Mount Justice || October 30, 12:30 EDT ||
Ruby and Zara are sparring to each other while Aaliyah is observing them with a calm look on her face. The blonde girl could tell Ruby is determined enough to become strong and wanting to surpassed her sister, Erza, someday. Ruby is a very timid and shy girl but willing to help everyone out. Zara on the other hand, she's the youngest of them all but she acts mature whenever the halfling turns herself into an adult. Zara has a different persona, her true form of a child and the adult woman. In her Exceed form, she's sarcastic and teaser girl. The reason why Aaliyah choose to spar them it's because they need to embrace their abilities of what they have rather than holding it back.
Ruby is terrified if she relies more on her lost crystal magic, her lifespan is going to be short and died early. Zara is terrified of being a taboo both human and creature. These two girls need to overcome their fear or they're not going to improve their abilities forever.
"No sign of her using crystals, huh?" Arthur joined Aaliyah to watch them spar together with Robin and Kaldur. "Why aren't you sparring either of them, Aaliyah?"
Aaliyah narrowed her eyes and see Zara is holding back her strength in fear of hurting Ruby in the process. "Those two understand one another. They have their own similarity of their fear."
"Fear from what?" Robin asks the blonde girl curiously. He still hates the fact of being unable to understand Aaliyah's intention.
"You need to ask them yourselves." Aaliyah answered and looking at Robin. "It's not in my place to answer it, Robin-san."
Arthur chuckles and staring at the scarlet-haired girl and Exceed. "They're going to overcome it, I'm sure." The brunette commented and looking at Aaliyah curiously. "Are you going to Superboy and M'gann's school for the Halloween party tomorrow night?"
"Batman wanted to include me for tonight's meeting." Aaliyah answered since she's an assistant leader of their team. "You?"
"Same as you, Kaldur, Roy and Robin." Arthur answered and crossing his arms. "It also gives me an excuse not to attend the party."
Robin smirked and elbows Arthur's rib lightly. "Dude, that is because you're one of the most popular in your school." He teased and Arthur sighs heavily.
"I didn't ask for it to become popular and girls chasing me because of my looks." He muttered bitterly and looking at Aaliyah. "I'm not the only one who's popular as well."
Aaliyah shrugged her shoulders. "I always give them cold shoulders and not interested of dating someone who wants me like a piece of trophy." She noticed Kaldur is looking at her worriedly. Wondering why he is worried about her well-being despite she can take care of herself.
Robin winces and feels sorry for Aaliyah. "I hope there's someone who cares for you deeply."
Arthur smiles and ruffling Aaliyah's hair which she didn't care at all. "You'll find your Prince Charming." He only received a blank look from her.
"I'm a late bloomer and don't even know what it feels like to have someone who cares for you deeply, not as a friend or family but a lover." She answered them truthfully. "All my life, I was the one prioritize their happiness first before me."
"Perhaps it's also your time to find your happiness as well, Aaliyah." Kaldur spoke up and staring at her cerulean eyes. "Ruby and Zara really appreciate for taking care of them. I'm sure they want you to be happy."
Aaliyah didn't say anything but staring at Ruby and Zara. "Ru-chan and Zara-chan, that's enough for today." She stops them sparring. "Zara-chan, try to use your human child form next time for the spar. I need you to become strong in your transformation magic."
Zara nodded her head and ears twitching. "The others are coming." She told everyone.
M'gann, Conner, Zatanna, Artemis and Wally are joining them. The Martian approached them with a gleeful look on her face. "Hey, guys. Ruby and Zara... do you girls have a costume for tomorrow?" She asks them curiously knowing Arthur, Aaliyah, Kaldur and Robin couldn't attend the party tomorrow.
"Yeah." Ruby answered and nodded her head with a shy smile. "Miaka makes a costume for us tomorrow and she wouldn't tell us."
