Terrible Trixie Pirate Queen

By Suzanna Stanbury

Trixie Tracy Buttercup Fleming is the daughter of a scientist and an over-protective mother. Trixie longs for adventure and excitement and is convinced the boy next door, Alfie Rains – in her eyes a creature of great mystery – is the key to experiencing some adventures of her own.

After an encounter with Alfie, Trixie is surprised to find herself waking up onboard a pirate ship, transformed into a pirate queen – and even better, one who wears an awesome, purpletastic outfit. Trixie takes naturally to pirating and soon despatches a pirate captain into the ocean, commandeering both his pirate ship and his crew of unlikely buccaneers.

Trixie and her ship The Violet Nightmare voyage forth in search of treasure and adventure, but only succeed in blundering into a series of ridiculous situations, blighted by storms, vile sea-beasts and more curses than a witch’s kitchen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suzanna Stanbury
• Release date: Jul 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301982615

Suzanna Stanbury

Suzanna Stanbury lives in Bristol, England. She publishes as Snub Try Publishing. Suzanna writes children's books, novels and short stories. She performs regularly at spoken word events, performing at schools and libraries encouraging children to love books. She is administrator and an active member of The Bristol Fiction Writers' Group. Website: http://snubtry.weebly.com/ Twitter: @suzannastanbury Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SuzannaStanbury The illustrations for Suzanna Stanbury books are created by Liz Ascott.

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Terrible Trixie Pirate Queen

By

Suzanna Stanbury

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY

Suzanna Stanbury on Smashwords

Terrible Trixie Pirate Queen

Copyright © 2013 Suzanna Stanbury

Smashwords Edition

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Cover art by Liz Ascott Copyright © 2013

Chapter One

The Pirate Queen

Trixie Tracy Buttercup Fleming woke to the sound of seagulls clamouring. She sat up rubbing her eyes, staring in amazement at the sails flapping above her head.

I’m on a ship! she exclaimed.

The last thing Trixie could remember was skipping on the grass outside her home when Alfie Rains, her next-door-neighbour, appeared in a tearing hurry. Trixie couldn’t resist it and planted a big smacker of a kiss upon him… and then everything went dark.

A seagull swooped low over Trixie. After splattering a messy message all over the deck it landed at her feet. The gull waddled up, put his head on one side and squawked.

Hmm, said Trixie. I wonder how I got on this ship? I can’t remember a thing. Do you know, Mr Seagull?

Auk, said the seagull.

Trixie tried to get up, but for some reason her feet slipped from underneath her and she fell back down again. Oops, said Trixie, unfurling her legs and sticking them out.

Ooh, boots, she exclaimed, reaching forwards and stroking them. The boots were long and purple. They had silver buckles all down the sides that caught the light when she moved her legs. Grabbing a nearby barrel, Trixie used it to haul herself up.

Gosh, she said, rocking back on the heels. "These boots are very high. I feel like a giantess! My goodness, I am so tall!" She took a few steps and gasped again when she noticed the lilac and silver stripy tights and little silver skirt she was wearing.

Oh, wow, said Trixie. A jewelled belt! The belt had a silver buckle the size of a dinner plate, and right in the middle was set a glittering purple stone.

Lovely! said Trixie, wetting her finger and rubbing the gem until it gleamed. An overwhelming urge gripped Trixie – she absolutely had to find a mirror.

The ship had all the usual seafaring furniture: masts and rigging, crates, ropes and barrels – but absolutely no mirrors. At the far end of the deck was a flight of steps stretching upwards to a set of imposing glass doors leading to the Captain’s cabin. Trixie wobbled forwards. Clack, clack, clack, her heels clattered over the deck.

Whoops, said Trixie, almost falling sideways. She straightened her back, tip-toeing forwards and rocking on the heels until she got used to her new size.

I like these boots, said Trixie. They’re gorgeous.

Auk, said the seagull, toddling along behind her. Trixie tried a little run. The deck shook a bit, and she giggled when the seagull gave a frightened squawk and flapped up into the rigging. Realising she’d already crossed the deck and was standing in front of the steps, Trixie put her hands on her hips.

That was awfully quick, she said, looking behind her. This must be a very small ship. The steps up to the cabin were narrow and Trixie had to place her feet sideways to be able to climb them. The seagull landed on the deck-rail, watching her.

Oh, wowza, said Trixie, looking at her reflection in the long glass doors. Her hair was sticking out from her head in a hundred wiggling tentacles. And even better, it was bright purple with silver skull charms dangling here and there. Trixie went cross-eyed and flicked a charm, watching it swing menacingly back and forth in front of her nose. She peered into the glass again and adjusted the black bandana adorning her forehead.

