//------------------------------// // Calabrass' Old Friend // Story: Adventures in the Bermikun Triangle // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// At the Sea of Beru, three skeletons were riding waverunners and heading towards a path between big rocks. However, unfortunately for them, the Sea Riders were there, having set a trap for them. They have set a rope hidden in the water, with Dusk and Mallet on one side and Star and Opal at the other. “Time to bust some skulls” Dusk said. Mallet grabbed one end of the rope and Dusk made a signal to Star and Opal, with the former taking the other end with his magic. They waited and so, when the skeletons were right there, Dusk exclaimed: “Now!” Mallet and Star pulled their respective ends and the rope was stretched, causing two skeletons to break apart. But the third one, who was holding a rolled parchment, was able to dodge in time and continue his way. However, Dusk had already prepared himself for that, having the Plank right there. He jumped onto it and followed the skeleton. He, noticing him, started to accelerate his waverunner. Before that, Dusk took Calabrass and exclaimed: “Calabrass, give me the Eye of Aeria!” The two of them transformed and, after that, Dusk casted lightning against the skeleton, blasting his waverunner and throwing him into the air. He ended up dropping the parchment that Dusk was able to grab with his magic. Once he had the parchment, he headed back to his friends. Arriving to the Chaos, he jumped into the deck, where the others were waiting from him. “Got the map!” Dusk exclaimed. “Great!” Opal replied. “Now we have the location for the next Waypoint. Soon the Bermikun Triangle will be nothing but a bad memory.” “Between the seven of us, nothing is getting in our…” Dusk started, while unrolling the parchment. But he stopped once he noticed the map was not complete. “Wait, what am I looking at?” he asked, showing the map to his friends. “Nothing” Star replied, while Opal grunted in dismay. In the captain’s cabin, Dusk was frustrated for the twist their mission suffered. “Uh, all that trouble for half a map?! I can’t believe it!” Star, who was analyzing the map on the table with a magnifying glass, noticed something and said: “Wait, there’s something there… harshly erased. Some figures. And a word… T…Torg.” “Torg?” Calabrass repeated, surprised. “Did ye say Torg?” “Yes, Torg” Star confirmed. “I’m sure of it. Opal, please, try to see if you can decipher those figures.” Handing the map to Opal, Star headed to the chair and start looking in the data of the Chaos. While they did that, Dusk turned to Calabrass and asked, knowing he was hiding something: “Calabrass, what’s up? You know something about this Torg?” “Oh, no, no…” he replied. “Not really. But I knew a fellow with that name once. He was a loser, a yellowbelly, a milksop. We used to call him…” “Torg, the Terrible” Star completed, as he put an holographic image of a big earth pony, with a pirate cloth, a hat and an eyepatch, possessing a greenish orange coat, a dark cyan mane and a green eye. “He was a pirate and a cutthroat with a nasty reputation.” “You know him?” Dusk asked Calabrass. “In passing” he replied. “He died a while ago. Wingy, turn that off, will ye?!” “Wow, it’s the first time I see another pirate’s name have such an effect on you, Calabrass” Star commented, while turning off the holographic table and retract it. “Looks to me that you got the willies” Clover replied, floating to Calabrass. “Or weevils? I forget which.” “Me?” Calabrass asked, making a laugh. “That will be the day when I fear any pirate. I’m Calabrass, the Cruel! Scourge of the…” But he didn’t finish, as Opal exclaimed: “Eureka! I’ve got it! Sorry, is that I was reading one hundred and twelve, when it was one and twelve. Hilarious, right?” She let out a laugh, but when she saw no one was laughing with her, she said: “Okay, let’s go for more serious things. I was able to get the coordinates for a location on Vapir.” “Yes!” Dusk exclaimed. “Now we can have the other half of the map! Great work, Opal!” “Aye, great work…” Calabrass said, sarcastically and looking away. At Netherwhere, Golden Bones was scolding a skeleton, while