//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: The Three Children and the Nanny // Story: Friends and Fairy Tales // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// The Everfree Forest has always been a home to the unpredictable. A normal pony would steer clear from this patch of land because of its untamed magic of the plants, animals, and several uncertainties that beasts call it home. For only the brave, the wise, the desperate, the foolish, the ignorant, or the adventurous would go into these dark woods regardless what time of day it was. In a clearing, munching away or spitting away at what Peter had brought them, the children had taken a moment to sit down for their breakfast. “I say Peter,” Alice spoke between bites. “Was stealing that lady’s bag really necessary?” “Of course it was,” the Neverland boy chomped down on another blue muffin. “As far as I know, none of us got any money to use with, and we’re all hungry.” “But shouldn’t we give it back?” Dorothy wondered, “After all, the bag isn’t ours and that… Derpy I think it was, looked rather upset when you stole it.” “If my other memory is right,” Peter said, “I think I know where she lives. Once we’re done with breakfast, we’ll just drop this off at the front door and be on our way.” “Yes, to that castle over there,” Alice pointed to the direction in which they came. “Perhaps to get some answers as to why we’re here.” “Why do you got to be so serious all the time?” The boy flew up to her, “Don’t you think this is a little bit fun? I mean, we’re in a new place that even I have never seen before… or at least, I don’t think I have… Just imagine all the adventure that’s out there!” “But I’m still trying to get home,” Dorothy protested. “Aren’t you trying to get back to your mother?” “Huh?” he gave the Kansas girl a confused look, “What are you talking about? I never…” then he realized what she was saying and laughed, “Oh! Wait a minute! You actually think that Wendy’s my real mother?” Both girls looked at each other, “I thought you said she was,” Alice asked. “Oh, no no no no no no!” Peter giggled, “You must be mistaken, Wendy isn’t my real mother, but she and I agreed that she should be!” “So… are you an orphan?” Dorothy asked, “Just like me?” “I… I’m not sure, if you mean that my real mother and father died then… I don’t know. Come on, let’s get back to the village.” The three children were retracing their path through the forest. The American was still curious about this blue pegasus flying above them. “So what’s it like?” Dorothy asked. Peter tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, “What?” “Neverland.” “Oh,” Peter flew upside down looking at Dorothy from above, “It’s an island. Although it’s small, we’re always between one adventure and another. Its home to the Lost Boys, and I’m their captain of course.” “Lost Boys?” Alice inquired, “Who are the Lost Boys?” “They are the children who fall out of their perambulators when the nurse is looking the other way.” He explained, “If they are not claimed in seven days they are sent far away to the Neverland to defray expenses.” “How do they get to Neverland?” the yellow mare asked. “Are they sent there by mail?” “Don’t be ridiculous! You don’t get even a letter when you live on the island. They came the same way I did, by the fairies who find them lying about.” “Is that true?” Dorothy asked in alarm, “Goodness, do those little things take care of something that might be easily as big as a house to them for a week?” Peter giggled, “It’s not all bad, why I was raised by them in Kensington Gardens, and I do go there from time to time with Tink.” “Kensington Gardens?” Alice put a hoof to her chin, “You mean in London?” “Yes,” Peter tilted his head, “Why?” “Oh nothing, I suppose, but why there?” “What do you mean why there? The place I was born wasn’t too far from when I ran away from.” Both of the girls gasped, “You ran away!” Dorothy said, “Why, how long ago?” “All I can remember,” Peter then landed between the two of them while continue walking. “Is that I ran away on the day I was born. And I know it’s because I heard father and mother talking about what I was to be when I became a man. But I don’t want to ever be a man! I want always to be a little boy and to have fun. So I ran away to Kensington Gardens and lived a long, long time among the fairies.” “You still remember how old you really are,” Alice asked, “Don’t you?” The rainbow mare shrugged, “I don’t