So I've felt bad about that one week I didn't publish a chapter, so have this second chapter as a bonus!

I.O.N.

Enjoy!

Luka had just finished helping Juleka unload most of the cargo when he saw his little sister get tackle-hugged by a pink blur. "JULEKA!"

Shortly after Nathaniel and Max showed up.

"Well isn't this a happy little reunion?" Luka said, as he gave Rose a side hug and shook hands with the two boys. "How have you all been?"

"I have been doing well. King Ali has taken much of my advice on the taxing rate of importing and exporting." Max said.

"Max, I really hope that means you convinced him to lower those rates?" Luka asked hopefully. The young genius chose not to respond.

"My apprenticeship is exactly what I dreamed and dreaded it would be." Nathaniel added, distracting the two sailors from their death glares at Max.

"That bad?" Juleka asked.

"No, it's just difficult to remind myself that I'm not allowed to draw whatever I please as it strikes me. Every. Single. Day."

"I'm sure it'll get better," Rose said kindly. "It's not like he can keep the two of you apprentices forever."

"True. He'll die... eventually."

At the snide remark, the four former crewmates burst out laughing.

"And how have things been at the Palace, Rose? Anyone there who needs to be terrified by four mythical pirates?" Juleka asked, turning the attention to their blond friend.

"I don't think so. Everyone's been so nice!"

"Of course they have! Who would want to insult someone as nice as you?!"

As Luka decided it was about time he finished unloading, Rose, Nathaniel, and Max all offered to help them finish. But Luka waved them away, saying that the four of them should go out and have some fun. So the four left the docks, and they all decided they wanted to show Juleka their favorite places to spend free time.

But as the morning wore on, and it looked like Nathaniel would need to be getting back, Max gently brought up the subject they'd all been thinking about but had been too nervous to say anything.

"Juleka... has there been any word on the others?"

With a sad sigh, the dark haired girl massaged her neck and said, "No. It's like the seven of them just disappeared. We've looked for any clues or rumors about Tikki or Ladybug, but there's... nothing."

Sabrina unwillingly awoke from her nap when the sound of church bells continued to sound in her ears. Sitting up, she realized she had let herself fall asleep on the cliff overlooking the ocean, again. Finally, the bells were silenced, and all she could hear once again was the sound of water hitting the sheer face of the cliff below. It was almost soothing enough to send her back into a light doze.

Just as Sabrina had allowed her eyes to close, they shot back open in panic. If the bells had gone quiet, that meant that she was late for church, again. Scrambling to her feet, Sabrina took off running, hoping that the family she was living with wouldn't be too disappointed.

As she ran across the open field, legs pushing her forward, wind sweeping her hair back, Sabrina couldn't help the smile that spread across her freckled cheeks. This was the only time she felt nearly as free on land as she did when she was aboard Tikki.

Mylene laughed as Ivan was swarmed with children. The gentle giant that was her fiance tended to be popular with the kids that saw their traveling show. All they wanted to do was get piggyback rides and see how many of them he could carry at once. It never failed to make Mylene giggle.

As the sun continued its journey to the west, parents came to collect children. Some would smile and wave goodbye, while others would cry and whine that they wanted to stay. Those were the ones Mylene would sing silly song after silly song to until they laughed, then she would tell them they had to go home and eat a nice warm supper. After that, they would usually smile and nod their heads happily.

Together Ivan and Mylene would watch them leave, smiles on their faces. Finally, as the last family left, the two would turn back to their wagon and prepare for supper themselves. With a sigh, Ivan sat down his plate and turned to Mylene. "Have you ever thought of going back?"

"Back?"

"Yeah, you know back to the ocean, sailing."

Mylene smiled sadly, "I don't think there's been a day I don't think of it."

"What's stopping us?"

"I don't know about you, Ivan, but it just wouldn't feel right without the Captain and the others." Mylene's eyes started to mist over.

Ivan hugged his fiance and did his best to soothe her as the tears started to fall, "It's okay to miss them, ya know. You don't have to hide it."

There the two sat throughout the night, reminiscing about the seven friends they had lost almost six years previously.

I have nothing to say.

Comment what you thought!

Hope you enjoyed!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this. Have a nice day!

See ya next time!