Galing winds and giant waves, blistering cold and booming skies, these are conditions no one would dare sail. Yet one lone grand ship with a crimson flag braves the oceans wrath. Aboard the vessel is the lone, brave or foolish pirate who dares challenge the waters might. The lone pirate clad in red and black looked with a face of determination as the biggest of waves swiftly approached, he did not change his course and sailed head on toward the monstrous wave. The wave crashed forth into the ship which creaked under the impact's force but held steady as it climbed the great wall of water. Before reaching the top of the aquatic hill, a bolt of lightning streaked by, striking the mast which burst into flaming splinters as the winds claimed the unraveling sails. The lone pirate swore as his vessel creaked more and gave in to the mighty tides. Without the sail catching the wind, the grand ship drifted down the wave it challenged and swayed to the side. As the ship began to capsize, the lone pirate held firm to the wheel and grinned. "This great stormy sea, what a fine challenge it be." He said as he gave a salute to the sky before looking to the sea. "And as my vessel begins to tip, this pirate shall stand by his ship." He said as the wave began to crash down upon him.
The Gaian Seas:
Makings of a Crew
~ Ch.1: The Pirate of Durem
A messy haired young man in a black shirt and pants rose up with a yawn from his bed and stretched. "Heh… crazy dream." He said before looking in the corner of his home where a sword with a face and glowing orange runes stood against a corner. "Of course crazy is the norm in the pirate life, right Brim?" He asked the sword that blinked and began floating over. "Indeed, that usually is the case. For the pirates life is mostly at sea where many a tale is told." Said the sword. The man nodded. "While some be tall tales, a lot hold truth." The man added then together they said. "But the truest adventures lie in the yet discovered and the treasures lost! The open ocean and the mighty seas! Aye matey the pirate life's the life for me!" They both finished and let out grand laughs. The man let out another yawn and rubbed his blue eyes before leaving his bed. "Alright now, time to get going." He said as he reached to a stand that held a red vest and a hat with a wing and eyepatch on it. Brim then floated into his hand and the man's eyes shifted from blue to orange, matching the runes of the sword. After also putting on his steel armored boots, the man was about to leave his house but stopped, then turned to a peculiar shadow by the far wall. He went over to the shadow and knocked on it. "Yo Neko! Time to wake up." He said and backed up as a figure rose from the shadow. The figure was an anthropomorphic black and white feline with a tophat and tux. "Ah maaan. Can't I sleep a bit longer?" The cat said with a yawn. At the shake of the man's head, the feline reluctantly left the shadow and looked at the clock before materialized his lucky black cane and pointing it at the man. "You can be quite cruel sometimes Yoshi, you know that right?" He said in a bit of a serious tone before chuckling. The man known as Yoshi chuckled as well. "Yeah yeah yeah, it's early. But I can't wait to sail again and besides, I want to get to the Gambino harbor to see the sunrise." He said with a grin. "Now let's go!" The red and black clad pirate said as he ran to the door out of his apartment in Durem with his feline friend close behind.
The duo had arrived at the Gambino Harbor just as the first rays of sunlight shined on the horizon. "Heh, this area truly does have an amazing sunrise, doesn't it?" Yoshi said with a grin. Neko nodded once with a faint smile. "Yeah it does, I just wish the sun could rise later so I can be awake enough to truly enjoy it." He said with a laugh earning a playful shove from Yoshi. "Neko you slacker, if you had it your way the sun wouldn't rise till noon!" They both laughed and made their way down the docks. Upon approaching one ship, Yoshi broke into a sprint until he was right in front of it. "Ah, here you are you grand beauty." He said with his arms wide. It was a giant sized wooden ship painted deep red with black stripes and swirls. The ship had a vast red sail with two distinct crossed black stripes and a design of a grunny skull over crossed swords. There were also various areas of the ship with golden metal plating that looked like they opened. Neko had finally caught up to the excited pirate and looked up at the ship as well. "You truly take great pride in the Grand Crimson, don't ya?" He said with a smirk. Yoshi put his hands to his sides and let out a hearty laugh. "Of course I do, after all I designed and built most of it." He said before getting a look of nostalgia on his face. "I ever tell you the story of this ship? It's also the story of how I met Brim." The pirate said softly as the sword on his back blinked at hearing his name. Neko shook his head. "Nope, not all of it at least. You did mention how you found it extremely rundown and half sunk in a lost cave far past Gold Beach though." Said the feline. Yoshi smiled as a twinkle shone in his uncovered eye. "Ah yes, the Lost Grotto of Stone-Heart as Brim called it." The sword on his back hummed in remembrance. "Yes, the grandest grotto this side of Gaia. The meeting place and hideout of my crew back when I was human. The legendary Stone-Heart Pirates, ruthless and cold to the core." Spoke the blade, voice filled with nostalgia. "Hehe, yep you were quite the tyrant when I first found you in that wreck, but over time I helped show you the greatness of fighting for good." Yoshi said, bringing Brim out of memory lane. "Indeed, and you even fixed up and brought new life into my old ship." Brim said as he floated off of Yoshi's back and looked toward the ship as well. Neko couldn't help but smile at the two of them and look at the ship as well, the morning light shining behind it giving it a fiery glow of warmth.
After the three broke from staring at the grand red ship they climbed aboard and got ready to sail. It was a tough job as usual getting the ship ready with just the two with hands, but they always manage it and this is one of the reasons why they sail to new areas. To find new recruits for the crew. After the ship was ready to set sail and away from the docks, Yoshi went into his quarters and grabbed his signature pirate coat and gilded claw gauntlet. Now in his full look, the pirate of Durem left his quarters and approached the helm. "So, where to this time captain?" Neko asked. Yoshi smirked as he took hold of the helm and looked out at the seas before saying, "Next stop… adventure."