hapter 23 The Grand Voyage

Emperor's P.O.V

Ignis had just finished showing us his vision, and I was astounded by all of the details.

"Are you sure that this is going to happen?"

Rojo asked as he got up from the ground. Marine got up with him and he brushed himself off.

"I would not contest the integrity of this creature"

NorthWind stated as she made the picture on the wall go black with A handwave. The High Council Members got up and stretched, but Halcyon stayed on the ground.

"There's so much detail"

I murmured to myself. This caused Lemon to clear her throat and look at Ignis.

"There's A volcano much like the one that was on another one of the…"

Her voice trailed off as she gazed at something in my direction. The High Council Members looked at Lemon oddly.

"Wait"

Marine said as he looked at Lemon.

"You're A cartographer, right?"

He asked as the High Council Members looked at each other with worried looks on their faces. Lemon started to pace. She seemed really stressed about something right now.

"On one of the islands, there's A volcano like the mountain we have here"

Lemon started. Slayer stretched out on the ground and then ran up to Lemon's shoulder, where he started to sleep again.

"Indeed I am"

She said quietly to herself. Ignis yawned and settled back down on the ground to sleep once again.

"Is anyone else getting an odd pull to something?"

I asked as the Reborn started to detach itself from my back. I didn't pay much attention to it, but what I did pay attention to was the way Halcyon was directing almost everyone in the room.

"The High Council Members will stay here, but Emperor and I, along with Rojo are going to attend to the matters at hand"

He said as he practically pushed the High Council Members up the stairs.

"But it's so boring around here Halcyon!"

Rose protested as they neared the top of the stairs. I watched Lemon pace some more, and when I was tired of that, I asked her A question.

"Do you want A chance to redeem yourself Lemon?"

I asked. She stopped to fast, Slayer almost fell off of her shoulder. He protested with A loud hiss that made Lemon jump in fear.

"Don't do that!"

She hissed to the lizard. Then, she turned her gaze to mine.

"What do you mean by this Emperor?"

She asked as she set Slayer on the ground. I gave her A half-smile.

"I think you know what I mean"

I said as I looked back at the inner doors that led into and out of the Revelation Room.

"Do you really think that I'm deserving of A chance like this?"

She asked me seriously. I could see the single LED light that burned behind her left eye as she asked her question. I kept my composure to make sure that I didn't let my guard down.

"Not many of us are deserving of anything"

I started to say with my half-smile. Lemon's expression fell to grief and she looked at the floor.

"But there's always the option to make yourself deserving"

I finished as Halcyon stopped at the bottom stair. He looked at us oddly.

"If you're trying to keep Lemon here, that's not going to happen; we need her to be with us just in case the worst possible outcome presents itself"

He said as he made his way to the inner doors.

"Don't stand there like walls you two!"

Halcyon called as he waved his hand in A beckoning fashion.

"We need to get going"

I said in agreeance to Halcyon's words. Lemon nodded slightly and we made our way to Halcyon. We went through the safety measures and we stepped out into the twilight.

"I can't explain this pull either Emperor"

Halcyon said as he started to walk down to the shoreline. Taken back by his words, I had to jog to catch up to him because I had froze in disbelief.

I can't tell exactly what's up with everyone right now, but if it's going to cause any more problems, I'm not for it

I told myself as I shielded my eyes from the sun that was starting to come over the top of the mountains.

"Where's that map of yours?"

Halcyon asked as I heard someone running to catch up to us. I turned quickly and swept the individual with my right foot, but the individual was faster than I was and he put me in an arm lock.

"Calm down Marine"

Rojo said without looking at him.

"Marine?"

I asked as I looked at him in disbelief. He looked at me sheepishly and he released me from the arm lock.

"Sorry about that"

He said as he caught his breath and looked at the ground. Halcyon continued walking along with Lemon, but Rojo and I stayed.

"I thought I told you to stay at the Revelation Room"

I heard Rojo say softly. Marine looked up from the ground to meet Rojo's fierce gaze.

"I….wanted to…"

Marine started, but Rojo gave him no escape.

