A New Dawn
Flora urged Jerry on, not daring to stop until they reached the source of the fire. Any possible sights and wonders to behold from the sea were thrown out into the depths. All that mattered was getting to the island in time.
"Faster!" The flower commanded, "Make full sail, go! Go!"
Muscles quivered, and a loud moan blared from the serpent's throat. He was getting tired.
Flora cursed when she saw this, and punched the beast hard on the forehead in a fit of anger. The serpent snapped his jaws in retaliation, and the girl's eyes bulged. "Oh b-I'm sorry!"
She leaned forward and painstakingly held onto the side of Jerry's jaws. "I didn't mean that, boy! I'm sorry!" Her eyes clamped shut. "Please, lad. Please…Just a little longer, I'm beggin' you…before it's too late!"
The serpent glared at her, growling unhappily, but eventually complied by thrashing his tail and picking up the pace….
In the end, it was all for naught.
By the time Flora and Jerry arrived, the island's settlement and its harbor were nothing more than piles of burning charcoal and debris. Judging from the blood staining the earth red and brown and the lack of any screams or cries for help, there were no survivors either.
All Flora could do was gape when she beheld the hellish sight. She paid no heed to Jerry when he flung into the sea, nor when her gills melded into her skin once she made landfall. She didn't care when she kept stumbling and collapsing onto the shore either, a side effect of making port after nearly a month alone at sea. Her gaze never left the fires of the foundation, her mind hollow, and her heart still.
All she saw when she looked upon the burning flats was her own island, the events of that wretched night reflecting in her eyes as she limped down the ash-ridden streets, reliving the nightmare all over again…
It isn't home, it isn't home! A weak voice, barely an echo, asserted from the back of her mind, but she hardly acknowledged it.
It wasn't until Flora fell over again and came face to face with a beheaded skull did she break out of her haunting trance.
The girl shot up with a startled gasp and grabbed her flintlock. It wasn't the only skull lying about.
Panting, the teen looked on and found the remains of the dead. Many of them consisted of soldiers, officers, navy men, and the island residents, all of which were surrounded by the shattered and scattered bones of Jolly Roger's army. Upon closer inspection, Flora saw that the soldiers were spread out ahead of the civilians as if to protect them. They were able to fight back, a last stand against the inevitable.
A chance the Barton colony never had.
Her heart cracked open like an egg, and all the terrible emotions of grief, despair, and pure hatred bled out as she reared her head back and roared.
"AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!"
She fell onto her knees, her mouth raw. She drew out her sword, a feat she hadn't performed in ages, stabbed it into the ground with purpose, and then leaned against it, watching the fire reflect against it's blade like a ghastly mirror. I could have warned them….She twisted the hilt. I could have warned them!
But no. Instead, where had she been?! Loafing around under the sea when she should have been focused on getting to land! She could have helped these people!
It wouldn't have mattered! The voice of reason pierced through the wall of rage. Ya don't know when they attacked! And if ya weren't in that reef, you wouldn't have found yerself!
Flora tried to push the voice aside but the truth had already broken through. She dug the sword in deeper, choking on a dry sob. She didn't know what to think anymore, except for one thing:
Why…?
Ye know why. Roger is a damned son of a bitch that feasts off the suffering of others!
The sailor released the sword and pressed her hands into the scorched earth.
It's not going to stop either…not until he has control of all the Seven Seas. You've known this for a while.
"And I was going to run away from it…."
Run away and live within the seas without any worries, without a care if the world fell into ruin, and without fulfilling her vow to avenge her adopted grandfather.
Like a coward.
A shot of pain ripped through her heart, the cold, brittle truth twisting through her like an icy dagger. Her grandfather…She had been willing to throw his death, and the deaths of Marion and everyone else from the settlement away as though they meant nothing! Throw them all away, to live a dream! A godforsaken dream too good to be true and might have killed her with how reckless she's been acting!
Damn it…damn it, damn it all!
Her left hand clutched her chest, while her right trembled before she thrust it into the earth; her eyes flashing menacingly like a storm front. She couldn't keep doing this. Not anymore! Not while others suffered while she stood back and watched!
No more…A new voice declared, writhing with animosity and resolution. No more running away….
