Legacy's Wake

The crew had just experienced the triumphant defeat of Aurelio and his forces, a victory that came swiftly and unexpectedly, with Kyora's quick thinking and deep understanding of their twisted system proving to be the ace in their hand.

Minutes after Aurelio's fall, the crew began to gather from various parts of the city, each having emerged victorious in their respective battles, even taking the time to tie up all the enemies they had faced.

"Hey, guys!" Temoshí called out, jogging toward them with an arm raised in greeting. "Cap! That last move you pulled off? You were amazing! That firework moment? Unbelievable!" Tarot's excitement was palpable, his eyes wide as he joined his captain and crew.

"Looks like you took a pretty good beating, Nate." Temoshí observed as he checked out Nathaniel, who bore the signs of a tough gunslinging battle. "I guess Yipsiv's no slouch with a gun. He doesn't exactly go easy in his duels."

Elliott, with a grin on his face, stepped forward. "Man, we nearly fell for that woman's tricks. She played dirty, trying to pull the wool over our eyes. We almost got caught up in her game," he said, shaking his head and rubbing the back of his neck.

Joker added with a thoughtful look, "Yeah, she really made us second-guess ourselves when she lured us into that prison. But hey, at least everyone who was trapped in there is back to normal now. I didn't realize the dome of misfortune could brainwash people like that."

As the group shared their victories, Kyora's gaze shifted around, taking in her crew's battered but victorious faces. "I'm proud of what we've done, but... Yumiko and Aurora... they're missing. Has anyone seen them?"

Just as Kyora's words hung in the air, a man pushed through the crowd, his expression grim. "Sorry, pirates, but... the girl with blue hair—Yumiko—was taken by the Duo Veyra, Aurelio's mimics. Her companion couldn't stop them in time."

The news hit like a punch to the gut. "What? No way! Yumiko's stronger than that," Temoshí said, his voice full of disbelief. "How could they just take her?"

Kyora's face darkened, her tone low and serious. "Yumiko wasn't well. Her health was bad, and I told Aurora to take her to see a doctor. But I never thought the mimics would catch them."

"Then... What about Kate? Where is she? What happened to her?" Temoshí asked anxiously, his eyes scanning the crowd as if hoping to see her. But there was no sign of her. The man hesitated for a moment before pulling out a rolled-up piece of paper and handing it to him.

"The mimics left this behind," the man said grimly. "It's a bounty poster of the blue-haired girl, with a letter attached. They took her to Gesyer Island... But I'm afraid I don't know why or what they plan to do with her."

Temoshí's heart sank. He took the paper, his hands shaking slightly as he unfurled it. The crew gathered around, their faces filled with concern as they read the letter together, their voices overlapping as they spoke the words aloud.

"Gesyer Island...?" Tarot muttered, his brow furrowing. "That doesn't make sense. Why would they take her there? It's not like it's the kind of place where you'd want to hide someone."

Nathaniel leaned forward, scanning the letter. "I don't get it. They take someone with a bounty on their head... but why Yumiko? What do they want with her? She's not exactly the kind of person you'd hold for ransom."

Joker was silent for a moment, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "They must have something bigger planned. It's not like Aurelio to waste a resource, even a captive one."

Kyora's gaze narrowed as she looked at the letter again. "If they're taking her there, it's not just to hold her. They could be looking for something... or maybe someone. But why Yumiko? It's not just about the bounty. There's something deeper going on here."

Temoshí clenched his fist, his resolve hardening. "We don't have time to figure it all out. We need to get to Gesyer Island, now. Whatever they want with her, we're not going to let them get away with it."

The crew nodded in agreement, all of them ready to rush into action, but the unease remained, swirling in their thoughts. What did Gesyer Island have to do with this? And why was Yumiko, of all people, the one they wanted?

The man raised his hand in protest. "W-Wait! What about dinner? As a thank-you for everything?" he asked, hoping to hold them back for just a moment longer.

Temoshí, though visibly stressed, offered a smile as he glanced at the man. "No worries, old man! We'll have that feast later, for sure. Just make sure to have lots of meat ready for me to chow down on! But right now, we've gotta get to Yumiko and figure out what's going on. Catch ya later!" With that, the crew waved, all except Nathaniel, as they quickly began moving forward.

Joker turned to Temoshí with a frown. "Since Aurora saw Yumiko get taken, she's probably going after them herself. But how the hell is she going to catch up with those mimics?"

Temoshí shook his head, glancing over at the citizens who were waving them off, cheering them on with words of gratitude. "I'm not sure, but... I'm sure she left a message behind. Let's grab our ship and head out. No time to waste."

As the crew passed through the streets, people shouted words of thanks and admiration. "You did it, pirates! You saved us!" one man called out. A group of children waved enthusiastically, "Thank you for stopping the bad guys!" A woman with a tearful smile yelled, "Good luck on your journey! May the winds be with you!"

Temoshí nodded and waved back, but his mind was focused on one thing—getting to Yumiko. The crew's thoughts were the same as they made their way toward the docks, the weight of the situation sinking in as they prepared to sail off once more.

As the crew arrived at the docks, the familiar sight of their ship greeted them—anchored and waiting. The ocean breeze swept through their hair as they quickly made their way toward the ship, but a sense of urgency hung in the air. They knew time was running out, and Yumiko's disappearance weighed heavily on their minds.

"Alright, let's get moving!" Temoshí barked, his voice sharp, yet there was a hint of worry behind it. "We don't have much time."

They climbed aboard the ship, eager to prepare for departure, when Joker's sharp eyes caught something unusual. "Hey, look over here," he called out, bending down to examine a piece of parchment tied to the mast. He unrolled it carefully, and the others gathered around.

Aurora's handwriting was unmistakable, her scrawl written hastily, but clear enough to understand. The letter read:

"Temoshí, I know you're probably looking for me. But I've already gone ahead to Geyser Island to find Yumiko. The mimics were too fast, and I couldn't risk them getting her any farther. Please... Don't follow me yet. You all have a bigger fight waiting ahead of you, and I don't want to put anyone else at risk. But if you're reading this, you know I'm not going to back down. I'll find her. I won't let them hurt her. Please, take care of yourselves. If you need me, I'll be waiting. - Aurora"

The crew stood in silence for a moment, absorbing the weight of Aurora's words.

"She's gone on her own," Tarot said quietly, his tone tinged with concern. "Is she really thinking she can do this alone?"

Temoshí gritted his teeth, his fists tightening around the edges of the parchment. "Damn it. She didn't give us a choice, did she?"

Nathaniel stepped forward, his expression grim but thoughtful. "She's strong, but this is a dangerous move. The mimics are no joke. We can't afford to let her go alone."

Kyora crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing in determination. "We all know Aurora. She won't stop, even if we tell her to. But we can't waste any more time. We need to go after her, and we need to do it fast."

"Exactly," Temoshí agreed, his usual confidence returning. "No one gets left behind. If we don't go now, we'll lose our chance. We set sail for Geyser Island. Prepare the ship, everyone."

As the crew scrambled to get ready, the weight of Aurora's decision hung heavily on all of them. But they knew one thing for sure—they wouldn't let her face this alone. The crew of The Starfall was a family, and they were going to stand together, no matter the danger that lay ahead.

With the ship's sails unfurling and the wind at their backs, they set course for Geyser Island, ready to confront whatever waited there.

To be continued...