This is a fan fiction based on Fox's Peter Pan and the Pirates, in turn based upon J.M. Barries Peter and Wendy. I do not own the characters of this beloved classic… with the exclusions of Mau, Tsekani, Menkaura, Hondo and Khalid. They are my characters who I worked hard to create, don't take them from me.
All comments and constructive criticisms are welcome. But don't flame me, it's not nice and they are pretty useless, I'll probably just delete them. If you have something to say, please, think before you type.
101 REASONS NOT TO TAKE A DARE
SPIDER, SPIDER (Part Five)
*****
Twelve hours... that was barely half a day's time by now. And it was all the
time Slightly had left in the world. All the time he had to reclaim his life
and if he misjudged the sun's light even a second, his life would be over.
Both boys knew that they had to find Tsekani fast and deal with him even
faster.
Billy Jukes and Slightly had just exited the labyrinth back into the warm
night air. So far, so good. Except that neither of them were aware that Hook
and the pirates were still lurking about the forest.
"So what do we do first?" Billy inquired, looking expectantly at Slightly.
"I'll head to the underground house. Since Tsekani's with the lost boys, it
seems slightly like the best place to start."
"What about me? I mean, if you get into trouble?"
"I'll yell really loud. I'm not worried, not in the slightest."
"Really?" Billy smirked, not believing him. Surprisingly, Slightly just
smiled and touched the charm he had recently received, "Because Mau said
she'd protect me. I believe her."
"You're going a lot on faith here, for just a little charm."
"But it's all I have." he explained, an almost defeated look in his eyes. The
gypsy pirate thought to argue, or remind him that this was the same girl who
was supposed to keep watch of their enemy. Something about the confidence
Slightly had in Mau made him just smile and nod.
The lost boy then leapt off the ground to catch the air under his form.
Instead of the graceful flight he had expected, Slightly fell face first into
the ground. Slightly didn't even whimper as he lay unceremoniously in the
dirt.
Billy tried not to laugh a little and ran to help him up.
"What happened?"
"I can't... I can't fly!" Slightly stammered.
"Aye, but you can certainly crash."
"That's slightly not funny!" Slightly retorted, pushing him-self up. He
reached for the sky again, but his feet remained firmly rooted on the ground.
Billy thought for a moment and guessed, "Y'know matey, I saw Tsekani flying
around like a bat from hell. Maybe he stole that too."
"But how?"
"I don't know. But it looks like we walk."
"Looks like." Slightly finally conceded and they attempted their path towards
the boy's home.
"Avast there boys!" a familiar voice called out as a silver hook latched onto
Billy's vest. All of the pirates revealed themselves from various locations,
surrounding the two children.
"Captain Hook!" Slightly started as Robert Mullins snatched the boy's wrist.
"Good evening young Slightly. It would appear that the mystery of your
disappearance have been solved."
"What's wrong with you Jukes, socializing with the likes of these here Lost
Boys?" Robert reprimanded and Billy just rolled his eyes. It seemed like the
spell had completely wore off now. Smee confirmed that notion when he
suddenly blurted out, "Hey... hey I know that young ragamuffin! 'Tis
Slightly."
"Yeah, now you know him," Billy grumbled to himself.
"Smeeeee," Hook let the name drawl out, "Ya great lummox! It's too little,
too late bosun!"
Too late indeed, Jukes thought, too late for everything. They were now caught
and the pirates were completely themselves again. Worst of all Hook was very,
very angry.
"Give me one good reason why I should not run you through with my Hook?"
James purred, letting the sharp point trace under the boy's chin.
"Hold Captain!" Jukes pleaded, "I did what I did... to repay a debt for a
favor this boy had done for me in the past."
"Really? How... noble" chuckled Hook in false admiration. "Well if your debt
is repaid, then you wouldn't mind if I ran him through right now?"
Hook's sword pointed directly at Slightly's chest and both the boys
screeched, "NO!"
