In the silence of silver light, the forgotten speak—their whispers weaving through the hearts of the lost.
His eyes burned liquid silver. His lips moved again, shaping a tongue that made Tinker Bell's wings tremble:
"Veyla…elaren tuvalis. Save the tribe… and you will find me."
The glow guttered. He collapsed.
Tinker Bell caught him, breath shallow, heart racing. "Peter—Peter!"
Aenor's hackles rose. "That was not the boy. That was Noctis… and he's using him like a vessel."
Inside the quiet of Peter's mind, doors blew open. Memories flooded in—Everland, Tinker Bell's laugh in moonlight, George's crown of thorns and shadow, Selene's cold hands, the ritual, the stillborn body, the shard pulsing beneath his ribs. And beneath it all, a deeper current: the distant roar of a celestial heart—Noctis's heart—his heart now—beating with ancient power. Fragments of the moon god's memories flickered: drowned cities, shattered tides, betrayal written in silver fire.
His eyelids fluttered. The silver haze drained away, revealing the warm gleam of his golden eyes
He looked at her—really looked—and a soft, startled smile touched his lips. Calm. Composed. Older.
"Tinker Bell," he breathed, voice steady, reverent. "You're here. And… youn… Cuter as always." A quick glint of mischief. "Unfair, really."
She blinked, thrown off. "Peter?"
He exhaled, hand pressing lightly to his chest, feeling the cosmic thrum beneath. "Peter… George… and something else. I know now. There's a heart of a god inside me. His power. His memories—pieces, not whole. Enough to know he wants the Nocti Tribe saved… and that he's trapped."
Aenor stepped forward, sniffing him, unsure. Aenor's tail lashed. "The boy is changing. The shadow inside him… it is not his own."
Before Aenor could observe him more closely, Tinker Bell called out,
"Aenor, we have a quest—and this might lead us to Noctis. But…" Her voice trailed into a whisper meant only for herself. If only Selene hadn't sealed my powers. Aenor will need me—he could get caught in that Aethereal Bind again.
Peter saw Tinker Bell in distress, and he thought of a trick to unleash Tinker Bell's powers without disclosing his Identity. He faked a pain in his chest and cried loudly in vain, Tinker Bell worried, approached him and placed her hand on his chest thinking to herself if Noctis is again taking control over him, but without her knowledge Peter chanted a spell, "Elaris Ventora, Solvi Astralis!" that he learned from Noctis's memories to break magic seals
And then, it happened.
The glow beneath Peter's ribs pulsed, a heartbeat of blue fire—and his eyes snapped open, molten silver burning inside them.
He caught her wrist suddenly, his grip firm but strangely calm. "Moon Fairy," he said, his voice echoing with something otherworldly, "place your hand here."
She hesitated. "Peter, what are you—"
"Not Peter," he mimicked Noctis's voice, pulling her palm against his chest. "Chant with me. Say it: Elaris Ventora, Solvi Astralis!
Tinker Bell's lips trembled as the words left her mouth. The moment she did, a burst of luminous energy surged from Peter's chest, like a star collapsing and exploding all at once. The force hurled her backward—
—but her wings instinctively fluttered open, catching her midair.
She stared at him, breathless. Alive. Awake. Changed.
Joy swelled in her chest, and before she could think, she flew straight to him and kissed him—soft, fierce, full of all the fear and relief she'd been holding in.
When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed as though they'd caught fire. Peter blinked at her for a moment… then smirked.
That wasn't meant for you," her voice trembling.
Well," he smirked, "whoever it was meant for, I don't mind being the one to receive it… especially if it's that physical."
"Don't feel embarrassed," he said with a grin that was way too smug. "Girls just can't resist my charm. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if that happened again. You know… for good luck."
Tink froze, then swatted his shoulder. "You—!" Her face burned hotter. Was it irritation? Was it something else? She wasn't sure.
Aenor growled, circling them like an annoyed guardian.
Peter tilted his head. "Sheesh, moments ago you were fighting that… whatever he was, for me. And now you're showing fangs? Make up your mind, boy."
"Respect him," Tink snapped. "Aenor is a celestial being. Show some manners."
Peter held up his hands in mock surrender. "As you wish, my lady." He exaggerated a pout. "Oh, is this because of the kiss? You're blushing. Adorable."
Tink rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, but inside, she was still trembling.
"Enough of this," she said sharply. "Come here and stand in front of me. We might face Hook again, and for that, you'll need a shield."
Peter's grin widened. "Aww, you care about me. Are you in love with me, fairy?"
She ignored the question, placed her palm gently over his head, and murmured a soft incantation. A glowing blue aura shield formed around him, shimmering like moonlight trapped in glass.
Peter flexed his shoulders. "Well, where's the shield? I don't see anything."
Rolling her eyes, Tinker Bell replied, "That's because it's invisible."
"Invisible?" Peter whispered, leaning closer. "Hey, do I also get an invisible sword too?"
"No," Tink said flatly.
"Well then, I'll just stay behind you, and you, fairy, will protect me," Peter said with a mocking grin. "If anything happens to me—or my beautiful face—those mermaids will come after you."
She fluttered past him, ignoring his ridiculous comment
"We're going after Hook before he destroys everything."
Peter leaned back. "Wait, we? You mean we're going there? Just the two of us? Alone time, hmm?"
Aenor's growl made the ground vibrate.
Tink sighed, "Ignore him, Aenor. We have people to save."
The wolf nodded and leapt skyward, vanishing into the mist above. Tink grabbed Peter's hand. "Hold tight. We're going by ground."
Peter smirked. "Oh, I like where this is going—"
The ground swallowed them in a flash of blue light.
On the Twilight Lagoon -
The Nocti tribe, already weighed down by shame because their daughters had willingly gone with the sirens, now found themselves rebelling against their own deity, Noctis. They feared that a dark omen would soon bring chaos upon them.
Gathered around the bonfire, they prayed desperately as stormy winds rose, whipping the flames into wild, writhing shapes. Fear etched every face, and all eyes turned to Elder Muniya.
But Elder Muniya had no answers. Her weathered hand slipped into her pocket, fingers curling around the grey pearl gifted by Thaliena. She held the pearl in her palm and whispered a plea: "Show me the unseen."
The pearl shimmered—and what it revealed was pure chaos.
Elder Muniya rose abruptly, her voice firm despite the fear tightening her chest. "Prepare yourselves," she said. "A storm is coming."