The Next Adventure (2003 Peter Pan fanfiction)

"Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning!"

THE NEXT ADVENTURE: Chapter 23

"Don't be gone long, you two, okay?" Asked Tink towards me and Robin. I nodded.
"We won't...did you put the sleeping dust on Peter?" I asked. Tink nodded. I felt slightly relieved.
"Okay, we should get going. Can I have the directions to your tailor friend?" Asked Robin holding out his hand. Tink slipped him a small piece of folded paper and we were off.

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In London
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"Okay, I think this is it," Robin said as we stood in the dark below the night sky. Before us was a huge door that we stared upon. Robin peeked down both sides of the alley we were in and used the heavy, metal door knocker to knock. Just seconds of waiting went by when finally the door opened revealing a warm, candle lit inside. Some dark eyes peered outside. "Good evening, uh...is this the home of Mr. Brown?" Asked Robin.
"I've been expecting you," A sudden elderly British voice said and opened the door wide.

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Later
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Mr. Brown was an old man with a quiet personality that I didn't quite know to trust much, but he was an excellent tailor, showing off the ballroom clothing he had sewn and designed over the years. After Mr. Brown handed me a pale blue dress and a sparkling pale blue mask, I was sent off to bath.

With the help of Tessie--Mr. Brown's sister, I came out holding the mask to my face with my hair in curls and down. My eyes found a now fully dressed in black and furnished Robin with only a white shirt under his jacket and a deep red and silky scarf tucked in his shirt. His brown eyes widened when he saw me and I blushed as I approached his side in the fire lit living room of Mr. Brown's home.

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Robin's P.O.V.
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Wendy was dressed in a pale blue gown. It had a squared and low chest line revealing not even an inch of her cleavage--which was appropriate, and had long sleeves that spread at the elbows like a skirt. The actual skirt of the dress was slightly puffed and long reaching Wendy's covered and shoe protected feet. Her hair had been curled and down, and she held the white stick of a pale baby blue mask which swept up to pointed corners against her soft face bringing out her blue eyes. A simple, single diamond necklace hung from her neck instead of Peter's acorn just adding some more glow and vibrancy to her polished figure.

She looked very woman-like, and so beautiful, and smelt of flowers and light perfume. I had to loosen the collar and scarf of my shirt so I didn't start to sweat with nervousness. "Might you have a mask I can strap to my face instead of hold, Mr. Brown?" Wendy asked. Mr. Brown, without saying a word, nodded and sent his sister off to the other room to I assume fetch a different mask.

Tessie came back with one no different then the mask Wendy had now except it had a stretchy and thin band tied to it. Tessie then helped Wendy slide it over her face.

I quickly slid my simple black mask over my face just then and Wendy locked eyes with me and I think my heart skipped some beats. She smiled at me and slid her hand into my own. I held back a blush. "Have a look at us, will you, Tessie? Are we ready do you think?" Asked Wendy.

Mr. Brown's sister stepped back and her brother met her side. They both smiled. but Mr. Brown's smile was small and closed. Tessie's green eyes brightened and she nodded. "You two look just perfect," she said. Wendy had smiled bigger at this and she nodded.

Satisfied, I leaned forward placing a hand on Mr. Brown's shoulder and thanked him. He just gave me a simple nod then kissed Wendy on her hand. I did the same with Tessie's hand and finally, we left.

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At the ball: Wendy's P.O.V.
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Robin and I entered the lively golden ballroom that was crowded with well dressed Londoners who--in some groups--made small talk and drank wine cheerily. Music was playing ever so lightly by one of the large ceiling tall windows. Robin's determined eyes then scanned the giant and wide room having no success. Without saying a word, we made our way to the tables of refreshments and food. Men and both women bowed and nodded to us politely and welcomed us on the way but I was the only one thanking them with a smile. Robin did occasionally, though I didn't mind. I knew he was focused on finding just one thing.

Resting now against a table, I witnessed Robin pick up a glass of clear liquid then take a sip of it nearly choking straight after. I covered my mouth, stifling a laugh. "That was wine," He said, his voice slightly scratchy.
"Are you alright?" I asked him with a hand on his arm. He looked at me and nodded then looked back at the ballroom filled of people. Suddenly, I heard him gasp.
"There she is," he said. I leaned in to look at the direction Robin's eyes were looking and found a lady. Her black hair put up under a feathery hat with a sparkling red and black dress and some gloves. She was just entering the party with an older man and another boy dressed well who I assumed was both Robin's step father and Richard. They all wore masks of coarse. But Robin's mother honestly stood out the most. "I'm going to get a better look at her," Robin said and tried to escape.

