Hello! I was absent for quite a while, I had many things to do and a lot of things happened. I also took a break from this story for a while, I had a lot of it written but wasn't entirely content with how it was turning out, but now I'm back and am trying to look at it with a fresh mind to improve this story as much as I can.

Special thanks to singertobe! Thank you so much for your kind words! It made my day! I've got a lot of respect for Sir J.M Barrie's work, and I'm trying my best not only to be true to his work, but the whole legacy the story of Peter Pan has.

"Would you like an adventure now, or shall we have tea first?" - Peter Pan

Chapter 5: Stormy Weather

Flying was wonderful; you felt as light as a feather, as you soared through the skies filled with dreams.

Wendy never considered herself a very good flier. Peter assured her she had been, until Tinkerbell had tried to knock her down. After that, Wendy simply couldn't bring herself to fly as well as she used to. But she liked it when Peter held her hand. She knew it was rather silly though.

Wendy couldn't deny she hadn't had a crush on Peter when she had first met him. She had been very taken with him. But then Wendy realized it just wasn't possible. Peter Pan was the legendary boy who never grew up. He was wonderful. And it simply wouldn't work out. Wendy couldn't leave her family, and Peter couldn't leave Neverland. So Wendy had decided to be practical, do the sensible thing, and accept Peter as a friend. And he was a wonderful friend. But Wendy would often give advances, despite knowing it wasn't very proper. She knew it wasn't very proper, but she did it anyway. And it really was cute how Peter treated her. Wendy loved Peter. Really, she did.

But Peter Pan could not love.

Wendy squirmed. No, she wouldn't think about it now. She was with Peter now; that's what mattered.

Peter felt Wendy squirm. He pulled her closer and said, "What's wrong, Little Mother?" Wendy smiled at the nickname. "Nothing, Peter."

Peter released her hand and flew in front of her. Wendy wobbled at first but quickly regained her balance. Peter squinted, "Got any happy thoughts?"

Wendy sighed. "One."

"Whoops!" said Peter as he flew back to her side. "That's a small number for a wonderfully happy girl. What is it?"

Wendy smiled, "We're going to Neverland."

"Uh-uh," Peter nodded, "Any others? Any others about the most cleverest boy in the whole world who let you tag along on his quest to save Neverland?"

"Tag along?" Wendy said, offended. "Tag along? That's what you call it?"

Peter laughed, "Sure Wendy, what else?"

Wendy's mouth went dry. Whenever Wendy was angry, she tended to talk quickly and loudly. "Peter," she said, "you should be ashamed of yourself! I've gone on plenty of adventures to know that I am capable enough of entering a pirate ship. I've even been kidnapped by pirates, remember? And you were too busy bragging about it. Honestly Peter!"

Peter grinned, "Yeah right Wendy. You're too scared. Remember Halloween?"

"Peter! You can't blame me for that time! Honestly. I bet you were scared too!"

"Nope!" said Peter, grinning, "I was the one who comforted you!"

Wendy's cheeks flushed red.

"What about all the times I saved you?" Peter continued. "And all the times I-"

"Well, alright if that's the way you feel about it!" Wendy very un-characteristically interrupted. Then she did something driven by anger and embarrassment. She dove.

No, it wasn't a dumb move. Any fears Wendy had were demolished. Really, Wendy was a good flier when she wasn't afraid.

She dove under a cloud and flew out of it faster than Wendy had ever thought she could. It was really amazing, the things you could do when you weren't afraid, Wendy thought. And she soared full speed ahead.

Peter was taken aback to say the least. He was shocked and even hesitated (again, shameful for Peter Pan). Then his concern kicked in. He dove after Wendy.

Wendy was far off. Peter slightly chuckled. She thinks she can beat me.

But Wendy had potential. And she was stubborn when her heart was set on something. And that right now, it was proving Peter Pan wrong.

It was funny, really. Wendy managed to fly a good distance before Peter swooped upward and grabbed her in his arms.

"Peter!" Wendy struggled, but Peter was far too strong. "Let me go!"

"And let you stay mad at me?" Peter asked. "Yeah, I don't think so, Wendy Lady," he replied.

Wendy gave up. She huffed. "I think we're doing an awful lot of arguing."

Peter laughed. "Arguing, yeah sure! Doesn't matter as long as you don't stay mad at me."

"But Peter!" Wendy flushed. "Peter… we can't…"

"Can't what?" Peter asked as he swung her overhead. "Can't you have a little fun? With the most wonderful boy in the world?"

"Peter, you're certainly quite conceited."

Peter puffed up with pride. "Of course. That's why you like me."

Wendy grinned mischievously. "Well, Peter Pan, I for one did not run away from a pirate ship."

