Disclaimer: I do not own any form of rights of Treasure Planet. I only own non-movie characters. This story is a fanfiction!!! So any form of relativity to already created characters is all coincidental. Please enjoy
Wraith Wing Part One
Chapter Two
Ria stared out into the endless space in front of her. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift. Her hair flowed around her head, tickling her face as it blew into it. Ambrosia informed her of their course for Montressor. She didn't want to though. Montressor meant her mother… Ria wrapped her fingers around a hologram locket on a long chain. The shorter chain above it had a ring dangling from it; the cold diamond brushed against her knuckle.
"Somethin' wrong?"
Ria jumped at the sound of Silver's voice. She glanced at him from the middle of the bowsprit, feet dangling off the edge. Rather than replying, she shook her head, hair cascading around her.
"Then why don't ya come back 'ere? Better than fallin' off, eh?"
With graceful fluidity, she got to her feet and walked back to the main deck. She lost her balance at the last step and Silver caught her before she could face plant into it. The cold metal of his arm made goose bumps rise on her arm. He released her and she leaded against the foremast.
"Ye should wear yer hair down more often." He chuckled. "Makes ya look mature."
She gave a small scoff.
Silver sighed. "Alright… why are ya so bummed about goin' to Montressor? I'd expect ya to be 'appy to see yer mum again."
She rolled her eyes. "What about you? There someone you're looking forward to seeing?"
"Yeah… Jimbo."
"Jim Hawkins? The one from your story?" Her hand went up to her holo-locket again.
"Ya know him?"
"That could be said without being a total lie." She joked dryly.
"We'll both go see 'im!" Silver proposed. "Jus' you and me."
"Yeah… why not…" She got a far away look in her eyes, like she was lost in memory. "I'm headin' to bed. G'night, Mr. Silver."
"Night, Ria."
It wasn't long, about a week and a half, before they reached the Montressor Space Port. Ria was a busy girl, trying to help the crew anyway she could. Swabbing the deck when someone was busy, helping Silver cook and clean up, being a lookout when the pirate that was assigned to that post was attending Silver's meetings. Silver looked around the port, sighing heavily. Hopefully, he wouldn't be recognized. Ria soon joined him, looking over the railing at the large space port. Excitement sparked in her eyes, but so did nostalgia. She headed for the stairs that lead to the hull.
"Well, Silver? Are we going to go see Jim or not?" She cried over her shoulder as she disappeared down the stairs.
"Aye, lass. Wait for me."
By the time he reached the longboat, she was already setting it up for launch. The hatch was open and waiting for her to drop through. He climbed in after her. Once they dropped, she opened the sails and set a course towards Montressor. He looked over at her. The farther they got from the Port, the happier she seemed to get. She piloted the longboat with ease. Her hair was down today and flowing behind her like the wings she didn't have. That made him curious.
"So… why don't ya have wings?" He asked.
She blinked and faced him, surprise etched across her face. She looked away. "I'm a half-Corvus. I'll either get wings or never get them. There isn't a half-breed other than me out there so I can't answer that truthfully."
The Benbow Inn came into view. They pulled up to a dock and tied up the longboat. Ria was expertly good an tying ropes, as well. She ran down the dock towards the back door of the Inn. He followed behind her. She opened the door a crack and looked around. Holding up a hand, she slipped in. The back door lead to a storage room that led into the kitchen. She beckoned for Silver to follow. As they headed for the kitchen door, it opened. A light turned on; Silver and Ria must have looked like deer caught in headlights. The person who turned on the lights jumped in surprise.
"Who the h…" The young man stopped and looked them over, his eyes almost as wide as theirs. "S-Silver?! Ria?!"
"Hiya, Jimbo." Silver replied as Ria wrapped her arms around . "Heh, ya cut yer hair!"
"W-What're you two doing here?!" He hissed, pushing Ria away.
"Um… perhaps ya got a bettah place ta chat, Jimbo?"
A few minutes later, they were up on the second floor. Jim's mom served some tea before heading back downstairs. Ria sipped at her cup while Jim and Silver talked. Silver claimed it lucky, since Jim was on break from the Academy. Silver explained that he was working for Ria and her sister as a cook. Jim gave him a pointed look.
"On me mum's grave, I swear I'm not up ta unscrupulous work. I'm on the straight an' narrow now, Jimbo."
There was some chattering in the air and Morph came into the room, pressing himself into Silver's face while chattering happily. Silver pet the shapeshifter, who floated around his head happily. Ria giggled at the sight and Morph looked at her.
"Morphy, this be Ria."
Morph made himself a miniature version of her and started strutting around the table as her. Her laughter encouraged him and he started to do somersaults and cartwheels. He slipped and fell into a tea cup and turned into a straw to suck the cup dry. Ria laughed till her eyes brimmed with tears. Jim and Silver joined in, laughing as Morph rested in the cup, filling it with his form.
"Now on a more serious note Jimbo. Whatever happen'd ta that doctor feller that was with ya? We need ta know where Kimoku is, ya see."
"I can call him and get him to come over. Might be a little bit." Jim replied.
