Title: Necromancer
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Nine - magic
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When Topper finally returned to the underground there was a reception committee waiting for him. He was carrying Pip, the child's fair head pressed into the side of his neck as he staggered through the broken door and down the passageway. Twig carried Pebble piggy-back, the boy wearily dropping the youngster to the floor before shuffling after Topper down the dirt steps. At the bottom archway Twig bumped into the back of the older boy, the younger yelping and rubbing his bruised nose as he peered around Topper's back. The room appeared filled with Indian's, in the centre stood the shaman, Laughing Tree, his hand resting on the shoulder of the girl beside him.
"Bane!" Twig blurted the girls name, pleased that she'd made it back alive and well, but alarmed at all the stern faces crowding their home.
Bane came forward and took the youngest from Topper's arms, the older boy still gaping at the Indians. Pebble came up behind Twig, his hand clutching at Twig's belt as he stared around the room.
"What do you want?" Topper asked, drawing himself up, wishing desperately that Briggs was the one facing the shaman.
"Where is the Pan......and Wendy?"
"They've been taken aboard the Jolly Roger, along with Briggs and an Indian boy."
"They are alive?"
"Briggs was wounded, the boy was knocked out.....Wendy was fine, I think.....but Peter....." Topper swallowed, still coming to terms with the horror of Peter's frozen corpse. "Peter......is dead."
Pip and Pebble both started to sniffle, Bane rocking the youngest on her lap as she sat on one of the beds. Twig was having a hard time keeping his own tears at bay, his lips pressed together in a thin line to hold back his grief. To their surprise, the shaman smiled.
"He is not dead.....he will return......"
"You don't understand...." Topper shouted, "He's frozen solid.....he can't be alive after being frozen!" Quickly he dashed a grubby hand over his face, wiping away the moisture threatening to unman him in front of all the adults. Behind him Twig gave up the battle to keep the tears from spilling over, his dirty face crumpling as he turned his head away. Pip and Pebble started to howl, the braves looking at each other in consternation as the children gave into their grief and fear and tiredness, their emotions tightly wound after their capture and escape. Topper just stood there, staring at the shaman mutely, until the man stepped forward and gathered the boy against his chest, patting his shoulder as Topper sobbed into his vest.
After a few minutes, Laughing tree raised his hand and shushed the children, Topper pulling away hurriedly, his hands scrubbing furiously at his face.
"You have been very brave and courageous, but now I need you to tell me everything you saw and heard."
Slowly, Topper told the shaman everything from the time the fairies had arrived with Peter's body, to the raid by the pirates and their capture of the children, finishing with the battle on the beach and the children watching the boats return to the Jolly Roger.
"We watched until it rounded the headland then we came home."
Laughing Tree patted the boy on the shoulder again before turning to the listening braves. As the men held a brief pow-wow, Topper shuffled over to where Bane sat on the bed, Pip in her arms, Twig and Pebble clutching her from behind and beside. Topper dropped to the ground at her feet, his knees coming up and his head resting on his crossed arms. Bane reached out a hand and rested it on the his head in comfort.
"You did everything you could Top, you had to follow orders....there was nothing else you could do." Twig offered.
"I could have stayed and fought..."
"Then we all would be prisoners on the Jolly Roger....." said Bane.
She lapsed into silence, staring off into space, her hand coming up to stroke Pip's blond curls absently.
The braves started to leave, the shaman coming over to the children.
"We are going to find out where the ship has gone, you can stay here or come with us."
"We'll come with you," Bane answered quickly. The shaman nodded and several braves came over and took the younger children, carrying the littlies on their shoulders, Twig piggy back on one brave. Topper and Bane followed them out of the underground and into the sunshine outside. Laughing Tree pointed to the sun.
"See....that tells you that the Pan is not dead.....the Wendy will make everything right.....but she will need help.....so follow close and if you get tired, speak up....one of the braves will carry you."
Topper exchanged a look with Bane before squaring his shoulders and facing the shaman.
"We won't need to be carried.....we'll keep up."
"Good....."
Without looking back, the party of braves and children set off into the forest, heading for the coast.
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Hook had left them only moments before, closing the chart room door behind him, but not locking it. They had talked only briefly over Hook's plan, surprise of the essence if they were to keep the Necromancer from finding out anything in advance.
As soon as the door snicked shut, Wendy threw herself at Peter, her hands clutching him to her as she covered his face with kisses, his name gasped out with each pause in the assault. After a seconds hesitation Peter returned her embrace with interest, his arms holding her in a vice-like grip as they tousled, his lips finding hers in a searing kiss that left them both panting and shaking.
"Don't ever leave me like that again.....I couldn't bear it," Wendy panted, pulling his head down again for another kiss, as Peter's hands roamed over her back, plastering her to him.
Releasing her mouth, Peter rested his forehead against hers for a second, his eyes sparkling as he licked his bottom lip.
"I didn't plan on leaving you this time.....I didn't see them until it was too late...." He shivered in remembrance of the deep cold that froze his blood, the blue lights dancing around his darkening sight. Wendy felt the slight movement and hugged him to her, her hands splayed over his back as she pressed her cheek to his chest, the sound of his heartbeat loud against her ear.
Wrapped around each other, they stood there in the darkened cabin, the tumult in their bodies slowing down, their hearts beating in rhythm as their breathing calmed.
