The Pirate King

Chapter 13: Going Home

Port Usagi drifted into view quickly. "Wait a minute," Serenity exclaimed. She ran to the boat railing to get a closer look at the landscape. "This is…"

"Yes…your father has paid your ransom and you are free to go." Serenity eyes filled with tears and she felt torn between wanting to go and wanting to stay. The ship ran its white flag and pulled into port. An alarm went up from the dock and filled the valley with its echo. People opened their doors and began to fill the streets. "The princess…" resonated through the crowds until everyone was chanting it. A trumpet blared, announcing the arrival of the King and Queen.

Serenity walked down the plank that connected the boat to the deck reluctantly. The crowd cheered as she set her foot upon the boards and ran into her parents' arms, her tears leaving salty trails down her cheeks. "So long Princess!" Endymion called from the ship.

"Wait," Serenity called, pulling away from her parents. "What about my maids?"

"I believe they have decided to stay!" he laughed. Ami, Lita, Mina, and Raye waved enthusiastically from their positions beside Nephlite, Zoicite, Malachite, and Jadeite. Serenity waved back happily, feeling joy for her friends. The King led her away from the sea, urging her to climb into the carriage. As it rattled away Serenity gazed through the window, her tears falling steadily as she watched the Fool's Gold sail out of view…

The End

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What?

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Oh…

Did you want…a happy ending or something?

Hm…well…I suppose…if you insist!

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A feast was held that night in honor of Serenity's return. She was seated next to her mother as the main course was served. "I'm so happy to have you home my daughter."

"And I am happy to be home mother." Iileen squeezed Serenity's hand and smiled. "Mother," Serenity began after a moment of companionable silence, her tone serious. "I found something while I was away. Something that belongs to you."

"Something that belongs to me? Wherever did you find it?"

"In the Chinese Cliffside, just before we arrived here."

Serenity watched Iileen's face pale in the bright candlelight. "I'm…not sure what you're talking about." She stuttered.

"Well then," Serenity whispered, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the bundle of letters. "Maybe this will refresh your memory."

Iileen's hands trembled as she reached for the packet. "Is that…"

"Yes."

"Oh my…" she whispered. She passed her hand slowly over the papers, her eyes growing misty. She hid them in her sleeve and rubbed her eyes clear of her tears. "My Lord, may I be excused?" she asked, turning to the King.

"Of course my dear." Artemis replied happily.

Serenity watched her mother quickly exit the room, feeling a little ashamed of dredging up her mother's unflattering past. But she had to let her know. And now she had to ask about her real father.

"Father, may I be excused as well?"

"Indeed you may my dear daughter. I have forgotten you have had a weary journey. Please sleep well." Serenity smiled at him before leaving. King Artemis was her father in every way that truly counted. Yet the need to know the identity of her true father was almost overwhelming as was the story behind her birth. She did not go to her chambers but rather to her mother's. She knocked softly on the thick, wooden frame before opening it. Her mother sat at her desk, reading by a single candle. Her hand covered her mouth and tears streamed from her eyes.

"Mother," Serenity greeted. Iileen looked up at her, startled, but then gave her a watery grin.

"Come to me, my child. I believe it is time for you to know the truth of your birth." Serenity knelt at her mother's feet. Iileen's hands reached down to comb through her daughter's long, golden hair. "I was only sixteen years old when I met him. I was staying here at Port Usagi actually. It'd been the first time I'd come to this part of Japan. His ship had docked here for the night, a peaceful docking. I saw him in the lobby of the hotel at dinner. He was tall with golden hair and beautiful light, blue eyes…like yours."

"It was love at first sight. That night he came to my window and sang a ballad to me. From then on we were inseparable. My father spent all his day at the counsel meetings and my mother had stayed behind in Osaka. Then one night my father burst into my room. He had discovered my love and resolved to end it. Father forbade me from ever seeing him again. But he and I were so stubbornly in love that we refused to heed him. Instead, once my father had gone to bed I would put a candle in my window, as a signal that he could come to my room."

"Needless to say, you were the result of these midnight rendezvous. That was when he and I decided it would be best if he left and I was married. We did not want my father to discover the secret of our affair. So the next day he departed and I announced to my father that I was ready to be wed. It seems my father had a husband in mind for me long before my announcement. He had made arrangements for me to marry the prince of Japan. A fine match."

"But my heart belonged to another, and try as I might I could not bring myself to love him. Months passed and you were finally born. A beautiful sight for my tear swollen eyes. You looked just like your father, as I had wished you would. Through it all I wrote letters to him, once every month for four years. I never received any back. I wasn't even sure he had ever gotten these. So my love for him was tested. Meanwhile the prince was beginning to grow on me." Iileen paused and chuckled silently. "As I watched him with you, I began to feel these inexplicable pangs in my heart. I was falling in love with him."

"I still love your real father Serenity. But now I love him as I would love a warm memory."

"So you never saw him again?"

"No…it was probably for the best. And it ended well. I have no reason to complain."

"But you loved him. Why did you not sail away with him?"

"The same reason you did not sail away with your pirate." Serenity stared up at her in shock. "Yes, I could see it. The way you gazed at him, the way he gazed back at you. I gave up my love for the same reason you did. For duty."

"And it ended happily?"

"For me, yes. But Serenity…perhaps my path is not the same as yours."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you truly believe you can live without love? I was lucky to find love again. Not everyone else could be so…"

"So you are saying I should have stayed with him?"

"Would that have made you happy Serenity?" her mother asked, placing her hand over her daughter's.

Serenity considered for a moment. "At first I would have been happy, but then I would have begun to miss you and Father. And I would feel guilty for abandoning the kingdom."

"You know…you don't have to give up you family or your throne for love."

"But the counsel would never let me wed a pirate."

"Ah…but what if he is the Pirate King? Don't look at me like that! I know the Pirate King's crest when I see it. After all, I watched it sail away eighteen years ago."

"My father was the Pirate King?" Serenity asked, amazed.

"What is it about Pirate Kings and the women in our family?" Iileen laughed.

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Ok…so this means only one more chapter left! Before anyone asks, this entire story was written about a year ago and I'm just transcribing it from paper to MW. There is no way I would write three chapters in one night. I'm too lazy for that. T_T Hope you enjoyed it!