Hello. I doubt anybody can see this because the website has not been working for me since about February (as in chapters 21 and on just disappear or don't load or no notifications are sent out) but on we press.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Jake remained strapped to the chair, his mind a whirlwind of dread and guilt. Thoughts of what the Talsteins might be doing to his crew gnawed at him. He had left them leaderless and, worse, without the pixie dust that could have been their saving grace. The little yellow pouch nestled in his vest was utterly useless to him now, a cruel reminder of his helplessness. He tugged at the straps binding him, but they held firm, the oppressive presence of Sebastian and Jack Talstein ensuring he could do little more than sit and stew in his fear.

He refused to meet their gazes, determined not to give them the satisfaction of seeing his unease. However, his resolve was shaken when the Captain's smooth, commanding voice broke the silence.

"Comfortable, are we?" Sebastian asked, his tone laced with mock concern. Jake didn't answer, his eyes fixed on the floor. "Oh, come now," Sebastian continued, his boots clicking as he paced the small room. "How are we supposed to get acquainted if you're constantly pushing any chance of a conversation away?"

Jake finally looked up, his green eyes blazing.

"I don't want to get acquainted with you," he snapped. "What I want is for you to let me and everybody else that you've trapped here go! And tell your family to leave my mateys alone!"

Jack groaned audibly, leaning against the wall with exaggerated annoyance.

"Oh, will you cut that out already?" he grumbled, crossing his arms. "It's getting annoying."

Jake's jaw tightened, his glare shifting to the younger Talstein.

"Good," he shot back. "Because I'm not going to stop until you do it!"

Sebastian chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that seemed to echo in the cramped room.

"Tell me, Jack," he said, casting an amused glance at his son. "Doesn't the boy remind you of someone?"

Jack shrugged.

"Not really."

Sebastian's smile widened.

"Oh, but he does," he mused. "He reminds me of you when you were a boy. Always demanding what you wanted, when you wanted it. Stubborn as a mule."

Jake's gaze narrowed.

"That would explain why he grew up to be so greedy," he retorted, glaring pointedly at the Captain. "Bet that's a genetic trait."

Sebastian sighed, though there was an edge of amusement in his exasperation.

"Look, I'd love to play this little game with you all night, lad, but…" His words trailed off as Jake's eyes involuntarily flicked to his pale, lifeless eye. The sight of it sent an involuntary shudder through the boy. He quickly averted his gaze, but it was too late. "Ah," Sebastian said, a knowing smirk spreading across his face. "Does the eye bother you?"

Jake hesitated, staring at the floor.

"Maybe." he muttered with a shrug, trying to sound indifferent.

Sebastian stood, his imposing frame looming over Jake.

"You know, It used to bug me, too," he admitted, his voice taking on a contemplative tone. "Made me different. Made me stand out." He walked behind Jake, the sound of his boots echoing ominously in the room. Jake didn't turn his head, refusing to give the man the satisfaction of his curiosity.

Sebastian's voice grew quieter, almost reflective. "But then I realized something. Once you are finally free from the opinions of the simple-minded halfwits who say you'll never be able to sail your ship to the land of the magical and of the never aging or decaying, you fear nothing." He paused, his steps halting. "Well…" he continued, his tone darkening. "Except for the dangers of alchemy."

Jake heard the faint clink of glass, and then Sebastian stepped back into view, holding a vial of bubbling white liquid. Jake's breath caught as the Captain brought the glass dangerously close to his face, the mist from the liquid brushing against his cheek. Instinctively, Jake tried to pull his head back, but the restraints held him in place.

Sebastian's laugh was quiet but menacing. He lowered the vial, his grin widening.

"Relax, boy," he said, his tone mockingly soothing. "I'm just messing with you."

"Very funny." Jake muttered.

Sebastian placed the glass of bubbling liquid back on the cluttered table and turned to face him, an amused smirk curling his lips.

"You don't seem real entertained." the captain said.

Jake rolled his eyes.

"Great observation, Captain. Now for the last time, let us go, and stay away from Neverland!"

Sebastian's grin didn't waver.

