The Golden Gulp, Kuma's legendary sky cruiser, soared lazily across the sapphire sky—its bronze-plated hull reflecting the afternoon sun like a god's drinking flask. The deck was alive with noise and laughter.

  Music blared from magical brass speakers mounted along the rails. Tables overflowed with roasted meats, towering skewers, and more beer than most countries exported in a year. A feast fit for sky kings was underway.

  Kuma leaned back in a reinforced wooden throne built just for his weight. His thick fur ruffled in the wind, and a towering keg sat beside him, connected by a straw that fed directly into his mug. He wore his usual half-buttoned robe, a pair of sunglasses, and absolutely no concern for gravity or responsibility.

  "YEAAAHHHH!" roared a voice as fireworks exploded from the back of the ship.

  Briggs, the golden lion with dreadlocks and a gold grill, spun two women around as he danced barefoot on the railing. "Best damn party in the sky!"

  Mako, the shark-man with shades, a cigar, and a sleeveless denim vest, poured rum into his gills and then coughed it out like a fountain. "Yo Kuma! We're outta ribs again!"

  Kuma grunted and lifted one thick paw. A nearby server girl—feathers instead of hair, a parrot-woman—saluted and vanished below deck to fetch another rack.

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  Girls in vibrant silks and tattoos lounged around, tossing grapes into each other's mouths, laughing at Mako's nonsense. The music shifted to something thunderous and tribal, and Kaori, a six-armed sword-dancer, leapt into the center of the deck to spin her blades.

  Kuma raised his mug lazily. "To freedom. And meat."

  Everyone howled in agreement. A nearby wizard with a clipboard—the ship's "unofficial record-keeper"—came running up, nearly tripping over a tankard.

  "Cap'n Kuma!" he wheezed, holding up a scroll. "You've gotta see this one!"

  Kuma grabbed the scroll, one eye lazily scanning it. His mug paused halfway to his lips.

  There, front and center, was a brightly-colored wanted poster.

  "ELEO THE BUNNY KID — WANTED FOR PROPERTY DESTRUCTION, DEFIANCE OF HIGH COMMAND, AND GENERAL NONSENSE. LEVEL 3 STARS. DANGEROUS. UNSTOPPABLE. INCREDIBLY ANNOYING."

  Kuma stared.

  The entire party quieted just a little as they noticed their captain wasn't laughing.

  He slowly stood, the wood beneath his throne groaning.

  "...No way," Kuma muttered. "That little bunny…"

  Mako blinked. "Who? You know him?"

  Briggs raised an eyebrow. "That dude with the huge ears?"

  Kuma didn't respond immediately. He looked out over the edge of the ship, mug hanging low in his paw.

  "I met him when he was eight," he finally said. "Thought he'd be dead by then."

  He grinned.

  "But instead… look at this idiot. Blowing up cities. Running wild."

  Briggs cackled. "Yo, he's makin' you look like a role model!"

  Kuma burst out laughing. "He really is!"

  He held up the poster.

  "Everyone—raise your drinks."

  The party perked up again.

  "TO ELEO!" Kuma shouted. "The Bunny Kid! The little punk who somehow got himself a damn poster!"

  "To Eleo!!" the ship roared back. Even the wind seemed to toast.

  Girls danced around him. Mako belched fire again. Kaori twirled into a backflip. And high above the world, Kuma toasted to Eleo who just became a star—not realizing how fast fate would bring them back together.