Peter Pan Comes Back
Chapter 12: One Last Magic Trick.
Hello all you wonderful people out there! How are you all doing? Sorry, I've taken so long, but you know me, right? I just can't seem to stay concentrated. -,- sigh. It really is something I should work on, now isn't it? Yes, I really should. Now, I am hoping this is the last chapter of this story, because I know that even though I love writing it, it needs to end. Just like everything. Well, anyway, enough of me chattering on, I need to get you along with the actual story!
A complete stillness overcame all of Neverland. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. Not a single sound was uttered in that whole and complete second. A pin dropping could have been heard in the next galaxy, so silent it was after Peter and Wendy's sudden deaths.
Then, everything happened at once.
Hook and everyone in his employ had a full rush of satisfaction and inhumane excitement. Finally, after years of trying and trying and trying, Hook had finally done it! He had finally completed his task of killing his most annoying, spiteful nemesis ever. He had succeeded this time, and no one was going to bring them back. They were dead! Dead! By the looks of the blue around their mouths, they had already crossed to the other side. Their bodies were starting to go a little dull in colour. A little, gray perhaps.
Little did Hook know, that gray cast wasn't actual the deads' complexion happening on their face. True, they were dead, but Neverland was not. Moreover, it was peeved.
All the flowers had started to wilt, and some were dead, as were the trees. Many of the leaves had instantly grown crinkly and brown. Grass shrivelled up, vines began to curl in on themselves and turn a mucky brown colour. Animals began to grow wild, and howl. The fairies fluttered nervously, as the wind began to pick up. Mermaids hide deep in the waves of the ocean. Clouds of massive darkness gathered around the bulk of Hooks ship, as lightening shimmered in their depths. Hard, cold rain poured relentlessly on them, as the winds started whipping at their clothing and the salt turning waves. Salt water and various debris hit many in the face, as thunder crackled ominously above their heads. Waves precariously rocked the boat, threatening to tip the occupants into the fast churning sea.
Neverland was howling with its fury and grief, pooling it all in the direction of the dastardly pirate that had started it all.
Some of Hooks crew had started to take flight over the railing, shaken by the sudden turn of events that were happening. Knowing exactly whom natures rage was directed at, many thought they had a fair chance out in the salty waves. Although, only a moment before they had been celebrating, that had quickly converted to fear as they realized how Neverland took to its beloveds deaths. Whimpering in their own terror, jumping into the sea by their own free will; hoping they could battle their way through the storm. Many were never to be seen or heard from again.
More of the astute pirates stayed on the ship, avoiding the edges as much as they possibly could. They all coward together, horrified they should be claimed as Neverlands next victims. They waited in fearful terror, hoping the worst would end soon, so they could leave. All the while, Hook stood by his quarry, his victory tasting ever so sweet now. Despite all that was raging around him, Hook was smiling a smile of pure victory. He knew no matter how hard Neverland raged, it would not bring Peter back- Or Wendy,
Hook laughed victoriously to the sky, his arms raised in triumph. Lightening struck the sky with jerky, angry flashes, as Hook shouted with all his might, "Give it to me!" He laughed, his voice deranged over his latest victory, "I got them both! You can't do anything!' Thunder boomed. Hook laughed deliriously.
"YOU KILLED MY SISTER!" That outraged cry was too late to warn Hook of the hurt, angered and desolate child that started shoving at him wildly in his own, private rage. The child's face was not only drenched by the complete onslaught of rain, but also by his tears of grief. Said child repeatedly pushed and shoved at Hook's body- whom was too surprised to react right away. "YOU KILLED MY SISTER! YOU MONSTER!" the child cried desperately, as he pushed and shoved in his overwrought emotions.
Yes, the child was Michael, who had reached the vessel just as Hook had thrown the knife deep into Wendy's heart. Watching that scene, a painful sense of numbness and semi-paralysis had filled Michael, as he watched his sister die, yet he couldn't seem to abandon it until Peter had sacrificed his own self to be with his Wendy. By that time, Michael was consumed with unholy, hot burning rage for Hook. Michael had never so intensely hated a person until that moment, when his shock at his sister death wore off. Soon afterwards, Michael rushed at Hook, wanting to plunge him into the treacherous sea. Which, he did.
Though, Michael would had never actually accomplished his task, if Neverland hadn't aided him in that last, critical push. The waves had just given the Jolly Roger another great pulsing push, which sent both Michael and Hook reeling. Hook, already a bit off balance by Michaels recent shoving, stepped closer to the edge. Michael had already recovered himself, and saw an opening that he couldn't miss. He rushed at Hook once more, and gave a mighty shove.
