Wendy admired her reflection in the lake. Her delicate dress was bedecked with pearls from the mermaids that the women in the tribe had woven into the cloth of her wedding gown. Given the fine cloth she had no doubt that Tinkerbelle had managed to weave magic into the process as well. Nearly every being in Neverland helped prepare for the wedding. The wedding would be held at the beach so the mermaids could be there also. Great Big Little Panther would preside over the ceremony. She had even insisted that all the pirates be invited. She had assurance from Smee the entire crew would attend, save perhaps one.
And that, the sole black spot on this brilliant day tugged at her heart. She knew that she would never rid herself totally of what she felt for James. He was as much a part of her as Peter was. Only how could the moon compete with the sun? She was so involved with her thoughts that she never heard the approach.
"You are truly a vision, my beauty."
The sound of his voice slipped over her skin like a warm breeze. She turned to face him. He was bedecked in all the finery befitting a Captain such as himself. His demeanor was haughty, almost regal as he crossed the clearing to her. He stopped many feet from her, a clear distinction now in their new relationship, it hurt her more than it should have. Silence lay heavy between them as they appraised the other.
"How, how are you?" Wendy asked haltingly.
His laugh was ironic but not unkind, it did not reach his eyes. "As well as I can." Again he allowed his short answer to hang in the air.
Wendy twisted his fingers together in discomfort. Sensing her unease he continued. "I did not come here to cause you harm Wendy. I simply wanted to bid you farewell."
"What? What do you mean?"
He smiled at her obvious alarm. "I am leaving Neverland, I will come to your, wedding. But then the Jolly Roger is to depart this place."
"Where will you go?" Unconsciously she began to move toward him.
"There are many other worlds to explore Wendy. Yours is not the only one. We are set to explore the heavens. The Captain has set our course."
Wendy's brow creased at this.
"Ah yes, I have made Smee Captain. Long overdue honestly. I am frankly enjoying my retirement, perhaps I will stay ashore on some distant world. There is really nothing left for me anywhere else."
Wendy bit her lip hard to stop the swell of tears threatening her. "James, please, please don't hate me."
Something softened in the pirate and he came to her and held her in his arms. "Hate is a word I could never ascribe to you my dear. You deserve all the happiness in the world, and if that is not with me, so be it. Though I am sorry for it."
She laid her head on his chest listening to the familiar sound of his heart. Oh, how she would miss him. Gathering himself he stepped back and with a noble bow took her hand and kissed it.
"Farewell, Wendy Darling." And with a sad smile strode back into the woods.
"Farewell, James." She whispered.
The sun was high and bright as she made her way down to the shore. The bittersweet of her farewell with James could not overshadow the joy she felt. She was to become a wife this day, to a man who was as much a part of her as her own heart. An ethereal sound floated up from the beach and she realized that a fairy choir had started singing. She landed at her appointed spot and began the short walk to her future. The pirates, the tribe, the mermaids, the fairies and the lost boys, even Hook, all beamed at her as she strode up the aisle. There he stood, her only true love, in a suit woven of leaves befitting a groom of Neverland. All else faded as she stopped in front of him, drowning in the sea of his emerald eyes. Here she would promise to be his forever, and she meant it.
Something clawed at the back of Wendy's mind. The white beach, Peter smiling. Something was strangely familiar and it frightened her. As if in a living nightmare she watched Peter's face suddenly morph into confusion and then rage. He glared at something just past her. She turned to see what had caused such anger, in a blur of movement she saw a deranged Tiger Lily holding something. She couldn't quite understand what was happening as Peter grabbed her arms in an attempt to push her out of the way. A dull thud hit her in the chest and she looked down to see an arrow anchored in her side. She managed to look back at the princess just in time to see Chief Great Big Little Panther's dagger bloom from her chest. The scorned woman slipped to the ground, no one went to her still form. Wendy's bouquet slipped from her numbing hands as she felt her legs give out.
