Adventures in the Bermikun Triangle

by Rakoon1

Mallet the Terrible

At the Sea of Beru, the Chaos was approaching a vortex. Star was using a special tetrahedral stone with runes that he was manipulating with his magic. Keeping away the stone, he said:

“The chart leaves no doubt. This vortex leads into Vapir, the Sea of Mist.”

“Mist and malevolence” Opal told.

“If we have nothing to take us to Vapir, may as well stay out of trouble, right, Opal?” Dusk said, while steering, seeing then something strange from the vortex. “Wait a second. What's that?”

And they saw something that appeared to be some kind of marine creature, moving like it was swimming. When it crossed the vortex, Calabrass replied:

“Typhoons and Tornados! A mermare!”

It really looked like a mermare, but nothing a pony like Star, who have already met mermares before, have already seen. Her upper torso was of a mare, but her lower torso possessed a very long tail and she possessed a blue color that seemed to radiate. A tiara with a big white jewel rested on her head. She seemed to be dancing around judging for how she was able to circling on the air, like she was entertaining them:

“Pretty fish lady” Mallet admired.

“Yeah, but nothing like I have ever seen” Star said.

“Flying fish folk!” Clover exclaimed, enthusiastically. “Fantastic! Flap those flappers, you fabulous thing, you! She seems nice…”

Suddenly, her pretty appearance turned into those of a monster with a grayish skin that scared Clover who teleported to the side of his friends who got also shocked by the sudden change. She then went underwater and started attacking the Chaos from beneath. Before that situation, Dusk said:

“I'm not letting that thing sink its teeth into my ship.”

Having said that, Dusk got onto the Plank.

“What are you doing, Dusk Storm?!” Star asked. “The vortex will suck you in!”

But he ignored Star and just told to his friends, while taking Calabrass:

“Stay on board! Calabrass and I will deal with this one! Go!”

And the Plank was released.

“No wait!” Star asked, to not avail.

As he was surfing in the air, Dusk told:

“Calabrass, give me the Eye of Beru!”

And so they transformed. After that, Dusk fired water blasts at the creature, when she came to surface. To avoid the blasts, the creature released the Chaos and dived down into the water and then try to attack Dusk. When she saw she couldn’t get him, she returned to dive. Dusk stopped the Plank and asked:

“Where is it?”

“It skedaddle when it saw me!” Calabrass replied, laughing. “I don't blame it. It's tough to face Calabrass, the Tiger…”

But before he could end what he was saying, the creature appeared out of the water, scaring Dusk and Calabrass and causing them to detransform, all while capturing them in her tail.

“Dusk!” Star called.

“It's trying to draw us into the vortex!” Dusk exclaimed, seeing to where the creature was going.

He try to attack her with the Calabrass, but then she looked at him with her more beautiful look and then she casted a light beam from the jewel of her crown that hit Dusk’s eyes. This caused him to get in a hypnotic state.

“What are you waiting for, laddie?” Calabrass asked, turning to Dusk. “Stick me between its eyes!”

The mermare placed her hooves over Dusk’s chin, while approaching her face to his, increasing the power. This caused Dusk to get completely under her influence and loose the grip he had on Calabrass.

Noticing his brother was doing nothing against the mermare, Star asked:

“What is he doing?”

“Oh no!” Opal exclaimed. “It'll swallow him up!”

“Clover, bring the Chaos closer to Dusk!” Mallet told to little ghost.

“No, Mallet!” Star replied. “We will get sucked in too!”

But Mallet ignored him and just told Clover coldly:

“Do as Mallet order!”

As if getting offended by Mallet bossing him around, Clover teleported to the top of the mast. That really let Mallet immensely frustrated as he advanced towards the helm. Seeing what he intended to do, Star exclaimed to him:

“Mallet, no!”

