Disclaimer: Peter Pan, and everything recognizable to Peter Pan, belongs to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, to which Mr. J. M. Barrie bequeathed his copyright when he died, in 1937. I was not even born when this happened and I had nothing to do with the creation of Peter Pan (Although it would be really cool if I had). I am just a lowly fan, and writing this in my own time, not making any money whatsoever. Heh. I hope you have as much fun reading this as I did writing it.
Chapter 10: John's Revelation~~ "There's none can save you now, missy," "There's one," "Who's that?"~~
Katie decided that she would have to bargain with Smee for a fair fight. It was the only way to win, or at least the only way to win that she could think of. Although it posed serious consequences if she lost; imagine being mother to him for her life. And she wasn't even sure if he would bargain with her. Still, some plan was better than no plan at all.
But there was one thing certain: whether she was going to be fighting Smee, or not fighting Smee, she had to somehow get to the Never land or all would be lost. And she had to do it today – the sooner, the better. Which would pose serious problems if Sue could reach her room before her.
Katie would have to be slick about this. She couldn't let Sue know she was going to leave until she was on the bus and away from any telephone to call her mother. Katie took the bus, sat in the front, started to slowly walk home until Sue was suitably off guard. She heard her sister laughing with friends, and then she broke into a run.
Katie got about a ten second head start before Sue saw her and chased after her, leaving her friends behind. Katie was determined – and usually a faster runner – but Sue was somehow catching up, her rage driving her.
Katie saw that running was getting her nowhere. She needed to gain speed, and she needed to do so quickly. She flung herself into a racing dive, realizing that, even if it did bring attention to her, flying was faster and faster was necessary.
She took every shortcut she knew of, as well as a few she made up, to fly into her window with only seconds to spare. She grabbed her duffle bag, already packed from the previous night's planning, and pulled a very surprised Beetle out the window with her.
Zan followed, just out the window when Katie slammed it shut and they heard a scream below them. Sue was running down the block, out of breath. Katie was paralyzed with the shock of the scream, and before she knew it Sue was standing at the door.
"NO!" Sue shouted, her voice piercing Katie's ears and paralyzing her again. "You can't! I won't let you! Katie, come down here this instant or I swear I will never let you in again! Never, you hear me?" Katie's head was still ringing, from the shock of the scream.
She found her arms, and her legs, slowly, as Sue stood frozen beneath her. Finally, when the shock had subdued and Katie could move again, she turned to look down at her sister. This formidable foe now seemed only a bug to be squashed, pitiful. And Katie had to get going or all would be lost. "I have to help them, Sue. They need me. I have to save them."
"Do you think I care about some make believe boys on a story book island?" Sue snapped. Her voice was less shocking and more plaintive. "You have to come back, you have to go to school and grow up and live life like a normal person, not some… some… some freak from a fairy tale!" Sue began to cry. "You know what they say about you, and if your reputation is ruined, it ruins mine too, no one respects me if my sister is off running about with some boy, and even if they knew the truth it wouldn't be much different. You have to stay here, for me… I'll never go to prom if they think I'm just some loose slut… If you leave, I won't let you in again."
Katie shook her head, sadly. "I don't have to stay here, especially not for you. I have to save the lost boys, now. I have to save my real family. No one else can help them. If you won't let me in, then… You won't let me in." And with that, she turned her back on her sister's protesting sobs.
* * * * *
It was only afternoon, but the island was on the lookout for the children anyway, and the trip back to the Never land was shorter than any trip had ever been. Katie, Beetle and Zan rushed to Peter and the boys' aid. They were directly above the pirate ship before they knew it, as the sun was setting and the (Two. Why were there only two?) lost boys were herded into a cabin. Beetle wanted to fly down immediately and rescue them, but Katie grabbed his arm and pointed out his foolishness. They waited, while one by one the pirates turned in for the night, and blew their lights out. They waited while the pirates drank and cavorted, until the sound of their wretched signing died into the soft scratch-scratch-scratch of the crickets.
Katie sent Beetle and Zan to get the lost boys, or whoever was left of their number, and went herself to rescue Peter. The three parted without a word. It was to be a quick rescue: just get in and get out, don't worry about the pirates.
It was pitch dark when Katie floated down towards Peter's cage. Peter saw her and he nearly yelped for joy, the combination of seeing his mother returned and his (now certain in his opinion) freedom being too much for him. But Katie put a hand over his mouth and he soon calmed down enough to hold his tongue. She flipped open the latch and opened the door, allowing Peter to extricate himself.
