"Prince Wyatt! Prince Wyatt!"
"SilverBell! What's wrong? Is it the boys?" The fairy shook her tiny head.
"I can't hear them calling anymore but sir, I just saw your mother disappear into the woods with that boy!" Wyatt's eyes narrowed and Farrah looked anxious.
"What did he say to her? Did you hear?"
"He told her he was looking for Princess Addy. That you had upset her and she ran away and he is now looking for her."
"Damn it," Wyatt muttered, glancing at Farrah.
"I told you we should have bound and gagged her," she said, shaking her head.
"Yeah that would have gone over great. Especially with Dad."
"Dad's not here, is he? And now Mum is gone! Wyatt we have to keep her away from him! Especially if what Uncle Nibs said is true. And I trust him."
"Me too. Alright, let's go find our sister and bring her home, kicking and screaming."
"Concentrate Peter." He squeezed his eyes shut and scrunched up his face.
"I AM," he said irritatedly. "I have been concentrating. Nothing Lily! Nothing is coming back. What did Tinkerbell DO to me?"
"She was trying to protect you," she said soothingly. "You cannot blame her for that. She always had your best interests at heart."
"I know that," he huffed. "Still, I wish she had involved me in her decisions. There's a lot I don't remember. I'm lucky she saw how much I needed Wendy or I fear she would have taken my memories of her too." His throat tightened and he tried to swallow. A terrible thought entered his mind, one where Tink had erased all memory of Wendy and Peter had never returned to see her. Too much like the alternate reality he had visited years ago. He shook himself and Lily blinked.
"Ready to try again?" He exhaled and nodded.
"Alright. Clear your mind. Think about those times you flew around with Tinkerbell. How carefree you felt. Free your mind. Focus." Peter allowed his mind to wander, until he heard the soft jingle of bells near his ear.
"Tink?"
Let's go, Peter! Race you to the Falls!
Lily leaned back and watched Peter as he held out his arms, as if he were flying, and a broad smile crossed his face. She crossed her legs and continued to watch him as he encountered whatever fantasy in his mind.
"Tink! Tink! Tinkerbell, come on, I give up ok?"
"HA! Knew you would! I'm still a better hider than you." He screwed up his nose.
"You're like an inch tall. Not hard to hide."
"I'll get you for that!" Laughing, he tore off across the sky with the fairy chasing him. He glanced down and saw he was hovering over the Never Sea.
'Peter, let's stop for a moment." He turned and frowned.
"Why?"
"I want you to meet someone." She angled her body downward and took off toward a giant ship. He followed warily, biting his lip as they came closer to the ship. He stayed away from most humans. The boys who appeared on their shores were different. He called them Lost Boys, for they were really lost when they appeared here. He had built a home and told them he would watch after them. They didn't need any grown ups or rules. It was how Peter liked it.
Tink whistled to Peter and pointed up. They appeared over the deck and Peter followed, freezing in mid-air and gasping loudly. Tink was standing in a man's palm, her wings fluttering quickly. The man was tall and handsome, with black curls a red plumed hat he held in his other hand. He noticed Peter and gave him a little bow. Peter's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Hello Peter. I'm James. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"What makes you think my name is Peter?"
"Well that's what Miss Bell told me," he gestured to the fairy in his hand. Peter's brow furrowed even further.
"You can talk to fairies?"
"Miss Bell has been working with me for some time now. I understand a little. Would you both like to join me in my cabin for lunch?" Tink looked back at Peter and smiled.
"Come on Peter, it'll be good for you."
"How? How is this good for me?"
"You need someone to talk to!"
"I talk to plenty! The mermaids, the Lost Boys, the fairies, the dragons, the gryphons…"
"I mean to people, Peter! You need some…men in your life." Peter screwed up his face at the word and James chuckled.
"Well then. You were right, Miss Bell. It will take a long time for the lad to trust me."
"I don't trust grown ups."
"And how many have you met," he said delicately. Peter's eyes narrowed and he mouthed wordlessly. How many had he met afterall? Was he not a baby when Tink had carried him off to Neverland? The Pan was a man, it was true, but that was the only one he had really met. His head lowered and James waved his hand.
"It's alright if you are distrustful, Peter. But I ask you to get to know me before you judge me. If I give you a reason to distrust me, by all means, I will not blame you for your feelings. All I ask is that you give me a chance." He gestured toward his cabin and Peter landed on the deck. James gave him a kindly smile and Tink turned back to him, her hands on her hips.
"Really Peter? You're going to turn down food?"
"Be quiet, Tink," he spat.
"Come lad. Tell me more about yourself." Peter settled himself across the table and James poured him a glass of water. His mouth watered as he looked upon the feast and James gave him another smile.
"Help yourself to whatever you like. My men prepared this feast and it is far too much for one captain."
"So why did they prepare it for you?"
"Because I am Captain," he said simply, shrugging. Peter took a bite of bread and leaned back in his chair.
"How did you get here? Neverland is hard to find."
"Neverland? Is that what you call it?"
"Well, it's what the fairies call it."
