VACATION

Sponge stares at the map that Vvh has handed to her, the boat beneath her swaying, causing her vision to blur and her stomach to churn. She groans softly as she listens to Vvh moving around, the sound of her heels clicking on the wooden deck as Sponge looks away from the map on the table.

"You didn't mention you get seasick," Vvh remarks, leaning against the door frame, observing Sponge lean back in her seat, an arm draped over her face.

"Please, I don't want to talk right now. I feel terrible," Sponge mumbles, placing a hand on her stomach as she groans in discomfort, tired and queasy. Vvh hums in response.

"We're nearing Aquithis. You can lean over the side of the boat if you need to," Vvh suggests as Sponge grumbles, "Thanks for the stellar advice, Master," her tone bordering on a spat. The boat shudders suddenly, and Sponge hears Cecil whinny loudly at the rear, startled by the abrupt movement.

"We've arrived," Vvh announces, stepping out of the room. Sponge quickly gets to her feet, following suit, leaping off the boat onto the beach and retching over the side.

Vvh carefully guides Cecil off the boat, holding the reins, while Sponge lies down on the sand, groaning and in discomfort. "Can we rest first? I feel dizzy and my stomach is in turmoil," Sponge murmurs. Vvh responds with a hum, "Not here. We can leave the boat, but we didn't enter these lands legally. I suggest you pull yourself together or risk ending up behind bars." Vvh leads Cecil towards the trees, and Sponge groans, rolling her eyes before standing up and following.

"What are we even doing here? I swear, I've never heard of this place before," Sponge grumbles, trailing after Vvh, whose steps are so quiet that the fallen leaves under her feet make no sound.

Vvh tilts her head slightly, not fully turning, but Sponge catches a glimpse of the silver of her mask. "What have I told you about pestering your poor teacher with your questions," she says. Sponge responds with a mocking laugh, "Poor? You're anything but that. You could defeat me with just your pinky while sitting down!" Vvh chuckles softly in response.

Sponge grins, satisfied with eliciting one of Vvh's rare laughs.

"So, will you answer my question?" Sponge asks, falling in step beside Vvh, who simply hums. Sponge then squints her eyes, a fleeting thought of Vvh taking on a bounty crossing her mind. However, she distinctly remembers Vvh mentioning that she had stopped accepting bounties after their visit to Northern Korea.

"Is this one of your bounties? No judgment, but I thought you had given those up a while ago," Sponge tilts her head inquisitively.

"I did," Vvh replies.

Sponge raises her eyebrows, somewhat skeptical.

"Really?" Sponge cocks her head, and Vvh mirrors the gesture.

A moment of silence passes between them.

"It's a vacation," Vvh says softly, as the wind picks up slightly.

"A vacation?!" Sponge gasps, excitement evident as she starts bouncing on her feet. Vvh raises a hand, "There's still training involved, but yes. This is a vacation. Aquithis is a beautiful place, you might enjoy this country," Vvh nods to herself, and Sponge chuckles softly.

"So you do care," Sponge grins, playfully batting her eyelashes at Vvh, who responds with a soft scoff, shaking her head gently. "Unless you want to travel by boat again, I suggest you zip your mouth and follow me," Vvh advises, to which Sponge pouts.

"Where are we going now?" Sponge asks, and Vvh turns towards her, prompting Sponge to mime zipping her lips and grin. After holding her gaze for a moment, Vvh turns back towards the path. "We'll find a place to rest in a nearby town, I also have some business to attend to," Vvh replies, as Sponge nods in agreement.

—

February 15 of XXXX, The Land of Aquithis

We have just arrived in Aquithis. I am unfamiliar with this country, as it was not on any maps I had seen before. Besides knowing they have their own goddess, all I can tell is that this place is mostly covered in water.

It's quite surprising, isn't it? Well, I was being sarcastic, but I am genuinely excited to explore further!

Signing off,

S.

—

"Focus, Sponge, bend your leg," Vvh commanded, delivering a sharp tap with a stick to Sponge's knee, eliciting a yelp that nearly sent her teetering off the log and towards the water. Across from her, Vvh sat on another log, the water gently lapping at her ankles as she observed Sponge standing on one leg, her limbs trembling.

"I would have expected you to be more balanced with all the training you've been through. It seems your legs are still as shaky as a newborn foal," Vvh remarked, and Sponge could almost envision the smirk beneath that mask, observing as Vvh tilted her head mockingly.

"Please stop with the newborn foal comparisons. Who knew you were paying such close attention," Sponge grumbled, shaking her head as Vvh playfully slapped her raised leg, prompting her to lift it back up when she hadn't even realized it was dropping.

"Focus," Vvh instructed as Sponge sniffed, her clothes clinging to her body.

Having already fallen a few times, the weight of the water was a challenge as Sponge stood on the log, trembling. "I thought you said this was a vacation," Sponge quipped, looking down at Vvh with a smirk.

"This is a vacation," Vvh affirmed.

"More like a boot camp, don't you think—" "Ah!" Sponge yelped as she slipped off the log, splashing into the water and shivering.

