Part 26

"Are you sure about this Penny?" Gordon asked the next day. They were standing on the pier, about to set sail home. Penny was standing in front of him with a bag in her hand.

"Surer than I have ever been before", Penny replied.

"But this is your home… your family."

"Well… they didn't treat me like family or even a friend. You boys have. I am coming with you." With that she marched onto the boat, Gordon hurried after her while his brothers sniggered.

"How about you Kayo", Scott asked and turned to the demigoddess. Kayo smiled and shrugged.

"I'll see you boys around", she said. "I still have some things to make right."

"Need someone to help with that?" the Mechanic asked and stood beside her. She grinned and nodded. Virgil and John shared smirks when they noticed the look on Scott's face. Alan gave Kayo a big hug before she hugged the other boys as well. When she let go of John she gave him a stern look.

"Look after that little girl", she said and John smiled.

"Of course", he said. They heard giggling from the water and saw Eos play with Sherbet and Fischler. John's smile was so warm Kayo had to smile too. She saw all the love in his eyes. She patted his shoulder and turned to the Mechanic and while he just disappeared with a crack she took to the skies as a hawk. Her father had left earlier that morning, he had drawn a door on a rock and had left them. But not before giving his daughter a hug and asking her to come visit whenever she had the time.

Questa had also left. The calm morning had been shaken by a loud roar as Fritzy came for him. Scott had been allowed to pet the huge dragon before she carried Questa away. But not without Scott staring after the dragon in longing. He'd loved to fly...

Now they only had Parker, John and Eos left around them. Parker had not left yet either. He had told them he much rather follow them back to Tracy Island before leaving as well. Not that anyone was complaining. John called for Eos and she came flying towards him with the animals following close behind. John chuckled as she pulled on his hair before getting to the top of the mast. John and his brothers waved to the people of the Creighton-Ward Isles before leaving. They were finally going home.

When they had sailed for a few hours Scott sat down beside John and nudged him with his shoulder. John turned to him and smiled.

"Explain something to me", Scott said and John nodded. "When this whole quest started Kayo mentioned that things were not as they were supposed to be. If you had truly been taken by that staff everything you'd ever made would have been undone. But Grandma still had the necklace I figure you gave her and Alan had your journals… how was that possible?"

"I am not sure… I mean I locked a part of my power away at Ahtohallan", John said. "It really should not have worked but it did. It was a wild guess, a gamble that paid off."

"It's because you are alive", Parker said and sat on John's other side. "The big difference between John and the rest of the Souls is that the Souls are all dead. John is alive so the rules did not apply to him."

"I have another question", Scott said. "When you were a full spirit, we could not touch you… but we could touch all other spirits physically."

"Even Eos?" John asked.

"Well… we tied her up. But isn't that kind of touching her?"

"Well I don't know how it works for others but the wind can catch things whereas things that end up in water either sink through it or floats on top for a time. You were to solid to touch me back then. Eos caught the rope and not you, you were too heavy for her."

"But we could still touch Kyrano and Questa."

"Well Kyrano is Earth and meant to carry you, the fire touches everything. But we can all touch Parker."

"Why?"

"Because my powers are the most human", Parker explained. "All humans hold darkness within them, I am a part of you. So you can touch me with no problem." Scott nodded at that and lifted his head to look at the setting sun. He sighed.

"What will we do when we return to the new island?" he asked. "That's not home… that's not where our hearts long to go. We all want to return to Tracy Island."

"And why shouldn't we?" John asked.

"Are you joking? The island was destroyed when you were taken."

"So?" John asked. "Scott you forget who you are talking to." The silence that followed got heavy. John, who had been grinning felt his grin slide off his face. Scott was staring at him in such horror that it made John's heart clench. He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong when Scott threw his arms around him and hugged him tightly to him. John smiled softly and hugged him back. He knew what was going on.

"Do we really have to talk about this again?" John asked.

"No… but let me do this for a little bit", Scott mumbled and pulled John even tighter to him. John chuckled and pressed a little closer. His oldest brother had not held him like this in a very long time, not counting their little mental meeting when John was finally freed. John looked at their reflections in the water and smiled when he noticed Eos' reflection hover above them. He looked up at her and she blushed and zipped away to go and bother Penny and Gordon. John had realized quite fast that Eos quite liked messing with Gordon. To Gordon's chagrin and everyone else's amusement.

When the memories returned they had been painful in so many ways. Jeff stood on the beach looking for a boat he knew would be carrying his sons home… all five of them. How could he have forgotten his own son just like that? When the memories came flooding back he had collapsed onto a chair and just stared in front of him. He saw the first time he had held his son as a baby, his first steps, his first word… his first everything. Seeing him train with his grandmother to become a shaman, changing to become an advisor, changing to become the next chief… his son disappearing forever… his son coming back… his son becoming chief…. Everything just came flooding back. How could someone be so cruel to steal that from him and his family? The memories of his sons with John were all good memories and they had been robbed of those. John had been Alan and Gordon's hero and they had lost him. Scott and Virgil had viewed John as their treasure to protect but that treasure had been stolen. All Jeff's sons were precious to him. They were his most precious treasures. His most valuable treasures and these demidevils had stolen one from him. Jeff felt like a dragon of legend, hoarding gold and gems and becoming enraged when forced to part from any of it. If he ever met those demidevils face to face he would slay them for what they had put his people and his family through. Jeff glared at the sand. He hoped his sons made them pay. He hoped justice had come swiftly.

