Chapter Sixteen:

Sirenix

We had left Skull Island and headed north, the seas growing rougher the closer we got to Iciuis. Immediately, we knew it wasn't a normal storm but one created by the Rain Stone. No one could believe that the pirates allowed the Rain Stone's power to get out of control.

Soon, we sailed further and further into the storm and into the battle zone. The plan was simple: Get the Rain Stone away from Cecil and use the Solar Stone to make everything fo back to normal. Sounds simple, right?

Wrong, Cecil wasn't going to hand it to us on a silver platter and the water benders were not exactly happy to see more pirates. But we got through it. How you may ask? One word:

Kálaní.

oOo

If it weren't for Eduardo and Reyna combining their power and skills, Eduardo navigating through the storm, Reyna pushing back dangerous waves, the Sirius would never have gotten into the battle zone safely.

"Captain, where do you want to set anchor?" Eduardo called over the storm as Morgan pointed to the middle of the battle zone.

"Right in the middle of the bombardment!" Morgan shouted back and Thomas looked at him worried from beside Reyna, making sure she was secured as she continued to push back waves.

"But Captain, if we do that we'll get hit by both the navy and the pirate ships!" Thomas pointed out. Reyna glanced over her shoulder and her eyes met with Morgan's.

"But we need to set anchor in a location where we will stand out or there's no point," Morgan answered, turning his gaze onto Thomas and Reyna looked away. "I came to stop this battle."

Reyna mustered as much strength as she could as she split a wave into two, the ship going through the middle before turning around and facing Morgan.

"Are we going…to be okay?" Reyna asked, slightly out of breath and Thomas handed her a bottle filled with water and lemon. She took it, taking a couple of sips and felt rejuvenated before handing it back to him.

Morgan nodded. "Yes, I have a plan," he cupped his hands over his mouth. "Crew, gather around!"

Russell, Nathan and Christopher heard him from further down the ship and came over. It was there Morgan explained his plan to everyone and their roles in it. It was a solid one in Reyna's opinion, but she couldn't help but worry about one little detail.

"What about the benders?" she questioned Morgan as the rain continued pelt down on them. "I can't exactly fight them off on my own."

A protective look came across Morgan's eyes. "I'm not asking you to fight them. You won't attack; only defend if they come close. Wait at the specific location."

Reyna nodded in agreement.

"I see, sounds fun," Russell cracked his knuckles, grinning at the plan.

"So I'll wait here on the ship?" Eduardo asked for confirmation and Morgan nodded. Eduardo didn't look too happy about missing out on the action.

"We finally get to use our skills. I can't wait," Nathan, like Russell, was cracking his knuckles. Reyna had a few more sips of the lemon water, feeling a tingling sensation in her body before handing the bottle back to Thomas.

I just have to wait at the edge of the deck and wait for the signal from Christopher. Sounds simple enough, Reyna thought to herself, tightening her hair in its bun and ignoring the wet feeling of her clothes as the rain continued to hammer down.

"Then let's go!" Morgan announced over the roar of the storm.

"Aye!"

Eduardo began to sail the Sirius to the middle of the cannon fire and the crew started to execute their strategy. Reyna stood in her place as both pirates and the navy spotted them.

"The Sirius!"

"That's the ship of the Pirate King, Morgan! Prepare to fire!"

Morgan stood on the jibboom, a fierce, commanding look on his face. "Both sides, cease fire!" Morgan yelled out to the opposing fleets. Reyna was impressed; even in the storm you could hear Morgan's voice clearly.

"Captain Morgan? What are you doing here?" Cecil asked in confusion.

The navy however, looked enraged. "Don't be stupid! If we cease fire, you're going to take that opportunity and sink our ships! We won't be fooled!"

"Hey, who do you think I am? I'm the Pirate King. I wouldn't do something so underhanded," Morgan looked offended by the accusations before turning to Cecil. "Cecil, return the Rain Stone to me."

Reyna strained to hear the rest over the storm but it was drowned out by whispering. Her ears tuned out the rain, the storm, even the fight, listening only to the soft whispers in her mind.

Otno eeht, retaw fo eht dlrow….

