CHAPTER 13

HATEFUL REUNION, TEARFUL GOODBYE

I sighed as the Longboat touched down on the Earth.

It looked almost exactly as I left it. The countryside was still here, the Bar was still here, even the bus stop was still a mess, although it looked like someone had managed to remove the remains of the mast from Billy Bone's ship from the wreckage.

I sighed as my gaze wondered over to the ashes of the bush were I laid Billy Bone's body, before blasting him to smithereens with his own ships cannons.

Somehow, I was glad that there was nothing left of the bush, or Bones. It would have been hard to explain to the authorities what the charred remains of a turtle were doing in the middle of Dorset, about as hard as it was going to be to explain to my mother I was engaged to a feline.

It had now been six months to the day since I had left Earth. It had only taken three months in Dry-Dock, but now the repairs to the Legacy finally been completed.

Now, the Longboat's and launch bay walkways replaced, cables refitted, new sails and masts, new doors and windows, the hole in the floor of the Stateroom repaired, the hull fixed up and a new coat of paint later, The R.L.S Legacy now sat in orbit above earth, just out of range of satellites and the International Space Station, but just in Longboat range.

Amelia gazed over the land as I got down from the longboat. Her injuries had been, as I had suspected, a slight fracture of the ribs, small but painful. Now she stood at the tiller of the Longboat, clothed in her usual Captain's uniform, making sure that it was well hidden in some nearby trees.

I myself hadn't changed a lot either. The major difference in my appearance was the fact that glasses no longer sat atop my nose. When we returned home, with the help of a bit of Silver's treasure, my eyesight had been returned to normal via laser eye surgery, meaning I didn't need my glasses any more.

I still wore the original uniform given to me by Amelia, a new hat replacing my original. It was like Arrow's, but it was dark blue, with gold lining.

"So this is where you lived huh?" I heard Amelia say behind me, "I like it, no wonder you wanted to come back."

I smiled slightly at the compliment, gazing around.

"Yeah it's something special alright. Too bad my Mother had to spoil it!" I mused as I gazed towards the King's Ransom in the distance.

I sighed as Morph came down beside me following my gaze.

"Should I wait here?" I heard Amelia call.

I turned and smiled at my Wife-to-be.

"I would advise it," I said mildly, "The people of this planet haven't made First Contact with an alien species yet. I'm gonna have a hard time explaining you. With respects Ma'am, you don't look at all human."

"And you love me because of it," she said slyly as she dropped down next to me.

I smiled sweetly and kissed her swiftly on the cheek, "And I love you because of it."

She smiled as me and Morph headed towards the Bar, to say my final goodbyes to my mother.

The Bar looked exactly as I had left it, perhaps a little dustier.

It was practically empty when I got there, Morph pretending to be a part of my watch so he wouldn't arouse suspicion.

In fact, it was empty, save for my Mother at the Bar, a wine bottle in one hand, a glass in the other, looking only slightly sober. Well, it was only lunchtime.

As I opened the door, she looked up from her drunken state, before casting me an evil look when she realised who it was.

"So, you've finally decided to come back, you worthless piece of filth!" she sneered.

I raised an eyebrow as I took off my hat.

"I see I wasn't missed these last six months then," I replied mildly.

"Peh, the Optician came round asking for you," she spat as she poured more wine into her glass, "I told him where to stick it! You were gone, that was all that mattered."

She glanced at my uniform, "Whatcha do? Run away and join the circus?"

I gave her an amused look, "Actually, I ran away, found a map, travelled into outer space, had an adventure, and now I'm the First officer of the R.L.S Legacy, and am due to marry her Captain, Amelia, in two months time, before settling down and having a couple of kids…hopefully none of them with your attitude."

She rolled her eyes at me like I was stupid.

"You think I'm actually gonna believe that?" she sniggered, "What does R.L.S stand for? Royal Loony Sanctuary?"

"No, Royal Light Ship," I replied, "She runs on Solar power."

"And who in their right mind would want to marry you?" she asked snidely, "You have to be the most ugliest man in the college. You're a geek, no one likes a geek. What nitwit would want to marry you?"

"I would want to marry him!"

Upon hearing Amelia's voice I stood to attention, stepping away from the door, allowing the Captain in.

She kept her head low, hiding her facial features below her hat.

"At ease Commander," she murmured as she went by, heading onto the bar. "Mrs. Dearing I presume?"

"Who are you?" she spat as she sloshed more wine into her glass, spilling it over the counter.

"I am Captain Amelia of the R.L.S Legacy, and your future daughter-in-law, and I would kindly ask you not to insult my fiancé. Never in my life have I ever met a more kind and loving man."

