“See, Kopa? This is why we don’t pay our bills in cursed Aztec gold.”

“Alright, Chris, ye’ve made yer point. Now, about that refund…”

In This Scene

Staying with Chris and André teaches Kopa some oddly specific life lessons, courtesy of Captain Hector Barbossa’s poor life choices.

Chris and André supplement their income as fencing masters and fight choreographers by turning their fencing hall, Jeronimo’s, into a restaurant and bar most evenings. Located in New Orleans Square, the two former privateers’ main customers tend to be the various pirates they’ve gotten to know and train with over the years. But while Chris is willing to do “Anything for a friend,” he and André still need to make a living, and if you choose to curse yourself by stealing ancient Aztec blood money and then use it to pay your bar tab, that’s a “you” problem.

But Chris is willing to help Barbossa find “clean” buried treasure to square up the tab in exchange for the spent Aztec medallions…

Be the Scenes

I’m proud of how Skeleton!Barbossa turned out. And that I put in the extra effort to draw four characters.

The Battlemaster

In This Scene…

In an alternate universe to my current fanfiction project Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom, the Disney characters live in a galaxy far, far away, and Chris Carnovo and André Caron are the Senior and Assistant Battlemasters of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. I’m not sure when this scene takes place, but it’s probably sometime during the Old Republic Era, when Jedi marriage wasn’t frowned upon (as much) and the Sith were numerous and powerful, and peace had to be kept by one’s skills with a lightsaber.

Simba, a high-ranking member of the Jedi Council, has introduced his son, Kopa (himself a new Jedi Padawan) to the Jedi Battlemaster to begin his studies in the art of lightsaber combat.

Chris Carnovo, an aficionado of Form II/Makashi, is impressed by the lion cub’s natural instincts—eager to learn and determined to overcome any challenge, Kopa cheers with excitement as he finally manages to leap over and parry a swipe at his legs. Though he has some criticisms of the style, the Battlemaster nevertheless notes in his mind that the young Padawan might have the makings of a talented Form IV/Ataru practitioner.

Simba, meanwhile, watches the lesson alongside André. The two Jedi masters both know all too well that lightsaber combat is more than a game. Simba himself achieved his Knighthood by defeating a Sith Lord who had taken control of his home planet—none other than his own uncle, Scar, who had secretly been the Sith Lord known as Darth Scath. His own relentless training in Form V/Djem So with Masters Chris and André had saved him at a key moment during the decisive duel, and he felt more at ease knowing his son would be taught by the galaxy’s best duelists.

André, however, is consumed by his memories of the Sith Wars. André saw too many valiant but untested Padawans felled at the hands of the ruthless Sith, especially one: the ruthless Jedi killer Darth Tristus. Though the Sith Lord met his end at André’s hand, André knows full well that the Dark Side is always ready to rise up again and wreck havoc on the galaxy, and even his formidable skill in Form V/Djem So may not be enough to protect the ones he cares about from the gathering darkness…

Behind the Scenes

I really need to finish and publish Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom so I can make a Star Wars AU out of it. No, I don't care how stupid that sounds, this is Tumblr, y'all should know what to expect here. I do actually have (concept) plans for an actual sequel series to Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom, which will see the Disney characters inventing lightsabers and discovering the Force. Simba's younger son, Kion, will have been born by that point in the timeline, ready to begin his training with the Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom. As for what Chris, Andre and Kopa will be doing--well, that would spoil the ending of Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom, now wouldn't it?

All For One…

A concept sketch from my Disney fanfic Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom, where André Caron (on the left) and Chris Carnovo, the Comte de Tréville (on the right), defend Prince Kopa of the Pridelands (center) from Cardinal Richelieu’s guards after a fencing tournament held in Chris's honor goes completely haywire. If you’re wondering what the villain from Disney’s 1993 Three Musketeers movie has against Simba’s semi-canon son from a series of Lion King storybooks…well, you’ll have to wait until I finish my outline to find out.

(Kopa is the creation of Alex Simmons and is owned by Disney; Chris Carnovo and Andre Caron are mine).

