Chapter 8:

Skull Rock

Margaret's eyes slowly fluttered open, her mind awakening from a long and peaceful slumber. She stretched her body and yawned. She had the most wonderful dream last night. Peter Pan was in her dream. He took her with him through the second star to the right and arrived to Neverland, bringing Little along with them. She and Peter played a prank on Captain Hook, she met the Lost Boys, and she was almost killed by Tinker Bell, causing Peter to banish the fairy. He and the Lost Boys took Margaret, in her dream, to their secret underground hideout called, Hangman Jr.'s Tree. Then, Peter took her around Neverland, showing her all kinds of amazing things on the enchanted island. Once they came back, they and the Lost Boys (plus Little) ate a make-believe feast and had Margaret sing them a lullaby. Then, her dream revealed her and Peter outside at night, on the tree, above the lake surface, and up in the night sky.

It was the most incredible dream she had ever had. She couldn't wait to tell Little and Grandmum about it.

Still thinking of her dream, she reached over and clutched her Peter Pan doll closer to her-

Wait, there was no Peter Pan doll in her arms. Only empty air.

Margaret panicked, quickly rising up from her bed and scanning her room. Only it looked nothing like her room. Her toys were no longer there, her window was no longer there, and there were loud snoring coming from the hammocks-

It was as if a light switched suddenly turned on. Her dream. It really wasn't a dream. It actually happened to her. She had met Peter Pan, she is in Neverland, and everything truly did happen. She glanced over to the hammocks to see the Lost Boys still asleep. She spotted Little in Tootles' arms, still in her position as last night.

Margaret looked around the hideout, searching for Peter. But he was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, she realized that she was on Peter's bed and had slept on it when Peter himself made it clear that no one was to touch his bed, let alone sleep in it.

How did she even get into Peter's bed. The last thing she remembered was dancing with Peter in the night sky. She didn't know what happened after that. She probably assumed that Peter carried her here. But then, if that was true, then where is Peter?

Margaret looked over to Peter's chair, where it stood empty and lonely. Then, a thought occurred. The bear rug. She crawled to the end of the bed and looked down.

Sure enough, there was Peter, sleeping on top of the bear rug. Margaret smiled. He still wore the same look he had last night, when it was he who lay on his bed, not Margaret.

A thought came into her mind. Did Peter lay me on his bed? It would seem possible. But just the thought of Peter carrying her caused Margaret to blush again (only to scowl at herself for blushing way too much. She has got to stop doing that).

Peter stirred a little, mumbling in his sleep. Margaret just shook her head, smiling at him. She thought that maybe he would like to sleep with her Peter doll, since she no longer needed it for now.

She looked at one side of her, then looked at the other side. Her eyes searched the entire bed. No Peter doll in sight.

Margaret frowned. Where could it be?

Then she remembered that she had placed it in her night robe pocket. She dug her hand in one pocket, only to feel nothing. She tried the other pocket. To her horror, it was empty too.

Panicking, Margaret jumped off of the bed and looked under the bed. Seeing no doll, she quickly threw the covers back and searched the bed again. Her doll was nowhere to be seen.

"No, no, no! Where could it be," Margaret muttered desperately. What could have happened for her to lost her doll? She could not lose her doll. It was the most precious toy she has ever had in the whole world. Besides Little, her doll was the only connection of her home she had brought to Neverland. She never slept without it (until last night). It was given to her by Mum. Margaret wondered how special the doll had been to Mum as a child. What would she think it she found out that her daughter had lost her old, but precious doll? Margaret felt guilty just thinking about it.

Seeing no Peter Pan doll anywhere in the hideout, Margaret was forced to calm herself down and think back to where she had last saw her doll. She remembered leaving her doll in her pocket before she went outside last night. Could she have lost it outside?

Margaret decided to look for her doll outside, knowing that the sun would have risen, making it easier for her to find her missing doll. Not wanting to wake up the boys and Little (believing Margaret could find her doll alone), Margaret silently tiptoed to the exit and crawled outside.

She was immediately greeted by the morning sunlight and the chirps of the morning birds. The sun was halfway over the ocean, slowly preparing itself to rise above Neverland.

Margaret wanted to stay and enjoy the warm and sunny morning that was so different than London's morning, but she had to find her doll before it was lost forever.