She looked back at me and gave me a smile and a wink before turning back to my mother.

Mother gazed at her intently, trying to see what was under the hat, but failing.

She then looked at me and burst out laughing.

"Your joking right?" she said between laughing her head off, "You want to marry this man? You must really be off your rocker. And as for you Commander," she spoke the last word mockingly, "Get that stupid get-up off and go get a mop, this place is filthy!"

I glanced worriedly at Amelia. There was no way she was going like me being ordered to do something by a different person, mother or no mother.

"I would very much like it if you don't order my First Officer around Mrs. Dearing," she said tightly.

"Oh, shut up you bitch!" my mother screamed at her, "There is no way in hell that you could even like my son. He is the most stupid, good for nothing, stuck up man that ever walked the Earth! Now get out of my Bar before I call the Police!"

That was it, the last straw.

Amelia suddenly looked up suddenly, her hat falling off her head as she did so, her Emerald eyes shooting daggers at my mother.

"You take that Back!" she sneered, teeth bared.

Mother almost screamed in shock at what she saw under the hat, falling over as she tried to back away from Amelia's infamous death glare.

"Who…what….what are you?" she managed to get out.

"What I am is of no importance," she said angrily as she removed her right glove, "But this should confirm what myself and Daniel have been trying to say all along.

She pushed her hand in front of my Mothers face, showing her a bright gold ring, embedded in the centre with a single blue Sapphire. The most beautiful one from the remains of Flint's trove that Silver had given me, specially made for Amelia, and Amelia alone.

"Your…your getting married to a cat?" she asked in disbelief.

I shook my head, "No. I'm getting married to the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on," I said with a smile.

She looked up at me as Morph decided to come up from my watch, glaring evilly at my mother.

"Have you said your goodbyes? Because I don't think I want to spend another minute in this godforsaken place!"

I smiled at her.

"I have one more thing to do, you go wait by the longboat, we have one more stop, then back to the Legacy.

She nodded before shooting one more deadly glance at her future Mother-in-Law, before putting her hat back on and stomping out the door, Morph following in her wake.

I smiled to myself as I leaned over the bar to look at my mother, who was still cowering in a corner.

"So, I've said all I wanted to say, So I'll say goodbye now. Goodbye Mother, I won't see you again…ever."

As I left, I suddenly heard my mother scream out to me,

"WHERE TO YOU THINK YOUR GOING?! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW AND CLEAN THIS MESS UP!!!"

I stopped at the door, and looked back at the woman struggling to get up.

I sighed and turned round to face her one last time.

"Listen Belinda," I said sternly, using her first name to make a point, "I am twenty-three years old. I think I can live without taking orders from you all the time. Now I'm only going to say this once. I am leaving you, and you will never hear hind nor hair of me again. Why I had even the thought of visiting you in the first place was beyond me. Maybe because I'm polite, I don't know. The point is, after today, you will never see me again. So Goodbye Mother, and have a nice life."

"DANIEL KENNEDY DEARING!!!" She screeched as I put my hat back on my head, "IF YOU GO THROUGH THOSE DOORS, I SWEAR I'LL HAVE EVERY ARMED FORCE ON THE PLANET SEARCHING FOR YOU!!! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE CIVILISED EVER AGAIN!!! YOU'LL BE SORRY DANIEL! YOU'LL…BE…SORRY!!!"

I looked back over my shoulder at the woman I had once known as my mother, knowing her threats were empty.

"Then I won't go somewhere on Earth," I said calmly, "If you want me, You'll have to find me out among the stars,"

Then, without looking back, I walked out of the door, my mother screaming my name and insults after me.

Mr. John Clements sighed as he cleaned his stock, it being a quiet day at his opticians. As he did so, he came across a pair like the ones Daniel used to wear. He sighed as he picked them up gazing fondly at the square-rimmed glasses, like they were the only thing he had left of his friend.

He sighed as he put them back, before moving on to the next pair.

He had been really upset when Daniel had been reported missing by his mother, that hateful woman, always bullying her poor son since the day he was born. No wonder his dad left for another woman.

Suddenly his intercom beeped, "M…Mr. Clements?"

He reached over and pressed it.

"Yes Miss. Howard what is it?"

"I just thought you should know…there's a man here to see you, says it's urgent."

Clements sighed, "It's always urgent Miss. Howard."

"Trust me John, you want to see this guy."

Clements rolled his eyes, well, one more minute couldn't hurt.

"Very well, tell him I'll be there momentarily."
Without wasting time, he quickly walked out of his office. The sooner he got this over with the better.

"Alright Emma where is this guy who wants to see me so bad?"

