Chapter Three: Child or Pirate?

A/N: Still don't own Peter Pan. J.M Barrie was a genius though, wasn't he? Wish I had that imagination…. This story will have to do. Besides, I do own Marina.

Marina trekked through her island playground. She took in the sights of the brightly colored flowers and enjoyed the company of passing faeries. Over the years, the creatures of the island had become the best playmates a girl could wish for. However, it was this day that Fate decided to slowly introduce Marina into Peter Pan and the Lost boy's lives.

Stopping by her favorite stream, she sat on a rock and munched on a piece of fruit she had snatched from the breakfast table earlier that morning. The sun warmed her already browned skin and she lazed about enjoying the quiet that her solitude offered. It was here that she turned to think about her father and the life that they both lead. Never having known that another life existed until she read the books her father collected, everything had seemed normal. Now she knew that he life wasn't as normal, at compared to the books about England. Her father had often told her about growing up there, but assured her that life here, even with Pan, was more suited for someone like her.

Marina couldn't help the grin that filled her face. She was special; her father reminded her everyday. She had been a gift to him from the sea and was destined to become a pirate queen. She studied the dagger that had been a recent gift from her father. He had found it many years ago on a raid, long before Neverland. The rubies gleamed brightly and the handle was the shape of an angel with its wings outspread. He had said it was for his own angel.

A crunch of dry twigs and leaves caught Marina's attention. Knowing that someone or something was coming upon her quickly, she calmly stood and walked farther down the path and swung up into a shaded tree. Holding very still, she waited for the intruder. She didn't wait long as two boys came within her sight, completely unaware of her presence.

"What did Peter say we were supposed to be doing?"

"Patrolling while he fights Hook."

"Oh…. patrolling for what?"

"Pirates, Indians, any type of enemy."

Marina rolled her eyes at the boys. They were obliviously the lackeys that this "Pan" had left behind. Jumping down silently, she landed and in a crouch on the ground. The boys still didn't even notice her. Shaking her head in disbelief she thought to herself 'These boys are supposed to be keeping watch?' Drawing her dagger, she crept softly behind the boys. When they stopped in a clearing to rest, she caught up behind them. Grabbing the closest, she held the dagger to his throat.

"Now then, boys, mind telling me who you are and what you are doing on my island?"

The boy is her grasp held still while the other stood gaping at her like a fish out of water.

"If you don't speak, this one here gets a nice little slit…across his throat," She growled out annoyed.

"I'm… err Curly and that there's Nibs. We're the uh… Lost Boys." Curly went pale but was quickly inching his hand back for his own dagger.

"Lost boys? Never heard of ya!" She pushed Nibs back at his companion. "Have a seat, lads."

They sat as she stood over them. "So what exactly is a Lost boy?"

This time it was Nibs who talked. "Well, when a boy falls out of his bassinet and isn't claimed after some time, they get sent here to live with Peter Pan."

"Peter Pan? He a lost boy too?"

"Not exactly. He's our leader and well Neverland is his. It's his home. He was taken by faeries here because he never wanted to grow up. He was the first and now rescues others. He once brought us a mother but she left." (A/N: Yes I know, the lost boys went with Wendy but it's my story and I like it this way!)

            Curly studied the girl. "Hey, are you our new mother? Peter said he'd find us a new one someday! Will you tell us stories?"

Marina looked at the boys with wide eyes. What the heck were they talking about?

"Mother? I'm no mother! I'm a pirate, daughter of Captain James Hook of the Jolly Rodger. Surely, you do know who he is?"

The boys looked confused as the information passed through the minds. "You're a pirate? But only adults are pirates. You're a kid!"

Marina narrowed her eyes at these two boys. They were clearly wasting her time. "I am just as pirate as anyone aboard that ship, even more so." Standing tall, she glared at the boys.

"Hey, uh Nibs, don't we kill pirates?"

Nibs nodded slowly and grabbed his dagger. This was certainly turning into quite an adventure for young Marina.