Neverland was quiet, the land was once again up to its usual luster and beauty, but none on the Isle felt much like celebrating the happy occasion, or demise of Hook. The crystal had been restored to the court of the fae. They were shocked since they had found that there was nothing to do in ways of repairs to Neverland.. Aurelia had taken care of everything.. but obviously with dire consequences… It seemed as if all inhabitants had felt the giant loss, for birds refused to sing, the crickets didn't chirp, only the crocodiles (heartless brutes as they are) continued with their daily lives snapping their jaws at one of the other depressed creatures. The land was strangely silent save for the soft whimpers and sniffling from the more human inhabitants. The wind was gone, bringing a stillness that made one want to run around and scream like a chicken with its head cut off just to get rid of so thick a silence.
The mermaids looked at each other sorrowfully, sitting in the lagoon. Every once and a while they would gaze towards the area their dear friend would suddenly appear from in the morning, after swimming out of her cave. Pearl had been hit the hardest out of the finned ladies, she continued to absently finger her necklace as constant tears ran down her pretty face. The mermaids had been notified afterwards, with a guilt ridden Slightly before he rushed back to the tree. Aurelia had immediately been taken to Peter's hideout, where she could easily be cared for and be watched twenty-four hours a day.
Slightly entered the room to see an elderly fairy hovering over Aurelia's comatose form. The boy sighed as he took in her nearly translucent skin, feverish look, and newly bandaged hands that he could imagine holding the crystal. He sighed and tried to push back the horrible guilt he was feeling. As he looked around he was sure that everyone else in the room was feeling the same as he did. Slightly outwardly flinched when he saw the look of defeat set in Peter's form. He knew that Peter had to have been hit the hardest, seeing as how he had been the one to find Aurelia in the state she was in now. With the lack of bandages, perhaps covered in her own blood. Having to watch her collapse in front of his own eyes, not knowing if she was alive or dead. Peter's outfit was rumpled, his tights ripped, and shoulders slumped. Slightly quickly looked away and back to the elderly fairy. He was gesturing wildly, and Tinkerbell translated to Peter. Peter's face grew even more pale if that was possible and he let out a disappointed sigh.
"What does he say Peter?" Nibs asked quietly. Peter looked at him in hopelessness.
"She'll live" he let out in relief, " but.. he says.. he says that .. that magic can't save her. Since the magic caused her to be in this state it can't.. heal her. It's some sort of magical law." He bit the last sentence out in disgust, as if magic were the most wretched thing in the world since it couldn't save one they wanted to save. Tinkerbell was saying something else and Peter frowned in annoyance. His face darkened considerably..
"He also says that its all up to Aurelia now, there's nothing.. Absolutely NOTHING we can do to help. That she has to decide when to wake up .. If she does. We have to hope that she has enough strength to open her eyes. Or else the crystal took all of her spirit" Peter bit out, glaring at everyone, he glanced once at the girl and bit his lip before jumping out of the window, and flying away. There was no way he'd allow anyone to see the tear glistening down his cheek, leaving a small red trail. The boys stared at him in a while from shock before turning and deciding that one would watch over her at a time, just to keep from overcrowding. The rest shuffled out of the room to tell the news to the rest of the inhabitants. Peter didn't return that night. Neverland waited, and prayed in silence. Aurelia's eyes remained firmly shut.
*******
Pain. Horrible aching pain. Aurelia knew that she hadn't lost any body parts considering every body part she had were screaming in agony. She was stiff in muscles she didn't even know she had. It had felt like a steamroller covered in spikes had decided to run over her a few times. After she had been forced to complete a tenK marathon. Even her eyelids hurts! She felt a coarse hand touching her face gently, and immediately she wanted to jump up, grab who ever that was, slam them against a wall and demand to know what the bloody hell was going on in response to the gentle fingers. What time was it? Where was she? What had happened to the crystal? Oh god the crystal! Was it alright? Was Neverland saved? How was Peter? Where the lost boys back to normal? Did they hate her? Did they know the truth! Damn it what the bloody hell was going on?! Aurelia tried to scream out all of her questions, but her parched lips remained firmly cracked shut so instead she let out a soft whimper. If she had the strength Aurelia would have smacked herself over the head for making such a pathetically weak noise.
