I'm back! This is a long one compared to the first, well Emily is a wordy one. She is more also sage than Gilda. Gilda is curt and to the point, as you might see in this chapter as well. That's right, the twins are reuniting in the Prologue part 2! This isn't the end of the prologue; oh no, we still have at least another chapter to go before the story actually starts! Emily has gone through hell and high water to become the awesome pirate she will eventually become. Of course, this comes with a lot of emotional turmoil down the road. I've got to give her something to stumble on. Both the girls will have something, Gilda will have some character growth, and Emily will have some self realization. Anyways, have a glimpse on who Emily is like in this world!

[Emily 1st person]

You know the basics of what happened that night we were separated, but you don't know every detail. For starters, our parents were searching for a city of gold, El Dorado. That final destination led them on their final journey for buried treasure. Secondly, that new crew they hired were a mutinous crew, who sold our parents out to the Armada. They were going to kill us too if we didn't get out of there in time, only slightly conflicted over killing toddlers, but didn't want us to come back for revenge or anything. The Armada shot down the ship that night, but who knows what actually happened to our parents? For the longest time I held onto hope that my entire family was still alive after that incident, despite my sister falling off the boat and my parents last seen fighting off bad people.

After my sister fell out of the rowboat, I desperately wanted to go after her. I was held back by the vole. The vole did his darndest to keep me alive after already losing one child. He always made sure I had enough to eat, giving me more of the rations. I asked him where we were going, and he told me we were going to go meet my grandfather in Mooshu. Being four years old and never meeting him before, I thought he had meant father. That gave me hope my parents were still alive, at least my father was. I had asked him then, "What about Mommy, or Gilda?" He didn't answer that question.

It took a long time for us to get there. We had enough rations to last us ten days for three people. Ten days passed and we still weren't near Mooshu, in fact it took us a whole month to get there. We ran out of the extra rations halfway there. We managed to survive by catching cloud water, and grabbing fish and birds that got near the boat. By the time we got to Mooshu skyways, we were a little worse for wear. Luckily we were fished up by a passing ship and quickly taken to shore for medical attention. The vole tried to say what had happened, but he was very weak. They tried asking me, the four year old, I told them that my parent's ship went down and my sister fell out of the boat, but I was supposed to be meeting my Daddy there. The vole probably got to telling them I was to meet my grandfather at the address given to him, and that my parents were likely dead. Before his final moments he was able to write some letters to me, explaining everything that had happened, dictating that I was to read them when I got old enough.

Just a bit of food and water and I was fine, the vole really did take care of me. The adults were wondering what to do with me, who was going to take me to my grandfather? A nice cow lady volunteered to take me. Grandfather's address was not that far away. She neglected to tell me that the vole had died during his hospital stay. Grandfather had lived in a small house, but at least there were cherry blossom trees nearby. Of course, arriving at the house, no one was home. A friend of his was visiting at the time of our arrival. The cow lady went to talk to him and he told her that our grandfather had died a year ago, and he was just paying respects to his grave.

The cow lady explained the situation to him; of how my parents were likely dead and I now needed a new home. She considered bringing me to an orphanage, seeing as I had no family there anymore. He decided to meet with me. I told him how old I was when he asked, and he seemed intrigued. I told him my name, and it obviously was an obscure name for the place based on the reactions of both the pig man and the cow lady. The pig man needed to think for a bit, until then we were allowed to stay in Grandfather's house.

That night he went back to his clan to discuss the prospect of taking me in. I was young, so I could learn the trade easier. I was also an outsider, and that could draw attention to me. I was the granddaughter of their friend, so maybe this was his parting gift to them. The argument was brought up that I wasn't a pig, so maybe their style of fighting wasn't suited for me. A counter argument was made that since I wasn't a pig, they wouldn't expect me to be a ninja. Society was already looking down on them, expecting them to be up to something, since I wasn't a pig, that wouldn't be an issue. I was still an outsider, and outsiders were considered odd, maybe dangerous. The counter argument was made that since I was a child I couldn't be dangerous to them, and since I was so odd I was just like any other pig and thus no one would know what my deal was. Eventually, it was decided, that out of consideration for my deceased grandfather, they would take me in and train me to be a ninja; only if I agreed to it.

The next morning, the pig man returned and told me he was a friend of my father's father, and since I was in need of a place to stay I could stay with his family if I wished it. He was straight with me, he told me if I chose to live with his family I would have to learn the trade as I grew up there, and it would be hard training. I had hoped that maybe my family would come to get me and that wouldn't be an issue. He told me to truly consider if it was something I wanted. I asked him if I would be kicked out if I couldn't handle it. He told me that I wouldn't be kicked out if I fumbled in training, as everyone makes mistakes on the path to success. If I didn't wish to do it anymore, I'd be taken to another place, but they would check up on me. They would only 'kick me out' so to say if I brought shame to their family, and I'd have to do something BIG to do that. I was assured that they'd be there for me, so I agreed to their terms. Deep down, I just wanted to have a family and a home again.

I was brought to their homestead. It wasn't incredibly large, but it was larger than grandfather's house. Everyone had their own room; it was nice; I was even allowed to have a bed. Back on the ship, we just shared a room with our parents. It was weird sleeping alone.

