"The sounds amazing! I wish I had a useful semblance like that, and then I'd be able to protect my friends more." Jaune says defeatedly.
"It's not the type of semblance that defines a person you know, it's what the person does with it," Anna wholesomely says while patting him on the back. "Take my eyes as an example, I got them by losing those I held dear to me, but I use them to protect my family here. Your semblance is more than useful Jaune; you have the power to save lives, me all I can do is protect them, sure, I'd say your is a lot more useful than mine."
"I guess you're right, thanks for the talk, I needed it," Jaune says, looking better than he was a while ago.
"Anytime, mate," Anna says looking back out to the sea, before heading back to her duties.
Hours go by, and Liena stands at the wheel of the ship, when Weiss walks up the stairs, then leans against the rail next to the helm.
"So what's your story? If you don't mind me asking?" Weiss asks bluntly.
"My story? What do you mean?" Liena says with a slight chuckle.
"Yes, like how did you end up on a pirate ship? How did you meet the Captain?" Weiss asks in Schnee fashion.
"Ah, well that is quite a long story," Liena says, shocked.
"Are you kidding? We're on a ship! We got time." Weiss says rudely.
"Hmm, putting it that way, I'll tell you," Liena says deadpan.
As Weiss crosses her arms, waiting, Liena clears her throat trying to recall how she met Anna.
"Oh, I met Anna when I lived in Vale, I came from a small but wealthy family," Liena says, as she glances at Weiss, who leaned against the railing still.
"Oh! So you're like me! I come from a wealthy family too." Weiss says, but she trails off, remembering she left her home to be Huntress, and Liena's gaze when she interrupted.
"As I was saying, I was 17 at the time, and my family lived by the coast, next to a harbor. My father was the owner of our town shipping docks, so I spent most of my time down at the docks." Liena continues, catching Weiss a few times about to interrupt, but she is cut off by a glare. "By that time, the Captain was 18, she managed to survive, by working at the docks. There were days I went with father to the docks, while he attended to his business, I tended to watch some of the dock workers, load and unload cargos of trading ships."
"And one day, I saw one dock worker unloading a crate from one of the trading ships with their bare hands, and mind you these crates weighed as much as an engine of a car, I was so mesmerized by their strength, I went to talk to whoever it was. And to my surprise, I saw a Faunus setting the crate down, then dusting off her hands like it was nothing." Liena says adjusting the helm, then looks toward Weiss, who looks intrigued by the story. "I walked up to her, asked her name, she looked up at me, then she turned around to see if I was talking to someone behind her, she turned back and pointed at herself. She made me giggle, and I said 'yes, you' she told me her name was Anna, we shook hands, even though she was incredibly strong, she had quite soft hands."
Liena closes and opens her hands, looking at Weiss, which strangely she does the same as if she knew someone who also had soft hands.
"Anyway, We chatted for a few minutes before she was called away, after that day I started going to the dock, again and again, my family well, mostly my father and younger sisters warned that a 'noble' as it were, can't date someone as lowly as a dock worker," Liena says, the last part gritting through her teeth.
"I didn't know you have siblings!" Weiss interrupts, then quickly apologizing. "I'm sorry, please, continue."
"Aye, I had sisters, two young sisters, Rina and Jina, twins in fact," Liena explains, then continues with the story. "Anyway, We keep seeing each other for a year, and one day, she came up to me and said she got a job on a ship and that they were jewels and coin to Mistral. She said that the would be gone for a few weeks. I saw them off that day, but as soon as they left a huge storm rolled in. Fear and worry ran through my body like a typhoon, I prayed she be safe, but we later got news that the ship took the brunt of the storm, and was damaged pretty badly. They had stopped to make repairs but were attack by pirates."
"My heart was ripped to pieces, and anguish took over, I cried all night, crying out that the love of my life was taken from me. My mother tried to comfort me, telling that it would be ok, but it wasn't the same without her" Liena says a slight gloom crosses her face.
