Europa

"Captain of the Celestial Pearl."

**Haley "Europa" Darukamu-Durand** is a space pirate from Earth. She is the captain of the esteemed galactic pirate ship, **Celestial Pearl**. An independent treasure hunter in search of stories and memories. Her greatest treasure is her own story and she wants to forge it in her own way. Europa believes her life story is the greatest treasure she holds and knows no one can take it from her, making it priceless and invaluable to anyone except her.

Europa loves sailing across the stars searching for stories and helping all walks of life. Her life is dedicated to making all stars shine brighter in the sky, from mending their shine to giving them a reason to glow. Many stars in the sky are markers for Europa and the Celestial Pearl's journey across the universe. Stars that glow brighter than the others are the stars that have been mended by Europa and her crew.

## History

###### **Early Life on Earth**

Europa's life on Earth was short. Born to a family that did not want her, in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she was put up for adoption at only 6 months old. A caring widow, named Amelie Durand, adopted Europa when she was 3. Amelie was a retired astronaut and wanted to have a daughter after her husband, Cory, passed away after a battle with cancer. It was Amelie that gave Europa her name. Her first name was "Haley," but later was given the name Europa as a nickname, later sticking to become her normal first name. She was given the nickname because she always drew the moon, Europa, in her spare time.

Europa lived with Amelie in their home on a beachfront somewhere in Norway, where she grew up to become an astronaut just like her adoptive mother.

When Europa was 22, her adoptive mother passed away and left her with a large inheritance. Europa decided to invest it all into a dream -- leaving Earth to spread her mother's ashes amongst the stars. Europa spent two years of her life creating and funding a vessel to take her and a crew into the stars, so the ashes could be released.

###### **To The Upper Atmosphere**

In the event of leaving Earth, something horrible happened. Her vessel rocketed out of Earth and accelerated across the solar system at an incredible speed, sending them into a completely new galaxy millions of lightyears from home. The vessel got catapulted across space into an Aether-esque realm outside of time and space, called the Starlit Lagoon, as read on the wooden sign in front of the large pool of water.

Europa and the crew exited the ship and explored the realm, before coming across a being called **Celestra**, who called herself the architect of all reality: *"She Who Tread the Starry Sky."* Celestra found Europa's story fascinating and granted Europa and her crew the ability to breathe in space. Europa was also given the power of **Omnilingualism**, so she could speak with all living things. When Europa asked why she was given such a power, Celestra told her it was because no soul in the universe was so pure of heart like her, and the impact she'd have on the universe would align the threads of fate for Celestra to mend in times of universal imbalance.

Europa still finds herself learning of powers she never knew she had - by the design of Celestra who wanted Europa to forever learn in her quest across the great mystery of existence.

###### The Celestial Pearl

The Celestial Pearl once belonged to a man named **Lato Rasputin** who was a space explorer like Europa but retired after a **Stoctopus** attacked and killed his crew when stuck in a field of sticky nebulae. Europa encountered Lato years after the incident, after she'd broken off with her Earth crew, and asked if he was using the Pearl. He said he would happily give it to her for free, only if she could assemble a crew and fix up its damages. Europa accepted the deal and quickly assembled a crew, called **The Pearly Panoply**, and fixed the ship up ready to take off into the stars. Lato told Europa to take good care of it.

###### The Pearly Panoply

The crew of the Celestial Pearl assembled like wildfire when Europa sent out a call. In the crew are various aliens, some interchanging with each stop, and new members coming onboard when the ship docks in a populated planet for rest. One of the oldest members on the crew, Francis, was on the original crew, with Lato Rasputin, and the **Lato Lost Ones** crew.

## Attributes

**Powers**

* **Omnilingualism:** Europa has the power to speak, understand and decipher any and all languages. She could hear Saturn cry out for help when it needed help after it lost its rings. And she also understood what a Space Octopus was angry about, when it came into her view with fiery red eyes.
* **Vacuum Adaptation:** Europa can adapt to the vacuum of space unaided, not needing to breathe oxygen to survive in it. She captains the Celestial Pearl into its many adventures not needing to breathe oxygen and can persevere through the toughest terrains of space.
* **Angelic Wings:** The Captain possesses the ability to manifest or generate two or multiple pairs of powerful wings on herself at will. It is a power she got from Celestra to show her soul as pure and potentially divine.

**Abilities**

* **Stellar Navigation**: Europa possesses an innate ability to navigate any expanse of the cosmos without the aid of instruments or maps.
* **Star Swordsmanship:** She wields a blade made of condensed stardust and has mastered its way, learning various techniques, stances and combinations from teachers across the wide universe.
* **Galactic Sailing:** Europa has extensive expertise in piloting various cosmic vessels. Her ship is equipped with advanced stealth and speed capabilities.
* **Starborne Agility:** In zero-gravity environments, Europa exhibits exceptional agility, allowing her to maneuver effortlessly during combat.
* **Commanding Presence:** Europa's leadership qualities shine in dire situations, rallying her crew and allies, inspiring loyalty, and orchestrating complex strategies.

**Weakness**

* **Temporal Distortion:** Prolonged exposure to time anomalies or black holes can disorient and weaken her.
* **Starlight Dependency:** Europa needs periodic exposure to starlight to recharge some of her abilities and keep her connected to the greater existence.
* **Homesick:** If Europa enters another realm or universe she will not have connection to her powers and will be reduced to a normal human with basic human weaknesses.

## Paraphernalia

**Weapons**

* **Europa's Smite:** The Smite is a sword, made up from condensed stardust, that Europa carries on the Celestial Pearl just in case violence is imminent. The sword cannot kill living beings, it can only temporarily change their emotions when in connection with it. If the being she swipes with it is angry and violent, it will render them calm and mild-mannered.

## Notes

* Europa's eyes sometimes change from blue to purple, depending on the illustrations.
* The Celestial Pearl follows Europa wherever she goes, no matter where she is.

## Trivia

* Europa was loosely based off an epilogue child in ProjectumPassions' story, "CONSTELLATION OF TWO HEARTS," on Wattpad.
* In the abovementioned story, Europa is called Europa Durand-Nakamura, and had two adoptive billionaire astrophysicist mothers, Kairi Nakamura & Amelie Durand.

## Appearances

1. Europa: The Star Pirate #1 - (Europa: The Star Pirate - Children's Book Series)