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Post by hoodwink on Jan 17, 2021 14:59:48 GMT -5
”Stay on it!” Hearing Tori’s confidence in being able to defend the ship, Jake grinned before turning to Cubby. ”Take hold o’ the wheel! A Captain’s gotta protect his ship, after all!” The ship shook somewhat as Bucky’s voice shouted out over the waves and ocean breeze. ”Oh, why do they have wings?!” Lamenting as the Heartless came in sight, it seemed the ship was hardly feeling reassured at the moment. ”I can still fly, can’t I?” Tori’s question caused Izzy to grimace a bit, tapping a finger to her pouted mouth for a moment. ”Hm…well, it does wear off, and I did use less than usual, since we’re so low…” Shaking her head a bit, the pirate retrieved her trusted flute from her belt as the enemies approached. ”You should still be able to glide a bit…but don’t do anything reckless! It’ll come off in the water, too!” With the enemies upon them, the battle had begun!
As a small group of Air Pirate’s swooped across the deck, lashing out at any in reach with their large fists, a large Battleship Heartless raced through the sky, firing off a powerful cannon attack directly towards the deck! ”Hyargh! Get off'a Bucky!” Swiping his shining cutlass at one of the Missile Diver’s who had leapt aboard from the water, Jake was quick to defend Bucky and Cubby from atop the raised pilot’s deck.
[[ENEMIES: 4 Air Pirates, 1 Battleship, 3 Missile Divers]]
”You’re pretty strong, huh?” Fox raised a brow as they squinted at Henoke, who was currently walking behind Rabbit. The teen had handled the Heartless that had appeared, luckily able to protect the Lost Boys he traveled with well enough (his healing magic worked for any slight wounds the boys had received). ”Tch—why’d’you sound surprised?!” With an indignant look, the teen scowled at the younger boy. ”Y’don’t look it, is what he means.” Rabbit was quick to provide ‘support’. ”That weapon o’ yours is crazy, too!” Rolling his eyes, Henoke shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket, wondering if he had made the right decision with tagging along the troupe of ragtag youth. ”And you can use magic!” Bear’s eyes were alight with wonder as he rushed and pushed through the line, coming up behind the orange haired teen with a look of awe. ”Just like Peter could!”
There was that name again. ”Hey, who’s this ‘Peter’ guy you keep mentionin’?” The group of boys seemed excited by his question, immediately yelling over one another to try and explain. ”A hero!” ”Our friend!” ”Hook’s worst nightmare!” ”A big idiot!” It seemed each boy had their own opinion on the matter, only adding to his confusion. Sighing, Henoke glanced up towards the sky, poking through the gaps in the forestry above. Wonder where Tori went…?
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 17, 2021 15:35:33 GMT -5
Determined, Tori unsheathed her sword, once the Heartless jumped on deck. Izzy’s words gave her enough insight on what she could and couldn’t do —which in turn, only shifted her strategy by a small margin. With Jake joining the battle and leaving Cubby at the wheel, it seemed they’d have enough manpower to deal with the threat at hand.
“Got it!”
Cocky, Tori rushed forward, her aim the Battleship that was perched in the sky, as well as the Air Pirates around it. With a quick motion, she conjured Thundaja, the powerful lightning bolt trying to deal enough damage to stun the large Heartless, before jumping and unleashing a cross slash. Izzy told her she could still glide a bit, and although she could use her weapons as tools to climb in case she fell close to the sea, it wasn’t like she wanted to injure a sentient ship.
Who knows how it’d feel like?
Following her previous spell, Tori jumped once more into the air, near the Air Pirates. While her broadsword remained in place, the Keyblade spun around her in a circle motion by making use of her Cross-up Magic.
If she could get the attention of the airborne enemies, enough to where they would lower themselves to a more reckless position, it was most likely they could beat them up. If not…
Tori still had her many tricks up her sleeve.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 17, 2021 16:09:14 GMT -5
”Got it!” As Tori unleashed her Thundaja spell, successfully striking all but two of the five airborne enemies, Jake continued to defend Cubby on the raised deck. Tu—le—ru! Sharp notes from Izzy’s flute cut through the air, causing the two Air Pirate’s that had twirled out of the way of the electric spell to pause in the air, seemingly pacified. While the Battleship had been successfully stunned, Tori’s followup with her Cross-up Magic would knock back the nearest Air Pirates, giving her and Izzy room to spare on deck. ”Hehe~ You’re pretty good!” Giving the teen a playful wink, the pirate in pink was quick to leap on top of a small stack of barrels by the center mast of the ship. Keeping the flute close to her lips, her eyes darted across the battlefield, wandering over to where Jake and Cubby resided, as well. It seemed she was used to taking on a supportive and observing role in combat.
”Hyup! Ha ha! Walk the plank!” A loud splash could be heard as Jake managed to break through a struggle with a Missile Diver, breaking free and knocking it over the side with the pommel of his cutlass. While the Air Pirates seemed to be stunned, the Battleship was beginning to recover! Shaking off the stunning effects of the spell, the Heartless soared through the sky, spearing directly towards Tori with its sharp lance attached to the front of its small ship!
[[ENEMIES: 2 Air Pirates, 1 Battleship, 2 Missile Divers]]
”I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH IT!” Shouting out and running in every direction through the forest were the Lost Boys, howling out as a torrent of angry Neverbees swarmed out in every direction through the air. ”I’m—ow!—sorry! I thought it’d be a good—ow!—snack!” Bear lamented while jolting and jerking from the occasional stings. ”You pain in the ass!” Batting back a swarm of his own with his Keyblade, Henoke scowled, his face red with agitation as he fended off the stinging jabs from the bees. ”I say we give ‘em bear and run!” Fox howled out in pain before shouting his threat, shooting the other boy a dirty look. ”Quick! The river!” Jumping and pointing the direction of the unseen river, Skunk was quick to bolt. ”We’ll shake them off in the water!” As clever as ever, the younger of the group led everyone from the forest path and through the bushes, chased by the swarming Neverbees all the while.
It seemed even without the Heartless, Henoke's venture through Neverland with the Lost Boys was bound to be eventful.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 17, 2021 16:31:08 GMT -5
”Hehe~ You’re pretty good!” Smirking as her sole reply, Tori glanced over as Izzy tossed the compliment playfully, before turning back towards the battle. Her spell and tricks had helped clear some enemies, but it was still far from over. However, Tori wasn’t as annoyed —in fact, there was something about the place and way she was currently fighting that brought a sense of thrill to it.
Almost the same way she’d feel whenever she hunted a Mark, back in her world.
Splash! Tossing one of the Missile Drivers off the plank, it seemed Jake was both enjoying the battle as well as helping clear it. Her attention was quickly brought back to the battle as the Battleship charged her way. All according to plan.
Meeting the charge head-first with a cross-guard with both sword and Keyblade, Tori smirked as she made use of her own tricks. A faint red aura surged around her, before bursting with violence —her Illusions helping her use her Red Moon form. Being already so close to the enemy, Tori didn’t need to close the distance between her and her target to unleash her Lunatic Red Eyes, both sword and Keyblade stabbed onto the Battleship’s hull as the powerful red waves surrounding Tori aimed to hit point-blank. After this, she would use both weapons to propel herself upwards into the air, before tossing her Keyblade downwards with her Fire Toss.
