Author's Note: Here is my first attempt at a Peter Pan fanfic. Now before you read, I want you to know that Peter is not in the first chapter and Im REALLY sorry about that but I felt like I had to make Kaytel a solid character and not just a thrown in without a past. Also if I have spelling problems, please let me know. I wont mind. And finally, I would appreciate it greatly if when you read this, you submit a review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Peter Pan or any of the characters in this story except for Winthrop, Amy and Kaytel. they are mine. Besides if I owned Peter Pan, the Wendy would have my name and I would have stayed.
Come Fly With Me
Meet Kaytel
The moon shone brightly on the cobble stoned streets of London. A young girl's laughter danced merrily on the wind followed by the outraged yell of a guard on night watch. Another shout joined the first, "Get her," and "Aw, she stole my weeks wages again!"
The words, "Catch me if you can," accompanied by more laughter, floated back to them as the girl threw a laughing glance back over her shoulder. Turning a corner that led into an alleyway, the small, slip of a girl paused to catch her breath and listen for the guards in pursuit of her. A smile played it's way across her face as their conversation drifted over to her.
"Dash it all, Isaiah, you can't keep allowing this thief to make off with your possessions." the first guard chastised.
"As if you have room to talk. She took YOUR father's pocket watch, Micah."
"Oh well... it can't be helped. We'll just have to find her."
"Why is it that street urchin seems to mainly target us?"
"Well, hate to say it, but we seem to be the easiest targets." came the forlorn reply.
"Hey!..." a sigh, "yeah, guess you're right." This was said in resignation.
In the alleyway, the girl flashed a quick grin, then melted into the shadows and disappeared into the night once more.
"Kaytel, wake up! The headmistress is coming!" a young girl shook Kaytel's shoulder urgently.
"Mmf, go away" came the reply that was muffled by her jet black hair as she swatted the bothersome girl's hand away.
"You went out again last night didn't you Kayt? You better get out of this bed right now or she'll know. Do you want to be punished again?"
"I don't care. What I WANT is to sleep right now," pushing her silky hair out of her face, a quick glimpse of cerulean blue eyes could be seen as she peeked up at her friend, "I think my treasure bag is still at the foot of my bed." she closed her eyes again and snuggled under her threadbare blanket.
"How could you be so careless?!?" the girl gasped. When the only answer she received was a grunt and some slight movement, she rolled her eyes, "Fine, I'll hide it under the floorboard. The place where it should have been put as soon as you got back." the bag was hastily stuffed under a plank hidden beneath Kaytel's bed.
The door cracked open and all of the children hurried to stand in front of their beds as the headmistress entered. All of the children, that is, except one, 'Kaytel' the headmistress thought angrily. She marched pass all the other children with only thoughts for the empty spot in the otherwise perfect row of girls. She reached her destination and frowned disapprovingly at the lump in the middle of the worn down bed.
Kaytel's friend rushed on excuse out for her, "Don't be angry Mistress Winthrop. It's just...uh...she's sick! Yes, she's deathly ill...and it's VERY contagious."
"Amy, you and I both know that she isn't sick. She's lazy," ripping the blanket off the sleeping girl, mistress Winthrop glared down at her, "Kaytel Blade, you get your worthless hind end out of that bed this instant!"
"Never!" came the unconscious reply.
"What did you say to me young lady?"
Kaytel's eyes shot wide open as realization at what she had just said to The headmistress dawned. Her rosebud mouth opened on a gasp as her eyes darted around in a search of a way out of her present predicament. Leaping out of the bed, she hoped that standing would clear her sleep clouded mind.
Unfortunately, it only brought the wrath of Mistress Winthrop down harder on her, "You SLEPT in your clothes!?"
Kaytel felt her cheeks flush guiltily as she bit her bottom. She couldn't exactly lie her way out of this one. Well, a story maybe? It was worth a try, right?
The girls, recognizing the signs of a great tale of Kayt coming on, eagerly gathered in close just a little bit behind the headmistress. They didn't want her to notice them. She might stop the story before it started.
