Lexa arched and danced around her opponents, slicing her sword through the air, the steel cut right through into the other man in front of her. He gurgled in pain before dropping to the ground as Lexa easily pulled the sword back from his chest and blocked another 4 attackers, dancing in between them as they circled and started to close in. Her jaw tightened in anger, rage, power, and she thrust upwards catching one of them in the jaw with the blunt of her blade before swiping it across his neck, collecting more bodies around her as she twirled and kept her swords outright in an arc of 360 degrees. Huffing out a breath Lexa quickly stood and surveyed her surroundings, finding many of those generated to be dying, injured or already dead.
It was quiet. She had protected Clarke.
Finally Lexa was able to look back towards the raven symbol that still painted the visible vault door Clarke had disappeared behind. Lexa allows a staggered breath to pass her lips, her arms slacken from holding both swords, now hanging low beside her she walked towards the vault. I-… beja..
Standing in front of the vault Lexa swiftly placed her swords into the holsters on her back. Quickly she moved forward, her hand coming up to touch the cold metal and checked to find that it was indeed closed. Lexa's fists clenched and taking a step back from the door she searched as if to find another sign suddenly appear to lead her out, back to her, to something. There was nothing. Lexa pulled at the door with all of the strength she had, and it didn't budge.
Lexa yelled in frustration and stormed away from the door before launching herself at it once more, desperately swinging her swords into the vault. Metal on metal clanging and Lexa having to push back against the backlash. Tears steadily poured down her cheeks, pulling the dark tracks of her paint further down. She didn't have to be the commander here and now, that time was over. Now everything flooded over.
"Klark, beja…" Lexa whispered with her hand on the door. Hoping that she had made it through okay, that she was safe. She was so close to something so very real, and it was taken away from her, so unfairly and abruptly. Lexa slowly backed away from the door as she lifted her war garb, untying it slightly to confirm that she still had no markings on her stomach of ever being shot.
It's different here. She knew that. Even Clarke's clothes when she finally came through into the City world were different. Again her chest pangs in pain, but she holds her hands steady.
But Lexa knows that she had been shot, that she has died. She had felt the immense pain. Physically, but also mentally for having held on to her absolute strength to Clarke in her dying breath, even in her very last goodbye… which Lexa reels back slightly from the clenching in her chest, aching that she has been torn away without being able to tell Clarke those longing words back to her.
Klark.. she-.. Lexa's smile grows so quickly she can't stop it, but it quickly fades away with the realisation. It once again physically hurt to have that now all taken away from her. From them.
This was it now. The City of Light. This is where Lexa remembers waking up when she passed. Pramheda guided her as she woke, but had soon left once Lexa was coherent with where she was. Leaving Lexa with only the wisdom to keep moving, and to be ready. This fight was not over. Her fight was not over.
Pramheda had been right. It had been 352 days until Lexa had felt the pull of Clarke entering into the City of Light. Pramheda had assisted in the connection and Lexa listened. Following the pull without any hesitation. Lexa's legs had burned from her relentless run towards the City's mains square.
And all too soon, time was fleeting, and not at all in their favour. Clarke had to go, and so did Lexa.
Lexa stumbled back from the door and stared up and down the huge empty space, apart from the AI bodies that were still laying around. It was quiet until the thunder and rain made itself known once more. Always with the rain and storms...
Lexa. You must go. The reset will occur, and it's not safe for you there. I cannot protect you.
Becca's voice entered her mind in warning.
No. Will the door disappear?
No response came. Lexa's eyes pierced into the vault, hand clutching one of her swords tightly as tears poured freely down her cheeks.
Lexa. You must go now. It will not be dark for much longer outside.
Lexa roared in anger and sadness, one straight from the pain of a warriors heart, as she powerfully slashed the wall with her blade beside the vault before she turned and left the area.
This tradition continued for Lexa, she would return each day to the vault, checking for anything and trying everything to open the door before having to leave. Another notch marked into the concrete beside the others that now covered the wall. Some days were different and Lexa would take her chances by camping next to the vault. It kept her sane that the vault was still there, the growing notches on the wall not so much.
Lexa wakes with a start, her eyes darting around the large empty lot, across to the vault to her left. Her swords are beside her, ready for when and if she needs them.
Truth is she had not seen another person since Clarke's departure. Pramheda had only spoken to her a handful of times since. Most times giving her encouragement in times of her weakness. Emotions were surfacing more and more, worsening as time went on in such a place where time was a cruel tyrant. Numbing Lexa to where she had felt she would be stuck in this City, alone forever.
However, Lexa had been stirred from her sleep from a disturbance. Carefully Lexa moved up from her sitting position and gracefully shifted herself to stand. Something else disturbed the steady thrum of rain tonight. Again Lexa spun around to hear a whirring sound, sounding as though it was passing through the walls, and soon the floors as well.
What is this? Pramheda?
Lexa prepped her blades, her swords held in their defensive positions in front of her. Moving around the space Lexa came to a halt as the vault door creaked. Lexa's heart thumped harshly against her chest at the sight of the door slowly opening.
Lexa quickly composed her heda mask, showing none of her emotions, holding her blades at the ready.
Slowly, black boots made their way over the vault door, and Lexa had to refrain from running forward.
Lexa quickly lowered her swords the moment the woman stepped out from the vault. Lexa knelt, placing her swords on the ground in front of her she touched up to the middle of her forehead where her heda's head piece would usually be.
"Pramheda." Lexa voiced in pride and wonder, now looking up, keeping her head straight but eyes lowered.
Becca walked forward and smiled at the woman in front of her, "Please, step op my seingeda. (Step up my family.)"
Lexa stood as a commander, to the commander, full of the utmost respect for her.
