Okay okay…chapter 3^_^ yay..Well here it is guys, the link for my Mathias picture at MediaMiner. Tell me what you think please^_^
Mathias~www.wormbaby.biz/i/156791.jpg~(might have to copy and paste and put http:// at the beginning…fanfic.net is odd with these things…)
That should take you right to his picture. If it doesn't work please tell me…and if you still wish to see the pic, he's under the peter pan section in the books/comic category and the title is 'Mathias'…And my alias out there is Dark Bryn. www.mediaminer.org~(you might have to copy and paste) I hope the first one worked though
You all know the disclaimer…it ain't mine. Just Lyn, Mathi, and the new lost boys…which will be explained…or if you've seen the movie and/or the plays, then you know. Have fun dudes!!
Hope its length is to your liking. Let me know^_~
A Better World~Chapter 3~ Getting Settled and Exploring the New
Lynette trudged on behind the line of Lost Boys, her arms wrapped around her waist. She stood perfectly straight as she walked, and not because she wanted to impress anybody, but because of the bandages and brace wrapped round her chest.
She groaned pitifully as she reached into her shirt to try and move the things around. If they were just bandages she would have been more than grateful. They weren't, though. The head Medicine Woman of the Indian tribe, Running Fox, had expressed her concerns about some bruised ribs she had discovered upon Lynette's examination.
Mathias had told her what happened and she had smiled, stating, "You did the only thing that could've been done." Afterwards, Lynette found herself pushed and squeezed into a number of thick bandages and, eventually, a contraption much like a corset. The only difference was this 'corset' did not enhance or lift her cleavage, instead it flattened it to the point it looked as though she had none.
Telling her that it was for the best and to make sure the ribs healed properly, Running Fox sent them on their way with instructions to take the bandages off in a few days, but continue wearing the brace.
It was not comfortable.
To try and make herself comfortable, she had chosen the biggest and loosest shirt she had packed, and a pair of khaki high-waters. But even in those comfortable clothes, she was utterly miserable. She remembered feeling like this once: It was during a high school play and she had a guy's role. The drama teacher had insisted she wear a training bra and wrap ace bandages around her torso to give her a more 'flat-chested, male' look. Complying for only a short while, Lynette gave up eventually and walked out on stage a slightly well endowed man.
But even then, she was not suffering from bruised bones.
The Lost Boys followed Peter into the forest and down a pathless trail that only he could see. Mathias made rounds around the group, stopping and talking with Pan's fairy, Tinkerbell. She sighed and ducked under a branch that the others merely passed under without a second thought.
She felt really out of place here.
She was currently, once again, brooding about her brace situation when Mathias flew back and sat upon on her shoulder.
Doing any better?
She glared at him through the corner of her eyes before letting out a defeated sigh. "Yeah…Better than I would've been if it weren't for you."
His entire glow turned red. This made Lynette laugh.
"But really…do I need this thing?" she pointed to her chest and looked up pleadingly at Mathias. "I can't slouch and it makes me look like a boy…"
Ever think that's a good thing?
"How is having no breast a good thing?" Mathias spluttered incoherently at her blatant response, but could find nothing to say. "I mean, yay, and all for the good posture I'm finally getting…but why do I need this? Really?"
Mathias cleared his throat and turned away, his entire body still blushing. I-uh—I just know that it protects the ribs from having any extensive pressure put on it. And it's tight, he quickly continued, turning to see that she was about to whine again. So that you don't bend wrong and possibly do more damage than is already—that I already did.
Lynette's furrowed brow lifted. "Don't say that Mathias. If it weren't for you, my bruised ribs would have been the last thing to worry about." He smiled at her and straightened up. Turning she saw that they were coming up to a clearing that held one of the largest trees she'd ever seen. It was the tree-house of the gods for sure.
She beamed up at the climbing branches and lofts, her eyes wide and full of excitement.
"Welcome to our home!!" Peter Pan called out.
"It's wonderful!"
"Thank you." said Peter with a bow. The Lost Boys laughed before breaking away and entering the tree in various places. "Now all we gotta do is find you a place to sleep…"
~*~*~*~
Lynette sighed hopelessly. She was sitting outside the tree on a large gnarled root, her chin resting on her hands and her elbows propped on her knees. She was thankful that the 'corset' she had on only covered mostly her upper torso, allowing her to lean slightly forward and still be able to breathe.
