“I know what you are,” Isaac said to no one, tapping the ground with Sasayaki’s blade and making note of the acoustics. “To any old passerby, you look just like a normal island, brimming with wonder and adventure, but you’re not, are you?” He looked up to the tree, seeing the snail that he placed in between the branches to ensure proper coverage when the time came and smile. “You can fool everyone here, but not us, not today.” Sasayaki reeled up when she saw a group of pirates passing by, but said nothing after realizing they were too involved in the party to pay attention. “Do we really have to do this? Can’t we just cause some trouble and get out of here by the time the anyone realizes?” The thought had occurred to Isaac, just leaving it be and sailing on to his next destination with the crew, maybe kidnapping a pirate and stashing them below deck for some spending cash on the way, but something about the island insulted him, and it was a felling he couldn’t shake. “How much do you still remember? Being alive, I mean.” Sasayaki looked over her chain, running all the way down to that scythe end. “Not a lot, but the parts I do remember the clearest were towards the end, when they finally found a way to contain me.” Sasa looked to the sky, her old home. “I just wanted to sing, but they couldn’t let me, not after what I had done.” Isaac grabbed another snail and headed down the road, trying to find some additional coverage. “This entire island is a cage, feeding on the weakness of this world before they are allowed to grow.” “Would they survive?” Sasayaki questioned. “What if the king is right? What if he is saving these people for a worse fate?” He smiled, placing the last of his snails before looking back to his companion, his friend. “Maybe not, but it is their right to decide. My father may have been an asshole for leaving me that day, but if he didn’t, I would have never ran away, never found you, never found this island. Drive isn’t inherited, it is forged, and robbing people of that is something I cannot do.” Sasayaki looked up, remembering again of the thing she used to be. “What if I can’t do it?” “Then you will be given the opportunity to fail,” he smiled. -------------- The day was winding down, and Isaac had found the perfect location for his show. Lights were set off across the island, with many epic fights lined up on the king’s ship to keep everyone that could interfere busy for the day. It was easy to stir up trouble, throwing some insults here, nudges there, all for a safe distance where Isaac could see the drunken mistakes get misconstrued; throwing sound was always a funny thing. The important thing was focus, Isaac gripping the juiced up snail and placing it on the ledge of highest rooftop that was still in sight of the ship. “Are you ready?” Sasayaki was quiet, as she had been for most of the afternoon, the weight of her task undoubtedly weighing on her. “I think so, I think I can remember this time.” “We’re stronger than we were then, and more determined.” Issac thought back, embracing the struggle that brought him to this pace, and the one that would undoubtedly lie ahead. “This is the sort of thing we dream of from the very beginning, and even better, this world can hear your voice again, your true voice.” She remained still, the light inside her flickering. “Okay,” she finally said, “I’m ready.” Isaac flipped the transmitter switch as Sasayaki wrapped her tail around his waist, anchoring tightly while her head rose up from behind him. The town went silent, confirming that Klank was every bit as good as he imagined him to be, and he took a moment to choose his words. “Uhhhh, hey, Isaac here.” His voice echoed through the town. “I know I’ve been here a short time, but I have say, you guys really piss me off. All you made through the grand line, crossed a giant fucking mountain, and lived! You made it to the new world, and what, you’re just going to stop there? This sea is people with dreams, and if that’s not you, then go home, because you don’t belong here. And for the few of you that do belong and need a little push, on me.” Isaac grasped Sasayaki’s tail, feeling the flow that ran through her, the subtle tune that always played, and smiled. “Awakening: Siren form.” Vibrations shook the building and a chalky screech was sent through the town as light emerged from behind him. Feint wings sprouted from the chain, kicking up the dust as they fluttered nervously. “I.. I don’t know how much longer I can hold this,” Sasayaki, her sonic form peaking over his shoulder. “Easy,” he reminded her, grasping the Den Den before it got kicked up in the chaotic flutter, “Just remember the words, and let them flow out of you like they used to. I’ll even get us started.” Sasayaki’s wings wrapped him, her vibrations challenging his stance as a hint of a face appeared with the first words. Siren song - Call to the unknown - [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcOuQjvmzrY[/url] The song carried through the town, sweeping every corner and breaking the illusion that rooted the island long before the king called this place home. In the times of old, there were myths of siren, luring strange sailors to strange places for their own personal gain, but those day for Jubiltown were long over, and the people on it could only do two things onward, face the facts that their journey was over and return home, or follow the sirens tune and set off to an uncertain fate. Regardless of what their felt when the song was done, nothing could ever be the same again. Sasayaki collapsed over his shoulder, her lantern nearly drained. “It was a beautiful song,” he whispered, wrapping her up and taking a leap off the building, setting off for the ship while there was still time. “Now let’s blow the powder keg while there’s still time.” Issac jumped on the deck, tossing the den den to Klank before leaping up to the lookout point. “We should probably get moving, before the King remembers where to find us,” he said with wink, looking out to the town.