Chapter 32: Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for everything . . . but I need to ask you for one more thing. 

Can you bring back Peter?
Please, I know it’s up for you to decide but I want you to reassure my companions and encourage them. Please God . . . Amen.

While I was praying, Jiang broke out into a mournful song (which, was kinda morbid):

The King

Gives everyone a punishment

That is why the King

Is always all alone

The King

Has a very mean heart

But wants everyone

To give their attention to the King

Sadness

Loneliness 

All alone in solitude

But that’s all

The King can do

And it cannot be helped

Link to the actual song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmvnxrVZzHA

Chapter 31: Regroup

Sunlight wrapped the brokenhearted group with a familiar warmth. Jiang lifted her tear-stained eyes up from the ground that Peter laid. Then she heard a faint yelling in the distance.

“Dad! Melana! Jiang!”

“Elysie . . .”Jiang whispered.

“It’s Elysie!” Melana exclaimed, running towards a figure in the distance.

-----------------------------------

I ran toward the group. When I reached their spot, I hugged Melana tightly. My dad came over and joined in with the hugs. 

“Elysie, your shoulder,”my dad said with concern.

I never noticed that my right shoulder was slightly bleeding from the cut I got from Ombra.

“It’s okay. I got it during my duel with Ombra. It stings but no biggie,”I brushed off.

“What happened?”Melana asked.

“Explain later. What happened to Peter?”I asked.

Then I noticed Jiang still on the ground, staring solemnly at it. I rushed over and grabbed her cold hands. 

“I couldn’t . . . protect . . . him,”she said as she broke down. 

I hugged her as she cried into my shoulder, the good one. 

“Shh . . . it’s okay,”I said. 

She released from my hug and shook her head.

“No. He’s gone. It was my job to protect the starstuff of this universe and I failed.”

“No, you didn’t. There really was no starstuff in the chest. He just put in a flash. All the starstuff was in him,”

She just stared at me.

“So all that starstuff . . . it was already . . .,”she started, but looked away in disbelief.

“what do you mean “all ready”?” I asked.

“That much starstuff that can sustain Neverland can kill any Watcher, no matter how powerful they are. Peter was glowing . . . if he took in all the starstuff . . . it was already killing him from the inside.”

“So, what are you saying?”

“What I am saying is when the King pierced him with the sword . . . he released Peter from his unknown pain.” Then she rethought, “That evil bastard is such a blockhead. He totally didn’t know what he was doing.”

“What do you mean?”I asked, confused by her sudden change.

“The starstuff was transforming Peter into something else . . . that’s why he was glowing. So when he pierced Peter . . . he released his new form.”

“So how do we get him back?” my dad asked.

“He came back to protect me from Ombra but he disappeared as suddenly as he came,”I added.

“A ghost?” Melana suggested.

Everyone thought hard. Then I got an idea.

I grabbed Jiang and Melana’s hand.

“Let’s ask God for a favor,”I said.

Chapter 30: Believe

“Peter?”I called out. 

No sound, no one; just the lone open chest. 

I ran over to it and looked inside the gold box. All the starstuff was gone. 

“What just happened?”I muttered to myself. 

Then I heard a tinkling of bells and a flash of light zoom by my face.

“Tinkerbell?” 

A jingle answered me and I saw Tinkerbell staring at me.

“You’re alive!” I said gleefully. But then I thought of Peter.

“Wait, what happened to Peter?’I asked, searching her face for good news. 

But her face fell and nodded gloomily towards Fantasyland.

“No . . . ,”I muttered and started running towards the Peter Pan ride. 

Tinkerbell followed quickly behind me.

-----------------------------------

What I saw, I couldn’t explain. 

There was no ride, it was like the ride never existed. 

“How did this happen?’I yelled. 

Then a random janitor happened to hear me. 

“What’s the matter?”he asked.

I gestured to the random lot, between another ride attraction and walkway next to the castle.

“Oh, that open space. I don’t know but from speculations, Walt was going to build an attraction there but it is  . . . cursed.”

“Cursed?”

“Yes. Every single cotton seed that was planted there died instantly. Farmers told Walt that this very piece of land was forsaken by God himself.”

“Really? What did Walt do for Peter Pan then?”

“Peter Pan?”

“Yea. His 1953 animated film.”

“I’m sorry, but Disney never made a film called ‘Peter Pan’.”

“What? I thought he loved the story of the boy who could fly and never grow up.”

“I never heard of it. You should write a story about this Peter Pan. People might be interested to hear it. Good night.”

And off he went.

“So it never existed? Tink, something is really wrong. We need to get to the bridge.”

I backed up a little and sprinted towards the barricade. I vaulted over it and landed in a puddle of mud. 

“Yuck, okay, so where is the bridge?”

