Chapter Ten

The Black Castle

Thunder and lightning flashed through the sky as Hook's boat slowly floated through the gate of the Black Castle. The boat consisted of Hook, Smee, another pirate, Ayiesha, Kanye, and Fala. Ayiesha shuffled around constantly in motion. Fala, placing his hand on hers, calmed her spirits. She knew she would be okay since Fala was there and most likely Peter would come to rescue them.

"Fala?" Ayiesha asked.

"Yes?" Fala replied as he looked through her eyes.

"What does your name mean?" Fala laughed and looked up in thought.

"Well . . . my name is the description of the woman that I will marry." He explained. Ayiesha's eyebrows lifted.

"What is it?" She asked curiously. Fala gave a heavy sigh.

"Oh . . . I don't know. I really shouldn't say."

"Oh . . . all right. Well, how about a different question." She suggested.

"Go on." He confirmed.

"What you said in your language . . . what did you really say?" She asked.

"I said he was a dirty pig and had too much hair." He explained with a smirk. Ayeisha smiled slightly. "Ayeisha?" She looked at him. "I know that my tribe would have liked you. I just wish you could have met them." Ayiesha smiled.

"Really? Well that's a compliment I'll take to my grave." She gave Hook a look of hatred as she said but was mocking in a way. "Besides, dying is probably better than staying captives for Hook any time." She said. "Hook." She repeated to herself, then looked at Hook himself. "What was your mother's name? Fish? 'Cause then her name would be 'Fish Hook'. Get it? Fish Hook?" She looked at Fala and Kanye who were both laughing at her joke. Hook cocked his gun and quickly pointed it at Fala. Startling both Ayiesha and Fala they hugged each other in fear.

"Awww . . . how cute! The two little Indians are saying goodbye!" Smee observed. Noticing this as well, Fala and Ayiesha looked at each other and pulled apart quickly, returning back like nothing happened.

"Like all surprise attacks, it must be conducted improperly. Put the children on the rock." Hook ordered as they all filed out onto the rocks before them. Smee immediately gagged them each and clapped shackles around their wrists.

"Sorry your highness." Smee apologized for seeing Fala wince because the gag was too tight. "Any last words? Beg for your lives." Ayiesha held her head high.

"Just because my sister and I are girls doesn't mean we'll do whatever it is you ask of us!" Ayiesha yelled as best she could through the gag around her head. Kanye stared at her sister wide-eyed as she held Teddy in her arms only to have it taken away from her as he too was shackled.

"Ayiesha, stop trying to be all high and mighty! We all know you don't wanna die. You just can't be woman enough to show it!" Kanye yelled at her. "Please! Please, don't kill us!" Kanye fell to her knees as she begged. Giving in, Ayiesha fell to her knees begging along with Kanye.

"Please, don't kill me, either! I haven't done anything wrong! You have no right to–! Ooh! That's cold! The waters cold!" Smee and the other pirate dropped the children in all at once making them all gasp for air.

"Help!" Kanye screamed. Fala looked up to the sky.

"Peter, come on, fly to the rescue. You always do." Fala said to the sky.

"Yes." Hook said causing Fala to look up at him. "Then I'll shoot you right through your noble intentions." Hook slyly hoped.

Peter and Cree flew secretly to the Black Castle to rescue Cree's sister's and Peter's friend Fala. Peter landed first followed closely by Cree as he took out the swords handing one to Cree.

"I brought these." She slowly took hold of the sword bringing back good and bad memories. "Can you use it?"

"Yeah, I'm just a little rusty. Refresh my memory. On guard!" Cree got in her beginning stance.

"Humph! On guard, yourself!" Peter thrust forward being easily blocked by Cree who fought him effortlessly. "Good! You should be fine on your own. Promise me one thing."

"Anything." Cree said as she practiced more fencing skills. "You found out where my sisters were."

"Leave Hook to me." He said.

"I promise." She promised.

