Badr looked at the sky from above. Even though it was noon, it was not very sunny because the rising sun did not shine as bright as it did in the past months. It was the beginning of winter after all, which confirmed that they chose the worst timing possible to voyage to Estermage Island.

Nevertheless, Badr had been waiting for a long time to go an exciting adventure. School was preventing him and his friends from exploring places in Albasea. So the only appropriate timing was to go during the holidays.

Before coming to Nuport, Badr would often go to explore the nature near his home. The ocean breeze that tickled his face strongly reminded him of the days he used to spend with his father in the woodlands and the sea coast in Rimor. The smell of the ocean was now in his nostrils and his tongue tasted the humid salty air.

Badr sniffed the air as he watched the seagulls fly above the yacht. Their movement made something obvious to Badr. He turned around and ran to inform the sailor something.

"There is a storm coming!" Badr shouted to the sailor who was calmly maneuvering the ship.

"What? Really?"

"Yes! It will come at night."

"How do you know?"

"The seagulls...they're flying a lot lower than usual. They're going back to see their nests at the coast."

"Hmm...maybe you're right," the sailor was impressed. "It is winter after all."

They both gazed at the sky for a minute or so.

"Go tell Mohamad. Ask him if I should turn back to the port."

"No."

"Huh? Go tell him!"

"No way. Don't turn back! We're already in the middle of the sea! We are going to Estermage Island!" Badr was angry. "I WANT TO CONTINUE THIS ADVENTURE!" He clenched his fists tightly.

"Uh...okay," the sailor said. Then he added in a low voice, "It's not really your decision."

He then shook his head and decided to tell Mohamad later himself. "That boy. He is very stubborn."

Badr sighed and walked away. He stood on the painted wooden floors of the yacht. It was very modern and he just couldn't get used to it.

Nearby, Wael and Murad were standing next to each other. They both heard what Badr told the sailor.

"Are you sure?" Murad asked Badr, who spun around.

Badr nodded his head. "Positive."

"Okay then," Wael's attention was back at the view. Badr went inside the yacht. It was much like a house. Badr strode past the small bedrooms and bathrooms of the ship. He had never seen a ship resemble a house in his whole life.

He wandered around the yacht until he met with Yousef. They explored everything in the yacht together and Badr informed him about the seagulls. When it was time for lunch, everyone gathered in the kitchen living room. The children took their places on the leather kitchen stools, while the adults sat on the long circular sofa.

After lunch, the boys have all gone outside to view the sunset. The yacht was now lit not only indoors but also from outside. Donia and the three girls were still inside cleaning up and preparing other food for dinner.

"Mmm...I can't wait to eat!" Yasmin said dreamily. Donia chuckled.

"I'll just leave it here to cool for a bit," she placed the sandwiches on a big plate that she obtained from the cupboard.

"Mom? When are we gonna reach the island?" questioned Yasmin.

"Hmm...I'm not sure, this trip is very long! Anyway, I'll go see what the boys are up to. You girls stay here."

"Okay!" the girls chirped as Donia walked out of the room. Noor looked at Yasmin and Malak.

"What now?" she wondered.

"Hmm...I don't know," Malak replied. "Do you want to draw? Or maybe play a game?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea!" Yasmin exclaimed. "Let's play a game."

"What game?" asked Noor.

"Let's play...truth or dare!" Yasmin suggested. She stood up and grabbed a half-empty water bottle from her bag.

"What's that?" Malak questioned as she watched her drink the remaining water.

"It's like...you take a bottle and at this end is who asks and the other is who answers. Then you spin it and let's say it lands on me and you. Then I ask you truth or dare and you tell me...let's say dare. Then I dare you to do something! If you don't do it, you lose!" Yasmin sat back down on the relaxing sofa.

"What if I picked truth?"

"I ask you a question and you have to answer it honestly. No lying!"

"How could you tell?" Noor queried.

Yasmin shrugged. "I could tell from your eyes, obviously! If you're lying it will show!"

"Okay then, let's play," Malak understood the rules. Yasmin placed the bottle between the three of them and spun it. It landed on her and Noor.

"Truth or dare?" Noor started the game.

"Umm...truth!" answered Yasmin.

"Let me think...hmm...who is the most annoying person on this ship?"

"It has to be Jack! Ew!" Yasmin said while waving her hands.

