CHAPTER 1
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DREAMS





After appearing back on the Argentum, Marina was so excited that she hardly said a thing as she rush down to the crew's quarters.  Donald and Goofy were just noticing that Silver was up at the bridge already pulling the levers to unhurl all the sails.

Goofy waved to him, "Ahoy there, Cap'n.  It was a job well done."

"Judging from your clothes, I'm sure of that," Silver smirked at the dried up slime stained on Goofy and Donald.

Donald pulled off a piece slime from his sleeve, "Yeah.  We had a few flaws here and there, but at least it's over with."

"Didn't take too long," Silver started turning the helm.  "The lot o' yeh were gone in under an hour."

Chip smiled, "That's what happens when you've got the best of helping hands."

Jiminy placed a hand on Chip's shoulder, "Well, you and Dale did a great job, too.  You were wonderful out there."

Dale crossed his arms and stood with pride, "Ah, it was nothing.  All in a day's work for the Rescue Rangers."

"And all in a night's work. . ." Marina came back up from the quarters with a blanket over her shoulders and her favorite sun hat on her head, ". . . for the one and only Duck Knight."  She held the blanket like a cape and hid her face.  Her eyes peered over her her arm as she hissed, "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I finally got to meet him in person.  I can't help but act as giddy as a child.  It's go time.  For I am the terror that flaps in the night!  I am the annoying three-hour battery that dies in only twenty minutes!  I am Darkwing Duck!"  She opened the cape like batwings and laughed, "This was probably the best night I've had in years.  The Darkwing Duck.  We got to fight along side with one of the greatest super heroes ever!"

Goofy chuckled at Marina's playful antics, "You sure were excited being around him."

"And who'd've thought," said Donald.  "All this time we had a small connection with him.  Our good friend Launchpad is his sidekick.  Too bad Unca Scrooge doesn't know of it.  He'd be more proud of him than ever."

"Just like you were with your nephews?" Marina asked.

Donald grew a smile and nodded, "Yeah.  I was against it at first, but now. . . I'm glad Mickey is allowing them to help out.  Unca Scrooge was right.  A bird's gotta leave the nest sooner or later."

"I can't wait to see them again," Marina sighed.  "It'll be great having them fight by our side again.  Those boys are going to grow up and be great world protectors like you someday, Donald."

"If they are able to clean their room on their own," Donald rolled his eyes.

Jiminy nodded, "Boys will be boys.  Although I must say that young Gosalyn was quite skillful with her hockey stick.  Maybe someday she'll be a great hero as well."

"I guess that comes natural when you're a friend of Darkwing Duck," Marina made a sinister, yet playful, smile as she covered her face with her cape again.  "There are shadowy things around every corner, boys.  So... Let's get dangerous!"

Just as she was about to jump and spread out her cape once more, she bumped her back into Silver.  Before she thought of turning around, she knew in an instant that it was him.  Her right eye twitched with annoyance, but her teeth clinched with embarrassment.

When she faced him, she grunted, "Is this gonna be a common thing between the two of us, Captain?"

"I certainly hope so," he answered in a teasing tone.

Just seeing the look in his face made Marina blink with redness in her cheeks.  She stomped her foot with another grunt.  She just wanted to call him a name so badly, but the last thing she wanted was for him to stare her down like he did before.  All she did instead was cross her arms and look away.  

"So, what's wit' the get up?" Silver asked.  "Aren't you a little old to be playing dress up?"

"No.  No I'm not," she answered still not facing him.  "Nobody's too old to have a little fun and use their imagination."

Silver slowly circled Marina looking her up and down, "So, a yellow sun hat and a blanket cape.  What are you suppose to be?  Sunshine Lady?  Beauty Queen?"

Marina yanked off her cape answering, "Just imitating the great Darkwing Duck, if you don't mind."

"So you met him in person," Silver stopped circling her.  "And did he need your help after all?"

Jiminy answered, "Although he was too proud to admit it, he was lucky that we were around.  We even had a little help from Donald's three nephews.  I really have to hand it to you, those boys were wonderful in battle.  His Majesty made a great decision in having them join the mission."

