• A man leaned over the railing, adding his digested lunch to the vast ocean. He stared down into the water, anxiously waiting for the moment they got to shore. He wasn't used to this pirating business, being on sea that is. He enjoyed a good fight but he wasn't at all that sea-worthy. Flipping his long black ponytail back, he took a handkerchief to his mouth and looked to the tall pillar in the middle of the ocean.

    Earlier that morning, a man had mysteriously appeared on the ship and instructed them to sail to that pillar. He told them of the large population who were skilled in mechanics, the nice hill to build a castle on. A great island for Bear King to settle on and command his pirates from his throne. This pleased their captain, and he commanded all twenty ships to change their course for Clockwork Island.

    The sick man walked across the deck, the swaying of the ship churned his stomach agonizingly but he kept his cool while he was among his inferiors. He was flamboyantly dressed in light purple tights with a black diamond pattern, plum purple boots, gloves and a vest. Around his neck was a bunch of yellow feathers that was connected to his cape that split into two red "wings" with yellow pom-poms at the end. He put his left hand over the hilt of his rapier that was strapped to his waist. Other pirates saw him do this gesture and they turned to act like they were working. They surely didn't want to get in trouble with him.

    When the man passed the pirates, he wiped his face with his gloved hand. His skin was very pale, not human. Across his face was a scar, the stitches still remained. It started from the upper right side of his face and came down across the bridge of his nose to the lower left corner of his face. He was embarrassed by this scar and wished to hunt down the man who caused it. His face was decorated with a blue tear drop on his left cheek and a stretched, red diamond over his right eye. He looked like a clown among these ruffian pirates. In fact, he was a clown.

    "Pin Joker-san, we are nearing the island that the man mentioned this morning," the navigator said to the clown as he approached him.

    "Good. I hope that man wasn't lying about the island," Pin Joker said as he put his hands on the rail and stared at the pillar that reached to the heavens above. His mind trailed back to the moment the man in purple appeared on the ship.

    -flashback-

    "Excuse me, sir. I hear you are looking for a place to settle?"

    Pin Joker turned to see a man clad in purple, grinning from under his top hat. He did not recognise this man. How did he get on the ship? "Yes, Bear King-sama is wanting to settle a kingdom but how would you know about that?" He placed his hand on the hilt of his rapier, ready to attack.

    "I know more than you think I do, Prince Jorik Aena," the man smirked as Pin Joker motioned for him to stop, "Oh, high elf prince of the mystical-"

    He stopped when Pin Joker poked his neck with the end of the rapier. "Can we continue this conversation somewhere private?" the clown whispered, desperate to hide his true identity.

    Pin Joker shut the door behind him and stared at the man who spun around in the swivel chair like a child. How could this man know about his origin? Pin Joker slammed his fists on the table in front of the man and soon regretted it as his knuckles throbbed. He clenched his teeth in pain and asked the man's name through his teeth.

    "Chester P. Cheshire, at your service. Whether it be for a breath, an hour, a week or a million years. The choice is your's as long as you sign the dotted line," he recited his business slogan with a large grin.

    "Mr. Cheshire, how do you know about me and why have you come here?" Pin Joker paced the room with his arms behind his back.

    "I know about you because I can be everywhere at once yet nowhere in sight. I have come here because I have an opportunity for you and your captain," Chester stood up from the chair and stared into Pin Joker's face.

    "What is my opportunity?" he whispered, curious.

    "A princess awaits you on a nearby island. At the same time, this island is free for the taking. There is a beautiful spot to build a castle on and the people there are excellent workers."

    "A princess, huh?" the clown rubbed his jaw bone with his thumb, fantacizing what this princess could possibly look like.

    "She's beautiful, my prince. I reared her up myself into a fine young woman. But, before you even consider it, you must fight me first and show me your strength," Chester pulled the purple stone from his cane and a long rapier came out of the cane that fell to the floor. "I can't let a weak prince with no skill marry her."

    "Agreed!" Pin Joker smiled as he pulled his rapier from his belt and met Chester's rapier with his. "As we fight, will you describe her to me?"

    "Sounds like a good deal, just don't get distracted," he slid his sword across Pin Joker's and thrusted it towards his heart.

    Pin Joker quickly dodged and in turn, lunged at Chester's side but the man in purple disappeared.

    "She'll be turning seventeen fairly soon and she stands about five and a half feet tall," his voice said throughout the room.

    Pin Joker followed the voice outside and found Chester waiting for him on the stairs to the deck. He lunged at Chester but got pushed back by the silver rapier with the purple stone glinting at the pommel. Pin Joker went forward again and again, rapiers clashing as pirates stood around and watched.

    "Long blonde hair, deep blue eyes and the loveliest skin," Chester grinned as his face neared Pin Joker's, "Her lips are soft and pink, I'm sure her kisses would be like an angel's."

    Pin Joker chuckled to himself as he dashed up beside Chester and thrusted the rapier into Chester's chest but he disappeared again. "Play fair you cur!" Pin Joker yelled at the empty space that he had last seen him at.

    "She loves the ocean and she's curious about every oddity. Even though she seems uneducated, she learns quickly. She's very modest and she has manners." Chester poked Pin Joker in the back with the end of his rapier.

    Pin Joker grinned, defeated again. "What is her name?"

    "Alice."
    -end flashback-

    The man named Chester P. Cheshire had disappeared into thin air as he revealed the princess' name. Pin Joker didn't find the time to ask how he would find her in a crowd. He was sure there were going to be other people named Alice. He sighed knowing how hard it will be to find her. He would just have to wait and see what would happen. He grinned as he thought of a pretty little princess waiting for him to come and rescure her. Prince Jorik and Princess Alice, what a couple!