A/N: My apologies for the delay in an update; as predicted, the move was a lot more chaotic then I thought. Also, just a heads up: as NaNiWriMo is just a week away, I will be focusing my writing time on that and this story will go on a short month-long hiatus. Obviously my goal to be done by the end of the year will not be happening, but I want to make sure each chapter is of satisfactory quality (if I grind out a bunch of mediocre chapters, I feel I won't be doing justice to my readers or the characters). Anyways, thank you all so much for sticking with me. The story really picks up from here on out; the days of filler chapters are long gone. I hope you enjoy the latest chap!

Chapter 19: Initiation (Heart of Guilt)

The 13-year old Alexa sat awkwardly, her hands folded in her lap and her gaze fixed to the floor. Her mother sat across from her, a serious expression on her face.

"We've decided to exempt Alexa from detention," the principal explained. "While she did participate in the graffiti, there were too many people involved to punish every one of them individually. Alexa, you are left to your mother's mercy on this."

Alexa risked a glance up at her mother. Myrtle just nodded to the principal.

"Alright. Thank you."
Without another word, the mother daughter pair left the principal's office.

Alexa knew she was at fault. She knew it when she was behind the school's back wall, evenings ago, with a group of rowdy teens and a bottle of spray paint clasped in her hand.

The walk home was quiet. Alexa would have been content with that, but it only lasted about half of the trip.

"Sweetheart?" Myrtle started. Though her voice was gentle, Alexa could sense disappointment behind it. "Why did you do it?"

Alexa's gaze fell to the sidewalk.

"I was mad," she muttered.

"About what?"

"The fact you won't let me go to the concert."

Myrtle seemed surprised.

"Alexa, we've been over this," she said. "You are far too young to be attending that concert. It's not safe."

"I'm thirteen, mom!" Alexa complained. "I'm not a little kid anymore! You can't tell me what to do! If I want to go, I'll go and you can't stop me!"

"Alexa,"Myrtle said. She took her daughter's hands in her own. "I talked with your father about your behavior as of late, and we've decided we haven't been reinforcing your discipline enough. So, you're grounded this weekend."

"What?!" Alexa's eyes widened. "That's bogue! I was going to Grace's on Saturday. Dad's not even here this week!"
Myrtle sighed

"We're not very thrilled about your choice of friends, either."

"She's not even my friend," Alexa huffed. "Or her group. I just hang out with them because they don't make me feel like a freak, thanks to dad."

"But when they lead you to do things that break school rules, your father and I have every reason to be concerned."

Alexa opened her mouth to reply, but couldn't find the words. She felt anger steadily boiling within her, but she wasn't sure how best to convey it.

The two arrived at their house moments later. Mrytle turned to Alexa and gave her a hug.

"We only do this because we love you," she told her.

Normally, Alexa would have welcomed the comforting gesture.

But not today.

Today, it was the catalyst of her rage.

"Liar!" She squirmed out of her mother's grip, fists clenched. "If dad cared, he wouldn't embarrass me all the time! If you cared, you would recognize that I'm not your little girl anymore and you would let me go to the concert!"

"First of all, you'll always be my little girl whether you like it or not," Myrtle told her, her voice steady. "And second of all, your farther only-"

"Stop making excuses for him!" Alexa was shouting now. "That's all you ever do! But when I make a mistake, it's always my fault! It's so freaking bogue!"

"Alexa, that's enough," Myrtle said. "You're too worked up to think clearly right now. Please go to your room and calm down."

"I...please let me go out this weekend," she said, changing her tone to a whine. "Please."

"No," Myrtle replied firmly. Alexa growled under her breath, giving her mother a glare.

"Alexa, it's for your own good," Myrtle insisted. "I know I may seem like your enemy right now, but-"

"That's because you are," Alexa retorted coldly. "You are my enemy. You've never been on my side! Ugh, you're worse than my principal!" She threw down her backpack and stormed up the stairs.

"I just want what's best for you, sweetheart," Myrtle murmured, but she was only answered with the sound of a bedroom door slamming.

Alexa flopped onto her bed and gave a shuddery sigh.

"I hate her so much," she thought bitterly, pulling on her headphones.

Her mother was considered one of the sweetest women in Motorville. Miss Leila herself would always say things like "oh, your mother is such an angel!"

But Alexa could see the horns that held up the halo.

"…"

"Oi, lickety-Lex…"

"…"

"Lickety-Lex! Get up, will ya!"

A persistent poking on her side roused her from her sleep. Alexa sat up immediately, startled. She was in the guest quarters of the Isle of Resistance. The "room" was a small inlet carved into the cave wall, but it was less cramped then the cells. Even still, the beds were creaky; Alexa could tell that the Isle was the kind of place to sacrifice comfort over practicality.

Tiny was on her bed, but Kolton's bed was empty.

"And up she goes," the fairy said said, satisfied that he'd roused her. "What's happening, then? You were shouting in your sleep."

"I was?" she mumbled. She knew had been dreaming, but for some reason, she no longer remembered what had happened in it.

"Mm-hm. You seemed pretty rattled. Wanna talk about it? Might help."

"I don't actually remember it," Alexa admitted.

"Eh, fair enough."

"Where's Kolton?" she wondered, changing the subject.

"Out with the others. Last I saw, he was chatting with one of the grimalkins." Tiny hopped off her bed. "You conked out almost immediately after we got here. It's evening right now, and I came here cuz Fetter wanted me to wake you up. There's a meeting going on soon."

"O-oh."

