HoloJourneys

by vanderblast

A fateful encounter with a fluffy sheep inside a castle dungeon, begins a journey that will change the world. In a world of magic, swords, magical spirits and endless possibilities, Anon, sets forth on a journey with his friend Watame to see everything this world has to offer and to find their origins. The journey won't always be easy, but together, they can always make it through.

52. A Hero's Responsibility

An invasive sensation; something coarse tickles the front of your face, gliding across your lips and trialing upward until it finds a perfect spot just underneath your nose. Still half trapped in the land of dreams, you grasp for the disturbance, only for it to escape capture with a flick of its shape; breaching the opening of your nostrils with its tendrils as it passes. A violent shudder through your entire body that rouses you awake. Eyes half closed, you make another snatch for the annoyance that disturbed your slumber, and manage to trap the perpetrator within your grip; Botan's tail.

The light gray brush sways back and forth, not exerting enough strength to escape, but not yielding entirely to your grasp, as if the appendage was capable of making its own choices. It whips its tip down and around, tickling your knuckles to fully bring you into the world of the waking. Once your mind shakes some of the cobwebs from it, you release the lioness' tail that slinks back to its owner who is sound asleep and curled up on simple wooden flooring. Sitting up, you register the apparent new surroundings you awoke in; a simple empty room that smells of crisp sea air, which overpowers, but does not completely mask the slight musk of a hard fought victory.

On your other side lies Watame, her elbows and knees tucked in close as she lets out the softest of 'bas'. Nene is seated up against the side wall, supporting both Polka and Flare with her shoulders. Your eyes then find Kiara, her back resting against the opposite wall, and Pomu's head laid across her lap. Those piercing violets of hers meet your gaze, and she holds a finger to her lips to demand your silence, the other hand softly gliding over the fae's hair.

You nod to the sun warrior and refrain from bidding her a verbal good morning. At least, it might be morning. The spawn of the sun spirit rising with the light of a new day makes a lot of sense to you. Even if Kiara has seemed adamant about denying any similarity or even familial bonds with Aska, there are some parts of a person's structure that cannot be ignored. The idea brings a small smile to your face, as maybe there is hope yet to simmer down this ice queen of the sun. A direct line to another one of the great spirits is one you can't take for granted, not to mention Kiara might be able to cue you in on what more there might be to being a summoner. It's a good thing you owe her a small fortune, or else she might have high tailed it out of here as soon as the battle was won. Speaking of which.

In the few minutes since your unexpected awakening, your mind had already formed a sea worth of questions, and the only way to calm the tide was to get out and get answers. You open your mouth to ask the first burning question in your head, but Kiara's face contorts to a hardened scowl, freezing the words in your throat. She points a thumb in the direction of the closed doorway, and you can practically feel how she is telling you to 'Go figure it out yourself, ya little shit', and possibly some other choice swears to go with it.

Controlling your movements so as to not disturb your companions, you rise and make for the closed four-panel door. You nod to Kiara who watches you leave, a silent agreement that should anyone else wake up and come looking for you, she will point them in the right direction. Through the doorway and down an barren hallway that smells of the fresh morning sea air wafting through the confines of the building, your body is given a fresh start. Your pace quickens for the light of daybreak that peeks in halfway down the corridor. So many thoughts and questions race through your head during those fifteen odd steps, and even though your body could do with more rest, it would be almost impossible to fall back asleep without satisfying your curiosity.

When you breach the open doorway, you are met with the pleasant warmth of the sandy shore between your toes. Your eyes blink to adjust to the sun's rays that blanket the world in front of you. The warm breeze gently bends the patches of green blades that jut out from the sand at the base of wooden fence posts that mark the perimeter of the building you just left. You walk onto the darker blond pathway and bask in the heat from above. The glistening expanse of the great blue can be seen straight ahead, the light of a new day slowly creeps above it over the horizon.

Another cursory glance up and down the coastal block reveals the outline of Shallah's main port; its piers; battered and broken in some spots, still stand proudly over the ocean.

The port? Someone carried me all the way over here? Last thing I remember is falling asleep next to Botan and Watame…Gods. I must have slept like the dead. Where is Marine, or the rest of the pack? Wait…Shit…I helped undo an entire pirate armada and then fell asleep. They're probably keeping watch over the mess I started. Hopefully they're near the port, or what's left of it anyway.

Every two steps you take mark the start of a new question sprouting in your head; Should you go back and get your sword and spell book? What if Blackfin somehow escaped? Will the port still be recognizable after the tidal wave that washed over it? What happens now? That last question takes the wheel from your train of thought.

If all is well at the port and the pirates who you fought against are still in binds, what happens now? You would have fulfilled your promise to Lui, right? You would have freed the people of Shallah from their oppressors, but how things progress from there was an idea you hadn't thought much about until now. As the port gets closer and closer, you continue to ponder on the possible second act for the play of liberation you put yourself front and center in, all the while something; like a fly pinging against the window of your mind, threatens to tear your attention away from your contemplation.

"Hiya, summoner! Gooood Morning!" Sylph chirps, appearing out of thin air in front of you, making the source of your distraction well known to you.

"Oh, hey Sylph." You greet on reflex, stopping your steps just long enough for the wind spirit to pivot herself to float at your side.

"Your minds really a joggin' in there. What cha thinking about so early anyway? What are you doing walking around to begin with!?" She then exclaims. "Big Sis is still pooped, so why aren't you?"

You stop and open your mouth halfway, ready to unload the pit of questions you've dug for yourself in the past ten minutes, but the appearance of the wind spirit might actually be the answer to some of the less complicated mysteries.

"Well, whenever you wake up in a place you don't remember falling asleep in, don't you have a lot of questions after first waking up?" You counter, resuming your stride towards your destination. "Like how you got there?"

"I just assume that it must have been a really fun party." Sylph shrugs and keeps pace in the air next to you. "Besides, I'm always tied to you anyways, so if I go to sleep back in my realm, I may never know where I'll end up the next morning. You're starting to get into the habit of ending up someplace I didn't leave you in the middle of the night."

"Alright, fair. I guess it doesn't really matter how I went from passing out on the beach to waking up in a shack."

"Yup! You just gotta go with the flow, like me!" Sylph beams her pearly white teeth at you. "Speaking of, where we off to so early? Are you sure you shouldn't be back with the others catching some more winks?"

"I didn't see Marine or any of the pack besides Botan anywhere nearby, so the port seems like the first place I should look. Unless you know where they are?" You ask, taking the chance to prod into more important matters.

"You'd be right on the money." The wind spirit chirps. "Marine's ship is definitely there at least. Before Korla carried you off, the captain said she was gonna bring her boat to the docks. I'm not all that surprised you slept through that part though. You look pretty happy all snuggled in Korla's arms."

"And the rest of the pack?" You don't give any reaction to Sylph's comment, although you are trying to grasp the physical memory that is hopefully etched into your being of how that lioness' soft caress felt at the time.

"After they made sure you and our girls were all settled, they said they would go make sure things stayed quiet at the port. We do have a pretty high profile prisoner to keep watch of."

"Then let's go relieve them for a bit. They worked incredibly hard yesterday. We couldn't have won that battle without them." You say as you approach the bottom of the pier; the restless tide cascades over the debris that is scattered along the shoreline. You brace yourself for the damage you might see topside and turn to make the small hike up the wooden staircase that will bring you right to the port main street.

Over the splash of the waves against the pier, you can hear the sounds of people bustling and working their backs to their limits. Your pace quickens to ascend the steps that have more than earned your respect for somehow surviving the tidal onslaught from yesterday. You suppose that its salvation came from how its location, your memory serves to show that Chacu Challhua's rampage nailed the middle most docks and the resulting waves enveloped the main street and buildings that surround it. The foundations and structures on the far ends seem to have gotten away with sustaining only minor damage. A small blessing, but you are already feeling regretful over what had to transpire that caused the tidal disaster.

"Pssst! Summoner." Sylph pokes your ribs with her elbow. "Let's see that heroic smile of yours. This is no time to be all mopey and serious."

You inhale to scoff at the wind fairy's prodding, but the true meaning behind her request shines through. While what had befallen their country is a tragedy, it was time for Shallah to move forward. You had come to bring them out of their dark cages, and that isn't limited to just kicking the asses of bad guys and lunatics.

Taking a deep breath in tandem with your step, you lift your head up high, straighten your shoulders, and put on the face of a man who defeated a giant. The reminder of the opponents you overcame, beastkin, demi-humans, ancient denizens of the deep, it does more than make your smile match your ego, it makes you feel ten feet tall.

"There's the guy people will be clamoring to see." Sylph chirps with approval. "Now just like how we marched right into the storm to fight whatever wanted to stand in our way, we're gonna face whatever comes next. Time to show this country what their spark of hope looks like. We got this, summoner."

Giving your wind attuned companion a fierce nod, you take the final steps to complete your ascent and bring you to Shallah's central hub. When your vision crosses the threshold you are met with the fallout of your climatic battle; the fragments of buildings, boats, and stalls almost completely cover the cobblestone streets that are still slick with a thin sheet of seawater. The immediate establishments have had their faces punched in by the long arm of the ocean. The damage is worse than you could have pictured. You walk forward and squat down to begin separating a messy pile of broken planks from the street path.

"Anon? What on earth are you doing awake?" A man's voice interrupts your silent self-appointed task, causing you to look up and see Kukai looking down at you. The younger member of Shallah's pillars stands above you with a thick log held along his one shoulder, and the visible lengths of his legs and forearms were covered in bandages to hide the souvenirs of the battle.

You look up to answer him plainly, but you suddenly feel the stares of many eyes fall upon you. The entire cleanup of the port came to an abrupt halt, and you are at the center of it all. Worn out faces of all ages turn towards you, all struggling with the uncertainty of their supposed freedom as well as the loss of their once proud epicenter. You rise to your full height, not knowing how you should answer on the way up, but you can't let that be an excuse. What would Polka say right now? It's showtime?

"You didn't expect me to just sleep the day away, did you?" You bring your own collection of wooden debris over your shoulder. "I actually came over to find Captain Marine, but seeing how there's a lot of work to be done, I can wait a bit to see her."

"You've done enough already. We couldn't possibly ask you to-." Kukai begins to argue, his voice actually stern for the first time, but his rebuttal is cut short by another man cutting in, a much larger one.

"Give up while you're ahead." Sammy chuckles. "I'm not sure there's a force on this planet powerful enough to change this young man's mind once it's made up."

"But Sammy, look at him. He already risked life and limb for us. He shouldn't."

"I'm really not in that bad of shape." You pipe in, almost a little insulted that others feel you need to be coddled. "I'm sore all over, but I can still pull my weight."

"You've pulled more than that is your problem." Kukai snaps, seemingly not willing to back down. "We can handle the cleanup, you should really be getting more rest."

"Kukai has a point." Sammy nods, but then he looks at you with a gentle smirk on his face. "But a lot of us haven't gotten much sleep, so I'd say we're all on even ground. If Anon wants to help while he makes his way over to the ship of the Houshou Pirates, who are we to stop him? Right?"

