The Fairy and Her Captain - Chapter 7

Arrows flew through the air and Hazel quickly moved in front of Killian and Mr. Smee. Her feet slid on the sandy beach as she acted without a hint of hesitation. Her fingers hover over the grip of her sword for a few moments before the specks of fairy dust began to glow. Her eyes sharpened and she swept her hand through the air horizontally. Her sword unsheathed itself and flew in the air, following the fae's commands. The blade sliced the incoming arrows that were certain to hit the captain and the others.

A smirk danced across Pan's lips as he watched the bravery shown by the fae. His head tipping just slightly in curiosity as he spoke. "Ooh, so the girl is a fae. I never would've guessed that you would have such a specimen on your crew, captain. What did you do to deserve such a magical creature on your ship?" The boy's gaze narrowed to the pirate captain as he straightened his head. "Did you save her life and take her away from the tyrants of Pixie Hollow? ...But...It does seem like you can't fight your own battles. Pity really."

Killian let out a seething exhale through his nostrils as his hand gripped his sword tight and pulled it out in one swift movement. "I'll show you who can't fight his own battles, mate!" He declared with a fire in his eyes and daggers in his glare. "Onward men! Today we fight!" His legs carried him from the shores up the hill and directly towards Pan.

The Lost Boys fired another round of arrows as the rest of the pirate crew followed their captain. Hazel wasn't far behind the others as she kept an eye on Mr. Smee. She continued to use her sword to slice arrows from the air. Luckily she was able to protect Mr. Smee and herself from getting hit by the oncoming barrages of arrows that were shot towards them as they ascended the hill.

The fae struck the first Lost Boy she came in contact with her blade and knocked them down with a swift kick that resulted in the boy fleeing into the forest. She did the same a few times, dodging what attacks came her way with their handmade spears and swords.

One by one the Lost Boys ran away into the forest. Not without injuring a good portion of the men with their weapons. The moment that Peter Pan saw his Lost Boys fleeing into the forest, he immediately flew into the air in a cloud of green pixie dust. He looked down at Killian and gave a playful wave with a wiggle of his fingers. "Looks like my Lost Boys have had enough fun today. Shall we have another play date tomorrow? I assume you're staying, Captain. Tah-tah for now." A knowing smirk crossed his lips as he caught a few injured among the pirate ranks. He flew swiftly into the forest and an echoed animal call followed by a laugh that disappeared deeper into Neverland.

Killian faced his men and assessed their conditions after their battle with Peter Pan and his Lost Boys. "How is everyone? Anyone hurt?"

"We're doing alright. Just a few scrapes. Nothing too serious, captain." Those who were injured answered as they made their way to the captain.

Killian nodded slowly to his crew. "Right. Now that Pan and his...lost boys have fled we can find shelter on this isle." He led the way from the small hill top into the vast forest.

The crew followed their captain faithfully as he took the lead with the scout just behind him and the first mate behind her.

Killian used his hook and hand to move the overgrown vegetation out of the way, occasionally using his sword to cut it. He had a rough idea of what Neverland featured being here once before. On an island such as this, there should be a place for them to set up camp that they could use Hazel to cast a protection spell or something of the like with her pixie dust.

This island reminded Hazel so much of Pixie Hollow with the exception of it being run by a boy. That very boy knew Killian before he became a pirate captain and that didn't sit well with the fae.

She found herself staring at the captain's coat as she marched behind him. She sheathed her sword for a moment to grab a ribbon from her pouch. She kneeled down to duck under a branch that Killian moved while she tied her hair up in a quick ponytail. Once her blonde hair was out of the way, she stood up and caught up with the captain to walk in tow with him. "I was able to get a fair lay of the land when I was in the air. I did see a cave North-East from here that we can take shelter in if you would like me to lead us there, captain."

He turned his head to the side to look at her. "Feel free to lead the way." He replied, using his hook to gesture in front of him with a nod. He stopped for a moment, holding his hand up to signal the rest of the crew to halt while they changed leaders.

Hazel stepped in front of Killian and took the lead. "Thank you Captain." Just as she was ready to start their journey to find shelter, a number of loud thuds hit the grassy ground. She turned her head to look at what happened.

All, but three of the crew plus Mr. Smee were standing alive. The others had fallen, dead from an unknown cause from what she could tell.

The captain quickly rushed over to his fallen men and inspected them to find a cause for their deaths. All of his men that perished had one thing in common. They were all struck by the Lost Boys' weapons and he knew what caused their deaths. The most deadly substance of all on Neverland, dreamshade.

"What did they die from, captain? And what should we do? We can't just leave them there." Mr. Smee asked once he recovered from the shock at all the men falling around him and perishing in front of him.

Killian walked around to each body and knelt down by them, closing their eyes with his hand as a way to honor them. He stood straight after it was done and looked to Mr. Smee, his men who were alive, and Hazel. "These men died from a deadly poison that is called dreamshade. It only grows on this island and its only cure is the water from the springs where this plant grows. There is a price to pay if you drink the water, you can never leave Neverland. You will die as soon as the water's magic runs dry. It...seems that Pan has given his Lost Boys weapons dipped in this poison. We will have to be careful when dealing with them from now on. ...For now, we shall continue on to find shelter and the moment we get a chance to give our fallen ranks a proper burial, we will." He looked to the remaining crew before he returned to his spot behind Hazel. "Lead the way, Hazel and quickly if you will."

