A/N: Woohoo! Welcome to the most difficult chapter that I've ever had to write. Thank you for your kind comments and for enjoying this story. We're not finish yet though.

The Canary's Cage

10 – Win Some, Lose Some

The sky I looked up to someday is too far away
and I even forgot how to fly.

The people of Xandar were still crying. They'd lost so much, even though they had won. No, not won – survived. The girl had spent hours in front of what remained of the Dark Aster, but she didn't feel him there. When she asked what happened, she was met with different answers, mostly of the insensitive sort. Peter Quill was quite pleased with his witty catch phrases, before he unleashed the power of the infinity stone onto Ronan.

It was fine to kill him. She could have lived with Ronan dying. She too would have killed him if it meant stopping the destruction of Xandar. However, she would have also been able to bring him back to life. But she needed his remains in order to do it.

"Please, save my daughter!" A woman fell to the Inhuman's feet, having watched her bring back various women, men, and children. She understood that bringing back these innocent lives would not sate her desire to pull him from hell – because that was where he most certainly resided in while dead.

Even while she found herself exhausted, she continued to restore the shattered lives that surrounded her. She held her hand out, focusing, and watched as a light washed over the young girl she was working on. She was only four years old. Four years old. A blood covered hand with tiny, broken bones kept her from stopping. Soon, the child opened her eyes, and was animated, completely filled with life. In a way, she was fixing the Kree's mistakes. She was undoing the harm that he'd caused. He would want to kill her for it. Well, she dared him. Come back from the grave, haunt her, discipline her, and to do his worst.

"My husband was one of the men who died... He was part of the Nova Corp fleet that shielded us. Those who had fallen into the water haven't been retrieved yet," another woman said, as she held a tissue up to her mouth to keep her from sobbing, her hands were shaking uncontrollably. She grabbed the woman's palms comfortingly.

"I'll need to go out there, then," The Inhuman said to one of the Corpsmen. They took her out without question, instructed to do as she asked by Nova Prime herself. The girl clung to the side of the ship and stared down into the dark water once they were stopped. It was difficult when she couldn't see where the bodies were, but she could still feel them. They were lost far beneath the surface and there were hundreds of them.

She used both hands to envision those broken bodies, taking each and every one of them, and placing the light where it belonged, like a candle burning beneath a lantern. The guards watched on as a bright glow grew from below the water. It shot across for miles, covering over the entire area. It was the most she'd ever done with her ability, as she fell to the floor, and caught herself on her hands.

They could hear the loud cheers coming from land. It was to welcome the troops that were resurfacing for air. They were swimming back to shore, some of them to meet with their families or loved ones. Denarian Saal looked around at the men he'd fallen alongside of, somewhat relieved, and mostly ashamed. The love he treasured the most was Xandar itself and he was all too happy to see her in one piece.

'You're awake,' Gamora murmured, watching as the girl stirred from her long sleep. She'd lost a lot of blood, but was thankfully conscious. There had been concerns that she wouldn't wake up. The assassin took hold of her hand and leaned in closer. 'How do you feel?'

'Horrible,' she admitted, while taking an anxious look around the room. 'What happened? Is Ronan – is Xandar still?'

'We're at the Xandar infirmary and as for Ronan, he's gone.' She didn't know what the Inhuman's relationship was with the Kree, and was choosing to be delicate in regards to the situation. The girl combed her fingers through her hair, bringing it to the top of her head.

It was fine. She could just bring him back to life again. She'll bottle him up and take him somewhere safe. They could go back home to Hala and live quietly. Blue skin pulled tight over muscles and bones – a blunt structure of freckled skin and an arrogant smirk. The deepest hurt she felt was the absence of his words, not just his words, but his voice. She had to go back and see for herself.

'I crispy fried barbequed that bitch,' Peter said, nonchalantly, as he walked through the door with a bag filled with food and a cup tray that held four sparklers. 'Well, first, I challenged him to a dance-off.'

'You did what?' The girl asked in a voice as low as a whisper, feeling her heart sink at his words. It wasn't the dancing part that troubled her. She felt sick.

'We had the jams, I just brought the moves in.'

Gamora answered for him, 'He was disintegrated. There isn't a body. There were no remains left from it. The stone took everything.'

