Legend Of The Guardians: Kludd's Son

Chapter 10: Facing Your Past

Sorry for being not updated! Too busy on other things with youtube and stuff, and enjoy the new chapter!

The night still blanketed over the entire region of the Shadow Forest. Carlos was all alone, in a place where no one would ever find him. He had hurt so many people with his lies, including Thana, the most beautiful owl that he had ever fallen in love with. And as a result of his lies, everyone hated him, especially Thana, all because of the blood he shared with his parents. All Carlos could do was hate; hating his family, hating the Guardians, and mostly, hating Thana for breaking his heart. He knew deep in his heart that no one cared about him or loved him...and trying to run away to live in peace and start a new life did not do him any good, for everyone still loathed him. He was now all alone and scared. Normally, he would turn to his mother, the one who had loved him like no one else ever had, the one who had promised to protect him no matter what...that promise was one of the very few things Carlos cherished the most...and it was broken, along with his heart.

The mother who had cared for him all his life, who raised him from an egg and into a fine young owl...had send the hireclaw, or rather a hagsfiend in owl's feather, Nyriss, to kill him. He never thought that his mother would do such a thing to him. He thought she loved him...or did she? No...all he ever was to her was a pawn...he was used to help the Pure Ones take over all the owl kingdoms for their own selfish gain...and to slay the Guardians and his uncle...and when he had fulfilled his end of the deal...they would throw him away and dispose of him like the Pure Ones had with owls that had outlived their usefulness.

As Carlos laid there in his hollow, he began tossing and turning, as a rather bad daymare was haunting him. This daymare began to formulate in his mind of all the things that might had happened if Carlos had never ran away from home that night...and had actually rise up to his father's status and became the new ruler of the Pure Ones and fought to rule all the owl kingdoms by his father's side...even if he had to put down his uncle...Soren

Age 11, five years ago…

Carlos was back at the training grounds, sparring with none other than his father...Kludd. However, unlike how it was the first time, Carlos was actually showing the finesse in battling he never had the first time around. The prince manages to get the upper claw on Kludd as he struck him with a powerful and swift swing of his wing, sending him to the ground. Kludd only grinned, as he rose to his feet and approached his son, who was panting in exhaustion.

"Nicely done, my son." Kludd complimented, as Carlos gave a nod in acknowledgement, as he continued to pace around him, "You had shown to have excellent battling skills and your strength...it is awestrucking," He looked at Carlos with an amused grin, "I reckon you ought to make a great example for our soldier, wouldn't you say?"

Carlos shook his head, "No, father. To hagsmire with them. They are nothing more than pawns, used to bring us closer to our goal. They are too weak to comprehend our power." Carlos had never thought he would sound this...evil...but it gave him comfort when Kludd looked upon him with a dark grin.

"That is exactly what I want to hear." Kludd noddded, before his expression grew serious, "But there is something that I would like to tell you..."

"Yes, father?" Carlos asked curiously

Kludd turned towards the horizon and let out a deep sigh, "Ever since you were born, son, I knew that you were destined for great things. And I knew that the time would come for you to complete your destiny...to bring an end to our greatest adversaries...the Guardians."

"The Guardians?" Carlos asked, not recognizing the name at all, but Kludd enlightened him.

"The Guardians is a group of owls who defies everything that we stand for, desperately using everything in their power to maintain their peace and stands in our way of ruling all of the owl kingdoms." Kludd explained, "About fourteen years ago, three years before you were born, me and your uncle were taken to this place. There I met your mother, who had shown me the ways of the Pure Ones...but your uncle...Soren...he was blind...he refused to accept our ways, and had fled this place with an equally foolish Elf Owl." Carlos was surprised, he had an uncle? Why is his father telling him this? "Now, I did not know what became of him since that night, but all I know was that I was made into the owl you see before you today, son...but then came that ill-fated night..."

"What night, father?" The prince inquired.

