The Obscured Path

Chapter 1: The Decision

Disclaimer: I do not own Galactik Football and I make no money from this fanfiction.

Also: I, FemaleSpock, wrote this fanfiction for and should it be seen uploaded elsewhere then it has been posted without permission.

"Don't let me down Aarch, don't let me down."

Aarch opened his eyes; the only sound he could hear was the white-noise roar of the Smog, well that and Artegor's voice, faintly in the background. There were others, other players crowding around him, but he couldn't see them or hear them. Isolation.

He writhed, in terrible pain, in jerky waves up and down his body. He felt cold; so cold. But mostly he could feel the Smog, twisting and turning inside him, he wished so desperately to be rid of it. But if felt too late, it had him now. He had wanted it so badly, worked so hard to get it, but now it seemed that was all for nothing- he'd been so naïve. He hadn't known how it would hurt him; he'd only seen the glory, the power of it.

His head felt the worst, like it was filled with storm clouds, he was more than confused, he hadn't thought clearly in months. When he had used the Breath everything had been so clear, so simple. He had been the Captain of the Team then, living the dream, everything had been going to plan. The ice-age wasn't part of the plan and neither was joining the Shadows. He hadn't expected to end up here. He had been so confident that his life was going to follow the path he had set down, now he couldn't even trust himself anymore.

As he tried to concentrate, to find his strength, he could start to hear Artegor's voice, getting louder and louder. Even in his weakened state he could hear the desperation in Artegor's voice.

"Don't let me down."

He didn't want to. He didn't want to let anyone down, not again, he had failed so badly before, he'd not been able to protect Akillian, he'd bolted at the first opportunity. But carrying on with the Shadows, with the Smog, seemed impossible. It was killing him, how could he stay?

It wasn't that he wanted to leave. The thought that he would be would have no-where else to go struck him like lightning, The Shadows had been his best, last chance. He'd never play again if he left, the thought sent shudders up his body. The idea felt so unnatural, he was supposed to be in his prime, football was everything he was born to do, he was nothing without it. He didn't have a family anymore, he didn't have friends.

"Don't let me down."

Artegor was repeating the same words, over and over. He was frantic now; the mask of indifference had long since fallen. Aarch couldn't blame him; it was the two of them, if he left who would Artegor have left?

Aarch could feel his resolve to leave weakening. There was no-where to go and no-one to go with. To stay seemed like the easy option now. He was so close to achieving his ambitions with the Shadows, it would be foolish to waste his potential. He could take some pills or something to deal with the Smog poisoning. There was no point in giving up now.

He made his decision and opened his eyes.

"I won't," he said, his voice croaky. He saw relief in Artegor's eyes before being taken off the pitch for the rest of the match. He couldn't play today.

He'd be back though.

That's it for this chapter, the other chapters will be longer, my first and last chapters just always end up being shorter than the others- not sure why. I know I've already done an AU based on that moment on the Shadows (A Future That Never Happened), but this fic's going to be different because it's focusing on the immediate impact on Aarch and Artegor rather than the effect on Snow Kids, if that makes sense. So yeah, please review, I'll love you if you do!