Cherry Meets Peter Pan

chapter 7

Meanwhile, Peter had found the Mermaid Lagoon as the mermaids were having their leisure time by the waters.

"Just imagine," Wendy was delighted. "Real live mermaids."

"Amazing," Atticus smiled. "They're beautiful."

"Would you like to meet them?" Peter invited.

"Oh, Peter, we'd love to." Wendy beamed.

"All right, come on." Peter went ahead and played his pan pipes as he went ahead.

"Wait for us!" Atticus called to him.

Wendy and Atticus flew after Peter. The mermaids heard Peter's song and they instantly noticed and greeted him. Unfortunately for Wendy, Atticus was faster in his flight.

"I'm so glad you made it." the blonde mermaid swooned to Peter.

"Why did you stay away so long?" a black-haired mermaid asked.

"Did you miss me?" a redheaded mermaid added.

"And who's your new friend?" the blonde mermaid noticed Atticus.

"My name is Atticus," Atticus introduced himself. "I'm Peter's second in command."

"Oh, how brave..." the black-haired mermaid swooned.

"Have you been here before?" the redheaded mermaid asked. "You seem familiar..."

"Not that I know of." Atticus said.

The mermaids smiled to Atticus and Peter regardless.

"So, who do we have here?" Atticus asked curiously.

Each of the mermaids began to introduce themselves to the boy.

"I'm Athena." the redheaded mermaid said.

"Athena?" Atticus asked, then shrugged with a smile. "That's a nice name."

"Oh, Peter, tell us one of your adventures." another mermaid pleaded.

"Something exciting." the other added.

"Oh, yes, please, Peter." Athena smiled.

"Wanna hear about the time I cut off Hook's hand and threw it to the crocodile?" Peter prompted.

"Oh, I always like that one..." the blonde mermaid swooned.

"Me too." the black-haired mermaid added.

"Well, there I was on Marooner's Rock, surrounded by forty or--" Peter started.

"Oh, Peter!" Wendy called out." Atticus!"

The blonde mermaid turned her head and glared slightly. "Who's she?"

Peter took out his blade to demonstrate his story. "Huh?" he then looked over to see his guest.

"Oh, that's my friend Cherry's cousin, Wendy." Atticus told the mermaids.

"A girl?" the black-haired mermaid looked offended.

"What's she doing here?" the brunette mermaid glared.

"And in her night dress too!" the redheaded mermaid huffed.

"Well forgive her if it was night time!" Atticus told her.

The mermaids came over to Wendy and decided to torment her.

"Come on, dear," the black-haired mermaid pulled onto the human girl. "Join us for a swim!"

"Oh, please, I'm not dressed for it." Wendy started to lose her balance.

"Oh, but you must." the redheaded mermaid insisted rudely.

"Leave her alone!" Atticus told the mermaids.

The mermaids didn't listen to him, they just kept torturing Wendy. Wendy cried for help. Peter didn't do anything, he just laughed as the mermaids had 'fun' with her. Atticus decided that enough was enough from these mermaids and decided to teach them a lesson. The mermaids kept harassing poor and innocent Wendy.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Atticus yelled, stomping on the ground; causing it to shake and startle the mermaids.

The mermaids were shook up and frightened. Wendy glared at the mermaids and looked nervous from Atticus's brute force.

"If you dare come at her again--" Atticus started to threaten.

"Atticus, Atticus!" Peter flew to his new ally. "They were just having a little fun, weren't you, girls?"

"We were only trying to drown her." One of the mermaids told Atticus.

"That's even worse than tormenting her!" Atticus glared.

"You see?" Peter shrugged it off like it was good and innocent fun.

Wendy glared, she couldn't believe Peter had done and said that. "Well, if you think for one minute I'm going to put up with any--"

"Shh, hold it, Wendy!" Peter shushed her as he sensed a disturbance.

"What's wrong, Peter?" Atticus whispered.

The sky suddenly turned black.

Peter took a look and saw his calculations were correct. "Yep, it's Hook alright."

"Hook!" the mermaids gasped in even more fear and jumped into the ocean to hide away from the vengeful pirate of Never Land.

"I thought they'd never leave." Atticus groaned once he saw the mermaids left.

Peter urged Wendy and Atticus to go to him. The two noticed this and came right over to the ageless boy.

They could see the pirate captain with a lackey in a rowboat and they had taken a young Indian hostage.

"They've captured Tigerlily." Peter noted.

"But why did they do that?" Atticus asked.

"Why do you think?" Peter gave Atticus a look.

"To make the Indians think you and the Lost Boys kidnapped her or to find out where your secret hideout is." Atticus assumed.

The boat passed through the water and was being followed by a crocodile, unbeknownst to them.

"Why is that crocodile following them?" Atticus asked.

"You remember how I cut off Hook's hand and fed it to a crocodile?" Peter asked.

Atticus nodded. "Yeah?"

"That's the very same crocodile and he wants more," Peter said, then kept a close look out on the Indian princess held hostage with the nasty pirate captain. "Looks like they're headed for Skull Rock."

"Then let's join them." Atticus said.

"Come on, let's see what they're up to." Peter whispered.

With that, Peter, Atticus, and Wendy flew quietly and safely after Captain Hook with Princess Tigerlily.

"Let's just hope that he doesn't try to do something too evil." Atticus whispered.

"With Hook, it's likely, but don't worry, he never wins." Peter promised.