Alexa pushed herself out of the bed, briefly combing her fingers through her messy hair. Then she followed Tiny out of the quarters and through the halls. It wasn't as busy as it had been during the afternoon, but Alexa realized why when she emerged into the central cavern.

The entire resistance team was gathered around a bonfire. Swaine stood at the center, his expression characteristically stoic, waiting for the last members to arrive.

"Enjoy your nap?" a voice asked her. She turned to see Kolton, an amused grin on his face "It's not like we've had tons of time to sleep today or anything."

"And what have you been doing for the last few hours?" Alexa snorted. "Making some friends?"

"Gathering information," Kolton said proudly. "Specifically about the sky pirates. They said Swaine is going to address that when he talks to us after the meeting."

Alexa glanced at his arm, noticing a red band around it.

"Oh, you noticed!" Kolton nodded. "Yup! I'm a full-fledged member of the resistance movement now! I'm sure you and Tiny will get one, too."

"Members of the resistance, if I may have your attention!" Swaine's voice interrupted their conversation.

"Come on," Kolton said, gesturing for them to sit down. The resistance members grew quiet, focused solely on their leader.

"This meeting will be a short one, as I need to speak with our newest members in private. But first and foremost, let us never lose sight of our mission," he said. "We will rehearse the resistance team's motto. Ready!"

"Ready!" The resistance team echoed back. Everyone firmly placed their hands—or paws—to their chest. Alexa and Kolton hesitantly followed suit, and Tiny put his straight antenna on his chest. The resistance members opened their mouths, and rehearsed in unison:

We'll fight for our land,

We'll fight for our pride,

We'll fight for out families, and children, and wives!

Ding Dong Dell! Hamelin! Al Mamoon, too,

I'll fight for myself, and I'll fight for you,

We are different, but today, we're the same.

We'll beat the invaders at their own game!

The motto was followed by a loud yell of affirmation.

But something about it was off. Although their voices resounded on the cave walls, Alexa thought it lacked something. Energy, perhaps.

Or maybe even confidence.

The crowd fell into a hush as Swaine continued to address them.

"I have gathered everyone here tonight today for two reasons," Swaine started. He exchanged a glance with Fetter, who gave him a nod of understanding.
"The first is to honor our newest members. But before that, this day is the anniversary of the day of our…failed mission. The day…the day Esther disappeared."

All the resistance members went completely silent. Some bowed their head solemnly, others cursed under their breath. Alexa could feel tension and sadness weighing heavy in the air. Swaine himself refused to look at anyone and kept his gaze on the floor, clutching the hilt of his grapple gun so tight his knuckles whitened.

"But let this not dampen our spirits!" Fetter spoke up for Swaine. "After all, we have two new memburrs on our side this evening!" He looked at the newcomers in the back. "Alexa, Kolton, Tiny! Come forward!"

Alexa started at the mention of her name. The three obliged, pushing through the crowd to the front of the room, their faces illuminated by the bonfire.

"Kolton has already been confurrmed," Fetter said. "But the sorceress and the fairy still need their bands." He reached into his pocket, pulling out two of them. First, he tied it around Tiny's around his straight antenna, as his body was already occupied with his signature blue scarf. Tiny flicked his antenna with satisfaction.

"Check it out, lickety-Lex!" he beamed. "I'm a full fledged resistance member now, I am!"

"And furr you," Fetter said, tying a red band tightly around her right arm.

"Let's hear it for the new memburrs!" he yelled. He grabbed Kolton's arm and held it up.

"First, the sky pirate, Kolton!"

The crowd cheered, chanting "Kolton! Kolton!" The boy, usually quite proud, looked a bit embarrassed by all the attention and squirmed his arm out of Fetter's grip. The grimalkin grabbed Tiny's antenna next.

"Next is Tiny, the fairy!" Fetter held up his straight antenna. The crowd chanted his name.

"Aw, knickers!" Tiny exclaimed, a huge grin on his face. "I-I never thought a runt of a fairy be received so warmly by you folk! Touches my tiny heart, it does!"

Fetter let go of the fairy's antenna and reached for Alexa's arm.

"And finally," he began. "We have the daughter of the Savior and sorceress in training, Alexa!" If Kolton and Tiny were received warmly, Alexa was received with a fiery passion. It was brief, but the crowd flickered with enthusiasm as they repeated her name, as though it somehow gave them strength. They all stared at her with some level of admiration. It was certainly different then when Swaine had addressed them moments before. She glanced to the resistance leader, but he wasn't paying attention to the ceremonies; he was instead staring down at his boots, deep in thought.

"Looking forward to working togethurr," Fetter said, giving the three a respectful nod. He turned back to the crowd.

"That concludes this meeting. For now, returrn to your nightly duties! And remember, nevurr lose sight of your goal, even in the face of adversary!"

The crowd dispersed gradually, until only the three new members, Fetter, and Swaine remained in the clearing. Once filled with the quiet mutterings of the resistance members, the only sound was the gentle crackle of the fire. Fetter cleared his throat.

"Leadurr Swaine," he started. "If-if you want, I can leave, as well."

"It's fine," Swaine spoke up. He looked at the three new members.

"I suppose you lot want to know what happened," he said. "With Esther, I mean. How we lost that day, and why the resistance hasn't been doing so well since then." Alexa was surprised by his shift in mood. Just earlier that day, when he was interrogating them, he had frightened her. But now, he almost seemed timid in the wan firelight. He sat down on a nearby rock.

"Go on, then. Take a seat." He reached into his pocket, and slowly pulled out a tattered red armband. On it were a few stray blond hairs.

"We have much to discuss."