Total Crazy Class
It always starts with us.
Noah and River walked slowly through the ruins…their ruins. Their creation. Noah’s skinny jeans were tattered at the knee, and caked with mud and blood. Even his white hoodie was stained gray from the ash that fell like snow. River’s sweater vest was clawed up, along with his face. His jeans splattered in mud. For once in his life, it appeared as though he wasn’t a preppy pretty boy.
Their friends and family were spread out through out the destruction. Jaafar laid in between the halves of a broken car. Khaaliq laid on top of a large pipe. Carter was folded on top of a broken wall, with Paris beside him doubled over with tears. In front of them laid Karsyn, who lied on her side, lifeless. Aubrey lied on her side with her eyes opened and stunned. Kenton, Kendall, Akeem, and Akira were tossed on top of each other like dirty laundry. Jai sat in the distance, looking down at his bloody hands. Mikey laid on a rock, sprawled out. His body turned up to the sky. Lila laid her head on his stomach in tears, crying about the disaster. An unconscious Prince was held in Tyler’s hands, as she held his head to her chest, tears falling from her eyes.
So much pain.
All their fault.
River couldn’t look at the ruins. Hearing the boys coming, those who were awake raised their heads and stared at the reason for the pain.
So much pain.
All HIS fault.
“River!” Paris yelled. She ran to her nephew and hugged him tightly. River couldn’t hug back. He was so tired, and confused, and angry at himself. “Thank lord you and Noah are okay! We were worried about you.”
Worried? About them? The inflictors of their pain? Even after what had happened, did they all still love them? “But Aunt Paris, all of this…its our fault,” River mumbled.
Paris pulled away from River to look him in his beautiful dark blue eyes. No matter what the situation, they always looked alive and optimistic, but today, for the first time they were dead. She combed back his silky clay colored hair with a sigh. It was his fault, and she knew it. Part of her hated him. Because of him none of her daughters were to be found, and Carter was seriously injured, but looking into his dark blue eyes, so apologetic and sad, she just couldn’t be angry. “It is your fault,” She said.
River looked down, while Noah looked up at the dark gray sky. Not a lively color in sight. He looked back down at Paris. “Aunt Paris, my parents. Are they––” Noah asked.
“Noah, they’re both really hurt,” Paris answered.
“Where are they?” He asked worriedly. Paris pointed him to Khaaliq and the nearby Karsyn, and the worried son ran towards them.
Paris took River’s scratched and bloody hand, but River kept his head to the ground shamefully. She lead River over to his parents. He lifted his head to look at everyone again. When Aubrey saw him, she smiled a little bit, she didn’t blame him either. River smiled a little bit back. Kendall even struggled to raise her arm and blow him a kiss. River caught the imaginary kiss, and held it to his lips. Kendall smiled and closed her eyes. Those who were awake all showed their appreciation for River’s safety. Then he got to his mother.
Tyler stared up at her son, with red eyes from crying. His legs finally gave out on him, as River fell to his knees in front of his mother. Tears rolled down his eyes as he looked at her. “Mom, it’s all my fault!” He sobbed, “If I only listened to you! If I wasn’t such an idiot! And now everyone is hurt or gone!”
Tyler reached out for River and pulled her son closer to her. She laid the crying River’s head on her shoulder. “It wasn’t you’re fault River. It’s Vincent’s. It’s always Vincent’s fault,” Tyler explained. River continued to cry.
“But if I could control him…” River wept.
Tyler shushed him and stroked his head. She shook her head. “You can’t control him…like I can’t control my seven idiots,” Tyler said. She kissed his head, and continued to stroke it. “In these moments, I could say something about your childhood and how I did something to make you feel better, but I’m not a very good mother, so…”
River smiled a little.
“Lucky for our sector of the Jackson family only your dad got hurt, but I’m working on that,” Tyler said as she ran her hands through Prince’s hair. He momentarily lit up, but it died back down quickly. Tyler sighed. “His body is resisting my magic. It’ll let a little in, but then it spits the rest out.”
“Parker…” River began.
“She’s fine. I’m trying to explain so to Paris, but she’s still scared. Her and our other Angels went to go find you and Noah,” Tyler answered. “Since you guys are back, they’ll be back soon.”
River dropped his head again. Again, people still cared about them. They caused all this destruction, but they still cared about them. It made River so confused. “Can you do me a favor?” Tyler asked. River looked up. “I can tell you want to make things up to everyone, so can you go around and heal everyone. Since your dad’s body is being retarded, I have to keep an eye on him. He might have a concussion. I found him lying up against a fragment of a wall unconscious.”
“Okay mom. I’m on it,” River said. He stood up and ran through the ruins.
First stop was Mikey. River bent down beside Lila and rubbed her back. “Lila? Why didn’t you go with the other Angels?” River asked.
Lila hugged River in tears, washing River’s sweater vest with her tears. “I just couldn’t leave him!” She cried. River patted her back.
“I’m going to help him okay,” River assured.
Noah sat beside his mom and stared down at her in tears. Karsyn looked so weak and frail, as blood ran down her cheek. “I’m sorry Mom,” Noah whispered. “I’m sorry you got hurt because of me.”
He turned at looked at his father, still on top of the pipe. More tears rolled down his eyes. Why was he crying? Why was he scared? What were these foreign feelings that he had thought he had forgotten a long time ago? He was darkness incarnated, but yet he didn’t feel like he was. He felt like little five year old Noah, who got teased and beat up by KC, protected by Mitari, loved by his mother, and unnoticed by his father. He refused to be that Noah again, but here he was…crying. “Why didn’t you love me dad?” Noah whispered. “Huh?”
Khaaliq didn’t move.
“Huh!?” He yelled. “Answer me!”
Still no movement.
