The Greatest Adventure

This was an idea that popped into my head, and I figured why not just write the first chapter and see how it goes.

Enjoy!

Chapter One:

The Choice

The cool wind howled through the trees, shaking the branches and the leaves. The waves moved across the open ocean with speed and crashed against the rocks below, as the sun slowly sunk beneath the mountains, bringing with it a darkness that covered the entire land. Only the full moon stood against it, shining down on all below it.

Standing at the edge of a large wooden platform and holding onto a tree branch, a young boy stared toward the horizon, dressed in clothing made out of leaves and animal skin. His silence spoke his mood, one of nostalgia and longing. A familiar somber that many were becoming used to.

The boy sighed, as he moved his hand up to his neck, touching an acorn necklace. He caressed it, feeling a little comfort that brought a smile to his face. But it wasn't enough. Not like all the times it used to.

"Peter?"

Peter Pan didn't turn to acknowledge the owner of the voice. He barely even heard him, as it was like a sound down a long dark tunnel.

The boy behind him sighed and rolled his eyes, moving to his side to watch the sun make its descent.

"The others are getting worried."

Peter only nodded, "Hmm."

"You can't keep doing this."

Anger rose, making his face turn slightly red. The uncomfortableness of this confrontation only added to his bitterness.

"I'll be back."

He began to float off the platform, ready to fly. Until he felt a hand grab him, forcing him to turn and look into the eyes of his best friend.

"No!" the boy glared. "We need to talk!"

Peter glared back and held his eyes for what felt like an eternity.

The boy's face softened, "Going to back isn't going to help. I've been there."

"You know nothing of what I feel!" Peter spat out, eyes flaring with anger.

A look of sadness filled his eyes, "At least she feels the same way."

Peter chuckled, "If she did... then she would be here."

The boy frowned before laughing, "You know why. Her reasons were sound, but don't mistake them for her not feeling the same way."

"Then why isn't she here?!"

The boy shook his head as he pulled Peter back to the ground, getting up into his face.

"Don't go back there! You'll only make things worse for her if you do!"

"I won't let her know."

"You can't keep reopening this wound every time you miss her."

Tears appeared in Peter's eyes as he looked away, staring towards the last bit of the sun before it was gone.

"She's so close... so close to..."

The boy stared and gave him a sad nod, "How else did you think this was going to end?"

The wind blew against them.

"It was fun while it lasted. The adventure the two of you shared... even a blind man could tell it was special. But it's time to let all of that go and move on. There will be more adventures to be had, more fun to be experienced. More girls and boys to bring here."

Peter shook his head, while tears ran down his face, "I can't let this go. I can't... let her go..."

The two stared into each other's eyes before the boy sighed as he let go of Peter's hand and walked to the edge of the platform, staring out towards the ocean as he ran his hands through his hair. He pushed deep into his thoughts, trying to find a solution. A way to resolve this.

Minutes past as the night finished his conquest over the light.

Taking a deep breath, the boy turned to his friend.

"Peter... what do you want?"

Peter frowned, "What?"

"What do you want?"

The question made him pause, freezing him in place as it rang in his ears like a series of bells.

'What do you want?'

He lowered his eyes to the ground, "I don't know."

The boy looked at him with sadness, "This can't go on any longer. You must decide."

Peter frowned, "Decide what?"

"The only way you can find any closure, is if you decide right here, right now," the boy paused before taking a deep breath. "Do you love her?"

Once again, Peter was caught off guard but this time, he didn't answer with silence.

"Yes!"

"Do you want her to be by your side?"

"Yes!"

The boy paused before asking his next question, which felt like salt to his lips.

"Would you give up this life for her?"

Peter opened his mouth, his answer already chosen, but he stopped.

A realization stunned him, like as if his brain had been hit by a bolt of lightning. And for the first time in so long, fear crept into his heart. A fear that made him slightly shake.

The boy saw the look on the face, knowing that he was aware of what he was telling him.

As he nodded, he placed a hand on his shoulder, "How long has it been since she last came here?"

Slowly, Peter whispered, "Two years."

"Then the time to decide is now... or never."

Peter shook his head, "I can convince her-"

The boy moaned as he took his best friend by the shoulders and shook him, "Damn it! Listen to me! Get it through your head, she made her choice years ago! If she had wanted to come back, she would have done so at any time! This isn't about her living here! This is about you!"

Peter's eyes widened at the anger and frustration in his voice.

"There's only two options for you! Stay here and live your life the way you always have! Or..."

Even in his fit of anger, the boy couldn't bring himself to finish it. The very thought made him want to cry. He knew he had crossed a line, one that couldn't be stepped back over.

His face was so red and heated that he barely didn't even feel the tears sliding down his face. Blinking, he let go of Peter and backed away, wiping away the tears.

"Go to her if you want. Just seriously consider what is more important to you. Or else... the decision will be made for you."

Turning his back, he walked away and disappeared inside the Hideout.

Peter watched, shaken by his friend's outburst. He couldn't stop his body from trembling from the realization. His very heart felt like it was racing and pounding against his chest. And deep within, he felt a sense of terror that he had never felt before. One that made him all the more afraid.

