Chapter 2: Original Bet

After the ultimately awkward greeting from Johnny, Shina and Alex made their way further into the Super Mayship, guided by the man in charge. It was no surprise that a ship this big had a lot of machinery working inside. Alex barely cared, but Shina's inquiring mind got her asking "Hey, Mr. Johnny?"

"…What's up?" He gave a somewhat dulled response as he looked back and tipped his hat up. Shina continued with a smile "How long did it take you to get this ship working?"

"Only a few years. Every ship we own is a pride and joy of the Jellyfish Pirates, but well…" With a grin the man paused for a moment and gave a thumbs up "Lets just say there's one I've been working on that I'm even prouder of."

Alex raised a brow and said sarcastically "Must've cost you a pretty penny to get all the parts." Johnny surprised him with a chuckle and a nonchalant response "That ol' Zepp owed us a few favors."

"And now you owe US one. In fact, I'd like to cash it in now." Alex folded his arms and remained blunt, with Shina scratching the side of her head. Johnny turned back and flicked a hand beside his head as he said "Go right ahead."

"Have you seen anything resembling a curved stone with strange runes carved into it?"

"Curved stone eh? Nope, can't say I have. Though it sounds valuable, so even if I did, I reckon it would've been sold for a hefty sum." Johnny's honesty, though appreciated, did little to help. As he depressurized an iron door at the end of the hall, he turned sideways and waved a pointer finger out coolly at Alex, smiling as he asked "You sure that's the favor you want from me?"

"Unfortunately…" Alex sighed and rubbed his temples to the point he was pinching the skin. Johnny, with a soft chuckle, said "Well, tell ya what, lets just call that a freebie."

Alex responded, assured in his tone "Well, you'd probably just answer our questions regardless." Johnny grabbed the lip of his hat and lowered it, letting out a light "Heh" before gesturing out to Alex and opening his lips ready to say something. However…

"JOOOOOOOOHNNY!" On a dime the man swerved in the direction the shrill, feminine voice came from the room ahead. It came from a young looking girl wearing an orange coat with a skin tight body suit underneath. Hoisted over her shoulder in her fingerless, gloved hands was an anchor as big as she is, carried as though it was a simple toy. Her ensemble was completed by a cape of sorts around her waist, orange tights, big orange shoes, and a skull plated tricorn hat that sat atop her waist-length brown hair.

Even as the girl gave Johnny a pout and glare from her brown eyes, the man calmly asked "Something the matter May?" She loudly told him "We've been waiting to know which port we should restock at! WHAT have you been doing?!"

The moment she was done she looked around and immediately focused fiercely on Shina. May aggressively swung her finger out and exclaimed "You!" Her expression turned sour as Shina confusedly pointed at herself.

May squinted her eyes and turned her head to Johnny, who chuckled and said with a smirk "May, this isn't what it looks like." The girl hummed a tiny bit before rushing right over to Shina. Planting her anchor on the ground enough to shake the hall, May stood on the bottom to try and edge out that one foot difference in height.

The anchor kept an even balance even as May leaned forth and brandished a finger at Shina, telling her brashly "I got my eye on you hussy, so if you try anything funny I'll launch you out to sea."

"H-Hussy?!" Shina's mouth was left agape. Johnny stepped up and patted May on the shoulder, telling her quietly "Settle down May. There's nothing going on here. This kind young lady and her partner just helped us deal with the Gear."

May turned her head and drooped her mouth to let out an "Eh?" before saying "These two? …Are you SURE?" Her reprimanding tone didn't even flinch Johnny and he snapped his fingers before replying "You can bet on it."

"Hrrmmm…" May hopped off the anchor and swung it over her shoulder, just barely brushing Johnny's rugged chest. She then put a finger before each eye and then swung them at Shina with two fierce points before turning around and saying "I guess I'll tell April to drop us off at Illyaria."

May walked off with heavy footsteps, and once she was out of earshot Johnny looked at Shina and said "My apologies." Shina grinned and said "No, no…It's alright. I like her spunk."

