"Where to now, Captain?" Phoebus asked Amelia as they sat in another meeting later that day. This time, Hercules was present as well.
"A smaller planet... Very interesting. A little place called Corona." Amelia replied.
Phoebus frowned. "But...we just made a supply run, Captain." Surely, there was nothing else that tiny planet could hold for them. It was mostly a tourist planet, famous for its sights. But it was already so well-known, thoroughly explored, and constantly milling with people. What business could Amelia have there?
The Feline Captain smirked at his confusion. "Two very peculiar incidents have occurred on that planet, Phoebus. First off- many, many years ago- a meteorite crash-landing. That white-hot chunk of rock threatened to obliterate Corona on impact, but- miraculously- " She flashed him a grin, "- it didn't. Instead, a mysterious plant grew in that crater, and a beautiful flower- shining and golden like the sun- bloomed. And this flower harnessed power- some would say magic- that could heal any wound, cure any ailment, even offer eternal life."
Now John looked confused. "But, I thought that flower was eventually dug up and used to heal the planet's dying Queen."
Amelia nodded, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Obviously, she already knew this. "Yes, but, not only did the flower save her, its power was also preserved in the new life growing in her belly."
"A baby?" Mr. Porter's eyebrows popped up. "I didn't know the rulers of Corona had a child."
Merlin cleared his throat. "It's not common knowledge to most who live outside their world... They don't talk about their daughter much."
"Because she was kidnapped shortly after she was born. Vanished, without a trace. That was nearly eighteen years ago." Amelia explained. Her smugness was unmistakable as she finished, "And I think it's about time the young princess was brought back out of the shadows."
Phoebus smirked. "So... We're going to Corona to find the Princess and reunite her with her parents?"
"A rescue mission?" Hercules asked excitedly.
"And possibly to bring her kidnapper to justice?" Milo added.
Amelia nodded at all three and answered them in turn, "Yes, yes, and yes."
"When will we get there?" Hercules demanded eagerly.
Amelia chuckled at him. "Early in the morning, Hercules. So I suggest you get plenty of shut-eye. We'll need you in tip-top shape tomorrow."
He grinned boyishly down at her.
Meanwhile...
Hook stared blankly up at the creaking ceiling of his quarters, trying to ignore the endless thrum of activity created by his crew on the deck. His mind wandered as he absently ran his left hand over the bare back of the woman who laid on top of him, her head resting on his chest so she could listen to his heartbeat. She pushed her long black hair away from her face as she tilted her head to look up at him.
"You know, if Maleficent or Jafar ever found out about us, it wouldn't be good." Grimhilde said lowly.
Hook's eyes flashed with amusement. "I don't think we'll need to worry about it if they haven't already found out." He muttered.
"Still... You know how they are. They both might try to kill us."
He chuckled darkly. "Oh, they won't make an attempt on me. They both owe me too much. I'm their only chance at survival. But you..." He peered down at her wickedly. "They would rip you apart."
Grimhilde stared up at him, seemingly unphased. Hook knew by now that Grimhilde didn't care whether she lived or died. She knew what she was getting in to when she took refuge on this ship all those years ago. She realized the danger she might face when she fell into this affair with Hook. And she also knew that, at this point, he was all she had. These curious and inexplicable emotions she felt for him were all that made her life worth living. The idea of dying for him excited her. After all the mistakes she'd made in her life, for it to end over something so beautiful just seemed right.
Hook knew that she felt this way, but never addressed it. He never even gave a clue as to how he felt for her, whether he'd actually care if she died or not. Grimhilde had no idea what she meant to him; what he thought of her was a complete mystery. Awhile ago, Grimhilde had decided that she liked it that way. Knowing how Hook truly felt might just spoil everything. She had nothing else in her life but this aimless secret romance with her captain. She didn't want to lose it.
Hook sighed and started to sit up, prompting her to hop off of him. As they both got dressed, Hook mumbled, "I have a meeting in my office soon... Apparently Helga and Rourke have some other idea on how to catch the Legacy."
Grimhilde raised an eyebrow and turned to him while fixing her hair under her cowl. "I thought we were already on course to head them off?"
"Yes, but they say that they have a better way of doing that." Hook pulled on his jacket and armed himself out of habit. Grimhilde watched as he placed his hat back on his head and strolled toward her. He stared down at her for a moment, and she foolishly thought that he would lean down and kiss her. But, after a tense moment, he just whispered, "You go out first."
Grimhilde nodded stonily, reaching down to pull her boots on and lace them, giving him one more good view of her legs. After letting her skirt fall back to the ground, she turned and slipped out of the room, taking care to make sure no one outside saw her. Hook stared at the closed door for awhile after she left, lost in thought. Then he turned toward the old dresser in the corner of the room and smirked slightly, drawing toward the dresser and glowering down into an unlit glass lantern. A vibrant purple speck glared back up at him and he laughed quietly.
"Enjoy the show, sprite?" He asked her in mild amusement.
She was silent, not willing to give him a response as she defiantly stared him in the eye.
In a brief flash, his face broke with a dastardly grin. Then, his face was once again a solemn mask, and he spoke softly to her. "Don't worry, this will all be over soon. You're going to help me convince that little fairy to lead me to the Fountain, and then you can be free."
This sprite, of a nastier variety than Tink, let out a raspy hiss in response. Hook chuckled and turned away, leaving his room and locking the door, leaving Vidia alone again.
Hook stomped into his office to find Hades, Eris, Jafar, Helga and Rourke all waiting for him. Before any of them had a chance to speak, Hook spotted an ancient- but very familiar- little book with a foreign symbol on the cover sitting on his desk. His eyes flashed dangerously around the room to glare at each of them.
"What's that doing here?" He demanded icily.
"It plays a key role in the new plan." Rourke said smugly, crossing his massive arms over his broad chest.
Hook stared at him for a moment, unwavering. Without saying a word, he expressed his displeasure at being kept in the dark.
Eris smirked and stepped forward. "Despite my confidence in our navigational skills, there's no guarantee that we'll successfully head them off. We can try and try and try, but they've evaded us many times. Odds are that they'll get away again."
"So, obviously, we need to make a move we haven't before; something they won't expect." Hades added deviously.
"We're going to make them come to ussss." Jafar hissed, his thin, forked tongue slithering between his pointed teeth as he grinned.
Hook looked thoroughly unimpressed as he turned to the scaly hybrid, then glared back at the others, remaining silent.
"Captain, the crew is getting restless. We need to make a big score, and fast. You know that Atlantis is our best option for that." Rourke said. He pointed at the old journal on the desk. "And with that little book, and a few days' time, we can get there."
"And collect a treassure even more impresssive than your Fountain of Youth." Jafar said in a raspy tone.
"Think of the glory, Captain. No one else has ever managed to find Atlantis. They've always been so careful to stay hidden. But now that will be their downfall, because there will be no one else around to help them." Eris said.
Hook growled, looking at Rourke and Helga. "You two just want that treasure that you've always been obsessed with. I told you I would help you find it, but only on my time! I won't be manipulated into-"
"I'm telling you, it's the best chance you have at getting your sprite back. They'll bring her right to you!" Rourke insisted.
"How can you be so sure?" Hook demanded.
"The Legacy won't be able to resist a distress call." Helga said with a smirk. "Especially if it's coming from the King of Atlantis himself."
