The evening before their expected departure, Shoto, Bakugo, and Deku decided to check to make sure the sailors were not going to back out, happily, they found them still at their seaside shack, having a mug of mead. They were more mellow than before and didn't seem to resent the intrusion too much. But one roundly told them that they were being pestered by another young fool. "One of those cockamamie entrepreneurs always trying to sell you some snake oil contraption of theirs." They complained. "Now she's inspecting our ship for the 4th time trying to convince us to use some of her confounded devices, it's getting really old... say, we'll take 10 coin off your passage if you get rid of her." "Get rid of her?" Shoto aid. "You're knights or warriors or something, ain't you? Just go scare her off." They took a swig. "I guess..." Deku said. "The he-- do I care about 10 coins," Bakugo snapped. "I suppose you would only be in the way, you can go," Shoto said flatly. Bakugo glared. "I could scare them off way faster than you with your girly face." "My what--" Shoto's eyes blazed. "You are very intimidating," Deku said nervously. "Don't forget it, you weakling!" Bakugo raged.

They walked down to the shipyard, and located their vessel. There was someone standing on it with a lantern. Shoto peered at them, they walked over the pier to get close, there was a figure in a hood standing next to the ship, ominously. They looked at them silently. The boy stopped, uncertain. "Do you think that's her?" Deku said nervously. But the silence was broken just then by a high pitched voice hollering ath them--or the figure--from the deck. "Hitoshi! I've got so many ideas from looking at this ship's layout even closer! Did you bring a scroll?" The hooded figure looked up. "Yes." He answered in a dead sounding tone. "Then take this down, for better steering, a---" she began rattling off a list of words no one could understand. In the lantern light, they couldn't see much about her, but Shoto said. 'I don't think it's a question that's who we're looking for. Excuse me me," he said more loudly, but the girl paid him no mind whatsoever, just launched into another description. "Excuse me," Shoto tried again. Still nothing. "Hey, shut the he--up moron!" Bakugo shot off an explosion. The igl broke off aborulp. "Hey, sparky! Watch it! You could set this baby on fire!" "The frick I will if you don't shut up and get down here!" Bakugo held up his hand. "What kind of an ass is this?" The hooded figure turned as if noticing them for the first time. "Uh..." Deku said, uneasily, "sorry about him, he just is...well.. You see. The sailors who own this boat want you to leave it alone, if you wouldn't mind--" "Who are you people?" The figure ignored him, finally putting back his hood, revealing a very tired looking face. His hair didn't look like a normal color. "You're a mage..." Shoto guessed. "As are you, what do you want?" The man replied. "Hitoshi was it? The sailors asked us to come drive you and your loud friend away from the ship... actually they never mention you." Shoto said. "I d ut they remembered me," Hitoshi said carelessly. "I don;t usually leave much of an impression. Mei, they say it's time to leave." "Nonsense! I'm just getting started!" Mei replied. "I don't know who those three are, but they don't look so tough to me, you can take 'em. Meanwhile, I'll just be in the briggs." "Bakugo glared. "You think I'm not tough! I'll light your tail on fire!" But Mei already wasn't listening anymore. She took out a measuring tape. "Mei, I don't think I take all three of them here," Hitoshi said lightly. "Oh, sure you can." Mei said, then she froze and then she came off the ship, jumping to the pier, then she blinked. "Hey! That's not fair! I don't want to leave." "We can always try someone else." Hitoshi said flatly. "I don't want to," Mei said. "If we get arrested for trespassing again, we'll have to sell your bellows to pay the charge." Hitoshi said. Mei flinshce. "All right all right, tomorrow." She frowned at the three of them. "Some people are just too ignorant to understand genius when they see it." "That's... kind of arrogant, isn't it?" Shoto said. "It's pretty arrogant to walk up to random strangers and threaten to set them on fire, when it's not even you ship,'' Hitoshi replied dryly, "I don't know if you should be talking. Mei and put her money where her mouth is, can you?" "Why you--" began Bakugo, but Shoto put an arm out. "I swear I will freeze you in place," he said. "Try it!" Bakugo said angrily. Histohsi and Mei started walking away, but Histoshi glanced back. "You know, you really shouldn't reveal your abilities so easily, mage. Someone might call that reckless." Then he walked away. "He was unsettling," Deku said. "How did he get her to just listen?" Shoto wondered. "I wouldn't want to be in charge of reining that girl in. Let's just go."

