Meredith
*```
"Hey."

```*

—Suddenly, from behind them, a voice speaks out.

Its origin: a white-haired, tall (almost 185cm) woman, clad in a formal suit, her dark, near-black irises aglow with a subtle and indiscernable magical hue.

*Where did she come from?* One could not tell. Not through mundane means, that was; she had just emerged from what appeared to be a cloaking spell, her presence entirely hidden until she revealed herself to the two who had entered the Navis Auri.

```
"Looks to me like you've stumbled lost into a place you shouldn't be,"
 she peered at them, having approached uncomfortably close whilst completely undetectable.
"I don't reckon either of you are a part of the Hunt, are you? This isn't a place for festivalgoers."

```
Doreen
Turning back, he aims his pistol towards the woman who now appeared out of thin air, it seemed, *Shit where did she come from? I didn't smell her or hear breathing, and the hell kind of hunt is she talking about?* Manolo thinks to himself as he repositions himself to have a clear center mass shot on the new person. He opens his mouth, responding to the lady, "Forgive my steel, I ain't very kind or trusting on people sneaking up on me. I don't know this 'Hunt' or festival you speak of, me and my capitán, we just arrived here, I smelled blood and powder in here and from the looks of this place it hasn't been friendly. So pardon my rudeness, but are you friend or foe?" A spanish accent coming out within in his words as he continues shifting around, his ears now moving towards every direction of the inside searching for any more persons. He looks back at the arrangement of objects and towards the writing, clearly unable to read the words but understanding it to be some name. "¿sabes lo que pasó aquí?" He shifts his attention back towards the woman, aiming steadily while having his left hand near his second pistol in case to reach.
William
Sasori while examining the area would see the sunglasses and as he approaches them he sees Manolo kneel down to check a guy that he claims is there but there is not one. Sasori looks to Manolo as he picks up the sunglasses and pockets them then says in a worried and caring tone

```
There isn't a person there my friend, Are you sure you are ok?
```

But before Manolo could respond they hear a voice, Sasori quickly turns to identify the source of the voice to see a woman. He steps forward putting his left hand on the handle of Frigid Promise ready to unsheathe it if need be. He continues moving towards the woman until he is close enough to stop this newcomer if need be, while still letting Manolo be able to aim center mass without worrying about Sasori getting hit. After Manolo talks to the newcomer Sasori says in a Calm but Authoritative tone

```
Like my friend said, we just arrived here. Now you tell me what is this hunt, and why is this a place we shouldn't be or better yet what happened here?
```
Meredith
*```
"...Hm..."```*

The woman's expression changed. While she initially seemed slightly antagonistic immediately upon revealing herself to the two individuals who had wandered and found themselves in the *Navis Auri,* Her demeanor seemed to change with the revelation that they were, evidently, and as of their own admission... Quite lost.

Under normal circumstances, she would be much more wary of someone reaching for their weapon, but despite what impatience and brusqueness her visage and mannerisms told of her character, she seemed remarkably level-headed, folding her arms.

```
"Neither," now she responded, her blackened irises opened and staring toward Manolo now. "I'm neither your friend nor a foe. I'm an overseer — a spectator and an arbiter."```

The woman eyed Sasori and seemed already prepared to answer his question.
_ _

```
"If you aren't aware," she stated, her tone ambivalent — partially with an intent to honestly inform and partially with disbelief of their ignorance — "You're on the grounds of the Festival of Convergence, an annual celebration. This is a restricted area accessible only to those participating in the Koi Hunt."

"More specifically, it's an event hosted by the Hunter's Association wherein Festival participants are challenged to retrieve a particular creature and maintain possession over it until the end of the Festival," now the woman stated rather matter-of-factly, as if unconsciously, reaching for something in her pocket simultaneously with her explanation```

She retrieved a gold-trimmed paper package of cigarettes from her dress pants. Her thumb rested on the lid of the thing, as she, again, almost opened the thing unconsciously — yet seemed to stop herself halfway.

