The Caribbean (Part 3)
"Silverstream!" Sora called out. He began to panic when they found no sign of the hippogriff following them. "Aww man! Why does this constantly keep happening!?" Splitting up to spread their search for the missing hippogriff, Sora asked around town if they saw any sign of her. Sadly, they either thought he was crazy from being out in the sun too long, or he was heavily intoxicate and delusional from drinking too much rum while at sea. It was frustrating since Silverstream, Applejack, and Rarity stick out among the crowd of people, and yet despite the odd looks, it wasn't that hard to believe they weren't imagining things either. "Aqua is gonna kill me! Or never let me bring newcomers to another world!"
"She couldn't have gone too far," Applejack assured. "This island doesn't look all that big."
"She can also be out in the ocean!" Sora exclaimed.
"...Oh yeah. That magic pearl," Applejack grimaced. "But, Ah'm sure she knows better than to wander off too far. Even though Silverstream's got quite the adventurous spirit."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME!?" Near a pub, they heard Rarity shriek, followed by the sounds of several terrified men screaming in terror. Several drunken patrons scrambled out of the building, feeling much more sober as they fled for their lives. Rarity came stomping out in a huff, her Keyblade floating beside her as she scowled in disgust and rage. "The nerve, thinking I'm a dog and trying to pet me. Condescending lowlifes."
"Well, she's definitely not in there," Applejack mumbled.
"Yeah, not a good place for a lady to search for someone in," Sora added.
Rarity made her way toward Sora and Applejack, giving one of the startled drunks a deadly leer as a warning, which he took without a second thought and scrambled off to hide. "Please tell me somepony has any clue where Silverstream ran off to," Rarity begged. "I'd rather spend the rest of our time here out at sea than in this...filthy, horrid port town."
"Not even a feather." Donald and Goofy returned from searching in another part of town, but their expressions told Sora, Applejack, and Rarity that they also had no luck. Groaning in dismay, Sora grabbed his hat, wanting to bend or crumble it out of desperation. "I really, REALLY don't want Aqua to scold me again. We were doing so well."
"Where could she have gone?" Goofy asked. Through the crowd, Goofy did a double take when she spotted Silverstream aimlessly wandering near the marketplace close to the docks. "There she is!"
Turning around, the others spotted her making her way back to the dock where the Leviathan was moored. Relieved, the group hurried after her, weaving their way around the busy street.
"Silverstream!" Hearing her name, the hippogriff paused and looked back. Stuffing the shell Sandy gave her in her saddlebags, she turned around and was immediately picked up by Sora. "Can you and the others PLEASE stop giving me a heart attack every time we get split up like that!? Look away for two seconds, and you guys just vanish!"
"S-Sorry, Master Sora," Silverstream apologized.
Her tone suddenly concerned her mentors. She's always upbeat and eager, full of energy, but she seemed troubled and downtrodden. Sora lowered her down, bending down on one knee to look her over if she was injured.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "I mean, you weren't gone for that long, but you still worried us."
"...I was...chasing after Sandy," Silverstream said. "He scuttled away through the jungle."
"...No Heartless or Unversed?" Sora asked. Silverstream silently shook her head. "Ok. So, what happened to Sandy?"
"...Uhh...Well, he...turned into a copy of...Gallus." Taken aback, the others gawked at Silverstream's vague explanation. "I-I don't know why, but he had a message to tell us before he returned to the sea."
"Might you explain exactly how a tiny crab turned into Gallus?" Rarity questioned. "And without knowing who or what he even is? I feel like there was a trap involved."
"She hasn't been lyin'," Applejack assured, though she left out the possibility that Silverstream was hiding something else that wasn't as important as the information he wanted to leave.
"What was the message?" Sora asked.
"Captain Jack Sparrow and our other pirate friends aren't here," Silverstream said. "They're going to be at a place called Shipwreck Cove northwest of this island. After gathering the other pirate lords from the Brethren Court, they're going to free Calypso to put an end to Davy Jones."
"'Pirate Lords'?" Goofy repeated.
"Since when were pirates considered lords?" Donald questioned quizzically.
"Forget that! They're crazy enough to resort to releasing a sea goddess and bring chaos to the sea!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Sounds like Beckett's ready to go in an all out war against the pirates, and they're getting desperate," Sora pondered. He stood up and looked at his crew. "And as pirates ourselves, we need to help them fight in this war!"
"I don't understand why you think that pirates are the good guys in this scenario," Rarity grumbled.
"The freedom of roaming the seas is at stake, and Beckett's using Davy Jones to take it away for his own benefit," Sora explained. "Besides, Luxord wants to go after Jones and the chest containing his heart. We have a 'Heartless' to stop before having the oceans ruled by a man's greed for power and control."
Rarity sighed and shook her head, still baffled by who the real villains were in this backwards world. "Just as long as no more drunk, disgusting vagrants try to touch me or yank on my mane or tail again."
Suddenly, a loud, terrifying boom rang out throughout the market, causing everyone to panic and duck behind cover. "That's him! That's the thief who took off with our longboat!"
As the crowd dispersed, they saw Kaito running from a pair of Colonial soldiers. "What in Celestia's name was that noise!?" Applejack exclaimed.
"That's Kaito getting shot at by muskets," Sora said, surprised to see the Nobody had managed to escape from Luxord.
The soldiers hastily loaded their guns, spilling gunpowder behind them while still chasing Kaito. "Why does this feel like deja vu, but without that thrill of excitement in the escape?" Kaito uttered to himself.
"S-Stop this instant!" one of the soldiers shouted. When they finally managed to load their guns, they took aim at the fleeing Nobody. "Fire!"
Their warning before they shot their muskets gave Kaito enough time to turn and create his water shield. Applejack, Rarity, and Silverstream winced at the loud, crackling boom from the gunfire, far more menacing than that of a cannon's. The bullets struck the shield and immediately slowed down as they lost velocity, phasing through with far less speed and tapped Kaito's chest like they were merely flicked pebbles.
"Fellas, if you forgot about what I can do, you shouldn't even be militia men!" Kaito advised. Either not listening or too focused on their duty to serve justice, they reloaded their weapons, making him groan. "Or even be competent to realize they're completely outmatched."
"Hey, you need some help!?" Sora called out. Kaito glanced back, grateful to see Sora and his companions weren't harmed, giving him a small shrug. Just as the soldiers were finishing loading their next shots, Sora sprinted forward, and as the soldiers raised their muskets to take aim, he leapt and stood on their guns, light as a feather. Startled, the two men were frozen in shock at the young pirate captain. "There's two ways this can end for you: humility, or embarrassment. What'll you pick?" Undeterred, while still holding their muskets with one hand, they reached for their hips for their pistols, already loaded and ready for a backup shot. "Embarrassment it is."
Faster than the soldiers could draw, Sora summoned his Keyblade, and as he pounced off their weapons, he sliced them as he vaulted behind them. Quickly turning, he made two different-angled slashes, the last swing finally reacting and slicing through both their muskets and pistols. Cleaving them into two pieces, the soldiers yelped, dropping the useless back ends of their rifles, then slowly turned to face the highly skilled young man. Completely defenseless, even though they also have swords sheathed at their hips, they realized they bit off more than could chew, unable to take on someone like Sora. They made the right choice after they were rightfully humiliated and fled with their tails between their legs.
"And Sora's just showin' off now," Applejack muttered with a chuckle and a shake of her head.
"I could have just done that," Kaito said as Sora approached him.
"You got the fancy water, I'll take the fancy footwork," Sora said.
"Hey, you wouldn't have gotten that 'fancy footwork' if I didn't teach you." The playful banter made Kaito grimace as he spoke as his true self. Feeling awkward, Kaito stammered and cleared his throat. "...Err, so...nothing serious happened after that mess?"
"Not really," Sora said. "And no sign of our friends from this world. Silverstream said Sandy, the little crab she was carrying around, he left us a message telling us where they're headed. Shipwreck Cove."
"Shipwreck Cove?" Kaito asked.
"An organization of pirates called the Brethren Court are going to free Calypso, the sea goddess, and invoke her wrath on Davy Jones," Sora added.
"Sounds like it's gonna be one insane sea battle. I'm all in," Kaito said.
"Then let's hurry! Come on, guys!" Sora hurried toward the docks with the others hurrying after him.
Kaito began to approach the dock, wincing slightly as he sensed a presence somewhere in the thick leaves of the jungle behind some of the market stalls. Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted the familiar cross-shaped head of a Gambler under the shade of the foliage. The Gambler teleported away, likely informing Luxord where they were headed. Kaito grumbled, knowing full well Luxord has no intention of taking the chest knowing what was inside it, but that still left him anxious as he tried not to let slip which side he was on. It only further complicated what he was meant to do, trapped between the metaphorical leash the Organization has on him and the loyalty he earned from Sora, his friends, and his mother.
