The Lost Realm (Once Upon a Time/Peter Pan)

Chapter 40

*3 years later*

Hot tears roll down my cheeks as I lie a rose next to the tombstone. His tombstone.

Floristian turned out as beautiful as the stories. The entire place was made up of gardens. It was a botanic paradise.

Everyone arrived in the same area in the North Woods. A lush green clearing, surrounded by dark evergreen trees. It's where I stand now, where we placed his memorial.

A cool breeze blows through the trees and I feel a raindrop hit the top of my head. It only rains on one day a year, and everyone knows why.

I hear cheers off in the distance. Today hosts the festival of Recro. My family asked for my permission when they declared today a day of celebration. I quickly agreed, just because today was a funeral for me, didn't mean it had to be the same for everyone else.

The only people that feel what I feel are the lost boys. They gather around me now. His death may have affected them more than me. They'd lived in Neverland so long they'd forgotten what death was, let alone what it feels like.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see my sisters. I give them each a weak smile and hug them. They may not feel the same emotion as I do, but they feel something.

Ana holds herself responsible. Claims if she has never helped who she thought was an innocent civilian, Peter would still be with us. I always tell her she's crazy, because she is. All of us know she was just doing what was right, and she can't be blamed for that.

Sylvia and Sam try their hardest to comfort me. They give me false hope by saying things like "You don't know he's dead" or "He's probably in another realm." I usually smile at them, acting as if their words mean anything. Which in some factuality they do. After all, any hope is positive. I guess.

My sisters stay with me for a little while, but then depart. Sylvia leaves with Hook, a shiny ring on her finger. They had just gotten engaged a few months ago, despite protests from father. He knew Hook was a good guy, we all did, but he just doesn't want to see his girl grow up so fast. Ana walks away hand in hand with Graham. They had started dating only a few weeks ago, I suspect they'll be married in two years tops. Sam stays a little longer, gently comforting one of the lost boys. His name's Marcus, him and her have been dating for over a year now. They'll be getting married right after Hook and Sylvia.

Everyone transitioned to the Floristian lifestyle pretty quickly. My sisters and I became royalty, one of the strangest feelings ever. However we still got jobs. Sylvia works as the head of production of goods; okay she IS the production of goods. However she doesn't need to make much, since almost everything grows here. Sam started a sports league here (Quidditch, obviously) and manages all recreational activities. Ana works to solve conflict and works the justice system. I help her by making sure everyone is telling the truth, but that's about it. I usually spend my days in the North Woods. I take my bow and attempt to hunt, however there's a no killing animals in the forest policy, so I end up climbing trees and shooting at random targets. Most days I'd sit by the memorial and talk to Peter. It sounds insane but when I talk I feel him listening. Back on Earth kids talked about heaven and an afterlife, I believed in it then and I believe in it now. I'm not sure how it works with the whole magic thing, but some things I figure I'm better off not questioning, just believing.

My parents had stopped by earlier to give their condolences. They were sad, but they were more upset that I was sad. That's why I always try to remain stoic around them, make them think I'm doing okay. But they know I'm not. Thy hear my cries at night, they see it in my eyes. They just know.

The sun begins to set and the lost boys begin to head back down, each leaving an arrow on his grave, just like every year. Eventually they all leave and I'm alone in the moonlight.

I stare at the beautifully polished stone. It's a statue of him in mid flight. It's supposed to look like him, but naturally it doesn't. It can't capture the green in his eyes, or the smirk he would always give me. No the statue only shows him frozen, carved into rock. A memorial to his existence, but a reminder that he's static to be remembered, yet alive in my memory.

I look at the rose I placed, then back up at him. Wiping tears away I turn and head toward the castle.

I walk around the village, not wanting to join any kind of celebration.

When I get to my room I plop my bow on the floor and lay down on my bed. Outside my window I hear the bursting of fireworks and the chorus of instruments and joyous voices.

I carefully get off of my bed and open the doors to my balcony. It perfectly overlooks the kingdom, and is the most beautiful sight I've ever had the pleasure of living with.

I rest my arms on the railing and watch the dazzling fireworks and warm glow of the celebration.

"He would of wanted to be remembered this way," Part of me whispers. I smile, he always loved a good party.

All of a sudden something catches my eye. A piece of paper is blowing in the wind, softly falling to the surface. It approaches me and I reach out to grab it.

It's made of rough parchment and is neatly folded. I open it to find a handwriting I'd never seen before. My eyes scan the words and I feel my heart burst out of my chest. On the note are the words I'd wanted to hear for three years,

"Peter Pan lives."

// Hope you enjoyed this story :) Once again thank you so much for reading. Also there may or may not be a sequel coming ;)