Their Hearts' Desire

by Starflight1701

SEQUEL to "BATTLE FOR NEVERLAND" - (I changed the pen-name from Lywhn to Starflight). Five years after 'Battle...', an almost grownup Wendy returns to Neverland. As her suitor follows her for reasons other than 'rescuing' her, it threats Peter and his world. Hook is forced to act - not only to save the day but also 'his' storyteller for whom his heart burns. Full summary inside.

31. Nasty Traps, Part 2

Hi, my dear readers!

Back from the holidays I want to present you the next chapter. As you can certainly imagine, there will be a lot of action, emotional rollercoaster and at the end another mean cliff-hanger. So be warned.

Have fun

Love

Yours Lywhn / Starflight

Chapter 29 – Nasty Traps, Part 2

The pirates and Indians, Peter and the Lost Boys, and even some of the gnomes and pixies fought the hungry flames and time itself. Following Hook's orders, they made a "firebreak" into the woods around the village, using axes, tomahawks and the three saws Mullins had brought with him from the Jolly Roger. The rest of the village was evacuated, the Indian children and older people were on the beach, while the men and women of the tribe joined their allies doing their best to get the fire under control. It was arduous work. The heat was nearly unbearable, repeatedly sparks exploded from the trees, flying through the air and leaving burning spots on clothes and skin, throats hurt from the smoke, yet stubbornly they persisted. Too much was at stake.

Then, an explosion tore the air, and Hook gasped, thinking for a moment it was the cannons of the Jolly Roger. But the sound originated in the north and not the east. And he knew the voices of his ship's guns. Yet he knew it was an explosion. "Brimstone and gall, what was that?" he asked and wiped the rivulets of sweat away that rolled down his high forehead.

"That sounded like-"

"- a cannon!" the Twins blurted.

"How? Where?" Peter asked, who was clearing a bush to the left of the captain, and briefly noted that Hook just looked like him – sweaty, dirty, singed face and hair. Hook's long hair was tied at his neck, and he was breathing hard. Peter asked himself why the man still wore his coat in this heat, but then the boy understood that the thick fabric protected Hook from most of the sparks.

"I don't know, but I don't like this," Hook murmured. No, he really didn't like it. First the wisents stampeding, a wildfire, now an explosion somewhere in the north? He knew this was all connected. And worse, the anguish was turning into a heavy stone deep in his belly. Something was definitely wrong here! And he knew it was connected to that miserable Ashford boy!

*** PP *** PP ***

Dust filled the sky above Dragon Valley, stirred between the volcano and the Black Castle by the explosion and the accompanying rockslide. The powerful wings of the dragons, which had taken the air when a part of the sheltering wall came down, prevented the dust from settling again.

Above the valley, a safe distance from the detonation, Anders, Wickham and Hutchings hid beneath the underbrush, watching the event. Einar and Morton waited impatiently for the huge beasts to land and begin what intelligent animals would surely do: dig out the dragons trapped in their caves where the avalanche had sealed the entrances.

Archibald Hutchings suppressed a cough. Like the others, he had wound his kerchief around his mouth and nose against the dust that filled the air even here. The temporary cloud reminded the academic of a thick October fog along the Thames in London. Anders and Wickham had placed the two charges of dynamite near the end of the valley along the side of the mountain, well below the path they had to take. This location would still allow them a way back.

Then the dragons, which had taken flight in alarm, returned, landing in their damaged valley. They heard the cries from their fellows still inside the blocked caves. With cautious fascination, Hutchings watched how the largest began to hiss orders. It was the red dragon, inspiring the deep respect of a true Welshman; for indeed, the heraldic animal of his country was a red dragon.

A few dragons pulled the smaller ones aside, as if actually caring for the other, and Archibald was certain that they were comforting their younglings. Now thoroughly animated, the rest began to dig their long, deadly claws into the falls of rocks, loosing boulders and tossing them aside like bales of straw to open a passage to the two caves. Again, the red dragon snarled in their own language, and they paid more attention to where they were tossing the fallen rocks, so as not to free one cave only to close another.

'One thing I know for sure now – they're intelligent,' Archibald thought, pleased that one of his theories was valid.

"Quick now, men, before these beasts realize what's really going on!" Einar Anders whispered, Wickham and Hutchings complied, knowing this was the moment to act. They knew their fate if they were detected.

*** PP *** PP ***

No more than ten minutes had gone by since the explosion, and Hook was separating the 'fire-fighters' into two groups. The heat and the smoke demanded their tribute, and many of the men (and boys) were coughing deeply, or needed time to rest and to cool off. There were actually too many to work effectively. Now they could rotate shifts, staying out of each other's way. Only the leaders worked without a break, giving orders and helping wherever needed.

