sultal's note: This little story is one of the prequels to "Taking Fantasia" and "Giving Fantasia" detailing a snippet of Jim Hawkins and Wendy Darling's friendship. I wrote this as a "Christmas Special" for TF and GF readers. Doesn't hurt either that the new Star Wars movie came out, refueling my original geeky fandom. Enjoy. keep writing.

Chapter 1: Lightsaber

"Happy birthday!"

Jim rubbed his eyes. Wendy's birthday greeting was brighter than the sunrise (which wasn't scheduled for another hour). Good god – what was she doing up so early? And so cheerful?

Groggily Jim leaned against the doorway. The BENBOW INN sign creaked in the winter wind. It was December 21st. and aside from being his birthday, today was also their 'best friend' anniversary. They had met exactly one year ago on Pirate's Point, following the death of Wendy's mother and abandonment of Jim's father (a.k.a Sinbad, the 'son of a bitch').

The first year of their friendship had been...actually delightful. Wendy was the coolest girl Jim had ever met. True, she was a little proper (Jim would be rich if he got a penny for every time Wendy reprimanded his language), but he admired her conviction. Moreover, Wendy was bright, extremely forthcoming, and just a sweetheart. Through their interactions, Wendy helped Jim cope with dark memories and a broken heart.

"Happy twelfth birthday!" Wendy repeated pushing a polka-dotted gift bag into his hands. Jim almost dropped it – it was heavy. "I'm sorry it's not properly wrapped. I couldn't find the tissue paper. But we did have a basket of ribbons and plastic bows, so that's why I put on four. Happy birthday!"

Jim ground his forehead. "Wen...what time is it?"

"Five thirty."

"What the Hell are you doing up so early?"

"Language."

"Sorry."

"Michael was crying." Wendy explained, hefting her backpack. Jim heard books shuffling inside. "He lost his teddy bear, so I found it and sung him to sleep. Well after that, I was up, so I decided to come this morning before school to wish you happy birthday."

Wendy attended Fantasia School for the Magically Skewed. Jim was home schooled – a rare blessing. From Wendy's accounts, the public school system sounded lame.

"Uh huh." Jim shifted the gift bag. "So you've been up for hours, basically?"

"Basically."

"God you're cheerful."

"Today is the last day of school before Christmas break."

"Ah. Cool. So why didn't your dad put Mike back to sleep?"

"Father was sleeping."

Jim grunted. "He sleeps a lot."

Wendy's smile leveled.

"Typically," she said testily. "My father sleeps at night. Most people do."

Jim blew through his nose. He was a night owl – Wendy objected that he usually slept 4 hours a night, preferring to tinker with machinery than sleep.

But Wendy was also acting defensively. Although most of her free time was spent in Jim's workshop, Jim had visited Wendy's home. Usually his excursions to the Darling residence were of necessity. Wendy never invited him outright, and Jim quickly perceived why:

Something was wrong with Mr. Darling. Jim couldn't define exactly what, but something was wrong. Not wanting to embarrass Wendy, Jim let the matter slide – but he disliked Mr. Darling. The man seemed jittery, volatile, and ready to snap.

"Well. Thanks for the gift." Nosing into the bag, Jim eased from the abrasive moment. "Nice of you."

Wendy's glee returned. She loved giving gifts. "Open it! Look inside!"

Jim did. There were two presents, one on top of the other. The first –

"Ha. Yes." Jim flapped a pair of dollar-store mittens. Wendy also disapproved that Jim refused to bundle up for winter. "I remember. You said you were going to get these."

"And I did." Wendy pointed. "They have little grips on the underside – so you won't slip off the solar surfer."

Jim turned the mittens. He nodded. "Good idea. That is a good idea. Thanks."

"Make sure you wear them," Wendy dictated. "Or else your fingers will freeze."

"Solid. Oh yeah." he donned the mittens. "These fit great."