"They pride themselves on preserving ancient civilizations, and the Atlanteans are basically an endangered species. I would bet my life that Amelia would come running to their aid. And, in the amount of time it'll take them to reach the planet, we can persuade the King to hand over the treasure. It'll be a piece of cake." Rourke said with a grin.
Hook thought this over. He wasn't an idiot; of course he knew this was risky, but also probably their best course of action. If they succeeded, it would strengthen the Jolly Roger's reputation, give them the opportunity to destroy the Legacy and even topple Atlantis if they felt like it, award them a very special treasure, and Hook would have that sprite to lead him to the Fountain of Youth. But, on the off chance that things went awry... He needed someone to make an example of.
Hook's eyes briefly lit up with malice as he stared Rourke down. "Would you really bet your life on it?"
Rourke frowned. "What?"
"If things don't go as well as you seem to think they will- if the Atlanteans or the crew of the Legacy are more prepared than we expect, or traveling that deep space proves too troublesome- someone's going to have to take responsibility for our downfall. And I think that someone should be you." Hook explained. "So... Would you really bet your life on this endeavor?"
There was a long moment of silence while Rourke and Hook stared each other down. The others in the room stood like statues, watching Rourke for his reaction. Finally, Rourke said, "Yes."
Hook watched him for a moment, searching for any sign of doubt or fear. But Rourke was a strong, overconfident man. Even if he did have any doubts, he was adept at hiding them. Hook nodded and replied emotionlessly, "Very well. You plot our course. Take us to Atlantis. And if your plan fails, I will take you up to the deck and have the rest of the crew watch as I gut you and toss you over the side."
Meanwhile...
Flynn whistled lowly to himself as he strolled along the deck, making his way toward where Eric stood firmly at the helm. Flynn and Aladdin had managed to earn Eric's trust over the last few days. In fact, an observer could easily make the assumption that the three were friends.
Eric was an easy-going guy, like the other two, but also outwardly friendly and a little gullible. He was a genuinely nice guy. And he had no way of knowing that he was just being used. Aladdin felt truly guilty about this, caught up in the idea that he and Eric could really be friends. And Flynn liked Eric well enough, sure. But Flynn and Aladdin really needed an inside guy, a sap to inadvertently let them in on the Captain's plans. And, if things got bad, they may need a fall guy. Eric was the first person to be open and welcoming to the two partners, having no idea what he might be getting himself into. This made him the perfect candidate.
"Hey, sailor! Any word on our course?" Flynn asked enthusiastically, clapping Eric on the back.
Eric chuckled and said, "We're headed to Corona."
Flynn's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. He knew that Corona was one of their pit-stops, but he never thought they'd be reaching it so soon. He could barely contain his excitement. "Ah, beautiful place. How long until we get there?"
Eric shrugged. "A couple of hours, I think. Not sure what we're looking for over there, though..."
Flynn grinned, thinking to himself, Well, I know what I'm looking for. Aloud, he replied, "I'm sure it's important if the Captain is interested." He turned to leave. Eric curiously watched him as he went.
Flynn practically had a spring in his step as he approached Aladdin, pulling him out of a conversation with some other sailors and dragging him toward the side of the ship, where no one was around to hear.
"What is it?" Aladdin quietly demanded, obviously annoyed by Flynn's interruption.
"We're heading to Corona." Flynn responded smugly.
"What, now?"
Flynn sighed. "Yes, now, as in right now! "
Aladdin smiled now. "So you're gonna get your mark?"
"Yeah, a lot earlier than expected. Hopefully I won't have to hold onto it for too long before we reach Agrabah... You remember your part, right?"
Aladdin nodded. "I'll cover you. And when we hit Agrabah, you'll do the same for me."
"And then we'll ditch this ship and go meet your dad and live like kings." Flynn said slyly.
The two went silent as a group of girls passed them, turning to look over the side of the ship to avoid conversation. The girls- Belle, Jane, Wendy and Alice- paid them no mind as they went along their way.
"Belle and I have to go help Milo in the library. We're doing some research on this magic flower to see if we can find clues to lead us to the lost princess." Jane explained to the two younger girls. It was very important business and they couldn't have Wendy and Alice hanging around to distract them or just be bored out of their minds. "Why don't you two go find a way to entertain yourselves, hmm? But stay out of trouble. Certainly there are some other children you can play with?" Jane tried to politely wave them off, but she was so distracted and in a hurry to go that her off-handed efficiency left the two younger girls a little hurt. Belle offered them a reassuring smile before going to follow Jane, leaving Wendy and Alice to their own devices on deck.
"Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to do some exploring." Wendy said optimistically, bouncing a little where she stood. This was the first time the girls had been left to wander unsupervised. Her blue eyes gleamed as she eagerly took in their surroundings.
"Where should we start?" Alice asked restlessly. She'd been itching to have free reign of the ship since boarding, but since John had left her in the hands of the Porters, that proved impossible.
"We could go down to engineering. Audrey works down there, and she's quite nice. We could learn all about the ship." Wendy suggested.
Alice wrinkled her nose. "Yes, but Merida also works down there, and she's quite crazy."
"Tell me how ya' really feel, lass." Merida said sarcastically from behind Alice, making the dainty blond jump nearly out of her skin. While Alice's face turned red, Wendy pressed a hand over her mouth to subdue her giggles. Merida smiled ruefully and pushed past the two younger girls. "Excuse me, girls. I have more important business to attend to."
After watching Merida leave, Wendy laughed a little at Alice's expression.
"Now that we know she's not down there, shall we head to engineering?" Wendy asked, unable to conceal her amusement.
Alice rolled her eyes, smiling in spite of herself. "Fine, then. Let's go."
After leaving Wendy and Alice, Merida made her way below deck to find Adam helping out in the cargo room. She paused to lean in the doorway, crossing her arms and tilting her head as she watched him without him realizing she was there. He bent down to heft up a large crate with surprising ease, cradling the heavy wooden box with both wiry arms and carrying it to the opposite side of the room. He set it in the corner, then stood upright and used the back of his hand to swipe some sweat from his forehead. His normally tamed ponytail was in a frizzy disarray from all the taxing work.
"How's that?" Adam turned to ask Tarzan haughtily.
Tarzan smirked and nodded while walking over to drop another crate by the one Adam had just moved. "Much more manageable, Adam. Thanks. I'm sure Amelia will appreciate your organizational skills."
Adam shrugged and grumbled, "It wasn't that hard..."
Tarzan raised an eyebrow in response.
"I'm not interruptin', am I?" Merida asked loudly from the doorway, making her presence known. Both brothers turned to look at her, Tarzan looking mildly surprised while Adam wore a characteristic glare.
"No, actually we were just finishing up." Tarzan replied coolly.
Merida nodded toward Adam. "Mind if I borrow him, then?"
Tarzan gave Adam a brief questioning look, which Adam responded to with an eye roll. Tarzan smirked and nodded at Merida as if he'd just come to understand something. "Sure."
Merida smiled quickly at him before curtly waving Adam over and walking out of the room. Adam gave Tarzan a nasty look before storming after Merida. Tarzan bit his lip on a snicker.
Once in a more confined space, Merida turned to see Adam looming over her, wearing a hateful expression that she was used to seeing from him by now.
"What was that all about?!" Adam growled. "Now he's going to think that we're-"
"Let him think what he wants. It doesn't matter." Merida carelessly shrugged.
