Pan's Never-Neverland

We're On Each Other's Team

Chapter Twenty-Four – We're on Each Other's Team

Nana whined as she looked over the edge of the ship.

"Don't worry, girl, it'll be over soon," Jon consoled her. Lifting his head, he smiled as he imagined a certain Indian princess. His smile dimmed however, as he realized that she was a princess…and him? Jon Darling? He was a nerdy bookworm who dreamed of adventures but did his homework everyday. "I'm so boring…she couldn't see me as anything more than maybe a friend…"

"Whacha thinking, Jon?" asked Mikey, tugging at his brother's jeans.

Fixing his glasses, he smiled down at his little brother. "Nothing, Mikey. I just can't wait to get over there."

"You and me both," Peter muttered as he joined the group. "Hook's making me sick with all his gentlemanly charms and stuff."

"I think you're doomed, buddy," Violet snickered at Ben. "Likes like Ms. Seaworth caught Hook's attention."

"Sure, but he's not the real Hook…is he?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

No one answered, looking away with knowing glances, making Ben wonder.

Up at the helm, Hook steered the ship. It felt good to be out and about on his fine vessel. The ship had been hidden off to the back of the island, close to the lagoon the mermaids' currently resided in. What made him exuberant, however, was the fact there was a woman (a gorgeous, smart, and delightful woman, mind you!) on his arm, asking him all sorts of questions.

"If you're really Captain Hook, and he's really Peter Pan," she asked, cocking her head at him. "How did you get here? Why are you two so cordial with one another?"

"A long and complicated story, I assure you," he sighed. "You most likely would never believe me." She raised an eyebrow; her eyes didn't judge him, though they were filled with silent curiosity. He gave a chuckle at her expression, and said, "All I shall say for the moment is that we have a great enemy, worse than anything Neverland has ever seen…we've agreed to an alliance for the time being. Those on the island came from the true Neverland and boarded my ship. With the fairies' assistance, we flew the Jolly Roger here and have made our residence here." With a shrug, he kept his eyes on the water. "Believe me, I can hardly comprehend it myself some days, but it's the truth…I swear it on my mother's grave, or I'm not James Hook."

She cracked a smile at him, taking in what he'd just told her. "…say that it is true…who is this enemy? And if Peter's really Pan, how come he doesn't fly?"

Hook gave a wicked chuckle, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, he'll fly…"

"Cap'n!" Smee rushed out, his face red as he huffed and puffed. "He's here!"

Hook began to ask who he was talking about when a dark smoky pillar appeared overhead. His eyes narrowed as he realized who Smee had been talking about. "Shade," he hissed.

"What?" Christine asked, her asked widening upon seeing the oddity in the sky. "My God!"

"Stay close to me," Hook said, and thought it was most inappropriate that his heart beat so quickly at a time like this when she latched onto him. "GET READY, YOU SCURVY DOGS!" he shouted to his men. "IT'S A FIGHT HE WANTS, IT'S A FIGHT HE'LL GET!"

At the prow of the ship, Peter grinned cruelly at the sky as the pillar transformed into the shape of Shade, the dark entity which Peter had come to know and hate. "Tink," he whispered. "Get the others."

The little green ball of light snuck out of his jacket, over the side of the ship, and darted off as fast as her wings could carry her to the island.