Peter Piper is a Fable who first appears in Peter & Max: A Fables Novel. He resides at the Farm with his wife Bo Peep, and is the younger brother of Max Piper, and also possesses a magical flue called Frost. He later becomes an agent for the secret intelligence organization known as the Shadow Players.
History
The Homelands
Peter and his brother Max are sons of traveling minstrels from the Fable Homeland of the Hesse. Although Peter is the younger son, his father bestows on him a magical flute, a family heirloom that has the ability to avert danger.
When the Piper family is visiting their long-time family friends, the Peep family, the empire's army attacks. The Pipers and Peeps escape to the Dark Forest. While they are asleep, Max — jealous of Peter because he was given the flute — kills his father while they are away from camp. Max then returns to camp, claiming that the empire's troops have attacked. The announcement causes the families to flee in panic.
Peter, Max and Bo Peep are separated. Peter winds up in the Homelands version of Hamelin, where he becomes a member of a thieves' guild. Bo Peep becomes a member of an assassin's guild. Max meets Frau Totenkinder who gives him a magical pipe of his own which he learns to use for evil purposes. He goes to Hamelin, where he becomes the Pied Piper of Hamelin.[5]
Eventually, Peter and Bo Peep are reunited and marry. They are heading to sanctuary in the mundane world when they meet Max, who is still angry over being passed over by his father. He attacks Peter and Bo Peep using the magical pipe. Peter is able to avert the danger with his own flute, but inadvertently passes the danger along to Bo Peep, ruining her legs and crippling her.[5]
Confronting Max
Peter and Bo Peep make their home in a little cottage at the Farm, where Bo tends to a flock of lambs. Peter also in Boy Blue's band. When Peter and his wife are advised that Max has emerged in the current world, Peter leaves New York to meet his brother in Hamelin, Germany. Peter is fully aware of his brother's power and intent to kill him, but is determined to face his fate regardless. In their confrontation, Peter is all but helpless in the face of his brother's magic; all of his weapons are useless due to Max's many magical wards. Peter triumphs in their confrontation by using his magical pipe as a weapon, shoving the sharp reeds through his brother's heart. This is only possible because his brother had desired to acquire the flute.[5]
Peter then claims his brother's flute for Fabletown, resolving to use it only to undo the spell that crippled his wife centuries before. Beauty and the Beast later try to confiscate "Fire," the red flute of Max's, but Peter refuses because the spell has only begun to be reversed. He promises to turn Fire over to them when Bo's legs are restored. Finally, after much hard work and dedication, he succeeds in restoring Bo's injured legs to perfect health.[5]
Rodney and June
Peter and his wife with Boy Blue's band
At one point, Rodney and June, secret spies for the Adversary, are reading the "Peter Piper" nursery rhyme, and June wonders if Peter is one of the Fables that they will be spying on.[6]
Fabletown-Imperial war
During the war with the Adversary, Clara recruits Bo and Peter to perform a series of strategic assassinations in the Homelands. Despite their initial reluctance, they ultimately agree to join when Clara mentions that it will minimize the collateral damage caused by her dragon fire.[7]
Threat of Mister Dark
Peter and his wife are among of the Fables who watch as the dryads; Princess Alder and Prince Aspen, arrive at the main square of the Farm, accompanied by their new employer, Geppetto.[8]
The couple can be seen among the Fables standing in the background when Rose Red addresses her fellow Fables after finally overcoming her long depression. They are both bright blue scarves, indicating that they have joined Brock Blueheart's cult.[9][9]
Following Frau Totenkinder's victory over Mister Dark in a fierce magical duel, Peter and his band perform to jubilant Fables who are celebrating the defeat of their enemy. However, their joy is short-lived as it soon becomes apparent that the defeat was only temporary and all the Fables must flee to the Kingdom of Haven for safety.[10]
Husband and wife are both in attendance when Bigby Wolf tells the other Fables that Mister Dark has been killed by the North Wind.[11]
Return to the Farm
When the Fables are celebrating Christmas at the Farm, Bo enjoys herself while Peter is playing with Boy Blue's band.[12]
Peter and his wife have their first speaking parts in the comics when they partake in the plans to rescue Snow White from Prince Brandish. After learning that Brandish is so cloaked in magic that any attack on him will bounce off and harm Snow instead, Bo voices her frustration, saying that she could kill him right now; but Peter correctly points out that they cannot do that.[13]
