A week later, Lyrix was paranoid that Lycor might eventually be able to prove his innocence and get Lyrix exiled. As Lyrix sat in Lycor's former house in the Lion City, he talked to a Sir Punch-a-lot training dummy as if it were Lycor. "I can't let you expose me as the theif, Lycor." Lyrix said to the dummy. "Because then I'll be exiled, and that would ruin my plans." Lyrix thought for a moment. "Unfortunately cousin, I shall have to destroy you." Lyrix decided, knocking the dummy into the fireplace and watching it burn. "It is the only way to prevent that from happening.
And so, Lyrix sent a group of lion soldiers from his shadow force to secretly sabotage Lycor's campsite in the Great Forest, which they'd located. Although the campsite was destroyed and the corrupt lions reported to Lyrix that Lycor had the same fate, Lycor had actually managed to survive, and had faked his own death to trick them. Lycor, who still had the broken but intact security camera, had gone up north to live in the Iron Mountains. Even though Lyrix now believed him to be destroyed, Lycor didn't want to risk any assassins targeting him again, so he left the inlands. However, Lycor did not have good luck in the Iron Mountains at first. Near the middle of January, an avalanche destroyed Lycor's mountainside campsite, and although Lycor escaped, the security camera was buried, and Lycor lost any existing evidence he might've had of his innocence. With snow surrounding him, a freezing Lycor, having now lost everything, willingly let himself fall softly into the snow as his body temperature got lower and lower. However, as Lycor accepted what he thought was to be his fate, a feline with yellow fur appeared before him as he blacked out.
When Lycor came to, he was laying in a soft, golden bed. Lycor looked around at the room he was in. It had classical architecture with arched doorways and patterns carved into the wall. As he got out of the bed, he first assumed that a rich independent miner or mountain climber had brought Lycor to his or her abode. But as he looked out a window, Lycor was shocked to discover he was in a city. The cityscape sprawled below him in a large valley, with the backs of the Iron Mountains on one side, and the arctic northern regions to the other. The city was made up of large and small buildings alike, all with a gold color scheme. Lycor turned from the window and slowly walked through the unlocked door of the small room, entering a hallway. Lycor began walking through the hallway. "Hello?" Lycor called. A bipedal feline creature appeared through a door on the far end of the hall, facing Lycor. "Ah, you're awake." Said the feline with yellow fur, who Lycor suddenly recognized as the being who rescued him from freezing in the Iron Mountains. "What are you?" Asked Lycor, noticing that the feline had black spots all over his fur. "Where am I?" "I am a fellow feline, much like you lions." Said the man, walking toward Lycor. "You are in the Golden City, home of the Leopards."
In the golden castle's lustrous throne room, Lycor met the Leopard King Leodus, who informed him of what happened on the mountainside. "Our scouts found you and rescued you from freezing, Lycor." Explained Leodus. "Elementary, really." "We stay away from the other tribes and hide our existence because we don't want to get involved with Chima's wars and politics." Said Leodus. "Perhaps someday, a time will come when we will reveal ourselves to the inland tribes and help them fight in an unavoidable war. But that day has not yet come, so we help the inlanders in any way we can, usually by rescuing the stranded and bringing them here." "Thank you for saving me." Lycor said, looking around at the walls of the room, which were decorated with an ancient-looking mural depicting a war between leopards, bears, and some type of bird he'd never seen. Lycor looked out the window. "This is a beautiful city." "Now it is my turn to give thanks." Leodus said. "But it is also my turn to ask a question. What were you doing climbing the Iron Mountains without a partner? It's dangerous to go alone." "I couldn't have a partner." Answered Lycor. "I was exiled from the Lion Tribe, but only because I was framed for a crime someone else committed. Someone wanted me out of the tribe, and it worked. I had one single piece of possible evidence to clear my name, but it was buried earlier today in that avalanche. I lost my only chance of rejoining my tribe. So after that, your highness, I stayed on the mountain to die." "Oh, no, no." Leodus said, shaking his head. "There shall be no death today. My tribe will help you find your evidence so you can return to your people." "That will be impossible." Argued Lycor. "It could be buried under snow anywhere in the Iron Mountains." Leodus shook his head and tapped his long golden staff once on the wood floor. "Just because something will take a long time to find, that doesn't mean it is impossible." Leodus said, stroking his beard. "It could take a few months, yes. A year even. But we will find it eventually." "If you say so." Said Lycor, still doubtful. "Thanks for trying anyway." Leodus laughed. "We aren't trying. We're doing it." He said. "Do, or do not. There is no try.
