#except that she has a boring looking boyfriend now blech)

[bogunicorn]

speaking of bafflingly messy media: sometimes i look at the 100 and i'm bummed out that it ended up Like That (or i guess that it just was Like That) because it had a lineup of genuinely good and interesting characters and sometimes managed really great storylines. but then, you know...

the rest of it.

[zoocross0vers]

Raspberries Challenge #7: Peter Pan

A/N: Okay, just letting you know now, I used Judy to play Tinkerbell rather than Wendy in this. Mainly because Wendy obviously doesn’t end up with Peter Pan in the long run. I don’t think Tinkerbell does either in the original books, but at least when it comes to Disney’s adaptation, she is still with him even years later when they meet Wendy’s daughter. I’m not including any of the Tinkerbell fairy canons here either, so pretend that this is a universe without any of the other Tinkerbell fairies (I’m lookin’ at you Terence).

Don’t worry though, Judy as Tinkerbell is far nicer and far less homicidal than the actual Tinkerbell.

Also pretend crocodiles exist in this universe...or at least in Neverland :)

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Raspberries Challenge #7: Peter Pan

                                                        Lights Out

“JUDYBELL!!!” called a desperate voice. It was the voice of Nick Wilde, the young thirteen year old pirate battling protagonist of many well known children’s stories. Though as was clearly evident, he was anything but just a storybook character. He was in fact real.

.

On a daily basis, he battled with the evil sheep pirate, Captain Bellwether. She was a nasty ewe that constantly caused trouble for the young hero and his equally eternally youthful band of friends, the lost boys. As a means of getting Captain Bellwether off their backs, Nick chopped off her left hoof and tossed it to a hungry crocodile’’s mouth. This unfortunately backfired as Captain Bellwether became even more determined to catch and kill the young kit. That didn’t bother Nick however. He was always two steps ahead of the vengeful sheep.

Though Nick had now been an adolescent kit for hundreds of years and had never had any plans of ever growing up, he did at times have a vague need for certain things that would require some sort of adult influence. For one, he knew he needed a mother figure for himself and his messy lost boys. After all who wants the responsibilities of having to clean up after playtime? That’s just crazy!

He found his solution when he had lost his shadow at the home of the Winter family. It was there where he met three fox siblings, thirteen year old Skye Winter and her younger brothers, Cloud Winter (age 8) and Rainn Winter (age 3). Hearing how sophisticated and boringly confusing Skye spoke with all her babbling, plus the fact that her father was forcing her out of the nursery -- as according to her father, she was too old to keep believing in fairy tale characters like Nick -- he thought, why not invite them to come live at Neverland?!

She’d make a perfect mother for them and she and her brothers would never have to worry about growing up! And thus, the young red fox took her and her brothers with him to Neverland.

He didn’t mind her company in the least...except when she talked too much, or tried to be too proper, or whenever she tried to kiss him or talk about romantic things. Blech! But regardless, he didn’t mind her company, she was nice enough and the lost boys really took a shine to her as a mother figure.

Though if there was one animal...or rather one shrew sized, thirteen year pixie bunny...who didn’t seem to like Skye, it was Judybell. As far back as Nick could remember, Judybell had always been his trusted companion. Everywhere he went, she went. And everywhere she went, he went. They were a perfect team! She didn’t talk much (namely because she couldn’t actually talk, she just made twinkling noises to express herself), nor did she complain as much either. And when she did, he didn’t seem to notice if she had talked for way too long or not. She talked just the right amount where he didn’t get bored or think that she was nagging him about something. She was also very sweet and loyal, and always looked out for him. If there was someone he trusted with his life it was her.

Plus she had really pretty amethyst colored eyes...but he wouldn’t tell her that. Nick was still too young to be thinking about any of that sappy, lovey-dovey grown-up stuff.

When it came to the lost boys, they also seemed to really like the miniature bunny a lot too! Some of them, primarily the older boys, wouldn’t waste a minute trying to point out how pretty she was to Nick or poke fun saying that she was his girlfriend because they were so close. Nick would constantly deny these accusations, which usually caused the tiny bunny to fly off in a huff. Why she always did that, Nick felt he would never know. It was probably just a girl thing.

Whatever the case, she was hardly ever sour. She was always so sweet and inviting towards practically everyone. Though when it came to Skye, Nick just couldn’t understand what would come over her? He remembered when he first met Skye and just after she said she would give him a kiss -- whatever that was -- Judybell just went ballistic! She tugged harshly at Skye’s tail as if she was trying to keep her away from him. It was strange.

