The Pirate King
Chapter 12: A Scandal Revealed
Malachite rowed them back to the ship. Serenity gazed at the shore sadly as Luna and Seiya became smaller and smaller. She watched as Endymion embraced them both heartily jumped in his own boat. They were pulled back up to the deck slowly and Serenity felt a sense of relief when her feet once more touched the deck of the Fool's Gold. She had sorely missed the feel of the ocean beneath her feet, rocking her as gently as a mother rocks her baby.
"It's good to be home." Endymion announced once he had been pulled back onto the deck. "Let's prepare to sail!"
"What about the treasure?" Serenity asked.
"There was no treasure. It seems our English friends simply stumbled upon someone else's treasure horde." Endymion laughed, jumping up on the steering wheel platform.
"Where are we going now Captain?" Zoicite asked, pulling out his map.
"My mother told me of a myth about a Chinese pirate who hid his treasure in the cliffs beside the sea, bordering Japan. We will go there."
The crew ran around, readying the ship for departure. Endymion pulled an old paper from his pocket and began to study it. It was coordinates for the exact location of the treasure. His mother had found the paper on the ship the night it had sunk. He traced the route on the papers with his callused finger tips. It would bring them dangerously close to Port Usagi. He turned his eyes to Serenity. She was talking and laughing with her ladies-in-waiting; her demeanor seemed carefree. But her eyes appeared heavy and downcast. Maybe it was time she went home. He thought of his cabin where the ransom he had demanded lay, untouched. He had received the ransom almost immediately after kidnapping Serenity…But he couldn't give her up. But he could no longer be selfish…Besides, her father would send an armada if he did not return her soon.
The next few days passed peacefully for the crew of the Fool's Gold. The skies remained clear and the sea, calm. The wind blew in their favor the entire time. Endymion felt a growing dread in his stomach but hid his anxiety. He had promised to never hurt her again.
The sun was just beginning to set when the cliff line came into view. "Land, ho!" Jadeite called from the crow's nest.
"Follow the cliff for another half-mile and drop anchor as close as you can." Endymion instructed. He turned to Serenity. "Would you like to have one more adventure with us Princess?"
Serenity smiled back at him. "I never say no to adventure." She laughed. The ship came to a smooth stop and the anchor was lowered. The cliff loomed several hundred feet over the ship. Endymion, Serenity, and Malachite were lowered in a rowboat and made their way over to the base of the cliff. Jadeite, Zoicite, and Nephlite followed closely behind.
"According to my sources the treasure lies two hundred feet above the sea when the tide is in." They all attached their ropes to their harnesses and dug their picks into the rocky Cliffside. Endymion looked to Serenity and gave her a reassuring nod. He had explained to her how to use the ropes and she said she understood. Endymion admired her bravery. Even her ladies-in-waiting had backed out of this one.
They moved slowly, searching for hand and foot holds in the rock. Serenity moved faster, being light and small she was able to use ledges others would break.
"Serenity!" Endymion called from several feet below her. She turned to look at him. "There should be a cave up ahead. Search for it." Serenity nodded, knowing he couldn't see her. She continued to climb, feeling for the entrance to the cave. She grasped a ledge and pulled herself up. The ledge was very wide and she could not feel the rock beyond it.
"I've found the cave!" She exclaimed, her voice echoing back to her. She pulled herself up and stood at its entrance, her heart racing. Endymion pulled himself up beside her. He detached a lantern from his belt and lit it.
"Serenity and I are going on in!" Endymion called to his crew. He entered the cave, Serenity clinging to his arm. Water dripped from the roof of the cave, leaving shivering puddles on the ground. A cold wind seemed to blow from within the cave.
"How far in the cave is the treasure?" Serenity asked quietly.
"About a mile…"
"Fantastic."
The lantern reflected off the wet walls. Endymion and Serenity walked quietly, their eyes wide and their ears alert.
"How will we get this treasure out?" Serenity asked after a few more minutes.
"It's not very big. Supposedly just one person could carry it out." Endymion replied.
"Then why bring the other crew members?"
"In case we die."
Serenity smacked his arm. "That's not funny."
"But your face was priceless." He laughed. The path had begun to widen and the ceiling seemed to lift away. Then, suddenly, they found themselves in wide, circular room. Endymion raised his lantern to cast its light over it. A chest sat in the middle of the room. Just one. It was covered in dust and the hinges were rusted. Endymion and Serenity approached it slowly. They knelt down before it and Endymion pulled on the lid. It came open with a loud squeal, protesting the movement after being closed for so many years.