With a cry of fear and alarm, which Hook couldn't quite contain, he went cascading down the side of his own boat. His shrieks of terror were drowned out by the howls of the wind and waves. Michael watched with horribly fascinated eyes as Hook was swallowed up in the swirling, withering black depths.
The water seemed to instantly calmed down, and the boat stopped rocking so horribly. Although the waves had stopped, the clouds were still gathering around Michaels head; a withering, twisting black typhoon. Neverland itself was a barren wasteland of nothing; it's green lush brush dried out to brown, dry dust. Animals wild, dark howling was a black backdrop music to the horrid scene.
Michael turned from the barren scene, to look at the pair of peaceful bodies, blood hardly trickling out of their wounds. Their faces had a blue cast to them, and Wendy's was covered in blood yet without all the blood, it would look as if the two were enjoying a peaceful nap. As if they were not dead a' tall. Michael began crying anew.
"They're both dead! Gone!" Michael began to wail, his voice echoing the grief Neverland felt. He dropped to his knees beside the pair, his head hanging down, his eyes covered with his hand, shoulders shaking uncontrollably, "Gone, I tell you! Absolutely dead. Nothing can be done now." Michael sobbed, his voice cracking in his sorrow, "If only magic could save them now!" He exclaimed- Yet, then Michael's desperate brain grabbed onto an idea.
Carefully, Michael crawled over to his sister- his only sister- and her beloved. Tears cascading down his cheeks, Michael began to chant softly, only for it to crescendo as his belief and his determination to bring them back grew stronger. "I do believe in magic! I do believe in magic!" On and on his chant went, steadily growing stronger as his belief grew and grew. He gripped Wendy's and Peter's hands tighter, willing them to live on.
"I do believe in magic! I do believe in magic!" Michael was practically belting them out now, his hope and his belief carrying those words throughout Neverland. The words spread through Neverland, as more and more people heard the magic crackling through the air and joined in. They believed, just like Michael, that magic would save Peter and Wendy. It had to. It would.
It was a magical fairy world.
The place they were in had no name, and neither one of them knew exactly where they were. They weren't officially in the after life, considering they didn't see any other dead people. All they could see was far-reaching velvet green grass; and each other.
They had no worries of death, or of life. Nothing trivial like that mattered to them anymore. It was just the two of them, alone in a world of magic and mystery. Both finally knew of the adventure that waited for them on the other side.
"Peter, isn't this place perfect?" Wendy sighed, as she leaned her head down on his shoulder. A warm breeze seemed to have come from nowhere, and it rippled at the grass beneath their feet and the baggy clothing they wore.
"Yes, yes, beautiful." Peter replied, though he didn't quite seem enthusiastic. His soft sight vibrated through Wendy's body, and she turned to look up at him. Searching his face, Wendy laid a soft hand against his cheek.
"Peter, what is it that bothers you? Isn't this what you wanted?"
Peter sighed once again, before slowly shaking his head, "Now that I know of the adventure beyond adventures, I want to go back. The living was so much fuller of adventure then this place seems to be." He waved his arm out to indicate the calm, flat meadow, "No one in sight but the two of us. Isn't that slightly boring? Wouldn't it be great if we had someone else to play with as well?"
Wendy sighed, knowing that going back wasn't going to happen. She had gone back by the merest of chances. She hadn't been ready to die, but when she had given her life for Peter's- She had been ready to die, and so she was dead. She couldn't be brought back now, "Peter, I have to tell you now. There is no going back. We died, Peter. We are now apart of death as death is apart of us. We can't go back. Nothing can bring us back."
Peter turned on her, his face full of surprise, "What are you saying Wendy? Sure we can go back! Just a little pixie dust-"
"No! Peter listen to me. WE. CANNOT. GO. BACK. We have nothing here! No pixie dust, no magic- NOTHING! No one has the means to bring the dead back from the after life! My resurrection was because I wasn't willing to die. I was stuck in between, Peter. Yet, when we died then, we wanted to die- more or less. We were ready, and death understood that. We can't return home Peter. We just can't."
"Nothings happening!" Michael cried out, after a while of his relentless, desperate singing. His belief, his trust. How could it not work out? "Neverland! You have to do something! They aren't coming back!" More rain mingled with his salty tears, as if Neverland understood what Michael was saying. Wind rippled around the occupants of the Jolly Rodger, as it seemed to whisper, We can't do anything. They are dead. All is doomed.
