They neared a clearing in the clouds, when a burst of wind and a loud roaring acosted their ears. Both of the children looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the dreadful clamor, but to no avail.
Suddenly, a huge gray cylinder with two flat sheets jutting from its sides barrelled towards them. Peter saw Wendy screaming, but couldn't hear her. He flew toward her, pushing her out of the path of this monstrousity. (I believe you modern folk call it an aero-plane.) Peter narrowly ducked as one of the "wings" of the said aero-plane went directly over them.
He could feel Wendy shaking as he held her. He had to admit, he was frightened, also. He could face a gaggle of pirates and a menagerie of strange and fantastic creatures, but I do believe he could face them because he could imagine them. He couldn't imagine anything like what he had just seen. But being an arrogant boy, he decided to tell Wendy that it was a Doogle Dragon - a very rare and mysterious beast that flew between Neverland and her world, never dying as it was immortal and such.
Wendy dried her tears and no longer needed to be held so close, but she didn't tell him that. She thought it better to savor the fleeting moments she had with Peter than spoil them with trivial things. She clutched the book tightly to her chest. She so missed her family. And the whatever it was that had just nearly killed them was most definitely not from her London.
She saw the huge, looming buildings of the unfamiliar civilization. A gray mist clung to them, giving them a foreboding look. She shivered involuntarily.
"We'd better get down on the ground as soon as possible. Even in this queer world I am sure they're not used to seeing children flying." Wendy whispered softly. "We can land there." She pointed to a flat roof on the top of an apartment building. "We can climb down that ladder there."
The ladder leading down from the roof was an old, thin, iron model. It had probably not been used since its installation. When Peter landed, and righted Wendy on her feet, they anxiously inspected it. If one neglected the large holes in the hollow piping, and large chunks of orange rust that chipped off when one laid a hand on it, it was in jolly condition.
"I don't think we should use the ladder." Peter said, flicking some rust off of his fingers. "Can't we just fly?"
"But what if someone were to see us?" Wendy asked him.
She sat down and began to think.
"A-ha! Peter, you can fly down, but you must pretend to be climbing down the stairs!" Wendy siad joyously, clapping her hands.
"Pretend? And how will you get down?" He asked.
"Why, on your back, of course!" Wendy was still smiling.
Despite the fact that Peter didn't quite comprehend her thoughts at this point, he was still elated that she was smiling.
He nodded, and turned his back toward her.
"We'd better go now, then."
She linked her arms around his neck and hoisted herself up. Once her legs were securely locked around his waist, he brought himself up off the ground a few feet, just to get his bearings. Once he was above the roof top, he began to kick his legs wildly.
Wendy laughed. "What are you doing?"
"Pretending to run." He replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
He continued, and once he was on level with the ladder, he stopped kicking his legs and began to wave his arms out in front of him.
Wendy laughed once more. "Pretending to climb down the ladder."
Peter smiled at the sound of her laughter. His heart ached at the thought of losing her, but he knew that that is how it must be.
When they at least reached ground level, they found that their bare feet wouldn't take well to wet streets. They decided to run as fast they could to Kensington Gardens. They were overjoyed to find that they were but three or four blocks from the park.
It began to rain as they were running. I'm sure you can imagine the way this looked. Two soaked children running along in the streets in tattered school uniforms? One would have thought that they were regular street children.
When they reached the gates, they slipped through and made a mad dash for the thicket. The path was even more overgrown than their last visit, and the rain had muddied the trail.
After a sloppy run, their already tattered uniforms were speckled with mud. Of course, the children paid no mind.
They reached the bank, the water they were to jump in filled with muck. Wendy was disgusted, but Peter didn't even notice it. He held her good hand and counted out loud.
On three, they dove in.
Once the initial shock of the icy water had gone, they found themselves struggling to find the door. The rain had made the dirt on the pond floor spring up, clouding the entire area. Peter could barely make out Wendy's gasping form.
