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 Seven
The Lyra Spaceport was one of the largest, most popular ports that sat in the light of the Vega star. It was alive and bright, compared to the seriousness of Montressor Spaceport. The docks and bazaar were in the shadow one of the largest museums in the Etherium. The planet of Lyra itself was known for its mining of Light Iron, used to make spacecrafts float, and the mass production of Raydon, the raw element that makes up a solar sail. The King of Lyra was once married to a pirate woman, so Lyra welcomed both pirates and traders as long as bad behavior remained distant. But if one were to look, pirates and traders walked among each other without a hated glance. But the crew wasn't there to sight see. The moment they docked, Cal was off in search of a doctor. Ambrosia had sent out the rest of the crew to collect supplies with what funds they had left. Ria and Silver were starting to wake up when the Lyra doctor, a thin and tall Canid, came aboard. Ria and Cal stood out of the way as the doctor examined Silver's back and the feather tattoo on his skin. After some mumbling to himself, the doctor got to his feet. He turned to Cal and Ria, who stiffened at his icy gaze.
"We need to cut open his back at my office. A simple surgery to remove dead tissue and fix what can be repaired. At my guess, the moment we do and the…" He trailed off, looking at Cal perplexedly.
"Phoenix feather?" Cal filled in.
"The phoenix feather will regenerate the new skin again and he will have no danger towards him. Please come to my office in a few hours and we can start the procedure as soon as possible."
"Why a few hours?" Ria asked worriedly.
The doctor laughed. "My dear, you're at the Lyra Spaceport. Take your time getting to my office if you can."
A few minutes later, Ria and Silver were walking the bazaar. Silver would have to stop every few minutes to catch his breath, but Ria didn't mind waiting. Cal would look around while waiting, finding out any information possible from the people who lived on Lyra or in the Spaceport. But their time came and went; soon, Ria and Cal were sitting outside the hospital building, waiting. Ria was curled up against the wall and Cal stood next to her, silent. They watched people move across the wide streets and paths, the shops… Ria stopped to stare at an animal stall. Behind it, in an alley, was a single cage, tall and narrow. A familiar looking creature moved behind the iron bars, snapping at anyone who came near. She squinted her eyes as she got to her feet. Looking at Cal, she bolted across the street and over to the stall. Animals of different kinds and shapes stared, made a noise, or backed to the rear of their cages. But she ignored them and stared at the large cage. The creature in it heard her, turning and hissing in a feral way. Suddenly, a lizard-humanoid woman came up behind her, grabbing her shoulders. She jumped and knocked the hands away.
"You like it? It's a rare creature, found years ago in the forests of Kimoku." She smiled, wringing her hand together. "Female, somewhat feral, but it seems to be tamed easily… if you know the right price and knowledge."
Ria ignored the saleswoman and slowly approached the cage. The moment she did, the cage rattle and she caught sight of five hazy golden eyes. She peered past the bars and saw scales and fur… a Shade. She made out scars outlining the eyes and she whirled on the handler. "Did you catch it blind?!" She bit out.
"No, no. The former handler decided it would be better blind… somehow I don't think that was the case." As if to emphasize her point, the Shade slammed against her cage again. "But at the right price-"
"You blinded her?! Are you kidding me?!"
Before anyone could stop her, Ria stood in front of the cage. The Shade was pressing itself against the back of the cage. She slowly opened the door and slipped in. The Shade stopped snarling and listened. Slipping into a crouch, Ria held out her hand as her wings extended as far as the cage would let them. A wind ruffled her feathers and the Shade became still. It started towards her, sniffing the air heavily. When her hand brushed against its snout, it flinched back, baring its teeth. Ria flinched, ready to feel fangs tear into flesh. But no pain came. Again, the Shade moved its snout against her hand and took a gulp of hair. Even blind, its eyes stared into hers like the alpha had on Kimoku. It flattened its ears against its head as it lowered its body to the ground and gave a small croon.
"You did it… you've calmed her!" The saleswoman cried from the front of the cage.
Startled, Ria spun around. The Shade roared, a blood-curdling scream that made the street become quiet. Its fangs lashed out, clamping down on the closest thing. Ria instinctively drew back her arm, helping the Shade tear a chunk of flesh from her forearm. Cal was suddenly behind her, yanking her out of the cage as the Shade slammed against the cage in rage. Ria bit into her lip as blood slipped through her fingers. Cal pulled off his jacket and pressed it into her arm. She glanced at the Shadera as the saleswoman pulled out a long, thin staff and jabbed it into its fur. It let out a pained scream before collapsing on the ground, breathing heavily. Before she could protest, she was in Cal's arms as he ran across the street towards the hospital. Her vision swam.