Malak laughed as Yasmin spun the bottle once more. It landed on Malak and Noor.

"I ask again...okay truth or dare?" Noor questioned.

"Dare."

"I dare you to...slap yourself five times."

"Eh? Okay..." Malak proceeded to slap herself five times gently. Yasmin and Noor burst into laughter.

"I can't believe you actually did it!" Noor chuckled after calming down. "You're such an idiot!"

"Huh...well, I don't want to lose!" Malak explained.

Yasmin giggled once more and spun the bottle again. It was her turn to ask Noor.

"Okay, Noor, truth or dare?"

"Truth...?"

"Hmm...okay who would you kiss from the boys in our club?"

"What? Kiss?!" Noor blushed uneasily. "Um...I'm not sure...they're all gross!"

"Ok come on! Not all! Only Jack is gross...and maybe Bilal," Yasmin admitted earnestly.

"Uff what an annoying question," Noor pouted. "I hate Badr, I would never kiss him. He's so wild and crazy."

"But he's so nice though..." Malak disagreed.

"True...he is," Yasmin leaned closer to Malak with eyes full of curiosity. "WAIT, YOU LIKE BADR!?"

"N-no! I'm just saying that as a friend he's very kind...but I wouldn't kiss him or anything like that."

"Oh, well...I thought you liked him," Yasmin stated. Then she faced Noor. "What about Yahya? He's kinda handsome!"

"I don't like him in that way," Noor answered. "He changed. He used to be different. Now he's 'cool'."

Yasmin dreamily chimed in: "I love his eyes. They're so unique!"

"Wow, you have a crush on him?!" Malak covered her mouth with her hands.

"Not really...what does crush mean again?" inquired Yasmin.

"That you secretly like someone," Noor explained.

"Oh okay!" Yasmin turned back to Noor. "Okay, answer the question!"

"Uh...um..." Noor began hesitantly.

"What about Yousef?" Malak chimed in. Noor immediately blushed a dark shade of red.

"Um...I-I guess he's fine..."

"Oooh, you're blushing! You like him, don't you?" Yasmin teased while poking Noor with her elbow.

"N-no! I just think he's the best out of the guys in our club..."

"Hmm..." Yasmin grinned. "So you'd kiss him?"

"Maybe..." Noor lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers.

"Okay! What about you Malak?" Yasmin addressed Malak.

"Eh-me?"

"Yeah! Tell us who your crush is!"

"Well..." Malak's heart started beating quickly. "I used to like Jack. He's really sweet to me..."

"Ewww Jack! He has a girlfriend!" Yasmin told her.

Malak nodded and continued: "I know. He got a girlfriend before I got the chance to tell him..."

"Oh true," Noor remembered. "Do you know who she is?"

"Hmm, no, I want to meet her though," Malak considered.

"What's so nice about his looks?" asked Yasmin.

"Well...his hair is really unique. And he has a nice smile," Malak confessed.

"Ew he's short," Yasmin bluntly remarked. "And so is Yousef! I just realized how short he is! He's shorter than Jack!"

Noor glared at her while Malak just stared at the wooden ceiling with the simple lights incised into it.

"Okay Malak who's your second crush? Like after Jack?" Yasmin questioned.

"Um...I don't know...maybe...Yousef?" Malak was unsure what to say.

"Oooh! Nice! You'd make a good couple!" Yasmin clapped her hands.

"Really? Well I used to hate him in the beginning...but later I realized he's not that bad. We're just friends anyway."

Noor gave Malak a cold glare. "Badr is better for you. I think he likes you."

"Huh, really? He likes me?!" Malak blushed. "I thought we were just friends."

"Oh you make a good couple with Badr too!" Yasmin exclaimed. "Even Bilal, I saw you talking to him! Do you like him?"

"Uh-as a friend...he's interesting," Malak stuttered.

Noor rolled her eyes. "Badr told me he likes you."

"Oh my God really?" Malak gasped as Yasmin jumped excitedly up and down.

"Wow! Malak! You should totally date him!"

"No...no! I'm not ready!" Malak blushed uneasily. Noor shrugged then stood up.

"I'm going to sleep," she announced.

"Oh okay, goodnight!" Yasmin responded. "Wait-you don't want to eat the sandwiches my mom made...?"

