Becoming Peter

Chapter 18

(A/N: The picture above is not what the waterfall looks like, just so you know. I just thought this picture looked cool. As you were...)

"You have to jump." I insisted.

He shook his head. "No."

I groaned. "It's all part of the plan! You can't fly if you don't get off the ground. Just like pushing a baby bird out of the nest. You'll be fine. You have the pixie dust and I'll catch you if you don't fly. You gave me enough to at least do that." I fluttered my wings a bit to prove my point.

"I am not jumping off a waterfall!" His arms were folded, head full of denial. I curled my hands into fists with my nails digging into my skin. I could feel heat rising to my cheeks, embarrassingly.

"Well, I'm wasting my time then. I can't teach a cowardly lion to fly." I muttered, irritated that nothing I was doing was getting through to him. He wouldn't even try.

Thunder sounded and grey clouds swooped in. We stood on a rock that jutted out a few feet, keeping us away from the spraying water. I scooted a little closer to the edge and peered over. It was pretty high, I suppose. But I couldn't see any rocks at the bottom.

Peter watched me closely. Another clap erupted and it drew my attention above. "It's going to rain. We should go back." I fiddled with my hands, a nervous habit. Peter must have sensed it, because he walked toward me with a suspicious smirk. All his confidence and teasing nature returned in an instant.

"Afraid of a little rain, are ya?"

I took a step back, then became aware of how close I was to the cliff edge.

He hummed a curious note.

"You know fairies can't fly in the rain. I'm just in the habit of trying to stay dry in case... something happens." I shrugged then cleared my throat.

Peter's shadow inched closer. He was floating in the background but suddenly became interested.

My foot scraped the edge and my heart climbed up to my throat. I inhaled sharply. Peter stopped walking towards me. He laughed lightly. That's when the rain came down hard and fast. It was an instant downpour that sent shivers down my spine. Despite the cold, heat rushed to my face. I was going to explode on him if he didn't let up.

"Alright. Let's go before we get too soaked." He chuckled. I breathed out the frustration. Peter was just about to turn around when an unnatural gust of wind blew me backwards. Peter retained balance but I couldn't. I only saw a glimpse of the shadow before sliding. It might have just been my negative judgement towards it, but I could have sworn it was smiling before rushing to Peter's side.

~Peter~

(Author's note: change in point of view till the end of this chapter. Then it goes back to Tink.)

I fell onto my side and grabbed her hand. She reached with her other hand but I needed my left to keep from falling with her.

"Peter!" She screamed. The rain slipped between our tangled fingers. Her hair clung to her cheeks and she didn't glow as bright. Her thin delicate wings drooped sadly down her back. One of her green shoes fell off her foot and was lost in the streaming water below.

My hand keeping me steady slid forward slightly. Tink screamed as blood seeped from my palm.

"Don't let go! Promise me, Peter!" She cried. Tink was absolutely terrified, and thousands of delicate butterflies panicked in my stomach.

"I promise, Tink!" I said, blindly.

Her fingers slipped away.

I was about to do something crazy, but my shadow was there by my ear in an instant.

Tink moved so slow, she didn't blink for a long time.

My shadow whispered in my ear.

Don't try to save her. She was useless and pathetic. She never cared about you. That girl blinded you. I discovered she was hiding a stash of pixie dust. She was going to escape while your back was turned. You're better off alone, without her. Let her fall. Let her receive her punishment for betraying you. Promises are for the weak-hearted. Don't keep it.

Suddenly, I wasn't watching Tink fall in slow motion. I saw Sully's face on the sand. Blood seeping from his leg and trailing down to join the water. Sully. My rock. My best friend. I remembered the pain I felt that first day that still hangs on inside me. And the promise I made to him to find his sister.

In that moment, I realized promises are precious things. More precious than gold and jewels. More precious than getting venges. More precious than the dream of a mother and a family. More precious than anything I could possibly imagine. I made a vow to myself that day: to never break a promise.

But to spend them wisely.

Don't.

I made a promise. So I jumped in after her.

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AHHHHHH every time I reread this part I get the chills! A little bit of self-gloating here, but I really love this part! It's dramatic, a little sad, and shows the shadow's true nature and intentions. How Peter finally views promises in that last part, I have to agree with it (Of course I wrote it). Promises are a special type of bond.

Please vote then comment how you would define a promise. :)

Sidenote: so I've noticed that the last few chapters have only gotten viewed by 1 or 2 people and even less votes. If anyone has any suggestions (please state them nicely, but honestly. I would appreciate that), feel free to leave them in the comments and message me personally. After all, this is all still the first draft and I'm willing to make changes. Thank you!