Every crew member grabbed the nearest secure object and hung on for dear life as the ship sailed down the middle of the swirling water. As they sailed down the steep slope the water surrounded them completely, until it was as though they were sailing through a tunnel. The ship began to level off instead of plunging downwards, but still no light or end of the swirling tunnel was in sight. Bolts of lightening streaked the open air above the ship and the water frothed and swirled below, pushing the ship along at an ever increasing speed. The wind so severe it forced tears from the eyes of the terrified crew who were each and every one struggling to hang on and able to do so through sheer panic alone. Finally the ship's speed began to decrease, and the crew felt the shift beneath their feet. The ship seemed to be ascending, higher and higher until they were left feeling as if they were sailing up to the peak of the highest wave in the midst of the most severe hurricane. Nick began to wonder how high the ship could climb when they leveled off again quite suddenly, the bow of the ship briefly becoming exposed then dropping back down into the water violently as the water tunnel closed right underneath leaving the ship in a calm sea.
The crew first took stock of themselves and, after assessing no injuries were had; they inspected the ship for damage that it may have incurred during the voyage. Finding the ship to be unmarred, they began to look around. Above them, a clear sky was now overhead. In the distance the outline of a large island could be seen.
"Is this it, Cap'n? Is this Neverland?" Mr. Smee looked up at Killian who was inspecting the surroundings through his spy-glass. He lowered the gold spy-glass and sucked in a breath, ready to answer but was interrupted by a call from the crow's nest at the top of the mast of the ship.
"Ahoy, mates! We've got something flyin' at us!"
All eyes were in the sky searching for whatever may be flying at them. They could see a solitary, dark object against the mid-day sky flying towards the ship at top speed. It appeared as though the object were going to hurl into the sails of the ship, but it suddenly stopped short and turned upright, floating in the air above the ship above the crew. The crew was bewildered by what the figure could be. The dark figure was that of a person; of that there was no doubt, but this figure did not appear to be solid. The figure floating above them was not quite transparent, but also did not seem to have any mass and it was completely dark except for its glowing white eyes. It glided easily through the air and seemed to dance in and out of the sails. Then, as suddenly as it had arrived, it flew away, heading straight for the large island.
"Hmm. Can't say I remember that chap...Thought he said he was the only one here…" Killian muttered to himself.
"Captain, wha…what was that thing?" Mr. Smee asked, still watching the retreating figure until it could no longer be seen.
Killian held up the spy glass again, also tracking the figure as it disappeared in the tree line of the island. He kept his glass up, watching the island. First he scanned along the thick jungle beginning with the spot where he saw the dark figure disappear; following the tree line until the shore of the island came into his view. He briefly lowered the glass to glance at the island and judge the distance from ship to shore then returned to studying the shore intently.
"Captain, what are you looking for out there?" Mr. Smee implored.
Without lowering the glass, Killian replied honestly, "I don't know, really… just... looking."