Putting those thoughts aside, he sprinted onto the deck and made it to the deck of the Leviathan before it raised anchor and cast out to open waters. Out on the ocean, the seas were surprisingly calm, which only added more caution to the wind. Not even a water spout began to form and impede their path and threaten to tear their ship apart. With the literal calm before the storm, Kaito approached Sora while he kept the Leviathan on course.
"Calm seas. Slightly cloudy skies...Yet it still feels eerie to be sailing so casually like this," he said aloud.
"We can manage it," Sora assured. "Nothing ever goes according to plan. All we gotta do is adapt and make due with what's thrown at us. Keep trying and never give up."
"...Right." Kaito leaned forward against the railing, feeling his stomach curl up in knots. He wasn't seasick, but with his predicament, and the possibility of what could have been him as part of the old Organization XIII, began to resurface. He always wondered what would have happened if he were brainwashed by Xemnas like the other Nobodies to follow his ideals and seek a heart crafted from their own Kingdom Hearts. Taking a deep breath, he turned and faced Sora. "...If I didn't escape from the Organization years ago...and if we did meet face to face back then...would you have gone through with fighting me?"
Sora grimaced at the question, which only made Kaito more anxious to hear his answer. Before when they first met, Sora was struck with disbelief and thought his father's Nobody in his presence was a reminder that he failed to save him in the past. He doubted the Nobody was an ally, and being with his mother made him more nervous for her safety. But when Marluxia had him on the ropes, Kaito risked his existence to the other members of the new Organization that he was still alive, and came to his aid when he was in trouble multiple times. Sora trusts him now, but being asked if he was able to kill his father's Nobody if he had replaced Demyx back then when the Nobodies made themselves present, he'd probably be frozen in shock when he first met him in Disney Town. Maybe worse.
After many minutes of awkward silence, Kaito frowned, turning around with a sigh. "...I don't know," Sora finally answered. Kaito glanced back at Sora, his head hanging low as he gazed at the wooden deck. "...I wouldn't believe my dad was still alive. I'd probably be left an open target while you took the advantage and whooped me...If you called me Roxas instead, I would have blown up and attacked you for not recognizing your own son." As Sora adjusted his grip on the wheel, he tilted his head back up, staring back at Kaito. "If I had to for all the worlds' sake...I would have to. I can't always hold on to the past. And if you had any memories of me if you faded away...I would at least find peace knowing that, deep inside, you really were dad's Nobody."
"...So, you would be forced to fight me...for everyone else you hold dear," Kaito mumbled.
"Not by force," Sora added. "Axel was able to change, and I'm sure you would have if I jogged his memories within you." Kaito gave Sora a small smile, but deep down, he knew that same answer would not apply in the future. He turned away and frowned, dreading the upcoming war. "But...why do you ask?"
"Just...a few thoughts running through my head," Kaito said with a timid chuckle. "Can't help wondering about the worst that could have happened if I wasn't smart enough to ignore what Xemnas rambled about."
"...Ok?" Sora mumbled, focusing on their destination. Up ahead, as they approached Shipwreck Cove, dark clouds were beginning to form. There were several ships spread out around the sea, some of them bearing sails and colors from all across the world joining forces to put an end to Davy Jones' wrath. Spotting the Black Pearl near the back of the different pirate ships, Sora pulled up beside the vessel, getting all those on board their attention. Will and Elizabeth were by the starboard railing, Gibbs ran over upon seeing the Levaithan to get a closer look, and Barbossa was at the helm, gawking at the captain manning the vessel. "Hey, guys!"
"Sora? You're a welcome sight!" Will said.
Setting their anchor down beside the Black Pearl, Sora and his crew hopped over to join their neighboring pirate companions. Barbossa sneered at Sora as he stepped away from the wheel.
"Where in the seven seas did you procure a ship?" Barbossa questioned.
"Jealous?" Sora asked the formerly evil pirate. "Oh, thanks for abandoning me and Silverstream, by the way. Hope you had luck fighting off Heartless without us."
"Other matters were more important," Barbossa reasoned. "Besides, you're still alive. You and Jack are one and the same; stubborn and just can't die when we want ya to."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Sora remarked with a cheeky grin. Barbossa grumbled, turning away and looked out at the sea. Up ahead, they could see some British naval ships approaching, though the foreboding atmosphere and the silence began to grow more concerning. "What did we miss? And where's Jack?"
Will and Elizabeth glanced at each other before looking back at the others. Just before they could explain what happened, Will eyed Kaito, the black coat making him wary.
"Who is this?" Will questioned. "And why is he wearing the same coat that one man wore who took the cursed Aztec gold from Isla de Muerta?"
"Don't worry. He's with us," Sora assured. "This is Kaito."
"So he's not allied with the man who commanded those white creatures a while back?" Will asked.
"No...though I do have some of these 'white creatures' I control." Kaito snapped his fingers, summoning his Swashbucklers to his side. Startled, Will and Elizabeth backed away nervously. "If Davy Jones has a tough crew, you'll need one much tougher to handle this job."
The Swashbucklers gave the couple a small bow of their heads, relieving them that they weren't in any danger. "Well...Jack's been taken by Cutler Beckett," Elizabeth said. "And he fully commands Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman."
"Barbossa thought that by freeing Calypso within Tia Dalma, she would defeat them," Will added.
"All that went overboard, though," Barbossa commented. "A fickle goddess she be. Our hope is lost."
All around the Black Pearl, the other pirates were also as despondent as Barbossa, Will, and Elizabeth. They were up against an impossible battle, and their ace turned to dust no thanks to Calypso's selfishness. Across the deck, Sora and Silverstream watched some of Calypso's sand crabs scuttling aimlessly. One's path headed toward Silverstream, but whether it was Sandy or not, she wasn't able to tell. It bumped into her claw and started to turn to detour around its obstruction, but she gently picked it up and gently pet its head.
Sora recalled the words Tia Dalma said to him before they parted. Or rather, Calypso. If she refused to help them, then she must be testing him to be the one to help free Davy Jones from the fate brought upon him. Looking back at the Leviathan, the ship that they were guided to find, she had been helping them since they first arrived. Even if Calypso couldn't help them physically, her power was left to them from the Leviathan itself.
"We can't give up now," Sora said. His friends looked at him, the pirates doing the same as he hopped up onto the rail, looking out at the Black Pearl's crew. "You're all going to throw in the towel because of a lost cause!? Aren't we pirates!? These seas belong to everyone! If we let Beckett and Jones take away our freedom, then what will we be!? Ordinary men and women forced to obey the laws of one man who thinks he can control everything!" The pirates gawked at the young captain and his rousing morale speech. Even Barbossa was giving his full attention, the annoying young boy who thwarted him with Jack Sparrow was able to inspire him. Summoning his Keyblade, he thrust his blade toward the sky. "There is still hope in this war! We will show them we have the courage to face the impossible, and we WILL succeed where the others may fail! My crew will lead us to victory; to free men and freedom!"
The ship was silent for a moment before Kaito's Swashbucklers clanked their blade hands in applause. "Hear, hear," Kaito agreed.
Soon, the rest of the pirates joined in and began to cheer as well. "Always count on Sora to bring hope to everypony wherever he goes," Applejack chuckled.
"But to a bunch of pirates?" Rarity questioned. As much as she disliked the fact they were basically criminals and helping said criminals, what Beckett was trying to accomplish was far worse than a pirate crew pillaging ports and stealing cargo from other vessels. The unicorn sighed, giving in and accepting her role as an anti-hero in this world. "Well, I suppose if we stop someone worse than a pirate, we're doing some good. Sort of."
With the fires of hope rekindled in the crew, Sora's crew began to board back on the Leviathan. Silverstream hesitated, lowering the sand crab back down on the deck, watching it skitter away before slipping off the opening of the railing and dropping into the ocean. Getting her head back into focus, she hovered back onto the Leviathan and helped prepare the ship for combat. Before Sora could leap over, Barbossa grabbed his shoulder, getting his attention. Instead of expressing his disdain, the pirate surprised Sora by giving him an impressed grin.
"Just who in the hells are ya, lad?" he questioned. "What wicked magic do ye have to make me want to like ye, cabin boy?"
Sora smirked at the accusation. "I have that affect on people; good or bad," he answered. He brushed Barbossa's hand off his shoulder, tipping his hat to him. "But I'm sure what respect you have for me now is gonna drop down into Davy Jones' Locker once this is all over."
Barbossa chuckled. "Aye. But ye do have a point. I'd be hung by the gallows before turnin' in me freedom like a snivelin' sea dog." Barbossa then grabbed his hat, took it off, and gave Sora a respectful bow. "Lead us pirates to victory, lad."
