Story by me.
Proof reading and editing by SeverinadeStrango.
Enjoy.
The crew and Itzen Kaan plowed through the possessed Raptors and Doomhorn with skill, trying to reach the heart of the temple. They needed to find Isabel and get out of here, or she would be served as food to this 'ancestor.' Knocked out tribal warriors littered the grounds of the temple as the brave heroes neared the entrance of the Altar room. At the center of the alter was the corrupted spirit, Chok Ak'ab, waiting for his bride to arrive.
Itzen Kaan halted the others, ordering them to wait until it was the right time to strike.
"My loyal followers, the day has come for us to conquer this realm once more!" The crowds cheered for the skeletal ancestor as music played and the fires burned brighter. "Bring forth my bride! She is the key to our grand new home!" Chok Ak'ab declared. A door opened, revealing several possessed raptors carrying a palanquin bearing the silhouette of a young teenager.
"If that mummy thinks he's marrying my daughter against her will, he has another thing coming!" Lasko growled, about to jump down and strike at the undead, but was held back.
"Listen Lasko, I know you want to save Isabel, but we must wait for the right moment to save her." Egg Shen advised. "If we smash the crystals, Chok Ak'ab won't be able to stay in this world and his power won't have a hold on my people." Itzen Kaan explained. He then began to try to knock down the statue without being spotted. The crew split up into two teams and at the same time, brought the statues crashing down. Now, they had to reach the final statue.
However, they were instantly discovered after the sounds of shattered crystal reached the lord of the possessed. The chieftain turned his head, his look one of malice.
"You!" Chok Ak'ab growled, his soldiers surrounding them.
"Prepare for battle." Egg Shen announced. The witch doctor chieftain began chanting spells as the raptors protected the palanquin. Itzen Kaan and Egg Shen teamed up in battle on the left while Lasko and the Marchioness attacked on the right. Bonnie Anne and Emmett gave cover fire to her crew as she kept blasting. With his men falling and the crystal in danger, Chok Ak'ab ordered the raptors that were guarding the bride to attack.
The corrupted spirit then charged towards the palanquin. Lasko noticed this and swung his blade.
"Keep away from her!" The rat pirate growled, swinging his blade at the undead creature. But Chok Ak'ab was stronger. He grabbed the pirate by the leg and flung him across the throne room. He then torn away the veil, but howled with rage.
"This is not my bride! This is a puppet!" The spirit screeched as he held up the wooden doll.
That's when he heard a sharp whistle from the top of the statue. Everyone turned to see that it was Isabel and Goldy, standing on top of the center crystal. Lasko was overjoyed to see that she was unharmed.
"Think of it as a wedding present."
The pirate then set a bomb on the statue before jumping. Egg Shen backed away, catching her safely as Goldy held on to Isabel's shield.
The bomb set off a massive explosion, destroying the statue and causing Chok Ak'ab to disappear, like mist upon the wind. His wails soon echoed like a long forgotten memory. The possessed were soon able to break free of the control and began to flee from the temple.
"Why are they running?" Isabel wondered as the rumbles got worse.
"We must leave now, the temple is falling apart!" Itzen Kaan screeched as the entire crew ran to the exit, the temple crumbling like a house of cards.
With the domain of Chok Ak'ab no more, the others returned to the tribe to celebrate their reunion, the survival of a race, and victory.
"Izzy, I was so worried about you! Don't ever run away like that again!" Lasko wept as he hugged his adopted daughter.
"I'm sorry, I just…I couldn't believe what Ratbeard had done..." Izzy choked with her own sorrow. That is when the Otter Ensign, Ensign Emmett, approached.
"Isabel Quinn, I wish to apologize to you for…before." The otter said as he bowed his head to the girl. She'd touched his shoulder and tried her best to smile.
"Ratbeard will pay for what he has done to you and us. I promise on the souls of those who died by his lies." The blonde vowed.
"Did you say Quinn? As in Qu' Inn, kin Princess Qu' Inn?" Inquired Itzam Halach.
The captain nodded, almost forgetting her grief. The people cheered and Itzen Kaan hugged her from the side. Why were they cheering, and how did they know the first pirate in her family?
"Come with me, dear kin Isabel." The chieftain requested as he shifted a stone and revealed a secret passage. The crew followed the chief to the bottom of the cavern, which showed a glorious golden statue of a female winged aztecosaur at the center, surrounded by shelves filled with books.
"A long time ago, this was the tribe that Princess Itzem Qu' Inn discovered and protected. After her many adventures and untimely death, her tribe swore to keep the Qu' Inn, or what you now call Quinn, family name alive. We have gathered every trace of Quinn history. When the Quinns were hunted down and our world endangered, we gathered all of Quinn's books and hid them all here. I am a decedent of the Princess, like you, like my son." The leader of the surviving aztecosaurs explained.
Isabel's face lit up like a star. She was no longer the last of her family, and the Armada had not completely destroyed their memory, it was all safely hidden.
"As a sign of gratitude, we wish to offer you the books of our family." Itzam Halach grinned as he was received a hug from his newly discovered kin.
"There is one more thing." Itzen Kaan spoke out. "I wish to come with you, to be an adventurer. If I am to be chief one day, then I must learn about the spiral." The prince offered as his father nodded.
"Go with my blessing, son." The elder encouraged as the two shook hands.
"Umm…Miss Quinn, I wish to be a part of the Golden Scorpions and to help you find Ratbeard as well, if you'll have me." The otter Ensign requested, gaining a smile from the Captain.
"Welcome aboard, you two!"