A light tap at the door make them spring apart, Peter putting himself between Wendy and the cabin door. Hook entered seconds later, the door half open as he surveyed the couple in the center of the room.
"Right.......here, put these on.....you're tall enough to pass for me if you swagger and keep the hat on....it'll get you as far as the hold. The crew are all busy with the ship and I've informed the bosun of our plan, so he won't stop you. Get your two out of the brig and I'll meet you outside my cabin."
He held out the shackles to Wendy. "You'll need to just slip these on and make them visible, so nobody queries why I'm taking you to the hold."
Peter shrugged on one of Hook's ornate coats, a close colour to the one Hook was wearing. The sleeves almost covered his fingertips, over his dark trousers it reached to his knees. Hook held out a pair of boots and Peter slipped them on, finding them a little big. The hat was last, its broad brim hiding most of Peter's bright hair, almost meeting the collar of the coat. Hook was broader in the shoulder than Peter but they were much of a height and Wendy stared as Peter struck a pose, his chest puffed out, his head thrown back, one hand on his hip. Hook also stared, a little unnerved to find his former enemy so much like him in his own clothes. Peter only grinned saucily and stepped back to sweep Hook an expansive bow, the hat brushing the floor boards as Peter bent low. Wendy slipped the shackles over her wrists, half closing the clasp so that they wouldn't fall off.
"You'll pass muster...but not a close inspection....don't dawdle, get to the hold as quickly as possible."
Pulling open the door, Hook peered out then stood back to allow Peter to slip through with Wendy behind him. He watched as Peter strutted across the deck, a smile curling his saturnine features as he recognised his own swaggering walk, so ably mimicked by the boy. Wendy kept her head down, as expected of a captive and Hook watched them reach the hatch leading to the hold then disappear into the belly of the ship.
As he closed the door, he felt the first tickle of a summons from the Necromancer. Gritting his teeth, he fought the urge to go for as long as he could before he submitted and allowed his feet to carry him out of the room and across the deck towards his cabin.
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Once out of sight of the crew, Peter and Wendy hurried down the steps and long the corridor towards the hatch leading into the bowels of the ship and the brig. While Wendy kept look-out on the ladder, Peter descended into the gloom, a single lantern swinging from a beam shedding its feeble light into the barred room set against the hull of the ship. Briggs was sitting on the floor, his back to the planking, his eyes closed. Tepa was laying on the filthy floor beside him, also apparently asleep. Peter unhooked the metal ring holding the key to the lock and quickly used it, the door swinging open with a screech of unoiled hinges. Briggs jerked awake and peered blearily up at the doorway. His eyes blinked at Peter, only seeing the coat and not the wearer, defiantly he sneered at Peter, thinking him Hook.
"What have you done with her, you blackguard...you'd better not have hurt her....Peter will have your hide!"
"Brave words from a boy half dead from blood loss!"
Briggs jerked again, his eyes opening wide as Peter crouched in front of him, the faint light from the lantern highlighting Peter's fair hair as he swept the hat from his head.
"Peter? But we thought you were dead?"
"I was......now I'm back....can you walk Briggs?"
"That's about all I can do, my arms useless."
"What about the brave?"
"He took quite a blow to the head.....hasn't been conscious since...."
On cue, Tepa slowly raised his head, squinting up at Peter, his hand coming up to cup the back of his head.
"Hurts...." he announced thickly.
"Not surprised," said Briggs, "the blow you took would have felled a bear."
"Can you walk?" Peter asked, peering at the Indian youth.
"I walk..." groggily Tepa scrambled to his feet, swaying and reaching out an arm to brace himself against the hull as Peter helped Briggs to his feet.
Peter lead them out of the cell and towards the ladder leading to the upper deck. Wendy sat crouched at the top, she looked down as Peter started to climb, the two boys behind him.
"Are they alright?"
"As well as can be...." At the top of the ladder, Peter turned and handed Briggs through the opening, the boy's face a ghastly white in the ill-lit corridor. Tepa was more mobile, but he winced, his teeth gritted as he climbed out of the hole, his head still causing him pain. Wendy had moved to the end of the corridor to keep watch on the steps leading to the deck.
"We have to get to Hook's cabin." Peter told the two boys, signalling for them to be quiet as he led the way towards the back of the ship, past the gun deck and mess room, the hammocks tied up against the low beams, swinging with the movement of the ship as they passed. The ship suddenly lurched as she hit a wave, the boom of the water hitting the hull sounding loud below the water line. Finally they reached the end of the long room unchallenged, the crew fully occupied with the rigging above decks.
They had reached the passageway leading to the Captains cabin. The ship was making heavy weather, having reached the windward side of the island, the waves slapping noisily against the planking as the ship dipped and rose through the troughs. Peter called a halt at the bottom of the stairwell leading to the upper deck, the door to the cabin only a few feet away.
"We have to face this creature.....this Necromancer.....there's no sign of Hook so we have to suppose he's already inside. Wendy and I are going in..." Peter held up his hand when Briggs immediately protested. "The creature thinks I'm dead and doesn't know that Wendy is aboard....together we're going to send this being back to wherever it came from."
"You're mad!"
"Briggs there's things here you don't understand....all I ask is that you both stay out of sight...here, get in this space behind the stairs...." Peter pulled and pushed the two boys into the shadows of the stairs, Tepa slumping to the ground, his hand to his head. Briggs still protesting even as Peter grinned at him and turned to go.
