Confronting the Captain
Spyro and Adir hopped down into the burning room where tiny streaks of fire were in various spots. The Battle above was still going on, but it kept mostly away from the stern of the ship. The Purple Dragon and the human were joined by Sparx flying down into the room.
The Room was big and rather luxurious. Everywhere they looked piles of gold and sparkling treasure was laying out. With the flames around adding so much light the gold twinkled catching the eyes of the intruders within.
"Whoa!" Spyro gasped looking at all the gold that was everywhere. "Look at all this stuff!"
Adir walked up to a pile that was littered with gold coins picking one up and marveled over it looking at it from both sides. "Yeah. Its like the jackpot of a casino spilled all over the place!" He smiled seeing the gold coin polished so well that he could see his reflection off of it.
Sparx groaned in frustration at the two. Did they so quickly forget something very important? "Oh sure…take your time. Look around!" He spat irritably. "Its not like we are about to plummet to our deaths in heap of flaming…"
"Alright!" Spyro shot up his head looking at the dragonfly. "You've made your point!"
Adir put the gold coin in one of his pockets. A Souvenir to keep when they get off the ship. "Now where would that map be?" He wondered as the ship creaked and rocked from another heavy hit from outside. The Battle still was going on up top and his family was still there. How could he be so foolish to forget that every second on this ship could mean their demise.
Sparx went up to the table at the far end of the room near a large window that surprisingly wasn't damaged in the slightest. He looked on top to see a rolled-out paper with many markings and well-drawn-out continents.
"One step ahead of you guys. Over here!" He called.
The Purple Dragon and the human hurried to the table to see that Sparx discovered a map. The Map was rolled out and lines were drawn across certain areas in black ink. That had to be where the Skavenger fleet had traveled.
"Let's see here." Adir used a finger to trace a line across the designated paths. They had to figure out just where they were. His finger traced right onto a compass that was laid out on the map. He quickly took that and put it in his pocket. "We'll need that."
Spyro was looking at the map trying to figure the same but then his eyes looked upwards far past the parts where the fleet had traveled through. Far across what seemed to be open ocean with no other islands or land masses anywhere a small drawing of an island was on it. A tiny written title was above the little island. "The White Isle" it read.
"Look I think that's…" Spyro was interrupted when a loud slam came from behind alerting the three all of them turning around to see three familiar faces that were the last three they wanted to see.
"Well, if it isn't the Purple Menace and two legged and insect companions." Scratch the Parrot sitting upon the left shoulder of Skabb grumbled. "We hope you weren't thinking about leaving."
Spyro and Adir readied themselves their eyes narrowing at the ones who caused them a lot of grieve. Adir gripped the back of his sword ready to pull it out the moment their enemies tried something.
"Well, if it isn't the three stooges!" He insulted. "I was actually hoping you were stopping by."
Sniff shook his feathers frustratingly. "Yeah. We got a score to settle chump!"
Sparx cross his arms glaring at the parrot who dared insult them. "Hey! Who are you calling a chump featherhead?!"
"YOU FOOL! YOU!" Sniff shouted back yelling so loud that he whistled.
"It's quite astounding. The Amount of trouble you and yours have managed to cause." Scratch admitted seeing around their quarters was in flames and their fleet outside was taking a beating. It was a mistake taking in the Purple Dragon and his companions if he had known it would have come to this.
Spyro shook his head at the arrogance of the parrots. "You've only brought upon yourselves." He retorted keeping a glare on them. He knew one way or another this would end with a fight. Sniff was right about one thing. They had a score to settle, and the purple dragon had a lot of built-up anger from all that those three had done with him and his friends.
"Are we going to do this hard way?" Adir asked pulling out his sword and tapped the sharp end on the floor and carved a line across his side. "Please say yes!"
Sniff was infuriated now. "Are you going to let him talk to you like that doodle-brain!?" He screeched down at the Skavenger captain that was drooping his long tongue out of the side of his muzzle. Skabb nodded making the parrot groan irritably.
"Shut up fool! Fire the Cannon!" Sniff hopped behind the pirate captain and opened the chest that hung from his back revealing a small cannon lodged within it. He grinned when he scratched the touch hole, and a blast came from the cannon shooting out a flaming ball at the group.
When the sound of blast came out the Pirate Captain the group immediately dispersed in all directions avoiding the cannon shot as small blast came from the floor when it impacted. Sparx immediately took cover at one of the shelves while, Spyro and Adir engaged the Captain and the Parrots.
Skabb immediately took defense when Adir came at him with his sword deflecting it with his scabbard. Spyro came charging in, but Skabb took a swipe at him with his hooked hand.
Spyro rolled out of the way then leapt behind him about to shoot a fireball at him, but Skabb shot his hook from his wrist as it was attached with a long wire to the dragon's surprise colliding it against his forehead sending the dragon rolling back into the wall.
