The sunlight streaming through the windows was barely enough to jostle me from my stone cold sleep, and upon lazily opening my eyes and glancing over to the digital alarm clock sitting on my nightstand, I realized with a jolt what time it was.
"Eight thirty?!" I jumped out of bed, bolting over to my dresser and rummaging for a matching pair of pants and a shirt. I'd overslept big time, and if I didn't get my tail moving I could punch in my tardy card early at school today. I threw on my clothes, swung my bookbag around one shoulder and, with a piece of toast in my mouth, breezed through the door and into the salty air. It always was a quaint little town, and with all the little boats docked neatly at the harbor it was easy to recall why it carried the name so well. "Steamport", named for the multitude of steamboats that were always coming and going. Or at least, that's where I heard the name came from, and I always loved the explanation. My dad was a sailor, so I admired the thought of boats influencing something that major. I quickly ran to the other side of the docks near our house just in time to catch my dad about to raise anchor.
"Mornin' dad!" I called out to him with a wave.
"Aren't you late for school Davie?" My dad flashed a knowing smile, and with a playful whisk of his tail he hinted I best be on his way.
"Well," I paused awkwardly,
"I am but-""No buts mister." My dad placed a hand on either hip with a chuckle,
"You best be going kiddo.""But dad I don't wanna go to school!" I barked pleadingly,
"I wanna go sailing with you!""Now, now," Davie's father spoke sternly,
"Get to school. The sea is dangerous, and not a place for a young'n like you.""Dad-!" I began, though he cut me off.
"I love you, son.""I love you too dad," There was no hope of winning this argument. I would know! I pleaded with him every single morning, and the answer was always the same. He had a good point I suppose, but I wanted so badly to go with him. To sail alongside my dad and go on an epic seafaring adventure!
However as my dad's boat pulled out from the harbor, it seemed I'd have to dream on after all. After a moment of standing and watching him go, it occurred to me that I was still about to be late to school, and with a start I ran off in hopes of getting there in time.
The day itself was uneventful, always are really. Nothing too interesting ever happens at school, except for stories about what fun other kids had out in the waters with their dads. I always wondered why my dad was so stubborn. After all, everybody else at school went out to sea and they always came back fine! I brought it up with him before, but he always brushed it under the rug or ignored me.
I walked leisurely on my way home, making sure to take the detour and walk by the seaside. It took a bit longer, sure, but I wasn't in a hurry. And somehow seeing the waves crash against the shore was… soothing to me.
By the time I got home, everyone was seated at the dinner table. Mom wasn't happy I came home later than normal, but she wasn't too cross.
"Davie!" She greeted from the kitchen,
"Come in, take a seat! You're late again...""Fashionably late, that is." I corrected with a giggle. Mom always joked about how I was late to everything, getting home of course being one of them. I tossed my bag aside and went to join mom and dad at the table. Macaroni and cheese was on the table, as well as green beans and rolls!
"What's the occasion?" I asked inquisitively. She'd set up my favorite meal, so I could only wonder what was up. She didn't always cook specially for me, and usually she tried to mix it up.
"Well," she began formally,
"your father and I have decided that-"
"I want you to come out to sea with me, Davie." My dad interjected, though my mom wasn't mad at him like she usually was. She just looked at him with a knowing smile and… concern in her eyes? I didn't understand why she looked worried, after all it wasn't dangerous.
"This weekend I'm going fishing and I want you to come with me.""Really?!" I beamed ecstatically, this was fantastic news! Finally I'd have a story to tell! An adventure of my own! This was going to be the best weekend ever!
"You're not kidding?!""No sir." Dad shook his head, ruffling my hair playfully. "
I've decided that you're old enough to make your own decisions, and that it's about time I taught you the ways of the sea." He glanced out the window and out at the docks where boats rocked subtly at the mercy of the tides.
I couldn't sleep that night. My mind was moving at a thousand miles an hour, and when I finally did drift off my dreams were of great adventure and the mysteries of the ocean blue. When I woke up the next morning and flung my head to the side to check my alarm clock I was pleased to see it was already eleven in the morning, so there wasn't much time left to wait! I hopped out of bed and quickly got dressed before making my way downstairs.
"Good morning!" I called enthusiastically, getting a responsive "
Morning!" from the kitchen.
I breezed into the kitchen to see mom working on a casserole of some kind.
"Dad already headed out?" I asked inquisitively. Dad was always the type to go double-check everything before setting sail.
