling up inside him, and would have put his Keyblade to work if Jack had not held out his hand. "We have to leave," he said in an unwavering tone. Sora looked into the pirate captain's eyes, and for the first time since knowing Jack, he saw sincerity.

"Part of the crew, part of the ship."

Steeling his gaze, Sora nodded at Jack, and together they grabbed a still teary eyed Elizabeth and tore her away from Will's dead body. "No!" she sobbed, trying to fight them off. "I won't leave him! Will!"

"Part of the crew, part of the ship."

As the monstrous crew made to surround Will, Jack grabbed a hold of a tight line he had unfastened, Sora doing the same with another one. "Hang on!" Jack shouted and, with his Keyblade appearing in a flash of light, he swung it upwards, creating a great gust of wind that filled one of the Dutchman's kelp sails, and with a sudden jerk the heroes were carried off.

"Part of the crew, part of the ship." Bill Turner led the monsters in slow steady steps, clutching in his hand the very same dagger he had given his son. The same son that now lay dead before him. All around him the crew chanted, mindless without a captain, driven with only one purpose. It was Sa'luk who brought forward the empty and open Dead Man's Chest. And it was Bootstrap who kneeled down over Will's prone form, dagger still clutched tightly in hand.

"The Dutchman must have a captain," he recited. And the dagger came down.

Riding the strong winds up above on their sail turned parachute, Sora, Jack, and Elizabeth watched as the Dutchman was pulled into the maelstrom. Without a captain or a crew to man her, the unstoppable force of the maelstrom swallowed The Flying Dutchman whole, taking the monsters, and Will, down with her. As the ship was reclaimed by the sea, Elizabeth buried her face in Sora's chest, and the boy could only wrap his one arm tighter around her. Goodbye, Will, Sora thought forlornly.

Almost immediately after the Dutchman's destruction, the maelstrom came to a stop. The skies began to clear and the rain finally stopped falling, and almost as fast as the mysterious storm had appeared, it was gone. Now flying on much calmer winds the trio slowly began to drift downward until they landed gently into the sea, where the Black Pearl was already heading to claim them.

One by one, Jack, Elizabeth and Sora were pulled aboard the Pearl, Sora being the last to come aboard, where he was quickly wrapped in a hug by Kairi. He absent mindedly returned the hug. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.

Sora mournfully shook his head. "No."

"Well, pull yourself together," Barbossa growled as he stomped his way towards them. "We're not out of this yet. In case you haven't noticed, we've still an armada against us." It was true. On the horizon waited the Company Armada who, like the much smaller Brethren Fleet, had stayed where they were when the maelstrom first started lest they be torn asunder. Now that the storm had passed, they were ready for battle once again. There were Company galleons and Heartless pirate ships numbering in the hundreds, and at the head was Beckett's flagship, the Endeavour, with Maleficent and the Horned King no doubt aboard.

"Yeah, kinda forgot about them," Aladdin admitted as he and the other Keyblade bearers looked out at the awaiting enemy.

"We have to do all that again?" po asked in exasperation. "You gotta be kidding me!"

"Technically we have to do it….." Jack Skellington said, counting the ships off in the distance one by one. "Four hundred more times."

"Well, as long as it's not four hundred and one we should be alright," Mulan sighed sarcastically.

"Aye, captain, wind's not exactly blowing in our favour," Gibbs told Jack worriedly, gesturing out at the enemy ships. "The Endeavour's coming up on our starboard, and I think it's time we embrace that oldest, and noblest of pirate traditions: namely, running the hell away!" It was a plan after Jack's own heart. But he looked at Elizabeth, her eyes still red from the tears. Then he looked at Sora, who in turn looked at him. An understanding passed them, and Sora nodded in resolution.

"Never been one for tradition," Jack soon said, much to everyone's confusion. "Ready all guns! Hoist the sails and haul out the iron!" And Jack headed for the wheel of his ship, leaving everyone reeling in his wake. Did Jack Sparrow actually want to stand his ground and fight?

"You heard the captain!" Sora soon shouted afterwards. "Either they go down or we do! And I'm through running! Now come on!" With orders coming from both Captain Jack and Sora the crew was practically stumbling over themselves to get the ship ready. But it was an effort nonetheless. The battle with the Dutchman had left the Pearl in bad shape, and it certainly wouldn't be enough to take on the forces of darkness. But too much had been sacrificed already to back down now.

