The Pirate King

Chapter 9: A New Friend

The next day land was finally sighted. They dropped the anchor and set down the rowboats they had purchased at Port Mamoru. Serenity and the other four girls were put in a boat with Malachite after they insisted on going ashore. The beach was lined by thick trees and large mountains loomed in the distance. The rowboats slid smoothly onto the beach and they all disembarked.

"Welcome to America!" Malachite greeted heartily. The crew cheered with the exception of Endymion and Serenity.

"Orders, Captain?" Zoicite asked. Endymion pulled a map from his pocket and studied it.

"According to this map, the Pirate Lord Jenkins found an Aztec civilization three miles from the coast. So I suppose that is what we shall do." He refolded the map and began heading towards the forested area.

"Captain?" Zoicite asked again. Endymion stopped and turned.

"Yes?"

"What about the ladies?" Endymion considered him for a moment before answering.

"If they want to come along, they may."

"Of course we want to come!" Mina exclaimed. "Why do you think we left the ship?"

"Actually," Serenity began. They all stared at her in shock as she had not spoken in days. "I would like to stay here on the beach."

Endymion bowed his head. "Very well, Zoicite would you mind staying with her?"

"I'm fine on my own." Serenity said before Zoicite could respond. Endymion fastened his intense gaze on her.

"Very well then, princess."

The girls gave each other anxious glances, not certain if they should leave her alone. "Go on, it'll be fun to discover an Aztec civilization." Serenity laughed quietly. "I'll be fine by myself."

"Well, if you're certain…" Ami replied cautiously, clearly yearning to go.

"Absolutely," Serenity said. "I've needed some alone time and the beach is the perfect place!"

The girls nodded and turned to follow the pirates. Serenity watched them disappear into the forest and sighed. She then walked to the edge of the water and sat, allowing the water to immerse her feet and legs. She lay back in the sand and closed her eyes, the sun's rays warming her skin. Finally free from the band of her ladies-in-waiting, she could let her emotions loose.

Her lip began to tremble as her eyes filled up with tears. Her shoulders began to shake as the tears forced their way through her eyelids. The decision to turn down Endymion had been the hardest choice she ever had to make. But she knew it was the right choice…for the sake of her family and her country. It was her duty to be responsible, no matter how much she didn't want to be.

A shadow took away the sun's warmth and sent a shiver through Serenity's spine. She opened her eyes to discover a large, tan man standing over her. His long, silky, black hair was pulled back into ponytail at the nape of his neck. Serenity stared up at him, not quite knowing what to do. He extended his hand towards her, his gaze unwavering. It appeared that he meant no harm and so Serenity accepted his hand. He pulled her to her feet.

He gestured towards himself and then towards the trees. It seemed he wanted her to go with him. Serenity shook her head severely, pointing to the ship that was anchored about a hundred feet out to sea.

The Indian grunted, clearly frustrated. He looked down a moment before his face brightened. He kneeled in the sand, gesturing for her to do the same. He began to draw, using his finger as a pencil and the sand as paper. He drew a couple of trees and pointed to the forest. Serenity nodded in understanding. He then drew a building on the other side. Then with one swift movement he drew a line from the beach to the building. He smiled at her, pleased with his work. Serenity smiled back, happy for the first time in days. Maybe she had found a friend in this native.

Finally she nodded and he pulled her back to her feet before leading her through the forest, slightly more north than Endymion and his crew had ventured. Several times Serenity tripped and finally, frustrated with their slow progress the Indian picked her up bridal style and carried her. At first Serenity was embarrassed by the proximity but as time passed she became more comfortable.

"You have a beautiful country," Serenity commented after awhile. "In my country we call it America. Oh and my name is Serenity by the way."

The Indian stopped walking and looked down at her. He seemed to be having a mental struggle of some kind.

"My…" he began in Serenity's own language. "My name is…Seiya."

"You speak my language?" Serenity exclaimed in excitement. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I don't speak…very well."

"Seems fine to me…How did you learn it?

"The village mid-wife…she…not from here…crossed big water in big canoe like yours."

"So she's from the East…I can't wait to meet her."

"Yes, she will be happy to see person from home. Why I bring you there…"

"Oh well, I'm happy to be at service."

He pushed through a particularly thick wall of forest and Serenity found herself in a large, Indian village. Seiya sat her down and led her through the wooden houses and animal-skin teepees. They stopped at an old teepee and Seiya lifted the flap, motioning for her to go in. Serenity ducked in and Seiya followed.

A woman with long, black hair looked up at them as they entered. Her eyes were dark blue and seemed to exude a soft glow.

She spoke in a strange language to Seiya and he replied. The woman then looked at Serenity and smiled. "Hello Serenity, welcome to our village." The woman greeted. Her voice was light and sweet and she spoke their language perfectly.

"Thank you…" Serenity replied shyly.

"I hear you have arrived here on a ship…and from Seiya's description…a pirate ship."

"Umm…I'm sorry but…how do you…where are you…" Serenity stumbled over words, her thoughts in complete disorder.

The woman laughed lightly. "It's alright. Please have a seat and I will explain everything." Serenity and Seiya settled down on the low cushions around the woman before she continued. "My name is Luna and I came here from Japan." Serenity gasped.

"You're from Japan? I'm from Japan! Actually I'm…" Serenity stopped before she continued. "I mean, I work in the palace."

"Really? I haven't seen the royal family in years. You see I arrived here about eighteen years ago on a ship meant to establish a settlement. The first Japanese settlement in America. But, unfortunately, the ship met with disaster in a hurricane and everyone was lost at sea. Everyone but me. These people found me washed up on the beach and nursed me back to health. I suspect Seiya approached you because you looked like you had washed up on a beach as I did."

Serenity stared at her in amazement. "And so you stayed with them as their midwife?"

"Yes…this village's midwife had just passed and I was to be a nurse in the settlement so I had plenty of experience." Luna laughed. Seiya looked at them both in confusion as they giggled together.

"Sounds exciting!" Serenity exclaimed.

"Yes, but it seems you've had a lot more excitement in your life than I have. How do you find yourself on a pirate ship?"

"Well, they were raiding the port where I was lodged with the princess and they took me hostage."

"Why would they take you hostage and not the princess?" Serenity opened and closed her mouth, trying to think of an excuse.

"It's alright; I know you are the princess." Luna revealed.

"How did you…"

"You look just like the Queen, your mother."

"I'm sorry I lied. I just…I don't know…I didn't want you to fawn over me or anything."

"Dear Princess…I would never fawn over anybody. You are just a person, as I am, as Seiya is."

"Yes, you're right. Just because my father rules Japan, doesn't mean I'm any more of a human being."

"Precisely…Seiya is the chief's son, but if you didn't know that he would be like any other person you know."

Serenity smiled at Seiya serenely and he smiled back.

"So the pirates took you hostage…why has your father not yet paid the ransom?"

"I really have no idea…it has been nearly a month now actually."

"Perhaps he had a good reason…and it seems like you are having a nice adventure."

"Indeed, it has been a grand adventure and I shall sorely miss it when I return…"

"If you enjoy it so much, why must you return?"

Serenity looked down. "Because it is my responsibility…As the future ruler of Japan, I can't just gallivant off with pirates!"

"No…I suppose you can't." Luna amended. "But will carrying through with your responsibility make you happy?"

Serenity laughed. "Not every story has a happy ending."

"I guess not." Luna sighed. "Well then, would you care for some food and drink?"

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