A.N:
Hello everyone, sorry for the unannounced hiatus. This chapter is super long, so I hope it makes up for it some.
A family member had a huge health scare and we had a regulation change at work that needed a lot of extra time. On top of that, I had an outside influence messing with the way I wrote some of my characters for a couple weeks and I didn't want to give you all anything less than true to what I've given you before. I'm hoping that the problem is fixed now and that I can get back into regular updates.
That being said, because I'm having to put in a lot more time at work and lately I've been feeling a little overwhelmed with irl complications, I am going to aim for one update a month.
Thank you for your patience!
-Knight
Three days later, Bhoden senses something odd on the horizon. At first, he doesn't pay it much mind until he realizes that neither Karmen or Camilla have made a move to address it. He lifts his head from where he'd been helping prepare dinner and dismisses himself momentarily.
Some of the women give him a harsh look for skimping on the work, but as soon as they see the pensive expression on his face they quietly get back to work and let him go about his business. No matter what's going on with him, he needs to step away. It's something they all can understand.
He doesn't see Winston or Saaresto, and Pierce had yet to return, so he moves on to the poison garden. "Camilla?" he calls. He doesn't see anyone, but he can never be sure where the girl is.
He waits in silence until he's not sure anyone is there at all. He turns, ready to look elsewhere, only to find Camilla standing there in the shadows, looking annoyed, but patient enough to see what he wants.
"Um, hello." He rubs his neck and gives her a friendly smile. "Sorry. I'm not sure if it's anything to be concerned about, but I thought Kudra was acting strangely and you're the first veteran that I've found."
She makes a few signs that he doesn't understand, then turns her gaze to the wall in the sea king's direction. She tilts her head like a curious puppy, frowning. With a sharp nod to Bhoden, she moves quickly down the tunnel. Since she doesn't fade, Bhoden assumes it's alright to go with her.
He can feel haki rising in her as they walk, but her face shows only frustration. Whatever she's trying to do, it doesn't seem to be working. She rounds several corners and he notices that even the new patients get out of her way. Soon, they're standing in front of Winston back in the kitchen.
He looks up at them, then signs a question to Camilla. She responds, indicating Bhoden with a sharp point and continues, including signs that he recognizes as Karmen and Kudra's names. Winston nods and makes a sign that Bhoden recognizes as Saaresto. She nods and disappears and Winston runs his hand through his hair, exhaling heavily in thought.
"Can I help?" Bhoden asks.
Winston nods. "I don't know if this will work, but I need tea and something fragrant with apples in it."
Bhoden washes his hands again and moves toward the already prepared food. "I'm on it."
Winston had been showing the kitchen helpers how to fix tea the way Karmen likes so that they wouldn't feel the need to track her down just to ask, so there was already fresh tea made. He pours a large glass and sets fresh apple dumplings on a tray with the tea before handing it to Winston.
He gives the man a concerned look before he makes to leave. "Will she be alright?"
Winston considers his words carefully before he answers. "Usually when something bad happens, she acts like it doesn't bother her, all the while she's blaming herself like she is now." He gives a heavy sigh, understanding and concern clear on his face. "It's hard on her. When she came back she wanted to be able to protect everyone that she could, but she's been conditioned to believe that everything bad happens because she did something wrong. In her own way, she's as much of a patient as any of you." He gives him and the other patients who had stopped to listen a reassuring smile. "But I wouldn't worry too much. She'll snap out of it and be back to her old self soon enough."
Bhoden nods, looking comforted. "She's done a lot for us already. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help."
Winston grins and lifts the tray between them. "Keep us supplied in these and you'll do plenty."
Camilla appears and dumps powdered poison over the contents of the tray. When she's finished, she inclines her head toward the tunnel leading down, ushering him on his way. Bhoden remains behind, working hard to help with dinner preparations while keeping his haki trained on the veterans and a single life-sign far below.
"We need Karmen," Winston muses, staring into the dark tunnel riddled with warning signs and caution ropes.
"But she's down in the Sulphur Tunnel and we won't be able to find her if she doesn't want to be found," Saaresto adds in.
-Don't you make gas masks?- Camilla signs. -Woman up, take the tray, and go get her.-
"Let's try out here first," Winston says with a small sigh. "Karmen's the only person who's explored those tunnels and without haki or Pierce's sonar, we could get lost or hurt very easily."
They set the tea in front of the tunnel opening like an offering at a shrine while Camilla picks up a rock and hits the wall three times. The aroma is strong, and they all take turns fanning it toward the entrance, doing their best to ignore how foolish they all feel.
