Chapter 125: Rise of the Guardians

"Michael your teddy bear is sewed. Try not to drag him in the mud. John, clean your glasses before school, and both of you make sure your shoes are tied. Wash behind your ears and remember, no sweets to spoil dinner. John, Michael is scared of thunderstorms; and Michael, put a magic blanket over your head until John comes. Mind Mrs. Hawkins. Study well in school but do remember to play outside for a little every day – "

"—Little Mother." Peter knelt beside Wendy. He helped her straighten Michael's collar. "—so many rules. Don't worry. These boys will walk the straight line."

Peter playfully narrowed his eyes. "Right, men?"

Halfheartedly John smiled. "Aye, aye sir."

Michael hugged Wendy. "Who will tell my story tonight?"

Wendy closed her eyes. "Shall I tell it now?"

Michael sucked his thumb. That meant yes.

"Once upon a time…" Wendy rubbed Michael, vigorously trying to spark his bravery. "…there was a little boy. And his brother. They were magical."

John hmphed to stop from crying. "This is about us. I sense a literary message."

Mrs. Hawkins joined them. John sniffed as she hugged his shoulder. "Why…" he asked, brushing under his glasses, "…why were they magical?"

"Because, John." Wendy said. "When these brothers were scared…they could be brave."

Mrs. Hawkins touched her cheek. John bit his lip.

"That's not magical."

Wendy smiled. She drew John to Michael. "Yes it is." She whispered, tangled in little brother hugs one last time. "Actually…it's the hardest thing in the world."

Ariel watched. She watched until Peter and Wendy were replaced with her sisters. Attina, Andrina, Arista, Aquata, and Alana. Adella was absent. She had joined Lana – and drown with her.

"This is so unfair! We're going to miss you little sister! Miss you awful!"

Ariel wrung her trident. But she hadn't time to regret Adella. She had only enough time to kiss her five sisters goodbye.

"This is soooo hard!"

"Eric says hi and bye!"

"Don't forget to text? Kay? Promise pretty please?"

"Can I have your room?"

"We love you Ariel." Attina stroked her sister's red hair. "And even though you can't speak, I'll never forget the sound of your amazing, beautiful voice. At the Snuggly Duckling. On karaoke night. Singing your heart out."

Arista sobbed. Andrina blew her nose. Alana told her not to use her sleeve. Aquata fished out a billion tissues. Composure gone, Attina departed with a wet kiss and tight hug.

"Ariel."

Admiral Triton approached his daughter, helpless as a ship lost at sea.

Ariel gazed. Then, pressing against his chest, she hugged her father.

I love you Daddy.

Admiral Triton felt the words. Salty tear in his beard, he receded, fingers drifting from Ariel's chin as Headmaster Mickey spoke.

"It's time."

Families, friends, and Fantasians withdrew. Flynn and Aladdin broke the line, risking Mr. Bubble's wrath to give Peter one more emotional hug, all manliness aside. Then, they too faded into the background, leaving Merlin, Headmaster Mickey, and King Arthur before the guardians at Pirate's Point.

"I can't do this." Wendy shivered. Michael and John disappeared. They were nothing but murmurs. "I'm not ready."

Jim appeared behind her. "Yes you are."

Wendy turned. Jim smiled. As Headmaster Mickey opened the Once Upon a Time book, they interlaced hands.

"The last chapter." Licking a finger, Headmaster Mickey turned the page. "Rise of the Guardians. Okay folks. Here we go. Eh-hem..."

The headmaster's nose disappeared as he read. "Peter Pan born on Spring's first. Step forth."

Peter waited. Then, lifting from the ground, he flew. Unperturbed by Peter's disobedience, Headmaster Mikey continued to read.

"Spring is hope and perpetual youth. It is the return of yellow sun, blue skies, clear winds and all of these things that you will protect as Guardian of the Sky World."

