Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006 18:14:40 EDT From: J Subject: PETER PAN AND ME 55 Peter PAN and ME Episode 55 GROW UP ALREADY! It's difficult to say which came first, the night or the day. The day or the night. I know I heard the sounds....the calm ocean on a clear crystal day, not a cloud in the sky and in Neverland that is unusual. Blue striking across the canvass of the velvet sky, making it surreal. No at night it was velvet. The day Je'ne walked carelessly over the Small Stone Beach, one of the Neverland beaches that seemed to move from time to time...he used his bare tanned toe to kick stones in a manner that befitted a Lost Boy. But he was not feeling like a Lost Boy. At the time, I had other things on my mind. The velvet night brought sounds as though Godzilla himself were tearing through the underbrush. There was talk among the more unsettled Lost Boys that Hook himself had returned. Of course, Peter scoffed at it and said, "Let him. Hook? I've beat him so many times, he's not even a thought anymore." When one happened and the other followed I cannot say. Je'ne walked on the clear blue sky day; the night thing terrorized some trees in a velvet veil of a half moon soaked night. A giant something stalking bushes and looking for a place to lay. Bushes parted ominously. Waves parted gently as Je'ne, the more gentle of our more violent boys, toed with stones and the small bit of water that came toward the beach. By more gentle among our violent boys, I meant Je'ne, Aoi, and possibly even Sole, the more skilled warriors of the group, besides our bloodthirsty leader, Peter Pan. And Aoi was more bloodthirsty than Sole and I'm not sure if Je'ne was more of a killer than Sole but ...you get the idea. If Je'ne was, then would probably follow Sole, apt with a sword, a spear, a knife. Rollin was a softie at time but he would and could kill with ease if he had too and with relish too. Landen, Bo, and Jennie. Well, in a pinch...Jennie, I can't imagine killing...or had he already, some time to save me? Bo was also more pacifist. Landen I seem to recall making supreme sacrifice to go against his beliefs to kill in order to save me, Peter, and the Lost Boys, mostly Bo and Jennie. But I digress...again and I ramble..again. Really, you have to stop me from doing that. Being somewhat more omnipresent if not always omnipotent, I should have a tendency to not do that! Anyhow, Je'ne strode on the beach when he noticed something odd. At the time I didn't know it but he was having conflicting feelings. Stay or go? His mind went to that other great fighter, Bailey, who had returned to life in the normal world, to grow old, to have a job, love a woman. Je'ne missed the redhead, perhaps even more than Bailey's own brother---- the once elective mute, Bo. A figure gracefully made its way toward him but under the clear water and between the shining stones under it and the clear water closer toward the beach, Je'ne could see the figure. Or so he thought. He blinked. A huge tortoise. Turtle. He blinked and saw a tanned figure. A girl? Then again. A giant snapper turtle. A trick of Neverland. A pirate trick? Some kind of new armor they wore. But no man could swim that way, that fast, that sleekly, weighed down by a shell armor. And the figure was feminine. Girlish. And as she emerged on two feet, flipper vanished. Je'ne thought the figure had been a mermaid. As it splashed out of the water and stalked on two legs, two feet guiding them, he realized it was not a mermaid. The females of the species of the ones on the other side of the island, especially the ones near Black Castle, were ugly mutant like spectacles. The others species of them were pretty but much older than this apparition that gleamed at him. Dripping water along her naked body, she soon realized she was nude. Je'ne was not looking away. He looked at her fully. And she knew he was full. His thong did not hold his manhood. "That's new." He said, "Peter mustn't see that." "Who's Peter?" The girl said as she moved toward him. Je'ne backed up enough so that he was not near the water and near a long line of bushes and trees. He pulled some of them down, "Can you...canya...wear these? I'm not sure Peter would like a girl...a girl naked...boys yeah, they're sorta his thing..." The girl was dark. I suspected Hawaiian when I first saw her. Very pretty and yet somehow Tomboy-ish at the same time. Her teeth were perfect white pearls. She was unblemished. Untouched. And her eyes were dark, black. Je'ne felt and I knew instinctively that she meant no harm to any of us. She was a pure soul. Even though her emergence and transformation from sea creature reptile to human girl was strange enough, she herself was benign. She put her new " dress" of leaves and bushes and pine on. Je'ne sniffed. She smelled like Christmas. And her skin smelled of honey and now, mixed with the pine, and yet all the aroma of the sea anemones were on her as well. It didn't bother Je'ne, it pure bliss. Fresh air and fresh water, the salt dripping off magically. Jene seemed to mature