A/N - So sorry for not updating in so long. I was so busy with school work that I had no time. Thankfully April is a month where I'm never really busy. It's my Birthday/spring break month So I used my time to write and I have up to chapter fifteen written, all I have to do is type it all up and ta-da! Of course, I need to take Kingdom hearts breaks so it'll be slow typin'.
On another note this chapter does contain blood so if you don't like it, watch out. Also, whenever the text is italics it means that it's a flashback.
Sickness of the Heart
Chapter 11 - Cautious
The morning sun rose over the lush green island melting the last bit of snow that hung on the Cyprus trees. Large chunks of ice fell from the leaves creating large muddy puddles throughout the forest. The thick canopy concealed the sweet smell of bark in the area, but the cool breeze carried it away across the gentle rolling waves. The sweet forest scent mixed with the gentle breeze of the ocean spray creating an overall relaxing mood.
The radiant sun hit the top of the snow covered mountains and made a blinding skyline to the mermaids zipping under the murky lagoon surface. The blue skinned creatures peered above the surface with their glassy eyes to see a young boy with sandy blond hair and a cocky smile glide right past their home. The mermaids had the unique ability to sense things unknown to others. They knew all that happened in Neverland. All it's secretes and mysteries. One beautiful gilled women turned to another and grinned.
"She's back." The creature hissed and clicked in it's own language. The underwater demons watched as the boy disappeared into the thick forest. Peter stood in front of a tree that easily towered over the others. He looked around with sharp eyes and when he saw no one around, he smiled to himself. Entering the house, all was silent. The lost boys were still asleep in their bed. Peter stood that the base of their large shared bed and gently shook their bare feet to wake them. Several tiny, messy haired heads popped out from under the covers. They opened their mouths to protest about being woken up so early, but quickly shut them when they saw Peter put a finger to his lips.
"She's back." He whispered. The boys quickly leaped out of bed and dashed to the back room of the house to Peters room. On Peters oversized bed, a familiar little girl lay in the very center. To them, she looked like the same heroic girl they had accepted as their mother. Except her face was a little sharper now. Her features were also a little more defined. Especially her hips and chest grew to create graceful curves.
"When did she get here?" Curly asked.
"Just last night." Peter replied. The group of boys crawled onto the bed and formed a circle around the sleeping figure. Peter sat on his knees beside her head. Sun streamed in through the dirt walls and shined in the girls eyes, causing them to pop open.
"...No more light." She muttered before closing her eyes tight.
"So, the brave Red handed Jill is afraid of a little sunlight is she?" Peter laughed. Wendy opened her eyes and smiled up at him.
"Red handed Jill fears nothing." She sat up and looked around at the group of boys surrounding her. Suddenly, the boys all leap from their current spot on the bed, into her arms. Wendy hissed in pain when she felt a tight squeeze around her waist, but returned the embrace none-the-less. Her aches and pains were nothing compared to how much she had missed them all.
"We thought you forgot about us." Slightly cried into her shoulder.
"I would never forget my boys." She gently wiped a tear from his cheek. Peter stood from his bed and cleared his throat loudly to get Wendy's attention.
"Wendy. I would like to formally welcome you back to Neverland." He bowed. "Are you feeling Ok?" Wendy's hand went to her burning chest, but she shook her head despite the pain.
"Never better." She lied.
"Wendy..." She felt a gently tug on the sleeve of her night gown. She looked over to see Tootles sitting beside her. "Tell us a story." He asked. Wendy giggled inwardly. She hadn't told a story in so long since it was forbidden in her house.
"I suppose one couldn't hurt." The boys quickly gathered in front of Wendy to listen. As Wendy weave together a tale filled with love, hope , and glory through their heads, she completely forgot of everything else. It was as if she had never left. As Wendy spoke, she looked upon the faces of the eager lost boys. They all sat on the edge of their seats, just like John and Michael would do when they heard one of her stories. That's when she remembered the fact that she would never see them again. She missed them already. A small tear slid from the corner of her eye.
"What's wrong?" Peter interrupted. Wendy stopped her story to wipe the tear away.
"Just thinking."
"About what?" Peter stood to face her looking very worried. She gave him a reassuring smile.