"Why is it called that, I wonder?"
"Maybe because we never grow up. I didn't really question the name."
"It just sounds magical, doesn't it," James said gleefully, taking a sip from his goblet.
"What are you drinking?"
"Rum. Far too strong for a young lad like you."
"Nothing's too strong for me. Give it here." James smiled and passed him the goblet. Peter swirled the contents around and peered in. Taking a deep breath, he put it to his lips and nearly gagged. He handed the goblet back to James and the captain said nothing. Peter took another bite of bread to get rid of the taste.
"To answer your question, my men and I took a wrong turn in a storm and found ourselves on these strange shores. We have been sailing back here for some time now and one of my cabin boys was tossed overboard. He was rescued by a woman in the sea. A mermaid, I discovered. I was so grateful to her, I offered her whatever she liked from my treasure chest. She had saved my boy's life."
"You can speak mermaid?"
"I wasn't aware it was a different language," he said lightly. "She spoke like a normal human."
"Guess she trusted you," Peter said, picking up his glass He knew the mermaid James spoke of. Very well, in fact . She had told him her story about saving a human boy some time ago. "They don't trust too many people. And I've heard stories about how they drown sailors." James nodded.
"I've heard them too. My men were terrified of these strange shores and many deserted me. I gave them the chance to leave when I returned here. Not many like to sail around unknown waters. Sailors are not fond of uncertainty or the unknown but me I look it like an adventure. Brand new waters to be explored. So many adventures to be had." Peter leaned forward eagerly, in spite of himself.
"Is that why you became a sailor? To have adventures?"
"Aye it is. I was a cabin boy myself when I was young. Spent my whole life on the sea. Learned to captain a ship when I was just a boy and took to the sailor life right away. We were attacked by pirates a few months back and they took everything we had. Now we sail with very few belongings. I have no complaints though. As I said, I'm in it for the adventure." Peter smiled and his head whipped around when the door opened.
"James I'm sorry to interrupt but I wanted to bring in dessert before those swine get to it." James laughed and lowered his goblet.
"Come in Evan and meet our guest. Peter this is Evan, the boy I was just telling you about. Evan, this is Peter. He is a native of this island."
"Pleasure," Evan said softly.
"You were the one thrown overboard?" Evan looked quickly at his captain, then lowered his head.
"Aye I was. A woman saved me."
"You mean a mermaid?" Evan's head shot up and his eyes widened.
"You know about them too?"
"Course I know about them. They're my friends. And it was my best friend Reyna who saved you." Evan's eyes softened as he looked up at Peter for the first time.
"They're so beautiful. And your friend is…she's the most wonderful being I have ever met."
"She's pretty great. She must have seen something in you, to save you like that."
"You actually live here? You see them all the time?"
"All the time. They live in Mermaid Lagoon and love when I tell them stories. I have plenty of adventures to tell them about."
"Peter is the Prince of this island," James said softly and Evan gaped at the boy.
"Prince? Like the Prince of England?"
"I don't know about that but that's what the fairies call me," Peter shrugged. "The Prince of Neverland. They gave me powers but…I'm not too great at using them."
"I'm sure that's not true," James said wiping his hands on a napkin in his lap. "You just have to learn to control them, like anything else in life. There always has to be some sort of control."
"Well I can't control them. I wish they would just take them back. They're stupid."
"What can you do," Evan said eagerly.
"Evan," James said sharply and Evan jumped. "You can return to the boys and give them supper, alright?"
"Yes sir," he muttered before rushing out of the cabin. Peter blinked in surprise.
"The boy is eager and powerhungry. Watch what you say around him, Peter. I have kept a close eye on him because I have heard him trying to rally my crew around him to commit mutiny. I like him best out of my boys though."
"Why? If you know he wants to mutiny against you?"
"He has fire and I like fire. I respect him. I want to teach him, to help him take control of his destiny. He fascinates me, much like you do."
"Me?"
"Why does that surprise you?"
"I dunno. I'm pretty great, I know that, but I didn't think a grown up would think so. You like rules and control…and I don't."
"Rules and control only constrict you when you allow them to. Take this feast here. If you keep eating and eating and ignore the fact that you are full, you will suffer from a stomachache for the remainder of the night. I am sure you show some sort of control on your everyday life." Peter frowned while James sliced the chocolate cake Evan had brought in.
"I hadn't thought of it that way."
"I believe that is why Tinkerbell wanted to introduce the two of us. Because I look at life with a different perspective and we may yet teach each other." Peter fell silent and didn't eat much after that. When James was finished, he wiped at his mouth with the napkin and stood.
"I should be off to check on the rest of my boys. Need to make sure they are eating properly, especially since a few of them have been ill. Nice to see you again, Miss Bell. And Peter, it was wonderful to finally have met you." Peter merely nodded and watched James shuffle out of the cabin. Just as James was crossing the deck, Peter ran to the door.
"Can I come back tomorrow so we can talk some more?" James blinked in surprise and Tink smiled from Peter's hair.
"I would like that very much, Peter." The boy nodded and took off into the air without looking back.