Mistic Pets

Welcome to Issue 32
Created by The Mistic Pets Team

The Adventures of Captain Jack Skillow: Part 6 -- Sprites
Written By gemajgall

“So how do you plan on getting out of this one, Captain?” asked Philip Quick.

He, Captain Jack Skillow, First Mate Dibbs, Wool, 'n Angel th' Anya had been tied t' menacin'-lookin' trees wit' thar arms extended o'er thar heads. A fire nearby had burned down t' its embers, which glowed red like th' Imp eyes that were watchin' them from all angles. They could all smell th' stolen grub cookin' nearby, causin' thar stomachs t' growl.

“I'm working on it,” muttered th' pirate cap'n.

“Shoulda tried to get some of the others to come,” complained Dibbs.

Captain Skillow looked at 'im in disbelief, “I can do without that motley bunch, thank you very much.”

“We don't molt!” whined Angel, who was ignored.

Thar natter fell silent as low drums started beatin' sinisterly, echoin' through th' dead woods. Wit' even-paced steps, th' cap'n o' th' Imps, Kin' Mephitic, walked into view. Behind 'im wit' her arms tied firmly behind her back, pulled by a rope by th' cap'n, stumbled a young lass wearin' dirty, grey rags. She shook as if she was scared, but her eyes burned wit' defiance.

“Who's she? Why do the Imps have a peasant girl?” Dibbs asked his companions in a whisper.

“She's not a peasant,” replied Philip in th' same whisper. “Her skin is too fair—she must be rich, perhaps a kidnapping for ransom.”

Kin' Mephitic raised his hand, 'n th' Imps fell silent. “Fellow creatures of darkness! Today is a great day for us! We have captured the jewel of those pests from Mistic Kingdom! Behold, the lovely Princess Alana!” He threw th' lass in th' dirt as his feet, 'n she glared up at 'im wit' animosity. Th' pirates gasped at her name.

“Joel will come for me!” she cried.

“And we will trap him in a nightmare forever,” sneered Mephitic, th' Imps cheerin' at his words. “This is the land of the Imps! No human or sprite will dwell here.” He gestured his clawed hand at th' tree where th' pirates were tied. “Not even the pirates—the mighty privateers of the seas have fallen into our hands and will now profit us!” Once again, th' Imps erupted into cheers.

“I'm a free pirate; I work for no one,” muttered Captain Skillow. Th' Imp cap'n shot 'im such a dark gaze that even th' usually carefree pirate felt hisself begin t' sweat. Seein' his distress, th' Imps present began t' jeer at 'im. However, Jack's ears twitched—he could hear th' sound o' familiar win's beatin'. In that moment, his usual coy smile was back. “I tell ya, 'Mephy,' you're forgetting one very important thing in your plans—I'm Captain Jack Skillow.”

Fer th' briefest moment, Dibbs furled his eyes o'er as if he couldn't believe his cap'n was goadin' th' Imps—then everythin' erupted into chaos. Within an instant, a wee army o' Sprites leapt from behind th' trees 'n started attackin' th' Imps who all scrambled fer thar weapons. Th' moonlight flickered as Gargoyle win's passed in front o' it, th' warriors divin' down at th' enemies from above. Jack felt his bonds loosen 'n turned t' see one o' th' younger Kelpies had cut 'im free wit' a coral blade. An Imp lunged towards them, but a quick spell from one o' th' Fey maiden nigh th' edge o' th' trees handsomely incapacitated it.

“This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Skillow!” he exclaimed as he leaped into th' fray, spinnin' 'n catchin' a cutlass a Gargoyle threw down t' 'im. All o' th' pirates 'n crew cheered, rallyin' t' th' side o' th' Sprites as they drove th' Imps into th' darkness.

Captain Skillow 'n Dibbs maneuvered side by side, thar years o' experience showin'. Close by th' Gargoyles 'n Kelpies proved t' be experts in thar various fightin' styles; th' Gargoyles' strength easily shattered th' Imps' weapons while th' Kelpies' speed caused them t' trip all o'er themselves. Nah so far away an attractive human wit' calloused hands smartly made his way t' Kin' Mephitic 'n had 'im locked in direct combat.

“It's over,” said th' young man. “I'm taking Alana back.”

“Joel!” cried th' princess in happiness. Philip cut her loose, 'n she ran o'er t' Joel, embracin' 'im tightly. “I knew you'd come for me.”

“Alana,” he murmured, affectionately. Nearby th' Gargoyles landed. Seein' his chance, Mephitic fled wit' th' rest o' his followers while everyone was distracted. However, that didn' seem t' matter t' anyone at that moment. “Alana, beloved...I know this isn't the most romantic of settings. But...will you marry me?”

“Yes! Yes! I will!” she cried wit' tears o' joy. Everyone present cheered loudly, thar exclamations seemin' misplaced against th' dead trees.

“Everyone, please—come to our wedding,” Joel said, turnin' t' th' assorted crowd present. “I want everyone who helped save my beloved to be a part of that day!”

“Weddings? I love weddings! Drinks all around!” smiled Jack as everyone celebrated th' invitation.

~*~*~*~*~

Th' day o' th' weddin' between Princess Alana 'n Joel was sunny 'n warm. Th' Sprites had decorated th' garden o' Mistic Kingdom in white 'n roses. Tia Malda's Fey handmaidens even enchanted th' make shift aisle so that it had th' hue o' a rainbow as Princess Alana walked down it. Most o' th' entire crew o' th' Black Pyre was present, dressed in thar traditional best. Philip Quick even played th' guitar wit' Angel 'n proved t' 'ave some decent talent. Th' Sprites had prepared th' most delicious feast, some even usin' vegetables 'n fruit Joel hisself grew.

However, several were noticeably missin'. Th' pirate cap'n looked towards th' castle from th' bow o' th' Black Pyre. Dibbs, Wool, 'n th' rest o' his original crew manned thar positions. Th' anchor locked into ship, Dibbs turned th' wheel, 'n th' Black Pyre took out t' sea.

“Sure about this, Jack?” asked Dibbs.

“The Fey said securing their invitation to a royal wedding was payment in full. And I have no obligation to the rest of those freeloaders. Savvy?” answered Captain Skillow.

“Aye,” agreed Dibbs. “Still, seems sad just leaving them all behind without a word.” Jack merely shrugged. “It'll be quiet.”

“Aye,” agreed Jack, a bit forlornly.

Th' Black Pyre rose on th' tide, th' sunset lightin' thar way. Th' sea breeze caught 'n filled th' sails as th' ship turned from port fer another year.

Th' End.

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