Chapter Eight: A Spark of Hope
PEARCE
Pearce's eyes flew open and he inhaled sharply, startled by the nightmares. Sweat coated his forehead, neck, and shoulders. His whole body was trembling. It took a minute before his gasps calmed down and his senses returned. He was sitting on a thick branch of a tree in the bone forest, leaning against its trunk. He was supposed to be on guard duty for the second half of the night, keeping an eye on the Lost Ones, but he must have fallen asleep somehow.
Before he knew it, he was sliding sideways from the branch, on the verge of falling. His hand quickly gripped a thinner, smaller branch above him on his right, steadying himself.
"Bad dream?" Pearce heard Anna calling. He looked in her direction. Anna was sitting near the top of a bone tree to his left, about the same level of height as he sat. She was looking at him with concern. Pearce glanced over at Byron, who slept on another tree in front of his and Anna's, snoring.
"It wasn't pleasant, to say the least. The One and the Wizard King haunts me in my sleep once in a while, even in their death. It's as if I've never truly got rid of them," Pearce replied, feeling irritated that Anna had caught him in agitation. "What's keeping you awake, Anna?" He asked her, "Are you too frightened to sleep because of the Lost Ones?" Pearce couldn't keep track of how long it had been since Anna arrived to the Shadowland, but he was aware of the restlessness she went through every night. "Or is it because of the night when Hans unexpectedly overthrew your sister and took her kingdom?"
He studied Anna attentively. Tears welled in her eyes and one of them rolled down her cheek. "Maybe it's both," Anna disclosed after a moment, "How can I sleep soundly when I'm spending every minute, every second, of my life worrying about what could possibly have befallen Elsa? I thought she would come and rescue me, but I'm not so sure about that anymore."
Every couple of hours or so, Anna would ramble about how loving, caring, kind, and protective her older sister was, how she would never abandon the only family she had left, and how she would be the saviour of them all. Pearce had heard more than enough of it, and he sure as hell was not going to hear it now. He knew he couldn't help Anna or make things better for her even if he wanted to, no matter how much sorrow she was in; and there was only so much that Byron could do to console her.
"Would you like some chocolate? Its sweetness might make you feel better," suggested Pearce. He knew how much Anna loved chocolates.
"No, I'm fine," she said glumly, to his disappointment.
"How about some sandwiches?" he offered.
Anna told him, "I'm not hungry, Pearce, but thanks."
He couldn't think of anything else that could make her forget about the distress.
Anna said, "When you spotted Byron lying there, looking forlorn, on the hillside, you helped him. When I was surrounded by a swirling mass of Lost Ones, you saved me. You created food and water for us with your magic when we needed them, and you protected us from being feasted upon by the Lost. You managed to keep Byron and I alive."
"I did," Pearce nodded.
"Why?" Anna asked, "Why did you carry on helping us to survive when you know that we are trapped here and that there is no hope? You could've just left Byron and me to die."
He confessed, "I did all that because I was lonely. I was utterly and terribly alone my entire life, and I didn't want to die of loneliness. I have taken countless lives and done terrible things. I deserved nothing more than to die. But when I plummeted down into that Portal, who would've thought that I would live? I had the chance to help you and Byron, to finally do something good for once in my short and miserable life, so I took it."
Anna smiled and said to him, "I'm glad you're changing, Pearce. You're starting to become a better person and I like that. Too bad Whit and Wisty couldn't be there to see you in a different light."
"Even if they did, none of it would matter. Nothing I do now will make up for my atrocities," conceded Pearce, "It's too late to feel any remorse. I'm way beyond redemption, just like The One Who Is The One and the Wizard King before him."
"You're wrong," Anna disputed, "You wouldn't have helped me or Byron at all if that is the case. You wouldn't have felt loneliness either. You wouldn't have felt anything. You are not The One, or the Wizard King. You have a soul, and they didn't. You are different from them. I know that you loved Wisty, and anyone capable of love is capable of being saved. Don't ever lose sight of that."
She smiled at him, and it was all Pearce could do not to break down and let his tears of blood roll down his cheeks. No one had ever said anything like that to him. No one. Pearce did not understand why Anna was being so nice.