There was another crash, and looking over his shoulder, Hook saw over the distance that the council hogan had fallen prey to the flames. He ground his teeth. He had slept there only days ago, after dancing and talking with Wendy and carrying her into bed. It was sentimental rubbish, but he had liked the house with the woody smell made of woven palm leaves. It held good memories, and – alas – he had only few of them.

Suddenly Smee, on his first break, shouted the captain's name and Hook saw him with the group on a break. When his boatswain screamed for him like this, he knew to pay attention. Tiger-Lily and an Indian youth were beside him, looking utterly horrified. What the hell …? Smee ran towards him with a speed you would have never thought possible in this man. "CAP'N," he yelled, "FIRE! FIRE ON THE JOLLY ROGER!"

Hook felt his face lose all color. "What … ?" he whispered, shocked beyond words. Despite the heat, ice seemed to run through his veins and his belly clenched in sudden fear. Wendy! Smee pushed past the others, toward him. "Th' princess an' th' others saw it – there be smoke from th' aft and th' middle o' th' ship!"

"Much smoke, yes!" Tiger-Lily nodded, eyes wide.

Peter stared at them, horrified. For a moment, James was unnerved, mind racing. Two thoughts were at the fore of his mind: Wendy and his ship. Then he sprang into action. "Quan, Jukes, Herb, Cookson and twenty men, with me, the rest remain to help the Indians." Then he took off at a run straight through the ruined camp towards the beach, the other followed him.

"You stay here, boys!" Peter ordered and took the air. "I'll get Wendy away from the ship!" The next moment he was gone. Beneath him he saw Hook and almost half of the crew dashing through the undergrowth. "HOOK!" he shouted. "I'LL GET WENDY!"

James spared only a glance upwards. Unable to see Peter above the surrounding trees, he kept running, but yelled back, "HURRY UP, BOY!" Fear for Wendy gave his weary feet wings. The thought came that this was the second time in only days that he ran like a madman to the beach to save his sweet wildcat. But now it was not only Wendy's life, but also his beloved ship. He thought, 'Bollard, Foggarty and Robb should be on their way to the Jolly Roger'. Every pair of hands counted now. He quenched the ridiculous thought that he now only had one.

As he and the others reached the beach, Hook stopped dead in his tracks. If one of the pirates had looked north, he would have seen the retreating longboat with Ashford, his three companions and the sedated girl, now approaching the cliffs which encircled this part of the sea, not far from the beach. But because Hook and his men only had eyes for the Jolly Roger, the get kidnapper was ignored. Moments later the crags blocked the view of the longboat.

Hook's horrified gaze was captured by the smoke that came from his ship's center and aft, then he heard two shots ringing over the water. "Sweet Maria, what be goin' on t'ere?" Smee wheezed beside him.

"Cap'n, t'ere's Pan!" Jukes called and pointed straight ahead over the waves. And indeed, there was the boy racing towards the ship and vanishing onto the main deck.

"Hurry, Peter!" James whispered, and not for the first time since 'the battle' he was grateful that the youth could fly. "MAN THE BOATS, DOGS!" he shouted and ran through the loose sand towards the longboats; but one was missing. He couldn't see it by the ship. Curse it, what was going on here? An inner voice whispered the answer: Ashford. Yet he asked himself how the viscount could have gotten to the Jolly Roger without being stopped. Impossible. Akeele, Mason and the others were capable men! They would not allow the enemy to come near the ship without firing on them.

"Take me with you. Help the Wendy-Lady needs!" a tiny voice peeped, and a little figure pushed through the Indians around him, their attention also captured by the dreadful sight on the water. Jumping up and down Bumblyn waved both arms and tried to catch up with Smee who rolled his eyes. Later, the bosun would never be able to explain just why he indeed picked up the Hobgoblin before he followed his captain to the boats. Maybe it was an Irish instinct, for these people still have a deep respect and even a liking for the Fae and the Little People.

Hook and his men dashed to the longboats. A few older Natives gestured to them to climb in, then pushing the boats into the water; children lending a hand, too. Seconds later, the boats were on their way to the ship. Hook ordered, "Best speed, men, or we'll lose our home!" He swallowed, dry mouthed. 'And I the love of my life!'

*** PP *** PP ***

In the meantime, the two hunters and the professor were moving silently on their way to the opening of the valley, not far away from the waterfall. It was essential for their very survival that they were not seen. Wearing their now filthy khakis, they seemed to melt into their surroundings, reaching the lowest point of their climb. Nearby, they saw another entrance to a cave on their side of the canyon, and the large tracks in the greenery in front of it. The nest of a dragoness helping the others, they hoped.