When they returned to the inn, the girls, Ei, and Denki had tea waiting. But Shoto was cross. "Do you know how much trouble you could cause if you keep threatening people like that without knowing who they are!" He said to Bakugo severely. "We are not in the barbarian lands anymore, you could get arrested, and then people will know we're here! If you can't control yourself, you should just go back home!" "You can't order me around, half-wit," Bakugo snapped. "I'm king!" "Of what?" Shoto said. Bakugo grabbed him by the collar. "Hey!" Momo cried. Ei grabbed Bakugo's arm. "Just calm down man." "Hey, hottie, not cool," Camie frowned at Shoto. "It doesn't matter where you are, Bakugo's still a king. Back off." Shoto clenched his hands. "If he's going to act like a child, I don't see why his rank should matter." "Can we all just calm down?" Denki said. "Enough of people losing it for one day!" "Did something else happen?" Deku asked. "Uh...no," Denki said uncomfortably. "I just mean clearly they've been at this for a while."

Kyoka scowled. "King Bakugo is just being Bakugo." "Well maybe he should stop," Shoto said darkly. "Before he blows our cover, literally." "You're going to do that faster than me with your freaking two toned hair, jackass." Bakugo raged. "I can't help that..." Shoto recoiled. "Well, maybe Bakugo can't help his personality," Camie said loyally. "Stop yelling at him." "Why don't you tell him that?" Shoto said. "If you're so certain." Camie frowned. "I don't need your help!"" Bakugo said to her. "Oh shut up, you popinjay!" She shot back. "If you aren't going to stand up for yourself, you got no right to talk to me." "Stand up for himself? How about apologizing?" Deku said. "It's so disrespectful to ask a king to apologize," Camie said. "You shouldn't push your luck, green bean." "Excuse me." Momo finally cut in, getting all of their attention. "But this is accomplishing nothing. Perhaps it would be better to retire until we have cooler heads." "Witch don't--" began Bakugo. Momo gave him a look. "Yes?"

Bakugo went quiet.

"Fine" Shoto stalked away. Bakugo stormed off the other way. Camie followed him after a moment. Ei sighed. "You all really shouldn't pick a fight with him." "He's acting out of control," Ochako said. "Prince Shoto seemed really upset." "I know Baguko can be a real jerk." Ei said. "But...well... he has feelings, you know. If you make him the bad guy here, he's not going to want to listen to you. I mean, I'm not a genius, but I think that's just how people work." "Ei has a valid point," Momo said. "I prefer not to villainize anyone I'm working with. Bakugo certainly has his faults, but all of us attacking him is not good camaraderie on our part either. You have to be an example of what you want others to be like." They all looked uncomfortable. "Did you all ever consider if you've ever actually been nice to Bakugo?" Ei said. "I mean, no offense, hearing girl, but you've kind of insulted him ever since we joined on. We pretend not to care, but, I mean... it's not exactly making us want to be all warm and fuzzy with you guys."
Kyoka looked up at him, tensely.
"I'm not sure I've been the friendliest either," Momo said.
"No, you're fine, I think he really likes you," Ei said. "Anyway, he may not look it, but Bakugo does remember if someone does him a good turn. Just, think about it." He shuffled away.
"Wow, he's so pure." Mina said.
"Maybe we do owe Bakugo a bit of an apology," Ochako admitted. "He hasn't done anything to betray us after all, and he has helped. I don't like him much, but I can't say we'd have made it so far without him. I guess, it's only fair to acknowledge that."
"But it won't matter, if we do, if Shoto won't," Denki said. "They'll keep clashing, and we'll be in the middle of it."
Momo sighed. "Someone should talk to him." They all looked at her. "What? Why me?"
"He listens to you," Denki said.
"He doesn't listen to anyone else," Mina said. Momo bit her lip. "I suppose..." She left. "Cowards," Kyoka said. "Didn't see you volunteering," Denki muttered.

