Chapter Twenty Five

A Fair Trade

(only it was not so fair)

Jake POV

"I am not doing that!" I shout, feeling the weight of the axe in my hands as I hurl it to the ground.

"You have no choice." Ria retorts, her eyebrow arched and her arms crossed in front of her.

"I don't care what your black magic can do, and I don't care how many threats you throw at me! I am not going to help you kill the Forever Tree!" I declare defiantly, staring her down. Ria huffs.

"First of all, we're not going to kill the stupid tree. We're just going to harvest the magic from it." she says matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, and by doing that you'll harvest all of Neverland's existence along with it!" I shoot back, frustration boiling inside me.

"It truly pains me to see how Pan has gotten such a tight grip on your mindset and twisted it and you into becoming his puppet all the while telling you all these lies about your 'destiny'. All he ever does is lie! Lie about you, lie about himself and most importantly, lie about the entire history of Neverland to all its modern residents!" Ria's words cut through the air like a knife, and I can feel the truth in them resonating deep within me.

"Nobody's perfect, including him. And that does not automatically give you the right to destroy Neverland." I retort, my voice wavering slightly.

"For the fiftieth time, you small-minded fool, I am not going to destroy Neverland, nor take over it. I am going to free it from—" Ria begins, but I interrupt her before she can finish.

"Free it from Pan's curse of magic. Yeah, I've heard." I say, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Ah, nice to see you finally are catching on," the witch notes, her tone smug.

"Catching on, my foot! Would you like to specify just what you mean by the 'curse of magic' and how magic is such a problem here?" I demand, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Ria stares me down for a moment before turning her back to me, her gaze fixed on the moon above as she begins to speak.

"Three hundred years ago, boy, Neverland was once a tiny island of paradise that rested far away from the dimension of the mainland. It was once a place free of enchantment where a variety of different creatures and beings would come for rest, shelter, and to live their immortal days out in peace and prosperity. Or in other words, they would live forever. Well, that was until one of those creatures, well not really a creature, more like a certain flying green boy who was obsessed with keeping his everlasting youth, announced to the current inhabitants living in Neverland at the time—most of which are no longer with us today—that he had found something wonderful. Though it appeared to be an ordinary plant seed, after he buried and nourished it, the seed began to sprout into what we know today as the Forever Tree, supposedly 'gifting' Neverland with the wonderful possession of magic. Pan expected to be praised and commended for bringing such an astounding force to Neverland... let's just say that didn't happen. The creatures of Neverland were everything but pleased with him, expressing that magic would only bring more evil than good into a world that was supposed to be a place of serenity, free of all troubles and quarrels. And so, they tried to destroy the newly planted Forever Tree, and Pan, out of hurt and anger at their dislike for something he sought out to be so magnificent, defended the Tree. And using its power, he banished them all from Neverland, until it was just he who inhabited it alone. That, my friend, is the untold version of Peter Pan's 'Forever Quest'."

After the mistress finishes explaining Peter's story, I stand quiet for a while, letting the weight of her words sink in. How could Peter Pan, the epitome of childhood innocence and adventure, commit such a heinous act? It didn't align with the heroic image I'd always held of him. Yet, here it was, another secret added to his long list of secrets. Could he really have kept such a significant part of Neverland's history hidden, even from his most loyal followers? But then I shake my head, reminding myself to approach this with caution.

"I'm just supposed to believe you?" I challenge Ria, my voice tinged with skepticism. "Just like that? If everybody who witnessed that event is now gone forever, how do you know that really happened?" My doubts hang heavy in the air, challenging her credibility.

Ria's response is cryptic, her fingers delicately tracing the intricate pattern of the viper necklace adorning her neck.

"You clearly don't remember who it is that you are doubting, boy. I am a sorceress, hailing from a realm far beyond the comprehension of anyone here, as is my magic," Her words carry a strange power, sending a chill down my spine. She continues, her voice commanding and authoritative. "This pendant grants me magic so potent that I can peer into the depths of the past, manipulate the very fabric of reality, and bend the cosmos to my will. And, most importantly, I can use it to ensure your compliance." Her threat hangs in the air, a silent dare for me to challenge her authority. But I stand my ground, meeting her gaze with unwavering determination.

"For the last time, I am not doing anything you say!" I assert, my voice firm and resolute.

