Previously: The Kingdom of Patchuni enjoys another Marshmallow Day but then the sky pirate crew of Captain Scuttle invaded and tried to kidnap Nabi. Luckily Drako was in hot pursuit to save her, and though a bit scared he saved the day and ended up finding out more than he expected!

Chapter 2: Spoiled Rotten Princess!

The sky turned red as fireballs rained from the pirate ships overhead. Ropes dropped from the air like spider silk, pirates sliding down with wild whoops and screeches. Cannons blasted again—BOOM! KRAKOOM!—tearing up parts of the coliseum walls.

From the lead ship, a tall, sharply dressed secretary bird with slicked-back feathers and an eyepatch flapped down with a slam that cracked the ground. Her long legs clicked with every step, and her wings spread like blades.

"Citizens of Patchuni!" She boomed, voice magically amplified. "Captain Isabella of the Skylanders thanks you for hosting such a fine competition! So many princes in one place... How tempting!" Her heated gaze snapped to Nabi who was frightened. "But lucky for them we're only here for you Princess!"

"It's Captain Isabella! Run!" The crowd screamed, scattering like startled beetles. Villagers grabbed children, partners, elders, anyone they could—rushing for exits.

Kit grunted as she struggled to keep the shield up. "Your Majesties, we have to evacuate!"

King Francis held on to Nabi tightly with a nod, aiming to keep her safe.

Another blast from a cannon shot at them, breaking Kit's shield and making them fly off the platform, Nabi fell to the ground with a groan. "Princess!" Garnet had called out, fighting his way to her, Nabi stood up and started running to him.

But a pirate Stawin had landed in front of her, Nabi had frozen. Her leg thumped against the ground, as she turned heel and ran..

"Going somewhere, bunny?" Croaked a bulky eagle pirate, grabbing her roughly by the waist.

"Let GO of me!" She kicked and struggled, but the eagle's claws were strong.

Just then—

"HEY!" Came a voice from behind, and a blur of crimson armor slammed into the eagle, knocking him back.

"Garnet!" Nabi gleefully shouted.

"You do not touch the princess!" He snarled, slicing through the eagle's shoulder guard with a clean strike. Nabi stumbled into his arms, dazed.

But before he could breathe—

SWOOP!

Another pirate, a vampire bat with robotic artificial wings and glowing red goggles, zipped down from above and snatched Nabi right out of Garnet's hold.

"NO!" Garnet yelled, whirling around—but it was too late.

The bat bolted across the battlefield, ducking between burning stalls and stampeding crowds. He began dodging lightning balls that Kit was shooting at him, having recovered from her fall and got her wand out she was determined.

The bat cursed, veered away, and dashed toward the forest.

"HEY! YOU DROP HER!"

Drako's voice rang out from behind, a knight's training sword gripped tightly in both hands. He had no armor, no plan, just pure guts and fire.

The Vampire bat pirate looked back mid-flap. "What're you gonna do, farm boy?!" He sneered.

"Save her!" Drako shouted, sprinting with every ounce of strength he had.

Back at the arena, Garnet watched in horror.

"Drako—STOP!" He barked—but was tackled from the side by a scaly, laughing crocodile pirate, his claws inches from Garnet's throat.

That young wolf didn't stop.

The pirate veered into the forest—The trees here were marred and sickly, covered in strange, discolored patches that looked almost unnatural. The ground squelched beneath his boots, a foul smell rising from the earth.

The deeper Drako ran, the quieter the world became—no birdsong, no wind. Just the pounding of his feet and the sound of Nabi telling the pirate to let her go.

The woods were strange here, darker, more twisted. No one from the village came this far anymore, not even the woodland creatures. But there was no turning back now. "Nabi, hang on!" He shouted.

The forest pulsed with unease.

He gulped, gripping his sword tighter.

"You got this," He told himself. "Don't chicken out now. She needs you. Just keep—"

Then he saw it.

An ancient temple, crumbling, choked by vines. Carvings of forgotten gods were etched into the cracked stone. A faint green glow poured from within its archways.

