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I watch the tall, bulky pirates as they swipe and slash at the small boys, thinking it's hardly fair for the opposition, but I'm not on their side. The cry of a child chills my spine so I whip around to see one of the Twins kneeling over his other half, tears trickling down his face. Then his soft complexion hardens and I freeze. He slowly turns around and launches himself at me, weaponless, but with enough force to knock me over. I sprawl on the hard wooden deck, the breath knocked out of me as the boy goes to retrieve his sword. I look around in panic, knowing I won't get up in time.
Where's the Doctor when I need him?
Not here.
I hear the shouts of the pirates and the screams of the small boys battling it out on the pirate ship. It's like I've stepped into a book or something; am I sure I'm not dreaming? Will I wake up in France in my bed after a nice dream? Or in my coffin?
No. This is all too real- the other half of the Twins, blinded by fear, making his way across the deck towards me, a revengeful look in his eyes; Starkey turning my way with horror on his face. Starkey launches himself on top of me in the most ungentlemanly of manners just as the boy thrusts his sword down. I feel Starkey's body on top of me tense and then flop down, lifeless. A high pitched scream resounds around the deck and everyone turns- I realise the noise is coming from my own throat. Jukes whips around and looks from the guilty child to the dead body of Starkey and then to me, horror and sadness etched on his face. He pulls the limp body off me and I stagger to my feet, unaware of my actions. Tears involuntarily cascade down my cheeks and on to the deck; a sob racks my body as I realise a good man has died in my place.
The Doctor leaves his own battle to comfort me but I stagger backwards, unable to feel anything right now. I call for silence:
"A good man has just died- the kindest, most polite man I've ever met. A boy has lost his twin-his other half, his life, his soul, the only person who understands him. How many more people have to suffer or die? This is what happens in myths and legends and everyone dies but maybe, just this once, everyone can live. How about that? How about we just shake hands and you boys can go back to the island and we'll stay on this ship. We've lost equal. Don't you see? Please leave," I gesture for the boys to go and some of them start to move. From the shadows I hear a voice- the low, rasping voice that has narrated most of my nightmares:
"Yeah, boys. Why don't we just admit defeat and give up. Why don't we?" I realise Peter Pan is not in the shadows but up in the sail. He floats out- flying like it was second nature- and jeers at us. "You think we really would run away? I don't think so Reinette, Madame du Pompadour, WHATEVER!" a tinge of madness creeps into his voice. He plays tricks on us, flying between the sails, creating shadows over there when he's really right behind us. "I'll give you a fight, what do you say? If I win, we get the pirate ship. If you win you get the island. Fair?" I nod as the Doctor rushes forward.
"Reinette, you can't do this," he gasps, fear in his wavering voice. "You're not only playing with your life, but also the rest of us. What will happen then, eh? What will happen to good old Jukes and Noodler and the others? Me? Think about it."
"I've already said yes, though. Thanks for everything." A tear drops from my chin to the floor and I turn to face Pan. His green outfit is dirtier than before but he still looks the same. I pick up a sword from the floor and take stance, preparing myself for this battle.
"Are you ready to get beaten?" he asks as he thrusts his sword my way. I defend myself rapidly. Then I let the boy in green advance, build up courage as a I back into the shadows. I suddenly launch myself at him- he is not expecting it and is slow reacting. I am nearly upon him- am nearly victorious- when he rises up into the air, supported by nothing but the light sea breeze. The boy dives and swoops spectacularly and I have to give him credit for his skill in this area, but I know how to trap a child- I used to help out in the nursery when I was a teenager.
"Peter, I'm too tired now," I gasp, breathing extra heavily. "I can't take it any longer." The pirates watch me in disgust, thinking that I'm just walking them down the path of defeat. Pan floats gracefully to the ground.
"You mean I win?" he asks, a look of delight on his face.
"Yeah. You were great, but you cheated and I can't fly. I suppose I'll have to admit defeat," I say sullenly. His face droops.
"I want a fair fight. I don't want an advantage," he sighs. "I'll have to give you the ability to fly as well to make it fair. Tinkerbelle!" he calls for the blonde fairy. I smile- now I have an advantage- I will be able to fly. The yellow speck of light floats towards Peter and after hearing his whispers, she flies over to me and reluctantly sprinkles fairy dust onto my head. I feel weightless like a feather and look down to see I am a metre above everyone else! I laugh in glee and twirl in the air- it's easier than it looks. I look down at the Doctor and he grins back up at me.
"Now we're fair Pan, it's for victory."
We float parallel to the sails, the birds nest behind him and the crowd watching from below. I slowly force Peter into the birds nest by pointing my sword at him and advancing. He rolls around the beam, avoiding my sudden lunge narrowly. Then he falls against it, catapulting back with such force that I'm taken by shock and dive downwards instinctively. However, the first blood of the battle has been shed as his sword grazed my ankle. Only a graze but still bleeding.
Pan flies upwards into the open air, way above the ship. I follow in his trail and face him. "You sure you want to do this?" I ask, using one of the Doctor's phrases he taught the rest of the crew.
"More than anything," he replies, smiling.
The boy in green launches himself at me suddenly. It comes with no warning and the speed and strength of it is terrifying. His blade flashes in the moonlight and I feel a sharp pain in my stomach and a sinking feeling. Seconds later I hit the deck with a thud and Peter Pan lands beside me, a triumphant smile on his face.
