Hooks and Poison Apples

Fencing and Hugs

Misery Rock was a large sea pillar, connected to the Isle of the Lost via a hazardous wooden rope bridge. There were stairs carved into the rock, spiralling down to a small patch of beach surrounding three quatres of the pillar. Massive waves collided off the side of the pillar facing the sea, spraying foamy water into the air. On top of the pillar, the ground was mainly flat and grassy, a single large tree clinging to the edge of the cliff with aerial roots that resembled long fingers with talon-like nails, gripping into the dirt.

Evie could see why it was called Misery Rock. There was not a speck of colour, everything dull, brittle and slowly being eaten away by the waves. One day the pillar would completely crumble and Misery Rock would be no more.

Clutching onto her bag, Evie crossed the bridge, placing her hands and feet on it delicately. One wrong move and the ancient bridge would collapse. Evie could see through the gaps and missing planks of the walkway that it was a long way down, complete with a rather unpleasant end, jagged rocks and grizzly looking water.

She made it across the bridge safely and seeing as Harry wasn't here yet, she decided to sit by the tree. As she drew closer to it, more of its features become clear. Its dark leaves were all faded shades of brown, green and black, layers of moss draped across its gnarled branches like curtains. The centre of its trunk had been eaten into, three large holes giving it a frightful face, a twig sticking out almost like a crooked nose.

Evie frowned.

This tree... this is-

"So you decided to come then, Princess?"

Even turned, Harry's voice interrupting her thoughts. He had just made his way across the bridge and was heading towards her. In his arms he carried a red wrapped up bundle, the handles of several swords sticking out from it. He placed it down on a flat boulder, rolling it open.

"What made you come?" He asked, busying himself with preparing the swords.

"I figured it'd be useful to learn how to wield a sword."

Especially considering the number of pirates she had been running into of late. And as much as she disliked the boy, who better to teach her fencing pirate style than the son of Captain Hook?

"Is that the only reason?" Harry asked, giving her a cheeky wink.

"Well I certainly didn't come for the company," Evie said with a sweet smile. "So, are you going to teach me how to fence or are we just going to stand around all day in the cold?"

Harry got to his feet, throwing off his long sleeved red leather jacket, along with his hat, leaving them by the boulder. Evie followed his lead, disregarding her apple bag and blue leather jacket neatly on the ground, revealing her long sleeved blue t-shirt with a gold crown design. She grabbed a hair tie from her bag, pulling her waves of locks into a messy ponytail.

Harry threw her a sword.

"We'll start with the basics. First, I'll teach you the proper stance for en guarde, then I'll teach you to lunge, parry and riposte. And we'll see how we go from there," Harry explained, swishing the sword through the air experimentally.

"Fine with me."

______________________

Mal, Carols and Jay laughed as they ran out of Frollo's Creperie.

An employee and several disgruntled customers of the shop skidded to a stop at the doorway, shouting and shaking their fists angrily at the teenagers who had just wrecked havoc upon them and the restaurant.

The troublesome trio ran through the streets and back alleyways, sniggering, shouting and causing more mischief along the way. Anyone who happened to be walking by was pushed into a trash can, tripped up or jeered at. When they came to Pain Lane, they stopped to catch their breaths.