As the golden doors opened, Wendy was baffled by the beauty and enchantment contained in that single room. I would tell you what was in the room, but then, I would be revealing a well kept fairy secret. All non-fairies who enter the court are sworn to secrecy by their mere presence (another little bit of fairy magic)- the fairies, beautiful and mischievous, are also rather paranoid. They believe that if word got out of their wonderful treasures, their palace would be raided by man. Which is probably not far from the truth. But, as was said, there was not a grander a place to be found. I am allowed to tell you where the queen sat, for it is harmless to divulge such information. Her throne directly across the doorway, back about thirty feet.
The queen was old - aged lines were scattered along her face. Her eyes were a clearest blue, full of youth and spirit. Behind the spirit, nestled between cleverness and youth, was wisdom. She had been the fairy queen for quite a long time, although no one can exactly determine how long. She wore a silver gossamer gown, adorned with hundreds of rare and precious fairy gems; her entire being put the Queen of England to shame.
She beckoned to Peter and Wendy, smiling upon them as a doting grandmother would. Peter squeezed Wendy's hand before letting go and flying forward, leaving her to run behind him.
"Ah, Peter, I see you have brought Wendy with you. As if I could have expected less." Her blue eyes sparkled. "I suppose you are wondering why I have called you here. I'd like to ask a favor of you."
Peter wondered what a favor was. He had never had anyne to ask such things of him, and he did not know the meaning of the word. Wendy knew, and wondered why such a powerful fairy would ask a favor of a little boy.
"I need a spy. The Fairy Code has been a quideline for the fairy way since its creation. Someone has stolen the Great Book. I have a connection with the book, and I feel it here in the gardens. But I can feel it travelling towards Neverland. I need you, Peter, to find out who has the book for me. Tinkerbell has been told of this, and she is waiting for you in Neverland." The Queen's smile thinned. "These are dire times."
The Fairy Code was an ancient book, much like the modern day Bible. It was written by the first fairies that came from the first laugh of the first baby. They wrote it as a set of rules and codes for future fairies to follow. It was considered to be one of the most sacred fairy artifacts. Faith was placed within the book, and if the faith were to be lost, the fairy ways would perish. Faith is a very powerful thing.
"What's a dire?" Peter asked, hovering a few feet from the ground.
"Peter, it means that something bad will happen if we don't find the book." Wendy told him, setting her hand on his arm.
"Will it be an adventure?" Peter asked, his eyes lighting at the idea.
"Yes, it will be a grand adventure." The Queen smiled, her eyes brimming with sparkling diamond tears. "Go, go now. But I must warn you, time does not exist in the fairy palace. Things might be very different on the surface."
Peter did not understand what she meant by this, nor did Wendy. They did not know that time does not exist in the Fairy Palace. What may feel like a short time to them could be years in London. Had they known this fact, I doubt they would have gone to the Fairy Palace at all. But then if they had not, there would be no story. And if there were no story, then things would be vastly different, now wouldn't they?
Peter smiled his cocky smile, bowed out, grabbed Wendy's hand and turned and ran from the fairy court. His love for adventure had taken over his conscious use of his manners, which Wendy would later chide him for. Peter kept himself on the ground, resisting his urge to float into the air, a resistance that Wendy was thankful for. She didn't want it to be too obvious that she had forgotten how to fly. She had played the adventures through her head every night before bed, memorizing every detail to the adventures. But the fairy dust had worn away, the magic fading, leaving her without the ability to fly. That was one of the most disappointing things she had endured in her life.
When they reached the beautiful entryway, Peter motioned to her to plug her nose. The door opened, and Wendy gasped at what she saw. She saw a shummery screen, much like a bath curtain, rippling just outside the door. She tentatively let her hand slide through the curtain, only to be caught by the warm feeling of the water.
"How is that possible?" Wendy asked in awe.
"They are fairies. Fairies can do anything." Peter replied, smiling at her. "Come on, it's time for another adventure."
They jumped together into the screen, only to find themselves laying face down on the bottom of the lake. Peter was the first to act, pulling himself up, then helping Wendy up. They swam quickly to the surface, gasping for breath when they broke through. They treaded water until they reached the bank, which was quite a bit farther than Wendy had recalled. They climbed out of the pond, finding themselves not as lucky as when they had entered the Fairy Palace. They were soaked clear through their clothes.