And so, Lycor lived with the leopard tribe for a year, residing in a free apartment. Almost every week, he'd suit up and accompany the search parties in trying to find the camera. Lycor learned a lot about the Leopard Tribe's culture, customs, and written language. He learned that the leopards were supplied with chi via the small rivers and streams that came down from openings in Cavora's lower part. Lycor enjoyed his time in the Golden City. He danced with the female leopards in the ball rooms, watched the tribe's athletic tournaments, and read from the vast library that could even rival the eagles. Leodus was happy to share almost any parts of the tribe's history with Lycor. The king was only hesitant to talk about the mysterious war depicted on the throne room's mural. "That...that is a story for another day." He'd say multiple times, but that day never came. Eventually, in December of that year, Lycor and the search parties were lucky enough to finally find the camera! Although it was heavily damaged and completely frozen over, leopard technicians were somehow able to thaw out every part of it and fix it. "How did they do that??" Asked Lycor, amazed when he saw the old security camera, which looked as good as new. "With a...special tool that some old friend of ours gave us." Replied Leodus with a chuckle. "We don't usually use them, as we don't have many left, but they're good for melting ice."
Lycor was shocked and angered when he watched the camera's footage and found out that it was Lyrix who'd stolen the golden chi and framed him. Clearly, Lyrix had done that to ensure that he earned the rank of Field Marshal instead of Lycor. "Who is that?" Asked King Leodus quietly as he watched the footage. "A traitor." Lycor answered.
"I'd like to thank all of you for your help." Said Lycor, addressing Leodus and all the leopards who'd been part of the many search parties. "Without you, I never would've even been able to return to my city." "You're welcome, Lycor." Said Leodus, smiling. "All we ask for in return is for you to promise not to reveal our existence to the other inland tribes." "Of course." Lycor said. "There might someday be a time when we leopards must help your tribes to fight an old threat." Leodus said cryptically. "But if that time comes, the inland tribes must learn our existence then. No earlier, no later. Goodbye, Lycor." Lycor nodded his goodbye and departed south, going up into the Iron Mountains. Lycor turned around and looked down at the valley, the Golden City, and the snow-covered northern regions beyond, realizing that inland Chima was a small part of a much larger world.
Lycor was captured by the Raven Tribe almost immediately after returning to the inlands, and was taken to Raven HQ. "What is the meaning of this?!" Lycor asked as he was brought before Rawlin. "It's nothing personal." Said Rawlin. "It's just that, if my spies are correct, Lyrix may be planning a war with us. I know you're a relative of Lyrix, so we'll use your life to threaten Lyrix into not going to war with us. I can't have that Field Marshal contradicting my own plans." "Somehow, I doubt that would work." Lycor said under his breath. "I have a brief history with Lyrix, of course." Said Rawlin absently. "He gave us the map of WRM HQ last year." "Oh, he did?" Lycor asked. So it appeared that to further his ambitions, Lyrix had betrayed both Lycor and Rica. Suddenly, explosions rocked the building. Rawlin dashed to the window. "It's the WRM ravens!!" He shouted. "Blast their jets out of the sky before they do any more damage!" Lycor steeped his legs back and tripped the raven guards. As another raven charged at him, he turned around and let the raven's sword break his handcuffs. Lycor grabbed his camera and charged for the window. Rawlin tried to stop him, but Lycor body slammed Rawlin into the window, and the glass was shattered as they both fell through. Lycor landed on an umbrella in the market below, and rolled down, landing on his feet on the street. While a few WRM jets bombed the tower, Lycor used the chaos and the distraction of the ravens to escape from the city. In the Great Desert, Lycor saw a WRM jet crash nearby. Its driver got out and stumbled in the sand for a moment. Lycor ran to the downed raven. "I request an audience with Queen Rica." He said. "Um...alright." Said the raven.
