It took me quite a while, but the last chapter is now here at last. I wanted to give my story a good ending, not a scrappy farewell scene with unfinished storylines . So I hope I managed to do that, have fun reading it.

21. Fledge

With the jokers gone, the boat was now free for the pirates to occupy. While Shira and Buck were helping them to make sure it wouldn't be taking so much time, Raz and Buck were chattering.

"What are ya gonna do when you sail away?" Buck asked.

"I wouldn't know, mate. Guess we'll be travelin' around the ocean like before." she replied.

"Like before? I hope not…" he paused.

"What do ya mean?"

"Well, ya guys won't be plunderin' again, like before?"

"Nah Buck, no worries 'bout that. Gutt's too changed for that, besides, plunderin' with only three animals, of which one is a bird. That is kind a' hard." She chuckled.

"Why should that be a problem? He's not that weak now is he?" Buck wondered.

"Nah mate, but have ya seen him tryin' to hold a weapon?"

Buck tried to imagine Silas struggle to get his wings around a handle, resulting into him and Raz bursting into laughter.

"Hey, what's the fun about?" Shira said, walking down the boarding plank.

"Nothing…"

After a quick exchange of glances, Buck and Raz started laughing again.

"Great, a private joke." Shira sighed annoyed.

The laughing seized and they went back to loading the ship.

"Here, let me help ya with that."

Buck took over the pile of mango's from Raz when he saw her struggle, and carried it aboard.

"He's quite strong for such a little bugger." Shira commented as Buck was out of sight.

"Yes he is" Raz grinned.

"So, really leaving now, huh?"

"That was the whole idea, ey?" Raz noticed something was on her mind.

"What's botherin' ya?

"You remember asking me to join?"

"Did I?" the kangaroo tried to recall the conversations they had the past days.

"You remember that you said I could come with you?"

Raz was stunned that the tigress had actually given thought to the idea of coming along. If Shira did join them, should she herself be happy to have her friend back, or feel sad that her friend probably makes the mistake of a lifetime? She knew after all, what it is like to leave a mate behind. Raz remembered the grief she had after leaving Buck all too well. And between Shira and Diego, the bond was even stronger that was for sure.

"Raz?"

"You want to leave because of that one argue ya had with the sabre?"

"Well, it has been a little strange lately."

"Or because you can't express your feelings?"

"No!" Shira responded agitated.

Raz walked aboard the ship with a handful of sticks. The sabre sat down and stared at the sea. She wanted to be around Diego, but the seas had always been the joy of her life, it made her feel free. Staying on this island made her realize why she start to sail in the first place.

"Well maybe." She said when Raz got back from the ship.

The kangaroo sat down next to her.

"Ya're tangled up, I understand. I've been in the same situation."

"I want to go with you, travel across the world, be free. But I…" she hesitated as she was still reluctant to share her feelings with anyone.

"You don't want to miss your boyfriend."

Shira glared at her hatefully, but her companion could see that it wasn't real. She dropped the act and asked Raz what she would do.

"I left Buck in a rage many years ago. The choice I made then was pleasin' at first, sailin' the seas. Like ya said, it made me feel without restraints. Although after a long time it started to feel hollow, ya'know. As if something was missin'. I missed my best mate."

"I thought you guys were getting back together lately?"

"We do, but both of us know we can never grow as close as we once were. So Shira, please, think 'bout what ya might lose if ya leave here."

Raz headed back to the cave to collect more supplies, leaving the sabress was left puzzled with this wise words. Above her, on the boat, Buck had been following the entire conversation. He sadly had to agree that he and Raz could never become the best friends they used to be, though he had more important matters at hand. He focused on a more urgent task. He had to warn Diego that his girl considered leaving, but as he turned around he found his path blocked.

"Eavesdropping?" Gutt asked.

"Nah mate, simply hangin' around." and he placed himself in a comfortable position, picturing his words.

"Shira wants to leave." Gutt pointed down at the big cat that was walking away.

"Ah, the pot is callin' the kettle black ey?"

"Do you think she should?"

"Who am I to decide?"

"Yet you want to stop her, don't you?"

"What? Nah, ya got it all wrong, mate."

Gutt gave him a piercing stare and Buck knew he couldn't fool him.

"Alright listen. Diego is a friend of mine, he likes her and she likes him back, I know that."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, when I'm 'round that sheila is always hot-tempered, but when I'm not, she's quite flirty towards him."

The ape nodded, but then something troubled him.

"Wait, how can you know she's not always like that?" he asked.

"What do ya mean?" Buck replied, though he knew to what the captain was referring.

"How do you know what's she like when you're not with her? Shouldn't you be around her to know that?"

"Let's say, I've been sort a' observin' them lately and they sort a' didn't know that."

