It's time for an Enchanted Forest-chapter again, people! Hold on to your hats and hooks, 'cause we're in for something here...
7 Months Prior
Blackbeard's docks, Enchanted Forest
They had used the darkness to sneak through the barracks surrounding the small dock, ending in them now crouching down behind a set of barrels next to the ship they had come for; the Jolly Roger. Hook could hardly contain his excitement.
"Up close she's even more beautiful than I remember", he remarked. "Don't worry, my dear; you'll soon be back in my loving arms."
"You do realize you're talking to a boat?" Filipi pointed out. Wolfgang scoffed at the insulted look Hook shot her way.
"You have your love, I have mine", the pirate said.
"What makes you think I have a love?" Filipi asked.
"Well, don't everyone?"
"Alright, shut up", Wolfgang said, smiling amusedly. "One more comment like that and I might give away our position by bursting out laughing."
"How are we going to get onboard, Captain?" Smee asked, eyeing the ship and all the men surrounding it. "Blackbeard's crew outnumbers us."
"Well, perhaps, but we've got something he has not", Hook said with a grin, before looking at Wolfgang. He grinned back.
"You're not using magic to get onboard", Filipi warned.
"Who says I am?" Wolfgang asked, before sneaking out from behind the barrels. There was one guard patrolling end of the gangway and, coincidentally, that man now had his back turned towards them. Wolfgang walked as close as he could before giving a low whistle. The man immediately spun around and was met, in the face, by Hook's hook, which Wolfgang had been given for this exact situation. The guard tumbled unceremoniously to the ground. Hook grinned as he stepped up to him and reinserted his hook in its rightful place, on his left arm, before crossing the gangway.
"Stand on attention, mates!" he called while drawing his cutlass. "Now boarding the ship; the rightful captain of the Jolly Roger."
The pirates onboard had fallen silent, staring at the scene. Wolfgang was sure it must look very strange; one man that certainly looked like a pirate walking onboard, followed by a red-haired woman who looked quite terrified, a fat man in a red cap and two people holding sticks in their hands. Adrenaline coursed through him as he realized it might get to a fight. Hook, or Killian Jones, had told him earlier (while giving him the hook) that he needed to defeat Blackbeard on his own in order to gain the crew's trust, but if Blackbeard did not show or if he managed to defeat Hook, then there was no other way for the others but to fight. Wolfgang was definitely prepared for that.
"Now", Hook said and stepped off the gangway, "if the coward who tried stealing her from me would kindly show his face, I'll give him the punishment he deserves."
Ariel, who had been walking first behind Hook and was now standing at the edge of the gangway, inhaled sharply as a man walked up from beneath the deck. Wolfgang looked past her, wand at the ready, and looked straight into the dark eyes of another pirate. To his amusement this one looked much more like how Captain Hook was portrayed in the old Disney-film; a long red coat, a three-cornered hat, a short forked beard and dark, long, curly hair. In fact he had to fight the urge to laugh at the irony of it and, when glancing at Filipi, he could see her doing the same.
"Gladly", the pirate now said, indirectly admitting he was the notorious Blackbeard. Hook turned towards him with a carefree smile at the ready, while Blackbeard drew his cutlass.
"But it's not me who'll be punished", the notorious pirate said. Hook grinned and walked up to circle with the other pirate, as casually as if he was out on a morning stroll and was greeting an old friend.
"You want your ship back?" Blackbeard now asked. "Then take it."
Their blades crossed for the first time, clinking against each other a couple of times before they continued to circle each other. Blackbeard laughed a rough laugh. Ariel suddenly moved forward and, followed by Smee, disappeared down another set of stairs to look for Prince Eric, who the mermaid had found out was Blackbeard's prisoner.
The pirates crossed blades again and now the crew started to cheer at the duel. Wolfgang felt his grip around his wand tightening; Blackbeard might be older than Hook, but he was definitely a highly skilled swordsman. Hook seemed to have noticed the same.
In a flurry of motions Blackbeard sent the one-handed man backwards. During this pause he drew a second blade from his belt. As Hook got up and noticed this he smiled and launched another attack.
"Does he really think he can win?" Filipi hissed in Wolfgang's ear.
"I have no idea", Wolfgang responded, "but I think we should think so."
Blackbeard's elbow suddenly hit Hook in the face and Wolfgang grimaced as he heard the cracking sound of a nose breaking. The hit both put Hook off-balance and caused him to drop his cutlass, something that Blackbeard immediately used to his advantage, pushing the ship's former captain back against the main mast.
"I was afraid you weren't going to show up", Blackbeard said. "Word on the waterways is Captain Hook had gone soft."
"The only thing soft will be your guts spilling on this deck", Hook growled, before grabbing onto one of the ropes securing the back sail, which pulled him up into the air and away from Blackbeard. As he then released the rope the sail dropped in front of the other pirates, resulting in a chorus of disappointed grunts.
"I'd never give up the Jolly Roger without a fight", Hook said while picking up his cutlass. Blackbeard grinned and moved forward, resulting in their blades clashing in another violent dance at the centre of the deck. It led them closer and closer to the gangway and Wolfgang pushed Filipi somewhat backwards in order to make sure they both avoided the swinging blades.
"You think you know the ship?" Hook asked while keeping Blackbeard's blade locked against his own. Blackbeard grinned again and licked his lips.
"Oh, every inch of her. I assure you."
"If that was the case", Hook said and pushed away, "you'd know not to step there!"
He sent his blade down towards his opponent's feet and Blackbeard took a step to his right, trampling right through a rotten plank and sticking. He let out a shout of pain while Hook walked up to him, grinning.