Silver smirked, "Then I was right for us to come here.  The more worlds we visit, the most likely we are to needed."

"We?" Donald frowned.  "I didn't see you in the fight."

With his cyborg eye turning pale orange, Silver looked down at Donald.  That made the frown on his bill disappear.

"Are you implying that I'm doing you nothin' for this mission of yours?" Silver twitched his brow up.  "If not for me, the lot o' yeh wouldn't be traveling world to world."

Donald awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, "Well, I meant that. . . well. . . Ah, phooey!  It just would be a bit easier on us if you helped out a little in the fights."

"Maybe I will," Silver scoffed.  "But as of now, it's a night's journey to the world of Nevada.  We best prepare our arrival."

"Aye, aye, Captain," Goofy saluted.  "What's the chores of today?"

"Same as yesterday," Silver answered.  "Duck, you're on the navigation until the next bell toll.  Lass--"

Marina raised a hand to silence him, "Captain, I swear to the heavens above, if I'm on swabbing duties again--"

"I'll 'ave Goof 'ere help you out," Silver interrupted her.  "I want this deck to be finished by today, not tomorrow.  I've met old sloths from the planet of Xenarthra that swab decks faster."

Marina lowered her hand and rolled her eyes, "Oh. . . my. . . gosh.  You've gotta be kidding.  This deck was mopped a few hours ago.  How dirty can it get in that period of time?"

"Oh, don't worry, Marina," Goofy smiled.  "I'll be helping you out."

"You'll both be starting at the main deck and working the way out.  You'll be heading to the stern, Goof," Silver pointed back with his metal thumb.  "Lass, you're doing the bow.  I want it done before tonight.  No questions asked.  Chipmunks, head on up to the crow's nest and take watch until Goof here is done with the deck.  I want no stalling on this."

Marina had the corner of her mouth curled up as he was talking and bobbed her head in a mocking way.  Of course, she stopped before he could catch her doing so when he finished his sentence.

Silver concluded, "The sooner these jobs are done, the better.  If there be any trouble, contact me in me stateroom.  However, these chores better be done before yeh come to me.  So the best t'ings I want hear from the lot o' ya is that the ship is clean and in ship shape."

While he turned and walked away, Marina abruptly stuck out her tongue at him.

"One more t'ing, Lass," he turned back around.  He missed her bringing her tongue back in and said, "Try not to fall asleep this time.  Time is money.  And. . . keep that tongue inside your mouth from now on.  It really never looks good on the outside to my opinion."

Marina blinked in shock with her heart in her throat as he continued to walk away.  She gulped it back down and whispered, "How?"




Within the hour, Marina and Goofy were mopping the main deck together.  While he swabbing in a more experienced sway at a back and forth pace, she was doing it in a forward and back in a more forceful and angry pace.  

She grunted, "Okay, Goof.  Just what am I doing wrong here?!  You're nearly done with your side here and I look like I've barely begun!"

"It's all in the shoulders and hips, Marina," Goofy smiled as he was showing her how he was mopping.  "It's kinda like you're pushing somethin' away with the mop head.  It's like shuffle board."

"I've never really played shuffle board," Marina sighed.

"Oh, yeah. . . wull, uh. . ." Goofy scratched his scalp.  "Then, maybe you could. . . make a dance out of it!"

"What?" she raised a brow.  "You're kidding, right?"

"Oh, c'mon, Marina.  You know you love to dance.  Just pretend your mop is. . . uh. . ."

Marina massaged her brow as she whispered, "Not Xavier Cougat."

"Xavier Cougat!!  The Mambo King!!  Ever'body mambo!!"

Marina only kept her eyes on Goofy as he started to mambo around the deck with his mop as a partner while humming a rumba tune.  He bumped his hips side to side at the beat and pushed the mop at each last loud note.  Noticing that he was swabbing a lot more of the deck than he did before and that he was eventually lost in the rhythm forgetting what he was trying to explain, Marina nodded and rubbed her chin.

"Dancing," she thought out loud.  "Seems to be working with him.  So. . . why not."




A few minutes had passed by.  Up on the bridge, Donald had finished the calculations of the navigation computer with Jiminy.