"Really? Then how about your own neck Mr. Jukes?" Hook brought the blade up
to Billy's neck.
"Captain, the cully has obviously taken leave of his senses. The Neverfever
perhaps? Effects the mind."
"I assure you Mr. Mullins that this boy's mind is as clear as the sky is
blue."
"Listen Captain Hook!" Slightly abruptly cut in, "We're on a mission and you
have to let us go this instant! I'm warning you!"
Billy groaned inwardly, why did Slightly have to stand up to the Captain so
suddenly. Hook started laughing boisterously, "You... you're warn... warning
me?"
All of the other pirates joined the merriment. Abruptly Hook stopped and
grinned widely at Billy Jukes, "For you Mr. Jukes, I'd like to see you do a
fancy dance off the hemp jig." A hanging, Jukes swallowed hard, thinking
about the rope strangling the life from him.
"But for this scugg," Hook paused to think for a moment and directed all eyes
to a near by tree, "Run him through and we'll spike him up on that there tree
for Pan to find in the morning."
The men held their tongues at the captain's orders; they were none too eager
to do away with their own shipmate. Smee however, crookedly approached the
lost boy with his own sword drawn.
"With pleasure Captain sir," he cooed. He raised up the charm that Mau had
given the boy with his blade, eyeing it greedily.
"Pretty gold necklace ye've got there," Smee complimented, "Guess ye won't be
needing this here bauble in the afterlife."
"No!" Slightly protested as Smee began to wrap his fingers around it.
Magically, the charm responded to the plea... the charm ignited and white
fire lashed out at the bosun. Smee reeled back screeching, "Ack! Me face! Me
face!"
The pirates watched him cautiously as he pulled his hand away from his face,
now dotted in blood. The bosun now sported a nasty set of gashes, like from
an animal's talons, from ear to ear. The men gasped, as did the boys.
"Odd, bobs, hammer and tongs! What's sorcery is this?" Hook questioned the
boys, pointing with his sword.
"Wow, Mau keeps her word." Billy amazed.
"And just who pray tell is this Mau?"
"She's the guardian of the dead and slightly my protector," the lost boy
quickly boasted, "You can't hurt me because I'm invincible."
"Care to put that to the test?" Hook inquired his eyes ablaze. In one quick
motion, he pierced the boy's heart with his cutlass. Billy didn't even have
time to blink but he had to blink several times after words.
When the sword slide free of the boy's chest, he looked down in horror. His
terror was gladly replaced with a sigh of relief. Except for his torn shirt,
young Slightly didn't have even a scratch.
It was Hook's turn to be completely dumbfounded as he let Billy loose of his
grip and gaped at the boy.
"'Tis truly miraculous," James Hook breathed, his mind swimming with thoughts
and questions.
"Is a blooming ghost!" Smee whimpered, running around in circles.
"'Tis the devils work!" Mullins heeded.
"We're all damned!" Starkey joined in and all of the pirates began bellowing
out prayers and curses. The opportunity for escape had finally arisen.
"Later," Slightly politely waved as Billy snatched his arm and they hurried
off into the woods. No one but Hook caught their exit... and it even took the
great pirate Captain a few moments to gather his wits.
"Stop them! Seize! Capture those boys! NOW!!!"
The men finally came to attention, and simultaneously collided into each
other. Hook frowned and showed them all his silver hook as a silent warning.
After a few more bumps and falls the men were up and scattering into the
forest.
*****
All of the animals in the forest leapt out of the way of the two fleeing
boys. The Lost Boy snagged his foot on a rock and Billy almost kept going.
When he turned back to see, he slipped himself and panted heavily from
exhaustion.
"Do you think they'll catch us?" Slightly inquired... crawling towards Jukes.
"Nah, and if they do, we deserve to be caught."
"That's slightly not funny."
"Neither is what's going to happen to us when they catch us!" Billy
threatened then quickly frowned, "I'm sorry Slightly. I knew this would
happen the minute I jumped ship."
