Deep inside Crocodile Cave, Captain Emplate grinned down at the kidnapped Princess Monet. “Well, Princess,” the captain said as he lowered her into the rising water. “Any last requests?”
“Do us both a favor and shut up, my dear captain,” she replied. “The very sound of your voice is annoying.”
The captain chuckled. “Mr. D, how fares the tide?”
The little man grinned evilly, as usual. “Wonderful, Cap’n ‘Plate! Sir.”
The captain spun around, his good eye gleaming red in the darkness. “That’s Cap’n Emplate, ya scurvy rat!”
“Sorry, Cap’n! The tide’s coming in right now! Sir.”
Captain Emplate turned back to the girl in the water. “Last chance, Princess. Tell me where I can find the hideout of my arch rival!”
“Never.” The princess almost seemed to smile, even as the water rose to her hips.
“Very well. Cut the rope, Mr. D!”
“Hold it right there, Plateface!” a voice shouted.
“No!” the captain roared. “Only one boy would dare call me that!”
Angelo and Jubilee stepped into view.
“Good to see you’re gettin’ yer memory back, boss,” Jubilee whispered.
“Whatever. You deal with the little guy. I’ll handle the captain.”
Captain Emplate whipped out a large sword. “So we meet again, Pietro Pan!”
“Who?!” Angelo cried.
“That’s yer nickname!” Jubilee reminded him.
“I’ll be so glad when I get out of this dream,” Angelo muttered, drawing his knife.
Jubilee flew over D’s head, shaking her bottom as she did so.
“AH!” the little man screamed, hiding his face in his hands. “My eyes! I’m blind!”
Smirking, Jubilee grabbed him and dropped the struggling midget in the water.
Captain Emplate grinned as he faced off with Angelo. “Tonight you die, Pan!”
“Yeah, whatever,” Angelo replied, blocking a thrust of the villain’s sword. “Just shut up and fight me. I don’t have all night.”
* * * * *
In Chief Mondo’s teepee, the Lost Gang was having their own problems.
“Any ideas?” Ev asked, squirming to get out of the ropes that bound them to the large tree trunks.
“None,” Paige said with a sigh.
“Maybe if we asked them nicely to let us go?” Gaia suggested.
“Won’t work, gel,” Jono replied. “They’d prolly just laugh at us.”
“Well, we have to do something,” Ev sighed. He was just about to go with Gaia’s idea when he heard the sound of a rope being sliced. In disbelief, he looked down, only to see Penny cutting her ropes with her claws.
“Oh, sure,” Gaia muttered. “They tried to tie her up?”
“Can’t blame ‘em for tryin’,” Jono said.
Once Penny was done with her ropes, she went to work on the others. Within five minutes, they were all free of their bonds.
“Just one problem,” Paige pointed out. “We’re loose, but if we leave this teepee, they’ll spot us. How do we get out?”
“We don’t,” Ev replied. “The Indians would just hunt us down if we escaped. Might as well stay here and try to fool them.”
* * * * *
Angelo risked another look behind him, and saw that he was running out of land. He and Captain Emplate had battled all the way to the edge of Crocodile Cave. Another step, and he’d be taking the long way out of the giant croc’s mouth, which was probably just what the pirate wanted.
“Getting second thoughts, are we, lad?” Captain Emplate asked, a grin on his face.
“You wish.” Angelo beckoned him closer. “C’mon. I dare you to come closer. Unless you’re afraid, Plateface!”
“Grah! Don’t call me that!”
The boy smiled. “Plateface. Plateface! PLATEFACE!!!”
The captain bellowed in rage and charged.
Angelo merely stepped aside and stuck his foot out. “Have a nice trip!” he shouted as the captain went flying over the edge of the cliff. As the pirate splashed into the water, he added, “Seeya next fall!” But then, as a pack of hungry crocodiles surrounded the pirate, who was now just a black dot in the water, Angelo muttered, “Well, maybe not.”
As he walked back into the cave, Angelo ran into Jubilee and Monet.
“Hey, boss! While you were fighting and everything, I managed to free Princess What’s-Her-Name here,” Jubilee informed him.
Monet threw her arms around Angelo’s neck. “Oh, Pietro! I knew you’d rescue me!”
Angelo managed to hide the tinge of red in his cheeks. “Yeah, sure. Let’s move. It’s almost time for the sun to rise.”
* * * * *
Jono peered out of the teepee and quickly spotted the approaching Indian braves. “Cripes. They’re coming.”
“What do we do?” Paige asked.
“We fight,” Ev replied. “No other choice, unless the boss makes a last-minute rescue.”
A dark-skinned face appeared at the flap and grunted, beckoning them forward with one hand. It was quite easy to see the tomahawk it held.
