*Just a quick note before we get started, this chapter was made by the awesome @Det3rmined_Writ3r. I highly recommend checking out their profile and stories because, seriously, they're amazing! Anyways, enjoy the latest chapter!*

With their escape being a success, Cayna Duvain and Oblivion D. Arondite have now begun to travel the seas in search of their next adventure and a set of crewmates that will help them get a closer look at their goals. But, there's one problem...

"WE NEED SUPPLIES!" Cayna exclaimed as she was digging in barrels, tossing out all kinds of muskets, gunpowder, and explosives which caused Arondite to quickly catch them and comment, "O-Oi! You do know some of these things can explode if thrown too hard, right, Captain!?"

The swordsman sighed in relief when he caught everything that could blow a hole in their newly acquired ship.

Cayna pouted as she pulled her upper body out of the barrel and rubbed her chin, "Yeeeeaaaah, there's no food in here! All we have is some bread and water!"

Arondite added as he placed the explosives back into the barrel, "Two days. The bread and water will last for two days maximum before we're out of things to eat." He sat down and crossed his legs, looking out at the vast sea.

"Then it's settled, the first island we come across will have to be our next stop if we don't want to starve to death!" Cayna claimed as she placed her hands on her hips and jokingly told herself, "If push comes to shove I'll just have to eat Arondite and hope he lasts me for another few days."

Arondite darted his head away from the sea, now staring at his Captain blankly before she turned around and waved her hand at him with a grin, "Ah, don't worry! It's just a little jokey joke! I'd never eat one of my crewmates, Arondite..."

Arondite silently sighed in relief, closing his eyes momentarily before Cayna suddenly added with sharpened teeth, "...or would I!?"

The Silent Swordsman merely narrowed his eyes and spoke quietly, "Don't tease me, Captain..." Arondite earned a light laugh from his Captain as he sighed and leaned his head back on a barrel, already knowing this journey would be tiresome, but oddly didn't regret it. He felt right at home.

 Silence...The two comrades decided to enjoy the sea that they longed to sail and fulfill their dreams. But, for better or worse, this silence didn't last long...

Cayna hummed happily as she looked out at the North Sea, the wind blowing through her hair. Arondite merely looked out at the sea as well, but he was laying on the deck with his upper body against a wood barrel, "..." He continued to live by his epithet and remained silent for the time being, possibly thinking about multiple things at once. He closed his eyes while the sun basked the ship, but a shadow suddenly loomed over him which caused him to slowly open his eyes.

"Let's talk! I'm bored, and I can't look at the sea forever, ya know!? So, my first order as Captain is to talk to my first crewmate! We should get to know each other more than we already did when in that cell! If we're going to be on the same crew, we're going to become good friends too!" Cayna chimed while standing over Arondite who groggily stared at her, possibly dozing off before she walked over to him.

She suddenly sat on a barrel in front of the Silent Swordsman and chimed again, "Let's talk!"

"About what?" Arondite questioned, finding Cayna's antics to be rather intriguing as he slowly leaned up and rested his arm on the top of the barrel. He placed his two swords beside him and rubbed his chin softly.

The actions of small talk never came naturally to him, especially when he's always on the run and fighting his enemies silently.

"Anything!" The Captain swiftly responded. Her airhead nature caused Arondite to let a sigh release from his mouth. 'Well, that's not much to go off of, Cayna...' He thought while shaking his head. But even then, he tried to think of something that they could talk about to pass the time, "Hmm...How about—" Arondite started to speak until he was cut off by Cayna who also came up with an idea.

"What are the two swords you carry all about!?" Cayna asked suddenly as she leaned forward, curiosity peaking when she gazed at the swords resting next to him.

Arondite looked at his swords before lifting them in his hands, "These swords? Hmm, my mother gifted me both of them. I guess you could say they're my family heirlooms, yeah?" Arondite explained with a tone that remained monotonous before gazing down at his sheathed sword that was specifically used by his mother, "One of them means more to me than the other..." He admitted, holding up the one his mother gave to him personally before she sent him away.

Cayna's eyes sparkled in awe at the sight of the uniquely designed sword and placed up her grabby hands, "Can I hold it! Can I!? Can I!?" She begged, wanting to hold the sword that meant so much to her new crewmate.

