Blackbeard; The Legend

Snowball Fight

Akahana rested her hands on the railing, gazing at the iceberg infested waters as the ship sailed by. With each day that passed by, it temperature growing colder and colder as they grew closer to the Svellands. It was not only the climate that had begun to decrease in warmth, but so had the passenger's own spirits and morale. Most had begun to stay inside, only coming out for food, and even if it was a good day outside, only a few would trickle out of their rooms. The entire ship started to feel empty, and it made her feel sad.

"What are you looking at?" Came a perky voice from beside her, and she turned to see Ryota. Thankfully the chill hadn't tampered with his cheerful attitude.

"Nothing much." She replied. "Just icebergs." She sighed. "Where's Takahiro?" She asked, looking for the peacock.

"He's other there." Ryota said, pointing behind him and at Takahiro, who stood on the other side. "He claims that the other side of the ship has more warmth, even though the sun's in the middle of the sky right now." They both chuckled. "Although he's acting like everyone else today. Boring."

Akahana nodded. "It is quite quiet." She remarked. "Like the day before. And the day before that as well."

"No kidding." Ryota said, his fingers tapping the wooden railings. "It's weird, with not many people on deck except the crew members. And even they don't make anything more lively, like they did before." He groaned. "It's like the fun's gotten sucked out of everyone."

"Definitely." Akahana murmured, looking towards the head of the ship, where Stormfeather was steering the vessel, a half-empty bottle of beer in his hands as he slouched. It seemed that even the miasma of boredom had gotten to the rambunctious rapscallion, as instead of standing up straight and looking at the horizon with gleaming eyes, his stare was filled with fatigue, as if he was tired of piloting the ship. "But what can we do about it?" She said, turning back to gazing at the icy waters. Ryota narrowed his eyes in concentration, humming a little tune as he too stared at the frozen sea, his mind working something out. Suddenly, they lit up with an idea, and he grinned mischievously.

"I have an idea." He said, a hint of mischief in his voice, and Akahana could see the glimmer of playfulness in his eyes.

"Oh? What is it?" Akahana asked, trying to figure out what the fox had in store.

"Just keep looking where you're looking, and you'll know it when it hits you." He turned around and began walking away from Akahana, who kept gazing out, waiting for the cue. She could hear him talking to Koji behind her back, and she tapped her feet, still waiting for what "it" was.

Suddenly, out of the blue, something soft but cold hit her in the face, and white powder exploded all over her face. Wiping the snow off her face, she turned and saw Ryota and Koji, one looking astonished, the other a smirk on his face as he beckoned her. Realizing what he was referring to, Akahana smiled menacingly as she picked up a handful of snow and molded into a ball. Then in an instant, she whipped it at Ryota, knocking him backwards. Koji laughed, but then he was pelted with one too. Ryota laughed and got up, making another snowball.

"You want a snowball fight? I'll give you a fight!" He yelled as he threw one at Akahana, which she dodged, laughing.

"Well you have to try harder!" She shouted as she rolled across the deck, avoiding fire. She hastily made a snowball and threw it at Ryota, who dodged. Unfortunately, it sped past him and accidentally hit Takahiro, which startled the prince.

"What the-" He yelped. "Who did that?!" He asked angrily. Ryota pointed to Akahana, and Takahiro's narrowed his eyes. "You almost ruined my head feathers!" He grasped a chunk of snow with his claws and tossed it straight at Akahana, but it unintentionally slammed right into Ryota. "Oh, I'm sor-" Takahiro was cut off by a snowball that got chucked by Ryota in retaliation right in his face. Akahana burst into laughter, as the two got up.

"Seems that your feathers got ruffled, your majesty," Ryota teased. "How's that expensive coat and feathers dealing with the snow?" Takahiro wiped the snow off his face, and he smiled.

"Alright then. Let's see how you deal when I pelt you!" He flipped backwards and began hurling snow at Ryota, striking Akahana and the Koji at the same time.

"Hey!" Akahana tossed a snowball at Takahiro. "You're hitting me!" She laughed as snow flew around the deck, their laughter filling the deck. The few passengers that were on board slowly joined the fight, and those inside were drawn out by laughter, curious to see what they were giggling and chortling. Even the crewmates It seemed that everyone was enjoying the snowball fight, except Stormfeather, who seemed to be trying to ignore the fight happening on deck, his grip on the wheel getting tighter as the snowball fight continued. Akahana saw him whisper to the boar, and he descended down the steps, trying to stop the friendly brawl, but to no avail. "Can you please go back inside your rooms-Agh!" He was pelted by snowballs, and Akahana could see Stormfeather chugging more of the bottle, and when it ran out, he tossed it overboard, and after a few more minutes, he slammed his fist on the wheel and he turned, shouting.

"Oi! Stop tossin' snow around and laughin' like a gaggle of buffoons and go back to yer rooms!" He yelled, his face fuming." "Now!" He commanded. Everyone sighed, dropping their snowballs that splatted on the ground, but Akahana picked up one last chunk of snow, and just as Stormfeather turned his back, she lobbed it at him. Powder exploded all over the back of his head, and everyone stared in shock, eyes on her.

The captain turned around, his eyes blazing. "Who did that?" He asked in a low voice. Nobody answered, but Akahana stepped forward.

"I did." She replied. "And besides, what's the matter with some fun? We could all use one, right?" Stormfeather was about o say something, but then he paused, looking at Akahana with an indescribable look in his eyes. The boar shouldered his way to the front and stood beside Akahana.

"No, everyone, let's go back inside! The captain orders it!" He looked to the captain for some help. Stormfeather was silent for a while, as he scratched his chin, pondering. Suddenly, a grin broke over his face.

"So, that's how you'll be, eh beauty?" He asked. "Then reap what ye sowed!" In a flash, he conjured up a snowball and tossed it straight at Akahana. In a matter of no time, the deck was once more alive with laughter and flying snow.

Akahana fell over as she was struck, getting up quickly to run to cover. Koji sat on Ryota's shoulders and they made a deadly duo; Koji rapidly chucking snowballs everywhere as Ryota kept them moving, too fast to be hit. Takahiro hid behind the freshly-made impromptu snow walls, sniping at the other passengers and ducking in time to avoid being pelted. Stormfeather weaved his way around the battle, dodging snowballs while firing back, avoiding all of the icy projectiles.

Akahana scooped up some snow and threw it at him, and he effortlessly dodged her projectile. He grinned and tossed one at her, which missed her by an inch. In a quick counterattack, she grasped a piece of snow and twirling around in the air, she hurled it at Stormfeather, and despite his best attempt to avoid it, it struck him square in the face.

"Got you!" She exclaimed, and Stormfeather snorted, wiping the snow out of his face.

"Nice shot, beauty," The captain remarked as Akahana offered a hand up, which he clasped. "Ye might make a good marksman, if ye tried."

"Maybe I will in the future." She replied. "Or if someone teaches me how to."

"Is that an offer?" Stormfeather asked, his eyes gleaning.

"Maybe." She smirked. "Besides, I don't think I'll find a better teacher in Svellands, am I right?" To that, Stormfeather's face suddenly changed from amused to worried.

"Haha, yeah..." He trailed off slightly, before he shook his head. "How's about we get back to the fight?" He gestured, all trace of nervousness seemingly vanishing, as if it was a trick of the midday light. Akahana hesitantly nodded, before she was suddenly hit by a snowball and the two of them were plunged back into the snowball fight, and Akahana almost forgot about the captain's strange behaviour, as she pelted and was pelted with snow.