"You've never seen the sinister, nefarious part of me, Anna. You've only heard about it. And hearing and seeing are very different things. You don't know how black my soul is, or how evil I really am," he told her.
Anna continued, "I see you now, and you are not that kind of person anymore. If no one else will say this to you, then I will: I forgive you. There. Now you can forget about the past and everything that occurred along with it."
"It's not that simple…" Pearce argued.
"Yes, it is!" She contended, "You were so eager to get Byron to believe that you've changed, and you've successfully convinced him. Your relationship with him has improved, hasn't it?"
"Byron didn't have an option. There was no one else that he could stick around with, nobody else that he could trust. He only had me. If we weren't stuck in this hellhole and endeavouring to survive, I wouldn't have convinced him at all," Pearce sighed, and then told her, "We will die here eventually, and then you would turn into a Half-Light because you are kind, gentle, and good. And as for me, I would become a Lost One, the opposite of you. The cold that comes with me will seek out your warmth and try to suck it dry."
Anna started, "Don't say something like that—"
"You don't know me, Anna," Pearce interrupted her.
"You don't know yourself," Anna argued, refusing to back down, "This isn't you not believing in your own redemption, Pearce, this is you not wanting to believe in it."
"She's right." They both turned to look at Byron, who was now awake. Was he eavesdropping this whole time?
Byron continued, "Despite all the monstrous deeds you've performed, you helped me and Anna survive, and I strongly appreciate that. We wouldn't have made it through this far in the Shadowland without you. During the last few days, I've been telling myself that I won't forgive you no matter how many times you've helped me. But now I decided to change my mind. Deep down, I believe that there is a part of you that feels and cares. I've been with you long enough to see that. I think you do deserve a second chance, Pearce. I forgive you, too. Maybe we can have a shot at being friends."
"Spoken by someone who had seen the sinister, nefarious part of you," Anna said to Pearce almost teasingly. "Do you believe in yourself now?"
Pearce gazed intently at Byron, searching his face for something unseen. He couldn't have meant all that he said, could he? There had to be a catch somewhere. However, Byron's expression was totally sincere. Pearce had never dreamt that something as unexpected and unbelievable as this would happen. He felt elation in his heart at hearing Byron's words, but he concealed it as best as he could. "I will try to," he replied, "But considering that I am stuck here in the Shadowland for the rest of eternity, I don't think I'm going to live long enough for that 'second chance' to come."
Anna said, "Oh, right. Sometimes I forget that I'm actually stuck here."
That made Pearce chuckle. "Don't worry. I will always remember this conversation we had at this moment," he assured them.
Byron clapped his hands so suddenly and loudly that Anna flinched, and piped in a bright and cheerful tone, "So Anna, why don't you tell us about your boyfriend? What did you say his name was again? Christopher?"
"Kristoff," Anna corrected him. "He is an ice harvester, a mountain man, and Arendelle's ice master and deliverer."
"What does he look like?" asked Byron.
"He's tall and muscular, with fair skin, light freckles, blond hair, and light brown eyes; much better looking than you," described Anna.
Byron stared at Anna in shock and put a hand to his heart, pretending to be wounded. "That's not fair! I haven't had the chance to change my clothes, shower, and brush my hair in, I don't know, weeks. You haven't seen me in my best and handsome state. You can't compare me to him!" He protested.
Anna added, "He's also nicer and a lot less narcissistic."
Byron rolled his eyes at that.
Anna carried on, "He lives in the Valley of the Living Rock, which is inhabited by trolls that have the ability to transform into rocks at will, and vice versa. Oh, and they have magical powers."
"Interesting. I'd love to visit his home one day and see those rock trolls for myself," Pearce jested.
"That is, if they want to see you too," said Anna. "The trolls tend to be overbearing, loud, meddlesome, inappropriate, and heavy. Really heavy. But they mean well and love well."
Byron asked, "Didn't you mention that they almost convinced you to marry Kristoff?"
"Yes, but I don't think that's going to happen until we're older, closer, and that we understand each other better. I would need Elsa's permission and blessing for our marriage as well," Anna responded.
