"All children grow up."Or so the saying goes. Children must all grow up; for they are told they must, by dear mother and father; whose forefathers preached the same words, to live an orderly society, maturity, responsibility, and loyalty are required.
But that is not the case. Because as was stated previously,
"All children, except one, grow up." And that makes all the difference. One.
But how did this come to be so? Who are they?
Hush now, and I will tell you a tale, of how this has all come to pass, and regale of a child, whose wit is well… charming, strength equivalent to that of a bear, and eyes, eyes as blue as forget-me-nots; escaped from this dreadful fate.
Our story begins in London. There in the quaint humble street of Bloomsbury, house number 14, lived a family of five. Six if you counted the nurse Lili, who must always be counted, for she took part in family affairs and must never, be forgotten.
And through the window of the living room, curtains gently tucked out to set our stage, merry laughter and light notes filled the cool November air, over the Darling estate. Let us see what they are up to now.
"And Cinderella, donned up her sword and pointed it at the brigade of pirates below—" Arthur announced, pausing to allow his wonderful actor, speak the words.
"It's you again! You've come for my glass slipper, have you not?!"
Cinderella bravely replied with a faint voice. He pointed a play steel sword at the 'pirates' taking his stance within the periwinkle silk tied to the waist, and white handkerchief round his wavy locks. And he always, had one loose strand, dangling and curled, like a boar's tail, with a spring to its bounce.
"Da," Said a deepened feminine voice. "We 'ave come for your glass slipper."
The tall woman-, I mean... Captain, demanded; her boots clattering with each step, a feathered hat upon her head, long hair tied back into a bun, hidden under the hat.
"Captain Ivan Braginski, approached the young woman, and pointed out his hook, piercing her with his incandescent lavender eyes, save when he clawed your belly with the iron hook on his right hand. At which time, when you gazed upon his face once more before your final breath, his- eyes-turned-scarlet-red."
Arthur darkly announced, while beside him, a melancholic tune played upon the piano. The master of the idle fingers that tickled the ivories with glee watched from his spot, trusting that his hands could do no wrong, whilst he played along.
"How dare you be so insolent, when clearly you have already stolen my first slipper?!" Cinderella nervously stepped backwards trapped to the wall.
"Call it a favour da? We've come to get the other one so they won't have to be separated anymore. Now hand it over." With actually a prop metal hook, the Captain came closer when suddenly—
"And then out of the sky, comes Peter Pan flying ferociously down and running atop the pirates' heads. He flips into the air, and lands between the princess and his arch foe just in time."
A small blonde boy jumps from his hiding spot behind the couch, and stands before the Captain, holding a wooden dagger in his hand, garbed in green shorts and hat, shirtless.
"Stand back Braginski, for you have stolen the girl's glass slipper! I never knew you had a taste for women's clothing. Do you play dress up in your cabin~?" Peter mocked. The wood striking against the shiny metal, on his tiny voice.
"Peter jested, and bowed to his opponent, keeping his head up still, and eyes on the dastardly villain, winking. Hook took his sword and pointed it at Peter, the tipped downwards, for the Captain towered compared to Peter, who appeared as nothing but a mere child. Glaring at each other, a heated sword battle was fast under way."
And so, Peter and Hook began their sword playing, while Cinderella is assumed to be handling the pirates. All because in the rules of battle, everyone knows, Peter alone must fight Captain Ivan Hook, and no one else.
"I still see you haven't learnt proper form?" the Captain slashed right above Peter's ragged hair.
"Your still a soddy old codfish, who's alone, and forgotten!" Peter replied quickly stabbing Hook on the knee.
"The brave and bloody battle raged on, until finally, Peter came out triumphant, while in battle he managed to snatch the other glass slipper hidden in Hooks robes, and flew away, leaving the wounded pirates on their ship. Peter then lowered down, and placed the other slipper on her foot."
Tiny Peter took out a silver sock, and placed it gently on Cinderella's foot.
"I believe this belongs to you." He gave a slight chuckle putting it on her.
"Hehe. I should thank you for assisting me." He giggled, and leaned down to kiss his forehead.
"And so, Peter returned her to the underground home, and they lived happily ever after forever more." Arthur Darling closed his journal and clapped at his actors.
