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“Thank god!” Kab threw herself to the boards and started to kiss them. “Land!”
The nearby people at the Faction Isles port stared at Kab with disgust, confusion, and surprise as the rest of the crew walked down from the ship, now in an even rougher state as it seemed to be so fragile, a single touch to the hull would cause it to fall.
“Kab, don’t kiss the boards!” Maddy pulled her out from the floor. “Do you have any idea how unsanitary that is?”
“Do you know how anxious I was after that fight with the phantoms?” Kab retorted. “Eh, can’t wipe the intestines falling right into my–”
“Ok, crew,” Clown took the reins of the situation, fully aware that they needed to return back with their other members and to get out from the one place that his two most dearest friends deeply disliked and held a grudge at its people. “Here are your tasks: Pyro and Blake, look after the Bounty. Make sure nothing happens to it and see if you can fix it with whatever resources we have.”
“Aye aye, captain!” Blake saluted while Pyro nodded affirmingly.
“Ivory, see if you can find someone who can help us fix the Bounty,” Ivory nodded diligently, her blank expression never shifting in the slightest. “Kab and Mads, go and see if we can replenish our lost supplies.” Kab, while hesitant, nodded in agreement.
Maddy, however, raised her hand. “Eh, I know that… Kab and Rae are from here, so they have knowledge of the area.” Rae’s body stiffened as she clenched her arms even more tightly, her mask covering her face. “But does this place have different currency or…”
“They still accept coins, Mads,” Kab reassuringly told her. “Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure this place hasn’t changed at all!” Clown frowned at the forced smile that Kab was wearing.
‘Was this a good idea?’
“Well,” Maddy said as she seemed reassured. “Can we please go buy new glasses for me?” Clown felt phantom sensations, the same ones he had when three of the phantoms that attacked them on their way to the Isles targeted the now blind and defenseless girl.
“Sure!” Kab said as she started to guide Mads towards what Clown presumed it was the market. “Come right here!” Kab and Mads walked away as they made it to dry ground.
“Oh, oh!” Magic raised her hand enthusiastically. “What about me? What do I do?”
“You’ll…,” Clown already had something in mind for the youngest member of their crew, though seeing how unnerved Rae was, gave him another idea. “You’ll be off exploring the Isles alongside Rae!”
Rae’s eyes widened alongside Magic’s, though hers were more of terrified shock and unbelievableness. “What? Clown, you can’t do that to me!”
“Rae,” Clown said softly to her. “I know… But I also know that you have to face it.” Rae’s eyes seemed to be on the verge of tears, even behind her mask. “Look. The Isles changed, so it must likely that things got better–”
“They didn’t!” Rae shouted outrageously, pointing at one of the ships, which had a cyan and green flag with the drawing of what appeared to be a heron with a quill ending at its tail. “Look at that! That is the Heron’s banner! They are still alive and I can assure you that they are still the stuck up ass–”
“Oh look!” Magic suddenly said, pointing at what appeared to be a stand filled with candy for sale. “They sell candy over there! Let’s go!” Magic quickly took Rae’s hand and started to drag her away, with Rae barely having the composure to resist the young girl.
After her outburst and consecutive leave, Clown sighed heavily. Ivory placed a hand on his shoulder, in which he carefully and gently removed it from. “I’m okay. I’m… more worried about Rae and Kab, though.”
“Well…,” Blake started to say. “Exactly what happened to them over here that they completely hate it?”
Clown didn’t respond as he ignored the question and started to walk off the port, with Ivory following him behind.
~~~
“Shit,” Kab said as she got lost in between the passing people and the streets. “The Isles really changed, huh.”
It was actually difficult to find landmarks now, and the houses and buildings seemed to have gone through a pretty major makeover, because Kab didn’t remember some of the buildings that were standing around her to be there when she was a kid on the Isles. “Okay, Maddy. I think we are actually lost now.”
Maddy, squinting her eyes, tried to make out the blurry scenery and words, though it was all in vain for her. “Maybe try asking someone for directions.”
Kab nodded as she tried to look for someone–
“Ah, hell,” Kab said as she spotted someone in the streets. Though it was someone who she truly didn’t want to speak with.