After I was introduced to everybody, the Pig man who brought me in being one of the elder pigs of the clan, first order of business was giving me culture appropriate clothes and a culture appropriate name. I was given a kimono and a yukata; I was even given a Haori for traveling. My name was then changed to Emi Lee, mainly because I was too old to accept a new one.

At first the pigs went easy on me. I lived a pretty normal childhood, playing games and with toys, being told stories and running about nature. The only thing they considered to train me in at that age was the diet that all ninja had to be accustomed to. I had to get used to eating small portions. I mainly ate quail eggs, frogs, snakes, grasshoppers, some small birds (such as canaries, robins, partridge, and quail), rice, bread, potatoes, and mulberries. Occasionally I'd get a treat of sushi, sashimi, or shrimp dumplings, for breakfast maybe congee with milk to drink, and only on special occasions like celebrations I got to eat cake or other sweets. Dumplings were off the menu for me entirely, and no large game either. I had to get used to eating blander food.

Spices would make my breath smell, they told me. We were to eat small game to make ourselves smaller, and were to never consume anything that could give us gas. Luckily, as a child, they introduced me to another part of their lifestyle: Feasts that come after fasts. They told me that when I got older I would have to endure long periods where I would not eat, but afterwards I could eat as much as I wanted, in order to prepare myself for the next fast. I was too young to starve myself just yet, so they just gave me small plates.

When I got a little older, five years old, they taught me the Mooshu language. Most people from Mooshu knew the common language, but they also had a language only they knew. It would help if I went to other worlds. I would be able to speak, read and write a language that no one else but a select few would understand. While they were at it they decided to teach me spoken and written codes, so only Ninja would be able to understand me.

When I was six, I was still working on my diet and language training, but this was when they started to teach me more basic skills. I was taught the skills of cooking, cleaning and basic etiquette. It was something anyone should know, and if I learned those skills early enough I could divert my energy into learning other things.

When I was seven I learned to perform the tea ceremony and how to be a proper hostess. With these skills I also learned how to dance and play music. I was multiple styles and multiple instruments at once. Every day we focused on a new dance and new instrument and new song to sing, then ever since I would practice each a little every-day. I grew accustomed to raw fingers from string instruments you pluck, of course for instruments such as the Shamisen or the Biwa were easy enough to get a handle on. I grew used to manipulating my breath with the wind instruments. I thought the drums were fun, and they were very easy to get a handle of. With voice practice I had to keep my voice in check, not to strain it, not to go too loud, or too quiet. My ears grew heavily trained, despite being already sensitive, now they could pick up instruments or what notes were being played. With dancing I also became more graceful.

Seven was the year they also decided to teach me how to act. Once I had a handle on percussive and string instruments, my dancing lessons also included drama practice. I got to control the entirety of my body language, graceful or deceptive. I knew how to get into a different mindset, it was a lot like playing pretend; I just had to put more effort into it. All this was being done while I was still practicing my writing, languages and cooking classes. Not to mention, they were starting to consider truly starting me on the fasting and feasting method of the diet.

By the time I was eight I got a basic understanding of the language, so they put more effort into my acting classes. They taught me how to quickly don disguises and how to make any disguise work. They taught me how to better lie and to use the technique of misdirection. Honestly I felt more of my energy go into acting than music, that must have been why it so much more easy. Once acting was well along, they started taking me out into town. They taught me all the different roles in society and how they co-ordinate with each other. They also taught me how certain backgrounds and attitudes cause certain people to think. I got a grasp of basic social knowledge and how to read people. I was taught to constantly be polite unless the situation demanded otherwise. Politeness is accepted, thus forgiven, and often allows someone to be overlooked. The main goal of a ninja is to never be directly confronted.

Near the end of the year they began to teach me how to do first aid, treat basic wounds, and craft medicine and other remedies. An important lesson is to know how to take care of yourself and those in your group. When I was nine, the medicine lessons turned into poison lessons. I was told we may need to secretly poison someone, and the best way to do that was to disguise it as making medicine. I was told the work of the ninja was dirty business. Our living was to be hired by local lords to scout, spy, sabotage or even assassinate targets. Sometimes they are even hired to perform psychological warfare. We were meant to be people of the shadows, a living nightmare.

I was done learning how to be a hostess, now I had to learn how to be a killer. They taught me how to make explosives (lethal and smoke bombs) and how to throw them. I learned how to engage in psychological warfare, how to influence groups of people into going against others or joining a cause. I learned how to trick entire groups. I learned other manipulative tactics, such as reverse psychology, or guilting someone, or playing with their sense of pride or inferiority.

Still I was a child, so they decided to introduce the concept of strategy to me in a playful manner. I started playing strategy games with them, as well as teamwork exercises and games. It was when I turned ten that they started to not consider me a child anymore. It was almost as if after my tenth birthday they were grinning like madmen and saying 'welcome to hell.'