"Oh, I've been meaning to fix that", Hook said while he pointed the blade at his opponents throat. Wolfgang chuckled and stepped off the gangway to stand on the ship itself.
"Nicely done", he said.
"It's not over yet", Hook remarked, his gaze fixed on Blackbeard. The other pirate was leaning against the rail in order to keep himself somewhat upright.
"Finish it!" Blackbeard roared.
"Fancy a shave, do we?" Wolfgang asked, earning him a glare from the defeated man. Hook grinned.
"Well, in that case, I'd be happy to oblige."
He raised his cutlass and moved to strike.
"Wait!"
The shout from Ariel drew everyone's attention. She and Smee had returned from below deck and the mermaid-turned-human looked absolutely devastated.
"Eric's not onboard", she said. "You have to get him to tell you where he is."
Hook looked down at Blackbeard and moved his blade to his throat once more.
"You heard the lady", he said. "Where is he?"
"So that's what this was?" Blackbeard said, a new grin appearing on his face. "A rescue mission for some wench? Ha! They were right about you, Hook; you have gone soft."
"I can either make this painful or quite painful", Hook growled. "Now answer!"
"I have him stashed, safe and sound, on a deserted island", Blackbeard casually responded. "Only I know where. I was planning to ransom him when the time was right."
"Whatever it is, I'll pay it", Ariel urged.
"Money's not what I'm after anymore", Blackbeard huffed.
"Then what is it that you want?" Filipi asked. Blackbeard licked his lips before smiling at Hook.
"The satisfaction", he said, "of proving Captain Hook is no longer a pirate."
Hook raised a questioning eyebrow at him and smiled amusedly.
"And how are you going to prove that?"
"By giving you a choice", Blackbeard responded and pushed the blade pointed at his throat aside. "Surrender the Jolly Roger to me and I'll tell you where I'm holding her prince. Or refuse and he dies along with me."
Hook took a step back, his eyes ablaze with anger.
"Is there some sort of spell you can use?" he said.
"Not one I'm capable of using", Wolfgang responded. "Neither is Filipi; it's far too advanced and takes years and years of training."
Hook pursed his lips with determination.
"Then that settles it", he said. "Smee, hold her back."
"What..." Ariel begun before Smee grabbed her arms. Hook, meanwhile, pulled Blackbeard out of the hole.
"Bind him", he ordered, glaring at Wolfgang. "Now!"
"Incarcerous", Wolfgang responded, conjuring ropes that immediately bound and gagged Blackbeard.
"Wolf, what the hell are you doing?" Filipi exclaimed.
"He wouldn't have told us where to go even if Hook surrendered the Jolly Roger", Wolfgang responded.
"Well, it was worth a try!" Filipi shouted, pointing her wand at Smee. "Let..."
"Flipendo!"
With a flick of his wand Filipi was sent back, across the gangway and crashing into a set of barrels.
"I said that he should walk the plank", Hook said and raised the sail, allowing the rest of the crew to watch, "and that is exactly what he shall do."
He pulled Blackbeard up off the floor and poked him in the back with his cutlass, forcing him out on the plank. Wolfgang frowned when he heard the bubbling sound coming from below and looked over the rail, seeing the water bustling with life. No wonder Blackbeard had built his docks here; the waters were filled with crocodiles. Perfect for disposing of an unsuspecting enemy.
"You can't do this!" Ariel called. "We had an agreement! You promised me that you would help find Eric. Please!"
Hook maintained his determined look as he kept forcing Blackbeard further and further out on the plank.
"I know that you are a good man", Ariel continued, "and I know that man is still in there somewhere; it's not too late to do the right thing! Isn't true love more important than a few planks of wood and a sail?"
Hook cast a glare at her over his shoulder.
"She might just be a few planks and a sail, but she's mine", he said. "She's all I need. Love brings nothing but wasted years and endless torment; I'm doing you a favour."
He then used his sword to cut a shallow wound in Blackbeard's left arm.
"A little something to whet the appetite of our razor-toothed friends below", he hissed, before he pushed Blackbeard off the plank.
"No!" Ariel yelled.
"Enjoy the feast, boys!" Hook called as the crocodiles gathered to kill the man that had just been sent into their home. He then turned towards the crew again.
"The Jolly Roger is mine!" he bellowed. "Any man willing to swear an oath to me shall be given quarter. Those who don't; you're welcome to follow your former captain."
Blackbeard's crew knew better than to argue and instead cheered. At this Hook sheathed his cutlass and walked off the plank, back onto the deck.
"You may release her, Mr Smee."
Once Ariel was free she immediately slapped Hook hard across the cheek.
"I was wrong about you, Captain", she spat out. "You're selfish and you're heartless and that is what will bring you wasted years and endless torment. I feel sorry for you. You'll never be happy."
She then strode up onto the plank.
"Where do you think you're going?" Wolfgang asked. Ariel turned towards them again.
"Eric's still out there", she responded, "and whatever it takes I will find him. You, however, should probably spend some time thinking about what you just did to your friend."
With that she dove gracefully into the water, turning back into a mermaid and flicking her blue tail at them before swimming away.
"You should probably go as well", Hook remarked and walked up to stand next to Wolfgang, the anger having seeped from his veins. Wolfgang looked over at where Filipi lay, unconscious, on land.
"I can't", he sighed. "She and the others will never let me back now; I used magic against them. We're not supposed to do that against one another."
"Then my offer still stands", Hook said. Wolfgang looked away from the shore and out at the open sea. The salty breeze tickled his nose.
"I would gladly accept that, Captain."
Yes, that worked... very well...