Adventure Three: The Mermaids' Lagoon

Peter: Children, we will be approaching the lagoon very soon. Be sure to watch your step, and don't fall into the water. You will see a giant rock, known as Marooners Rock, and that's where we will land. Wendy has taken the liberty to make you all pillows to sit on, so just grab a seat and my mermaid friend, Flora, will begin her tale. Here we are! Hello there, Flora!

Flora: Hi Peter! I am very pleased to meet all of you. Forgive me for not joining you on the rock, but I must stay in the water. At this very spot you are sitting, an almost tragic adventure took place. It was a normal summer day; my fellow mermaids and I were playing our usual game of bubbleball. The Lost Boys were taking their mid-day nap, and Wendy was watching over them while stitching. All of a sudden, a shudder shot through the lagoon, warning us of approaching troubles. The water went cold, and the sky turned black. Peter could smell danger from miles away. He sprang up and, waking the others, he cried “Pirates!" They all waited for their leader's order, and in an instant disappeared into the dark water.

Peter: I'm always ready for an adventure, Flora. It’s my instinct I tell you!

Flora: Oh, Peter, you’re very brave. Well - right after they all dove into the water, a small boat drew near. There was one person who didn't belong, however. It was the Piccaninny princess, Tiger Lily. The pirates had taken her captive, because they caught her sneaking on to their ship.  Their captain, James Hook, had ordered the two pirates to take her to Marooners Rock, and leave her there to drown in the rising tide! Peter and Wendy were floating in the water nearby. Wendy cried for poor Tiger Lily, while Peter quietly devised a plan to save her. He couldn’t resist the urge to mess with the rotten pirates. He began to imitate Hook’s voice, and ordered the two pirates to set Tiger Lily free. They immediately became confused, but they had taken the bait, and believed that it was Hook who had spoken.  They hesitated at first, but they knew it was best not to defy their captain’s orders. They cut the bonds around the princess’s hands and feet, and let her go in the water. Wendy knew Peter wouldn’t be able to resist revealing to the pirates that he had tricked them. She quickly clasped a hand over his mouth, but Hook’s voice still rang out, “Boat ahoy!” This time it was not Peter, however, but the nasty pirate captain himself.  Hook swam up to the boat, and then climbed in.

Peter: He had ruined my tricky plan, but I wasn’t done messing with them, yet!

Flora: That’s what got you in big trouble, Peter! Anyways - the three pirates began to discuss about the Lost Boys finding a mother. That’s when Hook realized Tiger Lily was missing. He grew infuriated when the two pirates told him that he himself had ordered them to free her. Hook had done no such thing, and he instantly knew that something wasn’t right. Peter really couldn’t resist this time, and he shouted out in Hook’s voice. The pirates grew puzzled again, and after trying to figure out who was messing with them, Peter revealed himself! Instantaneously, a fight broke out between all the boys and the three pirates. Punches were being thrown left and right, and blood was drawn on both sides. The boys were clever, though, to leave Hook to their leader, Peter Pan. The battle began between Peter and Hook on this very rock. It was a short and sharp fight, but more than anything, it was unfair. Hook broke the rules of good form when he bit poor Peter, after Peter tried to help him up the rock. Traumatized by Hook’s action, Peter froze at the unfairness of the situation. Hook took this opportunity to viciously claw Peter, and then the pirates fled the scene. The Lost Boys began looking for Peter and Wendy, who had been hiding in the dark water, but failed to find them. Thinking they had gone back home, the Lost Boys also left. A dark silence grew over the lagoon, as Peter and Wendy were left for dead. Peter was too injured to move, and knew that soon the rising water would devour them both. A kite, that Wendy's brother Michael had made a few days before, came into Peter’s view. He figured if the kite could raise Michael, why not Wendy? He tied it around her waist, as she pleaded and argued that she couldn’t leave him there. The water had risen dangerously high now, and Peter knew he had no choice. With a push, Wendy rose into the air and out of sight. Poor Peter was left to perish, as the mermaids and I began to wail at the moon.

Peter: That moment was terribly scary! I remember that a quiver sent chills through my body, and then adrenaline kicked in. With a smile on my face, I jumped straight up on the rock. I knew that death would be an enormously grand adventure for me!

Flora: It was dreadful for all of us, Peter, but what happened next was a miracle! As the tide rose higher, Peter took in his final moments, and then noticed a peculiar white object in the water. It was the Never Bird, who had come determined to save him. She urged him to climb into her nest, and after careful thought, he quickly created the bird's nest into a small raft, and floated to safety. Peter would live to tell his grand adventure!

Peter: Yes, I did, and I’ll never forget it! Thank you, Flora, for that wonderful account. I am so happy I was able to share all of these wonderful adventures with all of you.

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