Alex, having spaced out for a little, blinked and said "…Huh?" before Shina and Johnny started moving. The boy continued onward and quickly asked "Hey wait a second, what is May even doing here?"

"I beg your pardon?" Johnny inquired with a look back. Alex shook his head and murmured "Err, I had a bit of a mind lapse there."

"Well perhaps a little relaxation will help set that straight."

"…Do you have a TV on this ship? We'd like to check the news." Alex suddenly inquired politely. Johnny said "Heh, it'd look bad on me if I didn't. But the news? Well, to each their own."

Johnny went a little ahead to type a passcode into the nearby door, and Alex took advantage of that to grab Shina's shoulder and forcibly turn her around. Shina was about to say something when Alex put a hand across her mouth. Then with a 'shush' the boy grit his teeth a bit and whispered while glancing around at Johnny "I don't get it…Johnny and May shouldn't be in the same area now if I'm right about the time period."

Lifting her hand to gently push Alex's away, Shina responded quietly "Events might be playing differently here. Lets just see how it goes." She then turned as the door was heard unlocking, but didn't mind sparing a second to look back and say "Checking the news IS our best bet to get our facts straight."

She then happily followed Johnny along deeper into the Mayship as Alex tightly folded his arms against his chest, gripping his shoulders and thought "Events playing out differently…Guess it's to be expected. It'd be weird if everything was the same as we know it to be. But then again…"

Visions of that vile purple aura showed up in his head, but with a firm blink he shook and muttered "No, we haven't seen that yet. This couldn't be their doing…" He wanted to assure himself with that, but the concerns lingered within even as the two of them went to the deck.

The deck had a very clear glass dome that allowed a fantastic view of the gallant ocean waves and bright blue sky outside. There was a pool in the center with a couple dolphins inside and a few palms trees around it that reached up to the ceiling. The entrance to the cockpit was just visible in the upright part of the area, and an iron grated staircase led the way up there.

On the northern part of the room was a holographic screen projecting an unknown TV show from a spherical probe planted into the floor. And for flourish, a large silver skull insignia was right above the door the three just went through.

On deck was not just May, but a few others girls as well. They all had on a common sailor top and short jeans, with differing colors and features on each ensemble. Certainly, Johnny had gathered a colorful cast of girls on this ship of his. The moment he stepped onto the deck, Johnny clapped his hands a couple times and the girls there paid attention.

"We're going to have some guests onboard for a bit. They helped us combat that nasty Gear, so I'd like to give them the ol' Jellyfish welcome." His address was commendable in it's sincerity, considering he's a pirate, and besides May the girls cheerfully proclaimed "Welcome aboard!"

Gesturing out to the left at a big-boned woman with creamy white hair and a silky clean apron, Johnny politely asked "Think you can whip up some drinks for our guests, Leap?" They nodded their head and jollily asked "Anything our guests would prefer?"

Shina clapped her hands and with eyes lit up asked "I haven't had a lemon soda in a long time!" Blushing out of a slip of her manners, she continued "I-If that's ok, ma'am."

"We have plenty of that aboard. And how about you?" Leap glanced over at Alex, who bluntly replied "No thanks, I don't-" A light budge in the gut from Shina's shoulder made him grunt before he murmured "I-I guess I wouldn't mind a soda too…"

"I'll have them ready before you can even blink." Leap rushed off, her speed betraying her size as she hustled to the door on the other end of the room. Johnny, with a dull look in his eyes, lowered his hat and said "I needed a drink too Leap…"

Perking up and swerving his upper body around, the man pointed at the two and said "Make yourselves at home, and don't be afraid to ask for anything." He then started moving away when Shina asked "You're not going to relax with us Mr. Johnny?"