Upon entering the tree, it was nearly painfully obvious that she would not fit. Though it was perfect size for the young boys, a tall young woman had much trouble moving around and standing up in such a place. Plus, all the beds and pallets were much to small and confined for her.
Lynette had retired, after many odd ideas about what to do, to the roots outside around the tree.
Mathias soon zoomed out of a small opening near the root she was perched on.
They have an idea…
"I hope it's better than, 'let's get the fairies to shrink her to their size!'" she huffed.
Mathias laughed as he continued. They say there are ledges around the tree's upper branches that'll be big enough for you to sleep on if the idea of sleeping outside was okay with you. Lynette smiled slightly and told him to continue. It's up a ways, but it'll be easy to get to since you'll have me for flying.
"Take me up there and let me see." She really didn't mind sleeping outside. It was beautiful and the temperature of the island was almost perfect. She stood up and reached out her hand to Mathias.
"I'll take her." came a voice from behind her as Mathias had reached for her outstretched hand. They turned to see Peter emerging from the main entrance.
Mathias shrugged and fluttered to Lynette's shoulder as Peter came up beside her. Grabbing her arm he lifted off the ground with no effort whatsoever. "The one I was thinking of used to be the platform we'd jump off of when we played with our rope swing…" he kept climbing up. "Until it snapped."
"How'd it snap?"
"I forgot." he stated with an impish grin. After long seconds of ascension, they found themselves standing on one of the odd lofty ledges that jutted from around the tree. Its ends curved around the great tree until they disappeared into the trunk, but the width and length left in the middle was enough for her to lie comfortably.
She was thanking God that she didn't toss and turn in her sleep, for that would spell disaster for her now.
"Will this be all right?" Peter asked hopefully. He knew that it wasn't much, but he wanted to make her comfortable. It had been so long since there was a girl in Neverland that seemed interested in its secrets and games. Though, she'd probably not be playing any games with him and the Lost Boys anytime soon because of her injury, but he was sure once she healed she would.
It had been such a long while since…
"It's perfect." Lynette said with a huge grin, unknowingly interrupting Peter's mental reverie.
"Great!!" he jumped off the side with a crow of joy and descended in record time to the forest's floor below. Lynette watched him over the side and moved quickly back as he shot up by her once again, this time her duffle bag around his neck. Taking it off, he placed it next to her. "It's getting dark," he started, looking out over the tree tops to the horizon which was now clearly visible from this height. "I'll have someone bring up some lamps for ya."
"Thank you, Peter." Lynette smiled and wrapped her arms around her, not from being cold, but from habit. "What can I do to repay you for all of this?" she asked as she finally leaned back carefully (so as not to disrupt her ribs in any way) against the trunk of the massive tree, her arms still wrapped around her middle.
Peter's eyes lit up, surprising Lynette with their intenseness. "Do you by chance…" he smiled hopefully. "Tell stories?"
~*~*~*~
The old book was right in every aspect. The fairy tale that she had grown up with was one hundred percent true. Neverland was real, Peter Pan was real, the Lost Boys were real and their love for a good story real also.
She still was confused by something that didn't seem that big a deal before hand, but now nagged at the back of her mind relentlessly. She didn't remember these Lost Boys from the cartoon movies nor from what she could remember from the book.
Mathias could give no answer when she asked him.
She knew there were once a Toodles and a Nibs…And was even sure of a Slightly because he was always her favorite. She sat silently on her wide ledge watching the stars twinkle in knowing. She remembered the book up until Hook's death, which she thought a great tragedy, but nothing beyond. The Disney movies that had portrayed Pan were somewhat true, but this Pan had scraggly dirty blonde hair. A mop of hair that stuck out at odd angles and was the undeniable proof that he rode the very wind's back.
His mind was that of a child's, but he had an acute perception of the world around him. He looked at everything anew, but Lynette was sure he remembered something…anything. But he never gave any inclination to her that there were ever any other Lost Boys, or a Wendy.
A warm breezed rustled the leaves in all the trees of the forest. It carried with it the scent of flowers and a hint of the ocean.
How close was it? She would have to explore soon, bruised ribs or not. There were limbs under the tree's ledge that made for excellent places to hang random items like a blanket or clothes. Right now, one if the large limb's protruding branches held her metal and glass lamp. It was the perfect height off the limb that all the light shown on her little alcove. She watched as it flickered in the breeze.
