Part 24
Alan grinned widely when at John's words the other spirts sprung into action. The Fire Spirit and Lightning Spirit grabbed onto each other's forearms and let loose a strong attack at Fuse. Fuse reached the staff and blocked it, only to have his feet pulled out from underneath him when Father Earth made the ground crack open. The little girl next to Kayo grabbed John's hand and together they froze Fuse's feet, legs and stomach to the ground. Fuse just glared at them.
"Don't think your magic will help you!" he shouted and flexed his muscles, making the ice explode. Shards of it spread everywhere. Alan gasped but the shards heading straight for him were blocked as Father Earth raised rocks to stop them from hitting anyone. Fuse screamed in rage and broke a rock loose from the wall and flung it at Parker who happened to be closest. But the shadow of the rock froze and left it hanging in the air. The Fire Spirit then punched it, making it explode. Fuse roared again and ran towards the Fire Spirit. The man squared his shoulders and prepared for impact, only… Fuse's fist went straight through the man's arms. Fuse managed to lose his footing when that happened and crashed to the floor face first. The Fire Spirit stared at his hands and then looked at the others. Alan carefully reached out and tried to touch the shoulder of the woman in front of him. His hand went through. She looked at it before turning to him, looking at him oddly. Alan blushed. Fuse got up.
"I see", he groaned. "You are not physically here."
"No but our powers are", the Lightning Spirit growled. "The elements are all around you and we don't have to have physical bodies to make them do our bidding."
"Maybe not but I own your bodies if you do recall", Fuse picked the staff up and smirked. "What would happen if I broke it?" He raised it above his head.
"NO!" Havoc screamed and jumped at him, gripping the staff. Fuse was so shocked he let go. She grabbed it and ran to the centre of the cave, slamming the staff into the stand, creating a shockwave that knocked all of the spirits to their knees, including Parker. Alan and his friends were knocked out of the sections they were standing in and crashed onto the floor. When he sat up again Alan saw a black pillar of light soaring towards the moon. The spirits were trying to get up, while Havoc smirked evilly. She then turned to the spirits. She looked at them one by one.
"Come little spirits I'll take thee away into a land of enchantment", she almost purred.
"No", John groaned as he tried to get up.
"Come little spirits, the time's come to play here in my garden of shadows."
"Never!" the Lightning Spirit yelled.
"Follow sweet spirits, I'll show thee the way through all the pain and the sorrows." The spirits' eyes stared glowing just as the gems on the staff started doing the same. "Weep not poor spirits, life is this way murdering beauty and passion."
"Don't listen to her!" Kayo shouted and got up. She rushed towards the little girl but a black flame knocked her back and out of the section.
"Hush now dear spirits, it must be this way to weary of life and deception. Rest now my spirits, for soon will a way into the calm and quiet."
"No!" Virgil shouted and flung a rock at her only the black pillar knocked it back. But it hit John in the face knocking him off his knees and onto his back. When his back hit the ground his eyes stopped shining and he gasped. Virgil blinked when the spirit started sitting up while rubbing its head. He picked up another stone and flung it at Parker. It hit him too, breaking the spell on him as well. That was weird… how could the stones he threw affect the spirits when Fuse had not been able to do the same, or Alan for that matter? Virgil got onto his knees and reached out a hand towards the Ocean Spirit, his brother. Said brother looked at him and his hand. The tattoos on his arms started shining and he reached for Virgil. Havoc noticed.
"No!" she yelled and the black pillar fired a black flame at John, hitting him in the back. He screamed in pain. "You are mine now!" Another shockwave erupted from the staff. "You all are!"
"Fight it John!" Virgil said and gripped his brother's hands. "Don't listen to her!"
"Come on Johnny fight her!" Gordon shouted and flung himself at his brothers, gripping their hands with his own. "We are here for you!"
"We are all here for you!" Alan shouted and joined them. "Together we are strong! Together we saved Te Fiti!"
"Together we can do anything!" Scott yelled and joined them. He met Virgil's gaze. "Together we are strong." Virgil nodded and looked at John who was trembling all over, sweating and fighting against the pain he was obviously in whenever the black light hit him. Virgil heard a cracking sound and looked up. The blue gem on the staff had a crack in it! His head started pounding when suddenly memories started flashing across his mind.
