The Pirate King

Chapter 10: A Family Reunited

Endymion and his crew trudged back to the ship, their auras ringing with disappointment. They had explored several miles inland and had found nothing. Endymion wiped sweat from his forehead with a heavy hand.

They pushed out onto the beach and the crew began to head for the rowboats. Endymion, however, had halted at the edge of the forest. Because across the beach, where he had expected to find Serenity, there was nothing. Slowly he walked to the edge of the water where a small indention in the sand suggested that she had laid here to rest. A small set of footprints, surely hers, led into the forest. They were followed alongside a much larger set of footprints. Much, much larger…

"Captain?" Malachite called from where he had already boarded the rowboat, the four girls seated as well. They all looked at him with worry.

"She's gone…" she whispered. His eyes followed the trail of footprints and he stepped towards them. He went slowly at first, the anxiety building until he was running. He dodged through the trees his mind playing through the horrors she could be experiencing now. The images propelled him faster. He had heard of the native people of this country. Columbus had called them savages. His writings had detailed the tortures they could inflict on men.

Behind him he heard footsteps, no doubt his crew. He almost smiled. They would follow him anywhere, no questions asked. He burst from the trees into a clearing. Buildings were set up, interspersed with teepees. His crew emerged from the trees, their breathing labored. Endymion took a step further but halted when Zoicite called out.

"Captain! Don't! It could be dangerous."

Endymion shook his head and forged on, searching the buildings.

"Indians!" he called. "Bring her out! I know you have her!" His voice rose hysterically as he called for her. People began to emerge from their homes, their eyes wide in fear and fascination. Endymion stopped, shocked by the vision. They weren't savages! They were regular people.

"Endymion?" a small voice asked in confusion. He whirled to find Serenity standing a few feet behind him.

"Serenity!" he exclaimed. He ran to her and stopped. His arms ached to hold her but he wouldn't. She had made her decision.

"What are you doing here?" she asked softly.

"I…We came back and you were gone. We were worried so we set out to find you. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

No…they've been caring for me. Seiya found me on the beach and brought me here." She pointed to a tall man with long, black hair. Endymion narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Seiya glared back, daring him to act. "He brought me here to talk to Luna, oh Endymion! You must meet her!" Serenity exclaimed. "She is from Japan!"

"Did they take her prisoner as well?"

"Prisoner? No, she is the mid-wife."

Endymion grunted in frustration as Serenity led him to the teepee from which she had emerged. A small woman with black hair was pouring water from a pot into a cup. She looked up as they entered and caught Endymion's eyes. Her face paled and she dropped the cup and pitcher, her hands reaching up to cover her mouth. She appeared as if she had seen a ghost.

"Luna?" Serenity asked in worry, rushing to her side.

"Terrace?" her voice trembled. Endymion gave her a confused look.

"No, I'm Endymion. Endymion Desar." Her face paled even more and tears sprang to her eyes.

"I think she's about to faint!" Serenity exclaimed.

Endymion ran forward to catch her just before she hit the ground. Her eyelids fluttered dazedly.

"Endymion?" she whispered.

"Yes, ma'am,"

"Oh…I can't believe you are here." Her eyes opened and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hands explored his face as if trying to memorize his features.

"I'm sorry ma'am…but I think you have me confused with someone else."

"No…no, I know exactly who you are." Luna smiled. "You're my son!"

Endymion froze with his eyes wide in shock. Serenity's mouth was hanging open as she stared at them in amazement. "But…my mother's dead," Endymion began. "Both my parents are dead. They died in a shipwreck."

"Well, there was a shipwreck and your father did die. But I survived. They, these people, they found me on the shore and nursed me. I've been living here for the last twenty years."

"I can't believe it…" he asked in an amazed voice. "I thought you were dead…and now you're alive." His eyes clouded with tears as Luna's hand smoothed his hair.

"Oh, how you've grown…I've thought about you everyday. You look exactly like you're father." She whispered her voice hoarse with emotion. Serenity turned and left them to be reunited in private. Seiya was standing outside of the teepee.

"Who…is he?" Seiya asked Serenity.

"That is the captain of the ship I came here on. He is Luna's son." Seiya's eyes widened at Serenity's revelation.

"He…he is Endymion?"

"Yes."

Seiya looked at the entrance to the tent. "He is my long-lost half-brother."

"What?" Serenity asked, not thinking she had heard right.

"Luna is my mother. She married the man who became chief of the tribe. Then she gave birth to me." He stated simply.

"So you…are Endymion's brother?" Seiya nodded.

"Shouldn't you let him know?"

"Mother will tell him in time. She told me she loved his father very much. He will have a hard time to accept me as family."

"I can't believe this. We come here for gold and the captain finds a family! This really is the land where dreams come true!" Serenity laughed. She looked across the village, where Malachite, Zoicite, Nephlite, Jadeite, Mina, Ami, Lita, and Raye sat with the other villagers, talking and laughing in two broken languages, and smiled.

Everyone seemed happy. So why couldn't she be happy? Malachite wrapped his arm around Mina and pulled her to his side. Zoicite had his fingers intertwined through Ami's. Nephlite was running his fingers through Lita's hair, and Raye had her head resting against Jadeite's shoulder. All of her friends had found love. And they hadn't just thrown it away for duty's sake.

"Duty or love? How could a person choose between duty and love? It was impossible!

"Your thoughts seem heavy." Seiya said, breaking into her musings.

"Indeed, are there any other kind of thoughts?" Serenity asked.

"A heavy thought means a heavy heart. Why is your heart heavy?"

"I had love and I denied it…" Serenity said.

"Why would you deny the most precious of treasures?"

"I had to. You see, I am the only heir to the throne of Japan and the man I love is…inappropriate for me to marry."

"There is a story of a great chief who lived long ago. He ruled a vast tribe and had much land and animals. But he was not happy. One day he met a girl who worked in the fields. She was very beautiful and the chief fell in love with her immediately. However the counsel told him he could not marry her because she was inferior in status.

At hearing this the chief became furious. He said, is not the eagle that soars high above the mountains still a bird? Is it not the same as the cardinal that hunts the ground for worms? So despite the unwillingness of the counsel he married her. They lived happily together for many years. And when the chief died his wife continued to rule the tribe, just as well as he had, if not better."

"Yes but he was the chief. I am but a princess!"

"And one day you shall be a queen."

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