Author's Note: For those of you who don't know, the Kai in my story is an OC, and not the servant who works in Arendelle.
Chapter II: The Sound of Thunder
Kai and Elsa stood at the edge of the dock, the ship The Royal III was docked right next to them, ready to leave. They had both of their hands together, and looked at each other's eyes. Kai gave a warm look with his red eyes, and Elsa returned the favor with her blue eyes.
"It's just a short trip." Kai assured Elsa. "I'll be back before you know it."
"I know." Elsa said. She sniffed, and a tear ran down her cheek. "I'm going to miss you."
Kai put his hand on Elsa's cheek, and wiped away the tear. "I'll miss you too..." Kai said.
They knew it was cliché, but they didn't care. They loved each other that much. Kai loved her with all of his heart, despite the fact that she almost killed him when she froze his heart. Elsa loved Kai with all of her heart, despite the fact that he lied to her about his identity of being an ex "criminal", but she was cool with it when she found out. Good times.
They had a lot of time to be together, because Kai was Elsa's Captain of the Guard. He works closely with her to ensure her safety which was fine with her.
"One more present before I leave." Kai told Elsa.
"Oh?" Elsa raised her eyebrow. Elsa knew exactly what it was going to be. "Can't wait to have it." She said.
Kai leaned in to kiss Elsa, who closed her eyes. Before their lips touched, a man from the ship yelled.
"Captain Kai!" The man yelled.
Kai cursed in his mind, and looked over at the man.
"The ship is leaving, sir." The man told Kai.
Kai quickly pecked Elsa's cheek, and ran onto the ship. As the ship started to sail away, Kai stood at the back of the ship so that he could still see Elsa. They waved at each other as they got farther apart.
Then, from behind, someone grabbed Kai's arms and pinned them behind his back. Kai turned to see who is was, and he saw two masked men behind him. One was holding him in place while the other just stood there. Kai noticed that the mask that the men were wearing was the same mask that his old friend, Deren, wore when he worked with the Bandits.
Kai struggled to get out of their hold, but they were too strong. He tried to use his fire powers, but he couldn't. It was as if they were shut off. Kai looked over at Elsa from a distance, and he could see similarly clothed men holding her as well.
"No!" Kai yelled.
"Kai!" Elsa screamed. "Please, help me! Kai! Kai!"
"Kai!" yelled another voice.
Kai opened his eyes. He looked around. He was in his personal cabin on the ship, the Royal III. He looked at the ceiling, and found his chandelier shaking as the ship shook. He woke up from a nightmare. He reminded himself that none of that was real. He couldn't imagine Elsa being hurt like that. He wouldn't let that happen. He refused to let that happen.
"Kai!" Yelled the same voice. It was followed by knocking on his door.
Kai grabbed his sword at the side of the bed, and sheathed it on his waist. It was the same sword Kai was given during his Captain of the Guard ceremony. Kai walked to the door, and opened it. There stood a sailor who looked as if he just swam through the ocean.
"Sorry to disturb you." The sailor said. "But the Captain requests your audience."
"For what reason?" Kai asked.
"You'll have to find out for yourself." The sailor said.
The sailor walked away, and Kai walked out do his cabin.
The ship rocked as it sailed though the ocean. The night was darker than any other the sailors had seen before. Rain fell heavily on the ocean. The ship went over the huge waves, and water splashed all over the deck. The sailors did their best to make sure the ship didn't go under. They could see lightning flash in the distance. Tonight was not a good night to be sailing on the seas. But, tonight was the night that Kai sailed.
Kai was immediately soaked in rain, as he stepped out of his room. Kai walked up the stairs on his side that led to the wheel of the boat. There, the captain of the ship was manning it.
"Captain Berg!" Kai called for his attention.
"Captain Kai." Berg acknowledged.
"I'm not that kind of captain." Kai corrected.
Berg shrugged. "Doesn't matter." He said.
"A sailor said you requested my attention." Kai said.
"I just wanted to see my favorite fire man." Berg said. "How was the meeting?"