When the attackers retreated, they took Lycor with them to the current WRM campsite, north of the Minor Tribes HQ. There, Lycor met with Rica, and revealed that Lyrix had double crossed her and given Rawlin the map of her old HQ. Rica was furious, and resolved to provide Lycor with any more information he could use to take down Lyrix. "Lyrix betrayed the Lion Tribe as well." She said. "He stole the MMSC plans after they were obtained by the lions, and gave them to us." At this point, Lycor wasn't surprised. "Here, take this." Rica said, handing him her old radio. "All the conversations I've made over the radio were archived in it." Lycor played the recorded discussion between Rica and Lyrix when they conspired with the MMSC plans. "Thanks." Lycor said, heading out. "Get payback for both of us." Said Rica.
All was quiet that day in the Lion Temple (save for Lyrix trying to persuade Lionel to go to war), until the doors of the throne room suddenly burst open. "I COME HERE FOR RETRIBUTION!!" Roared Lycor. "YOU shall have nothing of the sort—!" Snarled Lyrix. "I shall!!" Growled Lycor. "The royal Lion Law decrees that if a framed lion has evidence for his innocence, he can prove it." "That is true." Said Lionel, sitting on his throne and watching the cousins. "Present your evidence, Lycor." "But—" Said Lyrix. Lycor played the recording of Lyrix agreeing to steal the MMSC plans from the lions. "FAKE!!" Roared Lyrix. "It is forged rubbish!!" "You have no evidence that it's fake." Said Lycor. "Sure sounds like you to me." "Well, Lyrix will certainly be exiled as well." Lionel said. "But technically, Lycor, you still stole the Golden Chi." "Actually, your highness, I was framed, as I said." Explained Lycor. He took out the old security camera and played the very real video of Lyrix snatching the Golden Chi and dropping it on Lycor's head. "Lyrix, you are relieved of your position." Said Lionel. "For betrayal, framing, and stealing the Golden Chi, you are to be exiled from the Lion Tribe." "This is preposterous, absurd!" Lyrix said hoarsely. "Lycor, you are now the Feild Marshal." Announced Lionel. "Thank you, your majesty." Said Lycor, bowing. Lyrix glared at Lycor as he was escorted out of the city and his previous life ended.
During his first full month as the Lion Field Marshal (January of 1 BR), Lycor successfully rounded up the corrupt lion soldiers who made up Lyrix' shadow force. They all ran away from the city and joined Lyrix in exile, not because they were loyal to him, but because they had no where else to go and no one else to follow. As Lycor made battle strategies and led the Lion Army into skirmishes with criminals and rogue factions, Lyrix and his small force of exiled lions stole food and supplies from other tribes, all while retaining contact with their secret informers in the Crocodile Tribe, who provided them with more weapons and vehicles. Now that he couldn't use the Lion Tribe to carry out his plans, Lyrix hoped to build an army of criminals large enough to someday stand a fighting chance against tribes such as the Lions or Ravens.
