There is a legend in every world about the maidens. They protect the many people of the worlds; without them, the world would not exist. Yet, they do not know about their own ability. Only the Great Magician knows the tremendous power they yield…and the Darkness. The Darkness can control the Shadows, Nyght-creatures, and the Nyght-mares. Even they are controlled by a more powerful force and they are going for the maidens. All creatures of the Darkness despise the sun and anything that creates light. The Great Magician of old was said to have banished all of them to their own world, but they have gotten stronger over the years. But there is a prophecy of a green-eyed human who will have the power to stop them and more…

The Many Adventures of Penny Chapter 1

The Beginning

The birds were singing early in the morning and the sun burning brightly even through the Home Underground, the heart intense. The Lost Boys laid about the main room, lazily, wishing it wasn't so hot so early in the morning. Even Peter Pan had a hard time getting out of his room on a day like today. Only one person in the Underground who was happy for the start of a new day. She was up right after the sun and was out of the Home before any of the Boys were moving. That was Penny, though, the first and only Lost Girl and she would like to keep it that way, thank you very much!

She has lived with the Boys for about twelve years (give or take a year) and looked only about that age. She was as tall as Peter and just as spunky and ready for adventure as any of the Boys. Penny wore a green short sleeved shirt that needed to be sewed for all the rips and tears it had on it. Along with the green shirt were brown shorts that were worse than the shirt, and a green hat much like Peter's. She was very tan, considering she was outside all day and only comes to the house for food and sleep. Penny's brown hair was short was a boys but choppy because she cuts it herself. She then gives her hair to the birds that use it for their nests. In exchange for the hair, they tell her stories of Neverland before Penny's time. They told her about Hook's treasure, the Redskins and Lost Boys war, and the Wendy lady.

The pirate stories were her favorite since Hook hasn't shown up on the island for awhile. But the birds' favorites were ones of the Wendy lady. They absolutely loved her; Penny learned more about her than she ever wanted. She never knew her parents and, like Peter, never really wanted them. So the idea that the birds wished for the Wendy lady to come back, bothered Penny. Peter also liked the Wendy lady for her stories and the Lost Boys thought of her as their mother. Penny also felt strange whenever they mention her, like a tug in the back of her mind and the color of midnight blue comes to her head randomly. After that started, she requested them to tell her more about the pirates.

Not only did the birds talk to her, any animal that came to Penny talked to her. She realized this when she was younger (her version of younger may differ from others), but never told anyone but Starlight. Star was the fairy that hung out with Penny since she got to Neverland. Star claims that she was born from Penny's laugh and so it makes sense that she would stay with her. She is a light fairy who prefers the moonlight and starlight, hence name. To all the fairies at Pixie Hallow, she can predict when the Blue Moon is coming and creates the star-like glow on the children that dream of Neverland. Star has short blue hair, kind of like Penny, and wears dark blue pants with a light blue shirt. She also gives Penny her pixie dust that she carries around in a pouch for emergencies only.

Anyway, back to the very hot day, Penny was walking to Mermaid Lagoon for a swim. She didn't have Star with her or else she would've flown there, but walking under the shade of the giant trees was just as much fun. The forest was her favorite place because, to her, it was alive. When the wind blows, the leaves whisper secrets to her. Penny loved walking in the forest with her bare-feet because she thinks she can feel the earth welcomes her and tells her when danger is near. Again, this was all in her head and it wasn't like Peter or the Boys would believe her anyways.

As Penny drew near the Lagoon, she felt something off; something was different and didn't feel right. The air wasn't moving and the birds have stopped chirping their morning songs. What she did hear was a harsh "CAW!" sound. She looked up into the ancient trees and saw these giant black birds. There were about five in the tree right above her. Penny had never seen such birds before and continued to stare at them. They looked down at her with their beady black eyes and Penny felt a chill go through her, despite the hot day.

Maybe they want to talk to me, Penny thought to herself as she got closer to the tree.

"Hello up there!" she called as she climbed up on the branch. The earth was trying to warn her of the danger but she continued to up the tree. The birds ignored her but stopped cawing and looked harder at her.

"Are you lost?" Penny tried again, when she heard a voice inside her head.

Green-eyed human, the voice sounded cold and harsh in her head that she paused, we have found you at last.

The birds immediately flew off the branches and headed straight for her. Penny barely had time to register what was happening when the tree branches started to sway toward the birds as if to block them. All the leaves were telling her to run and this time she listened.

Penny ran toward the Underground as fast as she could, but she could hear the black birds coming closer to her. How she wished Star were with her when she remembered the pouch of pixie dust around her waist. She stopped for a second to quickly get the string unattached. The birds were gaining fast that she could hear what they were saying:

We have found her at last!

Don't let her get away!

We must tell the Master!

Penny looked up and saw the leader just around the next tree, staring at her as if she was food that he was trying to catch. She finally got the string undone and dumped the whole pouch over her head, even thought Star told her numerous times a pinch is all it takes.

I'm sure Star would understand if she were with me right now, Penny thought as she could feel the magic working. The leaves were yelling at her, "The sun!" so Penny flew straight up from where she was as the closest bird was right behind her. But as soon as she reached the top of the trees, none of the black birds were following her. She looked below and through the leaves, she could see them, sitting there as if they couldn't follow her. She tuned into their thoughts but only felt anger and…fear? She didn't have time to dwell on what they were afraid of, for something else had caught her eye. Across from where she was flying, by Pirates Cove, was a pirate ship. Penny wasn't at Neverland for the time Hook was there so she didn't recognize the ship. The ship was big with tree masts with their billowing white sails full of wind. It slowly dragged the ship closer to the shore. Penny didn't know what happened to the ship, for she was already flying toward the Home Underground with the thoughts of pirates and black birds in the back of her head.