"Yep." Mom nodded, turning her attention to me.
"You be careful out there today, okay Davie?""Yes m'am!" I saluted her jokingly with a goofy grin, and she hugged me tightly.
"Take care of your father, okay?" She smiled faintly, gently easing her grip on me.
"You got it mom." I smiled too,
"I love you.""Love you too, my little sailor." She whispered sweetly before letting me go.
"Now you better go help your father, I bet he could use your help.""Sure thing!" I grinned making my way towards the door,
"Take care, ma!""You too!" She called after me as I entered the salty air once more. I could see dad's boat from the porch, and he was already out at work just as mom and I had guessed. He was so overcautious, though that was part of his job as a sailor! I made my way towards the boat and it seemed dad already saw me, because he turned and waved.
"Mornin' son!" I called down to me,
"all aboard!"I made my way onto the ship and we soon set sail. Adventure never seemed so close, and I was so close to the sea I could feel the mist on my cheeks. Watching the fish jump in and out of the water was so cool! It was just me, my dad, and the ocean. And that was all I needed.
It was smooth sailing for a good long time, that is until the clouds rolled in.
"Looks like a storm's brewin'…" Dad glared out at the forming clouds, and something in his eyes told me this was beyond unexpected. I'd seen the weather forecast and nothing was mentioned about rain.
The storm hit harder and more suddenly than we could have expected, and we weren't prepared when the waves became violent and started rocking and tossing our ship like a plastic toy. Dad was on one side of the ship and I was on the other, there was a life raft on each side and even though I wanted to run and join him, there wasn't any time. The boat had hit a rock in it's disoriented state, there wasn't anything my dad could've done to redirect it and the boat was sinking. I hesitantly lowered the life raft, but the ship was already lost.
The ship sank deep into the water, and I caught a glimpse of my dad's life boat drifting in the opposite direction. I desperately extended a paw, and from the looks of it he did the same, but there was too much ocean between us… and soon I couldn't see him at all. The waves were still harsh, and the little life boats didn't fair any better than the boat itself. My raft tipped over and I was tossed into the cold water below.
I struggled to get to the surface, but the large life raft kept me submerged until my lungs began to fill with water and I began to sink.
Looking up I saw the circular shadow of the life boat above my head, and I couldn't help but cry.
What had this all been for?
Where was my adventure? My great and noble story?
It wasn't… It wasn't fair…
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. This was… never how it was supposed to happen.I desperately reached a paw outwards toward the raft, and before I knew it I had sunk deeper into the cold.
Please. I thought to myself, please let him be alright.
Please let my father be okay.There was a moment of silence before something… answered me.
Do you want to survive?The voice that entered my head and echoed inside it was deep and mysterious. It sounded almost… inhuman.
O-of course I do! I thought to myself. It was a simple question, and if I lived then I could find my dad! I could make sure he was alright!
That was enough for me.
Then… would you like to make a deal? The voice proposed.
W-what kind of deal..? I asked, suddenly uncertain of my resolve.
I'll give you power. Another chance. I felt the water pooling in my lungs, dragging me deeper and deeper into the ocean.
I'll save you.What's the catch? No catch… The voice muttered, and as it did I noticed my back land against something solid.
Cold stone pressed up underneath me, and as I turned with wondering eyes I noticed my lungs felt less… heavy. I felt like I was breathing, but that wasn't possible… was it? All around me my vision slowly began to focus, and the blobs of amorphous coral began to solidify until I could see clearly.
Startled I recoiled, I was in a city! The buildings were lean and skinny, tall golden structures that glittered. The pattern of light dancing across the water's surface swam along the seashore and I hesitantly proceeded further into the city, curiosity getting the better of me.
Come meet me, I'm in the center building. The voice instructed, though from something in it's tone it knew I'd come.
I found it pretty easily, after all the center building was huge! It towered above all the others, and despite the scene around it that building in particular was a large golden castle.
Come on in.And so I did. The door swung open ominously, and ignoring the feeling in my gut, I followed the voice's instruction and went inside. The floor was a checkerboard of white and black, and along the walls hung expensive sunken artifacts. I could only dare to dream how they got here! This was an adventure indeed, and I couldn't wait to tell my friends back at home! But… how would I ever get back home?
Right this way.The voice seemed to be coming from a large door not too much further down the hall. I bolted down as quickly as I could, and despite being surrounded by water I didn't feel any traction from the substance around me. It felt just like I was walking on dry land! Hesitantly I bounded up to the door which opened like it knew I was there, and as I stepped inside I was greeted with a strange sight.
