Down to Earth~ Sequel to Peter Pan's Dragon Girl

Chapter 17

Elias p.o.v

I was awake before the sun even began to rise into the smoggy skies. I'm not sure why I'm suddenly so alert, but I am so it must be important. Or I have to go to the bathroom, either one really. I turn towards the breeze floating off the lake, sniffing for anything that didn't belong and could prove harmful to the tinier humans I'm protecting. The strong scent of raging testosterone filled my nose and made me sneeze out blue sparks into the sky. The Black Pirates are here. Finally I can have some fun. Twisting my long neck, I gently poke Reine until she woke up and sat up with a groan and a glare.

"This better be good, Elias, or I'm skinning you and using your hide as a tent."

"I'd like to see you try, love. But what's going on right now is more important than you putting your hands all on me. The Black Pirates are here. Take everyone and hide down the banks a little so they can't see you. Do it now." She firmly nodded and began to shake everyone else awake as I kept an eye out for any oncoming enemies. As soon as everyone was awake, I stood to my full 15 foot height and opened my wings for flight over the waters. Snow ran up to my paws and tried to climb on until I lifted my foot and let her slide off into the hold of Reine. She can't come on this adventure, this time it's just me.

I launch into the skies and climb straight up then stopped to look around at my surroundings. Jabber infested trees all around, Black Pirates diagonal from me, and nobody to tell me no. I make a lazy circle around where I believe their fleet to be hiding, waiting for them to strike. As expected, they launched a grapple hook to catch on my scales and bring me down far enough for ropes and nets. I let them connect with my hind leg and pretend to fight against their tugs until I'm in the water, where I change back to my humanoid skin and flounder about pathetically in the water. If the Black Pirates rule the largest bits of water around, then people from earth wouldn't know how to swim. I'm drug into their lead ship and immediately bound and chained before the boy from the medical fiasco stepped out of the crowd.

"Well, I knew I was right and you weren't human. What are you exactly?"

"I'm human right now if that's what you're wondering. I swear either you're really dumb or really blind because you keep asking me that question." The boy growls lowly and one of his cronies punched me hard in the stomach, causing me to double over coughing for breath.

"Every smartass remark you give me will end like this. Am I understood?"

"Aye aye, captain." Another hit. "Is that not what they say on ships?" No wonder Hook looked so pissed when I said that.

"Tell me the truth, what are you?" I couldn't help but smirk at his demand.

"Well, since you asked so nicely, I guess I'll let you in on my secret. I'm actually a 7,000 year old being called a Dragon. 7,000 years old is actually very young, late teens in human timelines. We can change between human skin and our Dragon form at will. I come from an island in the stars called Neverland where we never grow old and my parents rule the place. There's pirates and mermaids and Indians. There used to be fairies, but they were wiped out hundred of years ago by my mom and dad. I was curious about how earth was faring after so long, and now I am stuck here until the blood moon solstice then I can go home and leave all of you to rot in this hellhole you call a planet. Satisfied?" Yet another punch to the gut.

"I said the truth."

"Of which I just shared with you, and very beautifully told I might add." I stood upright and grew a tail to knock everyone away before having it vanish like I did when I first met the others from the Base. I then break apart the ropes and roll my tongue to focus my fire into a streamline shape to melt the chains. Once I was freed I moved to the bowsprit to sit on the long bit of wood so the boys would be forced to crowd into one small space to reach me.

"The real question you guys are thinking, how do we harness that awesome power for ourselves? We could rule everything! Have all the girls we could find and nobody could ever rebel! The answer to that is... you can't. None of you are worthy enough to even try."

"Who gives a damn about worthiness? All we really have to do is kick your ass enough that you'll give it to us." I couldn't help but laugh at his idiotic answer.

"You humans are a riot. The reason you can't even begin to try is because you won't ever beat me." The Black Pirates shared broken laughs of amusement at my answer. They think they're all so high and mighty and invincible. They'll soon learn.

"Come down from the bowsprit and find out. Or are you too coward to?" I shrug and teleport over to the railing on the right side. They looked around in confusion at where I had vanished to.

"Oh dear, how are you to fight someone who can go anywhere they wish?" They whipped around at my voice, weapons drawn and ready to attack at their command. I drew one of my swords and pretend to inspect the blade. The lead male pushed through and drew his own broadsword in a challenge.

"Stop hopping around like a damn chicken and fight me properly!"

"As you wish." I drew the second sword and stand in a lazy fighting position. The boy struck first, swiping for my legs to make me immobile. I block without bothering to look and use the other sword to slice open his cheek.

"Come now, it's no fun if you don't try." He growls in anger and swings wildly once more for my neck. I once again block and use both swords to run him through by his shoulders and into the main mast deep enough that none of the wimps here could dream of removing the blades from the wood. He cried out in pain, which jolted the others into action only to freeze when I show off a clawed hand to his neck.

"Now now, that's not how the game goes. I won fair and square so you have to answer a question of mine. I know none of you idiots could ever be smart enough to organize a group of boys into a fleet of floating idiots with weapons. So my question, who is your true leader? Who's pulling the strings around here?"

"We wouldn't tell you. Even if you tried to torture it out of us."

"I hadn't thought of that, but thanks for the inspiration. Now, I am speaking to the hidden leader of these humans. Show yourself or this entire fleet dies by fire. I'll give you to the count of three. 1... 2...-"

"That would be me." I turn towards the voice on the railing where I was before.

"About time. Who are you?"

"You should ask your mommy about me. She knows very well who I am."

"Well, mommy is a little out of my reach at the moment so indulge me." They laughed and pulled their hood back to reveal their true identity. Mom did mention this guy a few times.

He was known as Rumplestiltskin, but he more preferred the name The Dark One.