Sora nodded, then leapt back toward his ship and raced over to the helm. "Hoist the colors!" Sora called out, Will and Elizabeth joining to rally the Black Pearl more.
The pirates raised their flag, the usual black flag with a white skull and crossbones, high atop the center mast. Donald and Goofy had found the flag the Leviathan held for their colors and raised it up. Fluttering in the wind as the clouds began to swirl with rain beginning to pour down on them, a similar black flag blew, but replacing the skull and crossbones was a pair of Keyblades and a heart that closely resembled Kingdom Hearts. With their anchors raised, the Leviathan took the lead with the Black Pearl following, the other pirate ships standing by and wait for the outcome of their war.
The opposing ships in the distance remained stationary aside from one ship that led the fleet. Unlike the royal vessels, this one had slightly ragged sails, with barnacles, algae, coral, and all sorts of undersea growth that's found on the seabed. Sora and his friends had no idea what Davy Jones looked like, nor his ship, but it definitely looked like it had seen its fair amount of time living underwater.
"Is that supposed to be the Flying Dutchman?" Kaito asked.
"I think so." Sora looked around the helm, finding an indent in the center of the wheel that he thought was just the axle keeping the wheel connected to the base. Gripping it, he pulled it out, revealing a hidden spyglass. Sora extended the device and looked through the lens, getting a clear view of the lead ship, along with Jones and his crew ready for battle. He grimaced at the sight of the Dutchman's crew: all the pirates were coated in sea-soaked clothing, their skin either coated in barnacles or bearing aquatic characteristics that made them mutated, bipedal sea monsters. And at the wheel was the captain, Davy Jones, just as monstrous as his crew. Ragged black clothing, his "beard" a mass of writhing tentacles like a squid's, his left arm a sharp crab's claw while the right remained normal, and his right leg that he thought was a peg leg was actually a crab leg. "Ugh! THAT'S Davy Jones!? The heck did Calypso do to him!?"
"What? What does he look like?" Kaito asked. Sora winced, hesitating before tossing the spyglass to him and let him take a look for himself. "...Oh...Well, that's...unexpected. And I thought Sludge was gross as a Heartless."
The weather started to get worse as lightning began to strike and rain poured heavily upon the sea. As the ships grew closer to meeting, the ocean began to shift and swirl, creating a massive maelstrom between them. Despite the insane phenomenon, Sora continued onward, keeping a firm hold on the wheel as the Leviathan dipped down and followed the spiral of the maelstrom while avoiding sinking further down in the deadly center. The Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl followed, both crews facing off against Davy Jones keeping their balance from the tilted angle inside the maelstrom.
The battle began as the Flying Dutchman fired its cannons at the Leviathan and the Black Pearl, who retaliated with their own cannon fire. It was hard to get the right angle while struggling to stay upright and aim where the Dutchman was going. Not even a few minutes in, something suddenly shot up from the center of the maelstrom. Several massive tentacles rose up, flailing wildly as a guttural rumble came from deep within the giant whirlpool.
"What in the name of Celestia is that!?" Rarity shouted in disbelief.
"No way. It's the Kraken!" Sora said. More tentacles came up around the Black Pearl, curling down and grasping the ship. The crew onboard panicked and ran out of the way before the tentacles crushed them onto the deck, holding onto something solid while the massive sea monster hoisted them up and brought the pirate ship over the writhing mass of tentacles. "Not good. We gotta help them! Focus all fire on the Kraken!"
The moment Donald, Goofy, Silverstream, Applejack, and Rarity ran toward the cannons, a briny hand grabbed hold of the railing and pulled themselves up. One of Davy Jones' men chuckled at their shocked faces, several more of the mutated crew joining and boarded the Leviathan.
"EWW! Literal barnacle heads!" Silverstream shrieked, summoning her Keyblade and quickly whacking the first one, sending him back into the drink. "I'm never gonna look at barnacles the same way ever again!"
The Swashbucklers leapt toward the enemies and kept them at bay. "Focus on the Kraken!" Kaito said. "My men will hold them off!" One of them began to charge at Sora, too busy keeping the ship from sailing too close to the center of the maelstrom and the tentacles squeezing the life out of the Black Pearl. Kaito yelled, blocking the sea-mutated seadog's cutlass with his own, shoving him away from the Keybearing captain. "Oh no you don't. You want my son, you're gonna have to go through me!"
"The little cabin boy shouldn't be playin' pirate if he knows what Davy Jones will do with the lot of ya," the pirate mocked.
"Screw you and your stubborn captain!" Slicing upward, Kaito send a shockwave of water toward the pirate, surprising him and sending him skidding back across the deck. He hit the rail, nearly falling overboard. Just as he regained his balance, Kaito shot forward with a burst of water at his feet, sending them both flying overboard and into the maelstrom. The two struggled while they were sucked under the water until Kaito heard a muffled roar from below. Looking down, he saw the jaws of the Kraken opening up, and it began to lunge at them. "Hope you like being fish food, coral for brains!"
Using the powerful suction from the maelstrom, Kaito unleashed an aquatic shockwave between them. While it launched him back to the surface, he pushed the pirate down, hearing him let out a terrified scream before the jaws of the Kraken chomped down and at him. Shooting himself out of the water, Kaito landed back on deck, though he wasn't back on the Leviathan; the swirling seas dragged him across the maelstrom and stood on the deck of the Flying Dutchman. It was eerily quiet, most of the crew more likely attacking Sora and the gang, but as he turned toward the cabin, he froze when he stood face to face with Jack Sparrow, who was slinking about, and in his hand was the black chest that had been mentioned.
"...Who the bloody hell are you, mate?" Jack questioned. "Clearly no one good. I recognize that coat as the same worn by the man who summoned a Heartless who cursed me. Again."
"I'm not with Davy Jones if that's what you're concerned about," Kaito said. "But that chest is a bit dangerous for you to carry around. I'll keep it safe."
"I'm quite capable of keeping hold of this, savvy?" Jack said.
"Look, I'm not going to argue with you," Kaito warned. "Just give me the damn chest. I will take it by force if I have to."
"Your empty threats don't scare me, mate," Jack said, barely phased as he approached Kaito, nor his cutlass aimed at his heart. "I've gotten what I need, and nothing's gonna stop me. Not even the likes of you."
Jack leaned forward and exhaled heavily in Kaito's face. The Nobody gagged, covering his face as he suffocated on Jack's horrible breath. He staggered backwards, wretching as his sinuses were assaulted by the foul stench and nearly keeling over the rail.
"W-What the hell is wrong with your breath!?" Kaito exclaimed. "Ever heard of oral hygiene!?" Jack curiously cupped his hand and smelled his own breath, reeling back slightly, though barely phased. Once he could breathe again, Kaito held his sword back out at the pirate. "I'm done playing games. Give me that chest."
"That belongs to me." Behind Kaito, he froze when he felt a sword poking at his back. Jack grimaced as Davy Jones leered at his escaped prisoner. "Prisoners don't belong on deck, Jack Sparrow. Your station is in the brig."
"I feel I've served my sentence long enough," Jack casually stated.
"You've escaped me for too long, Sparrow! Your soul belongs to me now!" Jones shouted. He then addressed Kaito. "And you. If you wish to end your life along with those on the Pearl, I'll do you a favor and run your through here and now."
"Ah. So, you're THE Davy Jones?" Kaito asked coyly. "I didn't know I boarded such a famous pirate's vessel." Flicking his cutlass around, aiming it at himself, the blade turned into its aquatic form and unleashed a geyser of water spouting at his sides as he thrust the grip toward himself. Jones yelled as he was struck, smacking into the wall of the upper segment of the bow. Jack stared in stupor at Kaito's magical prowess, the Nobody giving him a sneer before turning and focusing on the more important threat, his sword regaining its solid form. "But I don't plan on dying just yet."
Jones scowled, but instead of charging forward, he startled Kaito when his body fused with the wall and he sank inside the rotted wood. He and Jack looked around, unsure where he went, then looked down and dove away as Jones yelled and shot up, nearly slicing them with his blade. Jack unsheathed his sword, ready to defend himself for his freedom while keeping the chest containing Davy Jones' heart tightly in his other hand. Jones wasn't swayed by the double-team, his blade aimed at Jack while his claw was held up toward Kaito.
Across the Flying Dutchman, the Leviathan launched cannonballs at the Kraken and its tentacles, trying to force it to release the Black Pearl. The Swashbucklers continued defending the rest of the crew, though they were aided by the wielders, duck mage, and dog captain when they found an opening. Sora managed to keep control of the wheel as he got into a sword duel with one of Jones' crew. He ducked and shoved the guard of his Keyblade into the pirate's chest, winding him, then gave him a sharp kick across the deck and into the water.