Gutt laughed when he heard the weasel's description of stalking.

"Ya're missin' the point, mate. They're made for each other, we can't let one argue between them spoil that, can we?"

"If Shira does agree with you, don't you think she can decide that for herself and stay?"

Gutt had a strong argument there, though Buck didn't want to risk his friend's love for that.

"Perhaps you're right, still..."

"If you feel the urge to tell him, you gotta do so quick, cause it won't be long before we're gonna leave this island."

"Then I gotta hurry."

Buck jumped up and swung the liana he had in his right hand into a tree and disappeared.

'Nice exit, but wait… where did he get that vine?'

Gutt looked at where the Buck had been standing and back to the forest. There was no visible explanation to satisfy the ape. No other than to assume that the weasel was in his eyes a complete mystery.

.

Meanwhile the rest has arrived at the field, where Ellie and Granny were enjoying the afternoon sun light. The three best friends told every single detail, mostly about how scared Crash and Eddie were.

"You should have seen their faces Ellie!"

"It's indeed a shame honey, but then again, if you wanted me there, you should've involved me." she replied deadpanned.

"I told you about ten times now, Sid didn't want to!"

"Since when do you listen to him?" she struck back.

Manny was now tongue-tied. What she said was actually quite true.

"Ha, ya got busted there big fellow!" Granny laughed.

"Ah granny, it was so funny." Sid said.

"It wasn't funny!" Crash said.

"Yea, it wasn't!" Eddie added.

"Now you know what it's like to be victim of a prank." Ellie said to her brothers.

"This wasn't a prank!"

"No, this was just mean!"

"Like sacrificing your own brother?" the male mammoth said.

"Nice one, Manny!" Sid high-fived his friend's trunk.

Diego was still laughing as he heard a whisper from a nearby bush. It was Buck who was gesturing him to come closer. He apparently tried to avoid being seen.

"What's wrong, why are you hiding?" Diego whispered back.

"I don't want to draw attention, listen you gotta come with me, now!"

"Why, what's…"

"It's Shira, she intends to leave with the crew!"

Diego's smile vanished and his eyes filled with fear, though he couldn't let anyone notice. He made a faint excuse for having to leave, but the herd had already determined that he was going to find Shira. He tried to use reason to persuade them otherwise, but he only got a lot of sniggering.

"And wondering where Shira is?" Ellie chuckled.

"Sure, if it makes you feel better." Diego sighed.

As he stepped through the undergrowth, Buck landed on his back.

"Hurry up mate, I don't know when they're leavin' but Gutt said it to be soon!"

Diego started running as fast as he could, avoiding branches and other environmental couldn't I have seen this coming. She was getting so close with Raz. He hoped that he wasn't too late already. What if she had indeed left?

He got a hit to the leg by a protruding branch, from which he felt the pain, but kept running. He tried to reassure himself, though it only made him wanting to be there sooner. Trying to increase his speed he felt obstructed by the piggybacking weasel, who fortunately spotted this as well.

"I'm slowin' ya down, I'll be on ya're tail, mate!" Buck said and he jumped off Diego's back.

Almost immediately Diego felt lighter and was able to accelerate.

'She'll be there, she has to…' he kept thinking.

As he crossed an open area, he almost bumped into Louis and Peaches.

"Whoa, what's up uncle Diego?"

"In quite a hurry here, sorry!"

He went on. It wasn't very far now, at the end of this last bit of forest lay the ship. The last bushes were in sight.

'They probably haven't even left yet, she's just standing there with a big grin laughing at me that I was afraid to lose her...'

He slowed down and stopped. If he ran in now and they indeed hadn't left, she's would mock him with it forever. He was puffing and all pumped up in his rush to get here. He thought it wise to recover a little before walking up to them. After a brief moment he regained most of his breath and tried to act normal while stepping through the last bit of undergrowth between him and the bay.

"Hey, what's u…."

He stopped talking as he saw the empty bay where the ship was supposed to be. Gutt, Raz, Silas and most of all, Shira were gone. He sprinted to the end of the bay to view the sea and he peered in the distance. Nothing but water…

'I can't believe it, she really left me.'

Standing there, watching the waves crush onto the beach, his eyes stung as he felt tears coming in. He had never felt so sad and his emotions dulled his usually sharp senses, for which would pay the price.

*Bash*

Diego got smacked down with his face buried deep in the sand.

"Ha, got you now softy!" a female voice laughed from his back.

"Shira!" he turned to see if it was really her.

"Duh, who else." she replied, "Wait a minute…"

She stepped off his back so he could get up and got closer to him, making Diego a bit nervous.

"W-what?"

"Were you crying?"

"What? No, it's the sand, it's hurting my eyes." The sabre quickly wiped his paw across his face.

