Jessica's P.O.V.
I feel woozy. Has Lloyd killed me? Is this what it's like to die? Feel as though the entire world is spinning?
Finally, I can tell I'm lying on my back, on solid ground. I open my eyes to find everything white. Bit plain for me.
The moment the thought entered my mind, the scenery changed, to make a green meadow full of cherry trees in blossom. The sky is full of stars, but the amount of light would suggest it was still daytime. I don't care, however, and I sit up to smell fresh grass and the scent of fresh flowers. I finally feel peaceful for the first time in my life.
"Jessica?" A voice asks. I don't turn around, amazed. I haven't heard the voice for ten years...
"Mum?" I ask, scared that I'm imagining things. When the voice doesn't answer, I turn around to find my mother standing there, smiling. She looks just like she did when I was little, beautiful and pure. But she doesn't look as fragile as she had always been back when she was alive. She opens her arms and I rush into them, embracing her. My mother holds me close, murmuring to soothe me the way she always did.
"I'm so proud of you." She whispers, stroking my hair. I look up, tears threatening to break out onto my cheeks.
"But... I killed Dad! I was going to kill Lloyd! Why be proud?" I ask, holding back my tears. My mother takes her hand and wipes them away, smiling.
"Dear, I always knew your father would have to die. While I had hoped to prolong it, I knew that one day, he would die because the evil that rested in him." She answered.
"I blamed them for your death, when they couldn't be blamed. I was planning to kill Lloyd!" I cried.
"But did you kill Lloyd?" My mother asks in turn. I shake my head. "Exactly. You sacrificed your life to save someone else's, someone you had sworn to kill. By doing that, it showed you cared more about your brother, someone you thought you had hated all your life, than you feared death."
"Then... I'm dead?" I ask. This time, my mother shakes her head with a smile. "But you said I sacrificed myself!"
"There were, and have always been, greater forces at work than the ones that turned your father to the side of evil. Do you know why the Elder Spirit taught you spiritual magic, but didn't teach Lloyd?" I shake my head in answer. "Because only you can channel spiritual energy. You are the rare human who has been gifted with the power."
"Then why the necklace?" I ask, looking at the now empty chain around my neck.
"The raw power of spiritual energy is dangerous, which is why he gave you the crystal that would stabilize it. But the ability came from you and you alone. When the evil spirits sought to possess you, the spiritual energy within you protected you. Now the spirits are gone, and no one will have the burden of carrying them. While you were supposed to die from the force, the rulers of death saw your courage and sacrifice, and decided that you had earned more time."
"Mum? It wasn't the plague that made you so weak. It was me, wasn't it?" I ask, realizing what my father meant. My mother smiled, but it was a sad smile.
"When you were born, I was weakened, like most would have been after birth. But it was week later when the plague struck. I survived, but not without consequences." She answered softly.
"Then why would my father ask for another child?"
"He saw the way you were tormented, and how you had no one but us. He persuaded me to give you a sibling so you wouldn't be alone. It was never for an heir." My mother told me.
"Then why make Lloyd the heir? Did he think I was the Green Ninja?" I ask, finally getting the answer.
"I believe he thought Lloyd would be the Green Ninja and wanted to keep you out of the fight. As we know, it didn't work, but it was a good effort. Now, I know you wish to learn more, but it is time to return." My mother pointed out a train station, where the train whistle was going.
"Will I ever see you again?" I ask, not wanting to leave.
"Yes, but make sure you're a little older, okay?" I nodded, and she hugged me good-bye. "Keep the promise you made me." My mother whispered, letting me board. The train began to move, and I waved as the train left. Mum waved back, smiling, until I couldn't see anymore and the world turn white.
Page Break? Ugh, this gets annoying. *Takes out grenade* DIE ALREADY, MONSTER! YOU DON'T BELONG IN THIS WORLD!
My eyes flickered open. I was half-buried under rock, which must have been the result of the spirits trying to possess me. I sat up, only for Fang to jump on me and start licking my face.
Jessica! You're alive! Celeta cried. Fang barked and whined for attention, so I scratched his ears, gaining happy barks from him.
"Jessica?" I heard a voice ask. "Jessica!" I turn to see Cole beside me, tears running down his cheeks.
"Cole." I whispered, hugging him fiercely. His arms reminded me that it was over, all of it.
"You're alive." He whispered, looking into my eyes.
"I'm sorry for making you worry." I whispered back.
"There's something I never told you. I wanted to tell you at the mouth of the cave, because I thought you might die and never know." He averted his eyes. "The thing is I... I kinda..." He kept trying to say something, but I knew what he was going to say. So I kissed his lips gently. Cole was surprised, but he didn't resist and kissed back. It felt perfect, his arms around me and his lips on mine. I closed my eyes and savored the moment, feeling warmth fill my body. When our lips separated, I ran my fingers through his hair, tempted to kiss him again. Instead I leaned towards his ear, the same way I had when I had first tried to kill my father.
"I know you love me. And I love you too." I whispered. Cole smiled, then helped me off the ground, then took out something.
"When you said your necklace would disappear, I felt bad, so..." He pulled out a crystal necklace that look just like mine, but close up I could see there was more than just the center piece, there were tiny ones that were on either side of the central jewel. Gently, he tied the necklace around my neck and I felt it hang, just like my old one had.
"It's beautiful." I whispered, feeling the necklace between my fingers. We kissed again, savoring the moment of love. After the kiss broke, I looked around to see the others still unconscious. "Should we wake them up?" I asked.
"Nah." Cole whispered. Celeta chuckled.
"Finally found someone. Took you long enough." She said.
"Celeta can talk?" Cole asked, surprised. I nodded, and he smiled. "Still, with everything I've seen, it doesn't surprise me."
"Finally, someone who accepts a talking and intelligent bat!" Celeta shouted, happy. Lloyd stirred and sat up.
"Did I miss something?" He asked, looking around. "Jessica! You're alive! How?" I looked at Cole and we both laughed.
Finally, I have found peace. I thought to myself, smiling.
The end! Yup, sorry it's a bit short, my dad is nagging for me to leave. If you have questions, just message me and I'll answer them as best I can!