“Game’s up already!” she shouted, confident.
Up in the air, Tori recalled what Izzy told her before —even if she couldn’t fly, she could most likely still glide. Turning sideways, she used the momentum to push herself forward, towards the Crow’s Nest while using the newly gained strength and speed. Once she landed, she turned around to see whatever enemies were left, taking a bit of time before joining back.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 17, 2021 18:10:08 GMT -5
Tori’s guard would be met with surprising resistance, as the lunging attack from the coming Battleship had quite a bit of force behind it. Despite the pressure, the girl’s sudden unleashed power would succeed in halting its progress, delivering punishing combos with surprising fury and speed as it was left prone and sundered. Launching high into the air with the aid of her weapons, Tori’s display of battle prowess would earn an awed Cubby’s ”Ooooh!” while Izzy clapped and cheered from below. The heart contained within the ship-like Heartless released as it vanished, defeated. ”Game’s up already!” As the teen began to glide across the air, sailing towards the Crow’s Nest, Jake continued to spin and kick between slashes while fending off the two Missile Divers on the raised deck until there was only one remaining. Protecting Cubby, who tried their best to steer and follow their map at the same time, the captain was holding their own well enough, for someone unused to fighting Heartless.
”Tori! Watch out!” Izzy’s voice cut through the air, pointing with a worried look towards the remaining airborne Heartless. Chasing the Keyblade she held, it seemed she had maintained most of their focus. Just as the teen would land on the Crow’s Nest perch, she would be under attack from the two Air Pirates! While one swooped in from below, aiming a powerful uppercut towards the teen, the other looped through the air to attack from behind!
[[ENEMIES: 2 Air Pirates, 1 Missile Diver]]
Slosh! Slop! Henoke's sneakers, along with everything else, dripped with water and created a muddy trail beneath him as he walked through the forest with a scowl on his face. "You're still mad?! It was just a little dip in a river..." Rolling their eyes, Skunk put their hands up, clearly finding the teen's position ridiculous. Silent, Henoke merely grabbed at the edge of his own jacket, wringing it out with a splash! directly over the young boys head, drenching him further. "Hey!" Ignoring the harmless swings coming from the boy in skunk furs, the vibrant haired teen raised an eyebrow, noticing a change in the forest. The trees began to thin out, though the overgrowth and shrubbery thickened and grew dense. "Quiet, guys...we're nearing Tiki territory." Tilting his head in confusion, it took Henoke a moment to remember the 'clans' that the boys had gone over previously. It didn't help that many had multiple names, something the teen found stupid and pointless.
"Whatever. We can just beat 'em up, right? You guys fight 'em all the time, don't ya?" Shrugging, it seemed Henoke was hardly worried, more concerned with drying off more than anything. "Heck yea!" Rabbit was quick to agree with the brash tactic, clearly the bravest in the group. "For all we know, the Tiki Tribe are the ones behind those weird monsters, though..." Skunk had stopped swinging at Henoke, noticing how his small fists and tiny arms hardly did anything to the strong teen. "Tch, then I'll beat those, too!" He was getting tired of Skunk's 'smarts', mistaking them for timidness most of the time. "You're really brave, huh, Henoke?" Bear piped up from the back, a look of envy hidden in his gaze as he watched from behind. "More like stupid." One of the Raccoon twins snickered as the teen shouted out and reached for Fox, only to miss. The younger boy was one of the most agile in the group, a fact that annoyed Henoke to no end. "If you're strong, you don't gotta be brave! You won't be scared o' nothin'!" With a foolish grin, the hotheaded teen departed the words of false wisdom to the young group, some of who would take it close to heart and others disregarding it completely.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 17, 2021 22:29:39 GMT -5
”Tori! Watch out!”
Izzy’s worry was somewhat misplaced, but it was still an appreciated wake-up call. With both Air Pirates aiming towards her before anyone else, Tori had it easy —it meant she didn’t have to do much to gain their attention, already greedily going after the Keyblade she wielded. Besides, it was already a won battle on the pirate’s side.
Given that both flanks were being covered, the only option to dodge was up —thing that, at this point in time, didn’t matter much, thanks to the ability to glide, allowing Tori much needed mobility on air while the battle lasted. Jumping upwards to avoid the incoming dive-attacks, Tori would proceed to toss her Keyblade towards them, her Crescent Echo aiming to attack the pair of Air Pirates before going back towards its wielder, as Tori decided to, this time, drop down towards the deck.
Waiting to see the damage dealt to the enemies, Tori was wary of any other threat lurking near —looking for the last one to end the battle as soon as possible. She couldn’t relax just yet, not until the ship was clear.
Until then, she’d be willing to play decoy and support if it was needed.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 17, 2021 23:25:46 GMT -5
As Tori evaded the aerial attack, Jake lunged and parried the last Missile Diver’s attack. Brandishing his sword with a swift flourish, the young captain soon pierced the Heartless directly through the chest, causing it to dissolve instantly. While he was busy cheering out in victory, Tori made quick work of the remaining enemies with her Crescent Echo, being more than enough damage to finish off the already weak and desperate creatures. With the battle finished, the three pirates cheered in unison, with Skully squawking eagerly and Bucky sighing in relief. ”Wow, that was some fancy swordplay!” Cubby clapped his hands together, cheering both Jake and Tori on as Izzy holstered her trusted flute. "Really, though, those monsters sure are annoying…” Sighing a bit, the pirate shook her head before walking over to the railing, leaning over to gaze out at the sea. ”We should be near the Lagoon! It should be just around this bend!” Shouting out in excitement, Cubby bounded from the raised deck to the main one below, pointing at his map all the while.
”SQUAWK! I wonder how Marina’s been doing…how long has it been, do you think?” Retrospecting on Jake’s shoulder, Skully tilted their head, and rose a wing to their beak in thought. ”Who knows? Time stands still in Neverland.” Chuckling as though he had not a care in the world, the young captain took over the steering wheel once more, steering Bucky towards the bend that they needed to pass. It seemed for now, their voyage was smooth sailing! "You ever seen a mermaid before?” Raising an eyebrow at Tori from where he steered the ship, Jake grinned, having noticed the teen’s earlier questions and admittance to never having been to Neverland before.
”Uh…hm…” Grimacing at the soggy map in their hands, Fox tilted their head, turning the wet parchment on its side to view it at a new angle. ”The ink’s all smudged!” Groaning, the boy threw the useless wad of wet paper on the ground. ”It must’ve gotten wet in the river…” In unison, all boys including Henoke groaned and sighed and kicked at the dirt. ”So you’re sayin’ we’re lost?!” Grabbing at his spiky hair, thankfully recently dried, the teen stomped a foot before turning and glaring at Bear. ”You just had to mess with that honeycomb, huh?” Skunk leapt into the fray, holding up a wooden whistle in the shape of a small bird. ”Relax, you guys! We should be able to get directions with this!” Many of the boys shouted out in recognition, though Henoke watched in confusion as the youngest of the troupe pulled the whistle to their lips.
