Chapter Seven

The sun was about to set below the horizon, though you could not tell with all the swirling clouds that hung over Neverland. As Bucky sailed northward, the air grew colder, and a sense of unease settled over the crew.

Jake gripped the wheel, his eyes focused on the distant shoreline. Izzy stood just behind him, her eyes scanning the map that Cubby held. Despite her usual confidence, there was a hint of unease in her posture. Cubby, meanwhile, squinted at the map, his expression troubled.

"Hey, Cubby, you alright?" Jake asked, glancing back at him.

"Yeah, you look like you've seen a ghost or something." Izzy added.

Cubby lowered the map, swallowing hard.

"I-i-i'm fine," he insisted, though his voice wavered. "Just feeling a bit seasick, I guess."

Skully flapped down from the mast, perching on Jake's shoulder.

"Seasick? Crackers, Cubby! You never get seasick! Not even when Izzy's steering us around."

Izzy shot Skully a smirk, crossing her arms defensively.

"Keep it up and I'll make you land sick when we get back."

Cubby shook his head.

"I-I-It's not that." he mumbled.

"Then what is it that's caused your crazy sea-sickness, Cubby?" Jake asked.

"Oh I think it's only when we're sailing out on spooky nights going to old abandoned and haunted lighthouses," the pale boy trembled. "Or you know, it could be these waves—they're rougher than usual."

Jake nodded, frowning as he looked out at the choppy sea.

"You're right. It's strange for this time of year. It's the middle of summer; there shouldn't be cold breezes or rough waves." he said as the three of them exchanged puzzled glances.

"Land ho! We're almost to the northern wilderness!" Skully squawked excitedly.

Bucky's bell rang as they docked on the desolate beach. The landscape was stark and unfamiliar—towering fir and spruce trees loomed over them, casting long shadows across the grey, rocky sand littered with sticks and pinecones.

Cubby looked around, his eyes wide with apprehension.

"A-a-a-are w-we h-here?" he asked, his voice tinged with fear. The forest seemed to whisper dark secrets, and the air felt heavy with mystery.

"Oh, we're here, alright," Izzy replied, trying to sound braver than she felt. "If an abandoned lighthouse isn't in that place, I don't know what is."

They stood in silence, taking in the eerie surroundings. The forest was unlike anything they'd seen in Neverland before—a place forgotten by time, shrouded in shadow.

Jake broke the silence, turning to Cubby.

"Uhm…..Cubby, which way does the map say to go?" he asked.

Cubby hesitated, the map trembling in his hands.

"Jake….this place was abandoned for a reason," he said quietly. "Maybe we should keep it that way."

Jake shook his head, determination in his eyes.

"We can't. Peter's fate depends on it," He grabbed a lantern from a nearby barrel, its flickering light casting a warm glow around them. "Come on, let's get moving."

As they stepped onto the blue wooden bridge leading into the forest, Izzy, Cubby, and Skully followed Jake, their footsteps echoing in the quiet. Cubby, trailing behind, tugged at Izzy's shirt.

"What about our fates?" he whispered nervously, as she turned to look at him.

Izzy glanced back at him, a reassuring smile on her face despite her own nerves.

"Don't worry Cubby, we'll be okay." she said, trying to sound comforting.

"A-a-are you sure?" he squeaked, nervously.

"No. But we're doing it anyway."


The forest seemed to close in around them as they made their way into it, the branches above blocking out what little light the cloudy sky provided. The path was narrow and winding, with Jake holding the lantern high to light the way. The eerie silence was broken only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an unseen owl, making every step feel tense and precarious.

Cubby clung tightly to Izzy, his eyes wide with fear. Skully perched nervously on Izzy's head, his feathers fluffed up in anxiety. Jake led the way, trying to push aside the unease that crept over him with every snap of a twig underfoot. He could feel the pressure mounting, a frustration bubbling inside him at their slow progress. Peter would have breezed through this forest, he thought, and then quickly chastised himself for comparing his friends to Peter. Speaking of the flying boy, he remembered that they were moving on borrowed time right now.

"Come on, guys," Jake encouraged softly, "we need to pick up the pace if we're going to beat the rain." He glanced up at the ominous sky, thick with the promise of a storm.