"I'll… be fine, Cal…" She mumbled.
"No, you won't. In case you've forgotten, Miss Ria, its bite is poisonous."
"Nah, just the males…" She argued weakly, making him chuckle dryly.
"That remains to be seen. I-"
Cal ran into someone, knocking himself and Ria to the ground. Luckily, that person was Silver. He saw the blood on Ria and immediately called for a doctor. He pulled away Cal's jacket to stare at the bloody chunk missing, swearing under his breath. She winced as he moved it around to look at the extent of the damage. The doctor that had just performed surgery on Silver came out of the doors and stared at Ria's arm for a millisecond.
"Mr. Silver, please pick her up and follow me." He ordered.
As he walked back into the crisp white building, he was shooting off more requests and orders. Ria grasped the front of Silver's shirt with her good hand, finding it hard to breathe. He held onto her tightly and she was reassured. Suddenly, her body went numb. She couldn't feel the chill of Silver's metal fingers pressing into her upper arm… couldn't feel the pain searing through her nerves and flesh. The voices around her were distant and muffled. She wanted to tighten her grip on Silver's shirt to tell him, but she couldn't feel if she did or not. He looked down at her in alarm and hollered something. Cal was leaning over her face, worried plastered on his face. His mouth was moving quickly and his hands were probably on her face. Then they were pushed through a door. Silver and Cal disappeared and she started to breathe heavily. They didn't leave her, did they? Some doctors were leaning over her, shining lights into her eyes and using hovering instruments to examine her. Two robots holding needles and other sterile metal instruments stood off to the side, awaiting orders. Suddenly, pain flamed from her arm and she bit down on her lip until she tasted blood. She let out a quiet scream mixed with a sob as someone moved her arm. The room was becoming too loud and she struggled to cover her ears. Someone was holding down her arm and pricking at it with something. She heard a pitiful whimpering and realized it was coming from her. "Silver." She whispered over and over again, eyes desperately searching for him or Cal. She blinked and he was suddenly there, crouching next to the surface she was elevated on. Cal was talking to some doctors in the hall; everything still seemed too loud. She groaned and covered her ears, seeing white bandages covering her right forearm. Reassuringly, she felt Silver's hand moving across the crown of her head. Slowly, she pulled her hands away from her ears and wrapped her arms around his neck. He helped her off the table and into the hallway. Cal gave a relieved smile. "You okay?" He asked. She couldn't find her voice as she nodded a few times. He chuckled dryly. "You were wrong, y'know. Turns out the Shadera was poisonous. Gender has nothing to do with it, Miss Ria." She ignored him as they left the hospital.
When Ria had returned with her arm bandaged, Ambrosia wasn't too pleased. She had yelled at Cal for not watching more carefully before yelling at Ria for being rash. Soon after, however, Ambrosia had gone and bought the Shadera. It was a hefty sum, but she didn't plan on keeping it. Once they were out of Lyra, they were backtracking to Kimoku to release the Shade and then heading back to Montressor. Ria had a few things to say to her mother and Ambrosia had a trading job she needed to attend to. The other crew members were wary of having Silver still on the ship, but Ambrosia didn't here a word of it. She had told them that Silver was Ria's guardian when Ambrosia and Cal could not be. That silenced them. Eventually, Ria pulled Cal aside and asked how he had survived. He refused to tell after at first; but after some annoyance, he told. His lifeline had broken but it had been tangled in the statue under the bowsprit. It took him all the way to Kimoku to untie himself. She had rolled her eyes and left the subject alone. Before launch, Ria sat on the bowsprit, looking at the starlit port. She looked out to space, barely making out the silver smudge that was the Megellanic Cloud. Almost her entire forearm was stitched up and the neurotoxin neutralized. She found herself getting dizzy, which was an effect of the antidote. Ambrosia was preparing the crew and ship for launch. Silver was cooking in the galley and a decadent smell was coming from below. Hearing footsteps, she looked over her shoulder at Cal. She climbed back to the deck and pushed strands of hair out of her face. He looked as if he had something to say, his cheeks a faint pink. He fiddled with the hem of his shirt for a moment. "Miss Ria… I…"
"Is Silver still in the galley?" She asked.