Bakugo was kicking a post when Camie finally spoke. "Ye, I think you're gong to have to do something to fix this."
"Like he---, I'm not doing anything about anything." Bakugo said. "Bakugo, can I shoot straight with you for a tick?" Camie leaned on the post. "I don't really mind your yelling and stuff, but you know, you can't expect everyone to be used to barbarian ways."
"So, that's not my problem" Bakugo grumbled.
"I know, but... if we're going to be discreet, maybe we should take a page from their book. Try to keep a low profile...It wouldn't hurt. I don't want to be the reason we get caught." "I'll be fine," Bakugo said. Camie tilted her head. "Oh?" "Yes," Bakugo said.
Camie blinked. "Well, all right then... but what about Prince Shoto?"
"Screw him!" Bakugo said loudly. Camie just stared at him. "What?" He demanded.
"I mean... don't you ever feel sorry for him?" Camie said. "With the weirdo trying to hunt him down, it's probably hard to sleep at night. Would you like to feel like a liability to the team."
"I never said he was a liability! He said I was, remember? The idiot!" Bakguo said. Then he slowed. "He said he was too. So that makes him a hypocrite."
"Well, it could be he's hard on you because that's how he feels," Camie suggested. "And maybe, he thinks you're just going to be harsh to him anyway." She smiled. "I know you're really not so bad, Bakugo. But Princy doesn't know you that well. You do make one he-- of a first impression. Remember? You told me to drop dead? Good thing I didn't take that seriously, eh?"
"Well if you couldn't' take that, you weren't tough enough to be part of the battle." Bakugo muttered.
"I just think you could stand to be a little nicer," Camie said. "It's bothering me to listen to everyone talk you down all the time. I wish you'd prove them wrong, for once, like a real man, and not just take that."
"You think I'm just going to take it!?" Bakugo said.
"Well, I hope not," Camie stood up straighter. "I might have to split if you're going to be that much of a wimp. I thought you were strong."
"I am the strongest!" Bakugo said, Camie smirked, then she surprised him by looping her arms around his neck. "That's what I wanted to hear."
Bakugo turned.
"You're not pushing me away?" Camie was surprised now. "Wow... you got bold all the sudden."
"Seems more like you're taking your life into your hands" Bakugo muttered. "Sheesh, I hand around you every day and you're surprised by that?" Camie said.
"Looks like you don't need me," Ei interrupted. Bakugo and Camie jumped.
"Oh, sorry," Ei said. "Guess I shouldn't have said anything." Bakugo jumped back, looked really embarrassed. "What are you doing out here you big lizard!"
"Lizard? That's just insulting," Ei forward. "I came to see if you were holding up all right... I talked to the others, I think they might be willing to patch things up. If you want to, you know, not yell at them maybe."
"I'm not going to not yell at those weaklings," Bakugo said.
"Can you not yell for maybe an hour?" Ei said. "Look, you got to make an effort here, man. I can't carry your weight all the time."
"Who said you had to!" Bakugo said.
"It's okay, Ei," Camie held up a hand.
"We talked it out, I think Bakugo knows what he's doing to do."
"Oh, well, good," Ei said. "Just go back to whatever it is you were doing then, sorry to interrupt."
"We weren't doing anything," Bakugo said.
"Hey, man, no judgement here, I'm happy for you," Ei couldn't resist saying. Bakguo grabbed him and started making explosions on his face--which he just turned into scales. "You know fire doesn't hurt dragons right?"
"Ahhh!" Bakugo just hit harder.
"You guys are crazy," Camie leaned back casually.

The nature of Momo's conversation with Shoto was very different. "I think the party is just a little concerned about our unity if these disagreements keep happening," she said. "I'm not the problem here," Shoto said. "He's entirely uncouth and he's going to get himself and us in trouble one of these days." "Have you ever actually talked to him normally?" Momo fell back on Ei's point. "No.. why would I want to?" "Well you might not want to, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't..." Momo said carefully. "Some people are difficult, but... you still have to work with them... Prince Shoto, didn't you ever have to work with someone you didn't like." Shoto looked up. "Other than my father?" He aid with a straight face. Momo blinked. "Oh... I see... perhaps you're just not familiar with how to resolve these situations then..." "Not in the least," Shoto didn't sound very sorry about it. "I don't see why anyone would bother. If he'd leave, I'd just say to get a new member." "Suppose, though, we really do need him. No one can match his speed," Momo said. "And...well...he's got a stake in this too. I feel it's unfair to make him leave. Whatever else I could say about him, Bakugo does protect his people well. I have to sympathize with that." She pursed her lips. "If I may be blunt, you do share part of the blame here." "What?!" Shoto said, angrily. Momo looked up. "You provoke him, you know." "By criticizing him."
"Do you really do that because you expect him to listen, or because you just want to?" Momo asked. Shoto was a little taken aback. "Why does it matter?"
"It matters a whole lot whether you are tearing someone down just because you like it, or because you really think they could benefit from it," Momo said.

That cut Shoto to the quick far more than she realized. He did look startled. Momo then added further injury by saying "That's not being any different from him really, it's just another way to do it. I'm inclined to overlook his blustering more than any actual intention to anger someone else... I'm sorry, but that's far more of a problem for the team than a little yelling and reckless behavior." Shoto's pride was now in shambles, though he didn't give much sign of it. He just looked at his hands. Momo had no clue she'd said anything spectacular, this was basic warrior team training to her. "It just wouldn't hurt to apologize and try to be patient with I'm a little, is all I mean," she said quite gently. "His friends mangage him somehow, so I suppose there must be a way to get around it... I can say at least, Bakugo doesn't complain about the rest of us. And I doubt anyone else of us hasn't been tempted to gripe a little, so that's showing restraint... hmm, now that I've started thinking about it, Ei did have a point about him... I guess if you're looking for the good in people , you'll start to see it... anyway... uh, if you could just think about it, I'd appreciate it--I ean all of us would, not me specifically..." she slipped out. Shoto really cared far less what the others wanted, but Momo's criticisms, however innocently meant, had hit hard.

