Patchwork

Cascade [Part II: Benny]

Benjamin scrambled over the dunes until he reached a part of the small island with a small grove of trees. Swinging himself up into a dense, jungle-like tree, he crouched on a branch, hidden amongst the leaves.

"I told ya, lads, I saw a boy here!" A loud voice shouted. Benjamin was yanked out of the tree by the scruff of his neck. He landed on his back, hard, and lost his wind for a second. Black spots swam in front of his vision.

Standing in front of him was, to tell the truth, one of the oddest group of pirates ever seen. Every single one was dressed as though they had leaped straight off the page of One Piece. The one who had pulled him out of the tree, despite his piratey voice, he was wearing the clothes of an English gentleman. Even with the heavy goggles perched on his hat brim and the soot stains on his white shirt, Benjamin never would have though him to be a pirate. One pirate wore a masquerade mask with casual clothes. Another, a girl, wore the traditional sailor scout uniform, complete with a torn skirt and a ripped-off looking part that must have carried the school insignia.

"Another ta join the crew!" The Gentleman yelled triumphantly. "Looks like a mighty-fine cabin boy."

"No," Benjamin replied tartly, before he could stop himself. Every single pirate stared at him.

"And why that be?" The Gentleman asked.

"Because I don't want to, and besides, I don't have a clue as to why you would want me anyways. You see my hair?" He asked, pointing at aforesaid hair. "Where I'm from, people who have half their hair are government people or their sons. You wouldn't want me aboard."

At this proclamation, the pirates looked thoughtful. Then, quick as a flash, they turned inward for a huddle. Try as he might, Benjamin couldn't catch what they were saying. Giving up on that endevor, he got up and slowly, s l o w l y, started to walk away.

Then, he just remembered someone pressing something that smelled sickly sweet to his face.

*****************************

Voices. Voices filtered through the blackness. They were the first things that came to him, like fluttering fairies. He heard Lyra's voice, asking what his name was, and Roxy's, telling him that she didn't steal anything. He wondered what that was all about. Winter's voice came through too, a bit staticky, telling him that he could save Benjamin.

Save me from what? Benjamin wondered. Oh, yeah. Pirates. Saving me would be nice, Benjamin tried to reply, but it seemed his power was only to listen.

Then he heard an unfamiliar voice, like Lyra's but definately not Lyra's, shouting in the heat of battle. A boss fight. How he knew that, he had no idea.

Finally, he heard the voices that were near him- the voices of the pirates and the creaking and groaning of the ship as it sailed through an ocean wider and bluer than any ocean you or Author-sama has seen.

"He's perfect," a soft, girly voice near his head whispered. He could feel her breath on his cheek. Doing his best to feign sleep, Benjamin held his breath.

Mistake.

"He's awake!" The girl cried delightedly. Giving up, Benjamin opened his eyes. In front of him was a girl with bubblegum-pink hair and blue eyes bright with anticipation. Strong hands pulled him to his feet.  "Hi!" The girl greeted enthusiastically. She looked as though she were about eighteen, three years older than Ben. "Welcome to our crew!" She spread her hands, leading Benjamin's ees to roam over the ship and its passengers. None were familiar. "I am Nerida, Pirate Princess and next in line for Pirate King!"

Benjamin blinked. "You're a princess?"

"Yeah! But my dad is off sailing somewhere else. He does that! Here, we are the outcasts. We welcome refugees, whether criminal or not, to flood our ports and fill our crews! Elementals and mechas and faunus, everybody is welcome! We're a planet of criminals, a neverending chain of stealing and nobody minds! Just grab some treasure, bury it, hoard it, become a Pirate Lord, do whatever! I just got my crew- everyone does at age eighteen, and then my father bid me bon voyage my darling!" She laughed, a clear, high sound that made the nearest crew members smile. "And then I found you, a new boy claiming to be a government official or his son! Where are you from, where there are such strange customs?" He had barely opened his mouth to fabricate something when she answered her own question. "You were lying! That's it!" She clapped her hands excitedly. "A good liar! You can be our spy, and go on enemy ships to scout out for us!"

"But, you said that nobody minded the thievery..."

"Well, that was so... before the Sea Bandits came." A hulking crew member interrupted. Two scars crossed his eye, which lacked a bandage, revealing an empty, only slightly scabby socket. "They came and tried ta decapitate the king! And now they trawl the seas for all who call themselves pirates and murder them, setting their sails afire and taking the treasure. A bit of murder would be fine every now and then, but they fight too dirty for a pirate's taste. Or at least, our current king's taste." The muscled pirate smiled grimly and added, "They're out ta kill the princess too, and would if she weren't a better fighter than her own papa."

"Oh, Rudolf, you're embarassing me!" The princess exclaimed, feigning a blush. "Anyways, I only killed thirty that time because of that cursed sword. It's at the bottom of the sea, now." She looked relieved, like the fact made her feel better, but Benjamin could see the sadness behind her eyes.

"Tell me about the cursed sword," Benjamin said. The other two started; clearly, they were a bit unused to the presence of a stranger.

"A tale for another time," Rudolf replied curtly. "For now, let's get you a bunk and a job. There're a lot of decks to be swabbed."