Lian's Peculiar Adventure: Starlight Paladins

Chapter 5

Way Down The Rapid River, Deadly it Roams

"Hurry up, we're going to be late!" Sarah yelled as the four ran out of the inn and towards the docks.

"If it wasn't for Lian stuffing her fat face and falling asleep, we wouldn't have this problem!" Zhin responded.

"You take that back!" Lian growled, "I am not fat faced!"

"Be quiet, you two…" Lex growled as he looked at the time on the nearby clock tower, "5 minutes until noon…."

"We can make it in time." Zhin said, "I know a shortcut." He pressed left.

"Wait, where are you-" Lex grumbled and followed behind him.

"This better be good." Lian continued, only to find that the short cut Zhin spoke of was a steep hill.

The four slid down once they set foot on it, with Lex, Lian, and Sarah doing so chaotically.

"WAK!" Sarah grunted as she tumbled down.

"Hurry up!" Zhin said as he slid down perfectly and finally set foot on flat ground.
"Come on!" he helped Lex up, then Lian, then Sarah.

"Could you not have chosen a straighter path?" Lex grumbled as he dusted off his tunic.

Lian sighed in pain and shifted her tiara side to side, "What a pain…" she murmured and held her elbow.

"Hurry, we'll miss it." Zhin pointed to the docks, which were now a walk away.

The four scurried to make it, bumping into people and cargo as they did.

"All aboard!" a man yelled as he stood by a plank leading to a steamboat, "Last call!"

"Wait!" Lian yelled and they reached the man in time.
"Here!" she said and nearly shoved her ticket into his face.

"Ok ok!" the sailor shook his head and grabbed all their tickets, "get on, we're fixin to leave!"

The four walked up to the steamboat, which gave a toot of its horn as the sailor started to retracted the plank.

"I hope this is the right ship." Lian said and peered over the side, then saw the name.
THE BLUE MOON.
"Good." She nodded and walked to meet up with her allies.

0000000

It was now the afternoon, and the steamboat chugged along the river.
The Paladins were lounging around on the deck watching the sailors do their tasks.

Lian and Lex were playing a game of chess together while Sarah was drinking some tea.

"I'm going to take a bath." Zhin told the three.

"Why?" asked Lian as she moved her bishop.

"If you didn't notice, I was splattered with sewer water." Zhin said and smelled his clothing.

"Sorry about that." Sarah rubbed the back of her head.

Zhin shrugged his shoulders and walked into the ship's quarters.

"Ahoy there, passenger!" a man walked up to him.
He was a tall man with a black beard and purple captain's clothing, "What are ye looking fer on me fine ship?" he asked him.

"I am looking for the bathroom to shower." Zhin told him, "You must be the captain."

"That be right." The captain responded, "And the bathroom are just over yonder by the octopus statues. You do need one." He chuckled, "Ye smell like the bottom of a chum barrel." He said and walked out.

Zhin grumbled and walked to the bathroom, where he saw a copper bathtub and a showerhead inside.
"Good." He said and prepared himself.

The minutes passed by as Zhin showered himself and came out refreshed. He then took his time to place on his new robes and clean his old ones in the bathtub.
Zhin hummed as he wrung his clothes and looked at one of the cabinets nearby, "It is best to put them up, lest someone steals them." He murmured.

The man walked up to the cabinet and opened, only to have a piercing yell ring his ears.

There was an elf woman inside the cabinet.

"What!?" Zhin exclaimed, "What are you doing here!? Are you spying on me!?" he yelled and grabbed her by the arm.

"Get away from me!" the elf woman cried out and pulled out a knife.

Zhin growled and called out Thousand Hands to hit it out of her hands.

"Ah!" The elf woman gasped and fell to the ground.
"Please! You can't tell anyone I'm in here!" she said, "I'm a-"

"A stowaway…" a gruff voice sounded from behind.
It was the captain.

"Huh?" Zhin turned.

"Pardon me fer intruding on yer privacy." The captain said and fixed his coat, "But I've heard noises during the night on me ship. And I suspect it was you, you large rat!" he pointed at the elf woman.

