"I looked through all the debris and found no clue as to what happened to my mother or your parents. That was the last I saw of them," Zylpha said solemnly.
"We escaped safely," The Dolorosa continued from where she left off, "You mother told us to use the van to drive to an abandoned home in the middle of nowhere while she fended off the small army. We didn't want to leave her but she used her powers on us to get us onto the road. It was like hypnotism. We just suddenly found ourselves in a van driving off in a certain direction with The Psiionic driving. We almost crashed when we snapped out of it since it startled all of us."
"Did . . . did you ever see my mother after that?" Zylpha hesitantly asked.
"No I didn't, I'm sorry," The Dolorosa gave her an apologetic look. Zylpha looked down in disappointment and sadness.
"I see . . ."
"So you got away safely and then what Gran?" Nepeta asked.
"We found the abandoned home and rested there. When Karkat's father was healed up he wanted to return to the hotel to see what happened. The Psiionic refused to let him go so he went to check alone. He was back within a day and reported to us that the place was destroyed with no signs of life anywhere. There were no dead bodies in the vicinity at all. We hoped that The Siren was safe and we continued on with our journey all the while avoiding The Condesce and her men."
"Our moms came home right after the event though, how did they take part in that?" Vriska questioned.
"Those two had helped us get away from the culling ceremony and distracted the ones that tried to come after us like with The Handmaid and The Summoner. The Summoner and Handmaid met up with us at the abandoned home afterwards and we travelled together."
"What made you come back after three years?" John joined in.
"We were attacked, someone had found us during our travels. The Handmaid, Psiionic, and Summoner where fighting off the guards while we tried to get away. The Disciple told me that she was worried about you all, the children, so I came back by myself to take care of you. When I came back, Mindfang and Redglare decided that they would go and travel with The Signless in my place and that is why they suddenly disappeared as well. I'm sorry," The Dolorosa looked at the scourge sisters and apologized.
"No it makes sense. My mom was always about justice anyways and she saw that there were so many things wrong with the hemospectrum. Even with her working for The Condesce, I think she just couldn't take it anymore and decided to go and follow The Signless. As for Vriska's mother, she just probably went for it for the adventure," Terezi chuckled as Vriska swatted her shoulder.
"What? Rude much. My mom can go and follow people for justice and shit. I'm here with all of you guys right now aren't I?"
"They wwere probably attacked again recently if The Handmaid suddenly appeared like this."
"Eridan! That doesn't help!" Feferi frowned at him.
"Wwhat, I wwas just sayin'."
"Thometimeth it'th better to keep your mouth thut Ampora," Sollux glared at Eridan before looking over at Karkat and Nepeta, their faces laced with worry.
"So what did you do for the past five years after that Zylpha?" Vriska asked, somewhat changing the subject.
"I stayed at my hive and some tutors appeared. They were apparently sent by my mother but they wouldn't tell me where she was. Whenever I could, I returned to the hotel just in case she returned but she never did. None of the past workers either. The area was just reduced to rubble and it stayed that way. It wasn't until a few months ago the tutors stopped coming and I had to go to school to continue my education," Zylpha quickly explained.
An awkward silence soon followed before Karkat bucked up the courage to ask, "So that incident 5 years ago was the culling ceremony of my dad?"
"Yes. We were captured, and Her Imperious Condescension put on a culling ceremony to show the world so that no one would defy her again. She claimed that she worked hard to put the hemospectrum into place and she would not have a mutant lowblood ruin it for her," The Dolorosa explained with clear disgust to The Condesce, "She made us watch. He gave a sermon as if it was his final and was almost killed before there was interference from The Siren, Handmaid and Summoner. I almost had to watch my son die. And now I am utterly worried about how they are faring ever since The Handmaid appeared in such a condition."
"I'm so sorry," Feferi suddenly spoke up, tears running down her face, "I can't believe my mother would do such a thing. I'm so sorry. I can't believe you guys can even be friends with me. I'm so sorry."
