Chapter 9: Hook and Flight
Captain Hook was waiting for them outside with a militia of Heartless alongside him. This was Lucy's first encounter with the pirate captain. Lucy didn't know whether to feel intimidated or humored by the captain. He certainly had a menacing presence, especially with the fact that one of his hands was a metal hook, but his outward appearance and stereotypical pirate clothing was enough to make Lucy crack a smile.
"What's so funny, girl?!" Captain Hook snarled.
"Oh...nothing," Lucy lied. She gripped the hilt of her new sword tightly. She was still confused about her knife changing into a sword but she felt that she should wait until the danger had passed to figure out the answer.
"Where's Riku?!" Sora asked as he summoned the Keyblade.
"Quite a codfish, that Riku," teased Hook. "Running off with that girl without even saying goodbye."
"Run of where? Tell me, where did he go?!"
"To the ruins of Hollow Bastion, where Maleficent resides." Lucy wanted to know more of this mysterious Maleficent but she figured that she find out more eventually. "But you won't be going there." Suddenly, Hook presented a small cage to them. Inside the cage was none other than Tinker Bell. "Unless you intend to leave your little pixie friend behind?"
"Tinker Bell?!" asked a shocked Donald.
"But how?!" Goofy asked.
"The Heartless managed to capture this obnoxious pixie while she was trying to follow Peter Pan. It's a shame that he abandoned her, but at least now I have some leverage of me own. Now I suggest putting that Keyblade of yours away before someone gets hurt." The Keyblade disappeared with a flash of light. Lucy held the hilt of her sword with an even tighter grip. The Heartless began to surround them. "Hand over the Keyblade and I'll spare you'll lives! Be glad I'm merciful, unlike the Heartless."
"Sora! You can't give him the Keyblade!" Lucy whispered.
"I know...but I can't let you, Donald, and Goofy lose your lives over the Keyblade!" Sora whispered back.
"So which will it be? The Keyblade, or the plank?!" Hook asked. Just then, an odd ticking sound began emanating from the water down below.
"What's that noise?" Donald asked. Hook began to shake as he looked over the side of the ship. Floating in the water down below was crocodile, who was looking up at Hook hungrily.
"Is...is that crocodile making a ticking sound?" Lucy asked.
"I think it is," said Goofy. Hook backed away from the edge of the ship. "I think Hook's afraid of it!"
"It's him! The crocodile that took me hand!" he exclaimed. "Oh, Smee! He's after me other hand! I can't stay here! Go away! Oh, I can't stand the sight of him!" Hook then handed the cage containing Tinker Bell to Smee, a plump pirate in a striped shirt. Hook quickly made his way back to the study. "Smee, you take care of them!"
Hook then disappeared through the study door.
"Who knew a pirate captain would be afraid of a silly, old crocodile?" Lucy asked with a grin.
"Heartless! Lead the prisoners to the plank!" Smee ordered. One of the Heartless grabbed Sora and began pulling him towards the plank.
"Sora!" Lucy unsheathed her sword.
"No, Lucy! They've still got Tinker Bell!" Sora warned. Lucy turned back towards the frightened, trapped fairy. She didn't know Tinker Bell as well as the others but she still wouldn't risk her life. Lucy grudgingly sheathed her sword as the Heartless pushed Sora onto the plank. Sora backed up to the edge. The crocodile was down below. It's mouth was open, ready for a new meal to jump inside of it.
"It can't end like this!" Lucy exclaimed. She turned back to Donald and Goofy. "Can it?"
"Not unless Sora's learned to fly by now," croaked a nervous Donald.
"Learned to fly?" Lucy turned back towards Sora to see that he appeared to be thinking of something. He then closed his eyes and jumped off the plank. "SORA!"
Sora fell towards the crocodile's open mouth. Then, at the last second, Sora flew away from the crocodile and up into the air.
"He did it! Sora did it!" Goofy cheered. Lucy looked on in amazement.
"How...how is that possible?" she asked.
"Fairy dust!" Donald exclaimed. Lucy suddenly thought back to when Tinker Bell had accidentally showered golden dust on her when she was recovering from Hook's attack on the Gummi Ship. Did she have the ability to fly as well?
"Heartless, get them!" Smee ordered. The Heartless charged for them. Lucy unsheathed her sword while Donald and Goofy pulled out their staff and shield respectively.
"I'll get Tinker Bell!" said Lucy as she ran forward. As she ran towards the Heartless, the only word in her mind was fly. Then she took off. She flew over the Heartless and towards Smee, who was still holding Tinker Bell's cage. Smee ducked and continued to hold onto Tinker Bell.
"I've got to tell the Captain!" Smee said to himself.
"Not so fast!" called a familiar voice. Lucy looked up just in time to see Peter Pan fly down and snatch Tinker Bell's cage out of Smee's hands. Smee ran away as Peter let Tinker Bell go free.
"Thanks, Peter," said Sora as he landed.