As they turned to face the door, they heard a sound that made the hair stand up on the back of their necks. The sound started to rise, the wail becoming a scream.
"We have to do this now Peter....." Wendy grasped Peter's hand and they ran to the cabin door, Peter slamming his shoulder against it, swinging it open so hard it bounced against the jam, the sound barely audible above the scream echoing around the room.
"STOP!" Wendy shouted, running forward only to be jerked back by Peter's grip on her hand. The figure in the centre of the room twisted around, his claw like hands still upraised. With a hiss the Necromancer swept his hand down and the body suspended in the air fell with a thud to the floor.
The air was filled with the smell of smoke and singed hair, the gloom only faintly lifted by half a dozen smoking candles dotted around. In the centre of the room stood an ornate metal brazier, the coals smoking and sizzling, dark strands of hair igniting and sending more pungent smoke into the atmosphere, stinging Peter and Wendy's eyes and making them cough. The Necromancer seemed to be floating above the cabin floor, his swirling garments like dark tendrils of seaweed reaching out around his form, stretching and retreating like the tentacles of an squid.
"So you are not dead......and you are no ordinary girl......he lied to me!"
The Necromancer turned his head to stare at the body on the floor, Peter and Wendy seeing the crumpled form of James Hook, the harsh sound of his breathing the only indication the man was still alive. The ship lurched into another wave and Wendy staggered. In a flash the Necromancer reached out to her, his arm outstretched. With a snarl Peter took a step forward and lashed out with his knife, the Necromancer snatching his hand back as the blade flashed past the end of his bony hand. Hissing the creature rose into the air, seeming to grow and spread until he encompassed all the space above them.
Wendy tugged at Peter's hand and he allowed her to step forward.
"You do not belong here.....you are not part of my world.....my heaven....I want you gone!"
The creature made a sound, something between a growl and a cough.
"You cannot banish me.......I will destroy this place, I will destroy you....once I have all the souls of the dead here I will use their power to break through to the real world where I can reap my fill of the living!"
"NO!" Bracing herself against the heaving deck, Wendy closed her eyes and drew on the memory of the power she'd felt in the chart room. Peter moved closer to her, standing behind her, his arms coming around her shoulders to lay across her collar bone. Wendy raised her hands so they lay hooked over his forearms, their bodies melded together her back to his front, touching from neck to thigh, inseparable, unbreakable. The Necromancer hissed again, but this time started to draw back as light appeared to be drawn in from outside the cabin, as if the sun was shining through the upper decks, chinks of lights finding a way through the tightly closed shutters like creeping flames.
Wendy was chanting, Peter's also, their bodies rimmed in light, Wendy's head thrown back to rest against Peter's shoulder.
"You don't belong....you will be gone...you don't belong....you will be gone....."
The light grew stronger, each plank in the floor and walls outlined with bright, white light as if the room was surrounded by the sun, every crack and chink letting more in as Wendy continued with her own spell. The Necromancer was darting about the room, looking for a shadow to hide in but the room was rapidly filling with light, all the shadows gone leaving only the black stain of the Necromancer, his rags starting to smoke as his form became smaller, shrinking before the brightness, his arms flailing as he screamed, twisting and turning in a vain attempt to shield his head from the strengthening light.
Wendy's voice had dropped to a whisper, "You don't belong...you will be gone..." as the Necromancer's dark shape folded in on itself and appeared to be sucked out of the room, his final shriek lingering as the light abruptly disappeared leaving the room once more in darkness, the candles guttering in their holders.
Wendy stood within the protective circle of Peter's arms, his heart beating strongly against her back, his skin smooth and warm under her fingers tips.
"I did it......we did it......he's gone," she whispered, blinking, a trickle of sweat snaking its way down her temple. Peter slowly loosened his hold, his hands resting on her shoulders as he turned her to face him.
"Yes, you did it....you've claimed your world....this is truly now your heaven, Wendy Darling...."
"Oh Peter....." Sighing, Wendy leant forward and nestled against his chest, his arms once more wrapping her in his strong embrace.
A moan from the floor reminded them that Hook was still alive, if not entirely in one piece. From outside the cabin shouts could be heard as the crew of the Jolly Roger started to make their way down the passageway to the Captains Cabin. Peter went to open the shutters to let in more light while Wendy approached Hook, the mans body curled protectively in on itself. As sunlight filtered into the room, Wendy could see that Hook's long black hair was sadly chopped about, his clothes singed and dirty. Wendy lay the back of her hand against the mans cheek, his eyes slowly opening at her cool touch.
"Am I alive?" Hook croaked, blinking at the watery sunlight spilling into his cabin.
"Yes James......you are alive....the Necromancer is gone and your cabin is once more your own......although I don't think much of your taste in furnishings."
Peter returned and together they got Hook upright, the man unsteady on his feet as they helped him to a chair. A commotion heralded the arrival of the crew, several heads peering around the door jam, their eyes bulging as they saw their Captain with Peter and Wendy on either side of him.
"Cap'n?"
"Get about your business, you swabs....get this ship into calm mooring...." Hook yelled, half rising before slumping back in the chair again. Casting a frightened glance at the blackened cabin, the faces disappeared, the clatter of feet on the stairs ample proof of their hurried retreat back to the upper deck. Seconds later another pair of faces appeared, Briggs and Topper edging through the door as Wendy came over to help them, their eyes darting around the room in horrid fascination.
"It's gone then?"