"I bet any clothes you wear looks cute on you two, Rubes and Zara." Arthur assures them with a thoughtful look on his face. "I think I should come-"
"Come on, Archie." Wally scoffs and rolling his eyes. He wasn't surprised by Arthur's overprotectiveness towards the three female mages "Stop being overprotective and besides... the Wall-man is here to look after your sisters." He assured him but Arthur didn't trust Wally at all. Arthur knows Wally can easily get distracted when it comes to beautiful girls whereas he can focus his priorities.
"With you getting involved makes me more worried." Arthur gives him a look. "You're going to flirt any girls who passed by to you." Robin snickers and Kaldur stares at them with an amused look on his face. "Hell would freeze over if you're being serious of looking after them."
Wally pouts as a child and Conner sighs heavily. "Don't worry, Arthur. I can look after them." The clone volunteers especially he has a soft spot for Ruby and M'gann.
Ruby laughs nervously and scratching her head. "You guys don't have to do that." She protests the idea of someone is looking after them despite they can protect themselves. She has spirits who wouldn't hesitate to use their powers to come here and save her. "We can protect ourselves."
"Can't I just ditch the party?" Zara whined and rubbing her neck. "I made a promise to a friend of mine that I'll be joining with her for a trick or-"
"Aww... the little kitty has a friend." Wally teased the halfling and she growled angrily as he usually loves to wind her up. "Who's the lucky girl."
"Knock it off, Ginger head!" Zara whacks his head using a paper fan out of nowhere. "I'm not going and that's my final answer!"
Kaldur shakes his head at their antics. "Leave Zara alone, Wally." He stops Wally from teasing her any further before she could whack his head again.
"You have any other plans, Ruby?" Zatanna asks the scarlet-haired girl curiously.
"No." Ruby shakes her head. "I'm still coming with you guys."
"Great." M'gann claps her hands happily. "Ohh... I can't wait to see your cute outfit, Ruby!"
Ruby just smiles nervously and starting to regret the fact of accepting Halloween invitation. She hopes nothing crazy is going to happen to them without Aaliyah or Zara around.
Mount Justice || October 31, 19:34 EDT ||
Wally wears a wolfman costume as he howl's like a werewolf. He gives the mutant wolf a deadpanned expression and wasn't impressed by his lazy attitude. "Really? You're not gonna join in at all? What kind of a wolf are you?" He asks Wolf curiously.
"Wally, stop torturing him." Conner stops Wally from pestering Wolf and he looks at Ruby's outfit. "It looks nice on you, Ruby." He compliments the scarlet-haired girl as she smiles shyly.
Miaka tied Ruby's hair into twin buns. She's wearing autumn short-style kimono with autumn fairy wings in her back. Ruby is wearing an Autumn fairy as M'gann couldn't stop gushing at her cuteness especially she took a picture of it. The scarlet-haired girl looks a bit like a Fairy Princess and Robin would be speechless seeing her like this.
"Thanks, Conner." Ruby whispered and twiddling her thumbs shyly.
M'gann chuckled and trying to wrap bandages around Conner's head to become a mummy. "Hold still, please." She orders the Clone and trying to finish him wrapping up gently.
Wally rolls his eyes and approached them. "M'gann, stop torturing him." He stops the Martian girl from what she's doing. "Awkward for him anyway, being the third wheel on our date." He smirked and gives her a wink.
Ruby laughs nervously and rocking her feet back and forth. "I thought that we're here for fun and not a date?" She gives Wally an innocent look on her face while M'gann gushed her cuteness.
"Aww... Ruby!" She squeals happily and hugging Ruby. "You're so adorable! I couldn't resist your cuteness!" Rubbing her cheeks against her cheeks.
"Ah! M'gann!" Ruby pleads and trying to move away from her. "Please, stop."
"Sorry, Ruby." She laughs nervously and letting go of the poor girl. "Don't worry, it's not a date. Like I said, I invited the entire team to the dance. Zatanna, too."
"Ahem." Xi Men shows up of nowhere and giving him a disapproving look. "It wouldn't ease my mind of you looking after Lady Ruby. I'll stay by your side, Lady Ruby." He bows down politely at her and ignoring Wally's whined. The Chinese Dragon spirit is always worried about Ruby's safeness and she's like a daughter to him.
