Chapter 6

The Journey

A week after the celebration, Pell, Tyri, and Arias were ready to leave. At dawn, the prisoners hauled a dinghy out of the boat room and gathered on the deck watching Pell, Tyri, and Arias as they got ready to leave. Vilks walked up to Tyri and Arias.

"You're really going to leave Tyri?" he asked sadly.

"Yes Vilks." Tyri answered smiling sadly. "I've been on this boat long enough, old friend. It's time for me to leave, but don't worry, we'll meet again. We came from the same land, don't forget that."

Vilks smiled and hugged Tyri and Arias with tears in his eyes. Tyri felt tears well up in her eyes too, and she hugged her old friend, and she finally let go. Vilks handed her backpack.

"Here… you have some medicine and some food that will last for quite awhile. Please be careful."

Tyri wiped tears from her eyes and hugged Vilks once more.

"Thank you for everything Vilks… Take care of yourself, too." She said shakily.

They hugged one more time, and then Pell turned into his full Zoan form, grabbed the boat with his talons, and lifted it into the water. Tyri picked up Arias and jumped into the boat. They waved as the boat moved farther away. As the boat got smaller and smaller, Vilks wiped tears from his eyes.

"Good luck my young sovereigns… you two are just like your father… I hope to see you again in our kingdom."

Tyri watched Carnassier's ship as it became further and further away until she couldn't see it anymore. Pell placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey… are you okay Tyri?" he asked softly.

Tyri nodded and smiled. She was free! Pell had helped her escape Carnassier's clutches, and she was no longer a prisoner! She took a deep breath, smelling the fresh air. She hadn't smelled air like this for years. She turned to Pell, her eyes shining.

"This is going to be incredible, Pell! I can't wait to get to Alubarna!"

Pell smiled back at Tyri and slipped his arm around her. He was happy to be off the boat with his friends, and he couldn't wait to get to Alubarna. He was planning to take Arias and Tyri to the palace. There, he would ask Nefeltari Cobra if they could stay and train to guard the palace. Just thinking about it boosted his confidence. Arias stared out at the sea.

"Pell? What's Alabasta like?" he asked.

"Hot." Pell chuckled. "In fact, it's very hot there. It's a summer island, so you guys might not be used to the heat. It's like a desert there, but there are many unique species of plants and animals there. You guys will love it, and we'll get there soon. I promise."

The group spent three days on the boat, and all that time, Tyri taught Pell many things. She taught Pell to fish as they floated along, Tyri catching many fish, while Pell got a few, and fell of the boat once. Tyri and Arias had fished him out laughing and helped dry him off. Pell had laughed as well after a few minutes.

"I almost got that fish Tyri! Did you push me off?" he asked.

"Hahahahaha! No Pell! Honest!" Tyri said as she tried to stop laughing.

The second day, Pell let Arias ride on him as he circled above the boat. Arias squealed as Pell dived and rose in the sky. Pell had missed the feeling of the air blowing through his wings, and he glided through the clouds, enjoying the feeling. Tyri smiled as Pell flew with her sibling in the sky. As they traveled that day, Pell offered to give Tyri a ride many times, but she refused, insisting she was afraid of heights. Finally, Pell let Arias down and flew on his own. Pell flew higher in the sky and dove downward toward Tyri. She screamed as he grabbed her in his talons and took her up into the sky. The wind blew through her ears as Pell gracefully soared through the sky, and she cringed, not daring to look.

"Come on Tyri, open your eyes! It's okay!" Pell said laughing.

Tyri opened her eyes a little and gasped. Wispy clouds surrounded her, and other birds flew around her, chirping gaily. She covered her mouth in astonishment.

"Oh my-" she said choking on her words.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Pell asked.

Tyri said nothing as Pell soared through the air, marveling at the view. Pell flew upward and into the cloudy barrier. The sun's rays beat down upon them, warming their backs as the misty clouds blew into their faces, cooling them down. Pell dove and rose in the sky, occasionally doing a loop, until he finally descended and set Tyri down in the boat and turned back into his human form.

"Are you afraid of heights anymore?" Pell asked slyly.

"Well…. not as much now…" Tyri murmured. "Thank you…"

That evening, the trio had ricecakes, bread, and a turkey leg each. Tyri pulled her blanket out and handed to Arias.

"Here, it's going to be cold tonight, and you need to rest." She said softly.

Arias took the blanket from Tyri, wrapped himself in it, and lay down to sleep. Tyri kissed her brother's forehead softly.

