by Lola Pacheco

The rising sun warms my cheek and travels down my body until it reaches my feet, where a steady pulse of cold and wet stops it. I breathe in the salty air until the heat ceases suddenly. 

“Ya alright, ma’am?” a deep voice asks.

Grains of sand cling to my eyelashes, blurring my vision. I sit upright and kick my feet in discomfort. My feet slosh around in the same cold and wet. A shadow looms over me, reaching a hand out to gently brush the sand away. 

“There ya go, much better,” the voice says. My surroundings come into focus. The voice in question belongs to a young man in a loose linen shirt. His canvas trousers are stained and rolled to his knees, and he wears a red bandana around his forehead. He smiles at me with his copper eyes, and reaches for my hand to help me up.

“I saw ya from across the beach, laying where the shore breaks, napping maybe,” he says, pointing to a docked ship in the distance. “After I picked up supplies, I figured I’d check up on you. The name’s Ri, and you?”

“Thank you, Ri,” I respond. Thank goodness he found me. Why did I think this was a good place to nap? “And I’m…”

My mind draws a blank. Certainly I should remember my own name? I recall a family, with a man and woman holding the hand of a little girl. My parents, and maybe my sister? But names, no. I try to hide my panic from Ri. “…lucky that you were so observant.” Sand crumbles into my face as I comb through my hair. 

Ri laughs gently and gestures for me to follow. He steps into the water, dipping his hair in the ocean. Little droplets spray the surrounding area when he flicks his head back, and he ruffles his hair back into place. The morning sun gleams across the damp surface, striping his chestnut brown hair with streaks of gold. Ri must have caught me staring, because he waves a hand in front of my face to get my attention. “This always does the trick for me. Your’s is a little longer, so I—”

I flip my hair into the water, whipping myself in the face by mistake. Ri rushes to my side and holds me stable.

“Woah there!” he exclaims, “you know what, let me help you.” Ri rinses my hair thoroughly, massaging his fingers across my scalp to get the sand out. His hands are tough, like those of someone who works outdoors. Yet his touch is deceptively gentle. He comments on my attire as he carefully weaves his fingers in and out of the strands of my hair.

“Someone’s fancy,” Ri says as he stares at the purple silk ribbon tied around my waist, as well as a locket of some kind I happen to be wearing around my neck. “That’s quite the statement.” 

“Statement?” I ask curiously.

Ri gently pulls me up by my shoulder and slicks my hair back. He squeezes the excess water from my hair and then points to the locket. “Your locket has amethyst on it, ” Ri explains as he dabs the water on his hands onto his trousers. “Most people would love to get their hands on something like that, you know?” Ri brushes my neck with his hand as he detangles the stubborn sections of my hair. 

As I scan the coastline, I notice the stark differences between my attire and those around me. The cotton of my Tarlatan dress is embellished with pops of deep violet, and the skirt is ruffled more than those of the women I see strolling along the beach. Their dresses are far more simple, the A-line silhouette adorned with a simple fringe on the bottom hem, and the colors a less saturated palette. Though, I will admit, the drenched fabric most likely isn’t the look I intended. Nonetheless, my style sticks out in the sea of diluted tones. Maybe I’m not from here. I reach for the locket. My fingers touch only my neck. I frantically feel around for it, heartbeat pounding, before turning to Ri.

Ri tosses the locket around in his hands smugly, smirking at me. “Like I said, most people would love to get their hands on something like this. Now if you excuse me, Mystery girl, I do have places to be.” He runs towards the dock before I can argue.

My cheeks flush with embarrassment. He stole it? I don’t even know who I am! I need to do something. That locket is all I have. I bunch up my skirt with my hands to chase Ri to the dock. My feet kick the sand up in small clouds, slowing me down. Ri travels at a much faster pace, trekking through the sand confidently and naturally. I continue to pursue the young man across the beach, attracting a couple of stares and whispers from the locals. I pause. My breath is fast and sharp, and I lose sight of Ri for a moment. 

“Where did he go?”

I look down at the sand and lift my right foot. I see my own footprint, but also a larger set underneath. Those must be Ri’s tracks. I half run, half walk along his trail until the sand fades into dark wooden planks. I lock eyes with Ri from afar.

“Wait,” I pant, “I need the locket.”

