Chapter 41: The Duel

The others gradually started to get up. Double D noticed only Eddy remained on the ground.

"That's one serious injury." Vivian said.

"What do we do about it?" Goombella asked.

"We need to get him out of here." Double D said.

"Wait, what about the star?" Bobbery added in.

"Hold on!" A voice suddenly shouted.

The group was absolutely astounded. The same twister appeared once more, and Cortez's skull head reappeared. Floating above them.

"This is absurd. How can you be fine?" Bobbery asked.

"Mortals can be quite foolish. One cannot kill those whom have already been killed." Cortez laughed. "Now, I've clearly demonstrated just a small bit of my power with that fool."

"You twisted freak!" Goombella said.

"You people shall never get my treasure, comprende? Now, I would best do yourself a favor and allow me to add you to the ranks of the dead painlessly." Cortez said.

"We're not after your treasure!" Double D said. "We've come for a Crystal Star!"

"Lies." Cortez aid. "You have come to steal my treasure."

"I have to get him to his senses. He has to come to realize that I am not here to steal from him. But how can I convince a spirit of a pirate to calm down?" Double D thought. He didn't want another person hurt.

"Listen." Double D said. "I have something to show you."

Double D touched the rim of his makeshift hat.

Vivian got the cue. "What are we going to do with Eddy?"

The rest of the group focused their attention on Eddy. Double D waited until they had lost their attention on him. He faced the floating skull. Double D then closed his eyes and removed his hat. He also had to move his hair out of the way to show Cortez the Eye of Wisdom.

Cortez's glowing eyes widened. "Is that the Eye of Wisdom?"

Double D knew he had a lead. "Then you are familiar with this?"

"Indeed I am. My life occurred during the time the ancient city fell. That was a thriving time for one such as myself. With the city in such chaos, it was easy for me to steal its treasures. But, while I was there, I do remember seeing that. I know of its past, involving mystical powers, and the crystal stars." Cortez's eyes closed. "I have no doubt in my mind you are not lying to me."

Double D placed the hat on his head. He looked back to the group, who had not seen nor heard any of this.

"Then may I have the Crystal Star?" Double D asked, with his arm extended.

"Yes. As long as you promise to get out of here the second I do." Cortez said.

"Deal." Double D said.

One of the piles of gold started moving. A blue gem forced it's way out of the treasure, and floated into the air. It approached and landed in Double D's hand.

The rest of the group noticed Double D had the star.

"Now leave." Cortez said.

Nazz and Vivian picked up Eddy carefully. They walked out first, followed by Goombella who was crying. Bobbery looked back at Cortez with a serious glare for a second before proceeding out the door. Double D was in the rear.

"My word, what happened to Eddy?" Flavio asked.

"He was wounded in battle." Double D said.

Goombella looked down. "He got hurt, protecting me…I have dreamed that he would do something heroic, but… why did it have to be like this…"

A tear drop hit the ground.

"We need to get out of here. The nurse at the camp can help." Bobbery said.

"There is no way we could leave the way we came in. Eddy can't last that long." Double D said.

"Oh, just so you know." One of the sailors said. "In that battle you had with that evil pirate, you created a crack in this wall."

"I'll handle it." Bobbery said.

"What?" Nazz asked.

"If we can penetrate this wall, we can use it as an alternate means of escape." Bobbery said. "Stand back."

The crowd dispersed, allowing Bobbery to explode aside the wall. It worked. A hole appeared, revealing daylight on the other side.

"HEADS UP!" Kevin shouted.

The Cliffside nearby suddenly burst out in an explosion.

"Oh!" Koops shouted, allowing his shell to block any incoming rocks.

Out of the hole emerged a group of people they've never seen so far. Rolf did recognize the two Pintas, but they were all shocked to see a few unknown humans arrive.

Finally, they saw Vivian and Nazz carrying Eddy. Flavio was next, with Bobbery behind him and Goombella looking down without her helmet. Double D came out last. He had apparently removed, then placed his hat on very quickly, because some of his hair was out, covering both of his eyes.

"Rolf should have know you would be close by." Rolf said.

"Nazz!" Kevin exclaimed as he saw her. "I-"

He stopped himself when Nazz ran past him without a word, with Vivian carrying Eddy back towards the direction of camp.

"I best return Ed to camp as well." Rolf said, running with them.

"Where were you?" Koops asked. "We've searched all over for you."

