Hello again, everyone!
Here's the second chapter, which is a little shorter than the first, but follows the first moments Nozomi has on the ship, along with the crew's first impressions of him. There's also an encounter with a strange visitor...
I hope you enjoy it!
The Spirit:
Nozomi had spent less than one minute as a crew member on board the Dutchman, and he already hated it.
After the captain disappeared, the crew had immediately ganged up on him, sizing him up and commenting on everything they could about him. Of course, if he hadn't been so terrified, and if he were closer to the ocean, he'd be able to drive them back with some waterbending, but they caught him at the worst time. It was like some sort of nightmare, but he wasn't waking up, and everything seemed too real to be a dream.
"Ye ain't exactly a strong lad," one of them said, peering at him from an indistinguishable face, save for a single red eye and a twisted mouth. They all smelled awful; like rotten seaweed and sea salt.
The teen gave a cry of fear as one of them, having a crab's claw instead of a hand, grabbed his wrist and examined it. "Yep. Got some muscles, but he's skinny."
"And a sorcerer," one with a shark head said, baring sharp teeth.
"I-I'm not a s-sorcerer," Nozomi stammered, trying to pull his arm free.
"Just wait 'till ye slip up," the crew member with the whip said, his fish head full of razor sharp piranha teeth. "I'm the one who punishes tha' troublemakers!"
The crew member that held the teen's arm suddenly let him go, sending him falling to the deck, landing painfully on his side. The loud laughter of the crew soon filled the air, hitting him like a punch in the gut. He didn't stand up or do anything, but just closed his eyes, nose inches from the wet wood of the deck, wishing it would end.
"AY," a crew member yelled from a few yards away, startling the teen and silencing the rambunctious crew. "I think I recall the captain ordered everyone back to their posts. I suggest ye do so before I give Jimmy more backs ta crack!" There was the sound of scurrying as everyone scattered, going off to do whatever it was they did.
Nozomi remained facing the deck, blinking tears from his eyes. He wished he was anywhere but here; heck, he'd rather be captured by the Fire Nation if it meant he could leave. He faced away from whoever had scared off the rest of the crew; they were probably a monster too, and he just wanted to be alone.
"Stop cryin' an' stand up," the crew member ordered him, still standing nearby. Feeling a sinking feeling, the lad slowly pushed himself up off the deck, looking up to face the crew member.
It was one of the guys he'd noticed after first waking up; he was one of the ones that held his arm as Captain Jones spoke to him. He towered over the teen, his head being that of a shark, but the kind that looked like a 'T.' He had barnacles and other sea coral covered his skin, and something that looked like crab legs coming out of his back. The expression on his face showed that he was the type who didn't like slacking off, and reminded the waterbender of his old waterbending instructor; strict and rule-following.
"Quit gawkin' an' stand up," the shark man ordered, crossing his arms. The teen quickly looked away and stood up, already wary not to cross the monster. "Name's Maccus. I'm the First Mate, an' the one in charge when the Captain's busy. Understand?"
"Yes," the teen said meekly, unable to look the crew member in the eye.
"I'd refill that canteen if I were ye," Maccus suggested. "You're gonna need it as a weapon in case one of them messes wit ye. It will happen, eventually."
"What about drinking wat-"
"Ye don't need ta drink or eat anymore," the shark man interrupted. "No need ta relieve yerself, either. You'll still feel hunger an' stuff, but it's not like you'll find clean water out here!"
"I can… I can bend the water clear of impurities," the waterbender said meekly.
The first mate hesitated a few seconds before continuing. "We can breath underwater, too. This ship can travel underwater, an' it'll do that eventually."
"Really?" Nozomi was used to creating an air bubble around his head whenever he went swimming, but he figured if he couldn't die, then breathing shouldn't be a problem. Though the ship travelling underwater was cool. "That's cool, I guess… What do I do now?" He wasn't sure what happened next; he was stuck here for the next century, and he figured he would need something to do.
"Don't try an' escape. The Kraken'll get ya, and it's the Captain's pet; he can control it wit his mind an' all that. Also, you're cursed now, so even if ye did make it away, ye won't escape the sproutin'."
"The what?"
Maccus tapped a piece of coral on his shoulder. "When ye slowly turn inta this. It'll happen eventually, startin' slow as it takes over your body."
Nozomi staggered back, feeling like he'd been hit on the head, since the deck seemed to spin around him. "I… You guys were human before?! And now-" He looked panicked, staring at his hands in horror, then back at the crew member. "I don't wanna be a monster!"
"Too bad fer ye," the shark man smirked. "Now, since ye need somethin' ta do, start swabbin' the deck. There's a mop an' bucket over there; every inch of this deck should be covered in a layer of water. I'll send someone ta show ye how it's done right." He then stalked off to a trap door, disappearing underneath the ship before the teen could answer.
Nozomi let out a gasp he wasn't aware of holding, feeling the severity of his situation crashing down on him. He was trapped on a ship for the next hundred years, and would slowly transform into a monster like the rest of the crew. Looking back, he probably should have figured that bit out, based on the crew's appearances, but he'd been too preoccupied with not dying to do so. And as he looked over the edge of the ship, he saw that indeed, a large shape was swimming beneath the ship, probably waiting for a meal.
