A/N:

TRIGGER WARNING

Mentions of forced starvation, forced dehydration, and vague mentions of physical assault to a minor are included. Please do not read if these conditions may affect you or your mental health. To those whom this applies, a chapter summary will be included at the bottom.

!

A light breeze brushed against Peter's hair, forcing wisps of hair to float amidst the gusts of wind. Peter bowed his head. The bags that had taken readily to his face sunk lower underneath his eyes. The sun rose over the ocean horizon, creating crystal shimmers across the water. Peter laid himself back lazily. He stretched his arms and legs into the folds of the sand.

He breathed deeply, feeling clear air fill his lungs. He gave a measured exhale. Peter repeated. That was all he could do to keep himself calm. Focused.

They would have a lot to do over the next few days, the group of them. Hasty preparations were underway, orders had been given. All Peter could do was wait. Wait for the next crucial actions that could potentially decide Margaret's fate. The fairies said they'd visit Margaret to try and heal her as much as they could, but Peter had been warned they wouldn't be able to do much. Peter would be burdened with carrying her in their rescue if that was deemed necessary.

Images of Margaret in her cell, battered from a savage beating, swollen…Peter closed his eyes and gulped back the tears. He wouldn't allow himself to lose sight of what was important. Getting Margaret out was priority number one. If it hadn't been earlier, it sure was now. They couldn't afford to risk what could happen next. The pirates could choose to do anything to her and everyone would be defenseless to stop them. Trying to imagine the horrible things they had in store for her—

Peter stopped his train of thought and breathed. He sat up. There was no use in staying here, psyching himself out, when he could do more to help prepare. The Lost Boys would need the latest update on all the weapons required for the rescue. With one last desperate look at the Jolly Roger, Peter lifted himself from the ground and flew to the hideout.

!

Margaret sat in a corner, her legs closely huddled to her. Margaret pressed a swollen lip to her knees. She kept her eyes locked on the door to her cell. Her eyes followed the guards that paced in front of it. Sparks of fire nearly raged at the sight, but Margaret kept her mouth shut.

Her eyes roamed the cell once more, trying to pinpoint any debris that she hadn't spotted before. So far, she collected a tiny nail that wouldn't be useful for anything substantial. She would've tried using it to possibly unscrew something or dig a hole but…she didn't want to think fo the bodily pain she'd have to endure to do that. Although, if she could find something to pry to the bars open, she'd readily experience any pain to…well, it wouldn't do anything. The opening would be too small and Margaret wouldn't be able to climb through it. Prying the door to her cell open was another option. However, Margaret still could barely move, making the feat of moving for such an action almost impossible.

That didn't stop her from thinking how she would gladly do anything to strangle those blasted pirates when given the chance. Or beat them nicely with a croquet club. Throw them into a bonfire and watch them burn. Roast them in the oven. Oh, she could think of an infinite number of ways to watch those pirates die a very satisfying delicious death in front of her eyes. Of course, there was very little she could do to bring those fantasies to life now. It didn't stop her from dreaming, though. Dreams were the only thing keeping her going in the hellhole she was trapped in.

The pirates had started escalating their treatment of her. There hadn't been anymore beatings. But they did make sure she barely got any sleep at night. She was given tiny morsels of food that were definitely not giving her enough nutrients. Very little water accompanied her food as well. Even worse, the water was clearly dirty. Margaret couldn't bear to think of the innumerable illnesses she's probably contracted from the filthy water.

Margaret yawned heartily, attracting the sneering attention of the pirates. They remained silent, but looked at her intently enough to let her know that any attempts to sleep would be promptly interrupted. Margaret glared back, but resigned herself to keeping her anvil-weighted eyelids open.

Almost like a dream, quiet twinkling sounds fluttered near Margaret's ears. She looked up toward the window, squinting her eyes and raising a limp arm to block out the sun. Wait…Margaret shook her head, dismissing the auditory sensations. A lack of sleep could produce any sort of hallucinations. However, the twinkling sounds occurred again. Margaret looked once more at the opening and saw small forms between the blinding rays of sun. No…it couldn't be…

"Fairies?" Margaret gasped almost inaudibly. She immediately brought two hands to cover her mouth as she stared with wide eyes at the door to her cell. The twinkling sounds stopped. The guards stared into the cell smugly.

Margaret nonchalantly feigned tears as she buried her face into her knees to hide the flabbergasted look on her face. When Margaret peaked above her knees again, the guards had returned to facing away from her. She looked up at the window to see the fairies leaning in; four in total. Two of the fairies quietly glided to the guards and sprinkled some pixie dust. Within seconds, their sleeping bodies fell to the floor. Margaret felt her heart leap joyously.