The witch's response is swift and ominous.

"Very well, then. If you're not going to behave, I will show you just what happens to those who defy orders!" she shouts. "But remember boy…you are only there to observe…." As her necklace and eyes ignite with a fiery red glow that shoots in my direction. Before I can move or react, the world goes dark…..and I wish it had stayed that way.

As the darkness dissolved around me, my eyes adjusted to an unexpected scene. There, suspended in the air, were familiar faces from a time long past. Izzy, Cubby, and Skully soared above the shimmering Neverseas, surrounded by a cascade of golden sparkles under the gentle moonlight. But they weren't as I knew them; they were the younger, innocent versions of themselves.

Izzy, her chocolate hair in short pigtails appeared no older than seven, while Cubby, with his pale pudgy appearance was a mere five years old. The sight perplexed me. Had I…had I gone back in time? I know Ria said she can see the past, but could she make other people see it as well? Well I wasn't doubting anything at this point. But one question. If this really is the past, then why did I not see my younger self with my crew? My mind raced with questions. Why were they sad? Why was I not with them?

Then, young Cubby's voice shattered the silence, bringing clarity to the surreal moment.

"Izzy," he chirped, his youthful tone starkly different from his current one. "What are we gonna do now that Jake's gone to explore the Neverseas with Peter?"

"Well…..we'll just have to get used to it being just the three of us when we get back to Pirate Island." the little lass spoke gently, her sorrow clearly visible.

My heart clenched in panic. 'No' was all I could think when the realization hit me. 'No! No! No! NO! Not this memory! Not THIS night!' Desperation surged within me as I screamed at them, though my words fell on deaf ears.

"No! Don't go back to Pirate Island you guys!" I shouted, my voice echoing into the void. "Captain Hook is waiting to capture you! Please mateys! Turn around and get away from here!" But they couldn't hear me. Ria's words echoed in my head. "Remember boy….. you are only there to observe.' I wasn't actually here. This was all an act of mind transportation and the culprit of it all was Ria's black magic. And now, all I could do was watch them fall right into that codfish's trap, followed by seven years of raw torture. I admit,I didn't know exactly what happened on this night after I had left with Peter, when they got back to the island. But if I'm being completely honest, I was just fine with that. However, Ria decided that I needed to be filled in on all the suffering of theirs that I had missed out on.

"Crackers," Skully squawked, breaking the silence. "Things are sure gonna be more quiet around here with Jake gone."

"Yeah," Cubby agreed solemnly. "He was a real matey."

Izzy, flying lower to the sea, dragged her finger in the water, her actions almost reflective. A single tear escaped her eye, betraying the facade of strength she tried to maintain. My heart clenched as I witnessed her vulnerability.

"He was much more than a matey," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of unspoken emotions. She shook her head and forced a small smile. "But he's with Peter now and he's earned everything he's gotten." I really wanted to believe her words, to find solace in the idea that my departure was justified, but I knew this was all a sweet lie.

"Izzy," Cubby spoke up, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "Do you think he'll ever come back?" The question hung in the air, heavy with doubt. Izzy hesitated, her gaze shifting between Cubby and the endless expanse of the ocean below.

"Honestly, Cubby…," she began, her voice trailing off before she could muster the courage to continue. "No." Her words struck both Cubby and I right in the heart.

"But….but he said he would!" Cubby's protest echoed my own thoughts, his desperation mirroring my own.

"Of course he said he would!" Izzy snapped, her frustration palpable. "But he just said that so he wouldn't hurt our feelings! Think, Cubby, where would you rather be? Out exploring the endless wonders of the beautiful worlds beyond the horizon with Peter Pan, with your new reputation as a legend, or stuck here where everything is the same, everything is predictable and you're not a hero and most certainly not a legend!" she outed, crossing her arms and facing down at the sea looking like she was about to cry. "He may have said he'd come back, but trust me, once he gets out there and sees how amazing and beautiful it is, he won't miss us at all. Now let's just get back home and move on." she orders, flying a bit fast to avoid further conversation with them.

Her words cut through me like a sword. One part of me wanted to say, 'Wow. What a little brat!' And the other just wanted to console her and gently tell her how wrong she was. None of what she just said was true. None of it. I wanted to scream, to tell them how mistaken they were. Exploring with Peter had been a dream of mine, yes, but abandoning my crew, my family? My little brother and my little sister? That was never part of the plan! And yet…I still did it.

