Disclaimer:
I, Aslansphoenix declare that I do not own 'Peter Pan', Neverland or anything that you find familiar. Technically some of the characters did come from my head ... but I think they belong to Neverland just as much as any canon characters.
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Author's Note
Thank-you for your patience.
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"All Children Grow up Except One"
Everyone Knows about Neverland,
About the home of Peter Pan.
Second to the Right, and Straight on till Morning.
To the place between dreaming and awakening.
There are rules in Neverland
Rules that must be obeyed.
Boys forget much easier than Girls.
"No Girl can resist Peter Pan,
When he uses a specific voice."
One more thing, which is True ...
In Neverland, You learn all about You.
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Chapter Fifteen
George now wanted to partake in the most extreme game – the Obstacle Course.
It was a brilliant plan. Peter, the Indian Chief and Tigerlily were going to be the judges. It was a brilliant plan, though George.
Angela didn't think so. "Wait! No! George! That's not what I said!"
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The Obstacle Course was a chance for warriors to show off their skills, and to compete against each other for the glory of winning. It was split into three sections; easy, medium and difficult, and warriors could either compete in teams, or the more challenging solo. George was ignoring the guidelines set by Mother-Margaret and was entering (sneaking into) the difficult section solo.
Scruffy, Specks and Wit helped helped distract Mother-Margaret from find out until George was already involved. They were risking being in trouble, but as brother-in-arms, they felt it their duty to help. Stubby was too honest and Mouse too much of a Mummy's boy; the best of fellows, but not for deliberately deceiving a Mother.
By the time Margaret fund out, George was trying to use a vine to climb up a spikey tree. He heard Peter's crow of amusement, followed by Margaret's telling-off of Peter; that carried on the wind. He saw his Lost Boy brothers cheering him on and was aware of the incredulous looks on the more powerful Indians as they easily surpassed this strange child with pale(ish) skin and odd clothes.
By the third obstacle, of trying to use hoops to swing across a wide stretch of the river, George was exhausted and bruised, and sweat was pouring out of every pore of his body. George was realising that the decision was not brilliant. But he couldn't stop – that would have been worse than all the pain that pushing through was causing.
Maybe.
Puff. Body aching, can't reach … have to try … have to climb … puff … why oh why was he doing this? … The Princess's strong stare flashed through George's mind Maybe talking to her would have been the better option … so … exhausted … can't keep going … Just going to stop and stand here … Wait - What?
George glanced down to find, that while he'd been lost in the exhaustion of his own mind; he had actually made it to the top of the pole; he had completed the fifth obstacle! George let out a laugh of relief, and then a yell of pride. He stood cheering for himself and gazing down to the Lost Boys cheering below.
He didn't see the overly energetically thrown rock from a different section. One moment he was cheering the next thing George knew he was blinking blearily up at a white canvas thing, wondering how dirt got up there.
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George's head turned from side to side. He seemed to be in a bed … but the surrounding didn't look like the Lost Boy hideout, nor did it look anything like his own bed back … back in that other place. It looked like the inside of tent; particularly a Neverland Indian's tent. George had just smugly come to this conclusion, when the flap opened and ahead poked through.
It was Stubby, and when he saw that George was awake, he gave a blinding grin. "Hey, Georgie Cub's okay!" With that a group of boys rushed in and they all crowded around the bed, speaking excitedly all at once; as they were want to do.
"Jolly good show old bean." "That was brilliant!" "Can't believe you made it to the top-" "Mother is so mad at you," "-Pity you didn't finish," "You should have seen your face." "It was awesome." "-Till you fell at least that was so" "epic! But Peter Saved you, so that was alright," "don't you think, Mate?"
A shrill whistle pierced the air, halting the overlapping conversations. It was Peter. He stepped in with a serious look on his face, he gazed solemnly at George who shrank into the bed slightly. Peter saw this and his face burst into a wide grin, pleased his deception had worked.
"That was epic! Almost as awesome as I am. You braved adventures and held yourself true then you had your fast fall! You really shouldn't have been so cocky you know, but don't worry I saved you in time."
George knew not to comment on Peter's hypocrisy, so instead beamed back at his leader. The other Lost Boys started to, once again, congratulate George when there was a very distinctive, fake cough. Guilty faces (yes, even belonging to Peter) turned to the sound. There, with their backs to the light, stood three not so happy figures.