Zhin observed as the captain grabbed hold of the elf woman and picked her up.

"You'll pay dearly fer that, ye scoundrel!" the captain shook her and took her outside.

Zhin followed them all the way back to the deck, where the captain showed her off to the crew.

"What's going on?" Lian walked up to Zhin, "Who is that?"

"A stowaway, apparently." Zhin answered.

"This is not good." Lex told them as he walked up to them with Sarah, "I specifically requested this boat because it was a cargo ship."

"And?" Lian asked.

"Cargo ships do not carry anyone else but the crew." Lex responded, "I chose it so we could avoid a tragedy like what happened on the train. But that means if that woman is on board on the specific boat I selected…"

"She could be one of the assassins sent by my sister!" Sarah yelled.

"I'll have ye know stowaways are serious criminals on me ship!" the captain called out and shook the elf woman, "Ye best be ready for the punishment coming straight fer ye!"

"Hold on, captain." Lex walked up to him, "Captain…"

"I be Captain Judd Roberts." The captain responded, "I've sailed every waterway in and around the realm for decades, and stowaway always got the same treatment from me."

"Please, let me go!" the elf woman called out, "I have to make it to Havarna! I have to!"

"Let me handle this." Lex said and grabbed the woman from the captain's grasp.
"What is your name, woman?" he asked.

"I am Valeria." The elf responded, "I am on my way to meet my friends and family…"

"Well, the Law dictates that you are punished with a fine." Lex told her, "That is the punishment for stowaways. Pay 4 times the amount the trip costed!"

"Ye and I disagree, lawman." Captain Roberts spoke as he grabbed Valeria back, "And this be my ship, so my laws go! Throw her overboard!" he called over some of his sailors.

Lex growled as he saw some sailors grab hold of the elf.

"I can't! The Rebellion must succeed!" Valeria cried out as she was led to the side of the ship.

However, a scaly arm appeared from the ship's side and grabbed one of the sailor's legs, pulling him down and overboard.

"What!?" Captain Judd Roberts yelled as the same thing happened to the other sailor that was holding Valeria.

Valeria stood gasping as a being appeared behind her.

It was a scaly dragon like creature with gills and spikes over its back. It appeared to have an eyepatch over its right eye and had a red bandanna wrapped on top of its head. It was also covered in scaly armor that covered its groin and its chest.

"She is a stand user!" Sarah pointed at the being behind the elf.

"A what!? What are ye pointing at!?" Captain Roberts looked at them, "What got me men!?"

"Stand back, Captain." Zhin said as he made Thousand Hands appear.

However, the stand dove back into the depths of the river.

"Take out the user and you will stop the stand!"

"The what?" Valeria stammered as she saw the four walking towards her.
"What are you talking about!?"

"Enough words!" Lian said and made Power Khan charge, but the stand appeared and blocked its blow from hitting Valeria.
"What?" she gasped and blocked a blow from its spiny arm.

Valeria flinched and covered her eyes.

Power Khan blocked the punches from the stand and bobbed and weaved any kicks, but before it could attack, the stand dove back into the water.
"Hrrr." Lian growled and pounded on the railings, "It keeps running away!"

"Stop right there!" Lex yelled and held Valeria at gunpoint with The Law.
"You are not getting away."

Valeria whimpered and capitulated before Lex, but once again the stand came out and sucker punched The Law, making both it and Lex stagger back.

"I have you!" Lian tried to reach it with Power Khan, but was too late and only grabbed water before it retracted.

"Watch out!" Sarah said as the stand appeared once again and tried to hit Zhin, then grazed it with fire with her Furious Flame.

The stand retracted with its arm scalded by the fire.

"Hrrrr…" Lian looked around, waiting for it to strike back, but then noticed something with Power Khan.

"I have you now!" Lex finally laid hold on Valeria and put her in a chokehold.

"Wait!" Lian yelled, "She's not the stand user!" she cried out, but Lex was once again punched by the stand.

