To save a soul *Mystic War tie-in*

[Piper MacLeod]

As the portal opened into the grand hall at Buckland Academy, Piper MacLeod knew she and her sisters had their work cut out for them. Captain James Hook had been bewitched by the magic of Selene, and her powers were stronger than many the sisters had encountered in recent years. Even if the powers were funneled through another being, they were still wicked beyond words.

{{To all students lurking in the halls, please head to your next classes or head to the dorms or library}} she said telepathically to the young wizards and witches that were nearby. {{Magic is afoot, and it is not going to be pretty}}

"Gentlemen, if you will follow me," Piper said as she turned to face the portal. Her footsteps echoed on the marble floors, and the the candles that were in the sconces around the corridor gave the area a soft glow. Piper prayed that it would not cause Captain Hook to see any more illusions, but the old place she called home always had a mind of its own. "I have asked the students to return to their work so as not to disturb us, but some might want to see what we are going to be doing. Do not be afraid to ask them to leave."

 

[Captain James Hook]

                Captain Hook stumbled out of the portal. Although he was usually graceful, he was still traumatized due to his brother's illusions of his mother and Cecilia. Although he was usually brave, his body trembled. Although he was occasionally enraged about something, tears formed in his eyes another time. A few tears ran down his face. He sobbed for a few seconds.

              Captain Hook heard what Piper said about the students. He nodded. He glanced at the marble floors and corridor. Captain Hook continued to follow Piper. He thought he heard footsteps before his eyes widened. *My older sibling?* 

              There wasn't one person present after Captain Hook looked back. After looking ahead, he still frowned and followed Piper. He wasn't certain if he was able to forget about his rotting mother and Cecilia. The memories caused him to sob again. 

              Jasper Hook certainly got even with his younger brother.

               

[Blackwell]

Blackwell exited the portal after Piper and James and looked around at the students that were retreating into the shadows. "We'll keep that in mind, Piper," he said as he caught up with James. "Sorry if I scared you, my friend. I wanted to make sure no one would disturb us."

As he looked at the large mahogany staircase at the other end of the corridor, Alastair remembered the last time he was at Buckland. "I was here a very long time ago, James. Back when the library was dedicated. Piper, where are we headed?" 

"To see if my grandfather is back with Sydney," Piper said as she led the men into a very nicely appointed office. "Please make yourselves at home," she added as she pointed to a pair of large leather chairs. "Would you like some tea, Captain Hook?"

[Captain James Hook]

            Captain Hook saw Blackwell. He continued to sob as he bowed near him. Although he was a pirate, he was still polite occasionally. Captain Hook's eyes settled on two chairs. He turned to Piper. ''No. Perhaps water.''

             Captain Hook approached a chair and sat. Additional tears ran down his face. His shoulders moved up and down as he sobbed. ''My apologies, everyone.'' Captain Hook tried not to remember his brother or the latter's illusions. He was unable to.

            Captain Hook trembled during a memory of his rotting mother. How could Jasper use their mother to torment him? If he remembered correctly, Jasper wasn't as close to their mother. Jasper never cried out for her. He never kept a portrait of her in his cabin. He never acknowledged her.

            

[Blackwell]

"I swear, I will use his brother for cricket practice," Blackwell muttered as he followed Piper into a small area just to the rear of the office. It was a pantry or anteroom of some sort, but it did have a small mini-fridge with water and some fruit and cheese in it. "I'll take James the water while you hunt down Malcolm and Sydney," he said to Piper as she nodded to him. James, I'll keep you company while Piper finds her grandfather. He is a very kind man, and he should be able to help you. You need not apologize for a thing. It is not your fault."

Blackwell was going to contact the X-Men later if Piper and her family had issues helping James with his torment. Curses were not something to be taken lightly, and they were often very hard to undo.

"I will stay with you no matter what, James," Alastair said softly as the men waited for Piper to return.

[Captain James Hook]

                Captain Hook began to smile at Blackwell. Tears continued to run down his face. ''My crew dreaded me. Peter Pan's companions usually avoided me. I was a well known pirate.'' He scowled.

                ''My older brother turned me into a sobbing mess!'' Captain Hook's smile returned. He focused on Blackwell. He nodded at him. ''Endless thanks, Blackwell.'' His frown came back.

              ''What are we going to do about my older brother? He never liked me at all.'' Captain Hook sobbed again.