For starters, for my diet they put me on a fasting and feasting regimen. For many days I would go without food, and I'd only be allowed a small amount of water. They also trained me with my endurance to poison and venom. They went slow for me, giving me small doses and slowly increasing the potency so I could develop immunities. For the early part of the year they taught how to survive in the wilderness: how to hunt, how to ride various mounts, how to set traps, how to conceal myself amongst nature and the skill of archery, also known as 'how to silently strike prey.' In the middle part of the year, that survival training also included how to escape various traps and confinements. I was caught in snares, cages, bound by rope, chains, handcuffs, in various positions too. I had to learn how to escape every situation. I had endure dislocating my joints or cutting myself to break free. At the end of the year, that was when they began to teach me the sacred art of free-running. It's running and keeping your speed, unslowed by wind-drag, unhindered by any obstacle. It's basically running with acrobatics. They put me through a special obstacle course that we had to travel to in order to use. In that course I had to avoid anything that would push or punch me into the water, it needed speed and patience in order to complete, knowing the lay of the land and countering with finesse.

When I turned eleven the training was basically the same but a little more difficult. Early in the morning, I would have to run for a couple miles, in order to get my lungs and leg muscles used to long runs. I was also put through training to climb trees and rocks. I worked with others to learn how ambush others, and also they started to teach me how to swim.

Once I got the basics down, they started to teach me ninjutsu: special ninja techniques to aid with stealth and escape. Each tactic was associated with the elements. First, they taught me fire tactics: distracting sentinel guards by creating a fire, luring them away from the point of planned entry. For the escape tactic I had to throw fire bombs, embedded fires, and firecrackers to confuse my enemies. Then there was wood tactics: climbing a tree and disguising oneself with the foliage. Then I was taught water tactics: throwing duckweed onto water to conceal movement underwater and hiding myself in the water. Lastly there was the stone/earth tactics: which is where one curls themselves into a ball and remains as motionless as a stone, and this could last up to hours.

I was taught all the methods of stealth walking until you couldn't even hear me take steps. The quiet feet technique, where you gradually put weight on your feet starting from front to back; the floating feet technique, where we lower our feet from our tip toes; dog running where we walk on all fours when we cannot stand; fox running where it's the same thing except it's the tips of all fours we walk on when we cannot stand, a much faster walk; the sideways walk, to walk sideways against a wall like a star. Lastly, the deep grass rabbit walk, where one would walk on the palms of their hands, crouched up like a rabbit.

Then I turned twelve years old, where I was smoke tactics: using smoke bombs and fire arrows to create a hiding smoke for escape. We escape first, fight second, that is the rule, we avoid detection and keep our name. They also taught me metal tactics, in the name of setting snares and spike traps, throwing stones and shuriken to escape, as well as setting off the shine of metal to set off fake signals.

I was taught the breathing technique of the ninja, called dual breathing, a process of inhaling and exhaling twice. It would help me to run faster and focus entirely on running, keeping my chin down and looking far ahead. I was taught some stealth tactics of hiding in tall grass and in the shadows, as well as 'God hiding' where I cover my face and slow my own heart rate with the aid of my own breath.

I began my own strength training to give me tempered fingers, lifting bales only slightly heavier than me. I was told I was supposed to be able to lift my own weight, and never be heavier than the bale. So that's what the diet was for. The bale was 130lbs.

They started my weapons training. I was taught to use daggers, short-swords and katanas in multiple ways (also as a foothold and to stun enemies with special stun powder made of red pepper, dirt/dust and iron flakes). I was even taught how to dual wield.

I was taught how to use special tools, such as ropes and grabbling hooks (for walls and enemies), hammers and chisels, and special hooks equipped to the hands and feet for climbing as well as attacking enemies. Those were all I could manage to learn to use in the one year.

I also started my martial arts training, but I only got to green belt because I was too busy learning everything. They were hoping I wouldn't have to fight much anyways, this was just for emergencies. They had a reason to be worried for me though, as when I was twelve, the head elder of our clan decided to start putting me on jobs to learn the trade. I was going to learn how to scout. Seeing how I was never put in the field before it would probably be very easy for me to be caught, and if I exposed myself for what I was the clan would have to disown me so the ninja heritage could not be tracked back to them. We only served certain lords and the emperor, only they were allowed to know our true profession.

As luck would have it, my first mission was given to me almost as if fate decreed it. A pesky little thief was poking their nose where they shouldn't go; sources say that they may be targeting the sacred fruit of yum-yum. The emperor had decreed that that fruit was to be untouched its sacred healing powers, but of course many outsiders only saw the potential for monetary gain. Every ninja clan was tasked with protecting the sacred groves, and dealing punishment to those who trespassed against the law. Each time we did our duty, we would be rewarded handsomely, but that was beside the point.

It wasn't assured that that was what they were going for. My job was to tail their movements unseen, get a good layout of this thief and how they could be dealt with. If they were aiming for the fruit, or if I was discovered I'd have to silence them: break their hands, cut out their tongue, blind them, or otherwise kill them. Some of the others in the clan weren't sure if I'd be up to it, it was a lot of pressure to put on someone who has yet to take a sapient life, especially someone new to the field. I reminded them I have been practicing how to disguise myself and conceal myself for at least a few years now; I wouldn't get caught.

I went to where I heard the thief was last, and when I couldn't find them amongst the crowds I decided to direct myself to the nearest yum-yum orchard, see if I would run into them on the path. I heard they were a human, like me, but they were wearing a cloak like they didn't want to be seen. They weren't many humans in Mooshu, we were a minority. If they saw me as another human, especially one who didn't look native, it would draw their attention. I had to be super sneaky. Once I got close to the orchard, I dropped my disguise and went straight to my ninja attire. I quickly made my way up the mountain, and as I noticed the trees, I also noticed the thief.