You give both Shallahan leaders a grateful smile as you take the invitation to officially join in the restoration effort with the small stipulation that you do so while actually making your way to the Crimson Quarter. You hoisted debris off the ground for it to be taken off your hands by the newest to you native who wanted to express their gratitude towards you. The people you exchange pleasantries with are worse for wear, but with some slight encouragement and your best smile, their eyes begin to shine with the strength to build a better tomorrow.

With your help, the main street is cleared of scattered debris in almost no time at all, and you are left to walk down the pier where Marine's ship is docked. The Crimson Quarter was almost coming apart at the seams. The bowsprit had been snapped to a mere fraction of its original length, the calm red wood that makes up the ship's hull was punched clean through in some spots, and chipped and peeling in others. It's a miracle that it even made it to the port when you see it up close. After all she went through to have it back, Marine is probably devastated over the state of her pirate crew's flagship, she seems like the type of woman to be especially sentimental like that. You'd be lying if you said you couldn't relate. All the more reason to see how she's doing.

At the loading plank to the ship, you are met with the very welcome sight of Bransha and Bree both standing guard. Their drooping eyes regain their spark when they relay the information of who exactly approaches them to their heads. There wasn't even a second delay in what happened next.

"Packleader!" They cheer as they both tackle you with hugs, almost toppling you over with their fierceness. You happily accept both lionesses into your arms and try to match their grip point for point, overjoyed to find them safe and sound.

"Bransha! Bree! It's so good to see you both." You give them both a final squeeze before forcing the connection to end so you can take a good look at them. Both their black manes are filled with dust and dirt, and cuts that have been dry for hours paint their arms. They were wounded, but they wear it with pride, another trait you seem to share with these feral women. "You both did amazing yesterday. I'm really proud of how hard you both must have fought."

"We used what you taught us to kick those bastards off our land." Bransha returns the compliment. "I can show you how strong I got later if you want. We can have a match like you do with Flare."

"Anon would still kick your ass." Bree scoffs. "Him and Botan took down that whale, remember? Say, where is Botan anyway? It's still kinda bullshit that she got to rest with you while the rest of us were stuck over here."

"She's right where you left us. I woke up and noticed you guys weren't nearby so I came looking for you. I guess it doesn't feel right to me when my comrades aren't around the morning after a battle." You give Bree a soft pat on the head, which she leans into wholeheartedly. "Are Captain Marine and the rest of the pack on the ship?"

"The pirate girl is probably passed out in her room." Bransha is quick to answer. "Once she got her ship docked she said she needed some time alone and holed herself up in there. Nula and Rikki are taking a nap, while Korla and Frala are keeping watch over the whale you caught."

"I guess I'll go check on them first. There's actually a few things I need to ask that finned bastard while I have the chance. Take a rest soon, you two. Okay?" You give both girls a lingering meeting of your eyes, and each one nods to your request.

After boarding the ship, the complete stillness of the deck fills you with a strange sense of unease. Below the battered and creaking floorboards is the man who almost plunged an entire country into ruin. In the name of what could only be interpreted as greed fueled by insanity, that orca reaped the land, worked countless to the bone, and broke up entire families. You can only try to picture how this pirate vessel would have been singing with life had it not been for that lunatic. Marine would still have her crew and likely be sailing right now, but all that was taken from her because she was brave enough to not conform to Blackfin's twisted ambitions. Ambitions that were given the foundation to be realized by HoloX. Your fists clench at the thought. It's time to get some answers.

"Summoner? You okay?" Sylph's head comes peeking in from the corner of your eye, her concern for you is genuine and doesn't carry the hint of playfulness her inquiries have quickly become famous for.

"I will be after I get this over with, but at the same time, I almost want to put it off somehow." You answer.

"So would you like me to talk you out of it? I can think of at least ten fun things we could go do instead? We can go get Pomu, do a little summoning, and take a little flight over the waves. Eh? Ehh? Sound good?" Sylph offers, gauging your reaction and her forced smile softens to something more supportive. "But what kinda partner would I be if I didn't help you push you to the things you gotta do? C'mon. I'll be right there with you. Like Big Sis said last night, we're family, and that means I get to be the wind beneath your wings whenever you need it. Speaking of her, be right back!"

Before you can utter a reply, Sylph disappears from your plane of existence in a glitter of emerald dust, leaving you alone with your curiosity. You get not even five steps further before she reappears, but now she holds a surprised, but very sleepy Undine by the wrist. You didn't think it was possible for the great spirits to look disheveled within their incorporeal forms, but the ruler of the waters looks like she was just dragged out of bed without even so much as a "good morning". Her hair that was always so neat and free flowing, was tangled at almost every possible lock, like streams overflowing off their natural courses and intersecting with one another, and her webbed ears drooped to match her shoulders. The way her deep blue eyes narrowed at her sister told you she was just a second away from lashing out, but when they drift in your direction, they lose their fiery vengeance, and some of the sleep seems to vanish from her eyelids.

"Good morning, summoner." She yawns, slowly trying to acclimate to her spiritual form. "It is good to see you. Did you sleep well? It seems rather early. You didn't have nightmares again, did you?"

"Sylph…" You groan, flatting your palm to your face. "What happened to letting Undine sleep in?"

"My sister said it was urgent, and that I should be here for you." The water spirit answers first, giving her head a quick wiggle which somehow seems to magically correct the knots and tangles of her hair.

"It IS urgent." Sylph remarks. "This is something we should all do together. We're gonna go question that mean blowhard about….about…." The wind fairy's thoughts become scattered, as she puts a finger to her chin in deep contemplation. "What are you going to ask him about anyway?"

"Are you sure about this?" Undine chimes in. "The battle only just ended. You need not trouble yourself with that horrid creature."

"It's now or never." You sigh, trying to gather whatever resolve you can find. "I can't be certain how Shallah's laws will judge him, and this could be my only chance to ask him what he knows about HoloX. I'm just a little afraid of what I might hear."

"Well how about I tell ya something you'd like to hear first?" Sylph offers, again not waiting for an answer before trailing along. "Big Sis's realm got like a major makeover! You really need to come see it sometime. It's so pretty, tell him, Undine!"

"Really?" Your interest is peaked. "What happened to it? Did it get bigger again?"

"Indeed." Undine states, having regained some of her normal composure, as well as her calm and collected demeanor. "Not only has its perimeter increased, but there are some additions I think you would particularly like, summoner. More of what makes up the oceans, rivers, and lakes has decorated my realm. It has become quite cozy, and even more familiar to me now."

"I bet it was because of that super cool mega resonance you both did. Can we do that sometime too, summoner?" Sylph asks, getting even closer to you with her request.

"Once we figure out what exactly that was, and if we can even do it again, sure." You say to disarm the wind fairy, who happily takes your conditional promise with glee. "But we're getting off track here. Yes I would love to see your realm again soon, Undine….however it is I'll be able to do that, but we can figure that out later too. I should really-"

"Oh! Let's go wake up your captain!" Sylph suggests, which then turns into an order when she takes you by the wrist and starts walking you along the deck. "You'll feel better if she's with you too, right? I bet she has a few things she wants to say to that nasty pirate as well. Plus! Undine really likes her."

"Now hold on! You're not waking up another person!" You protest. "I don't think Marine has slept since I freed her from that box. Leave the poor girl alone."

"There'll be time for that later." Sylph begins to drag you along, and before you realize it, you are parked right in front of the closed door to the captain's quarters. "Besides, I bet she's been worried about ya. Just let her know you're alright and that you'll be with Blackfin if she needs ya. Sound fair?"

"Fair enough, but you stay out here." You point a stern finger at the wind spirit who smiles with feigned innocence. You give the impressive red wood door a gentle nudge, and it opens for you. "I'll be in and out."

"Take your time." Sylph snickers, trying to restrain herself from saying something more, but a firm nudge from her older sister's elbow knocks the impulse clear from her breath.

You shake your head and walk into Marine's private room, taking soft steps so as not to potentially alarm her. The strong scent of whiskey in the air, tantalizing your nostrils and even your tongue. You then find the Houshou Captain on her back and with her head hanging off the edge of her bed. One of her hands is vicariously gripped around the neck of a deep brown bottle, on the verge of tipping over and pouring its contents all over Marine's stomach with every rise and fall of her breath. You walk over and snatch the bottle from her limp grip before any messes could be made. Upon inspecting the bottle you see that it's almost completely empty, so either there wasn't much to start, or Marine is one hell of a drinker. After placing it onto her command desk, you return to your captain and roll her flat onto her stomach so that her head is supported by her mattress.

"There ya go, captain. Now you should be nice and comfy." You start talking to the woman while she continues to slumber. "I'm gonna go check in on Blackfin, I guess I'll just keep going down till I find the brig. I'll come back and check up on ya before I leave."

When you turn to leave, something prevents you from taking another step; a gloved hand taking a grip of your pant leg with a vice grip. You look over your shoulder to find Marine clinging to you like you were her lifeline.

"Cabin boy….it's time to set sail." Marine says through her own snores, making you repress a small chuckle at the idea of the seafaring dream she must be in the middle of. You can't be certain that it's you playing the role of cabin boy in her head, but the notion that Marine would want you aboard her ship once more puts a smile on your face, and even touches your heart.

"There, let's weigh anchor….our own private island….now oil and pamper your Senchou, she demands it." She breathes, and the smarmy way the corner of her lip curls up along with the faint glint of drool trickling from its ridges dashes the whimsy of the moment.

"Alright, rise and shine, Marine." You turn and reach down to spread one of your captain's eyes open, revealing her garnet iris jittering from the sudden change in light.

"Cabin boy?" she mutters, fighting off the daze she finds herself in and you release your hand from her face as she slowly sits up and looks around the room, as if trying to distinguish between fiction and reality. When her thoughts become more grounded, her free hand slaps the side of her head, likely having just been giving a harsh taste of the anguish she had inflicted upon herself. "Great fucking tide mistress. My fucking head."

"Sorry to wake you up, but I nee-" Marine cuts you off with a desperate hand in front of her.

"Not so loud…" She whines before dropping the hand that isn't nursing her throbbing temples to search for the bottle she remembers going to sleep with. "Shit….I didn't drink it all did I?"

"You came close." You sigh, earning another wince from the girl. "Here, stay still for a second."

"Cabin boy, I thought I told you to shut u-" Marine growls, but the sensation of your palm against her forehead sends a silencing shock through her system. Before she can utter another word, you pull your mana to the surface, bringing water to her skin so that it may soak in the healing energies your heart has created. Once the bulk of your spell is spread through Marine's body, her shoulders relax, and she lets out a sigh of relief. She leans more into your touch, wanting to bask in the soothing blue light you emit.

You breathe in and let your spellwork diminish, and you remove your hand from Marine who looks up at you with bright gratitude.

"You just used water to get rid of most of my hangover?" Marine asks, wiping her brow and examining the residue along her fingertips. "Now that will certainly land you a position as my permanent drinking partner. Now where did you learn such a neat trick? Did Flare teach you? Or is this something Undine knows? She probably would know all the best tricks with water."

