"Tink !" whispered Pan. The boy tiptoed across the cabin, paying no attention to the pirate and the giant diamond. Will followed the boy's gaze and noticed a large bird cage. A dim light rose from within. "Tink ! Tink, wake up, it's me." He fumbled with the door. Turning to Will, he hissed in frustration, "It's locked !"


Will crossed the room carefully. The faint glimmer resolved into a tiny figure huddled on the floor of the cage. Will slipped his fingers between the bars and flexed them tentatively. The brass bars of the bird cage bent easily in his hands. He pried them apart. Peter Pan shot him a grateful look and gently lifted the limp little form.


Will turned his attention to Captain Hook. The pirate continued to snore, blissfully unaware of the intruders in his cabin. To Will's horror, Elizabeth had crept to the bed and was slowly slipping the diamond from Hook's grasp. "Elizabeth !" Will hissed. She glanced at him. He shook his head frantically. She grinned. Will watched helplessly as the immense gem slid ever so slowly away from Hook, guided by his wife's slender fingers. Elizabeth delicately lifted the diamond. She backed slowly away from the bed. Hook let out a snore and smacked his lips contentedly. Will realized he had been holding his breath. He let it out soundlessly and motioned for Pan to follow them out of the room.


At that moment, all hell broke loose. Curley called frantically, "Peter ! Help !" Smee burst into the cabin, shouting incoherently. Elizabeth, startled, tripped over Hook's bedside table and dropped the diamond. It rolled across the cabin floor.


"Aaaarrrrrh !" roared Hook, struggling up and throwing off his blankets. Incongruously, the pirate captain was dressed in a long white nightgown. He lunged toward Elizabeth with his left hand.


"Elizabeth, watch out !" cried Will, his heart in his throat. He threw himself across the cabin, sick with the realization that he would never reach her in time.


Hook reached over Elizabeth and grabbed his iron hook. "Ah !" he exclaimed in satisfaction, securing it over the stump of his right arm. "That's better." Elizabeth scrambled out of reach, giggling. Will stared at her, baffled. The pirate Smee took advantage of the distraction. He darted in, thrusting with a wickedly sharp dirk. Will caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and parried just in time.


Meanwhile, Pan had tucked Tinkerbell's tiny body into one of his many concealed pockets and was dodging for the door. Elizabeth crawled across the floor, intent on retrieving the diamond. Hook obviously had the same idea. His deep-set black eyes gleamed greedily. He was hampered by Mr. Smee, who kept getting in the way as he clumsily attacked Will.


"Elizabeth !" shouted Will, "forget the damn diamond. Get out of here !" She ignored him, stretching out flat on the floor to reach for the gem, which had rolled under a chair. Will took out his frustration on the unfortunate Smee, beating back his attacks with forceful blows. The pirate retreated, outmatched. Will reversed his grip and slammed the hilt of his sword against the pirate's temple. Smee dropped like a stone.

The captain leapt over the first mate's body and menaced Elizabeth with his hook. "Give me the gem, strumpet," he ordered. Elizabeth dodged to one side, clutching the diamond to her chest. She smiled disarmingly at Hook.


"I think I'll just keep this, thanks," she giggled. Will gave her a look of total disbelief. She had lost her mind ! On deck, he could hear the sounds of battle. He hoped the Lost Boys on shore had heard too. Without warning, Elizabeth threw the diamond at him. He caught it instinctively. Hook whirled, arm extended. The hook barely missed Will. "Run !" shouted Elizabeth.


Will pelted out of the cabin and down the passageway, Hook and Elizabeth at his heels. He felt a sense of euphoria as he gripped the diamond like a football. Will laughed out loud. Above the deck, the Lost Boys and Pan swooped through the air. Blades flashed in the lamp light as they frantically kept the pirates from going to the aid of their captain.


"What took you so long ?" Pan howled. "Quick, Slightly, the pixie dust !"


Slightly dodged between two pirates, sprinkling glowing dust over Will. The blacksmith rose into the air immediately, grinning from ear to ear. He aimed a kick at Hook as Slightly dodged around him and dumped the remainder of the powder on Elizabeth. Just in time. The clumsy adolescent dropped the bottle as he flew. No matter, enough of the pixie dust had found its target. Elizabeth sprang from the deck and rose into the air. Will tucked his sword into his belt. He took her hand in his and they flew from the ship, followed by the Lost Boys. Peter Pan alighted on the top of the mast and crowed in victory. He swooped down, circling twice to buzz the deck, slashing at the pirates with his dagger. They scattered as Captain Hook bellowed, "Catch him, you scurvy dogs !"


Shouting insults back at the Jolly Rodger, Peter flew across the cove. The whole group wheeled in formation and glided across the night sky, back to the tree house.



Author's note: Thank you again to all who reviewed. You are very kind. Lucki Me – yeah, my version of Peter Pan is supposed to be the Disney Pan; thanks.