She was in Neverland.
Anne didn't know how she got there. She had woken up in the middle of a beautiful field of wild flowers with tall climbable trees on the borders. She'd been there many times in her dreams, but this was the first time she'd ever been in Neverland while she was awake. Anne had already pinched herself several times and put her hand in the cold brook that was running nearby before she finally began to accept the fact that she was in the land of her dreams.
Taking advantage of the fantasy, Anne lifted up her arms and jumped into the air to fly. But the next moment gravity pulled her back down and she tumbled in the soft growth. Confused she righted herself and tried again, but with no luck. Apparently when you're corporeal, you can't fly. Not even in Neverland. At least, not without a little help.
Anne looked around for some faeries to gather dust from, but there were none about. This was getting more and more strange. Her own faerie had died before Anne's memory, but there were always a few flittering about nearby. In fact, the faeries were the most likely reason Anne was in Neverland in the first place. There was no other explanation for it. She had never met Peter Pan (although she'd heard many stories about him from Barry's novel), or anyone else who might have the power to cross the barrier between the worlds. But she had at least seen faeries; every once in a while she would see one in the real world, maybe flying by a window or sitting on a teacup in a cupboard. She was certain the faeries were responsible for bringing her here, but why? And if they did bring her then why weren't they with her now? Faeries were strange and mischievous to be sure, but something wasn't adding up, although Anne had no idea what it was.
Deciding to take advantage of the experience of being able to literally live out her fantasy, Anne started exploring the familiar terrain, looking for anything different that might direct her first real adventure.
Captain James T. Hook was in high dudgeon this morning.
No matter how many times he studied his previous battles, or planned his next maneuver, he simply couldn't plan out a strategy which Peter Pan hadn't already decimated. It was finally beginning to dawn on the unscrupulous captain that he might be forever doomed to clash against Pan without either side ever gaining an edge, and he wasn't taking it very well. Smee was doing his level headed best to calm the frustrated figurehead, puttering around the cabin, grabbing various knickknacks to calm his idolized leader, but today he couldn't even get him to lower his voice ten decibels or eat his breakfast. Smee was growing ever more worried about Hook. The captain had begun to lose weight and was becoming even more gaunt with want of nutrition and rest, and yesterday's shenanigans were hardly conducive to a proper night's sleep. The pirates had suffered a terrible loss, the latest in a growing losing streak. All poor Smee could do was pat the down and out captain on the arm and try to assure him that the men will definitely win the next time.
"That's it, Smee!" Hook cried out in what must have been a delirium brought on by the stress. "We have lost as many battles as we can possibly lose without winning once. Surely, the odds are we will have him next time!" He began to laugh manically as he gleefully grabbed a piece of parchment and sat down to hatch out his next plan. He had started to run low on creativity lately because of the manic shift into depression, but now that all his delusions of failure had passed, he began plotting out some extra horrible tortures on the margins of the master scheme he'd been saving for a very special occasion. Now that victory was imminent, it seemed to be a very special occasion indeed.
With that simple though fallacious, chain of reasoning, it seemed Christmas had come early to the Jolly Roger. Hook was less demanding and in better humor than he'd been in for years, although this was only comparative; he still worked his men to the bone, but at least they no longer had to worry about being keelhauled for picking their noses or hung by their toes for not wiping their noses after sneezing. And not only were grog rations reinstated, they were increased!
Indeed, the prospect of a grand victory seemed to be very bright as they manned the longboats to go onto the shore in search of Peter Pan's hideout.
