A Pirate's Life
Summary: Chrysta recruits Sofia and Cedric to go undercover as new members of a notorious magical pirate crew run by the wicked Captain Caegan. While aboard the ship The Barracuda, the friends must determine the captain's plans and figure out how to stop them; meanwhile, Cedric notices an interesting change in his partner while on their mission. (Sofia is 17. Artwork by MarionetteJ2X!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Sofia the First. The cover photo was created by the amazing artist MarionetteJ2X! 😊 I do, however, own the OCs, including but not limited to Captain Caegan, Muscles, Marty, Wiggles, Garnette, and Duchess.
A/N: Well, if you like angst on any level, I believe the next two chapters will be to your liking. 😉I have seen a few of you speculating on some things, and while I won't say whether you're on the right track or not, the ideas are certainly intriguing. :D Anyway! Off to the chapter!
Chapter 6: First Mate
Later on that morning, close to 11:30, the crew finally began rousing from their beds and shuffling out to start their day. The room was eventually empty, with two exceptions: Cedric and Sofia.
Sofia was fast asleep, her covers tugged up close and her head practically buried in her pillow. Cedric had evidently kicked off most of his blankets during the night, and he was lying with his head back against the pillow, one arm slung dramatically over his head.
A few minutes after the pirates had left, Sofia finally stirred and looked around, alarmed at the empty room. Thoughts began rushing through her mind, namely, 'If we don't get up there now, we might get in big trouble…' With that concept nagging at her, she pushed her covers back and slid down to the floor via the ladder. She sighed in dismay as she noticed that, while sleeping, a number of tangles had ensnarled themselves in her hair. "Ugh, 'pirate' or not, this is not gonna work for me. Sorry, Mr. Cedric." She whipped out her wand and magically fixed her hair, detangling it and smiling as it twisted up into her familiar ponytail. "That's better."
She sheathed the wand before leaning down, whispering into Cedric's ear, "Rise and shine, sleepy sorcerer!"
Cedric, startled by the sudden sound, yelped and reacted rather animatedly. In fact, he'd slung his arms and legs every which way, and he ultimately ended up tangled and trapped in his own hammock. "Argh…"
Sofia smirked. "Well, look who's finally talking like a pirate!"
"Sofia! Get me out of this!"
"See, I would, but apparently I'm not allowed to use magic, so…" She grinned as he glowered at her.
"Ha-ha, you're so funny. No one's even around, so just help me out already."
"What's the magic word?" she teased. Oh, this was too easy.
Cedric frowned. "Now?"
Sofia raised an eyebrow at him, putting a hand on her hip.
He sighed, sulking. "Please."
She smiled sweetly. "That's better." She pulled out her wand and used it to release Cedric from his confines. She gasped when he fell on the floor after he was freed, though. "Oops."
"You know, the old Sofia would have said something like, 'Oh, Mr. Cedric! I'm so sorry! Let me help you up!'" He grumbled as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
Sofia laughed. "Yeah, well, the new Sofia says, 'I helped you up plenty of times. Maybe now, you can do it yourself.'" Even still, she relented with a grin and pulled him to his feet. She then frowned contemplatively, folding her arms.
"What is it?" he asked, a bit concerned by her sudden change in demeanor.
"It's not fair." She slid her hand from the top of her head to his shoulder. "I'm still the shortest in my family. I feel like I've hit a growth block or something. Why do you guys all have to be so much taller than me? Are there any get-taller spells?"
Cedric chuckled and grasped her hand, patting it with his free one. "Sofia, you're perfectly fine the way you are. Besides, it's best not to mess with heredities. Bad things could happen. Just be happy being you."
"Thank you, Mr. Feel-Good-Saying-of-the-Century." She giggled and reached over, hugging him.
He was a bit surprised but returned her hug, nonetheless. "What's this for?"
"No reason… I just haven't hugged you in a few days, and I figured you were going through hugging withdrawals." She smiled sweetly up at him, seeing him shake his head in amusement.
"Well, thank you, Sofia. It's much appreciated, even though you did drop me on the floor with that spell."
She scoffed and released him, walking to the door. "Fine, free yourself from your own hammock next time." She grinned playfully at him before disappearing up the stairs.
"Merlin help me," he murmured with a heavy sigh and bemused smile before following after her.
Once everyone was situated on the top deck and munching on some bread and fruit, Captain Caegan called their attention.
"Listen here, ye flea-bitten potato peelers!"
"These insults are just getting better and better," Sofia whispered to Cedric, who nearly choked on his bread in mild laughter.
"I've got an important announcement to make!" He gestured emphatically toward Sofia, who blinked in confusion. "As ye lot know, I've been searchin' high and low for a suitable aid. Someone to be my right hand and my main partner in crime." He reached down and grasped Sofia's arm, pulling her up beside him.
Cedric put the rest of his food aside and placed one hand over his dagger case, prepared to use force against the older man if necessary.