there was a line of others at the other side, in Skullivar’s throne room: “Incompetent dork! We do not… do… do-over!” And he kicked the skeleton away and then turned to another skeleton and told him: “You! You are now my lieutenant for this mission! Find me Dusk Storm and get me that map!” The skeleton saluted him and then went away with the other skeletons. After that, he turned to Skullivar, who was at the top of the throne stairs and told him: “Temporary setback, master. I shall deal with this personally.” Hearing that, Skullivar released a chuckle. The Sea Raiders went to Vapir, heading towards the coordinates Opal had found on the map. While Dusk was steering, with the others with him at the bow, Calabrass kept talking trash about Torg: “Torg the Terrible was the worst sort of lying, cheating, swindler scallywag that ever wore boots! He held no trust. A non-calling friend.” “You didn’t answer me, Calabrass” Dusk told him. “Did you know Torg? Personally?” “What is this inquisition?!” Calabrass asked. “Here we are!” Opal exclaimed, looking to her device. “One and twelve! That ship!” And they have arrived to a massive weaponized pirate ship. Their mere look caused a great impression on everyone on the Chaos, who looked like a little rodent when in comparison. When they stopped right by its side, where they could reach a rope to climb, Calabrass told Dusk: “This doesn’t feel right, laddie. Could be a trap set by… whoever build the map.” But Dusk decided to risk and he and Mallet started to climb it, with Opal, using her suit, taking a ride on Mallet and Star flapping up. They got in from a big window and then started to walk around. “Nothing so far” Dusk told. “Looks safe to me.” Opal went to the helm that was nearby and said, looking to the handles: “Look at this ringing… This ship must have been magnificent in its day.” Star prepared to touch it, but Calabrass turned to her and shouted: “Wait! Don’t touch that!” But it was too late, as Opal touched it and that caused the help to start spinning. That could only mean one thing: a trap. “Take cover!” Dusk exclaimed. Missiles started being shot from the walls and everyone tried to dodge them. “For all that is sacred!” Calabrass shouted, after the missiles were all avoided. “I told you to not touch it!” Opal answered him by shrugging her shoulders. The Sea Raiders got out to a bridge over the deck, ready to anything that could come against them. Mallet was even holding his sword. When he started advancing, Calabrass shouted: “Stop, metalhead! Booby traps!” Mallet immediately stopped moving when he was about to make a step. Using Calabrass’ blade, Dusk touched the board Mallet was about to step on and it and the ones around it just crumbled down in a high height. “This Torg not a welcoming host” Mallet commented. They continued to the other side of the bridge arriving to where should be the captain’s cabin, behind a big pair of doors. “This metal…” Star observed, looking into the metal parts of the door. “It immunizes the doors against any magic. They can’t be magically opened.” Dusk extended his hoof to try open the doors, but Calabrass warned him: “If you like your hoof, I wouldn’t touch that. Just saying…” “Allow me to open this” Opal said, making a small drill from one of the hooves of her suit. She inserted the drill on the lock and started spin it. This caused the mechanisms inside to move, but a bell ringing sounded and Opal said: “Oh-oh!” “Oh-oh what?” Mallet asked. “Step back” she replied to her friends who obeyed her. “I shall be able to diffuse it quickly.” She continued working on what she was doing. While she did that, Dusk told Calabrass: “You know, Cal, for someone who claimed to only know by passing, you seem to know a lot about this Torg.” “It’s just… pirate intuition” he replied. “If I had booby trapped the ship…” Opal stopped working and then made a safe sign to her friends. But then there was an explosion, what didn’t affect Opal that much, as she was protected by suit, but it sure startled her. “…that’s how I would do it.” Calabrass ended. The five Sea Raiders got in, finding a gloomy room, with a big chair, acting as a throne at the end and, nearby, there was a