Part 20

Virgil figured it out first this time. They had sailed through the night and Kayo had looked sadder and sadder for each minute. Virgil had no memory of it happening but he was sure that once again one or more spirits had been robbed from the memories of mortals. So when only he, his brothers and Kayo were awake they sat down around her and Scott nudged her arm carefully with his own. Kayo sighed heavily.

"This time we lost Volcano and the Mechanic", she said.

"Fire and… Lightning?" Alan asked and she nodded.

"Volcano… well we did not get to know him that much. The Mechanic… that's a whole different story. As soon as I saw that it was him I felt so sad for him."

"Why?" Gordon asked.

"The Mechanic was a demigod… like me. His powers were over metal and he could create the most amazing weapons and armor for the gods and mortals. He drew the attention of my uncle, the demidevil the Hood, as you know. He tricked the Mechanic into listening to him and during that time managed to put a spell on him that gave my uncle the power to control him. His powers and his weapons which had been used to defend the innocent were now used against the innocent. I later helped capture him and separated him from my uncle… by killing my uncle. Sadly that did not help because the spell lingered and to escape it the Mechanic fled and hid on the island he came from. Only now they saw his inventions and powers as pure evil. They executed him by taking a long pole and tying him to it at the top of a mountain. He was already dead when I arrived…" her hands balled into tight fists. "We kind of had an understanding… his mother did not want him either."

"That's horrible", Gordon said.

"Yes… he gave up his life and freedom to save us… and the last two remaining spirits."

"Light and Darkness", Scott said and she nodded. "Do we have any idea of where they are?"

"We already have them", Kayo said and they stared at her. "According to the Mechanic all four remaining spirits were at the same place when we were with Volcano and the Mechanic."

"But… wouldn't that mean that one of us are the spirits?" Alan asked and they all looked around at each other.

"It appeared so", Kayo said and her brow furrowed. "The Mechanic said… he said that he could see Light and Darkness even though they were hiding."

"Hiding?" Scott asked.

"Yes… I'm not sure what he meant but Volcano looked at us as well and agreed with him." She looked at Scott's arm and her eyes widened. "Uh Scott… have you looked at your arm?"

"It's just a burn, it will heal", Scott replied.

"Um no it's more than that."

Scott looked down and gaped when he saw the flame-like tattoos on his right forearm. He punched in the air and a fireball appeared out of nowhere and hit the ocean with a hiss. Kayo smirked while the brothers grinned. The spirits were still helping them, she looked around.

"Did the Mechanic mark anyone?" she asked and looked at her midsection first. There was nothing. Alan did not have anything either, but then Gordon gasped and they turned to him. His palms held black tattoos. They looked like spiderweb at first until he realized they were lightning bolts spreading out over his palms. Kayo looked satisfied. They now held help from water, fire, air and lightning. Her father never marked any of them, maybe because he did not have the time for it. She shrugged and looked at the boys around her.

"We need to make a plan of action", she said.

"What would that be?" Scott asked.

"We need to decide where to go. If what the Mechanic said is true we hold the last two spirits. Penny!" she called and Penny and Parker approached them, Kayo knew they had only pretended to sleep. "After all the spirits have been gathered, where would Fuse and Havoc go? I know they need to find the Ocean Deity to slay them, but where would that be?"

"My home", Penny said. "The temple of the Ocean Deity guards the isles where they are said to be resting. We should… we should go there. We can have my people help us fight Fuse and Havoc or at least the elders can tell us how to free the Elementals from the staff."

"They do not like being referred to as Elementals", Kayo said. "But I see your point. Can you find your way home from here Penny?"

"No…"

"O'I can", Parker said and walked to the wheel. "Hol' on to yer 'ats."

Virgil was the only one awake. He kept looking at the stars and the moon. How could they keep failing like this? For some reason he could not explain he felt as if he was missing something important. A piece of the puzzle that he had but still could not see. They had lost their brother without knowing and then they had lost Kayo's father and the Air Spirit. Then they had tried to protect the Lighting Spirit and the Fire Spirit but they still couldn't do that. Why? Why could they not do what they were meant to do? He looked at the parchment he was holding. The prophecy Penny had brought to their island.