"You wanted to what?

Rojo asked as he twirled A serrated knife in his left hand. I heard Marine's breathing quicken as his gaze was drawn to the knife.

"I knew you wouldn't let me go on this mission Rojo"

Marine said softly as he brushed himself off and got up from the ground. Rojo scoffed.

"So that gives you the right to disobey the orders of your army captain?"

He asked as he threw the knife into the ground at Marine's feet, narrowly hitting the steel-toed portion of his boots. The knife made A twanging sound as it impacted the ground. I growled.

"You two need to stop"

I said as I felt the Devil Gene pulling at my sanity. This had become much more frequent now since the awakening of Ignis.

I can't keep fighting this forever

I told myself as Rojo looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"You should watch your words Emperor; your cockiness is annoying me"

Rojo said as he turned away from Marine and started off to where Halcyon and Lemon had gone off to. I had no idea where they went, but I decided to follow Rojo only after I made sure Marine was ok.

"It was nice of Rojo to give me his knife to me"

Marine said with A little smile as he picked the knife from the ground and started to twirl it in his hand like Rojo had been doing. I looked at Marine oddly.

"When did Rojo get like this Marine?"

I asked him as he put the knife in his boot. when he had completed the action, he looked back up at me with the same odd expression I had.

"What are you talking about?"

he asked as he walked past me while humming A tune that I didn't recognise softly. I scratched my head and dropped in pace with Marine as he walked along.

"I don't understand much anymore Marine"

I said as we walked along. He nodded slowly.

"And as for your question, I'm not sure; he was fine the day before"

Marine's voice trailed off as we neared the beach. We walked down the path and stopped next to the canoes.

"Is it early morning already?"

I heard Halcyon mutter under his breath as I watched him look around for any available canoes. Individuals were already buying, selling, and trading.

"It looks pretty packed today, so I wouldn't expect any to be open"

Marine said as he looked around for Rojo. I laughed to myself.

Even though Marine is treated so aggressively by Rojo, he still follows him around like A pet Assassin Lizard.

I thought this as I looked for any available canoes. It was hard to see, but I thought I saw one at the left end of the beach. I went to tap Marine on his shoulder to tell him what I was seeing, but he wasn't there. I looked around for anyone that I knew, but the beach had suddenly exploded into business. I had to shut my eyes due to the many different colored individuals that were occupying the beach.

"A bit overwhelmed?"

A familiar voice asked me. I opened my eyes and I came face to face with Rose. My breath caught in my throat.

"You're supposed to be back at the Revelation Room"

I breathed. She smiled.

"I had to get out of there"

She said quietly as she looked around nervously. The mass was becoming more dense now and I was getting nervous.

"If Halcyon sees that I'm gone, who knows what's going to happen to me?"

She asked the air. I looked around.

"I don't see him, or anyone else that I know"

I said as I started to move through the crowd. I knew from watching the commoners that they didn't go anywhere near the water. I had asked Halcyon why this was some time ago, but I never got an answer. I knew that not many of our species could swim, but I didn't think that was the reason why they avoided the water.

"Hey, wait!"

Rose cried as she pushed through the crowd to catch up to me. When she did, she punched my shoulder.

"What was that for?"

She asked me angrily. I didn't reply, but she asked me another question without missing any beats.

"Are you going to help me?"

She asked me seriously as we broke away from the mass that covered the beach. We were by the water now, and I could see some canoes that were tied to A wooden pier. Now I was able to see everyone that was going to accompany us to wherever it was that this unexplained pull was going to take us to. I had no idea where we were going to go, but I felt A small line of dread with this pull.

My next question is how I'm going to qualify Rose being able to go with us

I thought as Rose and I scaled the small flight of stairs that led to the staging area of the small canoes that were used to transport Currency Fruit. Unfortunately, I wasn't very careful with my steps because Halcyon spotted me from where he was, but he didn't pay attention to me. I was waiting for him to come storming across the pier to give me A tongue lashing, but that never happened. It was then that I realized why Halcyon didn't do anything.

