by Kiki Thorpe
Kate poked through a pile of old wooden junk. Maybe I’ll find treasure! she thought. Or at least something cool, like a spyglass or a Jolly Roger flag.
Mia came to stand next to her. “You don’t think the pirates might come back while we’re in here, do you?” she asked.
The cave fell quiet as everyone considered this.
Suddenly, from somewhere in the depths of the cave, they heard heavy footsteps. A rough voice growled, “And what’s this? A bunch of scalawags come to plunder me loot?”
Kate went cold all over. She turned to see who had spoken. But at that moment the cave went black.
Where’s Tink? she thought frantically. The fairy’s light had disappeared, as if it had been snuffed out.
The footsteps came slowly closer, scraping on the cave floor. Kate tried to remember which way they’d come in. Was the exit blocked? Or could they escape somehow? Where was Peter?
Suddenly, Tink’s glow flared again. On the wall of the cave they saw the terrible shadow of a pirate with his sword raised.
The scream was in Kate’s throat, when suddenly the shadow began to dance. They heard a joyful laugh.
Peter came out from behind the stalagmite where he’d been hiding. He was wearing a pirate hat he’d found and holding his dagger. Tink fluttered in the air next to him, laughing, too. As she moved closer to Peter, his shadow grew. It was her light that had made his shadow seem so tall.
What a perfect prank! Kate thought.
All the kids were laughing now. “Good one, Peter,” said Nibs. “You had us going!”
Encouraged, Peter growled in his pirate voice, “Arrgh! It’s Cap’n Peter to the likes of you.” He looked at Gabby and waggled his eyebrows. “So it’s a duel you want? Raise yer weapon, ye lubber.”
“Here.” Nibs handed Gabby his sword. It had a dragon-shaped handle, and was so heavy that Gabby could barely lift it. But Peter played along, dancing around her and tapping at the sword with his dagger as if they were in a real duel. Gabby beamed as the others cheered them on.
Kate’s hands itched to hold the sword, until finally she couldn’t wait any longer. She stepped in and took the sword from the younger girl. “Here, Gabby,” she said. “Let someone else have a try.”
“Kate! I wasn’t done!” Gabby said with a scowl.
Kate ignored her. She was waving the sword, trying to get the hang of swinging it. Each time, Peter met her blade with his dagger.
“Will you teach me how to really swordfight?” she asked. “I always wanted to learn.”
“Gladly,” Peter said.
“I want to learn, too,” Gabby said.
Kate laughed. “A pirate with fairy wings?” she added as Gabby’s frown deepened. “What? I’m only teasing.”
Peter soon had everyone laughing again. As they made their way back out of the cave, he taught them a pirate song. The cave echoed with the sound of their voices singing “Yo ho ho.” They were having so much fun they forgot to pay attention to how long they’d been walking.
Mia was the first to notice. “Shouldn’t we be at the exit by now?” she asked.
Tink, who was leading, paused. “It does seem like we’ve gone too far,” she said. “But look, there’s light just up ahead.”
“What’s that sound?” Nibs asked.
Everyone went silent. Now they could clearly hear the shush-shush of waves on the shore.
“I don’t remember hearing that on the way in,” Lainey said.
They hurried toward the sunlight. But as they emerged from the cave, Kate knew something was wrong.
“Where’s the waterfall?” she asked, looking around.
“I don’t think this is the same cove as before,” Lainey said. “This beach is covered with pebbles. The other beach had sand.”
“It’s not the same beach,” Tink agreed, looking worried. “We took a wrong turn somewhere.”
“Look!” Gabby yelled, pointing. Everyone turned.
A chill ran through Kate like a cloud crossing the sun.
A ship had entered the cove.
The ship looked very old. Its sails were tattered and its wood was gray. A wooden mermaid adorned the bow, her paint worn away by the sun and wind.
Onshore, the boys and girls watched warily. Kate knew by the Jolly Roger flying from its mast that it was a pirate ship.
“It’s not a ship we’ve seen in Pirate Cove before,” Nibs said.