"It does if Belle hears about it!" Adam snarled, then quickly collected himself. Merida stared up at him, slightly shocked by his sudden change of demeanor. An angry, yelling Adam she could handle easily, but a quiet, buttoned-up Adam who wouldn't let her know what he was thinking was a bit more intimidating. Unpredictable. He took a deep breath and bore down on her with a withering glare before whispering, "What do you want?"
"I was just coming to get you because I know where Belle is right now. And I know a way you can impress her." Merida supplied without hesitation.
Adam sighed. "Merida, the plan isn't working. All we've done is drive her into the arms of another guy who's way better than me."
Merida pulled a face at this, but said nothing.
Adam shook his head in defeat. "She would have never been interested in me, any way..."
Merida looked thoughtful for a moment, then turned her head up to look at him with determination. "Hey."
He looked down at her miserably. "What?"
"Are Belle and Hercules officially an item?"
Adam frowned. "What? "
Merida scoffed. "Is she wearin' a tag that says 'Property of Hercules'? Hmm? Is he bringin' her flowers and writin' her sonnets? Has he officially made his 'claim' over her?" She curled her fingers on the quoted word, showing her distaste for the archaic language regarding romance.
Adam shook his head. "You can't honestly expect me to compete with Hercules. The guy is practically a god. I could never match up!"
Merida rolled her eyes in exasperation. "It's not a contest, Adam. Belle isn't a prize. She's a human being, and she's the one who gets to choose who she wants to be with! If you really care for her, you'll at least put up a fight! Make her notice you! Show her that you share her interests! Don't just turn over and show your belly at the first sign of hardship! Did you think winning over the love of your life would be easy?"
Adam just stared at her in response, seeming to be thinking things over.
Merida sighed. "Look, I'm done listening to all yer whining and self-doubt. She's in the library right now, obviously doin' somethin' important and boring with the other bookworms. I'm not gonna stick around and make sure ya don't miss your chance. I've done my part." She turned to leave.
"Hey." Adam suddenly called after her. She turned toward him expectantly, finding his face contorted by a mix of emotions he was battling. But for the most part, he just looked spiteful of her. "Thanks."
Merida reared back a little, obviously shocked by his meager expression of gratitude. She nodded and turned to walk away, leaving Adam to his thoughts.
In the engine room, Audrey had finished giving Alice and Wendy a tour of the place and explaining to them how everything worked. Since this had turned out to be much less interesting than either girl had hoped, they both looked about ready to fall asleep. Audrey suppressed a sigh, then heard Peter laughing from where he and Jim were standing in the corner and turned to glare at him. Tinkerbell chittered in amusement while Peter continued to laugh and Jim just shook his head.
Suddenly, Merida burst into the room, looking around at them all in annoyance.
"Alright! Believe it or not, Audrey and I actually have important work to do. Now, the lot of ya', clear out!" Merida barked unhappily.
Alice, remembering her embarrassing exchange with Merida earlier, practically ran from the room, followed swiftly by Wendy, Peter, Tink and Jim.
As the four kids and the sprite arrived on the deck, they spotted a familiar form hopping around in the rigging and nimbly climbing the masts. Peter grinned and waved up at the figure, who easily climbed down and leapt from rope to rope until he hung above them like a monkey.
"Hey, Mowgli. They got you helping out up top?" Peter asked the lithe Indian boy.
Mowgli shrugged. "They decided they had enough cabin boys. Besides, I've always been good at climbing. And Tarzan and Rat have been showing me a few things, too. John Smith even helped me out once!"
Alice giggled at this.
Jim's eyebrows popped up. "Sounds like good experience."
Mowgli nodded.
Peter's expression became mischievous. "Hey, Mowgli... Do you think you could teach us how to do that?"
"Sure. It's pretty easy. As long as you're not afraid of heights." Mowgli replied.
Alice was immediately ecstatic about the idea. "Ooh, I bet you have the best view from up on the mast!"
Mowgli smiled. "Oh, yeah. It's beautiful."
"Let's do it, then!" Peter cheered.
Wendy was much more uneasy about the whole thing. "I'm not sure this is a good idea, Alice..."
Alice frowned at her. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, my sister really wouldn't approve. And besides, it's not proper. You and I are both wearing dresses."
"Then we'll go to our cabin and change clothes. What's the big deal? We won't get many opportunities like this, you know."
"What's the problem, Wendy? Are you scared?" Peter teased her, a challenging gleam in his eye.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "No. I just think it's a stupid idea." She glanced up toward the mast. "It could be dangerous."
"You know, we probably won't let you fall." He smirked.
More seriously, Mowgli added, "I can catch you if you slip, Wendy. I won't let you get hurt."
"And if we get in trouble, I'll take full responsibility." Alice cut in. She folded her hands in front of her chest and begged, "Please, Wendy?"
Wendy thought on it for a moment, obviously still doubtful. Then, slowly, she begrudgingly nodded her head. "Alright, then."
Alice squealed excitedly and grabbed Wendy's hand. "Come on! Let's go get changed!" As Alice eagerly led her away, Wendy cast another nervous glance toward the mast, ignoring Peter's pointed triumphant grin. As they watched the girls walk away, Jim leaned toward Peter and whispered, "You know, scaring her probably isn't the best way to win her over."
Peter laughed. "What? I like my girls adventurous. And imagine how much she'd like me if I saved her from falling. I think it's a brilliant plan."
Tink whined unhappily at this. Mowgli shook his head.
Jim rolled his eyes and replied, "Whatever. You better hope no one gets hurt. There's no way either of those girls has any experience climbing around in the rigging."
While they were stirring up trouble on the deck, Adam was stepping tentatively into the library, briefly glancing around for Belle. She sat at a table with Jane and Milo, and hadn't noticed him yet. Adam ducked his head and walked over to the nearest aisle of books, hiding himself and trying to act natural. But that plan was quickly overturned when he realized he was standing in the astrology section. He knew nothing about astrology! As if it were believable for him to be here. Belle had to know by now that he was an idiot...
Adam remembered what Merida had said to him earlier and pulled himself together. He needed to focus on winning Belle's affection, not on tearing himself down. He moved as casually as possible among the aisles, fighting the urge to look over at Belle whenever she was in plain view. It didn't take him long to realize that he had no idea what to look for, or what section to pretend to browse in. He never read... He found reading boring. How was he supposed to pick a book without knowing if Belle would see it and think it was a dumb choice? He didn't know what kind of books she liked...
Although, there was one book that he used to see her carrying around a lot back home... That one had to be a favorite of hers. But he had no idea what it was called, or what genre it was; the cover was just plain blue. How would he even know if it was here?
Adam hesitantly turned toward Belle. Maybe he could just ask her.
After taking a moment to gather his courage, he approached the table. Jane and Milo both noticed him but paid him no mind, aside from a brief smile from Milo. Belle didn't seem to notice Adam hovering over her. Feeling foolish, he cleared his throat, prompting her to look up at him. She welcomed him with her usual friendly smile, immediately flooding him with warmth. He looked stunned for a few seconds, then remembered why he was here.
"Um... I was wondering...if you could help me with something?" He asked nervously.
Belle looked curiously up at him. "Yes?"
"Well... I've kind of run out of books to read. And I've heard that you're kind of the literature expert. So... Maybe you could recommend something?" He felt like he could just curl up and die right now, this was so painfully embarrassing.
Belle perked up now, obviously intrigued. "Well, do you have a favorite genre?"
