SULTAL you have a lot of explaining to do! Hi everyone - I have to thank everyone of you for being patient. Shout out to panskiss123 for checking up on me and this story. I am so sorry I have not posted for a long time: it's happened before and it will probably happen again, but don't hesitate to PM me if you want an explanation, or just a check up. Just know that I love writing, I will never abandon a story, but responsibilities of life suck sometimes. Thanks again, and lets's get crackah-lacking with this adventure!

Chapter 14: Rescue Attempt

The Jolly Roger lurched.

It dipped and rolled toward the sea. Crow tumbled over the crow's nest. He lunged at the mast, saving himself from an icy plunge. Toes skimming over the frosty sea, Crow kicked for momentum.

Then he looked down.

Something was down there. Something huge. Something monstrous. Something with teeth.

"Sea monster!" squawked Crow's crow as the ship jerked upright. "Sea monster! Abandon ship! Abandon - CAW!"

Crow twisted in midair. An arrow sliced over his shoulder as he fell to the deck. Ice crunched as Black Antler, Tigerlily, and John raced by, slipping in their haste and careening with the ship.

"Princess!" John tripped back as two pirates intersected Tigerlily. Faltering as Black Antler tore across the deck, John stepped to help Tigerlily.

"Go!" Tigerlily growled, rearing back her bow. Slashing at the pirates, she met eyes with John. "Go! John Go!"

"Never!" yelled John. Fully resolved in his chivalrous duty, John raised his umbrella and rushed to Tigerlily's rescue. "Away you ruffians!"

"Your sister!" Tigerlily dodged a cutlass in time to point over Mullin's shoulder. "Over there! John! Your –"

"Gotcha!"

"Princess!"

John shouted as Black Murphy seized Tigerlily's braid and swung her head into the deck. Crack! John's stomach flipped as Tigerlily slammed against the icy planks….and stayed there. Motionless.

Reeling back, John swung his umbrella like a medieval knight. "How dare you!"

Black Murphy staggered, surprised by John's valiant attack. Ducking under John's maneuver, Black Murphy slipped on the ice. Growling as he fell, the pirate reached for his cutlass as John gathered Tigerlily in his arms.

"Princess!" John urged, smoothing blood from the girl's forehead. Close to tears, John glanced up at the advancing pirates before calling desperately again. "Princess! Princess! Tigerlily! Tigerlily! No! Stop I say! Stop!"

Black Antler's cringed as a thud ended John's cry. Overcome with worry for his captured friends, Black Antler almost turned back. Suddenly, he snapped back to attention as Shark intersected his path.

Black Antler swerved. The pirate followed but buckled in pain as Black Antler threw all his weight into Shark's arrow wound. Dodging around the crippled pirate, Black Antler thundered across the deck. In three strides the brave unearthed his daggers and shrieked into the seawitch.

Sparks of black magic skittered over the deck as Black Antler collided with the seawitch. Viciously the brave attacked, clawing over the seawitch like a spider.

"Capn!" Smee slammed into the bulkwark rail to avoid impact with the combat. The boatswain yelped again as the ship lurched from the underside of the haul. "Oh dear me! Capn!"

Glancing over the side, Smee oggled into the cold waters. "Capn! What is it?"

Furiously Hook ripped out his pistol. His aim was high as the ship lurched again. The force knocked the pistol from his hands and into the sea. Hook crashed against the railing as the ship rolled.

Below, Hook saw the icy ocean breaking under the tail of a sea monster.

"Damn it!" Captain Hook dug his hook into the wooden rail as the ship lurched violently again. "The leviathan! Blasted sea monster! Smee!"

Sword darting from his sheath, Hook advanced toward Black Antler reaching for Wendy through the seawitch's tentacles. Blood red color filled the captain's eyes.

"Smee! There's a sea monster below us! Reverse direction. Make for the glaciers!"

"The glaciers!" Smee squealed. "But the glaciers will crush us! Or the bounty hunter pirates will ambush us for – "

"Make for the glaciers!" Hook bellowed, raising his sword, "Or throw yourself into the sea to appease the leviathan!" The ship lurched, tipping dangerously. Hook lunged. "That's an order Smee! NOW!"

Smee cocked his hand in response, but was thrown aside as the ship jerked and swung into the sea. A metallic, spiked tail slashed across the sails, leaving a scar of splinters across the masts.

The violent motion dislodged Black Antler and Wendy from the seawitch. Daggers flying from his hands, Black Antler tumbled over Wendy as the ship whipped upright.

Eyes darting once across the deck, Black Antler wrenched Wendy to her feet. Pausing only to grab her wrist, Black Antler made for the life boats.

He stopped as Wendy resisted.

"Come on!" Black Antler yanked Wendy's arm, pulling her gaze from John and Tigerlily, bound unconsciously to the mast. "Wendy! Come!"

"John!" Wendy tripped as Black Antler yanked. Desperately the brave took Wendy by both hands. The seawitch advanced from the left. Captain Hook from the right. "Tigerlily!"

"Just come!" cried Black Antler dragging Wendy across the deck. The seawitch and pirates flocked around the children like vultures as the ship rocked. "Come! Now!"

"I – I can't!" Wendy tried to resist as Black Antler grabbed her waist and pushed her at a hanging long boat. "She's going to hurt Brine! And Tinkerbell– "

"I don't care!" yelled Black Antler, forcing Wendy with all his might. Captain Hook's shadow fell over his shoulders. "Get into the long boat now!"

" – you go! You go! Black Antler, I can save Tinker – "

"I said go!"

" – Black Antler! Behind –"

"GO!"

Crack!

Black Antler fell like a stone. Five pirates ripped his body from the deck and tangled the brave in under yards of rope. Wendy ran forward. She crumpled as Shark met her with his fist.

"Put him with the others!" snarled Captain Hook. Keeping his balance as the ship lurched, Hook quickly grabbed Wendy and threw her at the seawitch.

"The spell!" Captain Hook barked, ignoring the seawitch's infamous reputation. "Now! Before the blasted sea monster splinters my ship apart. Now!"

Evilly the seawitch smiled. Conjuring vile sounding words to the rhythm of her waving tentacles, she uttered the evil incantation.

Captain Hook seethed until flecks of black magic needled into Wendy's skin. The girl's screams soothed the captain's temper.

"Pity." Hissed Captain Hook as Wendy writhed in midair. The ship's haul popped and creaked as the sea monster sliced over the keel. "Pity that you shant see your little rescue party die."

Hook smiled as Wendy shook her head, twisting in pain as the black magic ate away her human form. Inspired, Captain Hook stepped forward. Fiercely he gazed into Wendy's eyes.

"Not to worry My Dear." he whispered, leaning forward, careful not to brush the sparks of black magic. "I'll throw their bodies to Davy Jones for you and your merman.

Captain Hook smiled, unnonticing the shadow creeping down his neck. "Fair well…my little mermaid."

SLAM!

Everything happened at once.

The sea monster burrowed into the bottom of the ship. The haul exploded. The mast fell to the sea. Waters of the Northern Neversea sliced over the deck, turning everything to ice.

And from the sky, Peter Pan appeared.

In a flash of green, Peter Pan blasted across the ship.

He slammed into Wendy.

And then he screamed.

And both children, gnawed by black magic, fell…

…and sunk into the Northern Neversea.