"Come on, you giant cephalopod! Drop the Pearl!" Sora shouted, unleashing a volley of magic cannonfire at the mass of tentacles. They could hear the creature from beneath the waters cry out, its grip loosening to attack the much bigger threat. Three tentacles shot up and reared back to slam down on the deck, but Donald, Rarity, and Silverstream struck them with Thunder spells, causing it to shriek in pain. The tentacles writhed and twitched before retreating, the aftershocks affecting the ones holding the Black Pearl and dropped it back into the maelstrom. "There we go! Nice work, guys!"
The Kraken's tentacles disappeared back into the water. With the Pearl no longer in peril, they dealt with the rest of the invading crew. One of the Swashbucklers replaced Sora on the helm so they could board the Flying Dutchman and retaliate. Increasing the Leviathan's speed, they managed to catch up just enough to get behind Davy Jones' ship. Sora and Donald combined their magic to create a powerful Aeroga whirlwind at the bow, everyone quickly rushing in and launching themselves high into the air. Diving down, they could see Kaito and Jack clashing swords with Davy Jones on the deck.
Sora yelled, flipping around and kicking Davy Jones hard in the face, sending him flying across the deck. His other friends soon landed, surrounding Jones as he shook off the hit and leered at the group.
"Ha! The tables have turned, mate!" Jack mocked.
Undeterred, Davy Jones stood up. "Hardly. Just a few more maggots to join my crew!"
He quickly sank into the deck, startling the newcomers. "Watch out! He can somehow fuse with his ship and appear anywhere!" Kaito warned.
The warning came too late as Jones appeared behind Silverstream. He was about to slice her, but she moved much faster than he did, narrowly avoiding getting her tail clipped off. Applejack and Rarity stepped in, Formchanging their weapons. Rarity twirled past Jones, avoiding his sword, then bucked him toward Applejack, who slammed him back with her massive hammer. He flew back into the deck, fusing and warping himself up to the top of the center mast. With a yell, he summoned the Kraken's tentacles around his ship, commanding it to swipe at and grab his foes. Sora leapt from mast to mast to chase after Jones with Silverstream flying alongside him, angry that she was almost hit by such a cheap tactic. Applejack, Rarity, Donald, Goofy, and Kaito fended off the tentacles on the deck, with Jack keeping a tight hold on that chest, but he climbed up the mast to personally deal with Davy Jones.
Sora swung onto the top mast, balancing himself while Jones hopped onto the beam. "Lad, you're picking the wrong battles if you know what's good for ya."
"We're going to stop you, Davy Jones," Sora said. "Calypso asked us to."
The mention of his former lover's name made Jones scowl bitterly. "So instead of facing me herself, she sends a boy. Just like that heartless wench to be selfish to the bitter end!"
Silverstream yelled and dove down toward Jones, but he blocked her Keyblade with his thick crab arm. "You're nothing but a big jerk!" she shouted. "If you still loved Calypso, then you shouldn't insult her like that!"
"I once praised her, but I learned my lesson," Jones said. "Never trust a goddess who only toys with your heart!"
He flung Silverstream back, then focused on Sora. The two clashed swords, balancing on the beam while the Flying Dutchman slowly sank down to the center of the maelstrom. With Silverstream free to fly around, she joined in trying to throw Jones off, but the bitter captain was far more skilled to be easily knocked from his perch. Even with their magic thrown into the slashes and lunges, Jones didn't back down. He was going all out in his rage, not caring if Cutler Beckett has him by an iron chain.
Down below, the Kraken's tentacles swung and slammed onto the others, the Dutchman surprisingly still intact. Voids appeared on the deck floor, and more tentacles shot up and threatened to skewer them.
"Whoa! Watch the floor!" Goofy warned, letting out a yelp as he blocked a tentacle with his shield at the last moment.
"If I knew how to use fire magic, I could really go for some calamari right now!" Kaito commented, slicing a nearby tentacle.
Unaware of one that shot up from the opposite side he was standing, it lunged forward and grasped the Nobody. It flailed him around, then flung him off, sending him back toward the Leviathan. Using the heavy downpour, Kaito created several floating walls of water to slow his fall, landing back on the deck with a grunt. He looked back, his water walls crashing into the sea, but as he was about to deal with the Kraken for catching him off guard, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he aimed his cutlass at a straggling member of Jones' crew, only to be met with Luxord and Vexen.
"Having fun?" Luxord asked.
"Ok, don't do that to me again," Kaito sighed. "Why are you two here? I figured you'd be watching from the sidelines."
"And bring attention to ourselves in this monsoon? You're insane," Vexen said. "And what in the seven princess' names were you doing fighting WITH them!?"
"There is such a term as a 'common enemy'," Kaito explained to the snobby scientist. "Davy Jones is tougher than he looks. And he's not that great to look at, either."
Back on the Dutchman, Sora and Davy Jones had hopped down from beam to beam on the mast. Jack shakily reached their position and came up behind Jones. When Sora and Silverstream pushed Jones back, they spotted Jack, to their surprise, along with the chest he was holding.
"Jack!" he called out, getting Jones' attention.
"Mister Sora! You and your crew are just in time!" Jack said.
"I've had enough of these shenanigans!" Jones unleashed a dark aura, releasing a shockwave as he yelled. Jack held onto the mast, but Sora was pushed back, losing his footing and slipped off. He landed safely on the deck, rolling away from one of the Kraken's tentacles slamming down on him. "Forget the deal! You've been a thorn in my side for long enough! The Locker is too good for you and your companions to rot for all eternity!"
"Well, if you say it like that, I'd rather much prefer serving you for all eternity," Jack shot back, angering Jones as the two pirates clashed swords once more.
The Dutchman began to float into the middle of the maelstrom, along with the Black Pearl. The two ships' masts clacked into each other, helplessly spinning around the deadly center of the massive whirlpool. Jones and Jack staggered and fell from the mast, Jack dropping the chest on the deck. From the Pearl, Will leapt onboard, spotting the chest and made a run for it. Unfortunately, the Kraken's tentacles shot up from the deck, tripping him and making him drop the chest, sending it tumbling away. Jones landed and ran for his chest, but Silverstream swooped toward him with a caw, shoving him back with a burst of Aero magic.
She was going to fight him, but Jack jumped in her way. He swung his sword as Jones ran at him, but his claw grasped the metal blade as the two struggled for dominance. Jones' claw managed to cleave Jack's sword, snapping half the blade off, then punched Jack hard, sending him crashing to the deck. Silverstream stood her ground, but Elizabeth swung in from the Black Pearl and joined her. The captain scowled at them.
"You two will not be shown any mercy from me," he warned the two, but neither woman or hippogriff were swayed by the danger.
"That's why I brought this," Elizabeth said, unsheathing her sword from her hip.
"You're not getting your chest back!" Silverstream said.
Jones lunged at them, both Elizabeth and Silverstream crossing their blades to block Jones'. They were overpowered by the cursed man, both barely having as much experience with weapons combat compared to him. Parrying them, Jones thrust his claw at Silverstream, grasping her neck, then flung her hard toward the railing. The hippogriff grunted as she slammed her head against the wood, her vision growing blurry from the impact. He then went for Elizabeth, smacking her aside and kicking her toward the stairway toward the back deck. He was going to kill her, only to yell as he felt a sword run through his empty chest. Behind him, Will panted as he thrust his sword in Davy Jones, struck with disbelief that he survived what should be a fatal blow.
"Mister. Did you forget?" Jones asked, turning his head to leer at Will. "I'm a heartless wretch." He spun and kicked Will back with his peg leg, knocking the man down. Silverstream groaned, rubbing her head as she struggled not to lose consciousness. She got back up, shaking her head, watching Jones look between Will and Elizabeth, noticing the worry and concern in their expressions for the sake of their significant other. He smirked, finding their reason to fight him despite their odds amusing. "Ah. Love. A dreadful bond. And yet, so easily severed."
"And how would you know!?" From the lower deck, Sora leapt up and shocked the Kraken's tentacle with Thundaga. With the monster ignoring him, he faced Jones, and while they were distracted, Jack sneakily took the chest from their sight. "What you thought was love wasn't right, and Calypso shouldn't have played you like that. But love is a powerful bond, not just between a couple who care about each other deeply. Love is expressed between friends, and I have many that I cherish, even if they're far away." He held up his right hand, showing Jones, Elizabeth, and Will his wedding ring. "The bond I share with the girl I've loved for years is more powerful than you think, Davy Jones. It's only severed if there was never any true love shared between both partners in their relationship. I was afraid to tell her my feelings, but she always knew how much I loved her. Even if someone cruel like you tries to sever my bond with her, it's going to take so much more than that to truly break it. The same can be said for Will and Elizabeth."
