Chapter Text
King Eric and Queen Ariel’s kingdom had long been plagued by pirates. It was a maritime kingdom after all and the docks were large. Perfect hunting ground for pirates, the majority of the pirates had no quarrel with the kingdom itself, it was just easy pickings. However, one such pirate had a long feud with the kingdom, once a lieutenant in their Navy hundreds of years before, he had found a way to stay alive for centuries. No one knew the reasoning for his hatred for the kingdom, that information had been lost a long time ago, or destroyed. Probably to protect the kingdom’s history and reputation. His name brought terror to the kingdom, he didn’t appear much in the kingdom and hadn’t been sighted for over fifty years, yet he was always a constant threat. It was said he never aged, that his hatred brought him eternal youth. Others said he was a sorcerer and that he was immortal. In reality. Nobody knew anything about him.
King Eric and Queen Ariel had never seen him before, but he was identifiable due to the hook on his left hand. There were vague stories about how he lost his hand, some say a crocodile, others say a woman, a few say he lost it for thievery. No one ever really knew. Only he knew his past.
His ship’s name brought a chill to the blood of the people. The Jolly Roger. Some claimed they had seen it, other said that if you did you went blind forever. Some say they had seen it disappear right before their eyes, most of these people were accused of being mad. One of the many tricks Captain Hook had up his sleeve. It was rumoured his ship was one of the kingdom’s own from many years ago and that’s how he got around so easily, he sailed under the royal flag when he wanted to pass through unknown.
There was a crowd gathered around one of the docks. Men were shouting and women were screaming, people were running in fear, panic had struck the hearts of the people. The King and Queen had been alerted, they hurried to the docks surrounded by guards.
“Make way for the King and Queen!” Shouted the commander. People parted down the middle of the dock, the body of a man was revealed. He was lay on his back, his head hanging over the edge of the dock. His throat slit. The sun danced like diamonds on the water, crimson red mixing with the turquoise of the sea. The wind picked up and a chill ran through the people’s bones.
Eric knelt by the side of the man, he was dressed in a Navy uniform, his white shirt and waistcoat stained with blood. The man’s eyes and mouth were open, he looked as though he was in a state of shock. Eric gently closed the man’s eyes and touched his forehead tenderly.
“Who is he?” Asked Ariel.
“Lieutenant Michaels. A good man.” Sighed Eric. Eric had worked with the man on a couple of quests. “I want whoever did this found. You search every tavern, every home. You bring the bastard to me!” Immediately the guards ran off to fulfil the orders of the king. “Anyone found conspiring with him will face punishment of death.”
“Eric, what’s that on his hand?” Asked Ariel.
A pattern was carved onto the back of the man’s hand. A hook. A gasp came from Eric and the guards all took a step back.
“It would appear our legendary pirate is back.” He whispered.
“He’s not been sighted in fifty years! It’s impossible. Why is he back now?”
“For what he’s always wanted. The Eye of the Storm. That jewel will never touch his rotten hand. I want anyone to come forward with any information on Captain Hook. No one will be ignored. Send out word.”
“Your majesty!” Called a guard. The royals looked up, in the distance was a large ship. The next thing they knew it disappeared from their sights.
“Eric… was that him?”
“Don’t be absurd. It was just one of our own Navy ships, on a mission. That’s all.” He tried to reassure his wife, though he was unsure himself.
“I think you’re forgetting a very important part of his story. Hook was one of our kingdom’s lieutenants and he took the ship for himself.”
“Or so the rumours say, I wonder who the captain was? All the records from that time were wiped.” Stated Eric.
“I think it’s time we trade in our favour with Snow and Charming.”