Tinkerbell floated in front of Margaret's face, eyes wide in fear. Margaret allowed a singular tear to break from her eyes before swiping away at it. Why were the fairies here? Were they breaking her out now? Oh please-

Tinkerbell began to jingle extremely quietly. Peter, Queen Clarion, and the mermaids are all making plans for your escape right now. We were told that you'd been injured, so we'll do what we can to heal you…

Margaret's face, which had previously lit up so brightly as to emulate the sun, fell into stoic despair. She tempered expression to hide the despair as best she could, but Tinkerbell did not miss the way her mood tanked. "Thank you," Margaret mouthed mechanically with a slight hiss of sound coming from her lips.

Tinkerbell paused as she worked to sprinkle fairy dust over one of Margaret's arms. I…Peter was almost inconsolable after he visited you last. I didn't understand it at the time but…I can see why. Well, now I can.

Margaret nodded, recalling all too easily how horrified Peter looked when he saw her battered. Oh, how much worse he'd react if he saw her now. It was best that the fairies were visiting her now and not Peter. Peter was bound to do something rash if he saw her like this.

Margaret attempted to keep her mind in the present, with the amount of her brain that could still function properly with how sleep deprived she was. She looked down at Tink. "Peter…he is taking care of himself, right?" Margaret asked in a quiet whisper. Tinkerbell stopped working once more, keeping her eyes focused on the spot she had been sprinkling pixie dust over. Margaret looked at the fairy, taking careful note of the way she wrought her hands together nervously. It was then that Margaret knew her answer. "He can't be thinking straight if he's neglected himself so—"

Can you blame him?

Margaret drew her lips into a thin line. "I don't mean to sound superior I just—I want Peter to be alive by the end of this."

Sounds very objective coming from you.

"How do you mean?"

Pardon me, but I thought you'd be sobbing the entire time we were here.

"Indeed, I wish I was. To have that release. To know I was in safe place where I could be comforted and told everything will be alright. But as it stands, I am currently being held captive by a group of savage pirates. We have no idea if I will get out of this bloody ship alive, or at all for that matter. There's no certainty that anyone would survive a rescue attempt. And I am absolutely assured that things are not alright right now, with how this bloody situation has turned out. So, I'm sorry if I'm not displaying the sentimentality you might have wished for this reunion, but I have a lot on my mind with releasing the culmination of my fears and thoughts being the last of it," Margaret hissed heatedly. Despite her proclamation, tears freely slid down her cheeks as she tried to restrain how badly her body was shaking.

"I'm sorry," Margaret's voice cracked. The fairies backed away from her as she lifted up a few fingers to below her nose as she tried to compose herself. In the light that fell upon Margaret, Tink could finally see the extent to which Margaret looked absolutely ragged. Lost body weight was quickly apparent, with her body no longer fitting her dress well at all. Her skin was bruised black, blue, and yellow everywhere, with the untouched bits being sickly pale. Dark circles encompassed Margaret's puffy, swollen eyes. Her face still showed remnants of swelling. Her hair was entirely unkept. Dirt, dust, and other debris clung to her skin.

Margaret, the previous poster girl for a well-kept, model citizen, was far from that picture now. As Margaret dried her tears, Tink felt herself having to restrain her own. The pirates were always gruff, but never this savage. Never like this. What else were they doing to her?

Tink almost proposed a question on the matter. But the look of exhaustion from Margaret made Tink bite her tongue. Instead, the fairies flew back to her and resumed their work. Tink skimmed her mind for anything to talk about. What do you think you will do, once everything is over?

Margaret looked at Tink as if the question was stupid. And perhaps it was, once Tink thought about the question a little longer. Margaret's face, however, softened. "I've been more preoccupied thinking about how I could help in my own rescue."

Won't you be returning to London?

"That's the assumption."

Assumption?

"I…don't know, if that's the future I want for myself."

Tink wished to pry further. Oh, how she wished to ask Margaret to elaborate. However, deep down, Tinkerbell knew that this wasn't the right time. Margaret was right, there were more important things to worry about.

This is all we can do for now, one of the other fairies jingled. Tink pursed her lips and backed away, nodding. They barely were able to do anything. And this was with all the extra pixie dust they could spare for now…

Filing away her worries, Tink flew in front of Margaret's face, patting her cheek. Take care of yourself. It won't be much time now. They're getting close to finalizing everything and then…we'll get you out. I'm sure of it.

Margaret nodded, blinking away the flood of tears that she felt rush to her eyes. With a final nod of acknowledgement, the fairies departed, leaving Margaret in isolation once more.

!

Peter paced on the beach, drowning in thought as the the minutes ticked by. Every extra minute amplified the opportunities for the fairies to be caught. For Margaret to beaten worse, for—Peter breathed.

He'd done everything he could to distract himself. Peter had gone into the jungle and collected as much wood and other resources he could find. He inventoried everything 3 times. Peter sharpened the knives, spears, and arrows. He fine-tuned the bows and slingshots. Peter had looked at their battle map progress more times than he could count.

He was out of things to do. And he was desperate for any news. Desperate for any sing of the fairies, for word that Margaret was ok. What if she was worse than last time? What if she was dying and the fairies were trying to revive her? What if? What if? What if?