Mrs. Howard blinked several times, for she had been gazing at their visitor.

Without a word she pointed to a man, who appeared to be dressed in a navel uniform, though one that was severely out of date by several centuries, his 3 point hat blocking his view of his face as he read one of the magazines that they left for people to read.

"Right let's get down to business," John said quickly. No doubt this uniform was some kind of gimmick, "How may I help you Mr….."

"It's Commander actually," the man said in a familiar sounding voice. He stood up, taking off his hat as he did so, "Lieutenant Commander Daniel Dearing," he bowed to the stunned Optician, before smiling broadly, "At your service."

John felt his jaw drop.

"Daniel?"

"The one and only!"

I smiled at the shocked reaction to my being there, though what he did next surprised me no end.

He took me by the shoulders, looking me up and down, before pulling me into a tight hug.

"I thought I would never see you again," I heard him say into tunic, "When your Mother refused to have search parties go look for you, I tried looking for you myself. Where have you been this last Six months?"

I smiled slightly and pulled away from him.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me,"

I chuckled slightly, same old John.

"Alright. Six months ago today I was walking around the village trying to take my thoughts off the fact My mother ripped up Treasure Island…"

"Your Mother ripped up the book I gave you?"

I sighed as I looked out of the window before continuing.

"So I was on my walk when suddenly this ship lands on the road after a fire-fight…"
I explained the whole story to him as quick as I could, both him and Emma Howard listening with open mouths.

"…Then we escaped through the portal and back to Montressor."

I sighed after finished talking, before waiting for the laughter.

"That was amazing, I've never heard anything like it!" John breathed.

I regarded him with surprise, this Optician never ceased to amaze me.

"So…where are you off to after this?"

"Pardon me?"

John smiled,

"It's obvious that your not going to stick around here. You've just had the adventure like no one on Earth has ever seen! I find it doubtful that you would come back here and start working for your mother again."

I smiled and headed towards the staircase at the back of the shop.

"Follow me John, you too Emma, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

As we reached the roof of the Opticians, I saw Amelia standing proud on the edge of the building, the dying rays of the sun framing her lithe body.

As we approached, she cocked her ear back, before turning her head and smiling as she saw me.

"Daniel, who are your friends?"

I looked at John and Emma's stunned faces at the sight of Amelia's feline features.

I smiled as I introduced John and Emma.

"Captain Amelia, This is John Clements and Emma Howard, my Optician and his Secretary. John, Emma, May I introduce Captain Amelia, Commander of the R.L.S Legacy and my fiancée."

John finally found his voice, before offering her his hand.

"Captain, it's an honour to meet you."

She smiled and shook his hand, "Same to you Mr. Clements, Commander Dearing has told me so much about how you have helped him over the years."

John blinked and looked over his shoulder at me curiously.

"Commander?"

I smiled sheepishly, "I'm the First Officer of the Legacy, and proud of it I might add."

John smiled as he gazed at the Longboat hovering nearby.

"I guess you'll be leaving soon then?"

I looked away suddenly, "Yes I guess we are. But I'll come visit…when I can."

John smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. It made me realise, just how much this man had been like a father figure to me.

"You go have more adventure's Dan. You know what they say:" he glanced over his shoulder at Amelia as she began to prepare the ship for launch, "Love is the greatest adventure of them all."

I smiled and hugged him tightly once again, before turning and hugging Emma.

"I'll let you know when we have kids," I joked with a smile.

"Kids! Kids! Kids! Kids!" Morph squealed from going around my head. I smiled up at him, before getting on board the Longboat. As I did, I noticed Emma was crying slightly.

"I'm going to miss your visits Daniel," she sobbed as John ran down the stairs for some reason.

"Don't worry Emma, we'll see each other again." I called as the Solar Sails powered up.

"Daniel! Wait a moment!"

John suddenly appeared at the top of the stairwell, a leather bound book in his hands.

As the engines began to power up he threw the book into towards us, allowing me to catch it in my hat.

In the front in gold letters, it read:

Treasure Island

By Robert Louis Stevenson.

I blinked and gazed at my old Optician, a look of disbelief in my eyes.

"It was always your favourite book," he called with a smile, "You might as well have this copy!"

I smiled as the Longboat lifted up from its moorings.

I watched as John put a comforting arm around the teary-eyed Emma, as the two of them watched the Longboat prepare for launch.

As the Solar Sail went up, I saluted them both, the book neatly tucked under my arm.

"God's Speed John, and you Emma. I hope that our paths will cross again!"

My two old friends said nothing, they just nodded and waved, as the Longboat shot upwards into the night, back to the Legacy. Back to my new home.