She ran into the forest and scanned the ground for any sight of a mini Peter Pan. She searched through wild bushes, behind and inside logs, under branches, everywhere. However, there was still no sign of her Peter Pan doll.

Margaret paused to catch her breath. She looked around the forest, not sure where to go next. Her doll could be anywhere in this whole island. For all she knew, her doll might have already been found by someone else, hiding it from her. Perhaps she should have asked for Peter's help instead of doing it herself.

Right before Margaret turned to walk back to Hangman Jr.'s Tree in misery and defeat, her eyes caught a glance of a small figure, lying on top of a smooth and grounded rock. The figure had red, messy hair and wore green hat and outfit-

Wait a minute.

Margaret stepped forward to get a closer look.

There, right before her, was her Peter Pan doll, sitting patiently for her on the rock. Joy filled her heart at finally finding her doll. A suspicious thought entered in her mind though, warning her that finding her doll was too easy and someone may have intended for her to find it. But Margaret pushed it to the back of her head as she reached out her hand toward her doll, planning on retrieving it.

Suddenly, the doll quickly pulled back and disappeared into the bushes. Margaret froze, bewildered, before she went after her doll.

She pushed the bushes away and, after spotting her doll, again reached for it. However, the doll was, once again, pulled away from her. Without a thought, and ignoring warnings that set off in her head, Margaret chased after her doll.

But no matter how close she got to her doll, it only moved farther away from her and was dragged further into the forest. Margaret didn't see where she was going or how far she had gotten. Her only concern was on retrieving her small doll.

Margaret chased after her doll for a full minute or two. And still, it was like the doll refused to be taken by her.

Finally, getting tired of the chase, Margaret jumped forward and quickly grabbed her doll before it could escape again.

She got up, bringing her doll close to her. She felt her doll struggling to escape from her hands. Puzzled, she looked over her doll for anything strange about it. Her eyes caught an almost invisible string attached to the doll's back. The string's other end disappeared behind a bush.

Margaret thought of cutting the string off her doll, but she was curious on who was trying to steal her doll.

She wrapped her hand around the string, her other hand gripping firmly on her doll. Then, with all he strength, her string-wrapped hand gripped the string and pulled forcefully toward her.

What she saw next took her by surprise. The other end of the string came out of the bush alright. But it wasn't the only thing being pulled out of hiding. Grabbing on the string was a small, very plump man. He had a big nose and snowy white sideburns. He wore a blue-stripped shirt, tiny half-circled glasses, sandals, and a red nightcap.

The man looked funny looking to Margaret, but also very familiar.

Because of Margaret's rough pull on the string, the plump man was pulled out of his hiding spot and was dragged face down toward Margaret, still gripping on the string. The plump man was motionless for a moment, his full front of his body buried in the ground, including his face.

Soon, his face slowly rose up, his eyes landing on Margaret, who stared at him with a weird look.

The plump man chuckled nervously. "Top of the morning, madam," he said, raising his nightcap in greeting.

Suddenly, a name came to Margaret. A name that, not only identify the plump man, but had her recall a certain character, in Grandmum's stories, that was Captain Hook's right hand man.

"Mr. Smee?"

She looked back at her doll and the string attached to its back. Why would Mr. Smee go through the trouble on attaching a string on her doll and drag it away from her, as if leading her into a trap-

"Wait a second."

All of a sudden, a giant net, hidden under Margaret's feet, shot up, carrying her inside, until it was high above the ground. Margaret, caught by surprise and horror, tried to release herself from the net, only to become even more tangled inside. She soon stopped, admitting herself that it was no use. She was trapped.

She cursed herself again for her stupidity, this time for falling into a trap.

Margaret heard a group of laughter coming from below her. She looked down to see pirates coming out of their hiding places from the forest, all gathering under her and staring at her. They laughed and pointed at her as if it was hilarious to see a tangled up, little girl, trying to escape their trap they had cleverly laid out for her.

They all suddenly fell silent when their captain came out of the forest, walking toward the trapped net, like a king walking down the throne room.

He looked up at Margaret with an evil and proud smile. Margaret silently gave him an angry glare, refusing to show him, or any of the pirates, how terrified she really was inside.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here, men," Hook proclaimed, pulling out his sword and pointing the tip of it toward Margaret. "It seems that, instead of a pig, we caught ourselves something even better: Peter Pan's lovely lass!"

