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How To Deliver Justice (with KiraMusani

Aqua nodded, still watching for Great Big Little Panther. "He may not be willing to risk Princess Innis. That's quite a perilous trek, and Wendy will have to navigate it back to the ship. This is a secret cove for a reason. I believe that the debrief is ended, then, and I wish you and your crew safe voyage to the Capitol on the opposite side of the island and taking the English women home, Jane." She rose up, kissing both cheeks, before sinking back down to tread water, with just her human half about water.

All of the mermaids not busy making out and making love to Wendy (which was only Ariel), were entranced with Ethel's stories of times past, except Mera who chose to stay on guard.

Aqua looked over to her niece. "Ariel! Your human girl has to go now! You know she can't stay, she'll get all wrinkly! I'm sure Captain Hook will bring her to visit again, if she opts to stay aboard her vessel! She needs to get dressed!" Aqua turned back to look at Hook. "If she stays aboard your ship, she will visit Ariel again, right, Jane? She did save Ariel's life, after all." It was more for Jane to reassure Ariel, then not believing Jane wouldn't.

As Ariel whined about wanting to keep Wendy, Wendy got up, gasping for breath from the wild oral sex the mermaid had performed on her. "Wish I could take you home with me, too, Ariel, but where would you go in Berkshire. The county is landlocked. Even if I stay with Captain Hook, I couldn't very well keep you aboard the Rumble Rose. Where would you stay?"

Ariel pouted, but allowed Wendy to go back to her kind, so Wendy would gather her clothes from Hook, and put them on after straightening her crooked panties.

They would indeed meet Princess Innis and Chief Great Big Little Panther at the trailhead. Just as Aqua predicted; the chief explaining he wasn't about to risk the new queen's life since he had lost many a warrior on the trail over the years.
 
Hook nodded along agreeing with what Aqua was saying.
"Of course, we will all need to travel back before dark."

Ethel was quick to get up and join Hook once she announced their time to leave.
"Have fun?" She whispered to Wendy.
 
Wendy smirked at Ethel as she put her clothes on. "Fun rescuing, what just happened after... Mmm, dunno. I mean... I didn't become a meal, maybe because I'm a hero instead? What Ariel did to me was both weird and wonderful." Spoken like a true virgin.

They would soon be on their way back to the trailhead, this time Wendy was on foot. The trail wouldn't be as perilous going back, because any survivors of a meeting with the mermaids at the secret cove, needed to get home.

Chief Great Big Little Panther would be waiting there at the trailhead with a few warriors including his daughter, Tiger Lily, a warrior in her own right, and the only female besides the new queen.
 
Ethel chuckled.
"Heh, yeah that's one of the ways women can pleasure each other, but that is but the tip of mountain, I'm.sure you will learn lots with hook" she winked.

Once ready they started to head back, Hook saw little Panther and waved him down.
"Ahoy"
 
Wendy was quiet all the way back, falling in step with Olivia, just behind Hook.

As the y reached the trailhead, they both looked up at the mountain of a man, that had Ethel still had her old body, they'd probably been eye to eye, but the chief would probably still be twice her body mass. He raised a hand in greeting to Hook. "How." He motioned for Tiger Lily. "You remember my daughter? Brave hunter and warrior now. She was just starting her training last we spoke. Did heap damage to Pan's quarters. BOOM! Many Pan's warriors inside. They are no more." He raised an eyebrow at Ethel. "You were warrior to make Pan no more, yes?" He looked at Tiger Lily. "You and warriors say she was tall like me. She not. We will talk about heights later, you will gather warriors with you for pow-wow." He then motioned for Princess Innis as Tiger Lily lowered her head with a nod. "Great Island (which is what Innis means in Scot) is now Queen of Neverland." He nodded to her allowing Innis to speak for herself.

