The Second Star to the Right

The Boy Who Was Changing

Peter felt different. It almost felt odd fighting Hook after so long. The last time he fought him, Wendy was 12. He wasn't really able to judge how old she was now, but he was certain it was much older than 12. It bothered him more than he was willing to admit.

Now it seemed like he was just going through the motions with Hook. Of course he had to pretend like he was cheerful after all of what just happened. Hook was a codfish no matter what and also an awful swordsman.

Swing left.

Duck.

Fly to the right.

Peter never put any thought into fighting him anymore. He seemed to be putting much more thought into Wendy. What was the significance of bringing her to the island again? How did Hook even leave Neverland? So many more questions were dashing through his mind, but his thoughts were quickly interrupted by Hook himself.

"So, my boy..." The captain started as his rapier clashed with Peter's small hunting knife yet again. "Curious for answers I assume? As all children are..." His laugh was low and maniacal. For the first time, it bothered Pan.

It was like Hook finally had some sort of advantage over him and that bothered him more than anything. He couldn't let it show. No. He had to be his usual self. Wendy was watching, and he knew that Hook would kill her if he showed weakness. "Of course I am captain! Always curious to know when your other hand will be cut off!" He responded jovially, pushing against the rapier and breaking the contact.

"Peter Pan, you act as if I can't see through your childish games!" There was that smile again. That disgusting smile that made Peter want to throw up. "You're weak Peter!" He yelled triumphantly as the two weapons clashed once more.

Peter was caught off guard by Hook's growth of confidence and Hook pushed his rapier into his knife, lifting his boot and kicking Peter to the ground. Hook hovered over him, chuckling softly.

Did he just win?

Anger boiled up inside Peter, but he couldn't bring himself to fight back anymore. It was as if energy was involuntarily being drained from him. Tinkerbell hovered next to him on the ground and he swatted at her.

What a traitor. He thought. Helping out the enemy...

Tinkerbell hovered back to him and tried to apologize and explain but he didn't want to hear it right now. Hook's heel dug deeper into his gut and he rolled over, whimpering slightly. How could he keep up his act like this? He had everyone convinced that he had been feeling fine once he saw Wendy, and now, he lost to Hook.

Hook was milking this for all it was worth. "Wendy!" He said in an awful sing-song voice. Some pirates walked over to where Wendy was in her tent and helped her out. They let her hobble freely to where Peter was lying.

There was never a moment where Peter hated himself more.

Wendy walked over, stumbling a little along the way. The bottom of her blue dress was haphazardly torn in different places. Splotches of blood were growing larger through the fabric. Her arms were disgustingly crusted with blood. As disturbing as all of those things were, he couldn't get over the way her eyes looked. Normally a bright blue, they were sad and dark. Loneliness and fear overcame her expression and he heard a soft whimper escape her lips.

Wendy knew he had lost.

Oh, it infuriated Peter. So much in fact, that he found enough energy to roll over and escape Hook's boot from digging into him. The captain just stared down at him, grinning triumphantly, as if he knew that Peter do much.

Struggling, Peter stood up, much to Hook and Wendy's surprise. His knees were wobbling and his arms felt like boulders that were weighing him down. If Hook was right about him losing his magic.... No.