Earrings! cried Trixie, putting her hands to the silver hoops. And make-up too. She pouted her shiny violet lips, batted her jet-black eyelashes, enjoying the feel of the breeze they made dancing over her cheeks.

I’m a vision! Trixie gave a twirl, letting the tail of her purple and black stripy coat flare out behind her. Next, she flexed the shoulder pads decorated with black feathers and stuck her thumbs in her belt, giving a little swagger. Hah, said Trixie. I look magnificent!

Suddenly she realised a little man was staring at her from the other side of the glass doors. His eyes were wide and his mouth had formed into a perfect little ‘O’. Trixie smirked wickedly.

BOOOO!

The little man leapt in the air with fright. A pirate! he screamed. A pirate’s aboard! Run for your lives. His howls faded away and he vanished into the depths of the cabin.

A pirate! exclaimed Trixie. Very slowly, she turned, fully expecting to discover a fearsome brute clad in a black hat swirling a mighty sword at her, preparing to chop her into a thousand pieces.

Huh, said Trixie. There’s no-one there. What a silly sailor! He must’ve been supping soppy juice! She was just about to open the glass doors when a rumpus began below deck. There was banging, clumping and clanging, then with a mighty thwack the hatch crashed open. Men began to pour out of the hold – each and every one of them holding a weapon of some kind. Sharp swords and shiny daggers clinked and clattered. Long-handled brooms waved and even cooking pots rattled as the crew swarmed towards Trixie.

Huh! she said, putting her hands on her hips and scowling at the men. One of the sailors hurled a pan at her head. Trixie ducked. The pan glanced off the cabin, flying over the side of the ship and splashing into the waves below.

Quick as lightening, Trixie whipped two huge cutlasses from the scabbards at her belt, brandishing them in front of her. Swish, swish.

RAR! yelled Trixie. The men immediately stopped swarming and stared at her wide-eyed with fright. Hah! she said. Her fingers twitched and, with a deft and stylish movement, Trixie flipped the cutlasses into the air, caught them again and began swirling them about her head, criss-crossing the blades with a series of marrow-chilling sounds.

HAVE AT YE! she howled. Run, you scurvy rats or I’ll mince you in a trice. Such is the might of Terrible Trixie!

This is super fun, thought Trixie, still twirling and swishing. Tensing her knees she bounded down from the top step to the deck below. With heels pounding she thundered towards the crew.

Flick! Trixie poked the tip of her cutlass under a sailor’s belt and tossed him over the side. In he went with a mighty splash, landing in the churning waves. Flick – splash. Flick – splash. Flicketty, flick – splashetty, splash. Soon all the sailors had been despatched into the frothing surf.

Cor, said Trixie, when she was the only person remaining on deck. That was terrific! She walked along the deck rail smoothing the polished wood with her hand.

"This ship is mighty fine, she sang, stabbing one of her cutlasses into the deck, and it’s all mine. Tra, la, la." Pausing to let a smile of triumph escape she carried on singing.

"I took this ship,

Gave it’s sailors a dip,

Yay, yay, yay.

It’s my lucky day!"

Trixie danced around her cutlass a few times then leaning on the deck rail, she stared out to sea.

"Captain Trixie is my name,

And this ship I gladly claim.

Tra, la, la. What a jolly game!"

Trixie danced across the deck, spinning on her toes, twirling until the purple tendrils of her hair flew out like a fairground ride, each little skull soaring round her head as she went. The tippetty-tap of Trixie’s heels clipped a merry jig on the varnished wood as she spun around, faster and faster.

The seagull landed next to her. Letting out a loud squawk, it opened its beak wide. The wind whipped up a notch, ruffling the bird’s feathers. It closed its beak, leaning sideways as the ship lurched.

To the wheel, Mr Seagull, said Trixie. Whee, whee, wheel! She pulled hard, spinning the wheel so fast the handles blurred. The ship heaved wildly and Trixie tripped, nearly flattening the seagull.

Whoops, she said. I need to learn to sail properly. Got any tips, Mr Seagull? The bird hopped atop the barrel, staring intently at Trixie with its head on one side. Trixie steered, pulling at the wheel, trying her hardest to guide the ship on a steady course.

The smell of salt hung in the air, the bracing wind reddened Trixie’s cheeks, the cry of gulls rang in her ears as they swooped overhead, urging her on. A few birds landed on the boom mast, shuffling about.

Ooooh, cried Trixie. Look, seagulls. There’s another ship!

Sure enough, on the horizon loomed an absolutely enormous hulk of a vessel. Trixie didn’t move, apart from the occasional twitch of the wheel, watching intently as the ship came into view. It’s vast, grubby-looking sails billowed out as the mighty hull humped over the waves.

Gosh, said Trixie. That’s a pirate ship! The big dark ship was holding a powerful course pounding through the seas, flattening the surf, splicing the towering green