Something cold and stiff was pressed against her lips, her mouth was opened and enticing liquid was poured down her throat, ruining her throat's imitation of sandpaper. The feeling that she had swallowed a bucket of dirt gradually left as the water continued to pour into her mouth. Her body seemed to sigh in relief. At least her mouth, throat and stomach were feeling better even if the rest of her body still hurt like hell. Aurelia was still curious as to whether or not she was alive or dead. She was certain she was dead, and had ended up in hell. Why else would her body be so stiff with pain. But if it were hell, then why was she given something to drink? Wouldn't she still be in torment without the drink. Unless.. The drink was POISON! Yes! It would make her hallucinate and see pink dancing penguins, and flaming guppies singing YMCA. That's why she was slowly loosing her will to remain awake. Slowly finding it harder and harder to think clearly. There was a blurring at the edges of her mind. It was still demanding that she fall asleep again, hissing sweet promises of sweet repose. Even though she still attempted to force her sealed eyelids open. Finally, Aurelia's foggy mind slowly grew foggier, and she lost the battle for consciousness, falling into a peaceful sleep. Darkness welcomed her warmly into his gentle embrace.
Tootles smiled in relief, staring at the girl who had just fallen asleep again. She was peacefully slumbering, and her breathing was even, unlike the last time when her breathing was strained and her face contorted in a look of anguish. Now there was even a small mischievous smile upon her face. He had heard her stir earlier and immediately jumped up to give her something to drink. He made sure not to spill a drop according to the fairies orders. Tootles quickly dashed out of the door remembering everyone would want to know that she woke up.
Aurelia's eyes slowly opened, although she was certain she was seeing a flying pig hovering above her nose. She moaned before closing her eyes and opening them again hoping that perhaps the flying pig would go away. It only poked her nose and made a small chirping noise. Aurelia finally growled and attempted to raise her arm to smack the annoying pig away before her eyes decided to focus and she saw, not a pig but a pixie.
"J.. Jax" she said weakly, eyeing the fairy blankly. He smiled warmly at her.
"Lia.. Welcome back" She blinked at him in confusion. Her last memory of the fairy showed his face in betrayal and eyes showing hatred. Aurelia shot up in bed and stared at him fearfully before groaning and falling back down.. Jax flew back and tilted his head in curiosity and worry as to why she looked so frightened of him. She immediately covered her face with her hands. Aurelia suddenly stopped and stared at her hands in shock. They were bandaged? A flash of blood dripping to the ground passed through her muddled mind. It soon left as she closed her eyes, as if to get away from the tiny fairy.
"Lia?" he asked cautiously. She looked at him between her fingers, her eyes expressing a heartbreaking pain.
"why.. Why are you being nice to me?" she whispered, refusing to look at him. Jax's face fell.
"Because you're my frie-.."
"-NO" she interrupted, eyes wild in confusion "You… you.. You hate me!" she exclaimed wildly. Oh.. So that was it.. Of course .. Jax winced inwardly at the memories of accusing her of stealing the crystal. She was still looking at him sadly, betrayed. Jax looked back at his hands in shame.
"Lia.. I have to apologize. But please understand how we all felt." he whispered soothingly, " the crystal is what keeps us alive, since it was stolen that basically meant the destruction of us all…. And since Hook was gone.. " he trailed off. Aurelia was silent for a long moment before looking at him, her hands falling back to her sides.
"it only made sense since I was the only one who wouldn't be affected physically.. No one else could steal it.. no one else wanted to steal it" she finished for him. Jax nodded.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me right away Lia.."
" I just.. I just wish everyone had trusted me more," she whispered, hiding her face away and blinking back the salt water in her eyes, "It'd be nice to know that.. That you guys truly considered me a friend.. That I had been loved enough that someone.. ANYONE would realize that I didn't do it.. But I guess that I'm.. I'm an outsider." She gave out a hallow laugh, "yeah.. that's right, an outsider. Not like I could be anything else. As if I, a cynical thief, would belong in a land of dreams and fantasy. Not bloody likely." Her smile was bitter. Jax gently landed on her pillow and sighed heavily. Aurelia knew she was being stubborn. Her heart was still hurting from the betrayal of her 'friends' the fact that they had attacked her wasn't giving them points either. She considered being angry until rationality decided to reveal its little face and came and gave her a good solid kick to her already sore head. Aurelia took a deep breath.
