CH.2: Rescue can be a past pain
"I need to save Peter!" Amber raced for the rail but Izzy dive tackled her to the deck as canon fire roared over them.
"You won't be saving anyone if you don't have a head." Izzy took a breath to quell the uneasy feeling in her knees. If she had been a second late Amber would be dead. She imagined if word of this made its way to Enchancia the two would be at war with one another.
"Crackers that was close," Skully noted as he managed to sit himself up.
"Izzy…what do we do now? They have us outgunned and they have a hostage…who happens to be Peter Pan!" Cubby held himself just thinking of the things Peter was going through.
"Everyone relax…just give me some space to think." Izzy walked away as she looked out at the great Neversea. She had sailed upon it many times while aboard Bucky…there just had to be a way to turn the tide.
"You ok Amber?" Cubby held out his hand but she seemed unreceptive of it.
"She didn't have to save me," Amber said, her voice so quiet Cubby had to get on his knees just to hear.
"It isn't in Izzy's nature to let a friend die or for that matter give up on them when they have given up on themselves." Cubby saw her incredulous look but he seemed quite set on his words.
"I had no plans of dying…if that is what it looked like…you don't have to worry. I intend on saving Peter…and living for the both of us is just what I intend to do." Picking herself up she brushed her dress off, knowing this ship was quite messy.
"Of course…the Nevermist!" Izzy turned around suddenly scaring her friends. "We will lose them in the mist and then board her amidst all the confusion. If we can't take them by teeth…let us take them by brains and wit."
"Huh…that actually sounds like it just might work. I think Izzy and the Neverland Pirates sounds like a good title, don't you?" Amber smiled playfully.
"We're heading into the mist…close your eyes and don't open them till I tell you." Izzy took to the wheel and guided the Jolly Roger into the mist. Her small assembled crew closed their eyes and she hoped that enemy didn't know about this.
Coasting into the mist a held silence fell over the crew and for minutes nothing was said. The other ship could be heard and the confusion amidst its crew sent fear about. Izzy spun the wheel choosing that time to sneak up alongside it. Her eyes were determined as she leaped to the deck and dropped anchor.
"Alright…open your eyes. Cubby grab some rope, Skully…stay here and rest up. Amber-."
"Just give an order Captain…I'm in control now." Amber knew she had to keep a level head if she wanted to see Peter again.
"Alright…grab a weapon and some rope as well. Our plan is to avoid as much fighting as possible to ensure no casualties." Izzy climbed onto the rail and taking a breath she leaped aboard.
The crew was made up of bearded men, many of whom looked like they could be grandfathers. Still, they were quite muscular and armed to the teeth. This was no rookie crew…they looked like they had been in the pirate business for some while. Nodding her head to Cubby she watched as he set off with the rope.
"Sorry about this," Cubby said as he began to wrap rope around the man.
"Huh…who goes there?" The man felt his body constricted and with a grunt he hit the deck, unable to reach his weapon.
"Amber…find Peter," Izzy ordered. Making her way in the mist she helped out Cubby ensuring the pirates were put down…quietly. Each thud alerted the pirate next to them that something other than them was making mischief on the ship.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Amber hurried off and went to the nearest door. Throwing it open she advanced cautiously, her hand clutching the sword Izzy had chosen for her. It was a short sword but looked quite menacing in her hands.
"I can't believe the Captain had us watch over this green capped blunder," the pirate nearest to the cell said. He was quite large and his beard went down his neck making him look quite…unkept.
"Captain made it quite clear he was to be used as bait when those brats refuse to surrender," the other pirate noted, his face was actually clean shaven except for some stubble.
"Hey…let him out this instance!" Amber stepped out from the shadows and caught the two by surprise.
"Look miss…this is no place for you, so, let us drop that dangerous weapon before you cut yourself." The pirate advanced placing his hand on the hilt of his weapon.
"I'm not some frail girl you can frighten into sterotype," Amber raced forward and as she floated about she sliced at his pants dropping them to the deck.
"Yow…who taught you how to fight?" The pirate struggled to pull up his pants but she had already moved past him and onto the next pirate.
"I hope you are more of a challenge then your friend," Amber kept her sword at midlevel and looked down the silver glint of the tip.
"I won't hold back just cause you're a girl." The pirate lunged and Amber swatted it away. The two dueled and as steel met steel Amber found her step faltering. She had only played pirate with James and Sofia once, and she had broken a nail and ruined one of her dresses. She was not a fighter; in fact she was too focused on the other aspects of a Princess to ever get dirty.
"This is not good…can't you just let him go?" Amber parried his blows and noticing a glint on the floor she realized the pirate without pants had the keys.