"Thanks, lad."
Two hours later, Dr. Doppler was coming into the Inn with some books in tow. He set them on the table, babbling about how he tried to hurry as fast as he could while coming up with an excuse for Amelia. After getting over the initial shock of seeing Silver, he continued on how he went through all of his volumes and came upon five books about Kimoku, its history, and so on and so forth. Ria grabbed one and immediately went through its contents while Silver and Jim went through one. Dr. Doppler had one open as well. Morph looked over all their shoulders.
"Here we go!" Dr. Doppler exclaimed after some odd hours, putting his book on the table. "'Kimoku is a planet that is home to the Corvus species, a humanoid species with large wings and clawed hands. The planet itself is found in the shadow of the Megellanic Cloud, a Cloud originally used for mining the various ore dusts, refer to Volume XI for more information on the Megellanic Cloud." He added under his breath.
"Megellanic Cloud…" Ria repeated the words under her breath as she scrawled the information on a piece of paper. "Thank you, Doctor." She glanced out the window to see it had become dark out. "Crap! We've got to go, Mr. Silver. Jim, Doctor, it was wonderful to see you again." She curtseyed before bolting out the door.
"Aye, Jimbo, Doc. May we meet again." He chuckled, following after Ria.
Ria climbed into the longboat, watching as Silver headed towards her. She looked at the Benbow one more time as Silver climbed in. Biting her lip to hold back tears, she flew the longboat back to the Raven's Light.
As they climbed out of the longboat and into the hull of the ship, Sieva and a younger pirate, Cal, looked at both of them. Silver never really noticed Cal until now. Cal was a tall Lycanid like Sieva, with black fur and brilliant green eyes. Ria hugged him quickly and he half-heartedly returned it.
"Miss Alexandria… the Cap'n wishes to speak with you." Cal mumbled, not making eye contact.
Nodding, Ria headed off to Ambrosia's room. Silver put an arm around Sieva and Cal, hissing into their ears. "We've got the location." Sieva gave a feral grin and Cal laughed as they headed to the deck, Sieva and Cal to their posts, Silver to the galley. Even if most of crew probably ate, making some dinner for Ria and himself, with enough just in case some didn't eat seemed like the kind of distraction he needed.
Ria knocked twice before slipping into Ambrosia's quarters. Ambrosia was standing in front of her window, wings folded to her back. The glow from the lights gave them an ethereal shine. But the expression that lined her face, reflected in the glass, was grave. Ria pulled out the piece of paper from her pocket.
"We've got the location! It's by the Megellanic Cloud! We can head out right now and…" She was cut off by a heavy sigh.
"Thank you, Alexandria." Her tone was as serious as her expression. "But you will no longer join me on this expedition. You will pack your things…" She gave a shaky breath. "You will remain here, on Montressor, with your mother…" She trailed off, like she had more to say but didn't want to.
Ria stared in disbelief. "No… don't you dare say it…"
"And you will be married in three months." Ambrosia bit down on her lip, fighting back tears, as Ria started to yell.
"Bullshit! I've told her time and time again! I will not be married off like some sort of damn piece of property for sale!!"
"Alexandria, please don't use that language… it isn't proper for a girl your age…"
"You talk just like her! Are you with me or against me, Rose?!"
"Please don't ask me…" She whispered, voice almost breaking.
"You agree with her, don't you." Ria hissed. "Why? You weren't forced to marry someone you didn't know! To break hearts, one after another!"
"That's just it!" Ambrosia yelled back, spinning around. Her wings unfurled furiously. Papers scattered in the wind they made. "I never got married and now that I look back on it, I wish I had! Having no one love you like a husband would is hard and lonely. I'm not saying you should marry at your age, Alexandria, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't think about it in the future!"
Tears were streaming down Ria's face now. "All men are the same. They only want a body to obey them and money to spend… and you and mom don't get it." She choked out. "You wouldn't understand… no one does…"
Ambrosia's captain façade fell, the older sister in her taking over. "Ria… come on, don't cry. Maybe we can talk your mother out of it…" She walked towards her.
"NO! Don't come near me!" Ria screamed, running out of the room with a slam of the door.
Ambrosia let the tears in her eyes flow, collapsing to her knees as her wings drooped against her body and the floor.
Ria jumped down to the main deck and stormed towards the stairs leading into the hull. She barely heard Silver yelling from the galley, but she didn't stop. She passed Cal, who watched her run by with a solemn look. Once below deck, she ran for the longboats, jumping into one. She didn't plan on going anywhere, though. She curled up on the floor of the boat, leaning against a seat. She opened the holo-locket and watched the scenes flash in front of her eyes. First it was Jim and herself, little kids running around with model ships, watching stories, playing pirate. Then it was Ambrosia and her, shopping, hugging each other, taking off in the Raven's Light the first time. Then it was a face she didn't want to look at… a former friend, convinced by her mother to ask her hand in marriage. She snapped the locket shut and fingered the ring. Body racked with sobs, she remembered the history behind the ring.
"Hello, Ria. Lyum is in the study." Lyum's mother moved for her to head down the hall. "He's got something to ask you."