Donald pulled a lever putting the ship into autopilot and sighed, "There.  That should do the trick."

"Yep," Jiminy removed his spectacles.  "With luck, we'll be arriving in Nevada within six hours and it will be approximately midmorning on the world when we get there.  So, we'll be making good timing to prepare for nightfall."

"Which meansh it's nighttime there now," Donald reached into his pocket.  "I just hope that the Nightmares aren't doing anything bad before we get--"  He stopped in mid-sentence and searched both of his pockets when he realized that the Nightmare Radar wasn't in either of them.  He gasped, "The Radar!  Where is it!?"

"You misplaced it?" Jiminy stood up.  "Donald, you didn't leave it in St. Canard.  Did you?"

"No," Donald looked around him hoping it fell out of his pocket earlier.  "I had it when we came back aboard.  I'm sure I had it when Silver came up and--"  He paused and growled with his face turning red with anger, "Silver!"

"Now, Donald!  Don't ruffle your feathers again," Jiminy hopped in front of him.  "I was with you when Silver was here.  He couldn't have taken it.  He didn't even come near you."

"He's a pirate!  They're all sneaky!" Donald stomped his way toward the stateroom almost stepping on Jiminy.  He rolled up a sleeve, "I'll teach him to steal from me!"  He banged a fist on the door, "Open up, Silver!  Open up!!"

"WHAT?!" Silver slammed the door open nearly hitting Donald in the face.  "What do you want?  I'm busy!"

"Where is it?  I know you've got it?!" Donald rolled up his other sleeve.  "I'll fight ya for it if I have'ta!"

"What the blazes are you quackin' about?!"

"Oh you know what it is!" Donald bounced around like a boxer.  "I know you must've swiped it off me!  Yeah.  Pirates love stealing things!  What are you doing with it?  Plotting to make sure we miss a large number of Nightmares while in Nevada?  Oh, I'm on to yeh!"

The second Donald started talking, Jiminy was yelling at him at the same time wanting him to stop.  Of course, he couldn't be heard over Donald's loud quacking.  Silver, on the other hand, cracked a smile as he found Donald's actions funny.  He started to not listen to Donald after he no longer could understand his words.  He leaned against the door frame and was starting to enjoy watching Donald bouncing around swinging his fists.  He shook he head with a chuckle.  That was until something caught his eye.  He looked up toward the foredeck with his brow rising slowly in awe.

Donald stopped bouncing and pointed up at him, "Don't ignore me, ya big cyborg!  I'm talkin' to ya!  Where's the Nightmare Radar!?"

Silver's brow went back down and his smile returned.  He answered, "I'm looking right at it, Duck."

Donald turned his head and saw what Silver was staring at.  Out on the foredeck was Marina singing and dancing with her mop with headphones in her ears connected to the radar attached to her belt.

"There, ya see?" Jiminy crossed his arms.  "Blaming someone else when it was Marina the whole time.  Now I think an apology is in order."

"How did she swipe it?" Donald asked.  "She was on the main deck the whole time."

"Allow me to handle this," Silver stepped out of the stateroom.  

Jiminy followed him, "And don't be too harsh with her, Captain.  She's just doesn't understand the circumstances of living on a ship."




Marina was dancing to the beat of the music playing in her ears.  The bass guitar, drum beats, and high notes of the voices could be heard slightly muffled.  Her own voice sang along with the words of the artist as she danced around with her mop as a pretend partner.  She clicked her heels once, threw out her hips, and threw her hair from side to side while going around in circles with the mop and moving her feet at an awesome rhythm.

She sang along:
"You spin me rou-round, baby, rou-round
Like a record, baby, rou-rou-rou-round!"

After a few more shoves of the mop, Marina spun around to find Silver leaning against the railing of staring at her with a pleasing smile.  She blushed heavily and breathed hard as she was out of breath from dancing.  After gulping a bit of her humiliation down, she popped out one of the earpieces with an awkward smile.

"What?" she shrugged.  "I'm getting the job done.  No stalling like you said."