What have I done, he thought, slumping to the deck, staring around the grimy, ghost-like ship around him in horror. It was bigger than any ship he'd ever seen, with large sails catching the wind and propelling it forward. He could see some crew members up among the sails and on the other side of the ship, giving him an occasional look, but he ignored them, hugging his legs as he tried not to think about what would happen to him.
He couldn't die. He didn't need food or water anymore, but he will still fell hunger and thirst. He couldn't escape, despite having a whole ocean of water at his disposal. And eventually, he would become as deformed and monstrous as the rest of the crew. Again, it was like some sort of nightmare, but he wasn't waking up from it.
What have I done, the waterbender thought again, burying his head in his knees, more tears in his eyes. If his family and friends could see him now… he didn't even want to think about it. Now, he missed them more than ever, wishing for a kind word or a friendly face.
Nozomi heard footsteps approaching, and he quickly looked up, wiping his eyes dry on his sleeve. They'd probably mock him for crying, and knew that they would probably view it as weakness; right now, he needed to be strong. However, upon seeing the member that approached him, he couldn't help but shrink back with fear.
The crew member in front of him looked humanoid, having two legs and arms, but was a monster in every other aspect. His face was covered in barnacles and mussels, leaving only a single eye and an overly-large mouth visible. He was dressed like the rest of the crew; long sleeve shirt with a coarse jacket, dark pants and boots, though his clothes were grimy and covered in algae in some parts [there was something the teen didn't recognize growing on his left shoulder]. His hair appeared to be made of seaweed, poking out from under a triangular hat, and he looked down at the teen, his facial expression hard to read.
"Water boy," he said, his voice not friendly and sounding weird, coming from his inhuman mouth. "Git up; we ain't got all day."
Nozomi nodded, standing up as the mussels on the man's [if he was a man] face opened and closed. "I… I take it Maccus sent you?"
The crew member nodded. "Name's Clanker."
"Oh… I'm Nozomi."
"I'm just gonna call ye water boy," he replied, walking towards the back of the ship. "Hurry up!" Hesitating, the teen followed him, hoping they didn't end up with anyone else in the crew.
"Have ye ever been on a ship before," Clanker asked, grabbing a bucket attached to a rope.
"Not one like this," the teen replied honestly. "Ours were more like canoes; though most of us didn't need a boat."
"'Cause of that magic stuff ye do," the crew member asked.
"It's not magic. It's waterbending. I can control the movement and shape of water with my mind."
"I still say it's magic," he replied, tossing the bucket over the side of the ship, the rope preventing it from being swept away. "So I've got th' privelage of havin' ta show ye th' ropes. Great." He said the last part like it was an annoyance, having to show him what to do.
"No need to be so upset," the waterbender said sarcastically.
"I'll toss ye off this ship."
"Into the ocean, which is made of water?"
Clanker froze, ready to pull the bucket back from the sea. He frowned at the teen [at least Nozomi thought it was a frown]. "That mouth'll get ye in trouble aroun' here."
"And I thought my 'magic powers' would already do that." He looked out at the ocean. "At least if I'm trapped somewhere for a century, it's a place with water in abundance."
"Good fer ye," the crew member snapped, shoving the bucket into the teen's hands. "Follow me."
"Look," Nozomi said, hauling the bucket across the deck, "I get that no one likes me or wants me here; I'm not exactly thrilled to be trapped on a ship and slowly becoming a monster. If it's anyone's fault that I'm here, it's Cap-"
The deformed man slapped a slimy hand over the teen's mouth, cutting off his comment. "Don't insult th' Captain," he warned in a low voice. "He's got ears all over this ship, an' he won't be easy on ye 'cause you're a child."
The waterbender pushed the hand away, coughing a little at the taste of sea water and old algae. "Thanks for that," he said, spitting the taste off the side of the ship. So I can't say anything bad about anyone? Even you?"
Clanker seemed to smile at that, the mussels on his face seeming to grin with him. "Now you're learnin'! Keep yer mouth shut an' ye should be fine." He walked away, and the teen followed after, slightly annoyed at not having freedom of speech.
As they walked towards the front of the ship, they passed other crew members, most of which gave the teen dark looks; some hissed stuff at him, and he quickened his pace. They seemed to be working in either the ropes above them [Clanker called it the rigging], or down below the deck. Some, he noticed, seemed more monstrous and inhuman than others, while others still looked relatively human.
"How long until I start… sprouting," he asked tentatively, setting the bucket down on the deck.
"Should be any day now," Clanker said, grabbing a stick with tangled strings on one end. "It'll start small, but grow quickly." He held out the stick to the teen. "Time ta swab th' deck."
"With that," Nozomi asked, not seeing it as a real efficient way to cover a deck with water.
"Ain't ye ever seen a mop before?"
"No."
"How the hell have ye nevah seen a mop before? How do ye clean floors where you're from?"
"Our hoses were made of ice and snow."