"What does a whelp like you know about the heart?" Jones questioned.
"That whelp has seen far more of the world than you know," Jack said.
Jones ignored his prisoner, glancing back at Will with his sword aimed at his throat. "Tell me, William Turner: do you fear death?"
"Do you?" Jack questioned back. Davy Jones glanced at him, only to gawk at him holding the chest, now opened, revealing the beating heart inside, and the broken sword in his other hand hovering over it, ready to stab it and end the Flying Dutchman's captain. "Heady tonic, holding life and death in the palm of one's hand."
Back on the Leviathan, Kaito was watching the events unfold through the spyglass the ship's wheel hid. "...A live heart," he uttered. "That's what's in that chest."
"What!?" Vexen shouted. Snatching the spyglass, he looked through it, grumbling bitterly at the opened chest containing a live, beating heart. "That's not what we're supposed to find. The Black Box is supposed to hold something...more! Not a dissected organ!" Growling in disappointment, Vexen tossed the spyglass, which was caught by one of the Swashbucklers before it was lost in the sea. "This was a complete waste of time. What a pointless lead."
He then disappeared through a portal of darkness, returning back to their base, leaving the two plotting traitors be. "Thank goodness for that," Luxord said. "Now you have a little more free range for the time being." He patted Kaito's shoulder, summoning his own portal beside him. "I'll meet you back at that fortress in Port Royal when you're ready to return."
"Luxord?" The gambler paused before he took one step into the portal, glancing back at Kaito. "...Should I...let Sora know what's really happened to me?"
"...I suppose that's up to you," Luxord answered.
"I don't know," Kaito mumbled, clenching his fists. "Earlier, I asked what he would have done if I was actually part of the old Organization XIII...He'd be upset, but for the sake of the worlds...he would have to with a heavy heart...And after proving to him I was on his side these last couple years, to turn his back on him by being part of the Organization by force...I'm afraid he will not make the same promise."
"...I see..." Luxord looked out to the Flying Dutchman, holding out his hand and summoned his cards. "However, you won't know if you don't take that risk." Grabbing one of the cards, he unveiled Silverstream's picture, which was split between her hippogriff and seapony forms from top to bottom. "You can never play it safe all the time."
Luxord dismissed his deck and walked through the portal, leaving Kaito with his Nobody crew. The Swashbuckler who caught the spyglass returned it to him. He let out a sigh, then continued to watch from a distance.
"Easier said than done," he mumbled.
On the Flying Dutchman, Jones was at a standoff with Jack and Sora, the former threatening to take his life with one fatal blow. "...You're a cruel man, Jack Sparrow," he said after several tense minutes.
"Cruel is a matter of perspective," Jack answered.
Jones growled, but them smirked at him. "Is it?"
Without hesitation, Jones quickly turned back to Will, and with one swift thrust, shocked everyone when he stabbed Will right in the heart. He laughed maniacally while Will was left grimacing in agony, struggling to breathe from the fatal injury to his heart. Silverstream trembled at the cruel act, Elizabeth's crying out Will's name drowned in white noise. Her mind quickly shifted to worst case scenarios involving her and Gallus. She even thought she saw Gallus in Will's place, his chest pierced as he was left dying from the fatal stabbing to his heart, but not by a Heartless or someone from the Organization. As her gaze shifted to Davy Jones, she saw the Storm King, laughing maniacally as the menacing tyrant he was.
Silverstream's mind snapped, the shock quickly shifting to rage as she let out an ear-splitting screech. She then flew into Jones, catching him off guard as she sent the two of them crashing through the wooden railing and straight down into the maelstrom.
"Silverstream!" Sora cried out, quickly running over the side, surprised by what she just did.
Jack was in shock, his eyes shifting to Davy Jones' heart, ready to be pierced, and to Will's slowly dying form with Elizabeth having rushed over to him and trying desperately to keep him alive. Beneath the sea, Silverstream subconsciously transformed into a seapony, pushing herself and Davy Jones further down toward the bottom of the sea. She yelled as she repeatedly slashed at him, smacking him with her tail and never giving him a chance to retaliate.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR DOING THAT TO HIM, YOU MONSTER!" she screamed. Behind her, she wasn't aware of the Kraken looming in the darkened waters. Her ears twitched, then she turned to glare at the giant sea monster with its massive beak coming closer. Without any fear, she raised her Keyblade high above her, which began to spark dangerously with electricity. "SHUT UP!"
With another yell, her Keyblade let out a deadly shock, followed by a lightning bolt from the storm shooting straight down into the center of the maelstrom, through the water, and struck the Kraken. It let out a loud screech, its tentacles around the Dutchman twitching and flailing about, which relieved and startled the others on the ship from the powerful lightning strike. Silverstream wasn't done with the Kraken interrupting, swimming toward it, and lunged herself into its open mouth. Jones watched in a stupor, turning to befuddlement when the seapony unleashed jolt after jolt of powerful lightning magic from within its body. The massive beast writhed in pain before the deadly shocks caused it to bloat, which was followed by it imploding from the overabundance of magic inflicting serious internal harm.
From the veil of sea monster guts, Silverstream rushed Jones again, the ocean washing away the disgusting gore as she slashed him upward. Swirling her Keyblade, she used her magic to form a deadly waterspout, which spun faster and faster as it picked up speed from the maelstrom above. Jones was flung about, unable to escape, while Silverstream followed, swimming in a blur and sliced him repeatedly as they continued rising up, breaching the water.
Kaito glanced up at the sudden waterspout, aiming the spyglass to see Silverstream overpowering Davy Jones. Knocking him up into the clouds, she shifted back into a hippogriff, then repeatedly cast her Thunder magic into the storm clouds, which rained down even more powerful lightning bolts directly on top of Jones. All the while, she was screaming and yelling, her cries filled with rage and anguish. How she hadn't threw her voice out at the frequency of her screams was astounding, but she wasn't done as she then grabbed Jones' foot, then spun around while a cyclone picked up around her. After building up enough momentum, she flung Jones back down toward his ship, and with every last ounce of mana remaining within her, she aimed her Keyblade downward, launching a magical sphere of light toward Davy Jones.
A trailing wisp followed the sphere until it made contact with the plummeting captain. He was left suspended in midair as the magical energy surged, growing massive until it fully enveloped him. In an explosion of non-elemental light, Jones was launched back down to the ship once more, the blast illuminating the dark sky for a brief moment. Stunned, Sora, Applejack, Rarity, Donald, and Goofy watched the fizzling spell slowly disperse. Jones landed on his back with a grunt, his body singed with some of the tentacles of his beard burnt off. Silverstream hovered back down, panting heavily while glaring angrily at the downed pirate.
"...What was that?" Rarity asked.
"I...I've never seen a spell like that before," Donald said in disbelief. "It wasn't elemental..."
Silverstream stepped forward, her body shaking from exhaustion, but she wasn't going to stop until she stopped the madman for good. "You're not hurting anyone else. Never again," she uttered.
She raised her Keyblade, but Jones shot his eyes open, sank into the floorboards, snapping the hippogriff out of her rage. He then popped up behind her, grabbed her mane, then flung her back toward the rail, slamming into it hard again, causing her to drop her Keyblade. He began to stomp toward her, but Sora slammed his Keyblade into his side, smacking him away from his charge.
"Back away from her, Jones!" Sora warned.
"You will not forestall my judgement!" Davy Jones proclaimed.
Suddenly, he let out a strangled gasp, a look of shock and an intense wave of pain washing over him. Confused, Sora saw Jones look over toward where Jack was. While distracted by Silverstream's rage-fueled magical onslaught, Jack had gone over to Will, but by using his hand, made the dying man stab Davy Jones' heart. The odd, yet surprisingly intelligent pirate leered at Davy Jones while Elizabeth was shocked by what Jack just did. His mouth hanging open, Davy Jones stumbled backward, his hand clutching his chest, his breaths shaky as his life was finally taken. He backed into the railing, tipping overboard, and crashed into the swirling maelstrom.
From the sides of the Dutchman, Jones' crew returned, but as Sora was ready to fend them off, they were more focused on Will. Walking past the others, they ignored Elizabeth and surrounded the dying man.
"W-What are you doing!? Will!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"She's taking us down!" Barbossa called out from the Black Pearl. "Make quick, or it's the Locker for us all!"
Applejack, Rarity, Donald, and Goofy climbed up on deck, shocked seeing Will being surrounded by the Dutchman's crew. "What happened!?" Applejack asked.
"Nothing we can do for William now," Jack said. "Part of the ship, part of the crew."
"No! I'm not leaving him!" Elizabeth said, but Jack grabbed her and pulled her away.
"W-What is he talking about?" Rarity questioned.