in that moment. "Oh," he moved away from her, "I would like you to meet the others." He tried to emulate Peter's first meeting of Wendy. "Oh, Uh, I uh, I am glad to meet you. I'm Je'ne." "I'm Hanna." "Welcome to Neverland, Hanna." "Peter!" I was saying, loudly, "It's full day and you're going to go back to the Viking ship?" "Yeah!" Peter said, "What else?" Sigh. "Peter, I just said, we made a bad mistake..." "I don't!" "Make mistakes? Yeah, you do!" "Fuck off!" "Pan!" I calmed down. The children were listening, all but Je'ne. "Peter Pan. Listen. The Valkeryies are still on that ship, chained up still, I'd guess. We forgot." "You forgot. I didn't." "I'm not in the mood to fight..." Peter grabbed from around the waist and pulled me into him. I became larger between us. I was turning red. "I like it when you are in the mood..." I tried to pull away but he had both hands on my back now and both arms wrapped around me and he was damned strong for a child...a teen now really. " Peter, we have to do something..." "I am!" Peter smiled and let go but whipped a hand onto my hand and held it, flung me like in a dance and whirled me out from him. "Stop!" Peter smiled, "Dance with me. I love it when there's something dangerous to do..." "But we should plan this out, not..." "Go rushing in where angels fear tread?" "Yes!" "NO!" Peter said, "I go where angels fear..." He pulled me back to him and my mouth landed a mere millimeter away from his and he plucked his thick hot lips onto mine and kissed me deeply. "Now is the time to act!" With his free hand, he touched his sword which was laying sideways on the wooden table of King Arthur. Aoi moved forward, "How many do you want..." "I go alone this time, matey," Peter let go of my hand and I looked at it and with my other hand touched my lips. Aoi protested, "Alone?" Peter perked up even more than he already was, "Good hearing!" He flew out of the underground house. I shook my head as Aoi looked at me and shook his. "That boy!" I smiled and licked my lips which were sweet with him. "I love him!" The Lost Boys groaned. They were sulking, Aoi, Rollin, Sole were anyway, that they could not go on an adventure. Landen shrugged, "Well, I'll make some cherry soda for you all, that's bound to cherry you up." Bo and Jennie laughed. The others just groaned at Landen's bad joke. Truth be known, Landen really didn't want to go on an adventure, not when the last few involved so much blood. As a rule the others like it but not Landen, nor Bo and Jennie. I laughed at the joke. Then I realized Peter made another fool mistake, going to that ship in full day. On the beach, unknown to me at the time, Je'ne was told as he walked with the turtle girl, "The Vikings are after me. I saw their ship return here one night..." "So you've been here for a bit?" "Yes but never did I step foot on land until now. You see, I am searching for a warrior..." Je'ne puffed his chest out, bare as it was, and his nipples were erect, " Search no further, for I am one such as he." Hanna clasped her hand together, "You are! How marvelous!" She was about to throw her arms around him when he backed off. "What's wrong?" "You were...you were going to hug me?" "Sure. My warrior who will rescue me...he, for he will be the one to free me." "I'm not sure I understand." "I'm, I'm not sure I do either." She grew sad all of a sudden. Je'ne put his hand on her chin, "What's wrong? Don't be down." "Oh no," she smiled again, "For he, if it is you, you will be my mate..." "Mmmm...m...ma...mate?" "Yes, mate, and then, and only then, can I fully become a woman in my true form." "Yeah..." Je'ne put his hands up, "Good luck with that..." He started to move back and she did not understand. For she kept walking at him in a friendly manner. As she did, she did not notice, nor did Je'ne, that huge shapes were swimming toward them from the beach water and finally standing upright. More sea beings? Nope. Vikings! In skin tight leather of some sea creature...possibly Hanna' s turtle friends or alligator... "Fly!" Je'ne told Hanna but then realized she couldn't fly. As the look on her face told him. He sprung up in the air and kicked into the Viking closest to Hanna. Both feet onto the Viking's bare chest made him fall over into the Viking behind him and a huge splash followed. The two recovered quickly but Je'ne swung his whole body around and side kicked them but five more Vikings were throwing a net over him and Hanna at the same time. A large net. Je'ne took out a knife from his loin cloth and smiled, a big huge Peter smile but another Viking hit him on the head with the flat side of a sword. "Why not kill him?" "No," Hanna cried. "No." The Viking near her said, "Don't worry, little tortoise, it's bad luck to upset you, isn't it? Our captain won't have that. Bring him along and with her. Make it easy on her and rough on him!" A Viking hauled Je'ne over his shoulder, the net still on Je'ne, just in case he tried to fly. The others pulled Hanna from under the net and held her arms, a Viking each. "Please don't hurt him." "We shall not, lass, for