Naval Battle Schneider Pirates

[Gambit]

Schneider’s grin widened as Rouge chuckled, feeling a momentary relief wash over the crew. But the sudden shift in Rouge’s gaze towards Gumpy sent a cold chill through the air.

From the crow’s nest, Gumpy’s eyes widened like saucers, his nervous hands gripping the edges of the platform tightly. He glanced down, trembling as he realized Rouge was pointing directly at him.

“W-What? Me?!” Gumpy stammered, his voice cracking. He looked around, desperate for some sort of escape, but there was none.

Schneider gave him an encouraging thumbs-up from below. "C’mon, Gumpy! You’ve got this, mate!"

Gumpy gulped hard. His mind raced. *A joke? My life depends on a joke?!* He wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath, trying to muster up the courage to speak.

“O-Okay, here goes...” Gumpy stammered, his voice barely audible at first. “Why... why did the scarecrow become a pirate?”

There was a pause, the entire crew holding their breath.

“Because... he was outstanding in his field!"

He gave a weak laugh, hoping against hope that it was enough to save his life.

 

[Infinity]

Schneider Pirates #6
@Gambit
“W-What? Me?!” The young man questioned in a panic. Rouge had chosen him to be the next one to tell a joke, and the demonic entity was confident he would fail to deliver.

"Yes, my friend! You're next in line!" Rouge said with his finger still pointed in his direction.

Sensing his crewmate's discomfort, Captain Schneider encouraged him on, having faith in capability to tell a good joke. Afterall, fun is what the Schneider Pirates were good at.

After steeling his will, Gumpy had finally mustered the courage. He would have to, his life depended on his performance.

“O-Okay, here goes..." He said, muttering to himself. Rouge's eyes glinted in anticipation. "Let's see what you've got...Gumpy."

"Why... why did the scarecrow become a pirate?” He asked, setting up the joke non confidently.

The silence was deafening, as Gumpy paused before laying down the punch line. Rouge raised his brow, wondering where he was going with this.

"Why?"

“Because... he was outstanding in his field!" He finished, giving a weak laugh.

Rouge slowly lowered his arm. His red eyes widened in shock as he processed the joke. It was corny, no doubt about it. But that only added to the hilarity for the demon.

"He was outstanding in his field..." He whispered to himself in disbelief. "He was out. Standing. In his field!"

Rouge fell backwards overwhelmed with laughter. "FUFUFUFUFUFUGUFUFUFUFUUU!! That was so stupid! Yet, so funny! Good job Gumpy! FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUUUU!!!" He exclaimed, guffawing with glee.

Rising back to his full height, Rouge dusted himself off before finally regaining his composure. After wiping away his tears, he silently cast his gaze at Trim, a bit less sinister than he did Gumpy. "And then there was one."​

 

[Gambit]

Trim’s eyes widened, his grip tightening around the scythe as Rouge's gaze shifted to him. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down like an anchor. The crew had survived on sheer dumb luck and terrible jokes, but Trim? He wasn’t cut out for this. Jokes weren’t his thing—scythes, maybe, but jokes? Never.

Schneider leaned in, whispering from the side, "C’mon, Trim! You got this. Just... think of something dumb!"

Trim shot him a glare that could pierce steel. “I’m *not* good at this,” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely hiding the panic. Still, Rouge waited, his towering figure eerily calm now, though clearly still amused.

Trim sighed, dragging his free hand across his face. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Alright, here goes... Why... uh... why don’t skeletons fight each other?"

The crew looked at each other nervously, but no one dared to interrupt.

Trim gave an uncharacteristically awkward pause before finishing. “Because... they don’t have the guts.”

Silence. The crew collectively held their breath, eyes flicking nervously between Trim and Rouge. This was it.

 

[Infinity]

Schneider Pirates #7
@Gambit

"And then there was one."