Drako skidded to a stop just outside the entrance. His chest heaved. Something wasn't right here. Drako's nose twitched—everything smelled like burnt sap and old bones.

"…This doesn't feel right."

His tail tucked slightly—but he steeled himself.

"You wanted action, didn't you?" He muttered. "Time to prove you're not just some village pup."

He took one breath—and charged into the dark.

(Whoosh!)

The temple air was heavy—musty with age and the creeping presence of something unnatural. Drako stepped carefully, boots crunching on old debris. The temple's decor was in shambles. Statues with missing heads, murals eroded into dust, broken braziers where no flame had burned in decades. It felt… hollow. Like something had scraped the soul out of the place.

He gripped his sword tighter.

"Nabi…?" He called, voice echoing down the corridor.

A faint noise answered—bratty shouting.

He picked up his pace, turning a corner and skidding into what looked like a prayer chamber. But nothing holy remained here. The altar had collapsed. Dust danced in streaks of dim green light that poured in from holes above.

And there—tied by her ankles, hanging upside down from a broken beam—was her. Nabi.

"And if you don't get me down from here I will get my guard on you, he will mess you up for even ruining my pretty dress!"

"Do you pirates even care about how expensive my dresses are? Way more than you!"

"My daddy will make you pay for this insolence!"

"Princess?!" Drako gasped.

Nabi twisted in her bindings, face red from being upside down for too long. "Ugh, yes! Took you long enough! Hey, you're not Garnet!"

Drako froze when he saw her. His face flushed red instantly as the gravity flipped her dress and revealed frilly pink undergarments covered in tiny cartoon carrots.

"HEY!" She shouted. "Pervert!"

Drako immediately turned around, face flaming red. "I—I didn't mean to! It was gravity's fault!"

Nabi growled. "You're lucky I'm tied up or I'd slap you straight into next week, country boy!" She snapped, her face going crimson as she wiggled furiously in the air. "You get one peek, wolf boy! One!"

"I wasn't—! I mean I am, I mean I'm gonna help, I swear!" Drako stammered.

Before the moment could get more awkward, a cold voice cut through the chamber.

"You're a bold little mutt."

A tall figure stepped out from behind a pillar. Sleek, metal artificial wings folded neatly behind him, the vampire bat pirate smiled with thin, sharp fangs. His crimson eyes locked onto Drako.

"And a stupid one."

Drako squared up, fists clenched around the sword hilt.

"Let. Her. Go."

The bat chuckled. "You think this is a rescue?" He stepped forward, voice laced with venom. "I can smell your fear from here. You're a kid. You're not even trained. Just a little runt from some muddy village."

Drako growled. "Shut up—!"

"I smell it on you. Doubt. Insecurity. You think if you save the princess, you'll matter, don't you?" He circled Drako like a vulture. "You think this will make you more than the shadow of your brother."

Drako's tail bristled. "H-How do you know about that?"

"Because," The pirate said, eyes narrowing, "I've met a thousand wannabes like you. All bark. No bite."

He spread his arms.

"I'll even let you have the first hit, "Knight"."

Drako didn't wait. With a growl, he lunged and punched the bat right in the face.

The pirate barely flinched. "...Huh."

And BLAM—punched Drako across the chamber..

"AGH—!"

The blow sent Drako flying across the chamber, crashing into a wall hard enough to leave a crack. He slumped to the ground, gasping.

Nabi winced. "...Okay, ow."

The pirate flew down, landing heavily on Drako's back with one clawed foot. With the other gripping around his head and shoving his face in the dirt.

"Ghh—!"

"You're not a knight. You're not a guard. You're nothing."

Drako reached out—but his hand trembled. His chest heaved. He couldn't breathe blood trailing from his lip..

He'd always believed he could be something more. That maybe, just maybe, he was meant for something bigger. But now—he felt like a child again.

"You'll never save her." He leaned closer, licking a bit of blood from his lip. "If you weren't so pathetic, I'd drink you dry."