"Hey, don't mention it. You didn't think that I'd really leave you and Tink behind, did ya?"
"G...Get them!" Smee yelled at the Heartless as he ran below deck. The Heartless charged for them.
"Take that!" Donald yelled as he sent a blast of fire at the Heartless. Three Heartless disappeared in a burst of fire. Lucy and Goofy faced off against one set of Heartless while Sora, Donald, and Peter faced off against another. Lucy brought her sword down on one Heartless as another began to bear down on her.
"Look out!" Goofy warned. Lucy ducked as Goofy tossed his shield at the Heartless, wiping it out.
"Thanks, Goofy!" said Lucy. A group of flying Heartless began shooting projectiles from high above them. Lucy took towards the sky and was followed by Sora and Peter. The three aerial fliers made quick work of the Heartless. A giant Heartless that looked like a bowling ball appeared on deck beneath them. "Not another one of those!"
Goofy distracted the giant Heartless with his shield while Donald circled around and shot shards of ice at it. The Heartless was soon defeated.
Within moments, all of the Heartless on deck had been wiped out.
"Great job, everyone!" said Peter.
"Thanks for coming back!" said Donald.
"Is Wendy okay?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah. I left her on top of the clock tower in London for the time being. I'll go back to return her home once we're done here," Peter replied.
"So now we just have Hook left to take care of," said Sora. Peter then beckoned them together.
"Listen carefully. I have a plan."
A little while later, Lucy, Donald, and Goofy were hiding quietly behind a group of barrels. Sora and Peter quietly approached the door leading into Hook's study. Peter knocked on the door two times.
"Is that you, Smee?" asked the voice of Captain Hook. "Did you finish them off?"
Peter then pinched his nose and proceeded to do a spot-on impersonation of Smee.
"Aye, Captain. They walked the plank, every last one of them!" Peter replied in his Smee voice. Lucy could tell that he was trying his hardest not to break out into laughter. Hook suddenly ran out of the study, completely oblivious to the presence of Sora and Peter, and looked around. Peter snuck up behind the Captain and proceeded to poke him in the rear with his knife. Hook let out a scream and growled as he turned around to face his enemy.
"P-Peter Pa...blast you!" Hook yelled. Lucy, Donald, and Goofy jumped out from their hiding place.
"Ready to make a splash, you codfish?! Now it's your turn to walk the plank!" Peter teased. Hook was done with bantering. He pulled out his rapier and charged for Peter and Sora. Sora deflected Hook's attack with his Keyblade but Hook brought his hook down and nearly cut Sora. Peter flew in and sliced a piece of Hook's clothing. Hook then shoved the hilt of his sword into Peter's stomach and kicked Sora, causing him to fall onto his back. Hook raised his sword. Donald charged for Hook and shot a lightning bolt at him. Hook dodged the magical attack and brought his sword and hook down on the duck. Donald dodged the sword but Hook's hook cut his arm slightly. Donald yelped at the sudden pain in his arm. Hook quickly found himself getting surrounded so he jumped back and ran for the main deck. Lucy had to give the pirate captain credit, he was a pretty good fighter in his own right.
"Come at me then!" Hook yelled as he aimed his sword and hook. Lucy, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Peter all charged towards the pirate captain. More Heartless began appearing on the deck alongside Hook. Lucy and Sora took out more Heartless while Donald, Goofy, and Peter faced off against Hook. Hook swung his sword at Peter and Peter blocked the attack with his knife. Donald tried to strike Hook with his staff but Hook grabbed onto the duck and tossed him up into the air. Donald found his feet caught in a net, which resulted in him hanging upside down.
"Oh! Not again!" Donald groaned as he tried to break free. A group of flying Heartless flew towards Donald. Sora used the Keyblade to shoot a few blasts of fire at the Heartless. They were all direct hits. Donald managed to free himself and he quickly returned to fighting alongside Goofy and Peter.
"You can use magic too?" Lucy asked Sora as she took out another Heartless.
"Yeah. It comes with wielding the Keyblade," Sora replied. Lucy looked and noticed that Hook was proving to be more than a formidable foe for Donald, Goofy, and Peter. She then looked back at the crocodile far below, who was still lusting for another taste of Captain Hook. Sora looked down at the crocodile, at Hook, and then to Lucy. "You thinking was I'm thinking?"
"I think I am." They smiled deviously as they began making their way towards Hook through a crowd of Heartless. Lucy caught Peter's attention and pointed towards the crocodile. Peter nodded and winked.
"Take that, you old codfish!" Peter laughed as he proceeded to get into a feisty one-on-one duel with the pirate captain.
"I will not lose to you again, Peter Pan!" growled Hook. They locked swords and Peter gave Hook a violent shove towards the plank. Hook looked back and noticed the crocodile. He appeared to begin getting sick. "I know what you're planning, Pan! I will not allow it!"