"Wrong on both counts." You say with no inclination to restrain your own pride. To boast yourself further, you find an empty golden goblet in the shape of a skull on one of the nearby shelves and fill it almost to the brim with water made by your own magic. "My healing spell is a pure Anon original. Now here, drink up."

Marine accepts your offering and gulps it down, each swallow returning more life to the worn captain. She lets out a satisfied gasp when she downs the entire goblet, taking a moment to catch her breath and wipe the spillage from the corner of her mouth.

"Thanks, Anon. What time is it?"

"Just a few hours after sunrise."

"Ah, of course." Marine nods, and a few silent seconds go by before her eyes widen. The surprise rolls straight into exhaustion, her shoulders and twin tails both droop. "Why the hell are you up? How are you awake?"

"There's still work to do." You shrug, and you breathe in before continuing. "I could actually use your help with something."

"My help?" Marine tilts her head, undoing her crossed legs and swinging them to scooch herself to her bed's side, letting her feet rest against the floor. She searches your expression and finds where it may lead. Marine pats the open space next to her, and you take the invitation. "What's troubling you? Are you still a little torn up about Chacu?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, but that's not what I need to focus on right now." You shake your head, trying to find the right words. "I've never really done this part before. I'm not exactly sure what I should do next."

"You sneak into a pretty girl's room at the crack of dawn and ask her what you should be doing next?" Marine puts a finger on her lip and wears a sultry grin. "Well since you're asking~"

Your stomach leaps when Marine suddenly cups your cheeks and turns your head down towards hers, those heterochromic eyes half hooded entice a swarm of butterflies into a frenzy within your gut. A part of you wants to give in, to partake in another distraction to further procrastinate, but your brow quickly furrows. "That's not what I-" you start, but mid-sentence Marine releases you and lets out a sly chuckle.

"Calm down, cabin boy." The pirate waves off. "I know you didn't come here to figure out how to have some fun with a beautiful lady. I've seen how Flare gets when she thinks about you to know you don't have much trouble in that department. Now try not to think too hard and just say what your heart is worried about. Your Senchou will help you work through it. Promise."

You snort, not appreciating the teasing you are receiving, but it did somehow make your heart feel a little less heavy. A familiar, but different desire to meet this girl point for point with teasing becomes known to you, making you look forward to talking with this free sailing pirate more, but first, there are things you need to do.

"Thanks Marine." You smile soberly and do as she asks, letting your mind wander and scatter as you look around her private sanctuary. "I haven't really done this part before; dealing with what comes next after knocking some evil nutjob off their perch. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do. Do I even need to do anything? It feels like I should. I kinda caused a lot of people's lives to change, but it doesn't just end at fighting, does it?"

"You did just change the future for an entire country, not to mention my own. Have you really not done anything like this before? The way you fight, and the things you say to people made me think you had some practice already."

"Well…" You think the question over, finding both your successes and your potential shortcomings in the answers. "In the elven kingdom, we kinda exposed the most prominent mage masters as insane nutjobs who covered up murders and even wanted to make Flare into a living weapon. All I did there was fight though, once the battle was over, the authorities took things from there. I didn't need to interrogate or even think about those lunatics after that, it was all out of my hands."

"So why do you think you need to do anything different this time?" Marine leans back, crossing her legs as she keeps her gentle stare upon you. "If you ask me, you did more than enough already."

"This country almost crumbled to nothing, and I almost made it worse." You lean forward, fidgeting your thumbs together, and the thoughts suddenly start to flow more easily through you. "If I'm going to be a spark of hope for the world when they need it, I need to do more than just beat down bad guys and let everyone else deal with picking up the pieces. I want to help this country move forward, but I can't do that if I'm not ready to face what might be next….I need to…"

"You need to have a final word with that disgrace of a pirate?" Marine concludes. "Say no more. I'll take ya to him if you're ready. I was planning to gloat one last time before I handed him over to Sammy and the others anyway. It'll be twice as sweet if you're there too."

"Heh, I wish I was looking forward to it as much as you. The truth is, I'm a little afraid of what he might tell me. What if he knows something about HoloX I'm not ready to know? If they were willing to give some pirates a weapon capable of controlling Chacu, what else are they doing? What if their plans are too big for me to stop?"

"You're assuming that blowhard will tell you the truth." Marine hops off her bed and brushes down her skirt before turning around and yanking you to your feet. "And ready or not, you're clearly torturing yourself, so as your Senchou, I'm ordering you to escort me down to the brig and hear whatever answers Blackfin gives you." She guides you to her bedroom door, stopping just short of its closed threshold before looking over her shoulder and giving you a warm smile. "Besides, whatever this HoloX or whatever is trying to do to our world, if they try to mess with our seas, I know you and Undine will stop them. So if you ever need some faith in yourself, you're free to take all you need from me."

The captain of the Houshou Pirates is under no obligation to be in your corner anymore, she was free and her destiny was hers to steer once more, but still she manages to make you feel protected when you are at your most vulnerable. What an inspiring woman. You hope some of that natural leadership rubs off on you. There's a lot you could learn from her experience, and you won't get to hear about any of it if you keep dragging your feet. With her, Undine, and Sylph, you feel ready to hear whatever truths may come from the deranged ex-fleet captain.

Seeing your resolve brighten, Marine opens the door to her deck, and is immediately met with both spirits who have patiently waited for you.

"U-Undine!" Marine gasps, and her hand trembles with her rattled nerves before separating itself from your wrist. "I-I mean great tide mistress." She flats her hands together in front of her face in respect. "G-Good morning! If there is anything I can do for you, as a wanderer of the seas you have graciously blessed our world with, just say so, and on my word as a Houshou, it'll be done."

You are slightly taken aback by the sudden outburst, but Undine looks to be loving the attention as her smile softens with nostalgia.

"You need not be so formal with me, young captain." Undine bows her head, making Marine look back at her with slight surprise. "You not only saved my summoner's life, but helped him immensely in your short time together. I believe that makes us friends, so please, you may simply call me by my name."

"The tide mistress called me her friend." Marine mumbles in childlike joy, becoming lost in her own world within the clouds. "No pirate in centuries has done that…with her blessing, I bet I can sail anywhere, find the best treasure and even-"

"Aww, Big Sis has a fan." Sylph giggles, making you smirk at the display.

"And while I would love to sit here and talk about how great it is to have Undine as a friend, let's save the fun stuff for later. I believe I was escorting you, captain?" You say, tapping Marine on the shoulder to jostle her from dreams filled with fortune and adventure.

"E-Eh? O-Oh yes! Let's go, cabin boy." Marine stutters, bringing herself back to her "Senchou'' composure. "Great Tide Mistres-Undine, Sylph, are you coming along with us?"

"Indeed. I have a few choice words of my own for Blackfin." Undine's lips tighten. "I want to see the look in his eyes when he comes to grips with the fact that neither my summoner nor I have perished at the hands of his schemes. It is time he understands who stood against him, and triumphed. That we are no myth or fairy tale."

With gathered determination, you walk close to Marine as she leads the way through her ship, descending a couple floors through the interior hull before coming to a narrow corridor whose walls dance with the dim orange of a single lantern. Against the hall's entry frame leans Korla, whose ears and tail both twitch at your arrival. Knowing what will likely come next, you decide to take the initiative and give the lioness a big hug, which both surprises and delights her.

"Thanks for taking care of me yesterday, Korla." You say, giving that plush frame of hers another squeeze before letting go so you can look her in the eyes. "Sorry you had to carry me so far."

"Don't mention it, Anon." Korla replies, putting a hand on your head, stroking your hair twice. "We should be thanking you. Because of you, we can finally go home."

"You fought hard for it too, and I can't wait to hear more about it later. For now, go get some rest, okay? I'm here to ask our special guest a few things." When Korla opens her mouth to protest, her own body betrays her, letting out a huge yawn that displays all her sharpened fangs in their full glory. "Now go, packleader's orders."

You step around Korla, looking down to the end of the hall where another feline demi-human sits on a simple chair. "Frala!" You call. "I'm relieving you, time to get some shut-eye."

The lioness' scoff echoes through the hall, but she adheres to your command and forces herself to her feet, stretching the crinkles out of her spine. She gives a harsh glance into the cell she guarded and scoffs once more, this time in utter disgust. Her mood shifts considerably once she is within arm's reach of you, to which she extends her hand for you to clasp in a powerful greeting. Her grip is affectionate while testing the upper limits of your strength, which is much lower than you anticipated at the moment. Thankfully, Frala is either just as worn out as you are, or mindful of her own strength.

"You're the best, packleader. Bringing down that orca definitely makes you the strongest around. I'd say meet me back topside for a quick workout, but we should give our bodies a rest day." Frala remarks, and before you can return the compliment she yanks you closer to then whisper in your ear. "Maybe tomorrow, I'll show you another one of my morning routines; the type we really need to do our stretches for. Then after we're done, you can try stretching me~"

The way her muscles flex as she drips those words onto you like the most alluring honey, makes your heart almost jump out of your chest. You keep your cool, putting thoughts of admiring her perfectly toned and sculpted away for another time. Frala notices your focus struggling to keep control and releases you with a satisfied smirk.

"See ya later, Anon. At the campfire later, you'll sit next to me, okay?" She says as she struts past you, letting her tail trace up your abdomen and flick your nose. "Can't wait to hear from the man himself about all the asses he kicked yesterday."

Now in addition to unconditional emotional support from the spirits and captain by your side, you also have the power of hormones to boost your confidence and do what you came here to do. Yup, you're ready. Time to grill this orca for all he's worth.

"I ask the man to escort me and he's busy flirting with lions." Marine huffs, where her teasing ends and her jealousy begins, you can't quite be sure. "Does Flare know how those wild women look at you? Is she okay with that?"

"Yes?" You answer, but realize all too late the potential trap you just walked into. "I mean, I wasn't even flirting. That's how they always treat me."

"Mhmm sure. You may not have said much, but your eyes sure did." Marine traces the smoking gun that was your eyelids, and the dead-on deduction makes both spirits stifle a laugh, further incriminating you.

"Oh like you're one to talk about any of this. The things you say with those eyes make me look like a saint. And since you wanna bring Flare into this, does she know that you shoved your tongue down my throat without so much as getting my name?" You snap, and Marine's mouth bolts itself shut, but she seems to find a rebuttal in that quick wit of hers.

"You didn't seem completely appalled at the time." Marine crosses her arms, making sure to give her girls a generous push upward. "In fact those eyes of yours looked quite excited by our fateful meeting. Do you want to tell Flare about that part? Or should I? She and I have already become fast friends."

"You can, but if there would be hell to pay, we would both go down in flames." You say with no sarcasm or exaggeration.

"T-True…she seems pretty strong. She took on the SunFlower's captain all by herself." Marine also shrinks a little at the idea of incurring the half-elf's wrath. "M-Maybe we just keep what happened a secret between us. For now?"

"A truce it is, and to further proclaim my innocence, you may have thought I was flirting with Korla and Frala just now, but remember, I don't owe either of them a drink." You give the Houshou Captain an appeasing smile. "Don't think I forgot. I promised after all, and I always keep my promises."

