A Thief's Story
Chapter 4-One for One
A beautiful, colorful flower meadow sat on a rugged, calm cliff of a high, windy mountain, all swaying with the cool breeze against the afternoon sun. Great trees rose above the bed, a metaphoric scene of protectors overlooking the innocents. Butterflies were fluttering around and landing on flowers. The sky was clear and bright. Of all of this, the flowers seem to shine slightly with the sun.
Suddenly, a ruffle was heard as a person stepped into the garden. Confused, this person looked around.
Where… am I?
He treaded slowly through the garden, trying to look for something that will at least tell him something. As he past through what seems like an endless world of flowers and trees, he smelled the flowers and watched as butterflies flutter around him.
Wait. I think… I remember… this place.
He glanced around the place one more time, trying to mentally find the memory that contains the meadow.
I know it's there. He focused on the blurred memory. I just know it. It's… it's… just right there! Argh!
He kept trying to sharpen the memory. After what seems like countless times, he sighed and gave up.
Crap. I know this place. I… just can't put my finger on it.
He closely stares at the flowers and kneels on one knee to touch an unusual flower. It was pure white, with pink stripes and small blue spots. It emitted a strong, but rather gentle sweet scent. He closes his eyes, inhales the scent a bit, and tries to put the image of the flower in his mind. He enjoyed the whole thing, until all of it invoked a past memory that interrupted in his mind.
Wait a minute. He opens his eyes. This flower… these colors… its scent. These are… favorites of…
Before he finished his sentence, he sensed a presence to his left. He gazed in that direction and saw a figure standing on a jutted out cliff. He stands up and tries to make out the image. When he couldn't, he slowly made his way toward the figure. He still couldn't make it out.
Who's this person?
He suddenly stopped as soon as the figure's image cleared. What he made out was a girl, whose deep green armor, unusually, was on the ground next to her. She wore a light green blouse and white skirt. She had slender, sleek arms and legs, which the sun willingly respects. Her shimmering brown hair rode with small breeze that continually blows from where she stands. The feathered coronal she wore looked very smoothly textured against her hair. Her pink boots stood satisfied against her legs. The guy looked at her, frozen by the sight before him. He felt his heart beat quickly and went warm, then unusually hot. It wasn't until a moment later that she noticed he was standing there that she turned around and smiled at him.
"Hello, Hawk." she said in a sweet voice.
"Uh… hey, Lise." Hawk barely had the guts to speak, which is unusual for Hawk since girls are the ones who can hardly speak when they get to talk to him.
"How are you?"
"Uhhh… huh? Oh, uh, I'm fine, Lise."
"That's great to hear."
"Uh, yeah… So… ummm… do you… know…"
"Where we are, right? Do you remember when we traveled up the Path to the Heaven, and we found a meadow, with flowers that made us go to sleep?"
"Uh-huh."
"So?"
"Yeah?"
"Hawk," she giggled, "you sometimes really are dense, are you?"
"Ha ha… What do you mean I'm dense?"
"We're in the meadow on the Path to the Heaven, Hawk."
"Oh, uh, I knew that." he laughed.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. He just wants to hurt himself.
Lise just simply smiled at him.
"Do you want to sit somewhere?"
"Sit? Uh, sit where?"
Lise looked around. She spotted a place.
"How about that tree over there?"
"Which one?"
"Right there." she pointed to a large evergreen tree not far off that seems, strangely, beautiful.
Hawk stared at the tree for a moment, seemingly dazed by it, then turned around to Lise. She held out her elbow, waiting for Hawk. Hawk hesitated, thinking for a moment, then wrapped his arm around hers. They then made their way down to the tree.
This seems… too good to be true. Me and her just… expressing our feeling. Hawk happily thought, then shook the whole thing off. Wait just a sec. I DON'T let a girl handle me. I handle her. I mean, sure, she's hot, I mean pretty. Damnit, it's not about the looks, but the… friendship we bonded over our adventure. But I wouldn't do something like this right now, or maybe never. This is not right. And second, Lise would never be this… expressive. She's just a good, pretty girl that cares about her family and friends. She would never make a move on me even if she had to do it to reclaim Rolante. And most damn importantly, wasn't I out on the ocean? I wasn't on the Path to the Heaven. This is all too… off.