"And yet you turn me ship into a dance club?" Silver responded with a calm voice and his smile remaining.  He approached Marina, "We've got Goof dancing in the invisible conga line at the stern and now we got you break dancin' to. . ."  He paused to take the other earpiece out of Marina's ear.  Before he could bring it close enough to his own ear, he could hear the high-pitched voices.  He looked at Marina with a raised brow.

She shrugged once more, "Alvin and the Chipmunks.  I'm a big fan."

Silver dropped the earpiece and watched it swing with an expression telling Marina that he had no comment.

Jiminy came up and said, "Well, we just had an episode with Donald blaming the captain here for stealing the Nightmare Radar.  Just how did you get a hold of it anyway?"

Instead of answering with words, Marina's eyes pointed up at the crow's nest.  Silver looked up and had his cyborg eye zoom in.  He saw Chip and Dale watching everyone below and immediately hide themselves when they saw that they were spotted.

Marina explained, "I asked them to swipe it from Donald so I could listen to some music.  That's all.  No big deal.  I'm giving it back when I'm done.  I mean, look. . . I'm half way done now."

"True. . ." Silver examined her progress.  "Perhaps I can make an approval."

He caught Marina's attention.

"J'st make sure you're bit o' thievery doesn't 'appen again on me ship," he concluded.  "I don't want another disturbance with Duck again. . . even if it was entertainin' enough to to watch."

Marina made a tiny snicker in agreement.  So she took a breath and told him, "It won't happen again. . . Sir."

Silver smile back in return and nodded his head once, "Carry on."

While he was walking away, Jiminy hopped up the railing and said, "Excellent response, Marina.  That was very grown up of you.  Still, the least you could've done was ask for the radar first."

She leaned against the mop, "Knowing Donald, the answer would've been 'no'.  At least the rhythm was keeping me busy.  It's not so boring."  She paused to look at her hand finding a few blisters, "Just note that this doesn't mean that I'm enjoying the chore."

"You should know that if you stay on a ship, you'll have to work in order to stay.  For many others, you'll have to work in order to keep yourself from the brig.  I'm sure even Silver would do such a thing."

"Don't worry about me, Jiminy," Marina scoffed.  "He may have scared me on the first day here. . . but I'm keeping my ground against him.  That big oaf can't keep me in goosebumps forever."

"Now, don't be too stubborn, Marina," Jiminy frowned.  "Remember that you shook hands with Silver in a promise to get along with him.  You are calling each other shipmates now."

"Still, he doesn't have to rub it in," she rolled her eyes.

Before she could close her mouth, the radar was snatched from her hand by Donald.

"Hey!"

Donald scolded her, "We're not here for dance parties, Marina.  We need thish radar for scanning Nightmaresh and communicating with the Professor."

Marina twitched her neck causing a slight crackle, "Donald, I was just using it to help me get the job done faster and it's working.  It made my mood change.  So, don't change it back."

"I need it to scan the next world," Donald lowered his brow.  "If ya wanna dance to music, then sing to yourself."

Marina groaned and reached back for the radar.  She pressed the forward button on the music pad and said, "You know how some music can show expressions?  Listen to the lyrics on this one."

Before Donald brought the ear piece close to he tiny ear hole, his head nearly vibrated from the sudden loud surge of the electric guitar, the buzz of bass, the banging of the drums, and the screaming of the lead singer.  

Marina bobbed her head to the beat and sang with the lyrics:

"I wanna PUNCH STUFF!!
I wanna PUNCH, BAM, BUM, SLAM, KICK!
PUNCH STUFF!!!"

Donald quickly turned the volume down and held his ear.  His face turned red with anger as he growled, "Oh, you're gonna get it, Marina."

Marina chuckled, "You say that all the time, Don.  Not once did I get it from you since I was a child."

Donald mumbled to himself under his bill while walking away still holding his ear, "Dog gone stupid rockin' rollin' music with the loud noise and screaming voices."

Marina just chuckled to herself until she heard Jiminy clear his throat while looking at her with a frown.

She shrugged innocently, "What?  Iron Weasel.  One of the biggest rock bands of the modern worlds.  Not exactly my favorite band or kind of music, but grew a liking to it after the nephews introduced me to it.  The band has it's moments."