Kai was sailing because Elsa sent him to a meeting about trade with Arendelle in another country. It was a long trip there, and it would be a long trip back. The ship they used and are using is the Royal III, it was renamed from it's original name, The Duke of Weseltown. Now, they were sailing back to Arendelle. But, the weather wasn't as good as they thought it was.
"The meeting went great." Kai answered. "They have agreed to continue trading with Arendelle for another decade."
"You did well." Berg said.
"I appreciate it."
"Kai? Why did the Queen send you rather than someone else? You're the closest person she has." Berg asked.
"Elsa wanted me to know how this politics thing works. She said I'll need it when I become king." Kai answered.
"Does that mean you'll wed, captain?" Berg asked.
"Well, I haven't formally proposed. We only met about 6 months ago. But, I hope we'll get there."
"So... fire and ice ruling."
"Problem?"
"No... Well, I'm happy for you Kai."
"Thank you, captain. How far are we from home?" Kai asked.
"I'd say about a day." Berg answered.
"Are we at half or full sail?" Kai asked.
"Half." Berg answered.
"I want full sail. That way, we'll get there faster." Kai ordered.
"Half sail is more maneuverable." Berg said. "In full sail, we'll be taken by the storm."
"But-"
"I've been sailing these seas for more years than the years in your lifespan, I know what I'm doing."
Kai couldn't wait a day. He wanted to see Elsa right now. He was too excited to give her the news. Kai looked around the deck. He saw men struggling to work the ship. The cold didn't help them work any better. The ship rocked violently, and lightning flashed in the distance.
"Pray we'll make it." Kai told Berg.
"I've faced storms like these before." Berg said. "I lived to tell the tale."
Lightning struck a few meters next to the ship. The sound of thunder followed. The ship continued to shake violently. The lightning blinded half of the ship. Some men fell down, and one man went overboard, though he swam back to the ship. Soon, the men returned to their post, unfazed.
"That was close." Kai told Berg.
Kai didn't hear Berg respond. Kai turned his head to look at Berg, but Berg was lying on the ground. A pool of blood was under him. A dagger stuck out of Berg's back. Kai gasped, and knelt next to the Captain. Berg was murdered. There was a killer on the ship, and everyone was in danger. The lightning was the perfect distraction for the murder. Kai couldn't believe he had let that happen right in front of him. Then, he wonder why he wasn't stabbed as well.
Kai took the dagger out of Berg's back, and examined the blade. It had a golden hilt, with blood on the blade. Kai's eyes widened. This dagger belonged to him. It was the dagger he had lost the last time he was in Teranhall. It was the dagger he had lost when he was fighting Deren.
Kai yelled, and called for everyone's attention.
"What is it?" Asked a sailor.
"The captain has been murdered!" Kai revealed.
The crew was silent. There were some whispers, but that was it. Kai motioned for everyone to come up, and see the body. The crew ran up, and crowded around Berg. They looked with horror in their eyes.
"There's a killer on the ship." Kai said. "He was stabbed by this dagger." Kai showed everyone the dagger. "Watch your backs. Dismissed."
The crowd did not go anywhere. They were paralyzed with disbelief and fear,
"I said dismissed!" Kai ordered.
The crowd slowly dispersed, and soon, all of them were back to their duties except for one man. A young man stood next to Kai.
"Who're you?" Kai asked.
"Berg's first mate." The young man answered.
"Do you know what that means?" Kai asked.
The young man nodded.
"She's all yours." Kai said, pointing to the wheel. "Captain..."
"Phelps." The young man said.
"The ships yours, Captain Phelps." Kai said. "What should I do with the body?"
"Drop him into the ocean. He wanted to die at sea." Phelps answered.
As Kai picked up Berg's body, Phelps put his hands on the wheel. Though it wasn't the first time Phelps manned the wheel, it felt like the first time. His mentor was gone, and he had to take the responsibility that comes after it. Kai stood at the edge of the ship, with Berg in his hand. Kai thought it was disrespectful, but that's what Berg would've wanted. Kai dropped the body into the stormy sea, and it sunk slowly.
"Good bye... friend." Kai whispered.
Kai walked next to Phelps. He noticed the way Phelps was manning the wheel. The ship was rocking, and Phelps' hands were shaking. Kai didn't know whether Phelps was unexperienced or afraid.
