The Final Players

Play "Un Sogno" from Golden Wind.

Shipwreck Cove

All the pirates returned to where it all began. The arrested Commanders were escorted by the Nextgen Pirates to bare witness to this crowning moment. The Pirate Lords returned to view the outcome, including Captain Slag and Hook. Skaios was the only other Emperor in attendance, as Mandy wished to remain in Hyrule, no longer caring for the outcome. Maria noticed Papyrus bowing his skull in worry. Not only was Undyne never found, but Sans seemed to disappear, too. She hoped, for his sake, they were still okay somewhere.

Regardless, so many burdens were lifting off the KND's hearts, glad that this arduous mission was about to end. But if Nebula was truly becoming the "Pirate King," what sorts of problems would that create? Would these other pirate crews really become their allies? …No, because when they considered Davy Jones' contract, it seemed like the pirates would become slaves instead. It sounded like a cruel fate, so they would hope for a way around it. Even so, if anyone would become Pirate King, they were glad it was Nebula, a leader they could have faith in.

In the center of Shipwreck Cove, Edward Teague waited atop a tall flight of stairs, surrounded by a mountain of treasure. Above the treasure rested a throne with a skull crown on it, which Teague stood before. Nebula calmly marched up the stairs alone, watched by her friends with proud expressions. The captured pirates wore solemn expressions, yet saw no reason to retaliate. Their Yonko were either dead or surrendered, but even if they had to serve this brat, they would continue living. Either way, the war that had brought chaos and despair to many hearts was finally over. Their victor shone like the gold around her.

Nebula stopped before Captain Teague. The undead pirate drew a sword and lay the back of it to Nebula's shoulder. "Captain Nebula D. Winkiebottom… I recognize you as the victor of the Pirate War, and the power of your Nextgen Pirates. You are now… the King of the Pirates. May the brethren remember your name for eternity, and all pirates look upon you with respect."

Teague slowly walked behind the throne and picked up the crown in both skeletal hands. Nebula turned and sat herself on the throne. Teague slowly… lowered it… onto her head… "There are a lot of things we pirates live by in the Code… and among those things… is loyalty…" Teague's eye sockets glowed with malice, "to our captain." (End song.)

A psychic barrier encased the treasure—water flooded inside it like an aquarium, Nebula being waved around wildly, taken off-guard, and holding her breath. "NEBULA!" Cheren screamed, trying to cut the barrier open.

A ghastly shadow emerged from the treasure, wriggling its tentacles creepily: Davy Jones. Nebula tried to warp, but was already choked in Jones' crab claw. "You didn't really think I would let YOU become Pirate King, did ya, Lassie?! You don't have an ounce of 'pirate' in your veins-ah! To you, this is but a mere game, where you wish for naught but all the spoils! But you've forgotten that my name is on this contract," Jones unraveled the scroll from his tentacles, "so I am still a player! And now, the soul of the last Emperor is MINE!"

His tentacles crawled into her nostrils, throat and ears. Nebula was overwhelmed by the awful sensation and the salt water flooding her lungs. Cheren was able to puncture the barrier, water spilling out as he swam in. With a Torpedo Spin, he sliced Jones and stole Nebula from his grasp, quickly returning outside. Melody used her bending to remove the water inside her. "Her heart's still beating!"

"Nebula, wake up!" Cheren lightly shook her. "Nebula!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Inside the aquarium, Jones was proudly holding a soul, which he slurped into his throat like a fluent jelly. "After 200 years… AT LAST-AH! The Pirate Wars have ENDED! Sherbet and K. Rool are dead, Skaios and Mandy surrendered… and now, Queen Nebula's soul is imprisoned in my dark heart! I, Davy Jones, am the PIRATE KING!" He raised the contract, basking in its official, unbendable authority.

"NO WAY!" Sheila yelled. "We haven't surrendered!"

"It matters not, Sunny Fist-ah! You're all exhausted from those final battles, mentally and physically! My crew will seal my dominion over you all!"