"We are here for you", Virgil groaned. "Because… because we are family."
"Family", Havoc spat mockingly and glared at her brother who had been knocked out by the shockwave. "What is family? It's not worth anything! Only power is worth something in this world!" She fired another black flame at John and he screamed in pain.
"John hold on!" Virgil said. "Don't listen to her! She is wrong! Family is everything to us… remember? A family is… a family is always there!" John screamed again and Virgil leaned his forehead to John's. "Always there to warm you in the evenings."
"Always there with shelter from the rain", Scott added and put his hand on John's shoulder.
"Always there to catch you when you're falling", Gordon added and put his hand on John's neck carefully.
"Always there to stand you up again", Alan said and held John's hands tightly.
"Family", John whispered.
"By your side in seconds if you ask it", Scott reminded and caressed John's hair. "Arms out wide to welcome you to stay." Here his gaze travelled to Kayo and Penny. Kayo was hugging Eos to her while Penny was trying to protect Parker.
"Near enough to listen to your heart's song", Virgil continued.
"Always there to help you on your way", Gordon and Alan said softly.
"Family", John whispered. "What is a family?"
"Caring and devoted hearts with endless love to share", Gordon tried.
"Love that will follow you everywhere", Alan added.
"Always there to welcome you at night-time", Scott explained.
"What is a family", John asked again.
"Holding their arms out wide to welcome you to stay", Virgil tried. "Right by your side and near enough. To listen to your heart's song."
"Always there to help you on your way", Scott said.
"Family…" John whispered. "Always there… family… Family!" He screamed in rage this time and the blue gem on the staff exploded. It sent water all around the cave, except for the sections of the other spirits. The water knocked the humans back. Kayo was a demigoddess and Fuse a demidevil so they were not washed away either. The water circled the cave and then headed straight for John. It enveloped him and he disappeared from view.
Scott groaned and sat up. It was dark all around him, everything was black. He rubbed his head and got up. What was going on? Hadn't he just been in the cave with his brothers? He looked around when suddenly everything was lit up by the sun. He was on a beach… but not just any beach. He was home at Tracy Island. Wait… did that mean all of this had just been a dream? He looked around. The island was just fine, nothing seemed to be amiss… only… there was no people anywhere. He ran to the village but it was deserted, except for a lone figure standing in its centre, looking up at the sky. Scott grinned widely when he realized who it was. He would recognize that ginger hair anywhere!
"John!" he shouted and ran. The man turned to him and smiled, his green-blue eyes shining with joy. Scott felt tears form in his eyes while he ran. He remembered! He could remember everything! From the day his brother was born, to the day he and Virgil left Tracy Island in his hands, to the day they were reunited at Te Fiti, to the day he was brought back to them, to the day they left to sail the seas, to the day they returned… all the times they left and returned, to his message out at sea… to seeing him at Ahtohallan… to this moment. Scott wrapped his long arms around his brother and pulled him tightly to his chest, sobbing into his hair. John wrapped gentle arms around him.
"I'm so sorry", Scott sobbed. "I'm so sorry John. I failed you!"
"Why do you say that?" John asked.
"I forgot you! I forgot you Johnny!"
"That was beyond your control Scott."
"But I should not have forgotten you! And… and when you called I should have answered but I didn't! I tried to deny it! Oh Johnny I'm so sorry!"
"I forgive you."
"How!? How can you forgive this?"
"Because you are my brother and I love you."
Scott sniffled and hugged him closer. Then the ground rumbled and they looked up at a huge wave. Scott gasped but John held him close and then the wave hit.
"I'm so c-cold", Virgil stuttered as he made his way across the snowy ice. He rubbed his arms to try and get them warm again. His bare feet were so cold he couldn't even feel them. He looked around but all he could see was snow, snow and more snow. Why did he have to end up here of all places? Why couldn't he have been transported to a warm place? He looked ahead and sighed when he saw Ahtohallan. He staggered up to the cave and got inside. It was just as cold as outside but there was no wind so at least that was a plus. He skidded down the hallway towards the room where they had seen the memories. When he got there he stopped and gaped. The walls were alive with memories. He saw himself, younger versions of himself. H saw himself hugging a younger Scott and laughing with him after a perfect prank. He saw himself chasing his brother after he had made him angry. He saw himself cuddling with a little red haired boy and gasped. He remembered that! John had been sick and had been crying in the night. Virgil had heard him and had rushed to comfort him. He looked around the cave and saw many memories of him, Scott and John together and some with all five brothers together. His gaze moved to a corner where he saw John on his knees next to the crib where a little blond boy laid. John's laughter rang around him.