And so Mallet pulled the lever and the Chaos charged towards the creature. She noticed the Chaos coming to her, but that, instead of intimidating her, only caused her to draw a smile. Calabrass also saw that happening and then said:

“Suffering sea serpents! Get away! You'll get us all sucked in!”

But Mallet didn’t listen Calabrass as well, saying:

“Mallet always rescue his friends!”

And so he took out his sword, activating it, and then he advanced, leaping out of Chaos and smashes his sword at the creature, causing her to let go of Dusk and Calabrass.

“No!” she screamed, while falling into the water.

Dusk recovered from his hypnotized state and quickly got hold of Calabrass and was caught by the Plank, all while the creature got up again. Doing this, she went and captured Mallet.

“Mallet!” Star and Opal called.

Having seen that too, Dusk called:

“Mallet!”

And so he surfed the Plank so he could follow the creature. She headed towards the vortex and crossed it, at the moment it started to close. Dusk tried to reach it, going as fast as he could, but the vortex closed before he could get a chance to rescue Mallet. A feeling of frustration and anger invaded Dusk who went back to the Chaos. Once he arrived there, he said:

“Agh, I said to stay on board! Mallet went blindly on that monster! He rushed without thinking!”

“But you weren't moving” Calabrass told.

“What do you mean?” Dusk asked, not having any recollection of that. “If Mallet haven't interfered, I'd…”

“He tried to help you” Clover said.

“You seemed to be hypnotized” Star stated.

“I had the situation under control!” Dusk protested.

“My eye you were!” Calabrass exclaimed. “And I don't mean the blind one!”

“Anyway, Mallet never hesitated” Clover told. “He's more heart than brain, I guess.”

“Is there any chance he survive going through the vortex?” Dusk asked Opal.

“Absolutely!” she replied. “One chance in 254 229. Approximately...”

Despite those chances, Dusk knew he had to do his best to save Mallet.

“Well, that's good enough for me” he said. “Let's go find him! Chaos, set the course for the nearest vortex to Vapir!”

And the Chaos started moving. It didn’t take long for them to find another vortex that brought them to Vapir, heading towards a certain island. Once they arrived, Dusk, Star and Opal got down and advanced, with Star saying:

“Even if Mallet survived the vortex, his chances of surviving here alone are slim.”

“Not to mention the others” Calabrass said.

“What others?” Dusk asked.

“Vapir is inhabited by creatures with pony form” Clover replied from the Chaos.

“To be precise, they are poteiform” Star clarified.

“That means they can assume several forms” Opal explained to Dusk.

“I didn't plan on having a chat with the locals” Dusk replied. “We just find that mule-head, Mallet, get him back on board and get out of Vapir. It's as simple as that.”

“I hope so” Opal told. “I hate being in Vapir…”

As Dusk, Star and Opal moved away from Chaos, Clover told them:

“Have fun saving the Mighty Helm warrior! In the not at all creepy misty place!”

As they advanced, with Dusk with Calabrass at the ready and Star and Opal with their horns prepared to cast any magic blast. As they advanced, Dusk said:

“Stay on guard. You never know what might come out of the mist.”

After a while, they stopped and Dusk asked Opal:

“Opal, any sign of Mallet?”

She took out her device and consulted it. She replied:

“No pony presence. My radar isn't picking up any heat signatures.”

Star, feeling being observed, looked around, charging his horn with magic. After seeing that they were alone, he said:

“There is no one.”

“It's funny how we feel vulnerable without Mallet, isn't it?” Opal asked. “Without his strength. I speak for myself, at least. I guess that’s what happens when we get used to have him around.”

The trio continued to walk away. However, they were unaware that they were being watched by some weird ponies with masks.

“Hey, shipmate, ye've still got me to protect ye!” Calabrass told Opal.

“Well, I'd feel even safer if Mallet were with us” Opal said.

“Don't forget he's the one who got us into this mess, jumping on everything that moves like a lunatic” Dusk reminded.

Opal would reply, but then Star told:

“Look, over there!”