Rose Red decides that Bo and her husband are good candidates for her new Round Table, and sends a messenger bird to their cottage. Peter says no, because he has already had more than his share of adventures, but Bo decides to attempt to win a seat[14] and is ultimately chosen as one of Rose Red's Knights, who will take their place at the New Camelot. Peter acts surprised, but quickly offers his congratulations.[15]
Bo and Peter later become friends with the dryad Princess Alder, and when Reynard the Fox — in human form — asks the dryad out, Peter gives the fox advice on the customs of dating and courtship.[16]
Peter is almost killed by Goldilocks during her killing spree. The latter is out to murder the beautiful women of Fabletown, and goes after Peter's wife in their home. Fortunately, Bo catches her by surprise, and Goldilocks flees the scene of the crime.[17]
Scotland
Peter later accompanies his band on a journey across Scotland,[18] where they have an encounter with the Baobhan Sith.[19]
Hunting Jordan Yew
Several years later, Peter and his wife are working for the secret intelligence organization known as the Shadow Players.[3] At one point, he is shown practicing combat techniques with Bo while Feathertop guides Szymon Nowak around the facilities.[20]
Peter, along with his wife and Hansel, embark on a mission in the mundane world to capture Jordan Yow, a mundy girl who has gained magical abilities since the introduction of magic into the mundy world. Together with his comrades, he battles against a swarm of zombies and other horrifying beings. As they cautiously explore an abandoned train station, they stumble upon a peculiar train that seems to have appeared out of nowhere, not resting on any rails as if it was simply dropped in place by some unknown force. However, instead of capturing her, Hansel declares he will kill her. When Bo attempts to stop him, she receives a blow to her knee from his walking stick.[3]
Peter locates his injured wife, and she begs him to stop Hansel from killing Jordan. Oddly, Bo reveals that she isn't experiencing any pain despite her injury. Peter makes his way into the deserted train where Jordan is waiting. He attempts to prevent Hansel from murdering her, but Hansel strikes Peter in the face with his walking stick and traps him inside a train carriage. Luckily, Jordan is capable of protecting herself, and Peter can only watch in terror as she swiftly makes Hansel's body explode into a pool of blood and entrails.[3] Peter and his wife make an attempt to apprehend Jordan without harming her, but the girl teleports out of their grasp.[21]
The relic thieves
The couple make their way back to headquarters, where Tom Swift is upset that Peter crashed his motorcycle during their mission. However, their boss Feathertop has already given the Shadow Player agents a new task: to thwart a team of mercenaries who have been stealing sacred Native American artifacts from various museums nationwide. Tonight, these mercenaries will be attempting to rob the Denver Art Museum, and it is imperative that they are captured. Accompanied by a new agent, Connor Wolf, Peter heads to the museum. As they arrive at the museum, one of the thieves spots Connor. Despite Peter's attempt to stop them with a melody from his magic flute, it is too late. The thieves swiftly knock Connor unconscious.[21]
Peter working for the Shadow Players
Peter walks into the building, only to find the lifeless body of the person who attacked Connor. Disturbed, he goes back to headquarters, where he receives a call from Connor himself. Connor explains that he has successfully infiltrated the gang by assuming the appearance of the deceased man. Peter and his team can listen helplessly through Connor's communication equipment as he is captured by the enemy. Peter approaches Tom Swift and requests a vehicle that can traverse both land and water, but unfortunately, they don't have any available. Instead, Peter settles for a motorcycle as his mode of transportation. He makes his way to a set of docks, administering a potion to an unsuspecting man before commandeering his boat.[22]
At the same time, Connor has transformed into a bird and flown away from the island, only to lose consciousness and transform back into a human. With a few notes from his flute, Peter conjures a flock of birds that carry Connor into the boat. As they settle in, Connor reveals that he knows that Peter's knee is in pain; the pain from Bo's injury, which Peter has transferred to himself. Peter says that it was part of his signing bonus with the Shadow Players, and urges Connor not to disclose this information to Bo. Suddenly, ghosts began to appear as the thieves used the artifacts to unlock a portal to the afterlife.[23]