"And now I know that you have the power to erase most of my hangover, it's gonna be more than just one drink." Marine grins. "Now c'mon. The sooner we say goodbye to this bastard, the sooner I can get what I'm owed; a night with a handsome cabin boy and drinking him under the table."

You allow Marine to have the last word here, despite what your pride requests. There will be a time to match the Senchou and prove you won't be such easy prey for her. Now however, you must come face to face with your previous prey, hopefully for the last time.

When you reach the end of the brig you turn to the barred chamber, shadows envelop the entire holding space where the outline of a massive figure sits cross legged on the floor. He doesn't acknowledge your presence, so you create a small ball of starlight that illuminates you and your questioning party, bringing the orca demi-human himself into full detail.

All around his hulking, battered form are chains of iron that cross over one another to form an inescapable jacket. Large square bracelets shackle his ankles to another another, and judging by the way his arms are held behind his back, his wrists have also been restrained. Finally, upon his deplorable face, a gridded muzzle is strapped tightly.

A small smile curves your lips as you piece together the specifics and origins of Blackfin's latest fashion statement. The orca's eyes narrow and meet yours, but he does not budge.

"So….you're actually alive after all." He breaks the silence, and you see his mouth curve upward past the gridded mouth guard. "Tell me, boy, how does it feel? You hunted above your weight class and actually won. Except this time, there was no sparing your opponent…was there?"

No one says anything. Undine, Sylph, even Marine, they stand close behind you, ready to step to your defense if needed, but your body gives no such indication, not yet. Still, your brow furrows. How dare this cold hearted bastard try to goad you. The light that floats above your hand vibrates and flickers, responding to your anger. You could use its light to draw the sign of Leo, and use its power to rip the defenseless orca's throat out. No one would even bat an eye. It was by your request that he still breathed. His life was yours to take away, just as he forced you to take away Chacu Challhua's. You should just-

Marine's hand on your shoulder rips your thoughts away from carnage and vengeance, and you find yourself almost unfamiliar within your own mind. Your captain's gaze doesn't break from what is in that cell, and she starts to speak.

"Listen up, Blackfin. You're going to answer whatever questions Anon has for you. You won't be able to trick him into killing you either. You embarrassed yourself once already when you failed to taunt Sammy into running a sword through your belly. Your death wish will go unanswered as long as you're in my brig."

"And why should I cooperate?" Blackfin counters. "I am already in chains and at the mercy of a pathetic country and its government. I will never know freedom again."

"You brought this upon yourself." You say coldly, and your gazes lock again. The orca does not relent in his resolve, but your will is stronger. Your desire to learn all you can from this man will outweigh his defiance. The object of your inquiries will also be your leverage. "And you should cooperate because I can put in a good word for you with the Shallahan government."

Your offer makes the demi-human chuckle, then laugh, his mad bellows echo through the brig.

"And you'll ask them to do what? Reduce my sentence? Make the debt I'll need to pay for seizing their land, enslaving their people, and the endless list of other crimes they're sure I've done smaller? The shoe is on the other foot now, boy. I have no reason to accept any of your offers."

"Nah, you deserve nothing less than living out the rest of your life atoning for the sick shit you've done." You bite hard, the fact that you are even negotiating with this nutcase puts a bad taste in your mouth, but for the sake of the world, you have to continue. You just hope the hammer you're about to lay down will be enough.

"Then what? I thought I had nothing you wanted. Or was all that grandstanding during our parlays just a bluff? Or maybe…" Blackfin's tone grows more sinister. "Now that you have an orca in chains, you can't resist the idea of taking the place of so many other humans before you. Is that what you want? Your own slave? You might be as cutthroat as I hoped. You'd make a fine pirate."

"My summoner would never even entertain such a disgusting idea." Undine steps in next, her words potent with such venom that it makes the demi-human's own laugh choke in his throat. "If you continue to spew your lies, I promise you a fate worse than death. You have been warned, orca."

"Is it really so outlandish? You and I assume the see-through fairy that guard him like dogs are basically at his beck and call. You can't even walk on the ground without his say so, can you?"

"Watch it, Blackfin." Marine cuts in, her voice sharper than any saber in her arsenal. "One more crack like that, and I'm taking one of those fins you're so proud of. I never promised anyone I would release you in one piece after all."

The Houshou's threat seems to strike home, Blackfin's body tenses within his cage, and a defeated sigh escapes his lungs. Contrary to his boasting, the man still wants to cling to life, and with the floor given back to you by your captain, you continue, but first you want to make one thing perfectly clear.

"Undine and Sylph are my family. They may need my help to walk in our world, but they help me as well, every day. They've saved me in a way I doubt someone like you could ever understand. I owe almost everything I am to them. We are equals, partners, and family. I can not, and will not order them to do anything they are against. You and I are nothing alike, Blackfin, but we do have one thing in common."

While your declaration involving the spirits did little to capture the orca's attention, the last bit certainly found its way to his ears. His eyebrow raises, and his breath slows, he is eager for you to continue, but still feels he is above groveling. We'll see how his tune changes.

"HoloX." You say, controlled and slow, and you let silence linger for a second as Blackfin's body visibly tenses. "Even though we made our own choices, they are the ones who ultimately caused us to be where we are in this moment. And before you try to twist it, you're still a black hearted bastard, and you could have avoided this outcome at every turn, but you chose not to."

"Where are you going with this?" Blackfin says, impatience and anxiety start to trickle from his pores.

"Well I'm already on HoloX's shitlist, but that's because I directly got in their way. You on the other hand, you basically betrayed them and stepped out of the line they set for you. I'm guessing the consequences for that kinda thing are pretty harsh, so here's my offer. Answer my questions truthfully from here on out, and I won't tell the people of Shallah to leave you in a nice ditch somewhere for HoloX to come get you. How's that sound?"

You will your orb of starlight to shine a bit brighter, revealing you to every detail of Blackfin's crumbling composure. His eyes widen, searching yours in desperation for any hint of a bluff or falsehood. He swallows hard, his breath shaking, but he still says nothing. He wants more proof that being a prisoner of HoloX is worse than anything the laws of Shallah could muster? Fine.

"Think real carefully about this." Your voice hardens, digging up the unwanted memories of what captivity under that mad coyote was like for you. "You've seen first hand the level of madness they're capable of. It was through their inventions that a beast as mighty as Chacu Challhua was reduced to a mere savage. If they could bend the mind of the ocean's apex predator to do their bidding, yours would be child's play. They have methods that can turn you into a mere spectator in your own body. You won't even be able to form a thought that is truly yours. Everything will be foreign or unfamiliar to you. Is that how you want to live out your days? If you thought being a slave was bad, at least you still had your mind, at least you could still have hope. If HoloX gets a hold of you, for as long as you'll naturally live, or perhaps even longer, you'll be a puppet with no will of his own. Is that what you want? Is it!?"

The corridor falls into a still silence, the air heavy with the severity of your words. It was no idle threat, it was a promise founded from experience, and Blackfin knew this. He hangs his head low, coming to grips with the situation presented to him, and after a few long moments, he breathes in.

"You really don't pull any punches, boy." He smiles weakly. "Alright, you win. I'll take a life in chains here over a minute with HoloX any day. Even if Shallah decides to send me to the gallows, it would be preferred over whatever that hawk-eyed woman does to those she no longer has a use for." He then struggles to stand up, his head almost hitting the cell ceiling, to then shuffle closer to the bars. "Go ahead. Ask what you came here to ask. Let's get this over with."

"Let's start with the person you just mentioned. Who is this woman with the hawk eyes? What's her name?" You start with something simple, any information on HoloX's other members will be invaluable. The encounters with Chloe, Iroha, and especially Koyori almost went ass-up because of how unprepared you were. If possible, you won't be the one at the disadvantage again.

"She called herself Charlotte, The Harrier of HoloX. Obviously just a title or alias if you ask me, but in the pirate world, the name you were born with can hold lesser meaning than the ones you are given." Blackfin divulges with as far as you can tell, utmost sincerity. You and Marine share a brief glance, and the look in her eyes tells you that she thinks the orca is not trying to yank your chain for the sake of one last superficial victory.

"Alright, how did this Charlotte come to find Captain Morgan? I find it hard to believe that she just showed up one day and you all welcomed her to your bargaining table." You follow up, eager to piece together the full picture of the history that brought the Blackfin fleet to what it had become before you dismantled it.

"We were sailing the seas far to the west, on our way back here for a rest, hoping we would run into the Houshou along the way." Blackfin starts, and his molars shine in a crooked smile that shoots in Marine's direction. "The rookie had taken our rival crew off on some wild goose chase, and most of us relished the chance to swashbuckle with them again, myself included. Even if the newest captain was a pushover, a Houshou's head was still a Houshou's. I would have made quite the name for myself in no time at all."

"Focus." You demand, and your teeth clench. "You will also refer to my Senchou properly while in her presence. You could have all the secrets of HoloX inside that swamp of a mind, but I'll gladly let you take them to hell if you so much as look at Marine the wrong way again. That was your last warning."

Your sudden threat shakes Blackfin to his core, and he responds with a meek nod. Meanwhile Marine looks at you with deep respect and appreciation, to which you mirror before returning your attention back to your prisoner.

"Instead of the Houshou flagship, we found a massive trade ship on a course for the north. We couldn't believe our luck either, it was practically defenseless. I still remember how the dozens of crates full of sake lined the storage hull of that ship. Prime stuff too, we were gonna party until we sailed back to Shallah, but before we could even pop the first bottle, a rowboat carrying just three people toed at our vessel. At first we thought it was some trader who managed to escape and wanted to try to be a hero, but before we could even point a sword in her direction, a hooded woman jumped up from the small raft and landed onto our deck."

"I'm guessing that was this Charlotte?" Marine asks, and receives a small nod in confirmation. "Was she nuts? Anyone so much as putting a foot in the sea would have been able to recognize the jolly roger of the Morgan Pirates."

"We were as stunned as you are, Houshou, and to make it sound even more like nonsense, she opened her introduction by asking Morgan himself if he was interested in a partnership. We all laughed in her face of course, and a few of the lads moved in to show the shrew what happens when you trespass on a pirate ship. Poor bastards never saw the little samurai in the shadow of her master." Blackfin then clears his throat with slight unease, and as he replays the events in his head, you can see the twinge of fear he had turned to relief. "Three men. I could barely follow what happened at the time, but they were all dead in the blink of an eye. The girl had already sheathed that sword of hers before they even hit the ground. Needless to say, they had our full attention now."

"Iroha." You mutter under your breath. It made sense given what little you know of her so far. She did mention she was a bodyguard of sorts, but there was still the mystery around why she would offer a sword arm that has the potential to be a master to an organization like HoloX? The question is made even more baffling by how she conducts herself with honor and chivalry. Perhaps you can find out later, but for now she is still a fierce opponent, and someone you will need to reach new heights with your own swordsmanship to defeat.

"What did you do then?" You ask, prompting the orca to continue the retelling.

