• Chapter 2- Attack!


    Sarai wandered through the halls of his ship. His footfalls were the only one's that echoed through the halls He came up to a set of double doors. For awhile he pondered whether to open them or not. He pushed the doors open slowly.

    The walls were lined with shelves. The Shelves were full of books that the crew had collected on their many treasure runs. Some were rare, while others were just pieces that the crew found interesting. A lot of the rarer books were lost in the fire that had destroyed the original Red Twilight Ship, along with most of the original crew.

    “Good evening Captain,” A voice said from behind a pile of books.

    “So I was right. You are here Linxus.”

    “Indeed I am Captain. You found me pretty quickly, I might add. Did you check the meeting room earlier?”

    “No. Nara called me in there for a lecture,” Sarai sighed.

    “Something bothering you Captain?” A monkey leaped onto the pile of books.

    “I guess you could say that.”

    “I'm all ears,” The monkey said.

    “I'll talk to you when you take on a more serious form,” Sarai laughed. The monkey wiggled it's ears, smiled, and laughed a monkey laugh.

    The creature leaped from the top of the books and transformed in midair. A boy with brown hair, yellow eyes, and blue goggles perched on his head.

    “Sorry captain. It's just, you always laugh when you see the monkey. And I could tell you were in a bad mood. What was Nara lecturing you about anyway?”

    “Oh, that. I told some kids in town that I was the Silver Demon. Apparently they told their parents, and things in town got out of hand.”

    “So, were shoving off today?” Sarai nodded, “Dang it! I didn't even get to check out all the shops yet. I heard they had a great book store, and weaponry here.”

    “Well, you can always check the shops another time, no doubt we'll come back here. I need to talk to that old Seer again. Anyway, be more happy! Storm region awaits!” Sarai said excitedly.

    “Yeah, lots of rain and clouds, no sun, rocky waters, sounds like fun, can't wait,” Linxus said sarcastically.

    “Okay, so Storm Region isn't so great. But, Our goal is beyond storm region.”

    “As of course captain. Anyway wasn't there something you wanted to ask me?”

    “Oh, yeah. I need you to go Hawk and scout ahead. Check if any Navy ships, or any kind of trouble is headed our way.”

    “Aye, aye captain.”

    “YO! Rai! Time to shove off!” Nova shouted down the hall.

    Linxus and Sarai could hear quick footsteps from behind the set of double door. Nova pushed them open.

    “You heard me right?” Nova asked, a panicked expression on his face.

    “I think the whole crew heard you. What's wrong Nova?” Sarai asked, noting the horrid expression on his face.

    “We did some pretty bad damage in town. Angry mob headed our way!”

    “Then what are we doing standing around!” Sarai shouted.

    He bounded past Nova and up toward the deck. Nova and Linxus were hot on his heals.

    The crew was in commotion. Gero was shouting orders, and people were scrambling about.

    “Nara!” Sarai snapped his fingers and Nara was at his side in a second.

    “Yes Captain!”

    “Why are we still docked?”

    “We can't find Char or Spade.”

    “Linxus!”

    “I'm on it!”

    Linxus leaped into the air and transformed into hawk. He spiraled upward to the crows nest. Up there was a horn. Linxus let out a loud screech into it. It echoed all the way into the forest.

    There was a gust of wind in the middle of the deck, next to Gero. The gust created a small tornado, in the eye of the tornado was Char, Ace and Spade. Spade was limp and bleeding in Ace's arms.

    “What happened,” Sarai whispered.

    “No time to explain!” Ace shouted.

    Ace had torn up his read cloak to stop his brother's bleeding. Some of the girls came to treat Spade's wounds. Char started casting the wind spell. Sarai could see Kakoro up at the wheel of the ship. Gero and several other crewmen was making sure the sails were in place.

    The ship started forward with a jolt. Sarai grasped Nara's arm to keep steady. Everything was happening so fast.