But as she pushed open the door, the hinge let out a loud, dry, squeak. The echoes ricocheted off the water, breaking the cool silence of the night. No one could sleep through that. Peter and Katie froze in place, waiting for the inevitable doom.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, Beetle and Zan had freed the other two lost boys and were hurrying to their leaders' aide. They could all fly away and leave these pirates to themselves, be home and safe finally, and they tumbled down the hallway and out the door to the deck. They made the noise of a pack of rampaging elephants, but couldn't tell, all reason erased by their joy at freedom. But one noise was loud enough to stop even that pack of wild elephants.
They froze in place, upon hearing the screech of the hinge. No one breathed. A light flickered on, and the red face of an angry, drowsy pirate was clearly visible. Tobby, not knowing what else to do, quietly stole up on him as the pirate searched his corner of the ship for intruders, pulled out a small knife, and stabbed him, square in the gut. The pirate let out a mighty yowl and a tremendous thump as he fell to the ground, because after all a stab wound doesn't kill instantly, and lights flickered on all over the ship.
There was a roar of enraged pirates. The fight had begun.
The pirates might be vicious, but half of them were also drunk, and all of them were tired from a long day's work on the ship. They tottered to and fro, in search of their weapons, and due to this sloth four or five were killed before they could even attack the agile boys.
The boys were alert, ready, and riding on the adrenaline of their escape. They outwitted the pirates with sheer energy, moving from offensive to defensive to offensive again without pausing for breath in between. They tossed out comments to the pirates, to each other, to the air, as if they hadn't a care in the world. As if this was the easiest battle they had yet come upon.
Of course being able to fly didn't hurt.
Each boy took down at least three pirates that day, making a clean sweep of the crew. At the end of the battle, no pirate was stirring, if any were alive. Peter ran five through, or so he told Katie. Although in truth it is more likely that he went in search of Starkey first. He had a score to settle with Starkey.
The fight between Peter and Starkey was certainly no less legendary than the fight between Peter and Hook. However, Starkey was nowhere near the swordsman that Captain James Hook was, and so it was significantly shorter. Peter caught the poor man trying to escape on a dingy.
"Come up here and fight!" yelled Peter. Starkey, a look of terror in his eyes, complied, drawing his sword.
Peter waited for Starkey to gain good footing on the ship before drawing his sword. "Have at thee," he called.
Swords clanged. The lost boys finished off their last pirates and came to watch their leader, enthralled. "Pan," Starkey whispered, "Pan, have mercy on an old tender of papooses, have mercy on me."
Peter's eyes narrowed. "You killed Tiger Lily. You are no keeper of papooses."
"Oh, but I was," Starkey intoned, "for years and years and years I watched over their babies without a care in the world, and I want to return to it. Peter, let me return to it, please."
"You couldn't return to that village, they would scalp you there. The indians are desperate for scalps, you know."
Starkey gulped, and said nothing.
A thought dawned on Peter. The old man was shaking from fear. He laughed. "You old coward, you're scared of me! Why, I could fight you with my eyes closed!" and he promptly closed his eyes. Starkey, now desperate, lunged at the boy.
Peter must have heard Starkey's heavy footstep, for his eyes flickered open the slightest of seconds, and he parried the oncoming blow, and thrusted in his turn, catching Starkey across the stomach. Peter opened his eyes and saw the slash in Starkey's shirt and the gash in his side. He grinned and adjusted his grip on his sword before closing his eyes again, this time lunging almost immediately.
Starkey was shocked – he was having a hard time even fighting this blinded Peter. That is - until he stepped to the left, and left Peter fighting with the air. Peter opened his eyes just as Starkey crept up behind him, ready to strike as the boy looked around curiously. "Starkey, where did you--"
It was all he could get out, when Starkey's yelp alerted him to the exact whereabouts of his opponent. Starkey had been pulled backwards with incredible force, straight by his ear. Peter spun around, shut his eyes and jumped forward, neatly impaling Starkey. Zan squeezed out from underneath a toppled Starkey and all eyes turned to the only remaining pirate onboard.
Katie was standing on the foredeck, rusted dagger in hand, opposite Smee. Peter flew up as fast as he could, shouting that he would kill Smee.
Katie shook her head. "No, Peter, I can take care of him," she answered, turning to her own opponent. "A fair duel?"
"A fair duel," he answered, tossing a sword to her; one that wasn't falling apart. "And if you lose, you will be my mother?"
"Yes. But if you lose, you must leave here forever, and promise never to bother anyone again."
Smee nodded, and the fight began.
The rotund little man wasn't much of a swordsman, but then again neither was Katie who had scarcely picked up a sword in her life. Even able to fly, she was scarecly able to dodge his blows, and in a few minutes the fact that her cheek was bleeding, and that it would probably leave a scar, was the least of her worries. Of course, Smee was little better off. They floundered at each other's parries and thrusts, unsure of themselves and of their weapons.
