#skeleton uncle

“You are,” Johnny said gently, holding Esther’s hand kindly. He gave it a gentle squeeze. “I think... maybe you should see that place again. Your old home? So you can get closure. Y’know... move on?”

“Maybe,” she sighs. “But... it came before a time of proper knowledge. Even if we could travel there, I wouldn’t know where it was.” Johnny thought to himself.

He stood up and held out his hand to Esther.

“Then let’s figure it out.”

——

After researching maps, books, linguistics, and asking Mabuz and other citizens of the kingdom who once were from the ancient land of Syche, the couple thought they finally found the destination. Looking in a modern map and comparing it to the older ones, Johnny found the coordinates and presented them to his parents on a small slip of paper.

“Now this teleported is still in beta,” Adam relaxed in his seat in the lab, stretching his long body out. Don’t know yet what it’ll do to Esther.”

“Be careful,” Makoto warned her son. “None of us have ever gone there.”

“Are you sure you don’t want us to come?” John asked. Johnny smirked.

“No offense, Pops, but this is supposed to be just an ‘us’ thing,” he said. Makoto punched in the coordinates and the lights of the machine flickered on. John felt his heart beat jump at the familiar lights and sounds, but Makoto placed an arm around his. She squeezed it gently. Adam slid his hand to John and squeezed the other, though he kept a cool look on.

Johnny gave a smile to Esther, held her hand, and the two walked through.

The young woman gasped at what she saw.

The sun shone brightly on the land, though there wasn’t much left. The ancient land was covered in grass and nature consuming the collapsed temples and homes. Esther slowly wandered in awe at the nature taking it over.

“Are you sure there’s no one here?” she asked. Johnny nodded and pushed up the sleeves of his jacket, feeling the warmth of the land.

“This place is really only seen by people who like history and that kinda jazz,” he shrugged. “See that fence? And they’re closed today. We’re just trespassers, that’s all.”

“I cannot be a trespasser in my own land,” Esther crossed her arms with a small frown. “They have no right to block it off—“ She became distracted as she spotted something in the distance. Before Johnny could even ask if she was alright, she ran towards some of the rubble.

Johnny jogged to her side as Esther knelt down amongst some debris. She picked up a stone face, of a woman. Johnny squinted at it.

“This was my mother,” she smiled solemnly. Johnny squatted beside Esther. “Her name was Genevieve. She died after I was born.”

“How come she’s, um...”

“Stone?”

“Yeah.”

“It was tradition,” Esther quietly explained, “for deceased priests and priestesses to be remembered with statues within our temples. They became Guardians, people who were equal to... what others might call angels or saints, who represented virtues, morals, goodness of the world, and now facilitated wishes and conversations between those of us here, and those of us... passed. Above. Spoke to our gods and goddesses.”

“I’m... sorry it’s broken,” Johnny spoke gently. Esther set the stone face back down, then plucked a small flower from the grass. She placed it on the stone face.

“I saw it plenty while I was alive,” Esther smiled softly. “I spoke with her often.” The Lost Soul stood up and dusted off her dress. Johnny looked around at the rest of the land.

“Is... there anything else you want to see?”

“If I could, I would like to find my home,” Esther admitted. “But amongst all this rubble, it might be impossible to find. I... I can’t even place the exact memories of Syche entirely. As much as your family has helped me recover my memories...” her voice trailed off.

“It’s still not perfect,” Johnny guessed. Esther nodded. She looked down at her hands sadly. Johnny lifted her chin with the tips of his fingers and kissed her cheek.

“It’s okay,” he smiled. “We can take our time. It’s... really nice here. Peaceful.”

“It wasn’t always that way,” Esther gave an almost sad laugh. “So much war... not a lot of modern medicines... I was confronted with people I loved dying often. But with nothing here... everything is given a chance to live again. The landscape, at least.”

As Esther wandered further, she would stop on occasion and tried to recall the best she could of her history. Johnny was never one for long history lessons, but when it came from her voice, when he saw her smile at old memories coming back to her, he couldn’t help but listen and smile. Ask what she knew. It was incredible to see how much her memories were coming back in such a short amount of time. He’d know his parents would be impressed to hear about it.

Hand in hand, Esther rested her head against Johnny’s shoulder for a brief moment. He rested his cheek against her whispy hair.