It seemed to take hours, but in truth, Wickham and Hutchings needed only two minutes to close the distance to the cave, while Einar remained behind to watch for the others (as if one man would stand a chance against a dozen dragons or more). Their hearts pounded, their breathing was shallow, and Archibald was sweating profusely beneath his helmet. The noise the dragons made, despite the roar of the waterfall, was far too close; the stones they were throwing were landing quite near.

Morton pressed himself outside the cave's entrance as close as his knapsack would allow, and carefully peeked in. His breathing slowed as he found the cave empty, save something that seemed to be a nest of stones. Given the breadth of the entrance – for a dragon needed room to pass through – lights were unnecessary. Moving into the 'lion's den,' Wickham crept along the wall to the heap of stones that turned out to be a large ring of them. And in its middle was an oval object that had to be an egg. It was as long as his arm, and two thirds of its length wide. Its surface was covered with silver-grey scales and shimmering gold dots, making it almost invisible among the stones.

But this was the only 'silver and gold' Wickham saw. No gems, gold coins, jewels or treasure. Even moving deeper into the cave, he saw not a single trace. He cursed beneath his breath. It seemed the legend of dragons hoarding treasure was just that: a legend.

"Incredible!" The professor stood by the edge of the nest as Morton returned, staring, enchanted. "A real dragon egg!" he whispered.

"Well, if the dragons are real then their clutch will be real as well," grumbled the ill-humored hunter, rolling his eyes. He always saw scholars as unworldly and impractical, and Hutchings had confirmed this ten times over. Plucking the knapsack from his back, he climbed into the nest and placed it beside the egg. Looking up, he saw Hutchings still staring at the egg, and growled softly, "Help me with the damn thing! You can ogle it all you want when we're back in England!"

"How rude!" Archibald murmured, but climbed down into the nest, too. Crouching, he placed a careful hand on the egg. It felt like rough silk, warm, and something seemed to pulse beneath the shell. For a moment it lit up softly from the inside and gasping, Hutchings recognized the shape of a very small dragon, rolled together like a small whelp. His eyes filled with tears in utter awe.

"Perfessor," Wickham hissed. "Stop yer gawkin' and 'elp me! We're runnin' outa time – and I don't think you want t' meet the mother of th' tiny monster. She might be a tad irritated if she finds us 'ere!"

Hutchings gulped. The thought was terrifying, yet it he felt it to be even more egregious to remove the egg from the nest -

Morton opened the pack and removed a third of the straw and strips of woolen blanket which would serve as insulation. "'Ere, 'old the sack open," he ordered; Hutchings complied, bent down and lifted the egg. It was surprisingly heavy and Wickham wheezed after getting the thing stuffed into the knapsack, covering it with the rest of the insulation. Binding and buckling it, he was finally satisfied that the egg was safe. With the professor's assistance he hung it on his back and quickly moved to the cave entrance.

Peeking out, they saw no dragons, but still heard them, busy with rescuing those trapped. All the better. As fast as they could, Wickham and Hutchings darted back the way they came, met Anders – who smirked and nodded as Morton signaled the task fulfilled – and then retreated up the mountainside into the woods. They knew they had to hurry to reach the portal at the appointed time.

*** PP *** PP ***

While Wickham and Hutchings were abducting the egg, Peter dropped to the main deck of the Jolly Roger, curiously vacant. Thick smoke rose from the companionway, and he heard shouts from below. He recognized that one belonged to Akeele; the giant black pirate was giving orders to open the cannon hatches and hurry up with the buckets. So, the guards were already busy dousing the fire.

Thinking of Wendy, Peter flew quickly to the open door of Hook's cabin and, entering, clapped a hand over his mouth and nose to shield his already dry throat from breathing in even more fumes. He saw that a part of the quarter's portside was burning, the flames had already destroyed the surface of the bulkhead, a part of the shelves, the escritoire and two of the windows with their beautiful colored glasses. In front of the flaming destruction was a small figure, trying desperately to fight the flames with a towel – a truly unfair fight.

"Esteban," Peter shouted, recognizing the nyxx. "Where is Wendy?"

"Kidnapped!" the Klabautermann yelled back, turning to the boy. He looked beaten up, his forehead sported a bleeding bump, and he was pale. His blue-green eyes full of fear. Of course he was fearful. If the ship sank, it would mean his own death as well, bound to it as he was to the very last moment. "I got Akeele, Mason and the others out of the brig, but … el fuego … no puedo (the fire… I can't)…" He sounded desperate.

Peter frowned, thinking. Wendy, kidnapped! There was no question who did this. Another thing was clear. Everything – the chaos in the camp, the fire on board – permitted that man to steal Wendy. The boy's first impulse was to search for his friend, then he realized that more urgently, they needed to stop the fire on board. It pained him to put Wendy in second place, but Hook and his men could lose their home if the ship went down. And even if the Jolly Roger could be saved, Hook would go mad if his private belongings were destroyed – something Peter could understand.