Michael stared, unseeing, at the barren, wasteland shore of Neverland. Suddenly full of more determination then he had been before, he exclaimed, "We CAN bring them back! Neverland is magical! We live in a world of magic and wonder! Anything can be done!"
"Bring me the fairies."
"Wendy… Of course we can return to Neverland!" Peter rebutted, as if Wendy had lost some of her mind, dying like she did. To demonstrate, he started walking away from her.
"Peter! Peter, where are you going?" Wendy cried out after him, taking a few steps in his direction.
"Just watch, Wendy! If we keep walking, we'll end up in Neverland! You'll see!" Giving another good stride in the direction he was going, he turned around to look at Wendy. Already his smile was starting to fade, "Well, are you coming, Wendy?" He said, but his voice was betraying his happiness. Peter was starting to see what Wendy meant.
Wendy shook her head, as she slowly started walking towards him, "Oh Peter." She proclaimed softly, "If only you didn't have to find out this way… If only you didn't have to die…" A tear slipped down her cheek, as she began to think how heartbroken Peter would be once he finally realized that they were never going back.
"Hurry up, Wendy! We don't want to dilly-dally anymore! Neverland probably has missed me lots by now!"
All the fairies of Neverland stood over the corpses of both Wendy and Peter. Many had soft hues of mourning around them, as they saw the cold and colourless corpse of their friend. Wendy had not been a person of great interest to the fairies, until they had discovered Peter's infatuation with her. Of course, they hadn't gotten close enough to her to call her a friend.
"Peter…" The fairies shimmered, like a whisper on the wind. Michael was staring at them all, hoping that they would finally take a notice of him. He wanted to get on with his plan as soon as possible. If they waited any longer, it might be too late to save Wendy and Peter from after life.
"Fairies!" Michael demanding, moments later. None of them heard, too consumed in mourning Peter, each of them thinking about how they had had so much fun with him when he was alive, "Fairies! Listen up!" Michael shouted, his patience nearly gone. Between shock, to grief to anger and to determination and exasperation, Michael doubted he had anything to be patient with.
All of the fairies turned, surprised by the force in Michael's words.
"Now, I all know that you are sad that Neverland has lost its two most beloved people, but we need to stay strong, I have a plan that might bring them back, but I need your help and I need it now. I tried bringing them back with the magic of words- Like Peter did with Tinkerbelle- but that doesn't seem strong enough. That's why I need your help- your pixie dust- to join in with the chant. Perhaps that might be enough magic to bring them back to us."
They had been walking in the meadow for ages. Well, it seemed to be ages, but since the after life had no passing of time, no one could tell how long they had actually been marching for. Both had agreed to resting on the soft grass that was under their feet.
Wendy saw Peter gazing woefully out at the expanse of grass, and felt her heart twist inside her body. His next words that he said, in such defeated tones, made her want to cry.
"There is no going back, now is there?" Peter whispered, his voice full of sorrow and depression. He turned to Wendy, his eyes completely blank, as he stated, "You were right, Wendy. We truly are dead. There is no way we can go back." Peter turned back to stare at the ever-reaching grass, "And I wanted so much to show you all that Neverland had to show you." He turned back to her, his eyes brimming with tears, "I died wanting to bring you back, yet I seemed to have died to die, not to die and relive."
"Oh, Peter!" Wendy cried, her own eyes starting to fill with tears, as she reached out and hugged him, "If only you hadn't died, Peter. If I could only send you back!"
It was a sad sight, indeed. Both of them sitting dejectedly in the grass, as one hugged the other, tears starting to fall from her cheeks; the other looking balefully out into the wide fields of green that held no answers to his problems. They held no solutions, and he was finally realizing that his life wasn't a fairy tale. When he died, he actually died. Death wasn't what Peter had thought it to be.
Death seemed so empty, and absolute. The word "forever" seemed to stretch out before him, as this big unforgiving prison statement.
"I do believe in magic! I do believe in magic!" Michael belted out, his heart and his hope soaring as his words flew on the westerly wind. The fairies were dancing and singing around Peter and Wendy's corpses, as hopeful as Michael was. Their pixie dust sprinkled like sunshine as they tossed it onto the bodies.