“I’m sorry!” Noah cried. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be your perfect son like KC. Great at sports and getting girls. I’m sorry that you were so ashamed of me that you had to make me a monster. I tried to be like you Dad…”
“Don’t…” Someone mumbled. Khaaliq opened his eyes and stared sheepishly at Noah. “Don’t try to be like me.”
Noah blinked confused, tears still rolling down his cheeks.
“I’ve done you wrong Noah. I should have loved you from the start. You don’t need to be like KC, and you don’t have to be like me. You’re not a monster Noah. You’re one of my greatest creations,” Khaaliq said with a smile. Noah’s eyes widened in shock as his father’s head dropped limply. Once again, Khaaliq was unconscious. Noah began to cry again. Now he was confused. Why was he confused? This must have been how River felt whenever he talked to Vincent. So angry and confused and sad.
Why did he have to always screw everything up. While River always believed everything was his own fault, Noah always felt like it was his own. River was right, everything was his fault. Noah doubled over and dug his fingers in the dirt, tears falling off his face like water pouring from a cup.
“So you can cry…” A female voice said. Noah’s eyes widened in shock as he looked up at the girl standing in front of him.
“Parker?” Noah asked. A bright Jackson smile beamed down on Noah. Her light blue eyes sparkled even in the lack of light.
“Hey,” She smiled. Instantly Noah was off his feet and hugging the girl. Parker was caught off guard for a second, but then tightly wrapped her arms around Noah’s neck.
“I’m such an idiot!” Noah said.
“No you’re not…you just made a mistake,” Parker consoled.
“A big mistake that could have easily killed everyone if I had done it right,” Noah said.
“But you didn’t do it right,” Parker said.
“That’s the point, I even suck at destroying the world,” Noah mumbled.
“I don’t think anyone is good at that,” Parker said. She let go of Noah and pulled away. She moved the black strands of curls out of his face and stared at his sad, dirty face. “You’re okay right?”
“Besides some mental scarring, I’m fine,” Noah said. Parker smiled, and pecked Noah on the cheek.
River had healed most of the injured and was now moving on to his Uncle Carter. “Our parents River,” A girl said. River turned around and saw Dakota, Kallisté, Carmen, and Evangeline. All of them had glares on their faces but Dakota. “Where are they?” Dakota, the leader of the Angels, asked.
“Dakota I don’t know,” River asked.
“You should know! This IS all your fault you jackbag!” Kallisté yelled as she grabbed River’s collar and raised her fist in the air.
“Kallisté!” Dakota yelled. The Grecian Goddess turned and glared at her leader. Dakota glared back. Kallisté dropped River, glaring at him. “River never means to cause trouble. It’s Vincent.”
“Vincent my butt! River needs to stop being a baby and take that bull by the horns,” Kallisté growled. Carmen, noticing that River looked ashamed and guilty, decided to stop Kallisté.
“Stop Kallisté, you’re being inconsiderate,” Carmen said. “River has scars from trying to ‘take that bull by the horns’.”
Kallisté looked at River and the scars up his arms and sighed. She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry River.”
“You have to ask my mom where you’re parents are. She’ll know,” River said. Three out of the four Angels flew away towards Tyler. Dakota stayed. She stared at River for a long time, and then burst into tears. She ran into his arms and hugged him. “Dakota what’s wrong?”
“I was so worried!” She cried. “I thought you could have been dead!”
“I should be,” River mumbled.
“What? Why?’ Dakota asked as she pulled away from River.
“Look around you Dakota,” River said. “I did this. It’s not fair that I didn’t get hurt.”
“You’re skinny jeans got muddy,” Dakota mumbled.
“Oh my god! Really!” River yelled as he picked up his leg and looked at his jeans. “Man! Whatever though. I mean like physically hurt.”
A blood curdling scream echoed though the area as Dakota perked up. “MOM!” Dakota yelled and took into the air.
This was the least pleasant thing Bluey had ever woke up to. In front of her laid Eli Clark underneath a large sheet of drywall. “ELI!” Bluey cried. She crawled to her future husband. She moved the drywall from his body and crawled on top of him. She placed her head on his chest and listened for something…anything. Eli’s heartbeat was small and slow, but he had one. He took small, breaths. He was alive! “Eli! Eli baby wake up! Please for me! It’s me Bluey! Come on wake up!”
Eli’s eyelashes fluttered for a moment, but they stayed closed. Bluey looked around. Where was Tyler!? If only she could kind find her best friend now. “TYLER!” Bluey yelled. She grabbed Eli by his arms and dragged him through the rubble. “Tyler! You gotta help Eli!” Bluey cried, “Where are you!”
Bluey was swept up by Dakota, Eli still in her hands. “Dakota?” Bluey asked.
“Hi momma!” Dakota said with a smile. Bluey sighed. “I’m gonna get you and Poppa to Aunt Tyler okay.”
“You’re brothers! Baby have you seen you’re brothers?” Bluey asked. Dakota shook her head. Bluey sighed. “Put me down! I gotta find your brothers! Take your dad to Tyler for me.”
“But Mom you could be hurt to,” Dakota said.
“I don’t care! I’ll always be hurt until I know that all my babies are okay. Put me down,” Bluey ordered. Dakota sighed. She flew low and dropped her mother, but was quick enough to swoop up her dad. Bluey landed clumsily and then ran off to find her sons. “KINGSTON! JOSIAH!”
Josiah and Kingston Clark woke up trapped in darkness. “Josiah!” Kingston yelled.
“I’m right here Kingston,” Josiah replied. Kingston crawled over to his brother.
“Are you okay Josiah?” Kingston asked.
“No. I think my arm’s stuck under something and now it’s broken. Can you try to push it off Kingston?” Josiah asked. Kingston tried to push the thing off Josiah’s arm, but failed.