it will be on our heads then, won't it?" "What are you talking about?" "Luck and that anyone that has thee will have good luck if they treat you with respect." "Like putting a net over my head?" "That's off," the Viking said. "Now be silent and enjoy such a warm day." "Oh Je'ne, I'm so sorry." "I'm never sorry," Peter said. He slipped into the Viking's ship unseen, wearing almost nothing but his usual leaves and over only one part, need I say which part? He was in the Valkeryies' cell room. One said, "But you forgot to save our children." "They are still alive." Peter shrugged, "Why do it then when I can wait for the last minute and save them at the last second?" "You are cute, Peter Pan..." "Oh I know." "...but if I get out of here, I'll skin you alive." Peter put his hands on his hips, "Just another reason for me to let you out right now." Another Valkeryie, this one redheaded, said, "No, Peter, you cannot. Our children, as we told you once before, are being held for our continued cooperation." The blond said, "We do his bidding, flying to where he wants and bringing him good luck..." "Such as...oh, I dunno," Peter smiled and cocked his head, "...having his arms cut off." They all smiled. Outside, I watched as two Vikings spoke to each other. I hovered. "Oh, Peter, can't you even hurry?" I floated above them as they spoke. "He's going to try to make him a Viking." "That whelp? He slew several of our men." "Yeah I know. There not be many left." "Captain Graham has a solution for that." "A solution from that witch? Lyun? She...well, give me a warrior any day in a fair fight or even a not fair fight on my side but the supernatural...tis why Pan is so scary to me, as well." "You speak like a woman." I rolled my eyes. "Get on with it, you stupid oafs." "It'll keep the turtle girl happy." "Turtle girl?" I wondered. The sound of the sea washed over the deck I floated over. I flew closer to the Viking guards. "That boy slew our men, so he can't become..." "It's just to keep the girl happy. She's even better luck than Valkeryies." "But keeping them imprisoned here? That can't be good luck?" "They have a Lost Boy. Bet it's Je'ne. No one's seen him..." I looked around and backtracked to the water. I gently picked up a turtle, "You'll help me, won't you?" I came over to the cabin area where the two guards stood below, guarding the doors in. I put the turtle on one's head. I suppressed a laugh and as he felt it and reached for it, I waited. "What's this?" The Viking nearly screamed when he felt the shell. The other laughed and took it off. "Oh no! I'm marked! By the girl! She doesn't want the Lost Boy to become a Viking either!!!" "IT does seem an omen," the other Viking took the turtle, who looked out of its shell. "Quick, put it back in the ocean, before the Captain finds out I'm marked. I 'm cursed, I tell ya." "Okay, I will and maybe she shall put pity on thy head as well as mine." "What the hell are they talking about?" I waited for them to both move far enough from the door. The one with the turtle put it back and he was far enough away. The other one, the one who found it on his head, moved just enough for me to squeeze my lean (but muscled) and small body between his--ugh, hairy---back and the doorway, which was open. I flew in and looked around. A long hall. I seemed to remember this ship. Vaguely. I looked into one cell and saw Peter talking to the women. I felt a pang of jealousy rise up. I was about to call to him but thought better of it. "Well, we'll see who rescues who first, Peter the Mighty in your own mind." I smiled and landed. I wanted to hear what they were saying before I raced Peter to save the Lost Boy. The Viking guard who put the turtle back in the water, didn't see...two hands rising from the ocean...two gray, cracked skin coated hands. Reaching... reaching for a ladder up... "Our children will be slain if we leave here." The redhead, Helg said. "You will have to free them first," a chubby brunette, Bruna, said. "I shall. I shall. Then come back here." "Where I shall cleave you," the blond, Saca, said. "You, arrogant one, what is thy name?" Peter said, flying a bit. "Saca." Peter snorted a laugh, "And I know what a sacka you are, too." I laughed and ducked as Peter turned to look at the door, which had a small barred window on it. Another Valkeryie said, "There's another thing you should know, too." Saca frowned, "Quite a lot he should know. For he knows nothing." Peter drew his sword. "One more word of insult from thee..." I rolled my eyes, again. "Oh get on with it." Saca actually moved back but came forward again, "Graham, intends to get back his son." "Son? He has a son?" "Yes you sieve for a memory, Scen," I whispered. "Scen. He will make a man out of him yet." "If I remember correctly, Scen is wanting to become a man anyway." Peter remembered. PETER REMEMBERED?! I almost had a heart attack right there and then. I know he's remembered things in the past but I couldn't remember which things he remembered. I spun my head. Then I remembered, "Je'ne." "No, he's not understanding," Bruna