The king sighed once more, "'The Great Battle of St. Aegolius'...the king before me, Metal Beak, had devised this plan that involved the flecks that we have our Pickers salvage today, and with help from a slipgizzle, we had manage to snare those Guardians within our trap, and with the bats coming to feast on them...it seemed like victory was ensured...until your uncle and his friends came along and destroyed the flecks. When the Guardians were free, all hagsmire broke loose. During the vicious battle, I had confronted your uncle, and we got into a fight that took us into the burning forest of Beaks. That bloody owl tried to convince me to leave the Pure Ones, that they were no more than monsters...and when I refused...I was left with a broken wing, tumbling into the flames, scarring me for life and leaving me to die." Carlos gasped in mortification, how could his uncle do such a thing?! Kludd continued however, "But what he done to me lack in comparison to what he done to Metal Beak..."

"What did he do?" Carlos questioned, feeling a sinking feeling in his gizzard.

Kludd looked at him, with a grim stare, "He killed him...ran a burning branch right through him. After the battle was lost, I went to find him, to see if he was alright...but when I saw his dead body...I knew that he was gone...taken away from me, your mother, and everyone here by your uncle, Soren. From that night onwards, I had sworn on my crown as the new king that I would avenge him, by slaying Soren once and for all...that is where you will come in, Carlos Nyroc Alba. Are you willing to take upon this task?" He asked with an anticipating glance.

Carlos was still in shock by the revelation of his uncle...but from what Kludd said about him, he knew that Soren was no good...and that he must pay for this... "Of course, father. We must have our vengeance" Carlos stated bitterly, "We must make Soren atone for killing our late king, and finish what he had begun!" Kludd only smiled at the newfound determination.

"Yes, my son… we shall have our revenge. You and I will rule together as father and son." He promised. Carlos only nod and gave a evil grin...it would only be a matter of time before they triumphed over the weak-minded Guardians and put them out of their misery.

Age 30, fourteen years from present...

The night had finally arrived. The moment that Carlos had been training for all his life was finally here. He was going to avenge Metal Beak, and annihilate the Guardians once and for all! Over the past nineteen years, he, along with his father and mother, had managed to conquer almost all of the owl kingdoms and with ease due to the brilliant yet brutal military tactics devised by Carlos himself. There was no hope of escape from them, no matter where they run, they were easily captured, defeated, and eventually slain by Carlos's wrath. It was only a matter of time when the Guardians' hands were forced and they had to engage the Pure Ones in order to defend the last kingdom that wasn't subjugated. The ensuing war was a bloody one, as every single owl from both sides gave it their all, grunting, snarling, screeching, and yelling as their claws and swords danced with sparks flying, in a battle that would decide the fate of the entire owl race. However, the tide changed as Carlos flow into the battlefield, donning the helm of the late Metal Beak. He was nothing like other self, as he was stronger, better, faster...and showed no remorse for the enemy.

Carlos began slaying Guardians left and right, feeling the lives leave them all in his powerful talons. However, around the same time he arrived, the famous Band had flown into the battlefield as well, and were fighting the Pure Ones with all their might...but then a powerful screech caught their attention, as Carlos charged at them. His first target was Gylfie, as he overwhelmed the small Elf Owl with his swift attacks, and eventually slashed her in the throat with his talons. Digger let out a scream of horror as he saw her lifeless body fall to the ground, and let out a roar as he charged at Carlos to avenge her...but the crowned prince gave a well-placed slash through Digger's middle, severing the poor Burrowing Owl in half. Twilight gaped, seeing his younger 'brother' get killed before his eyes, as Soren tried to call a retreat, but Twilight did not listen, for he wanted to make Carlos pay for killing Digger and Gylfie...but Carlos easily sent his right claw into the Great Gray's heart, ending his life effectively immediately. Soren did not have time to mourn for his friends' deaths as he was then engaged in a one-on-one fight with the prince. Their battle claws danced and clashed repeatedly, equally matched in strength and ferocity...but despite Soren's valiant and brave effort, he was soon distracted as he saw his mentor, Ezylryb, get pinned down by Nyra, and he stifled a scream as he saw Nyra raised her claw and bring it down upon him, ending the Lyze of Kiel's life for good. Carlos manage to take advantage of this moment's distraction, as he swung his right claw with all his might, knocking the sword out of Soren's talon, and with a well-placed left hook, Carlos sent Soren to the ground, defeated. Soren was about to get up, before he was pinned by Carlos, and before he knew it, he was surrounded by all the soldiers, as Kludd and Nyra joined Carlos's side, as Kludd chuckled fiendishly.