"'Reach out your hand and I shall grasp it'", Virgil mused. "Questa did that to Scott. 'Out in the world I strike'. The Mechanic struck down all over the place. 'You shall see when it is I that guide you'. Not sure about that… Fischler!" He grabbed the bird and put him down in a basket beside him. "Stupid bird… the way you keep acting you'll end up in Lalotai or something! Where was I… right! 'Go to the heart and you shall find me.' That must have been referring to Kyrano. According to Kayo we found him at Te Fiti… where she keeps her Heart. 'Beyond the horizon I rest in memory.' That part was surely John… we did find him beyond the horizon. 'I shall bring you all the way.' That must be the Wind Spirit, the wind moves us forward. 'Victory is at your hand when I am who you call.' Who can that be? Wait… wait, wait, wait. The first one was Questa… fire, the second was the Mechanic, lightning, the third is Light, the fourth is earth, the fifth is water, the sixth is wind and the last one must be darkness then. Wait… those gems have a certain colour didn't they? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The seven colours of the element." He looked at his notes and drawings. They made no sense. He groaned and looked at Penny's prophecy again.

"Find us seven and unite us before the fallen two shall do", he read. "Well we've failed that part."

"Don' be so sure mihster Virgil sir", Parker said as he sat down next to Virgil with Sherbet on his lap.

"What do you mean Parker?"

"I' doesn' say we 'ave to unite them all outside of the staff."

"You mean we should get the staff and collect Light and Darkness?"

"Yes."

"Then what?"

"As I understoo' it when Ma Lady spoke earliah someone with a pure 'eart coul' use the staff for good. If the Ocean Deity is no' dead maybe that person could release the Souls."

"'Together all seven must restore what was taken and free the souls again once more.'"

"Yes bu' we didn' know who those seven were."

"Didn't? We still don't."

"Bu' Mihster Virgil sir we 'ave known from the start!"

"We have?"

"Remember whot you were shown!"

"Us you mean?"

"Yes and 'ow many are we?"

"Well it's my brothers, Kayo, you and Penny."

"An' two more." He looked down at the two animals and Virgil followed his gaze and gaped.

"You mean Fischler or Sherbet have a role to play in all this?"

"H'I believe so Mihster Virgil sir."

"So if we get all seven spirits then seven of us could use it together to free the spirits?"

"Legends spoke of a pure 'eart sir… never said it physically 'ad to be one."

"Wait… is that why we got the marks?" He looked at his arm. "The elements make up the world and united they symbolize everything. The pure heart is not a physical thing! Think about it! Kayo said the Elementals call themselves Souls and souls rest within the heart! All the Souls have been chosen this time for their pure hearts! John only wished to help his loved ones regardless of what it would do to him! His heart was pure and the Ocean Deity saw it! Apparently Eos was just a small child so her heart was pure. Kyrano tried to save his daughter from a grim fate. Volcano and the Mechanic tried to change the world for the better, not for themselves but for others. John you beautiful genius!" He got up and looked at the north. "You figured it out! You found a way to help us save you!" He looked at his arm. "You gave me a piece of your pure heart!"

"An' your brothahs got a few too", Parker said.

"Except…" Virgil's grin slid off his face. "We never got Earth."

"Are you sure Mihster Virigl sir?" Parker asked.

"What do you mean Parker?"

"Well…" Parker got up as well. "We all 'ad those boots and shoes on when 'e was lost. Gordon go' the mark on his hands from clinging to the staff to protect the Mechanic and Volcano. Whot h'if Kyrano marked someone's feet?"

Virgil's eyes widened. It made sense! Earth was often below your feet! But then again… how did he do it? When no one was watching? Virgil carefully snuck over to Alan and lifted the blanket at his feet. There was no markings. He looked at Parker and the man first held up one foot and then the other. Nothing. Virgil turned and looked a Penny. Wait… could that be it? Had Kyrano seen somewhat of himself in her? If that was the case, what? Virgil looked at Parker and the man stalked past him and carefully lifted the blanket. Sherbet growled a little but Parker ignored him. On her heals Virgil and Parker saw them… the markings… the spirals of earth.