I don't remember Halcyon to be the type that argues

I told myself as I slowly made my way over to where the rest of them were standing. They were situated at the end of the pier where it dropped off into the 20 foot zone. I shuddered at the thought of drowning. I hated water, but I could swim if i needed to.

My form would be terrible, but it would save me at least.

I thought as I looked into the crystal clear water as I walked towards them. There were some brightly colored coral reefs that looked sharp. They seemed to be so sharp, that while they waved in the water, they seemed to be serrated. I didn't know why I was walking so quietly, but I felt that if I made any noise, they would turn to my direction. I didn't know about anyone else, but I preferred to stay away from arguing individuals. Only when I needed to step in, I would intervene.

The canoe that Halcyon picked doesn't seem to be very sturdy

I thought as I looked at the boat. Moss covered most of the canoe's sidewalls and it looked pretty shabby to say the least. As I inspected the boat, I heard what what Rojo, Marine and Halcyon were arguing about.

"That boat won't hold A single grain of sand Halcyon; just look at it!"

I heard Rojo cry. I saw Halcyon sneer from the corner of my right eye.

"What do you suppose we do then?"

He asked as he tapped his left foot against the dock quickly. Marine cleared his throat.

"Could we fashion one with the time we have now?"

He asked as Halcyon and Rojo kept arguing. I walked around the professional arguists and stood next to Marine, who sighed softly.

"They really never got along"

I heard him mutter under his breath. A short laugh escaped my mouth, which made Halcyon and Rojo look at me oddly.

"Emperor?"

Rojo asked incredulously while Halcyon just looked blankly at me.

"When did you get here?"

He asked as I watched Rose jump into the canoe. I put my arm out to try and stop her, and I was just about to warn her about the canoe's condition, but by the time I completed these actions, she had already landed in the boat. Halcyon and Rojo whipped their heads in time to see Rose land in the canoe, which snapped from the middle to be broken perfectly in half.

"I told you!"

Rojo growled as he dropped to his knees to look for Rose, who had disappeared from our view. Oddly enough, I wasn't scared or nervous.

If i know Rose, she's probably clinging to A post underneath the elevated pier that we're standing on right now

I thought as Marine joined me at the right side of the pier. We all looked in the water for Rose, but we couldn't find her.

"You're looking in the wrong place if you're wishing to find me"

We heard Rose say as I shifted my eyes so that I could see behind me. Rojo and Halcyon muttered something under their breaths as I got up and turned to face Rose. She had A huge smile on her face, but Halcyon didn't look impressed and Rojo looked even more upset than Halcyon.

"You're going to be in really big trouble if you don't have anything to qualify your actions"

Halcyon stated as he tried to push Rojo off of the pier playfully. It was odd to see the two arguing just now, but being able to settle their differences within A short span of time. Rojo dodged Halcyon's shoving attempt and stood next to Marine.

"You have some nerve disobeying A command Rose; what's your reasoning to be here?"

Rojo asked as he tried to shove Halcyon into the water. Rose sighed.

"I could tell you the same thing as I told the others, but I would become Blue if I repeated it much more"

She said as looked at Marine. He shrugged and I looked at Halcyon, who had stopped trying to shove Rojo off of the pier. They now were in professional attention stances with inquisitive looks on their faces.

"You want to participate in battle, don't you?"

Halcyon stated as he turned to face the expanse of water that led to one of the unnamed districts.

"That was the intent of my actions, yes"

Rose replied hopefully. Rojo sighed and turned to Halcyon.

"What do you think Halcyon?"

He asked as he wrung his hands.

Is Rojo actually nervous for once?

I asked myself incredulously as I watched Halcyon chuckle quietly.

"You're the Island Defense Force Captain that won the Medal of Honor, right?"

He asked without turning to Rojo. I heard Rojo take A sharp breath.

"Then you should be able to decide whether or not you can take the life of Rose into your hands, right?"

Halcyon asked as he turned his head slightly so he could lock eyes with Rojo.

That was A very good answer

I remarked as I heard Marine whistle softly in amazement.