```
"...Tsk..." —she clicked her tongue hushedly, staring at the still-colsed package, slightly annoyed, before pocketing it again.
"...In any case, you can't be here."
"...That is, unless you plan to join the Hunt."```
Doreen
Manolo softly shifts his body and lowers his arm down enough to still keep an eye on the lady, his ears and head tilted towards the side while his tail moves ever so softly in the air clearing in thought. *A hunter organization? A hunt for a creature to maintain custody of it, I guess now I know what happens here.* Finishing his thought as he peers around the room and back towards the lady. ".....Say we join this event, what is in it for us? From the looks of this place, a deal went wrong. 'El último hombre' things never turn out right for them." His ears and tail return to normal as he places his pistol on his belt and reaches to take a cigarette out of his own pocket, lifting the smoke towards his mouth he reaches over towards the butt as his eyes turn a dim orange and static fills the air around them all.
*Electro*
As electricity sparks between his fingers and light his cigarette, he takes a drag and takes a small moment to reflect on the works she spoke, "Look it ain't my choice to join this event or not, and main thing I care about right now is finding out what happened here." He speaks motioning around the room, mainly towards the objects and the name written on the chair. His eyes return to normal as he stares at the lady.
William
Sasori:Sasori upon hearing that they are neither friend or foe as they are a overseer of what he presumes to be the festival and that they seem to be passive for the time being softens his stance and grip on Frigid Promise. Still Cant be so trusting of strangers who appear out of nowhere or just strangers in general... Even if they appear to be of no current threat. He sighs before responding in a still calm tone but this time with curiosity instead of authoritative

```
Well. I do wanna know what happened here, so if joining this hunt of some sort allows for us to stay then i guess we are joining. What is the reward for capturing this creature anyways, and correct me if i am wrong but this creature im guessing is a koi fish, if the name has any truth to be told in the matter.
```
Meredith
Her eyes squinted as Manolo lit his cigarette, her nose flaring as she inhaled the secondhand smoke that began to permeate the atmosphere. Her fingers tapped lightly against her sleeve as she took a soft breath — coughing lightly, then her eyes opening more squinted than before — as she continued glaring at the lit stick of nicotine in his hand.

*`...Tsch.`*

The white-haired woman's arms unfolded and she tapped against the paper pack of cigarettes — still full and sealed — in her suit pocket. Her eyes shift to the floor.

```
"If you join the Hunt," she sighed spoke, her arms lifting and folding again, "You are qualified for a reward if you successfully capture and keep the Koi."
"What you see here," now she began to explain, extending one of her hands out from her folded-arms position, "Is the aftermath of a dispute regarding the capturing of the Koi."
"...In any case, as you've said, if you want to find out what hapened here, you need to join the Hunt. I can presume you're intending to. Just know that it comes with three rules:"
"One. You may not fight with anyone unless they are a part of the Hunt."
"Two. You may not lethally injure the other participants."
"Three. You're disqualified if you leave Festival grounds. That means you can go no further east than this ship," she pointed to the ground.

"The reward itself includes the Spirit-Koi. Furthermore, the O.S.A will provide a single extra reward of one item among a selection of two, chosen by the victor if they succeed in holding the Koi until the end of the Festival."
"Simple enough?"```

She seemed deeply familiar with the Hunt and the core of its rules, citing them off as though she had, at one point, memorized them.
Doreen
Noticing how the lady infront of him reacted towards the cigarette, he was smoking, and the case she has in her coat, Manolo takes a shorter drag off his cigarette and throws it towards the floor to stomp out, "Lo siento señora." He says in an apologetic tone of voice. He continues saying, "I see you aren't a fan of smoking, but it seems you once did, quitting?" He says, motioning towards the pack and the freshly stomped out cigarette. He takes a look around the room once again and towards Sasori, "If my capitán is in, then I'm in too. Besides, this sounds like it could be fun. I've always liked an adventure." His ears and tail perk up, at the mention of an adventure, but he makes a soft low pitch whine as the wound on his side begins to hurt. He grits his teeth and hides his pain. He turns around towards the chair and examines it. "Captáin, this mark definitely ain't no gun or anything I've seen before. Look at this, a perfectly round hole. A bullet couldn't have made this. If a bullet did, then there would be splintering around the edges, but there isn't. Whatever made this had to be moving fast and been a small projectile." He says, motioning for Sasori to come examine the chair as well. *Shit, I need to sew up this wound soon. It's starting to hurt like hell. There must be a church nearby, maybe a Pastor to aid me.* He thinks to himself as he stands back up and turns towards the lady once again, "Señora, ¿hay una iglesia cerca? Necesito hablar con el padre." He asks as he shifts his weight to stand more comfortably due to the pain in his side.
William
Sasori nods his head and responds in a calm tone