"Although the Piccaninny Warriors would be able to escort me safely to the Capitol, I wish for one of my privateer captains to do it. You will spend three days in the palace as my guests, provided it isn't burned to the ground, then it'll be my estate and grounds. I will also pay you, as captain, one and a half million pounds, and each member of your crew according to how she treats me. You see I am only in a fancy dress, and not wearing my tiara as I only wish them to think I'm a noble returning to the Capitol until we reach there. Speak nothing of who I really am, Captain Hook. Is that clear?"

Olivia and Wendy, both having been around royalty a lot bowed to her considering neither were in dresses and said in unison. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, your Eminence."

Innis pointed to both, and then to Olivia and grinned, "Jinx! You owe your friend here a beverage of her choice when we reach the Capitol!"

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Queen Innis of Neverland
 
They approached to listen as they spoke.
Ethel gave a nod in response to being the one who took out Pan.
"Sometimes in the heat of battle, people see things, I was standing over Pan, which likely made me look taller, especially in victory, people tend to associate height with strength." She replied.

"Queen" Hook gave a slight bow as the others (Other than Ethel) did similar.
"Understood, it won't be an issue to keep your identity a secret with us" Hook replied.
 
Innis nodded to Jane Hook. "Lady Innis is fine for now, Captain. A lot of nobles have the name, since, as the Chief pointed out, it means island."

Wendy, curious, asked a loaded question, which earned her a backhanded swat to the back of her head by Olivia who then crossed her arms and glared at her. The question? Innocent enough, actually: "So... With all the threats to you neutralized, why wouldn't you want anyone to know you're queen, Your Eminence? Ow! Olivia, what the hell...?!"

Innis raised an eyebrow. "A good question worthy of an answer... But first, you were swatted, I'm assuming by a higher end noble than yourself, for what was construed as an insult. Normally, one shouldn't question her queen, but I take you were part of the battle against James Hook, so knew more about the... Ah... Threat being neutralized. The problem is, the main threats of Pan and Jane's brother are neutralized, not all possible threats. I will be open to possible assassination until I'm safely in the Capitol." She then made eye contact with Olivia. "Instant reflex or no, Lady Olivia, I will thank you to let ME decide if a punishment is warranted. Is that understood?"

Olivia sighed. "Crystally. Eminence."

Innis nodded, holding out her hand to Hook. "I suppose the skiff is for transport to the ship? As Captain, if you will escort me?"

Olivia got in to row the boat back, as Wendy straddled, one foot in one out to help her Captain and the Queen aboard.
 
Ethel stayed quiet, arms crossed casually as everyone talked.

Hook took her hand with a nod.
"Of course, we can bring you there and keep you safe for as long as we are getting paid." She smiled.
 
As soon as they were aboard the Rumble Rose, Innis walked over to Ethel, lightly touched her arm, and said, "A word please? Up towards the bow where there's no sailor." There was little light from the waning half moon, and since there was little up there that would need a sailor until port,was relatively private.

Once there, Innis would face Ethel, and with a raised eyebrow asked quietly, "Did you know my father, and that's why you couldn't or wouldn't bow? Or me as a little girl, so can't imagine me grown up and running the whole country? I'm not twelve anymore." She chuckled. "You want to add ten years to that." She looked out over the ocean with just her peripheral vision and back at Ethel. "Also... I'm not my father. Even I'll admit some of his laws were very sexist against women. Especially that damned curfew of his. All I'm asking is you give me a chance. We just had a civil war, after all. Give me a chance to right this mess before you pass judgement on me."
 
Ethel stopped and looked at her as she touched her arm, following her to where she led her.

She listened to her and waited for her to finish before she replied.
"Alright, first off, Unless I am undercover I don't regularly bow to royalty. Second, as of right now for your own request, you are a noble. not a queen, why would I bow to a noble? And lastly, you have just got the title, I don't know you at all, there is no word of your capability to rule, positive or negative, so I'll hold my judgment for where there is actually something to judge." She explained crossing her arms.
"I am not saying this to be mean or cruel, for me, positions like that need to be earned for more than just birthright, show me you are a good and caring leader, and then maybe I'll give you the bow. Until then, know I'll do my job to the fullest extent of my abilities, to the letter. Deal?"
 