'You should have seen it. I opened my palm and the stone just knew what we all wanted and," Peter emphasized his statement by snapping his fingers, causing the girl to jump. '…just like that, he was gone. I mean, after all the screaming was over.'

'When were you able to bandage up your wounds?' Gamora asked, remembering that the nurse said that the girl would have died if there hadn't been any pressure applied to it. It was a fatal injury that was saved by a torn piece of fabric and her (unknown at that point) ability to heal.

'I didn't.' She had a hard time remembering anything after Drax had charged in to save her. Ronan related the moment to the one they had on Knowhere, which had nearly been identical. Then something else happened. A ship crashed in and then everything went black.

That must've been when she lost him.

"Nova Prime would like a word with you." It was Denarian Dey who had come to fetch the Inhuman. She'd done enough resting for the day. They walked down the white corridor, which was an odd change for her.

The woman standing at the center of the room beamed a scarlet painted smile in her direction. Her heeled boots were tall and what she would imagine to be painful to walk around in for even a short amount of time. Her pale skin stood out against her platinum blond hair. Or maybe it was white – she honestly had no idea. She just wanted to be alone, so she could crumble in peace.

"I've heard a great deal about you, my dear." She didn't move from her spot, simply observing the girl in front of her. "On behalf of Xandar, I would like to thank you for extending your abilities. Many lives were saved today."

"Not everyone was as appreciative to have been brought back," she said, immediately. The Nova Corpsmen in particular weren't too fond of being resurrected. They had died honorably, protecting their people. "Some say they touched heaven."

Nova Prime laughed then, steely blue eyes cutting through the Inhuman, "That was hardly your fault. You couldn't see through the water. A second chance is a miracle, which is why I'd like to offer you citizenship here, in Xandar."

"I can't stay here, even if I wanted to. Everyone knows what I can do and they're going to come to me whenever someone they love is injured or dead. Others will hear of what I've done and they'll want to use me." She shook her head at the offer, trying to shut her mind off, because she thought of Ronan and all of his warnings. The Kree was trying to avoid this exact situation.

"We can keep you safe." It was a promise coming from Nova Prime. To keep the girl on their planet, she'd agree to do almost anything.

"And you'll find yourself dead no doubt."

"One more thing, then, since I cannot persuade you," she said, as her face fell into a gentler expression. "What name do you go by? Denarian Saal was concerned over the fact that you were without an identity."

'Inhuman…'

"Inhuman." It was what he called her. It may be nice hearing it fall from someone else's lips with time.

"Inhuman you may be, my darling girl, but your name is your legacy. I've never met an Inhuman with powers such as yours. Surely, there is more to you, than just a definition."

She stepped forward, eyes widened, "You've met more than one Inhuman?"

"Not very often, but I have, yes. They're located on earth for the time being, but they're considering relocating soon. They're staying hidden in the Himalayas." Nova Prime studied the surprised look on the girl's face, realizing then that she knew very little about her own people. "Your citizenship still stands, but I'd like to propose something else. We can arrange to take you to earth. I can even offer you an expressway between planets, should you wish to return, under the condition that should another disaster fall upon us, that you will extend your help."

"You have my word." Saving Xandar a thousand times more would not be enough to make up for what Ronan had done to them.

Nova Prime accepted the cup of tea she was handed, but she never did bring it up to her mouth for a sip. Perhaps she didn't want to mess up her lipstick. "I'll have a contract written up. How soon were you hoping to leave?"

"Tomorrow morning, if that is at all possible. There's still something that I have to do."

Something…

"Of course." She'd resist trying to keep the Inhuman on Xandar. Her initial response was going to be, 'that soon?', but that would only lead to false imprisonment for the Inhuman. She could only hope that sometime in the future that the girl will return. Earth was a boring place to exist, not even a mirrored world.

The Milano was restored to her previous glory as a reward for helping keep Xandar safe and the Guardians were about ready to take off and find their next adventure. She smiled at the crew of five, since she was counting the twig in the flowerpot. She held no grudges, knowing that what they accomplished was for the common good of all. Xandar destroyed would have been a complete and utter tragedy.

"I thought you would come with us," Gamora said, as she crossed her arms defensively. She felt uncomfortable leaving the girl behind, considering everything they'd been through.

