Waking Up
Moppet's P.O.V.
I gasped as I rose off whatever surface I was lying on. I looked around quickly, trying to calm myself before relief washed over me.
Lane and Alexia were asleep on their beds. The sun was peeking into our room, but they were still zonked out. I crept up to them slowly, afraid it was a dream and I'd wake up any moment now.
Alexia groaned, hearing me, and sat up. "Gee, Moppet, I need my sleep." She muttered. I tackled her happily, holding her tight. "Whoa, can I breathe?" She joked but I held her tighter. "Okay... Really, I need to breathe!"
"Keep it down!" Lane told us, her tone muffled by her pillow. I let go of Lane and glomped her as well, holding her even tighter if possible. Lane was surprised, but ruffled my hair. "Alright, Miss-Mops-A-Lot, time to let go." She tried pushing me off, but I held on tighter. God, I would never let them go. Never.
"Moppet, are you okay?" Alexia asked, noticing my behavior.
"Don't you remember?" I asked, looking at them.
"Hold on..." Lane paused, and I thought she would nod but then she shrugged. "No, a psychotic dream. A small amount more violent than normal, but still, just a dream."
I looked at Alexia almost pleadingly. I wanted someone else to have to bear the burden. Alexia looked confused. "Now that you mention it, I had an awkward dream too. But I can't remember it. Moppet, did you have a nightmare? You seem different."
I hesitated, then just shook my head. "No. I'm okay."
"Good! Now, Alexia and I need some sleep. You should get some breakfast." Lane advised, but I wouldn't release her. Lane sighed. "Moppet, I am not going to get up any time soon with all the work we did. So either you have to stay here or let go."
"I'll stay here. I'm still tired." I replied. Lane sighed again but lie back down and let me stay there, holding her tight, until Kai and Zane came to wake us up.
During sparing that day, I was paired with Lloyd, as usual. This time, though, I remembered fighting before. Using sunlight, I flipped Lloyd over and pinned him with my elbow. Everyone else gasped as I held him down.
"Great job!" Alexia praised, clapping me on the back, but I shrugged it off.
"It was nothing." Nothing compared to killing Galbatorix and Ganondolf, or fighting orcs, or committing suicide. I thought to myself.
"Come on, give yourself more credit! After all, Lloyd is the Green Ninja." Jay said playfully, but Lloyd looked hurt.
"Lay off him." Lane said pointedly. Catching Alexia's expression, they began talking in private, but when I strained my ears I could hear them.
"-something's up." Lane murmured. "I swear on my life I have never Moppet so good, or so focused. And when Kai beat you in sparing..."
Alexia nodded. "She looked like she wanted to wring his neck. I don't believe she didn't have a nightmare. What do you think happened?"
"Maybe she dreamt you were killed by Kai and had to fight her way out of a death match." Lane suggested.
"It wasn't that." I murmured. Alexia and Lane turned around. "I mean, you guys take fighting so seriously, I figured I should too."
Lane crotched down so she was my height. "You know you will never, ever have to lie to us, right?" She asked. I nodded, and Lane's expression softened a bit. "Good."
Battle with Eris
"Listen, I have no idea who you are, but you hurt Alexia. She is like my sister, and someone who does that pays!" Lane shouted, taking out her swords.
Eris rolled her eyes as Lane charged, flicking her hand. Instantly Lane froze, before erupting into screams as a vortex swallowed her, leaving only the marking of the rip in space. "Doctor Who was ever so precious to her, so why not trap her in a never ending time lock? Only in this one, she'll be torn apart, molecule by molecule. Isn't that nice?" Eris laughed.
"SIS!" I screamed before barring her claws.
"Oh please." Eris flicked her hand again, and I was forced to the ground, ropes entangling me. "You're just a child." I struggled but couldn't get out.
"Why are you doing this?" Alexia screamed, tears on her cheeks.
"Because I want the ultimate revenge. You were the one person I could never tame, and that's something I just won't tolerate. I'll torture you until you can barely breathe, but it still won't be enough. No, I won't stop until you beg for mercy so hard, you'll be pathetic." Eris smirked.
Alexia reached for her sword but Eris used her power to throw it to the edge of the cavern. "I've been watching you. I know exactly how to beat you now. Nothing can stop me." Eris claimed, snapping her fingers again. Now Alexia felt emotions swarm her mind, ripping it apart. "You were always good at handling emotions, but how can you handle all six years at once?"
Alexia didn't answer. Her mind was being overloaded, and she couldn't help but scream and sob as the emotions grew worse and worse.
"Stop!" Kai shouted, regaining consciousness and his voice.
"Oh shut up." Eris clamped her hand and Kai fell silent, watching in horror as the girl he loved was broken further and further by her enemy. "You know how much I enjoy this? This feeling I have, it's more incredible than anything else. Alexia at my feet, helpless!" Eris laughed again. "I feel so confident I'm going to give you an edge." She threw a dagger at Alexia's feet. "Go on, if you can. Try to kill me. Oh, that's right; you can't!" Eris continued to laugh, torturing Alexia even more. "You can't fight someone who is the perfect counter to you. And I know everything about you." Eris whispered the last sentence into Alexia's ear, taunting her.
