Hook had grumbled the whole way to the longboat and continued to do so once the pirates had begun rowing after their ship. There were no more setbacks from the traps and the water was calm enough after the storm that the pirates had an easy time making their way around Cannibal Cove. Despite his insistence that the crew kept going, Hook knew that he had to retain command of his crew if he allowed them the luxury of rest.
"So glad that you decided to allow the crew some rest, Captain," said Smee as he sat down in the shadow of a palm tree. The rest of the crew likewise rested their tired forms on the string of palm trees that had risen up in the center of the crescent that nearly looped around the cove. The only entrance into the lagoon was a strait that linked it to the deeper waters that surrounded the island.
"Well, Smee, as a good captain, I do try to provide my crew with they need," said Hook in a lighthearted tone.
"Yes, captain, you do," agreed Smee, his body relaxing in the shade.
"As a matter of fact, I think I'll provide our best rum to crew once we reach the ship," continued the captain, his hook rubbing under his chin thoughtfully.
"That'll be a very good, captain," said Smee sleepily, his lips smacking at the thought of tasting the rum.
"But alas, I don't think I can with the Jolly Roger gone," he said sadly and quickly added. "Possibly forever."
"Mmmmm…wait," Smee's eyes opened up wide underneath his spectacles. "Captain, we must stop them from leaving with the ship…and the rum!"
"Then rouse the crew, Smee," commanded the buccaneer. "Let's go after our ship."
"Aye, aye, captain!" saluted Smee, and within a few minutes the longboat was back on the water. Hook stood impressively on the prow, a thin smile playing on his face.
Pirates are such idjits.
It was sunset when the pirates finally spotted the ship in the distance and it was well into the evening before they could get close enough to see that it was at Skull Rock. There were no lights on deck and the full moon above them along with the stars was their only source of light. At first Hook was confused that they seemed to be rowing closer but then he realized the ship was at anchor.
"It seems abandoned, Captain," said Smee, not realizing that he had spoken a little too loudly.
"Smee," Hook faced him, his eyes flashing with intensity, and he whispered. "Whisper."
"Yes, Captain," Smee whispered back. He glanced back at the boat. "It seems abandoned."
"That is my thought too-" Hook stopped abruptly, his eyes widening in comprehension.
At that moment, a bright light shined above them and the sound of a motor could be heard. Looking up they could see the Genie dressed in a military uniform in a helicopter that had floodlights underneath.
"Do not make any sudden moves," shouted a Genie with a megaphone. "Or your ship will sink."
Suddenly, lanterns were alit all across the deck. He could see the children as well as the Seven Dwarfs, Aladdin, and the company that had come to Neverland and had continuously up to this moment been staying out of his reach. Now that they were clearly seen he recognized them as the prisoners of Jafar. However, the figure dressed in blue still eluded his memory.
Rumpelstiltskin shouted out from the ship, "Ahoy, Captain. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Hook sneered. "I've come to take back me ship you yellow-bellied rat!"
"Oh! Such language, Captain," answered Rumpelstiltskin in a mocking tone. "There are children present." He waved at Wendy, John, and Michael. "Shame on you. Also my name isn't 'yellow-bellied rat.' I'm Rumpelstiltskin, slayer of sorcerers, rider of vases, liberator of prisons, and now swindler of ships."
Furious, Hook unsheathed his sword and ordered the men to row. Rumpelstiltskin had Jasmine usher the children down to the hold, while the rest of the dwarves prepared themselves by picking up anything that could be used as a weapon. Glancing out, he could see that the Genie still kept the floodlights on the small craft, and spraying the water with bullets. He smiled. The plan was working perfectly.
Captain Hook could see that the Seven Dwarves were armed. His sneer curled into a smile. The dwarves had picked up shovels, paddles, sticks, and mops. Not a single one was holding a knife, cutlass, or other pirate weapons.
"Row, you blundering imbeciles, row!" he ordered.
Suddenly, from the sides of the hull the portholes were opened, and out from them the children dumped buckets of a dark substance into the water. Each of the children was wearing handkerchiefs to cover the lower halves of their faces.
"I must admit, Captain Hook," shouted Rumpelstiltskin from the deck. "You've got quite the collection of chum and fish bait. Though I've never heard of any sharks in these waters. But I did hear about other predators." He held a hand to his ear to listen.
Hook gasped with understanding at what had just occurred. And right on cue he could hear the ticking sounds coming over the water. Rumpelstiltskin shouted for everyone to get underway, and Genie returned, unfurling the sails from the yardarms as he went. Tinkerbell immediately went to work, spreading pixie dust all over the ship. Soon it started to slowly rise from the waters as it made its way past Skull Rock.
Meanwhile, the pirate crew was rowing as fast as they could, the boat almost bouncing across the water by their effort. Behind them were the massive shapes of the crocodile and giant octopus, their aquatic natures granting them rapid movement. Hook, who at first stood on the prow, was now at the stern due to the pirates' efforts resulting him losing his balance and tumbling back. His hand and hook gripping each side of the boat, legs hanging over the edge, bouncing with each skip that the boat did on the waves.
"SMEE! SMEE! SMEE! SMEE! SMEE!" he shouted at the top of his lungs with each landing.
They had managed to reach Skull Rock, the boat flying into the mouth, but once it had entered into the cave it shattered on the rocks. Pirates quickly scrambled to get out of the water, and Smee raced to the gate. With some effort it managed to fall down, imprisoning the pirates inside.
"There, there, Captain," said Smee, wiping his hands. "We are now safe from those two."
Looking around there was no sign of the fearsome pirate.
"Captain?"
As the Jolly Roger rose higher and higher, everyone was on deck, cheering that they were finally leaving Neverland. No one noticed the figure that jumped out of one of Skull's eyes, and managed to cling to the hull before climbing through one of the portholes.