"Karmen!"
After a few minutes they stop. -Maybe she's too far down to smell it.-
"Should we do a dance?" Winston suggests. "Maybe the motion would register with her haki as something unnatural."
"You dancing certainly would be unnatural," says a voice by their feet. They look down to find Karmen seated on the floor, drinking the tea.
Winston shakes his head and smiles. "I'm a little ashamed that this worked."
Karmen looks up at them. "So. What's going on?" She still looks solemn and distracted.
Saaresto and Camilla turn their gaze to Winston. The tailor clears his throat and steps forward, leaning on his diamond pommeled cane. "Bhoden and Camilla noticed that Kudra is acting oddly," he says. "We thought it would be best to notify you."
She takes a big bite of an apple dumpling and it's clear she's using her haki. Her gaze sharpens and she downs her tea in one gulp before she stands to her feet and rolls her shoulders, leaving the tray where it is. "How long has Kudra just been staring at the island?"
Winston is caught slightly off guard as she strides past him toward the surface. "Um, at least fifteen minutes now."
"She knows I'm usually watching," she says, mostly to herself. "There are mermaid purses everywhere out there. If there weren't, she would have flooded the tunnels trying to get my attention."
-What's going on?- Camilla asks.
-We have company.-
Karmen stops in her room for her bag and makes her way to the beach, quickly followed by curious patients who line the cliff above her. The Fishmen and new arrivals join them, curious as to what's drawing so much attention.
Kudra's eyes narrow on Karmen as she lets out a deep call that makes the Fishmen wince.
"I wasn't ignoring you," Karmen calls back. "I just turned off my third eye for a while."
Kudra's tail whips forward, sharp barb aimed for Karmen's head. The patients gasp, but Karmen leaps out of the way, landing on the razor edge of the ray's weapon with an unimpressed expression. The tail is pulled back, flinging Karmen far out to sea. Kudra's gaze follows her, but she gives a satisfied hum and sinks into the water instead of continuing her assault.
Water explodes beneath Karmen, cushioning her landing as three giant sea kings rise from the sea. She finds herself sitting on the nose of the lancetfish sea king she'd helped weeks before. Behind it, the other two wait calmly as it greets her with a loud, reverberating call. One has a large fish hook stuck in its back, another has a harpoon lodged in its side.
The lancetfish opens its mouth wide to show that the wound in his gum was healing nicely. Karmen leans over, clinging to his scales to inspect it, then gives a soft chuckle, running her hand through her hair. "I see," she says. She exhales sharply and hitches her bag higher onto her shoulder as she climbs back up to the center of the sea king's nose. "I'm glad you're feeling better. Of course I'll help your friends."
It gives another call, this one softer and seemingly appreciative.
She looks again. "Though I admit, I'm not sure I can do this alone."
Karmen turns around and extends her hand toward a cloud and a dark shape descends from it. It's hard to tell exactly what it is at first, but after a moment the form of a winged man becomes visible.
Pierce lands lightly in front of her, taking her hand and kneeling in a repentant motion, pressing his forehead lightly to her fingers. "You left," Karmen says quietly.
He stands and straightens his shoulders. "Yes," he says. "I… ran an errand."
Her tone becomes a hair less guarded. "You were gone a long time."
"I'm sorry I didn't ask for leave beforehand," he says. "I knew you'd want a little more time to yourself than usual, so I thought it a calculated departure."
"You're my partner, not my servant," she says. "Where did you go?"
"I was making something," he says. "A gift."
She looks at the windblown state of his hair and notes he's still wearing the clothing he'd left in and gives a soft sigh. "Did you at least take some food and medicine?" she asks, slightly exasperated.
He gives a partial nod. "I had medicine on me still from our latest missions and Raja caught me some fish."
Karmen gives an amused snort. "So that's where he was. I'm glad to hear you weren't alone."
"I didn't like being away," he admits, "but it was a productive trip. I'll show you after you're done with-" he waves his hand at the sea kings, "whatever this is."
She gives a soft laugh. "Would you mind helping me, actually? This is all too heavy for me."
He turns his face toward the cold metal of the hook and his muscles bob with what she knows is a supersonic cry. He considers the information that pings back to his ears. "That looks to be a difficult task. I'll follow your lead."
She gives him a soft smile. "I know you will."
He takes in as much of the situation as echolocation will allow and gives a small chuckle. "You know you're never going to live down the name Fish Whisperer, right?"
She answers with a laugh. "I kind of like it," she says. "Come on."
