This chapter is super boring. I swear I fell asleep like four times writing this. Most of these chapters in the beginning are boring, but I promise it'll get better soon. Just stay with me.
I didn't stay on the island for long after. Jenni and I celebrated for the night, and she decided to come along with me.
We had attempted to set sail on my rowboat, but between myself, Jenni and the barrel holding my two plants, we decided it would be better to steal a ship and call it a day.
Stealing a small ship was easy. We just climbed on board, brought up the single anchor and with the cool breeze passing by that night, we were able to pick up some speed, distancing ourselves from the island.
I climbed down the mast of the ship after tearing the horrid black flag that carried the jolly roger of the Aldin Pirates.
"I still can't believe it was that easy to kill Aldin," Jenni sighed. "I just wish I could've done it sooner."
"Yea, you were making such a big deal out of it that I was surprised when he dropped dead," I responded. "By any chance, do you know where we're going?"
"Not a fucking clue," she replied. "I stole this map from Aldin, and I'd like to say we're going here," she said, pointing to an island on the map, "but without a compass, we're just going wherever the wind takes us."
"So, we have no compass, not even an idea of where we are. Well, that's just great, ain't it? Shit, we might be in the running for the least prepared pirate crew. And that's if you can even call us that," I said.
"Here, I have an idea," she said, folding the map closed. "Let's play a game."
"Alright, truth or dare," I said, expecting her to say truth.
"Dare," she answered, surprising me.
"I dare you to buy a fucking compass," I told her, which made her laugh so hard she snorted.
"My turn, truth or dare?"
"Dare," I answered with a smirk.
"I dare you," she paused and thought for a bit. "Oh! I know, I dare you to keep watch tonight while I sleep comfortably."
"Ugh," I groaned. "Fine, truth or dare?"
"Truth," she answered.
"Alright, fuck this you can go sleep. I'll be in the crow's nest if you need me."
"Why would I need you?" She asked rhetorically.
"Oh, gee, I don't know, just in case you struggle to kill someone for a few years," I replied sarcastically.
"Fuck you," she said, sticking her tongue out at me. "I'm going to sleep."
"Don't wake up," I jokingly told her.
After she left to sleep in the captain's quarters, I climbed up to crow's nest and waited.
Night passed, and I was still awake, and there were still no islands in sight. However, I knew the sun rose from the east, so I opened the map up, and used the directions on the map and the sun to kind of figure out where we were heading.
The island we were heading towards was known as Mirrorball Island. The only possible explanation for that would be a giant mirror ball that gave it its name, but what do I know?
I closed the map, and sat down, deciding not to worry about it too much. We'll land when we land.
Instead, I focused on trying to figure out what my new powers were.
I tried focusing really hard, spread my hand out, switched hands, until finally, I created a small ball, that I could pick up and throw, like an actual ball.
I was playing catch with it by just throwing it up into the air and then catching it, until I threw it too high and, due to the ship being in motion, I couldn't reach it.
I eyed the ball carefully as it fell down into the ocean. If I let my eyes off, the size and transparency of the ball wouldn't allow me to find it again, so I kept my eyes on it.
Once the ball touched the surface of the ocean, it sank, and seemed to do nothing.
I was disappointed, until it created a giant splash in the water, around the size of a cannonball splash, and it rocked the ship sideways.
'That's cool,' I thought, wondering what else it could do.
I made another ball, throwing it in the air, but instead of letting it fall to the ocean, I pulled out my switchblade and popped it.
Bad idea. The force of the blast destroyed the crow's nest and sent me flying down into the deck of the ship and splintering the planks of wood.
Hearing this, Jenni rushed outside. "What the hell happened?"
I looked at her from my indentation in the deck and said, "an accident."
She looked at me incredulously. "What fucking kind of accident?" She was nearly yelling at me. "We don't even have a crows nest anymore!"
"Yea, I know. You don't have to tell me," I replied, getting up. "Jesus, fuck, that hurt," I said, trying to crack my back, but the pain was too much.
