Chapter 21: The Magic Within

The shock and the sheer force of the storm that Calypso had set on young William and the crew of the Eastern Sun was enough to frighten anyone and it did just that to the little boy. When the storm had ended, and Will had to take the Flying Dutchman away, Elizabeth had hope that the storm and the trouble had passed them by but she was very uneasy for her son and even though he tried to convince his mother not to worry about him he was feeling as young and inexperienced as he was.

The waters continued to be uneasy and the whispers that she gave to the world were angry and fierce and frightened young William even more. He wanted to cry and the song of the waves became more violent and angry against him. He had learned to hear the waves and what they spoke of and had been comforted by the calm calling of the sea that he heard deep in his soul but as the storm passed and the great depths churned with anger he could hear the hatred that was rising and the call that he was becoming an enemy of the sea.

The night had come on quickly and it was dark and dense as the clouds were still with them and the sea rocked the ship and tossed her about. It was so unnerving for the boy that he did not find sleep all that night and only laid awake as his mother and her crew paced the ship and worked to repair the damage that had been done. When dawn arrived again the Flying Dutchman appeared on the horizon and Will came aboard his wife's ship once again to relieve her of her worry and take charge while she, and the crew that had worked so hard all through the night, tried to rest.

The sea still stirred with the force of the storm that has passed them by but the sun had risen and there was clear visibility all around them. William came up on deck once again to find Mi and his father in deep conversation. He had tried to sleep when his mother had come to their cabin but it was useless, he was too shaken by the storm and wanted only the comfort that the old man and his magic and wisdom could provide.

When Mi noticed the haggard appearance of the young lad he summoned him to him immediately and began to talk of the storms and the surges that he and his crew had face over the years. The calming words of the man as he spoke soothed William and all his fears like a warm blanket had wrapped it self around him and given him the protection that he had been wanting. Mi saw that his magic was strongly affecting the boy and was pleased to see the fear and the distress leaving him. He continued to talk as the boy and his father continued to listen.

"The sea will become angry and the sky will take her side," Mi said as the sun shown down on them, "you will gain your legs when the storms are around and you will learn how to cope with the storms but this was your first. I remember how shocking and deterring it can be to weather your first storm out on the open sea," he said.

"Were you hesitant after your first storm on the waves?" William asked as he looked sleepily into the old man eyes.

"I believe I was, and I vowed that I would never sail again after that storm," Mi answered; his kind old smile hidden behind his beard.

"And you, father, how was your first storm," William asked.

"It happened when I was about your age and it was brought on by a cursed ship and blood thirsty pirates," Will said, "the ship I was on was captured in fog and then the sound like thunder filled our ears but it wasn't thunder it was cannon fire and when it was too late the wind and the rain began to hit us and so did the pirates that had come seeking our ship. I survived, but just barely as I was rescued by the governors ship and your mothers keen eye. Even as a young girl she was a weathered sailor and though they too had come through the fog and the storm she was more worried about me and my safety then I was. For years after that I remained on land, I became a blacksmith," he said and smiled down at his son.

"I can understand why," William shivered, "perhaps I should follow in your footsteps and remain on land."

"You doubt yourself," Mi said looking deep into the boys eyes, "only days ago you would have said you would never return to land because the sea was your home."

"That was before the storm took from me the sea legs I believed I possessed," William sighed.

"You can't give up, my son; you know that storm was against you and your powers. There is something very special about you and you need to learn how to harness that power," Will smiled down at his son.

"I feel so much more capable when I am aboard the Dutchman," William sighed.

"That is because you have such a connection with that ship, you can work your magic without even thinking about it because that ship and the magics held within it are the origins of your own powers," Mi said, "with it so close do you not feel it with you now?"

"I thought I was simply feeling my father's presence," William said.

"And you are," Mi smiled, "because he too possessed the magic that you hold. Magic is a funny thing. It does not like to be seen and is sneaky and silent. It hides in plain sight from those that do not possess it but for those that do it connects with them. I hold a magic that is somewhat like yours because apart of your magic is a part of my daughters magic but there is also and innocent and noble magic about you that I do not carry with me and so I could never free the spirits of the magic within, like you could. That is why you were able to find the ancient treasure and I believe that one day you will be able to control your powers enough to find the sailor trapped within the walls of the Dutchman. For now it's merely playing with you, like a game of hid and seek. You are the seeker and you will have to find the magic within you before you can continue on to find the magic that is all around you."

"Can you help me?" William asked.

"I believe that we both can," Mi answered and he sat down in the place that he stood and Will joined them, "there are two magic forces at work here. Your father holds a little bit of both and I hold a power that is older and wiser than the power of my daughters. Their power came from me as your power came from your father and so it is a pure kind of magic but your father was born a mortal man, with nothing but the call of the sea in his heart. The magic came to him later as a saving gift from the Dutchman. He is still learning about it himself, are you not?" Mi asked.

"I am," Will smiled, "I learn something every day about the sea and my ship and how we are one together. I have control over some things but not all."

"I can't control anything," William said.

"You doubt," Mi said, "if you believe; you can."

"What should I believe in?" William asked.

"Do you believe that you have the power to change the wind?" Mi asked.

"No," William said

"What about the water that moves below the ship," Mi asked.

"No," William said, "the sea is so vast and the sky never ending, how could you control it?"

"Like this," Mi said and fell silent.

Mi folded his hands, closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He sat very still and silently breathing with the gusts of wind and suddenly it happened. The sails of the ship wavered, the flag fell limp and the wind stopped.

"How did you do that?" William asked.

"I became one with the wind and the magic. I concentrated very hard on the magic I know is within me and I simply asked the wind to change," Mi said, "You have done this before."

"No I haven't," William said.

"Did you not ask the sea to bring you the Dutchman every morning that you came to the deck to see the flash of green?"

"Yes, but that was more a prayer to see my father," William said.

"And what, if not a prayer, is asking for a change in the wind?" Mi asked.

William looked to his father for a moment and Will smiled into the young boys curious eyes.

"You've learned to listen to the sea and hear what she had been saying," Mi said breaking the silence, "was that not a prayer to the ocean to find your way and to hear your call?"

"Yes," William said.

"Then don't you think that if you pray and ask the wind to fill the sails again you could do it?" Mi asked.

"Maybe," William said hesitantly

"You should try," Mi said as he folded his hands in his lap.

"Alright," William said.

William fell silent. He folded his hand and closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply. In his mind he called out to the wind and looked deep into himself to find the magic. There was a part of his heart that held a true belief that anything was possible and that magic beyond anything else was strong and suddenly the sound of his breathing grew louder and the sails of the ship billowed in the wind that caught them and the flag danced once again.

"William, you did it!" Will said placing a hand on his son's shoulder.

William opened his eyes and felt the magic in his fathers touch and when he unfolded his hands a shining piece of the ancient gold was in his palm.

"This if from your ship father," William smiled.

"How did you get it?" Will asked.

"I believed in the magic and it came to me," William answered.

"If you believe in yourself you can do anything," Mi said as he trembled as he stood up, "I believe the storms will no longer bother you, you'll be able to calm them with a thought now," he added and left the father and son alone where they sat.