Chapter 91: Mr. Darling's Worst Memory

"Get OFF!"

Peter lunged, trying to climb over the pirates. Captain Hook dragged Wendy just outside his reach. "Get off of her! GET OFF! AH!"

Peter buckled, holding his head. The pirates laughed as Facilier's shadow sliced in and out of his soul. Heckled pink, they made sport of it – allowing Peter to dart for Wendy and watching him collapse when Facilier's shadow caught up.

The game ended at the foot of the stairs. Soul ripped apart, Peter slumped into the pirates. Ropes sprang out of nowhere and cut deep into his skin. Suddenly, one rope pulled, burning like a flame against his throat.

Head forced up, Peter screamed as he and Wendy were hurled into the kitchen.

Facilier was there, shadow perched on his shoulder like a vulture. Facilier smirked, watching Peter struggle as pirates cleared the table. Rum bottles smashed to the floor, exploding as Captain Hook lifted Wendy and threw her onto the table.

Wendy slammed onto her back. She kicked, trying to sit up. Like a hunted fawn, she searched for Peter. But the pirates pulled her back down, laughing.

"No!" Peter strained as Wendy's arms and legs were pinned to the table. "No! No! No! Let her go! Get off of her – "

Captain Hook looked at Peter. Their eyes locked. Then, with a wicked smile, the pirate lifted his hook and headed for Wendy.

"NO!" Peter fought. With agonizing effort, he lifted from the ground. His toes skimmed broken bottles as he tried to reach Wendy. "GET OFF OF HER NOW YOU FILTHY STINKING CODFISH!"

Captain Hook paused. Without looking back, he ran a hand through Wendy's hair. "Someone. Silence the flying rat."

Facilier smiled. He lifted a hand. Snap.

Peter careened backwards, slamming into the counter-top as Facilier's shadow burrowed into him. Screaming, Peter scraped along the wall, dangling from the shadow like a puppet.

"Peter!" Wendy cried. Captain Hook's fingers bled into her eyes. "Peter! Stop! Stop! Peter think of a happy thought! Shadows can't fight happy thoughts – "

"—Shad up!"

A hand walloped into her face. The bruises inflated the pain. Wendy felt like she was under a blowtorch.

Again and again the hand hit her, forcing her to look away from Peter.

Soon they were both screaming. Screaming for each other.

"Stop."

Wendy gasped. The pirates held her down, but Wendy could not have moved if she tried. Choking on tears, she opened her eyes. A man stood over her, arm raised.

It was her father.

"My, my. A father beating his daughter. How terribly tragic." Captain Hook's voice was velvety and calm. Still, Wendy flinched when he touched her. "Not to fret, my Dear. Not to fret. It's the rum you see. The rum…is magical."

Wendy stared. Her heart broke as a pirate pulled her father away. Mr. Darling objected, wiping the alcohol stains from his sleeve and ogling at her with manic, cursed eyes.

"I feed the rum to my crew." Captain Hook continued, playing with Wendy's hair ribbon. He smoothed a thumb over the blue fabric. "It fogs the mind's executives and excites one's propensity for violence. Anger. Fear. Hate. Just like…a shadow."

Gruffly, the pirates forced Mr. Darling into a chair. His arms were bound. A bag was pulled over his face.

Behind him, Facilier approached. Peter dragged behind, half-digested by Facilier's shadow.

Captain Hook's fingers rolled over Wendy's bow, contemplatively. "Just like a shadow…Facilier!"

Facilier looked up. Peter grimaced as the shadow lifted its head.

Captain Hook nodded at Peter. "Remove your shadow. Disconnect it from the flying rat. Mates, bind the boy! Facilier…bring the shadow forward. Bring it here...ahhh….yes."

Wendy stiffened. She could feel the shadow, tickling her ear with an acidic hiss. In the corner of her eye, she saw Peter bound like a mummy under miles of rope.

Then, she flinched. Captain Hook was tugging her ribbon, unraveling the knot.

"Shadow: fly this to our cyborg…Mr. Silver." Daintily, Captain Hook held out the ribbon. He dropped it, letting the ribbon fall into the shadow's mouth.

Watching Facilier's shadow sweep under the threshold, the captain replaced his hand on Wendy's head. His aquamarine eyes lowered. He smiled at the girl. "I should think that a little…friend of yours is dying to see that you are in…capable hands."

Wendy opened her mouth, but cried out as the pirates heckled and curse. They pulled her arms harder.

"Don't hurt them!" she finally managed. Desperately she implored to Captain Hook as the pirates stretched her shoulder sockets. "Please! Don't hurt Peter! Don't hurt my father! Oh!"

Shadows cut across Captain Hook's face. He paced around the table, eyes never leaving Wendy.

"Intriguing. Quite an intriguing proposal. Tell me little miss…" Leaning over the table, Captain Hook placed a finger under the girl's chin. "…what is your name?"