frame containing the other half of the map. “Yeah!” Dusk exclaimed. Mallet, seeing it too, prepared to advance, but Dusk prevented him from doing it and asked his talking sword: “Calabrass, another trap? Something that can prevent us from walking, fly or use magic?” “I… I don’t know” Calabrass replied. “This cabin has changed.” “What do you with changed?” Dusk asked. “I… I didn’t say changed” Calabrass said, nervously. “I meant strange.” “Changed indeed, old friend” a voice replied, echoing around the cabin. They turned around and saw the ghost of Torg, with him possessing a rather reddish color. “You a sword and me a…” “Torg!” Calabrass exclaimed. “So, finally you came to visit your old shipmate” Torg said, while raising in the air. “Ye took your time. I’ve been dying to have a chat with you.” And he laughed and then addressed to the others, noticing their look of surprise: “I can tell by your openmouthed faces that Calabrass ain’t told you about me. Sad… He and I shared many adventures. Didn’t we… old friend?” “Calabrass, how could you have hide this from us?!” Dusk asked him. “From me?” “Don’t be too shocked, boy” Torg said. “Old Calky isn’t exactly is a true pirate. Meaning, he doesn’t share much blood or treasure. Just like me…” “I am nothing like ye!” Calabrass protested. “I have a code of honor.” “And look what good it did to ya” Torg said. “Because of that code, Heartbeat cursed us both! You became sword…” And he dived into the floor, passing through it like Clover normally does, continuing to talk, with his voice echoing: “…and I’m a ghost.” Suddenly, he appeared right behind Calabrass and Dusk and said: “Of course, that’s all what is going to change… at least for me.” “Change?” Star repeated. “What do you mean?” “Mr. Torg, we don’t want any problem” Opal said. “We only came here for the other half of the Waypoint map.” Torg dived again, but this time appeared through a wall behind Star and Opal, saying: “Only over my dead body.” Taking Calabrass, Dusk said: “Torg, I don’t know what your beef is with Calabrass. But the map is too important for us. Either you hand it over willingly or…” “Or what?” Torg asked, approaching. “What will you do then?” “Calm down, Dusk” Calabrass told the young captain. “Don’t do anything reckless.” “If you have anything to tell me, you should have told me before!” Dusk replied, harsly. “I’m teaching this spook some manners… Dusk Storm style.” He started attaching Torg with Calabrass, but the blows either passed through him or were dodged, with Torg taking advantage of his spiritual form. While Dusk was attacking Calabrass said to him: “Listen to me, lad. He’s trying to urge you into making a rushed move.” For a moment, Dusk, despite being angered with Calabrass for lying to him, wanted to listen Calabrass, but then Torg told him: “You have to be quicker than that boy.” That set Dusk off and he continued to attack, failing when Torg disappeared through the floor, causing the young captain to grunt. “Dusk, Calabrass is right” Star told his younger brother, approaching him and putting a hoof over his shoulder. “The ghost is playing with you. He’s up to something.” “Not so airhead as you look, alicorn” Torg commented, with him appearing floating in the air, upside down right between Dusk and Star. “I’m teaching this minnow that he’s not fit to wield such a weapon as Calabrass.” Dusk tried to hit him again, but Torg just teleported away to a more distant point. “Airhead?” Star repeated “Don’t worry, Star” Dusk said. “He won’t be talking so smart in a minute. Calabrass, give me the Eye of Vapir!” Dusk activated the Eye of Vapir, transforming himself and Calabrass. After that, he tried another attack on Torg, but he teleported again to another point. The pirate ghost then said, while looking to the power Calabrass was emanating: “What a wonder… Just what I needed!” Dusk went for another attack, but Torg teleported again, appearing before a table. “Teach me, boy!” Torg teased. “I’m waiting.” After saying that, Torg grabbed a scabbard that was located on the table. Dusk, filled with rage, advanced against Torg, raising Calabrass for another blow. “Dusk, no!” Star tried to warn him, feeling Torg was luring Dusk