```
Understood, in that case we are joining the hunt for this spirit koi you speak of
```

Sasori then lets go of his grip on frigid Promise and puts his right hand into his pocket before turning to look at Manolo and says

```
A Perfectly round hole... We better stay on our guard then. These other people who are partaking in this event sound like powerful adversaries, it would be better to not under estimate anyone. Ill examine the chair in a bit, just got a few more questions, if she is willing to answer them.
```

He then turns back to the lady

```
You don't have to answer if you don't want to but you wouldn't happen to know what island we are on, and maybe know where i could get a map, would you?
```

Sasori then looks around and before getting a response to his first questions he says 

```
... Hmmm how rude of me, here you are helping us and instead of introducing myself im bombarding you with even more questions.
```

He pulls his hand out of his pocket and steps closer putting his hand out for a handshake looking her in the eyes and giving a soft, warm smile

```
The names Sasori, Captain of the Freeheart Pirates...
```
He then adverts his gaze looking down and sighs as if saddened by this title

```
New captain of the Freeheart pirates. And you are... If you dont mind me asking?
```
Meredith
```
"Haven't quit. Not yet," she stated, her brow still furrowed lightly.
"It's that I don't smoke on the job."
"The invisible overseer," she pointed to herself with a thumb, "Isn't so 'invisible' if they smell like cigs."```

Still, she seemed somewhat annoyed by the scent of the smoke, her brow raising lightly, relieved, as Manolo extinguished the cigarette. Perhaps it was just her withdrawal getting the better of her. She seemed a short-but-reasonable person in mannerism, though what terse and shortness of her character was much exaggerated by the sense that she was, at all times, itching for something. An addiction to tobacco is a thing that can consume a person whole, one which can be made especially exaggerated when one goes without their fix for such a long time.

It seemed that now that they had joined the Hunt, she had already unconsciously begun to prepare to take her leave. She had appeared to tell them where they were and were not supposed to be, the event they were getting into, and the rules of that event, and no more. It was all a practiced thing to her, unconscious, straightforward, and routine; routine and nothing more than routine. When more questions arose, she gave a slight sigh, her eyes closing — as though in some part annoyed — then opening, her gaze lifting from the ground and toward Manolo — as though some sense of human concern arose within what repetitive corporate routine defined the white-haired woman.
_ _

```
"Mm..." she stared intently toward Manolo. His use of Spanish did not exactly take her by surprise, but did indeed require her a moment to re-connect some synapses that had gone long unused.
"Iglesia..." —she wavered. It was coming back to her now. When was the last time she spoke Spanish...? It had been five years atleast.
"No hay una iglesia edificio en Sanctum Mesa."
"...Pero la iglesia de la 'Santa Croce'... Está presente esta noche."```

*`...That's clear enough, right?`* She thought. The numerous Romance languages she spoke were overlapping in her head: Latin, Italian, and Spanish together. She wasn't entirely sure if she had phrased that right.
*`...Just to be sure.`*

*```
"——Decir, la membresía de la iglesia de la 'Santa Croce' está presente en el Festival."```*

Her attention shifted to Sasori. 

*`...What?`*

...And now she was wholly confused. "What island are we on"?

*`Where the hell did these two come from...?`*

```
"You're... In Pacifica. The independent republic of Pacifica."
"The... Island-nation of Pacifica. I don't have a map, no..."```

Sasori's introduction left her rattled. The second the word "Pirates" Left his mouth, she looked as though she had been slapped across the face, though subtle as she kept her response. There was shock beyond recognition, and there was a seeming sense of disbelief, all before a sense of clarity emerged:

*`...Otheruniversal arrivals...?`*
*`...Today? Here? Are you serious?`*
*`...Tsch.`*
*`I'll have to be the one to document this...`*

```
"Rrrriiiiight..."
"Yeah... I'm Percht."```

She reached her hand to accept the handshake, yet halfway, she raised both brows, and her hand retreated back inward to rest on her chin — all in one, smooth (stiff) suave, (incredibly awkward) motion.
Doreen
Tilting his head as his ears perk up once again, a clear confused look on his face clearly visible. First about how she spoke with a Spanish accent but had to speak slower and take breaks between words, secondly her reaction towards Sasori, offering his hand, he was confused, his ears and tail showed it. "Gracias señora, mi nombre es Manolo pero la gente me llama Fox." He says, this time talking slower rather than his fast fluent language, he opens his mouth to add, "I can speak English but it's not my first language so I still have trouble with it, but thank you, I'll be searching for one of these members." He says, giving a smile accidentally showing his four sharp canine teeth. He quickly hides his mouth and begins moving towards the door to leave but the pain in his side clearly being too much as blood falls from under his chest plate hitting the floor, his left hand reaching down towards his side gripping it with pain and blood spilling onto his hand, his right hand grabs the frame of the door and what looks to be retractable claws coming out from the nails of his fingers grip the frame leaving deep marks. The fur on his ears and tail stand as a rough low pitch growl is heard echoing throughout the building, he quickly rushes out the door as a feeling of an animalistic urge to search for shelter is taking hold. *Shit not now, please not now. Hold on a little longer, please.* But his internal plead held no use, for the pain was too much. All the lights of the area surrounding the Navis Auri, now bothering his eyes, making a snarl, he runs off towards an alleyway.
William
Sasori after the handshake takes a step back and says

```
"Pacifica, eh. Sounds like a cool island, never heard of it before though. That just means a fun lies ahead."
```

He then looks at Manolo who is profusely bleeding now and it being quite noticeable and a look of worry appears on Sasori's face

```
"Manolo, why didn't-"
```

But before Sasori could finish his response Manolo runs off being visibly feral, Sasori yells with a tone of worry

```
"SHIT!"
```
He then quickly says as he looks at Percht before turning and running off after Manolo

```
"Nice meeting you Percht, Have a good rest of the festival"
```
 
As Sasori runs off after Manolo knowing he wouldn't be able to catch up unless Manolo ran into a dead end, Screams

```
"CORTEZ, GET BACK HERE. I CAN HELP YOU, FRIEND. YIN AFTER HIM, DONT LET HIM LEAVE YOUR SIGHT!"
```

Yin hears the command and Flies after Manolo. Sasori then follows up by using his incarnation Echoed Ronin. Two exact replicas of Sasori appear next to him as if appearing out of thin air, like they were always there. Running at the same pace, as fast as he could run. Sasori thoughts run through out his head.

```
I should really change the time on my watch, and why did Percht seem a bit afraid at the word pirates. Considering the freehearts are a crew of good wills and like helping, not including the fact that even if they were the bad kind of pirates they were in a part of the world where almost everyone was ruthless and uncaring
```

Sasori shakes his head as if dismissing those thoughts, but more come to mind.

```
If i can corner him somehow, then i can help him. Why did Manolo lie to me?, does Manolo trust me?. He could not... No will not lose another crewmate... Another friend, his only friend.
```

Sasori says directed towards the echoes, he plans on catching and helping his friend... His on

Ly friend