Adam faltered now. "N-no... No, I, uh... I don't have a favorite. I like them all." He shrugged stiffly. His whole body was rigid to avoid fidgeting.
Belle thought this over, then smiled. "I think I have something. And you won't even have to check it out." She turned briefly away to reach into her bag and pulled something out. Adam felt his heart skip a beat when she held that plain blue book out to him, the binding worn after years and years of use. Belle grinned, her hazel eyes gleaming with unabashed excitement. "My favorite genre is fantasy, and this happens to be my favorite book."
Adam raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise. "Really?"
She giggled. "Really. It's the one book I can never get sick of re-reading. So many interesting things happen in it. Reading it feels like being on a real adventure." She looked fondly at the book.
Adam carefully took it from her, holding it like it was fine China. "What's in it?"
"Far-off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise..." She explained dreamily. The last part really piqued Adam's interest, but he did his best to hide it. Belle smiled up at him. "I'm sure you'll like it."
He returned the smile and nodded, looking shyly down at the book. "Since you recommended it, I'm sure I will..."
Belle looked at him for a moment, then said in a light-hearted tone, "Don't take too long with it, though. I'll be wanting it back soon. I never go anywhere without it."
Adam smirked at her. "I'll protect it with my life."
They shared an odd moment of eye contact, each one seeming like they were trying to figure the other out. Jane and Milo exchanged confused looks. Then, the door burst open and they all looked up to see Hercules walking in, beaming with excitement the moment he laid eyes on Belle. In return, her lips spread in a grin and she impulsively hopped up out of her seat and practically ran to greet him, giggling quietly. Jane and Milo shared knowing smirks while Adam stared down at his feet to hide his disappointment.
"Hello, Belle." Hercules greeted her softly. "They told me you'd be in here. I hope I'm not intruding..."
She quickly shook her head. "No, not at all. Um... Well, I'd invite you to sit with us, but I think you might get bored..."
"Actually, Belle, I think you deserve a little break. Why don't you and Hercules go walk around the deck a little while, hmm?" Jane chimed in.
Belle looked at her with wide eyes. "Are you sure?"
"If we find anything interesting- which I sincerely doubt- we'll just fill you in when you get back. Right, Milo?" Jane nudged him slightly.
Milo quickly nodded in agreement. "Yup."
"Well, um...alright." Belle laughed nervously as Hercules started to lead her out. She turned briefly to mouth the words "Thank you" to Jane, who responded to her with a thumbs-up. As the door shut, blocking Belle and Hercules from view, Adam felt his heart sink.
Jane sighed and went back to reading, muttering to Milo, "There's not much to distract that girl from her reading. I don't think I've ever seen her move away from a book so eagerly as just now. Have you?"
Milo shook his head distractedly, lost in the printed words on the page in front of him.
Adam was seething now, feeling his stomach turn violently. He stormed out of the library and onto the deck, keeping Belle's book firmly clenched in one hand. He strode purposefully toward the side of the ship, intending to clear his head...
"Wendy, watch out!" A young girl shouted overhead.
Adam looked up to see the youngest Porter girl make a misstep while trying to traverse the ropes. She screamed ad she started to sail toward the deck while everyone else looked on in terror. Mowgli swung on a rope to try to catch her, but was too slow. Adam gritted his teeth and dove forward to stop her descent, but before he was even close enough, Hercules leapt in the way and deftly caught Wendy in his arms, leaving Adam to hit the ground uselessly. Everyone on the deck started to cheer and ran over to congratulate Hercules while he held Wendy in his arms like a child. He carefully put Wendy down. She was shaking a little, but was unharmed. She gave him a quick hug to express her gratitude.
"Hercules, that was amazing!" Belle cried, placing a hand on his shoulder. He grinned at her proudly. Belle then noticed Adam sprawled on the ground at their feet and looked at him in concern. "Are you alright?"
Adam stared up at her in disbelief, then jumped up to his feet. "Yeah..."
Jane and Milo were running over now, having heard the commotion from the library.
"Wendy! Wendy?" Jane called, then sighed in relief as she pulled her little sister close. "Are you alright?"
Wendy nodded. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Thanks to Hercules."
Jane smiled at him now. "Oh, Hercules, I can't thank you enough. We're lucky to have a hero like you on board."
Adam rolled his eyes and turned away.
Now Jane noticed Alice and the boys still watching from up in the rigging and gasped. She started to scold Wendy, "And just what were you girls thinking, climbing around up there?"
Wendy looked down at her feet. "Alice thought it would be fun..."
Alice sputtered indignantly from her perch on the mast. Jane narrowed her eyes up at the young blond and motioned for her to come down immediately. Alice groaned and started to climb down. The boys followed suit.
Jim gave Peter an annoyed look. "Didn't really go according to plan, did it?"
Alice turned to Peter with a murderous glare. "Did you intend for this to happen?"
Peter rolled his eyes and threw out a hand to push Jim. "Thanks a lot-"
"Peter, don't!" Alice gasped.
But it was too late. Peter hadn't realized how hard he'd shoved Jim, but apparently it was hard enough to throw him right off the ropes. Jim cried out as he fell toward the deck. Adam, who was right below him, was just walking away from the Hercules fan club when the sound of his younger brother's shout ringing out made him look upward. He couldn't act quickly enough before Jim landed right on top of him, leaving them both in a painful heap on the deck while everyone around stared at them.
"What is going on out here?" Amelia demanded as she and her officers stormed onto the deck.
Adam quickly climbed up to his feet, lifting Jim up with him.
"N - nothing, ma'am. My brother and his friends were just goofing off. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." Adam tried to mollify her.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Yes. You see to that."
Jim groaned as Adam's grip on him became painful. Adam withheld the rage that broiled just beneath the surface of his skin and dragged Jim away toward their cabin, leaving everyone else to face Amelia's scrutiny.
Jim shouted when Adam tossed him into the room, crashing into his bunk. He turned over just in time to see Adam barreling toward him. He quickly rolled out of the way and onto the floor, making a mad dash for the door. But Adam whirled around and launched himself at Jim, tackling him back to the ground. He was ready to have Jim pinned, but Jim knew by now, after years of wrestling, how to match his larger brother. They grappled and rolled around for awhile. Jim knew that he could keep this going for awhile, and once Adam got tired, he could get the upper hand.
Adam seemed to have other plans, though. He was much more aggressive today than usual; something must have really upset him. And now he was going to take it out on Jim. In a swift motion, he wrapped the teenager up in a headlock, keeping Jim pinned so that his back was pressed firmly against Adam's chest. Jim struggled as hard as he could, but it was futile. And his arms, stuck over his head thanks to Adam's vice-like grip, were slowly going numb.
"What the hell were you thinking up there?!" Adam growled, giving Jim a short, violent jerk. "Do you know how embarrassing that was?!" He shook Jim around with more force than he realized.
Jim was losing patience now. "What, did I make you look dumb in front of your little girlfriend?"
Adam roared, "You made me look dumb in front of everyone! " He suddenly charged forward, aiming to slam Jim into the dresser ahead of them. Jim thought fast, kicking up his legs to brace himself against the dresser. Amazingly, the wooden bit of furniture didn't break upon impact. It was sturdy, and only groaned slightly in protest as Jim pressed his heavy boots into it. With a burst of effort, Jim pushed off the dresser with both legs, sending him and Adam sailing back into the opposite wall. Adam grunted as his back made contact with the wall. He knew he'd be feeling that for awhile; his shoulder blades, which had taken the brunt of it, would surely bruise.