Yasmin and Malak watched Noor grab three sandwiches from the table before running off to sleep.

While the girls were playing 'Truth or Dare', the boys were busy playing hide-and-seek around the ship. Yahya, however, did not participate, as he was having a conversation with Wael on the highest balcony of the yacht.

"So Yahya...how's school? Are you doing well?"

"Yeah, the material is hard but I'm coping," Yahya replied, feeling restful now after finally getting the chance to talk to him. Wael smiled calmly and gazed at the night sky.

"You remind me of your father..." Wael said softly.

"You always used to say that."

"Well, because you're so similar!"

"Not really. He's...way better than me. I don't know how to make friends...I'm not brave like him...I'm not charming either."

"Oh, come on Yahya..." Wael patted the raven on his back. "By the way...how are you doing with Nadine?"

"Fine...she always needs my help in cleaning and cooking."

"You must be a talented housewife then!" Wael laughed at his joke while Yahya just gazed at the deep blue waters underneath him. The sparkling ocean waves were dancing along with the cold breeze.

"Okay well..." Wael sighed. "Tell me now. Do you still have the moonstone?"

"Y-yes."

"Did you figure out how to use it?" conversed Wael.

"Not entirely."

The two sat in silence for a while. Then Wael suggested to Yahya: "You can sell it for a very high price if you don't need it."

"I don't really need it...but my father gave it to me. It's my only memory of him."

"You used to be really close..." Wael recalled after a pause.

Yahya examined Wael. His hair covered his right eye which was actually wounded with a dry scar. "How is your scar? Does it still hurt?"

"A little."

"Do you regret going to Moonland because of it?"

"No, but it was tough. Abbas never gave up."

"You're both very brave. I wish I'm like you," Yahya stared sadly at the floor.

"You are. You just don't realize it," Wael assured him.

"No I'm not."

Wael smiled at Yahya then at the clouds. "It's coming," he observed.

"I know."

"Just like Badr said. That boy is observant."

Yahya stood up and left. Wael followed him inside. Meanwhile, the others were outside still chasing each other.

"Boys! Stop running!" Louis scolded for the fifth time. "Let me sleep! You're so loud!"

"Okay!" Badr giggled as he pushed Yousef so that the blonde fell.

"Ow, Badr, stop pushing me!" Yousef sprang back up and pushed Badr back.

Badr laughed loudly. Suddenly, Louis threw his pillow violently at them. "Shut up and let me sleep! Go to sleep! It's late!"

He spoke to Mohamad who was fast asleep. "Oi, wake up, there's a storm coming, remember? We need to prepare."

"Let me sleep a few more minutes..." Mohamad replied lazily. Louis pleaded Badr and Yousef.

"Go inside and sleep. It's ten o'clock, you really need to sleep. The-"

Donia came over to them and interrupted strictly: "Boys! Go to sleep!"

"Okay let's go..." Jack and Bilal hurried inside. Yousef followed them while climbing the white steps. But before he reached the entrance to the interior of the ship, he turned back. Badr was not behind him and sounds of angry waves had reached his ears.

Badr was right. There was a storm coming. But how violent could it get? Would this yacht be strong enough to resist the thunder?

All of a sudden, the deafening sound of thunder struck all of them with uttermost shock. The sailor was closing the doors and windows of the ship while hurrying himself inside.

"BADR!" Yousef shouted as he scanned the ship for Badr from above. He couldn't see him. The salty waves were starting to cover the yacht with water. At the same time, the strong wind was rocking the ship from side to side.

Mohamad appeared from the entrance. "COME ON! GO INSIDE! YOU'LL BE BLOWN BY THE WIN-"

A bolt of lightning loudly struck from nearby, causing a shallow hole to form close to Yousef. But he did not move.

"I won't go inside until I find BADR!" Yousef hollered then ran down the stairs. Mohamad hastily made sure that the rest of the group were all indoors. He quickly followed the reckless boy to ensure his safety.

Standing the other end of the ship was Badr. He was staring into the distance. There seemed to be an outline of something big.

Author's Note: Phew! That was such a long chapter. But it was very fun to write! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it! Thank you to all those who vote and comment!

As you can see Yasmin is very talkative and easily distracted. Malak is really indecisive and Noor is the shy one. Who do you like most from the girls?

What do you think the big thing in the end was?