```
"After Him, Do no harm unless mandatory."
```

Sasori's plan is to corner Manolo and attempt to talk things out peacefully or at least try to calm him down, He doesn't blame Manolo for acting this way. This whole situation is alot, even for Sasori. New Place, They are lost, they don't have a ship or even a map. Every other time something like this has happened, something has gone wrong. Its only a matter of time, they will manage though. He is sure of it.
Doreen
Running through the streets, he didn't hear or pay mind to Sasori calling out to him. The only thoughts going through his mind were food and safety. Each step heavier than the last, each light blinding and flickering like the last dying embers of a fire. Smelling food from a nearby restaurant, one that Manolo could never afford, he stops in front of the doors and steps inside. Wordlessly he watches the patrons stop to observe his entrance but he paid no mind instead making his way towards the kitchen, one of the chefs yell at him to get out, Manolo clearly not in the right state of mind, extracts his claws and makes a growl. He continues his way till he finds a raw piece of steak, a sirloin. Instead of taking the piece of meat by his hands like a regular himan, he bites down on it and runs out. But finding his way blocked by employees, he decides... To jump out the window.
**CRASH** 
Falling down, with the food still hanging in his mouth, he lands on a roof nearby. The impact of the fall, visibly injuring him even more as more blood spills, and he takes a second to regain composure. He stands again and runs away and off the building top, finding a dark alley. He sits down and eats the raw meat as a wild animal, with each growl and bite, he becomes calmer and when the food is gone, Manolo regains his composure and takes a second to sit down and rest. He reaches up towards his shoulders and takes off the chest piece and coat. He reaches towards the sewing kit and dagger on his back. Taking the dagger, he digs out the pieces of wood, with each motion making a louder whine than the last. He takes a needle and thread, proceeding to stitch the wound closed and using electro to help heal the wound by transferring electricity into the needle. The pain proved to be too much and soon after passed out. Alone and hurt in a darl alleyway hidden away from the world.
William
Sasori, Running through the street would have lost Manolo very fast due to him being alot slower then Manolo. Yin would be able to keep up and once seeing his target pass out, would fly to go get and lead Sasori to Manolo.

Once Sasori gets to where Manolo passed out, he would go check on Manolo's wounds trying not to wake him, seeing that Manolo cauterized his wounds himself, Sasori would go and sit against a nearby wall and dismisses his incarnations, they disappear no longer in sight. As He sits against the wall waiting for his friend to wake up, he pulls out his pocket watch, opening it and looking up to the sky to check the time. He tunes his pocket watch, and looks at the picture inside of it for a few seconds before letting out a quiet sigh, closing it and putting it back into his pocket. Yin then flies onto his shoulder, Sasori sighs and then quietly says, in the hopes of not waking Manolo up.

```
"Damn it Cortez"
```

This has happened before where Manolo has gone feral, plenty of times, and to a plethora of reasons. This one time...

***Enters Flashback***

```
Sasori was jumping from rooftop to rooftop in a small town when he spots a cart of sweets being dragged around by a baker, he also spots a hungry Manolo stealthily chasing after it, tho Manolo doesn't seem to spot him. The baker eventually spotted Manolo, and pulled a gun on him. Due to the captain's orders of keeping a low profile, Manolo did not retaliate. Sasori saw this as a opportunity and jumped down stealing a few cookies and running off through a nearby alleyway in a attempt to lose the baker. This attempt was a success and he eventually found a park where he sat down. Manolo arrived soon after and asked for a cookie, but Sasori denied and pulled out a matchbook and lit a match to fend off his cookies from Manolo. Manolo bieng hungry and a bit scared from the fire went feral and attacked Sasori managing to get a cookie, he runs off into a alleyway and devours the cookie p