After several minutes of scanning each foot of visible shoreline, Killian was about to lower the glass when movement caught his eye. A young boy emerged from the trees and scanned the beach before turning back and calling out with his hand cupped around one side of his mouth. Then several more boys of various ages stepped out of the trees. Killian noticed the boys were generally in a formation, surrounding the largest sized boys who were carrying two boats. Two boys for each boat, with the vessel turned upside down, and carried above the heads of the boys. They marched down the beach, straight into the water until the waves covered their knees. They stopped, and lowered the boats into the water, turning them upright as they did. One boy each stayed with the boats to ensure they would not be swept away, and the other two stepped behind the boats, but still in the water. They faced each other and lined up across from the other and then they turned around so as to face away from each other, with the distance of the two boats' width between them. Once these two were in place, the rest of the boys fell into line beside the first two until all the boys were on one side or the other; all lining up across from the other then turning around. Killian realized they were forming protective walls. Once these boys were lined up, two more emerged from the jungle carrying oars, surrounded by four other boys. These boys joined the wall while the boys with oars headed to the boats, dropping their burden and hurrying back to join the growing wall. Then another group of boys emerged from the jungle and went straight down the "path" to the boats, climbing in. Killian counted seven and could see they were all looking back at the tree line. As Killian's glass followed along the line of boys he could see every last one was looking to the tree line. Just as he focused on the tree line, a young boy stepped out of the jungle onto the shoreline. Killian recognized him as the same boy he had met the first time he visited Neverland. He was the same lad who warned Killian and Liam the plant Dreamshade was really a poison. He was the same young man who pointed out how easy it would be to defeat an army with poison, instead of the sword. The same young man who offered a magical cure for Liam, but warned a price must be paid. Killian had foolishly thought the boy referred to gold. This was the same boy who told Killian he was the only inhabitant of the island. The boy called himself a name Killian would never forget: Peter Pan. Pan did not walk with a group surrounding him, but walked alone down the guarded corridor to the boats. When Pan reached the waterline, the boys nearest the boats closed in on them and shoved them into the water so they could row out, leaving Pan on the shore. Killian watched them row for a few moments before he finally lowered the glass. He looked around and saw many in his crew all watching the same events unfold through their own spyglasses. Mr. Smee did not own a spyglass, and depended on those around him to describe what was happening.
"It would appear the welcoming committee is coming to greet us." Killian answered Smee's concern flippantly. "I wager they'll be here in about twenty minutes."
Soon enough, both boats had pulled up alongside of the Jolly Roger, and the seven boys all climbed over the side, and came to stand on the deck. Immediately they began to spread out. The last boy on the ship, a very tall and wiry boy Nick thought to be about fifteen, remained in place and looked around at everyone and everything with contempt.
"Make way for Pan!" He called out and then stared down the Jolly Roger's crew members one by one until the other would look away.
A young boy of an age Nick guessed to be around thirteen suddenly appeared on the deck in front of the tall boy who was still scowling. He was of medium height, and had a slim build with short light brown hair.
"Who's the Captain of this vessel?" Pan demanded.
"Well now lad, I don't think you're in a position to be making demands." Killian smiled. "In case you haven't noticed, this is a pirate ship...full of pirates who outnumber you three to one."
Pan cocked his head to the side. "I remember you. But… didn't you have a… brother? What happened?" The smile vanished from Killian's face and was replaced with a scowl.
"I'm sure you know." Killian growled in reply while some crew members grumbled.
Pan was the one grinning now. "I do." Then his smile vanished as well. "What are you pirates doing here? Grownups don't belong in Neverland."
"Same as you, mate. I want to stop aging. Only I want to stop growing older so I can find a way to destroy the Dark One." Killian stood with his left arm bent at the elbow so his hook was in front of him.
"What happened to your hand? Felix, look!" Pan turned to look at the tallest of the boys who was still regarding everyone with disdain. "He's replaced his hand with a hook." He turned back to Killian. "Shall we call you 'Captain Hook'?" All of the boys burst out laughing and then chanted "Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook…" They got louder and louder until Pan held up his hand, signaling silence.
"You may call me Captain Jones. Or Killian," Killian smiled hoping Pan would comply.
"I ask again, Hook. What are you and your pirate ship doing here?"
"I've already told you; I'm here to find a way to kill Rumpelstiltskin."
Pan froze for an instant, but Nick saw it. "Is that so?" Pan recovered quickly and appeared nonchalant. "Hmm. Well that's going to be difficult since no one leaves Neverland without my say so." He began to stroll around the deck.
"Oh, I'm not trying to leave, mate. Rumpelstiltskin is the Dark One so killing him won't be easy; the Dark One being immortal. I'm here to live long enough to figure out how to do it."
Pan had made his way around the deck and was again standing next to the tall boy he called Felix. He turned back to Killian.
"Well then I'll leave you to it…But if you come across any boys who do not belong to you, please be sure and return them to me. Lost Boys, let's go." He vaulted over the side of the ship and disappeared from view. All seven of the boys followed suit, with Felix leaving last but not before throwing one last look of scorn at everyone.