Undead Fishman pirates emerged from the wood of the shipwrecks, grabbing the Commanders and holding swords to them. Some tried to attack the KND, but they were quick to retaliate. "Resist all you want! Now that I am crowned the King, your wills will be mine to command! All you KND who work under Nebula, all who have served the Emperors, my authority commands you all!"

"Ufufufu! That is most delightful~" A sweet voice cooed. "Of all of Ganon's minions, you may be the most impressive, Jones."

"That voice!" Kotoko's pupils shrank. "It can't be…"

Their suspicions were confirmed: Monaca Towa descended from the ceiling, using psychic to float. A black aura surrounded her. Her black dress was more skeletal, and her face decorated with white and black paint. Her eyes burned orange like Hellfire. No doubt, the psychic barrier was her doing. "Ufufufu… Monaca has been reborn anew. Masaru, Kotoko, Jataro, Yuta, Nagisa… How could you leave Monaca all alone?"

"W-We didn't even know where you'd gone!" Yuta replied. "Even so… you…"

"You should be dead." Melody whispered. "After you killed my father… and tried to kill Mom and Dillon… you're going to regret showing your face here."

"Oooohh, Monaca is shaking. Though, speaking of dead… Monaca brought you a gift." She dropped a charred corpse on the ground, one of a short skeleton in a hoodie.

"S-S-S…SANS!!" cried Papyrus.

"Yes! Sansy tried to stop Monaca, but he was in over his thick little head. Now, Jones… let's make these miserable children our slaves. Monaca would like a few to shrink down and kiss her divine toes~. Let's see… how about Princess Melody, for starters?" The girl in question snarled at the witch.

"Heh heh heh ha. Gladly, Miss Towa." Jones chortled at the thought. "By my authority as the Pirate King, I order Melody Jackson to serve Monaca for all eternity. In fact, I hereby command the souls of ALL the fallen pirates… TO COME TO ME! Make Shipwreck Cove a castle, from which we will rule FOREVER!" His arms spread and, facing the ceiling of his aquarium, he awaited the dead to answer his call.

…

…

…

"…?" Jones frowned. "Grrrr… They should be here by now. Teague, am I not the King?!"

"If all other candidates have fallen or withdrawn, the title is yours."

"Then who am I missing?!" Jones' eyes shot onto the contract. "Kaido is dead, both Sorbetes and Sherbet are dead, Mandy and Skaios have withdrawn, Nebula's soul is inside me, Romulus Slag is-!…"

Indeed… Captain Slag's name was at the bottom of the list of signatures. The Heartless Pirate shot his gaze into the stands, to the Pirate Lords. The chubby, robotic captain was casually guzzling grog, until he felt all gazes on him. "What? If ya wanted your own grog, you should have…" Slag looked to the throne. Jones' ominous glare was fixed right on him.

"SlaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGG!" The aquarium spewed open, the Lords washing away as Jones surfed up to a baffled Slag. The Emperor practically stamped the contract against his face. "Is THIS your name on this contract?!"

"Arr… 'twould be so."

"Then you've a debt to pay. For the honor of the Brethren, you must fight this war!" Jones drew his sword. "Fight me to the DEATH!"

"Arrr… well, I be a pirate who lives by the Code." Slag stood bravely, his right hand becoming a sword. "So, I will fight the only way I can." (Play "Boss Battle" from Mario 3.)

Using speed he never knew he had, the obese robot pirate bolted up the corridors. "SLAAAAAAG!" The tidal wave that was Davy Jones surfed after, sending Water Slices up the halls, Slag dodging to either side. The walls fell over, but Slag dodged around, and he jumped the floors that broke. Giant water spires spewed up, still not hindering the fleeing captain. Slag jumped up some slanted platforms that were severed ship decks, keeping steady even as Jones abruptly snapped and sank them. Slag quickly climbed a rope ladder up a crow's nest, Jones furiously slicing the ropes beneath him. Slag managed to stay out of his reach and get on top, running across a rope bridge.