“No, it’s not,” Peter agreed. “Let’s wait and see who’s aboard.”
Several long minutes passed, but no one appeared on deck. No cannons fired. No lookout called from the crow’s nest. There was no sign of life on the ship at all.
“I don’t think there’s anyone on board,” Cubby said at last.
“It must be the Ghost Ship,” Peter said.
“Ghost Ship?!” cried several voices at once. All eyes turned to Peter.
“You mean there are ghosts sailing it?” Lainey asked.
“No one knows for sure,” Peter replied. “It moves about the sea without a captain or a crew. I’ve heard pirates tell stories about it. They say there’s treasure in its hold—”
“Treasure?” Kate perked up.
Peter nodded. “So they say. But even the most fearsome pirates don’t dare go on it. They say the ship is haunted and the souls on board are cursed.”
Kate looked back out at the ship. The sun was just starting to set. In the fading light, the ship looked even spookier.
“Here’s how we’ll approach. Cubby, Mia, and Lainey, you’ll fly in from starboard. Nibs, Kate, and—”
“Wait a second,” Mia interrupted. “We’re not really going onto that ship, are we?”
“Why not?” asked Peter.
“What about the ghosts?” asked Lainey.
“I’m not scared of them,” said Peter. “I bet I can fly faster than any creaky old ghost.”
“Well then, what about pirates?” Mia asked. “They might be hiding on board, just watching to see what we’ll do.”
“I think I can handle a pirate or two,” Peter said, patting his dagger. Then understanding seemed to dawn on him. “Don’t you want to go?”
For a moment no one said anything. Then Gabby shook her head.
“I don’t want to go, either,” said Lainey.
“Me either,” Mia agreed.
Peter looked perplexed. “But it’s going to be awfully fun!”
“I don’t care,” Mia said. “It’s almost dark, and I’m hungry. It will be time for dinner soon.”
At the word “dinner,” Cubby’s stomach complained loudly. “Peter,” he said hesitantly. “Do you think maybe I should guide the girls back to Pixie Hollow? You know, in case of wild animals and whatnot.”
“Right,” Nibs agreed quickly. “Very dangerous. Maybe I should go, too.”
Peter frowned at them. “Don’t tell me you’re both afraid of an old wooden ship?”
The boys looked embarrassed. “Pirates are one thing, Peter. But I don’t want to meet a ghost,” Cubby admitted.
“Well, off with you, then,” he said gruffly. “No use hanging around.”
Tink looked from the girls to Peter. Then she flew to his side, saying, “I’ll go with you, Peter. You’ll need someone to light the way.”
Kate hesitated. She didn’t want to leave. Not yet. The day with Peter had been thrilling, and she didn’t want it to end. Not just to go home to another regular dinner at her boring old house.
Kate made a decision. “I’m going, too. I’m not afraid of ghosts,” she added, though her heart was pounding.
“But what about our rule?” Mia whispered. The girls had a rule about Never Land. One rule only—they went to the magic island together, and they returned home together. Always.
“What about it?” Kate said with a shrug. “You can wait for me in Pixie Hollow. I’ll be back soon, and then we’ll all go home together. I shouldn’t have to miss out on an adventure just because you don’t want to have one,” she added.
The girls looked at each other uncertainly. “I don’t know…,” Mia said.
“Are you coming, Kate?” Peter called. He and Tink were already starting out over the water.
“Go on,” Kate told her friends. “I’ll meet you back at the Home Tree.” And before they could say anything else, she rose into the air and chased after Peter.
“Nibs!” Peter called. Nibs turned back. “Give Kate your sword.”
Nibs started to protest, but Peter cut him off. “You won’t need it in Pixie Hollow.”
Nibs reluctantly handed over the sword. He looked so sad to part with it that Kate almost gave it back. But he was already flying away with the others.
The clouds were stained red with sunset as Kate, Peter, and Tink set out across the cove. The water, which had been clear just moments before, looked murky now. The fish became slippery shadows.
A shiver ran through Kate. It might have been from the breeze that sprang up suddenly. Or the thrill of adventure. Or maybe it was a hint of something dangerous still to come.
