~~ "It's the wickedest, prettiest policy I've ever heard of!" ~~
While Katie sat patiently by Peter's hammock, and Peter wallowed in his own self-pity, and the pirates set their new plan into action, he lost boys were ignorantly playing in the lagoon. John was floating out towards mariner's rock. Daisy, Tobby, and Dows were splashing about, and wondering when Katie would come to teach them the new game she had promised, "Mark-o Pole-o" or some such thing. Beetle was sitting on the edge of the water, staring down at the Mermaids, too afraid to get in the water without Peter or Katie there to watch him.
He put his toe in the water, testing it cautiously. Tobby saw him nervously edging towards the water, and paddled over, Daisy and Dows not far behind. "C'mon, Beetle," he called, "Get in already!"
Beetle looked up, very scared. "I'm waiting for my mother," he mumbled.
The ensuing laughter broke John's reveries, and he swam over. He was fairly angry with the boys for interrupting his dream, as it was a very pleasant one. He had just escaped the Never Land, and was flying to London to become a great lawyer. Of course, had Peter known one of his lost boys was dreaming of becoming a lawyer, the boy would be ostracized faster than he could say 'I don't believe in fairies' and as such, John was in no position to tell anyone that he had been dreaming.
Besides, thoughts of being a lawyer weren't the only blasphemous thoughts in his dream. Peter had tried to stop him from leaving, and the last image John had seen, the one that remained freshest in his mind, was Peter, lying in a puddle of his own blood, on the shores of the Never Land, the waves lapping at his mutilated body. John had flown away from that, the other lost boys rejoicing. They would be free of the tyrannical ruler now, free to do exactly as they pleased, and not crushed beneath the foot of some big headed boy named Peter Pan.
The boys were still laughing when John reached the shore, these murderous thoughts in his mind. He stood up, taller than any of the boys, and looked to Beetle. "What's the commotion?" he snapped.
"Beetle over there," began Tobby, "He won't get into the water because Katie's not here. He wants his mother," Tobby jeered, and tried to pull Beetle into the water, but Beetle jumped away.
John stared, shocked, at the youngest lost boy. What was this? Did Beetle really think that Katie was his mother? Was Beetle really that dependant on the generally replaceable and unnecessary female figure? John scoffed. "Beetle," he began, "You didn't need a mother before Katie came."
Beetle couldn't grasp this idea. "Hasn't Katie always been here?" he asked, curiously and not a little afraid.
"Yes, hasn't Katie always been here," repeated Daisy, who was now trying in vain to remember a time before Katie. "I mean, I can't remember a time when Katie wasn't here. Can you remember a time when Katie wasn't here, Dows?"
Dows shook his head. "Can you, Tobby?"
Tobby looked thoughtful. "No, I can't. Can you, John?"
"Yes," answered John, decisively.
Silence reigned over the lagoon. No one was sure why not, but John was not supposed to disagree with the other lost boys. The four smaller boys stood, motionless. John grabbed Beetle, and pulled him into the water forcibly. "You don't need a mother, none of us needs a mother," he yelled, nearly drowning a screaming Beetle, as the three other boys watched in horror.
Beetle writhed out of John's reach, and, crying, escaped to the shore. The lost boys could do nothing but stare at John. "You all sicken me!" He yelled, "You're such babies! See if I ever play with you again!" With that, he turned and swam out to Mariner's rock. How could the boys forget all the time before Katie was in the Never Land? How could the boys be so reliant on their mother? Didn't they remember the adventures they'd had before the stupid girl had come?
John fell asleep again, on Mariner's rock, and was left to his dreaming.
This time, he was a pirate. He wasn't quite sure what a pirate was, but whatever it was, so was he. He had a long sword, and a patch over one eye, and he was fighting Peter. Step, lunge, thrust, and then—
He woke up, feeling the water lapping at his feet. Time to swim back. But, the shore looked so far away now, and none of the other lost boys were anywhere to be seen. John jumped up, and tried to fly, only to find himself propelled towards the water with surprising force.
He landed with a sound so loud he was surprised the rest of the island didn't rush over to see what the matter was, and began paddling, meekly, to the shore. He couldn't fathom why he wasn't flying, but he wasn't. Maybe he needed some more fairy dust. It was insignificant anyway.
By the time he reached the shore, he was worn out, and it was dark. He hurried back to the house in the tree, but he had already been missed. The boys were inventing exciting stories about his death, how the wild animals had eaten him, or the Piccaninnies had turned traitor, and his scalp was adorning Tiger Lily's teepee.
