Monster Hunter Chronicles of the New World: Training Wheels
Samantha and Muse decided that after the incident aboard the Argosa it would be best if they roomed together. Muse was happy to have made a friend even though Samantha was a bit over protective. During the days journey Muse practiced her great sword combo and charged attack while Samantha watched from the side lines cheering her on. The crew didn't mind much so long as Muse didn't break the deck but it was built to withstand a full elder dragon attack so that was unlikely going to happen from a blow by her buster sword. Towards the last day Samantha became despondent and didn't want to talk to Muse making her concerned. Underneath the star filled sky Muse and Samantha say looking for their own Sapphire Star.
"Are you okay?" Muse asked looking over at Samantha who was slumping over the railing resting her chin on her arms. "You've been weird ever since last night and I'm sorry for whatever I did." Muse clenched her hands together not knowing how she upset Samantha but she had.
"You're too good for this world Muse." Samantha laughed turning over and letting her hair hang over the railing looking straight up. "You know the saying Find Your Star?" Samantha asked turning her head to Muse.
"Yeah it's a hunter saying it means to do what makes you happy live life for your own reasons and search for a goal you want to accomplish." Muse lived by that philosophy it was what carried her towards the new world.
"What if your star was a person?" Samantha asked and Muse paused. "A person that no matter how much you chased after you could never catch just like a shooting star?" Samantha's voice became soft and Muse frowned.
"I'd try my best and see how far I could go then maybe along the way I'd find a new star to chase after, I'd make an entire life out of chasing after that shooting star and all the other things I want to do because life's too short to not chase every shooting star you see!" Muse contemplated and delivered an answer that made Samantha laugh loudly. "What?"
"Nothing I just can't be as good as you Muse you're really going to become a great hunter someday probably one of the best." Samantha continued to laugh and Muse scratched her head. "When you get to Astera you're going to have to spend some time as a handler." Samantha explained. "You probably won't get to pick your hunter but they'll put you up with someone who's at least competent enough to teach someone else." Samantha opened her book full of tabs and information. "Currently there are about nine or ten A list hunters on this ship so I'd say your chances lay with one of them." Muse looked at the book and noticed something above the A list.
"What's that?" She pointed and Samantha smirked.
"The S List the top tier hunters of which there are only two by my records and one of them is already in Astera the other isn't on this ship." Samantha folded her book shut. "I know I said about chasing after shooting stars but you should try learning to walk before you can run, if you end up with a C list hunter during your mentor period you'll be lucky." Samantha smiled at Muse's exuberance and held her head close to her breast. "I'm going to miss you Muse." She released the other girl and Muse stumbled to a standing position.
"Why do you talk like we're never going to see each other again, you're coming to Astera right?" Muse shook her hair back into place, every time Samantha hugged her like that it messed up her head.
"No I'm going to Astera to pick something up and bring it back to the old world this is a round trip for me Muse." Samantha frowned at Muse.
"I'll come back when I'm a super famous hunter I'll go back to my village and prove to everyone that anyone can become a hunter if they try and I'll come find you and tell you all about my hunts and show you all my best trophies so don't be sad Samantha I'm not going away forever." Muse hated to see people upset especially if she was the cause but her words brought a smile to Samantha's face.
"It's a promise then I'll be sure to wait eagerly to see you in all those skimpy armor sets." Samantha laughed loudly and Muse blushed. She moved in close to Muse and whispered gently into her ear. "Before we dock and you walk away to your new life of super stardom could I ask you a favor?" Muse turned around curiously. "I just want to know what could have been for a moment all I want is a single kiss from you." Samantha moved back and stood her hands in front of her clasped together as if she was praying. Muse turned a bright red and mulled it over. She had done worse things but for some reason bringing herself to kiss Samantha felt like the most wrong thing she had ever done. Still Samantha did teach her a lot about being a hunter in just three short days so she figured she owed her some kind of compensation. Muse tentatively approached Samantha who closed her eyes when she saw Muse position herself. Slowly she reached in and when their faces were less than an inch from each other Muse closed her eyes as well. The sensation of warm soft flesh making contact was the only thing Muse registered as sound and smell faded from the world. She was lost in a dark and warm embrace that made her feel safe and loved but before she could become completely lost it was over Samantha pulled away leaving Muse standing stunned. "Go get em my Shooting Star." The deck of the ship rattled as it docked and Samantha turned away walking back to her cabin and locking the door, she needed some time alone.