know how old I am. But I know I’m still quite young, and I intend to remain as such.” “I see, that explains why you had Wendy be your mother then?” “Of course! We boys on the island don’t know some of the things that Wendy does. Like making pockets or telling us stories like that one lady who lost a glass shoe on the staircase, hoping for the Prince to find her.” “You mean Cinderella?” Dorothy asked. “I know that story from Aunt Em.” “And I’ve read that story as well,” Alice commented before adding. “Do either of you suppose we might actually meet her?” “Who,” both Dorothy and Peter wondered aloud. “Why, Cinderella of course. I have met Humpty Dumpty, as well as Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Not only that, but we found ourselves as colorful ponies in a land of other ponies that could speak, fly and do magic tricks. What would be the chances of such a thing not happening while we’re here?” “Don’t be silly Alice,” the orange mare told her, “Cinderella is just a lady from a storybook, this is real-” “Why are the three of you are not in school?” The children jumped at this new voice. However, this surprise quickly turned into confusion at what they were seeing. As if carried by the wind, a white unicorn with an umbrella and a carpetbag descended behind them. “Furthermore, what are you children doing out here for?” The three of them looked at one another, “Pardon me, who are you?” Dorothy asked. “You look familiar to me.” Once the stallion’s hooves touched the ground and folded up the umbrella, the unicorn answered, “You may call me Marry Poppins. I’m afraid to say that I think I’ve gotten myself lost somehow.” Peter was having a difficult time suppressing his laughter, “Mary? Isn’t that a girl’s name?” “It is indeed a girl’s name,” the Nanny raised an eyebrow. “Why?” The blue pegasus only laughed harder, “Oh! I did not expect this at all!” For Alice, however, it didn’t take long to figure out what was happening, “Beg your pardon Ms. Poppins, but were you by chance a human yesterday but have woken up like this, having the memories of someone you don’t know?” “At least it’s comforting to know that I’m not the only one,” she said, sticking the umbrella into the bag. “Somehow the three of you look familiar to me, only I’m not exactly sure as to why other than I have indeed seen you before. All of you look grown up, but I can sense that isn’t the case.” “Well… yes,” Dorothy nodded, “All three of us know that we’re under ten years of age.” Marry sniffed, “I see. Well, come along then,” the stallion moved forward. “Since it’s clear that you’re unsupervised, I’ll be your nanny until we get this sorted out.” “Nanny!” all three of the children cried in surprise. “Yes, that is my job after all, being a nanny. Since Bank’s children are nowhere to be seen and I happen to find three children that are in the same circumstance as I am, then I’m obligated to look after you until the four of us return home. I spotted a town in that direction, so I believe it is best to find out what’s going on from over there. Tell me; what are your names and ages?” “Well, I’m Alice Liddle and I’m seven-and-a-half. That’s Dorothy Gale; she’s six years of age. And this is Peter Pan… and I’m not sure how old he is.” Marry blinked, she opened her mouth, but quickly closed it and shook her head, “Very well, come along then, the sooner we get to that town, the sooner we could find out what’s going on.” “I’m not following a grownup,” Peter objected, “Especially when they’re a nanny!” The nanny’s eyes narrowed, “I’m afraid, Peter, you don’t have much of a choice in the matter.” “Yes I do, I can do this,” suddenly, the sky blue pegasus spread her wings and took off straight into the sky, only to jerk back to the grown as something was caught on the tail. Looking over, he found a blue light at the very tip of the tail, which the white unicorn’s horn as glowing in the same light. “Now don’t doddle,” Mary said as she moved forward, dragging Peter along with her. “It would be easier if you just followed us.” “No I won’t!” the Neverland boy reached for whatever his blue hooves could grasp, at rocks, roots and bushes, but the pull was stronger. “Alice, Dorothy, help me out!” “Well…” Alice said, “Ms. Poppins is the only grownup that is in the same situation as we are.” “I agree with Alice,” Dorothy commented, “she is a nanny after all, perhaps it would be easier for us to get home this way.” “Traitors!” Peter cried.