I Thought It Was a Fairy Tale but the Genre Is Strange

The Fall of Neverland

The incident concluded with Peter Pan’s defeat. The wings of the child king who reigned over Neverland were broken and he fell. Except for Cassandra, the children were eager to kill Peter Pan immediately, but they decided to hold off, understanding that there were other victims.

They repeatedly thanked me for freeing them from Peter Pan, saying they never dreamed the Grim Reaper was real. I replied that I felt the same.

We decided to bring down Neverland. We gathered the victims’ bone powder and keepsakes, and discovered the magic powder Peter Pan had hidden in his lair. Reluctant to use it, we had no choice but to sprinkle it on everyone to escape.

As immense power surged through our bodies, we felt capable of anything. Thinking about how Peter Pan had ruled Neverland with such power for so long, everything must have seemed easy to him. I struck the unconscious Peter Pan’s head in disgust.

Seeing me hit him, the others did the same.

The terrible man-eating plant that had taken over Neverland was set on fire. Cassandra and I decided to conduct the burning ceremony ourselves, as the curse-like blessing that had plagued Neverland would disappear with the plant’s death, risking the entire island’s collapse.

Cassandra looked up at the burning plant with a face full of mixed emotions, holding a torch that crackled and burned.

Her eyes were red.

“This is the final revenge. Thank you, Siyu. Without you, I would still be playing the ridiculous role of a mother, unaware of my brother’s death.”

“Thank me for what?”

I looked down at my thigh, which had healed instantly thanks to the magic powder. I avoided her eyes, fearing I might cry too.

“But you know…”

Cassandra’s voice trembled greatly. I looked up and realized.

“How am I supposed to live now? I just want to burn and die with that plant.”

Her face showed she wanted to give up everything. It was the face of someone left behind, having lost someone precious. Seeing that face, devoid of the courage or will to live, made my heart ache. Thick tears like chicken droppings fell from Cassandra’s eyes.

“I can’t live anymore. How can I go back to my parents alone? How can I…”

I remembered when my grandmother passed away. Memories of growing up in her care as a child, while my parents were busy, flashed by. I couldn’t believe I had to live in a world without her.

At first, I didn’t grasp the weight of her death. Then, overwhelmed by loss and regret for not treating her better, I spent nights crying. As the days passed, her absence became more pronounced, making it hard to breathe.

I desperately wished all those moments were just a dream.

But that never happened. Eventually, as time passed and the sorrow subsided, I calmed down and was able to rise again.

And even now, thinking about my grandmother’s death makes me feel melancholic and just as difficult. But still, I lived on, holding onto the words she told me in the hospital room.

I quietly began to speak.

“I’ve also lost someone precious. The sense of loss was indescribable. It was like living without really living. You must feel the same. Being taken by Peter Pan and losing your precious sibling, you must feel ashamed to return to your parents. But someone once told me this.”

I held Cassandra’s hand and together we held the torch she was carrying. Her eyes, flickering in the torchlight, met mine directly.

“No matter how hard and painful it is, it will all pass. So don’t just look at this moment, even if you feel like you can’t get up again, keep moving forward. That’s how you grow up. You may feel that this moment is too painful and the future is scary, but you have to move forward. Your sibling wouldn’t want you to end your story here. Do your best to live your story and show your sibling watching from the sky the wonderful adult you will become. You are a strong and brave sister.”

Cassandra’s facial muscles twitched and she began to sob quietly. She nodded and burst into tears. I led her hand and stood proudly before the true owner of Neverland.

The flower bud opened its mouth wide, thinking it was the sacrifice offered to it. How many lives had been lost here? How many children had failed to grow up and dream of a brilliant future?

Now, let’s end such tragic stories here.

And let’s start a new story. A story of children escaping from tragedy and dreaming of a hopeful tomorrow as they grow up.

Whoosh. As the torch entered the flower bud’s mouth, the entire plant began to burn as if it were a plant. It struggled, shaking its stem violently from side to side as if in agony.