"Oh, I really wish you'd play another tune. This one isn't very pleasing to the ear. Besides," he said, stepping closer and lowering his voice to a condescending drawl. "You can drop the act of pretending to care about the commoners. We both know it's Peter Pan you're really worried about."

Jake's fists clenched against the armrests of the chair, his jaw tightening. It took every ounce of willpower not to lash out and defend his friends—or worse, blurt out that Peter was back on his feet and ready for a fight. Revealing that would crush any hope of an advantage they might have. Instead, Jake forced himself to stay calm and keep his voice steady.

"What are you going to do to Peter?" he asked.

Sebastian strode back to the table, opening a drawer with deliberate precision. Jake watched him this time, his stomach twisting when the captain pulled out a syringe. The clear liquid inside glowed faintly in the dim light, and Sebastian held it up to the light as if admiring a piece of fine art.

"Oh, nothing too dramatic," he said. "Just have a little…pirate science fair if you catch my drift."

Jake raised an eyebrow.

"Pirate science fair?"

Sebastian smirked, twirling the syringe between his fingers like a toy.

"Yes, but," he added with mock seriousness. "To ensure this concoction's success—and to avoid being labeled a failure like, say, two sons of mine who shall remain nameless, we'll need to test it first but I'm afraid a rabbit or a never bird won't do. No, for this one we need a life sized pirate or cabin boy. Any suggestions?"

Jake's glare was his only response.

Sebastian chuckled, shaking his head.

"Oh, you won't do. Far too much stubbornness bubbling up inside of you already. It'd ruin the results."

Jack leaned casually against the wall, his expression smug.

"What about one of the other prisoners, then? They'd do nicely."

Sebastian tapped a finger against the syringe, pretending to mull it over.

"Hmm… tempting. But no," he said, a wicked gleam in his eye. "I like my collection just the way it is."

Sebastian twirled the syringe between his fingers, the eerie glow of the liquid inside casting an ominous shimmer against the dim lantern light. His smirk never wavered as he turned his gaze toward Jake, eye gleaming with cruel amusement.

"Now then," he mused, tapping the side of the syringe thoughtfully, "Who to test this little marvel on? Someone insignificant. Someone who won't be missed."

Jack, who had been watching the exchange with mild interest, suddenly pushed off the wall, stretching lazily.

"You know," he said, rolling his shoulders. "We're sitting here overthinking this when the perfect test subjects are already running around Never Land."

Sebastian quirked an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Oh? Enlighten me."

Jack gave a casual shrug, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.

"Why not just experiment on the boy's little squad?" he suggested, tilting his head in Jake's direction. "Mother, Patrick, and Maverick are already out hunting them down anyway. When-well, knowing those two bafoons-if they catch 'em, well then we've got ourselves the perfect candidates."

Jake's breath hitched, his body stiffening against the restraints. His stomach twisted into knots as the weight of Jack's words sank in. Izzy, Cubby, Skully he had already left them in danger, but now they were about to become test subjects to these monsters.

Sebastian chuckled, low and rich, shaking his head in amusement. Then, with a sigh, he looked at Jack with something close to admiration.

"Ahh, Jack," he murmured, his smirk deepening. "You really are my son."

Jake's blood ran cold.

The casual way they spoke, the ease with which they planned to use his friends as mere experiments, it was more than he could bear. His fingers curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms as he struggled against the restraints.

"Leave them alone!" he shouted, his voice raw with fury. "You have me! You don't need them!"

Jack snorted.

"Oh, but we do. Like my father said, you're too stubborn, it spoils the final product. But your little friends? They'll break much easier. Makes it more fun to watch."

Sebastian gave a satisfied hum, slipping the syringe back into his coat.

"Well then, I suppose it's only a matter of time before we get our lucky volunteers."

Jake's heart pounded in his chest as Sebastian and Jack exchanged amused glances, both seemingly enjoying his horror. His mind raced. He had to get out of here.

"What is wrong with you people!?" Izzy shouted.

She, Cubby, and Skully were backed up against the cavern wall, trapped with nowhere to run. Izzy and Cubby both had their hands up as Patrick pointed his sword at them, while Maverick held his quarterstaff menacingly. Amber stood between her two sons, her hands clasped neatly behind her back, surveying the situation with a cool, unreadable expression.

