Chapter 6

The Kiss

Captain Blood was angered at himself for not killing Peter when he had the chance, and stared menacingly at Peter with his intense, green eyes. Peter stared back, thoughts of hatred running through his mind on how Captain Blood had tried to kill his beloved fairy and his friends.

"I need my hat back, Pan," spat Captain Blood.

"All right then! I'll exchange the hat for the children in the net!" exclaimed Peter as he flew from side to side. Captain Blood cackled cruelly and shook his head.

"I'm afraid your dear Lost Boys shall be history, Pan," said Captain Blood. Peter looked to the net where Emma and the Lost Boys began to scream. The pirates had pulled the crocodile's mouth open with ropes, and they were lowering the net into the beast's mouth. Emma was seen among the rest, her eyes wet with tears, and her hands grasping the net in hope.

"Peter! Please help us!" Emma shouted.

The net was almost fully enclosed in the crocodile's mouth and Emma could feel the crocodile's sticky, hot breath upon her face. The pirates were laughing maliciously at the sight of the poor children being fed to the crocodile. The Lost Boys were screaming angrily at the pirates to let them go, and Emma was still shouting for Peter's help. Peter wondered where Slider had went and why he was not dealing with the pirates, but tossed the matter aside, for it was then up to Peter to save the day, yet again.

In the blink of an eye, Peter flew faster than he had ever flown before over to the net. He sliced the ropes with his sword, but before the net fell into the crocodile's mouth, he picked it up with his arm. Amazed by his unknown strength, Peter smiled proudly as he set the net down across the water and on the ground. He cut the net open and the Lost Boys poured out, thanking Peter for his brave efforts.

Emma was overwhelmed with fear, happiness, sorrow, and confusion. She had never felt so many feelings in her life all at once! She looked to Peter who gazed back at her. He brought her face close to hers, feeling the softness of her skin.

"Peter," was all that Emma could manage to whisper, for she was speechless as she looked at Peter's sun-kissed skin, and his curly, blonde hair, lying perfectly on his boyish face.

"I wish to give you…a thimble," said Peter.

"No," said Emma, a smile still spread across her rosy face, "A kiss," she said, and they leaned in closer and kissed. It was Emma's first kiss and she felt the most magnificent feeling in the world: love. Though it was Peter's second kiss, he believed that the kiss with Emma was more meaningful than the kiss with Wendy. He felt even happier, and more loved when he looked back into Emma's eyes.

"Now isn't that lovely!" shouted Captain Blood from across the water, "I had heard that Peter Pan had feelings, but I never thought the legend was true!"

Angrily, Peter turned to Captain Blood and flew over to the other side. The crocodile was flailing about, and the pirates ran over the stone bridge to escape from its terror, all except for Captain Blood, who stood a few meters away from the terrifying monster. Then, the ropes snapped off of the crocodile and it angrily roared, causing the castle to shake. Some of the stones began to tumble from the ceiling, and it seemed as though an earthquake had started. The crocodile roared again, louder that time, and the Black Castle shook more violently.

The Lost Boys and Emma started to think their happy thoughts and began to fly out of the castle because they feared that the Black Castle was about to collapse. The pirates all hopped into their small boats and began to row out of the castle entrance. Emma stayed back at the entrance, waiting for Peter.

"Peter! You must come! The castle is going to give way!" she shouted as stones from the ceiling fell down beside Peter and Captain Blood.

"It's now or never, Pan," yelled Captain Blood above the noise of falling rocks.

The crocodile roared again and rocks fell, blocking the entrance to the castle. Frightfully, Emma had to fly back so as not to get hit. She tried to move the rocks that had fallen, but it was hopeless. She could only pray that Peter would win the fight.