Few of the pirates wolf whistled, making Margaret feel uncomfortable.

"Now, what's a lady like you doing all by yourself out in the dark and lonely forest?" Hook asked Margaret.

She stayed silent, continuing to glare at him.

Hook glanced over to a pirate, who was standing closer to the forest. He was holding onto a rope that held the net up. "Put her down slightly, so that we can take a closer look at our new prisoner."

Margaret winched at being called 'prisoner'.

The pirate nodded as he slowly lowered the net until it stopped to where her head was the same level as the captain's. Margaret was forced to fully face Hook's gleeful face. She looked away, but Hook used his hook hand to turn her face toward him.

Hook studied Margaret's face (much to her discomfort). "Mmmmm, your features seems so . . . familiar. Where have I seen them before?"

His eyes abruptly widened with realization. "Oh, now I know! From Wendy's daughter! Or perhaps Wendy herself! Do you, by chance, know them closely?"

A lot closely than you think, Margaret thought to herself, not even attempting to say it out loud.

"Captain," Mr. Smee piped out. "Maybe this girl is Wendy's daughter, too. Or maybe her daughter's daughter?"

Hook placed his hook on his chin in thought, staring straight at Margaret. "Perhaps you're right, Smee. But she couldn't possibly be Wendy's daughter. So, this lass here must be Jane's daughter! Now, what's your name, little lassie?" He asked Margaret.

"Margaret Anne Rose Benson," she growled at Hook.

"Ah, a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Benson," Hook said. "I believe you already know who I am."

Margaret smirked. "Yes. You're Mr. Codfish."

Hook's smile dropped to a scowl. A few snickers passed along the pirates, only to shut up at Hook's glare.

"I see you have been hanging with Pan too much," Hook muttered to Margaret.

"What are you going to do to me," Margaret demanded, wanting to show them she wasn't afraid, when she was on the inside.

Hook's menacing smile returned, staring deep into Margaret's eyes. "Oh, don't worry, Ms. Benson. We have big plans for you and your beloved, Peter Pan."

*PPIII*

When Peter woke up, he immediately knew that something was wrong. He scanned the underground hideout, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. He jumped up from the bear rug and looked over to his bed to check on Margaret.

That was when he found out what was wrong: Margaret was missing. Again.

His bed was empty; the cover was all messed up, almost off to the side of the bed. Peter looked around the hideout again, seeing no sign of Margaret. She must have sneaked out again.

Peter shook his head. "That girl just can't stay still," he mumbled to himself.

After checking the boys and the puppy, still asleep, he flew out of the hideout, through the ceiling exit, and began searching for Margaret, fearing the possible dangers Margaret could land herself into.

*PPIII*

Skull Rock was the scariest sight Margaret had ever seen. She could tell how it got the name: it was in the shape of the largest skull in history. The clouds darkened over Skull Rock, as if the sight of the skull frightened the sunlight away. Because of this, the dark sky gave Skull Rock a very frightening look. Waves helplessly crashed against it, and two or three sea gulls flew over Skull Rock.

It was just as Grandmum had described the place in her stories.

Margaret watched in fear as the boat she was in approached to Skull Rock. She was bound and gagged, sitting in one of the two pirate rowboats. The other rowboat, which was leading the one that has Margaret, was Hook up at front and a few pirates with him. On the one Margaret sat was another few pirates, with Mr. Smee rowing the boat.

Margaret looked behind her to see Neverland far away, as was her hope of rescue.

She turned around just in time to see the two boats going through the mouth of Skull Rock. Intense fear grew inside Margaret as her boat was swallowed inside.

It wasn't completely dark inside, though there really wasn't much to see. They came upon a cavern that looked more like the inside of a giant, rounded volcano. Margaret looked behind her and saw two large holes high up on the wall, assuming they were the eyes of Skull Rock, and a hole under them, indicating the entrance, welcoming waters of the ocean from outside.

Hook's boat rowed over to the 'beach' made of rocks. He and his pirates jumped off of the boat and the pirates pulled their boat out of the waters and behind a large rock to hide it.

The other boat, the one Margaret occupied, sailed over to the back wall of Skull Rock. There were two chains against it and they were chained around both wrists of an old and wet skeleton. Margaret's eyes widened in horror at the sight of the very much dead skeleton. The pirates on that boat only smirked at the skeleton as they unlocked the chains, allowing the skeleton to sink into the waters.