"All gone......gone forever."
"What about him?" Briggs pointed to Hook who was almost falling out of the chair, the picture of weariness.
"I don't think Captain Hook will be bothering us anytime soon....if ever..."
Hook recovered reasonably quickly, managing to get on deck with Peter's help, Wendy and the other following so that they all stood amidships, breathing in the fresh air, the crew slowly gathering in a circle around them. The ship had sailed into a small bay, the splash of the anchor dropping a welcome sound, the ship rocking only gently as she wallowed in the swell.
"Listen up you scurvy brigands....no-one is to hurt any of these youngsters.....they are guests of Hook!"
"Guests Captain?.....but he's Peter Pan!"
"Nice to know there's nothing wrong with your eyesight, Mister Stilt...anything wrong with ya hearing?"
"Oh no sir, Capt'n sir...nothing at all!"
"Good......."
"We'll leave you now James...." Wendy started to say, only to stop when an expression of extreme pain crossed Hook's face.
"Don't call me that!" Hook hissed, "it makes me sound......"
Wendy smiled, leaning forward. "Human?...Not the fearful Captain Hook we all know and tremble before?"
"Well I do have a reputation to keep up...."
"Sorry.....but this is my heaven.....and I don't think I want a fearsome pirate captain causing trouble in Neverland...."
"Would you emasculate me m'dear?"
"No....but I think you have circled this island enough.....time to leave the terrible Captain Hook behind and maybe find out if there is hope for Captain James to have a future instead."
"What say you Peter? Am I to give up my pursuit of you....is our battle to end here?"
"I once said to die was an awfully big adventure.......I think that to live would be the greatest adventure."
"Then so be it......will you take my hand?"
Hesitantly, awkwardly, Hook held out his remaining hand which Peter clasped with his left hand, the crew watching in astonishment as their Captain sealed the truce with a small shake before letting go.
Tepa and Briggs watched the whole proceeding with as much surprise as the crew, the Indian boy glancing to the shore in longing, his eyes widening as he beheld the crowd starting to fill the beach.
"Wendy lady.......Peter.......look!"
They moved to the rail and stared at the shore. On the sand stood Topper, leaping about madly, Peter's telescope clutched in his hand, waving excitedly, beside him was Bane, also jumping about, the littlies beside her, all of them yelling and waving. Behind them stood Laughing Tree and the Indian braves, all waving and grinning.
Topper was pointing above the ship and Wendy glanced up.
"Oh my......look up there!"
Everyone looked upwards. In the sky above the Jolly Roger the air was filled with sparks of light that arced over the ship like miniature shooting stars, tendrils of lights snaking around the rigging and writhing along the spars, every crewman still in the rigging finding himself surrounded with sparkling light before they moved on, working their way down the rigging towards the deck.
"By 'eck...what are they?"
"What is it Peter.....fairies?"
"No...not fairies.....something else...."
As they watched, some in apprehension but most in wonder, those still in the rigging and touched by the sparks started to laugh, their faces wreathed in smiles as they whooped and hollered. As the sparks of light touched the deck the crew backed away but were quickly engulfed by the brilliant cloud of light, their bodies and faces illuminated briefly before the cloud moved on to the next until everyone of the Jolly Roger's' crew had been touched. Within seconds every man jack was laughing and grinning, slapping each other on the back and greeting each other as if they were brothers. Hook stood bemusedly beside the rail with Peter, Wendy and the boys. When the last crew member had been touched the cloud drifted towards the rail and the small group watching it. Hook was next, the sparks skittering over his body, surrounding him from head to toe, infusing his hair and clothes until he glowed. But this time, instead of leaving the sparks seemed to soak into the pirate captain, Hook face taking on a look of rapture as the last sparks disappeared into his body.
"Uh...what just happened?" Briggs asked, staring at Peter who could only shrug and kept his eyes on Hook.
Hook had closed his when the sparks first touched him but now he opened them, his forget-me-not blue eyes crinkling at the corners as his lips curved into an impossibly wide smile. Slowly he turned to face the four still standing by the rail, his usually sallow face alight with laughter and joy. The lines of care on his face were erased which made him appear to lose ten years of his life, his eyes sparkling with a joy that made him fling his arms wide and laugh out loud. The sound was so unexpected and infectious that Peter and Wendy couldn't help but join the Captain as he laughed uproariously, his arms outspread as he danced on the spot. His crew had got over their first euphoria and watched delightedly, clapping and stamping as their captain jigged about the deck, his lips pulled into a permanent grin.
Peter, still smiling at Hooks antics, leaning over and whispered in Wendy's ear.
"What did you do?"
Grinning Wendy smirked up at him. "I felt it was time they had some fun in their lives.....everyone deserves a second chance, so I wished for the crew of the Jolly Roger to find happiness."
Peter snorted as Hook approached his grinning crew and started to pat each man on the shoulder, careful to keep his hook from snagging anyone's flesh inadvertently.
"I'm not sure I know how to cope with happy pirates!" Peter murmured, a twinkle in his eye.
"You'll learn.....as they will.....Peter? Can we go home now?"
"As you wish it....." Taking her hand Peter reached the other out to Briggs, who in turn held onto Tepa. Together they rose from the deck and Peter flew them all to the beach and the expectant crowd awaiting them.
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(no, not the end.........gotta have the reunion/makeup/major fluff ending yet.......so don't despair.....not done entirely with this puppy yet.)
