17/06/07

Title: The Care and Feeding of Flying Boys

Author: Squeezynz

Chapter: Twenty One - Magical Creatures

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They didn't have far to fly, alighting once more in the glade that sprouted numerous rings of white fungi, the fairy rings gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. Treading delicately, Wendy picked her way through the fragile structures, following Peter until they stood in almost the exact center. The woods around them whispered to each other, the leaves and branches making soft shushing noises although there didn't seem to be a strong enough breeze to do so.

"Are we waiting for the fairies to arrive?" Wendy asked in a whisper. Peter sent her a quick grin before throwing his head back and letting out a loud crow, Wendy jumping in surprise and staring back at him as he let out another raucous crow, the sound skittering away among the trees who whispered and rustled even louder.

"Good grief, you could have warned me!" Wendy grumbled, unable to stop a grin pulling her lips apart, an echo of Peter's own.

"Sorry, I suppose you thought it would be something reverent and mystical?"

"Well...I didn't know...I mean...yes."

"I know, I could tell by your expression. Fairies aren't delicate creatures Wendy, they are sprites born of fire and magic, very powerful. They may be small but they are surprisingly fierce when they want to be."

"I remember," Wendy replied, recalling Tinkerbells' attack on her when she first arrived. "I suppose you're calling them to this battle?"

"Oh, they'll know all about it already. I just want to make sure they're fighting on my side."

"Aren't they loyal to you already?"

"They're fickle creatures, hardly knowing what emotion to feel from one moment to the next, and no, they, like all the creatures on this island, are free to give their allegiance where they will."

"But didn't you tell me they brought you here, surely they would support you without question?"

"I certainly would like to think so, but I never leave something that important to chance. The fairies are magic, the strongest magic known on Neverland. Stronger than Walbassa and Talagumpa, stronger than me or you. Without them Neverland would simply not exist, none of us would."

Wendy had been so engrossed in Peter's explanation she paid little heed to what was going on around them. Peter slowly raised his hand and pointed skyward, his eyes lifting to stare at the air above them. Wendy also looked up and couldn't stop the gasp of wonder that left her lips.

"Oh Peter!"

Bright balls of light fluttered and floated all around them, more and more lights appearing from between the trees and flying towards the leaf clad couple at the heart of their special assembly. Having only seen the glowing creatures from a distance Wendy marveled as each tiny winged fairy approached and hovered for a few seconds, as if taking her measure, before flying off to join its fellows. The overall impression was of a glowing, flickering, bejeweled throng gathering ever more thickly in the glade bordered by the forest. Peter had caught her hand in his, holding it loosely and grinning at her reaction to seeing the fairy horde gathering, his fingers gently stroking hers while he watched her expression bathed in the varying glowing lights all around them. Eventually the gathering of enchanted folk settled down towards the ground, finding their place on one of the rings of fungi scattered all over the ground until it looked like someone had strewn a collection of jeweled coronets at their feet. When the last fairy had settled in its seat, Peter dropped Wendy's hand and held up both of his.

"Representatives of the fairy council, I welcome you to this assembly and ask that you allow me to seek a boon."

A trilling tinkling of tiny bells greeted his opening speech, Wendy marveling that if each of the bright fairies represented a separate colony, there must be millions of the enchanted creatures inhabiting Neverland. Peter was telling them of the treachery of Ferru and his pack, of the warning by the she-wolves, of Hook's nefarious behavior and of the fight to come. A great clamoring of fairy voices rose in a tinkling roar at the end of his speech, Peter lowering his hands to await their decision. The afternoon was drawing on and long shadows were covering the glade, making the lights of the fairies seem brighter, Wendy watching as one fairy from each mushroom ring rose up into the air to form a deputation that came to hover in front of Peter Pan, their wings a blur of motion. One of the group flew even closer than the rest, his voice ringing out clear across the silent glade. Wendy listened as the magical creature spoke to Peter, unable to determine what it said, but judging by Peter's reaction instead. The speech only lasted a few minutes, the fairy returning to the deputation who then flew apart back to their respective rings. Peter rubbed at his chin before turning to face Wendy, his expression unreadable.