"We went into a deep, dark, cave." Flavio said.

"And have found the fifth Crystal Star." Double D said. "But at a terrible price."

"What happened to Eddy?" Kevin asked.

"He's in terrible condition." Goombella said.

"Well, we have the star now, right?" Kevin asked. "So, everything's over?"

"Not necessarily. We still have to get off this island." Double D said. "And we have to get Eddy and Ed back to health."

Nazz, Vivian, and Rolf returned to the rest of the group.

"…wait a moment." Ralph T said suddenly.

He stepped ahead towards the large back of sailors. "…are you in there?"

A particular toad walked out. He looked very similar physically to Ralph, except for having orange spots.

"Ralphy?" the toad asked.

"B-brother!" Ralph asked. He jumped into the arms of his brother. "I'm glad to see you alive! I came all the way here to find you!"

"You mean, you came here for me?" Ralph's brother asked. "Thank you."

Kevin wore a smile on his face. Not his smirk, but a pleasant smile.

"I owe a couple of people so much for giving me the opportunity to come." Ralph said. He led his brother to Kevin. "Thank you for helping me out before." Ralph T said.

"You helped out my brother, eh? You're a hero in my book." Ralph's brother said. He extended his hand for a shake.

Kevin shook his hand. After a second, Ralph and his brother resumed their hug.

'Wow, that felt… well, good.' Kevin thought.

Nazz slowly walked up to him. "Did you really help him out?"

"Yep." Kevin said.

Nazz was smiling. "That's sweet of you to do. Maybe I was a little wrong about you."

"Uh, thanks?" Kevin asked. He suddenly looked to the confused group of bystanders.

"Oh! Uh… but don't think this changes who I am!" Kevin said.

BAM!

Something gigantic hit the water.

"What in heaven's name?" Double D asked.

He looked over the beachside. There was a huge ship in the lagoon. It looked like it belonged in a war of some sort. But he understood why it was there. On its sails as a big painted red X.

Rolf's eyes narrowed. "The X scum has returned."

Rolf looked down and held the puni-emblem necklace he wore. "Rolf cannot believe they-who-spread-misery have returned."

"Who the devil's that!" Flavio asked.

On the top of the war-ship's bow stood someone they all knew.

"Four Eyes?" Kevin asked. "What are you-"

"Hm…" Four Eyes said. "I cannot believe you all fell for my trap."

"Explain yourself!" Double D shouted, pointing at the ship. He was ready to blast the ship to pieces.

"Now that I'm on this ship and in control, I have no fear of divulging this: I've been lying and deceiving you all. You see… the kindly sailor named Four Eyes doesn't exist." Four Eyes explained. He reached the collar of his shirt. "My real name…"

He ripped off the shirt and removed his Viking hat.

"…the great Lord Crump!"

"CRUMP!" Rolf shouted. "Rolf should have known you would be showing you horrendous face once more!"

"Say about me what you will, but I'm not the one on the wrong end of this cannon." Crump said.

"I can destroy that ship with one spell!" Double D shouted.

"I feel that you will not be doing any of the sort. Otherwise, you would lose him." Crump laughed.

"Who?" Double D asked.

"Dad!" A voice shouted.

"No…" Double D noticed his little Yoshi, tied up to a mast. "LET HIM GO!"

"You're not in any place to make commands." Crump said. "If you ever want to see your little "son" again, you will come quietly. Otherwise, I'll destroy this little Yoshi… and I will force you to watch."

'What do I do!?' Double D thought. 'I have to do something. I need help! Help!'

"Oh…" Ed sighed as his eyes opened.

"Huh?" The nurse asked and also noticed Eddy stirring in his own bed. "Good to see you're okay."

"Where's Double D?" Ed asked.

"When Nazz came here with the others to drop you off, they say they're at a Cliffside near a beach."

Ed gasped. "I have to go save him!"

Ed jumped from his bed. He quickly grabbed his jacket and ran out of the tent.

"Wait!" The nurse said to no avail.

"Double D…" Eddy said, looking very weak.

"Why is everyone interested in seeing him?" The nurse asked.

"I… can tell… that he's… in trouble…" Eddy said tried to get up but groaned.

"You're too weak. Stay here for now." the nurse said.

"No way, lady." Eddy said, getting up slowly.

He began to stagger from his bed.

"You can't go back out there. You're making a mistake." She said.