Flora lifted her head, first to look at the corpses, and then at the sunset peeking through the smoke overhead. Her mind raced through her memories. Two years ago, she could barely comprehend the idea of facing Jolly Roger. Now, although she still had many doubts, she was certain that this was her path. She had grown stronger in those two years, her capabilities established, especially with her link to the sea, and she can use them against her enemy.
It must be done, for her sake, and the sake of the seas itself!
"Grandpa…" The girl's voice started small but grew louder as she went on, "anyone-anyone else out there that may be listenin'…Today…today I make a new vow."
She stood up on unsteady legs and drew out her knife. "I will not…" Hesitation, then an exhaled breath. "I will not rest until all who are slain by Roger are avenged! Neither dreams nor temptations will take me until the beast is defeated by my blade!" She braced herself, and then cringed as she sliced the knife into her unscarred palm. "I swear it…!" Black blood fell, mingling with the stains beneath her. "I swear it!"
From the sea, two pairs of eyes watched precariously as the blood oath was sworn in…
Though the moon was on the rise, Flora was far from fatigued. Fueled by anger and resolve upon her new vow, she paid her respects to the fallen, and went on to scavenge what remained of the settlement for supplies. Jerry did not return for her that evening, and given how she treated him earlier she couldn't blame him. It may be a while before he might forgive her. It was a big might, so she'll have to make the best of things until then.
At least she'd made port; at least she was on land again. She'd nearly forgotten how good the dirt felt under her feet after all this time…
The island was split into two halves. The right half consisted of a small forest of palm trees and rocky dwellings, while the left half was where the colony had been established. As with the Barton settlement, very little remained of the township after Roger's onslaught. It had been a small colony, going by the number of structures and civilians, little to no value at all.
Why destroy it…? Was Jack Sparrow here? Or had it simply been in the way…?
Or…had Roger somehow sensed her presence and scoured this entire section of the ocean to find her…? The thought made her quake in her boots.
Despite the amount of destruction, there were a few buildings that were surprisingly left untouched. It was easy to see why, they had nothing of worth at first glance, but Flora decided to go in for a closer look anyway, before the fires took them.
The first she uncovered was a warehouse, one that hadn't been used in sometime and never will again. Upon closer inspection, however, the girl found a few resources hidden inside. Two crates of food, including fruit, a flintlock pistol, a hat, and a few accessories that stood out: A few dresses, an expensive looking choker, a mirror, comb, brush, and a fancy yet oversized music box to go along with it all.
Flora did a double take at the sight, her anger slightly mellowed. What were these doing in an old storage? It wasn't until she examined the hat and pistol and found the oversized shirt and jerkin strewn to the side did she put two and two together.
Oh.
Heat turned her beat red like a tomato. This warehouse must have been where a young couple came to meet and-
Don't finish that thought! Flora turned away and forced herself to stop blushing and grinning. If a couple did indeed use this place as a hideout, then they won't be using it ever again…
Sighing, the teenager went over what was available. She took some spare shots from the abandoned flintlock, and then packed some fruit that was still fresh. She tilted her head at the dresses, and decided to pick one up out of curiosity. It was too large and tight for her liking, and it reeked with old perfume that made her sneeze, but the fabric was soft and the patterns were gorgeous to look at. Whoever tailored this dress deserved generous regards.
When was the last time I wore a dress…? Flora shook her head. I don't have time for this…
The flower set the garment aside, ignored the music box and comb, and picked up the brush. It was shell-shaped; perhaps its owner had a love for the sea as well. She scrutinized the brush, and then glanced outside. There was a little light leftover from the sunset, and the fire was further ways yet. There was time; she could do this if she was quick.
Flora ran her fingers through her dark brown hair. Most of it had clumped into a rat's nest during her voyage, with tangled knots etched with grease and slime. It would take hours to straighten and clean it all out, it might be easier to cut it all off with her knife instead….
Let me at least try first! Flora scowled, stubbornly, and straightened out the mirror. It'd been so long since she gazed into her reflection that she recoiled upon seeing it. She barely recognized herself. The hair was one thing, but her face had a worn, weather-beaten visage now, and the gills…
She hesitated and then carefully rubbed them. They appeared like normal wounds now, though that will surely change the moment she stepped back into the ocean, and they still stood out in comparison to her other scars. I'll have to cover them up.…
The girl sighed, the effects of the day beginning to sink in, and went to work on her hair.