Meanwhile, at the forefront of the Company Armada, the Endeavour, a massive galleon and easily the biggest ship on the water, had broken ahead of the rest of the fleet, and was on its way for a full on confrontation with the weary crew of the Black Pearl. Not only was it armed to the teeth with over fifty cannons and trained Company soldiers, but it also carried with them two beings of incredible power, not native to this world. "Remember Beckett," Maleficent spoke in a warning tone. "Kairi is not to be harmed. The rest can die, but she belongs to us."

"Then, once we sink the Black Pearl, we simply pluck her out of the water," Beckett explained casually as he looked out at the approaching Pearl from the command deck of his ship, the dark witch standing just beside him. He smirked arrogantly. "I'm sure she can swim." Maleficent scowled at him but said nothing. Beckett knew the price of failure and she would leave it at that. So she turned to the Horned King, who was looking out over the water, a scowl on his face.

"Will you stop pouting?" she sneered, earning her a withered glare from the red-eyed demon. "Jones has failed us. We placed too much stock on him from the beginning. It falls to us to finish this foolishness once and for-"

FWWWWWOOOOOSSSHHH!

The crews of both ships turned their attention to the open sea where, from its very depths, like a phoenix from the ashes, burst the Flying Dutchman, undamaged, unchecked, and apparently unstoppable. It emerged just a few leagues from the Black Pearl, much to their horror as it made a beeline for them. "You gotta be kidding me," Sora whispered upon witnessing the cursed ship's return.

"What does it take to kill this guy?!" sonic growled, his gloved hands digging into the Pearl's rail.

"Are we sure we don't want to run?" Ragetti asked nervously. "I'm just putting that idea on the table again."

Back on the Endeavour, the reaction to the Dutchman's return was a little more pleasing. "Hmm. It seems I've underestimated Jones," Maleficent admitted with a smile as she watched the ship. "He's more tenacious than I thought."

"Indeed he is," Beckett replied, trying not to show his own great pleasure. If all had gone to plan, Davy Jones, and therefore the Dutchman, was under his full control, and he wouldn't have to take orders from these two freaks for much longer. Maleficent, on the other hand, turned to her partner, the Horned King who, only moments ago, had been mourning the apparent loss of the ship. Now that it was back…..she found him scowling.

"Shouldn't you be happy?" she asked him with a slight smugness. "Your favourite pet is still up and about. Now there's nothing that can stop us from acquiring Kairi." The Horned King said nothing. He was looking at the Dutchman. Something was…..wrong. The ship looked different. The sea life and green slime that coated the entire hull seemed to have melted away, revealing a clear white wooden finish underneath. Likewise with the kelp sails, the slime was now gone, and sails now glistened with white as well. It no longer looked like the plagued ship of the seven seas. Instead it looked…majestic.

Suddenly and without warning the ship suddenly rammed to a stop, snapping the Horned King out of his thoughts. Nearly every man on board was sent stumbling as the Endeavour came to a sudden halt. "What's happening?!" Beckett demanded of his helmsman.

"We've run aground, sir!" the man reported quickly, spinning the wheel but to no avail. The ship was not going anywhere.

"That's impossible! We're in the middle of the ocean!" As Beckett snapped at the equally confused crew, the Horned King regained his bearings, and came to a horrid realization. Quick as his old body could muster he hobbled his way to the side of the ship, and looked over the railing, witnessing exactly what he had feared. Down on the surface of the sea, long watery tentacles had taken form all around the massive ship. They wrapped their way along the hull of the vessel, anchoring it in place, ensuring it would not move any further.

The Horned King's eyes widened with fury, and his eyes turned back to the Dutchman. "Impossible!"

On board the Flying Dutchman, the changes were not limited to the ship itself. The crew, monstrous and terrible abominations of nature, found their deformities quickly fade away. All the parasites and coral that clung to their bodies dropped to the deck in heaps, revealing the men underneath them. They stumbled about in a daze, as if waking from a long dream, looking upon their old skins in wonder. "I can't believe it," Sa'luk whispered, where once a hideous monster he had once again become his old self, now clutching his bladed-brass knuckles instead of them being a part of his hand.

'Bootstrap' Bill Turner, pulled the starfish off his face, the last remnant of the monster he was for, just like the rest of the crew, he was a man again. He looked at his hands, his hands, and nearly broke into tears.

Who had done this miracle?

All at once, the men turned to the helm.

