Chapter 106: Taking Fantasia - Shadow and Land

The Jolly Roger crashed. The deck split, flinging all contents, matter and men, into the surf. Jim grabbed Michael but snapped instantly away as the hull careened half in the shore, half in the ocean.

Sinking in sand, Jim clawed under the ship. Fleetingly he saw B.E.N., badly dented, but carrying Michael into the students. Mulan charged but her ranks scattered as Maleficent attacked.

"Dragon! Dragon!"

"Don't fall out! Don't fall out! Chin Po! Ling! Yao! Stay together!"

"Oh my God what is that?"

"Weapons up!"

"Mulan! Look! There's something else! Blackness! Coming from the forest! It's – "

"—It's –"

"—It's –"

Jim broke through villains as Wendy and Peter crashed into the surf. Spray jackknifed as they rolled through wet sand. Peter threw out his legs as the pirates attacked and Maleficent's fire ruptured over the students.

Jim ducked. Fire burned over his head. Mulan was shouting at him. Merida and Robin were gesturing but he could not hear. Rolling through heat waves Jim yelled for Ariel. He could just see her, a wild swinging streak against Ursula's tentacles as mermaids hissed, fish jumped, and Eric rallied students into Ariel's aid.

Eyes smoky and stinging, Jim sprinted for the ocean.

Suddenly sand burst into his face. Jim lost sight of Ariel as Silver advanced, spraying laser beams from his robotic arm. Tinkerbell, Iridesca, and Fawn swarmed, but the cyborg blasted through the pixies, cutting Jim from the shore.

"Ye picked the wrong fight!" Silver lunged for Jim's throat. "That map is owed te me!"

Jim jumped at the robotic hand, diverting it to his shoulder. Jim held his ground, neck to neck with the cyborg.

Silver's gears churned, pressing down. "Hand it over." he growled as Jim strained under his arm. "Or do I have te get nasty?"

Jim clenched his teeth. Knees giving, he twisted as Silver reached for the map.

"Ahead! The sky! THE SKY!"

Silver's robotic eye flipped up. Then, it dimmed.

Shadows. The shadows smeared the sky, spreading like oil. They dripped into Facilier's palm before hissing from Wendy's magical needle. Facilier's shadow sliced through the sky, shepherding the demons as they snapped in and out of the Shadow Man's hand.

"TAKE IT!" Captain Hook screamed, raising the villainous cry. "TAKE FANTASIA!"

Facilier raised his hand.

The shadows pulled back, building and bulging into the sky. They shrieked like tortured animals and moved like maggots on a black corps.

"Back!" Jim yelled. Wrenching against Silver, he searched for Mulan. "Back! Back! Everybody back! Into the forest! The shadows! The shadows – "

Silver pushed. Jim fell, head cracking back.

Then he saw Wendy. Skin red in the firelight, she sprinted for Facilier and the shadows.

She's going for the thimble! Jim thrashed, but Silver was stronger.

"Come on!" John Darling leapt ahead of the students, Tigerlily bounding behind. Mulan, Robin, and Merida carried the attack as the villains charged. "Come on! That's my sister!"

Facilier smiled at Wendy. Arm poised, he pressed thumb and middle finger together. The thimble gleamed against the shadows.

"One…"

Peter darted through the air. Bursting up and plunging down he dodged fire and skimmed blades trying to reach Wendy.

"Two…"

The shadows recoiled. They pulled back like a catapult ready to spring…

"WEN!" Jim screamed as Facilier threw forward his hand. "WENDY!"

Peter dove. "NO!"

"Three."

Wendy slammed into Facilier.

Facilier faltered.

The thimble fell.

And the shadows exploded.

The shadow workers lost control. Without allegiance and without direction the shadows splintered across the battlefield, screaming into both sides. They sliced into villains, gouged into students, and attacked Fantasia indiscriminately.

But Facilier, his soul evil to the core, recovered first. Slowly he raised a hand. Then, he snapped two fingers.

Instantly, Facilier's shadow dove into the demons, beseeching them as allies. Facilier's eyes bulged with the effort but slowly his shadow rallied the demons to the villainous side.

The shadows passed in and out of Wendy, screaming into her mind. Wendy collapsed, trying to move, trying to see, trying to find her thimble.

Thimble.

The thimble.

She needed her thimble.

Right?

Wendy held her head. Voices, events, things that had happened to her flashed and froze in her mind like camera shots.

As is true for the sewing instrument Headmaster Mickey had said the thimble provides protection when you hold a shadow in your hands.

The shadows screamed sound without meaning into Wendy's ears.

The ball. Peter's shadow offered a dance. It had not attacked. It had waited for her to don the thimble before touching her hand.

Why?

Wendy shook. She tried to open her eyes.

As is true for the sewing instrument…

Wendy gasped. She couldn't breathe.

…the thimble provides protection…

She opened her eyes. The thimble was right there. By her finger. But she couldn't move.

…when you hold a shadow in your hands.

But…

…she HAD held Peter's shadow without her thimble.

When her father was killed. She ripped away Peter's shadow. And Peter's shadow…had held her back. Without hurting her.

