Peter darted through the dim corridor of the Jolly Roger, his wings barely skimming the ceiling as he flew. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat urging him forward. Hook had tried to distract him, but Peter knew better now. Wendy was close—he could feel it.

He skidded to a halt in front of a heavy wooden door, his breath catching. This was it. Without a second thought, Peter drew his dagger and shoved the door open, bursting into the small cabin. The sight of Wendy, bound to a chair in the corner, sent a surge of both relief and fury through him.

“Wendy!” Peter shouted, rushing to her side.

Her eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and relief. “Peter!” Her voice trembled, but she quickly composed herself, her usual calm returning. “You found me.”

Peter’s hands worked quickly, slicing through the ropes that bound her wrists. “Of course I did,” he said, his voice breathless but light, the hint of a grin tugging at his lips. “Hook thought he could stop me, but we showed him.”

Wendy rubbed her wrists, her eyes scanning Peter’s face. “You fought him, didn’t you?”

Peter hesitated, his grin faltering for a split second. “Yeah, but it’s over now,” he said, his tone shifting, more serious. “We’re getting you out of here.”

Wendy stood up, brushing off her dress, her brow furrowed. “You could have been hurt, Peter. This isn’t like your usual adventures. This was—”

“—dangerous, I know.” Peter cut her off, his expression uncharacteristically somber. “But I couldn’t let Hook win. Not this time.”

Wendy’s eyes softened as she took in the sight of him. He was still Peter—the boy who refused to grow up, the boy who made everything seem like a game. But there was something different in his eyes now, something that hadn’t been there before. A flicker of understanding, maybe. Or responsibility.

“You’ve changed, Peter,” Wendy said quietly, her voice almost wistful.

Peter blinked, his playful grin returning, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Changed? Me? Nah. I’m still the same Peter Pan. Now, come on—let’s get back to the others before Hook decides to come looking for us.”

He offered her his hand, and Wendy hesitated for only a moment before taking it. As they left the cabin, Peter couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder, his heart still pounding. He had won this time—he had saved Wendy. But for the first time, victory didn’t feel as sweet as it used to.

The Aftermath on the Jolly Roger

The deck of the Jolly Roger was strangely quiet as Peter and Wendy emerged from the cabin. The usual hum of pirate life was gone, replaced by the scattered remains of a battle recently fought. The ship itself was eerily empty, with no pirates in sight on the deck. Instead, in the distance, several small life rafts bobbed on the water, crowded with dazed pirates, some still clutching their swords and others slumped in exhaustion. Hook, along with the rest of his crew, had been forced into retreat.

Peter’s eyes swept across the ship as he led Wendy toward the center of the deck. The Lost Boys had already gathered there, a mix of triumph and exhaustion on their faces. Slightly stood tall at the front, a smudge of dirt on his cheek but a grin on his face as he spotted Peter.

“Peter! You did it!” Slightly called out, his voice brimming with excitement.

Peter couldn’t help but smile, though it didn’t carry the usual lightness he was known for. “Told you Hook couldn’t beat me,” he said, though there was a weight in his chest that hadn’t been there before. His eyes drifted toward the life rafts bobbing in the water below, where Hook sat grimly in one of them, his mechanical arm still twitching from its earlier malfunction. His face was twisted with frustration, but Peter knew he wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.

The boys gathered around Peter, cheering and clapping him on the back, but Wendy lingered at his side, her eyes taking in the wreckage of the ship—the broken ropes, the shattered crates, and the eerie quiet that had settled over the once-chaotic vessel. Something had shifted.

Curly looked up from where he was perched on a barrel, his usual playful energy dimmed by the seriousness of what had just happened. “What do we do now, Peter?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Peter opened his mouth to answer, but for a moment, the words didn’t come. He glanced at Wendy, whose gaze was fixed on the distant life raft where Hook sat, fuming, surrounded by his bedraggled crew. Her expression was unreadable.

“We... we go home,” Peter said, though even he wasn’t sure if he meant it. “Hook won’t bother us again.”

The boys nodded, but Wendy’s eyes flickered with something Peter hadn’t seen before. A realization. She had been part of this fight, and she had witnessed the danger firsthand. This wasn’t just one of Peter’s adventures anymore. Things had changed.

“Peter,” Wendy began, her voice soft, “you know this isn’t over, right? Hook might be down now, but he’ll never stop. And there are other dangers in Neverland. You can’t always pretend it’s just a game.”