It didn't take as long as she thought, but the knots did put up a fight, to the point where Flora fell over and hit the floor multiple times, and had to take the knife to a few stubborn patches in the end. When it was over, she tied her hair up into an awkward ponytail. It made her gender more obvious, but it'll be easier to take care of, and she could hide it under a well-placed hat or coat. Speakin' of hats…
Flora turned over to the hat and frowned. It didn't look right for her, the same with every other hat she looked upon when she got the chance. Still, it wouldn't hurt to give it a chance…would it?
A loud thought brayed when she picked it up. That doesn't belong to you!
She flinched. I'm not stealin' it! She tried to justify herself. I'm only trying it on…
Flora placed the hat on top of her head, and it slipped over her eyes. Sure enough, not only did it not look right for her, but it also wasn't a good fit either.
Would you have taken it if it was…?
Flora had a good idea on what she would have done, and guilt tightened its grip on her just thinking about it…
Once she was prepared, the young sailor trudged out of the warehouse. She had some food and had straightened herself out, if only a little. Now all she needed was some fresh water, a change of clothes with something to cover her gills, some shelter, a map, and a compass.
Unfortunately, she was able to cross out only a few of these checkmarks. A water well provided the fresh water she needed, and she was able to snag the map she desired for so long from one of the remaining buildings, but by then the fire had caught up to them, giving the teenager no choice but to strike out to the other half of the island for shelter…
The palm forest was upwind, keeping the fires of the settlement at bay, and allowing the moonlight to tinge the plant life with streaks of silver. Flora sliced at the webbed masses of green blocking her path to the rock formations, her grandfather's sword growing heavier and heavier with each stroke. She was definitely out of practice, something that needed to change quickly if she wanted to join the war against Roger. I'll practice before I rest, the girl decided, trying not to let the fatigue get to her. Just a little before bed…
Eventually, the flower reached the rocky outcrops, as dark and sandy as the island shores, and to her great relief, there was a cave system shaped within. The perfect shelter for the night!
Flora set everything down once she made her way inside, panting. The sandy floor looked so soft and comforting compared to the longboat and the top of Jerry's head, she wanted nothing more than to collapse onto it and sleep for a week straight…
Not yet! She bellowed. I still have work to do!
So, much to her reluctance, the young sailor ate a small portion of her food, took a drink from her newly filled flask, and then set out to work. First, she made a torch from bits of the forest, and the ripped part of her shirt. Then she patrolled through the cave tunnels to make sure no one else was using it. When she was certain that she was alone, she placed the torch outside the entrance like a sentry, and went around the corner to hone her skill with the sword. To say the pile of rock in front of her was a poor substitute for Athair was an understatement, but it was all she had.
Steady now…Flora eyed the rock heap, trying to imagine it as something more tangible, and checked to make sure her stance was correct. A harsh wind suddenly flogged Flora in the back when she did this. The teen panicked and flailed to keep her balance, and when she stood firm she swiveled in the direction of the wind. It came from the sea.
Athair? Unease coiled up her throat. She did call him out back in the reef, was there a chance he will appear to her tonight because of it?
Unease made way for anger. If he does come, he has a lot to answer for!
Flora gritted her teeth, then brought her attention back to the rock heap and drew her sword. The blade wobbled a little under her grip, she almost had to hold the hilt with two hands. No! No, I can do this!
She positioned herself in what she hoped to be the right stance, and took a few practice swings against the rock. The blade struck the gravel with ease. Good! This will work…The girl exhaled a few breaths, tried to remember some of the techniques and strategies she'd been taught over the years, and then threw herself at the heap.
She imagined she was in the midst of battle against Roger's army as she did this, and with each maneuver she successfully performed, another one of his monsters went down. Some of these methods came to the young sailor naturally, which greatly improved her mood. She remembered more than she thought!
However, on the verge of victory, the flower attempted a certain strategy that she forgot did no good, and the undead remained standing while she fell backward with an aching shoulder.
The imaginary battle faded away, and Flora seethed on the ground before finding the strength to stand up and glare at the boulders. She'd tried to knock them over, as she did with Athair the last time they sparred, and like her mentor, the rock refused to budge.
