Gill Grunt groaned and sat up. His vision was so blurry that all he could comprehend was massive blobs of whites, blue and purples, all so glassy and soft that they merged together in his mind. He blinked, and the blurry colors started to settle a little more in his mind. Their blurry features sharpened to reveal a sleek room with a massive window to a duller, darker room on the other end, but, just what was it?

Gill Grunt shifted around and tried to move his arms, but thick, coarse rope kept them tied tight to his chest. For that matter, his legs were tied as well, and somewhat numb to boot! He could only flop around like a fish in a barrel, which wasn't exactly ideal when he was in a strange room with a massive headache.

It seemed as though he wasn't the only one with this plight! The sounds of soft groaning came from beside him, and Gill Grunt turned to his right. Beside him, Spyro, Trigger Happy, and Stealth Elf all laid on platforms much like the one he himself sat on. Their limbs were bound and tied while their tired heads swayed from side to side.

"Guh, what happened?" Trigger Happy groaned as he flicked his ears straight. "I feel like I got hit by two trucks at the same time."

"Good question," Spyro grunted as he rubbed his head, "I just remember flying around, and something about pirates, and it getting really wet…"

Wait, pirates? Just the word was enough to bring the events back to Gill Grunt's mind! The earlier moments, of him scouring through the rapids for Rita all flashed back to him, and then it changed to him hunting through prisons and cold, bitter air lashing at his scales, then… Gill Grunt's mouth gaped slightly and he lowered his head. Rita. He remembered now. He found that cell with her scales, the others all barren save for remnants of the dead.

"That's it!" Stealth Elf cried. "We were going to save Gill Grunt's girlfriend, but that pirate knocked us out cold before we could!"

"That's right, now I remember!" Spyro cried as he turned around. "Gill, did you find her?"

Gill Grunt winced, hung his head lower and shook it just slightly.

"I looked everywhere, but," Gill Grunt croaked, and a single tear slid down his face, "all I found were a couple of scales."

Spyro frowned and leaned backwards. "Wait, are you saying—"

"Oh, just what I like to see, prisoners with broken spirits!" shrieked a voice filled with glee.

All four of them turned their attention back to the glass. There, that very same air mage pirate from before sat in front of them! The mage cackled as his eyes fell on the four of them, all bound, helpless, and only able to glare at him from within the confines of their stark, white prison. He chuckled as he stroked his chin, and wagged a finger. Tiny embers flew from Spyro's mouth and sizzled as they hit the glass, but the mage just chuckled against as if he basked in their anger! The sharp glares that Trigger Happy and Stealth Elf shot him did little to dissuade his confidence, either, for he just continued to laugh!

"Laugh all you want now, but once we get out of here, we're wiping that smile clean off of your face!" Stealth Elf hissed.

"And how do you think you're gonna do that, missy?" the mage sneered.

Stealth Elf snarled as she wiggled her arm just slightly freer of the ropes, dove into her pockets and patted them down. She gasped and yanked them out empty-handed! Her eyes turned wide as she checked her second pocket, but it only brought about similar results.

"My daggers!" Stealth Elf cried. "They're gone!"

Trigger Happy grunted, scratched his back against the platform, and gasped as well. "And so're my guns! And my safes and coins and everything else!" Trigger Happy cried.

"That's right, mateys!" the mage proclaimed as he stroked his beard, "I made absolute sure to disarm ye before we had our little fun here!"

"Just what are you talking about?" Spyro cried back.

The mage just rolled his eyes as another snicker left his mouth. "Ye best not worry too much about me, mateys," the mage remarked. "If anything, ye should probably be more concerned about yerselves!"

"What does that mean?"

The mage turned around and held his hands behind his back. "Well, ye wanted to get off me little ship so bad, right? So, we're getting ye off" — the mage turned around and grinned as lightning crashed behind him — "BY DROWNIN' YE IN A BOILING WATERY DOOM!"

The mage cackled as he pressed a couple of buttons. The ceilings opened up, and poured water so hot that steam burst from its popped bubbles right into the room! The whole area around heated up and simmered to the point where it felt more like a sauna than a prison, but not in a good way. No, the heat was oppressive and dizzying, the kind that spun heads and numbed bodies with its warmth!

The thickness of it all choked Gill Grunt; his scales shriveled and dry and his eyes stung from the heat. Was it heat? He couldn't tell, for the thought of Rita kept a grip on his mind.

"Any last requests, mateys?" the mage asked as he steepled his fingers and leaned against the console.

"Don't need any!" Spyro cried as he leaned forward. "We're not going to die here!"

"Yeah!" Stealth Elf and Trigger Happy cried.

"Suit yerselves." The mage rolled his eyes and scoffed, but that sickening smile returned to his face the moment he laid eyes on Gill Grunt once more. "What about you, little fishy?"

Gill Grunt paused and lifted his head, which felt a bit wetter than normal—was he crying? He hadn't realized, but his head was so fuzzy that he couldn't even notice. His love, his one true pearl of the sea, the one he promised to save… Was gone. She died alone and helpless, and he was none the wiser!

Spyro huffed and cast out smoke as he glared down the pirate, but his gaze softened as he turned back to Gill Grunt.

"Gill," Spyro whispered.

Gill Grunt sighed, lifted his head and stared down the mage. The usual animosity that filled his heart when the sight of those swashbuckling goons disappeared in favor of tranquil numbness. He couldn't quite bring himself to feel anything else, after all.

"Just one," was all Gill Grunt said.

"Gill, what are you talking about?" Spyro cried. "We can't give up here! I know things look a little tough now, but we've been in worse positions, but—"

"Spyro, just be quiet."

Spyro gasped, shut his mouth and inched away. The wide look in his eyes gave him a bit taken aback a feeling, but nonetheless he obliged Gill Grunt's request and leaned back.

"Rita's dead and gone and I had no clue!" Gill Grunt croaked, and his voice started to crack as those tears began dropping down his face. "I promised her I'd save her, I traveled to the ends of Skylands and back for her, but in the end, I couldn't be there for her when she needed me!" Gill Grunt hiccuped, and he hung his eyes as his eyes started to sting. "I might as well just give up here. At least we can be together in death."

"Gill Grunt, stop talking like that!" Stealth Elf spat. "You're—"

A glare from Spyro zipped Stealth Elf's lips shut, and Gill Grunt just curled into a shuddered ball the best he could. The pound of rushing water and screech of hot steam filled his ears as the boiling waters grew below him, but all he did was close his eyes and let the heat evaporate his tears. He was in no position to argue.

"Tell me, pirate," Gill Grunt sniffled, "how did Rita die?"

The mage cackled and he drummed his fingers together.

"The same way all of ye will meet yer graves, of course! She boiled to death in the hottest of waters, screaming and pounding as she tried to escape with no luck, spittin' insults all the way!" The mage hooted, and that smirk crossed his face once more. "She was one of the feistier ones we've gotten, that's fer sure! She put up a pretty grand fight, to boot. That slippery lass broke her way through the glass, sneaked back on deck, tried drownin' us all with some fancy water spells, even! She even took the first mate's own cutlass from him and used it like she was a pro! Had the whole crew on deck tryin' to get her back, but it was a struggle, that's fer sure!"

The mage cackled and stroked his beard, and his gaze almost turned a bit pensive?

"Almost makes it a shame that she wiggled her way out and escaped through the cannons. That would've been an execution for the ages!"

"Wait, she escaped?"

The mage gasped, and turned around all wide-eyed as he glanced back at Gill Grunt. "Did I say that out loud?"

Gill Grunt's eyes fluttered, and that numb feeling that overtook him before started to ease. So, that was a lie! She really had escaped!

"Hear that, Gill?" Spyro asked as he turned back to Gill Grunt, his golden eyes bright and sparkly like the real thing. "She might still be alive after all!"

"Oh, I heard it alright!" Gill Grunt cried as he jumped to his feet!

The mage gasped, scrambled backwards and waved his hands. "For, forget about what I said!" The mage cried as sweat dripped down his brow. "She didn't really escape, we absolutely executed her! She died screaming in a boilin' water grave! We carved off all her scales and used 'em to line our robes, we made her into fish filet! That lil' mermaid you were lookin' for completely died in our clutches!" The mage puffed out his chest, and his beard and mustache fluffed up like his clothes did as sparks cracked from their ends. "Had the honor of de-scaling her myself and everything! I swear! I swear by Captain Frightbeard's locker!"

Gill Grunt completely tuned the mage out. He didn't have time to care about that guy's babbling—after all, he had to get out of here! Gill Grunt sprinted forward, leaped into the heat of the boiling water with a splash, and flapped his legs like a mermaid's tail as he swam underneath. The heat seared his scales and burned his eyes, but Gill Grunt just gritted his teeth and bore it as he swam closer to the base of the window. There, tiny white cracks formed. The heat already started to chip away at the window, and he was gonna speed it along!

Gill Grunt swam backwards, and rammed himself against the cracked part of the glass! He drew back and slammed against it again as the cracks grew bigger in response to the stress, and the cracks speared all across the window! From within the waters, the wavy vision of the mage screamed and panicked as he toyed with the controls. Gill Grunt could also vaguely hear the shouts of Spyro, Trigger Happy and Stealth Elf above, so he slammed himself into the glass one last time!

This time, the sheer force spread the cracks across the glass, and the whole thing shattered! The water rushed out in a massive tidal wave, and Gill Grunt, Spyro, Stealth Elf and Trigger Happy all rode the top. The four of them screamed as they washed up on the other side of their prison, hacked out water and shuddered as the waves dried up with only puddles remaining. They were burnt and sore from the heat of being nearly boiled alive, but thank the Ancients, they were alive!

"Now hold it right there, mateys!" the mage cried as he turned around. "Ye may have escaped being boiled, but I'll still filet ye!"

Gill Grunt scowled, and his eyes trailed over to the corner where a pile with all their weapons laid! He gasped, jumped up, and leaned forward as he bolted right towards the pile. The mage's shouts sounded behind him, but he just shifted through, yanked Stealth Elf's daggers out with his mouth, and tossed them straight to her.

"Catch!" Gill Grunt cried as the daggers soared across the room.

Stealth Elf yanked out her hands from the ropes, leaped up and grabbed her daggers right out of the air! With a single slash, the ropes that bound her got sliced in half, and cascaded down to the floor right as she landed. Stealth Elf smirked, slashed Spyro and Trigger Happy's ropes open, and flipped over as she sliced Gill Grunt free as well!

All four of them grinned and glared down the mage as they stretched their freed limbs. Spyro flapped his wings and sent a purple glow pulsating through the area! All at once, their burns and scars from being nearly boiled alive healed. A new energy filled their veins as they jumped up and stretched! The smiles they all shared showed that they were all of the same mind as to what to put this newfound energy to: beating down that mage!