Assing out. Sasori eventually finds him and carries him back to the ship
```

***Exits Flashback***

As Sasori just sits against the wall, he hopes Manolo is ok.
Doreen
*He opens his eyes to a sky of blue and clouds of white as he lays in a field of grass and flowers. Manolo sits up and takes a look around, wondering why everything feels nostalgic and having a familiar smell. "Where am I? Where's Sasori?" He asks himself, looking at the rolling hills and running water of the creek nearby, "This is home, don't you remember it?" A voice says that sounds just like his own. Manolo quickly stands up and reaches for his pistols, realizing he has no weapons, and claws come out of his fingertips, ready to attack at a notice. A fox silently walks out of the tall grass infront of Manolo, "Don't be alarmed, I know this is a lot to take in but I'm your soul I guess... When we arrived here, it created me. I'm you, but basically what you hide and what you are. It's getting harder, isn't it?" The Fox asks, upon further viewing its clear that the fox is covered in scars and blood, Manolo taking a second to respond, "What's getting harder?" He asks, confused on what this 'soul' meant. The Fox, with weary eyes and pain hidden behind, says, "Keeping your anger in check, doing what we do best, **Hiding**." It says, Manolo looks around again this time recognizing a small house with farmland off in the distance, "Can I stay here for a bit? Just let time pass?" Manolo asks in a pleading tone of voice, "You can't, " Says the fox, "Sasori is waiting for us, you know just as I there is no rest for people like us." And with those finally words, the field caught flames and cracks of lighting came from the sky.*
He opens his eyes with a start and draws his pistol at Sasori, who was resting against the wall. Taking a moment to compose himself, he lowers his pistol and looks at Sasori for a few seconds before finally speaking, "Hey captain, I was just taking a nap, is all." He says in a joking tone as he winces at the pain still in his side.
William
Sasori, seeing Manolo wake up and aim his gun at him, Stands up and walks over to Manolo offering a hand out

```
"Are you sure you are ok?"
```
He says in a worried tone.
Doreen
Taking the hand of his captain, his last remaining friend. He stands up while making a low whine due to the pain in his side. He looks at Sasori and quickly looks away, ashamed that he's being seen like this. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came. "...." He stood in silence for what seemed like eternity but in truth was barely a minute, wordlessly he reached into his pocket for a cigarette and placed in upon his own lips. Using his ability *Electro* He lit the end of his cigarette and took a long thought out drag and exhaled the smoke, watching as it drifted away into the cold night air. He placed his armor back on and fixed his now blood stained clothes, getting ready for the next step of this new world. He turned once again towards Sasori meeting his eyes. "I'm fine sir. We need to find out where we are, and our next step of plan." He said in a tone that suggested that he was hiding his own true feelings as he always done. His tail did not move, and his ears did not twitch. Manolo noticed for perhaps the first time, true concern in the eyes of his captain and his eyes were blue instead of the gray he always thought they were. He took another drag off his cigarette and headed back out to the city streets, the sound of electricity and the lights causing his ears and eyes to adjust with pain.
William
As Manolo took steps into the unfamiliar city streets, Sasori followed closely, his gaze lingering on his comrade. The captain's voice, softened by the weight of concern and leadership, broke the silence between them. 

```
"Manolo, your strength and courage honor the Freeheart Pirates. Yet, remember, bearing your burdens alone does not make you stronger. We sail the same turbulent seas, you and I. Let's navigate this new world together." 

```

Sasori's eyes, a stormy blue reflecting the depth of his conviction, searched Manolo's face for any sign of acceptance. He adjusted his own coat, emblematic of his readiness to face whatever challenges lay ahead, his hand briefly touching the hilt of Frigid Promise as a silent vow to protect his crew against all odds, One of which he mostly failed. But he still has Manolo, So his goal is not all lost. 

```
"First, we gather information, learn the lay of this land. Our journey has taught us that knowledge is as sharp a weapon as any blade. Then, we plan our next move. Together, Manolo. As a crew, as a family."

```

After that, he looks up to the ghostly glow of the moon, pulling his his smoking pipe he takes a quick drag. Exhaling the smoke he sighs before saying in a somber tone:

```
"Hey Manolo, Do you know what today is?"

```
Doreen
Before turning back to Sasori, he took a moment to inhale from his cigarette and hold it in his hand. He spoke calmly, "Captain, you know that I never learned my English days." He said in a light-hearted tone, once again concealing his emotions. He sighed deeply as his expression shifted into one of reflection, "Yes, Captain. I am aware of the day. You are also aware of my feelings towards that word, *Family*........Sasori, the reason I conceal myself is because it is all I have ever known. I'm a fox, a thief, my senses know more than you can imagine. However, I am also a pirate, *Your* Pirate. Fighting alongside you and the others, its a sense of pride and honor." His voice took on a solemn tone as he took another drag of his cigarette and gazed up at the sky, watching the smoke fade away. "The stars look mighty pretty tonight, don't they? We could likely get a better vantage point if we head to a higher location." He spoke as he searched for a way to access the roof and proceeded to climb up, his tail softly moving behind him.
William
Sasori watched Manolo with a thoughtful gaze as he ascended. He then followed, his movements as silent as a whispering wind. Once atop the roof, the vast expanse of the universe unveiled itself, stars scattered like diamond dust against the cloak of night. Yin would fly up to the top of the roof, following Sasori.