Vvh hummed, "If you want it to be," before seizing Sponge's hood and hauling her back onto the log. "That's unfair, you're changing your tune," Sponge complained, her teeth chattering in the face of a strong gust of wind. Vvh simply hummed.

Sponge stood on the log once more, raising her leg, now shivering slightly.

"Are we going to keep at this until—" Sponge yelped once more as a wave came crashing towards them. Vvh lowered her head, allowing the wave to pass over her without knocking her off the log, while Sponge ended up on the sandy beach, face first in the sand.

Shaking her head, Vvh jumped down onto the sand. "Sponge, your balance needs more work," Vvh commented as Sponge spat out sand from her mouth. "The water seems to have a vendetta against me, Master," Sponge grumbled, standing up, soaked through.

"The water doesn't hate, but perhaps you're the one harboring ill feelings toward it," Vvh chuckled, walking past Sponge and heading back towards their camp.

Sponge groaned, rolling her eyes and trailing after. "That sounds ridiculous. You're trying to sound clever," Sponge muttered, following Vvh, who tapped a stick against her knees, eliciting a surprised yelp of pain from Sponge.

"Perhaps what you need is another test," Vvh muses, rubbing her chin, while Sponge gives her a small glare.

They fall into silence, with Sponge attempting to dry herself whenever a strong wind blows by. "Look, a river," Sponge says in awe as she walks over to the water, which glistens invitingly. "It looks almost... very drinkable right now," Sponge blurts out, feeling extremely thirsty. The beach is quite a distance from their camp, and the river seems tempting.

Beside her, Vvh stands with her arms crossed. "I advise you not to do that," she says, causing Sponge to raise a brow. "Why's that? It looks safe to drink... I think," Sponge ponders, crouching down to study the water and her reflection.

Vvh simply hums, "The people of Aquithis hold their water in high regard." She gives Sponge a pointed look as Sponge scoops up some water with her hand and freezes. "I suggest you refrain from drinking it," Vvh advises, shaking her head, as Sponge pouts.

"But it's clean water!" Sponge argues.

Vvh then gazes at the river's path before turning to Sponge. "This river leads towards the town," Vvh explains. Sponge scratches her head and stands up. "Should we fetch Cecil and follow the river?" Sponge asks. Vvh nods, "We could. The town is near the city; we might find a place to rent for accommodation," Vvh muses.

Sponge mimics her, humming slightly, and gazes at the blue sky, observing birds flying by. She narrows her eyes when she notices a few more birds flying past, squawking loudly. "Uh..." Sponge mumbles, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Perhaps we should stay in the town; the city might demand identification, and as a well-known bounty hunter, I may not be welcome. The people of Aquithis harbor a strong aversion towards bounty hunters," Vvh mentions distractedly, while Sponge continues to watch the birds circling overhead, the trees rustling louder than before, and the wind intensifying.

"However, there's something I seem to be forgetting," Vvh adds, tilting her head down.

"Uh, I think something's happening..." Sponge begins, raising a finger, but before she can finish, the ground starts shaking violently. Suddenly, a massive wave crashes down on the river, its water surging towards Sponge and Vvh. Vvh steps back, while Sponge, off balance, lets out a yelp as she stumbles towards the river, falling into the oncoming waves.

"Vvh! Oh God, help!" Sponge cries out, frantically waving her hand through the water as the wave sweeps her away. She struggles to move her legs towards the riverbank, but then she spots a log hurtling towards her. In a split-second decision, she dives beneath the water to avoid being struck.

Emerging gasping for air, her armor now weighing her down, Sponge waves desperately to Vvh, who is jogging after her. "Help! I'm stuck!" Sponge yells, the powerful waves dragging her away. Vvh halts, observing Sponge with a thoughtful hum before remarking, "You're heading towards the town—consider this your trial. Try not to drown." With that, Vvh turns and strides back towards their camp.

Sponge blinks in disbelief, "WHAT?!" before being pulled under the water once more, causing her to thrash in panic, struggling to stay afloat.

Sponge wasn't certain if she had passed out during the ordeal, but what was unmistakable was the sharp impact on her head that caused her to lose consciousness.

When she finally opened her eyes, she found herself face to face with someone, or something, looming over her. Clad in a dark and stained pink rain coat, their features barely discernible beneath the hood, they knelt beside Sponge.

"A different catch today, my luck must be turning," the hooded figure muttered incomprehensibly, as Sponge struggled to make sense of the situation. Her head throbbed, her mouth tasted vile as if she had ingested gallons of sewer water, and her nose stung—evidence of her struggles to breathe while in the river. Heavy-lidded eyes and a whisper of drowsiness beckoned her to surrender to sleep, a rest she felt she deserved after Vvh's abandonment in the water.