"What is it Peter, what did they say? Are they going to fight with us?"

"They are undecided."

"About what? Do they want Ferru or Hook as King of Neverland? What is there to decide?" Wendy could feel her temper rise but kept her voice low so as not to alarm the fairy throng.

"They want a test, proof that we...that you are worthy to lead them."

"What?" Wendy stared at him, her mouth falling open. "What sort of test? I thought you said that Neverland had accepted me, isn't this.." she indicated her leafy outfit, "proof enough?"

Peter grinned, "more than enough for me..but they.." he indicated the bright lights about their feet, "they want to see your magic. Apparently one of their number has been spreading the rumor that you are just another..." Peter looked uncomfortable and had to strongly resist the urge to shuffle his feet.

"Another what?" Wendy asked, watching his expression intently.

"Another trifling girl who won't stay." Peter had the grace to look uncomfortable, staring down at his feet for a second before darting a glance up through his lashes at Wendy's reaction.

Surprisingly she looked calm rather than angry, tossing her long plait over her shoulder, her mouth taking on a militant look.

"Alright, they want to see my magic...let's see what I can do." Settling her weight on the balls of her feet, Wendy let the tension flow out of her shoulders, her eyes closing as she concentrated. Having no idea what she was going to do, Peter stayed where he was, keeping a weather eye on the fairies waiting expectantly below.

A spear of sunlight shafted through the trees and touched Wendy's head, gilding her hair into spun gold. Remembering what she felt when the Flutterbyes had come to her call, she closed her eyes and held out her arms, the fairies at her feet setting up a muted series of chimes, their wings fluttering and whispering like the trees. This time it wasn't huge rainbow butterflies that came to her call, it was red and black, polka dot lady bugs, the earth erupting underneath the fairy rings and spewing the tiny beetles onto the mossy ground. The fairies instantly erupted into the air, the mushroom rings covered completely by the army of ladybugs, their red carapace looking like a spreading tide of blood seeping out of the earth. Only around where Peter and Wendy stood was the ground clear of the beetles. Soon the ladybugs split their shiny carapace and spread their gossamer wings, flying upwards and chasing the fairies until the air was full of the hum of wings. Eventually the ladybugs dispersed into the jungle, leaving behind an almost deafening chorus of fairy chimes, Wendy opening her eyes to see a look of awe on Peter's face, quickly transforming into a wide grin, his hand catching hers as she lowered her arms back to her sides.

"Impressive."

"Was it enough to impress them?" Wendy asked, indicating the fairies milling about their heads. One broke free of the cloud and wafted down to hover in front of Peter's face. It trilled a series of chimes before darting off, the fairy throng starting to disperse in every direction possible, weaving glittering paths between the trees.

"Well?"

"They fight with us. He said that as long as you were on my side, they'd be loyal forever."

"Really," Wendy mused, tapping her bottom lip with her finger. "Then I won't have to perform again, will I?"

Peter laughed, and drew her into a hug, his eyes dancing. "No, I think that was sufficient. Thank goodness you chose the smallest of Neverlands' bugs to call, I'd have hated to see what damage there would have been if you'd called the biggest."

"How big is the biggest?" Wendy asked, tilting her head back and smiling into his handsome face. Peter drew back and held his hands apart nearly two feet. Wendy gave him a skeptical glance, but he nodded his head.

"It's true. I've only seen a dead one before, but they are huge!"

"Maybe I should call them up for the battle."

Peter drew her back into his arms. "No...I think we might just do better with something a little larger and more suitable for taking on a wolf pack."

"And that would be?" Wendy asked, her arms looped loosely about his waist. It was very pleasant to just stand together and be close, the late afternoon sun almost gone from the glade, leaving everything in muted shadow after the brilliance of the fairy folk.

"Oh...maybe a tiger or two, or a bear or three." Peter remarked casually, feeling Wendy's reaction when she stiffened against him.

"There are tigers on this island?"

