Hawkins?
It wasn't a name that Izuku recognized, though the man was obviously some kind of pirate. Then again, everyone had a strange sense of fashion in this world. Though, who was he to judge, given some of the costumes back in his old world?
"Uh, sure, I'll take a fortune."
The man smiled in a flat line, like something pretending to smile but forgetting exactly how everyone else does it.
With a flourish of his hands, the deck of cards was shuffled, floating above him in a wide circle, then falling back in a waterfall. With a simple flick of his wrist he threw out five cards, forming a cross in front of him.
"Then, through the Arcana by which all is revealed, we find the purpose."
He took the first card in the middle and flipped it over; revealing a red and white robed man holding a candle burning at both ends. In front of him, a cup and plate rested on a table before a small bunch of flowers. His other hand pointed downwards, and above his head like a halo, was an infinity symbol. Above that was a number 1, embroidered in flowers and sparks of what Izuku supposed was magic.
The card was the wrong way up; looking upside down to Izuku.
"Hmmm. The Magician yet reversed," Hawkins intoned. "An interesting omen."
"Is that bad?" Izuku asked.
"Hardly," replied Hawkins. "The Arcana reveals all. This is simply that which could be considered the present, or the theme of the reading. For the Magician is capable of accessing unlimited potential, utilizing his connections to the spiritual to make his goals possible in the physical."
He flicked his wrist again, and the card flew up, landing upside down in front of Izuku.
"Within its reversed state, there is an issue of poor planning within the present. A manipulation, yet also untapped potential within. You have a journey that you are on, yes?"
Izuku nodded, caught a bit off guard at how on the nose Hawkins was.
"Then there is yet untapped potential within the journey that you are on. But you have missed something critical in your plans to achieve that potential, and shall face consequences because of it," Hawkins continued. "And now, we move to the past, whose influence still holds onto the present and future."
He flipped over the second card, and his eyes widened ever so slightly. A woman floated in a wreathed circlet, covered only by a long snake twisted around her. Around the wreath were the heads of a lion, an eagle, a man, and an ox; looking inward towards the picture. At the stop stood emblazoned with the number 21.
"The World," Hawkins breathed. "The completion of a journey, the journey to a new place. You must have come far for your journey, and it remains in the back of your mind."
Izuku flinched, his cheek twitching uncontrollably.
"He's unnaturally accurate about this," whispered the Second User.
"Y-yeah, you could say that," he said, scratching his cheek.
"Then it is within The World upright that the journey takes place." The card floated to join the other. "Yet like most, you've no doubt wondered what the future has in store."
Hawkins flipped over the card on the right, revealing a tower struck by a lightning bolt. Rooms at the top of it were on fire, and two people were leaping from it. Behind them, the struck tower was falling into pieces, crumbling down around the number 16.
"Hmmm," Hawkins mused, rubbing his chin. "The Tower, a sign of great upheaval, a change to the status quo. You will be responsible for a great many changes; some great, some terrible, yet impactful all the same." Izuku winced and sweated a bit.
"That… sounds bad."
"It is neither good nor bad," Hawkins replied mildly. "The Arcana are the only force within the world and beyond that are truly neutral. They do not judge, nor do they cast blame. They simply say what is. Morality is irrelevant."
The card flew up, joining the other two.
"Yet, the reason that the future shall turn out the way it will, is also held in the cards."
Hawkins flipped the card closest to Izuku, revealing a huge heart surrounded by the silhouettes of a man and a woman.
"Ah, The Lovers, a near universal reason," Hawkins explained, "It is the sign of relationships, choices, values aligning, and greatness forming from them. It is the choice of these relationships that shall bring the ruin of the tower, or its upheaval. Your choices and the relationships that you form will cause great shifts, strife and even something more."
Again Izuku felt his nerves start to fray at how scarily accurate this prediction was.
"And… the final card?" Izuku asked, not sure he wanted to know. Hawkins said nothing, merely flipping the last card. It was a star, shining in the night.