"Good night Arias. Sweet dreams." Tyri whispered.

"Good night Tyri. You have good dreams…. Too…" Arias replied fuzzily; his eyelids drooped, and he was sleeping soundly in a few minutes.

Tyri turned and walked past Pell to sit near the edge of the dinghy and watched the stars. Pell took in a deep breath and came over to Tyri.

"Ummm… like you said…. It's going to be cold tonight…." He said softly.

"Yeah, but I'll be fine…" Tyri replied.

"That's what you said the day you and I met, and you almost froze to death." Pell chuckled.

"And I would have, too, if it wasn't for you…" Tyri murmured leaning against her friend.

"Would you like me to save you again?"

"Nah… I think I'll follow your guidance before I get myself hurt…"

Tyri lay down beside Pell as he pulled her close to his muscular body. Pell chuckled softly and stroked Tyri's hair gently as she breathed softly. As they watched the stars, a comet flashed across the sky.

"Make a wish Pell." Tyri whispered.

To her surprise, Pell hugged Tyri gently, leaned towards her, and kissed her cheek softly.

"I don't have to, snow flower. My wish has already come true." He replied.

"Pell…"

"I'm serious Tyri… My wish has come true…. I met you… You're sweet, kind, gentle, beautiful, smart, tough, funny, and you're everything a guy wants…. You're everything I've always wanted…. And I like you… not just as a friend…"

Tyri looked into Pell's soft eyes, which were full affection for her. Tyri blushed and leaned against the falcon, her head warm and soft against his neck. Pell stroked Tyri gently and held her closer.

"Pell… do you really…?" Tyri asked.

"Yes I do… And there's something I need to give you…" Pell said softly.

"What's that?" Tyri asked.

"The same thing you gave me the day you and I beat Carnassier, Sinn, and Blitz…." Pell said softly.

Before Tyri could speak, Pell leaned forward was about to kiss his friend, but there was a rustle nearby. Pell jumped and turned. Arias had turned around in his sleep. Tyri looked at Arias, and then looked at Pell, and he looked back at her. There was silence between them, until Tyri cleared her throat and spoke.

"*Ahem*…. I uh, think we should be getting to sleep now…" She said shakily.

"Right… well….. Good night Tyri… Sleep well…" Pell replied.

"Good night Pell… You sleep well too…"

With that, Tyri snuggled close to Pell's warm body and drifted off into a deep slumber. Pell watched the rise and fall of Tyri's stomach for a while, and held her closer, determined to keep his friend warm through the cold evening. Finally, he turned into his Zoan hybrid form and fluffed up his feathers. Tyri purred in her sleep, and Pell smiled. She was warm. He would stay like that for the whole night.

Tyri woke up the next morning when Pell coughed violently, his whole body shaking.

"P-Pell?" Tyri moaned.

Pell coughed again, and weakly opened his eyes.

"T-Tyri? Are you okay?" Pell asked weakly.

"Of course I am… But I can't exactly say the same for you… You've got a terribly high fever… stay down, okay?"

"N-no Tyri… I'm… *Cough*… F-fine…"

"No you're not Pell! You're incredibly hot, you're coughing badly, and you seem to be having trouble breathing!"

"Okay! *Cough*… You got me… You were getting cold last night so… *Cough*… I stayed in my hybrid form so you could stay warm, though it was really… *Cough*… c-cold…"

"Pell… What am I going to do with you?"

"Nothing I'm guessing…."

Pell instantly regretted saying that, for Tyri sharply cuffed him in the ear the next moment. Pell rubbed his ear tenderly as Tyri rummaged through her backpack for herbs, amusement gleaming in her eyes.

"Stupid feather brain…." She muttered pulling out a few small leaves and a few berries out of her back pack. "Here, eat these…"

Pell took the small leaves in his hand and swallowed them in a mere gulp.

"Don't eat them that fast!" Tyri hissed. "Eat them slowly…"

Pell snorted, but ate the small berries slowly. Tyri smiled at him as he finished the small handful of berries.

"You should get some rest now." Tyri purred soaking a small towel and placing it on his forehead. "When you wake up, you'll need to eat, okay?"

"Okay, Tyri." Pell said smiling at his friend, and he drifted off to sleep.

Pell opened his eyes to see Tyri holding Arias on her lap, rocking him back and forth. She was talking to him softly, telling him a story.

