TAoP Chapter 5

Penny's Tale

Penny looked and floated to where they were. She turned to Jayden and he nodded. Sighing, she looked back at King Mickey, but it was Donald who asked the questions.

"Where are you from?"

"Neverland. It's an island that me and Peter and the Lost Boys call it. Of course, the fairies were there first, but we all live together now." Star nodded in agreement from her usual post.

"And these birds that you found, you've never seen them before?"

"No. Our birds are colorful and have sweet tones. They speak kindly, but these birds…" Penny hesitated, "they were harsh and cold. They were black and unwelcoming. The birds said that they found…something."

"Garsh, they talked to ya?" Goofy asked looking concerned.

"Er…well, all animals talk to me…"

"And what were they searching for?" Mickey asked, taking notes on what the girl was saying.

"They said they found the green-eyed human and chased me. Why would they chase me?" Penny asked, looking around at everyone. They all stared back.

"Well, you do have green eyes, Penny," Jayden said confused.

"I do?"

"Yes, don't you know what you look like?" Illiana asked.

"Nope. Never saw myself! And nobody told me what I looked like. Why haven't you ever mentioned it, Star?" The fairy chimed her answer, "Well, that's true I never did ask…"

"Come over here Penny." Illiana dragged Penny to a corner in the library. There was a reflective glass and it should what Illiana looked like. Penny turned towards it and gasped.

Penny only came up to Illiana's elbow and was way tanner than her. Her hair was messy and stuck up in different directions. It was getting long again and she would have to cut it soon. Her bangs were getting close to her eyes. Her clothes, she noticed for the first time, were worse than she expected. There were holes everywhere and she could finally see where they all were instead of guess. Her shorts were stained with mud and grass. She also noticed that they came down to her knees. Her brown belt that held her pouch of pixie dust was getting worn and old. She would have to replace that soon. But what surprised her the most were her eyes. They were the brightest green she had ever seen and she's seen a lot of gems. They reminded her of the pair of emeralds that were in the treasure chest that Peter had.

"Is that why they were chasing me? Why would they want me?" Penny asked as she continued to look at herself.

"That's what I'm going to find out," the King came over to her, "In the mean time, you are welcome to stay in the castle until we figure this out."

"But, Your Majesty, tomorrow is the festival for the new fighters. You must be present there and announce who is ready to join our forces," Donald reminded.

"That's why I'm leaving early in the morning and I will be back before it begins. I must speak with my master on this subject."

Penny wasn't listening until the words that the King said finally reached her, "But, I thought I was going home. Jayden promised me that I would go back."

"We must know why they want you and we want you safe until we figured it out."

"You promised!" Penny pointed an accusing finger at Jayden, "You never break out of a promise!"

"Now, Penny, I know what I said, but the King is right. You should stay here."

"I have to go back! I didn't even get to say good-bye!"

Before anyone said anything else, the doors opened and two people walked in. One of them was a mouse who was wearing a ruby red dress and white polka dots. On her head was a crown. As soon as she walked in, Penny knew this was the person she has been sensing all day. She didn't know how she knew, she just knew. Next to the Queen (for that is who Penny is assuming she is) was a duck wearing a purple dress. She walked on the queen's right side and smiled when she saw Donald.

"Minnie, what brings you here?" Mickey asked. He walked right up to her and took her hands. As soon as he said her name, Penny saw the color ruby red in her mind. She flinched since the feeling was stronger than the one with the Wendy lady. The queen looked at her and walked over.

"What is your name?" she asked in a pleasant tone that Penny immediately liked. She then remembered what Starlight taught her about manners in front of a queen.

Penny bowed to her and said, "I'm Penny, Your Highness. It is a pleasure to meet you." Everyone in the room was shocked except Minnie who giggled.

"You do not have to be so formal, Penny. My name is Minnie and you may call me that." Penny flinched again at the power and straightened from the bow."Where did you learn such manners?"

"Starlight taught me when I had to meet her queen. She didn't want me to embarrass her." Penny smiled at the memory.

"Minnie, how did you know we had guests in here?" Mickey asked as he watched the exchange.

"Oh well, I sensed her. I felt her when she first came here on the ship and all I saw was the brightest green and the smell of a forest."

Everyone fell silent as they looked at them. Penny, a little unnerved, smelled her arm but didn't smell anything different. Illiana laughed when she saw.

"When's the last time you took a bath?"

"A bath? What's that?" Penny asked.

"Penny, could you sense Minnie?" Donald asked.

"Yes. She is ruby red while Wendy is midnight blue."