It was Guqqie, the only female Kestrel member (as far as she knew) of the faction. The pink-haired crystallographer appeared to be having a very, very, very interesting conversation with another person, a girl with long hair and a pirate hat who, much to Kab’s shock, was wearing a Kite’s armband. ‘Is Guqqie chatting with a Kite?’ Last time she remembered, Guqqie wanted nothing with the Kites, just like any other Kestrel and her family.
The memories suddenly flooded when she saw the pirates of different factions, two factions that tore her apart. On one side, a faction that clearly disliked her for her attitude and gusto, while the other mock and belittle her for wanting to join them.
“Kab, is something wrong?” Maddy’s voice pulled her out from her trance. “Did you find someone?”
“Yeah,” Kab swallowed her pride down. ‘For the sake of Maddy and the others.’ “Let me do the talking, will ya?” Maddy, though hesitant, nodded in approval as Kab and she walked towards Guqqie and the other pirate.
It didn’t take long for either of them to notice them approaching them. “Hi! I’m sorry, but me and my friend are looking for a–” Kab was hoping that the years and her new appearance would have fooled Guqqie, which didn’t come out to be her case at all.
“Oh my god,” Guqqie suddenly gasped. “Kab? Kab Foster, is that you?” Kab winced as the Kestrel recognized her, much to the surprise of Maddy and the other pirate.
“Guqqie, you know this person?” The Kite asked them.
“Yeah, she’s Kyle’s sister,” Guqqie responded as she looked down at Kab from top to bottom, much to her annoyance.
“Kyle has a sister?” Guqqie’s companion said in surprise as they looked at Kab. “Huh, she does actually look like him.”
“Dear gods, Kab!” Guqqie said as she glanced around her current clothes, which were her favorite by the way! “What happened to you? You look like you got into another fight like always but didn’t buy new clothes at all! And your hair, why is your hair blue?”
“Hey,” Kab said defensively. “Look, you might think I enjoyed living like a Kestrel, but you’re wrong.” Guqqie suddenly stopped looking at her, as if she remembered something unpleasant and tried to divert her attention away. “And what’s wrong with having blue hair, huh? It looks nice on me!” Kab crossed her arms, daringly glaring at Guqqie to say another word about her, which she didn’t. Her companion took one of her hands and held it reassuringly as if it would calm her down.
“Eh, Kab?” Maddy tapped her shoulder as she awkwardly waved at the two pirates. “C–Can I do the talking for you?”
Kab already felt sore with Guqqie’s words so she relented. “Hi, I’m Maddy, Kab’s friend!” The already raised tensions didn’t leave room for much comfort. “Eh, me and Kab are looking for somewhere where I can get new glasses, because I lost mine on our way here. I’m specifically looking for purple tinted glasses and I wondered if there’s any shop that offers custom product services here.” Maddy offered a kind but forced smile at the two pirates, who looked very uncomfortable with how the conversation was going at.
“Well,” Guqqie hesitated but continued. “I think Martyn started a new business a couple of days ago. I’m not sure what it is exactly about, but I’m pretty sure it’s related to crafting or so.”
“Great!” Kab cheerfully said, wanting to drop the conversation and leave the two pirates behind. “So where is it at?”
Guqqie hissed as her companion was quick to defend her. “Hey look, I don’t think Guqqie is really up to some chatting, so why don’t you all leave her and me alone?”
“Well, we’re kind of in a hurry you know?” Kab retorted snarkily. “And besides, she seems fine.” Kab was becoming very impatient, wanting to leave the Isles right away.
“Kab,” Maddy hissed at her, not liking how hostile she suddenly became. “I’m sorry for Kab’s behaviour, she doesn’t usually–”
“N-No!” Guqqie suddenly said. “I can take you guys to where Martyn’s shop is at, but I must warn–”
“Great!” Kab said without a single doubt. “Come on, chop chop, we’re burning daylight!”
Guqqie looked at Kab, who looked at her with a “Don’t waste my time expression”. Guqqie’s companion, who didn’t like the look Kab was giving to their companion, was about to pull out a sword until Guqqie stopped them. “No, Aimsey. I’m fine, I’m really fine.” Guqqie said as they started to guide Kab and Maddy towards this Martyn’s shop. “This way.”
