A/N: This is the fourth side story installment of "Combating Feud And Fairytale" and I wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to write this or where I wanted to go with it. This all takes place after the WWE is returned to peace and their enemy has been defeated. I wasn't sure what I wanted to write, and how I wanted to end it since this is it, but basically this story is the last thing to happen in the main story after they defeat their enemy because I just got too tired of writing so long, heheh. It's just something aside that takes place, just to show everyone that even though the WWE is at peace, the characters are still all the same and getting caught up into stuff on their own. I wanted to give them something different to face and let them learn a little more about themselves. But then again most of the time I was just writing to write and I didn't have any real direction planned, so I don't think this is a that good a job. I've broken it down into four chapters because it ended up being 50 pages. Wow, that's long, hopefully the story isn't THAT bad… hah! Anyway, read and hope you enjoy…

Somewhere off the Hawaiian coast, lost in the pacific, it was late that night, it had been quiet for two and a half years. But the silence would be broken and the night would be shaken into day at what would transpire. Stephanie McMahon lay asleep, it was dark in the cabin which lie hidden in the hills buried under tall green trees. Finally her eyes opened in her half awake state, but… though it appeared at first glance to be Stephanie, was it her? Did she not have brown eyes, and these were one blue and one green? Is this Stephanie, or another Ivory and Kari look alike? Chris Jericho and Triple H were about to find out…

"Ah, finally the WWE has come back to Hawaii!" Ash cheered as the plane neared the tropic islands.

"About time they came into view." Chris Jericho scoffed at the unusual fog, it hug thick and low for the time of day. "Thought that plane ride would take forever."

"It's lucky that you were able to come with us this time Ash." Kari Ketchum replied, ignoring Chris's remark. "Linda didn't let you tag along the last time we came out."

"Yeah. I think she's starting to loosen up with me, now that we've been together for two, three years. And with our enemy defeated and the world of wrestling a safer place, maybe she realized I'm growing up." Ash puffed out his chest proudly.

"Please." Chris rolled his eyes. "Are you EVEN ten yet…? Huh!"

"Leave him alone." Kari smirked. "This is going to be a great vacation for us, we all know we really need it."

"That's for darn sure." Shawn Michaels agreed. "Can't wait to get some much needed r and r."

"Please, that's all you ever seem to do." Christian scoffed. "I can't remember the last time you've helped us out when we need it."

"I can't remember the last time you needed help." Shawn countered.

"That's because you always run away." Trish Stratus chimed in.

"Please, please." Shawn laughed. "It was a figure of speech."

"I should've figured." Trish sighed. "Coming from you."

"I can't wait to hit the beach!" Kari cried happily. "I'm gonna down those pina colada's!"

"You and liquor on the beach, yeah, I'd like to see that…" Chris muttered under his breath.

"You would?" Kari cooed quietly as she perked up happily.

"Shut up." Chris growled, Kari just wearing a big grin in response.

"Well, we'll be landing soon." Shawn sat up.

"I can't wait!" Kari cried again.

"Hey wait, are you even 21 yet…!?" Chris roared in realization.

Soon the plane landed, they got their luggage and went to the hotel. It was a great spot, right by the beach, overlooking the surf, sand, and sunset… but then again, most every hotel on the island do. They were only going to have two shows in Hawaii that week, they were staying the whole week with no other house shows planed until WWE live that next weekend in Portland. So everyone in the WWE that was scheduled for the shows were all very happy to enjoy the time off in paradise. But the paradise wouldn't be so tranquil for Chris and his friends, as they would soon all find out.

"What's this? Trouble in paradise…?"

"Eh?" Ric Flair stood up at Triple H's voice and turned to follow his glance. "Oh, why yes, it appears we are not alone on this island… I mean, well of course we aren't, a lot of superstars came, but who would've thought that…"

"Ric…" Triple H cut him off, he was rambling again.

"Oh, sorry sir." Ric caught himself and regained his composure. "I didn't think Chris Jericho and them would be here."

"Is Kari here?" Ivory looked up quickly from building a sand castle with some of the local kids. She got up and went to look for herself, seeing Chris and Kari arguing in the distance. "Ah." She smiled happily. "She is, I didn't know that! This is great!"

"Chris Jericho?" A little boy turned to the older girl.

