----
They arrived back at the treehouse and Peter was up and about, clearly feeling better. He flew around, making crowing sounds. Wendy managed to settle him down but then the other Boys were in a frenzy. She left the room into hers, for some quiet relaxation as Peter left flying off somewhere.
After a while, he returned and barged into her room. Wendy exclaimed, "Knock, Peter!" He interrupted, "The Boys are missing. . .again!"
She got up vexed and Peter found Tinkerbell laying in her apartment, he woke her up and asked where the boys went. She said truthfully that they went down to Mermaid Lagoon and not to bother her when she is sleeping.
Peter turned to Wendy, taking her hand, "Come away."
She stammered, "B-But Peter, you banned me from Mermaid Lagoon!" He floated up, "Then stay next to me and don't look them in the eye." Peter dragged her towards Mermaid Lagoon and they landed on the shore. Wendy turned away, not looking at the mermaids as they swam over to talk to Peter. The boys didn't appear to be anywhere around the shores of the Lagoon.
Wendy abruptly felt something cold and wet touch her leg. She snapped around to the same red-haired hypnotic-eyed mermaid, it had clutched her ankle with it's webbed hand. Wendy tried to pull from her gaze and finally twisted away, falling into the shallow end of the water; drenching herself.
Peter heard splashing and saw Wendy struggling at the end, as some wandering mermaids began pull ather.
Before he could react, she kicked one in the face fiercely and took up Peter's dagger, cutting the redhead mermaid and waving the dagger at the rest who dared to get close. They squealed and fled.
Breathing hard, Wendy returned his bloodsoaked dagger and shrugged at theataken back expression, "What did they say?" Peter opened his mouth to gape then closed it, the process went on as something heavy belted Wendy in the head. She blacked out to the sounds of a tussle.
When Wendy awoke from the stinging in her head, she found herself somewhere in the dark and surrounded by water.
The only thing she could hear was rushing stream, Wendy assumed she was in a cave of some sort. She tried to get herself out of her ropes that tied her down but it was no use. The water level kept getting higher, soon it was up to her neck. Wendy thrash about harder but it was still no avail, she silently prayed for a miracle as the water reached her chin.
Suddenly, a light appeared in the distance and Tinkerbell made her way over.
Wendy shouted desperately, "Tinkerbell, help me!"
Now, Tinkerbell could not let poor Wendy drown but she would nevertheless hate the lowly girl, so she did not consider this a favor. Tinkerbell untied her ropes and, using her light, guided Wendy out of the cave.
Wendy sat upon large rocks and exhaled, "Thank you." Tinkerbell responded, Peter's been taken to the Jolly Roger, along with everyone else.
Wendy stood up carefully, "Then we'll save them. Together." Tinkerbell disinclined internally but followed her as they flew towards the open ocean, where the Jolly Roger stood proudly in the setting rays of the sun. They hide in the shadows near coast, Wendy saw the Lost Boys and her brothers tied to a pole in the middle of the ship but there was no sign of Peter.
Tinkerbell gestured upward and she saw him hung up over the profound blue sea.
Several pirates compactly confined his legs and wrists together so that he could not escape drowning, and for good measure, tied a heavy rock to him. Captain Hook looked uphighly spirited, "A minute shall pass and your Miss Wendy Darling will be no more."
The Boys cried miserably as Peter gave him the meanest look he could muster, on him, it looked childishly wrong and at the same time perfect for the circumstances.
Hook counted down the seconds and Wendy whispered her plan to Tinkerbell. As Tinkerbell flew off, Wendy made her way to the Jolly Roger sneakily. Captain Hook said eagerly, holding up Peter's stolen dagger,
"Four. . ."
The Lost Boys and Wendy's brothers bawled outloud passionately.
"Three. . ."
Peter looked away, closing his eyes as if to block out the memory of this.
"Two. . ."
Wendy whacked Hook across the head with a cask, sending him staggering. She said stridently, dropping it, "One."
Hook looked at her, blood red eyes glittering as Wendy said ceremoniously, "It is not polite to strike a lady." Peter glanced at her grinning as the boys shouted their approval, he saw Tinkerbell was coming to get him out of his rigging.
Hook noticed too and cut the ropes, sending him into the ocean still tied up. Wendy jumped out of the ship and dove under to rescue Peter.
A few seconds past, thirty seconds, a full minute.
Wendy soared back onto the ship, sodden and with no Peter. She looked at the Boys and shook her head, looking down. Everyone bowed their heads as Captain James Hook took off his feathered hat, "So, he finally passes from our world to the next."