"Heh, I'll join you in a bit, there's something I gotta check up on first." His tone wasn't as jolly, and he gave the two a wave of the hand as he left. It didn't take long after for Leap to come back with a fresh cold can of soda for the duo. Offering his thanks dryly, Alex walked over to the palm tree closest to the TV screen and leaned against it. The screen changed to the local news channel as they were talking about weather in that Illyaria place May mentioned.

Alex popped open the soda with his mind and drank from it without a glance it's way. The liquid fizzled and he squirmed a bit. Looking the can over, he commented "Huh, sour" and then took another ship. A light smile cracked his face as the sour feeling passed through his body. Then he looked back at the screen and said somberly "Watching news, sipping soda…Yep, it's like I'm home."

About twenty minutes pass, and Shina has found herself conversing with some of the Jellyfish Pirates. They seemed to enjoy her company, and a very wide smile was on the girl's face when it wasn't jabbering away. All the while, May stayed her distance, leaning against her anchor with a grumpy look on her face.

A girl with brown hair and a white and blue sailor top and hat broke away from the conversation and ran over to May. "Something the matter May?" The girl sighed and grumpily responded "April, I don't like that girl. She's up to something, I can just feel it."

Smiling as she patted her friend on the back, April told her "You're overthinking things. I think she's pretty nice." May gripped the anchor's handles tightly and the ground creaked as she pressed down. A feral growl escaped her lips along with a scathing remark "That vixen has you all bewitched."

"Or maybe you're just jealous." April stopped herself from being too harsh, but even the most gently presented statement would've triggered May's anger. The girl swung her head up with a flustered look on her face as she exclaimed "S-She may be tall, she might have long hair and ridiculous curves, but she'll never have Johnny when I have spent more time with him!"

Unaware of Shina's approach, May leaps back and shrieks as the girl says 'Hi!' to her politely. April smiles and with a chuckle says "I'll leave you two alone" before going on her merry way. May stretched her arm out and proclaimed "W-Wait…! April!"

When she was alone with Shina, May drooped her arms atop her anchor and had a dejected look in her eyes. "Greeeattt…" May slowly pulled herself up and looked at Shina, whose expression was so delighted it filled her mind with disgust.

"What do you want?" May asked while turning and leaning against her anchor. Shina stepped around and looked the girl in the eyes to ask "I was hoping we could talk. I think we got off on the right foot, so…"

"I'm not really in the mood." May moped and turned her head away. Shina closed her eyes a bit and said in earnest "…I'm not here for Johnny, if that's what you're worried about."

"I don't believe you. Then WHY are you here?" May scoffed. Shina took a couple steps forward and stated "Well we had to stop the Gear before it ruined your ship. But besides that, me and Alex came to this world to save my people."

"…Huh?" May looked back a bit over her shoulder. Shina nodded and continued to explain "We're looking for these artifact pieces to reach something that will give me enough power to save my people from a tyrant. One just happens to be on this world."

"…Well we don't have one." May replied a little loosely. Shina giggled and told her "Johnny said as much. But your TV will help us make our next move."

May paused and after an aloof glance turned around and asked with a puzzled expression "Why are you telling me all this?" Shina grimaced and was silent until she broke out a gentle giggle "Heheh…I was being pretty honest huh? Can't help it, you remind me of my little sis."

"What?"

"Weeeeell, with a lot more spunk." Shina winked with a pointer finger held before her chest. After a few seconds May moaned a little and grabbed onto her anchor.

"You're fighting for your family, and here I was calling you a shameless hussy." As the anchor was picked up, Shina picked up on the somber look on May's face and told her "Apology accepted. Friends?"

Shina held her hand out, and though May widened her eyes in shock she cracked a half-hearted grin and shook her hand. May then said to Shina "Heh, now I'm jealous that you have a family."

"Huh?" Shina blinked as May hauled the anchor over her shoulder and explained quietly "I never knew my mom and dad…All I know is that we're 'Japanese'."

May scratched the side of her mouth and muttered "Now I'm the one being pretty honest…" To her surprise though, Shina picked her off the ground and embraced her in a warm hug against her chest.

