Chapter Eleven

Jake followed Peter through the night sky, the wind cool against his skin, as they hovered above the Neverseas just like they had during all their past adventures. Below them, the waters shimmered under the moonlight, calm and quiet, until the familiar sight of the Jolly Roger came into view, anchored and bobbing gently in the water.

"Are you sure you're up for this, Peter?" Jake asked once again, casting a glance at his friend. Peter still looked pale, and his usually sharp eyes were duller than usual.

"I'm fine," Peter replied, more impatient this time. He kept his eyes locked on the ship below. "We need that key, Jake. This isn't about me."

Jake bit his lip but didn't argue further. He didn't like seeing Peter push himself like this, but there was no stopping him when he was determined. They hovered just above the ship's deck, peeking down at the crew. Mr. Smee was pacing nervously, his round glasses sliding down his nose every few steps. Sharky sat fiddling with his accordion, while Bones, perched on a barrel, fought to keep his eyes open. But there was no sign of Captain Hook.

Peter leaned toward Jake, whispering,

"Leave the talking to me. The second you see the key, grab it."

Jake nodded.

"Got it."

The two landed softly on the deck, their presence causing Sharky to pause his accordion playing. Mr. Smee looked up, squinting through his glasses. After a moment, he lifted them to get a clearer look.

"Jake? Er-Peter Pan?" Smee said, his voice shaking with a mix of surprise and nervousness.

"The one and only." Peter said with his signature grin, though it lacked its usual mischievousness.

"Well, isn't this a nice surprise!" Smee said, his nervousness slipping away momentarily.

" 'Bout time ye lads came back to Neverland," Sharky added with a grin. Even Bones, who had been dozing off, perked up at the sight of Peter.

"How many beasties did ye see out there? Run into anything from Grandpa Bones' tales?" Bones asked, still rubbing his eyes.

Peter chuckled lightly.

"As much as I'd love to tell you all the adventures you missed," he began. "We're here for something important. Where's the old codfish?"

At the mention of Captain Hook, the crew's cheerful demeanor shifted to one of palpable nervousness. Mr. Smee's smile faltered, and he exchanged a look with Sharky and Bones.

"Well," Smee began, his hands wringing nervously, "right now… the Cap'n isn't exactly in the mood for visitors."

"More than usual?" Peter asked.

"Aye lad." the man in the red night cap responded.

Jake raised an eyebrow, stepping closer.

"What's wrong with him?" the young lad asked.

Before Smee could answer, the doors of the captain's cabin burst open, and out came Captain Hook himself, but instead of his usual swagger and menacing presence, he was sobbing uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his face as he stumbled toward Mr. Smee, collapsing into his first mate's arms like a distraught child.

"There, there, Cap'n," Smee said soothingly, patting Hook's back. "Everything will be alright."

Jake's eyes widened in disbelief.

Peter stood with his hands on his hips, watching Captain Hook wail and sob into Mr. Smee's arms.

"Gee Hook. 'd ya miss me that much?" Peter asked.

Hook's red-rimmed eyes shot up, glaring at Peter with a mixture of fury and humiliation.

"Silence you infernal imp!" the captain wailed. "Close the bottomless pit you call a mouth and get your filthy moccasins off my ship!" he barked, swiping dramatically at the air in Peter's direction. His fury only deepened when he saw Jake standing beside Peter.

"Did I miss something?" Peter uttered towards Mr. Smee, the back of his hand covering his mouth.

Hook threw his head back, hands clutching his chest in a theatrical display of agony.

"Me mummy! She's missing!" he wailed, tears streaming down his face again as he crumpled, collapsing into a hammock that had been strung between two poles.

"Again?" Jake squeaked.

Peter cocked his head to the side, glancing at Mr. Smee with a raised eyebrow.

Smee nodded solemnly.

"Well it's just like he said, lads. Mama Hook is nowhere to be found."

Hook, sobbing uncontrollably, wailed louder.