That was my breaking point. I'd seen Lane fall into her own insanity. I'd seen Alexia die to make sure I could continue. But this was the last straw. I slashed at my rope and threw one of my claws at Eris, causing her to cry out in pain, losing her focus on Alexia. "What? How?"
"You messed with me, you messed with my sister, and you messed with my sister's best friend, so you are going to pay." I growled. Raising my hands, the roof of the cave crumbled, and sunlight burst in. "Time for you to feel pain like the kind you caused."
The beam of light focused on Eris, and she screamed in agony. The sunlight burned her skin and it became black as the intense heat charred her. She fell over, and everyone watched as I stood, indifferent to Eris' pleas of mercy.
"You're just like me now." She hissed. "Ruthless."
I leaned over, whispering in her ear. "No. Unlike you, I sacrificed myself to save the people I cared about. The ninja, my best friend, my sister. I died to save them. There's a difference. You would never die to save someone else." The light focused more and Eris gave one last scream of pain before she was gone, into dust.
I looked at the dust pile where she had been before realizing what I had done. It wasn't the death that frightened me, it was the fact I'd done it in front everyone else. In a crude attempt to hide the fact I wasn't affected, I pretended to faint. Alexia caught me, and under my eyelashes I saw her free Lane and the others.
Going Back
The others left the room, making it so Lane, Alexia, and I were alone.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"That's just it, Moppet. I'm not going back." Alexia said. "There's nothing for me there except abusive parents and a stressful life. Here, there's more. I'm sorry, but I can't go back."
"And I'm not leaving either." Lane added. "Being an outcast has never been fun, and there are things here for me as well."
"Not just Zane; Lane, I had Jay do a scan of you, and time won't touch you." Alexia replied. "I think the time lock made it so you're immortal now."
Lane raised an eyebrow. "You learn a new thing every day."
"What about me?" I asked.
"Moppet, you have a chance. You were accepted by people. You can make changes we could never do. And you need to make sure that people understand how it matters for others to not take control." Lane told her, crouching to eye-level with me. I backed away, scared.
"No. I won't!" For the first time since dying and being revived, I began to cry. "I can't lose you guys again!"
Lane was surprised and tried to pull me into her arms but I ducked away. "You said you cared. You said you'd always watch over me. Now you're abandoning me!" I was near screaming now.
Silently, Alexia walked over to the machine Jay built and shut it off. The portal closed, and she stomped on my phone. Lane hugged me, and I let myself cry into her shoulder. "You're right." Lane murmured soothingly. "We're being selfish. I promise I'll never leave you alone. You'll always have someone. Okay?" I nodded before the others came in.
"We're not leaving." Alexia said, to answer the unasked questions and let me sob in sweet relief I wouldn't be sent away.
Four years later...
Lane sighed, running a hand through her hair. Zane wrapped his arms around her waist. "It there something on your mind?" He asked.
"It's Moppet. I know she's living on her own now and probably wants some privacy, but she said she would call every so often, and it's been three weeks." Lane sighed again, and moved over to the crib where Alia was sleeping, picking her up.
"You could call her. Just say you wanted to talk." Zane offered.
"Yeah, I'll do that." Shifting Alia into Zane's arms, Lane picked up their telephone and dialed Moppet's apartment.
Nothing. It continued to ring, but nothing happened. Lane looked worried and re-dialed, but no one answered. Frowning, Lane phoned Lloyd.
"Hello?" Lloyd asked.
"Lloyd, can you check on Moppet? I'm worried about her." Lane said.
"Sure." Lloyd hung up, and walked out of his apartment. Truthfully, he'd started to have a crush on his childhood friend, but he hadn't said a word, out of the fact he was deathly scared of Lane and Alexia, who he knew would snap his neck if he hurt Moppet.
Moppet's P.O.V.
Fire. Blood. They were everywhere. Lane was in one corner, laughing, with the three eye symbol on her forehead. Alexia stood, silent, in the sacrificial dress from before. And I was in the corner with the gun to my forehead, eyes dead.
Screaming, I jerked up. I had been curled up on my couch, the T.V. on low. Groaning, I heard the phone ring. Right now, I didn't want to talk.
In just four years everyone else moved on. Did something different. But me? Of course not. How could I let go of the memories of losing everyone? I hated how no one else was able to remember it. It just wasn't fair.
A few minutes later, I heard someone knocking on the door. I groaned again before getting up and opening the door to find a nervous Lloyd.
"H-hey." Lloyd stammered. "Can I come in?"
Sighing, I stepped away from the doorway and let him in. "You alright? You look terrible."
I feel my throat tighten. "It's nothing." I croaked, but Lloyd gave me a don't-even-try look.
"Listen, you're sister's worried. You haven't contacted her in days." Lloyd pointed out.
"She doesn't care!" I yell before I can stop myself.
"Since when? Your sister cares about you more than anything else!" Lloyd fired back.
