Days passed and Christina was restless. Playing tricks on the pirate crew was getting boring and tiresome. Currently, Christina was watching the waves as they rose and fell. This was her only indication that the ship was actually moving as she'd stopped feeling it after a few days at sea. She turned from the window with a sigh before seating herself at the small table. In the opposite corner of her room. She let her head drop but only for a moment. She couldn't afford to show weakness of any kind. She went back to her sewing as if it would keep her from going crazy. Needlework would do nothing for her besides, she hated it. She hated it as much as she hated being trapped aboard this floating prison. Still, she pressed her lips in a thin line and set to work. She worked until the world started to tilt. Throwing her head back in frustration she caught sight of Shaggy standing over her.

"How long have you been standing there?" Christina demanded.

"Long enough to know you despise sewing and being trapped in this room,"

"Go away,"

"Why would I do that, Princess?"

"Because I said to,"

"I don't answer to you," Shaggy smirked "Like come with me,"

"No,"

"I will have Duncan carry you,"

"Sure," Christina huffed.

Duncan did have to carry her and Christina wasn't having it.

"I don't like this," she curtly stated.

"This wouldn't be a problem if you'd went with me willingly," Shaggy responded.

Duncan set her down on her feet and pulled her to the side of the ship. Christina watched curiously as an island appeared out of nowhere. From her place on the ship, she could see the green slopes surrounding the volcano. They were in Mermaid territory. Did these pirates have a death wish? Christina expected the mermaids and other ocean dwellers to attack but they remained below the water's surface, calm and docile as if pirates hadn't just sailed into their home. The ship was able to dock without so much as a peep from the mermaids. Then an alarming thought crossed her mind.

The mermaids were working with the pirates.

Christina was so lost in thought that she hardly realized she was being led off the ship.

Someone was waiting for them on the dock, someone Christina knew: Sir Gil Webber. She also knew that he'd be no help to her.

"Pleasure to see you again, Captain. Princess Lagoona has sent me with news of nearby ship movements-"

Shaggy held up his hand to Silence Gil, indicating where Christina stood restrained by Duncan

"Like, Thank you. We'll discuss it up at the manor."

A gleaming white manor stood hidden behind a group of palm trees. This was where the pirates called home. Christina was silent as they led her inside and to a new room. She slid to the floor without a sound.

Why?

Why was this happening to her?

What did she do to deserve this?

Her entire kingdom trusted the sea dwellers who had promised to keep to themselves when in reality they were harboring pirates! The same pirates who kidnapped her no less.

Could this get any worse?

"Princess, you'll be dining with the captain tonight," Duncan informed her as he left.

Christina wanted to scream. However, screaming would get her nowhere so Christina swallowed that urge and went back to sewing. Several tiny stitches and frustrated sighs later the door opened. Christina looked up to see that it was the pirate girl again.

"I'm supposed to help you get ready for dinner, Princess," the pirate quietly informed her.

As much as Christina wanted to argue she was far too tired of it. It never helped anyway.

"Very well then," Christina sighed standing.

Within the hour Christina was once again presentable. Scrubbed clean and smelling of roses. Dressed in a simple gown the color of the ocean.

Let's get this over with Christina thought as Duncan and Drew escorted her down the hall to the dining room.

Shaggy was waiting when she entered the rather large dining space illuminated by candlelight. Drew and Duncan left the two alone closing the doors behind them. Christina thought it best to hold her tongue as she sat down at the table. After all, it would ensure a swift and painless meal. Shaggy, however, wanted to make conversation. Christina didn't see the point in this given he had Drew to answer these questions that he no doubt already knew the answer to but, Christina would do what was required to get this meal over with and if it meant answering questions and carrying a civil conversation with Shaggy so be it.

"Like, you're quieter than usual, Princess," Shaggy commented as their first course was served.

"I just don't see the point in arguing anymore," Christina responded evenly.

Christina ate quietly, keeping her focus on her food and answering the occasional question but she watched Shaggy carefully. He was a pirate and pirates were known for their trickery. Still, something just didn't add up. Although he was a pirate he ate with the manners of a gentleman. All her life Christina had heard terrible tales of pirates but the one before her was not like the brutal, evil pirates she'd heard of. Shaggy was the odd one out as it were.

As the first course was cleared away in perpetration for the second one something caught Christina's eye. There was a royal crest embroidered on the napkins. The quick sight of it ate at Christina. She had seen it before. She knew she had but where and what was it doing here? Christina knew nothing of pirates crazy enough to raid a ship that would carry royalty. Low ranking nobles maybe but not royals. Doing so would be suicide.

Christina decided to figure it out later.

…...


Radu was pacing the throne room. Where was he? Where was he already? The door to the throne room blew open with a great burst of wind. Radu turned and nearly fainted in relief at the sight of one Vincent Van Ghoul.

"You requested to see me, Your Highness?"

"Yes, can you tell me where Christina is? How do we find her? Is she hurt-"

"You shouldn't worry. I can assure you she's just fine,"

"How can you be certain?"

"Would you have summoned me otherwise?" Vincent countered.

"You're right. I'm just so worried about her-"

"You have every right to be worried. Trust me when I say that your daughter is fine. No harm will come to her,"

"But where is she?"

"I'm afraid I do not know,"

Radu sighed as one of the servants rushed in.

"Forgive the intrusion but your guests have arrived,"

"Send them in,"

…...


After dinner, Christina was taken back to her room. Once there, she prepared for bed. She laid down to sleep but her mind was racing. Spinning and twirling with so many questions. The questions refused to slow down, to stop they overtook her mind like a blizzard without an end. After a contentious hour of questions, the princess drifted off into a fitful sleep.

…...


The young princess was in awe of the splendid scene before her. Beautiful music filled the air wrapping itself around the ballroom in which the princess stood. Ladies dressed in their finest spun and twirled across the polished floors, their colorful gowns reminding the princess of a field of wildflowers. Her father was somewhere among the nobles dancing and chatting having a good time but the little princess perfected to watch.

It truly was beautiful.

...


When Christina woke the next morning she found a new dress waiting for her. This one as red as the roses in the palace gardens with gold embroidery. Where they had found such fine clothes was beyond her but who was she to complain at least she had clothes to wear. It was as she was brushing the tangles from her hair that Christina caught sight of something on the nightstand. Upon closer inspection, she found that it was a leather-bound sketchbook. There was a note tucked inside that read:

I know how much you hate sewing.

Drew.

Drew was trying to make amends she figured. He was right, she did despise sewing she never had the patience for it. Art, however, came naturally. Christina smiled sadly as she recalled her father telling her she'd inherited her gift from her mother. According to her father, she had inherited all of her best qualities from her mother. Christina rolled her eyes as that thought crossed her mind. She had never believed it, not for one second.

Mother wouldn't have let herself be captured by pirates Christina thought bitterly.

Christina was pulled from her thoughts by a knock at her door.

"Princess, the captain requested you join him for breakfast,"

Oh, joy.

…...


When he heard the news he knew he had to act quickly for the sake of the princess and her kingdom.

He would never be able to live with himself otherwise.


The end of the chapter has come upon you. My question to you is who are the mysterious guests and how will they impact the events of the story?