"Calm down Squid", he said and kneeled. Reaching a finger down that Gordon grabbed and started playing with. Virgil moved closer to the memory at the same time as the memory version of himself and Scott did as well.
"What's this?" Virgil asked. "Oh today you got your 'tattoo' didn't you Johnny?"
"Uh huh", John replied. "Now I am a big boy like you and Scott!"
"You're ten", Scott teased and playfully ruffled Gordon's hair. "Hiya squid! It's not a real one yet!"
"Doesn't matter. Grandma said I can get the exact same one when I get older!"
"Of course you can… so what did you get?"
"This!" John replied and showed them his left arm. On it was a sea otter.
"A sea otter?" Virgil. "Why a sea otter?"
"Because it is the smartest sea animal."
"But an otter?" Scott asked. "It's just a big rat!"
"Is not! Besides it shows I'm smarter than you two log heads!"
"Oi!" two voices objected and Gordon laughed when John was ambushed and tickled into submission. Virgil chuckled as well as he watched that memory. He continued walking around, looking at memories and then it hit him. He remembered them. All of them. He remembered every single one he saw! He felt tears pour down his cheeks and wiped at them with cold fingers. He looked around and saw a sight that made his heart clench with both happiness and grief. He saw himself and John hug each other close. It was the night after John was returned to them and Virgil had found him on the beach looking out at the ocean. They had just stood there in silence for a bit before Virgil had taken it upon himself to thank John for looking after all of them. He had asked if John had been scared, to which John had replied that he had been terrified. Virgil had pulled him into a hug to calm him down and reassure him. They had both expressed how much they had missed each other and how happy they were to be reunited again. Virgil nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and was met with a pair of green-blue smiling eyes.
"Hi there big brother", the owner of those eyes said.
"John", Virgil whispered.
"Sorry for all the trouble I caused."
"John!" Virgil shouted and wrapped his arms tightly around John, hugging him close. John hugged him back and Virgil felt that John was trembling in his arms.
"Virgil I-"
"Hush", Virgil shushed. "It's okay Johnny. It's not your fault."
"But I caused you so much pain and confusion."
"It was not your fault."
"But-"
"Are you not listening to me?" Virgil pulled back and gripped John's shoulders. "It's. Not. Your. Fault. You didn't ask to be spiritnapped. You didn't ask for us to be the center of yet another prophecy. Seriously can't the gods choose another family just once? Is that too much to ask?" John only chuckled in reply, just what Virgil had wanted. To Virgil's ears that was the most beautiful sound in the world. A sound he had forgotten and was now finally remembering. He was never going to take that sound for granted again. He reached out a trembling hand and caressed his brother's face with it. John chuckled but let him.
"I heard you", Virgil whispred.
"You heard me", John replied.
"I didn't know it was you but I knew that the person was good."
"Well… I have done some bad things recently."
"That was not you."
"I know… I still regret it though."
"Did… did you know?" Virgil asked pulling back a little and looked at his brother.
"Know what?" John asked and tilted his head a little.
"That you are the Ocean Spirit."
"No", John said and it was so sharp that Virgil jumped a little. "I thought I had been released."
"Did you know it before you were released?"
"No", John said and looked at the memory of him learning to walk and Virgil and Scott helping him. "I knew I was a water spirit… not the water spirit. I was sure it was Casey… though it does explain a few things. Why the other water spirits let me get the Heart to Gordon and affecting the waves as much as I did." He looked at his hands.
"Since… since you are the Ocean Spirit", Virgil said and walked up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Does that mean that… that you will have to take your place some day?"
"I really don't know. I might just die like you guys and become a spirit again when I am dead."
"And if the Ocean Deity die we will forget you… again."
"If it comes to that."
"We can't let that happen!"
"Virgil…"
"No. We can't." Virgil grabbed John's arm. "We're family. We can't lose you like that again. Did… did you know about the staff?"