Lise got close to Hawk and put her head against his arm and sighed.
Then again, I might enjoy this. She's all pretty, with the nice body, the shiny hair, a shy attitude, and her sweet voice… NO! She's my friend. We both built a bond on friendship. She fought with me to save the world. I can't get selfish. But… my feelings say differently. He stole a glance from Lise. She must feel the same way, too. But she wants to express to me right now. I… guess it's okay to express them, too, to her.
The two of them got to the tree. They sat and leaned against it. Hawk was a bit tense, but relaxed when Lise snuggled and leaned her head on his shoulder. He closed his eyes and let his head relax on top of hers.
The two sat what seems like forever to Hawk. It didn't matter to him; he wished this whole thing could last forever to him. He saved the world, he was in the most beautiful place he ever seen, and most important of all, he had Lise right next to him. He felt her skin and her warmth. He felt that he could easy express all his feelings for her. He felt that Lise would do the same thing. He felt that he had everything he could want and do. Hawk opened his eyes to look at Lise. She was sleeping soundly on him. He felt like the happiest guy in the world.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a floating figure far off. He turned his head to focus on it, but it was too far away.
What is that? Wait, who is that? He struggled to get a better glimpse at the figure.
All he could see were wings on the figure, sparkling dust falling down from it, and blurred eyes. He watched the figure hover for a while, then the figure closed its eyes, shook its head, and flew off behind a hill.
Faerie? Was that her? Why did she fly off looking like that? Hawk then realized why. Oh. (Sighs) I forgot that she has feelings for me, too. It must be hard for her to be here, to see me with Lise, to accept this, even though she wouldn't admit to me. But why did she shake her head?
"Hmm…? Hawk, what's wrong?" Lise didn't feel his head and woke up.
"Huh? Oh, nothing, Lise. I was just looking at you."
"Oh, okay."
"(Sighs) Do you think other girls would be disappointed that I'm with you?"
"Other girls? Well, yes. You're a special person. You're hard for them to have. But I have you, don't I?"
"(Sighs) Yeah. It can be like this forever, can't it?"
"Yes, Hawk. Yes. But you need to know something important, Hawk."
"Yeah?"
"Wake up."
"What?"
"Wake up."
"Wake up? Grrr… I KNEW this was too good to be true! I knew it! Shit! SHIT! I cannot believe I was that STUPID! ARRGGHH!"
"Wake up!"
Hawk woke up from his dream. He saw a young woman when he opened his eyes.
Well, I have something nice to look at.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm all right."
When he looked around, he saw was that it was late evening, and that he was still in his boat, but it landed onto a beach. He apparently has slept when he was still rowing toward his destination.
"Where am I?" he's was trying to adjust himself.
"On the beach near the Golden Road."
"Golden Road? That means I'm near the Free City Maia, right?"
"Yes."
Hawk got up and out of the boat. When he was on ground, he stretched out and took a deep breath. He then looked at the woman.
"Hold up. You look familiar."
"I do?"
"Yeah. Yeah, you're… you're Bon Soir, aren't you?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"You don't remember me?"
"Well, let me see."
She looked at him for a while, then nodded her head.
"Yes, you're one of the people who brought Gunpowder to my brother, Bon Voyage. It's nice to see you again."
"Same to you. Hey, look, let's get back to the city. I sorta need a place to crash for the day." Hawk put a hand on his neck. "I'm hoping it'll be yours?"
"Um, I'll talk to my brother about it."
The two walked toward the road. Bon Soir looked left and right, making sure that no monster was out.
"I think it's all clear."
They both got on the path and started to head for the city.
"So, what brings you out here, Bon Soir?"
"Well, my reason now looks a bit more normal than yours."
Hawk shrugged.
"You're right. But just go first."
"I just wanted to enjoy a walk on the beach when I saw you there on the boat."
"Oh, okay. I think I snoozed because I was tired from rowing."
"Why did you row all the way to here, first of all?"
"It is a long story, Bon Soir."
"Oh, well, okay, you can tell me some other time."
A rustle was heard in the bush nearby.
"Look out!" Hawk pushed Bon Soir out of the way.
