The Pan of Neverland

Chapter 19: The Lost Boy Invasion

Tink and Peter found themselves in the small clearing outside Hangman's tree, their faces illuminated by the soft moonlight. The recent events of her rescue from the Fairy Kingdom weighed heavily on their minds as they contemplated their next course of action. Tink's eyes gleamed with a troublesome fire as she revealed her plan to Peter.

"We have the power to take as much essence as we desire now," Tink exclaimed, her voice bristling with delight. "And Peter, I've discovered a way to ensure they never find us."

Peter curiously inquired, "Invisible?"

Tink's wicked grin widened as she shook her head in amusement. "Even better," she replied. "I've been working on something for a while now. With the amount of essence we possess, I can manipulate Hangman's tree, shifting it to any location on the island whenever we wish."

Peter gestured towards the ancient black tree towering above them and voiced his concern, "Tink, won't they spot us maneuvering this massive tree through the forest?"

Tink's sly smile persisted as she confidently reassured him, "No, Peter. I've managed to tap into the nymphs' network. I can make the treehouse emerge in a new location like the freaking phoenix flower. They'll never be able to find us, assuming they even come searching. I doubt they will after everything that happened." Her voice conveyed a mixture of worry and excitement, betraying the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Thanks to Tinker Bell's breakthrough, their sanctuary and home, the treehouse, would become even more elusive. It would possess the ambiguity of the mythical Neverflower, capable of rising anew in different locations, leaving their enemies bewildered and incapable of tracking them down.

Peter's voice resonated with a touch of sadness as he reflected on the aftermath of their attack on the fairies. "Yeah, it was a lot easier and more devastating than I had imagined," he confessed, his tone burdened by regret.

The fairies had, of course, been out of pocket, with Tink being denied the throne and her essence being restricted. But as Peter reflected on the carnage they'd left in their wake he couldn't help but wonder if the fairies truly deserved the merciless slaughter they had endured. Peter had underestimated the anger and rage brewing within his band of skilled warriors until he brought them to the kingdom's doorstep.

Images of the pixies and sprites they had eliminated flooded the Pan Lord's mind. Some of them he had known personally. The violence that had unfolded during the attack had been brutal, and Peter couldn't deny that he himself had been swept up in the fury and unity emanating from the Lost Boys. A shudder ran through his body as he contemplated the consequences of their actions. He grappled with a jumble of emotions, including guilt and a sense of camaraderie among his gang. The line between right and wrong had blurred in the heat of battle, and Peter carried the weight of their choices upon his shoulders.

Peter's mind replayed the scenes of Sidewing's remarkable skill and precision during the battle against the fairies. The newest Lost Boy had wielded his sword with astonishing ease, reminiscent of a duckling taking to water for the first time, gliding with graceful and precise elegance.

What struck Peter the most was Sidewing's detached demeanour in the midst of combat. His strikes were ruthless and effective as if he were merely engaged in a game, toppling imaginary adversaries rather than confronting living beings with emotions and loved ones. It served as a stark reminder of the harsh reality that pervaded Neverland, where violence and enchantment coexisted in an unsettling blend. Admiration and unease wrestled within Peter as he contemplated Sidewing's prowess on the battlefield along with the little toll it seemed to take on his moral compass.

While Peter and Tink recollected on the aftermath of the rescue mission, their voices faded into the background as the distant echoes of celebration reached their ears. The sounds of boisterous laughter and exuberant shouts of victory filled the air. Tink peered through a knothole into the main room of Hangman's tree where the Lost Boys revelled in their triumph over the fairies, their spirits soaring high.