'Hello, Killian.'
The dark haired captain straightened up and looked around. Swan Lake was missing...hell, the whole Hall of Shattered Sight was missing. Instead he was in some sort of large room with several tall windows depicting different places...perhaps they were portals to other realms with each one having a different color scheme or perhaps catered to certain types of environments.
A soft chuckle drew his attention to the blue tinted portal. The surface rippled like raindrops on a pond and a man walked through it...a man that looked just like him but the eyes were wrong. The irises were still a deep blue but held a vibrancy that seemed ethereal and almost like a liquid.
'Poseidon.'
The man smiled softly at him and nodded his head in affirmation. The man before him was her God of the Sea, the man that saved Artz from the end of her world, the man that had raised his son...how was this possible? Why was this meeting even occurring in the first place?
'This meeting is occurring because you shattered a mirror that was not your own...specifically my mirror. *opens his mouth to speak* Don't speak, just listen. Within the Hall of Shattered Sight, time does not exist and because it does not exist, the effect of a shard shattering happens all at once.
A shard of a mirror is still a mirror because it still reflects. By shattering that mirror, you made it possible for her to see you. Not as me, not as Jimmy, but as Killian. You shattered her perception of me, allowing her to fall in love with you, as if Poseidon never existed which at the current moment...I don't actually exist anymore.
There's only you now and you are Killian Jones, you have always been Killian Jones and you will never stop being Killian Jones. Poseidon is the name of a deity from Greek mythology...nothing more, nothing less. A story, a myth, a creation to describe the true power and might of the ocean. I'm not a god, a kami, a deity, and I'm certainly not immortal. I'm not even real. *tries to interject but is cut off*
Killian, you shattered my mirror...what part of I don't exist anymore, did you not comprehend? As of right now, I am nothing more than a work of fiction...a character with a fancy title and a badass introduction but that's it! That's all I am to her now! She has her Child of the Sea now...your power as a water elemental has been restored to you. She doesn't need me anymore...Her God of the Sea. *gasps as Poseidon begins disintegrate like the people of Artz's world*
It's started...not long now. She won't even remember me, no one will...not even you. My story is being unwritten because little Killi can't get his head out of his ass! Letting his fear control him like a child that's scared of the dark. *looks at Killian, tears streaming down his face and a multitude of emotions raging in his eyes*
I want to hate you, you fucking idiot, but I can't because it's true. I'm terrified of everything and that never goes away, but Artz...she has it so much worse than we do because she loves us, all of us. She cares so deeply and so much and tries to carry the burden alone...I don't know how she finds the strength to keep going, to never give up, to have courage and to be kind...even to those that believe that they don't deserve it...like me and Jimmy and so many others.
I never thought that I would ever experience the horror of losing everything, watching everything becoming undone. I never thought I would feel the way she did at the end of the world; all that sorrow and grief, despair and bloody frustration because I...I don't wanna go. *looks over at Killian, his eyes filled with a forlorn hope* Why can't I stay?'
There was a long pregnant pause, the air saturated with intense emotion. Killian could feel everything inside of Poseidon's heart...he was dying and it was his fault.The younger Jones stood there and just stared, watching more and more of his counterpart disappear. Dear God, what has he done? What was he supposed to do? Could anyone actually do anything in a situation like this?
A high pitch giggle echoed through the room, the portals ceasing to exist and leaving only empty frames behind. The aura shifted drastically from their combined emotions to something far more sinister and lethal. The room was blanketed in darkness, only the faint glow from the portal frames offering any kind of illumination.
'Oh shit, not good. *grunts* You've got to get out of here, Killian. So long as you exist, she will live. Now get out of here while I distract him!'
'Tough shit because I'm not leaving you just so you can act like a bloody meat shield. I'm not a coward and neither are you! If this is to be your end then I'm gonna make it a good one. *both men smirking at each other because of their stubbornness*'
A burgundy cloud of swirling magic appeared between them to reveal a man that looked like he had the skin of a lizard? A snake? Some kind of reptile at the very least and he giggled, prancing about in a flamboyant manner...he was completely mad...and very, very creepy.