Izzy quickened her steps, her eyes wide as she looked from the sky back to Jake.

"Excuse me….rain?"

Jake nodded, glancing back at them.

"Those clouds don't look too friendly," he explained. "We'd better hurry. Cubby, which way now?"

Cubby, trying to focus on the map despite the nervous flutter in his stomach, peered at the parchment.

"It says we should turn right around and go back to Bucky." he trembled, receiving a blank stare from their leader.

"Aw come on matey, be serious." Izzy said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Oh..alright," Cubby mumbled, looking down at the map. "Misty's map says to go east," he whispered, pointing ahead. But before they could move, a soft rustling sound echoed through the trees, making them all stop in their tracks. "What was that?" Cubby whispered, gripping Izzy's arm tighter.

Jake paused, his eyes scanning the shadows.

"Probably just an animal," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "Let's keep going."

But as they started walking again, the rustling returned, accompanied by the faint sound of whispering voices. The air seemed to thicken with tension, and they all froze once more.

"Ok I don't know what that was." Jake mumbled, fear starting to creep into him.

The crew stood silently, waiting until the rustling and whispering faded into the forest's natural sounds. Once the silence settled in, they cautiously resumed their walk, with Jake still leading the way.

"Anybody notice anything strange lately?" Izzy said, her voice cutting through the quiet.

Cubby nodded, still gripping her arm.

"Yeah. Why. Are. We. Here!?" the boy with the blue bandana stuttered.

"No, not that," Izzy replied, swatting the air. "Aside from those noises we just heard, don't you think Neverland's been...kind of..I dunno…quiet?"

Jake glanced back at her, shrugging.

"Of course it's quiet. Who else would be wandering around looking for an old, abandoned lighthouse?"

Izzy shook her head.

"No, not just here. I mean back when we were on our way to Misty's. Didn't you notice it? It was so quiet."

Jake, Cubby, and Skully exchanged puzzled looks.

"What are you getting at?" Jake asked.

"When we were on our way to Misty's and to Peter's, we didn't run into anyone or see anybody. It's like half of Neverland just went quiet. First, Red Jessica disappears, and now this."

Jake furrowed his brow, the worry evident in his eyes.

"I guess it is kinda strange, but right now, we need to focus on finding this fruit and getting Peter better. We can deal with the rest afterward."

Skully flapped his wings, huffing.

"It's been forever, and finding a lighthouse in this tangled forest mess is like finding a cracker in a haystack!"

Jake was about to reply when he spotted something through the trees.

"Look, there it is!" he exclaimed, pointing ahead. The lighthouse loomed in the distance, a dark silhouette against the cloudy sky.

"Must've been a pretty small haystack." Skully grumbled.

They pressed on, covering the last few yards until they made it to a small clearing of land, right by the ocean that lapped onto the shore. They stood at the base of the lighthouse. It was a tall, imposing structure, at least five stories high. The once-proud building was now an ugly, dark, and faded gray, almost black. Cracks marred its surface, and moss and vines had overtaken it, twisting around the structure like nature's chains.

"Shiver me timbers, this place really does exist!" Izzy exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement.

Jake nodded, equally stunned.

"I can't believe it…" he said, pointing up to a small golden light coming from the top of the lighthouse. The dim glow shone through a window, a faint beacon in the gloom.

"Look at that," Skully squawked, his feathers ruffling with excitement. "Could that be the glow from the tree Misty was talking about?"

"Maybe," Jake replied, his gaze fixed on the light. "Hold on a minute. If this lighthouse has been hidden in this forest for centuries, how come it was so easy to find?"

He gestured back to the part of the forest they had emerged from. The path they'd taken was oddly clear, forming a tunnel-like structure through the thorns and bushes. It seemed unnatural, as if it had been cut deliberately.

"Look over there!" Izzy shouted, pointing past Jake. She darted toward the ocean, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Jake turned and followed her, finding a rickety wooden row boat docked by the shore. "There's a dinghy," she said. "And it looks like it's been used recently." The boat rocked gently with the waves, its presence raising more questions than answers.