Wondering what she was gonna do when the sun rose, she carefully laid down on her back. She usually slept on her side, but the bruised ribs caused more than enough pain to make her change that habit.
'I should get Mathias to take me to the ocean tomorrow.' She sighed as she imagined its crystal blue waters and pearly white sands. Lynette had never been to the ocean before…never seen the beach, and now she longed to go. It was so close. She smiled at the vision in her head and felt her heart race. 'Calm down, girl. There will be ample time to eventually get to see the ocean,' she mentally told herself. "We can always just roam the island…Oh, I want to see everything!" she said out loud before sighing happily and shutting her eyes. But not ten seconds later, the faint sound of low chiming bells made her open her eyes.
Mathias grinned down at Lynette. She didn't even flinch, only sighed, the breath she let out causing Mathias to shoot up a few more inches with a startled laugh.
"You bothersome thing." She grinned. "To what do I owe this visit?"
Mathias smiled back and hovered over her. I've got something for you. he said excitedly.
"Ooo, a present!" Lynette didn't move to get up. It had hurt enough lying down that she assumed the whole bending forward to get up would make her cry.
Mathias disappeared from her view to somewhere behind her head. Tinkerbell thought that you'd need this.
"Awfully nice of her. Didn't think she liked me."
What gave you that idea? He still had not come back around into her field of vision. Lynette shrugged.
"She kept glaring at me."
She was only concerned that you were going to try and take Peter's affections from her.
At that Lynette laughed, trying not to laugh too hard as it was making her chest ache slightly. "He's like 13!!" She chortled. "I wouldn't dare!!"
Yes, I believe she finally realized that. Well, anyway, here… A small pouch was suddenly dropped onto her stomach and she realized that in her laughing, Mathias had flown right over top her.
"What is it?" She picked it up and held it over her face, trying to guess its contents without having them spill onto her.
Dust—fairy dust. He beamed. Now you can fly whenever you want, even if I'm not there. Tinkerbell said Peter use to keep one until he could fly on a whim.
"Wow!" She turned the leather pouch over in her hands before sitting it between her and the tree. "Thanks a bunch, Mathi!!" He blinked at the odd nickname, but said nothing about it.
You're welcome. I'll leave you be so, good night. He turned to leave, the clicking of his wings the only sound to be heard.
"Hey, Mathias?" He turned to look at Lynette. "Do you think we could explore the island tomorrow? See the ocean?" She looked up hopefully.
He gave her a soft smile. Sure thing.
Lynette only let out an excited squeal as he left, his own fairy nook about five feet below hers.
Staring into the branches far above and around her she let her mind wander freely, feeling really happy for the first time in a long time.
'I'm finally going to see the ocean!' her mind rambled incessantly as she tried in vain to sleep.
~*~*~*~
It was everything she had hoped. The waters were crystalline blue and the sand was whiter than pearls themselves. The waves broke across the perfect sand, racing to reach the shore only to draw back as if afraid of going too far.
There were seagulls that circled the area, a few swooping down in hopes of getting food.
Peter quickly ran them off with a loud crow and a mad dash into a flock of them. He acted like such a child. Lynette blinked. He was a child, an Eternal youth. She sighed as she walked down to the edge of the water, her bare feet sinking lightly into the fine sand.
Mathias sat on her shoulder, his baggy pants and his violet hair rustling in the wind. Lynette had pulled her hair back so she wouldn't have to worry about it as she explored the island with Mathias and the others. It was in a ponytail that reached the top of her shoulders, the pieces too short to be captured hanging in front of her ears.
She looked even more like a boy now.
The air smelled of salt and sand, a pleasant if not entrancing scent for those who've never smelled it.
She cast her gaze across the shimmering ocean to the horizon. It was so beautiful. There was an outcropping of rocks a bit down the shore that stretched out into the open sea. They seemed to be a natural barrier between the forest's beach and another beach that stood in front of a village. The village was at least a mile or two down away from the other side of the rocks, but there was something near those rocks that caught Lynette's eye.
Peter was off chasing seagulls and she knew Mathias wouldn't know so she looked for the nearest Lost Boy. It happened to be the oldest, only after Peter that was. He was a tall boy, almost at her eye level, with black stringy hair and deep brown eyes. His name, she learned earlier, was Enough, but they all called him Nough. He was named that when Peter found that that was the first and only thing he was able to say when he arrived in Neverland.