"She was supposed to visit me today! I had a whole special treasure prepared for her—that blasted key you popinjays traded me!" he growled, pointing an angry finger at Jake, who stepped back in shock. "It was going to be a grand surprise… but now she's gone! GONE, I tell you!" His voice cracked as he buried his face in his hands.

Jake blinked, the knot in his stomach tightening. His mind began to whirl. Gone. The word had been tossed around more times than he cared to count in recent days. Red Jessica. Gone. Misty. Gone. Now Mama Hook?

Peter looked over at Sharky and Bones, who were standing by, looking equally worried.

"Why didn't you guys go looking for her?" Peter asked, arms crossed casually.

Bones scratched the back of his head, yawning.

"We did," the scrawny pirate said. "All. Day. Long."

"Aye," Sharky added, nodding in agreement. "No sign of her anywhere. It's like she vanished."

Hook's sobbing intensified, the hammock swaying dangerously under his weight as he clutched the sides.

"She's gone forever!" he blubbered, wiping his tears on Mr. Smee's shirt. Smee didn't seem to mind, still patting his captain's back. "I swear when I get me hands on whatever idiot—"

Hook's loud wails were suddenly interrupted by the sound of scraping against wood. He paused, mid-complaint about finding whoever had dared to take his mother, just as a hand gripped the railing of the Jolly Roger. Everyone's attention snapped toward the side of the ship.

A second hand appeared, followed by slightly muscular arms clad in puffy black sleeves from the elbow up. Then, the tall, lanky figure of Patrick Talstein hauled himself over the railing. His black and green pirate clothes were as worn as his usual cocky smirk, which spread across his face as he landed lightly on the deck. Patrick stood there for a moment, trying to strike a confident, intimidating pose, but it was undercut by a whiny voice from below.

"Well, well—-." Patrick began before being interrupted by a wimpy voice.

"Patrick! Help! I'm stuck!"

Patrick rolled his eyes in pure annoyance, turning around to see Maverick dangling off the side of the ship. With a sigh, Patrick reached down, grabbing Maverick by the collar of his yellow and white clothing, and yanked him up with one smooth motion. He dumped the shorter boy onto the deck with a lack of ceremony before regaining his stance as if nothing had happened.

"Speaking of idiots…" Hook grumbled under his breath, glaring daggers at Maverick, who struggled to regain his footing after the less-than-graceful entry.

"Surprise, Captain." the oldest talstein said, waving his arms in the air.

Hook rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Just what I needed," he said, sarcastically. "Another pair of obnoxious boys! Out of the frying pan and into the blasted fire."

Peter and Jake, both standing nearby, tensed at the sight of Patrick and Maverick. They weren't thrilled to see them either, especially after what's been going on the previous few days.

Mr. Smee, Sharky, and Bones all groaned in unison at the sight of the two intruders.

"Oh blimey, not them again…" Bones muttered, slapping his forehead in frustration.

Hook, clearly done with the theatrics, jumped out of his hammock with a scowl.

Patrick, not one to back down, crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "So this is the infamous Jolly Roger? Can't say I'm impressed."

"Take that back, you wretched brat!" Hook snapped, pointing an accusing finger at Patrick. "You wish that block of wood you call a ship was as grand as me glorious vessel, and you know it!" Hook said before pointing out at the sea. "Now off of me ship!"

"Oh yes your majesty because it is not like I get enough orders from deranged middle aged men." the green pirate mused with a mocking bow.

Maverick tapped Patrick on the shoulder, his voice nervous.

"Hey, uh, maybe you shouldn't be calling da—"

Before he could finish, Patrick straightened up and elbowed him in the ribs.

"Quiet, Mav." he muttered through gritted teeth. Maverick winced but stayed silent, rubbing his side.

Jake, arms crossed, finally spoke up, his patience wearing thin.

"Why are you guys here?"

Patrick turned his gaze toward Jake, smirking.

"For the same reason you're here."