As I had thought, being an outsider they chose to move at night so as to not be noticed by the locals. Interestingly enough they had left no footprints coming up the mountain, it seems they also knew how to be sneaky. Being an outsider, they couldn't be a ninja; maybe they were from a crime syndicate, I've heard of those being on other worlds. Unfortunately for them, the fruit glowed in the dark, so it highlighted them smuggling them away into a bag.

This thief got to work quickly, almost as if they didn't want to be here too long. They must be on the run and trying to make a score to provide for themselves. I'd feel a little sorry for them, if they didn't decide to be so stupid and declare ninja their enemy like this.

Since they already were attacking the fruit, it was my duty to deal with it immediately. She was carrying a satchel, so to make it more it more complicated I had to sever the strap. She could always pick it up again with her hands, so the fingers would have to be broken or sever. She could always try to pick up the bag with bloody stumps, I maybe I should sever her arms instead. It would be too much work to saw through bone; instead I should make it so she can't move her arms by severing some nerves. Of course, she must not see my face or make noise or I could be tracked. So the tongue will have to go, if she sees my face I'll have to blind her too.

I heard the voice of my clan elder pipe up then, saying 'just kill her.' Yet I hadn't done it before. I guess if the tongue cutting doesn't silence her completely I'd have to slice her vocal chords, and that could kill her; good compromise.

I had to act fast. I took out a short bow, took aim, and just as the thief had filled their bag full and was closing it up, I fired. The arrow whizzed right past the thief's chest, tearing through their cloak and satchel strap. It was still connected by one end however, and I just revealed myself…dang.

The thief picked up the satchel by the remaining strap, hauling it over their shoulder and making a run for it. I may have not have been a master of free-running yet, but I had mastered three levels of the course. The chase was on.

I had to sever the other end, maybe injure the thief while I was at it. I grabbed a dagger from my person and threw it towards the thief. It caught the other end; the thief was unharmed though, moving the satchel to a place where it would not hit her back. Her…now I noticed the thief had a female gait. It changed nothing; she still needed to be taken care of. The strap was severed, so she dropped it and quickly stopped to scoop it back up. It allowed me to catch up and I already knew how to run pretty fast.

I quickly retrieved my dagger as I ran past. I tried to tackle her when I caught up, but she managed to dodge my incoming grapple. I just rolled back up from the misstep pulling out my katana. I tried to swing at her legs to stop her from running but she jumped to avoid it. She was really good at being slippery, lucky little weasel.

I put away the katana, and went for my short sword as I continued chasing her down the mountain. There was a chance where she could get off the mountain and I could be discovered by villagers with lanterns. I had to make sure she couldn't get away with her prize. I threw the short sword into the bag. It was made of burlap and was not designed to hold a sword in its side. The bag tore open, and the fruit flew out.

"No, no, no!" I heard the thief cry out. I smiled under my mask. She had stopped to take in the damage and her loss, almost contemplating another way to retrieve her prize. She tried to grab at them, actually managing to get a few, but she couldn't hold tons. Her desperate move had cost her, by the time she turned again to run I was on her. I tried to get her with my grappling hook to tie her legs so she couldn't run again, but she managed to avoid each swing. I picked up my short sword as I passed it and kept running, putting it and the grappling hook away. I drew my katana again, knowing I would have need of its special compartment soon.

I jumped from rock to rock, which the thief did not know how to do. I had the higher advantage. After jumping from the trunk of a tree I finally managed to tackle her, making her drop the fruit.

"No," she said forlornly as it flew away. I leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"You didn't actually manage to steal the fruit, congrats, you don't have to die." I heard her hiss like a rat. "Of course I have to make sure you can't do this again, so sorry for the pain."

I drew my short sword as I sat up on her. She started to struggle, like a cornered rat caught in a cat's paw. She tried to sit up herself, turning her torso to try to punch me in the face, to claw my mask off. I couldn't have that. She managed to get a strike on me, but I was no stranger to getting hit thanks to sword and martial arts training. I slashed at her arm in retaliation, but not deep enough to cut the nerve. I jumped a little to let her finish her torso turn, and landed again on her, she nearly wriggled out of there, but I stopped her by pinning her arms with my legs. She was glaring at me now, wildly kicking her legs, but I wouldn't budge. I wouldn't try to lean close so she could try to head-butt me, she seemed desperate. I had to use my katana; once I drew the blade it would blind her, so that would make it convenient for me. I had already used the first compartment of red pepper flakes unintentionally earlier; it would be dirt dust this time, so she'd heal.

I unsheathed the blade in front of her eyes, and she grunted in pain. I quickly repositioned the blade in my hand, and started to drive the blade into her inner left bicep. She started to scream. Oh great, we were low enough down the mountain we might draw attention, I guessed I would have to cut her tongue that moment. I took out the katana and placed it on the ground; unsheathing the short sword, I pulled her scarf down to expose her face.

Now that her face was more defined I could tell who this was…it was my twin sister Gilda. Sure, she had a tan now and her hair seemed redder in the light; but her eyes were still the same green and her face was still the same shape. I dropped my sword, putting my hands up as a reaction. She was still a criminal, and my mind could be playing tricks showing me what I want to see. I had to be sure. I picked up my short sword again and held it against her throat.