"That's not what I'm frowning about, Marina," Jiminy crossed his arms.  "Must you two always be at each other's throats?"

"Oh, don't worry about a thing, Jiminy," she waved her wrist.  "Donald and I have been like this since. . . goodness knows when.  Just you wait, we'll both apologize later today and be best of bosom buddies once again like it never happened.  Think of it as a daily routine.  Heck, that's not the first time I pulled that Iron Weasel music gag on him before.  Works every time."

"Well, just as long as you will be apologizing. . ." Jiminy nodded.

Marina gazed upon what she had left to do on the deck.  She sighed, "Great.  Now what?  I've got like a mile to go and I'm feeling bored already."

"Oh, don't exaggerate.  Why don't we just talk during your work?  That could help out."

"Might as well," she shrugged began to shove the mop again a bit more forceful than before.  "You ask the first question."

"Alright then. . . well. . . if you are against all this hard labor. . . then why did you have to come here?  Anyone should know that they have to stay on a ship, they have to work.  If you're against work when you knew what you were facing, then why did you come?"

Marina's mopping slowed down as she lifted her gaze up to the infinite heavens surrounding the Argentum.  All of the sights of the endless numbers of stars twinkling like jewels and wonderful colors of light reflecting on the clouds making it look like there were stars shining out in a daytime sky.  

She answered, "Just look around you, Jiminy.  All these wonders the Etherium has to offer.  All my life I've looked out into the night sky hoping to soar through these winds under the solar sails of a ship."

Jiminy looked up at the stars, "Yes.  Every bit of light the stars give off is a beautiful sight, no matter how far away the star is from you."

Marina nodded, "Then there's the nebulas, the novas, the moons, the black holes, the comets, the colonized asteroids and the spaceports.  There's so much to see.  I know this mission is important, but I wanna see so many wonders of the universe along the way."  She came up to the bow and leaned against the railing with a deep sigh, "I wanna see the creatures as well.  The dragons, the galactic whales, the manta birds, moon fish, the list goes on. . . oh but most of all. . . and I do mean most of all. . . the lunar butterflies.  My favorite animal."

"Ah. . . Papilionoidea Lunaris," Jiminy smiled.  "Many people have their spirits lifted when they see the the glow of those herds."

"Many people are lucky when they live in spaceports and on asteroids," Marina nodded.  "They are able to see them nearly every day.  Watching them feed on the nectar of star flowers while their colorful wings absorb bits of light from moons and starlight causing their wings to glow in beautiful fluorescence.  Best thing about them is that they are not like any of the regular butterflies.  They're very tamed around people and they can live up to fifty years.  Some are lucky to live even longer than that."

"I had the pleasure of meeting a few Lunars," Jiminy sat down on the railing.  "The girls of the herd are the domineering kind, but they are very polite unlike other butterflies."

"Others butterflies are impolite?" Marina chuckled.  

He explained, "Well, they like to tease other animals, play a few tricks, and giggle at just about everything."

"That's interesting.  Never read things like that in textbooks.  Now I know this mission's gonna be really cool."

"Well, I'm sure a wish like that will come true for you," he nodded once.  "Your wish of traveling the Etherium came true.  It's most likely that you'll see a herd of lunar butterflies."

"But that's just a minor part of it all," Marina gazed higher until she found the Evening Star.  "I wanna study the cultures of all of the different worlds out there and learn of the traditions, music, art, language, and stuff like that of the civilians.  I read so much about most of them, but I wanna see them in person."

"I'm sure you have what it takes to be a great explorer, Marina.  You've got the right mind to be one."

Marina smiled back at him in appreciation.  She paused for a moment to see that there was no one else listening.  After leaning in a little closer, she asked, "Do you think you can keep a small secret, Jiminy?  I mean, I plan on talking about it with the boys later, but right now, I just. . . well. . ."

"You have my word as a conscience that I won't say a word. . . just as long as it's not a secret that I can't promise to keep," Jiminy placed a hand on his heart.

"It's nothing bad," she shook her head.  "You see. . . the other night back in the palace, when I brought Madam Leota to the guest room, my husband's spirit spoke to me through her.  He says. . . he wants me to be happy again.  So. . . one of my greatest hopes on this journey is to find that happiness."