Arondite usually would have said no to any person trying to hold his mother's heirloom for any reason, but he held out the sword to Cayna, "Here. Be careful with it though. It's special..." Arondite reminds her as she nodded quickly, taking it out of his hands and unsheathing it to take a look at the steel, "Mhm! It's awesome, and sharp too! I bet it could cut through anything that comes against it, right!?" Cayna grinned as she spoke, looking at Arondite.

Arondite blinked at Cayna, tilting his head a bit as he narrowed his eyes, "Yeah..." In his mind, his mother's smile kept popping up in his head because of Cayna's grin as he finally came to a confirmation, 'Yes, I see why I handed it over willingly...Cayna reminds me so much of my mother, Lilia Kotetsu...'

Cayna blinked at Arondite in return, tilting her head as well, "Arondite? You okay?" She asked curiously before swiftly turning her head back to the sword, "Oh no! I didn't mess up something on the sword, did I!?" Cayna suddenly panicked a bit and started to look at the sword from all sides comically.

Arondite merely belly chuckled as looked out at the sea and shook his head, "No. In fact, you look natural with the blade in your hand..." He admitted whilst his eyes stared at the glistening water under the sun.

Cayna blinked at her first crewmate before cluelessly saying, "Well, I am pretty good with a blade too, ya know!? But, I'm sure you are way better than me since you clearly specialize in this area!" Cayna handed him the sword back as she asked, "Do they have names? I'm sure you wouldn't be walking around with nameless swords that looked as cool as this!"

Arondite nodded and explained to Cayna, "Both swords were given to me. This one right here is known as Nidai Kitetsu." The Silent Swordsman lifted the other sword, "Nidai Kitetsu is among the finest blades in the world, being the second strongest of the Kitetsu swords with extraordinary sharpness and strength, being crafted by my mother's ancestor, Kotetsu." He looked at his other blade being handed to him by Cayna and added, "But, this one is more important to me, of course. My mother forged the blade you've given back to me. She never dubbed it anything before sending me away so I simply gave it her name, Lilia."

Cayna nodded and chimed in excitement, "Whoa!? Your mom could use AND make swords! She must've been awesome!" She kicked her feet while she sat on the barrel, "Man, I bet she's crazy strong too!" The Silent Swordsman only nodded, his eyes looking down at Lilia.

"Mhm, my mother is an incredibly strong lady—a woman always willing to prove her worth on and off the battlefield." Arondite's words caused him to smile slightly, the sea peacefully crashing against the ship as the sun shone through the sails, "To be honest Captain, you're like her in many ways..." He told Cayna who blinked curiously.

"Hmm? Really? How so?" She asked, now leaning forward, wanting to hear Arondite's answer.

"Well, Lilia is a woman who dreamed for others, despite having her own dreams. If you align yourself with Lilia, she'd protect you with every fiber of her being." Arondite closed his eyes as he spoke, remembering the golden heart his mother used to bear, "You're not like other pirates. Many tend to be crude scallywags with an incredible amount of strength, but you're different, Captain. You have a heart for others. I don't ask much out of a person I forge companionship with—as long as they have a heart that can feel for others, we're on the same page."

Cayna rubbed the back of her head as she grinned sheepishly, "Aww, you flatter me, Arondite!" She chimed admittedly, "I guess it would only be fair if I told you something about myself too!"

Arondite chuckled softly as he placed both his swords beside him again, but he told her in return, "Well, I told you something about myself because I wanted to, Captain. I don't ask for anything in return but your attention." Arondite looked at Cayna, knowing his words must've gone in one ear and out the other because she continued to ponder on what she could share with Arondite.

The Silent Swordsman merely shook his head as Cayna chimed, "Oh, I know! You remind me of someone too, Arondite! My best friend was just like you! She was really loyal and always knew what to say in any situation! Her name's Dramir, and she was such a sweetpea..." She smiled softly.

Arondite nodded as he listened to the new piece of information he was getting from Cayna before closing his eyes, "I see...I'm guessing she is as free as you, right?" Arondite questioned as his eyes remained closed.

Cayna's eyes gazed at the deck and she nodded slowly, saying, "Yeah...free..." She chimed in a low tone as Arondite nodded in response. He already knew something was off, but like the loyal swordsman of the crew he is, he didn't question her story or response.

