Introduction
It seemed that once again things had come full circle. For most residents of Neverland they ever even knew anything out of the ordinary was occurring. Blissfully oblivious to anything outside of themselves and their own desires.
When the pirates returned from their adventure in the Underworld, they were a little unsure if celebration was in order. They'd won, hadn't they? They'd braved the realm of the dead, saved Billy Jukes and rid themselves of a wicked Captain. Still… a shadow loomed overhead, a shadow that could strike at any time.
Just above the cove waters' surface, the waters bubbled and ticked as the famed crocodile approached. As always she was in the hopes that a mishap would befall the pirates, one she could reap the benefits of. As she lurked around the ship, she sensed something was off. The quarry she desired… simply wasn't there.
From the rail, Billy Jukes watched the monstrous fiend swim away, amused at how smart she was. Everyone was leaving, he thought to himself, things were changing now, and changing fast.
Billy turned around from the rail, holding a small box in his hand, the same one Mau had handed to Mullins. He examined its beauty for a moment, than placed it into another set of hands.
"Thank you Mau, for everything. Even if I can't thank you enough." Billy said to the feline, who smiled back shyly. She brought it lovingly towards her heart, but noticed that Billy didn't seem to share in the elated feelings she had. In fact he looked sad, gravely so, and she couldn't understand why. Especially since the rest of the pirates seemed so incredibly happy.
Thankfully their uneasy silence was broken by a barking and followed by Mullins commanding, "Ya' blasted mutt! Bring that back!"
The black hound Menkaura darted across the deck, a playful gleam in his eyes and a blue hat in her muzzle. Robert quickly reached down to retrieve his stolen property, but it only enticed the hound further. Energetically the hound ran circles around the pirates, until he tumbled down, disoriented from chasing the pup.
As he lay on the deck, he cursed the dog's name, but Menkaura just happily wagged his tail in wait.
From behind, a great commotion erupted from the Captain's old quarters, as something heavy crashed to the ground. Laughter followed as Starkey, Mason and Cookson gazed at the dismantled remains of the blasted Harpsichord. Before today, such a disaster and gross lack of respect for the Captain's belongings would have surely meant a lashing. Now everything was fair game, and the looting and destruction was a most enjoyable game for these buccaneers.
Chucking torn journal pages out the window, Cookson repeated over and over, "Is junk, junk, more junk… eh," he paused to study a page of the journal than tossed it, "is junk."
"Aye, but this is the most exquisite treasure," Starkey held up a bottle of brandy, which Mason grabbed away to swig down. Feigning insult at the carpenter, Starkey continued to sort through possessions. Useless garbage went out the window, while everything else went unceremoniously onto a pile in the floor.
Another loud crash resonated through the ship as Mason took a good solid swing at the bells of the harpsichord. After wincing at the sound, the high spirited scugs laughed again, they would not miss that obnoxious instrument.
"I hope, I ain't never hearing another note from another Harpsichord as long as I breath the air." Mason grunted, admiring the shambles of the instrument.
"Me hopes we is never seeing another cat girl forever." Cookson added, tossing back some notes.
"That's rude." Starkey reached around to snatch up the falling pages, not trusting the cook's judgment of what was useful and what was garbage. "All in all I say the girls been rather helpful to us. Even if she tried to have us killed, not to say we wouldn't have done the same to her."
"So what? I'll be glad to never see her again me-self. Or," he draws out the word in anticipation, " another mermaid. Or another Indian, or a lost boy, or a fairy."
"Or a dragon, a gnome, a spirit, or a magic anything." Starkey added.
"Or another Peter the Pan." Cookson finished, tearing up papers into confetti.
"So what will you do now?" Mau asked, the wind whipping her long braids around.
Billy sighed heavily before replying, "We're finally going to set sail for the Spanish Main. It's been far too long." The gunner's eyes looked lost in thought before he concluded, "There's nothing left for us here anymore."
"Oh," Mau stiffened in surprise, "I thought you liked Neverland, I thought it was your home. But I'm glad you're going back to your real home now."
