John gulped at the word 'pirates'. "Are you talking about Moriarty?" he asked.
"Of course I am," Sherlock answered. "Who else would I be talking about?"
John shrugged. "So you've met him several times?"
"Only on a few special occasions. I cut off his hand the last time."
"Which one?"
"His right."
"But doesn't that mean that he won't be able to fight?"
Sherlock smirked. "Oh no, he's left handed. I had to keep some things fair. Normally he doesn't like to fight at all. He's got his men to do that for him. His first mate Seb Moran is particularly dangerous. He'll shoot anything without a warning."
"That's awful."
"Is it? Oh, that reminds me. I need you and your brothers to swear to something."
"What is it?" Greg asked.
"If we meet Moriarty, leave him to me."
"But what if-"
"No, John. He's the greatest criminal in existence, and I'm the only person who could stop him. Swear to it."
John sighed. "Fine. I swear."
"I do too," Mycroft added.
"I swear I won't," concluded Greg.
The sky began to darken around them, and Molly's light became more noticeable. She flew around the children in circles, making John smile.
"Why are you smiling?" Sherlock asked.
"It's just nice, that's all," said John.
"No, it's not nice. Molly's light could be seen by the pirates, and I've told you that Moran is a very good shot."
"Well, can't we just get rid of her?" asked Mycroft.
"No, she thinks that we're lost, and she's frightened. Why would I send Molly away if she's scared?"
"Tell her to put out her light then," Greg suggested.
"She can't just put out her light like that. It only happens when she's sleepy."
"Could she fall asleep now?" John asked.
"Molly's not sleepy, John. Do you fall asleep when you're wide awake? No."
"Why can't you put her in your coat pocket?" asked Mycroft.
Sherlock's face was unreadable. "Oh. I suppose I could do that. Molly?"
Molly shook her head. "She only wants to if somebody is holding my coat and not wearing it. That would work, though I won't be the one to hold it. I like my hands to be free. John, would you mind-"
"No, not at all," John said, taking Sherlock's coat. Molly stomped her foot in the air, but flew into the open pocket anyway. Inside, her light was completely hidden.
"Let's move on then," said Sherlock. "We'll have to be quiet as we fly back to camp, and then I'll introduce you to the Lost Boys."
Sherlock put a finger to his lips and the boys began to slowly descend to the island.
Captain James Moriarty was bored. The calmness of the sea was dreadful. He leaned back in his chair and kicked his feet up on his writing desk. Waiting for his plans to develop was so tediously boring, but when they finally enfolded, everything was so much fun.
"Sir?"
Moriarty turned and saw Seb Moran standing in his doorway. "Any news, Seb?"
"None at the moment, sir," Moran said as he took a seat on top of a barrel.
"So no word from our little informant," Moriarty said, taking an apple from a basket. "That's unfortunate, very unfortunate. Apple, Seb?"
"No thank you, sir."
"How about a story then?"Moriarty asked while he began to carve the fruit.
"A story, sir?"
"I never told you how I got this," he gestured towards the hook on his right arm. "It's not a secret exactly, it just gets boring if I tell it over and over again. Sherlock Holmes is the reason why I have this hook. He cut it off himself. He's awfully good with a sword, if I do say so myself. He's my equal. He knew what steps I was going to take, and I knew his responses. This time, he was one step ahead of me. Sherlock Holmes cut off my hand and fed it to a crocodile that was swimming by."
"I've wondered about your fear of the creatures."
"I don't dislike all crocodiles. Just that one. It wants the rest of me, Seb. Lucky for me, I can hear it. It had also swallowed a clock, and that clock ticks."
"The ticking might catch up to you, sir."
"No, it won't. The ticking clock isn't meant for me. Oh no, those ticks and tocks count down the time until I kill Sherlock Holmes. The time just isn't right yet."
"Well, to get your mind off of this, why don't we find the Lost Boys? I can introduce them to Johnny Remington."
Moriarty chuckled. "As amusing as it is that you've named your weapons, I don't think that would be very wise to try to find them tonight. The Homeless Network would be after us in a heartbeat."
"Just a suggestion, sir."
"I know, Seb. I just wish I wasn't so bored!" Moriarty threw the apple into the air. Moran reacted quickly and shot it. "Nice shot."
"Thank you, sir."
Moriarty put his head on his desk and sighed. Sherlock Holmes hadn't been seen in days, and without him as a distraction, he didn't have a constant source of amusement. As much as he hated him, Moriarty hoped that he hadn't died. He wanted to be the person to kill Sherlock Holmes.
Jeff Hope ran down the stairs. "Sir, Sherlock Holmes has been sighted!"
Moriarty lifted his head up. "Has he now?"
"Yes, sir!."
Moriarty ran up the steps and looked through his telescope on deck. Sherlock really was flying above him, and he was joined by three companions.
"Seb?" he said as Moran joined him.
"Yes, sir?"
"Take aim at Sherlock's little friends," he ordered. "Don't hit them right away. I want them to be afraid first."
Moran grinned. "Yes, sir."
The make-believe world of John, Mycroft, and Greg became real when the first shot was fired.
"What was that?" John yelled.
"They've found us," said Sherlock.
"What do we do now?" Greg asked.
A second shot answered him. The boys scattered apart in the night sky. Mycroft and Greg were left alone in the darkness.
"Are you alright?" Greg whispered.
"I'm fine," Mycroft said quietly, treading the air. "I see that you haven't been shot."
"No. Where are John and Sherlock?"
"I don't know."
The air had pushed Sherlock far back to the sea, while John was pushed high into the sky with only Molly to accompany her. All would have been well if Molly didn't hate John. She wasn't a bad fairy; fairies could only fit one emotion in their bodies at a time. Normally, she was a very good fairy, but tonight her mind was filled with jealousy. Molly wasn't used to sharing attention, and an idea to get rid of Sherlock's new favorite came to her. Molly flew out of the pocket and pointed down.
"Do you want me to follow you?" John asked softly.
Molly nodded and began to fly to the island, returning when John didn't follow. He called out for his brothers and Sherlock, but was only answered with echoes. "Alright, I'll come with you."
John flew with the fairy, completely oblivious that she intended to send him to his doom.