The upshot of all these conversations was a very reluctant apology on Shoto's part for taking things as far as he had, and an even more reluctant dismissal of it from Bakugo. Bakugo didn't apologize to anyone, nor did they expect it, but at least peace was restored, he was much more mellow for the rest of the night and following morning. The others began to think Camie could work more than one kind of magic.

However, they were far from done with problems. When they arrived at the pier, they found a most unwelcome surprise waiting for them. The tinker from the night before and her shady companion were boarding the ship with them. Apparently, they'd finally convince the sailors to let her try one of her ideas, and she was going along for the testing of it. The sailors wouldn't say what prompted such an abrupt reversal of their wishes, which struck Shoto as suspicious, but it was too late to look for another ride, they had lost enough time. It was more remarkable that nothing had attacked them yet. The concealment magic Camie and Ochako had kept using must have worked. It was quite tricky getting the horse and alpaca onto the ship and into the hull where they would be staying. They didn't like the movement. Denki put them to sleep with a song to make it easier for them. Sight, the falcon, had no trouble. He sat on the gunwerks without seeming to notice the motion of the boat at all. Hitoshi stood in a corner of the poop deck. The others tried to avoid him, except for Camie, who never seemed to notice him at all except as an obstacle. Mei ignored them completely, she kept going over ths hp tinkering with everything she could. They were afraid to try to stop her. In the light of day, they saw she had pink hair too, Mina said she could be part mage, or sprite, but that didn't seem like a good fit. "I want to say elf," she said. "They're good with tinkering, it'd make sense, but, elves live farther north, so..."
"Well, she could be from the north," Ei said. "But I'm scared to ask her anything. She never seems to hear us anyway."
"She's crazy," Denki said. He was miffed because she'd taken the wheels off his cart. "I don't like that they signed on for this after meeting us," Shoto said.
"But you didn't tell them you were taking this ship," Momo clarified.
"No," he said.
"Then, why would they be following us?"
"They could've asked."
"But why?"
"I don't know," Shoto seemed to be in a bad mood. "But I don't like it."

However, nothing noteworthy happened, and the passengers hardly interacted at all for the whole several hour voyage. Deku and Ochako got seasick as soon as they left the port. Ochako's healing magic didn't do much for them. Kyoka surprisingly didn't get seasick, despite thinking she would, but she was in a mood. The others felt a bit queasy, but adjusted faster. Shoto said it helped to look at a fixed point, and press certain points on your foot, (apparently, his castle had an acupuncturist.) By the time the sun was starting to set, they'd come pretty far north. The far shore looked dark to them, just like the previous dark lands. Until then no one had thought about how little they wanted to be back there, but, on the bright side...they were so close to making it... if they just got through the most dangerous territory yet, that is.

"I'm kind of curious," Hitoshi startled Shoto by coming up behind him. "Why are 10 youth such as yourself, armed to the teeth, heading to the Dark Lands? You know these are some of the worst, don't you?"
"I'm aware," Shoto said, warily. "What business is it of yours?"
"None, I suppose," Hitoshi said. "It's just odd."
"Why are you going?" Shoto returned.
"Who says we're planning on actually stopping there? This is a round trip. It'd be pretty crazy to enter the worst territory in the land," Hitoshi siad. "At least, he quotes other than the cursed Cliffs where the Dark Lord himself is said to live... of course, some people say he's a phantom, without a body, just moving across the land. You probably don't believe that, do you."
"I never saw why a phantom would have need of land or slaves," Shoto said flatly. "But who knows."
"Have you heard that there's a forest in the Dark Lands where nightmares become real?" Hitoshi asked. Shoto made no answer. "And a river of fire," Hitoshi added. "I've heard there's monsters there that can turn you to stone just by looking at you." "Do you not have anything better to do than talk about horrors?" Shoto said curtly. "Sorry, I was just curious to see how you'd react," Hitoshi said. "Some people are just stupid about going into danger, others are truly brave. Hard to know which it is, unless you pay really close attention." Shoto didn't want to give him the satisfaction of asking which he thought he was, so he said nothing. "You aren't a very talkative chap, Prince Shoto," Hitoshi said casually. Shoto stiffened. "What do you mean prince?" "Oh don't tell me you're really going to try to deny it," Hitoshi said, bored sounding, "that's so predictable. I expected a threat at least." Shoto turned to him. "What do you want?"
"Nothing," Hitoshi said. "You really should be careful, though, acting so high and mighty, makes it hard to ignore you. I wonder how many times you've already been recognized?" He smiled strangely, and sauntered away. Shoto glared. Denki has heard all that.
"That guy is so creepy," he said.
"He's dangerous," Shoto said.