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“Well this outta be good” Joy, now sixteen, said as she pressed play on the old video camera.
The video wobbled as the person holding it ran around erratically. Taking sharp turns around counters and giggling—only to almost immediately run into a pair of legs.
“Oof.”
“I wonder who’s video camera this is,” Joy said out loud to herself and no one else.
“Nadia? What are you doing with Luke's camera?” An unfamiliar girl, around Joy’s age, giggled. Kneeling down to the camera’s eye level to reveal that the girl wasn't so unfamiliar after all…
Because it was Hannah Hook.
“Holy cow... is that our new ruler who destroyed my father’s old home and EVERYTHING that I’ve cared about?!” Joy shrieked, suddenly becoming more angry.
The one holding the camera didn't seem afraid, however. No, instead she just giggled harder. “Se-kret!”
Which in turn caused Hannah herself to giggle as she took the camera from her. “Don't tell Luke see you with this thing or he'll never make you cookies again.”
“Huh, she is kinda cute for a nutcase .. maybe I can use this video as dirt against her?” Joy thought out loud, weighing the pros and cons.
The camera spun around to show a little tan girl with long black hair and big brown eyes in a white dress. She looked to be around two or three years old, and just pouted at the camera.
She was holding a tiny stuffed monkey.
Joy wasn't seeing any kind of dirt so far which frustrated her, though she did wonder how some one so cute could go completely bonkers.
“Hey! Has anyone seen my camera?! That thing cost me sixteen apples?!” A voice in the distance called.
“SH–SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA!” Hannah swore, nearly dropping the camera before quickly shutting it off.
“Well that wasn’t helpful! “ Joy muttered. “Well maybe... if I go back to where I found the camera there might be more dirt somewhere!”
“Why are we doing this again?” Kyle gripped. Wiping the sweat from his brow as he dug in one area of the abandoned house on the isle where Joy had found the abandoned camera.
“Because Joy wanted us to?” Haul suggested quietly, his long blonde bangs falling in his face. Searching another part of the house. Just as sweaty as Kyle was.
Which, if you asked Joy, they deserved for wearing black leather jackets on such a hot day when she had clearly told them they were going exploring.
They should have taken a page out of Amira’s book and worn short sleeves and lightly colored clothes but nooooo…. They just had to wear their leather jackets.
“Because we are looking for more tapes for the camera” Joy responded, rolling her eyes.
“Why do you even care about that stupid camera so much?” Kyle grumbled. Rolling his eyes as he threw some of the random junk that had been left behind across the room and out of his way.
Right into Haul’s way.
He said nothing, as usual.
Amira, on the other hand….“Hey!”
Joy rolled her again, though she was starting to admit that maybe this was a stupid idea after all. Not out loud of course but still…
“I care Because I just do ok ?! “ Joy Snapped.
Kyle didn't accept that for an answer, unlike the other two because of course the son of Snow White just had to be as difficult as always. “You haven't even told us what's on the crappy thing. You can't blame us for being curious. ”
“Ok fine! You know the girl who destroyed Neverland and took over Auradon? Well she’s in this camera.”
“WHAT?!”
The camera was less shaky this time as it ever so slowly zoomed in on a sleeping Hannah Hook, from when she was about ten.
Her face was pressed up against the steering wheel of a ship, which she was leaning on. No, practically laying on as she sat on a barrel.
“Well that’s an uncomfortable looking way to sleep” Kyle muttered.
“Who Would film someone while they slept ?” Amira questioned.
The camera turned out to reveal a giggling ten year old boy with red hair and green eyes—one who looked and dressed suspiciously similar to Hannah Hook's right hand man, Luke Tremaine-Westergaard.
“I told her she drools and yet—” he zoomed in further on the brunette. “There she is! Here's my proof, Bam-Bam!”
“Lame! Who says Bam-bam?” Kyle asked, rolling his eyes
“It's clearly a nickname you idiot. ” Amira snapped, clearly tired of his non-stop complaining.
“Will you two be quiet like Haul ?! I’m trying to see if there's more !” Joy snapped at both of them.
The brunettes both rolled their eyes. But only Kyle spoke. “Haul’s always quiet!”
“Yeah and you two could learn a thing from him, ” Joy muttered under her breath”.
The camera turned off.
“Hannah?” The boy from earlier called out. Zooming in on the girl in question, who looked about seven now instead of the ten in the other video.
Seven and holding a bundle of something in her arms.
“Yes?”
“What's that?”
“...a… small human?”
The camera hit the ground, causing the video to shake as a pair of running sneakers came into view. “No!”