"I knew they would! All right –" Wendy bounced with anticipation. "Now the real present! Go ahead – look!"

Jim reached into the bag. He felt before he saw, and smiled.

"No way."

"Yes!" Wendy squealed.

"Where..." Jim withdrew a pop-up sink drain stopper. The metal tube was tied with a bow. "Where did you find a brass stopper?"

"School." Wendy said. "Mr. Silver – he's the cafeteria cook – was fixing an old rusty kitchen sink. There was a little bit of a flood apparently, and we weren't allowed in the cafeteria for lunch so I thought perhaps the sink would have the metal part you wanted. Mr. Silver threw the sink away, so I pulled the stopper from the drain. Is it all right? You wanted the metal – not the plastic? It's a little rusty..."

"No, no." Jim fingered the brass stopper. "No this is perfect. Little salt, vinegar, and a wire brush will take off this rust. Easy. Wen, thank you."

She swayed happily. "You're welcome! Now you can finish that project you were working on – your sword."

Jim flicked the brass tube. "Lightsaber." he corrected.

"Oh. Yes. Lightsaber. Sorry I forgot – I've never heard of one of those before."

"Yeah, technically they're 'impossible to make.' Not real. That's what Mom said. But I think if I find a crystal or something maybe I can – "

Jim halted. He looked up.

"Wen – you've never heard of a lightsaber?"

Wendy affirmed. "No."

"Then...Wen. Have you ever seen Star Wars?"

Wendy blinked. "Is...that a celebrity show?"

Jim almost died of horror.

"Star Wars is the best movie of all time!" Jim raised the metal stopper. "Lightsabers are what jedi and sith use to fight! I can't believe you've never seen Star Wars! Have you been living under a rock? Wen – this is not good."

Wendy was slightly alarmed. She'd never seen Jim so adamant.

"Not good? Why?"

Jim replaced the stopper in the gift bag. "We can't be friends until you've watched Star Wars."

"What? But – Jim. Don't you think that's a little extreme?"

"You made me watch those dumb pirate movies." Jim made air quotes. "Because they were 'so good.'"

Wendy bristled. "Pirates of the Caribbean is a cinematic masterpiece."

"You just think Jack Sparrow is cute."

"I do not!"

"The point – " Jim said, motioning her inside. "Is that we've gotta fix this. Fast. You need to watch all six Star Wars movies – starting with the last three."

"Starting with the last three?" Wendy trailed Jim. "Well that doesn't make any sense at all! Where are you going?"

Jim thundered upstairs. Resolutely he responded. "I'm going to ask mom if you can sleep over! This is so stupid, I can't believe you've never seen Star Wars. Wen, we're going to have a Star Wars movie marathon."

"Movie marathon? For six movies?" Wendy called upstairs. "When?"

There was a pause. Wendy listened to muffled discussion as Jim woke his mother, argued, insisted, begged, and finally poked his head around the stair well –

"How 'bout Christmas Eve?"

Wendy's nerves tingled. Christmas Eve. The date fluttered in her stomach, but not because Father Christmas was scheduled to bring holiday magic –

- there was a dance on Christmas Eve. A school dance. And Wendy had hoped that today, the last day of school, someone special would ask her to the ball.

"Ummm..."

"Wennnnnnn." Jim drummed the wall. Wendy was struck – he smiled. Grumpy, sullen, life-sucks Jim Hawkins actually smiled.

"Wen come on. Star Wars is badass." Jim's eyes glowed – this was an opportunity to share a piece of himself, a favorite thing. "Yes or no?"

Wendy deflated. How could she refuse?

"All right." Wendy accepted, trying to look excited. "I think that sounds lovely."

"Good." Jim darted into his mother's bedroom. He darted back out. "Oh yeah. We just gotta to check with your dad after you get home from school. But whatever – Wen, Star Wars is going to blow your mind."

Wendy sighed. Wishing Jim happy birthday again, she trudged through the whirling snowflakes for school. "I'm sure it will."