Chapter 99: Best Friends For Never

"FETCH THE CHOSEN ONES! BRING THEM UP DECK YOU MISERABLE, LOVELY SCROGS!"

The sails waved as the pirates and villains cheered. Punctuating Captain Hook's command with a volley of gun shots, the mob paraded across the deck and into the brig.

Jim watched. Blood, thick and black bulged from his finger. He looked down. His reflection in Billy Bone's map was smeared, warped, and ugly.

Jim spoke. He clenched the map as the villains paved a path to the brig. "How do I know you're not lying? How do I know you have Ariel?"

Captain Hook glanced. His smile was wide enough to hide Silver's grimace and set Maleficent's eyes on fire.

"I believe…" Hook said, turning Jim's face to the bulwark. Over ship's side, surrounded by a dark water, Ursula, the mermaids, and Monstro slithered between waves. Captain Hook waited until Ursula emerged, Ariel's trident curled between her tentacles. "….that risk is yours to take."

Jim growled as the captain's hook pried into his back. "But know this Jim Hawkins….." said Captain Hook, forcing Jim across the deck. Maleficent and Silver followed as the villains poured out of the brig, "...for all eyes and all to see, you are now a pirate…remember that….one foul move…just one…"

The villains cheered. Jim tilted his head, shielding it from the blood red sun as they climbed out of the brig like insects out of a hive. Suddenly, his heart stopped. Battered between the villains and pirates were Peter and Wendy.

"…and there will be death." whispered Hook, bringing Jim forward with Maleficent and Silver beside. He grinned as Wendy was thrown over a pirate's shoulder and carried ahead of the screaming crowd. "That I promise…is not a lie, Jim Hawkins. Pirate of the Jolly Roger. MATES!"

Captain Hook swept forward, under the billowing sails. Jim felt Silver press behind him, but could only stare as Peter was strangled and Wendy was lifted into the air. Laughing as Peter shouted, the pirate reared, then hurled Wendy at Hook's feet.

"MATES!" Captain Hook continued, raising the laughter in his throat. Ravenously he seized Wendy's wrist. He wrenched her upright. Jim gagged at the bloody letters sliced across her white arm. "HEROS OF DARKNESS! MY FRIENDS! I GIVE YOU…. THE CHOSEN ONES!"

Jim felt sick. Without thinking, he stepped forward but Silver pulled him back. Bumped by dancing villains and cackling pirates, Jim squeezed the map as Wendy and Peter were mocked.

Peter, ankles chained to the mast, was forced onto his knees. Madam Mim, Mother Gothel, and the Queen of Hearts swooped over, petting his head and shrieking when one suddenly ripped his hair or yanked his pointed ears. Peter, furiously jerking up and down, tried to fly away. But the pirates dragged back his chains and held him still, allowing Cruella De Ville to twist a burning cigarette into his elvin face.

Wendy pulled against Captain Hook. Her wounds split, opening the skin, but she pulled harder, reaching for Peter. Captain Hook waited, letting Wendy stretch as far as she could before releasing. Wendy tripped but scrambled towards Peter.

Jim stepped against Silver as Scar pounced at Wendy, claws ripping her shoelaces. Wendy fell back. Instinctively, Jim clenched Silver as a huge man – the pirates chanted "Shan Yu!"— caught Wendy and pushed her at Scar. The lion bit the hem of Wendy's camisole and pulled, nearly ripping it off her body. Covering her head and hugging the camisole, Wendy curled as Scar snapped and swiped.

"Wendy!"

Wendy looked up. Her blue eyes were luminous against the dirty ship. "Michael?"

Jim turned. Michael Darling, little Michael, ran across the deck. Jim stopped breathing. A rope was tied around Michael's neck. The villain behind him, a skeletal woman called Esma, flung the rope gleefully back and forth as Michael tried to reach his sister. "Wendy! Wendy! Wendy!"

"Michael!" Wendy wrenched upright. She fell, grabbing the smooth planks as Scar dragged her back by the pant leg. "No! Let g – Michael! Michael stop! Don't pull against the rope!"

Michael sobbed. Confused he tried to follow Wendy. Esma screeched with laughter. She whipped the rope. The cords cut into Michael's little throat, choking away his tears.

Jim couldn't stand it.

"Hook!"