"Did you have a twin sister in your youth?" Her pointed glare went slightly shocked, and then returned.

"How did you know that?" We're on the right track, but she could be lying to save her skin.

"What did you promise her?" If she could answer correctly, she was the one I thought. She took a deep breath, apparently coming to a realization herself.

"I promised her that we would be pirates together, sailing the open skies, and seeing every world like our parents before us." It was her; after all of these years, it was really her. I removed my mask, with tears welling up. Yes, I was doing something I shouldn't. The Ninja clan had turned me into a weapon, but I did not wish to use it against my sister.

"Gilda?"

"This is trippy," said Gilda, eyes wide.

"It's me, Emily. It's really you; I had hoped you survived that day…my hopes have come to pass."

"I thought you died," said Gilda.

"I died?! You're the one who fell off the boat!"

"And you thought I survived? How ironic…can you get off me?"

"Will you try to run?"

"Depends, are we enemies?"

"You didn't technically steal the fruit, so no."

"I guess not," she sighed. I got off of her, and noticed her bleeding arm.

"I need to treat that, I hope I didn't cut you too deeply. I can't believe I was about to do horrible things to you."

"I honestly can't believe you turned out this way," she said brushing herself off.

"How'd you think I'd turn out? What was your perception of me?"

"Uhhh…you were a very shy child." I feel like that wasn't what she wanted to say.

"I thought you'd be a little more enthusiastic to see me; we've been separated for eight years."

"I just put you in the same category as Mom and Dad, the 'never seeing you again' category, so I just lumped you in with the dead people."

"You're alive, I'm alive, so that means Mom and Dad might be alive too."

"You think they would have found us by now if that was the case."

"We just found each other now."

"How did you end up here?"

"And here we are now," Emily finished.

"You got taken in by a Ninja clan? You are not a good Ninja."

"What's that supposed to mean," said Emily indignant. "Are you forgetting the part where I nearly killed you?"

"You were hesitant."

"I could have still maimed you."

"Beside the point," said Gilda, who was frankly surprised her sister turned into someone so ruthless. When Emily was a child she followed Gilda's lead all the time, it was sycophantic. If Emily didn't end up living a normal happy life Gilda would have assumed she died shortly after reaching land. Gilda continued, "You just told me your entire life story, that's rather chatty of you telling me all of your clan's secrets like that. Last I checked Ninja don't talk much on missions."

"To be fair, I'm still in training," said Emily a little mopey. "I'm not the best I can be yet."

Emily perked herself up. "What about you? What have you been up to in the past eight years? I could tell you're a wanted criminal, how did that happen?"

Gilda took a deep breath, and started telling her life story. She told Emily that the storm blew her into some debris; some rats then picked her up and brought her back to their world, Scrimshaw. It was island full of criminals. She joined a gang, and they taught her how to dodge and be sneaky, but eventually she got fed up with them by their assumed incompetence.

I got tired of the rat's way of parenting and lack of ambition. I figured I needed some discipline in my life. To get myself that discipline and to fuel my need for ambition, I decided to head for Marleybone, the world that was taking the Spiral by storm. I snuck aboard a Marleybonian ship when I was nine years old.

After I made it to Marleybone, I enlisted myself in the navy. Of course, due to how young I was they made me a cabin girl. My main jobs were cleaning the ship, cannons and weapons, tying ropes, preparing medicine and cooking food. It wasn't what I wanted to learn there. I had to teach myself the basics.

I got myself a gun when others were doing target practice, and I practiced until I got a good enough aim. I grabbed myself a cutlass in my spare time and practiced how to swing one; luckily some old salts gave me some pointers in practice. I didn't learn much else. I tried to tell the crew that my parents were pirates and because of that I should be allowed to do more on the ship. Sailing is in my blood. I didn't realize that would come back to bite me later.

One day the Armada overtook our ship. They were doing inspections making sure the ship wasn't harboring anything illegal. The crew immediately turned me over. Apparently being a child of pirates was enough to be considered a threat in the eyes of the Armada. I fought them off the best I could and escaped in a stolen lifeboat. I then made my way to the closest world which just so happened to be Mooshu.

I had to quickly adjust to a life on the lamb, but I didn't want to be like a rat, scurrying around to survive. I wanted this time of being an urchin to be short. I wanted to steal something so valuable that I could just buy an island with good enough fortifications and luxury that I could just spend the rest of my days there without a care in the world. So when I got here I asked around on what the most valuable item in Mooshu was, as a traveler's curiosity.

"That's how we found out you were targeting the fruit," said Emily. "You got sloppy in desperation, not very smart of you either."

"Well if I didn't do that we wouldn't have met again, so there," said Gilda indignant.

"I am happy to see you," said Emily, a tad quiet.

"I don't know what I feel," said Gilda. "We only knew each other for a couple of years, and then we were separated for eight. I barely know you."

"You act exactly the same as when we were kids," said Emily bluntly.

"Hey, I…" Gilda thought about it. "To be fair, the adults in life were lack-a-daisy on raising me."

"Weren't you in the navy?"

"Like I was in the mood to listen then; I was there because I wanted to be."

"You seem to have a devil-may-care attitude," said Emily, standing up.