"What are you two doing?" Penny said with danger lacing her voice. The pair looked at each other before hurriedly dropping the blanket and backing off. Penny narrowed her eyes at them. The rest of the group woke up when Parker and Virgil were flung into the ocean with frightened yelps. For a lady Penny was quite fast and thanks to Kyrano… very strong.

When Parker and Virgil were back on the boat they told the others of what they had discovered. Penny looked at her feet in shock. Virgil was sure he saw anger flash across Kayo's face for just a second but then she hid it again. He'd have to talk to her about it later. Scott looked deep in thought.

"As I see it our decision to go back to Penny's home seems to be the best decision for us", he said. "We now have five of the pure hearts… we only need the last two."

"Yeah but we still haven't found the last two Souls", Alan pointed out. "I mean… Volcano and the Mechanic claimed that we have… but how?"

"Light and Darkness likes to hide in plain sight", a voice said behind Virgil and he spun around. He saw no one. He looked at the others they all stared at the same spot. They had heard it too. Good, that meant he was not losing his mind. He turned back to the others and opened his mouth but he was interrupted by that voice again.

"Because you cannot see light when it's only light and you can't see darkness when it is only dark."

"Okay who is the funny guy", Virgil asked and looked around. "Or rather spirit."

"Isn't that a woman's voice though?" Alan asked and Virgil gave him a look. "Sorry." Alan blushed. He was right though. It was a woman's voice that kept talking to them, but not only that. It was a familiar voice.

"If they are hiding in plain sight", he said out loud, looking at Scott. "Why have they not tried to help us?"

"Oh but they have… at least Light has", the voice said.

"Whot!?" Parker cried indignantly. "Why I nevah!"

"Parker?" Gordon asked confused.

"She h'is loying tha' whot sh h'is doin'!" Parker went on. "Loight 'as done nothing bu' getting' in trouble an' just now she nearly go' us all trapped in tha loight bubble of 'ers! At leas' Darkness is actively lendin' a 'and!"

"How do you know that?" Kayo asked him and Parker stopped his angry rant. Penny sighed in annoyance and face-palmed.

"You are such an idiot…" she said.

"Excuse me?" Kayo asked.

"Not you… him." She looked at Parker. Parker looked a little sheepish. Then he sighed and slumped his shoulders.

"Sorry My Lady", he said and everyone but Penny stared at him, his strange speaking pattern had changed.

"Don't be sorry, be better", Penny instructed.

"Whoa wait", Gordon said and looked between them. "What is happening? What is going on here?"

"Nothing", Penny said sharply.

"It does not look like nothing to me", Scott growled and crossed his arms.

"It has nothing to do with you."

"If it has anything to do with our missions I'm afraid I must and will disagree."

"I'm with Scott on this", Kayo said and stood beside him. "You might not remember what I told you earlier Penelope so I will say it again. If you will ever do something that will cause harm to my new family you will not live to regret it. So… out. With. It."

"It does not concern any of you really. This is between me and Parker."

"Actually it does concern us", Alan spoke up. "You are our friends and you are acting weird. It makes us worry, so please tell us?"

"Why are you always so nice", Penny asked him.

"Because that's what grandma taught me. Be nice to others and they will be nice to you."

"That is very naïve."

"Maybe… but it usually helps. So… what's going on?"

"Nothing."

"You're lying."

"This doesn't concern you."

"Yes it does."

"No. It. Does. Not."

"Penelope", Parker tried but was ignored.

"Not everything on this planet circle around you boys from Tracy Island", Penny spat. "Just because you think it does, does not make it so! Your little island is nothing but a small speck of sand on an enormous beach! No one cares about it and no one cares about you! Why do you believe the gods are obsessed with your family? Because your brother became the Ocean Spirit?"