"You might not have parents May, but you DO have a family. Cherish them as much as you can."

Stunned, May took a moment to register that before muttering "Johnny…April…Everyone…Yeah, they are my family." Then she accepted the hug by embracing Shina as well, and this lasted for a few seconds. With Shina letting go, she thought in a melancholy manner "At least, for a moment, it felt like I was with you again sis…"

When May was back on the ground, Shina folded her arms back and proclaimed "Alright, enough of that! We're being moping when there's plenty of fun to have!" May perked up and with a fist pumped high said "Yeah! Hey, let me introduce you to our dolphins!" The two moved over to the pool for some R&R. Alex glanced at them and took a sip of his soda, not realizing he was sucking air out now.

"Well…not like we can do anything else." Alex looked back at the TV and saw they were talking about some strange sport involving balls and flying electric goals. "How LONG does this go on for?"

As he goes for yet another ship, he receives a nudge in the shoulder by something cold and turns back. Johnny was there holding another lemon soda in one hand while carrying an assumedly alcoholic lemon drink in the other.

"Unless you like the taste of air you might wanna take this." His humor at the forefront, Johnny kept the soda out until Alex crumbled the first can, tossed it back, and swiped the new one in his grasp. After cracking it open, he heard air release from Johnny's bottle as he leaned back on the tree beside Alex.

A frosty fog rose from the lip of the bottle and Johnny took a brief swig in sync with Alex. "Ah…nothing like a cold drink on a beautiful fall day." Johnny lowered his bottle beside his hip and glanced at Alex "I'd offer you something stronger if you were a little older."

Offended, Alex looked back and replied "What the hell, you thought Shina was older!" Johnny smiled and said "Can you blame me? A body like that not being legal, that's the real crime. You on the other hand? I'd reckon you're about 15."

"Big deal, I can handle a bit of alcohol." Alex boasted proudly. Johnny made a merry jest "I don't need 'poisoning minors' to be on my record kid" but then after a momentary lapse came to a realization.

"Maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't think you told me your names."

With a haughty raise of the head, the boy spoke "Alex. Alex Whiter." Johnny gestured at him with the hand holding the bottle and replied "Not a bad name."

"So I thought you had something to take care of." Alex bluntly pointed out, with the man giving a swift response of "I finished."

"I guess so. What we're you even doing?" Johnny lifted his head up and said in the midst of taking another drink "For a question like that, we're going to have to make an exchange. You can answer one of my questions afterwards."

"Hmph, not like he'd have much to ask." Alex said dully after "Yeah yeah, go for it."

"Truth be told, lately May's been having some headaches. I don't know what's causing them, but I suspect it has something to do with her Japanese heritage." Johnny looked over at May, who was helping Shina pet a dolphin that spat a bit of water their way.

"I'm hoping to find a certain doctor. I heard rumors he's in Illyaria right now, and if I can get a hold of him he'll be able to work on May." Johnny lowered his hat and smiled "We're pirates, we can't exactly waltz into a normal hospital asking for help."

"The problems that come with being a pirate, eh? A pirate's life is definitely NOT for me…" Alex interjected, and after a chuckle Johnny said "Well, I can't just quit now. The Jellyfish Pirates are dedicated to stealing from the rich to give to the poor, and we've helped plenty of people out by being the 'bad guys'."

"Hrmmm…"

"And for all the times this crew has helped me, I'd willingly help them twice over. That's just what family does." When Johnny was done, Alex quietly glugged down his soda to the last drop before saying "Well, I'm glad you've stuck around, and I hope things work out."

"I'd wager luck will be on our side." Johnny finished off his drink and then spun the bottle out of his hand. Once the lip landed on his pointer finger he balanced it and said "Now then, my turn…So you've known that girl for a while now?"

"Shina? Hmph, we've been traveling for a little over nine months in search of something that can help save her sister." Alex crumpled the can and tossed it back, and with a sly grin Johnny replied "A noble goal. So…" with a point of the bottle towards Shina he asks nonchalantly "Is she your girlfriend?"