"I do believe in magic! I do believe in magic… It's still not working." Michael whispered, his voice chocked up from his emotions. The fairies immediately stopped prancing around in a circle, their disappointment easy to see. Many of their wings drooped downwards, as tiny chimes of sadness began to sound.
"Neverland, you HAVE to help us!" Michael shouted, pounding his fist into the air, "You've done so much now, why can't you help us now! Don't you want Peter back? Don't you care enough about him?" Wind howled around Michael, as if defiant against his words. It screamed around him, and many of the fairies were frightened away, but Michael held his ground. He had finally had enough. He wanted his sister and his friend back, no matter what the cost.
"Well? You're NEVERLAND! You have the magic to bring them back, now don't you?" As if in reply, the wind began to slow. Michael relaxed slightly, expecting something to reply civilly to him- then, suddenly, the wind picked up again. It seemed to circle around both Wendy and Peter's body, until a small tornado-like funnel appeared and had whisked both the bodies off the boat. It carried them to the shore closest to the Jolly Rodger A rough breeze hit Michael, as if saying I'll take it from here.
Since the Jolly Rodger was so far from the shore of Neverland, and no small dinghy's were around for Michael to safely cross the choppy waves, all he could do was watch from the sidelines, as Neverland began to prepare for its greatest trick of all.
Resurrection.
"I do believe! I do, I do!" The soft memory of those fateful words drifted into her head, as both Peter and her were laying in the unforgiving sweet grass. Peter had suddenly turned cold and distant, as depression began to set in. Wendy could only watch hopelessly as Peter sunk deeper and deeper.
"I do believe in magic! I do believe in magic!"
"Michael?" Wendy suddenly sat up, her ears instantly on alert. The words had been like a whisper on the wind, a passing memory. If Wendy hadn't been so concentrated on listening for any sounds of life, she probably would have never heard her… brothers voice? "Michael, is that you?" Wendy almost began crying again. If Michael's here, that must mean… That he is… Wendy couldn't stomach the thought! It was bad enough she had to deal with being dead- Peter being dead, along with her- yet now her very own brother might be dead as well? Suddenly it felt like too much to Wendy; she wanted to be alive again. She wanted everything to be the way it had been before she had drank that poison.
Wendy suddenly heard Peter's soft, sad sigh. Maybe before I even came to Neverland, that way I could never have come and this would never happen. Peter would be alive, and he'd be happy. If only this thought could make me happy…
Wendy, it is us. We have come for you. All will be well.
Wendy sat up straighter, her eyes instantly darting around the field. None of the hair on her back flattened when she realized no one was there. In fact, her alarm and suspicion grew once she determined that they were all alone.
You must not be frightened, dear child. We will bring you home, we have missed you and Peter so.
"Who is this?" Wendy asked softly, "Who is talking to me? Answer!" Wendy whispered harshly in her panic, scoping the landscape to find the object of the voice. She slide closer to Peter, almost sitting on his lap in her own fear.
Please, child, if you see the way, you have to take it. All is what we say, and what we say is all.
"See the way, what way?" Wendy challenged softly, "Which way is what way? What do you mean all is what you say?" Wendy was so confused. Her she thought she and Peter were alone in their death, and now here was a riddle speaking ghost tormenting her with hopes of getting out of death. It was all too much, her sorrow, her frustration, her desperation. It all came crashing down on her. She was going crazy, she knew it.
Wendy began to sob. Bitter, salty tears dripped down her checks, as all of her emotions cried out for release. She couldn't handle this any longer. She wanted out, and she wanted out now. I don't want this! I don't want this at all!
Peter, on the other hand, the emotionless blob that he had become, had finally thawed out from his previous sorrow. Wendy's own private melt down had somewhat filtered in to his depressed brain, as he looked down at her with mild concern and interest. (His brain wasn't cleared yet from his lack of emotions), "Wendy, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Wendy, in her own emotional breakdown, exclaimed passionately, "I can't handle this, I can't handle this anymore, Peter! I have gone insane between worry after worry! I need out, and I need out now!" Wendy bounded upwards, her face twisted in determination, "I don't care if we're dead, we're getting out NOW!"
"But, Wendy, you said we couldn't-" Peter started to say, but Wendy shushed him.
"Who cares what I said! If I got out once, I'll get out again! Peter, let's go!" Wendy exclaimed, as she turned around. She didn't look back to make sure Peter was following her, she was that upset. Her melt down had made her fierce, and Peter wasn't sure he wanted to know what she would do in her current… state of mind.
