Writer: lostscore

The night air was still and tepid around the shores of the lagoon. Docking a safe distance from the damaging reefs, the Pirate ships anchored themselves just shy of the mermaids' home. The boys themselves landed there and crouched amongst the large, smooth granite stones that framed the area with glittering pink and gold. They cast distorted shadows in the moonlight that merged with those of the trees on the clear water and provided perfect cover for anything that skulked just out of sight. The clear voices of mermaids could be heard beyond the natural curtains of some weeping willows that had long grown out of control and framed the beautiful alcove. Riku felt himself straining inexplicably toward the feminine voices but managed to pull himself back to the present in the end. Particularly given the present circumstances.

"This is…" Sora began to explain but it was Riku who took their Lost Girl's hand and lead her up the rocks for a closer, more daring look. "That's Captain Hook's ship. He's the cruelest pirate of them all."

Before Sora could protest the appropriation of his role as 'tour guide', Kairi herself had scrambled up the rocks and slid down to the opposing bank more nimbly than any other in the group, save perhaps Peter himself. "That's so neat!"

If some of the boys had worried about her presence in their midst, the fear dissipated with this daring action. Almost immediately, the rest of the crew had scrambled over the rocks to join her.

"Aintchya scared that the Pirates'll see ya?" Toodles spoke up, creeping close to the rocks as a lantern flashed a beam across the water from the ship. His voice was laced with an undeniable sense of awe that he tried to cover with a choking cough.

"Nope!" Kairi moved closer. If awe had affected her, she didn't show it any more than fear itself.

The boys looked around and followed. Riku in particular was close at her elbow with Sora just a hairsbreadth behind.

"Maybe we should sneak aboard." Said Riku.

"Oooooh. Yes!" Kairi nodded.

"And plant an alarm clock in his bed!" Sora almost crowed, but checked his voice at the last moment. "Captain Hook will be so scared! It's the perfect prank!"

"That's so neat!" the boys crowded around the brunette and Peter clapped him on the back. Kairi hurried over too and Riku wished he'd thought of the idea first.

"So how'll we go about this."

"We can fly of course!" Peter rose into the air, followed by the veteran boys. Kairi watched in consternation, floating a few feet off the ground. Patiently the others waited until she'd gotten the hang of things a little better, even though she still wobbled. It eventually became second nature, but even that took time. Particularly this discomfort affected girls if Wendy had been indicative of the norm rather than the exception. Since Peter rarely otherwise mentioned her, that would never be known.

Eventually, the gang of lost children floated into the clouds, undetected thus far by the pirate ship. Peter swooped down first, tearing the Jolly Roger off the mast post and snickering to himself as he tucked it like a cozy blanket around the young pirate who had fallen asleep at the crow's nest. Silly boys who wanted to grow up. In Neverland, you just became a pirate with that mentality.

"All clear!"

At their leader's stage-whispered command, the boys swooped down to land just ouside the skippers' quarters. A few daring ones like Cubby, Toodles, Sora and of course, Riku circled close to the man who'd fallen asleep at the watch on the descent. He didn't stir or snore.

"Shh." Peter was the one to plant the watch. After all, Captain Hook was his mortal enemy.

"Ooooooh, Captain! I got them!"

All the boys wheeled around as one to face a chubby, elderly man with a snow white beard and square spectacles. He was holding a double-barreled pistol. The boys obediently raised their hands. Even Peter knew when he was beat – the fact was already compounded by the presence of Captain Hook himself, who exited the cabin a moment later.

"Good work, Mr. Smee."

"Why thank you sir, captain sir.'

"Hmm…how interesting. Why…there's…a girl in your midst!"

Sora struggled, but Riku managed to break free and pull his sword. Instead of being intimidated, Captain Hook smiled at the young boy.

"A sword? Why look. It's made of metal." He ran a finger along the edge gently and held up a thumb stained with a white and red scrape mark. "Some one is growing up."

"Am NOT!" hissed Riku, "I never want to grow up."

"Really?' Captain Hook held the sharpest tip of his replacement limb to Riku's throat. "A metal sword…no fairy…you seem more Pirate than…Boy."

"I…"

"Mr. Smee, release the new Pirate."

Riku protested. "No. No I'm not!" He blinked at Kairi, hoping she would understand. "I don't want to grow up! I can't!" His cries were not those of an adult, but Captian Hook knew far better than to admit it.

"Give him a broom! Make 'im swab the bleedin' deck!"

Riku was hauled away by a swarm of men with strong arms, foul breath and missing teeth. His fingers scrabbled at the frame of the cabin as he was thrust outside.

"Peter…Sora…is Riku going to be okay?"

"Of course! He'll sword fight 'em to the death!" Sora was optimistic for his friend, but Peter was less enthusiastic in his agreement. He'd seen this before. A pretty girl was the doom of any lost boy if you gave in to her.