"Oh I….I'm sorry Cubby. I..I shouldn't have yelled at you. Yo..you didn't deserve that," the seven year old girl said, slowing down to fly next to the lad wearing a blue bandana. Well at least she apologized. "I-I think I'm just upset."

"Oh that's alright matey," Cubby perked, patting her back with a smile. "We're all feeling a little blue and we're all a little tired, especially since we've been guarding Pirate Island all day from—-."

"Captain Hook!" Izzy interrupted, raw panic in her tone.

"Hey I thought you said you weren't gonna yell anymore." the pale boy told her. Izzy closed her eyes and shook her head.

"No Cubby!" She pointed ahead. "Look!"

When her piercing shout sliced the air, my senses sharpened, drawing my attention to the dreaded sight that unfolds before me. The Jolly Roger, loomed ominously against the shores of Pirate Hook stood proud, as he switched out his silver hook for one of his many other tools to replace it with. Before him was our team treasure chest and unfortunately for me, I knew exactly what was about to happen….to the chest and to my crew.

Beside the Captain, Mr. Smee, Sharky, and Bones, stand at attention, their features twisted into grins, eager to see their captain loot our box.

"Crackers!" Skully's squawks, his feathers ruffling in agitation as he flutters nervously. "That sneaky snook is at it again!"

I glanced at Izzy, and her eyes blazed with intensity.

"We leave for ONE hour and…UGH!" she growls as she picks up speed, soaring far ahead of Cubby and Skully.

"Coconuts, Izzy!" Cubby's voice trembles with concern, his eyes widening in apprehension. "What are you doing!?" The pirate lass remained unyielding.

"What we've been doing all day! Stopping him!" she snaps back, her voice cutting through the air like a whip as she propels herself forward with renewed vigor.

"Izzy, wait!" Cubby's plea falls on deaf ears as she surges ahead, leaving him and Skully scrambling to keep pace. Yet, Izzy's mastery of pixie dust grants her an unmatched speed, rendering their attempts to follow futile. "Obviously what we've been doing isn't working! We should go get Peter and Jake to help—." Izzy shakes her head adamantly, her hair whipping wildly in the wind.

"Not enough time!" she shouts back, frustration lacing her words. "Now come on!" she commands, her voice leaving no room for argument as she urges us forward.

"Izzy's right, Cubby!" the green parrot says, his voice resonates with determination. "We can handle this on our own!"

But as I watch my crew fly headlong into their own doom, my heart constricts with anguish.

"You can't though…" I whisper to myself, the weight of regret bearing down on me like an anchor. Oh why did they do this? Their lives were worth much more than an old chest of coins buried in the sand! Oh why did I go with Peter!? Why!? Why!? WHY!? I did not want to see anymore of this, as I knew what was about to happen. I was ready for this magical flashback to be over, but why did I get the feeling that it was just getting started?

"Oh, just look at it, men!" Captain Hook's voice echoed, drawing my attention back to the scene unfolding before me. His eyes gleamed as he gestured towards the treasure chest, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "After all these years, I have finally found the little popinjay's treasure chest! And once I get it open, it is all mine!" I continued to watch, a knot tightening in my stomach, as Hook prepared to pry open the chest, his crew members eagerly awaiting the spoils. But before he could make his move, a familiar voice rang out, cutting through the tension.

"Hold it right there, Captain Hook!" Izzy's voice carried across the shore, filled with defiance and determination.

"Blast!" Hook grumbled, momentarily halting his actions to address the interruption. His gaze fell upon Izzy and Cubby standing defiantly on the shore, Skully fluttering above them. "Well, I was wondering how long it would take you to get back and ruin me fun!" he sneered. "But may I ask, where's your blasted leader, popinjays?"

"Uh…well he's—."Cubby stumbled over his words, visibly flustered by the question, while Izzy's jaw tensed with resolve.

"What's it to you!?" she retorted, cutting off Cubby's stammering.

"Oh, nothing, lads and lass," Hook chuckled, his tone dripping with condescension. "It'll just be good to know that with him gone, I can open me new treasure chest in peace."

"Oh no, you don't!" Izzy shot back, her voice brimming with defiance. "You've still got us to deal with!"