His dark thoughts where lifted when on the wind he heard the most beautiful sound he knew. Laughter, his sons' laughter. He stood up straight and saw a green boat coming towards him. He gasped and felt his heart beat faster. He nearly ran into the water in his eagerness. The boat hit the sand and he suddenly had his youngest sons in his arms. Both of them had jumped down to him and Jeff caught them, pulling both of them tightly to him. His precious baby boys were home again. Jeff closed his eyes and pulled them closer, just enjoying the feeling of having his two little babies in his arms again. He heard more people jump off the boat and when Alan and Gordon pulled back he let them go and opened his eyes again. He smiled as Scott was the first one he saw. Jeff reached out and pulled his oldest son into a tight hug. Scott seemed more himself than last Jeff saw him, he had been so angry back then. Now he was back to his normal happy self.

"Good to see you back my son", Jeff whispered.

"I'm glad to be back too", Scott replied and pulled back. Jeff smiled and turned to hug Virgil, his strongest son. Jeff chuckled. Hugging Virgil always made him feel small and fragile. Virgil was just so big and strong, Jeff searched his gaze and Virgil met his. There was something different about Virgil. Jeff just couldn't put a finger on what it was. They leaned their foreheads together.

"Welcome back son", Jeff whispered.

"Thanks dad", Virgil replied and then looked over his shoulder. Jeff lifted his head and followed Virgil's gaze. His breath hitched for a second when he saw the young man standing in the water. The young man opened his mouth to speak but did not get the chance because Jeff grabbed him and pulled him into a crushing hug. Jeff pulled the young man tightly to him, clinging to him with all his might. He ran his fingers through the soft ginger hair, getting re-accustomed with the feeling. He then pulled back and met those green-blue eyes he had no idea he had missed. His son, his John… how could he have forgotten? How could he not have missed him? That did not matter however. What mattered was that his son was here now, he was back… he was home.

"Welcome back", Jeff choked out and John smiled.

"It's great to be back", he said.

"Johnny!" they heard and looked up as grandma came running at them and Jeff jumped aside so that she could hug her grandson, sending both of them crashing into the water. Jeff laughed along with his family and it felt great. The sun felt extra bright today and everything felt just perfect.

John crouched down and ran his hand over the grey ash on the beach. Only his brothers, grandmother, Eos, Penny, Parker and father were with him at Tracy Island. What remained of Tracy Island. Everything was gone, even the fires and all that was left was ash. John got up and held the grey dust out to Eos. She looked at it and blew on it, sending it flying on the wind. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to his father.

"It's all gone", Jeff said and sighed heavily.

"It is not truly gone though", grandma said. "We carry the memories in our hearts."

"You are both right and wrong at the same time", John said and smiled. "We have all seen how fragile memories can be… how easily they can be lost. And true everything looks lost but I think we've all learned that it is never as hopeless at it seems." He looked at the ash lands again. "Fire can be a killer, but sometimes what's left behind can grow better than the generations before." He swiped with his foot on the ash and a green little seedling was revealed. Alan gasped in delight and knelt next to it. John looked at Eos.

"Eos", he asked and she smiled and took to the air. She looked down at the island and her eyes started glowing. As they did large gusts of wind hit the island. Virgil held his grandmother close so that she would not get blown away. Alan grabbed Fischler as the bird soared by. Scott then grabbed Alan. Jeff closed his eyes as long as the winds tore at them. When he opened them again he gasped as he saw little green seedlings everywhere. John chuckled.

"From the day we arrive on the planet and blinking, step into the sun there's more to be seen than can ever be seen", he said. "More to do than can ever be done. Some say, 'eat or be eaten'. Some say, 'live and let live'. But all are agreed as they join the stampede you should never take more than you give in the circle of life." When he spoke the sun seemed to gleam even brighter for just a little and Eos landed close to him. "It's the wheel of fortune. It's the leap of faith. It's the band of hope, 'til we find our place on the path unwinding in the circle, the circle of life." John turned his gaze to the mountain and his eyes started glowing, suddenly a large pillar of water appeared where the hot springs had been. The water started slowly trickle down the hills and washed away the last remnants of ash. Whatever the water touched started growing. He heard his family gasp.

"Some of us fall by the wayside", John said and picked up a burnt stick and held it in his hand. "And some of us soar to the stars." A small leaf was pulled lose by a stray wind and soared towards the skies. "And some of us sail through our troubles and some have to live with the scars." One of the rocks had deep cuts in it. "There's far too much to take in here. More to find than can ever be found. But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky keeps great and small on the endless round."

"In the circle of life", Grandma said and put a hand on his arm. "It's the wheel of fortune. It's the leap of faith. It's the band of hope, 'til we find our place on the path unwinding in the circle, the circle of life."