The mage snarled and held out his hands. The puddles of boiling water around him shuddered and leaped from the grounds! They all swirled together into massive tsunamis, but ground to a stop, and flicked drops of boiling water everywhere as they transformed into melting monsters! The winds howled and chilled the area as they swept around the mage, and his snarl only grew wider.

"GET READY TO MEET YER GRAVES, LANDLUBBERS!" the mage bellowed as the winds completely engulfed him and turned him giant!

"How can I be a landlubber if I'm a fish?" Gill Grunt remarked.

Spyro chuckled, but the roar of the water monsters as they charged towards him broke his cockiness! He flew aside as they came in close, and his eyes flashed red as he flapped his wings. An aura of heat radiated off of him, and not just from the confident smirk on his face. No, the whole room heated up, and the water monsters' faces fell as they completely evaporated! They fell into massive puddles on the floor and cast steam across the room, and their muffled, guttural cries rumbled around.

Spyro smirked as he leaned down and examined the shrinking puddles, but screamed as a large gust of hot air blew him backwards! A crack sounded as he crashed into the wall and collapsed on all fours, yet Spyro just jumped up and snarled, wings flared as he glared down the mage! Beside Spyro, Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy and Stealth Elf warily raised their weapons and turned their eyes towards the mage.

The mage only huffed and took a step towards them. His whole body turned red hot, and his eyes were bloodshot—or maybe burned? The red aura of heat that glowed from him only further fuzzied the matter as he heaved heavy, steam-filled breaths and balled his hands into fists.

"They may not be able to take the heat, but I'm still full of hot air!" the mage proclaimed.

He took a massive breath in, blew out and sent hot air bellowing through the room! The walls screeched and turned red as Spyro, Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy and Stealth Elf all crashed and collapsed, their bodies red in places with heat as they groaned and pushed themselves up. While the others grunted and forced themselves to their feet, Spyro jumped to all fours as his eyes changed to an icy blue in color!

"How about you cool off?" Spyro spat as mist swirled around his fangs.

Spyro breathed in, exhaled, and out from his mouth came a mighty gust of cold wind! The room chilled to icy temperatures. They were so icy that frost crystals formed on the walls and floors, icicles drooped down from the ceilings, and even the puddles that remained on the floor became solid ice!

The mage gasped and stumbled backwards as the ice drew closer to his feet, but exhaled a mighty hot gust of his own! The walls changed from cold to hot in flickers as the two gusts fought against each other, Spyro straining with all his might to fight the mage's own blast. Finally, one last breath from Spyro prevailed, and his own ice breath blasted away the mage's hot air! The mage screamed as the cold air hit him full force, and the heat swept away from his body as it turned an icy, cold blue. The ice formed a solid coat around the mage, one that locked him inside completely! He stood frozen in a terrified scream, unable to move!

Stealth Elf smirked, yanked her daggers back off the ground and slashed right through the air! Her blades chipped across and left icy white streaks and scratches against its solid filter. As she smashed, slashed, and chipped away further, wind and smoke leaked from cracks that formed. The frozen mage rattled and tipped back and forth.

Stealth Elf just flipped back and smacked Trigger Happy on the arm. "Your turn, Trigger Happy!" Stealth Elf cried as she vanished into the back of the room.

Trigger Happy grinned, whipped out a golden machine gun and clung to its side. "Let's end this with a bang!" Trigger Happy cried as he wrapped his hands around the trigger.

A ballista of golden coins shot out from the gun and smacked right into the statue, and the cracks Stealth Elf created buckled at last! A hole forced in the icy statue as even more smoke leaked out. A massive golden coin smashed the statue in the back of the wall, and completely shattered its icy coat! A burst of mist funneled through the room.

Hacking came from within the clouds as the shuddering mage stumbled out—and back at normal size to boot. "As I was saying," the mage snarled, but blinked as he found himself eye-level with the Skylanders once more!

He jolted back and breathed in, but before he could grow larger once more, a fireball slammed onto him and knocked him down. He groaned and sat back up as he held his head, but yelped as he touched burning fires instead! The mage screamed and rolled around as the lingering flames from the fire burned around him.

Behind him, Gill Grunt chuckled and lifted his harpoon gun up! With a single pull of the trigger, a massive stream of water slammed into the mage. The water completely drenched the mage's fires, and it was so heavy that it knocked down the mage as well! The mage grunted as he collapsed on his back and shouted as he tried to lift his arms, yet could barely lift an inch before he got pinned down once again! The pirate shouted and cursed as he struggled, but Gill Grunt just scoffed and lowered his cannon.

"You alright, Gill?" Spyro asked as he nudged Gill Grunt's shoulder with his wing.

Gill Grunt just nodded, hoisted his water cannon up and strode over a frozen puddle. "Come on," he said, "let's get outta here. I'm sure everyone's waiting on us."

"Yeah, about that," Trigger Happy asked as he raised a hand, "just how are we supposed to get out of here, anyways?"

"Maybe through that teleporter over there?" Stealth Elf asked.

She pointed to a teleporter in the corner of the room. Above the teleporter, a sign that had "Teleporter" scrawled on it pointed to the teleporter from above.

"Oh, that's convenient!"

They all nodded, and hopped on the teleporter one by one before they vanished into the distances in bursts of light and sparkles.

§

Chills ran down everyone's spines as the pirates lead them off the ship, though whether that was because of the misty, chilly atmosphere of where they were led, or the tension from Ninjini's oncoming confrontation with this Solavita person, remained to be seen. After all, for all the tension the battle wrought, the graveyard itself had it fair share of creepiness to match!

Thick mist coated every angle of it, and instead of floors, it held chilly, slimy, green water that squished and sloshed with every step. Strung across the sides were old ships in all shapes and sizes from tugboats and cargo ships, to full-on tankers and airships in every make and model; all of them held notable wear and tear, like they hadn't been used in ages. All the ships bore the ghost pirates flags and sails, and their hulls decorated with a ghastly glow. The rotting stench of death reeked from every angle with an eye-watering intensity, and dead trees and gravestones covered in cobwebs occasionally cropped up of nowhere amid the mist. Perhaps, they'd always been there, but stayed masked by the mist. Either way, the sight was enough to put anyone on edge.

Flynn shuddered as his eyes fell on the rows of ghost ships.

"Geez, these ships gives me the creeps just looking at 'em," Flynn whispered as he leaned closer to Cali. "They look like they haven't been repaired in ages!"

Cali scoffed as she glazed over the ships. "Somehow, I get the feeling repairs aren't exactly first priority in these pirates' minds."

Flynn shuddered again, and he opened his mouth—but quickly bit his tongue before he could speak! His eyes swelled with tears as he held back a scream, and Cali raised a brow.

"Flynn, what's wrong?" Cali asked. "Bit your tongue again?"

Flynn nodded, and his eyes popped wide as he frantically shook his head! He grunted as he nudged towards Cali, but she in turn snarled as he pushed against her and pushed back!

"Geez, Flynn, don't need to push!" Cali rolled her eyes and turned aside. "What's got you in such a—" Cali gasped, and her eyes turned wide. "The Dread-Yacht!"

"The Dread-Yacht?" the Elder Elementals cried as head turned in every direction. "WHERE?"

Cali and Flynn both hastily shushed the Elder Elementals. as everyone's cries drew to a close, the two of them pointed their heads off to the side.

Sure enough, the Dread-Yacht laid there! It didn't have the ratty condition it was in during the ambush at all, or even the disheveled and disrepaired condition the other ships did. No, it was completely shiny and brand-new, almost! It even bore those ghastly decorations that all the other ships held too!

"I can't believe it, she's alright!" Flynn whispered, his eyes bright before they fell on the sails. "Not liking the taste in attire though" — Flynn shook his head — "but, I suppose we can fix that when we get it back!"

"How are we gonna get it back, though?" Cali whispered as she nudged Flynn's shoulders. She gestured to the many pirates that crowded around them and marched like zombies. "We're surrounded by pirates at every angle!"

Ninjini leaned down and frowned. "Actually, I think I know!" Ninjini whispered. "Once I go to fight Solavita, see if you can distract these pirates and take it then. I should be able to keep her occupied long enough to keep these pirates—"

"What exactly are you whispering about?" asked the pirates behind Ninjini in Solavita's booming voice.

Ninjini gasped, turned around and chuckled as she hid Flynn and Cali behind her back. "Nothing, nothing at all!"

The pirates gave Ninjini an odd look as they walked ahead, eyes raised and frowns paused and all, but a rumble shook the area and they all became groaning zombies once more!

Ninjini gasped and turned around. There, she found that at the end of their path was a rusted gate with all sorts of fancy undead decorations carved in it: rotting roses, ghosts, skulls, bats… It was much more befitting of a manor that a graveyard such as this by design, but the eerie glow it held fit all the same.

"I suppose this is the place," Ninjini remarked as she untied Flynn and Cali and handed them off to Bouncer.

The two of them shared a nod, and Ninjini turned around right as the doors slowly creaked open. Ninjini's hands trembled, but she settled them with a tight squeeze. Everyone around her frowned and tilted her heads, yet she only smiled.

"Don't worry about me," she said as she turned to the gates and glared them down. "This is my fight to face, after all."

Ninjini gulped and dove right through the gates! The others tried to follow, but the gate shut back up the moment she entered, and a massive stone rose behind Ninjini—she truly was alone now. Ninjini tensed; on instinct, she whipped out her hands and summoned her wishblades as she crept in the hall ahead.

"Solavita, I've arrived!" Ninjini cried as she stepped into the light of a round, cavern room and pointed her wishblades ahead. "Show yourself!"

But, Solavita was nowhere to be found! The only thing that laid in the cavern room besides Ninjini herself was a simple stone throne that lacked a carrier. All seemed oddly peaceful for a moment, but then, cackling sounded off as red smoke flooded into the room!

"Why, I'm right in front of you, Fatimah!" Solavita cackled.

A puff of red smoke popped out from the throne, and as it cleared, those cackles grew less booming, less cackling, almost normal. The smoke finally all vanished, and in its placed it revealed… Oh dear Ancients!

There on the throne laid what could only be described as a living corpse! Its skin was bone white, so thin and ragged that it clung to the bones; it could have been mistaken for the actual stuff if not for the wrinkles! Its red hair was thin and strained, and its eyes were little more than sunken sockets with no color to them. It wore a tattered purple and red dress that draped over its body like a sack, so thin that the sparkling silver crystal wheel pendant it wore could barely be seen, and the matching-colored headdress it donned barely fit its head. This, this couldn't have been Solavita, could it?

That same cackle sounded off again as the corpse sat upright in its throne, and the laugh perfectly matched—yes, this was Solavita alright!