After a sigh of what seemed more like relief than anything else, Innis smirked. "Isn't that what I asked? Those two nobles and the captain did so before I made my request, however. I just was checking as King Rexford was not known for his kindness. It was more the lack of, but people knew me, or ignored the royal family for years. I just assumed you were someone who might have been around and remembered a pigtailed, temperamental red haired little princess who would rather run around with the peasants, than hang around with daddy and the snooty nobles of Neverland, that's all."
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As dawn broke in Berkshire, a few hours after sunup in Neverland, while everyone was just getting ready to port at the Capitol, everyone here would get ready for the harvesting of grapes, all except one princess who was looking out her window at the woods nearby. She sighed and headed to breakfast.

"Dr. Service, you do know that your partner has asked a very odd favour? And you are not exactly dressed for it?" Wendy's mother asked. "Traditional clothing for her country, and specifically for her kingdom, so if you would follow me?"

Millicent arrived just before the breakfast bell would ring, to be escorted by her noble superior. She knocked two short raps. "Milady Clair? Are you decent? In Monterisso, Merchant outranks Agent, can you please escort me to breakfast since we're partners?"
 
"Interesting, I suppose that makes sense, well no worries, I'll treat you with respect, just don't expect me to drop to a knee," She asked.

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Clair walked to the door, opening it to see she had just finished getting dressed, her hair still a bit of a mess, luckily, its short nature made it not look too bad.
"Yes sorry! I umm, slept in a little, do we need to go now? or should I prepare more?" She asked.
 
Innis was satisfied with Ethel's explanation and let the matter drop. That was three hours ago.

Now the sailors were making ready for disembarking, and Wendy was still up in the crows nest where she was sent, just to be out of the way, in MacGoughal's point of view. She still steered, or rather called out the heading to the other navigator below, and the Captain.

"Well?! What're ya waitin' on, look out? Git yer bee-hine down here an' prepare for disembarking! Innis asked fer ya, Olivia, Ethel an' Dunkirk th' Hungry t' be wi' 'er an' th' Cap'n! Ya wanna last onna crew, ya dinnae wanna be keepin' th' Cap'n waitin'! Or a noble! Specially nae Innis!" MacGoughal barked. It didn't look like the first mate was ever going to lighten up on the Berkshire resident.
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Princess Sapphire smoothed her toga like dress and took a breath. "Been a long time since I had a good retsina¹. And to think I finally get to try my hand at making it. I just hope the doctor knows how to impress me with a worthy outfit."

Millicent arched an eyebrow. "Come along, Lady Clair, it's been almost a fortnight², now. Surely you're used to getting up early. Breakfast has always been at dawn. It's why we're supposed to be in bed by nine in the evening." She tutted, came in, wetted her hands in Clair's ewer, and laid down some of her hair. "Good enough. Let's go eat. See, unlike most other countries where the agent or spy is on the same footing as a knight, it's not so in Monterisso, although our Queen is nicknamed the Queen of Spies, it's actually the lowest nobility. I'm actually lower than Merchant or Baron. You outrank me."

When they would get down to breakfast, Aurora would barely be recognizable in her Grecian attire. The princess, however would be unmistakably Greek. Surely even Clair would recognize her traditional royal dress.
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Princess Sapphire's dress (top)
Dr. Service's dress (lower left)
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1-retsina is a popular traditional wine in Greece, flavoured with pine resin.

2-14 days, or 2 weeks.
 
Ethel nodded and returned to working on the ship, that is until the time came for them to gather.

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Clair nodded with a blush as her hair was somewhat fixed.
"Yeah I umm, sorry, I was just working on some stuff last night, so missed out on some sleep" She admitted.
"umm, thanks" She smiled after her hair was fixed.
As they left and she spoke Clair nodded.
"Oh? really? well, that stuff does not really matter to me, I am fine with you leading still. But yes, food first sounds good." She smiled as she moved with her.