King Arthur offered the circlet. Merlin presented it to Peter. Peter scrunched his nose. The circlet was silver, lightly woven with crystals and diamonds. Peter's distaste evaporated when the circlet was rest on his brow. Blinking where he hovered, Peter touched the silver on his fiery hair. He was a guardian. Guardian of the Sky World.

Headmaster Mickey read the next paragraph.

"Ariel Triton born on summer's first. Step forth."

Ariel joined Peter. She waited, trident planted between her feet.

"Summer – like the ocean – is wholehearted energy, magnificent with movement and overflowed with life. It is the muted depth or ferocious storm. It is all of these things that you will protect as Guardian of the Sea World."

King Arthur smiled. Merlin donned Ariel's circlet, a golden net threading pearls of every hue.

Headmaster Mickey turned the last page.

"Wendy Darling born on Autumn's first. Step forth."

Wendy slid from Jim's hand. Ariel took it as she approached.

"Autumn…" Headmaster Mickey read quietly, "…is a time of resiliency and transformation; nurturing and bounty; departure and dying. Autumn – like a shadow – balances dark and light. Only one that can understand both –like a girl caught between childhood and adulthood – can protect the Underworld. The world of change. The world of shadows."

Headmaster Mickey smiled at Wendy. "It is all of these things that you will protect as Guardian of the Under World."

Wendy gripped her leather glove. The needle glinted as Peter's shadow whisked overhead. She dipped, breath held as Merlin fastened the delicate circlet. It was gold, with tiny golden flowers and tinier amethyst centers.

"And…." Headmaster Mickey lifted his eyes. "…at last. Jim Hawkins born on Winter's the first. Step forth."

Jim breathed. Lowering his solar surfer, he stood before the mouse, wizard, and king.

"Winter." Headmaster Mickey read. "Winter is cold. Reserved. Silent. But only to the distant observer. Only one that personifies winter can find solace in space…untangle it's dark mysteries…and find the glimmer of starlight in the blackest hole."

Gently, Headmaster Mickey closed the book. "It is all of these things that you will protect…as Guardian of the Outer World."

Jim did not remember Merlin bestowing his circlet. It was a simple enough design– dark, weathered silver braided in knots. But Jim could only think of the cyborg; he wondered how Silver knew the Outer World held his future.

Headmaster Mickey brushed the ancient title, Once Upon a Time. Then, joining Merlin, he folded the book within the Magic Bag of Tricks.

And that was that. The fairytale was just a book. The Magic Bag of Tricks was just a hat. And they withdrew. Like an illusion, Headmaster Mickey and Merlin the magician faded into the darkness.

King Arthur turned. Excalibur glowed. "No need to say goodbye." he whispered. "You'll come back. When I call you."

And with that promise, Fantasia's young king disappeared.

Silence.

Then the clouds vanished from the Wishing Star like sea foam. The guardians turned. The Wishing Star stretched, touching their upturned faces with light.

Their time…was gone.

Jim and Peter turned. Jim made for Ariel. Peter made for Wendy. They met in-between.

"Rat Tail." Peter opened his hand.

Jim closed it with his. "Pan."

They shook. Hard at first. Until Peter, watching Wendy, relaxed.

"Good luck."

Jim dropped his guard. The pain left his scar. "Yeah. You too."

It was enough. Uncrossing their paths, Jim and Peter departed.

Jim went to Ariel and held her. He did not speak. He did not breath. He only held her until their heartbeats throbbed into one.

Wendy stared at the ground, trying to be brave. But, it wasn't until Peter kissed her did Wendy find her bravery.

"Remember." Peter whispered, lips touching hers. "Believe in me."

"I will. I will always believe in you Peter Pan – oh."

Peter's shadow breezed between them. Wendy's eyes widened.

"Peter. Oh my – your shadow. Your soul. You can't go with half your – " hurriedly, she extractred her needle.

"Quickly." she unspooled the thread. "Let me sew it on – "

"—keep it."