Margaret gulped uneasily, having an assumption on what they were going to do to her.

And her assumption was proven right when the pirates untied her, pulled her out of the boat, and chained her wrists against the wall.

To her relief, the waters were just up to her mid-stomach. She felt a bump against the wall deep underwater, so she placed her feet on it to stand on, so she could keep the chains from bruising her wrists even more.

The boat sailed away, leaving her alone. She took the moment to figure out how to escape. But, all too soon, the boat returned. Only this time, it was only Mr. Smee rowing the boat toward her. The rest of the pirates must have joined the others.

Mr. Smee was cheerfully singing a pirate song while he rowed his boat over the chained Margaret.

"Ohh, a pirate's life is a wonderful life

They never bury yer bones,

But when it's all over

A jolly sea rover

Drops in on his friend Davy Jones,

Ohh, his very good friend Davy Jones"

Margaret just stared at the plump pirate as he reached over her and pulled the gag off of her. Margaret coughed out and took in a deep breath.

"Alright now," Mr. Smee said. "You may begin!"

Margaret gave him a strange look. "Begin what?"

"You know, shouting for help, calling for Peter Pan to come and rescue you!"

"Why would I do that?"

"So Peter Pan can come flying in and attempt to rescue you. But Captain Hook is preparing to kill him as soon as he comes!" He paused for a moment. "Maybe I shouldn't have told you that."

"What," Margaret exclaimed. "Are you saying that you're using me as bait to capture Peter?"

"And kill him, yes," Mr. Smee said in a happy tone, as if it was all just a fun game. "Now, go ahead and scream out for Peter Pan!"

"No," Margaret retorted. "I'm not going to bring Peter into a trap!"

"But if you don't, the water will rise and it won't be long until you're completely underwater." Just as he said that, a huge wave from the outside entered in, causing the waters to rise up. Now the water level was up to Margaret's chest. Terror increased inside of her as she struggled to yank the chains out from the wall. When it didn't work, she groaned in frustration.

"So, I guess you better call for Peter Pan now!" Mr. Smee said. Margaret only gave him a cold glare and stuck out her chin, refusing to cry for Peter's help. But she couldn't help the horror of the possibility of being drowned to death. She had to think of a way to escape without involving Peter.

*PPIII*

Peter flew all over Neverland, searching everywhere for Margaret. But there were so sign of her anywhere. He had asked the Indians if they have seen her, but they answered no. Against his bitter judgment, he went over and asked the mermaids if they saw her. But they told him they haven't, before flirting with him. He looked all over the forest, the Never Peaks, the beaches, everywhere. But Peter could not find Margaret.

Anxiety for her grew intensively. He could not lose her in a fantasy world that she has never been in before. He had promised Wendy he wouldn't let anything happen to her and he was determined not to break that promise. He just needed to find Margaret before it was too late.

Lastly, he checked at Fort Buccaneer, fearing that the pirates might have kidnapped her and taken her there. But, to his surprise, the whole fort was completely empty. Not one pirate can be seen there, not even at the watchtowers. Even their beach was absolutely deserted-

Peter did a double look. Their boats. They vanished too. Which means all the pirates are out at sea. But where could they have gone to? They couldn't have left Neverland, or any boundaries over Skull Rock.

Skull Rock.

Peter never thought to check there. In a flash, Peter zoomed across the sky and toward Skull Rock.

He stopped against the outside wall next to the left eye of Skull Rock and peeked in. He could see small glimpses of the pirates' heads and Hook's feathered hat over the rocks they were hiding. Peter scanned the whole area and saw, to his shock, Margaret chained against the back wall. What's worse, the water surface was up to her chest. Suddenly, a wave approached, causing the waters to rise higher. Now the surface was up to her neck. Margaret struggled to free herself from the chains on her wrists, while trying to stay above waters.

Peter knew he was running out of time. He had to save her before the waters consume her. But how, when the pirates were watching her. Especially Mr. Smee who, Peter noticed, was floating by her on a rowboat.

Peter rubbed his chin, thinking of a plan to distract the pirates. He snapped his fingers when he came up with an idea. He flew down to the 'mouth' of Skull Rock and, cupping his hands around his mouth, he let out a loud ticking noise.

