Danielle shifted in her sleep, the night still dark with the stars glittering as diamonds. In her sleep, a memory came forth...one of where she and James...
Zarina finished mixing the blue dust with some other objects, resulting in pink dust. She turned to Danielle and James, Danielle writing notes while James stood watch by the door for when the crew try to come in. Zarina looked at the dust.
"So far I know that pink dust is garden talent, but if it were to land on a human..." Zarina looked up.
"Dani, James could you two come over here for a moment?"
James came towards them as Danielle stopped writing down the notes.
"Yes, what is it Captain?"
"Yew want us to do something for ye?"
Suddenly they were both struck with pink dust. Their reaction was of surprise and shock.
"Captain! Why did you do that for?!"
''Seriously Zarina why?"
Zarina jingled in response.
Danielle shook her head understanding. She looked at James and said, "Well James, can you figure out what she said?"
James' eyes widened for a bit until he began to translate.
'Well...she said,' I threw the dust to...' to..."
Danielle chuckled.
" To find what could happen if the dust that has properties of a certain talent could affect a human.' your getting close James, sooner or later your going to understand Zarina's jingles. After this were going to practice more."
James gave an embarrassed chuckle as light color brought on his cheeks, not from the dust of course.
"Course Danielle. Thank you.''
Danielle paid no heed of the blush on his face. Danielle wiped off the pink dust from her face and grabbed the nearest object she could reach.
James looked at Danielle as he saw what she reached.
"Danielle don't!"
Danielle had already grabbed a red rose with a note attached to it, unknowingly wiping the dust on the petals. Zarina looked at Danielle and gasped.
Danielle noticed Zarina and James and gave an expression on what has happened, then she noticed the rose with the pink dust.
"...oh no..."
Immediately the rose grow to a gigantic size that filled the entire room up, the stem thankfully free of thorns. The other pirates were doing their duties when the rose grew to its abnormal size.
~later that night~
James, Danielle and Zarina were outside as the crew cut the rose to pieces to either throw overboard, or us it for something else. Or in Oppenheimer's case, use it as an ingredient for some stew. It took them a while to rescue them from the rose. After the rose was chopped up and thrown away, it left a very strong but very sweet rose scent. After all was done Zarina told Danielle to be very careful what she touches, while saying goodnight to Danielle and James. The other crew members were already to their quarters, leaving James and Danielle alone. an awkward silence was evident between them.
"Ummm...sorry I didn't hear you James..."
"it's...it's all right, wasn't your fault..."
more silence between them until a thought came to her mind.
"James, I don't recall bringing that Rose to our room, do you have any idea whose rose belonged to?"
James said nothing, his face turning to a light pink. Then Danielle remembered the paper that was attached to the Rose. She pulled out the paper and suddenly it was snatched from her.
"James! Why did you do that for?!"
" You can't read that note!" He immediately ran to the other side of the ship. Danielle followed suit.
" And why is that? You can't keep secrets from the first mate!"
They continued running until Danielle caught James and pinned him down to the floor.
"OK James, first off, give me that note, second. you better tell me why there is a rose in that room in the first place! And that's an order cabin boy!" James looked at her with eyes wide in fear, then he looked at his body and found that his knee was underneath the space between her legs. His face grew a shade of that rose that was found in the room. Finally, admitting defeat he gave the note to her and said it.
'' That rose...that rose is mine.."
Danielle raised an eyebrow at that response.
"And why is that?"
"well...you ought to read the note first."
Danielle read the note as James told her to and then...
her face got to the same shade James had recently. Those words spoke of...well...
"I know that we only got to spend three months together...but you are quiet amazing...not to mention very beautiful...i just... well... I love you.."
Danielle was speechless. It was true that she found James rather charming and attractive, yet her place as first mate...and what would Zarina say? Danielle took a deep breath.
"James...I do admit that I share similar feelings for you..but it wouldn't work.."
"Oh..." said James...eyes downtrodden and a bit heart-broken. "I understand since-" but then he was interrupted when Danielle pressed a finger onto his lips.
"You didn't let me finish; but it wouldn't work if we let it show in front of everyone." His eyes widened when he realized what she meant.
"So...would you be my girl?"
Danielle smiled and replied.
"Of course."
James leaned to kiss her but she held her hand in front of her.
"Nope, James i know you are rather excited, but the kiss would wait until later. Is that ok?" James smiled as he chuckled.
"Of course Dani."
"OK then"
Then they heard Zarina. They looked up and saw Zarina on one of the ropes.
"I saw everything and heard what you said."
They both began speaking and both failing at explaining.
"Captain! well..you see.. I"
"I know what this looks like but.."
Zarina laughed and smiled.
"And I am OK, just don't let it affect how you two work together alright. You two can be together."
Danielle let her brightest smile show as James looked very happy. Danielle looked at Zarina and said 'Thank you Zarina."
Zarina chuckled.
"Well, I'd do anything for my friends."
"Danielle wake up!"
Danielle woke up and saw the sun beginning to peek over the sea, then to Zarina who si already dressed.
"Come on, get dressed and wake James so he can wake up everyone else." Danielle nodded and changed to her garb. After she had done what she is told she gave the commands.
"Alright! All of ye better get moving! we head to Skull rock this instant!"
The crew started to sail the ship as Danielle and Zarina looked over the ship, both unknowingly headed for the biggest adventure of their life.