"Peter, what are you doing?!" Peter glanced down at Tink and Terence but said nothing. He looked back at Hook, his face resolute.
"Terence, please show the good Captain what we brought him." Slowly, Terence removed the satchel from his shoulder and held it up in the air for the pirate to take. Frowning at Peter, Hook bent and picked up the satchel with his fingers, then glared at Peter again.
"Boy, this had better be some sort of joke."
"You wanted pixie dust. It's the treasure you have been seeking. It's what gave me the ability to fly, it's what has started to change me. And it's very powerful so even a small dose can give you power. I'll lead you to the rest, so you and your entire crew may have it." Tink gasped and grabbed Terence's hand but he shook his head.
"He knows what he's doing," he said softly in her ear. Hook held the satchel between his fingers.
"This is barely enough for a pixie let alone one big pirate."
"It's very powerful," Peter repeated. "Go on, sprinkle it on yourself. See what happens." Hook glared at the boy and nodded to his crewmates who stood off to the side. They moved close to Peter and held his rope, ready to strangle him at a moment's notice. Terence pulled Tink across the floor and they hid underneath the table. Tink watched Peter closely and Terence squeezed her hand.
"He came up with a plan and Peri knew what it was. So she can let Peter's boys know what has happened and they can come help. We need to get out of here."
"Terence, I can't leave him!" His face darkened slightly.
"How exactly do you think you can help him? Neither of us can fly right now! And he did this so you would be free. Don't put yourself in danger again."
"What are you so angry about, Terence? That it's Peter this time and not you that I'm risking my life for?" Terence fell silent and Tink moved closer to the leg of the desk to peer out at Peter.
"I never asked for you to risk your life to save mine," he said very quietly, making her turn back. "I never expected you to come flying to my rescue. I was prepared to die by the pirate's hand."
"That's what Fairy Mates do when they're in love Terence," she said, slightly exasperated. Terence watched her closely.
"So you still love me? I'm still your Mate?"
Frowning, she turned back to him and her hands went to her hips.
"What kinds of questions are those? Of course I still love you. I'm Mated with no one else." She stared at him, but he wasn't able to look back at her. Instead, he stared at the floor. He was doing his best to drown out the pirates' and Peter's voices.
"Terence. Look at me." He obeyed and saw that Tink had come very close to him.
"Why would you think things have changed?"
"I don't know, Tink. There is some kind of connection between you and Peter and I know you both know it. I'm not saying you're in love with him, because I hope you're not, but you can't deny there's some kinds of feelings there. He spoke of how much you mean to him. How deeply he cares for you. I know you feel the same. So I just didn't know if anything had changed between us…and if we were still Fairy Mates."
He felt her take his hand and forced himself to look into her eyes, which were wide and full of love.
"You, Terence, are my one true love. You are the air I breathe, you are the reason I get up in the morning. You and no one else. I won't lie to you; I don't know why I was drawn to Peter and I do feel some kind of connection with him but it's not the same kind of love that I feel for you. I feel very differently about him and care deeply for him. But if you truly don't want me to see him anymore after this, I won't. I'll respect your wishes and stay away from him." Terence's jaw dropped; he definitely hadn't expected that. He expected his little Tinker to turn red and yell at him that he had no ownership over her and she would do as she pleased. But she was gripping his hands and gazing into his eyes, almost pleadingly. Terence's hand went to her cheek and he smiled.
"We have to save him and get off this ship. How are your wings?" Tink tried to raise them but pain shot through her and she winced. Terence shook his head.
"Don't try, then. We'll wait here for the signal."
"What signal?" But there was an almighty roar from the pirates and the fairies peered out and gasped. The cabin was in chaos as eight young boys and a little girl had jumped into the cabin and were brandishing swords at the pirates; everyone was running in different directions and Peter was left bound on the floor, struggling to rise to his feet. Peri was darting around Hook's head, trying to distract him and Tink watched her with wide eyes.
"Peri, get away from him! He's dangerous!" Peri heard her sister and obeyed, floating higher and out of reach. Hook growled and his eyes flashed to the boy, who was standing and surveying the madness.
"You!" Hook rushed toward him, his hook held out as if ready to slice the boy's throat but the twins held a rope out and tripped him, sending him to the floor.
"Well done, mates," Peter cried and Jake ran to his side, slicing through his bindings with his sword. "Thanks Jake."
"Anytime Peter. Can I assume the plan has changed a bit?"
"You can say that again. Where's Tink?" He looked around the cabin frantically, calling out her name. Tink grabbed Terence's hand and ran to where Peter stood.
"Peter, look!" Jake pointed at the floor, and Peter fell to his knees, scooping up the fairies in his hand.
"How are your wings, Tink?"
"Still not too great," she jingled and he nodded.
"I'll get you both out of here, don't worry."
"Peter, look out!" Peter spun around, still holding the fairies in his hand and ducked, avoiding a blow from Captain Hook's sword. Peter's face darkened.
"In the back, Captain?" Holding the fairies in one hand, Peter whipped out his dagger with the other and thrust at Hook. Tink bit her lip and held onto Terence as they watched the battle with wide eyes. Peter leaped into the air and soared around the cabin. With an angry roar, Hook dumped the bag over his head and slowly started to rise off the ground. Tink gasped.