There was nothing in sight except rusty framework and mud. Tinkerbell yanked my hair and pointed towards a rusty looking refrigerator type of object. 

She jingled one thing that I could understand,”Believe.” Then she zipped around me, showering ‘pixie dust’  on me. 

I nodded. Believe  . . . just gotta believe.

I closed my eyes and started walking towards the refrigerator. I remembered my dad telling me “stories” about Peter. Meeting my buddies and joining the J.U.S.S. My dad disappearing and my encounter with Jesus Christ. Hanging out with Peter in Disneyland. Peter’s fight and death. His comeback for saving me . . . Believe.

Then all went white.

Chapter 29: The Final Battle

The Skeleton advanced on me before I could defend and brushed my arm lightly with his hand. The most unearthly pain entered my body as my mouth silently screamed as I clutched my arm.

“Want to reconsider?”he rasped.

“Never,”I panted and I brought out my sniper gun and shot him square in the chest. A normal person would have died or bled to death, but it was just a vacant hole which was already closing up. The Skeleton did not seem fazed or harmed at all. 

I cursed under my breathe as I dodged another swipe from the Skeleton.

God, any hints?

Then I saw Ombra dragging the crate away. I remembered from “The Sword of Mercy” and how Wendy defeated them by opening the starstuff crate. 

I rolled away from the Skeleton and sprinted over to Ombra, who was on the other side of the tracks. 

Unfortunately, the Skeleton pinned me down but I head-butted his nasty skull, which was really hard, and slipped away. I reached behind my pack, but I couldn’t grab anything but a flimsy dagger. I looked around and I saw a metal rod. 

I picked it up and swung it as hard as I could on the Skeleton’s skull. He stumbled back, clutching his head. But Ombra glided over to me and swung the Death Blade. It scraped my shoulder and my only thought was, I’m dead. 

But nothing happened except the annoying burning pain of a cut. 

“Hmm, I guess it’s useless now,”I commented.

Ombra groaned and swung at me again but I blocked it with my rod and swung at him immediately. Sadly, that was my mistake. Ever since I started the J.U.S.S., I sucked at using daggers. I could block but I was really bad at choosing when to advance. This is one of my bad advances because just as I could connect to Ombra’s body he used his previous swing momentum to cut around and knock the metal rod out of my hand. 

Now, I am utterly defenseless and cornered next to a random rock. Ombra lifted his arm for one final blow to finish me off and I closed my eyes, waiting for the blow. 

But the blow never came. For a rush of wind went past me and I heard metal clank on metal.

I opened my eyes and I saw Peter in his black attire; the Sword of Mercy blocked blade once again with golden sparks. 

“Peter!” I said, happy to be saved.

He pushed Ombra off and yelled,”Elysie, take cover!”

I ran around the rock just as I saw a bright starstuff flash and unearthly screams. 

Then all was silent.

I crept back around the rock and I saw Peter, by himself with an empty chest, his arm holding the Sword of Mercy limply. Then he sighed and sheathed the sword. 

The rain still poured mercilessly down on us, thunder cracking in the air. 

“Are they gone?”I asked, rubbing my arms together.

He just looked up at me and smiled. 

Then a lightning flash made me blink.

When I opened my eyes, he was gone.

Chapter 28: Be Prepared

Others heading your way. Be prepared.

I shut my phone and braced myself on the bench, my eyes glued to the Peter Pan's flight exit. As if on que, she saw the Skeleton and Ombra exit with the chest. Both glancing nervously over their shoulders. I kept myself hidden behind a clump of strollers, hoping to catch them in a less populated area. 

The sky began to get darker and rain fell form the sky. I sneezed from the sudden downpour. I looked towards the sky and it looked like the stars were crying, heaven was crying.

Woah Elysie, what are you thinking?

I saw the Other make their way to the Main Street side of Fantasyland and walk across to Frontierland. I follow closely behind, soaking from head to toe but I didn't care. I knew that they were up to no good and I wanted to put a stop to it. They got to the closed entrance of Big Thunder Mountain and merged into the shadows. 

I halted and looked over the barricade.

It can't be too high.

I took a deep breath and vaulted over the barricade, barely making it over. I landed like a ninja on the side breathless from my feat. As I looked up form my braced position, I saw the Others climbing over the "in repair" tracks. 

"I wouldn't go that way if I were you. It's all just construction work and roller-coaster tracks,"I pointed out.

"I know what I am doing,"Ombra groaned. 

Strange, he has uncertainty in his voice.

I looked around. 

"Where is your King?"I asked.

They looked at each other, seem to debate on how to answer me.

"He went ahead of us. His mission was completed faster then he expected and left for another mission,"Ombra replied.

"You are lying,"I said. 

Out of nowhere, Ombra had a sword pointed towards my face.

"Do you want to argue,"he groaned.

The Skeleton grinned and cracked his hideous knuckles.

