(Disclaimer: I don't own the Lorien Legacies series or any of its characters.)

21

Six

I stand with the rest of Ten amidst the gigantic crowd in Eilion Park, looking up at the enormous vid screens that have been erected around all of the buildings. Our Cêpan are all here too, looking grim. Brandon is particularly frantic. None of us have seen Four since last night, and with whatever the hell happened last night, that's definitely not good. Some kind of freak storm or battle happened, and a good couple blocks of London have been completely destroyed. If weren't for this mandatory assembly, he'd be out there now searching for Four. And I'd be right beside him.

I can't stand the thought of something bad happening to Four, especially now. Things are finally starting to fall into place. I want to tell myself that he's just spending some time on his own, maybe just needed some time after he had another panic attack like when the Triumvirate arrived. But despite all my self-assurances, I know something is wrong. He never came back to his grandparents' after he left early in the morning, and no one knows where his parents are. Then there's the eight blocks of the city that have been razed, and now this mysterious assembly.

I bit my lip nervously, and I feel an arm slide around my shoulder. I look up to see One next to me, looking down at me with worry in her eyes, "You OK?"

I shrug, "Just wondering where Four is."

She rubs my back comfortingly, "I'm sure he's fine."

I nod glumly, "I'm going to kick his ass when I find him."

Nine pipes up from where he's standing with Eight and Three, "Can I buy tickets to that show?"

"All sold out." I call back to him, and Five snickers beside me.

I glance curiously at Two, who's peering intently at the sky. I'm about to ask her what's wrong when the screens mounted on the buildings finally spark to life. The crowd falls silent, except for Nine, who has to be shushed by Sandor when he keeps talking to Three. The screens flicker, and then reveal an image of the Elders seated in thrones on a dais. I frown as Lupa's face fills the screen, noticing that they're all wearing black robes.

Lupa clears her throat and gazes out among the crowd, and then speaks in a sorrowful, monotone voice, "Friends, Pittacus Lore is dead."

Four

I sit on my bunk in Adam's ship, staring out the window at the stars streaking past as we rocket away from Lorien. We're already twelve hours gone, and the planet is nothing more than a speck in the distance. I wish I had Two's Legacy that granted her eagle-vision so that I could watch it speed away for just a little while longer. I glance at my Chest and the glass sphere resting on the bedside table containing the dirt from Lorien that I scooped up in the lot. At least I'm taking one little piece of home with me. I sigh, and then turn my attention back to my leg. I glumly trace the red, raw scar embedded just above my ankle. It still hurts to touch, so I only graze over it lightly. I bite my lip, and let out a deep breath.

The door hisses open, and Adamus steps in. He stares at my scar until I let my pants' leg fall and twist so that I'm facing him.

"How's Sam?" I ask.

He snorts, "Whiny."

I feel another familiar pang of guilt. It's my fault he's here, rocketing through space with two wanted fugitives. I lied to him, and brought him here. I had no intention of bringing him this far at the start. But there simply wasn't time to drop him off when we switched ships, and now he's stuck with us for the long haul.

"What'd you expect?" I ask, "He doesn't want to be here."

He gives a small morbid laugh, "You think any of us want to be here?"

I nod, agreeing with him glumly. We settle into a morbid silence until Adam shifts uncomfortably and then holds out his hand.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you yet, but you did good back there. For what it's worth, I've got your back in this."

I take his hand, and give a sad smile, "Thanks."

He smiles back, "I'll make a warrior out of you yet."

I nod, but I don't really want to be a warrior. I just want to be who I was before all of this, and be with Six. But that's no longer possible for me. Adam gets up to leave and pauses at the door before turning back to face me.

"We're all going to miss him, Four."

I stare back out the window at Lorien, and Six, rapidly fading away, "I know."

Six

The crowd is dead silent, and then the sobs start. Everyone staggers as if we've been struck, and One and I cling to each other.

"He died bravely," Lupa continued, eyeing our reaction, "Protecting Lorien from its enemies. He died as he lived, ever vigilant and fighting for his people."

I see tears running down Seven and Ella's faces, as well of everyone around me. Even Nine is watering up, and I angrily wipe my eyes with the back of my sleeve. But amidst all of this, despite crying herself, Two continues to look up at the empty sky.

"There has never been a sadder moment recorded in all of our history," Lupa started again, "But this is not the end of the tale. The Elder Matoran was also slain."

A collective moan rocks the plaza, and the sobs began anew. I see the tears glistening on Katarina's face, and I cling to One. I can't believe this is happening. Everyone respects and loves the Elders; they symbolize everything Lorien stands for. And Pittacus Lore…Great Lorien, why is this happening?

The screen zooms out to reveal the remaining Elders rising from their thrones, "There can be no greater pain than that of betrayal. It is a pain Lorien feels today, from every man and women to every child at home and the hearth."

"No…" Brandon whispers, and I shake my head as I catch on.

"No," I stutter to One, "No one would ever…"

I can't finish the thought but Lupa delivers it for me, "Yes, friends. Matoran and Pittacus Lore were murdered by a Loric citizen."

