Tales of the Disneyverse

More to the Cause (The Gathering - Part One)

            Traveling by dinghy, the pirates arrived on the Jolly Roger in less than ten minutes with their frightened Wilderness Explorer prisoner. The moment his feet hit the deck, Hook demanded, "The wedding will begin this instant! Mr. Smee, you shall be our minister for the ceremony!"

            "I-It'll be my honor, Cap'n." Smee consented.  

            "Before we do, my love, I need a moment to freshen up." Genevieve requested.  

            Hook chuckled and smiled, placing his thumb and index finger beneath her chin while gazing upon her lovely face. "My dear, you are already a radiant beauty that requires no 'freshening up.'" His compliment widened Genevieve's smile.  

            "Oy! Cap'n!" One of the pirates beckoned. "Whadda we do wit dah boy here?"  

            Hook moved his attention away from Genevieve and to Russell, glaring at the frightened child. "Take him to the brig! Get him out of me sight until Peter Pan comes looking for him!"  

            "Aye, Cap'n!" The pirate acknowledged.  

            Just as the pirate was about to lead Russell away, Genevieve rushed over to them and blocked their path. "Allow me to carry the order, love. Since it was my plan to capture this child and imprison him on our ship, it'll be good form to do the honor of locking him up myself."  

            Hook smiled, stroking at his thin, upward-angled mustache. "Of course – anything for my soon-to-be new bride. But hurry back – I'm awfully anxious to spend our time together as happy newlyweds."  

            Genevieve blew him a kiss, making him act as giddy as a schoolboy when he "caught" the kiss. She then proceeded in grabbing Russell roughly by the back of his collar with one hand while carrying her long, shimmering sword in the other. "Come, boy," she aggressively told her prisoner while escorting him out of view of Hook, Smee, and the other pirates.  

            Russell's fear intensified as they both went two levels below deck and into a dark, musty old section filled with large cells that stood adjacent to one another on opposite sides of the room. Within the iron bars that made up the cell, there were no other prisoners – except for one in a cell further across the room that sat idly on the floor, consumed by the darkness. The entire room was so dark that Russell could barely see his own hand; but Genevieve fixed this when she sheathed her sword and used the hand she had held it with to light up a lantern.  

            Then something happened that took Russell by surprise – the hand that had a firm grip on his collar had let go and rested consolingly on his left shoulder. He then heard Genevieve whisper to him in a very sweet, caring voice, "It's alright, lil' fella. Everything's gonna be just fine." It was a strong contradiction to the vicious, threatening voice she addressed him with earlier. He glanced up at her beautiful face, which was illuminated by the lantern, and saw how much more beautiful it had become with the warm smile she gave him. It was not a menacing grin, but a kind, loving smile akin to that of a parent.  

            "Y-You're not g-gonna hurt me?" Russell said, uncertain of what to make of this sudden shift of events.  

            Genevieve smiled, shaking her head in reply.  

            Russell was still unconvinced. "No! You're tricking me! You're making me think you're nice w-when you really aren't!"  

            "It's no trick, kiddo. Believe it or not, she just saved your life."