"I didn't do anything. Morgan however, he was good at sizing someone up. He knew right away that these weren't people any chump could rush recklessly into. He said he would hear her out, but in his meeting room, and with his top officers present, myself included. I'll hand it to the old man, he wound up growing soft, but just before the start of his decline, there wasn't a more cunning man on the seas." Blackfin then grins, but hearing him highly regard the man he killed in cold blood made your stomach turn.

"It's a shame you were too busy plotting how to stab him in the back instead of learning from him then." Marine clicks, dealing a much needed blow as you keep yourself leashed so that you don't reach through the bars and slug the bastard.

"Sticks and stones, Houshou. Now where was I? Oh right, we had a parlay, and the third member of their group joined us; Sakamata." Blackfin's eyes narrow on you intensely at the mention of Chloe's surname. He breathes in to continue, but stops himself short for a moment, as if at odds with himself. "Before I continue, I can't help but wonder, what exactly is your relationship to Sakamata? You say you're against HoloX, but you seem rather attached to that little guppy."

"You're not the one who gets to ask questions here." Marine cuts in, but you shake your head to tell her to stand down.

"To be honest, I'm not really sure. I've only met her twice, and both times we fought, but after I got to know her a little bit, I think I kinda understand why she's with HoloX." You begin to answer, you don't know why you're even indulging this dickhead, perhaps you're using it as an excuse to work through the confusing thoughts you've had yourself. "I think she is with them because she thinks she has to be, but I'm going to prove her wrong. She's a good person deep down, so I'm going to rip HoloX apart so she can truly be free."

"A good person? Deep down? Boy, I don't say this to start a fight, but because you should hear it. That girl you think you need to save, she might not want your help. To me, it looks like she relishes being the hitman for that underground society."

"Shows how much you know." You snap, not letting the orca continue his "assessment". "Chloe may be a brute and likes beating people up, but she detests the idea of putting things in cages; a trait I thought you two might have shared, but that just goes to show she's a bigger person than you'll ever be."

"Maybe, but I've seen how she carries out orders without so much as a flinch." Blackfin shrugs. "That woman carries a dress of knives, each coated in the blood of whatever unlucky sap HoloX decided had lived too long. No matter how chummy you think you are with her, if she gets the order, you're gonna be at the wrong end of those blades. Now since I know the subject of the little orca lights a fire in your belly, let's move on, for both our sakes."

"Gee, how courteous of you." You snort, but accept Blackfin's proposal to continue on with more relevant questions. If Chloe chooses to stand with HoloX in the end, you'll deal with it then. You first need to figure out more about them and more importantly, "So what was the deal Charlotte struck with Morgan? What did she want your help with?"

"The second that woman was given the chance to speak her piece, it was over. Everyone, myself included, hung onto every word. She made it sound so simple." Blackfin scoffs. "Unite the crews of the western seas all under one flag. If the biggest crews worked together and instead of always competing for loot and fame, they could become their own nation."

"And what? She just handed Morgan that device that she said could control Chacu? Why did any of you buy that?" You ask.

"We were all skeptical at first. The beast was a myth to us still, but Charlotte, she had proof. Physical evidence. She pulled out a tiny amulet from her person and from it sprang a moving image of the great beast as it swam near the bottom of the ocean. It was a magic unlike any I've ever seen, it even put some of the inventions those goblins tinker with to shame." Blackfin continues, as if captivated by his own recollection. "The woman then mentioned that talk was cheap, and with the device she eventually handed us, she ordered an undersea giant to cross oceans just to make an appearance. The entire crew shit themselves that day, but that's what Charlotte had hoped for. Morgan accepted the weapon, and for Charlotte to name her price, which seemed far too good to be true."

"Hold on." You interrupt. "Before that, did she say how she was able to control Chacu? What did they do to him? Were any of you the least bit curious to how something so huge could be commanded?"

"I was actually, I wanted to know if there was a chance of the monster changing its mind and splitting our ship in two. That's when she used that strange magic of hers to bring in a fourth guest; their mad scientist."

"Koyori…." You growl, your fists clench. Again the mere mention of her makes your blood start to boil. Was there no level that bitch wouldn't stoop to? She enabled a bunch of cutthroats to enslave a perfectly peaceful creature. Your vision shakes for an instant, and another invasive thought recommends that you pull Blackfin by the collar and slam his face into the bars. Koyori might not be here, but you would at least have an outlet.

"That was her name, yeah." Blackfin confirms, his voice somehow removes some of the blood haze from your eyes, keeping you barely tethered to the task at hand. "I didn't understand half of what she said, but she seemed pretty confident that whatever she did to the beast was foolproof and irreversible. AND she also demonstrated that she held a similar control that could override the one Morgan was given."

"That sounds like her." The words automatically find their way past your lips, making you recoil slightly. It was also clear at this point that she did not divulge the methods of her madness, not that it matters much in hindsight. Much of Koyori's actual skills are still a mystery to you, but you can't let that hold you back. "So back to Charlotte's price. Why on earth would she give one of the most notorious-"

"Second notorious." Marine corrects.

"The second most notorious pirate crew control over a sea creature that could wash away entire countries? What the hell could be in it for HoloX?" You finish your question, to which the outlines of Blackfin's muzzle inch slightly upward with a cocky grin.

"That was the best part. With a united fleet, we would be a force to be reckoned with, self run, and powerful enough to make any country think twice about interfering with our plundering. That's how Charlotte explained it, and we all jumped at the chance to make it a reality." Blackfin's eyes shine with the deranged fantasies that must have fueled his ambitions for who knows how long, and the sheer greed makes your stomach lurch. "Shallah was always a safe haven for us pirates, since we would always be welcome, or in some cases, tolerated, to dock here and rest before our next voyage. While the neighboring governments put up with their lax policing of us, they sure as hell didn't like it, so when the fleet was formed, they cut all ties with Shallah; no more trade, aid, or even communications. Like a sitting duck that found its way out to sea…just waiting to be swallowed whole."

Blackfin's explanation speeds up your heart rate. What HoloX planned to do by partnering with pirates wasn't as bad as you could have imagined, at least not at face value, but many other pieces start falling into place in front of you. The decline in trade with Shallah over the years, the reluctance of other countries to even sail near its waters, and even how Chloe mentioned that the pirates were not playing by HoloX's rules any more, they never wanted to use the pirates as a weapon or partner in evil, they used them to drive a wedge between nations.

"And why do you think someone with so much power at their disposal wanted you to be your own pirate nation?" You put your poker face on and inquire.

"We asked the same exact thing, but the woman simply shrugged and said something about wanting to see how it would play out. Some of us thought she was mad, but we didn't assume she didn't have a score to settle, someone with eyes like that, surely has a few. At the end of the day, Morgan was given the golden key to what could have been the most prosperous era of pirating, until I took the key for myself."

"Which worked out soooo well for you." Marine sneers.

"It was a good ride." Blackfin retorts. "If nothing else, this country will never forget the name 'Blackfin'. That is a legacy I can live with, even if it might be from within a jail cell."

You don't dignify the orca's sick pride with a response, and the stiffness of your brow tells you that it is time to speed things along, you have wasted enough of your precious time on this bastard.

"That's enough about HoloX. Now I wanna know about your slave trade. I found a whole mess of papers in that slimy snake; Krol's room. Now tell me who your buyers are?" You demand, the thought of innocent people having their lives traded away for mere coin or drink brings your scowl back.

"You'll have to ask Krol yourself." Blackfin breathes. "I let him handle all our exports, but don't think you bargain with him like with me. He's a crazed croc, but he somehow stumbled upon connections with some of the best buyers we could have hoped for. Heh, the shit we sold to the one could be enough to supply an army."

"That will be a little hard to do, seeing that the coward drove his ship right into the ground." You spit, expecting the information to at least be a little surprising to Blackfin, but he only lets out a barely audible sigh.

"Like I said; crazed. I'm afraid you're shit out of luck then. I let him handle everything with our exports, and just took my cut, like a good captain does."

"The initials 'P.P.' doesn't mean anything to you?" You ask, growing frustrated with how the fleet captain is apparently a dry well already.

"It would only make sense to Krol. I didn't ask for specifics, just gold. We kept things simple in my fleet."

"Simple and twisted." You huff, but take a deep breath to collect yourself. "I think I got as much as I can from you. I only have one more thing to ask you. Sheep demi-humans. Have you ever been to a place where a lot of them live?" You pose your final question.

"Sheep?" Blackfin snorts. "Can't say I have. Why?"

"None of your business." You snort back. "Congratulations though, Blackfin, you managed to be useful enough to not sell yourself up the river. I'll ask Sammy and the others to not leave you for HoloX to find."

"It'll be a shame to not have you decorating my brig, but I think I'll survive." Marine grins.

"As if this corpse of a ship will even be around much longer." Blackfin snarls, intent on still landing blows on the Houshou. "Same goes for the riff raff you beat me down in order to 'free'." He then says, and his stare attempts to overtake you.

You don't want to take the bait, but just what did the deranged pirate mean by this? He's finished. His fleet is torn apart, and he's in chains. If he had some trump card still up his sleeve, he wouldn't have lost his shit when you threatened to leave him for HoloX to nab. Or maybe he just wants you to think he's out of options? No. Releasing Chacu was a last resort for him, he knew he likely wouldn't survive the rampage either. But still…

"What do you mean?" You blurt out.

An evil grin stretches across Blackfin's face. "Those saps may be free for now, but all you did was buy them time. Shallah is broken, isolated, and worst of all; a target. Once word gets out that I'm gone, someone else will move in. HoloX, other pirates, hell I bet even Rosso might turn their eye to here. Never underestimate what people are capable of when there's a score to be had. I should know."

You hate it, but he has a point. You do your best not to let it show on your face, but you are faced with the reality of the precariousness of the situation you helped create. Would another nation really take advantage of Shallah's recovering state to make a move? As it is now, Shallah won't be able to offer anything substantial in trade for a while, so would anyone even want to help them? What can you really do?

"And you should never underestimate what people are capable of when they join their hands and hearts." Undine fires back to your surprise before looking over at you, and the answer suddenly seems to clear.

"That's right, Shallah isn't gonna be all on their own as they get back up on their feet." You beam. "Rosso, the elven kingdom, Bjornholm, they'll all want to reach out and help Shallah get back to normal."

"Bjornholm? Never heard of it." Blackfin scoffs.

"It's a small place along the northern coast, not as if you'll ever get to go there now. Its chieftess is actually from here, and the mother to the Champion of Ursol herself. I'm sure you must have heard about your men shitting themselves over a girl with bear claws ripping through them like paper. Just be happy you didn't have to fight her yourself, since you would definitely be missing at least an arm." You enlighten the orca, making no attempt to hide the glee in your eyes at the idea of Nene getting her claws on this man who tortured her people.

"Wait…Bjornholm?" Marine repeats to herself, suddenly deep in thought. "I know I know that name….but where?"

"Keep trying to paint yourself as a saint, boy." Blackfin sneers, ready to take one final gambit. "It would have made more sense to just kill me and let everyone be done with it. I could escape one day. What then? You may not be so lucky next time."

"Then you would have truly suffered a fate worse than death." Undine answers for you, a cold fire blazes in her eyes. "By choosing not to pierce your heart, my summoner actually saved your soul, orca."