Once they arrived and saw the others Clair greeted each of them they came across.
"Oh doctor, princess, you both look lovely! Oh and Doctor, I put more work into that scope to see really small things, I think I might be onto something" She explained preparing to pull out her notebook.
 
Wendy started down the mast, but didn't say anything to MacGoughal, considering her position on the crew was second to the Captain. She frowned, but politely nodded to the ladies gathered, and took a deep breath.

Olivia raised an eyebrow and elbowed her. "What's eating you? Besides the obvious."

Dunkirk the Hungry was noshing on some bread, before letting out a belch, that would probably have scared Wendy's dad! It did make Wendy and Olivia glance over.

Innis only raised an eyebrow as she addressed the group. She smirked at the overweight, but otherwise toned sailor. "I'm beginning to see why you're nicknamed the Hungry. Anyway, ladies, welcome to The Capitol. I've chosen you specifically for your abilities with your swords according to your Captain. Jane Hook will escort me on the front, Ethel, you have the right. Olivia will guard my left, and Wendy, that makes you covering my rear. Captain Hook has told me about your fighting prowess, and it was a tough call as all three of you deserve the honour of being at my right. Alas, I only have one right side. Dunkirk, that gives you the unenviable position of answering the question of who you're all guarding to you, without giving away who I am." She turned to the Captain. "If you don't have anything to add, Jane, Dunkirk will lead our procession, and run interference. You may have us move out at your command."
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Dr. Aurora smiled and nodded to both as she fixed her shawl. "You can that Mrs. Darling for that." She raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat. "Lady Clair, might I remind you I said not to rush. Please don't make me make it Doctor's Orders. I do not like that right, and would like to reserve from doing so."

Millicent raised an eyebrow as well. "Isn't that what I and Olivia also asked of you, was not to rush our orders? I don't even need to have the equipment promised me until AFTER I have heard back from Queen Amalas." She then squeezed a shoulder. "Relax."

Crimson Avenger (Princess Calla) also nodded. "Enjoy the games, Lady Clair. I cannot help with your development, or practicing with the grappling line until after the season. Focus on either winning me, or someone else. Like the Cordonian Princess." She then gave her a wink, which definitely caused Ruby to blush.
 
Ethel also looked over at the belch, smirking before returning her gaze to where it had been previously.

She nodded upon hearing her position, not giving too much of a reaction to having been chosen for the right side, though she felt like behind was the most important role, as it was the most likely place for an assassin to strike from.

Jane nodded.
"Nothing to add other than keep on your toes Ladies, we only get one shot at this, don't mess it up. Let's move out"

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Clair paused putting her notebook back into her bag and closing it.
"R-right, sorry, I was just a little excited, my parents had to ensure I didn't overwork but I guess without them around I have kind of gone overboard." She admitted embarrassed.

"Okay, I'll focus on the games for now, to be honest, I didn't get the best sleep last night, quite shit foresight on my part admittedly." She added blushing and looking away at the mention of winning someone.
 
Wendy, putting a hand to her sword's hilt, gave a sharp nod, although she looked like she envied both Olivia and Ethel who got to walk next to the Neverland Queen, and only focus on the side of them.

As they started along the route, Dunkirk the Hungry, seemed to understand her role of running interference, and to better watch their backs, she abruptly turned on her heel and watched the crowd gathering and following, while keeping in step, walking backwards, hand still on her sword, eyes darting every direction.

Impressed, Olivia remarked. "I don't think we have to worry about our backs after all, Ladies Innis and Ethel. Take a quick peek at Darling." She whispered.
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King Gregor raised an eyebrow and motioned to Clair's parents sitting on either side of him. "I've asked them and Amethyst to guard all of you, Lady Clair. While it's true they cannot focus solely on you, they can still be assessable, if you need. Aren't you also 17, though, and capable of managing yourself? Perhaps tis better to trust yourself and your friends, especially those looking out for you, yes?"

