[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/7VzgY22/pit.png[/img]
Word Count: 2380 (+3 exp)
[u]Level[/u]: [b]2[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 30/20
[b]Location[/b]: Sea of Serendipity[/center]
The Seekers traveled through the inlet river, some experiencing a simple ride and others running into problems of their own creation. And meanwhile at the rear of the procession of boats was Pit. After a little while he'd gotten the hang of maneuvering the small watercraft, how to handle it's speed and the rhythm of rowing. He'd figured that anything would be easier than piloting an Aether Ring, and sure enough though the rowboat's surprising smoothness reminded him of the Ring it was indeed a much simpler matter to steer it. He had curled his wings over his head in a makeshift umbrella to keep the worst of the rain out of his face, the water sliding off of his wings into the river below. With a little more visibility, Pit was well on his way.

His quick learning didn't stop the multitude of obstacles from getting in his way though. 

When finally the spouts, or whirlpools, or various other things would release him and his boat was back on the correct course Pit always sported a childish pout on his face for a couple of seconds. Then it would melt away into a smile. It was actually kind of fun, especially in a large group like this. Sounds of laughter and excitement drifted from the front of the pack of Seekers just as often as yelps of surprise. 

Further obstacles came in the form of rocks and broken ships, much easier to manage. Pit slowed to get past them, not too concerned about falling behind. From some the wreckage of some of the ships he could hear vaguely familiar voices, figuring them to be Seekers checking out the boats. He planned to use the time to catch up, and carefully picked his way through the narrowing river. By the time he made it out of the ship's graveyard, he was none the wiser about the rune bear chasing the others downstream. He caught sight of a familiar pair on the shore curiously looking down the way the other Seekers had gone.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"So this is where you two have been!"[/color] Pit called, waving an arm and a wing at the duo to match Banjo and Kazooie's waves.

"If it isn't the little bird brain! You joined up with the main characters."

Her comment, even in jest, caused the angel to sputter. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Uh, 'bird brain'? You're an [i]actual bird![/i]"[/color] 

"Hey Pit, make sure you watch where you're going," Banjo interrupted with some advice before anymore could be said.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Huh?"[/color] He turned to look ahead and saw only sky in front of him, just before the gravity took over and pitched the boat over the top of the waterfall. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Whaaaaaaaaaaaa!"[/color] 

The near-free fall was far from the most harrowing he'd ever had, but the surprise of it had him gripping the sides of the boat tightly and just hanging on as it was thrown back and forth through the rapids. Almost by reflex he'd summoned the Guardian Orbitars to fend off the fish, branches, and all manner of other debris that threatened to knock him out of his craft. 

When the rapids came to a stop at last, Pit pulled himself upright from where he'd been sprawled on the floor of the square boat. He shook his head, clearing the lingering dizziness as he took in where he'd ended up. It seemed to be a lake or some other wider body of water just before the open ocean. And hey, it seemed like he wasn't too far behind - where at first it seemed that the group ahead were nowhere to be found, there was a big ship slowly sailing through a channel out to sea, with the Seekers onboard! So that giant robot carrying a ship hadn't just been some crazy hallucination he'd seen while the river tried it's best to capsize him.

Pit took up the oars and rowed after the vessel. It had looked big, but the closer he got to it the more he realized how massive it actually was. Thankfully the rowboat was pretty speedy, so he was able to catch up with soon after the ship hit the open water.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Made it!"[/color] Pit declared after an impressive leap and a few flaps of his wings managed to get him over the Adrian's railing. He'd only just managed to realize that the vessel they'd picked was a ghost ship when immediately after, the bombardment started.