[Blackwell]

"Your brother," Blackwell said quietly as he sat near James. "Jasper Hook is in the X-Men's hands, but since this is magic, he needs to stand before the tribunal of the Mystic Council, along with those women he was aligned with. They need to be held accountable, and they will be. But first we must help you. That is all that matters."

Blackwell looked around to see if Piper was returning with her sister or grandfather, but none of them were entering the room just yet.

"James, I hate to ask you this question, but it might help us heal you. How were your relations with your mother the last time you spoke to her? I know that was a very long time ago, but it will help if I know this. I promise."

Blackwell was preparing, if needed, to call in a favor or two and reach across the veil to the land of those who had gone before to find James' mother. If nothing else could set him to rights, the love of his mother, even for a brief moment, could likely do the trick.

[Captain James Hook]

                 ''I wished to address my older brother. Perhaps after he's punished,'' Captain Hook said. He turned to Blackwell. Tears appeared in Captain Hook's eyes after his mother was mentioned. ''Mummyyy,'' he said in a pitiful tone. His lip trembled.

                ''I was with my mother during her last days alive. I remember always being with her. Jasper wasn't near her, but he attended the funeral. Mummy and I were almost always together. Well, except when I was my brother's midshipman. I almost always interacted with my mother.''

                Captain Hook frowned. ''Mummy was always happy near me.'' He paused. ''Cecilia wasn't happy near me before she refused to marry me. I still remember her tears. My betrothed's final moments before my brother forced her to walk the plank,'' he said.

                 A few additional tears ran down Captain Hook's face. ''I wish I could apologize,'' he said. Captain Hook shook his head in disbelief. ''My older brother also used Cecilia to torment me at the wedding. He captured her many years ago. I became a pirate to provide for Cecilia before we were married.''

                ''Mummy instructed me to not waste my youth. I should have listened to her. Mummy also wished for me to be a pirate. I kept her portrait in my cabin.'' Captain Hook scowled. ''My enemy took Mummy and switched her portrait. I remember Smee finding the portrait and tossing it out the window. I also remember yelling at Smee for hours.''

              Captain Hook continued to scowl. ''My brother was never near our mother a whole lot. Mummy showed me how to be a gentleman. Jasper never heard her.'' Captain Hook began to sob uncontrollably. ''Why did my sibling use our mother to hurt me?''

                 Captain Hook began to frown again. ''I remember Jasper never liking me. He still didn't have to use our mother to torment me.'' 

              

[Blackwell]

Blackwell sighed as he listened to James' stories about his mother, his betrothed and his vile brother. If the Council did not punish Jasper Hook, he might see to it himself. No one should be at the center of such horrible torment.

"I could only guess at the reason why your mother and betrothed were used against you," Blackwell said softly as he tried to keep from saying something that would upset James.  "Your brother, at the very least, is cruel beyond words. I detest cruel people."

As he sat there, Blackwell grabbed a small blob of clay from a tin in his pocket and kept squeezing it with all his might as he prayed a MacLeod--any MacLeod--would appear soon. "Where is the intercom system in this place?" he said as he got up and looked at anything that resembled a communications device. He finally resorted to speaking loudly near the doorway. "Piper? Piper, if your family members are not here..."

There was a loud thunk from the room above where they were sitting. Blackwell looked at the ceiling and muttered under his breath. "I don't supposed that's the school bowling alley, do you?  James, do you want me to see where Piper popped off to?"
 

[Captain James Hook]

                  ''My older brother wasn't always cruel. I did hurt Cecilia after my lies. Do I regret hurting her?'' Captain Hook glanced to one side. Tears formed in his eyes again. ''Perhaps a little.''

                Captain Hook scowled. ''I wasn't always a gentleman,'' he said. His shoulders slumped. ''I captured Peter Pan and his companions sometimes. I sometimes forced them to walk the plank. Wendy Darling tried to reason with me. Although I did spare her life a few times.''

                    Captain Hook heard a loud thunk. His eyes widened for a moment. He turned to Blackwell. He nodded. ''Please find Piper. As soon as possible.''

[Blackwell]

The banging from the upper floor continued as Blackwell looked up to see the lighting fixture above him shaking and swaying back and forth. "James, move back!" he said as the ceiling opened and a suitcase fell through and crashed on the floor. "Don't touch that, James."

Blackwell waited to see if the owner of the bag was the next to appear in the room, but the top of the suitcase suddenly flew open and a man stepped out. "Who the hell are you?" Alastair asked as he pulled his sonic screwdriver from his coat pocket.

"Arcus Muldoon, at your service!" the red haired man shouted as if he were in a very loud place indeed. "Now where is my Niffler? Have you seen him?"