Hour after hour they marched, Wendy's determination not hovering a bit, and her own mood still as feisty as it was before. Peter was meekly following behind her, his own emotions making him more seem more willing to follow orders, then be the one issuing orders. As well, he didn't know how to handle Wendy in this state she was in, and he didn't feel like trying it now- No matter how adventurous he may be in nature.
Suddenly, the landscape around them began to change. It grew more brushy, and then started sprouting trees. Peter was fascinated, his own sorrow being pushed farther and farther into his mind, as the landscape around him began to change. The only real thing Peter had been so depressed about was that he seemed to have been in an eternal prison of flat land; Now that he was in a place full of trees and other delights, he wasn't as sad anymore. This place he could explore for hours and still be amused. Of course, it would be better with all of his friends around. Not that he didn't want Wendy, it's just that, he wanted to play with all his other friends too.
Wendy, on the other hand, was completely absentminded to all the trees and bushes that were growing around her. Her mind was solely focused on finding The Path. The path that the voices in her head had whispered about, and her brother's voice that kept calling her. Somehow, she knew that her brother was beyond that path. She knew it. Deep in her heart, she knew that path lead to her brother, and something… bigger. So, on and on she marched, determined to find this path she wanted- needed- to find.
"I do believe in magic! I do believe in magic!" His voice cried, over and over again. It was coming in clearer now- and louder, too. Wendy was becoming elated. We're getting closer! We're getting closer!
Suddenly, everything around them went black.
"Peter?" Wendy's whispered, suddenly frightened. Something bumped into her side, and she screamed, throwing out a defend arm in that region of darkness.
"Ow! Wendy, that hurt!" Peter's voice exclaimed in the darkness, and Wendy sagged a bit.
"Oh, Peter, it's only you." Wendy smiled slightly, relieved that it hadn't been something vicious, or any another sort of monster, "Do you know where we are?" Wendy asked tentatively.
"Not really. I thought you would, leading us on like that."
"Umm… No, I actually have no idea where I was going. I just felt we had to go that way."
"Well, that's helpful, isn't it?" Peter replied sourly, then he sighed, "But, we can explore around anyway."
"Explore? In complete darkness? Are you crazy? How can we see anything?"
"You don't. You feel, of course."
"Oh… Well, okay… Sorry."
Wendy and Peter both began exploring, sticking their arms out wide, in case they would bump into anything.
"Hey! Hey, I found something!" Peter cried out, seconds later. Then, only to state forlornly, "Never mind, just a rock. I felt all around to check."
It was actually kind of forboding inside of this dank, dark cave. Wendy was starting to get the shivers, not only because the cave was cold, but also because she somehow knew something was in there. (Of course, there really wasn't, but Wendy's mind had convinced her otherwise)
"Peter, I don't think we're alone in here. I want to get out." Wendy whimpered, as she hugged herself tightly, trying to block out images of vicious animals tearing her to shreds and eating her; killing her.. Which was highly unlikely, considering they were in afterlife- they were already dead.
"Well, Wendy, shouldn't you know the way out-"
"Wait! Wait! I hear something." Wendy suddenly exclaimed excitedly, as she picked up her brother's voice again. Only this time, it seemed to be yelling… At Neverland?"
"Neverland you HAVE to help us! You have the magic to bring them back, now don't you?"
"Peter… I think we're nearly there." Wendy said suddenly, as her eyes spotted a bright light over near the end of the cave they had been exploring in.
"Nearly where, Wendy?" Peter replied. His previous mood had been lifted, between this crazy march to find the way home, and the wonderful time of exploring this cave.
"Neverland." Wendy whispered, as she moved towards the bright light, transfixed by what she saw.
"Why do you say that Wendy? I can't see anything in this darkness." Came Peter's confused proclamation.
"You're not looking in the right direction, Peter." Wendy stated, as she came closer and closer towards the white light.
"What's the right direction, Wendy? Where are you anyway? I can't see a thing, this cave is pitch black all over."
Wendy's eyes suddenly snapped, as she whipped around to Peter's voice, "Pitch black? Does that mean…?" Wendy skirted away from the light as fast as she could. In her flurry to get away from the light, she ran into Peter, who fell over, causing Wendy to trip over herself.
"P-P-P-Peter?" Wendy called out, albeit a bit shakily. The light was still there, glowing a bit more intensely.
"What's wrong, Wendy? Did you find something?" Peter's voice stretched out in the darkness.