"I'm sorry..."
"Belay that cully. This was my choice... and I'll pay the consequences. . .
if I must."
"Thank you." Slightly finally said after a long silence.
"Nonsense, you'd do the same for me." Billy smiled widely and finally
Slightly found a smile too. They helped each other stand.
"So we're slightly off to the underground house... It's not too far."
Slightly pointed the way then remembered himself, "Oh wait."
"What's wrong?"
"I can't take you with me."
"Oh? Because of your secrets?" Billy asked, already understanding where this
was going.
"Aye, I can't reveal our hiding place to you."
"But what if there's trouble?" Billy pressed, but Slightly just replied
whimsically. "Then I'll yell slightly loud."
With that he ran off deeper into the woods leaving Billy alone. Another cold
breeze passed by Jukes and he shivered in the cold. He wondered if someone
was trying to tell him something, as a nightly sentinel. Or perhaps it was
just death's wind, sizing him up before he dug him his earthly grave.
In any case, Billy scaled a nearby tree to get a better vantage of the
landscape and to keep hidden from Hook.
*****
Like Slightly had noted, it didn't take him long to reach the underground
hiding. The boy took in a moment of relaxation. So pleased to be home again,
Slightly forgot himself for a moment. When he ran to his tree, he attempted
to fly down it like he normally would.
The air did not great him and Slightly scrutinized how to get down the tree
into the house. He could certainly climb down, but it would be a chore to
climb back up the vertical tunnel.
His eyes searched for an idea and spied some strong lavender Never-vines.
With a cut of his dagger, he cut himself down a rope to use and tied it to a
nearby branch.
Taking a deep breath Slightly climbed down the tunnel, his weapon ready in
his teeth.
As his feet hit the bottom ground his landing was awfully loud. Slightly bit
his lips and held tightly to the vine. There was no sound of anyone awakening
so Slightly ventured further into his own home.
The lost boy almost laughed out loud at what he was doing. This was his own
home, yet he was lurking around like a prowler. A fitting roll in this
perfectly dark and perfectly quiet house.
Sitting near the fire in her rocking chair, her head slightly tilted from
after she slowly fell to sleep. Peter was curled up next to her on the floor.
They must have been talking and fallen asleep like that.
In the large bed were all the lost boys, unceremoniously tangled up with each
other. They may have all fallen asleep side by side, but it didn't last. Up
above was Michael in his basket bed and across the way was Tinkerbell in her
apartment house. He could hear her tinkle sweetly in her dreams, of Peter
most likely.
Slightly started when a glinting pink light caught his eyes, but the glow
slowly faded. Tink must have woken up for just a moment. It was slightly
silly of Slightly to be so startled by her though. He sighed, gently
caressing the golden charm as if to silently pray, his eyes closed.
The lost boy looked again at the large bed all the boys were asleep on. Just
to be sure he took a head count... of five. That meant two are missing, so
Slightly looked more carefully. It was Nibs... and surprise, surprise...
Tsekani.
Slightly glowered, but satisfied with his finds, worked his way back up the
tree. Some wood chips fell down on the floor and the pink fairy stirred
again. She crawled out from her bedroom to see what the noise was. An empty
house, how strange, she thought.
*****
The forest was silent once again. All of Neverland's creatures knew that
something was amiss in their motherland. So they waited and listened in
silence for this foreign presence to reveal itself. Well, all but a stray
baby boar. He was too proud and curious to wait for this stranger.
He sniffed the air, smelling something foul in the wind. Fear now filled the
babe's heart and in a confused panic, backed right into the fiend's waiting
arms. The boar found his heels tangled in a sticky web that stretched from
the ground to the very top of the trees.
It squealed and cried for something to be merciful to him. But nothing would
come to its aid, only to its doom. The other animals fled in a great panic.
Even the mighty Crocodile looked the other way. The babe looked up to the
greedy, blood red eyes of death's agent.