"The potential for what all is, and could be. The Star, which symbolizes hope, faith, and purpose renewed."
Izuku found himself… smiling at that.
"Sounds like a great future."
"Great is subjective, but all should be given the same chance," Hawkins said in his usual monotone. "Thus the arcana deliver."
"Still, thank you," Izuku said. "This was quite enlightening."
"No thanks required, I learned what I wished to know, I need little else."
"What did you want to know?" Izuku asked, remembering what he had said before. Hawkins looked up at him, smiling. Izuku did not like that smile.
"The fate that swirls around you like a specter," Hawkins replied. "Rarely do I see one as strong as yourself. Yet you hide behind a mask, and seek not to sail the seas freely."
Izuku did his best to remain straight faced.
"And you are so young, going by your voice and stature. Yet I can see your eyes, a great amount of experience behind them. Your fortune tells quite the tale." He smirked. "You've been on a journey for a long time. And fools like that oaf Caribou are common fare, right?"
Izuku licked his lips inside his mask. "People could have gotten hurt."
"So you defeated a five million berry bounty pirate because you wanted to protect others? No other reason outside of altruism?"
"Yes." The answer came as easy as breathing. Hawkins nodded, as if he had expected an answer like that.
"With such a mindset you could be a good Marine. Ever thought of signing up for them? Fighting for justice and righteousness?"
"No thanks. I've seen some and I don't wish to play by their rules" Izuku scoffed. "Sure, Some Marines are good, but I want to do good my own way."
"You speak as if your way is the right way." Hawkins leaned back, smirking. "It is presumptuous, ignorant of the ways of the world, to assume your way is right."
"Maybe, but I'll go my way regardless," Izuku replied.
Hawkins nodded. "There are many ills in this world. Some we cannot change."
"They can be changed." His green eyes looked directly into Hawkins'.
"Not without upheaval. Not without consequences. And in this world, such changes can have dire consequences if you wish to see them through."
"Fine." Hawkins blinked at his answer. "If people don't like it, they can talk to me. If we can't communicate with words… so be it."
"You'll gain enemies that way. Many don't want to be told what to do, especially those at the top." The blonde man crossed his arms. "In that sense, that makes you a pirate."
"Are you?" Izuku asked.
"Not yet, at least," admitted Hawkins, unruffled. "My path is set, though it's a work in progress."
"Didn't want to become a Marine then? Your fortunes could help people."
"And what," Hawkins mused. "Become a dog on a leash? No, the Arcana is the only power I will ever bow to."
Izuku seemed to accept the answer, in part wanting to end the conversation and hopefully leave this stranger behind.
"Well, I hope my fortune entertained you," he said. "I'm going to have some dinner now and-"
"Therf yu arf!"
Izuku and Hawkins turned. It was Yamato, her mask raised over her eyes and nose, from her mouth hung a tentacle.
"Is that an octopus?" Izuku asked. She slurped it down whole with a big gulp, and grinned ear to ear as she pulled down her mask.
"Squid actually!" She noticed Hawkins looking back at her with a raised eyebrow. "Oh. Hello there!"
"Greetings," Hawkins muttered back. "Friend of yours?"
"Yep. My traveling companion and a dear friend," Izuku replied.
"So, whatcha doing?" Yamato asked as she squatted down in front of them.
"He's… reading my fortune," Izuku said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh~!" Yamato's eyes gleamed. "Do mine do mine!"
Hawkins raised a single drawn eyebrow, but said nothing.
"You sure Anna?" Izuku asked.
"I haven't had my fortune told before! I'd love to hear it!" The boy shrugged.
"Here." Izuku reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of Berry bills. Hawkins blinked.
"Quite a lot there."
"For your trouble." Izuku counted out ten thousand Berries, and offered them. "Your fortune telling was quite informative. Maybe you can do the same for Anna here?"