A Battum almost managed to take down Bon Soir had it not been Hawk who pushed her out of the way of its assault. It dived right past Hawk. Hawk then tosses a Dart at it, finishing the Battum off. Bon Soir picked herself up.
"Thanks, Hawk."
"No problem. Just watch your back when goin' into monster territory."
Before long, the two reached the Free City Maia. The city was as busy as ever. Customers were busy buying from stalls in the streets, sailors and workers hauling things, people were talking and gossiping about the day and other things. Houses and buildings loomed toward the sky. The port was busy with cargo ships bringing imports and exporting things, and passenger ships bringing to and taking away people from Free City Maia. Soon it'll be dark and the whole city will sleep along with it. Hawk and Bon Soir made their way across the crowd and to Bon Voyage's house.
"I'm home, brother!" Bon Soir called out to her brother.
"I'm in the back!" Bon Voyage called back out.
Hawk and Bon Soir went to the backdoor, finding Bon Voyage working on one of his cannons.
"I'm, uh, back from relaxing." she crouched to talk to him.
"That's great." he monotonously responded.
"I also have a visitor with us today."
"Visitor? Ow!" his forehead hit something. "Who's our visitor?"
"Hawk, one of the people who brought you Gunpowder on your first cannon."
"Hawk? He's here?" Bon Voyage stood up and glanced around.
"Yeah, right over here." Hawk walked toward him.
"Hawk! Haven't seen you since you returned from Forcena the second time."
"Yeah, well, I had another way of traveling after the cannon."
"Oh? What's that?"
"Flying on a dragon."
"Dragon flying?... Huh. I guess nothing beats getting anywhere around the world than flying. Is that the reason why you don't use the cannon anymore?"
"It's… something else." Hawk shrugged. "So, what are you doing now?"
"Making more cannon. I'm making them for all my relatives and friends all around the world. As I said before, soon everybody will travel this way."
"Um, Hawk needs somewhere to stay for the night. It is okay with you if he stayed here to sleep?" Bon Soir asked.
"Uh, I don't know about that, Bon Soir." he thought for himself for a moment. "I don't think there is a room or even a bed for Hawk to sleep here tonight."
"If you guys can't make room for me, that's okay. I can pay for the inn nearby." Hawk suggested.
"Would you be okay?" Bon Soir asked.
"Am I never? Yes, I'll be okay."
"All right, Hawk. If that's the way you want it." Bon Voyage said.
"I need to go to the Holy City Wendel from there on out. You think your cannon can send me there, Bon Voyage?"
"Not a problem. I'm almost completed on this cannon. But I have to make measurements to the Holy City Wendel, so it might take the whole night in order to get this cannon ready."
"All right. Thanks. So, see ya tomorrow."
"Better be here on time. I'm pretty impatient."
"Yeah, yeah."
Hawk walked through the backdoor, then exited the house. It was nighttime when he came out of the house. The main street was lit and empty, except for some people. The houses were lit up. Hawk walked toward the main street where the inn was located. As he walked down the street, he saw a young couple against each other on a bench, facing a patch of water. Hawk looked at both of them and sighed.
If only. If only.
Hawk found the inn and went inside. He walked up to the counter and asked the reception person if there is a room available.
"Ahh, you're lucky. A two-person bedroom is available right now." he nodded. "Accept?"
"Sure. How much for a night?"
"45 Lucs, sir."
Hawk paid the innkeeper.
"Thank you. Enjoy your stay. It's upstairs on the second floor on the third room to your right."
"Thanks."
Hawk made his way up to the room. The room he paid for is pretty much like every other inn room, with one exception. This room is designed for couples. It had some flowers on a night table nearby, and a window that shines light into the bed. The bed is what got Hawk the most. A single bed that was large enough for two people. And he knows the two people are couples. It was weird for him to sleep in a two-person bed. But what made him really uncomfortable is the fact that he knows who he wants to sleep with.
Man, it's like fate is toying with my personal life. Hawk took a deep breath, shaking the thought out of his mind.
He got himself ready for the night, and got into the bed.
Oh, well. At least I have more leg room.
Even though he was comfortable, he couldn't sleep. Not because he took a long rest on the boat, but because of the couple he saw outside. It bothered him that somebody had somebody in their life.