"Penelope that's enough", Parker tried.

"Your brother was just stupid enough to make a deal with the gods! As a mortal you don't make deals with the gods because you will only lose! He should never have done that and he should never have come back to life! The balance was disturbed when he came back to life! Don't you understand? Spirits are dead humans. Your brother is not alive, he never was alive after he gave his life to service of the gods. He is an undead. He is an abnormality! He is not supposed to be here! He is supposed to be dead like the rest of the Elementals! They are dead and should stay that way!"

"That. Is. Enough!" Parker barked and something happened. When he did the area turned dark, all the colors seemed to fade and it grew cold, very cold. It felt as if they were all trapped in a dark cave with no way out. It was so dark they could not see a thing, but they could still hear. They heard the waves but they sounded far off. Alan reached out a hand and felt something. This something gripped his hand and he relaxed. He would know Scott's warm hand anywhere. Scott pulled him close while Virgil did the same to Gordon. Scott looked at his hand and focused. Soon a small fire ball floated above it, giving them light. He saw Kayo and Penny. Penny was on the floor, holding Sherbet close while the little dog whimpered. They heard a sigh and turned to Parker. Parker looked a little different. His eyes were much darker and he had removed his heavy coat. The boys stared at his arms. They were covered in dark swirls, spirals going the opposite way than the one on the Heart of Te Fiti. He sighed again and let the orb drop, letting the setting sunlight in. Scott got rid of the little fire orb and all eyes were on Parker.

"You're Darkness?" Kayo asked.

"I am", Parker replied calmly.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I could not. I am… bound."

"Bound?" Virgil asked and Parker lifted his hands. On each palm was the letters CW. Virgil turned to Penny when she hissed. He noticed a small glowing symbol on her hand as well.

"Long ago mages and sorcerers bound spirits to do their bidding in wars", Parker explained. "Lady Penelope did the same to me. But before you get angry you must know I only let her think she had bound me." He blinked and the marks were gone. "I'm a Soul, I can do more than ordinary spirits."

"Why did you let her think it?" Scott asked.

"To give her confidence. Many years ago I came to the Creighton Ward Isles to make sure the staff was undisturbed. I had sensed cruelty at work and had to check. I was found out and 'bound' to the service of this young woman. At first they just thought I was a thief but when I used my powers to protect the isle from a dangerous demidevil by the name of Janus my true identity was revealed. When the staff was stolen I offered to go with Penelope to reclaim it. Darkness is always the hardest to find… no matter what Light says. I mean true darkness, not shadows or nighttime."

"What is true darkness?" Gordon asked.

"Insecurities, guilt, sadness, death, remorse, denial and most important of all… acceptance. Living beings always find it difficult to identify their own flaws. Their own insecurities so to speak. It is true it is easy to feel as if you are not good enough or feel guilt over something. But finding the source of said things can sometimes be harder to find."

"Wait… you said you are both denial and acceptance?" Virgil asked. "How does that work?"

"Everyone is a little dark. You need to be. You would not feel sad when something bad happens. You would not feel guilty for hurting someone else. You would not find your own faults and insecurities or grow from them. A person needs both light and dark to be a complete person. Even though Light would beg to differ. Then again she has proven in the past that she easily obsess over things and only see it from her point of view."

"You see things from many perspectives you mean?"

"Yes. I know I can do wrong, that I have flaws. Light does not have flaws."

"She is perfect?"

"No. She just does not have flaws. At least not any she can see. It has always been that way. If it wasn't things would get very bad very fast."

"Is she here?"

"Yes, but she is hiding and has been hiding with you for a very long time."

"Where?"

Parker smiled. "Have you never wondered why it is he is still alive? The lifespan of a rooster is usually between five and eight years… even though some have made it to around fifteen."

All heads turned to Fischler who was happily clucking in Alan's bag.

"Fischler!?" Scott asked. "You have got to be kidding!"