When he entered the house, the boys ran over and inquired about his adventures, all except Peter. Peter looked distinctly jealous, trapped in his hammock, pretending to be sick. John saw, then, the image from his dream, of Peter dead on the shores of the Never Land, and he smiled. The boys were shouting for a story of an adventure, and John did his best to make one up on the spot. He knew Peter's orders were that no lost boy could have an adventure without their captain, but why should he follow Peter's orders?
* * * * *
That night, Katie couldn't sleep. She stared into the air, thinking. Peter's orders had been that no lost boy was to have adventures without him, so why had John gone off on an adventure? Something was afoot that she couldn't control. Perhaps John had grown up, and needed to be banished from the island. But, what would the poor boy do if he were banished? There was nowhere to go from here, you either stayed or you died. John's parents surely had forgotten him since he had been lost. The window was probably barred.
Which brought back the memory; hadn't her mother always barred the window? Would Sue have taken Katie's place when Katie returned? If she didn't return soon, they might all have forgotten about her. She couldn't stay in the Never Land. What was she to do?
A voice came up behind her, in the dark. "You must leave."
She gasped. Rarely had her conscience spoken to her in such loud and unwavering tones. "But, I love it here. Why must I leave?"
"Has Peter to tell you his story yet?" asked the voice.
"No," she responded. "I'm the one who tells stories."
"Well then, he's been fooling you all along, you silly girl. Peter ran away from his family, but he stayed too long. When he returned, the window was barred and his family had forgotten about him. There was another little boy in his place." Katie knew this story, Grandmother Margaret told it to her with the rest, but she still gulped, seeing Sue taking her place in the family. "He hasn't told you because he wants you to be stuck too, so you can feel the pain that he did when he knew he could never have a family. Peter's a vengeful little devil, deep down inside, an evil little sprite."
Katie refused to believe that. Peter was not vengeful. She looked over to his sleeping body; he looked just like an angel. "No, no, he's not! He's just a little boy, and he does so need a mother."
"Do not you, Katie, need a mother too?"
Katie sighed. She had no response to that.
"And does not your family need you?"
Katie thought of Sue, and her mother. Sue who scorned Katie for her failure to fit in, and her mother who disregarded Katie for her imagination and belief in great-Grandmother Margaret's stories. "No. They're just as glad with me here. If anything, they're happier with me away," she sobbed.
"Everyone?"
Great-Grandmother Margaret surely was happy for her, and her father spent so much time at work that he probably hardly even noticed the absence of his elder daughter. Who would care? Her friends? Perhaps. Her teachers? In all likelihood, they'd relish in another student to fail. She couldn't think of anyone who would care particularly if she dropped dead right then. "No. No one cares. I shouldn't go back."
"No one cares? How do you know? How do you know it's true, unless you go back? Surely, if you stay here, they will all forget you, but there must be someone who wants you to return. You'll never know if you don't go, and you'll never be able to go if you don't go soon."
Katie gulped. "I… I suppose I should go, then."
"And hurry, so as not to be too late!"
"Yes… I'll hurry…"
The voice receded, and Katie was left to her unhappy thoughts. She had to leave. This wasn't where she belonged. Peter had been trying to fool her all along, and was just kidnapping her from her loved ones and family. She had to return to them, the ones who really cared. She looked over towards Peter, unsure. There he lay, and as she turned to him, a shudder passed through his little child-like body. He cried out, emanating fear from whatever horrible nightmare he was having. Katie sat up, watching as he shook and cried in his sleep.
She stood up, walked across the room, and stood over him as he shivered in fear. She reached out to comfort him, but something stopped her, and she could not touch him. Almost crying herself, she turned and crossed the room to her own bed. She would have to leave. The next morning, she woke up soon after Peter. She called for his attention.
"Peter, I must leave."
He looked shocked. No other mother had left so soon. They had all had at least one good adventure. "Why? You just got here!"
"My family, they need me, and I need to explain to them about the Never Land. My mother locks the windows, Peter, and I'm worried that Sue might not open them. I need to explain to them before they forget me."
Peter looked terrified at the idea of a locked window, but seemed untouched by the concept of Katie leaving. "So, you're leaving, then? Zan! Wake up! Take Katie home."
Katie blinked, tears running down her cheeks. "Peter, aren't you going to try and stop me?"
"Why should I?" he asked, confused and a little angry. "You've already decided, haven't you?" His cool was fading. If she really didn't want to go, then maybe it was okay for him to show that he didn't want her to leave either. "What good would arguing do?"
Katie shook her head. "Will you come back, for spring-cleaning time?"
Peter nodded, coldly. "Just like always." It made Katie even more upset. Just like always, he had forgotten about her mother completely. Just like always meant he wouldn't try to remember. Just like always was no commitment.