Pearce told her, "I'm sure she'll say yes. From what I heard about Kristoff earlier and just now, I think he's the right guy for you. You're happy when you're with him, and your happiness is all that Elsa wants for you."
Anna nodded, "It is." She looked down to the ground in an expression mixed with sadness and longing.
"Didn't you also mention that Kristoff has a reindeer called Sven?" Pearce asked.
"Yeah, they're like best buddies," Anna said. "Kristoff and Sven make an excellent team. They look out for each other and have each others' backs in everything they do. I think Kristoff sometimes find that his reindeer makes for better company than people."
"His bond with Sven must be pretty strong, then," guessed Byron.
Anna agreed, "Their bond is unbreakable."
"What else keeps him in good company?" Pearce asked.
"Well, he has his lute, his carrots, and the new sled that I got him," Anna told him.
"Sounds like he's used to living his life in solitude," commented Pearce.
Anna immediately countered, "Hey, he has me," and then she added, "I mean, had."
"Is he skilled at swordsmanship, archery, or anything else like that?" asked Pearce.
"Uh, no, but he is good with an axe, a rope, and a knife," said Anna. "And he's great at mountain climbing."
Byron asked quietly, "What happened to him that night when Hans took your kingdom?"
Anna hesitated, and then reflected, "Kristoff told me at midday that he was gonna go up to the mountains with Sven to cut and harvest ice. He said that he'd be back in the castle by nightfall, but I didn't have the chance to see him return. What if he never did? I have no idea what happened to him, or whether he's still alive. Please, I don't want to dwell on it."
Byron shook his head and apologized, "I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry, Anna. You've already been through enough pain."
"So have you, Byron," she said, "And you, Pearce. We've all been through a lot. I haven't realized this until recently, but the pain in my heart is what makes me stronger. I'll need that pain if I'm ever going to defeat Hans."
Those were brave words. Anna may be quirky, stubborn, ditzy, and naïve, but Pearce admired her sanguinity and her courage. "You still have hope then, that we'll get out of here one day?" He asked her.
Anna shrugged and replied, "It's better to hope than to despair. If we do get out of here, I would like to meet Whit and Wisty Allgood, the witch and wizard you guys have told me about, the heroes who saved the City."
"I bet they'd like to meet you too," said Byron with a smile. "Anna, you kind of remind me of Wisty in a way. You're funny, relaxed, strong, smart, and you don't care what others think. You have a bit of a rebel heart in you, just like Wisty. You bravely stood up to Hans that night when he took your castle. Hans must've known that you were a liability. Small wonder why he was so quick to send you away."
"I still can't believe that I fell for his charm," Anna admitted shamefully. "Byron, how did it feel like to have Wisty turn you into a weasel so many times?" She wondered.
"Turning me into a weasel was Wisty's preferred method for my punishment. Honestly, I didn't like it one bit. She turned me into a lion once, and that had been much better," admitted Byron. Pearce shook his head and held back a laugh. Byron asked, "Are you any good at fighting with a sword, Anna?"
"I'm all right, actually. You can say I'm decent at it," she told him, not very confidently.
"If we do get out of here, perhaps you can teach me someday," suggested Byron.
"And me," Pearce quickly added.
Anna smiled and said, "I would be honoured to, Byron." She turned to Pearce, "Your magic is unrivalled, Pearce. You are already a brilliant fighter. I hardly think you would need the skills of swordsmanship."
Pearce narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to one side. "You're flattering me," he said to her. "I know that I'm one of the most deadly, powerful wizards you have ever met, Anna, but it would really gladden my heart if you are willing to teach me all you know about sword fighting. It might prove useful to me. Plus, it'll be good fun." He was smiling at her.
"Okay. If that's what you want," agreed Anna.
Pearce's smile widened to a grin. He told her, "It's what I want."
"Guys?" called Byron. He was pointing at something. "Look."
Pearce followed the direction of his finger. He saw a lucent creature floating toward them. He made out its features more clearly as it drifted closer. It had dark wavy hair, baby blue eyes, and full pink lips. "It's a Half-Light," he said.
