''How does she do that?''
''She's great at that!''
''Is she a sailor?''
''...She's kinda cute.''
Primp has always been a very tight-knit town. A cozy little place where everyone knew everyone and there was a sense of community among everyone.
Needless to say, this made it so that when a new face entered the town, people were sure to notice. The most recent example of this being a girl. A girl with the name Sugar.
Her blonde hair, complimented by a sailor's head, matching jacket and boots, a blue mini-dress and an anchor at the tip of her pigtail, certainly made her stand out of the crowd. Even if it didn't, her constant partner would.
The girl was almost never seen without Oligo, her self-made pirate doll. Even when she wasn't performing a ventriloquist act with it, she still always took it with her.
Many also noted to have seen her with Sig on a constant basis, though that one wasn't something anyone questioned. They already knew it from Sig and Amitie. Seemed like the Primp student gang made another friend from somewhere else.
Sig and Sugar were sitting close to each other in the sand of Primp's local beach, quietly admiring how gorgeous the sea looked at dawn. Sugar's trusty Oligo sitting right next to her.
Neither of them said much, they just sat there, letting the gorgeous sight lull them into a sense of comfort that they did not want to let go off.
Sig did turn his eyes away from the sea towards Sugar. His face was still colored by a small smile as he saw her enchanted looking expression. She did take note that he was looking at her and returned the smile with a gentle giggle.
''I could do this every day,'' The boy said, as he leaned back in a relaxed manner.
''Me too. Finding myself lost by the sight and…thinking about it…'' She mused to herself, aware that Sig would know what she meant.
''The boat that prince promised?'' He asked her, getting a nod as confirmation.
''I can already see it! Me, you and Prince Shellbrick taking trips across the sea! '' The girl had to keep herself from outright squee-ing at the thought.
Sig really did enjoy seeing her like that. Her love for the ocean really was one to rival even the bratty prince in pink.
''It's finally a way to learn how to travel the sea, until I find a means to get my own ship. Urgh, I wish Honey had taught me some stuff, but she never wanted to.'' Sugar held a hand on her forehead in a slightly irritated manner.
''She was probably just worried.'' Sig argued.
''I know. It's a miracle she even let me come to your world with y'all.'' The sailor styled girl hugged her legs, while looking back out to the sea again.
Sig still remembered that. He didn't think much of it at the time, but it was the first time he'd seen anyone willingly move to another world for good. For so long he only knew people from Arle's world through them making it to Primp by accident, this was a new one.
It did make him think. Something he silently wondered if he should have asked it before.
''Are you happy with it?'' Sig asked, much to her visible surprise.
Sugar was visibly not expecting that, though the surprise quickly vanished, as the expression on her face relaxed.
''It felt a bit scary at first, but I don't regret it at all. I'm glad to finally see more of the world, well, another world and what there is and become a pirate, taking down the bad pirates like Honey.'' She paused a bit, taking a small locket out of one of her jacket's pockets.
She gave it a brief look, nostalgic and a bit sentimental, but she quickly was able to paint over any melancholy with an optimistic outlook.
''Besides, with all the world traveling you guys get involved with, it's gonna be fine. It wasn't a goodbye forever. I will see them again. Honey, Billy, Linda, Prince Ivan, all of them.'' The confidence in her voice was raw and pure, spoken like a real adventurer in the making.
''Yeah.'' Sig concurred. He'd been through the world hopping song and dance more than enough times to know she had a point.
''And besides…''
Sugar said nothing for a brief moment. Instead she moved herself just a bit closer to Sig and placed her hand into his red hand, which Sig did not object to in the slightest. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and looked him directly in the eyes.
''I like it here. I already liked you all when you came to my world…..a-and I really like you especially Sig.'' Sugar notably blushed, unsure if Sig noticed. Cute and nice as he may have been, he was also hard to read with some things.
Regardless if he noticed or not, she could feel his grip on her hand tighten as well, in a way that felt affectionate and not the least bit rough.
''He must be good with controlling that strong looking arm, oh my~'' Sugar could feel her face heat up again, just the thought of how gentle this boy was, despite what his odd looking red arm may have made one think.