Knowing that inside the ship, men were already fighting the fire, while here Esteban was hopelessly overchallenged, he quickly came up with a plan.

"Stay here, I have an idea!" he shouted, returned to the main deck, took a deep breath of the not-so-clear air and flew down onto the first gun deck, where Akeele, Mason, Scourie and Turley were fighting the flames all means available, bring up sea water by ropes at the open hatches. Smiling grimly, Peter hastened to the ship's kitchen, finding the large pots on the table and the oven. Dumping the biggest one out the window (Cookson would be furious. Too bad.) he dove immediately into the sea with it.

The cool, fresh sea was like balm for his overheated body with the many small burns. For a long moment he enjoyed the water, then he remembered the task ahead. (Peter Pan could be careless and eschewed responsibility if he wanted to do something else instead, but when necessary, he erased all playfulness and did what was important.) A moment later he was on his way to Hook's quarters, carrying the pot full of sea water, and splashed it on the flames.

Esteban looked up and grinned in relief. "A good idea, Pedro!" he called, using Peter's Spanish name.

Peter nodded, then repeated his actions over and over. He didn't know how often he raced to the sea and then emptied the pot over the flames, but after (what seemed like) a twenty, thirty trips, his arms grew tired, his back hurt and his hands were barely able to hold the heavy pot. As he splashed yet another load of water over the last pocket of embers, a strong hand suddenly closed around his upper arm and a shining metal claw hooked the handle of the pot to take it from his trembling fingers.

"Stop it, m'boy, you did it," the low voice said at his ear, unusually gentle. Glancing up, he looked directly into Hook's dirty, familiar face, now ghostly pale beneath the grime. The blue eyes showed fear but also gratitude.

Looking back at blackened panels, furniture and ruined carpet, Peter realized that the fire was indeed out. With a loud sigh of relief, he sank against Hook's tall figure, closing his burning eyes. For a long moment, James simply put his left arm around the youth and pulled him against him. He knew that his cabin would be in a much worse condition if not for Peter and Esteban. He had no clue how it looked below, but every single man who had returned with him was helping fight the fire. It hadn't reached the powder room. That much he heard Akeele shouting from below as he climbed aboard and called for the four guards. So, the Jolly Roger would not blow up.

Yet he knew that there would be a lot of damage that Mullins and the others would need time to repair. And not only in the hold and on the weapons deck, but also here. James could only stare at the destruction of the escritoire, the bulkhead and one of the larger carpets; the glass of two port windows was gone, the lead that held the glass panels had melted. Even half of a bookshelf and its books had fallen prey to the flames; others were soaked through. But he knew that his quarters would have been burned completely if not for the two little fire-fighters. And he didn't know if he should be relieved or alarmed that Wendy was still nowhere to be seen.

But what he did see was that Pan was exhausted. The boy was swaying after the desperate fight against the destruction – first in the woods, now aboard ship. Giving in to an unfamiliar impulse, he dropped the pot and wrapped his right arm around the youth, too, keeping him on his feet and offering him a modicum of comfort. And, to his surprise, Peter accepted it – yes, he even moved closer and snaked his arms around the man's waist. In such moments it became clear that even Peter Pan - Prince of Neverland, eternal boy - needed a father or mother now and then.

Hook sighed soundlessly and waited for the lad to recover a bit, glancing around again. Grinding his teeth – whoever was responsible for this mess would pay dearly! – he turned his attention to Esteban, who sat on the floor, unknotted his bloodied bandana and wiped his brow. The nyxx looked like Hook (and Peter) felt: nasty, tired, dirty, singed. "All right, what blazes happened?" James demanded, directing his words at the Klabautermann. "Where is Wendy?"

While Peter only coughed, Esteban glanced up. He was obviously angry and frustrated. "Those gillipolas hombres happened!" he wailed. "They-"

"Cap'n!" Smee entered the cabin, Akeele on his heels. "The fire in the hold is out," he reported. "The ship is saved."

Turning about but still holding Peter, Hook glanced at the two men. "Very good news, Mr. Smee. Thank you." Then he gave the African pirate one of his most dangerous glares. "Care to explain why my ship almost burned down while you were in charge, Mr. Akeele?"

"And what happened to Wendy?" Peter croaked, straightening, fingers still clinging to Hook's coat for support. "Esteban said she was kidnapped."

"WHAT?" Hook's eyes widened in horror, looking first at the boy, then Esteban, and finally at Akeele again.

"T'ey came disguised as our men, Cap'n," the African said hoarsely, and reported to his commander exactly what happened – how the strangers in disguise had tricked them and taken him hostage to force the others to surrender, putting them in the brig, then starting a fire, leaving them to a horrible death.