"What? Peter. Let me – "

"Keep it." Peter repeated. Gently, he let Wendy's hair fall from his hands. "So you always have a hero. And you always have a memory to look back…and remember me."

Wendy gazed. Then, covering her tears, she lay against Peter's chest. "Then I give you my thimble. To save…your soul."

Peter smiled. He kissed Wendy's head. "You saved it long before that."

"Pan."

Peter turned. Wendy's thimble glistened on his chest.

Stonily, Jim let Ariel go.

Trident pointing at the stars, Ariel took Peter's hand.

Peter looked at Wendy. Eyes closed, he kissed her fingers.

"Goodbye Wendy." Peter breathed.

Then, seizing Ariel, he exploded into the sky. Ariel sprinted. Her trident cut the darkness apart. And then, with Peter's cry razing the Wishing Star, they flung from Pirate's Point.

Wendy and Jim raced to the edge. The sky and ocean opened like monsters but resplendent with light. Magical reflections and incredible sounds blasted Fantasia into a musical night. And beyond the terror and wonder, were two lights.

The light of the Under World, below the sea.

The light of the Outer World, over the stars.

Pixie dust cities. Constellation canvasses.

The futures of two best friends.

Suddenly, Jim laughed. "Well." he said, activating the solar surfer's energy store. "What d'ya know."

Wendy rose. Starlit tears stained her cheeks. "What?"

Jim mounted. "This is how we started. Remember? You and me. Pirate's Point. Us on the surfer."

Jim reached. Gently, he rubbed Wendy's tears. "Me telling you not to cry."

Wendy smiled. Jim tipped the solar surfer. She took his hand. He lifted her aboard. She held him tight.

And together, they stared into their futures.

"How?" Jim finally asked.

Everything he'd learned and loved replayed, staying him to Fantasia like an anchor.

Billy Bones. Benbow fire. A magical map. Fantasia School for the Magically Skewed. An archer named Merida. A fox named Robin. A sweetheart named Rapunzel. A tomboy named Mulan. Two henchmen named Aladdin and Flynn. A Prophesy. Cafeteria detention. A boy named Wart. A bomb. Captivating blue eyes. A mouse headmaster. The Magic Bag of Tricks. A Bella Note. A drunk father. A night in jail. The War Games. Frozen students. Son of Sinbad. A magic oven. A grand ball. A first dance. A broken heart. A fight in a pool. An unending winter. Maleficent. Hook. A pirate's mark. A battle to take Fantasia. A Sword in the Stone. Her lost voice. Best friends forever. Proud mother. Firework display. A happy ending. An unhappy turn. Peter Pan. Wendy Darling. Ariel Triton. Long John Silver.

Jim shook his head. "How can we heal from this, Wen?"

Wendy sighed. "I don't think we heal, Jim. I think we just learn how to live…with holes in our hearts."

Jim considered. Balancing the solar surfer, he reached into his jacket. "Or…" he said, handing Wendy her blue ribbon. "We just get really good at making our memories strong. And remembering…this story."

Wendy glowed. "Oh Jim."

Jim smiled. "…you ready, Wen?"

"…I am."

The solar surfer sparked. Then it soared. Jim leaned he and Wendy into the sails, blowing off Pirates Point and curving over the sea.

Then, Jim yanked.

The solar surfer lurched. The bowsprit flipped vertical.

Jim held Wendy's hand.

Then, eyes on the stars, he released.

Their fingertips brushed. Fell apart.

And Jim blasted into space.

Peter Pan spiraled through the Sky World. Ariel Triton raged the Sea World. Wendy Darling descended into the Under World, two shadows falling like dark angels beside.

And Jim Hawkins thundered into the heavens. Surging through galaxies, nebulas, and waterfall comets, he pointed at the Wishing Star…

…and crowed.

"Second star to the right, and straight on till morning!"

The End