"I don't remember this place." Wendy said, glancing around fearfully.
"She said it would be differnet." Peter reminded her, once again lacing his fingers through hers. "I suppose this is not the only thing that has changed."
"I fear that it is not..." Wendy replied softly, biting her lip.
They walked along the fairy paths, the shrubs and trees overgrown. The birds whispered among themselves, following the two children through the trees. Sounds reverberated from the road, sounds that were not familiar to the ears of Wendy or Peter. When they reached the road, Wendy nearly fainted at the sight. Peter stared, his mouth agape.
Automobiles (for that are what they are called) drove at unimaginable speeds. Bright colors assaulted their eyes off of these steel monsters (a beastly creation, that they are). Motors sounding only like that heard in the factory section of London revved and died all around them. Wendy felt tears stinging her eyes.
"What has happened to my London? Peter, where is my London?" Wendy cried, turning to look into his eyes.
His own eyes were wide with awe. He had thought he was amazed by what he had seen in Wendy's London, but this new London altogether terrified him - not that he would ever admit that to anyone.
"Peter, where is my London? Why is this happening to us?" Wendy asked, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
"I-I don't know." Peter stuttered, baffled by the sadness and distress that shined at him through Wendy's eyes.
A sudden realization struck Wendy. "John, Michael, Slightly...Mother...All of them! Where are they?" Wendy asked again, her tears stemming. "We have to find them!"
She ran across the street, nearly getting hit by the hideous automobiles. Peter ran after her, nearly getting hit himself. He caught up with her, and the two children ran together, until they reached the steps of Wendy's home.
It had not changed much. The season had been different when they left, for there had been snow on the ground, but now the weather was barren and bitter cold. The building had lost its glow of joy. The house that had once been filled with the love and laughter of a family of many children was now set into a dull gray palor of identically sad houses. It was a depressing sight, only added to by the queer metal box hanging out of the third story window - the room that was formerly Wendy and her brothers' nursery. The metal box lay quiet and still, but if they were to have appeared into the summer time, they would have found the monstrosity to be humming and churning as a constant drip of water irritated the sidewalk.
Wendy ran to the steps, the icy fingers of sadness gripping her heart. She climbed the steps, before knocking sternly on the door. A man's voice called out for her to wait a minute, a dog barking loudly in the background. The door opened.
A tall, thin man opened the door. "Yes?"
"I'm looking for George and Mary Darling. I believe they used to live here." Wendy told the man, trying to hide her emotions from this stranger.
"Eh? Never heard of them. I have lived here all of my life, and I have never heard that name. My mum might know of them though." The man left, shutting the door behind him.
"Is he coming back?" Peter asked, his feet nearly numb by this time.
"I suppose so..." Wendy tried to warm herself.
The man returned, followed by an old woman.
"This is my mother. Mum, do you know of the Darlings?" The man asked the elder woman.
The old woman had a hard face. A face that had seen too many hard days and too few comfortable ones. She was not an evil woman, she was merely a bitter old soul, filled with absurd ideas and thoughts of the umbrellas in her coat room speaking to her in French. She was quite a strange old bird. Her son had to care for her, for if he had not been present, she probably would have beat Wendy with her French-speaking umbrellas.
"Aye, the Darlings. I remember the man your father and I bought this house from. Had a funny name...Had seven brothers that he did. They all had queer names..." The old woman babbled on to herself, before abruptly turning and leaving.
"Sorry." The man shrugged, turned around himself, and shut the door.
"A man...My family...They're all gone...Peter, they're all gone!" Wendy said, tears forming once again.
"S-s-sorry, Wendy. I really am." Peter stuttered, his teeth chattering with cold.
"Oh Peter! You must be freezing!" Wendy said, cupping his hands in hers, blowing warm air onto them. "I must say I am quite cold myself!" She laughed nervously, sniffling.
"Peter, we have to find that book. We have to have this adventure. If we do, the queen might help me undo this. I might be able to save my family!" She smiled weakly, touching his cheek. "I will need your help, Peter."