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Nine - magic
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When Topper finally returned to the underground there was a reception committee waiting for him. He was carrying Pip, the child's fair head pressed into the side of his neck as he staggered through the broken door and down the passageway. Twig carried Pebble piggy-back, the boy wearily dropping the youngster to the floor before shuffling after Topper down the dirt steps. At the bottom archway Twig bumped into the back of the older boy, the younger yelping and rubbing his bruised nose as he peered around Topper's back. The room appeared filled with Indian's, in the centre stood the shaman, Laughing Tree, his hand resting on the shoulder of the girl beside him.
"Bane!" Twig blurted the girls name, pleased that she'd made it back alive and well, but alarmed at all the stern faces crowding their home.
Bane came forward and took the youngest from Topper's arms, the older boy still gaping at the Indians. Pebble came up behind Twig, his hand clutching at Twig's belt as he stared around the room.
"What do you want?" Topper asked, drawing himself up, wishing desperately that Briggs was the one facing the shaman.
"Where is the Pan......and Wendy?"
"They've been taken aboard the Jolly Roger, along with Briggs and an Indian boy."
"They are alive?"
"Briggs was wounded, the boy was knocked out.....Wendy was fine, I think.....but Peter....." Topper swallowed, still coming to terms with the horror of Peter's frozen corpse. "Peter......is dead."
Pip and Pebble both started to sniffle, Bane rocking the youngest on her lap as she sat on one of the beds. Twig was having a hard time keeping his own tears at bay, his lips pressed together in a thin line to hold back his grief. To their surprise, the shaman smiled.
"He is not dead.....he will return......"
"You don't understand...." Topper shouted, "He's frozen solid.....he can't be alive after being frozen!" Quickly he dashed a grubby hand over his face, wiping away the moisture threatening to unman him in front of all the adults. Behind him Twig gave up the battle to keep the tears from spilling over, his dirty face crumpling as he turned his head away. Pip and Pebble started to howl, the braves looking at each other in consternation as the children gave into their grief and fear and tiredness, their emotions tightly wound after their capture and escape. Topper just stood there, staring at the shaman mutely, until the man stepped forward and gathered the boy against his chest, patting his shoulder as Topper sobbed into his vest.
After a few minutes, Laughing tree raised his hand and shushed the children, Topper pulling away hurriedly, his hands scrubbing furiously at his face.
"You have been very brave and courageous, but now I need you to tell me everything you saw and heard."
Slowly, Topper told the shaman everything from the time the fairies had arrived with Peter's body, to the raid by the pirates and their capture of the children, finishing with the battle on the beach and the children watching the boats return to the Jolly Roger.
"We watched until it rounded the headland then we came home."
Laughing Tree patted the boy on the shoulder again before turning to the listening braves. As the men held a brief pow-wow, Topper shuffled over to where Bane sat on the bed, Pip in her arms, Twig and Pebble clutching her from behind and beside. Topper dropped to the ground at her feet, his knees coming up and his head resting on his crossed arms. Bane reached out a hand and rested it on the his head in comfort.
"You did everything you could Top, you had to follow orders....there was nothing else you could do." Twig offered.
"I could have stayed and fought..."
"Then we all would be prisoners on the Jolly Roger....." said Bane.
She lapsed into silence, staring off into space, her hand coming up to stroke Pip's blond curls absently.
The braves started to leave, the shaman coming over to the children.
"We are going to find out where the ship has gone, you can stay here or come with us."
"We'll come with you," Bane answered quickly. The shaman nodded and several braves came over and took the younger children, carrying the littlies on their shoulders, Twig piggy back on one brave. Topper and Bane followed them out of the underground and into the sunshine outside. Laughing Tree pointed to the sun.
"See....that tells you that the Pan is not dead.....the Wendy will make everything right.....but she will need help.....so follow close and if you get tired, speak up....one of the braves will carry you."
Topper exchanged a look with Bane before squaring his shoulders and facing the shaman.
"We won't need to be carried.....we'll keep up."
"Good....."
Without looking back, the party of braves and children set off into the forest, heading for the coast.
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Hook had left them only moments before, closing the chart room door behind him, but not locking it. They had talked only briefly over Hook's plan, surprise of the essence if they were to keep the Necromancer from finding out anything in advance.
As soon as the door snicked shut, Wendy threw herself at Peter, her hands clutching him to her as she covered his face with kisses, his name gasped out with each pause in the assault. After a seconds hesitation Peter returned her embrace with interest, his arms holding her in a vice-like grip as they tousled, his lips finding hers in a searing kiss that left them both panting and shaking.
"Don't ever leave me like that again.....I couldn't bear it," Wendy panted, pulling his head down again for another kiss, as Peter's hands roamed over her back, plastering her to him.
Releasing her mouth, Peter rested his forehead against hers for a second, his eyes sparkling as he licked his bottom lip.
"I didn't plan on leaving you this time.....I didn't see them until it was too late...." He shivered in remembrance of the deep cold that froze his blood, the blue lights dancing around his darkening sight. Wendy felt the slight movement and hugged him to her, her hands splayed over his back as she pressed her cheek to his chest, the sound of his heartbeat loud against her ear.
Wrapped around each other, they stood there in the darkened cabin, the tumult in their bodies slowing down, their hearts beating in rhythm as their breathing calmed.
