Forever, You Are My Star

Chapter 32: The Protector of the Sea

ATEEZ started to become restless on the ship. Mey had been on the island for hours now, and not one sign was given. 

    "Should we go ashore to check on her? She's been gone for so long." Jongho said, worry laced in his voice.

    "She asked us to wait here. We need to respect her wishes. Plus, she knows what to do if she needs us." Hongjoong replied as he cleaned his cutlass. Jongho heaved a sigh as he sat beside Wooyoung who was throwing a small dagger into the wood of the ship to kill time. As they waited patiently, Mingi, who was up in the crow's nest, spotted something far out at sea.

    "Captain, ships spotted on the port side." Hongjoong and the rest stood from their places to look out. Yunho then handed Hongjoong his spyglass to get a better look. As Hongjoong looked out, he felt his heart skip a beat. There coming towards them, were five ships; one in particular was flying a flag they all knew too well. Hongjoong slowly lowered the spyglass from his eye.

    "Weigh anchor! Set the sails!" He shouted.

    "We're just going to leave Mey here?" San shouted back in protest. Hongjoong looked over to him, handing him the spyglass. San took it and looked out, feeling his heart also skip a beat once he saw the colors they were flying. Hongjoong gave the signal to Chan on the CHARMER to give the same orders.

    "What is it?" Seonghwa asked with concern.

    "The REVENGE and four other ships are headed straight for us. How they found us I do not know, but whatever happens, we must keep them away from this island. If Mey was the one he was searching for all these years, then he must not get her now." Hongjoong replied walking towards the helm. "Prep the cannons! Prepare anything that can fire! Do not let them set foot on this island!" The crew cheered back at him, prepping for the worst that was yet to come.

    "And with that, Felix stumbled off Onyx, and he wouldn't let anyone ride him unless I was present." Mey laughed out with Caryna laughing along with her.

    "He seems like he was quite the handful." 

    "Oh, we both were." They both continued to laugh until Calypso, who Mey met not long ago, ran into the pool area, interrupting their talk. Caryna and Mey stood from their places on the ground, letting Calypso run to them.

    "Your crew is being attacked." She said without hesitation. Mey's eyes widened as she looked over at Caryna before running from the pool, through the brush, and onto the beach. There in the distance, she saw the STAR and CHARMER surrounded by five ships. She could not tell who they were from this distance without an eyeglass; all she knew was her family was in trouble, and guilt started to set in. They were now in danger because of her, and she needed to do something. She turned to Caryna and Calypso who followed her out. Yanking the necklace from around her neck, she walked up to them; her eyes turning to the beautiful emerald glow, but colder then they have ever been.

    "You told me how, grandmother, now I need you to show me how."

    The foremast of one of the enemy ships finally came crashing down as Wooyoung and San were beginning to load the cannons once more. Seonghwa bustled around tending to the wounded, firing his pistol when he could. Yunho and Mingi dangled from the rigging as Mingi traded out pistols to reload as Yunho fired them. Hongjoong stood at the helm, trying his best to avoid a boarder of any kind as Jongho watched his back. On the CHARMER, Chan followed Hongjoong also trying to avoid a boarder while Changbin and Han loaded and fired the cannons, and Hyunjn in the rigging firing his pistol with I.N reloading them for him. Seungmin took care of the wounded while Minho watched his and Chan's back. Another cannon fired from the STAR and the main mast on the third ship came crashing down. As San began to load the cannon, a cannon ball came crashing into the ship, causing part of the rigging to come crashing down nearly hitting him if Wooyoung didn't push him out of the way. San quickly looked up to make sure Wooyoung was not hurt and became relieved when he saw him on the other side of the burning rigging, a few bruises and scratches dawned his face.