    Char made the winds strong, but not so strong that it would tear the sails. He had trouble keeping the tame at the same time. Keeping the water from damaging the ship too badly was Spade's job. And If he wasn't able to take care of it one of the other five mages would. But they were busy healing Spade.

    They were well away from island. It would take about a day, even by steam boat, for anyone there to catch up to them.

    Sarai stumbled forward. The ship was moving at such great speeds, hardly anyone could stand up right. Sarai reached Char and grabbed onto his shoulder. The tremors in Char's body were magic induced.

    “Char! It's all right! We're safe now! Char!?” Sarai shouted over the sound of rushing wind and the sea slamming against the ship.

    “Sorry captain,” Char breathed. He fell to the floor.

    The crew lurched forward as the the ship abruptly stopped. Due to the cancellation of the spell the wind came to a stand still and it would take a while for any kind of breeze effected the ship.

    Nara leaped the distance between himself and Char. Nara lifted Char onto his back, “I'll get him to the infirmary.” Without waiting a word for his captain, Nara was gone.

    Linxus swooped down by Sarai. Sarai stuck out his arm. The hawk circled around and clamped his claws on Sarai's sleeve. Linxus turned human and jumped off of Sarai's arm.

    “'Kay, that's a lot easier when I'm grabbing onto Nara's glove. What's that thing made of anyway?”

    “It's a special material that moves like cloth, but is weighted down. People usually use it when they're training.”

    “Weird. Hey will it tear easy?”

    “No. Well, it sort of works like old time mail.” Sarai looked around, “Linxus, while you were up there, did you see Rahna?”

    “Uh, no captain.”

    “She's in the infirmary.” Nova said from behind the two.

    “S-she... w-what happened Nova?” Sarai's voice wavered. The thought of his sister fatally injured made him feel sick.

    He sprang forward and started a sprint to the infirmary. One thing raced through his mind. His sister. Her face, healthy, he long auburn hair and her smile. Even if she was dieing, she would still smile to ease his pain. The tears flew behind him as he ran.

    “Rahna!” He shouted as he skidded to a halt at the door way. He grabbed onto the door frame to keep him upright as his leather boots slid.

    “Rai!” Rahna gasped.

    She was sitting up in one of the beds. Char ans spade were on her left, on her right was Ezen. Everybody who was concise, except for the healers stared the young captain.

    “You guys are okay, good.” Sarai gasped, “Ima, ima, just gonna sit down.” He stumbled toward a chair, “Yeah, right here.” He slumped down in the chair.

    “Well, you inherited your father's speed. That's for sure,” Linxus said. He stood in the doorway with Nova gasping at his side.

    “You- you always jump to- to the worst conclusion,” Nova gasped.

    “Well, you're in the right place if you're about to pass out,” one of the mages told Nova. Then she went back to tending to Spade's wounds.

    “So what happened exactly?” Sarai asked.

    “Me and dad ad Spade were in town right.” Ace started, “Then one of the kids from the other day saw us. Apparently, Joe was some kind of heir in this really rich family and got some kind of brain damage. The rich people convinced the town people to go after us. Ezen was with Rahna and Nova at the time. I guess they ran into the same trouble, anyway we met up in the forest. Spade, dad and I held them off while they ran. We all got pretty banged up. Anyway, the fight became to overwhelming for me an Spade. Even dad was struggling. He teleproted us outta there.”

    “Damn,” Sarai sighed. He hung his head, “I'm sorry guys.”

    “This wasn't your fault Rai! So don't you dare apologize!” Rahna said.

    “It was my fault. This wouldn't have happened if I didn't order Spade to probe that girls mind in the first place.”

    “You heard your sister,” Nara started, “Don't you dare blame your self. It is no one's fault. It was just a small little setback. No big deal 'kay.”

    “How are things?” Kakoro came into the room, “You'll be up and running in time, won't you kiddo.” It was not question, but a fact.

    “Of course,” Ezen's voice cracked as spoke, “Guess I gotta train more. I got beat up by a bunch of docks men.” He laughed weakly.