"Life hasn't dealt me a fair hand," said Gilda, clutching her arm as she stood. It was wrapped with Gilda's scarf at this point. "One instance is I meet my long lost sister and she stabs me in the arm."

"I didn't cut that deep, you can still move it."

"It stings though," said Gilda, flexing her hand and moving her arm.

"Anyways," said Emily, hands on her hips. "My point is, are you going to try to steal the fruit again?"

"Maybe," said Gilda looking smug.

"I was afraid of that." Emily took a deep breath. "I'm afraid of leaving you alone."

"Is it really that important," said Gilda. "My livelihood is at stake here."

"If I leave you alone, multiple negative factors come into play: first, I go back and tell them yes, you are definitely after the fruit. They then send a more professional Ninja to take you out."

"You can just not tell them about me."

"They already know about you."

"Tell them I'm not after the fruit, you're good at the art of deception, right?"

"Against others who are good at reading people? Even if I did pull it off, you would eventually get caught, it would be revealed I covered for you, that I betrayed my clan and the emperor. The best case scenario is I get disowned, the worst case scenario is me and my entire clan get killed for treason."

"Okay, so I won't take the fruit."

"You're lying," said Emily, giving Gilda a glare.

"How could you tell?"

"I'm a master at reading people, remember? I can't, with my good conscience, cover for you against my clan."

"I could just hop worlds," said Gilda.

"The Armada is after you, and after this little stunt, I'm afraid you might do something this stupid again, and I won't be there to spare you."

"Hey," said Gilda indignant.

"My point is you're going to get caught, and I can't cover for you unless I'm there to watch you."

"So you want to come with me? You'll become associated with a criminal."

"Not exactly; you see, Gilda, there are two ways to avoid detection in your situation. First, you can constantly move around. However, taking that route will eventually get you caught. Also, last the Armada saw you; you were a pirate on the run. They'll be expecting you to world hop. The second tactic is to hide where they would least expect it."

"Exactly, that's why I was trying to get enough money to hide on an island somewhere."

"How about you do something a little less reckless?"

"You want me to hide like a rat in a hole?"

"You're acting like a rat right now; scurrying around, going after the big juicy prizes."

Gilda turned her head away.

"The clan told me to make sure you don't take any fruit, to keep an eye on you, to take care of you if need be." Gilda's eyes went wide.

"No!"

"They're going to find out about this exchange. It'd be bad; you know my identity as a Ninja, tracking me back to my estate would reveal my clan as ninjas."

"Only to me, I could just leave and never come back."

"I can't leave you alone with this knowledge, what if you tell someone?"

"Who would I tell? I just met you sister."

"Anyone for bragging rights."

"Fair. You know, you could leave."

"I know they're ninjas, if I leave like that, I can never return to them."

"You want that?" Gilda was confused; didn't Emily mention she was put through hell?

"It's complicated; if I leave you alone you're going to get hurt, caught, or worse. In desperate moments, one does not think clearly. You are a desperate girl. This is the only way neither of us will get into any trouble."

Gilda was not the only one desperate in that moment.

"So…let me get this straight," said her clan elder. "You found your long lost sister, and you wish for her to live here, with us?" Emi lee nodded.

"She has not stolen any Yum-Yum fruit, so therefore she has not committed any crimes. Neither has she tasted the fruit. It does not feel right to murder or maim my own flesh and blood, so I feel it is best I continually keep an eye on her."

"She knows we are ninja?"

"She promises not to tell, especially if we give her sanctuary. She does not wish to be discovered as much as we do."

"She has a target on her back," said another higher up. "It will draw attention to us if she is found here.

"So it would be best if she is not found." Emi lee bowed to the ground. "She has not committed any crimes of Mooshu, only what the Armada sees as a crime. I am her sister; I have technically committed that same crime."

"You are hidden here," said a female elder.

"This is why I wish to hide her here as well."

"She is too old to learn our teachings," said another elder.

"I don't wish for her to be taught, just hidden. I will take full responsibility for her." The elders looked amongst themselves. "We could be seen as a kind family who took in a stranger, not knowing of her crimes."

"A stranger who looks like you," said the clan elder. Despite the redder hair, and the tanner skin, they did have the same face shape and eyes.

"I'll…take responsibility for that as well. You can say I told you nothing. I'll take the fall."

"A lot to give for a stranger," said the clan elder.

"Clan elder, forgive me, but although we've not known each other for much of our life, she may be practically a stranger to me, but I feel the ties of our bond are strong." Emi lee lifted her head. "Let me do this for her, for Ao Long's other grandchild."

"Emi lee, you've made your argument. Now let us discuss this, make sure your guest does not get into any mischief." Emi lee stood up, bowed, and left the room.

She made it back to the room she had left Gilda in. "I think I made a pretty good argument," said Emily. Gilda was gone. Of course she was. First Emily took note of the doors and windows. She wouldn't have left through the house or she would have been spotted trying to flee, so she must have made her exit from the outside. Emily quickly opened the window. There were some indents in the grass from where she hastily put her shoes back on and started running. Emi lee knew how to track. She bolted down the path; luckily she was faster than Gilda was. In a few minutes she caught up to her. She still had her grabbling hook so she quickly spun it around Gilda's legs before she knew she was there. She then jumped in front of her.