Hook's laughter filled the air, mocking and cruel.

"HAH! You? Please! You three are nothing without that boy!" he jeered, his words like venomous barbs aimed at my crewmates. He pointed at Izzy. "You my dear are a wanna be and a never will be," Then at Cubby. "You little butterball, are afraid of your own shadow," Finally, Skully. "And you are just a silly little birdy. What can the three of you possibly do?" The anger burned within me, fueled by helplessness and guilt. I recognized the insults, the same ones Ria had used. This must have been where she drew her inspiration. "But I will say, this Miss Isabella," Hook continued, his gaze piercing as he turned his attention back to Izzy. "He has been gone for a while. Did he leave for good with Pan or something?"

"I'm not telling you anything." the pirate lass declared, her voice wavering slightly.

"Then he did!" Hook exclaimed triumphantly, relishing in his perceived victory. "Evidently Pan means more to him than any of you do!" My fists clenched at my sides as guilt and frustration surged within me. How could I have left them to face this alone? "But I must ask, little shrimps," Hook pressed on, his tone mocking as he addressed my crewmates. "With him gone, who's your new captain? You?" he taunted, gesturing towards the girl in pink, who flushed red with indignation and remained quiet. "Didn't think so," the captain in red laughed, turning back to our treasure chest. "Now, if you three will just stay right there and not move a muscle, I can open up me treasure and everybody will be happy. Well, everybody that matters that is."

"No way!" Izzy declared defiantly, her resolve unyielding. Hook shrugged dismissively.

"Very well, then. Suit yourselves," he said before turning to his crew with a sinister command. "Men! Seize the little rats!"

I then watched in mounting panic as Hook's crew obediently chased after my three young mates.

"Aye aye, Cap'n!" the three of them shouted.

"Cubby, RUN!" Izzy shrieked as she dashed away in panic. Skully fluttered above, refusing to (unlike me) abandon his friends despite the looming danger. But Hook's three morons were relentless in their pursuit. Smee, Sharky, and Bones closed in on the little pirates. Cubby struggled to keep pace with Izzy, his chubby legs straining as he tried to match her speed. My heart clenched as Sharky seized Cubby's hand, his grip firm and unyielding.

"Izzy! Help me!" Cubby's desperate plea tore at my heartstrings as he fought against Sharky's hold. Izzy turned to aid him, but before she could reach him, Bones lunged forward.

"Not so fost, li'le laty!" he exclaimed in his squeaky voice, his skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch her. Izzy screamed, pivoted in the sand to evade Bones's grasp and continued her mad dash in the other direction, getting away from him. The same could not be said for Skully though. With a leap, the scrawny pirate in the purple bandana quickly snatched the parrot from the sky, his grip tight around the Skully's tail feathers. Now both Cubby and Skully were captured. I watched as my remaining matey sprinkled pixie dust on herself and she quickly took flight. But before she could soar to safety, Mr. Smee appeared with a pale of water in hand, a nervous yet determined look on his face.

My mind screamed a warning as Smee hurled the water at Izzy, extinguishing her pixie dust in an instant. With a cry of despair, the pirate lass plummeted to the ground, her fall halted only by Smee's tight grasp on her arm.

"We're really very sorry about all this, Ms. Seapup," Smee muttered, his tone dripping with sympathy as he stripped Izzy of her pixie dust necklace. "But, it's the Cap'n's orders and you sure don' wanna get on his bad side."

"Too late for that." Izzy grumbled, looking down at the sand in defeat.

He led her back to the rest of the captured crew, all the while I watched, completely helpless.

"Well, there now, hopefully they won't cause anymore trouble," Hook says with a relieved tone. "Lock 'em up men!" he orders.

"Aye aye Captain!" Bones responds promptly, passing Skully to Sharky before swiftly climbing onto the Jolly Roger, heading into the forecastle and then returning with a bamboo cage that was just big enough for a large monkey to fit in. "In ye go little ones." he says in an enthusiastic tone, opening the cage. Sharky easily tosses Skully in, followed by a fearful Cubby, who offers no resistance. Mr. Smee struggles with a squirming Izzy, eventually forcing her into the cage.

Once all three are imprisoned, Bones secures the opening of the cage.