Hook's eyes were burning slits as Akeele finished his report. Ashford had not only endangered his beloved ship, and abducted his storyteller, but had also left four of his men to die by fire! Enough! He would surely have the viscount's head for it!

Then Esteban reported the event from his point of view, ending with the words, "I could do no more for the señorita, as they launched the longboat and took her away. I had to get the four crew members out so that they could fight the fire." He sighed. "I'm sorry, Capitano, I know how much she mean to you, but the Klabautermann's primera preocupación is the ship."

Hook took a deep breath – alas, it stank in here! – and looked from one to the other before he cursed viciously enough to make the two pirates wince. Peter, who now sat on the settee, gaped at him. Hook's curses weren't usually nice, but by my bitter oath! And what did Esteban mean by saying 'I know how much she means to you'? He knew Hook was very protective of Wendy, but something Peter sensed told him this was not the only reason why the man was about to lose all sense of control.

"I'm sorry, Cap'n," Akeele said quietly, while Smee beside him looked sympathetically at him and then at Hook. "T'is all is me fault an'-"

"No," James replied and shaking his head slowly, his hand balled into a fist. "This was all my doing! I knew that Ashford was up to something. I knew that the attack on the Indian village was a distraction – that the son of a doxy's mangy dog wanted to lure me away from the ship. Yet I went and did exactly as he wished – because Good Form demanded we help our allies. And the result? We almost lose the ship and Wendy is kidnapped. God thrice damn it all to hell!" He turned around and kicked the nearest chair in sheer frustration, sending it flying.

Silence settled over the cabin for a moment, allowing the captain to think and them to hear the loud voices on the beach, the splashing of the water against the ship's hull and the screeching of the birds. Then Peter took a deep breath and rose. "We have to do something. They can't be far away. If they used the longboat to row away, we can find them. Wait here, I'll look from above." With those words he shot out of the window, ignoring Hook's comment that he didn't take orders in his own quarters. The boy knew that the man was just beside himself because of what happened. And this time Peter could understand him completely.

Going high, the youth looked around. First to the south (nothing unusual there) then to the north. The waves broke at the cliffs, yet he spied the longboat heading along the coast toward the Black Castle. And it was about to reach the beach near the cliffs on which the old ruin remained. Balling his fists, Peter returned to Hook's quarters, as fast as if the very devil were after him.

"They're rowing to the Black Castle!" he shouted as he approached, almost knocking Hook over who had waited by the window. Catching the lad as he tumbled in the ruined window, James snapped, "Watch it, boy!"

"I saw them. They're on the way to the Black Castle – and they're almost there," Peter repeated out of breath, pointing north.

Hook's eyes narrowed. Turning, he said with dangerous calmness, "Mr. Smee, Mr. Akeele, gather fourteen of our men, the best rowers and weapons, and man the two longboats. We're hunting villains! The rest shall begin cleaning and rebuilding the hold and my quarters."

"Aye, Cap'n," both replied, saluted and ran out, the African was deeply relieved that Hook did not hold him responsible for the tragedies aboard.

"I'll fly after them and try to-"

Peter, who was about to take to the air again, was stopped as Hook's hand shot out and caught his arm.

"No, you won't! A fight in the open is foolish, given their modern weapons. You wouldn't get near them."

"But-" Peter's protest was once again interrupted by a very stern captain, who pulled him down from the air beside him. Peter tensed. Since Hook had caught him like this in the dungeons of the Black Castle, the boy was wary when the man took hold of him in the air. But Hook had no hostile intentions. Rather the opposite. He looked … concerned.

Laying the outside of his hook on the boy's shoulder to keep him in place, James said fiercely, "NO, Pan! Men like them don't care you're a child. I'm even sure they don't even see you as a human being, because you can fly, you never grew up, and are friends with the Little People. Don't forget, Ashford did read Wendy's diaries. He knows more about Neverland and its habitants – and you – than is good for any of us. And we've seen his disregard for other lives today. He won't act any differently toward you."

"But we have to stop him, or he'll take Wendy to the Mainland!" Peter shouted.

"We will stop them, but not by running blindly into their next trap. We already played their game, and I won't repeat that mistake," Hook replied firmly. Then he said more softly, "Don't try to stop them on your own, Pan. They have already created enough victims today!"

Peter was taken aback, realizing that Hook was actually worried about him. Then he frowned. He loathed to admit it, but Hook was right. Then he had a sudden idea. "I call the mermaids. They're faster under the water than you are on top. Maybe they can stop Ashford before he reaches the Black Castle, giving us time to catch up with him. And then I'll fetch the boys."