*Later that evening*
Anne plopped down unceremoniously in the middle of the forest on the edge of a sandy riverbed. Or at least what she guessed to be the middle of the forest. She had long ago given up trying to keep track of where she had trekked; the trees just seemed to spread on forever in a sea of spreading oaks, towering redwoods and cypresses, flowering cherries (even though Anne was sure it was mid-summer) and silver ashes. For all that she'd heard Neverland was actually quite small and crammed, the only thing crammed was the sheer amount of foliage which (to her mind) went on forever. She'd wandered all day without spotting another living soul and she was starting to get worried. Sure, she had loved the solitude in her Neverland, having only rarely experienced it in real world, but in the actual fairy world it just seemed desolate. Even in her fantasy, she knew intuitively that there had always been *someone* nearby on the off chance she got lonely. She had tried all the usual places, but to no avail. There were no fairies in the trees . There had been birds calling to each other, foxes shyly hiding in their holes, bears dozing in their caves but no one Anne could talk to or to explain to her why she was suddenly in Neverland.
So it was more than a little relief when she heard the pirates rambling her way, singing a landing shanty.
Rape, murder, pillage and maim, oh my!
As they continued unerringly toward her, Anne began to get a little frightened for the first time in Neverland. They say that although Neverland is marvelously full of excitement and adventure in the daytime, after sundown the adventures turn into horror stories, full of ghosts, monsters and all sorts of other scary things. That is why children who visit have nightlights. As she was no longer a child, Anne of course did not have a nightlight, but she was very much wishing for one all the same, even though it wasn't quite sunset yet. Even so, she shied away into the shadows as the pirates came into the clearing the river cut through the forest, where the rough sound of unknown, robust men's voices unnerved her. They had arrived quite suddenly and were moving surprisingly fast considering they hadn't been on land long enough to get rid of their sea legs. She search the clearing for a good tree to hide behind (there was no time to climb high enough to get out of view), but there were already so many pirates swarming about the area that whatever tree she choose was bound to put her in view of another. Always adaptable, Anne shifted her strategy to accommodate her options. If she were to be found, she'd be found on her own terms. Neverland is famous for its adventure and opportunities; it goes without saying that it is chock a block full of opportune moments. Hoping she wouldn't be discovered too soon she retreated back into the tree line in a still darkened and quiet grove, waiting for her opportune moment to present itself.
The crew of the Jolly Roger had struck out for Pan's lair as soon as Captain Hook had decided on a plan of attack. Nobody knew what it was yet, as their narcissistic leader had not deigned to let them in on the marvelous revenge he had planned for his archenemy. Not even Smee knew what was going to happen when they got there. It was rather a moot point as they still had no idea where the hideout was, but with the renewed vigor of their captain (and consequently, the punishments he dealt) they were more determined than ever to find Peter Pan's home base. The newfound resolve lengthened their stride and sped their steps, heading straight for Anne.
"Stop! Stop you vile display of rancid flatulence! This might be the place we've been looking for!" the big-hatted captain called to his men.
"But captain, how do you know? The boy we captured this morning said to look by the 3 trees that look like a hawk." one unfortunate crew member questioned.
"Of course he would say that you vomitous mass of offal; he would send us as far away from Pan's hiding place as possible to keep us from catching anyone else. That's why we're looking in the direct opposite direction. Now search you dogs!"
The band of no-gooders took the opportunity to stop at the bank Anne had just been resting on, searching the nearby trees for signs of hollowing which might lead to the Lost Boy's lair. They began to fan out as the pirates tapped more and more trees for echoes.
With the pirates fast approaching, Anne knew her moment had come. Now she just had to think of what to do. Too late, a hulking deck swab was within view. Before she could help herself, Anne gave an involuntary yelp as she ducked around another tree.
"What was that?" the captain called.
"I dunno captain, but it came from around there." Starkey motioned towards a tree far away from Anne, in the opposite direction.
'Thank god for stupid pirates.' Anne thought to herself. Sensing this to be her chance, she dodged around another tree and called out again, using the displaced sound to add to the confusion and give her a chance to get a little further away. 'Baby steps Anne, think baby steps.'