The Lost Gang walked out of the tent slowly. The first person they saw was Chief Mondo. He stood near a pile of wood, glaring at them. “Tie them up again,” he said, and three braves instantly began to bind the Lost Gang with ropes.
“Hey, big guy! Stop!” Jubilee shouted as she came flying up. Angelo and Monet were right behind her.
Chief Mondo turned to face the three. “Pietro Pan and pixie make very close call.”
“Yeah, well, we hit a snag,” Angelo muttered. “Anyway, here’s your princess, so let my gang go!”
Chief Mondo nodded to the braves, who quickly released the Lost Gang.
“Could you cut it any closer, boss?” Gaia asked.
Angelo smirked. “Yeah. Let them tie you up again, and I’ll wait until the flames are lit to come and save you.”
Chief Mondo raised his hand for silence. “Since Pietro Pan return Monet, Mondo make him Indian prince.” He placed a headdress similar to his own on Angelo’s head. “Now you Prince Gray Skin.”
Angelo nearly choked. “Did you say...prince? As in ‘has-to-marry-the-princess’ prince?”
Chief Mondo nodded. “You make ‘em good son-in-law.”
Angelo swallowed nervously and glanced at Monet, who stood by her father’s side. There was a bright smile on her face, and he didn’t like it one bit. “Um...I’m flattered, chief...but I can’t marry your daughter!”
“You not marry Monet?!” Mondo asked, his voice rising in anger.
“Hey, calm down! I mean, it’s not her! She’s great and all, but I can’t marry anyone!”
“Well, this has taken an ugly turn,” Ev whispered.
Chief Mondo looked very unhappy, as did Monet. “Prince Gray Skin make Mondo heap mad. Gray Skin not smart to do that.”
Angelo backed up a step. “C’mon, Pops. Just hold on a sec. I only saved Monet so you wouldn’t burn my gang at stake. I didn’t do it so I could marry her.”
Chief Mondo grunted. “Lost Gang never burn if Monet never taken,” he responded.
“We didn’t take her! It was Captain Emplate!”
The chief froze. “Emplate? You kill him dead?”
“I dunno,” Angelo said. “He took a dive off Crocodile Cave. Why?”
“Then Gray Skin is fool. Emplate be back for sure. You bring heap bad luck on tribe.”
Jubilee glared up at him. “I’m getting sick of yer ‘tude, big guy. We save yer prissy daughter and now you’re sayin’ we bring bad luck?! I’m gonna rip you a new--”
“Jubilee, no!” Angelo clamped a hand over her mouth.
Chief Mondo’s eyes blazed with rage. “Little pixie have heap big mouth. Get Gray Skin and Lost Gang in heap big trouble.”
Angelo grinned uneasily. Then, suddenly, he had an idea. “Chief, are your braves allowed to have more than one wife?”
Chief Mondo frowned. “No. Brave caught with more than one be in heap big trouble times ten.”
A wide grin broke out on Angelo’s face. “So...you wouldn’t force a guy to marry your daughter if he already had a wife?”
Chief Mondo arched an eyebrow. “No. Why?”
Jubilee was starting to catch on. “Boss, if you think for one minute I’m gonna pretend ta be--”
Angelo clamped his hand over her mouth again. “Well, meet the little woman!” he said. “Me and Jubes have been together since...um...forever!”
Chief Mondo stared at them suspiciously. “Mondo need proof.”
Jubilee pulled Angelo’s hand away. “I got yer proof right here, ya big palooka!”
Angelo grabbed Jubilee and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
Jono, Paige, and Gaia shuddered as the kiss ended.
“Is it over?” Ev asked, his eyes still closed.
Jubilee wiped her mouth and glared at Angelo. “Espinosa, if you ever touch me like that again, I’ll blast yer face off!”
“Love you, too, hon,” Angelo replied with a grin.
Chief Mondo grunted. “Gray Skin and pixie must be together. Fight like married couple. Mondo will find another husband for Monet.” He turned to Ev. “You will marry Monet...Prince Bald Owl.” He took Angelo’s headdress and placed it on Ev’s head.
“Huh?!” Ev cried. “Angelo, tell them I’m not--”
Ev turned, suddenly finding that he was alone. As he looked up, he could just see the Lost Gang disappearing over the horizon. “HEY! Get back here, guys!”
He started to go after them, but Chief Mondo gripped his shoulder. “No time. Must get ready for blood ceremony.”
“Blood what?” Ev asked uneasily.
“Ceremony. Prince’s blood must be drained for purity. You like blood?” Chief Mondo raised a sinister-looking knife.
“Mommy,” Ev whispered just before he fainted.