Chapter 2: Big Fish
"Tinkerbell! Tinkerbell!"
Wendy sprinted into the ocean. The cold water soaked her gown as she splashed through the waves. But the white fish was already far from her reach. Spitting pixie dust from its gills, the white fish raced into the open sea…and into the jaws of a pirate ship.
The Jolly Rodger bobbed like an enormous lure, draped as it was with all manner of fishing line, rod, and net. Dinghies flocked port side and stern as the pirates lowered their baits into the water. Thus, a forest of hooks sunk into the path of the white fish that had swallowed Tinkerbell.
But the deadliest hook – the deadliest hook of all – stood silently aboard the ship. Caped in blood red, Captain James Hook waited. Patience never his virtue, the captain wasted the time fingering a small golden comb. The sapphires embedded into the comb reflected into the pirate's cerulean eyes, which were alerted on the ocean.
All pirates waited, chilled breaths sticking to the sails. The grey morning shifted through the sails, throwing Hook's shadow over the side of the ship. Almost in reaction, a current jackknifed to the surface. The pirates tensed, leaning forward and gripping their nets.
"Not yet." said Hook, without looking at his boatswain. Intimidated by the captain's unruffled composure, Mr. Smee stuffed half of his fingers into his mouth. The other fingers, Smee dug into his fat cheeks. "Not…yet."
The white fish raced against a stream of pixie dust. Faster and faster it careened toward the Jolly Rodger.
"Now." Hook whispered, "Cast off."
"Cast off!" cried Smee
The air blackened with tackle. The white fish jerked, slashed, and then disappeared.
"Reel in." said Hook, watching the ocean.
"Reel in!" Smee shrieked. "Reel in! Reel in!"
Sheer sounds ripped across the air as the pirates yanked at their lines. Wrestling with the weight of the sea, the pirates emptied nets and poles onto the deck.
Hook inspected the wheezing fish, swiftly turning the piles over with his boot. His expression did not change as he searched for the white fish, not even when Mullins dumped the last catch at the captain's feet.
There was no white fish.
"Blasted." Hook scanned the strewn of dark fish, soaking in every fin and gill. Still the white fish was nowhere to be seen. "Basted!"
Mullins quaked as Hook stabbed down his sword. The skewered fish ogled crazily at Mullins and the cowering crew.
"Cast off again you wretched scroggs!" growled Hook, flinging the dead fish at Mullins. "Cast until that bloody white fish is cau –"
"- Capn!"
Hook turned lethally on the pirate that had grabbed him. The pirate had secured the captain's amputated arm, leaving Hook a free hand to strike.
"Off me!" snarled Hook, throwing his first into the pirate's jaw. Without pause, the pirate Shark snapped up his savage head, glaring over the captain with oily, black eyes.
"Over the mast!" Shark pointed rapidly to the skies as Hook followed his gesture. "Capn! Flyin' or' the mast!"
The sun pushed through the cloudy morning. Silver rays sliced across the sails, glinting off the white fish as it soared over the Jolly Rodger.
Shark was the first to move. Hook was the first to speak.
"To the rigging!" barked Hook as Shark pounced into the ratlines. "Up boys! Catch that fish!"
The ship rocked as the fishing gear was dropped and the crew scampered up the ship's lines. Caught in the rush of pirates, Smee spun out of balance. Cursing, Hook stuffed powder into his flintlock. Disregarding the safety of his crew, Hook fired at the white fish.
The fish bucked. Pixie dust sprayed from its gills as it arched over the outstretched hands and waving cutlasses. Writhing against an invisible string, the fish lurched itself downward, struggling for the sea. Seeing these attempts, Hook sprinted to the edge of the ship.
"Starboard Smee!" yelled Hook, aiming his pistol over the bulwark as Smee ran in circles. "The blasted fish! Shoot it! I want that dratted pixie! Smee!"
Bullets peppered around the flopping fish as Hook made a final desperate sweep. But the white fish, fighting against the angry pixie inside its belly, crashed into the ocean with one final lurch.
"No!" Furiously, Hook seized the two nearest pirates and flung them into the sea. But it was useless: the white fish was gone.
"Oh captain!" Mr. Smee flapped his hands as Hook seethed over the bulwark. "Oh captain! The fish! The little miss pixie! You promised the seawitch – "
"I know, Smee!" hissed the captain, lifting his face to the north. And icy wind kicked spray against the hull, stinging Hook's eyes with salt.
"That traitor will be waiting for the blasted thing." murmured the captain, his hook grinding into the woodwork. Slowly, pirates were lowering from the rigging, cautiously watching the captain's back. "We have to beat him to the dratted pixie. And then to the seawitch. But how?"
"Tinkerbell! Tinkerbell!"
Concentrating, Hook shut his eyes to block out the small voice skimming over the ocean.
"Tinkerbell! Tinkerbell!"
Hook's brain writhed, calculating derivatives of his foiled plan. But how? How?
"Tinkerbell!"
"Capn."
Shark spoke with quiet urgency, neglecting this time to draw the captain with touch. Regardless, Hook's muscles' tensed as he turned to the pirate. But that captain's attention was distracted by the small voice breaking his concentration.
Lowering his hand, Hook followed Shark's gaze. There, dangerously far from shore, was a girl. Manically, Hook smiled.
Shark clicked silently into action, implementing Hook's plan before the captain uttered the command.
"Bring her to me."