Disclaimer: I give up. Referred to the last 28 chaps for it.
Author's Note: Wow this is looooooong. Enjoy! thows brownies at reviewers
Sisters till the End
This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther. Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent!
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Scared Soldiers Don't FightInside the Temple of Artemis, the Protectors, Zorya, Scott, and Naru found themselves in a jungle of marble and vines, the ceiling have long since collapsed-the fragments still lay about like fallen soldiers-on itself and it looked as if there were no walls in-between the columns. "Wow," Nicole breathed, looking around. Above them the velvet sky sparkled with the glow of the stars, and far to the East the sky was a hazy pink of where the sun began to disappear. "It's beautiful."
Even Kat could appreciate the building's history and fallen state. "Even worn and broken it still holds all its might and beauty," Alex quoted. She had set Naru down next to a column and was now examining part of a fragment. She ran her fingers across the engraved side gently, as if she was afraid that just the slightest touch would make it crumble. "So, where is this… thing… supposed to happen?"
Nicole shrugged. "The Old Script once made reference to a pedestal in which the One rose Gaea up in all her despair, to recreate a dying rose, and bless the world again," Zorya offered, earning odd looks from the Protectors. "Well, what do you expect? It's not like it's exact."
"I don't see a pedestal," Scott said, looking around. "All I see is a fallen temple." The resounding smack made everyone look. Alex was frowning at the crouched Scott, glaring, and brushing off her hand. "Ouch-what was that for?" Scott yelled, rubbing his head where the woman had smacked him. Damn she hits hard, he thought. "It's not fallen," she yelled back. "It's majestic."
"Alright fine, all I see is a majestic fallen temple." Zorya pulled Scott away before Alex could find his head again. "Perhaps you should refrain from making comments about the Temple," she suggested, shooting daggers at the Elemental Protector. Alex shrugged and walked over to Nicole. "That sounds like a good idea," she voiced over her shoulder.
"What? Why I should-" Scott started, making Alex whip around. Kat jumped in between the two, holding up her hands to both. "Whoa, before we get all in the killing mood, can we please figure out what the hell we're supposed to do here?" She asked. Scott was the first to back down. "Alright," he agreed, eyeing Alex carefully. "But can we please not hit the Second anymore?"
"Fine. Zorya did this Old Script say anything else?"
Zorya looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking slowly and carefully. "It mentioned how the Circle of Power would glow when the First Three Children stood in the center of each desire. This would give the First's reincarnation-the Second-the sign that he could awaken from his deepest sleep and make their desire into a rose."
"Well that's helpful," Alex said sarcastically. "I don't see a Circle of Power."
"'Stand in the center of each desire'? What could that mean?" Nicole added.
"I don't know. The Old Script was written in the Old Tongue so it's hard to translate and it's not very descriptive. It was only meant as a sort of report of the First."
"So obviously we have to find whatever this Circle is," Scott said.
"Yes," Zorya confirmed.
"Alright, so let's look people," Kat said, and every spread out. It was hard to look for vines covered most of the Temple, and what the vines didn't cover were most likely to be underneath the fragments of the ceiling. What they could see held no indications of any sort of circle. After a bit Nicole leaned back on her heels and sighed. "Maybe it got eroded away with time?" She offered. "No, it couldn't have," Kat said. "Such an old relic would-could-not be eroded by anything. It would have to be made of powerful magic."
"Would, Protector," Zorya pointed out.
"What evidence do we have that even says it's on the floor?" Scott asked. "It could've been on a column, or on the ceiling."
"That means we would have to be able to defy gravity, idiot," Alex sneered.
"Well it could've been a design on the ceiling, like a skylight," Scott shot back defensively.
"He's got a point," Nicole agreed. "We have no clue where it could be. Or even if its still here."
"But it has to be here," Kat said. "I mean this is the place where the Second was supposed to call us and we're supposed to save the world. It has to be here."
"Kat that was supposed to happen. If you've noticed, it hasn't been exactly "supposed to" around here for a long time," Nicole pointed out.
"Well, even if it was supposed to be it should still be. I mean, nothing other then we came here way early, didn't know anything about the Second or when he came, let the Second be tossed around like a jar of Pringles, and have no clue about what we're supposed to do. It's not that bad."
