Saving Neverland - Ch 3 - I Still Believe

(Josie Sayz: This is a story that I began working on several years ago. I am finally reading through it/editing it. This is a fanfiction piece of what would happen if two of my favourite characters Peter Pan (from J M Barrie’s book) and Jack Frost (from ‘Rise of the Guardians’) met, why and what adventure would they go on. I originally wrote this story as a present for a friend. I have decided to dig it out and plan to release each chapter as I edit it. This is Chapter One: ‘Just Keep Reading’.

Note: I do not own Peter Pan or any of the relating characters or places to the story; these are all owned by J M Barrie and ‘Disney’. I do not own Jack Frost or any of the relating characters or places to the story; these are all owned by William Joyce and ‘DreamWorks’.

Chapter One: ‘Just Keep Reading’ can be found here: https://josiesayz.blogspot.com/2019/06/saving-neverland-just-keep-reading.html

Chapter Two: ‘Meeting and Greeting’: https://josiesayz.blogspot.com/2019/08/saving-neverland-meeting-and-greeting.html.)

I Still Believe…

Flying over the rooftops of her hometown, Izz laughed. The wind gushed past her face and entwined itself through her hair, as she gripped her arms around Jack’s shoulders. Resting on his back, she peered her chin over his collarbone, eager to see the sights. Her heart drummed to the chase scene in an action film. Snow settled down on the pavement, rooftops and the bare branches of trees. As they soared across the sky, cars, houses and roads flew by beneath her. She arched her head. Dogs howled in their kennels, birds nested into gutterings and cats pranced on slate tiles as smoke bellowed out of houses’ flue pipe terminals. She took a deep breath in through her nose. Snow tingled her cheeks and clung to her eyelashes. ‘Just like Christmas,’ she imagined, her mouth beaming. She shuddered and snuggled her head into Jack’s hood. Her arms shook and her fingers trembled, even as she locked them, gripping tighter. “I’m sorry,” Jack apologised with a shrug, turning his head around to face her, having heard her teeth chatter.

“F-f-for wh-what?” she stuttered, as she tried to steady her jaw.

“I made it snow,” he said rolling his eyes up at the sky. “And I can only make you colder.” He gave her a half-smile, his eyebrows rising up to meet in the centre of his forehead.

“It’s okay,” she found herself replying back, as she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. ‘At least my cheeks might warm up,’ she thought, ‘even if the rest of me freezes.’

With Peter zooming ahead in front, Jack tailed him. As they took a sharp bend, Izz pinched her eyelids and lips tight. Although she held her breath, she let her voice box squeal the fear that screamed through her body. As Jack straightened out again, he asked her, “You okay?” She squinted her eyes open and let out her breath.

“Uh huh,” was all she could squeak in reply. Jack smirked.

“You’ll get used to it,” he said. His head twitched back ahead of him, as he heard a noise. A tooted, timber vibration whistled through the air. A melody floated towards their ears: three notes increasing in pitch rang out over and over. “D’you hear that?” Jack whispered out of the corner of his mouth. “It sounds like-”

“Pan Pipes,” said Izz with a grin. Loosening her grip around Jack’s shoulders, she pointed ahead of them. Drifting on his back, facing them, with his ankles crossed, Peter blew away on his pan flute. The tune always the same: one slow, low note, accompanied by two quick high ones, with the last note hanging in the air for a good few seconds. Izz giggled at him.

“How’s he even doing that?” Jack exclaimed pointing at him. “He’s facing the wrong way. How does he know where he’s going?”

With a grin Izz told him, “He just knows…”

Having been flying in direction of her town’s largest bridge, Izz noticed Peter stop. Jack slowed down and waited for Peter to continue their journey. Scratching his head Peter spun around. Noticing Jack and Izz behind him he gave a slight shudder. “Hi,” smiled Peter holding out his hand. “I’m Peter.”

“Hi…?” Jack replied with a hesitant nod.

Peter recoiled his hand, placed both on his hips and said, “You know, that’s awfully rude.”

“What is?” asked Jack.

“You didn’t introduce yourself… or your lady friend,” he said nodding his head towards Izz with a grin.