*PPIII*

All of a sudden, a loud, echoed ticking jingle erupted all over the cave.

Mr. Smee jumped at the noise and looked around him, searching for the source of the ticking. Margaret looked around too, but, just like Mr. Smee, she didn't see anything.

Suddenly, a screech was heard from the rocks. "IT'S BACK," it shouted, sounding very much like Captain Hook himself. "IT'S COMING TO GET ME! SMEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Coming, captain," Mr. Smee called out as he quickly rowed his boat away from Margaret and toward where the screeching was coming from.

Margaret waited for a moment, the ticking sound still continuing. Then, she quickly tugged the chains on her wrists, desperate for them to release her. But it only bruised her wrists all the more.

Margaret became petrified. Anytime now, the waters will swallow her up and she will perish just like that poor skeleton before her. She looked everywhere, anxious to find at least one hope of her being rescued. If only Peter was here to save her like last time. But she knew she could not bring him into a trap. She would rather perish than hurt Peter.

The ticking noise suddenly grew louder and louder, as if coming closer and closer to her. Margaret's fright grew even more, until it reached to its peak. She didn't know what could be worse: drowning or being eaten by a ticking crocodile.

She spotted a silhouette on the water surface slowly approaching to her. Margaret moved as far back as she could (which wasn't even far, ending up against the wall).

She then sighed in defeat, fearing that her end has come. She thought of everything in her past, as if all her memories flashed before her eyes. She thought of her dear puppy, Little, who would be devastated to hear of her owner's death. She thought of her wonderful Grandmum, who would possibly have a heart attack once she receives the news of her granddaughter's death. She thought of her loving, but strict mother, who Margaret had admitted that she had regretted spending her last moments with Mum in a furious argument. She thought of her father, who she hoped she will see him once she is delivered to the first star on the left. She thought of the precious Lost Boys, who have been quite an amusement to her from the very beginning.

And, lastly, she thought of Peter Pan. His smile, his eyes, his spirit, his arrogance, his charm, his playfulness, his laugh, his comfort, his warmth.

His kiss.

Without warning, the waters rapidly rose higher over her head, blocking her from the air above. She held as much air as she could, but knew it wouldn't be enough to survive more than a minute.

A hand covered her mouth and Margaret released startling air bubbles from her nose, already losing her air supply. Her eyes popped open to see, right in front of her, Peter Pan, swimming in front of her with his hand on her mouth.

And that was when she knew. It was Peter who was making the ticking sound to distract the pirates. She should have known.

She smiled against his hand and he gave her a smirk and a wink. He pulled out his dagger and swam up to the surface. After looking around, to see no pirates in sight, he stabbed his dagger into the lock of one chain that held Margaret's right wrist. He twisted his dagger a while until it turned and the chain unlocked, freeing Margaret's right wrist.

Margaret smiled, pulling her right wrist underwater. But, suddenly, her heart was beating faster and she was getting light headed. What's worse, her body was getting extremely desperate for air.

Panicking, she tugged on Peter's tunic. As if he got the message, he quickly stabbed his dagger into the other lock of the chain holding Margaret's left chain, twisting around as fast as he could.

Margaret couldn't help but release the last of her air supply up into the surface. Now, she was helpless of any air and was coming close to the edge of unconsciousness.

At last, the chain unlocked, freeing Margaret's left wrist. Peter rapidly put his dagger back to his small scabbard, wrapped his arms around Margaret, and zoomed out of the waters just in time. Once Margaret came into the open air, she gasped for much needed air and coughed out unwanted water.

Peter landed on top of the rocks at the edge of the waters and stepped back, his arms still around her. Margaret held onto Peter for support. She didn't think she had the strength to stand on her own. She coughed out for a few moments and breathed in sharply.

That was a close one, they both thought at the same time.

"You okay," Peter asked her, concern for her clearly written on his face.

Margaret coughed as she tried to reply. "I think so."

Peter then gave her a hearty smile, attempting to make the situation cheerful. "Well, that's what you get for wandering around alone."

Margaret rolled her eyes, but her mind alerted her of the pirates who were still here. That was when she remembered why she was here in the first place.

She suddenly gripped on Peter's shoulders. "Peter, you have to get out of here!"

"Gee, and I thought you would be happy to see me-"

"No, Peter, you don't understand! You NEED to leave! It's a trap!"

