Klank flew through the air until he slammed into a wide tree nowhere near the fighting area Bighead marked. The force nearly knocked him unconscious, but he focused all his energy into standing. He wobbled as he did. The blood flowing from a gash on his forehead made it difficult to see further than a few feet. He clasped his swollen hand over the wound and wiped the crimson river from his face. Phin was approaching, wounds he obtained from Bighead freshly opened.  The side of his face was swollen so bad that his left eye disappeared, leaving only a slit. The fishman took a firm step forward and unleashed his six-sided boomerang. Klank was only just starting to get used to its trajectory and attempted his first real go at predicting its path. Phin smiled as his crew mate lazily dodged back and wound up like a kid playing stick ball. Klank waited, knowing where the projectile would pass. All his focus was taken. 

	Again, the shipwright ended up flying through the air, a yelping trail echoing behind him. This time, he broke through two trees before smashing into the third. He lie there for a moment, thinking on what just transpired.

	"I really gotta stop falling for that," He struggled.

	"That's the third time," Phin chuckled as he came close. 

	"It's all about even numbers," Klank laughed. "Let's go for a fourth."

	The scaly man lent a hand, and his friend took it. Slowly, the two made for the original fighting area. Neither would admit it, but they could both use a quick break, and if Bighead saw that - they thought he could be anywhere, just watching - he might mess them both up royally. 

	"You've improved quite a bit in just one day," Phin acknowledged. "I'm quite impressed. I didn't take you for a warrior."

	"Hardly that," Klank protested. Just doing what I have to to make sure all our dreams come true."

	"Why does everyone else's ambitions drive you so hard?"

	"Selfishness, I suppose." Klank didn't care if Bighead was around; he magically popped a cigarette and lit. " A ship, while magnificent to, is still only a ship. It needs a crew. And if I want to take my best crafted ship and sail all the seas, then the best way to make that happen, is to do my part in helping everyone achieve what the want or need."

	"I've slightly misjudged you, Klank."

	Klank smirked. "What about you? I don't imagine sparring me helps you any." 

	"Captain thinks otherwise," Phin said. "Bighead nearly beat me to the death," he became solemn. "He knew just when to stop before I actually bit the big one. Sparring with you serves to strengthen my endurance and resolve beyond my normal capabilities. I'm putting more effort than you realize. I'm at my limit, and my body knows it."

	"Then let's kick it up a notch. For both our sake." 

	The two finally reached the original area, took their positions, and with everything they had left, launched at each other.

--------------------

	Sierra watched from a far distance as Phin and Klank walked back to the arena. She was unimpressed by the shipwright, but though the other to be a perfect sparring partner. It drove her nuts to be sitting there only able to observe, but those were The Captain's orders, and a part of their deal. On the second day on the island, Bighead had revealed to her what she would be working to obtain. Part of her training was to learn not just how to gauge someone battle prowess, but their person. She argued for the better part of the day, but ultimately challenged Bighead to a duel. If she won, she could do whatever the hell she wanted. The duel was over quickly, and Sierra realized that her Captain may have been right. Still though, it boring beyond comprehension. She just wanted to test her skills against that brutish fishman.

	"So boring," she said aloud. Sierra still wasn't totally used to Peanut not being there. "What the hell is Klank doing out there. No skill what-so-ever. I wanna kick the shit out of him just for being a shitty fighter." She was distracted by her need for a fight. But she persevered and focused on them. Not their battle directly and what could be seen with the naked eye, but what drove them. 

	Clearly, the two didn't have much left in them, and Klank stood no chance against his sparring partner, so, "Why does he keep going so hard?" she was curious. "His battle spirit isn't on par with Phin, or even mine, but he keeps fighting." 

	"One does not necessarily need to possess 'Battle Spirit' to keep fighting," Bighead appeared out of nowhere. His stealthiness was unnerving, especially for such a large man. "Look harder at Klank. What do you see?"

	Sierra replied, "A weakli..." she paused as she expected a knock on the head. "He smiles as he fights, even though he sorely losing."

	"And why is that?"

	"He is a man that isn't deterred by his shortcomings. He will do whatever it takes to get where he needs to be."

	"You pick up quick," Bighead joked.

	"Well, I'm not stupid."

	"Just oblivious to anything not directly related to battle."

	"Yea yea!" Sierra rose to her feet with a pouty look on her face. "When can I start fighting. I need to brush up on my skills to, you know."

	"When you can accurately, confidently, and truly observe everyone of your mates." Bighead turned the other way and began heading off. He looked behind him with a giant smile. "When you can do that, I'll train you personally."

	For the rest of the day, and the days beyond that, Sierra would hop around the island and Observe all her crew, all in hopes to train under her Captain's instruction, the one who bested her in a matter of moments. There was much, she knew, that she could learn from him.