“I can’t get it to move,” Kingston said.
“I was afraid of that. Here, I have a plan,” Josiah said. Josiah kicked the rubble, trying to get free. He kicked a hole in the rubble, allowing dim light in. “Go find Mom or anyone, and bring them back as soon as you can Kingston.”
Kingston nodded and crawled out of the pile of rubble. “Mom!”
“Kingston!” Bluey asked as she sped up her sprint. “Kingston!”
“Mom!”
Josiah sat in the darkness, all alone…or so he thought. “Josiah?” A little girl asked. Josiah turned his head and saw what he thought was Princess. “Josiah, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine Princess,” Josiah said. “How long have you been in here?”
“Kingston must have grabbed me and pulled me in here during the explosion,” Princess answered.
“Oh…Okay. Are you okay Princess?” Josiah asked. The little girl nodded. “Wow, my little brother must really like you.”
“You think?” Princess asked.
“He saved you didn’t he? That means a lot. I mean I’ve saved Aubrey plenty of times. Oh chiz, Aubrey!” Josiah yelled. “AUBREY!”
“Aubrey’s the daughter of my Aunt Tyler and River’s sister. I’m pretty sure she’s okay,” Princess said. “They wouldn’t let her get hurt.”
Bluey finally spotted Kingston and ran to him. She swept her youngest up in a hug. “Where’s Josiah?” Bluey asked.
“We were underneath this dome of rubble. He’s still under there with Princess. His arm’s stuck underneath something, and he says it might be broken,” Kingston said as he pulled his mother towards Josiah and Prince. Bluey struggled to keep up with Kingston as he ran back towards the rubble.
When they got to the dome Kingston began to tear apart the rubble to get to his brother. Bluey joined in until the pile was gone and Josiah and Princess were in clear view. The stove laid on Josiah’s arm as Bluey and Kingston both stared at it in horror. “DANG!” They both said.
“Josie baby there’s a stove on your arm!” Bluey said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine mom. My arm’s just broken. Can you get the stove off,” Josiah asked. Bluey nodded as she, Kingston, and Princess pushed at the stove. Eventually, the stove slid off and Josiah was free. Kingston helped his older brother to his feet. Josiah held his arm as he looked at his mother. Instead of looking stylish, Bluey Davids was covered in mud, and her blue hair was messy on her head. “Mom…you look so….unclean…”
“It’s okay. I’ll just change later,” Bluey said. “Let’s go. You’re sister is waiting for me. And I know you’re mom is worried about you Princess.”
Princess smiled.
“Prince…” Tyler whispered. She ran her fingers through his hair again and his body lit up again. It faded away quickly, but less so than earlier. Tyler smiled. He was getting better. “Remember that time when you fought Mona for me? I remember. You couldn’t stand to let my murderer live. Well I can’t stand to let you die.”
“Aunt Tyler! Aunt Tyler!” Dakota yelled. Tyler looked up and saw a frantic Dakota, carrying her father. She landed and showed Tyler the unconscious Eli. “I think he’s badly hurt! He won’t wake up, all he does is flutter his eyes, but they don’t open.”
Tyler gave Prince to Dakota and took Eli. She placed her hands on his chest and his body lit up with blue light. Eli’s eyes opened as he sat up. “BLUEY!” He yelled. “Where’s Bluey?”
“She went to go find Kingston and Josiah,” Dakota said. “She’s okay dad.”
Eli looked around worriedly. “What happened to the colors?” Eli asked.
“They blew up along with the school. They’ll be back,” Tyler answered as she took Prince back. She continued to run her fingers through Prince’s hair, only a small flicker again. Tyler couldn’t understand why this wouldn’t work on him. She pressed her forehead to Prince’s and thought deeply about getting into his brain. I wanna know what you’re thinking.
Prince stood in a sad and gray Neverland Ranch. The cold wind blew the leaves around and the rust chipped the paint off the rides. Never had he seen it so dead. Why was this happening? Where had the magic gone? Where had his dad gone? Then a sudden light came towards him in the shape of a girl. Her short boy cut looked so familiar. “I’m trying to help you Prince,” She said.
“I don’t need help,” Prince said.
“Why won’t you let my magic in.”
“Magic’s dead.”
“Just because you watched another person’s magic die,” The girl began as she walked closer to Prince. She snapped and Neverland had come back to life. Its color reviving and the rides beginning to work again. Even the sun appeared. The girl smiled. It was Tyler. “Doesn’t mean everyone’s magic is dead.”
She spread her arms out for a hug. “Not mine, not River’s, not Aubrey’s, not the twin’s, and especially not yours Prince. You’re magic burns the brightest,” Tyler said as she hugged Prince. “Don’t put out your magic because you’re afraid that it will die anyways.”
The two went up in a white light.
Prince’s eyes opened, to see Tyler with her forehead pressed to his. “Tyler?” He mumbled. Tyler’s eyes opened as she looked at Prince with a smile. “What did you do?”
“I lit your magic again,” Tyler replied.
“Lit my magic?”
“I like to think of magic like a candle. The bigger the flame the more powerful. Yours is pretty small right now, but that’s just because its new. Its pretty bright for a small flame, so it looks very promising. Congratulations, you are now a Washington,” Tyler explained. Prince smiled at her. Hearing a weird commotion, the two turned their heads to see what was going on.
Of course it was the boys acting retarded. They all danced in a circle, swinging their shirts above their head and chanted, “Color”.
“River!” Prince yelled. The fourteen year old boy turned his head and stared at his father. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to bring the color back,” River said.
“Can I help?” Prince asked. River nodded as he continued the circle again. Prince got up and ran towards the group, pulling off his shirt in the process. Tyler watched with a smile as the boys, her boys, danced around like idiots. She especially smiled for River. She was glad that he was happy now, instead of guilty and ashamed. River should never be sad, it made everyone sad.