Zan had wearily gotten out of her apartment in the little house, only to understand what was going on and frantically flit around Peter's head. "You can't just let her fly away!" Zan yelled. After all, Zan had taken a liking to the girl, and Katie had proven an excellent adventurer by all means. "Besides," she started, "I don't know the way. You'll have to come with." This, of course, was only partially true, but Zan thought it of enough importance that Peter come with that she could lie.
Peter sighed. "Very well, then. I'll show you the way back." Katie looked marginally happier, and with that, they set off, leaving the lost boys in a peaceful, deep sleep.
Outside, below the house, Starkey almost jumped for joy as he saw his plan taking shape.
The way back to London was quick, because the Never Land was of the opinion that Peter had better get there and get back fast as he could, and therefore looked for the mainland for the travelers. They found the city soon enough, but finding the house was another matter.
They flew first to great-Grandmother Margaret's home, because she was more likely to keep her window open in the night, for the girl to come through. Katie's heart nearly stopped when she saw the burnt remnants that had once been the apartment building. She landed on the ceiling, looking for some sign, something to show her what had happened. She found nothing. Peter waited impatiently.
"I don't think it's here," he commented, not realizing the severity of the situation.
"No," Katie replied, a tear rolling down her face, "No, it's not."
They then flew across town, to the house where Katie and Sue lived. They flew up to a window. Sue was inside, inside Katie's room, using the room as her own. She glanced over to the window, and seeing her older sister Sue smiled wickedly, and cracked it open only enough to speak through it.
"Well, I see the prodigal sister has returned," she whined.
"Sue, open the window," Katie replied, trying to remain calm.
"Why should I?" snarled the younger one.
"Just open it, please, so I can get in."
"You can use the front door, just like anyone else, sister dear."
At that moment, Sue's mother yelled in, "Sue? To whom are you talking?"
"No one, mother!" shouted Katie's sister, and quickly drew the blinds before her mother walked in.
In the five-minute conversation that followed, no mention of Katie appeared. Katie lost her happy thought. She fell to the ground, landing with "oomph!" and bumped her head. She saw Peter above her, looking confused, and heard footsteps coming towards the window. The blinds were opened, and Sue's mother peeked out. The older lady saw Peter and screamed.
"You're not real!" she yelped.
"You're a grownup!" he yelped in return, and gnashed his little teeth at her. Peter hated grownups with the scorn of betrayal.
"Who are you?" asked Sue's mother.
"I'm Peter Pan," answered Peter.
She glared at the boy. "Where are the strings, then? The ones that hold you up there? Don't think I can't see right through you, mister!"
Peter was taken aback. "There are no strings. Why would I have strings?"
"Peter Pan doesn't exist, that's why. You fancy you'll play a nice trick on me, you figured out about my crazy ancestors and you think I'm just the same. Well, I'll show you! No boy's going to fake flying and take my daughter away from me!"
Zan rang out, "You have two daughters, unless you forgot, and one of them already ran away," but of course Sue's mother couldn't understand her.
Peter caught on to the argument and yelled back at the lady in the window, "I already took your daughter away to the Never Land, lady, and I was trying to bring her back, but you don't deserve her! You've already forgotten about her!"
Katie's mother, for she was Katie's mother and not only Sue's mother, was silent. "Katie?" she stumbled, and then raced down to the front door, finding her elder daughter crying in the lawn. The two exchanged a motherly embrace, which made Peter feel horribly left out. Then, Katie no longer sobbing, they returned into the house.
Peter had come so close to having a mother forever, but once again, he had failed. Downhearted and melancholy, he turned to the sky, flying away. Now that Katie was gone, he could safely shed a tear that he had lost yet another mother.
Author's Note: Okay, it's not over, by any means. I still have a long way to go, and I mean long. Oh, and you should probably expect an upped rating in the near future (for violence. Come on, it's Starkey's plan to kill the Lost Boys and Peter, what did you think?) So, if that bothers you too much than say so in your review or e-mail me and I can send you a lighter version.
I probably shouldn't be surprised that this story has more reviews than my other ones. After all, it's Peter Pan, which makes it infinitely good. ^-^ I have to write more Peter Pan I think. I have another plot idea for when this is finished. Thanks to the reviewers of chapter 5: Elf Pilot (I can't hope to be as good as Barrie, but I try to emulate him. ^-^ I loved the book, in case you can't tell. And double thanks for putting me on your favorite stories list!), iklejl (It's continued, and not so much 'adventure'ing in this chapter I think.), Lupe, and SweetVGirl.
I'm not sure who to dedicate this chapter to, but I think that it should be to my mom, who would keep the window open, and would understand if I wanted to leave again. (I hope!)