Miki

Hearing the word pirates, Miki thought of these things:

On a pirate ship, says pirate lingo, and greedy for riches.

Now she saw what they really were:

Annoying in numbers, really persistent, and still greedy for riches.

Everywhere she looked, Blackram littered the beach like ants on an anthill. It was no wonder the Bamboo Guards were on the losing side. She and Kreivier followed Yue as she slashed a Blackram guard. Athiana followed with by popping a huge hammer out of nowhere and smashed the guard. After Kreivier used his vines to hold down the enemies, Miki used her ice magic to finish them off. Once no guard was in sight, they went inside the cave where a table full of food and drinks were placed.

"We just have to drug the food... right?" Miki said softly. Yue nodded and proceeded to sprinkle the sleeping powder on the food and drinks.

"Let's go wait over there." Kreivier whispered at the wooden crates. The trio proceeded to hide behind them as they waited for the pirate. Unknown to the trio, the Familiar sniffed someone different. Athiana went toward the crates and proceeded to smash it with the hammer. A person stumbled out as the trio whipped around to see the ruckus.

"Athiana, what did you do?!" Kreivier whisper-yelled.

"Aren't you a Bamboo guard?" Miki asked the small person.

"Wh-What are you three doing here? This is a dangerous place to be in!" He whimpered.

"You are here." Yue deadpanned.

"U-Um... Well... I... I was resting! Yes! I was resting after I dealt with 11, no, 12 Blackram guards! But what are you three doing here?"

"We drugged the food with sleeping powder so the big pirate boss can go to sleep and we can get the keys to free the explosives guy." Miki explained.

"Him?! Hah! If I were you I would leave them." Yue narrowed her eyes at the small man but they widened.

"Someone's coming!" Everyone quickly shushed as the pirate boss went to the table and ate the food in a messy manner. After a while he stooped down and thus fell asleep with loud snores. The trio went up to the body slowly.

"Kreivier you do it." Miki said.

"Wh-YOU do it!"

"I don't wanna touch that guy!"

Yue made a sound of annoyance. "Sometimes you two act like children." Yue knelt next to it and grabbed the keys from his person. "We got it. Let's free the Bamboo guards." Yue and the others quickly left and freed the prisoners. From ahead, Miki saw Blackram. She used her ice magic and froze them and willed it to break, causing the ice to form into a dragon. She protected the others using both fire and ice.

"Miki. We need to go!" Yue yelled over the crossfire.

"We're gonna blow the beach up. We need the parts." Kreivier said as they followed the pyrotechnic. "We need to split up. Grab any parts you think might be useful." Thus the trio went into different ways. Miki went to the nearest one and blasted the guards away. She grabbed whatever she can carry but she realized she can't do anything to defend herself except run.

She yelped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "What the-"

Screams and blades flying was the sound she heard before she turned around and saw a hooded person standing over the now-dead Blackram with a dagger in his hands. He looked over to Miki, his eyes piercing her.

"Th-Thank you, um..." Miki said softly.

The person didn't say anything but put his pointer finger to his lips and smirked. Then he disappeared into the shadows.

'What in the-'

"MIKI, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Yue yelled. Miki went over her stupor and rushed outside where the rest are assembling the detonator. After the pyrotechnic finished, he pressed it.

Now imagine fireworks that can kill you. They can kill you but imagine it in a much more gruesome way. That's what Miki saw on the South Anchor. She looked to the center tent and saw the pirate boss fully awake and very angry.

"I'm not much of a fighter, guys. I'm sure you three can handle it." The pyrotechnic said as he ran away.

"Hey! I can't fight but I can at least still try!" Kreivier shouted to the fleeing man.

"Guys, we have more pressing matters to attend to." Yue said as she readied her sword.

"I don't think all four of us can beat him." Miki said nervously.

"Don't worry warriors!" A Bamboo prisoner said. "We got your backs. The three of you aren't fighting alone!"

Miki smiled at the new comrades and set fire to her bangle. "Let's do this!"

Thus they fought. Metal clashed and magic spewed (and cats meowed). Miki was on fire (quite literally). Ice and fire covered each of her arms as she destroyed Blackram one by one. From the corner of her eye, Kreivier used his staff to summon bees and confuse the enemies as Athiana finished them off wit her claws. Yue had electricity cover her body as she moved like lightning. Miki never felt so alive!

"I think they can handle things here. Let's go!" Yue yelled as she rushed ahead. Kreivier and Athiana followed while Miki was last. From the corner of her eye, she saw the same hooded person detonating his own bomb. She Windstrided back to the Foshi Pyres and saw Yue and Kreivier panting slightly.

"That... WAS AWESOME!" Kreivier raised his arms in the air. "That was the most awesome thing I did! I've never felt so energized!"

Miki joined with his cheers. "I know right?! It was amazing. Especially with the Bamboo guards helping us out!" She wanted to tell him about the hooded man but decided against it.

"Oh jeez. After that fight, I'm exhausted." Miki panted.

"Me too I guess. Athiana is getting weak and we need some sustenance."

Yue went back to the group after reporting to the Bamoo guard. "We need to go to Gloomdross next. Dochun is waiting for us."

Miki and Kreivier groaned. "But we're so tired. Can't we take a break?"

Yue blinked. "I'm feeling fine."

"You just fought in an exploding beach and you say you're FINE?!" Kreivier yelled.

Yue raised her brow at the group. "I... guess we can take a break."

"YES!"

"But after a night's rest we head out immediately."

"You got it Xuannu!" Miki saluted.

She didn't see but Yue curled her lips in a bittersweet smile.