Chapter Two: Growing Up
A/N: As much as I would love to take credit for it all, I own almost nothing associated with this story. ::::hangs head in shame::::: yes, yes I know! The credit all belongs to the wonderful J.M Barrie and skilled workers of Disney (where I recently met Capt. Hook and Mr. Smee in person and I have the picture to prove it ::::waves it around happily:::). I do own Marina so please leave her untouched and remember…. Dead men tell no tales. Bawhaha!!!!
We all have been told that "Everyone grows up, except one," and this is still the case. It is not Neverland that prevents Peter from aging, but is his will that he will never age. However, Marina did not share the same will and aged. However, Neverland is a fickle friend, and even though Marina aged, she aged many times slower then you and I. As she grew, Hook taught her everything he knew, from well-cultured English manners, to the fine art of pirating. Watching his daughter grow caused Hook to form a small plan in the back of his mind.
'She shall take over one day and become the most feared pirate in the seven seas.' He thought happily as he watched her sword-fight the crewmembers.
Years passed and with them Wendy's family line stopped coming to Neverland. Whether it was because they stopped believing in a boy that could fly, or Peter's forgetfulness took over, we may never know. However, that is a story for another time. The present time is early morning upon Neverland, and the crew of the Jolly Rodger is just awakening.
"Marina! Get back here now!
"Not today, Smee. Not ever!" a girl laughed and a splash was quickly followed. It was the daily routine of the tomboy daughter of the feared Captain Hook. Smee watched the girl swim quickly towards the island, he dagger firmly placed between her teeth.
"Mr. Smee, one would eventually learn to accept the fact that my daughter was not destined to wear a dress." Hook growled with a small smirk as he exited his cabin.
"Aye, sir, but I keep tell her that it ain't fittin fer a lady, as such she is, to be paradin' 'round dressed as one of Pan's own boys."
Smee made the fatal mistake of mentioned Marina and Pan in the same sentence. Hook fought day after day, year after year, keeping Pan from knowing that his child was aboard the ship. So far as he knew, he had been successful.
His blue eyes starting showing signs of red as he held Smee aloft by his shirt. "My daughter, Mr. Smee, is better then those 'boys,' as you so kindly put." Before he could continue his rant, cries from his crew rang out.
"Pan ahoy!" Grabbing his telescope, he spotted the menace flying cloud to cloud above the ship. Glancing towards the island, he saw his daughter disappear. Immediately he was taken back to the day where he and his daughter went exploring the island. Well, she had called it picking wildflowers but he would never admit to the crew that that had been their great adventure, as it was many, many times afterwards. It was during one of those trips that Hook had managed to spot Pan before he himself was spotted. Perhaps it was merely that the boy was not paying any attention or that maybe Neverland herself was sheltering them from his eyes. It didn't matter either way, all that did was that Hook had hurried and grabbed his child in order to protect her, as any parent would if they had thought some dangerous predator was stalking their young. It was the first time that Hook had no desire to fight the boy, but to hide as quickly as possible.
There had been other encounters, but each time had left Marina out of sight and Hook quite grateful. A shot rang through the harbor, bringing the Captain back to the present. Knowing that Neverland would protect his daughter, he engaged in a full out battle against the young tyrant.
What Hook didn't know that even though Marina was sheltered from Pan's eyes, he was not from hers. The shots had drawn her attention and she watched briefly as her father battled against the boy. The scene was nothing new to her, and although she could only assume that this was the "Pan" that her father ranted about she could never understand their game. She turned back and followed the trail through the brush off to her own adventure.