"Me too," he automatically answered, even though his heart wasn't in it. Certainly Billy thought he wanted to go back to the real world, there was no question in his mind about going home someday. Yet, he felt that he was forgetting something, or maybe that their timing was bad. Maybe they should have waited, or maybe they should have left sooner. In general, he just had a bad feeling.
"So what are you going to do?" he finally inquired of the guardian.
"I don't know... I certainly can't go back to back to my post any more. Since it's not there. I'll find something to do with myself though."
"HELL!" a high-pitched voice shattered the conversation. They turned to watch Smee, squalling, like he'd been ever since they'd returned to the Jolly Roger. He howled violently at them, "Yer place be hell ya demon witch! Once the captain gets done wit the lot of ye!"
Any minute now, the crew expected Smee to start foaming at the mouth the way he was raving. To protect the bosun and everyone on the ship, they'd chained him up like a prisoner. The closer it got to their departure time, the crazier and louder he got, cackling every so often too.
"Aye, when the Captain returns, he'll have yer gizzards!" he squirmed in his bonds, spitting at the young people. The sight of Smee was pretty pathetic, because he still believed that Hook was coming back. All they could do was pity him.
"Well it looks like we're saying goodbye again. Have a safe journey Billy Jukes," Mau offered her hand in a firm handshake.
"Stay out of trouble Mau." He said as she turned towards a small, simple wooden boat they'd brought back from the underworld for her and Menkaura. Mau called to the dark hound, who hesitated to follow at first, glancing up at the gruff pirate Mullins.
Mullins playfully stroked the dog's head, "Get going ya dumb mutt. There ain't no room on a pirates vessel for pets."
He whined in indignantly, receiving a sympathetic stare from the unrefined sailor.
"Aw yer a good mutt, ye know that. Ya can always count on a good dog fer company. Watch out for that kid there, cuz we both know she ain't nothing but trouble."
With a quick bark of agreement, Menkaura turned to join his guardian friend on the small boat. Carefully Jukes and Mullins lowered the craft into the sea, finally parting ways. Billy's eyes locked on the cat creature's deep green eyes, leaving an uncomfortable, eerie feeling in his stomach. But she was gone now, so he ignored his gut.
Deep in the woods, the Lost Boys engaged in a playful game of tag. High in a tree, the youngest of the Darling children was crouched into a small ball. Holding his breath to not make the slightest peep, he's certain no one will find him. So silent he is, Michael suddenly noticed that the whole forest was completely quiet.
Michael dared a look around, his movement shaking the leaves. Abruptly Tootles popped in on the boy, and Michael yelped as the round boy tapped his shoulder, "You're in Michael!" Tootles fell back in several circles before flying straight away, leaving Michael to fly futilely after him.
Several other boys darted past Michael, too quickly for him to catch. Above watch his siblings in another tree, watching their brother struggle.
"Poor Michael. This will take all day. He'll never catch anyone." Wendy sighed.
"At least the Twins aren't it anymore, if Nibs hadn't called no tag-backs, THAT would have never ended." John reminded his sister.
"I'd better go down there and help him," she gently slide off the branch, to LET herself be caught so Michael wouldn't be it anymore. As she glided to the ground she noticed a slight change in the air.
Darkness surrounded the children, though most must have assumed it to be a cloud covering the sun. More of them began to notice as a chill passed through the woods and the darkness grew ever thicker. This change drew out all of the children from their hiding places.
"Isn't it a bit early for night?" Curly asked looking at the darkening sky.
"I've never quite seen a sky of that color." Peter remarked, studying the violet color of the night, the orange fire behind the clouds and the angry red that outlined them.
"A most unusual phenomenon," the Twins agreed.
"It must be a storm, I think we should all get inside." Wendy feared, reaching for Peter's arm. Her eyes wouldn't let him argue and she urgently tugged him towards the underground house. Peter argued to stay and see what would happen next, but Wendy just yanked harder. The other Lost Boys were more than eager to get inside with her too.