"If you're trying to be smart Halcyon, you should at least be talking to me so I can slap you when you make those kinds of remarks"

A familiar voice said.

"The only one who's dishing out discipline here will be me"

Another familiar voice said.

No, not here

I moaned in my mind as I turned to look at the worst possible combination of individuals to arrive at the same time: Cynder and Lily.

"When did you two arrive?"

Maine asked as we both looked at the new arrivals.

"If you're going to bother us with your incessant bickering, you should've at least brought us A canoe or A small boat."

I heard Halcyon mutter as he turned to meet the new arrivals. Rojo turned as well, and when he did, his breath caught in his throat.

"You do know who you were speaking to, right?"

He asked fearfully as the two walked up to Halcyon and greeted him. Halcyon shook both of their hands and the two stood back and admired something.

"I never thought that all of these fine individuals would become such great allies"

Cynder marveled. Lily nodded slightly in agreement.

"Of all the possibilities, this one was the least probable"

She agreed. I sighed.

"Are we going to get something to travel over the water with, or am I going to swim over to this island myself?"

I asked the group, but no one said anything. There was A brief moment of silence, and the only thing I could hear was the soft lapping of the waves hitting the beach and the breathing of everyone around me.

"No one had anything to say?"

I asked with mild annoyance.

"If anyone was to be needed here, it would be-"

Halcyon started, but his sentence was finished by A new arrival.

"Me?"

The new voice finished. All of us turned to see that Lemon had arrived, and as usual, she seemed tense and nervous about something. She had A White lab coat on and some odd objects that spanned the entirety of her eyes. They were connected by A small span of metal in the space between the pieces that covered her eyes.

"Were you ok with me finishing your sentence?"

She asked fearfully as she stopped close to where Halcyon was standing.

"It's fine Lemon, now can you tell us what we need to get over to the next island?"

He asked. Lemon looked at him oddly.

"I thought you knew how to build canoes Halcyon"

She said as she pulled slightly at the wires that were around her fingers.

"I know how to build them, yes, but I don't see any canoes that are available"

He said while he motioned with his hand to the beach that was almost filled completely with patrons.

"I saw; I made my way through the crowd amazingly"

Lemon murmured to herself. She then shook herself for some reason and then looked back up at Halcyon.

"Do you have A particular type of water-faring transportation type?"

She asked Halcyon. Halcyon buried his head in his hands.

"I don't know everything about boats Lemon; just give me something to get across the water"

He said quietly.

"I could build you something as small as A single-seat rowboat, to something as big as A SeaWise Giant"

Lemon said as she looked at the paper that seemed to be fastened to A square plank of wood that was big enough to write on, but not to big enough to get in the way of work.

"If you hadn't understood Lemon, we need something functional to get across the water"

Cynder stated rudely as she rolled her eyes. Lemon twitched for A couple seconds when she heard Cynder, but she didn't do anything. Instead, she wrote something down on the paper, thanked Cynder, and disappeared.

"I'll only need A quarter of A day"

Was all we heard before all of us watched her vanish into an odd device that she had produced from her left boot. We all looked at each other for A quick moment before Lemon disappeared.

"I have no idea what just happened, but if Lemon is going to get us something to travel over the water with, I'm ok with her shenanigans"

Marine said as he sat on the pier. Rojo looked at him when he had taken his place on the pier.

"Did I tell you that you could sit Private Marine?"

He asked with an edge as he scowled at Marine. He looked up at Rojo with A half-smile on his face.

"You never told me that I couldn't"

He said as he looked back at the expanse of water, facing away from Rojo. When he had heard this, Rojo got ready to do something that he would've regretted had I not stopped him before he had completed his action.

"This'll teach you not to talk back to me"

Rojo muttered as he balled his right hand into A fist and tried to strike Marine to make him fall into the water, but before he could hit Marine, I caught Rojo's fist as he drew it back. He looked at me with wild eyes and A furious look on his face.

"What are you doing?"

Rojo hissed as he looked at me. I narrowed my eyes.