She directs him to carry her near the face of the first sea king and whispers comforting words to it, stroking its cheek gently and promising it's going to have a gnarly scar to help ward off other predators.
Pierce begins by investigating the hook closer, tapping it and tilting his hear toward the sound to identify the best plan of action. He grows three sets of black leathery wings and coats his tonfa blades with glistening black armament haki to match. With a burst of power, he pushes off the sea king's back, slicing the barb levelly from the fishhook.
Kudra's tail shoots out of the water and snatches the barb from the air. She tosses the barb to an unoccupied part of the beach where it is buried in the sand with a reverberating metallic thoom that shakes the island. Karmen coats the shortened end of the hook with viper venom to staunch the bleeding.
Pierce flies up and performs a maneuver he'd coined Sonic Bash. He flies high into the air and falls into a sweeping arc back toward his target. The wind lashes at the fur on his face, distorting his hearing as he picks up speed. He relies on his echolocation and the feel of the sun on his face to direct him to his quarry. At the last moment, he forms battering ram with haki coated-wings and slams into his target. Black haki meets hardened steel and the hook is rapidly levered out of the sea king's back. The venom coating the other end is smeared through the wound, staunching the bleeding as the hook cartwheels toward the ocean. Kudra catches this as well and sends it hurtling into the sand next to the barb.
Karma moves quickly, crawling into the wound and cleaning it from the inside out. She checks carefully for signs of infection and foreign debris, thankfully finding none in the cold-blooded flesh. She administers time-release antivenom with the antibiotic ointment she spreads to every reachable area. It's slimy and difficult to climb out, but strong hands are there waiting to offer aid. Pierce borrows her dagger and uses it to make stitching holes, using more armament haki to pull the flesh together long enough for Karmen to sew the wound closed. By the time they're done, they're both sweating and coated in gunk.
Pierce silently lifts Karmen by her underarms to fly her over to the next sea king as the first gives a thankful call. They both know just how tired and sore the other one is, but they both remain silent and focused on the task ahead.
Karmen gives this sea king similar reassurances, noting that its eyes watch her with an air of mistrust and wariness. As she talks, it seems to calm some, cooning in response to her voice. When she thinks it's ready, Pierce moves to its side where Karmen grimaces when she sees how deep the harpoon is. The sea king turns its head toward her in question and she quickly masks her concern. "I can do it, but it will hurt," she says. "A lot."
The sea king gives a small call that still shakes the two where they stand.
"What can I do to help you?" Pierce asks.
"I need your Tonfa blades," she tells him. "We need to line them up with the barbs on the harpoon and cut it out as precisely as possible, and then we need to remove it."
Pierce taps the wooden shaft to get a sense of how much work would be involved in this process. His visor gives a small bob and she knows he's thinking of how hard this is going to be. "Do you need to prepare any toxins before we begin?"
She shakes her head. "As deep as it is, I can't get the toxins in far enough to be effective beforehand. I have to administer it after from the inside while I look for any shrapnel."
"It's not going to like that," Pierce says. "Do what you need to. I have your back."
Karmen coats Pierce's long tonfa blades with viper venom. It leaves a yellow sheen on the sparkling metal. He taps the harpoon's shaft once more with his toe as he steps out onto it to make sure he lines his weapons with the barbs. His muscles ripple as he rears back and drives both weapons straight in, down to his shoulders on either side. The sea king screeches with pain and begins writhing instinctively.
Karmen rolls with the motion, but her balance is useless as she's bucked into the air. She manages to grab the rough wood of the harpoon as she lands and Pierce's wings soon wrap around her for stability. It roars in pain and discomfort, rearing over and grasping the harpoon in its sharp teeth. With one sharp motion, it wrenches the projectile from its side, tearing flesh in a wide line that instantly begins pouring blood.
Karmen feels herself being shoved toward the wound as the harpoon is ripped away and manages to grab a scale and turn to see Pierce caught in the sea king's mouth. "Pierce?!"
Kudra's tail whips forward once more and wraps around the harpoon as it flies free. With one mighty heft, it's wrenched from the sea king's side and thrown no land by the remains of the hook.
She can see flashes of wings and blood and black.
The lancetfish sea king coils around its companion, attempting to restrain it. It croons softly to the other, deeply reverberating and comforting sounds. Restrained, and thrashing wildly, the sea kings begin to sink, but hundreds of rays swim up to support them. Some of them are bashed to the side, but more come up to hold the giant fish.
