REWRITING!!!!!! PROMISE (Ateez/seongjoong fic)

Chapter 4: Arrival

The wind picked up around them, and slowly the boys felt the world around them fade away. All of their eyes still remained glued shut. Perhaps to try and combat the whipping winds around them.

After what felt like hours of what felt like aimless floating and wild winds around them, the calm feeling ceased. It faded into a dreadful feeling of falling, and the pit in Hongjoongs stomach began to grow.

With now open eyes, darting from his left to right, and up and down, Hongjoong tried to figure out where he was. Where they were.

They were in the air. In a bubblegum pink colored sky falling endlessly, as it seemed there was no ground nearing them any time soon. Rather, no ground at all.

They all remained in the perfectly unbroken circle, legs still crossed, and hands glued to one another. The eyes of everyone else began to open as well. Screams began to erupt from the mouths of all of them.

Unable to let go, or move from the place they were suspended from in air, they began to make sense of the fact that they wouldn't hit the ground anytime soon as well.

"What the hell is happening right now?!" Yeosang yelled from his position in the circle. Most of his voice was taken away by the wind, however Hongjoong still caught enough of it to know what the question was, and know that he was the one who was being asked.

"To be honest, I don't know! I said pirate ship! I don't know why we're in the sky!" Hongjoong replied, using all of his voice to allow himself to be heard.

Almost immediately after the words left Hongjoongs lips, what looked like a ship formed underneath them.

They ended they fall with a loud thump, and no real injuries. Other than a light sting on their bottoms and legs.

Jongho was the first to let go of the others and stand. Amazed at how he had done it with ease. He hadn't been able to sit, or stand, or walk without feeling some level of pain since his accident. Now there was nothing. No dull ache, no limitations. Nothing holding him back. He was free from the physical pain he had felt for years at this point.

"What is it? Why are you smiling like a big dope all of a sudden?" Yeosang asked Jongho, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"It- It doesn't hurt. I don't feel any pain!" Jongho said in return. Elated ti be able to move freely.

"What? How is that possible?" Yunho asked and turned his gaze to Hongjoong.

"I don't know, but lets be grateful that it is," he said, a kind look in his eyes. Honestly, he might've been more happy than Jongho about this.

"Hey, I think it might be an affect of wherever we are. I can see perfectly now. I don't need my glasses or contacts or anything," Seonghwa said, grinning widely.

At this point everyone had stood from their seats on the wooden planks of the ship, and had let their hand go from the person next to them. Except for Seonghwa and Hongjoong, whose fingers were still subconciously interlocked.

The group began to fan out and explore the giant ship before them. While one thing caught Hongjoong's eye. A letter, quite similar to the one attached to the Cromer stuck to the helm of the ship.

He walked towards it, dragging Seonghwa whose hand was still connected to his right along with him.

As he approached it, the text on the outside of the envelope became legible and read: For the captain's eyes only :).

"Can you give me a minute? Go start exploring, I'll join you again in a moment," Hongjoong had turned to Seonghwa to say.

In response, Seonghwa nodded and untangled his fingers from his friend's. Both of them missing the contact they shared before.

After a moment, Seonghwa spun on his heel and went towards  Mingi and Wooyoung who looked like they were about to set off a canon while Yeosang watched. He wanted make sure the three didn't accidentally blow themselves and everyone else for that matter up.

After watching Seonghwa walk away for a moment, eyes lingering for too long, perhaps, he turned towards the letter stuck to the helm.

This time as he approached it, he studied the seal more carefully. A perfect circle of golden wax stamped in the shape of an hourglass. Of the Cromer.

Cracking the seal, and pulling out the letter, something else came out, too. A pocket watch. Beautifully crafted silver and rose gold, a small metal hand ticked quietly inside behind the perfect glass.

The envelope hadn't felt heavy, and hadn't bulged in any way to alude to the timepiece being inside, but there it was. In Hongjoong's hand. Likely for a reason.

He began to read the letter, which said:

"Hongjoong,

I'm sorry I couldn't greet you upon your arrival, but I am glad to see that you and your friends made it here in one piece. I am also delited to see that you picked piracy. I find it quite fitting.

As you may have noticed, Any ailments held in the real world do not exist here, so you and your friends can be at maximum strength for the journey ahead.

Speaking of, I would like to formally apologize for not being fully upfront with you in my last letter, or in our first meeting. When I said 'find a better world' I meant that very literally.

You will have to search for your desired world, and it will not be without difficulty or challenge. You may turn back now, or continue the journey. However, you should note that leaving this place later in the journey will be far more difficult than it will be here.

You can think of the place that you are currently in like a waiting room. A destination between destinations of sorts. It will serve you well as a safe-zone, and homebase.

Nothing can get to you while you are here whether it have benevolent or malevolent intent. It is fully equipped with clothing, medical gear, and even though you technically don't need to eat here, food and drinks (including alchohol) as well.

Before I forget, I must include that the pocket watch I gifted you will act as a guide of sorts. That something to keep you grounded like I mentioned before. It is unimaginably hard to damage so do not worry about that. As long as you keep it on your person, you cannot succumb to any illusions.

P.S. There is a map in the captains quarters that will help guide you.

Good luck, and I will see you sooner than you'd expect with some other guests as well.

Goodbye x."

Hongjoong sighed to himself, he had many more questions than he did answers, but he decided that right now he wouldn't worry about it. That he would just enjoy the peaceful color of the pink and cloudy sky, and the company of his amazing friends. Of his family.

Shoving the pocketwatch into his pocket, and the letter over the side of the ship, he smiled to himself and walked towards San.

"You know, I haven't felt this at peace since the last time we were all together in the Warehouse." San said, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breathe of the crisp fresh air, slightly smiling to himself.

"I know what you mean, these past few years without you guys have been like torment," Hongjoong sighed.

"Couldn't have said it better. Let's go see what Yunho and Jongho are doing over there."

                                  ☆

With that, they spent the rest of the day, and early into the next morning exploring every nook and cranny of the ship. They found amazing clothes that they could've never afforded in the real world, enough food to feed an army for the next 50 years, and where they would be sleeping.

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WORD COUNT: 1337

a/n: Another normal length chapter lol. The next chapter or 2 might be relatively shorter but don't even worry about that mane. Don't even worry. anyways, ILY STAY HYDRATED, GO TO SLEEP, EAT SOMETHING (anything, idc if its a bowl of ramen, or a single bite out of toast. Anything to nourish your beautiful body 💓).