They all looked and saw Mallet's sword stuck on the ground.

“Mallet's weapon!” Opal exclaimed. “Thank goodness!”

They all approached it and Dusk told:

“Aw, yeah! He survived the vortex!”

“The laddie's got a tough hide!” Calabrass observed.

Star looked around, observing the ground, and said:

“Signs of struggle… Mallet was fighting!”

“Fighting what?” Opal asked.

Her question was answered when a hooful of ponies like the ones who were observing them approached, appearing to want to attack them. Their movements seemed rigid and slow and their color seemed bleached. The trio prepared to defend themselves from any attack those masked ponies could throw at them, with Opal saying:

“The radar isn't picking them up, because they're… cold.”

Their attacks attacked, with the trio then doing their best to defend from their attacks. Eventually, they were able to knock them down, however their happiness disappeared when they started to get up and grunted, ready to attack again.

“Oh no… they’re zombies!” Opal exclaimed.

Star tried to attack, but a zombie threw a rock at his horn, hurting it and disabling his magic. Star couldn’t believe that. Despite his horn would be able to heal itself, that injury would prevent him from using magic. But just because he didn’t have magic, he wasn’t defenseless. And so he started fighting the zombies hoof-to-hoof, proving his immense skills on that.

Dusk then prepared to call upon one of Calabrass’ eyes.

“Calabrass, give me the…”

But before he could finish, a zombie wrapped a chain around Calabrass and pulled him off Dusk's hoof.

“No!” Dusk exclaimed.

The zombies surrounded Dusk, Star and Opal and so they heard a female evil laugh. Seeing someone from afar, Dusk asked:

“Who's there?”

And so the same creature from earlier appeared.

“It’s… the mermaid!” Opal told.

“I'm Queen Akana” she introduced herself. “Welcome to Vapir. What are you doing lost in the mists? It's very dangerous, you know?”

“We're looking for our shipmate, Mallet” Dusk replied.

“But, if you haven’t, we won’t bother you anymore and be on our way” Opal told.

She retreated, but was prevented from doing much more because a zombie blocked her way.

“Let us pass!” Dusk demanded, as the zombies closed the circle around the Sea Raiders.

A zombie then approached Queen Akana and handed Calabrass to her, while the talking sword said:

“Let me go, ya' bilge rat! Argh!”

Queen Akana laughed and said:

“A talking sword and a bold young colt. Bring them to the camp! I feel like some amusement.”

She then started slithering away and the zombies started directing the Seven Seas after her. They entered Queen Akana’s lair and she, sitting on what appeared to be her throne, said, after laughing, while holding Calabrass:

“I'm so happy to have company. Such a rare occurrence!”

“By Neptune's beard! Let me go, ye fresh water buccaneer!” Calabrass demanded.

“Thank you for your hospitality, but…” Opal started, courteously.

“We're here to look for our friend” Dusk said, less courteously.

“Just one friend?” Queen Akana asked. “You're going to have lots of new friends! What do you say to swelling the ranks of my subjects?”

“Not in my lifetime!” Calabrass replied.

Star, who has been studying the situation carefully, couldn’t help but notice something familiar on that situation. It was then that he figured out.

“Wait a minute…” Star said, turning to Queen Akana. “You… You are one of the seven sirens, the ones who defeated by Melody.”

That statement surprised Queen Akana, but she remained composed and said:

“So we have a know-it-all, here. Yes, I was one of the seven sirens. I was Crystal Note, holder of the blue pearl, before becoming this wonderful creature you know see.”

“You know, I’ve met Adagio and Allegro and they’re much nicer than you” Star said. “I dare to say even more beautiful.”

Those words really upset Akana, but she did her best to keep herself composed and then said:

“Ah, so soon with the fine words. Oh, no, no, you'll see. I’m the nicest of all the sirens. And you’ll see that in a few moments. After all, you’re going to have a bunch of new friends…”

The glow in the zombies’ eyes became even brighter and then Queen Akana, just like how she did with Dusk previously, casted from the jewel of her crown a beam that hit Opal’s and tried to hypnotize her. However, Opal snapped out of the trance quickly.