"Yeah, I heard it too." She whispered back. "It has to be him, there couldn't be anyone else by that name." She looked around and quietly took off. "Come on."

"Hey wait up." He followed, hope in his eyes. "After all this time, he finally has come back…!"

"Well, so long as they leave us alone." Ric finished what he was saying.

"Huh?" Ivory turned around and looked about. "Hmm, I guess those kids must've gone home or something." She sighed, she never got much human contact because most people didn't like Triple H and Ric wasn't the most social welcoming person either.

"Give me back my suntan, you jerk!" Kari was yelling.

"Please, you're from southern California, you can handle a tan." Chris said back.

"That's not the point, and that's not even true. I can burn very easily… which is why I have it! Give it!"

"Nyah, nya!" Chris stuck out his tongue.

"You are worse than Ash, you childish brat." Kari growled as Chris held it out of her reach.

"You're the child." Chris threw it.

"Hey!" She ran off.

"It was empty anyways." Chris chuckled and went to go sit down.

"Help! Help me!"

"Huh?" Chris paused and turned, the voice was small and faint, but he knew he heard it. He looked around but couldn't see anything in sight, "That's strange, is my mind playing tricks on me…?"

"Help! Please! Somebody!"

"Did you hear that?" Kari rushed back over, having found the empty bottle she threw it away.

"So it's not heat stroke?"

"Well, I'll keep that in mind, but I could've sworn somebody was calling for help, but…" She looked around.

"Yeah, I can't see anybody either."

"Help me!"

"No, it's real. Come on, let's follow it!" Kari ran off.

"Ah, no wait. Ugh… I'm on vacation." Chris grumbled to himself, following.

"Kari, Chris!" Ash called.

"Did you hear it too?" Trish came into view, with Christian in tow.

"It sounded like a little girl."

"But we can't see anybody." Ash finished Christian's sentence.

"Yeah, same here. Let's follow the sound." Kari led the chase.

They ran to the other side of the island, they were near the turnaround to begin with, but on the other side there weren't any people, it seemed to be wilderness for hiking and self exploration. It was darker as the sun was on the other side of the high hills in the center of the large island, the water tides were ripping much harder than the gentle waves on the public beaches. Why a small child would have run off and be playing there, and alone for that matter, drew some concern and consideration to mind. But that didn't matter, somebody was in trouble and was calling out for help, and if only they could hear her, they had to be the ones to save her.

"Help!" Finally the voice was within range.

"Over there, I see something!" Kari pointed and they could see a small girl, a bit younger than Ash.

"What is that?" Trish stood next to Kari.

"It looks like a giant sea tortoise." Christian came next.

"Is it attacking her?" Ash gasped. "It's trying to pull her in!"

"Well don't just stand there…!" Chris ran past them.

"Hey, wait!" Kari cried.

"No time!" Chris barked back and charged right for the girl and the large turtle. "Hey! Hey!"

"Huh?" The little girl looked up upon hearing a voice come towards her. She gasped.

"Get away from her!" He roared, jumping down from out of nowhere, spooking the big creature and causing him to turn and head back into the ocean. "Ugh." Chris sighed, catching his breath. "There you go now, so be careful." He looked down at her. "You should know better than to be playing over here! And alone too. What if you DID get hurt and nobody DID hear you? Then what! You'd be in big trouble!" Chris was never good with kids, Ash can voucher.

"Chris…?"

"Huh?" Her small voice made him stop in mid-rant.

She stood up in awe, her eyes agape, "Is it really you…?"

"Uh, do I… know, you?" Chris blinked down at her, getting that nervous feeling.

"Ah." Her eyes began to water happily. "It is, it is you! Chris!" She leapt onto him, wrapping her small arms around his waist into a tight hug.

"Hey, what the…! Get off." He grumbled as the others neared.

"Wow, she's the thankful type I guess." Kari chuckled.

"No, it's not that."

"Huh?"

"Ugh, she says she knows me."

"Fan maybe?" Ash shrugged.

"Hmm?" The girl turned and looked up to see strangers, but she also saw Kari. "Oh!"

"Uh…?" Kari froze in shock, confused.

"Stephanie! It's you too!" She giggled, hugging her next. "It's been so long since I've seen you two, I'm glad you're still together." She looked up, her face wearing a huge smile. "You do look different than I remembered you from last time, Steph."

