A direct continuation of the previous chapter, only with a different perspective; Filipi's instead of Wolfgang's ;) And yes, Filipi, aka Fili, is a girl.

"Where did he go?"

Filipi looked up briefly, following Wolfgang's gaze to the pirates' table.

"His men are still here", she said. "He'll come back, don't worry."

Wolfgang did not look convinced, but in that moment the young woman they had ordered from earlier approached their table.

"Last order for tonight, Sir", she said, batting her eyelashes at Wolfgang in an overly suggestive manner. Wolfgang opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish, unable to form a coherent sentence as a response.

"Sorry, girl, not this time around", Filipi said, coming to his rescue. "We're not here for that kind of entertainment."

The girl gave her another glare, probably thinking that Filipi was after Wolfgang herself. Filipi fought back an amused smile; if she only knew.

"It's not poison", she then pointed out when Wolfgang suspiciously eyed his tankard. To prove it she downed a mouthful of her own drink. The dark mead was sweet and bitter at the same time, probably spiced with various forest berries. It might not be the best drink to serve someone who had never had alcohol before, but she doubted they would be able to get anything else at a good price in this place.

Wolfgang tentatively grabbed the handle of his tankard and sniffed the beverage.

"Remember where you are", Filipi pointed out once again. At that he took a deep breath and raised the tankard to his lips, downing a mouthful. His face then twisted in a grimace and he coughed at the taste.

"That's terrible", he hissed.

"Believe me; you could have had worse", Filipi responded with a shrug. She held her tankard in her right hand while looking around the tavern, eyeing its guests with as much suspicion as they eyed her. At least their clothes were not branded with any royal mark, she reflected, but they were still strangers and strangers were not welcomed with open arms in towns like these. In the corner of her eye she saw Wolfgang take another sip of his mead and fighting back another grimace.

"Better?" she asked when he downed a third.

"A bit", he muttered. She noticed that he was already starting to show signs of being affected by the drink and suspiciously eyed her own tankard; apparently the mead was stronger than she had anticipated.

His mood darkened while he continued to drink and by the time he had finished the tankard even Filipi did not dare to engage him in a conversation. As the tavern had closed its business for the night many of the others in the room had started to leave and Filipi saw that two of the pirates from Hook's company was among the people exiting the door. Smee, however, remained behind, having fallen asleep by their table.

"Where is that bloody pirate?" Wolfgang growled and moved to stand.

"Get back down", Filipi ordered. "You're drunk."

"You bet I'm drunk! Thanks to you, that is."

Filipi fingered her wand, secured on the inside of her sleeve with only the tip touching her palm. She would be fully capable of knocking him out and ensuring that he slept until he felt better again, but that would mean revealing themselves to the few people still at the tavern.

In the end the decision was made for her as a man burst in through the door and looked around, his eyes sticking on her.

"There she is!" he called. "The witch!"

She cursed her pale complexion; it definitely stood out from everyone else she had met so far and made her very recognizable.

"She bewitched her horse", the man continued. "I saw it myself and now the animal won't even budge when asked to move over."

"Oh please", Wolfgang grunted. "It's an anti-theft spell. You tried to steal our horses, didn't you?"

The man blinked in surprise; obviously he had not seen that Filipi had had a companion. Wolfgang now stumbled forward so that he stood in front of the man, drawing his wand and pointing it at his opponent.

"So much for keeping this a secret", Filipi groaned and rose as well. When flicking her wand Wolfgang looked like he had been hit in the head with something, before falling onto his back, snoring as loudly as Smee in the far corner.

"Count yourself lucky", she told the shocked thief in the doorway. "I could have used a far worse spell on you instead."

This caused the man to quickly spin on his heel and nearly walk straight into the tall, leather-clad pirate captain who had suddenly appeared in the doorway. He seemed distraught and did not even pay the man, or Filipi or Wolfgang, any attention. Instead he walked back to the table where Smee was sitting.

"Rise and shine, you bilge rat!" he called, kicking the table and waking the sleeping man. The captain sat down opposite him.

"No offense, Mr Smee."

"None taken", the newly woken Smee said, straightening up and adjusting his red cap. "I keep dreaming of cheese..."

His eyes then met the captain's, realizing that something was up.

"What is it?"

"I know who has the Jolly Roger, and we're going to take her back", the leather-clad pirate answered. Smee suddenly grinned and pulled out his pollaxe again.

"Whose funeral shall we be attending, Sir?" he asked. In response his captain ran a knife into the table between them, leaving it standing straight up. Even from a distance Filipi could see that there was an engraved metal plate on the shaft, probably carrying an insignia.

"Blackbeard", the captain said, his voice a tense whisper. Smee's grin faltered at once.

"Blackbeard? But... he's the most cutthroat pirate ever to hoist a sail... after you, of course."

"Which will make it all the more satisfying when I take my ship back and make him walk her lovely plank", the captain pointed out, his voice harsh. Filipi discreetly waved her wand again and Wolfgang grunted on the floor and rubbed his face as the spell lifted.