Matthew, Peter, and Mrs. Darling, all took a bow, while their audience clapped. Then the musician Mr. Darling tagged along. Their guests sitting in the living room were astounded, even one shed a tear, as she wiped with a handkerchief. For tonight Mr. and Mrs. Darling had invited Mr. Darling's co workers and some of the neighbours who had come to meet the family.
Arthur was the famed writer of the whole play. His inspiration, no one knows from whence it came. Except he, who once had a dream about his wild adventures with Peter Pan, and wished to become a famed novelist.
Mrs. Elizabeth Darling thought Peter Pan to be the spirit of youth and an inspiration to boys and girls, especially her three sons, even young Peter. And though each one, strange in their own manner, she loved them all by her heart.
For you see the Darling children nary appeared similar to their parents at all in any manner. The only obvious reason would be adoption.
Mr. and Mrs. Darling tried time and again to have children on their own, but sadly there were not blessed. And one day strolling down to Kensington Gardens, they took in their eldest child, Arthur James Kirkland Darling.
Arthur now, a young man well into his teens, became the most celebrated child in Bloomsbury for his marvellous mind, high academics, and artistic abilities.
Upon his head a mop of buttercup hair, that in its dishevelled mess, seagulls would mistake as their nest. Underneath they haystack his emerald eyes that reflected the shadows of leaves, were the gateways to the forest realm. And above those, two very distinct bushy dirt gold eyebrows, which in his case may make him at first look serious and forlorn from afar, but take a closer look. They soften his face and rather fit his round plump cheeks, sprinkled lightly with freckles, and thin lips all topped with a bunt nose. Handsome is he not?
"Well I must say young man, you seem be just as the rumours that circle you, and handsomer in person." Mr. Kingsley shook his hand, patting Arthur's back.
"Hehe thank you. I hope you enjoyed the show, it was nice meeting you." Arthur himself though, meeting adults he felt uneasy. But he knew it would help his parents gain some social status, which Uncle Vash, another guest, deemed highly regarded if his own father would pursue his career. So he put up with pish posh adults for now, and tried to strike a good impression.
Roderich Darling was a banker by day, and knew the cost of everything, even hugs; and by hobby, a talented pianist. He could memorise a song hearing it miles away and he'd fidget his fingers behind his desk tapping the imaginary piano. Or remember every note played in a song for the first time, and hence be able to repeat it on the first try. Furthermore once upon a time, back in his younger years, practicing whilst the notes escaped through the window did someone hear his heavenly melody and it was Elizabeth Darling.
Now other than being very gentle and kind, Mrs. Darling by appearance was a woman of proper education. In secrecy Elizabeth was an adventurous, proud girl who dreamed of becoming a female actress to play male roles. Yet she had been rejected many times, and eventually broken by her parents, till she met Roderich.
And now we turn our attention to Matthew and Peter Darling, the younger brothers whom both were adopted at the orphanage. And both had contrasting personalities and depended greatly on one another so much, that when adopted, they both had to go together. No one could sever their tie.
Matthew, the middle child he seemed content in his quiet space. Not indulging on trivial things and often times faded to the back. For Matthew William Darling, never one to be bold or brave by appearance, often ended up getting into tight spaces, though... when in trouble, luckily he had the skill to camouflage himself, and that always curled a sly grin on his face, while clutching the bear he so dearly adored. He gave it a strange foreign name, he'd read in a book, and so dubbed the bear Kumajiro, Kuma for short. Books were Matthew's specialty, for he always could remember important information from them whether they were fictitious or not. And it became very helpful to Arthur, for the brothers hand in hand, the Novelist and the Scholar.
And lastly is Peter Darling. Also known by Arthur as PeeDee, for short; is an ambitious boy still only 6 and soon to turn 7 and still had all of his first teeth. There is not much else to say about his personality other than he is rather noisy and prefers to start bedlam particularly with Arthur, teasing him. In reality Arthur became his role model, Peter Pan being his primary model first.
Ding, dong, ding, dong~!
Immediately the first person to turn to the stance of attention, at the very hour, was Lili the nurse dog. And she was a fair and gentle soul, a gift from Uncle Vash to the family. Lili in return made sure to take precarious care for her little ones for her masters. Though sometimes Mr. Darling wondered if having a dog for a nurse quirked any eyebrows, she proved to be most faithful to her duties and he shrugged the detail off.