But then the sudden rising of dance music stopped him and he reapproached me. People all around began to pair and dance together nicely and happily. Robin then released his hand for me to take. I did and he pulled me to the center of the room.

He stepped back from me and put one arm behind his back...the other over his stomach. And he bowed slowly. His brown eyes locked with my own beautifully, and I felt my stomach flip and well of butterflies. Looking so deep and romantic at me the whole time--the black mask around his hard eyes turning his gaze mysterious and dark, he came to a stand and released his hand for me to take once more.

I did, getting chills, then he pressed a gentle warm kiss to my own hand still having locked his gaze on mine. His hand then lifted mine and we laced our fingers in one anther's. Placing my free hand on his shoulder comfortably, he placed his other hand on my side and gripped me gently giving me even more butterflies.

Now falling into step with each other, our feet moved across the floor quietly and swiftly. Looking into Robin's brown eyes nearly weakened me dreadfully and I thought of Peter, wanting to frown deeply. I couldn't possibly be falling for Robin like I had Peter. That wasn't okay, especially since I still had feelings for Peter. I had a history with him that was probably far more valuable then anything. My heart had been taken by Peter so long ago and still has but it almost feels like Peter's grip is loosening and Robin's latching on.

And according to Peter, I had taken his heart so long ago as well and still have it, and just that thought made everything I ever did or end up doing with Robin unbearable. I wanted to regret coming with Robin to this ball but I just couldn't bring myself to such a feeling.

Just then, I pulled out and Robin spun me into his arms. Releasing me once more, I was then pulled close to Robin's body. My stomach to his, he had his free hand pressed against the back of my dress covered corset. I caught my breath then Robin loosened the hold of my body to his and I exhaled.

With a clever smirk on Robin's lips, the music stopped playing. Everyone clapped and bowed including myself with my hand still in Robin's, looking at him with a gentle smile.

Everyone was then startled by the sudden busting open of the front doors. A bunch of women gasped at the same time. Quickly, Robin and I looked and found a raid of dirty people running in from the outside world. People started to scream and run around as the raid began ransacking and ravaging the curtains of the ballroom and the table of refreshments and food. Confused, Robin started frantically searching for his mother with his eyes and pulled me close. "What's going on?" I asked slightly panicked.
"I-I don't know--" Suddenly a lady brushed past Robin screaming and the string on one side of his mask snapped. Panicked, he caught all of the mask in his hands and turned to look after the rushing lady.

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Robin's P.O.V.
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Looking after the frantic lady that had just caused my mask to break, my heart stopped when my eyes met with my very own mother's. She gasped at the sight of me ignoring the rushing crowds of people for the door. "Robin?!" She frantically yelled but more determined then scared and started to shove through to get to me.

Quickly, I ducked and pulled Wendy out of the center of the room. "My mother--she sees me! We got to go!" I panicked. Wendy freaked just then as I pushed through the enormous group of not only party guests but of the dirty people that broke in, going in a different direction from my mother, or at least trying.
"Wait!" I heard my mother shriek but I kept going. "That's my son!" She cried.

Eventually--and finally--we had got to the door and pushed through to the side of building the ball had been in and I ran with Wendy down the moon-lit street. Ripping around a corner away from the rest of the frantic and scared world, Wendy and I took a moment to breath. "Who were those people?!" Wendy asked breathlessly.
"People that live on these streets," I discovered. "Okay! Let's go," I said and we flew off.

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Back in Neverland: Wendy's P.O.V.
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Before we had got back to Neverland, Robin and I made sure we had returned the ballroom clothing to Mr. Brown and got dressed in our own.

Now flying back to the tree house, Robin suddenly snatched me up and took me to the shelter. "Don't tell Tink about my mother seeing me. If she ever found out, I would never be allowed to visit her anymore--"
"She saw you," I said in shock.
"I know! But don't say anything about it, okay?" I nodded quickly.
"I still can't believe London's homeless people would go to such great lengths--"
"That's something to discuss later, for now, let's just put this all behind us, okay?"
"Still--" Robin cut me off.
"I know--I know!"
"Something needs to be done about that!" I protested.
"Wendy. Say goodnight to the issue and let's get back to the tree house," Robin said slightly determined.

Finally, I nodded.

Flying to the entrance of the tree house, Robin and I nearly halted when we landed inside. Everything was oddly silent but then I jumped at the sudden sound of someone clearing their throat.

My eyes wide now, I witnessed that out of his room--with his arms crossed over his chest--stepped a very enraged Peter Pan