Adir gasped in shock seeing his best friend get hurt. "Why you!" He turned his sword into a double-bladed spear and attacked the Pirate Captain slicing his weapon against the armor. It left a mark, but it barely got through.
Skabb turned his attention back to Adir knocking away the spear before it could collide against him again while Spyro immediately got back to his feet running towards the pirate. Seeing the dragon come at him he threw his hooked hand down, but Spyro jumped up and delivered a kick to his face from his lower legs somersaulting in the air before landing back on the floor.
"Use your guns, idiot!" Sniff shouted madly at Skabb. The Captain raised his scabbard and brought down on Adir who managed to raise his spear in time to keep it from hitting him, but the impact was so heavy that it brought him down to one knee.
Skabb then kicked Adir so hard he went flying back against the table. Adir winced from the impact but then the hook from Skabb's hand extended out and hooked his spear and yanked it from, Adir's hands. He didn't react fast enough then Skabb introduced a gun from his left hand having put his scabbard away for a moment to take out a three muzzled gun.
The Pirate fired at him and Adir conjured a wall of ice in front of him just in time before the burning pellets could connect with him. They immediately burned away through the tiny layer of ice but then a larger ball of fire from the cannon on Skabb's back collided against the ice causing a shockwave that sent Adir flying over the table.
"This is so easy its not even fun!" Sniff snickered with Skabb running up to the table to find Adir laying behind it groaning from the blast.
Skabb aimed his gun at him but then he was struck in the side by an Earth Flail that Spyro shot from his mouth and collided against the Pirate captain throwing his aim off and shot to side narrowly avoiding Adir.
The young Samurai quickly got back to his feet though he was hurting from the blast and impact. He jumped over the table showing a lot of anger. Skabb was proving to be more than just some simpleton. It seems behind that dope looking exterior there was skill and some craftiness. He was well armed, and his armor was an issue. This fight was only just getting started.
"Let's see how you like it!" Adir growled conjuring two fire balls in his hands and threw them at Skabb. They impacted at his chest and near his feet nearly knocking him off balance. Adir saw his spear on the floor and ran to grab it only to be stopped when multiple shots of fire came from Skabb's gun shoot at the floor between the samurai and the sword.
"Wouldn't want you to have your precious toy to be used against us again." Scratch chortled.
Adir huffed taking a stand with Spyro coming beside him while Skabb stood at a short distance with his gun aiming at them with his hooked hand.
"Seems you're the one with a lot of toys. Perhaps we…" Adir gave Spyro a wink. "…should relieve you of them!" Spyro got the idea nodding as they readied themselves for Skabb's next attack.
Growing tired of them Sniff leapt up and down irritably. "Finish these fools!" Skabb shot his hook at the two friends. This time they were ready.
Adir created another ice wall but this time it caught the hook within it. Skabb pulled but hook was stuck in the thick layer of ice and Spyro took the opportunity to create an ice sword by straightening his tail crafting ice over it making it into sharp edges and with jump and twirl in the air he sliced the rope of the hook off leaving Skabb without one of his weapons.
Skabb muttered sadly at the loss of his hook but aimed his gun in his left hand at those responsible for his loss. Sniff shot another blast from the cannon while Skabb shot his gun in hand.
Spyro flew circles narrowing avoiding being shot while Adir grabbed his spear and leapt out of the wall before the cannon shot collided against him. While Skabb was distracted by shooting at the dragon he charged forward shouting a loud battle cry raising his spear and Skabb directed his attention towards the Samurai just as he jumped at him.
Skabb raised his gun to shield himself, but Adir slashed his spear upon it cleaving the weapon in two almost taking Skabb's hand with it.
Adir landed back on the ground satisfied that he managed to destroy the weapon, but the fight wasn't over yet. Skabb in fury threw his handless right arm against Adir's side. Then he delivered a heavy uppercut with his left hand knocking Adir high into the air.
Spyro flew over and grabbed Adir before he could get fall and get hurt more. The Blows were painful, but Adir was not out of this yet. The Two parrots looked at each other and nodded. The Fight would soon not be in their favor having lost two of their weapons and another explosion that was heard outside rocked the ship again. They could feel it starting to descend.
If they stayed then it would mean their doom. They directed Skabb towards the window to the far side. Spyro settled Adir back down on the floor as the samurai rubbed his sore jaw as, Skabb went to the table and grabbed the map off of it.
"No!" Adir yelled as he ran towards the Captain. They needed that map.
Skabb turned around and Sniff fired another cannon shot directly as, Adir's feet causing him to stop in place while Spyro by him. Skabb then raised his leg introducing the barrel of another weapon. It wasn't a peg leg it was an attachable gun. He then turned around and shot the window while Scratch took the map and placed it into the chest on, Skabb's back.