"I don't want you to bore, Xi Men." Ruby shakes her head softly. "It's just a harmless party and nothing else." She reassured him knowing Xi Men is always overprotective towards her.
"If you insist, please call when I'm needed." He bows down politely at his Mistress and goes back to the Spirit World.
Wally chuckles, seeing how Ruby's spirit cares about her well-being especially they use their own magic with or without her calls. "So... you going as my favorite Martian?" The red-haired asks M'gann curiously and changing the subject.
"Not exactly." M'gann answered and changing her outfit to a zombie bride.
"Whoa..." Wally whistles. "Babe, eat my brains anytime." He's flirting towards M'gann and Ruby smiles nervously.
"Great minds think alike." They heard a familiar voice and turned around to see Captain Marvel shows up.
"Captain, you look terrific." M'gann compliments Captain Marvel costumes. He's putting a white powder all over his face and pretends to be a zombie. "Are you going to a Halloween celebration, too?" She asks him curiously.
"Well, sure. I'm going with..." He stopped talking and looking at them curiously. "I mean, you did invite the whole team, right?" Captain Marvel questioned them with a skeptical look on his face.
"Not all of us are attending the party." Ruby answered and smiles politely at him. "We're going to be at the dance."
"She's right." M'gann nodded her head. "So don't worry about us. Go. Have a good time at your party."
"Recognized: Artemis B11. Zatanna Zatara A03" Zatanna and Artemis show up.
Zatanna is wearing a witch costume whereas Artemis is a vampire girl. They stared at each other and complimenting their outfit. Zatanna noticed Captain Marvel is wearing a white painted face. "Oh, look. Zombie Captain Marvel. That's hilarious." Zatanna commented and snickers. "Is the Justice League having a party? Cause my dad didn't mention it."
"No, no, no. See, I-um..." Captain Marvel stutters and scratching his head. "Fine. I'm going trick-or-treating." He goes towards the zeta tube.
"Recognized: Captain Marvel. 15" Captain Marvel leaves without saying anything but feels embarrassed because he assumes everyone including the League are going to have a party.
"I couldn't help but notice Captain Marvel seems a bit childish?" Ruby muttered and tilted her head at Conner and he shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't know, Ruby." Conner patted her head gently. "How's Zara?"
"Zara is fine." She smiles. "She always complaining and grumbling of doing trick-or-treat but deep inside, Zara enjoys it." Ruby explained it to them. Zara messaged her condition non-stop but enjoys doing trick-or-treat together with her friend, Lydia.
"Zara sure is a ray of sunshine." Wally commented sarcastically and Ruby laughs nervously. "That kid needs to loosen up a bit."
"Ahaha... that's Zara for you." Ruby timidly smiles. "Don't let her hear that, Wally."
"I won't." He shivers in fear. "That kid scares me a lot." Zara wouldn't hesitate to use her adult form and seduced him. It scared him of Zara's split personality because of her transformation.
Happy Harbor || October 31, 20:15 EDT||
Wally, Conner and M'gann manage to get in the party. Ruby couldn't stop clinging to Conner because she's not comfortable for their gazes staring at her. Conner gives them a look seeing her discomfort and he patted her back.
"I'm here Ruby. No one is going to hurt you." Conner comforts the scarlet-haired girl seeing her shiver in anxiety. "We can go home if you want?" He wants Ruby to make herself comfortable rather than attending the party. He's treating Ruby as his own sister because of her caring and kind personality.
"I don't want to spoil the fun for you guys." Ruby shakes her head and denying the idea of them going back immediately at the Cave. "We just got here... I'm sure... things will get more interesting?"
He smiles a little and patted her head. "If you're feeling too uncomfortable, don't hesitate to ask us."
Ruby nodded her head happily while holding Conner's hand. M'gann knows Ruby doesn't have any romantic feelings for Conner cause he's like an older brother to him.
"Too bad the rest of the team couldn't make it." M'gann commented and feel weird without the others joining the party.