“We have a weird family huh?” Kai said.
“They aren’t you’re family Kai,” Tyler mumbled angrily. Kai ran his fingers under Tyler’s chin, but she kept her gaze towards Prince.
“Such angry words from the girl caught crying over my death,” Kai whispered as he disappeared. Tyler began to tear up, but wiped them away. Her focus left the dancing boys and went to the four figures coming towards them. One looked…no was….Bluey! Tyler got up and ran to her friend.
“Bluey!” She yelled as she waved her down. Bluey began to run towards Tyler.
“Tyler girl!” Bluey shouted.
“Bluey baby!” Tyler yelled. The two swept each other up in a hug. “Thank lord you’re okay!”
“Josiah’s not…his arm is broken. A stove landed on it,” Bluey explained.
“A stove?” Tyler asked with a questioning look. She looked at Josiah confused. He waved with his good arm.
“Yeah it was a stove,” He said. Tyler nodded slowly as she took Josiah’s arm.
“Well…I can heal it…but not all the way. I can fix the skin and reconnect the muscles…but the bones are pretty flipped up. They’re gonna have to heal the old fashion way,” Tyler said.
“What do you mean you can’t fix the bones! You freaking healed my husband of internal damage and you can’t fix a bone!” Bluey yelled.
“Dang it Bluey! I’m a wizard not a doctor!” Tyler yelled. “I’m not that good at going that deep down into the body.”
Bluey groaned like any mother would when a doctor told her such news. “Whatever! Just heal him please!” Bluey yelled.
“This is gonna sting Josiah,” Tyler warned. Josiah shrugged. Tyler gripped Josiah’s arm and lit it up in blue light. Josiah squealed out in pain, but his lip trying not to embarrass himself. Josiah’s broken skin healed, but his arm still felt broken. Tyler wiped out the pencil and drew Josiah a cast. “There you go!” Tyler said with a smile.
“Thanks Aunt Tyler!” Josiah said. Tyler patted his head, but her attention left her patient to her daughter. Aubrey jumped Josiah, and hugged her whole body around Josiah’s torso, leaning him back a little.
“OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! YOU’RE ALIVE! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” Aubrey giggled. Josiah smiled. Aubrey jumped off his back and hugged him from behind. “I WAS SO SCARED! I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE MY SPELL DIDN’T WORK AND YOU THREE GOT CRUSHED ANYWAY!”
“Aubrey, it’s okay. We’re all fine,” Josiah said. He turned to Aubrey. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, River healed me,” Aubrey said. Princess giggled at Josiah, as he smiled embarrassed.
“Good. I couldn’t stand to see you hurt,” Josiah said.
“Oh my lord! Josie, if you’re gonna sweet talk the girl, you might as well kiss her,” Bluey said.
“I think you kind of ruined the moment there Bluey,” Tyler said.
“You’re both kind of ruining the moment,” Aubrey said.
“Yeah…you guys kind of are,” Josiah said as he turned to his mother and aunt.
“Sorry…” The two said as they, Princess and Kingston scooted away.
“Aubrey there’s something I need to tell you,” Josiah said.
“What?” Aubrey asked.
*Due to the fact that Prince Jackson doesn’t want to see his little girl grow up, this moment shall be translated by Kenton and Kendall*
“I think you’re super pretty Aubrey!” Josiah said with Kenton’s voice.
“Really! That’s super nice Josiah!” Aubrey said with Kendall’s voice.
“I really like you! Will you go get ice cream with me?” Josiah asked.
“Of course! I can bring Kenton and Kendall!” Aubrey replied. The twins cheered.
“That’s not how it happened you two! Dad I’m going to grow up eventually, get over it. Can we please have this happened the way it really did?!” Aubrey yelled.
“But I like Kenton and Kendall’s version,” Tyler said. Aubrey snarled.
“I wanna get ice cream too,” River added.
“You can come River,” The twins proclaimed. The three cheered.
“NO YOU CAN’T! MOM!” Aubrey yelled.
“Leave your sister alone. Whatever Aubrey you can have your mushy gushy love scene,” Tyler teased.
“It’s not mushy gushy!” Aubrey cried.
“I think it’s pretty stupid,” Prince said.
“Daddy! How come it’s okay for River to date, but I can’t!”
“River’s….River’s…god dang it! I’m pinned! Tyler,” Prince said.
“I got nothing. Just let the scene play Prince,” Tyler said. Prince snorted.
“You remember back after Rasputin made you cry,” Josiah asked, “And we…”
“Kissed?”
“Yeah. I––” Josiah began, but Aubrey interrupted him with a kiss. Josiah was caught by surprise, but quickly regained his balance as he wrapped his arm around Aubrey’s waist and pulled her closer and deepened their kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth. He didn’t really know what he was doing, but he kind of had an idea from watching his sister and River.
Somewhere in the distance, Prince had just fainted.
The two teens pulled their lips away from each other and smiled at each other. “If this is gonna happen each time I break my arm. River and Noah should blow the school up more often,” Josiah teased. Aubrey giggled. “Ice cream later?” Josiah asked.
“Sure,” Aubrey replied.
“So even with all the destruction we caused, there’s still light in the darkness River,” Noah said.
“I guess you’re right,” River said as he shoved his hands in his pocket and looked at the sunset. Colors. The wind blew back his and Noah’s hair. “So I guess what my mom said was right. Without darkness, there would be no place for light to shine.”
“I think that’s what he needed,” Noah said. “A little darkness.”
“We’ve been spending so much time in the light that we lost sight of what really matters. Now that we had a taste of a little darkness, we can finally realize how much we need each other,” River said.
“I’m happy that we flipped up,” Noah said.
“Same here.”
The boys did their usual fist bump with smirks on their faces.