Shira drew a big smile, "No it's not. You were crying!"

"No, I wasn't crying!"

"Oh yes, you were!"

"I told you, it was the sand."

"Thought you'd never see me again, did you!" Shira enjoyed the fact that Diego had betrayed his feelings for her.

"Actually, I did yea…"

"Ah don't worry softy, I didn't plan on leaving you."

This time it was up to Diego to draw a grin, because the sabress had now unintentionally given her own feelings away as well.

"Yet! Not leaving you yet." She said hasty, noticing what she had said.

"Right." Diego smirked at her desperate attempt to cover up her emotions, "just don't do that to me again Shira."

"Hmm, I'll try to remember it." she responded after an acted moment of thought.

It wasn't all bad that Diego knew that she cared for him. After all, it was only true and she wouldn't miss teasing him for the world. They both looked at each other, both glad someone cared about him/her. Buck was watching them from a tree as they left.

'Such a perfect couple, Gutt was right she did choose him.' he thought.

He jumped down and looked over the ocean. Though he was glad his friend's mate did not leave him, he still felt sad. Sad because Raz hád left. Again. Again without saying goodbye. He sat down in the sand.

"Well Buck old friend, looks like ya're on your own once more." he said.

"Hey mate, ya're not alone yet."

Buck turned around. Raz stood behind him with her hand reaching out to him.

"Raz? I thought you guys were gone?" he lifted himself by her hand.

"Nah mate, we're just 'round the corner. Shira wanted to see what Diego would do if she left him."

"Well she managed to do as such, but why?"

"She was afraid that Diego wouldn't mind her absence. She was afraid, that ya might replace her."

"Hmm yea, I'd already figured she didn't like me. Perhaps it is best if I let them be. I don't wanna spoil my mate's relationship."

"So where will ya go?" Raz said, with an undertone in which Buck could clearly distinguish an entirely different question.

"I'd be happy to join your cruise." he replied..

"Well come on then, we don't have all day!" Raz said overexcited.

"First I gotta say goodbye to Diego. Meet me further up the coast."

"Alright mate!" and she hopped away in a cheerful mood.

Sprinting along the coastline, Buck found the sabres pretty fast. They were sitting and watching the sun go down on the edge of the cliff.

"I'm sorry for my interruption. But I've come to thank ya all for the hospitality. "

"What? Leaving already?" Diego asked.

"Ya, I had a great time here" he turned to Shira, "Miss, I'm sorry to 've been such a burden".

"You don't have to leave cause of me." she apologized.

"That's not it, I just need some more excitement. Not that you guys are dull or anythin'."

Diego and Shira laughed.

"Well, I'm not good at conclusive speeches and besides, here's my lift!"

Buck made a backward summersault and fell down. They peeked over the ridge to see what had become of him, but the weasel had landed safely on the ship. It was sailing by and together with the crew, he waved the sabres goodbye.

"Until next time, Diego!" he shouted.

"Till next time!" he yelled back.

As the ship drifted farther away, Shira placed her paw on Diego's and they watched their friends leave.

.

"I am really gonna miss Shira." Silas said.

"Yea, me too." Raz agreed.

"We all are, mateys, but she's better off with him. Now, to your stations!" Gutt shouted not wanting to sound sentimental, while thought about his conversation with her yesterday.

They were standing aboard the ship. Silas and Raz ashore collecting ferns and leaves for the statue that was to be used in the trap. The ship itself was already done and it was a certainty that the pirates would leave tomorrow. However, Gutt had decided that Shira, who longed for the freedom of the water, was not a part of that group anymore.

"But Gutt, I want to come with you."

"I know Shira, but it's best for you to stay here."

It pained him to deny his former first mate access to his vessel.

"Why don't you want me with your crew?"

"That's not why I'm refusing. I just know that we cannot give you the love that Diego can give you. You two have a strong bond, I can see that, and I don't want to sever it."

She thought about Diego and realized that it was true. When she was with him, she felt a strong connection, one she only felt with him. Even though she had tried to blame him for their argument for the last few days, she had also been feeling quite lonely.

"Besides, I think you 've become a little too soft to be a pirate." he joked.

She tried to hit him and they both laughed.

"Thanks Gutt, for everything."

"Where to, mon capitan?" Silas asked, waking Gutt from his flashback.

"To what is left of the continent."

"Why are we going there?"

"Because we are still missing some crewmembers…"

"You want to find the others, capt'n?" Raz demanded.

"That's right. We're setting sail for friendship, lads!"

"Aaarh!"

The end.

This is the end of this storyline. I'm leaving the end open so I can continue Gutt's story sometime in the future. I hope you liked it! (To be continued, whenever ^^)