"Argh!" Lex groaned and tried to stand up, "What are you saying?!" he growled and looked at Valeria.

"You must have a reason to say that, Lian!" Sarah said, "Because all I see is that stand defending her."

"You told me that if a stand gets damaged, the damage is translated to its user." Lian responded, then pointed at Captain Judd Roberts, "Well I managed to look at him with Power Khan and saw smoke rising from his right arm!"

"What?" the Captain shook his head, "What are ye talking about, lassie?" he said and crossed his arms.

"Power Khan has a sharp sense of sight." Lian informed, "And I saw that when the stand got burned by Sarah, smoke rose from your coat! Now show your right arm!"

"Ye have gone seasick!" the captain growled, "I know not what ye talk about!"

Zhin, however, snuck up behind him and pulled his arms apart.

Surely enough, a part of the captain's coat on his right arm was burned off.

"Just like the place I struck the stand…" Sarah muttered, "It is you!"

Captain Roberts growled and knew he was found out.
"Excellent deduction, laddies, yet ye ferget one thing. Ye are on me boat, and on me boat! I rule!" he yelled.

The captain's stand jumped out from the water and slashed Zhin's back with its sharp claws.

"AGH!" Zhin released the captain and fell back.

Captain Judd Roberts chuckled and ran with his stand to the edge of the boat, then made his stand grab hold of Valeria.
"Such a shame… I was planning to sink you all to the bottom one by one." He chuckled, "But since I've been found out by this turkey legged maiden, it's all out the window. But I guess my stand SEVEN SEAS SCOURGE can still turn ye all into chum!"

"Help!" Valeria screamed as she struggled with the stand, "What's holding me!?" she looked around.

"Now I know ye wouldn't let this young woman go to Davy Jone's locker." Captain Roberts smirked, "So…" he jumped back.

"Ah!" Lian, who was closest, sprung to action and brought out Power Khan to catch them before they fell into the water, but missed.

"Uh oh!" Captain Roberts popped out of the water, "Looks like ye were too slow, ye snow headed wench!" he chuckled, "Oh well!"

Seven Seas Scourge raised its claws and slashed Valeria's neck, killing her instantly.

"NO!" Sarah screamed in horror.

"That monster!" Lex yelled and called out his stand, then started to fire.

"Hahahahaha!" Captain Roberts dove under to avoid the bullet fire.

"He's down there…." Zhin snarled and shook his fist, "His stand looks like it excels in water… How can we even challenge it?"

"If we stop standing around like a bunch of fools!" Lian yelled and jumped overboard.

"Lian!" Lex called out, but she had already plunged into the dark waters.

Under the river, Lian looked around for any signs of Captain Roberts, but only found Valeria's body floating nearby.
She shook her head and resurfaced.
"Here." She made Power Khan lift up the body, "Take her!"

Sarah nodded and used her stand to fly down and pick her up.
"Oh my…" she said and set her down on the deck.

Under the water, Lian once again continued her search for the captain.
"Power Khan… do you see anything-" she gasped when she saw a rocky object heading her way.

"RAH!" Power Khan yelled and grabbed the item, it was a harpoon made of… a shell-like material.

"What the?" Lian murmured, but then saw it glow, "Oh no!" she yelled and made Power Khan throw it away, where it exploded violently.

On the boat, Zhin saw the ripples from the explosion, "What's going on down there!?"

Back below water, Lian was ever observant.
"How long can I hold my breath?" she murmured and then started to swim back to the surface.
"Ha…" she took in a deep breath of air when she stuck her head out, "I still haven't found him, but he can shoot explosive harpoons!" she informed her allies.

"You need to get out of the water!" Lex told her, "We'll take this ship to land to escape him!" he said and pointed to some sailors.

However, a harpoon shot out from the waters and struck a sailor clean through his head.

"AGH!" Sarah and some sailors fell back in horror.

"Get away from the sides!" Zhin told all the sailors, who followed his orders without hesitation.

"Get that harpoon off the ship!" Lian warned.

Lex saw the harpoon starting to glow, then called out The Law and threw it overboard, where it exploded midair.