"My soul? What kinda hogwash-"

"I will tolerate no more of your insolence!" The ruler of the waters' voice booms like a wave crashing through solid stone, shaking all around her to their cores, yourself included. Like a sudden tsunami, Undine's fury was at full peak, and had the strength to intimidate the ocean itself into submission. "Had my summoner ended your life, your suffering would not have been allowed to stop at death. No, through my hand, your soul would not know rest. I would condemn your spirit to swim in the waters of the great beyond. You would be hunted by the predators who dwell there. You would not know peace, only fear. Do not think this is beyond my power. I could do this for you now, all it would take is a mere thrust from my trident, and I will send you directly to Chacu Challhua. I am sure he and the rest of his kin will be thrilled to greet you."

Everyone is left speechless, and from the corner of your eye you can see Sylph giving her sister a firm grin of respect, she is absolutely loving the display. Blackfin however, is far from finding this entertaining. The blood has left his face, and shakes as he tries to keep from pissing himself in the face of a being that is so much greater than he. You are familiar with the immense fury that Undine is capable of, and you respect and admire that part of her, but the details of her threat make you more curious than anything.

"What will it be, Blackfin?" Undine asks, her gaze not breaking from his. "My summoner already has what he wants from you, and like he said earlier, he does not command me. If you wish to continue your blatant disrespect, I will grant you death, but with it, will flow eternal agony."

Blackfin says nothing, hanging his head in defeat and shuffling away slowly from the cell door. To make a pure madman like him go white and back down, Undine becomes more amazing every day. Marine clears her throat and readies herself to end visiting hours.

"Since I don't think we have to worry about you misbehaving, I think we're done here. A shame that the rivalry between the Houshou and the Morgan Pirates ended like this. I would have liked one last real dogfight with that legendary crew. Oh well." Marine then shrugs, turning to leave. "At least I bet Ol' Morgan is laughing his ass off right now, watching his old lieutenant lose to the Houshou who you reduced to a group of four. I'll be sure to raise a drink to him later."

You flick the ball of starlight that had illuminated the corridor away, and follow your captain's lead out of the brig. You were able to learn a little more about HoloX, but with each revelation came more mysteries. Those questions can be left for another time, for now you have more pressing things to do, and your talk with the orca villain has actually shed some light on what you should do next.

"Say, Undine" you start as you and Marine traverse the interior hull on your way back topside. "Was all that stuff about forcing Blackfin's soul to run from predators in the afterlife all true? Is that really something you can do?"

"I am afraid I may have embellished a little, my apologies for misleading you, summoner." Undine says after a brief pause. "The truth is that I only have the power to direct the reincarnation of a soul, should they be of a race that has ties to the water, or if they are perishing within a domain I have a strong connection with. It is a power all the great spirits are capable of so that if there was a need, a person or creature may be reborn into something akin to Uisce, or the Rainpuffs in Sylph's case."

"Wait, so is Pomu a reincarnated soul?" You follow up, giving Sylph her cue to come in on this lesson.

"Nope! She's just Pomu. What Undine is talking about is more an exception instead of the rule. I may have helped create the first Rainpuffs, but they, like any other race, reproduce the normal way." Sylph goes on to answer, but takes the initiative to continue when she sees your puzzled face. "Think about it this way, it's kinda like the spell the Rainpuffs did for the little girl belonging to that sorceress. When the fairies eventually return to that forest, the soul of that little girl will be reborn into a fairy, and I made sure her mom will too!"

"Oh, I think I get it." You remark, but Marine looks absolutely lost, and a little concerned, you should really have that drink with her soon so you can properly explain all this summoner business to her. Another thought then breaks its way through your reasoning. "Wait, what do you mean the sorceress will be reborn too? I thought-"

"Don't worry about it!" Sylph waves. "Now c'mon, a new day's awaiting and we got stuff to do!"

When you ascend to the ship's deck and take in the bright fresh air of the morning, you feel the black stink of the orca's presence drift away. From your vantage point above the docks you can hear the people of Shallah still hard at work to remove the rubble and wreckage from their port. Their bodies look like they are running on the last of their fumes, and those fumes will only burn out faster with the heat from the sun that continues to rise over the azure horizon. The light from that radiant body over the sparkling sea begins to infuse your body with the energy to be the person you need to be. Today is a new dawn for this country, and you can help make it the brightest it's ever been.

"Marine, I know I've asked a lot from you already, but can you help me out just a little more?" You ask, hoping the woman next to you has a similar fire in her heart to see this through with you.

"As long as you're my cabin boy, you can always count on me." Marine answers as an adorable, but concerning smirk crosses her lips. "But I need something from you first…call me Senchou again. If you want my help, you need to ask for it properly."

"Really? Oh, this is about what I said down there, isn't it? Now that Blackfin is officially behind us, you don't really need to consider me part of your crew still." You sigh, knowing how dangerous it could be to feed this woman's ego.

"Oh but I think I do need to keep you." Marine slides a finger up your chest, flicking its point off your chin. "You can cure hangovers, know your way around the water, and can fight with the best of them. I'd have to be an idiot to let you go so soon. Plus" she brings her finger back and pokes the Houshou emblem that is still pinned to your shirt. "You could have taken that off at any time. You're a proud pirate if I ever saw one, now be a good cabin boy, and tell your Senchou what you need from her."

"I am not a pirate." You cross your arms, but Marine's playful gaze doesn't falter, forcing you to concede if you ever want to get things moving again. "Fine…Capt-"

"Sen-Chou" Marine corrects you.

"Senchou will you please-"

"Senchou, the most beautiful maiden to ever sail the seas, the desire of men and women everywhere, THE queen of the pirates." She attempts to correct you again, transforming the request into an exercise in torture.

You take a deep breath and calm yourself. Fine. If she wants a little flattery to go with her title, you can do that. You could use the practice. You only hope that skills with the tongue can be honed like that of the sword or spells.

"Senchou, the woman who stood with me against hundreds," you bring yourself closer, your breath almost blowing against the top of that head of garnet hair. Marine averts your gaze and her lips curve up in an unsteady rhythm. "The most free pirate who ever sailed the seas, and my captain who is as damn good of a shot as she is good looking, I need your help once more. Can I count on you?"

"Mhmm! Mhmm!" Marine nods furiously, and then she remembers herself and clears her throat before speaking again. "That was passable for now. I'm cutting you some slack since you're still new. So!" She regains a lot of her bravado and takes a single step back to give you both some breathing room. "How can your Senchou help?"

"The faster we can get Shallah rebuilt, the sooner they can move on. We're gonna help them clean up the rest of the port, but to do that, we need everyone around fed and ready to work. The ships we commandeered during the battle are here too, do you think there's food left on them?" You begin explaining your plan with growing excitement.

"That's a lot of people to feed, Anon, but there might be enough for everyone to have just one portion." Marine answers, a bit weary of any overpromising she might do by accident.

"That'll do! You, me, and the pack are gonna whip up as hearty a breakfast as we can for everyone. Then once we've all eaten, we'll keep working on fixing the damage caused to the port. What do you think?"

"I can't see anything wrong with that plan, I'm starving anyway. It feels like all I've had to eat today is whisky."

Chuckling at the pirate's comment, you turn your attention to Sylph next, whose dimples enlarge with her smile at the idea of her having a part to play. "Sylph, you're on. I need you in the skies. You're gonna be the fastest delivery girl Shallah has ever seen. Think you can handle that?"

The wind spirit salutes you with dramatic flair. "You betcha! Just say the magic words, and I'll deliver this morning's breakfast in under five minutes, or it's on the house!"

"Orchestrator of the winds, hear my call and let your wings beat against the air of our world." You chant, channeling your mana that begins to glow around you. "I summon thee, Sylph!"

In a shimmer of verdant light, Sylph's body phases into the physical plane of the world, a light breeze caresses and blows from her being to add the finishing flourish of her summoning. The wind fairy's wings beat in a slow and relaxed rhythm, and she curls her fingers toward herself to brush the sea air across her face and through her hair. She inhales deeply, taking in the coastal breath of life within her body, and dons the determined grin of a person who was ready to move mountains.

With your gravity defying companion active for duty, and stomachs growling across a nation, you go to work. While Sylph and Marine go to the ship's lower kitchen to grab whatever remains, you rouse your pack from the cabins they slept in. Their bodies and spirits yearned for more sleep, but the promise of food and working alongside you gave them all a second wind, especially Riki, who had been rather vocal about how she did not get to fight at your side nearly as much as she felt she deserved. Needless to say Bransha and Bree were all too happy to throw more coals to the fire to flaunt their self proclaimed higher position in your favor; a notion you had to squash immediately to proclaim you did not play favorites. None of the girls seemed convinced, but rumbling stomachs managed to stop the argument, for now. You did feel slightly bad for the blond lioness, so when the others were not within earshot, you got in close and promised her that you were especially looking forward to your tour of the island with her, which not only upturned her frown, but helped her regain a feminine confidence that is borderline dangerous to any man.

In the lower deck of one of the other ships was a rather expansive kitchen, equipped with sinks, prepping tables, fire fueled ovens, the works. Not only are you ecstatic over the culinary tools at your disposal, but the ingredients are also a cut above what you've had to work with so far. Bread, eggs, milk, fresh water and fruit, not to mention a fair amount of pork. This will be the breakfast of champions everyone so desperately needs, so there isn't a moment to lose!

The gentle crackle of cooking fire, the clang of silverware, and the hurried movements of hands and feet create a gourmet harmony that everyone finds themselves falling naturally into. While you left the cutting of the meat and fruit to the lionesses, you focused on cracking as many eggs as you could fit into the cast iron pan you wield. A heavy seasoning of salt and pepper, the right amount of heat, a dash of milk, and a generous stirring of the yolks, and your first dish of the day is complete. You evenly brush the scrambled eggs into even portions across four empty plates. The golden yellow and the perfect fluffy consistency that would rival the clouds themselves makes your mouth water, but you restrain yourself and tell your pleading gut that its turn will be soon.

"Frala, Riki, Nula, Bransha, take a breather and dig in." You order, and the four lionesses pause their current tasks with their eyes locked to the plates in front of you. "Next batch is for everyone else, we can't expect to feed everyone if we keel over from hunger first."

"Korla, catch!" Bransha shouts before reaching her eggs, tossing a bright orange that dives right into the raised palm of the older lioness who was busy in front of her own cooking fire.

"Thanks, Bransha." Korla replies, peeling the fruit in an even circle with one of her nails and feeding a few slices into her mouth. "First batch of bacon is almost done. Everyone can have a piece before I start the next batch."

"Chug these down you two." Bree then extends a glass of orange juice to each of you. "Freshly squeezed with more on the way!"

The rush of the nutrients and flavor pours new life into your body. You give the lioness an appreciative nod, and return to your cooking with renewed gusto. Marine returns the gesture to Bree by handing her a slice of bread that looks to be slathered with a deep purple jam.

"Try this out, it's jelly from a place only a little place up north called Fairshire. The berries there are really good for making jams, and even things you can use on your face to keep you looking younger! I bet they even make something that can help your tails stay shiny and smooth." Marine goes on, and the interaction makes your heart swell.

