Before I get started, I need to address a few things. Don't fret! It's not bad! I swear!
Okay, I got more feedback curious as to what the pairings will wind up being. I'm pretty tight lipped about it sense I feel that revealing that information in the beginning would kind of detract from the suspense of the story. Sorry, but you'll just have to read and see!
On a lighter note, as you all know, the first couple has been revealed. *drum roll* Ta da! It's Alex/Isabel! Congrats to all my Stargazer readers, I hope you enjoy it. To my other readers: keep on reading to see if your fave couple will pop up!
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Chapter 14:
"Oh my God! What have you done to her?" panicked Maria, after watching Tess fall to the ground.
"Do not fret; I did not harm her," said Ananda calmly, still kneeling next to the unconscious Tess.
"Is she gonna be okay?" asked Liz, tentatively.
"Yes," replied Ananda.
With those words, Ananda gently prodded Tess, waking up the unconscious girl and helping to sit up.
"Tessandra, are you alright?" asked Ananda gently.
Tess rubbed her eyes, and slowly stood up. She looked around at the group as though she was seeing them in a new light. After a few moments, she spoke.
"Yes, thank for freeing me from my sister," she said, turning and hugging Ananda.
"It was the least I could do Tessandra," Ananda returned.
"Wait a second! Why are you calling Tess, Tessandra? And what are you talking about, being freed from her sister?" asked Max.
"It wasn't Ava who was sent in the pods with you, but Tessandra, her twin sister," revealed Ananda.
"So Ava had a sister, and Tess is it?" asked Kyle.
"Yes, I'm Ava sister, Tessandra, and I'm sorry for all the trouble my sister has caused you. I didn't have any way to stop her. I was trapped in my own body," apologized Tess, shakily.
The group gazed in wonder at Tess. They knew that the petite blond was not the same girl she was minutes earlier. She was indeed a completely different person. Her posture was different, less haughty, there was an aura of kindness around her; she seemed almost timid. This was obviously not the Tess they all knew.
"Tessandra and Ava were often confused for one another. But trust me, it was only because of looks. Ava was cruel, haughty, selfish, and hungry for power. Tessandra, on the other hand, was kind, timid, selfless, and peaceful. The two were nothing alike," Ananda explained.
"Now, I do believe that you're being a little harsh on Ava. She really wasn't that bad. She just wanted attention; to be loved. I blame myself, partly," Tess defended.
"Why do you blame yourself for your sister's problems?" Alex asked.
"I was her twin. She wasn't an individual, but half of a set. I just took attention away from her."
"You make it sound like you didn't deserve attention! You have as much right as Ava, if not more, to be loved; to be in the spotlight. How can you just knock yourself down like that?" Kyle questioned.
At this sudden praise, Tess blushed and looked at her feet. She fell silent as if at a lost for words to defend her cruel sister.
"All her life, Tessandra was overpowered by Ava and in the end, this cause much destruction," Ananda said to the contemplating group.
Almost tentatively, Isabel voiced a question, "You called Ava a traitorous whore; I thought I, I mean, Vilandra was the traitor."
"The only way that was Vilandra could even be seen as traitorous was for refusing to marry Rath. If she had she would've truly been a traitor. A traitor to herself," Ananda stated.
"So it was Ava who betrayed them all?" Liz questioned.
"Ava always wanted power. Kivar offered it. Naturally, Ava jumped at the chance to rule an entire star system. It was her dream," Ananda explained.
Silence fell once again, as all this new information was being digested.
After a moment, Michael spoke.
"Are you really sure that all this information is right? Couldn't you be making a mistake?"
"I couldn't, even if I tried. I know everything and it is all nicely organized in my consciousness. I am absolutely positive in what I am saying," Ananda stated.
"Then if what you're saying is true and I'm kinda thinking it is, the Podsters' Destiny is wrong," Maria thought aloud.
"You're right. The message was created by Ava on the chance to change things to go her way," Ananda agreed.
At this statement, Max turned to Liz, looking for reconciliation. He moved her off to the side, slightly away from the rest of the group.