No one left on the ship moved or spoke, but those already at the side of the ship turned to watch the two boats slowly move away from them and closer to the island. When the two boats were almost back to the shore, Pan called out in a way that resembled the crowing of a rooster; the sound carrying clearly over the water. Some crew members chuckled, and others began to murmur about what animal sound he might make next but Killian instead was looking around, wondering what the boy could be calling…or summoning. He briefly imagined a gigantic chicken pecking at the ship, but dismissed it as ridiculous.
Killian and all those around him were startled to see two glowing white orbs suddenly appear on the deck from within the shadow of the ship's mast. The glowing globes seemingly floated up from the ground, but brought the shadow with them. The form of a person quickly took shape, and the orbs were its eyes. The same shadow that scouted them before Pan's visit flew up and around the top of the ship once before flying away and disappearing in the thick jungle on the island.
After this, Killian decided to sail around the island, and if possible, map its shorelines. They turned northwest and sailed along the outside of the peninsula that protected the bay Pan and the Lost Boys emerged from and retreated to. The entire point of the island was covered in thick jungle. As the sun was beginning to set, the jungle cleared to an open plain. The crew could see a settlement of people living in dwellings Jules called 'tee-pees'. Killian decided to weigh anchor, and chose some men to go ashore and make contact with the people. Killian was hoping they would prove to be friendly and perhaps offer them some lodging; however they were very stand-offish. The troupe returned to the Jolly Roger within an hour of leaving it. Killian reported he had spoken with their chief, Great Big Little Panther, who did not extend a warm welcome. He indicated that his people are willing to trade with the pirates but that would be the extent of their relationship. As night was now approaching, the ship would remain where it was anchored and resume sailing in the morning.
That night, every crew member was kept awake by the sounds of crying all night long. Wailing, moaning and sobbing could be heard from multiple sources. Hannah struggled not to cry along with them, her heart broken by the sorrow she could hear in their cries. Finally, shortly before dawn the crying finally ceased, the Lost Boys having exhausted themselves could stay awake to mourn no longer and slept fitfully the remaining short hours before the sun would be up.
The next morning, Killian gave the order to continue along the coast line. The island sloped to the northeast, and they passed a sizeable river inlet. Killian recognized the area as the same he and Liam had visited years earlier. In the distance on both sides of the river, mountain peaks could be seen towering above the jungle floor. The coastline slanted eastward and boasted more jungle-filled shoreline before turning back into the island and forming a very small bay. More mountain peaks could be seen just off of the rocky coast.
"Captain, are you seen' this?" Alan asked while inspecting the shoreline through his spyglass. Killian, meanwhile was taking measurements; later while in his cabin he would chart them to create his map. He came to Alan's side and produced his own spyglass to investigate the cause of Alan's surprise. The shore line was quite rocky, and would be impossible to navigate in any sized boat. Killian did not notice anything that seemed out of the ordinary at first. He continued to pan the shoreline, and could almost sense the slight movement he could see almost everywhere he looked. Every visible surface seemed to be moving. The object as a whole was not changing its location, but movement was seen on the object. Killian turned his spyglass to see a little closer what would be causing the coastline to appear to be moving.
"Ugh." Alan spit. "D' you see how it looks like its movin', Cap'n? Is it covered in bugs?"
"No." Killian replied lowering and then collapsing his spyglass against his leg before slipping it into his coat pocket. "They're crabs."
The crew discussed netting some of the crabs and feasting on them for supper, but Killian ended the discussion by saying he did not trust anything this island had to offer yet and no crab fishing would be done by his order. They sailed on and soon found the main coastline turned to the southeast, but to the east laid another, smaller island. Killian was considering sailing between the large island and the smaller one and so he surveyed the waters. He could see dark spots peeking out of the waves that he guessed to be the tops of rock pilings hidden just under the water's surface. Killian decided these waters could be too dangerous to risk losing his ship, and decided to sail around the small island to the east.
