Chapter 20
Six Months Later...

Somewhere, some when.

'Darkness. It seems to be everywhere. Can't tell if my eyes are open or not. Can't even tell where I am. My body's numb. Except for this dull roaring whisper coming from the center of my head I wouldn't even believe I was alive. I can't even hear the beating of my own heart.
The last thing I remember is running from the Goose Lady's house and bumping into that old man with Wolf and Twinkles. Can't remember his name... Stils, or something like that. Fuck... where am I? What the fuck is goin' on?'

'Take it easy, Mister Charming.'

'What the fuck...? Who's there? Where are you... fuck that, where am I? Speak to me fucker!!'

'All will be revealed sooner or later. Right now, you must learn of what has transpired during your absence.'

'My what...? What the fuck is goin' on?'

'Just sit and listen and all will be revealed...'

Nearly every television, newspaper, radio, and news website within Fairy City has been showing or talking about the disappearance of several citizens, most notably Humpty Dumpty. He hasn't been seen since Blue Fairy's death and speculation continues to grow that he may know more about the events that lead to her death than anyone else. Some believe that he has entered himself into some sort of rehab and will grace their lives again when he's better. Those that know him though know he'll probably never come back. His career as a rapper is over. What no one knows is that his life as a swashbuckling pirate began the day of Blue's funeral and he has been at sea ever since.

For two and a half months, Everett fought the constant up and down, back and forth swaying of Hook's massive ship, Sea Men Onboard, in vain. He is skinner now than he's een since high school, almost three months of vomiting everything you eat will certainly do that to anyone. He soon grew custom to a life at sea and after gaining his sea legs, he quickly began earning his keep on Hook's ship. Hook's crew took care of most of the hard labor and Peter took care of Hook, but it was Everett's job to keep their newest addition calm, their mysterious benefactor Piper.

"Excuse me..., Cap'n? I got a couple of questions for you..." Everett said to Hook's closed cabin door after knocking.

Hook replied, loudly through the still closed door, "Be witcha in a moment laddie... just need to... ugh... finish up in here...ahhhhhh!!!"

Everett quickly takes a few steps away from the door and quietly wonders what he's doing on this ship for what seems to be the millionth time. Minutes later a sweaty, half-naked Peter walked out of Hook's cabin followed behind by the old man himself. Hook throws his sweaty arms around Everett and walks the young man away from a panting Peter.

"What can this salty old sea dog do fer ye, boyo?" Hook says while lighting a cigar and then spitting over the edge of the deck.

Everett not knowing what Hook just spit cringed and said, "If this isn't a good time, I can come back. It's really not a problem."

"Nonsense. I'll always have time for ye. Just let all yer problems out and I'll see what I can do bout fixin em"

"Well, it's just that I never expected to be gone this long, you know? I thought that when you said you were pirates and if I wanted to come along, I just figured we'd be doin it on a yacht or something. This is... uhhh, how do I put it..."

"A fucking pirate ship."

"Well, yeah, I guess. I just thought that we would have been there, wherever there is, and back by now."

"See laddie, for a pirate, like myself, and now you, there is really only one way to sail and that is on a ship. Doesn't matter if it takes two months or two decades, we shall simply ride it out and arrive when we do. Nothing can be done about it. So if that's yer only problem on this here voyage, matey, well, count yer blessins and titty fuck whatever god ya pray to cause that's one that'll be solved soon."

"What do you mean by solved Cap'n?"

"You ever take the time to notice that we've sailed half way round the bend and haven't come across any rocks? No land, no islands, no nothing, not a single rock to break up the beauty of the open sea. Well, look ahead oh ye boyo..." Hook says to Everett and tosses him a periscope.

Everett catches it and looks to wear Hook is pointing, several miles ahead of the ship Everett sees his first small croppings of rocks since the ship started. A large childlike smile crept across Everett's face.

"Tis time to talk to Piper. He needs to enlighten the rest of ye of what's goin to happen as soon as we make land."

"Well, that's the other problem, Cap'n..."

"Ye've got some sorta problem with our employer?"

"It's just that I've been around him a lot lately and it's just that... well, he's just plain scary."

Hook tilted his head back and let out a large bark of a laugh. He wiped his mouth and then threw his arm back around Everett's shoulders and pulled him close to him. With breath reeking of beer, smoke, and seaman Hook told Everett, "That he is boyo, that he is."

In the office building of the Three Pigs Detectives, those same detectives sit and await the arrival of the fourth member of this preplanned meeting. For the last several months they have searched for a single woman, their only lead coming from Fritzy, who told them that Prince had the ring and went to see the Goose Lady. For the past hour all three brothers have been sitting in silence waiting for the arrival of their latest employer. Even though their reasons for doing so maybe different, Ben simply wishes to talk about the case, while Bob and Jay just want to see her breast and ass again.

No more than forty minutes late a ravishing figure walked through their door. Like every other man who has ever seen her, all three brothers were rendered speechless. The tall woman simply walked to the empty chair and sat herself down. For a few awkward seconds no one spoke.

Finally, Ben cleared his throat and then, "Hello Cindy, we really need to talk."

"Yeah, bitch meat, what the fuck is youse tryin to pull on us," Jay screamed accusingly towards her, while jumping out of his sit and throwing a finger into her face.

"Jay, shut the fuck up and sit down. We don't have time for this."

"Thank you, Ben," Cindy replied. "What is it that you need to know, I'm more than happy to help in any way I can."

"If that's the case then why send us on a goose chase. You sent us to find this girl," Ben held up the picture of Aurora that Cindy gave him, "to find some guy, but we saw the guy with the ring leave your office. If you know who has it, then why have us look for the girl?"

"How else will you know what girl to look for with these two walking bags of seaman, always under your feet..."

Jay laughed and slapped Bob on the arm, "She's talkin' about you, yo!!"

"She meant the both of us," Bob replied.

Jay stopped laughing immediately, "What... fuck you bitch, I'll show you how I'm filled with seaman, alright."

Ben just shook his head as Cindy continued, "If you need to know why you need to find her, she's my sister and she's in danger."

Back in the darkness, Prince once again talks to the darkness.

'What the fuck does any of that have to do with me? Huh, just tell me where I am. I'm getting sick of this shit. Just tell me what the fuck is goin on.'

'Your life is entwined with those I show you now. To know where you are you must first know where they are. For you to awaken again, you must learn the truth of what must be done.'

'What the fuck are you talking about? You mean I'm sleepin' that this is just a dream?'

'This is no dream, and you are not sleeping. The dead can no longer dream nor sleep.'

'THE FUCKIN WHAT... did you just say I was dead?'

'Very.'

To be continued...

Author's Notes- Hey people, it's been a long time. Six months!! Six fucking months for an update!!! I know, I know, I feel the same way. I've just been so busy with the baby I just haven't been able to sit and write. I've been thinking about the story a lot lately and I've had to adjust it a little, in account of the six-month gap between chapters. Six fucking months!!! Ok, let's see my son should be walking soon, I got engaged, my life is beautiful, and I'm working on another chapter. It's already started so hopefully it'll be up in a few days. I've missed this little world I've created and hope that you people who have been reading and those that just start can give me some reviews. I need to know if this is worth it or if I shouldn't waste the little free time I have. Next chapter is more playing catch up with as many people as I can fit. So as usual thanks in advance.