She had achieved a lot this year... Ever since arriving in the South Blue, Linnea just didn't stop. Even when confined to a single island, she trained and grew stronger, time and time again. For all the enemies she made all that time, she made even more and better friends. Some of whom she now called her fellow crew members, but they alone wouldn't survive a journey into the grand Line, not as they were right now. They would have to get a lot stronger, gather new allies, better equipment. And most importantly, Linnea still had Raziel to take care of.

"Jyoooo~!", squaked Sengoku, heading off to look around the island while the Kuja archer just waved at her partner

Once more arriving in Karate Island following a journey into the South Blue, the sight of the hub you'd come to call home relaxes you. Here you could train in Master Jeong's Dojo, or maybe try to find, Mea, Alice or Nicholas... But what about Concetta? Stepping out of the boat and tying it around the docks, Lin tugged her hood over her eyes and looked around. There weren't many familiar faces here, at least not people she had already talked to... She'd more easily recognize a cry from one of the many seagulls than one of these people...

Everyone on these docks looked like a fisherman or a sailor of some kind, loading crates and preparing ships to get ready for the next voyage. All but one... Among the people of Karate Island there was also a flashy redheaded woman that stood out like pork chops on a Bar Mitzvah. Linnea couldn't help but gawk for a moment, but then she realized she was staring and looked back down, blushing and tugging on her hood like the shy girl she is. But then, she heard another cry for her feathery friend, closer than before. He had finished his scouting around the place, and much to her embarassment, suddenly perched himself on Liara's shoulder! Gasping, she quickly dashed towards the woman and stretched out her arm, gesturing for her partner to stop bothering this stranger and perch on her instead

"Sorry about that... He's pretty fond of shiny things.", said Linnea, scratching her head softly with an excusing look and struggling to meet her gaze. Sengoku got the message and flapped his wings, leaping from Liara's shoulder back to Lin's arm

That shiny armor... That pretty face... No wonder Sengoku took a liking to this girl, she matched the two things he always looked for: pretty young women and glimmery stuff. She wore a full body metal armor that was obviously well cared for, making her look like a Knight of sorts. Well, at least she didn't look like a marine.

Fortunately it didn't look like the woman was the least bit bothered by Sengoku's perching on her shoulder, and thus Linnea let out a relieved sigh as she walked up to the unfamiliar redhead. She blushed slightly when she felt the woman's eyes upon her, scanning her head to toe; she was too shy to be watched like that... She struggled to look back into her eyes as she was still keenly curious about her Southbird partner, but then she didn't even have time to finish her question. Two of the busy dockworkers callously bumped into the sitting redhead who was literally doing nothing but minding her own business. Lin couldn't help but scowl, quickly darting over to the girl as she lost her balance. What was that all about?

"Jyoo!! Jyoooo!!", squaked Sengoku with an angry, annoyed glare on its face, quickly flapping over to the dock worker and pecking its head repeatedly while Linnea struggled to go grab her hand.

But then, the man didn't really have time to regret his life decisions, the redhead soon punished him herself without needing help from either Linnea or her feathery partner. She didn't need any kind of help with getting back onto the docks, displaying impressive skill with a whip as she coiled it around the guy's wrist and reeled herself back up, pulling him down in a rather comical form of karmic justice. Linnea chuckled, wondering who was this resourceful girl. She looked to nice to be a pirate but then who was she to judge? Linnea herself was often pointed out for being the same...

Still, she was most amazed by how much the guy screamed! She didn't really know that much about men after having grown on an island where they just didn't exist but they seemed to be a lot less flexible than women, and painfully so... Her eyes widened at the sight before her, and before long she had nodded affirmatively at the redhead once she suggested walking around to look at the sights:

"I'd be glad to! ...but I'm only here to make a small stop in Karate Island, i'll be sailing again in no time.", she smiled softly with an excusing tone, still walking alongside Liara as Sengoku now flew happily around the two girls. Them she pondered on where to take the girl first... It was a beautiful day, so there would be plenty of sights to enjoy just as she wanted, however, one stood out more than all others, "Hmmm... I'd suggest we take a look at some of the Dojos first. You can't really say you've visited Karate Island until you take a look at them."

Leading the girl through the not so busy streets - and thankfully so after that incident at the docks - Linnea headed past the markets until the few salesmen and sailors soon gave way to a lot more martial artists, wearing all kinds of training Dougi:

"By the way, what's your name...?", she wondered, flashing a friendly, curious smile as she introduced herself first, offering her hand, "I'm Naga D. Linnea! The bird's name is Sengoku. Nice to meet you!"



It would turn out to be a rather lovely afternoon. The girl - whose name was Liara - wanted to tour around Karate Island, and so Linnea wasted no time with showing here every Dojo she found interesting, mainly Master Jeong's which she deemed to be the best. She would even spar with Liara if she expressed any keen interest in any of the Dojo's, allowing her to sample any of the martial arts being taught. After she had her fill with Dojos, she would lead Liara on a little journey through the jungle in Karate Island. The weather was indeed perfect for some exploration. But then she would constantly have to look up at the sky, check the time based on the sun's Azimuth.

She'd share some of her past with Liara, telling her about her youth in Amazon Lily, her dream of completing a journey around the world, eventually even confessing to flying a pirate flag, knowing nobody else would ever have the freedom to complete thay grand voyage. She hoped to one day return to the grand Line, and the trip she was about to undertake was another step in preparation for that:

"Say, I'm heading on a journey to the West Blue. If you're curious about it, you could hitch a ride with us...", Linnea suggested with a shy blush, inviting someone she barely knew still had this effect on her, even if Liara did inspire trust, she fidgeted slightly before finally look into her eyes long enough to brag about her ship, "My ship is quite fast, it wouldn't even take that long..."

If Liara accepted, she would lead her towards the ship or just point out the location, genuinely happy to have made another friend. Who knew, she might even end up joining their crew...