#prince lars

He burst into the town square. The one where he had said goodbye to his dad so long ago. When he had been so different. When he had thought he’d return only to pick his Dad up before they went to their new palace in Agrabah.

Now the towns quare was the complete opposite than it had been that day.

Where once their cowered crowds, cheering for fear of Maleficent’ wrath if they didn’t, teens doing their best posturing to be the baddest of the bad, there was nothing. Everyone had been scared off by the Coven’s rule.

There was no Jafar.

Jay cursed and whirled around to look at the exit but there was no one there either. He would have known if the four were running across the road as it was flat, nowhere to hide.

He scanned and searched, looking for that one flicker of movement that signalled someone was hiding in the shadows but there were too many homeless orphans and muddle-minded beggars distracting his view.

Then he saw a wizened old man.

The skin that stretched over him was barely skin, so papery thin it was. It had a mottled yellow color that indicated how malnourished the old man was. But what he lacked in skin, he had a long flowing white beard that slightly curled at the end.

So twisted.

Jay strode forward in two easy steps and picked up the old man by his collar. He ignored how feathery light he was, how fragile he seemed with the sound of bones rattling when he shook him. Like this was some innocent old man that could break any moment.

This was no innocent. He knew this man was his father.

How could anyone forget the elderly disguise his father had put on to trick Aladdin to enter the treasured Cave of Wonders. It was laughable that that was all Jafar could think of now to disguise himself.

Then again, Jafar had always been stuck in the past and his former glory. Couldn’t do anything in the present. That was Jay’s job to make something for both of them.

And now that Jay had Jafar in his hands, he let his anger overtake him.

Just like the golden rubies in Jafar’s snake staff, red was all he could see.

Red for the hypnosis, red for the neglect, red for all the years Jay had cared so much for this man who cared for no one at all.

The paper jaw crumbled against Jay’s fist, each landing a sickening crunch but Jay was too caught in himself.

Blood splattered across the dirt, and the red was the only thing that paused Jay’s beating.

He stared at as if he had never seen it before. Remembering the last time he had spilled blood, Jordan had yelled at him, looking at him as if he was a murderous Vk.

His stomach sank seeingthe blood. Sunk down to his gut when he realized that he didn’t hear the wheezy breath.

He slowly looked at the old man’s face, the nose flattened and covered in blood. The white beard stained red. The discolored veins were faint. Faint but the temple vein was still thumping.

And then he coughed. More blood splattered, a fleck landed on Jay’s cheek and just when he thought he’d never get rid of all the anger in his body, shame and relief flooded it instead.

He hadn’t crossed the line.

But he didn’t feel the relief he expected. He just felt hollow. He wanted to say something. Something so Jafar would know why Jay was angry at him. That it had nothing to do with becoming good but everything to do with what Jafar, himself, had done to him.

Yet he didn’t know how to put that into words. Funny considering he shared so much with Jade and the others this week. But.. it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t the same as talking to his father who he was sure wouldn’t even understand the anger. Just think that Jay was brainwashed.

But he didn’t have time for that as Uma whistled, signalling attention from everyone in the town square. Harry, Gil and her crew were rapt as usual. Several kids came out from the shadows that Jay recognized as the Anti Villain Club.

Harry gave Uma his hand as she stood up on a pile of barrels, giving her height and leverage to look over them all. But for once, the sight did not irritate Jay as it would have before, knowing she was only doing it to annoy Mal.

He somewhat gingerly picked up the unconscious Jafar in a fireman’s carry, giving a curt nod to Uma so that she’d know that he had Jafar. A moment of eye contact was all that she gave him, confirming that she knew.

“People of the Isle. It is time to rise!” Uma boomed, “The Coven’s reign is ending today. They have ruled over us all in fear for too long. And for what? Because they’re powerful? Because they have magic?” Several people nodded their heads, agreeing with her statement that the Coven ruled because they had powerful magic. Confusion rippled over them as to where this was going.

“We are more powerful than them! For we have numbers. We are the ones who do the hard work. We make their food and their clothes and we give them power by obeying them.”

“But we do not have to. We can take away their power if we stop letting them rule over us. They are kings and queens if they do not have us to reign over!” “Nine of the Coven are done. They will not get up again after this defeat. We need you to stop Maleficent, Nerissa and Morgana from leaving the Isle.”

“Why should we? They brought down the Isle!” Gaston shouted, stumbling out of his tavern, several of his knuckle headed stooges nodded in agreement.

“And they have left you here.” Uma countered, “Do you see them leading you to freedom? No! They will never give you freedom. Not unless you count freedom as being one of their slavish citizens.” More discontented murmurs joined the crowd as more people peeked out of their houses and left the safety of their walls.