"If she did then she would have remembered!" I gasped and covered my mouth, but the damage had been done. Lloyd's face lights up and my shoulders slump. I sag onto the couch, hiding my face in my hands. Lloyd wrapped an arm around my shoulders as I sobbed.
"What do you mean by remember?" Lloyd asked gently. I raised my head and took deep breath.
"That day when I first beat you in sparing, it wasn't a coincidence. I... well, it all seems like a dream to Lane and Alexia, but it's so clear to me it has to be a memory." I put a hand to my forehead in an effort to control my raging headache.
"What was it?" Lloyd asked.
"It was a normal day on the Bounty... And then the world began to chip away. Alexia, Lane, and I escaped to another dimension, trying to find a way to fix everything." I explained.
"What about me? And the other ninja? Nya?" Lloyd pressed.
I swallowed. "You were tied here. You went down with the dimension." Lloyd was silent, so I continued. "At first, I really believed everything would turn out alright. But then... Lane lost the battle against her insanity. Without Zane, she spun out of control. She committed mass murder, and when she realized that, killed herself." I closed my eyes, remembering Lane pierce herself in the stomach and fall over, dead.
"What happened then?" Lloyd's tone was gentle, and I leaned on his shoulder. His arm went to my waist and he leaned on the couch arm.
"Alexia lasted another dimension before she gave in. I'll never forget how she told me to never be like her and Lane. Alexia got me to the next one, and with that I was alone." Tears trickled down again, but I didn't care. Lloyd wiped them away, holding me closer.
"But you saved us. It turned out okay." Lloyd murmured, but I shook my head.
"The last part of the memory is what haunts me most." I choked on my breath before managing to say, "I killed myself to bring everyone back. Before that I murdered someone. All of it affects me. I killed Eris without mercy or pity. What does that make me?" I buried my face into Lloyd's chest, quietly crying.
"It makes you someone who is willing to do anything to get back the people you love." Lloyd answered. "Most people would freeze under the pressure. You're just that awesome. I wouldn't be able to do that." He added.
I playfully punched him arm. "Aw, is the Green Ninja admitting he's scared?"
"What?! No!" Lloyd protested. I jump up and pointed at him, laughing.
"Scared! Scared! Sc-ared!" I accused, my laughter making it hard to breathe.
"Am not!" Lloyd got up and tackled me tickling my sides. I continued to laugh even harder. God, when was the last time I'd laughed?
Eventually, Lloyd stopped and the atmosphere changed. I look deep into his jade orbs and him into my plain brown. His lips brushed against mine once, as though afraid of my reaction, but I moaned and grabbed his shirt, pulling him into a full-on snog.
It was both everything and nothing like I had expected. I'd thought a first kiss was something you remembered because of the kiss, but I knew I'd always remember it because of the person. My hands tangled in Lloyd's hair, and Lloyd kept me still with his hands on my hips. How long it lasted went by me. I only stopped when I needed air.
Curse my non-respiratory bypass system of lungs. I muttered in my head. My cheeks were on fire but I didn't care. Lloyd brushed away a stray lock of hair and leaned closer.
"I've been crushing on you for awhile." He admitted. "But-"
"But you were scared of Lane?" I filled in the gap. Lloyd nodded, slightly embarrassed. "Yeah, when I was little I did anything she told me to do because of that."
Lloyd smiled, and pecked my lips. "So, should I stay for the night?" He asked, getting up and offering a hand.
"Yeah, why not?" I grinned back. Maybe life was finally being fair.
A few hours later...
"Moppet?" Lane knocked on the door again. "Moppet!"
"She could be out." Zane suggested.
"No, her scooter is still here. Hold on-" Fumbling with her pockets due to the fact May was in a sling around her neck, Lane produced a paper clip and pressure wrench. She picked the lock in less than a minute and opened the door, only to smile widely.
Moppet and Lloyd were on the couch, fast asleep. Moppet was curled up next to Lloyd, who had his arm draped around her. Zane pocked his head in, and chuckled. "Looks like she's fine."
"Yeah." Lane stroked her sister's forehead. She picked up a blanket off the floor and placed it on the two. "Maybe now she'll call. But so help me-"
"Dear?" Zane put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Why don't you wait until they tell us before you threaten Lloyd?" He said jokingly.
Lane's tense expression softened. "You're right. We'd better leave before they wake up and Moppet tries to kill me."
They left, neither noticing Moppet's and Lloyd's eyes being slightly opened, as they had woken when Lane pounded on the door. "Guess I'm safe for now." Lloyd said playfully.
"Until Lane comes after you with a chainsaw." Moppet replied sweetly.
Lloyd shivered. "Somehow, I can see that completely." He rearranged his position and they both fell asleep again, content.
Wow. You guys were probably expecting this to end on a very, VERY unhappy note! It's amazing I can take a blood and gore story and make it a happy ending!
So, the death counter:
Murder: 0 (At least until Lane tries to kill Lloyd)
Mass Murder/Genocide: 0
Suicide: 0
Yup. It all ends happily! See you next time!