"Well, I was doing my chores like you told me to," Kaytel began her story with an obvious fib, "When I saw a frail old woman across the street carrying an awfully heavy looking basket full to brimming with things she bought from the marketplace. I wanted to help her but I knew that my chores came first so I tried to ignore her. Truly I did. But then, a sudden gust of wind came outta nowhere and blew her shawl off her shoulders and onto the road. She set her stuff down, along with her purse to retrieve her shawl unhindered. Well, a carriage came barreling down the road and I just couldn't let that poor frail old lady get harmed. So I raced out into the road before the lady stepped off the walk and grabbed up the shawl. I thought I was a goner, but I ran for dear life anyway. I could hear the hoof beats of the horses as the carriage was bearing down on me and as I reached the edge of the street, the carriage only nipped my heel as it rolled by," the enthralled children let out their breaths that they hadn't realized they'd been holding, "I gave the shawl back to the old lady but as she was thanking me for my courageous deed, a very sinister looking man, dressed in black with a scar down the left side of his face snatched her purse and started away with it as swiftly as he could. That purse had in it the only bit of money she had to her name. I couldn't, in good conscience, just leave the lady to her horrible fate now could I?" the wide eyed girls shook their heads no, "I didn't think so either, so I followed after him as fast as my legs would carry me. He lead me a frightful chase, down one alley and out another. We made so many turns that I knew I was hopelessly lost, but I pursued him relentlessly nonetheless. I finally cornered him and was about to demand the money back when he drew his sword," a collective gasp, "luckily, there was an old discarded pole laying close by me and as he made to lunge at me, I dove for the pole. I heard his sword come whistling by my ear as I rolled to dodge his attack. He continued to rain his assault on me and I could only parry so many of them for though I am skilled, I was a mere novice compared to him, a master. Instead of running me through though, he brought the hilt of his sword down smartly on the back of my head," a horrified gasp from the children filled the room, "All went black for me and by the time I came to, it was getting near our bedtime and the man had already made his escape. In his haste to get away, he forgot the lady's purse, and since I didn't really recognize anything where I was, I had to rely on my instincts to get myself back. It was getting really dark by the time I found my way back to High Street but luckily I saw that poor old lady walk by her window in her rundown little home so I knocked on the door and gave her her purse. I was dead on my feet with a massive headache when I half staggered, half crawled into the room and just collapsed onto the bed. So you see, I was so exhausted so I wasn't at all to blame for not getting up or for sleeping in my clothes." Kaytel bowed her head, signaling the end of her story.
The children, forgetting the reason for the story in the first place, all clapped happily, some even attempting to recreate the duel between the sinister man and Kaytel.
Mistress Winthrop, who had, despite her best intentions, been slightly swept away and caught up in Kaytel's magical make-believe story, snapped out of her stupor even angrier than before, "I have had quite enough of your lies Kaytel Blade!" she wagged a finger in Kaytel's face, "You are obviously not learning from the extra chores you were given and you cause the other children to misbehave as well. It is time we take your discipline to the next level. You will make your bed and come to my office immediately after. There will be no pit stops." the children had all quieted down by now and were listening to Kaytel being soundly chastened with somber expressions, "As for the rest of you, you know where you are supposed to be so get to work at your beds then off to breakfast. Don't dawdle." with those parting words, the headmistress swept out of the now silent room.
As soon as the door clicked shut however, the children all started to speak at once, shooting questions at Kaytel in rapid fire, "Were you very scared?" one asked.
"Did that REALLY happen?" a more skeptical girl asked.
"Do you suppose you are in a LOT of trouble Kayt?" Amy's concerned question rose above the buzz of all the other voices.
Grinning, Kaytel lifted her chin and tossed her head, striking a pose of carefree defiance. Her hands came to rest on her hips in challenge, "Don't worry, Let the Winthrop just TRY and paddle me," she changed her stance to that of a sword fighter as she drew her imaginary sword, " She will have to catch me off guard first, she made to parry the invisible attacks of her make-believe adversary.
She danced around the room in her swordplay, entertaining everyone until Amy reluctantly put a stop to their fun, "Kayt, I think you had better go before you get into even more trouble than you already are in if that's possible. Go on and I'll make your bed for you."
Amy looked so distraught that Kaytel Felt compelled to reassure her more seriously than her previous lighthearted attempt. She placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry Amy, there's really not much she can do except maybe paddle me a little. Besides, it doesn't hurt so much. I've been paddled DOZENS of times in the other orphanage. And I'll even say I'm sorry so she'll go easier on me, okay?"
Amy smiled weakly and nodded, "Just hurry, or no amount of apologies will help."
Kaytel smiled again, smartly saluted the rest of the girls, and marched out of the room as one girl whispered to another, "She is very brave isn't she?"
The door to the headmistress's office burst open and Kaytel breezed in, ready to do battle, when she realized that the Winthrop was not the only person in the room.
"Mrs. Darling, perhaps you would prefer to wait outside while I deal with Miss. Blade?" the Winthrop suggested.
The charming lady, who looked quite out of place in such an awful orphanage, smiled sweetly, "Oh, that's alright, I'd love to see how you two interact."
"Very well then. Kaytel, I can't allow you to continue creating stories like you just did. You know very well that there was no sword fight or else you would have a large knot on your head."
With wide eyed innocence, Kaytel responded, "Well I forgot to mention that the old lady happened to be a fairy that lost her powers, well most of them anyway, but she still had enough to heal the bump on my head." She grinned at her own cleverness.
"I've had enough of your nonsense; sword fights and fairies, it's time you grow up and face the facts."
Kaytel's chin stubbornly raised a notch, "I won't grow up, you can't make me!"