Ha, I don't feel like doing the whole disclaimer stuff. So. I don't own Peter Pan, but I do own Lauri and Tara and some of the Lost Boys which will be introduced the next chapter. Thank you all for you're reviews and hope you're enjoying the story. Email me if you want me to add anything or have any questions, etc. Now I'm sure you're wanting the link so yes. My computer gets irritated if I try to link every picture, so here's a link to the gallery with the pictures in it. There are 4, and they aren't hard to find because they all of "Peter Pan" or "Lauri" in the subject. Have fun!
http://www.side7.com/cgi-bin/S7SDB/Archive.pl?ANO=5323&Cat=3
Lauri turned to help a stumbling Tara as she called to Peter, "Peter! Wait up, please!" As he returned to their side, she continued speaking, "Are we going to the treehouse? The one that Wendy stayed in?"
"Naw, Hook torched the place awhile back. Besides, we have s'more Lost Boys now so we wouldn't fit in there!" He grinned mischievously, "Some of the new recruits are awaiting their initiation."
"Initiation?"
"Yeah! To become a Lost Boy." Peter somersaulted in the air, quite obviously enthusiastic about the process; "They have to find the treasure!"
"Cripes, Lauri! Wendy told us about the treasure. It's the story Jane used to tell your dad before she – well, you know." Tara grew silent once more as Lauri sent a cold scowl in her direction.
"Of course I remember the stories. I lived with the stories playing in my mind all day." Her features softened as she turned back to Peter, "Why do they have to be initiated? And what happens if they don't find the treasure?"
"Then they don't get to be Lost Boys! They're just lost!" The boy shook with laughter as he floated just above the ground. Lauri rolled her eyes and shoved him gently,
"Right. Anyway, where are we going, Peter?"
"This way, c'mon!" Peter took off into the trees again, the girls leaping after him. They plunged through the foliage for nearly an hour, feet and hands getting scratched by twigs and thorns. Tara opened her mouth to call for Peter to slow down, for they had lost sight of him in the growing darkness, when suddenly the girls were enveloped in shadows. They kicked and struggled as the blanket, as they would guess it was, drug them to the ground. Lauri settled down as the sound of triumphant laughter reached her ears and she could feel the tremors of stomping feet pulsating through the ground. Peter's angry voice was heard above the raucous and silence was soon to come.
"What are you guys doing?" He inquired hotly. Judging by his voice, Lauri could imagine him floating with his fists on his hips. She giggled softly at the image of an enraged Peter. Tara must have thought the same because a soft laughter escaped her own lips also.
"We caught those girls that were following you, Peter!" A young voice called out, though not much younger then Peter. "They were trying to find the Headquarters."
Another voice gave his two cents, obviously a lot younger then Peter or the girls, "They're probably spies for Hook!" The other children all cried out their agreement and Peter whistled to calm them down once more.
"What is this? I bring you possible Lost Girls or maybe even mothers and you net them! Let them out. Tootles! Get off! You're probably sitting on one of their heads!" In truth the boy was only sitting on Tara's rear end and she was gracious when the toddler slid off. The blanket was hefted off in one swift pull and Lauri found herself face to face with a little boy dressed in a skunk costume.
Ignoring the girl's startled yelp, the boy turned to Peter, "They're our new mothers, Peter?"
"Don't know, yet, Tootles. You remember how Wendy didn't want to stay." He studied the girls as he spoke, and Lauri met his gaze squarely. She pulled herself to her feet,
"I can't speak for Tara, but I'm staying."
Tara leapt to her own feet, moving as if to contradict Lauri. Her fingers grasped her friend's arm before she decided against it, backing away. With a sigh, she gave in…for now, "I don't know what you're talking about, Lauri. Of course I'm staying too." The Lost Boys cheered around them as the girls held each other's gaze in a glare.
"Alright boys, it's off to headquarters!" The boys disappeared into the foliage, Peter Pan leading the way with his characteristic rooster crow. This left the girls to their own devices. Tara turned angrily to her friend as they walked, arms wide in a questioning gesture.