Wheeeeeeeeee! A high pitched tone escaped and pierced the forest, causing many to jolt and plug their ears that were standing nearest. ”The hell’s that?!” Skunk smirked in response, waving the small whistle around in the air for a moment before pocketing it once more. ”A whistle that summons Neverbirds! They’ll be able to lead us to the Lord!”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 17, 2021 23:37:44 GMT -5
The red aura waned until completely disappearing, with the battle now over and not requiring any further power-ups. Dismissing the Keyblade in its usual fashion while saving the sword back in its sheath, Tori turned around as Cubby threw his praise, alongside cheers of victory within the trio and parrot —causing her to smile.
There was something about the situation that had its charms, she couldn’t deny it.
She perked up after hearing how time flowed in Neverland —apparently always remaining at a stand-still. It gave the name “Neverland” quite a lot of sense, if that was the case. Bringing her hand up to her chin as she was about to elaborate the question, Jake asking if Tori had ever seen a mermaid before broke her out of thought, only chuckling at the prospect.
“I have, believe it or not” she replied, “You travel a few times, you end up learning a lot of things, y’know?”
She turned back towards the open sea, the island now at a distance as they neared their new destination —all while she wondered what Henoke was up to. The thought brought her back to thought, a more pressing matter surfacing at the back of her head.
Recalling what happened when they first arrived, Tori frowned. Henoke was most likely with the kids they met at first —the Lost Boys. If they ever met again, while they were with their respective parties, what would happen?
“It’s not like you can convince kids like those easily with words, either…” she thought, “Not to mention… It’s kind of far-fetched that, after all this time, the same people that are frowned upon are the ones who got rid of the nuisance to begin with… So, why not change?”
A bit more introspection followed, before Tori came up with an idea. Turning towards the trio and parrot, a determined and serious look emerged in her expression, wanting to share her idea even if the others were against it.
She was up to changing the plan, if they were not fully in agreement.
“Say… You wouldn’t mind if I were to ask you guys a favor, right?” she asked, “It’s mostly because of something that’s been bothering me for a bit…”
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 18, 2021 11:08:36 GMT -5
”I have, believe it or not.” Jake flashed a look of surprise before his face fell slightly. It seemed he had been taking some joy in seeing something someone else might have not. ”Dang, I thought Neverland was the only place with ‘em…” Chuckling and shrugging it off, the captain returned their focus to navigating Bucky through the calm waters. Rounding the bend, the Lagoon wouldn’t be too far off, though the crew did indeed have some extra time to address the question Tori had in mind. ”Say…you wouldn’t mind if I were to ask you guys a favor, right?” Her words made it seem somewhat serious, causing Izzy to give the teen a determined smile as she nodded. Cubby seemed hesitant for only a brief moment, before quelling his nerves and nodding in scrunched up courage. ”Didn’t think you’d be the type to openly ask~” With a playful smirk, Jake teased from the wheel of the ship.
”SQUAWK! Don’t give out free labor, guys.” Rolling their eyes a bit, Skully seemed to be somewhat more pragmatic than the young pirates. Turning to Tori, the parrot swooped from the shoulder they perched on to a railing near the teen. ”We’re already helping ya find yer friend, squawk! If you want another favor, you’ll have to do us one, too!” Frowning at the bird, Izzy crossed her arms. ”Skully, friends help friends! That’s a pirate code!” Giving the girl an incredulous look, Skully rolled their eyes and shook their head. ”No, it isn’t. You just make up codes when ya feel like it, squawk!” Giggling a bit, Izzy stuck her tongue out at the parrot while Cubby laughed and Jake rolled their eyes, focusing on the water. ”So, what’s this favor you need, Tori?” Flashing a friendly smile, the pirate gestured to Jake and Cubby.
”Don’t worry, we’re not as stingy as Skully is~”
”I can lead you there…but we’ll have to be careful!” A colorful songbird perched on a tall fallen log, addressing the group of boys with a warning tone. ”With the Tiki Tribes fighting with the Crocodiles, we’ll want to avoid the deeper parts of the forest and swamp at all costs. Don’t want to get caught up in their fights.” The Neverbird seemed saddened but also exasperated, clearly not enjoying the in-fighting currently happening throughout the island. "Huh, so the birds’re stayin’ out of it?” Though Henoke hadn’t known what a crocodile was originally, the Lost Boys were quick to tell him about the reptilian creature. Since they were a type of animal, the teen figured the Neverbirds would have picked a side, too. Puffing up their chest a bit and ruffling their feathers, the Neverbird seemed indignant at the mere mention. ”Hmph! Us Neverbirds are too noble and free for things like wars! Don’t you know anything?” Staggering at the jab, Henoke grit his teeth and scowled at the bird, who ignored him and continued talking.
”So, I can lead you—but we’ll need to be watchful and quiet. Okay, boys?” The Raccoon twins grinned in unison, nodding their heads and sealing their lips with a zipping gesture. Bear seemed nervous, glancing down at their feet before nodding. Fox and Rabbit were always fairly composed (though the later was rather reckless at times), giving them an air of confidence as they winked at each other. ”No problem.” Giving a ‘thumbs up’ at the Neverbird, Skunk had a mischievous grin. ”We sneak around those idiots all the time!” The group chuckled quietly to themselves, clearly reminiscing on previous adventures long before Henoke had ever set foot on the island. ”Quiet, huh…?” Grimacing a bit, the teen crossed their arms. He wasn’t really sure if he was quiet or not. Scrunching up his face in thought, Henoke wracked his brain, trying to think of the last time he had to be quiet or stealthy at all. He couldn’t think of one.
Whatever. It’ll be fine!
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 18, 2021 14:37:54 GMT -5
Jake’s tease didn’t go unnoticed, instead bringing Tori to a light-hearted chuckle. It was nice to see them all in high spirits, despite the fact that she still hadn’t told them what the favor was about. Nevertheless, they seem to trust her well enough —well, all but the parrot. Skully squawked loudly about “not doing labor for free”, something Tori was more than used to at that point, due to the world she came from. Quickly pegged down by Izzy, the parrot decided to not chime in to help, while the other three did.
“Y’know —I would’ve offered a deal had you not been up to it…” she mentioned with unease, looking at the parrot, “But that was my second approach, so…”
”So, what’s this favor you need, Tori?” Izzy’s friendly question, as well as her gesture towards the other two pirates on deck, was something Tori had expected —but only at first. She couldn’t say how in agreement they would be of her idea, but it was most likely a better option. Conflicted, she brought one hand to her chin, she other holding her elbow as she ordered her thoughts before talking straight.
“So, for the most part, you guys aren't well received by people, because you're pirates, right? It’s because of that title that you have it tough having others trusting you” she began, “My issue… is that Henoke —my friend, the one I got separated from— is most likely with the Lost Boys, so it might be troublesome to explain why I'm tagging along with you.”
The first part of what she had to say wasn’t what troubled her —it was the situation they were currently in. Henoke was righteous to a fault, always trusting those who proved to be “on the right”, immediately opposing those who were “on the wrong”. And if pirates were already determined to be “on the bad”…
How would he react? Would he try to convince them, or would he fight back? There was, however, almost no chance to convince the Lost Boys that Jake, Izzy and Cubby were, in fact, on their side rather than against them —words, at the very least, had a slim chance of working.
Tori could tell that much based on their first encounter.