"My, my, why the surprised look? I know it's been ten thousand years, but I haven't changed that much," Solavita chuckled as she waved her hands back and forth. Her eyes narrowed, and she drew a hand to her face as she chucked. "If anything, I'm more surprised by you!" Solavita pointed a wrinkled hand towards Ninjini. "All these years and you haven't aged a bit!"

Ninjini hissed through her clenched teeth, and furrowed her brows as she pointed a wishblade towards Solavita. "Nevermind that!" Ninjini cried. "Answer me, Solavita! Why are you doing all this? Why are you taking innocent lives for your own gain? How are you still alive after all these years?"

Solavita broke into a hearty laugh, though it was more chilling than anything with her warped, twisted cackle, or perhaps, the sight of her old foe just threw Ninjini off guard. Solavita quelled her laughter in that instant, lifted herself up and hovered off of her throne.

"I'll tell you alright!" Solavita cried. She hovered for a moment, zipped right up to Ninjini and shoved her face in Ninjini's own. "After I sealed you away in that little bottle, I'd thought I'd be satisfied!" Solavita turned away and scoffed. "Now that you were out of the picture, I was finally the strongest sorceress in all Skylands! I thought I'd feel proud, confident, powerful even…"

Solavita scoffed, and the smug smile she held on her face disappeared. She held her head and squeezed her hands into a fist.

"But, I only felt nothing!" Solavita turned around, and a bright red glow burned around her eye sockets.

"You may had been gone, but I never truly bested you! I couldn't rest knowing that my title hadn't truly been earned, that it was only won by sheer deception. So, I went to unleash you and truly earn the title for myself…"

Solavita narrowed her eyes and the glow became even brighter.

"But you. Were. Gone!"

Ninjini gulped, leaned backwards and gave Solavita a small nod. "That's right," Ninjini whispered, "I broke free of the bottle you trapped me in, and was crowned one of the Elder Elementals soon after."

"Do you have any idea how demeaning it was to hear that?"

Solavita shuddered and panted. The red glow that once laid around her eyes spread to the rest of her body. She screamed and her voice gained the volume of a thousand!

"That bottle was one of my strongest spells, yet you still broke free of it like it was nothing! Worse, you were chosen by the Ancients! You! Even though I was the most powerful sorceress in all Skylands by then, you still found a way to get ahead of me!"

Solavita's body shuddered, but she breathed in and floated back down to the ground.

"I knew then that I couldn't rest until I proved myself by defeating you, but by that time, you disappeared," Solavita said, and a wicked smile crossed her face as she chuckled again. "Everyone around me was completely convinced that you perished, but I couldn't believe that." Solavita's smile turned to some strange combination of a grin and a snarl. "After all, my fated rival couldn't possibly have died, not when she still owed me a final confrontation!"

Solavita chuckled, floated back to her throne and sat down. She drew her fingers across her face, and Ninjini only shuddered and floated back. Just the sight of this withered, wicked corpse that was Solavita sent chills down Ninjini's spine—but, Ninjini couldn't bring herself to turn away.

"So, I spent these past few millennia traveling Skylands, capturing others, and absorbing their life essence to keep myself alive and powerful, all so I'd be prepared for the day when we could finally have our fated battle." Solavita sighed and peered down at her bony arms. "But, as time passed and I grew older and older, it became harder and harder to sustain my body. It wasn't something I could keep doing alone."

Solavita clasped her hand and sighed, but her forlorn status disappeared as she turned back to Ninjini with a smirk.

"So, I implemented the bodies of those I stole life essence from with my spells, and fashioned them into a formal pirate crew! With them as my puppets, I can just sit back and let them do the work while I get all the spoils!" Solavita cackled and placed a hand to her chin as she grinned. "Brilliant, is it not?"

Ninjini's face paled; her wishblades nearly slipped out of her hands, but she gripped them back and gulped. She was sure Solavita could smell her fear, shock, and disgust—just the sickening smile on Solavita's face was enough to show that. Instead, Ninjini snarled.

"It's horrendous, that's what it is!" Ninjini cried! She squeezed the wishblades once more, and her snarl grew deeper. "You killed so many beings all for the sake of a confrontation that might not have even happened! Not only that, but you robbed them of their very souls, of a chance to live on after death as well?" Ninjini's vision turned red and hot, and she swung a wishblade just inches away from Solavita's face, "You're not brilliant! All you are is selfish!"

"Call me that all you want!" Solavita cackled as she hovered over her throne. A sickening mixture of red and purple light radiated from her body. "I finally have the chance to prove myself the superior warrior I've yearned for" — Solavita's eyes shrank as she summoned swords of her own — "and now that I have it, I'm going to take it!"

"Bold of you to assume I'd lose to a wretched corpse such as yourself!"

Ninjini rushed right towards Solavita and slashed forward, but Solavita teleported away as Ninjini cast her blows. The only thing Ninjini sliced was Solavita's throne! Solavita growled; with a snap of her fingers, she summoned blasts of magic that shot straight for Ninjini! Ninjini turned around right as the blasts closed in on her, and she summoned purple orbs that shot right back—but the orbs cracked and shattered the moment they got caught in the magic blasts!

Ninjini gasped and rolled away just as the blasts smashed into Solavita's throne and blew it to bits, but bright red ropes wrapped around her as she caught her breath, and they squeezed her tight! Her wishblades clattered against the floor as she squirmed and struggled. A powerful zap of electricity came from the ropes, and Ninjini knelt down, shuddering as the static coursed through her veins. Her flesh pulsed and seared with intense, throbbing heat as she panted.

"Ah, that throne ran its course," Solavita chuckled as she held a hand to her face, "but what a pity, I'd have thought you'd last longer, at least."

Ninjini scowled as Solavita's smug smile glared her down. Ninjini stretched out a glowing hand from the confines of her roped self, but only screamed as the lightning shocked her once more! The sharp buzz of electricity set her body on fire, yet she still kept her focus as she fixed her attention on her scattered wishblades. If she could just get even one of them over to her side… Ninjini narrowed her eyes, and one wishblade rattled as it fluttered off the ground! The wishblade dashed over, slashed the ropes apart with a single slice, and Ninjini claimed it just before it hit the ground.

"And for a walking corpse, you still have quite a lot of fight in you!" Ninjini remarked as she summoned her second wishblade back and pointed it at Solavita's face! Solavita drew back a bit, and Ninjini herself tensed as she lowered her wishblade.

Looks like I'll have to get a bit more creative than I thought, Ninjini thought as she clasped her wishblades' handles a bit tighter

"My, my, Fatimah, didn't all those years as an Elder Elemental teach you to pay attention during your fights?"

A thick shadow cast over Ninjini. She craned her head up, and screamed as a gigantic skull crashed down towards her and yanked its jaws open! The skull ate her up with a single gulp; it chuckled as it hovered just inches above the ground, but completely shattered as sparkling bottle rockets smashed its cranium to bits! In the center of it all, Ninjini's bottle hovered where the skull once laid, and Ninjini herself popped out as she glared down Solavita.

"How did you do that?" Solavita cried as she floated backwards, jaw agape.

Ninjini scoffed. With a wave of her hands, lavender sparkling smoke burst from her bottle and covered the entire room! The faint sound of cold, rattling coughs echoed from between the sound of hissing, screeching smoke, but Ninjini just waved her hands.

The smoke transformed into all sorts of weapons: missiles, swords, drills, and cannons all formed in their grip, and they all pointed straight at Solavita! Solavita was none the wiser as she hunched over and hacked. Solavite lifted her head as the sound of screeching echoed through their fighting chamber, and screamed as a missile slammed her right in the chest! She shot her into the wall with a sickening crack; Solavita groaned as she slid down, and parts of her skin torn off to reveal cracked, brittle bone underneath. Solavita fell over and collapsed as smoke poured from her face.

Ninjini held a wishblade to Solavita's throat, lifted Solavita's face to hers, and scowled.

"Your reign of terror ends now, Solavita!" Ninjini proclaimed as she pushed the blade closer to Solavita's throat. "No longer will you take any more innocent lives and manipulate them for your own selfish gain! Your petty grudge has driven you to evils innumerable." Ninjini's brows narrowed, and her gaze almost faltered into something more somber as she looked away. "All I can hope now is that the Pits are harsher to you than I was."

Ninjini drew her blade and prepared to chop, but a rattling, bone-chilling scream from the other side of the door caught her ears! She turned around and glanced, but the crack of lightning, and a massive flash of red light drew her attention back to Solavita. Ninjini gasped as the red light stained the walls like blood.

In the heart of it all, Solavita hovered from the ground—but more than that, Solavita changed! Her dying body grew spry and flush with color once more; her death-white skin became a warm peach, and her hair long and silky. Blood red eyes popped from what once were empty eye sockets, and even her clothes fitted and adjusted as if they were brand new! Solavita cackled as she hovered back down to the ground, and an aura of red energy flared around her.

"Ah, finally!" Solavita cried, her voice booming, and fresh with youth and power. She held up a glowing hand, splayed it to admire her lively form, and stretched out the hand as it glowed with bright red magic. "Now, I can finally get serious!"

§

Hot Head, Crusher, Bouncer, Flynn, and Cali all pressed their ears to the massive, gritty stone wall that blocked them off from the world inside. The sounds were muffled, and the five of them could barely make out what was going on, but from what they could glean… It wasn't good. The cries of shouting, clanging weapons, and shattering rock all came from the other side, and they sounded pretty intense despite the muffled volume!

Cali winced as she turned herself away from the wall. She hummed as her eyes turned back to the masses of pirates behind them all, who only stood mindless and wide-eyed like zombies. Her hums continued as she waved her fingers, and she gently nudged Bouncer's head.

"Guys, guys!" Cali whispered! They all turned to her, and she grinned as she pointed back to the legions of ghost pirates. "It looks like her control on them broke! Now would be the perfect time to get the Dread-Yacht back!"

Bouncer, Crusher and Hot Head all grinned as they turned to each other, but Flynn just cringed back on Bouncer's other shoulder.

"I'm not so sure about this," Flynn remarked as he glanced back at the ghosts and shuddered, then shook his head and forced a proud, but still quivering smile. "I mean, there's a lot of ghosts out there! Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not worried at all—I'm one of Skylands toughest, I'll be fine! Probably." Flynn shot a wary eyeball down at the ghosts, and his smile faded as he turned back to Cali. "But I don't know if you all could do it!"

Cali sighed and rolled her eyes, her arms crossed and pressed tight against her chest. "In that case, we'll need a diversion." Cali craned her head up to Bouncer. "Think you guys can come up with something?"

