Blackbeard; The Legend

Future Plans

Akahana stood at the head of the ship, looking to the frozen horizon, her excitement bubbling. Finally, after many weeks at sea, the ship had reached the icy border of the Svellands, and that it would only take a few more minutes to reach land. The rest of the passengers aboard the boat had the same look in their eyes, buzzing with enthusiasm, as they were almost at the finish line. She stood at the head of the ship, eagerly gazing at the horizon that was clouded by frozen mist, waiting for any sign of land.

"Well, this is exhilarating." Takahiro remarked as he stood next to her. "We're actually almost there."

"No kidding." Ryota stretched and rested his hands on the railing. "It seems like we've been waiting forever, but at the same time," He looked up to the sails blowing in the snowy wind. "I feel like I'm gonna miss this place. The ship, I mean."

"Why?" Akahana asked, cocking her head to the side. "We're about to start a brand new life, in a place where nobody knows who you are." She turned back to the snowy horizon. "I, for one, can't wait." She said, her spine shivering with exhilaration.

"Hm." Ryota sat up on the railing and dangled his legs. "What's the first thing you guys are gonna do when we reach the harbor?" He asked.

"Well, the first thing that I'm doing is going to my father's private house and immediately getting a warm bath." Takahiro shivered. "I'm not sure how I managed to survive with just a bucket of water per day, but I swear that I'm never going through that again." 

Akahana chuckled. "I might look for a job, mostly one that involves hero work. But I have to find someplace to live first before I do that."

At the mention of lodging, Ryota's eyes lowered, and he sighed despondently.

"What's wrong?" Akahana asked.

"Well, the thing is, I'm...a bit broke." Ryota admitted, abashed. "Most of my money went to paying for this trip, and I forgot...to save some..." He murmured, ashamed.

"Hmm..." Takahiro scratched his chin, pondering. "Well, if you don't have money, then..." He hesitated, but he pressed on. "What if I allow you to stay at my father's private house? You'll be able to stay there while you get a job and make your own money." He proposed.

"What?" Ryota looked up, surprised. "You'd do that?"

Takahiro smirked. "Yes. Unless you don't want it, then-"

"No! I mean, yeah I want it!" Ryota fumbled for words. "It's just- well, I can't believe it! I never thought that you would be the one to offer something like that."

"Well, you should know by now that I'm not the same 'prince' that you met on that boat a few weeks ago." Takahiro retorted, but he seemed genuinely happy to help out Ryota. The overjoyed fox leapt off the railing and hugged Takahiro, causing the two to fall backward from the force. Akahana laughed as Takahiro struggled to get up and wrangle himself out of Ryota's bearhug. Suddenly, an idea popped in her head.

"Do you think that I can join as well?" Akahana asked. "I can help with the rent, and we can all live together while doing hero work."

"Hm. That's not a bad idea," Takahiro said, as he stood up and dusted the snow off his cloak. "We could be like a team, working together and living together. And don't worry about the rent." He assured Akahana. "There's enough money to last us a lifetime.

"Yeah! That's an amazing idea!" Ryota exclaimed. "What should our team name be though? Should be something that sounds cool, or something heroic?"

Akahana looked back to the frosty horizon. "Let's not worry about that now." She chuckled. "Maybe when we get there, we can think of a name."

"Besides, there's a lot of other things worth exploring in the Svellands." Takahiro said, "The culture, the language, the people. And how could I forget the butter cookies and cobbler?" He sighed wistfully as he gazed at the misty distance. "I practically can't wait."

"Butter cookies eh?" Ryota asked, and he licked his lips in anticipation. "And cobbler? Now you got me excited too!" 

Akahana giggled. "Well, now that you've given us those ideas, now there's a lot more stuff we got to do when we get there." She said, amused.

"Speaking of getting there," Takahiro turned to Stormfeather, who had been quiet for a while as he dispassionately steered the ship. "How much longer are we getting there?" The captain didn't respond, seeming to be lost in thought. Takahiro tried again. "Captain?"

"Oh- uh, what- what are yer talking about?" He asked, a little dazed.

"Are we getting closer to the Svellands?" Akahana restated the question. At that, the captain didn't answer, before muttering.

"Just a bit longer..." He unenthusiastically responded, and what Akahana saw what she thought was a glimmer of panic in his eyes, but it vanished within a moment, almost like it was a trick of the light.

"What's wrong captain?" Ryota asked teasingly. "Are you gonna miss us?" Stormfeather didn't reply instantly, as it seemed as if he was carefully deciding what to say to Ryota. Finally, he answered.

"Yes." He said. "By far, ye are the best batch of passengers that me have had in a long time." He turned back to steering while still talking. "I'm gonna miss you lads."

"So you do care!" Ryota gasped. "Oh, captain, ya big softie!" He jokingly said.

"Yeah, yeah..." The captain mumbled. Suddenly, something on the horizon drew his attention, and Akahana turned to see what it was. There, after such a long time at sea, was the first bit of land that was appearing on the bleak horizon.

"LAND HO!" Shouted a voice from the crow's nest high above, and the excited clamor of the passengers could be heard.

"Woohoo!" Ryota cheered. "We're here! We're finally here!"

"Finally," Takahiro said in a exasperated tone, but he couldn't contain the glee in his voice.  Akahana looked to the appearing landscape, the Svellands. She grinned enthusiastically. But it faltered a little when she turned around and saw the captain. His gaze was grim and he glared at the approaching frozen islands. He let go of the wheel and shouted something to the crew. However, Akahana was too occupied to ponder about the captain's mood, as Ryota embraced her and Takahiro in celebration. 

"New life, here we come!" He whooped and Akahana couldn't help herself from rejoicing along with him as well with a hearty shout, and Takahiro smiled as the two of them cheered.