"That birthday was probably the best one yet. It was the day I actually got a dragon's egg!" Tyri exclaimed.

"But I thought dragons didn't exist, Tyri…" Arias protested.

"That's what I thought, but on my 10th birthday, my mentor, Arsith, came to my house with what looked like a bluish white stone the size of an ostrich's egg, maybe bigger. He said it was a dragon's egg, and to keep it safe for the next month or so, and it would hatch."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but it was painstaking work. I had to cover it in layers of blankets and I took it in my backpack everywhere I went. I nearly broke it at least a hundred times!"

"So what happened when it hatched?"

"I felt the little dragon slam into its shell from inside my backpack, and I immediately opened it to see a small, white, scaly snout poking out of the egg. It had sharp canine teeth that poked out of its mouth, and as it fought its way out, I saw crisp, dark blue eyes, and they stared at me, confused, yet delighted. I climbed out of its shell, and I saw its strong white body and legs, and long blue wings. It turned out to be a Diamondback Wyvern, one of the rarest dragons known to mankind. They're very elusive, and their scales are supposed to be a remedy for just about every illness. I named my dragon Ryu-Rong."

"Cool… do you think I'll ever find a dragon egg?"

"Maybe…. But you'll have to look hard…"

"I will…"

"I know you will, but for now, you'll have to sleep. I think we'll be hitting land at dawn tomorrow morning."

"Okay Tyri….. Good night Tyri….."

As Arias fell asleep leaning against Tyri, Pell sat up from under the blanket. Tyri looked up and sighed.

"That's great… I thought you weren't going to wake up…" She purred softly.

Pell smiled and got up.

"I'm feeling much better Tyri. Those herbs worked again." He said softly, putting his arms around the young lady.

Tyri blushed as Pell pulled her close.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"Your welcome."

"Ummm….. We uh, should let Arias sleep…. He can use the blanket tonight…. I don't need it anymore."

"Pell…. you'll need it….."

"I promise I'll be fine…"

"Oh….. Okay….."

That night, Tyri and Pell snuggled close together, talking about Alubarna, teasing each other, and joking around with each other. They woke up the next morning when they felt the boat crash against land. Tyri blinked fuzzily, and looked up to see the sandy land of Alabasta. Her eyes widened, and she shook Pell excitedly. Pell looked up fuzzily, and his eyes widened.

"H-home…." He uttered in amazement. "I'm….home…."

For a minute, Pell just stood there in amazement, looking at his homeland he'd not seen for a week and a half. Tyri put a hand on his shoulder smiling.

"You're home Pell." She purred softly.

Pell, who had been transfixed at the sight of his homeland, now looked at Tyri.

"I'm taking you home with me, Tyri." He murmured.

"I'm glad to be with you…" She purred.

When Arias woke up, they began their journey to Alubarna. Tyri ran below as Pell carried Arias on his back as he flew above. They made incredible progress, for Tyri ran at speeds over 70 miles per hour, and Pell actually had to try to keep up. Within an hour, they were halfway there. As Tyri ran, a scent like poison filled her nose, and a large black pincer broke through the sand, and a large scorpion followed, its pincers snapping aggressively. Tyri's hackles raised and she hissed angrily. Pell looked down in horror as the scorpion's large stinger lashed out at his friend. To his surprise, Tyri disappeared, and he spotted her quickly climbing the scorpion's tail. She unsheathed her claws and with one quick motion, sliced the stinger clean off the scorpion's tail. The scorpion snapped its pincers violently and dove into the sand. Tyri walked over to the stinger and cut it open. Pell landed behind her and let Arias off his back. Arias ran up to his sister and hugged her tightly.

"Sis! Are you okay? I thought you would get hurt!" Arias said worriedly.

"I'm fine Arias…." Tyri purred gently.

Tyri took a flask from her backpack and cut the stinger open further.

"Let's see…. Nope….. Oh there it is…." Tyri muttered.

To Pell's surprise, Tyri pulled a purple saclike object from the stinger. She cut it open and let the thick purple ooze from the stinger drip into the flask.

"Is that…. The scorpion's venom?" Pell asked.

"Indeed…. It's good for many medicines, and very hard to acquire…. I think with this much I'll be able to make quite a few types of medicine…."

"That's incredible…."

"Thanks."

Soon, Tyri, Pell, and Arias continued their journey to Alubarna, and within a few hours, Pell spotted a dot in the distance.

"There it is guys! I see it!" Pell yelled.