"I am not joking", Parker said and took the bird from Alan's bag. "Now Light, this has gone on long enough. Stop torturing these poor people and show your face." Fischler clucked and looked as stupid as ever. Scott gave Parker a look and Parker rolled his eyes. He reached his hand out and snatched Fischler from his hiding place. Fischler started squawking and tried to get loose. He managed to nip at Alan's hand. Alan hissed in pain.

"Fischler!?" he exclaimed and then paled in fear when Parker threw him in the air and shot a shadowy ball at him. "FISCHLER!?" The ball never hit the stupid bird. Fischler was enveloped in a sphere of light and that sphere slowly started lowering towards the boat deck again. When it landed it started shifting in shape and grew. It grew into the shape of a woman. She was wearing a golden dress that fit her body perfectly and sparkled. She had a sun tattoo between her breasts and she wore long gloves. On her feet she wore golden sandals. She had long ginger hair that reached down her back and when she opened her eyes they saw that she had green-blue eyes. Gordon and Alan gasped and turned from her to their older brothers. Scott's face had darkened and Virgil looked murderous. She smiled at the four of them and held her hands out to them.

"My darlings", she said and smiled, with tears in her eyes. "How I have missed you."

"Hello… mother", Scott said darkly. Penny, Parker and Kayo stared between the five of them.

"Fischler!" Alan shouted and ran over to the bird who looked even more confused than ever. He hugged the bird close to his chest. Gordon hurried over as well, checking the bird. Fischler looked up at them, clucked and fell asleep.

"Second fiddle to their little friend", Lucy said and turned to her oldest boys. "My darlings, how I've missed you." She got no reply. "Scott? Virgil?"

The pair looked at each other. They had not forgotten what they had witnessed at Ahtohallan.

"Promise me you'll do it", Scott spat.

"Promise me you'll give your life for them", Virgil filled in.

"Promise me", they said together and Lucy's smile faltered a little.

"I see…" she said. "John told you in the end."

"He showed us", Scott growled at her. "How could you?"

"I only did what was needed. What the world needed. I sacrificed everything."

"You didn't sacrifice anything! You forced John to sacrifice it!"

"He chose to. I never forced him."

"You made him promise", Gordon said. "On your death bed!"

"It was for the greater good."

"How can you say that?" Alan asked and glared at her. "How?"

"Because it is the truth. In your hearts you know this. Now listen the quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while this company is true." She looked at each of them in turn and then her gaze landed on Parker. She smiled and moved closer to him. She was taller than him, mostly because she was floating in the air. She smiled sweetly at him. Parker on the other hand stood with his arms crossed and glared at her in defiance.

"The world is changed", Lucy went on. "I can feel it in the water, I can feel it in the earth, I can smell it in the air. The power of the enemy is growing. Havoc will use her puppet Fuse to destroy the world. The wrath of the elements shall be unleashed. Then her eyes shall turn to the Creighton-Ward Isles. The last island to stand between her and her goal. Her war on those islands will come swiftly. She will sense us closing in. The strength of the Carrier is failing. In his heart, Fuse begins to understand. The quest will claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is the risk we all took."

"You took it", Parker said. "It was not I who sent him the dream."

"In the gathering dark, the will of the staff grows strong. It works hard now to find its way back into the hands of the right people. Humans, who are so easily seduced by its power. Anyone here has but to extend their hand to take the staff for their own and the world will fall. She is close now, so close to achieving her goal."

"I wonder who gave her that idea."

"For Havoc will have dominion over all life on this Earth, even until the ending of the world."

"Well then, do we leave Earth to this fate? Do we let them stand alone?"

"What are you talking about!?" Scott shouted and the two spirits turned to him. Scott's arm was on fire and Lucy moved closer to him and reached out but he stepped back. "Don't. Touch. Me."

"Scott, sweetheart calm down."

"I will not bloody calm down! You started this!? This whole thing?!"

"It is what I saw before I died. I saw the future and it was beautiful."

"Wait so you knew John would become the Ocean Spirit?" Virgil asked. "You knew but didn't try and stop him!? You knew all this would happen?!"

"Of course. It is destiny." Lucy said and smiled her warmest smile.