Breakfast was a fruit salad with what appeared to be a white wine sauce, that had apples, pears, cherries, and different berries. It was served in a big bowl, and looked enough that each bowl could feed two. "Try to eat it all if you can." Mr Darling announced. "This is to tie you over until dinner. That's not until 4pm ladies. The earliest. You're harvesting grapes and making wine today." He glanced to Princess Sapphire. "Except House Amethyst who is making a home vintage. Retsina, I believe?"

"Correct," the princess nodded. "It requires pine resin to complete. If it's done correctly, everyone at this table is in for a treat. I'm glad now that the doctor will be my partner in gathering the ingredients. I approve her traditional clothing."
 
Ethel did not look but replied "Or perhaps you should keep your eyes on your own post, depending on the assassin, even a 'quick look' will be enough of an opening" Ethel at least kept her reply also to a whisper.

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Clair smiled and waved to her parents before looking to the King and giving a bow.
"Oh yes, well my father was sure to train me in hand-to-hand and self-defense, I don't really have any experience, and last I was attacked, I admittedly panicked, putting all that training to waste. But otherwise, yes I'll trust my new friends to help protect me, and I hope I can do the same if they need it."

Clair nodded and did her best to eat her fill and then some, even adding a small amount of what would last well in a small pouch attached to her bag for later if she needed it.
 
Innis did chance the peek. Clearing her throat and also whispering, she said, "Well met, Ethel. Nevrakis could learn something from you and Wendy. But if she hadn't seen how Wendy is guarding, when I would have signalled silently for all to stop, she would have ran into the back of us. I now know it'll have to be audible."

That time came soon enough, as the Neverland people seemed to know to stop at the outskirts of town, and the only places along the path were nobles estates and the castle itself. One of the nobility had returned to Neverland!

After passing the other estates, Innis called out for the procession to stop. "We're here. And it's in one piece. Welcome to Castle Neverland."

Before them was a castle not unlike Buckingham Palace or Hagglethorn Hall. Ivy grew along it's walls and the gate to where they would enter, making it almost as green as the grounds that surrounded it.

Seeing as it was fully gated and closed off, Innis thought nothing of it but to march up the path and reclaim her family castle. "I promised three day vacation, and you shall have it."
----------------------------------------------------

After breakfast, everyone would be off to the vineyards to gather the grapes needed for their wines, Millicent leading Clair to the white grapes. "Now we put our research from yesterday to work. Remember what Lady Beaumont said. The choicest are the plumpest. They'll make the best white wine, and we want to win this, right?"
 
Ethel nodded.
"Yes but a simple, Wendy is walking backward, would suffice over trying to divert every other guard's attention." She retorted.

Ethel walked with her, just because it was walled off didn't mean someone was not waiting for them, they were not safe till they searched every inch of the space.
"With all due respect, we have not yet cleared this space."

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Clair nodded.
"Yes, of course, I have many notes and diagrams based on illustrations in the books, we will only use the best of grapes for our wine" She nodded.
 
Innis was impressed with Ethel. "Well met. Go ahead, then. Take either Olivia or Wendy with you, the rest of us will stay here until you give the all clear. Be quick, yet thorough. Your 72 hour vacation can't start until you clear the grounds. Just be paired up. Please." She wasn't making it an order, but her eyes pled it.
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Millicent noticed one of the other two couples were going by bunches, yet hers and Bertrice Beaumont were picking specific grapes.

When she returned to Clair and their large bushel basket, she relayed what she had spied. "If we're going to win this in the white wine category, we may have to step up our game by adding a flavour besides grape to ours, but I can't think of anything else that goes with it save the mint in my favourite wine. Do you have an idea?"

Once the basket was full, she would help Clair take it to the winepresses for the next step.
 
Ethel nodded and gestured for Olivia to follow.
"Let's get moving. stay on my back and watch your corners." She told her.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Clair paused in thought at the question.
"perhaps a berry, to add some sweetness?" She suggested.
 
"Have you know me not to be able to watch? A split second earlier, and before you say, I can actually hear an arrow or sword swish."

