Pan's Never-Neverland

Belief and Relief

Chapter Thirty-Nine – Belief and Relief

Jon was frantic, shoving aside leaves and branches as he followed Tinker Bell through the thick forest. The sounds of the battle back at the entrance of the park seemed to be getting worse and worse, the sound of someone's agonizing cry filling his ears. He didn't like this, not one bit. Flying as fast as he could to keep up with the fairy, he prayed, "Dear God, help us get out of this alive…!"

~NEVER-NEVERLAND~

Wendy's eyes were huge in horror as she watched Shade snicker, Peter's attempts to flee becoming weaker and weaker. Down on the Jolly Roger, Ruff fought against Smee and Kipper, struggling to keep him still.

"I have to help him!" Ruff cried, his back aching from hitting the deck earlier.

"If you go, lad, you'll end up just like Pan," Smee shook his head, watching hopelessly. "And he wouldn't want that…"

Hook's eyes were as large as the cannonballs they had aboard the ship. Terror filled him, an aching desire to leap up and fight filling him. Alas, he could not fly. "James! What do we do?!" Christine asked, staring at the scene with just as much fear as Hook. He found himself tongue-tied – this was one problem he had no clue how to fix.

Back on the shores of the island, the Indians, Lost Boys, and pirates gaped, mortified. Tiger Lily was torn – if she gave the command to shoot, they risked harming Peter and Wendy, who remained hovering nearby, frozen in terror. If she did not do something, they may lose Peter altogether.

"Do something!" Mikey cried, tugging on Violet's jeans.

"Do what?" she asked, paler than ever before.

"We have to help him!" Skipper frowned, lunging forward.

Violet gripped his arm, shaking her head. "No, Skip. We'd be eaten alive." Staring at the scene before them, she whispered, "Come on, Peter, fight it! Jon, you'd better hurry!"

Shade chuckled, seeing Peter go limp in his grasp. "And now, Peter Pan, you're m-!" A slice of red hot pain seared throughout his neck, his white eyes going wide as he released another roar.

"Let him go, you great bully!"

Hissing, Shade turned and saw Wendy, a hopeless little girl bearing a puny sword. There was fire in her eyes, though, a determination that would not be suppressed. "Peter! Listen to me!" she cried, her eyes on his quiet form as the smoke became thicker and darker. "You can't give up now! We need you!"

Shade gave a harsh laugh, jeering at the girl. "Nothing you say can get him to break free of me now, girl…"

"Peter, I believe in you!" Wendy insisted, ignoring the monster's taunting. Flying around to the boy, she dared to stick her hand into the smoke. Biting her lip as Shade snarled as sent more power to bind Peter, she grabbed his hand and leaned in, whispering, "I believe in you, Peter Pan…and I love you."

Down on the decks on the Jolly Roger, Hook squinted as he tried to read Wendy's lips. Upon seeing her daring attempt to reach in and touch the boy, he realized she was giving him words of encouragement. Raising his hook, he pointed at them and raised his voice. "Pan, you doodle-doo! Get up and fight! I know you can hear me!" he shouted, earning stares from the men. "I know you can win this battle, boy – I believe in you, you wretched youth!"

Ruff grinned, realizing what he was doing. Giving a loud crow, he screamed, "I BELIEVE IN PETER PAN! NOW AND FOREVER!"

The pirates began to take up the chant, raising their fists to the air as they shouted again and again. Deep in the water, the mermaids sang along, calling to Peter as they joined in the chants. On the island, the others could hear their shouts. Catching on, Violet and Tiger Lily led the people in chanting with the pirates, shouting so loudly that Shade winced as he listened.