Metanoia - Peter Pan OUAT

Chapter Forty Two

WARNING: This chapter contains violence and mentions of blood.

Metanoia: changing one's way of life with repentance.

"You shouldn't abuse your powers, you little fire-demon." Ares's soft, teasing tone reverberated around the little girl's bedroom. He ruffled his daughter's hair affectionately as she gazed up at him with a toothy grin, though she was missing some milk teeth and waiting for her permanent teeth to grow.

"You told me that my nature is to cleanse people so they have a clean slate at life." Metanoia pouted uncomprehendingly.

Ares smiled, before picking her up and setting her in her bed, underneath the covers.

"I did, but that doesn't mean you burn them alive, dear ... If you kill them, you're not really giving them a chance to live, are you?" He poked her nose playfully, and Metanoia giggled, kicking her little feet excitedly.

"Then how am I meant to cleanse them, father?" She asked curiously, looking up at him.

"Teach them the error of their ways. Remember, Metanoia, you hold so much power that could be used for greatness, but can also be used to bring everything to chaos. You need to make sure you don't lose control, okay?"

Metanoia scrunched her face in confusion, not quite comprehending the weight his words held, but she nodded anyway. She was just a child - how could she have possibly understood the profound responsibility she was doomed with, yet destined to have?

The next few days have gone by in a blur. Everyone was too skeptic to engage in playful conversations with Metanoia after witnessing the possession of her supernatural powers, and her thirst for spilling blood. Metanoia would attempt to speak to her friends, but the Lost Boys either fled before she could reach them, or they would reply with tight, dry responses. She evidently wasn't who she claimed she was, and in a way, not only do they feel as though their lives are not only threatened by Pan, but by Metanoia now too - but also betrayed by her deceitful lies towards her true identity.

It hurt Metanoia deeply, especially when she tried to speak to Nate two days ago, but he wordlessly walked away from her before she could say anything more than an earnest "hello." The only person who was talking to her apart from Pan was Theodore, but that was only due to him already knowing about her true identity from Pan. He would offer her his sincerest comfort, and as much as Metanoia appreciated it, she still missed her friends.

Even Peter was being suspicious around her, and it was starting to aggravate her. It was as though he was walking on eggshells around her, and she couldn't fathom why. Metanoia felt avoided by everyone, for even though Theodore was sympathetic towards her, she could still see the caution lingering in his eyes whenever he came near her. It was soon established in her poisoned mind that she was a mortifying, ugly monster in all their eyes.

She knew she wouldn't be able to change how they felt about her, but Metanoia still tried. She'd keep approaching different Lost Boys, and she'd keep getting rejected. It was like a stinging slap to the face. But Metanoia still tried anyway. At some point, Liam hesitated when she approached him. Instead of instantly walking away from her, he stopped for a moment, and she was so hopeful. She could see him fighting an internal battle in his mind, but he then walked away from her.

By the sixth day, Metanoia gave up.

Instead of attempting to fix what she had caused, she decided to own and accept the role they've given her. Peter was lining them up to put them in pairs to duel against one another with no weapons, and he gave them the option of choosing their partners. Of course, she wasn't picked.