And I don't. I know who I want to be with… well, maybe not. Damn! I don't want to… be alone when I… kick the bucket. Hawk felt overwhelming sadness and closed his eyes. This can't be how it will go. No, this can't be. No…
Hawk slept, with that feeling in his gut. He didn't want to feel that way. He just wanted it to go away.
Meanwhile,
"Hurry up, ya scurry bags!" Jack yelled out.
The pirate ship is nearing the port of the Free City Maia.
"We're almost at destination, Captain!" a pirate yelled out from above.
Heh heh heh. Perfect. This part of the plan is small, but crucial. If I pull this one off, then it's smooth sailing from there on out. Jack smirked.
In just a few moments, the ship landed a pier.
Pirates, one by one, got off the ship, and took care of guards patrolling. When the port was secured, the pirates assembled around Jack.
"All right, mateys!" he yelled in a low voice. "Pillage all you can! And I don't care what you do to the city or its inhabitants. When you find the hero, DO NOT KILL HIM! Just put up an easy resistance against him and make sure he escapes. If any of you kill him, I will make sure your death is painful and your afterlife an eternity of torment, even though I don't do that and the boss does."
"Uh, yes sir." the group agreed.
"Okay, mates! We'll all attack only when I say so. Now, off with ya!"
The pirates scattered around the city. When Jack was alone, he rubbed his hands.
Smooth and fast.
Back in the inn
Hawk was walking around in a graveyard. All around him were an endless sight of nothing but tombstones, memorials, unburied bones and skeletons, the pitch-black night sky, and the eerie feeling in the air that feels like spirits are probing Hawk from the surrounding fog. Taken back by such a scene, Hawk shook his head.
Where am I? Well, actually, what am I doing in a graveyard? Hawk felt the spirits listening to his every word.
Hawk decided that it's better to move around than standing on one spot. Hawk past many graves of the deceased. Countless names with messages appeared on numerous tombstones and memorials. He was starting to feel gloomy from the scene.
Man, talk about your mass destruction in one endless burial ground. Hawk walked around a statue.
Just then, a chill went up his spine. He saw a condensed mass of fog up ahead.
A giant, freaky fog? Out of the ordinary, but there's nothing better to do but to explore it.
Hawk walked up to the fog, hesitated, then entered it. Then, like a nightmare come true, images of horrible moments flash through his mind. Images of Eagle being killed by Bigieu, the ruins and killings of the town Astoria, the bloody, gorily, and gruesome moments on the Ghost Ship, near-death moments in the Dark Castle, and the most terrifying scene of the Archdemon before him. Hawk watched as these scenes replayed into his mind, spelling many fears inside of him. He was so afraid, he fell down to his knees, and covered his head, trying desperately to dispel the images from his thoughts, but it still flashed through head like mad. He couldn't take it anymore.
"No, no, no, no, NO! NOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he yelled out with all his might, thrusting his upper body toward the air. The fog around him started to dissipate, and the images started to disappear.
He let his body settle back into his kneeling position, breathing hardly. He felt like falling on the ground, letting the past moments leave his mind. He wanted to throw up. He just wanted it to all stop.
Suddenly, the fog disappears quickly in front of Hawk. Hawk, noticing this, looked up and saw particular tombstones in front of him. He then noticed other tombstones appearing around him. He looked at the latest one to reveal itself. When the fog cleared, he was overwhelmed by shocked. It reads,
Eagle, friend of Hawk, lays here, all because Hawk deliberately killed him for his own life.
"No… I didn't… I wouldn't… Bigieu forced him… I didn't kill him…" Hawk was breathing more heavily than ever before.
Another tombstone appeared to his left, bearing the words,
Jessica, once former lover of Hawk, lays here, died from ancient curse of necklace that Hawk refused to remove because of a love for another.
"But… I… didn't… no… I would have told her… she would have accepted it…" Hawk was starting to explain to himself when his heart stopped because of the appearance of more grave markings, each with a horrible inscription on each of it.
Lord Flamekhan, leader of the Naverre ninjas, lays here, was killed by Bigieu because of Hawk's greed to become ruler of the ninjas.