Trim seemed like the most serious of the bunch. Rouge did not expect much from his sense of humor, though he had assumed Gumpy had a higher chance of failing than he did. However, Rouge decided to let his actions speak for himself. That funny joke from earlier was a humbling experience for him. He won't put anything past this crew and their humorous potential.

Rouge waited calmly and patiently as Trim prepared himself to begin. Awkwardly, he cleared his throat as he began the set-up.

"Alright, here goes... Why... uh... why don’t skeletons fight each other?"

Rouge remained silent during the intermission between now and the punchline, anticipation brimming within his body. "Why?"

“Because... they don’t have the guts.”Trim finished, with an uncomfortable look on his face.

The demon stood still quietly in disbelief, but it wasn't the same kind as before. A single drop of sweat ran comedically down his temple while his eyes filled with sympathy.

"That was...a good try!" Rouge said without a laugh. "However, you just couldnt make the cut. Better luck next time, bud." He raised his finger towards the blonde man and ignited it's tip, causing flames to concentrate into a single point.

"It's time to die."​

 

[Gambit]

Trim's eyes widened in panic as the flames ignited on Rouge’s fingertip, the heat already causing sweat to bead on his forehead. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation.

“Wait! Wait, wait, wait!” Trim blurted out, raising his hands defensively. “I... I got another one! Just... gimme one more shot!”

Rouge’s smirk didn’t fade, but his hand paused for a moment, flames still flickering menacingly.

Trim gulped, his mind racing. This was it. His last chance. With every ounce of desperation, he stumbled through his words. “Okay... okay, uh... what... what did the ocean say to the pirate?”

A beat of silence.

“Nothing... it just waved.”

Trim gritted his teeth, inwardly cringing. It was all he had left. The tension on the deck was suffocating, and every crew member watched with bated breath, unsure of what fate would befall him.

 

[Infinity]

Schneider Pirates #8
@Gambit

Trim began to panic as flames seemingly ignited on the man's fingertips, causing him to raise his hands in defense, desperately begging for a second chance.

“Wait! Wait, wait, wait! I... I got another one! Just... gimme one more shot!” He said quickly.

Rouge stood with an amused smirk, intentionally delaying his supposed attack as the flames danced on his fingers.

Trim stuttered through his words, highly distressed by the situation. “Okay... okay, uh... what... what did the ocean say to the pirate?”

Once again silence followed for a few moments before Rouge would finally give his reply, anticipation once again having him in a chokehold as he awaited the pirate's response

"Why?"

“Nothing... it just waved.” The blonde man said, gritting his teeth in disgust at his own terrible nature of his joke. Rouge raised a brow, before shaking his head with a chuckle "That was another bad joke, bud."

Most likely coming as a surprise to the Schneider Pirates, the mysterious man cut through the tension by quickly shifting his fingers, revealing none other than a lit match that's flame licked his finger tips.

"Surprise! I had no intentions of killing you all! Fufufufufufufufufu!" He laughed uncontrollably, holding his stomach. "It's good to be back around people again! KG would probably be proud that I have a sense of humor now." The shadow man said through tears.

Raising his hand, he pinched the surface of his skin with his finger-tips before beginning to slowly peel it off, revealing tan colored skin hidden underneath and a face that the pirate's most likely would have recognized from the newspapers. "This suit was getting hot anyway, no point in putting it on and scaring more people."

Disrobing, he revealed a blood-red colored Changshan that's chinese threading glistened the in the bright sunlight of the North Blue. His white hair spiked forward, fading into yellow at the ends, while his once red eyes were replaced with a golden yellow and a bright grin.

"That's better. There was no way I would have been able to sneak out of that place without that disguise!"​

 

[Gambit]

The Schneider Pirates stood frozen in place, jaws hanging open as the entire scene unfolded before them. Trim blinked, utterly speechless, still processing the fact that he *wasn't* going to die for that terrible joke. The entire crew looked at one another in disbelief, unsure whether to laugh or collapse from the tension.

Schneider was the first to break the silence. “W-Wait... What? You mean you weren’t actually gonna... fry us?!"

