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Chapter 6:
Serge…hey, Serge!
"Come on, mate! Get up already! This is serious!"
Serge stirred and opened his eyes. Kid was sitting right next to him shaking his arm.
"Finally!" exclaimed Kid, "You've been out cold for a while now. We have to find a way out of here,"
"What happened?" mumbled Serge.
"Those flippin' pirates stuck us with tranquilizers in the middle of our battle," growled Kid.
"Are you alright, Serge?" asked Guile, "You don't look so well,"
"I'll be okay," said Serge.
"Be on your guard," Guile looked around, "There's something going on outside,"
"What do you mean?" asked Serge.
"It's gotten quiet all of a sudden," Leena looked worried, "I don't know what's up,"
Just then, a bloodcurdling scream could be heard from outside. Serge could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
The door opened, and one of the pirates stumbled in.
"Yer free now!" he panted, "If you can help us stop those…things…!"
"What things!" demanded Kid, "What the bloody hell's going on!"
"Ghosts!" wheezed the pirate before passing out.
"Did he say ghosts!" Leena grabbed Serge's arm.
"Pull yerself together, Leena!" Kid snapped at the other girl, "We'll take care of this, and then keep going. We can't let anything stop us. If you were gonna be so bloody afraid, ya shoulda stayed in Termina!"
"Look out!" screamed Leena.
Two phantoms entered the room and charged at Kid. Serge swung his swallow at one of them, taking it down in one blow. The creature disappeared. Glenn impaled the other one on his sword.
"Right…" Kid gulped as she realized what had just happened, "Thanks, you two,"
"Let's go," said Glenn.
"Just in time, mateys!" shouted a pirate as the youths reached the deck, "There's too many of 'em to fight alone!"
"Argh!" grunted Fargo as he battled another phantom, "You call yerselves sea-dogs? Show some spirit!"
"Photon beam!" Leena cried out as a phantom approached her. The fiend was immediately vaporized by the light.
"Not bad, lass!" Fargo shouted. He then was knocked down by one of the phantoms. "Get yer stinking ghostly hands OFF ME!" he kicked the advancing phantom back, "Serge, right? Go take the wheel!"
"Uh…aye-aye, Captain!" Serge gave a half-hearted salute and ran to the wheel.
Fargo finished off the last phantom. "Damn…me arm…!" he grunted as he clutched his left arm.
"Are you all right?" asked Guile.
"Don't worry about me…" Fargo pointed ahead with his good arm, "You just keep yer heads high! They're comin'!"
Serge looked behind him to see five phantoms merge together to become one giant creature.
"I think I'm gonna be sick…" groaned one of the pirates.
"Leena!" shouted Serge, "Take the wheel! I'm gonna go fight that thing!"
"But…!" Leena began.
"It's easy!" Serge insisted, "Please- I've got a good feeling about this!"
"O-okay!" Leena ran over to the wheel.
Serge ran down to where the monster was.
I'd been practicing this move for months, thought Serge, now's probably the best time for me to really try it out…
He took a deep breath and raised his swallow.
"LUMINAIRE!" he shouted.
"He's coming to…" Serge could hear Leena's voice.
Serge awoke to find himself on the floor of the deck. Everyone was standing over him.
"All right, give the lad some air!" Fargo waved everyone back. He knelt down next to Serge. "Y'all right, matey? I think ya bit off a bit more than ya could chew with that there technique o' yers. Can't say I'm not impressed, though. Ya got guts, boy!"
All Serge could think about was that this was the second time in one day that he'd fainted.
"Looks like the sea's back to normal," the captain observed, "You said you were headin' to Fort Dragonia to go after Viper and his men. Let me give ya some advice: Mount Pyre is a fiery hell. Without any protection against fire, ya won't stand a chance. Knowing the dragoons, they probably have some kinda technology that keeps 'em safe. But, I'm sure ya don't have the same means as a guy like Viper. Ya might wanna go see the Water Dragon…if he's even alive. It's worth a shot,"
"You mean…you're letting us go?" Leena eyed the captain suspiciously.
"Aye," Fargo nodded, "I trust ya kids. Personally, I thought ya were a bit too cocky. Had to take ya down a notch,"
"Whatever," Kid glared at him, "Serge, we're outta here now, right?"
Serge stood up. "Yeah," he said, "Let's go,"
The group stopped at Termina first, where they ran into Korcha, who had been waiting for them.
"Figured you'd show up here at some point," he grinned at them, "So I hitched a ride over here with these,"
He pointed at two small motors lying next to him. "I'm guessing your arms got pretty damn tired rowing that boat?"