Wendy squirmed. She blinked as the captain's jet black hair curled into her face. "Wendy. Please – don't—"

"—Wendy. Wendy Darling. Student of Fantasia School for the Magically Skewed. Lovely. Tell me, Miss Wendy…"

Leisurely, the pirate flicked out his hook. He held it over Wendy. Slowly angling the point, he traced Wendy's frame, as if he were preparing for dissection. "Do I frighten you?"

Wendy's lip trembled. The hook reflected in her eyes. "N-no."

Captain Hook smiled. Condescendingly, he stroked Wendy's cheek. The metal stung. "Liar. But I welcome your brash. Quite amusing….much like your mother."

Wendy froze. "W…what?"

Captain Hook leaned back, allowing the girl to linger on his words.

Then, after Peter interrupted the delay, the captain spoke.

"Well…Miss Wendy. You ask that I not hurt your father. Or…" Captain Hook's eyes flickered over Peter. "…your…boy. Well. That can be arranged. I am a pirate yes, but also a reasonable man. And…I relish a bargain."

Coolly, Captain Hook leaned a hip on the table. Ignoring Peter's muffled cries he regarded Wendy.

"So…Miss Wendy. What say you to these terms: I will meet your request. Your father and the boy will remain unharmed. In exchange…you tell me what I want to know."

Wendy's eyes jumped to Peter. "W…what do you want to know?"

Captain Hook prickled. Voice sharpened, he scoffed. "Oh…don't play coy with me, my dear. I think you know exactly what I want."

Wendy's heart started to pound. A knife was brought to her father's throat. Confused, he groped at the bag. Earnestly Wendy tried to turn, but the pirates immediately pulled. Her arms felt like they would pop apart. "Don't do that! Father! Don't do that! Please! Please, I don't know what you want – "

"—You lied once!" Abruptly, Captain Hook stood. The table teetered. "Do not lie to me again!"

"—but I don't!" Wendy cried, watching blood seep through the bag. Frantically she twisted, trying to break free. "I'll do anything, just please stop hurting him! Please – "

"—Who is the Chosen One?"

"The Chosen…?" Wendy shook her head, trying to remember. In the castle, Megara had said something about a Chosen One. And her father…on that dreadful night. He had mentioned the Chosen One. But…who…and what was the Chosen One. Wendy's heart raced. She had no idea. "I…who?"

"The Chosen One!" Captain Hook slammed his fist on the wood. The table tipped, dumping Wendy to the floor.

Peter struggled, screaming through his gag as the pirates ripped Wendy upright and threw her at Hook. "The Chosen One prophesied to break the Wishing Star! The Chosen One stuffed out of sight by that dratted mouse! The Chosen One of Fantasia!"

"I don't know! Oh!"

"Liar! Our cyborg told us everything. We know that you - Wendy Darling - were assigned special classes with the mouse! Do you think that we believe secrets were not let out?" Captain Hook snarled, patience withdrawing. Seething, he waved a hand to his crew. "Do what you want with her!"

Wendy screamed. Peter fought until he bled, but could not break free. Captain Hook blocked his view, rubbing his temples in calculation as Wendy suffered.

Abruptly, the captain opened his eyes. "Enough, you scrogs! That's enough! Iago!" he barked. "The basket!"

A parrot flew from the counter top.

Peter squinted. The parrot, Iago, huffed as he lugged a wicker basket to Captain Hook.

Peter's confusion prickled into fear as Facilier slunk forward. Cruelly Facilier laughed, reaching inside his breast pocket.

"Look. Look at me! Girl!" Captain Hook clenched the soft spot beneath Wendy's jaw. "Look!"

Hooking the handle, Captain Hook held the sewing basket. "Do you know what I have inside this basket, Wendy?"

Wendy trembled. Peter's shadow. Eyes darting to Peter, she swiped for the basket. A pirate hugged her chest as the basket vibrated agitatedly.

"I shall consider that a 'yes.'" Gesturing to Facilier, Captain Hook lifted Wendy's chin. "Tell me Wendy, do you recognize…this?"

"My thimble!"

"Yes…" Captain Hook sneered, dangling the thimble just outside Wendy's reach. He smiled, silently laughing with his crew as her fingertips nicked the silver trinket. "You're precious little thimble. According to Mr. Silver…your magical gift…shadow working…is quite comfortable…"

With a flick, the thimble flew into the air. It chinked softly as Iago nabbed the chain in his beak.

"…with the thimble." finished Captain Hook. Sewing basket in hand, the captain turned. In three steps, he approached Wendy's father. He sat the sewing basket in Mr. Darling's lap.

"So…Shadow Worker…." Gaze penetrating the dark room, Captain Hook looped his hook beneath the lid. The basket rustled as Peter's shadow clawed to get out. "So…before I release this shadow into your dear, darling father's soul…before we see his worst memory…I will ask you one. more. time."