Noah and River walked slowly through the ruins…their ruins. Their creation. Noah’s skinny jeans were tattered at the knee, and caked with mud and blood. Even his white hoodie was stained gray from the ash that fell like snow. River’s sweater vest was clawed up, along with his face. His jeans splattered in mud. For once in his life, it appeared as though he wasn’t a preppy pretty boy.
Their friends and family were spread out through out the destruction. Jaafar laid in between the halves of a broken car. Khaaliq laid on top of a large pipe. Carter was folded on top of a broken wall, with Paris beside him doubled over with tears. In front of them laid Karsyn, who lied on her side, lifeless. Aubrey lied on her side with her eyes opened and stunned. Kenton, Kendall, Akeem, and Akira were tossed on top of each other like dirty laundry. Jai sat in the distance, looking down at his bloody hands. Mikey laid on a rock, sprawled out. His body turned up to the sky. Lila laid her head on his stomach in tears, crying about the disaster. An unconscious Prince was held in Tyler’s hands, as she held his head to her chest, tears falling from her eyes.
So much pain.
All their fault.
River couldn’t look at the ruins. Hearing the boys coming, those who were awake raised their heads and stared at the reason for the pain.
So much pain.
All HIS fault.
“River!” Paris yelled. She ran to her nephew and hugged him tightly. River couldn’t hug back. He was so tired, and confused, and angry at himself. “Thank lord you and Noah are okay! We were worried about you.”
Worried? About them? The inflictors of their pain? Even after what had happened, did they all still love them? “But Aunt Paris, all of this…its our fault,” River mumbled.
Paris pulled away from River to look him in his beautiful dark blue eyes. No matter what the situation, they always looked alive and optimistic, but today, for the first time they were dead. She combed back his silky clay colored hair with a sigh. It was his fault, and she knew it. Part of her hated him. Because of him none of her daughters were to be found, and Carter was seriously injured, but looking into his dark blue eyes, so apologetic and sad, she just couldn’t be angry. “It is your fault,” She said.
River looked down, while Noah looked up at the dark gray sky. Not a lively color in sight. He looked back down at Paris. “Aunt Paris, my parents. Are they––” Noah asked.
“Noah, they’re both really hurt,” Paris answered.
“Where are they?” He asked worriedly. Paris pointed him to Khaaliq and the nearby Karsyn, and the worried son ran towards them.
Paris took River’s scratched and bloody hand, but River kept his head to the ground shamefully. She lead River over to his parents. He lifted his head to look at everyone again. When Aubrey saw him, she smiled a little bit, she didn’t blame him either. River smiled a little bit back. Kendall even struggled to raise her arm and blow him a kiss. River caught the imaginary kiss, and held it to his lips. Kendall smiled and closed her eyes. Those who were awake all showed their appreciation for River’s safety. Then he got to his mother.
Tyler stared up at her son, with red eyes from crying. His legs finally gave out on him, as River fell to his knees in front of his mother. Tears rolled down his eyes as he looked at her. “Mom, it’s all my fault!” He sobbed, “If I only listened to you! If I wasn’t such an idiot! And now everyone is hurt or gone!”
Tyler reached out for River and pulled her son closer to her. She laid the crying River’s head on her shoulder. “It wasn’t you’re fault River. It’s Vincent’s. It’s always Vincent’s fault,” Tyler explained. River continued to cry.
“But if I could control him…” River wept.
Tyler shushed him and stroked his head. She shook her head. “You can’t control him…like I can’t control my seven idiots,” Tyler said. She kissed his head, and continued to stroke it. “In these moments, I could say something about your childhood and how I did something to make you feel better, but I’m not a very good mother, so…”
River smiled a little.
“Lucky for our sector of the Jackson family only your dad got hurt, but I’m working on that,” Tyler said as she ran her hands through Prince’s hair. He momentarily lit up, but it died back down quickly. Tyler sighed. “His body is resisting my magic. It’ll let a little in, but then it spits the rest out.”
“Parker…” River began.
“She’s fine. I’m trying to explain so to Paris, but she’s still scared. Her and our other Angels went to go find you and Noah,” Tyler answered. “Since you guys are back, they’ll be back soon.”
River dropped his head again. Again, people still cared about them. They caused all this destruction, but they still cared about them. It made River so confused. “Can you do me a favor?” Tyler asked. River looked up. “I can tell you want to make things up to everyone, so can you go around and heal everyone. Since your dad’s body is being retarded, I have to keep an eye on him. He might have a concussion. I found him lying up against a fragment of a wall unconscious.”
“Okay mom. I’m on it,” River said. He stood up and ran through the ruins.
First stop was Mikey. River bent down beside Lila and rubbed her back. “Lila? Why didn’t you go with the other Angels?” River asked.
Lila hugged River in tears, washing River’s sweater vest with her tears. “I just couldn’t leave him!” She cried. River patted her back.
“I’m going to help him okay,” River assured.
Noah sat beside his mom and stared down at her in tears. Karsyn looked so weak and frail, as blood ran down her cheek. “I’m sorry Mom,” Noah whispered. “I’m sorry you got hurt because of me.”
He turned at looked at his father, still on top of the pipe. More tears rolled down his eyes. Why was he crying? Why was he scared? What were these foreign feelings that he had thought he had forgotten a long time ago? He was darkness incarnated, but yet he didn’t feel like he was. He felt like little five year old Noah, who got teased and beat up by KC, protected by Mitari, loved by his mother, and unnoticed by his father. He refused to be that Noah again, but here he was…crying. “Why didn’t you love me dad?” Noah whispered. “Huh?”
Khaaliq didn’t move.
“Huh!?” He yelled. “Answer me!”
Still no movement.