"I think- I think- I think we have to leave now." Wendy suddenly stated, getting up. The light was drawing her in, pushing her towards it. It was like it was calling her…
"I do believe in magic!" Michael! His voice sounded directly from where the light was. It was like, that was the way out.
"Peter! I know the way out! You have to follow me!" Wendy exclaimed triumphantly, as she groped around for Peter's hand. Finally grasping it, she tugged him along to the white light, her hopes set on what it would bring to her. Perhaps home, in Neverland, or really to a higher plain. A plain where she and Peter would actually be happy…
It was all centred around that beam of light. Wendy could feel the wind whistling against her face, could smell the grass- but then, a sultry smell hit her nose. The smell of death, and then something seemed rabid. The smell of dead leaves, dead trees. It all repulsed her, but the thought of her brother's voice kept her strong.
"Wendy, where are we going?" Peter still had no idea of the light she saw, the light she sought. It was all dark in his mind, "What's that smell?"
"Death." Wendy proclaimed calmly, as she stepped over the white light. She was prepared for whatever lay before them. She was prepared for what death really looked like. What heaven truly did look like.
She was ready. She could only hope that Peter was as well.
The wind was dying, Michael could feel. In fact, all of Neverland seemed to have quieted down, planning to wait for it's final trick to play out. A tense sensation filled the air; and expectant vibe floated on the small breeze that blew the lifeless leaves on the trees. All of Neverland had given itself up to resurrect both Wendy and Peter. The edge of the breeze was becoming stale with the smell of death. Michael could feel just the energy of the place, draining away from the very core. It's magical blood was being pushed into the bodies of both Peter and Wendy, in Neverlands desperate attempt.
Michael couldn't bare to look. Neverland had only wanted Peter and Wendy to live, but that proved too much for it. The magical Neverland had to die in order to revive the people that it needed to stay alive.
The light encased Wendy in a strange sensation of wonder and hope, but also the tinges of death and loss. It combined the very emotions that every human experienced, like jealously and trust. Love and hate. Wendy was full of life and it's wonders, but also distrustful of it's cruelty and unfairness. Soon, though, Wendy came to feel nothing but a dull ache in the top of her head. Peter, too, was moaning of a dull ache, only this one was in the core of his heart.
Wendy's eyes fluttered open. What she was greeted by was rotten, twisted old wood, along with the brown, mucky colour of dead leaves. Everything around here had the essences of rottenness and death. The air smelled dry and still. Not a sound could be heard, besides the beating of her heart.
Wendy suddenly sat up.
What lay before her was devastating. Acres and acres of dead, dried up grass met her eyes, along with even more dead, rotten trees with hardly any leaves sticking onto them anymore. Brown crinkly leaves were pooled at the bottom of the twisted roots. The soil, not covered with grass or dead leaves, was dusty and dry. The air felt the same way. Along with it, came the smell of death, which was disturbing.
"Where are we?" Wendy asked in a half-whisper, afraid of something dreadful popping out from behind the dead ring of trees. Everything screamed of malevolent forces destroying the life essence that had been stored in this lovely piece of land. Wendy turned her head to study the area that she had her back to, and gasped with dismay.
The large, glorious pirate ship with the engraved name on it told her exactly where she was, but Wendy refused to believe it. She was dead, she was hallucinating. Hoping she was back home, where everything was the same.
Only, she wouldn't have dreamed Neverland in such dire straights as this. Never in a million years
Though, she couldn't be alive, now could she? This was all a trick of that light she stepped into. Of course! That is what this all is! That light is giving her nightmares! Of course!
Wendy was dubious of her conclusions on what was going on, and Michael's far off exuberant cry of "You're alive! Neverland DID bring you back home!" Was what finally made her realize that this was no joke. Neverland was a deserted island of death, and she could place many bets that her and Peter's death were what had caused all this devastation.
"Peter… Oh Peter." Wendy cried, the only words that come to mind, as she began to sob. She couldn't help it. Neverland was home to her, and now that it was gone. It was her fault it was gone… Peter, too, slowly began to realize were they were, and what had happened. A dark cloud passed over his face, as he began to soak up the thought that Neverland….wasn't Neverland anymore. It was farther away from him now; farther then it had been, even during his time in the after world. Neverland was dead.
"This can't be happening!" Peter suddenly stormed, shooting to his feet, and flying a bit above the ground, "This is.. Is just… stupid! After all that, all the stuff we have been through- And now Neverland decides to die on us? NOW?"