"You'll do fine." Kai assured.
Phelps didn't respond.
"Hang tight. I'm going to find out who did this." Kai told Phelps.
"How?" Phelps asked.
"I don't know." Kai said truthfully. Then, Kai looked at the pool of blood where Berg was. He then noticed small smears of blood leading away. The blood trail led to the trapdoor that went below deck. "Scratch that." Kai said.
With that, Kai followed the blood trail.
Below deck, water dripped from the ceiling. It eerily quite, but Kai wasn't surprised. Most of the crew was on the top deck, trying to survive this storm. Kai wondered if it was a smart idea to let Phelps be captain. There were many more experienced individuals on the ship, bit Phelps was captain now. It didn't matter now. Kai worried about getting Berg's killer.
Kai could see the blood trail go deeper below deck. It went down one more level. Now, Kai was at the lowest level of the ship. Cannons were on the side of the walls. The blood got more faint as he followed. Kai deduced that the killer stepped on the pool of blood, and fled below deck. The killer failed to see the blood trail he created.
Kai was closer to the killer now. Kai knew that the killer was nearby. He had to stop this man. For Berg. For Arendelle. This was going to be a crazy story to tell when Kai got home. Assuming the storm let Kai go home.
Kai walked to the middle of them room. He heard a splash where he stepped. He looked down to see a puddle of water around his foot. Kai moved his foot, and found a small hole on the wooden floor. Water from the ocean leaked through.
Then, the ship turned violently. Kai slipped to the floor, and hit his head on the ground.
"Ow." Kai said, rubbing the back of his head.
Then, Kai heard something unsheathed. He looked up to see a man jumping at him, with a sword in his hand, ready to strike. Kai moved out of the way, and the man stabbed the wood where Kai was. The sword was stuck to the wood, and the man pulled desperately to try to get it out. Kai kicked the blade of the sword, and it broke. The kicked blade flew and stuck to a wall.
Kai found the killer. Kai punched the man in the face, and he flew back, and fell to the ground. Kai walked toward the killer, with a fireball in his hand, but Kai stopped in his tracks. He recognized the man. The right side of the man's face was scarred. His right eye was milky white. He gave Kai a murderous look.
"Deren..." Kai said.
Deren kicked his legs forward, hitting Kai, and pushing him back. Deren grabbed another sword strained to his waist.
"Hello, Kai." Deren said.
"You killed Berg."
Deren nodded.
"Why strike now?"
Deren shrugged. "Felt like it was the right time."
Kai unsheathed his sword, and Deren attacked. Kai met Deren's blade with his own, and their swords clashed together. They were trying to push each other back, but they were equally matched in strength.
"I let you go!" Kai said as they clashed. "This is how you return the favor?"
"I'll have my revenge, Kai!" Deren yelled.
Kai kicked Deren back, and shot a blast of fire at him. Deren dodged the blast, and the fire hit the wall. Fortunately, the wood of the wall was too wet for the fire to do any damage, so it just left a black spot on the wall. Deren pulled out something strapped to his waist. He pulled out a flintlock pistol.
"You're not the only one who can play with fire." Deren told Kai.
Before Deren could pull the trigger, Kai smacked the pistol away with his sword. Deren jabbed at Kai, but Kai sidestepped the attack. Unfortunately, Deren cut through Kai's side. Kai grabbed the side of his torso in agony, and fell to his knees. Deren raised his sword above Kai, but Kai shot Deren back to the wall with his fire. Deren gave a pained look, but shrugged it off.
As Kai slowly got up, Deren ran for his pistol. On one particular step, Deren's foot went through the wooden floor. The plank he stepped on was too weak. Deren pulled his foot out of the wood, and saw the water rushing onto the ship, quickly. Deren left a moderately big hole on the floor. Soon, the ship would be flooded completely. Deren was okay with that.
Kai saw the hole, and his eyes widened. They had to evacuate the ship, or go down with it.
Deren ran, picked up his pistol, and aimed it at Kai. Kai was gone. Kai ran above deck to warn the others.
Kai stood on the middle of the deck, and started yelling.
"Everyone! Get off the ship!" Kai yelled.