Captain Hook, who had been sitting back, trying to collect himself, visibly tensed at this. His red-rimmed eyes darted between Jake and Patrick.

"And just what pray tell, might that reason be?" he demanded, his irritation creeping back into his voice.

Without missing a beat, Patrick stomped over to Hook, and Peter, not one to be outdone, shot forward as well. Both teens, dressed in green, ended up face-to-face with Hook.

"Give us(me) the key!" they both shouted in unison.

The sound of their synchronized demand echoed across the deck. They blinked in surprise, and then both turned to glare at each other.

"You're not getting it." Peter snapped, crossing his arms defiantly.

Patrick raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? And why not?" He gestured toward Hook with a smug grin. "I think it's pretty obvious Captain Hook would rather eat his own hook than give a treasure to Peter Pan."

Peter's lips twitched into a cocky smile, his hands settling on his hips.

"Well, you're not far behind from being next in line for 'last place'."

Standing off to the side, Maverick rubbed his chin.

"Hey! Would you look at that! For once, Patrick's the one getting something last instead of me." he chirped.

The battle of wit between Peter and Patrick continued, each one trying to out-sass the other. Peter, ever sharp-tongued, leaned forward.

"You should really take a hike, or rather a swim, Talstein, before someone gets hurt." he said with a knowing smirk, finishing the sentence with an exaggerated cough.

Patrick's eyes gleamed with mischief at the sound.

"Oh, what's this?" he mocked. "Is the little boy staying up past his bedtime?"

Peter's face flushed with frustration, his body tensing as he prepared to snap back. He hated showing any sign of weakness, especially in front of Patrick. But before he could retort, Hook's voice cut through the tension like a sharp blade.

"Both of you—SHUT UP!" Hook bellowed, waving his hook in the air. His eyes, still wet from earlier tears, were now full of frustration as he glared at the two bickering teens. "I swear the two of you are about to make me jump into the nearest crocodile's mouth willingly!" He turned to Patrick first, pointing his hook in his direction. "One Peter Pan in me life is hard enough, but if you are going to be a second, then for once in my blasted life, I agree with Pan—get lost, Talstein!"

Patrick did not so much as move a muscle.

Then Hook spun on Peter, his temper flaring.

"And you, Pan—fly away before I lose what's left of me sanity!" He pointed at Jake, "And take him with you!"

Jake stepped forward, his eyes narrowing.

"We're not leaving until you give us back the key." he said, firmly.

Patrick also took a step forward, with Maverick awkwardly shuffling up behind him.

"That goes double!" the brunette declared.

Hook let out a hysterical growl of frustration, throwing his arms up into the air. His face twisted in annoyance as he spun around, clearly done with all of them.

"Fine! If that blasted cursed key is what it'll take to rid me ship of you pests, then so be it!"

Without another word, Hook reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a golden, T-shaped key. Its red, yellow, and green ribbon fluttered in the sea breeze as the captain, in a fit of dramatic flair, tossed it high into the air. Then, with an irritated huff, Hook stormed off toward his cabin, slamming the door behind him.

All eyes were locked on the key as it soared through the air, glinting in the moonlight. Peter darted forward with lightning speed, zipping through the air as he grabbed the key, triumphant.

"Got it!" he shouted.

But just as quickly, Patrick leaped into action, grabbing hold of Peter's ankle midair and yanking him back down toward the deck.

"Not so fast!"

The two boys struggled as Patrick tried to wrench the key out of Peter's grasp. Peter, realizing he wasn't getting anywhere with Patrick clinging to him.

"Jake! Catch!" Peter called out.

With that, the redhead flung the key toward Jake, who quickly ran forward to catch it. But just as the key was about to land in his hands, Maverick suddenly appeared out of nowhere, sticking his leg out in front of Jake.

"Woops!" he let out, with fake innocence.

Jake tripped over Maverick's outstretched leg, hitting the deck with a thud as the key slid across the wooden floor. It stopped right at Mr. Smee's feet.