"Good. Wait here for my signal!" He yelled after her as her flew off to find her sister's and Fala. Flabbergasted, Cree stumbled through her words.

"Wha–?! Wa–?! Wait here?! Peter!" She screamed. Hearing her echo she flinched quickly finding a spot to hide. She breathed her hardest when Hook appeared as he searched the place. Thus Cree first laid eyes on the dark figure who haunted her stories, she saw the piercing eyes and was not afraid, but entranced.

Meanwhile, Peter made his way into the castle without being seen hiding above them in the claws of a crocodile statue, watching Smee and the other pirate leaving the girls and prince to hang there on their boats.

"Mr. Smee?" Peter said disguising his voice as Hooks causing Smee to look around.

"That you, Cap'n?" Smee asked the cave walls as he searched them.

"Brimstone and gall, man. What do you think you're doing?" Peter asked his voice echoing off the walls. Smee stopped the boat standing up still searching the walls for him.

"Well, we've put the children on the rock, Cap'n, like you said." Smee announced proudly.

"Set 'em free!" Peter ordered.

"Set 'em free?!" Smee repeated. "Well, what about your trap?"

"Set them free, or I'll plunge my hook in you!" Peter said sounding angry when he was really near tears because of laughing so hard.

Cree had heard the signal but had nowhere to go. She was still hiding from Hook as he searched the rocks across the way from her. She was getting a cramp in her leg so she moved slightly. The movement moved her sword against the rocks making a scraping noise while she resituated herself. Hook quickly turned and slowly walked over to her spot. Cree quietly crawled farther into the bed of rocks just in time to disappear as Hook looked in her old hiding place. Losing patience he groaned and walked back over to where the children were supposed to be, walking down the stairs he ascended to find Cree.

"I don't know what he wants with 'em. I'm just a blithering idiot aren't I? Chain 'em up. Let 'em go." Smee complained unlocking the shackles around everyone's wrists. Fala smiled beckoning them to swim up to the surface and hide behind a rock out of sight. From where they were standing they could see Peter lying down on his back in the claws of the crocodile statue doubled over in laughter.

"Quickly, behind here, he's coming." Fala whispered as he saw Hook's shadow.

"Mr. Smee?" Hook sighed.

"Aye, Cap'n?" Smee answered.

"Any sign of him?" He asked. Smee shook his head.

"No, Cap'n." Hook exhaled deeply stopping abruptly seeing that the children have gone.

"Where are the children?" He asked. Smee smiled.

"It's all right, Cap'n, we let 'em go."

"You what?" Hook asked as he slowly stood up.

"We let 'em go." Smee repeated smiling ever so big looking back and forth at Hook and the pirate beside him. Hook weakly chuckled.

"You . . . let . . . them . . . go." Hook repeated to them slowly. Smee's smile faded as he noticed that he had been tricked. Hook took out his pistol and shot in Smee's direction. But it shot the other pirate resulting in him belly-flopping into the water dead.

"Mr. Smee!" Peter yelled louder than before trying to keeping back his laughter.

"Aieeeeee!" Smee squealed like a little school girl who's seen a bug or toad. Hook searched the walls.

"Who are you stranger?" Peter scoffed.

"I am James Hook, Captain of the Jolly Roger." He replied. Hook cocked his rifle already knowing who it was he just had to follow his voice to find him.

"If you are Hook, then who am I?" He asked.

"You?" Peter thought. "You . . . are a codfish." Peter's laughter leaked a little but was quickly stopped by Peter clasping it shut.

"Tell me, Hook, have you another name?" Hook asked.

"Aye." Peter replied.

"Vegetable?"

"No."

"Mineral?"

"No."

"Animal?"

"Yes." Peter turned onto his stomach to look at him.

"Man?"

"No!" Peter screamed in his own voice.

"Boy?"

"Yes!"

"Ordinary boy?" Hook asked as he looked around above the statues.

"No!"