She just kept gazing at him, enjoying every second of their quiet time together. So much so, that she didn't even take note that someone was approaching.
''Good evening Sig.''
Both were ripped out of their thoughts when they heard a new voice enter the scene, it belonged to a vaguely elderly looking woman, with glasses and purple hair.
''Hey Ms. Accord.'' Sig greeted his teacher back. Standing up to properly face her. Sugar did the same.
''Good evening ma'am.'' The girl politely put her sailor's hat down to show respect.
''Call me Ms. Accord, I am Sig's teacher.'' The woman reached a hand out to Sugar, with an inviting, almost motherly like smile and tone in her voice.
Sugar returned the gesture and shook her hand, suddenly noticing that Accord was holding something or rather someone. The small creature in her arms was quick to respond.
''Meow~ I'm Popoi. We heard about mew around town, Sugar.'' The little cat puppet replied, much to Sugar's surprise on multiple levels.
''You even know my name?''
''Indeed. We heard you are skilled with a wooden puppet. Is that so?'' Ms. Accord seemed genuinely intrigued.
A spark lit up in Sugar's eyes as she heard that. She swiftly put her head back on and turned around to look for Oligo. A brief search as she would soon find out that Sig had already gone to get him for her.
With a wide grin and a gentle thanks, she took the puppet into her own hands, presenting herself in front of her new audience.
''This is Oligo, my little pirate partner.'' She held him proudly up for everyone to see.
''Nyahaha~ What a goofy thing mew got there. Meow'' The cat puppet bluntly said, amused at what he was seeing.
''Who are ye callin' goofy, ye purple bilge rat?'' Oligo's mouth began to move, yet as everyone involved could attest to, Sugar's lips did not move at all.
''What?!'' Popoi screamed out in disbelief.
''Ye heard me right, scallywag. Be happy I be nah in the mood t' keelhaul ye right now.'' The puppet's comeback continued.
''Tail me that again, mew loudmouthed-'' Popoi's own retort was cut short by Accord covering his mouth.
''Oh my. You really put on a convincing act!'' Accord was very impressed for sure, flustering Sugar a little.
Sig put a hand on her shoulder, further affirming for her that she did good.
''Thanks. They say I'm one of the best ventriloquists at home. Second-best actually…stupid Pietro.'' She mumbled the last part quietly to herself, enough so that nobody really took note.
''Do you plan to make some sort of show out of it?'' Accord asked her,
''I could. I'm still a bit unsure, I haven't been in town for too long yet.''
''Maybe she could visit our class. Like Arle has done.''
Everyone looked at Sig, surprised at his sudden input.
''Sig?'' Sugar tilted her head, to emphasize her curiosity.
''You won't be so alone when we all have class.'' He gave his simple, but sound reason, one Sugar found hard to argue with, she really did have no clue what to do, when school for her new friends was starting up again.
''Would that be okay, Ms. Accord?'' She earnestly asked.
''You are welcome to visit any time you want. Just tell Oligo to go easy on Popoi. He is a little sensitive.''
That remark was quickly followed up by Popoi protesting it in a manner wild and meow-filled enough to make everyone involved just giggle at it. Accord gave her goodbyes with her slowly calming down cat companion, leaving the two friends alone once more.
''Hey, thanks for that. It's gonna be nice being with all of you.'' Sugar leaned into him a little, still amazed to see him personally take initiative on that.
''It's cool. I like being with you.'' His simple, but honest way of putting it always did charm her.
With Oligo in one arm, Sugar took her other hand and took Sig by his. Without another word, the two left the beach themselves, making their way home as well.
Deciding to venture into a new world was a big decision to make for sure, but Sugar felt comfortable in her decision.
After all, Primp was a tight-knit little town and she was very happy to carver out her own place in it….
Notes: I did a lot of research into the Compile series JUMP HERO, which has some notable connections to Puyo Puyo and gotta say, I absolutely love Sugar, she is a new favorite of mine and I wanted to do something with her as soon as I could.
Also added the Sig ship element, partially because it's me and basically my trademark, but also because his connections to Salde do make for some good venues for stories, for a character whose biggest dream does involve the ocean.
