Chapter Ten
Jake, Cubby, and Skully exchanged glances as the room grew tense, Peter's uncharacteristically tired expression sending a shiver through them. Jake ran a hand through his hair, letting out a deep sigh. He could sense something was wrong, something bigger than any of them had anticipated.
"Giving away that key is about to blow up in our faces isn't it?" Jake muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Peter didn't respond immediately. He hesitated, the fatigue pulling at him, but finally, he gave a slow, reluctant nod.
Before Jake could say anything more, Izzy entered the room, carefully balancing a bowl of steaming liquid.
"What's about to blow up?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion as she walked over to Peter.
Jake straightened up and looked at her.
"Izzy what was so important about that key? The one the Talsteins had."
Izzy shrugged, setting the bowl down beside Peter.
"I don't know. I was just glamorizing it so Hook would take it in exchange for the pixie fruit. I've never seen that key before," She picked up a spoon, gently scooping some of the warm liquid and bringing it to Peter's lips. "Speaking of pixie fruit, here you go Peter." She smiled faintly as Peter took the first spoonful of the magical juice. His eyes closed as if savoring the warmth and relief it brought.
"Thanks Iz." he said, ruffling the bandana on her head.
Jake glanced back at Cubby and Skully, who both shook their heads in agreement with Izzy.
"I've never seen that key either." Cubby added, scratching his head.
"Same here, mate." Skully chirped, flapping his wings to settle more comfortably on Cubby's shoulder.
Peter was silent for a moment as Izzy continued to feed him, but Cubby, always curious, leaned forward.
"Peter… how did you know it was in the shape of a 'T'? Have you seen it before?"
The question hung in the air, and Peter hesitated again. His fingers tapped restlessly on the edge of the blanket covering him. He pulled the spoon from his mouth, sighed, and then ran a hand through his messy red hair.
"I don't know what I'm talking about Jake," Peter said, his voice slightly strained. "Probably just a lucky guess."
Jake's eyes narrowed. He could sense Peter wasn't being honest. Peter knew more about this than he was letting on.
"Right. A lucky guess," Jake muttered, sarcasm dripping from his words. His gaze didn't leave Peter. He crossed his arms and leaned in slightly, his voice low and serious. "You recognized the Talsteins' name, their ship, and now you knew about this key. You're not telling us everything."
The room went still, the only sound was the quiet clinking of the spoon as Izzy continued to feed Peter, her own worry deepening as she glanced between the two boys. Skully perched nervously on Cubby's shoulder, and Cubby swallowed hard, sensing the rising tension.
Peter kept his eyes on the blanket, avoiding Jake's intense gaze.
As Jake and the others prepared to leave, Peter's silence hung heavy in the air, adding to the tension. Even Tinkerbell, who usually fluttered about with bright energy, seemed unusually quiet, her tiny eyes locked on Peter as if she sensed something was off. Everyone wanted answers.
Izzy gently put a hand on Jake's shoulder.
"Maybe we should go and let Peter rest for now," she whispered. "Misty said the cure takes a few days to fully work."
Jake glanced at Peter, who looked pale and tired but still wore that familiar spark of mischief in his eyes. It was clear Peter knew more than he was letting on, but Jake could also see how drained he was. With a reluctant nod, Jake agreed.
"Yeah, let's give him some space."
The group began to shuffle towards the exit when Skully, perched on Cubby's shoulder, squawked,
"Speaking of Misty, where do you think she could've gone?"
"And Red Jessica." Cubby added with a frown.
Peter, who had been taking another nervous sip of the pixie fruit cure, perked up at the mention of Misty and Red Jessica.
"Wait… what do you mean Misty and Red Jessica are gone?" he asked, his confusion cutting through his weariness.
"Last night, when we needed shelter from the storm, we went to Misty's cottage, but the door was wide open—and she wasn't there. She still isn't." Cubby explained quickly.
"And when we went to Red Jessica's castle looking for a zebra rose," Izzy chimed in, "Her door was open too, but she wasn't there either….," she paused and then slowly looked up "...but you know who was?"
The group exchanged a quick glance before they all said in unison.
"The Talstein Pirates."
Peter's face darkened at the mention of the Talsteins. He lowered the bowl and stared down at the ground, a contemplative silence following. Jake stepped closer, his green eyes full of concern.
"Do you think the Talsteins had something to do with their disappearances?" he asked.
Peter looked up at him, locking eyes with Jake. For a moment, it seemed like Peter was going to brush off the question with a joke or some clever remark, but instead, he let out a heavy sigh.
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "But it sure seems like they're at the center of everything lately."
The tension grew, and for a moment, nobody spoke. Izzy tugged on Jake's arm, breaking the silence.
"We should really go now. Let Peter rest."
Jake nodded again, still feeling the weight of Peter's words hanging in the air.