Ri sits on a barrel, with the locket open on his palm. “So, ya coming back for more?” Ri says. He hops off of the barrel and approaches me slowly. 

His comment catches me offguard. “No! I mean…” I clarify, “no I think that–”

“I know, I know,” Ri laughs, “I am that charming, but I think you want what’s inside the locket.”

There’s something inside? Hope swells in my chest. Whatever is inside could help jog my memory. 

“Ah, so I was right. No wonder ya didn’t introduce yourself earlier, Mystery Girl,” Ri banters. He holds the locket out in front of him. “I was gonna return it anyways. I was hoping for money, but it was just a drawing. Don’t think this ‘masterpiece’ is worth any mangoes.”

He hands me the drawing from inside the locket. It depicts two girls standing by a castle with a flag on top. The flag has a yellow sun in the center, with a round purple cutout that reveals a crescent moon. One of the girls shares the same dark umber hair as me, and the other resembles the one in my fuzzy memory. The top of the picture reads “To Seven: the special-ist, most pretty shell in all the land. From Sunny,” in small lettering. At the bottom, in what seems to be sparkly purple ink, the note reads “P.S, You are also a very good big sister.” 

“My name is Seven,” I realize. My sister Sunny must be looking for me. I need to look for her. But how? A gravely voice calls for Ri on the ship and he turns to resume boarding. My head snaps towards the mast of the ship. The main sail is lowered as they prepare to raise the anchor.

“Hey, Ri? You have a ship. Could you help me locate the place in the drawing?”

Ri places a finger to his temple and turns on his heel. “Hmm…I could,” he says grinning. He bends his knees slightly to match my eye level, “but it would cost ya.”

Cost me? I have nothing to give! The brief glimmer of hope dulls inside me. “Cost?” I ask, “I can’t make transactions with things I don’t have.”

“I’m not asking for money. I can’t guarantee your pockets aren’t as empty as your brain.” Ri lightens his tone, “I’m just asking for a favor–an agreement, really.”

I swallow audibly. Ri seems to be a kind soul, but a stranger nonetheless. A very convincing stranger. Against my better judgement, I lean in closer to hear the terms.

“I’ll help you if you join my crew,” he offers. “They call us ‘pirates’, but if we steal things to help people, is it really criminal?” Ri circles slowly around me. “I like to think of it as justice. Redistributing resources to even the playing field,” Ri states proudly.

Pirates. Part of me wants to run away as fast as I can. Is this plan worth delinquency? I glance down at the picture once more. Little Sunny beams at me. I don’t think I have a choice.

“Fine,” I say sternly, “It’s a deal.”

 We shake hands, sealing the deal–and my fate–as Ri pulls me aboard. Ri calls out to the crew, prompting them to scurry across the deck to their respective positions. Metal bangs, wood creaks, and ropes fly from every corner of the ship. A voice screams “All hands on deck”, to which the others reply “Aye, Aye.” A gust of wind catches the sails. The dock appears further and further as we depart.

The crew erupts in a burst of excitement. With the ship on open water and takeoff out of the way, they all turn to me. 

A stout man with a large scar above his left eye screams from across the deck, “Blimey, Ri! Who be this fine lass?” He hobbles over to Ri, who stands a couple feet from me near the stern of the ship. “She looks too highfalutin’ to be treadin’ the decks o’ this here ship!” 

I shuffle uncomfortably to my left, bumping into another man, this one wearing baggy trousers. “How did ye snare this one, then? Be she yer sweetheart, Ri?”

“Nah,” a third crew member exclaims, the one with the gravely voice, “I wager he craves it, though.” He sets down his rope and joins the crowd on the quarterdeck. “How could a fine lady like her be taken in by a trouble-makin’ scallywag?” He draws close to me and holds a finger to my chin, lifting it upwards so our eyes meet. “She’d not have stepped aboard by her own accord!”

My fear wrecks my insides like a tornado. They have taken such an interest in me, and my connection to Ri. Does he do this–bringing ladies aboard–often? My brain defaults to the worst possible scenario. What could “trouble-makin’ scallywag” entail? The other men seem older than Ri, yet they seem to answer to him. Their comments make me uneasy. I have no idea what they could be capable of. 

