Potions

Alicia sat on her favorite log weaving some baskets with long dried-up grass.

That was all her day consisted of; eat, sleep, weave, and try to convince Pan to let her go swimming.

Besides the lagoon where the mermaids liked to hang around, there was a little lake to the south of the camp. Felix had accompanied her once when they needed to collect more herbs, and ever since Alicia had nagged Peter to let her go swimming. He had yet to allow her.

As she continued to aimlessly weave baskets, the shuffle of boots approached her. She looked up with narrowed eyes and sighed when she saw Felix.

"Again?" She asked softly. Felix nodded silently. Alicia scoffed before rolling the sleeves of her shirt up.

She sat patiently as Felix drew some of her blood out. She was then led to Pan's empty tent where the blond began to drain the magic from the blood. Alicia wasn't sure how Pan and Felix did it, but they both knew how to remove her magical energy from her blood so it will restore the hourglass faster. The remainder of her blood was then spilled into a small body of water on top of Deadman's Cliff. Alicia wasn't sure why her blood went into the small pond, but she knew better than to question whatever Pan did.

After Felix had finished, he left with his club heading off in the direction of Skull Rock. Alicia went back to her log but she pushed the baskets she had been working on away.

Another hour passed, and Alicia knew her boredom would fade when Peter strolled into the camp. She immediately stood up and stomped up to him.

"I've got a bone to pick with you, Pan," she hissed as she got up in his face. The boy frowned and moved around Alicia's body.

"What do you want now?"

"I'm bored!"

Peter scoffed.

"So?"

Alicia growled again but this time sat down on the dirt with a pout.

"All I ask is that you take me to the lake so I can swim a little," she insisted. Peter plopped down next to her and sighed.

"Promise you won't try to escape?"

"Fine."

Peter sighed before standing, yanking Ali up by the arm as well. He pulled her away deep into the forest. Alicia smiled brightly when she realized they were heading towards the lake.

She hummed happily when the water came into her view. Pan let go of her arm and with his magic, he placed a one-piece bathing suit on Ali.

The princess was glad Peter had placed a conservative swimsuit on her. Pan handed her a towel and Alicia splashed into the water after throwing her stuff on the bay.

Peter leaned up against a rock and let his body relax. With his eyes closed, Peter allowed himself to connect with the island even stronger. He could feel the magic that Felix had recently collected already flowing through the ground.

Peter peeked open his eyes when he heard Alicia squeak. He found the princess playing with two little otters. He watched curiously as she swam with the critters and looked happy doing so.

Pan propped his body back against the rock. He relaxed again but this time kept his eyes on Alicia. He was a wonder to him. She was a spunky princess who was silent yet also the biggest pain in the ass he had ever met.

He had to give her credit though. She was a tough girl.

He also did notice something interesting about Alicia Knights.

Ever since Peter had been draining the magic out of her blood, Alicia's hair had turned lighter. Her black hair was beginning to dull out and in the sun, Peter could see her hair was now a dark brown. It wasn't the only change though. Ali's eyes seemed to pale out from a bright blue to a dull grey and even her skin was turning a sickly pale.

Pan narrowed his eyes with concern. Although he didn't care much for her life, he did know he needed Alicia to be as healthy as possible. She was the nutrients for the island and they weren't even near complete restoration. Peter needed to find a way to maintain her health.

After Alicia grew tired, she bid farewell to her otter friends and nagged Peter to take her back to the camp. He agreed but instead of letting her return to her log as usual, the boy dragged Ali into his tent. He pulled her to his bed and sat her down before turning his back.

"You're not gonna kill me, right?" Alicia asked as she watched him do something at his work table. Peter chuckled before shaking his head.

"Not yet, princess. You still have a lot of purposes," he muttered as he poured something into a tiny bottle. Using some of his own magic, the liquid began to glow. He dropped the last ingredient in and swirled it around until it finally settled to a deep purple. Pan turned back to Alicia and handed the bottle to her.

"Drink it."

Alicia raised her eyebrows and stared at Pan suspiciously.

"I'm not just drinking it because you said so. What is it?" She questioned as she swirled it around.

"It's a potion to help you regain your magical energy. You've been losing your powers," he commented. She glanced at the potion and back at Pan.

"I don't need a potion, I feel fine."

"Look in the mirror."

Alicia neared the mirror Pan had gestured to. She peered into it and her eyes widened at the sight.

Pan was right. Alicia could see the life being drained out of her just by her appearance. Her hair had lightened from its pitch-black color into a brown. Her blue eyes weren't reflecting the ocean anymore and instead looked like grey clouds on a droopy day. Her skin wasn't peachy like it usually was. She looked sick. And even though she ate a good amount of food, Alicia could also see a tremendous weight loss.

The person in the mirror wasn't her. It was a shell of who she was.

And Alicia never wanted to see them again.

Without another hesitation, Ali dipped the bottle back and chugged down the potion. It was a bitter taste but she drank every last drop.

Peter nodded as Ali handed him the empty bottle back. She sat back down on the bed. Pan began setting up for another potion.

"You need to take one bottle a day. You'll do this for a week until we see a difference. Don't you miss a single day, it could mean disaster," he muttered.

When he didn't hear a snarky response from Alicia, he turned around, expecting to see her glaring at him for no reason.

Instead, he found her kneeled besides the bed, her hands around her neck and her mouth foaming up as she struggled to breathe.

And Peter Pan officially panicked.

~

When Alicia woke up again, she was confused as to what had happened. All she remembered was drinking the potion Pan had made her and then sitting on his bed.

She dug her fingers into the silky blanket as she struggled to sit up. Her throat was burned and she desperately wanted some water.

"You're awake."

She didn't even look at Peter as he handed her a cup of water.

"What happened? Did you make the potion wrong," she croaked. Pan clicked his tongue before sitting on the bed right next to her.

"No. The potion was made correctly. I just didn't know you were allergic to hazelnuts."

Alicia's eyes bugged out and finally looked to Peter. She immediately shook her head.

"I didn't know either..." She grumbled.

"You don't need to worry. Hazelnuts aren't a necessity. It can be easily removed without altering the effects of the potion," he said.

Ali hummed before laying back down. Alicia noticed that Pan's bed was definitely softer than her own. She snuggled into it. Her body was now drained of normal energy after her allergic reaction, so it didn't take long before she was consumed by sleep.

Pan heard Alicia's familiar snores. He glanced at her. She could see her hair already darkening and her curls gathering life again, even though he had to remove the first potion she took.

Knowing that she was going to be alright, Pan decided to call it a day.

Trudging over to his bed, he slipped off his boots and threw them somewhere in the huge tent. He slipped under the covers and tried his best not to touch Alicia as they both slept.

Neither of them noticed that soon there was no space left between them.

*unedited*