Suddenly, the mysterious figure reached into their pocket, their hands trembling with excitement as they retrieved a knife. Sponge's eyes widened in alarm, the urge to succumb to unconsciousness vanishing as she swiftly seized the hooded person's arm, preventing them from bringing the knife down, and sat up abruptly.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Sponge demanded, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief, as she stared at the hooded individual, who recoiled in surprise. "A-A talking fish!" they exclaimed, dropping the knife and gesticulating excitedly. "Fish?" Sponge echoed, perplexed, before placing a hand on her throbbing head and groaning. She then turned her attention to the sound of rushing water, spotting the river's end in the distance.

"Where am I?" Sponge inquires, facing the hooded figure who springs to their feet, bouncing around with excitement. Sponge attempts to do the same, her head spinning and her balance faltering, nearly leading her back towards the river. The hooded person swiftly seizes her arm and pulls her back to safety.

"What type of fish are you?" they inquire, while Sponge gazes at them, contemplating whether to push them towards the river or simply walk away. "I'm not a fish," Sponge asserts, taking a step forward, only to groan as dizziness and nausea wash over her.

"Stupid Vvh and her stupid test," Sponge grumbles, prompting a mournful whine from the hooded individual. "Not a fish? But—But I caught you with my rod!" they exclaim, grabbing a fishing rod nearby to demonstrate, waving it enthusiastically. Sponge stares in disbelief.

"You... caught me with a rod? I—oh, never mind," Sponge mutters, rubbing her forehead, wincing at the pain it elicits. Suddenly, the hooded figure tosses back their hood, revealing a woman—possibly younger—sporting an eager grin, her hair matted to her forehead, dripping wet as if she had taken a dip in the water for fun.

"I'm JM! You must be a human—I mean, one of us!" she announces joyfully, extending both hands towards Sponge, perhaps for a handshake... but with both hands? Sponge raises an eyebrow, blinking in confusion, before tentatively shaking both of JM's hands. "Sponge—" Sponge begins, as JM's eyes light up.

"The one we all use to wash our dishes with?" JM interjects, grinning, her hands still vigorously shaking Sponge's as Sponge eventually withdraws, her shoulders aching from JM's enthusiastic greeting.

"Maybe..." Sponge murmurs, shaking her head. JM then eyes Sponge's wet attire before snapping her fingers. "You must be cold, come, come!" she exclaims, swiftly heading towards the door. Sponge follows, casting a glance around. It dawns on her that they are on a boat, prompting Sponge to sigh and run a hand down her face before following JM inside.

JM moves around the space, discarding her raincoat and darting about to fetch towels, while Sponge observes her, standing near the door. Sponge's gaze falls upon a 'Welcome' mat, prompting a raised eyebrow, before JM approaches and tosses towels onto her arm.

"Here, dry yourself with these," JM instructs before darting off again, leaving Sponge to awkwardly make her way inside the boat—or was it a boathouse? Sponge isn't entirely certain. She shuffles towards where JM vanished, flinching when JM emerges from a room holding a mug.

Observing Sponge's damp arm, JM remarks, "You're meant to dry yourself with those... don't you know how?" She places the mug on a coffee table, reaching for the towel until Sponge steps back. "Uh, no—I mean—yes! I can manage on my own," Sponge hastily asserts, draping one towel over her head and using the other to dry her clothes.

JM hums, tilting her head. "Good! Here's a mug of hot chocolate. I assume you like chocolate?" she inquires as Sponge focuses on her task, absentmindedly humming. Passing the now-folded towels back to JM, Sponge replies, "Yeah, I suppose so," before accepting the mug.

"Th-Thanks," Sponge mumbles, only for JM to grasp her arm and guide her to the couch, seating her with a proud grin. Sponge blinks up at her, taking in the aroma of the chocolate, watching as JM hangs the wet towel to dry, humming softly.

Noticing the strange antenna-like wires on JM's forehead, Sponge gazes at them in puzzlement before deciding it's best not to inquire further. She takes another cautious whiff of the drink before taking a sip.

JM returns, saying, "You do know that the river isn't the only way to get here, right?" She tilts her head as Sponge raises a brow.

"It's a long story—I got carried away by some strange waves from the river. I thought only oceans had those," Sponge grumbles, setting the mug down on the table. "And do you usually welcome people in so readily?" Sponge raises a brow as JM tilts her head and remarks, "The river tends to do that; it's a way to clean it daily!" She states it as if it's common knowledge—which is not, especially for Sponge.

"And, many people come and go here!" JM exclaims, bouncing beside Sponge, who shifts away. "Why is that?" Sponge inquires, her gaze briefly flickering towards the peculiar antenna-like structures on JM's head before returning to her face.

"I have no idea, but they ask me things and they pay me," JM explains, grinning as Sponge blinks at her.

"Are you... a prostitute or something?" Sponge asks tentatively. "No... What is a pro-sti-tute?" JM struggles to pronounce the word Sponge had just used, prompting Sponge to breathe a sigh of relief. "You almost scared me there. Don't even bother asking what that is," Sponge waves her hand dismissively.

"So are you here for the same thing?" JM asks, "what same thing exactly?" Sponge replied, confused. "Buying some stuff!" JM says, waving her hands around, excitedly.