“I’m almost certain that we won’t be able to convince them just by words alone —odds are, they’ll pick a fight immediately if they spot us” Tori continued, “So… Since trying to act nice immediately is bound to create suspicion… Would you be willing to play the role, instead?” she asked, “Would you be willing to play bad guy for a while? We don't have to do bad things, though. We can just act it out, can't we?”
“It’s a hypothetical, in case we find them —but I doubt we won’t cross paths with them” she finished, “You can probably guess, but... I'm a terrible liar” Tori admitted, sheepish, “Acting's also not my strongest trait. But if you guys can help give that impression... Then I can follow, easily —because technically, it’s not a lie.”
She crossed her arms calmly, waiting for their answer. Obviously, she’d be willing to explain further, if they had questions of their own —but the only people she could rely on for the plan to work was the trio she met back at the shoreline.
She’d grown to trust them enough to share the idea with them.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 18, 2021 16:01:58 GMT -5
Listening to Tori’s initial statement about them not being well-received, the three pirates frowned. ”It’s only with those boys, though…” Cubby seemed slightly dejected at the idea that Tori believed all Neverlandians to dislike pirates. ”My issue…is that Henoke—my friend, the one I got separated from—is most likely with the Lost Boys,” Jake tsked and kicked at the raised deck floor, knowing immediately what the teen was implying. ”Tch—if those idiots’ve filled ‘is head with a buncha lies, he’ll probably hate us.” Scowling at the thought, the young captain sighed and crossed their arms. ”I’m almost certain that we won’t be able to convince them just by words alone—“ Izzy and Cubby exchanged looks before glancing over to Jake. It seemed all three of them had indeed run into a similar situation with the boys in the past.
”So…since trying to act nice immediately is bound to create suspicion…would you be willing to play the role, instead?” Cubby flashed a confused look at her, whereas Izzy grimaced a bit. Openly scowling at the question, Jake grit his teeth as his grip on the wheel tightened a bit. ”We don’t have to do bad things, though. We can just act it out, can’t we?” Despite the strategy within the plan, the three pirates seemed to have mixed feelings, some stronger than others. ”Tch—but we aren’t bad guys!” Stomping his foot a bit, the young captain’s gaze was firm and indignant. ”We’ve helped tons of people on Neverland! There’s no way we’re gonna ruin our reputation!” It seemed Jake wanted to be seen in good light by all denizens, whether they liked pirates or not. ”If we play the role, they’ll just hate us more and we’ll be provin’ ‘em right!” Cubby was quiet, though they nodded faintly along with the older boys words. It seemed the two of them weren’t keen on pretending to play the villainous role the Lost Boys pushed upon them.
”It’s not a bad idea, though…” Izzy seemed thoughtful, tapping a finger to her chin while gazing up towards the sky. ”We have tried being nice before, not that it got us anywhere…” Shaking her head a bit, the girl frowned with a sad look. ”It won’t help that we’re older now…those boys don’t trust most people older than them.” It seemed whenever the group of pirates had last been to Neverland, they had been younger than they were now. How much time had passed exactly, was unclear to an outsider like Tori. ”No way! I ain’t gonna prove ‘em right, even if it’s an act!” Skully squawked out, interrupting the captain’s rejection with their shrill voice. ”SQUAWK! Just how is playing the part supposed to smooth things over with them?” It seemed the parrot was curious about the plan Tori had, though not fully convinced. ”Fair point, Skully.” Resting her hands on her hips with a sigh, Izzy flashed the other teen a quizzical look. ”How are we gonna smooth things over, if we start acting like villains?”
”Land ho!” Bucky’s voice broke through as the Lagoon came into view. ”We should be there soon!” Cubby chimed in as well, pointing out the landmark in the distance. They still had time to clear some things up, but it seemed they’d found their destination!
”Achoo!” Sneezing out of nowhere, Henoke shivered, his already spiky hair standing on end for a moment. Had someone said his name? ”Shh!” Pressing a finger to their lips, Fox hissed out the whisper as the group crouched within the overgrowth of the forest. They had all dived off of the path once the Neverbird guiding them had warned of coming Tiki Tribe members. Watching from the bushes as a small group of older men with a variety of furs and clothing draped over them armed with finely crafted bows and spears march through the forest. ”Grr…waltzin’ through like they own the place…” Rabbit seethed quietly from their spot in hiding, not willing to allow their anger to blow the troupe’s cover. "How can ya own a forest?” Henoke spoke low, though Fox and Skunk were both quick to give him hissed shushes as the last of the Tiki Tribe passed by. Once the coast was clear, all boys piled out from the overgrowth and leaves, glancing around the path.
”Coast is clear!”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 19, 2021 5:45:29 GMT -5
”It’s only with those boys, though…” Hearing the comment, Tori flinched —clearly embarrassed by having gotten that fact wrong. The way they’d worded it before had confused her, though by no means did she want to generalize, either. Her awkwardness evident by her cheeks reddening, flustered, she was quick to apologize profusely.
Still, the doubts about her plan —and predicament, for that matter— were rather obvious. Jake’s obvious pride about the things they had done in favor of people in Neverland was clearly opposed to simply playing villain, something that Tori could understand. He did understand, however, what the girl’s problem was, and most likely, the same did, too.
It was just a matter of how to solve it, in order to make sure no misunderstandings happened.
The following questions were also something she expected, but Bucky chimed in with news of land in near view —bringing their attention to other things. Tori grimaced, a bit uneasy by the timing of it all, but there was no point in pressuring the issue when they had something else to do. Turning around, she glanced over at the three, shaking her head.
“I know I owe you explanations, but there’s no point in stalling when we have things to do” she said, “For now, let’s focus on what we came here for —afterwards, I’m willing to explain.”
Tori looked at the landmark Cubby was pointing at, trying to determine what would happen from there onwards. The plan could wait —odds were that they wouldn’t encounter the Lost Boys for a bit, so they would be on the clear for now.
Still, something at the back of her head told her that, perhaps, times for the three pirates didn’t only mean growing up, but various things changing regarding those they called “friends”.
Why was that thought haunting her all of the sudden? Was it solely because of the Heartless running rampant in that world, or was there something else lurking behind it? She couldn’t tell…
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 19, 2021 14:53:58 GMT -5
”I know I owe you explanations, but there’s no point in stalling when we have things to do." Though Izzy’s face fell a bit, having been curious about the details of Tori’s plans, Jake grinned and nodded while Cubby was occupied putting away his rather large map. ”Alright! We’ll listen to yer plan after we get details from Marina!” Seemingly content with the decision, the young captain steered Bucky closer to the coming peninsula ahead. Some of the peninsula seemed narrow and near the water, while others rose into vast hills and formed a barricade for the hidden body of water within. All of it was lush with tall green grass and colorful flowers and plants. There were no trees on the lagoon, put large sections of reef jutted out in certain sections of the water around and within, while thick bushes and shrubs dotted the land around it. ”Mariiiiiiiina! We’re heeeeere~!” With a loud and singsong tone, Bucky’s voice broke over the waves of the ocean as they drew near—preparing to anchor.