"Oh, I already have," Bouncer remarked. He winked as he placed Cali and Flynn down on the ground, held out his fingers and grinned as their tops popped open. "Hey, ghost guys!" Bouncer called as he turned around. All their eyes fell on Bouncer, and Bouncer's opened finger started to glow. "Catch!"

Bright red bouncy balls leaped out of Bouncer's fingers right as he said this, and they bounced in every direction! They leaped from the walls and slammed into the pirates' backs; they hit the pirates in the guts and exploded upon contact; they even jumped from wall to floor and back again in a hectic, hasty single motion. The pirates all screamed as they raced around in circles and shouted as they took cover, yet the balls' reign of terror wouldn't relent!

With the pirates distracted, Hot Head transformed into a bike, and slammed into the murky waters with a massive splash! His engines revved in spite of the muddy water that dripped off his body and evaporated in a flash. He grinned and nudged his head aside as he glanced at Flynn and Cali.

"Hop on!" Hot Head urged.

Flynn and Cali did just that! Flynn clung to Cali as she clutched onto Hot Head. Hot Head, in turn, jumped up and revved his engines, mud and water screeching and splashing behind him as he raced across the swamps!

The shouting in the distance grew fainter underneath the splash of mud and water. Hot Head zoomed past rows and rows of abandoned ships, snarled and slid underneath a ship that freed itself of its chain as it flew off. Hot Head flung himself back up as he passed underneath the ship's hull, right as the living passengers of the ship grinned and shouted something about freedom. Hot Head scoffed and lowered Flynn and Cali to the ground with a gasp.

"There it is!" Flynn cried as he poked his head over Cali's shoulder and pointed towards the ships. "The Dread-Yacht!"

Sure enough, the Dread-Yacht's green hull poked out from the massive rows of dully-covered, cobweb-coated ships! better yet, it looked completely unmanned, to boot. Getting it back would be a piece of cake!

"Alright, time to blaze this trail!" Hot Head cried.

His engines revved ever further, and with so much power that smoke poured from the exhaust. He zipped off with such speed that the water below him evaporated to make way for his blazing fire trails! The Dread-Yacht grew closer and closer with each roll of Hot Head's tires, so close that he completely passed it and zipped back around before he transformed to normal.

Flynn and Cali screamed as the sudden transformation launched them in the air, but Hot Head just snatched them out and tossed them right towards the Dread-Yacht! Not that their screaming ceased any, though. In fact, it grew even louder as they bowled straight for the deck and slammed face-first onto it. They both groaned and sat back up. Behind them, Hot Head gave them a thumbs up, transformed back into a motorbike and zoomed off.

"Talk about a rough landing," Cali remarked as she got up and brushed herself off, "but, at least we got here."

Both their eyes fell on the engine room's door. Surprisingly, it was open still, in spite of the fact that everything around it was closed tight. For that matter, a kind of eerie feeling wafted from it, something that chilled the air around—or maybe it was just the chilly breezes that rushed out from its halls. Either way, it wasn't exactly a welcoming sight.

Flynn shuddered as he forced himself to puff out his chest. His teeth chattered so furiously that it was a miracle they hadn't worn themselves down yet.

Cali grabbed a flashlight from her pocket and turned it on. "Come on!" Cali said as she held out her flashlight. "We can't dawdle around!"

Flynn reluctantly nodded, and gulped as he tailed Cali down the stairs, their sole source of light the flashlight in Cali's hands. The air grew chillier the further they went down, to the point where it was a miracle the area hadn't frozen over. Though, the thin streams of mist that hovered across the area indicated the chill enough. For that matter, soft, gentle moans whistled through the hallway's panels, ones that sounded more like actual voices than the cold songs of wind.

Cali glanced from side to side and held her flashlight ajar. Beside her, Flynn puffed his chest out and forced a smile.

"Do you hear that, Flynn?" Cali asked, her eyes still stuck on the halls themselves. "It kinda sounds like voices."

Flynn winced as another howl resonated through the halls, yet forced himself to smile and hold his head high still—even if his arms and legs trembled furiously still.

"Oh, I hear it alright! Sounds like it's one of those ghost dudes!" Flynn proclaimed between the chatter of his teeth. His eyes fixed on the walls as he trekked down the stairs, and they were wide as they took in the mist and howls. "Don't worry, Cali! Whatever they throw at us, you'll be perfectly fine as long as you have me by your side! After all, I am the—"

CRACK went the path ahead as a fury of bright lights shone from ahead, and Flynn screamed as he leaned backwards! He completely lost his balance, left to flail as he tottered back and forth across the steps, but finally, he fell forward and rolled down the stairs!

"Flynn!" Cali cried as she bolted down after him.

Flynn screamed as he hit his head on the floor and bounced off, groaned, and sat up as thin, wispy, mist birds circled around his head. He leaned back as Cali came down with a frown.

"Did… You know… You look extra pretty today?" Flynn groaned as his head spun in circles.

Cali rolled her eyes and shooed the birds away with a wave of her hands. The crackle of electricity above snapped both her and Flynn back to their senses! Cali turned her flashlight on the source of the light ahead, and found none other than the engine. Bright lightning burst from its open heart in shades of yellow and purple, while its panels and wires had turned charred from the heat and shock! Heck, the heat that radiated from it was so hot that it warmed the room in bursts, crafting clouds of steam and mist with every pulse and rattle.

"The engine! Those ghosts must have done something to it!" Flynn cried as he jumped to his feet and adjusted his hat. "Luckily for us, I know just how to fix it!"

He stormed over to the side of the wall, punched it, and grinned as a panel fell out, offering him a toolkit. Flynn yanked the toolkit from the walls, dashed over and yanked a wrench out, his eyes fixed on the engine… But he screamed and jumped backwards as another flash of lightning burst from its inner workings!

"Maybe?"

The sound of howls and moans echoed from around the halls once more, and Flynn gasped as he turned his head around! He glanced from left to right to back again, and yet not a single direction lead him to the source of the howling—in fact, it seemed as though it was coming from all over the place! It whistled from the holes in the left wall, echoed from the ceilings and floors…

WhoooOOOOooooh!

OOOOOOoooooohhhhhHHHHHH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Flynn gritted his teeth. His trembling hands fumbled with the toolbox's handle, but the engine before him rattled and shuddered! He screamed as bolts flew out of its confines and banged against the walls, and ducked back down as one nearly slammed him in the face!

"I'm warning you, engine!" Flynn cried as he held the wrench with both trembling hands. "You don't wanna mess with me! I'm the greatest pilot in all Skylands, and I've dealt with way worse than an angry bunch of bolts!"

The moans grew louder and louder as the engine rumbled more furiously than before. The engine clunked, and even more mist burst from its confines as ghosts leaped out! The ghosts all moaned and wailed as their eyes fell on Flynn, and their fanged jaws unhinged as they floated closer to him. Flynn screamed and ducked as one ghost glazed over his back, then he turned back and rolled out of the way as another one tried to snatch him up!

"Ghosts in the machine are new, though!"

Cali grimaced and jumped aside as one of the ghosts tried to snatch her up as well. She shone her flashlight right in its eyes! The ghost wailed, shielding its eyes and writhed in place, and Cali dug her paws into her pockets in its moment of distraction.

"C'mon, c'mon, there's gotta be something in here," Cali whispered. Her brows leaped up as she hit something cool and hard; she yanked her hand and grinned as she found a dagger in her palm. "Got it!"

Cali twisted her flashlight and intensified its glare so that it lit the entire dim room. She tossed it aside and grinned as she held up her dagger.

"Flynn, you just worry about getting the engine working again!" Cali cried as she dashed forward with her dagger held tight. "I'll take care of things here!"

"Roger that, Cali!" Flynn cried as he saluted Cali back! He yanked his toolbox off the ground, claimed his wrench from the floor and glared down the engine. "I'll have this baby ship-shape in no time!"

Cali nodded, jumped aside and rolled across the floor as another one of the ghosts lunged for her! The ghost grunted and swayed from side to side as she staggered up. Cali screamed as she leaped forward and slashed it with her dagger in its moment of hesitation, but her eyes popped wide as she phased right through the ghost. Cali shuddered, rolled across the deck while all the ghosts turned their eyes on her, and jumped up just as they raced back for her. She slid apart and slashed at them again, yet her blade phased right through their bodies once more! Cali winced and stumbled backwards as the ghosts moaned and hovered back for her, diving into her pocket once more.

"Guess I'm gonna need something a little more powerful!" Cali cried as she yanked out her hand and showed off a trio of grenades. "Good thing that trip to the Angolmois Ruins taught me to always have a couple of these handy!"

Cali leaped back and slammed the grenades into the ground. They exploded in flashes of shining light! The ghosts screamed, shying away as the lights seared against their bodies and sizzled their ectoplasm. Cali smirked as she basked in their horror. She yanked out a vial from her pockets, popped a cork, and poured its deep purple liquid over her dagger.

"This ghost-repellent oil should give me just the boost I need!" Cali cried. She tossed the bottle aside, dashed right up to the ghosts and leaped in the air. "Take this!"

Cali slashed her dagger right across the ghosts' bodies—and it actually worked! The ghosts let out unholy screeches as they shot backwards and slammed against the walls. Murky teal smoke poured from their wounds. They groaned and gnashed their teeth as they floated upright; their bodies turned red hot as they charged after Cali!

Cali slid out of the way just before they could ram into her. Two of them slammed back into the walls and shook their heads, but one dove right into the engine! The engine shuddered and tossed out bolts and screws as the ghost shook within, and beside it, Flynn screamed and clutched his wrench. The ghost popped out and shook its head, oblivious to how Flynn attempted to hit it, and zipped right back after Cali!

Cali gasped, jumped out of its way, but spun aside as another ghost narrowly charged into her! She ducked down as the third ghost zipped right over her head, then staggered up and wiped her head. Just then, a fourth ghost popped up behind her and blasted her in the back with a ball of ectoplasm! Cali screamed as she tumbled backwards and hit the wall, pushing herself up.

Right as she tried, the ghosts swarmed her and pinned her down to the floor! The cold metal brushed against Cali's fur and set it on edge as she squirmed and wiggled against their grip, but they held her down too hard. She couldn't escape, not with all four of them on her! Cali yanked her dagger off the floor with her teeth and stabbed one of the ghosts right in the eye. The ghost wailed and flew backwards as it held its leaking eye, but Cali spat the dagger back out and jumped to freedom!

"Flynn, are you done yet?" Cali cried as she yanked her dagger off the ground and slashed at the ghosts once more. "I can't keep this up forever, you know!"

"Getting there, Cali!" Flynn cried back as he screwed a few bolts back into the engine. "I think she's almost back to normal!" Flynn grimaced as the engine released a mass of thick smoke from its pipe with a ka-put. "That can't be good."