Conner froze and looking at them with a deadpanned expression. "You've gotta be kidding me." He muttered and wasn't pleased with what they're wearing right. Most of the students are wearing their favorite hero costumes.
"Ahaha..." Ruby laughs nervously and still clinging to Conner.
One of M'gann's friends approached them as they compliment her zombie bride outfit.
"Burn victim?" The boy asks Conner curiously.
"Mummy. You?" Conner asks him.
"Superman... done right." He smirked and showing off his costume. The boy is looking at the scarlet-haired girl who's clinging on Conner. "Who's this little fairy?"
"Wa-wa-wa-watashi Ru-Ru-Ru-Rubina (I-I-I-I'm Rubina)." Ruby answered in her own language that only Conner understands.
"This is Rubina but we call her Ruby." M'gann introduces them to their classmates. "Wally and Ruby, this is Wendy, Karen, Mal and..." She stopped seeing Marvin is playing his phone.
"Ignore Marvin." Wendy rolls her eyes. "He thinks we're being invaded by Martians."
"I never said that." Marvin snapped Wendy and still playing his phone. "It's just, reports are all over the interwebs, and I'm not the only one getting them." Everyone's phone beeps. "I mean, Martian's aren't invading. It's just a prank gone viral. Right?"
"Of course it's a prank." The boy answered as they stared at him. "Ever hear of Martian Manhunter? Martian's arent's hostile."
"Of course not." M'gann is completely agreeing with him and looked away.
"Aww... she's so cute and adorable girl." Karen gushed over Ruby's cuteness. "Love your outfit girl." She compliments her Autumn fairy costume.
"Tha-thank you." Ruby thanked her and still hiding behind Conner's back. "I like your bumblebee costume too."
"Aww... thank you, sweetie." She squeals and hugging the poor girl. "You're so adorable and couldn't stand it."
Ruby blushed furiously and trying to get off from her grasps. She's regretting to join the party without knowing Ruby is going to hug M'gann and Conner's friend.
"Computer, secure the room." Batman ordered the AI as Aaliyah, Arthur, Robin, Kaldur, Batman, Roy and Red Tornado are in this room to have a private chat.
"Secured." The AI confirmed it that no one would listen to their meeting regarding the mole.
"I'll cut to it. Do we believe there's a mole within the team?" Batman asks them curiously.
"Kitsune and I are convinced there is none." Kaldur answered it as himself being the leader whereas Aaliyah, is the assistant leader. "When Sportsmaster claimed he had an inside source, he was merely showing dissent."
"His intel could easily have come by comparing notes with the other villains working for the 'Injustice League'." Robin pointed out. "And think about it. If anyone on the Team was working those creepoids..."
"He or she would have betrayed us during our fight against them." Kaldur spoke up.
"I'm not convinced." Roy denied it and Aaliyah remained silent. "Sure, you two, Kid Flash and Saber are above suspicion, but I know Artemis isn't shooting straight. For starters, she's not Green Arrow's niece."
"What?" Kaldur looked shocked to find out Artemis is not the niece of Green Arrow whereas Aaliyah masks her surprise expression.
"Well, yeah." Robin is completely agreeing to Roy. "In fact, she's related to..."
"Robin." Arthur cuts him off and shaking his head. "That's enough." He too knows Artemis' background but didn't judge her because of her family.
"Artemis relations may indeed make her suspect, but she's still entitled to a secret identity." Batman explained to Robin. "I'm more concerned about Superboy. We still know very little about what Cadmus programmed into their weapon. Conner could be the mole and not know it."
"And what about Miss Martian? She is Manhunter's niece." Roy pointed out. "But he told Black Canary he has a few hundred nieces and nephews. And the first time he met M'gann was 5 months ago, when she stowed away on his last trip from Mars to Earth."
"This changes nothing." Aaliyah spoke up this time. "Aqualad and I have fought side by side with these people."
"You think I'm forgetting about you, Celestial and Angel?" He asks Aaliyah coldly and she remained calm. "You three girls showed up of nowhere and became the heroes in Japan. What makes more interesting to find out... when I went to your places and ask them a question, there's no Aaliyah Dreyar, Zara Dreyar and Rubina Hart exists."