Taking in the moment, he was startled when she spoke again, but the words weren’t familiar.

“Uh—“ he lifted his head, “Esther? What’d you say?”

“I’m sorry,” Esther’s cheeks flushed violet. “I-I started remembering my old language. I-I spoke with it on accident. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Johnny blinked in surprise. “But... you remember it?”

“Parts,” Esther murmured. “I... was bilingual. Syche and English. It was new to our land. We... we learned it for trade and relation to other lands.” Esther gripped her forehead. “I’m sorry. This is all a lot. Perhaps... we should go home. I don’t feel well. I’m getting a headache.” Johnny nodded. As he went to contact his parents, Esther began to wander more.

Another statue was on the ground, broken and fallen. The young woman squinted at it. That face...

“Ajax,” she whispered. She felt herself grow cold at saying his name aloud, and she got down on her knees, sat on her ankles and looked at the broken parts of the statue. The base was still in tact, with his name, and writing his honor of how he saved so many men by giving his own life, how he was guided by an old commander. The arm that once proudly pointed a sword in the air was tossed to the ground, the torso smashed, the face broken and cracked just like Genevieve’s statue.

“Esther?”

She looked up at Johnny, tears prickling her eyes.

“This was him,” she murmured. “My fiancé. Ajax.” Johnny looked down at the statue, and felt a weird discomfort staring at his face.

“I’m sorry for what happened to him,” Johnny asked. Esther stood up and brushed her eyes.

“It’s alright,” she sighed. “I... I miss him, and I wonder what life we could have had, but... I’m happy with you, Johnny.” The young man gave a small, more humble smile. He took Esther’s hand and squeezed it.

“Come on,” he said. “The portal’s gonna show up where it did before, down the hill.” As Esther began to walk away, she stopped when she noticed Johnny let go of her hand and stared at the remnants of Ajax’s statue.

“Johnny?”

“Go on ahead. I’ll catch up,” he murmured absentmindedly. Esther waited for a moment, before slowly turning and going back to where they began.

Johnny squatted down and tried to make sense of what looked like gibberish to him. He touched the plaque, running his fingers against the engravings. He wasn’t sure what to say, as he stared at the name, stared at the broken face. He thought about what he would have wanted to hear.

“Thanks for taking care of her,” he found himself saying. “I, uh... I guess I’ll do it for both of us now.”

As Johnny stood up and turned to go, he thought he saw a spark of light catch his attention. He looked over his shoulder back at the stone face.

He picked it up, and felt something, something spark. Something hot. Something energizing like his own electricity, but it came from the statue instead. Something akin to life.

For a moment, he felt like he was on the outside, watching his body from far away. Blinking his eyes, the feeling went away.

“Johnny!” he heard Esther call from him. He rubbed his forehead.

“Coming,” he called. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he jogged back down the hill to Esther.

———

He was having strange blackouts lately. Ones different from the others. Different from when the moon was full and high.

Johnny tugged himself out of bed, rubbed his face to try and wake up, and he thought hard on what happened yesterday.

He remembered asking Esther out for a more proper date than when they went to Syche two weeks ago. Or, rather, he remembered wanting to. When he went to the palace to talk to her...

The last thing he remembered was asking Valerie and Violet if they saw Esther. Then, the closer he got to his girlfriend as he walked those palace halls, he felt his mind turn foggier until he could have sworn he was asleep the entire time.

But once he got back home, he was fine. Maybe a little dizzy and tired, but that was it. The weird sensations didn’t come around his parents or even his sister. Not at work, either.

It only came during two specific times, Johnny thought to himself. He felt that way whenever he was training, doing his knightly duties. His body felt especially drained after that, but he was noticing his strength was improving. His muscles at his arms were getting a little bigger.

The other times, would be whenever he was around Esther.

The closer he got to her, the more he thought about her, and his mind would start to fog up. It wasn’t making sense.

As Johnny stared at himself in the mirror, tugging a shirt on, he noticed his hair was longer. That wasn’t unusual considering his abilities, but this was off. It wasn’t right with all the other things that were going on with him.

It was something that he’d have to worry about later. He was meeting Esther at the palace for another date.