In the coming months, Lyrix and his growing band of lions and crocs began to gain prominence in Chima's criminal underworld. This caught the attention of one of the biggest crime bosses, "The Lord of the West Sea", Captain Gibbs. Normally, Gibbs would shrug something like this off as a wannabe crime boss who was simply an overly ambitious petty thief. But it was the origin of Lyrix' mini-army that troubled Gibbs. Like the 29-year-old lion, Gibbs had built up his own shadow force back when he was a Governor in the Gorilla Tribe. Gibbs believed that the only way to gain power fast was to seize it through questionable means. Through blackmail and deception, Gorvernor Gibbs had made many gorillas loyal only to him. Things seemed to be getting better for Gibbs after the downfall of the Gorilla Monarchy; during the aftermath, splinter factions of non-republican gorillas, such as Gibbs', scrambled to seize control of the tribe, only to be defeated by the Republic and exiled or imprisoned. Gibbs used his already large group to make himself a big deal in the criminal underworld, and, after eventually uniting all the pirate crews through threats and force, now had a fleet of eight old-style battleships. Obviously, the origin of Lyrix' group was startlingly similar to Gibbs' own rise to power, and Gibbs said as much to his first mate while on board his HQ ship. "I want this 'Lyrix' and his group to be put in their place." Gibbs said, sitting at the desk of his captain's quarters. "You don't have to completely crush them, just show 'em that they're not above us. You know, attack them, damage them a bit. Discipline the guys." "Aye, Captain." Said his first mate, a bear from Catalan. "Glory to the Lord of the West Sea!" Gibbs chuckled. "Heh, yep. Now git 'em before Lyrix starts thinking he's the next big deal or somethin'." Gibbs ordered as he took a drink from the bottle on his desk.
Lyrix was outraged when Gibbs' forces attacked his base, located on a tiny island between the West Sea and the Croc Swamp. Although Lyrix received reinforcements from his allies within the croc tribe, and the six command ships the crocs stole destroyed Gibbs' two attacking pirate ships, this not-so-discreet incident blew the covers of the croc traitors, and they had to flee from the swamp to escape King Crogall's wrath. Lyrix and the rest of his group, who were technically in croc territory, also had to escape. The former croc spies helped Lyrix and the rest of his group onto the six command ships, and they departed from the mainland in a haste. While sailing the West Sea, Lyrix announced that they would immediately attack Gibbs' small fleet in an act of revenge. "Six croc command ships versus six pirate ships." Lyrix said. "This time, we'll be on even water. Let's show this so-called 'Lord of the West Sea' what we're made of!"
Gibbs spit out his rum when he was notified by another first mate of the destruction of two of his ships. "WHAT?!?!" Roared Gibbs, smashing the bottle on the floor. "This fool Lyrix dares to destroy the ships of the uniter of all pirate crews, the Lord of the West Sea, the incredibly handsome and powerful Gibbs?! He shall feel my wrath!! Let's crush them!"
Since Gibbs and Lyrix were equally eager for revenge, their forces met in the middle, a mile from Chima's shore. Gibbs' six pirate ships were lined up in the water, staring straight into the long faces of the six croc command ships. But just as Gibbs was thinking up a strategy, the captain of one of the ships in his small fleet charged ahead. "Glory to the Lord of the West Sea!!" Said the eager Rhino, as he steered his ship straight towards the croc ships. "No, you idiot!!" Gibbs shouted. "Get back here before you get my ship destroyed!" But it was too late; the rogue ship came right in front of Lyrix's makeshift fleet, and before it could even get one cannonball or chi blast out, all six croc command ships focused 100% of their firepower on the ship, completely obliterating it. "Attack!" Ordered Lyrix, standing atop the crimson eye-shaped cockpit of one of his ships. The croc ships engaged Gibbs' five remaining pirate ships in a massive battle. The pirate ships were bigger and had cannons, but the croc command ships had stronger armor ing and more chi firepower. Cannonballs, chi lasers, and pieces of