Neverland

Chapter VI

Our objective is to find and get the crown off of the top of Never Mountain.  As if naming this place 'Neverland' wasn't enough, they had to name their mountains similarly.  Talk about unoriginal.

After Jasmine explained the rules (I only paid attention to the facts we need to travel in groups of two), Bella and I went onto the ship once more.

"Why are we here again?"  I asked her.

"Each fairy may give their competitor one item to wish them good luck.  I am here to give that item to you."  She said.  She still refused to look directly at me.  At first, I thought she was feeling guilty for bringing me here, but then I remembered that is wasn't called the 'Battle of the Crowns' for being safe and fun for its competitors.

She doesn't want to get too attached.  Which is good, I guess.

"Do I get to choose the item?"  I asked her.  She nodded, and I began to think.  My mind instantly went to one item:  Mr. Smith's jacket.  It was the only jacket I've seen him wear around to Father.  When I stayed with him before learning that Father wasn't coming back, he wouldn't leave his room without it. It was like his prized possession.

It was my tenth birthday wish to wear it for a day. I grabbed the wooden sword Father gave me before saying goodbye, and I'd pretend to be a pirate just like Father. The fantasy didn't last long, but my love for the jacket remained.

Then my mind wandered into a darker part of my brain. Half of my brain wondered if Mr. Smith was still alive. He has to be. A simple stab wound can't kill the former pirate. Isn't it wrong to steal if he's still alive?

The other half replied with a 'no'. He's not alive. I failed to go back to his side once the guards left. It was a terrible wound, me helping him might've just delayed his death. Anyone who wants their drinks tonight will be sadly disappointed when they find out the only bar in Moondrop is closed forever.

Then again, maybe that will be the thing that makes the townspeople realize they should start to get sober.

I shook my head. I needed to focus on the jacket. It was definitely getting cold here and maybe a jacket could help me from freezing to death. If Mr. Smith really is dead, then the jacket has no other use, right?

"Any time now,"  Bella said impatiently.  Her dark hair was now in a bun and her arms were folded across her chest.  "We still have to summon the object and I need to talk to you about something."

"Alright.  I think I know what I want."  I said back with a hint of sass in my voice a few seconds later.

"Finally,"  She said as she walked over to me.  She looked over my shoulder, still refusing to look directly at me.  She put both of her hands on my cheeks like she was holding my head from being torn off or something.  "Focus on the object and it will appear."

I nodded, and I closed my eyes.  I replayed every memory I could think of with the jacket on it, and I focused on the jacket itself.  It seemed to have a glow around it in every memory.  I began to remember every last detail.

I remembered the last time I wore it.  It went to my knees, and it had many buttons and buckles on it.  It had pockets so big I could fit my hand and part of my arm easily.  It was a dark green when I was younger, but over the years the color faded into a greenish-gray.  I remembered how it felt.  The old leather was worn so much it was soft to the touch.  I remembered the smell of it.  It smelled like cinnamon, but alcohol was a pretty strong scent, too.  If I focused enough, I could smell the ocean like it was a distant memory I never experienced.

Throughout this experience, it felt like I was either dreaming or reliving these memories.  It made me a little homesick, wanting to go back in time just to relive them for real.

Before I knew it, Bella let go.  I opened my eyes and blinked a couple of times.  "What was that?"

"I accessed your memories to get a good visual of the item you chose..."  She said awkwardly, a sad look in her eye.  "I'm sorry about your father."

I shrugged.  I didn't want to think about him or his weird experience on the boat earlier.  Not right now.  "It's fine.  He doesn't deserve that title anyways."

Bella nodded, and she took a few steps back.  She then held both hands in front of her, and they began to glow a bright blue.  Not even five minutes later the light died down to reveal the jacket.

"Whoa."  I said in awe.  I gently took it from her hands like it was a fragile object that could shatter like glass if I didn't handle it properly.  I felt the soft leather, and quickly put it on.  I smelled the collar of the shirt to find that it smelled exactly like the original.  The look, the feel, everything was the same.  I felt my eyes begin to tear up again at the thought of Mr. Smith.

Bella then hugged me like a mother would to comfort her child.  If I had to be honest, it was nice.  I was never hugged like that since Mother- at least the person I consider Mother, died.  Father would try, but it wasn't as warm.  I even let out a few sobs and allowed a few tears to fall.  If I wanted to win, I needed at least five minutes of this.

However, the moment was ruined when Bella whispered into my ear.

"Let's head somewhere else.  I need to tell you about something involving Jasmine."

Okay, so this is chapter VI.

Hope everyone likes it so far.

Yeah next chapter you will meet a new character (oh wow this makes it feel like the book is progressing slowly)