into a trap. It was then that Torg extended the scabbard to Calabrass at the moment when Dusk was close enough, causing the blade to slide in. Torg pulled the scabbard to him when it locked itself onto Calabrass. There was a burst of light and static and Torg’s spiritual body became solid once again. While that happened, Dusk lost the Vapir powers he had. “Calabrass, what just happened?” Torg then made some strength and pushed away Dusk from Calabrass. “At last!” Torg shouted, while raising Calabrass. “Calabrass, give me the Eye of Blazz.” “Bilged water on barnacles!” Calabrass exclaimed. “I never helped ye before, Torg. I’d be cursed if I help you now.” But Torg just laughed and then replied: “But you are cursed, old friend. Eye of Blazz.” It was then that the Eye of Blazz was activated and fire erupted on the scabbard where Calabrass’ blade was in. Before that, Star started to shoot magic blasts on Torg, but he used Calabrass to defend them all. Quickly, he then advanced against Star and hit him back, throwing him to the floor. Mallet tried to attack from behind, but Torg dodged and then pushed him away to. “I’m not finished with you yet, Torg!” Dusk replied. “But I am finished with you” Torg answered him back. He then heard movement. Turned around and saw Star coming and preparing to give him a kick, using his wings to impulse his speed. The kick was strong enough to push Torg back a few steps, but he swang Calabrass, making a fire cut head towards Star, forcing the latter to flap his wings, but not before one of his wings was slightly burned, and flew back next to Dusk who said: “Calabrass, stop him!” “I’m sorry, Dusk” Calabrass replied. “I can’t. Torg is in control. Arr, I can’t do a thing! Surrender, please.” “Listen to him, tadpole” Torg said to Dusk. “Surrender. I will be generous… as a favor for my old shipmate here.” “Why don’t to shut your damned mouth?!” Dusk replied. “Tough to the last, hein?” Torg observed. “And your friends are willing to pay for your pride?” He swang Calabrass again, tossing flames to Star and Opal. Despite Star could easily deal with the flames, his magic (weakened because of the seal and the Triangle’s influence) wouldn’t be able to shield him for long from the power of the Eye of Blazz, and Opal would be too vulnerable if her suit overheated. “Shall I put you all walking on the plank, or will you surrender?” Torg asked. Dusk’s rage over Torg was boiling, but he was right. He couldn’t do much with him having Calabrass and his friends getting weakened. In Beru, the Demoniac was sailing. Inside, a skeleton turned to Golden Bones and told him: “Sir, we’ve located the Chaos.” “At last…” Golden Bones said. “I’ve got you, Dusk Storm!” At Torg’s ship, he placed Dusk, Star, Opal and Mallet in a cell, with bars that, much like all the metal in that ship, was impervious to magic. “Not bad, hein?” he told Calabrass. “You recognize your old scabbard, forged with the steel of Blazz? It’s the same matter used to create you.” “Figures” he replied. “Ye always wanted to be like me.” “True, but, since I cannot be like you, I did the next best thing. With this scabbard, I can control you.” Turning to Dusk, Torg said: “I have to thank you for delivering Calabrass to me, boy. I’ve dreamed with this moment for a very long time. At last, I can leave Vapir and sail again across the Seven Seas… with Calabrass by my side!” “Don’t get too comfy, Torg” Dusk warned. “This isn’t over.” “Silly boy!” he replied. “Don’t you know there’s no such things as do-overs?” And he placed the key of their cell on a holder at a wall. After that, he told Calabrass: “Calabrass, give me the Eye of Blazz!” Just like last time, the Eye of Blazz was activated and the scabbard was set on fire again. After that, Torg made a line of fire on the floor, intending to let it deal with the Sea Raiders, and then went away. Outside, Clover didn’t understand what was happening there, seeing all that fire. Suddenly, Torg landed on the Chaos’ deck. Before that intruder who was in possession of Calabrass, Clover reacted and summoned his chain and ball, throwing it to Torg who just grabbed it with his free front hoof. Pulling the chain in an attempt to retrieve it, Clover