wood and metal flew everywhere. Soon, hundreds of ship pieces floated in the water. During the battle, another one of Gibbs' ship was destroyed, along with three of Lyrix's ships. "Time for plan B." Gibbs said, and he beckoned his two other remaining ships to follow his flagship. "They're retreating!" A lion told Lyrix. "Follow them and obliterate them completely!" Lyrix ordered. "Gibbs will pay for ruining my plans! I want none of his ships to be left!" Lyrix's ships continued firing at Gibbs' until they discovered that Gibbs was leading them to the side of a relatively small landmass that would someday be called Bat Island. Gibbs' backup plan was to lead Lyrix's ships to their doom here in case they ended up overpowering his ships. He would have his ships turn just in time for their pursuers' ships to be impaled in the razor-sharp black rocks jutting out of the back of the island. His plan partially worked; just as Lyrix saw the rocks and yelled for his ships to stop, Gibbs' three ships turned sharply, and the vengeance-lustful croc and lion piloting one particular croc command ship didn't stop in time. Hundreds of small and large black spike rocks were plunged through side of the croc sommand ship as it attempted to turn. The spikes jutted out the other side, and the force of the blow broke the tips of the spikes off the island. The destroyed ship crashed into the water. "Enough!!" Lyrix roared, and his remaining two ships focused all firepower on Gibbs' three ships. Although Gibbs' pirate fleet had taken a massive blow by losing five out of eight ships that day, Gibbs felt certain that he would still emerge victorious now that he outnumbered Lyrix three to two in ships. That is, until one of his subordinate captains suddenly betrayed him. All of Gibbs' underlings who steered the ships had once been independent captains themselves, until Gibbs' gained their allegiance, allowing them to continue commanding their ships as long as they joined his growing fleet and answered to him. This particular captain had been persuaded to join by promises of all the treasure they'd be able to find with multiple ships searching the sea at once. Now, it this captain had had enough. "You never fulfilled your promises, Gibbs!" Shouted the croc as she started firing at Gibbs' ship. "Instead of finding treasure, this fleet has only found destruction! It needs a new, better leader— me!" About a third of that ship's crew disagreed with their captain, and those crew members quickly swam and flew to Gibbs' flagship. "Traitor!" Shouted the captain of the other ship, a raven who was completely loyal to Gibbs. He brought his ship in between the other two pirate ships and fired at the croc's. "Glory to the Lord of the West Sea!!" The crocodile captain hissed and tried to bring her ship around to face Gibbs' flagship, only to be blocked by the raven's ship. The two ships engaged in a battle.
Lyrix, who'd been watching ever since his two remaining ships avoided the spiky rock trap, laughed at the sight of Gibbs' remaining ships turning on each other. "They've resorted to destroying each other in order to end their miserable existences." Lyrix said. He and the crews of his two ships laughed heartily, but Lyrix abruptly stopped laughing when he saw Gibbs escaping in his flagship. Lyrix couldn't get to Gibbs' ship, as he was on the other side of the battle, with the island to his right. Those buffoons are blocking the way! Thought Lyrix, and he cursed. Lyrix turned his ship around in one last attempt to catch up to the fleeing Gibbs, but by the time he got all the way around the island, Gibbs was long gone. It was only then that he realized his other ship had not followed him. No! They haven't done what I think they've done, have they?! Lyrix thought. He dread was confirmed when he returned to the sight of the ship battle. The pilots of the othe croc command ship had joined the fight, and it had become a three-way battle. All three of those ships were now destroyed, along with their crews. First we both had six ships. Then we both had three ships. Lyrix thought, half bitter and half amused. And even now, after we have destroyed each other's fleet, Gibbs and I are still evenly matched. One ship each.
Six months after Gibbs' and Lyrix' conflict in February (August of 1BR)...