Karmen's heart pounds behind her eyes and seizes as she struggles to concentrate enough to use her haki. There's so much bleeding. She knows she needs to do something now, but she can't seem to move.
There is as grunting before the sea king's mouth is shakily pried open. Pierce is there, wedged between two of the lower feet. A thin line of red streaks his cheek from beneath his mask. His arms, wings, and legs are coated black. Both of his hands have transformed into snarling bat heads with teeth clamped around the tooth, pushing it away from his chest which ripples with uncontrolled transformations. "Fine," he manages. "Go."
She nods and climbs into the wound, disappearing from sight. She works feverishly, finding hard bits of debris and pushing it out into the ocean. Some of it are splinters of wood her own size. There's so much blood that she has to work by feel, finding and cauterizing the bleeding with sunblade, clotting the blood with venom, sterilizing the wound with alcohol.
As she works, the sea king slowly stops thrashing and it becomes much easier to maneuver without muscular flesh attempting to crush her every few seconds. When her lungs scream for air, she finds Pierce's weapons and uses the back of the blades to pull herself from the wound, gasping for air. Her head hangs to keep the blood away from her nose and mouth, knowing it wouldn't take much more to keep her from becoming ill from the smell or taste or the memory.
The lancet sea king has secured its hold on the patient and Pierce is resting atop its nose. His head perks up when she climbs out and she waves the all-clear. If she wasn't covered head to toe in blood, he'd probably have flown over. In fact, she believes that's the only reason why he hasn't. The slightest sweep of haki confirms that his skin is bubbling ever so slightly.
She lets herself slide down the smooth scales and into the ocean, the water exploding into a nostalgic cloud of red around her. Rays brush her, whether helping to scrub her clean or in simple greeting, she can't quite tell. She checks them for injuries as they do. A few have some bruising, but they don't have anything that they won't recover from in a few days.
The water is cool and refreshing for her and when she surfaces a few feet away, the sludge is gone.
Pierce flies down to help her back up and begins working to make stitching easier. Karmen is quick behind him, stitching and administering antivenom, sealing the wound and checking her work with haki. Finally, the job is done. Hands aching, muscles sore and spent, bottles near empty.
Karmen flicks water off Pierce's weapons and hands them back. He gives one more flick and slides them into their sheaths.
Kudra swims up and lets the pair step onto her head as the lancet slides away from the other sea king.
Showing its own exhaustion and its remorse, it gives an appreciative croon, bending down to nuzzle the pair of them. Kudra's tail reaches around and gently pushes the sea king's mouth away from her face.
Karmen smiles up at them. "If you need any more help, feel free to come back," she says, than adds jokingly, "though I may develop a sea-king-sized paralytic in the meantime."
The lancet gives a call that seems to be a laugh and the one who'd had the harpoon gives another apologetic croon. The one who'd had the hook just seems to grin.
Karmen bows to them. "I wish you health and thank you for this information." She gives the lancet sea king a concerned look. "Has any harm come to any of your young?"
It shakes its head and she relaxes. They nod their heads in farewell and sink into the now calm sea.
Pierce waits a moment, then turns his face curiously toward Karmen. "Information?" he asks.
Karmen indicates over to the hook and harpoon. "There are fishermen in the Calm Belt," she tells him. "Rich, well-equipped ones, by the look of it. They could be honest people looking for food to eat or fish to sell or they could be exotic animal poachers. There are a lot of young sea kings this time of year and competitive riders and collectors would kill to get their hands on one, as I'm sure you remember. It could be dangerous to the rays and we need to be careful of our surroundings while traveling. People can see a great distance when the sea is flat."
As the sun arcs further downward, Karmen and Pierce stretch their weary muscles and sit back to back on Kudra's head. She holds up one hand and he slaps it, then they fist bump and let their hands fall.
"How's the cheek?"
"Just a scratch."
For a moment they just rest. Then Pierce pulls out a small object from his pocket. It's wooden and shaped like a macaroon. He unscrews it with a twist of his wrists, separating the two halves. When the top is pulled away and holds it out, she can see that the container has been hollowed out and filled with a milky gel.
"It's for your hair," he says, closing the case and handing it to her. "The case is waterproof. If you put it on after you get out of the water, it'll keep it from drying frizzy. It's the same product Godwin used to give you. He taught me how to make it and I made sure to grab the ingredients while I was out. I'm sure Camilla can grow the plant-based ones, so we can have access to a renewable supply."
She rolls the container in her hands and smiles. "That was very thoughtful of you, Pierce. Thank you," she says. "I admit, I think I'm going to take a warm bath before I use it."
