519 Pay It Forward
Tidas, Ralph, Klaus, and Ronnie had started a ga of cards with the crew while Skye and Genie had been gone, and were still playing when they had returned. Zazzy flew overhead and circled around to land as Genie floated down to the ship, blowing the cards everywhere. He was in the middle of getting yelled at in several languages when Skye jumped onto the deck.
The distance between the shoreline and the ship was hefty, so when she landed, Skye indented the deck where she had landed. Now, she was the one getting scread at. Apparently it cost a lot of money to replace the planks on the deck of a ship, but Skye told them all, in their respective languages, that she would personally fix it.
The crewn laughed at her as she replied to the first few n. But when she spoke in two languages that were usually only used within the crew mbers’ villages, everyone fell into shock. Even Genie was surprised by Skye’s linguistic skills and knowledge.
Turning to Tidas, Genie asked; “Has Skye taken up studying different languages as a hobby or sothing?”
Tidas shook his head; “No, it’s just sothing she does. She calls it ‘a perk of bein’ the Catalyst’, but it goes beyond languages.. Skye’s like a sponge when it cos to information. She only needs to see or read sothing once, and she can rember it in incredibly detail.”
Genie remained placid on the outside, but on the inside: he was worried. There was sothing that he didn’t want Skye to see, and that sentint was doubled now.. ‘If she sees it, she’ll be able to read it.. I have to figure sothing out, or she might not let Zazzy enter the maze..’
As Genie internally struggled, Tidas turned his attention to Skye and the enthralled crew mbers. She had fixed the few planks just by touching the spot that she’d damaged. They were in the process of begging her to fix other things when Tidas stepped in..
“If you’re going to ask her to do those repairs, then don’t you think that you should compensate her in so way?”
The prince’s words had a kind of finality about them as he glanced at each person asking. As the crew started to figure out how much money they had between them, Skye smacked her husband’s arm, then said; “I never said I was gonna charge’em..”
.....
As the crew began to snicker, Skye turned towards them with a stern expression; “And I never said that I was gonna do all that work, either.”
Seeing their faces turn crestfallen, Skye sighed heavily as she added; “I dinna want yer money. Instead, I want ya all ta swear ta Zazzy that the next person ya see in need: you’ll help. That’s price fer fixin’ up yer ship.”
The crew mbers had instantly started to cheer, and surround Skye as they thanked and praised her. Genie and Tidas both smiled as they watched, but their reasoning was the opposite of each other. Genie thought that Skye was being politically tactical, but Tidas knew that she just preferred that the money go where it was needed.
“What’s with the ‘swear to Zazzy’ thing?” Tidas asked.
Genie smirked; “It’s because Zazzy’s almost like a god in the flesh to my people..”
“Oh right.. The people of Sai worship dragons,” Tidas comnted as he donned a contemplative look.
Stifling a laugh, Genie replied; “In a sense, yes. We revere them, not worship them. Dragons are the symbol of wisdom, strength, and longevity throughout the world, and history. To see a living one right in front of us is...overwhelming, from what I witnessed earlier.”
Pure confusion covered Tidas face as he asked when he was talking about. After explaining Skye and Zazzy’s encounter with the mountainside village, Genie said the sa thing to Tidas that he had to Skye: he had a plan. He wouldn’t elaborate until Hana had returned, which Tidas hadn’t even been aware of her leaving.
Genie didn’t even try to hide his smirk as he replied; “That’s part of her job.”
Tidas grinned back, understanding what he’d ant, then joined in the crew’s efforts to pick up the scattered cards. Skye followed several of the crew mates around the ship until they bumped into the captain. Once they told him what they were doing, he looked at Skye with a hopeful expression..
“Do you think fixing the keel hole would’ve possible?”
Skye narrowed her eyes as she thought; “I should be able to, so long as ya know what type of wood it’s made from.”
The captain’s face lit up; “I do! Please, follow to the storage area. That will get you the closest to it.”
As Skye disappeared into the ship, Kari and Peggy ca out to see what all the yelling was about earlier. While Tidas was telling them about Genie and Skye’s entrances, Hana showed up with six other ninja in tow. As they all bowed respectfully to Genie, everyone felt a massive surge of magical power.
Usually one had to be in tune with magic to sense it, unless the amount was enormous like what they were all feeling right then. As they exchanged worried and confused expressions between themselves, Genie put the majority of their worries to rest by informing them; “You don’t need to worry about that. It’s just Skye..”
Right as Genie had said her na, the entire ship shook and creaked like it was in a storm. The six who had accompanied Hana all braced themselves as the ship seemingly breathed a fresh breath of life. Suddenly, every inch of the ship looked practically brand new.