“Clearly, she must be from the Enchanted Forest” Queen Akana told. “All that fairy dust magic on her is interfering with my power. But not to worry. I still have other friends in my sight.”

She then turned to Star and put him into a trance. He grunted while trying to resist and, eventually, snapped out of the trance.

“Oh, well done!” Queen Akana congratulated. “You have a very strong mental will. One cannot take control of your mind.”

“After my encounter with Allegro, I’ve trained my mind to resist to most controlling spells” Star replied. “You need to do much more than that to hypnotize me.”

“I see…” Queen Akana replied. “Very well. I'm sure I'll have better luck with your other comrade.”

And so Queen Akana started putting Dusk into a trance. He tried to resist, but, unlike Star, he didn’t have any train on that. He had to do something before he fell under her control. Reacting to the situation, he was able to subdue the zombie that was holding him and demanded to Queen Akana:

“Release us, or else!”

“Or else nothing!” she replied, waving a hoof.

Once she did that, the zombie Dusk was holding turned into dust, making Queen Akana laugh and then say:

“Well, now. I've never had such bad luck in recruiting new subjects. But it doesn't matter. I can still have some fun with you. Take them to the pit!”

And the zombies started taking the Sea Raiders away, while Queen Akana laughs. They were taken to a room where there was a hole with a turbine at the middle. Queen Akana was at her seat, with Calabrass with her blade stuck in the seat, beside her. He told her:

“Hey! Your majesty of the living dead! Do you think I'm gonna sit here and do nothing?”

“I do!” she replied, while spinning Calabrass’ hilt playfully. “Oh, I adore this pit. It really is very, very treacherous, you know.”

“Wait!” Dusk exclaimed. “You're gonna throw us in the hole and that's it?”

“Yes” Queen Akana told. “I want to have some fun!”

“You call that fun?” Dusk asked. “It's not very imaginative. You can release us and see if your underlings could catch us again. A wild hunt. Now that would be fun.”

Understanding what Dusk was trying to do, Calabrass encouraged the idea.

“Yeah, that's a good idea!” he said.

“Silence!” Queen Akana ordered Calabrass, before turning to Dusk, laughing. “You're very smart. But do not take me for an idiot. I'll offer you a bargain. If you can defeat my finest warrior, I shall spare your life. On the other hoof, if you lose to give me greater entertainment… your opponent will kill you.”

“Dusk Storm! Have you gone mad?!” Star asked.

However Dusk winked at him.

Standing up, Queen Akana told:

“Allow me to introduce my finest warrior. I believe you already know each other.”

The bars of the entranced were removed and the one to get in was…

“Mallet?!” Dusk, Star, Opal and Calabrass called at the same time, not wanting to believe what they were seeing.

It was really him. However, it would appear Mallet was under Queen Akana’s control as his eyes were shining like the zombies’. The evil siren laughed, while admiring the situation.

“Mallet, we found you!” Dusk exclaimed. “Quick, help us!”

But the only think Mallet did was starting to warm up himself.

“Mallet!” Dusk called. “Mallet, can you hear me, buddy?”

“Look at his eyes...” Opal told.

“The queen bewitched him” Star said. “The magic stone did something to his brain.”

When Mallet stopped warming up and saluted Queen Akana, she commanded her zombies who started to guide Star and Opal away.

“Mallet's going to make mincemeat out of you, Dusk” Opal warned him while being taken.

“I appreciate the moral support, guys” Dusk thanked sarcastically.

Queen Akana laughed while commanding Mallet to advanced. Once he entered the pit, Dusk turned to him and said:

“So, Mallet, you…”

But before he could finish what he was trying to say Mallet tried to punch him, but Dusk was able to duck and dodge. Mallet didn’t stop there and tried to hit Dusk. Fortunately, Dusk was faster and more agile and was able to dodge his attacks, but the pit prevented Dusk from moving as freely as he wanted and it didn’t take long to get cornered against it.