"I dunno why you're still so hung up on her!" Jim cried. "I mean, as if it wasn't obvious before that she didn't want you, now she's even found someone else! Why are you even bothering?" Jim knew what buttons he had to press. Adam needed to expend this energy before it culminated into something that could endanger the whole crew.
Even angrier now, Adam turned over, thrashing Jim into the wall before he had time to reach. Jim squirmed and wriggled about, eventually throwing Adam off-balance. They both shouted as they toppled over and onto the floor.
Tarzan burst in now, looking panicked, as he had heard the fight from outside. His concern gave way to annoyance as he watched his younger brothers continue to wrestle and yell nonsensically on the ground.
"Hey!" He barked.
Both Adam and Jim immediately froze and fell silent, gaping up at him like guilty children. Tarzan rolled his eyes and said in his typical low tone, "Pull yourselves together. We're nearing Corona."
Corona was a very small planet, but nevertheless it was bustling with activity and packed with inhabitants of every shape, size and species. Entering the gates to the kingdom and approaching the marketplace was like stepping into some fairytale world. The intricate architecture created a lovely backdrop for the energetic market and the citizens that ran through it. It was all almost too much to take in at once, and most of the crew of the Legacy felt overwhelmed. Amelia, however, seemed evermore infatuated with the place.
"Right. John, Phoebus, Hercules, Mr. Arrow, and Robin shall accompany me to the palace. The rest of you, enjoy what this lovely little planet has to offer, hm?" Amelia announced to the crew, earning cheers from the others. She smirked as she led her team away, leaving everyone else to their own devices.
While everyone began to split up, Flynn pulled Aladdin aside and whispered, "Alright. I'm going to make my way to the castle too."
Aladdin's eyes widened. "Right now? You're going to steal the crown in broad daylight, only a few days before the lost princess's birthday? Do you know how tight security will be?"
Flynn smirked. "It won't be a problem. Trust me. But I need the ship empty so I can hide the crown afterward."
Aladdin turned to see Eric walking back toward the ship. Eric was the only crew member who was hesitant to leave the ship alone in this quaint port.
Aladdin nodded and said, "Alright, I'll distract him. But be quick."
Flynn gave him a cocky wink before slipping away and disappearing into the crowd. Aladdin shook his head. He knew that Flynn was the expert, but he couldn't help worrying. Aladdin quickly decided not to let himself dwell on what could go wrong and hurried over to stop Eric.
"Captain, we've been at this for hours with no clues to go off of. Don't you think it would be wise to ask around and see if the citizens know anything?" Mr. Arrow pointed out to Amelia as their team was trekking through the forest that surrounded the kingdom.
"I think that if the citizens knew anything, the princess wouldn't still be lost." John joked half-heartedly.
Mr. Arrow shot him a look. "Unless they wanted her to be."
The group paused now.
Hercules frowned. "You think that the people would turn on their King and Queen like that?"
"I just don't think we should rule out the possibility." Mr. Arrow said warily. "The royals only got a glimpse of the person who kidnapped their daughter- the old woman. Even if the commoners weren't directly involved, one of them could have been an accomplice, or unwittingly harboring the kidnapper all these years. At the very least, they might know someone who fits the description."
"That is quite brilliant, Mr. Arrow." Amelia said. "There you go, making me look like an embecile again."
Mr. Arrow chuckled and shook his head, adjusting his hat. "No, I don't believe anyone could make you look like an embecile, Captain."
"Good answer. Very well, then. Why don't you, Phoebus and John go ask around while Robin, Hercules and myself continue to search the forest? We're bound to stumble upon something eventually." Amelia said.
Mr. Arrow nodded. "Excellent, Captain." He started to lead John and Phoebus back toward the kingdom.
Flynn had snagged the crown in record time, and slipped away without being spotted. He moved quickly, taking a long way through the forest to avoid being tracked to the ship. He figured he didn't have too long before the palace guards would realize the kingdom's most prized possession was missing and a search would be called for. He had to hide this thing, but not on the ship. No one could know that the Legacy or any of its crew members was involved in the theft. He hoped he could stash it somewhere in the forest without bringing down its value. He'd have to go deeper in, find a hollow tree or something...
Flynn suddenly heard voices up ahead and paused. Although they were familiar voices, they didn't instill comfort in him. He silently ducked behind some bushes as Amelia, Hercules, and the mysterious Fox passed him by. He squatted there for a moment, out of sight, but while they chattered distractedly he knew he'd better move. While keeping a close eye on them, he carefully started to inch his way backward, further into the brush.
"She must be pretty far from the kingdom... I mean, the kidnapper wouldn't want to stay too close to the victim's home, right?" Hercules was saying. "They could be anywhere on this planet! Maybe the kidnapper even managed to get them passage to another planet..."
"Well, we're going to hope that that's not the case, Hercules." Amelia said.
"Just like we're hoping that the lost princess is still alive. Who's to say what the kidnapper did with the baby after taking her?" The Fox said warily.
"Oh, Robin, don't be so pessimistic. If the princess really had healing powers, the kidnapper would have kept her alive so she could use them!" Amelia chided.
Oh, I guess Aladdin was right about Robin Hood being aboard... Flynn thought as he continually crept away, unable to see what was behind him. Suddenly, his foot found empty air and he slipped backward into a dark cavity in the ground. As he fell, he could see nothing, because overhead the hole was shielded by the bushes, and the hidden tunnel that he rolled through was pitch-black. The only sound was the air rushing around him and the occasional grunt or groan that escaped his lips as he barreled downward. Eventually, he hit flat ground and with a couple of somersaults he found himself sitting on the ground in a sunny little hidden valley.
Flynn looked himself over to make sure he wasn't hurt or that he hadn't lost the crown- which, to him, would have been the real tragedy. Then, he took a moment to look around at his surroundings. He couldn't help feeling a little awed for a few seconds as he surveyed the valley. It was small, but spacey, surrounded mostly by rocky cliff faces, letting out on one side to another end of the deep forest. A waterfall spilled down from one cliff and into a crystal-clear, shallow pond. And in the center of it all, on a low, grassy hill, was a quaint and lonely farmhouse. The valley was a dreamy little place, only fitting for being so near that fairytale-like kingdom, yet tucked away from all the activity.
With no animals around, and no lights coming from inside the house, Flynn figured nobody could be living out here. The place was abandoned, but it couldn't have been for very long, considering how nice it looked. He decided to hide out here a little while and get his bearings. This could be the perfect place to hide the crown. He was sure he could find his way here again and retrieve the crown before the Legacy would have to part.
Flynn jogged over to the farmhouse, taking a quick peek through the front windows to make sure the place was empty. When he was confident that the coast was clear, he carefully picked the lock of the front door and let himself in. He glanced around as he slipped into the darkened living room, observing the homey, plain look of the place. Most of it didn't pack much of a punch in the dim lighting, but the few spots that were highlighted by the sunlight leaking in through the windows were shining bits of lustrous old wood and pops of bright color.