There was treasure pooled around the room in endless mounds, only a small path remained leading up to a single golden throne. On the throne, sat a rather expectant… water… thing? How do I describe it…
He was big, really big, and it looked like he was entirely made of water. His form was somehow solid though, and he seemed almost like a dragon! He had a long snout, sharp teeth and a winding body. Thin watery wings folded at his sides, and a long flowing cape was fastened neatly around his neck. An exaggerated crown sat atop his head, and inside his liquid frame several crystals and coins simply floated in defiance of gravity.
Hello there. The beast greeted with a knowing smirk.
I take it you've come here for my proposition?Where are we? What is this place? I looked around the room wide eyed, dazed and shocked by a sight my eyes refused to accept as reality. I must've been hallucinating, or maybe I was dead, but right now the beast of water didn't seem to care either way.
Nautica. The underwater city. The creature looked at me like I was stupid, craning his head a bit to one side.
Where did you come from?Steamport! I blurted awkwardly.
I-it's a boating city!I know of Steamport, yes. The king ran his claws along the armrest of his throne, tapping them absentmindedly as he pondered something.
Did you come with someone?Yeah, I was with… My heart sank and my eyes fell, the guilt was almost as crushing as the water pressure.
My dad...You really love him, don't you?What sort of question was that?! I blurted out immediately,
of course I do!Do you want to save him? The beast's tone was… somber. Somehow snide and… powerful. He knew I couldn't refuse, but I could only wonder what he would take from me. What he could possibly want from a kid like me anyway.
Well? He paused, looking at me intently.
Yes. I answered, feigning confidence I didn't have.
I'd do anything.Anything? King's posture perked a bit, and I could tell I'd said something to interest the beast.
Absolutely. I nodded, surely there wasn't anything to loose. If this was all in my head, then I hadn't anything left to loose, not even my life.
Anything at all.Then I know just the trick. The beast cracked a grin, fishing for a moment in a pile of various antiques behind him before pulling free a roll of paper. With a flick of his wrist it uncoiled before me, fine print on weathered parchment and one looming blank space for a signature danced before my eyes.
Sign here. He nudged a quill pen beside me. I hesitated briefly, taking a moment to evaluate the decision. What exactly was he promising me anyway?
What're you offering me? I asked intently, trying with no success to read the strange document.
Power. The beast chuckled, rolling his eyes as if the answer was obvious.
I'll give you life. A second chance. I'll let you breathe in my kingdom of water, and give you fins so you can swim more elegantly than any land dwelling beast.A second chance? So I really was dead… How will this save my dad? I tried to hide the desperation in my voice, but it leaked out despite my best efforts.
With your new power you can search the ocean and find him again. The king glanced at a mirror on the wall that captured his image only a moment before showing me the image of a man floating on a lifeboat, and wide eyed I let out a cry.
Dad! I went to dash over to the mirror, to do anything to see him again, but king shot out an arm in disapproval.
Tsk tsk Davie. He mused, waving one tantalizing finger before me. Not until you sign. Then I'll tell you everything.
And that was all I needed to hear. In that instant I signed the document before me, and I felt myself loosing consciousness again. The world was swimming in a sea of black, and slowly I drifted out of the waking world.
Where am I? Who am I? This place sure is weird… there's a lot of sand and trees! I get the feeling there should be birds and other creatures too… I wonder where they are? Oh well. Hi there stranger! I'm Davie, Davie Jones! Nice to meet you, really! I should probably find somewhere to sleep, man am I tired! I have this nasty headache that I can't shake, and it's really annoying. Well since we're surrounded by water, I take it you're sailing out? Be careful! The ocean's really dangerous, you know.It's simple really. Davie is my second dream plumerian since Igneel, and I connect with him in a way that's completely unique way to his character. As soon as I saw him I knew what I was going to do, and that inspiration has given me motivation to draw and write so much about this wonderful plume. I love how simple his design is, and how beautiful it is. I felt drawn to Davie instinctively for the same reasons I did Igneel, though it was mostly a strong connection that fueled my decision to ultimately try my hand at another hundred plumerian. I honestly never pictured myself here again, but here I stand. All because of a dedicated and honest connection. I love dark bases and bright markings, not to mention striking eyes, all of which Davie demonstrates well. If Davie were completely common, I would tryout all the same because I love how he looks and in drawing him all this time I've grown very attached to how he flows overall.