"It's all over, brother." Kludd declared, "Your Guardians are finished. Now we will have control over all the owl kingdoms and we can finally bring order to this world, with no interference whatsoever."

Soren only shook his head, wincing in pain, but managed to summon the strength to speak, "No, Kludd, you're wrong...order will never be restored. If you continue down this path...you will only bring suffering upon yourself. Everything will descend into chaos if you do not stop-GAH!" The barn owl grunted in pain as Carlos began to crush his throat, smiling as he saw his uncle die before him...but Kludd only laughed.

"Sorry, brother, but me and my mate have big plans for this world...and I'm afraid you can't be apart of it. I was going to kill you myself...but I think my son deserves the honor of executing the traitor to the Tyto race." Soren's blood ran cold as he watched his nephew raised his claw, blood glinting from it's silvery blades.

"Do it, Carlos...end this fool once and for all. Our victory is at hand!"

"With pleasure, mother…" He grinned darkly.

Soren saw his nephew's red eyes glaring down at him, growing silent, before he donned a stern glare and looked at Carlos, "Don't do this...killing me won't bring you happiness. The moment you kill me, they will turn their backs on you, and leave you to rot."

"No, Soren. This is retribution for killing Metal Beak! You must pay for this!" Carlos snarled.

"If that is so...then why aren't you killing me?" Soren questioned. Carlos looked at him oddly, and realized that he was hesitating, much to Kludd's dismay.

"What's going on? Why am I stopping?" Carlos thought to himself...but this thought was interrupted when he heard his father's screech.

"What are you waiting for?! Kill him now!" Kludd demanded. Carlos immediately snapped out of it, as he looked at his uncle one last time, as the older barn owl closed his eyes in acceptance. With one last breath, Carlos brought his claw down...and Soren ceased to exist forevermore. With Soren dead...victory was now theirs. Carlos fell to his knees from exhaustion, as everyone cheered in their triumph over the Guardians. Kludd himself was smiling, satisfied that his brother was now dead. Carlos heard his name chanted as he and the entire army left the now desolate tree and Soren's corpse behind...

The war was now over and won, as Carlos laid in his hollow. As much as he wanted to be happy that he had fulfilled his destiny, he was rather bothered by what Soren said before his death...about the Pure Ones betraying him...he found the thought prepostrous, they were his family, they wouldn't betray him...not after what he had done...would they? He had no time to contemplate the thought as a guard entered his hollow, and bowed.

"What do you want?" Carlos demanded.

"My humblest apologies, sire, but your father and mother requested your presence in the throne room." The guard explained. Carlos fell silent, as a bad feeling swarmed his gizzard, but he ignored it as he dismissed the guard and head out to the throne room.

Carlos continued to have this feeling as he walked through the hallway that lead to the throne room, and soon tried to shake it off as he arrived at the doors. The guards stepped aside and opened the door for him, as Carlos took a deep breath and enter the chamber. Kludd and Nyra were standing on the perch together when they saw him come in.

"You wanted to speak with me?" He asked.

"Ah, yes." Kludd nodded, "But why don't you join us on our perch first? Then we can discuss something concerning our recent victory." Carlos hesitated at first when he heard his uncle's last words echo in his mind.

"The moment you kill me, they will turn their backs on you, and leave you to rot." Those words continued to haunt him, as Carlos cleared his thoughts and joined his parents on the perch, as they look upon the entire canyonlands of St. Aegolius.

"So...what is it that you wished to talk to me about?" Carlos asked.

"Well, son...it is like this...since my brother and his Guardians are finished, and that we taken over all of the owl kingdoms...I'm afraid that your expertises are no longer required." Kludd stated coldly.

Carlos's eyes widened in horror, as words of his uncle started to come true, "W-what? What are you talking about?! What do you mean my expertises are no longer required?!" Carlos demanded, his heart began to beat rapidly. Then he heard his mother chuckle darkly.

"Oh, Carlos, you poor foolish boy...did you actually thought you would rule the owl kingdoms alongside us?! Please...you had already done your part...and now, you had outlived your usefulness. The time has come for you to be put down." She declared with an evil grin. Carlos only gaped in horror. Not his mother too! They were...they were betraying him again!