"It's Celia," said Byron.
When Pearce had been The One Who Is The One's enforcer and high-ranking officer of the New Order back in the Overworld, he had heard of a thing or two about Celia. She was murdered by The One and had been Whitford Allgood's first girlfriend. To be honest, Pearce never paid her much attention. She was gone months before his father and the N.O came to power, so she had been the least of Pearce's concerns. He knew that Celia lived in the Shadowland, but she never visited him. He wondered what she could possibly be doing here.
Celia levitated in a spot where the three of them could all get a good view of her. "Hey, Byron," she said. Her voice was a little shy, "You aren't expecting me at all, are you?"
Byron answered, "I wasn't. I completely forgot that you existed. You never showed up the whole time I was here."
"I was here and there," said Celia, "I know that you were trapped in the Underworld, Byron. You must've locked yourself in here in order to save the City. I saw you suffering, and I feel so sorry that this happened to you. I totally could've shown up, but it wouldn't have made the slightest difference. I'm a ghost. I couldn't help you even if I wanted to." She nodded at Pearce, "Only he can."
"It's fine, Celia, I understand," said Byron. "Why have you decided to show up now?"
Pearce jumped in, "If you're looking for Whit, Celia, prepare to be disappointed." He whispered, "He's not here."
She turned to him and said impassively, "I know. I don't need you to tell me that. And FYI: I crossed over that drawbridge to the other side, which means I'm not a Half-Light, not anymore." After a moment she continued, "I've spent years with the other Half-Lights in the Shadowland. I'm good friends with them. We all get on pretty well together. But sometimes I still miss being human and the fantastic life I had before The One. The loneliness I felt ever since I became a spirit never diminished. All the portals were sealed, which means I can no longer travel between the worlds. I've been keeping an eye on the three of you, the little team of survivors in the Shadowland." She smiled. "It's great to see friendship developing between you guys. I wish I can feel how it's like to be a person again. I guess talking to you, just being with you is the closest thing I'll ever get to experience a normal human life."
Pearce was glad to hear that he wasn't the only one who had felt loneliness in the Shadowland. He could totally relate to what Celia just said.
Byron spoke up, "You're welcome to join us whenever you feel like it, Celia."
"Thank you." Celia nodded and asked, "So how's it like being in the Shadowland?"
"It's all about survival," answered Pearce. "I don't think there's much more than that."
Anna responded, "It's also humdrum and mundane." She held up a finger in warning, "And don't even get me started on the Lost Ones."
Celia turned to her and said, "You must be Princess Anna of Arendelle."
"Uh…that's correct," Anna sounded a bit tentative. "And you're Celia. I remembered Byron mentioning you. How exactly did you come to know me?"
"I didn't. I saw you arriving to this place and I overheard you telling Pearce and Byron your story."
"Oh."
"Yeah, I've become quite an eavesdropper. I wouldn't call it a nice habit."
"That's okay. I've always dreamt of falling in love, and I eavesdropped on couples making out a few times when I was little." Anna giggled awkwardly.
That must have been interesting, Pearce thought. "Did you ever get in trouble for it?" He asked Anna.
"No. They're too caught up in their romantic moment to pay me any mind," Anna told him. She waved her hand dismissively. "Anyway, that's enough about that. Celia, you're a ghost, so I'm wondering: have you ever explored every inch of the Shadowland? You must know this place really well, right?"
Celia tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and stated, "I know it well enough. I've had plenty of time for exploration."
"So is this bone forest all there is to this place? 'Cause it seems to me like that's the case."
"You are currently in the very depths of the Shadowland. There is also a lush, green hillside, a deep valley full of spirits, as well as the River of Forever."
"Can you take me to see the River at some point?"
"It's best not to. There not much to the River. It's merely a gray mass of angry, roiling waves, ominous and forbidding. There's an ancient-looking drawbridge that souls such as Half-Lights and Lost Ones cross over to the other side. I used to be a Half-Light, but after I crossed over, I became all light."
"Do you know what's at the edge of the Shadowland?"