Cali winced as she drew another dagger and ghost-repellent oil bottle from her pocket. "Well, guess now's the best time to practice dual wielding," Cali remarked as she reached for the bottle's cork.

Just before she opened the bottle, a loud crash and howl sounded off out from outdoors! Cali turned around, gasped, and flung her arms across her face as the ghosts all dashed up the stairs. She lifted her head as the last of the ghosts disappeared up the stairway, leaped forward and hiked the stairs two at a time.

Cali panted as she rushed out the open door and back to the deck. There the sight of ghosts flying off in the distance could barely be seen—but, the sight of Hot Head's flames and Bouncer's lasers was clear as day! Cali grimaced as she climbed off the side of the deck, latched onto one of the many tires hung over the Dread-Yacht's side, and swung the tire around as she leaped back into the muddy water.

The mud clung to her boots the best it could, but it didn't impede Cali's speed any as she raced across the floor. The world rumbled as the sound of Bouncer, Crusher, and Hot Head's shouts resounded across the battlefield, all melded with the gnashing and blood-curling screeches of angry ghosts, while the mist around thickened and gained a sickly aura to it. But, just amid the mist, Cali vaguely spotted the coattails of fleeing ghosts that leaked with smoke! So, Cali bolted past the mist and right into the heart of the area where Bouncer, Crusher and Hot Head had laid…

§

A bolt of magic leaped from Solavita's palm and slammed right into Ninjini, and Ninjini screamed as she hit the ground and quickly pushed herself up, but Solavita was even quicker! Solavita immediately zipped right up to Ninjini, her hands now prepped with blades of solid purple and red crystal!

"Off with her head!" Solavita cried as she swung her blades with her aim fixed for Ninjini's neck.

Ninjini flung her wishblades forward before Solavita struck, and tossed them right in front of Solavita's own sword! Their blades screeched as they ground and pushed against each other, but Ninjini flew back and tossed a slice of her own. Solavita slashed back, their blades clanging and clattering as they traded blows once more. It was an even match, with every blow received and every block countered…

But finally, as Solavita flew backwards and prepared to strike, she screamed and hunched back down to the floor! The red glow around her body faded as she heaved body-shaking breaths. Ninjini paused in her own attacks and raised a brow. Was Solavita losing her power?

Solavita grunted and yowled as she clutched her chest, and her blades slipped out of her grasp. Her breath turned labored, forced even, as she stood up and swayed from side to side. As her balance finally stabilized, she held out her free hand and scowled.

"I can't play around any more!" Solavita cried as a purple and red wave of magic enveloped her hands. "Swords, finish this!"

Twin bolts of magic energy burst from Solavita's hands and fled into her blades. The blades shared their glow as they flew off from the ground and zipped right for Ninjini! Ninjini waved her hands and summoned spheres of magic, transformed them into shields with another wave, and leaned back as they tossed off the blades like they were mere balls.

But, Ninjini soon gasped and teleported away as two magic lasers shot into the shields and shattered them! Ninjini reappeared right behind Solavita, who turned around and scowled as she held up hands that shone with bright red and purple energy. Solavita shot off her laser again, and Ninjini shot out a purple beam of magic energy of her own! The two lasers slammed into each other and pushed against each other in a battle of wills, with neither caster willing to relent. One moment it seemed as though Solavita would prevail, the next, Ninjini would push right back, and they both locked in a stalemate!

"Just face it, Fatimah!" Solavita cried as the light from her palms glowed brighter. "I was always the superior sorceress! I should've been the one who held your title! I should have been the one chosen by the Ancients! I should have—"

Fatimah's eyes went wide, and a screech like a dying animal came from her body as she collapsed! The red glow around her body finally faded as she lurched over; her body' colors drained, and her skin shriveled as it clung to her bones once more. Her eyes faded away as she glanced down at her withered, corpselike hands, and Ninjini's own beam blasted into her, tossing her back into the wall!

Ninjini floated over and scowled as Solavita slunk down. A massive cavity formed in the center of Solavita's chest as purple smoke flew out from all angles, and her skin tore off like paper to reveal cracked and shattered bones. Solavita was a shattered shell of herself, and she could only groan as her head slunk down at such an angle that it seemed barely attached to the rest of her body. Ninjini scoffed as she witnessed Solavita's dying state, and held her wishblade up to Solavita's throat.

"Solavita, you've ended countless lives, captured beings in numberless amounts, sapped them of their life force, and robbed them of their free will, of their very existence and forced them to act as your puppets, all to fulfill your own selfish desires!" Ninjini proclaimed. Ninjini scowled further as Solavita only hacked at the blade that hovered before her throat. "The only thing I have left to say to you is" — Ninjini's eyes narrowed, and she pushed the blade closer to Solavita's throat — "any last wishes?"

Solavita hacked and coughed, but when she lifted her head to face Ninjini, she, she smirked! She seemed perfectly elated despite her dying state, her smile twisted and devious.

"Yes, actually!" Solavita proclaimed. She yanked the wheel pendant she wore right off of her neck, and tossed it in the air with the last bit of strength she held. "PENDANT, FINISH WHAT I STARTED!"

A burst of magic shot from Solavita's palm and slammed right into the wheel. The wheel grew to a massive size, and slammed right back into the ground with a powerful undead aura! It screeched as it churned through the stone and smashed the door behind. The sound of screams and shouts came from the newly-opened door, and whatever it was, it couldn't be good!

Ninjini gasped and turned away, but a pained hack turned her back to where Solavita laid on the ground. Solavita's face drew towards a more neutral expression as she slunk against the stone floor, but finally, a sharp crack resounded. Her body crumbled and collapsed into a pile of bony fragments, all caressed by the cloth of her dress. Solavita expired, yet the remnants of her wretched existence remained.

"She died as she lived," Ninjini scowled as she wrung the handles of wishblades, "petty and pathetic."

Ninjini scoffed again, turned back around and dashed through the open door. Though Solavita may have died, her work outlived her.

"But not for long," Ninjini whispered as she left the tunnel.

§

Cali panted, fell to her knees as she finally arrived back at the manor's gate, but jumped up and scurried away as a fireball crashed below and evaporated the waters! Cali dove behind the remains of a withered ship's hull and winced as she poked her head out. It seemed like Bouncer, Crusher. and Hot Head had everything under control when she and Flynn left, but since then, it became a war zone!

A massive, shining, silver crystal wheel hovered in the center of the area, and glowed with an undead energy as the ghosts around brawled with Bouncer, Crusher, and Hot Head. More than that, the ghosts were more powerful, too! They grew giant-sized, their teeth stretched into fangs too large for their mouths, and wicked claws crept out from their fingers. A new aura of power resonated from them, and it definitely showed as they razed Crusher, Bouncer and Hot Head down like they were just chompies!

The three of them crashed against a tall, dead tree and split it in half. The sight was enough to cheer up the ghosts Cali tailed! They all hooted as they flew into the center of the battle, but Cali slashed them in half before they could join in. They disappeared in puffs of teal smoke as Cali dashed into the fray, and she just snarled.

"Something tells me these guys could really use my help right now!" Cali cried. She frowned for a moment more as the ghosts closed further and further in, and dug out a collection of red spheres from her pockets. "Luckily, I have just the thing!" Cali squeezed the spheres, and they expanded into a small pile of dynamite sticks. "Pocket explosives, always a good thing to have handy."

Cali's eyes trailed to the vial of ghost-repellent oil still in her other hand. She popped its cork off and drenched the dynamite sticks in the stuff! A bright, warm orange light poured from the space above, and Cali smirked as a flaming blast surely courtesy of Hot Head shone conveniently above her.

She tossed the dynamite sticks right into the flames, and they exploded the moment they hit the fire! Their explosive, flaming fury crushed down onto the ghosts below, and tossed them all over the place, from the floor and trees to the walls around. Most importantly, those ghosts were now far, far away from Bouncer, Crusher and Hot Head!

"Something tells me that they'll be down for a while," Cali remarked as she walked up to Bouncer, Crusher, and Hot Head as she wiped the oil from her gloves. "That ghost-repellent oil is some serious stuff."

The three of them smiled towards Cali as they got up, turned around and gasped as a silvery white glow shone from the ghosts around them. The ghosts all groaned as they slowly hovered back up; the light around them throbbed as their burns and injuries completely disappeared! Once the glow faded, they all squealed and raced back for Bouncer, Crusher, Hot Head, and Cali!

Cali gasped, jumped out of the way as Bouncer nearly skidded into her to try and avoid a ghost blast, and spat out the murky water as she glared towards him. "Just what was that?" Cali cried. "That blast should've gotten them out of commission!"

"Beats me!" Bouncer shouted back. "Might have something to do with that wheel and all the Undead Element energy it's giving off!"

Cali fixed her eyes back on the wheel and the eerie glow of Undead power it gave off, frowned and scratched her chin. Well, that was as good an explanation as any.

"In that case, we just need to get that wheel in its grave!" Cali cried.

Her eyes fell to a series of dead trees that got knocked over in the conflict. They stacked in a way that made them a pretty convenient staircase, so she bolted forward and hopped them one at a time! The chill and cold white light of the wheel before her grew more intense as she hopped further.

Cali yanked a chisel from her pocket and prepared to stab the wheel with one last leap—but as she drew closer, her whole body drooped over and the chisel slipped from her hand! The world around her spun as she fell back down into the murky waters with a splash. she herself groaned and trembled furiously as she tried to stand.

"Ugh, that's right," Cali groaned as she barely got back to her feet and swayed around. "Undead Element energy's some serious stuff, too."

Cali screamed as a ghost tackled her back into the water, yet the ghost hardly cared. It snarled as grabbed Crusher by the leg, swung him around and tossed him right into Bouncer and Hot Head. The ghost cackled as the three of them flew into the hull of a ship and dented it. It floated towards them as they rested against the ship's hull. The three of them lifted their heads and winced as the ghost came closing in—

CRASH!

—but the ghost turned away as the gates behind it were smashed to pieces! Purple, sparkly smoke cast over the area and blocked everything from its view—everything but a massive silhouette that towered over it with lancing eyes!

"Surprise!" called a familiar voice as the smoke cleared around and sent the pirates into coughing fits.

Bouncer, Crusher, and Hot Head shielded their own faces as the last of the smoke vanished. They lifted up their heads and grinned as Ninjini floated down before them!

"Timah!" Bouncer cried as he jumped up. "What happened back there?"

"I can tell you all about it later," Ninjini replied as she cast a glare back down at the rising ghost pirates. "For now, we need to take care of these pirates!" Ninjini turned back to Bouncer, Crusher, and Hot Head, then smirked as she raised a brow. "Say, do you happen to remember what I told you about illusions earlier?"

