I HAVE A FRIEND! AN ACTUAL FRIEND!

[Denzel celebrates with a lot of maniacal laughter but hey he's happy. Even if he sounds batshit insane he's overjoyed.]


[Locked to Asami]

Speaking of which, your advice on how to cure nightmares did help... That and a hot bath.

[Voice | Public]

I regret to say Aida Mana and her friends have all disappeared. Hopefully, they are safely back in their homeworld. It seems my crew continues have bad luck when it comes to keeping people around...

Of course, this leaves me with no choice but to succeed Mana's position as the captain of The Friend Ship. [A small sigh.] I should have known suggesting that name would come back to haunt me.

[Written | Private to the Friend Ship crew]

Mana left behind a message for all of us. I will copy it here.

( Cut OOCly for length )

[VOICE]
So, I was wondering...

[Actually, he wasn't wondering. He's just got some downtime and he's too riled up from the day's adventures to kick back and relax just yet.]

What's the best thing that's happened to you since you got here and joined a crew? Or, if you can't think of a "best", then how about talking about which islands you visited or what day was the most memorable for you?

[ACTION]
[Asbel closes the journal and rolls over onto his stomach. Man, this is no fun at all. He's been running around everywhere and he's even pretty exhausted, but he just can't fall asleep. Maybe it's because he's started wondering about Mom and Dad and Sophie and everyone else again.]

[It's unbelievable to think he'd be feeling homesick after all this time, right? Heaving a sigh, Asbel's chin clunks down on his arms and he shuts his eyes, feeling the need to announce with seeming indifference:]

Can't sleep.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well and having safe travels! That Navy thing was really scary, huh?

[It's either pleasantries for the sake of being polite or he honestly wants to know...either way, he's moving onto why he really made this entry.]

Aaannyway, I wanted to ask before but I sorta forgot -- does anyone know any songs? Happy ones?

[Honey isn't asking because he wants to be a friendly person or serenade the people using the journals.

More like he's asking so he can continue to stuff his greedy little non-tooth brushing face. Having successfully entered Candy Island's weird invisible barrier the first time by song - Honey doesn't see anything wrong with the logic that using the same tactics would work again!]

No reason why! Just looking for something to pass the time and I've already used up all the ones I know!

[What a liar. But who would want to share Candy Island especially when he's the king now? Self decreed of course.]

What happens if you eat somethin' really, really important and need to get it back and making yourself throw up doesn't work?

[Yeah, he's already considered the natural order of things too.]

[If you're on the same ship Guy's on, you'll find him in the galley, puzzling over a small, colorful pile of partially broken eggs. Beside that is a smaller pile of candy bracelets and necklaces.]

So these eggs that keep turning up everywhere...

Has anyone found any that aren't cooked? I was hoping to make something with them, but they're all hard-boiled alrea--huh?

[He trails off, attention diverted. There's a surprised yelp and then a sound like the journal hitting the floor. Then Guy's voice again, slightly muffled and panicked.]

Anise, please d-don't sneak up behind me like that...you'll give me a heart attack one of these days.

[The journal is open, but upside down on the floor, and he's making no movement to pick it up, so it's probably still 'recording'.]

 I kind of have a question for everyone. 

My friend Hajime left some things in front of me here, you know, scissors, glue, paper...things like that. I don't know what to make with it.

What would you guys make with it?

[Upon his arrival, he's noted that words sort of just...appear in the book. He's also noted the voices and sounds he's hearing from it. Well, he might as well take a shot in the dark.

He's going to keep a level head as he writes the following:]

Would someone be kind enough to explain the situation of this place? I'm going to assume this book is enchanted, and works as a means of communicating with others.

[Hours later, he's copying the poem on the boulder down.]

Behold this ruby,
Centuries old.
Its power is great,
True depths untold.
What once was whole,
Now in parts 'tis shattered.
Having it all,
Aye, that's what matters.
Rebuild the gem
And whatever ye wish will be.
Whether wealth, good fortune,
Mayhap the chance to flee.
Strangers listen:
Take heed, take care.
Or be lost forever
To Davy Jones' lair.

