Chapter 7: Raging Sea – Part I

"Poney! Poney! Please, wake up!" a voice woke the young Elite Seven girl at night. Poney opened her eyes and saw Helen was looking at her worriedly.

"Wh… What happened." Poney was about to say, the ship suddenly waved badly.

"AHHH…!" Poney almost swung off the bed and Helen held herself by catching one of the bedposts. After the ship stopped waving, Helen told Poney that the ship was caught in a storm!

"What!?" Poney was shocked.

"There is something worse…" Helen said, "The ship's main beam was broken and I'm afraid that we cannot go to Continent of Kuja!"

"NO!" Poney was sad to hear that.

"Now everyone is in the restaurant to listen to the captain's next plan." Helen said to Poney, "We should go!"

Poney nodded, she then jumped off the bed and put her clothes on. Two girls went to the restaurant together.

The restaurant was crowded because all the passengers were gathered here. Everyone was worried about the ship's sailing, at one side of the restaurant, the second officer was trying to persuade some passengers that were making complaints, but the third officer was smoking by sitting on a barrel and looking outside.

A few minutes later, the door of the restaurant opened, captain Rodrigo and the first officer came in. Everyone became quiet after they saw the captain.

"Listen everyone…" captain Rodrigo said, "After carefully discussing and analyze, we decide to change our direction to Catalpas Islands to seek shelter."

"Ohhhhh…" everyone began sighing after heard what the captain said.

"What's wrong with everybody?" Poney asked Helen.

Helen hesitated for a moment, then she said, "Catalpas Islands were discovered by some navigators fifteen years ago, there were dense forests, towering snow mountains, and vast treeless plain on the island. The most attractive scenic spot is a large beautiful circular freshwater lake at the center of the island. Someone said that this lake is bottomless. The unique geographical location and landscape made the weather in Catalpas Islands is spring all the year-round."

"Isn't it wonderful?" Poney felt uncertain.

"However, in recent years, there were quite a lot of tourists and explorers missing in Catalpas Islands. The missing people have vanished, and people could not find their body!" Helen said worriedly, "Also, the number of marine perils that occurred near Catalpas Islands had increased, too! None knows what caused these tragedies."

"Then why do we still go there?" Poney started to be afraid.

"Because people only disappear when they swim in the freshwater lake or fall into the sea area near Catalpas Islands. If we stay on the shore or our ship, then we will be safe." Helen told Poney.

"For this reason, there is a rumor among navigators that some horrible cannibal monsters are living under Catalpas Islands, so Catalpas Islands is also called Cannibal Islands."

"Ah!" Poney was scared after heard the name Cannibal Islands.

"The ship has some problems, and the storm is so serious. Go to Catalpas Islands is our only hope!" Helen said helplessly.

Continent of Kuja

It's a beautiful morning, in an old and historical town near the stream way to the provincial capital, store owners started their businesses early, and people went down the road to enjoy a new day.

In an alley near the river, Najasho, the leader of the Elite Seven was sitting in a corner and groaning…

"Damn! There is none here that can help me to get the insect out of my brain!" Najasho said in pain when he was holding his forehead, "Recently, the symptom decreased. However, the pain still comes out from time to time. I…I must keep going!" Najasho then began his journey again.

However, after a few seconds, Najasho fell to the ground of the alley. Tiredness made him unable to move… After a few minutes, a strange man in a long gown and a top hat came to Najasho from his front.

Back to the ship

The storm was strong, and the lightning flashed out from the black clouds. The waves beat against the body of the ship, and the ship stiff sailing across the storm.

All of the sailors and the captain went on board to salvage the ship, so there are only passengers left in the restaurant. Everyone was sitting close and incestuous because of the damn cold.

"Najasho…Najasho…" Poney was sitting in a corner and huddle herself. She couldn't stop repeating Najasho's name.

"Poney, can you please tell me what happened to your friend? You look so worried!" Helen asked Poney.

Poney answered without any thinking, "Oh, Najasho got his head hurt and lost his memory during a mission. Then a Gravekeeper from Putra injected an insect in his brain and controlled him…"

"Poney!" Helen suddenly interrupted her, "I heard that the tomb of the Putra's first king was robbed recently. The Empire was behind the robbing!" Helen said with a little angry.

"Uh-oh…" Poney then realized she spilled the beans.

"Gravekeepers have strict tribal laws which ordered them to kill people who try to break into the tomb and steal funeral objects. They never hurt anyone else! If someone gets entangled by Gravekeepers, then he must be a tomb raider!" Helen said strictly.

"I'm happy we can be friends, but I hope you can tell me the truth. Were you and your friends working for the Empire?" Helen asked Poney sadly.

"I used to work for the Empire before, but not now." Poney felt there is no need to hide anymore. She then told Helen how she joined the Imperial Assassination Group, how many trainings she received from Gozuki, how many missions she had joined as an assassin, and how she left the Assassination Group. Helen listened carefully and didn't say a word. However, by the time Poney finished speaking, Helen suddenly held Poney's hands and said, "Poney, I don't care what you have done, but we are friends right now, so please, do not work for the Empire! Okay?" Helen begged.

"Errr…" Poney didn't know how to answer.

Since then, a cabin door opened and a sailor came in and shout, "Physician! Someone gets hurt!"

"I'm on my way!" Helen answered and stood up, "Excuse me for a minute." Helen said to Poney before she left.

Poney watched Helen's leaving, she put her head into her knees and thought for a moment. Then she stood up and hurried to the deck.

Hello everyone, sorry to keep you waiting. This chapter was a little tough because it's the first time I write about navigation. The story is long, so I have to separate them into different parts. Further stories will be more thrilling and touching, so don't give up reading!