"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are."-Unknown
"You're going to try to convince him to fight?" Jack asked his voice soft.
"He has to, Jack. The gift he's been given…we can't let it fall to the wrong side. I've seen what can happen," Mickey answered, worrying his hands together.
"And what if I don't want to fight?" Cheshire asked, causing both men to look up at the injured cat that was leaning heavily against the wall in order to keep himself standing. "What if I don't care about light or darkness or anything in-between?"
"Cheshire…" Mickey started, jumping slightly when the man hissed.
"No! You have your puppet, your highness," Cheshire spat, fangs bared. "I will not fight, not for you, not for your cause, not for anything! I don't know why the Keyblade came to me, but it choose the wrong kitten,"
"So you will waste your gift? Just let it rust and decay inside you?" Mickey asked sharply, eyes narrowed. "And what happens when the darkness comes for you?"
"It already has!" Cheshire roared, almost falling over as he shoved away from the wall. "It came and it took her!"
"And what if you could get her back?" Mickey asked, rising to his feet.
Cheshire laughed at this, so hard he started coughing, and clutching his lower chest as pain racked his body. "Sorry, your highness, but my heart is no where pure enough to bring the worlds back. Alice is gone."
"Then fight for her!"
"Each keyblade wielder chooses their path, your majesty, Cheshire has chosen his." Jack said softly, standing himself and moving to support Cheshire who looked close to fainting. "Pushing him won't achieve your results,"
Mickey looked down at Jack's words, trying not to let his frustration get the better of him. "The Watcher's are vanishing," he said softly, so softly Jack wanted desperately to pretend he hadn't heard what the mouse had said.
"What do you mean…vanishing?" Cheshire coughed out, blinking at the tiny king.
"They're simply…gone. There one day, not the next. Their worlds are dying. A Watcher is needed in their world, they keep the…"
"I know what a Watcher does," Cheshire snapped and pulled away from Jack, heading for the stairs. "Send your little hero after them, this isn't my job,"
Mickey stared after the reluctant man in helplessness, having been sure he could convince the cat to help him.
--
Cheshire sat gingerly on the bed he had been loaned, his chin falling against his chest as he fought the sudden and violent urge to cry. He slanted his eyes towards the closed door before taking a deep breath.
Raising his hands, Cheshire pulled on a string deep inside him, eyes opening as he looked down at his hands, hoping, desperately that something would appear. Unfortunately, the only sight he saw between his palms was an expanse of empty air, a vision of the world he couldn't re-claim.
Watcher's were vanishing, Worlds were vanishing…and his princess was gone...dead.
Cheshire fell back against the bed, staring at the ceiling. He had never wanted to be a hero; he hadn't wanted to be a villain either. He liked the normal, middle ground that kept him safe…kept her safe.
"He means well, you know," Jack said softly from the door, startling the cat.
"Yes, well, he can keep meaning it," Cheshire said, rolling on his side, revealing his back to the skeleton.
Jack perched on the bed, reaching out and tracing the muscles of Cheshire's back, the long, boney fingers gently brushing over the scratches and bruises left behind from the fight in the graveyard. "So what will you do, while the worlds crumble into chaos? Sit back and watch?"
Cheshire was silent, still seeing the empty air between his hands. He took a deep, shuddering breath before pushing his hair out of his face, turning to look at Jack over his shoulder. "How many worlds are there, composed of darkness?"
Jack paused, trying to imagine the number. "A great deal, I'm guessing."
Cheshire turned back to stare at the headboard in front of him, raising his hand, Lady Luck appearing at his urging for the first time. "How many of them have a hero?"
--
"Be safe," Sally said softly, reaching up to brush her fingers over Jack's cheekbone before hugging the man tightly.
"As a bug," Jack said against Sally's hair, before pulling back, taking Sally's hands in his own. "I have something for you," He fished around in his jacket before pulling a small ring of thorns from a pocket, gently sliding it on her ring finger.
"Oh Jack," Sally said and hugged him again. "I love you, forever,"
"Eternally," Jack said with a smile, brushing his lips over the top of Sally's head. "Keep them safe, until I can return,"
Sally smiled, pulling away from Jack and nodding. "Safe as Christmas," she said softly, gently brushing her finger over the ring.
Jack squeezed her hand before joining Cheshire who was leaning against the Gummy Ship King Mickey had left behind for them.
"Having fun, lover boy?" Cheshire asked before turning and heading into the ship, ignoring Jack's grin. The former cat took a seat at the controls, staring at them for a moment, before pressing a random button, jerking as a canon somewhere above them shot out a fireball, destroying the Vampire's house. "Guess that wasn't it," he muttered, pressing another button, and sighing in relief as the door closed, engine's starting.
Jack took his seat next to Cheshire, watching the cat trying to figure out how to pilot via trial and error. "You're going to kill us before we even leave the ground, aren't you?"
"Shut up," Cheshire growled, pressing another button and yelping as their ship shot up into the air, Halloween Town growing smaller and smaller below them, Gummy space opening wide before them. "Alright, let's get going,"
"First stop, St. Canard," Sally's voice said over the speakers, the rag doll and Mayor acting as navigator's for the ship as Chip and Dale were otherwise occupied.
"Let's hope its still standing," Cheshire said as the Gummy ship shot off, stars streaming past them.