 ```
"Yes, Manolo, the cosmos does have a way of making one feel both insignificant and yet, profoundly connected. On a night like this, two years past, fate's cruel hand dealt us a harsh blow. Yet, here we stand, amidst a sea of stars."

```

He took a moment, allowing the cool night air to fill his lungs before continuing: 

```
"Perhaps, it's no mere coincidence we find ourselves here on this night. The universe, in its infinite mystery, has a way of weaving the threads of destiny with a purpose we can scarcely comprehend. Maybe our path led us here, to this moment, to remind us of our strength, of our resilience. We, who have sailed through storms and faced adversities that would break lesser men, are still here, still standing."

```

Turning to Manolo, his eyes glinted with a mix of sorrow and determination.

```
"Family, Manolo, is not a word to be taken lightly. It's a bond, forged not only by blood but can be formed by shared battles, by the promise to stand by each other no matter the odds. You say you're a thief, a fox—Yes, that may be. But to me, you're far more. You're a brother in arms, part of a family we chose, a family we fight for."

```

Sasori's hand found its way to Manolo's shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie and shared burden.

```
"The stars do look mighty pretty tonight"

```

He echoed, his voice a soft murmur against the backdrop of the universe's vast canvas.

```
"Perhaps they shine as a beacon, a guide for lost souls like ours, leading us to our next adventure, to our next battle. Together, Manolo, as we always have. As The Freeheart Pirates, under the endless sky, i have a feeling our journey is far from over. And who knows? This strange, Pacifica might just be the beginning of a remarkable adventure."

```

With a final look at the night sky, Sasori's expression softened, a rare smile breaking through.

```
"Let's make our fallen crew proud, and continue carve out a legend, worthy of the Freeheart Pirates."

```
Doreen
Upon making his way onto the roof, he takes in the scene around him. The tall and bright buildings, the stars above, and the chilly night air blowing on his face. Listening to Sasori speak and his hand place on his shoulder, Manolo shifted his body to look at his friend, ".....Well. You always knew how to sweat talk me Captáin." A soft smile showed on his face as his tail began to move side to side ever so softly before stopping, he then turned back to view the skyline of the buildings and taking the chance to look up at the stars. "The direction we came from, that's south. This means if we keep going up, we're gonna move north." He spoke as his ears shifted around, taking in the surrounding noise to determine which direction to go. "Everything is hard to hear when there's so much static everywhere. But I would say we keep going up north, from the smell I got at that boat whoever was there made their way north." He spoke with a clear tone of experience but hiding his true emotions once again. *Why does he care? I've caused more problems than fixed, and I wasn't there to save the rest of the crew. Damnit, why can't I do this right?* His own thoughts seemed to scream in his head, but outside, he seemed fine other than the large blood stain on his jacket. "Your call Captáin." He said, turning back towards Sasori
William
Sasori, gave a nod of agreement.

```
"To north we go. For freedom, for our fallen, for the Freeheart Pirates and for True Justice. Our legend is not yet complete, and Pacifica will hear our story. Lead on, my friend. I will be with you every step of the way."
```

Sasori prepared to follow Manolo's lead, ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead, with the unyielding spirit of a pirate and the company of a trusted friend. Yin would follow after Sasori, unless instructed to do something.
Doreen
With the orders of his Captáin, Manolo shifted his attention towards the direction that the group from the Navis-Auri took when they left. He took a smell, trying to determine what they were up against. "One smells like... A goat, three are humans. There's a fifth one, but ain't no smell like I've smelled before." His voice sounded confused by the last one. He began to jump from roof to roof towards the direction that they took, his wound seemingly having no effect on his agility or speed. The last of the Freeheart Pirates begin their way towards the Arena due to that beginning the closest of their current position.