Chapter 8

There were perhaps 25 Fearlings on the battlefield, battling with various spirits. Weaker spirits and Jamie were off to the side, not having the ability to fight the evil creatures. Manny was battling a fifth Fearling while the other four were restrained by moonbeams. Sandy was faring almost as well, having restrained 3 spirits and was working on a fourth. Toothiana was bravely battling a lone Fearling, having difficulty restraining it without touching it. Bunny and North were battling two each, also without restraining. Mother Nature and Jack were tied at 2 captured and fighting one each. Various spirits were teamed up to deal with the remaining 5.

Aisling sighed and headed for the nearest restrained Fearling, one of Manny's. Kozmotis went to the one next to hers. They purified/destroyed them in about the same amount of time.

At her look, he said, "Did you think I wouldn't have put up a fight before being taken over?"

She shrugged and they moved on to get rid of more Fearlings. Getting rid of them was much easier when not possessed. They had no trouble taking down 24 Fearlings, but the 25th broke out and headed for the edge of the circle towards an unconscious human.

The spirits gave a shout of surprise, but it was Jamie who intercepted the creature, crossing his blades. The Fearling saw its chance at an unguarded body, though not unconscious, and entered the mortal's body.

"No!" several spirits cried, including Aisling.

Jamie collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain. Aisling was the first to get to him, rolling him onto his back and sitting on him to make him stay still. Knowing he had very little time, she did what would get her power to his heart quickest- she kissed him.

She purified the Fearling, but wasn't sure if she had been fast enough. She opened her eyes and drew back from him to see a silly grin on his relieved face.

"Didn't realize you felt that way," he said, then dissolved into a coughing fit.

Alarmed, she immediately got off him. Tsar Lunar knelt beside the 20-year-old. The spirits looked to him for hope. He shook his head. "Even a touch of power from a Fearling is too much for a mortal body," he said.

"He's going to die?" Jack asked the question, sounding almost broken.

Manny's mouth quirked at his son's attachment. "No," he said, "It's not the first time I was forced to make someone into a spirit before I had planned. I've had my eye on this one for a while, though I had hoped to wait until he was an old man. I suppose his energy may still benefit him."

"When was the first time?" Jack asked, his mind trying to figure out what that meant.

Manny looked up at him fondly. "You," he said, "I could only revive you after death because it was during daytime and I was unable to get to you, but I'm at least here for this one, so he won't need to go through that pain."

He placed a palm on Jamie's forehead. A soft white light spread and when it retreated, Jamie was breathing easily again.

He sat up. "I don't feel any different," he said.

"He doesn't look different either," one of the other spirits said.

"Of course not," Manny laughed, "there wasn't a whole lot to do to him." He spoke directly to Jamie this time, "Your name is James Story and you are also known as Storyteller. Every culture has a storyteller, so there should be no shortage of those who can see you. I need you to spread the stories across the world. Everything else you will need to figure out on your own, I have been away from the moon for far too long." With that, the man in the moon was gone in a moonbeam.

JFFJFJFJFJJFJFJFJJFJFJFJFJJFJJFJFJJFJFJJ

The sun was starting to set when one of the spring sprites asked, "Now what?"

Bunny took one look at the sky and opened a portal, "I've got to go. No messing with my egg hunt, you hear?" he threatened Kozmotis before disappearing.

The spirits gradually dispersed until only Kozmotis, Mother Nature, Aisling, 'James', and four Guardians remained.

"Oh, James," Jack said in a teasing voice.

"You promised you would never call me that when you found out what my real first name was!" Jamie protested, getting to his feet.

"Father?" Mother Nature addressed Kozmotis, "Are you really back?"

"Of course, Emily," he said, pulling her into a hug.

Mother nature enjoyed the hug for a minute before pulling away and hitting him with a right hook.

"I deserved that," Kozmotis said, rubbing his face.

"I'll say, father," Aisling snorted, then looked uncertain.

He beckoned her over. "Aisling, I want you to meet my first daughter, Emily Jane Pitchner," he said.

The girl looked shyly at Mother Nature. "Hi," she managed.

Mother Nature rolled her eyes and hugged her. "I always wanted a sister," she said, "but I didn't think I'd get one when I was as old as my mother."

Aisling was overwhelmed, but relaxed slightly and when the hug ended she looked over to the other spirits.

Jack, being his usual self, bounded over to greet her. He like his mother, gave her a hug. "Guess this makes you my aunt!" he said cheerfully, only to notice she was staring.

"Jack Frost just hugged me," she stated.

Jack nodded, confused.

Her shy mood was forgotten as she got a red tinge to her cheeks, fangirling inside. "I've dreamt about what I would do if I met you," she said, "This situation never crossed my mind though." She greeted Sandy next, "I wondered if I would meet you too. I dreamt so often that I figured it might be inevitable." "What kid doesn't dream of catching Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy at their work!" she said. She breathed out, losing the tinge to her cheeks and gaining a happy smile. "It's nice to meet you all!" she said.

"What about me?" Jamie asked.

"What about you?" Aisling asked, tilting her head.

"What did you think of me?" he asked, stepping closer to her.

Aisling was confused. "I've only known you for a month," she said.

"So?" he asked, stepping into her bubble.

"You have a quill behind your ear," she observed, nervous and saying the first thing that came to mind.

He stepped back again to look. "Huh," he mused putting it back behind his ear and stepping forward again.

Her face reddened in color and she knew she couldn't tell him she thought he was cute.

He took her color change as her answer anyway, cupping her chin and kissing her.

There was an 'aww' from Tooth and a cough from Kozmotis. Jack choke.

Jamie leaned back from the red girl, now slightly embarrassed he had done something like that in front of an audience. He was confused when she suddenly started laughing, losing her own embarrassment. Giggles, Guffaws, and pure laughter broke out behind him.

"What?" Jamie asked.

"Your hair!" Aisling said between her laughter, collapsing to the ground.

Jamie tried in vain to get a good look at his short hair and Jack took mercy on him, making a piece of mirrored ice to see himself with. He was sporting pale pink hair. As he looked in horror at his reflection, it turned to white. His mouth quirked into a smile and he laughed with the others as it turned a brilliant yellow color.

As the laughter died down, Jack stated the obvious: "This might take some getting used to."

There it is. That's the end of this one. Sorry if it seems abrupt, but I wanted to make a sequel about Jamie and Aisling getting used to their new lives and I was going to get too into it if I continued. The sequel will pick up where this one left off. I'll call it 'The newest spirits' and the first chapter should be up soon. What did you think of the story?

Tsalyah