Chapter 27

Back to the Beginning

It was a sunny afternoon on Planet Hora. The mystic pink world rotated in its orbit as the sun beat down on the all too familiar well-dressed persons that inhabited North Portmore. The wealth was everywhere, and Alice, Jim, and Doppler were quickly put in their proper place. Money wise that is.

Alice took in a deep lungful of the familiar air as she pulled her coat closer around her shoulders and dusted off some of the snowflakes that had accumulated on her shoulder. The women of the town, despite being bundled up, still managed to portray an essence of pride with their parasols gently resting over their lacy shoulders with elegantly knitted scarves blocking out the frosty chill.

Alice had never felt more out of place and yet more welcome than she had in her life. She knew Hora was supposed to feel like home, and to her it did in a way, but not the home she was used to. Hora had been her home for so many years, but now that she returned all she could fathom were the walls of her boarding school. It seemed ironic that was the place she was returning to. Yet, thanks to the Hawkinses, Alice now knew what a real home was supposed to feel like. Montressor felt warmer to her than North Portmore which was a feeling that almost made Alice guilty. Her parents had intended to raise her there; she should feel some gratitude for that.

Alice took a step forward. One boot print left behind in the snow. With every step her stride became more purposeful.

"Alice, I'm sure we can just ask the townsfolk to point us in the direction of the graveyard," Delbert argued as they walked along. Alice shook her head as her lips pursed in determination.

"No. I need to talk to him. I have to know if he knew my dad. I have to know what he remembers of that night."

Jim was silent as he walked beside them. He was unsure of what to make of it all as well. Captain Amelia had stayed back on Montressor as had Jim's mother. When January break had finally arrived for the cadets Alice had never been more relieved. She felt that if she could just see the graves herself she might relieve some of the nightmares she'd been having over the course of the past weeks in the Academy. So it had been decided. Jim, Alice, and the others had all shared in telling Mrs. Hawkins everything that had happened on their latest journey (save for some of the more life-threatening parts). Captain Amelia went on to explain the gravity of the situation with the Procyons at the moment and that many higher ranking officers feared the worst.

Word had been sent to the queen on the topic, but many of them had yet to determine if this was a call to arms or just a bluff. Either way the Procyons had broken protocol and shown deliberate determination to rise up against the Empire. For that alone the navy was assembling a team.

When the more serious political matters had been set aside, Alice had then jumped in to explain all that had happened to her family. The girl was thankful for Mrs. Hawkins' caring attitude and warm atmosphere. Just being in the presence of Jim's mother made Alice feel safer. Delbert had then gone on to explain how they hoped to take a day of their January break to catch a ferry to Planet Hora, and from there visit the graves of Alice's parents. It had only taken a day to arrange the papers and not long after, Delbert was accompanying Jim, Alice, and a curious Morph on their quest to search for a lost history.

Just before they had arrived at the planet and in North Portmore, Alice had insisted they visit Mr. Haney, her old boarding school principal. Delbert had tried to object because he and Mr. Haney were not the best of friends, but Alice had insisted that it be done.

Doppler chatted to Jim the whole time they walked down the scarce streets, searching for the familiar gray stone walls and iron wrought fence. Alice's heart leapt into her throat as, at last, she spotted the dreary building. Ignoring Jim and Delbert behind her, she raced ahead, her mittens grabbing onto the chilled bars of the door. She gave it a shake to open it when she realized it was locked.

She didn't have to wait long, however.

"Alright, alright, now. No need to fuss. I'm coming," grumbled a rather stout man with messy blonde hair and yellowing teeth. Alice couldn't help but grin at his shocked expression when he stopped in front of the gate, a ring of keys clutched in his right hand.

"Alice? Is that really you?"

"Yes, Mr. Lewis, it's me," she chuckled as Jim and Delbert came up behind her.

"Glory be! Back again, eh? I didn't think I'd see you, well, I didn't think I'd see you ever again! Missing the food then?" he teased.

"No, no. The food I can live without. It's just that…I was…I was hoping to talk to Mr. Haney again," she replied, chewing on her lower lip.

"Changing schools?" Mr. Lewis asked.

"No. It's about my past," she choked out. Mr. Lewis hesitated. Alice had always felt closer to him, the dean, in her boarding school than anyone else just because when he smiled at her she knew it was a true feeling, not something fake.

"I'll bring you to his office," Mr. Lewis nodded as he unlocked the door and held it open for all of them to step through. "I don't believe we've met, Sir," he nodded to the Doctor.

"I'm Doctor Delbert Doppler, an old colleague of Mr. Haney's," Delbert greeted with a smile.