Muse shook herself from the daze slapping her cheeks and readying herself to make those first steps as a new world hunter. It was customary for a hunter to undergo a training period of a few hunts to get the swing of things and make sure they wouldn't die in the wild. The blessing of the Sapphire Star which protected hunters from being killed while hunting dangerous monsters only was applied to those recognized by the hunting guild. Muse had gained permission but she still didn't have a license or a rank she was Unlisted and unable to participate in hunts by herself. Feeling much like a child being adopted off Muse stepped forward as everyone left the ship she was told by Samantha that she'd be partnered up before leaving the ship to save time. Once everyone else departed an older woman with white hair that flowed down her shoulders like pure silk was waiting. "You're the unlisted one?" She said pointing a pipe that she was smoking at Muse.
"Yes Ma'am are you the hunter?" She asked and the woman chortled.
"Oh no my hunting days are long over becoming a mother does that to you, hard to hunt with a baby on your back and all not that I didn't try." The woman chuckled and put the pipe back between her teeth. "No I'm the captain of the seventh fleet the fleet responsible for establishing a branch of the hunters guild in the new world which means training the next generation of hunters that will be born here." The captain of the seventh boasted proudly as puffs of red smoke poured from the mouth of the pipe.
"Oh so you're a guildmarm?" Muse asked and in a flash a knife was produced and she was up against the wall of the ship by her hair terrified at what just happened.
"What did you call me?" The captain of the seventh asked and Muse whimpered stammering out a rebuttal.
"I said you're like THE BEST HUNTER EVER so they look to you to teach the new hunters!" Muse felt the blood leave her face staring down a simple iron knife. The captain of the seventh looked Muse directly in the eyes and spun the knife in her fingers before stabbing it directly into the wall right beside Muse's head cutting a few hairs off. She released Muse who slid down the wall onto her butt shivering.
"You did well to not piss yourself." The captain of the seventh tapped her pipe onto the floor. "Danger is constantly around you here you never know when a Deviljho could run in and smash up the town because it woke up on the wrong side of an ugly Great Jagras" She put some herbs into it and struck a match, if the red smoke was any indication this insane old woman was smoking might seed powder. "Knowing that this won't be baby's first hunt do you still want to be a new world hunter and struggle up the hunter ranks to reach your place in the world?" The captain of the seventh asked eyeing muse as she stood up shaking.
"I'll f-follow my Sapphire Star wherever it leads." Muse responded and the seventh fleet captain smirked.
"I thought I'd like you by the description I got from the captain." The seventh fleet captain smiled and offered her hand. "Welcome to Astera, Muse Avalon, Hunter Initiate New World Chapter." The seventh pulled Muse out of the ship into a beam of bright light. Covering her eyes to avoid being blinded Muse marveled when the glare cleared and she saw the expansive port and the open world waiting for her to explore it.
"Whoa, it's gorgeous!" Muse was awe struck by the size and scope of Astera it was easily the largest settlement she had ever seen.
"Right she is OH speaking of gorgeous." The seventh turned and put her fingers to her lips whistling loudly.
Muse actually felt as if a monster had started to roar making her duck and cover her ears. When the sound passed she looked around to see what if anything that feat had accomplished but she was only looking ahead not up where she needed to be. Like a tornado a pink blur swooped down diving onto the docks before spreading its wings out and breaking the descent a gust of wind nearly blew Muse over. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?" Muse cried out trying to hold on from being blow away.
"That is your mentor and hunting partner." The seventh fleet captain said proudly placing her hands on her hips. "My daughter Noblesse." When the wind subsided what stood before Muse was not a person, nor a felyne, or anything else Muse ever expected when she set out to the new world. What had been summoned was a very angry looking very large Pink Rathian female who was carrying a great sword across her back and wearing pieces of armor from various elder dragons. "Oh I forgot to mention my daughter is the best hunter in Astera she's also the only monster hunter." The seventh fleet captain paused. "Monster who hunts other monsters... you'll figure it out anyway she's your new partner and she will teach you how to be the best hunter you can be." The seventh nodded and Muse looked from her to the insane creature before her.
"She looks weak, can I eat her mother?" Noblesse asked raising her sharp talons and licking them.