The Twilight Ocean

[Haruhiko]

Hey, thought I'd try writing a fanfic again. Please R&R, even if you think it sucks, I don't care. A little bit of language, but then again SD is filled with it. Enjoy...or don't...your choice ^-^
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Prologue

The warm air whipped through his fine, thick-brown hair, buffetting it wildly but bringing a comfortable sensation. He closed his eyes and welcomed the smell of the fresh salty air, admiring the feeling of being on the open seas again. Sixteen-year-old Kael Yulnar smiled as the cool ocean spray spread over his face from far below, leaning over the port side of his uncle’s triple-masted galley and watching as dolphins started racing the ship far below.

“So much better than being cooped up on that island, eh lad?” His uncle said from behind him. He gazed down at the dolphins that Kael had been watching with his own pale-blue ones, smiling as well and rubbing his gray-beard. His hair was a tangle mass of a gray and had a kind but wrinkly tanned face. Despite being middle-aged, he was filled with vigor, especially when they went out on another merchant run.

“Yeah,” Kael replied, watching as the dolphins suddenly retreated beneath the surface.

“Ya know, six years ago, those things wouldn’t be ‘round. I’m tellin’ ya, the seas were once fishless, and now look! Dolphins! Amazing, eh?” Kael nodded. His uncle, Jack, had told him all about it. The darkness coming from the rocky Forbidden Fortress, and then the sudden apperance of the tower. It was the talk of Windfall Island, and new rumors were popping up everywhere. One mentioned it was a boy who stopped all of this. And now, supposedly, they were trying to unite the islands under one nation.

In the belly of the ship was a collection of goods to be traded at Dragon Roost Island, but the ship was going southward for Outset. His Aunt, Elfriede, lived there, not liking the heavily populated islands. Along with his friend Link, although he hasn’t seen him for six years. The crew, made up of sixty men, were all working on the rigging and doing checks, and soon, they were all wandering the deck, finished with work. His Uncle went away from the edge of the wooden ship and congratulated them all, telling them to pass around the beer and have lunch.

Kael adjusted his long-sleeved cotton shirt uncomfortably and pulled up his beige-colored trousers that were tucked into his ebony-colored boots. A thin but durable rapier was at his side, although he usually prefered the Rito’s ancient weapon—the katana.

The ship lurched. Suddenly, all eyes turned to the stern. The water had suddenly become flat and less foamy as they approached the tower which his Uncle had told him about. It stood towering over them and the ship, dark clouds swirling over it. Amazed and anxious at the same time, Kael made his way to the stern along with his uncle.

The seas raged around them. Winds billowed and began tearing at the sails. Instantly, men began climbing upward to untie it. His uncle remained speechless, watching as more dark clouds began circling around them.

“Even after all these years,” he began wearily. “The seas still remain with their secrets and dangers. Captain-Pilot, turn west and face wind! Drop anchor! Prepare the cannon and shot below decks!”

“Cannon, uncle?” Kael asked, blinking. “This is just a storm, so why…”

“No storm, me boy!” he said. “This be the work of a monster.”

And as if he were a soothsayer, the ship lurched forward. Silence settled on all them. After a few moments, a rain, starting at a trickle then increasing in size and output, poured onto them. The Captain-Pilot, a young man with a short brown beard, spun the wooden wheel to the port side on the deck.

“Gods, I hope your watching over me,” his uncle said. Kael dashed below decks, and amongst the sweating crew, began rolling cannon into position.

The gunman shouted upward, “To which side, Cap’n-General? Port or starboard!?”

“Starboard!”

“Aye!”

As one, the rolled the cannon forward, the wheels straining the wooden floor beneath them. Sunlight was no more, and the seas began to rage even more. They locked the cannon into place and prepared the shot. “Ready!”

“Hold your fire!”

“Obviously!” The gunman muttered, seeing no target. All the was to their side was a whirlpool. Growing more and more in diameter and cicumference.

A white tentacle lashed at them from the middle of the whirlpool, smashing into the side of the hull. Men roared, and fuses were lit. When the ship settled, the gunman heard the order from his uncle, and open fired.

The mantle of a squid erupted from the surface and the cannon balls hit it directly. A defeaning roar shook through their ears, and watched as yellow eyes peered at them. A Giant Octorok.

More tentacles lashed out at them, slamming harder against the hull. Bits of debris scattered downward into the water, getting sucked into the whirlpool. So was the ship. More shots were fired, but none seemed to make the monster hurt. Just annoyed it.

“Eyes!” Kael shouted.

“We can’t aim at ‘em, boy! Cannon can only shoot for’ard down here!”

“Try, damn you!”

“Who do you think you are kid? Whatever, try it! Wait to hit one of the bastard’s eyes!”

Ocean spray kicked into the starboard holes, blinding them momentarily. The floor was slowly flooding with water, and two men took to the pumps, draining it as fast as they could. Kael squint against the mist and noticed one was aiming directly at the eye.

“Fire number three!” he called.

“Do it!” The gunman ordered.

A defeaning blast issued from the cannon, and then they heard the Giant Octo roar in pain. Kael whooped and watched as its eye turned red. Thanks for teaching me that, Link! Kael thought happily.

The ship lurched again as more tentacles slammed against the side. One of them grabbed a man and tossed him across the sea. Kael watched in horror as another was taken. Then another. Then finally, a slimy green tentacle snapped across his own waist. He quickly drew the rapier and impaled it through it, but only a trickle of blood escaped from it. He was pulled through the hole.

The mists washed over his face, and the rains drenched him. Pure fear overtook him as he stared at the white and purple Octo, all of its yellow eyes on him. He heard his uncle shout something from the ship, but it was muffled by the wind. The tentacle holding Kael lashed outward to see, sending him flying.

His face chilled. His body froze. The sea rushed underneath him as he sped toward his doom. In a small part of open-ocean he began descending, speeding for the water. He closed his eyes as what felt like cement slammed across his head.

[Selah]

Great fic; I really liked it! Your descriptions of the characters' various actions were great, and the precision of the vocabulary associated with the ship, and everything contained, was magnificent. I love detailing of that sort; it brings the story to life in the reader's mind. I, having no knowledge concerning ships, am impressed with your erudition, as it is evinced through this story. I look forward to chapter 2!