*****
Again Slightly arrived at the place he last saw Billy Jukes. As he neared he
heard a terrible cry of pain echo within the forest. He stopped for a moment
and beads of sweat rolled down his brow.
"What was that?" frozen, Slightly asked the wind. The boy's breathing grew
heavier each breath as he continued his scout for Jukes. The pirate boy was
now in sight and Slightly wondered if the pirates had caught up to him. No,
Slightly couldn't think such things.
Suddenly a figure dropped down from behind him and Slightly jumped. Falling
back, he drew his dagger in defense.
"Hold it Cully. It's just me."
"Jukes, you slightly scared the life out of me... what were you doing up in
those trees?"
"Waiting for you." Billy plainly answered, "did you hear that terrible cry?"
"I did. What do you think it was?"
"Something that definitely isn't anymore." Billy tried to joke. The pirate
was scared though, he remembered about the banshee's cry publicizing the
recently dead. Shot and shale, everything tonight was like a calling card for
the Grim Reaper. It didn't help that he kept remembering that the boy
standing in front of him was practically a poltergeist himself. Jukes kicked
his mind, 'That's not true. Slightly's not dead... not yet.'
"So what did you find?" Billy changed the subject.
"Tsekani wasn't there, nor was Nibs. I slightly wonder where they've gotten
off to."
"Back to square one then," Billy frowned.
"Square one?"
"I just meant that we haven't gotten any further than where we started."
Billy re-explained. He thought deeply for a moment and tried, "So if you were
a demon, where would you go?"
Neither of the boys could answer that question and heavily exhaled. When
Billy looked back up at his friend, he noticed how pale he looked. He was so
lost and helpless and frayed from worry. This small island seemed so big now
and there was even less time than before.
Besides, what would they do once they caught up to Tsekani? The demon boy
easily beat the daylights out of Slightly and even with two of them, he'd
still have no trouble.
Billy knew they needed a plan, ah, but they could figure that out as they
went. Billy firmly held Slightly's shoulder and motioned for them to continue.
*****
As it were, the pirates, and the boys weren't the only ones on the prowl this
night. Flying low and watchfully to the green earth was the leader of the
Lost Boys. Nibs had noticed the newest lost boy's exit a long time ago.
Suspicious, he followed and found himself hunting the boy on a cold trail
instead.
Nibs would have kept flying aimlessly for hours if he hadn't noticed his left
boot was missing. He turned and floated in the air with his legs crossed,
looking at his bare foot.
Nibs mindfully scratched his head and looked around for a thief. The lost boy
backtracked to find his boot... floating in mid-air. Curious and curiouser
still.
No, it wasn't floating, the shoe was suspended from a spider's web, barely
visible in the dark. Nibs quickly cut loose his foot ware and noticed the
dirt moved in the ground, like a fight had taken place. The boy followed the
trail to some near by shrubs, which appeared to have been purposely placed.
He pulled the greenery aside and found what was being concealed.
The young boar had been sucked dry of all its insides and his carcass
collapsed in upon itself. Nib's turned his nose up as he carefully poked the
body, which was still steaming hot.
The boy would have gotten ill, if a nearing noise hadn't alerted him. Maybe
it was the crocodile or the thing that killed the baby boar. None-the-less,
Nibs quickly soared away from the site as a caution.
Seconds later, Billy Jukes and Slightly entered the same place.
"... maybe we can make him chase us back to the cave?" Billy offered.
"That's a slightly bad idea."
"Why?"
"He can fly, we can't. He'd be faster than us."
"I don't know," Billy teased, "I've seen you move pretty fast myself... with
those chicken legs."
"Hey..." Slightly began to defend until he walked into something, "Hey!"
"What is it?" Billy urgently asked as Slightly spun around swatting at an
invisible enemy.
"I slightly walked into a web."
"No, you totally walked into it," jeered Jukes as he tried to help. Billy
soon found himself struggling against the gooey threads, "By Neptune's
trident, this is strong."
As Billy pulled out his cutlass to slice the threads, Slightly froze in
terror.
