Disclaimer: I own nothing. Written for my own enjoyment.
The cool night's breeze was greatly appreciated after the blistering heat the day had provided. The ship was docked at the Isle of the Lost, an island familiar to many as the home of some of the world's most ruthless characters. It wasn't much in terms of aesthetics, covered in filth and questionable wears, but the crew of The Lost Revenge were in need of provisions and it was the nearest port. Though provisions weren't the only things they sought from the Isle.
"Sir," a snivy hooked nose man called, pulling the young man's attention from the provisions list.
Harry Hook turned with a sneer, blue eyes narrowing, "ye best have a good reason for disturbing me."
The man took a step back, the first mate's gaze enough to make a grown man shake in his damn boots, "the Captain, sir. She's returned with Gil and...and…"
Harry didn't like him finish. A grin appeared on the young man's face, as he hurried past. Harry pressed the list of provisions list into the snivy man's hands. "Make sure we got everything," his tone promising nothing but harm should the man fail him.
The crew scurried out of his path as he rushed passed, the wicked gleam in his eyes worrying the others. Harry hurried down to the hold, excitement bubbling within him. Uma and Gil returning meant great things. The pair no doubt having found one of the treasures they seeked from the Isle, a companion for their guest occupying the hold.
"She's feisty!" Harry heard as he took the old wooden stairs two at a time.
"Just get her in the cell, Gil," Uma's irritated voice ordered.
"Let me go! I'll fry you alive!" A new voice angrily spat.
Feisty indeed. Harry arrived in time to to see Gil push a young woman into an unoccupied cell. She stumbled forward from the mistreatment, trying to balance herself despite the shackles on her hands.
"Beautiful, isn't she?" Uma asked, having sensed his presence.
"Aye," he stopped in front of the cell to get a better look at her. Dark purple hair framed a pretty little face as a pair of glowing green eyes narrowed dangerously, her chest rose and fell harshly in her anger. "Such a magnificent creature."
"Pirates," she spat, had he been any other person he might have feared the venom in her voice.
Harry giggled wickedly, "dragon. Ye may try all ye like but yer powers are no use aboard this ship."
The dragon froze, eyes still aglow. He grinned as the realization dawned on her. "What did? What did you do to me?" Shackled hands came up, clenching tightly at the bars that separated them.
Uma chuckled beside him, "you see that little collar around your neck," she tapped a finger against her own neck for emphasis, "it's enchanted. Made especially for you."
The dragon reached for the collar, she pulled and pulled but it won't come free. All she received was a burning pain at the back of her neck.
A taunting grin played on Uma's lips as the dragon sneered at them. "You can try all you'd like but you won't be able to break it. You can forget about escaping. You can't transform here, not while you're wearing that. Just like our little genie friend here. Gil."
Gil let out a delighted laugh. The dirty blonde pirate reached for a loose piece of wood, whacking against the cell opposite their dragon prisoner. The dragon flinched at the sound it made, but no one moved from within the other cell. Gil frowned at the lack of response.
"Asleep I'd bet," Uma stated with a shrugged. "Oh well, he'll keep you company as we continue our little adventure. It won't be too long until we bring you to your new home."
His captain laughed, smacking her hand against the cell for good measure before leaving the hold. Gil trailing not far behind. Those fierce glowing eyes turned to him, a challenging smirk appearing on the dragon's lips.
"Shouldn't you trail after your master, sea dog?"
"Woof," he snapped his teeth at her, a taunting smile of his own on his lips, "you don't scare me, lass. You'll certainly fetch us some precious coin for that pretty little head of yours."
She head bowed low as she growled at him, her pale hands turning a stark white from the death grip on the bars. Harry laughed at her attempt to intimidate him. He followed after Uma and Gil, but not before tossing a wink over his shoulder as he disappeared.
The glow didn't leave her eyes until the red clad pirate vanished up the stairs. The young woman sighed in relief, sagging against the metal bars containing her. She's still at a lost as to how she'd let herself be captured by the blue-haired captain and her muscle-head of a goon. The last thing she remembered was returning to her nest after an evening flight and reverting to her human form before something hard hit her. She growled, disappointed in herself for letting humans get the better of her.
A groan from the cell across the way drew her from those thoughts, "hey! Are you alright?"
"I'd be better if I wasn't trapped on this damn ship."
She recognized the voice and while she wanted nothing more than to be happy to have a friend, the fact that he, of all creatures, had been captured put a damper to any sort of reunion.
"Jay," she whispered enough for him to hear but no one else should the pirates be hovering above, "how long of you been here?"
The young man came into view. She sighed in relief when he appeared to be unharmed. He looked the same as always, clad in a red and blue leather vest and pants. His long hair covered by a red beanie and he still wore his fingerless black gloves. His hands weren't shackled like hers, instead wearing what looked to be a pair of gold bracelets. The dragon couldn't help the gasp that escaped her at the implication.
Before she could question him again, Jay shrugged leaning against the bars with his forearm, "a few days now. You know of all of us, I didn't expect you to be captured after they got me."
She huffed in response. They only caught her because they had gotten lucky. Dull green eyes stared down at the shackled wrists. She tried to concentrate, to conjure up the fire within, but nothing came. She felt lost, trapped within her human skin without the free will to return to her dragon form.
"It won't work, Mal," Jay's angry whisper drew her attention once more. His head rested against his forearm, dark eyes glaring at the wooden floor. "They may look dimwitted but these pirates, they did their homework." He held his free hand up, the golden bracelet twinkling ever so slightly in the poorly lit hold. "It's enchanted. I can't just smoke my way out of here. I can't do anything."
Mal's heart broke for her friend, she wanted to reassure him they'd be fine. They just needed a way to escape, but without their powers or full strength that would be difficult.
"Jay, do you know what they want with us?"
The young genie laughed, "I don't know everything but Gil does get chatty when he's on food duty. Apparently, we're being hunting. They're looking for a few of us to sell to their buyer. I have no idea who it is. He never mentions who the buyer is, but they know where to find us. They caught me just as I was returning to Agrabah and now that they caught you, the dragon who protects the Isle of the Lost. It's only a matter of time before they get the others. They're still looking for the beast and fae living in Enchanted Forest in Auradon. The werewolf of the Forbidden Forest and the lost mermaid of the Sea of Goodness."
Mal cursed under her breathe, banging the shackles against the bars in anger, "they're looking for us specifically. We can't let them get the others."
"Easier said than done," Jay muttered under his breath. He turned away from her, making his way to the corner he had previously occupied. She watched with sad eyes has he slumped against the wall, slowly sliding to the floor.
He was losing hope and without his powers, she couldn't really blame him. She wasn't going to let them win. She'll get Jay's spirits back on track and together, they'll get out of this and protect their friends. They had to.
Final Notes: It's been a while since I've posted anything on here. I'm mainly on AO3 now, but I figured why not. So I may slowly bring over some of my other AO3 stories as well. This is a Mermaid!Hevie AU I have been considering for a long time on tumblr. Should be fun. Hope you enjoyed it!