"Right." The fae nodded her head promptly before diligently leading the way to the cave. All the while, in the back of her mind, she was making a mental inventory of the fallen men to honor them in her own way. By watching those men fall victim to the dreamshade, she was reminded that the pirate's life wasn't as hopeful and adventurous as she originally thought. This was the second time that she led herself to believe such a thing. That would no longer be the case of she had anything to do with it. She knew now, fully, that being a pirate was a matter of life and death and this was one of those times.

Ten minutes passed before Hazel finally stopped at the entrance to the cave she spoke of. This cave was tucked into a hill that overlooked some of Neverland, enough to see if anyone was approaching the cave. The cave itself was large enough to house the everyone while being able to have a small fire for warmth between them or to cook whatever they could scrounge up.

Kilian stood next to Hazel, inspecting the cave structure to make certain that it wouldn't collapse on them while they were inside. "This seems a good spot as any for us to set up camp. Good work, Hazel." He looked to the fae, quirking his brow slightly as he inquired about something that had been on his mind since she brought up the cave. "Are you able to cast a protection spell on the cave?"

Hazel met his gaze and nodded her head slowly. "I should be able to, yes. Why doesn't everyone head inside so I can cast the spell?" She watched as everyone entered the cave while she stood outside it. She reached into her pouch and took out a small vile filled to the brim with golden yellow pixie dust. She popped the cork lid and sprinkled it along the opening to the cave, putting the cap back on when she was finished with it. Using her thumb, she held the vile against the palms of her hands while she performed the spell.

The pixie dust glowed a bright yellow, covering the entrance in a thinly veiled bubble. The bubble disappeared from sight when Hazel lowered her hands, putting the vile back in her pouch. "That should do it. Everyone in there should be able to come and go as they please from the cave. The Lost Boys and Pan won't be able to enter."

"What about you? Are you able to enter the cave?" Mr. Smee asked as he walked up to the opening, standing next to Killian.

The fae frowned a little and shook her head. "No, I won't be able to Mr. Smee. The price for coming everyone safe is that I am unable to enter the protected space." Hazel replied, putting a small smile on her lips. "I'll be fine. I would rather be out here in the line of danger protecting those I care about." To her that meant the remaining crew, the captain, and his first mate. "I can work on scouting and giving the fallen men the proper burials they deserve. I can even scrounge up food for everyone. I'll...be fine. I promise."

Mr. Smee couldn't help the force that pulled him from the cave to embrace the fae. "Be safe, okay? Show the Lost Boys and Pan what you are made of. I see great potential in you...and I know you will achieve anything you set your mind to. ...I love you, Hazel." His words were encouraging and genuine towards her. His feelings for her were true and he did care about her deeply in the way that a best friend would or a sibling.

Hazel happily returned the hug and felt a few warm tears brimming at her eyelids, hearing the comforting words he spoke. "Thank you, Mr. Smee. That means a lot to me...I love you too." After a few moments, she pulled away from the embrace. "Go back inside. I've got this." She used her index finger to wipe away the wetness from her eyes and smiled softly to the first mate.

Mr. Smee reluctantly nodded his head slowly before he walked back into the cave. He saw the captain walk up to the entrance and led the other men deeper into the cave to let them have a little privacy.

"Are you sure that you've got this? I do plan on sending out two men to go with you when you leave the premises to help you with retrieving supplies and taking care of the fallen men." Killian remarked, his gaze softening on her. "I can always come out to let you get some rest."

That put more of a smile on Hazel's lips, hearing his offer and seeing how his eyes softened just so. "I've got this tonight and I will let you know if I need to get some rest. You should get some yourself, captain."

"Aye," He lifted his hand to his chin and rubbed the scruff on his chin. "...Thank you for everything that you've done. I don't know how I can repay you."

She chuckled softly and shook her head. "You don't have to repay me for anything. This is my job. Same as it was on Pixie Hollow except this time, it is my pleasure to protect you and the others. Good night, captain."

"Good night Hazel." Killian said with a small smile on his lips before he turned his back to her and walked further into the cave to his men.

She watched his back as he disappeared into the cave. She took a moment to finally breath before she flew up to the top of the cave in her fairy form. She changed back into her larger form to sit on a tree stump. Her eyes set out on the horizon, watching as the sunset turned and faded into night. The stars lit the sky a few at a time while she tilted her head back to watch them.

A heavy sigh left her lips as she dropped her head forward, looking out onto the forest terrain for any signs of danger that might befall the crew and the captain. Her fingers found their way to her pouch at her side and dug around it somewhat aimlessly before taking out her dagger. Her eyes drifted down to the blade and admired its handcrafted features that she purposefully put into it to mark it as her own. The familiar design of the ocean on the hilt brought a sense of comfort to her.

As night began to set in fully, the bushes rustled behind her and Hazel snapped her head back to see what it was. She saw nothing there and lightly shrugged it off, thinking that it was an animal or simply the wind rustling about.

A shadowy form of a boy emerged from the bushes, hovering just behind the fae. Its head tilted to the side as it spotted the fae fiddling with the small silver dagger. A few moments later and determining the significance of this dagger to the fae, it flew away soon after and returned to Pan to report his findings on the fae and the pirates. The shadow leaned in close to Pan’s ear and spoke their findings to him.

A cynical and sinister smile curled on his lips, a chuckle rumbling in his throat. Upon knowing the small fact that his shadow presented to him, the boy knew what he had to do to make the most of the situation and of his boredom. "Is that so? Thank you for informing me of this new information. I think I know how I am going to handle them now.”