Disclaimers: See the Prologue for more information.

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10:

Captains Hook and Sparrow

A boat docked on the shoreline. The captain who stepped on shore had high boots, a heavy trench coat, a dress shirt and black leather pants. To everyone's surprise, this captain did not wear a pirate's hat, but he did brandish a cutlass sword in its sheath and a pistol. However, when the pirate looked back, another ship swung in on the harbor, only this ship hard dark wood surrounding it and black sails.

It was obvious there would be a game between pirates, in which the victor owned this new piece of land. For this captain, he hoped to be the swashbuckling captain everyone expected him to be. But then there was the drunken pirate captain, making his approach to shore.

In sync, the two pirate captains walked slowly, making their grand entrance in the fog. Frodo didn't understand… first Bane and Wolf, and now… no, what was he doing: comparing pirates to werewolves? Something was up.

"Captains," Aslan started. "What brings you here?"

"Aren't you going to introduce me?" the first captain started.

"I'll start. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack introduced himself.

"What does that mean?" Edmund said. "Wait. We're accepting pirates here?"

"Or corsairs," Frodo said.

"Doesn't matter. The Narnians drove out pirates from Narnia a while ago," Edmund announced.

"I'm sorry. Who are you?" Jack asked.

"He's Edmund," Lucy Pevensie announced.

"Lucy," Susan said, derailed.

"What? Can't we introduce ourselves?" Lucy asked.

"Yes, but not to them," Peter Pevensie said.

"Pirates? Here," Felicity said, moving to the shoreline.

"I take it you're Felicity Charming." The first captain smiled, deviously. "The name's Hook. I'm captain to the Jolly Roger."

"Hook," Ebony said, giggling.

"Oh, here we go," Frodo said, massing his forehead with one hand.

"You wouldn't happen to have any rum, do you?" Jack asked the Lion.

"First I wish to know your business. This is a new world and I don't intend on seeing it tarnished," Aslan said.

"Then you haven't heard the news." Hook said, pleased. "Oh, the villains are coming. They told me to bring in the ships, so they can plant their own university to rival ours."

"And whose idea was it to start competing," Aslan said. His gaze turned to Ebony.

"Why must it always come to me?" Ebony said, sincere, "Look Aslan, I'm sorry. I don't understand. All I wanted was to get some excitement in the air. I didn't know it would bring pirates and villains."

"Well, now we have a new problem to face," Aslan replied.

"Way to go, Ebony," Rosemary said.

"Rose, I didn't mean to…" Ebony was cut off by Frodo.

"It's not your fault," Frodo said.

"As if…" she sagged in defeat.

"Well, if it pleases you, makes you feel better, Bane's stopped chasing me," Rose said, only too late. She turned around, only to meet Bane's toothy grin. Rose told her parents, "Mum, Dad, I'd like to change lofts."

"Rosemary, you know why we can't do that yet," Frodo said.

"But Bane… I mean…" Rose was at a loss for words. "Dad help."

"Bane, what are you doing?" Frodo asked, facing the two.

"I was just… I'll be leaving now." Bane turned to Rose, asking her, "Come with me. I know it's been four weeks since we got here, but will you share an adventure with me?"

"Well… I…" Rose asked, looking from her father to Bane and back. "I can't leave my family."

"I don't like where this is going, but…" Frodo sighed. "Rose, you do what you want. Just as long as you're cautious and do the right things."

"Wait. What?" Ebony asked, confused.

"Mother, you won't mind me going with Bane?" Rose admitted, "I'll be back in a week or two."

"You care about him? Bane, I mean," Ebony said.

"Wait. What's going on?" Frodo asked. He couldn't believe it. Bane with Rose… Rose with Bane… no, they needed a better plan. And to get Bane off his shoulders.

"Come on, Frodo. Give me a chance to get to know your daughter," Bane said.

"Frodo," Ebony said.

"Ebony, I know I don't like this, but…" he sighed a third time, "we knew this would happen. But…" It was too late to say anything further. Frodo attempted his hardest to give Rose and Bane his blessing… wait. This was too quick. Give them their blessing. Well, if Rose was happy, but this was an unexpected moment.

And… wait. Was that cannon fire? Frodo had time to turn and look, when the university was bombarded by pirates from both ships. The gentle-hobbit looked back in time to see his wife with Rose and Bane. But where was he going? He ended up in a boat, his wrists were bound. Sitting next to him was Ebony. But Rose and Bane… they were in a separate boat, heading for the Jolly Roger. Wait… Ebony and he were heading for the Black Pearl.

They were taken hostage. Frodo looked back to the shoreline, only to see the heroes there were split up and separated. No. How could they be tricked like this? Wasn't there any hope for them? And the Heroes' University… Frodo realized the university was taken over, razed or worse. What happened to their time there? What about Aslan? What were they to do now? What was he to do? Frodo was a hobbit after all. Hopefully there was a way out of this mess.

Frodo stared at the clear night sky. It was filled with so many stars and bright constellations. His attention returned to the ship, which said on the back in bold lettering: Black Pearl.

The second he climbed aboard, he was thrown on the deck. He looked up in time to see Jack Sparrow, with his tricorn horn, dreadlock hair, and wearing pirate garb. Oh, what had he, Frodo Baggins, ended up? And how was Jack Sparrow supposed to get them out of this mess?

He would soon find out.

*.*.*

Chapter 11 Teaser:

Frodo didn't know how long he scrubbed the deck. He went from being the Ring-bearer and Superintendent of the Heroes' University, to now being the deckhand and scrubbing the Black Pearl's deck. Was this punishment? It seemed like Ebony was sharing the same fate as him, for she was scrubbing the deck next to him, but also a short distance away.

He had to reach her, see if there was a way off this vessel and back onto land. What did they do to deserve such a fate?

"Aye, you're not through yet! Keep scrubbing, mates!" Jack Sparrow announced, coming Frodo's way. The pirate captain spoke to the gentle-hobbit now. "How's life treating you?"

"How is it, Jack?" Frodo spoke up. "You took me and Ebony away from our home."

"Your home is in the Shire. Is that not right?" Jack asked.

"It's a long story," Frodo admitted. "Not the prettiest story you'll want to hear."

"Frodo, what did happen to you?" Ebony asked aloud.

"Um…" Frodo hesitated. Should he really tell them the truth? I guess now was the appropriate time to tell them the truth. It was the story Ebony had been wanting to hear for a long time. And it began here with his tale.

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Captain Hook, in this story, is Once Upon a Time's version of him. Thanks for reading. :)