24: The Thirteenth Spirit

Fun fact: I wrote this chapter to music from Sailor Moon and thought of this particular scene from Crystal. I found it helped add emotion to the scene while writing. Enjoy.

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"Peter," I gasped.

"Jess," Peter blinked away the tears as we embraced.

"You saved me," I say softly as I cupped his face.

"No," Peter shook his head, "You saved me."

He helped me to stand. It was just the two of us at Skull Rock. Azruth was dead. His spirit wouldn't be able to bring harm to anyone ever again.

Peter's arm was wrapped tightly around me, "Jess, please don't ever do that to me ever again. I thought I was going to lose you."

I kissed him on the lips, "I would do it all over in a heartbeat."

If this were at the beginning of my adventure on the island, I doubt that I would have the same reaction. Over the time I've spent on the island, I felt as though I found myself. I didn't want to let this moment pass me by.

My heart skipped a beat as I cupped Peter's cheek. Our souls were forever entwined with each other. A part of me wondered if fate had any involvement in bringing us together. The way Peter was holding me in his arms was warm. This was love.

The falling snow outside caught my attention. I let out a frosty breath and pushed my exhausted body to the outside of the cave. My green eyes looked out at the island.

"No... It can't be..." I say quietly, "Peter, we need to return to the camp."

Peter nodded his head. The magic on the island was gone forcing us to trek back on foot. As we took the unmarked trail, I could hear the dead leaves crunching beneath my boots. The dream shade flanking the path grew more pronounced as if thriving off the dying island.

As we broke into the camp, Tinker Bell was there to greet us. Her face was worn with fatigue. Her cheeks were red from the cold.

"You're both back," the ex-fairy said relieved, "Thank goodness. I feared the worst."

She hugged me tightly and glanced at Peter, "Can you free your Lost Boys."

Peter gave a silent nod, using the remainder of his power to release the boys. The branches loosened their grip before shrivelling up. Lost Boys stumbled out with tense looks. Their eyes would drift to those unfortunate souls who fell victim.

"While you were gone, I tried to move some out of the way," Tinker Bell explained, grimly, "That way we can bury them with dignity."

Thank you," Peter bowed his head to her.

Tinker Bell widened her gaze at him before nodding. The iconic duo was acting civil. While I would celebrate, I wished it didn't have to be under these circumstances.

Felix stepped forward and looked to his leader, "Pan, what are your orders?"

Peter was quiet as he stared back at his second in command. My green eyes surveyed the snow-covered camp. The cold had chased away the warmth the camp usually brought its inhabitants. Ice covered the surface of logs and the trees themselves surrendered their last life as ice covered their bare branches.

"It is worse than anything faced in the past," Felix informed Peter and Tinker Bell.

Their voices grew fainter as I stepped forward. The other Lost Boys watched silently as I made my way to the Center of the camp. The fire pit that once burned brightly and wildly throughout the night was nothing more than a grave of the past. My body felt a great heaviness that I knew wasn't from the fight.

"Neverland..." Heartbreak laced my voice.

The cold snow melts on my shoulder as goosebumps form on my arms. Around me, the Lost Boys mirrored my looks of despair. The future was uncertain. Peter's head was also bowed. I could tell he felt the burden of not being able to protect the island.

"Will we have to go back?" One of the younger lost boys whispered fearfully.

I collapsed to my knees and Peter was by my side instantly.

"Jess," Peter's green eyes flickered with worry.

My long hair blew behind me. The emptiness in my stomach didn't subside, it only grew as I looked on at the dead island. The Blight had taken everything from the land. Azruth may have been vanquished, but his curse remained.

My thoughts drifted back to my interaction with Vidalia during my battle against Azruth.

"You have the power to save the island within you. You can end things once and for all."

Those were her last words to me. They gave me the strength needed to defeat Azruth and repair Neverland's bloody past.

"It can't be over," I let out a choked cry, "Not after everything that's happened."

As the last descendant of the Annamay tribe, I felt the responsibility to protect the island. A part of me knew I failed in every way conceivable. I allowed Baelfire to wreak havoc on the island. He murdered innocent boys and released a true demon on the island.

Demon, I scoffed silently in my head. If asked what a demon was when I first arrived on the island, my immediate answer would be Peter Pan. His Shadow brought me here for reasons unknown. Little did I know it would change everything.

My thoughts went back to my first day on the island. I had fought against the Pirates of the Jolly Roger. I met Tinker Bell, was taken prisoner by Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, and finally learned the answers I searched for for so long.

But those were all events that led me to this very moment. Without them, my future would have been very different. My future, the notion reminded me of every other inhabitant on the island. The animals, the mermaids, the shadows and more. Their futures were ripped away. My hands clutched a handful of cold snow. I crushed it angrily.

I stared up at the dark sky. My green eyes brimming with pure emotion.

