"MORPH!?!?", Jim exclaimed in total bewilderment. The "spoon" spurted out from Bethany's hand and zoomed up to his face, trilling. Jim suddenly remembered that the guard(s) might be listening so he lowered his voice to a whisper and spoke again. "Morph, what...you're here—I mean...how did you find us?" The overjoyed mass of neon quickly spun into a miniature of the R.L.S. Legacy. "You're kidding! Captain and Doc are here—with the fleet?!?!" Morph turned back into his normal shape and squeaked happily. Beth got up and walked as close as her chains could allow. "What is it, I mean..." "He's Morph, a shape-shifter," Jim explained as he recalled the very first time the two met. "He can turn into anything or anybody—spot on." Beth giggled as Morph swished over to her face and gave her a big, wet lick on her left cheek. She'd never heard about morphs before, not even among the pirates. "Oh, why, hoist my sails, he's absolutely gorgeous...and very kind if I'm not mistaken." "You're not mistaken," Morph chortled imitating her in his high-pitched voice. Beth giggled again as her lips spread into a big smile that Jim didn't miss.
Suddenly the cell door was slammed open as Beth jumped back and let out a short scream of fright. Jim was blinded by the sudden glare of the torchlight in the hall outside. Morph had disappeared behind Beth before the guards could notice. The largest of them ordered four others to go in and bring out Jim. They scurried in, unlocked him and led him forth. Immediately the door was closed once more upon Beth with Morph now clinging to her.
She listened as the steps died away in the distance outside as her heart started beating rapidly and fearfully. For the first time since Kearsarge Flint had struck her, she felt afraid for she was once again alone. And as the silence and loneliness enveloped her, fear began to charge right in after. Oh what was going to happen now? What was that woman Maleficent going to do to her friend? Was she never going to see him again? Was he going to die just for helping her? Would she be alone again...forever? Beth stared down at the light-reflecting stone floor as she tried hard to make sense of the jumble within her weary mind. For a long time she neither spoke nor moved a finger. Morph swooped in front of her face and whimpered worriedly. He too was afraid for Jim and was waiting for his new friend to decide what to do.
But then, out of her storming fears, there grew a powerful spark of defiance—a rebellion against this prison and against that tyrant creature who'd cast Beth in it. And from this defiance came forth a bold new determination; from this hardening determination, she made a vow with herself: she would never allow ANYONE to hurt or destroy her Jim! Not when he'd done so much for her and when she still needed him! No, it would not be so! Her life for his...or else, they'd both perish together! "So help me...God!" Beth spoke in the manner Mr. Skept had taught her to seal a promise with.
"Uh...... Morph...is it?" she asked. He opened his mouth in excitement and moved in closer to her face. "Very good then, Morph. Can you," and she pointed to the door, "slip under and see if the guards are still there?" she asked slowly. "Aye-aye," Morph "threw out his 'chest'" and saluted before zooming down and squeezing under the ½ inch crack. Beth was amazed to see how this cuddly little being could move and contort himself.
Finally, Morph reappeared from under the door and zoomed back up to her height. He chattered excitedly before splitting and transforming into two alligator-like creatures with axes and short swords. "Okay," Beth began quietly, "Now can you possibly loose me from these bonds?" Morph nodded twittering and twirled into a key that fit into the locks on her cuffs and the wall. The chains fell off both ends with a clamorous, echoing noise that made even the guards' ears hurt. As they hurried to unlock the door, Beth hurriedly took one chain in both her hands and waited. When the door opened and the pair looked in, she swung the length with a big groan and all of her strength. The clamp iron ends slashed them both smack-square in their eyes. Instantly, the pair recoiled with cries of agonizing pain with hands covering their profusely-bleeding faces. Beth dropped the links, dashed forward and pulled a sword from one of the still-blinded reptiles. Taking a moment to steel herself, she thrust them both through their chests, throats and heart. Then, taking another moment to grit her teeth, she keeled back with the sword in both arms and swung hard at one neck and then the other. Both fell decapitated.
But Beth just stood where she was, arms hanging down, sword, face and dress smothered with blood. She breathed heavily as Morph floated out to look upon her victory. Through her brain rushed horror, shock, awe and amazement at what she'd accomplished. True, she'd already slain a giant arachnid with a firearm but never had she attacked and taken a life so single-handedly and mercilessly. Her conscience however comforted her with the reminder that this was war and she was in a battle for her life...and for Jim's. The moment she remembered Jim, Beth took a deep breath and began to strip what was useful from the dead.