"No...no, no, no...you can't do this! I'm your son! I had became the ideal son you wanted!" Carlos rebutted, parts of his actual memory coming into play, "You and mother wouldn't be where you are today if it wasn't for me! You can't turn your back on me, not after everything I had done for you! Not after all the lives I had taken for YOU! What about your promise, father?! You said we would rule the kingdoms together...and now you mean to tell me that it was all a Glaux-sprinking lie!" Carlos screamed, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Please...you may had been the perfect soldier I had wanted for a son...but in reality, no matter what...you will never be my son." Kludd said in a cold, grim tone. Carlos only gave a vicious glare.

"You traitor..." He muttered as he glanced at his mother, "Both of you, you are nothing but filthy traitors!" He screamed. However, Kludd then slapped him hard in the beak, knocking him to the ground. Carlos only looked up at his father with the most hate-filled glare.

"You are now relieved of your duties, Carlos...but do not worry, I'm sure there is a place for a used pawn in this world..." Kludd sneered.

"Oh, yeah, father? Not if I KILL YOU FIRST!" Carlos screeched, as he quickly charged at the two owls who betrayed him...but then he was sideswiped and pinned against a wall. Carlos winced in pain as he looked at the one who attacked him...only for his blood to run cold, as he saw the eyes of Nyriss, the owl who ruined his present life.

"Ah, Nyriss, excellent timing." Kludd complimented, "You recognized Nyriss, don't you, Carlos? Me and your mother had hired her to put you down once and for all. Nyriss...if you please..."

"With pleasure." Nyriss laughed maniacially, as her grip on his throat grew tighter.

"No...no, you can't do this...please don't!" Carlos begged, as he felt his throat being crushed by her powerful claws, "Ma...da...help me, please!" But the moment he looked to his parents, they were gone, "Oh, dear Glaux, please...stop!" The prince cried, fear consuming his very being. But Nyriss only smiled darkly as she raised her sword...and in a blink, he was finished...

Carlos woke up screaming, checking his body for any wounds that were brought upon him...only to see none. Carlos deeply shuddered as he was about to call for his mother...only to realize that he was in the Shadow Forest, and not St. Aggies or his hollow. Even then, he remembered that his mother never loved him. Carlos only groaned to himself, as he leaned against the wall of his hollow, trying to sleep, as he began to wish that he was never born in this world, cursed by his own blood, and hated by everyone around him.

But then suddenly, a strange light began to glow in front of him, causing the barn owl to dart up in surprise. Coming from the strange light was a snowy owl (not like Alvin), approaching him, with a sincere smile on his beak. Carlos was left gaping as he looked at the owl, wanting to ask who he was and how he found him...but the shock prevented him from doing so.

"No need to be alarmed, my friend." The male snowy owl said calmly. Carlos stared at the snowy owl with uncertainty, a he was about to ask him about how he found him...but the snowy owl beated him to the punch, as he answered, "How did I find you? Well, I didn't, per se, but rather the owl up there." He gestured upwards, perturbing Carlos even more.

"Who are you?" Carlos asked the snowy owl. He saw him smiled cheerfully once more.

"Oh, dear, where are my manners? I am Samuel...a scroom chosen by Glaux to be his starseer, for I possess the sacred ability of starsight." Carlos looked at him with scrunity, he had never heard of such an ability...but he reckoned his father never believed in them...so why would he? Then Samuel continued, "You doubt me, don't you? I assure you, I am not crazy nor delusional. In fact, my ability to read your thoughts is a side effect of such a special power. I know everything about you, Carlos, from your time as a young owlet to a young owl, your father and mother, your uncle, and your love interest..." Carlos was stunned. How did he know so much about him, especially Thana? He had no idea...nor care, as he felt himself grow angry.

"Why do you know about me?" Carlos asked him in anger, his voice shaking. "Why must you know? All my life, I had been nothing but a big disappointment! No matter what I did, I was always shunned by everyone!" He began to pant, his anger growing, "All I ever knew was pain, so much pain that I cannot bear to live another night! Don't you get it, Samuel?! EVERYONE HATES ME! They hate me for everything I am! Because I am weak...a freak...and A PURE ONE! Tell me, Samuel, is there anything you would want to know from that?!" Carlos snarled, tears striking his eyes.