Aimsey kept holding Guqqie’s hand as they walked towards the shop, with Kab and Maddy behind them, with the latter glaring at the former disapprovingly. “Look, I hate this place and I want to leave it, ok? The sooner we leave, the better.”
“Or the better for you,” Maddy made sure to mutter as lowly as possible, something Kab managed to pick up and wince at.
~~~
Ivory made her way through what she thought was the marketplace of the Isles, filled with stands and shops everywhere and people talking, buying, or selling items. She eventually found a stand that sold food, mainly fruits and vegetables. Seeing as there was barely any meat and the fishes were closer to the port, Ivory approached the vendor and bought a basket of apples, carrots, lettuce, and other goods for the crew.
Just as she was about to pay for the groceries, a voice froze her in place.
“Well, well,” The voice of a male individual said from behind her. “Look who we have here.”
Ivory straightened her back as she put her coin pouch cautiously back into her pocket, slowly turning around and was greeted with the person who she didn’t expect to see ever again.
“Kuervo Kolmillo,” Ivory replied coolly as she stared at the Nayan assassin in front of her. “Didn’t expect you to be this far away from Naya.”
The split haired assassin glared at her, still bearing his eyepatch and the eight rings of the death commanders on his fingers. Next to both his sides, he was accompanied by a pirate whose left side was completely bandaged, either for show or because of an injury. The other had a red bandana on their head, with an expression that I quote from Ivory, was the “literal definition of mentally insane and unstable”.
“Kuervo, you know this person?” The bandaged pirate asked the assassin as he crossed his arms.
“An old acquaintance of mine,” Kuervo kept glaring at Ivory, as she slowly made her way to her scythe behind her back. “Don’t even think about it.” Ivory kept her hand where it was, not moving it at all but neither pulling it back.
“What are you doing here, Kuervo?” Ivory questioned. “Thought you were very busy with killing those two remaining commanders.”
“I got sidetracked,” Kuervo responded. “And that’s none of your business.”
“So who are you?” The bandana pirate asked. “I mean, clearly you and Kuervo know each other, but like, who are you?”
“The name is Ivory,” Ivory simply responded.
“Ivory Cello,” Ivory glared at him as he started to chew far more than he should be. “A Nayan assassin who I asked for her help with killing some people I wanted dead.” Kuervo said casually, prompting Ivory that she didn’t have any leverage whatsoever.
“Oh,” The bandaged pirate said before introducing themselves. “Hi! Well, I’m Bek and that one’s Tubbo! Welcome to the Faction Isles.” Ivory glared at them, not understanding what they were trying to do with such excited talking.
“What are you doing?” Tubbo asked, eying her groceries. “You’re buying food or something?”
“None of your business,” Ivory said as she tossed a few coins and hoped that it would be enough to pay for the food. “Now, leave me alone.”
“Wow wow wow,” Kuervo stopped her in her tracks and he put himself in front of her. “What makes you think that I’ll just let some assassin roam through the Isles?”
“Since when do you care about something other than your dead brother?” Ivory snarked at him.
“That’s also none of your business,” Kuervo glared at her as they were crashing in a glaring match until Bek pulled them apart.
“Say, Ivory, want to join the Kites?” Bek asked excitedly, much to Ivory’s surprise and Kuervo’s shock. “From what I’m getting, you’re a fighter and a deadly one. Join the Kites, we could certainly use someone like–”
“No,” Ivory said as she pushed past Bek and Kuervo. “I don’t want to join your faction.” She kept walking as she could feel Kuervo glaring at her. “And please leave me alone.”
Ivory didn’t make it ten steps away until she heard a knife flying right at her. She quickly dropped her groceries and pulled out her scythe. She spinned the majestically decorated dual bladed white scythe, deflecting two throwing knives off her. The knives fell to the ground as she glared at Tubbo, the main culprit of the attack.
Ivory didn’t hesitate a second, leaping right at the three pirates, intending to end them for trying to end her.
~~~
“Hey, Pyro,” Blake called his fellow mate as he was nailing a board to the side of the ship. “What’s up with Kab and Rae? Is this place… that bad that they hate it?”
