Chapter 10: Freedom

I do not own any of the characters or locations of the SSX series. EA games BIG owns all characters and places mentioned in this story.

Psymon looked down the mountain. It was a long way back to camp, but he had to try it. His M-comm beeped at him loudly. He pulled it out of his pocket and flipped it open.
"Where are you? –Zoe" it read. Psymon fiddled with it until he figured out how to reply.
"Still at the finish line, I'm going to ride back down, don't wait up for me." He pushed the 'send' button and waited for a reply.
"Are you alright?" Zoe replied, Psymon typed back to her.
"I'm great, you?"
"I'm good."
"Where's Moby?"
"He went to the bar again."
"Are you okay?" There was a momentary pause then his M-comm lit up again.
"Don't worry about me, we can talk when ya get back." Psymon sighed and went to type but he was cut off. "I'M FINE! HONEST!" The sentence was followed by a winking smiley face. He laughed and typed into his M-comm.
"I'll hurry up, I'll see ya when I get back." The M-comm lit up once again with an icon of a heart followed by the letter 'u'. Psymon smiled and typed "love you to" back to her, which she replied with a happy face. Psymon smiled while he put the M-comm back into his pocket. He admired the view one more time and pushed off down the hill.

The sun was setting, giving him just enough light to see far ahead. He couldn't get over how natural it felt to be snowboarding, it was like he had done it his whole life. Once he assured himself he had a firm grasp of basic moving, he decided to have a little fun. Every fallen tree, he grinded along it, every possible ramp, he popped off of, sending himself up into the air. After a landing from a rather high pop, Psymon laughed happily to himself, he loved this. A ledge caught his attention from the corner of his eye. He redirected for it and flew off the ledge. The freefall was exhilarating while he watched the ground so far beneath him draw closer every second. He closed his eyes and stretched out his arms, feeling the wind dance around him, serenaded by the whistle of the wind and the chirps of the few birds that were still awake... he never felt so free. The loud thump let him know he was back on solid ground as his body jerked from the impact. He laughed harder, the rush was exactly what he needed to give himself some peace of mind. Not far ahead was another ledge, so he decided to do it again. As he shot up into the air, he screamed a loud "whoo hooooo" that echoed through the mountains. He smiled and again enjoyed the sensation of the wind caressing him as he dropped through the air, he wanted this to never end. Once he was back on solid ground he slid to a stop in an open field and watched the last moments of the sunset and smiled to himself. The ride down the mountain was very therapeutic for him, he felt like he was looking at the world through new eyes. Once the sun finally sank for the night, he continued his descent down the mountain.

Psymon skidded to a halt right at the steps of the lodge, he felt so relaxed, so at peace. He freed his boots from his board and walked up the stairs into his lodge, placing his board with his sister's.
"Simon?" he heard Zoe call from further inside.
"It's me." he called back. He walked into the living room to find Zoe in front of the fire by herself. He sat next to her and stretched out.
"How was the ride back?" she said quietly. Psymon looked at her with a grin.
"Best time of my life." She nodded. "What's wrong?" he asked her, more serious now. She sighed and turned her head to face him, she was sporting what would by morning be a black eye. "That son of a bitch!" Psymon shouted as he quickly moved up to his sister's side to take a closer look. He put his hand on her cheek and looked in disbelief at her eye. "When he comes back I-"
"He's not coming back." Zoe said with a choke. Psymon silenced and listened to her. "We had a fight on the gondola on the way home, when we got back he just lost it." He pulled her in for a hug and rocked her while she blurted out the story. "I don't get it Simon, he never does this except when we're home, and he didn't get bad until you came... until you had your accident." Psymon still rocked her to try and give her any comfort he could. "He yelled at me about you guys wiping out, and then he did this." Psymon put his forehead against hers and ran his hand through her hair.
"I'm sorry, I should have been here. I abandoned you for five years, I just get back and I abandon you again, I am so sorry." Zoe shook her head.
"No, it isn't your fault Simon, I should have done something before." Psymon agreed but didn't say so. "I love him Simon, but we're through. I can't keep this up any more." Psymon pulled back and looked her in the eyes. He felt so sorry for her, but at the same time was glad for her.
"I'm proud of you, Zoe." he said, his eyes also getting moist. "I probably don't say it enough, but I'm proud of you." Zoe sniffed and let a weak smile crack her lips. "I know it must have been hard to let him go, but I'm glad you know you deserve better." Zoe nodded and buried her face into his shoulder again. Psymon still rocked her gently, hoping he was easing her grief. "So." he started. "Does this mean I get to kick his ass now?" Zoe let a short laugh get out and pulled her face out of his shoulder and forced herself to smile, her thick mascara was now all over her face.
"I guess so, if you want." Psymon pulled a blanket over her and fluffed a pillow behind her head, trying to make her as comfortable as he could.
"Anything I can do to cheer you up?" he asked her, standing up to put some wood on the fire. Zoe looked like she was thinking, then she grinned sheepishly, hiding half her face under the blanket.
"Do you still remember how to make your Belgium waffles?" Psymon smirked at Zoe, in his eyes she suddenly changed from this young lady back into his eleven year old sister that he used to protect with his life.
"You loved those when you were a kid, of course I remember." Zoe smiled and looked at the fire.
"Did I ever make them for you when I was Stark?" Zoe's eyes grew and she shook her head.
"Dude, you were insane, I didn't even let you go near the pizza guy let alone the stove." They shared a laugh and he slid a pillow under her feet.
"Waffles coming right up."

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Aww... okay let's all dry our eyes and move along. So Zoe and Moby are no more, will Psymon catch up with Moby or just let it be? Find out in the final chapter!