Post by Doc on Mar 26, 2012 21:41:26 GMT -5
Without another word, Ren returned to the helm. Removing the blades he'd planted to hold the wheel steady, he sheathed them in a single motion, gripping the wheel tightly in preparation for the madness that was sure to ensue. The two ships that were in front of them had seemed to have made up their minds about crashing into them. But as they drew closer, Ren realized that the angle was wrong, that they would collide with each other before they hit the smaller vessel. They went out wider to try and pinch the ship properly, but it seemed at that moment that the waves and the winds had their own ideas of what was to occur. As they reached the base, the current seemed to pick up, sending the ship forward at a much faster pace. The sail seemed to billow outward, straining to contain the enormous wind that now threatened to rend it apart. They surged past the two ships, and for a moment Ren thought that they might actually catch them, but in the blink of an eye they sped past, careening almost haphazardly towards Reverse Mountain.
The sudden increase in speed had momentarily left Ren speechless. He was unused to steering a ship at such a pace, though he was sure he could handle it. The more pressing matter was the ships that were no doubt in hot pursuit. As if in reply to his fears, he heard a voice above deck that he recognized as Aubrey shout "“Justin! Stall those ships! Ponte, fire those cannons. Fire when ready!” He expected there to be numerous cannon fire, but for a brief moment, all he heard was a single shot, probably from a rifle. The next shot he heard was a few moments later, a much softer shot that was soon accompanied by an enormous explosion behind them. He half wanted to step on deck and see what had happened, but he knew his place was at the helm. He knew that everyone was counting on him to steer them through this.
The closer they drew to the mountain, the more ferocious the waves were in turn. The ship began to rock to and fro in response to the increased power of the waves. Even with Ren struggling to keep the ship under control, the ship still pitched and swayed without end. As they neared the gate, he was shocked to see what he could only describe as a type of net hanging over the entrance. He gaped at it for a moment, more in awe and surprise then panic. At the speed they were going, they'd tear through it like wet paper. As the ship began its ascent, it hit the net, and with almost no resistance moved right through it, as he'd thought. He wasn't really bothered by it, but he figured he'd better mention it to the crew later. No telling what it could mean. As the ship began its vertical rise, he heard cannon fire behind them. The cannon balls struck the mountain on either side of them, the result of the waves taking the toll on their aim. Counting it as a blessing, Ren did his best to steer the ship through each gate as they went higher.
The ship picked up even more speed, the power of the waves nearly throwing it into the rock wall on either side. Planting his feet firmly, Ren rested his hands palm down on both sides of the grips that stuck out on the wheel. The waves tried to force the ship in either direction, but he held firm, his mouth a grim slash of determination, as they rode ever higher. He knew that at least one of the ships was still in pursuit, so it was imperative that they made it out as safely as possible. It would be their death sentence if the ship was even partially damaged and unable to evade pursuers. After what seemed an eternity of holding the ship steady, they soon reached the summit. At the speed they were going, they reached the point where the currents from all the different sides collided as one, and in response to that the ship took to the air. Ren could feel himself hanging in the air, an experience that he'd never had while on a ship this large. "Oh god..." he breathed, his stomach tightening into a knot. They hung there for no more then a few moments, before the ship came hurtling down back to the waves below. "Never again..." Ren said, fighting to hold in the vomit that threatened to reveal itself. As the ship returned down to the water, they began their descent into the Grand Line. Raising his voice he called out "Well boys, brace yourselves. We're coming up on the Grand Line!"
The sudden increase in speed had momentarily left Ren speechless. He was unused to steering a ship at such a pace, though he was sure he could handle it. The more pressing matter was the ships that were no doubt in hot pursuit. As if in reply to his fears, he heard a voice above deck that he recognized as Aubrey shout "“Justin! Stall those ships! Ponte, fire those cannons. Fire when ready!” He expected there to be numerous cannon fire, but for a brief moment, all he heard was a single shot, probably from a rifle. The next shot he heard was a few moments later, a much softer shot that was soon accompanied by an enormous explosion behind them. He half wanted to step on deck and see what had happened, but he knew his place was at the helm. He knew that everyone was counting on him to steer them through this.
The closer they drew to the mountain, the more ferocious the waves were in turn. The ship began to rock to and fro in response to the increased power of the waves. Even with Ren struggling to keep the ship under control, the ship still pitched and swayed without end. As they neared the gate, he was shocked to see what he could only describe as a type of net hanging over the entrance. He gaped at it for a moment, more in awe and surprise then panic. At the speed they were going, they'd tear through it like wet paper. As the ship began its ascent, it hit the net, and with almost no resistance moved right through it, as he'd thought. He wasn't really bothered by it, but he figured he'd better mention it to the crew later. No telling what it could mean. As the ship began its vertical rise, he heard cannon fire behind them. The cannon balls struck the mountain on either side of them, the result of the waves taking the toll on their aim. Counting it as a blessing, Ren did his best to steer the ship through each gate as they went higher.
The ship picked up even more speed, the power of the waves nearly throwing it into the rock wall on either side. Planting his feet firmly, Ren rested his hands palm down on both sides of the grips that stuck out on the wheel. The waves tried to force the ship in either direction, but he held firm, his mouth a grim slash of determination, as they rode ever higher. He knew that at least one of the ships was still in pursuit, so it was imperative that they made it out as safely as possible. It would be their death sentence if the ship was even partially damaged and unable to evade pursuers. After what seemed an eternity of holding the ship steady, they soon reached the summit. At the speed they were going, they reached the point where the currents from all the different sides collided as one, and in response to that the ship took to the air. Ren could feel himself hanging in the air, an experience that he'd never had while on a ship this large. "Oh god..." he breathed, his stomach tightening into a knot. They hung there for no more then a few moments, before the ship came hurtling down back to the waves below. "Never again..." Ren said, fighting to hold in the vomit that threatened to reveal itself. As the ship returned down to the water, they began their descent into the Grand Line. Raising his voice he called out "Well boys, brace yourselves. We're coming up on the Grand Line!"