"You mean. . . the happiness you share with him?" he asked.  "He wants you to find again. . . perhaps with someone else?"

She nodded in response, "When I was with Robbie, I was said to be the happiest bride of Magic Kingdom. . . and the saddest when I lost him.  But if Robbie says that he wants me to be happy again, then I'll have to do what it takes.  Maybe somewhere out there is someone that really make me the way I was before. . . or even more than that.  If that's possible."

"Then I wish you good luck on that.  It's a beautiful wish that should come to everyone in their lives.  And I know that dreams and wishes really do come true if you believe in them with all your heart."

"Thank you, Jiminy."

"Hey, Jiminy!" Donald called.  "C'mere!  I need you to help me with something!"

Marina moaned, "Oh, c'mon.  You have to break up everything to do?!"

"Don't worry," Jiminy hopped down to the deck.  "I'll be back in a minute."

"Nah," she sighed.  "That's alright.  I'll live.  You go ahead."

"Alright," he hopped away.  "I'll see you later."

When he was gone, Marina took a step back with the mop.  However, because of her dancing earlier, the entire handle of the mop was unscrewed and came off the head.  She groaned loudly and prepared to put it back together.  That was until she felt a great surge of familiarity from the grip on the handle.  She looked upon the long stick and held it up like a sword.  

Like an electric shock, the surge went up from her toes, through her spine, and made her shoulders shiver.  A sudden urgency came to her arms as she tightened her grip on the handle.  She swung the mop handle like a baseball bat and grew a big smile.  Then she looked up at the yardarm of the lower foresail to measure the distance between it and the foredeck.  

"Perfect," she whispered.




Less than half an hour later, Marina made it to the very front of the ship's bow.  She shoved the mop head until it pounded against the base of the bowsprit.  For that she gave out a long sigh, "There!  Finished!"  

She leaned against the sprit to catch her breath since she got the job done as fast as she could.  She was happy enough to finally take a breather and hoped that there wouldn't be any interruptions.  Crossing her arms and leaning on the bow, Marina gave out a long sigh while gazing out upon the endless Etherium.  It was getting closer to the late afternoon that she noticed a major change in the color of the heavens.  It was getting slightly dark and the stars were becoming brighter by the minute.  When she looked higher to find the Evening Star, she grew a small smile.

"You know how I feel right now," she whispered toward the twinkle of the star.  "I've made the wish hundreds of times.  I've made the wish to sail the Etherium nearly every night.  Look at where I am now.  I'm finally out here and enjoying wonderful breeze of the abyss and the brightness of every star.  A dream come true at last.  But now. . . now I'm wishing for something new.  The one who will make me happy. . . whoever and wherever he is. . . I hope I'll meet him soon.  Robbie was right about one thing.  I can't be alone for the rest of my life."

With her smile remaining, Marina pulled out her musical locket.  After staring upon the heart shape of it for a few seconds, she opened it and pressed an arrow button a number of times until the tiny music box played a certain song she felt was right for the moment.  Then she pressed the second button a few times and stopped when a hologram of the Magic Kingdom castle lit up at night with fireworks blasting high above every tower.  Each color of the explosion reflected on river that flowed under the castle through an arched tunnel in the center base.  The colorful river flowed on to the bay with beautiful ships sailing in a breeze.  Along the edge of the kingdom rolled the train puffing smoke with its interior lights moving down the tracks.  

This was one of Marina's favorite holograms.  Mickey made it for her many years before as a friendship gift.  She just found such a hologram always suitable for the song that was now playing mainly because it was the same music that played every night at the castle when the fireworks went off.

Marina held the locket up in front of her have it look like the stars of the Etherium were shining around the kingdom.  Her heart pounded at the sight as she found this much more beautiful than she ever imagined.  Such a sight made her quietly sing out the words to the song played by the locket:

"Wishes
Dream a dream
Wishes
Set it free
Wishes
Trust your heart
Just believe. . ."