He gives a small chuckle. "That's fair. I, eh, can't smell your toxins anymore."
"Don't be polite. I smell like I've been crawling around inside fish." Karmen lays her head back on Pierce's shoulder. "Though, now would be a good time to talk," she says softly.
He mirrors her, sighing heavily as his head touches her shoulder. "Do you really hear ships speaking to you?" he asks.
"Sometimes," she says. "Not often, but it does happen. We could call the Galley-La company if you want confirmation. They heard Merry too."
He shakes his head, hair brushing up against her cheek as he does. "No. I believe you. I was barely conscious, but I heard that yardarm break. It didn't sound… natural."
"Is that alright with you?"
"Yes. You care deeply. It makes sense that you could connect with something that shouldn't be sentient."
"Is there anything more you'd like to discuss concerning the ships?"
He shakes his head.
"When the slavers were clearing the hold, you had an unusual reaction," she says slowly. "It seemed that you may have felt a need to protect me beyond your usual duty, like you felt guilty."
He takes a deep breath and nods. "You had to fend for yourself for two whole years because I failed to remain by your side," he says, pain leaking into his voice. "I promised Kuma that I'd protect you."
"But you did." She reaches over and takes his hand, leaning her cheek against his temple. "I was able to escape because you were there to protect me. Because of the sacrifices you and Godwin made for me. I'm the one who wasn't strong enough to protect you. Even on The Heralder, you saved us and it was all I could do to avoid the captain's devil fruit power. If anything, I owe you."
He gives a small laugh. "Please. You don't owe me anything. And you would have figured it out. You're… self-reliant now." His tone softens and he returns the pressure against her cheek. "About The Heralder… I won't tell you to not let it get to you, but it's what he does. He finds what hurts you most and exploits it, like twisting a dagger after you've already stabbed."
"I got them killed, Pierce. A whole crew of people are dead because of me."
"They died because of him," he responds firmly. "And they're not all dead."
"It's been months. How can you be so sure?"
His free hand digs in his pocket and pulls out a paper punched full of bumps. "Because I checked. Or, Shakky did at my request." Curiously, she accepts the paper from him and runs her hand over the Braille letters, eyes widening at what they spell out. "I may have 'borrowed' your transponder snail when I hugged you."
"You found out where they are," she says, a hint of relief intermingling with the surprise in her voice. "Thank you, Pierce."
"Shakky did most of the work," he says simply. He's quiet for a moment then asks in a barely audible voice, almost as if he's afraid to ask, "do you regret rescuing me at the cost of other people's lives?"
She swallows, trying to displace the sudden lump in her throat. "No," she says. "I've thought long and hard about it, and I don't think any situation could make me ever regret rescuing you." He relaxes some, but the hold on her hand becomes tighter. "I do, however, regret not putting measures in place to prevent such incidents. I know him just as well as you do. I should have expected this. Even taking his arms won't keep him from hurting people, or coming after us again. This has to end, Pierce."
"It does. I'll be with you until the end. Just remember that you can't control everything. Some things are out of our control." He gives her a minute to breathe, then asks, "Is there anything else you'd like to discuss? You still seem tense."
She returns the pressure on his hand. "I scared myself, Pierce," she says, voice shaking slightly. "I thought about what I would do if I knew my plan to save you would have such heavy consequences, and each time I came to the same conclusion. Undoubtedly and undeniably, I would rescue you every time, no matter the cost. If pushed, there are very few things I wouldn't do or trade to keep you from going through that again."
The tension in his hand feels like a battle inside the bodyguard. "I'm supposed to be the one protecting you," he says. "It's not your job to protect everyone all the time. There are some people outside of your reach, and what happens to them isn't on you."
"But I can be doing more. I should be doing more. I'm not strong enough yet. I haven't thought big enough yet. I'm not good enough yet."
"You're working to get stronger. Sometimes it doesn't feel like enough, but it's all you can do until you're ready," he says. "Speaking of which, I will follow you if you'd like to move immediately on the remaining three mail carriers, but I advise against it."
"I know it's a trap, Pierce, but we're still going. As soon as possible."
"Mistress, we need to be strategic about this. Do you have a plan beside our usual tactics?"
"No, but that doesn't matter."
To her surprise, Pierce wraps wings around her and flies to the island. She doesn't protest, but she isn't quite sure what he's doing until he stops in front of Saaresto on the cliff. "Do you have a minute?" Karmen twiddles her fingers at him over Pierce's shoulder.
