A Welcome Reset
The sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky. Birds fluttered overhead, singing a joyful tune. The light breeze provided comfort while a peaceful sway from the lapping waves eased away stress, a gentle caress coaxing the young captain back into the world of the living.
Shaad awoke gradually, finding comfort in the pillow that was Raine's supple thighs.
"We should probably stop meeting like this."
Shaad's voice was soft, his eyes closed as he settled into that space between sleep and awake.
"Yet you seem quite comfortable between my legs," Raine playfully responded, the usual innuendo partially subdued in her tone. "What happened back there," she asked after a short pause.
Shaad opened his eyes. Staring up, he saw nothing. His mind somewhere else before his eyes again drifted closed. Resigning himself, Shaad muttered his reply. "I did something stupid.
The boat was quiet. Raine waited patiently, letting Shaad continue at his own pace. Vega, just a few feet away, seemed in a different world as he stared silently out ahead of them.
"In trying to avoid complication, I've only made everything worse."
"What are you talking about?"
Shaad's hands brushed through his hair, face scrunched in pensive deliberation before heaving a sigh and speaking in frustrated acceptance.
"I'm just trying to get home. . . Instead, I follow a lie too deep to make a clean escape. In the process, I put you two in harm's way. . . My dad taught me most of what I know about strategy, tactics, and warfare, yet I continuously get shown as a child at the adults' table playing checkers on a chess board."
"Sounds like your dad wasn't a very good teacher," Raine interjected, trying to squeeze some levity into Shaad's dire remembrance.
Shaad didn't even crack a smile. "I've misjudged every step of the way," he continued. "It almost cost me dearly; I could've been killed by a combination of people I should've eliminated. Now, I'm in this sorry state, and I don't know how long it'll be till my energy recovers."
"Don't worry," Raine soothingly offered, brushing a hand through Shaad's short cut hair.
"This is my fault, my responsibility. I've -"
"No," Raine affirmed, covering Shaad's mouth to get his attention. "I mean don't worry. About any of it. When we first met, you were always so calm. Marines. Jail. Or, disgruntled crew. You didn't let anything get to you."
"Except you," Shaad cracked, gently moving Raine's hand and planting a soft kiss on the delicate feature before flashing a warm smile to his navigator.
Raine returned his smile. "You're too reactive, always looking back to gauge your next move. Stop worrying, you do you. The past is the past, and the present is already here. The only thing that matters is what you do next."
"I was selfish. I can't -"
"What? Stop treating us like a children? Vega and I can both take care of ourselves. We have to if you keep returning half dead and unconscious. Trust in us. Better yet, you recruited us. Trust in yourself, and we'll face what comes next together.
Shaad hadn't initially understood what it meant to be a crew. But what Raine said resonated. He had his goals, and they each had their reasons. He wasn't having children. No. To complete his objective, everyone he enlisted would have to be able to carry their own weight and wipe their own ass. Raine was right; if he didn't believe they were capable of at least that much, they wouldn't make it to the grand line, much less the New World.
"No regrets," Shaad mumbled. Raine repeated the words, but with more conviction, as Shaad sat up. "You ever heard of this place called Gold Peak," he asked, a little more resolute in his conviction.
"Yeah."
"Can you get us there?"
"Of course," Raine assured, her confidence contagious as Shaad stood up and gazed at the horizon from beside Vega.
"The bartender said the royal family's ship sailed from there, right? We're gonna use those tickets you got off what's his face to catch a ride."
"I thought we were through chasing ghosts?"
"We are. This is for us. We still need a way into the Grand Line as well as money for a ship. You and Vega don't mind collecting donations, right?" Raine smiled at Shaad's question, the quickest route to Gold Peak already being determined in her mind.
The trip was peaceful. With Shaad's new old attitude, he and Raine again interacted with a playful attraction that often seemed more than it was. For whatever reason, the two just got along better when they were both a bit selfish as opposed to Shaad trying to plan ahead and protect everyone. And, with Raine enjoying the calm skies and smooth sailing, Shaad slept. For almost three full days, the only sound heard from the captain was the occasional light snoring. Raine navigated. Vega steered. And, they all proceeded along smoothly.
On the fourth day, Shaad's breath was smothered. "I'm awake," the young captain spoke in annoyed fashion as he removed Raine's hands from his mouth and nostrils.
"If you're awake, then why haven't you gotten up."
"Because I like it here," Shaad answered, rolling his head in her lap and nuzzling into Raine's taut tummy with a smile.
"Oh, really?"
It didn't take long for Shaad's view to change as Raine held his head in place, curling over him to completely cut off air and circulation. In seconds, Shaad was flailing and tapping out, greedily gulping in air when Raine loosened her hold, mock disappointment showing in her pursed, pouty lips.
"Hmm; I thought you liked it down there? You're in such great position, I'm sure you can do better. What do you say?"
Raine's tone was sultry and teasing, her voice silk to his ears. But, he could see the toying glint in her seductive stare. Shaad really thought himself a glutton for punishment knowingly inviting this side of her. He did all he could, scrambling away - and almost over the edge - as he steadied his breathing.