"So much for getting a job done the easy way," she mused with a sigh. "Has stealing from children always been this difficult? Or is it just that it's these children?" She tilted her head thoughtfully. "I'll ponder that while we drag you little shrimps back to Talstein Island—"

"Hold it!" Skully interrupted, his wings flaring slightly. "Did you just say Talstein Island?"

Maverick grinned, clearly pleased with the opportunity to brag.

"Yeah! It's actually a pretty nice place. We've got a house there, complete with a dungeon, a forest, a waterfall—the beaches are a little rocky, but—"

"Maverick!" Patrick snapped, whirling on him.

Maverick huffed, throwing up his hands.

"Okay, okay! If you don't like rocky beaches, Patrick, then just stay aboard the ship." Then, he turned back to the kids with a wicked grin. "A ship that your grubby little paws will never paint on again!"

Izzy cocked her head, raising an eyebrow.

"You guys are still mad about that?"

Maverick scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Oh you bet we're still mad about that! Our brother almost had our heads that night!"

Patrick nodded in agreement.

"Yeah! Although…" He shot a glare at Maverick and jabbed a finger in his direction. "It was this idiot's fault for not keeping a better eye out."

Maverick gawked at him.

"Well you were supposed to be helping me!"

"Please Maverick, I don't give the kind of help you need," the middle brother uttered. "A trained monkey could do your job better than you."

"Trained monk–why you—mother!" the blonde brother gawked, turning his head.

Amber, still standing calmly in front of the cornered Izzy, Cubby, and Skully, let out a slow sigh, clearly unfazed.

"I can't parent right now, dear. Mommy's avenging."

With that, she pulled out a gleaming dagger and took a step toward the children, her smirk cool and calculating.

Cubby let out a nervous chuckle, hands still raised.

"Look, we were just playing around! We don't wanna interfere with any important plans of yours!"

Skully flapped his wings anxiously.

"Yeah! So why start trouble?"

Amber gave a light, amused shrug.

"As I always say, why not?"

She took another step forward, dagger in hand, her eyes flashing with dangerous amusement.

Cubby, Izzy, and Skully squeezed their eyes shut as Amber stepped closer, her dagger gleaming in the dim cavern light. The air was thick with tension, and Cubby's heart pounded in his chest. He was terrified—of course he was. But he knew he had to be brave.

But he wasn't the brave one. That was Jake!

But maybe…maybe he didn't have to be brave. He just had to be smart. That was it!

His eyes snapped open.

"Um…M-m-mrs. Talstein?" he blurted out, his voice shaking slightly.

Amber stopped, tilting her head curiously.

"Um…before you capture us and hold us prisoner for all eternity, can I offer you a deal?"

Izzy, still refusing to open her eyes, squeezed them tighter.

"C-c-cubby what are you doing?!" she trembled.

Cubby leaned toward her, whispering quickly.

"Relax, Izzy. I've got this"

Amber arched a thin eyebrow, amused.

"A deal, you say? And what sort of deal might that be?"

Cubby took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady.

"If I give you your key, will you leave the hideout and leave us alone?"

Amber went quiet for a moment, tapping her finger against the dagger's hilt. Then, with a slow smirk, she extended her hand.

"No promises," she purred. "Now… hand it over."

Cubby hesitated just long enough to make it believable. Then, slowly, he reached into his blue vest, his fingers brushing against something small and gold, dangling from a red, green, and yellow ribbon. He glanced up at Amber, then with a quick flick of his wrist, he hurled it across the cavern.

The gold object twirled through the air before landing with a soft clink against the stone floor.

Maverick's mouth fell open.

"Hey!" he shouted, already moving to chase after it. "No throwing dad's things!"

Patrick groaned and shot his brother a glare.

"Shut up and just get the key!"

Both brothers lunged at the same time, scrambling across the floor as they reached for it. Their hands collided, each gripping onto the ribbon at the exact same time.

"I've got it!" Patrick shouted, yanking hard.

"No, I've got it!" Maverick growled, pulling back with all his strength.

