Happy Thoughts || Peter Pan

Chapter 32

The scenery flashed past Avery as they flew through the forest. Still, Avery tried to remember carefully where they had flown by so she could find her own way back to Pixie Hollow if needed. Hundreds of images about the fairyvillage had passed through her mind. Images about huge trees, full of luminous flowers and fairies in long robes dancing beneath them. She could hardly contain her enthusiasm. They flew all over the island, even as far as the eternally white Snow Mountain and there, hidden behind lianas and hanging plants, they flew into a tunnel and reduced speed. Beyond was a valley where it almost seemed as if autumn had left its mark permanently. The trees were beautifully red, orange and yellow, but there were no leaves on the ground. She followed the river from Snow Mountain, passing a pumpkin field and an orchard of cherry blossoms where hundreds of apples could be picked very soon.

As they flew above a field of sunflowers, a soft ringing suddenly sounded next to her. Avery turned her head with a jolt to see the little fairywoman in a pink dress looking at her with wide eyes. She waved at Peter for a moment and the soft ringing sounded again.

'Nice to see you again too, Camilla. Can you let us know we're coming?' asked Peter. The fairygirl nodded and flew ahead of them at lightning speed.

'Can you understand them?' asked Avery when she was out of sight. 'I only hear ringing.' She kept looking down and discovered more and more fairy folk among the grass and flowers. Some looked up and others continued with their daily activities. What could they be, she wondered. What were the fairy people all occupied with?

'Can't you understand them?' He sounded genuinely surprised. His eyes flicked over her face. 'Maybe you don't fully believe.'

Avery nearly cackled. 'After everything I've been through?' Pirates, flies, mermaids. How could she not believe in fairies? That was almost impossible at this point.

'The older you get, the harder it is to understand the language. Babies are flawless at it, even if they can't talk. I grew up with the fairies. Most of the Lost Boys I brought here managed easily, too, but you're a lot older...' He frowned thoughtfully again. 'Maybe it's going to take more time.'

It must have been obvious that this message made her sad, because less than a second after, Peter affectionately bumped his head against hers. 'I'm sure it will be fine. The more you see and more fairies you meet, the faster your faith will grow.'

She nodded, but she was disappointed. She saw them walking below her, she saw them flying through the air and some even waving at her. How could she not believe in fairies when they were flying right in front of her?

Suddenly she felt a warmth rising within her. It resonated throughout her body, made her glow from within as if someone was lighting a fire inside her. No, it didn't feel like a fire, more like the first rays of sunlight after a hard winter that unleashed all sorts of emotions within her. Happiness, relief, joy, hope, gratitude. That's what it felt like. Everything at once bubbled up in her body, blew her up like she was about to burst. When it touched her heart, she sighed in relief and clutched at her chest. Peter looked back at her. 'Are you okay?'

Avery didn't know what to say. She felt great, alive, but at the same time so warm it almost seemed like she had a fever. 'I feel a little funny.'

'Your cheeks are all red,' he noted, and she felt at her face. She didn't feel particularly warm. Still, Peter thought, 'We'll land right away. The rest we'll walk.' And he made a diving run. He turned her body so he could hold her better and landed her gently on the ground. 'What are you feeling?' he asked when they were down on the ground, him still supporting her.

'I can't describe it,' she replied, 'it feels like.. happiness? A lot of warmth and joy, like I was born anew. My whole body felt warm and tingly. I've never felt this before.'

Peter pressed his forehead against hers. She looked up at him with wide eyes. Now she was feeling warm for a completely different reason!

Suddenly he distanced himself again. 'You don't feel feverish.' He walked a few laps around her inspectingly. 'I don't see anything different about you. Nevertheless, we are going to walk the last bit. Warn me immediately if you don't feel well.'

She nodded and followed Peter through the lawn. The feeling still reverberated through her body, but it was weaker than before. Avery looked around, at the dozens of fairies flying off and on, all in different colors of clothing. 'What are they all doing?' she finally asked Peter.

It was as if he had been waiting for her to ask this question, but wanted her to take it all in first. 'The fairies are told at birth what task suits them. This is a whole ritual that I myself have only had the opportunity to witness once,' he explained. 'Those are the Water-fairies.' He pointed to a group of fairiesin blue clothing skating across the river water. 'And over there the Animal-fairies.' A group of fairies in brown clothing were walking along a path with an army of field mice. The little mice carried carrier bags of nuts. It was a funny sight, almost unreal.

'And Tinkerbel? What kind of a fairy is she?'

'Tink was a Tinker, a Make Fairy.'

Avery looked at Peter. Was. Did he realize what he just spoke about her in past tense? It didn't seem like it, because he was already pointing again to the next group of fairies. Avery didn't hear any of it. She may not have fully believed in fairies, but he did not fully believe that Tinkerbel was still alive. Avery could feel the happy feeling in her body die out. This was wrong.

'There are actually a lot of different kinds of fairies. You also have the Guard-fairies, who watch over the valley, but you mostly don't see them here. And the Light-fairies take care of the daylight. You'll probably meet them all again sometime.' He smiled and she tried to do the same. 'Are you all right?'

She nodded, but Peter held her up and looked her straight in the eye. 'Avery, you have to tell me if something is wrong.'

She hesitated. He seemed genuinely happy today that he could be here again, among the fairies, but perhaps he was also ignoring a feeling deeper inside him. 'You still believe Tink is dead,' she finally said, and he let go of her. He looked at her for a moment. Maybe she shouldn't have said it.

'It's hard to transform a thought you've believed for so long without proof,' he replied softly. She did believe that. She suddenly wondered if her parents were thinking the same thing, now that their daughter was suddenly gone. Were they missing her? Did they know she was gone at all? She suddenly thought it stupid of herself not to have left a note. But what had she written on it? "Hi Mom and Dad, Peter is taking me to Neverland. Don't wait up for me." Though it suddenly felt bad that she hadn't given them an explanation.

Peter gently grabbed her hand and gave it a little tug. 'Come on, we are expected.'

She nodded and followed him. She tried not to think about her parents anymore. Right now she needed to be here, in the moment.