Just then, a gun shot was heard. They jumped in surprise and looked over to where it came from.

"YOU MISSED," a voice shrieked from behind the boulders, obviously belonging to Hook. "HOW COULD YOU HAVE MISSED? HE WAS STANDING RIGHT THERE! YOU COULD HAVE BLOWN OUR COVER!"

"Uh, captain," a smaller voice that sounded a lot like Mr. Smee spoke. "I think you already did that."

There was a long awkward pause. Taking the chance, Peter stepped in front of Margaret and hid her behind him, his eyes narrowed on the stones.

Finally, Hook stepped out of from the shadows with an evil grin, pulling his sword out. "Ah, Peter Pan. I see you've finally had the guts to show up. I should have known it was you making that ticking noise again. It's a shame; if only the crocodile would have taken you with him."

"Yeah, well, you know what they say: you can't have everything you want." As Peter said that, Margaret was attempting to move around Peter, feeling like a hopeless girl being protected by Peter Pan. But Peter pushed her back, trying not to show his frustrations toward Margaret to Hook.

"But I will get what I want," Hook's devil grin grew wider, his eyes turning to Margaret. "And I'll get it through that pretty little girl of yours."

Before Margaret could respond to that comment, Peter swiftly pulled out his dagger, pointing the sharp end of it straight at Hook, his face suddenly stony. "You leave her out of this! This is between you and me!"

"Yes, but, like every visitors you bring to this pathetic island, she's stuck right in the middle of the crossroad between you and me. So," Hook continued as he pointed his sword at Peter and stepped forward, causing Peter to move backward, pushing Margaret back until the water touched her cold feet. "She either leaves . . . or she becomes mine."

In a flash, Peter flew after Hook, stabbing his dagger at him. But Hook swiftly moved away and struck his rapier at the flying boy, only to collide his blade against Hook's cutlass. A fight between Hook and Pan had begun again.

Margaret watched as Peter and Hook faced each other with their weapons. She had never seen a sword fight like this before. Peter took advantage on his flying abilities by circling Hook and attacking him with his tiny sword. Hook, meanwhile, kept angrily slashing his sword at Peter, only to miss the boy repeatedly.

As she observed the battle, Margaret had the strongest nerve to join in the fight. But she had no sword or any kind of weapon. She looked down and spotted a small rock. She picked it up and, without a second thought, she threw the rock at Hook.

The rock ended up hitting Hook's top head, knocking off his fancy hat to the ground. Hook growled as he picked it up. Using this as a distraction, Peter rapidly flew behind Margaret, wrapped his arms around her waist, and carried her high up. He landed them on a cliff against the wall and hid them both into the darkness.

"AFTER THEM," Hook shouted. The pirates' roar echoed throughout the cave.

"What are you doing," Peter whispered to Margaret, gripping her shoulders protectively.

"What does it look like? I'm helping you out!"

"I don't need help," Peter said harshly. "I don't need anyone's help!"

"Well, someday, you're gonna need help from someone sooner or later! You can't always do things on your own!"

Before Peter could retort to that, the howls of the pirates were getting closer and closer.

"Listen, Margaret. Get out of here," Peter ordered her as he gave her a sack of pixie dust. "Here, you'll need this. Fly far away from here. I'll take care of these codfishes."

"No, I'm not leaving you! I can fight them!"

"You don't even have a weapon with you," Peter reminded her.

Margaret opened her mouth, but closed it, realizing that he was right. She was completely defenseless. Unless she could steal a sword from one of the pirates, there was nothing else she could do but do as Peter said.

"Fine," Margaret muttered angrily. Peter just nodded at her. He ran out from the shadows and jumped off of the cliff. The next thing she knew, she heard the clanging of two swords together.

Margaret crossed her arms stubbornly, standing very still. She heard the clashing of the swords, Peter's cheery laugh, and Hook's furious growl, tempting her more to join in the fight. She forgot all about the bag of pixie dust she held in her hand. She also forgot the approaching pirates that were ready to slice her like a fish.

"Thar she be!"

Margaret turned to see the whole army of armed pirates climbing up, narrowed at her. Without another thought, she ran the opposite direction.

She heard the snarl of the pirates behind her, causing her to run faster. However, it was difficult for her to run all the way down from the cliff when there are too many rocks in her way and she had to climb over them, only slowing her down.

