"So what you're saying is," Peter said slowly to Raybha, "Is that we need The Sword of Anmil to break the link between us all?"

Raybha shrugged. "I can't see any other way," she said simply. "This is a difficult problem."

"How is it? There must be some other way!"

"It is difficult to break the bond of friendship and love between human beings!," Raybha snapped. "Do not be rude!"

I resisted the temptation to laugh at Peter's sheepish face.

"Why are you freaking out about some sword, Peter? Get the sword, do whatever we have to do and then BAM! I can go on living my life and you and the others don't have to grow up. Simples."

I thought after I said this it sounded harsh in some way, but the treading of feelings between Peter and I had disappeared. I was trying to give off the impression that this task barely meant anything to me, but really it was eating me up inside. The idea of breaking down all the bridges I had built with Peter, Curly, Aaya, Tootles and the Village just seemed a ridiculous idea. I wasn't altogether sure what 'breaking the bond' meant but I knew that I probably would never see anybody from Neverland again in the aftermath. That hurt.

"I'm freaking out about 'some sword' because…," Peter said, interrupting my thoughts. He sighed. "Raybha, can you explain? I can't remember half the story."

Raybha sighed dramatically, her breath releasing yet more weird smells in her tent. It hadn't changed much, but the entire atmosphere of the village had. I guessed people were changing as the finally began to grow older, but I didn't have a solid idea. Raybha, on the other hand, had not changed a single bit.

"So, my child," she began in a dramatic voice. "Many, many years ago, only a while after the tribe had settled in Neverland, a large dispute broke out between the Tribe and the deceased Captain Elizabeth and her crew. Not that there was any peace between us and them in the first place….."

I sneaked a peek at Peter. He was gazing at Raybha, listening intently.

"This," she continued, "was also a great time before Peter and the others came upon this world. Our sword, The Sword of Anmil, was the great weapon of the legendary Chief Udayan, Aaya's Great Great Grandfather."

"How do you know he was Aaya's Great Great Grandfather?," I asked curiously.

"My dear," she said, giving a rumbling laugh, "I was there for his birth! Although I admit I look very young indeed" –I had to smile at this – "all is not what it seems to the human eye! Anyways, the Pirates knew that this sword was of great power, and with great power comes great responsibility. Chief Udayan was long dead but his sword was kept in a safe place in Neverland ; where nobody would think to look. The Pirates had heard some of our people talking about its great powers and forced it out of them by torture, and they were returned to us badly wounded and scarred. Of course there was no blame, but for a long time afterwards Captain Elizabeth badgered us for answers to the whereabouts of the sword, but we did not budge. The sword has been left untouched in its hiding place and remains there now."

I blinked. "Well, that's….interesting. Does that mean we can get all this done in a day? Even less? We just need to find the sword! Raybha, where is it?"

"Oh." She scratched her head. "I do not know. It was hidden long ago by Chief Udayan's friends, whom he trusted completely."

"Brilliant! Whereabouts are they?"

"Dead. Killed in an attack by the Pirates a long long time ago."

My face dropped. "Dead?," I barely whispered. "How are we supposed to find the sword then?"

"Use your head," she said simply. "Find a way. You are a smart girl, Remy. You are brave and strong. I wouldn't think this task would take you too long."

Alex's Pov :

"Come…on…Sean…," I puffed. "Let's…just…stop…"

"Yeah…," Eddie barely managed. "Let's…take…a break…."

Sean was still bounding ahead, although his cheerfulness had turned sour. We had spent many hours in the search for Remy, and it had so far turned up nothing. It was obvious Sean was worried, but his mood had taken a turn for the worse in Eddie's and my case.

"No!," he insisted hoarsely. "She must be around here somewhere!"

He coughed again, his throat probably dry from yelling Remy's name.

"Look, mate," I wheezed, "If…if we don't stop now we'll have no energy for tomorrow, will we Eddie?" I nudged him sharply in the ribs.

"Ow…I mean, yeah! We've gone too far to go back…we'll round up the others in the morning and search for the entire day. We'll find her then. Let's just stop here for the night."

I couldn't see Sean in the dark and although he made no move to answer I could tell he was hesitating.

"Come on, Sean," I said.

"Just…just a little bit further?," he pleaded hoarsely. "Please? Then I promise we'll stop."

I felt Eddie looking at me, waiting for my answer.

"Oh…fine. Five more minutes, okay?"

"Thanks, mate."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?," Eddie muttered to me as we followed Sean who had set off again. "We can't even see where we're going, and we don't even have a fair sense of where we are."

"It's been like that for a good while now," I muttered back. "He's worried. It won't do any harm."

Eddie sighed, but didn't argue.

"Remy…," I heard Sean croak ahead. "Oh, where are you?"

His voice cracked. He tried to call Remy again but I heard was a small squeal and then silence.

"Sean?," I called out. "You okay?"

Eddie and I quickened our pace but eventually bumped into Sean.

"What's wrong?," Eddie asked. "What'cha squealing for?"

"Can't – talk," he managed.

I smiled but quickly hid it, even though Sean had no way of seeing me.

"You lost your voice? Well, there we go," I said. "Looks like we should settle down for the night, boys. We'll follow Eddie's plan. And Sean, give your voice a rest. Remy has to be safe, okay? Remember? She wouldn't come back here again if it was dangerous, right? She's fine."

"That's grand by me," Eddie said, and I heard him fall back onto the ground. I expected leaves or plants to crunch but there was only silence. "Oh, lads," he said, yawning. "I'm shattered. See you in the morning."

I was stunned at how normally Eddie acted, but I guessed it was to calm down Sean's temporarily fragile mind. So I dropped onto the ground, feeling what I found to be the softest grass I had ever felt. I felt Sean drop down as well a few centimetres away from me.

"We'll find her tomorrow, Sean," I whispered.

"I know I said she wouldn't come back if this place was dangerous," he whispered back, his voice rough, "but why would she lie to everyone? To me? She…she left home ages ago, she ran away. She said she'd never do it again, and I know she was telling the truth. I think she might be in some kind of trouble."

I wanted to ask him a lot of questions about his statement, but I thought it would be best not to at that particular time.

"I…I'm sure she's fine," I said awkwardly.

"But why would she lie to me? Unless she was trying to protect me from something…"

I heard him turn away, and pretty soon he was snoring.

I was thankful. I didn't know what to say to his suspicions.