"Alright," he agreed, his voice soft. "We'll be back to check on you later."
As they stepped out of the underground room and made their way up the tunnels, Skully flapped his wings, casting a nervous glance behind them.
"Do you think the Talsteins really got them?" he asked, voice low.
Jake looked ahead, determination settling in his chest.
"I don't know," he muttered. "But they've got something to do with it."
Bucky's sails were still ripped and dripping with sea water when they finally made it home. Jake knew they'd have to scrub the little ship again—probably for a whole week this time. But that was a problem for tomorrow. Night had fallen, and everyone was sound asleep in their beds, except for Jake.
He lay awake, staring at the ceiling, the wood beams above Cubby's bunk seeming to mock him with their perfect grooves. He was tired, yet his mind refused to settle, whirling with thoughts about that key—what Peter knew, what it meant, and how to figure it all out. But how could he get the answers? Peter had been frustratingly vague, and that only made Jake more determined.
Just as he considered counting the grooves to fall asleep, he heard something—a faint jingling sound, like tiny bells. Jake sat up, at first thinking it was his imagination. But then he gasped, his eyes widening. A golden, sparkly ball of light was floating in through a small gap in the roof, spiraling around the room's metal pole as it made its way toward him. The familiar glow made his heart skip.
"Tinkerbell?" he whispered, hardly believing his eyes.
The fairy's golden aura illuminated the dark room as she darted closer, a rolled-up piece of paper clutched in her tiny hands. Jake blinked in surprise as Tink dropped the paper right into his lap, her little face wearing a look of impatience.
"Is something wrong with Peter?" Jake asked, his voice still a hushed whisper to avoid waking the others.
Tinkerbell rolled her eyes dramatically, shaking her head with a soft jingle of her wings. She gave Jake an almost exasperated look before turning in the air and flying straight back out through the same hole in the roof, leaving a trail of shimmering dust behind her.
Jake, still confused, glanced down at the paper in his hands. His heart pounded as he slowly unrolled it, careful not to make a sound. The room remained quiet, his friends sleeping peacefully as he read the message.
"Get dressed and meet me outside."
That was all it said.
His curiosity piqued, Jake slipped out of bed, trying not to disturb Cubby, who was snoring softly in the top bunk. Whatever was happening, it had to be important. Without hesitation, he grabbed his jacket, pulled on his boots, and headed for the door.
Jake sprinted down the stairs, his boots thudding softly against the wooden steps. He reached the hideout's entrance, where the doors swung open and the palm trees cleared the way automatically. Hopping down the steps into the cool sand, he expected to see someone waiting for him, but the beach was empty.
"Hello?" he whispered into the night, but only the sound of the waves lapping at the shore responded.
Furrowing his brow, Jake tried again, this time louder.
"Hello?"
Still no answer.
Frustrated, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted,
"HELLO!"
Before the echo of his shout faded, a hand clamped down over his mouth, cutting off his next breath. Jake's heart shot into his throat, and his instincts kicked in. He swung his arm, landing a solid hit on his attacker's side, while stomping down on their foot as hard as he could.
"Ow—! Easy, Jake!" came a muffled groan from behind him.
The lad froze, recognizing the voice. He turned around, still catching his breath, and found Peter Pan lying in the sand, moaning softly. An orange scarf was wrapped around his neck, and he was rubbing his foot where Jake had stomped on it. Peter looked up at him with a mix of pain and amusement.
"Look buddy, I know whose foot you're on, but whose side are you on?" Peter asked with a smirk, his voice hoarse from the effort.
Jake gasped, his eyes widening. He quickly stepped off Peter's moccasin-covered foot and reached out a hand.
"Sorry, Peter!" he stammered, helping the flying boy up. "I didn't know it was you!"
Peter stood up, dusting the sand off his clothes and letting out a small cough. He didn't look great—still pale, a bit shaky—but it was a massive improvement from how he'd looked that morning when he was bedridden.
"What are you doing here?" Jake asked, concern creeping into his voice. "Why aren't you back in bed? Did you send the letter? And... what do you know about the Talstein Pirates' key?"
Peter, still blinking and a little disoriented, didn't answer right away. He stared at Jake for a moment, his mouth half open like he was still processing what just happened.
"Peter?" Jake pressed, his voice firmer.
Peter in response just rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'm still working on 'what are you doing here?' " he muttered, clearly still a little off-balance. Jake sighed, but before he could speak again, Peter rubbed the back of his neck and started talking. "Look, Jake, I need your help with something. It's important."
"Help with what?" Jake asked, confused and slightly impatient. "And what about the key? Do you know what it opens?"
Peter glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the surrounding jungle. His usual carefree attitude was replaced by a cautious edge. After a moment, satisfied that they were alone, Peter slowed his pace, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"The key…" he started, glancing over his shoulder again just to be sure. "…opens a chest."