Why?

Wendy looked up. Peter gawked lifelessly as demons scavenged his soul.

Then, she heard his voice.

I remember when the shadow was inside me. But I remember your voice…think of a happy thought, you said. Right? That's the only way to survive a shadow. Well…happy thoughts are also the only way to fly.

Wendy stared at Peter through the shadows.

No matter what happens….you, Wendy Darling, are my happy thought.

Wendy breathed. She understood.

Slowly, she rose. The demons swarmed, knocking her down. Wendy's hand fell over the thimble. But she did not put it on. Biting her lip, Wendy concentrated on Peter.

Then, limping through shadows Wendy placed the silver thimble over Peter Pan's finger.

Peter's eyes sparked open. The shadows fizzed like smoke from his soul.

And with that happy thought Wendy turned to Facilier. She took hold of a shadow. And pushed back.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?"

"I don't know!" Mulan scampered upright.

The shadows screamed over Facilier and Wendy. The two thrashed back and forth, flinging and blocking shadows from one another. Facilier moved like a puppet master, commanding the shadows to attack through his own.

Wendy struggled to catch the shadows but her fight was largely defensive. Her little body strained. She seemed utterly concentrated as shadows churned up her arm and into Facilier. Still demons hissed across her, chasing students as the villains renewed their attack.

Maleficent and Jafar thundered overhead. Hades attacked from below. Scar lead the kings and queens across the fire. Pirates shot throats, eyes, and mouths.

"We can't fight both villains and shadows!" Robin yelled. Dodging dragon fire he shot an arrow. "Too many fronts!"

"Rob's right!" Flynn covered Rapunzel as she healed Jasmine's bleeding thigh. "We're losing this ballgame!"

"Look out!"

Mulan grabbed Mushu. Aiming, she ignited two pirates as they chased Nani and Charming. Mulan smiled but seconds later Charming was attacked by a demon. Sitka ran to his aid, but the shadow burrowed deeper.

"There are too many! " Mulan said, dropping Mushu. Sweat dripped from her forehead. "There has to be some way to kill the shadows!"

"Pan, you gotta use pan."

They turned.

"Hawkins!" Mulan ducked. She reached for Jim under dragon fire. "You got out of the castle! We thought you were dead!"

Embers flicked into Jim's hair. "How'd you get out?"

"It was all Blondie!" Flynn yelled, whacking a pirate. Darting into firing range, he grabbed the pirate's pistol and tossed it to Jim. "Rapunzel unfroze Anna and Nanie with her hair – song - thing. Then the three of them unfroze everybody. Whoa!"

Flynn ducked. Reactions on fire, Jim shot the pirate in between the eyes.

"Thanks!" Flynn panted, raising his frying pan. "Phew. Yeah...we just had to play hide-seek-and-attack until Headmaster Mickey's magic lifted!"

"We'd be dead as doobers without the Healers, yeah." Merida added, back to back with Robin. She notched an arrow turning to the sky. "Och! Down everyone!"

Jim looked up. He hit the ground as Maleficent blasted them with fire. Shadows laced under her belly, smelling the fear.

"Wadda ya mean we got to use Pan?" Mulan shouted. Students were screaming. The villains were advancing. "Use him for what?"

Bullets skittered around them. Grabbing Mulan, Jim staggered back. "Wen doesn't have her thimble! She gave it to Pan! Look! Look at his hand! Wen's fighting on her own!"

Mulan squinted. "Aiya! How is Wendy doing that without her thim – "

"—I don't know, Pan's made her crazy! But look! The shadows! They're leaving Pan's body!"

"Is he dead?"

Jim clenched his jaw. "Can't believe I'm going to say this, but I hope not. Here's the plan."

Sticking the pistol in his belt, Jim pointed. "Pan has the thimble, he can deflect the shadows. Then, everyone else can fight the villains. Keep Pan above so he can see who needs help."

Mulan glanced up. Red highlights streaked her hair as the dragon roared overhead. "What about Maleficent?"

"Pixies can cover Pan." Jim said. He turned to the forest. The treetops burned, but those in the distance were still ice-capped. "Ice. Fire. Elsa. Mulan where is Elsa?"

"Trapped. Hans has her somewhere, we think behind enemy lines."

"Damn it." Jim clenched his hair. He tried to think, but his analytical brain could not operate with all the screaming. It was too chaotic, just like…

"…the ocean."

Jim turned. "Ariel."

He ordered Mulan before she could ask. "Ariel! She's in the ocean with Eric, fighting the seawitch for her trident. If we can help her – "

" – then Ariel can fight Maleficent." Mulan smiled, "Water with fire. And if we can defeat Maleficent – "

"—get through enemy lines –"

"—find Elsa –"

"—fight fire with ice –"

"—save Fantasia!" Mulan unsheathed her sword. Her eyes glittered with energy. "Hawkins, if I wasn't crushing on Shang I would buy you dinner! Hey! Where are you going?"

Jim sprinted to Jasmine, still wrapped in Rapunzel's glowing hair.