The three of them all nodded, and Ninjini's smirk stretched further.

"How about we play a few magic tricks?"

Ninjini leaned in and prepared to whisper to them as Cali trudged over. Ninjini lifted Cali from the ground and placed Cali on her own shoulder before she started. The five of them huddled together tight as they whispered.

Around them the ghosts just frowned and titled their heads. The ghosts gazed and scratched their faces as the group dismissed. Soon, they screeched as Crusher, Bouncer, Hot Head, Ninjini, and Cali broke apart and dashed across the area! The ghosts all snarled as they shot their eyes around in some search for the others, but little did they know that their foes were closer than they thought!

Behind a particularly large dead tree, Hot Head and Cali grinned at each other, but Cali shushed him as they turned their heads around the tree's trunk. Their smiles soured as they glazed down the ghosts. Cali grabbed some smoke bombs from her pockets while Hot Head waved his arms. With one fling, she tossed the bombs out, sending thick smoke pouring out from their assault and onto the area!

The hallow sound of rattling coughs and hacks came from all around as the smoke blocked the ghosts off from sight, and sight off from the ghosts. Their coughs and hacks turned to confused screeches from within the cloud; though they couldn't be seen, the high volume of their voices showed they were in quite the panic!

Amid that panic, Bouncer grinned as he wheeled his way out from behind the tree, and he brandished smoking fingers guns! His eyes zeroed in on the thick, cloudy smoke that shielded the ghosts from view. With a single cock of his fingerguns, he shot hundreds of balls into the smoke clouds at rapid speed.

The ghosts' screams turned from confused to pained as the balls bounced around and zapped them! The flashes of orange light from the balls became the sole visible thing among the smoke; it paired with occasional silhouette of a ghost that screeched as they rubbed their back, or one that got beaned in the head with a ball. They were in a total panic now!

Crusher smiled, stomped his feet and pounded his hammer with all his might. Weaker tree branches snapped in half and crashed across the mud, thick splashes of water left in their wake, and the water shuddered while its mud splattered everywhere. Inside the smoke cloud itself, the ghosts all screeched!

"Now, for the grand finale!" Ninjini cried as she flew in front of Crusher.

Ninjini rolled her hands while they charged with bright blue magic, and she cast them out and into the smoke. The smoke cloud that shielded the ghosts grew stagnant in place. Quickly, it bubbled and stretched until it molded itself into the form of a massive dragon! The smoke dragon leaned down in front of the terrified ghosts, who all trembled as they screamed and grappled for their weapons. In the back of it all, Ninjini chuckled as she piloted the smoke dragon! She grinned as she prepared to thrust her hands forward.

The sound of a massive foghorn turned her away, and she and the others practically leaped out of their skin as they ducked for cover. The ghosts all screamed and charged with their sights set on the dragon, but right as they struck, the Dread-Yacht bowled forward and slammed right into the them! The massive crystal wheel that powered the ghosts flipped and spun in the air as the Dread-Yacht slammed right into it; its glow faded as it shrank in size and landed right into Cali's palm!

Cali blinked and examined the wheel over, then turned her attention right up to the Dread-Yacht, where a proud Flynn strode out!

"Hey down there, I fixed the Dread-Yacht!" Flynn cried as he waved at them from the deck. "Now, let's say we get out of this dumpster!"

"Gladly!" Ninjini cried. Ninjini lifted Cali back onto her shoulder as she, Bouncer, Crusher and Hot Head leaped onto the Dread-Yacht's deck.

Flynn dashed back up to the pilot's quarters and manned the wheel. "Righty-o!" Flynn cried as he spun the wheel. "Just need to find the Skylanders and we'll be out of here in a jiffy!"

The Dread-Yacht creaked as it spun around, but instead of starting, a thunk sounded from the hull and it stayed stuck in its path! Flynn grunted and spun the wheel some more, but even that stuck in place.

"Strange, I know for a fact I fixed the engine!" Flynn scratched his head. "What's the big issue now?"

Thunk! Thunk thunk! The sound of thunking grew louder and more prominent as growls intermingled as Flynn turned around and gasped.

"I don't think the engine's the problem, Flynn!" Cali cried as she scrambled up Ninjini's shoulder!

Back on the decks, the ghost pirates swarmed the Dread-Yacht and they came in fast! A good part of their ranks already climbed up the side of the ship and jumped onto the deck; even more of them crowded around the hull like barnacles. With so many of them stuck together on its body, the Dread-Yacht stuck tight!

The Elder Elementals all readied their weapons, and Cali slid down Ninjini's arm, flipping off as she drew her daggers. Just as they all prepared to attack, a mighty torrent of water rained from up above and washed the ghosts off the sides of the hull! The ghosts all screeched as they fell into the murky waters above, and everyone else just turned their heads up as the sound of flapping wings came from the skies.

"Looks like they got a little washed up, huh?"

The ghosts on deck frowned and tilted their heads, but Flynn, Cali and the Elder Elementals just grinned.

There in the skies were none other than Spyro, Gill Grunt, Stealth Elf, and Trigger Happy! Spyro flapped in place as Trigger Happy laid on his back, Gill Grunt held a water cannon dripping with cold water, and Stealth Elf flew beside him on magic wings. They all looked a tiny bit banged up from the windburns and scratches across their bodies, but most importantly, they were back!

"Hey everyone!" Spyro cried as he landed on the Dread-Yacht's deck with a thunk. "Are we late to the party?"

Behind him, Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy, and Stealth Elf dropped onto the deck. They grinned as they brandished their weapons, a grin shared by Ninjini as she peered down at them.

"Not at all!" Ninjini cried as she held out her wishblades, and turned back to the masses of ghost pirates that boarded the ship. "In fact, I'd say you've arrived just in time!"

Bouncer, Crusher, and Hot Head all gathered around the five of them as they glared down the masses of ghastly pirates that took residence aboard their ship! Though Solavita was long defeated, her crew was still kicking plenty. The pirates were all gnashing teeth, howling, and scratching against the Dread-Yacht's steel floor. The Skylanders and Elder Elementals held their arms out in tandem, and Ninjini's eyes shifted from side to side.

"On my mark!" She cried. With a snap of her fingers, rockets burst out of her bottle and hovered over her shoulders like attack dogs waiting to strike.

"Three, two…" they all chanted in tandem as they readied their weapons, brows tensed and eyes stuck tight on the oncoming pirate swarm.

"FIRE!"

With one motion, an array of blasts all burst from their group of eight and fused together! Lasers and bursts of water, flames and spores, orbs made of pure magic, and even sharp stone shards flew from their ranks. The attacks all blasted right through the pirates like they were bowling pins! The pirates cried out as they flew off the side of the deck, but the Skylanders and Elder Elementals alike just grinned as their ship became clear once more.

"Alright, this time for real!" Flynn cried as he frantically spun the steering wheel. "Let's blow this pop stand!"

The Dread-Yacht creaked once again as Flynn spun the wheel, and the oars on its side paddled at a frantic pace as they dashed across the waters! Water and mud sloshed everywhere while trees that strayed a little too close got leveled in half from oar strikes. Massive pulses of winds blew all but the sturdiest of structures away as the Dread-Yacht took off! It cut through the clouds and mist as it hit the skies, and a last gust of cold wind sent it soaring!

Everyone cheered and thrust their fists towards the murky, cloudy heavens as they sailed through the skies, but Flynn just brushed the sweat from his face.

"Phew! Gotta say, that was one of my more intense bouts in the realm of piloting," Flynn remarked as he adjusted his hat and grinned, "but, as the best pilot in all Skylands, all I have to say is…"

An explosion sounded behind Flynn, and he grimaced as he clutched the ship's steering wheel tight. A screen popped out beside him. Flynn grimaced as he glazed over the triangular arrangement of red dots that came in fast.

"It's not over yet!"

The sickening sound of cackles hit the air, and all eyes turned to the decks behind them. Between flashes of orange and blue flames, an entire fleet of ships emerged and glowed with a ghastly aura, their cannons set and ready! The first few in line shot off their cannonballs, and everyone screamed, clinging to whatever they could as the Dread-Yacht swerved out of the cannonballs' way!

"Ye really think ye could escape us, could ye?" bellowed a voice in the distance.

The largest of the ships zipped right up to the Dread-Yacht. Down from its bird's eye flew a ghost pirate, but not just any ghost pirate, no—it was the same one who collected them from their cells, except he looked furious! Though he had the widest of grins on his face, the flames in his eyes and the twitching of his lip gave away his true intentions well enough. He reached for his cutlass, and his smile finally faded.

"You escaped our clutches, freed your ship and made a mess of our hideout! That's bad enough already, but killing the cap'n is unforgivable!" the pirate proclaimed as even more of his crew dropped behind him. A scowl fell across his face as he glared down Ninjini, and his grip on his cutlass tightened. "If I'd known I'd end up finding the cap'n remains in her quarters before I could tell her ye were here, I'd have never captured yer ship! I'll bring vengeance for our cap'n, I swear it on my honor as first mate!"

The first mate cast out his cutlass, and his bushy beard lit with ghastly fire.

"MATEYS, ATTACKKKKKKKKKKK!"

The ghosts pirates all shouted and cried in agreement as they chased after the Skylanders and Elder Elementals alike, who only grimaced as their enemies came in quick!

"These guys just don't give up, do they?" Spyro cried as he narrowly dodged a pirate's bite. He skidded back just a bit as the pirate toppled over, and Spyro turned his gaze back to the others. "Everyone, prepare to—"

An explosion rattled the side of the Dread-Yacht, and Spyro tumbled in midair as the ship tipped over. He landed right in Ninjini's arms, pulled himself up, and winced as his eyes fell on a massive plume of smoke that burned from the Dread-Yacht's side. He turned his eyes back on the skies, where smoke billowed from the lead ship's cannons.

Cannonballs shot from the side ships' cannons and dashed through the skies, and the Skylanders and Elder Elementals all ducked for cover! The Dread-Yacht itself rattled and shook back and forth with every cannon shot; another particularly tough blast shot straight into the hull and sent them spinning! Screams came from all around as they twirled across the skies, but finally, the Dread-Yacht heaved around and stood down the massive pirate fleet before it. A lone ship against an entire heavily-armed fleet packed with the highest grade of weapons…

"What are we gonna do now?" Cali cried, her daggers at the ready as she glared down the pirates that encircled them all.

"We're surrounded at every angle, outnumbered, and stranded at sky," Crusher remarked as he clutched his hammer. "Odds aren't exactly in our favor."

Everyone else gulped and hesitated as Crusher spoke, and even the cheeriest of their ranks' fears got betrayed by their forced smiles. Like it or not, Crusher was right. Things weren't exactly looking in their favor, and even with all the power they held, the pirates had a lot more up their sleeves. It would take a miracle to get out of a situation like this!