"I am not surrendering!" Slag affirmed. "I am giving it my all in my 'Run and Strategize' plan!" He crossed to another nest, but Jones cut the base and made it fall, Slag quickly jumping to grab a hanging rope lantern. He swung to another, one more, and landed on a wood slide, bringing him down to a floor divided in slanted segments. They would try to flip up and fling him away, so Slag quickly jumped to other segments. He entered a bar area, where Dutchman Pirates blasted cannons with rum fuel. Slag endured the ammo and chopped down pirates in his way. Barrels were rolling down a stairway, but he jumped them like a Mushroomian. In the upper corridor, water tentacles burst out of walls, Slag either ducking or jumping them.

Slag found himself several stories above the Brethren Court, using rope nets to bounce across as he viewed the combat below. Jones rode a water salamander along the side, slicing the ropes, so Slag was quick in bouncing across. He grabbed a ladder to take him up a crow's nest, which Jones sliced and caused to topple over. It became a slide going down to a walkway, which crumbled as Slag ran. He crossed a sturdy bridge, though it was being destroyed by cannonfire, Slag cutting down pirates that tried to stop him. When the segment he was standing on was blown off, he rode it and blasted through a wall, continuing his escape. "RAAAAAAHHH!" Jones washed into the passage, molding a water serpent that munched up the wood—Death the Kid intercepted the pirate and lashed his scythe.

"I knew letting you out of Underworld Prison was a bad idea!" Kid yelled.

"The Underworld and Pirate World are different forces with the same power. You cannot interfere with our affairs!"

"If I can't interfere as the Demon King, I'll interfere as one of Captain Nebula's Commanders." Kid smirked. "Against my better wishes, I accepted an official alliance with her, since the KND would have to fight demons in this war, anyway. So, consider me the captain of the Reaper Pirates."

"I've had enough of your insolent pretending-ah!" Jones crushed the Reaper in the serpent's teeth, Kid surviving and carving the captain up with his scythe.

Slag turned a few more corners before catching his breath in a room. "Huff…huff… I lost him. BAAH!" He jumped in fright when Dillon emerged from a shadow.

"For having survived this long, you sure are jumpy."

"Bite yer tongue, boy! I tried to fight Helmaroc King at one point. …I used the same strategy and we called it a draw. This is how real men fight their battles."

"Whatever, just try not to get yourself killed. If Jones' contract really works, we have to keep you around until we can beat him."

"And how do you plan to do THAT, shorty?!" Dillon whipped around when a Fishwoman burst into the room, a heart on her black armor.

"Undyne?! How did you get here? Where have you…?" Mario slithered around the Fishwoman and reported terrible news to his master. "What… Bellum?!"

Indeed, a smaller form of Bellum was attached to Undyne's back, and her eye resembled his eye. "That's right! I faked my death and returned to my true captain! Now, do me a favor, Slag, and drop dead!"

Slag raised his blade. "The only one'll be dropping dead is you!"

"Wait!" Dillon yelled. "We have to destroy the monster on her back and save Undyne!"

"Arrr, what a pain. Ye'd best compensate me for this, lad."

"I'll repay you by saving us all from Jones." (Play "Battle Against a True Hero" from Undertale!)

Boss fight: Dutchman Pirates General, BELLUNDYNE

Bellum unleashed a storm of spears at Slag, the captain chopping them down with his sword. The spears flew from above, behind, and either side, but as Slag kept them at bay, Dillon slithered behind the knight. He emerged and dealt Shade Fists at Bellum, but was unable to breach his sturdy eyelid. Bellum stabbed behind, Dillon Veiling and escaping. Slag charged at Bellundyne as they both locked arms, and in the process, Slag breathed groggy gas into her face. Bellundyne shut her eye, conjuring more spears to push the captain off. Bellum opened his main eye for sight's sake, but Dillon threw a M.A.R.B.L.E. into his eye. Bellum reactively pushed Slag off and jumped away.