"Easy Jimbo!" Silver cautioned, hissing in his ear. "Yer a pirate, remember yer littler mer – "

"—Hook!" Jim yelled, elbowing Silver. Maleficent smiled as he fought the cyborg. "Hook! Enough! You came for the Wishing Star! Not – "

"Everyone…" Maleficent said, raising a single finger. "…silence."

Thus fell a magical hush. The ship, the villains, the pirates, even the ocean obeyed Maleficent's command.

Only one person could be heard.

"Let him go…" Maleficent said, peering over her scepter as Michael cried. Sweetly she stepped aside as Esma dropped the rope. "…poor little thing. Scared…." Eyes glittering, she smiled at Jim. "…to death."

"Wendy!"

Wendy struggled. After a nod from Captain Hook, she was allowed to detangle herself from Scar.

Maleficent's robes curled like smoke as Michael passed. The rope trailed behind his neck as he collapsed into his sister's arms. "Wendy! Wendy!"

"Michael!"

Wendy hugged Michael. Falling onto her knees with fear and relief, she held him so tight Michael would have melted safely into her heart had her love allowed it.

"No, no Michael. I'm here. I'm here, Michael." Cradling Michael against her chest, Wendy kissed his forehead. Tears welled in her eyes as she untied the noose from his little neck. "It's all right, Michael. I have you." Seeing the bright red burn on his skin, she glared murderously at Esma. "I'm not going to let them hurt you anymore."

The villains laughed. The pirates cooed. They made baby noises and poked their weapons threateningly until Michael started to cry.

Wendy covered Michael's head, but the littlest Darling was inconsolable.

"Daddy!" Michael whimpered.

Jim's heart broke. Michael sounded like a child locked in his bedroom, surrounded by imaginary monsters and scared of the dark. " Daddy! Daddy! I want Daddy!"

Wendy opened her mouth. Then, turning away from the villains she squeezed her eyes shut. "Michael…Michael – "

"Daddy!" Michael sobbed hugging Wendy's neck. "Daddy! Daddy needs to save us! Daddy!"

Jim shook his head. Wendy was crying. Trying to think, trying to come up with a plan he looked up. He saw Peter. Peter's face was grim. The boy was ignoring the villains, gazing at Wendy and Michael with…pity.

Jim looked at Captain Hook. Then at Maleficent. Then, at Silver.

Then, he understood.

"They killed him."

Silver stared. The glow in his mechanical eye faded.

Jim stepped back. At first he was emotionless. Then…he was disgusted.. Revolted, he turned as the villains goaded Wendy. Creeping around her, they pinched and prodded, inciting her to tell Michael exactly where his daddy was.

The map trembled in Jim's bloody hand. But Jim's disgust was interrupted as Captain Hook shouted his name.

"Let us ease the misery of this little girl! Tis enough responsibility to be one of the Chosen to break the Wishing Star!"

Separating Wendy from her brother, Captain Hook pulled Michael across the deck. "What say you to this! I propose that our newest mate tell the little whelp where his Daddy went!"

"No!" Wendy struggled as Facilier and Jafar dragged her back. "No! He's just a baby! He won't understand – "

"Our newest pirate –" Captain Hook roared wrenching Michael forward. "—Jim Hawkins!"

Wendy stopped. For the first time, she saw Jim. Deaf to the screaming pirates, she absorbed the horrible, terrible scene. Jim Hawkins, her best friend, standing alongside villains and pirates. Her eyes traveled down his stern eyes, empty face, unbound arms. Unbelieving she shook her head. Unbelieving, she looked back at Peter. Helpless, searching for an explanation, a denial of what lay before her eyes.

But Peter could offer none. Without the grudging smugness he'd used to convince Wendy of Jim's betrayal in the Underworld, he stared, disgusted. "Traitor." he breathed, sagging against the chains. "Traitor."

Wendy turned back to Jim. "No." she said, almost to herself as the villains held her back. "No. N…" Wendy stopped. She watched, very still and very silent as Michael was thrust into Jim's arms. Holding Michael, Jim looked up. For a moment Wendy made eye contact. Then, her eyes lowered to the red mark on his right hand.

"…Jim…"

"Tell him!" Captain Hook lead the cheer, pushing Michael forward with the tip of his boot.

"Or else." Maleficent reminded in a breathless undertone. "Farewell little mermaid."