Hawkins took the money, and shuffled the cards, going through the same process as before. He flicked his wrist, and out came another set of cards.
"Then, through the Arcana by which all is revealed, we find the purpose of the present."
The card flipped over, revealing a woman in robes holding open the mouth of a lion; the number 8 overhead.
"Oh that's neat~!" Yamato declared, looking at the card. Then Izuku noticed. Like his first card, it was upside down.
"The reverse Strength," Hawkins said, raising an eyebrow as he cupped his chin. "Curious."
"Really?" Yamato asked, tilting her head.
"It speaks of self doubt, of raw emotion uncontained."
Yamato… didn't say a thing. The card floated up, and Hawkins turned over another card. It showed a robed woman sitting on a throne. In one hand she held a sword, pointing upwards towards heaven. In the other was a set of scales that matched the woman's robes. Above them all was the number 11.
This one too was upside down.
"And within your past, we find the reverse Justice. Unfairness and dishonesty, both distant and recent, have plagued you."
Again Yamato didn't say anything. Izuku grimaced internally. Was this due to them using aliases? Or something else? And again, Hawkins accuracy was seriously putting him on edge.
Hawkins waited for a moment before letting the card fly up, and turned over the next card. Another one upside down, showing a devil holding the chains of a naked man and woman, smiling a cruel smile. The number 15 hovered over its head.
"And your future, comes the reverse Devil."
"T-that's good, right?" Yamato asked, chuckling slightly. Hawkin's expression didn't change.
"Despite its name, it is the release of limiting beliefs, of exploring darker thoughts and urges. There are trials that await you, my dear."
The card floated up, joining the others.
"And the reason for it all…"
The fourth card flipped, once again upside down, with the number 3 on top. It showed a Queen, with a crown on her head and a scepter in her hand; a river flowing through a wood behind her. She stared out of the card, emotionless.
"The reverse Empress, a creative block holds you back, along with your dependency on others."
"That's not-" Hawkins held up a hand.
"And it leads to this potential."
The final card flips, and it was… unique.
The number 20 sits at the top, framing an angel blowing a horn, and below it men and women cheered and danced.
"A Judgement of many things, an inner calling that you shall discover, and through it, absolution and rebirth."
(X)
Yamato cocked her head. This was all very confusing.
"Sorry, I can't make much sense of this," she admitted. "Is that good or bad?"
"The Arcana is unbiased," replied Hawkins, gathering up the cards. "The readings are neither good nor bad. They are what they are."
"Not so," Izuku cut in. "Fate can be rewritten. I know this for certain."
Yamato glanced at him, wondering what he meant.
"Fate can change its stripes, that much is true," commented Hawkins. "But the result is the result, and your fate is your fate. What matters is how you handle it." He put away the cards. "In any case, that is all. Thank you for your time, and the chance to read your fortunes. I found them both most interesting. Good day, sir and madam."
He nodded slightly, then strode off down the street. Yamato watched him go, uncertain what to say or do.
Self doubt. Unfairness and dishonesty was in her past.
And dark thoughts to come, and a resolution?
"Don't worry, Yamato," insisted Izuku. "The future's not set in stone, no matter what anyone says. Remember the story of Sir Nighteye?"
"Oh yes!" Yamato's heart leapt as she remembered the story. Of how Sir Nighteye had foreseen Izuku's death, only for it to be undone by Eri's quirk. A quirk that could see through time, undone by a quirk that reversed time.
Still…
"We choose our future and how it's written"," Izuku went on. "Besides, those readings were pretty vague. Almost like cold reading."
"Cold reading?"
"It's…well…it's like a parlor trick. You figure out things about a person based on their appearance and body language, and by asking them certain questions in a certain way. Cold readers often throw out vague questions, or make vague suggestions, then work from there."
"Hmm…" Yamato thought about it, carefully going over the reading again in her mind. "He didn't ask any questions. The cards just came out, and he said what they meant. And…he knew things about me."