"Wendy?" Goofy asked

"She's just some girl that was the Boys' mother for awhile. I never meet her and I don't want to."

"I must see my master right away." Mickey announced. Everyone turned to him, "Penny might be important but in order to find out I must see him."

"We'll come with you, Your Majesty," Goofy said as he grabbed his shield and Donald magicked a staff out of nowhere. It was short and blue, while at the top it had what looked like a sailor hat.

"Thanks guys," the King turned to Jayden and Illiana, "You must protect Penny and show her around. Make her feel at home." Without further ado, the trio left the library.

"I shall see you soon, Penny." Minnie said. She and the other lady followed them out. All was left was Jayden, Illiana, and Penny.

"Wow…I didn't think it would turn out like this…" Illiana said.

"Yea, no kidding! What was that all about?" Jayden said, looking at Penny.

Penny shrugged her shoulders and looked back at the mirror. Why could she sense Minnie and Wendy? Why were they different colors? Could she do more?

"Well, anyways, I promised Ludwig I'd talked to him. Illiana, do you think you could walk her around?"

"Yea sure no problem." Jayden walked out of the room too, "It's not like I brought her here and stuff…" Illiana mumbled.

"I'm sorry." Penny said, looking up at her.

Illiana looked down and sighed, "It's not your fault. Come on, I'll show you the training grounds. I want to talk to Max."

The two of them walked out of the castle and headed towards the back. As they walked, everyone stared and whispered to their neighbors. Penny shifted uncomfortably as she noticed more people came to walk past them. Star noticed and chimed softly to comfort her. Penny took it to heart and decided to see if she could feel anything in the earth. She felt the trees were young and eager to learn that she could understand them. They welcomed her and told her of a forest she must visit and talk to them. She promised them that she would and sensed animals in the forest. The birds were different her but they were looking for things for their nests. Penny told them about her hair and they agreed to take it. As she was listening to them, they came to an arena with two people fighting and others standing around. In the middle, was the black hair kid, Ace, and Max. Ace had a sword in both hands while Max had a sword and shield in his. Both were fighting fiercely and the people standing around were cheering for their favorite.

"Of course, he would be fighting at a time like this," Illiana said as they joined the crowd.

"Won't they hurt each other with the swords?" Penny asked. She was watching them with interest.

"No, they won't. Remember when you asked about my guns? My bullets can't hurt people. Their blades are made with the same material. But they can bruise each other."

Penny watched them as the sun was setting. Neither of them seemed to be getting tired, but she noticed that Ace was breathing heavily. He also seemed to leave his left side open and tended to go for the head. Max easily dodged his attacks and blocked them with his shield, concentrating on where to attack.

"Go for the left!" Penny called out. Max glanced at where they were and swung there. Ace couldn't block fast enough and Max got him in the ribs. The teacher called a halt when he saw that one got a hit. Everyone was cheering for Max as Ace stalked off.

"You'll be the best fighter out there, Max!" Illiana said as he got closer.

"Thanks, Illiana. But I wouldn't have figured it out if she hadn't yelled." Max looked down at Penny.

She shrugged, "He would've lost anyway. He was getting too tired and his blocks were getting slower. Plus he never paid attention to his left. He left it wide open."

Max laughed, "I've been fighting with him for the longest time and I've never noticed that! Where did you guys find her?"

"Neverland. How did you know that?"

Penny couldn't tell them that she felt his movements from the ground, "I learned how to fight from Peter. Plus I notice things that people normally miss."

"Huh…anyway Max I want to wish you luck tomorrow. I'm sure that you will make it in the warriors but you know."

"You'll make it too, Illiana! You will be part of my crew and Jayden will join!"

"That's the spirit, Max!" a voice called from behind them. Max and Illiana looked behind them, but Penny knew it was Minnie before she even said anything, "I just wanted to show Penny to her rooms for the night."

"Of course." Penny said. She looked at llliana, "Thank you and I too wish you luck. I don't quite know what is happening but I do know that you are a good warrior." She followed Minnie before Illiana could say anything.

As they walked back, Minnie said, "That was very kind."

"I wasn't lying. She pulled her guns out fast when her friend was in danger. I would do the same."

They walked in silence through the castle as it got darker. Servants lit candles and torches so they could find their ways. Minnie stopped at one room and held it open for her.

"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, but I think I'm good."

"Alright, I shall see I you in the morning than."

Penny waved good-bye and entered the room. She sat on the bed, thinking about Neverland, Peter, and the Lost Boys. Star was already asleep on the pillow. Penny stared at the moon outside the window and cried for the first time in her life.