”Halt! Who goes there!” Sudden voices from the water emerged, coming from the sides of the ship. Within a moment, large geysers poured forth, shooting up into the air as a handful of Mermaids surrounded the ship on all sides, suspending themselves at the top of each geyser as though a pillar. ”Woah! Easy there, everyone!” Jake shouted out from where he stood on the raised deck, rushing over to the nearest railing to look at the Mermaids around them. All seemed to vary in age, some appearing around the same age as Jake and the pirates, while others appeared to near Tori’s age. All of them were similar to the denizens she’d met back in Atlantica, human from the top-half, while a large finned tail covered the bottom. Each seemed wary. ”We’re friends with Marina! We came to say hi!” Bucky’s voice broke through over the waves, notably concerned and hesitant as they were currently surrounded.
”SQUAWK! It’s been a while, but I didn’t think they’d greet us like this…” Skully grumbled near where Tori stood on the deck, perched on the railing with a troubled expression. ”Hm…they don’t look like Tiki Tribe members…and they’re definitely not crocodiles…” One of the Mermaids, an older one around the same age as Tori with medium lengthen black hair pulled into a messy and wet half-bun. ”Bucky?! Jake, is that you?!” One of the Mermaids surrounding them from further in the back of the group came forward, traveling across the distance by moving and commanding the large geyser they perched atop. "Marina! You are here!" They appeared to be around the same age as Jake and Izzy, with long dark black hair that had hints of purple shining every now and then. With bright purple seashell earrings and a vibrant pink tank-top shirt, the Mermaid stuck out—their eyes widening as they gasped once coming closer to the ship. ”Oh! It is you! You've done some growing up, though!” Spinning atop their fountain of water, the mermaid waved a hand to her comrades. ”Don’t worry, everyone. These are my friends!” Hopping from the geyser and onto the raised deck, Marina barreled into Jake in greeting with a tight hug, which caused the captain to shout out as they nearly toppled over.
”Izzy! Cubby! Skully! You’ve all grown up a bit, too! Where have you all been?!” Glancing around the main deck from above, leaning over the railing as her tail flipped in excitement, Marina’s eyes finally landed on Tori—a look of surprise flashing over her face. ”Oh! Someone new? Hiiiiiii! I’m Marina!” With a loud greeting and wave, the carefree mermaid smiled widely as she introduced herself to the teen. The other Mermaids had already lowered their geysers and were preparing to head back into the lagoon after giving the local’s friends waves and friendly greetings. ”She’s always so bubbly~” Giggling a bit, Izzy rushed up the stairs to hug the mermaid, while Cubby distressed over the water that had splashed onto his knapsack. ”We’ve been adventurin’, duh!” Answering the mermaids initial question with a smirk, Jake crossed his arms before raising an eyebrow and tilting his head at her. ”What’s the deal, though? You guys never used to greet people like that…” A look of surprise flashed over Marina’s face for a moment as she rose a hand to her mouth, gasping a bit.
”You mean—you don’t know? I would've thought that's why you came back...” Izzy and Cubby flashed looks of concern at each other, while Skully squawked warily and Jake grimaced. ”Know what?” Frowning, the mermaid cupped their hands together and looked down at the floor of the ship sadly. ”Neverland…there’s…” Sighing, she closed her eyes for a moment before looking back up at the young captain. ”There’s a war starting. The Tiki Tribes and Crocodiles were the first to start…but we got dragged into it, since the swamp’s are so close to our Lagoon. Others have been dragged in, too, but some art trying to stay neutral.” It was a surprisingly heavy topic, considering the world they were in. Clearly, this wasn’t something common in Neverland. ”A war?” Cubby’s face paled a bit as he stiffened. Jake rested a hand on the younger pirates shoulder, giving a reassuring nod before turning back to the mermaid. ”On top of that, we’ve seen some weird monsters here, too…” The mention of ‘monsters’ caused Marina to grimace, nodding as her hands tightened together.
”Yes…we aren’t sure what those monsters are, but they showed up shortly after the fighting…” With a sigh, it almost looked like the girl was close to tears. ”Everyone just thinks the Tiki Tribes or the Crocodiles are behind them…but I’ve heard rumors from the Neverbirds that even they get attacked.” It seemed that Neverland was definitely in a troubled state. Then again, when had the Power of Waking ever brought Henoke, or any he traveled with, to a world not in some kind of peril?
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 19, 2021 16:32:44 GMT -5
Looking up front, Tori found the sights rather surprising. A peninsula awaited, although it was mostly a bunch of islets creating an enclosed lagoon of sorts, vibrant in life and color. It was rather hilly, almost as if both sea and land were one and the same. Despite the lively ambiance, it seemed completely empty… Who lived there?
As they readied to anchor, a voice broke everyone out of whatever they were doing, immediately followed by the sound of water gushing upwards, forming pillars around the ship with little care. Over said geysers sat mermaids, similar to the ones Tori had seen before, back in the last world she’d been to. Their sudden scrutiny and wariness came off as shocking, despite Jake, Bucky and Skully trying to appease them.
Did they… Know them?
”Hm…they don’t look like Tiki Tribe members…and they’re definitely not crocodiles…” Perking up at the comment, Tori frowned. Just what was going on in that world, for everyone to be so suspicious of the other? Her thoughts were interrupted by another voice —one much cheerier than the ones she’d heard so far. A young mermaid immediately jumped towards Jake in attempts to give him a hug, happy to reunite with someone familiar for a change. “I’ll take the guess and say she’s missed them…” Tori thought with a faint, yet uneasy smile.
While the mermaid greeted the trio with cheery eyes, Tori crossed her arms calmly, smiling at unease as Marina introduced herself, but nodding at the introduction regardless. ”She’s always so bubbly~” It certainly seemed like it, based on Izzy’s comment, but neither seemed to mind the behavior of an old friend, instead happy to meet again.
Immediately asking what mattered, Jake had taken Tori’s words out of her mouth. The mention of “war” was a sour one, especially given that it didn’t fit the current world at all. Marina also mentioned when the Heartless had shown up, shortly after people began to fight. It would make sense that they would be drawn towards fighting —a source for anger, envy and hatred was bound to draw the darkness.
“This is worse than I thought it’d be…” she grimaced, voicing it aloud, “Although it makes more sense, now that you mention that people’ve been fighting recently… Those monsters gather in those kinds of situations the most —it’s not gonna be easy getting rid of them, if the fighting continues…”
She glanced over at Jake, wondering what he was thinking about. The level-headed teen always had something to say, be it with pride or with logic. But having placed her plan before, and now knowing more about what was happening…
There was no way to getting around without picking up a fight —regardless of the reputation the pirate trio had.
“Haa… What do we do from here?” she asked, “We got lucky Marina was up to vouch, but… Can we say the same for the rest of people living here?”
Truthfully, she was worried. A “war” meant trouble, and said trouble would most likely end up in fights. How long could they keep up the friendly side, without having to battle others? She had a right to be skeptical at how valid a friend's testimony would be, not knowing how things worked in that world, opposed to the pirates she was travelling with.