"Everything..." Wendy sat down on her bed with her eyes closed. Her family, she would never see them again. None of that mattered now, her choice was already made. What mattered now was that she was home. She opened her eyes and smiled up at Peter. "but none of it's important now." Wendy bounced out of bed and took Peters hand in hers. The boys face burned Pink as he cleared his throat again.
"Well... W-what should we do now?" Peter asked nervously while trying to disconnect his hand from hers. Wendy got the hint and dropped his hand, giggling in a girlish fashion at his embarrassment. Suddenly, the sound of pounding footsteps echoed from above.
"Not again." Peter grumbled. The other boys all took cautious steps toward the back of the room. Wendy looked around, confused by the boys actions.
"What's happening?" She questioned Peter loudly. The eternal boy turned to her and put a finger to his lips rather harshly.
"If anything happens, protect Wendy." Peter fled from the room while the other boy scootched closer to Wendy.
"Please tell me what's happening?" Wendy asked louder. The boys all shushed her so the whole house was quiet again. The footsteps grew louder and soon they sounded as if they were right over head. Dirt fell from the ceiling from the pressure. Then the noise stopped, but Wendy heard the faint yelling of men overhead.
----
A large party of men made their way through the dense trees, lead by a devious looking man in a red coat. Occasionally, the scraggly looking men behind him turned to whisper to each other. The leader stopped the others and looked around.
"I saw 'em around here Cap'n" One man said.
"I don't care what you saw. Those fairies would never live this close to Pan." The leader yelled.
"But Cap'n, I saw 'em wit' me own eyes." the stout man next to him replied. The leader turned to his right hand man next to him and gestured to his glasses.
"I'm surprised you see anything when your eyes have failed you so long ago." The Bosun gulped as he raised his hook to tap the mans glasses.
"Codfish!" Another voice entered the situation. Peter Pan stepped out from behind a large pine tree and faced the hooked man. Strangely, Hook made no advances toward him, which actually gave Peter and uncomfortable feeling. "I know you want to come visit me Codfish, but its a little to early for visitors." Peter laughed.
"I have no time for you know Pan, I'm quite busy." Hook hissed. Peter cocked his head to the side, wondering why Hook didn't gut him where he stood, or at least try to. Peter watched as Hook and his crew took off in the opposite direction. Instead of leaving, Peter ran to catch up with Hook.
"You feelin' ok Hooky?" Peter held real worry in his voice. "You haven't tried to kill me in awhile." The pirate swiped his hook at Peter in an attempt to make him back off. In fact, it worked. Peter stopped dead in his tracks and watched as the pirates faded and became Silhouettes in the blinding sun. Peter stood there, full of concern. The only reason his greatest enemy would have for not taking a chance to kill him would be if he had something greater planned.
"Wonder what he's doin'?" Peter whispered to himself before turning to go back inside.
The boys gasped when the flap to the room opened. Luckily, they saw it was only Peter before they attacked. Wendy pushed past the boys and fell into Peters arms.
"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" She asked. Peter disconnected himself from her arms and sat on the bed with his head in his hands.
"It's hook, He's acting kinda funny."
"Hook?" Wendy sat beside him. " That's impossible. Hook is dead." Peter shook his head.
"We left to soon and he escaped.
"How did he escape?"
"Well..."
----
"Old, alone, done for! Old, alone ,done for!
A mighty, green sea monster thrust itself out of the water and snapped it's large jaws. It's target was the captain of the Jolly Roger who hovered over the pale reflective night water. The moon lit the deck of the nearby ship, bathing the children upon it in it's glow.
"Old, alone, done for!" The band of children relentlessly sang to try to get the captain to fall into the crocodiles belly. The captain tried to keep himself hovering by thinking of his own twisted excuse for a happy thought. Panicked, he flapped his arms to rise a few feet.
"Old." One of the twin said. Hook lowered.
"Alone." Curly repeated. Hook lowered even more.
"Done for!" Wendy finished. Hook looked up onto the main mast of the ship. Peter stood atop it, his eyes closed and his sword rested against his face, deep in thought. Finally deciding to give the children what they wanted, he crossed his arms across his chest and repeated.
"Old, alone, done for." With a bold expression and a stiff body, he let himself fall into the open mouth of the crocodile below. The crocodile closed it's mouth, trapping Hook within it's warm belly before dropping back into the waters depths.
