As the sun rose over Neverland, it cast its rays over a boy lying on the bottom of a boat. His blonde curls were matted with blood, his face was unrecognizable, and his entire body was black and blue and covered with bloody lashes. The boat stopped and he let out a little groan as he felt people stand around him.

"Toss the whelp onto shore." Peter felt himself being lifted, though he couldn't quite register what was happening, and being tossed out of the boat. He hit the sand and curled up onto his side, grimacing in pain. As the boat sailed back to the Jolly Roger, one of the pirates shook his head, staring at his Captain.

"I don't get it, sir. Why'd you let 'im go?"

"I want to see how far he goes for her. If he tries to continue this fruitless rescue mission, it will be that much more glorious when I watch him lose her for good. The pain may be enough to kill him."

Peter saw the sun rise higher and he felt the water tickle his face as he lay on the shoreline. He heard clicking all around him and discerned two words. "It's Peter."

"Tethys, grab his feet. Peter, can you hear me? It's Sedna. We're moving you further into the water but don't panic. We can help you." Peter groaned in response and felt himself being moved further into the waves. At first he fought, feeling the arms dragging him down to drown but as he came into consciousness, he saw mermaid heads all around him and saw Sedna's pale face directly above his. She was rubbing his face with her webbed hand. His eyes opened even more and he licked his dry lips. Sedna moved her hand over his lips and wet them with the water.

"Peter, what's happened to you?"

"Pirates," he said weakly.

"If pirates did this to Peter Pan, imagine what they would do to us," one of them said from Peter's left. Sedna hissed.

"Be still, Undine. We are bound to help the Pan."

"We are bound to nothing," the mermaid snapped. "And I will not be at risk because the Prince of Neverland thinks he has fallen in love. Farewell to you, Peter Pan." She nodded briskly and disappeared under the water. Sedna hissed again.

"Undine is unreliable anyway."

"But Sedna, she speaks the truth," Tethys said gently, still holding onto Peter's feet, helping him float rather than sink. "The pirates could punish us for helping him."

"They will punish us anyway. At least we fight by the one who fights against our enemies." She looked down at Peter and pushed his hair out of his eyes. Tethys handed her sister a shell, which she poured over his face, washing away the dried blood. As the water hit his face, he immediately felt better and even a bit stronger. Water could do this? Why hadn't he known this before? He struggled to sit up and Sedna's hand rested on his cheek.

"Slowly, Peter. You must it take it slow. You are still very weak."

"No, I feel a lot better. I need to go, though. Leros is three days away and I have already wasted a day."

"You cannot go alone," Tethys protested. Peter stood, wobbling slightly and ringing his hair out.

"I don't have a choice. I wasn't able to get the item you requested. So I'll have to do it alone." Sedna stared at him.

"You would still go on this journey? After what happened to you?" Peter nodded and turned toward the shore, sinking fast but catching himself and keeping his head above water.

"Peter, wait." He slowly turned back to see the three mermaids staring at him with wide eyes.

"She means that much to you, this…Wendy? That you would risk your life for her? You are ready to die for her?" Peter said nothing. The mermaids all exchanged looks before Sedna swam forward.

"It is true then. You have fallen in love." Peter remained silent, not able to look any of them in the eyes. Instead, he focused on the ground while his nervous hands played with the necklaces around his neck. Sedna's eyes flicked downwards then back up at him and she reached out to caress his cheek.

"I will travel with you, Peter." Peter gaped at her.

"But…I didn't—"

"You have proven with your pain how far you are willing to go to save her. That is worth more than any instrument."

"I will travel with my sister," another swam forward and bowed her head. "Tethys may be afraid of pirates but I am not."

"I am not afraid of pirates, Oceane, but I am afraid of repercussions," Tethys gently scolded as she swam forward. "However, I will go as well."

"Thank you all," Peter said softly. "When we return, I will get your instrument for you, as a thank you."

"Come. We leave now. We face a long and difficult journey and should face it sooner rather than later."

With three mermaids below him, a shell full of Neverland's Healing Waters around his neck, a leaf satchel of some food and rope, and love in his heart, Peter Pan left Neverland and began his journey to the Isle of Leros.

Almost two days had passed and both Tink and Wendy were restless. Wendy longed to leave the confines of the cave but every time she peered outside, she heard angry jingling in her ear.

"Tink, I'm going to lose the use of my legs if I don't move!"
Walk around the cave. I promised Peter I would protect you. You're not going anywhere.

Wendy may not have been able to understand the fairy's words but her expression was enough. Huffing, Wendy collapsed on the fur blankets Peter had set up for her and she rested her face in her hands. Tink's eyes perked up and she flew to the edge of the cave. Pirates came lumbering into view, and they seemed to be searching for something. Tink put a finger to her lips and flew closer to the entrance. Wendy watched her, intrigued.

"…can bet she aint with the savages. Pan would have hidden her away."

"But Cap'n, there's a million places he could have put 'er. And besides, 'e's long gone. We watched 'im leave Neverland. What's the point in capturing the girl now?"

"Because, you fool, Pan has proven already that she's more than a mother. We beat him senseless and he's still going to try to find the cure to help her. If he returns to find her captured, we can get him to trade his life for hers." Tink nearly fell from the air at these words. She glanced back at Wendy, who was watching the fairy with a slight frown. Obviously Wendy couldn't hear what the pirates were saying. Tink bit her lip and leaned her head a little when she heard a pirate scoff.

"What makes you think he would do somefink like that?"

"Our late Cap'n, God rest his soul, discovered that Pan actually did feel for the girl. We've been assuming he loved her as a mother but no, it's much more than that boys. She means a great deal to him. He may even love her. I know you think Pan can't love but I beg to differ. I'd love nothing more than to watch the light leave his eyes when we slit the wench's throat. He would be begging for death at her last moments." The pirates all murmured in agreement, some muttering bloodthirsty remarks. Smee held up his hands and gave them a cold glare.

"So you understand why we need to find the girl. If Pan returns, he'll discover her missing and assume we have taken her again. This time, neither of them will be leaving our ship." The pirates muttered again and Tink watched them stomp off down the mountain, thankfully heading away from the hidden caves. She glanced back at Wendy and her face was drained of color. Wendy bit her lip.

"What were they saying, Tinkerbell? Tell me." Tink could only mime the horror; she pointed to Wendy and cut her finger across her throat. Then she pointed at Wendy's heart and her own and mimed breaking in half, before finally clutching her heart again and falling to the ground, lifeless. Wendy watched the fairy in horror, her hands flying to cover her mouth.

"Tinkerbell. We have to find him. "