The eight guards led Jim up several long stairs going higher and higher until they were in what was apparently the throne room. It was filled from floor to wall and balconies with more cackling, squawking, yelling and cheering little monsters armed with arrow, bows, javelins, axes, maces, spathas, gladii and shields. At the far end of the room was a five-foot high stone shelf accessed by two stairways and overlooked by a throne carved from the rock. The group led their prisoner around the group along the left wall of the circular room and up the stairs to the stage. A taller, hawk-like guard met them. "Her Majesty will see the prisoner on the Grand Terrace," it croaked gravelly. So they moved Jim forward onto the platform and to the other side where they entered a doorway. The opening narrowed into a hallway that went on for about 20 feet until reaching another doorway. The troop passed through and onto a 40-foot diameter balcony. Standing near the railing made of grotesque gargoyles stood the black-robed & hearted evil fairy. She turned at the sound of their feet and cast her gaze onto them. Seeing her quarry, she smiled with an amused expression. "Stand near in the passage," she ordered to her henchmen, "but do not interfere 'less you come to the fate of the others." The guards bowed low and stepped back towards the archway.
It was only until then that Maleficent turned fully to look upon the tall, blue-eyed soldier before her. She took a few steps nearer to look him over more closely. He was dressed in his loose-fitting brown shirt with dark green baggy cargo pants and black boots. Again, there was that smile of great pleasure upon her face; she took much delight in his physical appearance and lustful thoughts began to take shape in her corrupt conscious. But Jim didn't move or lift his eyes to her face; no, he just stood with his gaze set straight ahead and his arms set down at his sides.
Beth jogged as quietly as possible through the hallway followed by Morph. She slowed to a stop as she came upon an intersection with another passage. She slowed her breathing to just a few deep, noiseless breaths. Somewhere in the hall ahead, she could make out footsteps walking towards the crossing point. Beth crouched down and waited as her blood continued to boil with fighting fervor. Suddenly, the steps ceased and there came a few muffled yet high-pitched noises...and then a sound like heavy cloth bundles falling on the ground. She patiently waited until she heard nothing for about two minutes. Then she slid forward until her left eye could see down the passage. Immediately she perceived three dead guards on the pavement in their still-pooling blood. "Come on, Morph," she whispered before creeping forward. Slowly, she stepped closer to the bodies until she could make out the single wound in each of their heads. She looked forwards and back but didn't see any sign of the assailant. Just then, a thought came to her and she glanced up at the walls. She paused in her perusal of the left side and moved closer. Yes, there was a two-foot crack in the stones and, upon closer inspection, it yielded view of a tight-but-navigable tunnel.
"So, "she began in her recognizable smooth, sultry voice, "You have heard all that transpired between the pirate and myself, eh?" Silence, but it was nothing she was unaccustomed to. She continued to put one foot before the other as she circled Jim like a ravenous carnivore. "Ah, but you were quick of the tongue when you understood who I was. I'm quite surprised that you do not have a little more to say...Is there nothing, not even in defiance or anger...boy?" Jim just lifted his eyes blazing with righteous wrath and still didn't answer. But she continued her soliloquy without giving much attention towards him.
Beth ceased crawling to catch her breath and think. She wasn't fully certain why she was negotiating this mysterious tunnel—except that she knew that a probable ally had come this way just before her. So far, there was no danger to be found in it and Morph had thoughtfully transformed himself into a small lantern to give Beth direction and safety. Letting out a sigh, she continued on, driven by deep concern for Jim.
"I see that you've taken quite well towards the youngest daughter of their Majesties King Stephen and Queen Leah. You are surprised? But that is a good thing for I can see that she's done quite well in your presence. Her spirit is resuscitated after so long with that rabble; her countenance is—how shall I say—much more brighter than ever; and now...she is content to know that her parents are still alive and love her. What else or more could a child wish to be satisfied or happy with as long as she is alive?" She paused to glance again upon Jim. "Of course, it is all due to you. You have given her hope and reason to live. And she shall live—as I have already decreed...and you, You O fair and..." she again paused to reach out and stroke Jim's cheek coldly, lustfully, "...brave and noble and most handsome fellow...You shall be the reason for her to do so. Oh, it is quite reasonable, you see. She is, of course, of royal blood and thus it is only fair and good that such should be allowed life utmost of all. You do, if I mistake not, care for and desire only her well-being." She smiled wickedly as she clutched her staff with savage delight.