"I've… made mistakes in the past before, and I've handled them. I can take this." Eddy said and slowly walked out the tent.

Crump started firing the cannon. Again. It created so many explosions that the group had to retreat back into the cave.

"What do we do?" Nazz asked.

"Whatever we can to stay alive." Koops said. "Though we're running out of options."

"Well, someone do something!" he asked his only available crewman.

"I can't do much now. A sailor isn't good for much if there's no boat." Ralph T said.

"…that's it!" Flavio said. "Double D!"

"Yes?"

"You claimed that Cortez has a ship. If it's as dreadfully cursed as claimed to be, we should have no problem attacking that cad with it!" Flavio said.

"Good thinking." Double D said. "Everyone, stay here. I'm going to go with Flavio to persuade Cortez into lending us his ship!"

"That's crazy, and you know it!" Goombella said.

"We have no choice!" Double D said. He and Flavio ran off to Cortez's ship.

"When my dad finds a way to beat ya, you'll be so sorry!" Eduardo Jr. shouted at Crump.

"I want to see that." Crump said.

Eduardo Jr. noticed someone running down the beachside.

"Ed?" Eduardo Jr. thought. "The last time I saw him, he couldn't stand! How is he running?"

Ed quickly ran into the hole in the wall.

There was another figure moving towards the hole but moving much more slowly.

"And Eddy! He's a wreck! What happened to him?" Eduardo jr thought.

"Open fire!" Crump shouted to his crew.

The cannons started exploding.

Eddy didn't flinch. Each cannonball came inches near him, but he continued to walk. With every explosion, he staggered a bit, losing his balance from the aftershock. But he was never hit, as he slowly walked into the hole.

"You all have the aim of a stump!" Crump shouted at his troops.

There was a bit more shaking, but not from the cannons.

"Hm… no doubt, another form of a pathetic attack?" Crump asked.

He was shocked however when an entire wall suddenly exploded.

"WHAT THE…" Crump asked.

Looming from within the new hole was an old ship. Its decks were crowed with people, the sailors, the couple Pintas, Ralph and his brother bravely standing on a higher deck, Flavio standing boldly on the bow tip, Cortez floating overhead, and Double D and his group near the front.

Crump's ship and Cortez's began circling one another.

"Hm... Those guys can't scare me that easily." Crump said. He grabbed the wheel and gave it a sharp tug. His ship made a sharper turn, ramming right into Cortez's.

"So, shall we do battle?" Crump asked.

"No!" Rolf said suddenly, pushing himself through the crowd. "We shall."

"Excuse me, hotshot?" Crump asked.

"Rolf is talking about a duel. As Rolf's ancestors would, we shall duel for keeps. If Rolf wins, we shall get Eduardo Jr. back, as well as the complete surrender of your empire!" Rolf said.

"I'm liking this." Crump smirked. "Hm… okay, but if I am victor of said duel, then I get to capture each and every one of you. You're fate afterwards would be undetermined, but I can assure you, it ain't pretty."

"Agreed." Rolf said.

"Can we take that risk?" Double D asked.

"Rolf is confident in his abilities." Rolf said, holding his puni necklace.

"Fine, explain how this works." Crump said.

"We must move the vessels apart ten meters and secure a pole between them to duel on. The one who falls into the water loses." Rolf said.

"Hm… very well, I accept." Crump said.

They split their boats apart and pushed over a sail beam for the pole. Both of them walked out on it.

Rolf's eyes narrowed to meet Crump's. Rolf tightened the grip on his necklace, then held his fighting bag into the air. "Anything to say?"

Then crashed in the distance.

"How does he do that?" Double D asked.

"Do… what?" Eddy asked.

"Summon that lightning storm?" Double D asked.

"Well, anything to say?" Rolf repeated.

"Nope." Crump responded. "It's time to duel!"

Rolf did the opening move. He smacked Crump in the face with a hard blow. Crump retaliated. Rolf ran up ahead and smacked him again. Crump grunted.

"I'm done playing games." Crump said, revealing an X-naut staff.

Rolf tried to hit him again, but Crump blocked it with his staff.

As the duel continued, red clouds started forming overhead.

"Yeah, that's what happened to us the last time he dueled." Eddy said. "I… don't get it."

"Rolf has kept many things hidden from us since we have arrived." Double D said. "I should ask him for answers later on."

"Hm… earlier, I heard Rolf speaking of my actions." Ed said.

"ED!" Double D and Eddy asked.

