Peter Pan and the Lost Fae of Neverland

[05] QUINQUE

The Jolly Roger stopped on top of the Neverland Mountain.

Still speechless with the turn of events, Peter allowed Jester to assist him until his feet reached the foreign ground.

Unlike Eastwood, Neverland seems to be coated in eternal darkness, without any stars in the sky. Kapansin-pansin din ang kakaibang buwan na nakasalambitin sa kalangitan, hamak na mas malaki at mas maliwanag kaysa sa normal na buwan sa mundo ng mga mortal. No, this moon casted an eerie glow and a white halo that reminded Peter of those full moon props at the theater.

"Don't worry, there are no werewolves here... at least none that I'm aware of," Jester suddenly appeared beside him with a teasing glint in his eyes.

"So, werewolves are real too?"

"Why, of course they are! Don't you know? Every single character in those storybooks and urban legends exist, Peter Pan... isa 'yan sa napakaraming bagay na alam mo na dapat."

"Hindi ko maaalala. Cut me some slack."

"Kaya nga dinala kita rito," lumipad si Jester hanggang sa nasa harapan na niya ito. "Para maalala mo ang lahat."

Napasimangot naman si Peter at mabilis na humakbang papalayo nang mapansing masyado nitong inilalapit ang mukha sa kanya. Oo, kaya nitong lumipad, pero valid bang lumipad nang ganoon kalapit? Kahit pa may hitsura ang fairy na 'to, that doesn't mean he can get too close...

Peter cleared his throat and averted his gaze towards the scenery in front of them.

Or rather, the scenery "below" them.

Being on top of Neverland Mountain gave him the opportunity to view the entirety of the island.

The moonlight reflected off the waters (the "Never Sea", as Jester called it earlier) in a distance, sparkling like a thousand gems. Sinundan ng mga mata ni Peter ang unti-unting pagbaba ng Jolly Roger hanggang sa tuluyan na itong pumalaot sa dagat. The pirate ship sailed into the horizon, a black silhouette against the fairly large moon. Nang ibaba ni Peter ang kanyang tingin, doon niya napansing mayroon palang talon kung saan umaagos ang tubig nito pababa ng bundok. Sa kabilang bahagi naman ng bundok, sinalubong si Peter ng masukal na kagubatan. He can barely make out what lies beyond the canopy of trees until the fairy spoke again.

"Since you've returned to your homeland, we might as well get a blessing from the Fae Sanctuary. You can stay there in the meantime."

"Fae Sanctuary?"

Napansin siguro ni Jester ang naguguluhan niyang ekspresyon kaya mahinahon nitong itinuro ang gubat sa kanyang likuran.

"Just North of the island, beyond the Neverland Mountain, is where the fae took residence centuries ago. Hindi mo na ito naaalala, pero may panahong nagkaroon ng alitan sa pagitan ng pixies at fae, forcing us to evacuate and rebuild our home on top of Hangman's Tree."

"Bakit tinawag na Hangman's Tree?"

Hindi mapigilang tanong ni Peter habang sinusundan si Jester papasok sa kagubatan. Mabuti na lang at umiilaw ang fairy wings nito, nagmistula tuloy siyang glow in the dark.

'Who needs a lamp when you have a fae?'

Jester chuckled at the question, but something dark flashed in his eyes as he recalls the reason behind it.

"It's where Captain Hook executed his prisoners by hanging them on the branches. Naroon pa ang ilang kalansay bilang paalala, at minabuti na naming 'wag na lang silang galawin. Disturbed spirits in Neverland can be quite aggressive sometimes."

Peter paused in his tracks. Disturbed spirits? Hindi na yata dapat siya nagugulat sa mga nadidiskubre niya.

'A purple male fairy, a flying pirate ship, a grotesque version of Neverland, and now ghosts? Ano pa kayang kabaliwan ang lilitaw sa gabing ito?' Peter thought in defeat before following Jester into the unknown.