Rumble!

As the plant burned, a violent earthquake shook the island. The ground shook so much that it was hard to keep balance. The magic that had been cast over Neverland began to unravel.

We hurriedly escaped, leaving the burning plant behind. The island was falling. We quickly flew up and joined the children.

In the sunrise, as the moon retreated and the sun peeked out, Neverland, which had been Peter Pan’s throne itself, was engulfed in flames and falling towards the sea.

Splash!

Neverland, which had been floating in the sky, lost its magic and fell into the sea, creating a huge column of water and waves. The water column rose above our heads and fell like rain. Cassandra and I watched the end of Neverland in the rain.

Now it was just an ordinary island where one could no longer live as a child forever without aging.

Fortunately, even though the magic of Neverland was broken, time that had stopped for Cassandra and the children did not start flowing again, so their appearances remained the same. If they had aged all the years that had accumulated, it would have been difficult for them to adapt to their adult selves. Also, even though they had aged, they had not grown, so they were still children with much to learn, making the future daunting.

I led the children to find Captain Hook’s ship. Amidst the huge waves, the Wendy ship stood firm. On the deck, Captain Hook and Ariel were waving at us with bright smiles.

We boarded the ship. Captain Hook and Ariel came running.

[Prince! I’ve been waiting! Huh? Who’s that next to you? Get away from my prince!]

Ariel puffed up her cheeks and pushed Cassandra, who was close to me, away, then hugged me tightly. Cassandra’s eyes widened in surprise.

Captain Hook clapped silently with his hook hand, a wide smile blooming on his face.

“Tsuhahahaha! You really did it! The legend was true! Thanks to the Black Reaper, finally, finally my daughter…”

Captain Hook’s pupils shook for a moment. No matter how many years had passed, he could never forget the face of his young daughter. His eyes scanned the children’s faces again, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Hmm? That’s strange. Are my eyes playing tricks on me?”

Captain Hook rubbed his eyes with an awkward smile. But his face hardened as the unchanged reality set in.

Without a word, I took out the pendant I had kept in my pocket and handed it to Captain Hook. He accepted it in silence.

He opened the pendant and confirmed that it was his daughter’s, Wendy’s, pendant. Then he laughed weakly.

“Tsuhaha… Tsuhaha…”

He looked up at the sky. As the warm sunlight hit him, he quietly closed his eyes. Tears sparkled at the corners of his eyes, then rolled down his cheeks and dripped off his chin.

Captain Hook spoke in a breaking voice.

“Yes, I knew. I had considered this possibility. I didn’t want to imagine it, but… Yes, my little princess is no longer here.”

[Sadness. Upset. Regret.]

Ariel approached Captain Hook with a sorrowful face and hugged him tightly.

“Tsuhahaha! Who would have thought that I would be comforted by Ariel one day. Tsuhaha, tsuhahaha…”

Captain Hook’s laughter was more sorrowful than ever. His shoulders shook. He covered his face with his hand and silently sobbed in Ariel’s arms.

We watched the scene in silence. The agony of those left behind.

After some time had passed, Captain Hook calmed down and burst into cheerful laughter, returning to his usual self.

“Tsuhahaha! This is embarrassing! I showed a shameful side in front of the children!”

[Captain Hook, are you okay?]

Captain Hook ruffled Ariel’s red hair until it was a tangled mess, showing his concern for her.

[aaah! Stop it!]

“Tsuhahaha! It’s tough, but I expected this. Siyu, I don’t know how to thank you.”

I smiled softly and shook my head.

“Don’t mention it. Just as you helped me, I helped you. And there’s still unfinished business.”

At my signal, the children nodded and brought the unconscious Peter Pan before us. They recounted the events and Peter Pan’s vile deeds to Captain Hook. Ariel and Captain Hook’s faces twisted in serious disgust as they listened.

They glared at Peter Pan with a chilling murderous intent. And I saw it. Peter Pan’s toes twitching.

Yes. He was pretending to be asleep.

Like a coward.