Hi guys,

I've got another one. This idea buzzed in my head for quite some time now, and I finally took some time to start the story. I tried to forget it, but I just couldn't. I needed to write it out. Seeing that I'm a Clexa fan, this one will definitely feature that ship.

A little information for the beginning of this story, I haven't seen any episode after 3x07. I'm waiting for the last ones to air and watch all of the episode at once. So I know nothing of some of the answers regarding the City of Light, Alie and the chips. However, I've heard of Emerson's attack in 3x12 and will use this to set this story into motion. But again, remember that I haven't seen the episode and it probably won't be exactly like it happened on the show. This is definitely an AU story.

Another information: if you guys are interested in me continuing this story, please note that there will be unregularly updates! My main focus lays in my other story May We Meet Again. If – against expectation – there's enough of you guys whom are interested in this storyline, I may put some effort in to make quicker updates.

Well, whatever happens, I hope you enjoy this one.

Chapter 1

Her head was pounding, a strong and piercing ache right at the back of her head. It felt as if someone had hit her with a sledge, repeatedly, using her as a workbench. The pain made her nauseous, and all Clarke wanted to do at this moment was to curl up on her side and go back to unconsciousness. Going back to oblivion, the black nothingness that felt so soothing, so welcoming to her.

Then she remembered. She was in Arcadia, she was in the Ark.

At least, what had been left of the Ark. Her home. Her old home planted firmly on the ground of her new home. Two worlds clashing into each other. Earth and sky, violence and peace, freedom and confinement.

Her past and her future.

So much had happened since her father had died, taking the careless and happy part of herself with him. That moment had changed everything for her. She had spent her time in isolation with grieve and the knowledge that she'll soon follow him. There had been no doubts that the council would have floated her.

But, oh how wrong she had been. She had gotten a second chance. To survive. To live.

Down here on earth.

Yet, having spent almost a year on earth, Clarke had to admit that she did indeed die. The old Clarke – the Ark-Clarke – had left a long time ago, leaving another version of herself to continue on. She was more hardened, more calculated and was able to make tough calls. Calls, for which some people hated her – and probably will hate her until the very end.

She was a killer. A mass murderer.

She was a monster.

And she had accepted her fate. Had accepted the fact that she may never recognize herself anymore. It wasn't like she had many choices, seeing that if she wouldn't have accepted and embraced her new reality and especially the person she had become she'd surely have gone crazy, ending in a pitiful death.

And she hadn't been ready for that.

Clarke hadn't done all those things just to end like that, just like that. She couldn't leave this world without knowing her mother and her friends were safe. They were all her family, they were all she had left. They remembered her that there had been a time in her life that wasn't cluttered with blood and death. Yes, they all did horrible things since landing on earth, but they were all trying. Trying to find a place on the ground and live a peaceful life.

However misunderstandings and bad luck had shattered her dreams of a beautiful and untouched world. The picture-perfect imagination of the earth had shattered the moment a spear had been run through Jasper's chest. Since that moment, Clarke had walked on those broken pieces of her childhood dreams day in, day out, the bone-chilling sound of the crunching echoing in her ears as if it was the only thing she heard.

When Lexa had sent Roan to fetch her and bring her to Polis, she hadn't been ready. The knowledge of what she had done and whom she had become not yet accepted. She had run, as far away as she could. Sometimes she found herself wondering if her dad would still recognize her. Still see his little princess when he'd look into her eyes.

The innocence washed away from her blue eyes.

Lexa had reached out to her, challenged her. Brought her back from her self-isolated state. And she had known very well that Clarke couldn't ignore her and reality anymore when there was the chance for a better life for her friends was within reach. That life she had wanted for them and herself all along. And maybe then she could finally settle, find her own piece.

But again, a situation arose. Her bad luck hitting her straight in the face again. That was what her new life was now - solving problems, leading wars and intrigues and losing more and more of her friends. It was all a huge circle, and she didn't know how to break it.

Until Lexa. Until jus drein no jus daun.

Those words had inflamed new hope in Clarke. Hope, that with Lexa she finally could achieve those goals and create a better life for all of them. She had trusted Lexa to have all the answers. Let herself fall into a net of too many emotions and false security. Let herself act on her feelings, giving in to Lexa and relishing in the here and now with someone whom seemed to understand her completely. And even while knowing that they'd have to bid their farewells she had hoped that after solving their current problem with Arcadia, there was something waiting for them at the other end. Though there had been close calls, Lexa appeared untouchable. She'd still be there at the end of it all.

But she hadn't been untouchable, and one of the many intrigues had caught up to them. Quick and merciless, ripping Lexa from her. Her love and her hope. Once more, the broken pieces Clarke had picked up on her way were lying to her feet again. The overwhelming feeling of grieve swamping her.

She was alone again.

Was she really? Yes, Lexa was dead and Clarke knew once this was all over and she'd finally have a moment for herself again, all of the events would rush through her, and she knew all too well that she'll lose the ground under her feet. It began with her dad, then Wells, Finn and now Lexa, and she had no idea where it would finally stop. Will it ever stop? Was she fighting a battle she couldn't possibly win?

Lexa was dead, but there were still people out there whom needed her. And she needed them. She wasn't alone. Figuratively and literally. Her friends were with her, here in Arcadia. Her friends. Bellamy, Octavia, Raven, Harper, Miller, Bryan, Jasper and Monty. They had been with her. Where were they?

Ignoring the desire to curl together Clarke groaned as she moved her hand to the back of her head. She couldn't feel any liquid, but the pain and the nausea were a pretty good indication for a concussion. Whatever had hit her, hit her good.

