Hey everybody,

a new chapter just for you! Hope you like it! There will be a longer Author's Note at the end...

Also, just a fun fact: Chocolate and red bull really mix well with me!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Once upon a Time, just the crazy ideas in my head that I incorporated into this story!

Chapter 35

Peter's POV:

'Ah, and up there is the second star to the right...I will take you home if you follow it.' I pointed to the shining bright light in the night sky, hoping Wendy's eyes would pay attention for at least a second, as she stared at one thing in awe while ignoring the other.

We both sat in the meadow, enjoying -well, not only the night sky- but more the company of each other. There was still a distance between our bodies, and I wasn't ready to make a move. I couldn't make the move if I tried, some kind of guilt would fill my mind.

'It's wonderful. But it is getting rather chilly.' Her innocent doe-eyes turned to me as she scooted closer to me for warmth.

That was all this was, I tried to explain to my mind. She was only moving closer because she was cold. Nothing else.

From the basket that had been lying conveniently in my treehouse which I had brought for tonight's picnic, I pulled out a long blanket to cover us both from the night's cool chills and cold breezes.

Her head rested on my shoulder, her unruly hair tickling the sensitive skin on my neck. I didn't dare move my arm around her, lest the feeling of betrayal would fill my being. Why though? I hadn't made any promises to anyone else, I didn't love anybody, anything; I wasn't obligated to being in a relationship. There simply was no one in my life that I really care about, so I was a free, single boy who could do as he wished. Why wouldn't my body let me make a move?

Then, for the first time, I noticed. Not the tiny freckles on her skin, or the blush that was slowly creeping upon her cheeks, or how her eyes were an earthy color.

No, the meadow was dying. Once again. It had been his particular field that had been destroyed by a great fire, and since then nothing had happened. There grew no flowers or trees, no animals came here -there was no life.

A few weeks ago, the meadow had magically been restored to its former glory, I couldn't quite remember the events of that day. But I knew that the flowers had started to bloom, new life had started to sprout. The meadow had been brand-new and beautiful. Now it was slowly decaying for no apparent reason. And this frightened me. Was there some kind of danger in Neverland? But there was a more pressing matter at the moment..Wendy wasn't the person that needed to be here. I needed someone she left behind in a town called London instead. And now I was glad I hadn't made a move, touched her even more.

'Wendy, I need to tell you something. This island is for boys. And boys only. We don't apologize, we don't have manners, we don't have rules...And there is no time or place for love here. If I have led you on to believing that there was more between us, well.. there isn't. And you need to leave. Back home.' I was shocked by my own words, I didn't expect them to come out so harshly.

But I liked the feeling. It was exhilarating. It felt good. Now I understood why my shadow liked being like this. The pain and welling tears in the girl's eyes made me want to laugh straight in her face, but I restrained myself. She was still needed later on.

'But Peter...' She complained like a child that wasn't satisfied with the toy it was currently playing with, but with more desperation.

I silenced her with a glare, showing my true intentions. I continued with my cruel speech.

'You only landed her because of a stupid mistake, because someone couldn't tell the difference between boy and girl, between important and useless. You see, Wendy, you are useless to me.' I spat out in disgust and shoved her away from me, creating a distance I needed to stand up properly.

'In exchange for you I will need someone you are keeping at home. Be it brother or some else with great meaning. My shadow will bring you back safely, and the person that will come here will stay here forever. Because it is Neverland, you never can, or want to, leave. He will cry for his parents at night, but forget them eventually. He will have fun without grown-ups, and learn to be a Lost One.' I grabbed her by the arm as I mentally called my shadow to serve me.

'Please, Peter! Do not take my brothers! Don't...' She pleaded, the tears now flooding freely from her eyes.

As I saw her figure turn into a small speck in the distance with my shadow transporting her back through realms and time, I searched in the basket for something edible from the remains of food because my stomach had started to growl. My hand recognized the shape of an apple. As I bit into the juicy fruit, I had the strangest sense of deja vu. Hadn't someone told me a saying about apples? An apple a day...I couldn't quite remember.

Then, it hit me.

Not a memory, but something else. Pain.

It was driving me insane. The pounding sensation in my chest was on the verge of unbearable. A searing heat spread through my body to the tips of my being; a dull throbbing in my head wouldn't let me think straight.

Screaming out in agony, I collapsed to the ground and began to claw at my face until blood started to run along my fingers. I thrashed around in the dry grass, wailed and cried out, the sweat mixing with the blood. What was happening to me? I counted the seconds until I would pass out from the pain.

The pain eventually subsided, but my mind now going crazy. What was happening to me? Too many unanswered questions filled my head until I let out a guttural scream, silencing the voices in my head.

This hadn't been unusual, the pain. Over the past couple days, I had felt a stinging in my chest. I had always written it off as still recovering from being so weak and isolated in my tree house. But never like this.

Maybe this was the start of something terrible.

Maybe this was the beginning of my end.

So...yeah...

I finally understood why the stats have been so low since Chapter 24..because we are going through what I call a 'dry spell'...

It is important that we read how Pan got to his Heart of the Truest Believer..so these things have to come first...but not to worry! Only a few more chapters to come...(like Baelfire, or Hook arriving..etc.)

Also, another fun fact: I have a YouTube channel, where I post covers (today I'm gonna post When I was your Man-Bruno Mars)...so if anybody is interested, you can check that out...link is in my bio!

Reviews are always appreciated!

Love you all,

aureaborealis