PrismRain13: *peeks out from behind Christmas Tree* hi guys! Hope you had some happy holidays! Sorry this took so long to get out but between the end of the semester, picking up more shifts at work and Christmas shopping, I really didn't have a lot of time.

Peter Pan: yep, Prism's a busy girl. I keep trying to convince her to stay at Neverland for a break.

PrismRain13: as awesome as that sounds, I don't think Tink would like it if you brought another girl to the island. *sigh* but I wanna go...

Peter Pan: Prism still owns nothing other than the plot and her OCs. Enjoy!

Chapter 38: Straight on till Morning

The journey back to the ship was a quiet one. No one had said a single word to each other since the group had retreated from Hangman's tree. Riku had taken the lead, an unconscious Wendy slung over his shoulder while West and Mushu lagged a few feet behind. The small dragon rested on West's shoulder, worry coating their faces for their friend.

Riku himself remained focused ahead of him. This was it. He was so close to saving Kairi. Just one more princess and Maleficent would get his friend's heart back.

It wasn't long before they reached their lifeboat. Hook's ship could be clearly seen across the waters. Riku gently set Wendy's limp body down at the bottom of the lifeboat, then climbed in himself. West sat down as Riku grabbed the oars and they started to sail back.

Disturbed by the extended silence, West opened her mouth to speak. "So... Nice weather, huh?"

"Yeah, whatever." Grumbled Riku irritably. The three of them immediately returned to silence as the tension continued to rise.

Reaching Hook's ship, Riku didn't hesitate in hauling their hostage over his shoulder and climbing up the ladder. West followed him up as Mushu hid himself in her hoodie. When he arrived to the deck, he swung his legs over the edge, careful not to disturb Wendy. West climbed up shortly after him, stumbling slightly.

"Well, it took yeh long enough." Hook grumbled, striding up to them. However, once he saw Wendy's still body over Riku's shoulder, the pirate captain's expression shifted to a sinister grin. "But it looks like yeh finished the job. Did Peter Pan and his brats give yeah a hard time?"

Riku shook his head. "No, one look at the heartless I sent and they left her wide open." He smirked.

"Wonderful work, lad!" Praised the Captain, pulling out a small golden key from his jacket. "Now, there's another cabin down the hall; you can put our guest there until Maleficent returns." He threw the key towards Riku, who caught it with no effort.

Riku responded with a nod, pocketing the key and opening a nearby door and entering the ship's interior with West following him. Once again, neither one spoke making the walk through the ship seem longer than it really was. Mushu hadn't even come out of his hiding place to talk to them.

The Cabin door was open and located directly underneath Hook's cabin. Inside, it was a fairly simple room with a dresser and two white hammocks behaving as bunk beds. Setting Wendy down on the bed, Riku turned around to leave. But, he hadn't even taken a single step when he heard Wendy stirring.

The young girl slowly pushed herself up in the hammock, goaned and tenderly rubbed the back of her neck. The second she opened her eyes and realized she was in unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people, she gasped in fear.

"W-Where am I?!" Demanded Wendy.

"You're on Captain Hook's ship." Riku responded emotionlessly.

"What?!" She gasped. "No, you have to take me back to Peter, the lost boys and my brothers! Please, I'm the closest thing they have to a real mother! You have to release me!"

Riku responded with a dark scowl. "Yeah, sorry, that's not going to happen! So stop the begging because I'm not letting you leave! Come on, West!"

Before the pigtailed girl could say a single word, Riku grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room. After violently slamming the door, he locked it with the key Hook gave him and stormed off back down the hall.

West stayed behind and watched him leave. She thought about calling out and talking to him about his behavior. But what could she say? West barely noticed Mushu climbing up to her shoulder. Like her, he worried about Riku.

"West?" Mushu mumbled, capturing the attention of the brunette. "Do you think he'll be okay?"

"I dunno." She admitted with a sigh. "I've never seen anything like this before. Sure, I knew people who struggled with the darkness in their hearts before, but it was never this bad. And, I don't want to loose Riku to that darkness either. I don't want to loose my friend."

Through the locked cabin door beside her, West could faintly hear the sound of Wendy crying. The sound was enough to rip West's heart apart with feelings of guilt. Taking a deep breath, the thief gently knocked on the door.

"Wendy?" She called out.

"Y-yes?" The young girl cried.

"Listen, I'm sorry about all this." West said, taking a deep breath. "I know you may not want to talk to anyone, But I know this isn't fair and I want you to know I don't agree with any of it. Don't worry; Your friend will find you."

~*KH*~

When Riku had returned up on deck, he spent his time leaned up against the side of the ship, gazing out towards the ocean. He never thought it was possible, but he was starting to feel a little homesick.