He put the lantern closer to the chest to see its contents. Papers littered the bottom of the chest. Serenity pulled one out. The words were faded and the paper yellowed. Serenity held it closer to the lantern as Endymion inspected the trunk. It looked like a letter. Serenity squinted as she tried to make out the words.
"To my dearest love," Serenity began. Endymion looked at her. "The sun has risen over another day without you. I'm not sure how many more sunrises I can endure alone. Father says I'm to marry someone else someday. But I love you and only you. Why is life so unfair? Why must we be separated?" Serenity ran her fingers over the faded words, her heart constricting.
"Endymion…" Serenity whispered. Endymion's eyes met hers and she gulped. "Did you find any treasure?"
"No, nothing but papers and an old ribbon." Endymion held up a red ribbon. It was faded and frayed with age. "It seems to be merely a box of sentiments."
Serenity picked up another paper. "To my dearest love," she began again. "The days are long without you. I think of you all day, through the counsel meetings, through my sewing lessons…And at night when I lay down and close my eyes, I dream of you. Father brought a suitor for me today. He is handsome and kind. The prince of Japan would make a fine husband I'm sure. And I would rule one day as the Queen of Japan. But I could never love him. Not as I love you." Serenity fell to her knees, the papers clutched tightly in her now trembling hands.
"Do you think she means your father?" Endymion asked in wonder.
"I'm…not sure."
"Check the date."
Serenity forced her eyes to move back to the top of the page. It was dated eighteen years ago. Serenity felt her face pale. "Serenity? Are you alright?" Endymion asked, noticing her stricken expression. She nodded slowly and put the letter aside. She pulled another from the chest and began to read it eagerly.
"To my dearest love; the wedding is tomorrow, which may be for the best. I'm afraid I could not be able to hide my pregnancy for much longer. But, oh, how I long for my bridegroom to be you! The prince is so kind but he has no passion. I do hope our child will look like you so that I may never truly loose you."
Serenity threw the letter aside and pulled another out eagerly. "To my dearest love; Artemis believes the child is his and he is overjoyed. In fact, the whole kingdom rejoices the pregnancy. If only they knew it was truly the child of a pirate, I don't believe they would be quite so happy."
"To my dearest love; the child is born. It is a girl, a beautiful little girl. She has your light blue eyes. I have named her Serenity for she is indeed calm, like you when you sail…"
Serenity dropped the letter in shock. It was her mother. And she, Serenity, was not truly Artemis's daughter. She felt her eyes well with tears at discovering the awful truth.
"Endymion's large hand cupped her cheek gently. "Serenity…" he whispered. "It's alright."
"No, no it isn't Endymion! I'm…I'm a bastard child and yet I act like a princess! I deny you because of my alleged rank when it is truly you with the higher rank!"
"I don't care about your rank Serenity." Endymion said clearly, forcing her to look him in the eye. "A person is not defined by their bloodline, but rather by their actions. And you have shown your royalty in your actions."
"As have you and yet all they see is a pirate."
Endymion laughed. "That's because I am a pirate…and you are a princess."
"Captain!" Malachite called. The crew filed into the room. "Have you found the treasure?"
"There was no treasure, boys. It turns out this man's treasure was strictly on paper."
"Bank notes?" Zoicite asked.
"No, love letters." Endymion glanced sideways at Serenity. The men sighed in frustration. "Next time guys, next time we will find treasure."
Serenity gathered the letters and used the old ribbon to tie them together. The men went to explore a little further into the cave, leaving Serenity and Endymion alone once more.
"I'm sure my mother would like to see these again." Serenity said bitterly.
"Surely," Endymion agreed. They made their way out of the cave slowly. The trip down the Cliffside was much easier as they tied their ropes to a rock and scaled down to the rowboats.
"Did you find anything?" Mina asked as they were pulled back on deck.
"No…just some old papers." The girls crowded around Serenity as they grilled her about the trip until the rest of the crew returned. Endymion turned to Zoicite after staring at the far off Japanese coast.
"Take us to Port Usagi. It's time for the princess to go home."
"What about the ransom?"
"I've already gotten it." Zoicite nodded without asking any questions and took his place at the wheel.
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Eh…long day…hope you enjoyed this chapter. Just 2 more to go! Can't really remember if I had a disclaimer or not but just in case: I do not own Sailor Moon.