came closer to the cell bars as Peter put his sword away. "Tell me the, fat one." "Why you!!!" Bruna laughed as Peter looked stunned, innocent, and confused, all at once. "Are you not fat?" "That I..." Bruna laughed more heartily, "That I am, ribby fellow. Listen, before you are found out..." "Aw let em find me out." "He wants to make Scen a warrior." Peter puffed his chest out, "Aww, that. I already have done so. Scen slew for me." For me, you conceited bastard, I thought, outside the door. I had to leave, had to find Je'ne. Bruna went on. "No, a warrior in Valhalla. The only way to do that is for Scen to die in this world. Be raised as a zombie, wounds and all, sometimes healed but I think Graham, being the harsh parent he is, will want the pain of the wounds to linger for several thousand years." Bruna had red hair on one side and blond hair on the other. For a heavy set girl he was neat, clean, and most attractive, if you like that sort of thing. I don't. Anyway... "An undead warrior," Peter glistened. In the moonlight coming from the barred window. "How glorious..." "Not for him." Helg said, "It's a fate worse than death. Imagine not having your own mind, your own peace, your own soul free to be..." "Yes I guess it would be worse than death and I know, I was dead. He would not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Peter said, "Anything else I should know?" "Graham hopes to..." "NO I WILL NOT!" Peter turned as Je'ne's voice echoed, "I WILL NOT BECOME A VIKING!" In a cell, where I noticed the door was open, Je'ne was chained by his ankles. I peered around the cell. Graham was inside. I would need a sword. I only had a knife right now. I looked at the room and saw a long hammer there. That would do. I snuck into the room, which was dark except for the torch on the wall. That might come in handy too. Peter looked at the women, "I have to go, now." Peter flew toward the door and opened it. "But there's more, silly ass," Saca called forth. "The time for talk is over," Peter said, "Your children will be saved, Sacka Shit." Saca fumed. "He'd better save them." Bruna laughed again. "I'm sure he will." As I entered the room, Graham was saying a lot of shit to Je'ne. Actually some of it made sense. "Don't you ever want to experience more than you already have?" Je'ne sat down, his cute tanned cheeks puffing in and out. "What? What do you mean?" "Hanna!" Graham was closer to Je'ne now and inside the cell. The boy didn' t seem afraid but he seemed bothered. "Hanna is what I mean. Who I mean. I know you like her." Je'ne cocked his head now, almost in refute but also in admission. I closed my eyes. It happened with Bailey, it was bound to happen with the others, maybe all the others, some time. Je'ne might be ready to leave the nest. Forever. Peter let Bailey go and let him go alive...would he let Je'ne, who'd been with Peter and I far longer? Or would he stab him dead on the spot? I had to think of escape now and not these thoughts. "I ...I do. But..." "That infernal forever young whelp, Pan. Do you want to keep going on and on around and around, adventure after empty adventure?" Je'ne's eyes lit up, "Yeah, I do!" "Do you...? Do you really?" I head Graham ask and something in his voice reminded me of the manipulation of Seth. Graham was good at this, maybe better than Seth in a way, then again maybe not. "I mean I admit adventure is fun but it's not all there is. And what of adventures you can have as an adult? There are things you do not know." "You mean...about...about sex?" "That is but one, a big one." "I don't know." "Think on it, my lost Lost Boy. The offer stands. Hanna is here now and comfortable above but how much more comfortable will she be with you by her side as a protector Viking. Join us and you shall have her and more if you want. Her alone if that be your nature. And as for warrior hood, you will grow fine and strong and be the best warrior man there could be. Realize your true power!" His voice had shown all the strength of his belief in this truth and power. Then his voice lowered and dropped in spirit, "But this way...under Peter' s thumb...or rather his heel...you will never reach your true heights..." "I..." I moved into the room toward the torch but someone grabbed my arms from behind. I slipped from the grasp, the sweat on my arms making me slippery. "You!" "YOU!" Graham gasped. "You! You're dead!" I gasped. I faced a zombie. "Peter killed you!" It was Strang, one of the Vikings Peter killed...I think. Or one of the Lost Boys did. Anyway, worms were on his face. He was in all effect, a zombie. Teeth askew, big belly wound gaping bloody parts and dried blood at that. Cold to the touch. Those horrid hands were on me before. I backed up. Graham laughed, "The witch was able to do her job and do it well, I see. Grab him!!!" The zombie put its hands out at me and I backed to the wall. The monster zombie kept coming.... To be continued... Peter Pan is copyright JM Barrie and the Ormond London Hospital. No copyright infringement is meant and no profit is gained by me from this story.