Disclaimer:
I, Aslansphoenix declare that I do not own 'Peter Pan', Neverland or anything that you find familiar. Technically some of the characters did come from my head ... but I think they belong to Neverland just as much as any canon characters.
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Author's Note
Thank-you for your patience.
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"All Children Grow up Except One"
Everyone Knows about Neverland,
About the home of Peter Pan.
Second to the Right, and Straight on till Morning.
To the place between dreaming and awakening.
There are rules in Neverland
Rules that must be obeyed.
Boys forget much easier than Girls.
"No Girl can resist Peter Pan,
When he uses a specific voice."
One more thing, which is True ...
In Neverland, You learn all about You.
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Chapter Seventeen
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And only Margaret noticed when Eliza slipped out of the hideout, but no one saw the glint of silver clutched in her hand.
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"Stupid Peter."
Eliza kicked a pile of leaves in anger as she grumbled. She was angry, embarrassed, and hurt … but mostly she was frustrated with herself. Frustrated with her stupid crush on Peter Pan. Sure he was nice to look at, and confident, talented, heroic, and all those other qualities that Eliza and her friends from home used to giggle about. (Their names came and went, but Eliza still remembered their faces.)
But, Peter Pan was also just a stupid little boy. So arrogant and believing himself to be the best, he cared more about playing games than he did about people's feelings, and he never seemed to remember anything Eliza said to him! 'But he remembered Wendy' Eliza thought with spite; Wendy who was old, and obviously irresponsible if she let a bunch of children just fly off to Neverland.
Eliza continued grumbling to herself. It was easier to be angry at Peter, and Wendy and all the others, than to face the sorrowful feeling of an unrequited crush. She was so busy complaining to herself, that she didn't see the pirate crouching by a tree, until she literally walked into him.
Eliza started to yell at the intruder to watch where he was going, there was a swish and of a noise and Eliza found herself staring at a blade. She glared at the sword's owner then felt her anger fade in shock "Mitchell?"
Mitchell blinked at the girl in front of him. She was one of the ones always with Pan … but she knew him and looked quite familiar … He knew her, Mitchell knew that; he just couldn't quite recall her name.
He was startled as she started slapping him; too weak to hurt, but enough to get her point of being angry with across. Which he would have gathered from her squawking.
"Where have you been?! What have you been doing?! Why are you dressed like a pirate?! Which actually; you almost pull the look off, except for that ugly bandanna. Which, seriously Mitchell why are you wearing that?"
The barrage of questions, the snooty tone that hid the worried undercurrent; all brought back knowledge of who the girl was. His twin-sister, the girl who was both his best friend and his arch-rival.
"Eliza …"
"Mitchell."
"…Could you stop hitting me."
"You put a sword to my throat! You're a pirate! What on earth happened to you? And seriously brother – why the bad bandanna."
"Because it's practical. Look sit down and we'll talk, okay."
Eliza glared for a moment then sat on a nearby rock and at the first the two siblings just looked at each other with awkwardness in the air. Mitchell explained that; yes, he had joined Hook's crew, and he didn't regret it. He had learned so many skills and that Captain Hook was not a monster but a gentleman who trusted him, Mitchell. He was an important member of the crew.
(He didn't speak about how hard the work was, or his wonderings about the cruel secret smiles shared by the rest of the crew. Nor did he mention how during the nights he had never felt more alone. Those were thoughts pushed to the back of his mind. Thoughts and feelings, he pretended did not exist.)
Mitchell told Eliza about seeing the Neverbird fly in the morning sun, and how the stars reliably twinkled in their places in the sky. He told her that it was better than playing pretend with a bunch of little boys. Mitchell sighed and explained that the bandanna kept his hair out of his face, that it soaked up sweat and made the work easier, that it could be used for sun-protection. And that it was just the worn thing - okay!
Eliza told Mitchell that she had almost beaten a mermaid, and she would have if the others hadn't interfered. She spoke about the Indian Parties and how spoiled the Princess seemed, though she could be alright at times. Eliza ranted about how stupid boys were, and she came full circle – arrived back to venting the same frustrations she had been venting before she had tripped over Mitchell.
When Mitchell admitted that it was his turn to try and spy on the Lost Boys, Eliza told him off. Apparently; she had had enough of 'spies' and she certainly wasn't going to stand for Mitchell and a bunch of smelly pirates spying on the group; no matter what her personal feelings about them were. She started to stalk off with a dramatic flair, when Mitchell grabbed her wrist.
"Hey, don't be like that. Please. Come on Eliza, listen to me. The Captain is not what the stories paint him as, he's a proper gentleman, and I bet he'll be able to help. Let me just to him okay."
"Ugh Fine, but I'm not helping him find the hideout."
End of Chapter Seventeen.
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Author's Note:
Here this chapter ends.
*oh just in case anyone is confused; the last chapter's 'Boom' was related to how in the book; Hook's first evil plan was to bake a too-rich cake (not-poisoned) and leave it lying around in hopes of the Lost Boys eating it.
Thanks to SwordsFireMe
Thanks to all readers of this story.
I thank you all for your patience.
Date - Wednesday 4th September 2019