Bellum formed a circle of spears, spinning around himself like a barrier. Slag turned his sword into an energy saw, spinning as well to build energy and force against the barrier. Dillon covered his ears from the awful grating sound, but Slag was able to destroy the spears. He switched to a shield to defend from a storm of spears, hurrying away from his opponent to recollect himself. Bellundyne jogged in place before charging at Slag, wrestling with the robot once more, but this time, Undyne's helmet appeared over her head to protect her from Slag's breath. Dillon put his hood up and used Shadow Possession from behind the knight.

It was hard to achieve full control over the possessed Fishwoman, so he relied on Slag's strength to keep her steady as well. At last, Dillon felt his own and Undyne's will in sync, so he flipped his hood off, Undyne doing the same with her helmet. Slag blew grog in Undyne's eye, making Bellum's core eye open. Dillon broke his Possession, swiftly evading the spears Bellum shot at him, while Mario was able to slither up and explode a M.A.R.B.L.E. in the eye. Bellundyne blew Slag off and spun away again. The knight surged with energy, the room rumbling as dozens of giant energy spears began phasing in from the walls or floors. The two hurriedly dodged the spears, though the very edge of one burned off the side of Dillon's sweater.

Bellundyne's own spear grew in power, slashing it with streaks of light. Slag raised his shield, pouring every ounce of will to defend himself, but Dillon saw his thermometer rising. He quickly caught Bellundyne in Possession, straining to stop their onslaught. He felt like he pulled a few muscles by the time the Fishwoman ceased. Slag grabbed and slammed Undyne onto her back, pressing Bellum to the floor. Spears fell from above Slag, stabbing his back, but he suddenly rolled over, putting Bellundyne back-up as the spears pierced her instead. Slag blew grog in her eye, so Bellum ceased the spears as he forced his vessel to flip off onto her back—his open eye landed on a M.A.R.B.L.E. Dillon dropped on the floor.

Bellundyne leapt away and willed six spears to surround each opponent. They would enclose half a second later, so they jumped through the gaps, repeating the process for 10 rounds. Spears would then fly from every direction in a rapid pace, Dillon getting beside Slag as he whipped his shield in every correct direction for defense. Some were able to puncture the captain, and the yellow spears would suddenly move to a different side before stabbing, so Slag was barely able to survive them all. Bellundyne then charged their spear and performed an endless spin attack, which Slag combatted with his buzzsaw. His temperature was overheating, and Dillon feared he couldn't hold out.

"Huurrrrrr…!" Bellundyne fortunately stopped, gripping her head. "Get the hell… off me… you…"

"Hey hey hey! Settle down, you little…!" Bellum's eye opened, the fusion spinning around the room as Undyne tried to shake him off. Dillon Veiled with a M.A.R.B.L.E. ready, focusing on them. With keen timing, he threw the bomb when their back faced him and exploded Bellum's eye. Despite this, Bellum reached a tentacle around to Undyne's mouth, choking the Fishwoman to weaken her resolve. He spun away from his foes, regaining control of Undyne. Bellundyne rumbled, Dillon and Slag gasping when spears emerged from beneath their feet. They ran around the floor, spears shooting up from random spots. Just as they stopped, Bellundyne leapt to stab Dillon, who barely Veiled in time.

Bellundyne leapt away and, with another surge of chi, willed a huge cluster of spears to slowly emerge from every direction, filling the room with a dense light. Slag readied his shield: though the spears were slow, they were everywhere, and he had to react quickly to defend from the nearest ones. Dillon stood beside him, relying on his protection as he stretched his shadow around to grab Bellundyne. Controlling only the arm, he struggled to make Undyne grip Bellum's tentacle and tug it out of her mouth. Undyne growled and squeezed the eye of the tentacle until it popped into dark jelly. The spears stopped flying, and Bellum's eye squinted open as he tried to retake control—Mario slithered behind and threw a M.A.R.B.L.E. into his eye.