Hook thrusted his sword forward and sliced a piece of cloth from Peter's shirt. Heartless began crowding around Lucy and the others. Even if Hook were to be taken care of, the Heartless would still be a huge problem.
"How are we to get rid of them all?" Donald asked. Lucy looked down at her sword and realized that it was beginning to glow. Then an idea popped in her head. It was a shot at the dark at best, but she was willing to try it. She raised her sword above her head and pointed it straight up.
"Donald! Strike my sword with lightning!" she ordered.
"What?!"
"Just do it!" The Heartless were beginning to box them in. Donald aimed his staff at Lucy's sword.
"Are you sure about this?"
"No! But do it anyway!" Donald closed one eye nervously as he fired a lightning bolt at the sword. As the lightning hit the sword, a series of violet lightning bolts shot off the sword and took out all of the surrounding Heartless. A few stragglers quickly made their way below deck.
"Wow! Nice job, Lucy!" said Sora.
"Thanks," Lucy replied.
"How did you know that would work?" Donald asked.
"I didn't."
Peter and Hook were still caught in a heated sword battle. The tides of the fight kept turning. Hook would have the lead at one moment only for Peter to gain the lead at the next moment.
"I will not lose again!" Captain Hook scowled.
"There's one thing you need to learn, Hook. One, is that as long as I'm here you'll always lose," Peter boasted. "And two, you better watch your step."
Hook looked and realized that he was suddenly on the edge of the plank. Peter gave him one last shove and the captain went tumbling over the edge. He fell into the water with a loud splash. As he surfaced, he turned and saw that the crocodile was right next to him. Peter laughed as the crocodile chased Hook off towards the land in the distance.
"See you around, you old codfish!" Peter laughed.
The night quickly fell silent as everyone realized that they had won the battle. They wanted to celebrate but nobody was in the mood for celebration, especially Sora. Sora stood on the edge of the boat, looking out towards the endless ocean of Neverland. Lucy knew exactly what he was thinking about.
Donald looked up at Lucy and asked, "Lucy, Kairi didn't wake up so does that mean that she's-"
"Let's not talk about it right now, Donald," Lucy replied.
"Sora," said Peter.
"I still can't believe it," said Sora. Lucy sighed. He knew that he was talking about Riku's betrayal and Kairi's fate. Sora looked up and said, "I can't believe that I really flew! Wait 'til I tell Kairi! I wonder if she'll believe me. Probably not."
Lucy couldn't help but smile as she grew some more respect for the spiky-haired boy. It seemed like no matter how bad a situation, he would always try to make light of things.
"You can bring her to Neverland sometime," Peter said to Sora as he walked forward. "Then she can try it herself."
"If you believe, you can do anything, right? I'll find Kairi. I know I will. There's so much I wanna tell her. About flying, the pirates, and everything else that's happened."
"I bet you'll find her, Sora," Lucy said sadly.
"Why do you look so sad, Lucy?" Goofy asked.
"I guess it's time that I was heading home, right? That's where you were taking me before all of this happened." Sora and Goofy turned to Donald and smiled. Donald sighed before smiling and looking up at Lucy.
"Lucy, would you like to...stick around with us for a little while longer?" Donald asked.
"What are you saying?"
"We're saying that you can come with us!" said Goofy. Lucy felt like she could jump for the heavens. She was going to continue traveling with them! She ran forward to Sora and gave him a quick hug. She then stepped back and took hold of one of Sora's hands.
"Thank you, Sora."
"And I promise that we'll visit Narnia once all of this is over," said Sora. Lucy shook her head.
"This isn't about me getting the chance to return to Narnia anymore. This is about finding your friends and defeating the Heartless. I'll do everything in my power to see that you and your friends return home, Sora. Besides, I have a feeling that this is what Aslan wants me to do. He wants me to help you save the worlds from the darkness."
"And who knows? Maybe you'll come across Aslan on our journey!"
"I doubt it. He's not someone that you come across often."
"Aslan?" Peter asked. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
Just then, Tinker Bell flew out of nowhere. Everybody suddenly realized that the fairy had up and disappeared following her release from Hook's clutches.
"And where have you been?" Donald asked. Tinker Bell flew up to Peter.
"What's that, Tink?" Peter asked. "The clock tower? You say something's there?"
"What about the clock tower?" Lucy asked.
"Tinker Bell went to check up on Wendy at the clock tower in London where I left her temporarily. Tink says that Wendy's awake now and something has appeared on the clock."
"And what would that be?" Goofy asked.
"She says that it looked like a glowing keyhole." Lucy, Sora, Donald, and Goofy fell silent.
Donald turned towards Sora and asked, "You don't think-"
"Another keyhole!" Sora exclaimed.
"We best go and close it!" said Jiminy from within Sora's hood.
"Right!" said Goofy.
"But how are we to get to London from here?" Lucy asked.
"How else?" Peter said as he began levitating. "We fly, of course!"