James lifted both brows. He didn't trust the beautiful sea creatures, but he knew that they were good friends with Peter. "Agreed," he said and stepped back to allow Peter to take the air. "Be careful!" he warned and watched how the boy raced out of the window while loosing his pipe from his belt. A moment later a splash was to hear, signaling that the boy had entered the Never Sea.

"Cap'n, th' longboats 'r' manned as ordered," Smee reported, keeping it to himself that Bumblyn was still in one of the boats looking seasick.

"Very good." He strode to the door and left without glancing back. Later he would take care of the mess in his quarters, but his singular priority was now: getting Wendy back! If Ashford succeeded in taking her back to England, James feared that he would never see her again!

*** PP ***

Peter dove into the sea after he had loosened his pipe from his belt. But there was no need to call the mermaids, they were already there, swimming around him. The fire in the woods and the explosion had attracted their attention. And being underwater, they also had heard the shouts from the four pirates who were locked up, scared to be burnt alive. The only thing they understood about fire was that it was a natural force that could bring great destruction, so they left the lagoon and swam north, uncertain what to do when seeing the lights raging in the woods and hearing the men crying for help inside the ship.

Peter hastily explained what happened, asking them for help to stop the kidnappers before they could take Wendy back to the Mainland. At one time they had been jealous of Wendy, just like a few other females in Neverland, but over the last few days, they had seen that the mortal girl was too grown up to be a rival any longer. And Anahita, the mermaid leader, had felt the magical wave of the night prior that had spoken of love and a threshold crossed. She knew that 'the Wendy' was no longer a rival.

Mermaid temperament was cold, and they barely understood human emotions, but Anahita felt a tugging at her own slow beating heart as she realized how worried the boy-who-wouldn't-grow-up was – and that he was completely unaware that his friend was a child no more. Anahita's pescatarian instincts knew nothing of "friendship", but those instincts were pushed aside when the boy made requests. She promised to help, and as he flew up into the air again toward the island, she and her sisters headed toward the single boat they could hear rowing northwards.

Mermaids, as a species, were in the same family as the Greek sirens, and would feed on human flesh if they had a chance to lure a male by their coy, come-hither behavior. Anahita and her sisters wouldn't hesitate to kill the men in the boat, but they would bring the girl to the beach to spare their friend, the boy, sorrow. And as they darted like dolphins toward the cliffs and heard the two other boats rowing away from the Jolly Roger, they recognized Hook and the others. They called briefly to the pirates before they continued their way. For the moment, the buccaneers wouldn't have to be wary of them.

Anahita took the lead and used every jump to glimpse at the fire-mountain in the middle of Neverland. She could sense the waking ire of the dragons and knew that danger lay ahead: a danger she had already foreseen.

*** PP ***

Peter waved at the Indian children and older people as he passed them in the air and dropped to what had been the meeting place of the village. His boys came running, assailing him with questions about Wendy and if the Jolly Roger was safe. Peter quickly reviewed the latest events aboard the ship. "The codfish feared that Ashford's men would shoot me if I came too close, so I asked the mermaids to swim after Ashford," he added. "Hook went after him, too and we should fly to the north-" He stopped, seeing Tinker Bell approach, dirty and singed, but otherwise all right.

Quickly circling Peter once to be sure he was unharmed, she began speaking hastily enough to confuse even him. "Tink … Not so fast! I don't understand you!"

Frustrated, she kicked the air and began anew, this time her jangling had slowed to chiming. Flabbergasted, Peter listened. "One of Ashford's men …" She spoke again and he corrected himself, "… that boy hides in the bushes not far from here … and says that he knows what the viscount has planned? He switched sides?" He scratched his head. "Are you sure?"

Tink shrugged – how would she know? – and pointed towards the north. Peter was uncharacteristically serious. "If he's lying, he'll learn what it means to wrong Peter Pan!" Again, the fairy questioned, and the eternal boy sighed. "Ashford and three of his men crept aboard, set a part of the Jolly Roger on fire and kidnapped Wendy," he told her, who pressed both hands over her mouth in shock. "The ship is safe, but Wendy is not. This will change!" he vowed.

"Peter, look!" Curley's relieved exclamation made all the boys turn and grin as they saw a swarm of golden lights hurrying through the woods in their direction. The fairies had come, led by none else than the fairy-queen herself. Aurora and Kailin escorted her and behind her many fairies descended and began to cover the fallen tree trunks with golden dust. Male fairies and several dozen pixies spread out and began to assist the Indians and remaining pirates to enlarge the fire break.

"Finally," Peter breathed, then coughed again. They now stood a chance of bringing the fire under control. Then he turned his attention back to Tinker Bell. "Show me where this wanker is."

"I'll come too," John declared. "I don't like this."

"Me too," Tootles nodded. Peter smiled briefly, grateful for the loyalty of his friends!

