Save me a Story – Peter and the Piper

This is the continuing story of my adventures in the tale: Save me a Story. If you wish to read the introduction to understand what is happening, click this link: 

https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=3431 

Otherwise, I’ve tried to summarize what happened at the beginning of most of the sections of this story.  

Peter and the Piper

Other than myself, we were a team of storybook characters. We were searching for other characters that belonged in stories, folktales, and fairy tales. Many had disappeared. I had been given some clues by a voice in a hotel when I entered this kingdom of Selat. I was told to head far away to the north. With my recent companions, Red Riding Hood’s granny, Jack, and Puss in Boots, we came across another clue. It was a warning riddle written by Fox. It said we were to look for an island and that we should beware of a witch that told falsehoods and potentially used magic on all the characters we were looking for, which is how they disappeared. 

We continued to move north till we came to a forest. Since our goal was to find this island, the forest stood in our way. We decided to enter the forest. None of us were very good at finding our way through these woods. We each took turns trying to lead, but after passing the same trees and boulders more than once, we stopped and, as a group, realized we were lost. 

Suddenly we heard something that seemed to be flying over our heads. We all looked up. We saw a boy with pointed ears, wearing a green tunic, matching tights, and a feathered cap. He landed right in front of us. 

I took a wild guess and asked, “Your name wouldn’t be Peter Pan, would it?”

“Yes, it is,” he replied, a little confused. Figuring that he was amongst friendly people, he asked,  “Have any of you seen Tinkerbell?”

I answered that we hadn’t and explained who we were and that we were looking for missing people also. “Right now, we would like to find a way out of these woods, hopefully in a northerly direction. Can you help?”

Peter agreed and asked if he could join our expedition. He said he had some experience fighting with bad people and had fun doing it. Adult values and cautions had yet to work into his repertoire; he didn’t want to grow up. 

He was about to fly off, hoping we would follow when strange music came from deeper in the woods behind us. The music was coming our way. 

Again, we all turned back to see who or what was coming. 

Walking toward us was a tall, lanky man. He had piercing eyes and wore an outfit that must have had all the colors of the rainbow and more woven into it. He held a flute to his lips and was playing a very joyful song. Whether it was his outfit, his eyes, or the music he was playing, we all stood entranced. We felt good. 

Behind this piper were several familiar faces, to me at least. There was the beaver that had helped me earlier in this adventure find the three bears’ house, a red hen carrying a loaf of bread, a fisherman holding a talking fish in his hand, a dwarf carrying a pickax, and a hobbit with a ring of power on a chain around his neck, to name a few.

The piper stopped before us and put down his pipe. “Good day to you all,” he said as he bowed to us. “How may I assist you?”

Knowing that the pied piper doesn’t do things unless he’s compensated, I said, “We are in search of those missing from Selat. Their stories are gone and will be lost forever if not found. I know you well, Pied Piper of Hamlin. You are the ridder of rats and the stealer of children. Your story is well known, or at least was until now. Should we not find all these characters, their stories will end, and perhaps so will yours. It seems that you have gathered some fellow story characters. Are you helping or hindering them from their quest? Whose side are you on? And what is your price?”

My revelation took the piper aback. He thought for a minute before answering. 

“What is written about me may be a false narrative. I was only getting the compensation I was pledged. As to whose side I’m on. I side with those who have my best interests in mind. I’m a helper. I ask for no payment from you or those who follow me, for we all have a righteous goal. It is I who wish to follow you. I used the flute to keep my followers together until now. I no longer feel that that is necessary, as the beaver has explained your role to me.” 

I looked around at everyone around me. As they caught my eye, each person and animal nodded in agreement. 

I turned back to Peter and requested that he lead us out of these woods. We followed him until we reached the north edge of the forest. There we stopped to make a plan.

Continued in…Questions