"There's nothing but fog and haze. You'll feel a sort of damp, penetrating cold that hurts your lungs. I'm a spirit, so I wouldn't feel these things."
"That sounds creepy."
"And you'll be able to hear the distant moaning of the Lost Ones. I take it that you're all too familiar with their moans by now, am I right Anna?"
"Hell, yes. They're spine-chilling."
Celia turned to Byron and Pearce and declared, "I can protect you from the Lost with my light."
"…Which means I won't be alone in the job anymore," finished Pearce. "Hooray!" He cheered. "It's so good to know that you'll be there to share my burden."
"And it's so sad to know that the Lost had chosen to turn on you," Celia replied pitifully and sighed.
"It is indeed," Pearce concurred.
Anna seemed to have realized something. She pointed out, "Hold on. We're forgetting that we have an advantage over the Lost this entire time. We can destroy those creatures by hugging them with our love." Hope shined bright in her eyes.
"I hate to break this to you Anna, but that kind of thing doesn't work here, only in the regular world," explained Pearce, seeing that brightness of hope in her eyes dwindle. He hurried on, "But the good thing is that the Lost Ones can't eat souls either, not as long as they're in the Shadowland. Here, they just eat flesh."
"Still, it's your fault for giving them the power of eating human souls in the first place," snapped Celia.
Pearce held up both his hands and acknowledged, "I know, I know, and I'm entirely to blame for that." He gave the little spirit a glare. "Happy?"
There was a short pause.
Anna glanced from Celia to Pearce, and then she piped, "You know, Celia, you should've been there when we were talking about Pearce becoming this whole new person…"
What the—?
She was telling all this to Celia? Pearce's back stiffened and his skin began to heat up in anger. He warned her, "Anna, don't—"
But she ignored him, kept her gaze on Celia, and quickly bubbled on, "You must have realized that he's changing. Despite all the horrible things he had done in the past, Byron and I both believe that he still has a chance for redemption. Just out of curiosity…do you believe in that too?"
Pearce clenched his teeth. If he had a rock in his hand right now, he would've gladly chucked it at Anna's face. Hard. He noticed Byron chuckling on his tree and couldn't believe that he was actually finding this funny. Part of him wished that he had Wisty's power of turning him into a weasel. That would be an effective step towards shutting him up.
He watched Celia ponder on that question, feeling slightly nervous on what her answer would be. But then why would he care about what someone who was already dead and was now just a spirit thinks? Celia hardly ever knew him. As everyone waited, Pearce noticed that Celia had got that strained look on her face that indicated that she didn't think that she had a right to have a say in this.
She spoke slowly and genuinely, "Well, he did hurt and attempted to kill Wisty, but at the same time…he loved her. And I believe his love for her is what makes him human and what makes him good. Wisty gave him something to live for." She turned to Pearce, looked directly in his eye, and persisted, "I haven't just been keeping a watchful eye on Byron, but on you as well. You looked broken, lonely, and scared. But I think there's still hope for you. A chance for redemption. It's not too late for that, you know." She gave him a weak smile.
Pearce didn't know what to reply to that. He could only nod. That's three against one.
"HI ANNA!" A cheerful voice suddenly bawled, startling Celia, Byron, and Anna. Pearce turned to see who it was.
And his jaw dropped in shock. A giggling snowman waddled towards them.
Anna squinted and leaned forward. She whispered, "Olaf?" She exclaimed in joyfulness as the snowman got closer. "OLAF! Is it really you? I can't believe you're alive! What, I mean; h-how did you get here?" She sputtered.
Pearce remembered Anna mentioning this snowman when she told him her story. Olaf stopped beneath Anna's tree and called up at her, "Through the Portal, of course!"
Pearce straightened and his eyes widened, instantly forgetting the conversation he was having with the others less than a minute ago. "What?" Did the snowman just say what he thinks he's saying? He thought.
Olaf spoke in a rush, "Elsa opened the Portal with Whit, Wisty, and two other friends. They're linked by some sort of magic so they couldn't move. Elsa sent me down here to get you. I thought I'll never find you, but I'm so lucky I did, and so happy to know that you're alive!"
"Elsa sent you? She came?" Anna asked.
