36 The Brat and the Map

- POV General -

The sun was already high in the sky as the Cerberus ship crossed the seas of the western continents towards the small town of Gaze. More than half of the crew was lying on the deck sleeping after a great night of eating and drinking. They had celebrated the success of their plan to kidnap the young noblewoman Achi and steal her father Lord Hamilton's precious map.

Hestia Hellfire, Captain of the Hysterics, was sitting with a guitar at the bow of ship at the end with her eyes on the sea that stretched to the far horizon. She had not slept all night as she often did, especially after hearing the story of her companions and what had happened at the Opera House. She had listened to everything from beginning to end in total and legitimate admiration for what these five childhood friends had managed to accomplish.

"A life of piracy..."

The more time passed, the more the young woman realized that for nothing in the world she would give up this life she was born to live. Born into a pirate family, growing up in a pirate village, it was a vocation that for many on Coven Island was a given. Hestia was lulled by the sound of the waves and the strings of the instrument she had learned to play on her own for several years in her spare time.

"...always full of surprises, eight of us arrived in Belfort and here we are already leaving for another destination accompanied by a noblewoman and exotic animals"

Achi was still passed out against the mast getting tossed around not knowing that she had left the city and the house she had woken up in the day before. As for the auction creatures, they were still hidden under the stairs at the back of the ship. Hestia would decide later what to do with them, but for now her mind was wandering thinking about the huge haul they had.

Between them, the Cerberus crew had brought back an enormous amount of treasure and coinage that would allow them to live like noblemen for the rest of their lives. Jewels, vases, cups and a whole lot of other gold and silver stuff that would make any thief dream. There were also precious stones, fabrics, clothes, which all together gave a substantial booty especially for their second real act of piracy in this world.

Quickly rummaging in the pocket of the cloak that she still had not left with all these events, Hestia took out one of her famous cigarettes. Vanilla tobacco with a rather pleasant and recognizable smell but with a taste as powerful as glowing lava. Slipping it between her lips, instead of lighting it, the young woman was swinging her head back towards the sky and more particularly towards the crow's nest.

For the first time since they left Coven Island two weeks ago, the Cerberus Jolly Roger was flying proudly atop the mast. The three hellhound heads, covered in the blood of the original crew members, looked straight ahead. It was their flag, they were proud of it and even if in the future they would change ships, they had promised themselves never to replace this flag being the soul of the Hysterics.

Smiling, the young blonde woman balanced on the edge of the bow before returning to the deck after hearing the others wake up. Today was going to be a busy day as they still had to look at that famous map and especially talk to the young Achi. It was not yet noon so time was not pressing, the Hysterics all aware of that had all woken up little by little at the same time.

"Ahoy ! What's up ? Slept well, lazy scurvy dogs ? hahaha~"

"Oi, Captain, so rough from the morning ? Aarg my head !"

Lucas had gotten up holding his skull and massaging it as if that would make the pain go away after what he had been through the night before. He was almost pale and the worst part of it all was that everyone else was more or less in the same state as him. Having no idea why his friends were like this, Hestia laughed at the sight, finding them rather weak for not being able to handle gallons of alcohol.

"What ? Don't tell me you can't hold your liquor now, sailor."

"N-No, alcohol is fine...this is your cooking Captain"

"Aye"

"Mmmh, my stomach remembers..."

"Aaarg, I'm like Lucas, I think the stomach ache has gone to my brain"

Indeed, the day before the beautiful blonde had cooked some small dishes in the small kitchen of the ship because she had suddenly had a culinary idea. What she had invented had been very beautiful and had looked very appetizing as always but always had a huge problem. The dishes that the Captain prepared always looked delicious but were always inedible or if they were, made you regret wolfing them down right after.

For Douggy and Buggy the poor things had discovered this a few hours ago and like the others had experienced this as a new Hestia trauma. Her five childhood friends knew it well after having lived with her but as always they had tasted it. It had to be said that the beautiful one knew how to be very persuasive to make them all eat, a wish she always formed with a murderous aura without even realizing it.

"Sigh...sadistic even in her dishes"

"Are you kidding or what ? It was delicious !"

In fact, Hestia always cooked according to her taste which made any dish she created a culinary masterpiece for her while for others a living nightmare, a culinary disaster. Sometimes too much salt, spices, too much meat, too much alcohol, meat that was not cooked at all and sometimes overcooked. It was all nonsense, the sailors preferring to eat good food with good alcohol rather than all mixed at the same time disguised under a beautiful appearance.

