The girl woke up on a bed and noticed that she wasn't in the forest anymore.
A sweet scent hit her nose, and her stomach growled. She swallowed.
She looked around slowly. "Where am I…" she muttered.
"Looks like you're awake," Emma said as she walked over.
"Don't come any closer," the girl said quickly.
Emma stopped, raising her hands a little. "Alright, alright. No sudden moves."
There was a small pause.
"What's your name?" Emma asked.
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?" the girl replied, narrowing her eyes.
Emma blinked, then laughed softly. "My bad. I'm Emma."
"My name is Airi," the girl replied.
"It's nice to meet you, Airi," Emma said with a small smile.
"Where am I?" Airi asked again, glancing around the room again.
"You're on a ship," Emma replied.
Airi froze. "…Wait. You're a pirate?"
Emma nod. "Yep."
Airi's stomach growled loudly.
Both of them looked down at it.
Emma couldn't hold it in and chuckled. "Yeah… that answered for you."
Airi looked away, embarrassed. "I haven't eaten since yesterday…"
"Then let's fix that," Emma said. "Amy's cooking octopus today."
Airi slowly got off the bed and followed Emma.
They stepped into the kitchen.
Airi's eyes widened. "This kitchen is huge…"
"Told you," Emma said proudly. "The best chef in the world cook for us."
"Take a seat around that table," Amy said, already moving around with a plate.
She placed a plate of fried octopus in front of Airi.
"Eat before you pass out," Amy said.
"Thanks…" Airi replied, then immediately started eating.
Emma leaned toward Amy and whispered, "I think she likes it."
Amy smirked. "Of course she does."
Noah, Nyx, and Alice walked into the kitchen.
Noah glanced at the girl.
She noticed and glanced back at him.
"Emma… who's this man? Is he a member of your crew?" Airi asked.
Nyx burst out laughing.
Emma shakes her head. "No, this is Noah… and he's the captain."
Airi paused mid-bite.
"…Him?"
Noah sighed. "Why does everyone sound surprised?"
"Because you don't look like a captain," Airi said honestly.
Amy snorted.
"Wow," Noah muttered. "I'm getting disrespected on my own ship."
Nyx suddenly teleported next to Airi and hugged her tightly.
"Can you change back into that big cat? I want to pet you."
Airi bites Nyx on the finger.
"I'm not a cat and I'm not a pet."
"OW...!" Nyx pulled her hand back. "She bites!"
"You tried to pet her like a stray," Noah said.
Nyx frowned, holding her finger. "I regret nothing."
Alice tilts her head. "You kind of deserved that."
Emma crossed her arms. "We just met her and you're already getting attacked. That's impressive."
Nyx points at Airi. "I'll tame you one day."
"You hugged her without permission and now you want to tame her," Amy said.
"So what were you doing out in the jungle all by yourself?" Nyx asked, sitting down like nothing happened.
Airi slowed down her eating.
"I was trying to find some medical herbs to treat my cousin's wound… but I got ambushed by some men…"
"I thought you guys were with them. That's why I attacked."
Nyx's expression changed. She glanced at Noah, more serious now.
"Can you tell us what happened?" Alice asked gently.
Airi let out a weak sigh.
"In order for you to understand… I have to tell you about the history of this island."
Noah leaned back slightly. "Go ahead."
"Over a hundred years ago, a group of friends set out on a journey to find gold and conquer the seas after reading about a city of gold.
They found this island. Back then, it was empty… only strange, ghost-like animals lived here.
They made it their home.
After years of hard work, they built a town… and named it the City of Truth."
Airi's hands tightened slightly.
"But one day… a group of pirates came and claimed the island as their own."
Her voice dropped.
"They killed most of the founders."
Silence filled the room.
"All of this happened a hundred years ago. And ever since then… the descendants of those pirates still rule the island."
Emma's expression hardened.
"They force us to build weapons… and ships for other pirates."
Airi looked up.
"And one of their biggest buyers… is Kaido."
"What?!" Emma shouted.
"What is it?" Amy asked.
"This is getting interesting," Nyx said, leaning forward with a grin.
Alice blinked. "Who's Kaido?"
Nyx stood up.
"He's one of the Four Emperors," she said. "Pirates with massive bounties. They rule the New World like kings. Each one commands thousands of pirates."
Nyx sits back down.
"Even the World Government can't take them on alone."
Amy's eyes widened. "So… we're talking about monsters."
"Exactly," Nyx replied.
[Noah's Thoughts]
This is bad…
I stopped watching One Piece at the Dressrosa arc… so now I don't know what happens next.
But I've heard that name before…
His eyes widened slightly.
That's it…
He's the guy Luffy and Law are after…
Kaido… the King of the Beasts.
Noah rub his forehead. "Yeah… that's not good."
"Not good?" Emma said. "That's an Emperor!"
Amy crossed her arms. "And we just walked onto this island like it was a picnic spot."
Nyx smiled slightly. "Now it's fun."
"No," Emma said instantly. "No 'fun.' No chaos. We are NOT going to fight against people who have connections to an Emperor."
Nyx looked at Noah. "Captain?"
Noah exhaled slowly.
"…We're not picking a fight with Kaido."
Everyone relaxed.
"Kaido is just doing business with these so called evil pirates. Although stopping his supplier might get us on his bad said..I doubt this guy knows who we are."
Emma grabbed her head. " This might put us up against an Emperor …"
Amy groaned. "We just came for food…"
Alice looked at Airi. "So your cousin is still injured?"
Airi nodded. "Yes… I need those herbs."
Noah stood up.
"Then we help with that first."
Nyx grinned. "And maybe break a few things along the way."
Emma pointed at her. "NO breaking things."
Nyx looked away. "…Minimal breaking."
Amy sighed. "This is already going wrong."
Airi looked around at all of them… confused, nervous… but hopeful.
"…You're really going to help?"
Noah gave a small smile.
"Yeah."
Nyx cracked her knuckles. "Welcome to the rogue pirate."
"She's NOT joining the crew." Emma said put loud.
"Knowing Noah she might." Alice replied.
Amy nodded. "Yeah… she already fits in."
Airi blinked.
"…I'm starting to regret waking up."