"This is where we part ways." He proclaimed as Skabb ran for the now shattered window that viewed the battle still ongoing outside.
"So long, chumps!" Sniff yelled back at the two while Skabb leaped out the window and fell out of sight.
"What the…" Adir inquired. "Was he really that stupid!"
Spyro and Adir ran for the window while Sparx seeing that the danger was past came down next to them and to their surprise just below the drop of the window a small Skavenger ship was there along with the crew of it awaiting their captain. Immediately they flew off between the larger ships avoiding the battle that was not in the favor of anyone.
"Dang it! They got away!" Adir seethed again rubbing his jaw. It was not often they were defeated like this. Only one time did an enemy of theirs get away before.
"And they took the map with them!" Spyro groaned. He wanted to fly after them but the battle that was still raging on made it too dangerous to chase after them and their friends were still on the ship and their safety right now was the first priority.
"We have to get that map back! Without it we won't be able to find the Isle!" Adir said making his sword a single one again and put it back in its sheath.
"To make matters worse I saw for a brief moment there was an island on that map that was the very island we need to find." Spyro lowered his head sighing in frustration. If only he could have looked more at that map more then they wouldn't have needed it.
"Well, that's great! Then let's get after them!" Adir looked over the edge to see ships were passing by. Some were enflamed massively as the apes from the Dreadwings above were starting to gain an advantage having begun more bombing campaigns on the other ships. But then some dreadwings flew over Felmuth and they dropped more bombs onto it.
"Uh oh!" Adir leaned back away from the edge. "Brace yourselves!" The Ship was again bombarded on top, and it shook the ship so much that, Spyro and Adir lost their footing and fell over each other.
"We can't worry about the map right now. We have to get back on the deck and help the others!" Spyro proclaimed getting back on his feet.
Adir nodded and even Sparx had to agree. Even he was getting worried for the others. They had been fighting on top by themselves and the bombardment surely must have caused more damage. Adir mounted the purple dragon and along with Sparx they flew up back from the hole they came in from.
Getting back on the deck they discovered most of it was gone now. Consumed by flames and debris scattered all over with bodies of both Apes and Skavengers but there was no sign of his family or the manwearesmalls.
"Where are they?!" Adir panicked only for a finger to touch his shoulder from behind. He turned around ready to strike only to see it was his sister, Molly.
"Calm down, Adir. We're alright!" Molly assured. Adir looked behind her to see Sid and Rai along with, Mole-Yair and the rest of his people there with him.
"Those dirty vermin bombed the deck again. They were bombing the center, so we moved to the stern here to avoid it. I must thank your family, Adir for getting me and my people up here before we could be blasted." Mole-Yair smiled.
Adir smiled back at him. "Glad you're all okay."
"Yeah. We're fine. But you don't look happy. What happened down there?" Sid asked taking a moment to regain himself dropping to a knee while Rai sat next to him.
Adir cursed lowly before explaining. "We found a map, but it got taken. Skabb attacked us."
"I take it you didn't kill him or those pesky parrots?" Rai asked as he kept a look around. After the latest bombardment the Apes have left the ship alone. Currently the flames were all over and they must have presumed it was more than enough. No Skavenger was left on it and no point in dropping in more troops.
Spyro shook his head. "He was resourceful and well-armed. We underestimated him and now he is gone. He escaped on a smaller ship that was leaving." He explained.
"What are we going to do then?" Molly looked around the fire on the deck was very bad and soon enough it would get to the stern of the ship. They had no where else to go.
"We could try to fly this ship down to land?" Mole-Yair suggested. "Get away from the rest of this fight and maybe when we are safe we could figure out the next option?"
"Not a bad idea there." Adir said. "What do the rest of you think?"
Sparx flew around the group before buzzing next to Mole-Yair. "I think this guys a little screw loose."
"Well, I never!" Mole-Yair huffed insulted.
"Anyone else?" Adir asked before anyone else could answer there was a slamming in the port side of Felmuth. Everyone there looked to see a smaller, yet rather large Skavenger ship had slammed into the side of Felmuth. This time the ship could no longer sustain the damage. It started to descend.
"Oh no! We're going down!" Rai shouted as Felmuth began to dip forward starting to lose altitude quickly. Many of them started to slide down as Felmuth was tipping forward so much that everyone grabbed hold of something trying to stop themselves from falling over while Spyro immediately started to fly.
Sparx flew next to Molly and held onto her hair. "Someone do something!" He cried. "I don't want to die in flames of glory! Which I don't think this qualifies as it!" Molly shook her head and held onto a beam that once had a sail on it but was blown off in the last bombing run.
Rai and the manwearesmall's were all holding onto some railing. Adir had implanted a large ice sickle through wooden deck and held on while Sid held onto it with him. The Ship was falling into a near ninety-degree angle. It was gaining speed as it went down fast. If they impacted in either ground or the sea at such pace the impact would surely be the end of them.
