Captain Hook and Facilier: Piracy and Voodoo (English Version)

7. The final battle

The next day, as soon as Charlie had recovered, James helped him practice with the sword, having to use his left hand. Charlie wasn't left handed and having to use the opposite hand was really hard for him. After an hour, he dropped the sword. "I give up, father", he said with a sigh, "I can't do it". James pointed his sword at his chest, preventing him from leaving. "I don't want to hear you say these things!", he thundered, "Take back your sword right away and let's start again! Have you already forgotten how many hours we spent fighting together when you were little? Even then it took a while for you to learn, but in the end you did it! Now I want you to do the same with the left hand! Come on, let's continue!". Charlie obeyed, even though he wasn't very motivated. James made him exercise every day, morning and evening. Little by little the training paid off, but for Charlie it wasn't enough. One evening, James walked into his room, sat down next to him and said: "You're getting better, my boy. Let an old swordsman tell you". Charlie, however, remained serious. Even though his training results had improved, without a hand he couldn't longer play his flute and this thing left him depressed. James, to cheer him up, handed him a small chest. Charlie opened it and, to his surprise, found an iron hook, identical to his father's. He gasped when he saw it. "Actually, I was hoping it wouldn't go like this", James explained, "But since you had the same fate as me, I thought it might be useful to you, just like to me". Charlie didn't know what to say. He didn't expect this very gift. He remembered when as a child he held a hook in his hand, imitating his father and showing him how much he admired him. He put the small coffer on the table, hugged him and said with emotion: "Thank you, father. It's a wonderful gift". James smiled, seeing his son in a good mood again. "Let's do this", he said then, "No training for tonight. I'll help you fit your new prosthesis, so you'll be ready. You too will now have your new secret weapon", "And I'll honor your name, forever", "Thank you, son. I'm very pleased". James helped his son adjust the hook on his right wrist. Then, when his new prosthesis was ready, Charlie cheered happily, pointing the hook up. "Don't forget to clean it well", James explained before going out, "The hook you are wearing now is sacred", "Yes, father. I'll do it", "Very well. Now go to sleep, tomorrow morning early we will resume your training", "Okay, goodnight". Then, James walked back to his cabin. Waiting for him, he found Scarlett. She had made him a good cup of tea before bed. "How is Charlie?", she asked, handing him the cup. "Better and better, I'd say", James replied, taking a sip, "He really enjoyed my gift. Now I see him much more determined", "Thank goodness, I'm happy. Listen, do you want me to take over sometime to train him?", "No need, darling. I'll take care of him, you take care of Glenn. He is no longer a child, we saw him to Suncloud. He fights like a real man, now", "He grew up so fast, just like Charlie and Bethany. And so it will be for the next one to come". James put his hand on her belly and said, smiling: "I can't wait for that day to come, my sweetest". Scarlett kissed him, giving him a caress. Then, James took her hand, put his arm behind her back and danced with her. They hadn't danced together for some time, but now that they were almost all quiet, they both let themselves go to this magical moment. They danced for a long time, then went to bed. James, before going to sleep, asked Scarlett to sing for him the new song she had sung to Suncloud, as he liked it a lot. Scarlett obliged, stroking his hair. In this way, James thought more about the present and less about the past and suffered less. He tried not to think about Elizabeth anymore, even if it was impossible. He knew it was definitely over with her now, but his feeling in his heart was still active. He did everything he could to move on and leave it all behind, but he couldn't completely. When he was with Scarlett, however, everything was easier. After the song, he said softly: "You have the voice of an angel". She, smiling, gave him a kiss on the forehead and they fell asleep.

The next morning, Charlie woke up before everyone else. He was more determined than usual and couldn't wait to wield the sword well again. Soon after, James arrived. They fought for a few minutes, but then the latter stopped abruptly. "Are you all right, father?", Charlie asked him. James, a little lost in thought, absently told him to try for a while by himself because he had to do something. Charlie wielded his sword all over the deck, even trying to cut through the air with his new hook. James, meanwhile, had gone to Bethany's room. He knocked and entered. He found her sitting at the table next to Celia. The latter was showing her the art of tarot cards. "Good morning, father", said Bethany, "Among all the Voodoo objects looted long ago in Black Island there were also these cards. Celia was showing me a couple of tricks". Celia turned to James: "Good morning, Captain". He, after the greetings, asked her if he could be alone for a moment with his daughter. Celia complied, leaving the room. After she went out, James went to Bethany, gave her a caress and said: "Forgive me, my daughter". She, looking into his eyes, asked him: "For what, father?". He noticed her big blue eyes. Almost the copy of his Elizabeth. His only daughter, and he thought back to the moment when he was about to kill her in anger. He hugged her and, crying, continued: "Forgive me, please! I'll never do such a thing again! If I had killed you, I would never have forgiven myself!". She returned his hug, stroking his back to try to comfort him. "Let's forget about it, father", she told him softly, "In the end you didn't. It didn't happen, I'm still here. And then, do you remember when I too lost my control several times?". James, through tears, laughed. "I remember all right", he told her, "You are really blood of my blood. I love you, my dear", "I love you too, father. We all love you". James kissed her forehead, stroking her long blonde hair. "Be very careful when we go to Neverland. I don't want you to end up like Charlie", he told her seriously. "Don't worry, father", she replied, "As long as we're all together, it won't happen. We'll give that brat a good lesson". James smiled again. He gave her another caress, then went out. He had taken a huge weight off his stomach. Fortunately, none of his children hated him, despite his latest crisis. He returned to Charlie, who in the meantime had stopped to observe the sea. "Great Scott! What are you doing standing there?", James told him behind him. Charlie turned abruptly. "Forgive me, father", he replied agitatedly, "I got distracted for a moment. I can't stop thinking about a person". James stepped next to him. "Does this seem like the moment, young man?", he said, glaring at him, "You have to train or you won't be able to stand up to even a codfish!", "I know, but... er... she helped me to escape and now for my fault is suffering more than before. I promised her that I would save her and instead I betrayed her", "Are you talking about the little girl in your story?", "Yes, father. I can't stop thinking about her. I have to be able to save her from there, or I'll never forgive myself", "If you keep wasting time instead of training, you won't even save yourself when we go to that hellish place! When we get there, what will happen will happen! Come on, now! Let's start again! Remember that you also have a debt to pay, just like me!". Charlie nodded. He took his sword and resumed training with his father. He was right. If he wanted to save Isabelle, he had to be ready. His father didn't seem convinced he wanted to save Isabelle, his only goal was to kill Peter Pan, and Charlie wanted it now too, seeing for himself how terrible that hoodlum was. But that little girl he had to save her at any cost, and every day he thought of a way to help her once he was found her, also hoping that she didn't hate him for his abandonment, or that she had forgotten about him.