He was unexpectedly offended to hear Wendylaughing and she looked up beaming at her. Everyone would have thought her mad, if a certain boy's voice had not called out, "Not today you old codfish!" Peter Pan swooped down, very much alive, and plucked up Hook's hat, throwing it away into the breeze. Infuriated, Captain Hook shouted, "Come down here and fight like a man!"
Peter laughed and took out his sword, as they battled each other, Wendy freed the boys and they grabbed weapons.
As they all fought, Wendy watched everyone else exchange blows and saw that Hook was now getting ready to kill Peter. If Peter Pan wasn't so cocky, he would pay more attention to what he was doing but Peter was a very self-satisfied boy. So he taunted and Hook was becoming very incensed. Peter yawned, "Is that all you got old man?"
Hook gave a few more blows and Peter blocked him easily, he closed his eyes in a sleepy expression and laid down in midair.
What made him shocked back into seriousness was when Hook bit him in the shoulder; Peter cried out in pain and lurched.
Wendy gasped.
Hook knocked him aside and threw him against something solid, choking him. The Captain whispered menacingly as he raised his hook, "It ends Peter Pan."
It could have been the end of Peter Pan, but it wasn't. Out of the blue, Hook's face slowly dropped and a sword ran through him from behind, sticky red with his own blood. Captain James Hook finally fell dead on the Jolly Roger and everyone stilled.
It was Wendy who ran him through, she tossed aside the sword deadpan and heaving. Peter said feebly, "I told you to leave him to me."
She blinked, "I'm sorry," but not sounding at all apologetic.
They floated back down and the boys had captured Hook's crew. Peter bowed to his dead enemy and said with a deep voice, "Tie them up, you dogs!" They cheered, that evening was a great feast and festival.
Wendy enjoyed it the best she could but the truth was sinking in, she had to leave with her brothers and the Lost Boys soon.
The boys came to her and Wendy said, "We shall be leaving soom. Get ready." Their faces brightened and she saw Peter sulk away to the cliff. Wendy followed him and saw his moonlit figure, again, those slender bronzed arms tucked so insecurely.
She touched his shoulder, "Peter-"
He did not look at her. Wendy said, "I told you, I cannot stay, we all need to grow up." Peter said gruffily, "That's fine. Go."
He bellowed in her face, "GO! LEAVE! I DON'T WANT YOU HERE! GO GROW UP!"
"DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT PETER PAN!" She shrilled back into his face.
Their voices echoed throughout Neverland and Peter was shaking ever so violently. She lowered her eyes, "I don't want to leave but I have to." An idea suddenly came to her, "You...you can come with me. Come to England." He shook his head obstinately, "I don't want to grow up. I don't want to go to school. I don't want to be a man."
Wendy said straight away, "But Peter, you've overlook so much! There is so much you need to to experinece!" Peter scowled, "What? Whatcould possible be there that would help the ache of growing up? That could make me change my mind?"
She waited a moment then murmured tenderly, "I am hoping that you would let me show you."
Wendy summoned all of her inner strength and clumsily brought her lips to his, Peter was so stunned by this occurence that he did not pull away.
She gave such power and ardor in this...actual kiss that it brought them both to their knees weakly. Wendy pressed closer to him, bringing her arms around his neck. As their fervor rose, a glow panned around them both, brilliant and vivid with love.
Love.
The word filled Peter with wonder and fear. That fantastic apprehension took his stomach and spun it delightfully, this was the second kiss he had gotten, and it was better then the last one his Wendy gave him.
Out of breath, they pulled away from each other and leaned their foreheads against each others. Peter whispered, not caring at all about growing up at that moment, "I'll go with you. As long as you stay with me."
Wendy smiled, "Forever, Peter, if not longer."
He took her hands into his own and stood up, gently taking her back to the treehouse to get the boys.
They stood outside, awaiting patiently for them. When they did arrive, Wendy sprinkled them with fairy dust and everyone flew out of Neverland. Peter protested, wishing to get one last look. Tinkerbell was nowhere to be found and Wendy felt half relieved that she wasn't there to see them off. They were at the treehouse when she said quietly, "It's time to go Peter."
He gripped Wendy's hand strongly for reassurance. She squeezed his hand softly as they flew past the planets, out into the sky. Wendy and Peter held back, floating all over England, starry eyed as the evening sky.
As Peter promised in the past, he introduced her to the stars and she happily greeted them all. They all murmured in approval and the littlest star stated shyly how beautiful she was. Wendy blushed, gracefully bowing as Peter watched on with a smile.
She smiled back and felt a shiver - a sudden boom ricochet - alarming them both - blurry vision - her Peter's form falling below the clouds - falling - diminishing - down -
----