He still held her hand as he ran his hand along the floor to find the door handle.
When at last he found it, he swung it open with all of his might.
A splash of cold water and a few seconds later, they found themselves lying breathless in the entryway floor.
A few flittering guards smiled at them, waving them on.
When the two recovered and were able to stand (after all, they nearly drowned), they took the now familiar path to the Fairy Court. When the huge doors opened before them, they were met with thunderous applause.
Now, I must remind you that fairies are the vainest creatures in the world, and even the slightest nod of gratitude is considered extremely unusual. Now, an entire court (dignified, noble fairies, too!) applauding you, that is practically (well, it is entirely) unheard of!
The Fairy Queen rose from her tiny throne. Her large, silver wings fluttered gracefully, carrying her aged body through the air.
When she came within six inches of their faces, she bowed. A collective gasp from the court was audible, then a rustling of fairy silk as they followed suit.
The Fairy Queen spoke, "We are ever most grateful of the task you have completed for us. Without you, we fairies might have been reduced to trolls (I told you that they were vain). How can we repay you?"
Wendy replied quickly, "I would like my London to come back. The world out there is strange and cold. I don't it at all. My family is in my London, and I need to see them."
"Such a simple request. I remember now that that was in our agreement. I'm getting forgetful in my old age. Oh well." Her dainty hand graced her forehead. "Ah, well. It is done."
Wendy clapped her hands joyously, jumping to hug Peter. She stopped herself, then looked sadly at the ground.
"Well, I have repaid you. So it is necessary that you take your leave immediately or else you'll get the 'new Landbom (fairies care little for human civilization)' as you called it." She waved them, then looked over her shoulder and smiled warmly.
"Thank you!" Wendy called as she ran through the doors, Peter trailing slightly behind her.
The children pushed open the heavy door, and a wave of chilly water rushed over them. Wendy had forgotten to take a hold of Peter, and found herself without a breath under the murky water.
She awoke a few minutes later, distasteful pond water spurting from her mouth. Peter was sitting beside her, staring worriedly as she nearly spit the pond water into his face.
"You nearly died, Wendy." Peter said, his voice low and grave. "I couldn't protect you."
"No, nonsense, Peter. That was my own fault." Wendy waved him off and sat up.
She was going to continue, but a sudden rustle in the bushes brought them back to their surroundings.
"We're back!" Wendy whispered excitedly, not quite understanding why she felt the need to whisper.
The grove was as it had been when they had first ran into Kensington Gardens. Snow was on the ground, already turning Peter's toes blue.
Wendy heard a young boy's voice. She would have stayed to investigate, but Peter pulled her aside to the bushes. They crouched low as two figures approached. When the snowy sky let a light shine on the strangers' faces, Peter had to put his hand over Wendy's mouth to keep her from shouting.
When he was sure she wouldn't scream, she turned to him and whispered, "Why, it's us!"
"Yes, I know. I saw them - um, us - um, whatever - when we were first going to see the fairies. I didn't tell you because I was afraid." Peter whispered, keeping one eye on themselves, the other on Wendy.
"Afraid of what?" Wendy asked him, "You knew I would come back to my family all along? Why would you - Look!"
She pointed as the two figures (themselves, really, but it is quite confusing to say so) shimmer with an ethereal glow, then began to fade away. The two figures didn't seem to notice, jumping into the pond soundlessly as they disappeared.
"What happened?" Wendy asked.
"I'm not quite sure. But I think we just...well, I don't rightly know." Peter replied quizzically.
Wendy laughed, "It's good to be home, Peter."
She squeezed his hand, and stood up. He stood up beside her, and they took their leave of the thicket.
Author's Note: Hey guys! I threw this chapter together pretty quickly (over the Thanksgiving holiday at a relatives house) and I hope it satisfies you for now. There is still a chance that I will finish it by Christmas, but I am preparing you for a let down. THIS WILL BE DONE EVENTUALLY!!!
I hope you enojyed this chapter as much as the others.