Peter was sick and tired of what ifs.

As if a sign of mercy from the heavens, a chorus of jingles snapped Peter out of his thoughts. The four fairies fluttered in front of him, apparently unharmed and healthy as ever. Peter heaved an anxious breath before allowing the questions on his mind to bubble to the surface. "Margaret—she's ok? Were you able to heal her?"

Tink floated forward, nominating herself to speak to Peter. With a quick turn and nod to dismiss the other fairies, she urged Peter to walk with her to a more private space. Peter felt his heart begin flailing in his chest, although he managed enough composure to walk steadily enough to the edge of the jungle. This couldn't be good. This couldn't be good at all.

Tinkerbell flew above the trees, catching Peter off guard. He launched, quickly following after her until they landed in the clearing in front of Hangman's Tree. Why were they here? Why couldn't Tink tell him at the beach? As Peter reoriented himself to look at Tink, he tried to stuff the anxieties down. He waited in anticipation for what Tink had to say.

Tinkerbell stared at her feet before looking up at Peter with tearful eyes. There was so little we could do Peter. She…the amount of pixie dust necessary to heal her entirely would be far more than we can spare. Really, all we could do was reduce the pain but…it's—it's—

"I see," was all that Peter could squeak out.

There's more.

"More?" Peter felt himself parrot back.

I think the pirates are doing more, Tink stated slowly. Her body was shaking. She's lost weight. She's exhausted. She looks dehydrated. She's…she's filthy.

"Stop."

- She's so frail Peter. So so frail. The swelling hasn't gotten much better.

"Stop!"

She could barely move—

"I SAID STOP! FOR THE LOVE OF NEVERLAND JUST STOP TALKING!" Peter screamed. Tink fell completely silent. The Lost Boys immediately peaked out of Hangman's Tree to stare in bewilderment. A beat of silence passed before Peter collapsed onto his knees and started uncontrollably crying.

When Tink flew close to try and comfort Peter, he swung his arm sharply, narrowly missing Tink. She withdrew quickly and stared at Peter wide-eyed. Peter scrambled up from the ground and stalked to the middle of the clearing, preparing to fly.

Tink immediately knew his plan, and rocketed toward him to attempt to stop Peter. The Lost Boys sprinted into the clearing, all of them catching on as well to the suicide mission Peter was to embark on. However, Peter began to lift before anyone could get to him.

Then suddenly, he flopped onto the ground. Everyone froze.

Peter scrambled from the ground and lifted again. He fell. He lifted. Then fell. Lift. Fall. Lift. Fall. Peter tried over and over again to fly, each attempt more visibly desperate than the last. When the group finally got over their shock, they all ran to him and grabbed his arms. Peter fought like a caged animal to break out of their embrace. To be free. To fly.

No one would let him go. Peter felt his strength dissolve. He stopped fighting, allowing himself to be limp in the firm hands of everyone around him. His face, soaked with tears, barely registered anything but the small bit of sky he could make out through the trees. The Lost Boys slowly let go of Peter, although they remained closely crowded around him. Peter felt his legs go numb. He collapsed on the ground once more.

Finally, Peter curled up into a fetal position on the ground as he screamed.

!

A/N: Hello everyone. I hope all of you guys are doing well! So much for getting this chapter out in a few days. I'm glad to be getting back to this though, since I'm not in the habit of writing much for myself during the school year.

Anyway, so, I realize that this chapter might be a bit dramatic. Admittedly, looking back, the tonal inconsistencies of this story are a bit extreme. I hope to someday go back and overhaul the story so that it might be more coherent and have a clearer vision. However, that said, for all the people that have patiently suffered through my mediocre writing, I thank you! It means a lot to have you guys here and to see me (hopefully) improve over time.

Some of the choices of this chapter were made with the purpose of raising the stakes of the story somewhat. I feel like my previous attempts have been too abstract and haven't adequately portrayed the urgency needed. My answer and solution in this chapter might be a bit much, but considering how I have taken things in a darker direction, I don't see that these additions were completely unwarranted.

As for when I'll get the next chapter out, I cannot say, nor will I promise anything. I will do my best to get the chapter out relatively soon. Although, looking at my usual pattern, I tend to start a chapter, get writer's block, stop, then see someone favorite the story, feel guilty, and start the story back up again. I promise I don't try to keep chapters hostage for trying to artificially increase engagement.

Anyway, thank you all who have read this story. I can promise that I will finish this story in my lifetime. So be on the lookout for Chapter 26 whenever that comes.

See you all in the next chapter.

Chapter Summary

Peter is anxious about Margaret's condition. Tink and three other fairies go to heal Margaret, allowing Tink to see that the pirate's poor treatment of her has escalated to make her very frail. When Tink delivers this news to Peter (after telling him that they were unable to heal her very much), Peter completely breaks down mentally.