The OC narrative questionnaire thing-Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom

20. Let’s say [3] was leading a team built from [2], [5], and [1]. Would this position be more likely to be earned, elected, granted by a higher authority, or self-proclaimed? How would you rank [3]’s leadership skills? Is there anyone in the underling trio who objects? Anyone whose particularly loyal? How functional would the team be overall?—> Let’s say Kopa was leading a team built from André, Scar, and Chris. Would this position be more likely to be earned, elected, granted by a higher authority, or self-proclaimed? How would you rank Kopa’s leadership skills? Is there anyone in the underling trio who objects? Anyone whose particularly loyal? How functional would the team be overall?

Elsewhere

If Kopa is the leader of a team, his position would ultimately come from his royal blood, and thus his ancestral/inherited rights would constitute the higher authority granting him leadership (as heir to a throne, Kopa’s princely status takes precedence over Scar’s, who is heir to nothing unless the line of Mufasa is extinguished). Kopa doesn’t flaunt his royalty, so it would not be self-proclaimed; neither is he old enough to have truly earned the right to lead a team of experienced warriors. However, Kopa probably wouldn’t be in that position of authority if Chris specifically hadn’t advocated for it, so there is a certain amount of election going on.

Kopa is young and inexperienced, so he’s not much of a leader by most metrics. However, he is fully aware of his royal status and his dad has always taught him to take responsibility, and Kopa will certainly do his best. He’s also humble enough to ask for help, and listens to those under him. This willingness to include other in the decision making process ends up strengthening his leadership position, since those under him feel investment in his ultimate decisions.

Scar would object most to Kopa’s leadership, but then again, he objects to everyone’s leadership but his own, and Chris and André would do a good job keeping him in line.

André and Chris, meanwhile, are both loyal to Kopa, but André is slightly more devoted to Kopa, thanks to the oath he swore to Sarabi to protect her lineage.

The Mane 3: Jedi Edition

I’ve been on a Star Wars kick recently ever since I started hanging out with the lightsaber fencing class at my fencing club, so I decided to draw the Mane 3 characters of Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom as Jedi (why am I making AU versions of my characters when I haven’t even finished the main storyline ugh…)

Kopa: "So how often do you really get into a sword fight on a narrow beam?" Andre: "More often than you'd think, Your Majesty--good job slipping, by the way."

In This Scene

In Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom, my still-being-outlined Disney fanfiction project, Chris Carnovo the tyrannosaur and Andre Caron (the eponymous swashbucklers) specialize in different fencing styles and weapons: Chris favors thrust-centric swords like the rapier and smallsword, while Andre favors cutting weapons like sabres, broadswords, and longswords. Their weapon preferences also reflect slightly different philosophies when it comes to fighting: Chris tends to emphasizes self-defense and even the sporting aspects of fencing, while Andre tends to favor a more militaristic approach centered around earnest combat. This means that certain clients tend to be drawn more toward one or the other teacher. While I haven't yet drafted this portion of the story, Prince Kopa of the Pridelands will eventually admire Andre's sabre/broadsword skills enough to choose it as his main fencing style. Here, Andre trains with Kopa on how to fence on a narrow ledge. While unrealistic in our world, in the Magic Kingdom odd fencing situations, like having to fence on a narrow beam, are much more common.

Behind the Scenes

Another bedtime sketch I finished a while back and am posting now. The "slip" Andre is referring to is the way Kopa pulls his right foot backwards as he parries Andre's cut. This is a signature technique of the Scottish/British broadsword tradition that serves to protect the leg from cuts and move the body and face a few extra inches away.

The OC narrative questionnaire thing-Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom

17. What kind of age gap is there between [2] and [3]? What if this was exaggerated? Switched around? What kind of dynamic would you get with an old [2] and a young [3]?—> What kind of age gap is there between André and Kopa? What if this was exaggerated? Switched around? What kind of dynamic would you get with an old André and a young Kopa?

So in the Magic Kingdom, people don’t age the same way we do in our world/in a straightforward, linear fashion. For example, Cinderella has been in very early adulthood for many, many decades now. Chris and André too are physiologically in their twenties, but have been so since before Simba was born. Kopa, meanwhile, is physiologically between 10-12 years old, but has been so for many years himself.

Relative dating is thus more important for the denizens of the Magic Kingdom than physiological development. Thus, Mufasa, Cinderella, Chris and André belong roughly to the same generation, while Simba is one generation younger and Kopa is two generations younger. It really can’t get much more exaggerated—Chris and André are very old, very experienced swashbucklers, while Kopa is comparatively far more young and innocent, and this makes Chris and André something like surrogate/adopted uncles for Kopa. 

