A/N: Chapter 4, wherein there's a family reunion of sorts

Chapter 4

Hamlet slowly strolled over to his father's booth, his mind racing through all the possible things to say to him. It was the most bizarre situation he could remember being in…well, at least since he'd died.

Krys yawned as he followed his charge across the pub. Personally, he didn't see the big deal about it all. It was only his father. It's not like the boy was being asked to answer a complicated algebraic equation…that was written in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Krys shook his head. Humans always overcomplicated everything.

Hamlet stood for a moment at the table, watching as his father conversed with the grizzly looking sea-farer.

"…arr, indeed it seems even royalty cannot escape the bounds of ye wimin folk. Thems caused me more trouble then they worth, they 'ave. But I've never been able to say nay to a lovely lass, if ye knows what I mean," the Pirate remarked, taking a deep sip from his mug.

"Indeed, Captain Greybeard, I know exactly what you mean. The things we do for women," Hamlet Snr replied nostalgically. He reached for his mug when, he noticed the young man standing at the table.

"Hamlet, ma' boy, is it really you?" he asked.

"Yes father, it is I," the ex-prince replied.

"What the devil are you doing here?"

"I…I'm stuck here, father. But what are you doing here?" Hamlet asked

The dead king sighed. "I'm afraid I'm stuck too. But tell me boy, you're not here because of me, are you?"

Hamlet looked away, "Well, actually…"

"Yeah, it's basically your fault," Krys answered for him.

"Oh no, that's terrible," the old King replied.

"King Hamlet, be this young lad that boy you've been telling me about?" the Pirate asked.

"Indeed he is. Captain, this is my son, Hamlet junior. Son, this is Marville Greybeard." he introduced, "He was one of the fiercest pirates in the Caribbean seas back in his day."

"Aye, there be nary a soul who could catch me when I captained me pride and joy, the Shrieking Siren. Not until I be taken down by a Kraken, the bloomin' beast." Captain Greybeard replied

"…nice to meet you, sir," Hamlet nodded.

Krys jumped onto the back of the booth to see a bobcat, curled up and sleepily listening to her charges' conversation.

"Hey there," Krys greeted. He was loving meeting all these new people.

The bobcat yawned, "Hi. So you're his son's guide, eh? Great." she said without much enthusiasm.

"I'm name's Krys," replied the fox

"They call me Maa. And that's Jingo, the Captain's guide," the bobcat lazily pointed to the marmoset who was perched on the pirates shoulder.

"So why exactly are you here, son, on what charges? The captain's here because of all the pillaging and general marauding he did." Hamlet Snr explained.

"Aye, I can't leave until they tell me. I've been here for so long, it feels like an eternity. It be pretty boring until yer pa came along. We've been talking like old sea dogs for a while now." the Captain confirmed.

"Well, I'm here because…well, um…ok, after you told me to avenge you…I came up with this brilliant plan to kill Claudius, but I guess I got uncertain and decided to try and get evidence first…but to keep it short, I basically ended up causing the deaths of many more people that I intended…including Mother…" Hamlet replied sheepishly.

The old king shook his head sadly. "Ah, it's all my fault."

"What do you mean? I did those things. If only I hadn't been so – "

"No, you're not to blame. I wasn't supposed to come back and tell you to avenge me. That's why I'm still here. I broke the rules. I had no right to ask you to do such a thing. And now, we're both stuck in this pit." King Hamlet replied, "I'm sorry son. I should never have involved you in all of this."

Young Hamlet could barely believe his ears. "…well, it's not completely your fault. Even if you hadn't come to me, I probably would've tried to get rid of my uncle anyway."

"No son. It's my fault. It not in your nature to do such things unprovoked. I doubt you would've even sworn at Claudius if I had not come to you. You were such a sweet boy. But my selfishness got in the way, and now you're being treated like a murderer." the King sighed dramatically.

Hamlet was speechless. He didn't know what to think. "Are you saying I'm too weak to do anything of my own accord?"

The old king looked confused. "…not at all Hamlet, but, seriously, are you saying you want to be held fully accountable for these crimes? I think you may be missing the point here…"

"Well, it's just…I don't get it father. You were murdered, by your own brother, might I add, who then took your throne and made a whore of your wife, my mother, and you're saying you wish I hadn't gone after him? That I hadn't tried to correct the terrible wrongs committed in your own house?"

The King shook his head. "No, boy, even though you broke the rules, I believe what you did, did in some way, act as punishment for my foolish brother, but you have to look as the other casualties. And I know who they are, they've all come through here at one stage or another. Yes, your mother, my old advisor Polonius, those two friends of yours from Wittenberg, and Ophelia, dear dear Ophelia. You know your mother and I had hoped you might marry her some day, but now you're both dead. And all in my name. You don't know how heavily this weighs on my conscious."

"…but – "

"I know, son, despite all this, of course I'm glad you did your best to try and avenge me. It was very kind of you, and I'd expect nothing less from so fine a young man. I just wish that I hadn't asked you to commit such terrible acts, for now, both our souls are marked to wander these dreary fields while we wait for salvation."

Hamlet was speechless once again.

"Aye, that be a tragic tale ye have there," remarked the Captain

Maa yawned again. "I tried to warn him against going back, but he was so hot-blooded and damn determined."

"What's he have to do to move on?" Krys asked

"Make it up to his son." she replied.

"…you have to make all this up to me and then you get to move on?" Hamlet asked his father.