"Our wicked little sea urchin here, Ruthless Raelyn as she calls herself, has so graciously accepted the role of bein' my first mate, as of the wee hours of this mornin'."
The crew cheered in excitement, though that stopped soon enough when the Enchancian Royal Sorcerer jumped to his feet, an angry look on his face.
"No, I forbid it," Cedric snapped, causing a few gasps to erupt from the others, even the quartet with whom he and Sofia had become acquainted. "She's far too young to be a first mate, and I won't see her putting herself in danger for the likes of you."
Captain Caegan merely smirked and snapped once, chuckling as a few pirates grabbed his arms, and another placed him in shackles. He released Sofia and walked up to the sorcerer, grabbing his tunic and pulling him forward, where he was situated right in front of his face. "I don't think you're in any position to be tellin' me how to run my ship, you bag of bones. I suggest you keep your trap shut, or else you'll find yourself swimmin' with the fishes. Savvy?" He looked toward the other pirates. "Lock him up in the brig for the rest of the trip. I won't be havin' any mutiny on my ship."
"No!" Sofia called, rushing forward and finding herself halted by a few other pirates. "Let him go, please!"
"Please?" The pirate captain cackled as he turned to the princess, while the others carried Cedric below the ship to the brig. "My, what a polite and proper young pirate ye are. Somethin' different about her, ain't there, boys?"
"She's a bloomin' lot prettier than most of the other sea witches that come aboard, captain," one random pirate called out.
Sofia clenched her fists by her side. "I'll show you a sea witch," she muttered threateningly under her breath before sighing inwardly. She knew she had to stick to the plan, as both Chrysta and the captain would say. While she was worried about Cedric, she still had a job to do, and it had waited long enough. If she could get closer to the captain, then maybe she could unveil some more secrets about his plans, and then she could pass along that information to Chrysta and the other Protectors. "Captain Caegan, I… I'm here to serve as your first mate. Just tell me what to do." Those words felt like chains wrapping around her, and she seethed inwardly as he smirked at her.
"That's more like it." He grabbed her wrist and dragged her off toward his chambers. "Come along."
"I reckon Raelyn is in over her head," Muscles yawned, stretching out against the deck. "Too bad. I liked the kid."
Garnette glared at her friend before tossing some of her drink at him, smirking as he sputtered. "She's a tough girl. She can handle commands from the captain."
"I sure hope so," Marty sighed as he scratched Duchess's head. "Because considering what happened to Horatio, I'm sure it's gotta be tough, having that dynamic duo split up."
Wiggles nodded. "He had a point though. She is kinda young to be a first mate."
Garnette frowned. "You know how it is, guys. Captain's rules." She glanced back to where Sofia had disappeared. "Maybe she'll surprise us. Who knows?"
Sofia grunted as Captain Caegan released her onto a chair while he withdrew a pendant from under his tunic, his fingers caressing over the ruby stone inlayed in the silver setting.
"All right, my first mate," he chuckled, waving one hand and creating a visual illusion before her. "As my right hand, you are now privy to some rather important information. And you mustn't tell a single soul about it, or else I'll maroon all of ya, or worse. Savvy?" Seeing her nod silently, he smirked. "I've got a plan to see my goals through. Using Maedan's Magic, I'll not only conquer my desired areas, but I'll also use mind control to keep those scallywags under constant command."
Her eyes widened.
"And I won't be givin' them any magic either, the fools." He laughed. "But, lassie, you can have all the magic your precious little heart desires."
"No!" She winced a bit as he blinked at her.
"NO?"
"I… I mean…" She had to think fast. Turning down something like that was unheard of for a pirate. The opportunity to have powers? For someone without them already, that would have been life-changing. "I mean… It's far more important for our captain to have all the power, wouldn't you say?"
He frowned curiously.
"I'm just a first mate. But you, Captain Caegan, are the ruler here: the embodiment of this ship. You deserve the power, not me."
The man grinned in satisfaction. "Jumpin' jackrabbits, you're right, first mate. Why, I alone will conquer these Seventeen Seas and keelhaul the lot of any who try to oppose me in any way." He shoved his pendant back in his tunic and rubbed his hands together. "And when I succeed, I'll be the most powerful captain in every realm!"
"Yay!" she cheered somewhat enthusiastically, trying to keep the man in good spirits long enough to talk her way out of the chamber. As it turned out, though, she didn't have to.
"Ye may go, lassie. Be within shoutin' distance in the next hour or so."
"Um, sure. I mean, yes, sir!" With that, she turned and hurried out of the room, her destination quite clear in her mind: Cedric.
Captain Caegan chuckled darkly. "Ruthless, indeed. Ruthless as a helpless babe screamin' for its mother. Ruthless as a leaf fallin' against the ground. Bah!" He clutched his pendant again through his tunic. "This will be easier than I thought…"
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Out of Context