Saaresto looks between the two of them, not quite sure what to make of their sudden appearance. "Why don't you step into my office?" He leads them into the medical wing and closes the door behind them. "How was your trip?"
"Successful," Pierce responds with a clipped air as he sets Karmen down on the examination table. He takes his dutiful posture. "Would… would you mind giving Karmen an evaluation?"
"Medical or psychological this time?"
"Psychological, please."
Saaresto gives the bodyguard a curious look, but asks consideringly, "And why do you feel she needs an evaluation?"
"I'm concerned she's taking on too much at once and she admittedly wishes to walk into a known trap to rescue the remaining crew of The Heralder."
Saaresto raises his good eyebrow at Karmen and hums consideringly. "Why don't we all sit down and discuss this?"
Pierce obediently sits next to Karmen on the examination table as Saaresto looks between them. "And Karmen, you've given your consent for this… impromptu session?"
She gives a small shrug. "I agreed to it a few days ago. I haven't gone back on that agreement."
He nods, considering his words. "So Pierce, you feel that Ikaika is leveraging these last few crewmembers to draw Karmen into a trap, and Karmen, you feel responsible for their capture and insist on mounting a rescue anyway?"
"That about sums it up," she says.
"And Pierce, what is your standing on this?" Saaresto asks.
"It's a risk, one that hasn't been given time for careful evaluation," he says flatly. "I do not think that our usual one-day observation will allow us to do adequate reconnaissance and I do not think Karmen's conscience will allow her to wait longer than that once we arrive on site."
"So you're perfectly willing to go into this 'trap' with her?"
"Of course. If I can prevent her from being captured or harmed, then I will do so by any means necessary, even if those we go to rescue aren't so fortunate."
"And Karmen, what is your say in all this?"
"I got them into this mess. I'm going to get them out. I'll be careful," she promises, "but most of their crew is already gone and waiting any longer will only put those remaining at risk."
"And what about the risk to yourself? What about the risk to Pierce?" Saaresto asks. "You froze up out there when that sea king was attacking him. I saw it. How do you think Kuma would feel if you were to be captured by Ikaika or Willow and all he had to sacrifice to keep you safe came to nothing?"
Karmen's face goes blank, but her eyes blaze. "So you're resorting to guilt-tripping now, Saaresto?" she asks flatly. "I do not plan on throwing myself at their feet, but neither do I plan on cowering in the shadows as I did before my death. I will step lightly, but I can handle a few underhanded tricks. I've been creating a pattern so that I can alter it and throw them off. I would appreciate it if you did not take my skills and strategies so lightly."
To her surprise, Saaresto gives a satisfied smile. "Forgive me, Karmen," he says. "I knew that might strike a chord, but I needed to make sure that you were thinking this through and not acting on emotion alone." He turns his eye to Pierce. "And what about you? Are your uncertainties getting in the way of your sight?"
"What uncertainties?" Pierce asks.
"You feel that Karmen is trying to keep everyone safe with little concern to her own well-being, which is often and even in this case likely true, but there is another issue here," Saaresto comments. "Is it possible that you're having a hard time accepting the fact that Karmen has grown while the two of you were separated?
"She's become a capable woman with her own training and defense mechanisms. She has friends that you haven't met, and she isn't hiding as much as she used to. It's a big change from two years ago when she relied on you to guard her from the Celestial Dragons, and for her safety at all times. You've reunited, yes, but you are not the same people you once were, and trying to make the other be that person again will only strain things between you."
Pierce's jaw tightens slightly, but his chin lowers in consideration. "I was not with Karmen those two years, so some of the changes are an adjustment for me. It's possible," he says. He turns his face toward Karmen. "But I do not think those changes are bad, even if they give me more work to do sometimes."
She gives a small smile. "If I can't outsmart one of Ikaika's traps, how can I ever plan to survive in the New World when I sail under Luffy's flag? It takes iron skin to survive some of Luffy's antics."
"I'm assuming your Captain has something to do with your recent spike in recklessness?" Saaresto asks.
"Quite possibly," Karmen says fondly. "I mean he did punch a Celestial Dragon in the middle of one of Doffy's auction houses. Recklessness is his second language."
"And that also led to your crew being separated, among other things," Saaresto says seriously.
Karmen sobers slightly. "He bit off a little more than he could chew, but he also did something that no one was even willing to attempt before," she says in a low voice. "Luffy is giving us two years to learn from our mistakes, and his. He wants us to grow, and I plan on honoring his orders."
"So how do we resolve this?" Saaresto asks.