"Tell me what happened," she demanded.
I walked forward, the pain really getting to me now.
"Here, just lie down. I'll get the splinters out of your back," she ordered, and I followed.
"So, you remember I ate that fruit, right? Well, I was trying to find out what my powers are, and I made a ball, but I didn't know what it did. I made two, the first one fell into the ocean, and just rocked the ship a little bit. Then I made another, and I poked it, and what you see here are the results of that," I told her what had just happened.
"Jesus, it looks like a cannonball fell on top of you," she commented while pulling a large splinter out of my back, which caused me to wince in pain. "Suck it up, crybaby."
"Oh yea? I'd like to see you with a bunch of fucking splinters in your back," I retorted. "Hell, we could do it right now."
"Let's not do that," she responded, pulling another splinter out.
"Fuck!" I yelled in agony.
"Here, that's the last one. Now stop complaining," she said.
I got up and went inside the kitchen, where I had decided to leave all my belongings. I opened my backpack, pulled out my old clothes and my treasured shoes, and exited the kitchen.
"Jenni!" I called out. "Keep watch, I'm gonna go take a shower." I didn't know if she heard me, but I sure hope she did.
After my shower, I changed into my old clothes, which were much more comfortable than the handmade shorts and sandals I had worn for the past few years now.
I walked back outside onto the deck, where Jenni was waiting to tell me we were about to land on an island.
"Yea, I'm looking at the exact same thing you are," I sarcastically responded.
"Jeez, why are you so mean to me?" She questioned with a deceptively sad tone.
"Huh? I'm not, that's how I am with everybody," I told her. "We need a list of supplies to buy here. They'll need to range from most important to least important, cause we're broke as hell."
"Yea, I think food and a water supply is most important," Jenni said.
I agreed, and then added, "and a compass. If we need more money, I'll just rob a store."
She frowned. "That can be our last resort. Let's try and keep a low profile for now."
I ended the conversation there, and then went to tie the sails up, stopping the ship from moving. Once I was done with that, we used the waves to dock the ship, and I dropped the anchor.
I jumped off the ship, and Jenni followed right after. The island was much larger up close than it was from a distance. It had buildings all over, many of them with two stories or even more. At the heart of the island lay a huge dome, with a disco ball chained to the top of it, and a space with room for hundreds of people surrounded by all the buildings. It reminded me of Time Square New York, but a lot smaller.
Jenni was amazed by the place. She'd never seen anything like it, and I doubt anyone on her home island has either. 'Oh Jenni, if only you'd seen my home city,' I thought to myself.
"Come on, let's buy what we came here for. We can explore later," I told her, but my words fell on death ears as she was completely mesmerized by the scenery.
"Jenni," I called, forcing her to pay attention as I walked into a local bar.
I made my way up to the counter, gaining the full attention of the bartender.
"You need something?" He questioned.
"Yea, I just need to get some supplies. A drink would be nice too," I told him, careful not to attract any attention.
Of course, my efforts were for naught as Jenni unknowingly attracted the attention of two of the pirates nearby, who went up behind us.
The first pirate looked at me and asked, "are you lost kid? Why don't you let me show your friend around?"
"We don't want any problems," I said as he went behind Jenni, placed a hand on her shoulder and started to creep lower and lower.
The second pirate commented, "look, he's so scared! Just let my friend and I show her around, we'll treat her right."
I looked over at Jenni, who shuddered as the man's hand neared her ass, and then slapped his hand away.
"Oooh, feisty, aren't you?" The pirate said, angering me.
"Hey bud, your hands seem a little lost there. Might wanna keep them away from her, unless you want to lose the other eye," I said coolly, taking note of his appearance.
The man stood almost a full head taller than me, partially due to his boots and the captain's hat he wore atop his head. He was missing several teeth which had been replaced with gold teeth. He had a braided beard, leathery skin that spoke of his age and an eyepatch, whether for effect or to cover a missing eye, I didn't know.
The other pirate stood just a hair shorter, but was much larger and rounder, with a bandana tied over his head and a hook for a left hand.
