[u][b]Arcadia[/b][/u]

	"Scan sweeping in from the left, burst ahead at 1 o'clock" Sasa yelled, the sound wrapping around him in isolation.  Her lantern poked over his shoulder and scanned back for any signs of chase, swaying as Issac blasted forward with a kick of the air. A humming pale blue light swept the ground, inches away from catching them.  They were becoming less frequent as they approached the edge of the island, but George was relentless in his pursuit, needing to save face for the second year in a row.

	"So even he has his limits," Issac smiled, undoubtedly doomed without Sasa's ability to resonate with and predict projected devil fruits.  Almost an entire year had passed since that day on the lost island, and Sasa was finally understanding how to use her own abilities, rather than sulk at her inability to copy others.  Everything had vibration, a frequency, and once she was tapped into that, she could sense things that even observation haki couldn't.  "Bet he never thought you could do something like that," he laughed, hitting the ground and sliding behind a tree.

	A mix of pirates passed, stampeding through the flickering paradise like wild boar, the price on their heads too sweet to pass up.  He though of taking one, getting a little spending cash on the next island, when he felt a wave of presence from open waters, just beyond GM's reach.  "Not now," Sasa shrieked, vision darting back and forth between the island and ship off shore.  "I can't deal with them.  I won't!  If they think they can-"

	Issac looked to the shore, steps away from freedom.  "We have to," he reminded her with a sigh.  "If only that last ship didn't tank it's way to the ocean floor."  He pulled out a set of notes on navigation and ship care that Klank not so kindly shoved into his pack before he left.  "These are useless!"

	"I told you the water was spinning ahead," Sasayaki remind him, chain shivering with rage.  "You're the one who thought it would be faster to ride it to the other side."

	"We were going too slow," he yelled with raised hands.  "Nothing in the manual covered whirlpools.  If he wanted that spare to stay afloat, he should write better instructions."

	"Jump," Sasa yelled, another blue pulse missing them by seconds, their path still concealed.  "We need to make a decision."


-------------------------

	"It was 200 years ago," a stuffy aged voice dragged.  "No wait, 205 years, in fact.  You see, the thing you youths don't understand about the-"

	"Ohhhhh my goddddd," Sasa yelled, chain laid limp on the ship deck, lantern head pounding anxiously at the floor in hopes of sinking into the ocean's depths.  "If you don't shut your mouth I'm going to carve it off your face."

	Prophecy, the ancient cypher shield turned sentient with the consumption of the lore lore fruit, began to glow from his resting spot on the deck, pages at his center turning blue before flippin.  "Ohh ho ho, it seems you have already forgotten.  It's okay young one.  You see, I in fact do not possess a mouth to carve.  It's really a funny story.  You see, 75 years ago, back when-"

	"I wish they would get along," Grace sighed, nurturing an infectious yawn.  "They're practically family at this point."

	"They're not fam-" he struggled, when a flat hand struck his back, forcing his spine straight with a jolt.  His back throbbed, but would not relaxed, fearing another blow.  It it had been anyone else, he might have taken it, but the woman had the touch of the captain's strength, a coating of will that he was too weak to overcome.  "You didn't have to come," he looked off.

	Grace took a circle around him, inspecting for any scrape left from the incursion, before relaxing against the railing, the vast empty ocean to her back.  "You think I'd let some pirate lay a finger on my little brother," she shook, mind lost in the possibilities.  "One scratch and I would have ended these foolish little games of his."

	"I'm not your," he started, before he saw the glare in her eyes.  "Thanks," he settled with, dropping to the floor and pushing up against the railing.

	Grace turned to the sea, searching the distance.  "Honestly, I don't know what has gotten into you.  If you had shown up to that port a few years earlier, I might have been able to see you on the right path, but here you are, needing my rescue."

	"I'm finnne," Issac assured the women; better to play a long that resist, he learned that lesson the hard way.

	She gazed through for just a moment, ice cold.  She may not have been his real sister, but she sure knew the part.  "Fine?  Do you know how many people are looking for you?  At least a dozen pirate crews set on vengeance after you pawned their mates for cash.  Then there's the fiancé, who I do NOT approve of.  Ohhh, and the little mink girl who's heart you broke.  Let's not even forget about the marine upstarts looking to rank up.  And now they all know where you were.  I can't save you from yourself, Issac."

	Issac flailed to the deck, surrendering all ambition.  "Why do you even care?"

	Grace sighed, returning her look beyond and pulling a Vivre Card with a giant head symbol from her pocket.  "Be lucky that I do.  Now I'm taking you back to Mr Klank so you can explain to him why you destroyed another one of his ships."

	His gaze followed to Sasayaki, enduring a punishment of her own that had no become uncommon during their last year.  If only they had been strong enough then, then maybe this nightmare would be over.  But they weren't, and that was something the pair had to live with.  Although, one mistake they would never make again was wake the marine on one of her naps, even if it did save their lives.  He thought of the crew, and what they would have been up while Issac took care of his affairs, then sighed.  "He's gonna be pissed."