Alex flinched and jerked his head to the right to exclaim "She's just a friend!" Johnny said in a shocked tone "Really? Color me surprised, she seems your type."

"Says the man who couldn't guess her age right." The boy resorted to bluntness in self-defense, continuing on to say "Well, you got your question out of the way."

"Now hold on a second there partner. Consider anything after this to be an addendum to the topic. Besides, it's rude to ignore questions." Johnny smirked, and with a flustered glare in his eyes Alex turned back to find the TV was still talking about sports "Oh GOD will they show some news already?!"

"Look, if there are three things I know well, it's luck, life, and love. You don't have to use my advice, but I'd appreciate it if you listen. It won't take long." Alex crossed his arms and with a 'harumph!' said "Well I can't stop you."

Johnny lifted his head up and folded his arms behind it, saying suavely to the boy "Don't take time for granted. Nine months may not seem like much, but imagine being away from family for that long. Days go by…you don't get to say 'hi' to your mother, you won't be able to smile with your sister…your father won't be there to play cards with you." There was a melancholy weight to the end of that sentence, and Johnny covered his eyes with his hat momentarily.

"I can tell just by looking you've been through some hard times, but don't let your emotions stay stone cold. A lady like her…I reckon she'll need a shoulder to lean on."

Alex lowered his head and thought about it a little, telling Johnny after a sigh "Yeah, maybe…" The man then mentioned "And if a romance blooms from those comforting flowers, then hey, I'll personally fund the wedding."

"Lets not push it Johnny." Alex responded, and the man held his hands out to reply "Heh, well…alright. Now was that so bad?"

The boy swiveled his head a bit before mustering a response of "Well, the truth is…" Suddenly, the TV screen starts to twitch with a terrible static, the image on it changing between the news and a person floating in the sky.

Alex grit his teeth and Shina widened her eyes. Johnny stepped away from the tree and with a surprised expression said "What the…? Is someone hijacking our signal?" He turned around as the image on screen came into focus and at the top of the stairs April proclaimed "It's not just our signal! We're getting confirmation of every broadcast across the planet being hijacked!"

"What the hell…" Johnny faced the TV and bit his lower lip as the person on screen became crystal clear. They were a brown-skin female with a white cloak that had something resembling teeth on the bottom rim. Their hair was long and silky white, with a cap atop their head that looked like a pair of rabbit ears, hung in place by a belt around her head. They stared through the screen with their pale orange eyes and said in a plainly robotic tone "I declare war on all the world."

Shina shuffled over to Alex's side and whispered into his ear "So this is the time period we ended up arriving at." Alex gripped his fists and said "The time of the Valentines. Then that can only mean…"

The robotic girl continued just as coldly "All those unworthy to stand upon it, will be destroyed. The future…" with a change to a gruesome rasp she leaned her head forward and gave a fiercely fanged grin "…will become the past…!"

The TV shut off instantly, and Johnny muttered "That looked like another one of those Valentines. This isn't good…" The man suddenly dashed off without another word. Alex turned to Shina and told her amidst the brief panic raised in the ship "Ok, I think we know enough now. This is just like how the aura trail acted in Crash's world."

"Uh-huh! The artifact piece we're looking for HAS to be in the Backyard. The trail doesn't track if it's in an alternate dimension." Shina said while tapping a finger against the side of her head. Alex nodded in agreement and with a gesture suggested "So either we track down Sol Badguy and get his help, or go after Ramlethal and force her to take us there."

"I think we'd have better luck finding Sol."

"Then we need to get out of here. We don't have time to say goodbye."

The notion made Shina let out a saddened sigh, but she nodded her head and the two of them quickly made their way for the exit door. By the time they were gone Johnny had returned, proclaiming with his hand cupped around his mouth "May! Where are you May?!" When the girl didn't respond despite his cries, Johnny bit his lower lip and muttered "Ah hell, why now…"

Next Time: Burning Blood