"And bears." Peter chuckled. "I think I did mention that before, didn't I? They tend to live on the far side of the island away from people, but they have been known to venture over the mountain range...occasionally."

"You don't ask for much," muttered Wendy, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, the mere thought of facing a live tiger or bear making tremors run down her back. "I think I prefer to stick with bugs."

"Then we'll have to make them big bugs." He liked the feel of her leaning against him, her curves fitting his shape to perfection, as if made just for him. He glanced up at the sky and realized that time was passing quickly. "We have to go. There's more to do before we meet Jack and the others at the Silver Forest."

"I hope a meal is on that list of things to do sometime soon. I'm starving." As if to punctuate her statement, Wendy's stomach decided to sound out a growl of agreement. Peter laughed then stepped back, holding out his hand for her to take. Together they flew up and away from the fairy rings, the glade vanishing into the surrounding forest as they headed west. Peter took the lead and flew towards a tumbling waterfall spouting out the side of a sheer rock bluff, falling to a pool at it's base before following a deep channel into the jungle. They alighted on a pebbly beach that bordered the plunge pool, the area alive with the song of exotic birds and the thunder of the falls. Peter told Wendy to wait and left her dabbling her toes in the champagne cold water, so clear she could see right into the deep water where small fish darted back and forth. Peter returned with his arms full of banana leaves laden with ripe fruit, depositing them on a broad, flat rock which they used as a table. In the fading sunshine it made for a delightful picnic, as far removed from the threat of conspiring enemies and prospective battles as possible. Cupping their hands they drank the water, the liquid almost sparkling with tiny bubbles, a broad rainbow forming in the spray falling down the bluff. Brightly colored birds flew overhead and Wendy thought it the most perfectly peaceful part of Neverland she'd visited so far. Their stomach's full, they lay back on the soft grass bordering the tree line, light still slanting through the branches and creating bright patches over the couple below. Wendy was aware that time was passing, that all too soon they would have to be on their way to meet up with Jack and Tiger Lily and the others, but for now, it was peaceful and quiet and she had Peter, hale and hearty, all to herself. He lay back with his hands behind his head, his eyes closed, at peace for a few minutes. He could sense that Wendy was also completely relaxed, her fingered laced across her stomach, the heat from her body reaching out and enveloping him, her presence as much a part of him as his own limbs. Rolling slowly on to his side, his head propped on one hand, he faced her and looked his fill, enchanted anew by her features and fair skin, the leaves hiding her charms from his eyes but not from his memory.

"If you had a wish...what would you wish for?" he asked, the sound of the waterfall fading as he waited for her to open her eyes and answer him. As if pulled by invisible threads, Wendy turned her face towards him and slowly blinked, her lashes like shadows across her eyes.

"Just one wish?"

"Just one."

She closed her eyes and turned away, her brow furrowing as she thought on his question. "I think...if I had just one wish, I'd wish that nothing I saw happen in the cave would come true."

For a moment Peter said nothing, his gaze flicking down to the grass where his fingers plucked at the green stems, a nerve jumping along the line of his jaw. "What did you see in the cave?"

"I told you...I saw you die. So in a way, I've already had my wish come true." Wendy turned her head to look at him, a small smile putting in an appearance for a moment before vanishing again. The sky overhead was starting to flare with the colors of the setting sun, the dark shadows cast by the trees growing longer and darker with each passing minute.

"What else did you see?"

"Nothing important Peter, and nothing I want to talk about." Wendy stated emphatically, rolling on to her side and propping her head up on her hand. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Back at the pool, you said we were to meet up with Jack. The wolf said she'd been with him before coming to you. Am I right in thinking this is the same Jack...Black Jack that runs with the pirates? That kidnapped me and practically handed me over to Hook?" Her voice had risen with each successive question, her eyes darkening like the sky, a faint tremor shaking her as she slowly rose to a sitting position and faced him. Peter sat up as well and met her questioning gaze.