"That strategy won't work wit' your small size-ah!" Her teacher's lecture came back to her, "Ye' need a method to atone for your size and stature! Learn from what I've taught you, Miss Flora, and find yer' own form!"
Sod off! Flora rubbed her shoulder and bared her teeth. "Find my own form…" she muttered, "how on Earth am I supposed to do that?! What am I missing?!"
She studied the rock pile as though it held the answer to her plight, and went to pick her sword up. The blade nearly dropped from her grasp and she groaned. It had been a long day, and she was utterly spent. As much as she wanted to keep going, her body needed to rest. It was time to turn in for the night.
Grumbling, the frustrated teen sheathed her sword, and dragged her way back to the cave entrance. Once inside, she set the sword and scabbard aside, and glanced at the few rocks she set up to keep her map in place. I'll look at it tomorrow…
Satisfied, the teen made herself as comfortable as possible on the bed of sand, and watched the torchlight outside until its weaving flame lulled her into a deep sleep…
BOOM!
Flora jolted up from her makeshift bed. Where did this storm come from?!
Lightning crashed, and a familiar sharp wind razed through her from outside the cave.
Athair. Of course it was him…
The flower wiped her face and narrowed her eyes as she allowed the wind to guide her out of the cave like a towed ship. She looked around. The skies were shrouded in dark, blue-gray clouds, nearly the same color as her eyes, and a thick fog obscured the entirety of the island except for a clear, eerily lit path leading down to shore. The path led into the sea, toward an all-too familiar vessel anchored in the bay.
Flora stiffened. By now she'd seen this ship many times, but never from this angle…She clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and climbed down the path to the vessel. The closer she got, the more details she noticed on the hull, and the more she wished she didn't. The closed gun ports resembled the twisted, ghoulish faces of tortured souls, and the stern bore harrowing carvings of more poor souls being devoured by eldritch sea creatures, including a sea serpent. Lurid shivers crawled down Flora's spine at the sight, and yet that didn't stop her from trying to lean closer to find the cursed vessel's namesake. The fog kept her from seeing it.
"Bollocks…" The girl bit her lip as she stepped onto the sandy shore. There were no longboats awaiting her, so she will have to swim over to Athair's vessel. You know then…
Flora bore into the dark waters, and straightened the cuffs of her now-yellowed shirt. Fine by me!
The flower took a few steps back, then charged and leapt into the sea without hesitation. Her gills flew open the moment she touched the briny water, and she savored the taste and feel of the ocean flowing in and out of her being as she made way for the ship.
Uncanny silhouettes appeared to reach out for her from below, a sight that almost made her stop and balk, but she continued onward, trying to ignore them as best as possible. A ladder was waiting for her when she arrived at the sea-infested vessel and she climbed aboard. Her boots landed on the encrusted deck with a creaky thud, and she tried not to shudder as she gazed about the ship that served as her training ground for the past two years.
Home…A distant, dark part of her called from within. It's been some time…
A cold wind drawled by as she walked over to the port railing, gazing at the blazing moon above and the dark storm clouds and mist surrounding it like a gateway. How long was Athair going to make her wait tonight?
A loud THUNK near the stern let her know that she didn't have to wait for long. "Do children these days still have no respect for their elders…?"
Flora swiveled onto the helm. There her octopus teacher was, standing beside the wheel, glaring daggers at her.
She glared right back at him, not bothering with pleasantries. "Perhaps I would have more respect, if you had told me the truth!"
His tentacles winded, slyly. "When was there a lie?"
The truth only made her blood boil. "You didn't tell me I had gills!"
She whirled to the side so Athair could get a good look at them. He gave no reaction. "Ye knew this was going to happen!" Flora turned back to him, eyes flashing. "Yet you didn't tell me!"
She started towards him, the stark fury she felt all day sheering through her chest. "I've had enough, what else are ya keeping from me, Athair?!" The sailor spat. "If you know who or what I am, you'd better tell right now!"
Athair's claw snapped and his lips curled. "How many times must I give the hint? I am not here to give ye' those answers-"
"Then WHAT are ya here for!?" Flora bellowed. "I don't understand what you are doing anymore!"
Shut up! You're going too far! Her inner-self squeaked, but she ignored it.