"Oh yes,"I replied with a smirk. 

Chapter 27: Safe and Sound

They watched in ultimate horror as the Blade connected with Peter's heart. The golden glow drained from him and his skin became a sickly grey.
"No!"Jiang screamed as she broke from Ombra's grasp and ran towards the duo.
Then Peter drove the Curtana and the king exploded into dust. She slid to his side, where he laid still on the ground. The group stayed back for they knew that Peter is almost gone.
"Why?"Jiang asked, choking in tears.
"Because I had to. The prophecy stated that the Curtana will be driven into his heart,"Peter whispered.
"But it never mentioned you dying."
"Because that part is one of the many missing parts."
"No . . ."
Peter groaned as he saw black dots dance in his eyes, nausea setting in. Jiang cried but looked into his eyes, which seemed oddly at peace.
"Tell  . . . Elysie . . . to keep . . . believing,"Peter said, his strength now gone.
"I will,"Jiang whispered, grasping his hand.
She decided to comfort him with a song that was sung to her long ago:

"I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said don't leave me alone
But all that's dead and gone and past tonight

Just close your eyes
the sun is going down
you'll be alright
no one can hurt you now
come morning light
you and I'll be safe and sound

Don't you dare look out your window darling everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Curl up to this lullaby
Even when the magic's gone
Gone"

Peter smiled and mouthed, "Thank you".
His entire body glowed brightly and hummed as starstuff was rising out of him and floating to the sky. Then his body slowly disintegrated into starstuff. They all looked up and saw the startsuff floating far away, tears streaming down their faces.
Jiang's hand was still closed, like she was still clutching Peter's hand.
"Just close your eyes . . .,"she started but choked on her tears,"you'll be alright."
Melana came over and put her hand on Jiang's shoulders and sang,"Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound."
Then Jiang stretched her hand and starstuff floated out. She broke he gaze away from her hand when she noticed that the chest Peter brought wasn't there anymore. Neither were the Others.
"Darn,"she muttered as she got out her cell phone and texted Elysie.

Chapter 26: King vs Peter

Exhaustion.
That's all Peter could think about as he advanced and defended. He knew that if he kept this up he will never see the next sunrise in Neverland.
As the king swung his blade at Peter's head for the millionth time, realization hit Peter at the same time. He jumped out of the way and closed his eyes.
"dear God, I put this fight in your hands,"Peter mumbled.
He quickly opened his eyes and the King advanced him again. He gripped Curtana and focused all his starstuff power into the sword. Then he advanced at the King and their blades connected at full speed but the surge of Peter's sword blasted the King away.
Left breathless and weak from the surge, Peter unzipped a compartment in his coat and Tinkerbell flew out, well and alive.
"Tink, now!"Peter yelled.
Tinkerbell zipped towards Peter and showered his sword and himself in pixie dust. His energy was renwed and he flew straight towards the King, who was barely recovering 350 yards away.
In flight, Peter collided his sword with the King's blade and the King was struck down again but prepared for it.
"Block me Tink!" Peter commanded.
Tinkerbell kept showering starstuff while Peter gave repetitive blows towards the King, who was able to block some of them but losing a lot of ground. Peter halted his blows with a cross lock with the King.
"Do you want to surrender?"Peter asked.
"Never."King replied.
Then he pushed Peter away and charged. During the push, Tink was shoved and spun erratically.
Darn, Peter thought.
He used Tink as his power source, but now he had limited power and needed to use it wisely . The King charged at him and he blocked it once again.
"You know Peter, I have one more trick up my sleeve,"King pointed out.
"Yea? What's that?"Peter asked, grunting on trying to keep his remaining power source.
"This is going exactly as I planned and my plans never fail,"King said, quite darkly, which caused Peter to lose his guard for a second.
The King swiftly unlocked his Blade from peter's and touched the very tip of the blade into Peter's heart.
Peter felt no pain, but a sense of lacking energy. He looked down and saw the Blade, black fumes spreading across his black coat.
"You're dead. Too bad, I would have loved to be working with you,"the King said with a smile.
Peter didn't respond, for his energy was diminishing rapidly. He closed his eyes and willed any last bit of starstuff into the Curtana.
The Curtana gave off a weak glow, but was filled with enough power to finish the job. He glanced towards the group who were holding their breathe as they saw the entire scene play out. Tears filled his eyes as black dots raced into his vision.
"I . . . am . . . so . . .sorry,"he whispered.
Then he gave one last battle cry and plunged the Curtana into the depth's of the King's dark heart.
"You're dead,"Peter said.
The King stared at Peter in disbelief until he exploded and disintegrated into black dust.
Peter kept his lunge stance until he couldn't hold himself anymore.
He looked up to the sky as he laid on the ground, the sun shining bright as the clouds parted.