"What?" Kaldur looked shocked to hear whereas Arthur was surprised how Roy is going to find out their information about them. "Ki-Ki-Kitsune, is that true?"
"I trust them with my life, Red Arrow." Arthur is defending his three surrogate sisters. "They exist and whatever you gather information? Knight and I made sure their real background are sealed."
"For someone who's adamant having mole in this team." Aaliyah spoke up and narrowing her gaze at him behind the half-mask. "It seems like you're the mole here, Red Arrow."
"What makes you say that, Kitsune?" He approached her closely and Aaliyah didn't step back away from him. "I'm here to protect the Team from tearing them apart."
Aaliyah shakes her head. "Aren't you the one who didn't want to join us in the first place? You think we're not ready enough to become a part of the League?" She asks calmly and Arthur never expects Aaliyah could be level-headed. "Aren't you the one who didn't want to join us because we're just juniors to them?"
"You..." He snarls angrily and starting to get on his nerves towards her calm attitude. "Don't know anything about it."
"Whether I know it or not, with that kind of attitude... you're not even mature enough to become a member of the League." It makes Roy snap and was about to slap her on the face, Aaliyah caught his wrists. "The truth hurts because you didn't accept my opinion. If I were you, think about your actions before accusing someone. It would be better to gather enough evidence to know who the mole is."
"That's enough you two." Kaldur grabs Aaliyah and pulls her away from Roy. "We're here to talk and not to fight." He gives them a look.
"Aqualad is right." Arthur spoke up and gives Roy a stern look. "You're one of my friends but if you ever lay a hand on my sisters, don't think that I'll stand here and do nothing." He threatens Roy with a cold look on his face.
"Enough." Batman stops them from arguing. "The meeting is over and only us know about it."
Roy walks out of the room to cool himself out while Batman and Red Tornado heads back to the Watchtower. Aaliyah sighs heavily and removing her fox half-mask. This meeting is making her energy drain.
"You should've provoked him, Aaliyah." Arthur gives her a disapproving look. "You know Roy's temper is worse than Conner. Do you have a death wish?"
"Still... he doesn't have the right to accuse our friends." Aaliyah pointed out. "I can be harsh and realistic often."
Robin shakes his head. "Roy is telling the truth, isn't it?" He asks Aaliyah and staring at her cerulean eyes. "I get that Arthur becomes defensive for a reason."
"Yes." She closes her eyes and exhales softly. "It's too painful for us... to remember it." Aaliyah grips her masks gently to control anger. "I'll go swimming." She walks out of the room before Kaldur could say something.
"Aaliyah..." Arthur is worried about her and sighs heavily. "That girl." He scratches his head.
"What makes them so special, Archie?" Robin asks him gently.
"Aside from treating them like their part of our family?" Arthur smiles gently. "They've been through a tragic past and makes them braver than before."
"She's becoming off lately..." Robin noticed Aaliyah is distancing herself now lately and wondering what's on her mind. "She's well focused on the mission but after that..."
"Aaliyah always leave after mission." Kaldur finished Robin's thoughts. "Is there something wrong to Aaliyah? She's been distancing herself lately." He noticed Aaliyah's behavior completely changed. Aaliyah's becoming more silent as she used to and never talk unless it's important.
"Crap." Arthur realizes something and facepalms himself. "How could I be so stupid." He groaned and completely forgetting why Aaliyah's attitude change.
"Anything happens between you guys and Aaliyah?" Robin asks Arthur curiously and he shakes his head. "What makes her broody?"
"It wasn't in my place to say about her behavior." He smiles sheepishly while scratching his head. "Just give Aaliyah a time. She'll come around."
"Ruby, you okay?" Wally asks the scarlet-haired girl seeing her distant look on her face. "You've been spacing out a bit."
"Me?" She laughs sheepishly. "I've been thinking Aa-" The lights went out and everyone groaned of the sudden turn out of events.
"Everybody calm down. Probably just a blown fuse." The boy assured them as the lights went on.