Flynn crept quietly through the place, realizing that this place wasn't abandoned after all. The pristine furniture and decorations and sentimental knick-knacks set up around the place were evidence enough. Whoever lived here was just out for the moment, probably taking part in the activities in the kingdom. Although, Flynn had to assume that whoever lived all the way out here didn't make regular trips to the marketplace. This seemed like the kind of secluded area that the typical paranoid recluse longed for. That seemed like a very specific example, but something about this place felt very...off to Flynn. He decided now that he couldn't hang around much longer; he'd have to hide the crown somewhere in the woods like he'd planned to before.
He heard a soft creak behind him and started to turn around. But before he could, something solid and metal struck the back of his head. Flynn groaned and sagged to his knees, reaching up both hands to shield the wound. While he was seeing spots, someone swooped in and grabbed his satchel.
"Who are you, and why are you in my house?!" A young girl demanded from somewhere out of Flynn's line of sight.
He groaned in response, trying to turn his head to look at her. But she was standing back in the shadows, and any movement made his head spin.
The girl scoffed. Then, there was a shuffling sound, presumably her rifling through his bag. There was a short pause, then the sound of the satchel hitting the floor. Flynn forced himself to sit up and turn toward her, squinting to see her holding the crown in her dainty hands.
"What is this?" She asked, experimentally sticking her hand through it as if it were a giant bracelet.
Flynn stared at her, one eye squeezed shut. "Are you being serious?"
"It's really pretty. Where'd you get it from?" She seemed genuinely curious, not interrogative.
"It doesn't matter. It's mine. Now, please, put it back." He said seriously.
She stepped into the light now, revealing her youthful face, slight frame, and absurdly long golden hair. Her green eyes gleamed like the many jewels on the crown. Flynn found himself momentarily speechless. But he was forced to collect himself when a suspicious look crossed the girl's face.
"What's so important about it?" She asked.
Flynn sighed. "It's worth a lot of money... It's important that I get it to my ship."
Her cross look softened now to obvious intrigue. "Your ship?"
He rolled his eyes. "Yes. I'm a sailor."
Her eyes grew wider now, and she grinned. "So... You get to travel all over the world?"
Flynn scoffed. "Try the whole galaxy, Blondie."
She tilted her head. "The galaxy?"
He frowned. "Yeah... You do know that there are other planets aside from Corona, right?"
"Planets?" She shook her head. "I don't understand."
"No one ever taught you about the universe? Solar systems, galaxies, black holes, stars?"
"Ooh! I know about stars! I've charted them myself." She said proudly. Then, her face fell. "But...all the other stuff... I've never heard of any of that."
Flynn slowly stood up. "But everyone should be learning about it in school. The Galactic Federation made it mandatory."
The girl just looked more confused, and now a little uneasy. Flynn couldn't help feeling bad for her.
"Have you...never been in a school before?" He asked softly.
She was reluctant to answer at first, but eventually it just came out. "No... My mother never lets me leave the house. She's worried that something will happen to me, like the lost princess."
Flynn frowned. That didn't make a lot of sense... But he'd always figured that having kids turned people crazy. "Oh... Well, once you're old enough, you oughtta get out sometime. There's a great big world out there to explore. Now, if you'll just-" He started to reach for the crown that she gripped like a lifeline.
She reared back from his reach. "You think I haven't dreamed my whole life about what's out there? I wish I could see the things you get to see, and travel wherever I want..." She was gesturing wildly with both hands, waving the crown through the air. Seeing how Flynn pulled faces and nervously flinched as he watched this, the girl paused and looked the crown over again. "This does look vaguely familiar..." She turned to him suspiciously. "Did it come from the palace?"
Flynn scoffed and shook his head. "What? No!" He waved the notion away.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "It seems too well-crafted and fancy to have come from anywhere else... It belongs to the King and Queen, doesn't it?"
Flynn sighed in defeat. "Listen, Blondie-"
"My name is Rapunzel." She cut in forcefully.
"Gesundheit." He muttered.
"Did you steal this?" Rapunzel demanded.
"Well-"
"You stole this from the palace! You're a thief! " She stuck the crown back into his satchel, then slung the bag over her shoulder. Then, she reached behind her and wielded the heavy frying pan she'd just used to hit him over the head. "Stay back!"
"Whoa, Blondie, hang on! What are you gonna do?" Flynn held his hands up defensively.
"I'm going to- to... I'll knock you out and return this to the palace myself. Then the guards will come to arrest you!"
"Oh, come on, Rapunzel, there must be something I can do to change your mind? Huh? Isn't there something you want? Let me go free with that crown, and I'll give you anything!"
She hesitated for a moment, lowering her frying pan a little. She raised one eyebrow. "Anything?"
"Anything! Even a percent of the profits, if you want. Name your price." He assured her.
Rapunzel seemed to come to a conclusion in her head, raising the frying pan up again in a way that Flynn supposed was meant to be menacing.
"I want to be a sailor, like you." She stated.
Flynn gawked at her. "What?"
"I want to live on a ship and meet people and go on adventures and explore distant lands! I want to see amazing things; I want to have amazing stories to tell when I get old! My mother is smothering me. I can't stay here any more. So...take me with you."
Flynn chuckled and started to shake his head. "Oh, no. No, no, no. I can't just-"
"Okay, I guess I'll just go running and screaming through the woods until a guard comes-"
"No! I mean- Just- Ugh, look, the life of a sailor isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's not glamorous, and a lot of the time, it's not even exciting. It's hard work. Have you ever even had a job before?"
"No... But I'm a quick learner. I've spent my whole life teaching myself things. I'm sure I can do stuff to help on the ship."
Flynn scoffed. "How am I even supposed to explain this to the Captain! I can't just bring on a new crewmember without consulting her."
"Then consult her! Say whatever you have to to get me on that ship! Or I'll be forced to tell her about this little incident." Rapunzel teasingly patted the satchel that rested on her hip. "I'm guessing she doesn't know what you've been up to?"
"Alright, alright, fine! But... What if you decide you don't want to be a sailor any more? What if you want to come back?"
"I don't think I will, but... If that does happen, you guys can just send me back. And I won't say a word about any of this to anyone. I promise."
Flynn crossed his arms. "How do I know I can trust you, kid?"
"When I make a promise, I never break it. Ever." Rapunzel said with a level of intensity that Flynn wasn't expecting.
"O...kay." Flynn muttered.
"So? Do we have a deal?" Rapunzel asked.
Flynn stared at her, then at the satchel.
Rapunzel sighed. "You can have your bag back once you get me onto the ship."
"And the crown?"
"Yes, and the crown."
Flynn took a moment to think it over. "Fine... Just don't make me look bad, Blondie. You better actually be useful on the ship."
Rapunzel giggled and stuck her frying pan in the satchel, carefully setting it under the fragile crown. "Let me pack a few of my things and we can go right away."
"Aladdin, it'll only take me a minute!" Eric said, obviously irritated as Aladdin followed him aboard the ship. "I just need to-" They both froze when they saw Flynn and a strange girl in the loading bay. Eric crossed his arms as he approached them. Aladdin was close behind and trying to not look nervous.
"Flynn? Who's this?" Eric asked, nodding toward the young girl at his side. She was very young, with big green eyes, and her blond hair was pulled back in a long braid that nearly touched the floor. She wore a fairly plain purple dress and no shoes, and carried one old duffel bag.
Flynn smiled easily and replied, "This is Rapunzel. She's interested in the sailing life, so I thought I'd take it upon myself to recruit her." He winked at Rapunzel and she giggled.