"Hey mateys, get a load of this door!" Cubby called out, pointing to the lighthouse door. It was battered, with deep slashes across its surface, as if someone had attacked it with a sword. The lock was broken, hanging uselessly from the doorframe.

Jake glanced from the door to the dinghy, then back to the cut bushes. He met Izzy's eyes, a shared understanding passing between them.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Jake asked.

Izzy nodded, lowering her voice so Cubby wouldn't overhear.

"Somebody else has been here."

They walked back up the berm to rejoin Cubby and Skully. Jake looked up at the lighthouse, determined.

"The pixie fruit must be up there. You guys wait here while I run up and get it."

He was about to head inside when Izzy grabbed his arm.

"Jake, wait! What about….uh..the thing we just talked about?" she whispered, careful not to alarm Cubby.

Jake gave her a reassuring smile.

"Relax, I'll be fine. I'm just going to run up the stairs, grab the fruit, and come right back."

Turning to Cubby and Skully, Jake said,

"Izzy's in charge real quick."

"Uh oh, we're in trouble." Skully said in a mock groan.

Jake chuckled and faced Izzy again.

"Now listen, you, no funny business while I'm gone, understand?" he said, pointing at her.

Izzy nodded, watching him disappear into the darkness of the lighthouse.


Jake couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine as the door shut behind him, separating him from his mates and trapping him in the darkness of the lighthouse. The only source of light was the lantern in his hand, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The bottom floor, where he stood, was dark and seemingly empty. He shone the light around, expecting to see a dilapidated and worn-down base room, perhaps overrun with moss and overgrown plants, or even home to a wild animal or two. But much to his shock, the reality was quite the opposite.

The room was furnished as if it were the living room of a home. Though the couches and bookshelves looked a tad bit worn down, it was not what one would expect when stepping into an old, abandoned lighthouse. The air was musty but lacked the overwhelming scent of decay that Jake had anticipated. He shined the lantern on the walls, revealing torches, though none were lit. Their presence suggested that someone had been here recently, maintaining the space.

Jake's unease grew with each surprising discovery. He decided to stop exploring and focus on the task at hand: retrieving the pixie fruit. He scanned the room for the staircase, intent on reaching the top as quickly as possible. It took him a moment, but he eventually found the stairs. Tentatively, he placed a foot on the first step, bracing himself for the loud creak of old wood underfoot. To his surprise, no noise came, only the soft thud of his boot hitting the wooden plank.

He paused for a moment, inspecting the stairs. They appeared well-built and sturdy, unlike something that had been untouched for hundreds of years. Jake swallowed the lump in his throat and looked up toward the top, where the golden light glowed brightly. It had to be the tree.

Taking a deep breath, he began his cautious ascent up the spiral staircase. As he climbed, he noticed several tapestries and paintings hung on the walls. They, too, seemed untouched by time, as if they hadn't aged decades. Most depicted swords or landscapes, but one in particular caught his eye—a painting of a man, a woman, and a newborn child. Even in the lantern's dim glow, Jake could see they all had reddish-orange hair and light eyes. The two adults were dressed in clothing unfamiliar to Neverland but reminiscent of Captain Hook's wardrobe.

Jake felt a strange sense of familiarity as he gazed at the painting. He wondered about the family depicted and their connection to the lighthouse. His musings were abruptly interrupted by a sound from above. He gasped, tearing his eyes away from the painting and focusing on the noise.

It was the faint but unmistakable sound of footsteps, moving around above him. His heart pounded in his chest as he considered his options. Whoever was up there might be a threat, but they could also hold the key to the pixie fruit and Peter's recovery. However, anybody who found a creepy place like this lighthouse hospitable, most likely had no intention of helping the very bright and sunny Peter Pan.

The little green-eyed pirate remained frozen on the staircase, listening intently to the sounds from above. Footsteps echoed softly, moving around with an unsettling rhythm. As he strained to hear, more sounds emerged—a mix of pages being flipped, liquid being poured, and the gentle clink of a spoon stirring. Then came a soft poof, like a small explosion.

He furrowed his brow, wondering what was happening up there. The commotion above piqued his curiosity, but it also left him with more questions than answers. What was going on up there? And most importantly, what should he do now? He started to think that maybe the magical fruit-bearing tree was just a legend or had disappeared long ago. But he couldn't face his mates with the news that their only hope for Peter was gone. He had to keep searching.