"No; I say no," Shaad declared desperately. "Now, why'd you wake me?"
Raine's pout deepened as she crossed her arms like a child, the intentional squeeze of her substantial bust anything but child-like. "Look at this."
Shaad stared dubiously at the proffered newspaper. Reading tediously, his eyes went wide. "What!?"
"Good; I was afraid you couldn't read for a moment."
Shaad's surprise overrode his annoyance, exclaiming, "Impel Down was broken into again on the same day the 'Titan' departed the Marines? What's going on in the world?"
"Huh? No, not that. This," Raine stressed, pointing to an indistinct blurb in the corner of the front page. The accompanying picture of five robed individuals standing confidently was awe-inspiring, but the content seemed secondary or even tertiary to the shifts in the spheres of power occurring.
"So what," Shaad asked tersely, his patience, fresh off being rudely awakened and suffocated, wearing thin.
"That's an announcement for the largest fighting tournament this side of the New World, the Twin Dragons Prize Fight Tournament."
Shaad replied with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. Raine got the message and elaborated.
"It's organized by the Dragon Clan - I'm sure even you've heard of them - and open to anyone with a bounty less than 100 million beli. The prize is an uninspired 100 Mil, but when they open up the qualifications like this year, it's a sign they got something special in store."
"Open, how?" Shaad's question was more than a little distrustful, and the nefarious smirk she wore did little to change his perception.
"They raised the max bar to 250; no big deal," Raine answered with a dismissive wave.
"I'm sure those are the words of someone who won't be fighting?"
"None of us will. You just need to enter while I solicit donations and other good will gifts. That's your plan for us anyway, isn't it?"
Mhmm. Shaad could only manage a dubious scoff. He had indeed heard of the Dragon Clan. Rumored to be of noble birth in the same vain of Germa 66, they had reigned over all of West Blue for decades, rising to global prominence in the wake of the second Pirate King on the backs of the collective military prowess and martial might of their leaders. That stranglehold was lost, though, a few years back when the massive land holding they claimed as their home was all but destroyed, leaving only the spot where they engineered their final stand - the current spot of the Colosseum the tournament was held at.
Shaad was no fan of the idea, but she was right. He wanted to take from nobles; she wanted to take from warrior nobles. The only difference was her idea eliminated the middle men of who might kill them.
"Gold Peak first," Shaad demanded. "And, we need to keep this quiet. This last outing was far too eventful."
"And whose fault is that," Raine prodded, barely containing her joyous anticipation. "The path from Gold Peak crosses La Isla del Drago. Bunch of pompous, rich asshats can't resist watching the less fortunate pummel one another for their amusement."
"Let me get this straight. We catch a ride from Gold Peak to the tournament with the nobles. I'm assuming we collect from all parties at that juncture. And, get away before any are the wiser with the benefit of a shitload of other suspects. . . I like it. So, how much time till we reach Gold Peak?"
"Less with that," Raine answered, looking over Shaad's shoulder.
It was then, the young captain finally realized their small boat was completely still. "Wha- How-," he stammered out in surprise. "Aah, forget it. Don't tell me that thing's actually thinking of trying to eat us," Shaad complained, looking into one of the piranha-faced creature's large eyes as it treaded water just a few feet ahead.
"Okay." The statement, joined by an unconcerned shrug, did nothing to ease Shaad's concerns, instead justifying them by Raine's tone.
Shaad merely sighed as he again looked over his shoulder. Well somebody take care of it. I'm not fighting a sea king from this little thing."
"It's just a big fish, a really big fish."
"And, this is still just a small boat. Ve- Really," was all he could manage looking at the masked fighter performing one handed vertical push-ups without a care. "Well then, guess that leaves you."
"Useless," Raine muttered as she dashed across the boat in the blink of an eye and whapped the animal over the head just as it opened its mouth to feed.
Angered, the piranha charged forward, but was sent flying overhead by an all too timely rising wave, revealing its eel-like body. The boat was severely rocked as the big fish crashed back into the water and spun around, its tail whipping madly behind it. Raine awaited its fury with open arms and baton extended.
Bumps and bruises covering its surface, the monstrous piranha pathetically sulked in the water with one eye swollen. Raine stood akimbo across from it, the rope she'd just tied around the animal's neck in her grasp.
"Now, are you ready to do as I say?"
Tugging on the rope to command compliance, Raine sat down. Shaad made to rest his head in her lap, but was pushed aside. "My legs are still tired from holding up yo big head earlier. You can massage 'em, but I'm done."
"But, this wood's too hard for a good nap. How am I s'posed to regain my strength?"
"You can sleep in the fish's mouth for all I care."
"I just might," Shaad replied defiantly, more for the sake of argument than an actual intention.
With a lead animal pulling the small, single sail boat, the crew arrived, under a sunlit sky with clouds dotting the horizon, in little over a week. The giant fish waded in shallow waters, allowing Vega to pull the boat onto the immaculate, golden coast of a hidden cove a few clicks away from the main island. Raine hopped out with an annoyed expression and walked around to the subdued piranha.