“Ooo, amusing!” Queen Akana exclaimed to Dusk. “But you won't be able to avoid my champion for very long.”

“Argh, if I had me body, you wouldn't be able to avoid me foot for very long!” Calabrass told Queen Akana.

While avoiding Mallet's punches, Dusk almost fell into the pit.

“Watch out!” Star exclaimed. “The hole!”

Seeing he didn’t had any other chance, Dusk tried to charge against Mallet, but he was to big and steady that his own block was enough to push Dusk to the pit. Fortunately, he was able to grab onto the ledge. Queen Akana laughed, as Dusk climbed back up.

“Mallet… this isn't funny anymore!” Dusk told.

But he didn’t hear him and so Dusk tried to fight Mallet, but the latter, thanks to his strength, knocked him to the ground. When Mallet tried to step onto Dusk, the latter grabbed Mallet's hoof and tosses him aside, with Mallet land at the ledge of the pit.

“Mallet!” Opal called, while Dusk tried to pull Mallet up to avoid having him fall into the pit.

“This is bad” Star said. “This is a fight we will never win. We'll lose a friend no matter the outcome.”

Queen Akana took a sip from her cup, as she watches Dusk pull Mallet away from the pit. But he didn’t get enough time to catch his breath after the big effort he had to prevent his big friend from falling, as Mallet got up and got ready to fight Dusk again. Before that, Dusk run into the other side of the pit, while saying:

“Mallet, try to remember. We're a team! You're the…”

But before he could say anything more, Mallet gave a big jump forward, over the pit, and landed onto Dusk.

“Dusk!” Star and Opal called, immensely worried.

Queen Akana laughed as Mallet picked up the defeated Dusk and started taking him to the pit.

“Mallet, no!” Dusk shouted.

“His grammar may be weak, but he's a warrior whose loyalty you can depend upon” Queen Akana told.

“That's enough!” Opal exclaimed, being able to free herself from the zombie that was holding her.

She then run towards Mallet and jumped onto him. The zombies prepared to act, but Queen Akana told them:

“No! Let her be. It's been a long time since I had this much fun!”

“Crazy lunatic!” Calabrass insulted. “I'll slice you apart!”

With Opal over Mallet caused the latter to start spin himself around to get her to drop him, all while Dusk said:

“Opal, no! All three of us will fall!”

“Free yourself” Opal told Mallet, while he tossed Dusk aside. “Free yourself! Mallet, you have been bewitched, but your mind is stronger! Listen to me! It is me, Opal! We've come to take you back. You're one of us!”

It was then that Mallet was able to get Opal and pick her up, while shouting:

“Mallet crush you!”

When he was about to throw her into the turbine, Opal called:

“Star!”

And so Star pushed away the zombie who were holding him. Extending his wings, he charged against Mallet, shoving him and preventing him from throwing Opal into the pit. While Mallet started competing with Star, Dusk noticed Calabrass still stuck by Queen Akana’s side and then noticed a zombie nearby holding chains. That gave him an idea and so he run and punched the zombie, grabbing the chain.

Once he got the chain, he turned to Calabrass and threw the chain, wrapping it around him, much to Queek Akana’s surprise. After having him at his reach, Dusk pulled Calabrass back to him, but a zombie grabbed Calabrass' blade to prevent Dusk from getting him back. The zombie laughed evilly as Dusk tries to pull the chain back. It was then that Dusk noticed that Mallet had been able to toss Star aside and then he grabbed Opal by her leg towards the pit.

“Help me, Star!”

