Still don't own Peter Pan. If I did, I would have been in Neverland instead of doing GCSEs.
Isabel woke up with a frown. She couldn't feel her bed and she could hear a gentle whispering from her side. She sat up and looked around, her eyes wide. A criss-cross of wooden bars partly obscured her view. Isabel noticed a rope tying the door to the cage shut and she considered untying it. Then her eyes settled on a group of six boys dressed in animal furs and tatty materials and she knew she was being guarded.
"The lady's awake." one of the boys announced.
The boys eyes flicked towards a large wooden throne and a boy flopped across it. One of his legs was over an arm rest and another was hanging off the seat. He glanced towards the cage.
"Isabel Winter, you have been charged with thievery. How do you plead?" the boy asked, giving Isabel a wide, childish grin.
"Peter?" Isabel murmured, recognising the boy instantly.
"How do you plead?" Peter asked again, getting to his feet.
Isabel looked around, taking it all in. The furniture was all made of wood and looked rough. However it had a homely feel. The hideout was amazing. They were clearly underground and the roots of a tree danced over the walls. Isabel couldn't help but smile at the room. Then her eyes settled on Peter once more.
"I don't understand." she said.
There was a murmuring from the boys who Isabel assumed were the Lost Boys. Peter frowned at them and then beat his fist against one of the exposed roots, shouting for order.
"This is a court, Isabel. You are the criminal and I am the judge, jury and..."
Peter moved like lightening, snatching up his sword and slicing the air with an excited smile. Then he moved forwards, letting the tip touch Isabel's neck. It was such a practised gesture it took the flash of the blade to remind Isabel that is was not a wooden sword of their games before.
"Executioner." Peter stated with a growing smirk.
"This isn't a game, Peter." Isabel said.
She suddenly understood the situation. Peter had kidnapped her and was blaming her or stealing from him. Isabel's heart sank as she thought about her mother finding her missing. She wanted to go home and she told Peter that she wanted to go home.
"Just tell me where you put it and we'll let you go." Peter said, recoiling the sword.
"Put what?" Isabel asked, standing up.
Peter turned away, not wishing to admit anything. She turned to the Lost Boys, looking for them to give her an answer.
"He hasn't told us, Isabel lady." one of the boys said, stepping forwards.
The boy had mousey brown hair and a rounded face, the features still holding their youth. He was dressed in clothes that were woven from leaves and had a dirty dark green hat with a feather resting in the material.
Peter want back to settling on his throne, his sword hanging down. He began to trace patterns in the floor of the hideout, occasionally glancing up at Isabel.
"Can I have something to eat?" Isabel asked. "And something else to wear?"
She was dressed in her pyjamas and it was too warm for her. The boys began to murmur between themselves.
Peter turned to the Lost Boys and, with a dismissive wave of his hand, told them to fetch what Isabel wanted.
"Actually, Peter, as I thief, I would prefer to steal my own." Isabel said, intent of getting her freedom from the cage.
Peter paused thoughtfully and then moved over. He cut the rope that tied the cage door shut and helped Isabel out.
"It's not like you can leave Neverland, anyway." Peter said with a calm smile.
Isabel smiled back and asked Peter if she could have a sword to defend herself. Peter happily complied, reminding Isabel that she hadn't won a fair sword fight against him yet.
.
Peter had watched Isabel go and then made his excuses with the Lost Boys.
"Girls are clever, Tink." he murmured to his fairy as he flew towards the Indian camp. "Isabel knows that it would be safer to steal from the Indians."
"Then why are you going?" Tinker Bell asked in fairy.
Peter paused. He looked at Tink.
"Because if she does get in trouble, I'll never find out where she's hidden my heart." Peter answered, blushing.
Tinker Bell rolled her eyes jealously.
.
Isabel knew Neverland was an island and that was all she needed to know. She knew that if she kept walking in one direction, she would eventually find the coast. She was angry with Peter, muttering under her breath.
"He has no right! None! He shouldn't have taken me from my home. I didn't steal from him."
Given her time spent in the forest, it wasn't hard for Isabel to make her way through the trees. She was confidently climbing over the undergrowth and ducking under low branches. Peter's sword was strapped to her side but she didn't need the sword to cut a path. Soon she noticed a slight incline and sandier soil beneath her feet. She smiled slightly.
