The Rise of Rufio

CHAPTER I - The Saddest Day In Never Land

          In the midnight hours of Neverland while every lost boy was fast asleep, Peter Pan straps on his pointed shoes and readies his belt to act on his impulsive decision. Peter lays down his golden sword knowing he will no longer need it and runs out of the tree house without a second thought. Tinker Bell immediately chases after him with a rush of glitter trailing behind her.

"Are you not even going to say bye to the Lost Boys?!" She shouts inches from Peter's face.

"I always leave Neverland without saying bye." Peter reminds her. Tinker Bell flutters backwards to uncross Peters eyes and stares at him with her broken heart and swollen eyes.

"You know this is different Peter." She tries to explain as Peter saddens while reaching for a fallen tear of hers. It shatters into dark pixie dust while landing on his palm; Peter Sighs.

"You know I don't like saying goodbye. Goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting. I'll never forget; especially you Tink, but my adventures here are over. Nothing compares to the adventures that await Wendy's grand daughter and I, and she is grander you know!" He expresses proud to have won himself the grandest of them all.

"What are you saying, Peter?" Tink dares to ask. Peter turns to look at the plenty moons and begins to wonder out loud.

"To live would be a great adventure, and Muyra promises to help me through it." Tinker Bell's amazing glow dims as she flies to a nearby twig to cry softly as she has seen that look in Peter's eyes before; the look of needing more than Never Land or even she can offer.

"Oh Tink, don't cry, you know me, I'll probably hate it and fly back faster than you can cry bangarang! Besides, I'd be insulting the boys if I assume they couldn't take care of themselves. Tell them I'll be back with amazing stories worth waiting for, that'll hold them."

"Curse that Wendy Lady," Tinker bell curses out loud. "First she takes Toodles from us and now you Peter."

"Come on this adventure with us, Tink." Tinker bell shakes her head no and with that answer Peter begins to levitate.

"Take care of them, Tink."

"Don't you forget us Peter, don't you ever forget us!" Tinker bell quiets her anger and speaks softer as she watches her beloved Peter float away. "The boys always forget."

Not as convinced as Tinker Bell is of the increasing amnesia that occurs with the boys leaving either world, Peter flies off to earth with the foolish hopes of returning soon again.

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          The next day was said to be the saddest day of Neverland. The Lost Boys awoke like normal but to a gray and sunless morning. The Boys knew Peter had left but only assumed it to be his usual ventures that took no more than a few days. Still, everyone was on edge in the morning and with no one to blame. It was heard that even Hook cried from his chambers that night for what appeared to be no reason whatsoever. As if cursed itself, Neverland seemed to fall into a great depression with the very absence of Peter Pan.

It was ultimately Tinker Bell's refusal to leave her cuckoo clock apartment that got the lost boy's attention. It wasn't long before they realized that Tinker Bell did not also leave with Peter as they all began to notice a growing pile of black pixie dust forming under and around her hanging clock-tower. It took a few more weeks to finally work the nerve to call for her name.

The Lost Boys huddle around Tink's apartment and nudge Pockets to make him speak up.

"Tink??" Asks Pockets as the Lost Boys listen attentively. "Are you alive??" A few minutes of silence pass before they hear Tinker Bell's reply.