Annegirl, you crack me up! And Pan's kiss, your wish is my command! Hope you feel better!
...
Peter had run through the mass of pirates, chopping and hewing through them blindly, thinking only of Wendy.
He was sure he'd killed at least one; his sword was red with blood. How or when it happened he wasn't sure. His eyes were wild; running, running…
Wendy in her anguished thrashing had slowed Hook down some. He had to struggle to hold onto her. She got in a quick kick to his kneecap, and he cried out, slicing into her arm with his hook.
Peter landed in front of them, just before he dragged Wendy into the long tunnel that led outside. "Hook!" he bellowed, his low, grown up. "Let her go."
The pirate Captain turned on him, arms still around Wendy, hands clutching at her dress. "What can you do. I've already won!" he said sneering against Wendy's cheek.
Peter paced forward, his sword drawn ready to strike. "If you let her go, I'll let you live and keep the thing you most desire."
Hook turned Wendy's face so that his lips were close to hers. "What if my desires have changed?" he asked. "You can understand that, can't you Peter?"
Peter watched horrified as Hook crushed his mouth to Wendy's. She struggled against the onslaught of his foul breath and rough lips.
Peter stomach dropped. A rage boiled to the surface. Her kiss. Hook had stolen her kiss meant only for him. "I'll kill you!" he cried.
Hook ripped his mouth away from Wendy's and pulled out the tiny scepter pointing it at Peter. "Do as I say and step away, boy."
Peter winced, ready to fight against his will changing. He opened his eyes to Hook's confused face. "Step away!" he tried again pointing the scepter at Peter, willing him to turn around and walk. Nothing happened.
"What's wrong with this god damned blasted thing!" cried Hook, shaking the scepter with rage. He stared at it miserably. Then his eyes widened. "The Fairy Queen," he said quietly. "It was always the Fairy Queen!"
He raised his hook to strike Wendy But then there was a blinding light, searing pain in his eye, and the color red. "Aargh!" he screamed.
Tinkerbell had flown full force into Hook's face, stabbing him in the eye with her tiny dagger, over and over again.
"Damn Fairy!" he roared, flailing his arm in an attempt to catch her. Wendy wiggled out of his grasp, and ran as fast as she could into Peter's waiting arms. He held her so hard it hurt, pressing her closer and closer to him. Then he took her arms, and moved her behind him, pulling his sword again. He had unfinished business.
Hook grasped at his damaged eye with his good hand. Tinkerbell flew at him again, her small but sharp blade headed straight for his able eye.
"I don't believe in fairies," said Hook with a sneer pointing his remark at the charging fairy. Her flight pattern wobbled and her eyes rolled back in her head. She sank through the air to the ground. He lifted his boot to finish her off.
"No!" cried Peter. He rushed at him jumping in the air, his sword plummeting toward Hook's head. The pirate caught it with his hooked hand, and pulled his own rapier. Blades whistled through the air, throwing sparks when they met.
Wendy ran to Tinkerbell and picked her up gently. She hurried back toward the line of trees to try to keep her safe and out from underfoot. She pulled her eyes up to watch Peter hacking away at the Pirate Captain. How could she help? How? She felt completely powerless without her dagger, and what good would it do anyway? She wasn't trained or experienced like Tiger Lily, or even John who had picked up the skill so easily from Peter. Then it hit her. The Fairies!
She put Tinkerbell down on a mossy rock next to one of the giant trees, and spoke over her. "I believe in fairies. I DO believe in fairies!" She clapped her hands. There was no way to know if this would help, but the quickest way to find out would be to get to the Fairy Queen and ask for assistance with her plan. She back to the Fairy Queen's throne room.
John and Tiger Lily came bursting through the foliage into the clearing ringing with the sound of metal on metal.
"Peter!" cried Tiger Lily. She thrust herself forward, armed to fight the nefarious Hook alongside her friend.
John felt the blood surge to his face. Where was Wendy? What had Hook done with her?! He sprinted behind Tiger Lily, running full force at them. They hacked at the Captain, surprised at the nimbleness of the man. He caught each thrust and parry they threw at him. He began to tire though and they raised their weapons and brought them all down at the same time. All three swords and dagger clanged together, pushing against the other at an impasse in the air.
"Give up children! Even if you chase me out of this cave, I'll be back for the Queen. I'll have what I want, I'll have it and no one will be able to stop me!" He looked insane, blood seeping from his milky left eye and his head thrown back cackling maniacally. "You'll never stop me Peter! You're a child!"
Peter gave Tiger Lily and John a look that said stand aside. They obliged and he pulled his sword back. "I'm no child old man," said Peter. The two of them ducked as Peter's rapier sang through the air and caught Hook's sword hand with the sharp end of the blade, cutting it clean off. Hook shrieked falling to the ground. His sword and his hand flew and landed in the dust.
"You'll never touch Wendy again with your unholy hand," he said, sword at Hook's throat.
Hook stared defeated at the ground, pursing his lips, holding his stump of a hand in his hook. He looked up at Peter. "Spare an old man his life Peter," he whimpered. "Spare me, and I'll leave. You've taken everything from me. Give me my life and I'll leave."
Peter stepped back and lowered his sword, providing the moment Hook was waiting for. He leapt up, sharp point bearing down on Peter to catch him in the face; until a song drifted through the atmosphere pushing into Hook's ears. A song haunting and melodic filled with promises of beautiful things. The hook stopped in midair, Peter wincing beneath it, his sword above his head.
The pirate let his head sway back and forth. Stay? The fairies were asking. Stay and they would give me what I want? Come away with them?
Peter stared up at the entranced captain. The fairies were bewitching him! He scooted out from under his stilled hook and paced backward, letting the fairies work their magic on him. The three of them watched fascinated, as Hook swayed smiling up at them. The fairies began to touch his eye, rubbing fairy dust in it. He blinked and continued to follow them slowly toward the trees. Several fairies picked up Hook's severed hand and flew with it behind him.
The three warriors looked at each other, breathing heavily and smiled. As the weight of tension ebbed, Peter began to laugh. It started from deep within and soon he was doubled over. John joined him and they held their stomachs, and fell to the ground.
"There is nothing funny Peter Pan!" said Tiger Lily. "Hook still lives! We must go after him and finish him!"
Peter took several deep breaths. He stood and put his hand on her shoulder. "What would that do?" he asked her seriously. "I don't want to be a man like him. Let him go. The fairies will keep him here for all eternity." He patted her wearily.
"I still don't like it," she said, her eyes narrowed.
John looked at her, pulling her into his arms. "It's over my dear. We've won," he said.
She smiled at him. He placed a kiss on her nose. Unsatisfied she kissed him so hard, his spectacles were smashed between their faces.
Peter turned away embarrassed at the noises they had begun to make. Something like the color of honey caught his attention from the line of trees. Something soft, something precious to him. Wendy.
Despite feeling like he had no strength left, he took off sprinting toward her as fast as his legs could carry him.