Relaeh…

Reyortsed…

Eht tserup fo smrof…

Wolla eht stirips ot hsaw gnola smaerts, skeerc, sekal dna srevirs…

Uoy nac reven pets ni eht emas revir eciwt…

Erif fo eht nus…

Erif fo snogard…

Reyna blinked slowly, gripping on the railing as she tuned back into reality. She looked out, towards the middle and her eyes widened. Fear hit her like waves and she looked at Morgan.

"Morgan! They're here!" she pointed north of the battle, in the middle of the gap between the navy and the pirates. Standing there, on the water…

Morgan narrowed his eyes, seeing them and looking at the navy for an answer. The navy, seeing them too, looked sour about the presence of water benders.

"…Understood. If you stop this storm and the pirates withdraw, then we will follow suit," the commander of the navy answered.

"Cecil, the navy has agreed to withdraw," Morgan told Cecil. "Hand over the Rain Stone."

"I refuse, Captain Morgan," Cecil spat in disgust at the idea. "With this Rain Stone, pirates can rule the world! Why should we let the imperial forces throw their weight around?"

"The reason for that is simple, Captain Cecil," a familiar voice called and Reyna's head shot forward, finding Émrys in the middle of the battle zone, water spinning around her and lifting her up into the air. "The Rain Stone is not yours to command. It belongs to the people of Iciuis."

Reyna was shocked at the revelation as Morgan nodded in greeting at her.

"Life would be boring without the navy," Morgan added to Émrys's statement. "The seas are interesting because we have both pirates and the navy. I don't want to ruin that exquisite balance."

Cecil narrowed his eyes at Morgan. "I cannot understand your way of thinking," he turned to Émrys. "The Rain Stone belongs in the hands of pirates now! I will use this Rain Stone and become the creator of a new era!"

"I have no choice," Morgan shook his head and drew his sword. "Let's go!"

Morgan boarded Cecil's ship, along with Russell, Nathan, Christopher and Thomas appearing on Cecil's ship. As they boarded the ship, Émrys came onto the Sirius, the Solar Stone in her hand.

"How did you—" Reyna began but Émrys shook her head, giving the stone to Reyna.

"You must combine the two when your two halves become one," Émrys informed her and pressed her lips lightly on Reyna's forehead. "Only you can do it, Kálaní."

Something burned into her forehead and her heart fluttered at the name as Émrys's body turned into water and she disappeared right in front of Reyna.

Reyna blinked for a moment. "I have got to learn how to do that," she told herself firmly before seeing Christopher throw the Rain Stone. Without thinking, she ran towards it and jumped into the air.

She reached out to grab it, watching as it glowed. Cecil was shouting something as it landed in her hand. The Solar Stone was glowing brightly in her other hand and she combined the two before blacking out.

oOo

Reyna's eyes slowly opened and she found herself shocked, covering her mouth. Fish swam all around her, the sand of the bottom of the ocean tickling her toes and she examined herself. All she was wearing was a white halter neck dress, her hair loose and floating in the ocean.

"Where am I?" she asked as a ball of light floated in front of her. Reyna stared at it for a moment as slowly, it formed into Émrys. "Oh come on!"

Émrys smiled. "You have done well, Reyna. The Heaven Stone is complete," she waved her hand over a large stone beside her. Reyna frowned as she watched images manifest and showing her…well, her. Her body was glowing white, as were her eyes and wrists.

Reyna watched in mild interest and slight horror as her body pointed a hand towards the sky. Some kind of white, straight dazzlingly light was released from her hand and towards the sky. The rain slowly disappeared and the sky began to clear up from the effect.

Slowly, Reyna's body put her hand down and continued to stand on the water, floating in the air in the middle of the battle zone. There was silence across the entire area as Reyna's body opened her mouth.

"Continue this pointless fight and there will be casualties on both sides," Reyna's voice was added with a second one, slightly higher than her own.

"What the hell is going on?" Reyna demanded of Émrys who waved the image away, replacing it with four other stones in the north, south, east and west formation. Beneath them, was the island of Iciuis.

"What you witnessed, was the power of the Heaven Stone," she answered. "Combine the powers of fire and water, you create the Heaven Stone. Combine the powers of earth and air, you create the Spirit Stone. These four stones were the gifts of the elements given to the first four benders by the gods. It was our duty to protect the spirit world and its mysteries."

Reyna frowned in confusion, looking at the High Priestess. "Then how did the Rain Stone end up in the pirates hands and the Solar Stone in Moldor?"