"Wonderful boy?" Hook turned to find Peter lying down in the claws of the statue putting his finger on the trigger aiming it.

"Yes! Do you give up?" Peter said standing up.

"Yes!" Smee said dancing in his boat impatiently.

"I am–!"

"History." Hook finished. Cree walked in hearing the signal to see Hook behind Peter with a rifle pointed in his direction.

"Peter, look out!" Cree screamed. Looking behind him Peter saw Hook, quickly flying out of the way as Hook pulled the trigger.

"Ha, ha!" Peter laughed.

"There he is!" Smee pointed out to Hook.

"It's your requiem mass boy." Hook said as he met Peter down closer to the water unsheathing his sword. Peter did the same crossing blades with Hook.

"Ready to lose another one?" Peter asked glancing down at Hook's one remaining hand.

"No this time." Hook told him. And so was the beginning of their dual. Cree was getting backed up into a corner by a pirate chuckling at her helplessness. Lifting his sword up in the air was enough chance to get her sword in the way of blocking it.

"Ooh-ooh, girlie." He chuckled. Cree drove her heel into his foot making him scream in agony.

"Who are you to call me 'girlie'!" Cree screamed angrily. She pushed him into the water then saw Peter and Hook fighting each other not looking like anyone was winning or losing. Peter was laughing clearly acting like he was winning. He flew above Hook kicking at Hook's head forcing it forward dragging the rest of his body around in the air landing on his back on rock.

"Ooo, that must've hurt." Cree noticed

"Open the gate!" Cree looked over the gate to see Kanye, Ayiesha, and an Indian boy that must've been the Prince. Fala was trying to open the gate but he wasn't strong enough. Even with Ayiesha's and Kanye's help didn't make it budge once.

"Kanye! Ayiesha, look out behind you!" Cree screamed over to them. The pirate she had just defeated had swum over to the gate and tried to sneak up behind them. Ayiesha moved out of the way putting Kanye in danger of the blade that was coming near her. Kanye flinched putting Teddy in front of her causing the blade to slice the head off of Teddy.

"Teddy!" Kanye hugged it then looked at the pirate kicking him between the legs making him fall back into the water once more.

"We're never going to get out of here! How in the world are we going to get this gate to open?" Ayiesha complained plopping herself next to Fala who was in deep thought.

"It's you." Fala said looking at the ground his eyes wide. Ayiesha scrunched up her forehead in confusion.

"What's who?" She asked. Fala stood up pulling her up as well smiling.

"You! It's you!" He exclaimed.

"What's me?" She asked still confused.

"My name . . . it's you." Fala said as he squeezed her shoulder's smiling. Ayiesha's face turned from confusion to surprise.

"Me?" She asked. Fala nodded smiling. "Me . . . huh . . . are you sure? I mean it couldn't be–!" She was cut off as Fala shook his head and dove in to kiss her. Everyone was mesmerized by their presence as they kissed each other. They all stopped fighting and stood there just looking at them. They slowly pulled away. Ayiesha looked at Fala surprised.

"Now would be a good time to say something." Fala chuckled.

"Yeah, but I don't want to." She said smiling at him. She threw her hands around him and she kissed him back. Kanye was the only one who wasn't "mesmerized." Hook thought he'd take the chance he had and held up his sword.

"Peter! Look out behind you!" The result of her abrupt screaming caused everyone to snap out of their trance and look toward Peter and Peter looked behind himself quickly blocking Hook's unexpected blow. That then abruptly made Fala and Ayiesha pull away from each other noticing that this was not a good time to do what they were doing.

"C'mon! We need to open this gate!" Fala said as he ran over to the lever. Ayiesha and Kanye followed and they opened the gate easily panting as they let go of the lever.

"If I were you, I'd give up." Hook suggested to Peter.

"If you were me," Peter's blade crossed with Hook's again, "I'd be ugly." He saw that the gate was open and Cree, Ayiesha, Fala, and Kanye were climbing into the boat motioning for Peter to come over to the boat. Peter then flew over Hook thinking his work here was done. But unexpectedly, Hook quickly grabbed Peter's ankle forcing him to fling back into Hook and getting put into a headlock.

