Chapter 15

Lucy stared between the two Peter's in silent disbelief. What the hell was going on? How could there be two Peters? The lost boys, Tiger Lily and the two Peter's had already joined the fight against the pirates. Swords drawn they ran straight into the battle with full enthusiasm, not one ounce of fear. Lucy just stood there staring; she couldn't even remember which one was her Peter. The one that she had saved. The one who had fallen in love with her. But she had no time to find out! Starkey was making his way towards her, a murderous expression plastered on his wide face. Suddenly, all the stuff that she had learnt whilst staying on the ship came back to her. She had been one of the best training for this kind of situation. She had beaten Starkey once before she remembered, much to his dismay of being beaten by a girl. Lucy may not have been as strong as him but she was faster and cleverer, she had a knack for working out people's weaknesses. Quickly, Lucy blocked Starkey's first blow with her sword.
"Traitor," Starkey sneered, glaring at her. "You may have beaten me before but you won't beat me this time."
Lucy smiled at him sarcastically. "Really?" she asked, stamping on his toe fast with her high heel leather boot. Starkey grimaced trying not to show his pain but for a split second his grip on his sword relaxed slightly giving Lucy a chance to whip her sword round and disarm him. The sword slowly clattered to the ground. Starkey glared at his sword in dismay he hadn't planned on getting beaten that quickly. Lucy held her sword to his throat threateningly. Slowly she forced him towards the edge of the ship. "I suggest you leave this ship right now and never return because after tonight it will belong to me," Lucy threatened. Hastily, Starkey turned around and plunged into the dark, forbidding water below. Lucy watched him as he made his way back to the land as quickly as he could glancing behind him every now and then as if making sure his easy defeat had not been noticed by his fellow pirates. He would not want to be known as a coward.

Lucy looked around at the battle raging around her. One of the lost boys had been injured badly and another was trying to make their way through the storm of angry pirates to get to him. One of the Peters was fighting with Hook himself whilst the other had taken on Gale. There was no way that they could win the pirates outnumbered them three to one she had to come up with a plan and quick. Suddenly, she realised something. After she had defeated Starkey he had fled like the coward that he was. All pirates were like that. They made out they were courageous and fearless but really they were cowards. The only reason they were here fighting was because they didn't want anyone else to know but once they realised everyone else was afraid like they were, if they realised there was a chance of them losing, then she was sure they would all flee. The only thing to do was to kill the one thing that was making them stay: Hook. Once he had gone, the pirates would be lost with no one for the pirates to impress they would have a chance to win.

Lucy's stomach seemed to sink to her feet with the realisation. However much of a villain he was her father was part of her still loved him. He was her only family after all. She couldn't kill him! There had to be another way. Another way of showing Hooks defeat that didn't end in his death. Lucy looked around her, the rabble of the battle was still brewing. She had to think fast.

Suddenly, she saw Gale walking towards her. His head held high. Lucy raised her sword waiting for his first blow. She knew that Gale was an extraordinary swordsman. The only pirate on the ship that had beaten Lucy more than once. Unlike the other pirates he was unpredictable, making it harder for Lucy to target his weaknesses. And that was what Lucy relied on to help her win a fight, as she knew that compared to Gale she was as weak as a baby. But the first blow never came instead Gale just stood stock still in front of her. There was none of his usual sneer in his face, instead there was just pity. It was then that Lucy realised that as much of a bastard Gale was, he really did care for her. "Lucy," he said. "Please stop this… You know you are fighting a losing battle here."
"Gale… just listen. Peter doesn't deserve this. Trust me there is another way. If you really cared you would listen to me."
"What's the alternative Lucy? Without Hook what am I on this Island? I have nothing."
"You could be a lost boy?"
"They would never have me after everything I've done against Peter."
"Please Gale, everyone deserves a second chance. If you help us now then you can be forgiven."
Gale shoke his head. "I'm sorry Lucy."
He raised his sword and struck. Lucy quickly raised her sword to defend herself and soon the two of them were locked in heavy combat each stroke of Gale's sword burning Lucy with what felt like betrayal, she had been sure for a minute then that she could convince Gale to join them.

Suddenly the feeling of betrayal was replaced with one of intense anger. And she was fighting with Gale harder and faster. Striking at him rather than just defending herself. She could feel him getting worn down with every strike she was winning. She saw something glittering in the corner of Gale's eye; was that a tear? She couldn't be sure. Without warning Gale suddenly dropped his sword and before she could stop herself Lucy's next blow hit up striking him in the stomach, scarlet blood seeped artistically through Gale's shirt creating an impressive patch of bright colour, contrasting with the black and white of the rest of his outfit.

Lucy remembered shouting Gale's name in horror of what she had just done. The whole world seemed to turn to a blur. She was by his side trying to compress the wound, she had to save him, she never meant for this to happen. Tears ran down her pale cheeks, sobs escaping her mouth when she couldn't hold them back. Suddenly she felt a strong pair of arms pulling her away from the scene.
"Its okay Lucy," a soothing voice kept whispering in her ear, calming and soft.
She felt herself being led gently into the cabin, she turned with heavy panicked breathes to face Peter in front of her.
"It's okay Lucy. He was asking for it."
"No…no… he stopped fighting back… he had stopped fighting… and I… I…."
"Shh, its going to be okay Lucy I promise."
Lucy turned to look into Peter's pretty, childish face and suddenly it started change Infront of her. A spell wearing of. His hair growing lighter, his face skinnier, and his eyes wider and bluer like a pool of water. A few seconds later Peter had vanished and Nibs was stood Infront of her.
"Nibs?" she breathed in disbelief. "Its been you all along."
"I'm sorry Lucy. I couldn't trust you but now I know I can. I've been a spy for Peter on Hook's ship for years. I knew that Hook was planning something when you arrived. So after you disappeared from the ship I persuaded Peter to go away for a few days and took his place. I knew that it was you from the moment I met Tiger Lily and I hoped you would make the right choice and betray your father. I'm glad you proved that I was right to believe in you. But now there's only one way for us to win and that's for you to defeat your father and take control of the ship."

Nibs left Lucy in the cabin and re-joined the fight. Lucy stood for a few minutes breathing hard and letting out a few heavy sobs. Then, with all the courage left in her she puffed out her chest, picked up her sword and stepped out on to the deck. She knew what she needed to do.