asked to the talking sword: “Calabrass, who is this?!” “No time to waste on this ectoplasm” Torg said, preparing to use Calabrass on Clover. “Wait!” the former asked, while Clover covered his head. “This ectoplasm knows every inch of this ship. We’ll go much faster with him.” “The years have made you soft, Calabrass.” “All ponies change, Torg. Even me. Specially me. Look, I’m a sword now!” Turning to Clover, Torg said: “My shipmate wants me to spare you, ectocolt. Swear to obey my every command. Or else…” He showed him Calabrass to demonstrate what could happen to him. But, in doing so, he allowed Calabrass to blink on Clover. Seeing that, Clover knew that Calabrass wanted him to play along and so he said to Torg, saluting: “At your service, captain.” “Good” Torg replied, recollecting Calabrass. “Get the Chaos on the way! I’ve waited an eternity. I will not wait any longer.” After Torg walked away, Clover turned to the burning ship and said: “Okay, Clovy, I know there’s two things you’re not very good at, but you need to think… fast.” He then teleported to the engine room and then he noticed through the radar that something was approaching their position. Feeling it could not be nothing good, Clover tried to make Chaos working, but he could not find himself able with levels and the buttons. “How can Opal make this thing work!” It was then that, while doing all that, he ended up playing with the radio and reach a certain frequency that he did not expected: “This is the Demoniac. You’re on our reserved frequency.” Despite connecting with the Demoniac was something he shouldn’t do under normal circumstances, that gave Clover an idea to deal with the situation they were on. The Chaos started to move away, when the Demoniac was getting close. At the latter’s bridge, a skeleton approached Golden Bones and told him: “Captain, we just received a mayday call.” “Stay on the Chaos, lieutenant” Golden Bones replied. “We’re a warship, not a hospital.” “But, captain, it came from the Chaos” the lieutenant replied. That really surprised Golden Bones who asked: “What are you up to, Dusk Storm?” At the cell, Dusk were trying to use a spear they were able to get to reach the key. While doing it and trying to not inhale all the smoke from the fire, he said: “Calabrass is going to get an earful when I get my hooves on him.” “He did try to warn us” Opal said. “Oh, we should have listened to him.” “I would have done that, if he hadn’t hide his past” Dusk replied. “We all have things we’re not proud of, Dusk” Star told him. “I’m a big example of that. You don’t know about many of things I’m ashamed of. Maybe he did not feel he could share his feelings.” “Well… Mallet can’t read, so…” Mallet said. “Uh…” Dusk said, not knowing what to say for what Mallet just said. “Let’s worry about that later. Right now, let’s get out of here.” After working hard to get the key, Dusk was able to get it and bring it to him. “Gotcha!” he said, hasting to open the cell. “Good job, captain” Mallet said, as they got out of the cell. When they were climbing the stairs out, Opal noticed Mallet was leaning over a closet. “Mallet, what are you doing?!” she asked. “We must go!” “Go ahead” Mallet said, with a confident look. “Mallet catch up.” And so she continued. Meanwhile, Torg was steering Chaos, saying: “I can’t believe it! It’s good to feel a stiffed salty blow on your cheeks!” “Uh, ye sounding like a pirate coming from the river” Calabrass commented. It was then that the Demoniac immerged on their front, with tanks siding the Chaos and then block the way. One of the tanks opened and Golden Bones appeared with an army of skeletons behind. “Well, Storm, surprise!” he exclaimed. Bones jumped onto the Chaos and said. “Finally, I…” But he stopped once he noticed that it was not Dusk who was at the helm. “Where’s Dusk Storm?!” he asked Torg. “And what are you doing with Calabrass?!” “Get out of me deck, you sack of bones!” Torg demanded, taking Calabrass and preparing to fight. “Before I use ye as a toothpick.” “You dare?!” Golden Bones exclaimed. “That sword belongs to Skullivar. Hand it over or perish!” Torg then noticed that skeletons were climbing on board and then said to Golden