Cuz They'll Find You, Burn You...

Hey.

Okay, this chapter was supposed to be the second to last one. Then I realized the perfect way to make the finale really pay off but in doing so I may have to extend the story a bit longer than planned. Oh well.

Anyhoo, Lonnie cracked the code and finally made it to her destination, arriving to eliver it and save the day. Just in time to realize the true horror the Eclipse of the Heart curse has wrought upon the land. Carlos is the only one of the Rotten Four who hasn't succumb to the darkness but that has more to do with confusion and heartache than a desire to beat it back. The voices in his head are NOT helping either. Luckily the new and improved Jay just may have a way to turn the tide. After all, all he really wants is to set his Baby Boy free. Damn the consequences to anyone else.

Small but important note: This chapter is continuing more along the lines of psychological than physical battles and blurring the line between good and evil. So beware, triggers ahead.

*UL*

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When Lonnie opened that door, it took everything she had not to scream.

Lying in a pool of blood, a man she'd never seen. Sobbing on the floor beside him, the Headmistress, her dress splashed with crimson.

Jay had a look of revulsion on his face as he stared at the pair, eyes red as the fires of hell. Pressed against the book shelf was Carlos, scared out of his mind. Mouth working in silent horror.

Now or never...

"Jay I know you're in there! If you do this everyone will die! Including Carlos!"

"Is that a threat?" His head whipped in her direction .

"No, it's a promise of what's to come. All of this is part of a prophecy that will destroy the world but you can stop it." She tried not to flinch at his gaze.

"I already know that."

Wha?

"You look surprised prophet. Wait, you really thought rushing in here and giving a heartfelt plea would magically make me see the error of my ways? Man are you people sheltered!" The thief chuckled. The white haired boy cowering in the corner found himself being pulled into Jay's arms by magic. "What if I just don't give a shit anymore? Or worse, what if you're the one that's got it twisted?"

"So you're seriously going to let innocent people be killed?" she balked.

"Innocent my ass. There's no such thing, WAKE UP!" Jay yelled, causing his boyfriend to give a startled squeak. "The people you look to for hope and guidance are hypocritical assholes. You think locking us up and throwing away the key was the worst thing they did?"

Fairy Godmother drew in a sharp breath and whispered a single word.

"No..." The grin that met her was positively feral. With a wave of his hand, he created an map of Auradon, its neighbors and the Isle of the Lost like a hologram.

"So the baddies are all locked away or six feet under. Peace and happiness prevails. But without a real big bad around, you snobs started worry. And then you found a new threat. Someone who didn't like the idea of Hook being locked away because it would ruin his fun and games with no codfish to harass. Something you yourself called dangerous and childish thinking. So, what if he got bored? After all his idea of fun is mortal peril and some of his playmates have returned terrified or injured. Goodness knows how many never came home cuz they, ya know, died. What if he just started taking children? You people let your imaginations run wild."

"Jay-" the fairy began. He ignored her to conjure a floating Island in the sky surrounded by crystal clear skies, lush forests and the bluest waters.

"Ya see Lonnie, to appease a bunch of spoiled jerks, terrified of losing their happy endings, Peter Pan was labeled a child thieving sociopath. The Purest Fairy in the Land cast a spell to strip him of his powers. After all, she didn't want to hurt him, just keep him away from Auradon's next generation. Keep the good little boys and girls from his clutches." Jay gently stroked Carlos' cheek while glaring at FG. "Except in the mass freak out, nobody seemed to remember Peter mostly plays with children who reach Neverland in their dreams. He only only physically takes lost children, those who feel unloved. Children who aren't, merely curious to see the island get to play to their heart's content then come home by dawn's light- Having sometimes week long adventures because of how time works different in his world. Those Darling brats are proof of that."

"That's not- Jay please you don't understand-" Edwina fumbled over her words. A bubble with that familiar gold sheen the Rotten Four and grown up trapped by surrounded the strange yet beautiful land.

"I understand because of your paranoia you all turned on a being who wasn't even a threat. Someone you once called a hero and locked him away. But that isn't the end of it is it?"

"It was a mistake, yes child but there was nothing I could do to fix it."

"Because you didn't realize Neverland is alive and your magic can't hope to trump hers. Your spell didn't take away his powers, only created a barrier between here and Neverland. Without that connection, Peter couldn't do what he was born to and he began to die. But Neverland wouldn't let her boy king leave her would she? Her anger at what you all did combined with his own pain and confusion warped Peter into something dark and wicked. The lovely thoughts and dreams of children fueled the 'good' magic in Neverland. Congrats, in trying to protect the precious children of Auradon from absolutely nothing, you transformed the Guardian of Childhood Dreams and his Lost Boys, into The Nightmare Prince and the Forsaken. Creatures that taint dreams and steal children's souls. You even failed at fully trapping him- his shadow can pass through that barrier easily." The beautiful image turned dark. The skies graced, the waters turned black and choppy. The colorful forests grew shaded and haunting. Something black and mysterious flitting about only to glide right through barrier into their world.

"This must be some sort of trick. Fairy Godmother would never do such a thing!"

Lonnie looked to her headmistress for affirmation. Only to have her refuse to meet the young warrior eyes. No words need be spoken, that single action told it all. How could she do something so terrible?! Their generation had always been told Neverland had been corrupted and all that could be done was to seal it away. Everyone assumed it was something Hook did in an effort to seek his revenge before he was imprisoned. But...to do such a thing. While it hadn't been an outright lie, it was kept vague with the intention of misdirection, still a terrible deception!

This wasn't right! The purpose of her being able to decode the prophecy was to save everything. To help them beat back the darkness and return to themselves. So if Jay already knew (and worse did not care) what had been the point?! To reveal yet another facet of their reality was an illusion?!

"Oh, but baby boy, this is by far the worst part." Jay's thumb traced Carlos's lips tenderly. His eyes dulling a little as he gazed at the smaller boy's face. "Once I truly woke up, my powers shattered the wards around the school, the Island Barrier and severely weakened the one around Neverland. Pretty sure with all the negative energy released and 'innocent' blood spilled today, Peter's gotten stronger. Perhaps enough to break through himself. Which would suck cuz his shadow alone has been enough of a terror these last twenty years. So which is worse, a world gone silent and cold? Or one ruled by never ending terror? That is the choice you'll be making."

/This world belongs to you and your lover, not some twisted little pixy boy. If anyone should be causing death and destruction in it is the two of you!/ The voice in the deVil boy's head hissed. It sounded a bit different this time. Less coaxing and suave, more urgent and coarse. The voice had always been trying to nudge him into embracing the darkness in himself. Why the sudden rush? If he gave in, everything would be destroyed right? Why would it want that? Now, there was something else to worry about on the horizon.

What did it even matter anymore?

*UL*

Yeah, a bit short but I have a sequel idea that needed to be set up better than I had so far.

So, Lonnie's entrance was pathetically anticlimactic since with his power boost, Jay received the knowledge of an awful long buried secret. And thoroughly enjoyed throwing it back in FG's face. Thus revealing the catch-22 to their current situation. Carlos has also noticed something off about the main voice trying to tempt him. Now what?

Love it? Hate it? No strong feelings either way? Let me know. Reviews are like hugs! Sirensoundwave out!