They tugged back and forth, the ribbon stretched taut between them, their faces twisted in determination. Whoever brought this key back to their father would win his favor or even better, have him spare their life.

"Neither one of you's got it!" their mother growled, stomping over. With one sharp yank, she pulled the object from both their hands. "We've been played!"

As she held it up, her eyes narrowed. The ribbon dangled freely, but instead of a golden key glinting in the light…

Patrick blinked.

"What… what is that?"

Amber's jaw tightened.

"It's a piece of coconut candy."

Maverick gawked at her.

"Then where's the key?"

All eyes turned to Cubby.

Skully didn't hesitate.

"RUN!" he squawked.

Without wasting another second, Cubby, Izzy, and Skully bolted toward the twirly red slide leading straight to Bucky's grotto. Their feet pounded against the floor as the Talsteins erupted in anger behind them. Izzy and Cubby dashed toward the slide. Without hesitation, they hopped in, spiraling down into the grotto below. The moment they landed on the dock, Bucky was already waiting for them.

"Bucky, get us out of here!" Izzy shouted as they sprinted across the wooden planks.

DING! The ship's bell rang in response, and just as the two young pirates were about to leap aboard, a metallic clang echoed behind them.

Cubby skidded to a stop. His eyes widened.

"Coconuts!"

The real golden Talstein key had fallen from his vest.

"What are you doing!?" Izzy called as she watched him turn back.

But before Cubby could reach the key, Skully squawked in alarm.

"Hey you guys! Bucky's leavin' without ya!"

Izzy and Cubby whipped around in horror. The ship, already panicked, was drifting out of the grotto, heading toward open waters.

"Bucky, come back!" Izzy called desperately.

But the ship had already gone too far.

Izzy's heart pounded. They were trapped. They had no pixie dust. No escape. This was bad—really bad.

Then she saw it.

A rope. Attached to an old grapple hook.

That's it!

Without wasting another second, she sprinted toward it, grabbing the rope and quickly winding it up.

"Bucky left without us! We're trapped!" Cubby exclaimed, wide-eyed and panicked.

"Wanna bet?" Izzy shot back.

She swung the rope around, building momentum like a lasso. The second she had enough force, she hurled it toward Bucky. The grapple hook soared through the air—

CLANK!

It latched onto the ship's railing.

Cubby gawked.

"What was that?"

"Get ready Cubby!"

"What!?"

"Oh just hold–ON!"

She barely had time to finish her sentence before they were both yanked off the dock.

"WOOOAAAHH!"

Izzy clung to the rope for dear life while Cubby clung to her, both of them being dragged across the Never Sea by their trusted ship, a familiar sight indeed.

The Talsteins landed hard on the wooden dock with a loud thud.

Amber stood at the edge of the dock, hands clasped neatly behind her back as she watched the kids' ship sail further and further away, carrying their stolen key along with it. Her jaw was set, her blue-gray eyes locked on the retreating vessel with an icy sharpness that could have frozen the entire Never Sea.

Maverick sat up with a huff, still wiping streaks of purple paint off his bandana.

"Well, that went well"

Patrick scoffed, pushing himself up onto his elbows.

"Did it? Did it really?" He dusted off his black shirt and green vest and stood, shooting his younger brother a withering glare. "Honestly, I don't know why we're even surprised. This plan was destined to fail!"

"No arguments here. It was your plan after all." the blonde brother quipped.

Patrick held up a finger.

"Oh ho ho no, you're not pawning this off of me. This was a complete flop because reason A, those kids knew we were coming and reason B through Z, we brought you!"

"Well that sure is rich, coming from you! The one who let them run off with the key in the first place!" Maverick pointed at his still-stained clothes. "Do you see me right now? I look like a half-baked berry pie!" He shook out his yellow bandana, watching as more purple splattered onto the dock. "I reek of finger paint, my boots are sticking to the floor, and oh yeah—we still don't have the key!"

Amber finally turned, her skirt swirling behind her as she faced them.

"Silence." Her voice was quiet but laced with steel, instantly silencing her sons. She didn't need to raise her voice to command their attention—she never did.

"This is far from over."

Patrick and Maverick exchanged a glance. That tone, the one that meant get in line or get left behind.