The small island proved to be mostly made of rock. The island itself appeared to be nothing more than a giant rock formation with trees growing within the cracks and crevasses. As the ship sailed closer, the crew could make out the formation had three openings so that the island resembled a skull. The mouth of the skull arched over the water forming a cave that a row boat would easily fit through to the inside. The eyes of the skull cave were illuminated from within; visible even in the daylight. Killian naturally sailed closer to the skull rock to get a closer look when he heard the side of his ship being struck repeatedly.
Killian and most of the crew rushed to the side of the ship to see what could be battering the ship and all were astonished to see mermaids. Known throughout all of the seas as heartless, selfish creatures seeking the destruction of man these proved no different. These mermaids were attacking in a formation, rapidly striking the ship in succession, one after another slapping the hull of the ship with their tail using all of their strength. A poorly made vessel would quickly splinter under such force, but the Jolly Roger remained strong. Killian knew it was useless to fight such a large number of mermaids, and so he chose to sail away from them. He quickly maneuvered the vessel back towards the open sea, giving skull island a wide berth. It seemed almost as soon as the ship had turned, the mermaids ceased their attack. Relieved, Killian resumed sailing around the rest of the large island by way of sailing around skull rock and avoiding completely the lagoon the mermaids were defending.
The ship sailed around skull rock and turned to the south. As they sailed past the southern entrance to the lagoon, they could see some of the mermaids sunning themselves on the rocks throughout the lagoon. One of them sat up and began to sing. Most of the men heard a terrible warbling and squawking that did not resemble song in any way. But Jenkins heard the most alluring sound and could not resist her call. Without hesitation, he dove over the side of the ship. So suddenly that he startled those near him, and by the time they realized his intention, it was too late. He was already in the water, swimming to the wonderful singer who seemed to be singing just for him, promising anything he would like if he would come and swim with her. Once Jenkins was half of the distance to his goal, the mermaid stopped singing, and slipped into the water. Shortly after that, Jenkins went under as well. The crew waited for him to come back up, hoping to see his head pop above the water, but each sailor had all heard the terrible tales of mermaids, and knew there was no hope for their shipmate. Killian made a note to give this part of the island a much wider berth from now on. He wouldn't lose another crew member to something he could prevent.
They continued sailing south and came upon what would be the southeastern tip of the island. Here was a grouping of smaller islands that appeared to be nothing more than large rock formations jutting above the water line. Killian and crew sailed around this grouping which shielded two sister-river inlets. The larger of the two inlets was also the furthest south, and was carved along the tip of the peninsula that formed the eastern side of the same bay Pan and the Lost Boys rowed from. Having sailed around the island completely, the Jolly Roger dropped anchor in very near the same spot where they had first arrived.
After spending a few days anchored out at sea, the crew began to grow anxious and asked Killian for permission to row ashore and investigate the island. Killian allowed it reluctantly and with the caveat they steer clear of all plant life containing thorns. Killian recalled from his last visit to the island the deadly plant Dremshade could be found at the highest peak of the highest mountain on the island, but he didn't know if that was the only place it could be found. Killian also insisted a watch be posted on the ship, and a signal system worked out if anyone should be in distress. Finally, Killian indicated he would remain aboard the ship, and he expected his men to behave with good form to all they may encounter, man and beast alike.
It did not take long for both of the ships lifeboats to fill to near capacity with the curious and anxious sailors eager to explore this new island. Killian retreated to his cabin to chart more of his measurements of the island when Nick came in to ask if he could be of any service.
"Nick? I thought you'd be on the island looking for fresh leafy stuff to flavor our meals."
"Nah," Nick replied, "I don't wanna' get mistaken for a Lost Boy, eh? I'll follow your lead, Cap'n. When you go ashore, I'll go wi' you. Then they'll know I'm not one o' them."
Killian was rolling his eyes and was about to reply when they heard someone running down the stairs before throwing open the cabin door.