Cayna leaped on her feet with a wide smile, instantly changing her mood and the subject, "But anyway, you're a really interesting guy though, Arondite! I'm sure the future pirates that join my crew will be just as interesting too!" She chimed joyously as Arondite only nodded, placing his hands behind his head.

It was just these two pirates and the North Blue for another day. But finally, they find that there's an island in the distance that'll have the supplies they desire... Tnachrem Island...

Cayna leaped off the boat and stretched, "I am finally free!!!" She chimed loudly as a few of the civilians looked over at the loud female as Arondite slowly walked off the ship, rubbing the back of his neck silently.

"First, we need to find some supplies such as food, preferably meals but rations will work as well, and water. I think it'd do us well if we walked around to find supplies and—" Arondite spoke before turning his head to see nothing but a mere outline of where Cayna was standing.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Arondite blinked silently, sighing, but in his mind, he asked in a panic, 'WHERE THE HELL DID SHE GO!?!' Arondite quickly looked around for his Captain, wondering how he could lose track of her so fast, and quickly walked off to find her, "What could have possibly caught her attention that she would dash off so quickly...?' Arondite had mumbled to himself before seeing the path leading to the small village that bore many small stands selling merchandise and food.

"Well...at least I know where to get all the food from...but that doesn't matter if I can't find Captain—CAPTAIN...!?" Arondite's voice suddenly rises when he sees Cayna stuffing her face with meat from one of the stands that a middle-aged woman so kindly allowed her to eat from, "Wow!!! Thish meat is the besht!" Cayna was sitting on a barrel next to the stand as she chimed with her mouth full.

Cayna talking with mouth full translation: (Wow!!! This meat is the best!)

Arondite walked over as Cayna waved at him with a wide smile on her face after swallowing the raw meat, 'Is she eating all that meat raw...? Then again, it's probably because of her devil fruit that she won't get sick...' Arondite says to Cayna, "Please if you're going to run off...at least tell me so I'm not on some wild goose chase...'

"Sorry, Arondite! But, I was hungry! I felt like my stomach was sinking to the depths of the North Blue!" Cayna claimed rather dramatically before she held out a piece of raw meat to Arondite, "You want some!?" She questioned innocently.

Arondite swiftly shakes his head when the raw carcass is placed in his face. He gently grabs Cayna's wrist, slowly pushing the raw meat back to her, "You can keep it, Captain..."

The middle-aged woman told Arondite with a soft smile on her face, "Oh, I have grilled meat in the bin if you need any, sir! You can think of it as a sampler." Arondite raised his brow at the woman and tilted his head, "You're willing to just give us some meat?"

The woman nodded, claiming, "My mother always taught me to be kind to people and travelers that come on the island, even if they're pirates. Besides, your friend here is incredibly fun to talk to. She's also quite amusing if I do say so myself." She giggled softly at Cayna's happy kicking of her feet as she bit into another carcass of meat.

Arondite blinked at the woman and thought to himself, 'If she is this kind then she must be the one I ask for information from...' He leaned on the stand and questioned, "Well, if you'd be so kind as to lend me your ear, ma'am—are there Marines on this island?" He asked the middle-aged woman who shook her head softly, "My name is Sally. You don't have to call me ma'am. But to answer your question—No, a marine ship may pass by every other day to check on us but there's no outpost here. There are only a few conflicts that happen on the island, but the Marines don't deem the issues as important as pirates."

Arondite raised a brow and questioned, "Is that so...? What problems is this island going through exactly...?"

Before the woman could respond, a ruckus could be heard near the entry of the market before two men rushed past on a horse that was carrying pounds of the merchandise, food, and whatever else they could grab, "Sayonara suckers!" One of the crooks shouted as the man who owned the horse shouted, "Help! Help! They're at it again! They stole our stuff!"

Arondite watched the horse pass them, but he glanced over his shoulder at Cayna who nodded as she continued to chew on meat, "Mhm!" She nodded with a smile. Sally's head tilted a bit, confused by the look that Cayna and Arondite gave one another.