He stepped off and began walking toward Nabi, drawing his curved dagger.

"Let's go, princess. The Captain's waiting—"

Tears welled up in Drako's eyes—not because he was sad, but because he was angry. Angry at how useless he felt. At how right the bat seemed to be.

Then—

RUMBLE.

The temple shook violently. A groan echoed from deep underground.

From the cracks in the temple floor, thick rotted purple vines burst forth, like grasping tendrils of death. The air became rank, buzzing with dark energy. The walls split open, more vines spewing through like vomit from the earth itself.

"What now—?"

From the walls, more vines burst forth, rotten and diseased, wrapping around the pirate's limbs.

"The hell is this—?!"

"LET ME GO!" He screamed, slashing at the vines, but more came, wrapping around his torso and pulling him back toward the altar.

"Get off me—what is this gunk?!" He snarled, eyes wide. "This isn't part of—AGHHH!"

The vines pulsed, the rot creeping up his body. His eyes rolled back as he screamed. His fangs elongated, his veins turned black, and a twisted aura engulfed him.

Nabi whimpered, watching him convulse. "W-what is happening?! What is that?!"

Drako, weak and bleeding, stared in horror.

Then—

And in the midst of the chaos, a cluster of glowing stars floated down in front of Drako's face. They shimmered gold, speaking not with sound—but with light and emotion.

A faint glow. Floating in front of him were small, shimmering stars—bright golden pinpricks spinning gently in the air like fireflies.

A soft, celestial voice echoed in his mind.

"Knight of the Stars... rise."

"Wh—what…?"

He watched as the bat's screams turned into a bestial snarl as his eyes glowing with purple lights, turning into white voids. The Oshoku Rot was consuming him.

"You are brave. But this world is in danger. The Oshoku Rot seeks to consume everything to feed the orgin. It has awakened… and it has chosen this forest as its first victim."

Drako slowly stood, wobbling. "I… I don't understand. I'm not a hero."

"Yeah well you are now. lol"

Suddenly, his sword lit up—bursting into radiant golden stars. The light overtook him, swirling like a cocoon of fireflies. Nabi stopped struggling, staring in awe as Drako was lifted from the ground.

The light faded.

Drako stood taller, breathing steady. His wounds were gone. In his hands wasn't the old rusty sword anymore—but a beautiful scythe made of twisted wood, glowing vines curled around the handle. The blade was sharp as it thrummed with life.

"…Whoa."

"Use the scythe. Cleanse the rot. Save Canstella… oh and the princess too."

Drako gripped the weapon. It was light, like it belonged in his hands all along.

He looked up, keeping his breaths steady. "Okay… I'll try."

He turned to face the writhing vines, the possessed pirate, and the terrified? princess.

"No." His eyes burned with new resolve. "I'll do more than try."

(Battle transition with great fight music lol)

Corrupted Vampire

Ferdinand

Drako stood firm, the scythe glowing in his grip, its wooden shaft warm with power. Across from him,the vampire bat pirate, now visibly corrupted, let out a growl. He was twisted and mutated by the Oshoku Rot. His body had become gnarled and warped—artificial wings were gone and now ragged with oily fungus, claws grown jagged and black. His eyes are nothing but glowing pits of malice.

"You think some fancy weapon makes you special?!" The pirate snarled.

"Drako,"The voice returned—firmer now, more focused."The Oshoku Rot runs deep in your foe, it transforms those of ill will into..this. Use the arc of the blade,"The voice instructed."You've used tools all your life—treat this no differently than a reaper's scythe."

Drako adjusted his grip, positioning his feet like he did when clearing fields. "Alright—then let'sharvestsome evil!"

With a roar, the corrupted pirate lunged.

Clang!

Drako spun the scythe, catching the blow on the reinforced handle. He used the momentum to whirl around and slice through one of the corrupted tendrils on the pirate's back, making him recoil with a screech.

The pirate growled. "You're not supposed to be strong…!"

