Laurence POV:

"It's settled then. Malachi and I will prepare a ship for you guys to make the first portion of your trip. It's the least we can do." Aphmau was hesitant with a response but it was obvious she would say no. "We accept." Aphmau turned her head to me when I placed a hand on her shoulder to whisper. "Allow them to do this." She looked back over before sighing.

    "Alright." We were asked by Zoey to do a head count of everyone that was coming. As far as I knew, there were six of us. But Katelyn and the Stranger might not want to come along. Aphmau asked to have a word with me outside and we excused ourselves. She seemed worried about something. "You wanted to speak with me?"

"Laurence....Do you really think the others will join us?" Oh that's what it was. "That is their decision to make. We already told them about our plans to head to Scaleswind. I have no doubt the Kenmur and Emmalyn would want to come with us. But The Stranger and Katelyn, I'm not so sure of." Aphmau pondered to herself before replying. "Aaron might want to come."

"....Aaron?" Who in the Nether was that? Aph blinked before realizing what she said. "Oh! Aaron. Yesterday the Stranger, showed me who he was." What in the actual fuck. "Y-Y-YOU SAW HIS FACE?! TRLL ME WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?! IVE BEEN CURIOUS SINCE FOREVER!" I still haven't forgotten about what he did when Phoenix Drop was still around. But he's been on our side so I can move past it.

"H-he was (basic)handsome..." Of course he was. I groaned and crossed my arms. Aphmau laughed before asking if I was jealous. "He better not start talking to Y/n. Now don't go falling for him! Those mysterious types are always up to no good. Now back to the original topic." We talked about leaving for Scaleswind as soon as Levin said our ship would be ready. Thankfully he wasn't giving us their only boat and had another one(the same size) that they could use for their trades and such.

I told Aphmau that she should say goodbye to everyone she needed too before she would meet up with me and Dante. The miny plan was set off as I left to go find him. I was stopped pretty fast by Nekoette. "Laurence-kun! Papa told me you were going to Scaleswind. If you find any cool apples could you bring them back? Mamma is teaching Nekoette how to make apple pie so she can give on to Mister here! It's like a cake made of apples! Hehe, oh and also! If you happen to see Ocean-kun, could you tell him Zoey-chan found his stash?"

"..Nekoette are you talking about that imaginary friend Y/n and Brendon made up for Zoey? I don't think that's very nice if you are." Nekoette looked at me confused. "Huh? Imaginary frien--oh, OH! Uh, yes! T-that's what I'm talking about! I'm sorry Laurence-kun, Nekoette-tan wasn't aware you didn't know." I was about to ask what she meant by that when she started running away from me.

'Weird.'

~oOo~

As it turned out Aphmau, Katelyn and I were the only ones going on the trip this time. Kenmur was still strung up and Emmalyn wanted to stay with him. The Stranger, who I now know as Aaron, was staying to protect and watch as Phoenix Drop came back to life. Aphmau and her sons were hugging it out as I was having another side conversation with my lady.

"I see you can walk now." She was standing up perfectly with her arms crossed. "I could walk fine before, you guys were just being paranoid." I shrugged before remembering my encounter from earlier. "Hey, I think you guys made an impression on Nekoette. She seemed to think that Ocean character was a real person before I asked her what she was talking about." Y/n seemed to mentally stutter before replying. "Hah, well what did she say after that?"

"She was real sketchy about it but said that he wasn't real and ran away. Hm, kids now are weird." Y/n nodded while rocking on her heals. "Well, I heard that you guys are going to Scaleswind depending on for how long, is be seeing you again. I had some business to do there after this trade." That's right. Y/n was going by herself again for one of her real close by meet and greets with another village.

"Just don't be all busted up next time I see you." She laughed, carrying the little luggage she was bringing. "No promises, weirdo." We both watched Aphmau head onto the boat with Katelyn. "...Well, I'll be seeing you guys. Take care!" With that, Y/n turned a heal and marched to her own sail boat. Even if it was much smaller than ours, it seemed more efficient. "We'll meet again, my love!"

"Not your love!" I laughed before boarding onto our own ship. Katelyn and I sat down as Aphmau mounted and started to head us out. We didn't get very far when a few explosions rang out on the water. Color bursts lit up only so high, but they were loud as crap. "WOOOO!" And who else would you think was doing it? "Y/N WE TOLD YOU BEFORE TO STOP DOING THAT!"

"SHUT UP DANTE! I HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN THREE YEARS!" A bright f/c one went off last before she finally settled down. "Okay, I'm done now!" Her voice was already kind of distant. Aphmau sailed us out to sea, to the right where Scaleswind was. Land masses went and came once again after about half an hour. "Wait... is that...? No. She can't be! I mean it wouldn't be bad if she were still alive but...."

    Aphmau was talking to herself while looking at an abandoned docking port in front of us. Someone's old house was stationed there as well. Aph literally bolted off the ship without docking it, leaving it up to me to try and get a little closer. Even that failed as Katelyn and I had to run and jump off the ship to the dock, missing and falling into the water. Luckily we can swim though.

    I finally took a better look around. "...Cats." They were everywhere. The place was huge from the outside. Large width and two stories. We walked closer to the entrance when-- "HOW DARE YOU INTRUDE ON THE ISLAND IF THE FIERCE FELINE WARRIOR! NYA?!" Who in the Nether was that? A girl, Meif'wa girl, came through the second story balcony looking down on us. With black & white clothing and purple hair, she looked like someone with mommy issues if not with parents in general.

'This'll be interesting.'

1155 words.