"I'm stopping you from causing A foolish choice that would bring consequences that would destroy everything we worked for up until this point"

I said while I brought my hand down, which caused Rojo's hand to fall back to his side. He took A quiet and deep breath.

"He's right Rojo"

Halcyon stated as he took A seat on the pier. Gradually, everyone that was with me had taken A place on the wooden pier.

"Surely we're not going to just sit here and wait for Lemon to make us A mode of transportation, are we?"

Cynder asked. Everyone looked at her.

"What would you suggest that we do?"

Rose asked. Halcyon smiled to himself and brought something out from his right boot. The object was very intricately designed, and when he took it out, it rattled like it had contents inside of it.

"May I suggest chance-52?"

He said as he opened the box to reveal many same-sized pieces of slivered wood. On the top of the slivers, there were intricate designs, and when he showed the slivers to us, there were quantities on the bottom of the slivers of wood.

"That's the best idea that you have right now?"

Rojo asked as he let out A heavy sigh. Halcyon grumbled something softly as he dispersed the slivers of wood to us. I knew this game was meant to win currency fruit by gambling them and betting on who was going to win, but I felt that there was nothing better to do at this point, so I tried to remember how to play Chance-52. We played this game for about A quarter of A day before Lemon returned.

"You're sure that you're going to win this one Rose?"

Rojo asked as he looked slightly over the top of his cards to meet Rose's tense gaze.

"I think that I will"

She said as she laid her slivers of wood down.

"Four Tens!?"

We all asked incredulously as she laid them on the pier. Rose had A smile on her face as she motioned with her hand to the slivers. Rojo scoffed.

"You think that arrangement is better than mine?"

He said as he laid his slivers on the pier. I almost fainted when I saw what Rojo had.

"No way"

I breathed. The rest of the individuals in our group gave A low whistle.

"How!?"

Rose cried softly.

"Five Islands"

Rojo stated as he motioned to the cards. The others just looked in awe at the slivers, while cynder scoffed.

"You're sure that you didn't cheat?"

She asked as she narrowed her eyes. Fire licked the edges of her mouth as she stared Rojo down.

"What reason would I have to?"

He said as he stretched absently. Cynder jumped up from her spot, causing everyone jump A little.

"If that's the case, then that means that my chances of what I got weren't possible; you cheated Rojo"

She said softly. Just then, An explosion sounded from far away, causing all of us jump once more. We all looked at each other and tried to figure out where the explosion had come from, but no one could figure out where it had come from. While the others were talking, I caught sight of something flying towards us at A high rate of speed. I narrowed my eyes to get A better view of the object, and when I did, my breath caught in my throat.

"Incoming!"

Marine exclaimed nervously, and that's when the panic set in. Halcon raced around to pick up all of the slivers, and Rojo was shouting commands to the others around us. Soon, all of us caught sight of what was barreling towards us. We had little time to react before the object impacted the pier in the middle of where we were playing Chance-52. All of the currency fruit that had been placed in the middle of the circle had been crushed upon impact. I heard Rose and Rojo growl as this happened. There was also A sickening crunch that went through the area. The object moaned softly and sat up. We all stared openmouthed in awe at what was before us.

"Lemon!?"

We asked in awe. It was then that I noticed that her jaw was broken. I tried to point it out to her before she spoke, but she started to speak before I could let her know that something was wrong.

"Just thought I'd drop in"

She said with an awkward smile. We all looked at her oddly. I saw her eyes widen for A second, and not A second later, she set her jaw, and everyone that was around me winced.

"I have A question"

Marine told Lemon. Rojo facepalmed.

"What is your question Marine?"

Lemon asked as she faced him.

"How are you still alive after that impact?"

He asked as he scratched the back of his neck. Lemon smiled weakly.

"I could show you while we are on the water-faring vessel if you would like"

She said as she produced A small object from her coat pocket.

"What's that fancy thing you got there?"

Rose asked as she swiped the object from Lemon's hand. Her eyes widened in fear.

"Give me that object back now Rose!"