He tried to move, but he was too sore to move quickly. Mallet tossed Opal to the turbine, making her scream, but Star was able to catch her with his magic just in time, as she was inches away of the turbine. However, because Star’s magic was limited because not only of the seal that was containing the Curse of the Poisoned Heart and the Triangle’s magic interference, he was using all of his focus to secure Opal. That left him exposed to Mallet who advanced towards him to attack and kick him into the pit.

“Now that really is enough!” Dusk exclaimed, pulling the chain back harder, causing the zombie to fall down and let go of Calabrass. Dusk caught Calabrass and then shouted:

“Calabrass, give me the Eye of Vapir!”

And they transformed, getting the powers of Vapir. Dusk then advanced to fight the zombies that came to him, using both Calabrass’ blade and smoke powers to vaporize them. But then he had to face Mallet who approached him.

“I could get rid of you by using Calabrass' powers, but I don't want to harm you, Mallet” Dusk told his friend.

Mallet prepared to attack Dusk, but hearing him saying those words, doing that act, caused the Mighty Helm to snap out of the trance. Seeing that, Queen Akana shouted:

“Enough! I am your queen! You owe me allegiance! Mallet, finish him off!”

Mallet got put into the trance again and advanced towards Dusk, who kept saying:

“Look at us! Star, Opal, Calabrass, we're all on the same crew! Friends till the end.”

“Mallet has queen!” he exclaimed. “Mallet has no allegiance!”

Mallet tried to fight Dusk, but he dodged his attack and knocked him down.

“Dusk!” Star called, as he and Opal joined him. “The jewel acts as a key into his mind. He will be loyal to whoever wears the crown!”

“Then we have to take it!” Dusk exclaimed, while jumping to charge Queen Akana.

“Keep him away from me!” Queen Akana ordered.

And so two zombies advanced towards Dusk, but he was able to defeat them and reach Queen Akana’s throne. He pointed Calabrass' blade at her and said:

“No more fun now. Give me that crown!”

“You will pay for this!” Queen Akana told, as she tried to put Dusk into a trance again.

“Look out, Dusk!” Star exclaimed.

And so, to help, his brother, Star took flight and reach him, covering his eyes with his hooves. Now that Dusk was in full control of his actions, he laughed and then was able to grab the jewel off Queen Akana's crown, with Star pulling him out of there. But once they arrived there, Mallet, still obeying Queen Akana, was able to pick up Dusk and then he threw him near the pit. The jewel got out of Dusk’s possession and fell into the pit.

“My crown!” Queen Akana shouted.

The turbine cut the jewel into pieces, causing Mallet scream, as he felt an immense pain. Star and Opal advanced towards Dusk and then the former said:

“Without the crown, we have no chance! Mallet will never be himself again!”

Queen Akana got near them and then transformed into her monster form again and roared at the Sea Raiders. The zombies appeared and they all surrounded them, including Mallet. Having no other choice, Dusk shouted:

“Vapir, ultimate vaporization!”

And he blasted vapor to the zombies blocking their way to the exit, making them disappear, but that came with a price.

“No more energy…” Calabrass said, as he and Dusk both detransformed.

With their best weapon without energy, Dusk told to his friends:

“Retreat! Back to the Chaos!”

“But what about Mallet?” Opal asked.

“There are too many of them!” Dusk replied. “There's nothing we could do. I said, to the Chaos! Do it!”

With the zombies starting to advance towards them, Star and Opal saw they have no other option and so they followed Dusk out of Queen Akana’s lair. They run as fast as they could until they could see the Chaos at the shore of the island. Dusk looked back, seeing Mallet from afar. It was hard for him to let him, but he had to secure the others.

As they returned to the Chaos, Star shot magic blasts at the zombies to give them time. Seeing them coming, Clover told his friend:

“Get aboard! Get aboard! But not them!”

Star landed on the deck and Opal got there too, with Dusk being the only one to remain outside.

“Where's Mallet?” Clover asked, who then saw him hypnotized. “Whoa! What's wrong with him?”

“Long story” Opal replied. “Start the engine! Hurry!”