"You see, Liz. I knew that that message was wrong. I don't have a future with Tess. My future is with you! I know this in my heart to be true," He pleaded.
"Max, it doesn't change who you are and who I am. You have this whole world you have to save and I have my own plans for the future. As much as I want it to work, there is just no way that it could," Liz chided.
Once Liz had finished her part, she and Max heard a small laugh. They both turned to see Ananda looking at them. The rest of the group had also turned to see where they two had gone.
"What's so funny?" Liz asked.
"Oh nothing. It's just that this is how you always have acted. It's true that some things don't change," Ananda answered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Kyle.
"Oh nothing," responded Ananda.
"What is it with you and you cryptic behavior? Can't you ever just tell us anything straight out?" Michael asked harshly.
"Some things you have to discover for yourself. Other things are just more fun to make you sweat over," Ananda said with a laugh.
"Nice to know that the powers that be have a sense of humor," Kyle said, rolling his eyes.
"Of course they do, if Alex is one of them," Maria responded.
"So, Ananda, are you going to reveal anything else to us now? Or are you going to continue to play games with us?" Michael asked.
"I have much more to tell, but I cannot finish tonight. The sun will rise soon and in the daylight, safety is hard to find," Ananda answered.
"So, I guess that means that we are continuing this meeting tomorrow," Max said, assuming the role of the leader.
With those words, Ananda disappeared in a shimmer of light. 'Figures that she would want to go out with a bang,' thought Alex. The rest of the group began to disperse as they made to leave the woods. The girl of the stars had brought up many questions and they all knew that many more would arise the next night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Twist! *giggles evilly* What can I say? I love keeping my readers on their proverbial toes. Or actually toes if you read this standing up.
*braces self in doorway against flood* Holy mother of lactose! What chicken crackin' lot of reviews! Phew! 70! *giggles* I'm soooo happy! ^__^ Thank you ParkerEvanss (hehe it reminds me of the way Gollum would say it!) for your abundance (13 in one go!) of reviews. I apologize in advance for any forced leaves of absence that you are asked to take. Thanks for the awesome compliments, I like being told I'm funny (I'm a comedienne at heart).
Also, this chapter is the longest one that I have written so far. I was going to make it 2 chapters, but it felt more right as one. When they say that these things write themselves, they are right! ^__^
Btw, this fic is seriously interfering with my pre-calc & ap physics studying *taps foot on floor in menacing way* & ap us history too! *tapping continues* *authoress suddenly beems* I wouldn't have it any other way! Its great to finally have an excuse to be a bum! Thanks!
Thanks to my fabulous loyal readers & reviews. It's great to have fans. It brings out the diva in me! (Not that it was hard to find; I'm such a drama queen.)
Please keep reading and reviewing! See that button on the bottom? Press it! You know you want to! Or at the very least, I want you to!
Um to Trude, thanks for being so loyal & review on every chapter. I'm soo envious of your dedication! To anything! I'm a procrastinator by nature.
lilmissreviewer: yeah, I wouldn't do that! That's not what I had in mind at all! Though, I can see why you would hope that Ava would be Liz (I think we all were hoping that at sometime!)
jazzypunker: thank you for loving it. and I am updating sooner aren't I? See huh? Huh?
Mt Gazer: Yes, fics are like roller coasters & luckily I am an adrenaline junkie so this fic might turn out to be ridiculously long and go places that I have no I idea where and/or when they are. Stay turned, its gonna be a wild ride!
anonymous: why didn't you say who you were??? ahh, I don't mind talking to someone who I am unsure is actually there! I do it all the time! I hope this chapters length satisfies you!
Hey a quick shout out before I go, Martyjeannine, I loved the "bat-mouse" thing. That was hysterical! Nice to notice that someone else (besides me) appreciate my bizarre crack.
P.S. This chapter was written under the influence of Guster. Big ole thanks to them. Particularly the song "Red Oyster Cult". I love that song!
If you want to be free, take a sip of this tea
Join the red oyster cult
If you drink the whole cup you will never grow up
You will never grow old(Lyrics From Red Oyster Cult by Guster, definitely not mine)
~ Gifted Empress