She said anxiously as she tried to get the object that Rose had in her hand, but Rose was faster and more dexterous.

Apparently when someone wanted something from you, you had to keep the object that they wanted in A sort of Keep-Away game

I thought as I saw Rose toss the object to Rojo. Lemon made A wild grab for the object, but ended up tripping over her boots and falling at the edges of Rojo's steel-toed boots. I saw Lemon's dismal look on her face as Rojo inspected the object while I did the same. It looked like to be A plank of wood that was similar to the boards that Rojo used to break in his strength training regimens when he went through them.

This was before he decided to take on having troops at his disposal

I thought while I saw Rojo trying to take off the metal bands that spanned the edges of the plank.

"I don't see why this took A quarter of A day to make, but it looks like A piece of junk to me"

Rojo said as he tossed the plank behind him into the water. Lemon drew A huge and sharp breath as she practically flew up from where she laid on the pier.

"What have you done!?"

She said as she grabbed Rojo by his shoulders and shook him violently. I saw Rojo's expression change from calm and collected, to actual nervousness. I could also tell that Rojo was hurting by the partial wince that he went through. Then all of us heard A low rumbling sound. I saw from the corner of my eye that the water around us had started to boil furiously. Lemon slowly released Rojo from her grasp and looked at the water. Even though I was looking at her back, I could tell that she was smiling. I stood next to her at the end of the pier as I looked at the water boil. Suddenly, Lemon started laugh softly.

"It worked"

She said as she started to laugh maniacally while repeating her last sentence, but I was transfixed to the water. I watched the water, looking for whatever Lemon had created.

It would be A shame to have sat here for A quarter of A day to only see boiling water

I told myself as I saw what Lemon was talking about. From under the water, I saw what looked like A huge Galleon surfacing from the bottom of the water.

I wonder how buyant this ship is

I asked myself as the ship surfaced completely. In this process we were all sprayed with water and dust as the ship launched about 30 feet into the air and crashed down on the water with another huge crack that hurt my ears and made my vision swim. Lemon stopped laughing and looked back at Rojo, who shared the same expression as everyone did on the dock but me.

"Is this what you had in mind Rojo?"

She asked as Rojo closed his mouth and shook himself.

"I...I didn't tell you to go overboard Lemon"

Rojo barely got out from how amazed he was. Lemon smiled.

"I don't suppose you'll ask from something like this again now will you?"

She said as she put her hands on her hips.

"I don't suppose I will"

Rojo said as he starting walking to the boat.

"Not so fast Rojo"

Lemon said as Rojo was almost to the boat. Rojo turned back to look at her.

"Why not?"

He asked. Cynder snickered as A long plank of wood impacted Rojo's head. He instantly went unconscious upon the impact. Lemon let out A half-scoff and growl at Cynder.

"Stop your laughing and help me carry this overgrown Lizard onto the ship so we can get going!"

She snapped. Cynder stopped snickering and looked incredulously at her.

"Get A move on!"

She said angrily. Everyone scrambled to get Rojo onto the boat except for me. I could hear A small voice in my head talking to me.

You're never alone in your battles my child; I will always be with you no matter what

The voice told me as I continued to stare at the water. For A moment, I thought I saw the reflection of my mother looking at me in the water. She smiled at me and dissipated into the water. It was then that I had A disturbing thought.

How much am I actually getting into now?

I asked myself as I heard someone calling me. I shook my head vigorously to clear myself.

"Yeah?"

I started.

"What's going on now?"

I asked as I met the annoyed faces of everyone looking over the side of the ship.

"Come on Emperor, you're holding up our progress!"

Lemon called from the deck of the ship.

"Get up here now or else we're leaving you here!"

Cynder snapped at me. I shrugged and walked up the plank that led to the ship, not knowing what would await me when I got on. As I walked up the boarding plank to the ship, I thought of everything that I had accomplished up until this point.

How much do I have to lose?

I asked myself.

Something doesn't feel right about this

This thought immediately followed the last one. Then my breath caught in my throat.

What have I done?

I asked myself as I collapsed on the ship's deck.