"I knew it existed. I never realized I would actually see it. I could feel that something was wrong before the attack of the Island. I just… I just didn't know what to do."
"It must have been terrible for you… could… could you see us?"
"As if I was watching through a mist", John said and shuddered. "I saw your shadows… heard your voices but I could not reach you… not at first." He looked at his hand where he now held all five lines again. Virgil looked at his own hand and saw that the line was gone from it.
"If this battle ends badly", he said. "You will die?"
"I'll be sacrificed to create a new god… yes."
"I understand if you want to run."
"I can't run."
"Are… are you scared?"
"Terrified. Terrified that I might lose all of you. I know you won't remember if it would happen again but I will… for as long as I have left."
"We would remember."
"You won't."
"We did this time… kinda. You made us remember. You can do so again."
"I don't think I can this time. If I can't… you won't remember."
"Then we will make sure it won't happen again."
"We'll do our best… but Virgil if that's not enough… if…"
"I know… I guess… I just… I…" Virgil sighed. "I don't know what you are going through… I hoped that you were fine. You don't have to hide."
"I don't want to let you down", John replied. "But the truth is out… it's tearing me apart risking what's close to my heart. I really can't go."
"And I would never force you."
"Even though it changes…"
"Nothing has to change!" Virgil said and gripped his hands. John smiled at him.
"And you can find me in the space between", John said. "Where two worlds come to meet, I'll never be out of reach 'cause you're a part of me. So you can find me in the space between you'll never be alone. No matter where you go we can meet in the space between."
"And nothing can stay the same", Virgil said and sighed. "It's growing pains…"
"Be proud of all the scars", John said firmly. "They make you who you are."
"I know you have to stay."
"But I'll never really leave you."
"Nothing has to change even though we've changed", Virgil pulled him into a hug. "And you can find me in the space between where two worlds come to meet. I'll never be out of reach 'cause you're a part of me so you can find me in the space between. You'll never be alone no matter where you go we can meet in the space between."
"There are no words left to say…"
"We know you've got to find your place."
"But this is not the end."
"You're part of who I am."
"Even if we're worlds apart."
"You're still in my heart."
"It will always be…"
"We're family."
"You can find me in the space between."
"Where two worlds come to meet."
"I'll never be out of reach."
"I'll never be out of reach."
"'Cause you're a part of me."
"So you can find me in the space between."
"You'll never be alone."
"No matter where you go."
"We can meet in the space between."
"We can meet in the space between…"
Suddenly the room grew dark and a water started exploding in through the walls. But Virgil was not afraid. He felt John's arm around him and knew he was safe. They shared a look and then stared down the waves… together.
"Stupid palm tree!" Gordon yelled as he stormed around the tiny island he was stranded on. "Stupid sand! Stupid water! Stupid wind! Stupid coconuts! Stupid ocean!" He glared at said ocean. "Fish pee in you… all day! So…. Gah!" He flung sand into the water and sat down, glaring at it. This was so unfair! He had been transported to an isolated island. There was just him, the sand, the palm tree and a few coconuts. There wasn't even any sounds! He could not hear the winds in the leaves or the sound of waves! All was just… quiet. He couldn't even feel it. He could not feel the sand even though he was sitting on it. He could not feel the sunshine on his skin. He could not feel any of it. Was this what the world would become if Havoc or Fuse won? He glared at the water and threw a coconut into it. It did not make a sound even though there was a splash. Then he felt it… someone else was there. He turned his head and realized someone was sitting next to him, looking at the ocean as well. The wind was playing with his ginger hair and he was smiling, a soft contemplating smile. His green-blue eyes danced in joy. Those eyes… Gordon remembered those eyes! He remembered that hair! He remembered that smile! He remembered that face!
"I know who you are", he whispered and the man turned to him, smiling.
"Hello Gordon", the man replied.
"Johnny!" Gordon shrieked and threw himself at his brother. Wrapping his arms around his chest and sobbing into his shoulder. John just held him, like he always did. Like he always had. Gordon could remember all the times he had done so. Could remember the sound of his voice and the sound of his laughter. The scent that was just so… John filled his nostrils. He remembered it. He remembered the feeling of John's arms around him. The feeling of warmth in his eyes. He could feel it all.
"Silly little fish what have you brought yourself into now?" John asked.
