I was running along the seashore. The golden sand reflecting the sunlight softly crunching under my toes. The sea lapping at my feet. When I heard the call of pirates, I was filled with so much excitement, Pirates, PIRATES real-life pirates. I saw them pulled up at the dock, and they were everything I imagined and more.
. . .
I reached out to move the straw hat, and I wanted to look at his face. I never really seen a real-life pirate before, and I wanted to get a good look. The look at the dock was only brief.
A hand closing around my wrist, shadowed eyes looking up at me. I was suddenly apprehensive—no need to be, though, because he broke into a laugh and a smile. " Don't touch the hat, little one. It is my most important treasure."
. . .
It was a relatively normal day, and I really wanted to be allowed to go with shanks this time. I wanted to sail the seas, to go on an adventure. I was practically bouncing in my seat. " Please, shanks, can I come with you. Please, Please, Please." Shanks looked at me and laughed " No, No, absolutely not. "
I groan " Why? "
" Because anchor, a little girly like you, wouldn't be able to survive it. Second, you are an anchor. You can't swim. No matter how much I try to teach you." The last part he says almost mumbled to himself.
. . .
I am really about to stab myself to prove my bravery, and it looks like shanks realize it too because he is suddenly beside me, and the knife is out of my hand. " Shanks" I yell.
He looks like his soul almost left his body.
. . .
Bandits, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them.
" Why didn't you stand up for yourself shanks, you could have beaten him up. Why are you laughing? " I yell
" Anchor, there was no need to. Sometimes you need to laugh it off. To calm down. To think before you take actions because actions have a consequence. As long as they aren't hurting your treasure, friends or your loved ones, you don't need to." He says in a calm tone.
Stupid pirate, I think reaching for something else to eat because I was finished with my stack of food. I look at this wired apple that had sliver lighting all over it on a base of white, and is that a feather design on it.
Who cares anyway. Down the hatch in one bite. My kami, that tasted awful, like when I ate that entire cart of rotten fruit, but the fruit was dumped in the sewage area of the river.
Suddenly there was pain, a huge need to stretch. So I got off the stool and did lighting went everywhere, and I looked to see I had four wings behind me.
Everything went black.
When I woke up again, it was to a stressed shank looking over me with fizzy hair. Very fizzy hair. " Well, anchor looks like your a thunderbird."
. . .
How about you try flying? Shanks said a little later on. I look at shanks and try flapping my wings, shocking everyone. " Anchor, try focusing on keeping your lighting away from your wings."
I try again and manage to somehow shot into the sky right through the party bar roof. Then I am falling, and I hear, " anchor try flapping your wings again. I flap my wings again, and I am jerking around crazily in the air. Spinning left then right. Finally, I crash right outside the party bar.
" Well, anchor, " I hear from shanks that was pulling his hair out, "we are not doing that again."
. . .
The seawater was choking me, trying to squeeze the life out of me. It is official bandits are the thing I hate most in the world. I kept trying to get to the surface, but I couldn't. I saw the shadow, the I felt arms wrap around me, and I was head out of the water. " Shanks " I yelled, looking up at my redheaded saviour.
He had a fighting look on his face.
Then I saw the monstrous head of the sea king ready to wrap its jaws around us, just missing us. Shanks lifted one arm and yelled back. The sea king then made a steady retreat away. I look at shanks and yell, " Your arm, shanks your arm. "
He smiles at me and says, " It is going to be ok anchor. "
. . .
" I am going to be king of the pirate's shanks, " I yell as he was getting ready to leave. " I am going to be the freest of them all. "
" Really now anchor, well then you will need this, return it to me when we meet at the top. " He plops his straw hat on my head. I smile the biggest smile and yell, " I AM GOING TO BE KING OF THE PIRATES."
. . .
I wake up and shoot up. Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings. I feel the heavyweight of the collar and the unresponsiveness in my wings. I can't breathe. I try to suck in a breath, but the collar is too tight, too tight.
" hey, their kid, calm down " I look up between my lashes, and Tachi was there. He slowly helped with my breathing until it was relatively steady.
" How long, " I whispered, my voice raspy from unuse. Tachi looked unsure for a moment before he said, " I am not sure but awhile, maybe a good six hours. You don't really tell time here like that. Thiers no windows or clocks anywhere."
" Sorry," I say. He looks at me with a worried look but says nothing.
I slowly sit up and start taking in my surroundings, steal, steal everywhere almost pitch black you could barely see anything the only source of light a small electric lamp that was right next to me that Tachi brought over.
I slowly crawl to Tachi's side and lean on him. It has been forever since I felt a nice touch, and I really needed a hug. He looked at me, shocked for a moment, then slowly closed his arms around and hoisted me into his lap. I laid my head on his chest.
I feel the carriage start to slow down, and I try burrowing into the warmth his body provides.
He tenses, and I know he feels it too. He whispers urgently to me, " Whatever happens to you, make sure not to make a sound and don't cry. Please just don't cry. " He says the last part almost begging.
I tense and nod the carriage comes to a stop.