There he stood, tall and proud, wheel clutched in one hand and, in the other, Davy Jones' Keyblade. The same Keyblade that had been sticking through his chest only moments before. Death's Deity had changed along with everything else, its slime and coral coating melting away to give light to the true solid gold weapon that was now in the new captain's hand. Will Turner, back from the dead, gave a mighty shout to his new crew. "Ready on the guns!" And he was almost immediately met with a responding cheer.

"Will…." Elizabeth whispered joyously, tears once again coming to her, but with time of joy.

"I don't believe it!" Sora laughed loudly upon seeing who was in control of the Dutchman.

Jack Sparrow smiled widely at the helm. "Spread all sheets! Douse canvas! Charge them Keyblades!"

The look on all three villains faces when the Dutchman broke off its path from the Pearl and now headed straight for them was absolutely priceless. "No! This can't be!" Maleficent raged, slamming her staff to the deck. Beckett could only gape helplessly. The ships were now moving in on either side of the Endeavour, meaning to trap them in a gauntlet.

"We were so close," the Horned King snarled, his withered hands clenching tight. "So close!" The Pearl and Dutchman were closing fast, their crews ready to fire as soon as they were in range. The crew of Endeavour, on the other hand, were beginning to panic.

"We need orders, sir!" Becket's quartermaster pleaded as the men started to descend into chaos. But Beckett had nothing to say. He was floundering like a fish out of water. How could this have happened? He had planned it so perfectly. Helpless and out of ideas he turned to his two dark masters, looking to them pleadingly.

But the Horned King merely stared coldly back with his dark red eyes. "Sorry Beckett," he said, and a dark portal appeared behind him suddenly. "It's just good business." And then he turned round and stepped through the portal, vanishing from sight. Maleficent, more than a little upset, sniffed disdainfully at Beckett before following in after him. The portal then vanished, and the two sorcerers were gone from this world.

Beckett stared in horror at where he had been only moments before. His crew still begged him for orders. To fire, to run away, anything really. But Beckett was rooted to the spot. For there was no way out of this. Outgunned, outmatched, and now without magical support, there was nothing his calculating mind could come up with. And then the order came down.

"FIIIIIRRE!" came the order from both ships.

A fierce volley of cannon fire came down on the Endeavour from both port and starboard, and the ship, proud and mighty, was torn apart by a combination of cannonballs and Keyblade spells. Wood and men were sent flying violently. So fierce and without mercy was the attack that the Endeavour's crew could not even fire a shot. They were being torn to splinters and there was nothing they could do about it.

And Beckett stayed rooted to the spot, his ship exploding all around him, and his men dying or jumping overboard, but still he stood there. As his world crumbled down around him his expression was one of quiet resignation. Despite all his scheming, all his influence and all his power, he could not defeat a mere rabble of lowly pirates. Such an end was fitting for him. After all…..

"It's just…..good business….."

KAAAAAAAABOOOOOOMMM!

In a blaze of fire and splintering wood the Endeavour ignited in a fantastic explosion as the Pearl and Dutchman sailed safely out of range. The smoldering remains of the ship slowly began to sink beneath the waves, ending the threat of Cutler Beckett. The Company Armada, still a few leagues off, all turned their ships around and began to flee. With their allied Heartless ships vanishing in wisps of darkness, the sinking of their flagship, and the fact the Flying Dutchman had changed sides, the other captains decided to cut their losses and turn tail with their lives intact. "They're running away!" Sora shouted upon seeing it himself. "WE DID IT!" His declaration was met with a righteous cheer from the crew of the Black Pearl. Weapons were raised. Sora and Kairi hugged each other tightly, both of them laughing in relief and joy. Pintel and Ragetti linked arms and danced around in a circle laughing. Silver guffawed and fired his arm cannon in wide bursts into the air. Jack Skellington tossed a whooping po into the air. Even Barbossa allowed himself a victorious smirk. All across the Brethren Court Fleet there was celebrating on every ship, from Mistress Cheng to Gentleman Jocard, and even the crew of Captain Teague cheered and danced, and fired shots off into the air.

"Mister Gibbs," Jack Sparrow said as removed his treasured hat and handed it to his first mate. "You may throw my hat if you'd like."

"Aye Captain!" Gibbs laughed, and with a hearty cheer he threw Jack's hat up in the air in celebration.

"Very good," Jack said with an approving nod. "Now go and get it." Gibbs looked back at Jack with a look of surprise, before sighing tiredly, shuffling off and trying to find where he had thrown it.