"The moment you stepped out of those shadows…was the moment you put yourself in no advantage girly." The pirate smiled revealing his dirty teeth and sharp blue eyes.
"Don't count me out just yet!" Amber drew in close for a deadlock, her eyes looking up at him with a glint of mischief.
"What is you plan to do exactly? You going to offer yourself to me, perhaps attempt at a trade of some sort-?"
"Ew gross…you're like old and those teeth need some major cleaning," Amber brought her leg up and kicked him right in the place where pain met…pain.
"Oohh…you didn't have to do that…" Sinking to his knees he saw her pull her hand back and soon he was flat out on the deck knocked out.
"Now…who is next?" Amber saw the pirate drop his pants and with a turn he charged at her. Amber dove under him and scooped up the keys. Seeing the confusion on his face she jingled the keys.
"Clever girl…but I won't let you release the prisoner!" The pirate charged again and found the girl quite wily, her maneuver shooting right pass him and the keys made their way into the lock.
"Oops…I'm sorry, what was that you said again?" Amber pushed the door open and as the pirate made at her a figure appeared and two feet struck him in the chest sending him into the wall and with a thud he was out cold.
"Amber…you should be more careful…" Peter picked himself up and looked her over.
"Look who is talking, the great Peter Pan caught by Pirates, what will your crew think?" Amber teased him and smiled as he ran a hand behind his head.
"Ok, you got me, where is everyone else?" Peter took a step forward but his step fell short and as he fell forward he found himself in her arms.
"Take it easy…all in good time. You went through quite an ordeal Peter…let me take care of you." Looking him over she could tell he was bruised and fresh blood trailed from his lip. His shirt was cut up, likely in tatters and he could barely stand.
"You're the best Amber…thanks," Peter leaned on her for support as they climbed up. Once on the upper deck he noted most of the crew was tied up…well…all except the lead pirate.
"Your crew is out of commission Captain; I suggest you lay down your weapon and make this easy on yourself." Izzy held her weapon out not intending on backing down.
"You're a little young to be Captain of a ship lass, if any should be backing down it is you. Where is the real Captain of the Jolly Roger?"
The Captain stood tall with a white beard on his face and beady black eyes. His hair was snowy white and his firm grip on his sword betrayed his actual age. His jacket was filled with holes and his shirt looked like it needed a proper cleaning. His voice was gravel laced and his arms were quite hairy.
"So you knew I wasn't the real Captain, what gave me away?" Izzy noticed Amber with Peter and wore a relieved smile. The rescue was a success…and not one casualty.
"James would never pull a maneuver like you did," the Captain wore a smug grin at this.
"James…that is Hook's first name?" Cubby asked, his voice hardly keeping the incredulousness out of it.
"Oh, so you didn't know? Yes, James is his first name and his middle name is Gerald. James and I once served under the same Captain, long ago when he was a studious lad. Oh James was quite the brilliant lad, always eager to learn from the Captain and even took lessons from me on how the ship ran or how to turn the tables on a deadlock."
"So…what changed?" Izzy asked.
The Captain grew quiet and sheathed his weapon. "James received word of his father's death, it tore him up good. James idolized his father, if anything he came a little above the Captain himself. James wanted to seek revenge, but the Captain advised against it, said that revenge warped an individual's soul and marked them forever on a path not many could come away from unchanged."
"So, had Hook not left," Izzy looked at the Captain, "would that mean he'd be a-?"
"Yes, James would've made a fine Pirate, an honorable one which I haven't seen much in my service…till now. I tried to stop him; of course James by then had grown into a fine young man so his sword repertoire matched even my own. The only crew member who went with him was the ship's chef, a man called Smee. James did get his revenge and claimed the man's ship too, the Jolly Roger. I even hear he got some musicians too."
"Why are you searching for Hook?" Izzy asked after hearing the tale. It was rather hard to believe Hook ever being kind and studious, but this man would not lie.
"My employer wishes to team up with him. If he is not on his own ship, I imagine he bailed, which can only mean he will be heading to skull rock. I will admit defeat; you don't need to worry about me following you."
"Izzy I don't trust him," Peter said, looking at the man like he was just another codfish.
"Peter…let us head out, this man's intentions are good." Izzy didn't say another word as she turned and headed out. Once back on the Jolly Roger she smiled as she went to take the wheel.
"Why are you smiling Izzy?" Cubby joined her while Amber led Peter below deck.
"I'm going to change Hook," she kept the smile as she knew that she had a shot to remind Hook who he once was.
Authors note: Hook's history has been revealed, albeit no flash back to help it along. This is my interpretation of it, though I imagine everyone has their own. Next chapter we head to Skull Rock, perhaps we will find Jake and Sofia there. See you there.