Samuel shook his head as he began to chuckle, much to Carlos's confusion.

"Well, yes...and no. But you are wrong, Carlos. Everyone doesn't hate you, especially your parents. Your parents loved you with all their hearts, and they just wanted to protect you the only way they knew how." Samuel explained, but Carlos only scoffed, clenching his beak in anger at the reminder of the promises they made...but they were nothing but bold-face lies. Carlos only turned away from Samuel, his eyes closing to conceal the tears.

"Don't even bother." Carlos spat at Samuel, "My own father never loved me to begin with...he hates me like everyone else in blasted world!" He yelled. Samuel only gave a deep sigh.

"I am sorry that you feel that way...but I believe the time had come for you to face your past..." Samuel said. Carlos was silent for a minute he turned his head over his shoulder .

"My past?"

Samuel nodded, "Yes, your past. You may not know it, but there is some things you do not know about your father..." Samuel explained. Carlos looked at him, unsure of whether to take him up on his offer, but then he saw Samuel offer his wing, "Come, my child. I shall take you back in time, and the truth will be revealed." He noticed Carlos's hesitant expression, "Carlos, I know you don't trust me...but you will never know peace if you don't do this...please, Carlos." The barn owl looked at him, and at his wing, still undecided...but...if what Samuel said is true, maybe it might give him enlightenment if he did as he said...he nodded, much to Samuel's delight, as he took the prince's wing, and with a tap of the old owl's claw, the two were enveloped in a light, as the sounds of a clock echoed around them. It lasted only a second though, as the two landed in the midst of what seemed to be St. Aegolius. Carlos only grimaced, much to Samuel's confusion.

"This is your home,isn't it?" He asked.

Carlos only sighed and nodded, "Yes, but this place...it brings back nothing but bad memories."

"I see." Samuel trailed off, before continuing, "Come now, there is something I would like to show you." Carlos watched him fly a few feet away from him, unsure of what to do. But then Samuel call back, "Come hither, Carlos, we haven't all day." The prince only sighed in defeat as he decided to play along with this owl. The two owls made their way through the lower regions of St. Aggies, as they did so, Carlos began to feel uncomfortable, as not one of the owl they passed took note of them. What was going on? Was he a scroom like Samuel?

"No need to worry, my child, no one can hear or see us." Samuel explained, "We are in an temporal stasis. It is brought upon us whenever I use my powers to travel back and forth in time, and see the past, present, and future. This occurs for the sake of not interfering with the flow of time...so, no can see you." Carlos was dumbfounded by all that he said, as the two made their way down through the canyons. As Carlos looked around, he noticed that the guards and the Pickers looked rather down and depressed. It confused Carlos as to why they were behaving as such...and he felt he was about to get his answers, when he saw a familiar hollow...Joe's. Then, to Carlos's horror, Samuel simply went through the door. Then Samuel called out to him, "Don't worry, Carlos, just walk through the door. It is harmless!" The barn owl was still unsure, but instead of questioning him, he just did as he asked, and sure enough, he went through the door like it was air. As he came to his side, he asked.

"Why are we here, Samuel? I thought this had something to do with me and my father. How does Joe fit into this?"

"Not just Joe, Carlos..." Samuel answered, as he gestured towards the burrowing owl who was sitting across from Joe.

"Private?" Carlos asked, as he then approached him, "Private!" He tried calling his name, but he did not answered, then he tried tapping him, but his wings went right through him. Eventually, he just tried waving his wing in front of his face, but no reaction came from him.

"I just can't believe he's gone, Joe." Private said to Joe sadly. Joe nodded in agreement.

"Aye, I know, lad. I can't believe Carlos would had just left like that. I sure hope that Lord Kludd and the others find him. It is a dangerous world out there." He takes a sip of tea that he brewed, "I mean, look at our queen. I never seen the queen so distraught...she is far different from the owl we knew nineteen years back." Joe admitted.

