Chapter 20: Blood and Steel

PETER PAN'S POV

Peter Pan stood completely still, trying to channel his emotions and not lose it. He didn't even notice Felix step beside him as he felt the princess' emotions surge through him, uncontrolled and overwhelming.

"She's in so much pain," he groaned, trying to keep his own magic in check. This was the downside to being so connected to the island and everything on it: if the magic or emotions were strong enough, they could affect him. Felix let out a groan, just as strained. She was like a sister, Peter felt a twinge of sympathy but he didn't have the present mind to express it. "But it's unusual. I can barely feel her magic. It's there, but it's like looking through fogged glass. Her magic is being suppressed."

"Well, what are we going to do? It's been a full week, Pan?" Felix growled.

"Don't you think I know that?!" Peter snarled defensively. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"You do. I'm sorry," Felix said quietly. Peter thought he detected a hint of a smirk, but dropped it. The little princess' emotions suddenly stopped. They were still there, but very, very quiet.

"Three hours," Peter said, looking at the sun hovering just above the ocean. "It'll be dark and we can sneak on. He'll have guards posted, but we can handle them. Do you know why they haven't bothered to come ashore since capturing her?" Peter smirked slightly, he wasn't able to drag up a full one.

"Why?" Felix asked eagerly.

"They're scared," Peter was able to make his smirk a little bigger. "Go tell the boys. Three hours, and no mercy." Felix nodded and strode into the forest to camp.

Using the darkness to their advantage, the Lost Boys silently rowed boats to Jones' ship, each boy armed to the teeth. Climbing up the walls, the boys stood on the rails of the ship and faced the dozen or so pirates. Peter smirked as he crept around to the steering wheel silently. The pirates had their swords, but his boys had daggers, bows and arrows, clubs, spears, and slingshots. Much more prepared. The boys stood still as he'd ordered them before while he made himself comfortable leaning against the steering wheel.

The pirates had yelled and Jones himself emerged from his cabin. "Ah, hello, Captain," Peter called, smirking as the black-clad pirate whirled around and smirked at him. He spread his arms out.

"Ah, Pan, just the boy I've been wanting to see," he grinned. Peter raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, nodding for him to go on. "I have something, well," he chuckled, "two things you're very interested in."

"Oh, I love guessing games. I guess one is…," Peter feigned thinking. "The girl," he deadpanned, eyes narrowed. Jones nodded. Peter shrugged. "I don't really care about the other."

Jones grinned. "Yes you do. It'll defeat you, and I have it." Peter quickly thought of all things he knew might have a chance of destroying him. A small list. Jones would never have the magic possible to destroy his Shadow, or Skull Rock. Peter couldn't be killed by a sword, even directly to the heart. But defeat, not kill.

"It wouldn't happen to be a box, would it?" Peter asked enthusiastically, smiling falsely as Jones' smirk slipped.

"Very good, the little lad can think," Jones sneered. Peter rolled his eyes.

"Now, now, Jones. I just want my little magic pet back," Peter spread his arms, gesturing to the boys lined up on the ship. "We don't want any trouble."

"Why, Pan?" Jones smirked and began sauntering about the deck. "Why is she so special to you? To any of you?" He paused and cocked his head. "Actually, she isn't very important to you. Took you lads a while to finally come, I was thinking you never would." He shot Peter a malicious grin. "We were beginning to doubt you. She more than I, even I have more faith in you." That did it. Peter raised his fist, glaring into Jones' bright eyes, and snapped his fingers.

The deck became chaos within seconds as the boys, already wound up, jumped onto Jones' men and the two parties fought viciously. Peter's boys were as pissed as he was, and always enjoyed a good, bloody fight.

