TAoP Chapter 33

Going Home

Penny woke up in a dark, damp place. She tried to get up to get her bearings, but found her hands and feet tied together.

"Great, just my luck," she whispered when she also found her weapons were gone. She quietly struggled until she heard footsteps coming closer. Penny got to her side and pretended to still be knocked out. It was two Shadows that came in and started to drag her out of the room. As she snuck a peek, she saw that the whole place was crawling with Shadows. She quickly closed her eyes against them, wishing for her friends and Midnight.

A few minutes later, the Shadows carrying her brought her to a circular room that seemed oddly colorful. There were some instruments of torture everywhere and cages around the walls. They dropped her on to the ground and left her there.

"So this is the brat that's been messin' with our plans?" a voice said above her and it sent a chill down her spine as she recognized it from her childhood.

"Well, she was with the new group of people and seemed like an easy target," another voice said, but this one was unrecognizable.

Somebody reached down and turned her on her back. A gasp sounded from Captain Hook as he saw her.

"If it isn't the girl brat from the island!"

"You know her?" the thing beside him looked like a moving sack with eyes and a mouth.

"Know her? She runs around with Pan and the Lost Boys."

"But now she's our prisoner. I wonder what interest she is to us."

"Who knows, Oogie Boogie. Maybe the King's lackey's brought her from some reason."

"Boy, you guys really like to talk, don'tcha? Can you be quiet for a moment and untie me? I can't feel my feet or arms," Penny complained, lying awkwardly at their feet.

"Shut up! You can stay there while we try to get the others." Hook glared at her.

"I knew you were going to say that. Then this shall go the hard way."

Penny used her fire you heat up her whole arm, which caused the ropes to burn off. With her arms free, she swiped at the ropes by her feet, her arm still on fire. Finally, she was free.

When all of this was happening, the two villains just watched at amazement until the girl started running away. They leaped into action.

"Shadows! After her!" Hook yelled.

Penny looked back and saw black shapes following her. Naturally, she didn't have Star with her.

The next time I see that fairy, I'm sewing her to my shirt!

Penny! Where are you? I lost your scent, Midnight sounded in her head.

I have no idea. I might be underground. I'll just let you know when I get out.

After Midnight left, a new voice entered, Where are you? Your friends said I could do this, but I wasn't sure…

Sally! Tell them I'm coming back as soon as I found the exit, Penny said as she kept running. She used her fire to slow down the Shadows for awhile, but they just keep coming back.

Show me where you are.

Penny focused all of her thoughts on what she sees and could feel Sally examine each picture she sent her.

Okay, take the next right.

The girl slid on the ground in order to make the next turn. She wasn't expecting the turn to be so soon. The Shadows didn't make on time, but it still didn't stop them.

Now where, Sally? Penny panted.

A left. There should be a stair case. Take them.

Penny bolted around the next corner and waved her right hand behind her, making the passage impassable. She had frozen the entrance with a thick sheet of ice. She raced up the stairs and burst into the graveyard she was in earlier.

She stood there with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. She sensed Midnight and the others coming as she took a huge gulp of Never water. As she waited, Penny thought about Hook. Why was he there? True, she hadn't seen him for awhile on Neverland, but she never expected him to be in a different world. Who else traveled besides the people of Fantasia and Montressor? This was important information for the King, no doubt about it. How did they know they were there?

Midnight came around the corner, derailing her thoughts. He moved faster than the others in order to see her sooner.

Hook? He's here? How is that? And where is your sword?

I have no answer for any of those questions.

The trio and Jack and Sally came around the same corner in a rush.

"Are you hurt? What happened? Where did you go?" Illiana came over to check on her.

"I'm not sure. I was underground, I think, and was dragged to see this thing called Oogie Boogie and Hook.

"Oogie Boogie!" Jack exclaimed as Sally gasped beside him.

"Hook? Isn't he from your world?" Max asked.

"Yes, and they took my sword."

"How did you get out?" Jayden asked.

Penny explained what happened when she was dragged from their sight. After a few minutes, the boys, including Jack, decided to go down and check out the place. So the girls stayed in the graveyard and waited.

It wasn't very long until they came back with disgruntled looks. Max had found her weapons and gave them back to her.

"Did you find anything?" Illiana asked them.

"Nothing except Penny's ice wall. Very nice by the way. But other than that, it was completely clean," Jayden answered miserably.

"The only thing there that I found was Penny's sword and dagger," Max confirmed.

"Then we should head back and tell the King."

Jack entered the conversation, " We'll keep a look out for Oogie Boogie and let you as soon as we can."

"Thank you. We would like that."

The team had set sail for the long journey home and Penny was sulking. She sat on the rigging, glaring at the stars. Midnight lay below her, letting her pout in silence until she was ready to talk. The others were making sure that everything was in order. Star sat on Penny's shoulder, staring at the stars.

I don't want to go back, Penny said.

You have to. You need to go to school, Midnight said wearily.

That and they treat me like a child.

You don't know that.

Well, I still won't go!

Think about how happy Minnie would be when we get back.

Penny slumped in defeat, Yea, you're right. As usual.

And, it will be a long journey home.

They sat in silence and watched the stars pass by as the travelers returned home.

I hope you all have enjoyed Penny's adventures as much as I did! This is the last chapter of this journey and the next ones will be up soon so please look for them! Thank you reading this and I hope you will join Penny and the others for their next adventure! Safe flying!