Bones: “What a great crew you’ve got. Let’s see how they fight. Calabrass, give me the Eye of Blazz!” The Eye of Blazz was activated again and flames immerged on the scabbard. “Fire them up, old friend” Torg said. “I missed a good fight.” “For the love what is most sacred!” Calabrass exclaimed. “Stop calling me your friend!” “Fine, you old carrion” Torg replied. “Obey. That is an order!” Torg then casted a blast of fire against the skeletons and, said, while jumping to fight: “Bust them to dust!” He started fighting the skeletons, breaking them apart. When there was no more left, he exclaimed, victorious, raising Calabrass: “At last! I revived the brutality in me.” “Enough!” Golden Bones shouted, jumping to attack Torg who blocked his attack with Calabrass’ blade. The two fought, but Torg soon realized Golden Bones was not that easy to defeat as the other skeletons. “Good, somepony with skill” he said. “But you can’t beat me.” He then was able to kick him against a wall, causing him to fall over his behind, and Torg said, raising Calabrass, while the fire disappeared: “Calabrass, give me the Eye of Aeria!” The Eye of Aeria was activated and electricity covered the scabbard. “Why does this always happens to me?” Golden Bones asked, knowing what was coming. Torg hit Calabrass on the deck and a tornado was form around him and carried Golden Bones, tossing him away. That attack was so strong that was noticed by Dusk, Star and Opal that were on the deck of the old ship. “We’re too late!” Opal exclaimed. “If only I could fly there” Star said. “But this burned wing won’t let me.” “Don’t worry, bro” Dusk said. “I can still get there. It’s never too late to save a friend.” He whistled and so the Chaos sent the Plank. Dusk jumped onto it and told the others: “Join me as soon as you can.” And he flew back towards the Chaos, while Opal told him, worried about the flames: “You better do it fast. This ship is going down and we don’t have much time before that happens.” At that moment, Mallet arrived, carrying the closet from before, while saying: “We must go!” He threw the cabinet to the water and then jumped onto it, now serving as a boat. “All aboard!” Mallet exclaimed. Star and Opal shared a look and a smile and then jumped to the improvised boat as well. Once they did it, Mallet starting rowing using a piece of wood. Dusk approached stealthily the Chaos, landing on the ledge of the prow, while the Plank returned to its place. As he climbed to the deck, he could hear Torg saying to Calabrass, at the bow: “It’s funny, actually. I stole this scabbard, because I wanted something of yours. Then, just before I was killed, I learned it was the scabbard of a powerful sword… you.” “Oh, ah, ah, that’s hilarious” Calabrass ironized. “Never did I think that by possessing both, I would be able to escape Vapir and become a pony again” Torg continued, as Dusk started moving quietly towards the engine room. “Two glorious heads in one stroke!” “You haven’t changed” Calabrass replied, as Dusk entered the engine room. “Treachery, traps, trickery…” “You’re a sour looser, Calabrass” Torg told. “But look on the bright side. We’re going to do great things together.” Dusk walked in the engine room and found Clover who said, noticing him: “Dusk? Dusk! You’re alive!” “Hush!” Dusk said to his ghost friend. “We have to stop the ship. Do you know how?” Clover nodded with his head, happily, and then teleported to the control panel, opened it and took one of the batteries, showing it to Dusk who nodded to him with a smile. Without the battery, Chaos went down and stopped. Torg became confused by that and said, while trying to make the ship work again: “What?! I should have melted that ectoplasm when I had the…” “I told you this wasn’t over, Torgy” Dusk replied to him, appearing on deck. Torg and Calabrass turned to him and the latter said: “Dusk? Dusk! You’re alive!” “Why is everyone saying that?” Dusk asked. “Minnow, don’t you know when to drown?” Torg asked. “I have news for you” Dusk replied. “The Chaos is my ship and Calabrass is my sword! Return them both right now or else…” “Again with the or else?!” Torg said, while taking Calabrass. “Haven’t you learned already? Calabrass, give