Private only let out another sigh, as a tear dropped from his eyes, "I miss him, Joe, he was my best friend." Carlos felt a punch in a gut when he heard those words. How could he possibly thought Private would hate him? He was his best friend! Never in his life had he seen the burrowing owl so upset. Carlos only lowered his head in sadness, before Samuel tapped his shoulder.

"Let us go, Carlos, there is much more for you to see." Samuel declared. Carlos gave a nod as he looked at Private once more, and sighed sadly. Again the two were off, as Carlos saw more of the owls he had met, all of them quite downtrodden by his disappearance and as Carlos saw them , he began regretting running away more than ever. Soon, they arrived at another hollow, home to the two cousins, Jatt and Jutt, and in the hollow with them, was Nitsla, his mother's assistant, and Nexus, one that was once rival to Kludd.

"I hope the king and the others find him." Nitsla sadly muttered, leaning against the wall of the hollow.

"I don't see what's the point. It is most likely that the boy is dead by now." Nexus stated bitterly, much to the shock of Nitsla.

"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?!" She screamed at the grass owl.

"Yeah, that's our prince you're talking about!" Jatt snapped in agreement.

"She's right! I know the boy is not a good fighter, but it is just cruel to assume the worst of him!" Jutt snarled at Nexus.

Nexus only scoffed at him, "Oh, wake up and smell the coals! They've been looking for two weeks, and we still hadn't found a trace of him. We have to face the fact that the kid is gone, dead, kaput!" Carlos felt his heart ache as he saw the bitterness in his eyes, but then Jatt snapped angrily,

"Shut your beak, Nexus!" He cried, as he tackled him to the ground. Soon, Jutt joined in on the brawl. But the fight only lasted for about a minute, when Nitsla, growing tired of the fighting, let out a screech, prompting all three of them to freeze in place as they saw the female's eyes welling with tears.

"Don't you realize what you are all doing?!" Nitsla screamed in anger, "We are turning on each others like wolves! If we keep on fighting, we will lose hope and everything will go to SPRONK!" The three males only frown in silence, as they heard her sob quietly. Jutt got off of his cousin and Nexus as he placed his wing on the crying female's shoulder.

"Sorry 'bout that, ma'am." Jutt apologized, "I guess it is hard to know that the little guy is out there on his own, with no one to protect him. He may not be a soldier...but he is still our prince." Jatt and Nexus only gave a nod in agreement, as Nitsla sighed sadly. Carlos felt his legs grow weak...did his former teacher mean it? Did they all miss him that much? He then felt Samuel tap him again.

"I'm afraid we are not finished yet, Carlos. There is one more stop we must make before we return to the present..." Samuel explained. Carlos gave a half-nod as he and Samuel took flight. Soon, they were in the throne room, where Carlos saw his mother just simply standing there on the perch, looking up at the sky, as if she was waiting for him to return...and from what Joe said, he knew she was. He felt his heart ache even more, as he approached the white tyto, hoping to comfort her.

"Mother?" He addressed Nyra, but she didn't hear him, as expected in Carlos's state. The barn owl sighed deeply as he kissed her on the cheek, not knowing whether she could feel it or not, as he felt tears come to his eyes. "I'm so sorry…" Suddenly the doors opened, revealing none other than his father Kludd and the search party. Nyra immediately went past Carlos, as she approached them.

"Did you find him?" She asked. Kludd only sighed, as he shook his head in defeat.

"Not even a feather." Kludd reported, much to Nyra's dismay, but what surprised Carlos was the fact that Kludd himself looked like hagsmire, as if he hadn't slept for nights on end. The scarred Tyto continued, "Nyra...I'm so sorry...you were right. It's all my fault that he is gone."

"No, dear, it's not..." Nyra tried to sooth.

"Yes, it is!" Kludd snapped, "I was trying so hard to make him into a Pure One...so hard that I pushed him away..." Kludd only growled to himself, "Glaux...why did I say those words...why did I say he was not my son? I didn't meant to hurt him..." Kludd whispered quietly, as he felt tears leaving his eyes, much to Carlos's shock. Never in his life had he ever saw his father cry, and it pained him to see him do it now before his eyes. Did...did his father still cared about him?

"Oh, Kludd..." The white tyto whispered, as she gently placed her wing on his shoulder, "I know you didn't..."

