Chapter Six - Hook and Pan

Hook.

Capt. Jas. Hook. Peter Pan's nemesis. He was right in front of her, her hand trapped in his…and that hook of his looked extremely real and dangerous. The back of her mind swirled with questions and disbelief. How could they be real?! Currently, however, the main idea she was focused on was that everyone was captured by this hook-wielding, gentlemanly maniac, and now she was stuck, too.

"Right this way, my dear," Hook said, offering her his arm.

Really, what choice did she have? Her frame quaking, she shakily put her hand into his, striving not to wince at the cold, clamminess of it as he wrapped his fingers firmly around hers.

"Don't be frightened," he said earnestly. Daring to glance at his face, she noticed how his eyes shone with sincere pleading and concern. "I mean you no harm."

Her gaze returned to the others, still kept in his men's grasps. Biting her bottom lip, she summoned the courage to speak back. "…then why are my friends and brothers your prisoners?"

"Oh! How right you are," he laughed merrily, his men laughing along. It was the unwritten, unspoken rule – if Hook laughed, so did you. But you'd better be ready to stop when he did, otherwise it meant trouble for you. "I do hope you and your little entourage will forgive me, but how else could I get them to stay without creating a ruckus? We have a very bad reputation here, you know. Truly unfortunate." He gave a deep sigh, waving his hook at the men. "Release them."

The pirate rogues did so, first taking the gags off, then cutting their bonds. They did not release Nana of her gag, however, for fear that she would attack them. Jon snatched the leash from the pirate holding her hostage and did the job himself, glaring at them all the while. Nana bared her teeth and snarled but did not move from Jon's side.

"Like, what the hell?!" Mandy fumed. "Do you like know how long I like spent on my hair?! Like, forever! This was like the worst idea ever to like come here! Like, it's been like nothing but trouble since like we got here! Wendy, tell your pirate friends that like they can go and-!"

"Gag her, Smee," Hook groaned, grimacing at the girl. "She's giving me a splitting headache with her 'likes' and dislikes."

The pirates gladly grabbed the girl and covered her mouth once more, sighing in relief while she flailed and struggled against them.

"Cap'n," one pirate said, smirking as he held up little Mouse. "Looky here."

Hook stared at the child, the gears turning in hie head when it hit him. "Ahh…yes, I remember you," he purred. Wendy watched his lips stretch into a wicked smile, making her blood freeze. "You're one of Pan's boys, aren't you?" he said, raising an eyebrow at the child.

Mouse wasn't phased, shrugging as he blinked at the giant.

"Quiet, are we?" he snickered. "No matter. We'll find Pan soon enough."

Looking up at him, Wendy felt her fear still gripping within her. Swallowing, she asked, "What…what do you want with him? And why did you do all this just to find me?"

Turning his attention back to the girl on his arm, his face softened, his tone sweet as honey. "My dear, I've been waiting for such a long time to see you at last," he said, bowing his head in reverence. "Your arrival has been expected for quite sometime."

"Wendy, who is this creep?" Fred called out, his fingers curling into fists.

Hook sent him such a look that Fred felt the blood leave his face. The pirate's eyes seemed to become blood red, his mouth a thin, cold line on his face. "Such manners," he sneered. "I ought to dispose of you this moment."

"Come, come, Captain! That's bad form."

His eyes widened at the sound of the voice. Suddenly, a smile grew, a sinister chuckle tumbling out of his mouth. "Ah, I was beginning to wonder when you'd finally show yourself…" Turning about, Wendy stuck to his side, he saw a young man leaning against a cut-out board, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes gleaming, a confident, friendly smile upon his lips.

"Pan," the captain stated.

"Hook," the boy responded. "I believe you have my friends hostage." He pointed at the group, who gawked at him in disbelief. "Let them go."

"Why, they're free to leave," Hook answered cordially, inspecting his hook. "All…except for the little runt." He jerked his head to the pirate who still held Mouse by the collar of his old shirt. "And I'm afraid the lady stays as well," he smirked, wrapping his arm around the girl.

Wendy gasped, looking at him in terror before turning her face to Peter, her eyes shining with fright.

Peter frowned for a moment, but the smile quickly returned as he chuckled. He began to rise from the ground, lifting his feet up and crossing his ankles, resting them against the top of the board he had been leaning against. Placing his hands behind his head, he remained in the air, leaning back haphazardly into nothing, looking as comfortable as if he was in a lounge chair. "That's too bad," he sighed, pursing his lips. "But then again, I don't like it when things are too easy."

"Easy?" Mikey whispered, shushed at once by Jon.

"Just what game are you playing at now, boy?" Hook snarled, his hold on Wendy's shoulder tightening.

All the while they were calmly arguing, hands from the shadows snatched and plucked each pirate away, startling and silencing them all at once before they vanished. Violet was the first to notice their silent rescuers, motioning for the others to follow her as another boy stuck his head out and waved at them.

"Game? I love games!" Peter laughed gleefully, flipping so that he was floating upside-down before the pirate and girl. "So which game are we playing? A guessing game? Those are the best!"

"For the love of Neverland, boy!" Hook snapped. "You gained about four years – y'think you'd have grown up a little by now!"

Wendy glanced from each person, perplexed. What on earth was he talking about? She noticed how Peter's face darkened at the phrase, twisting his body around so that he was parallel to them. He gnashed his teeth as Hook, who took a step back, startled at the action.

