Prologue: you found me

The winds blew harshly, waves crashing into the sands, and the moon's rays shined brightly. These were signs of the end of autumn. The gulf was cooling, refreshing and very welcoming. Unlike what would become in the next few generations, the whole of the land was dark - light only emitted from sparsely lighted night-torches along the beach. Children slept, wives cleaned up and husbands took a good long shower to self-congratulate their safe arrival home. The sea was never a safe place to be and despite how calm it looked, you could never tell how bad it was going to get until you're on the boat. Usually it was quite smooth, depending on the time of day, and it rarely became quite the horror. But it was the unsuspected tides – they were larger, stronger - that would sweep you off your feet. Children were never allowed on sea; it was far too dangerous. Yet, as a ship made its way across the currently-gentle ocean waters, children's laughter were clearly distinguished.

"Kids! Dinner!" A cheery, audibly intoxicated, man shouted from above deck. He doubted they heard though; the crashing waves roaring proudly throughout the night. The middle-aged man sighed and left his spot on the front deck, where he had stood drinking a mixture of some rum and other alcohols. With a small knock, the tall olive-tanned Spaniard walked into his son's room. Sprawled across the floor in a play fight were three boys. Along with the young Antonio (who lay on his back to the floor) were his two closest friends (who were both attacking Antonio from above), the French boy Francis and the very loud Gilbert. Only Antonio was truly the captain's son. However when he had met Francis and Gilbert, in towns where the crew had stopped by to reload their supplies, he had pleaded his father to adopt them. And so he did. Both were older than Antonio himself, Francis being at the age of fifteen when found, Gilbert was nearing fourteen while the lonely Spanish pirate's son was barely ten. A year has passed since then, and the trio was stuck together like ants to a bowl of sugar. The two adopted ones found it as their duty to raise their new sibling, treating him like how they would have to their own. Of course numerous mischievous pranks were played, but it kept everyone in high spirits, so nobody took them to heart... No matter how badly they shouted, screamed and punished.

"Papa!" Antonio squealed as he saw his father looming over his two playmates. Before he could say anything else however, both Francis and Gilbert had started attacking him again. The duo laughed as one tickled their captive while the other held him down. The ship's captain looked over their shoulders at his son's laughing face and joined in the laughing, his booming over the others in his high state. "Children, get your asses out of here. Chef's made an extra special dinner to prepare ourselves for tomorrow." He told the boys with an ear-to-ear grin. At that, the boys screamed in joy and ran out. They raced their way there, Gilbert emerging as the unexpected winner. Once settled down, the trio ate to their heart's content.

It would take maybe another week or two before they could reach their destination. The man in a worn red overcoat stood alone on deck, the crew having retreated down below for dinner. His presence (or lack thereof) would be noticed sooner or later, but the man decided that they could wait for awhile. He stared at the setting sun, watched the waves stretched far into the dull horizon. And it's not everyday a man of the ocean would call the ocean dull, Antonio would fight anyone who tries to, but even he has days where the melancholy sits in. He has grown up on the sea, and it was his home. However, there were days where he wishes for things to get better. There is so much in the world, and he wishes for it all. There was so much his greedy little fingers just couldn't grab. But those would be thoughts for another day.

His musings came to a halt with a series of coughs. His shoulders sank. The captain took in one last breath of the salty air before returning down to get some food.

(And maybe this time he'll listen to Roderich about that medicine he keeps talking about.)

Francis and Gilbert had retired to their rooms, full stomachs withering away their will to continue playing. The eleven-year-old Antonio made his way on deck, and sat on a crate, staring out into sea. The winds were calm and the tides followed. The night was bright; the moon emitting enough light along with the torches along the ship.

Soft gentle winds blew through Antonio's hair, messing it and calming him. His mind raced. He knew that his father's loyal crew were shrinking, many having lost their lives either in battle or disease. His father did not seemed concerned, oddly. Antonio may have been a kid, but he knew his father. His father was a man who cared about his crew, and he respected each and every one of them. But there was a glint in his eyes whenever someone passed on. There was deep pain and longing for another friend leaving, but there was something else. Antonio couldn't name it, for now.

The boy's thoughts were interrupted by a splash in the water, of all things.

Antonio tried to look over to the sea as much as he could, but ended up having to use the crate to stand on. There, just about ten yards away from the ship was what he wouldn't have ever believed. A head, popped out of the ocean's surface. It didn't scream, yell or cry for help. It just looked up at the ship in awe. From what he could see, it was most probably a boy around Francis's age.

Bewildered by the sudden object's appearance, Antonio spoke up to it, "Hello?" He shouted while waving his hands over his head, trying for its attention. The head looked around, finding for the owner of the voice before its bright mix of green eyes landed on the younger boy. Quickly, he whimpered and shot his head below the sea, only his mop of chocolate hair visible. The reaction astonished Antonio, who moved the tomato crate closer to the direction of where the head was, stood back up on it and called again. "Hey! What're you doing?" He shouted. The head slowly resurfaced. It didn't gasp for air, nor did it seem to mind swimming in the freezing ocean at all.

A/N: Okay so I am so incredibly sorry for not only having abandoned this story again, but now uploading the prologue for the third time. I don't know if anyone would bother reading this for the third time, but I've made visible changes and I guess it'd be pretty worth it in the long run? Chapter title credit to the song You Found Me by the Fray. It was a spur of the moment that felt appropriate. Thank you and hope you enjoy!