"Um… I believe so… but—"
Ria ran past Cal and down to the galley. But she stopped short when she heard Silver mumbling to himself. "…gotten too deep again. But I just can't leave 'er! She'll be 'urt so much. But Cap'n might turn me in…"
Ria slipped silently down the stairs to look at Silver. His back was to her and a communicator was in front of him, showing Jim's worried face. Ria stopped when the hologram form saw her. She shook her head and Jim turned to look back at Silver. "You never know, Silver." Jim replied. "Ambrosia isn't one to hand you over. She's more of a 'one more chance' kind of girl."
"But, Jimbo… if I blow that last chance… why, Ria would be heart broken. I don't wanna repeat what 'appened wit you and me."
"Are you sure? Sometimes, flight is better than fight." Jim raised a brow.
Ria stared in disbelief. Silver was talking about leaving… and he wouldn't because he thought he would hurt her? Guilt clenched in her gut as she made her presence known. Silver looked over his shoulder in surprise before turning to Jim. The boy shrugged. A loud voice came from his end and the hologram disappeared. Silver slowly turned back to face Ria, who was rolling a purp in her hands. She looked like a girl with something on her mind… He watched as her wings twitched and she put the purp down. She glanced at him and away, picking up the purp again. She bit into it and sighed. "You don't have to stay on my account." She mumbled, absently wiping the light purple juice running down her chin. "If you need to leave… Don't let me tie you down." She bit into her lip; a deaf man could hear the guilt in her voice.
Silver got to his feet and crouched in front of her. "Lass, it ain't yer fault. I just can't… I don't want ta put Ambrosia and ye in any more trouble. Someone 'ere's ya got me on board, ye'll both be in a hassle ya don't want ta be in and I'll…" He trailed off.
Ria was shaking as she took another bite out of the purp. "N-No, I understand. You… are doing what's best… I suppose… But…" Her voice cracked. "I love you, Silver, like a daughter loves her father! I don't want to lose the closest thing to a father I've had in nineteen years." The purp rolled to the floor as she buried her face in her hands.
Silver couldn't handle the sight. He wrapped his arms around her shaking frame and held her until her fingers dug into his apron. He felt tears pricking in his eyes which he blinked back. She pulled away, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, as he glanced away. Above deck, Cal and Ambrosia were shouting orders as the ship started to take off. Ria took a shaky breath before getting to her feet. Slipping past Silver, she started up the stairs toward the deck. Silver heard Ria hit the deck running the moment she was out of the galley. He sighed heavily and dished out the last meal he would make for the Raven's Light… or the Wraith Wing crew. Once all was done… he would leave.
Ria looked solemnly at the longboats. Soon, Silver would take one and leave. She closed her eyes and tightly wound her fingers around her locket. Lyum was gone. Kal'Vadlor was dead and his treasure was destroyed. Kal'Vadlor's memory remained and soon, the entire Etherium would learn of his death. Soon, Silver would be gone to wander the same Etherium… Ria sighed heavily. She was crying too much for her liking. She wiped at her eyes and headed towards the stairs when she heard Silver coming. Ducking behind a clump of pipes, she watched as he walked past her, tricorn hat on his head. Quietly, she slipped out from behind the pipes and followed him. When they reached the hull, he crouched to untie a longboat. She curled her fingers into a fist. "Leaving without a goodbye? I would expect you to have better manners." She joked, but her tone was everything but.
Silver stiffened. "Forgive me, lass." He turned to look at her. "I'll be takin' me leave now. It were an honor to stay upon yer extravagen' ship, milady." He removed his hat and gave a deep bow. "But space is callin' me. I can't ignore the call… I am a pirate after all."
Ria seemed to be mulling over something. When she spoke, Silver was shocked at her words. "Take me with you."
He recovered quickly, slumping his shoulders. "I can't, lass." He held his hand up as she started to protest. "Let me finish. Lass, yer an amazin' girl. Never met one like ya. But if I were ta let ya join me as a pirate… it'll be so much different than yer life 'ere wit Ambrosia. I can't separate ya from Cal and the Cap'n. Ya got more goin' for ya if you stay than if ya leave."
Tears built in her eyes. Finally she nodded, holding back sobs. Silver sighed heavily and pulled her into one last hug. They stood there for awhile, burning everything to memory. But he soon pulled away to wipe tears on his face. Jumping into the longboat, he looked back at her. Whether she knew it or not, she was fiddling with her ring as he was lowered out of the hatch and into space. She gave a smile and blew him a kiss. He waved as he launched and the Raven's Light was a speck in the distance. He looked off his bow and breathed in the space air. Keep out of trouble, you old scallywag. Jim's old words repeated in his head and echoed off as Silver disappeared into space.
Author's Note: There is a second part of this story which is still in progress, but will be posted either way. Thank you for reading Wraith Wing Part One.