Spyro flew next to them not sure what he could do. They were falling at a great rate. They were leaving the battle continued to rage on between the Skavengers and the Apes, but the danger right now was just as great. He would take one of them if there was some place safe to set them down but there was nothing but open ocean below them. He looked ahead to see that there was some land. That was a good place to set everyone but by taking each person one at a time it would take too long. He could only carry possibly maybe four if they all held onto his legs and maybe five if one rode on his back, but he was not going to abandon anyone else.
Sid knew this would be certain death if something wasn't done then he looked above him to see the helm of the ship. It may not do what he thought but what other option did he have.
"Spyro!" He called to the dragon flying close to them as the ship was picking up speed coming close to the ocean below. "Can you get me to that helm?" He pointed at the large wheel above him.
Spyro nodded offering his paw. Sid took it and Spyro helped to the front of helm as the others watched them in confusion. The Dragon helped Sid to the front of the helm and Sid took hold of it and pulled. "Get behind it and push!" He ordered.
Spyro got the idea and moved behind the helm and with all his might he pushed. He flapped his wings as hard as he could give it as much force as possible. Sid gripped the helm hard pushing with his legs against the deck and to his surprise he could feel the ship was starting to turn up.
"Keep going! Its working!" He called pulling more as the Dragon pushed. The Helm turned upwards and Felmuth itself started to gain up. It was still falling but it was going forward slightly than downward now. The Dragon and human continued to work on the helm trying their best to steady the ship. Soon enough the ship was no longer in a nose dive and everyone was in short relief but still remained where they were holding onto whatever they had.
Sid now had some control. Spyro could now stand on the ship, and he held onto the back of the helm. They were going fast with ship now moving towards the land. They were going to crash but they now had control.
"We're going to crash! Get ready everyone!" Sid warned seething through his teeth as keeping control of the helm was difficult even with, Spyro's help. The Land ahead was coming in fast, and they could not slow down. Felmuth was now flying nearly straight as an arrow. The crash now was imminent.
"BRACE YOURSELVES!" Sid warned as the ship was now seconds from impact. Then it collided with the ground. It struck so hard against the surface that everyone flobbed smacking against what there holding onto nearly losing their grips.
Felmuth surged across the ground cutting away and smashing against everything that was in its path. Sid cried out as he was losing control. He couldn't hold on it much longer than some debris came loose and launched up from the deck and smacked him in his face.
"Aah!" Sid cried out from the sharp pain which caused him to let go. He was then launched right into the air, but Spyro flew up and grabbed him before he could get hurt. He quickly put Sid back where Adir was, and they all took hold of the giant ice sickle that Adir made and did not let go. Felmuth continued to drag through the ground eventually slowing down. Within a few more seconds it finally slid to a halt.
Everyone slowly let go of whatever they were holding on. Many where shacking from fear and relieve. They had survived the crash landing. Some of the moles even began to laugh. They were happy they were still alive.
The humans and the Dragon let go of what they held onto and took a moment to regain their senses. Sparx sat on Molly's should wiping some sweat off his brow.
"Man, talk about your happy landings!" He chuckled to himself lowly.
"Not funny, Sparx." Molly coughed taking slow steady breathes before she check on the others. "Is everyone okay?"
Adir and Sid got to their feet feeling so much adrenaline run through their veins they were pacing. "Yeah. I think we're good." Sid gave his cousin a thumbs up along with Adir.
Spyro shook himself and took a deep breath. "I'm alright. What about you Rai, Mole-Yair?"
Rai was helping the moles get to their feet. Some of them were very visibly shaken but mostly unharmed. Mole-Yair himself was wiping off his clothes before clearing his throat.
"Must we always be in situations like this? This is not how I and my people are meant to live." He complained.
"Avoid getting captured and it may not." Adir joked causing the leader of the manwearesmalls to laugh.
"Again, my friend. I owe and yours a mighty thanks. On behalf of my brethren, I thank you for the saving of us all." Mole-Yair thanked with a bow along with the others.
"Don't mention it. But I think you better hold your thanks till we get you home." Adir said looking around the damaged ship. He saw there in a forest thankfully not the poison one as they were once in. A Great trail of destruction was left by ship when it crashed.
"I think first things first. We find out where we are." Adir suggested as the adrenaline faded away finally and he sat down. "If its not one thing its another." He then laid down looking up at the sky. It was very cloudy, and the sun could not be seen. However, the sky was nearly orange in color. Then he noticed a lot of thick smoke. It could have come from the ship that was ablaze in the front, but he got back to his feet and ran to the starboard side.
Adir peered into the distance to see a large mountain in the distance. Currently blowing from its peak in thick blazes of smoke. The Mountain looked familiar. That's when it struck him.
"I know where we are now!" He shouted in both excitement and worry. "We are near Munition's forge!"