She wanted to listen to what they had to say, before thinking on anything else.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 19, 2021 20:29:06 GMT -5
”I can’t believe this!” Scowling as he stomped along the forest path, Henoke was glaring down at the ropes tied around his wrists in front of him. Tied to each other, he and the Lost Boys were being marched deeper into the Tiki Woods, surrounded by the tribesmen who kept eyes on them with spears in hand. ”It’s all because someone had to shout out that it was clear…” Rabbit shouted out the ‘someone’ bit comment while leaning to look past Henoke, shooting a dirty look at Bear up ahead. ”I said I was sorry…” Marching behind the Raccoon Twins in the lead, the curly haired boy sulked as they walked. ”Quiet!” One of the tribesmen grunted while shooting them a dirty look. ”Tch—actin’ all tough. I woulda beaten ya if ya didn’t fight dirty!” Gritting his teeth as he glared at the guard who marched beside them, the teen had a look of fiery defiance on his face as the tribesmen pushed him forward. Having so many of the Lost Boys to protect while being outnumbered, the Keybearer had fought valiantly, though eventually Skunk had been taken hostage. Forced to surrender, Henoke and the rest were all tied up and taken as prisoner.
”At least everyone’s safe.” Sighing a bit, Fox tried their best to keep a brave face, though the worry in their eyes was evident. Henoke wasn’t worried though, walking confidently as his golden eyes brimmed with mischief. He had a plan—one that was sure to get him and the Lost Boys free!
”This is worse than I thought it’d be…” Tori’s grumble caused Izzy to give her a complexed look, while Jake perked in intrigue from the raised deck. ”Those monsters gather in those kinds of situations the most—it’s not gonna be easy getting rid of them,” Being the only one with actual knowledge and experience of the Heartless, the teen had everyone’s attention—though Marina seemed confused. ”She’s our expert.” Giving a smirk to the mermaid as he crossed his arms, the young pirate cleared the unasked question quickly. ”But that means if the fightin’ stops, those monsters’ll probably disappear, too.” In that sense, it seemed Jake was an optimist, refusing to let the shocking events of Neverland get to them. ”What do we do from here? We got lucky Marina was up to vouch, but…” The teen’s skepticism for their voyage throughout the world was understandable. Cubby still seemed rather sullen with the concept of a ‘war’ happening on Neverland, clammed up at the moment.
”Well, luckily, there’re a lot of folks against the fighting!” Marina was quick to jump back in, shooting Tori a bright smile from where her, Jake and Cubby remained near the steering wheel. ”Obviously, you’re safe with us Mermaids! The Neverbirds refuse to fight, too. They’re always helping out anyone they find kind and worthy of their aid!” It seemed the mermaids and the Neverbirds got along fine. ”It’s mainly the Tiki Tribes and the Crocodiles you have to look out for!” Skully squawked out with a chortling laugh, shaking their feathered head. ”Well, that’s nothing new, SQUAWK! It’s not like they were very friendly to being with…” Fluttering over to Jake’s shoulder from the railing, it seemed the parrot was skeptical about the subject of ‘war’. ”Isn’t this just business as usual, then?” Marina sighed, shaking her head. ”I thought so at first, too. Typically both the Crocodiles and Tribesmen don’t interfere with anyone who doesn’t trespass. There have been weird rumors going around about the swamp, though. How weird sounds come from it at night time…” Izzy’s face showed worry, too, clearly having never heard of a situation like this before.
”The Neverbirds say that the Tribe Leader has been acting different, too. I guess the Tribesmen have been trying to expand their lands lately.” All pirates glanced amongst each other with looks of concern and vague confusion. ”Somethin’ must’ve happened…” Jake seemed to be brooding in thought, trying to make sense of the new information they’d gotten. ”Jake…” Cubby finally spoke, though their voice was quiet as he glanced at the young captain nervously. ”Don’t worry Cubby. I know.” Giving the youngest pirate a grin and a clasp on the shoulder, Jake turned to Marina with a confident look. ”Well, we came here for Fairy Dust…but let's try to help Neverland out!” The younger pirate seemed relieved while Izzy rolled her eyes and gave them a grin. ”Like we wouldn’t want to help?” Skully frowned a bit, tilting his head. ”SQUAWK! What’re we supposed to do?” Walking to the railing that overlooked the main deck, Jake raised a brow at Tori, a wide grin on his face. ”Well? How ‘bout it? You were askin’ fer a favor…and I know just the thing to ask in return!” Turning to the rest of his crew and Marina, the captain rested their hands on their hips.
”How ‘bout it, everyone? We can investigate those rumors, and see what’s been goin’ on to make the Crocs and Tribes so crazy!”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 20, 2021 3:28:47 GMT -5
Luckily, it seemed not everything was bad news. Marina was quick to explain how it was mostly a war locked between 2 factions, rather than involving everyone in a fight —with both Mermaids and Neverbirds (whatever those were) being against the war. Skully’s further comment about it not being new helped ascertain something, as well.
If this was something that had been going on for a while, why did it suddenly escalate? And what was it that caused it to spike that quickly?
”Somethin’ must’ve happened…” As Marina continued to explain the bizarre events the pirates had been missing on —as well as events that Tori had no clues about—, it seemed that the captain had the right assumption. It most likely wasn’t a day-and-night change, but if the darkness had anything to do with it, Tori didn’t put it aside —if anything, it seemed to be the most likely option. Deep in thought as she questioned the fact, she caught Jake looking at her, a wide grin written in his expression as he settled on a deal.
The sudden request had taken her off-guard, having thought that, even if she was willing to explain, the trio wouldn’t pair up with Tori’s plan —but apparently that begged to differ. Smirking back as her arms remained calmly crossed over her chest, Tori turned towards him, willing to hear him out.
“So, you’re willing to meet me half-way?” she asked, “Hmm…” Tori hummed for a bit, “…Alright —I’ll listen you out. I don’t mind about the fact that you want to settle on a deal over all this. If anything, it makes things easier” Tori’s smirk widened, as her arms dropped to her sides with confidence, “So shoot —Let’s see what you have to say.”
It felt refreshing, making progress. Investigating the rumors would be a safe way to understand what was happening, so long as they didn’t pick fights while they did so. And even then, Jake and Tori were capable fighters —it didn’t matter if it was Heartless, or other people, they could surely help others out with their expertise.
Things seemed brighter, for a moment, but it was more than enough for the time being. Hoping to help solve things out, Tori waited on what Jake had in mind.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 20, 2021 13:58:20 GMT -5
”So, you’re willing to meet me half-way?” Indeed, it seemed though Jake had been against playing the villain before, they were willing to do whatever it took to get the teen’s help in solving Neverland’s problems. Apparently at the end of the day, the young captain cared more about the world itself than his own reputation. ”So shoot—let’s see what you have to say.” Izzy and Cubby seemed curious as well, though eager to help. ”Wait!” Frowning and flashing a worried look between everyone, Marina cut in. ”You can’t do that! What if something happens to you all…?” Looking down, the mermaid seemed distressed. ”You just came back, too…” This time, Cubby was the first to speak up, a surprisingly determined look on their face. ”Aww, coconuts! You know we can’t do nothing, though! We used to live here, too!” It seemed despite being the youngest and most cowardly, the pirate had a strong moral compass. "But what are we supposed to do that everyone else hasn’t done already?! SQUAWK!” Skully appeared to still be skeptical, giving a disapproving look at the pirates for a moment before shaking his head. ”Besides, we’re here for a reason, remember!”