"No!" Cree screamed as she looked in horror. The pirates scrambled around getting the canon ready.

"Ready?" Hook asked once they had finished. "Fire!" Hook threw him into the air making him spin uncontrollably into the canon net wrapping around him completely. The weight caused him to fall into the water to drown. He took out his dagger that he had on his person cutting at the ropes to free himself but soon gave up to no progress.

"Turn the boat around!" Cree yelled, diving into the water and coming back up to the surface. "Turn it around!" She made it back under water finding Peter clearly having trouble getting free from the ropes. Cree sliced the ropes with her sword allowing him to swim to the surface with her to get air. Coughing, Peter gasped for air collapsing his top half of his body on the ground while the bottom half was resting in the water. Peter looked over at Cree who was looking up at something . . . or someone. He slowly looked up seeing Hook. Cree swallowed still gasping for breath.

"I have a plan." Cree whispered to him not letting Hook hear what she was saying. "Stay here while I get it ready." And she dunked under water not to be seen again . . . or so people thought.

"Stay here?!" Peter exclaimed looking after her. "Ah!" Hook grabbed the throat of Peter making the fight for air much more difficult for him. Dropping him, Hook cowered above Peter like a vulture over his prey his hook ready to slice him to pieces. He slowly but surely cut through his skin on his chest making Peter groan in pain feeling the blood ooze from the fresh cut.

"And now, Peter Pan, you will die." Peter glanced over past Hook seeing Cree swimming as fast as she could, holding a piece of raw meat.

"To die will be an awfully big adventure." Peter said smiling. Hook grinned lifting his hook in the air about to plunge his hook in him. He stopped abruptly when he heard the oh -so-familiar ticking noise.

"Oh, no." Hook groaned as he turned around seeing the crocodile that had eaten his hand and hunted him down for the rest of him. "Shoot it!" He screamed desperately. The pirates ran into the water shooting at the crocodile on the way. Hook was pleased seeing his plan go to full bloom. He lifted his once more thrusting his hook toward where Peter was. But he wasn't there. Confused, Hook turned around to where the gate was. What he saw was not his hope. He saw Peter on the boat standing next to Cree who was soaking wet and smiling.

"Have fun with that croc, Hook!" Cree yelled, throwing a piece of meat in Hook's direction making the crocodile find where Hook was. Peter bowed and they saluted. The children laughed as Hook screamed running away from the crocodile. He climbed into the claws of the statue looking vilely at Cree pointing at her.

"You." Cree bowed, smiling and waving goodbye to him as the gate slammed shut. "Smee! Smee!" Trapped inside, Hook was helpless as his companions were outside the gate.

"It's all a bit tragic, really, isn't it?" Smee suggested.

They made their way to the village where Fala lived explaining to his father, the chief, what had happened and that Cree, Ayiesha, and Kanye had been brought here by Peter and could be trusted. The chief had proposed, then, a celebration of their victory. Fala brought his father to Kanye who held Teddy mournfully.

"What is the matter child?" He asked Kanye. Kanye looked up at him and wiped away her tears.

"My teddy's head got chopped off." She sniffled back. The chief nodded and beckoned for his wife.

"Heal this, uh, wounded warrior." He ordered. She nodded as she got a needle and string. She chanted as she sewed slowly. Slightly sat down beside Kanye translating what the chanting meant.

"The warrior is wounded." Slightly translated. "She is calling forth the spirit of the eagle to heal the warrior. It's so impressive." After about five minutes the chanting had ceased. "The warrior is healed." The wife held Teddy proudly before Kanye and everyone showing that it was put back together. Kanye examined it carefully, carefully taking it into her hands then seeing that it was put together to her needs, she squeezed it smiling. Seeing this, they all cheered which started the celebration.