Kate didn’t have time to consider what had caused it. They’d reached the ship.
As she hovered in the air, staring at the big, dark ship, Tink suddenly had second thoughts.
It wasn’t because she was afraid. She’d been through plenty of pirate battles with Peter and the Lost Boys. She wasn’t scared of a bit of danger.
What was bothering her was the thought of her mouse-powered well back in Pixie Hollow, and the promise she’d made to Silvermist and Fawn. She knew they’d be wondering where she was.
Tink had told herself she’d only go on one adventure that day. But one had become two, and two had become three. That’s how it always is with Peter, she thought. The adventures came one after another, like beads on a string, until you couldn’t even remember which one had started it all.
She wondered if she should have returned to Pixie Hollow with the other girls. She could still catch them if she flew fast.
As she hesitated, Peter flew over the side of the ship and landed lightly on the deck. Crouching down, he motioned for Tink and Kate to follow.
I can’t turn back now, Tink thought. Peter and Kate need me. The sun was setting fast, and soon she’d be their only light.
And if Tink was being perfectly honest, she didn’t want to go back to Pixie Hollow yet. Something exciting was bound to happen—and Tink wanted to see what it would be.
Just one more adventure, Tink told herself as she flew aboard.
Kate was right behind her. As she came over the side of the ship, Nibs’s sword knocked against the wood. It fell onto the deck with a loud clatter.
Kate froze. Peter’s dagger was out in a flash. They waited for a count of ten, but no one appeared.
“Come on,” Peter whispered. They crept across the deck like spies, crouching behind barrels and peering around masts. When they reached the stern, Peter finally lowered his weapon.
“I don’t think there are any ghosts up here,” he said. Tink could tell he was disappointed. He’d never battled a ghost, and Peter loved new experiences above all else.
“Maybe they’re hiding,” Kate said. “Maybe they’re scared of us.”
Peter brightened at the thought. “Let’s explore the hold!”
They found the stairs that led below deck. It was much darker there, so Tink led the way. In the hold they found several barrels. Most of them seemed to be empty.
“Phew!” Kate said, lifting the lid on one. “This smells like it used to have fish in it.” She replaced the lid and looked around. “Do you think that old pirate tale could be true? About there being treasure on the ship?”
“We could check the cabin,” Peter suggested.
Tink flew in front again, brightening her glow to light the way. They found the captain’s cabin at the other end of the ship. When they entered, Kate gasped. Thick silk rugs covered the floor. Velvet curtains hung on the tall, arched windows. In the center of the room was a heavy wooden table. Maps and charts were spread on top of it. Everything was faded and dusty, but the room had clearly once been grand.
“This is so cool!” Kate said. She went around the room, touching everything. “If I were a pirate, this is where I’d keep my treasure. Where do you suppose it’s hidden?”
“I dunno,” Peter said with a shrug. Treasure didn’t interest him unless there was a good skirmish involved. He poked at one of the wine-colored curtains, as if hoping to find a ghost lurking behind it.
Tink didn’t care about pirate treasure, either. She didn’t have any use for jewels and gold coins in Pixie Hollow. But as she looked around, her eyes fell on a half-open drawer. She peered inside and gasped.
The drawer was full of trinkets—buttons, clasps, knobs, and screws. To a Clumsy, it was just a bunch of junk. But to a tinkering fairy, it was treasure.
Tink held up one thing after another. Her head was spinning with possibilities. But which object should she take?
Why not take it all? she thought. I can have Kate carry it in her pockets.
“Kate, would you mind—” Tink started to say.
A scream cut her off. Tink spun around, but the cabin was empty. Kate and Peter were gone!
Then Tink heard Kate’s voice. “Help me!” she cried.
Tink dropped the button she was holding. She began to fly toward Kate’s voice. It was coming from somewhere below the cabin.
Just then, she heard a cry from the other side of the ship. “Help me! Kate, Tink, help!”
Peter!
Tink froze. In all the time she’d known Peter, she’d never heard him yell for help.
