"The first thing we should do is buy some new cloths." Rina said. "We stick out in what we're wearing."
The sun was rising and the fog had lifted. The girls were standing on the cobblestone streets of the harbor town.
"I'll pay for whatever we didn't get from Nancy." Noel said. It took less than an hour for them to find clothes and extra weapons. Lucia, Hanon and Caren both had dresses similar to Noel's while Rina, Flare and Maria had more male-oriented clothing, breeches, waistcoats, belts, boots and the like. Flare had also found herself a tri-cornered hat.
"This stuff will be great for Halloween next year." Flare said.
"If we get home for it..." Caren said.
"Oh, come on!" Flare said. "This is exciting! We're in a new time, a new place! We've found your sister. It's an adventure!"
"But how do we know this map wasn't just dropped here by the Time Dragon? How do we know this thing will still work if it is real?"
"We don't." Flare said. "We just have to hope for the best. Trust me, that's crossed my mind as well. But we can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"She's right." Noel said. "Right now, this is the best chance we have."
"I know..." Caren said.
"Come on, the ship is waiting." Rina said.
The ship was a massive brigantine. The two-masted ship was an imposing sight in the dock. It was the largest, and by far the oldest. A colony of barnacles had gathered on the bottom of the hull, and the wood was rotting in places, but overall it looked like it could still sail.
'Welcome aboard!" The old pirate shouted. "Looks as if everyone be ready t' go."
"As ready as we'll ever be." Flare said, leading the girls onto the ship.
"By th' way," The old pirate said. "My name be Captain Morgan."
"Like the rum?" Caren whispered to Rina. Rina shrugged.
It was about an hour before the ship, the Black Dragon, was ready to sail. Noel stood at the back of the ship, watching the town slowly disappear over the horizon. Caren and Rina soon joined her.
"Have I mentioned, yet, that it's nice to have finally found you?" Caren asked.
Noel laughed. "Yes," She said. "Yes you have. But I'll hear it again, just for the sound of your voice."
"How did you end up here, anyway?" Rina asked.
"I don't know…" Noel said. "One night, I was home, in bed, then when I woke up, I was on the beach."
"Sounds like us." Rina said. "Is it possible that we left at the same time?"
"Maybe." Caren said. "But why would only Noel have been sent one year farther back?"
"I don't think we found each other on purpose…" Rina said.
"What do you mean?" Noel asked.
"If the time dragon sent you back, it was to prevent us from finding you. If he sent us back, it may have been to prevent us from stopping him."
"There is another possibility." Flare said. "Let's say we were meant to find you." She looked at Noel. "This map could easily lead to danger, not to mention were on a ship full of men, sailors, and we could be at sea for a long time searching for this stone. And Captain Morgan's life story. It's highly likely that finding Noel was just to provide a sense of false hope. We may not be expected to survive." The girls paled. "But we've come out of tough spots before, and we're two stronger. On top of that, I'm sure you've come out of worse situations. And if need be, we can swim. So I'm sure we'll be fine."
"Kaito's probably worried sick about me…" Luchia said, standing at the front of the ship.
"Everyone is probably worried about us." Hanon replied. "We'll have been missing all day."
Flare had moved to the captain's quarters to examine the map with Captain Morgan. "So, we're here…" Flare said, pointing to a spot close to the island they had just left.
"Aye," Morgan said. "And the treasure you be seekin', accordin' to the map, be 'round here somewhere. With clear skies and fair winds, t'is just a day or two away."
"Yeah…" Flare said, moving to the door. "But somehow I doubt we'll be granted such good fortune." She walked back out onto the deck and rounded up the girls. "Captain Morgan says we should only be a day or two away, weather permitting."
"I hope the weather's permitting, then." Luchia said. "I don't like the way these guys are looking at us."
Flare turned around, and a few of the pirates turned away. "Maybe they're just superstitious…" Flare said. "In these times, it's believed to be bad luck to bring a woman on board. And there are seven of us. It's like breaking a mirror."
But Flare wasn't so sure.
That night, a storm broke. The girls, all sleeping in the captain's quarters, were awoken by a mighty crash of thunder.
"What's going on?" Luchia cried.
"Storm." Flare said. "Big one."
"Ouch!" Hanon cried. She had been rolled under a table, and banged her head as she tried to sit up.
Flare looked out the window next to her. It was pitch black, except for the frequent bolts of lightning, and the glass was drenched. Captain Morgan burst through the door. He looked as if someone had thrown him overboard. "Oh, good." He said. "Yer all alright.
"Speak for yourself." Hanon said, rubbing her head.
"What's with this storm?" Rina asked.
"Just came out o' nowhere." Captain Morgan said. "The crew be working to keep us steady, but it be very difficult in these here winds. And none of us can see anythin'. We'll be lucky if we make it through in one piece."
Flare swore. "Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked.
"Just stay in here, all o' ya. I wouldn't want you flyin' overboard. It's unlikely we'd e'er be able to find ya 'fore ya drowned."
"We're all capable swimmers." Flare said. "But fine."
The storm lasted for hours, but the girls were able to sleep through most of it. When the sun came back out, it was noon, and most of the crew had gone to bed. A bleary eyed Captain Morgan was at the helm.
"Do you want me to take the wheel?" Flare asked.
"I don't see how it could hurt." Morgan said. "I'll see if I can't wake someone up to man the galley, see if there's anythin' left to cook. Just try to keep us in a straight line. I don't want us getting' any more lost than we are."
Flare almost pulled the wheel to the left falling over. "Lost!"
Morgan laughed. "Don't worry." He said. "I've been lost before."
OH. MY. GOD. It's an update Sorry for taking so long, but on top of writer's block, I was sucked into the advent of MineCraft. Then there was also the recent re-release of APB: Reloaded. But here it is. And I've transferred the story to my non-gaming laptop, so I can find places AWAY from the games to work.