***Disclaimer***I don't own any of the characters, I don't claim to own them, therefore there is no problem. ***Notes*** Part of my story goes along with an episode from "Peter Pan and the Pirates," The Neverscroll. I hadn't realized that I used the idea from that episode until after the story was started, so I'm just going to leave it as it is. I guess here's a disclaimer for that episode, the idea belongs to Fox. And as always reviews help and are greatly appreciated.

WHEN THE PRESENT FADES AND THE PAST COMES ALIVE

CHAPTER ONE

Peter Pan's shadow rolled across the clouds below him. Both his arms were stretched out in an airplane shape, with his feet together and pointed. His head looked down below him; his eyes scanned the soft and light clouds.

In a second he stopped flying and squinted his eyes, studying the cloud below. His eyes widened as a grin spread across his face. Peter pulled his arms in and crossed them upon his chest, floating in the air in a standing position.

The cloud below him appeared to be just the same as all the others, except a small thing was different. The cloud's color was a light blue around the rim, white inside of the rim, but instead of a soft pink in the middle, the middle was dark, almost black.

Peter shook his head, his grin still big. He took the stance of an Olympic diver and dove into the cloud. "Gotya!" He shouted as he pushed a boy of the same age as him out from the cloud that he had been hiding in.

"Took you long enough Pan!" The boy who had just been found snorted as he lay on his back, his one leg crossed over the other and his hands behind his head. He floated like this backwards.

"Oh please! It took you a lot longer to find me." Peter said in self- defense. The other boy stopped moving and rolled his head over to the left so that he could see Peter.

"I'll be glad ta prove you wrong." He said while he raised his eyebrows.

"Is that a challenge James?" Peter moved closer.

"If you could call it a challenge." James said with a smile.

"You're on!" Peter said while he stared into the cool brown eyes in front of him.

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Peter quickly opened his eyes. He breathed heavily in and out, causing his whole body to rise as he inhaled and shrink as he exhaled. He shut his eyes and then reopened them, slowing his breathing down. He brought his left hand to his forehead to brush away his fiery orange hair from his eyes, that was now soaked in sweat.

Removing his hand he released a sigh and rolled over to lie on his side. "Get a hold of yourself." He demanded. While releasing a final sigh he closed his eyes hoping to fall back asleep. As soon as he closed them he saw those dark brown eyes staring at him.

Peter reopened his eyes and sat up in his bed, shaking his head. 'This is pointless.' He thought to himself and with his one hand he pulled the fur cover off of him. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed he pushed himself up and stood for a moment. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness around him.

After a few moments Peter made his way silently out of his room and past the sleeping lost boys, and Tinkerbell. Once outside he drew in a breath of air, and slowly released it. It was still a good hour or so until dawn, and then at least a few more hours after that until anyone else would be up for the day.

With nothing to do Peter began to walk about the forest. His mind wandered and he thought of several things. But no matter how hard he tried not to, his thoughts continued to go back to the boy from his dream. The boy was not entirely a dream, for the dream was of his past, therefore making the boy an actual person that he once knew.

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A wet head, with loose black curls came out from underneath the water's surface. He quietly moved his arms beneath the calm water, his feet fluttering below. With one quick swoop action he pushed the unsuspecting red head underneath the water. He held him there for a brief moment then released his him.

Peter's head came bobbing back to the surface. He spit some water out of his mouth and released a few small coughs. When he caught his breath he lunged at the laughing James.

Expecting this action James began to swim away from his predator. Peter kept after him and in a short amount of time he caught James and paid him back. When James recovered the two began to attack each other with splashes. Laughing all the while between the threats that they shouted at each other.

They eventually grew tired of swimming and both got out of the lagoon. The two shook their heads, as dogs would, to dry off. They began to put their clothes back on. Peter wore his usual green attire and James wore black pants that went just below the knee in length. The cuffs of the pants were torn and ragged. He wore a white long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He put on his thick brown belt, which hung off of his hips, to the side of the belt was a holder for his knife.

After dressing the two boys sat down on the large rock they had been changing on. The day was over, and the night was mid-way through. That was the reason why the boys had been swimming alone. Usually the lost boys swam with them and also the mermaids, but due to the late hour they were by themselves. It wasn't an unusual thing though, the two of them going off together alone.

The two laid down beside each other and gazed up at the star filled sky. Both of them had their arms behind their heads, using them as pillows. Without removing his gaze from the stars James spoke.

"Pan? Do you ever, do you ever want to go back?" Peter turned his head and looked at his friend, who continued to look above them. Peter brought his attention back to the sky.

"Why would I want to?" He paused for a moment. "There's nothing there for me." He finished. Now it was James' turn to look at his friend. Peter showed no signs of sadness, but James could sense it.

"You never know Pan." He turned his head back. "You never know."