A light tap at the door make them spring apart, Peter putting himself between Wendy and the cabin door. Hook entered seconds later, the door half open as he surveyed the couple in the center of the room.
"Right.......here, put these on.....you're tall enough to pass for me if you swagger and keep the hat on....it'll get you as far as the hold. The crew are all busy with the ship and I've informed the bosun of our plan, so he won't stop you. Get your two out of the brig and I'll meet you outside my cabin."
He held out the shackles to Wendy. "You'll need to just slip these on and make them visible, so nobody queries why I'm taking you to the hold."
Peter shrugged on one of Hook's ornate coats, a close colour to the one Hook was wearing. The sleeves almost covered his fingertips, over his dark trousers it reached to his knees. Hook held out a pair of boots and Peter slipped them on, finding them a little big. The hat was last, its broad brim hiding most of Peter's bright hair, almost meeting the collar of the coat. Hook was broader in the shoulder than Peter but they were much of a height and Wendy stared as Peter struck a pose, his chest puffed out, his head thrown back, one hand on his hip. Hook also stared, a little unnerved to find his former enemy so much like him in his own clothes. Peter only grinned saucily and stepped back to sweep Hook an expansive bow, the hat brushing the floor boards as Peter bent low. Wendy slipped the shackles over her wrists, half closing the clasp so that they wouldn't fall off.
"You'll pass muster...but not a close inspection....don't dawdle, get to the hold as quickly as possible."
Pulling open the door, Hook peered out then stood back to allow Peter to slip through with Wendy behind him. He watched as Peter strutted across the deck, a smile curling his saturnine features as he recognised his own swaggering walk, so ably mimicked by the boy. Wendy kept her head down, as expected of a captive and Hook watched them reach the hatch leading to the hold then disappear into the belly of the ship.
As he closed the door, he felt the first tickle of a summons from the Necromancer. Gritting his teeth, he fought the urge to go for as long as he could before he submitted and allowed his feet to carry him out of the room and across the deck towards his cabin.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Once out of sight of the crew, Peter and Wendy hurried down the steps and long the corridor towards the hatch leading into the bowels of the ship and the brig. While Wendy kept look-out on the ladder, Peter descended into the gloom, a single lantern swinging from a beam shedding its feeble light into the barred room set against the hull of the ship. Briggs was sitting on the floor, his back to the planking, his eyes closed. Tepa was laying on the filthy floor beside him, also apparently asleep. Peter unhooked the metal ring holding the key to the lock and quickly used it, the door swinging open with a screech of unoiled hinges. Briggs jerked awake and peered blearily up at the doorway. His eyes blinked at Peter, only seeing the coat and not the wearer, defiantly he sneered at Peter, thinking him Hook.
"What have you done with her, you blackguard...you'd better not have hurt her....Peter will have your hide!"
"Brave words from a boy half dead from blood loss!"
Briggs jerked again, his eyes opening wide as Peter crouched in front of him, the faint light from the lantern highlighting Peter's fair hair as he swept the hat from his head.
"Peter? But we thought you were dead?"
"I was......now I'm back....can you walk Briggs?"
"That's about all I can do, my arms useless."
"What about the brave?"
"He took quite a blow to the head.....hasn't been conscious since...."
On cue, Tepa slowly raised his head, squinting up at Peter, his hand coming up to cup the back of his head.
"Hurts...." he announced thickly.
"Not surprised," said Briggs, "the blow you took would have felled a bear."
"Can you walk?" Peter asked, peering at the Indian youth.
"I walk..." groggily Tepa scrambled to his feet, swaying and reaching out an arm to brace himself against the hull as Peter helped Briggs to his feet.
Peter lead them out of the cell and towards the ladder leading to the upper deck. Wendy sat crouched at the top, she looked down as Peter started to climb, the two boys behind him.
"Are they alright?"
"As well as can be...." At the top of the ladder, Peter turned and handed Briggs through the opening, the boy's face a ghastly white in the ill-lit corridor. Tepa was more mobile, but he winced, his teeth gritted as he climbed out of the hole, his head still causing him pain. Wendy had moved to the end of the corridor to keep watch on the steps leading to the deck.
"We have to get to Hook's cabin." Peter told the two boys, signalling for them to be quiet as he led the way towards the back of the ship, past the gun deck and mess room, the hammocks tied up against the low beams, swinging with the movement of the ship as they passed. The ship suddenly lurched as she hit a wave, the boom of the water hitting the hull sounding loud below the water line. Finally they reached the end of the long room unchallenged, the crew fully occupied with the rigging above decks.
They had reached the passageway leading to the Captains cabin. The ship was making heavy weather, having reached the windward side of the island, the waves slapping noisily against the planking as the ship dipped and rose through the troughs. Peter called a halt at the bottom of the stairwell leading to the upper deck, the door to the cabin only a few feet away.
"We have to face this creature.....this Necromancer.....there's no sign of Hook so we have to suppose he's already inside. Wendy and I are going in..." Peter held up his hand when Briggs immediately protested. "The creature thinks I'm dead and doesn't know that Wendy is aboard....together we're going to send this being back to wherever it came from."
"You're mad!"
"Briggs there's things here you don't understand....all I ask is that you both stay out of sight...here, get in this space behind the stairs...." Peter pulled and pushed the two boys into the shadows of the stairs, Tepa slumping to the ground, his hand to his head. Briggs still protesting even as Peter grinned at him and turned to go.