"So what did you do?" Weiss says with compassion.
"Day by day, I went to the docks to see if any of the ships had picked her up, hoping she survived. One day, I nearly gave up, I went to the docks to and was met with a ship with black sails. The ramp connected to dock to the ship was lowered, and I saw a figure, a dark tail swaying with a coat, ears poking out of the cap. They looked around until the saw me. Then I knew that she had survived and come home to me. Joy and happiness filled my body; I ran towards her, she did the same. Tears streamed down my cheeks." Liena says with a smile, out the corner of her eye, she saw Weiss gleaming, "I ran into her arms, as she swept me off my feet the feeling I got when she was home was like finding a lost puppy after weeks how searching. Anna was hesitant at first, then told me she was the captain of this pirate ship. But I didn't care; I was glad I was back in her arms again. She wanted me to come with her, and I said yes, but my parents would never agree to it, so I snuck her back into our house, and we started to pack my things. We were almost in the clear until my mother walked in on us. I thought we were goners, but instead she took me by the hands and said to follow my heart, she started to cry, as did I, she also told Anna to take care of me, and Anna said she would protect as if her life depended on it."
"Wait! So you gave up your wealth for love?! Why would you do that?!" Weiss asks with seriousness.
"Money is worthless when you have nobody to spend it with, and you can't buy happiness no matter how hard you try." Liena puts, not meaning to sound wise. "After that, Anna took me to the ship, where I met the rest of the crew, Ol' Bill, Cooky, and Cadin. It took some time, but after awhile they warmed up to me and treated me like part of the family. A few years pass, and now we're here."
"I still can't believe you'd give up your wealth and power for her though," Weiss says, doubtfully.
"Well, you do crazy things when you're in love," Liena says with a chuckle.
"I thank you; you gave me a lot to think about," Weiss says her hand on her jaw, you could see her mind gears turning in her head.
"Any time, my friend," Liena says waving bye, as Weiss walks back down the stairs.
Hours go by, well into the night, most of the crew is asleep, except the helmsman, Ruby, Oscar and Ol' Bill. Ol' Bill was sitting on a barrel while leaning against one of the masts looking above to the sea of stars, his favorite mug in hand.
Ruby and Oscar walk the deck in conversation about their duty in their journey, about the burden it bare on their shoulders. While this didn't bother Ol' Bill much, but he could tell they needed help.
"Something troubling ya mates?" Bill calls the barrel he sits on.
The two turn to face Ol' Bill to see the aged pirate, sitting on a barrel with a smile on his face and mug in hand.
"Oh, it's nothing," Oscars says nervously, rubbing the nape of his neck.
"I may be old, but I'm not that old yet." O'l Bill says with a chuckle.
"I may be old, but I'm not that old yet." O'l Bill says with a chuckle. "tell Ol' Bill your woes my friends."
"Well if you insist, we, Ruby and I are tasked with a, a mission to stop an evil being named, Salem," Oscar says.
"And what's the problem?" Ol' Bill asks before taking a sip from his mug.
"The weigh, of the mission, is taking its toll on us, we feel like it's out of our league." Oscar continues, looking between Ruby and Bill.
"Well, It is out of your league." Ol' Bill says digging in his ear and flicking whatever he dug out to the sea. "You're just a bunch of kids, probably just out of school."
"We can take care of ourselves. With the help of our friends, we can achieve anything." Ruby says, clenching her fist like an anime protagonist rallying an army for a battle.
"Well, this may not be what you to hear but, you do success when you have a team, but having a group creates liability, teammates can and will be captured, used against you, and people will do the unthinkable to get inside your head." Ol' Bill says, his heading hanging low. "To ensure that those you care about survive, it's best to go alone. Self-sacrifice, real leaders, make the ultimate choice, so loved ones aren't forced to..."
Ruby and Oscar look at each other for a moment as if pledging. After a moment they smile, a raging flame burns in their eyes.