KHKHKHKH

The seas were quiet once more as the day of battle came to a close. With their enemies defeated and the waters safe once more, the convening of Brethren Court was now over. One by one the Pirate Lords sailed back to their own lands with their crews, leaving only the Black Pearl, with the Flying Dutchman not far off beside them.

Will Turner, newly crowned captain of the Dutchman, looked out where the Pearl floated and could just barely see Elizabeth looking back at him. He smiled sadly, idly touching the scar now on his chest, where his heart used to be. He then looked to the Dead Man's Chest sitting not far away from him, and even from there he could hear the steady beat from within.

"Orders sir?" Will then turned to see his father, no longer a monster and looking just like Will remembered from when he was very young, smiling warmly at his son.

Will smiled back. "You're no longer bound to the Dutchman," he told his father. "You're free now."

"Aye, that may be," Bootstrap muttered as he hobbled on up. "But I reckon I have another debt that must be repaid." Bill Turner smiled wider. "If you'll have me." Now what could Will say to an offer like that from his own dad?

"On the wheel then, Mister Turner."

"Aye, Captain Turner." Dutifully Bootstrap manned the helm. He then looked over at his son, who was still looking out at the Black Pearl, where Elizabeth was still looking back at him. "This ship has purpose again," Bootstrap explained sadly as his son listened. "It falls to us to ferry the souls of all those lost at sea. Where we must go, she cannot follow." Will's head drooped slightly, closing his eyes. "One day ashore; ten years at sea. That be the rule." Bootstrap mournfully shook his head. "It's a steep price to pay for all that's been done."

Yet Will suddenly smirked. "Depends on the day."

Aboard the Black Pearl Elizabeth was also looking out on her beloved, a look of loss and sadness on her face. Despite all their victories, despite Will coming back from the dead, she was fated to lose him once again. "Your chariot awaits," Gibbs suddenly said to her, breaking her of her thoughts. The Pearl's first mate directed her gaze to a small lifeboat just lowered from the Pearl. He smiled brightly at her. "Best of luck to you, lass." She gave him a warm smile in return, touching his arm as she made her way down to the deck, where she found everyone was waiting to say their goodbyes.

She came upon Barbossa first, and the terrifying man actually smiled. "Mrs. Turner," he acknowledged with a small nod. Elizabeth gave a small smile to her enemy turned ally before moving on. As she passed by the Keyblade bearers Beast was the first to give a gruff goodbye and sharp toothed smile. sonic gave a curt nod with his arms crossed. Mulan placed her fist within her palm and gave a respectful bow, accompanied by a warm smile.

"Your majesty," Silver offered with a tip of his hat, winking at her with his glowing red eye.

Elizabeth soon came upon her one-time crew of Aladdin, Jack Skellington and po, and all three stood at attention and saluted. "It was an honour, Captain," Aladdin told her sincerely with a smile to match.

"You were the best captain we ever had," Jack Skellington told her grinning.

"And the only one," po backed up with a cheeky grin. Elizabeth smiled warmly at them before she leaned down and gave po a quick peck on the cheek before moving on. The panda blushed bashfully. "Aw shucks…."

After Pintel and Ragetti gave her a quick 'Bye poppet', Elizabeth came upon Kairi, and the girl's bright blue eyes were damp with unshed tears. Elizabeth smiled at the younger red head, and wrapped her in a tight hug. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Kairi," she whispered.

Kairi sniffled and returned the hug tight as she could. "You, too," she said as some tears began to escape. "Good luck, Elizabeth." They both pulled away from each other and parted as friends when Elizabeth came upon Sora next. But the boy kept his eyes glued to the deck, not wanting to meet her gaze.

"It's all my fault," he muttered to her. "If I hadn't come here, things wouldn't have turned out this way. Maleficent wouldn't have come, the Heartless, and Will wouldn't have gotten hurt trying to save me." Sora's fists clenched tightly. "Elizabeth, I…..I'm so…."

"Sora, look at me." Sora suddenly felt two hands on his shoulders and slowly he lifted his head to meet Elizabeth's warm, caring face. "There are things in life that no man can control, no matter how hard he tries. In my heart, I think I always knew it would come this. " She leaned in a bit closer. "I don't blame you for a single second, Sora. You will always be our most loyal friend." Elizabeth offered a bright smile. "You will always be a hero." Sora looked up at her, unable to form words in the face of such kindness. Instead, he just smiled back, and the two friends hugged tightly. "Take care of her, Sora."