"Finding out where I come from comes next on my list." It was a shameless lie. A half a lie, really. There was something else she'd have to do before then. She couldn't share it, not with her new friends, or with Nova Prime. What she planned to do next could hurt plenty of people should things go awry.

Peter nodded at her answer, understanding it all too well. He'd planned to learn more about his father. "I can't argue with that answer."

Drax stepped closer to the girl, his eyes downcast on the ground. She tilted her head at him sadly, lowering her face until she caught him there. She brought him back up, as she trailed her hands across his massive arms.

"It's not like it is goodbye," she told him, as she leaned in for a hug. He was reluctant to let her go, watching her slip through his fingertips.

She crouched down on her heels and smiled at the flowerpot. "My power is to give life…"

"Not to things like us," Rocket said, bitterly. There were fresh tears in his eyes ready to fall at any moment. He'd been holding himself together well, but she could see the stitching about to give, and come undone.

"If you believe in it and I believe in it, then maybe I can give life to all things, Rocket." She covered her hands over his smaller ones and stared into his eyes. "Why can't I give life to other beings? So, long as there is a life force, we should be able to nurture it."

The twig glowed in response, causing the raccoon to swallow thickly. When the light slowly withdrew, he had expected something to happen, anything, but it didn't. He slumped visibly and released his next breath with a shudder.

"I can't bring back what's already alive," she said to him, giving Rocket a meaningful look, one of which inspired hope. "Continue to care for him as you are…"

After seeing off the only individuals who she would ever consider calling her 'friends', she walked back to her temporary quarters for some sleep. Tomorrow she would have to face her decision, all dark and opposing, but her intentions were pure enough. If everyone was going to live through this tragedy, then she would make sure that he did as well.

Just like a true image of Beatrice, she would send for her Dante, and free him from hell. She closed her eyes once she was beneath the sheets and her mind wandered further towards The Divine Comedy. She'd read it on Hala, multiple times, so engrossed in the writing. She doubted Ronan had ever touched the book. It wasn't his style, at all.

He was merely a collector of so-called good literature.

Through me, the way into the suffering city,
Through me, the way into eternal pain,
Through me, the way runs among the lost.

The morning came, slower than she would have preferred. She truly just wanted to get this over with, afraid of what time would mean. What if waiting was in fact doing more harm, than good? What if there really was nothing left of him? There wasn't much to pack up, a single dress, one of which had been ruined beyond repair, and was only kept out of sentiment.

Nova Prime was waiting as per usual at the center of the room, in control of all that went on around her, acting as an overseer. She really hated to put her in a situation that would prove her incompetence. The girl didn't wish to invoke the mistrust of Xandar, because she was quite fond of the planet, and its people.

"Ah! Inhuman…" It felt weird for her to say it, peering at the girl's beauty. There was a more befitting name for her – something like Rose or Lily, a soft and floral name. "Shall I see you off?"

"Almost. There's only one more thing that I need now. I can't go anywhere without it." She shook her head, as a slow forming smile grew across her face. "It's not an easy thing to ask of you, Nova Prime, but you must trust me. I want you to see me as the girl who helped save Xandar and not as anything else."

The woman lowered her voice to a more serious one, "Anything."

"That's very gracious of you." And she knew that the offer would be taken back in just a moment, "I need to see the infinity stone."

"Anything, except for that," Nova Prime said, instantly correcting herself, standing firmly on the matter.

"I know." The Inhuman raised her hand up, seizing everyone within the room. She'd had plenty of practice to accomplish that much. "Right now it feels like a weight, right? I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't even want the stone. Inside it though, the stone has something that I belong to, or belongs to me, rather."

"This is outrageous!" Nova Prime seethed, her blue eyes enraged. "You couldn't possibly be thinking of bringing back that abomination."

Abomination…

"Not here. I won't allow him to repeat what he's done." The girl began walking past the stilled bodies, uncomfortable by the fact that she had to take it that far in the first place. "My agreement to extend my servitude should have been clear enough, yet you still don't trust me."

She walked down the familiar path, having watched Nova Prime place the orb inside a special vault that was heavily guarded by the Nova Corp police. The security remained frozen by her power and the metal pieces that concealed her from the last bit of hope she held, drew away. She reached inside and grabbed hold of the stone's casing.