Klark stood at the front of one of his five fox skiffs as they approached the island that would become Bat Island in a matter of months. For many years, however, this island had remained untouched by conquerors. Nine years ago, Klark had set out with fifty of his Marine Commando-type Strategic Troops to find a mythical treasure that a sailor had told him about. This was yet another island in their search, but Klark had a good feeling about this one. With orange eyes, sharply pointed ears and crimson red fur, Klark was tall for a fox. He had taken command of the Minor Tribes a few years after both Skinnet and Furtivo had disappeared, and had founded the Marine Commando-type Strategic Troops. Now, he and his MCSTs arrived at the shores of the island. Klark and the fifty other foxes filed off the skiffs and scurried through the island's jungle, searching every inch of the island until they found the treasure. One fox called out excitedly when he'd dug it up. Finally. Thought Klark. "I told you we'd find it eventually!" Klark called. Klark and his MCSTs regrouped in the middle of the jungle. Klark was handed a bronze ball, the same size as a chi orb. It was hollow and partially transparent, and cogs were visible inside. One gold cog stuck out. According to legend, this object had been forged by the Rhino Tribe, and stolen by someone, before that someone was shipwrecked on an island. Klark and the others had no way of knowing that in reality, this orb had been forged from dark necromancy by an Ice Bear philosopher long ago. This object could speed up the shipbuilding process, allowing the Ice Bears to rapidly build an enormous fleet during the Ice Bear—Leopard War. The Ice Bear Fleet obliterated the Leopard Fleet, but the Ice Bears were eventually pushed back, the philosopher slain, and the device liberated by the leopards. King Leodus had ordered for the device to be destroyed, but the leopard who was tasked with that job was a former Admiral, and he secretly hid the device on an island a mile off Chima's coast so that he could use it to rebuild the Leopard Fleet if the Ice Bears ever returned from the north. Many years later, Klark now held it in his paws. "Good job, all of you!" Klark said. "I knew our long search would pay off! Now, we can finally build a Minor Tribes fleet!" "I think not!" Said a deep but scratchy voice. Klark whipped around to see a lion pointing a pirate sword at him. "That thar' device belongs to me!" Said Captain Lyrix. "I wouldn't be so sure of that!" Came another, older voice. Lyrix, Klark, and their respective underlings behind them all turned to see Captain Gibbs arriving with his crew. "Nothing will belong to you again, Lyrix!" "Filthy pirates!" Growled Klark, drawing his sword, a wolf blade that had long ago been given to him by Worgon. The rivals plugged chi and engaged in a three-way duel for the device, as their forces fought.
After destroying each other's criminal fleet and leaving each other with a single ship, Gibbs and Lyrix were reduced to simple pirates. With their plans of conquest crushed along with their fleets and morality, the two competing captains scourged Chima's coast and the West Sea, each claiming to be the "Lord" of the latter. They'd each recently learned about this mythical device, but each located it at the same time Klark did. "You bloody pirates don't deserve something like this!" Said Klark, parrying a swing from Lyrix as he dodged a blow from Gibbs. "Soon, the Minor Tribes Fleet will destroy people like you and bring order to the West Sea!" "Such ambition." Gibbs said, striking the swords of Klark and Lyrix with his own. "Such wasted ambition. The only one building a fleet with this device is me, the true Lord of the West Sea!" "Oh, I don't think so!" Growled Klark, back flipping above Lyrix' swing. "The Minor Tribes Fleet will restore nobility to this wretched Sea." "Nobility?" Snarled Lyrix, swinging at Klark's chest. "There is no nobility in Chima anymore! It's every man for himself! No more monarchies, no more democracies. My fleet will wipe out those airheads, and unite all species under a new order, a pirate empire! Then, there will finally be peace." "You kids have no idea." Said Gibbs. "I've been alive a lot longer than you two, and I know what must be done." Gibbs turned to Klark while dodging a swing from Lyrix. "I'll make you a deal, fox. If you give up and give me this shipbuilder, I'll let you and your men work for me. You can be the Commodore of a large portion of my soon-to-be enormous fleet. You, on the other hand," he said, pointing at Lyrix's neck with his sword, "will not be making it out of here alive!" As their duel went on through the island forest and their small factions battled in the background, Lyrix jumped atop a fallen palm tree. "It's over, Gibbs!" Said Lyrix. "I have the high ground!!" "You underestimate—" started Gibbs, before being interrupted and almost crushed by a falling palm tree. The chi-powered Klark had cut it down with his sword, still clutching the device in his left paw. As the palm tree started rolling through the forest, the three combatants jumped on and continued their duel as they struggled to stay on the log. It soon rolled down to the beach and, before the enemies could get off, it smashed into one of Klark's skiffs, and they fell painfully off. Lyrix landed in the sand and quickly grabbed the device, running up the beach and turning the golden cog. "No!" Said Gibbs, scrambling onto the shore. But it was too late; the process of building a ship had begun. The device didn't conjure materials out of thin air, but it rapidly sped up Lyrix's construction of a ship. In less than a minute, Lyrix had taken hundreds of pieces of wood, metal, and other materials, and had also made many cannonballs. Gibbs was shocked at the sight of Lyrix's completed pirate ship. "I hereby dub this flagship The Exile!" Announced Lyrix. "The first of many to come!" Lyrix's crew returned to the croc command ship and The Exile as both ships moved across the water to Gibbs' old flagship. "No!" Shouted Gibbs. "Come on! Get back on the ship and defend it!"