“I’m sorry!” Noah cried. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be your perfect son like KC. Great at sports and getting girls. I’m sorry that you were so ashamed of me that you had to make me a monster. I tried to be like you Dad…”
“Don’t…” Someone mumbled. Khaaliq opened his eyes and stared sheepishly at Noah. “Don’t try to be like me.”
Noah blinked confused, tears still rolling down his cheeks.
“I’ve done you wrong Noah. I should have loved you from the start. You don’t need to be like KC, and you don’t have to be like me. You’re not a monster Noah. You’re one of my greatest creations,” Khaaliq said with a smile. Noah’s eyes widened in shock as his father’s head dropped limply. Once again, Khaaliq was unconscious. Noah began to cry again. Now he was confused. Why was he confused? This must have been how River felt whenever he talked to Vincent. So angry and confused and sad.
Why did he have to always screw everything up. While River always believed everything was his own fault, Noah always felt like it was his own. River was right, everything was his fault. Noah doubled over and dug his fingers in the dirt, tears falling off his face like water pouring from a cup.
“So you can cry…” A female voice said. Noah’s eyes widened in shock as he looked up at the girl standing in front of him.
“Parker?” Noah asked. A bright Jackson smile beamed down on Noah. Her light blue eyes sparkled even in the lack of light.
“Hey,” She smiled. Instantly Noah was off his feet and hugging the girl. Parker was caught off guard for a second, but then tightly wrapped her arms around Noah’s neck.
“I’m such an idiot!” Noah said.
“No you’re not…you just made a mistake,” Parker consoled.
“A big mistake that could have easily killed everyone if I had done it right,” Noah said.
“But you didn’t do it right,” Parker said.
“That’s the point, I even suck at destroying the world,” Noah mumbled.
“I don’t think anyone is good at that,” Parker said. She let go of Noah and pulled away. She moved the black strands of curls out of his face and stared at his sad, dirty face. “You’re okay right?”
“Besides some mental scarring, I’m fine,” Noah said. Parker smiled, and pecked Noah on the cheek.
River had healed most of the injured and was now moving on to his Uncle Carter. “Our parents River,” A girl said. River turned around and saw Dakota, Kallisté, Carmen, and Evangeline. All of them had glares on their faces but Dakota. “Where are they?” Dakota, the leader of the Angels, asked.
“Dakota I don’t know,” River asked.
“You should know! This IS all your fault you jackbag!” Kallisté yelled as she grabbed River’s collar and raised her fist in the air.
“Kallisté!” Dakota yelled. The Grecian Goddess turned and glared at her leader. Dakota glared back. Kallisté dropped River, glaring at him. “River never means to cause trouble. It’s Vincent.”
“Vincent my butt! River needs to stop being a baby and take that bull by the horns,” Kallisté growled. Carmen, noticing that River looked ashamed and guilty, decided to stop Kallisté.
“Stop Kallisté, you’re being inconsiderate,” Carmen said. “River has scars from trying to ‘take that bull by the horns’.”
Kallisté looked at River and the scars up his arms and sighed. She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry River.”
“You have to ask my mom where you’re parents are. She’ll know,” River said. Three out of the four Angels flew away towards Tyler. Dakota stayed. She stared at River for a long time, and then burst into tears. She ran into his arms and hugged him. “Dakota what’s wrong?”
“I was so worried!” She cried. “I thought you could have been dead!”
“I should be,” River mumbled.
“What? Why?’ Dakota asked as she pulled away from River.
“Look around you Dakota,” River said. “I did this. It’s not fair that I didn’t get hurt.”
“You’re skinny jeans got muddy,” Dakota mumbled.
“Oh my god! Really!” River yelled as he picked up his leg and looked at his jeans. “Man! Whatever though. I mean like physically hurt.”
A blood curdling scream echoed though the area as Dakota perked up. “MOM!” Dakota yelled and took into the air.
This was the least pleasant thing Bluey had ever woke up to. In front of her laid Eli Clark underneath a large sheet of drywall. “ELI!” Bluey cried. She crawled to her future husband. She moved the drywall from his body and crawled on top of him. She placed her head on his chest and listened for something…anything. Eli’s heartbeat was small and slow, but he had one. He took small, breaths. He was alive! “Eli! Eli baby wake up! Please for me! It’s me Bluey! Come on wake up!”
Eli’s eyelashes fluttered for a moment, but they stayed closed. Bluey looked around. Where was Tyler!? If only she could kind find her best friend now. “TYLER!” Bluey yelled. She grabbed Eli by his arms and dragged him through the rubble. “Tyler! You gotta help Eli!” Bluey cried, “Where are you!”
Bluey was swept up by Dakota, Eli still in her hands. “Dakota?” Bluey asked.
“Hi momma!” Dakota said with a smile. Bluey sighed. “I’m gonna get you and Poppa to Aunt Tyler okay.”
“You’re brothers! Baby have you seen you’re brothers?” Bluey asked. Dakota shook her head. Bluey sighed. “Put me down! I gotta find your brothers! Take your dad to Tyler for me.”
“But Mom you could be hurt to,” Dakota said.
“I don’t care! I’ll always be hurt until I know that all my babies are okay. Put me down,” Bluey ordered. Dakota sighed. She flew low and dropped her mother, but was quick enough to swoop up her dad. Bluey landed clumsily and then ran off to find her sons. “KINGSTON! JOSIAH!”
Josiah and Kingston Clark woke up trapped in darkness. “Josiah!” Kingston yelled.
“I’m right here Kingston,” Josiah replied. Kingston crawled over to his brother.
“Are you okay Josiah?” Kingston asked.
“No. I think my arm’s stuck under something and now it’s broken. Can you try to push it off Kingston?” Josiah asked. Kingston tried to push the thing off Josiah’s arm, but failed.
“I can’t get it to move,” Kingston said.