"Jack made Will's hand stab Davy Jones' heart," Sora said. "...I think he's going to be the new captain." The Dutchman started to sink as the wood began to creak. Jack had already swung himself and Elizabeth safely back to the Pearl, and it was steering away from the maelstrom to make it back to calmer seas. Luckily, the Leviathan came sailing by, Kaito taking the wheel as his Swashbucklers were waiting to catch them. Sora hurried over to Silverstream, who was thankfully ok, but unconscious after unleashing all her anger and hitting the rail again. "Abandon ship, guys."
Carrying the hippogriff, Sora leapt across the deadly gap and landed safely on the Leviathan. Donald, Goofy, Applejack, and Rarity jumped across and landed safely as well, looking back as Kaito sharply turned the wheel to get them out of the slowly dying maelstrom. They watched the Flying Dutchman tilt over and sink into the water, with Will along with the ship and its crew. The weather started to clear up, the impending doom against Davy Jones over as the sea became much calmer. But as the sky grew brighter, they weren't truly out of the woods yet. There was still Cutler Beckett and his naval fleet, having stood far away from the conflict despite whoever the victor would be.
"You think the Leviathan can take on a whole fleet of battleships?" Kaito asked Sora.
"Yeah...but I'm not sure about the Black Pearl, or the other pirate ships," Sora said. Silverstream began to stir, letting out a grunt as she squinted her eyes. Beckett would have to wait as he gently set the hippogriff down on the deck, kneeling beside her to make sure she wasn't too badly injured. "Silverstream, you alright?"
"Mph...W-Where...?" Finally coming to, she gasped and stood up. "...W-What happened? Where did-?" Spotting the Black Pearl, what Davy Jones did to Will suddenly came back to her. She could see Elizabeth looking at the sea where the maelstrom appeared, miserable after having watched her love die in her arms and be sent to Davy Jones' Locker with the Flying Dutchman. Tears welled up in her eyes, unable to do anything but feel responsible for leaving Will to his fate. "...No...H-He killed..."
Silverstream whimpered, then began to sob. Sora held her as she buried her face into his chest, failing to protect someone in a world from a horrible person. Though morale was down, they had to press on and take out the next big threat. Kaito looked through the spyglass at the lead ship, spotting the man responsible for trying to bring order to the high seas. Wearing similar wigs to the soldiers, his coat was black with the front of it a dark green color. The man had a smug grin on his face as he eyed the Black Pearl, believing he's going to come out victorious.
Before they could come up with a battle plan, splashes rang out between the Leviathan and the Black Pearl. Everyone from both ships looked to their respective sides, spotting what looked like the Flying Dutchman rising up from the sea. However, the undersea growth began to peel away, leaving behind a much more pristine vessel as the water poured out from the deck and cannon ports. At the helm of the new Flying Dutchman, everyone was shocked to see the man holding the wheel was none other than Will himself. His clothes were replaced, now wearing an opened black coat, a red tattered red shirt underneath that revealed a scar over his heart, and he sported a black bandanna around his head.
"No way," Sora uttered.
"H-He's back!?" Silverstream exclaimed, her beak hanging open in shock. "...B-But how!?"
"Ready on the guns!" Will announced, the crew of the Dutchman having returned to normal as well.
They heard Jack and Barbossa shout to the crew, readying their cannons and go on an all out offensive. "Hmph. Seems like this is gonna turn into a happy ending after all," Kaito mumbled to himself.
The crew of the Leviathan watched the Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl lower their sails and steer toward Beckett's vessel. They could imagine the look on the corrupt man's face as he thought they were going to blast each other apart, only to watch both ships turn toward him and sail on either side of his. Several shouts rang out from both ships, and at point blank range, the Dutchman and Pearl fired their cannons. Wooden debris scattered about as the naval ship was battered with massive holes, the whole structure slowly crumbling down and sinking into the sea.
Seeing they stood no chance, the rest of the naval fleet surrendered and retreated. The pirates all cheered, victorious after many stressful days of facing their end by the hands of a corrupted and greedy businessman. Sadly, the Flying Dutchman still had a duty to uphold: delivering lost souls that drowned at sea. As the ships made a return back to regroup with the Leviathan, Elizabeth and Will gazed at each other from the ships they were on. With their anchors down, Sora and his friends stepped onto the Black Pearl. The crew praised the young captain for leading the charge, though they had reason to celebrate, the fact that Elizabeth and Will now face a tough challenge with Will's new role as the Flying Dutchman's captain.
"Just wed, and now Elizabeth and Cap'n Turner must live in different worlds," Gibbs said.
"Huh? When did they get married?" Sora asked.
"Back when that sea devil snatched the Pearl in the maelstrom," Barbossa said. "Not exactly the best time for a wedding, but there could have been far worse times."
"But none of you are pastors, or even elected officials!" Rarity exclaimed in disbelief. "How could marriages work at sea!?"
"The captain of the ship they choose to wed on 'oversees' the procession," Barbossa added. "I was the unlucky one of the lot to do it."
"...Is this another pirate thing I'm not aware of?" Rarity questioned.
"But if they're married...why isn't she going to stay with Will?" Silverstream asked.
"The Flying Dutchman ferries drowned souls to the afterlife," Jack explained. "She cannot stay with him. One day ashore, ten at sea. He upholds his duty, he can see his beloved that one special day, savvy?"
Like the story told by Tia Dalma, Silverstream felt awful for Elizabeth. "But...one whole day...That's not enough time for anything..."
"No, it's not," Sora agreed. "But there's always enough time for hearts to say what needs to be said."
Silverstream lowered her gaze as she mulled over Sora's words. Sandy's soon came to mind, to tell Gallus how she feels about him and not be afraid to take that chance before it's too late. Those flashes she had earlier reminded her that their job as bearers was dangerous, and if she didn't speak what her heart wants her to say, she might lose him like Elizabeth almost had with Will. She couldn't handle being apart from him for a week, let alone a decade after learning how lonely he was in his childhood.
After parting with the crew of the Black Pearl, and seeing Elizabeth off in a longboat to return back home to Port Royal, Sora steered the Leviathan off toward the sea. It took a little searching, but he was able to find the small island where he parked the Gummi ship. Dropping the anchor, they stepped down on the shore, turning back to see ship starting to glow. Seconds later, the Leviathan exploded into a massive clump of sand crabs, Calypso's magic finally fading away. As the crabs splashed into the water, a huge clump of them managed to roll off the others and toward Sora. Within the gaps, he could see a shimmer of light, and when the crabs detached from one another, the group was startled to find a smaller version of the Leviathan within a bottle.
"Whoa. Is it a gift from Calypso?" Goofy asked in awe.
Sora leaned down and grabbed the ship, able to sense a small amount of Calypso's lingering magic within. "I guess so," he said. As the last of the crabs disappeared in the foam of the lapping waves, Sora looked at Kaito. "Well, what are you gonna do now? More seafaring excursions?"
"I think I've had enough fun playing pirate," Kaito said. "I think I'm gonna call it a day."
"Well, don't ya be a stranger around Equestria," Applejack said. "We'd like havin' ya around Hearth's Warmin' with Manami this year."
"Is it even safe for her to be away from her home right now?" Rarity asked.
Kaito frowned slightly, but curled it back to a grin. "I don't think celebrating a family holiday will hurt," he said.
"Try telling that to me when Marluxia kidnapped the foals on Christmas a couple years ago," Sora said.
"Just a case of bad luck?" Kaito guessed with a shrug. The others said their goodbyes to Kaito and headed inside the Gummi ship. Just as Sora was about to walk onto the ramp, Kaito began to panic, torn between revealing the truth or keeping it secret. "S-Sora?"
"Hmm? What's up?" Sora asked as he turned to look at the Nobody.
Kaito began to hesitate, his mouth hanging open, but the words wouldn't come out. Stammering, he sighed as his shoulders wilted.
"...Try not to get yourself into too much trouble," Kaito warned.
"Heh. No guarantees, but I'll try, dad." Kaito balked, Sora doing the same a few seconds after. The two awkwardly stared at each other, both of them knowing Kaito wasn't the real Kaito, but for the first time, Sora had mistakenly called the Nobody his father. "...Err...I-I mean...I know you're not..."
"...I get it. Slip of the tongue," Kaito shrugged off, but that little slip up made it all the more painful for him.
"Yeah...I'll...see ya around winter, I guess?" Sora sheepishly said, slowly backing up the ramp.
"Yeah," Kaito mumbled. The two waved awkwardly as the ramp closed up. The Nobody backed away slightly as the Gummi ship's engine roared to life and began to fly back home to Equestria. Staring up at the sky, a tear began to shed and roll down his right cheek. "...Damn it...I couldn't do it..."
