Neverland's Darkest Shadow

Chapter 20- True Magic Is...

Crystal’s POV:

I stood there with my jaw practically to the floor as I looked at the love of my life standing before me. I never, ever thought that somehow I could fix the curse, but I smiled at him when I finally understood why I suddenly did.

“Peter…” I whispered with a smile. He walked over and cupped my face, pulling me into the deepest kiss I had ever experienced. So many emotions filled our souls as we stood in our embrace. Love, relief, happiness…

I pulled back and rested my head against Peter’s chest as he wrapped his arms around me. Tears started falling from both of our eyes as we held each other close.

“I-I thought,” I choked, “I thought I had lost you forever…” Peter rubbed my back. I knew he was trying to speak, but through his tears he just simply couldn’t, so I kept talking.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you, Peter… I was so scared that I had failed you, the lost boys, and the rest of Neverland. I didn’t know what true magic was. I didn’t understand how to find it, until it came to me within seconds of my death…” Peter pulled  back and smiled through his tear-stained eyes.

“I’m so happy to see you, Crystal. Can I tell you something?” Peter asked. I nodded.

“When I was ‘dead’, I heard every single word you spoke to me the entire time you were in the tent. Even when we were about to die.” I cocked my head in confusion.

“But, how? You were dead. How did-” I stopped, realizing how, “It was your shadow who heard…wasn’t it?” Peter smiled and nodded. He brought a hand up and wiped my tears away with his thumb.

“If shadows could cry, I’d be sobbing. I want you to know that I love you so much, Crystal. You came to my side during your last moments when you could have been any place else. Do you understand what true magic is now?” I nodded.

“True magic… is our love. That’s what true magic has been all along, Peter. It’s the reason we always came back to find one another, it’s the reason we forgave each other, it’s the reason we believed, it’s the reason you saved me from harm, it’s the reason I stayed with you…” Tears started coming down my face again. Peter leaned down and kissed away each one. I nuzzled my head underneath his chin and sighed as I clutched his jacket on his chest. He pressed his lips to my forehead, keeping his arms around me.

“You know,” I giggled, “For a lost boy who just resurrected from the dead, you’re really hot.” Peter laughed and pulled back, throwing me over his shoulder and carried me out of the tent. I fought against his grasp and finally he set me down.

We began running along Neverland’s beach, chasing each other like puppies romping. My giggles were uncontrollable as Peter finally caught up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, twisting me in circles.

He set me down and pressed a quick kiss to my neck. I turned around and smiled. Everything was perfect. I stood up on my tiptoes and leaned in for a kiss when I heard something behind us. I turned around and before I could see anything, a hand reached into my chest and pulled my heart out.

“NO!” Peter yelled, catching me as I fell to the sand in his arms. He looked up with major fury burning in his eyes. Before us stood The Dark One, Hook, and the rest of the lost boys including Felix in the clutches of the crew’s arms.

“Well well…” Hook grinned, “Look who’s alive!” His crew laughed for no reason at all. I looked up at Peter with a petrified look as tears brimmed my eyes from the pain in my chest. He pulled me close and kept an arm around me while with the other, he drew a dagger.