She taps her fingers against the table as she thinks. "I'll take two days to continue recuperating, taking care of island business, and going over strategies using what we know of Ikaika and how he operates," Karmen says. "That way we're better prepared for anything we may come across and have plans in place to counteract any traps."
Pierce nods. "That will certainly help," he says. "What about backup?"
Karmen shakes her head. "Winston is needed here and the rest of them aren't ready, not even Camilla."
"And the other pirate crews?" Saaresto asks. "The Fishmen and the other doctor?"
"I don't want to rely on them too heavily right off the bat," she says. "We may run out of favors and they're both out taking care of their own priorities. We need to focus on ours."
Pierce's mouth twitches minuscule downward, but he says nothing. He doesn't need to. He knows. He knows too well. She needs to do this alone. She has to prove to herself that she can circumvent this trap on her own. If she doesn't, then she's no better than the girl that watched her bodyguard get shot as she ran away. Deep down she knows that he feels the same way. If they can't beat this trap, he's still not good enough to fulfill his duty. This time, they have to win.
"I'll discuss things with Winston and get his input," Karmen continues. "But for now, we need to bathe and eat. At this point, we'll be talking in circles if we continue."
"Alright," Saaresto says. "But I do want to hear your plan before you leave."
"Yes, sir," she says as they depart.
When they're completely alone, Pierce slows his gait. "Thank you."
She gives him a small smile. "I know I'm a difficult charge, but I do try to make your job easier when I can. Is there anything about our next mission that I can clear up for you?"
"No. Not about that, but I did want to ask about something else. I didn't think you'd appreciate me bringing it up in front of Saaresto again," he says. "What do you know about that other voice you hear?"
"When I use more haki than I'm used to, sometimes I hear a voice," she tells him. "I think it's someone that I've met, but I can't identify them. They have kept me from pushing myself further than my limit in the past. I've tried to contact it again, but I haven't had any luck."
He's quiet for a moment. "Are you sure this voice belongs to someone else, or could it be an inner voice?"
"It comes from somewhere else," she says. "That I'm sure of."
"It- They could be a threat."
"I don't think they are," she says, "but I do recognize that I don't have enough information. When I hear them, they put me at ease and I want to trust them. However, I promise I'll give this rational thought and be cautious when or if I hear them again."
He gives her a soft smile. "And keep me informed. It's a strange and interesting development," he says. "I'm sorry that my overconcern made you feel the need to be defensive."
"You weren't overconcerned. I simply didn't want to admit that I didn't know what was happening to me," she says. "I still don't, but I don't mind it. I want to learn more about it, and if I learn that it's something that I shouldn't have in my head, then we'll look into ways of getting rid of the connection."
He nods. "I can accept that."
"Do you truly trust me with this, Pierce?"
His hands ball into fists and she knows he's remembering his earlier transformations. "I trust you more than I trust myself. I just worry that something will happen and I won't be able to do my job. I… I can't lose you again, Karmen. I just can't."
Karmen steps forward and lifts his hand to her face, holding it there. "I'm here, Pierce," she assures him. He pulls her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
He holds her as he calms himself, then loosens his grip. He strokes her hair as he gives a small laugh. "Honestly, Godwin and I thought you'd grown out of it all. It always made me look twice, but he was so proud of you. He said it showed that the Gallowcombs couldn't kill your strengths."
"Grow out of what?"
He shrugs. "You were just talkative when you were younger," he says. "You could hold a conversation all by yourself."
She snorts softly against his shoulder. "Try living with social nobles and not talk to anyone for a few hours."
"It's super easy, actually," he responds. "You just have to be a bodyguard. Then you're better off seen and not heard."
"You are calculated. There's a difference," she says. "You don't always have to speak. I've never had much trouble hearing your inner voice."
He gives a small smile, but there's a sadness to the set of his lips. "A product of our upbringing, I'm sure."
Her expression softens toward him. "Come on. Let's get cleaned up."
After their baths, they step into the dining hall to find most of the patients accumulated there, discussing several barrels that had been brought in. They all turn and their talking ceases when they notice the new arrivals. Surprisingly, it's Iona who steps forward, looking nearly placid. "That looked like a lot of hard work," she says with a gentle tone that is very un-Iona. "You aren't hurt, are you?"
"No. And it wasn't too much trouble," Karmen says, unable to keep a hint of suspicion from her tone. "What's all this?"
"We were wondering if you'd like some- some cider," she says, wringing her hands slightly. "We made it for you."