This is where Peter made his big mistake. The children had all assumed that hook had given in and he was gone for good. Peter should have know that his worst enemy wouldn't have given up so easily. So as the children cheered and Peter reluctantly sailed the ship all the way back to London, Hook put up his own struggle. As Hook began traveling down the crocodiles throat, he threw his hook at the walls. Huge gashes appeared on it's insides. He could hear the beast coughing and hacking.
The crocodile swallowed in water, causing Hook to lower to his belly. Hook used the sleeve of his good hand to cover his nose against the stench while his Hook was busy slashing it's insides. The beast squirmed and wiggled to try to stop the pain, but it only made Hook fight harder. The air around him was slowly beginning to deplete. Just as he thought it was the end, he gave one more mighty slash and came tumbling out of the monsters belly. The crocodiles body convulsed one last time, then it's bloody form fell to the bottom of the sea. Hook swam up and broke the waters surface, taking in large deep breaths. A half broken bloody ticking clock floated to the surface . The captain grabbed the clock, and with one swipe of his Hook, he ended the annoying ticking forever.
The Jolly Roger was gone and his crew was no where in sight. Not only that, but the crocodile that had stalked him for ages was finally defeated. Absolutely nothing was holding him back from killing Peter Pan now. All those failed plans to kill Pan were spoiled by the crocodile and now it was gone. Neverland was about to change forever.
"Cap'n Hook!" Someone called from the distant shore. The captain looked in the direction of the voice to see his band of pirates waving to him on the dark beach. Hook made his way to shore
"Thought you wouldn't make it Cap'n." Jukes approached him.
"That beast hasn't killed me all these years and I wasn't about to let it now." Hook grumbled as he began to ring out his wet clothing. " That thing had another thing coming if it thought it would have the last laugh."
"Wudda we gonna do now Cap'n." Mullins asked. "Ships gone, Pan took it wit' 'im t'e London." Hook smiled inwardly.
"Pan will be back. His desire to remain a boy is far stronger then his desire for that wench. And when he returns, I will get me ship back."
----
"When I saw Hook still alive, I thought I was dreaming. But when the mermaids told me of everything, I knew it was true." Peter said.
"So what happened when you got back?" Wendy asked.
----
Peter sighed loudly as he steered the enchanted ship away from London .The lost boys had decided at the last minute to stay with peter. They got as far as the front door before turning back. They lined the rails of the ship as the mist from the clouds hit their faces.
"Do you think she'll remember us?" Nibs asked.
"She would never forget!" Slightly replied.
"Maybe mother will come to visit us soon!" Curly said.
"No!" Peter tilted the rim of Hooks hat that he wore so he could see the boys. "You can't ever speak of her!" Peter pushed the hat back down to conceal his eyes which tear slowly started to form.
"Sorry..."Curly whispered. the rest of the trip was silent. Finally they passed the barrier between Neverland and London. Peter hardly paid any attention to the surroundings as he began to land the ship on the waters surface. He was much to busy trying to force himself not to turn the ship back around and go back for Wendy.
"Hey Peter, Lookit that!" Tootles pointed towards the shore where a campfire burned brightly. Peter reached for his telescope and searched the beach.
"It's Hook!" Peter said in shock. " But how did he-" Peter was cut short by the loud firing of a gun. Peter shot up into the air to avoid the bullet, while the others dove onto the deck and covered their heads. "Abandon ship! Spilt up and meet back at the hideout!" Peter commanded. They all shot off in opposite directions so they could avoid the shots. Thankfully the boys all made it safely to their home, but they were not without problems. Every time the boys stepped out of their home, they were attacked to the point where they had to leave for long periods of time and come back when they were certain the pirates were no longer in the area. The boys soon became afraid to step outside
Then , one day, The strangest thing happened. Hook just stopped. They sometimes saw him on land, but he wasn't looking for them, or even attacking. Just looking for something.
----
"What do you think he's looking for?" Wendy interrupted.
"I'm not sure... "Peter looked up thoughtfully. "But he really started acting weird on the first day I went back to your window."
"Oh I remember!" Nibs shouted. "The day you left, and you caught us talking about mothers?" Peter nodded in response.
"I left because I was summoned by the fairies..."
----
"Peter!" tinkerbell flew to Peters side and jingled anxiously in the sleeping boys ear. Peter lazily swatted at the fairy,
"Lemme Lone Tink, 'm Tryin' t'e sleep." Peter mumbled into his pillow.