After that, Judybell would just constantly have her ears down around Nick, as if she was upset about something. Or upset at him, but he hadn’t done anything wrong to make her mad. He hadn’t even called her a dumb bunny like he normally would, so why was she so upset? All he did was just invite Skye and her brothers so they wouldn’t have to grow up either. What’s wrong with that?

Why did Skye’s presence around him cause Judybell to keep giving both of them the cold shoulder and ignore any orders that revolved around doing something nice for Skye?

It was as if Skye’s mere presence brought out the worst in her. Just as Judybell would never ignore his orders, she also had begun lying a lot -- something Judybell never used to do. But now, she started making up lies about how the Lost boys needed Nick’s help with something that wasn’t true -- like maybe one of the lost boys had lost their slingshot or scraped a knee. Though every time Nick went to them, he saw that they were fine. After doing this a couple of times, Nick grew fed up with her and banished her from his side for a week!

Something Judybell didn’t take lightly. She had tried to reason with Nick via her twinkling voice, but he would have none of it! He didn’t trust her anymore! After hearing that, the emotional pixie bunny couldn’t help but let the tears fall and flew far, far away. Embarrassed that Nick had to see her act so horribly and heartbroken that Nick no longer trusted her. Hundreds of years of a close companionship, dashed and broken. All because some girl who looked more like Nick came and caught his eye in one night. Something Judybell couldn’t do, even after several mortal lifetimes…

She had never felt so low.

That is until...she had accidentally revealed Nick’s hiding place to Captain Bellwether. She didn’t mean to do it. Captain Bellwether had approached her and comforted her with girl talk. The pirate sheep had even shared her own experiences with heartbreak. And as a result, she temporarily won the trust of the vulnerable bunny pixie. But no more, than when the sheep promised her that she would would get rid of Skye, so that Judybell can have Nick all to herself. Though tempting, Judybell refused. She no longer wanted to show such an ugly side of herself anymore, even if it meant having a broken heart.

Captain Bellwether decided to sweeten the deal and made her a new offer. One in which Skye and her brothers would be gone but unharmed. Captain Bellwether promised that she would take Skye and her brothers as mere passengers and sail them back home, safe and sound.

This offer enticed Judybell more than the previous one, but what was the catch?

“Catch? Haha, there’s no catch,” the sheep chuckled, “Except...we would need to know where that adventurous little boyfriend of yours lives...After all if we’re going to escort dear Skye back home, we do need to know where she is.And chances are she’s at Nick Wilde’s hideout, wouldn’t you agree?” Captain Bellwether picked Judybell up and set her over a map of Neverland, “Oh won’t you please help us find where they are?”

Judybell silently huffed and turned her back to her. She wouldn’t betray Nick like that!

“You refuse?” asked the sheep. Judybell nodded in response. “Oh, too bad. I feel so sorry for you.” Judy turned to her curiously. “Well think about it. With you gone...banished really. He needs someone else to be by his side. Someone bigger, closer to his species, prettier, nicer.”

Judybell’s face scrunched in pain. Each word describing Skye being better than her was like a dagger to her heart.  

“It hurts, I know. I’ve had my share and you know what I learned who needs him?! Right?! You were there by his side for, forever! And this is the thanks you get?!”

Judybell frowned, shutting her eyes as tears ran down her soft cheeks. Feeling anguish and boiling anger building in her as her tiny fists balled. In her broken, vulnerable mind all she could think was: How could he?!

“Jerks like that don’t deserve a loyal girl like you. He wasn’t loyal to you, so why keep protecting him? He replaced you like day old garbage when this young vixen came along! Just imagine it! Her getting to be held by him! Her getting to hold his paw! Her being around him all the time and helping him with his missions instead of you….Her getting to kiss him…”

At that, Judybell broke. She couldn’t take it anymore. Losing her ability to think rationally, Judybell simply jumped to new location on the map and pointed at a specific area.

“So that’s where he’s been hiding!” Bellwether squealed in delight. “Thank you my dear!”

Judybell’s mind returned just then. She looked down, mortified. Realizing that she had indeed revealed Nick’s hiding spot. Oh no! What had she done?!

Desperate to make things right, Judybell shook her finger at the sheep. Shouting in twinkles that she mustn't lay a hoof...or a hook on Nick!

“Hurt him? Ha! What do you take me for? I’m an adult, I’m too mature to do something so childish and petty.”