The dynamic in the relationship is one of protection and preparation, especially on André’s part. He and Chris have already been through hell and back during the Reign of Terror and Scar’s Regency, and they don’t want Kopa to experience the kind of suffering they had to endure at Frollo’s hands (the Minister of Justice played a key role in both events, and is up to his old tricks again in the current story). At the same time, André knows he can’t protect Kopa from everything, so he wants the cub to be trained and prepared to face the unholy parts of life when they come. And for a Prince of the Magic Kingdom, hard times will come sooner rather than later…

Non-Canon

If the ages were reversed (a younger André and an older Kopa), the dynamic would be that of an old king (Kopa), who came to power from a tumultuous youth full of violence and strife and who struggles to maintain his hard-won peace, tempering and guiding a fiery, ambitious, yet idealistic young warrior (André) into a leader.

Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom-“Marlin Spike”

I drew a comic!

This is my first comic strip I’ve ever drawn. I was inspired by @temiree’s and @kingdomblade’s great comics, Little Runt and Lesser than Three (respectively—you should seriously check them out, they’re great) to try drawing my own characters in comic format. I’m quite pleased with the result, for a first attempt.

This scene is actually canon for my characters, as it will definitely make its way into the written version of Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom, my Disney fanfic about how Simba’s son, Kopa, needs to be bodyguarded by the two fight choreographers behind all the Disney film fight scenes. This segment of the story will feature Chris and André—the fight choreographers and eponymous swashbucklers—taking Kopa on a treasure-hunting expedition alongside their old friends Captain Hook, Captain Jack Sparrow, Jim Hawkins, and Silver—an endeavor that is sure to go smoothly and won’t involve any entanglements with the corrupt East India Company, Captain Jack promises.

The OC narrative questionnaire thing-Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom

14. Neither [3] nor [2] believe in ghosts, but they happen to be in a very haunted house anyway. Who would figure out what’s going on first? Who would handle it better?—> Neither Kopa nor André believe in ghosts, but they happen to be in a very haunted house anyway. Who would figure out what’s going on first? Who would handle it better?

Elsewhere

André and Kopa are waking through the Haunted Mansion. Kopa is very observant/perceptive and would definitely be the first to notice that the suit of armor shouldn’t be turning to look at him like that. 

Meanwhile, André would be too focused on doing whatever it was that lead them to the Haunted Mansion in the first place to notice how weird everything was behaving and would brush the ghosts’ shenanigans off as irrelevant or as minor annoyances. Only when they start seriously interfering with his work would he start fighting back, and God help the poor souls who think to mess with Kopa. 

The OC narrative questionnaire thing-Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom

13. Gift Exchange! [5] got [3] in the Secret Santa. How easy will this be? How much effort is [5] going to put into this? What will [3] think of the gift?—> Gift Exchange! Scar got Kopa in the Secret Santa. How easy will this be? How much effort is Scar going to put into this? What will Kopa think of the gift?

Elsewhere

Again, Scar is so self-centered that being forced to imagine someone else’s feelings and desires is going to be difficult and awkward. The only reason he’s participating at all is because he can’t find any rational reason to hate his great nephew. However, what he lacks in emotional intelligence he makes up for in generosity (that is, a reckless disregard for spending money). Whatever he gets Kopa, it will be expensive.

But what to get Kopa? Scar is all about advancing his position, so he assumes that a fellow Prince of the Pridelands and Prince of the Magic Kingdom could probably use a copy of Machievelli’s The Prince. Cynically thinking that Kopa is a kid and thus would like a book with pictures, he buys Kopa a beautiful leather-bound illuminated manuscript with portraits of the figures mentioned and maps of the areas discussed. 

Fortunately, Kopa loves books and is delighted with the gift, and out of everyone’s sight Scar breathes a quiet sigh of relief, not just that the ordeal is over, but that Kopa actually liked the gift…

The OC narrative questionnaire thing-Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom

11. Say [5] really has to hype up [1] to [3]. Is this going to be easy? Sincere? How convincing would this all be for [3]? What if [1] overheard the hype session?—> Say Scar really has to hype up Chris to Kopa. Is this going to be easy? Sincere? How convincing would this all be for Kopa? What if Chris overheard the hype session?

