The sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the howling of the wind filled the air. The moon had disappeared behind grey clouds, and everything sank into an eerie, shadowy veil of night. Only the fires struggling against the wind and the few lanterns that two pirates carried in their hands laid a lonely light over the scenery in Cannibal Cove.

Hook sneered at Peter, dragging out the decisive moment of the death blow, his eyes glinting maliciously. "You're too late, boy," he murmured, pointing to the small treasure chest nearby. "The last star is mine. Neverland is going to perish."

'The last star?' it flashed into Peter's mind, and his heart stumbled. No, that wasn't true. But if that was the last little star ... he HAD to get it! Otherwise, HIS star would never return to the sky, and Neverland would be lost!

Peter's eyes narrowed as he stared darkly at Hook. He might be grown-up now, but he was still Peter Pan. He had put a stop to the stockfish thousands of times! Now the stories of his red-hot eyes had come true, and his beastly form had leaked out - but he was not intimidated by it.

"It's not over yet!" he replied confidently. "I'm going to steal the star back."

The pirate laughed at these words. "And HOW do you intend to do that?!" It was a horrible sound, like fingernails scratching across a slate.

"Like this!" groaned Peter, flinging a handful of the white sand at Hook.

Hook let out an angry roar. He thrust forward with his saber - but its point pierced deep into the sands of Cannibal Cove instead of Peter's beating heart.

"You'll never beat me, Hook!" crowed Peter, who had leaped onto one of the surrounding crates with a great bound. Hands on his hips, he stretched his chest, and his eyes flashed almost as they used to. Adventure! This was what he lived for and had always lived for—the feeling of pride and euphoria when he saw the eyes of his admirers. And soon, his star would look at him with those same shining eyes. Then, when he defeated Hook, he stole the star and saved the island again! This thought filled his chest with a hot tingle that flowed to his fingertips.

The undead Mullins, meanwhile, rushed at him, slashing at Pan with his blade, the iron whirring just past his feet as Peter jumped just in time. He landed directly on the blade and took the opportunity to kick the surprised Mullins in the face. With a crack like rotten wood, the neck tipped backward at an unnatural angle - and Mullins emitted a sickening gurgle.

"NO! Pan belongs to ME alone!" Hook's voice rolled like thunder across the beach, sending the pirate gang into a jerky freeze in their onslaught on Peter. 

Peter took the chance, levitated off the crate, and deftly grabbed the pirate's sword. Peter's heart beat wildly and irrepressibly in his chest. More adrenaline than he had felt in a long time sharpened his senses and made the blood rush in his ears. The air crackled with tension. Peter grinned broadly and confidently. All eyes were on him alone - as it should be!

The two opponents circled each other and eyed one another suspiciously.

"Come on, stockfish!" sneered Peter, and Hook was only too happy to follow the provocation.

"This is the end of you!" Hook boomed boisterously.

With these words, the two charged toward each other, their swords clashing with a loud metallic sound. Peter was quick and agile. He dodged Hook's reach repeatedly, but the captain was an experienced fighter, his movements precise and deadly. Hook and Pan fought fiercely, each gaining and losing ground. It was an interplay and a dance of the blades of old enemies: a leap, a step, a further impact. But where until a few days ago the old stockfish was fast succumbing to exhaustion, now it was Peter's forehead on which beads of sweat shimmered.

Despite Peter's efforts, Hook gradually gained the upper hand. Again and again, the hook-handed man struck. The two swords clashed countless times, and sparks flew in the darkness. The fight continued in a fierce back and forth, with Peter and Hook throwing blows at each other. Neither was ready to give up. Instead, evenly matched opponents pressed their blades against each other, causing the iron to spark.

"You are weak, Peter ... Grown up and alone!" Hook delivered a well-aimed verbal blow to his opponent.

This did not miss its target, and Peter winced as if the dirty pirate had struck him. Hook was not foolish enough to let this opportunity pass. He aimed the curved black Hook at Peter's shoulder, causing Pan to flinch. Taking advantage of this reaction, the rogue lunged and struck towards Peter's throat.

The blade whirred close to Peter's neck, narrowly missing him. But the joy of the missed blow lasted only for a moment - then suddenly, a fist with a metal basket crashed directly into Peter's face. Pain and stars exploded in his field of vision, and Peter was thrown back by force. He landed hard and on his back in the sand of the Cove. 

"Game over, imp." Hook loomed over him, his sword at the ready and pointed at his chest.

Peter was tired and exhausted. But he just wouldn't give up. He had to return the star to the sky and save Neverland. He was Peter Pan! 

"The game never ends, Hook," Peter replied, grinning as blood ran down his lips from his nose. In a jerky movement, he wiped his arm across and smeared it, making it look like bizarre war paint. 

'Death would be the greatest adventure ... But you'll soon find out!' 

Peter regained his composure and abruptly lunged forward, his sword aimed at Hook's heart.

Hook repelled the first attack. The force flung the saber from the villain's hands, which flew through the air in a great arc and stuck in the sand.

Peter thought he had already won. This time, he would not let this chance pass! He lashed out again to knock Hook's head off his shoulders and send him back to hell - this time for good.

Then, in a flash, the pirate reached to his side and pulled a gleaming saber from his leather sword scabbard.

Peter's blade and that of his mortal enemy met. Sparks flew. Metal groaned. Then suddenly, Hook's blade slid through his and cut through it like soft butter. Stunned, Peters eyes widened at the sight of the fairy blade he had wielded until recently. Nausea pressed in his stomach as he remembered carelessly dropping the weapon. He no longer wanted or needed it - at least, that was what he believed. Although Pan had given away the most valuable thing he still possessed for it, he did not want to keep the dirty pirate and enchanted fairy blade any longer.

But why did Hook have it?!

"How is that possible?" gasped Peter, out of breath. "The blade fell in the middle of the bloody Neverseas!"

At that, Hook laughed again. "Do you think you're the only one who can make a wish?" the captain asked darkly. "All I wanted was my beloved saber back ... with this improvement, however, I did not expect. I understand I also have you to thank for that, Pan."

His filthy pirate pack joined the laughter, red eyes glowing eerily in the darkness and living, burning fires of damnation.

A mixture of bitterness and hatred that made his heart beat faster. He wanted to rush at Hook again, to attack him once more. At that moment, he saw something in the corner of his eye. A brief glimmer that disappeared again a moment later.

His anger subsided as if someone had poured ice water over burning coals. Peter spat out blood and jutted his sleek chin again. The bright green eyes flashed in new mischievousness.
"That was a nice game," Peter said, a smile spreading across his face. "But you should stop when it's at its best! Now, if you'll excuse me ..."

Before Hook or any of the pirates could say anything back, Peter pushed himself off. It cost him all the beautiful thoughts he could find in his memory and the freshly kindled sparks of hope to swing himself into the air. But he succeeded, and in a high arc, he shot towards the sheltering jungle. Following the impulse and the age-old habit, he let out a loud crow.

'Oh, this cleverness of me!' Peter thought.

It was that moment when a bang shattered the silence of the night.

Wordcount: 1.455 Words