Flynn just stared down at the console and grinned in spite of everyone else's pessimism! The faint light reflected off of the Dread-Yacht's shiny new console buttons and into his eyes. He smiled as he puffed out his chest!

"I'll tell you what we're doing!" Flynn cried as he smacked a hand against the console. All eyes turned to him, and Flynn leaped from the wheel. "We're not going down without a fight!"

"Huh?" everyone else uttered.

"Flynn, what are you talking about? We're completely outmatched!" Cali cried as she gestured to the pirates encroaching on them!

"That might be true, Cali, but we've been outmatched plenty of times before and we've made it out perfectly fine!" Flynn cried back! His normal smile disappeared, and his mouth clutched into a serious glare as he paced back and forth. "Besides, you're acting like we've already lost! That kind of attitude isn't like the heroes of Skylands I know!"

Spyro perked up, and he grinned as he turned back to Gill Grunt. "Flynn's got a point!" Spyro remarked as he nudged Gill Grunt's shoulder with his wing. "If there's one thing Skylanders never do, it's give up!"

"And it's not something we're gonna do, either!" Ninjini affirmed as she flew up.

Flynn grinned and pounded a fist against his hand. "That's the spirit!" Flynn cried. "This is our ship, and we're not letting them take it from us! Heck, we're not gonna let them take us down when we've got a super-duper important mission to finish! We've got friends to find, bad guys to fight, enchiladas to eat! We can't stop here, not when we've got so much to—"

A cough came from the other side as the first mate snarled. He crossed his arms and tapped his leg.

"Really rousing speech, lad, but are we going to fight or not?" the first mate asked.

Flynn scoffed. "Hey, I wasn't done yet!"

Flynn scoffed a second time, cleared his throat and steeled his gaze.

"As I was saying, we can't give up, not when we've got so much we've still gotta do!" Flynn proclaimed! He snarled as he pointed to the pirates before him. "Skylanders, attack!"

"Aye aye, captain!" Spyro cried as he dashed into the fray with Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy, and Stealth Elf by his side!

"Don't forget about me, either!" Cali cried as she snatched another vial of ghost-repellent oil from her pockets.

Flynn smirked and crossed his arms, but another cannonball rattled the ship and knocked him down! He grunted and pushed himself off the ground. A snarl crossed his face as a screen popped out of the wall, and showed him the damaged ship quarter.

"Crap, I forgot about their artillery!" Flynn cried.

Ninjini raised a brow, grinned and turned back to Bouncer, who returned her grin. As Hot Head and Crusher joined them, the four of them raced over to one of the doors and yanked it open!

"Just leave that to us!" Ninjini cried as the door expanded in size enough to let all four of them cleanly pass. "We'll knock those ships out of the skies before you can even wish for it!"

Ninjini dashed into the door right as it slammed shut and returned to its normal size.

Flynn smiled and rushed back to the pilot's wheel. "And I'll keep this baby floating!" Flynn cried as he spun the wheel. "Now, ALL HANDS ON DECK!"

As Flynn spun the wheel and turned the Dread-Yacht around, a couple of pirates snarled and rushed right after him—but Spyro zipped in front of them before they could reach, and smirked! His golden eyes turned to a more pure yellow, and they sparkled as he landed on deck!

"Sorry buddies, but that's the wrong way! He's not your opponent," Spyro remarked as he lowered his head while his eyes shone with an even brighter light. "I AM!"

Burst of bright light flew from Spyro's eyes as he cried out. The pirates all screeched and flailed as the light shone over them, blocking their vision! Behind them, Spyro smirked as his eyes turned to silver. While they writhed, he flew up and flapped his wings. Trails of mist cascaded down from his wingtips, and solidified on the ground as hulking wraiths. The wraiths all screeched to the heavens as they charged after the pirates, who only stood in shock as the wraiths yanked them off the deck and tossed them overboard!

"Nice! Gotta thank Cynder for teaching me that trick when we meet back up," Spyro remarked as he gently floated back down, yelped and flew aside as a cutlass nearly skewered him. Spyro grimaced and turned his head towards the right.

There, Cali locked in combat with a cutlass-wielding squid ghost. The ghost gnashed and groaned as it slashed at Cali, who could only block with the oil-coated dagger she held in hand. Her dagger was a toothpick in comparison to the squid's own mightier sword, and it was all she could do to hold it just inches from her face! Cali fell to the floor and rolled backwards. The squid yowled and waved its cutlass in the air, but Cali smirked as she yanked a bomb out of her pocket.

"Yeah, I'm not particularly fond of you either, buddy!" Cali cried as she doused the bomb in oil and set it alight. "I'm fact, how about you go take a flight?"

Cali flung the lit bomb right at the squid. It screamed as the bomb exploded, and sent it flying right off the deck—but, it wasn't the only one that got taken out! Several other ghosts cried as they tossed across the deck.

Behind them, Trigger Happy screamed as he flew forward and bounced against the deck! Trigger Happy grunted as he hit his head with every bounce. Finally he slammed into a barrel and rubbed his head right as the pirates all shoved their weapons in his face! Trigger Happy chuckled and dug into the depths of his fur.

"Easy there, boys! Let's not get too hasty," Trigger Happy replied as he pulled something shiny and gold out from his fur. "In fact, why don't we settle things with a nice little gift?" Trigger Happy grinned and raised his brows. "How do a bunch of gold coins sound?"

The pirates' eyes flickered, and then sparkled while the pirates nodded as fast as they could! Pleased grunts came from them as they clasped their hands. They gave Trigger Happy the biggest of grins—but soon, they screamed as Trigger Happy whipped out a golden pistol!

"Okie-dokie!" Trigger Happy cried as he latched his finger around the trigger. "Here you go!"

Trigger Happy burst into cackles as a blitz of golden coins shot out from his pistol and shot the pirates back, but he wasn't done yet! While the pirates screamed and fled as they shielded themselves from the coins' onslaught, Trigger Happy whipped out a second pistol and added on! The striking sight of golden light burned across the deck as Trigger Happy fired away. The pirates squealed, and took a sharp turn left to unveil Stealth Elf and Gill Grunt instead! Trigger Happy gasped, dropped his guns, and leaped up and down as he frantically waved his arms.

"Gill, Stealthie, look out!"

Stealth Elf yanked her head aside and flipped away right as the coins came right for her, but Gill Grunt wasn't so lucky! The coins that set their path on Stealth Elf shot right into the wall behind and embedded themselves in tight, but he hadn't turned till the very last second and got blasted away!

Gill Grunt cried out as the coins shot him across the deck, groaned and patted the floor in search of his harpoon cannon. Something stomped on his hand and Gill Grunt screamed. he frantically tried to yank his hand away from the thing that stomped it—but somebody grabbed him by that hand and yanked him off the floor! A low cackle came as Gill Grunt came face to face with the first mate, the very head of the assault, who smirked at the sight of Gill Grunt's shocked look.

"Looks like I caught me a little fishie!" the first mate chuckled.

"Gill Grunt!" Stealth Elf called.

She grunted and narrowed her eyes as she prepared to dart into the fray, but just before she could, more of the pirate ghosts raced in front of her and blocked off her view! The ghosts all growled and snarled as they inched closer to Stealth Elf, who snarled as she gripped her smoke bombs.

"I don't have time to play with you!" Stealth Elf shouted as she slammed the bombs against the floor. "Now shoo!"

The bombs crashed against the floor and exploded into a cloud of green spores. Stealth Elf escaped underneath its cover while the other pirates coughed and hacked, but more pirates ran in her way and blocked her off. Stealth Elf drew her daggers and slashed away.

While she brawled, Gill Grunt just struggled and squirmed as he tried to escape the first mate's grip. The first mate held on tight as he could, his smile wider by the second; it was as if he reveled in Gill Grunt's struggles! He bellowed with laughter as Gill Grunt snarled, and something pounded against his muscular chest, something shiny and silver. The sight of it caught Gill Grunt's eyes as his struggling drew to a close.

"Y'know, I was thinking something about ye looked familiar," the first mate remarked as he lifted up the silver object. "Now that I got a good look at ye, I know just what!"

The silver object brought to the faint light, and Gill Grunt's eyes grew even wider as he saw just what it truly was—a locket! A simple one held by a silver chain, but a locket nonetheless! It was rusted in some spots, yet otherwise it seemed perfectly intact, and its front was carved to vaguely resemble a seashell. It spun around in circles as it dangled from the first mate's fingers, and he only cackled as he tucked it back into his shirt.

"That locket," Gill Grunt whispered.

"Ah, so ye recognize it, mate?" The first mate smirked. "Snagged it off some mermaid that got out of our highest-security dungeons!" The first mate raised a brow as he chuckled. "You know, the lass seemed awfully upset that I took it, too, so I've been keepin' it just to spite her for escapin'! She'll never get this old thing back as far as I'm concerned!"

Gill Grunt snarled, and his teeth gritted as he fixed on the silver chain that still hung from the first mate's neck! His eyes twitched; he swung backwards and kicked right for the first mate's chest! The first mate gasped and turned away, but his grip on Gill Grunt's arm slipped just enough that Gill Grunt turned it around and flipped right out of his grip. Gill Grunt skidded backwards, but just before he hit the ground, he started up his jetpack and screeched right for the first mate! The first mate gasped as Gill Grunt flew right past him and pulled him forward. As Gill Grunt disappeared, he grunted and patted his neck to find that the locket was completely gone! The first mate gasped, and snarled with twitching lips as Gill Grunt grinned and held the pendant.

"Why, ye thievin' scoundrel!" the first mate cried as he whipped out his sword. "Ye'll pay for that!"

"That's what I should be telling you!" Gill Grunt cried as he held out his water cannon.

Gill Grunt's finger latched onto the trigger, and the first mate cried out as he dashed straight for Gill Grunt! His sword waved in the air as he drew closer and closer, he prepared to strike—but, before he could, Gill Grunt released the trigger. He sent a gigantic anchor shooting right towards the first mate!

The first mate grunted as the anchor tossed him back into the wall, slid down and groaned as he held his head. Gill Grunt smirked, but flew aside as a pirate greeble flew forward and smacked right into the wall beside him with a massive claw mark on its face! His eyes nearly popped out of his head, but he turned around, and smiled as his eyes fell on a massive green tiger that shook and tossed the pirates around it like they were chew toys.

"Oh, just Stealth Elf."

Another pirate skidded across the floor and right by his feet. A green flash of light shone, and Stealth Elf walked up to him as she wiped off her hands.

"Seems like that should be all of them!" Stealth Elf remarked as she placed a hand on her hip.

