Charlie woke up to see a large man with white hair treating his wounds. It was after that he realized he was in some kind of chamber, his chest was bare, and his wrists and ankles were strapped to a table.
"Who are you?" Charlie asked the man.
"Tom. But all the victims here call me Mr. Friendly," he said in a thick accent while treating his wounds.
"Okay, Mr. Friendly, where am I?"
"We just call this place the Looking Glass. And just to let you know, don't even dream of getting away. Those straps are as thick as logs. Even if you did managed to break free, we're underwater. And don't even pray that someone will come and save you. No one 'cept the prince, the count, and myself even knows this place exists, let alone where it is or how to get in or out."
"So I'm here until I die?"
"Nope. Just till they kill you."
Charlie's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "If they're gonna kill me, why bother curing me?"
"Because…the prince and the count prefer everyone to be healthy before broken."
Charlie started to ponder this, and it finally occurred to him.
"Meaning…torture."
Mr. Friendly nodded.
Charlie smiled. "I can handle torture."
Mr. Friendly shook his head.
"What? You don't believe me?"
"Heh," Mr Friendly went back to cleaning him. "You survived the Fiery Jungle. You must be brave."
He then gave Charlie a sinister look. "But no one…survives…the machine."
He chuckled evilly leaving Charlie to wonder what he was in for.
Claire walked down the hallway, grieved with guilt. Not only was Charlie alive, but he risked his life to save hers. How did she repay him? She went with Locke.
She kept trying to convince herself that if she didn't she'd lose Charlie again.
Fool, she said. You may have saved his life, but you've betrayed him.
She sighed hard. Either way, she lost him again.
"She's been like this ever since the jungle," Locke said to Cooper as they watched Claire. "It's my father's failing health." (A/N: Yes, I know Cooper is Locke's father but for purposes of the story, let's just say he's not.)
The king died that very night. And before the dawn after that, Claire and Locke were married. And at noon, she met her subjects again, this time as their queen.
"But, Mommy, Claire can't marry Locke. What about Charlie? That's not fair to him."
Kate sighed as she looked at him. "Trust me when I say 'Life isn't always fair.'"
"Mommy…"
"Do you want me to read this or not?" Kate said sternly, giving Aaron a look that he knew meant business.
"Yes."
"Then don't interrupt me again. Alright then…"
"My father's final words were," Prince Locke announced, "'Love her as I loved her, and there will be joy.' I will now introduce you to your queen. Queen…Claire!"
Almost like the engagement celebration, The trumpets played a fanfare as the entire crowd held it's breath. Claire exited the archway and descended the stairway, this time she was in a gold and white gown and a crown upon her head, as everyone before her, without even an order, kneeled.
Except for a middle-aged black woman (Rose, to let those who've seen Lost know) who kept shouting "BOO! BOO! BOO!"
"Why do you do this?" Claire asked her incredulously.
"Because you had love in your hands, and you threw it away!"
"But they would've killed Charlie if I hadn't!"
"Your true love is still alive! But you marry another! Your true love saves you, and you treat him like garbage. So bow down to her, everyone! Bow to the queen of riddance. The queen of refuse! The queen of waste! Boo! Boo! BOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Claire shot up awake. The king was still alive. The wedding was ten days away. But Claire's nightmares were growing steadily worse.
"See?" Aaron spoke. "I knew she wouldn't marry that awful Locke."
"Yes. You know best. Now please be quiet."
"My lord," Claire spoke to Locke as she entered his study, "I've come to a decision. I love Charlie. I always have, I always will. So if you tell me I must marry you in ten days, know that I will be dead by morning."
At first glance, Locke seemed taken aback by her proposal. But when he gave a deep sigh, Claire knew he was planning something.
"I want nothing but your happiness, dearest." Then he smiled. "Consider our wedding off then."
He then looked towards Cooper. "You returned this Charlie to his ship, right?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll alert him as soon as we can."
Locke looked back at Claire. "Beloved, are you sure he still wants you, especially after you left him in the Fiery Jungle? Not to mention pirates aren't the most honest people in the world."
"Charlie will always come for me," Claire spoke with confidence.
Locke started scratching his chin as he planned carefully.
"I'll tell you what. Have four copies of a letter written by tomorrow. I'll send my four fastest ships, one in each direction and each with a letter. The Dread Pirate Sayid is always close this time of year. The ship that finds him shall run up the white flag and deliver your message. If Charlie wants you, then may you be happy and prosperous."
Then he took her hand. "If not, please consider me as an alternative to suicide. Okay?"
She considered for a moment, then nodded.
"I must say, your princess is quite the prize," Cooper exclaimed to Locke as they went across the beach. "Perhaps a bit plain, but quite the charming one."
"Indeed. The people are quite smitten by her. I guess I owe Charlie one. When I hired Ben to kill her on our engagement day, I thought that was brilliant. But it will be much more moving once I strangle her on our wedding night. With DHARMA blamed, the island will be so infuriated, they'll demand that we go to war."
Cooper chuckled as he dug in the sand. "And you called me a villain. Now where is that hatch? It's impossible to find."
He suddenly found a metal hatch. "Ah hah! So, John, are you coming? Charlie's got his strength back and I'm about to start the machine on him."
Locke smiled. "As much as I enjoy watching you work. But I have my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my bride to murder, and DHARMA to frame for it. I'm just booked."
"Go home and get some rest," Cooper said as he patted Locke on the shoulder. "If you don't have your health, you have nothing."