"Why do I feel like throwing up?" he asked.

"Because I sped up your body's ability to burn alcohol, creating an early hangover", Filipi responded and knelt down next to him, grabbing his arm. "Come on, let's get you back up on your feet."

"I'd rather lie down."

Filipi rolled her eyes, even though he could not see it.

"He's back, just so you know", she said and rose, leaning against the bar while catching up on the conversation. The pirate captain, the notorious Captain Hook with his signature silver hook replacing his left hand, was now leaning slightly forward on the table, pointing with his whole (right) hand at Smee.

"I haven't been myself since we returned", he said, his voice close to a whisper and Filipi had to strain her ears in order to hear him. "I should have realized the reason why; it's because I don't have her."

"Her?" Smee said, looking somewhat amused. "You talk about the vessel as though she's a woman."

"Women come and go, Mr Smee, but a pirate's life is forever."

The door of the tavern opened and a young woman with red hair stepped inside, eyes sticking to the pirates. Careful not to step on Wolfgang, who was in her way, she started to walk towards their table.

"Still, Captain", Smee said, "I doubt we could even find Blackbeard..."

"Don't be a coward!" Hook bellowed, before lowering his voice again. "I know where he moors his vessels; it's less than a day's trek. And then I'll have my ship again."

"And I will have my prince", the red-haired woman said, having reached the table. Hook leaned back on the bench he was sitting on and gave her an annoyed look.

"Few people have held a dagger to my throat and lived to tell the tale", he pointed out. "I'd leave before I change my mind."

"No", the woman responded, her voice demanding. "I've crossed paths with enough pirates to know your code; any valuable information a pirate captain ascertains shall be compensated in equal favour."

Smee looked down momentarily before glancing at his captain.

"I think she's right", he mumbled. Hook turned towards him again, undoubtedly giving him a sharp glare. The woman, however, smiled triumphantly.

"So", she said and adjusted her vest, "when do we leave?"

Wolfgang grunted on the floor once again.

"Alright, that's it", Filipi groaned and leaned down to pick him up. "Outside, now, before you throw up on everyone in this damn tavern."

While rising to her feet, with Wolfgang's arm around her shoulders, a hook suddenly slammed into the wooden bar in front of her. She jumped slightly before looking up into the face of Captain Hook. His sharp blue eyes glared at her.

"Off to give your captain some information, are we?" he asked.

"What?"

"Don't you think I know the looks of someone who has been eavesdropping on me?" the pirate asked and stepped closer. "Your mate is even feigning his hangover to give you an easy escape, but I'm sorry, love; that's not going to happen."

"You bloody pirate", Wolfgang grunted before raising his hand. Filipi opened her mouth to tell him off but the next moment Hook flew back out through the door and landed on the street.

"Really?" Filipi said and let her companion down on a chair, placing her hands on her hips as she glared at him. "Why the hell was that necessary?"

"He was giving me a headache", Wolfgang responded and leaned back with his eyes closed. Filipi held back the urge to slap him and walked out through the door. Hook was still on the ground and she held out her hand to help him up.

"What the hell was that?" the pirate asked.

"Some way to avoid a hangover", Filipi muttered and shook her head. "First time on alcohol does that to you, wouldn't you agree?"

Hook grabbed her hand and pulled himself up right, regarding her with as much suspicion as any of the others they had encountered.

"Blackbeard would never hire a witch to spy for him", he remarked. "Who do you work for?"

"I don't work for anyone", Filipi responded and crossed her arms over her chest. "Me and Wolf, that's my friend in there, are here with a message from Prince Charming and Snow White."

Hook's gaze darkened.

"I told them that I wanted nothing more to do with their dealings", he said and marched past her.

"Well, they still wanted to send you a message", Filipi called. "Just to see that you were fine with your new life and, if you weren't, you would be welcome back at the Dark Palace."

"As you might have heard, love, I just found out where my ship is located", Hook responded, turning to give her a lopsided grin. "Why should I ever want to leave this life?"

"I'm not asking", she pointed out. "I'm just delivering the message."

"Hook?" the red-haired woman said, appearing in the door of the tavern. "When are we leaving?"

Filipi caught the annoyed look on the pirate's face before he once again turned to walk away.

"At first light!" he called over his shoulder, before blending in with the darkness. The red-haired woman looked pleased and turned to face Filipi.

"Hi", she said with a wide smile, "I'm Ariel."

Filipi's eyes widened somewhat.

"You're Ariel?" she asked. "Aren't you supposed to be... you know, a mermaid?"
"Oh, I am", the woman responded, "but I can be human as well nowadays."

"And Hook is going to help you find your prince?"

"Yes", Ariel said with a nod. "Are you and your friend coming with us?"

Filipi considered it for a while. It was either heading back to the Dark Palace or they could join in on finding the famous pirate ship, the Jolly Roger. Despite thinking that Hook would not enjoy seeing them as part of the company she eventually nodded.

"I guess we are."