At Last! The tunnel expired onto a three-foot wide ledge that gave an overwhelming view of a land very similar to the Flint's realm. In exhaustion from her travel and exertion, Beth leaned back against the castle keep wall where the crawlway emerged. But no sooner had she closed her eyes than her delicate ears discerned a pro1ud, sultry yet cruel voice coming from somewhere near. She lifted her soft brown eyes and turned towards her right and slightly below. Starting slightly, she kneeled forward to see and hear the better.
Maleficent stepped right in front of him and whirled to face him head on. Jim's expression hadn't changed a bit. "Listen well, young man: My request is quite simple. Remain here with the girl, continue to care for her and support her, give her the love and attention that she desires and needs. All that I ask in return is that you and the girl must never again see the land beyond these walls! Surrender all hope or desire of anything else: the presence of any man or woman or creature or country...and...", Maleficent leaned her staff close as an image began to appear from the globe atop it, "...you and she shall live happily ever after—as husband and wife!" The image sharpened into Jim and Beth running happy and free inside the black walls of this very castle. Maleficent apparently took much pleasure in her "dream" for the duo for her face broke into a big grin that quickly gave way to selfish, heartless laughter.
Beth swallowed hard; not a word of Maleficent's offer had escaped her understanding. "No," she whispered as if Jim could hear her, "no...Jim...no."
"It is—I do not fail to imagine—what you've been dreaming of since you have met. For who could spurn the chance to love such a wonderful maiden? Hmmm?" But before giving Jim time to answer, she pressed on. "Think of it, my strong yet simple friend: The most loveliest and noble princess...the choicest of all fair maidens—safe and satisfied...lying in your arms forever...only renounce all other trusts and desires...and my best gift—Upon my Word....is yours." She allowed herself a self-satisfied and arrogant chuckle before extending her ring-banded hand to the young captive.
But Jim only gave her a look of understanding before shaking his head. "Boy," he muttered before glaring back at Maleficent, "You-really-think...you know it all, do you?", he asked rhetorically. He began to circle the tall, horned villainess himself. "After all you've done to her—taking Bethany from her dad & mom right after she was born, throwing her away to live with pirates, keeping her clueless to her real life, making her a slave without hope, without family or even friends??? Who do you think you're trying to fool?", he growled with a side glance.
Beth covered her mouth with her hands to stifle a small cry of joy. He wasn't afraid of this witch and was even standing up to her.
"Let me tell YOU what I'm going to choose: I'm going to choose to do what Beth wants; I'm going to see that she gets what she's always wanted and never had; I'm going to see that she's returned to her Mother and Father and Sister—and I'm going to make sure that neither YOU nor your Goons gets within One League of her and Her Family!!" Maleficent stood straight in fury. "Now See here—", "I'm not finished!!", Jim barked back, "Not only am I going to make sure YOU Never Lay One Finger on Bethany Again, I'm going to Punish both YOU and Your Psycho Goons for what you've Done and I'm not going to stop until All of You are Gone For-ev-er!!!" He stopped and glared with a ferocious fire in his blazing-blue eyes that made Maleficent tremble with slight fear.
It took all of Beth's senses to keep from crying out or leaping the 3 foot-wide/ 5 foot-tall gap from her ledge to the balcony. Oh, Jim was so brave and strong...He did truly care for her and her dreams!! She was so ecstatic that she just wanted to squeeze his body between her arms and press her face into his thick, beautiful hair in gratitude. But she knew that she must wait for Maleficent surely would cause harm to him.
Author's Note: Whew! I honestly hope I've got Maleficent's speech matched well to her personality. But anyways, this is the beginning of what you, Etherium's Angel, have requested. Beth's buttons have been pressed one too many times and she's gonna start whipping a few backsides from here on. Plus, another important character who'd only played a trivial role in Treasure Planet is about to show up BIG TIME, so....keep yer ruddy eyes a'fixed t'the screen there, Matey's!