"It's not good of you to run away, especially right now."

"Why not?" said Gilda, trying to untangle herself.

"It makes you look more guilty and unable to be contained."

"I don't want to be contained."

"That will happen if you don't stay hidden, and you'll be dead if you don't stay out of trouble."

"Sure, use the scare tactic."

"Your life's pretty scary right now. It's either hide or die at all ends."

"I'm pretty good at hiding."

"It needs work. I found you both times."

"Well you're a freak of nature."

"I'm not the only one to exist; you'll meet others here, and others in other worlds."

"They're not going to keep me okay!" Emily got taken aback. "Why would they? I nearly did something that they should kill me for, they'd let someone like that stay under their roof? They'd rather kill me."

"They won't kill you, your grandpa's grandchild, same as me. They don't want to admit it, but they cared about him too much."

"Then they'll want to get rid of me."

"Maybe, but I made a good argument."

"Why do you want me to stay so badly? You barely know me?" Emily took a deep breath.

"I feel responsible for you. You coming back into my life is a miracle; unlike when we were little, I can actually keep you safe and out of trouble."

Emily had regrets. She understood she was too little to do anything then, but if she could go back in time, she'd stop her sister from falling out of that boat. Going to Mooshu was the first time they were ever separated, and it was emotionally taxing for her to be alone, the only human in the clan. She was grateful to the clan, and appreciated their teachings, but she longed for her lost family as well.

Gilda didn't have that problem, always being an independent soul. Sure she was stuck with rats for her early life, but she left them for more variable pastures. Even going to Marleybone, she felt like an outsider and not a part of a family like Emily had found.

Gilda sighed loudly. "I genuinely didn't see you turning into this."

"This what?"

"This strong person, someone who could protect people."

"Yeah, it is surprising if you think about it." Emily sat down next to her. "Yet, you are still as brazen and bold as ever. You know Mom and Dad constantly worried about you as well."

"How do you know that?"

"I have a good memory of my youth. I can recall maybe seven clear events from that year, and a few monotonous things. As I was saying, you kept wandering into near danger."

"You followed me, I know that."

"I thought you were fun, and most of the time I was bored. Not much to do on a pirate ship. Still, you can see why I can think you would get into trouble if left alone."

"I'll be okay."

"You might break the law again and the ninja will come after, maybe not even my clan."

"You don't know that, but as you said, I will eventually get caught…by the Armada, especially if I stay in one place."

"I rather the Ninja were on your side, just to be safe. If a ninja catches you, you only have a few minutes at most to be saved from your doom. If the Armada catches you, you have much longer, probably days to be rescued; especially if I'm around to help you."

"You seem really determined about this," said Gilda. Gilda was unaware about the trauma Emily went through, too focused on her own trauma of trying to survive for so long. "Well, if your Ninja family says no, you won't have a choice in the matter. You'll have to let me go."

"What if they say yes, will you stay?"

"You won't let me leave," said Gilda bluntly.

"It's not too terrible, the food's nice when we have feasts, and you'll have a soft bed and a roof over your head."

"They won't put me through that rigorous training, right?" said Gilda worried.

"Oh no, you're too old to become a Ninja."

"Oh, so you have to start training from a young age. Maybe they should have been clearer about that when they recruited you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you said it yourself, the training was hell."

"I could've left when I found out the business was dirty," said Emily contemplative. Gilda looked at her sister, her attention stirred. "Before then they didn't teach me too much of the trade, nothing too revealing, nothing too secretive. Once I found out about the assassin work I could have left."

"They wouldn't have stopped you."

"I can leave anytime, but the catch is I can't come back."

"Ever?"

"If I want to go off-world, I have to ask the elder first. If I leave without notice, then I'll be disowned because in their eyes I'll have run away. My actions would be unmonitored, and I may act shamefully. I'm still technically in training, so everything I partake in is monitored by the clan. It is crucial if I am to be molded into a weapon."

"So you can't leave?"

"Oh, I can; it's a big step, but it's my choice to make. They won't kill me if I decide to go."

"What about their secret?"

"I don't know all their names, so it's fine."

"You would've blinded me if I saw you."

"I'm recognizable, that's different."

"So you can leave any time?"

"Yeah, I'll just have ninja training in my belt." Gilda blinked.

"You could have had an ordinary family, and an ordinary life. You could have been adopted by ordinary parents."

"You think that's more suited for me?"

"It's what I imagined for you."

"Honestly, if they told me back then they were Ninja, and wanted to train me in their ways, I would've said yes then too. It was a shock when I found out, but I mainly stayed out of sunk cost. Even so, I'm not ashamed of my choices in life. My family is amazing, dead or alive. I think a part of me longs for adventure and small part of me wants to be feared as a weapon."

It was in this moment Gilda felt respect for her sister for the first time. Who knew that shy little girl had that hidden in her?

Emily and Gilda then went back to the estate, Gilda agreeing to hear the elder's decision.

"You sleep on a matt? You said you sleep in a bed."

"This is a bed here. It's actually quite comfortable as opposed to the floor, and the blanket's warm too."

"It looks like a coat, it has sleeves."

"It can act as an overcoat for when you walk around."

"Mooshu is weird."

"Pigs aren't regarded highly here. They get the jobs of the low class, farmers, merchants or otherwise…Ninja work."

