"Bon appetit everyone!"

William sighed happily as he dug into his meal. It had taken him and Walani quite a while to reach their destination but now they were all settled into the camp she and her companions had set up. He was never more grateful for the taste of soup.

"Ah… this is great." He looked to the chef of the camp. "Merci, Warly."

Warly grinned, serving up everyone else.

"De rein." He handed a bowl to Walani. "Here you go, Walani."

"Thanks, Warly, you're the best." Walani dug in, grinning at the taste. "Perfect. Much better than what Woodlegs tried to cook last week."

"Yar! I've never cooked a doydoy before! Not my fault I gave us food poisoning!" Woodlegs crossed his arms, giving an annoyed look. "I'm a pirate not a chef!"

Warly rolled his eyes, giving him his share.

"You said the same thing when you tried cooking wobsters. Both times raw beyond belief they could've just walked out of here."

Woodlegs grumbled, taking his share.

"Stupid things were trying to kill me last time."

Walani snorted.

"Had to call upon the wobster killer that is Warly before they got your beard."

Warly rubbed the back of his neck.

"Not that nickname again."

"What? You are!"

William snickered.

"You certainly are a lively bunch aren't you?"

Walani grinned.

"Usually. Should've heard Warly the first time something raw was served."

Warly grinned, sitting down with his bowl of soup.

"I was not going to let my companions eat and get sick let alone settle for rubbish. They deserve the best to eat, everyone does." Warly dug into his soup, sighing happily. "Ah… Just the right amount of seasoning."

"This is very good." William nodded. "Probably some of the best I had."

"Merci." Warly chuckled. "Still striving to improve but that's the life of a chef. Well, least for me that's how it is. I didn't get to eat a lot of good food growing up so it's why I won't settle for less than excellent quality."

Walani elbowed him a little in the stomach.

"But you are willing to accept when sometimes simple is all we got right?"

Warly grinned sheepishly.

"Ehehe… Yes. Did I mention I'm still sorry about snapping at you about rations?"

"You have and I still get to hold it over your head, dork."

William snickered.

"Dork is something that seems to go around survivor camps."

"Who's the dork of your camp?" Walani asked.

"Well, I wouldn't call us a camp. We're a village now but as for who holds the title of dork… sometimes it's me, sometimes it's our leader, Wilson, then sometimes it's just anyone who did something stupid or silly. It gets passed around."

"Got ya." Warly got curious look. "How many people are in your village?"

William hummed in thought for a minute, taking a moment to count up the people back in The Haven.

"Hm… About 17 people including myself. Our most recent addition being my daughter. That's just the village. There's a whole city of people, ranging in the hundreds."

"Wow, that's a lot!" Walani exclaimed. "And there are no monsters?"

"None that we know of. We brought some animals in from here like beefalo but aside from that, none."

"Lucky. We still get hounds."

"Well, you are welcome to join us in our village if you like. I'm sure Wilson would be more than happy to build you guys houses to live in."

Woodlegs gave a smile before shaking his head.

"As nice as that would be these islands here are me home."

"Huh?" William got a confused look. "But… isn't it dangerous here?"

"Yar but I can handle it. I have been for the past who knows how long. I was brought here as a young aspiring lad and have been sailing these seas ever since. I know this place like the back of me hand and am the best sailor King Maxwell ever saw!"

William was taken aback by this before something rushed to his head. A vision flashed before his eyes of a much younger version of the man standing before Maxwell, shaking hands with him.

"I'll come back every so often to rejuvenate you. All I ask if you keep sailing around and mapping these lands out for me."

"Ye got yerself a deal, Yer Highness!"

So he was one of the few who came willingly and happily to this world…

"Actually." Woodlegs said, breaking William out of the vision. "Ye look awfully familiar now that I look at ye."

William got a nervous, look, fidgeting with his glasses.

"W-Whatever do you mean?"

I know exactly what he means! He's probably seen him not too long ago!

"Yer facial structure…" Woodlegs scratched at his beard. "If not for them specs, I would just think yer Maxwell."

Warly's eyes got wide at he looked at William, the man shrinking back.

"Come to think of it he does."

"I-It's hard to explain. But I…" William swallowed hard. "I…"

Oh, please don't turn on me!

"It's because Maxwell and him were once joined together." Walani said casually. "Maxwell possessed people and some other kind of weird hoodoo so he could do what he did and William happened to be one of 'em. They ain't fused together anymore so this guy isn't Maxwell. He's just William and that's that."

Warly looked to Walani dumbfounded before looking to William.

"That's… basically it." William said. "I mean I wouldn't word it like that but… that's what happened."

"Goodness..."

"I-I am sorry though for any grief that I may have helped cause you all though by bringing you here."

"Grief? Hardly." Walani chuckled.

"Huh…?" William gave a confused look.

"Well, some but Walani isn't joking." Warly gave a gentle look. "We were brought here because we wanted a new start and well… Maxwell came at the right time for all of us. This place here, while rough and tumble, has been something we've appreciated very much. Maxwell gave us all the second chances we were looking for. A new home… and a family." Warly looked to his companions. "We couldn't be happier."

"Darn right." Walani smiled. "So… you got nothing to be sorry for, William. If anything, you did help bring us together. So, honestly, we just owe you a thank you." Walani got up, going over to William and squeezing his shoulder. "We cool, okay?" Walani held up a curled up fist to William.

William looked at the fist, unsure of what to do or least unsure if he should duck or not.

"Bump your fist with hers." Jack whispered into his ear. "I know it's strange but it's just something Walani does."

William nodded, doing as told.

"Y-Yes, I supposed we are "cool"."

Walani grinned.

"Good. Now, let's see about getting you back to your fam on the mainland."

"Appreciate it."

"Yar." Woodlegs hopped up. "I know a way back to the mainland but it's going to take quite a bit of time sailing wise and we're gonna need a bigger boat." He grinned. "Thankfully, I got me a bigger boat."

"You don't get seasick, do you?" Warly asked. "Because something tells me it's going to a long trip."

William shook his head.

"No. I've sailed continents and came out just fine."

"Good to know." Warly got up. "Though before we do any sailing, we're gonna need to stock up on food that will last a week."

"Nar, just three days." Woodlegs grinned. "Ya see, we're not looking for land."

"Then what are we looking for ya crazy coot?" Walani asked, crossing her arms.

Woodlegs grinned.

"A portal, lassy."