Captured By Pirates

This chapter is about how Ben is awoken by an unexpected pirate and what that pirate does to help the king.

[Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Descendants 2, nor the dialogue used from the film. Some dialogue from the film has been included in order to maintain continuity with the events of the film. No copyright infringement or theft of intellectual property is intended.]

Chapter 6

The feeling of a cool, damp cloth on his lips woke King Ben. He slowly opened his eyes and saw an unfamiliar pirate dabbing at his face with a wet towel. There were traces of blood on it from washing his may cuts. The man gave a small nod of acknowledgement as the young man looked up at him.

"Lie still your majesty, I'm almost done cleaning your wounds," the elderly pirate said as he continued to wipe the king's face.

Ben was relieved that at least one pirate on this ship was showing him some kindness. Then the old man opened a small bottle and the smell of roses and honey filled the room. The man poured a small amount of viscous liquid onto another towel and began rubbing the liquid onto the cuts on his wrists, lips, and the many bruises that covered his body. It was only then that Ben realized that his arms and torso were bare. He looked down at his chest and gasped. It was covered in black and blue bruises and there were bright red lines zigzagging all along his arms and torso. The ropes had rubbed him raw even through his clothes and left these grisly burns.

"I know," the old man said pity in his voice, "It looks pretty bad. But don't worry. Uma is a master potioneer. The one that I'm using now will heal all these cuts and bruises by morning."

Ben tried to speak, but his throat was dry and cracked. The white haired man smiled and filled a cup with water, then brought the cup to his parched lips.

"Slowly," the old man advised.

Ben nodded and carefully sipped the water. Once he had had enough the young king was able to speak, although his voice was still rough. "Th...Thank you," he exhaled.

"Of course, your majesty," the man replied.

"May I ask you something?" curiosity getting the better of him.

"What would you like to know?" the old man said with a questioning look.

"Why are you calling me 'Your Majesty' and why are you tending to my wounds?" Ben asked.

The gentle old pirate smiled, "Well, in spite of being a pirate, I was raised to respect and show honor to royalty. After all, when I sailed with Captain James Hook we did all in the name of the queen."

Ben tried to back away from the man that had once served under the most notorious pirate to have ever sailed, but he didn't have the strength.

Seeing the alarm in the young man's eyes, the pirate smiled and said, "Don't worry, I was never bloodthirsty or cruel like many of those serving under the great Captain, in spite of being his loyal first mate for more than 40 years."

"Smee," the young man whispered in recognition.

"Yes, that's me, first mate Smee," said the old man with another smile, "But these days, I'm just another crewmember serving under Captain Uma. If it weren't for her first mate, Harry Hook, my old captain's son, I wouldn't even be here. But she gave me a place on her ship and I'm content, even if we never sail anywhere. Just to be on a ship again and bring in enough booty to take care of my family is enough for me." Smee turned his gaze back down to his young charge with tears in his eyes.

Ben looked up at this kindly old man and realized just how much hurt had been caused by his father's decision to banish everyone connected in any way to villains. Smee may have served under the evil Captain Hook, but clearly this man was no villain.

"I'm sorry," Ben said, "I wish that you had never been sent to this horrible place."

Smee shook his head, "Don't regret that, I don't. I was a villain all those years ago. And besides, I would never have met my wife if not for coming here. I have your father to thank for my wife and two sons. Life on the Isle isn't great, but at least I have my family here." Then Smee looked at the young man with a frown, "I'm sorry that you were ill-treated by the captain's men. I wish that what she's doing didn't involve the royal family. But at least she respects the crown enough to ensure that your injuries are treated. That's why I'm able to be here and look after you. She ordered it."

As they spoke the bruises, burns, and cuts slowly healed and faded from Ben's fair skin. He still felt pain coursing through his aching muscles and bruised ribs, but at least the red sores had all but disappeared and the bruises were beginning to fade to a pale yellow brown.

Smee saw that the potion was doing its job and that the young king would look himself before too long. "How do you feel?" he asked, "You're beginning to look much better."

Ben held up his arm and was surprised to see that almost all his wounds were healed. "Better I think," he said trying to sit up on his own. But this little bit of movement caused a sharp stab of pain in his ribs and abdomen. Wincing, the injured king fell back into the man's arms.

"It looks like your wounds are more than just skin deep," the old man observed.

"Yeah," Ben agreed through gritted teeth, "I think it's my ribs. Maybe a break."

The elderly man nodded. He picked up the potion bottle again and produced a small metal cup from his pocket. After pouring out a mouthful of the sweet smelling tonic, he raised it to the prisoner's lips. The king sipped at the cordial tentatively. He was surprised that it tasted just as good as it smelled. The thick, sweet elixir traveled down his throat and filled his whole body with warmth, Ben felt as though he had drunk liquid sunshine. The young king sighed with contentment as he finished drinking the potion and closed his eyes. He began to drift off to sleep, but before he was completely under, a thought filled his mind.

'I will find a way to repay this kindly old man. I will make sure that people like him no longer have to suffer on this island,' the king knew that this would be his mission if he made it out of here alive.

As the young man drifted into unconsciousness, Smee gently laid him back onto the straw, tears falling from his eyes. What was it about this young king that made people want to serve and protect him? Why was he so good, when his father had done so many bad things? Smee didn't know the answers to these questions, but he did know that this man would work to make things better for everyone, both in Auradon and the Isle of the Lost. And he hoped that Uma would spare his life.