All around the deck, the pirates that hadn't been cast overboard laid writhing and weak on the floor, their bodies covered in sores, burns and scratches. They all groaned as smoke wafted off their bodies, and a few even raised their hands and groaned in some hope of breaking out of their trance. But, they just groaned and collapsed!

The first mate blinked and scrambled backwards at the sight of his fallen crew. He screamed and leaped to his feet! With a whistle on his end, his ship screeched right up to the side of the deck!

"Retreat!" the first mate cried as he dashed up to his ship. "This is the cannon masters' problem now!"

With a snap of his fingers, the first mate's ghastly crew vanished from the decks and reappeared on their own ship's deck, just in time for the ship to skedaddle! Everyone else grinned and glanced over the side of the Dread-Yacht as the ship dashed back to its fleet. Soon, they screamed and fell back as another cannonball rattled the deck!

Flynn clung to the wheel and winced as the others slid across the deck! He pushed himself up as the Dread-Yacht steadied, tapped a few buttons on its new console, and grimaced as a grainy screen popped out from the walls.

"Ninjini, how're things holding up down there?" Flynn cried. The sound of firing cannonballs yanked him away from the screen, and he winced as he frantically steered out of their direction. "'Cause we've got a bit of an artillery problem here!"

"We're on it, Flynn!" Ninjini called, his voice left fuzzy by the transmission quality.

The screen's grainy, fuzzy surface finally cleared, and on it was none other than Ninjini. She grinned as she waved to the screen, steered away, and lifted out her arm to present an entire row of cannons enchanted with magic! Their wooden surfaces glowed with bright purple light, and Magic Element symbols resided on their wooden tops.

"Just had to make a few adjustments, but our artillery should be ready to go!" Ninjini smirked as her eyes fell on the oncoming ships. "I'd say I know the perfect way to test it!" Ninjini turned aside and snapped her fingers. "Let's show them what we've got, boys!"

"Roger that!" Bouncer, Crusher, and Hot Head cried as they all scrambled towards the cannons and took their seats.

Ninjini took a seat at the cannon which led the charge, gripped its handles tight and grinned.

"FIRE AWAY!"

The Elder Elementals all pulled back the handles of their cannons, and a fury of attacks burst from their cannons with sights set towards the ships! Magic orbs and flurries of stone tore through the opposing ships' hulls; waves of gears combated oncoming cannonballs and knocked them out right in mid-flight; to top it all off, a gigantic flame cast out from Hot Head's cannon, and burned over the sky in waves as a bright orange burst that set the ships ahead alight! They all grinned as smoke and falling ships screeched in the distance.

Ninjini turned to Flynn and winked as the ships turned around and retreated. "See, we've got it all under control!" Ninjini remarked as she gave Flynn a thumbs up.

"Wait, what's that?" Bouncer asked as he scratched his head.

"What's what?" Ninjini turned around, gasped and turned back to Flynn. "Actually, I'll get back to you about that!"

The communications cut in that instance, and Flynn winced as he turned his gaze on the ships ahead. Though they were flaming, beaten, and battered, they still stood the best they could, stubborn as ghost ships always were. They drew closer and closer together, then they all sent out their cannons, their missiles and guns and in one simultaneous move, they all fired right for the Dread-Yacht!

Everyone screamed as the blow came right for them, while the Dread-Yacht fired a combined blow of its own from its cannons. But as the combined blast of fire, gears, orbs and rocks hurtled straight for the mass of missiles and weaponry, it was crushed to bits while the enemy assault zoomed past!

"That's it, we're doomed!" Trigger Happy cried as he raced back in forth in circles. "We're all gonna die!" Trigger Happy yanked a pen and paper from his fur and frantically scribbled away. "First, I'm giving all my treasure to my pet turtle…"

Flynn winced as he scanned the control panel; his nails gnawed down fast as he looked for something, anything that could fight off the oncoming storm. But then, his eyes fell on a glossy button with a person's picture planted on it and he grinned.

"We're not done yet, Trigger Happy!" Flynn cried. "I'm fact, I've got a secret weapon right up my sleeve!"

Trigger Happy turned around and blinked, as did everyone around him.

"You do?"

Flynn chuckled, slammed down on the glossy button and leaned back. "You might wanna hold on tight!"

Everyone paused and frowned, but soon they skidded backwards as the Dread-Yacht creaked and tilted back! They all frantically grappled for crates and boxes to cling to, yet even those proved less than helpful as the Dread-Yacht tilted back and creaked again! With every creak, they tilted, whirled, and spun around—just what was going on?

"Robot mode, activated!" cried a mechanical voice.

With one last shift, the Dread-Yacht's front slid down, and out from the top popped the captain's quarters! It transformed, going from an ordinary boat to a massive robot. Its sides evolved into formal arms and legs, and out from its hull-shaped chest came the window for a second room. Everyone else screamed as they dropped into this new room with a thunk, peered out the glass window they were provided, and screamed again!

"Since when could the Dread-Yacht turn into a giant robot?" Spyro cried as he pressed his face against the glass.

"Beats me! Those pirates must've done it!" Flynn boomed from the upstairs. He chuckled as he observed their shock from a screen, smirked and raised his brows as he turned his gaze on the oncoming assault. "But now, it'll be what stops them!"

Flynn pressed a couple of buttons as the missiles, bombs, and other weapons came within inches of him. As he did so, the Dread-Yacht yanked the pirates' weaponry out of the air and tossed it right back at the ships! The ships all turned around and screeched away—but they weren't fast enough, and their own weapons crashed into them in an explosion of fury and fire!

Flynn grinned, and with another button press, the Dread-Yacht hastily shifted back into its original form. Screams echoed from all around as the Dread-Yacht shifted back to normal, and everyone else popped up from a panel in the floor. Flynn grinned as he gazed out the window.

"Just what was that?" Gill Grunt groaned as he held his head.

"I don't know," Trigger Happy moaned back. Trigger Happy blinked, grinned and tossed his pen and paper away, "but look!" Trigger Happy pointed up to the flaming pirate ships and grinned. "It got rid of those guys!"

Everyone else followed Trigger Happy's gaze and grinned, for he was right! The pirates' ships set alight and decayed in the fire with every second they floated. Not even a ghost ship could come back from that! They won!

§

The smell of smoke stung everyone's noses as the pirates' ships engulfed in flames. The pirates' cries were as hollow as ghosts as their ships slowly sank further and further into the abyss. Their flames were a single burst of warmth alongside the murky, cloudy skies as they disappeared among the mist, no more than a speck amid the clouds and vast skies. Even the screams cut off, and all that was left were the howls of wind as everyone else watched the fall end…

But despite the morbid circumstances, they all cheered and leaped up! They escaped ghost pirate territory with the lives and ship (not an easy feat by any means), and by the Ancients, they were gonna cheer! They all hugged each other tight, spun around, Trigger Happy shot golden fireworks in the air, and even Stealth Elf managed a grin beneath her mask as she crossed her arms.

"Welp, looks like that ship's down for the count!" Flynn remarked as he wiped his hands. He grinned for a moment, but his grin slowly fell as his eyes popped open. "Actually, though, being a ghost ship, there's a pretty good chance it'll come back!"

Flynn gasped, jumped back to the Dread-Yacht's steering wheel and swung the Dread-Yacht around! It slowly creaked into motion and soared across the skies till the dying ghost ship down below vanished from view. All that was left were endless expanses of clouds and sky once more, and with the pirates gone, everyone took a breather and sat down.

Ninjini leaned over and quirked a brow as Gill Grunt admired the locket in his palms. "Were you not able to find your lover?" Ninjini asked as she leaned in closer.

Gill Grunt shook his head, yet he still kept that simple, gentle smile on his face as he traced hearts in the side of the locket. "'Fraid not," Gill Grunt whispered, and his grin grew a bit larger as he examined the locket's inside, "but, she's alive!"

Ninjini frowned a little bit, and a look of disappointment shone in her eyes. though, she dispelled her somber look with a shake of her head and examined the locket's inside.

On one half of the locket, there was a picture. Its paper was a bit worn and faded, yet the illustration on it was crisp and clear as day: a young gillman dressed in a marine's outfit wrapped in a mermaid's embrace while they kissed with the passion of lovers much older than they were, as close as close could be. On the other side, G and R runes stood carved into the locket's rusted metal.

"She still kept this old thing, even after all this time." Gill Grunt chuckled as he closed the locket and held it close to his heart. "Rita, once I find you, I'll make sure I get it back to you."

Ninjini chuckled and sat back up. "I'm sure you'll find her someday."

Gill Grunt nodded as he tucked the locket into his pocket, and shook his head.

"No, I'll definitely find her."

Ninjini smiled and rubbed Gill Grunt's shoulders with her finger, a rare moment of peace after such a hectic time. Even that was fleeting as the crackle of static echoed over the loudspeakers.

"Alright, everyone! This is your captain speaking!" Flynn boomed. "Now that we're making our way out of ghost pirate territory, onto our next objective: finding the rest of our crew and getting back on track!" Flynn's voice lowered just a bit. "That is, if I can even figure out where the heck we are in the first place…"

Sighs and eyerolls came all around, and some even buried their heads in their hands. In all their elation over finally making their grand escape, they forgot one thing: they had no idea where they were! Surely, it would take them days, weeks even, before they even remotely got to somewhere familiar.

"Yeah, this is gonna take a while," Spyro remarked as he shook his head, jolted it back up and gasped. "That's right! I'd better let Chi know we're alright!"

Spyro bowed his head and clasped his front paws together. A purplish-pink light shimmered from the gaps in his toes, and glowed even brighter as Spyro lifted his paws to reveal a butterfly! The butterfly sparkled as it flew away from Spyro's grip, hovered and flew in midair as if it waited for Spyro's next command.

"Find Chihiro, and tell her that we're alright and going to find her!" Spyro said.

The butterfly nodded, and Spyro grinned as it flew off from the Dread-Yacht's deck! He waved goodbye as it disappeared beyond the clouds, but even that momentary glimpse of happiness disappeared as he lowered his paws and frowned.

"Hopefully."

"Alright everyone, you might wanna hang onto something!" Flynn boomed over the loudspeakers. "I'm about to shift this baby into overdrive!"

Everyone turned around and frowned as they gazed at Flynn, but that happened a little too late. With the crank of a lever, the Dread-Yacht dashed off fast a bullet! Screams were the only thing that could be heard as everyone flew forward and pinned to the walls.

Flynn was perfectly oblivious despite their cries; he just cheered from the pilot's seat as he spun the wheel around. "Hoo baby!" Flynn cried as the Dread-Yacht burst through a particularly large cloud and split it in two. "Let's see if this can go any faster!"

"NO!" everyone else cried as the Dread-Yacht disappeared into the distance.