When they returned to Equestria and gave Aqua a debriefing of what happened in the Caribbean, Silverstream was far too exhausted when she returned to her dorm room. All the excitement and emotional distress tired her, understanding how weary the others were after their first outing. The next morning, she waited outside Gallus and Sandbar's dorm, summoning the courage to ask Gallus to talk with her.
"Don't be afraid to take the plunge," Silverstream mumbled to herself.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she lifted a claw and knocked on the boys' dorm. Her anxiety started to skyrocket as the short few seconds turned into hours until Gallus opened the door.
"Silv! Hey!" Gallus greeted. "When'd your get back?"
"Err...Yesterday," she said. "I...was really tired."
"Oh yeah. I figured that would happen," he said. "So how'd it go? Fought a huge Heartless or something?"
"Y-Yeah. Two, actually," Silverstream admitted.
"Huh!? Two!?" Gallus exclaimed. "W-What were they!? Did you take them on by yourself or-!?"
Silverstream quickly clasped her claw around his beak, silencing his excited rambling. "C-Can we...find somewhere else to talk?" she asked.
"...Umm...Ok?" Silverstream released Gallus' beak. He began to grow a bit concerned with the hippogriff's lack of energy, which is highly unlike her. She headed down the hall, but he followed her, wondering where she wanted to take him, and what she wanted to talk about. Once outside, they took to the air and headed out to the Everfree Forest, straight toward the crystal treehouse. Silverstream felt a little safer talking to Gallus there, and luckily, no one else was around. They touched down on the balcony, alone from prying eyes and ears, aside from Hydaelyn as the spirit appeared around the corner, sensing their presence. "Silv, are you doing alright? You sure you're not too tired? I know it's really exhausting after running around, fighting, dealing with what's happening in the world."
"...How long have you liked me?" Silverstream asked.
"Huh?" Gallus tilted his head curiously. "...Like...as friends?"
"When we first came to Ponyville and started learning about friendship," she said. "...When you...had feelings for me?"
"...Oh..." Gallus glanced away sheepishly. "...Uhh...W-Well...I didn't really...think of you that way until you shapeshifted into a seapony when we all ran away to stick with our friends. Seeing you like that...I thought you were...really beautiful." Silverstream should be flattered, but she had no idea he had this crush on her for that long. "N-Not that you as a hippogriff isn't just as appealing or anything. I-I like both sides of you. Even your bubbly and chipper personality...Although, at first I did find it annoying and weird, but that's what makes you unique and likable."
"...So...I've been ignoring all the obvious signs for more than a year..." She leaned over the railing, glancing down at the rubble of the old castle courtyard with her head resting on her arms. "I'm horrible..."
"What? What are you talking about?" Gallus questioned. Concerned, he sat beside Silverstream and gently rested his claw on her shoulder, making her tense up. "Silv, if you think you're as bad as I was, you're nowhere near how I acted. Not even Smolder. Combined."
"But I didn't even realize it until you kissed me a couple months ago in the dream realm!" she said, brushing off Gallus' claw. "I have to be the blindest creature in Equestria not to have noticed for that long! And there are creatures that are MEANT to be born blind!" Gallus was taken aback, watching Silverstream anxiously pace about, growing more and more upset as she continued. "I never even noticed because I was so focused on everything else in my life that I didn't know existed outside of the bottom of the sea! And for over a year!? I'm clearly the dumbest female in history to not realize a boy likes me and doesn't even hide it!"
"Who said something like that?" Gallus asked, dumbfounding both him and Hydaelyn overseeing the hippogriff's meltdown.
"And ever since you kissed me like that, I don't even know what I want to say to tell you how I felt! I didn't think anything romantic between us until that moment!" she continued as tears welled up in her eyes. "I couldn't think straight! Anytime I was around you, my brain just shuts down and I don't know what to say without feeling my heart pound so hard in my chest that it'll explode from nervousness! But after ignoring how you felt toward me, what was I supposed to say when doing so makes me feel like such a horrible creature!? And I'm obviously stupid because, to make up a random conversation without acting like a dummy, I talked about farming tools! From your lessons about cultivation with Prof. Applejack! What's so exciting about that!?"
"...I didn't think anything like that," Gallus said. "You always liked talking about random stuff, I thought you had a random burst of excitement babbling about the oddest of things. Why do you think that's a bad thing?"
"Because I'm in love with you and I'm afraid of losing you because of me!" Silverstream shrieked. Gallus's heart skipped after hearing the hippogriff he was smitten for admitted her feelings out loud, but it also pained him hearing she would lose him so easily because of herself. He didn't understand why, even after he looked past what made her so special as a hippogriff. Silverstream's tears began to flow down her cheeks, closing her eyes as she choked back her sobs and hung her head. "...I-I felt...so bad for you, learning you group up so lonely. I didn't want you to feel like that ever again...I didn't want to hurt you if you thought I didn't care about you. If you thought...I would never take your feelings for me seriously, but I do..."
"...Silv..." Gallus mumbled.
Thinking he sounded disappointed in her, Silverstream began to cry, wiping her forelegs against her cheeks to stop the neverending waves of tears that continued to stream down her face. "I-I was s-so scared of telling you, a-and I didn't want to ruin our f-friendship. A-And fighting H-Heartless, a-and other m-monsters...I d-didn't know if I would e-ever tell you," she mumbled. "I-I'm sorry, Gallus...P-Please...don't be mad at me..."
Gallus frowned, feeling upset that Silverstream thought so poorly of her thinking that. He stepped closer to her, sat in front of her, then brought hands out to her and pulled her closer, holding her tightly. Silverstream immediately buried her face in his chest and completely broke down, feeling his claws gently rub along her back and the back of her head to console her.
"I can't be mad at you, Silv," Gallus promised. "...I think I should have said something, but...I was afraid of ruining our friendship, too. I may have gotten better, but starting out, my kind was always selfish and greedy. I would have said the wrong thing, or worse, hurt you."
"But it's not your fault," Silverstream mumbled with a sniffle.
"I know...But, I can't seem to escape that part of my nature as a griffon sometimes," Gallus added. "And...there was another reason why I was afraid to ask you out. Your aunt's the queen of the hippogriffs, right?" Silverstream nodded her head against his chest. "Then...that kinda makes you royalty, I think. Like a princess."
"...I guess, but we're not," she corrected. She grew confused by Gallus' assumption, peeling her face from his fluffy chest and looked at him. "You thought I was...a princess?"
"Yeah. And, these weird romance stories I've glanced at in the library have a prince and a princess getting together. Or a knight saving their princess and getting hitched, kind of like Master Sora and Master Kairi," Gallus said, shrugging slightly. "I thought I wouldn't have a chance because I grew up with nothing."
"Y-You think I wouldn't like you because you were an orphan and had nothing???" Silverstream questioned. "That's...That's ridiculous! I wouldn't care if you were poor or were lonely! That just makes me feel sorry for you!"
"Heh. Y-Yeah. Just a stupid thought," he admitted sheepishly. "I've only just gotten a grasp on friendship, and what's considered love in Griffonstone is how much money their partner has and swiping it from them when they aren't looking."
"But you know what it feels to be loved now, right?" Silverstream asked.
"I do," Gallus said. "I just had no idea if I screwed it up when we were dreaming, and I kissed you instead of the Silverstream that went on in my nightmare."
She quickly shook her head, grabbing Gallus' shoulders. "No! I mean, yeah, that caught me off guard, but...having that happen made me realize just...what I was missing out from you. And don't say you're the one being selfish, or rude, or messed up anything. You're...You're really sweet, and brave...And...I don't know what I would do if you weren't in my life." Bringing her claws lower, she held Gallus, resting her chin on his shoulder. "If you didn't find me when we were being tested, I would have kept us trapped underground if you didn't motivate me to face my worst fear. I would have failed us if you didn't come find me."
"I wasn't going to leave you or the others behind," Gallus said. "You guys were the best thing to ever happen in my miserable life. And you make it better just by being yourself. Don't change that for me."
Silverstream smiled with a light blush on her cheeks. "Even if I'm too annoying when I talk about random stuff?" she asked.
Gallus chuckled and shook his head. "You're not annoying," he promised. Gently pulling the hippogriff back, the two gazed in each other's eyes. Gallus brought one of his claws to her face, gently wiping away the stray tears matting her cheek. "I wouldn't want to see you any other way. When I fight, and use my healing magic, I think about you guys. And I feel it's much stronger when I think about you more." Silverstream's grin widened as fresh tears trickled down her face. Their faces inched closer toward each other, hesitation present in their advances, but they weren't afraid to express the love they wanted to share with each other. "Silv...I..."
