Chapter 4

Lucy followed Hook through the busy streets of London. "Where are we going?" she asked impatiently.
"I told you," Hook replied. "We're going to my ship."
"So you're telling me you managed to hide a whole Pirate Ship somewhere in London."
Hook laughed. "I don't just leave it lying around. I put a spell on it to make it invisible."
"This way," he said, suddenly turning down a dark side alley. Lucy followed him down the alley until it opened out in to a big, empty, abandoned square. Hook stepped forward and suddenly disappeared. Lucy's eyes widened in surprise and she stood blinking stupidly for a few seconds before she followed him cautiously. As she stepped forward the empty square disappeared, and Lucy found herself standing on the deck of a huge pirate ship.

The ship was bustling with activity. Members of the crew were everywhere preparing the ship for sail. "Welcome to the Jolly Rodger," Hook said joyfully from beside her.

"Lucy this is my First mate Gale," Hook said, introducing her to a boy around Lucy's age. He had caramel skin, dark eyes and mob of dark hair.
"Welcome aboard Lucy," he said smiling, as he eyes trailed slowly up and down her body. She knew that look; it was one that she got regularly from men lurking on corners as she trailed around London.

On Hooks instructions Gale took Lucy down to the cabin where she would be spending the night. Although Gale was good looking, Lucy disliked him at once, not just because of the looks he gave her, but he was also cocky and arrogant and spent the whole journey down to his cabin telling Lucy how he was undoubtably the best swordsman on the ship.

Lucy's cabin was large and airy. There was no furniture apart from a single bed with a straw mattress in the corner. "Thank you," Lucy said irritably to Gale, who was now treating her to hundred great sword fights won by Gale. Quickly, she pushed him out the door and slammed it behind her before she began to make herself at home.

That night the nightmares came back again Lucy woke sweating and screaming for help. The ship was deadly quiet in the dead of night, silent apart from the far-off tic tok tic tok of a clock. Suddenly there was a sharp knock at the door. Slowly it swung opened. Alarmed, Lucy sat up quickly. A boy around her age stood in the doorway. He had pale skin, big blue eyes and blond hair. "Hey," he said soothingly. "I'm Nibs, are you Ok? I heard you screaming."
"I'm fine," she replied, embarrassed. "I just had a nightmare."
Nibs nodded. "Well if you need anything I'm in the cabin next to yours."
Slowly, he left the cabin closing the door behind him leaving Lucy blushing in the darkness.

The next morning Lucy woke to the hustle and bustle of the crew moving around on the deck. Silent as a mouse Lucy slipped on to the deck. The crew were getting ready to set sail. "Lucy!" exclaimed a voice from behind her.
Lucy groaned. "Gale."
Gale glared, "Come with me, the Captain asked me to find you something better to wear," he said, staring down at Lucy's tatty blue dress. Reluctantly Lucy followed him below deck.

Gale found her a pair of striped trousers, a white blouse and large brown belt which Lucy took to her cabin to change into. With her new clothes on, suddenly everything seemed more real, she had left her old life behind and was starting a new one, as a pirate.

Lucy came out onto the deck just as the ship was about to set sail.
"I'd hold on if I were you," a voice said.
Lucy spun around. "Nibs. Thank goodness I thought you were Gale back again," Lucy breathed in relief.
Nibs laughed. Suddenly, the deck lurched beneath her feet Lucy squealed in excitement and grabbed onto the edge of the boat. Lucy's mouth fell open in amazement as the ship shot into the air in till London was a tiny collection of model houses beneath them. The wind whipped through her hair as the ship speed through the sky. "It's amazing isn't it," Nibs said from beside her. Lucy laughed. "Brilliant," she screamed happily.

The journey to Neverland took only a few hours in which Lucy spent on deck chatting to Nibs and enjoying the amazing sensation that flying on a pirate ship gave her.

Lucy's first view of Neverland took her breath away, it was beautiful. The grass, which was soft and springy, was emerald green. The sea was a perfect sapphire blue and mermaids frolicked in a crystal lagoon.
"It's amazing," Lucy exclaimed.

Finally, the ship gently hit the Neverland waters, with a slight splash. Hook called for Lucy, Gale and Starkey to come down to his cabin to discuss the plan. Lucy said goodbye to Nibs and went below deck to her father's cabin.

Hook was sat behind a large table smoking his cigar when Lucy entered with Gale and a tall muscular man who she assumed must be Starkey. "Sit down," Hook said gesturing to the three chairs set on the opposite side of the table to him. "This is it," he exclaimed triumphantly. "I have made a plan to get my revenge on Pan that this time will not fail." Starkey and Gale remained silent waiting for the captain to continue. Lucy looked around in confusion. "Pan?" she asked suspiciously.
"There is more to the story that I told you yesterday," Hook replied.
"You better get on with telling it then," Lucy replied, she should have known there was a catch to her being brought here. Hook shot her a threatening look, but nevertheless began to tell his tale…

"The fairy took me to Neverland, and there for the first time in my life I became powerful. I was ruler of the island. Everyone listened to me and obeyed me the fairies, the mermaids, the Indians and the pirates. But then one day, the fairies brought a boy to Neverland and then everything began to change….

"This boy, Peter Pan, challenged my way of ruling and suddenly almost the whole island rebelled against me. They all decided that Neverland should no longer have a leader instead he believed that everyone should be treated equally. There was a battle between me and the pirates, who were on my side, and Pan and the Indians, in which we were unfairly outnumbered. Pan cut of my hand and fed it to a passing crocodile who now follows me around licking its lips for the rest of me. Fortunately, it also swallowed my watch, so I am always warned when it is coming by the ticking. I lost all my power after that day. After, I came so far, I just went back to feeling like a nobody, the way I had done for all those years before I meet Evelyn. After that, I joined the pirates and became their captain. Peter brought more boys to the island called the lost boys and they formed a band in which Peter is the leader." Hook paused. "I need your help to get revenge on Peter Pan."

"Why do you think I would help you? You abandoned me, remember." Lucy challenged.
"Well now that you are here in Neverland, if you want to stay here with me you don't have much choice." Hook replied threateningly. "But still there is much more that I can give you," he continued. "Remember the Fairy dust, there is so much more of that. Neverland is a place in which you never have to grow old, who wouldn't want that? And I can give you everything you always wanted a chance to make a difference, a chance for people to remember you and the one thing that you have always wanted more than anything… A family."

Lucy considered this and nodded slowly. She remembered that her father had grown up in a similar situation from her. He knew what she was feeling, and he knew how best to fix it. Besides, what was the fate of one troublesome boy against all that Hook could offer her?

"Peter is very close to the Indians. Especially the chief's daughter Princess Tiger Lily. There is an ancient magic that will allow Lucy to take the form of Princess Tiger Lilly. In a few weeks when Lucy has had some time to train, Gale and Starkey, you will kidnap the Princess Tiger Lily and bring her here. Lucy can turn into her and on the third day at sunset bring him to the cave just on the shore. I will be waiting there to finally get my revenge."