"Yes, although I personally think it's too lenient, considering all the trouble I caused. I was such an angry man in my day. But sitting here talking to the Captain has made me realise how pointless it all was. All I wish for now is your forgiveness and a peaceful afterlife," The King sighed again. Hamlet could see the weariness in hie eyes.

"Well, I can't leave until I get the forgiveness of everyone on my list; all the 'people whom I have wronged', as St John so eloquently put it." Hamlet explained.

"Really? Is that a lot of people?"

"Well…it's one less since Laertes forgave me." he replied, trying to sound hopeful.

"Oh Hamlet, I can't help but feel even more guilty after all this. I deserve to stay here for all eternity." the old King remarked sorrowfully.

"Well, technically you'd go to hell eventually. They won't let you stay forever," reminded Maa

"Father, this is stupid. Even though you came back and sparked the events which lead to my downfall, and that of almost everyone else in the court, it's not really your fault. I don't blame you." Hamlet explained, "You were murdered by your own brother. It's Claudius who should feel guilty. If he hadn't been so ambitious, none this would've happened, you would have been alive long enough to retire, I would've taken the throne…"

"And then be succeeded by your's and Ophelia's children." added Krys

"Yes, thank you for reminding me," he snapped

"I don't see why it's such a touchy subject." Krys rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, if Claudius hadn't done what he did, we wouldn't be in this mess." Hamlet concluded.

"…so I'm forgiven?" King Hamlet was in disbelief

"Of course, I never really held you accountable." Hamlet shrugged.

"My son, I did not deserve such a wonderful, merciful young man for a son," cried the King, tears welling in his eyes. He pulled Hamlet into a tight hug.

Startled, it was all Hamlet could do to keep breathing in the vice-like grip of his father.

"...tha…nk…you…fa…the..r" he managed to choke out.

The old king released him. "You can't imagine what you have done for me, my son. Now I can move on. I wish you luck in your mission, and I'd better see you up there soon," he called, beginning to fade away.

"Fare thee well King Hamlet," nodded Captain Greybeard

"So long my drinking companion. I want to see all of you up there for a reunion later. So long my friends, so long…" and with those final words, the old King and Maa faded until they were gone.

After a while of silence, Krys interjected, "I thought you said your father was a fearful and proud king and battle-hardened warrior?"

"…I guess purgatory made him…soft…" Hamlet replied, speechless over what had just happened. "My father just hugged me. Sure, he wasn't a bad father, but he hasn't done that since I was twelve."

"He spoke of ye most dearly," the Captain replied, "I do hope to see him again one day,"

"Well wasn't that a good idea to come over here? Don't I have great ideas? You should listen to me more often," replied Krys

Hamlet ignored him. "What's going to happen to you, Captain?"

"Aye, I be staying here until I'm called. Don't ye worry about me, ye should go off and do what ye can to leave this place. Ye are blessed with an active task, after all, why waste time?"

Hamlet nodded. "Ok, we shall go then. Thank you for your company for my father. I'm sure it meant a lot to him. And it was very nice to meet you,"

"Nice to meet ye too lad, now off you go. I'd hate to still see ye here by the time I get to leave,"

Nodding once more, Hamlet turned back to the barkeeper to ask for some help.

"Ok, Mr. Barkeeper, I suppose you must see everyone who comes in to this bar, so I was wondering if you could be of some assistance."

The barkeeper put down the mug he was drying and looked him directly in the eye. "Many people come through here, boy, I don't know if I'd be of much help." he grunted.

"Well, any assistance you can offer would be incredibly helpful. I'm looking for…a lot of people really. Um…have you seen a woman, about average height, old –"

"She might not be as old now as she was. She could be younger, like you, remember?" Krys interjected.

"Good point. Now you mention it, father did look at least a bit younger than I remembered. Ok, she's of…an undetermined age…but she…this isn't really helping is it?" Hamlet sighed.

"That could be any number of people, so no, it's not. But you could always try the Garden." the barkeeper replied

"Garden? There's a garden in purgatory?" Hamlet asked

"Yes, the Garden of Illusion."

"Why is it called – "

"You'll know when you see it." the barkeeper said quickly, as if it was a question he was asked far too often for his liking.

"Where's this garden?" Krys asked

The barkeeper put down the cloth, "Follow me," he said, before opening up the door to the bar and coming out. Hamlet and Krys stared in amazement at his torso.

"What you staring at?" the barkeeper asked gruffly.

Krys was the first to speak, "You – you're a – "

"Yes, I'm a centaur. Now stop wasting time, and follow me." he snapped, mumbling something along the lines of 'damn annoying fools…you'd think they've never seen a centaur before…'

The barkeeper clopped out the door, and Hamlet and Krys managed to recollect themselves and follow him out.

Outside, a mysterious wind blew, hitting Hamlet and Krys with a strange force that was neither hot nor cold.

"The Garden is about a hundred paces that way." the barkeeper said, pointing out into the wilderness.

"Ok then, thank you for your help barkeeper," Hamlet told him

Krys eyed the centaur for a moment. The barkeeper returned his glare. Krys winced. "Come on Hammy, let's go," he said before bounding off into the desert.

Hamlet nodded his thanks once more before heading off after his animal guide.

For the record, i know for a fact that Hamlet's dad was actully called Hamlet too. Just incase you were wondering.

Yep, i've updated. :D Big thanks to my reviewers: crazed-ink-slinger, Zallah, Lugnutz, and of course, xxcallmecrazyxx. You guys are awesome :D digital cookies for you all...or cookie dough icecream instead, if thats what you prefer.

well, keep sending in those reviews, and i'll keep writing, how 'bout that?

Until next time...^_^