"An adventure is always welcome!" He exclaimed, smiling his cocky grin. "'Tis nearly night, and we shall ride the wind to Neverland, and have a great adventure!"
"Yes!" Wendy returned his smile. "We shall have a grand adventure."
The queen was old - aged lines were scattered along her face. Her eyes were a clearest blue, full of youth and spirit. Behind the spirit, nestled between cleverness and youth, was wisdom. She had been the fairy queen for quite a long time, although no one can exactly determine how long. She wore a silver gossamer gown, adorned with hundreds of rare and precious fairy gems; her entire being put the Queen of England to shame.
She beckoned to Peter and Wendy, smiling upon them as a doting grandmother would. Peter squeezed Wendy's hand before letting go and flying forward, leaving her to run behind him.
"Ah, Peter, I see you have brought Wendy with you. As if I could have expected less." Her blue eyes sparkled. "I suppose you are wondering why I have called you here. I'd like to ask a favor of you."
Peter wondered what a favor was. He had never had anyne to ask such things of him, and he did not know the meaning of the word. Wendy knew, and wondered why such a powerful fairy would ask a favor of a little boy.
"I need a spy. The Fairy Code has been a quideline for the fairy way since its creation. Someone has stolen the Great Book. I have a connection with the book, and I feel it here in the gardens. But I can feel it travelling towards Neverland. I need you, Peter, to find out who has the book for me. Tinkerbell has been told of this, and she is waiting for you in Neverland." The Queen's smile thinned. "These are dire times."
The Fairy Code was an ancient book, much like the modern day Bible. It was written by the first fairies that came from the first laugh of the first baby. They wrote it as a set of rules and codes for future fairies to follow. It was considered to be one of the most sacred fairy artifacts. Faith was placed within the book, and if the faith were to be lost, the fairy ways would perish. Faith is a very powerful thing.
"What's a dire?" Peter asked, hovering a few feet from the ground.
"Peter, it means that something bad will happen if we don't find the book." Wendy told him, setting her hand on his arm.
"Will it be an adventure?" Peter asked, his eyes lighting at the idea.
"Yes, it will be a grand adventure." The Queen smiled, her eyes brimming with sparkling diamond tears. "Go, go now. But I must warn you, time does not exist in the fairy palace. Things might be very different on the surface."
Peter did not understand what she meant by this, nor did Wendy. They did not know that time does not exist in the Fairy Palace. What may feel like a short time to them could be years in London. Had they known this fact, I doubt they would have gone to the Fairy Palace at all. But then if they had not, there would be no story. And if there were no story, then things would be vastly different, now wouldn't they?
Peter smiled his cocky smile, bowed out, grabbed Wendy's hand and turned and ran from the fairy court. His love for adventure had taken over his conscious use of his manners, which Wendy would later chide him for. Peter kept himself on the ground, resisting his urge to float into the air, a resistance that Wendy was thankful for. She didn't want it to be too obvious that she had forgotten how to fly. She had played the adventures through her head every night before bed, memorizing every detail to the adventures. But the fairy dust had worn away, the magic fading, leaving her without the ability to fly. That was one of the most disappointing things she had endured in her life.
When they reached the beautiful entryway, Peter motioned to her to plug her nose. The door opened, and Wendy gasped at what she saw. She saw a shummery screen, much like a bath curtain, rippling just outside the door. She tentatively let her hand slide through the curtain, only to be caught by the warm feeling of the water.
"How is that possible?" Wendy asked in awe.
"They are fairies. Fairies can do anything." Peter replied, smiling at her. "Come on, it's time for another adventure."
They jumped together into the screen, only to find themselves laying face down on the bottom of the lake. Peter was the first to act, pulling himself up, then helping Wendy up. They swam quickly to the surface, gasping for breath when they broke through. They treaded water until they reached the bank, which was quite a bit farther than Wendy had recalled. They climbed out of the pond, finding themselves not as lucky as when they had entered the Fairy Palace. They were soaked clear through their clothes.
"I don't remember this place." Wendy said, glancing around fearfully.
