[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjk2LmFkZDhlNi5USFZ1WVNCT2IzZy4w/sundae-ice.regular.webp[/img][/center] Corona Island, North Blue [hr] [color=lightblue]”You’ve gotta be kidding me. [i]Three days?!”[/i][/color] “Sorry, miss, but that’s the soonest I can promise the work will be done,” the old shipwright said apologetically. “I’ve got other, more pressing commissions I gotta finish first. Why are you in such a hurry, anyway?” [color=lightblue]”Don’t worry about it,”[/color] Luna grumbled as she gave the shipwright his money, cutting the remaining funds she received from the two bounties she turned in by half. She had been about to set sail again, but couldn’t find her boat, only to realize it was half-submerged due to a crack in the hull. She was already a week behind and she really didn’t want to waste anymore time, but it seemed like she didn’t have a choice. She left the shipyard with a sigh. Without anything better to do, she decided to walk around town, her cloak fluttering in the wind as she walked. Corona Island was known best for its seemingly perpetually sunny weather and the beautiful beach just to the west of the harbor, to which visitors loved to flock. Luna wandered through the decently-sized town, side-stepping running children as they played, unable to resist smiling despite her sour mood. She had always had a soft spot for kids and they never failed to lift her spirits. “Today marks the 15th anniversary of the fall of the Nychthemeron Empire.” She suddenly stopped and turned her attention toward a nearby outdoor bar. Some patrons were gathered around a table, upon which a Transponder Snail sat, the voice it mimicked deep and smooth. “Can you believe that, folks? The mighty Day-and-Night Empire, at the height of their power, brought to heel by the World Government over the span of just three days, thanks to an anonymous tip that they were preparing for an open rebellion. Nearly half a million Legionnaires and who knows how many Sicarii, yet none of that could stand up to the Marine’s Admirals or their firepower. From what I hear, even the young prin…” The man’s voice faded as Luna stormed away, her fists clenched in barely contained rage as she resisted the urge to smash the poor snail. She didn’t stop walking until she was able to regain her composure and by then, the sun had started to touch the horizon. [color=lightblue]”Guess I should find somewhere to sleep for the next couple of nights,”[/color] she muttered to herself. She started to walk back toward the harbor in search of an inn, only to stop when she felt something tugging on her cloak. She turned, her fist raised, thinking that some of the thug’s friends wanted to pay her back, only to see no one there. She felt the tug again and looked down to see a young boy looking up at her. He was about five or six, yet small for his age. His hair was a black, curly mop and he looked up at her with small, black eyes. Luna sighed with a smile and crouched in front of him. [color=lightblue]”Hey, kid,”[/color] she said gently, [color=lightblue]”think you should be heading home? It’s starting to get late.”[/color] “Miss, are you strong?” the boy asked, surprising Luna. Before she could answer, the boy said, “I, I saw what you did to those guys…and the bar. Are you really that strong?” Luna gave the boy a smile. [color=lightblue]”Yeah, I suppose you could say I am,”[/color] she said, slipping her arm out from inside her cloak to flex it, though the sleeve from the black leather coat she wore underneath covered her arm. Her arm returned to the confines of her cloak as she asked, [color=lightblue]”Why do you wanna know?”[/color] The boy was quiet for a few moments. “There are some bad men in the mountains,” he eventually said. “My mama tells me they showed up a few years ago, after the Nicky Empire fell and they couldn’t protect us. They come to our house and take all of our money and food.” Tears appear in the child’s eyes as he adds, “Papa tried to stand up to them and they…they…” [color=lightblue]”Hey, hey, it’s alright,”[/color] Luna said as she patted the boy’s head. [color=lightblue]”I think I can guess what happened. You want me to knock some sense into them, don’t you?”[/color] The boy nodded and Luna gave him a reassuring smile. She stood up and asked, [color=lightblue]”Do you know what direction they come from?”[/color] The boy nodded and, wiping his eyes with one hand, pointed to the east, toward the mountains behind the town. Luna nodded and said, [color=lightblue]”Alright, you go home, now. And tell your mom she doesn’t have to worry about the bad men anymore.”[/color] The boy nodded and hurried off. Luna stood there, watching him until he was out of sight, then turned toward the direction he pointed. Electro arced off of her body until she managed to calm her anger, if only barely. [color=lightblue]”Perfect. I needed something to punch.”[/color]