"Lauri! What do you think you're doing? We can't stay here! What about our parents? Our friends? Our lives?!" Lauri ignored her for a few moments, contemplating her life at home for the past week before replying coolly.
"Without Neverland, I have no life. If I leave Neverland, I'll die. I'm staying."
Tara grabbed her arm again, this time not letting go, "Lauri! You can't be serious." She sighed, eyes downcast, "What would Wendy think?"
"She would support my decision!" Lauri wrenched her arm out of Tara's grasp, turning to direct her anger at her, "Don't you dare bring Wendy into this!" Suddenly Peter landed between them, glancing at the both of them before glaring at Tara, shaking a finger as if to scold her.
"Id you don't want to stay, fine. But leave Lauri out of it." He grabbed both of their hands, mood brightening immediately, "Now come on!" He began to drag them behind him; "We're almost there!"
The Jolly Roger floated, anchored a few hundred yards from shore. Captain Hook paced the upper deck, his hook twisting his mustache menacingly. His left eyebrow began to twitch with the steady tick of a clock, causing his concentration to break like shattering glass. "SMEE! What is that dreadful noise? Stop it!"
Mr. Smee, having thought that Hook's hatred of clocks had long past, threw the wristwatch he'd been fixing into the water. "What noise, S-s-sir?"
Hook spun on his heel to face Smee; "You know what noise, Mr. Smee! And if I hear that—" He stopped, for he didn't hear the sound any longer. "That's better. Now! Mr. Smee, we have a dilemma on our hands…"
"And hooks, sir!"
"Yes, yes and hooks…. Oh would you shut up!" Hook smacked Smee over the head with his hook before continuing, pointing to shore, "Pan has brought to more wretched children! Ones we must include with any future plans at capturing the boy."
"Of c-c-course, Sir."
"Well have to use bait. We've used Tinkerbell. We've sent presents. We've got to do something that the boy will never expect."
"W-we could capture the girl, C-cap'n!"
"S'been done, Smee. I would like to stay original in my plans."
"Oh, sorry, Cap'n."
"Yes, of course! We'll capture the Lost Boys and the girls!" Captain Hook cackled joyously as his hook slammed into the deck railing, splintering wood. "Pan will have no choice to turn himself in! Or all his little friends will pay the price."
"B-but, sir! That's a lot of children, and w-we have problems c-catching one!"
"Shut up, Smee!"
After the rescue, Tinkerbell had taken off in a flurry. Of course she was jealous again! It was like having 2 Wendys or 2 more Tiger Lilys! She didn't need anymore; she was perfectly content with the one Tiger Lily and the long gone Wendy. She sat, brooding quietly in her little home.
The boys had gone out to meet Peter, her Peter. She flung herself on her bed in exasperation, glaring at the ceiling. There was no way she could let one of these girls get to Peter like Wendy had…or nearly had. She pursed her lips, sitting up and looking into the mirror. Her eyes fell upon the reflection of a wall hanging that hung just outside her door. A dried fish was tacked to the wood, stolen from the pirates a few years back. Tink smiled maliciously, the lagoon coming to mind.
That was it! She'd concoct a plan with the mermaids! Of course they would help her, they didn't like other girls around Peter either. With a tinkle of laughter, she shot from her house toward Mermaid Lagoon. Her wings fluttered furiously as she traveled quickly, wanting to be back by the time Peter returned so that she could suggest taking the girls to the lagoon. She wasn't far from the lagoon, for she started to hear the rushing water and the light chime of the mermaid's laughter when suddenly she smacked into glass!
She shuddered violently as she looked around, angry at whatever had stopped her. Staring straight back at her was a nearly toothless grin. She tinked, surprised when Hook began to speak, taking the jar in his hand. "Well hello, Tinkerbell! S'pleasure to meet you again. All right boys, here's our first captive. Now let us begin Phase 2."