No other words needed to be said. The pair continued inching closer until their beaks tapped lightly against each other, their eyes closing as they shared their first real kiss. Gallus softly caressed Silverstream's cheek as she carefully pulled her closer, and her arms wrapped around the back of his neck. Their beaks parted, both sporting content smiles as they gazed into each other's eyes again, nuzzling their beaks together.
"I love you, too," Silverstream said.
As the new couple held each other, Hydaelyn grinned, sensing their hearts strengthen with their new, unbreakable bond. "Two pairs of young hearts joining together. Love is a very powerful bond when both hearts speak it true."
The alicorn spirit left Gallus and Silverstream be, fading into a burst of light. They stayed together for another few minutes, just enjoying their company and freed from the weight lifted from their hearts before flying back to Ponyville.
"So, wanna do something together tonight?" Gallus asked curiously. "Unless you're...you know, busy? Schoolwork to catch up on, or-?"
"I'd love to," Silverstream said.
"Uhh, cool! Umm...How about at that café in town?" he asked, already excited for their first date.
"Ok!" The pair split up, Silverstream returning back to their dorms while Gallus hurried off to the cafe to place a reservation. The hippogriff felt so light, giggling as she spun and spiraled through the sky before landing down at the school. Reaching hers and her girl friends' dorm room, she opened the door, getting Ocellus, Smolder, and Yona's attention. "Hi, girls!"
"Well, someone's finally back to normal," Smolder chuckled. "Weird to say it, but I missed the overly cheerful Silverstream the last few months."
"Why Silverstream more happy?" Yona asked.
"Gallus and I...are dating!" Silverstream announced.
"Really!?" Ocellus asked, excited.
"Wow. Gallus finally found it in him to tell you instead of babbling like a lovestruck idiot," the dragoness said.
"And he wants to take me out on our first date in town! Should I wear something nice?" Silverstream asked as she hurried over to her dresser.
In her excited haste, she knocked over her saddlebag. Tumbling out of the opened bag was the seashell Sandy gave her. Yona noticed it, picking it up and examined it.
"Ooh. Pretty shell," the yak said. "Where Silverstream find?"
Looking away from the small amount of belongings she had, Silverstream almost forgot about the seashell. "Oh. A little crab friend where I went to gave it to me."
Ocellus took the shell in her magic aura and took a better look at it. "...Do you know what kind of shell this is?" she asked.
"Hmm...I don't know. I've seen lots of shells back home, but none of them I recognize," Silverstream said.
"Unless it's a magical seashell, I'm not interested in it," Smolder said, flopping onto her bed and pulled out a comic. "Not exactly great snacks like gemstones. My brother tried one once. He said it tasted like sandy glass."
"Did you show Sora this?" Ocellus asked.
"Show me what?" From the opened doorway, the girls jolted when they heard Sora. "Hope I'm not interrupting personal girl time. Aqua wanted me to find Silverstream again."
"Oh, please don't tell me she's going on another world trip!" Smolder exclaimed in exasperation.
"No. It's...more about the spell she used after knocking around Davy Jones yesterday," Sora explained.
"...Who Davy Jones?" Yona asked.
Sora was about to explain, but when he saw the seashell they were talking about, his jaw dropped. "...When did you find a thalassa shell?"
"Back at Port Royal," Silverstream said. "Before Sandy disappeared...he dug one up in the sand and gave it to me."
Sora entered the dorm room, taking the shell in his hoof. "...At Port Royal?" he questioned. "...I've been to a few worlds in or by the sea, but...no other world HAS these kinds of shells besides where I live." He then pulled out Kairi's charm, the five shells making the personally made wayfinder's star shape made of the very same colored shell. "Kairi made this from these kinds of shells."
Silverstream looked at the charm, baffled by how Sandy managed to "find" a shell that could only be found in one world, at least from what they knew. "...That's...weird," she mumbled.
"No kidding..." Despite the odd coincidence, Sora gave the hippogriff's shell back to her and put the charm back in his pocket. "Well, that's a different kind of mystery that won't be solved with Calypso's magic spent." Silverstream nodded in agreement, treasuring the gift as she placed it back in her bag, where it would be safely stored. "But that explosive spell you used on Davy Jones, it was magic that Donald or Aqua never even knew was possible to cast."
"A new magic spell?" Ocellus chimed in, her wings fluttering eagerly at the prospect of a new spell to learn. "Silverstream created a new spell!?"
"No," Sora said. "Aqua did some digging in Valhalla's library of ancient spells last night. She even asked the wielders there about it, and...it's a magic spell with no elemental affinity. It's rarely used by them, but it can harm Heartless, even if they have a strength to a certain element. It's called 'Ruin'."
"Non-elemental?" Smolder questioned. "Is this Ruin spell some kind of...light?"
"Not from what we witnessed yesterday. But the amount of force that she unleashed with that spell, I think it was a more powerful level: Ruinga." Sora looked between Silverstream and Ocellus. "Between you and Ocellus being the most skilled in magic, Silverstream, yours brought out a unique variation of unleashing energy from the elements around you with your magic. It was hard to tell with the intense weather in that maelstrom, but when you mentioned practicing your magic with whirlpools during the summer, Aqua thinks you may have a unique ability by harnessing the current effects of nature itself."
"Really?" Silverstream asked. "...I was really mad and just...went all out. I thought it was just my own magic, but intensified by my anger."
"So...you're saying Silverstream has magic based around geomancy?" Ocellus asked.
"I think so. We'll have to find out during practice in different types of weather," Sora said.
"Ok," Silverstream uttered. After saying what needed to be discussed, Sora left the room and went about his business. Once he was gone, Silverstream summoned her Keyblade. "Power of nature?...Not sure if I should have named you Sky Ocean anymore."
"That is so amazing, though," Ocellus praised. "I'm so jealous. I want to control the magical elements of nature."
"Can't Ocellus turn into Silverstream and do same magic and skills like her?" Yona questioned.
Ocellus blinked, unaware of her own unique shapeshifting skills honed with her fighting style. "...Oh. R-Right. I think I'm so used to it now, I completely forgot I can mimic everything you guys can do. Even the new stuff."
"This Ruin spell better be a good one," Smolder said. "Wonder what it'll look like when I use my dragon breath."
As the girls wondered about their new magic training, Silverstream wondered where that Ruinga spell came from. She thought she was just so upset at what Davy Jones did to Will, she wanted to unleash every ounce of power within her to blow him up. To control nature was unexpected, but she would have to wait to hone this new potential of hers later. Tonight, she was ready to spend the evening with Gallus, as a couple, and enjoy every moment being with him.
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Wow and awww at the same time.
The fighting was intense, and Silverstream really kicked butt.
And Kaito couldn't tell him, which is understandable, if bad guys forced me to be part of their group by blackmailing me, I wouldn't have the stomach or heart to tell them either.
And finally, Silverstream and Gallus are a couple.
the only instance I can personally recall with a 'Ruin' spell was with Lightning; it was one of her attacks in Dissidia. if the Lightning in this storyline also knows it, maybe Silverstream could get more information or training from her.
Well, Silverstream and Gallus finally became a couple. I got to admit, it's nice to see Silverstream being the one to sort her feelings out for Gallus instead of the other way around.
Hard to say where this all goes now since everyone had gone off world. Maybe the next chapter is about Spike, Smolder, and Fluttershy going to help in the Dragon Lands or something else.
Kaito really is keeping to himself of not telling Sora, but he knows deep down the bad feeling is going to catch him with him.
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Ruin came from FF13, which is a spell attack Lightning uses in Dissidia as one of many combinations of attacks. With 13's style of combat in all three titles, it's a spell the characters can use to attack enemies if they have a resistance toward physical damage, against flying enemies from a distance, or if their magic stat is higher, they'll use that instead of normally attacking. Being a non-elemental spell, it can harm foes without worrying about elemental strengths or resistances. 14 also has this as a weaponskill used by a class that branches into two separate classes at a certain level; Conjurer, and splitting to Summoner and Scholar at I believe lvl 30 (both use a summoned skill to call a familiar, Carbuncle and one of two fairies respectively, where a majority of their spells require their presence to be active), but Summoner has a couple powerful variations at higher levels while Scholar changes it to a different, more potent attack spell.
I'm glad to see you liked my idea. Enchanted or not, at least Sora has something to remember the Leviathan with.
Oh, and that was one exciting pirate adventure!
This is awesome. Silverstream & Gallus got their feelings out to be a couple, Silverstream learned a new magic spell that Sora & the others have not used, and they learn the fate of Will turner when facing Davy jones.
I feel like Kaito though is gonna struggle for not telling Sora, even though Luxord seems like he encourages him to do what he believes is right. Unless Kaito wants all the keyblade wielders to know in case Sora has breakdown of his mom being in danger from Xigbar.
Excellent chapter!