She prepared to sing the next verse, but right as she breathed in to start, she smelled something.  It was a body odor that was so foul that it made her flinch at first.  Then when she smelled the scent of burning cannon fuse, her eyes opened.  These two smells she knew very well.  For that, a sinister smirk came to her lips.  She knew what was next.  

She clicked the locket shut, "I must say you're a great hider.  Not once did I smell that stench until now.  You really should bathe more often if you wish to face me again."

A voice growled behind her, "And I mus' say you 'aven't changed since your silly little dream has come true.  I was 'oping you would be weaker from your 'appiness."

Marina still didn't turn around to face the person.  She put her locket away and crossed her arms, "You were quite lucky the last time.  Yet, I still stand before you."

"You're just as stubborn as I when it comes defeat."

"Not my fault our last fight was called on the count of interruption," Marina rolled her eyes.  "So. . . did you follow me. . . or did you just stow away?  Nah. . . you were always the foulest of them all.  I'd've smelled you coming a mile away.  That's how you were found and defeated a hundred years ago. . ."  She finally turned to glare over at the eyes of evil, ". . . the smell of you is so foul it could wrinkle the snout of a pig.  Other than that, I can see you're truly ready to fight me once more. . . Edward Teach."

The dark pirate gritted his teeth under his smoky braided beard.  A ring of fire could be seen in his shaded eyes under his hat.  Blackbeard drew out his cutlass and pointed at her, "You should be thankful, Missy.  I came all this way to save you from that barbaric cyborg. . . by putting you out of your misery."

"Hmph," Marina smirked as she took out a ribbon from her pocket.  She started tying her hair up, "Always with the tough words, you are.  Yet you never manage to scare me.  Ah, heck, you're just a figment of my imagination.  Why should I fear you?"

"Tough on words I am, says you," Blackbeard smiled.  "It is the same to you, says I.  You may not fear me now. . . yet if I were the real thing, you wouldn't stand a chance."

"Pft," Marina scoffed.  "Yeah, you being the real thing.  Like that's ever gonna happen.  You've been dead for over a century.  I'd be fighting a rotting corpse.  Gross. . . . but too easy."  She started untwisting the pole from the mop head next to her.  When it was out, she held it up like a sword, "Mind you now. . . it may not be now or tomorrow, but I will get your lost treasure."  She pointed the pole at him as it started to transform into her Sword of Faith.  She nodded once, "Let's get this over with."

"Ladies first as always, Missy."

"With pleasure!" she growled as she swung her sword behind her.  With a long grunt she ran towards Blackbeard and slashed her blade at him.  Blackbeard hardly flinched as he just held up his cutlass and blocked hers.  After giving her a quick cocky smirk, he took a step back and swung his blade.  Marina brought up as much strength as she could as she held up her sword and blocked his heavy attack.  The pound sent a wave down to her spine and into her legs causing her to lose her ground.  She fell to one knee but took a leap back before she hurried back up and swung her sword again at the pirate.  

Every second their blades collided with loud metal clangs.  Behind the sound of the swords, Marina could hear the sounds of Chip and Dale cheering her on from the yardarm even though they knew it was all in her imagination and all they saw was Marina hitting a ball on a rope.

"Yeah!  That's the stuff, Marina!  Get'im!!" Chip called.

Dale leaped off the yardarm and grabbed a hold of the rope.  He started swinging on it yelling, "Yeah!  Take that, ya big pirate!!  And that and that and that!  Your treasure will be ours!  Arrgh matey!!  Avast there!  Shiver me timbers!  Weigh anchor!  Let's keelhaul the ol' scallywag!"

Chip suddenly gasped, "Uh oh."  He jumped down to all four and called, "Dale!  Stop!  Marina!  He's coming!"

"Huh?" Dale stopped cheering and looked below.  He gasped, "Uh oh.  Marina!  Marina!!"

But Marina wasn't listening.  Her eyes were locked on Blackbeard's evil face and her ears were listening to his monstrous grunts and the clang of their swords.  Even though she knew that she could stand up against his strength, she knew that he couldn't stand against her speed.  She really felt she had a chance against him this time.  Right as she clashed blades once more, he immediately pulled himself away to make another heavy attack on her.  Marina watched as he swung his cutlass behind him.  This was her chance.  His neck was now a perfect target.  It was out in the open.  She brought back her sword, took in a quick deep breath, and slash her swor--

But wait, her sword was stuck.  Something was holding her back.  The second she saw a large hand holding a strong grip on the blade, she recognized it and looked right away at Silver's face.