Not wanting to waste ti; Skye had infused a large amount of magic into the ship, then used it to scan, as well as repair any defects or flaws that she found. As the sun nearly finished setting off in the distance, Genie waited for Skye to rejoin them before making proper introductions.
When she did return to the main deck, Genie partially introduced his ninja..
“You’ve t Hana, but these six are different. Only two of them have earned a right to a na. The other four are still too green to be considered fully-fledged ninja. They only have colors until they earn their places. The two you should know are nad Bai Tang and Yuki Katana.”
Genie had gestured to the two standing at Hana’s sides. One looked like he was ninety years old, while the other looked as if he’d just hit puberty. Bai Tang had the longest braid that Tidas had ever seen, and no one could tell if Yuki Katana was a man or a woman.
They each excelled in different types of espionage, but were at the top of their respective gas. It was important for Sai to have a variety of spies and assassins; it was how they had kept neutral for so many decades..
When deals that could affect Sai were being made, the probably of soone involved being from Sai was high. For many generations, the kingdom had closed itself off to repair it’s broken governnt due to the collapse of the Tokuga dynasty. The revolution had removed those whom had abused their power, but had nothing to imdiately replace the shattered system.
Anarchy and chaos reined until the mbers of the first Senate stepped up, and unified the kingdom into a republic. People went back to work, got paid, and made an economy again. It was a rough start, and the road had been filled with peril, but Sai was thriving now, and Genie wasn’t going to let the remnants of the Tokuga Clan destroy what generations had bled for to build..
After the introductions from Skye’s side, Genie imdiately launched into his idea..
“We know that Senator Tokuga and his supporters have the city entrances locked down, and that the guards have orders to arrest us upon sight. We know that the Senators are claiming that Skye and Tidas abuse Zazzy, even though one look at her and anyone can tell that claim is false..”
“So: I propose that we Show the people how much Skye and Zazzy trust each other.”
“But how? We can’t get into the city except by flying Zazzy in,” Tidas replied with concern in his tone.
Genie smirked; “WE don’t need to: just Skye and Zazzy. It would be better if you went as well, but I don’t think that you could handle what I have in mind..”
As everyone stared at Genie, he locked eyes with Skye, and said; “Give the people a show.. Like the village on the mountainside.”
Skye shrugged as everyone turned, and stared at her; “I didna give’em a show! That was just Zazzy and goofin’ off fer the kids.”
Genie smacked his hands together, then pointed at Skye; “Then that’s exactly what you’ll do in the capital. We’ll just change it a bit at the end..To send a ssage to the Senators.”
“What ssage?” Tidas asked.
Genie flashed a mischievous grin as he replied; “One that says not to screw with us unless they want a hell of a fight.”
Skye returned his smile with a cocky one of her own as she comnted; “Aye.. I can get wit that kinda plan.”
“Good, because you’re going to have to coordinate with these guys if we’re going to pull this off,” Genie stated as his voice beca more serious; “If our timing is off by even a few seconds, you and Zazzy could get seriously hurt.. You could even die, Skye. Are you sure that you’re up for this?”
After looking from her husband, to her friends, to Peggy; Skye closed her eyes for a few monts of quiet contemplation. If they were arrested the mont that they entered the city, it would be difficult to build a good relationship between Alcon and Sai. Too many lives were on the line for them just to waltz in, and hope for the best.
With a war being seemingly inevitable, they needed every ally that they could get.. ‘Even wit the risk ta Zazzy and ..’
“So long as Zazzy agrees, I’ll do what I gotta.. What did ya have in mind? About the sendin’ a ssage part: how ya gonna do that?”
Genie bead with self-satisfaction as he leaned against the ship’s railing, and replied; “My people are going to attack you and Zazzy mid-air with everything they have that’s flashy, and not a single person or building below will be hurt..”
Skye chuckled loudly before saying; “Aye! and the scaly bairn can handle that!”
Tidas’ jaw dropped for a mont before he spoke with a slightly irate tone; “No. No freakin’ way can you do that. Do you realize how Dangerous that will be?! For you and Zazzy, but mainly You?!”
Skye walked over, and kissed her husband’s cheek before replying; “Co on, love. Ya ken it’s the only way ta save the peace treaty that we were sent ta secure. Give one good reason I shouldna try?”
Before Tidas could speak, Peggy chid in with a tone that sent a shiver down even Genie’s backside; “Over My Dead Body are ya gonna be bloody target practice fer a bunch of Ninjas!”
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