For a moment, Judybell sighed in relief.

“But this is Neverland, I don’t have to grow up and be mature…” she lifted Judy in a flash, “IF I DON’T WANT TO!” Captain Bellwether then tossed and locked the bunny pixie into a lantern.

.

“JUDYBELL!” she heard his voice call once more. She didn’t know if she was still alive or dead after such a massive explosion.

For not too long after she had accidentally betrayed Nick, Captain Bellwether kept her ‘promise’ of not laying a hoof or a hook on Nick. But...that didn’t stop her from leaving him a bomb in the guise of a present from Skye.

In her deep desire to protect Nick, Judybell eventually managed to break free from the lantern and raced home to the adolescent fox, arriving just in time to see him innocently trying to open said gift. She quickly dashed to remove it from his grasp, but ended up taking the hardest hit from the bomb in doing so.

Now, she found herself buried underneath the rubble that was once their hideout.

“Judy?” Nick asked, his voice breaking with worry, “Judybell? Where are you Judy! Judy! Judybell!”

twinkle...twinkle…

Nick’s ears perked as he heard her twinkling ringing. It was faint, but she wasn’t too far off. He searched around him, until finally spotting a very weak light blinking in and out. Bits of rubble fell over the dying light, burying her even more than she already was.

“Judybell!” Nick quickly began moving away the rubble to get to her. “Judy! Are you all right?”

She felt a little warmth grow in her heart after hearing how worried he sounded for her, but she still knew that she was only second in his heart now. Regardless of it all, her feelings didn’t matter right now. What did matter was him getting to Bellwether’s ship on time to save Skye and the others.

twinkle...twinkle…

Judybell twinkled again, informing him of the news.

“Skye?” he asked in surprise, “The boys?” More rubble fell as Judybell continued twinkling, telling him to go rescue the others first. But Nick wouldn’t hear of it!

He crawled through a small opening, determined to get to the injured bunny pixie. “But I gotta save you first! Hold on Judy! Hold on!” He hovered above her small faded frame when he finally managed to get through the rubble.

twinkle...twinkle…

She continued twinkling weakly yet urgently. Demanding that Nick leave her behind and rescue the others. “No! I’m not gonna leave you behind!” Nick watched her with tears forming at his eyes as he saw that her frail form slowly begin to dim -- her bright light fading out almost completely.  “Don’t go out! Don’t you understand Judy? You mean more to me than anything in this whole world!”

More rubble fell as Nick immediately covered her with his body to protect her. With his face only an inch away, he released a shivering breath, wanting to hold back the tears but finding himself unable to. “Please...don’t fade out Judy. I need you.” He sniffled as one tear fell on her.

Suddenly, in a bright burst of blinding light, Judybell began to glow again. The light forced Nick back as he shut his eyes and took cover with an arm.

After the light died out a few seconds later, Nick opened his eyes again to see that Judybell had not only woken up again, but woke up much larger than what she normally was. Nick’s jaw slacked as he saw her sitting before him with her eyes closed and sitting calmly on her knees.

“J-Judybell?” Nick asked in disbelief.

Judybell slowly opened her eyes and smiled upon seeing him, “Nick.”

“Judy!” he yelped in shock, “Y-You talked!”

“What are you talking abou--?” Judybell gasped as she stopped herself mid-sentence, realizing that he was right. “I--I’m talking! A-And I’m...big!” she said looking down at her paws and larger body.

“Yeah no kidding! You look...” he paused trying to find the right words as she looked up at him with those feminine eyes that seemed to make his stomach feel funnier than usual. “You look--Wait! Don’t tell me you were able to talk and grow bigger this whole time! Because if so, that’s not fair. You should’ve told me about such an amazing trick!”

“But I didn’t know! I just...did it,” she chuckled, not knowing what else to say. Nick chuckled along with her as he continued to gaze at her curiously. Judybell’s ears perked, suddenly remembering about something, “Oh! Skye and the others! They still need your help!”

“Oh right!” he said getting up, “Come on! We gotta go help them!”

Judybell smiled at his lively enthusiasm, but remained in place. Nick stopped when he saw her still sitting and with a melancholy smile on her face. “Judy? Aren’t you coming?”

“I’ll just stay here, if it’s okay with you. They’re expecting you. Skye’s expecting you, so go rescue her,” she smiled weakly.

Nick raised a confused brow and knelt down beside her, “But I can’t do this alone. I need you there with me Judy.”

