Waking up was painful.
Jackson's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he felt was an unbearable ache in his head and the sting of multiple wounds across his body. His chest was tight, and his legs ached as if they had been dragged through a storm. He groaned, trying to shift but immediately regretting the movement. Every muscle screamed in protest, a reminder of the brutal battle he had just survived.
But as he lay there, disoriented, Jackson heard a familiar voice above him. The captain's voice—William Fox, the man who commanded the Bell Leah—carried across the deck, calm but authoritative, as he gave orders. Jackson's mind raced, trying to piece everything together.
The pirates… he thought. Did we win?
The sound of the captain's voice, ordering the crew around, was enough to tell him that things had settled down. The pirates had been repelled. They had to have been.
Before Jackson could gather more thoughts, the door to the small cabin creaked open, and Griff stepped inside. The older sailor's face was serious, but there was something softer in his eyes as he saw Jackson awake.
"Good to see you up, kid," Griff said, his voice gruff but with an underlying warmth. "We thought we might have lost you there for a while."
Jackson shifted slightly, wincing at the pain that still radiated through his body. "What happened? The fight... did we win?"
Griff nodded, sitting down beside him on the small bunk. "Yeah, we managed to push them back. They weren't expecting you to take out their captain like that."
Jackson blinked, confused for a moment, then the memory came rushing back to him. The pirate captain, his monstrous form, dragging him into the water, the battle for his life... and then the explosion that sent them both tumbling off the ship. "I got him...?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
"Damn right you did," Griff chuckled. "The captain never saw it coming. When you went overboard with that bastard, we thought it was over. We couldn't see what was going on under the water. But when you both came back up, the captain was all but done for. You took the fight to him. After that, the rest of his crew panicked and scattered."
Jackson's mind was still foggy from the aftermath of the fight, but hearing Griff's words helped put the pieces together. The explosion. The fight in the water. The Bell Leah crew must have taken advantage of the chaos left by the pirate captain's defeat.
Griff continued, his voice steady. "The rest of the crew didn't know what hit them. You may not have known it, but you took the heart out of their whole operation when you took out that captain. With their leader gone, they didn't know what to do. They tried to fight back, but without their captain's leadership, they were easy pickings. The rest of them surrendered after a while. Those that didn't are tied up below deck."
Jackson sat up slightly, feeling the dizziness of the world spinning around him. "Two days?" he managed to ask. "How long have I been out?"
"Yeah, it's been two days since we got you back on board," Griff said, his expression softening. "You took a nasty beating, but you're tough. You're gonna make it."
Jackson felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, but he forced himself to sit up, taking a deep breath. "Loguetown..." He had heard the crew talking before, and now he was piecing it together. "We're heading there to turn over the pirates, right?"
Griff nodded. "That's right. We'll dock there, unload the cargo, and deal with the pirates. The captain's got plans to get us back on course after that. It'll be a bit of a detour, but it's worth it. We'll make sure they don't cause any more trouble."
A grin tugged at the corner of Jackson's mouth. "I guess I did more than just survive. I helped end it."
Griff chuckled, his rough voice warmer than usual. "You sure did, kid. I've seen a lot of fighters, but that was something special. The captain and the rest of the crew are amazed at how you handled yourself. We all thought you were just some kid with big dreams. But after what you did? You've earned a place on this ship, no question. I don't think anyone's doubting your strength anymore."
Jackson's chest swelled with a quiet pride, but the pain in his body quickly reminded him that it had been no easy victory. "It wasn't easy. I thought I was done for, especially with that guy dragging me under the water. I just... didn't want to give up."
Griff smiled, his eyes glinting with approval. "That's the spirit. That determination is what makes you more than just a swordsman or a fighter. It makes you a damn good crewmate."
Jackson nodded, though he knew he still had a long way to go. He had proven himself to the crew, but there was still so much more to learn.
Griff stood up and clapped Jackson lightly on the shoulder. "The captain's gonna want to see you when you're up and about. He's got a lot of respect for you now. But for now, take it easy. You did more than enough."
Jackson let out a slow breath, sinking back into the bed, his body aching but his spirit soaring. The crew had won, the pirates had been repelled, and he had earned their respect.
He was part of the Bell Leah now, for real. And there was a whole new world out there waiting for him to face it.