He could only stand there, trying to get himself under control.

A part of him wished that Tink was there to help him. To encourage him.

But he also was happy that she wasn't. He already knew what she would say to him. What she would do to keep him from going back. She already was well known for her outbursts every time he went back to the real world.

Back to her.

The face of the girl he felt so much for had entered his thoughts. Her beautiful, light brown hair that was always done in a ringlet ponytail. Her light, fair skin that was somehow always flawless. Her pink lips that added to the smile she wore so much. And her blue eyes that could capture and hold his green eyes. Unlike the other girls he had brought to Neverland, she was the one who he remembered the most. The one who captured his attention.

But it was so much more.

Something about her changed him. Hence, not a whole lot, but enough for others to notice. Hook, Tiger Lily, the Chief, the Lost Boys, and even his best friend, who was the first to see it out of all of them.

And deep down, he knew that he was right.

He needed to make a choice before one was made for him. But he feared the possibility of regret. Either one held the risk of him regretting what he would be giving up, what he would be facing if he didn't choose the other. Or vice versa.

Needing to clear his head, he floated off the platform and took to the sky, flying for the star that shined the brightest.

Flying past the Tower of London and hearing the clock's bell ring, he flew through the darkness of the sky and found the address he was looking for. A tall building that belonged to one of the wealthy families in all of London. Inside, children being put to rest, children that he once knew and sheltered at one point. Children who were now growing up.

But he wasn't interested in them.

He flew to the top floor and found the window. Using his magic, he opened the lock to the window and stood onto the ledge to peek inside.

He smiled at the sight of a young girl in a chair, reading a book by the fireplace. She was still in her dress; most likely having been to one of the parties that her parents had been forcing her to go to. He smiled at the memory of her ranting about it a while back.

As he rested his hand onto the surface wood of the window, he paused.

Studying her, Peter couldn't help but admire her beauty from this side of her. She was as beautiful the day he had met her, and she was still beautiful the day she left. But now... she was growing even more so.

He grew jealous.

No doubt that a number of men would seek her hand in marriage. To claim her as their wife, having children with her, to live and grow old with her. The very thought made him turn red.

Suddenly, she laughed.

Even from where he was, he could hear her laughter from behind the window. It was so soft, so calming, so beautiful. Enough to melt his anger and jealousy away. Enough to remind him of the strong person she was. As gentle and beautiful she as was, she was equally as tough and courageous. She was the very same girl who helped him fight Hook and his gang of pirates. She was the same girl who saved his life. And the very same girl who walked away, even when he asked her to stay.

Remembering his friend's words, he shook his head and pushed the window open as he stepped inside.

The girl felt his presence as she beamed and allowed the book to fall to the ground. Getting up to her feet, she turned and saw him, smiling as bright as the rising sun as she ran towards him.

"Peter!"

His heart leaped with joy at the sight of her smile. Even before she threw herself onto him and wrapped her arms around his neck, he was already taken by her. The very smell of her perfume. The smell of her scent. The smell of her hair. It was too much but yet, not enough.

He hugged back and smiled.

Sitting under the full moon in some park, the two stared up at the stars and called out what shape they saw. Of course, they were doing so on top of a blanket, along with some bread and a bottle of juice that happened to be hidden away under the bed back at the residence.

How Peter managed to carry her, and everything else, was a blur to him.

As they ate and drank to their hearts content, they talked and forgot about their own worlds. Instead, they lost themselves to the little world that they had created in the moment. The kind they had lost themselves in so many times before.

But as their time slowly came to an end for the night, Peter remembered the conversation with his friend and began to wonder how many times they would be able to do this. How many more trips would he be able to make before the day when come when he no longer be to? How much longer before she would be too old and would leave to make a life for her own?

He shuddered at the thought.

As he stared at her, he slowly began to realize how important she was to him. What she represented to him. And in that moment, he fully understood what his friend was talking about.

Her smile, her joy, her love. Her everything. It was all he wanted.

She was all he wanted.

When the time came to head back, he was suddenly faced with the reality that this was the moment when he had to make his choice. A choice that would define his life from here on out. No more meeting between. No more avoiding it.

But that fear returned once his high had calmed down.

He knew what this meant if he chose her. How it would affect everyone back home. How it would affect him. The hardships that would come with it. The possibility that maybe things wouldn't work out. The possibility of regret.

But he also thought about the possibility of what would happen if he chose different. And that was equally as terrifying.

Once back to the window of her room, he sat her down, allowing her to set the blanket that held the plates and empty bottle down onto the ground.

Looking at the time, she sighed and turned to him, smiling once again.

"I better caught up on some sleep," she paused as she played with her hair. "Thank you for the wonderful night, Peter."

As she turned away, Peter suddenly felt his hand reach out and grab her wrist.

She gasped and turned to look at him.

Nervous and unsure, Peter debated with himself.

He didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay. He wanted to tell her how he felt.

"Peter?" her face grew with concern at the look on his face and the slight fear in his eyes.