Peter frowned, his chest tightening. “But it is a game, Wendy,” he insisted, his voice growing sharper. “That’s why we’re here. That’s why I brought you here.”

Wendy sighed, looking at him with something that felt too much like pity. “Peter... this was more than a game. We could have been killed.”

Peter opened his mouth to argue, but something about the way she said it stopped him. He looked around the deck again—the broken ship, the battered boys, Hook's retreating life raft—and for the first time, he wondered if Wendy was right. Maybe it wasn’t just a game.

He quickly shook the thought away. No. This was Neverland. It was always a game. Always fun. Always freedom. He wouldn’t let it be anything else.

“Let’s not talk about it anymore,” Peter said, forcing a grin onto his face. “We won, didn’t we? Hook’s finished. That’s what matters.”

Wendy didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push the issue. She just gave him a small, sad smile. “Sure, Peter.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

As the boys continued to cheer and celebrate, Peter stood at the helm of the ship, gazing out at the Neverland horizon. The battle was over, but the unease lingered. Something had changed tonight, and even if Peter refused to admit it, he could feel it in the air.

Saying Goodbye – Wendy’s Realization

The Jolly Roger rocked gently beneath their feet as the celebration quieted down. The Lost Boys had dispersed across the ship, their laughter fading into the background as they rested after the battle. Peter, still standing at the helm, watched the horizon with his usual air of confidence, but Wendy could see the subtle tension in his posture.

She stood beside him, her thoughts far from the cheers of victory. Neverland had been everything she’d imagined—wild, free, dangerous—but now, as the quiet of the night settled over them, Wendy knew the truth. She couldn’t stay.

“Peter,” she said softly, breaking the silence between them. He didn’t turn to look at her, but she knew he was listening. “We can’t stay here forever.”

Peter’s brow furrowed, his fingers tightening around the edge of the helm. “Why not? This is Neverland. You can stay as long as you want.”

Wendy sighed, her gaze drifting to the stars that glittered above the island. “It’s not that simple. Michael may want to stay, but John and I... we have things we need to do. Our parents are still out there, somewhere. We can’t stop looking for them.”

Peter turned then, his expression unreadable. “You don’t have to grow up, Wendy. Not here.”

She smiled sadly, shaking her head. “That’s the problem, Peter. We’re already growing up. You can stay here and never change, but we’re not like you. We have to find our parents, and I need to make sure the boys are safe.”

Peter’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with frustration. “Why do you always want to leave? Neverland is perfect.”

Wendy hesitated, glancing over at Michael, who sat with Curly on a nearby barrel, still talking excitedly about their next adventure. He belonged here in a way she never could, and she knew that leaving him behind would be difficult, but it was his choice. She had to accept that.

“Neverland is perfect,” she admitted softly, “but it’s not for everyone. John wants to find our parents. He needs answers, and so do I. But you—” she paused, searching for the right words—“you can stay here, Peter. You can always be the boy who never grows up.”

Peter’s eyes flickered with something Wendy couldn’t quite place, but he quickly brushed it away with a shrug. “You’re just scared of the fun, Wendy. That’s all.”

Wendy chuckled, though there was sadness behind it. “Maybe. But we have to leave.”

Peter crossed his arms, his wings twitching slightly. “You can leave, but I’ll still be here. I’ll still be Peter Pan.”

“I know,” Wendy said, her voice soft but sure. “And that’s what makes you special.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of her words hanging between them. Wendy knew that Peter would never truly understand why they had to go. Neverland was his world—a place where time stood still, where no one ever had to grow up. But for her and her brothers, the call of home was growing stronger. They had a purpose beyond Neverland, one that couldn’t be ignored.

John approached, his hands stuffed into his pockets, looking as though he had already made his decision. “Wendy,” he said quietly, “I’ve been thinking... we need to keep moving. There are still places we haven’t searched, and we can’t give up now.”

Wendy nodded, her heart heavy but resolute. “I agree, John. We’ll fix the airship, and we’ll keep looking for them.”

John glanced at Peter, then back at Wendy. “Are you sure you want to leave, Michael?”

Michael’s eyes widened, the thought of leaving Neverland clearly something he hadn’t considered. He hesitated, his gaze darting to Peter, who stood stiff and silent at the helm.

“I... I want to stay,” Michael said finally, his voice small but certain.