The man angled his head, his gaze hardening. "Watch yer next words carefully, lass…"
"Ye say that you want to help me, and yet you won't tell me anythin' meaningful when it might be!" The warning went unheeded. "Ya say life is unfair, and yet you save mine when I'm on the verge of losing it!" A fierce wind blew as the girl snarled, too blind by her emotions to stop now. "If I mean somethin' to you, if you know who or what I am, then you had BETTER tell right now or I'll-"
CRACK!
Athair's claw snatched her by the neck, cutting her off and holding her in place. "Or ye'll what, girl?" The world grew darker as the beast snarled, his breath a noxious fog, and his tentacles thrashing like raging serpents, "Ye' have no idea to whom you speak!"
Flora choked and looked away from the monster, instincts urging her to run or fight and yet she couldn't move!
Athair tilted her head so she was looking back at him. "And you do not want to UPSET him now, or ye'll regret it fer as long as ya live!" He tightened his grip, the claw's serrated edges digging in like sharp pebbles. "Understand-ah?"
Flora let out a small yelp and she nodded, rapidly.
"Good." He released her and turned away, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes as she stumbled back against the railings. Flora coughed and rubbed her neck, now marked with tiny bruises above the gills. She glared up at her mentor, and straightened out when he spoke again. "If it's answers ye' seek so badly…" He glanced in her direction as he drew his sword, a vicious sneer in his voice. "Come and get them!"
BASTARD!
The flower seethed and drew her grandfather's sword, the wind blowing even harder, "With pleasure…!"
Fueled by vengeful emotions and the need for answers, Flora lunged at Athair, aiming straight for his back. The man swerved around and parried, the duo giving each other death glares before resuming their overdue spar.
It was a long and ugly duel with little to no grace or skill. Blinded by anger and contempt, Flora could barely focus on any proper maneuvers or strategies, and thus, she was unable to hold her own without getting tossed across the deck with her mentor's broadsword pointed at a vulnerable spot every few seconds.
"Dead!" Athair declared when she was backed up against the foremast with a sword directed at her throat, and then again when she wasn't watching her footing and slipped across the sodden deck. "Dead!"
Even her teacher grew impatient with her lack of direction the further they went. "PAY ATTENTION, FLORA!" He roared, "FOCUS!"
Flora leaned over; trembling and sweating like a pig. She glanced down briefly at her hand and clenched it into a tight fist. Concentrate! Her mind bellowed alongside Athair's words. Focus! THINK!
The girl exhaled, and drew her gaze back to her eldritch teacher as he charged. He raised his blade, and at the last second she parried it. Athair raised a scaly brow and went to jab on her left. She followed his movements and parried again. "Better…" The man complimented lowly, and continued on the offensive.
Flora's stance improved from there, though only a few minutes in, exhaustion took its toll. She fell for a feint and tripped over Athair's crab leg, hurdling headfirst into the starboard railing. The girl struck the hull with a sickening crack and fell limp. The wind died down. She was done.
"Dead." Yet Athair was not. The man growled as he sheathed his sword and marched over to her. "Up, girl!"
Flora didn't move. "I said up!" The teenager tried to push herself up on shaking arms, only to collapse. Athair's tentacles quivered, and he leaned down to pull her up himself when the girl whimpered.
The man paused, brows furrowing, and lifted the girl up a little more carefully this time, and set her on her knees. She was crying.
Athair stiffened and Flora turned away. She'd taken no injuries to her head as far as he could see. No, this was a breakdown…
It wasn't the first time she wept in front of him. Every time it happened, she'd tried to hide it in fear of appearing weak, and in truth seeing her cry made him uncomfortable. Dealing with her temper was one thing, he knew all too well how to work with that, but seeing her sad and shedding tears…he didn't like it. Not one bit.
"I…n-need to know…" The girl lamented, her anger broken by their duel, and its scattered remains revealing the truth behind her harsh emotions. "I'm-I'm scared, sir…."
A cruel laugh nearly escaped from Athair's slimy lips. Scared of what she is and what she will become? She didn't know the half of it!
But the laugh didn't come. Instead, one of his tentacles lifted up and very gently wiped the tears from her red-rimmed eyes. Flora sniffled and did a double take when she saw this, while he narrowed his gaze at the large droplet of tears he collected. His face twitched, unpleasantly, and he pulled Flora back on her feet before turning away and heading back to the helm with a growl.