Then she broke into the sunlight. She looked around and saw a large pirate ship.
"The Jolly Roger." Isabel breathed. "Just the place."
She made sure the sword was in securely before she slipped silently into the water and began to swim to the boat.
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"Hey, is anyone there?" Peter called as he landed.
He was near the Indian camp but not right next to it. He didn't like all of the Indians but there were some he got along with. He knew he had reached the camp before Isabel and that was good. It meant he could warn the others not to hurt her.
"Amba?" Peter hissed.
Tinker Bell rolled her eyes as she settled on a branch near Peter. There was a pause and then a girl leapt from a tree above him. Her nimble hands fixed on a branch and she swung around, before lowering herself down. The girl settled in front of him and offered him a small smile.
"Hello, Peter." she said.
She was roughly Peter's age. She had thick black hair, gently waved and decorated with feathers and beads. Her dark green eyes shone out at Peter with a mischievous glint and she smiled at him. She was dressed in normal Indian clothes and an exposed red star tattoo conflicted with the tanned skin of her shoulder blade.
"I'm hunting a thief." Peter told her. "She has stolen something very previous from me and I am going to trick her into giving it back."
"I can assure you it wasn't me." the girl, Amba, said defensively.
Peter told her that he knew who stole it. He paused for a few seconds and then looked at Amba.
"You're a girl, aren't you?" he inquired, slowly.
His playful smirk was still set on his lips.
"That is what everyone tells me." Amba replied.
"And you're a clever girl, right?"
Amba nodded.
"Do you know where girls hide the hearts they steal?" Peter asked.
For a few moments, Amba was shocked by the question. Then the pieces fell into place. She smiled at Peter, stifled a laugh and shook her head.
"No." she told him. "I have never needed to hide anyone's heart."
Peter let out a growl of frustration and looked up at Tinker Bell.
"So how do you intend to trick her into giving it back?" Amba asked, playfully going along with the trick.
Peter explained his plan and Amba smiled when she heard it. She then began to ask about the girl. She watched as Peter smiled and began to describe Isabel.
"Can I help you trick her?" Amba asked.
"Why do you think I called you?" Peter replied, his energy suddenly turning.
He took off into the air slightly and flew into a tree. Seconds later, Amba climbed to join him.
"Now we wait."
.
Isabel climbed slowly onto the ship. Although her hands were wet and the wood was slippery, she had been out in the forest no matter what the weather was and climbing the side of the boat gave her little problem. She stopped when she reached the top, peeking over the railing and surveying the pirates.
The first thing she noticed was that the boat stunk. The pirates smelt horrible and that he been soaked up in the wood. She fought the urge to hold her nose as her hands were latched onto the boat and she couldn't risk slipping. She watched the swell of pirates for a few moments, waiting for an opening that would allow her to dart aboard and into one of the cabins.
As soon as the pirates seemed distracted, Isabel leapt over the railing. Her feet landed with two soft thuds but she didn't wait around to see if anyone had noticed. She darted into the nearest cabin she would see, hoping it would be empty.
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"I'm bored." Peter moaned from where he was perched in the tree. "When will the stabbing and slicing and fighting come into this?"
"It won't. Unless you want the little thief dead." Amba challenged.
There was a pause as Peter turned to Amba. He tried to seem reluctant as he shook his head but he was in fact horrified by the idea. Amba turned back, looking down into the path that lead into the Indian camp. She smiled to herself and then looked back as Tinker Bell and Peter began to have a hush conversation.
"No, I shouldn't have tried to steer Isabel towards the pirates." Peter said to the fairy. "And it would not be a good thing if they killed her."
Amba looked back and raised an eye brow. She knew how protective Tinker Bell could be of Peter given how she was the fairy meant to protect him but this was the more possessive side of Tinker Bell creeping out. It didn't normally end well for anyone. She quickly decided that Tinker Bell was jealous of Isabel and looked back.
"So when did Isabel tell you about stealing hearts? And when did you work out she stole yours?" Amba asked quietly.