"You're joking, right?" Zorya asked.
"Kat, we're at a loss. What are we supposed to do now?" Nicole said.
Kat growled and hit a rock. "I don't know!" She cried. "I don't know!"
Silence followed as each Protector immersed themselves into their thoughts, each trying to figure out the way to save the world when everything seemed to be falling apart. We can't give up, Kat thought. It has to be here, somewhere.
There has to be a way, we're just not seeing it, Nicole thought. Maybe…
Magic is stupid. It never works when you need it to, Alex complained. This stupid Circle is made of magic.
We're not looking at it.
Magic can bring up…
It's so stupid!
It's hidden from other's eyes.
Another source of magic…
It's probably faded with time.
So if it's hidden, where?
Then it would bring it out…
But everyone says magic is forever.
Where?
Maybe magic against magic?
Can magic hide?
We need it!
That's it!
Magic, of course!
"I've got it!" All three yelled at the same time, making Zorya and Scott jump. "We've got to use our own magic!"
"You just now figured that out?" Zorya asked incredulously. "It's sort of obvious."
"Oh, shut up," Alex muttered. "So, we unleash our powers?"
Nicole nodded. "On the count of three," Kat ordered. "We'll keep an eye out for this Circle," Scott said wearily, not quite sure of their plan. What would happen if the powers they unleashed became dangerous? They would all die before even seeing this Circle. It's a bad idea, he thought. What if they lose control? I don't even know all their powers. What if it's bad? He swallowed hard and took Zorya's hand in his. He needed comfort right then and he knew Zorya wasn't afraid.
She tossed him a casual smile that made his heart melt in return and squeezed his hand reassuringly. Both turned their eyes to the Protectors as Kat yelled, "Three!" There was a deafening crack of a whip, a flicker somewhere beyond Scott's head-as strange sensation over took him as he felt the flicker-and suddenly all three women were glowing. He gasped as he saw the auras of the Protectors-they were so bright! So powerful… his skin tingled as if electricity coursed through the air itself and his heart caught in his throat. That power, all that power, he could feel it. It was as if his skin was drinking in the power from the Protectors and it made goose bumps appear on his skin; he felt alive and full of life, a thirst somewhere within him quenched, his mind clear and ringing. He could feel the power and he loved it.
Scott let go of Zorya's hand, spreading his arms wide to the auras, wishing it to come to him, wishing it to fill him and quench the thirst he had known forever. He drank it in; the power-the pure essence of Gaea-and lavished every sensation. His heart raced and he felt as strong as an ox, his body quivered and he was happy that it did. So much power he held and now his body recognized it. Throwing back his head, he began to laugh, joy and exhilaration coursing through him as if he was a child again. Power!
As soon as it had come, the power disappeared, leaving him cold and alone. Scott stopped laughing at whipped his head around to look at the Protectors in an accusing stare. How dare they take away his power! It was his! "Why did you stop?" He demanded, missing the feeling of the power warming his bones and flesh. "Because our power wasn't doing anything," Nicole said gently. "However, you seemed to be enjoying it," Alex pointed out.
"It was… exhilarating," Scott replied, trying to calm himself.
"Exhilarating? You were getting off on their power?" Zorya asked, cocking an eyebrow. Scott nodded. "Well, maybe you should try," Kat said. He looked at her, confused. Try what? He wondered. I felt alive with their power. I don't have any power.
"Perhaps you should try using your own power. You are the Second, remember?"
Oh, yes, I am. The thought came ironically. "I… I don't think I have any power…"
"Yes you do. We're connected to each other Scott, so if you were getting off on our power you have your own," Alex said sharply. Now, can we-"
She stopped suddenly, glancing down at her feet. Everyone followed where she was looking and a unanimous gasp was heard. Beneath them the vines were beginning to crawl backwards, untangling and unwrapping themselves around the floor and column, seeping back into the forest around them. "Alex… is that you?" Nicole asked, eyes wide. "No, it's not," came the whispered reply.