Ben, former friend of Hawk, lays here, was killed by him because Hawk feared for his life.
Bill, former friend of Hawk, lays here, was killed by him because Hawk feared for his life.
Nikita, former cat-man friend of Hawk, lies here, was killed by Bigieu because Hawk didn't care for him for his new friends.
The Priest of Wendel, who lays here, killed by the sickness because Hawk did not have the courage to battle the Archdemon.
Bigieu, sorceress of the Dark Prince, who lays here, was killed mercilessly and cruelly by Hawk, who did not care to let her die a quick, easy death because of the things that she did.
"No… I… didn't… do all this. I… wouldn't. I'm… not like that… No…" Hawk saw another tombstone appear, bearing a carving of the Sword of Mana on it.
Carlie, blessed elf-human who is a friend of Hawk, lies here, because Hawk abandoned her when she was near death and said she was a nuisance because she was a child.
Hawk was starting to feel his feelings being torn up painfully piece by piece as he read the inscription. He couldn't hold it in, letting it spill out into suffering sorrow and tormenting agony.
"No… Carlie… you can't go… I never said that you were a pain in the ass…" Yet another Sword of Mana tombstone loomed out to torture Hawk.
Lise, great princess of the Amazoness who is a friend of Hawk, lies here, abused by Hawk when Lise didn't love him, then left to die when she needed help and him the most.
"Lise… not you, too… I would never leave a friend's side… even if I... have feelings… and… you… don't…" Just when Hawk felt like he couldn't take any more suffering, a particular tombstone stands out from all, this time with a broken Sword of Mana engraved on it. He looked up to read the inscription, and was sure that he was spiritless.
Hawk, one of the great heroes of Mana, lies here, died because of the people that he caused to suffer. No one mourns for him; for he is the fallen angel that caused woe beyond comprehension to the people he cared about. He was the selfish man that even killed helpless innocents. He died a power's fool.
It took Hawk a very long time to start breathing again, trying to grip on to his senses. He couldn't believe the inscription. Yet it was written here.
"I'm… dead… I caused… people I cared to suffer… I cared only… myself… I killed what I don't care… I killed for what I wanted… I… am… evilly selfish…"
There was one more sentence left.
And he died alone.
Hawk gripped all the knowledge of the stones that was around him.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" he screamed out into the sky.
Hawk woke up from his nightmare, sweating a pond and breathing his heart out. He looked around him, making sure that he was not in the graveyard and, more importantly, not dead. It took awhile, but he synched with the world around him and laid down relaxing that it was all a horrible nightmare.
It's all a dream… It's all a dream… get a grip with yourself. You don't do those things to people, okay? All right. (Sighs) Much better.
Hawk let his whole body calm down, feeling good that it's was all over. But, he couldn't sleep. He thought it was the fear of the nightmare and thought might as well stay awake.
Damn! That dream scared the hell out of me. Everybody's, 'cluding me, 6 ft. under. Glad that's over. Goddess, everybody, Carlie, Lise, me, dead. That goodness it was only a nightmare.
Hawk, being unable to sleep, tried to keep his mind off of the nightmare, but it bothered him.
Dead. Dead. Everybody dead. Me, dead. What does it mean? Sometimes dreams are liars, only in image, though, not in meaning. Does it mean that something that will kill everybody is coming? Could it be Spiratin? (Sighs) Shit, there was a gravestone of Jessica and Lise, Jessica's being betrayed, and Lise being abused. I swore on my spirit that I'd never do such an act. But… I… have…feelings… for… How'll Jessica react to that? Should I tell her about my real feelings? She'll be more broken than glass. I'd never forgive myself for hurting her like that. And what about Lise? What if she's too shocked when I tell her…? And more importantly, will she… accepts?… What if she says… no? So much. I… don't know what to do.
Groaning, Hawk looked at through the window and at the night for comfort. He didn't know how long he looked out the window. All he knows is that he had the guilty feeling inside him. He felt sick having this guilt.
Hawk was about to go back to sleep when he thought he saw a pirate running through the alley opposite of the street before him. No, Hawk was sure. He was sure it was a pirate because he shook his head and still saw the pirate, this time climbing the house to his left and stopping midway.