"Yes, it the same Jack. He was in the cave as well and something happened. He was there when I went in to look for you, but he doesn't remember anything before the time he came back changed. He was the Jack I used to call my friend, not the Jack that became a pirate with a reputation almost as black as Hooks'. He didn't even remember you, or what had happened to you, or his part in it."

"Is it possible? Could it just be a...a...trap?"

Peter shook his head. "No...it's true Wendy, he doesn't remember a thing. He's just the way he always was."

"If that's the case, then another vision has been dispelled and the wish has come true already." Letting her head droop, Wendy let out a sigh of relief, the vision of her marrying Jack now nothing more than a ridiculous hallucination. Peter was now thoroughly intrigued, a niggle of jealousy at the thought of Wendy having a vision that involved Jack but not him.

"Was the only vision you had of me, when I was dead?"

Wendy lifted her head and a smile played about her lips. "I prefer not to remember that vision. It was extremely odd given what I now know about Captain Hook, and you say Jack is different as well. Then what I saw can't possibly come true, can it?"

"I suppose not. Did Jack ever tell you why he kidnapped you in the first place?"

Wendy bit her lip, not sure how much to tell him. "Whatever it was, it's all over now. He's back to being your friend again Peter, it can't possibly help or be fair to quote what he said when he was a pirate, don't you see?"

"No. I want to know what he told you."

"Peter, it wasn't important...not anymore, anyway. It didn't happen and isn't likely to happen."

"It's important to me. Jack doesn't remember, but you do. Why did he take you away? Where was he taking you and why?"

Wendy stared back at him with memories clouding her vision. All of what Black Jack had told her about age, renewal and death came roiling back, the snatches of conversation somehow distorted and jumbled. She shook her head. "He mentioned something about escaping Neverland, of breaking some cycle...that if one person should die with the realm of Neverland then they, the pirates, would be free to leave. He seemed to think I was the only person who could, or should die because I hadn't been here very long. I-I didn't really believe what he said, he was just trying to frighten me, wasn't he?" she pleaded with Peter to confirm or laugh off her words, needing him to tell her it was all a horrid joke. Instead Peter lowered his head, his eyes hidden from her, his mouth thinning into a grim line.

"While Life is Renewed then Neverland Flourishes – If ever a Life Ends Forever then Neverland Perishes." He quoted, not meeting Wendy's anxious eyes.

"That's what Jack said, or something like it. Then it's true? If I, or someone else was to die here, it would all cease to exist?"

"Not entirely...but close enough." Peter confirmed, fidgeting with a blade of grass, rolling it between his fingers.

"Peter...if what Jack said is true, then was it also true what he said about his age...and your age?"

"What did he say?" Still not looking at her, Peter discarded one blade of grass for another.

"He said he was," she stopped, one hand coming up to cover her mouth as if to stop the words coming out. "He said he was one hundred and sixty years old..and that you..." she gulped, " you were even older."

"One hundred and sixty...I didn't realize it had been that long," he mused, finally raising his head so that Wendy could see his eyes and read his expression.

"It's true...all of it, isn't it?"

Peter sighed and attempted a wry smile. "Neverland is so named for a reason Wendy. Never grow up, Never grow old, Never die, Never ending." The smile died before it reached his eyes, Wendy's expression one of distress.

"Never grow up? But...but...I saw children at the Indian camp, young men, old men...and you, you didn't just spring into being without being a baby first and growing up."

"It's on of the paradox's of Neverland. Time can be bent and twisted, slowed down and speeded up. The Indian's chose many years ago that they wanted a normal life, such as it was, to grow old and produce another generation, and so they do, being reborn after death into another living spirit is part of their beliefs and accepted by all their tribe. The pirates live in a state of limbo, neither growing old but able to die and be reborn, sometimes to live as a pirate again or as another creature. The Fairies are eternal, unable to die unless someone speaks the killing words, their number constantly renewed every time a human baby utters it's first laugh. As for me..." Peter paused, his eyes taking on a strange gleam in the deepening shadows. "I asked to be allowed to progress beyond my state of limbo as a child, but there was a condition."

"Condition?"

