Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Divergent, or Shadowhunters/Mortal Instruments. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer, LJ Smith, Veronica Roth, and Cassandra Claire. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Thank you.
Writer's Notes: Welcome to Ascendant! A multiverse and wide array of characters. The setting of this story is similar to that of Veronica Roth's Divergent series. Sit back, relax and enjoy! :)
[Brooklynn New York, 2125]
The land was near ruins. What was left of humanity was harvested and put in a drome of sorts. A massive wall separated the remains of Brooklyn, New York, and the rest of the barren landscape that cascading beyond. The Founders placed everyone into factions. These factions were to ensure the survival of humanity. Abnegation, the selfless ones, people who were altruistic to the point of fault. Erudite, the elite and intelligence of society. They were studious, academic, the brains of operations so to speak. Amity, the kind and peaceful faction that provided the nurturing of the land to provide the food for the different factions. Candor were the honest ones. Always believing the truth would set you free. And then, there was the Dauntless. The courageous, brave bunch, that lead the military force, or the police of the other factions. They were the protectors, helping to contain the peace as humanity tried to restart and prosper.
Every year, an aptitude test is taken by the next wave of eighteen-year-olds entering society. They are now adults and able to choose their faction. The aptitude test given is to determine where they best fit in society. While the test is a guide and it's recommended that those choose the faction they truly belong, they can select a faction regardless of those results.
Bella Prior turned eighteen the start of September and the aptitude test was tomorrow, October 1st.
"Isabella, honey." Natalie's voice was light, gentle.
Bella turned, looking at her adopted mom. "Hmm?"
"Don't me nervous about tomorrow." Natalie said with a smile.
Bella was born in Abnegation. They were referred to as "stiffs" most of the time, but Bella usually ignored the harsh words. She was taught forgiveness, and to be selfless, so she wouldn't take things to heart. When she was younger, her parents Charlie and Renee Swan died, and Natalie and Andrew Prior took her in. She had two adoptive siblings, Beatrice and Caleb.
"What if the test tells me something other than Abnegation?" Bella was nervous about that. She wasn't sure she wanted change, but at the same time, there was so much more out there that existed, and she knew that maybe change could be good. She didn't quite fit in in Abnegation, and she knew her sister, Beatrice, was the same. They both didn't fit into the norm that was considered selfless. Not like Caleb, their brother.
"No matter what happens. We love you." Natalie said with a smile.
Beatrice came in from outside, and looked at Bella. Many people thought they were related based on their looks. Both had dark hair, with Beatrice's hair lighter than Bella's, and their eye color was different. Bella had dark chocolate eyes, and Beatrice had hazel eyes.
Caleb had dark brown hair like Bella, but his eyes were a green blue color. He was always so selfless, when it came to helping others, and Bella had no doubt that he was truly Abnegation.
[October 1st, Aptitude Test day]
Bella and Beatrice stood in line with Caleb, who was a year older than they were, and had missed the aptitude test the year before because he was sick on that day. There were some exceptions for those that didn't take the test, they just had to take the test by the time they were twenty-one. A train started blowing by, and it caught Bella's attention, she watched as Dauntless born flung themselves off the train while it was moving, and hitting the ground with a roll. It made her smile inside.
When Bella got to the testing room, she was greeted by a woman, her dark hair had bits of braids in it, and a lick of red color. Her Asian decent showed prominently in her cheekbones, and her dark eyes met Bella's when she walked through the door.
"Take a seat." The woman said simply. "Relax." The woman grabbed a syringe, and it was filled with a light blue liquid. She placed some sensors on either side of Bella's temple and then injected her.
Bella's eyes fluttered closed. She was faced with a scenario now in her head. A empty field, stretching as far as she could see. There was a small girl in the field. She was looking for something, crying, calling out for her mother. Bella walked towards the girl, curious why the little girl was lost. Then she saw as shadows appeared, menacing blobs of something, and they started for the little girl. Bella sprinted towards the little girl, calling out to her, but her voice was lost. She threw herself in front of the little girl, protecting her. The blobs weren't just blobs, but large lion looking creatures. Their claws scratched at Bella, and so Bella lunged back at the large cat, her arms going around the cat and then she was awake.
"Get up." The woman said quickly.
"What? What are my results?"
The woman stared at her. "Abnegation…and Dauntless." This was the second one today that appeared as such, and she was manually overriding it in the system. "Go home."
"Wait, what am I supposed to choose?" Bella was confused.
"If anyone asks your result is Abnegation. Go home." The woman was adamant, as she shoved her out the door.
Bella frowned. The test was supposed to help her decide who she was. How could she be both Abnegation and Dauntless. No one was supposed to have two results. She went home like the woman told her. She was confused when she walked in and saw Beatrice.
"Hey." Beatrice said. "You get sent home too?"
"Yeah…" Bella said and sighed.
Beatrice nodded, and then walked into the kitchen, helping prepare for dinner for when their parents got home.
Dinner was quiet as everyone ate. Andrew spoke finally. "I'm so proud of you kids. I know I don't say it much, but I am proud of who you all are. Tomorrow at the choosing I know you'll choose right. I love all three of you." He said with a smile.
Bella and Beatrice washed dishes together after dinner. Both washing in silence since Bella was deep in thought. She was more confused about the choosing ceremony tomorrow, more now than ever.
"Isabella." Beatrice called to her sister gently.
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just tired." Bella murmured.
Caleb walked into the kitchen, looking at his sisters. "Tomorrow…remember the family…but also think about yourselves as well." He said and then disappeared to his small room.
Bella thought about that. Thought about the faction, thought about all the possibilities there were. "Goodnight," she mumbled before going and getting ready for bed.
[October 2nd: The Choosing]
The auditorium was large, and every faction had their own section. Jeanine Matthews, Erudite leader took the stage. "Today we come together, for the choosing. A ceremony presented for over 100 years to ensure the preservation of humanity. Your faction is your home, where you belong. At this choosing you are choosing for the rest of your life. Faction, before blood." She announced, and then walked to the side of the stage, and a Candor man, Geoffry Morgan, took the stage. He held a list of names of the next generation choosers. The list was long, but he called names from each faction, starting with Erudite. Abnegation went last.
"Caleb Prior," Geoffry called, and Caleb stood and went up on the stage. Before him were the five bowls, each containing something different, and each marked with the symbol of the corresponding faction. He picked up the blade and gently cut his hand open. He moved his hand over the bowl.
"Erudite." Geoffry called, and Caleb was handed a cloth to press to his hand and he went down into the Erudite section, as they clapped for him and welcomed him into his new faction.
Andrew looked at Natalie, shocked as their only son changed factions.
"Beatrice Prior." Geoffry called her Beatrice up to the stage. She looked at her parents and Bella, one last time before taking the stage. She was hesitant as she slit her hand and looked at the bowls before her. She moved her hand over a bowl, let the blood drip.
"Dauntless." Geoffry said, and then Beatrice was walking into the Dauntless section, like a deer in the headlights.
"Isabella Prior." Bella looked at Natalie, and her adopted mom smiled back at her, squeezing her hand. Bella walked up on the stage, looking at the bowls in front of her. Her test results were meant to help her, but they just made her confused. She picked up the knife, looking at it carefully before sliding it over her hand. She looked at the bowls in front of her. She could hear her heart beating in her ears. She took a breath, shutting her eyes and moved her hand over a bowl, letting the blood drip down.
"Dauntless." Geoffry said, and Bella opened her eyes, looking around the auditorium, moving down to the Dauntless section to join Beatrice. Bella looked over at her parents. Natalie smiled at her, while Andrew sat, shocked that all his children had changed factions.