Peter Pan and the San Angel Children
Author's Note: So I was watching The Book of Life and I the beginning of the movie. I see Manolo, Maria, and Joaquin as kids. They were all so cute as children, and I saw how they couldn't wait to grow up and write their own stories. So I thought what would happen if Peter Pan met the adventurous trio.
I own nothing, all property belongs to their respective owners
Chapter 1: Peter learns about San Angel
It was a beautiful day on the Island of Neverland, and on this particular day on Neverland. The Lost Boys have challenged Peter to flight tag to see who's the fastest.
"You! Faster than me. In your dreams Slightly." Peter said to the fox costumed Lost Boy.
"You don't think I can do it?" Slightly asked in a huff. The other boys turned their heads in unison to find out what Peter and Slightly were arguing about.
"I bet I can be just as fast you, maybe even faster." Slightly challenged. Peter thought about it for a moment. Then Peter grinned widely, revealing that charming boyish smile of his. Peter always loved a challenge.
"It's on!" Peter declared. They shook hands on it, making the race official.
"Tinkerbell!" Peter called to his faithful companion. Tinkerbell came flying into the room, right to Peter Pan's side. "Hey Tinkerbell, do you think you have enough pixie dust for the two of us?" Peter asked. Tinkerbell looked confused. "You see my friend here" Peter pulled Slightly to his side and gave him a noggy when he says "Thinks he can fly faster than me, and I wanna see if he can. Tinkerbell just shrugged looked away.
"Oh Come on Tink! Help a guy out. There's gotta be some place we can get Pixie Dust for the two of us." Tinkerbell scratched her head and snapped her finger. And beckoned Peter to follow.
"Come on boys! Let's move out!" Peter called to his gang of lost boys. They all ran excitedly out of the den, and took different exits out of the hideaway. They all huddled together in a circle under a tree when they saw Peter flying overhead. "Come on this way" Peter pointed west, and flew in that direction. The other boys followed suit, bumping into each other as they raced to catch up with Peter and Tink. Finally, after what seemed like miles, they came upon a large glowing tree. From that tree they could see fairies coming in and out of it, "This is where Tink says all the Pixie Dust comes from."
"That big tree?" Nibs asked. Pointing at the tree. "Uhhh..What's so special about that tree anyway?" Cubby asked scratching his thick head. "Other than the fact that it's glowing." The Twins said in unison.
"It's a Pixie Dust Tree." Peter said to the group. "A PIXIE DUST TREE!" They all said in unison. "Tink says, this is where all the Pixie Dust comes from." Said Peter. "But how does it do it?" Slightly asked with confusion. Tinkerbell began to whisper in Peter's ear. "Tink says, it's powered by 'Blue Pixie Dust' that's what makes the tree produce pixie dust. She says it takes the golden dust from a trickle to a roar."
"Uhhh…But where's the 'Blue Dust' come from?" Cubby asked more confused than before. Now Tinkerbell looks annoyed having to answer all these questions. "Come on Tink, you're the expert. Tell us." Peter urged. Tinkerbell gave Peter a small smile. He knew all too well that Tinkerbell would do anything for him, even if it means spilling all of the fairy secrets. Tinkerbell began to whisper in Peter's ear again.
"She says, every eight years, there is a blue harvest moon in Neverland. When the light of this rare blue moon passes through a mystical moonstone that they keep locked away in a secret place, passes through the moonstone, it creates blue-colored pixie dust to strengthen and rejuvenate the Pixie Dust Tree".
"Can we see the blue dust?" They asked in unison. Tinkerbell just shook her head. "She says, it's not up to her, it's up to the dust-talented fairies. With that being said, Tinkerbell went inside, and a few minutes later. She came out and started sprinkling Peter and Slightly with the Pixie Dust. Pretty soon Peter along with Slightly began to levitate. "Can we fly too?" Cubby asked suddenly. "Yeah we wanna fly too!" said the Twins.
"Let's all fly!" Peter bursts out excitedly. "Yeah! We could call it 'flight tag'!" Nibs said as he jumps in the air. Pretty soon they were all levitating. "First one to Mermaid Lagoon wins." Peter announces as he takes off in a flash. The other boys scramble to catch up as they dodge through tree trunks, spider webs, birds, and any other obstacles in their way. They fly through mountains, soar up waterfalls, circling around 'Skull Rock', they even fly by the 'Indian Village'. By this time, Peter and Slightly are neck and neck. While the other boys are tolling far behind.
By the time Peter and Slightly reached Mermaid Lagoon. Peter was the first to land. Slightly came second falling head first into the water. Cubby came Third, Nibs Fourth, The Twins land at the same time at Fifth and Sixth, and poor Tootles was dead last. He kicked the ground and fell to his knees.
Peter flew over to a high rock where all the mermaids were gathered and made an announcement.