Hannah could still be heard in the background, yelling “yes!” As a baby gurgled.
“Why is she holding that baby?” Joy wondered.
“I heard a rumor that she has a lot of little kids in her crew…” Haul quietly replied from where he sat a little aways from the rest of them. As he always did.
“So her crew consists of babies?” Kyle snorted.
“Apparently,” Joy replied.
“He didn't say it consisted only of babies. He just said there's a lot of them.” Amira pointed out. “And he would know, seeing as her crew did destroy his home and family .”
Joy had forgotten that. “Gosh Haul I’m so sorry that happened to you” Joy said to the blonde even though it was cold comfort.
The blonde didn't look up from his lap.
A loud scream rang out as the next tape played.
“Man could they scream any louder ?” Kyle Complained. “Turn the volume down !”
“Fine whatever.” Joy responded, rolling her eyes as she turned the volume down.
The screaming continued as the camera zoomed out to reveal a ten year old Hannah Hook, screaming bloody murder as she clung to a fourteen year old Harry Hook's back.
All while he looked down at a cat sized spider with thinly veiled disdain.
“Woah, that spider is HUGE!” Joy exclaimed.
“I think he looks friendly.” Haul mumbled.
“You think EVERY ANIMAL looks friendly !” Amira snorted.
“MAKE IT GO AWAY! MAKE IT GO AWAY!” the ten year old wailed. Looking pale.
“I wonder if she’s still scared of spiders ?..” Joy mused, secretly thinking of a revenge plan in her head. Then there was this voice in her head saying 'NO! Revenge is not the answer. What she needs is some serious help!' “Nevermind it’s stupid idea” Joy muttered out loud.
“Aw man, I wanted to see where that thought was going.” Kyle whined.
They all ignored him.
“Hold your bloody horses, I'm going.” Harry huffed, before holding out his hook towards the spider—glaring. “Shoo!”
The spider didn't move an inch.
“I said shoo you bloody menace!”
“Is that the brother who was executed by King Beast?” Amira asked.
“Former King.” Kyle corrected. “and yes.”
Poor Hannah..” Haul said sympathetically.
Kyle almost looked as if he agreed with the other boy.
“You guys might have a point .. “ Joy mused. “Losing your older sibling can’t be easy…”
Harry scowled down at the spider and kicked it, causing it to hiss and scurry off. Basically the spider version of a bad guy’s ‘I’ll be back!’ speech.
Hannah whimpered and buried her face in the ravenette’s shoulder. Still hiccupping. “Is it gone?”
“Aww poor Hannah .. that spider was so mean !” Joy started. “ Guys .. I think Hannah Hook needs a support group ..”
“Don't let your parents hear that or they might disown you.” Kyle mumbled. “She did still destroy Neverland, even if she didn't kill most of its population.”
“True.. but honestly.. I don’t know WHAT to think anymore!” Joy replied.
“Hiya Luke! Sorry I tooks your camera but I hads to make this video somehows since our bir-th-day is coming up ands I wanted to gives yous a gift!’ a six year old Hannah Hook rambled as the camera turned on.
She had two missing front teeth and a freshly healing black eye as she wiggled around in the oversized coat, dress, and boots she was wearing. The oversized hat on her head sliding down her face.
Yet she was smiling.
“So here it ‘tis! My gift to you!”
She started to tap her foot.
“Yo! My b-best friend, b-best friend 'til the very end!”
She stumbled slightly.
“Ok I CAN’T take this anymore!” Joy shouted. “ I Can’t believe I'm saying this but I feel sorry for Hannah Hook !”
“Same.” Haul was, surprisingly or not depending on who you asked, the first to agree with her.
“Me too..” Amira sighed.
“Ditto.” Kyle replied, far less reluctant than anyone was expecting.
“There’s gotta be a way for her to step down peacefully!” Joy said.
“'Cause b-best friends, b-best friends don't have to pre-tand!” Hannah hopped from one foot to the other, stumbling back. A nervous smile on her face as her goggles slid down her nose. “You need a hand?”
She held out her hand before pointing out at herself. “and I'm right theres right be-sides you!”
“So ..anyone got any ideas for how we get her to step down?” Kyle asked.
“None whatsoever. I'm bad with people…” Haul winced. “But… then again, maybe if we treat her like an abused cat—”
“Would that work or would it just piss her off more?” Amira interrupted.
“We have to try,” Joy said with a determined expression.
“You in the dark? I'll bes da bri-ght light to guide you!” Hannah fell forward onto the camera, causing it to turn off.
“Come on guys, “ Joy said. “ We have a scared little girl to see.”