Peter's arm drew back.
Hook closed his eyes. "Finish it!"
But somehow Peter couldn't bring himself to do it. Neither the part that was Banning nor the part that was Pan could strike down a helpless enemy-even one as evil as Captain Hook.
He felt Maggie's hands on his arm.
"Let's go home, Daddy," she whispered. "Please? He's just a mixed-up old man without a mommy."
"Yeah, let's get out of here, Dad," Jack agreed, coming up to stand beside her. "He can't hurt us anymore."
Hook's eyes snapped open and tears welled up. "Oh, bless you, child," he murmured gratefully. He placed his wig back on his head. "Good form, Jack!"
Peter lowered his sword and stepped back, eyeing Hook coldly. "Okay, Hook-take your ship and go: I don't want to see your face in Neverland again. Promise?"
Hook swallowed whatever was threatening to choke him and with considerable effort managed a reluctant nod. Peter turned away, sheathing the Pan sword and taking his children's hands in his own. A cheer went up from the Lost Boys.
But they had missed the treacherous glint in Hook's eye. Something clicked within the sleeve of his weaponless hand, and a razor-sharp blade sprang forth from its concealment into his palm.
"Fools!" he cried. "James Hook is Neverland!"
Then he was on his feet, rushing to the attack. Peter barely had time to shove Jack and Maggie out of the way before the captain was on him. Hook slammed Peter back against the crocodile tower and pinned him fast.
"You lied, Hook,'' Peter declared through clenched teeth. He could not reach his sword. "You broke your promise."
There was a madness in the captain's red eyes. "Forever-more, whenever children read of you it will say, 'Thus perished Peter Pan!' "
And he thrust his claw at Peter.
But just as it seemed that all was lost, there was Tink, darting out of nowhere to deflect the blow just enough that it missed Peter and lodged instead in the belly of the crocodile. Gasses and dust spewed forth in a cloud, blinding Hook. He struggled to pull free and could not. The crocodile began to shake and shudder, and the clock tumbled out of its jaws, barely missing Hook as it struck the ground behind him with a thud. The tower began to rock, then to teeter. A moaning rose, as if a ghost had been awakened. The Lost Boys drew back. The pirates who still remained began to scatter, fleeing with wild cries. Peter pulled Jack and Maggie away.
Hook flailed, making the crocodile clock rock dangerously. He screamed like a madman. Finally he wrenched free, but his efforts snapped the last of the crocodile's fastenings and it began to fall toward him. Hook tried to run, but ended up stumbling over the fallen clock. He lay thrashing, horror mirrored in his red eyes. The crocodile was descending, its jaws cracked wide.
Hook gasped. Down came the crocodile with a crash.
And Captain James Hook disappeared down its throat with a gulp.
After the dust had settled, they all walked forward to peer into the crocodile's jaws. One after another they bent down for a look, amazement on their faces.
Captain Hook was gone.
"Where'd he go?" Maggie wanted to know. But no one had an answer.
Then the cry of "victory banquet" went up again, and everyone began to parade about the fallen crocodile, shouting and cheering, "No more Hook!" and "Hurray for the Pan Man!"
Peter led the procession, caught up in the celebration, unaware that time was catching up to him once again.
"Let's go sink some mermaids!" Don't Ask suggested. "Wouldn't that be fun?"
"No!" Latchboy said. "Let's draw a circle in the ground and dare lions to cross it!"
"I want to bake a cake and feed it to the Neverbird!" No Nap said.
"But we've got to dress up like pirates and sack the ship first!" Ace declared.
They all joined in, each with his own suggestion for what they should do next. Peter began shouting suggestions of his own, a little boy himself again for just a moment.
But then he glanced over to where Jack and Maggie stood watching, Tink hanging in the air above them, and he knew that his adventures were over for now and it was time to go home.
He held up his hands and the cheering died. Lost Boy faces peered up at him.
"I can't stay," he told them. "I've done what I came to do, and now I have to go back." The joy faded from their faces. "I have to go home."
"But Peder, this is your bomb," Pockets insisted.
"Yeah, this is where Peter Pan belongs," Thud Butt agreed.
Peter smiled. "No, not anymore. You see, I've grown up. And once you grow up, you have to stay that way. You can keep a little part of what's inside a boy; you can remember what it's like. But you can't go all the way back."
He turned from them and walked to where Jack and Maggie waited. He knelt before them. "Tink, dust them," he ordered. "A little traveling magic." He took their hands in his. "All you have to do is think one happy thought, and you'll fly like me."
Tink flew past in a sweeping arc, scattering pixie dust as she went. It settled over Jack and Maggie, who closed their eyes.
"Mommy!" said Maggie, and she smiled.
Jack's eyes opened, and he looked at Peter. "My dad, Peter Pan," he whispered.
Then up they went, all three, as light as feathers on the summer air. Tink led the way, a bit of spinning brightness in the sunlight. Below, the Lost Boys stood gathered, staring solemnly skyward. A few hands lifted tentatively, waving good-bye.
Peter glanced behind, hesitated in mid-flight, then placed Maggie's hand in Jack's and called Tink back.
"You know the way home, Tink. Take Jack and Maggie on ahead. I'll be right behind."
He watched them fly away, then settled down once more amid the Lost Boys.
"Don't leave us, Peter," Thud Butt pleaded. "Stay in Neverland."
He saw the confusion in their faces. "I have a wife and children who need me," he said quietly. "I belong with them."
"But we need you, too," Too Small sniffed.
Peter picked him up and hugged him. "The Lost Boys don't need anyone," he told them. "You have each other and Neverland, and that's more than enough."
"You'll forget us again," Ace declared solemnly.
"Not this time," Peter promised. "Never again.''
"But you're our leader," Thud Butt insisted.
"Not anymore," Peter told him. He handed over the Pan sword. Thud Butt gasped. "You're the Pan now." He tried a comforting grin. "At least until I come back."
"Will you comb back?" Pockets asked in a small voice.
Peter met the sad, dark face and nodded, "One day," he whispered.
He went to each of them then, to Latchboy, Don't Ask, No Nap, Ace, Thud Butt, Pockets, Too Small, and all the rest, giving each a handclasp and a hug. Some cried. It was all Peter could do to finish.
"Thank you," he told them. "You helped me save my kids from Hook. You helped me to become Peter Par) again. 1 won't ever forget."
Then he lifted away into the cloudless blue sky. He rose, dipped, and swung back again, passing one final time over the gathered Lost Boys. Thud Butt raised the Pan sword in salute. Ace blew the antler horn. Don't Ask, No Nap, and Latchboy raised their hands and waved.
Too Small was crying. "That was a great game, Peter!" he called.
Peter gave a crow in reply, long and piercing, then turned toward the setting sun and flew away.
Thud Butt put his arm about Pockets and gave him a quick hug. There were tears in the other's eyes.
"Imb miss hib alreddy," Pockets whispered.
Farther out, close to the mouth of the harbor and facing back toward the smoking Jolly Roger, Smee looked up from the dinghy he rowed. Resting his oars momentarily, he watched Peter Pan fly past and disappear into the distance.