Just simply looking at the tropical island and the calm water was enough to remind him of the Destiny Islands and all the fun times he used to spend with Sora and Kairi. When he first thought about leaving the islands, he had hoped to be traveling with them. But now that Sora had betrayed them and Kairi's heart was lost, that dream was gone.

It was obvious Sora didn't care about them anymore. He cared about the duck and dog more than his old friends. And if Sora wouldn't help Kairi, then he would.

"All hands on deck! Peter Pan ahoy! Approaching off the port bow!" One of the pirates exclaimed.

Riku looked in the direction the pirate was pointing. His eyes widened at the sight of a red-haired, pointy-ear boy dressed in green literally flying across the waters straight towards the ship, covered in golden dust. He was accompanied by a small ball of light, which happened to be a fairy in a green dress. Riku instantly recognized him as one of the boys from the tree he took Wendy from. And he was the one Hook warned him about.

Peter Pan's narrowed eyes shone with determination as he pulled out a sharp dagger and land aboard the ship. The pirates and heartless formed a giant circle around the boy, all ready to attack. But Peter only glared furiously at the others around him.

"All right, you dirty pirates." The boy snarled, pulling out a small dagger from his belt. "Where's Wendy?! I know you took her!"

Summoning Soul Eater to his hands and releasing a small growl, Riku pushed his way past the circle of pirates and heartless. Pointing his weapon towards Peter, the silver-haired teen took his battle stance.

"Sorry, but this is as far as you're gonna get." Riku snarled. He wasn't about to let some flying kid steal the last key he needed to get Kairi's heart back. He was too close.

Peter didn't even seem the slightest bit intimidated by Riku's challenge, pointing his dagger at the silver-haired teen. His fairy companion flew near his head and looked just as eater to fight. "Bring it on! I will take Wendy back!"

Riku didn't hesitate in rushing straight into battle. He swung his blade straight towards Peter, causing some damage. However, Tinkerbell quickly rushed to her friend's aid and healed him with her pixie dust. Angrily, Riku moved to attack again, but the boy easily dodged the attack by flying straight up into the air. Then, he dove straight back down and attacked Riku with multiple quick strikes from his dagger.

He's fast. The fact that he can fly and has that fairy healing him sure doesn't help. Thought Riku, dodging another of Peter's attacks. Looks like I better step up my game.

Jumping out of the way of another attack, Riku summoned a handful of dark energy to his free hand. Then, just as Peter dove down for another attack, Riku threw the darkness straight at him. The blast hit Peter directly in the chest, dealing the finishing blow. The boy gasped in pain as he collapsed to the deck of the ship.

Overpowered with concern, Tinkerbell flew down to help Peter, but before she knew it, they were surrounded by Pirates. The small fairy glared daggers at them but before she could do anything, Peter Pan quickly hid her inside his pocket. The pirates attacked him before he had a chance to do anything. Peter struggled as he felt his hands being tied behind his back, but he was powerless against all these pirates at once.

Riku did nothing but smirk as he watched his opponent being restrained, Soul Eater disappearing from his hands.

"Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise?" Hook stated, striding up beside Riku with a triumphant grin on his face. "Welcome aboard, Peter Pan."

"Shut up you old codfish and let Wendy go!" Exclaimed Peter, struggling against the pirates that tried to stop him from flying away.

"Yeah, not going to happen." Riku retorted. "How did you even know she was here?"

Peter and Riku glared at each other for a few moments that seemed to go on forever. Finally, still glaring, the red-haired boy reached behind him. And, with some difficulty since his hands were tied, threw a golden object at Riku's feet.

"I found that outside my tree after we beat those monsters and we found Wendy gone." Said Peter. "You guys really should be more careful about leaving stuff like this behind; told me exactly where to go."

The silver-haired teen's eyes widened. He immediately recognized the object as one of Captain Hook's hooks; the one West showed she stole from him.

Angrily, Riku turned to the pirates. "Go lock him up!" He ordered the crew. "And make sure he can't escape."

Hook scowled as he and Riku watched the men drag Peter away. "So, taking over the position of Captain, I see." He grumbled while Riku started walking away. "And where are you going?"

"I need to have a little chat with my so-called partner."

PrismRain13: uh oh, looks like things between the trio are tensing up!

Peter Pan: how could you let me get captured?! I could have totally taken all those pirates!

PrismRain13: Because you're supposed to be at the bottom of the ship wher you meet Sora! Relax, you won't be locked up for long.

Peter Pan: *pouty face* fine, but I better be the first one you write about for the next chapter.

PrismRain13: Fair enough. See you guys next time! Remember to review and vote on my poll if you want to see a Frozen-based world in Reconnected or it's sequel!