Again Scott experienced the flicker from somewhere deep inside his mind. What was that? He wondered, looking around. The vines were practically running back into the forest now. He felt the flicker again, and he turned his head, trying to identify it. Again, and again, feeling it, whipping his head around until he was so dizzy. There was a gasp from his side and he looked only to gasp himself. All around them the fragments of ceiling were being dragged and moved by invisible hands, melding together and flying up towards the sky, attaching to their respectable columns as other pieces flew up and melded into them. "What the hell is happening?" Zorya yelled as the ceiling fragments flew faster and faster, whipping up into the air and making her duck and dodge them.
Scott looked and saw that the Protectors were also trying to avoid the fragments' path. As soon as one ducked from one piece, another would come flying in from the side. What is happening? He thought, fear suddenly turning his veins into ice water. Everywhere he looked the fragments flew about, yet none came near him. Within seconds but what felt like a lifetime to him, the fragments were once again a magnificent ceiling, carved and endowed with some sort of script that felt familiar in his mind. "Hey guys," came the breathless voice of Zorya. Scott could feel the Protectors turn to where Zorya was and he felt their surprise. Wait, surprise? He questioned, unable to tear his eyes away from the script. Within his mind he could sense each of the Protectors, he could almost see what they saw, and he could hear their voices inside his head yet they were not talking. What… what's going on?
Kat was the first to feel the connection. Pulling her eyes away from the carved floor where a large, intricate design of a circle lay, its lines slightly glowing in the dim light, and script written all along its lines so that sometimes it ran into the other or jumped around, she looked at Scott. She could feel him just as she could feel Alex or Nicole. The connection that they shared mentally had somehow adjusted so that they could feel Scott, everything he felt, and as if a shadow in her mind danced, flickers of the script that he stared at danced in her mind. Frowning, she felt Alex and Nicole sense the connection, and turn also.
"You guys, I think it's time," Kat said slowly, still staring. Her head pounded slightly and her stomach jumped around. She wasn't used to seeing another image in her head, yet it felt familiar somehow. "Scott," Nicole said gently, walking over to the young man and placing a hand on his shoulder.
To her surprise, Kat could feel the hand on her own should, feel Nicole's presence, yet her world went spinning as Scott turned to stare at Nicole. Oh God, she thought, slightly ill. The faint image danced in the back of her mind like she had another set of eyes in the back of her head, yet she could still see the things in front of her. Talk about an out of body experience. "Scott, it's time," Nicole continued, and Kat knew she wasn't imaging the green tint to Nicole's face. "Do… Do you know what that says, Scott?" She asked, hesitantly.
Scott nodded and Kat knew that everyone wanted to barf. The movements of the Second were making them sick to their stomach now, with this double vision going on. "I do," he whispered, fear and awe lacing his voice. "But… this power… I don't…"
"Scott, God, tone down the connection!" Alex yelled, gripping her head and doubling over. "You're going to kill us!" Kat frowned at her friend, and then suddenly she felt it too. It hit like a baseball bat in her head and she fell to the ground. Memories that were not hers washed over her like a tidal wave, along with such strong emotions. Fear, anger, awe, joy, remorse, resignation, happiness, exhilaration, and pain… all twisted into one and each one with its own impact. Screaming was going on in her head and Kat wasn't sure if it was the memories or just her own voice, whether she was imaging it or not. Her mind felt like it wanted to explode and pain washed over her, quickly replaced by another memory and its sensations. She was running, she was on the ocean, she could smell sweat, the rain, feel the dirt beneath her fingers or the sheets she held, she saw the park and the boat, felt the rain splattering against her skin and the wind caressing it.
Then, suddenly, it was gone. Blinking, Kat sat up, all the memories and emotions were gone. She looked at Scott, a question on her face, as he offered a shy smile. The double vision had ebbed away and now only the connection between her and her friends and him was left. She could feel his embarrassment and resignation. He knew that these powers were strange and strong, and he was forced to accept that. "Sorry," he said as she stood. "It just… I don't know."
"It's okay," Kat was surprised at how soft her voice was. She understood what it was like to suddenly have powers. She looked at Nicole and Alex who was starting to stand now, recovered like she was. "We should probably do this now. Those armies will be coming soon."
"No."
The answer threw Kat's already sensitive balance off. "What?" She asked.
"I said no."
"Scott, we have to," Nicole said gently. "This is the fate of the world."
