PrismRain13: hey guys! Long time no see! Sorry this took so long.
Wendy: Once again, college and work have been keeping Prism away, but now she's back with a new chapter.
PrismRain13: yep :) hope you guys like it! I still own nothing other than the plot and my OCs. And happy belated Halloween!
Chapter 37: Second Star to the Right
Back on Captain Hook's ship, a corridor of darkness appeared in the Captain's Cabin. From it emerged Riku and West. Riku looked down at himself, relieved to find that he and West had changed back to their normal appearances.
"Finally." Riku grumbled, stretching his arms over his head. "I don't think I could take another costume change."
"Oh, come on, you loved being a merman and a ghost!" Giggled West, playfully poking his shoulder.
"Did not!" Riku retorted with a laugh, pushing her hand away.
"If the two of you are done fooling around-" Maleficent spoke, emerging from the corridor with a disapproving look on her face pointed at Riku. "-then Riku dear, you need to learn to stop being so reckless! Despite what you may think, you are not strong enough to handle yourself against opponents that are stronger than you. You and West have had far too many close calls lately! You've both had me so worried!"
West looked done at her shoes. It was her fault they'd gotten into so much trouble on these last few worlds. Every time she got attacked, Riku always had to drop everything to help her. All because she wasn't strong enough; because she was too weak to defend herself. The thief knew she had to grow stronger. She wanted to be just as strong as Riku was.
She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she nearly forgot that Maleficent and Riku were still talking beside her.
"We're fine! Me and West are both getting stronger; we can handle ourselves. So, you don't need to worry!" Riku argued.
Maleficent raised an eyebrow as a smile creeped up to her lips. "Well, we'll soon see if what you say is true." She turned her head to where Kairi lay motionless on the bench. "After all, your friend over there is counting on you."
"I know." Riku replied as he gazed sadly at his friend's still form. "I just wish we could just get her heart back as soon as possible." At that moment, Captain Hook opened the door and strode into the cabin.
"Well, lucky for you boy, I believe I've found the final princess of heart." The Captain stated with a large amount of confidence.
Riku gasped in a mixture of surprised and hope. "Are you serious?!" He exclaimed. "Where is she?!"
"Ah, just as eager as always. I'm sure you'd make a fine pirate someday, lad." Praised Hook. "Her name be Wendy. We'll be approaching me world, Neverland very soon. Ye'll find her there."
"Great, me and West will leave as soon as we land." Riku replied. Hook nodded as he exited the cabin, ready to direct his crew. The silver-haired teen wandered in Kairi's direction, kneeling down beside her lifeless form. "Don't worry, Kairi. You'll have your heart back soon. I promise."
Maleficent smiled to herself just as they felt the ship land in a large body of water. "Of course, she will. Now, run along, you two. I believe we've landed."
"Right. Let's get going, Riku." West nodded as both she and Riku exited the cabin. They could clearly see an island near where the ship had landed. Hook stepped to the side, gesturing to a small lifeboat and holding a map in his hand. The pirate handed the old map to Riku, who took it.
"Ye'll be findin' Wendy in the middle of the island at Hangman's Tree. This map will show yeh the way." Hook told them as the two teenagers climbed into the lifeboat. "Oh, and before I forget; there's a boy who lives at Hangman's tree by the name of Peter Pan. He may cause yeh a bit of trouble."
"Not a problem; it's nothing I can't handle with the heartless on my side. I'll get her." Riku stated confidently as he lowered the lifeboat into the water.
Hook watched Riku and West row farther and farther away from the ship when Maleficent stepped beside him.
"I hope you know what you're doing." The witch stated. "Everyone else already failed me in their attempts to gain any information from little West. Don't you fail me as well."
Hook scoffed, smirking up at Maleficent. "Not to worry. I'll get the lass to talk and have yeh your princess before yeh know it."
"Let us hope so, Captain." Warned Maleficent. "Now, I have some business to take care of back at Hollow Bastion. I'll be back to see if the girl is truly a princess of heart."
Captain Hook watched as the witch vanished through a corridor of darkness. Then, he turned to Smee, who had wandered up beside him.
"What do we do now, Cap'n?" The chubby man asked.
"Prepare the plank for the lass! And gather the shark bait! I'll get her to talk one way or another!" Hook ordered. Smee took off immediately to meet his captain's needs, leaving Hook alone with his own thoughts.
"Don't yeh worry about a thing, Maleficent. I'll get yer princess and information on the Heartless resistance. Then I'll finally be able to say farewell to Neverland forever with the help of the heartless." Hook chuckled to himself as he reentered his cabin.
Humming to himself, the Captain unscrewed his hook and set it down on his desk. It was time to replace it; it was starting to get a little rusted. Next to the discarded hook, was a wooden case. He reached and opened it with one hand. Inside the case were an entire collection of silver and gold hooks. Some were just like his old one, and others were made for other things like opening bottles or cutlery. However, as Hook peered into the case, he noticed that one of the slots were empty.
"Hmm. That's odd. I could have sworn all me hooks were here this morning..." The Captain mused, confusion written across his face.
~*KH*~
It wasn't long before Riku and West arrived at the small, tropical island. The second Riku's feet touched the sand, he found himself feeling a little homesick.
Neverland. This island was so similar to the play islands back home. The palm trees, the clear sand, the sparkling water; it seemed that everything about this world reminded him of home and the fun times he, Sora and Kairi used to have together.
He missed those days, when it was just the three of them. Pull it together, Riku. He scolded himself. You need to stay focused. The sooner you find the last princess, the sooner you'll get Kairi back. And we'll be together again. Sora's a lost cause with his idiot friends.