Rouge’s uncontrollable laughter echoed across the ship, and the crew couldn’t help but feel both relieved and completely confused. Gumpy, still clutching the crow’s nest like his life depended on it, stared wide-eyed as Rouge peeled off his dark disguise, revealing his true form.

Schneider squinted, staring at the face beneath the shadowy façade, his eyes going wide in recognition. “You... you’re in the papers! Aren’t you... one of the *big ones*?”

The realization hit the crew like a cannonball. They weren’t just dealing with some flaming demon—this guy was a notorious figure, and they’d just survived a twisted game with him.

“Wha... What the hell just happened!?” Trim finally managed to sputter, still shaken.

Schneider, however, had already recovered, throwing his head back with a grin. “Ah, well, who cares! We survived, right?!”

The entire crew let out a collective sigh of relief, some laughing nervously as the gravity of what just happened slowly started to sink in.

“Well, that was certainly... unexpected,” Schneider added, wiping the sweat from his brow. “But hey, at least no one got fried today.”

"So"

"What do you want from us, Son of Sci-", he said interrupted by thoughts unknown.

 

[Infinity]

Schneider Pirates #9
@Gambit
The Schneider Pirate's feelings of fear and desperation were replaced with feelings of relief and confusion, as Rouge revealed his true appearance to the group of pirates.

“You... you’re in the papers! Aren’t you... one of the *big ones*?” Schneider questioned in disbelief.

Cletus ran his fingers through his spikey locs, nostalgia hitting him like an angry sea king. "I am aren't I? It's been a long time. I'd almost forgotten." He said in a slight whisper.

The crew all relaxed, relief washing over them now that they knew their lives weren't in danger. Cletus silently allowed them their time, looking up at the sky and the clouds. Closing his eyes, he absorbed the star's heated rays, missing the feeling of it on his skin. It had been ten years since he had last set eyes upon the skies, he would never take it for granted. However, Captain Schneider would soon bring him back to reality, with another question.

“Well, that was certainly... unexpected. But hey, at least no one got fried today. So, what do you want from us, Son of Sci-"

"That's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Then again for you, it would only be a few days give or take." Cletus said, quickly cutting Schneider off. "I was just passing through. When I saw you guys, I just couldnt help messing around for a bit." He finished with a chuckle.

With both of his hands behind his back, he slowly paced around the deck. "I have a perilous journey ahead. I was planning to go alone, however I've had a change of heart after meeting you guys." His eyes scanned the entire crew before finally relocking with the old man's. "I would like to take Gumpy with me, if you don't mind?" Cletus allowed his question to settle, waiting patiently for Schneider's reply.​

 

[Gambit]

Cletus’s sudden request to take Gumpy with him caught the entire crew off guard. Gumpy himself, still standing awkwardly in the crow’s nest, blinked rapidly as if trying to process what he’d just heard. His mismatched boots clanked against the wood as he leaned over the edge, scratching his scruffy chin in confusion.

"Me? Go with you?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly. His nervous glance darted towards Captain Schneider for guidance, unsure if this was a blessing or a curse.

Schneider, though taken aback, chuckled and waved a hand. "Well, Gumpy, looks like you’ve been... recruited for a 'perilous journey'!"

Gumpy gulped loudly. "Great... more danger," he muttered under his breath, casting a wary glance at the horizon.

 

[Infinity]

Schneider Pirates #10
@Gambit

Cletus' request expectedly through the entire crew into a loop. Gumpy himself struggled to process everything that had happened, and with blinking eye's turned to his captain with uncertainty.

"Me? Go with you?" Cletus nodded his head in confirmation. The young man turned to his captain nervously, awaiting his response. The old man himself had a look as surprise, before chuckling and agreeing to the request.

"Well, Gumpy, looks like you’ve been... recruited for a 'perilous journey'!"

The young man looked less than pleased. Utterly nervous even, muttering words of wariness in regards to Cletus' perilous journey. The lunarian shot him a reassuring smile.

