Wicked [Super 4]

XXXII.Push Forward

Ruby

Finding no one but myself in the cabin when I opened my eyes felt strange. More so because I didn't hear the girls' voices outside.

I couldn't waste my time in that, though. I had to get up from bed--the first actual one I got to sleep in ever since I had been locked in Kingsland's dungeons that damned day--, because there was no seeing them again until Scelesta and the furios were stopped, and there was no seeing my other friends either until we sailed for dry land. And I had also started to notice that Leonora was getting sick of not touching land in days.

Missing so many people at once was adding up for sure, but staying on board for so long was certainly taking a toll on her too. She wasn't used to travel the waves like her brother and me.

I pulled myself up from the sheets and searched for my boots. It didn't take me long to find them and put them on. My coat, however, was way harder to locate. I ended up having to crouch down and look under the bed to finally find it. Alien usually helped me do that, but I understood why Leonora wanted to keep him with her instead.

I wondered pretty often during those days if my friends felt like we did. If they missed me as deeply as Leonora missed Alex.

Or if they were just glad to not have me around, to not have to stand my mean self. What'd they say once they saw me again? Would they notice any difference? Would Gene try to scan me with his thingies to see if I had any brain damage?

Would Twinkle make me a bracelet of my own, not just one borrowed from someone else?

I didn't know which one I wanted to see again the most. Maybe it was Twinkle, so I could apologise. The last time I had seen her, I had acted like such a jerk, and for what? I can't say I understood. Maybe it was just because I thought it'd make me more of a pirate. But how much of a pirate did I really want to be? I had never questioned it before, yet there I was, all because of four girls.

...Girls.

What I once dreaded became something I wanted to protect.

And I failed... If I had commanded to push forward and go into the Lost World, maybe we'd have reached the island before the Mist noticed us, and maybe we would've freed my dad. What sort of captain had I been? Not a good one, that was for sure...

Those thoughts would've kept on pestering me had Alien's little squeals from outside not caught my attention. I guessed that Leonora was awake too, and I couldn't help the slight speck of joy that brought me. It was a reminder that I wasn't alone. Not completely.

A deep breath, then I pushed the door open. It was time to sail for Enchanted Island, so we had quite a few tasks ahead of us.

--Morning, your highness--I greeted--. Holy shrimps, you look awfully tired...

It was true. She clearly hadn't brushed her hair properly and there were some slightly noticeable dark circles under her eyes.

--Cut it out, barbarian. I'm perfectly fine.

--Sure--I replied while I walked past her. Everything seemed to be in its place, if my eyes weren't deceiving me.

After a few minutes of quiet checking and preparing, I spoke to her again:--Hey, Leonora... If you ever want to leave, just tell me. I won't force you to fight my battles, I can take you back to Kingsland's if you want.

--Where'd that come from?--She sounded somewhat offended, crossing her arms and raised an eyebrow--. And no, I'm not going back to Kingsland. Not yet...

--Damn, you have home two steps away and you choose to stick with me? I'm flattered--I wanted to add "and thankful", but that would've been embarrassing.