"Pleasure's all mine, Sir," Mr. Lewis dipped his head as he lead them up toward the building. Alice was hit with a barrage of memories just as he opened the door. It was noon so many of the students were in the dining room enjoying their lunches. Alice could smell the all too familiar casserole Ms. Hein, the cook, favored. The four of them (plus Morph who was taking a nap in Jim's coat pocket) started up several flights of stairs and down corridors until they reached the walnut door with the plaque that read 'Principal'. Mr. Lewis knocked when a faint voice bid them entrance.

"Mr. Haney, young Miss Alice and Mr. Doppler are here to see you," Mr. Lewis said as Alice, Jim, and Delbert walked inside, stopping before Mr. Haney's desk. He had changed very little over the past couple of months. His hair was its usual perfect shape, his business suit as crisp as ever.

His gaze met Alice's and his thin eyebrows rose.

"Alice? What are you doing here? And Doppler," Mr. Haney added with puckered lips as if he was sucking on a lemon.

"I'm sorry, Sir. We didn't have to come here, but I recently learned about my past. I found out that my real name is Alice Renee Perez, daughter of Theodore and Charlotte Perez. The Doc here said he went to high school with my father, and since you also went to the same high school, I was wondering if you might know anything else about him. Anything at all, or maybe you remember something from the night my mother gave me away," Alice spoke rather fast as if the words were a dam that had just burst forth.

Mr. Haney was silent for a long time as he digested the information.

"You said you finally found out about your past?" Mr. Haney inquired.

"Yes, Sir. I finally found out where I belonged and I was wondering if you could tell me more about your experience with my father if you had any experience at all," Alice rocked on the balls of her feet. "Because the Doc said he went to high school with you." Mr. Haney was surprised and he rubbed his chin.

"Well, this is, rather unexpected," he chuckled before clearing his throat. "Yes, Doppler and I went to high school together," he grunted, leaning back and folding his fingers together. "But that was a long time ago. A time when the universe was against me."

"Patrick," Delbert began. "I have apologized. Besides, I did all I could."

Patrick Haney shook his head.

"I've had quite a while to think over the subject, Delbert, and I must say I am sorry for blaming you."

"R-really?" Delbert stammered, having not expected this at all. "Well that's…helpful – I mean hateful – I mean wonderful!" Delbert blundered in embarrassment. Haney snickered when he noticed Jim and Alice's curious expressions.

"Doppler and I were science partners long ago. We studied astrophysics together. We actually worked on a project together and when the day came to present the project, I was unable to attend for…other reasons. Doppler received the credit. That was the end of my astrophysics career you see." Mr. Haney sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "I've long since blamed you, Delbert, for what happened that day. For it is easier to blame another for your own foolhardy mistakes. I'm afraid it was all my doing."

"Patrick," Delbert said. "You know I tried my hardest to get the judges to present you with credit as well. I never would have gotten so far without you."

"I know," Haney shook his head. "I know that now, but no need to relive the worst of our history. Now, as for your past, Alice, I had no idea you were the child of Theodore Perez. Indeed I knew who your father was. He lived quite close to here in this exact town," Haney told her. Alice smiled.

"I know. Can you tell me anything about him or my mother?"

"I can say he wasn't a very reckless man in high school. He enjoyed books to some extent, and the ones that did know him said he spent a lot of time fantasizing about the sky. Sound familiar?" Mr. Haney smirked. Alice's cheeks turned pink.

"He was just like me."

"You don't bare much resemblance to him other than your eyes they're –"

"My father's color," Alice nodded. "I know."

"And your nose. Very similar to his," Mr. Haney gave a soft laugh. "After high school and after your father returned from the Academy, he and your mother kept to themselves most of the time in this town. But now I must inquire as to how you found out so much about your parents over these past few months, Alice. I never suspected you could possibly be his daughter, and are you absolutely sure?"

Alice relayed a rather quick explanation as to how she had found out and told him that the Academy had it in their records that he had married Charlotte and had a baby girl named Alice. It wasn't long before they were able to find Alice's birth records. All of it was possible because her father had served as a captain in Her Majesty's navy and thus had many documented records on him. Alice couldn't believe her father was a noble captain and her mother an ex-pirate. It seemed so very unrealistic, and yet that was how it was. A sudden idea struck her once she had finished.

"Do you know, Mr. Haney, if my parents had any other relations?" Alice asked, pondering if she had more relatives that had yet to be uncovered.

"I believe your father was an only child, Alice. However, I did hear a rumor once that he had a younger brother, but it was only a rumor and it's very unlikely the man is still around or alive for that matter."

"Why, what do you mean that he might be dead?"

"He had some discrepancies with the law, that's what I heard, but I'm not so sure such a tale is true. I would stick to believing you have no other relatives, Alice, for your own sake," Mr. Haney finished. Alice nodded in understanding.

"One more question."

"Anything, my child."

