Knock, Knock, "Enter," Cavendish orders just before the cabin door swings open. Looking up from reading over Annabelle's shoulder, a crewmember stands on the other side of the desk. "Yes, what is it?"
"We have an update on repairs." Cavendish nods to continue. "Repairs are almost complete. We should be able to ship out tomorrow."
"I see," Annabelle's pen hesitates as Cavendish steps from behind the desk. "Make the final preparations. We sail as soon as we are able."
"Yes, captain," he spins, locking his gaze on her for an instant before leaving.
Cavendish pivots to Annabelle when the door closes and watches her scribble notes. Rubbing his chin, "My offer still stands."
The feathered pen stops moving. She looks up, staring into his bright blue eyes. She smiles, "If we leave, my companions won't know where to find us."
"Are you sure they are coming? It has been two days since you sent that message."
Tapping the end of the pen to her lower lip, she shifts her eyes to the transponder snail. "I think so," she says, moving a piece of hair behind her ear. I could try to send another message."
"There is a lot of Navy here. It may not be safe for you to wait." Cavendish peers out a window, "they have started watching the ship."
Annabelle leans back, considering, "We have until tomorrow to decide?"
"I dare not wait any longer."
The door bursts open, and Yoshi surges in, "Mr. Cavendish!"
"Yoshi!" Annabelle scolds, "We have talked about this! You cannot just…"
Cavendish smirks. "It is quite all right." Turning to Yoshi, who is bouncing on the balls of his feet, he asks, "What is it?"
"Are you going to see Farul?" Yoshi beams, "Can I come too?"
Cavendish chuckles, "We have been working for quite some time now. I think a break is in order. I need to settle up with the stable, anyway." Placing a guiding hand on his back, "Come, I am sure Farul would appreciate the company." Holding the doorknob, "What about you, Ms. Annabelle."
She smiles, "I think I will stay and work on this some more. You two have fun."
Cavendish steps over unconscious bodies as he and Yoshi start their return from the stable. Cavendish tilts his head as Yoshi covers his mouth, giggling. "What is it?"
"It's so funny how people do that." He hops over another fallen pedestrian, "We are just walking."
"It is quite amusing, isn't it." Scanning everyone's reactions, "I guess I had stopped noticing."
"Good day, Captain," the cook waves from in front of a food stand.
"Good day," Cavendish joins him. "Have you heard about our timeline for departure?"
"Yes, Captain. I am gathering the final provisions..."
The shaggy strands of Yoshi's blond hair flutter in the gentle breeze, catching the golden light of the setting sun. A faint whisper drifts through the air, soft and insistent, calling to him like a distant memory. He pauses, his brow furrowing as he turns his head, searching for its origin. The voice grows clearer, pulling him forward, guiding him through the bustling port and into a quieter, shadowed corner. The world around him blurs, the sounds of the dock fading into a distant hum as he becomes lost in a strange, dreamlike haze.
Before him sits a weathered wooden barrel, its surface rough and splintered. Inside, it's filled to the brim with seeds—tiny, golden grains that shimmer faintly in the dim light. Yoshi reaches in, his small hand sinking into the cool, shifting mass. The seeds flow through his fingers like liquid, their texture smooth and soothing. He closes his eyes, a sense of calm washing over him as the whispers grow louder, almost melodic. For a moment, he feels connected to something greater, something ancient and unseen, as if the seeds hold a secret only he can uncover.
"Hey, you!" An angry voice snaps him awake. "What do you think you are doing there?" A large hand viciously grips his arm.
"Let me go!" Yoshi kicks and struggles, "I was just talking to them."
"You better be ready to pay for that boy!" Yoshi's neck wrenches when he is yanked.
The shopkeeper freezes, his eyes widening as the sharp edge of a rapier presses against his throat. The cold steel glints in the dim light, its presence unmistakable. Cavendish stands tall, his golden locks framing a face etched with icy determination. "Release the boy," he commands, his voice low and lethal, each word dripping with menace. The air grows heavy, the shopkeeper's breath hitching as he slowly raises his hands in surrender. Cavendish's piercing blue eyes bore into him, unyielding, a silent promise of consequences if his demand is not met immediately.
"Apologies, sir," Yoshi scurries away when his hold loosens. "I thought the boy was stealing," the shopkeeper clasps his hands in homage apology. "He was going on about talking to my seed stock. I didn't know he was a member of your crew, sir." Cavendish sheathes his rapier. "Here," the shopkeeper hands him a produce bundle, "forgive me for this misunderstanding."
Cavendish nods for the cook to take the offering. "See, this doesn't happen again."
"Yes," the shopkeeper stutters, "of course."
Cavendish scowls, asking the cook, "Did you see where he ran to?"
"I believe he ran towards the ship, Captain."
"Very good, then, I will find the boy. You finish up here."
"Yes, Captain."
Annabelle is bent over a piece of parchment when the door blasts open. Yoshi rushes to her lap, gasping through tears. "Yoshi, what is it? What happened?" She strokes his hair, attempting to console him.
"I am sorry, Ms. Annabelle," he struggles to say. You told me not to talk to the plants, but..." he sniffles. Looking up at her with weeping eyes, he says, "They were calling to me and …." He wheezes.
She pulls him into her lap and holds him, "It's okay. It will be okay."
"Apologies," the door clicks behind Cavendish. "There was an incident in the market."
"I see," Annabelle rubs Yoshi's back.
"Are they going to come for me?" Yoshi sobs into her shoulder.
Pulling him away from her, she cups his face, "No one is going to take you anywhere. I promise no one will let that happen. Especially me."
Cavendish leans against an open windowsill, "Why would anyone come for the boy?"
"Were there any navy there?" Anabelle asks.
Cavendish shrugs, "There is navy everywhere." Annabelle sighs. "You are under my protection. You do not need to worry. Now, back to my question."
Yoshi wipes the tears from his red face. "Better?" He nods at Annabelle.
Annoyed, Cavendish retorts, "Annabelle!"
Chewing the inside of her cheek, "I suppose you should know." Cavendish crosses his arms. "Yoshi is very gifted with plants. He can communicate with them."
"A Devil Fruit?"
Annabelle shakes her head, "No. I met Yoshi and his family while," she hesitates, looking for the best way to phrase her statement, "I was studying some ancient ruins on a desert island." She grins as Cavendish's eyes narrow. "Anyway, his family was running the inn where my companion and I were staying. The one thing that made this inn so unique was its fresh herbs, spices, and produce. This would not be a nuance except."
"It was in the desert."
"Right, and the person who was able to grow all this in such an arid climate was," she looks down at Yoshi.
Smiling back, he looks at Cavendish and says, " They speak to me." Cavendish raises an eyebrow. "The plants and seeds speak to me. They tell me what they need to grow, and I give it to them."
"Imagine," Annabelle relaxes her hold, "if any island could grow any kind of food regardless of the climate. What would that look like?"
Cavendish stokes his jaw, considering. "It could have a dramatic effect on resources and trade. If you elevate the need for a specific island to provide a particular resource, then the economic impact."
"Yes."
"How did the Navy get involved?"
"Well, they were becoming quite popular. Word started spreading, and they thought they were doing good by openly sharing this knowledge. However," Annabelle became solemn. "They soon learned the true nature of the World Government. Yoshi's parents did not survive the encounter. My companion stayed behind so we could escape. That is how we got separated." Her face lit up. " But then our paths crossed, and now we are with you."
Cavendish tilts his head, "The World Government was that threatened over a single boy?"
"Well," Annabelle laughs, nervously, "I may have been a little careless with my research at the ruins."
"Captain!" Annabelle sighs in relief when a crewmember barges in.