Before Pan (OUAT fanfiction)

16: The Fallen and the Lost

"No... It can't be her... She died."

But it was her. She was alive. Tinker Bell looked no worse for wear, donning her usual green outfit and messy bun. Her green eyes mirrored my own in shock.

"Would you mind letting me down?" was the first thing I said to her.

She gave a brief nod, and I came crashing to the ground. The blonde held out her hand. "Come on, I'll take you to my treehouse."

When we arrived, she poured me a drink and sat across from me. "You're probably wondering what happened to me, aren't you?"

"I thought you were dead," I said, narrowing my eyes at her.

Tinker Bell lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry you thought that."

She sighed deeply. "After the fight against the beast at the cliff, I did fall into the chasm. I lay there on the brink of death and blacked out. However, when I woke up, I found myself on the other side of the island. There was no sign of the person who saved me. I was bedridden for weeks, trying to recover from my injuries. To this day, I still don't know who saved me."

"I see," was all I could muster. "But why didn't you try to find me when you healed?"

"I couldn't," Tinker Bell said. "Peter forbid it."

My eyes widened. "Why would he do that?"

"I don't work for him anymore," Tinker Bell said. "As part of a deal we have, I am banned from the camp."

"You could have let me know that you were at least alive," I said, hurt.

"I'm sorry, Jess," Tinker Bell said, her voice filled with regret.

She took a sip of water. "What are you doing on this side of the island? Peter doesn't usually let any of the Lost Boys venture out here."

"Pan had me visit the old territory of the Annamay Tribe for answers," I told her.

Her green eyes widened at the mention of the Annamay Tribe. Her fingers gripped the cup tightly. "Were you able to find the answers you seek?"

I nodded. "I am the daughter of the Annamay Chief, Cayden. Tink, do you know what happened to them?"

Tinker Bell stared down at the ground, her eyes filling with emotion. "The Annamay Tribe were a group of noble and peaceful people. They lived off the island and would pray to the spirits of the island for protection and prosperity. The tribe dedicated resources to protecting the island and its magic. Peter and the Lost Boys settled onto the island after the Annamay Tribe, and skirmishes ensued. I remember the fights. The Annamay felt threatened by the arrival of the demon and his group. Peter didn't perceive them as a threat at all."

"What changed this relationship?" I asked her.

Tinker Bell rose to her feet. "Let me show you something, Jess."

She led me back to the Annamay Tribe and walked towards a cave at the back of the former encampment. She lit up a torch, revealing a temple. On the wall were intricately drawn cave drawings.

"The Annamay believed in many spirits similar to a pantheon of gods. They would have celebrations to honour them in hopes of blessing the harvest and ensuring the resources on the island were plentiful. With the Lost Boys and Peter, that meant resources needed to be shared, sparking fear in the Annamay Tribe."

Tinker Bell took a deep breath before continuing. "Cayden's father was the current Chief of the Annamay Tribe when Peter first arrived. He viewed Peter and the Lost Boys as an enemy but believed coexistence was possible. He managed to form a Treaty between the two sides. However, this enraged some of the Annamay who sought to eliminate Pan and the Lost Boys."