Four

I rest my head in my hands, images of my home filling my mind as we leave the only place I've ever known. I stiffen, as flashes of my final vision from last night race through my head. I grit my teeth and try to block it out with memories of Six, but shards break through. Eventually my mind becomes a furious clash of emotions and memories that I don't even understand anymore. I feel like my sanity is a glass panel, and someone has just shattered it into millions of fragments. Flashes race through my head, and I curl up against my bunk with my head in my hands, trying to block it all out.

I see my house, and then Six and I sitting in a tree together. Flashes of Mogadorians screaming as they crisp apart in Adamus' eruptions. My grandmother, smiling down at me with a plate of warm cookies. Pittacus, smashing through the plaza's fountain as he takes on all of the Elders for us. The smoldering handprint in the tree from my first Legacy. Setrakus Ra being yanked forward with a leash of lightning as Pittacus hurls Bariotick against the ground. Nine and I, running through the forest with the pack behind us. Elkin and Lupa screaming with fury as they feel Matoran's death blocks away. Laughing with the Ten over some stupid joke Nine made. Elkin smashing Pittacus to the ground as Lupa then dragged him up to his knees. An old man's face, his eyes boring into me desperately as he lunges forward. Matoran striding towards me with fury in his eyes. Sitting around a campfire with Brandon and Hadley. Lupa, whispering something maliciously in Pittacus' ear. Six, smiling at me, the sunlight making her hair glitter. And then the worst, Lupa impaling Pittacus with her dagger, smiling as she twisted it deeper, and deeper…

Six

"The killer was someone we all respected, and all loved," Lupa said solemnly, "Someone with great potential, and a bright future had they not fallen prey to corruption and darkness. Unlimited potential, once meant to guard Lorien, now turned against us. What was once to be our greatest prize is now the deadliest weapon turned against our throats. The killer…"

Lupa paused, and it seemed to me that her eyes burned into me as she sought the Ten out of the rest of the crowd.

"…Is Number Four." She finished, amid the uproar of fury.

Mu world spins around me, and One stumbles as she suddenly is forced to carry my entire weight. The other Loric yell and back away from us, leaving the Ten and our Cêpan in an isolated circle. They scream insults at us, but it all crashes over my head. All I can think about is Four, and how what they're accusing could never be true. I don't know how long I stay that way, reveling in my despair and simply letting Lupa's and the crowd's words was over me. But I lift my eyes to the sky when I hear Two gasp and then point, and then a wild roar fills my ears.

I look up, my hair blowing into my face, and see hundreds of Mogadorian warships descending down on us from the city skyline. I gasp, and Lupa's words suddenly swim back into focus as I behold this horror.

"…due to this state of newly-proclaimed emergency, the Elders have reached a difficult decision. It is our regret to inform you all that Lorien must undergo a security movement known as the Mogadorian Occupation to ensure its safety. We thank you for your support during this difficult time. And if you know anything about the whereabouts of these three individuals, please don't hesitate to contact one of…"

I block her out again as I see Four's face fill the screen alongside some monster and Sam Goode. The sight of the bold, red "wanted" sign under his picture makes the tears start fresh all over again. One rocks me back and forth, murmuring comforting words into my ear, as Five slowly rubs my back. I'm dimly aware of Sandor and Eight holding back a furious Nine, who's spitting venom at some Cêpan insulting us. I wish I could block out all of these tears, but I just can't stop crying, damn it. But while the tears don't stop, my mind is racing in constant. And I know deep in my heart, despite whatever "evidence" they bring, that Four would never do something like this. Never. And I swear I'll find who really did, and then bring Four home to me.

Four

I shudder as the images finally recede, and lay there looking at the glass sphere filled with that little piece of Lorien. I realize, that despite whatever brave front I may put on, I'm scared. I'm terrified for my family, for my parents. For Six, and the Ten. Lupa swore that I would lose them all, and I have no doubt that she would use them to get to me. But most of all, I'm scared for Lorien, for my home. Betrayed by its very guardians, beset on all sides by enemies. I think of the light at the plateau, surrounded by the shadow. It's fate now rests in our hands, against all odds. And that's terrifying. But I meant what I said to Matoran earlier: I'll be better. I'll train, strengthen myself. For Pittacus, and Six. I'll rise up, I'll fight for my home and those I love. And I swear, as the planet finally winks out of existence, that this is not the end. I will return, and when I do, there will be nowhere for the Elders to hide.

UP NEXT:

The story will continue in The Power of Six: Earth 2!

A/N: Wow. I actually managed to finish this. Nearly a year in the making, with a long absence in the middle. A huge thank-you to everyone who stuck with this story and reviewed, you guys are the ones who really motivate me to keep writing. Also, a massively huge thank-you to Celeste K. Raven for editing my story, she's the reason I've managed to sneak off with so few SPAG errors. I know a lot of you guys probably wanted to read more about Pittacus' death in more detail-I promise there was a reason I was vague about it here. You will get a full recap/in-depth look at that scene in book two. There's a new ch up for the The Fallen Legacies companion story giving you a peek of what's to come as well, but after today I'm on a break. I'll use the time to write several chapters for book two, so I can release them on a regular schedule this time around, which I epically failed at with this one. Again, a huge thank to everyone who read the whole story, and remember that if you post at least 3 reviews on chapters 16 and up, you'll get an early preview of book 2 via PM. Thanks for sticking with me.