Pyro, who was carrying what remained of the wooden planks that they have in stock, sighed. “Honestly Blake, I have no idea.” Pyro deposited the planks next to Blake as he passed on to him as he finished nailing the one he had. “From what Clown vaguely told me, the two of them grew up here.”
Blake raised an eyebrow behind his mask. “Really? What happened?”
Pyro shook his head in denial. “Don’t know. But you know Kab and Rae just like I do.” Blake nodded at that, knowing how both girls didn’t like to be judged, with Kab becoming very aggressive and defensive while Rae would fall into panic attacks that ended up horribly, worsening her guilt problems and regressing her anxiety management.
“You think Magic will take care of her?” Blake suddenly asked as he finished and followed up with the next plank.
“Magic is still a bit naive,” Pyro admitted. “Though, she seems very capable of taking care of herself and Rae.”
“Excuse me?” Both Blake and Pyro turned their heads and were greeted by two pirates, one being a green haired one with a ponytail while the other was a woman with orange hair, an eyepatch, and concerningly green skin similar to a zombie’s.
Pyro quickly jumped into action, pulling out his hand blades and standing threateningly at the two pirates. “Halt. Do not come any further!”
The two pirates were immediately taken aback as the green shirted one pulled out a flintlock in response while the other one was shocked and angry.
“Wow wow wow!” The green-shirt pirate said. “Hey, we don’t mean any trouble. We just wanted to chat!”
“Yeah,” The woman said as she pointed at Pyro’s hand blades. “Put those away right now.”
Blake immediately got off from the ladder he was using to fix the sides of the Bounty and joined Pyro as he placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him behind him. “Hi, sorry for my friend. He’s just very protective and not very good at greeting people.” Pyro grunted, still keeping his handblades on hand.
“Right,” The woman said, not believing Blake at all, which was fine to him. “I’m Cleo and this is Owen. We’re Herons from the Faction Isles.”
Blake remembered Rae’s outrage at the banner of what he guessed belonged to the Herons. “And what are these Herons? What do you guys do?”
Owen confidently replied. “Nothing much. We’re just explorers who wish to discover the undiscovered and make a name through research for ourselves.”
Blake raised an eyebrow behind his mask. “So… basically you’re like scientists if they were cut off from funding?”
Cleo hysterically laughed, slightly unnerving Blake. “Oh, we are much more than that.” Cleo then pulled out a mug of beer from her belt. “Here, have one of my beers.” Blake took the mug politely and stared at it. He looked past his shoulder at Pyro, who was shaking his head in disapproval. “Don’t worry, it’s just some old fashioned alcohol.” Blake simply shrugged as he removed his mask slightly to make way for his mouth, taking a sip from the–
Blake immediately spit the beer in his mouth away, coughing as he let the mug fall to the floor. “Pfft! Pfft! Ah, what the fuck was that?!” Pyro came to his aid as he patted his back as he continued to spit the beer out of his tongue and tastebuds.
Cleo glared at him. “You didn’t like my beer?” She almost sounded hurt.
“It tasted like fucking peppers!” Blake retorted as he was considering drinking sea water to remove the taste.
“Excuse you!” Cleo said, offended. “My beer is well liked by everybody! Are you saying I’m horrible at making drinks?”
“No, no,” Pyro quickly covered for Blake. “It’s actually… Blake rarely drinks alcohol.”
“That wasn’t alcohol!” Blake kept spitting the beer out of his mouth.
“Well, while your friend is…,” Owen grimaced at Blake’s state as he got straight up. “We were wondering if your other friend was alright.” Pyro and Blake looked confused. “The one who yelled at us from before.” Pyro and Blake immediately knew what he was talking about. “The one who seemingly despises us for being Herons?”
“Yeah, what was that about?” Cleo questioned. “She seemed new to the Isles and instantly declared right in front of us that she hated our faction and to an extension, us.”
“Well,” Pyro tried to explain. “She seems to be from the Isles, actually.” Cleo and Owen’s eyes widened in surprise. “After some… accident or so, she left and never came back. Seems like she’s still sour about this place, even after years apart from it.”