"It doesn't matter! You were our mother, his mother and you just let it happen!"

"It was my destiny to make sure you all reached your destinies. Which is why we cannot linger here." She turned to Parker. "We must join our brethren."

"Over. My. Dead. Body." Parker growled. "I am not willingly giving myself to that staff. That is not what I should do."

"Well then I guess I will meet them on my own then Darkness."

"Wait what!?" Kayo yelled. "You are going to join the Chaos Crew!? Give yourself up!?"

"Of course. I must. It is destiny."

"Destinies can change."

"No they truly cannot." She smiled at her sons. "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary after battle and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace."

"How can we sleep in peace when we know you are going to make our enemy stronger?!" Virgil questioned. She reached out and caressed his cheek.

"It is destiny", she said and kissed his forehead. Virgil moved back and stared at her in a mingle of grief and disgust. What had happened to their mother!? Had their father been right all along? Had she lost herself in those visions? Lucy moved to her other sons and kissed their foreheads as well. All three looked as troubled as Virgil felt. Lucy then stopped in front of Kayo and took her hand.

"Don't let your heart be troubled", she said sweetly. "Why do you fear the past? You are the Hood's heir, not the Hood himself. You are not bound to his fate."

"The same blood flows in my veins", Kayo spat. "The same weakness."

"Your time will come. You will face the same evil and you will defeat it." Lucy now turned to Penny.

"Stranger from distant lands", she said. "You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Havoc. The Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall." Penny looked a little disturbed by all this. "Each of you is bound to this fate, this one doom. Do not forget that." Lucy now turned to Parker and saw him glare at her.

"Have you looked into the mirror?" she asked.

"Of course", Parker spat.

"What mirror?" Alan asked.

"A mirror that reflects things that were, things that are and some things… that have not yet come to pass."

"So the future?" Scott asked, but the two spirits ignored him. They just kept staring at each other.

"I know what it is you saw", Lucy told Parker. "For it is also in my mind. It is what will come to pass if they should fail. The alliance is breaking: it is already begun. She will try to take the staff. You know of whom I speak. One by one, it will destroy them all."

"That will not happen."

"He'll offer it to her freely. We both know her heart has greatly desired this. In place of a Ocean Deity, you would have a queen. Not dark, but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love her, and despair!"

"I cannot do this alone." Parker stated. Lucy scoffed.

"You are a Soul Aloysius. To be a Soul is to be alone." She turned to her sons. "This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will." With that she stepped off the boat and disappeared into the night. Parker sighed heavily. Alan and Gordon approached him.

"Was that really our mom?" Gordon asked and Parker sighed again.

"Both yes and no… the goddess of light loves everything to be just perfect. She removes all flaws and I mean all flaws. Like doubt, anger, sadness and in a way… critical thinking. For Light everything needs to be pure and perfect. She only does things that will turn out perfectly in the end. So in a way yes Light is your mother but also no because her new form has removed some things from her."

"Did the same thing happen to you?" Scott asked him.

"The opposite", Parker chuckled. "I used to think I was unstoppable, without flaws, smartest in the world, too fast, too agile, too sneaky… perfect. Then I died due to my own stupidity and the goddess of the dark took pity on me. She made me see my flaws and made me her Soul. If Light really has lost what little sanity she has left we better hurry up."

"What do you mean?" Scott asked. Then Parker's eyes started going dark again and so did the entire area. Scott hugged his youngest brothers close to him and closed his eyes. He felt really cold, almost as cold as in Ahtohallan. He closed his eyes and waited. Soon the cold lifted and when it did he opened his eyes and gaped. They were approaching an island. An island where lights were burning all over. He heard Penny gasp and turned to look at her.

"You know this place?" he asked and Penny nodded.

"Welcome 'ome ma Lady", Parker drawled and Scott turned to him. Darkness had changed again, he looked just like before. Kayo nodded.

"Prepare yourselves boys", she said. "This is where the final battle will stand."

TBC I imagine Lucy/Light sounding a lot like Galadriel when she speaks.