The young sailor sniffed, baffled and feeling empty, and then wiped her face. M-mood swing…she thought, miserably.
When all of her emotions were dried up and she was done crying, Flora cautiously followed after her teacher, uncertain what to expect with his current state of mind. Athair peered out at sea with his back to her, waiting for her approach. There was a long period of silence between the two. "I will say this, lass…" He started, candidly, his head tilted slightly in her direction, "Ye' are more than you think, and if ye' don't watch yourself, you'll fall into the depths."
Her insides turned cold. "I…I don't understand…"
"Without proper guidance, yer inheritance will leave you vulnerable, and you'll be killed before you can recover." He turned to face her, his tentacles writhing slowly. "Do I make myself clear-ah?"
Flora pieced his words together, and her heart dropped. He'd just told her that she had more abilities than she thought, inherited from her mysterious parents, and if she misused them before she was ready, specifically in the midst of battle, she'll exhaust herself and get killed.
"A-Aye…" The girl answered, wearily. "But…why, sir?"
The man almost gave the answer away, but managed to say, "You will learn in time" instead.
Her mood soured. Damn it…She was tempted to push for more answers, but their duel, and her mental breakdown left her too tired to try. "I see…"
A bolt of lightning struck out from one of the storm clouds and a gust of wind blew across the deck, causing Flora's ponytail to waver, and Athair's coat to drift about like Charon's robes. "You've devoted yerself to a dangerous cause-ah." Thunder rumbled as the man stated, "if ye're intent on this path…" His eyes narrowed, glimmering like shards of ice. "…then you leave me no choice."
The ominous words brought Flora's hand close to her sword. "Sir…?"
An albatross clicked and croaked overhead, but neither of them paid heed. Athair examined his apprentice before looking back to the sea. "You're in further need of my aid."
Flora blinked. "You're going to help me, sir?" She asked, "with my…'inheritance'?"
"I will do what I can-ah." The man reached into his coat. At first, Flora thought he was bringing his pipe out again, only to stare when he brought out a book instead. She furrowed her brows. Somehow, seeing Athair with a book was the one of the most baffling things she'd ever seen. The girl leaned in for a closer look. It looked like a logbook or journal, although if it came from Athair, who knew what secrets it held.
Flora tried to take a peek, out of sheer curiosity, only to recoil when Athair snapped the book shut and gave her a look. "S-sorry sir."
The man snorted and resumed reading as soon as she turned the other way. As he did, the teenager contemplated. Once again, Athair was offering to help her, yet once again, he wasn't giving a straight answer as to why. Flora itched her gills and sighed. One more time, she decided. She at least had to try.
The young sailor turned back to her teacher, and asked as carefully and politely as possible. "…Why?"
He gave her a sideways glance. At first she thought he was going to ignore the question, lecture her, or tell her that she'd have to wait again, and then he opened his mouth. "Life is cruel, Miss Flora. I want you to be aware of that." He turned back to the book, his tentacles curling slowly, and the ice in his eyes dimming. "Yet I would be called a liar if I said I wanted to lose you."
Flora lifted her head. What did he mean by that? "Sir…are you saying you'd be upset if I died..?"
Athair didn't respond, and suddenly Flora found herself looking over his octopus head, itching her gills as the truth started to dawn on her-
The dreamscape turned dark, and the girl blinked and shook her head. What was she thinking about…?
As another blank spot took its place in his child's memory, Athair turned a few pages in the journal before stopping at the one he was looking for. "Come here, lass."
Flora pinched her temples and walked over to the man with a pained grimace. "Y-yes, sir?"
He pointed his claw out to the open ocean, and the teen followed it.
The albatross that called earlier was hunkered on top of the sea, glowing like a white figurehead under the moonlight. The bird preened one of its wings, paused, then shrieked and took flight when the sea began to ripple. Flora raised a brow, and then jumped back as Jerry suddenly shot out from the sea with open jaws, missing the albatross by a margin.
The serpent growled as the bird flew off and gave chase, all the while Flora stared after him with a slacked jaw. Was this an illusion? Or did Athair drag her friend into the dream world as well? How powerful was he?!