"Tch bullshit, well anyway we have something to check so get your asses moving and fast, you have 5 minutes ! Buggy, Douggy you watch the kid and those things under the stairs, we're going to my quarters !"

*bam*

Kicking Edward's boot as he massaged his belly leaning on a barrel of fruit, the Captain walked to her room slightly annoyed. She was secretly planning to make them regret their words as she opened the door with an ominous smile. But that would have to wait, as the map she had stolen needed to be studied to finally discover what she had been hiding that was so valuable all this time.

_____

"You're telling me this is a simple map of the Nations of the Western Seas with only a few new islands present here and there ?"

"Yeah, but these islands are not on any map you can find in the world, in other words this map is completely unique and these islands are hidden. Sea monster symbols are drawn instead to I guess prevent sailors from venturing there if they don't want to find death."

"Mmmmh."

On the map new islands had appeared presumably belonging to the Lord of the City of Belfort so he kept this map in his treasure room. Hestia was not expecting several but one special island and was getting impatient at the thought of being so lost all the time. Diana Hellfire's journal mentioned a particular place that could only be found with this map but the question was, which island was it ?

Putting her feet up on the table and lighting the cigarette she had in her teeth all the time, Hestia breathed in and out, thinking. Her mother had not given any further indication of the place, she had simply said that she had hidden something very important there. She would let her friends observe the piece of parchment even more closely knowing that blindly making all the islands was out of the question.

"I think I found it !"

"..."

"This island, which lies to the northwest of the neutral continent in the middle of the Eldimar Sea, has a tiny star in its center. Also, it is the only one that doesn't have a name, I find that odd, don't you ?"

"Mmmh, cartographers sometimes draw little things next to a place when it is important, indeed. I'm sorry, it's so small I didn't even notice it the first time."

Suddenly, Mysie had pointed to a particular island bearing a very slight difference compared to the other few. The symbol was tiny but the young bard had very good eyes and after careful observation, had found it before the others. Joe, the Sailing Master of Cerberus, confirmed his friend's words, disappointed that he had not seen it when he had looked at the map earlier.

"An island with no name, huh ? What could be so special about it ?"

"To find out, we'll have to go there ourselves, Captain."

"Still, we need to be sure this is the right location, First Mate."

No smile was left on Hestia's face as she gave off a serious aura and a tone that was almost cold and authoritative given the situation. She had even addressed Lucas by his title which proved that she was not joking anymore and was in her role as Captain of the ship. The young Hellfire hadn't forgotten why they had all left so suddenly, to find their parents and the thought of not being sure of the destination bothered her.

"I follow Mysie and Joe on their statements, Captain. We need to stop at Gaze before any other place and who knows maybe the girl can help us."

"I agree with the Quartermaster."

"So do I."

Kali had said something very right which made the blonde frown slightly as she knew they still had some time and an asset. The Cerberus Quartermaster was even followed in her decision to trust Joe and Mysie by Lucas and Edward. Sighing knowing she had no other option but to follow, Hestia was about to declare the unnamed island as her second destination when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

*knock knock knock*

"Yes ?"

"Captain excuse me for disturbing you in your meeting but...,the girl is waking up !"

_____

Achi Von Kokosnuss had finally woken up from her restless night to almost die of a heart attack as soon as she woke up on the ship. She had set her eyes first on Joe, Lucas, Edward, Kali and then Mysie who from an outside perspective were all intimidating for a young noblewoman. So no sooner had the Lady opened her eyes than she already had that scared look on her face that she was trying to hide unfortunately in vain.

"Hey cutie~ are you finally awake ?"

Turning her head shakily and recognizing that mocking voice she had heard so much in the past few hours, Achi still in shock laid her eyes on Hestia. At that moment her eyes seemed to light up discovering for the first time the face of the one who had intrigued her so much. In her eyes one could read a mixture of admiration, respect and envy superimposed by a small face blushing despite herself.

Achi was seeing pirates for the first time and even though she was terrified, part of her felt excited to experience something new. In fact, her mind was torn between several equally strong emotions as she tried to keep her composure. Yet after being hypnotized for a few seconds by Hestia, fear suddenly took over in the young noblewoman's heart.

"Who...who are you all ? W-Where...is your Captain ? I...why am I here ?"

"Pffffff~"

"Hehehe~"

Her questions were not unexpected, but the moment they were out of her mouth, almost all the Hysterics started to giggle. For them there was no other Captain here than Hestia but since the evening in Belfort she had not put her coat and tricorn back on. So it was while Achi was confused and red-faced at the thought of having made a fool of herself that Joe stepped forward with a coat and hat in his hand.