    “Don't doubt docks men. They raised Gero. He could beat me down easy when we were kids, and I was raised by ferocious pirates.” Nara said.

    “Speaking of Gero, where is he?” Sarai asked.

    “He's taking over the ship. You better get up there and do some damage control. Plus we need to find out our location. You got a big job ahead of you.”

    “If I didn't know that, I wouldn't be here.” Sarai shrugged off his heavy coat, “Okay, anyone who isn't dieing or healing, up on deck. 'Cept you Ace, Spade needs you.”

    “Aye, Aye cap'in,” Ace said weakly. Though he sounded weak, Sarai could see his eyes were greatful for the down time.

    “You think Rahna will be okay?” Sarai asked Nara.

    Nova answered the question, “You give her far too little credit. She's stronger than you think Rai.”

    “Race you guys to the deck,” Sarai said quietly.

    “No way you're way too fa-,” Nova started.

    “You're on!” Nara and Kakoro shouted at the same time. The three took off running.

    “They just don't grow up do they,” Nova sighed.

    “You're one to talk,” Linxus said, “their attitude hasn't changed much in twenty years, but at least they know how to fight. Unlike sombody I know”

    “Now you're asking for it monkey man!” Nova tore off after Linxus as the shape shifter went monkey and taunted the sixteen-year-old.

    * * * * * *

    Sarai started coughing. The wind whipped his face. His body was covered in scars and his breathing was heavy. His muscles were sore from all of his training. Kakoro stood across from him. He too was wheezing, he crouched forward and rested his hands on his knees. The two of them looked like they were going to fall over.

    “Shouldn't you two call it a night?” Nara said, “Two of our mages, and our navigator are out. And we're approaching Storm Region. We don't need the Second Mate and Captain passing out from exhaustion.”

    “Yeah, your right Nara,” Kakoro wheezed.

    Both he and Sarai dropped to the floor. Sarai had been thinking the same thing that Nara said, he just didn't want to be the first one to say so. He was sure Kakoro was thinking the same thing too.

    “Kakoro? Do you plan on sleeping there?” Gero asked as he came into the training room.

    “No, I just can't move,” Kakoro sighed.

    “Same here.” Sarai breathed.

    “You get Karo, I'll get Rai,” Nara said. He lifted Sarai onto his back and ran from the room.

    Sarai had fallen asleep on Nara's back, or at least passed out. Nara put Sarai on his bed in the Captain's Cabin. He took off the glove blades and put them on the desk.

    A shout came from the deck, “Captain! Storm Region is in sight!”

    “Why'd you two have to pick now to pass out,” Nara growled. He left without a noise.

    Sarai was awakened when his head slammed against the wall.

    He groaned and sat up in bed. The ship shook and he fell to the ground. He struggled to his feet and headed for the door. He stopped and turned back for his coat and gloves.

    What on earth is going on?'he thought as he headed to the deck.

    He found the ship soaked. The sky was stormy and rain poured down from the skies. It seemed like, in seconds, Sarai was more soaked than if he was to fall into the deep abyss of the ocean itself.

    He slid as he ran across the deck. Something hit the ship. The impact caused it to tilt. Sarai stumbled over his feet and fell down. The impact came again. He rolled toward the side of the ship. He grabbed onto the rim of the ship and pulled himself up.

    The ship rocked again from the same impact. Sarai flew over the side of the ship. He gripped the side of the ship tightly, the blades from gloves activated and kept him latched to the ship.

    “Nara!” he screamed through all the commotion and the storm. Doubt filled his gut. No one could hear him, not even his ninja first mate.

    Another tremor rocked the ship. The blades unlatched from the Red Twilight. A scream was stuck in his throat as he fell. A head peeked over edge. Even though he knew he couldn't reach his childhood friend, Nova tried. He reached his hand as far as it could go. Sarai watched as Nova got smaller and smaller.

    Sarai focused on the spot where he saw Nova. Focused, until his friend was just another rain drop. He focused until he crashed on the cold waves. The water filled his lungs and clouded his thoughts and vision. And then, everything went dark.....