"O-oh my!" the elderly man stuttered, looking confused as ever, as he picked it up, holding the key uncertainty.

"Mr. Smee!" Peter called out, finally managing to wriggle free from Patrick's grip. "Toss it here!"

Smee nodded, smiling kindly.

"Aye, Peter, I got it!" He reared back, preparing to make a good throw, but before he could, Patrick rushed over and pulled Smee's red nightcap down over his eyes.

Smee stumbled, his throw going completely awry. The key flew off in a wild direction, slingshotting from the sails, ricocheting off one of the ship's posts, and then bouncing off Sharky's accordion. Everyone's eyes widened as they watched it sail right into the mouth of one of the ship's cannons.

"Uh oh!" Jake shouted as he bolted toward the cannon, skidding to a stop. Without thinking, he reached his hand inside, trying to grab the key.

Patrick, still recovering from his struggle with Peter, gasped at the sight of Jake about to reach the key.

"Do something you klutz!" he shouted at Maverick.

Maverick fumbled for a moment, then grinned mischievously.

"Aye, aye, Captain!" He whipped out a match, striking it against the wooden railing. The spark flared to life as he lit the cannon's fuse.

"Jake, watch out!" Peter yelled, zipping forward. In one swift motion, he grabbed Jake and yanked him out of the way just as the cannon went off with a deafening BOOM.

The cannon fired, launching not just a cannonball but the golden key along with it, both flying off into the distance, straight toward Neverland.

Jake groaned, watching as the key soared out of sight, Peter's grip on him strong as he still held the boy above the Neverseas, out of the cannon's path.

"You've got to be kidding me..." he moaned.

Patrick stood there, frozen in place for a solid minute, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His back remained turned towards Maverick, who, sensing the tension, started to sweat. Finally, in a calm but dangerously quiet voice, Patrick asked,

"Um…Maverick…..Did that cannon fire hurt you by any chance?"

Maverick gulped, glancing nervously at the still-smoking cannon and then back at his brother's stiff form.

"Uh, no... No, it didn't," he replied, though his voice wavered.

"Good," Patrick muttered, his voice low and menacing. Then, with terrifying slowness, he turned to face Maverick, his eyes blazing with fury. "Because I am about to!"

Maverick's eyes widened in panic, and before Patrick could take another step, he let out a high-pitched yelp and bolted for the side of the ship.

"AHH!" Without looking back, Maverick leaped overboard, splashing into the dinghy they had arrived in.

Patrick, not one to be outdone, launched himself off the side of the ship right after him, landing with a thud in the dinghy beside his younger brother. Water sloshed around the small boat as Patrick scrambled to his feet. "That's right! You better row!" he barked at his brother, his face still red with rage. "Row, row row!"

Maverick, already grabbing the oars, was rowing as fast as he could, glancing back over his shoulder at Patrick.

"I'm rowing, I'm rowing!" he whimpered, trying to put as much distance between them and the Jolly Roger as possible.

Peter floated back down, placing Jake gently on the deck beside him. They both stood there, wide-eyed and speechless for a moment before Peter snorted, shaking his head.

" 'Pirates' isn't exactly the word I'd use to describe those two." he uttered.

"Or unleashed of a plague." Jake added.

"That's enough competition for one night, lads," Mr. Smee declared, adjusting his cap. He turned to Sharky and Bones, who were slumped over, clearly exhausted. "Best get yourselves rested. No doubt the captain'll have us searching all over Neverland for Mama Hook again tomorrow."

Bones groaned loudly, stretching his long thin arms.

"But Mr. Smee, we've already searched practically the entire island!"

"Aye, what place be left to search?" Sharky added, clearly just as drained.

Jake, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, interrupted their grumbling.

"Seems like a lot of people have been disappearing lately..." the young boy said.

Smee looked at him curiously.

"Disappearing? What do you mean by that, lad?"

Jake crossed his arms, his brow furrowed.

"Both Red Jessica and Misty have been missing for days... and now Mama Hook's vanished too."