“But I’m still technically banished, remember? Besides, why do you need me when you’ve got Skye by your side?” Judybell rubbed her arm insecurely.

“But I don’t have Skye. She’s the one that needs rescuing. And I’m calling off the whole banishment thing. Just come on!” he urged on, completely blind to the now normal sized pixie bunny’s feelings.

Judybell couldn’t help but let a tear fall at his inability to recognize what was wrong with her.

“Judybell?” he asked puzzled. “Why are you crying?”

“It’s nothing! Just go,” she sobbed.

“But…” he groaned internally, struggling to understand what was wrong with her. “Judy, can you please tell me what’s wrong? I don’t wanna go knowing that I left you crying like this. Did I do something? I’m sorry that I banished you if that’s what this is about!”

More tears fell from Judy’s eyes as she continued to sob quietly. The only sound that came from her was just an occasional hitched breath. “It’s not that! It’s…” another hitched breath, “It’s Skye!”

“Skye? What’s she have to do with this?” he asked, completely baffled.

“You like her…” Judybell sobbed.

“Well, yeah I like her,” Nick replied casually. “She’s a great mom for the lost boys and tells great stories. Why wouldn’t I like her?”

“No!” Judybell cried, “I mean you like, like her...and you replaced me with her, because you like her better!” Judybell’s breath hitched again as her shoulders trembled from her crying.

Nick looked at her with a face that just completely screamed, ‘huh???’

The young adolescent fox lowered one of Judybell’s paws from her face so that she can see his face, “Judy, I don’t like Skye like that.”

Judybell wiped at her face, “You don’t?”

“No! I’m not even sure what liking someone like that even feels like. You know I don’t like any of that gross mushy stuff.”

“But you were spending so much time with her and she tried to kiss you.”

“Kiss me?” he thought back to when he had first met the young vixen and her brothers. “Oh yeah. I remember she mentioned something like that back when we were at her home. She told me she would show me what one was until you started pulling her by her tail. Haha! That was funny.” He thought a little more about it. “I wonder if it’s what Tiger Lily gave me?”

“Tiger Lily?!” Judybell’s heart sank once more. New tears wanted to form again on her already wet face.

“Whoa! Whoa! Don’t cry again Judy, please! I can’t stand it!” he begged of her. “Besides, I never said Tiger Lily kissed me. I don’t even know what one is! All she did was rub her nose on mine, but I don’t know if that was one.” Nick rubbed at his temples with frustration, “You girls really confuse me with all your weird stuff!”

“That’s all she did?” Judy asked, still jealous but slightly relieved that the young tigress didn’t actually kiss him. “Did you like it?”

“Yes? No? I don’t know! Agh!” he groaned in frustration, “I don’t know what’s the right answer that won’t make you cry!”

“So...you still don’t know what a kiss is?” Judybell asked curiously.

“No! How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t--mmn!” He was silenced by Judybell quickly slamming her lips against his in a strong yet chaste kiss. Nick’s emerald eyes widened in shock and his heart raced as she kept her lips on his. When she pulled away, Nick kept the same shocked expression for what seemed like an eternity.

“That was a kiss,” Judybell said with a shy smile. She lowered her gaze bashfully when she looked back up at Nick to see that he still kept the same shocked expression as before. “Nick?” He looked at her with a blank expression. “Nick are you oka--mmn!”

Without a word, he brought her smaller face to his again.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Judy pressed back against his face returning the kiss.

As for Nick, he didn’t know why kissing her made his heart beat fast and his belly tickle, but he had to admit -- he liked it. Maybe this is why mortals like growing up? When he released, he watched her with a gentle smile. Judybell didn’t say anything but smiled back with a heavy blush.

“I think I like kissing,” he said with a playful smirk.

Judybell grinned, immensely happy.

“Okay, enough of this mushy stuff,” he said, still smiling. “Now will you come with me and help me face that no good Bellwether and save everybody like we always do?” He stood and offered her a paw, “Together?”

Judybell placed her paw in his and stood with him, ready to go! “Together!”

She kissed his cheek, causing him to blush and freeze once more as she took to the air to find an opening. “Nick come on! We’re going to grow old if we sit here any longer!” Judybell glowed and re-shrunk to her miniature size. She twinkled happily and flew out through an opening big enough for Nick to squeeze through.

Nick placed a paw at his cheek where she had kissed him and smiled. He had never thought about growing up before, but if he ever had to...maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. So long as he always had Judybell by his side.