"D'oooohhh! I'll break you, yet!" Bellum struggled for control, but was able to use Undyne's power to make smaller spears appear around her, intending to stab her arms. Dillon caught them in Shadow Possession, moving the arms in a way to keep Undyne from getting hurt. With both Undyne and Dillon working in unison, they forced her arms to reach behind and grasp Bellum's eyelid. The stubborn monster tried to keep his eye sealed, but when Slag hurried behind them, digging his claw and hook into the lid to pry it open, the slightest gap was made available.

"Eat grog, ya toxic sea urchin!" Slag belched grog into the gap.

"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Bellum cried and squirmed from the awful sensation against his eye, and their continuous struggling caused his tentacles to snap off Undyne's form.

"DIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!" Using all the undying passion in her spear, Undyne sliced and diced the demon, purple mist spraying everywhere as she made sure to carve up every single fleshy piece. His gut burning, Slag breathed fire over the microscopic remains of Bellum. It created a noxious smell for Dillon, but as that spot continued to burn, it was clear there was nothing left of old Bellum. (End song.)

"Huff…huff…" Undyne's exhaust began to catch up to her, and the heat wasn't making it any better. The warrior fell on her back. "I need… water… and also… what's been happening…?"

"We have a lot to fill you in on." Dillon replied.

"But that's best saved for after we send Davy Jones back to his own locker, aye?" Slag said, lifting Undyne over his shoulder. "Which reminds me… how do ya plan to do that, laddie?"

"Uh…I'm sure the others have a plan!"

…

"This SERIOUSLY isn't what we had planned!" Masaru yelled, hurdling flaming baseballs at the Fishmen. "I was hoping Nebula would be the King by now, we'd all be filthy rich, there would be a big party, and we'd all live happily ever after!"

"What makes you think she'd share the treasure with YOU?!" Vweeb remarked, landing on Masaru's shoulder to shoot away some zombie hermit crabs. "You only sided with us recently!"

"This isn't about treasure!" Cheren yelled, beheading five zombies in one swing. "If we don't stop Jones, we're gonna wind up as his slaves—WHOOAA!" He was lifted by an unseen force.

"H-Hey hey, what's—waaaaaahh!" Yuta cried as he was lifted as well, along with his fellow Hope Pirates.

"Ufufufu! Now Monaca has you all wrapped around her little fingers~" proclaimed the demon child, squeezing the six kids in her psychic.

"M-Monaca! Please!" Shingetsu struggled. "We're friends, aren't we?! The six of us and Skaios… we can all live happily! We don't need to fight, anymore!"

"Monaca!" Skaios yelled. "What's the meaning of this?! I thought you left us to go live in peace. The mates said so!"

"Oh, so you lied?" Monaca cooed. "You lied to leave Monaca all alone to her death. Well, Monaca doesn't appreciate-"

A giant Water Fist grabbed the psychic and smashed her to the floor with such force that she fell into the room below, which appeared to be stacked with barrels. Water was seeping up through the floorboards, as if this room was just above the sea. Melody dropped into the room, balling her Water Fists with raging eyes. "I'm not going to let you take another life. In fact, I'm glad you survived. I'm glad you showed up, so I can KILL YOU MYSELF!"

"Meeee? But it's Yuta's fault your papa is dead~" Monaca waved her hands, as if to stir Melody's mind with psychic. "If he hadn't lied to Monaca and gone to you… I would never have-"

"SHUT UP!" The fist punched Monaca's chin like a wrecking ball. "It isn't Yuta's fault, it was all part of your sick, twisted game! You're nothing but human scum that only cares about making other people miserable!"

"Tee hee hee! Melody-chan, you're absolutely right! Pain, misery, and despair… it's slathered all over you. And you just look so… cute! If your other friends would look as adorably broken as you… Monaca will try her hardest to crush them."

"We… are going to win this war." Melody vowed. "And you… are going to… fuck off." (Play "HEAT UP" from Danganronpa!)