Ri aggressively smacks the man’s hand away. “Hands off ‘er, Sid, that’s enough of ya jabbering. I found her on the sand, and we struck a bargain,” he explains, “We’re goin’ to see her safe, and get her home on our way to the port.” Ri nudges me with his shoulder, tilting his head to gesture for me to say something.

I grab my locket with both hands and clear my throat. “My name is Seven. I agreed to join the crew, but I don’t remember much.” I open the locket and pull the drawing out to show the men. “All I have is this drawing, and I need you to pinpoint the location depicted.” A sudden wave of boldness washes over me, and I speak with a firmer tone than I had expected. “I expect this task to be executed with absolute integrity.”

The crew’s energy shifts. They must not have expected that from me–I didn’t either. They look to Ri for approval. He too stares at me, perplexed by my sudden assertion of control. He snaps out of the trance and his tone sharpens. “No skullduggery, ya hear!” The men nod in compliance, but return to their posts with haughty disposition. Ri walks away, huffing and swearing under his breath in visible annoyance.

We had set sail with the sun overhead, a course set for the Celestia Harbor. Our goal, Ri had later explained to me, is to deliver several bales of silk without being intercepted. I assumed they had stolen it not too long ago, as the merchant’s branding hadn’t yet been faded by the sun, or soaked like the dress I had been wearing. Ri had given me a spare pair of trousers and a linen blouse to wear after taking his frustration out on a sack of rice, still bitter about the crew’s first impression until long after the sun had set. Holding up his end of the bargain, he assured me that same evening that he knew where I needed to go. The flag depicted in Sunny’s drawing matches the one atop the royal family’s castle in a kingdom called Friendship. That name had awakened something inside me. I analyzed Sunny’s drawing further, and what I thought were scribbles on the back of the drawing turned out to be Sunny’s messy handwriting. With more clues, my outlook brightened. Hope had rocked me slowly to sleep, hushing my worries with its lullaby.

The way the ship sways with the current has become natural. The sea birds squawk and chirp, welcoming the new day.

“What are the odds of that,” Ri says, staring off into the distance. The baby blue sky is dusted with blush pink clouds, the morning sun casting a warm glow on the horizon.

I join him at the starboard, resting my arms and leaning over the edge of the ship.

“Hmm?” I respond. 

“Our paths crossed by chance yesterday, and we ended up on the same route to Friendship.”

I crack a smile. “It’s very lucky. I’m glad we have a common interest in that way.”

“You and I aren’t that different, ya know,” Ri says, “Both set sail to find ourselves, be with family.” He points at the three crewmen conversing with cups in hand. “At least you’re not related to those barnacle-brains. I can’t seem to shake ‘em.”

I stifle a laugh. The crew certainly has their quirks. Ri doesn’t seem to like his cousins, but they have talent nonetheless. “I guess so. You said they’re experienced sailors though, right?”

“Aye, they’ve been pillaging for years. That’s how I got into the trade, wanted the wind at my back, the adventure, ruckus of the tongue in all,” Ri takes a furtive glance at my locket, and looks down shyly. “And it might sound silly, but I wanted to help people. The consequences are, uh…it was a vast oversight on my part…”

“What’s that?”

“Pirates are considered forbi—”

“No, Ri, that thing on the water.” I point to a dark silhouette that gradually enlarges.

Ri’s cheeks appear rosey, possibly out of embarrassment, though he did have a lot to drink last night. He stumbles over his words as he analyzes the figure. “Oh! Um. Keen eyes, my lady—er, fine lass—I, uh.” Ri takes a moment to collect his thoughts. And to think that this red-faced man is the same soul who barks commands so fiercely at the crew. His big heart makes me question what I perceive pirates to be. 

“Is that another ship?” Ri says wearily. “You’ve got to be—” He sprints towards the crew, giving each man instructions that send them darting across the ship in a frenzy. The shadowy ship continues to approach, and I begin to hear exclamations of anger. 

“What’s going on, Ri?” I ask, “Why are they so angry?”

Ri’s captain persona emerges as he yells to everyone onboard “They are boiling mad ’cause we liberated their silken haul.” He stands atop stacked crates as he rallies us. “We’ll not surrender a single thread, ya hear me?” We all nod in agreement, and the other crewmen continue to prepare for the encounter. Ri never turns my way, but I move around the ship in panic. The enemy ship launches a smaller vessel. The five men steering it scream and cry out with intensity.