“Uma’s right!” Celia shouted followed by cheers and claps.

“But I can. I’m Ben’s new right hand for Vk coordinators. I have an agreement with him taht all children will be removed from the Isle!” More cheers and whoops exploded.

“Henchmen and lackeys may come too if you help us capture the three who are trying to escape.”

Surprised and interested whispering followed this and Jay could see some familiar faces of head hunters like Clayton and Sa’luk seem interested.

“Mercenaries, rise up! You are the most skilled fighters on the Isle. The most sane ones who’ve had jobs before. Rise up and capture the three. You should not be dogs for the egomaniacal and insane.” “Former princes and sheriffs and aristocrats, rise up! Reclaim your place as someone of importance. Bring down the Coven members.” Jay saw the long missing spotted fur coat of Cruella. Still smoking her long cigar but for once, she smiling at Uma’s words. A strange sight to see.

Jay could see Prince Hans’ son cheer, only to be punched out by Gil. He didn’t know what the prince had done to deserve Gil’s surprisingly furious face, Jay never thought he’d see the good hearted pirate so mad, but he assumed it was deserved.

“Whores, orphans, thieves, pirates, all the lost boys and girls, Vks all, rise up! Rise up and be the baddest bad of the isle by knocking the remaining Coven off their perch. I promise you will be rewarded. You will get off this damned Isle, you’ll have food, you’ll have safety. You’’ be treated like human beings like you deserve. You will have your chance at freedom!”

Excitement thrummed through the crowds and Jay felt swept along with it. Never before had he’d been so thrilled and inspired by a speech. He felt the enthusiasm Uma commanded. He felt the loyalty, he could see why her crew followed her so loyally. He felt like she could do anything and if he followed her lead, he’d have a chance too.

The crowds spanned, searching the corners and alleyways for the wayward Coven members. Jay came up to the small group of Aziz, Jordan, Calix and Uma and dumped the old man at their feet.

“Got Jafar.” Jay said neutrally. Hoping they wouldn’t get into questions of why he was bloodied and unconscious.

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” the old man rasped. His bones creaked as he twisted into sitting position, not dazed or concussed as he should be.

The figure rippled as if it was a fading…

“Illusion!” Jay growled, kicking himself for falling for the same trick twice.

The elderly man was replaced by the gleaming black fur of the teenage catboy. His fangs gleamed smugly, sticking his tongue out at Jay for his foolishness.

Uma lept into action, brandishing her sword against Illusion’s throat, “Where are Jafar and the others?” Illusion nonchalantly pushed the sword away. Effortlessly much to Uma’s clear surprise as she struggled to keep the sword against Illusion’s throat.

“You’d might want to check Auradon,” Illusion purred.

A flash of black smoke appeared next to and Illusion’s twin materialized.

Chimera smiled brightly at them, “Sorry to trick and run but Mom wants us back in Morbia.” Then the two faded away.

“Damnit!” Jay cursed this time, looking to the far off horizon that was Auradon. “Jay you get the kids off.The adults will still be distracted trying to find the Coven members.” Uma commanded. Jay hesitated, every part of him wanted to race over to Auradon. To complete his goal of facing his father before the final battle was over.

But he remembered the look of the dirtied orphans he saw when he first landed here. Some of them had no chance like he had. Not all of them were children of big name villains. Not all of them had special skills of thievery or strength or agility.

Part of this mission was stopping the Coven. The other part was rescuing the children.

He had to go to the children.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------Harry’s heart pounded as he bounded up the steps of the Jolly Roger. Harriet was waiting for him as expected at the bow of the ship.

The wharf was silent as everyone in the town square searched for the missing Coven members. None of the  gas lamps were lit as they wanted to maintain the illusion that no one was guarding the docks.

They knew CJ was planning to strike tonight. It made the most sense since CJ knew of the Coven’s plans, she’d use their invasion as a distraction.

But she didn’t know they knew that she knew, so she’d be in for quite a surprise when the Jolly Roger wasn’t the deserted ship she had been expected to plunder so easily.

Harriet swung down to the starboard side, cut the rope and Harry ran to her side so they stood back to back with their swords at the ready.

“Where is that cur?” Harriet scanned their surroundings, dim and undistinguishable as they were in the twilight hour. Harriet had stationed men at the stern, at the starboard, on all sides of the boat that CJ, Lady Caine and her men could possibly grapple up.

Then the boat moved.

It was a small splash at first, unsteadying them all as they adjusted to the boat hitting the water.

“Whose at the wheel?” Harriet shouted angrily at her men but none responded.

“Why it’s me!” The familiar drawl of their baby sister sounded in the silent night.

Harriet lit up her trusty cigarette light that she always kept for her emergencies. Giving them enough view of CJ at the wheel, confidently steering the ship to sea.

