NEVERLAND [discontinued]

Queen

Chapter 8: Queen

        Neverland had changed along with Wendy.

        The Brave Girls had left to their ancestral home, an area that Wendy had not quite conquered yet.

        The pirates had retreated to the lagoon, guarded by sharp toothed mers, their previous grievances laid aside for the common good.

        Michael had aged a bit more, and it was apparent. Wrinkles here and there, paired with silver bits amidst his hair.

        Hook was dead. He died soon after the Lost Boys faded into the night.

        Pan had vanished. He left the day after Wendy's true intentions shone through.

        All that remained now, was the poor shivering lost children, and John.

        Yet, he pressed his mind for details.

        He knew that word, Tinkerbell. As for the other name? It had gone from his mind with the southern winds---vanishing into the distant moors.

        Now he knew that Wendy was not fit for ruling. Without Peter, she could not provide for them. Neverland expanded itself, stretching out to make sure they had to walk farther than they could to get anywhere, further proof that it did not like Wendy.

        He knew just from this that he had to do something quickly, before it was too late. He had to find out how Wendy was draining the magic of this land, how she was so quickly taking away everything that made Neverland, Neverland.

         What better way to do this other than to follow her?

----

        Finally, he could find her, edging along the bank of the stream while the children slept, little blue dress worn out to a dark white.

        Then he saw what she was doing, and shock flew through him.

        No- she couldn't have-how was she-?

        Then she turned round with blood-red eyes, seeing through him, seeing through all of Neverland, as she brought her jaws down on the first of the last of her own 'children'.

        The real monster had never been Pan, no... It was something far worse...her own greed.