[sixteen: I just wanted to be like you]

"So, what do you think is in there?" Tavros asked hesitantly as they ventured slowly towards the dark island, the lack of wind slowing the ship as if warning them not to venture forward any further.

"Our worst nightmares." Edmund stated.

"Our darkest wishes." Caspian commented before he turned to Drinian.

"Pure evil." Drinian said before he turned to Tavros. "Tavros, unlock the armory."

"My lord." Tavros began to walk away whilst Drinian sighed.

"Archers, prepare yourselves." Drinian commanded as he looked over the crew.

"Aye, Captain."

"Light the lanterns." Tavros demanded as he walked down the steps and walked past the archers on the ship, Caspian turning to Edmund with a reassuring smile.

"Let's get ready."

+++

Gael and Lucy were in their chambers, the latter looking in the mirror of her room as she fixed her hair with a smile on her face - she was finally at a point in her life when she was happy with who she was. Gael sat behind her on the bed, watching her every move with a soft smile - wanting ever so much to be as brave as the role model in front of her.

"When I grow up, I want to be just like you." She whispered and Lucy's smile widened as she turned to Gael and sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"When you grow up..." Lucy started as she met the young girl's eye. "you should be just like you."

"Hey, is everything alright in here?" Genevieve asked and Lucy nodded as Genevieve smiled and knelt in front of Gael. "When we get to the island don't come out until I come and get you darling. It's dangerous out there and your father and I don't want you getting hurt okay?"

"Okay." Gael whispered as Genevieve kissed her forehead, the girl leaving the two younger girls alone before Gael called after her. "Be careful."

Genevieve immediately made her way to her own chambers, not surprised to see Ron in there trying to put on his chain mail armor and Genevieve chuckled before advancing towards him and helping him put it on properly - much to his relief.

"Are you sure about this?" Genevieve asked him as she met her younger cousin's eye in the mirror, the boy nodding with a smile.

"Of course I'm sure," Ron stated with a confident smile as he met her eye. "Eustace, Reep and I are a power trio."

"We don't know what's in there Ron," Genevieve whispered as she turned him around to face her. "I don't want you getting hurt."

"If I'm hurt it'll be on my own accord and nobody else's." Ron stated as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Eustace will protect me."

"But then who's protecting Eustace when Reep steps off?" Genevieve asked him and Ron only shrugged with a smile.

"As I said, we're a power trio. We'll protect each other." He stated before Genevieve surprisingly pulled him into a tight embrace.

"Please be careful." She whispered and Ron sighed as he wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling at how concerned she was for his well-being.

"When have I ever not been?"

"Promise me you'll be okay." She whispered as her voice became feeble at the end, her embrace becoming tighter as Ron's eyes widened.

"I promise you." He whispered back as they broke their embrace, the two looking at each other - Ron towering over her due to their height difference. "This is my chance to finally prove myself once and for all."

"You already have." She complimented before her look became stern. "You're so brave Ron but don't throw yourself into a fight selflessly."

"I just wanted to be like you, always have." Ron whispered whilst he refused to meet Genevieve's eyes.

"And I want you to be better Ron." She stated as she turned Ron to look at her. "Please be safe and it it gets too hard, take Eustace and get out of here."

"But..." Ron started to whine as Genevieve sent him a stern look and he sighed, a pained look crossing his face. "fine."

+++

Caspian and Edmund stood in the map room, the two silent as they prepared for the battle that would likely occur on the dark island as they searched for the last lord and his sword. Edmund looked down at himself and sighed in frustration as he couldn't do part of his armor up - catching Caspian's attention as he looked at the boy.

"In case we don't get through whatever this is..." Caspian started as he adjusted Edmund's armor and tightened it. "I want you to know I think of you as my brother, Ed."

"Me too." Edmund stated as he smiled at Caspian, the older boy looking at Edmund with a proud look.

"You gave up your sword."

"It wasn't mine to keep." Edmund reasoned before he turned around, his eyes widening at the weapon Caspian was holding.

"Use this."

"But it's..." Edmund started before Caspian smiled at him.

"Peter would want you to have it." He insisted as he pushed the sword towards Edmund, the boy taking it with a smile before he turned to Caspian and pulled him into a hug - unaware of the girl who leant on the door frame with a smile on her face.

"May I have a word?" Genevieve asked as the boys pulled apart, her eyes meeting Edmund's who turned to Caspian who smiled at the two.

"Of course, he's all yours." Caspian stated as he patted the girls shoulder on the way out, leaving the married couple alone.

"Hi." Edmund said as Genevieve started to walk towards him.

"Hi."She whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck and immediately pulled him into a very much needed kiss, Edmund smiling as he wrapped his arms around her waist - enjoying the first kiss they'd had in a while.

"What was that for?" Edmund asked in a whisper as the two pulled apart, their breaths heavy as they lent their foreheads against each other after their kiss had ended.

"Good luck..." Genevieve whispered back with a soft smile on her face as she met Edmund's eye. "and we haven't really been spending a lot of time together lately."

"Gen..." Edmund started before Genevieve pulled back as she let one arm wrap around his neck whilst the other lightly caressed his cheek.

"Tell me you'll survive, that the mist won't infatuate you again."

"Of course I'll survive, that mist will never hurt me again." Edmund whispered back in reassurance, Genevieve eyes showing an unknown emotion as she took a sharp breath.

"How do you know?"

"Because I've got my very own anchor to keep my mind set." He stated as he tightened his grip on Genevieve's waist, the girl blushing as she met Edmund's eye again - momentarily forgetting that she and this boy didn't have forever like she had hoped.

"Really? And what is this anchor you speak of?" She asked as her hands interlocked behind his neck as she was smiling up at her husband.

"You..." He whispered as he ran his hand across her red cheeks. "it's always you."

"I love you Edmund." Genevieve whispered as she lent up and pressed a faint kiss to his cheek, the boy smiling as she pulled away from his embrace. "Be safe."

"I promise, and this time I won't break it." He ensured her as the girl walked out of the door leaving Edmund with a smile on his face.

He couldn't be more in love.

+++

The dark island drifted into view, the sky becoming dark and eerie as the dragon and the mouse ventured towards it. Eustace stopped abruptly upon seeing the island, how the azure sky was engulfed in darkness as lightning cursed the island below it as he shuddered slightly - Reepicheep smiling at the island.

"There it is, my friend. Our battle awaits." Reepicheep stated before Eustace shook his head, the dragon flying backwards and away from the island as Reepicheep tried to desperately hold on as Eustace squirmed through the sky in fear.

"Eustace, no! Halt! Eustace, stop! Stop!" Reepicheep shouted as Eustace stopped abruptly, the mouse landing on his snout. "I will not accept surrender. A noble warrior does not run from fear. Look at me! Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

Eustace growled lowly and Reepicheep laughed as he stood up on the dragon's snout.

"I am a mouse. You... you're a dragon." He exasperated happily as he looked at Eustace. "You've got skin like chain mail. You breathe fire. Come on, let's meet our destiny."

Eustace still didn't budge and Reepicheep sighed as he climbed back onto Eustace's back and patted it.

"Let's go pick up Ron." Reepicheep stated and with those words the dragon immediately started moving as he soared towards the ship - spotting Ron sat over the edge of the deck, waiting for the dragon who stopped abruptly in front of him - Ron chuckling as he instantly started stroking his scales.

"Did you miss me sweetheart? You look magnificent today." Ron complimented the dragon who cuddled into his hand, Ron smiling before he climbed onto Eustace's back and greeting Reepicheep. "Let's go!"

And Eustace started towards the island.