The exchange of small bits of food and beverage continues for a few passes, the bacon Korla whipped up to sizzled perfection makes your mouth water for seconds when you hear the slabs of pork frying on the pan she uses. You make your base urges relent with the promise of asking the lioness to grace you with her cooking once more when the situation allows, and you begin plating the first meal to be delivered out; an attractive assortment of scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, and fruit. Another few plates later with noticeably more meat to them, Sylph lines up to take her first delivery.

The wind fairy takes her charge, making the eatware float along gentle winds around her with a mere twirl of her fingers.

"Looks great, summoner! I'll get this first batch to the girls and be back in a flash!" She winks. "Got anything I should relay to them while I'm there?"

"Just that they should relax, enjoy, and I'll meet up with them later." You absently reply while cracking the set dozen eggs into your pan, but then a thought crashes its way past your lips. "Oh! Actually, tell Pomu that after she finishes eating, I want her to bring me my spell book and sword. She might want to help us out here too. It wouldn't hurt to have an extra set of wings center stage during this, would it?"

"Ahhhh I see what you're getting at! You're so good at looking after my little rainpuff." Sylph smiles and gives your head a firm ruffle, making you shake her palm off of you as you scoff. "Alright, I'm off! You better have FIVE times as many plates for me by the time I get back. So get crackin'!"

"Is that a challenge? I better make it ten times as many plates then." You snicker, picking up your culinary pace.

"T-Ten times!?" Marine stutters mid spread of another piece of toast. "Anon…that's seventy dishes….we can't even hope to-"

"You heard the packleader." Bransha shouts across the kitchen. "Pick up the pace! The pride of our pack is on the line. We won't back down from any challenge ever again!"

The roars of motivated and fed lionesses erupt in the scullery, followed by the clang of utensils working in double time. Sylph is elated by the surge of enthusiasm, and flies out of the kitchen with the meals for your friends floating close behind her.

The next minutes were a blur, all you could focus on were your eggs and cooking them to fluffy perfection, scooping each batch into plate after plate that Nula laid out for you before repeating the process again. Only when a sudden breeze brushes your cheek do you snap out of your gourmet stupor. Sylph is fluttering into the open doorway, a delighted grin on her face as she looks at the set of completed dishes waiting to be shipped to hungry mouths.

"Thirty-four, not bad at all, summoner." The wind fairy whistles to make herself fully known to everyone else in the room. She raises her arms, imploring the winds to lift the porcelain saucers from the serving table, and bring them hovering peacefully around her person.

"Just thirty-four? Damn, I thought we were going faster than that." You shake your head in disappointment, but continue your cooking.

"Aww, don't pout, summoner. You were pretty quick, but you haven't even seen me fly at half my top speed yet, which by the way, the first delivery was successful, message and all." Sylph says, straightening herself and then clearing her throat. "Now if you don't mind, this fairy is gonna go deliver a bunch more happy faces and full bellies. If the way Watame and Botan's faces lit up like a supernova when they took that first bite is any indication, you're all doing great! Oh! And one last thing; Flare said that since you're handling things down here, after they finish eating, the girls are gonna go make sure everyone on the north side is safe. Okay, message delivered! Be back soon!"

While you are somewhat regretful to not have been able to see the sheep and lioness' faces when presented with some of your cooking, you remind yourself there will be more opportunities, and chances to spend the quality time your heart yearns for with them. Right now was about helping the people of Shallah, and soon enough, the next set of hands appears to help speed the process along, or rather, two sets, just as you planned. Pomu skips into the kitchen and gives a hearty good morning to her captain and the pack, followed by a sullen Kiara who keeps her arms crossed.

"Kiara! Good morning!" You cheer. "I see you decided to come help out."

"If I had a choice, I would be curled up in a soft bed right now." Kiara sulks, her tongue as sharp as ever. "You got a bad habit of roping me into doing extra work, but my pride as a restaurant owner is on the line here. All the people here already associate you with me, so I can't have you screwing this up as ruining my reputation before I have a chance to open a branch here. Now step aside, I'm taking control of this charity project of yours."

"Where does she get off?" Frala growls under her breath, and you pacify the lioness with a simple down motion of your hand followed by a winning smile.

"That would be a huge help." You say gingerly. "Just tell us what we should be-"

"Just keep churning out the meals." Kiara huffs, taking long, controlled strides through the kitchen line, appraising each person with such intensity that it feels like the sun was localized right within the kitchen. "You're letting too much grease build up in the pan, and you need to wipe your knives properly after using them. These people haven't had a good meal in probably years, and that's why the first is gonna be the best for years to come."

"What do I get to do, Kiwawa?" Pomu inserts herself in front of Kiara, her eyes sparkling with eagerness. "Should I start delivering food before Lady Sylph gets back?"

"I've got a special first delivery in mind for you." Kiara nods, and her violet eyes check to see if she garnered your attention, putting a smirk on her face. "A group of kids, they're probably hanging out near the outlying side streets of the port. After I finish putting together a few dishes, go find them first, okay?"

Pomu nods with a full tooth smile at the idea, and her wings flutter her to the kitchen's exit so that she doesn't get in the way of her friend's tasks. Kiara then helps herself to whatever tools, space, and even food that she wants. The woman practically makes you fall over when she bumps you more than two feet down the line with just her hip, which looks to be another very dangerous weapon within her already intimidating arsenal. After you regain your footing, you can't help but notice that tiny white hat sitting atop her head opposite to her barret.

"Hey, summoner. You know how to make over easy eggs, right?" She asks, already quick at work within her own pan and letting the white and yellow substance start to bubble and warm atop its iron.

"Of course I do." You scoff, emptying your own payload of scrambled eggs onto the large serving plate Nula holds beside you. You nod the lioness to send her on her way and bring your pan back to the flame to meet the challenge the sun warrior had just issued.

"Wipe it down first. You got burnt bits all in the pan, they'll get in the yokes, dumbass." Kiara barks when she sees you reach for an egg.

Letting out a small chuff, you take a nearby rag and wipe your cooking implement down the best you can. Your cooking is allowed to continue and you let out a small sigh of relief, letting yourself get lost in the observation of the transformation of clear liquid into white, bouncy goodness.

"Don't think I didn't know your plan from the second Sylph walked in with food, you little shit." Kiara speaks.

"And what exactly was my plan?" You fire back amidst flipping an egg over to let the hump that contains the yoke get some direct heat.

"To guilt me into doing extra work when I haven't even slept off that mess from yesterday." Kiara whines, but the way she tenderly drops her finished eggs that all have been cooked to have their golden centers just barely enshrouded by a speckled outer layer, onto plates, suggests she isn't having as bad of a time as she's trying to suggest.

"I only wanted Pomu back here to help Sylph get food to the people faster." You shrug. "Unless she asked you herself, you seem to have come here of your own free will."

"I fucking knew it." She snaps, making you almost drop the egg you were settling down onto the plate next to you. "Don't think I don't know the kinds of games you play. You did the same shit to me yesterday too. You got into shit that was too hot for you to handle, so I had to come rushing in before something happened to Pomu and-"

"Which by the way, thanks." You say with no underlying sarcasm or bravado. When Kiara turns her face to look back at you with shocked and still combative eyes, you return them with nothing but sincerity. "I know you did a lot more than you bargained for yesterday, and we couldn't have pulled through without you, so thanks a lot, Kiara."

"You're damn right I did more than I should have." Kiara glares at you, but then her eyes suddenly soften. "I hope you at least learned a few things though. The hero game isn't easy. You can't just run around swinging your sword around and expect it to all just work out, and even when you finish the fighting there's-"

"Stuff like this?" You ask with a full plate of an over easy egg, a slice of bread lightly toasted, and a short vine of grapes. "Helping the people who still need a hand to get off the ground?"

"This is just the start, now I hope you're ready, cause in my kitchen, there's no half-assing things." Kiara scoffs as she balances several plates on her palms and arms to bring over to Pomu.

Just as you hoped, with an experienced woman in the food service industry helping steer things, your cooking for an entire city becomes more efficient, faster, and somehow even more chaotic at the same time. Kiara was a woman who knew how to control culinary chaos, she made sure to cycle you all between cooking, cleaning your workstations, and managing the dirty plates that Sylph or Pomu would bring back. Each time one of the fairies returned, they filled your ears with messages of gratitude from the recipients of their latest delivery.

Soon enough the ingredients start to run dry, and only when the last scrap of meat and the last drop of milk has been used up, does Kiara give the order to stop. You, Marine, and the entire pride all slump onto the floor. It was easily over a good hour or so since you began, and not once did any of you get off your feet. Still, even with the throbbing of your soles, you are basking in a sense of accomplishment.

Pomu already took Kiara away by the wrist, chattering about how the group of kids were dying to see her again. Sylph had asked if she could accompany them, which you gave your express permission for, as you were more than happy for the wind spirit to get out there and socialize to her heart's content. You however, were going to stay right on this floor until your legs stop screaming at you.

After a few minutes of much needed rest in comfortable silence, you decided you've had enough of the pirate ship's kitchen, as cutting edge as it may be. You longed to see the faces of your friends, and the people whose spirits you've hopefully brought some light back to. Springing up to your feet, you help Marine do the same with a supportive hand.

"I think it's about time the Senchou of the Houshou Pirates made an appearance." You say with a grin. "Let's go speed up Shallah's recovery."

"You got it, cabin boy." Marine grins back, and the two of you lead your band out of the ship, and down to the docks connecting you to the port streets.

Debris still covers most of the streets and the fronts of collapsed buildings, but the people who work to clear them move with reignited vigor and resolve. You see a group of tattered men struggling to remove the fallen siding of one of the larger buildings, spurring your need to aid them. A simple touch of your hand on your strapped spell book, and the soft chant of the second spell enhances your body and makes flexing your limbs a simple task, despite the aches.

Men and women gasp with appreciation and awe as you squat down and raise the one end of a fallen outer wall with relative ease, and the manual labor for you begins. With your pack and Marine working alongside you, you help move unhinged planks, fragments, anything at all that could be reused to rebuild to its own designated area of the port. The work is hard on your body, but the words of appreciation you receive from the people on repeat serves to keep your legs and arms moving. The sight of Marine being showered with praise for the Houshou Pirates' bravery in opposing Blackfin's reign also puts a cocky smile on your face to match that of your captain's.

While Marine tries to come off as modest, she is absolutely glowing from the attention. Words like "I always knew the Houshou Pirates were the greatest!" and "Thanks for helping us get back our freedom, Captain Marine.", put the woman higher and higher over the moon. She remarks that Shallah had always been a home the Houshou Pirates could always sail back to, so she would always fight to protect its waters. The idea of the crew as a larger entity and Marine's career whisks your thoughts away to something you haven't given much attention to yet.

The Houshou Pirates….now that Marine is free again and has her ship back, I wonder what happens now? Will she set sail again? Can you even sail a ship that big with just two people? Come to think of it, where the hell is Roxy? I haven't seen a hair of her all morning….while we've been doing all this work! That girl is so in for it when I find her.