"A hundred years ago, pirates disguised as merchants, attempted to steal the four stones. They had only managed to capture the Rain and the Solar Stone," Émrys answered. "Since then, we have closed off our contact with the world."

"Then how did my mother and I leave Iciuis?"

"You were planned all along," Émrys informed her, looking at Reyna. "The gods needed the stones back into the hands of benders and brought your parents together. You are the daughter of Mila and Prince Helios, second son to the current Fire Lord."

Reyna's eyes widened in shock. "My….my father was a fire bender?" she questioned and Émrys nodded. Confusion hit her and she frowned slightly. "Then why don't I fire bend?"

Émrys placed a hand on her shoulder. "Because you were born in the north of the island. Where the water is at its strongest."

"The gods learnt from their mistake and decided that a keeper should be created. You are the daughter of the elements, born from fire and water, raised in earth and played with air. To keep you safe, I helped your mother escape from Iciuis when you were only four, knowing one day, the fate you were given would be fulfilled," Émrys told her, pressing two fingers to her forehead. "I will be here when you need me. Take care, Kálaní."

oOo

Reyna groaned, her head feeling like it was kicked by a horse. Her whole body felt sore as she slowly sat up, finding herself in Morgan's quarters. She was alone and frowned as everything Émrys told her came flooding back.

My whole life…was planned…my father was a fire bender; Reyna clenched her fists, tears coming to her eyes as she felt angry. Angry that she only just learnt this, that her mother didn't have the curtsey to tell her.

The door opened and she looked over, seeing Morgan enter and finding her awake. He saw the look on her face and sat down on the bed with her where she let out all of her tears, telling him everything. Reyna was comforted by his presence and when she finally calmed down, something dawned on her.

"Do you want to head to your hometown now?" Reyna asked, touching her wrists where the Solar Stone and the Rain Stone were marked. "You were looking for the stones to save it."

"There's no need," Morgan shook his head, eyes filled with slight sadness. "My hometown was destroyed a few years ago. It was a small island, a large storm came and the entire island was destroyed. No human could live there anymore."

Reyna's face fell slightly. We have both stones, but no hometown to save…

"Don't look so sad," he told her gently, lifting her head up with his hand under her chin. "I have memories of my hometown, and that's enough."

He reached over and lightly touched her tattoos. "They're in a safe place," he murmured before looking at her. "Reyna, I can take you back to Yamato."

Reyna narrowed her eyes at him. "Morgan, I've made my decision to stay on this ship."

"I know, but you have family waiting for you, right?"

Reyna growled as she stood up, heading for the desk. "My mother lied to me my entire life! How can I go back and even look at her?" she turned back to him.

"I don't have a hometown anymore but you still have one," he told her firmly, giving her a small smile. "Besides, you need to talk to your mother."

"But I…" she was at a loss for words, feeling her heart breaking slightly.

"You should return when you can and if you want to return to the sea, you can come back here."

Reyna looked at him, her eyes slightly teary but she refused to shed them. "And you will come get me?"

"Of course," he stood up, coming closer to her. "You won't forget us, will you?"

Reyna shook her head. "Morgan, you won't forget me either, right?"

"Of course not. And I'll give up alcohol and women," he vowed before thinking about his words. "Well, I may drink a little here and there…" he caught himself and smiled at her. "Return to Yamato."

"Okay," Reyna whispered as Morgan embraced her.

"Come back anytime you want to. I'll leave your chair empty."

Reyna nodded, feeling herself calm down in his arms. It's fortunate to have a home to return to….I should return to Yamato or I'll regret it. And I can think about the future…

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Reyna looked up at Morgan. "Morgan, could I ask you something? What's your real name?"

Morgan chuckled at her question. "I was Morgan before and will be Morgan from now on. So my real name doesn't matter, right?"

oOo

After a few days of sailing, the Sirius finally arrived in Yamato. Reyna went out to the deck and watched the calm, night ocean. She felt closer to the element, stronger even but she lacked the experience or the courage to bend since the battle.

Only a little longer until I leave the Sirius, she thought sadly. She hadn't told Morgan, but the bond was gone. Probably because of the two stones in her body, but she wasn't getting sick or in pain at the idea of separation. Emotionally, she was.