Damn! A pirate. Looks like they aren't happy just running my ass into the ocean. I got to stop them before they can get away.
Hawk jumped out of the bed and got himself ready for combat. He put on his clothes, and gave his daggers a nice shining and looked at his reflection on the blade before sheathing them. He slide up the window and stealthily jumped out. He looked around and managed to move and dodge the pirates with no track of him in the dust. Hiding behind a tree, Hawk knew that it was only a temporary place of concealment, and that he needs an all-seeing place for him to keep track of the pirates without showing a sign of himself. He swiftly looked around his surroundings, and spotted a high, yet darkly covered roof. He took a glance around to secure his movement, then ran toward the tall building. When he reached it, he gathers his senses and with a manipulative act on nature, made the air around him lighter. With this lightness, he easily and quietly got on the roof in one jump. He did all of this in less than 5 seconds.
The hand is always quickly than the eye. Never proven wrong, never shall. I am getting a little slow, though. My normal record is less than 2.5 seconds. Hawk was worried he was getting a little rusty.
Hawk looked around and saw pirates in every hiding place a person could think of. Hiding in alleys, objects, docks, the list goes on.
Looks like a staged attack being put into motion. Huh. Why haven't they done it yet?
Hawk kept watch for what seems like forever until he saw a shadow move from the harbor to the entrance of the city. The figure carried a torch, revealing his face. Hawk's anger rose when he saw that the fire revealed the figure as Jack. Jack glanced around the city, then lifted his torch in the air and yelled,
"Attack!" Like a switch, yells and screams of pirates and Maian flew through the city. Lights flickered in rooms as residents screamed out in terror and panic. Then, clean and clear through the air, metal to metal sounds were heard in the buildings, signifying the sound of swordplay. Hawk, seeing that the coast is clear, silently leaped down from his hiding spot, and rush in the building that he was on. Inside, he heard clashing on upper levels. He dashes up the stairs and sees a man fending off a pirate, but was faltering to the pirate's blow. Hawk, using his energy, pulled off a Poison Bubble that made the pirate go green and fell down to his knees. He weakly looked at his opponent, gasped his last breath, then died with a thud on the floor. The man who fought the pirate bowed to Hawk, and said "Thank you, sir" before running off.
"Uh, you welcome." Hawk caught a window out of his eye, seeing fire form in the buildings nearby. "Damn! They're burning the city! I've got to stop them!"
Hawk noticed a tree outside the window. He reared back, then broke through the window and landed on the tree. When he got off the tree, however, more pirates surrounded him.
"Crap. All right, which one of you wants a try?" Hawk pulled his daggers out, with the pirates drawing their swords out in turn. Blades gleaming with fire reflections on them, the pirates all charged towards Hawk. Hawk took on the first guy and managed to flip him toward two other pirates, knocking all of them unconscious. With four left, Hawk gutted two of them, kicked one in the head, and knocked the last one out with a punch.
"Ah, geez. Blood on my clothes! And I just washed them, too." Nearby, Hawk saw the Bons in trouble. He dashed toward the assailant, and then jumped in the air, and drop kicked on him, knocking him cold.
"You guys all right?"
"We are now, thank you." Bon Soir replied with gracefulness.
"That's good to hear."
"Hawk, I'm afraid that we won't be able to stop these pirates." Bon Voyage said worryingly.
"I know. There're everywhere."
"You can't escape without getting yourself killed."
"Great… Wait, is the cannon ready, though?"
"Yes, but the coordinates will take time to be accurate, however."
"There's no time. We have to go to Wendel, right away!"
"I can't guarantee that I'll get us there on the exact spot, however. Maybe close, but not exact."
"Close is good enough! As long as we don't die, we may be able to escape!"
"Okay, okay! Follow me, then!"
The three ran toward the Bons house. When they reached the entrance, an arrow almost stuck Bon Voyage as he was opening the door. They turned around seeing at least a dozen pirates, one with a bow just empty from the last shot. All of these pirates charged at the three. Hawk quickly tosses Shurikens at all of them, stopping them in their track and making them drop like flies. Hawk and the Bons took a breather for a moment, but more groups of pirates were seen coming towards them. The Bons quickly went through the entrance. Hawk, following the Bons inside, closed the door behind them. But just before the door was completely shut, he saw Jack far off, hidden by the flames. Hawk just saw him smirk, then the door closed. Hawk then suspects something about the attack, but kept to the situation at hand. He locked the door, then barricaded it with anything he could find. When he was satisfied with the blockage, he rushed toward the back, where Bon Voyage was aligning the cannon, and Bon Soir giving him help.