"Hey captain" you say as you unload another two-by-four. "Where's Roxy? I figured she would have been glued to you after all that's happened. She can't be that worn out, can she?"

"She was watching things further up the shore." Marine lets down a stone that was apparently on the cusp of being too heavy for her that lands with a heavy thud. She stands straight and cracks her back, wipes her brow, and gets a much needed supply of air into her lungs before continuing. "She offered to stay with Mako and some of the other villagers to keep an eye on Chacu's body. There was no way I was gonna make the Crimson Quarter lug him all the way to the port, the poor girl has been through enough already."

"Keep an eye on it? Shouldn't we just let the sea take him back?" You ask.

"Marine said we could, but then the fisherboy got a little uppity." Frala remarks, joining in your conversation. "I think we should eat that thing. We can't let your biggest kill just go to waste."

"Eat him?" You do a double take, but the lioness' eyes hold no sign of jest or dishonesty. "You can't be serious…"

"Well we sure shouldn't let the birds get him instead." Bransha snorts. "Stupid feathered scavenges."

"H-Hold on! We should talk about this first." You snap, and while you feel indignant over the idea, a small part of you knows they are right, but you aren't willing to admit that without a fight.

"What's there to talk about?" The voice of the Houshou pirate you were just asking about rings out, bringing your attention behind you to find the girl casually strolling towards your group. Like everyone else, Roxy showed the results of battle across her person; her bandana flourishing the Houshou colors as well as a good amount of dried blood, had been tied around her exposed ankle, her clothes had small rips across them, and her hair was in complete disrepair. Even with her worn appearance, her smile grows at the sight of Marine. "Glad to see you're up and at'em, Senchou. I'm happy to report that everything's calm along the south coast; no signs of all stragglers or trouble. Now what is our cabin boy complaining about now?"

"Complaining!? I just thought someone might have consulted me before deciding that we should eat the gigantic, and now extinct, behemoth that is beached on shore! The one I could talk to!" You say through your teeth, and you take an imposing step forward to meet the girl's uninterested gaze.

"Consulted you?" Roxy scoffs. "It's not like that catch belongs only to you, ya know. Everyone on the ship had a hand in killing that beast, Senchou included. You would actually be the last person I would ask for permission from."

The absolute nerve of this girl. You can swear you can hear Korla and Riki growl on your behalf at your flanks. Roxy was challenging you, and in front of your pack no less. That's it, the gloves are off now.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much work you put in during that fight. I must have not seen you trading blows with him out in the sea with me. By all means…" You sarcastically bow, and take a dramatic pause. "What is your actual rank again? I don't think I've ever heard our captain address you by anything other than your name. You do have a rank on the ship, right?"

"Don't you get smart with me." Roxy huffs, stepping to get right up in your face.

"Oh that's right! All the other crews called you the laundry girl." You grin, delighting in the way the Houshou pirate is practically fuming with what little gas she is forcing herself to run off of. Oh how you've been waiting for this kind of payback. Roxy's fist trembles as she takes one more step, testing your own mettle with the gesture, but you stand your ground. Before you can continue to call each other's bluffs, Marine wedges himself between you both.

"Cabin boy, cool it." Marine commands, her eyes aflare with authority that makes you shrink. "You may have all the magic at your fingertips, but Roxy is still your senior in MY crew. She's sailed with the Houshou Pirates since she was a little girl, and you will give her the respect she's earned."

You blow hot air through your nose in mild defiance, but Marine's glare squashes any semblance of rebellion you might have. All you do is offer a quick nod in acknowledgement to her decree, and she then turns her attention to your instigator.

"And Roxy, I know you have a lot of respect towards the laws of fishermen, but Anon deserved to at least be asked about what to do with Chacu's body. He and Undine…it's not like they wanted to kill him. They had no choice, and if they didn't step up, we might all be dead right now."

The scolding makes Roxy avert her eyes from her captain, but she whips her head back to face her again just as fast. "What difference would it have made? We need food. Ships can use its bones. And it's already dead. You taught me that we never let anything the sea grants us go to waste."

"Oi! Don't tell me what I taught you!" Marine snaps, a stern finger pointed up in front of her subordinate, which freezes her in place. "It's not about that. It's about respect. Respecting your crewmate. Respecting what he went through. And respecting me."

Marine's words quickly struck home, not only with Roxy, but with several of the acquaintances that surround you, their eyes now shown a hint of sympathy alongside the gratitude they feel towards you. While you weren't looking for any charity, especially from the people whose hearts you are working to help shine brightly again, it does make the mention of Chacu a little easier. Thank you, Marine.

"Sorry, cabin boy. I guess we jumped the gun too soon on ya." Roxy sulks, not even meeting your eyes, which you can forgive for now, as it was more than enough to see her get dressed down by her captain. Marine looks over at you, able to tell that you accepted your crewmate's apology, and gives you a firm nod.

"Me too." You try to sound apologetic, rubbing the back of your head. "I know it's the right thing to do; making the best use of Chacu's remains that we can, but it just kinda caught me off guard." You switch to rubbing a hand along your arm, fighting to try and explain the confusing swirl of emotions you feel. "To me and Undine, Chacu wasn't some monster, or obstacle for us to smash through. He talked to us, we felt his pain, his life, and his pride. I…We had to fulfill his dying wish; a hunt worthy of being his last. It was a fight I'll probably never forget, not because of how it ended, but because of how much he pushed Undine and I past our limits. We did things we didn't even know we could be capable of just to fight on equal footing with him, and even that alone wasn't enough. He was incredible enough to be a legend…and I just thought I would get to give him a proper goodbye, before well…anything else."

While the air around you is thick and heavy with the somberness of your words, your shoulders loosen, and a deep breath exits your throat. No one around attempts to take the floor from you for a good minute, but halfway through that long, solemn minute, the faces of the gallery start to shift into soft smiles. A hand then clasps your shoulder, bringing your face to turn to see Sammy looking at you with both consolement, and a twinge of excitement.

"Anon, would you like to know how we say our final goodbyes here in Shallah?" He asks, and when you answer with a slow nod, he continues. "Our ancient ancestors always believed that when someone's time on this earth was over, they will pass on to life in another, and they wanted those souls to be able to carry on without worries about who they have to leave behind. So instead of mourning the loss of life, we celebrate what it was. We feast, tell stories, and laugh to celebrate the life they were a part of. Does that sound okay with you?"

Laughter, food, and stories of the lives of a people you've only had preliminary interactions with early on in your life, that actually sounds better than okay. You look over at Undine who gives you a soft nod when you meet eyes, giving you her support and removing the slight hesitation you feel. Her comforting gaze, and the words the older man had just given you, create a flash of clarity about what the receiver of your goodbye would want.

The Great Cycle. Chacu believed in playing his part in this never ending cycle of nature, even when he knew where it would lead him. That proud warrior of the sea…he would probably be insulted if you didn't play your role as well. The victor of the hunt should make full use of their kill, and you have no right to deny him that one final act, just as you have no right to deny the people of Shallah from a food source that could supply the entire celebration and hopefully then some. You almost feel embarrassed by how you reacted initially.

"That sounds great actually." You turn back to Sammy and feel the relief loosen your cheeks and shoulders. "What can I do to help? There is probably a lot to prepare for, right?"

"You can force yourself to take a breather and leave everything else to us." Sammy laughs, and then he shakes his head when your own expression is far from amused. "Seriously, you've done too much for me and my people already, let us shoulder something for you."

"But if we are going to use Chacu, I want to help." You hold your ground, and before anyone can voice another argument, one of your pack speaks up.

"As the man who made the kill, he should get to decide how it should be divided and prepared. That is what Anon has earned. That is the way of our pride." Korla speaks up, her tone firm and unwavering.

"Do you even know where to begin preparing a catch that big?" Roxy crosses her arms, regaining her natural opposition towards you.

"No, but there is no shortage of things I can try." You fire back, not willing to lose face in front of the girls who would jump to defend you, and as you begin to imagine different approaches to cooking a once in a lifetime fish, an idea flashes in your mind that should yield many rewards. "But since you seem to be so knowledgeable, why don't you put your dish where your mouth is? There's more than enough to go around, so we'll see who is the better cook."

"If you really want to be shown up by someone who actually has roamed the seas, I won't stop you." Roxy huffs, but her teeth gleam through her grin. "I accept your challenge, cabin boy. Are there any other ground rules you'd like to set? You tend to get pissy pretty easily, and I'd hate for you to be a sore loser."

"Nope. No real rules, since you would find a way to side skirt them away." You retort, letting your own grin form as you continue. "You can even have Mako help you out, you can use whatever you can find, and cook it however you want. This is open to anyone in Shallah too. We're gonna need all the chefs we can find if we want to feed everyone by tonight, and we'll find out who is truly worthy of cooking a legend like Chacu. What do you all say?"

"Now that is the kind of festival worthy of being called a Shallahan goodbye." Sammy gives his approval with new found fire in his eyes. "Anyone stepping up to the challenge will have to get creative though, I imagine all of the herbs and spices that were worth anything were being sold off by the Blackfin Fleet."

"Maybe, but they had more than enough good smelling things back on our island. In fact, there's still a ton of food just lying around in the places we crashed yesterday. We barely made a dent in it after we slapped those rat bastards around for messing up our home." Riki says, and the way her cheekbones and lips show off her hunter's pride makes your stomach tie a small knot around itself, and like a true hunter, the lioness detects your invisible yield to her and bats her eyelashes at you before anyone else could even see.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's set sail and bring back everything that bastard of a whale was hoarding." Marine cheers, smirking at the idea. "Roxy, go give the word to Mako, tell him to start carving that beast so we can actually cook it. Tonight will be the biggest party Shallah has seen in years!"

"Now that little pirate is speaking my language!" Frala cheers, hooking one of her muscular arms around your neck to pull you in. "I've been looking forward to our victory feast since yesterday! Lead the way, Marine!"

"Alright! Cabin boy, his lions, and Undine, let's board the Crimson Quarter and make a delivery!"

"Your ship? Marine, are you sure about that?" You ask, releasing yourself from Frala's hold and stepping to meet Marine's gaze face to face. "Any of the other ships will do, and yours went through a lot yesterday and-" When you start to voice your concerns, they are struck down by the hammer of your captain's inner soul. Each eye's hue pulls you into their depths and shows you the true meaning behind their owner's request.

You are no shipwright, but even you can see that Marine's pride and joy was on her last legs, and if they weren't mended, or replaced completely, that magnificent vessel would never float along the waters again. Like any self-respecting seafarer, Marine wants her trusted ship to do as much good while it still can, and who are you to deny her of that?

"Nevermind." You say sheepishly, forcing a smile. "Let's start getting the ship ready to shove off. I'll call Sylph and ask her to bring Pomu along for the ride."

"Thanks, Anon." Marine says, her smile soft and appreciative. "The seas are as calm as can be, so I might need to count on your fairy friends to help speed up the trip. Normally I wouldn't mind a relaxed cruise, but when a Houshou has things to get done, she gets them done! Now tell my pretty-winged crewmates to get here double time! Daylight's burning, and there's a whole hoard of supplies to pilfer from those rotten bastards."