Peter had a grave pale colour stream through his blood, and sweated oozed down his back. He began to shuffle away
"Alright boys you know what time it is." Mrs. Darling pat their shoulders and the elder two started make their way upstairs, where had already vanished away into thin air. For now came the time for grownups to talk, and what troubles a grown up will never trouble a child. Arthur though, already came close to it, recently entering a private school just down a few blocks.
Now the shadow of young Peter snuck up the stairs and tip toed to hide somewhere in the nursery. But Lili could sniff out his quivering scent anywhere. So when all others disappeared, did Lili run and set the bath upstairs for the boys. Matthew had already undressed, sitting in the water waiting for his little brother to be fetched. Of course Peter had no shirt. So how would the dog capture him from escaping his cleansing? She skipped playfully towards Arthur working, and pointed in a direction. Arthur only smirked and pet her head mindful of the violet bow tied to the side. Getting up from his desk he picked up the hidden rock under the sheet, and Peter started to complain.
"Come on Pete, it's time to take our bath whether you like it or not." Arthur shovelled him over the shoulder and with good reason.
"No... NO NO~! I shan't take my bath, I SHAN'T." He kicked and squirmed, but Arthur's grip was no match for him. Removing Peter's shorts he stuck the boy in the tub with Matthew's help, and soon joined them. Lili then closed the door, and put the towels on the chair, none of them dribbled with saliva at all. Then opening the door with her paws, she traversed down to the nursery and opens the drawers to retrieve their night clothes.
Later that same evening, when almost all the guests were gone...
"And vhen do you think the boy vill marry?" Uncle Beildschimdt asked in a gruff voice, taking the cup of tea into his mouth.
"We hav—"
"Well certainly soon surely." Vash replied hushing up Roderich.
" Erh... don't you think it's just a little too soon to be talking about marriage, Vash? I mean he's only 15." Elizabeth countered.
"Doesn't he soon turn 16 by this Friday? Can you not see, Roderich, if that boy only dreams of becoming a novelist, what life would he gain writing children's fairytales all day?! Roderich, Lizzy be reasonable, he's a young man and his last years of school are almost through. You need to start thinking about joining more parties, make small talk with your co workers."
The conversation went on and on. Arthur could over hear them from the stairs, while Lili pawed and barked sweetly at him saying "It's not good to ease drop." Until she heard herself more of the conversation... then did she sympathize with the child, and slid her head under his arm. He peered down distracted, and gave a warm sigh, while thinking in his mind.
'Have I truly... let the years slip by? I don't want to grow up... tch. Stick me in an office, put in me in a suit, or into a uniform, and ask me to court with girls..., and get married...' Arthur kept a gaze, trying to imagine possibly what his life would appear to be like. He'd didn't see himself happy or content.
Going back up stairs... putting his pen on the paper, the words would not come to his mind. And frustrated he headed off to bed... wishing deeply with his heart, not to grow up. Anything to escape this inevitable fate. Before sleeping, he put up the nightlights over his sleeping brothers. And then... for some strange reason the window remained open a crack? Perhaps PeeDee left the window open and it annoyed Arthur. Matthew shivered under his sheets, and Arthur groaned pulling the window down.
"Stupid Pete, you left a draft in." And it began to snow outside plainly over the houses. In some areas, it snowed grey while the black puffed smoke rose from the warm chimneys of others. Arthur smiled, coming up with a phrase to describe it and he whispered it out. Then... way up high in the sky, his favourite star, second to the right just above the horizon.
"You're so lucky... never to have to grow up." He gazed at the star a few minutes more, before sliding into bed, and tucking himself in. Lili would've done so herself, if her masters had not called up on her urgently.
Slowly Arthur drifted into sleep, and he did not once think of checking the roof behind his bed post. For hidden behind the top of his bed a shadowed panther remained lurking, and in curiosity, when its eyes scanned for the guardian, seeing she was nowhere in sight. It then peered down from the edge, with a sly bright leer across its face, and stepped in the middle of the nursery.
EvilSam: Yeah soooo sorry guys, but I had a bit of a hiatus but it TWAS not in vain. I just had to finish Highschool and I also took some training in writing in and drawing.
Now I'm back. Except a chapter update of one of the current fanfics I have once a week. I won't update all of em at once, just interchange between em.
PP has a few chapters in but they are 2 years old. I will finish it and then if I get inspired I might fix some of my old mistakes in my writing style.