His Guardian Orbitars had protected Pit from the worst of it, and he peeked out from behind them. So this was naval warfare. It was pretty good fortune that the Seekers had pulled this huge ship from the wrecks of the others, or they all would have still been stranded in those little boats. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"How did they know we'd be here?!"[/color] He wondered aloud, his limbs splayed out for balance as the last of the overheard flock's payload was dropped and the explosions stopped, however briefly. In short order the rest of the ambush revealed itself. Normally such large numbers would not deter Pit, and they didn't now... or they [i]wouldn't[/i], if the circumstances were more even. He couldn't exactly bring the fight to the enemy, stuck on the Adrian as he was. His options were limited. But he could still help.

[hr]
[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img]
[color=salmon]Word Count: 2380 (+3 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]9[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 121/90
[b]Location:[/b] Sea of Serendipity[/color]
[color=lightgray](ft. [@Lugubrious])[/color][/center]
The Ace Cadet skated into the ocean battle's theater just after it began, glad that he wasn't even later to the event as he already was. It turned out that getting distracted by admiring the mini-map, riding the waterspouts for fun, and then picking through a ship's graveyard wasn't the best idea. It'd put him well behind the others even if he'd managed to find some useful items. Only when he'd got a spine-chilling feeling and then turned to noticed an enlarged Blazermate flying one of the stranded ships over to the sea did the Cadet realize it was time to get going. He rode down the rapids and through the channel, playing catch-up with the rest of the Seekers. The trek down the river had been downright leisurely all things considered, but leave it to their ragtag group to run into trouble eventually. It was bound to happen, and he should have stayed at the front of the pack to account for that - but there was no use kicking himself now. He zoomed over the water's surface toward the Adrian where he spotted the majority of the other Seekers taking cover. At the same time he produced the great bow, preparing himself for the fight. 

He rendezvoused with the other ship girls in the water toward the front of the Adrian. [color=salmon]"Rika, Boss! Is everyone okay?"[/color] Then, a double-take at the figure holding onto the prow. [color=salmon]"Nadia?!"[/color]

For a few moments now the cat burglar had been stuck there, clinging to the wood alongside her skeletal figurehead companion for dear life as she attempted to turn her maelstrom of thoughts into some sort of plan of attack, but the monster hunter's hail seemed to stir her out of her tailspin. "Oh, Ace!" Nadia sputtered, twisting around to look. The sound of her own voice just then, uncharacteristically and unacceptably insecure, prompted her to finally clear her throat and get her head on straight. "Here I was thinkin' we'd have it easy for a change. Guess I shoulda known better! When it rains it sure pours, huh?" Her eyes drifted toward the four elites inbound from the Raptor, soon to become a major issue for anyone still around the Adrian, then to the tumultuous water below. Without sea legs of her own, she couldn't fight except on the Adrian's deck, which right now meant braving a much more volatile downpour than before. "Got any bright ideas bouncin' around in there, my man?"

Glad at least that she was alright enough for her usual quips, the Cadet offered her a reassuring grin. [color=salmon]"Yeah, pretty par for the course at this point. But for ideas besides finding a way to sink them before they sink us? Not a one."[/color]

His eyes flickered over the opposition, including the squad currently headed directly toward them, but found his attention drawn to the Tinkerslug hauling a ship on it's back. [i]Am I overestimating myself if I think I can repel that thing? Nah, not at all![/i] 

[color=salmon]"If I can make it over there I can take on that thing, push it back enough to get it out of range, but..."[/color] he'd nodded his head toward the POOPTOOT as he spoke, then looked back at the elites. Obviously it didn't need to be said that it would leave one less defender against that group. [color=salmon]"If I draw one of them off on my way, you guys think you can take the rest?"[/color]

Peach drew up between the two, her parasol held in her right hand like a rapier while her left gripped the handle of the massive war fan slung across her back. Her skirts and hair whipped in the wind, and the princess's face was grim. "These don't look like mere rabble. I wish we could challenge them on even footing." 