"No..." I took a deep breath, "I won't let them lose their futures."

My hands reached for the snow-covered ground. I cleared the snow to reveal the dead grass. I rested my hands on the spot. I closed my eyes and tuned out my surroundings.

It was at this time Peter noticed my strange behaviour.

"Jess?" His eyes filled with concern.

I didn't answer him and focused every fibre of my being on the earth. Dry thunder cracked in the sky causing some of the boys to stagger back for cover. The wind picked up as a golden light filled the camp.

Everything that began to happen next felt like a fever dream. My green eyes noticed the necklace Peter gave me floating in front of me. The infinity knot began to let off a golden glow. Specks of pixie dust bounced off the necklace. It swirled around me until an object materialized.

I recognized the object immediately. The last I saw of it, Azruth had shattered it with his dark magic. Its destruction severed my tether to Vidalia. I watched it disintegrate before my very eyes.

The golden shaft called out to me. As my hands wrapped around it, I felt an unfamiliar hum. Aetherius began to transform. It lengthened to reach my full height. At its head were intricate entwinement of vines and leaves with a golden tip.

My necklace glowed in intensity as if responding to the new relic. I had never seen it before. My eyes closed on instinct. My breathing became relaxed and the pain in my body vanished.

"Could it be?" Tinker Bell watched inward with a look of shock.

"Vitalis," Peter's voice came out in a sharp breath, "The weapon imbued with life itself. But that can only be wielded by..."

His green eyes towards my figure, "Jess..."

Piece by piece I was finding myself in the broken mess that was my past. When my family fought Azruth the first time to save the island, the spirits of the island blessed my father's bloodline.

"The Spirit of Life." Peter let out and fell to his knees. 

The lost boys were in shock by their leader's actions but followed suit. Tinker Bell did so as well. Peter's head was lowered in respect as he explained to the Lost Boys, "There were originally twelve spirits of the island, but a thirteenth was born sixteen years ago as a gift. It was prophesized to appear to protect the island and combat Azruth."

I didn't let them distract me. I raised Vitalis into the air and felt the sunlight begin to break through the clouds. The snow ceased to fall and the winds died down. Along with the rays of sunlight beaming down on me, the magical staff appeared to summon golden butterflies. They descended upon us all with many of the younger boys reaching their hands out to touch them in awe. 

They danced through the air with ease as the golden glow surrounding me intensified. Peter tried to take a step towards me but was forced to shield his eyes as Vitalis unleashed a strong wave of energy. It pulsated around us similar to how true love's kiss felt. As it expanded to the island, the snow was melting away. New life was being reborn. I could feel the island crying out in joy. 

By this point, I couldn't see anyone else around me. The golden glow enveloped me like a soft cocoon. My eyes opened to glance up to the sky. To my surprise, I saw figments of people flying around me. My eyes watered as they became familiar to me. My grandfather floated in front of me with a bright smile.

"I knew you could do it," He said in a quiet voice only I could hear, "I'm proud of you Jessica. Thanks to you, we can finally rest."

His body began to fade away as he flew higher in the sky. Other figures followed suit. I didn't recognize them until one stood out to me. It was Vidalia. She gave me a longing smile as her spirit essence disappeared from existence. Other spirits around her gave me curt nods of gratitude. I surmised they were the other spirits of the island that fell to Azruth. Each one was dressed in a way that resembled their dominion. I felt the power coming off of them and the way their souls lightened upon being put at peace. 

After the spirits departed, I began to see Lost Boys. I didn't know many of them and they ranged in age. With joyful innocence, they joined the other freed souls. Then I began to recognize faces. Roger, Sam and Eric, the names of the fallen boys rang through my memories. A smile graced my face, "You're free now."

What I didn't see was the island becoming lush with life once more. The remaining snow melted away and the eternal summer returned. The seas surrounding the island calmed after a storm. 

I heard a small chirp and smiled as I saw my pixie guide from earlier alive and well. 

"I'm glad you and your people are safe," I tell them, "I promise to protect you for your previous queen."

More pixies joined my companion and to everyone else's surprise, the pixies flew past them into the jungle. Only Peter, Tinker Bell and I knew where their true home was. Never again will I let them suffer through such loss. They deserved to live the rest of their lives in peace. 

 The golden glow I was basked in started to fade away revealing my figure to everyone else in the camp. As it did, the clouds above me finally started to dissipate. There were no traces of any Blight on the island. I didn't have to visit the old Annamay territory to know. It was just a sixth sense. 

My arms lowered as I felt depleted of energy. Vitalis began to disappear, its job being completed. Once it fully went away, I felt my body waver. Peter was there instantly. He caught me in his arms silently. No one spoke. There wasn't a need to. Instead, we all stared up at the crystal blue sky of the dead island brought back to life. 

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