Jake merely gave an exasperated sigh and shook his head in response. ”I know, Skully. We’re not gonna abandon ship here, okay? Just a detour.” Shifting his gaze to Marina, he scratched the back of his head with a somewhat sheepish look. ”’Bout that…we can look into the Swamp and the Tribesmen…but can you tell us any routes to the Fairy Lake that aren’t through the forests?” The question caught Marina off-guard, though she tilted her head and tapped her chin in thought, seemingly trying to remember such paths. ”Hm…Well, you know most of our routes are water-based…You’d have to cut through the swamp.” The mention of the Crocodiles territory caused her face to fall once more. ”We haven’t actually gotten to see the Fairies lately, because of that…” Izzy’s eyes flashed with concern as she perked up. ”Are they caught up in the fighting, too?!” For a moment, the pirates all had looks of shock or grimaces of dismay before Marina shook her head, dismissing their worries. ”No, they’re too crafty with their magic for that…but, since our pathways are mostly through the water, none of us have gotten to visit lately. The Crocodiles have been too territorial, even with the back rivers. Those monsters roam around, too. Some can even swim, or look like fish.”
The mermaid shivered at the thought, clearly finding the Heartless terrifying. ”Don’t worry ‘bout that! Tori and I can take care o’ those monsters!” Flashing a confidant smirk at the teen, Jake rested a hand on the hilt of his sheathed cutlass. ”Ain’t that right, 'expert'?” With a wink at the last word, it seemed the captain was hoping the girl would play along, to soothe Marina’s worries. ”Besides, not all of the Crocs’re bad!” Cubby chimed back in, optimistic as ever. ”Remember that one that helped us beat Hook?!” Izzy and Jake exchanged surprised looks of astonishment before snapping their fingers. ”Oh yeah!” It seemed the pirate group had been making friends of all sorts during their time in Neverland, even having a Crocodile friend who would perhaps vouch for them for safe passage in the swamps? Turning back to Tori, Jake raised an eyebrow. ”How ‘bout it? We let you keep taggin’ along to find your friend while you help us fight those monsters. We’ll also act the part you want, if we run into those Lost Boys, in exchange for you comin’ to help us out with investigatin’!” With the details of the deal laid out, all the was left was for Tori to accept or deny it.
That being said, what would she do otherwise, in a strange world on the verge of war? They were finally nearing the destination intended for them. Deep in the heart of the Tiki Woods, where the trees were adorned with countless masks and carvings, as well as traps for both animals and trespassers, the Lost Boys and Henoke found themselves emerging into the main camp of the Tribesmen. Countless tents perched around the lush forest, a clear river running between the area that was most likely used as a water supply. Large fire pits speckled the area, with logs and rocks acting as seats for some of the tribe members either cooking, relaxing, or otherwise. I knew it! With a victorious and mischievous smirk, Henoke eyed the wooden cages that came into view further into the encampment, clearly where the current men leading them were aiming to put them in. Glancing over his shoulder and in front of him at each Lost Boy, the teen decided against sharing his plan with any of them, both out of doubt in their capabilities and due to the fact he didn't want the Tribesmen to hear his idea. Hehe~ They won't know what hit 'em! A dark and defiant gleam was in his golden eyes as Henoke marched forward with his head held high, glaring at the tribe members they'd walk past, giving the new prisoners curious glances and hushed curses.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 20, 2021 14:14:12 GMT -5
Nodding along the team’s sentiment, Tori found herself listening closely to the deal at hand. Then again, it seemed Marina wasn’t sure that they should do something as reckless as investigating rumors, but the pirate crew’s memories of the world, and wanting to return it back to what it was, overpowered said concern —something the girl found all too characteristic of them.
And if she could lend them a hand in achieving said goal, then she’d do whatever she could do help them.
The mention of fairies, which was what they were after from the beginning, brought Tori out of thought. It seemed it would be a hard path, but Jake’s confidence was contagious. Finding herself laughing at the sight, she nodded, smirking back at Jake’s tease.
“Bring it —they won’t know what hit them” she replied back.
”How ‘bout it?” Jake recapped the deal they would have, from now onwards —while Tori helped them out fighting the Heartless, the crew would help her find Henoke, as well as play the role she’d asked of them only in case the Lost Boys were alongside him, which would most likely hold true. Despite being against the idea at first, the pirate captain seemed to know what was beneficial for the time being —something Tori appreciated. Nodding once with firm determination, the girl was set.
“Just have fun playing bad guy for a bit —it’s not like I need you guys to be serious on the role” she mentioned, “And besides… I plan on doing most of it by myself, but I still appreciate the fact that you’re willing to help me, albeit with a deal in hand” she finished with a tease.
The goal now were the Swamps, and past that, the Fairy Lake. From there, who knows how many enemies they’d encounter, on the way there as well as the location? Hopefully, though, the crocodile that apparently was friends with Jake, Izzy and Cubby would help them pass with ease, not bothering to fight and convincing others to do the same.
Although couldn’t Tori just use her Illusions for that? As the thought suddenly crossed her mind, having not considered it before, she blinked, thinking for a bit.
“…No, wait —that’d make even more problems, rather than solve them…” she justified to herself, shaking her head softly, “It’s best if we don’t use tricks like those.”
After going through that mini talk with herself, Tori would be on the lookout, as the team would take a detour to their destination, hoping that things would smoothen up by now… Although that was probably unlikely.
Not that she minded —she was having a bit too much fun in that world, and fighting alongside others with strong convictions only made the experience even more endearing.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 20, 2021 14:56:02 GMT -5
”Bring it—they won’t know what hit them.” Tori’s response received a silent nod of gratitude from the young captain while Marina gave a small sigh of relief. ”Hm…okay, if you both say so.” Seemingly calmed from their worries, the mermaid listened to the deal being struck with intrigue. ”Well, it’s settled then!” Grinning with confidence, Jake leaned over the railing a bit, shouting towards the bow of the ship. ”Catch all that, Bucky?” The ship shook in response as Bucky’s voice broke across the sounds of the calm waters. ”Crocodiles…swimming monsters…I don’t like any of this!” Laughing in response to their friends concerns, the pirate captain merely slapped their knee while Cubby patted the railing nearest to them in a small gesture of comfort. ”Don’t worry, Bucky. I’m scared, too.” It seemed despite the pirate’s fears, they were determined to help however they could, when it came to protecting Neverland and those who resided there. ”I should get back…some of the council heads keep arguing about whether to stay neutral or not. I can't let them have us join in the fighting!” Sighing a bit, the mermaid shook her head. ”I’d come with you, but…” Izzy rushed up the steps of the raised deck, hugging Marina with a reassuring lighthearted tone in her voice.
”Don’t worry! We’re all needed somewhere, after all! Do what you can here for your people.” Turning to Tori, Jake gestured towards the Lagoon around them. ”It looks empty, but the mermaids built a huuuuuge city beneath the water…” Skully squawked in agreement, eyeing the water himself with a look of longing. ”Not that we can explore it, SQUAWK!” Indeed, without magic, how was a human (or parrot, in Skully’s case) supposed to hold their breath long enough to explore an underwater city? ”C’mon, we’ll head out for the swamps!” Getting the group back on track, Jake walked over to Marina, puffing up his chest a bit while jabbing a thumb into it, looking confident. ”Don’t worry! We’ll figure out what’s goin’ on with those Crocs and Tribesmen!” Nodding, the mermaid gave her words of gratitude before leaping back over the side of the ship, disappearing beneath the water before resurfacing with a small shell in her hands.