"I will," he promised. "Goodbye Elizabeth." They pulled away from each other, and with one last smile she moved on, now coming to Jack Sparrow, who stood between her and the lifeboat.

"Jack," she began. "Thank you. For everything." Jack gave a humble nod and flashed a quick smile. "Our destinies have always been entwined, haven't they?"

"Is that your best pickup line?" he quipped with a smirk, and Elizabeth actually smiled back at his idiocy. "Take of yourself, love," he said and, without further ado, stepped aside so that she could take the lifeboat. With one last look of gratitude towards the pirate captain Elizabeth stepped her way inside the small boat. Slowly she was lowered into the water, and once she was safely afloat she started the long row to the Flying Dutchman, the crew all watching her as she went.

"Hardly a happy ending, is it?" sonic commented as he and the rest watched her go.

"They'll be alright," Sora assured them, smiling despite himself.

"We're not asking Will to come with us?" Jack Skellington questioned. "I mean, he's got a Keyblade now. I think he would lend real celebrity flair to the team!"

"Will's got his own job to do now," Kairi explained, resting her head in her hands. "One just as important."

"Sooooo, what now?" po question as he rested his arms on the rail.

"Guess our work here is done," Aladdin answered, taking the red bandana off his head and replacing it with his usual small hat.

"You mean you're all leaving?" Ragetti asked with a touch of disappointment. "Won't you even stay for the celebrations?"

"Afraid not," Mulan replied solemnly, her gaze turning to the sky. "We have our own war to finish."

"Well, best of luck to you lads," Sliver said as he came hobbling up, each step a creak in his metal parts. "Think I'm gonna stick around with this lot. We've really bonded, I think." He grabbed an alarmed Pintel and practically broke him in half with his one-armed metal hug. "After all, I'm pretty sure I belong here."

"Half of you is a robot," Beast deadpanned. "In what way do you belong here?"

"Simple," Silver answered with a big ole' grin. "The other half be pirate." As his friends said their goodbye to the pirate crew of the Black Pearl, Sora decided it was time for him to say his goodbyes as well, and so he walked straight for Jack Sparrow.

"I guess this is goodbye, Jack," he began, earning the captain's attention. "I know you joined us for selfish reasons. And I know you were never thrilled with the idea of being a hero either. But….Jack, whether you meant it or not you really helped us. And despite everything that's happened, I still consider you a friend." Jack raised an eyebrow, not saying anything as he was suddenly offered a hand to shake. I'm sorry to see you go, Jack. But I understand. This isn't for everyone. Just…..try to be careful, alright? The Chasers are still out there." Jack looked at the offered hand for a brief moment, and then slowly extended his own to firmly grasp Sora's, who in turn shook it firmly. "Take care of yourself, Captain." With one last smile Sora went to rejoin his friends, who were in the middle of contacting the Shera for pickup.

Jack watched him go for a second before looking at the hand that just shook Sora's. That same hand suddenly filled with light, and his Keyblade appeared. Follow the Wind. Jack heard the name of the blade every time he summoned it. But now the words took on another meaning. Jack tilted his head backwards, and gave a long drawn out sigh. He couldn't believe what he was about to do.

"Oh pity's sake!" he suddenly snapped, much to everyone's confusion. "Ain't you even gonna try to convince me to come?"

Sora blinked in surprise. "Wha-?"

"I mean, don't get me wrong," Jack went on, storming his way up to all of them. "It's not like I want to go along with you lot. It's just that you clearly cannot get on without me! I mean, you come all the way to me world to get me, then you go all the way to the Locker to get me. I'd hate to think about you going to save the universe without me to steer you along."

Sora broke into a wide grin. "Are you saying-?"

"For the sake of the universe not imploding, or whatever, I have no choice but accompany you all once again in ensuring that this little thing called existence keeps on spinning." He grinned like only Captain Jack could. "Savvy?"

"Alright!" po cheered and immediately hugged Jack around the waist. "Captain's back!"

"Yes, very good. Get off me now," Jack muttered but found dislodging the ninja to be harder than it looked. "Get off me! Let me loose! You smell like seaweed you little bugger!"

"Aw, let me get some of that action!" Jack Skellington laughed, sweeping both po and and unfortunate Jack off their feet in a group hug.

"No! No hugs!" Jack continued to protest, wiggling and squirming. "I only hug in special circumstances, and last I checked you both weren't tipsy wenches! Let me down! I am immediately regretting this decision!"