Karmen blinks in surprise. "For me?"
Iona nods, stepping aside and waving at a barrel. "We made it while you were gone on the last mission with the apples you sent back, and we were going to offer it to you when you got back but," her voice trails off.
The surprise remains in the softness of Karmen's smile as she steps forward to the closest barrel. A cup is pressed into her hand and she lifts the lid, scooping out the amber liquid and taking a slow, savoring drink. It washes into her stomach with a spiced warmth that radiates into her very bones and she makes a small sound of satisfaction. "That's amazing," she says. "It tastes like home." She turns back to the patients around her. "You all made this?"
Iona nods. "It's… nice here. Safe. We wanted to show our appreciation," she says, then grins and adds, "Therapeutically."
"We have applesauce now too!" Anayah exclaims. "Lots and lots of it!"
Karmen chuckles. "After a long day of surgery, that sounds perfect. May I have some?"
"So long as you don't mind the fact that we made it with our feet!" one woman in the group calls, getting a chorus of chuckles.
"It's fine. We washed them first."
"The apples too."
"Let's all have some," Karmen says when the laughter dies down. "I miss having meals with everyone."
Pierce's lip twitches. His silent communications indicate that he finds it humorous that she would consider apple byproducts alone a meal.
They all get bowls of applesauce and sit down, and the two end up sitting at a table with Iona. The woman seemed uncomfortable speaking with Pierce there, but it gets to the point where she can't contain herself any longer.
"I knew you had it hard, and Winston tried to explain it to us, but I didn't really get it until you told us what happened to that crew," she says in a low voice, toying with her applesauce as if she doesn't have much of an appetite. "I'm sorry."
Ah. That explained her sudden change. "While I appreciate you saying so, you do not need to be overly concerned," Karmen says coolly. "He played mind games all my life. I'd assume he was dead if he stopped now. We simply have to be ten steps ahead of him."
Iona lays her spoon down and sits up. "What do you mean?" But she knows. Karmen can see it in the tense set of her muscles.
"We're going after what's left of The Heralder's crew in a few days," she responds. "It's likely that he expects us."
"Then you can't go!" Iona says frantically. When Karmen doesn't respond she slams her hands down on the table and stands. "Don't you give a damn about what happens to us?! What happens to us if you get caught?"
Karmen sets her spoon down slowly. "If I get caught, then there are plans in place to makes sure that you and the other patients will remain safe," she says calmly, though her voice covers the room and silences the little lingering whispers. "I'm not free, Iona. I won't be until this is done. Here, I may never see another Celestial Dragon or their agents again, but I'll always be afraid that it's only a matter of time before I have a string of bad luck. Before I find out that this place isn't as safe and protected as I thought. Before they rip away what small scrap of security we've found once again."
Her voice shakes slightly and Iona is taken aback by her rare show of emotion. Even Pierce seems surprised.
"I have to go so that I can ensure the security of what we've built," she continues, voice leveling into a gentle tone. "I understand why you're afraid, but I promise you that I will be back."
This only frustrates Iona further. "Why are you so full of yourself all the time? You can't win against people like that!" Her mouth thins and her jaw shakes.
"This is the beginning of a war, Iona," Karmen says. "Sometimes you have to take a risk."
"You're insane," she growls, then turns and leaves. Everyone stares at Karmen, but she makes eye contact with Julimes who is leaning against the wall of the tunnel that Iona had just disappeared down. With a small snort, he turns and makes his own departure.
Karmen picks up Iona's bowl and pours it into her own, eating in calm silence until it's empty. "This applesauce is delicious. Thank you all."
She washes both bowls and goes down to her chambers, closely followed by Pierce. She doesn't stop until she's standing in front of Luffy's wanted poster, letting his happy-go-lucky grin calm the tension in her muscles.
Pierce approaches her slowly, speaking gently. "Karmen, about what Iona said-"
"Don't worry about it, Pierce," she responds quickly, cutting him off. "She's simply scared. They all are. I know I should be too, but I'm angry. Part of me thinks you all may be right. This sounds like a suicide mission."
"Then why take the risk?"
"Because I have something to prove," she says, letting her eyes drift across the posters of her crew. "I have to prove that my promises are stronger than his control."
Pierce gives a soft snort. "Three times wasn't enough?"
This gets the chuckle he was looking for. "I'm being scientific about this. Or testing fate. Either way, I have faith in our abilities."
He smiles and puts his hands in his pockets. "As do I, Mistress." He bobs his head toward her bed. "Get some sleep. In the morning, we start a war."