“I was afraid of that. Here, I have a plan,” Josiah said. Josiah kicked the rubble, trying to get free. He kicked a hole in the rubble, allowing dim light in. “Go find Mom or anyone, and bring them back as soon as you can Kingston.”
Kingston nodded and crawled out of the pile of rubble. “Mom!”
“Kingston!” Bluey asked as she sped up her sprint. “Kingston!”
“Mom!”
Josiah sat in the darkness, all alone…or so he thought. “Josiah?” A little girl asked. Josiah turned his head and saw what he thought was Princess. “Josiah, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine Princess,” Josiah said. “How long have you been in here?”
“Kingston must have grabbed me and pulled me in here during the explosion,” Princess answered.
“Oh…Okay. Are you okay Princess?” Josiah asked. The little girl nodded. “Wow, my little brother must really like you.”
“You think?” Princess asked.
“He saved you didn’t he? That means a lot. I mean I’ve saved Aubrey plenty of times. Oh chiz, Aubrey!” Josiah yelled. “AUBREY!”
“Aubrey’s the daughter of my Aunt Tyler and River’s sister. I’m pretty sure she’s okay,” Princess said. “They wouldn’t let her get hurt.”
Bluey finally spotted Kingston and ran to him. She swept her youngest up in a hug. “Where’s Josiah?” Bluey asked.
“We were underneath this dome of rubble. He’s still under there with Princess. His arm’s stuck underneath something, and he says it might be broken,” Kingston said as he pulled his mother towards Josiah and Prince. Bluey struggled to keep up with Kingston as he ran back towards the rubble.
When they got to the dome Kingston began to tear apart the rubble to get to his brother. Bluey joined in until the pile was gone and Josiah and Princess were in clear view. The stove laid on Josiah’s arm as Bluey and Kingston both stared at it in horror. “DANG!” They both said.
“Josie baby there’s a stove on your arm!” Bluey said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine mom. My arm’s just broken. Can you get the stove off,” Josiah asked. Bluey nodded as she, Kingston, and Princess pushed at the stove. Eventually, the stove slid off and Josiah was free. Kingston helped his older brother to his feet. Josiah held his arm as he looked at his mother. Instead of looking stylish, Bluey Davids was covered in mud, and her blue hair was messy on her head. “Mom…you look so….unclean…”
“It’s okay. I’ll just change later,” Bluey said. “Let’s go. You’re sister is waiting for me. And I know you’re mom is worried about you Princess.”
Princess smiled.
“Prince…” Tyler whispered. She ran her fingers through his hair again and his body lit up again. It faded away quickly, but less so than earlier. Tyler smiled. He was getting better. “Remember that time when you fought Mona for me? I remember. You couldn’t stand to let my murderer live. Well I can’t stand to let you die.”
“Aunt Tyler! Aunt Tyler!” Dakota yelled. Tyler looked up and saw a frantic Dakota, carrying her father. She landed and showed Tyler the unconscious Eli. “I think he’s badly hurt! He won’t wake up, all he does is flutter his eyes, but they don’t open.”
Tyler gave Prince to Dakota and took Eli. She placed her hands on his chest and his body lit up with blue light. Eli’s eyes opened as he sat up. “BLUEY!” He yelled. “Where’s Bluey?”
“She went to go find Kingston and Josiah,” Dakota said. “She’s okay dad.”
Eli looked around worriedly. “What happened to the colors?” Eli asked.
“They blew up along with the school. They’ll be back,” Tyler answered as she took Prince back. She continued to run her fingers through Prince’s hair, only a small flicker again. Tyler couldn’t understand why this wouldn’t work on him. She pressed her forehead to Prince’s and thought deeply about getting into his brain. I wanna know what you’re thinking.
Prince stood in a sad and gray Neverland Ranch. The cold wind blew the leaves around and the rust chipped the paint off the rides. Never had he seen it so dead. Why was this happening? Where had the magic gone? Where had his dad gone? Then a sudden light came towards him in the shape of a girl. Her short boy cut looked so familiar. “I’m trying to help you Prince,” She said.
“I don’t need help,” Prince said.
“Why won’t you let my magic in.”
“Magic’s dead.”
“Just because you watched another person’s magic die,” The girl began as she walked closer to Prince. She snapped and Neverland had come back to life. Its color reviving and the rides beginning to work again. Even the sun appeared. The girl smiled. It was Tyler. “Doesn’t mean everyone’s magic is dead.”
She spread her arms out for a hug. “Not mine, not River’s, not Aubrey’s, not the twin’s, and especially not yours Prince. You’re magic burns the brightest,” Tyler said as she hugged Prince. “Don’t put out your magic because you’re afraid that it will die anyways.”
The two went up in a white light.
Prince’s eyes opened, to see Tyler with her forehead pressed to his. “Tyler?” He mumbled. Tyler’s eyes opened as she looked at Prince with a smile. “What did you do?”
“I lit your magic again,” Tyler replied.
“Lit my magic?”
“I like to think of magic like a candle. The bigger the flame the more powerful. Yours is pretty small right now, but that’s just because its new. Its pretty bright for a small flame, so it looks very promising. Congratulations, you are now a Washington,” Tyler explained. Prince smiled at her. Hearing a weird commotion, the two turned their heads to see what was going on.
Of course it was the boys acting retarded. They all danced in a circle, swinging their shirts above their head and chanted, “Color”.
“River!” Prince yelled. The fourteen year old boy turned his head and stared at his father. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to bring the color back,” River said.
“Can I help?” Prince asked. River nodded as he continued the circle again. Prince got up and ran towards the group, pulling off his shirt in the process. Tyler watched with a smile as the boys, her boys, danced around like idiots. She especially smiled for River. She was glad that he was happy now, instead of guilty and ashamed. River should never be sad, it made everyone sad.