"Peter, watch out!" Peter turned and his eyes widend as he saw the captain flying toward him. He quickly tucked Tink and Terence into his pocket and transferred his dagger to his other hand. He glanced down at the battle on the ground and scanned the crowd.
"Jake, get the boys and get back to Bucky! I'll meet you there later."
"Peter, what about you," Izzy cried, as she fought with a pirate.
"Never mind me, just go!" They were fighting a losing battle, Peter knew. It was as Terence had said; they were just children, fighting against bloodthirsty pirates. Hook continued to slash at Peter and Peter blocked the blows as he flew out of reach.
"Give up boy," Hook snarled.
"Never," Peter said angrily, gripping his dagger with his sweaty hand.
"I will have that treasure, Pan. Make no mistake! Even if I have to rip the wings off every fairy in Neverland."
"You won't touch them! The treasure is safe from you and it shall stay that way! I, Peter Pan, am now protector of the fairies!" He looked down at Tink and grinned. "And the King and Queen of Neverland will make sure you will never harm another Neverland creature." Hook's eyes narrowed.
"What nonsense are you talking? There is no King or Queen of Neverland. Do you dare presume to call yourself our King?"
"Shows how well you know me, Hook! I'm the Prince of Neverland! Tinkerbell is the Queen," he proudly gestured toward his pocket and Hook glared at the fairy.
"Queen indeed. What is a fairy supposed to do to protect the island? Especially a fairy who can no longer fly." His eyes darted to Terence and he let out a cruel laugh as Terence hung his head. Tink's face went red and she jingled, hanging out of Peter's pocket. Peter gently pushed her back in.
"Easy Tink, don't let him get to you. He's just a codfish after all."
"What's the matter with the blasted creature? Angry that I, Captain James Hook, am responsible for the disappearance, torture, and death of fairies of Neverland?" He smiled an evil smile. "Because I am you know. And I won't stop. Not until I get every speck of pixie dust on this island!"
"You're a fool, Hook! Without the pixie dust, the fairies don't survive and without the fairies, Neverland will cease to exist! We need it all to continue to thrive. You'd be killing everything on this island, including yourself!"
"Lies, boy. Lies and deceit. It's all you are. I've had enough. Starkey! Now!" Peter's head snapped to the pirate below him but it was too late; Starkey had thrown a rope into the air and skillfully, wound it around the boy's neck. Peter was yanked to the ground once again and held tightly. He struggled but the rope around his neck tightened and he once again found it difficult to breathe. Hook bent down and picked up Tink and Terence from Peter's pocket. Peter made to grab at the fairies but Hook slapped his hand away and held them both by the wings. They both winced and kicked out but they were powerless in the pirate's hands.
"Game is up, fairies. Take us to the treasure or suffer the fate of those before you." Death gleamed in Hook's eyes and Tink knew this was it. Peter watched with wide eyes as he fought against the hands that held him. No one in the cabin dared breathe. The pirates all watched their captain gleefully as he was about to end the fairies and the dreaded boy. Hook turned from Terence to Tink back to Terence and he looked to be thinking of something.
"Which one of you do I kill first? The girl means more to Pan, apparently so she should be the first to die." Terence's eyes grew wide and he swung out and kicked at Hook's hand. The pirate captain's eyes snapped back to the sparrowman and narrowed.
"Oh you want to die first do you? Well then, that can be arranged." He handed Tink to Smee to hold and he held Terence tightly in his grasp. Squeezing the life out of the tiny being, he held the wings between his fingers and pulled in the opposite direction. Terence gasped with pain as he felt himself being torn apart.
"Terence! No!" Tears streamed down Tink's face and Peter's eyes widened in horror.
"Hook, stop it! Leave him alone!" Hook continued to pull at the wings and he was surprised at the resistance. It should have been as easy as ripping wings off a butterfly, which he had done countless times. Fairy wings must be stronger than that. In truth, he had no idea if it would kill the creature but he was interested to find out.
"I can slice them off for you," Hook said in a low voice, his foul breath coming over Terence. "If this pulling does not work, I can slice them off with my hook." Suddenly, a bright light blinded all of the pirates and Hook threw his hand up in front of his face.
"What the—"
"Release him," came a firm female voice. Hook lowered his hand and blinked several times, looking around suspiciously.
"Pirate, I warn you. If you dare to hurt another fairy in your insane search for some kind of fairy treasure, you will be banished from Neverland forever. Release them now." Hook laughed.
"And who are you to tell me what to do? Show yourself!" Queen Clarion appeared in a golden ball of light and as she floated nearer to Hook, the light shone brighter. Hook winced and covered his eyes with his arm. Queen Clarion flew to Terence and let out a shrill whistle. A white dove flew into the cabin and made straight toward the Queen. She helped Terence onto the bird, then flew to Tink and the bird followed. Terence pulled Tink up beside him and she flung her arms around him. He buried his face in her hair, memorizing her sweet smell. He felt her warm tears drip onto his arms and he pulled her closer. The Queen held up her hands and the cabin was filled with even more light. Even Peter squeezed his eyes shut at the intensity of it. She flew to where the boy was bound and gently touched the rope around his neck; it came apart in seconds and Peter was free. He tried to open his eyes and leaped into the air. The pirates couldn't see what was happening but the moment Peter had left their grasp, they let out cries of fury. Hook was stumbling around the cabin blindly, yelling at his crew to do something. Queen Clarion nodded to the dove and took off out of the cabin, the bird and Peter right behind her.