Peter stopped and leaned forwards. The branches barely moved under him and Amba realised he was on the verge of flying. He moved so he was level to her and smiled.
"Isabel told me about stealing hearts when she told me about her mother stealing her father's heart. She told me about how her mother stole her father's heart and then gave it back to him because she loved him so I asked Isabel to learn and she must have learnt quickly." Peter said.
He paused and then lied, telling Amba that he had known that Isabel had been trying to steal his heart long before she had actually done it, throwing in a few stories of fighting against her so she couldn't take it from him. Instantly knowing he was lying, Amba rolled her eyes.
.
Isabel smiled as crept from the cabin. She had a sack of pirate clothes and felt confident that no one had spotted her on the way in.
As soon as she looked up, she realised she was wrong to be so confident. The pirates were all facing her and one in particular stood out. He was standing a bit further forwards than the rest. He had long curling black hair and neatly cut black facial hair. He was dressed in a fine red coat and, from what Isabel could tell, the clothes bundled in her arms were probably his.
"Looks like we have a thief on board." the lead pirate said, addressing his crew.
From the stories Peter had told her and the metal hook in the place of his right hand, Isabel assumed the pirate she was facing was Captain Hook.
"Step forwards, girl." Hook instructed.
Bravely Isabel took a step forwards. She surveyed the pirates with a gleaming smile.
Hook circled Isabel. There was a creak of wood accompanying each footstep.
"What is your name, girl?" Hook asked.
Isabel smiled confidently and turned to face Hook.
"My name is Isabel Winter. I am a thief, Captain Hook." Isabel answered, holding out her hand for him to shake.
She faltered when her hand was brushed by the curved metal of the hook.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Miss Winter." Hook answered, his tone annoyed that the girl knew who he was.
Having heard Peter's stories, Isabel knew how much blood the hook had spilled. She grasped it awkwardly as she attempted to shake hands. Hook enjoyed the nervousness of the girl and gave her a cruel smile.
"May I ask how you got to Neverland?" Hook asked, prizing the bundle of clothes from Isabel and handing them to a nearby pirate.
Isabel shifted but did her best to hide it. She knew that, if Hook realised she was friends with Peter, she would be in trouble. She thought for less than a second and then let out an easy lie.
"I was kidnapped by Peter Pan. I've stolen something very precious from him and he abducted me so he could make me tell him where I've hidden it. Of course, I escaped and stole his sword."
Isabel drew the sword and showed it to the pirates. Isabel hoped that the false confidence in her tone was enough to get Hook to trust her story. Hook admired the sword as it was waved in front of him. Then Isabel slipped it away.
"And what did you steal?" Hook inquired, casually.
He continued to circle Isabel like a shark. Isabel wanted to turn so she was constantly facing Hook but managed to keep facing forwards, knowing that the greater danger was the gang of pirates.
"You might let it slip to him." Isabel smirked. "And it's a secret."
Hook smiled.
"Oh, but I am very good at keeping secrets, my dear."
"Still if you don't know then that limits the number of people who I have to punish when someone lets it slip to Peter. I am a much more elegant thief than you pirates. I prefer not to kill my victims."
Hook paused and then slipped his arm around Isabel. He made a silent and hidden signal to Smee and began to lead Isabel away from the pirates.
"So why were you stealing clothes?" Hook asked.
Isabel answered that she didn't have any other clothes to the ones she was wearing and would prefer not to dress as one of the Lost Boys. Hook smiled and told her he understood perfectly.
"Well, Miss Winter..."
"It's Isabel." Isabel corrected.
"I would love for you to stay here until you can work out what you are doing to do." Hook said.
Isabel frowned and then had an idea. She didn't want to do it but she didn't feel like she had a choice.
"Well you have a ship and I need to get back to my home. Maybe we could sail there and then I could get out of your way." Isabel suggested.
She needed to get back to her mother and, as close as she was to Peter, he had his Lost Boys to keep him company. Without her, her mother had no one.
"Oh, that is an excellent idea." Hook said. "Just one problem."
Isabel looked at him to find out what the problem was. Hook reached out and snatched Peter's sword from Isabel. He pointed it at her neck.