"Reyna, what are you doing?" Morgan called as she looked over at him. "Can you see anything in that pitch black ocean?"

Reyna shook her head as he stood next to her. "No, I was just thinking about how I'm leaving soon."

"Yeah, it'll be lonely when you're gone," he agreed and looked at her with a slight frown. "Are you going to be okay?"

She knew what he was referring to and nodded. "The bond was broken when I touched the stones so you're in the clear."

Morgan pulled out a necklace with a simple silver cross and chain and held it out to her. "I want you to have this. It's a symbol of my feelings."

"Your feelings?" she asked and he looked at her firmly, his eyes held a serious nature behind them.

"Reyna, I love you," he told her and Reyna's eyes widened. "You found the true me. If it weren't for you, I don't think I would've had the courage to show my true self and become the Pirate King again."

Reyna's face flushed slightly red in embarrassment. "I didn't do anything."

"No, you looked at me for who I am. You were always honest with me," he insisted and lightly held her hand. "I respect and adore you. You're the first woman I have felt respect for. So if you accept my feelings, please take this."

Reyna looked at the necklace he held out and gently took it, placing it around her neck. "I'll treasure it," she told him, looking into his eyes and found him blushing lightly.

"Reyna…does that mean you reciprocate my feelings?" he asked and she nodded.

"Yes, I love you, too, Morgan. I respect you," she smiled at him, reaching behind and undoing her mother's necklace, handing it to him. "I'm glad that I met you."

Morgan's eyes softened at her words and he embraced her. "Even if we're apart, we won't forget each other. No matter where I am, I'll be thinking of you."

"Yes," Reyna murmured as the arms around her tightened.

oOo

A Week Later…

A week had passed and Reyna patched things up with her mother. Mila told her everything, about her father and how he was killed because of their love, how she gave birth to Reyna in the east of Iciuis with the earth benders, escaping to Yamato. In turn, Reyna told her mother all about her adventure and becoming the keeper of the Heaven Stone.

And for once, they bonded as her mother taught her healing with water.

Reyna sighed quietly as she watched her mother heal the baker's broken arm. Mila noticed that and looked at her daughter in concern and studied her before smirking.

"You miss him," Mila observed as Reyna played with the cross necklace. Reyna looked at her mother in slight surprise. "I was once like you remember? I still miss your father every day. Go for a walk, clear your head."

Reyna nodded, getting up and leaving the house. Automatically, she walked to the port and stared out at the sea. Every free moment she had since returning, Reyna would go to the port to see the ocean.

Morgan, everyone else….she thought sadly, missing them and she sighed.

"Young lady, if you're not careful you'll be taken away by a pirate," a familiar voice said and she looked at the owner, her eyes widened in surprise before a grin crept onto her face. Morgan was standing there wearing his usual, bright smile.

"Morgan," Reyna beamed as he walked towards her.

"Reyna, I'm here to take you away," he informed her. "Decide right here if you're coming with me."

"Are you high? Of course I'll go with you!" she exclaimed as her mother called out to her. Reyna looked over and saw her mother watching them before smiling and giving her a nod. "Yes, please make me part of the Sirius crew again."

Morgan chuckled. "That's the answer I wanted," he said as she ran into his waiting arms. He lifted her up into his arms, holding her tightly.

"I finally captured you," he declared softly. "It isn't like me to let go of a treasure. Besides…" he looked at her firmly. "The gods gave you to me to protect you."

"Morgan," Reyna's eyes filled with tears as she smiled at him.

"I thought I was the pirate but it was you who stole my heart."

"How many more cheesy lines do you have?"

"Quite a few."

Reyna laughed at that and he chuckled with her before he pressed his lips against hers. Electricity buzzed through her body and she kissed him back as best as she could but he just laughed.

"Shut up, I've never done this," she muttered and he kissed her cheek as she pouted slightly.

"Don't pout, besides I can teach you everything once we're on the ship. Beyond that as well," he told her suggestively and she blushed furiously.

"Morgan!"

Song: Sirenix from Winx Club. Do not judge.

Anyway, that's Morgan's Main Story out of the way and soon I'll do his sequel and second sequel. Not now though, now it comes Eduardo's turn in Pirates In Love: Navigate My Heart so stay tuned for that. You can only guess what element I planned for him, hehehe.

So, hit that review and let me know what you thought of Morgan's story.