Esther sat in the gardens while she waited, and she reflected on her recent feelings as well. Johnny wasn’t acting like himself. Not around her or her father. He acted more... she couldn’t think of the right way to call it without feeling like she was insulting Johnny.

Proper? Mature? Calmer?

Her thoughts were only interrupted as her father entered the gardens and approached her. Esther, on instinct, stood up. Her father shook his head.

“No, no, nothing’s wrong,” he said. “I just wanted to sit beside you.” Esther slowly sat back down. Mabuz sat beside her and gave her a gentle smile. “Are you alright?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Esther asked. Mabuz sighed.

“I know traveling to Syche must have brought feelings back,” he spoke gently. “And... yes, we may have talked about it when you first came back from that visit, but I thought we should talk more.”

“I really am fine, Papa,” Esther smiled gently. “I feel better since having gone there. Seeing mom one more time... my old home, and seeing even Ajax.” Mabuz gently squeezed his daughter’s hand.

“Esther.”

“Yes?”

“I’m... sorry.”

“For what?”

“...Everything.”

Esther rested her head against her father’s shoulder and breathed softly. Mabuz gently wrapped an arm around his daughter’s shoulder and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

They sat there in the quiet peace of the garden for a long moment, and for just a brief few seconds, all the regrets the man seemed to have faded. When Esther was about to open her mouth to speak, she heard someone enter the gardens. The figure bowed.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Mabuz instinctively raised his head.

“Ajax?”

“No, Papa, it’s Johnny,” Esther stood up and smiled at her boyfriend. Johnny’s hair was tied back, and Mabuz stared at him for a long moment. Johnny bent down and cupped Esther’s face in his hands as he gave her a gentle kiss.

“We’re going to the UpSideDown’s central hub today,” Esther beamed back at her father, locking her arm with Johnny. “It’s just like a city, but I can look like me!”

“I’ll take care of her, Captain,” Johnny placed a protective hand over Esther’s. He looked at her with the utmost love and care in his eyes.

“Bring her... back on time,” Mabuz murmured. Johnny have a small bow of his head and led Esther out. Though, the whole time, Mabuz felt fixed on what Johnny called him.

Captain.

He wasn’t a captain anymore, he was a general. Sure, some people who knew him in the past called him captain and commander interchangeably, but Johnny never referred to him in such a way. He called him Mabuz. He addressed him constantly with no formality, which drove him nuts.

There wasn’t something right with him.

———

As the two spent the morning together until it faded into a dark night, Esther and Johnny rested in the grass together. Lying on their backs and looking up at the shining sky, Esther stretched out her arms. Johnny reached a strong hand to hold Esther’s.

Her smile slowly faded.

“Johnny? There’s... something I need to talk to you about.”

“What is it?”

“You... you’ve made the last weeks feel like a dream,” Esther laid her hands on her stomach. “Spending so much time with me. Being so romantic and kind. But... I’ve been kind of worried about you. Spending less time with your family? I’m worried about that. And your job, too.”

“I thought you wanted me around more?” Johnny turned on his stomach. “We did this stuff before, Esther.”

“I-I suppose,” Esther sighed. “But... something doesn’t feel right. The way you hold me and kiss me. It doesn’t feel like you.”

Johnny sat up in the grass and moved to sit beside Esther. He pulled her to sit up, and pressed a kiss to her lips, “I’m just the same as ever. But... maybe I have been trying more than normal. Just for this.”

Johnny repositioned himself, on one knee. He reached into his pocket for a box. Esther felt herself grow tense.

“Esther Sephtis,” he murmured, “I would like to ask for your hand in marriage.” He gently held out his hand. Esther slowly placed hers in his. As Johnny was about to open the box and place the ring on her finger, she slowly pulled her hand away.

“No,” she whispered. “This... this isn’t right.”

“What’s wrong?” Johnny looked worried at her. Esther pulled her hands to herself, holding them tight to her chest. Esther fluttered her eyes shut. She swallowed anxiously.

“You’re not Johnny.”

“What? Esther—“

“Ajax. I know you.”

Johnny stared for a long moment at Esther’s face.

“Esther—“

“Get our of him before you speak to me,” Esther’s voice tightened, much to Ajax’s surprise. “Now.”

As though hesitating to tell the truth, clinging to the facade for a moment longer, Ajax didn’t move. Then, Esther saw Johnny’s eyes glow brightly, and the ghost detach himself from Johnny.