Boss fight: Boogey Pirates Spy, MONACA TOWA

Monaca softly flew around the room, leaving afterimages with her psychic in attempt to dizzy Melody. Monaca would teleport when Melody shot water-spikes up, steadily appearing closer to the waterbender before shooting an explosion from her palm. Melody narrowly avoided and socked Monaca with a Water Fist, grabbing her legs in the other fist and slamming Monaca back-and-forth against the floor. Monaca willed bombs to appear and explode around Melody, so she dodged away by a heartbeat, releasing Monaca and splashing water over other psychic bombs. Monaca grabbed Melody in psychic and pulled her over, hand open for an explosion, but Melody psychically grabbed some water and cut Monaca's wrist and head, breaking her concentration as Melody punched her in the face again.

Monaca used Illusion to turn herself into a Psy-Bomb, willing other such bombs to appear and roll around the room. But since Melody's rage was already allowing her to focus on Monaca, she memorized the correct bomb and kicked another bomb into it, blowing Monaca out of her disguise as Melody lashed her with water-slices. An angry Monaca warped away and made bombs rain from the ceiling, Melody waving water above her to keep them away. Monaca warped into her safe spot, but Melody immediately punched her away before an explosion. The bombs ceased, but Melody was able to swiftly kick a remaining one into Monaca for damage.

Monaca willed a bunch of barrels to fly over in her psychic, and they buried her to block her from Melody's view. The barrels scattered and flew around, and it seemed Monaca hid inside one. They rotated around the air at different heights, and when one was near Melody, it exploded. She barely evaded the blast, dousing the fire on her hair, and she sliced water to cut the other barrels while rendering them unable to explode. She saw a flash inside one of the barrels, and another barrel do the same. Did Monaca teleport to that barrel? Melody ran under it and shot water-spikes up to find out. The barrel dropped as Monaca was punctured, Melody wrapping her legs in tentacles to squeeze them.

Monaca warped behind, Melody dodging the burst, and Monaca shot all the remaining barrels at Melody for a chain reaction. She barely had time to spin a Water Shield around herself, the flames burning her through the shield. When the smoke cleared away, Monaca shot up, trying to explode Melody with both hands, but a Water Gun was able to blast the witch away. Melody quickly healed her wounds while Monaca was cartwheeling to her. The floor where her palms touched made a trail of mini-explosions, Monaca circling around Melody as a wall of smoke rose—Psy-Spheres flew through the smoke, surprising Mel as she reactively punched them away. In her distraction, Monaca flew up to grab Melody's ankle—Melody splashed water over her hand to stop her just in time, leaping away while losing a sandal.

Monaca made bombs appear around and close in on Melody, who raised a Water Shield—Monaca smirked at her successful trick and struck Melody with Force Lightning. She screamed from the pain, the water enhancing the electricity, but every second of pain increased Melody's rage. She was able to telepathically will some water to stab through Monaca's arms, breaking her hold as Melody flipped and hammered a Water Fist on her head. Melody then grasped the head in that fist and whirled Monaca around, hoping Monaca would drown in dizziness. Monaca teleported out and caught her breath, summoning some powder kegs over, slapping them, and throwing them to Melody before setting them off with huge explosions.

Melody stabbed water spears at the barrels with monstrous speed, afterwards conjuring an octopus around herself. Monaca smirked and simply zapped Force Lightning, but one of the tentacles caught it just as Melody detached it, shooting the electrified water at Monaca to stun her. Melody grabbed Monaca in the tentacles and began to twist and pull her, causing blood to leak out. Monaca teleported and surrounded Melody with illusions of herself, all conjuring Psy-Spheres to throw into the octopus. Melody directed each tentacle to grab and throw every sphere to the clones, her reflexes unparalleled despite all the directions. However, none of the illusions appeared to be real, and Melody saw the ceiling swirling above her to become an illusory dimension, decorated with Monokuma patterns.