"Going to get Pan!" He answered, wrenching Jasmine's magic carpet from burning rubble. Flapping the burned carpet into the air, he leapt on and exploded across the battle field.

The distance was short but thick with villains. Bullets pocketed the carpet and fire singed the edges.

"No, no, no!" Jim growled, floundering as the carpet sagged. Peter was directly ahead. "Come on! Just – "

Suddenly the carpet wrenched. Jim flung off, skidding hard across the sand. He looked up in time for Captain Hook to rip the carpet from his hook. Jim remembered the pistol but before he could move, Hook was attacked by Pocahontas, Tigerlily, and Kenai.

Someone grabbed Jim, lifting him weakly beneath the arm. Jim turned.

"John?"

"We have to help her!" Firelight reflected in John's broken glasses. Desperately he looked at Jim. "We have to help my sister!"

Jim stared. Then he took John's head. "Get down!"

Demons whisked through them. Jim rolled over John, reaching blindly for Peter. The shadows hissed away as Jim thrust up Peter's hand.

"These shadows!" Gasping, John started for Wendy. "They keep coming! She'll never be able – "

"Wait!" Jim seized John. Wrestling him back, he glimpsed Wendy through the shadows. She was surrounded. Shadows swarmed around her so thickly Jim couldn't tell if she was gathering or fighting them.

Still, John was right. Wendy's face was bone white and her skin almost transparent against the shadows turning her veins black. And every time Facilier's shadow charged the demons through her, Wendy sunk a little lower.

Jim's eyes cross the sky. Following the shadows, he traced their origin to Petrified Forest. They kept coming. They didn't stop. Jim looked at Wendy. She couldn't defeat them all. Not alone.

They had to stop the shadows.

"Okay." Jim said, hanging Peter around his shoulders. Peter groaned as his soul flickered back to life. Jim looked at John. He took the boy's shoulder. "John. Find the Second Stars: Meg, Eiolnwy, and Simba. If we're going to help Wen, we've got to figure out what's going on with the shadows. Only they can help."

He squeezed John's shoulder. "Got it?"

John stared at Jim. Then, with a determined nod, he saluted. "Aye, aye Sir!"

"Tell them the shadows are coming from Petrified Forest!" Jim yelled, watching John disappear into the fiery beach. "Wait until I find you! Okay…Pan."

Jim bolstered Peter. "Wake up! Damn it, wake up! Wake –" Jim extended his arm. "—up!"

SLAP!

Peter jolted. His eyes wavered then focused on Jim.

"Come on!" Jim stood, bringing Peter. "We've got – "

"—Asshole!"

Jim fell. Peter dove on him and punched.

"Pan!" Blood squirted from Jim's nose. He tried to catch Peter's fists. "Pan! Wait! Pan!"

Peter was beyond reason. He hit Jim, flying forward with each and every punch.

"Peter!"

Jim seized Peter's wrist. Peter wrenched. Then he stopped.

"What?" Peter breathed, rotating his wrist. Wendy's thimble gleamed copper in the fire. "What did she do?"

"Saved your life." Jim pushed onto his elbow. "The shadows attacked. She's fighting them now but we have to – "

"—We?" Peter shoved. Jim fought, but Peter kneaded both hands into his throat. JIm gagged. His eyes widened. Peter was going to kill him.

"You know what the worst part is?" Peter pressed. His eyes burned. "After everything, she still cried for you up there. AH!"

Peter reared, screaming. He turned, meeting Captain Hook. His back was bleeding from shoulder to hip.

Jim grabbed Peter. Swinging him from Hook he yelled. "Peter fly! NOW!"

Peter flew. Jim lunged, grabbing hold of his wrist. They rocked over the battlefield and dropped with Jim's weight.

"Traitor!" Peter pounced on Jim. "Tink! Terrance! Help me! He's a traitor!"

"It was Hook!" Jim yelled. "Pan! It was Hook! He lied – he said he would kill Ariel if I didn't – "

" – why should I believe you? You threatened Wendy! You – "

"If I didn't do that – " Jim grabbed Peter, holding him still. " – then Hook would have. He would have shot Michael. He would have hurt Wendy even more. And if we don't work together – "

"—get off me!"

Jim shook Peter, forcing him to listen. "—god damn it Peter! Listen to me! Look!" He wrench Peter about. Peter paused, seeing Wendy for the first time. "If we don't work together Wendy is going to die!"

"Hawkins!" Mulan yelled. Fire rolled as she hefted Belle over her shoulder. Belle was bleeding. Her eyes were closed. "Hawkins! Come on! Move!"

Peter stared. Then he looked once more at Wendy.

Jim grimaced. "If I was a traitor Pan, I would have killed you. You'd be dead."

Slowly Peter unclenched his fists. He stared at Wendy. "What do we do?"

"Give me a ride." Jim said. "Then get as many shadows you can with the thimble."

"Ride?" Smoke blew across Peter's eyes. "Ride where?"

Suddenly someone screamed. A wave crashed, dumping two mermaids and a hammerhead shark into Maleficent's fire.

The wave melted around Ariel and Ursula, fighting for the trident.

Jim took Peter's wrist. "The ocean. Hit it!"