Most of their phones beep to receive an unknown message.
"Says here Martians have taken New Haven and Providence."
"Spotted in Happy Harbor, too."
"Guys, guys. It's a Halloween cliché." The boy assured them.
"Meaning it happens a lot?" Karen snapped the boy out.
Everyone gasped in shocked to hear a sudden scream from the speaker. "Attention. Homeland Security advises everyone to stay inside the gymnasium. This is not meant as confirmation of any alien invasion."
"I knew it. I knew it."
"All right, come on."
Everyone is grumbling and complaining their party is put on hold excluding M'gann, Wally, Conner and Ruby. "We should call the Cave." M'gann told her friends.
"Wait." Conner stopped them to call the Cave. He uses his x-ray vision and super-hearing to find out what causes them putting the party on hold.
"For your own safety, remain inside." The person snickered. "Best Halloween prank ever!"
Conner faces them with a smirk look on his face. M'gann, Wally and Ruby stared at him with a confused look on their faces. "Um... Conner, why are you smirking about?" Ruby asks him timidly.
"It was Marvin who creates this prank." He answered. "He's the one who causes this mess."
"All this time... he's the one who sent nonsense about Martian invaders?" She blinks her eyes. "Marvin is going to cause himself more trouble for this."
"Don't worry, little fairy." Wally patted her head gently. "Why don't we pay him back?"
"You mean to prank him that invaders exist?" M'gann asks happily and wanting to fool Marvin. "I'm in!"
"Me too, Ruby and Conner?" He looks at them with a hopeful look on his face.
Conner grinned and nodded his head. Ruby sighs heavily with a defeated look on her face. "I really don't have a choice, am I?" She asks them and they shake their heads. "What did I get myself involve to?" Only receiving a chuckle of their answers.
"Tehee~ I'm soo looking forward to this plan." Miaka chuckles and Ruby sweatdropped.
"You're enjoying this much, Miaka." Ruby laughs nervously and wasn't surprised by Miaka's mischevious side.
"3, 2, 1, action!" Miaka gives Wally a signal run towards Marvin.
"AHH!" Wally screamed. "The Martians are coming! The Martians are coming!"
"Look out!" Conner shows up of nowhere on Marvin's side. "They have disintegration rays."
"Ruby!" Wally cried out her name as Miaka makes an illusion of herself into a Martian from the Looney Tunes Martian.
"AAHH!" Ruby screams and crawls backward with tears in her eyes. "Please, please, don't!" She whimpered and Miaka laughs evilly then grabs her. "No! Save me!"
Miaka eats Ruby but in reality, she casts an illusion on Ruby by getting eaten to her. Miaka burps and helps M'gann out, who's changing her form the same as hers, throwing Conner out by knocking him gently. Marvin screams and runs towards the gym inside.
Miaka and M'gann reverted back to their original form with a mischevious look on their faces. Ruby shakes her head and feels bad for scaring Marvin like that but it's just a harmless prank.
"Heh! Come on." Conner spoke up. "We do not want to miss this." They head inside of the gym first before Marvin could catch them.
"You know, Miaka... eating me is a bit over the top." Ruby commented with a sweatdropped on her head. "You traumatizing Marvin that much."
"Relax, Ruby." Miaka patted her head and her whole body is starting to glow. "This is what Halloween is all about, call me next time~!"
She sighs heavily and Wally chuckled and patted her shoulder. "Lighten up, Ruby. It's his fault for fooling us around that Martians invades here." He assured her and Ruby just shakes her head.
"I feel bad about it." She muttered and M'gann chuckled.
"It'll be all right, Ruby." She spoke up and Marvin barges in the gym.
"Martians are invading! Martians!" Marvin exclaimed with a fearful look on his face and removing his Batman mask. He couldn't believe the scarlet-haired girl was eaten by a Martian and the ginger-head boy got killed by them as well.
"Marvin." Wendy called her friend. "Chill, we got the memo."
"No! B-before it was all a prank I pulled. Now it's definitely real!" He explained it to everyone. "The Martians just killed three people."