As they turned to face the door, they heard a sound that made the hair stand up on the back of their necks. The sound started to rise, the wail becoming a scream.
"We have to do this now Peter....." Wendy grasped Peter's hand and they ran to the cabin door, Peter slamming his shoulder against it, swinging it open so hard it bounced against the jam, the sound barely audible above the scream echoing around the room.
"STOP!" Wendy shouted, running forward only to be jerked back by Peter's grip on her hand. The figure in the centre of the room twisted around, his claw like hands still upraised. With a hiss the Necromancer swept his hand down and the body suspended in the air fell with a thud to the floor.
The air was filled with the smell of smoke and singed hair, the gloom only faintly lifted by half a dozen smoking candles dotted around. In the centre of the room stood an ornate metal brazier, the coals smoking and sizzling, dark strands of hair igniting and sending more pungent smoke into the atmosphere, stinging Peter and Wendy's eyes and making them cough. The Necromancer seemed to be floating above the cabin floor, his swirling garments like dark tendrils of seaweed reaching out around his form, stretching and retreating like the tentacles of an squid.
"So you are not dead......and you are no ordinary girl......he lied to me!"
The Necromancer turned his head to stare at the body on the floor, Peter and Wendy seeing the crumpled form of James Hook, the harsh sound of his breathing the only indication the man was still alive. The ship lurched into another wave and Wendy staggered. In a flash the Necromancer reached out to her, his arm outstretched. With a snarl Peter took a step forward and lashed out with his knife, the Necromancer snatching his hand back as the blade flashed past the end of his bony hand. Hissing the creature rose into the air, seeming to grow and spread until he encompassed all the space above them.
Wendy tugged at Peter's hand and he allowed her to step forward.
"You do not belong here.....you are not part of my world.....my heaven....I want you gone!"
The creature made a sound, something between a growl and a cough.
"You cannot banish me.......I will destroy this place, I will destroy you....once I have all the souls of the dead here I will use their power to break through to the real world where I can reap my fill of the living!"
"NO!" Bracing herself against the heaving deck, Wendy closed her eyes and drew on the memory of the power she'd felt in the chart room. Peter moved closer to her, standing behind her, his arms coming around her shoulders to lay across her collar bone. Wendy raised her hands so they lay hooked over his forearms, their bodies melded together her back to his front, touching from neck to thigh, inseparable, unbreakable. The Necromancer hissed again, but this time started to draw back as light appeared to be drawn in from outside the cabin, as if the sun was shining through the upper decks, chinks of lights finding a way through the tightly closed shutters like creeping flames.
Wendy was chanting, Peter's also, their bodies rimmed in light, Wendy's head thrown back to rest against Peter's shoulder.
"You don't belong....you will be gone...you don't belong....you will be gone....."
The light grew stronger, each plank in the floor and walls outlined with bright, white light as if the room was surrounded by the sun, every crack and chink letting more in as Wendy continued with her own spell. The Necromancer was darting about the room, looking for a shadow to hide in but the room was rapidly filling with light, all the shadows gone leaving only the black stain of the Necromancer, his rags starting to smoke as his form became smaller, shrinking before the brightness, his arms flailing as he screamed, twisting and turning in a vain attempt to shield his head from the strengthening light.
Wendy's voice had dropped to a whisper, "You don't belong...you will be gone..." as the Necromancer's dark shape folded in on itself and appeared to be sucked out of the room, his final shriek lingering as the light abruptly disappeared leaving the room once more in darkness, the candles guttering in their holders.
Wendy stood within the protective circle of Peter's arms, his heart beating strongly against her back, his skin smooth and warm under her fingers tips.
"I did it......we did it......he's gone," she whispered, blinking, a trickle of sweat snaking its way down her temple. Peter slowly loosened his hold, his hands resting on her shoulders as he turned her to face him.
"Yes, you did it....you've claimed your world....this is truly now your heaven, Wendy Darling...."
"Oh Peter....." Sighing, Wendy leant forward and nestled against his chest, his arms once more wrapping her in his strong embrace.
A moan from the floor reminded them that Hook was still alive, if not entirely in one piece. From outside the cabin shouts could be heard as the crew of the Jolly Roger started to make their way down the passageway to the Captains Cabin. Peter went to open the shutters to let in more light while Wendy approached Hook, the mans body curled protectively in on itself. As sunlight filtered into the room, Wendy could see that Hook's long black hair was sadly chopped about, his clothes singed and dirty. Wendy lay the back of her hand against the mans cheek, his eyes slowly opening at her cool touch.
"Am I alive?" Hook croaked, blinking at the watery sunlight spilling into his cabin.
"Yes James......you are alive....the Necromancer is gone and your cabin is once more your own......although I don't think much of your taste in furnishings."
Peter returned and together they got Hook upright, the man unsteady on his feet as they helped him to a chair. A commotion heralded the arrival of the crew, several heads peering around the door jam, their eyes bulging as they saw their Captain with Peter and Wendy on either side of him.
"Cap'n?"
"Get about your business, you swabs....get this ship into calm mooring...." Hook yelled, half rising before slumping back in the chair again. Casting a frightened glance at the blackened cabin, the faces disappeared, the clatter of feet on the stairs ample proof of their hurried retreat back to the upper deck. Seconds later another pair of faces appeared, Briggs and Topper edging through the door as Wendy came over to help them, their eyes darting around the room in horrid fascination.
"It's gone then?"