"Captain!" Alan was panting and looking about frantically. "Come quick! They're sending the distress signal!" He turned immediately after delivering the news and returned to the main deck, with Killian close on his heels. Nick followed too, but not as quickly due to the lame foot. As Nick reached the top of the stairs, he could see all crew members still on board were at the side of the ship facing the island, and some were helping the pirate Roberts back onto the ship after he had rowed back from the island.
"Captain," he panted, "Its Ollie…he was huntin', and the boys attacked him! Now they're all fightin'!"
Killian, Nick, Jules and a few others got in the boat, and rowed to the spot Roberts had pointed out. Killian insisted he stay on board and catch his breath.
Upon reaching the shore, it was easy to hear the scuffle and the new arrivals all jogged the short distance through the jungle. They came upon Ollie and one of the Lost Boys in the middle of a fist fight, which Ollie appeared to be losing. They were surrounded by Lost Boys and less than half of the crew that came to shore initially; the rest must have gone in another direction and not heard the raucous.
"All right, now what is going on here?" Killian demanded, but was ignored entirely by every Lost Boy who was each busy cheering on their compatriot. Killian's crew however did not ignore him. Ollie's best mate Harvard told Killian they intended to hunt, and came across a boar right away. Ollie was quick to get a shot off with his bow, and the result lay dead at the base of a nearby tree. As they were approaching the beast, the Lost Boys came at them from seemingly all directions, but ultimately only Ollie and the one boy fought, and continued still.
"Why has no one stopped this?" Killian was incredulous.
"The boys are insitin' they fight t' th' death." Harvard revealed in a lowered voice. "No one is allowed t' interfere or they say it'll be a war."
Just then, Pan materialized inside of the "ring" formed by Lost Boys and pirates alike and all Lost Boys fell silent immediately.
"What's going on here, Felix?" Pan addressed the same tall boy who came to the ship who still had a look of scorn on his face.
Felix sneered before telling Pan his version of the events. "This pirate was poaching, and Joey caught him so now they're fighting." Felix was quite direct.
Pan looked at the fighters; Joey was panting but in relatively good shape while Ollie was bent over with hands on his knees and a thin stream of red could be seen making its way to the ground. Pan approached them with his arm stretched out.
"Joey, this is not the way we treat our guests. I am very disappointed in your behavior." Pan had reached where Joey was standing and put his outstretched arm around his neck.
"But it's our law. I was defendin' our property." Joey looked solemnly at Pan who was placing his other hand on Joey's chest.
"They are not Lost Boys." Pan looked Joey in the eyes while he sank his hand into Joey's chest. Joey gasped and panted and grabbed ineffectively at Pan's arm. Pan was still looking into Joey's eyes when he pulled his hand out of Joey's chest clutching his glowing red heart. Pan never looked away as he crushed the heart in his hand turning it dust and causing Joey to fall to the ground, dead.
Pan looked down at the deceased boy for a moment before turning back to Killian.
"Please accept my apologies for this bit of…ugliness. Among the Lost Boys disagreements are settled with fights to the death. Your man was, however, poaching. I see his arrow in the beast over there." Pan stepped over to the beast and pulled the arrow out, examining the feathered end. All present could see it was a clear match to the quiver of arrows leaning against a tree very near to where the fighting was taking place.
"Now, I can grant you and your men permission to hunt on the island in exchange for some…errands."
Killian was suspicious, "What kind of errands?" he pressed.
"Oh, just to go here or there and pick up this or that. Work for me, Hook, and you and all of your men can have free access to all the plants, beasts and fresh water the island has to offer. You'll find out soon enough there are no other options out there. How long can you and your men remain at sea without food; a couple of weeks? How long can you stay at sea without fresh water? If you want to gain unlimited access to any of the fresh water sources, you need to have my permission. I will gladly give it if you agree to work for me. Do we have an agreement?"
Killian did not like not knowing exactly what working for Pan might entail, but he was not in a position to refuse. Indeed, there were no known resources immediately available anywhere else and Killian was not a man to sentence his crew to an agonizing and preventable death such as lack of fresh water.