Wendy looked up at Peter, her eyes revealing her own sorrow, as well as concern and wariness for Peter's present state. In a voice soft and hesitant, but also slightly crackly from crying, Wendy said, "Peter… Please, don't get yourself all worked up."
"WORKED UP! Worked up?" Peter shouted, his anger actually quite terrifying, "Oh, I'm not worked up! I'm angry! How dare Neverland do this to me! How DARE it!" Peter glared at the dry, cracked ground, tensely waiting for it to respond.
Wendy, herself, was actually starting to get a little freaked out by Peter's sudden and abrupt behaviour. She had never really seen Peter angry before; just his usually fun-loving self- as well as an overprotective one- and a depressed one. Yet, never over-the-top-angry. It was actually quite nerve-wracking, considering his usual temperment, and Wendy had no idea on how to calm Peter down. She could tell he would do something rash and stupid in a state like that. One that he would regret.
Already her own emotions were becoming a bit more balanced, and Wendy could think straight once more. In an anxious tone, Wendy asked Peter, "Peter, please, could you take a few deep breaths? At least until you calm down a little. Then we can think about this-"
"I don't want to calm down!" Peter exclaimed crossly, like a temperamental child, "Why don't you just go away, Wendy? Leave me alone!"
Wendy was quite shocked at the vehemence in Peter's voice. Meekly, Wendy got up, and quietly walked away. If he doesn't want me around, well, I won't be around then.
"Wendy! Wendy!" Michaels exuberant voice brought the slow-walking Wendy back to the present. She looked up sharply, only to see Michael's face inches from her own before she was run down in a tackle hug, "Wendy! Oh, Wendy, you're alive!"
"Michael, why are you wet?" Wendy yelped suddenly, as the freezing wetness soaked through her clothing, "And you're freezing cold! We'll have to dry you off, immediately!" Her motherly instincts were already overriding her previous state-of-mind.
"Well, I was stuck on the Jolly Roger, which was just floating out in sea- So I swam here to see you! I'm so glad that you're alive, Wendy! Oh, what would everyone do without you?" Michael cried out, exuberant that his sister was walking among the living again. Wendy smiled down at her darling brother, happy too, that she was able to see him again- And that she was living, as well- but then the dry, crackled state of Neverland intruded on her thoughts once more and she frowned.
"Michael, what happened to Neverland? Why is it… so… dead."
"Well, Wendy, I know you're not going to like this… but Neverland died to save you and Peter."
"Excuse me?" I knew it! I knew it! Neverland IS dead because of me! Oh, why oh WHY did we leave our home in the first place? None of these atrocity would have happened if we had stayed in the first place, never seen Neverland at all…
"Yeah, well it all started after you died…"
Wendy was in a complete upset of emotions; she was completely thankful and honoured that Neverland wanted to save her, and glad that it did so- But she was also conflicted with the thought that if it never had, it would be a flourishing paradise that it had been, as well as the guilt that if she had never gone with Peter the very first time, none of this would have happened anyway, leaving everyone better off. So, in general, Wendy was feeling glad, sad and guilty.
"Well, good thing this type of stuff happens all the time, huh?" Michael said a while later, after repeating all the incidents that had happened after Wendy was killed. Wendy turned sharply to look at her brother, her face perplexed.
"What do you mean, happens all the time?" Wendy asked sharply, wincing at her icy tone. Yet, still, her brother's remark had taken her by surprise. All the time? Impossible!
Michael tutted, shaking his head while he did so, "Wendy, have you already forgotten what books and schooling has taught us? It's quite natural for things to die in the wild- Of course, a complete death like this is extreme, but the object which created it is probably why it's so huge. I mean, bringing back people from the dead! That's amazing! But still, Wendy, what I want to say is everything grows back. It may take a while, but nature will repair itself, all you have to do is give it time. And time is what we all have, here."
Wendy thought over Michael's remark, and then suddenly she smiled, "Michael, you're a genius! Oh, why didn't I think about that? Of course! That's why the flowers always come back in the spring, and the leaves grow as well! Everything grows back, but you just have to give it time- and care. You can't go about killing the stuff that is trying to grow, now can you?" Wendy shook her head as an answer to her own question, before reaching over and giving her brother a big hug, "Oh, Michael, where would we be without you? You have become a fine gentlemen, and quite a smart one too. Your body may not be maturing, but your brain sure is!"