Smee's face went pale, and he gave a visible shudder.

"Why that is rather mysterious…" he quivered.

"Better not tell the Captain 'bout Red Jessica," Sharky whispered, nudging Bones. "He'll lose what's left of the sanity he's got left."

"Aye, that he will." Bones agreed with a nervous glance toward Hook's cabin.

Jake turned to Peter.

"Peter, we're missing something pretty important too, you know. What're we gonna do about the key?"

Peter hovered a few inches above the deck, shrugging.

"Honestly, I have no idea. But I do know this: those two are gonna have a real hard time finding it," Peter gestured to the expansive island whose shore they were floating not too far away from. "That key's tiny, and Neverland's massive. It's like trying to find my shadow in the Valley of Shadows all over again."

Smee nodded sympathetically.

"Oh I wish we could help you boys look for it. But, er... you know how it is with the Captain."

Just as Smee finished speaking, a booming voice rang out from Hook's cabin.

"SMEEEE!"

Smee jumped, nearly knocking his cap off in surprise.

"Oh! Coming, Cap'n!" He scrambled toward the cabin, Sharky and Bones trailing behind him as Hook's voice continued to bark impatiently.

With the pirates gone, Peter crossed his arms and floated back down to stand next to Jake.

"So… what's the plan now?"

Jake sighed, glancing out over the horizon, where the moonlight shimmered on the Neversea.

The Delta drifted silently on the shimmering Neverseas, the moonlight casting a pale glow on the deck. Jack Talstein, the eldest son of the Talstein family, reached down, offering his hand to help his mother out of the dinghy. She stepped lightly onto the deck, her dark cloak fluttering in the night breeze.

"How did the meeting with him go?" Jack asked, his tone respectful yet curious.

Amber glanced at him, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Quite pleasantly, I must say," She brushed a few strands of her luscious red hair from her face as she moved further onto the deck, her piercing eyes surveying the ship's surroundings. "And what of your task? Have you and Patrick fulfilled what was asked of you?"

Jack, trailing behind her, straightened up.

"More or less. Patrick did... his part." he replied, sounding slightly unimpressed with his younger brother.

Amber nodded approvingly.

"Good."

Despite the difference in their height—Jack towering half a foot above her—he followed behind his mother like a loyal shadow as she strolled gracefully across the ship. Amber's heels tapped softly against the wooden planks until she stopped abruptly and turned to face him, her sly smile returning.

"You don't have to walk behind me, like a trained canine, Jack," she said, voice smooth as silk. "Remember, my son, you'll be the captain of this ship soon."

"I know that," Jack replied, dipping his head slightly as he spoke. "But for now, I'm just a crewmate, and you're the first mate. Therefore, you outrank me." With that, he took her delicate, lily-white hand and kissed it.

Amber chuckled lightly, clearly charmed by his display of respect.

"Such a gentleman," she remarked, but there was a sharp edge of amusement to her tone. Her eyes swept across the eerily quiet deck. After a moment, she frowned, her gaze narrowing. "Where's your brother?"

"Which one?"

"The one that was supposed to be here with the key."

Jack blinked, looking around as if suddenly realizing the stillness himself.

"Maverick?" he echoed, furrowing his brow. "He should've been on board by now..."

Amber's lips tightened into a thin line.

"And Patrick?"

Jack shrugged casually, as if the answer was of little consequence.

"After we returned from Crimson Isle, I sent Patrick and Maverick to the lighthouse to check on you, but that was last night….it seems they still haven't come back."

Amber arched an eyebrow, her icy gaze locking onto Jack's face.

"I didn't see them there." she said slowly.

Jack shrugged again, unconcerned.

"They'll turn up eventually," he said, dismissively waving his hand. "But for now, we should enjoy the peace and quiet. It doesn't last long in Neverland, you know?"

Amber didn't respond immediately, her calculating eyes drifting across the empty horizon. After a moment, her lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"Nor will it once the Captain gets that key."

To Be Continued...