[It's after writing this, that he will be found sitting next to the fountain mulling this over.]

Ummm... [There was a sound of things getting knocked over and the sound of animals moving about, making their usual noise. It sounded like chaos whatever was going on.]

Question... Does one know how to stop a goat from eating all the food? I've tried taking it off them, but they then eat something else and I've lost a good skirt that way already. I'm kind of running out of options.

[Another loud crash as Lenalee had gone to move.]

Please, let go of that. It might seem tasty, but we need it to last a while longer. [Crashes, stern words being told and bahing were all one could hear for at least two minute before she returned.]

The goat is trying to hit my hair. If it keeps trying to eat everything, I cannot say it will be staying in one piece, so please someone come take him away. [So close to getting angry enough that the goat will be getting kicked off the boat. If that it literally or not is another question.]

Those of you who have been here for long -- have you noticed any patterns in who disappears and who stays? One would think seven months of vanishing crewmates would reveal something, but so far it still seems random.

[Someone is mildly annoyed to have found most of his homeworld friends gone.]

One wonders if they all simply returned back home... It would certainly be convenient if all we had to do was wait for Davy Jones to grow bored of our presence. None of this troublesome shard hunting.

Then again, I suppose that would be too easy, wouldn't it?

[What appear to be bite marks appear on one corner of the page, followed by a spreading water stain, indicating that something is chewing on the edge of an open journal. (And drooling.) Moments later, there's a sound of things clattering to the floor as someone rushes across the room, presumably to salvage the book.]

Yo-chan, no!! Bad boy! Bad!

[It sounds like there's a bit of a scuffle and the gnawing and drooling ceases, but there's a loud thump and a yelp of pain, then the sound of thick claws scrabbling across wood.]

No, get back here! Don't--

[And then a crash and a parrot squawking.]

Damn it all!

Hello, everyone! I trust you're all safe! It's been a very dangerous time, hasn't it?

I just wanted to let everyone know that those of us on the ship that was called the "Shepherd" are all alright! Unfortunately... our vessel didn't quite come out of the battle with the Navy unscathed...

Fortunately, we made it to Port Chance, and have successfully attained a new ship! We felt it was best that we step out on our own, so it's been given a new name from the old one... in fact... it was our first mate Jade who gave me the wonderful idea for what to call it!

Are you all ready for this?

Our new ship... is called "The Friend Ship"!

It's such a great name! It works on so many levels! We'll be setting sail on it this weekend, so here's hoping calm seas await us!

[locked to the crew of "The Friend Ship"]

Jade-san wasn't the only one with a good idea! I spoke to Asbel-kun and he suggested we all carve our names or initials on a particular part of the ship! I think that's a great idea, personally, so if anyone wants to do it before we set off, just let me know!

Good evening to everyone else reading this: I'm Flynn Scifo formerly of the Imperial Knights in Terca Lumireis. I understand that this is common method of communication here and that a lot of you must not be from this world to begin with so I suppose it's important to establish some new acquaintances through this.

I was wondering how long everyone has been here and what their experiences with this world has been like? And of the Piedra Roja ... has anyone actually come close to acquiring this jewel?

That's all for now, I suppose. Thank you for reading.

-- Flynn Scifo

Hey everypony, human, bear, mermaid, alligator, annnnnd...new arrivals!

I'm still searching for Candy Mountain, but in the meantime, here's a question!

How many of you know somepony with the same name as you or your friends?!

Back home, nopony ever had the same name! Or maybe somepony else has my name in a faaaaarrr away land and I'd have to travel day and night, night and day, then some more days and nights to ever meet them! But it's really weird to know somepony else would have my name! I mean, if I'm named after one of my ancestors, then that's totally different!

Bring all your answers soon, guys! SEE YA!

[audio/action]

[Asch has been stuck on this island for one night and he already hates it. It's not even a particularly nasty island, but this town is full of people who don't want anything to do with him-- and he doesn't want anything to do with them, either. Plus, when he asked about people dying, he got a door slammed in his face. Rude.