It took Wendy and Michael the better part of the rest of that day to find Peter. He was wondering aimlessly around the place, looking just as hollow as he had when he was in the after world. Only this time, his hollow feelings were surrounded by anger. Peter was acting like a wounded animal, biting any hand that would come his way- be they friend or foe.
As Peter noticed Wendy and Michael walking up to him, he barred his teeth in annoyance, "What do you want?" Peter growled out, eyes flashing dangerously. He wasn't in the mood to be quieted down, or even to be approached. He wanted to reveal in his angered feelings alone.
"Peter, you have to listen to us!" Michael exclaimed, as they came closer and closer, "We know why you're feeling hurt and angered- It's because Neverland died on you! But, really, Neverland never truly died."
"No! I don't want to listen to you! You're lying! Neverland is dead, and that's it!" Peter replied hotly, and watched as both flinched at his tone. Wendy took a hesitant step forward, her arms reaching out in a pleading gesture.
"Please Peter, listen to us. Neverland will grow back. She'll be as good as new, as long as we take care of her. She can't grow if you're feeling angry- Neverland has a direct link to your feelings!" Wendy's eyes were huge with her plea and her desperation. Only, Peter wasn't hearing any of it. He was in a fit of tempers, and there was hardly anything that would get him out of it.
"Wendy, I don't believe you!" Peter exclaimed in his anger, "Nor you, Michael! Nothing will bring Neverland back! Nothing! Get away from me! And leave me alone!"
"Peter please- No, Peter-! Wait-!" Both Michael and Wendy called out, as Peter made to dash away from them.
"Don't try and find me, Wendy! I don't want you! I need no one!" Of course, all these words were only spoken in anger, but neither Wendy or Michael could know that. Wendy looked at Michael, her eyes sad and hopeless, as well as completely stricken by the words Peter had flung at them, as he flew away from them. Wendy could feel her heart breaking- half of it flying with Peter- though she tried to put a light face on it. Peter couldn't mean that, now could he? He surely couldn't... not want to be with me, now could he?
"Oh, Michael, we tried. But we failed miserably. Now Peter is gone- Perhaps gone forever!" Wendy started to walk away, feeling even more dreadful then before, as her mind plagued her about Peter's angered words and disapperance. The ground crinkled forlornly underneath her, underlining her mood. Michael walked with her, as silent as she was, contemplating ways to save Neverland. He wasn't about to give up yet. Then, ubrutly, Michael had an excellent thought.
"Wait, Wendy!" He called out, putting a hand to stop his sister from walking away from him, "What if you could help Neverland start growing again? Why else would she bring you back, if not for something like that?"
"What?" Wendy replied absently, her mind still on other things, "I could never do something like that! I don't… Well, I'm not connected to Neverland like Peter is." His name sounded weird in her mouth now. It was heart breaking, that his name would sound so... lifeless.
"No, Wendy, I don't think that's true." As much as Michael was smart, he was oblivious in other areas, such as seeing underneahth a facade, "I saw you, the one time out in the meadow. You were walking around- all the flowers seemed to be straining to touch you. Some even started popping out of the various footsteps you made!"
Wendy shook her head, "That's silly. I could never do that."
"Come on, Wendy! We gotta try! For Neverland- For Peter! For John, and the Indians! For The Lost Boys! Even for the pirates!" Michael pleaded. He just knew that Wendy could save Neverland. He knew it.
"Alright…" Wendy agreed, though she winced as Michael said Peter, "But I still don't think I really hold that much power, though I'll try, Michael. I really will. For our future." Wendy smiled slightly, still not over her depressed feelings- or Peter. He really couldn't leave me!
"Our future!" Michael replied, already feeling his hopes rising. We'll save you Neverland. For your future.
For all our futures.
Well, as you can tell, I still need to do some more work on this story. I really can't leave you hanging like that, now can I? No, probably not. It'd be an epilogue, or something of the sort. And sorry for "killing" off Neverland. I just kinda thought, well, with bringing both of them back, I had to do something more entertaining then just letting them come back- But then, of course, now I have Neverland growing back again, so that just ruins the whole thing, now doesn't it? But still, Neverland can't go on and kick the bucket! That'd be terrible! So, it "dies" but doesn't die. Perfect for this, I guess. Though, I hope you guys like it. I feel completely OOC with all the characters… -,-
And speaking of the actual story itself, I'm kinda satisfied with it, but then I'm not. I'm satisfied because I did exactly what I wanted to do, but then I'm not because I think I totally flunked it. Sad face.
- Calm-Waters