It had now epaulets, almost entirely black embroidered with gold and red threads accentuating the imposing and majestic side it was giving off. The Sailing Master placed it on his Captain's shoulders while she grabbed the tricorn, also black, embroidered with gold threads and with blood red feathers. The moment Hestia put it on her head, Achi understood instantly who she was dealing with, it was obvious.

Before her stood a woman as terrifying as she was beautiful, exuding a confidence and presence that she could not ignore at all. The snake on her shoulders, her gold rings, the scar under her eye, all helped the young noblewoman to create a misunderstanding of the scene. She understood why the others had laughed at her as Hestia confirmed what she thought and feared by introducing herself directly.

"Hestia Hellfire, Captain of the Hysterics... nice to officially meet you, cutie~"

The Captain had a smile on her face but more than friendly it looked like the smiles one would give to a cornered animal with no way out. Achi did not know what to say and she who had a sharp tongue most of the time, this time she was speechless. She had assimilated the main information but still didn't understand why she was finally on a pirate ship far from Belfort City.

"So you lost your tongue ? Yet you almost made me deaf last night."

"I...you...what are you going to do with me ?"

"Oooh~ Look at that Captain, the baby knows how to talk"

Lucas couldn't help but make this comment as he saw this as a good opportunity to make fun of the terrified girl. He chuckled as he looked at the one he called his sister who also chuckled at his words which finally fit Achi. However, as the others began to laugh, the Lady suddenly turned her head towards the First Mate before automatically answering as rudely as usual.

"I'm 15 years old, you long haired-freak !"

"PFFFHAHAHAHAHAHA~"

Hestia had burst out laughing at her words not expecting to hear her say such a thing only five minutes after waking up. She was even impressed considering the situation the girl was in, where and with whom. They didn't know what they were going to do with her, the days on the sea were shaping up to be interesting and even a little irritating but for now it was time to tell her the truth.

"Listen, kiddo..."

"A-Achi...it's Achi."

"Yeah whatever. If you're here it's actually for a very special reason, to tell you the truth I didn't bring you in on a whim like I told you. In fact...

____

"SO YOU DID ALL THIS IN THE CITY ?"

"Aye"

"And then, y-you kidnapped me and you don't even know why ? I-It's a joke, right ? Does that mean I'm going to stay with you until you figure out what's so special about me ? W-What am I going to do until then ?"

Achi had listened to the whole story the Captain had told her, opening her eyes and mouth ever so slightly with each sentence. Strangely she had become slightly less scared especially after she had more or less understood why she was there even though it was still unclear. It was crazy, overnight her life had completely changed and the girl had to get used to it for her own good, especially hearing Hestia's unhesitating answer.

"Swab the deck, peel the potatoes, do the laundry, feed the animals or help our Quartermaster, who knows ? One thing is for sure, on this ship all hands work and no one scratches their ass."

"In short, a slave !"

"It's a good thing I've always dreamed of having one, fufu~"

"I...hmpf !"

Hestia had leaned towards her with a sadistic smile that would make anyone shiver causing a blush of fear and shyness. Achi preferred to turn her head in another direction, sulking to show her disagreement, not knowing how to react to the young blonde woman. Once again she was torn between fear and admiration, apprehension and excitement as a detail suddenly struck her.

"W-Wait a minute...wh-what animals ?"

"Grrrrrr !"

"Roar !"

Just as Achi had asked this question, a growl and a roar from behind the mast she was standing on sounded making her turn around in a second. She found herself face to face with Loki and Azeil who were not yet adults but already of great size for their age. The reaction of the young noblewoman was immediate, screaming, she jumped instantly on the mast wrapping her arms around it to escape.

"OH MY FUCKING GOD !!! T-T-T-T-T-TIGERS !!!"

"These are my tigers and their name is not t-t-t-t-tigers but Loki and Azeil. There are other animals but we'll see about that later, welcome to the Cerberus, Lady~"

Making a mocking bow, Hestia giggled, unable not to find the situation amusing especially after finding a new toy to play with. Achi was wrapped around the mast but not even a meter away making her circus completely useless. No one knew what would happen to the newcomer, she herself didn't know what was waiting for her on a pirate ship but now they were sailing in the same direction.

They needed about 5 days before arriving in Gaze and these days were indeed full of surprises and twists and turns. It is thus accompanied by 7 new passengers that the crew was heading towards a new destination on the neutral continent of the Western Seas. They didn't know it yet, but they had not finished meeting new people, including one there that would put Hestia's heart to the test.

[N/A: End of the 2ND ARC : Belfort City]