They take a boat to Alcatraz, where the thieves are located. Peter takes on the role of leader, determined to stop the ritual and retrieve the valuable artifacts, while Connor is tasked with apprehending the thieves alive. Peter tracks down the thieves and inquires about a solution to stop the ghosts. They respond with a grim answer, stating that there is no way to defeat them and all the inhabitants in the mundane world are doomed. Suddenly, a leopard-human hybrid ghost emerges from behind Peter and impales him with its sharp claws. Without hesitation, Connor rushes to his aid. He transforms into a spectral wolf and offers his back to Peter, who rides him to where the boat is docked.[24]
After successfully evading their attackers, Peter is shocked when Feathertop discloses the method he is using to neutralize the ghosts, as it involves sacrificing innocent lives. However, Feathertop argues that it is the only option to prevent complete annihilation. Afterward, Peter joins his wife in the shower and Bo ponders the consequences of their organization's actions. With the mundy world now creating Fables of its own, their interventions may be doing more harm than good. However, Peter defends their actions, stating that they are simply doing their job.[24]
Alternate universe
An alternate version of Peter Piper appears in The Unwritten Fables, which takes place in an alternate universe where Mister Dark was never defeated. As Mister Dark's army launches an attack on the remaining citizens of Fabletown at the magic grove in Haven, Peter arms himself with his magic flute and fights valiantly on the side of his fellow Fables. Amidst the fierce battle, the enemy releases quicksilvers from above — magical orbs that ensnare unsuspecting soldiers inside of them. Peter stands in shock as he watches the spheres, crying out, "Oh no!" Sawhorse desperately warns his fellow soldier not to touch the quicksilvers or risk suffering the same fate.[25]
Appearances
Original source
Sources
Peter Piper is based on the titular characters of the nursery rhymes "Peter Piper" and "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater," and Peter from the musical composition Peter and the Wolf.
Peter Piper
A common version of "Peter Piper" goes:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked;
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?[26]
Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater
A common version of "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater" goes:
Peter, Peter pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her;
He put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her very well.
Peter, Peter pumpkin eater,
Had another and didn't love her;
Peter learned to read and spell,
And then he loved her very well.[27]
Peter and the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf is a children's theater composition for orchestra and narrator by[28] Russian composer[29] Sergei Prokofiev, from 1936.[28] The narrative follows Peter, a young boy living in the Soviet wilderness, as he encounters various animals like a duck, a cat, and a bird. His grandfather reprimands him for being outside and warns him about the nearby wolf, emphasizing the potential dangers. The wolf finally emerges, and with the help of his grandfather and animal companions, Peter devises a plan to trap the villainous predator. Along the way, valuable lessons are learned, but not before the unfortunate duck becomes the wolf's dinner. Despite the heartache of losing his feathered companion, Peter and his comrades organize a triumphant procession to escort the captured wolf to its new home at the zoo, and they all live happily ever after.[29]
References
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See also
| Fables | |
|---|---|
| Series | Fables • Jack of Fables • Fairest • Fables: The Wolf Among Us • Everafter: From the Pages of Fables |
| Specials | Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall • Peter & Max: A Fables Novel • Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love • Cinderella: Fables Are Forever • The Literals • Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland • Fairest: In All the Land • The Unwritten Fables • Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham |
| Characters | Bigby Wolf • Snow White • Rose Red • Prince Charming • Beauty • Beast • Boy Blue • Flycatcher • King Cole • Frau Totenkinder • Geppetto • Snow Queen • North Wind • Jack Horner • Bufkin |
| Video games | The Wolf Among Us • The Wolf Among Us 2 (unreleased) |
| Fabletown | |
|---|---|
| Governing body | King Cole • Snow White (formerly) • Prince Charming (formerly) • Beauty • Ichabod Crane (formerly) |
| Inhabitants | Beast • Bigby Wolf (formerly) • Flycatcher (formerly) • Trusty John • Grimble • Bufkin • Cinderella • Mowgli • Hobbes • Pinocchio • Briar Rose • Doctor Swineheart • Rapunzel • Kay • Edmond Dantès • Crispin Cordwainer • Thrushbeard • Fairy Witch • Frau Totenkinder • Ozma • Fairy Witch • Morgan le Fay |
| Places | Grand Green Florist Shop • Chateau d'If Fencing Academy • Edward Bear's Candies • Ford Laundry • Nod's Books • Lewis Antiques • I Am the Eggman Diner • Yellowbrick Roadhouse • Web 'n' Muffet Market • The Woodland Luxury Apartments • The Glass Slipper Shoes • Branstock Tavern |
| Unique items | Magic Mirror |