"No. I mean… I want to save the world but… no. I won't-I don't-want to use my powers."
"I know you just got them but, Scott, we have to. If we don't Gaea is already lost. We're the Protectors of Gaea, we have to save her," Alex said.
"No. I… I want to, but I can't. I just can't!"
"Why?" The question was from Zorya, and the look on her face pained Scott. He wanted to be the hero and save the world but… he couldn't. His blood was ice water and he knew, in some foreign part of him that he never would be able to. He was the Second, not the First, and reincarnations were usually screwballs. He was afraid of this power that he had suddenly. Afraid of what he could do, afraid of what would happen if he lost control, afraid of himself. He looked at his hands, knowing what they could do now, and knowing what he could do. "I've… I've seen what this does to you. You don't come out the same, Zorya. Once you accept it, once you take it, you're never the same."
"That's not true," Alex said. "We're the same."
"No!" The fierceness in his voice shocked everyone. "No," he said, toning down his voice. "You're not. I know. Alex, Nicole…. Kat…. You're not the same, anymore. It's not knowledge or wisdom; it's this power. Remember when you first came here? Do you remember when you were scared of the power, when you had to save the world and you didn't know how? You were young, yes, but you were forced into greatness. Things were different back then. All of you were friends."
"We're still friends, Scott," Kat said gently. "Back then we were young and clumsy, dumb and afraid. Now we're grown, with the powers, and we've experienced a lot. The power helped up to grow up, Scott, that's all. Faster and better then we would have before. That's all."
"That's not all, Kat. Why can't you see it? You're not the same. You're not friends. The power has corrupted you! I've seen what it does and I don't want it to happen to me. So no, I won't do it. The world will just have to crumble." He shook his head.
"You're speaking in haste, Scott," Zorya cooed.
"No! I'm not!"
"Well, maybe if you tell us why the hell you think we're corrupted, it would help," Alex said hotly.
Scott stared at her, an unknown emotion lacing his eyes. Could they really not see it? "You don't see it, do you?" He asked, soft and unconcerned. "You don't see what's… You don't, do you? No, of course not. If you have you would've stopped a long time ago. Of course, of course…"
"Stop talking riddles."
"You're all corrupted in ways that I can only begin to see the face of. You're no longer friends and yet you can't even begin to see that. Alex," he turned to the Elemental. "Your mild tongue has become a whip to your family, and your memories of your life have disappeared into this immense black void. You only show anger and hostility and you forget what it's like to be the one in the defected shoes. Slowly you're pushing your only world here away and you don't even notice it. You look at everyone with despise and contempt and you constantly think about how to make people pay for annoying you.
"Nicole," he turned to the soft-spoken Protector. "You're loosing your way. Forever you were the peacemaker, the one who spoke reality and truth, the shoulder to cry on and the strong support behind the weak line. Now you're not sure whether to run or to fight. You always listened to everyone and did what you thought best, but now you turn a deaf ear to pleading families and slaughter them anyway. You enjoy the lust you have for battle, the will for slaying those beneath you, and when you finally see a piece of what you have done you turn and run instead of standing for those you slay. Constantly you're at a crossroads and now you're not sure whether to celebrate or hate the coming of your first child and you're not sure you'll live to be a worthy mother. You berate everyone with words of harsh venom and then tell them you doubt those words. Can you look me in the eyes and tell me that you have not yelled at your friends, and then doubt their actions for which you yelled? You cannot, because you know you have.
"And Kat, the last and mightiest soldier," he waved a hand at her. "You always fought hard in spirit and body, never willing to let anyone hurt you or your loved ones. Your fierceness scared off those that would have loved you and encouraged those that would hurt you. How you battled with sword in hand, cutting down those who dared to threaten your friends, or your family, how you never once shed a tear where those could see you or doubted your own actions. In your belief, you had to be the strong one when everyone else was hurting or in pain. You had to be strong for others, the beacon of hope where all was lost. Yet, now, your light has died and you stumble in the darkness. You are now the one who hurts your friends and family. Your sword pierces the hearts of those you once fought to protect and no longer do you care what your friends do or what becomes of them. As long as you are all right nothing matters. Pushing everyone away and lashing out at them, leaving them in the dark for you are afraid that they will shed light on your own path of shadows, leading them into danger with the knowledge that you will survive. You have rebuked your friends and yet you still claim you have them.