"You're the beast man going to America? Heaven help the MacFeorais clan if you are!" Blackwell asked as he moved back closer to James again. "Please, we do not have time to find your lost beastie. Have you seen Piper MacLeod?"

"I'm down here!" Piper yelled up from inside the suitcase.

Blackwell looked at James and shook his head. "You'd best sit, James, until she gets herself up here," he said to his charge as this Muldoon fellow started looking under everything to find his lost creature.  "I bet she went to find some rare item from our friend here," Blackwell added as this platypus-looking creature ran from behind the bookcase and sat at James' feet. "That must be Niffler."   

   

[Captain James Hook]

                 Captain Hook obeyed after he was instructed to move back. He gasped the minute a suitcase fell. No amount of gold sovereigns would get him to touch the suitcase. Captain Hook stepped back again as soon as a man stepped out of it. He heard the latter's words and stepped back again. He blinked twice.

             Captain Hook heard Piper's voice and sat. His eyes widened as soon as he saw a platypus creature. ''I saw odd things in Neverland, but a platypus creature still shocked me,'' he said. Captain Hook stood and bowed near the platypus. He smiled. ''Captain James Hook, at your service.''

                After sitting again, a thoughtful expression formed. ''Niffler seems like the type of creature Peter Pan or Wendy would befriend,'' he said. Captain Hook imagined capturing such a creature and using it as bait to lure his enemies. Unless he was a gentleman at the time. Captain Hook began to smile at Niffler. ''If you can speak, why are you here?''

[Piper MacLeod]

"Arcus, if you let that thing bother our guests..." Piper said as she made her way up out of the suitcase. "Captain, that is Niffler. He is harmless, but he likes to pocket shiny things like jewels and gold. He is a hoarding beastie. And he doesn't speak as far as I know."

"So I found out about his petty thievery," Blackwell said as he saw the creature with his pocket watch. "Piper, did you find something or someone to help James?"

"Yes, I did," she said as held a glass wand in her hand."If I can't undo the spell, I can take the memories of the assault by Jasper Hook out of the Captain's memory. It will not take away the good memories of those you love. It should take away the painful one from the wedding."

"Niffler, give the watch back now," Arcus said as the creature finally handed it back to Blackwell.

"The choice is yours, Captain," Piper said as she held the fragile wand in her hand.

 

[Captain James Hook]

                ''Pocket shiny things?'' Captain Hook was thoughtful while he rubbed his hook under his face. He smiled. ''Niffler will be quite a pirate. He probably won't be as obnoxious as Peter Pan.'' A frown replaced Captain Hook's smile.

              ''Hopefully Niffler will never steal anything such as my beloved mother's portrait.'' He focused on Niffler and continued to frown. ''Did you hear that, Niffler? Mummy's portrait is off limits,'' he said. Captain Hook moved one finger from side to side. Although his mother's picture wasn't with him anyway, he still reminded Niffler. 

                   That was when Captain Hook heard what Piper said about removing the memory of his older brother tormenting him. He nodded at her. ''That could work.'' Captain Hook saw the glass wand Piper held. 

                   ''Interesting looking wand. Don't let Peter Pan see it. He'll steal it as a prank,'' Captain Hook said.  He tilted his head to one side.

                   ''Will I be present while my brother is punished? He should suffer for what he did to me.'' Captain Hook deliberately never mentioned removing his brother's eye years ago. Would he be punished with Jasper Hook? 

                 *Perhaps viewing my beloved mother's decaying spirit is my punishment for removing my older brother's eye* Captain Hook thought.

               

[Arcus Muldoon]

"Niffler, give that watch back, now," Arcus said as he watched Piper talking to the two men. He also watched as Niffler made some sort of dodgy move toward the glass wand. "Piper, I would suggest..."

Before Arcus could say another word, Niffler seemed to freeze in mid-air. Piper was glaring at him as she stood, wand now in her pocket, with her hands in some sort of odd contortion as she literally froze Niffler in place. "I'll pop him back in the case then..."

"Yes, please do," Piper said as Arcus literally pushed the creature back into his valise. "And as for your brother's punishment, Captain, that is something best answered by the Mystic Council. I am a teacher, not a member of the constabulary. Now, whenever you are ready," she added as she turned to make sure Arcus had indeed locked the suitcase. "We can begin."

"Are you sure a pensive will work in this case?" Arcus asked as Piper grimaced at him. "I guess you are then. I'll make sure Niffler stays put."