"Jax...its understandable of what you did.. but if any of you decide to do anything like that.." she trailed off, her voice threatening. Jax had perked up with every word before he jumped up and nuzzled against her cheek. Aurelia managed a small giggle before six sad lost looking boys walked into the room. Their faces immediately brightened though.
"Lia you're awake!" the twins cried out happily. Aurelia nodded. The boys soon were surrounding the bed, all looking extremely relieved. It was at this time that Aurelia's powers of observation finally decided to kick in and she was suddenly aware of her surroundings and saw she was in the hideout.
"What the devil am I doing in here?" she thought aloud. The boys looked at her confused.
"Peter brought you here after he found you!" Cubbie responded in a voice that seemed to say that was one of the silliest questions ever asked, (which was saying a lot considering the intelligence the speaker possessed.) Aurelia groaned.
"Funny all I remember is.. Hook and.. the crystal and.. praying to save everyone.. then nothing." She whispered, staring off in space blankly. Her eyes widened. FINALLY was her chance to have a royal fit to find out what had happened to the crystal!
"NOW!" she roared, the boys leapt away from the enraged girl, "WHAT IN THE DEVIL HAPPENED TO THAT DAMNED CRYSTAL!! I have wanted to know since I woke up!" She bellowed. The lost boys cautiously peeked out at her from their miscellaneous hideouts before Tootles started giggling. Son the rest of the boys had caught into the mood. She looked at them in confusion
"I don't see what's so funny" she mumbled.
"You're still the same Aurelia.." Tootles said with a toothy grin. Aurelia looked at him in confusion.
"Please.." she implored, "tell me all that happened while I was.. Asleep." The boys slowly crawled onto the bed, Slightly and Cubbie helping Aurelia into a sitting position so she didn't touch her raw hands.
"We went to sleep, growing up.. And when we woke up, Peter was shouting about.. Where something was before he took off and disappeared some where.. We didn't really see where since all of us.. Well we were young again Lia! We were BOYS" Nibs exclaimed happily. Immediately his face contorted into a frown as he said the next portion. "The next thing we knew.. He came back with you in his arms, in clothing like his, your head tilted backwards, your hands bleeding.. It was so horrible!" The boys shuddered in remembrance. Aurelia frowned in thought.
"That reminds me, where the devil is Peter and that obsessive psycho pixie any how?" she demanded. She immediately got bad vibes from the question. Everyone looked at each other questioningly before turning back to her.
"Lia… we haven't seen Peter since the fairy doctor told him that you might not even live.." one of the twins offered. Aurelia blinked not only at the bit of information but at the odd sounding answer. She took a closer look at all the boys in the room. Was it just her imagination or were they sounding more and more mature than normal? Their eyes showed a wisdom she had never noticed before, and frankly it scared her to death. There had to be a way to get them back to normal? She swore she could feel the light bulb above her brain light up. Of course! They were afraid she was mad at them! Aurelia decided that it was enough of this silly mature nonsense. Especially for the boys envied by all children every where. Heaven forbid her endangering her own life ruin the beautiful hearts of the children who never grew up!
Aurelia put on her brightest smile for the group and opened her arms. The boys immediately brightened, their eyes lit up with an internal joy and she soon found herself nearly smothered under the weight. Aurelia made a point to ignore the complaints her nerves were sending her brain from every inch of her body, and only fill her ears with the achingly familiar wonderful sound of children's laughter.
"Now tell me.." she let out with a giggle, "do you want to hear of Aurelia's great adventure, and her most daring theft yet?" she demanded in an over dramatized voice. The boys nodded eagerly, finally letting go of their vice grips and settling for sitting around on the bed as she began to tell of what had happened to her.
That night Aurelia's eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the darkness. She quickly sat up in bed, and silently crawled out slinking against the wall towards the staircase. So Peter had left as soon as he heard she might be dead eh? It was high time she go talk to the green pantyhose clad boy. She had finally gotten the boys to stop looking so grown up, and they had fallen asleep, most of which still sucking their thumbs. (which had to be the most adorable thing ever) Aurelia planned to search every inch of this Isle before morning so she could find the flying boy and ask him what exactly happened. She signed and hoped that her body's stamina could keep up with her stubbornness as already her legs were becoming wobbly. Just as she was about to exit into the night she ran into a wall. A very warm wall. A warm wall with arms and green panty hose. Aurelia began to fall backwards before the arms came clamping around her and yanking her up so she was face to face with the haggard pale face of the boy known as Peter Pan.
Until next time!