Disclaimer: I do not own Maplestory in anyway.
A/N: I'm back with another chapter. Not much to say here, but thank you those who reviewed I really appreciate the kind words.
Chapter Eighteen: Counterattack Preparations
"So do you mind telling me more about these Black Wings that you mentioned now?" Hawkeye stated seriously. His gray eyes trained on the sky and wind patterns. Eckhart leaned against the railing next to the wheel with his arms crossed.
"They're a group of people dedicated to reviving the Black Mage of Legend. You must have heard stories about the heroes and how they sealed him, correct?" Eckhart stated calmly.
"I thought those were merely stories of old. Stories told by the elders to inspire courage and adventure. I never imagine that those stories were actually real and those heroes could be out there frozen in ice waiting to wake once more."
"Only that a curse befell them, the Black Mage cursed them to lose their memories when they were frozen in the ice."
"I thought that part was a rumor?" Hawkeye replied while turning the wheel. Eckhart turned his head to glance toward the front of the boat.
"It is a statement obscured from many people's versions. I believe that a rumor like that must have some truth held within it. If it is true than even if the heroes wake once more, will they be strong enough to defeat the Black Mage this time or will the Black Wings grow into a powerful force to be reckoned with?" Eckhart replied calmly. His dark eyes glinting through the eye holes on his mask. "The Black Wings will grow powerful if Maple World cannot find a way to unite and stand up against it. However, I do not know when that will happen if that will ever happen. There are too many differences between one person and the next in order to come to an understanding."
"What you're saying is that people won't be willing to compromise for the sake of others because they're too selfish to give up something they have." Hawkeye stated calmly. His gray eyes narrowed sharply. "That's pretty normal don't you think? We, pirates, practically live off of stealing and pillaging from other people. Normal people usually won't go out of their way to help others."
"I agree. However wouldn't it be nice if we could all just..." Eckhart closed his mouth and sighed softly. Hawkeye chuckled under his breath.
"Didn't know you were the type to have naive dreams. I'm not mocking you for it by the way, it has to be nice to still be able to dream naive dreams."
"No one is telling you that you can't dream a few naive dreams." Eckhart replied softly allowing his eyes to travel across the night sky. "Dreams exist for a reason you know. They're goals that you wish to achieve. They're like the stars in the sky. Even if you can't see them during the day they're always there. Even if you can't see your dream in order to grasp it, you know it's there waiting for you to finally grasp it." Hawkeye studied Eckhart carefully.
"How old are you exactly? How in the world did you get messed up in all this crap with the Black Wings?" Hawkeye questioned with a serious glint in his eyes. Eckhart merely glanced back at him.
"I really don't feel like telling you how old I am. Though getting messed up with the Black Wings well... long story short, they came after me first." Eckhart replied softly. Umbra floated over to him and stood there quietly. "I'm still trying to figure out why they started coming after me. Though we should return to talking about the Black Wings in some detail no?"
"Right, so what should my crew expect from these guys?" Hawkeye questioned as he turned the wheel again toward the base.
"They are extremely resourceful. I'm sure they'll have things up their sleeves but they seem quite unorganized at the moment. I'm sure they're just laying low for now and all that they're doing now is the only plan they have fully in motion." Eckhart supplied softly. Hawkeye glanced over at him before turning to his first mate.
"Mate, take the wheel for a while. We're heading in this direction for quite a few knots." Hawkeye release his hold on the wheel to his mate and walked over to where Eckhart was standing. "What have these Black Wings done so far?" Eckhart smiled softly under his mask.
"They've attacked the Empress of Maple World," Eckhart replied quietly so only Hawkeye heard. "and created riots throughout Maple World but under different reasons as a shield. They also have highly advance weapons and their high rank members are not to be underestimated."
"You can't be serious? They've attacked the Empress? I heard that the island is always under heavy security, is that not true?" Hawkeye asked with wide eyes.
"It is under heavy security, but how exactly do you defend against an enemy that attacks in you while you are asleep? Especially if you don't know that they're attacking you. It would just seem like a horrible nightmare. A nightmare that you might never wake up from ever again..." Eckhart replied with a dark tone. Hawkeye leaned against the railing and smirked.
"Well, you'd have to know if you're being attacked and be a fighter in your own mind no? I mean if the enemy takes it to your own mind, wouldn't you have the advantage being it your own mind? You could create anything and everything. The weapons I could merely dream up will work since I believe it will work." Hawkeye stated calmly. His gray eyes shining with mischief. Eckhart chuckled softly.
"Never thought about that way, but you're right. Our mind, our playing field." Silence engulf the two of them for a brief moment. "You're quite perspective for someone at your age." Eckhart stated softly. Hawkeye laughed.
"Most people call me incompetent actually, but I thank you for your words." Hawkeye replied while pointed in a direction for his first mate. "You know, mate, I think you're quite something as well. You can't be all that much older than me, even if you won't tell me your true age. To have so much information on an ancient group that most people don't even remember is quite amazing. What are you a walking encyclopedia?"
"No, just a person with a mission. And to make sure they don't gut me first." Eckhart replied and watched as Umbra resume his walk around the boat. Hawkeye stood up straight and pulled out his telescope. Eckhart pushed himself off the railing and looked toward the direction Hawkeye pointed the telescope.