Jake frowned, not exactly blown away by that revelation.
"That's all—"
Peter raised a hand to stop him, his expression dead serious.
"A chest that holds something—something dangerous."
Jake's curiosity deepened, but a knot of worry formed in his stomach.
"What kind of something?"
Peter hesitated, his eyes narrowing as if the very words tasted bad. He leaned in closer, his voice barely audible.
"It holds the power to release a plague. One that could spread across Neverland."
Jake's heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening.
"A plague?" His voice cracked with disbelief, and he struggled to keep his tone down. "You mean… like a disease?"
"Worse. It's magic, Jake. Dark magic. The kind that corrupts everything it touches—plants, animals, people. It would drain the life from Neverland, twist it into something unrecognizable."
Jake was still listening to Peter, but his mind wandered as he took a quick moment to think about the Talstein Pirates. Sure, they were a bit rude and menacing... but were they really clever enough to pull something like plaguing Neverland off? They couldn't be that powerful.
Well, Jack was tall, strong, and definitely threatening. He had that look of a pirate who'd seen it all and lived to tell the tale. Maybe he was cunning too, Jake mused. But Patrick and Maverick? They were just two teenagers, just a little older and bigger than Peter himself. Sure, they could probably hold their own in a fight, they were pirates after all, but when it came to scheming or something as big as unleashing a magical plague? That didn't seem like their style. They were more likely to steal from other pirates or pull cheap tricks than deal with something this dangerous.
Jake was about to voice this to Peter, ready to share his doubts about the Talsteins, when Peter suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to him, a sharp look in his eyes.
"What do you think Captain Codfish could've done with that key?" Peter asked, interrupting Jake's train of thought. "Did he say anything when you and your mates traded it away to him?"
"No," Jake answered. "But probably took it back to his ship," Jake mused aloud, crossing his arms. "Probably added it to some crazy collection of his."
Peter coughed, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"Good," the redhead said. "Then that's where we're—" he cut off his own sentence to go into a quick coughing fit, before finishing. "... going," he finished, almost out of air.
The raven haired boy cocked his head, eyeing Peter skeptically.
"Now?" he asked, eyebrows raised. "You're still not fully recovered."
Peter gave a slight shrug, trying to brush it off, though his face was pale and the usual glint in his eyes seemed a little duller.
"I'll be fine." he insisted, but Jake wasn't convinced.
Jake folded his arms, frowning. This was why Tink was so annoyed when she brought him the note earlier, wasn't it?
"You're still sick, Peter. You can barely get a sentence out without coughing."
Peter waved it off, though the effort to appear nonchalant clearly cost him.
"Neverland's gonna be a lot sicker if the Talsteins get that key back." he replied, his tone firm despite the exhaustion in his voice.
Jake sighed, knowing Peter wasn't going to let this go.
"What about my crew? They're still asleep, should I wake them up—."
"No," Peter interrupted. "This is a job for you, me and that's it." he whispered, though sternly. He could tell the younger lad felt a little uneasy about leaven his mateys alone, so Peter tried to think of anything to say that would reassure him. "We'll be quick," he said with a grin. "So are ya with me?"
Jake sighed real quick then regained full posture.
"Aye aye Peter."
"Great," Peter replied before producing a small shower of pixie dust and sprinkled it over Jake, causing him to float slightly off the ground. The flying boy took off into the sky, the young pirate in tow. "To the Jolly Roger we go!" Peter announced, coughing a bit as they soared into the night sky.
What neither of them knew was that, hidden in the dense shrubs of Pirate Island, someone was watching—and listening.
Patrick shuffled out from behind a bush, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. He turned to his younger brother, Maverick, who was clinging to a nearby palm tree, barely visible in the shadows.
"So that's what the little pests did with the key." Patrick whispered, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Maverick nodded from his spot on the tree, his blue eyes wide.
"They traded it away. And to Hook of all pirates!" the blonde pirate pouted. "I'd like to know what kind of treasure those little rugrats had that was even valuable enough to offer for our key!"
"Shut up Maverick, that's not the point," Patrick growled. "The point is, the Captain's key is on the Jolly Roger, and that's where we're going."
To Be Continued...
Uh...sorry for the delay. Been a tad bit ridiculously busy lately and the only time I could work on this was on the weekends if I didn't already have work to do. Chapters are gonna come out very less frequently but stick around anyway because I promise I am not gonna leave this one unfinished. It's just gonna take a long while. Also this story only has 9 chapters and it's getting close to 2k views and tome that's amazing! I haven't left very many ANs on this one if any at all so review if you wan't, don't if you don't want to. I might even make digital drawings of the Talsteins and put it on Deviantart so we have visuals! We'll see.