Slightly shaking, Peter looked into her eyes and took a deep breath before closing the gap between them and pressed his lips against hers.

The girl's eyes widened, shocked by his boldness, but quickly reacted by kissing back and closing her eyes. Her arms found their way around his neck as she slightly moaned and pressed her body against his.

Growing bolder, his hands went down to her hips and held her closer to him.

Her lips tasted so good, as did her tongue as it wrestled with his own. It was like a series of shooting stars for them both as they lost themselves to the moment of intimacy between them. Their hearts leaped with joy, pounding side-by-side.

As they parted but still held one another, they allowed themselves to breath.

With his forehead against hers, he looked into her eyes and said, "I want to stay."

The girl's eyes widened again before she began to smile and leaned in to capture his lips once more under the moon's light.

Peter awoke to the feel of the sun's light on his face and slowly began to feel his senses returning as the sleep subsided. Rubbing his eyes, he yawned and suddenly felt something move against him.

Instincts kicking in, he moved for his weapon but realized that it wasn't on him. A fact that made him anxious until he saw that the thing moving against him was actually a someone.

He smiled as the face of the girl he loved appeared from under the blanket, her hair in disarray, which only made her look all-the-more beautiful, as she slept.

As he caressed her hair, memories of the previous night returned to him, and his smile grew.

While they didn't do anything beyond their little kissing session, it slowly dawned on him that he truly had made his decision. A decision that made his direction clear.

Slowly, he rose from the bed and wrote a note for her, leaving on the nightstand as he took to the skies and flew into the atmosphere, knowing exactly where the second star to the right would be.

As he reentered the world he had called home for as long as he could remember, he felt a bittersweetness enter his heart, knowing that this could be the last time he would ever be there. Not after what happened last night.

As he landed on the platform of his now former home, he saw his friend standing at the entrance, waiting for him.

Just one look at Peter told him all he needed to know as he began to tear up and smile.

The two approached each other and embraced.

"Take care of them," said Peter. "That's an order."

His friend nodded as he cried some more, "It's been honor."

As they broke apart, they entered the hideout and split up.

Entering his room one last time, Peter began to pack, taking all that he needed. By the time he was done and exited back onto the platform, he was greeted with the small group of Lost Boys, who were crying as they immediately ran up to him.

"Peter, don't go!" one cried out.

"We need you!" exclaimed another.

"Please stay!"

Peter began to tear up as he looked at each of them, remembering the day when he found each one of them.

"I need to go," he bent by his knees. "There's something I ne- that I want to do."

The boys began to cry harder, unable to speak.

Peter turned to a boy who was standing apart from the group, tearing up and glaring at him.

"Rufio," he reached out, but the boy ran from him and disappeared back into the hideout.

Saddened, Peter pulled back his hand and held back the tears from the rejection of the one person who idolized him more than anyone here. As he turned back to the small group and opened his arms them, they immediately ran to and embraced him.

After a few minutes, he let go of them and stood back up, staring at his best friend.

The two shared a nod before he took to the sky, leaving this world behind as he journeyed back to the real world.

The boy approached the group and stood next to them, watching as their fearless leader left them behind.

Tears filled Peter's eyes as he flew up, wishing he had the chance to say goodbye to Tink, but feared what would happen if he did. He hoped she would one day forgive him and even understand why he did this. He hoped that Rufio would one day would do the same, wishing he had left on better terms with him. But he hoped for his best friend to take over and take care of the Lost Boys that they had created.

As he flew back to the world that he had once feared so much, he felt something inside of him click. A feeling that gave him a sense of closure as he fully gave himself to the new adventure he was about to begin.

Hook is a movie that has its fans and its haters. Well, maybe 'haters' is too harsh of a word to use but I have noticed that there is kind of a divide when it comes to this movie. Some love it for its premise, its cheesy/silly nature, casting choices (for the most part), world-building, and psychology of Peter Pan. But then there are those who criticize it for all of those things and more.

For me, I love this movie!

I love how it takes a fanfiction idea and makes it work. In fact, this probably is the first ever big blockbuster fanfiction movie ever made. I love Robin Williams as Peter Pan and Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook. I also love the set pieces and the Steven Spielberg presence as well. There's a lot that I do like about this movie that helps it stand out for me, especially as a Peter Pan film.

But that being said, I have a lot of problems with the movie like so many others.

They didn't have enough of Robin Williams being allowed to be the man-child that we know he is great at playing. There's an over-abundance of Williams being too serious and a stick-in-the-mud, even though that did add to the comedy when he interacts with the Lost Boys (especially Rufio). A few concepts that are hinted at and not given enough time to be developed, like Peter losing his memories of his life as a grown-up. Plus, a whole world of Neverland that isn't really explored.

And a lot of plot-holes and questions that are never addressed or answered.

But the biggest problem that I have is something I want to save for the next chapter, due to potential spoilers for this story. So I will go more into it in the next chapter.

Please let me know what you think and if this is a story you want to see more of.

Thank you for reading and I'll see you guys in Chapter 2!