The castle rose out of the landscape like a mighty white mountain.

"Ah, finally." Peter smiled, the noonday sun setting flame to his hair.

"That's the castle?" I asked boredly.

Pan nodded. "Yes. They should be expecting us, which reminds me."

He motioned for the rest of the group to go ahead, setting me down on the ground, and undoing my bindings.

He fixed me with a dark look. "If you embarrass me in front of the court I'll have no choice but to harm your brothers."

All the air left my lungs in a rush.

He arched a brow at me. "But I don't wish to. Do you understand."

"I understand fully you blackguard!" I spat.

Peter glared at me.

"Don't be cheeky." he warned.

He helped me up to my feet, and put his arm around me, leading us down the worn footpath to the castle gate.

I could already hear excited voices chatting in Gaelic as we approached.

"Peter's back!" One of the Fae cried.

Another commented, bouncing on her heels. "Look he has a lady with him!"

Another woman gasped. "She must be our new queen!!!"

I watched in awe as these beautiful people rushed through the gates, and surrounded us.

As they drew closer I noticed they were wearing masks, some of the masks had horns like a goat, others, antlers like elk and deer.

It was a mix of animal masks that frankly frightened me, I pulled closer to Peter.

"It's just the masks for the Beltane celebration Wendy, there's no need for fear." He whispered in my ear.

I took in a relieved breath.

Soon the other Fae had pried me away from Peter.

"She's so small!" One remarked.

"What's she wearing? Hasn't human fashion changed in the past 100 years?" another sniffed judgmentally.

"Her hair is so pretty!" One squeaked.

"I like her necklace."

"Give her back you heathens!" Peter exclaimed jokingly, as he pulled me against him.

"You shouldn't talk so to your elders Peter!" Was the smiled reply.

"Aye, and you shouldn't talk so to your future king!" He replied, suddenly serious.

"Our apologies Your highness." They all bowed.

"She's very fetching." One of the women smiled.

"Thank you." I replied

"A voice like a bird!" She exclaimed.

I was blushing up to high heaven, as Peter took my arm and led me into the castle gates.

The people cheered as the boys acted like our body guards.

The walk to the castle was a short one, as the people parted and let us pass over the bridge. And Peter pushed me quickly towards the door.

Servants opened the door, and we were ushered inside, an elegant man and woman greeting us there.

Their faces were covered with masks, the man's branched out like the roots of the tree. And the Woman's had horns and a Cheshire cat grin.

"Boy! You have returned!!!" The woman exclaimed, removing her mask to reveal her too perfect features.

Her sharp cheek bones, were softened and framed by her wavy candy coloured hair.

"And you are the girl." Her voice hardened by a fraction.

"Hullo Your Majesty." I curtsied.

"This is Wendy." Peter smiled.

She pursed her full lips at me.

"And... the other new children?" she sniffed, nodding behind me.

"Her brothers, John and Michael."

I gave them a sharp look, and they bowed quickly.

The queen rewarded me with a tight smile.

The man standing beside her wobbled.

Her eyes flashed concern.

"Alimond! Perhaps we should sit."

The man nodded weakly.

Peter rushed to Alimond's side, and helped his father to a seat a servant brought in.

"The humans should leave." The Queen commanded.

Peter nodded, and servants stepped in and gently ushered us up the stairs.

Before the door closed behind us I could hear the snippet of Peter and his mother's conversation.

"You never told us she was... human."

"Is that a problem?" Peter challenged.

His mother sighed, "I thought we discussed this Peter... you are to marry... someone with magical blood."

"You only said I had to marry, you promised to let me choose whom!" Peter's voice carried considerable anger.

"Don't yell at your Queen." The voice of the king was quiet, but commanding.

A silent servant shut the doors behind us, looking embarrassed to be listening in to family drama.

Another servant gently grabbed my hand, and pulled me away from my brothers, as they were led down the hall.

"No! Wendy!!" Michael cried. John frowned and grabbed his hand.

"It's okay Michael! It'll be okay!" I cried after them.

I turned to the man who held my arm in a vise-like grip. "Please they're so young! Let them stay with me."

I could not read the Fae's faces under their masks, but their unaffected-ness was quite clear as the man tossed me in my room, and locked the door behind me.

I heard the servants walk away down the hallway, and blinked back tears.

How was I supposed to escape with my brothers now?

It was a moment before I heard the dull thud of something hitting the stone wall to my right. I turned and stared at the wall...

*Thud*

There it was again.

Could it be?