"She said it would be differnet." Peter reminded her, once again lacing his fingers through hers. "I suppose this is not the only thing that has changed."
"I fear that it is not..." Wendy replied softly, biting her lip.
They walked along the fairy paths, the shrubs and trees overgrown. The birds whispered among themselves, following the two children through the trees. Sounds reverberated from the road, sounds that were not familiar to the ears of Wendy or Peter. When they reached the road, Wendy nearly fainted at the sight. Peter stared, his mouth agape.
Automobiles (for that are what they are called) drove at unimaginable speeds. Bright colors assaulted their eyes off of these steel monsters (a beastly creation, that they are). Motors sounding only like that heard in the factory section of London revved and died all around them. Wendy felt tears stinging her eyes.
"What has happened to my London? Peter, where is my London?" Wendy cried, turning to look into his eyes.
His own eyes were wide with awe. He had thought he was amazed by what he had seen in Wendy's London, but this new London altogether terrified him - not that he would ever admit that to anyone.
"Peter, where is my London? Why is this happening to us?" Wendy asked, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
"I-I don't know." Peter stuttered, baffled by the sadness and distress that shined at him through Wendy's eyes.
A sudden realization struck Wendy. "John, Michael, Slightly...Mother...All of them! Where are they?" Wendy asked again, her tears stemming. "We have to find them!"
She ran across the street, nearly getting hit by the hideous automobiles. Peter ran after her, nearly getting hit himself. He caught up with her, and the two children ran together, until they reached the steps of Wendy's home.
It had not changed much. The season had been different when they left, for there had been snow on the ground, but now the weather was barren and bitter cold. The building had lost its glow of joy. The house that had once been filled with the love and laughter of a family of many children was now set into a dull gray palor of identically sad houses. It was a depressing sight, only added to by the queer metal box hanging out of the third story window - the room that was formerly Wendy and her brothers' nursery. The metal box lay quiet and still, but if they were to have appeared into the summer time, they would have found the monstrosity to be humming and churning as a constant drip of water irritated the sidewalk.
Wendy ran to the steps, the icy fingers of sadness gripping her heart. She climbed the steps, before knocking sternly on the door. A man's voice called out for her to wait a minute, a dog barking loudly in the background. The door opened.
A tall, thin man opened the door. "Yes?"
"I'm looking for George and Mary Darling. I believe they used to live here." Wendy told the man, trying to hide her emotions from this stranger.
"Eh? Never heard of them. I have lived here all of my life, and I have never heard that name. My mum might know of them though." The man left, shutting the door behind him.
"Is he coming back?" Peter asked, his feet nearly numb by this time.
"I suppose so..." Wendy tried to warm herself.
The man returned, followed by an old woman.
"This is my mother. Mum, do you know of the Darlings?" The man asked the elder woman.
The old woman had a hard face. A face that had seen too many hard days and too few comfortable ones. She was not an evil woman, she was merely a bitter old soul, filled with absurd ideas and thoughts of the umbrellas in her coat room speaking to her in French. She was quite a strange old bird. Her son had to care for her, for if he had not been present, she probably would have beat Wendy with her French-speaking umbrellas.
"Aye, the Darlings. I remember the man your father and I bought this house from. Had a funny name...Had seven brothers that he did. They all had queer names..." The old woman babbled on to herself, before abruptly turning and leaving.
"Sorry." The man shrugged, turned around himself, and shut the door.
"A man...My family...They're all gone...Peter, they're all gone!" Wendy said, tears forming once again.
"S-s-sorry, Wendy. I really am." Peter stuttered, his teeth chattering with cold.
"Oh Peter! You must be freezing!" Wendy said, cupping his hands in hers, blowing warm air onto them. "I must say I am quite cold myself!" She laughed nervously, sniffling.
"Peter, we have to find that book. We have to have this adventure. If we do, the queen might help me undo this. I might be able to save my family!" She smiled weakly, touching his cheek. "I will need your help, Peter."
"An adventure is always welcome!" He exclaimed, smiling his cocky grin. "'Tis nearly night, and we shall ride the wind to Neverland, and have a great adventure!"
"Yes!" Wendy returned his smile. "We shall have a grand adventure."