As Jackson lay there, recovering from the brutal fight and the grueling aftermath, the buzz of excitement from the crew filtered through the walls of his cabin. The moment it became known that he was awake, the commotion on deck shifted to a new focus. It wasn't long before the door creaked open and several of the crew members filed in, their expressions a mixture of awe and admiration.
"Look who finally decided to wake up!" Griff called out, a grin tugging at his lips as he stood in the doorway.
Jackson smiled weakly, feeling the weight of their attention on him, but also the warmth of their respect. One by one, the crew filed into the cabin, each of them offering their congratulations in their own way.
"You really saved our asses, kid," said one of the sailors, a burly man named Rafe, slapping Jackson on the shoulder with a thud that made him wince. "Took down that captain like it was nothing."
"Yeah, didn't think a kid like you had it in him," another crew member added, shaking his head with disbelief. "But you really pulled through. You earned a hell of a lot of respect today."
Jackson felt a swell of pride, despite the exhaustion pulling at him. "It was nothing," he muttered, though he couldn't help but feel a bit of pride at their praise. "Just doing my part."
"You did a hell of a lot more than that," Griff said, his tone more serious now. "You took out their captain—took the heart out of their crew. Without you, I don't think we would've had the upper hand. You're the reason they surrendered."
"True enough," Rafe added. "That guy was a monster. I don't think anyone else could have stood up to him like you did."
Just then, the door opened again, and this time, Captain William Fox entered the room, his booming presence filling the small space. He was a short man, but his commanding demeanor was larger than life. He looked down at Jackson with a thoughtful expression, the corners of his lips curled into a smile.
"Jackson," the captain said, his voice rich with approval. "I've been hearing a lot of praise from the crew about you. They're right. You showed guts and skill out there. That was a fight most men wouldn't have survived, let alone won. I respect that."
Jackson gave a small smile, trying to sit up straighter despite the aching in his body. "I was just trying to do my part, Captain. Just doing what needed to be done."
Captain Fox's smile widened, clearly pleased with Jackson's response. "Well, your efforts haven't gone unnoticed. You've proven yourself to be more than just a deckhand. You've earned your place on this ship, and then some." He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "Because of that, I've decided to promote you."
Jackson blinked in surprise, not expecting this at all. "Promote me, Captain?"
Fox nodded. "That's right. From now on, you're our new gunner."
Jackson's eyes widened. "Gunner? But... isn't that a big responsibility?"
Captain Fox chuckled. "You're right. It is. As gunner, you'll be responsible for managing the weapons and ammunition on this ship, ensuring that the cannons are properly maintained and ready for battle at a moment's notice. You'll also have to keep track of the weaponry, make sure it's in working order, and load them when needed. It's a critical role—especially if we find ourselves in conflict again. A ship without weapons is a ship that can't defend itself, and we've seen how quickly that can turn bad."
Jackson felt a rush of excitement—and a twinge of nerves. Managing weapons? Cannons? He had no experience with that, but the captain had faith in him.
"It also comes with increased pay," Captain Fox added, as if reading Jackson's mind. "You'll be making more than you were as a deckhand. Not to mention, it comes with more responsibility. You're trusted with the safety of this ship and the crew. But after what you did—how you handled yourself out there—I believe you're more than capable."
The weight of the words hit Jackson. It wasn't just about firing cannons. It was about responsibility, trust, and taking a leadership role in the ship's defense. He could already feel the weight of it settling on his shoulders.
"Thank you, Captain," Jackson said, his voice steady but filled with gratitude. "I won't let you down."
"You've already proven you won't," Captain Fox replied with a grin. "The crew and I trust you. You've earned it. Now, get some rest, because once we're docked in Loguetown, there'll be plenty of work to do."
As the crew members filed out one by one, offering their congratulations and a few hearty pats on the back, Jackson was left alone with his thoughts. His body ached from the fight, but his spirit soared. He had gone from a deckhand to the ship's gunner, and now he had the trust of Captain Fox and the crew.
For the first time since he had boarded the Bell Leah, Jackson felt like he truly belonged.
And as the ship sailed on, heading for Loguetown, Jackson knew that this was just the beginning of a much bigger adventure. The world was out there, full of danger and opportunity, and he was ready to face whatever came next.