'Using the crocodile for inspiration again? You could at least try to be original every once in a while, but then again, you are nothing more than a parasite...gorging yourself like an overstuffed pig.'
'So feisty, my dear Captain, and might I say that you look good enough to eat.'
Parasite? Killian remembered what Swan Lake had said about a demonic parasite that had tried to devour William's soul. What did she call it? It had a name...what was the name?
'Balthazar.'
'*giggles* Indeed I am and I thank you for your most generous gift. *gift?* Oh yes, for you see, little Killi, in order to protect you...well what's left of you...her beloved god of the sea is allowing himself to be devoured in your stead. *head snaps to Poseidon, who looks away but does not deny it*
You wanted your love to see you and only you, to see who you truly are, but that's not going to happen now. *confused* It is such a great pleasure and honor seeing you like this, dearie...so lost and confused, afraid and alone. To think that the Third Captain could ever have been this weak and fragile, so very breakable you are and so very foolish.
You see but do not observe and that, dearie, will be your undoing because there's no one to aid you now. You're on your own and we both know that you don't have the resolve to do what needs to be done, to see it through to the end...a very bitter and lonesome end. Be honest with yourself, little boy, you're nothing more than an empty child, the core of your being having long since stolen from you.'
The parasite's words were shooting through his heart, piercing him so deeply and striking his very soul. He was right, he was alone and he has been for a long time...his brother was dead, his mother was dead, his father was dead, his son has already died once and Artz had died countless times...it was his destiny to be alone because everything he dares to love is destroyed. He carves them out and makes them hollow...just like him.
It honestly didn't matter anymore, any of it..Killian or Poseidon...none of it mattered. He didn't matter. He was faintly aware of Poseidon calling out to him, his voice full of panic and desperation. Why would he care? Why would her God of the Sea give a damn about him?
He was just a peasant boy with delusions of grandeur. He joined the Navy so that he could see the world but to also do something good, something worthwhile. He wanted to be a man of honor and valor, earning respect and devotion by his own two hands. To build a life that he could be proud of. Then he met Clare, the most impossible woman he had ever known and discovered what it truly meant to love someone and to know how it felt to be loved in return.
Then everything started changing, the seas becoming a mighty maelstrom that sent him spiraling into oblivion. Becoming a father, only to lose his wife. To find a new love, only to lose his son. To seek revenge on the traitorous bitch and her husband, easily fulfilling that task, but losing himself in the process. Casting off the name of Killian Jones to venture forth and become the Scourge of the Sea, his soul shattering completely. After all of that, everything he accomplished was meaningless, his life was worthless, he was nothing...Poseidon.
The world began to darken around him as his counterpart's voice became fainter. The world needed Poseidon, not him. The Star Child needed her God of the Sea, not the Terror of the Deep. His son needed his father, not his papa. Pointless, senseless, worthless, useless, powerless...he really was nothing.
With his eyes closed and his thoughts turned inward, he didn't see or sense when another's presence had joined his own. A girl with soft, rose colored hair with blue eyes, her clothes being that of a gothic style pixie, connected her feet to his, as if becoming a reflection of him. That connection opened the way to a place known as the Mirror verse. Why did this occur because he needed to know the truth.
He reopened his eyes when heard a multitude of ripping and shredding sounds, along with the sound of electricity. He watched as the very fabric of reality was torn asunder, creating a path to another world...Artz's world...and there she was, straining against the dimensional barrier dividing their two worlds. The darkness was getting closer...she was gonna die. Where was he and the other one...Light?
She screamed as she forced herself through, the sudden lack of resistance sent her running out of the rift. She staggered and fell to her knees, the last breath of air from her world being exhaled rather quickly. She took a breath in this new world, only to start choking. She cluched her throat and grabbed at her chest, tears streaming down her face. It looked like she was suffocating, but how could that be? She was perfectly fine in his version of reality.