"Uh, I'm not Stephanie."

"What? You aren't? But you look like her." She let go, realizing she was hugging onto a stranger.

"I get that a lot." Kari bent down, smiling warmly. "I am Chris's friend though. My name is Kari, what's yours?"

"My name is Jessica. Don't you remember?" She turned to Chris.

"Jessica, Jess…" Chris blinked. "Hawaii… hmm, let's see."

"It's been a few years, the last time I saw you, you were with Stephanie." Jess looked around. "I don't see her with you though."

"Oh, um, we aren't together anymore." Chris muttered but shook the subject. "So then, how have you been?"

"Well, things haven't changed for all of us. Not much is different."

"All of you?" Trish spoke up.

"The other kids, remember Chris?"

"Uh…" Chris blinked at her, put on the spot again.

"Remember, there is Joanie, the older girl, she's 13 now. Then there's the oldest boy, Peter. And the only other one left is me. The twins are gone and so is that other boy."

"Gone…?" Kari gasped.

"You have a lot of siblings." Ash remarked.

"No, they are my friends, we all lived together on the island."

"Oh, so an orphanage then!" Trish gasped with relief. "So the others got adopted, whew, you had me worried there for a…"

"No, they didn't."

"What?" Chris gasped, fearing the worst.

"I'm not exactly sure what happened, how or why, all I know is I smile when I look up at the stars in the clear night sky." Jess stared skyward.

"Oh my God." Trish gasped, covering her horrified mouth.

"Jess, that's terrible. They're 'GONE' gone?" Kari was in utter shock.

"That's awful, who would do that… to KIDS?" Christian's eyes shook, mortified.

"Who did this, why, how?" Ash asked quickly.

"We don't know, that's why we stay close and out of sight." Jess pointed into the forest. "I guess you don't remember Chris, that was why we all lived in secrecy from the rest of the island, because we kept disappearing. Never coming back, never heard from or seen of again."

"I'm starting to remember now…" Chris felt sick to his stomach, if he knew this in the past, and so did Stephanie, why did they not do anything, why was nothing done since then?

"Take us there."

"Huh?" Everyone turned to Kari.

"Jess, take us there. This has gone on long enough, it has to end now. We can help you, but we have to go and see what's going on."

"Mmm…" Jess bit her lip and turned back to the friends. Chris was there, she trusted him, the others seemed nice, and Kari just looked so much like Stephanie. Looks being deceiving wasn't something that kids understood. So she smiled, "Alright, let's go, I'll take you."

"Great, thanks." Kari smiled warmly, it was that same kind hearted expression that always reminded everyone so much of the old Stephanie McMahon. As they neared the house, the gang could almost swear they heard music. "What's that sound?" Kari looked around to find the source, it grew louder the more they walked.

"Come on." Jess smiled as she looked over her shoulder. "It's this way!" As they finally could see a path between the grass, rocks and trees, the house appeared. It looked old, but well preserved, like a landmark. They could hear a very beautiful flute, and low key strums like on a bass or guitar. "I'm back!" Jess opened the door to reveal a boy and girl inside. The girl was playing the flute, she must've had a lot of practice because she was playing very well. The boy seemed to be crying as he played. Next to them was a drum, a tambourine and cymbal, and another much smaller guitar that looked like it would be perfect for somebody Jess's size to play. The group was shocked at what they saw.

"Look, stop crying Peter." The girl finally pulled the flute from her mouth, leering at the boy. She was the eldest of the bunch, but the boy was older than Jessica.

"I can't Joanie. I miss him." Peter let his arms hang down, still holding the instrument.

"He's gone, and he's not coming back. Just deal with it. One day I'll be gone too." She sighed sternly.

"Don't talk like that to him." Kari frowned, stepping inside.

"Huh?" They turned and finally noticed Jess.

"Hey who are you, how did you get here?" Peter asked, shocked, and a bit shy.

Joanie growled and stepped forward, "Jessica, I told you to run away from here."

"I know but…" Jess bit her lip.

"What's the meaning of all this." Chris stepped in beside Kari.

Joanie gasped, "Chris?"

"Chris?" Peter looked up, his shyness disappearing as his face filled with hope and life.

"Look who I found, I brought them here!" Jess announced happily.