"You said it," Nadia agreed with a humorless laugh. "I'd give my ninth life to be a shipgirl right now." As the elites surfed and swam nearer however, her eyes narrowed. She let go of the Adrian's hull with one hand and hung off it, sizing up the competition. They all looked like tough customers, minus the medic though that presented its own slew of problems, but one member of the bad company caught her attention in particular. Even from a ways off, Nadia could tell she was looking at a knockout, and between her white hair and caramel skin tone, one with a coincidentally similar appearance to boot, down to the hoodie-and-shorts combo that for a moment looked like the feral's own jumpsuit. Something clicked in her head, and as new schemes raced through her mind she gave a resolute smile. "Maybe it's just meant to be. If ya wanna focus on that snail Ace, go to town. We'll hold off these guys, you'll 'sea'."

They'd all faced worse before, so despite the opposition when Nadia said they'd take care of it he believed her. There's was a whole contingent of heroes on board, in the sky and at sea prepared to defend themselves after all. 

[color=salmon]"I trust you! Where there's a will there's a [i]wave[/i], right?"[/color] The Cadet skated a few feet away from the ship, and idea coming to mind before he took off. [color=salmon]"I'll be back in no time, but first!"[/color]

Attaching the haste accelerant to an arrowhead took only seconds. He aimed skyward, pulling the drawstring back. At his full draw he released the arrow and watched it sail high above the Adrian just before a cannonball splashed into the sea nearby, it's wave momentarily washing the Cadet under water. The Haste Rain he'd fired broke over the haunted ship, spreading it's stimulant over everyone in the general area to increase their movement, attack, and charging speed all around. It would help with avoiding the worst of the danger, and if anyone planned to disembark and take the battle to the enemy like he did, they'd get there all the faster. Cadet resurfaced, popping back up and landing on the water's surface.

[color=salmon]"I'm good! Ugh, dealing with this kind of thing once was enough!"[/color] he said, coughing the rest of the water out of his mouth. He'd gladly stick to sandships after this. The battle in Black Bay had been intense, and not the fun kind of intense, with way too many close calls. He had no desire to repeat that, so whoever was attacking them now had to be swiftly dealt with. Bow in hand the Ace Cadet prepared to charge, fulling planning to turn the leviathan so that it's cannons wouldn't be able to reach the Adrian. With the right opportunity he might even slay it, but one thing at a time. 

The Ace Cadet was not the only one planning on heading for the Tinkerslug. Sakura and Karin were in the water and already rowing towards it. All the better, if they focused on the ship's crew he could put his full attention on repelling the snail! Wasting no more time the Cadet heeded Karin's battle cry and skated after them, though he banked toward the elites to make good on his suggestion of trying to handle at least one of them. His rigging was primed and ready, plugging shots at the lot of them.
[hr]
After the fall of the Haste Rain, the Seekers found themselves moving faster. Of course this included Pit. Face set in determination, the angel spotted the flying fleet beginning to turn back toward the Adrian.

He scrambled up one of the ship's masts while it still stood, aiming to get as high up as possible. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I got this!"[/color] he called to the group at large, making haste to the top of the mast as it began to tilt dangerously. He couldn't have stopped the initial bombardment, but as the creatures (Abyssals he'd heard them called) came around for another pass the angel was confident he could protect against the second wave. 

He focused the orbitars up above himself, and with a pulse of power and a [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]"Hya!"[/i][/color] they formed a huge barrier of shimmering opalescent energy. It was several times larger than Pit himself and in the vague shape of a shield. The barrier easily took the brunt of the airborne bombs, and it did so while continuing to move - extending upward from the place Pit had activated it. Any Abyssals it crashed into, or any that crashed into it during their flight found themselves taking damage. It was enough to tear weaker Underworld enemies apart, he only hoped it would be the same for these evil looking planes. When the explosions above started signalling defeated Abyssals, Pit let himself feel relieved for the moment. The smaller orbitars, still hovering, aimed at any unscathed planes that Pit could see and took pot shots at them as the angel panted and clung to the teetering mast. Being so much weaker in the World of Light than in his own turf, summoning the shield took more energy than he'd thought it would. It would dissipate in only a few seconds.