Fellowship & Fairydust

I had to be honest, it was more beautiful to be on the island than it was to look at it. The forests that surrounded us were majestic, reminding me of the time when they covered Harthyn. In several areas, they were growing back, but to see this place that seemed untouched by human hands. It was comforting. 

Jason wasn’t so impressed. “Why were we sent here? There’s nothing here.”
“Did you not see the ship in the cove?” Jiminy asked from my cousin’s shoulder. “There’s plenty here. I’ve been to Neverland more than once, and I can assure you this place has lots to do.” 

Looking at him, I asked, “A wooden ship? We haven’t used those on Harthyn for centuries.” 

“So how is being here supposed to help? What was Merlin thinking?” Jason asked. 

“Curse me kilts, have a little patience.” Scrooge scolded him. “Let’s have a look around and see what is u-daaaaahhhh!” His last word turned into a cry as suddenly he found himself dangling by his foot in the air. “Watch out. It’s a trap!” 

Before Jason and I could react a net was thrown over us and we were pinned to the ground while out of the woods came to a bunch of kids dressed in the skins of animals. “Hey, we got some!” One of the kids with blonde hair poking out of what looked like the hide of a jurdas said as he and his buddies looked over us.

“But they don’t look like pirates.” A chubby one in another type of skin, I couldn’t tell what, said while picking up Scrooge’s hat. “What is this?”

“That is mine!” Scrooge said as he used his cane to snatch it out of the kid’s hands and hold it close to him. “Now who are you and why have you caught us?”

“Why do you look like Donald?” The kid asked back.

“Answer me question!” 

“Answer mine first.” 

“Hey there.” Another voice called out. Looking up we saw an older boy with red hair and elfin ears… Gri’s beak! He was flying! How was he doing that? Was he a spirit of some sort, like I read about in some myths back on Harthyn? His green clothes seemed to suggest that. “What do we have here?”

“We set these traps to catch some pirates, Pan.” The jurdas-skinned boy said. “But we caught these guys instead.” 

Flying down to us, the one the kids called Pan looked over us. “They don’t look like pirates.”

“We’re not, Peter,” Jiminy called out from Jason’s shoulder. Wait. Pan? Peter? What was his name? 

When he noticed the cricket, Peter’s expression changed. “Whoa, Jiminy? Lost Boys, release them at once.” On his orders, the kids moved over to us and took the net off my cousin and me while the one who had been talking to Scrooge lowered the rope to the ground. Before he could help the old duck the boy was shooed away by the elder as he took the snare off his foot. “Jiminy, who are your new friends? And where’s Sora, Donald, and Goofy?”

“You know Sora?” I asked. 

“Yep. We’re friends. And if you’re his friends, then you’re our friends too.” The leader of the boys told us. “I’m Peter Pan. This is Slightly, Cubby, Nibs, the Twins, and Tootles. And this is Tinker Bell.”
“Who?” I asked as something bright and glowing flew down and around me. After a moment of looking… Whoa! It was a tiny woman with blonde hair and green clothes, with wings growing out of her back! With a gasp, I fell backward while I pointed at her. “What is she?!” 

“You never heard of a pixie before?” Peter Pan asked as he flew over. 

Wait a moment. I remember reading about them in Merlin’s books. They were a type of lesser fairies, although I still didn’t understand them, who helped watch over aspects of the world, like the animals and the seasons. They had reminded me of many of the tales my grandfather told me of spirits taking care of the world. Looking up, I apologized to Tinker Bell. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting to meet a real pixie.” 

With a frown, she flew up to me and began speaking in what sounded like tinkling bells. I couldn’t understand her words, but I could tell from her expressions that she was not happy with me. “Uh, Peter? What is she saying? Did I do something to offend her?” 

“Oh, no. She’s always like that.” Peter said. “She wants you to leave Neverland.” 

“And who is she to tell us what to do?” Jason frowned at her. “What makes her think we’d listen to a flying glowing bug?” That comment made Tinker Bell mad because she went from glowing yellow to red. Flying over to Jason she went and kicked him square across the face, surprising all of us. With a frown, he tried to swat her like a bug but she flew out of his way. When the Lost Boys and Peter started laughing, he glared at them. “Stop laughing!”

“What’s the matter? Didn’t you think that was funny?” Cubby asked. 

Shaking my head, I explained. “Jason doesn’t have a sense of humor.” 

“What? No sense of humor? That’s no fun.” Peter said. 

“Fun?” Jason asked. “Fun? I was forbidden from having fun. You can act like a little kid, but I’ve had to be serious for years.”

“And it’s caused us nothing but trouble.” Scrooge frowned at him.

Wait a minute. If Merlin thought it would be a good idea to come here after we nearly fell apart… “Peter, why is this place called Neverland?” I turned to the boy. 

“Well, no one ever grows up here. Neverland is a place to have fun.” 

Now it makes sense. “I know you don’t know us, but I think I know why we’re here.”

“Bless me bagpipes, of course!” Scrooge snapped his fingers. “That old wizard was right.” Motioning us over, the old duck pushed Jason back with his cane while the Lost Boys, Peter, and I got into a circle while he began to whisper to us. “Merlin sent us here to help Jason learn to loosen up. He’s wound up too tight and is going to snap at this rate.”
“Sounds like that old codfish Hook,” Peter said. 

“Please don’t be upset with my cousin.” Ignoring their shocked looks I continued, “As long as I can remember he’s never been allowed to have fun. So, Peter, I know you don’t know us, but could you help us help him?”

“You mean teach him to have fun?” Slightly asked. 

“Yes, exactly lad,” Scrooge confirmed. “Think of it as an elaborate game where you win by helping him learn to have fun.” 

A smile broke on the eldest boy’s face. “That sounds like a great idea. And I’ve got a plan on how to do it.”

“Hey!” We heard Jason cry out. Looking up, we saw Tinker Bell let go of some of his hair while he began to chase her around. It was kind of amusing to watch him chase someone so small. It ended when she tricked my cousin into tripping over a root.

“Tinker Bell, I need your help with something.” Peter Pan said, causing the pixie to fly over to him. “Lost Boys, show our friends around while we get things ready. Slightly, you’re the leader.” 

“Thank you, Pan.” Turning to us, Slightly said, “Follow me.” 

“But where are we going?” Jason asked. 

“You’ll see.” 

“Relax, lad. You know getting there is half the fun.” Scrooge smiled as he followed the line of Lost Boys while Peter Pan flew off to parts unknown. 

 

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