At the north side of the village, Peter looked around, tall and stern, fists on his hips as someone rose from behind the bushes. It was a very young man, barely out of boyhood, with fire red hair and a rather sarcastic mouth. He wore simple trousers, a dirty shirt and a tweed waistcoat, holding a cap in his hands. He seemed to be quite nervous as he was approached by the gang of children and the strange boy, clad in damp leaves. "Peter Pan?" he asked carefully.

"Aye, that would be me," Peter replied, his right hand going to the handle of his knife on his left hip. "You are one of Ashford's men. What do you want?"

The young man moistened his lips and said hoarsely, "I … I'm so bloody sorry for what happened here. I tried to stop the viscount when I realized this morning what he'd planned, but … he, he didn't listen. He was hellbent on … on 'saving his future bride-"

"My sister is not the viscount's future bride!" Michael snapped, eyes shooting daggers.

"Wendy would never marry someone who tried to get her friends killed!" Tootles added.

"And several of the Indians-"

"- are her friends!" the Twins blurted.

"And she would never marry someone who endangered the Jolly Roger!" Nibs added.

"Aye! She'd run the viscount through before she'd let him destroy Captain Hook's beloved ship!" Slightly nodded.

"By the way, she loves that ship, too," Curly stated wryly.

The young man sighed and lifted both hands. "I've heard all these things. Why do you think I quit my job and tried to warn the Indians? But I was too late. And now …" his cap rotated in his nervous hands, "and now I … I'm afraid of the Indians, that they might make me pay for what my boss did to them, and …" He stopped and shook his bowed head, seeming quite anxious. There was silence while Peter ruminated on the stranger's story, wondering if he could trust him or not.

"I know you," John said suddenly, pushing through the other boys to face the stranger. "You're the messenger boy who brought that letter from Wendy's teacher, Mrs. Fulsom, to our father."

"Yes!" Michael agreed, looking closer. "I recognize you, too. We tried to stop you, but Nana and Wendy did it in the end, crashing into you, Father and the bankers, making everything that much worser."

"Michael!" John groaned. "For the thousandth time: worse, not worsER!"

His brother promptly stuck his tongue out. "I like that word!" he retorted.

"Mrs. Fulsom is my grandmother-" the young man began.

"Your grandmother?" Tootles gasped.

"Yes. My name is Kenly Fulsom. Miss Darling's teacher at the time was, like I said, my grandmother. She gave me the errand of taking the letter to Mr. Darling. What else was I supposed to do? You don't disobey your granny!"

Peter watched him closely. Something deep in his gut told him not to trust the young man, yet this Kenly had information they needed. "You said you know what Ashford is up to. He got Wendy away from the ship after he set it on fire and stampeded the wisents through Tiger-Lily's village. What more can this vile grownup do?"

"He wants to take Miss Darling back to England by using a magic portal," Fulsom continued, feeling uneasy facing a boy whom he knew had to be far, far older than his own grandfather, but looked … like a child.

"Of course he does!" John spoke up. "So we have to sto-"

"Where is this portal?" Peter interrupted, and Fulsom breathed a sigh of relief. Finally the question!

"It's at this old ruin back there," he flipped a thumb behind him.

"At the Black Castle?" Runner asked stunned.

"Not surprising," Nibs groaned. "Somehow all secret paths and passages in Neverland begin or end there."

"Where at the Black Castle?" Peter demanded; ready to take flight. "The ruin is very large, you know!"

"Somewhere around the back, at a wall," Kenly answered. "There's a hole –"

"The Black Castle is a ruin," Jumper interjected. "The outer wall is full of holes!"

"I can't describe it any better. It was still dark when we got here yesterday, and right away we searched a way down to the beach. But the viscount left a sign there, a kind of rune he carved with his knife into the stone. It's barely visible if you don't know where to look -"

Peter closed the distance to Fulsom and ordered, "Show me – now!"

Kenly lifted both brows. "It's a long way, and we might not make it in time. Maybe it's better if you-"

"We fly – together!" Peter growled, eyes flashing intensely. "Tink!" he called and snapped his fingers, pointing at the young man whose eyes widened. Tinker Bell crossed her arms and legs in the air, clearly not agreeing with his maneuver, saying something back. "I know that he hasn't enough happy thoughts to fly, but with your fairy dust I can carry him," Peter snapped back, clearly impatient.

"What?" Fulsom squeaked. "You want to carry me through the air?"

"Are you a sissy?" Peter's eyes and voice were hard. He distrusted this guy, and, sorry or not, he'd done nothing to prevent his boss's pernicious "mischief." If he hadn't needed Fulsom to find the portal before Ashford could get there, Peter would have had nothing against allowing the Indians to get him, or dropping him into the sea for the mermaids.

"I … I … I'm afraid of heights," Kenly answered, his voice tight.