Wendy smiled, her heart aching a little. “I know, Michael. You belong here with Peter.”

Peter straightened, a glimmer of triumph returning to his face. “See? Michael gets it. He knows what it means to live in Neverland.”

Wendy stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Michael’s shoulder. “You’ll be safe here with Peter,” she said softly. “Just promise me you’ll visit us.”

Noticing a distant look in Nibs’ eye, John turned toward the lost boy and, speaking just louder than necessary, opined for the loss of his younger brother, “It’s too bad he’s staying, we could really use a third crew member.”

Wendy, ever the observant sister, chimed in, “Yes, one that understands how the airship works.”

Seeing the lack of reaction from a saddened Nibs, Peter flew over to him and gave him a quick nudge. “Go on, Nibs. It’s only fair. It’s a good trade. A Nibs for a Michael.”

Hearing this, Nibs perked up. He grabbed a nearby sack with some of his belongings and hurriedly jogged over to join the two older Darlings. “We’ll see you soon.” Wendy assured Michael one last time.

Michael nodded eagerly, and Peter grinned. But as Wendy stepped back, she felt the weight of her decision settle over her. This wasn’t just about leaving Neverland—it was about moving forward, about growing up, even if Peter never would.

Peter’s Denial of Change

The air felt heavy as Wendy, John, and Nibs moved toward the airship, ready to set off on their next adventure—one that didn’t involve Neverland. Peter hovered above them, his wings beating softly in the night air, watching their every move but refusing to descend. His heart pounded in his chest, but he wouldn’t let it show. Not now.

“We’ll be back,” Wendy said softly, looking up at him. There was a sadness in her eyes, the kind Peter didn’t want to understand. “You’ll visit us, won’t you?”

Peter didn’t answer right away. He hated this part—the saying goodbye. Why did there have to be goodbyes? That wasn’t how things worked in Neverland. People didn’t leave. They stayed. They had fun. That was the rule.

“You don’t have to leave,” Peter said, his voice strained as he finally landed beside her. “You could stay. We could have more adventures. More games. Isn’t that what you want?”

Wendy smiled, though it was tinged with something Peter didn’t recognize—something grown up. “I want a lot of things, Peter. And we’ll always have our adventures. But we have to find our parents. And you... you’ll always have Neverland.”

Peter’s chest tightened. He didn’t like the sound of that. He didn’t like the finality in her voice. “But if you leave, everything changes,” he blurted out. “Why does everything have to change?”

Wendy reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “Not everything changes, Peter. You won’t. You’ll always be the boy who never grows up.”

Peter swallowed hard, hating the way her words twisted in his mind. He wanted to believe her, but it felt like losing. The Darlings had been the best part of his adventures for so long. Now they were leaving, and that felt like everything changing.

“I don’t want things to change,” Peter said quietly, his eyes flickering with defiance. “I won’t let them.”

Wendy’s smile softened. “That’s the beauty of Neverland, Peter. You don’t have to grow up. But some of us do.”

Peter’s heart fluttered slightly, the familiar pull of flight beckoning him to soar into the sky, to escape the weight of these conversations. He could be free. He could forget this moment and just fly.

But instead, he stood there, watching Wendy climb aboard the airship with John and Nibs. Michael lingered for a moment, looking between Peter and Wendy, unsure of his place.

“You’ll be fine,” Wendy said to Michael, hugging him tightly before she stepped back. “Just remember—there’s always a place for you here, if you ever want to come back.”

Michael nodded, his expression uncertain but resolute. He glanced at Peter, and for a moment, Peter felt the pang of guilt—the thought that he was taking Michael away from his siblings. But Michael’s choice had been clear. He belonged with Peter now, just as much as he had with Wendy before.

As the airship’s engines roared to life, Wendy looked back one last time. “Goodbye, Peter.”

Peter forced a grin, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “See you next time, Wendy.”

And with that, the airship lifted off, carrying Wendy, John, and Nibs into the sky, away from Neverland, away from him. Peter watched them go, his heart heavy with the one thing he hated most: change.

But as the ship disappeared into the horizon, Peter turned his back to it. He wouldn’t think about it anymore. Neverland was still his. Michael was still here. The Lost Boys were still here. That was all that mattered.

“I don’t grow up,” Peter muttered to himself as he took flight, the familiar rush of wind through his hair making his heart beat a little faster. He soared over the island, the freedom of the sky filling him with a familiar joy. “I never grow up.”