Self-doubt. Injustice. Dark thoughts and urges.
The itch…
"Well…don't worry about it," insisted Izuku, a flicker of uncertainty vanishing from his face. "Even if he did somehow know things about us, those readings were still pretty vague. Just about anything could happen to us, and he could argue that it still fit just by playing with the definition."
Yamato sighed, and nodded. She wanted to believe him, and what he said did make sense.
If only that were enough.
(X)
Reiju opened her eyes.
Something was wrong. She was lying on her back, staring up at wooden floorboards. Where was she? How had she gotten there?
Then she remembered. This was an inn bedroom, on Spider Miles. She had arrived the day before with En and Anna, whose names were actually Izuku and Yamato.
She sighed, and relaxed. Her head was clearing quickly, but her body felt strangely heavy and sluggish. She couldn't remember it ever feeling like that, not for many years; not since that time Niji had shocked her, and she had been laid up for two days. How long had she been asleep?
She rolled over, and glanced at the bedside clock. Ten o'clock. She had slept for twelve whole hours. Twelve hours!
"Mmmmmm."
Slowly, carefully, Reiju rolled to the other side, to see what the noise was. It was Yamato, lying face-up in the bed next to hers, sound asleep, a cheesy grin on her face, body splayed out, legs hanging off the edge.
"Yummy…" she purred, lost in an innocent dream. "Izukuuuu, try this cake…"
Reiju couldn't help but giggle softly To think someone like her could have such innocent dreams. Dreams so unlike her own.
Then she noticed something on Yamato's bedside table. It was a book, and beside it sat a pen. A journal, perhaps? Had she been writing in her diary before she went to sleep? It was a common enough thing to do, and there might be useful information inside. Like who she and Izuku really were, and where they had come from, and what they meant to do.
No. Bad idea. Yamato was sound asleep now, but Reiju had no idea how good her senses or reflexes were. If she touched that book, and Yamato woke up, she might react badly.
And she didn't want that. She had just made two friends, the first friends of her life. She couldn't afford to alienate them, or lose them, just to be nosy.
The bathroom was simple and compact, the bath small; not like the palatial bathrooms and gleaming marble baths she was used to. But it didn't bother her, not much anyway. A bath was a bath, and it looked like Yamato would sleep a good while longer; so it was all hers.
She took her time; running the bath, stripping out of her underwear, then easing herself into the gently steaming water. At least the water ran hot in this place. Wordlessly, she laid back, and tried to relax; to gently and carefully contemplate the day ahead.
Then she saw the numbers on her thighs. 6 and 6. Germa 66. The stigmata she had borne since her body had matured. Two black numerals, marring thighs any princess or supermodel would have envied. Marks of a past she could never share.
Reiju finished her bath, wrapped herself in a towel, and returned to the bedroom to dress. Yamato was still asleep, still gurgling and giggling away in her happy dream. She sounded like a kid at a particularly lavish birthday party; and it sounded like Izuku was there too.
Once dressed and with her black face mask on, she slipped quietly out into the corridor, and glanced at Izuku's door. She thought of knocking, but decided against it; instead heading downstairs to the ground floor. The innkeeper was at his post, and bade her good morning with a wide grin. Reiju greeted him in return, and let herself be steered to a table. Breakfast was being served, and around her she could see various guests - pirates, sailors, and others - sitting around the tables; some alone, some in groups.
She sat there, enjoying a cup of palatable coffee, just enjoying the fact that she could. She had no schedule, no particular plan, no reason to hurry. And when a beaming tavern waitress brought her a plate of eggs, ham, and bread, she emptied the plate without hesitation.
She wasn't a princess any more, so there was no reason to act like one. This was just so…
"...snail ships…"
Reiju froze, as the half-heard words cut across her mind like a whip.
"Snail ships? Like Germa snail ships?"
"Yeah. A whole bunch of them, near Lvneel Kingdom."
"What's that about snail ships?"