His entire body stilled and the truth slapped him hard in the face. He did matter because without him, the very air itself would kill her. Emma's words rang through his mind...Poseidon Killian Jones. He watched the woman he loved breathe her last breath, her eyes open and staring at the starless sky. The darkness had come to this world too and she died alone, not a soul in the world even knowing her name.
It was his turn to scream and scream he did in complete and utter agony. He couldn't let this happen, he wouldn't let this happen...Killian, Poseidon, Child of the Sea, the God of the Sea...it didn't matter who he was because he was hers and that was enough! He will destroy this future and create a new one...for her...for his star...his guiding star!
That terrible vision of the future shattered like a mirror, the shards turning to dust and flowing into him. He was once again in the portal room, but his counterpart was gone, having merged with his being as he chose to change the future that had yet to come.
'To change the future is to change the past.'
Killian could feel it inside of himself, the piece that he had been missing from his soul. Emma had tried to tell him, but he was too stupid to realize it. Even Artz had tried to tell him, mainly through her actions...he was a fucking idiot. The demonic parasite known as Balthazar simply giggled like he was nothing more than a pebble in his boot.
'Do you honestly believe that? That you can change anything at all? You may have reawakened your heritage, little Killi, but without your past, you cannot wield it and even if you did, you do not possess the fortitude to withstand the true power and might of the Sea. Just a weak little boy crying for his mummy.'
Killian looked behind the parasite to see a woman with chocolate brown hair and eyes of the most magnificent and majestic purple he had ever seen, amethyst of the highest quality and free from all impurities. She was dressed in a rather plain looking dress, the sleeves tied up as if she had been working or cleaning, her hair was spun into a sloppy bun and she was giggling like a mad woman.
'Sorry, couldn't resist.*
The crocodile shaped parasite reacted quite negatively to her sudden presence, his body changing to a more aggressive stance.
'*hisses* You again. Don't you have anything better to do? I'm rather annoyed with your constant interference of my affairs. Go away already. I'm busy.'
The amethyst eyed maid gave him a dead panned expression like they had gone through this same discussion over and over again.
'Well if you just stayed put than I wouldn't bother you all the time and don't you talk to me about interference. You're the one that keeps causing all this nonsense and you know who has to clean that up...me!'
There was a brief flash of light and the lizard man was gone, a crystalline bottle left in his place with gold sparkles swirling around it. The woman picked up the mystical item, shaking her head while sighing heavily. She then turned her attention towards him and he stiffened.
'*smiles softly* You did it, Killian Jones. You broke the mirror that was not your own, the mirror that held that terrible, unchangeable future...you did the impossible and saved her, you saved us all. I know that you're overwhelmed and that you require time to think but unfortunately, your work is not yet done. Your friends, your son, my sister...they are still in a danger and could really use your help. In other words...GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUM AND DO SOMETHING, YOU STUPID CLOTPOLE!'
Artz: And that's where I'm ending it because I've got to get back to work or I'll get in trouble with my boss. Be back in a bit to finish the wrap up.
*appears from a swirling blue fog of magic*
Okay, I'm back. My work day became the ultimate clusterfuck between my shoes literally falling apart, created new ones with the soles and a lot of duct tape (thank you, Mythbusters), only for the electricity to go out, barely able to scrounge up enough supplies to tie everything off, humidity was off the charts, became an all you can eat buffet for the mosquitoes, second generator wouldn't work, light bulbs were starting to short out and the repair guys suggested that I should just go sit in my car just to be on the safe side.
Hook: Bloody hell, wench. You are really are a magnet for trouble.
Poseidon: *coughs* Super magnet.
Light: *smirks* Tesla coil.
Hook/Poseidon: Shit. *runs away and directly into the pre-established electrical fields created by King and Wolftech, who are snickering like idiots while watching the camera footage*
Artz: Thanks, boys! Now...time to finish up the next article because I had started in on it after finishing the rough draft of this one.
P.S. Special Shout outs for Anna, Hope, and Ren! Much love and overflowing gratitude to my most loyal and dedicated fans!
Fantastic post! I absolutely love it! I particularly liked the hall of doors with different color schemes and how you added Rumple! Thanks so much for sharing! :)
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