"Nough!" Lynette called over to him, waving him over to her. He looked up nervously.
"Yes?"
"What can you tell me of that?" She pointed off to the rocks.
"Of what?" he asked, following her finger, but not readily seeing what bothered her.
"The ship, there at the end."
"Oh!" He sighed and ran his hand over his brow. "That's nothing, just the Jolly Roger."
"The Jolly Roger?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah! Use to be ol' Cap'n Hook's ship." Nough chuckled. "That is till he was eaten by a crocodile."
"Eaten…? By a crocodile?" Lynette asked feigning stupidity in this area. Was Hook truly dead? She had always thought that with a hook on his hand, he would have soon gutted the croc from the inside. She stayed quiet though, waiting for him to continue.
"Least that's what Peter told us."
"Yeah, s'wat Peter told us!" came a squeaky voice from behind Nough. It was Rut. He had made himself a sash out of dried seaweed and small seashells, and stood there now as if he'd been there the whole time. 'Probably had been…' Lynette mused to herself. Rut shifted from foot to foot. "He told us of his gweat defeat of cap-ie-ton Hook when we got here."
"We got here after his defeat. He said the crocodile finally was able to catch him when he was thrown overboard."
"Oh…" was all Lynette said to this before turning back to look at the ship. She wanted to fly over there and explore the rocks, but she knew that Mathias would think it too risky and Peter too stupid. Sighing she turned and walked back up the beach to where Peter was sitting atop a large boulder a conch shell in his hand.
"Ready to go?" he asked with a roguish grin. "We're supposed to go hunting with Tiger Lily and her tribe later." The Lost Boys cheered, Cubs and Osh dropping their fishing poles to whistle. Lynette realized suddenly that this entire scene looked like something from Lord of the Flies. She shuddered.
"Well, you guys go on…I'm gonna…um…just wander around here a bit." She forced out a cough and turned to hide her anxious gaze. Mathias wondered briefly what she was up to.
"You sure?" Peter asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, maybe next time. My chest still hurts and all…and I just…erm…just wanna explore the beach some more."
"Fine with us!" He gave a childish smile. He lifted the conch to his lips and gave a deep blow, the resounding bellow echoing across the island. There was a droning wail that sounded more like a bull horn in return. "Time to go, Lost Boys!" He leapt off the rock and followed the disappearing Lost Boys into the forest.
"Oh! Mathias," Mathias turned and leaping off Lynette's shoulder, made his way over to Peter. Peter looked the fairy in the eyes as he fluttered over to him. Peter pointedly looked over at Lynette who was staring off into the distance. "Don't let her go near the Mermaid's Lagoon." Mathias nodded in acknowledgement. "And don't go near the Jolly Roger. Hook may be gone, but the crew is still out and about, and even more unorganized without old him." Mathias nodded again.
I'll do my best, but she may be quite the curious one.
Peter chuckled and turned to leave. "Just make sure she doesn't get captured or something like that." With that he darted off into the forest without looking back.
Mathias smirked to himself and made his way back to Lynette who had started off towards the water's edge again.
Where are you going? Mathias looked worried for a minute when she didn't stop once she hit the water. She kept walking, her hand going under her large shirt to retrieve the pouch he'd given her that was tied to her belt.
"Just gonna fly…"
Where? he asked again, his voice pitching higher at the end.
Lynette smiled brightly as she sprinkled the glowing dust over her head, shoulders, and body. "Off to see a man about a boat." His eyes widened in the understanding of that simple phrase.
Mathias had no time to argue before he saw her lift into the air. He shot forward, following with pleas, as she turned and headed for the end of the jagged rocks that protected the famous Jolly Roger.
Whoohoo!!!^_^ I hope this was longer…I feel it was. Now it gets interesting!!
Now what happens when news gets out to the pirates that there is a new Lost Boy? Yes…I said Lost Boy...but what'll happen when they find out it's actually a girl? Lyn is gonna be having more and more problems with that brace^_^
I hope ya'll like. I love reviews!! They are like candy to me…good or bad^_~ So please read and review. I want info so I know I'm doing a semi-decent job on this thing!! I don't want to sit here and write crap…::shrugs:: But I know you people are honest enough to tell me if it's crap….I need my friends to read it…I need a beta. Any beta-teers out there? E-mail me. -bryn