Slowly, heart hammering, Reiju forced herself to glance. Two groups of pirates, one sitting, the other standing, were eying each other warily.
"We saw snail ships," said one of the sitting pirates. "Near Lvneel Kingdom."
"So did we," replied one of the standing pirates. "Near Whitehall, as we were leaving. They were doing over some pirate ship; so we sailed the other direction as fast as we could."
The inn had gone quiet. Other guests were looking up from their breakfasts and newspapers, listening with mingled curiosity and wariness.
"There's a lot of them around, all of a sudden," said a voice from nearby. Reiju looked, and saw it came from an old man sitting at one of the tables. "Quite strange, isn't it?"
"Think you know why they're up and about, old timer?" one of the pirates asked.
"You can say that. A whole bunch of Germa Cruisers, all out and about, all over the North Blue," the man went on. "Spread out thin, jumping random pirates. Usually they're all bunched together, but they're on the hunt. To me, are they looking for something…or someone?"
Reiju's blood ran cold, and it was all she could do to sit still and remain anonymous, and keep sipping her coffee, until the pirates continued their fraternizing. She forced herself to sit, to finish, as the conversations picked up again; the patrons all wondering and speculating as to what Germa was up to. After what she hoped was a suspicion-averting pause, she finished her coffee, pulled up her mask, and headed for the stairs.
Reiju felt like kicking herself, she should have known this would happen. It wouldn't have taken that long for Captain Epsilon to realize she was missing, and report in. Now Germa's ships were searching, no doubt with orders to bring her back. She had too…
"Good morning Sora!"
Reiju jumped. It was Yamato, standing in the corridor in front of her; fully dressed, backpack on her back, and smiling brightly.
"Morning, Sora!" called Izuku, waving from behind her.
"Oh, morning Anna, En" Reiju greeted them, barely managing to use their pseudonyms. "Sleep well?"
"Very well, thank you!" Yamato nodded like a piledriver. "I was having a wonderful dream! But now it's morning and I'm so hungry!" Her stomach growled on cue. "Oh, have you had breakfast already?"
"Yes, I have." Reiju forced herself to smile and act natural. "But there's plenty more food. I think it's still on the house!"
"Yippee!" Yamato bounced up and down, making the floor creak. "Let's go!"
And with that, the three headed for the stairs. So far so good.
"So what was your dream about?" asked Reiju, in an attempt to be conversational.
"I was at a birthday party!" proclaimed Yamato. "There was loads of food and presents, and we sang and danced and…!" Reiju did her best not to be crushed into the wall by Yamato's enthusiasm as they headed down the stairs; the taller girl going on and on about giant cakes and balloons.
The innkeeper was waiting, hustling them to Reiju's former table; now freshly cleaned, with fresh crockery and cutlery. Within moments, Yamato was provided with an enormous plate of food; which she proceeded to demolish. To Reiju's relief, Izuku joined them a few minutes later; washed, dressed, masked, and carrying his own backpack.
"So, where do we go next?" she asked, as Izuku started on his own breakfast.
"Hmm…I don't know," Yamato mused. "We don't have any particular plans, right En?" En nodded between mouthfuls.
"Well," purred Reiju, her chin set on her hands. "It just so happens that I have the North Blue memorized. Just tell me what sort of place you have in mind, and I'll point the way."
"Oh wow!" exclaimed Yamato, eyes wide behind her mask. "You know every island in the North Blue?"
"I certainly do." Reiju shot her a feline smile. It was only a half-truth; she hadn't literally visited every island. But she had at least some knowledge of them. Germa's collection of maps was extensive, and she had memorized every single one.
Yamato glanced hopefully at Izuku, who was dabbing his lips with a napkin.
"You choose, Anna," he said, smiling.
"Well then…" Yamato put her finger to her lips, and looked up at the ceiling. "I wanna go somewhere…interesting! Somewhere unique! Like that island shaped like a whale we passed by a while back!"