"All gone......gone forever."
"What about him?" Briggs pointed to Hook who was almost falling out of the chair, the picture of weariness.
"I don't think Captain Hook will be bothering us anytime soon....if ever..."
Hook recovered reasonably quickly, managing to get on deck with Peter's help, Wendy and the other following so that they all stood amidships, breathing in the fresh air, the crew slowly gathering in a circle around them. The ship had sailed into a small bay, the splash of the anchor dropping a welcome sound, the ship rocking only gently as she wallowed in the swell.
"Listen up you scurvy brigands....no-one is to hurt any of these youngsters.....they are guests of Hook!"
"Guests Captain?.....but he's Peter Pan!"
"Nice to know there's nothing wrong with your eyesight, Mister Stilt...anything wrong with ya hearing?"
"Oh no sir, Capt'n sir...nothing at all!"
"Good......."
"We'll leave you now James...." Wendy started to say, only to stop when an expression of extreme pain crossed Hook's face.
"Don't call me that!" Hook hissed, "it makes me sound......"
Wendy smiled, leaning forward. "Human?...Not the fearful Captain Hook we all know and tremble before?"
"Well I do have a reputation to keep up...."
"Sorry.....but this is my heaven.....and I don't think I want a fearsome pirate captain causing trouble in Neverland...."
"Would you emasculate me m'dear?"
"No....but I think you have circled this island enough.....time to leave the terrible Captain Hook behind and maybe find out if there is hope for Captain James to have a future instead."
"What say you Peter? Am I to give up my pursuit of you....is our battle to end here?"
"I once said to die was an awfully big adventure.......I think that to live would be the greatest adventure."
"Then so be it......will you take my hand?"
Hesitantly, awkwardly, Hook held out his remaining hand which Peter clasped with his left hand, the crew watching in astonishment as their Captain sealed the truce with a small shake before letting go.
Tepa and Briggs watched the whole proceeding with as much surprise as the crew, the Indian boy glancing to the shore in longing, his eyes widening as he beheld the crowd starting to fill the beach.
"Wendy lady.......Peter.......look!"
They moved to the rail and stared at the shore. On the sand stood Topper, leaping about madly, Peter's telescope clutched in his hand, waving excitedly, beside him was Bane, also jumping about, the littlies beside her, all of them yelling and waving. Behind them stood Laughing Tree and the Indian braves, all waving and grinning.
Topper was pointing above the ship and Wendy glanced up.
"Oh my......look up there!"
Everyone looked upwards. In the sky above the Jolly Roger the air was filled with sparks of light that arced over the ship like miniature shooting stars, tendrils of lights snaking around the rigging and writhing along the spars, every crewman still in the rigging finding himself surrounded with sparkling light before they moved on, working their way down the rigging towards the deck.
"By 'eck...what are they?"
"What is it Peter.....fairies?"
"No...not fairies.....something else...."
As they watched, some in apprehension but most in wonder, those still in the rigging and touched by the sparks started to laugh, their faces wreathed in smiles as they whooped and hollered. As the sparks of light touched the deck the crew backed away but were quickly engulfed by the brilliant cloud of light, their bodies and faces illuminated briefly before the cloud moved on to the next until everyone of the Jolly Roger's' crew had been touched. Within seconds every man jack was laughing and grinning, slapping each other on the back and greeting each other as if they were brothers. Hook stood bemusedly beside the rail with Peter, Wendy and the boys. When the last crew member had been touched the cloud drifted towards the rail and the small group watching it. Hook was next, the sparks skittering over his body, surrounding him from head to toe, infusing his hair and clothes until he glowed. But this time, instead of leaving the sparks seemed to soak into the pirate captain, Hook face taking on a look of rapture as the last sparks disappeared into his body.
"Uh...what just happened?" Briggs asked, staring at Peter who could only shrug and kept his eyes on Hook.
Hook had closed his when the sparks first touched him but now he opened them, his forget-me-not blue eyes crinkling at the corners as his lips curved into an impossibly wide smile. Slowly he turned to face the four still standing by the rail, his usually sallow face alight with laughter and joy. The lines of care on his face were erased which made him appear to lose ten years of his life, his eyes sparkling with a joy that made him fling his arms wide and laugh out loud. The sound was so unexpected and infectious that Peter and Wendy couldn't help but join the Captain as he laughed uproariously, his arms outspread as he danced on the spot. His crew had got over their first euphoria and watched delightedly, clapping and stamping as their captain jigged about the deck, his lips pulled into a permanent grin.
Peter, still smiling at Hooks antics, leaning over and whispered in Wendy's ear.
"What did you do?"
Grinning Wendy smirked up at him. "I felt it was time they had some fun in their lives.....everyone deserves a second chance, so I wished for the crew of the Jolly Roger to find happiness."
Peter snorted as Hook approached his grinning crew and started to pat each man on the shoulder, careful to keep his hook from snagging anyone's flesh inadvertently.
"I'm not sure I know how to cope with happy pirates!" Peter murmured, a twinkle in his eye.
"You'll learn.....as they will.....Peter? Can we go home now?"
"As you wish it....." Taking her hand Peter reached the other out to Briggs, who in turn held onto Tepa. Together they rose from the deck and Peter flew them all to the beach and the expectant crowd awaiting them.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
(no, not the end.........gotta have the reunion/makeup/major fluff ending yet.......so don't despair.....not done entirely with this puppy yet.)