"When I was a child, I used to wait back on Hala," she said, speaking loud enough, so that Nova Prime could hear her. "I didn't know what I was waiting for. The more I grew up, the more negative my thoughts became. I had started to fear him, thinking he wanted nothing more, than to kill me. Instead, he saved me. Now I need to return the favor."

She placed the orb onto the ground and stood away from it, readying the capsule that she kept in a small satchel. Her fingers stretched and she tried to feel her way through the stone's energy. She didn't have to expose its power in order to feel what she was looking for, tapping into it. She'd found it – dripping black and tarnished – a fractured soul. Her fingers closed tightly around it and she slowly pulled it into the glass.

Inside the vial, it looked like trapped smoke. She held it up to the light and beamed back a smile, "So, we meet again." She placed the capsule back inside her bag and put the orb behind the vault doors. Once she was back inside the main control room, she stepped close to Nova Prime, watching her tremble in place. She was obviously furious.

"Now I'm ready." She released everyone and immediately felt steel pressing against her shoulder. The police were only doing their jobs. Nova Prime had them stand down with the gesture of her hand. The girl knew that since she was an asset, her death would never be an issue, even if it were accomplished.

The woman said nothing, as she carried out her promise of seeing the Inhuman off. They said nothing to one another, until the time came for the girl to board. "If Ronan returns to Xandar in hopes of waging war against my people again, then I will see to it that you are both executed." Nova Prime glared at her then, meaning every single word of it.

She nodded, understanding, "I'll hold you to it."

The moment she stepped onboard the small ship, was the moment she was able to relax. It took courage to do what she had just done and she never wanted to do it again. She'd hoped that she still established some level of trust with Xandar, but her one act seemed to betray it all. She reached her hand into the satchel and retrieved the remnant.

"Is there anywhere specific on Terra you'd like to go?" The Corpsman asked, as they approached the planet.

"The Himalayas, please…" It was the last spotting of Attilan, the home of the Inhumans, according to Nova Prime. Once they had landed, the guard showed her how to work the radio, so that she may find her way back into the galaxy again. It would connect her directly to Xandar and she'd have to know how to read off the coordinates.

"Thank you." She watched until the ship was gone and out of her range of sight. It was over. They wouldn't have to worry about anything trivial. If Ronan didn't like staying with the Inhumans, then they could return to Hala. So long as they were together…

She walked further out into the wide field that was outstretched in front of her. The fresh air she breathed in was crisp and soothing. It felt like the beginning of summer in the mountains. Her legs came to stop among a bed of marsh orchids over by a river and she pulled the cap open to the vial, unable to wait a second longer.

Ga-guhn…ga-guhn…ga-guhn…

A place that was dark and infinite, no comfort, yet no despair. The sound of a droplet echoed through his subconscious and he could smell something sweet. Without form, but with senses and exposed nerves, how was it that he could feel the breeze upon his skin?

She closed her eyes, trying to envision the Kree commander the way she remembered him. A personality that was unyielding, a broken belief system, and a rare kindness – the things she appreciated about him. An intensely penetrating stare and an arrogant smirk – they were consuming attributes of his. She would create him from top to bottom, until he was whole again.

That sweetness filled his lungs, until he was drowning on it. Familiar warmth held him still and soon he was able to feel everything. He'd shed himself of the dark, as he would a shadow, and stepped beneath the light.

There was never a moment where Ronan wasn't full of life, even while he was being cold-blooded towards her and others. She traced him in her mind, the claiming of his wicked mouth and the verbal lashing of the words from off his tongue – a pair of dark violet eyes.

The process was finished, but she refused to open her eyes, afraid of what might be there. She shivered when she felt the warmth of his body, before he reached out to touch her. He was so close her then. Even while his hands were at the sides of her face, drawing her lips upwards into a soft kiss, she didn't dare look at him. He slipped his fingers through her hair and brought her up onto her toes, wrapping a strong arm around her waist.

And when she was left gasping for air, he ran his thumbs beneath her eyes, silently begging for them to open. The moment she finally gazed at him, she was unable to look away, completely enamored by him.

The light had bled into the dark and he was alive once more. There was never a moment, in which he doubted her – his brave Inhuman.

TBC