Hetalia – Of Magic and Might
I introduce chapter 3! A big thank you the people who have decided to follow this story, it touchs me to see that you don't hate my story and makes me want to keep writing!
The air ship 'The Fire Cracker', 15 miles from the floating Island known as the Capital, approaching the Capital's Air Ship crossing and harbour.
Yao stood at the helm of his trading boat and surveyed his ship, his crew scuttling to secure the rigging ropes and scrub the deck in order to make the ship presentable when they landed in the Capital. Reputation was extremely important after all and Yao had spent too many years of his life building his own for it to be ruined by sloppy sailing. Yao picked up the spyglass that lay next to the helm wheel and raised it level with his eye.
Through the looking glass he could see the floating island known as the Capital with its towering buildings made of metal and brick, roads paved in stone where trams and auto-mobiles drove occupied by the ever-present voice of the city. Yao turned his attention to the Capital Air Ship Harbour that the Fire Cracker was approaching which was much grander compared to the crossing they had left back on Whale Tail Island, the structured suspension where the air ships could dock were greater in number and docking stations themselves consisted of grated metal rather than of wood. Over the circular boarding courtyard where to be passengers gathered was a glass domed roof which had notice billboards decorated with intricate designs made of copper wiring, displaying boarding times alongside trimmed and proper men in red uniform who stood beside the boards to issue tickets. The crowd seemed to be a single thriving entity with the gentlemen escorting the women by their arm and little children pretending to be fighter planes and playing dog fight with each other. The Capital really is alive with its people being its blood.
"Prepare for landing!" Yao yelled to those below who all replied with a salute and ran to obey their captains orders, as his youngest cabin boy ran past him Yao stopped him "Go below and tell our customers that we have nearly arrived-aru", his cabin boy nodded and dashed off giddy that he had received a personal order from his captain that he admired so much. A few seconds later Alfred and Kiku climbed up the steel ladder that connected the ship's first and second layers, Alfred in his excitement stumbling over his own feet and crashing on the deck in a heap.
"Man I was getting sick of staying in that room! Hey hey Yao, why didn't you let me up here where all the happenings happening?" Alfred called to Yao who looked expectingly at Kiku to help Alfred up to which Kiku looked mortified back at Yao for even implying it, sighing over Kiku's dismay at touching people Yao offered his arm to Alfred who grasped it in a vince like grip and heaved himself up. Yao cleared his throat,
"Ahem, because we have nearly reached our destination I just have one very important favour to ask of you two-aru" said Yao looking Alfred and Kiku in the eye darkly, Alfred and Kiku shared a sideways glance, gulped loudly simultaneously and waited for Yao's favour fearing the worse.
"Would you please direct anyone who asks for The Dragon's trade to my ship? It would be very much appreciated-aru" Yao finished abruptly and laughed at his customers obvious sighs of relief. "We would be happy to Wang-san" Kiku said again with a small bow, Yao replied with his own formal bow while Alfred rolled his eyes but gave Yao a thumbs up "You can count on me! I'm the hero!".
The Fire Cracker sailed down to the harbour and aligned its self with the docking station as five men of Yao's crew jumped overboard, landing on the metal grid station and quickly worked to anchor the air ship with heavy ropes while a set of metal stairs was set against the ship pushed by two men in red uniform. Yao gently slapped Alfred on the shoulder and motioned the duo to follow him as he ascended the metal stairs onto the dock, his men had already begun to unload the stock and Yao wanted to give Alfred and Kiku a word of advice as he had began to quite like the two of them and didn't want them to be completely blind when in the Capital.
Turning to Alfred and Kiku who were staring around the harbour in amazement, their senses working overtime to try and incorporate all the information around them. The Whale Tail's crossing was a pit stop in comparison. At the centre of the courtyard was a silver wishing well which the odd passerby would occasionally throw in a copper piece and there was a nearly over the top assortment of bouquets perched on tables or hanging from the glass walls, composing of white lilies and crimson roses that gave off a sweet scent under the smell of steam and hot metal, Yao spoke up to draw their attention.
"Listen-aru, before you two leap in head first there are some things you should know" Kiku immediately stopped looking start struck and instead focused on Yao's words, Alfred nodded in response but didn't stop staring at his surroundings.
"When you in the city, don't stick your nose into the Empire's business. No one ever comes out looking pretty from it and the Empire can be brutal in more ways than one, do not underestimate them-aru" Yao said with his warning radiating caution, "They do not act kindly upon any who would challenge them". Kiku nodded once and once again bowed however this bow was much lower and conveyed his deepest respects,
"Thank you Wang-san, we are very grateful for what you have done for us and your warnings will be heeded, we will make sure to tread carefully in the Capital. Alfred please let us go". Alfred returned back to earth with the mention of his name and followed as Kiku strode past him towards the exit of the station.
"One final thing-aru, do try not to stick out so much. The Empire will be able to spot a pair of revolutionary agents like you two a mile away-aru" Kiku stopped and spun around in shock causing Alfred to collide into him, Yao winked at the duo and started up the stairs to assist in the unloading of his stock.
Alfred stared after Yao with his mouth hanging open, looked at Kiku then back at Yao "How-how do you think he knew?!" Alfred exclaimed completely bewildered. Kiku frowned, "Let's just hope he can keep a secret better then you can Alfred, let's go I'm eager to finish with this mission".
With that Alfred and Kiku walked into the crowd and began to make their way to the exit where they would finally be on Capital turf, but nothing could of prepared them for what lay ahead for the two.
Duh Duh duuhhh! We'll be getting into the meat of the plot now we've landed in the Capital and with it we'll be introduced to our main players, China will be meeting a reappearance in later chapters as he plays a major role in the plot. Next time! Our heroes enter the Capital and attempt to come to grips with their mission only to run into trouble with the Empire guards, till next time!