After escaping Twilight and co., Spike and what remained of his battered crew sped towards Avery. Where upon arrival, Spike rushed towards him and "Here's your amulet," he said while quickly shoving it into Avery's chest. "Now quickly give me the reward you promised because we have to get out of here NOW." he shouted at the end.

"Ok, here you-" he didn't even get to finish as Spike instantly snatched the bag of gold out of Avery's hands and immediately jumped onto the nearest ship right afterward.

"Hey!" shouted the owner of the ship as Spike and his crew were preparing to set sail.

"Here you go," said Time Turner who quickly divided the gold up and threw half of it at the owner.

"Hope that pays for the ship," shouted Spike as they were setting sail.

As they set sail and finally got away from Skull Island, Spike sighed in relief. He steered the ship around the skyway and asked his crew, "Any ideas on where we should go next?"

Adagio looked up to her captain and said, "Perhaps we should head to Tapu Rui. It's the place where all Zebra Witchdoctors are given their final trial before becoming a true Witchdoctor. I think it's the best place to lay Zecora to rest."

Spike smiled lightly, "Tapu Rui it is." before taking his magical map out. The map told them how far they were from the island, and which way to go.

He told his crew, "Doctor, you're on the rigging, Adagio, make sure the cannons are loaded and ready to fire in case we run into trouble and Bulk Biceps, go to the lower deck to check if we have all the supplies we need for this trip."

His crew answered in union, "Aye Captain!" before running off to their assigned duties.

A little while after Spike had been steering the ship towards Tapu Rui and losing himself in the calmness of the sea, he heard Bulk Biceps call out in his usual loud voice down below before what sounded like a scuffle could be heard.

"Looks like we might have some trouble," he said, coming back up to the deck and caring a struggling fox girl in his musclebound grip.

"Oh man," groaned Spike, already wondering if this unknown individual was an unlucky member of the previous ship owner's crew. Someone who had stayed down below on the ship for whatever reason while it was docked, until the ship's unexpected departure.

"Let me go you muscle bound freak," she cursed while futilely trying to escape Bulk's grip.

"Sorry ma'am," he politely refused. "But I can't do that until the Cap'n says so."

"The captain?" she said, looking up at Spike, confused. "Where's Captain Benjamin, did you steal his ship?"

"Steal is a bit of a harsh way of describing things," chuckled Spike. "Bought is a better term for what we did," he smiled, albeit strained.

"Uh huh," she said, not buying it. "Eh, not like it matters," she shrugged.

"And why is that?" asked Spike, curious at her seemingly disinterest at the unfortunate situation her captain now found himself in.

"Because Benjamin did steal the ship himself, so fair is fair," she hummed.

"Ahaha," Spike laughed.

"So, you the new captain of the ship I presume?" she asked, taking things like it was any other day.

"Yes," he answered. "Spike, Captain of the Black Rose Dragon. SOON TO BE THE MOST FEARED PIRATES... ever," he said with great gusto, though deflated at the end upon remembering where they were heading and why.

"We'll see about that," she sighed, shaking her head at Spike's bravado, though curious at why he stopped near the end.

"I have to ask," said Adagio who had returned from checking the cannons. "You seem to be taking things remarkably well."

"I have been around long enough to have gone through several captains," she said. "And most of their ends weren't pretty let me tell you. Having another one, that's part of the pirate's life."

"Anyway," she continued, seeing the solemn look on Spikes face. "The name's Bonnie Anne. So how about letting me go so I can properly get to know the crew?"

After a brief pause, Spike nodded his head to give the go ahead to let her go but didn't say anything on the matter. Now focused completely on the task at hand.

"Well, he sure looks to be in a pleasant mood," Bonnie remarked after being let go. "I take it something happened recently?"

"Yes, one of our crew members died recently," answered Adagio in a sad tone while pointing towards Time Turner who was now at the nose of the ship watching over Zecora's body.

"Pfft, that's all?" she laughed, not getting the gravity of the situation. "We're pirates, members of the crew die all the time."

"HOW DARE YOU," yelled Bulk Biceps, who considering his naturally loud voice, caused the fox girls hair to spike up in complete fear.

"WE MAY BE PIRATES, BUT WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMRADES," he continued.

"I'm sorry," she quickly apologized. "I didn't know she meant that much to you. I just thought-"

"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT," he said, who disappeared using her fox magic.

"We're almost there," shouted Time Turner, seeing Tapu Rui coming into view.

"So how do you want to handle this, Captain?" questioned Adagio.

"As much as I would prefer to sneak aboard the island under the cover of the night. We just don't have the luxury as of now to be staying in one place for longer than necessary," he answered, causing the rest of the crew to nod their heads in agreement.

"We'll just have to risk it, no time to delay," he said as he steered the ship towards the island, where they soon made port to a most unwelcoming looking set of armed hosts.

"Why are you here? Our home is not for you to commandeer," said the one who looked to be the Elder of the tribe.

Spike spoke calmly saying, "I apologize if we startled you. We mean no harm; we just wish for a funeral for our crewmate Zecora."

The Zebras muttered to each other when Spike told them that Zecora was dead. The elder sighed, "Zecora was born to live a life in the skies. Her death is heartbreaking, but not a surprise. Pirates know that death will knock on their door one day, I just never thought her spirit would leave us this way. You may have your funeral here in our home, hopefully Zecora's spirit will no longer roam. After your funeral is at an end, we ask that on your way, you must send."

Spike smiled lightly, "Thank you sir. We promise, once we've given Zecora a proper burial, we'll be on our way." before having the Doctor and Bulk Biceps take the casket, they'd built out of spare wood with Zecora's remains in it off the ship. The elder Zebra led them to a small cemetery and while two other Zebras dug a hole for the grave, Spike said, "I see you are loyal to your own kind. I appreciate your help in giving Zecora a proper burial."

The elder smiled lightly and said, "You have the compassion to bring Zecora home, that is enough to show me that your heart does not roam." before helping the crew lift Zecora's casket, which the Zebras decorated in flowers and tribal patterns, into the grave. He spoke as everyone went silent and bowed their heads, "In the memory of Zecora, we wish for her spirit to fly in the aurora. She was young, brave, and had a smart brain. Let us hope that her death will not be in vain."

Spike finished the prayer saying, "In the name of the Raven, the Tree, and the Spider, in holy honor amen." before falling silent again as the casket was buried. When the funeral was finished, Spike told the elder, "A deal is a deal, we'll be on our way now." Before walking back to the ship where Bonnie Anne was waiting. It didn't surprise him that she didn't attend the funeral, considering it was for somebody she never met, so she had not personal attachments to Zecora. As they left the docks at Tapu Rui, Spike felt at peace with Zecora's death, knowing that she was now in a better place, and that they gave her a proper burial in a place that she would want herself to be buried.

Next Chapter: The Hunt Begins Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 43 Minutes