The crooks laughed as they sat on the wood carriage that carried the items they stole, "I think that wraps up today's thievery! Haha! These idiots can never keep up with their shit!" "Yeah, we're eating well tonight—" The two continued their conversation, but suddenly heard footsteps behind them. The two slowly turned their heads to see The Silent Swordsman chasing them on foot, a serious expression on his face, 'HOW IS HE KEEPING UP WITH THE HORSE!?' They think simultaneously in panic before turning around and forcing the horse to move faster, "YAH! YAH! SPEED UP!"

Arondite merely scoffed before he slowly unsheathed one of his swords, 'Ittoryu - Spirit Reverse Ascent...' Arondite swiftly speeds up and leaps into the air, landing on the carriage and performing an upwards slash to the chest of both crooks, causing them to gag up blood before falling off the carriage.

Arondite stood on the moving carriage and noticed the horse was about to charge into the water, but he didn't panic. He crouched down and patted the horse on the back with no words. All of a sudden, the horse halted and remained still, "Good girl..." Arondite claimed before slowly getting off the wood carriage and stretching, grabbing the belt attached to the saddle of the horse, "It's time to take you back..." Arondite told the horse as he started to walk back with the animal.

Meanwhile, Sally looked at Cayna as she claimed while continuing to eat, "Arondite should be back in a bit. I'm sure he caught the guys too!" She hummed softly before Arondite walked past them, using one of his hands to lead the horse by the belt and the other to drag the crooks he tied up.

"Good job, Arondite!" Cayna chimed as Arondite merely nodded, accepting any praise from his Captain with pride.

By returning the horse and supplies, the two earned the respect of the villagers and were able to collect enough supplies to last them for weeks, maybe even a month, and now they'll be able to continue their travels in search of new adventures and crewmates.

Meanwhile, somewhere else in the North Blue not far from Tnachrem Island, more drastic and dark events were taking place on an island known as Lvneel...

In a bar on the outskirts of the island, men and women alike resided inside for either gambling or drinking. The bar was rather quaint and didn't follow the stereotype of bar fights which was a relief for many in the room, "Hmm...I need another shot..." A young woman told the bartender who raised his brow at the 10 shot glasses that were already spread across the table.

"Are you honestly going to pay for all this, ma'am? You've almost emptied another one of the bottles on the shelves—" The owner of the bar started to say but the woman did nothing but groan and placed her head on the table in displeasure, "Man, just give me another shot...do you really think that I'd order all these shots and not pay...?" She asked, possibly drunk, as her hat covered her face from the way she laid her head on the table.

The bartender sighs before whispering to her, "You can't keep doing this to yourself, Bianca...if someone comes in here and knows who you are, you could be hunted down around this island—AGAIN..." Bianca merely shrugged as she lifted her head a bit and held up an empty shot glass. The bartender shakes his head and pours some more booze into the cup.

Bianca gulped down the booze in one shot as the doors of the bar opened, showing a few marines entering the establishment.

Bianca grunted slightly before leaning on the counter, "Hmph..." One of the Marines sat down at the counter as well, his seat right next to Bianca's as he eyed the shots she drowned in her time being here.

"Hmm? Umm, ma'am? Are you sure you'll be able to walk out of here? You've almost drunk two entire bottles of booze?" The Marine questioned before taking a closer look at her face when she eyed him, "Wait...? You're—" At that exact moment, Bianca lifted her flintlock without looking at him and shot the Marine in the dome as she took another shot.

The marine's body hit the floor and caused many in the bar to panic or either run out. Bianca didn't seem fazed as the bartender yelled at her, "Bianca!! Come on! You're doing it again!?" Bianca didn't respond as she grabbed the side of the bartender's head and moved his head at the same time as her so they'd avoid a bullet that another marine shot at them.

Bianca suddenly held the musket that was attached to her waist over her shoulder and pulled the trigger without aiming, putting a hole into the chest of another marine soldier before swiftly turning around, using her flintlock to shoot the last marine soldier in his throat before he could contact reinforcements, "Sorry Bobert, but I hate when Marines come in and cause a ruckus for me." She took one more shot before slamming the cup on the table and walking to the doors, "I'll pay next time. Hide in the bunker and don't come out until I come back for you, okay? I have some Marines to deal with..."

Bianca walked out of the bar and looked at the Marine ship that parked on the docks, "Hmm? It seems like they never learn their lesson. They'll never catch me..." 

To Be Continued...