“We have a weird family huh?” Kai said.
“They aren’t you’re family Kai,” Tyler mumbled angrily. Kai ran his fingers under Tyler’s chin, but she kept her gaze towards Prince.
“Such angry words from the girl caught crying over my death,” Kai whispered as he disappeared. Tyler began to tear up, but wiped them away. Her focus left the dancing boys and went to the four figures coming towards them. One looked…no was….Bluey! Tyler got up and ran to her friend.
“Bluey!” She yelled as she waved her down. Bluey began to run towards Tyler.
“Tyler girl!” Bluey shouted.
“Bluey baby!” Tyler yelled. The two swept each other up in a hug. “Thank lord you’re okay!”
“Josiah’s not…his arm is broken. A stove landed on it,” Bluey explained.
“A stove?” Tyler asked with a questioning look. She looked at Josiah confused. He waved with his good arm.
“Yeah it was a stove,” He said. Tyler nodded slowly as she took Josiah’s arm.
“Well…I can heal it…but not all the way. I can fix the skin and reconnect the muscles…but the bones are pretty flipped up. They’re gonna have to heal the old fashion way,” Tyler said.
“What do you mean you can’t fix the bones! You freaking healed my husband of internal damage and you can’t fix a bone!” Bluey yelled.
“Dang it Bluey! I’m a wizard not a doctor!” Tyler yelled. “I’m not that good at going that deep down into the body.”
Bluey groaned like any mother would when a doctor told her such news. “Whatever! Just heal him please!” Bluey yelled.
“This is gonna sting Josiah,” Tyler warned. Josiah shrugged. Tyler gripped Josiah’s arm and lit it up in blue light. Josiah squealed out in pain, but his lip trying not to embarrass himself. Josiah’s broken skin healed, but his arm still felt broken. Tyler wiped out the pencil and drew Josiah a cast. “There you go!” Tyler said with a smile.
“Thanks Aunt Tyler!” Josiah said. Tyler patted his head, but her attention left her patient to her daughter. Aubrey jumped Josiah, and hugged her whole body around Josiah’s torso, leaning him back a little.
“OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! YOU’RE ALIVE! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” Aubrey giggled. Josiah smiled. Aubrey jumped off his back and hugged him from behind. “I WAS SO SCARED! I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE MY SPELL DIDN’T WORK AND YOU THREE GOT CRUSHED ANYWAY!”
“Aubrey, it’s okay. We’re all fine,” Josiah said. He turned to Aubrey. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, River healed me,” Aubrey said. Princess giggled at Josiah, as he smiled embarrassed.
“Good. I couldn’t stand to see you hurt,” Josiah said.
“Oh my lord! Josie, if you’re gonna sweet talk the girl, you might as well kiss her,” Bluey said.
“I think you kind of ruined the moment there Bluey,” Tyler said.
“You’re both kind of ruining the moment,” Aubrey said.
“Yeah…you guys kind of are,” Josiah said as he turned to his mother and aunt.
“Sorry…” The two said as they, Princess and Kingston scooted away.
“Aubrey there’s something I need to tell you,” Josiah said.
“What?” Aubrey asked.
*Due to the fact that Prince Jackson doesn’t want to see his little girl grow up, this moment shall be translated by Kenton and Kendall*
“I think you’re super pretty Aubrey!” Josiah said with Kenton’s voice.
“Really! That’s super nice Josiah!” Aubrey said with Kendall’s voice.
“I really like you! Will you go get ice cream with me?” Josiah asked.
“Of course! I can bring Kenton and Kendall!” Aubrey replied. The twins cheered.
“That’s not how it happened you two! Dad I’m going to grow up eventually, get over it. Can we please have this happened the way it really did?!” Aubrey yelled.
“But I like Kenton and Kendall’s version,” Tyler said. Aubrey snarled.
“I wanna get ice cream too,” River added.
“You can come River,” The twins proclaimed. The three cheered.
“NO YOU CAN’T! MOM!” Aubrey yelled.
“Leave your sister alone. Whatever Aubrey you can have your mushy gushy love scene,” Tyler teased.
“It’s not mushy gushy!” Aubrey cried.
“I think it’s pretty stupid,” Prince said.
“Daddy! How come it’s okay for River to date, but I can’t!”
“River’s….River’s…god dang it! I’m pinned! Tyler,” Prince said.
“I got nothing. Just let the scene play Prince,” Tyler said. Prince snorted.
“You remember back after Rasputin made you cry,” Josiah asked, “And we…”
“Kissed?”
“Yeah. I––” Josiah began, but Aubrey interrupted him with a kiss. Josiah was caught by surprise, but quickly regained his balance as he wrapped his arm around Aubrey’s waist and pulled her closer and deepened their kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth. He didn’t really know what he was doing, but he kind of had an idea from watching his sister and River.
Somewhere in the distance, Prince had just fainted.
The two teens pulled their lips away from each other and smiled at each other. “If this is gonna happen each time I break my arm. River and Noah should blow the school up more often,” Josiah teased. Aubrey giggled. “Ice cream later?” Josiah asked.
“Sure,” Aubrey replied.
“So even with all the destruction we caused, there’s still light in the darkness River,” Noah said.
“I guess you’re right,” River said as he shoved his hands in his pocket and looked at the sunset. Colors. The wind blew back his and Noah’s hair. “So I guess what my mom said was right. Without darkness, there would be no place for light to shine.”
“I think that’s what he needed,” Noah said. “A little darkness.”
“We’ve been spending so much time in the light that we lost sight of what really matters. Now that we had a taste of a little darkness, we can finally realize how much we need each other,” River said.
“I’m happy that we flipped up,” Noah said.
“Same here.”
The boys did their usual fist bump with smirks on their faces.
