New Shores (Open)

[Davy Jones]

From the depths of the seas that surrounded the tiny islands, a large menacing ship came rising from the waters, sending waves in all directions. As the ship emerged from the waters, Davy Jones went to the helm of the ship and pulled out a telescope to see the waters that lied ahead. They felt, unfamiliar, not bound to the world of the living or dead.

In the distance however, laid a small piece of land, a tiny island with palm trees. Upon closer inspection, Davy found that some of the trees were growing star shaped fruit, a bit odd, but they had to sell for something like everything else. "Men, I do believe we have found ourselves an uncharted part of the seas."

The crew of the ship murmured to themselves as most of them thought that they had already seen most of the seas in their service to their Captain. "I shall be journeying to that nearby island, you lot will stay here and make sure the ship is ready to sail upon my return. If anything is out of place upon my return, there will be severe punishment for all of ya."

Davy chuckled to himself and walked through the ship, into the watery depths and began the short trek to the island. After a few minutes of walking, he was close to the island and began to emerge from the water, onto the sandy shore. His look when he arrived on land, was that of shock. He was forbidden to go onto land for ten years and it was still another year before he could set foot on land.

[Era]

In the distance, a glimmer flickered across the water. It was brighter, and its pattern different than the normal sparkle of the gentle ebb and flow that tossed the crystalline beach tides. Something was being carried through the water, being pushed onto the shore with another coax of the waves.

Upon closer inspection, now partially emerging from the tides, a clear glass bottle lay stranded along the tan sands. A simple cork sealed it, and aside from a twine tie around the neck, purely decorative, the item was relatively bland. It just sat there, pushed and pulled by the tides, and spinning a dance along the edge of the beach, pulled and pushed by the lazy, briny waves.

[Davy Jones]

Jones took notice of the flickering light that seemed to drift closer and closer with the tide. Soon the source of the light was revealed as a glass bottle rolled onto the beach. As he looked at the bottle, he saw there was nothing really special about the bottle, but there was a small piece of parchment inside of the bottle. As the bottle was spun at the edge of the waters, Davy walked up to it and grabbed the bottle with his human hand.

In an undignified move, he took his claw hand and completely chopped off the top end of the bottle before he dumped the parchment out of the bottle, catching it with his claw.

[Era]

The very first thing to fall out of the bottle was a small trinket, its weight hinting that it was originally a metal cast, painted yellow and green as a tourist gimmick. The shape it took was something between a star and a fruit.

The beige parchment it came with unrolled like a scroll; but it was much smaller. It was a scrutinously-crafted letter. The writing was fluid, its words scrawled across the parchment. The letter read:

OCTOBER 6.                                               No. 007

Hi Rook,

You'll notice I attached a Powp Paopu fruit charm. Mr. Akanahé said he held onto it for years and he thinks it's responsible for the beginning of his good marriage. I told him about you, and he gave it to me; he said I could use the luck... I think he got the wrong message, but that's okay.

Do you know what they say about the Paopu fruit? Well, hold onto the charm because I'll tell you if when I find you.

You're still on my mind; a lot, actually. My heart keeps sending me mixed signals, and as much as I try to encourage myself that you're all right, I still worry. I still pray for your safe return... So come back safe, will you?

Ever since I picked up the job at the scen fancy Café, I have been writing you. This is message 7. I know some of these will never make it to you, but that's okay - even if you don't find any I'll be happy; see, they help me cope... And I feel like, somehow, they connect to your heart too. I have a theory about --

Oop! I have to go! Mr. Akanahé just burnt himself, and somebody's gotta start making the customers breakfast.

The rest of the message is sloppily written, as though the author were pressed for time;

P.S. there's this place I wanted to check out some time ; I overheard the old Chandler talking about a curious alcove off of the northern side of the Island... something about stormy tides wrecking a ship inside it. I've got a whole list of things to do with you once you are back.

Hold onto your Light,
-Era

[Davy Jones]

Davy observed the little charm that had come out of the bottle first and tucked it into one of his many pockets before beginning to scan the contents of the small parchment. It seemed the good Captain had intercepted a letter meant for another, but he had no problems to continue reading on wards.

As he read through the letter, he could tell that the writer of this was deeply infatuated with the one known as Rook. Ah love, a cruel mistress, a lesson this lass would hopefully learn, before her own heart was shattered. Once he finished reading the letter, he tucked it into his trench coat.

He pulled out the charm that was attached to it and looked to a smaller island that had been connected by a bridge. That island contained star shaped fruit, must have been the Paopu that was described in this letter. Must've been important to her if she wrote about it so passionately.

[Era]

With the letter out of the way, the evening winds waved the palm trees in the distance, their star-shaped fruit swaying. Perhaps they were worth more than the Pirate Captain had originally bargained for; a tourist attraction usually sold well, especially if one could manage strike a bargain with the local vendors.

The slight, briny breeze pushed a waft of cool air across the shoreline as the sun fell, the last of its color bursting varying levels of purples and soft reds across the horizon. The sea continued to hum its gentle rush as the tides drew lazily forward and back... and there, in far distance, something glinted against a pale ruddy cliff face; a mirror? Or perhaps it was a lantern? At this particular time it might be difficult to tell.

Perhaps there was something to the ship wreck so trivially mentioned in the letter? The only way one could know would be to investigate.

[Davy Jones]

Davy looked over at the star shaped fruit again as he placed the letter and charm that came with it back into his coat. So, this fruit was supposed to bound two people for eternity if they shared it with one another. He frowned at that idea, if such a thing existed then he could have gotten Calypso to wait for him during his servitude.

Davy clenched his hand and claw as he walked over to the small island that was connected by the bridge. This fruit was more of a curse than a charm for those so foolish to believe in love. A bond that could be so easily severed in a variety of ways, some of them being so insignificant, but so effective in their task.

Once he was on the island he drew his sword and stabbed it through one of the star shaped fruit in the trees, yanking it off of the tree crudely. He flung it on the ground and proceeded to slash it into bits and pieces, tiny lumps.

Davy stared at it for a moment before jumping into the water, passing by the mirror. "Perhaps I will be making a voyage back here later..."