Without hesitation, they both fell in step behind her as she strode purposefully back toward their ship.

Maverick huffed, wringing out more paint from his once yellow vest.

"So, uh… what now?"

Amber didn't even glance at him.

"What else, halfwit? We follow them."

After narrowly escaping the Talsteins in the fog, Bucky had pulled them to Never Land. Where exactly? They had no idea. The beach was quiet, isolated, the only sound was the gentle lapping of waves against the shore.

Cubby sat on the sand, knees tucked under his chin, staring out at the horizon with a worried expression. Izzy and Skully perched beside him on the log, both equally deep in thought. Bucky remained docked nearby, rocking gently with the tide.

After a long silence, Cubby finally turned away from the ocean and faced Izzy.

"Okay… so got away," he said, voice uncertain. "But… now what?"

Izzy sighed, shaking her head.

"I have no idea."

She lowered her gaze to the ground, and that's when she saw them.

The two keys.

Lying in the sand right in front of her.

The first was a teeny silver one—one she had found back in the cave. The second was much larger, gold, and unmistakable. The one the Talsteins had been after from the very start.

For a moment, all three of them just stared at the keys. Then, slowly, they looked at each other.

Skully ruffled his feathers.

"Well, one thing's for sure, we can't keep playing cat and mouse with those Talstein pirates."

Izzy nodded, clenching her fists.

"We need help."

"From who?" Cubby asked, exasperated. "Jake's gone. Peter Pan's no help. There's no Misty, no Red Jessica, even no Captain Hook! There's nobody left but us!"

Izzy bit her lip, trying to think. Then, an idea struck her.

"What about the mermaids? Maybe they're still—"

Before she could finish, a rough voice broke through the wilderness, followed by the groan of a camel.

"There be no help coming from the mermaids," the voice said. "Or anybody else in Never Land."

The three little pirates tensed up instantly.

Then, Cubby blinked.

"Wait a minute… I know that voice… and that grunt…"

Out of the shrubbery stepped a tall figure dressed in rusty-colored tones with a splash of white. His bronze eyes glinted under the moonlight, framed by sandy blonde hair and a scruffy beard. Atop his head sat a blue, feathered pirate hat, slightly tilted.

And right behind him, standing just as tall and looking just as scruffy, was Camille the camel, her saddle weighed down with an absurd number of pocket watches.

Izzy, Cubby, and Skully gawked.

"Captain Flynn?!" they exclaimed.

The desert pirate gave them a quick nod.

"Ahoy, me hearties." He lifted a finger to his lips. "Keep yer voices down, eh? Don't want those scurvy-infested Talstein sea dogs hearin' us now, do we?"

Cubby cocked his head.

"Wait… you know about the Talsteins?"

Flynn raised an eyebrow.

"This be the same Talsteins who've been goin' around capturing everyone in Never Land?"

The three young pirates stiffened.

Cubby, Izzy, and Skully all nodded.

Flynn sighed.

"Aye… I know 'em, alright. Unfortunately. Thought they were just a little rough around the edges at first but those scallywags have pushed their limits this time. They've captured everyone. Hook, LeBeak, Frost, the mermaid Queen. Why they've even stooped so low as to snatch up me own matey, the Pirate Mummy… and no doubt yer own brave buccaneer, Jake."

Cubby's face drained of color.

"I—I told you the Talsteins had him!"

"Yay hey, no way!" Izzy exclaimed in horror. "This is really bad."

Skully flapped his wings.

"You said it! We gotta get 'em back somehow!"

Flynn placed his hands on his hips.

"Aye, that we do and that will."

Cubby's mind was racing.

"But how? It's just us against the Talsteins! Everyone else is gone! And–hey wait a minute…," He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You've been gone all this time. How do you even know the Talstein Pirates in the first place?"

"Ah that be a real tale in itself, matey." Then, he glanced around the darkened beach, lowering his voice.

"Huh?"

The captain exhaled sharply.

"I promise I'll explain everything, mateys… but first, we best be gettin' out of sight." He cast a wary glance toward the trees, his grip tightening on Camille's reins. "Those Talsteins won't stop till they have what they want and that key right there be it."

To Be Continued…