(Time jump, Jimmy is 16)

Jimmy stood at her side, pride and relief overwhelming him.

"Thank you all for accepting me as your new queen." The citizens erupted in applause. Nobody was upset by the new royal.

That hurt Jimmy's heart a bit.

They bowed to the crowd, letting everyone's gratitude wash over them. Jimmy would assist his sister any way he could.

---

"So, how have you been?" Lizzie asked, signing some papers absently. She was already taking the role of being formal.

Jimmy could also see the change from his egotistical, and depressed sister he had last seen years ago. She was happier with glowing cheeks and wide smiles.

"Good," he replied, lounging next to her. He didn't really know what to talk about.

"Joel has talked about you." She glanced over at him quickly before looking back. "Says you have been doing better, well, before all this happened anyways."

"Yeah, I started playing piano again."

"Really?" She sounded pleasantly surprised. "But we don't have a piano anymore."

"I've been going to other kingdoms and playing." It was half truthful. He only really went to play for Scott.

"Dad let you visit other kingdoms?" He hummed in response. "Alright, why don't you go to one." She turned fully to him, abandoning her work. "If you want to visit somebody, go ahead. I'm fine with it."

For some reason, that made him upset.

"Do you not want to see me?" He asked, voice shaking.

"What?"

"Do you not want to see me?" He repeated a bit louder. "We haven't seen each other in ages and the minute you find out I have a way to leave, you just try to push me away!" He shouted standing up.

Lizzie eye's widened. "That is not what I meant! If something makes you happy, you should go and do it."

"Yeah right, you are only trying to get me out of here! You enjoyed me being gone, haven't you!"

"I've had time to pursue what I love and I think you should have time too! Just take some time, alright?" She asked but he shook his head.

"Unbelievable." He let out a watery laugh. "You still hate me. You haven't changed a single bit. What am I supposed to do, Lizzie? Why are you trying to act like father just DAYS before he had to go and die? All this nonsense about doing what makes you happy? I know that it was just his excuse to drown himself in his own sorrow! He would send me off to other kingdoms just for some alone time. I'm tired of being shoved away, Lizzie." He said, letting the tears gather in his eyes.

"I have to act like dad because he was right! We aren't shoving you away, we love you!" She said, getting up and moving closer to him.

"Why are you acting like you are the adult here? Why are you acting like a parent?" He asked, voice cracking.

"Because our parents are gone!"

The room became silent, just Lizzie staring mournfully and Jimmy fighting back the tears.

"They are gone," she whispered softly. "I have to be the parent now. It's our only choice. If staying here with me make you happy, then go ahead. I won't stop you." She said quietly but Jimmy shook his head.

"You had your chance." He then ran down the hall, Lizzie shouting after him.

---

When he had arrived at the palace, he was dizzy.

Scott opened the door and pulled Jimmy in for a hug. "Are you alright?" He asked softly.

Jimmy just scoffed.

"I'm just tired." They walked inside the warm palace, walking to Scott's room.

Inside, Jimmy flopped onto the bed, legs dangling off the edge. Scott let out a huff of laughter, jumping on the bed with him. The cod hybrid groaned into the soft fabric.

"Why does family have to be so complicated." He asked, sighing as Scot ran his hands through his hair.

"I don't know, someone just really hates you." Jimmy couldn't help but agree with that statement.

They stayed in each other comforts, Scott humming softly while petting Jimmy's hair. It was so calm, so peaceful like that.

"You need a break." Scott whispered, Jimmy nodding his head. "Stay with me here, we can figure something out. Lizzie wouldn't be mad."

"I know."

They stayed like that for the rest of the night.

---

"This was probably my best decision." Jimmy noted. Scott was leaning against him in the greenhouse, the only place they could be with the flowers and bees without being freezing.

"I suggested it." Scott blurt out, elbowing him slightly.

"Sure, sure, I guess you helped."

The bees buzzed around them peacefully.

---

Jimmy didn't intend leaving the palace so long. Ben didn't even follow him to the elven kingdom. But here he was, a year gone by without any contact from the fish kingdom other than a few messages, letting them know of his status.

