The Dragon's Pirate Warrior | oc insert

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The villagers allowed me and Yona to stay in a house that was empty as it was built for a couple who ended up dying during a disease period.

"It's a bit weird," I muttered, "staying in a dead persons home, I mean."

"But at least they were kind enough to let us stay here," Yona smiled at me.

"I guess..." I nodded, "but it's kind of weird. Everyone keeps staring at me like I'm going to solve all their problems and I hate it. It's making me uncomfortable. The sooner we can get off this island the better."

"You don't have much of a filter, do you?" she pointed out as she sat down at the table, I sat opposite her and shook my head.

"I just so happen to be a very honest guy," I replied, "by the way. I wanted to know... what do you want my power for exactly? I mean-- there must be a reason why you're going so far as to be stuck out at sea with me just to ask for my help. So what do you want me for?"

"I need your strength to help me and my friends survive, see we are just fugitives," she told me. I stared at her in shock.

"You want me to help criminals?" I asked, "I mean-- that is probably nothing coming from me, a pirate, but damn. Who are you, yona?"

"I'm actually the Princess of Kouka Kingdom, if you can believe it," she told me, I just gawked at her.

"You're Emperor Il's daughter?" I asked, she nodded.

"Was his daughter," she corrected, "He's dead now."

"H-hold up. He's dead?! And you said you're a fugitive... Did you--?" I looked away from her, "oh my-- how could you kill you own father?"

"I didn't!" she exclaimed, "it was..."

I fell serious.

Those rumours about some guy called Soo-Won taking the throne were true then. Wow, I'm genuinely surprised.

"Let me guess, the innocent current Emperor killed the previous kind hearted Emperor, right?" I asked, she didn't reply, "I'm taking your lack of a response as a yes then."

Leaning back I sigh.

"That means you're just like me," I muttered lowly. No parents to speak of.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"Hm? Oh. Nothing," I shook my head, "anyway, now I understand why you're a fugitive. You ran away from the castle after your father's death and now people are pinning the blame on you, right?"

"Right," she nodded.

"And you need the five dragons to ensure that you stay alive," I continued.

"That's correct," she nodded.

"Then what?" I asked, "what will you do after that? Take the throne back? Kill the guy who killed your father? Change the world from behind the scenes? What will you do, Princess?"

"I--" she paused and frowned, "I haven't really...thought that far ahead yet."

I sighed.

"So you came to me despite not knowing what you want?" I asked, dumbfounded, "aren't you royals always supposed to know exactly what you want from clothes to accessories to weapons, guards, villas, and so on?"

"Is that how you view royals?" she asked, looking down at the table.

"Will low respect and care?" I asked, "yeah. The royals have done nothing that deserves my respect. All they've done is empower those who had too much and taken so much from the lands that villages all over are becoming little more than nothing."

"I do see what you mean but--" she tried to argue.

"I don't think you do, princess," I told her bitterly, "the kingdom is bleeding. It's bleeding from being stripped and beaten by those who care only for themselves. It's been torn to shreds by lies, torment and greed. But you royals can't, and probably never will be able to see that."

She stared at me wide eyed before looking down ashamed.

"I've travelled a lot recently while searching for the five dragon warriors," she told me, "I'd been forced into a sheltered life when I lived in the castle so I became naïve and ignorant. But when I left, I saw so many things. I saw the true extent of man's cruelty. I saw the places that grew the food I grew up eating. I saw people who were too weak and sick from famine and neglect. I've seen all of that! I've seen how people struggle to pay those godawful taxes that keep being raised by the nobles ruling their areas! It's unfair! I know just as much as you do how much the kingdom is crying out for help!"

I just smiled and stood up.

"Then... I think, princess, you know exactly what you need to do," I told her before leaving the house.

I say that to her, but after our conversation last night... I see the chains on me, I've been locked away by those pirates and I've been ignorant to it. I keep telling myself that I owe them so much more than I can give and that I'm free... But I'm not free.

"Even if I did decide to leave with you," I muttered, turning and looking at the house, "I wouldn't be allowed to leave that ship alive. That's just how selfish pirates can be."