“Help, Tink! Help!” Kate and Peter cried.
Tink fluttered back and forth in distress. Who should she go to? She started toward Peter, then changed her mind. Kate sounded closer. If she helped Kate first, maybe together they could save Peter.
But save him from what? Tink wondered. Her throat tightened with fear.
She had reached the steps that led down to the hold, when a figure came stumbling toward her. It was Kate! She was holding her side and grimacing.
No, not grimacing, Tink thought as Kate came closer. Grinning.
“Ha, ha!” Kate laughed. “Got you!”
“What’s going on?” Tink stared at her in confusion. Why was Kate laughing? Didn’t she realize Peter was in trouble?
Then Peter flew up, and he was laughing, too. “We really fooled you, didn’t we, Tink?” he said.
At last it sank in. It was only a joke. Tink’s wings gave out, and she had to sit down.
“It was funny, wasn’t it?” Peter said, still chuckling.
Tink gave him a half smile. She remembered now why she had stopped hanging around with Peter. It wasn’t because she no longer cared for him. He was the same charming, childish, marvelous, exasperating Peter he’d always been, and Tink adored him. But there were things she liked even better than his adventures.
When her wings felt steady enough to fly again, Tink rose into the air.
“Where are you going?” Kate asked. She sounded surprised.
“Home,” said Tink. Then she set off toward Pixie Hollow, where her tinkering workshop was waiting, and where, she knew, her fairy friends would be waiting, too.
“I wonder what got into her?” Peter said as Tink flew away.
“Beats me,” Kate said. But as she watched Tink’s light growing smaller, she felt a pang of regret. When she’d whispered the prank in Peter’s ear, it had seemed funny. Kate thought they’d give Tink a little scare and they’d all have a good laugh over it, like they had when Peter and Tink tricked them in the cave.
But when she’d seen how truly frightened Tink looked, the joke didn’t seem so funny after all.
Peter seemed to have already forgotten about Tink. He was playing with the big wooden ship’s wheel. He hovered in the air above it, pretending to steer it with his feet.
Kate watched him. “I guess there isn’t any treasure aboard this ship after all,” she said with a sigh
.
Peter shrugged. “Who cares about gold and jewels? This ship is our treasure. Let’s take her somewhere.”
“But I don’t know how to sail,” Kate said.
“Aw, there’s nothing to it,” Peter told her. “You just shout ‘Anchors aweigh!’ and ‘Head to the wind!’ and off you go!”
Kate laughed. “Where would we go?”
“Anywhere,” said Peter. He was hopping up and down with excitement. “We can sail all the way to the mainland if we want!”
Kate imagined sailing all the way home in an ancient pirate ship. What a blast that would be! Of course, there was no ocean near her city, but that didn’t matter. In her imagination, she and Peter sailed the ship through the air, right up to her front door. She pictured the astonished expressions on her parents’ and neighbors’ faces as she waved to them from the bow. Kate giggled.
Peter was letting out the sails. “Are you really going sailing now?” Kate asked.
“Why not?” said Peter.
“But it’s nighttime!”
“We’ll set our course by the stars and sail by the light of the moon,” Peter replied. “And the wind’s an old friend of mine. He’ll keep us straight and true.”
Was he telling stories again? It was always so hard to tell. But Kate wanted to believe him. Sailing all the way home—it would be the biggest adventure yet!
“But, oh—” Kate thought of Mia, Lainey, and Gabby waiting for her in Pixie Hollow. She couldn’t leave without them.
“I’d want my friends to come, too,” she told Peter. “And what about Cubby and Nibs and the other boys?”
Peter thought about it, then nodded. “It would be better for games of hide-and-seek at sea. We’ll round up the crew and sail at dawn. But I’ll sleep on my ship tonight like any good captain.”
Kate agreed to stay with Peter. She didn’t like the thought of sleeping on that spooky ship. But she decided that if Peter wasn’t scared, then she wouldn’t be, either. Besides, flying all the way back to Pixie Hollow alone didn’t seem much better.
