The captain of the R.S. Corona stepped cautiously onto the damp sand at the tide line. The place seemed deserted. This island, this lair of monstrosities and outlaws...where had its spirit gone? It was so silent, smothered in the ever-thickening fog, that it bordered on something unnatural.

But of course the pirates would leave. Those that had survived, that is. He had fully expected it, and would have been surprised if they hadn’t. His heavy boots left imprints in the sand as he crossed the beach, staring up at the cliff above him where a house still stood. The path to it was overgrown with roots and weeds, not to mention steep. The captain halted as several of his sailors caught up with him. The crisp lines of their uniforms had long since vanished, but they were still as alert as ever. Even after the struggle of weathering that terrible storm, none of his crew had faltered, and the captain was proud.

He was a young captain. But he had grown up in the port metropolis of Quinn, among the barges of the merchants and the yachts of the rich. He had been suited for a captaincy since the day he was born, and three days into Seaman’s School he had been promised a career with the King’s Navy. It was only a matter of time before he merited his own vessel. He took one last look at her then, as he began the climb to the Pirate King’s house. The Corona had once been a merchant ship, but had been repossessed decades before and claimed for the Navy. Upon the retirement of the previous captain, he had been awarded the ship and her crew.

The going would be slow. Storms and raging winds had uprooted trees and strewn the steep path with debris. Nevertheless, the small troupe of rescuers continued, not knowing what to expect.

“They’re here.” Lee stood in the open doorway, looking out at the cove. Two of his remaining men had recovered enough to sit up, and were nodding in acknowledgment. Anna sat silently at the foot of the staircase, ensconced in the voluminous folds of the Pirate King’s coat. She leaned her head against the rail, her eyes an empty blue. Lee turned and approached her, his hand outstretched. “Come. We’ll meet them halfway.”

There was no response. The girl simply sat there, staring at the floor. A few hours ago he had wanted only for her to stop crying; now he found himself wishing she would cry. It would at least show some sign of life. But now she was emotionless, wiped clean as a slate. He could read nothing in her expression. And she made no move to take his hand...in fact, there was no sign that she had even noticed. Heaving a sigh, Lee pulled her up himself. She stood, but turned away, and would not look at him.

Lee wanted to yell, scream, anything to cause some reaction in that empty face. But just as he was considering doing so, he heard the heavy footsteps of the captain and his sailors as they cautiously made their way to the house. He started for the door, but stopped. He couldn’t believe his eyes. “...Sam...?”

The Captain grinned widely. “If it isn’t the General. Still alive, are you? Well, well, well. Let’s get this rescue mission started, then.”

Anna jolted awake. The commotion outside was insane. Men were shouting and the wind had intensified to an endless roar. Another storm. She sank back into the uncomfortable cot, and then climbed out of it restlessly.

“Stay where you are.” Lee was in the opposite cot, sitting up. “It’s too dangerous out there. Let them do what they can. They certainly know better than we do.”

Anna shot him a contemptuous look. “Pardon me, sir, but you seem to forget that I am a pirate’s daughter, and always will be.” In an instant, she was turning the rattling knob of the cabin door, and in another instant it had been blown from her hand. She was greeted with a face full of driving rain, and the force of the storm was astounding. Anna could hear Lee yelling for her to come back, and then his boots sounding on the floor as he came after her, but she didn’t care. Battling her way against the winds, Anna fumbled her way until she felt the sodden wood of a mast beneath her searching fingers. She was determined to help. It was better than being locked into that cabin. Anna refused to risk the dangers of being killed in the storm without at least having a hand in her own survival.

After what seemed like an eternity of fighting the ferocious power of the storm, the Corona ran aground. The fog had been so dense that none had seen land until it was upon them. The sailors scrambled to mend what might be broken, hoping the ship had not been too damaged to sail again. But Sam was actually a bit relieved. At least landfall meant they could find some sort of shelter. He had not been sure how long the ship could withstand the battering winds. He gave orders to anchor the ship where it was–it seemed unlikely that even the waves could carry it out to sea, for it had been beached with such force. He would worry about it later. For now, it would be best to save what could be saved.

“Lee! Head for land!”

Lee heard the shouts and nodded. Ignoring her protests, he grabbed Anna and together they found themselves on an unknown beach. The island appeared to be heavily forested, and the trees were creaking as the storm whipped through them. Lightning lanced the sky as Lee and Anna followed the crew in a search for shelter.

“Do you know where we are?” Lee called out, hoping Sam would hear him.

“No idea! We’ll worry about it later!” Came the reply, ringing out over the din of a tree falling nearby.

It was then that several of the sailors let out alarmed cries, and Lee realized grimly that they were surrounded. Spears glinted in the flashes of lightning, and before them came a towering shadow...Anna squinted through the rain, trying to stand on tiptoe and get a better idea of what was going on. Everyone around her had fallen back, and Lee was yanking at her arm urgently.

“Get back here!”

“Wait! I want to see...I think I know...”

“What are you talking about?? Just get back here behind me!” Lee hissed, as he pushed her back and went forward himself with javelin ready. He stood beside the Captain, and the shadowy figure came closer. Anna fumed silently. And then, a booming voice echoed out above the madness of the storm.

“"Fōkino vare koifana motu ariki!!!!!!”

Lee and Sam braced themselves for battle, only to be jostled aside as Anna came running. Lee nearly thought he was hallucinating, but...was she smiling? The spears around them seemed to number in the hundreds, and here was this gigantic enemy yelling out obscenities in some sort of foreign tongue...and the girl was smiling? He reassured himself that he was hallucinating, and then further reassured himself by finally admitting she was completely in shock...but then...

“MATUA!!!!” Anna laughed happily, and Lee blinked once or twice, quite sure that he was dreaming. Was she actually...hugging the enemy?? And...speaking their language??!

“Aah! Taitamafine!” The booming voice rolled out again, but this time the anger had subsided. The men looked from one to the other, completely confused. “Koe aka neki fuka no te afa?!”

“Akore! Fuka kore vare! Nā aitāne!” Anna gestured towards the befuddled men behind her. And then, realizing that they had no idea what was happening, she turned to them and smiled a mischievous smile.

“Gentlemen...it may be wise to bow. For we have been fortunate enough to be shipwrecked in the lands of the mighty King Iatona Bukuroa, whose hospitality knows no bounds.”

As the bedraggled captain, crew and passengers of the R.S. Corona disappeared into the rain-lashed wilderness, yet another ship made landfall at the deserted island of the Pirate King. Its green pennants waved in the clouded gray sky.