~~~
Rae tucked her hood as much as possible, intending to hide her face from the passing people and especially any pirate who seemed to be part of a faction. Even a Nightingale, no matter how much they valued family and fellowship. No, she wouldn’t let anyone in this place see her face, even if it meant getting whispers and sideglances for her skull mask.
“Rae?” Rae’s eyes went down and saw Magic, the young girl worried. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Magic was holding the two candy apples that she bought for her, though they never ate them. “We can go outside the town if you’re feeling–”
“No no!” Rae quickly said. “It’s fine, Magic. I’ll… I’ll try to let go of the past.” Rae said as she sideglared at a specific alleyway, one that painfully reminded her of her past. “I’ll overcome it.” Rae reassuringly placed a hand on Magic’s shoulder as she wasn’t convinced by her words, though didn’t complain at all.
‘Come on, Rae. Just like Clown said. Just like Kab and Maddy said as well.’ Rae tried to remember the words of her crew mates, the only people she could call family in the entire world. ‘Remember Ivory’s words!’
‘The past is nothing but the–’
Rae bumped into someone, her hood falling off and her mask hitting the ground. Rae quickly went to grab her mask, only for a hand to beat it to her. “Oh, I’m so sorry! Let me just…”
Rae’s eyes met his eyes as they stared at each other in shock and surprise.
“Rae?” Will’s voice spoke as he looked surprised and overjoyed. “Oh my god, Rae!” Will pulled her into a hug, much to her discomfort. “Oh my god, you’re alive!”
‘Did… Did he think…’ Rae’s thoughts were interrupted as she watched in shock as Acho Denholm was walking towards them. “Oh no.” She muttered.
“Acho, look!” Will called them over as he looked at Rae with joy. “Look, it’s Rae! Remember her?” Acho looked at her and star was completely taken aback as star looked at her from top to bottom. “Oh my… Rae? Is that really you?”
“Rae?” Magic’s voice called after her, though she couldn’t see where she was.
“Magic!” Rae called after her, though she didn’t respond. Rae shoved Will off of her and tried to get past the two boys. “Magic!”
“Wow wow, Rae,” Will said, stopping her. “Rae? Hey, what happened to you? You were gone for so long, some people thought you were dead.”
‘And aren’t they happy that I was?’ “So what? Did somebody make a funeral for me?”
“Graecie did,” Acho said as he glared at her. “Rae, I understand your animosity towards me and any pirates here, but your disappearance really caused Graecie some problems.” Stars glare was just full of disapproval and silent anger.
Rae felt guilty. Almost, though. “Look, say sorry to Graecie for my part.” Rae pushed past them and spotted Magic, seemingly talking to someone. “Magic!”
“Hey, listen!” Acho grabbed her wrist and yanked her back, much to Will’s shock. “Look, I’m trying to say I’m sorry for everything! I know it’s not enough but–”
Rae elbowed stars face as she kicked him on his stomach. Acho fell on the ground, bending in pain as Will looked at him with worry and horror while looking at Rae in shock and horror. “Rae! What the–”
“Tell him,” Rae said coolly, putting her mask back on her face. “That I don’t need his apology.” Rae walked away from Will and Acho, leaving the two boys as some nearby people stared in shock at her.
‘Grab Magic and get out,’ Rae repeated in her mind. ‘Grab Magic and get out.’ Rae was closed enough that she could see that Magic was talking to two strangers. ‘Grab Magic and get out!’
“Magic!” Rae called and the young girl whipped her head. “Magic, come on, we’re… leaving…” Rae’s aggressive tone faded as she stared at the people that Magic was talking to.
On Magic’s right, Graecie was shocked and mortified to find Rae standing in front of her, possibly recognizing her voice and believing she was dead all these years. On Magic’s left, the girl was so different from the girl that she used to know, but it was still her who Rae was looking at.
Rae removed her mask as her eyes were starting to get wet with tears. “Ros?”
Magic pulled Ros more closely to Rae as she beamed a smile to the both of them. “Rae! Look who I found! It’s Ros!”
“H-Hi Rae,” Ros awkwardly said as Rae lunged at her for a hug.
‘Dear gods, Ros is here!’