"Aren't government spies paid well?"

"It's the family trade, if we're paid well or not is another question. Even if we were given a lot of money for a job, we wouldn't be able to spend it lavishly without people asking how we got the money. This is a secret profession, and our cover is that we are farmers. Farmers do not spend a lot therefore we do not have lavish spending."

"That sucks," said Gilda.

"Like you were in rolling in riches before we met."

"What are my options again?"

"Get hunted down by the Ninja for committing a crime in Mooshu and get killed because you left me behind therefore not having me as a defense, get hunted down and captured by the Armada for being a so-called- traitor to the Spiral, or stay with me and my clan; catch up on our years spent apart, and have a form of sanctuary and solitude, provided with room and board and covered up and hidden away by those who are the masters of secrets and stealth."

"You make the last one sound the most appealing," Gilda snarked.

"It's what we both want," smiled Emily.

"Subjectively," said Gilda.

"Do you want to die or be locked up?"

"No," Gilda sighed.

"Then it is what we both want." Gilda did not see her sister becoming this. She did miss a lot. It wouldn't hurt to learn more about whom her sister was and how she became this way.

"Fine," said Gilda. As she said that, the clan elders walked into the room. Emily slightly bowed her head upon their entry. "Why do you do that? Are they royalty?"

"If they were royalty I'd be bowing lower; it's a sign of respect, I suggest you do it too."

"Depends on their answer," said Gilda. "Can I stay or not?" The elders seemed a little put off by her curtness.

"You are a tough one, aren't you," said the head elder.

"Rough life," Gilda shrugged.

"So we heard," said another. The elders all slightly bowed their heads to Gilda, which surprised her.

"First, let us apologize for how fate has treated you young one," said the head elder.

"She gave you your life, but still you had to constantly fight to keep it," said another.

"To be thrust into the world at such a young age. If only you both had arrived at Mooshu that day, we would have taken you both," said another.

"So, you won't take me?" said Gilda.

"Let them finish," said Emily.

"Yes, to have you two trained together, you would have been an unstoppable team," said a female elder. "Alas, Emi Lee was trained alone, and has no one like-bodied to aid her in potential missions. She is an oddity alone.

"Humans are a minority here, and they never trained a human before. I was the exception because I was Grandpa's grandchild."

"Yes, we do care for that man too much, even though he is long dead, he was a dear friend to us," said the high elder.

"He was also an outcast, like us, he always treated us with kindness."

"Sounds like a good man," said Gilda. "How come we don't look like we're from Mooshu?"

"He fell in love with a Marleybonian woman," said the female elder. "Their son was raised there. He must have taken after his mother. It's rare, but can happen."

"Do we have family in Marleybone? I never checked," said Gilda. Emily shrugged.

"I skimmed over some letters left for me…maybe us? Anyways, I guess I can take another look at them." They returned their attention to the elders, who had lifted their heads.

"We are sorry for your predicament now," said the high elder. "Of course, brining you into our house may bring unnecessary attention to us."

"So you won't take me," said Gilda.

"Let them finish," said Emily.

"We had that similar risk taking in Emi," said another. "They see us as having raised a human, but they do not ask questions. Emi Lee did a good job keeping herself a secret, until recently."

"Oh," said Emily, she then nervously chuckled.

"You revealed yourself to a criminal, purposely." Emily sunk.

"We will forgive this," said the female elder. "As she did not technically commit any crimes, you saw to that." Emily rose a bit more. "She is also of your blood, and Ao Long's long lost grandchild."

"This offense we will forgive," said the high elder. "Sparing the criminal, and revealing yourself, as she is Ao Long's blood. However, if we were to let her go, what would she speak of when regarding you, her twin?"

"I wouldn't mention this," she argued. He just gave her a look. "Ok, I don't know."

"This is very problematic," said another. "Of course, Emi Lee gave us a good argument."

"Told you," said Emily grinning.

"You will be her sole responsibility; she will make sure you are comfortable and safe."

Gilda felt like a pet, it was a little humiliating. "She will take care of you," said the female elder.

"In the meantime, you will not lounge around. We will not take a freeloader. You will earn your stay, it will buy our secrecy."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Maintain the farm, especially when Emi cannot." So she was their servant now? What?!

"What am I exactly? What role will I serve by staying here?!"

"You are our scapegoat. We will hide you, unless you cannot be hidden, or else we are found. We will send you out to protect ourselves if that is the case."

Gilda wanted to be mad, but she couldn't blame them. In sneaky societies you always had someone like that. When she first joined the rats she was their scapegoat then too, then she got promoted and that role got shunted to someone else. Now that she thought about it, maybe they had some dirty laundry hidden on that navy vessel and she was the scapegoat then. At least these guys were open and honest about it.

"Fair enough," she said. "The work shouldn't be too hard. I was in the navy before this."

Emily smiled wide; she had gotten her sister back. She made a silent vow not to lose her again, even if it cost her own life.

Emily might still be clinging to that sister, that hasn't changed at least. Who had a rougher life? Gilda who grew up in the streets and then the navy, or Emily who was put through Ninja training? That's up to you guys, next is what they get up to before the Armada catches up with them. So...tell me what you guys think in the comments, and stay tuned!

-Admiringroseblossom11