"I vow to get stronger, strong enough to protect my friend when we fight Salem, I stake my life on it," Oscar says while holding up his hand, a will of fire burning within.
"With my speed, and crescent rose we'll help and grow stronger with you!" Ruby Rose says, the same flame burning with her, as she grabs Oscar's hand squeezing hard.
They were so fired up; they went to back to sleep to start training early tomorrow morning.
The next morning, they had just entered Atlas's waters, Anna was at the helm, Liena and the crew loaded canons, Ruby and her team armed and loaded. Oscar walks up to Anna, but it was Ozpin instead of Oscar, though she didn't know.
"Morning Captain," Ozpin says hand on his cane.
"Oh, morning Oscar, ready for a fight?" Anna says excitedly, "I can't wait!"
"Why's that?" Ozpin asks, tilting his head.
"Well, to fight, a strong opponent is what warriors, even pirate's live for," Anna says with a smile, eyes narrowing.
"Oh, what if something happens to your ship and crew?" Ozpin says, concerned, "What good would a wooden ship do against a Grimm that destroyed ships made of steel?"
"I'll show you." Anna laughs.
Grabbing hold of the level that was next to the helm, and giving it a hard tug, the ships hull, began to be shielded by sheets of metal, the masts sails folded in on themselves, and shrink into the ship like an extendable fishing pole. The bottom of the vessel opens up, and four engine emerge, activating as soon as they touch the water. Two huge drivers, followed by two medium-sized ones, boil to sea near the ship, slowly the boat rose out of the water.
"Did you think we were savages boy?!" Anna laughed at out loud as the ship glide over the sea.
Ozpin, the rest of Ruby team, was left speechless. Liena just chuckled, as she orders Cooky, the cabin boy, and Ol' Bill to the stern.
"You three! ready the napalm barrels!" Liena says with a hearty smile on her face.
"What about the canons?! What will lead balls against Grimm?" Ruby calls out.
"I'll show ye! Helmsmen! Take the wheel!" Anna shouts, and she heads on deck.
Pulling out a cannonball from a canon's ammo crate, she shows team Rwby.
"See this?" Anna says holding the ball confidently in her hand.
"It's just a regular cannonball," Weiss says as she places her hands on her hips.
"Look closer," Anna says while wiping a part of the ball to reveal an embedded dust crystal.
"Is that a dust crystal?" Nora asks, scratching her head.
"Aye, a super-pure, refined dust crystal, twice to damage," Anna says gently placing it back into the pile.
Team Rwby broke off and started to help the ship's crew with more chores before the battle begins. Ozpin caught a glimpse of Liena and Anna, giving each other a hug and quick peck before heading to battle stations. Anna returns to the helm and is intercepted by Oscar/Ozpin.
"How much do you care about her, Captain?" Ozpin asks.
"I'd give my life to save her, same goes for my crew," Anna says, dismissing the helmsmen. "I do plan to settle down my friend, can't do this life forever. A house, maybe some kids, and a dog."
"Well, I wish you the best of luck my friend, I know you'll protect your family," Ozpin says, as he pats Anna's back, a discreet glow comes Ozpin's hand and a symbol appears and fades on Anna's back.
Before either could say a word, a pirate calls out from the bow of the ship.
"Kraken sight! Starboard side!"
Everyone rush to the right side of the ship, a dark creature glides across the water, before letting out a call, which sounds like the shriek of the damned. The vibration from the beast causes the sea to rattle. Sires of red, black and white tentacles burst from the water toward the ship.
"Oh no, you don't!" Anna yells out, as she flings the helm to the port side, making the ship nearly tip to the left, but dodging the tentacle in the last second.
Everyone on the deck tumbles, from the rails, but quickly get back to their feet, Ready for a fight.
"Battle stations men!" Anna shouts for the helm, her coat and her tail blowing majestically in the wind, determination running across her face. "Today we kill that beast!"