"You've no idea," Serge said.
"Amateurs…" Korcha rolled his eyes, "Well, I figured that these might help. I brought two in case anything happens to the first one,"
"Perfect!" Glenn examined the engines, "So we can equip them on both your boat and mine,"
"Who are you?" Korcha scowled.
"Glenn of the Acacia Dragoons," Glenn nodded at Korcha.
"You're teaming up with the enemy?" Korcha looked at Serge.
"He's against the rest of the Dragoons' actions just as much as we are," Leena snapped.
Korcha stared dumbly at Leena for a moment, before a knowing grin spread across his face.
"Oh, okay," he said simply.
"Thanks a lot for lending these to us," Serge smiled, "You were right before- these really will help us out,"
"Hey, no problem," Korcha clapped a hand on Serge's back, "You just be careful with yourselves from now on. Remember- you're carrying my wife-to-be!"
Kid muttered something under her breath. Leena patted her arm reassuringly.
"Aren't you gonna come with us?" Serge asked.
Korcha shook his head. "Sorry, Serge. But I've still got an extra boat, and my business is my first priority. Besides- what would I use to fight? My fishing rod?"
"Well, thanks for everything, then," Serge waved as Korcha boarded his boat.
"Stop by if ya ever need anything!" Korcha called out to them as he rowed off.
Guile scratched his head. "Does anyone even know how to attach those things?"
"Not me," Leena shook her head.
"I hitched rides on boats," Kid shrugged, "I never operated one,"
"I think I can take care of it," Glenn went over to the motors and picked one of them up. "Serge, can you take the other one?"
"Oh, this'll be fun!" Leena rubbed her hands together with glee.
She had suggested that while Serge and Glenn took care of the boats, the rest of the group go shopping for supplies.
"Great…" Kid rolled her eyes, "You're one of those 'shopaholics', ain't ya?"
"So what if I am?" Leena giggled, "It's fun! Haven't you ever gone crazy like that before?"
"I never had the money to do that," Kid reminded her.
"Well, now that you do, you should try to enjoy it a little," Leena suggested, "Come on- let's get some extra clothes!"
"Perhaps I should take care of getting any extra elements and leave you two to get the extra clothes," Guile said, "If you're planning to accessorize everyone, just don't get me any gaudy jewelry. It's not exactly becoming on me,"
He left.
"…Did he just make a joke?" Leena wondered.
"Dunno, but that goes double for me," Kid stated firmly.
They entered one of the shops.
"Ooh!" Leena ran over to the men's shoe section, "I wonder what Glenn's size is? His boots seem so ratty…"
"Glenn, eh?" Kid smirked and cross her arms, "An' all this time, I thought it was Serge you were hot for,"
Leena turned beet-red. "I…don't know what you're talking about,"
"I guess that time alone with him on his boat made ya have a change of heart, eh?" Kid winked.
"I-I just think that everyone needs to have better…" Leena began.
"Aw, I'm only teasing ya," Kid waved her hand, "Go on and buy him the boots if ya think he needs 'em,"
"Well, what about you?" Leena looked up and down at Kid, "Honestly…you dress like…well…!"
"A hooker?" Kid smirked, "I know, but it's strictly for…athletic purposes, so to speak. The life of a thief is a fast-paced one. Long pants or a skirt would only slow me down,"
"Don't you worry that some guy might get the wrong idea?" Leena asked.
"Plenty o' blokes got the wrong idea," Kid's expression hardened, "The first one…never lived to see his idea come true,"
Leena stared at Kid. "You…killed him?"
Kid looked Leena in the eye. "If you were armed with a weapon, and some bloke was tryin' to force himself on ya, you'd do the same thing. It was either him, or…"
"I understand," Leena said quickly.
Kid lowered her head. "Sorry…" she said sheepishly, "I…didn't mean to spoil yer good mood. Boots for Glenn, you said? How about I go ask him what his size is?"
"No, I've got a good eye for sizes," Leena grinned, "I do a lot of shopping around the holidays. Having a large family will do that for you,"
"I thought it was just you, your mum, your brother, and grandmother?" Kid cocked her head to one side curiously.
"Oh, my mother remarried three years ago," Leena replied, "Plus, I was talking about my extended family: aunts, uncles, cousins…we're all pretty tight. Unfortunately, that usually means I get stuck having to baby-sit a lot. Oh! Look at this belt! It would look so great on Guile…!"
