MC10: Mutiny...

"Mutiny and Mutual Agreements"

October 14, 2008.  Machelix looked up into the moon, its face full and radiant.  There was something about this place he was assigned to that brought out his sense of adventure.  It might have been the smell of the sea air, it might have been the roll of the ocean as it rocked his rowboat, or it might have been the thrill of adventure.  Either way, he knew he loved Port Royal.

Xhaonroi had asked for one of the Nobodies to capture the Black Pearl, the illustrious ship of these waters.  Control of it meant control of this world.  Machelix was up for the job.

The impressive ship loomed on the horizon, outlined against the night sky by a tower of light-enough clouds.  The familiar figurehead, the maiden releasing the dove, was as welcome a sight as ever.  Machelix looked to the rope in the back of his boat, the boarding line to allow him on the ship.  He was going to do this one on his own.  He pulled up to the starboard side of the ship and tossed the line.  He was lucky enough for it to stick on the first try in the grooves of the guardrail.  He tugged on it to make sure it was taut before climbing up it.  The ship below him started to drift away; it was either take the ship or swim with the sharks.

When Machelix's feet met the wood of the ship, the sight before his eyes wasn't what he expected it to be.  A group of skeletal pirates with bits of flesh hanging off of them surrounded the mainsail mast, a prisoner bound to it.  The man was about twice as old as Machelix was with brown hair twice as long.  His head was wrapped with a red bandana and topped with a tri-corner captain's hat.  Machelix recognized the face immediately, one of the World Leaders close to the top of the Organization's wanted list:  Captain Jack Sparrow.

Both his eyes and the eyes of all of the skeletal pirates were on him.  The pirate closest to him turned completely and barked, "What do ye want on our ship, whelp?"

Machelix shrugged.  "I don't want anything aboard the ship…"  He summoned his Keyblade and finished.  "… I want the whole ship!"

The pirates weren't quite keen on this response.  They drew their cutlasses and sent three of their ranks at him.  Machelix knew better than to fall for this cheap trick.  He deftly evaded the first two, parrying their strikes and forcing them over the side.

For the third one, he whirled around under his strike and delivered a blow to his spine.  He was cloven in two by this attack, but he still came, dragging his two halves coming together and attacking again.  Obviously these pirates were under the influence of the notorious curse that made this world so dangerous.  Still, Machelix had prepared for this.  He charged a spell in the hook of his Keyblade and hooked the undead pirate in the middle again.  With a smirk he shouted, "Twilight Bomb!"  An explosion like cannon fire rocked the ship.  The undead pirate was nowhere to be found when the smoke cleared, but Machelix was unharmed.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Jack asked.

Machelix smiled and replied, "My Somebody knew a thing or two about fighting like a pirate."

Jack looked at Machelix pensively as the other pirates regarded him with fear.  "What's yer name?"

"Machelix Mexilhann," the Mysterious Mage replied.

Jack smiled, his teeth various silvers and a gold.  "That would be a spinoff of Michael, I wager?  I knew the lad, good strong pirate, first rate cutthroat when in a foul mood.  I warrant that ye share similar temperament?"

"Aye," Machelix replied, his vampire smile showing.  "Allow me to show you."  Machelix took a stance with his sword and rushed into the stunned pirates, slashing the head off of one and breaking another's ribcage with the crystal ball on the end of the sword.

This move shook the pirates from their fear, turning it into anger.  They all came at Machelix at once, pinning him to the mainsail mast with sheer numbers.  He parried blow after blow, his space becoming more and more restricted the more audacious the pirates became.  The fact that they were immune to sword attacks didn't help.

A sword attack aimed at his neck was barely dodged.  Machelix rolled into a ducking position and escaped out of the mob.  The strike he had evaded slit one of the ropes holding Jack.  He managed to break free of his bonds and drew his own sword.  "Alright, it's about time I show you mutineers why I'm captain!"  He gave the first pirate in his way a hard punch to the face before slashing at his chest.  The pirate fell back, opening up an entire escape route.  Jack took it, bounding over the befuddled pirates.

Machelix took the opportunity to use his boarding line to tie up a few of the ones that were stunned.  At least a few of them were out of the picture now.  He shifted his weapon to its staff form and made his way for the helm.  The higher position afforded his long-distance attacks better accuracy.  He fired a quick succession of three blasts at some of the pirates chasing after Jack.  They were felled immediately and subsequently tied up as well.

"You know, you do remind me of Michael a bit," Jack threw over his shoulder.

Machelix fired another Twilight Pulse at the pirates before replying, "I'm his Nobody.  We should resemble each other."

"Oh, you felons again.  I thought I had seen the last of your like when that Luxord character disappeared.  You won't sick some big beastie on me, will ye?"

"I can't control Heartless," Machelix admitted.  "Besides, I'm saving your butt, aren't I?"  Another zombie pirate fell to the boards.

Jack groaned as his sword pierced another of his traitorous teammates.  "Just help me quell this mutiny and then we'll talk of alliances."  He locked swords with another pirate before too long.

This wasn't working fast enough.  They hadn't even taken care of half of the pirates on board.  'There must be something to clear the ship,' Machelix thought hurriedly.  His eyes darted around between Twilight Pulses.  Finally, they settled on a pair of loose lines above his head.  Hanging from them was half of a broken spar, obviously held aloft for repairs.  That would do.  Machelix aimed his staff up towards the ropes and loosed a spell.  He followed this up by using another spell to send him soaring.  He took hold of the closer of the two ropes as the Twilight pulse severed the other one.  He swung like a pendulum into the crowd of pirates.  They didn't know what hit them until they were over the railing and knocked into the sea.  Not a pirate was to be found on the ship that was below the rank of captain.

Jack stepped from his position between the twin staircases leading up to the navigation deck.  "Good work, mate.  But now I'm a captain without a crew."



Machelix bent over and picked up one of the hats that were knocked off of the undead pirates' heads.  Free of the curse, it looked as good as any seaman's tri-corner cap.  He put it on and told Jack, "Ye still 'ave me.  Now let's talk about the reward fer helpin' ye."

"The Pearl is still my ship," Jack said with a sneer.

Machelix nodded and said, "An' the Pearl ye shall 'ave.  But, in return fer continued captainship, we'd like ye to agree to sail under both yer own colors an' the Organization's.  Nothin' fancy, just come when summoned."

Jack scratched his stringy beard in contemplation.  "Ye drive a hard bargain, mate.  But, if yer anything like Michael was, you'll be good on yer word.  I accept yer terms, Mr. Machelix."

"That's Mr. Mexilhann, Machelix Mexilhann."

The two pirates in arms had a good laugh and sang themselves a shanty as they sailed into the moonlight.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life fer me.
We pilfer, we plunder, we rifle, we loot…
Drink up, me hearties, yo ho!
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot…
Drink up, me hearties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life fer me!