Gibbs's pirates were eventually able to defeat and capture the remaining MCSTs. Gibbs captured Klark and brought him on his ship with the others. As this was happening, Lyrix used The Exile to destroy the fox skiffs in a demonstration of his new vessel's power. By the time Gibbs moved his ship to destroy the croc command ship so Lyrix wouldn't outnumber him, it was too late; half of Lyrix's crew had gone on board the croc vessel, while the other half went on The Exile. Lyrix's two ships went on either side of Gibbs' ship, off the coast of the island. "FIRE!!" Roared Lyrix triumphantly, and his ships blasted nonstop at both sides of Gibbs' ship with cannons and chi lasers. Gibbs fired back with the cannons on his ship's sides, but his vessel couldn't stand the multi-ship barrage, and was rapidly destroyed. "We'll build more ships after getting rid of Gibbs." Lyrix explained to his crew, looking at the shipbuilding device in his paw. "All hail the new Lord of the West Sea." Gibbs' ship, caught in the middle of a fire storm, was obliterated. Gibbs and his surviving crew members abandoned ship and jumped into the water, along with the surviving captured MCSTs, who were inadvertently freed from the destroyed prison compartments. Gibbs and the MCSTs believed that Klark had been destroyed, but he had in fact survived and, unaware that some of his fellow foxes were still alive, had swam to the shore of the island, where he would remain for many months until being discovered by Grand Admiral Balthazar and recruited as a bodyguard.
Lyrix scooped up every surviving MCST and enemy pirate who survived the shipwreck, and gave each one a choice; they could either swear allegiance to him, or walk the plank. Most of the foxes agreed to follow Captain Lyrix from then on, since they believed their former leader to be gone. Almost all of Gibbs' pirates agreed to join Lyrix, so the size of his crew was doubled. His crew, which had formerly been made up of lions and crocs, was now much more diverse thanks to the merging with Gibbs' crew; Lyrix now had at least a few members each of every inland species. That just left Gibbs, who was currently standing on The Exile's plank, about to be pushed off if he didn't swear allegiance to his former enemy. "Either choice you make, I win anyway," said Lyrix, standing on deck, "so you might as well choose the option that allows you to keep living, mate." "Make me the captain of this ship, and you've got yourself a deal." Said Gibbs, as he stood precariously above the razor sharp black rocks jutting out of the island's back. "Not a choice." Lyrix said, shaking his head. "I must destroy my enemies, or keep them close. Come on. 'First Mate Gibbs' has a nice ring to it. You know what sound even better? Commodore Gibbs. Almost sounds as good as Admiral Lyrix." "No!" Said Gibbs. "I refuse to work for you, Lyrix!" "A new pirate empire is being born, Gibbs." Said Lyrix, tossing the shipbuilding device up and down in his hand. "You can either join it, or have your life come to a sudden and abrupt end." Gibbs was pushed closer to the edge of the plank. "OK, okay!!" Said Gibbs, frantically keeping his balance. "I'm glad you've come to your senses, Gibbs." Said Lyrix as Gibbs was brought on deck. The sound of whirring helicopter blades became audible for the pirates on both ships. Lyrix looked up to see a lion twinblade approaching the island. The helicrocter on the back of the croc command ship suddenly detached and flew into the air, firing at the twinblade. "No!" Yelled Lyrix. "What are you doing, you reckless fools—!?" A short dogfight ensued, as the twinblade had no choice but to defend itself from the hostile helicrocter. The twinblade blasted one of the helicrocter's propellers off and the propeller was sent spiraling down, its blades puncturing the hull of the command ship. The vessel began to sink, just as the helicrocter was