"Woah now, there's no need for violence, I just want to help you out," the man whom I assumed was captain spoke in a creepy manner, one that would have any California girl filing a rape charge, as he set both hands on Jenni and dragged his dirty fingers down her arms.
Swiftly, I pulled my glock out, cocked it even though it was a semiautomatic and it was unnecessary, but it added to the effect. I then pointed it at the captains head.
Immediately after, his crewmate, whom I'm guessing is the first mate produced his own pistol and pointed it at the back of my head.
Jenni, with her powers of creation, made her own pistol and pointed it at the first mate's head in record speed.
The only one not holding a pistol was the captain.
The air was tense. Jenni spoke first. "Now, we all know the only way you both are making it out of here alive is if you drop that gun. My captain won't hesitate to pull the trigger, and I won't either. You wouldn't to die, would you?" Her words were directed towards the first mate.
Nonetheless, she noticed his finger moving dangerously close to the trigger, so her only option was to act fast.
She quickly pulled the trigger, ending the man's life right then and there.
I shrugged at the captain and said, "I told you we didn't want any problems."
"You bastard..." The now first mate-less captain muttered under his breath. "We were supposed to go to the grand line in a week!"
"Cry about it," I said, leading Jenni out of the bar.
"Hey, couldn't you just make a compass with your devil fruit?" I asked while we walked through the town.
"No, it doesn't work like that," she explained. "I have to hold the thing I wanna make before I can. But what we can do is walk into a store, I'll grab a compass and we don't buy it or anything, I'll just make one as soon as we walk out. Only difference would be in quality, but that shouldn't be an issue if we take care of it, right?"
"Right," I agreed.
We found a store near the center of the town labelled 'Gadget Store.'
'A for creativity,' I thought, and stepped inside.
"Hello, what can I do for you today?" The man over the counter said.
"Nothing, we're just looking," I said.
I turned to Jenni, who had found a compass, examined it for a second, and put it back on the shelf.
Jenni proceeded to walk out, and I glanced at the shopkeeper before following her outside.
"That might be the most awkward thing that I've ever done," she commented, and I had to agree.
"But it worked, didn't it?" I replied as she made a compass and handed it to me.
I examined it thoroughly. It seemed to work alright, so I just stuffed it in my pocket and we continued walking.
"So, food next?" I asked.
"Yes, is there anything you have in mind?"
"Actually, yea, there is. If we can find lobster tails, that'd be great," I answered, recalling a recipe I had made several years back.
Now, most people wouldn't be able to tell, but I'm actually quite the capable chef. My dad had taught me all he knew about cooking, and that's where I got most of my recipes from. Most of them are for meats, like steak, chicken, ground beef, burgers and some breakfast foods, but after my parents divorced, he wasn't there to help me cook anymore. So, one day, when my mom and my stepdad weren't home, and all we had were six lobster tails, I used what I could find in the fridge, a pound of butter, half a pound of garlic butter and then some salt and pepper to make some panfried lobster tails that came out amazing. I'm too lazy to always be making food though.
Eventually, Jenni and I made it to a market. There, we picked up a few pounds of meat, two snappers and six lobster tails.
"The total will be eight thousand berries," the shopkeeper said.
"Sorry, what?" I asked, pretending to not hear.
"Eight thousand berries, please," he repeated.
"Sure thing," I said, handing the bag to Jenni and pulling out my wallet.
I counted out the amount that I needed, and handed him the bills. He counted the amount and we left shortly after.
"That was most of our money right there," I said to Jenni as we walked away from the market. We made our way to the ship and loaded the fridge with our new food supplies.
With that, Jenni went to sleep and I stayed up on the deck of the ship until I eventually got tired and went to sleep inside.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, a pirate crew had docked and prepared to launch an attack on Mirrorball Island. This would soon be my first real battle as a pirate.
Also, if any of you would like the recipe to those lobster tails, tell me and I'll write it down. It really is a delicious recipe, trust me.