Kid sat down on the bench and relaxed while Leena continued to shop and talk. She was pleasantly surprised. She had immediately expected to dislike Leena upon meeting her. Leena was her total opposite in temperament, background, and just about everything else. Yet, despite things like her slight ineptitude in battle, Kid couldn't help but find all those differences to be a refreshing change of pace. Maybe you're actually making some new friends here…she thought to herself…Ah, don't be so hasty. You don't know if she'll still be there in the end. But for now…I think I'll enjoy myself.
"Thank you again for the new boots and sheath," said Glenn as he and Leena rode his newly-motorized boat alongside Korcha's.
"It's all about being prepared, right?" Leena beamed at him.
"Is that why you also bought us swimsuits?" Glenn smirked at the blue bathing suit Leena wore underneath her vest and new skirt, "It's not a theme park you know,"
Leena shrugged. "I've never been to Water Dragon Isle. In fact, this is the farthest from home I'll have ever traveled,"
"Is that so?" Glenn looked intrigued, "Your family must be worried,"
"I'm sure they are," Leena admitted, "But like I told my mom, I'm in it for the long haul,"
"Does Serge's well-being really mean that much to you?" Glenn asked.
"Well, his and everyone else here as well," said Leena, "I…think I might have idolized the Serge that died. My grandmother said to me once that people tend to do that when someone passes away prematurely,"
"You're a very introspective person," Glenn commented, "I haven't met many girls like you,"
Leena blushed.
"Look at the ocean," Glenn observed, "It's nice and calm out here. Serge!"
"Yeah?" Serge called out over the motors.
"Let's stop here for a bit!" Glenn suggested as he shut off his motor.
Serge shut his off as well. "What for?" he asked.
"Look around…" Glenn gestured around him, "No land in sight, and the sea is calm. Let's just enjoy this for a while!"
"This is the life, eh?" Kid leaned back and stretched, "Cool breeze, sunny day, and fast travel. No more rowing for us!"
"Not that you ever rowed in the first place…" Serge pointed out.
"What's that?" Kid asked loudly as she revved the motor a couple times, "Can't hear ya, mate!"
Serge glared at her for a moment. Then suddenly, he got a diabolical look on his face.
"Say, Kid," he said innocently, "You're a good swimmer, right?"
"I do all right," Kid nodded.
"So I won't be putting you in any danger if I do this?" Serge shoved Kid out of the boat.
Guile merely raised an eyebrow at the spectacle.
Kid surfaced a second later, sputtering. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THAT FOR!" she screamed at Serge.
"You're not drowning, are you?" Serge smirked at her as she treaded water.
"No, but…!"
"Fine then," Serge kicked off his shoes, and continued to strip down to his Bermuda shorts. "Now I'll join you,"
He jumped out of the boat, landing with a huge splash.
"Yes, don't mind me at all," Guile said dryly as he wiped the water from his face, "Ah, well. I suppose I'll join them too,"
He began taking off his jacket.
"So there!" Leena smirked at Glenn an hour later as they approached the shores of Water Dragon Isle.
"There what?" Glenn inquired.
"Buying myself a bathing suit did serve a purpose after all!" she grinned as she combed her still-wet hair. "Frankly, you surprised me,"
"How so?"
"At first, you struck me as this completely serious guy," Leena wrung out her hair one last time. "But then you spontaneously stop in the middle of the ocean so we can all go swimming,"
"It's probably why I'll never be a Deva like my father and brother were," said Glenn, "I've always been that way. Just being a dragoon has always been enough for me. I get the adventure without the extra obligations. I'm still young, after all,"
"How old are you?" asked Leena.
"Twenty," Glenn replied, "You?"
"Sixteen," Leena answered him, "I understand what you mean. You know, you're a rather introspective person yourself,"
Glenn smiled as he got ready to dock.
"What the hell is this?" Kid stared at the sight in front of her, "Are you sure we're on Water Dragon Isle?"
The place was completely dry. A few fairies flew around here and there, but aside from that, the place was dead.
"I'm afraid you are," said a fairy as he stopped in front of them, "This place has been like this for years,"
"And the Water Dragon?" Leena asked.
"We've not seen him for an even longer time," the fairy shook his head, "I'm sorry we can't help you with whatever you needed from him,"
"Shit!" Kid cursed, "We traveled all that way here…and me clothes are still wet…!"
She glared at Serge.
"You didn't seem to be complaining after," Serge pointed out.
"Regardless," Guile changed the subject, "Maybe Kid's amulet will help us out again?"
"Yeah…" Serge looked thoughtful, "Yeah! That just might work! All right, everyone- next stop, Opassa Beach!"