When she climbed on top of a boulder, she looked over her shoulder to spot one of the meaner pirates closing in on her. She frantically looked around and found no other easy way to escape.

Margaret looked down to try to find a small rock to throw at them when she saw the sack of pixie dust in her hand. Desperately, she opened the bag and pour pixie dust on her hand, flinging it toward her face. After sneezing from the golden dust, she quickly thought of the first happy thought that came to her mind: her moonlight dance with Peter.

"Ah ha!" a voice interrupted Margaret. She looked down and saw the advancing pirate ready to strike her. "Now I got ye!"

Reflexively, Margaret did a floating back flip, kicking the pirate from under his chin hard, causing him to fall back unconscious. Landing back on the boulder, she stared down at the insensible pirate, completely shocked at what she had just done.

And it felt good.

Her head rose up for her to see more pirates coming her way, swords at ready. They suddenly transformed into the V Gang from back home right before her eyes.

And that was when she smirked. Those pirates weren't any different than the V Gang. She could absolutely take them all by herself.

She swept over the ground and landed high against the wall. There, a giant boulder sat at the top of a rocky hill, trapped behind two rocks. That gave her an idea.

Margaret turned to the pirates, who dashed by her, never noticing where she was.

"Hey!" she shouted at them. The pirates halted and their heads turned around, seeing her fly up and settled on top of the boulder. "Looking for me?"

"CHARGE!" a fat pirate bellowed. All of the pirates hollowed as they ran straight toward Margaret, climbing over passing rocks in their way.

Seeing them approaching, Margaret swiftly picked up one of the two rocks blocking the giant boulder and threw it away. Once she did the same to the second rock, the boulder started to wobble. Margaret helped it by pushing it with all her might.

The huge boulder fell from its resting place and rolled downhill in the direction of the gang of pirates. Once the pirates looked up, their eyes widened.

"RETREAT!" a short pirate screamed. Screaming in fear, they all scurried down, trying to run away from the boulder. Unfortunately, the boulder ran into the majority of the pirates and carried them with it as the boulder rolled off and fell into the waters. Now, there were only about five pirates left to deal with the girl.

Margaret searched the ground around her feet and spotted a small, round rock. She picked it up, gripped it tightly, aimed at one of the surviving pirates, and threw her rock.

The rock zoomed across and hit directly at one of the pirate's head. His eyes rolled around in dizziness and fell flat on the ground, out cold. Margaret giggled to herself.

Now there were only four pirates left, chasing after her again. But Margaret stood still, smirking as if she knew something that they didn't. One of the pirates, the one wearing earrings and very few teeth, made it to Margaret first and sliced his sword at her.

However, Margaret jumped up before the sword touched her. She flew over the pirate and landed between him and another pirate. Not seeing the other pirate, the earring pirate readied his fist and prepared to punch her. She turned around and saw the other pirate doing the same. Just when they were about to hit her, Margaret ducked and pulled away, causing the two pirates to punch themselves and knock themselves unconscious.

Now there was only one more pirate to get rid of. And this pirate looked more stronger and meaner than the other stupid pirates. Margaret really needed to think on how to get rid of this muscular pirate.

The strong pirate growled at her, swinging his sword at her, trying to slice her. But every time, Margaret moved away from the sword, backing up. This kept going until her back was up against the wall. The strong pirate laughed evilly at her, dramatically raised his sword above his head, ready deliver the final blow.

Margaret eyes searched everywhere, frantically looking for possible ideas. Right when the strong pirate launched his sword, without thinking, Margaret got down, whooshed across the ground and between his legs (barely missing the sword), grabbed his pants, and pulled it up high, causing the strong pirate to hang upside-down. However, the strong pirate was a lot heavier than Margaret thought. Before she knew it, the strong pirate's pants ripped and he fell down, leaving behind a piece of his pants that Margaret gripped on. He landed head first and, after another silly dizzy moment, his whole body fell flat on the ground, falling unconscious.

Margaret grinned sheepishly. "Oops," she muttered as she dropped the piece of his pants on top of his bottom.

Seeing that all the pirates were knocked out, Margaret felt it was time for her to go, since she had had her fun, messing with those ridicules pirates. She flew up into the air and soared across the cave, through one of the Skull's eyes.