"And the circle shall start again", John said and they all felt the earth underneath their feet tremble.

"What's happening", Penny asked as she nearly fell over, but Gordon steadied her.

"Te Fiti is very grateful", John said and smiled. "I hope you will not be offended that I asked Kyrano to ask her to reward my brothers with this."

"With what?" Jeff asked and then gasped when the little seedlings started to grow. They turned into grass, bushes, palm trees, other trees and flowers. John's brothers grinned brightly and Scott threw his arms around John, hugging him. It did not take long and soon… soon the island was restored to its former glory. The only things missing were the houses.

"We can rebuild from here", Virgil whispered in awe. "John…"

"See it as my gift to you guys as well", John replied. "The Ocean Deity was very thankful you brought their Soul back from captivity."

"How do you know that?" Gordon asked and John chuckled, Parker laughed and Eos giggled. "Right… stupid question… so… not to sound greedy but will the gods reward us in other ways for this? We did after all save many spirits."

"Who knows", Parker said. "Fickle beings them gods." John looked at him suspiciously and then gaped. Parker just held a finger up to hush him. John stared from Parker to Sherbet and the little dog's eyes sparkled for just a moment and he winked at John. John just laughed and looked up when he heard Eos giggle. He smiled at her.

"She deserves better", Parker told John and John nodded in agreement. "You know Water, you deserve a reward as well for making sure your brothers found a way to free us. You risked more than any other Soul."

"I don't need anything", John whispered back.

"Are you sure?" Parker asked and John looked at Eos again. He bit his lip.

"Eos", he called and she came flying over to the two of them.

"What is it John", she asked.

"If you were able… would you stay here with us?"

"I'm air… I'm the wind… I can't do that."

"Remember what you told me when I was made human again?"

"I said that 'I don't know when, I don't know how but I know something's starting right now. Watch and you'll see someday I'll be part of your world'."

"What if the gods did for you what they did for Water", Parker asked. "Made you human."

"They could do that?"

"Maybe."

Eos looked at John and tried to touch him but was unable to. She looked at her hand.

"What would I give to live where you are?", she asked and John noticed his family watch them in confusion. "What would I pay to stay here beside you? What would I do to see you smiling at me?"

"Eos", Johns aid gently.

"Where would we walk? Where would we run? If we could stay all day in the sun? A place for me and I could be part of your world."

"Sweetie", Grandma said as she walked towards them. Then… Eos' body started glowing. She gasped and looked at herself. She started lowering towards the ground. Then with a plop she suddenly got a solid form. She squeaked and John dove forward and caught her. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and gasped when she realized she could touch him. She looked up at him with big eyes and John smiled at her and leant their foreheads together.

"Now you can be where the people are", he whispered to her and she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Now you can see..."

"I can see them dancing", Eos continued. "Walking around on these... what do you call them... oh feet. Flying through air you get very far but legs are required for jumping, dancing and strolling down... what's that word again... beach! Now I can walk", she jumped from John's arms and landed on the sand with a giggle. "Now I can run! Now I can spend all day in the sun!"

"Right next to me", John told her and took her hand. "And now you can be, part of my world."

"And I'm ready to know what your people knows!" Eos told him, hugging him tightly. "Asking my questions and get some answers like... what does a coconut really do and how does it taste? Now it's my turn and I will love to explore this land down below. Free from the winds, and I can be part of your world." John chuckled and picked her up again, hugging her close. She cuddled closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. John's brothers grinned at each other and Jeff walked over and looked at the little girl. She looked back at him shyly.

"Hi", she whispered shyly and Jeff chuckled and reached out to caress her ginger hair.

"I always wanted a granddaughter", he said. "Welcome to the famile and welcome home Eos", Jeff said. Home? Yes, yes now they were all home. They looked at their island where things would need to be rebuilt. But that did not worry them. Things were finally back to normal. No... not normal. Things were better. Gordon felt Penny grip his hand and turned to her and smiled. Alan cheered and started waving as boats started arriving to the island. Their people had decided to follow them once again. John, Jeff and Eos turned to look at their people as well. John felt Virgil's hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. John held his hand out to the sea water and with a wave of his hand the water exploded upwards into the sunlight, creating a beautiful rainbow. Grandma smiled and said:

"Great spirits of all who lived before, take our hands and lead us. Fill our hearts and souls with all you know. Show us that in your eyes, we are all the same. Brothers to each other in this world we remain, truly brothers all the same. Brothers all the same."

John smiled at her and held Eos closer. Brothers... his brothers were the most important people in his life. It was them who gave him strenght and it was truly them that gave him power. He turned his head and smiled at Parker who only nodded and turned his back to him. Parker looked out at the ocean and noticed someone looking back at him. He knew who it was, it was the Ocean Deity herself. She bowed her head to him and he did the same. She was pleased with him. She then faded back into the water and left Tracy Island in peace. For now everything was peaceful and would hopefully remain so for a very long time.

The End

That's it for this time folks. I am planning another one but this time more TOS inspired, with some stuff from TAG used. It will include John being fed up with how his father treats him.