Kicking it hard in the side, she impatiently yelled for Shaad, tapping her foot in time with the passing seconds. After a couple minutes, the fish first looked uncomfortable then outright in pain before settling back down to merely uncomfortable. It appeared as if something inside its mouth were trying to force an escape for a few fleeting seconds before the piranha relented and opened its large maw, rows of sharp teeth lining the dark, slimy, and nasty entranceway.
From those depths, a putrid stench poured forth followed by a lean figure, ambling forward as if rising from the ashes. Drip, drop. Emerging from the darkness, the figure stood poised, covered in a slimy, sticky goop. As it drew closer, a familiar set of heterochromatic eyes stared at Raine, a striking fire burning within.
"Ugh; you smell like shit," Raine commented, her face scrunched as she took a couple steps back and away from the smell.
Shaad's expression broke into a scowl. "Damn fish swallowed me. Any longer, and I would've cut my way out of its stomach."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going to find a bath house and a spa. You need to find a great lake and a volcano."
Even through the thick, viscous layer of intestinal fluid and fish spit, the shifting scowl and raised eyebrow were clear. "Burn those clothes. Burn it all. Then wash that putrid smell off."
"Yes, mother," Shaad answered with an irritated roll of his eyes. "But, first-"
In a flash, Shaad's blades were drawn and the fish, mouth still held open, had been sliced open along the inside. Shaad stood there, a serious aura about him, with one sword held up, keeping the monster's drooping maw held open for a moment longer before stepping out, a layer of fresh blood on top of the weeks old stomach contents.
Raine just shook her head. "My poor toys. Always getting broken."
"My poor clothes," Shaad countered, the curt statement easily containing more emotion than Raine's monotone.
Gold Peak was aptly named. From the shimmering sand of the coast to the sparkling city high on a mountain in the center, the entire island had a glow that shone brightly under the midday sun. With lush forests abound and a beautiful coastline, the glorious, golden city in all its immaculate splendor truly lived up to its name. Shaad, for all his experiences, had never seen a city, no, a country so obscenely opulent with its rich materials and designs and shimmering skyscrapers.
Around the city, there was a relaxed clamoring and jovial chatter. Refined, well-hewn architecture was highlighted by a stunning mix of glitz and class that none of them had ever been witness to. The people, all elegant and dressed to impress, fluttered to and fro with nary a care in the world. And, why should they care? Defense was like nothing any of the three had ever encountered. Vega sported a few fresh scars from tangling with the regular patrols and only due to Raine's special brand of navigation were they able to avoid the underwater surveillance, though it surely caused quite the inordinate gap in radar.
'Aah. Oh wow. This. . . This is awesome. No wonder Raine's always so insistent about this type of thing,' Shaad reveled, head lolled back and mouth agape in a state of ecstasy. 'We're definitely getting one of these for the new ship.' Reclining against the smooth stone edge, Shaad allowed himself to drift further into the steamy water. Moving through the water to sit under the small, man-made waterfall stream, Shaad let the warm water cascade over his bare muscles. Closing his eyes, he felt increasingly refreshed and replenished, the extravagantly lavish bath, and wide assortment of various perfumes at hand, doing wonders for both his smell as well as his depleted energy.
Sliding deeper into the water until only his nose and eyes remained visible, Shaad tuned out the world around him. The soft wrap of the rising steam. The melodious patter of falling water. The hypnotic effect of the gentle jet stream circulating underneath. And, the immersive bubbles building up. All of it coalesced into a single entity, seemingly washed away with his stress as he floated in a dream.
Undisturbed by the door opening across the room, Shaad's peaceful, serene dream continued unabated. It was the shot of cool air that had him shooting to his feet. Stark naked and dripping wet, Shaad's eyes met those of his visitor, a slender man of decent physique and approximately 30 years, shaken by nerves and scrambling for the sabre on his hip.
"Ya mind handin' me a towel," Shaad asked in an unconcerned, unmotivated tone.
Shaad cocked his head, an expectant eyebrow raised at the man's silence. That eyebrow only rose higher once he finally did get a response after a lengthy delay.
Quiet, scoundrel. . . I, Lord Arturio Braddock IV, renowned master swordsman, shall hereby mete out your just desserts, criminal."
"Ok~ay," Shaad half questioned while sizing up the apparent noble. "Well, thanks for bringing me some clothes."
Confusion barely had time to settle in before Shaad casually stepped out of the pool, his back to the flustered young lord. Spinning on his heels, Shaad again eyed the man with a quizzical expression even when faced with a solid fighting stance and a sword pointed towards him. Maybe, it was the massive bath still between them. Or, maybe. . .
"You're much too stiff. You'll only hurt yourself if you don't loosen up," Shaad advised. "Come on, relax," Shaad again coaxed when the man merely stared at him, an expression somewhere between anger and befuddlement.
"Qui-"
Just as the noble had decided how to feel about the awkward exchange, a gust flew by him. The man's eyes stayed glued on Shaad even as his body hadn't moved and the pirate now stood behind him. In that moment, a new feeling overcame the noble. Head twisted 180, his body fell, dead before his mind could even register what happened.