"Agreed." Killian frowned as he said it. Pan's smile was sinister.
"Very good." Pan turned to address the crowd which had grown significantly. "Attention, Lost Boys." Pan had raised his voice to ensure he was heard by all. "From this point forward, Captain Hook and his men are to be considered citizens of Neverland. They are allowed free passage on the island and throughout the Never seas. And from this point forward, Hook and his crew are allowed to hunt the beasts of Neverland."
Killian cocked his head. He didn't like the way Pan said 'this point forward'. Before he could question Pan's declaration the Shadow appeared from out of Killian's shadow and put his hand on Ollie's shoulder and raised his open hand to Ollie's head and closed his fist next to his temple and then began pulling his arm back slowly. Immediately Ollie began grunting in pain and struggled to get out of the Shadow's grasp. An audible ripping and tearing sound could be heard and a visible shadow could be seen held in the Shadow's fist. He held fast to Ollie's shadow and pushed Ollie with his other arm as hard as he could, ripping Ollie's shadow away from his body as he did. Ollie fell backwards to the ground as his shadow was torn away from him. The last thing he saw was the Shadow flying away with his shadow before he collapsed, dead.
"Why the devil did you do that?" Killian was appalled.
Pan shrugged. "He was poaching." He answered simply.
"But you just announced we are free to hunt." Killian countered.
"Yes. And henceforth you are free to hunt. Your unfortunate friend there was hunting prior to having permission, and that is poaching."
Lost Boys began to wander away while a couple of older boys began digging a grave for Joey. Nick looked around but Pan had vanished. Some shipmates bent to carry Ollie's body back to the ship. They would sail out to a point where the island could not be visible, and there they would bury Ollie at sea.
After anchoring for the night, Killian wanted to see what lie beyond the island. Were there any other lands in Neverland? Killian was determined to find out. He commissioned Nick to take an inventory of the supplies aboard the ship to determine how long they could sail before they would need to replenish their essentials. Nick calculated that with rationing they could be at sea for not longer than seven weeks.
Killian turned the ship south and sailed with the island at their backs. The massive island rapidly shrank as they sailed away from it. Within a couple of hours, the island was visible only through a spy glass and soon enough even with the spyglass not a trace of the island could be seen and they were surrounded entirely by the sea. Within minutes of announcing land was not seen to the aft, the cry of 'Land, Ho!' could be heard from the crow's nest. Many raised their own spyglasses, eager to catch their first glimpse of this new land.
As they sailed closer and closer they could see a mostly rocky shoreline with thick jungles and mountains peeking out of the jungle. Killian was scrutinizing the coastline especially closely through his spyglass.
"How can it be?" He murmured.
"What is it, Captain? What's wrong?" Smee was immediately alarmed.
Killian lowered the spyglass and gestured towards land with his hook. "It's the same bloody island!"
"What? What do you mean?"
"It's the same island. Only now we're on its northern shores." Killian held out his spyglass to Smee. "See for yourself. Straight ahead you'll see a very small bay. In that bay you'll see the rocks are covered in cabs. We've sailed to Crab Sound."
They still sailed closer to the island to make sure that it was indeed the same island they had previously sailed around. Killian turned the ship to the west and knew exactly when they would come upon the river inlet. Then he turned the ship south to sail down the coastline and soon enough, the native village came into view.
"What do we do now, Captain?" Smee asked.
"I suppose we see what lies in the other direction. I think its good form to be well acquainted with one's surroundings. If we're to live here we would do well to be familiar with these seas." Killian turned the helm so the ship headed out to sea again, this time sailing west, into the setting sun.
It was well into night when the island came into view again, but a fog had rolled in around the island itself, cloaking it. Killian ordered the ship to drop anchor and they would wait for daylight before moving closer to the island. If Killian's suspicions were correct, and this is the same island, then they would be sailing straight into the mermaid's lagoon. He wanted to confirm his suspicion through his spyglass before moving any closer. Everyone was relieved they could not hear the crying of the Lost Boys.