"You okay?" West asked as she stepped out of the lifeboat. Riku had almost forgotten she was still with him.
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Riku replied, heading off towards the woods and pulling out the map. "Let's just find this Wendy girl already. I've had enough running around."
"Hey! Wait up!" Exclaimed West as she ran after the silver-haired boy.
Mushu climbed out of Riku's pocket while he continued to walk and a West caught up to them. The trio wandered the island in silence, none of them having anything to say. Riku's eyes stayed focused on the map
"So, the last princess huh?" The dragon finally spoke up after a long time of silence. "Looks like this might be the last time we're together like this."
"Come on, Mushu, don't say that." Said West. "Sure this may be the last world we visit together, but that doesn't mean we won't be together anymore. We're all friends now, so we won't forget each other. I know I wouldn't forget about you guys if my life depended on it!" She giggled as she walked beside Riku.
Riku released a small sigh. If only Sora had thought the same thing, then maybe he wouldn't have left him and Kairi. As the three of them continued to walk throughout the island, silence overtook them again. Mushu had fallen asleep on Riku's shoulder, snoring after only a few minutes. And West was fiddling with a hook that looked strangely familiar... Without any warning, Riku snatched the hook out of West's hands.
"Hey! Rude!" Protested the pigtailed thief, waking up Mushu.
"What are you doing with one of Captain Hook's hooks?" Demanded Riku.
"Well... I sorta stole it." West giggled awkwardly.
"Yeah, no kidding. Okay, why did you steal it?"
"It's for my collection! I didn't get to collect anything on Atlantica or Halloween Town! Besides, he's got lots, it's not like he'll miss one!" West argued, snatching the hook back from Riku.
"Fine, whatever." Riku grumbled just as a large, old tree covered in multiple different entrances. "Never mind, we're here." Quietly, the trio slowly approached the tree where they could hear various voices from inside.
Riku gently lifted up one of the nearby makeshift entrances, granting the three of them a good view of the interior. Inside were a number of boys dressed as different animals such as a fox, a bear, a rabbit, a skunk and twin raccoons. Next to them were two boys dressed in white and pink pyjamas. One was wearing glasses and a top hat and the other held a small teddy bear. Off to the side, leaning against the wall was a red-haired boy dressed completely in green and a small ball of light beside him.
And, sitting on a bed covered in furs was the only girl in the room. She was dressed in a light blue nightgown with a matching ribbon in her brown, curled hair. She had to be their target. But, how was he supposed to grab her with all those boys surrounding her.
"Wendy! Tell us another story, please!" The boy in the pink pyjamas asked. The other boys all joined in begging her for a story.
"All right, all right. Settle down." Wendy giggled as the boys gathered around her. "Now, I know a wonderful story mother once told me-"
Riku, West and Mushu quietly watched the scene unfold below them. The boys were all so engaged into the story Wendy was telling them. The youngest boy holding the teddy bear sat comfortably on her lap while Wendy hugged him. Even the oldest boy dressed in green seemed interested in the story. And, all the boys appeared to love having each other around.
It reminded West so much of her family back on Traverse Town. None of them may be related, but they had made their own family within themselves. And, they were all part of this family, including Wendy.
"Alright, let's grab this Wendy girl and go. I've had enough waiting around." Riku stated as he summoned Soul Eater to his hands.
"Riku, wait. Maybe we should leave." West interrupted. Riku raised an eyebrow at her with a confused expression. "Look, they're a family, we can't just take Wendy way from them. There has to be another way to help Kairi without hurting other people."
"She's right, Riku." Mushu agreed. "Come on, let's go."
"No! This is the only way to save Kairi!" Snapped Riku. "Now, you're both either with me or against me!" West and Mushu gasped as once again, his eyes turned yellow.
The silver-haired teen ignored his two companions and turned his attention back to the group below him. "Now, let's get rid of the boys." Upon raising his free hand, a swarm of pirate heartless appeared at the entrance of the tree. Immediately, the boys started panicking in fear, then the boy in green jumped in front of them and pulled out a dagger from his belt.
"It's those monsters again!" He exclaimed, pushing the heartless back up through the entrance. "Wendy! Stay inside! Men, grab a weapon and let's go! Those monsters are gonna be sorry they messed with us lost boys!"
"Peter! Do be careful!" Wendy called out as all the boys left the tree. As soon as they were gone, Riku jumped down through the trapdoor. Wendy didn't even have a second to react before Riku raised Soul Eater and slammed the hilt into the back of her head.
Wendy collapsed without a word, her eyes closed in unconsciousness. Dismissing his weapon, the teenager pulled her limp body over his shoulder and climbed out of the same entrance where West and Mushu were waiting for him.
When he emerged, his eyes turned back to their normal colour. Accompanied by a small headache as he tenderly held his forehead.
"Riku?" Mushu asked upon West's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." he replied as he took West's wrist in his hand and started pulling her in the direction they came. "Come on, let's get back to the ship."
West remained silent as she let Riku drag her along. But, looking at Wendy's sleeping face, she couldn't help but feel guilty. How could she help rip a family apart? It wasn't right.
Slowly, so Riku wouldn't notice, West pulled the stollen hook out from her pocket and dropped it in the dirt. Hopefully it would be enough to tell them where Wendy would be.
PrismRain13: Ohh... Things aren't looking too good for Riku...
Wendy: and, it looks like West and Mushu are disagreeing with him. This is going to put a big dent in their friendship.
PrismRain13: yep, looks like it. But, you'll have to wait till the next chapter to find out what happens! So, don't forget to leave a review!
Wendy: We'll see you next time