The task of snooping around would have been much easier if there wasn't already someone up there. Jake held his breath and listened for a few more seconds, trying to gauge the situation. The footsteps above continued to shuffle around until, suddenly, they stopped with the sound of a closing door.

Jake remained still, counting the moments of silence that followed. He wanted to be sure that whoever was up there had left, at least for a little while. With his heart pounding in his chest, he took a cautious step forward, testing the creaky floorboard beneath his feet.

Convinced that the coast was clear, Jake slowly ascended the remaining steps. He reached the top of the lighthouse, a well-lit round room with windows all around, offering a panoramic view of the endless, foggy wilderness on one side and the foggy Neversea on the other. There was a door leading out to a balcony, but interestingly enough, there was no light, making this place more of a lookout tower than a traditional lighthouse.

Despite the lack of a beacon, the room was far from empty. Several wooden tables were pushed up against the walls, one of which stood out in particular. It was covered with vials, bowls, beakers, glasses, tubes, and small splattered messes of color. As Jake looked at the objects, he began to piece things together. There was a small open book—the source of the page-turning sound he had heard. Glasses of colored liquid—some empty and others full—accounted for the pouring sounds. A small bowl with a tiny metal spoon sticking out of it was likely responsible for the stirring sound.

Near the center of the table was a pot that could probably hold no more than a quart of water. It contained a bubbling purple liquid, and every ten seconds or so, a small poof of gas would emerge from it and dissolve into the air, surely the poof sound he had heard. Jake glanced at the other tables, seeing that they were cluttered with bottles of colored liquid, empty beakers, and glasses, as well as stacks upon stacks of books.

He continued to look around the room. Wherever there weren't tables filled with chemistry equipment, there were bookshelves stuffed with thick volumes. On whichever walls weren't occupied by windows, there were maps and sketches of some sort of land. Jake approached one of them, only to realize he couldn't understand the writing—it was legible, but he couldn't form a single word from any of it. He noticed that the letters E, N, I, Z, S and R appeared frequently.

Jake shook his head, feeling disappointment and worry flood through him. There was no tree or magical pixie fruit up in this tower. Instead, there was just some kind of crazy laboratory and a bunch of maps he couldn't read. He slumped his shoulders, unsure of what to do next. He guessed he should get ready to leave before whoever was here came back. But before he could move, something caught his eye.

Underneath one of the wooden tables were a bunch of wooden crates, and in those crates were what seemed to be not books, not beakers, but fruit. Curiosity piqued, Jake headed over to the table, got on his hands and knees, and pulled out one of the crates. There was writing on the side of it, but again, it was written in a language he couldn't understand. But he knew perfectly well what was inside the crate. They were a bunch of green tomatoes—the kind that only grew near Tick-Tock Croc's habitat.

Jake pushed that crate aside and saw several more, each with the same writing he couldn't understand, but each filled with magical fruit of some kind. It wasn't until he pushed all the crates to the side that he saw what was hidden well in the back. In a jar, not a crate, was a glowing golden lemon-like fruit. It looked like a regular lemon, only it sparkled like how Izzy's pixie dust would. Could it be? Jake's heart started to race as he reached for the jar and grabbed it. He saw some writing on the top of the lid and thought he could make out one of the words: Pixie.

He had just found the pixie fruit. But it also seemed somebody else had found it before him and was planning to use it for whatever crazy experiments they were doing up here. Jake pondered whether to take this fruit with him, as somebody else had already found it fair and square, and taking it would be stealing. But he quickly pushed that aside when he remembered that a life was at stake. A life was more important than some magical potion experiment.

The boy gasped when he heard footsteps again, coming from behind a door on the other side of the room. Where did that door lead? He had no clue. But he had to get out of here. Clutching the jar with the pixie fruit in one hand and the lantern in the other, he hurried toward the stairs, descending as quickly and quietly as he could.

The staircase creaked under his weight, but he didn't dare slow down. The footsteps behind the door grew louder, and the door swung open just as he reached the bottom step. Jake glanced back for a split second, catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure in the doorway.

To Be Continued….