"Mate, pull us up next to those outcroppings. We don't want to be seen. The element of surprise must continue to be on our side." Hawkeye ordered calmly. "The wind patterns should allow us to stay hidden for the majority of our time here. Not to mention I can smell the rain coming, which means clouds and heavy rain. That should give us darkness and a lot of natural sounds to block out our footsteps." Hawkeye handed the telescope to Eckhart. Eckhart peered through it taking in the outer security laid out by the Black Wings.
"I see six rabbit guards and three robo-bots. They're split into three groups; two rabbit guards and a robo-bot each. The entrance is blocked by two of the three groups." Eckhart stated calmly while studying their patrolling. "We might be able to by pass them if we time it correctly, though that also depend on you and your men." Eckhart put the telescope down and glanced over at Hawkeye.
"We'll most likely have to try to take them out as quietly as possible. Which for us pirates that's sort of difficult considering we like to go in loud." Hawkeye stated seriously as his men docked the ship. "Anyway we could find a back door? Do they even have back doors?" Eckhart tilted his head and shrugged.
"If you want I could send in Umbra first to see, though he can't go too far from me."
"No, I'll lend you two of my quietest pirates and you guys can slowly take out the guard groups. Are we really in a rush?" Hawkeye stated calmly.
"Eckhart we could just combine the two plans. I go in look around and then come out to tell you what I saw while you guys take out the bots and bunnies." Umbra suggested calmly. Hawkeye just stared at him for a few seconds.
"Mate, did you just call those rabbits, bunnies? Like cute little bunnies?" Hawkeye stated with a serious face. Umbra blinked and nodded slowly. Eckhart coughed softly while turning away to cover his snickering. "You like bunnies?" Umbra blinked again in confusion.
"Umm... weren't we talking about our attack plan?" Umbra stated confused. "Eckhart stop laughing! What the hell is so funny?" Hawkeye crackled quietly with a twinkling light in his eyes. Umbra tapped his foot impatiently.
"Sorry mate, just didn't take you for someone to call rabbits bunnies." Hawkeye replied with a huge smile plastered on his face. "Though I have to admit I like that plan. It would shorten the amount of time we spend here. Not that we couldn't totally take our time, but I'd rather be out of here by noon tomorrow at least." Eckhart leaned against the railing again.
"We have to be careful and try to not die here." Eckhart stated while glancing up at the stars. Hawkeye nodded while looking out toward the deck where his crew was finishing up. Umbra stared at the base from where he stood. "We're going to go with that plan then?"
"Yeah, though we should also do a plan for inside but that might take too long. Plus if my crew can learn to be a bit more silent and stealthy than that would benefit me in so many ways." Hawkeye replied calmly his gray eyes taking on a darker tone. "I'll go and get them ready. I'll send two of my men to you and once you're done taking them out give me a signal. We're going to go and have a party." Hawkeye walked off toward the deck below while Eckhart watched with quiet interest.
"He knows what he's doing." Umbra stated calmly with a small glare directed toward Eckhart. "Really laughing at me? Real mature Eckhart."
"Hey don't blame me, I was surprise that the Spirit of Darkness had a cute side. However, he's truly is quite capable. When I shook his hand earlier, I felt static electricity coursing through him. You know anything about that?" Eckhart stated while making sure his glove was securely attached.
"Electricity? I can only assume that he could be a potential spirit candidate." Umbra replied while glancing at Hawkeye give out orders.
"A spirit candidate huh. So he's sort of like me than?" Eckhart inquired with a tilt of his head. Umbra nodded. "Hmm... I believe we might be seeing more of him in the future than."
"That might be true. Seriously, why do you always have to find so much trouble Eckhart. Couldn't you just leave all of this somewhere else?" Umbra questioned annoyed. Eckhart chuckled darkly under his breath.
"Love to, but where could I possibly go without the Black Wings on my tail?" Eckhart retorted sarcastically. "They can practically chase me to my dreams in my own mind." Umbra sighed and nodded his head toward the two pirates walking up toward them. Hawkeye was right behind them.
"So these two are my quietest pirates, they'll help you take out the rabbits and bots. I'll be waiting with the rest of my crew for your signal to advance." Hawkeye explained with a serious face. "Hopefully we can get in an steal a few things before they realize we're here." Eckhart smirked under his mask.
"Steal their battle plans if you find them. I'd like to take a look at it and send it over to my associates." Eckhart stated with a devious smile.
"Sure thing mate. You make sure to not die and if I or my crew find any we'll hand them over. Plus, I'd like to see what type of weapons they're coming up with. My own associates would love to see some new weapons." Hawkeye returned with a smile just as wide and excited. "Good luck mates, I'll be waiting for that signal. Boys make sure nothing goes wrong, I want to find a whole lot of treasure to bring back." Eckhart watched as they nodded and waited for him.
"We won't take too long. See you guys soon." Eckhart flipped his hood up and motioned the pirates to follow. Hawkeye watched as the four of them took off toward the base stealthy. Hawkeye whistled in surprise as his men and Eckhart completely disappeared.
"Seriously, he better teach that to me before we part ways." Hawkeye stood next to the wheel. "Alright mates! Be prepared once we see the signal we're going to have ourselves a party!" The pirates all yelled at a reasonable level. Hawkeye took out his telescope and watched the patrolling groups, waiting for the signal.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this short chapter! Next chapter, inside the base! Please review and see you all next chapter!