I looked at the six foot metal candlestick near the door. There was a desk and chair right beneath it, I pulled out the chair, and stood on top of it to blow out the candles. Once the fire was out, I tossed the candles unceremoniously on the floor, dragging the candlestick to the wall and thudding on it just as the other person had.

There was a pause, then the thud sounded on the wall closer to the right, to the outer wall of the castle.

I dragged the candle stick down and copied the thud in the same spot. It was sounded again three times at the far right corner of the wall. Then silence.

My eyes darted to the outer wall, there was a balcony with ornate gold doors. I rushed to them and tried the handle.

The handle turned, and I let out a relieved gasp.

I stepped out onto the balcony, the fresh air washed over me, carrying the scent of what looked to be wisteria trees from the ground. Three stories below my nose.

My throat went dry as I looked down, and I had to refrain from rushing back inside.

"Wendy!" John's voice made me jump.

"John!"

"This is all my fault!" Tears were streaming down his face.

"No it isn't...Hang on... I'm coming over." I replied.

"Be careful Wendy!" Michael shouted.

The gap must have been six feet wide, with some decorative moulding on the wall in between the two balconies.

I send a quick prayer to the heavens for ethereal grace, and the weight of a feather. And, swallowing down my fears, I faced the chasm between me and my brothers.

~-~

Finn's erratic footsteps slowed at he reached the town square.

"Doc!" He exclaimed.

"DOC!!!"

The doctor rushed out of the building, his grey hair a mess, "What's wrong Finnegan?"

"Wendy's gone!"

By this time, Finn had gathered quite a crowd in the town square.

"It's the Fae." One older gentleman shouted.

"The Fae?" Finn exclaimed.

"Undoubtedly." the doctor replied. A stern look clouding over his face.

"Manny you must go with the boy." A woman shouted.

"Does anyone have a pouch of salt?" Manny asked, running a hand through his hair.

"Aye I do." Another of the townsfolk replied.

Manny caught the pouch with the dexterity of a much younger man.

"The Fae?! Guys this is serious. Peter Pan's taken her!"

The crowd grew quiet.

"Pan's taken her? Well then it's already too late." Someone muttered, defeated.

"No... There is a way." Manny replied.

"But you yourself said she was carrying his kiss!"

"His kiss?!" Finn yelled.

"Aye but there is a way around it." Manny turned to Finn. "Yer ma and Wendy's were very close aye?""

"Yes sir but-"

"Then you have a claim on her, that just might be strong enough."

"I always heard them speak of there children marrying." One of the women spoke up.

"Aye, and the love of a mother is a very potent magic."

A man spoke up. "We have two horses they're the fastest in the town."

"Aye and you can have my Iron Swords." The older gentleman exclaimed.

"And my pendants for luck!" A younger woman exclaimed.

Manny nodded, "I have my staff, but the boy should be armed as well."

"I also have a dagger for his boot." The swordsman exclaimed.

"And some potions for swiftness." The young woman exclaimed.

Manny nodded and grabbed Finn's arm.

"God be with Ye Finn, and you too Manny."

"Aye go bring back our Wendy!"

Finn frowned in confusion, as the doctor dragged him off to follow the man who'd offered them his horses.

~-~

"There we are." Rose said setting Tink down on the captain's desk, "Now are you alright dear?"

"What do you care? I helped turn you to stone, and look at what I did to your brother." Tink sniffled, the self pity threatening to drag her under.

"That's all in the past." Rose smiled, sitting down. "Now what's bothering you?"

"Peter's getting married." Tink sniffled.

Rose's eyebrows shot up. "...Married?!"

Tinkerbell nodded.

"Peter Pan's getting married?...huh."

"What?"

"He just doesn't seem the type."

"Well he will need a queen."

"I thought his father was king, has that changed?"

Tink's eyes went wide. "The king is ill... I shouldn't have told you that...I shouldn't be here. Even walls have ears. What am I doing?!"

Tink's eyes were drawn to a nearby window where a magpie took off flying in the direction of the evil queen's dark castle.

"No!" she exclaimed.

Tinkerbell stood up and flew to the window.

"What?" Rose exclaimed

"You have to let me go! I have to catch that Magpie!" Tink shouted.

"Why?" Rose asked, alarmed.

"That was Seraphina's pet Magpie! She'll know that the king is sick! And Peter will be in danger!"

Rose's eyes widened and quickly she snatched Tink from the air.

"I'm sorry for this!" Rose exclaimed.

With no hesitation, Rose tossed the fairy into a birdcage, and locked it. Before rushing out onto the deck, getting Hook's attention, and pointing to the Magpie as it vanished into the horizon.