The Endeavor had to pick the supplies up at Galthar first, then went to Largandra. “Largandra,” called Shalvey, “this is the Endeavor, registry CRS-2784. Requesting permission to land.”
“Standby while we verify your clearance,” replied the person at flight control. Shalvey transmitted the clearance code. “…Clearance accepted. You are assigned to Flight Path 1 to Landing Pad 4. Welcome to Largandra and tell her Highness welcome back.”
“Will do,” answered Shalvey. She ended the call and fed the flight path and coordinates to Nazay. Nazay then guided the ship to the landing pad. As he did, Arsha looked distracted. Denstra saw this.
“Hey, are you okay?” she whispered. Arsha was snapped out of her thoughts.
“…I’m gonna miss you guys once this is over,” she whispered back.
“It’s not over yet. We still have a mission to complete and this one doesn’t exactly have a timetable.” Arsha smiled a bit.
“Yeah, there’s that.”
Once the Endeavor landed, Endea reported to the snooze room, a new addition to shipyards for Ship-type Mechanicas to comfortably sleep under the effects of purple water, the anesthetic for Mechanicas. An engineer and a doctor were on standby. “So, ready to get rid of any and all excess weapons?” asked the engineer.
“You have NO idea!” replied Endea. “I’ve been waiting for this day when I first got the initial overhaul that slapped the damn things on me in the first place.”
“Well, it’s time to get rid of them,” said the doctor. “Time for only the essential weapons to deter pirates.”
“…Yeah, pirates are my only threat now that the Splitters and Dr. Borg’s followers are gone.”
“We’re ready to administer the purple water,” reported the engineer. “You good to go?”
“Yep, put me under!” Once Endea tucked herself into the bed, the engineer called for the go ahead to administer the purple water. She fell fast asleep and the shipyards got to work.
Foresna decided to get to the castle before Arsha. He wanted to get familiar with it since it was gonna be his home at some point in the future. He was let in and wandered the halls, saying hello to everyone. “Hello, Irmalii!” he said to the Royana’s Royal Guard Captain.
“Hi, Foresna!” replied Irmalii.
“Hello, Domesta!” he greeted once the Head Maid floated by.
“Welcome, Foresna!” returned Domesta.
“Hello, Mr and Mrs. Rojam!” he said to a couple. He then realized what he said and grabbed their arms. Unfortunately, his eyes WEREN’T wrong, it WAS Reb and Melgem. “And just what, pray tell, are you doing here?” he asked.
“You wouldn’t believe us if we told you,” replied Reb evenly.
“Try me.”
“Okay, we snagged a BEAUTIFUL new lover. Rikuna, if you must know.”
“Arsha’s oldest cousin on her mother’s side?”
“That’s the one,” confirmed Melgem.
“And what’s your angle on it?”
“We love her, she loves us, that’s the angle.”
“Uh huh, sure. And do Elgrad and Hanako know about your presence?”
“Of course, otherwise we’d be in the dungeon by now.”
“Well, you don’t mind if I drag you two to the throne room and confirm that for myself, do you? And by that, I mean that I’m dragging you there anyway, regardless of your willingness or lack thereof.”
“Now, wait a minute, my DEAR Foresna-!” gulped Reb. Foresna then dragged the two away.
“That’s Mr. Falshenda to you!” hissed the red-headed man.
“And you’re SURE you can do this?” Hanako asked a nine-tailed Kitsune woman as the two and Elgrad spoke in the throne room.
“Positive!” replied the woman, Rikuna. The doors then opened.
“Your Majesties, are you aware that pirates are in here?” he asked.
“We are,” replied Hanako. “Let them go.”
“Why?!” protested Foresna.
“Because my eldest niece here,” explained Hanako, “somehow thinks she can change them with love.” Foresna released the two pirates and glared at Rikuna.
“Rikuna, explanations?”
“It’s simple, I love them!” replied Rikuna as she hugged the two pirates. The two smiled in her embrace.
“WHY do you love those cutthroats?”
“Well, pity, I suppose.”
“Gee, way to make a guy feel special,” grunted Melgem as his and Reb’s smiles faded.
“Oh, come now,” said Rikuna. “Were you two not suffering from your crew mocking you when they discovered you didn’t have a certain map that led to the buried treasures of all currently known royal families?”
“…Maybe,” mumbled Melgem.
“And were they not wishing to be Protectorate Pirates again?”
“…Perhaps,” muttered Melgem.
“And who set you up in style while you plead your case to become Protectorate Pirates once more?”
“…The WONDERFUL Dr. Positive,” muttered Reb.
“That’s right, Dr. Positive! The one who’s gonna turn Melgem from a bad guy to a glad guy! Turn Reb from a sad she to a happy she! Turn you both from Devil to A-Level, baby!” Foresna then grabbed Rikuna and dragged her to Elgrad and Hanako.
“You guys aren’t seriously considering this lunacy, are you?!” he asked the King and Queen. “Reb’s the only living one of Arsha’s arch enemies!”
“Look, all former Protectorate Pirates,” sighed Elgrad, “have the right to a second chance to regain favor with us. It’s a two-strike system, so if they waste it, they’re never gonna be Protectorate Pirates again. I don’t like them anymore than you do, but not even We are above the law. We have to give them one last chance.”
“With all the respect that’s due to you, that’s the most ridiculous thing I ever-!” Trumpets interrupted Foresna’s rant.
“Oh, please don’t let it be Arsha,” gulped Hanako. “Her presence will only make things more complicated!” Arsha went into the throne room.
“I heard there were a pair of new guys in here,” she said, “so I thought I’d w-w-w-WHAT IS THIS?!” She finally clapped eyes on the Rojams. “I thought I would be welcoming two new people to Largandra!”
“No,” replied Foresna. “Apparently, we’re all gonna be helping Rikuna in getting Reb and Melgem their Protectorate Pirate status back!” Arsha drew her wand.
“Told you she wouldn’t like it,” Hanako muttered as she held her hand out in front of Elgrad. Elgrad handed her 200 golds to pay off the bet.
“Oh no!” snarled Arsha as she leveled her wand. “I do NOT help my only mortal enemy get a damn apartment in MY home city!” Magic built up at the tip of her wand and she swung upwards, ready to fire a blast at the two pirates.
“LOWURDAL!” shouted Rikuna as she thrust her palm towards Arsha. A spark flew towards Arsha and hit her hand, making her drop the wand. “The Rojams aren’t enemies anymore! They’re family!”
“And how, pray tell, did you, my eldest cousin, arrive at THAT conclusion?” growled Arsha.
“She’s been dating them since your mother and I were looking for you,” muttered Elgrad.
“And once they get those warm, family-style feels,” continued Rikuna, “their icy shell will crack and we’ll all be chest-deep in sunshine!”
“…Whatever you’re on,” grunted Arsha, “you need to get off it now.”