"Alright, then it's settled!", Cletus said with a single clap of his hands. "Let's consider this an alliance between you and the Titan Pirates! On this day, Gumpy will join my crew! And in the future, if you ever need any help, you can call on us to aid you. Use the Titan Pirate name to strike fear into your enemies." With that, he reached out his right hand, waiting for Captain Schnieder to shake it, solidifying the agreement.​

 

[Gambit]

As the final words hung in the air, the mood shifted dramatically aboard the ship. The lively, carefree atmosphere that always surrounded the Schneider Pirates faded into something bittersweet. Gumpy, who had spent two years at the top of the crow's nest, watching the world with wide-eyed curiosity, now stood at the edge of a new journey. His nerves were on full display, his youthful face pale and uncertain. The boy, who was always good for a laugh or an awkward joke, now found himself facing a far more perilous path than he’d ever imagined.

The lunarian, Cletus, looked at Gumpy with a smile—warm, despite his hardened nature. He offered the boy something beyond an adventure: a future.

Gumpy swallowed hard. "Captain... I—I’m not sure about this. I mean, I'm just a lookout. I’m not... a fighter."

Schneider, who had been standing silently, watching the exchange, finally stepped forward. His old eyes, normally full of mischief, softened as they settled on the boy who had been like a son to the crew. For two years, Gumpy had grown into his own—a young lad who had earned his stripes among the ragtag group of misfits. But now, Schneider understood that this moment was bigger than their crew.

"You know, Gumpy, there’s more to being a pirate than swinging a sword or aiming a cannon," Schneider said, his voice uncharacteristically steady. "It’s about heart, loyalty, and standing by your crew no matter what. You’ve got that in spades, lad. You always have."

Gumpy’s lip quivered, but he held his composure, his fingers curling and uncurling nervously. He glanced at each member of the crew—Captain Schneider, Trim, Buzz the dog—before finally locking eyes with Cletus once more. This wasn’t just a departure. It was leaving behind the only family he’d ever known.

Taking a deep breath, Gumpy stepped forward, his legs unsteady but determined. He shook Cletus’ hand, and in that moment, something shifted inside the young pirate. The Lunarian’s grip was firm and reassuring, the promise of new adventures and challenges clear in his eyes.

"Then it’s settled!" Cletus said again, his voice booming as he solidified the pact. "Today, Gumpy joins the Titan Pirates. And I swear, should the winds ever change, and you need our strength, we’ll be there—faster than the tides themselves."

Captain Schneider, his usual devil-may-care grin absent, approached Cletus. For once, the old man’s playful spirit was tempered by the weight of the moment. He reached out and shook the Lunarian’s hand. "Take care of him," Schneider said, his voice low, but full of meaning. "He’s one of ours. No matter where he goes."

The handshake sealed it. Gumpy was no longer just the lookout of the Schneider Pirates; he was something more. As the crew gathered around for their final farewells, Gumpy struggled to hold back tears. Buzz the dog barked, nuzzling Gumpy’s leg in a silent goodbye.

Gumpy sniffed and wiped his eyes, standing a little taller now. "Guess this is it, huh?" he said, trying to put on his signature crooked grin. "Two years on this ship... didn’t think it’d end like this."

Trim, ever the jester, slapped Gumpy on the back. "Don’t worry, lad! Once a Schneider Pirate, always a Schneider Pirate! You’ll do us proud!"

With a final wave and a long, last look at the crew who had become his family, Gumpy turned to face the horizon alongside Cletus. As the boat that carried them away began to drift from the ship, the sun set behind them, casting a golden glow across the waters of the North Blue. The Schneider Pirates stood in silence, watching the young lad they had raised sail off toward his next great adventure.

"Good luck, Gumpy," Schneider whispered into the wind. "You’re going to need it."

And with that, the winds of fate carried the young pirate into the unknown, as the sea stretched endlessly ahead—ready to test his heart, his courage, and his will like never before.

@Infinity​