Peter growled. "Wendy! Take that back!"

Together, they both bounced on clouds, tickled each other midair, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

That was until they arrived at Neverland.

Wendy gasped. She sank. Happy thoughts, she willed herself to think; happy thoughts.

Neverland was worse than she had expected. It was in the midst of severe weather, with harsh rain and angry thunderclouds. You could still see traces of its former self, the normal and colorful Neverland, but it seemed to be draining its vibrant hues.

The scene looked terrible.

She then felt Peter's hand on her back. "Wendy," his voice was solemn. "Wendy… It's okay. It really is. It's just another adventure."

Wendy swallowed the lump in her throat. She felt tears welling up, but she blinked them away. She didn't want Peter to see her cry.

As a storyteller, seeing the land of her dreams in such a state was devastating. It was more than Wendy could bear. Peter seemed awfully calm about it, but Peter was always like that. He trusted he could do anything; after all, he was Peter Pan! But who was Wendy? A little girl from London. A girl whose imagination could run away with her.

"C'mon Wendy," Peter whispered softly, "let's explore." He took her hand and together they flew onto the Pirate Ransom.

Wendy was very surprised. Then a thought occurred to her. "Peter?"

"Yes, Wendy?" Peter's dagger was out and he held an arm protectively over her. "Huh. I knew it was here somewhere…"

"Peter, Father said the ship was in London," Wendy glanced apprehensively around the ghostly setting. "It couldn't possibly be in both places at once."

"I don't know, Wendy," Peter seemed distracted, "it's a ghost ship."

Wendy pondered. "Hmm... perhaps... no... it couldn't be... OH!"

Peter whirled around but it was too late. The same invisible force that had yanked him earlier had also yanked Wendy!

Wendy screamed. The force pulled through her stomach. It was bizarre. It was crazy. It was ghostly.

Peter flew after her quickly like a shooting star. But the force was too quick for Wendy to overcome; she struggled but couldn't break free of gravity.

Wendy was yanked upward. So she was being pulled backwards through the air. If Wendy tried to move in any direction, it wouldn't work; she would just go even faster against her will…

"Wendy!"

Then BAM!

Wendy blinked as she saw a cannonball flying through the air towards her.

BAM!

The cannonball seemed to chop through the air beneath her, and suddenly the force stopped.

It stopped.

Which sent Wendy tumbling toward the ground.

Wendy was too scared to scream. Her heart thudded across her chest. All she could do was watch as she plummeted towards the ocean, slicing through the air. Wendy knew she must have looked like a bird, failing in flight.

Then…

"Gotcha!"

She once again felt those strong arms around her thin body. They pressed her thudding heart against Peter's chest. Wendy could feel Peter's heart thudding as well. Then there was Peter's elfin face, with his fiery red hair, staring at her, worried. His eyes locked with hers. Then he looked away. "I knew it." He murmured angrily. "I knew you shouldn't have come."

Wendy's mouth went dry. Unhooking herself from Peter, she smoothed her nightgown. Then, lifting her chin defiantly, she walked swiftly toward the shore.

"Wendy?" Peter flew in front of her. "Whatcha you doing?"

Wendy was angry. Why did he have to be so childish? she thought. But something more important was on her mind. "Who saved me?"

Peter laughed. "Ha! Wendy, I saved ya, of course."

Wendy gave him a long, hard, cold look. Then she replied, "No. The cannonball did."

Peter's eyes flashed.

"And there's only one ship on the Never Sea at this moment."

Wendy pushed a long leaf aside, revealing the Jolly Roger. Peter growled in response.

"Hook."

"He saved me."

"Codfish." Peter glowered at her. "Then who pulled at you?"

Wendy considered this. Then, after racking her brain for a practical answer, she found none. "I don't know," she replied truthfully.

Peter suggested, "A ghost?"

Wendy swallowed. "Perhaps… But the practical thing to do, is to… well, um… talk to Captain Hook."

Peter frowned. "No."

Wendy tried to be reasonable. "Peter! He saved me! Maybe he's bothered by the ship too! If we just talk to him, we can find out his intentions, and then that would help us an awful lot."

Peter crossed his arms. "Fine," he said. "But you're not leaving my side!"

Wendy smiled. "Fair enough."

Peter took Wendy's hand and they both flew to the Jolly Roger, where the villainous Captain Hook resided.

When Wendy says "Alright if that's the way you feel about it", that's from Alice in Wonderland. Kathlyn Beaumont (who voiced Wendy), voiced Alice, and she's amazing. She also did the live-action-references, the reason why Alice and Wendy's facial features are extremely similar. So I guess that would be a thing Wendy would say.

-mistowen