"Really?" Tyri roared. "That's Alubarna?"

"Yes! We'll be there soon!"

Pell was right, and in 20 minutes, they were at the entrance of the great capital city of Alabasta. Tyri and Arias scanned the city in amazement. Many buildings loomed left and right. The city was incredible! However, at the end of the city was the palace. It was the biggest building in the city.

"Wow… that place is bigger than the castle at home…" Tyri murmured in amazement.

"I know….. Now come on you two. Time to meet the king." Pell said, and with that, Tyri, Arias, and Pell headed toward the palace.

Chaka was sitting under the cherry blossom tree in the garden. He knew this was Pell's favorite place in the garden, and the falcon's scent lingered by the tree.

"How could I have been such a fool to Pell?" Chaka thought. "My temper has gotten me into so much trouble lately…. I yelled at Pell…. defeated by 3 pirates… and I've probably lost Pell forever…. It's all my fault!"

Instinctively, he looked up into the sky as if to see Pell descend in front of him, laughing and smiling, and he actually felt a tear escape his eye. Finally, he got up to leave the garden, when Igaram burst through the door.

"Chaka! It's amazing! Incredible!" He yelled excitedly.

"What is it Igaram? I'm not really in the mood right now….." Chaka said quietly.

"Pell! It's Pell! He's home, and he's brought some people along with him" Igaram replied, his voice full of happiness.

"Where are they now?" Chaka demanded.

"They're with his majesty and Princess Vivi" Igaram answered. "Let's go meet them. The king wants to see us too, anyway."

Chaka and Igaram arrived to see the king sitting patiently in his throne with Vivi standing by his side.

"Ah, Chaka, Igaram! Perfect timing…" King Cobra said nodding to them.

The door opened, and Pell came in, followed by a young lady who was leading a little boy by the hand. Chaka and Igaram's mouths stretched into wide smiles and they rushed forward to greet Pell and engulfed him in a massive group hug, while Pell returned the greeting.

"It's good to see you again Pell! We thought those pirates had killed you!" Chaka said.

When Chaka and Igaram released Pell from their hug, Pell straightened up and smiled.

"I'm glad to be back, too. I brought some new recruits as well…" Pell said, and he moved aside so the girl and the little boy could come forward. "These are my friends from the pirate's ship. They helped me escape. The girl's name is Tyri, and the boy's name is Arias."

Tyri politely bowed her head, as did Arias, and Pell took them up to King Cobra. The king looked down at Tyri and Arias, his eyes suspicious.

"Pell? Who are these people?" he asked.

Tyri walked further toward King Cobra and met his fierce eyes.

"I'm Tyri. I came from Drum Kingdom. I was captured by pirates with my brother Arias. We met Pell on Carnassier's ship, and we overthrew him and his pirates, and escaped together. My brother and I wish to train alongside Pell and live in the palace….. If that's what you want and…..if that's what he wants…. In return, we promise our loyalty to you and to protect you." Tyri said calmly.

Cobra looked at Tyri thoughtfully. This girl had courage, and was not afraid of him, not even flinching when he'd looked at her sharply. She could help a lot in the palace. Chaka, however, was suspicious. He thought, on the other hand, that this girl could be an assassin, a thief, or maybe even a pirate. Finally, he came up to the king and whispered his opinion, and this is what changed the king's mind. Cobra shook his head.

"No…. I cannot let you stay here." He said.

"Why?" Tyri asked in dismay.

"I'm sorry, but I can't you or your brother. You might be assassins for all I know. Please….. Leave at once…."

Tyri looked at the king sadly, and heard a sound behind her. Tyri turned to see Arias beginning to sniffle, and tears began to stream down his face. Tyri bent down and hugged him warmly.

"No, no, no… don't cry…. It's okay….. It's okay…." Tyri whispered stroking her brother's head.

Tyri turned into her full Zoan form, wrapped her tail around Arias, lifted him onto her back, and began to walk toward the door.

"No! Tyri wait!" Pell cried out desperately.

Tyri turned her head slowly, and sadness pierced Pell's heart. Those big, green, panther eyes were wide with sadness and anger.

"You… said you were going to take care of us…. And we could start a new life here…. I actually thought you and I were….. Meant to….. Be…." Tyri began quietly, and her voice suddenly became a menacing snarl. "I can't believe you Pell… You're nothing…. But a filthy liar!"

With that, Tyri raced out of the palace, leaving Pell standing there, heartbroken.