The stoutest of Ri’s cousins glares at the rivals. “Devil take ye, clear off!” he shouts, “Ye haven’t even a need for the plunder!”

“No use screamin’ at ‘em, Sho, they can’t even hear ya.”

The crewmate with the gravely voice responds sarcastically. “So then, what d’ye reckon we ought to do, Ri?”

“Fend ‘em off, give the lot a good scare, Smi. But don’t waste your energy hurting ‘em.”

“Blast and confound it, how d’ye expect me to do that without drawing blood? Shall I sing ‘em a shanty and dazzle ‘em with me ugly mug?”

Ri grunts. He seems like he’s had enough of their argument, and so have I. We need to act. And do so quickly. There’s no time for sea shanties. 

Sea shanties. I’m sucked into a memory, a song becoming clearer as if I was blowing the dust off of an old record. An older man chants: 

Under open skies,

Be it cloudy or stormy,

The seven seas will rise,

Like all of those before me.

I see a younger version of myself sitting by the shore, dismissing the man and his song. He splashes me playfully, but assures me that it has meaning. “One’s heart is like the open sea,” he says, “it won’t always be clear skies. But I need you to remember, Seven–”

I’m brought back to the present moment, the next of the man’s words brought to my lips. “You must ride the waves of life with courage,” I say, motivated by this snippet of wisdom. If I am going to make it back to my family, I must take things into my own hands. I grasp my locket. The seven seas must rise. 

I spot a large but tattered net folded in the corner of the ship. If fish can be trapped by nets, why can’t people? I sprint over and unfold it. If I can throw it just right, the enemy vessel will get tangled. A good scare, but no harm done, just like Ri wants. I line myself up with their boat and lean over the edge. I coil the net strategically and instinctively, positioning the weights at the bottom. I feel the crew’s eyes piercing the back of my head. They must think this plan is crazy. I cast the net outward, and it unfurls into a precise circle atop the enemy boat. The angry men below scream. 

But it was crazy enough to work. Their boat retreats, slowly, to the larger mother ship it came from. Smi, Sho, Sid, and Ri rejoice. 

“Blimey, that was–”

“I can’t believe you–”

“Nicely done, lass!”

Ri speaks louder than the others. “That was…amazing! How did you do that?”

“Turns out I’m no stranger to boats,” I say. “I remember my father taught me to sail. He always told me that someday ‘the seven seas will rise’.”

“…really? Gee,” he says, a look of conflict upon his face. He switches his expression abruptly to a playful smirk. “It seems like Mystery girl is becoming less of a Mystery!” He seems to have something on his mind as he dismisses the crew and strolls to the captain’s quarters. 

Ri was reluctant to discuss this encounter any further. The goods were safe, and our destination was only two days away. Having proved myself with my newly discovered skillset, the cousin trio started to take me seriously. They shared their stories during meal times, and they even listened to the fragments of mine, eager to hear how the majestic “Seven Le’Seas” got her start. I did my best to help the sailors where I could, but spent most of the time really analyzing my locket. I found mentions of the capital (a very elegant city), and the names Stormy and Cloudy. Ri continued to check up on me, listening intensely as if he was trying to put the pieces together himself. When I would look into his quarters after dark, I saw him pacing back and forth under candlelight. 

I’m filled with anxiety as I hear the morning call of the birds. Today is supposed to be the day I reach Friendship. I’ll complete the duties at the harbor, then join my family. Temporarily, at least. It is unclear to me how this whole pirate contract works. Ri seemed very avoidant, which leads me to question how long this illegal “favor” will go on for. At midday, I take a seat on a barrel mid-deck. I take out Sunny’s letter once more, reading it again and again, foolishly hoping that my memories might be magically restored if I try hard enough. Picturing someone calling my name, and I reply with certainty. Wishing I knew the full story hiding behind my name. The creaking of footsteps breaks my gloomy haze.

“Any progress?” Ri asks as he approaches me.

“Not much,” I sigh, “a couple names, but I’m not exactly ecstatic. It’s been exciting, and the crew’s been beyond kind but…returning home a criminal…”

Ri softens his voice, “Criminal? No, Mystery girl, I–”

“My name is Seven.”