When the zombies were pretty close, Dusk asked Calabrass:

“Have recharged any?”

“Hardly. Why, you don't intend to…”

“I can't leave him here!” Dusk told. “Give me the Eye of Vapir!”

And Calabrass transformed himself and Dusk again, starting fighting with the zombies. Fortunately, he had Star and Opal’s assistance from the Chaos.

“Get aboard, Dusk!” Opal told. “We're going!”

“I'm not letting Mallet vanish into the mists of Vapir!” Dusk replied.

“Mallet is lost!” Star told. “And if we stay, so are we!”

“Hurry!” Clover said from the helm. “We have to get away from the shore!”

“He is no longer Mallet!” Star claimed. “He is bewitched forever!”

“He's right” Calabrass said to Dusk, as he fought.

“If I hadn't hesitated when faced with that thing, Mallet wouldn't have dived in to save me” Dusk said. “I can't abandon him.”

Dusk and Calabrass continued fighting the zombies, until Calabrass' energy run out.

“Sorry, laddie…” he said, as he and Dusk both detransform.

Despite there were no more zombies to face, Dusk still had to deal with a bewitched Mallet, who approached, ready to attack Dusk with his sword.

“Mallet, it's me, Dusk!” Dusk said, stepping back in order to keep the distance between him and Mallet. “Dusk Storm! I'm sorry! I was angry. I felt responsible because my mind was weak and I put you in danger. This morning, you saved my life.”

Seeing Dusk saying that, while making his friendly smile, Mallet was able to hesitate, becoming immobile. Queen Akana arrived and told Mallet:

“Mallet! Kill him! You must obey your queen!”

“Mallet, you're not just a simple member of my crew” Dusk said. “You're not just my ally. You're not just loyal, courageous, brave, powerful, bold. Uh, slightly stubborn. But most importantly, you're my friend!”

Those last words Dusk have said echoed in Mallet’s mind, as he started to remember the last thing he did before Queen Akana captured him and the words he had just said.

“Mallet always rescue his friends!

That caused the glow in his eyes to disappear, as Mallet snapped out of his trance.

“Mallet!” Queen Akana shouted. “If you won't do it, then I will!”

But when Queen Akana was about to attack Dusk, Mallet attacked her with his sword. Happy to see that his friend was back, Dusk knew they needed to get out of there quickly.

“Quick!” he said. “Mallet, to the Chaos!”

The two colts started heading towards the Chaos, with Queen Akana grunting as she followed them. Dusk was able to get back to the Chaos with a little help from Star, but when Mallet was about to get in, Queen Akana grabbed his his legs.

“No!” Dusk shouted.

Transformed into her monstrous form, Queen Akana exclaimed, while pulling Mallet, with a demonic voice:

“You will never leave Vapir! You belong to me!”

“Mallet!” Dusk called, while he jumped off the Chaos and attacked Queen Akana with Calabrass' blade. His blow caused her to be thrown away, on her mermare form, while more zombies appeared. Dusk and Mallet take that opportunity to run back to the Chaos. Once they were there, Clover pulled the lever to start the ship engines and the Chaos sails away from Queen Akana's island.

“No!” she shouted, seing the Sea Raiders getting away.

Returning to Beru through the vortex, Star examined Mallet’s eyes, saying:

“We better be sure there's no remaining signs of the hypnosis. Nor any side effects.”

During the exam, Mallet turned to Dusk and told him:

“Dusk, today you saved Mallet's life. Well, Mallet think so. Mallet not remember so good.”

“And you saved my life today too” Dusk replied.

“So you're all squared, shipmates” Calabrass told.

“Everything seems normal” Star said, ending examining Mallet. “How do you feel?”

“Hm, Mallet feel hungry” he replied.

Dusk chuckled and said:

“The real Mallet's back!”

“You can say that again” Clover said.

“Mallet now, Mallet forever!” Mallet proclaimed, causing all the Sea Raiders to laugh with joy.