Sugar strutted back and forth in her cowgirl boots. The golden spurs fluttered as she walked. As she paced, she eyed the trident pieces like a hawk. There were southern sea redneck goons sticking out of every porthole and entry way, their pistols and guns aimed directly at the Lyre's crew.

"Careful..." Archibell said, as he watched her shoes. "You don't want to SPUR her on!"

Sugar Southerncross drew her cattleprod and whipped it right in front of his face. He let out an effeminate wimper. "If y'all be makin' lousy puns like that, I'll whip your tootsies til the sea cows come home!"

"Umm Miss Southerncross?" Elise said, raising her hand, wide eyed. "I think you might have to whip yourself..."

Sugar Southerncross raised a pencilled eyebrow. "And why's that, ye little varmit?"

"You said..." Elise mumbled. "Pun-ish!"

Jimmy chuckled next to Sugar. "Little critters got a point there, Sugar....yeowch!"

Sugar cracked the whip on her minions behind, sending him cowering onto the ground. Suddenly, he turned around, blushing bright red. "Yee Haw! I finally got my keester whipped by Miss Sugar and...oof!" Sugar decked him in the face, knocking him out.

Tony the Troutface hopped up and down excitedly. "Wit any luck, she'll knock out all her goons fo us!"

Sugar crossed her arms. "I'd have to be plain ignoramus to do that, flounder face. Naw, I'm just gonna ask one more time. Missy, hand over that trident to little ol me or I'll whip y'all like a bucking bronco!"

The whip dangled in front of Elise's eyes, reflected in front of her glasses. She just recently escaped the reapers scythe, but soon she'd be whipped into kingdom come.

"Er...Captain Freckles," Archibell muttered. "Perhaps it's good if you just give the lady what she wants. I don't want you to get hurt. I'm so serious about this, that I'm not even gonna make a joke about it.

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Sincirce put her hand forward. "I'd listen to that handsome ex captain, sweetheart. You don't want that whip leaving any beauty marks on you!"

"Exactomundo, paly," Tony said, flipping over to her. "No trident is worth you getting hurt!"

Tito boldly puffed out his chest. "How about you give me the trident, Elise."

"What?" Elise said. "Why?"

"I'll take one for the team and your obvious undying love for me!" The mischievous hellohain boy said. "plus, I'm kinda curious what her whip feels like!"

Hearing all of her friends demand she give up the trident, only made Elise scrunch her eyes tight. She began to think to herself.

'What do I do, what do I do," she thought. 'i can't give this trident up...I need to save my daddy! I don't care if mean old sugar beats me up...I...I'm

Sugar snarled. "Well have y'all made your decision you little welp? Are y'all gonna hand it over?! What Sugar wants, Sugar gets!'

Suddenly, Elise opened her eyes. But not only did she open them, she opened her mouth too and stuck her tongue out. "Go to shell lady!" she pouted. "I'm saving my daddy!"

The normally composed Sugar Southerncross's face turned crimson red like it has been out in the sun a little too long. "I don't think you heard me the first time, you little brat, what Sugar wants, Sugar gets!"

With a roar, she raised her cattleprod in the air, about to bring it crashing down on Elise's face. Elise screwed her eyes shut. She was about to be in a lot of pain and fast.

There was a loud snapping sound and a cry. But it wasn't her voice.

She opened her eyes and Sugar had a large red welt across her face.

"What in tarnation!" Sugar's large grunt Bobby exclaimed. "That whip jus bounced off that little girls head. How is dat possible?!"

Sugar whipped out a mirror that she had conveniently shoved in her poncho. Upon seeing the mark across her face, she let out a whiney like scream, similar to a horse. "You little varmit! Look what y'all did to my beautiful face!"

She threw the mirror and drew her whip again. "I swear in my daddy's name, I'm gonna whip you into the next life!"

She took her whip and brandished it again. This time Elise didn't close her eyes and watched as the whip bounced harmlessly off her face and hit Sugar straight in the head. This time, the Cowgirl of the Sea dizzily stumbled backwards and grinned. "I'm sorry daddy. I don't know nothing about birthing no babies."

Without further warning, she slumped to the ground with her hat drooped over her head.

Elise was the first to talk. "Can anyone explain what the shell is going on! Why am I invincible?!"

"Hmm," Archie said ruffling his goatee. "is there a chance the trident is involved?"

"Wait a minute," Elise exclaimed. "I wished we were safe on Sugar's boat! And we are!"

Archibell laughed. "Hah! As long as we're on her boat, we're untouchable. You hear that boys?!"

Sugar's crew mates all cowered in fear

Archibell stood up immediately. "It's time you boys take us back to the Lyre!"