Reiju faltered, her heart sinking. She needed to go somewhere obscure, somewhere the Germa 66 was unlikely to show up. But her new friends wanted to travel, to explore. They wouldn't be interested in going to ground, and they were bound to get frustrated if she kept taking them to boring places. But where could she lay low, or at least evade her father's forces, that would interest them?
She thought hard, falling back on her childhood mental training; sifting through her memories, comparing each island, going over the possibilities.
One. Only one. Only one that might work, and that was taking a terrible risk.
Still, at least Germa Ships won't sail there.
"I can think of one," she said, forcing herself to sound cheerful. "An island shaped like a swallow; called Swallow Island, believe it or not."
"An island shaped like a swallow," Izuku mused, smiling. "This world never ceases to amaze me."
"That sounds amazing!" proclaimed Yamato. "Does anyone live there?"
She just had to ask, didn't she?!
"The island itself is uninhabited, as far as I know," she replied casually. "I've heard of a small-time pirate operating in the area. But I doubt he'll give us any trouble."
"Sora, are you okay?" Izuku asked. "You seem a little edgy."
Reiju paused. She was indeed on edge, and wanted them to finish up, pay the innkeeper, and get off this island. But she hadn't expected Izuku to see through her that well. Either she was losing her touch, or he was more perceptive than she had realized.
"I'm fine, really," she insisted, forcing a smile.
"Well, okay." Izuku did not sound satisfied. "But you know, if there's anything wrong, you can talk to us. Right Anna?"
"Mmm!" nodded Yamato, swallowing hard. "We're friends now!"
Reiju didn't know what to say. No one had ever said such words to her before. No one, in her whole life, had ever called her friend.
They finished their meal, and Reiju headed upstairs to get her backpack while Izuku paid the innkeeper. They headed outside together, backpacks on, faces masked, ready for the journey to come. Izuku led the way out of the town and back into the forest, not stopping until the smokestacks were between them and the town.
"Okay, Sora," Izuku said, as they all got into flight position. "Where are we headed?"
"It'll be…" Reiju paused, looking back towards the smokestacks, and comparing her mental map of Spider Miles to that of the North Blue. "That way." She pointed out over the forest, away from the smokestacks.
"Okay then. Hold tight!"
She saw their eyes. Yamato's eyes were big, bright, and honest; without a hint of malice or treachery. But Izuku's eyes were gentle, kind. They were off and into the clouds, leaving Spider Miles behind.
And still she was lying to them.
And leading them to an island where a notorious pirate crew was rumored to be based out of.
She's never had friends before... but they never lied to each other. Not to this extent, from what she's read and observed. Right?
Reiju looked on ahead, doing her best to ignore the cold pit forming inside her.
Well we're leaving Spider Miles, and we're off to Swallow Island! But who is this pirate crew that's gaining notoreity? And Reiju's guilt Stay tuned for that...
Big thanks to Juubi-K for writing this up, and WildJoker000 and IKnowNothing for their help on this. Especially IKN, who wrote up the Hawkins segment in the beginning. Man knows his tarot. What do the cards read for our duo? Only the future(and us) know. Hehe
There was another 2k words, but it was unneeded fluff and added character bloat. Point being, it was introducing Raise Max and the OG plan was to bring in the Revos into this arc from Raise Max, to Karasu who is the North Blue's Revo Commander. Alas, it added too much clutter and we decided to axe it. But it will allow for our cast that we have planned to shine more. Plus it would be basically been sort of a repeat of Doyle, and we didn't want that angle again with Karasu possibly being a convenient safety valve.
Anyway, I'm up next and I know exactly what to write up. Just gotta wait for IKN to finish the second half of FFESS chapter 60 haha. Then I'll get to writing on that again too.
I would have comm'd more images for this story but I've been on some trips the last two months and I need to whittle down CC Debt alas.
I hope you all enjoyed this. I'll see you in the next one.