Canon

Scar’s too egotistical to hype up anyone but himself, so it would be both incredibly difficult and carry only the thinnest veneer of sincerity. If truly forced, he would offer a lot of very backhanded compliments, like, “The scar on my face isn’t nearly as impressive as his,” or “He’s always galavanting off on some harebrained adventure,” or “We served together at the Siege of Pride Rock. I suppose he put on a good show, under my leadership, of course.” (The last one is a bald-faced lie—Chris was the one who actually wielded command during the Siege, usurping it from Scar).

Kopa, of course, would be thoroughly convinced that Chris was an amazing person anyway.

If Chris overheard it, he would probably be offended, especially at Scar claiming leadership at the Siege of Pride Rock, but he wouldn’t show it. In fact, if he had enough context for the hype session, he would probably be more amused at Scar’s hopeless attempts to hype him up than anything else.

The OC narrative questionnaire thing-Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom

  9. Let’s cast [3] as a detective and [4] as the assistant. What could this look like? How effective would they be?—> Let’s cast Kopa as a detective and Mufasa as the assistant. What could this look like? How effective would they be?

Non-Canon

Kopa, being a kid, would be outclassed in almost every way by his grandfather and he knows it. He’s not as strong, experienced, knowledgeable about the world, or well-connected. Yet if he’s the detective, it’s obvious that he was not only motivated to help someone else, but took some kind of initiative to do so, and Mufasa was either chosen or volunteered to join him in order to foster those nascent qualities of leadership and heroism.

However, Kopa does have some real strengths and advantages of his own. First of all, he is highly observant. He may not know the full significance of what he sees (that’s what Mufasa’s there for), but he sees and remembers every little clue. His imagination helps him weave together a narrative tying the clues together. His natural curiosity leads him to investigate, explore and ask questions that others might not think to ask. And because he’s so young, he comes off as harmless and people say more to him (or in his presence) than in his grandfather’s.

Together, the duo would value each others’ strengths and under Mufasa’s guidance and protection Kopa would grow into an excellent detective. Plus, he would absolutely love wearing a deerstalker cap.

The OC narrative questionnaire thing-Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom

  8. There is a bug! A particularly big, spiny, potentially venom filled specimen.  [1], and [2] are in the room with the little guy, and [3], [4], and [5] are in the next room over. What happens?—> There is a bug! A particularly big, spiny, potentially venom filled specimen.  Chris and André are in the room with the little guy, and Kopa, Mufasa, and Scar are in the next room over. What happens?

Elsewhere

One of two things would happen, depending on who saw the bug first. If André sees it first, he’d just crush it under his boot without so much as a grimace. If Chris sees it first, he’d draw his rapier and attempt to skewer it. He would succeed, too.

Kopa, Mufasa, and Scar are none the wiser, but that doesn’t mean they’re not having an adventure of their own—the three of them are playing Uno and Kopa has just acquired not one, but two Draw Four cards. His alliance with his grandfather against his great-uncle will be coming to an end very soon.

The OC narrative questionnaire thing-Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom

  7. [3] and [5] are, for the sake of this question, arch-enemies.  For reasons they care about, they have to play nice with each other for a dinner. How well does each pull it off? Does [1] pick up on the tension in the room?—> Kopa and Scar are, for the sake of this question, arch-enemies.  For reasons they care about, they have to play nice with each other for a dinner. How well does each pull it off? Does Chris pick up on the tension in the room?

Elsewhere

If they were to get into a feud, neither Kopa nor Scar would be able to pull off a polite dinner well. Kopa is still a kid and therefore is not as practiced in hiding his emotions as an adult would be, so he’d probably end up shooting Scar a ton of dirty looks all evening. Scar, meanwhile, would make a big show of not looking at Kopa and giving him the silent treatment. They would also do all sorts of petty, passive-aggressive things, like taking the piece of meat that the other wanted or putting their used fork in the mashed potatoes. Neither of them would be subtle about it, but neither would actually escalate things to a food fight. 

Chris definitely notices, and would foolishly attempt to smooth things over. Only then would things escalate into a food fight.