Eliza was on the right, on hand sassily on her hip, Angela on the left, with a cute (but serious) scowl on her face, and finally Margaret stood in the middle, with her arms crossed and her eyes hard. Margaret glared at Peter who suddenly changed his expression, he turned back to George and started shaking his finger at the other.
"I mean … that was very bad of you, you could have gotten hurt. How dare you worry our Mother like that. Very wrong of you Cub … So there."
It was not as tough or terrifying as the other times when Peter actually scolded the boys (as was his right as the Leader). But with Mother-Margaret's disappointed gaze backing Peter's words; George wisely decided not to laugh at the fake scolding. The girls exchanged an ominous glance, then Mother-Margaret addressed the group.
"Alright children, Aunt Eliza is going to take you back to the hideout now."
This was met with protests and complaints. There were arguments for staying with George and wanting to stay for the party, and whining about how unfair it was. But Mother-Margaret just gave The Look, the one that made them shuffle an apology and fall quiet. "I would like to speak with George – alone, and if you lot keep complaining, then you won't be allowed to return to go to the party."
Eliza then stepped forward and spoke in her bossy voice, "And you can't show up to the party looking as filthy as you are, it wouldn't be proper. Now spit-spot.*" There were faces that were scowling slightly but the boys were careful not to say anything. Peter took point and Eliza followed behind with a marching song.
Angela ran over and gave George a quick hug and murmured "Glad you're alright." She then scowled and said "But don't do it again." Before running out to join the rest of the group. Leaving George trying to avoid Mother-Margaret's gaze.
"George, what were you thinking, entering into the advanced contest?! By yourself?! You could have been hurt … you were hurt! You are so luckily it was no worse than what it is. If Peter hadn't caught you, you would … you would be …"
Margaret cut herself with a sound that was almost a sob. George looked at her with a worried amazement. There were tears in Margaret's eyes and she was clutching herself in a desperate hug, protecting herself. And George was reminded that although she played 'Mother' in this game, Margaret was still just a child as well. He reached out and gently grabbed her hand.
"I'm sorry Maggie."
"What would I have told your parents?"
Oh yeah, George had actual parents. An image of a soft-spoken gentle woman and a tall man flashed into George's head. It was dispersed when Margaret moved her hand to push some hair off George's head. "George, watching you fall was one of the most terrifying things I've seen. You should never have been in that situation. So please why - Why did you do it?"
George squirmed as guilt wound its way through his stomach at Margaret's concern. "I just … I wanted to impress the Princess."
"What?!"
"I wanted to impress the Princess. She is so impressive, and she's the best warrior of her tribe and I just thought that if I could keep up with the other top warriors that it would … impress her."
Margaret gaped at George, she then shook her head and mumbled incredulously with a soft huff of laughter. "You really are a boy aren't you?" George looked at her oddly; of course he was a boy, what else would he be? Margaret then gave George a gentle look, that showed she was trying to figure out what to say.
"George … Couldn't you have just spoken to her? I mean; what you did … well doing something like that, especially for the attention of a girl is, sort of sweet but … it is also very …"
"Stupid."
George and Margaret glanced around at the interrupting voice. In the entrance stood Tigerlily. Fierce, proud and stunningly beautiful. She nodded respectfully to Margaret and said something to her. George didn't pay any attention to what was said, he was too busy trying to sink into the bed and disappear.
Margaret left and George was left trying to avoid the gaze of those dark eyes.
"You are the one known as Cub correct?" George nodded and thought that the corner of the bed covering looked really interesting, as Tigerlily continued speaking. "You attempted to do what you knew was above your ability. You did so without the support of your friends, and in doing so you were injured. And apparently you put yourself through all this because you wanted to impress … me?"
George shrugged awkwardly, then gave in and nodded the truth. A warm hand reached out and gently, but deliberately lifted up George's face, and wow when she get so close?
Tigerlily leaned down and spoke very clearly "You are a very stupid boy."
Then there were soft lips attached to George's, and for moment that seemed to last forever, George felt as if in a dream, like he was a comet flying through space, but better. Tigerlily pulled away with a small smirk, and George blinked blearily in awe.
"Stupid, but sweet." With that Tigerlily turned and left the tent. George at grinning like an idiot to himself, then he threw his hands up in the air with a shout of triumph.
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End of Chapter Fifteen.
Author's Note:
Here this chapter ends.
Look, the truth is Boys often do stupid things to get a Girl's attention, and I admit that … sometimes it works.
*Couldn't resist.
Thanks to 'JetBlack00'.
I thank you all for your patience.
Date - Wednesday 19th June 2019