"HEY!!" she yelled only a second before she was hit in the side of her head by the ball on the rope.  Only a short moment of pain surged where the ball hit her.  Her eyes were closed as she frowned and forced herself not to say a word. . . but she did.

"Ouch."

She tensed up and crackled her neck before she opened her eyes and glared at Silver.  She tried to pulled the mop handle away, but with Silver's strength she couldn't even budge.  After the second try, she sighed, "Y'know.  That's twice--  Count'em.  TWICE!!. . .  I've been beheaded by Blackbeard because of your interruptions."

"Blackbeard?" Silver cocked a brow.  "What the devil are you talking about?"  He looked up and watched the ball swinging around for a few seconds.  When he recognized something, he smiled, "Ah. . . so that's what you were doing in that forest.  A bit o'. . . make believe."

"It's not just make believe, Silver," Marina tried to pull the mop handle once again.  When she didn't succeed, she added, "I read a long time ago that this is how many warriors in the world of Asia trained themselves.  I figured that it might help me with my own training years ago.  And it helps me get a few other things off my mind.  Things like. . . swabbing."

The ball swung its way back toward Marina, but Silver caught it this time in his metal hand.  With a smirk, he fiddled it for a second and said, "I do hope you know that hitting a ball around wit' a stick is exceedingly different from the real t'ing.  You should t'ink that you wouldn't stand a chance if you were to fight the real Edward Teach."

"I'm aware of that, Captain Silver," Marina tried pulling the handle once more.  "So, if you don't mind, I would like to finish this fight and get my hands on Blackbeard's treasure for once."

Silver chuckled, "Lord love ye, Lass.  You really are somet'in' else.  A full grown lady of beauty, but with the mind of five year old."

Marina tugged one more time.  This time Silver released the handle causing her to lose a bit of her balance.  She stood up straight and blushed for him calling her a lady of beauty.  She cleared her throat and asked, "Just what is it you want now?  I finished my chore."

Silver took the ball in his flesh hand, "Mr. Cricket asked for you.  Says he's found somet'ing important.  Thought I'd inspect yeh along the way.  Didn't think I'd be enterin' a neighborhood o' make believe."  He twisted his wrist wrapping the rope around his hand twice and started pulling down on the rope.

Marina's eyes became stuck on his flesh arm as it tensed up.  Never before had she seen such muscles full of strength.  She gulped as her eyes widened and her cheeks reddened up more than before.  The sight of his large muscles made her heart beat faster.  Her jaws shivered at the moment Silver made a small twitch and had the rope snap in half like a mere piece of string.  Both fear and excitement ran through her veins.  She kept staring at his large arm of muscles barely noticing that he looked back at her.  

He smirked humorously at the redness in her face, "What's wit' you, Lass?  Surely, you'd know that a pirate of my kin and ilk could do something so simple. . . or didn't you?"  He teasingly tightened his arm muscles at her again.  

Marina felt like she was turning red from head to toe.  She looked away with her feet fidgeting and her hands wringing each other.

Silver chuckled, "Well, now. . . if I had known this side of you, I'd've shown off to you back in the forest and push down a tree for you."  He finally got her snapped out of it as he tossed the ball and rope at her.

With a gasp, Marina tried catching the ball and not dropping the mop handle.  After clumsily juggling them about a few seconds, she had a hold of them and kept them in a tight grip hoping to hide her embarrassment and dispose her blushing.  She cleared her throat and glanced away from Silver again.

He turned and started for the galley saying, "Cricket is waiting for you.  C'mon down as soon as your finished puttin' the mop back together."

As he was leaving, Marina looked back and watched him.  Once he was at a distance, she looked up at the yardarm.  Chip was watching Silver head for the galley and Dale was frozen in shock as he was staring at the broken rope.

"Yikes," he squeaked.