Ria slipped in, her off-white skirt shifting with movement. She stepped into the study to see her best friend, Lyum, standing there. He turned to face her, a brilliant smile on his face. She hugged him as they met in the center of the study. Lyum looked nervous, hand moving in his jacket's pocket and biting on his lower lip. She dabbed at some sweat on his brow with a handkerchief she pulled from his breast pocket.
"Um… I have a question Ria."
"Yes?"
"This is a little awkward…" He mumbled. "Um… do you like me, Ria?"
"Of course I do. We've been friends since we were little kids."
"No I mean… like as in love." His cheeks became red, as did her own. "You see, I've really liked you for some time and I was hoping…" Ria's eyes shot open as he got on one knee and pulled a velvet box out of his pocket. "Would you please marry me Ria?"
Ria stared down at him and the diamond ring in the purple velvet. Lyum was a really good friend… how could she possibly say yes? How could she say no? If she did either, their relationship would take a dramatic turn. She took a step back and started to breath heavily. Tears burned in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She looked away… and realized her mistake. The study's door was open a crack, her mother's eyes staring in. The tears finally won the battle and streamed down her cheeks.
"Ria?" Lyum mused.
"I…" She felt her heart breaking. This was karma; her heart was breaking after all the ones she broke. And she was about to break two in one strike. "No."
Lyum's eyes widened. "What? But, Ria, I…"
"No…" She cringed away from his arms as if they were a poison. "I'm sorry Lyum." She headed for the door, hearing her mother's footsteps retreating. She felt Lyumfollowing her. She looked over her shoulder. "I'm so sorry…" Those were the last words she said to him before shutting the door in his face.
It was barely three days later when Lyum had killed himself. She had managed to get hold of the ring after the funeral and burial. She felt no reason to stay in Montressor anymore. She left with Ambrosia, never wanting to see the blaming face of Lyum's mother again…
"Ria?"
Ria bit back a scream at the sound of Silver's voice. She glanced over her shoulder, using her hair as a curtain so he couldn't see her crying. He had two bowls in two small vices that protruded from his mechanical arm. She looked away, wiping at her face with the back of her arm. She heard him approaching and she tried to hold back the after shudders her body had after she had cried. But it was with little avail. Her shoulders shook with dry sobs that even a blind man would be able to make out.
"May I come aboard, lass?" Silver asked with a slight joking tone.
"You may, sir." She replied half-heartedly, taking an offered bowl of soup.
Silver climbed in and sat across from her. He looked her over and sighed. "I wouldn't be a gentleman if I didn't ask what was wrong." He started. He reached an oversized hand out to tilt her head up to look at him. "Tell me, lass."
She swirled her spoon in the soup a little as she collected herself. "My mother is always trying to get me married off." She bit out. "The last time she did, it was a very close friend who killed himself when I told him no. That was around the same time father died. Ambrosia offered to take me with her in search of Kimoku, which I accepted in a heartbeat. And now, mother wants me to stay in Montressor and marry someone else, even after the last one… and Ambrosia is supporting her."
"What's wrong wit getting' married? Most lasses jump at ta chance ta get married."
"I've got nothing against it, don't get me wrong. It's just… out here in space? I love it. The feeling you get as your ship launches… like you're unstoppable. It's an amazing feeling… I fell… free." She finally got out. She turned to him with a euphoric, innocent look. "I don't want to lose my wings because I'm tied down on earth by a man."
Spoken by a girl made for space. He sighed, leaning back. "I see yer reasonin'. That's why ya find a man that'll fly wit ya."
"Y'know, every time I hear that mother has another suitor for me, I keep hoping that he'll be that man. That'll fly with me. But all of them want the family's money and a body that'll be at their beck and call… a slave they can call a wife at the same time."
Silver moved to sit next to her. "Don' worry, lass. You'll find that guy eventually. Until then, ya just keep doin' what ya do."
She looked up at him questioningly. "Which would be…"
"Searchin' for yer pop's treasure and dealin' with ol' scallywags' like meself." He laughed.
"I suppose so." She mumbled, leaning on his shoulder. "Thanks for listening."
"Ria?"
Both of them looked over to see Ambrosia, looking solemnly at the two. Ria and Silver exchanged looks. Silver nodded to her. Taking a deep breath, she rose. Handing him her bowl, she jumped over the edge and walked up to Ambrosia. She took another deep breath.
"I'm not leaving. We're in this together." She proclaimed. "After we find Kimoku, I'll meet any guy mom throws at me. I'll decide which one I marry though. You may lay to that."
Silver smiled. Atta girl.
Ambrosia seemed relieved. The solemn look disappeared and she turned on her Captain's façade. "We leave for the Megellanic Cloud tomorrow morning. Be ready or you'll be left behind."
Ria smiled and snapped into a salute. "Aye, Cap'n!" She chirped, bolting back to the upper deck.
Ambrosia looked back at Silver, who was climbing out of the longboat. "Thank you, Mr. Silver."
"Yer welcome, Cap'n." He said, heading for bed himself.