The savage cry that left Peter as she collapsed into his arms was primal. Holding her awkwardly in his arm he sank to the ground fumbling uselessly at the arrow. The clouds roiled and blackened. Wendy reached down to feel the foreign object penetrating her body. Her hand came away bloody and coated in a thick green substance. Already she was feeling cold and weak, her breaths were beginning to shorten.
"Get it out of her!" She heard a shriek through the bedlam.
She turned to see Summer Wind and the twins elbowing their way through concerned guests.
"What?" Peter asked dumbly.
The priestess threw herself to the ground and ripped the arrow from Wendy's body. Wendy screamed at the sharp pain. One of the twins ripped at the soft fabric of her dress palpitating the wound.
"Damnit, it found its mark."
"What are you talking about?" Peter demanded.
"The arrow was poisoned and it hit her lung." Summer Wind cursed as she tore fabric from her dress to stanch the flow of blood from the laceration.
"Fix her!" Peter cried.
"We can't Peter, we don't have the equipment or the medicine her to heal her. Maybe in London they could save her, but we, we just can't here." The other twin said helplessly.
His eyes were wild as he wheeled back to his love. "What, what can I do?" was his question to no one.
Tink was suddenly at his arm "I can send her back Peter, the fairies can send her back with magic." She launching into a quick explanation, the ultimate sacrifice.
Wendy was paralyzed with fear, no, not like this. Nobody would die for her. Great Big Little Panther could be heard sobbing softly in the distance grieving for both his daughters.
"Take me." Peter commanded before she could even finish.
"Peter, no." Wendy sobbed.
"Peter, Neverland will die without you, I'm sorry, it can't be you."
He howled in anguish and inadequacy. Before any other could come forward to offer their life Hook pushed his way through the surrounding crowd.
"Take my life fairy. Send her back." His tone was not a request. The twins and Summer Wind backed away slowly from the cowering couple.
"No!" She coughed, blood pooling at her lips. She pawed at Peter to convey her dismay. He held tight to her paled hand.
"No Hook..." Peter began desperately.
Hook's roaring interruption was absolute, "By thunder boy, you will not deprive me of gifting her the one thing I can that you cannot."
Ripping his coat from his shoulders he sneered at Peter but softly draped the cloth across Wendy's shuttering frame. Concern aged his face as he caressed her cheek and then gathered her free hand between his and his hook. The fairies that had gathered converged overhead uniting around Tink.
"Please, God please, James, don't." Wendy choked out between gasping breaths.
"To die, my dear, will be an awfully big adventure." He murmured softly to her. Looking up at the fairy he nodded. Throwing the hat from his head he lay down in the sand still holding Wendy's hand close. Tears mixed with the blood flowing from her mouth as she turned to look at him. The hundreds of fairies floating above them began to glow, like a thousand stars within arms breadth. The sight was something almost too beautiful to behold. Gazing into her once lover's eyes all Wendy could see was the light leaving him. A slow smile spread across his lips as his chest heaved for the last time, his strong fingers relaxed and his hand fell from hers. Captain James Hook was gone. A guttural groan left her weak chest as she pressed herself into Peter, seeking solace.
Energy pulsed in the air, she could feel it. Desperate she looked up at her almost husband and with ragged breath managed to rasp out her final request of him.
"Neverland… keep… safe…" She gasped.
Understanding filled his eyes. She needed him to keep Neverland as it was now. No more pining over her and allowing it to fall into chaos again. Tears flowed freely as he nodded his consent. As light and soft as butterfly wings he placed a last soft kiss on her forehead.
"Goodbye, Wendy Darling."
Tinkerbelle coasted to them, crackling with energy. She looked sadly from Peter to Wendy and then placed a small delicate hand on Wendy's cheek. Like a rocket she was ripped from Peter's eyes a beacon of light shooting into the black sky. It was all too much, Wendy slipped into unconsciousness.