Okay, here goes… (Takes deep breath)…I am sooooo sorry for not updating this story in so long. But now that I have finally graduated high school I can focus on this story instead of on my school work. Anyways, here is the long-awaited and long-overdue fifth installment to The Pirate King.
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The Pirate King
Chapter 5: Recruiting
Two days later the ship docked at Port Mamoru. As instructed, Serenity stayed on board. Endymion, Malachite, and Zoicite were the only three who would go ashore. All were disguised to ward off any identification from the Port Usagi raid.
They slipped into the nearest, decrepit pub and removed their disguises.
"Zoicite, I want you to spread the word of the recruiting but say it is for the merchant ship, Lightening, to deter any port officers." Endymion instructed.
"Won't we be deceiving them?"
"Don't worry…the citizens are not so naïve around here." Zoicite nodded his understanding and departed, once more donning his disguise.
Endymion and Malachite sat at a small booth in the corner of the pub, waiting for their first applicant.
Before long the door opened and a tall man with long, brown hair walked in. His eyes scanned the dim room before landing on Endymion and Malachite. He sauntered over and sat in the booth. "Gentlemen," he nodded. "I hear you are looking for some new crew members…piracy, I presume?"
"Of course," Endymion replied. "Credentials?"
"I sailed for five years on the Burning Medley."
Endymion and Malachite choked on their drinks. "The Burning Medley?" Endymion exclaimed. "Wow! That was the greatest pirate ship that ever sailed!"
"Aye, she was quick, not a patrol ship in the world could catch her."
"What happened? Why did you leave it?"
"She caught fire a year ago. Seems her name cursed her. I've been looking for work ever since."
"Impressive…you name?"
"Nephlite,"
"Well then Nephlite, welcome to the Fool's Gold crew. We're leaving dock at dawn. Be ready by then."
Nephlite nodded and left. Endymion and Malachite smiled at each other. "I believe this is a good omen of things to come," Endymion gloated.
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As darkness fell Endymion and Malachite found themselves slumped over their drinks. A paper lay before them with only one name written on it.
"Twelve hours and only one worthy applicant. I wonder where Zoicite found the peg-legged man with the glass eye?"
"He would have made a good pirate…"
"Yeah, if he hadn't had a hobby of hula-hooping…" Malachite and Endymion sighed in exasperation.
They heard the door open and they looked up. Another tall man, this time with silvery-blonde hair walked in. He walked straight to their booth and sat down, smiling at them both in amusement.
"Hello, my name is Jadeite," he greeted. "I hear you need another crew member?"
"Of course we do…" Endymion mumbled. "Do you have any experience?"
"None of the pirate kind, my friends, but I'm perfectly willing to learn. You see, I've sailed with my father on his patrol ship my whole life! I know everything there is to know about ships."
"But…if your father is an officer…you do know we are pirates, right?"
"Precisely."
"I don't quite follow…" Endymion said slowly.
"Being a pirate is the only thing I can do to displease me father. I've always done everything according to his will and I'm getting a tad bit tired of it."
"Can't say I don't understand you on that one." Malachite laughed, remembering how he had left his father's bakery to become a pirate.
"Well then Jadeite…Welcome to the Fool's Gold crew. We depart at dawn." Jadeite bowed his head and exited the pub.
"Now we just need four more crew members."
"What if we don't find them before we leave, Captain?"
"We'll just dock at another port." The two sighed, not relishing the thought of interviewing wannabe pirates again.
"Are you the guy who's looking for crew members?" a low voice asked. Endymion and Malachite looked up to see four men standing around their booth. Endymion inspected their builds and corrected his thoughts. They weren't so much men as boys. Small boys at that. The one who had initially spoken was pale with hay-colored blonde hair. He had big pale blue eyes that seemed almost feminine.
"Yes we are…What can we do for you boys?"
"We would like to apply for the crew." The tallest one replied. This one was tan with wavy-brown hair and equally brown eyes.
Malachite inspected them with doubt. "I don't think you boys could handle it."
"How do you know what we can handle?" another one exclaimed. This one seemed like the fire-brand of the group. He had black hair with lightly tanned skin and strange purple eyes.
"Well, do you have any experience?" Endymion asked.
They all stood in silence for a moment before the fourth spoke up timidly. "We just got out of training. We know how to sail." This boy was the palest of all with short blue hair and dark blue eyes.
Endymion and Malachite turned to each other and began to discuss in whispers.
"Look at them! They can't possibly help crew a ship! Just a barrel of supplies would break their backs." Malachite complained.
"I know but think about all the other applicants we've had. What are the chances we'll run into another group of professionally trained sailors? Even if they are small now, they're young…they'll grow."
"Or they'll die from exhaustion. They're a load of wimps."
"Hello! We're still here!" the blonde one exclaimed.
Endymion shot Malachite a warning look before turning back to the boys.
"Alright, we'll accept you on a trial basis only. If you can't pull your weight then the next time we make port you're out."
The boys cheered and thanked them graciously before leaving.
"Be at the ship at dawn!" Endymion called after them.
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The sun had just begun to rise over the horizon when six men appeared on the deck of the Fool's Gold. The rest of the crew filed onto the deck to meet the new members. Endymion introduced Nephlite and Jadeite before turning to the boys. "And these are our new crew members-in-training…I don't believe we got your names."
"Amos," the blue-haired boy replied first.
"Mack," the blonde followed.
"Larry," the brunette.
"Ray," the black-haired boy.
"Welcome to the crew boys!" Endymion grinned at them all. "Now make ready to sail! We travel to the New World. I've heard of treasure being found in Cuba. Those Spaniards always seem to be one step ahead of us!"
The crew raced around, preparing the ship for sail. The boys flew about knowledgably, helping where help was needed. Endymion turned to Malachite, a gloating look on his face.
"Okay, so they can make ready a ship. Let's see how they do on the open ocean. The Atlantic can be a little rough."
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There you go! Chapter 5! I told you I would get it out eventually! Hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter…A Plot Discovered!