"Oh like you're one to talk", Gordon hiccupped and looked up at his smiling brother. "You're the one in trouble this time."
"I guess you're right and yet again my brothers saved me from my fate."
"Really?"
"I hope so."
"How…" Gordon pulled back slightly, feeling guilty. "How can you always have such faith in me? In us?"
"Because I know you", John replied and got up, pulling Gordon with him. "I know that there is no one on this earth that can stop my brothers from achieving their goals. I know that my brothers can do anything."
"But… but how?"
"Because we are family."
"And that is enough for you to have this unwavering faith in me… in us?"
"Of course."
"How? I don't understand. How can you believe in us, in me, so strongly even though we keep failing!?"
"As you go through life you'll see there is so much that we don't understand", John replied and hugged him close. "And the only thing we know ss things don't always go the way we planned. But you'll see every day that we'll never turn away when it seems all your dreams come undone. We will stand by your side filled with hope and filled with pride. We are more than we are we are one. We are family."
"If there's so much I must be can I still just be me the way I am?" Gordon asked hesitantly. "Can I trust in my own heart? Or am I just one part of some big plan?"
"Even those who are gone are with us as we go on. Your journey has only begun." John pulled back and caught Gordon's eyes, seeing the fear and tears there. "Tears of pain, tears of joy one thing nothing can destroy is our pride, deep inside. We are one." He wiped Gordon's tears and Gordon chuckled. Typical John. Always looking after him.
"We are one, you and I we are like the earth and sky", John soothed. "One family under the sun. All the wisdom to lead." He made a little bow and Gordon laughed. "All the courage that you need." He pointed at Gordon. "You will find when you see we are one!"
Gordon grinned and was about to answer when the sand started to rumble underneath his feet. He turned and saw a huge wave coming towards them. John gripped his hand and Gordon relaxed. This was nothing. They could face it together because they were family.
Alan groaned in frustration and plopped down on the boat deck. He was alone at sea and there was no sign of anyone else. He looked up at the sky. It was a perfect day. The sun was shining, the sea was calm, the winds were soft. Everything was perfect except it wasn't. How could it be perfect when he was all alone here?
"This sucks", he called to the sky. The sun just kept shining. "How can you shine so happily right now!? Can't you see that I'm in a crisis here?" The wind just ruffled his hair. "Really?" It did it again. "Really? You are trying to make things fun and great and perfect right now?" A small wave splashed against the boat's side and splashed him in the face. Alan groaned and got up. Thins were not fair.
"Having fun?" a voice asked behind him and he twirled around. A young man with ginger hair and green-blue eyes sat at the stern of the boat, watching him with an amused smile.
"No", Alan pouted and sat down while crossing his arms over his chest. "Everything stinks."
"Does it now?" the man asked and chuckled.
"Yes. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the winds are soft and everything is just perfect."
"If it is so perfect… why are you angry?"
"Because it isn't perfect!" Alan exclaimed and dropped onto his back, dramatically. "I'm all alone here!"
"Oh and what am I chopped coconut?"
"No… but you are just my vivid imagination."
"What?" Was the dry reply he got.
"I mean all of this is my imagination. I mean after all… how could I have gone from the inside of a cave… at nighttime to the middle of the sea, on a boat in the middle of the day? I summarize that I hit my head and now I am hallucinating. Which means you are one too."
"Excuse me!?"
"It's like grandma said. All of this will make sense when I am older. Someday I will see that this makes sense. One day when I'm old and wise I'll think back and realize that these were all completely normal events."
"Oh really?" the man asked and crossed his arms.
"Yup. I'll have all the answers when I'm older like why we're on this boat with no land in sight. I know in a couple years these will seem like childish fears and so I know this isn't bad, it's good."
"You keep telling yourself that Allie."
"Excuse me", Alan said and looked at him. "But I am telling myself that because Grandma is right. Now growing up means adapting puzzling at your world and your place. When I'm more mature I'll feel totally secure being watched by something with a creepy, creepy face."
"I hope for your sake you are not referring to me kiddo."
"See, that will all make sense when I am older."
"What will?"
"So there's no need to be terrified or tense."
"Are you ignoring me?"
"I'll just dream about a time when I'm in my age of prime."
"You are ignoring me."