The man looked down at his pupil and smirked at her dumbfounded expression. "Ye've done well in taming your 'pet' on your own, but ye'll still need advice on my part-ah."
Flora nodded, slowly, still bewildered by the sudden change of events.
The smirk turned into an amused chuckle. "We'll start with this…"
By the time Athair's lessons drew to an end and Flora awakened back to reality, midday was on the horizon. Now that she wasn't aboard the Glory-and no longer adrift at sea-the man's sessions can continue for longer hours. On one hand, Flora was grateful for this, especially with his willingness to help her cope and control her newfound power, but on the other hand, a part of her was still angry that he refused to give her any real answers. In fact, she may always be bitter about that.
What are ya hiding, Athair? What do I mean to you if you don't want to lose me…?
She'd been so close, so close to finding the answer, yet once again, she'd been met with a dead end.
What am I not allowed to know?! The flower growled before closing her eyes. She'll be in the cave all day is she dwelled on this. It was time to move on.
Putting her irritations aside, Flora ate a late breakfast, and went straight for the map. It was a small one, clearly made only for this island, but that was enough for the young sailor, as it gave away her exact location.
"The Caribbean Sea!" She exclaimed, her heart soaring. All this time, after so much misery and calculating, she'd made it back! Or almost, at least, she was within the outskirts, but there was a turtle-shaped island not far from where she stood.
I'm almost there! Back to civilization!
The flower beamed, only for a grim thought to penetrate the mood. If the turtle-shaped island was this close, then Jolly Roger surely would have pillaged it by now…Flora shook her head. I haven't seen any smoke from here. Maybe he bypassed it. It was enough to give her hope, and with that the decision was made.
The teenager measured the distance between isles, determined that it'll take a few days to get to the turtle-shaped island, and then went straight to work. She packed up her supplies and belongings, climbed out of the cave, and peered down at the destroyed settlement. There were a few wisps of smoke, but aside from that the fires had died out in the night, leaving smoldering piles of debris in their wake.
Flora bowed in respect. Ye' will be avenged. I promise you this…With that she lifted her head to the horizon, and made way for the shoreline.
The afternoon sunlight reflected off the ocean's surface like glittering diamonds. It was an uplifting sight, although it made it difficult to see where one was going. Flora squinted against the light and took a gander across the sea. Jerry was close by, surely. He was still angry with her, he made that perfectly apparent last night, but it was time to leave and she needed his help.
The flower closed her eyes. Should she attempt to contact the serpent with the clairvoyance Athair taught her last night? Not yet! A part of her insisted. He told you not to attempt most of them until you're ready!
Try it anyway. The seed of temptation urged, try it and see if you can do it on your own!
The girl groaned. She was too tired to debate on this, so she decided to bring Jerry to the surface the old fashioned way: with another high-pitched whistle.
A few minutes later the serpent arose from the sea like a red beacon. "Good afternoon, boy…"
Jerry glowered, his jaw fins rattling. "A petty beast you are!" Flora exclaimed, "After how many times I apologized last night?"
The serpent bared his teeth, and his friend sighed. "For the tenth time, I'm sorry for hitting you…" Gingerly, she approached the beastie and held out her hand. "It won't happen again, I promise. I need your help."
Jerry glanced at her outstretched palm, and then at Flora, then back at her hand again before giving it a cautious sniff. The girl waited, and exhaled when he leaned into her touch. "Thank you, lad. Thank you…"
With the matter settled, Flora climbed aboard the serpent's head and the duo, once again, set out for the open sea.
The journey to the turtle-shaped island took two in a half days. Jerry swam as far and fast as possible until night fell, where he then took Flora down to the seabed, lit by the waning moonlight, to rest. On the first night, Flora took a risk and opened her locket, and to her surprise the music box worked as well underwater as it did on the surface. Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised anymore…
Both nights she and the serpent listened to the locket melody under the sea to soothe them to sleep, and both nights, Athair appeared to Flora to continue her lessons and hone her skills, sharpening her mind and body for the days to come. Aside from the exhausting sessions and urgency, these few days were one of the more peaceful times in Flora's life, and part of her was reluctant to leave it all behind.