“What? He doesn’t remember us,” Jack muttered to Izz.

“Peter,” Izz called out. “I’m Izz, remember? And this is Jack… Jack Frost. We’re going with you to Neverland to help stop Captain Hook and Pitch from destroying it.” Peter’s eyes left hers, as his grin faded. His arms dropped by his sides and his head dropped.

“Is he okay?” Jack whispered.

“I’m fine!” Peter called, straightening his posture and plastering his smile back on. “Now come on, we have to save Neverland,” he ordered. Jabbing his arms out, he soared on into the sky, continuing their journey.

“Is this guy for real?” Jack asked Izz, once Peter was too far ahead of them to hear. “How could he forget?”

“I don’t think he does forget,” she said, staring ahead at the little blob of brown, with a bobbing green hat, through the snowstorm. “Not really. It’s like a front, to help him cope. He just pushes away all of his unwanted thoughts and memories, in hopes that he’ll forget them, so he can keep moving forward…” Jack hummed in reply. “He can’t forget, but he tries to, or at least pretends.”

“I see,” Jack gave a sorrowful smile and turned his attention back to Peter.

“Peter tries to act cocky and calm and brave, but deep down he worries about things, just like you and I,” she explained. “The problem with Peter is…” She swallowed and gave a sigh as she stared at him. “He bottles everything up. He never shares anything with the Lost Boys, or even Tinker Bell – his fairy friend,” she added, realising that Jack did not know about Peter and his friends, like she did. “That’s why he’s always on his own… struggling to face everything by himself… and all because he’s different-”

“Different?”

Izz rolled her shoulders, before continuing, “He’s the only human in Neverland with the ability to fly. From what I’ve read, Mr. Smee believes that it has something to do with the fairies, who rescued Peter from Kensington Gardens after he ran away from home the day he was born.”

“Ran away from home the day he was born?” Jack repeated.

“Because he didn’t want to grow up,” Izz exclaimed. “And in Neverland he doesn’t have to, no one does. But when bringing Peter to Neverland, it’s possible that the fairies gave him some kind of potion or performed some kind of sacred ritual…” she said with a confused frown. “No one knows, except Peter and the fairies that were present at the time. All I know is that Peter has a special connection to the Neverland Island, a connection far stronger than any other living creature who resides there. It’s possible that it’s connected to the Philosopher’s Stone that Captain Hook and Pitch are searching for, but who knows.” As they flew on, the thought of Neverland being the source of an unknown power plagued her mind. “In all honesty,” she confessed. “I don’t believe that the Stone exists. I think the island’s just magical and Hook and Pitch are wasting their time trying to find it.”

Turning to face her, Jack gave a smile, “Let’s just hope you’re right.”

The excitement and the adrenaline of adventure from the flight soon progressed to a still, frozen silence. Each of their minds rang with the fear of Neverland’s future and that of the wonder, hopes and dreams of children. Peter flew ahead, leading the way for Jack (carrying Izz on his back) to follow. Looping her arms around his shoulders, Izz could feel Jack’s heart thumping against her hands. Since their departure he had remained silent for most of their journey. The snow was beginning to ease, and Jack took no interest in reviving the blizzard. With her house no longer in view and the streets unrecognisable from all of the snow, Izz became conscious of the spiral of Jack’s worries. As they flew over a forest of trees, once Peter was far enough ahead of them, Izz whispered to Jack, “Are you thinking we should get the others?” Jack shuddered. Izz gripped her right wrist tight, as she pinched her eyes shut, fearing she might fall. He turned his head towards hers.

“Others?” he asked, his voice high. Noticing his voices change in pitch, he cleared his throat. Loosening her grip around her wrist, Izz opened her eyes.

“The other guardians,” she rephrased. Jack twitched his head to face forward, following Peter’s flight path. “They could help us stop Pitch and Captain Hook-”

“There’s not enough time,” Jack told her. She felt his shoulders stiffen beneath her. “You heard Pitch.” He swallowed and gave a slight shake of his head. “They’re planning to destroy Neverland as soon as they can. By the time we round everyone up, we could have already lost precious time.” She stared as his right arm tensed and the fingers on right hand pierced into his staff. His eyebrows narrowed. His sight fixed upon Peter.