"Hurry up, Bon Voyage! They're coming!" Hawk rushed Bon Voyage.
"Patient, Hawk! I'm trying to position this cannon the best way as I can!" he yelled out.
The front door was starting to buckle, as the pirate found out the door was block. So they brought in a mini ram.
"Come on! That barricade can't last forever!"
"Shut up! I'm going as fast as I can here!"
A minute later, the barricade gave away, and the door opened. Pirates started to pour into the room. Hawk, seeing this, close the back door, locked it, then hold himself against the door for support. The door started to pushed outward, as Hawk effortlessly tried to hold the pirates in.
"Anytime now, Bon Voyage!"
"This is the closest I can get to the destination. You go first, Hawk!"
Bon Voyage opened the cannon door. Hawk dived in the cannon, squishing himself into a ball position. Just then, the back door gave way to a huge opening on top, showing pirates that are determined to break the door down completely.
"I can't go first, Bon Voyage! You two should!" Hawk tried to get out, but was stopped by Bon Voyage.
"You have to go, Hawk!"
"Yes, you're the only one who can save the world." Bon Soir included in.
"What's the point if you guys have to suffer for me?" Hawk said pleadingly.
"We can't do anymore than this. You can, however, do more. You can save the world. It's fate." Bon Soir said with dignity.
"You're the hero. Even heroes make sacrifices. But for the good cause, Hawk!"
"But…" Hawk began, but looked at both of them.
The Bons were willing to give up their lives so that Hawk could survive. They're willing to give themselves up for a future without evilness. Hawk understands this downhearted truth. He nodded, with sadness. Bon Voyage began to close the door.
"Don't look so depressed, Hawk. Hope, not worry, okay?" Bon Soir smiled at him.
"Yeah, we'll be fine. Take care yourself, all right? Remember, it's up to you now." Bon Voyage too smiled as he closes the door.
"Yeah... No long good-byes, huh?" Hawk smiled, too.
The world slows down as Bon Voyage closes the cannon's door. The back door of the house was almost about to break open. Pirates were seen trying to reach out to the three of them. The three of them still smiles as their way of saying good-bye. Hawk looked at the Bons' last moment with him, and with themselves. Hawk felt sadness, but with it, confidence that he will fulfill not only their wish, but everybody else's.
Finally, the door closed. Hawk managed to turn around toward the opening at the end. A few seconds later, he heard the back door break down, pirates yelling their cries of death. Hawk, hoping that the Bons will make through, clenched his fist. Suddenly, the world returned to normal rate of time. At the same time, an ear-popping BOOM! was heard behind him. A nanosecond later, he was flying in the air, in a form of a spinning cannonball. Hawk managed to see the cannon where he was shot at. Pirates were swarming around it, but he couldn't see the Bons.
They're gone… The pirates got them. But don't worry; I'll be back, guys. I'll make sure those guys pay.
Back in the city
Whoosh! A human cannonball flew into the sky, toward the Holy City Wendel. Jack watched Hawk fly through the sky at a tremendous speed. He smiled, amazed by this scene.
"Part 2, done. It wasn't too hard getting him over to the holy city." Jack nodded.
When he reached the Bons' house, he called a pirate for a report.
"Well, Captain. We burned most of the city to rubble. All the residents that lived here either died, got captured, or fled."
"What about the two people that lived here?"
"Dead."
"Hmm. Could've kept them alive. They could have been proven useful to us. But, no, since I'm cruel."
Jack assembled the crew and returned to the ship.
"All right, mates! We shall commence Part 3 right now! We shall proceed to drive the hero toward his other friends! You with me, mates!" Jack announced out loud for the whole crew to hear.
"Aye, aye, Captain!" they responded with great pride.
"Then, set sail for the city of Jad! We're headed for the Holy City Wendel!"
Is it Maian, or Maianese, or something else?