"Which three people?" M'gann asks Marvin curiously.
"Those three people!" He pointed behind M'gann's back to see Wally, Conner and Ruby. They are staring at each other with a confused look on their faces then at him. "Wait! I... uh... oh." He stuttered and looked shocked to see them alive in one piece.
"Marvin?" Wendy asks Marvin with an annoyed look on her faces including everyone else.
"Trick... or treat?" He smiles sheepishly and shrugging his shoulders.
Ruby just smiles in sympathy since it's Marvin's fault for pranking them in the first place.
Mount Justice || November 1, 00:00 EDT ||
Aaliyah stared at the ocean with a sorrowful look on her face. Reminiscing her biological mother, Vida Fernandez. Vida got killed when she freed her from the prison despite her disability of blind. She got treated badly from the villages because of her resemblance to someone else and taking her eyesight for good. Vida sacrificed herself to give Aaliyah a second chance to live and hoping to reunite her brother, Jellal.
~Flasback~
"Mommy, why are they treating me badly?" A 4-year-old Aaliyah asks her mother curiously. "Am I a bad girl?" She asks sadly and leaning on the cold metal bar.
"Why are you asking that, my little warrior?" Vida asks her daughter and the guilt is eating her inside for not protecting Aaliyah from harm. It's her fault for being weak and Aaliyah lost her eyesight forever. Her daughter couldn't have a chance to see again in this world. "You're always been a good girl. They... didn't see goodness in you like the way I see in you."
"I don't want to be in this cold place, mama." She whimpered and hugging her legs. "I wanna go home."
"You will, give me sometime-" Vida was cut off by someone.
"Check the prisoner, make sure she didn't escape. Only heavens know if she tries to seduce us."
"As if! She's just a child. Beat her up as usual."
Vida silently growled in anger for treating her daughter badly. She's going to make an escape route to let her Aaliyah escape from the depths of hell.
"My sweetheart, mommy is coming back and you'll be with me at midnight." Vida vowed and gripping tightly of the bar. "I promise and we're going to be with Jellal."
Before her last dying breath, a mysterious water dragon came to take Aaliyah under her wings. Vida pleads at the dragon, Ariella, to guide her the right path and have someone to love her as a family. That day, Aaliyah became the Water Dragon Slayer.
~Flasback ends~
"I still miss you so much, mom." She whispered sadly and throwing down the flowers on the ocean to let it float wherever it goes. "You sacrificed yourself to set me free from the cage..." Aaliyah exhales softly and holding back her tears. "Because of you... I have a new family who cares and loves me unconditionally."
"Aaliyah." She turned around to see Zara and Ruby in their Halloween costume as they sat down on the rocks right next to her. "Tell us about your mom." Zara spoke up softly.
"She was a fearless and courageous person." Aaliyah answered and staring at the ocean under the full moon. "Mom always made sure that Je-nii (brother) and I are well fed. She never eats the food because it's not enough for three people to eat but only two. Mom... always put us in front before her because she told us... we're her light." She sniffs and tears starting to fall.
"You get that from her, Aaliyah." Ruby commented and Aaliyah got her personality coming from her mom. "You're one of those lucky people to remember what their parents look like."
"That age of 4 is hard to remember that much of their past." Zara pointed out and watching the stars above the dark night sky. "Your mom didn't die for nothing. Vida wanted to make sure her children have a brighter future."
"Sometimes... I feel like it was my fault." Aaliyah wipes her tears. "I look someone that I've never met thinks of me as a monster." She often blaming herself that her mother died because she's weak and naive before.
"Aaliyah... you can't blame yourself for her death." Ruby spoke up softly. "You were just a kid back then and didn't understand the world very well." She hugs the blonde girl gently. "We're here for you. When you carry a heavy burden, lend on us. We're all here for you."
Zara joins the hug with them as well. "Don't act strong all the time, let it all out." She whispered at Aaliyah's ear.
Aaliyah started to sob on their shoulders and crying all over her mom's death. She still missed her mom dearly and it's been 8 years she passed away. All Zara and Ruby could ever think of are to comfort her.