"Yes, it is I." Ed said.

"How are you talking so clearly?" Double D asked.

"I'm not sure. It's happened before." Ed said. "…though it always seems to be triggered when you are in danger."

"This is bizarre." Double D said.

The sound of clanging brought Double D's attention back to the duel.

Crump seemed to have the upper edge in the duel but Rolf was still standing and looking very angry.

"Rolf shall not allow you to dishonor the punnies so." Rolf said.

"You're still mad at us for invading a tree?" Crump asked. "Get over it, they were just stupid insects."

"RRAAA!" Rolf shouted and grabbed Crump by his shirt quickly and held him up with his own bare hands. "You rotten harstimer!"

"Your insults would be more intimidating if I could understand you." Crump said.

Rolf shouted, tossing Crump down. Crump almost fell, but held on with one hand.

Rolf stood over him. He lifted his foot to press down on Crump's hand.

"Even if you beat me, know this. The X-nauts will never give in. We will never lose as long as we live. You will never see those bratty Kankers or that princess again. So, you and that traitorous shadow witch can just go to-"

Rolf stomped on Crump's hand. Crump shouted and lost his grip, falling into the ocean.

"It's finally over." Goombella said.

Suddenly, Crump appeared on the deck of his boat, drenched, but okay.

"You have lost the duel. So, give back Eduardo Jr., now!" Double D shouted.

"I'm a man of my word." Crump said.

He lifted Eduardo jr, who was still tied up. Double D started walking on the pole to reach him. Crump waited until Double D was halfway over the pole.

"Start the engines!" Crump shouted.

His ship jerked forward. Crump watched Double D fall into the water.

"DAD!" Eduardo Jr. shouted.

Crump laughed evilly. "Oh, you want your daddy? Fine, go to him, little one."

Crump let go of Eduardo jr, who fell into the water screaming. Bearing in mind he was tied up, there was no hope of swimming whatsoever.

"Ah!" Vivian shouted and ran to the deck of Cortez's ship and jumped onto the railing.

"Wait! Your cast, you can't swim yet!" Bobbery shouted.

"Forget my cast!" Vivian shouted.

She tore at the cast she was wearing and instantly threw it into the water. She then jumped into the water.

The others watched. A few bubbles surfaced from the water's edge.

There was a flash from within the water. Suddenly, a huge explosion came from within the two boats. They looked up and saw Vivian shooting from the water in a fiery explosion. In her arms, she was holding Double D, who was holding Eduardo jr.

"Whoa!" Eddy shouted.

Vivian landed on the decks of Cortez's ship. She let Double D and Eduardo Jr. on the deck.

"Thank you, Vivian." Double D said.

"They're getting away!" Frankie shouted.

Crump's ship was sailing away.

"That's it. They're going to pay for this." Double D said.

"Hm…" Cortez spoke up. They all looked up at his floating head.

"I see you possess the power to conjure fire."

"Yes, but what good can he do. They're too far away!" Flavio added.

"But not for my minions." Cortez said. "If you can call on fire, then you must be able to call them."

Double D got the message. He stood still on the deck, facing the escaping ship. He pointed at it.

"Right, now this may be a mistake but I've run out of choices…EMBER!" Double D felt immense power raging from his finger.

He had to kneel just to remain upright. He noticed something larger emerging from his hand. Finally, it separated from him.

"Double D!" Kevin shouted.

Double D realized he just preformed a new spell to him. Before him was an ember. It had the same blue hue to it.

"Hey, what's with your eyes?" Nazz asked. "They're blue!"

Double D's eyes were also blue, apparently. "Why are they?"

"It means you are in command of my minion!" Cortez shouted.

"Right!" Double D shouted. "Ember: Command!"

The Ember before him looked at Double D, standing by for orders.

"That ship is trying to escape! Get to it and stop them!" Double D ordered.

The Ember nodded, then shop towards the ship, that by now looked like a speck in the horizon.

There was a second of waiting.

In the distance, the group saw an explosion.

Double D's eyes returned to their original color.

"…did we win?" Ralph T asked.

Double D suddenly heard a loud bang: a sonic boom.

A flying ship passed overhead, one with an X on it.

"They must have escaped before it exploded." Double D said.

Clink!

A small metal box landed on the deck. Nazz opened it. Inside was a small piece of paper. She read it out loud:

"It's not over. We will be back, and we will win. Signed, Crump."