"'Cause when you're older absolutely everything makes sense. AH!" A wave drenched him from top to toe. "John!" He glared at his brother.
"Well maybe now you will stop ignoring me."
"Well at least you admitted to it this…" Alan stopped and stared at his brother. "… time… I… I remember the last time you did that!" The thought suddenly hit him. He remembered. He didn't just know who this man was. He remembered him. Remembered their time together. The times they had been there for each other. The songs they had sung, the games they had played… everything. Alan's eyes went wide and he felt hot tears slowly make their way down his cheeks.
"Why are you crying?" John asked gently.
"Because…" Alan sniffled. "I don't want this to be a dream."
"If it was a dream… would you feel pain if you pinch yourself?"
"Of course not", Alan sniffled and then stared at his brother. Then he looked at his own arm and nodded. He took a deep breath and pinched himself. "Ow! That hurt!" His eyes widened. "It hurt… but… but if it hurt it means it's real and… and…" His eyes found his brother again. "Johnny…"
"Hi there Allie."
"Johnny!" Alan shouted and ran to his brother, jumping into his arms and knocking both of them into the sea. But Alan was not afraid because he felt John's arms around him. He snuggled close and relaxed. At this moment nearly everything was right with the world. He closed his eyes.
When the brothers opened their eyes again they started coughing up water and shook their heads to clear them. They were all back in the cave but things were different. The Staff of the Ocean Deity was crackling and shooting flames and lightning all over while Havoc was trying to control it. Not only that but in the section meant for the Ocean Spirit stood a tall man with ginger hair. He was dressed in the usual clothing of Tracy Island and on his arms were wave-like tattoos. His green-blue eyes burnt in anger as he knocked out flames with a flick of a finger. Havoc was screaming at him, but the man did not heed her. In fact he was completely ignoring her, his focus was on the staff.
"John", Virgil said as he got up. "What are you doing bro?"
"Destroying the rest of them", John replied. "Mine got destroyed and I am no worse for wear… so…"
"I won't let you!" Havoc screeched and tried to direct a lightning bolt at John but the staff would not obey her. It went off to the side and Kyrano stopped it.
"I don't think you can stop us Havoc", John replied and suddenly the water all around them rose up and headed for the staff.
"NO!" Havoc screeched and tried to block it by stepping between the wave and the staff. The water was not going to let itself get stopped. Instead it moved over, under and around her until it hit the red gem. It cracked.
"Questa!" John shouted and the red haired man nodded and focused all his energy. Havoc screamed in rage when the red gem exploded behind her, sending her flying through the air. The flames that erupted from the staff would have burnt them had not John pulled up water to shield everyone. Scott hissed and looked at his arm. His mark was gone, it had returned to its true master. Questa just smirked and spun around and punched in the air. Sending a small fireball at the staff. Havoc screamed in rage when the green gem cracked.
"Dad!" Kayo shouted.
"Yes my daughter", Kyrano replied and with a simple snap of his fingers his gem exploded, making the earth rumble and the roof starting to cave in. Questa burnt the wood and earth into crisps while John protected them from his flames. Kyrano then stomped on the ground, sending a crack from his foot all the way to the stand, up the staff and cracking the indigo colored gem and the orange gem. Eos and the Mechanic nodded to each other and together exploded their prisons. Kyrano protected everyone this time. Havoc got up, gritting her teeth. Her opponents all looked so smug right now. She gripped her knife tightly. She needed to hurt something… hurt someone. But who? The spirits were too dangerous now that they were all together… well except Light. She was still stuck in the staff. But the staff was falling to pieces right in front of her. Those boys from Tracy Island were too far away and Kayo was too dangerous. That left only one. Havoc smirked and with a shout she set off… towards Penelope.
"PENNY!" Gordon screamed in horror when Havoc approached the woman he had fallen for. Gordon jumped at them but Scott and Virgil held him back. Penny jumped aside, away from Havoc. But Havoc seemed to have lost her mind because she kept going at her, laughing like a maniac. Penny had to sidestep over and over again. When Kayo tried to intervene however the spirits stopped her. At first it enraged her but then she saw what they had seen. Havoc was laughing as she kept coming at Penny. Penny stumbled and Havoc charged. A gasp went through the cave and a body fell to the floor.
TBC