"No no no my dear there is no need for you to cry. It is not your fault, it is not you who should be apologizing," The Dolorosa tried to comfort.
"But she's the reason why you're all in danger. Why Karkat's dad's name changed from The Signless to The Sufferer and Mutant. I-I-I really thought I could help change my mom's view on the world but but I'm so sorry," Feferi began to bawl. Eridan hugged her on one side while Aradia hugged the other.
"It is not your fault. We . . . we will get through this alright," Aradia comforted, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as well.
Everyone had looks of fear and distress on their face. Great, Feferi's party was totally ruined. Karkat silently stood up and headed upstairs. No one stopped him, there was no reason to. The information was simply too much. No wonder The Dolorosa was so insistent on not wanting to tell them.
"I apologize but you all needed to know," Zylpha avoided looking at anyone in the eye.
"No it's alright, thank you. You have lifted our curiosity, although we are not sure on what to do now," Kanaya spoke with dread in her voice, as if she regretted hearing everything.
"I think, I should go. I'm sorry Feferi for ruining your party," Zylpha stood up.
"No, you were right, we needed to know. I won't talk about the incident with my mother this coming weekend but I will continue to convince her of changing her stupid laws of the hemospectrum," Feferi declared with determination.
"I wwill help in any wway I can," Eridan was of course going to the formal highblood wriggling day party with her.
"I don't think anyone or anything can change that witch's mind. Ow!" Vriska glared at her blind sister who had smacked her shin with her cane.
"I will keep trying until she finally understands. She has to . . ." Feferi looked down.
"I wish you all the best of luck with that. I think I should really go now," Zylpha turned to get her jacket.
"Need a motherfucking ride sister?" Gamzee offered.
"No it's alright I'll walk."
"But it's dark and your hive is crazy far," Vriska frowned, "Let him drive you home, it's different for us because our hive is closer."
"Sorry but right now I wish to be alone, I'll be fine. Only an idiot would dare to jump me and if I run into any guards they'll offer to escort me home, but for the most part I wish to be alone. I hope you have a nice weekend and I'll see you Monday," Zylpha felt awkward saying the last part. How could they have a nice weekend after all that sudden information? Without another word, she left.
After a few more minutes, everyone began to leave as well. Karkat was lying on his bed with an arm over his face, listening to the front door opening and closing and all the good byes. After a half an hour, a sound indicating a message on Trollian rang through the air. Karkat groaned and rolled over, lying on his stomach instead. He ignored it for the most part until a bunch more notifications came from his husktop.
Alright who's the persistent fuckass. Karkat thought, and with a groan he got off his comfy couch and went over to his husktop with a glare. Why the hell am I logged in anyways.
The Cancer looked at Trollian and found that it wasn't just one person trying to talk to him.
EB: hey are you okay karkat?
GG: karkat do you want someone to talk to? it's not healthy keeping it to yourself you know
GG: well anyways if you need it I'm always here to listen! :)
TC: hEy BeSt FrIeNd, JuSt AlL uP aNd WoNdErInG iF yOu'Re DoInG aLrIgHt Or NoT
TC: iT's A dIaMoNd BrOtHeR's JoB tO lIStEn RiGhT?
GA: If You Require Someone To Speak With Then You Can Come Over To My Room If You'd Like
TA: 2o, that'2 2ome 2tuff we learned today huh
He really didn't feel like talking to anyone about this. Even though they were just being nice, he just found it extremely annoying and that they were poking around too much. He was about it sign off until another message appeared.
IS: Do you regret |earn!ng about what f!na||y happened?
CG: no
He forgot his caps lock but he didn't care. After his swift reply, he logged off, turned off his husktop and decided to go to sleep early.
He finally learned what he wanted to know. Now what? All that happened was that everyone became scared and confused. The feeling of danger definitely increased but what could they do? There was no real action they could take. All they could do was continue on with their lives and keeping the secret, nothing else. Sure he didn't regret learning about it but he just had a heartbreaking feeling.
His parents were out there somewhere in great danger, trying to make a better world, and there was nothing he could do about it.