"Why?" asked a sailor. "Something wrong?"
"It's flooded!" Kai answered. "Lower the rowboats." Kai ordered. "Take all but one!"
"We'll die on the rowboats on this storm!" yelled a sailor.
"Have a little faith." Kai assured.
With that, the crew ran to the elevated deck, and lowered the rowboats. They all got on one at a time. They left one rowboat behind for Kai. Kai ran up next to Phelps who still had the wheel.
"You have to go." Kai told Phelps.
"I'm not going anywhere." Phelps said.
"Don't be stupid."
"A captain goes down with his ship." Phelps argued.
"But-"
Kai looked at the trapdoor on deck. It opened, and Deren walked out, sword in hand.
"Kai!" he yelled.
Kai jumped to the floor below them to meet Deren. They stood in front of each other, sidestepping in a circular direction.
"We were friends once." Kai said.
"Once." Deren said.
"It doesn't have to end this way."
"On the contrary. For me, it won't end any other way."
Deren jabbed at Kai, but used his sword to smack Deren's upward. Kai side kicked Deren, but Deren's hand met his foot. Deren grabbed Kai's foot, and spun Kai around. When Deren let go, Kai flew backwards, and fell to the ground.
"Captain!" yelled a sailor.
Kai and Deren looked to see a sailor standing next to Phelps, and watching their fight.
"I said go!" Kai yelled at the sailor.
"But-"
"That's an order!"
Deren started to walk towards the sailor, intent on harming him. The sailor ran back to the rowboats. There were only 2 rowboats remaining. One for Kai, and the other for the boarding sailors.
Kai shot a blast of fire at Deren's back, and Deren fell face first on the ground.
"Your fight is with me!" Kai said.
Kai jumped up, and pulled out his dagger. Now, Kai held a sword in one hand and a dagger in the other. Kai charged towards Deren, who got up quickly. Deren reacted quickly as well. Deren swung at Kai with his sword, and Kai blocked the attack. The took turns striking at each other, but the other would just block the attack. Sparks would fly out whenever their swords touched.
By then, all of the sailors were on rowboats, and on the deadly sea. Their greatest challenge, now, would be the waves. They had to get to Arendelle safely. Phelps was still manning the ship, and watching Kai and Deren battle. He wanted to help Kai, but he couldn't let go of the wheel.
Kai jabbed at Deren, but Deren jumped back. From the inside of his shirt, Deren pulled out three knives and threw them at Kai. Time slowed down for Kai. Kai smacked the knives away with his blades.
Deren ran at Kai with his sword, and Kai was ready for him. But, instead of striking, Deren dropped to the floor and slid towards Kai. Kai wasn't expecting this. Deren knocked Kai down, and he ran to the middle mast.
Deren started to climb the rope of the mast up. He climbed quickly and swiftly. Kai got up, and followed Deren's example. Deren was meters ahead of Kai when he reached the top of the mast; the bird's nest.
What is he doing, Kai thought to himself. This wasn't like Deren. Why would Deren run from a fight? Especially if there's no where to run.
Then, Deren hung from the bird's nest with one arm, and a pistol in the other.
"I knew you'd follow me up." Deren said, smiling.
Deren aimed the pistol at Kai, and Kai's eyes widened as he pulled the trigger.
The gun shot was heard by the sailors, who were far away from the ship, but close enough to see the ship. The gun shot was like thunder. Thunder startled them.
"Hear that?" asked one of the sailors.
"Everyone in Arendelle could hear that." said another.
"It's clear as day. That was a flintlock shot." said another.
"Does the captain have a gun?" asked a sailor.
"No. I think that was our murderer, men." said another.
The waves were pushing the rowboats back, but they were still moving up. They had to get to Arendelle. They had to survive.
"Does that mean Captain Kai is..."
"I'm afraid so."
Sailors with hats on from all of the boats took them off, and held them to their chests. One sailor started singing. It was a shanty they would sing when they lost someone. It was a very sad tune. As if this day could get any worse.
"Men." Said a sailor. "We must inform Queen Elsa of her lost."
Then, the men saw lightning strike the ship. Fire burned on the deck. They knew that that was it for Kai.