"What're we gonna do with 'em now cap'n'?" Sharky inquires. Hook, consumed by his stolen treasure, dismisses my mateys' fate with callous indifference

"Oh do whatever you want with 'em men!" he says, uncaring. "This isn't me circus so they aren't me monkeys. You may do whatever you wish, bury them in the sand, feed 'em to the crocodile, take your pick."

"This isn't funny you codfish!" Izzy shouted.

"No," Hook began, making his way over to the dangling cage. "But do you know what is funny? Seeing you, oh goody two shoes, turn into a mad lass. Why I can see right through you with me own eyes! You are just absolutely outraged and infuriated that that blasted Jake has left with Pan, leaving you to be what you have always been: The number two! The silver medalist! The runner up! The overshadowed second placer! That's all you've been and that's all you will ever be!" Izzy gasped, and gave the red coated man a huge staredown. She did not speak and simply maneuvered her way behind Cubby and Skully to try and hide from the old codfish's view. Hook continued. "The same goes for you two!" he shouted at the boy and the bird. "I can not even fathom why you think you are more than that. Like it or not, and try to ignore me as much as you want, but you three will never be as important as that boy!"

"Ey!" Skulky finally shrilled. "Knock it off featherhat!" the parrot shouts.

"Yeah! Let us out!…..uhm please." says Cubby, his timidness getting the best of him. While he and Skully continued to pull and pick at the bamboo cage in panic, I noticed that Izzy had completely given up, Hooks words seemed to have really shut her down. She just sat there in the back of the tiny cage, her arms wrapped around her legs as she buried her face in her knees as the other two continued to break out of the cage.

"Pull and tug to ye hearts' desire popinjays, you are not getting out." Hook taunted, his voice dripping with menace as he addressed the captives in the cage.

"Please Captain Hook!" Cubby's voice trembled with desperation. "Don't do this!"

"Plead all you want lad, for here I am, already doing it and there's nothing you can do to stop me!" Hook's voice rose in a singsong mockery. "Now, who's ready to say goodbye to all the jewels, all the treasures and all the gold doubloons that were rightly mine!?"

"I'm not!" Cubby's protest rang out weakly.

"Crackers! I'm not!" Skully's shrill screech echoed in the night air.

"I am, Captain Hook." Izzy's voice cut through the tension, her tone devoid of its usual spark. Everybody turned to look at her in shock, including me. I felt as if Mr. Smee had poured a bucket of cold water all over me this time.

"What!?" Captain Hook exclaimed, bewildered by Izzy's unexpected surrender. The girl squeezed her way back to the front of the cage, her eyes downcast with defeat.

"I said, you win. Go ahead. Open the treasure chest now." she squeaked, all her determination drained from her.

"This be too good to be true," the captain in red muttered, scratching his head. "I am in no mood for any tricks right now!" Hook growled, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

"Neither am I, and that's why I give up." Izzy's words hung heavy in the air, her voice tinged with resignation. Hook shot her a sly grin, relishing in his apparent victory.

"Oh but don't you remember what you little morons used to say? 'Jake and the Neverland Pirates Never give up'!" he mocked, his tone dripping with triumph. The pigtailed girl looked up at him and scowled.

"Well then maybe I don't wanna be a Neverland Pirate anymore because I for one, DO give up!" Izzy's declaration pierced through the night, her words laden with despair.

"I must have seaweed in me ear," Hook muttered, disbelief evident in his voice. "I cannot believe I am hearing this from you."

"I'm serious, Captain, the treasure is all yours. No hard feelings," Izzy assured him, her voice on the verge of breaking. Cubby yanked at her shirt in a frantic whisper.

"Izzy, are you crazy!?" Cubby hissed urgently. Izzy shook her head, her expression still tinged with sadness.

"No. I'm just thinking things through. We're fighting a losing battle here, Cubby. He's right, we're nothing without Jake. The only way we'd get him to keep his mitts off our treasure… well, we'd have to practically sell our souls to him and swab their deck a thousand times."

"Say… that isn't such a bad idea," Hook interjected, his eyes gleaming with interest. Izzy, Cubby, and Skully turned their heads to look at him, confusion etched on their faces.

"What are you talkin' about?" Skully demanded, his feathers ruffled with suspicion.