Quickly, before Ethel could even react, she whipped and sent a dagger piercing through the air and they both heard a "hkkk" and a thump of a large body hitting the ground. "In the chest, deep, just above the heart. Archer. Arrow will be just on the outskirts of the forest there. You're welcome." She commented nonchalant, dusting off her hands. "Doesn't matter which of us he was aiming for, got him before he got his shot off." A shrug. "You can check for yourself you don't believe me. I just ask you bring me back my dagger if you do check."
----------------------------------------


Millicent rubbed her chin. "Berries, hmmm? I thought I saw a bush near this stretch of vineyard. I think we should get some of those, and then check with Mr. Darling if they're edible."

Millie wouldn't know it, but Gregor, Amethyst, Sir Tuxford and Clair's dad would recognize them, although none would have been seen in over twenty years. The legendary gummiberries, which were able to be used for human consumption.
Screenshot_20231022-183706~2.png
(Cropped from a still from actual show. Knew the green berries weren't my imagination)
 
Ethel simply nodded back to her, not wanting to talk over any possible noises that would be made as they made their way in.

She moved in stopping as the dagger was thrown, nearly moving her hand up to catch it out of instinct but instead listened and watched. She paused and looked back at Olivia as she spoke, whispering in return.
"You know we are here to work as a team right? it's not a competition? Get serious you could die here, and remain quiet, they are waiting for us, and any noise can give us away giving them the advantage."
She made sure they were safe, listening for any movement as a result of the man who got taken out.
"We stick together, clear this place room by room systematically."

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Clair nodded as she continued to grab berries that matched her notes.
"Oh yes, once we have all the grapes we need we can go check them out, I might know if they are okay, I have read some books on them" She admitted, though she would not recognize them, so told Millicent that they should pick them with gloves on, and keep them separate from the grapes, in case they were poison.

After collecting them they saw that Gregor, Amethyst, Sir Tuxford, and Clair's dad all would let them know that they were edible but also wanted to know where they found them as they were uncommon and none of them had seen them in years.

"Oh good, we used gloves just in case, but we should test their flavor straight and in liquid state first to make sure they will make a good pairing for our wine." She suggested to Millicent after giving her father a hug, from seeing him.
 
Olivia sighed, slapped her chest with her right palm and brought it up to her shoulder in a Lythikan military salute. She whispered back, " Au contraire Mon Capitan, there is competition. It isn't between you and me, it's between us and them. I'm well aware of the penalty for failure."

After about three hours, the systematic check was complete, which left Olivia slightly perplexed. "A lone assassin? Why? I think one of us WAS the intended target after all."

Innis frowned when she heard the report. "We have no issues with any country, but someone leaked information, to target Ethel or Olivia, Jane. I hate to say it, but you have a traitor on your crew. Find her. BEFORE one of them ends up dead."

"It was a male, though, Eminence." Olivia said with a head shake. "It could be traced back to the crew, it would have to be someone she knows. And I am aware of the new naval phrase, it was a Lythikan who coined it. Loose lips sink ships. It might just be a blabbermouth, that didn't realize the danger she put everyone in."

If Captain Hook checked, it would turn out to be one of Cookie's kitchen help that had actually wanted WENDY assassinated, but got the hair color wrong, saying Ethel's shade of red, instead of Wendy's reddish-brunette shade. Olivia had saved Ethel after all.
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Gregor was the one to nod. "Wise decision. I would love to have some gummiberry preserves again, and share that sweet and sour taste with my daughter. Sir Tuxford remembers multiple colours, but alas, I only remember the green and purplish red."

When Mr. Darling found out where, he would investigate to see if he could find more of the bushes. While he was at it, he laid out a few clay pots. "Put your berries in these, make the juice in one, and after you finish, use the one you had the whole berries in, to mix the two juices before adding your mint, add the grape juice first, though. Most mixed fruit wines have a 3:1 ratio grape to other juice before aging. Three cups grape to one of the other fruit. Add it in slowly as you stir the two together. Add your mint last."

That would turn out to be the winning recipe... If Clair and Millie follow Mr. Darling's directions precisely.
 
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