"Don't you see? None of you have grown up or become more mature. You have only been damned with the power. You have become too sure of your own abilities, too sure that you will be the only one standing at the end of the day, and too sure that you alone can defend against the darkness. Any shred of what you once were you destroyed for you knew that your new powers were greater then anything you had ever had-after all, why should one hold onto a rotten past? When everything in front of you is glamorous? Why be reminded of what you never had when you have it now?
"This is what the power has done to you. I may be the Second but I am not stupid. I will not ride into my destiny and become changed just as you have. The power rots you out from the inside out and destroys the very being of who you are. Why should I subject myself to that? Just to save a world that will only be threatened again? Maybe this is Gaea's time to fall, Protectors. Maybe she does not want to be saved by tainted soldiers who claim to fight for justice and peace. Perhaps, perhaps it's time for evolution to set in."
Silence set in on the group as each one was forced to examine their own lives. He's right, Nicole thought, remembering Scott's words. They hurt as if he had openly attacked her. A part of her was surprised that she was not bleeding outright. He's right. I have been nothing like what I was. Full of doubt and anger… what happened to the old me? The one who never doubted her friends and guided instead of insulting?
Alex sighed and put a hand to her head. In all of her, she knew that Scott was right. God, she hated it when someone pointed out her faults. No, not hate, I loathe that they can see it while I'm blind to it, she thought bitterly. Damn, I can't fight his words. He's right and that's that.
Kat looked at Scott, the silence boring into her skull, reverberating with the lecture he had just given them. Of course he was right and she knew it but she wasn't going to fight it. Instead, she was going to step forward and accept it. "You're right Scott," she said, her voice making everyone's head flew up. She knew she had spoken the thought on everyone's mind. "You're right. You shouldn't use the power to save the world-after all, look what it's done with us." She motioned to the rest of the Protectors. "I admit that I haven't been my best. Hell, I've never been my best since I can remember. You speak the truth and I accept that. You see what we're blind to. Yet that doesn't mean that you can turn your back on a dying world!"
"You don't understand-"
"To hell with that! Of course I understand! I'm a damn Protector! Sure I might not be the best there ever was and I may even be the worst person for the job, and I know I've slacked off, but damnit Scott I'm still a Protector! Do you know what that means? Protect; to defend from attack, injury, etc. That's what it means Scott and that's what we do. Sure we've become too cocky and naïve for our own good but when Gaea needs protecting we respond, despite what is going on in our hearts.
"Power is a scary thing and don't you ever think I'll never understand that. Remember, I was once normal. I was once just a normal teenager and suddenly I have these super powers and am expected to protect a whole world from dying. I know what it's like to have power and greatness forced upon you. As I recall, we only wanted an adventure. Look at what we got, Scott; powers and a duty that will never end-the same as you have now.
"But there's one thing I've learned Scott. And that is that while power is a big scary thing that you might not be able to control, it's the person wielding the power that decides how it's used and how it will affect others. That being is the one in control of their own destiny-no one else-and only that being can make sure that the power they wield will not corrupt them. I haven't been a perfect example I know, and I haven't been using my power-both super and natural-in the best of ways, but at least I'm still willing to face my consequences and their retributions. I'm still willing to learn and correct my ways. How can you say that this power has corrupted us when we know that we've been using it wrongly and we want to change it? Corruption means dishonesty and immorality. And we're not being dishonest about what we have done, or immoral about our codes. We've let ego and emotions get in the way of our power and for that we must stand up for. But Scott, we're still the beings who decide how our power will be used, and right now we're not going to let it destroy our friendship or us. So how can you turn your back without even trying? Without even trying to save millions of lives that are depending on you? At least we're going to try and save the world with our power."
Scott sighed, looking at Kat. His eyes looked worn and old, yet still young. "You speak the truth clearly, and your aim is as true as your words, Daughter of Darkness," he said slowly. "I can only say this in return. While you speak of noble actions and honest truth, you heart screams of betrayal and mistrust. However, now person is without flaws, and thus each in control of their own destiny, as you said. So, what I am trying to say is that…"