"Miss Isabella," Hook began, approaching the cage with a predatory grace. "How would you like to make a little deal with me? A deal that will result in me not touching your precious treasure chest if you agree." Izzy raised an eyebrow, cautiously intrigued. Interesting. Apparently she does have hard feelings about our treasure chest being stolen.

"I'm listening." she said, her voice guarded yet curious.

"As I said, your little treasures shall be left as is, if and only if you, Cubby, and Skully here, agree to join and work for the crew of Captain James Hook." Hook offered, a sinister smile playing on his lips. I continued to watch in horror, still dying from the fact that I could not do anything to stop this.

"Now just a minute, featherhat!" Skully screeched indignantly. "You just went on a rant about how we're so useless, and yet you want us to join your crew!?"

"Indeed, my feathered friend." Hook replied, his eyes twinkling with malice as he laid out his wicked proposition.

"Lemme get this straight," he squawked. "We can either have you steal our treasure chest, or we can choose to work for you, and yet be taken away from our home and our treasure? That's not exactly playin' fair!"

"I never play fair popinjays," the captain declared proudly. "That is why I always win."

"Uh…Cap'n," Smee squeaked. Hook rolled his eyes and turned around to face his first mate. "Well I, er, hate to agree with the sea pups but…..why do you want them to join the crew?"

"Think of it Smee," Hook says in undertone, making sure Izzy can't hear him. He got in the short pale little man's face, a sly smile on his lips. "If those puny pirates join me crew, I can transform them to be just as ruthless and plundering as I and then when that brat Jake returns, think of how much it'll rip him apart! Why a golden opportunity like this is more valuable than any treasure I could ever lay me eyes on," With that, he stepped back over to the dangling bamboo cage, to confront a very deep in thought Izzy. "Well lass? What'll it be?" he asks. "Are you are your mates going to serve me crew faithfully?"

Izzy looked like her head was about to explode for she began to break a sweat. She looked up and Hook, back to a very anxious Cubby and Skully, up at the Jolly Roger, glanced at Pirate Island and then finally stared down at her feet.

"Don't you dare do it," I say out loud. I didn't know why though, considering I already knew what's gonna happen and also considering that none of them could hear me. "You're gonna regret it."

The distressed girl sighed heavily, before pulling the linchpin.

"Aye aye Captain." she says weekly. Hook's smile grew wider and wider.

"Good answer m'dear," he says, smugly. "Men!" he shouts, turning back to his crew. "Step lively! Escort our newest members aboard the Jolly Roger and then set course for Skull Rock!" he turns back to my three helpless mates and grins. "There, we shall hold your initiation at sunrise." he states.

Sharky and Bones released Izzy and Cubby from the bamboo cage, I watched with a sinking feeling in my chest. Their freedom was short-lived, however, as the two pirates quickly grabbed their wrists, ensuring they couldn't escape. Meanwhile, Mr. Smee kept Skully locked inside the cage, his squawks of protest echoing in the night air. With their captors leading the way, Izzy and Cubby were escorted up the gangway of the Jolly Roger. Sharky and Bones wasted no time in securing ropes around one of Izzy's little legs and one around Cubby's pudgy legs, and then tying the other ends of the ropes tightly to the mast. Once the ship was set on course, Captain Hook and his crew retreated below deck, leaving Izzy and Cubby alone on the moonlit deck. Though they were free to walk around, their movements were limited by the ropes binding them to the mast.

I watched from my invisible vantage point as Izzy and Cubby made their way to the railing of the ship, their faces etched with resignation and despair. As Pirate Island faded into the distance, Cubby's frustration boiled over.

"I cannot believe you right now!" he exclaimed at Izzy, his voice filled with anger as he pounded a fist on the railing. "Thanks to you we're never gonna get off this ship now! Izzy, why would you agree to a deal like that!? What is the matter with you!? A-a-are you some kind of psychopath or something!?"

Izzy leaned her face on her hand, gazing out at the glowing Neverseas with a distant look in her eyes. She then responded dismissively, her voice tinged with biter sarcasm.

"Yep."

To Be Continued….

Oh the dramatic irony!

Man, it's been what? Five months and we're about 75-80% done? Can't make any promises but we'll definitely be done by early/mid June. This is taking longer than I expected but my app is being really weird so that's no help. Also, 85k words! Wow! We'll probably hit 100K when we're finished! Anyways, this story's really coming down to the wire! Pls review if you can! They always make my day!