Beast ran his paw across his face. "You gotta be kidding me…."

"Oh come off it," Aladdin chided, smirking at the whole crazy scene. "You know you're happy he's back."

"I know," Beast grumbled. "And that's what's making this so depressing."

"I guess we're one big happy family again," Kairi giggled as she watched Jack get spun around by Skellington now.

"Such as it is, yes," Mulan chuckled. She watched as Jack finally managed to get free of po and Jack Skellington by clubbing them over the head with his pistol, and smiled fondly.

Now finally free of anymore hugs Jack knew that there was more business to attend to. He dusted himself off, took a deep breath, and turned to the one person he loathed more than anyone else on board. "Barbossa!" he greeted with a big friendly smile. "Hector," he rephrased as he approached the villainous captain. "I like to think that his whole ordeal, terrible as it has been, has brought us closer together as a unit. Wouldn't you agree?" Barbossa said nothing, keeping his always hard stare on Jack. "Right…well, with that in mind, I cannot very well captain the Pearl while off on my fantastical adventures. I never was one for multitasking."

Jack sighed again, unable to believe what he doing. "And so, against all rational judgement and thought I see fit to place…you in charge of the Pearl." Barbossa raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Temporarily!" Jack quickly added. "Just until I return from my fantastical saving the universe adventures. In which case, you will return the Pearl back over to me all friendly like, and you are more than welcome to stay on as a member of the crew." Jack extended his hand, looking hopeful. "Whadda ya say, mate? We have an accord?"

Barbossa looked down at the offered hand before smiling and grasping it firmly. "Of course, Jack," Barbossa answered with a firm handshake, his rotten teeth flashing with a smile. "You can trust me."

What Jack failed to notice was the crossed fingers of Barbossa's other hand behind his back.

KHKHKHKH

On the shores of Port Royal where the sun was only just beginning to set, William Turner redressed himself, sitting on a rock just short of the coming in waves. He strapped on his right boot, one of the last pieces of clothing he was still missing, and looked at his other bare foot. "I'm going to need the other one."

Elizabeth soon placed her foot on the rock, wearing Will's missing boot. And that was about all she still wore save for the short dress that fell just past her hips. She smiled down at Will playfully, and he lovingly smiled back. He reached for her foot, undoing the straps to his boot, but then stopped. Slowly, he began to caress her bare leg, running his hands along her thigh before he gently kissed it. Shivers went up Elizabeth's spine, tilting her head back and letting out a small gasp. But before Will could go on, he suddenly stopped, a look of sorrow on his features.

"The sun will set soon," he told her. Elizabeth then opened her eyes, and saw that the sun was indeed setting on the horizon, where the Flying Dutchman lay anchored not far off. Their one day together was already drawing to a close.

After putting his boot back on Will walked over to where the Dead Man's Chest sat on another rock, the steady sound of a heartbeat heard as always from within, only now it was his own. "It's always belonged to you," he whispered placing his hand upon it. "Will you keep it safe?"

Elizabeth walked up to him and took hold of the hand on the chest. "I will," she swore to him. He turned to her then, and they looked deep into the eyes of one another. Joined in matrimony at last and yet destined not be together. A tragic fate, but one they would live with. As the sunset grew ever closer, neither could think of another word to say. After all, goodbye was too painful. They simply looked at each other, touching foreheads for the longest time before Will pulled away. He gave her one last look of longing before he finally walked away, heading for the water.

But Elizabeth, tears in her eyes, would not let it end this way. "Will!", she called to him and, rushing after him, they met in a passionate embrace, kissing each other long and hard, the last they would share in ten years. But they knew that no matter the span of time or the distance, they would always find love with each other.

When they both pulled away there was a bright smile on Will's face, and he whispered to her, "Keep a weather eye on the horizon." And with those final words Elizabeth's husband walked off into the crashing waves of the shore, and she watched as he simply vanished within them.

In the far off distance the sun began to set on the Flying Dutchman. As the ship began to pull away from Port Royal, Elizabeth kept her eyes glued to it, saying a final, silent goodbye to its captain before the sun finally dipped below the horizon, and in a flash of green light, it was gone…..

And that concludes another chapter. Be sure to write nice reviews, adapt the original story (Darius Almighty's work) on DeviantArt, turn it into a webcomic or post the story on TV tropes or follow and favorite it. And remember may your heart be your guiding key!