"She came to the City for you!" Olaf nodded. "She's waiting."
Byron cut in, "Woah, slow down. The Portal was opened?"
"It was opened!" confirmed Olaf.
Anna shook her fist in the air and screamed enthusiastically, "YES! I knew that it would!"
Olaf giggled, "Isn't that cool?"
Byron shouted in disbelief, "But that's impossible!" Pearce would've shouted the same thing.
"How did they do that?" Pearce wanted to know.
Olaf told him, "Using darkness and the power of the elements!" He quickly turned back to Anna and hurried on, "Come on, Anna. Follow me. There's not much time. We have to make it out of here before the Portal closes again. Your friends can come too!"
Anna's eyes darted left and then right. Pearce heard her mutter, "Uh, okay," before she braced herself and jumped off the tree. She landed clumsily and called to Pearce and Byron, "Come on guys!" The snowman was already rushing back in the direction he came. Anna yelled, "Hey Olaf, wait up!" She scurried towards him without another moment of hesitation.
Pearce jumped off the tree and Byron did the same. They looked at each other, and then ran after them.
Byron didn't run further than a few metres before he stopped short and turned back to Celia. "Aren't you coming, Celia?" Pearce halted and looked up at her over his shoulder as well with impatience.
Celia shook her head urgently and said, "I can, but I'm afraid I won't. If I go to the Overworld and they close the Portal, I'll be stuck up there. Spirits like me don't belong to the regular world. If I stay there for too long, I'll die."
Byron urged, "But don't you wanna Whit again?"
Celia's voice was full of sadness, "More than anything. I know Whit misses me, but he's already happy with Janine, and that's all I want for him. He no longer needs me. Tell Whit that I miss him, that I wish him the best. Tell him that I love him."
Byron nodded and promised, "I will."
Pearce said to her, "Goodbye, Celia."
Celia wiped a tear from her eye and said, "Goodbye."
Byron waved at her and they watched as she turned and flew away.
The two of them dashed off towards Anna and Olaf ahead and caught up with them. They arrived to the location of the Portal in minutes.
Before them was a gigantic spiralling black murk that hovered in midair and stretched all the way up to the blood-red sky. At the centre of it was a gaping hole that leads them out of the Underworld. This was exactly how the Portal looked like the last time Pearce had seen it. He never thought that he would see it again.
Olaf pointed at it and said excitedly, "There it is! All you have to do is stand below it, and jump!"
Byron gazed up at the Portal and whispered, "I can't believe it. We are finally going to get out of here."
"See? I told you that my sister would come," Anna said to him teasingly. She inched a few steps closer to the Portal and said, "All right. Whether I'm a Curve or a Straight and Narrow, I guess I'm about to find out."
Anna walked to stand beneath the gaping black hole. She looked up into the void, closed her eyes, and jumped. The vortex carried her upwards and, just like that, she was gone.
"A Curve," said Pearce to Byron, who nodded.
Olaf extended his stick hand and said to Byron, "After you."
Byron looked at Pearce and said, "See you in the City."
"See you," he replied.
He watched as Byron sprinted the distance toward the Portal, jumped, and disappeared.
Pearce made no move to step forward. Yes, he was going to get out of the Shadowland, but he decided to travel through a different portal. He knew that if the mother portal was opened, all the rest of them would be opened as well. Whit and Wisty could be waiting just on the other side, and they wouldn't welcome his emergence. They would most likely drive him back as soon as they saw him, and Pearce didn't want to spend another eternity in desolation down here in Shadowland. No, he would not risk jumping into this Portal. It would be best if he went for another one, and there were plenty of them nearby.
Olaf was waiting for him. "Well, are you coming or not?"
"No. I'm gonna stay and fend off the Lost Ones," Pearce lied. "They're terrible creatures. You don't want them to make it to the Overworld."
"All right then." Olaf waddled below the Portal, waved at him, and cried, "Farewell, Anna's friend!" He jumped. His cry echoed as he vanished.
"Not just yet," Pearce said to himself with a smirk. People of the City, here I come. Without wasting another second, he darted off towards the nearest portal that he could find.