Izz rested her chin upon Jack’s left shoulder and tilted her head to face him. “What’s wrong?” she asked, as her expression softened. He fidgeted, adjusting his weight beneath her. “You can tell me, Jack…” She pinched her lips in, widening her eyes, willing him to open up. “I won’t judge you… I promise.” Lifting his right shoulder, he tilted his head, prodding his jawbone into it. He relaxed his shoulders and shook his head. Flicking snow from his hair he rolled his eyes and forced his mouth to prop up in the right corner.

“Let’s just say I’m not exactly on close terms with the other guardians at the moment, okay?” His eyes met hers for a brief second, before he shot his sight back to the silhouette of Peter ahead of them. She swallowed, lowering her vision to the cluster of trees below. She pressed her tongue to the roof of the mouth, preventing herself from speaking. She wanted to ask for more, but she knew it was best to let him reveal it to her when he was ready. She noticed his lips part, his jaw tremble. He screwed up his face, before growling, “It’s not even my fault.” She loosened her grip, feeling his shoulders tense up again underneath her. “Pitch was there… I saw him.” He swallowed. “I know I did.” His jest quivered, as he breathed in, relaxing his shoulders. “I called the others. Bunny was mad, as usual – he was still getting over Easter – Tooth was tired from going out to work with her fairies, and North seemed to think I was worrying over nothing… but Sandy…” He glanced at a star in the distance, glistening through a gap in the clouds. “He convinced them I was onto something…Weeks we spent trying to track Pitch down: keeping a close watch on all the children, pullin’ all-nighters, scannin’ the world day an’ night… but Pitch had vanished.” He passed his staff into his left hand and clawed his right through his scalp. His heart hammered against him, demanding freedom. His sight clouded as water crept up into his eye sockets. His sighed as his hand flopped to his side. His voice small and croaky, he continued, “There was no sign of him. Boy, were they mad. Bunny thought it was some kind of a trick – thought I was messin’ with them for a bit of fun. He told me not to bother him again, unless the world was about to explode.” His eyebrows rose for a brief moment as he snorted. “The others were a little more understanding, but…” He closed his eyes. Their altitude declined. He stretched out his hand, brushing the tops of trees, snow sweeping up his arm. “I’m just some kid,” he mumbled with a shrug. “Just some loner who causes disaster wherever I go…”

“Jack,” Izz cried, her voice no more than a whisper. She forced herself to swallow the lump that had built up in her throat. “You’re not…” She shook her head. Her lower lip shaking, words lost to her tongue.

“One person’s opinion isn’t exactly going to change their minds.”

They flew on in silence.

Fields turned into forests; forests turned into mountains and mountains turned into sea. Nothing but the roaring of the ocean and the water below surrounded them as far as the eye could see. Refusing to look down, Izz scrunched her face up as Jack passed her over to Peter. She squeezed her arms tight around his shoulders, her heart pounding against its imprisonment. “It’s alright,” Peter told her, as he shifted her weight on his back. “I’ve got you. You’ll be safe in my hands.” Inhaling short, sharp rasps of breath, her hands shook as she pinched open her eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart’s raging subsided. He placed a hand upon hers. “Don’t worry Izz,” Peter reassured her. “We’ll be in Neverland before you know it.” He grinned. She could not help but smile back. “I like your trousers by the way,” he told her.

“My trousers?” she repeated with a frown.

“Yeah.” He gave a nod. “They remind me of the night sky.” She smirked and gave a giggle. Arching her head behind her, she glanced at her legs. Her midnight-blue pyjama bottoms blended in with their sky view. Her trousers luminous star transfers twinkled as they caught the moon’s night-time glow.

“Thanks,” she giggled. “You’d like my top too.” Peter twisted his head towards her and raised an eyebrow. “It says: I still believe…” she told him. “Because I do still believe in you… and fairies,” she added, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks.

“Wow,” Peter replied, as both eyebrows rose. “Children know so much nowadays that they usually stop believing before they’re old enough to brush their own teeth.” Izz tucked her head into her left shoulder as she gave a snort, realising how similar he and Jack were. “What?” exclaimed Peter. “It’s true. More and more fairies are dying each year, because more and more children don’t believe in them.”

