Lale stared at the sad collection of driftwood and frayed rope that Ace proudly called a "raft." The morning sun glinted off the ocean, mocking their desperation. Her toes dug into the warm sand, grains slipping between them, the salty breeze teasing strands of her dark hair. The horizon stretched endlessly, a vast blue expanse promising freedom but whispering uncertainty.
"This... is your plan?" she asked, poking the so-called vessel with her foot. A piece of wood promptly fell off, floating gently into the tide.
Ace grinned, his fiery red hair catching the sunlight like flickering flames. "Yep! We'll sail this straight to the next island!"
Lale rolled her eyes, her lips curling in a half-smile despite herself. "Ace. This isn't a boat. It's firewood that hasn't met you yet."
Undeterred, Ace shoved the raft into the shallows. It immediately capsized, dissolving into the waves like sugar in tea. The ocean's rhythm was soothing, yet the sinking raft reminded her of how fragile their hopes felt.
"Shocking," she said, crossing her arms, the salty air filling her lungs.
Ace rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Okay, Plan B—we train the monkeys to build us a ship!"
Lale blinked, the breeze lifting the edges of her worn cloak. "...That's not a plan. That's a hallucination."
The midday sun beat down on them as Ace, ever the optimist, attempted to bribe the island's monkeys with stolen fruit. His eyes sparkled with mischief and charm, yet the wild creatures stared back with wary suspicion.
"Work for us, and unlimited bananas!" Ace offered, holding out a ripe mango, its skin glistening in the sunlight.
The monkeys, unamused, hurled coconuts at his head with startling precision. Lale ducked behind a sturdy tree trunk, branches rustling overhead as the angry barrage rained down.
"They're unionizing. I respect it," she muttered, feeling a reluctant smile tug at her lips.
Ace, nursing a bump on his forehead, muttered, "Fine. Plan C—we steal a Marine ship."
Lale's eyes widened. "NO. We are NOT adding 'grand theft naval vessel' to our crimes!"
"Why not? It's efficient!" Ace countered, his grin undeterred.
"BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO NOT DIE BEFORE I TURN TWENTY!" she snapped, the wind whipping strands of her hair across her face.
As dusk settled, painting the sky with streaks of amber and violet, they crept toward a Marine supply ship anchored near the shore. The waves lapped gently, carrying with them the scent of salt and adventure. Shadows lengthened, and the forest murmured quietly behind them.
"Remember: Sneak on, hide, and DO NOT SET ANYTHING ON FIRE," Lale whispered fiercely, her eyes sharp with determination.
Ace mock-saluted. "No promises."
They belly-crawled across the sand, careful with each step. Lale's heart thudded loudly, the tension thick in the air. A Marine guard patrolled nearby, his lantern swaying, casting flickering light over the wooden planks.
Lale froze. "Wait. If I distract him, you climb the anchor chain."
"Distract him how? Flirty eyes?" Ace teased.
Lale's Sharingan pulsed red in the dark. "Worse."
She locked eyes with the guard, voice low and steady. "You see nothing. You hear nothing. You want a nap."
The man's eyelids drooped. Slowly, he slumped against the railing, snoring softly.
Ace looked impressed. "That's cheating."
Lale smiled faintly. "That's tactics."
They scrambled aboard, hiding behind crates marked *Highly Explosive: Do Not Drop*. The air smelled faintly of salt and gunpowder, thick with unspoken danger.
"Ooh, gunpowder—" Ace whispered, peeking inside a crate.
"NO," Lale hissed, slamming the lid shut.
As night deepened, the ship lurched into open waters. Lale's stomach tumbled with it, the horizon tilting violently beneath a blanket of stars.
"Why... is the world spinning?" she groaned, clutching the rail.
Ace laughed, the sound warm against the cool night air. "You're seasick! Here, eat this." He tossed her a lemon, bright and tart.
She caught it, glared, and hurled it back at his face. "I hate you."
"Nah, you just hate waves," he teased.
A particularly large swell sent Lale crashing into him. They tumbled across the deck in a tangled heap of limbs and laughter.
"I miss solid ground. I miss monkeys. I miss NOT VOMITING," she groaned, breathless.
Ace patted her back gently. "Welcome to piracy!"
The ship sailed steadily into the night, its silhouette cutting through the shimmering waves. The vastness of the ocean stretched endlessly, a dark canvas speckled with stars, promising both danger and discovery. Lale leaned against the rail, the cool breeze brushing her face, her heart pounding with a strange mix of fear and excitement.
For the first time, the unknown didn't feel quite so frightening—it felt like the start of something unforgettable.
To be Continued...