However, she stopped in midair when she hear the clanging of swords. It was then that she remembered that Peter and Hook were still battling each other. Filled with excitement and curiosity, she flew back to the eye and saw the two in the middle of sword fighting. Peter's face was beaming of sheer happiness and arrogance, as he circled the pirate captain, obviously showing off. Hook was growing more and more angrier, probably because he was fighting from the ground. He had to hop on rocks that stood up from the waters just to get closer to the boy.

Margaret smirked. She promised Peter that she wouldn't get involve. But he never said anything about watching them.

Margaret rested her arms on the bottom of the eye, leaning her head against her fist, as she watched the swordfight. She loved every second of the battle and wished she was a part of it.

Finally, Hook put his sword back in his scabbard and pulled out his pistol, pointing it straight at Peter. "That's it! This is getting me nowhere! I'll just have to blast you instead!"

Peter crossed his arms in disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"

Hook's only response was a blast from the pistol. The bullet shot right toward Peter, but he carelessly moved to the side, avoiding the bullet.

Growling, Hook fired the pistol again and again at the flying boy. But Peter missed each of them by doing cartwheels in midair, twirled away, flipping up higher, etc. Yet again, he was showing off, not caring at all. Margaret giggled in silence.

Peter flew around Hook and Hook followed him, blasting his pistol along the way. Soon, he stopped up in the air, not knowing that Margaret was right behind him. "Come on, you old codfish! Give it up! You know you can't shoot me!"

Hook, who did see Margaret behind Peter, hatched a plan, sneaking a hidden smirk on his long chin. "Who says I need to shoot you?"

Without letting Peter reply, Hook fired his pistol, aimed at Peter and, of course, Peter jumped higher into the air, laughing at Hook's failure. Margaret would have laughed too. But she didn't know of the bullet's actual target.

Instead of hitting Peter, it struck Margaret's arm.

Margaret screamed in pain, clutching her wounded arm, as she fell down to the rocky waters.

*PPIII*

Peter suddenly stopped laughing when he hear a scream that sounded oddly like Margaret.

His eyes shot wide open. That was Margaret. And she was in trouble!

Quick as a bullet, he rocketed outside, for once ignoring Hook, flew down after Margaret, and caught her just in time, never knowing how scared he really was for her.

He carried her in bridal style and carefully laid her on a large, smooth rock that sat between the waters and the edge of Skull Rock. Margaret's eyes tightened in pain, breathing deeply. She still clutched her arm, but the color red appeared around her grasped hand.

"Are you okay," Peter asked her, more worried for her than ever before. He leaned closer to her, inspecting her hidden wound.

Margaret shook her head. "It hurts."

At those words, Peter grew guilty, like a heavy burden harshly stabbing his heart. He had failed. He had failed to protect Margaret. He had failed to keep Wendy's promise. He failed two of the most important people in his life. And he had allowed Hook to hurt her.

Hook.

A fire roared alive inside him, his eyes seeing red. He felt the highest point of anger that he had never felt before. The fire inside him was flaming with intense rage and was starving for flesh to burn. And it was very clear on what the fire was telling him to do:

Seek Revenge.

Peter stood up and looked at Skull Rock where, somewhere inside, Hook was waiting for him. Waiting for a rematch.

And that's exactly what he was going to give him.

Peter prepared to jump up into midair, but, when his feet only left the ground a few inches high, he felt someone grab his wrist, pulling him down. He looked down to see Margaret holding his wrist with the same hand she had covered her wound..

"Peter," she softly said to him. "Don't do it. Please I need help. And, if I don't get help soon . . . I may not get better. Please, Peter!"

Peter stared at her eyes, her beautiful blue eyes. It was like her eyes contained water and extinguished the fire within him. He felt at ease from just gazing at her gentle eyes, pleading him to stay with her. And he automatically obeyed, sinking down to the ground.

He felt a sticky liquid on his wrist, the same one Margaret held, and remembered her open wound. He looked at her arm and saw, to his horror, a large red spot on her arm. He also saw the color red falling down on her sleeve, dripping from her hand.

Margaret was right. She needed help. And he knew exactly where to find help.

Wordlessly, he wrapped one arm around her back, another arm under her legs, and floated upward, soaring across the sky, all the while clutching Margaret against him.

He didn't see the Captain himself walking outside and smiled wickedly at the two flying away.