sent spinning out of control and ended up crashing right onto the deck of the croc ship. The fires of the explosion slowly dissapeared as the wrecked ship sank. The surviving crocs swam to The Exile, carrying the surviving lions with them. "Down to one ship again, I see." Observed Gibbs. "Bah, it matters not!" Proclaimed Lyrix, holding up the bronze and gold orb. "With this, we can create an unlimited amount of ships!" A voice that was all too familiar to Lyrix was amplified from the twinblade above. "Attention pirates," said Lycor, "you have an object that the Lion Army is looking for. Please turn it over, and your remaining vessel will be spared." "The lions don't deserve a fleet!" Scoffed Lyrix. "It's the pirates' time to rise to power!" Lycor repeated his previous statement. Lyrix only laughed in response. The twinblade's back hatch suddenly opened in the air, and Lycor jumped out, landing on his feet right in front of Lyrix. "You got a new look." Observed Lyrix, looking at the orange suit and gold chi harness and shoulder pads Lycor had made for himself after rejoining the Lion Tribe and becoming its Field Marshal. Lycor also now had a golden valious sword, but kept his old shield. "You too." Replied Lycor. Lyrix wore pirate clothing and blue pauldrons now. "Hand it over, Lyrix." "Now, why would I do that?" Asked Lyrix, plugging chi and engaging the already chi-powered Lycor in a duel. Some of the pirates took steps forward (Gibbs stood still and watched with his arms crossed), but Lyrix ordered them to stand down. "This is my duel!" He said, continuing to fight Lycor. The twinblade hovered overhead as the pirates watched the battle on deck. Lycor eventually knocked the shipbuilding device out of Lyrix's hand and caught it in his own. Lycor backflipped to the edge of the deck and held the device out threataningly above the island's spiky rocks below. "Stand down Captain, or I'll do with this what I'd planned to do with the MMSC plans." He said. "You wouldn't!" Snarled Lyrix. "The Lion Tribe can build a fleet relatively quickly." Lycor replied, shrugging. "I might as well destroy this object that's potentially useful to people like you." The pirates aimed their guns at Lycor, who loosened his grasp on the device. "No!" Said Lyrix. "Please, no! Let's make a deal!" "I couldn't agree more." Said Lycor. "If you tell your pirates to lay down their weapons, I will not give this device to the lions." "Yes, deal!" Said Lyrix. He gave the order for his pirates to put their guns down, and they complied. "Thank you so much for cooperating." Said Lycor, as he dropped the device. "NO!!" Roared Lyrix, running up next to Lycor and looking down just in time to see the ancient device smash to pieces on the spiky rocks. The pieces fell into the water and sank, never to be seen again. "WHY'D YOU—" started Lyrix as the twinblade flew down to pick Lycor up. "I kept up my end of the deal." Said Lycor. "I did not give the device to the Lion Tribe, as promised." Before Lyrix could strangle his cousin, Lycor jumped into the twinblade and flew away. The pirates angrily shot at the vehicle, but did little damage with their old-style chi pistols. "Let's...let's leave." Said Lyrix, grasping the steering wheel and moving away from the island. "Aye aye...captain." Said Gibbs, standing at Lyrix's side with his hands clasped behind his back.
Lyrix and Lycor went in opposite ways. Pirate Captain Lyrix sailed west on board The Exile, as Lion Feild Marshal Lycor flew east, back to Chima. Captain Lyrix would continue plundering the West Sea for its riches, and Lycor would continue to serve in the Lion Army, for there was no other life for either of them.
Also, the final chapter was written before 12:00 where I live, it's just taking a long time to get through moderation. So I did finish this story by the end of the year.
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