Harry went right and Harriet went left. CJ was at the wheel and she had not many choices if she wanted to leave the helm. There were only stairs. And a rope, but Harriet had cut all the swinging ropes, cutting CJ’s favorite choice of entrance, exit and/or escape route.

Slowly, cautiously, the two neared the stairs on either side of her, but CJ looked undisturbed until they got to her side.

Harry caressed his hook around her neck and Harriet dug her knife into the wooden wheel but CJ kept steering.

The silence between them all was palpable. Harriet was suspicious that much could be seen between the lighter and the slit of her eyes. Harry was waiting for the inevitable snap. CJ was at once predictably unpredictable. If she was this calm, she probably had a trick up her sleeve. It would be flashy and showy just like her. And she wouldn’t be able to wait to show off.

Then Harry felt a nudge against his ribs. He heard a cocking sound

He looked down and saw the cold metal muzzle of a gilded pistol prodding his ribs.

“Dammnit to Davy Home’s locker!” Harriet cursed and CJ smiled.

CJ clicked the pistol again. “How about you two be a dear and back away. Back away or else I’ll make ye walk the plank.”

The wheel turned unsteadily now that CJ was no longer steering, jerking the ship to the left and nearly throwing Harry off balance. At least the pistol wasn’t jabbing at him anymore.

“CJ, this is cute but yer not gettin away with this. The Jolly Roger is mine.” Harriet said with clenched teeth.

CJ lifted the pistol and pointed it at Harriet’s head, “No, it’s mine now. Looters rule.” Then she shot.

Harriet ducked, the bullet flying into the distant nothingness of the dark.

Harry stared.

He never thought CJ would take the shot. But she did. Backstab, neglect, leave the family, yes, he imagined CJ doing all those things. She had done them.

But to kill…

“Are yer crazy!” Harry lunged at CJ, wresting the pistol from her but that left them gun to gun, triggers cocked at the ready.

“I’m not insane. I’m a pirate,” CJ answered with a deadly coldness that Harry had never heard from her before. HIs little sis had always been boisterous and dramatic, theatrical really. But never this serious. Never cold.

“I should be the heir to the Jolly Roger. I should be the heir. I’m willing to killl like a true pirate.”

Harry tapped his index finger on the trigger, a bit of a nervous habit as pistols were not his weapon of choice. “Great, yer a pirate. We all are. But the Jolly Roger is not yours.” Harriet began to stalk toward CJ now that she was facing Harry but she whirled around, pointing the gun at her head again.

Harry moved forward, and placed the pistol at the back of CJ’s head where they all froze in place again.

“CJ, I don’t want to hurt you.” Harry tried to stay calmly, knowing that one wrong move can mean death.

“I know you don’t. And I don’t want to hurt you. I want the Jolly Roger.” CJ repeated her terms again.

“Why?” Harriet began to reach for the back up sword she had sheathed in her vest, “You don’t need this ship. You already had the one you were using to galivant across Auradon.” “Huh so you know about that. You know and yet you don’t respect me.” CJ scoffed.

“Why would we respect a traitor?” Harry spat, annoyed by CJ’s ridiculousness. She really thought betraying them all to follow her so-called mother, their father’s enemy, Lady Caine.

“Because I’m a true villain! I should be the legend. Not you too. Neither of you set foot off the Isle but yer the famous Hook kids.” CJ yelled, some of her old brough returning.

Harry nodded at Harriet who chanced CJ’s distracted mood and took her pistol, using her left hand to aim her sword at her throat.

“That won’t be fer long.” Harriet said calmly, “We’re leaving the Isle. We’re gonna be “good” somewhat. At least enough Auradonians won’t kick us back ‘ere. But ye can still be the bad one because we never want to see ya again.”

CJ looked at Harriet, coldly in the eye, then she turned to Harry. “Yer not going to go on the high seas like I am?” “No,” Harry answered truthfully. His future plans laid at Uma’s side and she was to be Ben’s co-head of the newly improved VK program with Evie. And he’d be her right hand man as always.

“Fine, I’ll go.” And then Harry heard some of the old CJ return. The reluctance in her voice. Disappointment like when she was a little kid and hadn’t pick pocketed quite right. Whether she was disappointed in herself for failing or for being kicked out of the family, Harry didn’t know. But he did know CJ was definitely grown up, a grown up he didn’t recognize. For she crossed a line in her willingness to commit sibling murder. The shot of the bullet would echo in his ears for years to come.

The two watched her walk away and leap off the railing. No smirk or “ta ta” flourish. Just a splash and she was gone with the tide.

Initially I made his patterning more of a paint’s, but the design adds a little more noise than I’d like.

Anyways. Happy New Year 🎆🎊