Red milked the blue from Captain Hook's eyes. "Who. Is. The. Chosen. One?"

"She—" Peter ripped his mouth from ropes. Skin burned from his lips as he met Captain Hook with livid eyes. "—she doesn't know! No one knows! Leave her alone you dirty rotten CODFISH! Leave her alone or I'll KILL you!"

Silence.

"…Well."

With a baneful glare, Captain Hook twisted his wrist, unlatching the sewing basket. "Then come forth the nightmares."

And the nightmare came.

Peter's shadow, enraged and crazed from captivity, attacked the closet living thing: Mr. Darling.

And as he had seen Wendy's memory in the Underworld, Peter watched Mr. Darling's worst nightmare.

Words, faces, feelings, avalanched his mind.

A woman. A very pretty woman: she looked like Wendy. A shade of Wendy.

Suddenly, Peter's heart jackknifed against his chest.

This nightmare…Mr. Darling's worst nightmare…

…he had seen it before…

…it was Wendy's. Wendy's worst nightmare.

"NO!" Helplessly, Peter was pulled into the memory. Jerking back and forth, he tried to break free. "NO! Someone warn her! Someone save her!"

There was no real. There was no pretend. Everything mushed together but stuck in time like a broken blender. The memory was lucid, yes, because Peter knew the pretty woman would die. But he had to save her! He had to try!

The pretty woman smiled. She was smiling. Right at him.

Peter yelled, trying to warn her. "RUN! RUN AWAY!"

But the pretty woman did not hear. Sunlight beamed from her smile as she turned in a twirl of skirt and lifted a little girl into her arms.

Peter's heart stopped.

The little girl…nine…ten years old. Very small for her age. And delicate. Like…her mother. A shade of her mother…

"…Wendy…"

The pretty woman turned, seeming this time to hear Peter. Acknowledging him with a beautiful smile she started to dance, sprinkling butterfly kisses against her daughter's cheek with pale eyelashes.

"…M…Mary…?"

The pretty woman paused.

And something happened.

A silent exchange more blessed, more beautiful, and more profound than anything Peter could possibly imagine passed between the pretty woman and George Darling.

And holding her daughter…Mary Darling held out a hand…to her husband.

And then…it ended.

Peter only heard the screams.

He heard Captain Hook. He heard Maleficent. He heard them all. Laughing.

They wanted the little girl.

Born on the autumnal equinox.

All the others had died.

He heard Mr. Darling, screaming for his wife.

He heard the little girl…Wendy…screaming for her mother.

He heard Mary Darling…

…he saw the hook through her heart….

…he saw the magic eat her soul.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The nightmare shattered.

Screaming louder than the memory, Wendy tore away Peter's shadow.

Peter's shadow writhed, clutching the spot a heart should be. Hurt, the shadow clung to Wendy…like a frightened child.

Tears burned Wendy's eyes. Clutching the shadow, she ripped out the magical needle and thread.

She ran for Peter Pan.

"STOP!" Captain Hook slashed, missing Wendy. Roaring in vain, he slashed again but Wendy was running too fast, thundering the last steps to sew on Peter's shadow, "STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP WENDY DARLING OR I SWEAR I'LL– "

BANG.

It happened.

It happened with the agonizing paradox of unstoppable time that one watches in slow motion.

And remembers. Forever.

Captain Hook aimed his gun.

The barrel turned red.

The gun exploded.

And Mr. Darling fell.

Fell like a stone.

A bullet through his broken heart.

Wendy's scream killed fairies, wishes, and dreams never to come true.

Dropping needle and thread, she ran to her father. Peter's shadow disappeared behind the starlight as Captain Hook ordered the girl and boy be imprisoned on his ship, least he should hear their wretched woes.

Captain Hook retrieved Wendy Darling's magic needle and thread. Methodically, he held them against the silver thimble.

He considered them. Intently. Turning them over and over to uncover their secrets as the sun set.

Then…he whispered eleven words:

"Twinkle, twinkle little star…Darned…to whole…with loose threaded scar."

The pirate breathed. He squeezed Wendy Darling's magical gifts.

"Darned to whole….Darned….Hook…Hook you fool."

"Capn? What's…what's this then, Capn?" Mr. Smee scuttled from his hiding place behind the broom closet. Nervously, the boatswain approached. "More…trouble Capn?"

Captain Hook smiled. Fist trembling, he began to laugh.

"No Smee. No. You see…" the captain eyes glinted red as he dangled the thimble in the Wishing Star's light. "…I have captured…the Chosen One."

And as the sun set on the second day, lowering with it a father's soul, one could hear singing.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star,

Darned to whole with loose threaded scar.

Ten centuries hence, once as long,

Resurrect star of the wrong.

Twinkle, twinkle little light,

For the children, skewed to fight."

sultal's note: I'm sorry guys. I had a hard time getting through this chapter, even though I've known about since from Chapter 1. Please don't hate me.

keep writing.