Much to everyone's surprise, the little girl had not just beaten the reigning pirate king at arm wrestling, she had put his hand straight through the table.

Everyone gaped at Chloe in silence. For a bunch of drunk ruffians and scoundrels, this was quite a feat.

Chloe made a non existent muscle with her arm. "I told ya. I may not look like it, but I'm your future queen! Anyone else want to go up against me?!"

"I can't believe this," Big Joe muttered. "Beaten by a puny kid."

Chloe stood up to take a bow. She did not see Big Joe lunging out towards her. But without even looking, she grabbed his arm and flipped him right over her body. He landed with a thud, leaving all the scally wags speechless

Chloe chuckled. "Anyone else wanna go?! How about you let my fellows pirates go now, Mr. Big Pirate Man?"

"My head hurts," Big Joe whimpered. "But you win! Even a scurvy dog like me can't break my word."

***

Back at the jail cells, everyone cheered when they saw Chloe together. And a slightly more submissive looking Big Joe behind her.

"My queen!" Ramone exclaimed. "I'm so happy that you're still together one piece!"

Vinnie smirked too. "Yeah, I thought dis big palooka would grind ya to jellyfish!"

"Actually," Chloe grinned. "You guys are free now!"

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Monica nudged the eel gangster angrily. Vinnie corrected himself. "I mean, I knew you'd win all da time, kiddo!"

"I'm glad too," Laura said with a vacant expression. "All this mold is making me start to hallucinate! I'm seeing floating peanut butter and jellyfish!"

Big Joe removed a golden key from his shirt and unlocked the jail, setting everyone free. "Now if you'd kindly beat it!" he growled. "We don't take kindly to outsiders here!"

"But..." Chloe murmured. "We really need your help. You are the only free nation now, and besides, I'd like to apply for regent here!"

Big Joe shook his head. "No can do, kid! Even if you can beat me at arm wrestling, there's no way that proves your mettle as a man of the sea!"

Chloe wanted to explode. "Now now, child," Rosemary taunted. "I know you want to stage a bloody coup..."

I wasn't going to, Chloe thought back to her demon eye, I think that's what you want to do.

"I do like a stone cold coup d'etat!" Rosemary said hungrily. "But that's the right move. We don't need these sea boys anyway."

I don't know how we're gonna fight with several mind controlled nations of Demollusks! Chloe responded in her mind. These guys were our only hope.

"I'm sure we'll find a way," Rosemary snickered. "One that requires lots of blood and revenge."

Chloe sighed. Her quest to become pirate queen was over before it started. Everyone find themselves walking back to the boat, but when they got there. There was a new problem on their hands. The brig had been flung open and their prisoner had escaped. "How did she get out?!" Chloe demanded.

John Lion approached them timidly. "I do not know, good sirs and madams," he answered in his refined voice. "I was doing my cowardly lion bit and hiding from everyone when you chaps and chapresses were captured. I do not know who let her out."

"Let who out?!" Big Joe Rogers howled. "Who exactly did you unleash on my pirates?!"

"Chief Inspector Valcom," Chloe responded. "One of the leaders in my navy!"

Big Joe's beady eyes went wide. "The scoundrel slayer herself?!"

"You know her?!" Ramone asked.

Big Joe gritted his teeth. "She's responsible for killing more scuvy dogs than any other lady."

He narrowed his eyes at Chloe. "And now... thanks to you lot, she walks among us. "