"You've done so well Lexa." Becca commended, "You are the best of what I had hoped for striving forward for us on the ground."
"Mochof, Pramheda."
"I can assure you this is not your end, not yet if you so choose. You have been in limbo, Lexa. You have been sleeping." Becca elaborates, "Yon na gon figa (You will heal)."
Lexa shakes her head in slight disbelief but again her facial expression remaining impassive, "Pramheda, I questioned this and have theorized that I have been trapped here until the flame can be properly reignited from our conclave…" her expression dimmed at this, eyes giving away to a sheen of wet before hardening, "Though I doubt this can be done now…"
Lexa's heart broke at seeing Aden and her other night bloods join her in the City. Telling her of what had transpired, how their lives had ended. Again Lexa let this tear a scar down her heart internally, whilst externally she remained strong but caring, gathering them in towards her for an embrace. Lexa had Becca's assistance in working together to glitch the system and allow the nightbloods to move on in peace.
Becca gave only a short nod of sympathy, genuine, but they didn't have much time.
"Lexa," her tone had Lexa's eyes on hers immediately, "You will be returning to your body. Your flame keeper, Titus, had provided a final transport for your body to be cleansed in Ai Presh Woda (Pramheda's Sacred Waters)."
Lexa could only stare on in awe, processing Becca's words.
"You have been healing Lexa, and still are." Becca's final words tinged with concern.
"I don't have much time?"
Becca shook her head, "You need the flame Lexa. You must get to it."
"Pramheda-…"
This is Lexa's chance to live once more? Is this real?
"I assure you my kin this is real. You are still feeling the difference in energy around you? Feel it here," Becca's clenched hand was held up to her own chest.
Lexa nodded, it reverberated throughout, "I do, what is this?"
"That's the final transfer. Time moves differently here, Lexa. Faster, yet, slower. Your wounds were, severe. Clarke has succeeded in her return however, allowing you access once more. You must get to her."
Immense relief washed throughout her hearing that Clarke had indeed made it back safely.
"Clarke has the flame." Lexa acknowledged out loud to which Becca simply nodded.
"Polis." Lexa's suspicion was again confirm by the Pramheda nodding.
"I have been assisting, and watching over you as you have healed. It's time for you to go back."
Lexa's expression shifted to immense curiosity, Why? Why do I get another chance?
Becca only stepped forward and cupped Lexa's chin carefully but with authority she looked to her prodigy, "Who are you?"
Lexa searched the woman's eyes in front of her, piercing as they were she held the stare. Lexa's posture straightened, "Ai laik Heda."
"Yes, you are." Becca vehemently matched in agreement.
"What will-" Lexa felt foolish, she should know, but couldn't pass the opportunity for Pramheda's wisdom.
Becca simply smiled and she smoothed her hand along Lexa's war paint, collecting some on her fingers in recognition, allowing her own memories to surface of when she wore her own cowl, before stepping back and recollecting herself.
"Your path is your own." Becca started, "One that I have decided will not end here. Not now when our people need you… There is more to do."
Lexa's eyes narrow in question at Becca's fleeting tone, "Alie?"
"Is dead…" Becca confirmed, but turned to look towards the vault, "However, there are stations back on earth. One's that must be found and destroyed."
"Stations?"
Becca returned her gaze to Lexa, "Nuclear... dangerous and unstable. Emo souda be flosh kiln (They must be destroyed)."
Lexa looked towards the ajar vault door, her feet slowly shifting towards the door. Careful, that if she moved too quickly this would all be an illusion and the door would close.
Lexa could feel the thrumming becoming louder and knew this was a real decision to be made.
Pramheda walked beside Lexa towards the door, "I have provided you this chance Lexa," she sighed and the younger brunette paused beside her, black scowled eyes locking into her own, "But, I know the burdens you have carried, you are one of my most strongest prodigies," she smiled proudly, "However, if you wish to lay at rest, I will completely understand and respect your decision."
Lexa quickly shook her head, "Ai laik Heda. Ai gonplei ste nou odon." She would not let Pramheda down, nor her people.
Becca smiled and nodded before looking in front of them. Lexa's eyes followed, planted on the door.
"Time is fleeting, Heda. Ste yuj."
"Stej yuj."
Lexa swiftly turned behind her at the familiar grouped voices that spoke the words, scanning the faces she had longed to see once more, smiling back at her as they stood together. Not trusting her eyes, Lexa looked to Becca who appraised her with a smile and nod, confirming that they were in front of her. It was real.
Lexa exhaled in shock, her eyes flickering from one familiar face to another, all of which held caring and at peace smiles. She turned her body to face them, feet shifting, but stopped at her past mentors raised hand.
Lexa shook her head, still wanting to move forward.
"Yu souda go nau. (You must go now)" Anya's unusually soft voice carried across the distance. It
Once more Lexa exhaled, and with a final glance at those she's lost, she nodded at her former mentor and sister.
"Osir will otaim be kom yu (We will always be with you)," Anya's voice was tinged with a smirk, "Go tell that branwada something else."
Lexa softly smiled in return, taking one final moment she tore her gaze away and closed the remaining distance between her and the vault. Green eyes scanned upwards and around the vault, taking in the markings along the wall, Eight hundred and sixty-two days.
I'm coming Klark.
Lexa stepped over the threshold, but stopped as Becca suddenly closed her hand over her wrist. Lexa felt a surge rush through her, and Becca gave a weak smile, "I have done all that I can."
Lexa blinked a couple of times and with one last glance with her Pramheda, Lexa nodded again in thanks and continued on into the vault. Becca closing the door behind her.
A/N - I hope this has caught your eye in a good way and are interested in more. Thanks for reading :)
Let me know what you think...
... I'm not sure how long I will make this yet. But there's definitely more to follow soon!