"I have no intention of leaving Neverland until Pan is dead." Hook informed her.
.
Amba went to push Peter out of the tree. She knew that he should be able to stop himself before he hit the ground but he was constantly talking to Tinker Bell and when she saw another fairy was coming, she had decided enough was enough. The only warning Peter got was what was about to happen was a smirk from Amba as she went to push him in. Then Peter was falling. He managed to stop himself just before he reached the ground and looked up at Amba.
"What was that for?" Peter asked.
"If we are ever going to trick Isabel, you're going to need to stop talking to your fairies." Amba warned him. Peter floated up to join her on the branch once more.
"Actually, I was just informed that Hook has captured someone."
He listened to the fairy who was reporting to him and his eyes widened.
"A thief who was attempting to steal clothes."
He looked at Amba and took off flying through the sky. Amba watched him go, looked at Tinker Bell and then laid back on the branch.
"I can see why you get so annoyed with him." Amba said, staring up at the ceiling of leaves above her.
.
Isabel wasn't being held and hadn't been tied up. She guessed that they hadn't deemed her as much of a threat. She had guessed they had seen through her bravado and guessed she wasn't as good with a sword as she had acted like. She was being watched of course and she was fine with them mistaking her for weak.
She frowned and looked upwards as she saw a shadow appeared in the sails. She recognised the owner of the shadow instantly but didn't say anything. Hook came over, smiling.
"Soon, the fairy I had Smee release will tell Peter Pan of your capture and your friend will come running to save you."
"Firstly, he's Peter Pan – he'll come flying to save me. Secondly, you heard all that stuff about me being a thief and having stolen from Peter. He's not going to be here to save me. He's going to be here to move me to his own prison so he can find out what I stole and where I hid it."
Hook growled in anger at the girl and then looked towards his pirates. He told them to keep an eye out. Isabel rolled her eyes and began to search around. She noticed a sword had been discarded and, since Hook had taken the sword she had been given by Peter, she snatched it up and slid it into the sheaf.
She glanced up and saw that Peter was standing behind the sail, waiting for the right moment to get his sword.
"Hook?" Isabel called.
Hook turned. He was still branishing Peter's sword and, beside him, the pirate Isabel assumed was Smee was holding the bundle of clothes she had been after.
"I was just wondering – do believe in parlay?" Isabel asked. "It gives me the right to negotiate terms
Hook offered her a grin and nodded. He gave the girl a bow and said that if she was willing to fight him that moment he would happily make the deal. Isabel made sure the sword was hidden before she got to her feet.
"Exactly how I am? So I won't even be given a sword?" Isabel said.
She managed to sound scared, almost shaking a little. It gave off exactly the right impression she needed.
"And if I win, I get back the clothes?" Isabel asked.
"Of course, Miss Isabel."
Isabel smirked and nodded. She said how it seemed fair. Hook seemed shocked by the girls acceptance of his terms but drew Peter Pan's sword and told her to draw her own.
"Only I've already taken your sword." Hook teased.
"I'm a thief, remember?" Isabel said confidently.
She spared a glance towards the mast, looking to see if Peter was still there. All the pirates had turned their attention to the two of them and it seemed Peter was using it to sneak down and steal a sword.
"I will warn you, I've fought against two people before and won against one of them." Isabel said.
Hook did not look impressed.
"Who did you lose against?" Hook inquired as their fight began.
Isabel paried his sudden lunge and swung her sword out at him. There was a metallic clash as the swords met and Isabel was quick to pull her sword free before it became a match of brute strength which she knew she would lose.
"Peter Pan." Isabel answered. "I lost agaisnt him several times in fact."
"And who did you win against?" Hook inquired.
He brought his sword down towards Isabel's head and she smirked. He was playing right into his hands. He was not even taking the fight seriously, not wanting to break a sweat in a fight against a girl.
"This six year old friend of mine called Johnny." Isabel answered causally.
Hook let out a laugh and that was when his guard slipped completely. He dropped the tip of his sword. Isabel barreled forwards, slamming into the pirate and knocking him down. Hook grunted as he hit the deck and Isabel managed to stay standing, pointing the tip of her sword at his neck and smiling down at him.