"Get on board!" Sarah called out to Lian.

"Alright!" Lian said and started to swim towards the boat but was suddenly dragged under.

"LIAN!" her three allies yelled.

Lian screamed as Seven Seas Scourge grabbed her leg and started to scratch her thighs.

"I'm going to turn yer turkey legs into mincemeat!" Captain Judd Roberts appeared from the darkness of the waters and cackled.
"Seris has promised me riches untold and a treasure beyond imagination if I kill you all." He smirked.

Lian growled as she was started to be sucked into a whirlpool.

"My stand has complete control over the Eight Seas!" Captain Roberts informed, "It is a master in the water, no other can challenge it!"

"Good thing we're in a river, not the seas." Lian chuckled, "That means I have a chance…" she called out Power Khan and punched Seven Seas Scourge.

"What!?" Captain Roberts groaned and held his bloody nose, "How are you so fast in the water?!"

"Power Khan is fast anywhere!" Lian laughed and grabbed Seven Seas Scourge with Power Khan, "Do you want to see?"

Captain Roberts gasped for air as his enemy's stand was grabbing his by the neck.

"You'll pay for what you did to that woman… and for calling me turkey legs!" Lian yelled.
"RAA! RAA! RAA! RAA! RAA! RAA! RAA!" she yelled as Power Khan let out a flurry of punches.

"UWAH…" Captain Roberts groaned as his stand was being beat to a pulp.

"RAA! RAA! RAA!" Lian started slowing down, and then her eyes opened.
She needed oxygen, and fast.

Captain Roberts felt her stand's grip falter and broke free, "I see yer a landlubber." He chuckled and made Seven Seas Scourge punch Power Khan in the stomach.
"Unfortunately fer ye, my stand allows me to breathe underwater." He cackled, "But since you can't I won't let ye escape!" he strengthened the whirlpool dragging Lian down.

"Agh…" Lian gasped for and held her throat.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Captain Roberts laughed as Seven Seas Scourge swam around Lian, taking free slashes on her body with its dragon claws.

Lian panted and darted her eyes for the surface.
She felt helpless and faint.
However, she noticed something sparkle in the water.

It was the metal head band Valeria was wearing was she was still alive.

Lian fixed on it, but her vision was becoming blurred.

"Before ye go to Davy Jones, you'll see that yer friends are next!" Captain Roberts said and made Seven Seas Scourge make two harpoons in its hands and throw them at the hull of the ship.

Lian snarled.

"HAHAHAHA-"

Power Khan suddenly appeared and kicked Valeria's head ornament straight into the captain's head, the sharp part that held a blue crystal driving straight into his forehead.

"AGHHHH!" Captain Roberts screamed in pain as his blood flowed out into the water and his stand retracted.

Lian felt the whirlpool weaken but used the remaining power she had left to command Power Khan to punch the head ornament deeper into Robert's head.

"Down…. I go…" Captain Roberts murmured as he sunk into the bottom of the dark river.

Lian, however, made it to the surface in time and took the deepest breath she had ever taken.
"Aahhhh…" she gasped and spat out river water from her mouth.

"Lian!" Lex called out.

"I killed the Captain…" Lian said and shook her head, but then remembered the harpoons on the bow.

The explosions that followed shook the waters around the ship.

"What was that?!" Sarah called out, then felt the ship bob forward.

"The Captain threw harpoons at the ship!" Lian said as she swam to the boat, "He was planning on sinking it to kill you all after me!"

Lex and Sarah helped the princess come up to the boat with their stands.

"We're taking in water!" one of the sailors came out from under the boat, "We need to abandon ship!"

00000000

The four Paladins floated down a life boat alongside the sailors that had survived the doomed vessel's voyage.

"Where to?" Zhin asked them as he looked around.

The river was surrounded by thick forests that gave no sense of direction to anyone.

"We should keep following the river." Sarah told him, "That's where the ship was headed anyways."

"Shore!" one of the sailors on another boat pointed to an open area at the bend of the river, and they all started to make their way to the clearing.