Many thanks to FoxyJosh, (Haha, I like his new hat too : D)
Dragonite123 and Steben for the reviews! Hm, not much to say… so enjoy this chapter! : D
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"Who's the slowpoke now?" taunted the panting Jolteon.
Torq retorted, "You try wearing this dress from time to time!"
Laughing, the two plopped down onto the sand. The shine off the tide reflected in the thunder dog's eyes. "So what's it like out there?"
The Vaporeon sighed, "Amazing."
Pause. The roaring of the ocean.
"… You're going back I suppose."
Torq nodded slowly, "I have to. I'll run away again if need be." She faced her brother. "But it'll be different this time, I hope."
Kito titled his head in confusion, "What? How?"
The next thing he knew, the water maid had nearly knocked him over, arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
"We'll say goodbye as friends."
The Jolteon smiled as he returned the hug. "I promise."
Suddenly, Torq felt the quills around his neck stiffen and his muscles tense. "Torq, how many ships does Skipper have?"
"Only one, why?"
Wordlessly, Kito spun her around. She gasped.
A large ship had sailed out of the horizon, growing larger with each passing second. Its intent was clear: to dock on the island. An ominous black flag flapped in the wind. Pirates!
The two quickly retreated into the bush.
"Do you think they've spotted us?" Torq whispered.
"I don't know, but they must have seen your ship, or the fireworks from the village." Kito replied. He thought for a moment. "Go get Skipper."
"What? What about you?"
He grinned reassuringly at her. "I'm keeping behind you to cover our tracks. Don't worry, I'll catch up."
"Good luck!" She gave his paw a squeeze before taking off into the night.
Kito sought out a large palm leaf and got to work.
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"Skip!"
All beasts on the long table, and some villagers as well, stared at the bedraggled figure before them. Torq stood there panting, branches and leaves sticking out of her gown.
"Torqoise! Your dress!" wailed Lady Sera.
From the look in the water maid's eyes, Skipper knew there was something wrong. His thoughts were confirmed when she uttered the word, "Pirates!"
The effect was instantaneous. Creatures screamed and ran in different directions. Tables and chairs were overturned. It was pandemonium. In this small and isolated realm, it was shocking to see how balance was so easily disrupted.
"Where's Kito?" Lord Ignaceous roared above the crowd.
The Vaporeon yelled back, "He's covering our tracks!"
"It won't matter if they hear this din!" shouted Dorian.
Bell ran to her mother and buried her face in the Espeon's gown.
"Enough… ENOUGH!" the fire lord bellowed.
The chaos came to a pause.
"My good beasts," he continued, "panicking will only endanger us all. Please, gather your families and remain calm. Let us assess the situation."
His speech had quieted the crowd, at least. But the villagers still turned their heads in fear. They were not used to any intrusion from the outside world, much less something as fearsome as pirates.
The Captain took charge at once, the seriousness of the situation evident in his manner. "Torq, report."
"Only one ship, but a large one at that. We saw it coming out of the horizon, traveling fast. They must have seen the Seatunder but I don't know if they'd spotted us. It will have docked by now."
Skipper nodded, "Ye did good, Torq, you and Kito… Here's what we need to do," he addressed the crowd, "Listen here, mateys. You beasts know these woods like the back of your paws. Those egghead pirates are probably chasing their own shadows in there, lost and confused. This be our chance; methinks we should strike now!"
Ignaceous was whispering urgently to the Sandshrew who had attacked Skipper's crew earlier that day. The ground shrew nodded and scampered off. The Flareon turned to the Buizel, "My guards will hold them off as best was we can. Those sea slimes must not reach Ayon!"
"Aye," Skip agreed, "My crew, to me! We do this the old fashioned way!"
They rose at once, food and talk long abandoned.
The fire dog firmly gripped his daughter's shoulder as she made to join her crew. "Torq, this is too dangerous for you!"
"Father! They need me!"
"I will not let you risk your life!"
"I don't care, Father, I don't care! Let me do this for them… for Ayon!" The Flareon's eyes widened in shock. Torq looked at Skipper imploringly. "Captain, what would you have me do?"
The sea weasel's face was emotionless. "It's dangerous, Torq. You have a good family and a good home. I am not your Captain here…"
Ignaceous was about to nod approvingly, when Skipper continued, "But there is something greater here, something nobeast in Ayon will ever understand." He touched a paw to his bandana. "Follow your heart, Torq." With that, he and the rest turned and disappeared into the forest.
The silence that followed was heavier than the thickest fog, and was only cut by a small voice…
"Daddy, let Torq go." Bell's voice was barely audible, but they heard her.
Sera berated her daughter, "Hush now! You don't know what you're saying, dearest."
The Eevee's voice grew louder and more confident, "Daddy's afraid, like Tot… But Tot said 'I always try to stand up to my fears so I can grow big and strong' and daddy should do that too!"
"The Espeon shook her head disapprovingly, "Bell, you're not making any sense."
"No," Torq exclaimed, beaming proudly at her sister, "she's absolutely correct. Father is afraid for me, and I love him with all my heart… but I have to live my own life, and I dare anybeast to try and stop me!"
The water maid took off, ruffling Bell's ears as she passed. Ignaceous stood rooted to the spot. He sighed wistfully and shook his head.
"Ignaceous!" Lady Sera exclaimed, "How could you let her go like that?!"
"Our Torqoise has grown up… she had grown up long ago."
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Oh no, pirates! What could they possibly want with this humble little island? Will Ayon be destroyed, or under siege? Perhaps everything will be okay….
Hehe, stay tuned!
-Canyx