"You came back?" Joanie blinked and blushed slightly, looking away with a bit of embarrassment. "Sorry Stephanie, I didn't mean to bark at you like that."

"She's not Steph, I thought she was too, but this is Kari. These are all Chris's friends. I brought them here, maybe they can help us." Jess spoke with a skip in her tone.

Joanie growled, "There is nobody that can help us. We're here until we die."

"That's pretty bleak." Trish frowned.

"Are all of you orphans?" Christian asked.

"Yes." Peter nodded. "Our parents are all gone, so we all lived here together, the kids. But, then after a while, they…"

"Peter." Joanie growled, silencing him before turning to the guests. "It's been years Chris, a lot has changed here."

"You don't have to be alone. My parents died years ago too but I got adopted." Ash smiled.

"Adopted…?" Jess didn't understand what that word meant.

"Maybe we can too?" Peter asked, looking up at Joanie. "It would be safer."

"No, we can't risk that! This is our home anyway." Joanie snapped back.

"You can't boss him around like that, who are you to lecture him! He's alone, he can do what he wants. I think adoption is fine." Kari roared, she rarely got angry, but this was very bizarre.

"You don't know me! You don't know any of our stories!" Joanie snarled back at her.

"You're just a kid, you have no right!"

"You're just a stranger! You know nothing!"

"I know what you're doing here is wrong!"

"How do you know that!?"

"You're endangering him! If you really cared, let him go to the city and get help! That way you know he'll be safe!"

"The city is dangerous!"

"What?" Kari blinked, the yelling battle having ended with her withdrawal.

"Look." Joanie turned away. "This has nothing to do with you, you just wouldn't understand, you don't know our story and what's happened these past few year." She looked up. "It was good to see you again, Chris." And with that she walked off into the house. "Come on Peter, close the door."

"Uh, but…" Peter slowly turned and looked sheepishly back up at Chris and the others before following her, leaving them standing in the open doorway.

"Sorry, you have to excuse her. Things have a way of changing people." Jess sighed. "She wasn't always like this, but she's the oldest now, she's the one who will go next."

"Go, go where?" Ash asked.

"It's the job of the oldest to fend for the others, to go out and take care of errands, make sure everything is safe, and to look out for all of the young ones." Jess sighed. "The other guy, you might remember, Gus, he was the oldest before her, but just over a week ago he vanished, gone, never seen or heard of again. The same thing happened to his sister, Trisha. And it happened to everyone else before them, so naturally, it will be her turn next. Maybe she's upset to think it came so soon, or that poor Peter will be the next one after her, and then me, and then… we'll all see each other again."

"Jess, that's horrible." Trish frowned. "Such plight for small children, and on a tourist paradise. What happened to you all?"

"Well, years back, before we met Chris and Stephanie… there was a small private cruise ship. There was a bad storm and it was blown incredibly off course and crashed. Nobody knew we were here, the ship was small and everything was demolished, the remains scattered too far for even citizens of the island to know about it. Most people died, only a few children were spared. There were a few young adults, teenagers, but after a year or so, other teens from the city must've found them wandering around in their territory and fighting began. They got hurt, we got robbed, and finally, they started killing."

"Killing…!?" Christian gasped.

Jess nodded, tears in her eyes, "That happened for almost two years, and then finally, a wonderful day… the WWF came to Hawaii. And out on a romantic walk of exploration, Chris and Stephanie came upon us, beat up the punks, and we were so happy they saved us. But by that time, the older kids were all long gone, the oldest among us was maybe thirteen. We thought it was over, but we were wrong… a few months after that, the eldest would start to disappear when they went out searching and scouting. It would happen only every now and then, but with so few of us left, I can understand why they're so leery of people and so upset about the situation."

"How tragic…" Kari's eyes shook. Chris glanced at her and watched as she bent down and put a hand on Jess's shoulder. "I know what it's like to feel alone, to loose people, to see friends go off and die. It's never easy, but life is hard. As a child you should never have to be exposed to that. I think it's wrong. I know Joanie is afraid and just wants to protect you, but it's wrong to just let you sit and wait for death, especially so young."