On the evening of the third day, the island came into view, and with it, a prosperous harbor town. Candle and lantern lights blazed a comforting golden yellow from countless buildings and windows, and the echoes of music and laughter weaved across the bay. Best of all, a number of vessels stood anchored within the seaport, all fit for battle, and there were no signs of any carnage, destruction, or undead anywhere.
She had made it.
Flora breathed a deep sigh of sheer relief, the longest she'd let out in ages, and leaned back across the serpent's head, savoring the moment. "We're here, Jerry…!" She quietly exclaimed, "We've made it!"
Jerry rumbled enthusiastically, not quite understanding why his friend was happy, but glad that she was regardless.
Flora grinned, and sat up to get a better look at the harbor town. She was back in civilization, but now that she was, there were a few problems that needed to be taken care of immediately. She had to get in without alerting anyone of Jerry's presence, as well as herself at least until she got a hold of proper attire, and then there were her gills…
The sailor thought quickly, her eyes darting from left to right. Aha! She leaned down and pointed between two anchored vessels. "Right through there, starboard side, quietly now…"
The serpent complied, though a little nervously, and lowered his head as he slithered between the ships, casting as few ripples as possible. As he did, Flora reared toward the two surrounding vessels, basking in their glory. One of them in particular nearly made her jaw drop. It was a frigate, an enormous warship square-rigged with sails and beams as red as Jerry's skin and loaded with at least thirty guns.
That's the one. It was exactly the type of ship Flora needed! It was perfect for the battle against Roger and his cohorts! Now I just need to find her captain…
She leaned back to get a look at this vessel's namesake, and all her hopes came crashing down. No. Horror clenched her bliss into a tight ball and threw it away. No, that can't be…!
The flower gulped, all too disturbed now by her discovery. So focused and unwilling to believe what she saw, she barely noticed Jerry dropping her off in the shadowed outskirts of the harbor as requested. Nor did she notice the flintlock pistol pointed at her until it was too late-
BANG!
Flora jumped, the shot barely missing her leg.
"Watchit, there, bonnie!" A man, drunk as a skunk and in desperate need of a bath, hollered from up ahead. "I'm tryin' to win a prize 'ere! Go swimmin' elsewhere!"
The man took a massive drink from the sweet smelling flask by his side before reloading his pistol and aiming for the stack of empty bottles Flora had unwittingly walked in front of. Flora gaped and left promptly without a word, only to behold the sight that awaited her beyond the docks.
Oh no.
A mass of men reeking of gun and tobacco smoke and alcohol were laughing, jeering, and having the time of their lives as they drank, shot, and played life threatening games from everywhere she looked, while women laughed shrilly by their sides, all as drunk and stupefied as they were.
Nononononononono!
Flora pulled her hair, mortified, and shrank into the shadowy corners as much as possible. She swiveled onto the harbor. Jerry had left before anyone noticed him, but now she wished he hadn't. The girl swallowed, feeling nauseous, and peeked at the masses around the corner, taking in the sheer insanity and lack of order. Bloody hell…
The name of the red ship came back to her. It was the Queen Anne's Revenge, captained by Blackbeard, one of the most infamous and fearsome pirates to sail the Seven Seas, though rumor had it she sailed under a new captain these days. If the Revenge was here, and taking into account the state of the island and its inhabitants, that can only mean one thing.
Tortuga. Flora had arrived in the pirate town of Tortuga.
In which Flora makes a new vow, throws a teenage temper tantrum, her Dad teaches her some humility after scaring and beating her in a duel, said Dad proves that despite his mood swings (and everything else), he's still a better father than Blackbeard ever was, Flora's true venture officially begins, and she finds herself in Norrington's worst nightmare. Good fun all around!
I am so sorry for how long these chapters are getting. I was hoping to keep this one short, but there was more I wanted to add than I thought. Heck, there was even more that I wanted to put into this chapter than what you see here, but I couldn't find the opportunity.
We get a few more cameos this time around! The first is the book 'Athair' was carrying around: The Journal of the Ancient Seas. From that add-on game that came with Pirates of the Caribbean: Online that nobody liked: Call of the Kraken. The second, as you've seen, is the Queen Anne's Revenge under the command of one Captain Barbossa. If he's there, then it's easy to see why Roger wasn't able to take Tortuga.