"You are worthy adversaries, you all have shown great strength and determination. And yes even you Tootles, and for that I salute you." Peter then saluted to his boys who saluted back. "But as we've all known before, I have always been, and will still be the fastest flyer in Neverland." Peter boasted putting his fists on his hips as the mermaids gazed lovingly up at him. "One of these days Peter we're going to surprise you!" Slightly spoke up pointing a finger at him. "That'll be the day." The red-haired mermaid said. Peter and the mermaids all laughed.
"And then Tinkerbell covered the whole ship with Pixie Dust. And that's how I got Wendy and her brothers back home." Peter finished his story taking a deep breath while The Lost Boys, Tinkerbell, and the mermaids all clapped and cheered. "Oh what an amazing story!" A blond-haired mermaid said with enthusiasm. "Oh yes indeed. You always have such amazing adventures." Said a short-haired brunette mermaid. "Well it just comes to show. You'll never know what you're gonna find on the Mainland." Said Peter.
"And Uhh.. the mainland is called London right?" Cubby asked.
"That's right! Cubby." Peter said.
Say Peter! Where else on the Mainland have you been to?" Nibs asked.
Peter was puzzled. "Huh?" he said.
"You know, the other places besides London." Nibs said. Now everyone was looking at him with confusion. Nibs noticed. "Oh C'mon, you've never known there were other worlds besides London, not even you Peter?" Nibs asked as he looked at his leader in surprise. Now everyone's attention was on Peter. Who just stood there puzzled? He thought about it for the longest time. And it wasn't until Slightly suddenly spoke up and asked him if he even knew there were other worlds at all. When he said no, everyone was in shock. Even Tinkerbell and the Mermaids were shock to discover he was clueless about the Mainland.
"Well how was I supposed to know about there were other places on the mainland." Then suddenly an idea flew into his head. "That's It!" Peter said out loud.
"What's it?" The boys asked in unison. "That's what my next adventures gonna be. I'm going to explore other worlds." Peter announced proudly. Everyone gasped. "But Peter, you don't have enough pixie dust to explore all of the worlds." Slightly said. "Yeah. How are you gonna explore all of them in one day?" asked Nibs. Peter sighed with the realization of reality.
"There's gotta be someway I can—"Then Peter had a thought. "Yes. That's it! Tinkerbell!" Peter called to his fairy friend. Tinkerbell immediately rushed to Peter Pan's side. To hear what he wants from her, "Do you know a way I can see other worlds on the mainland?" Tinkerbell just rolls her eyes, and shrugs her shoulders. "OH COME ON!" Peter complained. He didn't think he was asking for much, but to her it seemed like he was. "All I'm asking is this one thing." Tinkerbell just turns her back in a huff. Peter knew the only way to get what he wants from her, is to put on the Peter Pan charm to persuade her.
He puts a finger under her chin, and turns her head towards him. "Please…Tinkerbell." At first she was enjoying the attention, but then quickly snapped out of it. She sticks her tongue out at him, and turns her back. But Peter wasn't about to give up so easily. "You know I'd do anything for you Tink." Peter said as he smiled at her. Tinkerbell couldn't resist the charm he was giving her. Reluctantly she nodded her head in agreement.
She flew towards the waterfall, and motioned for Peter to step behind it. Peter seemed confused. "What do I need to go behind the waterfall for?" he asked. But Tinkerbell motioned him to go towards it. As Peter stepped closer to the waterfall, four water-talent fairies showed up and parted the waterfall. Revealing a cave hidden inside. "Thanks guys!" Peter said to the water-talent fairies. "Wait for us!" The boys shouted as they followed Peter inside. As they went in, the water-talent fairies left, putting the waterfall back in place.
At the end of the cave, there appears to be a large oval-shaped mirror with a golden border around it. "How's this supposed to let me explore other worlds?" Peter asked as Tinkerbell presented the mirror. Tinkerbell tells Peter to ask it to show him whatever he pleases. Peter was reluctant for a moment.
"Mirror, show me a place where legends happen." Peter commanded. The mirror produced a golden spiral that got brighter and brighter. As Peter and the boys stared at the mirror, it was as if they were being transported through the Milky Way and the solar system to Earth, and finally Mexico. Tinkerbell pointed to the center of the mirror, where golden rays of light shone down on a little guitar-shaped island city in the middle of a skull-shaped lake.
"What is that place?" Peter asked. Tinkerbell said that's San Angel, Mexico.
"MEXICO!" Peter repeated. "Where's that place?" Peter asked in confusion. Tinkerbell said it's in the center of the universe. "THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE!" They all said in unison. "Whoa." The boys were interested in hearing more about this new world. Tinkerbell pointed to the mirror to tell them to keep watching.
It was getting dark, The Day of the Dead celebrations were under way in San Angel. The streets were filled with music and people wearing skeletons "Uhhh… Why is everybody wearing those funny costumes?" Cubby asked. "I don't know." Replied Peter. "Looks like a huge party is going on." Slightly said. In the cemetery mariachis played, women danced, and children laughed as families decorated their loved ones' gravestones for the holiday.