"I'll nevergrow up," Peter snarled. A smirk worked its way to his lips, his head cocking to one side. "Too bad you already have."

"That's more than I can say about y-" Hook began to retort when he heard a thump behind him. His brows furrowing, he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widening at the sight of two boys dragging another of his men away, one of them holding a mallet. Several of his men were gone, as well as the children and dog, leaving only Smee and a handful of other men that were closest to him. "Scurvy brats!" he yelled, realizing Peter's distraction had worked.

In the time it had taken Hook to look back and see the mischief caused, Peter saw that Hook's grip on Wendy had loosened. Darting forward, he pulled Wendy away from his grasp, using one foot to kick him down. A laugh trickled out of Peter's throat as he snatched Wendy, lifting her into his arms and soaring above the pirates' heads. Landing nimbly on the other side of them, he released Wendy of his hold and drew his sword. "Run to Tink, Wendy," he grinned, tossing his bangs away from his face. "She'll get you and the others to Indian Village. I'll handle these guys."

Stunned, Wendy barely comprehended what he'd just said when a yell from the pirates made her squeak with fright. Seeing Hook charging at Peter, she ran in the opposite direction, running after the two boys Hook had seen.

"This way!" they said in unison, looking back simultaneously. She couldn't help noticing how they had the same curly red hair, a bridge of freckles bursting over their noses and cheeks. "Twins?" she whispered.

"That's us!" they responded, hearing her question.

She almost smiled at them until she heard the clash of steel behind her. Looking back, she gasped as she watched Peter dart and duck, thrusting his sword at those who dared to attack. "We have to help him!" she cried, stopping in her tracks.

"He's got help," they answered, stopping as well. Pointing in synch, they stated, "He's got Ruff."

Her brows furrowed, she looked up to the sky, seeing another figure plummet down and tackle a pirate. He laughed harshly, a grin on his lips. He couldn't have been any older than Peter; when they caught each other's eye, they shared a cocky smile and gave a mighty crow. This newcomer was just as tall as Peter, though his ink black Mohawk gave him an extra two inches. His skin was so sun burnt Wendy thought he was one of the Indians. He wore tattered jeans, a leather jacket, and matching boots, his chest exposed to the cool night air. Around his neck hung a large tooth, dancing as he flipped and stabbed.

"Who is he?" Wendy asked the boys.

"Ruff's second in command," they responded. Tugging on her hands, they insisted, "Let's go! Tink must've gone with the others by now!"

Yanking her hands from the boys, she looked down and said, "May I borrow your mallet?" The twin holding it looked to his counterpart. They shrugged and handed it over, watching her run back into the fight. "Uh-oh," they said together, sharing worried glances. Biting their lips in indecision, they took off, hoping that she knew what she was doing.

~NEVER-NEVERLAND~

Ruff snickered as he blocked another blow, his dark eyes glowing. Fighting pirates was what he lived for. Tripping the man, he let his blade cut into the pirate's leg, a cry of anguish filling the air."That'll keep him down for a while," he nodded satisfactorily. Looking behind him, he frowned as he noticed that as Peter fought Hook, Smee was sneaking behind him, Johnny Corkscrew in his hands. Ruff opened his mouth to warn Peter when a mallet smacked Smee's head, causing him to go cross-eyed before toppling over.

Peter heard the commotion and frowned, curious. Hook, seeing what had happened, stopped fighting, gawking at the helper. Turning around, Peter saw Smee at his feet; Wendy stood a few feet away, the Twins' mallet in her hands. A grin began to grow on his face…until he noticed a shadow falling over Wendy. His eyes large with worry, he violently leapt forward and pulled the girl back, raising his free hand up in defense.

There was a clash and a slice, and then, silence.

Wendy stared in horror. The pirate who'd come up behind her had planned to cleave her in half. Peter had jumped in, thrusting the weapon into the rogue's side, but the villain's sword kept coming down. With little time to spare, he raised his arm and caught the blade in his bare hand. They remained frozen, the pirate oogling at Peter, Peter grimacing as he kept the sword in his grip, blood spilling from his palm.

With a sudden energy no one expected, he gripped the sword even tighter, yanking it out of the pirate's hand and throwing it aside. Pulling his blade from the man's side, he watched as he tumbled to the floor, clutching his wound. Flexing his fingers stiffly, red-hot pain filling the gash he'd received, he sheathed his sword, spun around, and scooped Wendy into his arms. Though pain shot through his hand, he held her tightly to his chest, winking at Hook.

"'Til next time, Captain Codfish!" he laughed, shooting off into the sky like a rocket, Ruff following his lead.

Watching them vanish into the darkness, Hook adjusted his hat. "Aye, Pan…'til we meet again." His gaze narrowing, he glared at the pirate whom Peter had injured.

"Cap'n," the man wheezed. "Cap'n…help me…"

"Certainly."

His blade ran through the man's chest, causing his eyes to grow large before gasping his last breath.

Smee groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Cap'n…what did you do?"

"I helped the fool, Smee," he sneered. "Hold this," he ordered, handing the sword over to Smee as he calmly took out a handkerchief and began to wipe the blade clean of blood.

"But Cap'n-!" Smee began.

"I gave explicit orders, did I not, Mr. Smee?" he purred. "Neither the girl or Pan are to be harmed…at least," he chuckled darkly. "Pan's not allowed to die just yet. We've got bigger problems to worry about." Looking up at the sky once more, he frowned. "Much bigger…"