Eric frowned. "Flynn, just because you met some girl on a stop-over-"
"No, no, it's not like that, Eric!" Flynn cut in, chuckling nervously while Rapunzel looked confused. "This is strictly business. The girl's got a knack for ships, I'm telling you."
"Well, even so, you can't just invite someone to join the crew. Amelia has to make that decision." Eric said sternly.
"That's why we were just looking for her. Is she still out searching?" Flynn asked.
Eric nodded. "Yeah. Knowing her, they'll be out until the early morning..." A strange beep from above them caught their attention. Eric looked up toward the sound. "What? Who could be calling us right now?" He started to walk up toward the deck. "I gotta check the holophone."
"Ooh, I've heard of that! Never seen one though..." Rapunzel eagerly followed Eric.
Aladdin gave Flynn a questioning look. Flynn rolled his eyes and mouthed "Later" in response before leading Aladdin after the others.
Eric figured he probably shouldn't allow these three into Amelia's office, but decided that they couldn't do any harm. He was just answering a call. But as they approached the sleek, compact device on the Captain's desk, Eric saw the red flashing light and the beeping intensified. He'd never heard the holophone make that noise before, but it fit the description of am emergency call. Eric told the others to stand back and quickly answered the call, expecting to face a member of the Council. Instead he saw someone that made all the color drain from his face.
Amelia heard her watch beeping urgently and glanced down to see she was getting an emergency call on her portable holophone. She frowned and signaled for Robin and Hercules to stop moving while she answered it. She was mildly surprised to see Packard's face looking up at her.
"What is it, Ms. Packard?" Amelia asked.
"Sorry to bother you Captain. But Eric said he couldn't reach you from the ship because the woods are blocking his comms. He had to call me to relay this message." Packard explained in her in her slow drone.
Amelia couldn't help already feeling impatient. "Yes, alright. What is it?"
"He's received a distress call that he believes deserves your attention. He also thinks it's for the best that everyone return to the ship."
"Well, I don't believe Eric has the authority to make that call. I'll see to this myself. Thank you, Packard." Amelia ended the call, sighing. She turned to Hercules and Robin. "I'm going to the ship. You two keep searching these woods until you hear from me again."
When Amelia walked into her darkened office, she found Eric accompanied by Milo, Cookie, Tiana and Joshua Sweet, Vinny and Mole. She raised one eyebrow and Eric quickly explained, "I figured they could confirm the authenticity of the call. This seems to be their area of expertise."
Amelia turned to Milo with a questioning look.
Milo sighed. "It seems that the Jolly Roger has made its way to the planet Atlantis."
Amelia's eyebrows shot up. "Atlantis? But no one's been able to find Atlantis. No one's heard a word from the Atlanteans since Earth's collapse."
"We were on the path to finding Atlantis ourselves, thanks to Mr. Whitmore. There's a book, an ancient tome that came directly from Atlantis- The Shepherd's Journal. It's an explorer's only hope at finding the lost planet. We went looking for the journal on Eiriol, the ice planet. We almost died looking for it, but never found the journal. As it turns out, two members of the Jolly Roger found it before we could." Milo explained.
"Hook called us from the King of Atlantis's old holophone. He and his crew are threatening to end the indigenous civilization and destroy the planet." Eric told the Captain.
Amelia's expression turned cold. "Is Hook on hold?"
Eric nodded. "Yes."
She took her seat, leaning forward over her desk. "Put him on."
Eric obediently resumed the call, and a projection of the infamous Captain Hook took up the center of the office. The small group took their places alongside their Captain to face the pirate, whose expression was unreadable.
"Hello, Amelia. They've finally given you your very own ship, hmm?" Hook drawled lowly.
Amelia narrowed her eyes at Hook's surroundings. From the ancient architecture and foreign heiroglyphs surrounding him, she had to assume that he was in an alien environment she didn't recognize.
"Cut the chit-chat, James. Is it true that you're on Atlantis?" She demanded.
He stared at her for a moment, his expression emotionless. Then, his blue eyes flashed with mischief and he chuckled. He stood up and momentarily left their line of sight. When he returned, he was dragging an older man dressed in regal robes. Hook sat back down and forced the man to his knees in front of him. Seeing the older man's face clearly, Amelia saw a long white beard, blue tribal tattoos, and blind eyes. She recognized this man, but she wasn't sure from where.
Milo gasped beside her. "The King of Atlantis..."
Amelia glanced up at him with a guarded expression. "Is it truly him?"
Milo nodded. "I'm sure of it. I've done extensive research on the cultures and history of Atlantis. That's King Kashekim."
Amelia looked at him for a moment, then turned back to Hook with a deadly expression. "What exactly are you hoping to gain from this escapade, James Hook?"
Hook's smirk was barely detectable to her trained, critical eyes. It was gone in a flash, and his deep voice once more emanated through the air.
"I'm only seeking a meeting with you, Amelia. A meeting regarding something quite dear to my heart that only you can help me with. Come meet me on Atlantis. Find me, and you can save all these people. Help me out, and Atlantis won't have to burn."
"And how exactly are we supposed to find Atlantis?" Amelia asked.
"It will be treacherous, but if we could find our way, I'm sure it will be all too easy for you."
Amelia detected the hint of bitter malice underlying Hook's tone and glared at him.
"But, I'll throw you a bone and send you the coordinates right now." Hook continued, reaching off to the side and typing on a keyboard Amelia couldn't see.
After a moment, the holophone on Amelia's desk beeped. The blue flashing light alerted Amelia that she'd just received a file. She hesitantly opened it, not trusting Hook's antics. When a projection of an unfamiliar galaxy popped up, Amelia reached up a hand to get a closer look. She used her claws to expand the map, zooming in on the largest planet, which she assumed was Atlantis. She turned toward Milo and his associates.
"Does this seem right to you?" She asked.
Milo stepped forward, awestruck as he studied the projected map. He gently reached up one hand and tapped on the planet. The projection zoomed in to reveal the vast jungles, dark caves, misty mountains, and luxurious waterfalls that decorated the planet. At last, they were looking at a picture of an elevated kingdom in the middle of a large valley, the entrance marked by long, rickety bridge leading to the wilderness. Milo stared at the small, fairly dilapidated kingdom and nodded, pointing out the minute details in the architecture and markings.
"That's it, alright." Milo breathed.
Amelia tapped a button that made the map disappear temporarily. She looked evenly up at Hook, who'd been smugly watching the whole time.
"There's nothing I can offer you to change your mind?" Amelia asked him.
Hook tilted his head to one side. "You do have something I want. But you must bring it to me. If you don't come and face me, Atlantis and all its people will be decimated."
King Kashekim muttered something in his own language. Hook stared at him for a moment, then knocked him to the ground with one swift, forceful kick to the head. A few of Amelia's crew flinched or looked away, but she remained stoic. Hook stared back at Amelia with eyes that seemed to burn like embers.
"And Amelia? Just your ship. Don't involve your precious Federation. Don't call the Council for help. If I suspect that you've involved anyone else, we will destroy everything. Then, we will come after you and your crew." Hook growled.
Amelia smirked and replied casually, "Oh, James, I wouldn't dream of trying to cross you. I know exactly what you're capable of by now. You've no need to threaten me."
Hook glowered at her for a moment, putting everyone on edge. Amelia refused to convey her own uneasiness. She wouldn't let Hook feel like he'd already triumphed.