Fortunately, Katie was a fast learner, and was able to get some rudimentary strategy before she was too tired out. It was all decided by who could fly. Katie dodged a killing blow by jumping into the air and staying there, receiving only a slice on her leg, and dove down on top of Smee, pinning him to the ground, keeping a firm hold of his sword arm, shaking the sword out of his hand.
He tried to get up, to reach his sword, but she held her own to his throat, and he was motionless.
"I win," she said, grimly.
Smee croaked out a raspy "Yes."
Katie got up. After a moment so did he. "Now, you leave," she whispered, and turned to the lost boys, receiving them in a huge, motherly embrace. In that moment Smee showed his true ways. After all, a pirate is a pirate, and a pirate who served under James Hook is a fearsome, treacherous creature indeed.
He lunged towards Katie's back, ready to run her through, but found him self already run through – on Peter's dagger. Slowly, he slid to the floor, and was forgotten.
Katie didn't know a thing, and for once, Peter said nothing of his daring deed.
A voice came out from the darkest corner of the pirate ship. "Peter, forgive me," it said. A boy stepped out. It was John, bloody and terrified, but John nonetheless.
Katie started over to him, but Tobby clutched to her sleeve, and shook his head fiercely when she looked back at him. Peter was left to speak. "You are growing up."
John's terror changed to panic. "No, no, I'm not growing up. I will never grow up, I--"
Peter stopped him. "What happens to lost boys who want to grow up? Lost boys who want to do things like become pirates or businessmen or lawyers? They are exiled."
"But, Peter, I have no where to go, no where but here, and I--"
"If you have no where to go then that is not our problem. Perhaps you can find refuge at some other island. But not here. Go back to the mainland, John."
"But, Peter,"
"Go."
He looked so forlorn, standing there and begging Peter to give him another chance, that Katie wanted to go to him even more than ever, but with Tobby and Dows holding her sleeves, there was little she could do. "I've forgotten how to fly," he said. "I can't fly."
Peter didn't flinch, didn't break eye contact with the desperate boy. "Then swim."
John's jaw trembled, and a tear fell across his cheek. "If I have to leave, I won't leave without taking you with me," he shouted, running at Peter, sword outstretched. Peter didn't move. John slowed and missed his target, slicing Peter's shoulder but leaving him mostly unharmed, and stood, shaking. He was a few inches taller than Peter, and he looked down at the other boy, as a tear rolled down Peter's face. Peter hadn't expected John to do that. Peter felt betrayed, again. John dropped his sword. He saw his dream, Peter defeated and him flying away victorious, and he knew that it would never happen. He couldn't defeat this boy, this innocent boy. He collapsed into tears. "Please, please, Peter. Let me stay. I'm not a grownup, I promise, I'll never be a grownup, I'll never grow up, never never, never, never…"
Peter only shook his head, and Beetle was the one to go to John. In his tiniest voice, he whispered, "Don't worry, John, you'll be happier there. It might be scary, but if you don't leave, you'll just stay one of us. You always said you dreamed of being something big someday. You can't here. If you go, then you can."
John's sobs stopped, and he turned to Beetle and smiled, giving the small child as tight a hug as he could. "A bigger adventure," he mumbled. "Beetle, you'll forgive me for calling you names? Every child does need a mother,"
"You called me names?" Beetle asked, innocently looking up. He had honestly already forgotten about the incident in the lagoon. John smiled weakly, and stood up, bowing to Peter.
"A great adventure," he whispered. "The great adventure." He began to walk away, and the last thing any of the lost boys heard John say was "The only adventure."
The pirates had let down all the lifeboats in hope of escape, and their bodies lay, filling the boats with blood.
The only way off the ship, unless you could fly, was the plank.
None of the boys, or Katie, could bear to look.
* * * * *
And after all that, they were finally ready to go home. Katie looked around, and saw Smee, dead, behind her. She looked to Peter, who said nothing. She supposed that if he wanted to say anything, he would have said it. But perhaps that was nothing special to him.
Katie took care to wash every boy's cuts and scrapes that night, and bind them up with a tee shirt she had brought from home. One tee shirt went a very long way with young boys. She didn't even bother to send them to bed, let them stay up as late as they wanted, telling her all about everything that had happened, from when she left to the fight with the pirates. And tell her they did.
It was later than she would like to imagine when they were asleep, splayed out on the floor, and she calmly collected the two remaining boys and tucked them into their cot. There had been a time when if one boy wanted to roll over, all the boys would have to, but they had space now. There was enough space for two small boys.
She turned to Peter, expecting to hear more stories, but finding his head cocked to the side, asleep, arms splayed out haphazardly, falling off of his fatherly chair. Smiling, she picked him up and placed him gently in his hammock before returning to her own and falling, quickly, to sleep.
Author's Note: So. One more chapter after this one. It's already written. Expect that soon enough. Fun times.