"Where is North Portmore's graveyard?"


Alice could hardly contain her beating heart. This was it. She was going to visit her parents at last, though not in the way she expected. She swallowed hard as her breath came out in wisps in the chilly January air.

"Jim," Alice started as she took his hand. "I don't know if I can do this. I'm scared that I'll finally realize the horrible truth and I'll just…break," Alice choked out, slowing her step.

"Whatever happens, Alice, I'm here for you. So is Doc," Jim told her. Delbert nodded with his own smile. Alice took in a deep breath as they reached the graveyard at last. She hesitated in taking a step onto the frozen lumpy earth of more than a dozen others who had died and been laid to rest. Alice pulled her hand away from Jim's.

"I have to do this alone," she told him. Jim searched her face before he nodded and stepped back as he and the Doctor waited at the edge of the terrain while Alice wandered through the maze of tombstones toward the dead tree near the back. Mr. Haney said her parents were likely buried by the dead tree because that's where most people who lived during that year were buried. As Alice approached the tree she more or less felt as if she was suffocating. The snow scattered across her feet in the wind. She could almost imagine the transparent ghosts of people long gone standing beside their graves as they watched her search, examining her in silence.

It was almost oppressive, having their eyes burning into her like that. Surrounded by the dead. When she finally reached the lifeless tree, Alice's eyes scanned the gravestones. It wasn't long before they came to rest on two elegant tombstones side by side. Her heart lurched and she sank to her knees in front of them.

Theodore Perez.

Charlotte Perez.

Alice blinked back the tears as she forced her voice to remain calm.

"Hi mom. Hi dad," she breathed. Only the whistling of the wind greeted her. "I just want you both to know, that I'm okay. And I hope you can forgive me for letting Leah go."

Alice squeezed her eyes shut as she remembered Jim's words.

"I don't think they ever left."

Her eyes shot open once again as she stared up at the two persons before her in awe. Her mother smiled and kneeled down in front of her.

"We're so, so proud of you, sweetie," she whispered. Alice was afraid to move. She was afraid to break this hallucination. Her father smiled down at her, his eyes ever so warm despite his lack of body heat, or body in general.

"You did the right thing, in letting her go, Alice. You're more my daughter than anyone could ever be."

Alice was making little chest-chokes now as she tried to contain her sobs.

"I don't want you to leave me. I don't want to lose you again," she sobbed.

"Oh, dear, you'll never lose us. You never even lost us in the first place," her mother smiled. Alice bowed her head, trying to look away but her mother stopped her.

"Listen to me, Alice Renee Perez. So long as you follow your heart and use your talents for the good of others, then we will always be right there beside you. We never left. So long as you look inside yourself, you'll always know where we are," she finished and pointed to Alice's heart. Alice sniffed and nodded as she closed her eyes and brushed away the tears. When she opened them once more her parents were gone. All that remained was an empty graveyard.

Realizing she didn't have any flowers, Alice drew a heart in the snow beside each grave before she got to her feet.

"Goodbye, mom. Goodbye, dad," she breathed before she turned away and squared her shoulders. A determined expression came over her and she walked with a new sense of pride with her chin held high. No matter what happened, she'd always find them inside her heart. Alice was struck with a bolt of courage. She had Jim now, and Mrs. Hawkins, and all her new friends. That was something she'd forever be grateful for and it gave her a reason to keep moving forward.

The winter sun was high in the sky, sending sparkling patterns against everything as it reflected off the snow. And as Alice took Jim's hand to hold while they returned to Montressor, she couldn't stop the grin that stretched across her face as she felt her heartbeat. Somehow she knew that now, after everything that had happened, her world would never be the same.

A/N: Song for this chapter: Hands of Time by Rachel Diggs

Okay, so this is technically the last chapter save for two other things I have to upload for this story. So this isn't the end quite yet, but at the same time it is. Does that make sense? Probably not :)

So I'll upload the last of the chapters right after this.

Yup, so I finally got this chapter done and I plan to finish The Eternity Star tonight so that we can jump right on into the next book which will be soooo intense guys! At least, I hope you find it intense heh.

So yeah, Alice finally got to have closure with her parents, and you found out why Haney and Delbert disliked each other for so long (which was introduced in the first book: A New Beginning).

And the part where Alice sees her parents and stuff, she's not actually seeing them (or is she...?) I thought of it as more like she's imagining them talking to her (or is it real...?) So, once again, take it however you like. Either way she finally had closure and got to 'meet' the parents she never knew.

So yeah, I'll upload the rest of this story right after this! Hope you all enjoy! ^^

Special Thanks goes to: lazyX1000, PartofYourWorld-ArielMermaid, JessyHeick, and anyone who is reading, reviewing, or favoriting this story! You guys are wonderful!