"Or was it the other way around?" Isabel asked.
She turned to Smee and was handed the sack of clothes.
"You got it right the first time." a joyful voice challenged.
Peter Pan was standing over Hook and took his sword back from the pirate. He looked at Isabel and offered her a smile at the ridiculousness of the situation they were in.
"Are we going to stay and fight or are you going to drag me back to your hideout?" Isabel asked, looking at the pirates.
They were moving towards the duo, intent of capturing them. Peter smirked at Isabel as a silent answer and Isabel managed to fix the sack of clothes to her belt so she could fight. Although it would hidden her ability to move her legs, she needed her hands to be free.
The first pirate that dived forwards, went at Peter. Isabel took the second. They both fought in sink but Isabel held back. There was something about the flash of the blade that kept her from going all out. If it had been wooden swords, she wouldn't have had the same restraint.
As a pirate grabbed Peter from behind, Isabel gasped. She was terrified by the idea of Peter in danger. However she snapped out of it and drove her sword forwards, just far enough to cut the hand that was holding Peter. The hand released and Peter turned to deal with the pirate.
Soon the battle was belonging long and tiring. There were only two of them and ever blow the pirates landed slowed them. Isabel was slowed further by the sack of clothes and she could tell deep down that they had no chance of winning, only holding out until someone came to help them. She had no idea how long it would be until then.
Then Isabel came up with a plan.
"We need to make it look like we are enemies." Isabel hissed to Peter as soon as they were close enough to hear each other.
He frowned, his eyes widened. However, he felt as if he could trust her judgement. He knocked down the pirate in front of him and turned to Isabel. Ignoring the pirates, the two began to sword fight. It was one of their practised fights, the ones where Peter would win. They needed him to win. The pirates began to stop, aware that the girl they had believed to be an ally of Peter Pan had suddenly started fighting him. Soon it was only the two of them engaged in their fierce, but fake, battle.
Hook watched the show with slight amusement. He had no intention of letting either of them escape but if they were set on wearing themselves out and injuring each other it only made his job easier. Both seemed to be excellent at sword fighting but Peter had the edge. There was more confidence in his blows and he was clearly enjoying the fight. Although the enjoyment of Isabel was clear, there were certainly a lot less cheers coming from her.
Peter swung his sword low, slowing down the blade so Isabel had time to react. She jumped the sword and landed on the blade, stopping him from using the sword. She then swung her own sword, a bit too high so that, even if Peter hadn't ducked, it wouldn't have hit him. They faked the fight with ease and soon Isabel gave Peter the nod to finish the fight. He lunged forwards, backing Isabel into a corner. Then he placed his sword to her neck.
"Say I won."
"Okay, Pan, you won." Isabel admitted.
Peter smirked at her and then grabbed her wrist. For a moment it looked like Peter was going to throw Isabel to the floor but he stopped and suddenly took off.
Hook growled as the two teenagers took off through the sky, spiralling around.
.
Peter didn't say anything until they had landed just outside of the hide out. He went to storm inside, Isabel stopped to free her sack of clothes and Peter stopped.
"He could have killed you."
"Would have been fun." Isabel answered, smiling.
It was contagious and Peter smiled back. He tried to stay angry but he could see himself doing exactly the same thing. Isabel fished into her bag and produced a pirate's hat. She placed it on Peter's head and then returned to searching through the bag. Slowly, she pulled on a pirate jacket. She checked the material before looking up at Peter. He was watching her, smiling slightly.
"You still want to be my executioner?" Isabel challenged, drawing her sword.
Peter drew his own and the two began to play, just as they had done in the woods near Isabel's house.
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Amba watched the pair from the trees. She had known Peter would come back there. She watched him and Isabel. They seemed to be very good friends and, although she assumed Isabel was angry with Peter, they were both on an adrenaline rush that could last the entire night. She thought slightly about how Isabel would act when she was angry with Peter, smiled slightly at the idea, and then turned to her companion. Sitting beside her, cloaked in shadows in a similar way to Amba, a figure crouched. The figure watched the pair with cunning, dark brown eyes.
"So what are we going to do about this?" she asked.
Her companion leant forwards and smiled, already forming a plan.