Peter himself slipped through the boys and men, pacing the deck as he felt for their little princess' aura. As he neared the stairs into the lower decks, he finally felt it. It was so faint, still suppressed, but so weak from the emotion fueling it. It was just despair and emptiness, and Peter nearly felt physical pain upon knowing it. Throwing himself down the stairs he followed the shaky aura through the entire lower deck, then down a small, slightly hidden set of stairs. It was just a few steps, and then Peter ducked into a small room. It was about the size of two boys' tents, and was so dark Peter had to put his hands in front of him while his eyes adjusted. In the corner was a faint white light, and Peter grinned when he saw it. He practically ran to it, happy she was alive enough to be light, even if just a bit. Then his hands hit rusty metal bars.

Peter felt anger swell, and the bars turned to piles of silver and brown dust. He stomped in them as he knelt next to her, his eyes finally adjusting to show him the little girl curled on her side on the dirty ground. His heart stopped, she wasn't moving. Images flashed behind his eyes: the Shadow bringing him the princess, the first times she went swimming and hunting with him, the two fighting, finding her and Felix asleep in the morning.

Then her fingers wrapped tightly around his, and Peter looked down to see her grey-blue eyes open. Gasping in relief, grabbing her thin, pale face and he kissed her full on the mouth. Her lips were dry and she didn't react, but they were so soft and for a moment Peter forgot where he was. Her fingers stayed wrapped around his, and he yanked himself away in shock. Something else caught his attention. Something on her face was wrong. He leaned back and looked her over.

She was barely conscious, her breathing shallow, and covered in dirt and dried blood. One cheek was covered in a thin layer of dried blood, bruises covered her temple and arms, shallow cuts with crusted blood were all over her.

"Peter," she coughed out. Her voice was so quiet and thin and sad. Peter saw red. Hooking his arms around her back and under her legs, he picked her up and cradled her to his chest and practically flew up the stairs to the main deck.

Spotting Felix prowling on the outside of the fighting, watching for any boy who needed help and waiting for Peter's orders, Peter nudged him and put the princess gently into his arms. Felix's eyes widened and his face twisted when he saw her, but Peter put his hand on his shoulder.

"Stay with her, I'm killing Jones," Peter growled and ran at the captain before Felix could respond. He pulled out his dagger and swiped at Jones' back, leaving a cut much shallower than he would've liked. Jones turned, focusing on him instead of Robert, and the two became locked in each other. Peter's body wasn't even in his control as he fought, going completely on instinct as his mind was full of different ways to kill him. He should've paid more attention, been curious as to why Jones' sword was on fire and he was far stronger than a human man should be. But all Peter wanted was to see Jones' bloody, still body at his feet. He was getting hurt, he could feel blood running down his torso and arms, but he saw blood on Jones too and that's all he cared about. Besides, mortal wounds wouldn't kill him.

"Peter," a voice called, tight and broken but loud. A girl's voice. Peter shoved Jones off of him and turned, seeing her struggling weakly in Felix's arms. Felix was holding her firmly but gently, murmuring in her ear and trying to calm her down. Peter jumped down to the deck and took her in his arms instead. Her eyes, now mostly blue, were wide open but glazed over and she kept squirming.

Peter looked at Felix. "Make sure the boys are safe, and get these damned pirates away from my island." Felix nodded, and Peter added quickly, "keep them on the edge only." Then everything went black for a second.

Peter blinked and he was standing in front of his tent, his princess now still in his arms but her eyes were still open and she was breathing. Peter set her down onto his cot and smoothed back her hair. He frowned, noticing it fell to just past her shoulders, but ignored it. It was still white and glowing, so she was still okay. Smoothing back her hair with one hand and murmuring to comfort her, Peter gingerly dabbed a wet cloth to her skin to clean it so he could better see the damage.

When her skin was back to its usual light color and she was mostly clean, Peter felt the ship on the very edge of Neverland and felt Felix's aura slowly returning to the mainland and camp. Peter nodded to himself, not having the energy to even smirk. He lay down next to her, brushing his fingers lightly through her still-dirty hair to try to keep her calm.

Peter heard the boys come into camp and immediately go to their tents, just as exhausted as he was. He didn't even get up, he heard groans but no one sounded like they were in attention-worthy pain. Peter fell asleep hugging her, trying to calm her down as she kept struggling and whimpering.