"I had to agree that, in growing up, I would find either a mate to produce a successor, or nominate someone as the next Pan. I was all set to nominate Jack as my successor when he was turned and became a pirate. I could have nominated someone else...but then I met you. I knew than that I wanted someone of my own, a mate to join me here and..."

"Produce the next Pan. Oh my God." Wendy felt as if someone had sucked all the air out of her lungs, the enormity of what she was involved in finally hitting home. "I never really had a choice...did I?"

"You always had a choice Wendy...I'll admit I wanted you to want to come to Neverland, quite desperately as it turns out. You see...I fell in love with you. After that there was never really any other choice for me."

It was almost full dark now, the sky carrying only a hint of the sunset that had flared and died during the last few minutes. Wendy stared over at the cascade of foaming water still pouring in an unending stream, the spray very white against the black rocks. Her mouth felt try, her palms sweaty as she tried to digest and understand everything Peter had told her, her heart pounding unevenly in her chest. This was it then. She had already given him her body, and declared that he now owned her heart. Was she really prepared to give up everything she'd ever known and make her life here, with this ageless young man who professed to love her? Drawing in a steadying breath, Wendy turned back to face him, her gaze finding his and surprising a look of pleading in their shadowed depths.

"You're right Peter...I did have a choice, I was just a little slow to understand everything involved. I see now why things have happened, and I think my choice was made the moment I took your hand. You see, I fell in love too. With you, with Neverland, with everything." She looked down, unable to hold his burning gaze any longer. Gently she brushed a hand over her leaf covered abdomen. "I think I would be very happy to...to be a mother." She gave a nervous laugh. "It was after all what would have happened in a few years if I'd stayed in London. A nice young man, approved of by my parents and groomed for a solid, dependable career, would have been my choice before too long." She felt, rather than heard, the low growl issued by the dark shadow seated at her side. "Instead of that life, I have another to look forward to, a life full of adventure and magic and...you." She smiled to herself. "I think I made the right decision."

At last Peter moved, his arms enveloping her, her own wrapping around him so that they melded together seamlessly. In the dark, he found her mouth and covered it with his own, their breath mingling while lips and tongues sealed their future and declared their feelings without hesitation or regret. At length they parted, breathless and tingling, the sky above now spangled with a billion stars. One of the stars detached itself and darted towards earth, weaving a path through the clear sky until it hovered over the couple wrapped in each other's arms on the grass below. Tinkerbells' light drew Peter and Wendy's attention upwards.

"Tink!" Peter exclaimed, a broad smile splitting his face on seeing his fairy friend. He and Wendy got to their feet, hands remaining entwined as they listened to the fairy chime her message to them both.

"You're right Tink, it is time we made our way to the rendezvous with Jack. Lead the way, we'll be right behind you."

Peter tightened his grip on Wendy's hand, receiving an answering squeeze in reply. They flew up into the blue velvet sky, following the glowing bright ball of light as Tink drew them onwards, the forest now dark and impenetrable below. Once or twice Peter called a halt, the three of them hanging in mid air while he played a haunting tune on his pan-pipes, Tink sitting on his shoulder as the notes of the tune dropped down to the shadowed forest below. Wendy kept her questions to herself, content to have had her former fears and anxieties well and truly put to rest back at the waterfall. Before long they were moving again, traversing the island with only the stars for company. At last Wendy could make out a change in the forest canopy, the tree trunks almost glowing in the darkness, their white bark reflecting the starlight and appearing to be encased in silver, their leaves also reflective and fluttering in the slight breeze like the crystal droplets on a chandelier.

As they flew closer they could see torchlight flickering between the trees, a snaking line of lights leading towards a circular glade where many more lights congregated, fires also adding to the level of light, along with the darting forms of fairies among the silver trees. As they flew towards the ground, Peter squeezed Wendy's hand once more, his grin one of supreme confidence that nothing and nobody could possibly be the victor other than himself.

Wendy hoped fervently that it would prove to be true. Certainly she would do anything and everything in her limited power to make it happen. She had most definitely made her choice.

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...tbc