Ajax, white and see through, gently laid down Johnny’s body on the grass, careful as he slept from the exhaustion of the possession.

“You’ve... changed,” Ajax whispered. “You’ve never been so bold to talk back.”

“You’ve changed, too, Ajax,” Esther murmured and avoided looking him in the eyes. “The Ajax I knew wouldn’t possess or take control of another.”

“Perhaps I deserved that,” Ajax defeatedly murmured. “I’m... I’m sorry, Esther.”

“How are you even here?” Esther whispered. Ajax looked at his lap solemnly.

“I came from the statue,” he confessed. “When Johnny touched it.” After a moment, he finally spoke again. “Why... why do you act different? Reject what we could have had?”

“Because I have something else now,” Esther closed her eyes, breathing slowly. “Johnny... he’s similar to you, but not the same. He’s taught me to have a voice I thought I wasn’t allowed to have in Syche. He’s encouraged me to try new things, he’s helped me when I’ve felt depressed or scared, he... he’s made everything better for me. He’s patient with every problem I have, and I’m patient with him. We take care of each other.”

“But after all this time,” Ajax gently took hold of Esther’s hand, though she didn’t pull away, “you two aren’t even engaged or married.”

“My worldview was so small back then,” Esther confessed. “All of our views were. Life is no longer about marriage and families anymore. It’s about discovering who you are, being yourself first before anything else. Johnny and his family have taught me that. I feel like I’m learning who I am now. I’ve never felt happier. And... and I would never force Johnny to speed up on who he’s becoming. And we can’t be married if we don’t know who we are ourselves.” Ajax went quiet and looked at his lap.

“I truly am sorry for all I did,” he murmured. “I never meant to hurt him or you. You are right. Maybe... things are different now. I cannot cling to the past.”

“Believe me,” Esther spoke kindly, “it does no good. It’s only now that I’ve begun to move on I’ve felt better. So has my Papa.”

“I just wanted... one more chance with you,” Ajax said. He gave a weak chuckle, “Though, I guess that time’s passed. You aren’t even my lover anymore.”

Esther gently cupped Ajax’s cheek in her soft, purple hand, “I know we had so much planned, Ajax. But it’s time for you to let go. Both of us, really.”

Johnny slowly blinked awake, sitting up. When he saw the ghost, he looked worried for a brief moment. It quickly turned into anger. He pushed himself up, almost ready to attack the ghostly soldier—

“Johnny, wait!” Esther pleaded. She pressed a hand to his chest to stop him.

“He fuckin’ possessed me—!”

“Because of me!” Esther exclaimed. “He did it... for me.” Johnny went quieter and stared at the ghost before him. Esther turned to face Ajax again.

“I think... it’s time for both of us to move on,” she murmured. Ajax took Esther’s smaller, dainty hands in his thick, strong, but soft hands. He pressed his forehead against hers. Johnny quietly watched the exchange.

Ajax gently stroked Esther’s cheek, and when she opened her eyes, he was slowly fading.

“Goodbye, Esther.”

“Good... goodbye, Ajax.”

Ajax turned to face Johnny, “I’m sorry for trying to take her. You’re a good man. Really. Keep her safe and happy.”

“That’s... always been the goal,” Johnny gave a strange, subtle smile. He scooted back to Esther, who gave a gentle wave to Ajax, before he was faded for good. Esther sighed and rested her head against Johnny’s shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. After a moment of quiet, he finally spoke up again.

“You... I heard everything,” he murmured, “when he was in me. And I heard parts of what you guys were talking about later. Um... Esther, I’m sorry I haven’t been ready to—“

“I don’t want you to do anything you’re not ready for,” Esther looked up at him. “I’m sorry that marriage was something I was fixated on for so long. You were right, with us waiting. I... we need to find out who we are, before we do something like that.” Johnny smiled at Esther.

“You really are smart, Esther,” he said. His girlfriend smiled back and rested against him. The two looked back up to the sky, where they saw Ajax’s spirit fade and fly to.

“Do you want to go home?”

“I still have time before Papa expects us to be home,” Esther smiled. “Let’s just enjoy the last of our date.” Johnny squeezed Esther’s hand. The way it felt... she knew it was him again.

“I love you, Johnny.”