"Then close your eyes." John offered that 'helpful' advice.

Fulsom tried to back up but felt himself being caught at the back of his waistcoat while some little glistening thing poured golden dust down on him. "No!" He shook his head and raised his hands as if to fend off an attacker. "No, no! No flying! I ca-a-a-a-n't-" His word ended in a scream as Peter took him into the air.

"Tink, dust the boys, too, and then you can join us!" he commanded, and shot a dark glare down at Fulsom. "Stop wiggling. If I can't hold you properly, you'll fall." With those words he flew up over the top of the trees.

"Peter, wait for us!" Slightly called after him.

"No time, follow me when Tink is done!" the boy's shout came back to them, then they only heard Fulsom's terrified scream fading into the distance, but he'd stopped struggling.

"This … this is crazy!" Nibs ventured. "What if he meets Ashford and the others alone?"

"Hook is on his way. He wouldn't let anything happen to Peter," Tootles said and sneezed, getting a full load of fairy dust in his face.

"Never thought I'd ever say this," Slightly sighed, "but you're right. Our codfish is looking after Peter. Did you see how relieved he looked when he saw Peter unharmed at the Indian camp? I thought … thanks, Tink!" The fairy was busy dusting the boys after they'd sweat off their dust from earlier, fighting the flames.

It was then they saw Dark Owl approach, looking intense. "Some older children followed you after our little golden sister led you away. They say that one of the strangers is here. The young one with the fire hair."

"Yes, he was here," Nibs replied.

"He said he left Ashford's group to warn you but came too late. But he told us he could tell us where the portal is that these troublemakers used," Cushy added.

"Wendy was kidnapped from the ship," Michael explained, "and Peter wants to stop them from taking her back to the Mainland."

Dark Owl's eyes widened. "Brave Feather was kidnapped?" He glanced around. "Where is Little White Eagle and the boy with the fire hair?" he asked urgently.

"Peter is heading to the Black Castle. He took 'fire hair' with him," John replied, approaching his blood-brother, who had gasped. "What's the matter, Dark Owl?"

"Little White Eagle is in danger! I saw him in my dreams lying alone and hurt in the dark, confined! I could not tell the place. I tried to warn him earlier, but he was too busy helping my people."

"You mean, Fulsom was here to take Peter into a trap?" John and the others looked at each other. "Why him? I know Ashford wanted my brothers and me to return to England, too, but he was not after Peter."

"And what if this Fulsom didn't mean to harm him?" Runner mused. "He did look kind of … regretful and scared."

"Can Three Strengths show me where the boy with the fire-hair stood?" Dark Owl asked.

John nodded and led his blood-brother to the place where Fulsom had hidden. "Here!"

The brave crouched down, examined the earth, and nodded grimly. "Yes. He and two of the others began the stampede. These tracks were among them." He pointed at the boot tracks in the soil. He straightened and turned to face them. "Fire-hair speaks with forked tongue. He did not want to prevent the stampede, he helped start it with two other palefaces."

"Then it really is -"

"- a trap!" the Twins yelled in alarm.

"Tink, hurry!" Slightly ordered, taking over as he had done before when Peter wasn't around. "We have to get to Peter!" He didn't need to say it a second time. Tinker Bell had already flown around the rest of the boys with dizzying speed, and a moment later they all rose into the air.

"Thank you for your warning, brother!" John called. "We'll catch up with Peter!"

"Dark Owl will inform our chief and Great Big Little Panther. If you need more help, let us know," the young Indian shouted back. "Not all are needed at the fire anymore. It is under control."

The oldest Darling-son only lifted a grateful thumb, then he and the others rose higher, praying they got to their friend before it was too late …

TBC…

Yes, just like I said, this will be another cliff-hanger. Of course Peter couldn't listen to Hook and stay back. Of course he has to play the hero again – but this time it will backfire at him. And not only at him, but also at others, so be already warned concerning the next chapter (*grin*).

And, above all, Anders, Wickham and Hutchings succeeded in abducting the dragon-egg – Ayden's and Anala's above all. This will really awake the 'dragons' fury', even if our professor gets more and more a bad conscious, but it's too late. The damage is done…

I hope, you liked the new chapter despite the dark themes. At least, Peter and the others could stop the fire on the Jolly Roger and for once Hook doesn't hide that he cares about our little hero by now. Yes, it's strange for them both – still – but the closer they grow the more their opponents will face problems.

In the next chapter Ashford's last trap springs, and there will be a big struggle with a bad end. More I don't want to reveal just right now (yes, I'm mean again).

I would be very happy to receive some reviews. I'm aware that many of your are certainly on holidays, too, but I would appreciate to get some feedback here (big puppy-eyes).

Have a nice rest of the weekend,

Love

Yours Lywhn / Starflight