"It's an emergency! The fairy counsel has summoned you." Peters eyes snapped open at the mention of the counsel. The fairy counsel was made up of a group of fairies who watched over the land. They were the only beings in Neverland that held more power then Peter. In fact, it was them who let Peter stay in Neverland in the first place. They took care of all the changes in Neverland, but were rarely ever seen. Even Peter had only spoken to them a handful of times, and those times had only been in bad situations.
So as Peter made his way to the hidden fairy tree in which they resided, he was nothing but worried. As Peter flew quickly between the trees, not looking where he was going, he rammed right into the back of a man and was knocked to the ground. He sat , rubbing his bruised forehead.
"Watch where your going!" The man yelled and turned to reveal himself as Hook. His crew squatted into a defensive stance. Hook immediately signaled them to put their weapons down. "Easy men, tis only Pan." Hook and his crew turned away from Peter and went off in the opposite direction. Peter still sat on his bottom, completely confused.
"That was ... odd." Peter said to Tinkerbell. Deciding to let it go, Peter went off into the woods toward the fairies grove. The grove was tucked between a mass of trees and bushes. The whole place was secure by magic, so the fairies were not easily spotted A tree, burdened by old age, stood in the middle. To the untrained eye, it looked like a normal tree, but it was far from that.
"Where are they?" Peter asked upon arrival.
"They went into hiding." Tinkerbell let out a high pitched whistle and a hole appeared in the old tree out of no where. A small couple with wings appeared from the trees depths. One was a women with long flowing blond hair and a warm, welcoming face. She curtseyed to peter in her ankle length, silky gown. A male fairy in a green , leafy vest stood next to her. His features were much more sharp and defined.
" Presenting Cadoc, King of Neverland." Tinkerbell gestured to the male fairy. "and Arien, Queen of Neverland." She then gestured to the female fairy. Peter bowed deeply to both royals.
"I'm glade you came so quickly, young prince of Neverland." Cadoc spoke.
"Why have you summoned me?" Peter asked. Cadoc and Ariens faces grew serious.
"Things are changing Peter." Cadoc started. "Hook has been coming onto shore far more often then needed."
"He is searching for something, but what, we cannot tell." Arien said. Peters eyes opened wide.
"I ran into Hook , all he said was ' Watch where your going!'" Peter said in his best Hook impersonation voice. The fairies resisted the urge to laugh.
"We brought Hook to Neverland for your enjoyment. You asked us for a challenge, and we brought you him." Cadoc said. "Now it is you who keeps him here. Every time Hook tried to leave, he fails because you don't want him to leave. Your mind is his prison. I fear that even if you let him leave, he wouldn't dare until he saw you dead."
"Since Hook was brought here for you, it is you who must make sure he does not disrupt Neverlands peace. Keep your eyes sharp and your ears open. Don't let your guard down so easily next time." Arien said. Peter nodded in response.
Hook was never hard to look after. For the most part, Peter knew just how to keep those pirates in line, but something about the fact that Hook ignored him instead of trying to slaughter him, gave him a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"I'll watch Hook, don't worry." Peter reassured them.
----
"I wonder what this is all about?" Wendy thought out loud. Peter shrugged.
"Wish I knew... I actually kinda miss me and Hooks fights." Wendy laughed and stood from the bed.
"I'm going to go outside for a bit of fresh air." Wendy headed for the door. Peter rushed to her side and pulled her back.
"You can't, Hook is still out there!"
Wendy gave peter a strange look " Why not? Hook isn't attacking anymore, so it's safe."
Peter shook his head. "He's still hook. Even if he is acting differently. Promise me you won't go outside without me?" Wendy was shocked by peter harsh tone and serious expression. She realized Peter was afraid for her, not mad, just afraid. In her weak state, it would be impossible for her to fight Hook and Peter knew that. But being shut up inside all day when there was a whole Island to roam about was unbearable.
"Peter... I..."
"Just promise me!" Peter held up his little finger in front of Wendy's face. The girl gently took his pinky in hers.
'"I promise."
A/N - Once again, so sorry for such a long wait I'll be quicker, I promise...(hehe, end line for the chapter)
Wonder what Hooks up to? Well... I really don't have to wonder do I? I'm the all knowing author MUAHAHA, I already know what he's up to ( and you don't... yet) I love being the Author!