Clarke opened her eyes and after a few seconds she was able to focus on the things in front of her. She was still in the Ark, sprawled out on the cold metal ground. Sadly, none of her friends were in sight.

Groaning once more the blonde managed to sit up slowly, her surroundings spun for a few seconds and she closed her eyes again to calm down again. After making sure that all white dots had disappeared Clarke opened her eyes again, finding her focus faster this time.

"Look who's finally joining our party."

Startled at the sudden voice from a person standing behind her Clarke hurriedly stood up and turned around, though too fast for her head and once again her world was upside down and for a few seconds she felt like she was about to throw up.

"Not much a partier, are you?"

As Clarke opened her eyes again she stared directly at one of the few people she had hoped to never see again.

Carl Emerson.

The one ghost that seemed to haunt her for the rest of her life. Rightly so. He was her punishment. Though she had hoped that he'd re-surfaced at a better time. Preferably when her friends were safe and she had brought the spirit to Luna. "There's nothing for me to celebrate."

"How about a funeral?"

Frowning at Emerson she watched him moving to the side, giving her a clear few of what lay before her. Her eyes widened at what she saw. Her friends, hands bound together and gagged, held captive in the very room she had held Emerson prisoner. Her heart stopped at the sight. More death?

"Emerson…" Clarke breathed and shook her head slightly.

Emerson snapped at her voice, at her silent plea. Quickly stepping up to her Emerson got a hold of her and if she wouldn't feel so light-headed, she would've put up a better fight against the man. "No! You took everything from me. It's only fair for me to take everything from you now."

Clarke watched him hitting a button on the controller and looked in horror of how the air was sucked out of the room her friends were locked in, kicking and screaming. "Watch them die."

"Please!" Clarke pleaded again, but Emerson's hold of her remained steadfast. She knew Emerson, knew that his hate for her and all of the Sky People would hinder him from taking mercy on them. No, he wanted revenge. He wanted her to suffer. Feel the pain and grieve like he did. Be the last of her kind, like he was the last of the Mountain Men.

A walking memory of the people whom fell from the sky.

Collecting all the strength she had left in her Clarke whipped her head back, connecting her head with Emerson's in hope of loosening his chokehold. That action didn't really help with her already injured head, her vision blurred and oblivion was once again calling for her. But Emerson did indeed lose his hold on her and she swayed forward as his arm left her body, making it ungracefully and on wobbly legs back to the controller.

Her fingers were already on the button to stop the air being sucked out of the room her friends were in and open the door, but she was suddenly pulled back by force, crashing hard onto the ground. It took a few seconds for Clarke to comprehend what had just happened, but it was enough for Emerson to place his hands on her throat, squeezing tightly.

Just like her friends, the blonde was now fighting for air.

Clarke put her hands on Emerson's arms, trying but failing to slacken his grasp. Gasping, Clarke started to struggle under Emerson, and panic flooded through her system. She saw something lying to her left and as she turned her head slightly to see what it was, Clarke was pleased to see the discarded gun from Bellamy there.

Acting quickly, Clarke grabbed it and brought it hard on Emerson's head whom yelped and let go of Clarke. Sucking in as much air as possible, she used the rush of adrenaline and quickly making her way back to the controller, hitting the button before Emerson even had the chance to hinder her again.

The alarm in the other room disappeared and after a few seconds of making sure that her friends were indeed alive, Clarke hit the other button and opened the door to the room. Without glancing back at Emerson she hurried over to Bellamy, cutting him loose from his bonds. She was about to move over to Octavia when she heard a metallic click, and just as she turned around Clarke heard the unmistakable noise of a gunshot.

Inhaling sharply, a hot and piercing pain erupted in her chest. Just like when she woke up a few moments ago, the world around her spun and she lost any feeling of time. She heard someone yelling her name, but she couldn't make out who it was.

Probably Bellamy, she guessed.

Clarke was aware of herself staggering backwards and she prepared herself for the inevitable crash, landing hard on the floor, probably for the last time. This time Clarke knew that she won't get up again. This was it, this was the end. After so many fights, after so much loss and pain. This was how it would all end for her.

Yet the crash never came. Instead, the blonde girl felt arms around her body, pulling her in. Her eyes flickered up and she saw Bellamy staring down at her, the despair plainly on his face. Bellamy pulled her closer to him, searching cover from the oncoming bullets which Emerson angrily sent their way. He said something to her, but she couldn't make out the words.

It was ironic, it really was. She had survived the hail of bullets Titus had fired at her, losing Lexa because of that. Lexa. The brunette girl with pure green eyes. The great commander of the twelve clans. Her partner in crime whom had wanted peace. Just like her. That was all they had wanted.

And they paid dearly for their foolish dream.

Darkness clawed at her, reality blurred. Clarke felt a lone tear rolling down her cheek. A tear symbolizing all her dreams, all she had lost. It stood for all the grieve she had experienced, and for all the brief moments of happiness. It stood for hope and freedom. It stood for the innocence she had lost on earth, and the person she had become.

The tear stood for the end.

The last thing on her mind before the darkness fully engulfed her was how she had failed. How she had failed the people she cared for. She had failed to protect them. She failed to protect the little chip in her pocket, failed to deliver it safely to Luna. She had failed Lexa.

Clarke had given all she had but once again, it hadn't been enough.

Well, that's it. I've got some ideas up my sleeve and know where I'd like to take this story, and I can promise you that there will be Clexa. But only if you're interested in this journey I've laid out in my head. So far, this can end here and stand as a One-Shot. Your decision.

Just let me know what you want one way or another.

Till then :D