Having figured out that the journal is capable of both recorded and written communication, he's taking advantage of it while he lingers in the town square.]

Is there no one on this island who knows how to operate a boat? I have enough money to buy a small ship, but hiring crewmen is impossible. These people won't even take gold for it. This is a seaside community; having no one who will steer a boat makes no sense. They're avoidant on purpose.

[He hmphs a bit.]

Finding a company of competent people is going to be harder than I thought.

This has been... really overdue, but it's time I finally spoke up.

Regarding the statements I made while under the control of the witch... I am incredibly sorry and regret all of them. I'm sure many of you know that, were I in my right mind, I would never have made such claims. However, as the Captain of the Shepherd, I'm still completely responsible for them.

So, to everyone I threatened, to the other crews I made an enemy of when... not myself, I humbly ask your forgiveness. What was said in the past is in the past... the mission I believe in for my crew is one where we can all sail the seas as friends in safety and harmony.

As for the crew of the Shepherd...

... I owe you the biggest apology of all. I failed you. I attacked you. And even if it wasn't me, I, again, bear the responsibility of what I did. I want to do everything I can to make you all trust me again...

[from here on, Mana's voice begins to crack]

... but at the same time, I don't think I can serve you all to the best of my abilities. I... I and the people closest to me have a lot to work through, a lot to work out, and I... I just need to step away from my duties for a little while and concentrate on them...

I am deeply, deeply sorry. In this time, I'd like to put Jade Curtiss in temporary command once again, until the time I am able to return to my duties...

[she lets out a final, weary sigh. This was something she'd wrote out, and rewrote several times, and this time, she'd done it without asking Rikka for help. The fact a fourteen year old put this together and spoke this way may be somewhat shocking to people...]

That's all. Th-thank you all for your time...

[To begin with, there's only the stony grind of a grinding wheel, the creaking pump of a foot pedal spinning it and the wet sound of metal being sharpened on it. Archer, below deck, made no noise himself until a few more seconds of grinding, eventually pulling the blade away and inspecting it as he spoke.]

No one prefers being in this situation, but I suppose I should enjoy conversation while I have my chances. Chores and menial tasks have their place and while I have no interest in board games, I need a means of entertainment. So, I'll talk.

[The blade was returned and substituted for another, albeit smaller. Archer was now sharpening metal arrow-heads. He had many more to go through.]

But... I haven't done that in awhile. What in the world is there to talk about?

[WRITTEN]
what does strength mean to you? and how does a person become stronger?

[ACTION]
[Asbel sits quietly on one of the crates abovedeck. It's not really clear if he's in some sort of "time out" or if he's here for his own reasons, but what's plain is he doesn't have any intention of moving. A few hours have passed, and he hasn't so much as gotten up to stretch or even gotten up to his usual antics. Instead, the eleven-year-old appears to be thinking hard about something.]

[He said he wanted to become a knight someday; he still does. But what does being a knight really mean? How can he serve a king and protect a whole country full of people when he can't even protect his friends or his own little brother from danger?]

Of all the times to get sick...!

[ Oh, she accidentally hit record. It's a good thing she realized it pretty quickly, before her little rant got recorded besides that. She didn't want to leave everyone out to hang during all of the drama with the witch and possessions, but unfortunately, aura protected against injuries a lot better than it did against the flu.

But now she was better. Jaune had gone and joined a crew by now and Weiss? She had been planning to do the same since their original plans to have their own crew had gone slightly awry. Having sold the ship, she still owed Jaune half of the money for that. Well, that'll come up when it comes up. For now, if this thing is recording she might as well make a useful post out of it. ]

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that someone from another world is much more susceptible to the flu here. I'm glad that's over. Do people get sick here often or do I just have very bad luck?

[ Moving right along, she has a declaration to make: ]

Oh, and I'm joining The Shepherds.

[ Weiss you do not declare, you have to ask. ]

I don't mean to only sign up after the trouble's over, but I couldn't really avoid it.

[ Just because she likes a few people on the Shepherd's crew so far doesn't mean she'll be any good at taking orders from the captain, but she's trying! ]