"But she did, she did try to save me!" Jess protested loudly, but then drew back and spoke quietly again. "I was always the youngest, so everyone was most concerned for my safety and future. So when things started to grow worse, she tried to make me leave, she told me to go away, she took me to the city, she wanted to leave me there for somebody to find me and take me away. She wanted to protect me and find me a foster family to take care of me because she knew it was safe and I would be happy. But she was wrong! The city is scary to me, and I knew it would only be safe back home, so I went back, but it's far and I got lost. So I went along the ocean and that's when the tide came in and that monster appeared. I'm thankful for you saving me, but I know Joanie now will be mad."

"I don't care." Chris spoke up. "You just leave her to me." He walked off into the house.

"Hey, you guys stay here with her." Kari looked up at Trish and Christian. "Ash, come with me, I want you to talk to Peter."

"Alright, you can count on me." Ash followed her after Chris.

"Why did she come back." Joanie was growling as she sat on her bed in the back room, Peter standing across from her.

"Why don't you let them help us? The last time Chris came, he saved us! This could be a sign! Do you really want to die too?" Peter was pleading with her.

"I can't accept their help, not now! After all of the sacrifices that everyone else made for us, for me? I have to do the same. I would gladly give my life for you and Jessica. Just as you would save her in your place." She shook and turned her head away. "Don't just try to get involved again now after all that's happened. You just don't understand!"

"But what if when we are all gone, she will starve, and suffer, and be sad and alone. Do you want her to have the worst fate of all of us!?"

Joanie was silent for a moment and just as she was about to speak up, another voice did for her, "I can understand what you're trying to do. It's noble, and it's what your heart things best, but for kids, it's wrong."

"Huh?" She looked up to see Chris. "Oh, it's you again… look, just go alright? I can handle things from here."

"Yeah, obviously." He rolled his eyes and sat down next to her. "Kari…?"

"Yeah." She nodded and bent down. "Hey Ash, why don't you go play with Peter?"

"Alright." He nodded and ran over, grabbing his hand as he pulled him out of the room. "Come on."

"Thanks." Chris paused. "Uh, Kari, you mind…?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry." She turned and closed the door, then walked over and sat on the bed opposite of her.

"Uh, huh…" Chris raised an eyebrow. "Okay, whatever." He turned back to the task on hand. "Joanie, I know what you're doing is noble, from an adult standpoint. But you're still young, you're dealing with children here."

"Stop treating me like a kid!" Joanie snapped back quickly.

"I'm not, just listen to me. What you're doing is very adult, yet, I will give you that. You're growing up and taking charge, you're a very admirable person who just want to look out for the safety and well being of her younger friends, the kids. But as an adult you have to think of the best interest of those you care for. When you do die, will Peter and Jess really be able to fend for themselves? You know the answer better than anybody."

"But everyone else did it, it's only fair that I…"

"Nothing is ever fair, just because somebody else did something before you doesn't mean you do. You can make the next regime better by changing things. The best ruler is always the one who truly cares for his or her underlings, treating them as comrades, or friends, or even in your case, family. Living out here for so long, this will destroy Peter and Jess. Think of everyone who is gone. Do you really want those two to look up to the stars and see you? No, they want to see you right next to them. They love you, just as you loved your former leaders."

"But…" Joanie's eyes shook. 'I'm not going to cry, I am NOT a child…'

"Chris just wants to help you." Kari spoke softly. "Everyone has rough childhoods, some more than others. People loose loved ones all the time, it's a fact of life."

"I know, but…" She sighed, choking back the tears. "Look, this is MY choice alright? It's My life, not yours, or anyone elses!"

"You're wrong…" Kari spoke sternly. "When a person is by themselves, yes that is the case, but when they fall in love and get married, they share their life with their partner. And if they have kids, people they love and care for, their life belongs to them. Do you know why? Without them, they can't be safe, they aren't happy. Their lives no longer belong to themselves, it belongs to their children. Your life belongs to those kids. What is their best interest? Having you dead, gone and in the stars, or alive and next to them, watching them and making sure they're safe?"

Finally Joanie broke down, she couldn't hold back any longer and she began to cry, "I just wanted to do what was right!"

"I know, I understand." Kari hugged her.

"Thanks Chris." She sniffed. "Thanks Stephanie." Kari just smiled and stroked her hair.

"Uh…" Chris went to speak up, but Kari shook her head. It was alright, she smiled, she understood.