me the Eye of Beru!” Calabrass tried to fight it, but he didn’t have a choice and so the Eye of Beru was activated, with the scabbard being covered with water. “I’m sorry, lad” he said to Dusk. Torg then started to cast blasts of water towards Dusk who could only dodge. It was then that the attacks caused him to land at the rail, but then he jumped overboard. Torg laughed, thinking he had managed to get rid of Dusk, but became shocked when he saw him appearing on the Plank. “Well, now that was playing pathetic, Torg the Tired” Dusk commented. “It’s Terrible!” Torg protested. “It’s Torg the Terrible!” “If you say so” Dusk replied. “Terrible in a lame sort of way.” “Dusk, don’t” Calabrass told him. “You’ll make it worse.” And so Torg casted another water blast, but Dusk jumped to avoid it, while landing again on the Plank and fly around with the evil pirate attacking, saying: “Worse? How can it get any worse with Torg the Tacky trying to copy my style?” He then stopped over the bow and told: “And you, let him believe he is as tough as you.” Torg continued to attack Dusk, who calmly kept dodging around and say: “You know, Torgy, Cal has told me tales about his pirate past. I couldn’t figure why he never mentioned you… until I met you. I wouldn’t ruin a good story talking about a big zero like you either.” That really set Torg off and he jumped, ready to land a physical attack on Dusk, but Dusk dodged quickly, causing Torg to hit the rail. “Oh, I’m so scared” Dusk mocked. “I’m fighting the mighty slayer of ship rails. Come on, wobbly knees, show some spirit.” Torg’s angered only grew as he tried to hit Dusk, but he kept dodging and mocking, landing on the rail, securing the Plank: “Calabrass, is your friend pretending to use your powers? Why are you holding back? I know you can do better than this.” “Dusk…” Calabrass started. “Wait, are you holding back on me?!” Torg asked the talking sword. “Who, me… no…” Calabrass replied, a little confused. “Enough games” Torg said. “Time to end this.” “End?” Dusk asked. “I’m only getting warmed up.” Torg tried to attack Dusk, but he dodge, causing the evil pirate to hit the rail again. While that, Dusk whispered to Calabrass, while blinking at him: “Give him your max, Calabrass. Discharge yourself completely.” At that moment, Calabrass realized what Dusk was trying to do. When Torg tried to attack Dusk again, he rode the Plank again and went above a little, saying then: “You two deadweights want to rule the Triangle? You’re yesterday knews.” “He’s right, Torg” Calabrass said. “He’s making us look foolish. We can do better than this.” That really confused Torg, as he didn’t expect Calabrass to say something like that. “I can only stand so much before I go crazy” the talking sword said, while Dusk was provoking and mocking Torg. “Do you know how it hurts to obey his childish commands? I can’t pretend anymore. Show him how a true pirate plays.” “At last!” Torg exclaimed, joyfully. “There you are, my old shipmate! Treacherous and cruel.” “Aye, a terror like yourself” Calabrass replied. “What a foul I’ve been. Time to be great again. Let’s start by teaching this long-tongued scallywag a lesson!” “Yes!” Torg agreed. “Enough talk! Calabrass, give me all you got!” And thanks to Calabrass, he started making a lot of attacks on Dusk, with him always dodging. The others, as they were rowing towards the Chaos, noticed that and Mallet said: “Look, Dusk needs help.” Dusk dodged the best it could, but then one of the Plank’s propellers was hit, causing him to lose height and force a land, reaching the deck of the bow, while the Plank returned to its place. “Outch!” he said. He then saw Torg pointing Calabrass against him and say: “Enough games.” He laughed, as he got ready to attack Dusk. However, to his shock, the Eye of Beru deactivated. “What?!” Torg exclaimed, turning to Calabrass. “Calabrass, you eel gut, what are you doing? Why are you slowing? We almost got him!” “I’m… I’m out of energy” Calabrass replied, tired. “Out of…” Torg started, realizing then what happened. “Calabrass, you… You betrayed me?” “Don’t be too shocked, old friend” Calabrass replied. “A true pirate doesn’t share not even blood or