A gigantic Monaca loomed above her, wriggling her fingers and grinning as if excited to play with her doll. Melody growled and entered Water Fury, becoming a liquid colossus as she thrusted fists at Monaca. Monaca's illusion simply grew wavy as smaller clones appeared around Melody, electrocuting the giant, but Melody dove out of her colossus, controlling its electric form to slap the Monacas away, successfully catching the real one for a deadly shock. Monaca warped out, becoming giant again and molding two giant, dark Psy-Spheres in her hands. Monaca released one to the sky and one to the ground. The ground one exploded into a forest of thorns, cutting Melody from many directions. The sky one burst and rained exploding spheres, Melody maneuvering around the forest in evasion, but cutting herself with every turn.

"Ufufu! Looks like poor Melody is about to go to pieces!"

"We'll see about that!" Melody bent two strips of blood out of her cuts, slicing the thorns down. She controlled the colossus to pummel the giant Monaca, making the illusion shrink to its normal size. Melody rushed up and furiously sliced Monaca with the blood, dodging when the psychic thrusted her bursting palms. Monaca warped and cartwheeled around Melody, who jumped out of the would-be explosive circle—Monaca grabbed Melody's ankle, but Melody chopped off her hand before the deed could be done. Blood spilled from Monaca's arm, which Melody bent to add to her Blood Knives. Monaca grabbed Melody's neck in psychic, choking brutally, but Melody dealt a light cut to Monaca's forehead, breaking her hold, and wasted no time in slicing off Monaca's right hand.

Monaca growled and flew away, making bombs rain again, but Melody willed the Blood Knives to thrust spikes out and push the bombs away from her. Monaca rapidly teleported around, going above Melody in attempt to explode from her feet, but Melody ran aside and brought up giant Water Fists to crush Monaca between their knuckles. The fists brutally pounded Monaca into the ground, and afterwards, Melody severed her at the knees. "AAAAAGGGHH…" Bleeding from all four limbs, Monaca lifted her head, rasping at Melody. "How dare… you hurt… Monaca… Monaca is sweet… Monaca is Hope… Monaca is… despair…"

To Melody's horror, black, psychic arms and legs grew to replace her missing ones. She was on her new feet and rushing at Melody with demon speed, lashing her arms like blades, but Melody dodged the deadly blows and forced the bundled-up blood into other cuts on Monaca's body. Melody restrained the girl with bloodbending, still having to dodge the lashes of her black arms and legs. Melody stirred the blood inside Monaca, twisting her kidneys, her brain, and her heart, forcing the most painful screams to erupt from her lungs. With another painful squeeze into the brain, Monaca's psychic faltered and broke. The illusory dimension disappeared, her new limbs vanished, and she plopped onto the floor as her body still leaked. (End song.)

"Huff…huff…fffff…" Disabling her Fury, Melody only glared at the writhing child with scorn. "Owww… it… hurts… help… me…help… Monaca…"

"Do you seriously think you deserve any mercy? You killed my father, plotted against your own friends, tormented them… Why the fuck should some black-hearted child like you get to live?"

"Please… it's not Monaca's fault… Monaca… was just following Ganon's orders… please forgive…"

Melody molded a giant icicle directly above Monaca's heart. Yuta, the Hope Pirates, and Cheren watched her in anticipation. If this were any other scenario, they might rush to stop her… and yet… for some reason, they couldn't… They couldn't feel any sympathy for Monaca. She returned to Shipwreck Cove solely to kill them, siding with Jones, and they could feel Ganon's soul mixed with her own. All these facts were clear to Melody, too, and since Monaca's actions had tormented Melody this entire war, they saw no reason to stop Melody from attaining her justice.

"…" Melody's arms trembled. Go on… just kill her… Everyone would be glad that she's gone… and it's exactly what she wanted… "Grrrr… why…why can't I… do it…?"

"Melody…" Cheren whispered.

"I shouldn't be so afraid to kill someone so evil… it's not like I would be the only operative who did… but… why…?"