"Slightly?" Billy asked.
"He's near." Slightly cryptically quivered and Billy looked all about for
Tsekani to suddenly appear.
"I know he's near," Slightly continued.
"Well that's good to know. But we're certainly no good like this." Billy was
still fighting the gnarling webbing. As he turned, his eyes fell to the brush
that used to hide the baby boar.
Jukes almost heaved as he pointed it out to Slightly, "I think I found what
we heard earlier tonight."
Slightly turned his nose up and quickly picked up a branch to cover the body
up again. Billy tightly held his weapon and started to continue on their
path, eyes alert. Slightly finally freed himself completely and started after
when a voice intruded.
"Hold it right there pirate!" Nibs threatened, pointing his short blade
towards the pirate. Billy took up a similar stance for the stand off and
Nib's eye flinched in anticipation.
"Go home boy." Jukes ordered.
"Not 'til after I send you to hell."
"Would you stop this. It's slightly ridiculous." Slightly stepped between
them.
"Slightly, what're you doing with the enemy?" Nibs inquired harshly.
"Nothing you'd be concerned about boy." Billy quickly answered spitefully.
Attempting to be the piece keeper Slightly answered, "We're looking for
Tsekani."
Nibs backed down, "So am I. He left in the middle of the night."
"Do you have any clues," Slightly inquired, hopeful for an answers.
"Nope, I lost him a long time ago. Hard to follow his trail. So answer me
this, what is that "pirate" doing here?"
"He's helping me stop Tsekani. Billy Jukes came to look for me, while the
rest of you were off playing!" Slightly now shouted back. Nibs started to
back off before he shouted back, "Well, you were hiding."
"I was doing slightly no such thing?"
"Then where were you all this time?"
"You know where I was." Slightly glowered, crossing his arms. Billy took up a
similar stance, waiting for Nibs to answer.
"You were in that cave?" Nibs slowly answered.
"How easily you forget about your mates, and welcome a stranger. Just like a
naïve child." Billy scoffed.
"But... who?" Nibs asked, now confused. Billy frowned but Slightly smiled,
"What about Tsekani."
"I'm out hunting him, he's such a suspicious character."
"But isn't he a lost boy?"
"No. I don't think he is. This is all very strange."
"It's slightly good to see that you remember."
"Of course, Wendy told me everything this afternoon. I think she did... I'm
not sure if I remember." Nibs paused to think some more.
"The cully changes people's minds Nibs," Billy gently explained, "That's why
you don't remember."
Then Nibs got suddenly angry and shouted, "How dare he take away my memories,
how dare he pretend to be a lost boy! If he means to hurt the boys and
Wendy..."
"Hold it," Jukes waved his hands down, "we'll certainly catch him. But don't
just go barging off like a drunken man into a bar brawl. We've got a plan."
"Why should we trust the likes of you?"
"You don't have to, just stay outta my way, that's all."
"Nibs," Slightly stepped in, "please return to the underground house. Mr.
Jukes and I will find Tsekani and take him back where he belongs. For now I
need to you go back home, and protect the boys and Wendy."
Nibs looked suspiciously at Slightly, he was pretending to be so brave. He
wasn't sure how to answer, but finally he nodded and started back for home.
He stopped for a moment and turned back to watch the two boys, Slightly was
standing so tall.
"When did you get so responsible?" Nibs asked, almost afraid. Slightly didn't
have words either and just smiled, but Nibs did not and slowly walked away.
The boys waited until the lost boy was out of site before continuing on their
own journey. As they walked further down the path, a set of dark, eyes was
watching them again. A set of several long pike-like legs started down the
tree. The legs transformed into two, and headed the direction young Nibs had
gone to.
The shadow of night would end very soon and the two boys would still be empty
handed in their search. Slightly grew paler and his hopes grew weaker as the
halo of sunlight kissed the horizon. The dawn was upon them and time was
loosing fast.
****End Part Five****