The Second Star to the Right

The Girl Who Was Changed

Wendy couldn't bear that stinging feeling she had running through her entire body. Sure, she was no longer tied up, but she couldn't convince herself to move. That would require energy that she most certainly did not have.

Her painful thoughts were interrupted by a clashing sound. Of course Peter would engage in combat with Hook. Seeing Peter after so long...even under an awful circumstance, it made her heart flip in her chest. Even at 17, she still retained the same feelings she had for the boy who never grew up.

Wendy wanted to say that he hadn't changed a bit, the only problem was that he had changed. When he cut her loose, she could see that he looked much taller than before, and she could have sworn his voice was deeper. There was no way she would ever bring this up to anyone of course, but it gave her a large amount of hope. Why did it seem like he was growing up, and if he was...would he finally go home with her? Too many questions began plaguing her thoughts and she had almost forgotten entirely about the large amount of pain she was in.

She heard Hook call her name and some pirates helped her up. Confusedly, she hobbled over to where Hook was standing on a body with one foot.

Wendy had never hated herself more in that moment.

It was her fault that this was happening anyway. If she wasn't chosen by the fairies to be Peter's other half and if he hadn't taken her to Neverland in the first place none of this would be happening. Her eyes softened and she could barely look at him. His usually bright and well-kept red hair was unkempt and matted with sweat and dry blood. Freckles that seemed to dance across his cheeks were now dark in the firelight. Lips that seemed to never cease smiling had been curved downward in pain and regret.

His eyes.

The eyes that Wendy loved very much. Usually bright and full of warmth and adventure, were hopeless and drained in the firelight as he looked up at her. It was like she had given him a small surge of strength earlier but it disappeared just as quickly as it came. She hated seeing him like this. It was almost too grown up of him to accept defeat from Hook.

So when she saw him struggle to stand up, she felt even more surprised. Usually he would push Hook aside easily. Was this nonsense about Peter losing his magic all true? Was she really that important to him? The thought would have usually made her blush. This time it just made her even more confused.

Wendy watched him retrieve his weapon and walk over to her. His fingertips grasped her elbow weakly and she felt a jolt run through her. Shivers ran up and down her spine and she almost started smiling. Heaven knows why, there was nothing to smile about. It almost made her forget about her pain again. She relished the moment Peter grabbed her, and she almost didn't hear him.

"Wendy take my hand. Trust me we'll be able to fly again. Just hold my hand Wendy."

Yes. This confirmed for her that his voice was much deeper than the last time she had visited Neverland. They were eye-level in height too. It made her so flustered to think of him growing up. She almost forgot the task at hand and immediately grabbed his hand once she remembered.

In a flash they lifted into the air. As much as Wendy wanted to think that she was his reason for gaining so much energy and so many happy thoughts, she decided it would be best to ask.
"Peter! How did you do that?"

He looked at her with his eyes shining in the moonlight. Oh.. Those were the eyes she loved looking at so very much. He had a young glow about him, that made him seem normal again, although she couldn't deny he still looked like he had grown. "You." He had responded, giggling like a schoolboy.

Goodness! Hook was right!

Her chest was doing somersaults when they landed at the treehouse. The second they broke contact, however, a large surge of pain flooded through her and she stumbled, grabbing onto the side of the treehouse to remain standing. They hadn't been holding onto each other long, but once they had let go...it felt like more pain had come in its place to compensate for all of her happy thoughts.