”Follow this map!” Tossing the shell to Jake, the captain was surprised to find etching along the shells design, forming a 3-D map of sorts. ”Woah…cool!” Cubby’s eyes widened, glancing over at Marina with obvious curiosity. ”Ha ha, it’s nothing special! How else would we keep maps underwater?” Rolling her eyes, the mermaid gave a wave goodbye and words of good luck before disappearing back into the water, her tail flipping and giving a final wave before going out of sight. ”Alright, Cubby! Set coordinates!” Tossing the shell to the younger pirate, Jake walked back to the wheel of the ship, grinning as he stared out at the open water. ”It’s time for us to set sail!” Squawking, Skully soared from shoulder to Crow’s Nest, swift to assume position. Izzy and Cubby gave quick nods and salutes before setting off to their own tasks. Studying the shell map Marina had given them, Cubby began to work out their route while Izzy began to prepare the large sail of the ship.
”Ha ha ha! Now you're toast!” Laughing with a vicious and dark smirk on his face, Henoke stepped out from the smoldering and flaming cage that had once housed him. Though his hands remained tied together, grasped in them was his large and mighty Keyblade, his gold eyes nearly aglow with malice as he aimed it towards the nearest group of surprised Tiki Tribesmen. ”I’m gonna make ya pay for humiliatin’ me, earlier!” Shouting out in surprise, the group attempted to arm themselves as the teen shot across the small campfire, raising their Keyblade into the air as they summoned their Thundara spell, causing lightning bolts to crash! and zap! along the area. ”Woah!” Shouting out in surprise, the other Lost Boys watched from their own cages, still locked up. "Yeah! Get 'em, Henoke!"
Having waited until they had all been locked and placed in their own cages, Henoke had taken the opportunity to strike. Having lost earlier due to having one of the Lost Boys taken hostage, the teen had figured they’d be safest locked up, allowing him the room to run rampant through the encampment. He’d break them out afterwards, once dealing with the Tribesmen. With the aid of his magic and Keyblade, the teen hardly felt cowed at the fact that he was severely outnumbered. As a horn blared across the encampment, warning others out of sight of the prisoner now running rampant, the forest was soon alive with a thrum of activity as spears and bows were gathered, all while one hotheaded teen swung a mighty weapon and shot fireballs to deliver punishment!
The sun shone brightly, though its position betrayed that it'd only be a few hours until it began to set. Splashing through the calm waters at a steady pace, Bucky had quieted from their singing as they left the safety of the Lagoon. Following along the shores of Neverland from a distance, Cubby had pointed out a pocketed river that was marked on the shell map Marina had given them. "This river should bring us to the swamps..." The Navigator gulped a bit, though Jake wore a cocky smirk on his face as he steered at the wheel. "Nice! We should make it there before night, at this rate." Knowing the rumors Marina had mentioned, they'd want to arrive with enough time to investigate before it got dark, to avoid getting lost. As the group entered the river that broke into Neverland from the ocean, the sunlight would become more peppered and speckled, as tall trees loomed over the banks and sheltered the river from the harshness of direct light. Overgrown and lush grassy banks perched on each side, the forest darker and trees thinner and taller than the ones Tori had first seen on the shores prior.
"I don't like this..." Bucky's voice broke through, trembling slightly as heavier shadows began to fall over their path. "SQUAWK! Get ready!" Skully's shrill voice was followed up by a familiar feeling and dark presence as the parrot flew from the Crow's Nest down to the main deck. "We've got company!" Sure enough, Heartless had emerged, some chasing after the ship in the water while others appeared directly on deck from dark portals, seemingly out of nowhere. SLAM! Bucky shouted out in fear and pain as the ship lurched. On the side, a large Jet Balloon Heartless had rammed against it, while Missile Divers began to climb up the sides. It was an immediate battle as the Heartless moved forward! With Tori and Izzy on the main deck and Jake and Cubby on the raised deck, the team was evenly split as the Heartless made their moves! "Don't let 'em hurt Bucky!" With a look of anger on his face, Jake had leapt onto the railing, gripping a loose rope from one of the ship masts as he leapt and swung. Slashing with his cutlass at the fish-like Heartless threatening his ship in the water, the captain was quick to swing back to the raised deck afterwards, preparing to fight off the coming enemies already aboard!
[[ENEMIES: 2 Jet Balloons, 4 Missile Divers, 5 Shadows, 2 Air Pirates]] [[Protect Bucky!]]
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 20, 2021 17:07:55 GMT -5
Plan was set, with everyone on the same page. Bidding Marina goodbye after she handed over a map, Tori looked out towards the horizon, wondering just what awaited past her vision. The mention of an underwater city was an appealing idea, but by no means did they have the means to help the mermaid convince the rest to not fight —entrusting her with the task. Still, Tori was sure the mermaid would be more than capable of doing the convincing alone, based on the interactions when they met. Setting sail with Jake on the wheel and Cubby besides him, Tori decided to be a bit more adventurous. Experienced in the ways of the sea thanks to her own home world, she jumped over the railing to sit over it, her feet hanging back and forth while her hands gripped onto it firmly, following the movements of the ship coursing though the waves —the sea breeze hitting her straight in the face in a rather refreshing way.
A smirk arose from her lips, as Tori continued to look forward. Whatever enemies crossed their path, whatever troubled she encountered…
She would overcome all of it, no matter the challenge or cost —just like she’d always done.
"SQUAWK! Get ready!"
Alerted by Skully, Tori’s gaze strengthened. She’d spent the entire voyage gazing at the horizon, watching the sun move across the sky, and was soon to fall down and become night. The presence of darkness made itself clear from the start, as the girl stood up from her sitting position and standing up over the fence with perfect balance, calling onto the Keyblade while the other hand hovered over the broadsword’s handle.
The balance didn’t last long, as Tori lost it when Bucky lurched alongside a SLAM! Caused by one of the Jet Balloons. Jumping over to land on the deck, she grimaced, both weapons firm in her hands as she readied herself for a fight.
It was time to defend the ship!
With both Jet Balloons on the water, tackling at Bucky, the other Heartless showed up on deck, ready to attack and send them adrift —not something Tori would allow. Glancing towards the enemies on the water, Tori chanted a Thundaja spell onto one of the Jet Balloons, to then charge towards the Shadows alongside Jake.
“Get lost!” she shouted, slicing through with the Keyblade shimmered in light.
Her eyes shifted from blue to purple, as mist threatened to explode with violence around her, her Keyblade and attire flickering their appearance. It was slowly getting harder to keep her power hidden, but as she was unable to fully control it, Tori decided to play with her own tricks —the ones she’d grown up developing.
The quicker they could get the fight over with, the better.
“Keep moving —if we let them stop us here, we won’t make it in time!” she shouted, looking at Cubby, “No matter what, keep steering in the path you were looking at! We’ll take care of these guys in no time!”
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