"I can't believe we're at a human's house," Vidia said in a low voice, looking around.
"He's a friend to the fairies! And Queen Clarion has extended a special invitation. We have to talk to him," Fawn said patiently, knocking on the door. It opened and a bunch of grubby little boys gathered around, their eyes wide.
"Fairies!" They cried out. Vidia made a noise in her throat but Fawn smiled and flew up to their level. She waved to them, knowing they probably couldn't understand her.
"Um, is Peter here?" The boys all looked confused.
"I'm sorry, we can't understand you," the one dressed like a fox said quite loudly.
"We'll get our leader for you," another yelled, only this one was in a bear suit. The twin boys dressed like raccoons disappeared and came back moments later, dragging Peter by the hand. He looked as if they had just woken him up; his red hair was messy and standing on end. He yawned and blinked several times.
"What's going on?"
"Peter, my name is Fawn and this is Vidia. We're friends of Tinkerbell's." Peter was suddenly awake.
"Tink? Is she in trouble?"
"Not at all. She and Terence will be Joined tonight and Queen Clarion has invited you and your boys to the ceremony."
"It's also a surprise for Tinkerbell and Terence," Vidia added, flying up beside Fawn. The boys watched the fairies jingle, their awe-struck faces turning from Peter to the fairies.
"Tonight? Really?" The fairies nodded and Peter's face broken into a broad grin.
"Of course I'll come! Boys, we need to um, bathe and look presentable."
"HUH?" The boys looked shocked and Peter ran his fingers through his hair, making it even messier.
"Tinkerbell is marrying her sparrowman tonight! The fairies have invited us to the ceremony and we need to look decent."
"But why?"
"Because she's special to me! Don't ask why, just go to the lagoon and wash yourselves. All of you." They all trudged off, grumbling and Peter turned back to the fairies and nodded.
"We'll be there. Thank you girls." With a brisk nod and a wave, the fairies took off and Peter flew to the lagoon to make himself look more presentable as well. He wondered briefly if he should find something else to wear before he realized, he didn't really have anything else to wear. Scowling, he took off his tunic and tights and furiously scrubbed at them as well. The mermaids splashed around, shrieking at Peter's lack of clothing and he scowled again.
"Quit it, girls. I need to look nice for Tinkerbell's wedding-thing tonight."
"Since when do you care about what you look like, Peter," the blonde gushed. Peter looked confused.
"I don't…not really. But I think it would be good to look nice for Tinkerbell! And she's very special to me so…that's why."
"Oh Peter…once you're done with your little fairy, will you come back to us and tell us more of your stories?"
"What about the time you cut off Hook's hand and threw it to the crocodile…I've always loved that one," the brunette said with a flirtatious toss of her hair.
"Sure, sure, I'll be back later," he said distractedly as he continued to scrub at his clothing. The girls all dove under the water and giggled furiously as Peter stood naked in the shallow end. Peter paid them no attention and only looked up when he heard a splashing noise right behind him.
"Look Peter!" Nibs held out his hands, looking proud and Peter nodded.
"I hope the others' hands are as clean as yours."
"They are. We're all washed and clean. Are we supposed to wear something special to this thing?" Peter bit his lip.
"We don't really have anything special to wear, I'm afraid. We'll just go like this. Tell the boys to hurry. I'll be back soon." He jumped into the sky and took off toward Dead Man's Cave. He thought that Tink deserved something pretty to wear while she tinkered and he knew just where to find pretty things.
Peter landed inside the cave and looked around, his hands on his hips. The cave floor was covered with priceless treasures. Peter often had his boys hide the treasure, as it was always fun to see Hook try to find it again. So far, he hadn't been able to find it in this hiding place and Peter smiled smugly, thinking himself quite clever. He knelt down and searched the piles of gold and jewels for something special.
"Ah ha!" He exclaimed, grabbing something and holding it up to the light. A sound behind him nearly made him drop it, and he jumped into the air and hid behind a rock. Peering out, his eyes widened when he saw the shadow of a man with a hook.
"How," he asked himself in the quietest of voices.
"Stop the boat, you bilgerats. Pan had to have hidden the treasure in here."
"Cap'n, this place is said to be haunted," came Smee's quivering voice.
"Nonsense. Haunted indeed. An old wive's tale. Come on, we're searching the cave for me lost treasure." Peter's eyes narrowed as he watched the two pirates coming around the corner. An idea suddenly coming to him, he whipped his feathered hat off and held it to his mouth.
"Beware, all who dare enter my cave. Beware, Captain Hook. You shall meet your doom should you continue your journey." He giggled as he saw Hook and Smee both turn pale. Peter flew closer and cleared his throat.
"Turn back now, Captain Hook, and I shall spare your lives."
"Who are you, stranger?" Peter bit his lip to keep from laughing, as the codfish was looking around, afraid.
"I am the Great Spirit of the Seawater. And you are trespassing." Hook and Smee exchanged confused looks but Smee tugged on his captain's sleeve.
"C-Cap'n…can we go now? I thought you said you wanted to find them fairies anyway—"
"Silence Mister Smee. No sprit of the seawater is going to frighten me away. I want me treasure first. Then we can go and find those blasted fairies." Peter gasped and flew even higher. But just as he was about to open his mouth again, he heard the steady ticking of a clock. Hook had heard it too; he went whiter than a sheet and he hid behind Smee.
"Smee! Save me!"
"Let's go, Captain. Let's leave whatever is in here to the spirit of seawater. We're leaving now, Mister Spirit. Goodbye!" Smee hurried Hook back into their longboat and Hook was chewing on his nails, looking around frantically.
"Are we going to try to find where the fairies live, Cap'n?"
"Aye, Mister Smee, that we are. But we need to round up the crew. We're taking as many torches as we can. We'll burn their home to the ground and watch them burn with it." Peter's heart raced.
"Tink," he whispered. Not caring if he was seen, he raced out of the cave and flew as fast as he could toward Pixie Hollow.