Peter look out! Peter whirled around a second too late; he felt a blade scratch his shoulder and he suddenly felt extremely weak. He stumbled backward and fell, shaking, to the floor. Wendy threw herself on top of him and stroked his cheek.

"Peter, what's happening?"

"C-Cestus," he gasped, holding his hand up and his eyes widening to see them wrinkling before his eyes. Wendy watched on in horror as Peter aged rapidly, his hair going white and thin, his body turning frail and nearly emaciated. Tink flew over him, her hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks. Tiger Lily, the Chief, and a few of the braves had burst in and were watching in shock from the door. The Chief noticed Smee trying to creep out of the room and he yelled at the braves to bind him.

Wendy clutched Peter's hand, which had become boney and gnarled.

"Peter, please. Please don't leave me."

Peter! Where is the pearl? Peter blinked up at the fairy and reached a shaking hand into his leaves. He pulled out a beautiful pink pearl and offered it to Wendy.

"S-so you can be a girl again," he gasped, his voice so soft, Wendy could barely hear him. "Just hold it to your lips…and you'll…change back." He coughed and Wendy could not believe how much he had aged in one minute. She grasped the pearl in her hand and shook her head.

"No Peter. I don't need to be a girl again. I have to grow up. But you," she quickly brought the pearl to his lips and held his head still. Peter gasped and tried to shake his head but Wendy held the pearl still and watched, as the transformation began to reverse itself. His hair became bouncy golden curls again. His cheeks were rounded and pink, his eyes bright and sparkling. He sucked in a breath as he felt his strength return and he sat up on shaking hands. Wendy gave him a sad smile as she leaned back.

"Everything is as it is supposed to be," she whispered. He shook his head and took the pearl from her, but gasped when he saw it had cracked.

"No," he croaked. He looked up at Wendy anxiously and she gave him a sad smile.

"Cragen can only save one," the Indian Chief said sadly. "Once used, its power is gone forever. You have made your choice."

"No, I didn't make this choice! I wanted it for Wendy! I need it for Wendy!" He threw the pearl aside and ran his hands through his hair. "Why, Wendy? Why did you do this?"

"Because no matter how much I love you, Peter, I understand that you want always to be a boy and have fun. You belong here…and I don't." Peter squeezed his hands and did his best to fight back the tears.

"No, Wendy, please—"

"I will never stop loving you Peter," she said gently, touching her forehead to his. Her eyes bore into his as both of them blinked back tears. The Indian Chief cleared his throat, hesitant to break this tender moment.

"What would you like done with the pirates, Peter Pan?" Peter forced himself to tear his gaze from Wendy and turned to the braves who held Smee tightly. Smee's eyes narrowed as Peter glared at him.

"We'll take them back to the Village with us until we decide what to do," the young prince announced. The Indians all shuffled out, dragging their prisoners with them. Some pirates had escaped into the Neversea but had unfortunately met the mermaids and Sedna's sisters did not take kindly to pirates. Tiger Lily rushed toward Wendy and covered her in a thick blanket that had come from the Village. She squeezed Wendy's hand and lead her away from the ship. Peter watched the two girls pass but remained silent as his heart and his thoughts raced.

Night had fallen on Neverland and Tiger Lily and after she had been doused with healing water, several of the women took Wendy to the river to bathe. They washed her hair with oils that smelled wonderful and Tiger Lily herself gently cleaned up the girl's wounds. Her eyes filled with tears when she saw the extent of what the pirates had done and she fell to her knees, clutching Wendy's hands.

"Forgive me, Wendy-bird. The pirates threatened to destroy my entire village if I did not tell them where you were. I should have died for my silence. I should never have betrayed my friend."

"Tiger Lily, it's alright," Wendy pulled the princess to her feet and wiped away her tears with her thumb. "I would have done the same thing."

"No you wouldn't have. You would never betray your friends. Time and time again, you have been willing to die for the prince and for this island. I should be more like you." Wendy remained silent and Tiger Lily wiped at her face.

"Would you mind terribly…that is, might I go upstream a little and have some time to myself?" Tiger Lily bit her lip; Peter had given her strict orders not to let Wendy out of her sight until he returned. But the pirates had all been but exterminated. There was no longer any danger and Neverland was the peaceful place it had once been. She nodded and Wendy gratefully collected her dress and blanket and waded up the river.

Peter and Tink turned as the Fairy Council flew into the clearing and all of them looked slightly surprised.

"You have returned safely, Peter Pan. Not many would have survived your journey."

"Well, I did. And I've come to talk to you about something."

"Very well."

"I found Cragen," there was a buzzing around them and one of the fairies frowned.

"Quiet," she hissed at the rest of them. "Go on, Peter."

"I found Cragen…but did not use it as I hoped to. I've come to tell you that I will not kill Wendy, nor will I let you harm her. I'm going to return her to her home. But I have to ask something of you first." The fairies bowed their heads.

"Then ask what you will, Peter Pan."

Peter glanced up at Tink, who nodded encouragingly, and he took a deep breath, walking toward the fairies to the middle of the clearing.

I'm sorry guys I'm running to work to hang out with Peter and Wendy for a little bit so that's it for now! If I get some reviews I MAY post another after work tonight ;)