He tenses. “Don’t interrupt me–” 

“Why won’t you say it?” I snap, frustration getting to me. “My name is–”

“Seven what? The Seven Seas?” Ri mocks. “Oh, look at me! I’m Seven Le’Seas! That’s what they’re calling ya, right?”

My eyes burn, and I nearly crush the letter in my right hand. I storm across the deck, but Ri follows close behind. He stands behind me for a few moments, the air between us heavy and scalding from my outrage.

“I didn’t mean–I’m sorry,” he sighs, “A lot’s been on my mind, and I just have this theory, Seven. Friendship’s monarchs, Queen Stormy and King Cloudy, have two daughters, one named Sunny. They have dark hair like you, dress like you, and…”

Ri bites his lip. “Their eldest daughter is named Seven. She went missing about a week ago, I saw the posters. And then I met you…”

My heartbeat thumps in my ears. My father, Cloudy, taught me to sail. I heard from Smi the king commands the navy, and is quite the sailor too. Was a passionate sailor first, then a royal, he said. When Sho listened to me speak, he compared my delivery to that of the queen. I brushed it off thinking that my mother couldn’t possibly be the same Stormy who holds large conferences at the palace. My insides feel as if they have tied in knots. How could they possibly be my parents? But a daughter named Sunny, and a missing daughter named Seven…this can’t be a coincidence.

“Are you saying I’m…”

“Seven Skies,” we say in unison.

Ri continues, “Royals aren’t fond of us, and I understand it’s a forbidden practice.” Smi, Sho, and Sid signal our arrival. “You’re an amazing girl, Seven. A pretty good pirate too. But you’re home now, safe and sound,” he chokes. “You can get back to that princess stuff you were born to do, and forget this ever happened.” He turns to walk away, facing the silk bales we’ve yet to deliver. I walk in front of Ri, wanting to set things straight.

“I would never willingly forget this. You’ve brought me to my family, and helped me remember who I am.” I take his hands into mine. “You and your crew will always have a special place in my heart.” 

“I’m flattered, princess, but us ‘unscrupulous’ pirates also have a special place in a jail cell,” Ri laughs nervously.

“Royal or not, Skies or Le’Seas, I’m still a pirate, and I don’t plan to let that stereotype persist in my Kingdom.”

A voice calls my name from afar, and a smile spreads across my face. My not-so-little sister sprints down to the docks. “Seven! Is that you?”

I glance back at Ri and his crew. “Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure,” Ri gushes, “I hope to meet again.”

“We will. You haven’t seen the last of Seven Le’Seas,” I joke.

I step off the deck and embrace Sunny tightly. Her dress resembles the one I wore on the beach, only her choice of accent color is a bright orange. A gold tiara with the kingdom’s sun emblem sits gracefully on top of her dark, hip length hair. The tears burn as they form and I savor her warm, soft skin. She squeezes back, pushing her body onto my ribs, arms wrapped around my waist like a belt. I think back to the ending line in her letter. 

“Am I still the special-est shell?” I laugh. 

“Always,” she sobs, pulling back from the hug reluctantly. “I thought we lost you when you fell overboard! Father sent the navy searching as soon as we docked, but you were nowhere to be found. How did you get back?”

So that’s how it happened, they must have been worried sick. “I had a little help,” I say, pointing to Ri’s ship. I hold her face in my hands gently. “I know what you’re thinking, but these guys are some of the kindest souls I’ve ever met.”

Sunny wipes her tears before raising a brow, “Unexpected, but I’m forever grateful.” Sunny takes a breath and composes herself. “How can we repay them?”

The answer comes easily to me. Their kindness is never brought to light. If their contributions weren’t always brushed aside, and they weren’t met with the royals’ friendly fire, they might finally be able to help this kingdom thrive. 

I whisper into Sunny’s ear. I propose a change in naval policy, one that recognizes the unconventional nature of Ri and his crew. She takes a moment to consider it, before nodding in agreement. Sunny sends a guard to the palace to notify our parents of our proposal and–perhaps most importantly–my return. Seems like this isn’t her first time handling royal decrees. It’s like she was born to do this. We were born to do this. 

I pull Sunny closer to the Ship. “As a princess of Friendship, I royally declare Ri Handman and his crew official privateers,” I say.

Sunny smiles. “A title you will carry across the Seven Seas.”