"They look like Indians." Twin one said as he noticed how their skins are dark. "Nah, they can't be, their way more civilized than the ones we have here." Twin two said as he noticed how their dressed. "Well they party like the Indians." Twin one said as he saw how they danced and played music. "Yeah, but look how their dressed. Especially those ladies." Nibs gestured towards the high society girls twirling around each other. "Guys Please! I'm trying to watch." Peter said with irritation. "Sorry." Nibs and the Twins said at the same time.
The mirror suddenly focused it's view on three children, two boys, one girl. She was wearing a red skirt with a white top, she had on black dress shoes, and she had her hair up in pig tails. One boy was wearing a blue shirt, black vest, brown pants, and black shoes. Another boy had his hair styled in a way that his bangs curled up at the top. He was wearing a striped shirt, white pants, and was holding a red guitar. Their names were Manolo, Maria, and Joaquin. Manolo was playing his guitar for Maria. "Uhhh… How does he get his hair to curl like that? Cubby asked as he noticed Manolo's hair style. "Yeah, it looks pretty good." Slightly acknowledged Manolo's hair. "I gotta learn how he does that." Peter thought to himself.
Manolo was a kind and gentle boy who loves music. His friend Maria was beautiful, courageous, and had a fierce fighting spirit. Maria smiled at her friend, but just as he was about to serenade her, another little boy named Joaquin leaped from the bushes, wooden sword in hand. Joaquin was strong, fearless, and loved to flaunt his fighting skills in front of his two best friends.
"Fear not, senorita," Joaquin announced, wearing a fake mustache. "Your hero has arrived!"
Maria giggled. "Is that so?"
"How dare you interrupt a guitarrista!" Manolo strummed his guitar with passion. Joaquin was playing, pointing his sword in Manolo's direction, but Manolo dodged him gracefully, like a bullfighter.
"The girl is mine!" Joaquin announced.
Manolo chuckled. "Never! She's mine!" Suddenly, Maria jumped between them, knocking them both to the ground. "I belong to no one!"
"Whoa!" The two boys looked at each other. Maria was even more awesome than either of them could have imagined. Maria rolled her eyes at them and laughed. "Those two boys would make a fine edition to our group, especially the one with mustache." Slightly said as he saw Manolo and Joaquin play with each other. Then realization hit them.
"MUSTACHE!" They all shouted in unison. They knew all too well that a mustache was the symbol of being a man. They all shuddered at the idea of having a mustache at an early age. "That poor kid!" Nibs said as he looked at Joaquin and his fake mustache.
Then Peter suddenly spoke up. "You know guys, if I didn't know any better. I'd almost say those two boys have a crush on the same girl."
"WHAT!" They all shouted in unison. Mustaches and Love were all sighs of being adults. They can't under why children like them at such a young age could already be talking about grown up stuff. Let alone be thinking about it. They turned their attention back on the mirror.
"Maria, weren't you grounded?" Manolo asked. He was holding his guitar, strumming the beginning of a song he was writing. Maria scoffed. "My father is overreacting," Maria told him. "How was I supposed to know that chickens don't like baths?" Just then, a chicken walked by blowing soap bubbles. Joaquin stood to the side of the conversation, flipping swords in each of his hands. "Don't worry, he knows a real man is protecting you tonight."
"You're not even close!" Maria chuckled. "But I have a mustache!" Joaquin said, wrinkling the fake mustache on his upper lip. Manolo snorted. "Yeah, just like your grandma!" Maria slapped Joaquin on his back, causing his mustache to fall off. He set the wooden swords aside to grab the mustache. They all laughed, but Maria's and Manolo's fathers interrupted the moment. "Maria!" General Posada shouted, his voice echoing down the street. "Manolo!" Carlos called his son. Manolo and Maria rushed off, leaving Joaquin standing there alone, knowing that he didn't have a father to call for him.
"Phew! The mustache is fake you guys!" Peter announced with relief. And the other boys sighed with relief too. Peter suddenly spoke up in outrage.
"But seriously you guys? A mustache? The kid's barely a teenager, and he's already wearing a mustache, even if it was a fake. A mustache is the ultimate sigh of adulthood. Don't these kids know that their not gonna be kids forever? Do they not know what it means to be a kid? Heck I wouldn't be surprised right now if they had no idea what fun is!"
"I'm sure they do you saw them." Slightly said. As they watched them play in the graveyard together. "I'm talking about real fun. Fun that doesn't involve fake mustache, or love." Peter put his hand on his heart, lifted his right hand to the level of his eyes, and made the ultimate vow. "I swear by the everlasting youth that is Neverland. I will show these kids what their missing in being a kid, I will teach them the true meaning of childhood. I WILL BRING THEM TO NEVERLAND, AND GIVE THEM THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES. THIS I SWEAR!" With that, Peter flew out of the cave. And headed straight towards the second star, with Tinkerbell close behind, and the Lost Boys cheering him on. "Okay Tinkerbell! Take me to Mexico!"