Tears streamed down her face. With an empathetic smile, Yuta walked up and placed a hand on Melody's shoulder. "Maybe because… you've seen too much death this war, Melody. You don't want to dirty your hands. …But if you want… I could…"

"…" The icicle melted into liquid and drenched the limbless Monaca, who had no energy to gasp or react, her blood becoming a puddle. "Your hands are cleaner than mine, Yuta. Don't be ridiculous…"

"…" Yuta cracked a light smile, but was unsure if he should do so.

"UUUAAAAHH!" They jumped at Monaca's scream: a Light Arrow was impaled through her stomach. Cheren grasped the arrow firmly. That one scream was all Monaca could manage before passing out.

"That should at least subdue the darkness inside her, but I doubt she'll be any different if she recovers. …Anyway, patch her up and let's go help the others."

"…" With empty eyes, Melody began to heal the stubs that used to be Monaca's limbs. Her old friends turned away, conflicting emotions stirring in their minds. They thought they wouldn't have cared if their traitorous friend met her end… but maybe they were awful for thinking that way… They still couldn't forgive her actions… but they found their selves asking the same questions as Melody.

By the end of this day, they wouldn't be able to determine the answer.

The Shiny Pirates were casting spells to defend Akko, Diana, and Jasminka. "Diana, we could really use some help!" Hannah yelled. "I don't expect Kagari to recover so soon, but you?!"

"It'll take more than a few Ethers to recover the energy we exhausted." Diana replied. "Jasminka, what about you? Can't you eat?"

"I'm sorry, Diana." Jasminka moaned, holding her stomach. "At the moment, I…I'm just not that hungry."

"That BIG'UN looks fresh!" A three-headed eel pirate leapt to sink their teeth in Jasminka, who cried in terror.

"BAAAAAAH!" The pirate was rammed headfirst by a tall, green dinosaur: General Scales.

"What the-?!" Akko yelped in confusion.

"(It is YOU!)" Scales gazed at Jasminka with beaming eyes (Barbara cast a translation spell). "(The fluffy witch from that day… You've been stuck in my mind for MONTHS!)"

"S-Stuck in your… mind?…"

"'ey! You'll pay for that, Reptile!" The eel pirate charged at Scales, but the dinosaur violent bit into the base of their heads and tore them all off.

"(What is your name, Marshmallow Witch?!)"

"Uh…it's Jasminka."

"(Jasminka… I don't know what vexes me, but I will protect you from these heathens!)"

"Awwww… that's sho very sweet of you~" Jasminka flushed a sweet pink. Amanda shared a weirded look with Constanze.

"'EEEEEEY! Listen up, all you second-rate pirates!" The Commanders all looked to Sheila, partway up the mountain of treasure. "The way things are going, you only have two options: become Davy Jones' zombie slaves, or help us KICK his sorry arse!"

"Bah!" Fredrik spat. "We serve Kroctus, in life or death! Neither you nor Jones will deter us!"

"Well, boo to you Kremlings!" Pea yelled. "I owe the KND a favor!"

"Even though they illegally trespassed on my island…" Pawtucket said, "thanks to them, no more innocent children will become Titans."

"I am indebted to serve Queen Mandy for eons." Cortez followed. "I will serve her by cutting down all who dare try to command her!"

"We've already lost this war." Vaati said. "Between Jones and the KND… I would much rather the latter rule over us. Ugh…"

"We must not let Jones win this war!" Meta Knight vowed. "He has cowardly waited on this island until he could land the final blow! He does not deserve to be King!"

"Moge-ko will fight beside her friend, April!" Moge-ko glomped the taller artist. "We won't lose!"

"Hehe, thank you, Moge-ko." April blushed, knowing the chartreuse paint was still on her forehead.

"Kid followed Jones somewhere upstairs!" Cheren yelled. "Let's go after them! He'll never be able to beat all of us! Nextgen Pirates, Big Mom Pirates, Sky God Pirates, Boogey Pirates… and I guess the Kremlings, even though… ahem, BATTLE STATIONS!"