treasure. But, for old times’ sake, here’s one for free. I only have one true friend… and you ain’t him.” “Hurr! With or without you, I’m going to destroy him!” Torg exclaimed. “I’m cool with that” Dusk replied, preparing to fight. “Come fight like a real stallion.” “Uh, what is it, Torg?” Calabrass said in a mocking way. “Are you afraid of measuring yourself against this pipsqueak?” “What treachery is this?” Torg asked. “It’s just our code of honor” Calabrass replied. “The pirate’s code. I’ve you forgotten that, Torg? Stallion to stallion.” “Stallion to stallion?” Torg repeated. “But he’s a colt.” “Aye, perhaps, but Dusk is the finest captain I’ve ever met” Calabrass continued. “And he knows how to use me powers.” “Well, why not?” Torg replied, while recollecting Calabrass. “After all, what can a foal do to me? Pass me over with his plank?” And he also positioned himself to fight, with Dusk replying while dodging Torg’s blows: “Don’t tempt me, Torgy.” And so they continue their fight, with Dusk being able to calmly dodge Torg’s attacks, while mocking and, occasionally giving him a kick. “Take this” Dusk said, while fight. “Too slow. Can’t get me.” The others arrived to the Chaos and Star called, while climbing to the Chaos: “Dusk!” While they were fighting, Star and Mallet arrived to the bow. “Dusk!” Star called. “Mallet coming!” Mallet said, with his sword ready. “Mallet, no!” Calabrass told, causing the Mighty Helm warrior to stop. “They must settle this between them.” “Playtime is over, Torg” Dusk said. It was then that, when Torg went to attack, Dusk was able to make a quick move and take Calabrass from him, all while making Torg trip and fall on the deck. “Good move, Dusk!” Star said. “I can see you’ve learned something with dad.” “My scabbard!” Torg said, while sitting up. “My sword!” Dusk then unlocked the scabbard with a laugh and removed Calabrass from there. After that, he placed it on the deck and prepared to destroyed it. Seeing it, Torg tried to stop him, but was too late, as Dusk cut it in half. That caused Torg to turn back into a ghost and pass through Dusk when reaching him. Dusk then turned to Torg and said: “I’m going to slice this ectoplasm into pieces!” “Dusk, no!” Calabrass exclaimed, turning to him. “We don’t kill a pirate when he’s down. That’s part of our code of honor too, Captain Storm.” “But if we don’t destroy Torg once and for all, he’s going to try to separate us again.” “I was able to change, lad” Calabrass said. “And I became what I am now at your side. He can do it too.” Dusk didn’t know much about that and so he turned to his friends who nodded to him, agreeing with Calabrass. With that, Dusk returned Calabrass to his scabbard and extended a hoof to Torg. But before the latter could decide to take it, Clover, on his post at the mast, shouted: “Oh no! The Demoniac is maneuvering again and… coming closer!” With that situation and seeing Dusk being merciful on him, Torg made his decision and said, accepting Dusk’s hoof and raising up: “You beat me fair and square, lad. Now, I understand what Calabrass can see in you.” “What are you going to do now, Torg?” Calabrass asked. “I’m going to haunt that bag of bones” he replied, while advancing. “That will give you time to get out of Vapir. I feel like some fun.” Having said that, he turned into red smoke and headed quickly towards the Demoniac, hitting it and causing it to go haywire. They could even hear Bones’ cries. “Sure looks like Torg is having fun” Dusk observed. “To think that we came to find the other half of the map and we’re leaving empty-hoofed” Star said. “Mallet took map before getting out of ship” Mallet replied, showing the other half of the map. “Don’t know what it say, but it look important.” He handed the map to Dusk who grabbed with his magic and said: “Great! We’ll be able to open another Waypoint! Here, Opal.” He gave the half of the map to Opal and said: “Okay, let’s go. And, Calabrass, no more secrets from now on, right?” “The past is in the past” he replied, while he and Dusk were at the bow. “Ye and I are the greatest pair of pirates in history.” “Yeah, but I’m the boss” Dusk replied. And so they all laughed, while Chaos started moving away.