Hook had played the harpsichord for many years, his hearing and voice pitch perfect. "You idiots, it came from the other way!" . He knew his men were less than perceptive, although it's not completely their fault as they're the ones standing right next to the ship's cannons as their being fired. Even so, he felt a slight bruising of his pride when he had to play the hound and lead the men to the source of the sound. It came again, this time 30 yards to the left. He led on and thought he was drawing closer until….
Anne was beginning to panic now, hearing the men trample their way ever closer, with her options for hiding were decreasing as they began to encircle her. But she wasn't caught yet. She made a dash to the left and let out another call.
James Hook was a captain, not a hunter, and this cat and mouse game was beginning to wear on him. Not only that, but the sound was loud and eerie, and seemed to come from right in front of him. "Confound it all, what is that sound? We're looking for Peter Pan, not some spirit of the woods!" the captain regretted mentioning the supernatural when his men stopped dead in their tracks. Pirates were nothing if not superstitious, and the suggestion that they were chasing something not of this world unnerved them. He himself had had less than hospitable encounters with the unexplainable, and it was not something he particularly relished having to relive. Growing impatient with the sudden fear that had suddenly become as tangible as a knife, he tried appealing to the spirit. He knew from the stories that the only way to get out of the forest safely was to reason with it. Besides, his boots were getting dirty traipsing through the untrodden parts of the wood. All he wanted was to capture Pan and get back on his ship.
"Spirit of the wood, will you let us pass?"
By some bizarre twist of fate, Anne realized she had gained the upper hand. But again, she wasn't quite sure how to make the most of it. All she wanted was to get out of the woods and talk to someone rational. But before she could do that, she would have to dupe the men that were edging in on her. The captain himself seemed to be just on the other side of her tree, not 20 feet away. She called out in her loudest voice
"Stay back! You tread upon sacred ground!"
It sounded good to her, but would it work for the pirates?
Immediately the crew drew back 8 feet. All expect Hook who had retreated a mere 3 feet, more to keep the loud voice from screaming in his ear than out of terror.
"I apologize, oh mighty spirit. If you will but let us leave unharmed, we will be on our way and swear to never return. ."
'Oh Anne, you clever girl!' She thought to herself. She relaxed a bit and said in a more normal voice
"You may go. But first you must pay tribute for your trespassing. You must leave…." She thought for a moment. A pack horse with supplies would have been nice, but these were pirates, not farmers. "You must leave your sword behind as an offer of peace." At least she might have a means of defending herself if something else came upon her in the night that was slowly creeping across the sky.
Hook cocked his head to one side. He couldn't be sure, it had been so long since he'd last heard anything like it, but the voice almost sounded…. feminine. Feminine and earthly, he realized. Before the voice had been so loud it seemed to resonate all through the forest, but now that it had become quiet it was definitely originating behind the tree just 10 paces in front of him.
"Spirit of the wood, have you *another* name?" he silently motioned for his men to resume their encroaching. They were still a bit shaky, but gained confidence from their captain as he stood fully in control of the situation, conversing as if he were back on his ship discussing the best way to tie a cravat over afternoon tea.
Anne was taken aback. She had let herself relax too much and now they were on to her. She could hear the pirates creep closer as they trampled the brush, still very slowly. She began moving from tree to tree again, though now with much more caution. In an effort to buy more time, she decided to keep the conversation going. "Yes."
"Is it mineral?"
"No." Her voice was almost normal.
"Vegetable?"
"No."
They had fully encircled her.
"Animal?"
He was methodically stripping away her anonymity. In her fear, she forgot to alter her voice altogether.
"Yes."
They began to close ranks and edge even closer.
"Man?"
"Of mankind."
Just a swoop away.
"Woman?"
He had her pegged now. There would be no more conversation. This was her last chance. She only had a few precious seconds to pick her escape route.
"Yes!" she bolted
- and ran into something soft yet unyielding. Looking up Anne saw a pale gaunt face surrounded by a shock of shoulder length curly black hair with burning blue eyes.
She had run straight into Captain James Hook.