"Tell him!" Pointedly, the captain snarled at Jim. His eyes darted to the ocean where Ursula drifted, trident in hand. "Tell the little whelp why Daddy can't save him."

"Jim!" Wendy called, finding her voice. She twisted, trying to speak through Facilier's hand. "Jim please he's jusphm– "

"Tell him." repeated Captain Hook as Facilier covered Wendy's mouth. He leaned forward, shadow falling over Michael's scared little face. "Tell him. Now."

Jim stared at Michael. In one ear he heard Wendy, cries muffled and pleading. In the other ear he heard the ocean, interlaced with Ursula's contralto growl.

"He's…gone. Mike." Unable to look Wendy or her brother in the eye, Jim stared ahead. Cold. Bitter. Emotionless. "Your Dad's not coming to save you."

He felt Michael holding his hand. "Why? Jim why?'

"Yes." Prompted Captain Hook. "Why."

The red mark burned down Jim's palm. "Because…" he said, voice unsteady. "…because…he's…he's…"

Captain Hook raised his metal hand. Like a distant mirror, Ursula lifted the trident over her head.

"Say it, Lad." Silver whispered, pressing a blaster against his spine. "Out w' it."

Jim closed his eyes. And perhaps he imagined it…but Jim swore he heard Ariel screaming his name.

"Because…your father is dead."

Michael's hand slowly slid away. "…w…what?"

"He's dead." Jim repeated, his voice unfamiliar, robotic. He stood, bringing his hand from under Michael's touch. "Dead. Forever. Gone." Jim turned. Unexpectedly his gaze fell into Wendy's. "And as he spoke, they both heard the echo of a memory, long, long ago. "Your father is dead and never coming back."

"…n…n…no…"

Jim looked down. Michael was backing away. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "…n..no. No."

Heart bleeding, Jim held out a hand. "Mike – "

"No!" Intercepted by pirates, Michael covered his eyes. "You're lying! My mommy is gone but my daddy is here! He's big and strong and – "

"Mike!" Jim barked, lunging forward as Captain Hook reached for the little boy's head. "Mike! List – "

"I want my Daddy!" Michael sobbed. Dragged into Captain Hook's arms, he cried until Jim's heart was a pile of ash in his chest. "Please! I just want my Daddy!"

Captain Hook smiled. Patting Michael, he set the little boy at Jim's feet.

"There. There. There. My goodness. What a tragedy. Wouldn't you agree…Miss Darling?"

Lazily Captain Hook waved. Unmoved by Wendy's anger, he motioned to Facilier and Jafar. "Release her. Let her console the little brat."

Jafar let go, evaporating into red smoke. Facilier held Wendy for a second longer before letting her run to Michael. Without looking at Jim, Wendy gathered Michael protectively. Then, crying because she hadn't the power to stop, Wendy turned away from the boy she once called her best friend.

"It's all right Michael." she whispered, clutching the little boy to her broken heart. "It's…it's all right."

"How sentimental." Hades swept beside Hook, leaning on the captain's shoulders. "Lovey-dovey tootsie-frootsie. Touching scene, I'm very moved. But can we get on with it, already! Kill someone at the very least!"

Captain Hook smiled. Appreciatively he traded grins with Hades and Maleficent before stepping into the setting sun.

"Mr. Silver!" Captain Hook announced, mouth wide and red. Unsheathing his sword, he cut an imaginary path across the sunrays. "Would you be so kind to detail for our Chosen Three…the taking of Fantasia!"

"And have ready young Hawkins!" Captain Hook added. Covering Wendy with his shadow, Captain Hook grinned as Silver pulled Jim forward. "His has still, a part to play and a pact to keep."

Helplessly, Jim lifted onto his toes as Silver raised their arms victoriously. Silver laughed, spinning them around with gears buzzing energetically in the villainous applause.

Jim turned, desperately trying to keep sight of Wendy, Michael, and even Peter as the villains swarmed.

But all he could see was his right hand…

..raised high as the pirate emblem ….

…clutched between Long John Silver's…

…red as the setting sun.

sultal's note: Song I was listening to for this chapter: "I'm a Grenade" from The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack. A really cool new FF author (Eli Der Autor) asked me what my muse is, and I was like...music. So, here is what I was listening to.

I think I like this. This is cool. I think I'll post the songs I listen to at the end of chapters. I think all people should, but hey...

GOOD LUCK WITH FINALS EVERYONE!

keep writing.