The crew member shook his head incredulously. "Great. Stuck with an eskimo." The waterbender wasn't sure what an eskimo was, but he didn't think it was a kind name. "This is a mop. Ye gotta dump this end in the bucket," he explained, dumping the twisty part of the mop in the water, soaking the tendrils in water. "Then ye mop th' deck like so." He started to mop the deck, spreading a thin layer of water on the wooden deck. "It needs ta be swabbed once a day so the planks don't get damaged."
"Oh. Okay." He raised his hands, ready to bend some water over the deck, but a harsh cough from Clanker caused him to lower his arms, accepting the mop. Waterbending was second nature to him, like breathing. He could feel the power and the movement of the water in the bucket, but he started to manually swab the deck. "This doesn't seem like an efficient way to swab a deck."
"I'm sorry," the crew member said sarcastically. "Why didn't we just use our magic powers an' cover it all at once? Looks like we got us a ge-nius here!"
"I get it," the teen muttered irritably, mopping the deck. "Are you gonna help?"
"You're th' new meat on th' ship," he replied, casually leaning against a nearby mast. "I was just told ta show ye what ta do, not help."
"I guess being kind is against the rules too," Nozomi asked.
"Ye catch on quickly."
"I could finish this in a minute or two if I could waterbend."
"My advice, I'd hold off on that magic stuff," Clanker advised him. "Most crew around here ain't exactly th' kind that likes magic. 'Specially given the whole curse an' all that."
"I can't stop waterbending," the teen said. "Not waterbending is the same as not breathing for me, and it's all I have left of my home… I can't just abandon it."
"Yer funeral."
"I thought we couldn't die."
"Ye can still get stabbed through th' chest an' feel every bit of agony as it slowly heals," the crew member said darkly, mussels clicking a little.
The teen froze, his hand unconsciously jumping to the old scar on the side of his chest. "That… sounds painful."
"It is," the crew member agreed, pointing to his forehead, which the teen realized had a small hole in it. "Got shot a week ago; still waitin' on it ta heal."
"Wow…" He managed not to vomit at the sight, and quickly went back to cleaning the deck, pushing the soaked mop across the boards, making sure that each plank was covered with a layer of water. Soon, he fell into the rhythm of mopping, stopping only to refill the bucket [without using waterbending]. The mussel crew member didn't say anything more, but continued to watch from nearby.
"That looks like dull work."
Nozomi looked up in surprise, startled to see a kid standing nearby. He looked younger than the waterbender, and, given the bald head and blue arrow tattoo, was an airbender. He stood by the edge of the ship, smiling at him, seemingly unaffected by the waves around him.
For a few seconds, the teen gaped at him, wondering how the heck he'd gotten there; weren't all the airbenders killed years ago? The only reason he recognized him as an airbender was because of the bald head and arrow. He looked at Clanker, who didn't seem to be aknowledging the airbender's presense. "Wha-"
"I'm Aang," the airbender replied, giving him a small wave. "And you're Nozomi. Did you know that means hope?" Holding his mop, the waterbender frowned and shook his head. "You should never give up hope," he continued, walking over to the teen, about a head shorter than him. "I didn't, when I was alive."
"When you were-" Nozomi gasped as he realized the truth; the airbender wasn't real! It was a ghost!
"More of a spirit," Aang said, still smiling kindly; it could apparently read his thoughts. "Though I don't mind either way. I'm here to-"
"Water boy," someone yelled, and the waterbender turned to find Clanker glaring at him. "I thought I told ye ta swab th' deck, not stand there!"
"I… I was, but then this ghost just-" His excuse died as he turned to find the airbender spirit had vanished.
"Ghosts ain't real," the crew member told him.
"Yet curses are," the teen retorted, slightly annoyed at him for chasing Aang away.
"Watch it, lad," he growled. "I'll get Jimmy Legs, an' he's anxious ta have a crack at ye!"
Nozomi quickly nodded. "Yep… Got it." He quickly started mopping the deck again, and he heard the crew member resume his silent post.
Still mopping, the teen looked around for any sign of the airbender spirit. However, he found nothing; just the spray of sea salt and the glare of the sun above him. Why was it so hot? He missed the cold of the Northern Water Tribe.
It's probably the heat, he thought, quickly pushing aside the thought of home and continuing to swab the deck. You're hallucinating dead airbenders because of the heat… that's all. Though he still couldn't shake the feel that someone else besides Clanker was watching over him as he continued his job, which continued into the late afternoon.
That's chapter two! It's kind of his first impressions of the ship, as well as showing his lack of knowledge of sailing. Yeah, the crew hates him, and he can't escape like he thought he could, but at least he now know what a mop is.
And yes, Aang's dead in this story; please forgive me. Also, why is Aang's spirit visiting Nozomi? Very suspicious... guess you'll have to keep reading to find out what happens next!
Feel free to follow or favorite this story to be updated on new chapters, and feel free to leave a review on this chapter or others if you want. And, as usual, have a safe and happy week/weekend!
Quick PSA: PLEASE DO NOT DO STUPID STUFF AND GO OUTSIDE UNNECESSARILY AND SPREAD GERMS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC! Seriously, you guys are awesome, and while being sick gives you more time to read fanfiction, it's not good for your or your loved ones. Thank you.
-aggiefrogger