"Believe me, Amelia. You've no idea exactly what I'm capable of..." He rose from his seat and drew closer to the camera ahead of him, filling everyone's vision with only his menacing face. "Be seeing you." He reached up his left hand, blinding them all with his palm, and ended the call.
The room remained dark until Amelia reached over and ended the call on her end, automatically lighting the office. She bit her lip for a moment, deep in thought. Then, she pressed a button, making a panel in the surface of her desk flip over to reveal a keyboard. She tapped a few keys, sending the map to Atlantis to her personal holophone. Her watch beeped as it received the coordinates.
"I'm guessing we're going after them, Captain?" Eric asked.
She turned to him with a slight smirk, her feline eyes gleaming. "Of course we are." She stood up, bringing everyone to attention. "We'll be departing within the hour. I'll be meeting again with the King and Queen to explain the situation to them, and to assure them that we'll be back as soon as we can to carry out our promise. Meanwhile, you all will retrieve our crew and brief them on the new mission. Everyone better be aboard by the time I get back. We'll be leaving with or without the stragglers." Amelia marched out of the office, followed by the six of them.
"Chop-chop, Mr. Rat! We've no time to waste!" Amelia shouted up toward the masts. Rat, Tarzan, and Mowgli were jumping around every which way to set the sails. John and Sinbad were helping where they could. The rest of the crew was bustling about above and below deck, preparing for launch.
"Um, Captain? I need to speak to you about something." Flynn said politely, wearing his most charming grin.
Amelia rolled her eyes. "What is it?"
"There's someone I'd like you to meet." Flynn gestured toward the stranger at his side, a young blond girl whose naivete rolled off her slim form in waves.
Amelia arched an eyebrow. "Who's this?"
"This is Rapunzel. She's expressed an interest in the ship, and wishes to join the crew." Flynn explained. Rapunzel bounced excitedly by his side.
Amelia looked sternly at the girl, then at Flynn. "Well, that's not exactly how it works, is it, Mr. Rider?" She looked at Rapunzel now. "Any previous experience aboard a sailing vessel, miss?"
Rapunzel sheepishly shook her head. "Not really... No experience in anything, to be honest..."
Amelia stared at her, then turned and narrowed her eyes at Flynn, who was forcing a grin. "Honestly, Mr. Rider?"
"Well..." He sighed.
"But there are a lot of things I'm good at!" Rapunzel blurted nervously. "I have a lot of hobbies... Let me show you what-"
"I'm afraid there's no time, dear girl. We're preparing to go on a very dangerous mission. An entire planet's fate rests in our hands. Hopefully, we'll be back to Corona in a few weeks. If you still wish to join us then, you and I can have a meeting." Amelia waved dismissively and turned to go.
After she was gone, Flynn shook his head and turned, expecting to see a very disappointed Rapunzel. Instead, he was looking around at the rushing crowd. Rapunzel had disappeared. Flynn looked around in confusion and slight concern for a moment before hearing a girlish shriek from overhead. Flynn looked up to see Rapunzel swinging easily through the open air on a rope, swiftly helping Rat to hoist the main sail. The other men working in the rigging all cheered and clapped for her impressive ability. A few people on the deck gasped or gaped up at the mysterious girl who was so adept with the ropes. Flynn couldn't help grinning.
Rapunzel and Tarzan fastened the rope and she hopped down onto the deck, giggling. The crowd around her cheered and a few even came over to greet and congratulate her. Flynn started to walk toward her, but paused when he saw Amelia thinking ahead of him. He watched tentatively as the Captain marched over to Rapunzel, looking the dainty girl over with a hardened expression. Rapunzel, though intimidated, forced herself to meet the Feline's gaze.
Amelia tipped her head back regally, her gloved hands clasped behind her back. "Impressive, girl... But is there anything else you can do? I have plenty of hands to help up top."
Rapunzel brightened up. "Oh, I can do plenty of things! I'm quite good at cooking, cleaning, baking, reading, painting, candle-making, pottery, darts, chess, knitting, sewing... Ooh! I can sing and play guitar, chart stars..."
Amelia's eyebrows had nearly disappeared into her hairline. "My, my..."
"I'm also a fairly good ventriloquist, if I may say so." Rapunzel shrugged.
Amelia smirked and stuck out a hand for Rapunzel to shake. "Welcome aboard, my dear."
Rapunzel grinned and eagerly gripped Amelia's hand with both of hers, vigorously shaking. "Thank you! Thank you very much!"
Amelia pulled her hand back. "Right... Make yourself at home. Have Phoebus find you a room." She walked away stiffly.
Rapunzel shrieked happily, jumping around and hugging herself. She noticed Flynn laughing as he approached her and forced herself to calm down.
"Looks like you didn't really need my help after all, Blondie. You're really something, you know that?" He smirked.
Rapunzel awkwardly played with her braid. "Thanks..."
"Now, about my satchel..." Flynn started.
She rolled her eyes. "Later, when no one can see. I don't want to be associated with your crime if you get caught. Now, take me to, um... Phoebus, is it?"
Gothel didn't appreciate disloyal, ungrateful brats who didn't appreciate the measures she took to protect them. And she'd never failed to severely punish Rapunzel the few other times she'd tried to run away. But now, that horrible, selfish girl had finally succeeded. It had been so long since Rapunzel's last escape attempt, Gothel was just starting to believe the girl had finally given up. She had finally started to trust Rapunzel enough to leave her home alone... And this is what it had gotten her.
She'd spent all day searching, believing that the girl couldn't have gotten far on her own. But then, she'd heard about how the Legacy had left port, quite suddenly, and realized that her prize was far, far beyond her reach. Rather than sit in that house full of mirrors- a monument to her own vanity- and watch herself become decrepit, Gothel decided to go drink away the feeling of defeat instead.
So here she sat, in the Snuggly Duckling, a dark tavern writhing with cutthroat criminals under a misleading name. She ignored the brazen compliments and lustful leers of the thugs surrounding her. She was the only woman here, and she understood she was beautiful. Being so confident in her looks only invited more unwelcome advances and conversations that she had to turn away with her dagger. Eventually a pair of voices nearby caught her attention. Gothel turned discretely to see the Stabbington Brothers- a pair of dastardly twins- sitting only a few seats away from her at the bar.
"I'm telling you, Rider's aboard that ship." One of the brothers grumbled to the other.
"Why would he risk a stunt like that while aboard such a renowned vessel? Even Rider's not that stupid." The other hissed in response.
"I'm telling you, he's on the Legacy. So's Aladdin! And they have the lost princess's crown with them."
"Even if that's true, how are we supposed to catch 'em? Our ship isn't nearly fit enough to match the Legacy."
Gothel got up and walked over to the brothers now, standing between them. "Maybe if someone were to offer some financial aid? In return for passage, of course."
They both looked at her suspiciously.
"What would a lady like you want with the Legacy? " The one to her left asked.
"Are you after the crown, too? We're not splitting profit with anyone." The one on her right growled.
She chuckled airily. "No, no, dears, I'm after something much more valuable. See, it seems this Rider person stole not only your crown, but my daughter as well. I'll pay you handsomely to take me along and bring her and the crown back. And I'll allow you to deal with Rider in whatever way you see fit." She smugly crossed her arms and watched the brothers think it over. "Sound like a deal?"
The Stabbington brothers shared a look, but Gothel was fairly sure she already knew their answer. Finally, they both looked up at her and nodded.