While I'm sad that this is the last chapter, the end of one story is simply an open door where another can begin. Thanks a million to TheImmortalWeapon for reviewing and liking the story. Also, if you guys read "The Struggles of World Domination," it is currently on hold due to immense writer's block. Hope everyone likes this, and are disclaimers necessary anymore...we all know I own only my OCs.
Tobias' pov
"He's waking up,"
"What exactly happened?"
"I think his Shadow form was unstable," I heard voices. I tried to open my eyes and winced at the light. There were eight faces above me, two were obviously older though.
"What? What just..." I groaned.
"Tobias, what can you remember?" A calming voice spoke first.
"I remember my brother...Ryan...Adrian trying to hurt me. But I forgive him. And he forgave me too. Thanks," I sat up. Adrian, the heroes, and two adults came into focus. Adrian smiled awkwardly. I smiled back. Being brothers would take some adjusting to. I heard a high-pitched voice in the distance. The rest of the team was running over to us, Leaper was in the front.
"Toby! Tobias!" She jumped at me and embraced me in a hug so tight I couldn't breathe.
"Emily!" I hugged back.
"If these idiots did anything to you...that goes for you too Adrian!" She yelled. I touched her shoulder gently.
"They didn't do anything Em. I transformed and broke out myself. I fought Adrian, and I also figured out some stuff about my past," I beamed.
"Adrian, what happened?" Night Shade asked us.
"I'll tell you all the details tonight, but there is something I have to say now," Adrian started. We all listened intently.
"I was wrong. I lied when I had no right to. And I'm sorry. My faithful students, I have no idea what your actual names are, but I knew what it was like to not know, and I wanted to spare you all. Tobias, is the only one I named correctly for sure, obviously. I don't know anything about your pasts, and I'm sorry. I wanted to be liked, but I was going about it the wrong way. Mr. and Mrs. Cage, this is for you guys too, I am so, so sorry," Adrian lowered his head in shame.
"You are forgiven friend," Iron Fist walked forward and put his hand on my brother's shoulder.
"Completely," Powerman nodded.
"I forgive you," Night Shade said sweetly.
"Me too," Leaper sighed with a small smile.
"Me three," Lock Jaw added.
"I sssuppossse ssso," Black Cobra hissed reluctantly.
"We understand, you're forgiven," Claw grinned.
"Forgiven," Barracuda repeated sincerely. And Adrian truly was forgiven, he was beaming so hard that the dark bags under his eyes seemed to disappear and his natural forlorn expression, lifted.
Danny's pov
I felt strangely out-of-place watching the other team embrace. The others must have felt the same, because they started backing away to give Adrian some space.
"What should we do?" Sam whispered to us.
"Maybe you kids could call Fury, haven't seen him in ages," Mr. Cage suggested.
"Our communicators were taken when we were captured," Ava shook her head.
"But you know S.H.I.E.L.D, Fury's probably already on his way," Peter joked. As if on cue, we heard a rumbling and the tricarrier came into view. Everyone stopped what they were doing to look up at the director of S.H.I.E.L.D swinging down on a cable. He landed and nodded at us.
"I see you kids found the Vulture," He said coolly.
"Yeah thanks for jumping in so quickly," Peter muttered sarcastically. Fury turned to him.
"When we were attacked, the engines were severely damaged. We couldn't exactly, jump in," He shot back.
"The important thing is that you're here now, Luke has his parents, and Adrian has his memories," I stepped in, trying to maintain peace.
"Hmm, the kid's a good leader," Fury mused. Peter took the hint and walked over to Adrian.
"So you only remember the bad?" Adrian was asking Tobias. He nodded.
"Then I have much to tell you," He hugged him again and then turned to face Pete.
"So, um, Adrian. I was hoping you reconsidered my offer about my assembling a team of new warriors, you guys have potential," Peter said awkwardly. Adrian smiled kindly.
"Thank you, but my answer is still no. My students still have much to learn, and they should follow their own paths once they're ready. Until then, our place is here, as a family," He said.
"We're going to be a family? I've always wanted one of those!" Leaper squealed.
"Me too Emily. In fact, you and Tobias can be like brother and sister," Adrian told her. The little girl was so happy she did a somersault. Adrian grinned at her, then at Tobias.
"We understand," I said.
"Well, if you kids are done here, New York needs its heroes," Fury stated, but I saw him turn slightly to wipe his eye and smile.
"Thank you Iron Fist, Spiderman, for everything. And Powerman, sorry about the parent thing," Adrian hugged us all in turn.
"No hard feelings, maybe my parents and I could visit you guys, be a family and all," Powerman nodded. I just sat there grinning at the pleasant turn of events. As the others finished their goodbyes and boarded the carrier, I lagged behind.
"I really can't thank you enough Iron Fist," Adrian smiled, Tobias nodding eagerly.
"Perhaps one day, I could give your pupils their memories back, when you think they're ready," I gestured towards the mutants, currently engaged in watching Cobra use his tail to arm-wrestle Barracuda. Adrian saw them and laughed.
"And when they are, I know how to contact you," He pointed to his head. I chuckled dryly.
"Only in emergencies friend, receiving visions is quite straining," I reminded him.
"Right, got it," He nodded. We heard my friends telling me to hurry up from atop the tricarrier.
"I must go. Thank you for teaching me," I told him. He opened his mouth to speak, but Tobias beat him to it.
"Teach what?"
"That when you wait to be ready to claim life's prize, you may never find it. Sometimes you must make yourself ready, and go on a hunt," I stated.
"A hunt? I suppose this whole crazy story has been made up of hunts, hasn't it? Powerman and his parents, me wanting a family. Have you ever gone on a hunt for something?" Adrian asked thoughtfully.
"Indeed," I confided, remembering my adventures in the Island of Dreams. My friends were threatening to leave without me now.
"May our paths cross again, Namaste," I turned back one last time, "Oh and Adrian, call me Danny." And I joined my friends on the tricarrier.
Well, here it is. The ending of "A Tale of Two Hunts." Anyway, the contest answer is in the text pretty much word for word so I won't re-say it. Anyone that has read Dreaming of Doomsday will(hopefully) be happy to know that I'm making a sequel. This was just a companion, but my next story will be a proper sequel. It will be called something similar to the first one, Dreaming of something. It should be out hopefully before the end of the week. And until then...
Wolf out...