"Good!"The voice called."Again—low sweep, now—jump!"

Drako ducked under a swipe, then jabbed the scythe into the floor, vaulting over the bat's head, landing behind him and slamming the scythe down onto the pirate's wing.

"AGH—!" The monster screamed, writhing as more rot spilled out like smoke.

Drako panted, the weapon humming with energy. "Okay! Okay, I think I got it—!"

"Don't get cocky!"

Too late.

The pirate spun, snarling, and slammed a clawed hand into Drako's side, sending him skidding across the floor. The rot pulsed, trying to reform.

Drako winced. "Ugh… okay, I deserved that…"

"Focus, boy!"The voice snapped."Channel my power!"

Calming his breaths and feeling the unknown force seep into him, he opened his eyes with a prideful vines on the weapon pulsed, and the blade lit on fire, an unnatural flame that didn't burn the wood.

"NOW!" The voice shouted.

With a cry, Drako spun and slashed the scythe into the air, sending a blast of fire slicing across the corrupted pirate's chest.

"GRAAAAAAGHHH!"

SHHHHRIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE—!

The vampire pirate let out a blood-curdling scream as the rot burst out of him in a violent spiral. The room shook. Vines flailed in all directions—One lashed out uncontrollably, slashing through the ropes holding Nabi.

"WAAAAAAH!"

"PRINCESS!" Drako gasped, dropping the scythe and diving forward—

WHUMP!

"...Ow."

Nabi blinked in a daze, now sitting on top of Drako's back, her dress bunched awkwardly around her knees, the frilly petticoat poofed in his face

"Ugh… I was getting dizzy" She groaned, eyes unfocused.

"Y-You're okay," Drako wheezed, face smushed into the dusty floor. "I gotcha."

She blinked down at him. Then noticed the position. Her face lit up in a deep embarrassed blush.

"...Are you always this grabby!?" She shouted, smacking his back repeatedly with her palm.

"I JUST SAVED YOU—!"

Suddenly, the glowing stars reappeared and pulsed with frustration.

"ENOUGH."The star voice snapped, suddenly soundingmuch less patient."Why are you two sitting here like morons? THE TEMPLE IS COLLAPSING. RUN!"

The temple rumbled violently—stones falling, walls cracking.

The pirate, defeated and howling, collapsed in the middle of the prayer room as the rot consumed itself, pulling the ceiling down with it.

Drako winced and pushed up with Nabi still clinging to him.

"No time to argue—hang on!"

He scooped her into his arms—clumsily—but managed, sprinting for the exit as pillars crumbled behind them.

"DON'T DROP ME!" Nabi shrieked, arms around his neck.

"DON'T YELL—I'M TRYING NOT TO!"

The wolf straight booked it as the temple collapsed behind them. Dust and debris chased them down the hallway, ancient vines snapping loose and slapping against walls. Nabi yelped as part of the ceiling caved in behind them.

They burst into the temple's foyer, coughing from the dust and heat of the destruction behind them. The stars zipped in behind them, glowing faintly but still intact.

They were safe.

For now.

Drako, panting, finally set Nabi down with a relieved smile.

"You okay?"

"Ugh!" Nabi huffed, brushing her dress of any debris and brushing her ears with her paws. "You call that a rescue?! My dress is filthy! My hair's a mess! And you CARRIED me like a sack of potatoes!"

"Well sorry!" Drako rolled his eyes while crossing his arms. "I was kinda more focused onnotdying."

"Humph." The rabbit princess snorted through her nose and crossed her arms with a stomp of her foot.

The cluster of stars hovered nearby, pulsing gently.

"…Huh," The voice murmured. "They actually survived…."

Notes:

Drako's first scythe ability is a Fire Slash like spell, with Aries being a fire sign I think he should have some fire ability.

Drako's scythe returns to him, it's kind of attached to his heart. So he can summon it at will or keep it out attached to his back if he wants.

He's a mid range combat playstyle.

Nabi is close range combat.

Her main weapon comes up later.