Who was to blame him? He was having a rough time already and he wanted a break.

To suppress his emotions.

Sure, that wasn't healthy. He was trying to forget about his parent's deaths and the fear he had briefly as he was acting king. If he had a chance to even think about something, his mind would halt and he would dissociate for hours on end. Scott would curl up with him when he was like that, when he finally would break out of his thoughts, he would try to ignore Scott's pleas for explanation. If Jimmy didn't want to remember his parent's deaths, who was going to stop him?

Why would someone even try to stop him?

They would see the pain he would be in sometimes when he woke up every morning. The screams that echoed the halls before quiet sobbing and whispers of comfort could be heard. Nightmares would haunt Jimmy all night and he wouldn't get up even if the world was ending. Scott would stay by his side all day, moving his school work into the room and reading books to Jimmy as he stared up at the ceiling with unseeing eyes.

But Scott was there.

He picked up all the broken pieces and glass, ignoring how it cut his fingers just to help Jimmy through his burdens. Scott would pray to Aeor for guidance, at night, Jimmy could hear him praying from Jimmy's safety. In return, Jimmy would join him in the church as he practiced his religious beliefs.

Until Jimmy started to believe them too.

He believed in Aeor. Aeor was going to save him, he was going to be healed from everything bad that had happened in his life. His heart yearned for repentance for his sins, whatever sins he had committed. Scott had gifted him with his own necklace with the antlers on them, made of Lodestone, one of the most expensive crystals to exist in their world. Scott said it reminded him of his eyes.

He couldn't help but hold it close to his heart every night, praying quietly to a god that he hoped was listening.

---

The border was having trouble for a few days now.

Scott said it was no big deal, it sometimes happened when the poles didn't line up. Something about magnetism, at least that's what Jimmy thought he had said.

But something else was going on.

Jimmy could feel the chill in his bones as he saw the border flickering. The light was stuttering off and on. Aeor was trying to protect them from something, but they didn't know what.

Closing his eyes, he prayed and prayed. He needed that guidance, that love and protection with him now. Something was wrong. Something was always wrong.

The Ocean Empire wasn't communicating anymore. It hadn't been for months. Years.

How long has Jimmy been there?

Time was a tricky thing in a world with multiple universes. One place, time could pass by slow. Others, time could be fast. He didn't know what was happening in the outside world from the bubbled interior of the elven kingdom.

The bubble broke.

Magic floated from the skies and something sinister loomed on. Villiagers were screaming and running around, Jimmy was frozen in fear.

Thank god Scott was always prepared.

The elf took Jimmy's arm and pulled him, down into the middle of the kingdom. They were running as magic fell from the sky and burned stone behind them. Scott pulled him all the way to the Aeor statue in the middle of the plaza, pulling him down.

They huddled underneath.

Jimmy was crying, staring in disbelief as villagers disapeared right before his eyes, beings landing on the ground surrounding them. Scott held him tight, tryingnto keep his head down.

One of the beings came closer.

They were cloaked in darkness, wandering closer and closer to the two young teens. But the statue moved.

Aeor stood above them, knocking back the demon from attacking them.

"You can't touch them." It spoke in a voice that sounded ancient.

And Jimmy watched in disbelief as the two beings fought.

Aeor made sure to try and guard them, moving side to side in an effort to not step on them. Scott was staring up with shock.

Oh, so he had no idea either.

The being was impaled by the statue's antler, slumping on it. The god looked down at the two of the princes, huddled underneath with a kind look.

"Stay with me." He said, going back into a protective position.

Jimmy felt safe.

Aeor fought off more of the demons, hitting them away from the shelter he created. The elven kingdom was already destroyed but he was there, for the two of them.

However, he felt a hand grab his shoulder.

Looking to Scott, he saw the same fear wash over his face. One of the demons slipped past.

Up close, they were even more terrifying.

They had purple eyes that looked into Jimmy's soul for answers. Their face was glitched, swirling almost like a portal. They were terrifying.

They smirked, Jimmy was pushed away from Scott.

This is it, this is the end.

He blacked out when the back of his head hit a rock.