Her cheek’s smoothened, her smile faded. Lowering her chin onto his collarbone, Izz took in a deep, slow breath. She gazed out onto the water ahead, staring as few lost flakes of snow drifted down towards the sloshed waves. “Don’t be blue,” Peter said nudging his shoulder. “There are still loads of fairies. And I’m glad you believe in them, ‘cause they believe in you.”

 “What?” she asked, creasing her brow.

“The fairies,” Peter told her. “They believe in you. They believe you’re a great storyteller.” He cocked his head in her direction and noticed her increasing frown. “I often come by your window and see you at your desk writing. Before you go to bed you usually read it to yourself. I love hearing stories and so the Neverlanders; so, I try to remember them and tell them, myself, when I come back.” Eyes wide, Izz exhaled a small, incredulous laugh.

Rolling her head away from Peter, she allowed herself another anxious breath. “Really?” she asked, before biting her bottom lip. She twisted her head, trying to catch a glance of Jack behind them.

“Really,” Peter told her with a nod. “You’re really good.”

“But Peter, most of my stories are about you,” she giggled.

“I know,” Peter said with a shrug. “That’s why I like them.” Shaking her head, Izz laughed again.

“Are you sure you aren’t pulling my leg?”

“No, I’m not,” Peter declared. He took hold of her hands and parted their grip. Taking a dive, he zoomed out from under her. She plummeted downwards. She screamed. Her eyes pinched shut. Something cold and scrawny entangled itself around the bottom of her legs. Her head shot downwards. Her falling ceased. Opening her eyes, she clasped her hands to her mouth. Upside down, she swayed in mid-air. Pressing her head against her chin, she looked up at her legs. “Now I’m pulling your leg,” Peter said, laughing, as he held Izz up above the water’s surface by her ankles. Turning to her left, she saw Jack by her side. Eyebrows narrowed, he scowled up at Peter, who shrugged in reply. Peter tugged on Izz’s ankles and threw her up into the air. She screamed, her arms and legs flailing. Jack flung himself up towards her. Zooming past Jack, Peter lay out on his front, his head arched over his neck. Unable to hide her fear, Izz’s screams continued as she fell back down, grabbing out for Peter, as her body drew closer to him. “Ha!” Peter laughed, as she landed on his back. Squeezing his chest with all her might, she buried her face in his shoulder blade. “I told you you’d be safe in my hands,” he boasted, as he continued their flight.

“Never… do… that… again,” said Izz, between gasps, clawing her fingers into him.

“Okay,” he sang with a shrug and sped onwards. Jack caught up with them. Sailing at Peter’s side he rested a hand upon Izz’s shoulder. Rolling her head to face him she forced herself to smile.

*

The sky darkened. Clouds bubbled up, surrounding them. The horizon hazed. Since getting over her earlier shock of almost being dropped into the sea, Jack had demanded that Peter allow him to carry Izz again, until his shoulders forced him to take another break. However, they had passed over two islands and returned to the vast emptiness of the sea since then. Not used to carrying weight on his back for so long, his shoulders grew weary. The nerve behind his collarbone spiked him with pain. He winced and jerked his left arm towards him. “Jack,” Izz cried. “Just ask Peter to take me. He promised he’d be careful.”

“Just five more minutes,” he insisted. “We might be there soon.”

“You said that ages ago,” she whined. “I’m not letting you injure yourself for me. Please Jack…”

“Alright,” he said with a sigh and called Peter over.

As Jack passed Izz back to Peter, she gave a yawn. Her eyes drooped as she lolled her head on Peter’s shoulder. Not wanting to miss their arrival in Neverland, the second she felt her eyelids drop, she shot them open, before they wilted again. She murmured rubbing a hand to her eye. “Go to sleep,” Peter told her, stretching his hand behind him to rub her shoulder.

“But Neverland,” she croaked. “I don’t want to miss it.”

“Don’t worry,” Peter told her, as his grin returned. “I’ll wake you as soon as we get there.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

- Josie -