Kludd let out a sigh, as he continued, "I only wanted to be the best father I could for him...I didn't want him to suffer as I did when my own father...chose my brother over me...but now...I am no better than him." Kludd muttered, as a tear dropped from his eyes. Carlos's beak began to quiver as his own eyes filled with tears...all this time, he felt hated...when everyone (well, mostly everyone) had missed him.

Nyra nuzzled Kludd's beak as she assured him, "It will be all right, Kludd. If we find him...you will have your chance to apologize for everything."

Kludd gave a sniffle, as he smiled, "Thank you, my queen...I really needed that." With that, he embraced his mate. Carlos could not take it anymore. He fell to his knees, breaking into a horrible sob. He had it wrong from the start...his father always loved him...even after all this time. Why did he not say anything? Before he could contemplate that thought, Samuel placed his wing on his shoulder...

"Now do you see, Carlos?" Samuel asked, "Your parents loved you much, that it nearly killed them when they learned that you had gone missing. They only wanted what was best for you, to learn from their mistakes so you could become a young fine owl."

"You don't understand…" He said in between a sob and a moan. "For so long, it seemed like all they care about what dominating all the owl kingdoms, and getting their revenge on my uncle. They didn't seem to care what would become of me."

"That is partially true. Your parents do care about you...but the path they are taking is a rather dark one." Samuel explained grimly, "All I know is that the path will only end in pain and suffering on all your parts. If you continue down this path of despair, Carlos, you will never know of happiness again..."

Carlos took a deep breath, as one last tear fell from his eyes. "What should I do then?" He asked, unaware that his surroundings were fading back to the present, bringing them back to his hollow.

"You must return to Ga'Hoole." Samuel stated simply, "For the tree is now in horrible danger." Carlos looked at him in horror.

" What?! I can't do that! I was exiled..." Carlos explained...before realizing a part of what he said, "Wait, what do you mean, the tree is in danger?!"

"Your parents believe that you are dead, murdered by the Guardians, namely your uncle Soren. Now, they are invading the tree to wreak their vengeance upon them...and I must say...things are looking rather bleak." He explained, horrifying Carlos even more.

"Wait, how can they think that?! I am still alive...heck, I am lucky I was able to escape that crazy..." Then it hit him like a pile of bricks. That hireclaw that tried to kill him...she must have reported to his parents and lied to them about his well-being, knowing that they would go on a war path to avenge him. It was all an elaborate setup to not only kill him, but his family and the Guardians all in a bloody war! "Oh...my...Glaux!" Carlos began to panic, "What am I gonna do, Samuel?! How do I make them stop?! I can't lose my ma and da, not now!"

"You must go to them, Carlos. Show them both that you are still alive and well, and stop them before they destroy the tree and all hagsmire break loose." Samuel stated with absolution. Those words said, Carlos immediately got to his feet and stepped outside his hollow and spread his wings. He knew that the only way he was ever going to end this brutal feud between the two kingdoms was to make peace. Knowing what he must do, he gave one last look at Samuel...only to realize that he was gone...but there was no time to wonder where he went, so he only thought...

"Thank you, Samuel..." Carlos thought, "Thank you for showing me that I am not alone...not yet at least." With that, he took to the sky and flew off towards Ga'Hoole.

As Carlos flew, he continued to talk to himself, "I swear...once this war is over, when peace and order is achieved, there will be no discrimination or prejudice towards one another. It will not matter whether you an owl or some other bird, a Tyto or not, we are all the same...and I will protect my family, as they had protected me...it is now my turn to defend them." Samuel's spirit looked on from a nearby tree, only smiling as the prince disappeared into the horizon, as he himself faded away, knowing that his work here was done.

Already was Carlos halfway to the tree, when Carlos thought to himself one last time, "Ma...Da...I'm coming..." With that, he flapped harder, off to bring an end to this war before it was too late.

Wow, amazing isn't? All credit of using Samuel, the snowy owl, are credit to Shen's General and if you haven't read Between Brothers yet, I suggest you do so... it is pretty cool story I might add, thank you Shen for letting me for burrowed and used him! And thanks for reading and sorry for my lateness and review!