Chapter Eighteen: Ice

Na-Na: Thanks for your guy's patience. Lord knows, I would've expected one of you to have had a hit put out on me for my absurd updating schedule. The good news if that I've fixed several problems I had at the end of the last chapter. The biggest being losing my Sky High DVD (Thank you from the bottom of my heart Nelle! You're a doll!). The other is that I've finished fine-tuning the rest of the plot. Now to get to the fun part, writing. Just to warn you guys, the next few chapters might be a bit short. I'm not trying to sell you short.

Let's flash through the disclaimer now, shall we? Me owning Sky High is to the sky being green. Off we go, most will be in Tenni POV. Then it'll be third person.

Reader Guide

Normal

Flashback

Tenni's Voice

Mind Controller

The world felt heavy, in a way where I felt lighter than air…sort of.

Standing on the edge, I wondered now about how far it was from all the way up here all the way back down to earth. Vaguely, I remembered mistress's voice politely telling me and many others once about the dangers of getting this close. A smile spread on my lips as I thought of the irony, considering mistress's plan. Honestly, standing here didn't phase me. Even if I fell, there was enough moisture in the night air to form a safe way down. A staircase or even a slide of ice to ease my way to the ground. It was really that simple. Almost as simple as flying was for Mo—

No. She was not my mother, or anything, to me. She was a superficial caped crime fighter, second only to her husband.

Watching them be pacified had brought me a bit of pleasure. To see how far the mighty fell.

I felt a tug, and warmth began to spread through my body. I was being called over to her. Turning away from the vast darkness of the night, I went to take my place beside my mistress. She stood, more glorious than I had ever seen her before, looking not at me but farther on. I turned to look in the same direction as she, and felt my blood boil. There was no mistaking my enemy. He stood, shocked, only looking at me. I didn't care, though, he was scum beneath my feet that did not deserve acknowledgment. That immature child no longer deserved to have my love.

The urge to snarl at him was tempting, as he spoke to my mistress without proper respect. Like he had a right to demand such things from one who was above him. If I could have, I would have shown him his place. But mistress had given me strict orders to not lay a hand on him unless directly ordered to. As though she had sensed my inner distress, my mistress reached out and caressed my cheek, to try and comfort my displeasure at his presence. A bubble of contentment welled within my chest at her soothing touch, wanting to nuzzle into it.

Too soon for my tastes, she removed the hand and began to argue with the boy. Pouting a little in my mind, I followed the argument with an air of disinterest. Suddenly, she threw herself at the boy, taking me by surprise. They went crashing through the school entry way, disappearing in an explosion of rubble and broken glass. Immediately, I received an order to follow them. My legs moved beneath me, as I went forth to accomplish my task. My mistress needed me.

Just as I entered the gym where my mistress was engaged in battle with her foe, I saw her strike him, sending him flipping through the air and into one of the purple signs. Involuntarily, I cringed at the sight. I watched bitterly as she continued to savagely beat him, each strike causing me to flinch. There was a part of me that wanted to go out there myself and administer the beating. And…there was another smaller— much smaller— part that wanted it all to…wanted it to…

Wanted it to what?

I didn't know what it wanted. But it made me afraid. Why would I want for anything other than justice to be exacted on the wretch? Why would I want for anything other than my mistress's triumph? As I watched the boy get thrown again, my confidence grew weaker. He skid across the floor, stopping a short distance from my feet. His eyes looked up into mine, and I saw guilt. I saw determination. And strangest of all, I saw…

My eyes drew away from his. He dared to lie to me even with his eyes. That child did not care at all for me the way my mistress did. She loved me dearly.

He never did.

For a second, I watched in panic as he seemed to turn the table on my mistress. I was ready to step in, orders be damned, when a cry interrupted us all.

"Will!"

With a mighty kick, my mistress sent the distracted boy flying out the window.

"Tenni."

Though a long time had passed, the nightmares hadn't stopped. No matter how much she tried to act as if her parent's deaths hadn't affected her, in her dreams, she was plagued with the misery it had caused her. Tonight had been like all other nights since the day they died. She usually woke in a cold sweat, screaming, unable to get back to sleep. But tonight was different. She didn't wake up screaming. It was then that Tenni saw him standing in front of her, his face so open and full of kindness. His arms opened and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Why?"

"You're my sister right?"

"I-Yeah."

"Then this is what I'm supposed to be doing, since you're my sister. Brothers take care of their sisters."

"…"

"It's only been a week, but I already know I love you. And I'm happy that you could be my sister."

"Will, I—" she started.

Beneath me, my knees quaked as I shook away whatever it was I had just experienced. My lips did not open, and no sound issued forth, but I felt as if I were screaming so hard, my throat would soon go dry. Screaming his name as if my own heart were dying with him. The blank mask remained on my face as my mistress stood.

"Kill them, Princess."

With that order, all thoughts of the boy's death flew from my mind. He wasn't important anymore. There were new obstacles. It was my duty to remove them. My mistress needed me again. Turning, I faced my new opponents. A stab of pain ran through me, as recognization ran threw me. Yet again I was face to face with people who had hurt me. I looked into those eyes and saw the same as I had seen in the others eyes and felt anger. They dared pretend to care again.

I couldn't stand it. I wouldn't stand it.

Arms shot out from my sides, torrents of water blasting at them. They were caught off guard, and stood no chance. It slammed them into the wall and held them there. The girl screamed, though it was garbled in her attempts to remain able to breathe. The other uttered nothing, putting up a futile struggle against the water. Anger at their very presence began to ebb, and be replaced with something else. Looking at him, into his dark eyes, I found myself lost.

Passion, unlike anything she ever knew, burned in those eyes.

Darkness gripped his very figure, so deep sometimes it was difficult to see in.

Loneliness, hidden so deep, only she could see it…Because his loneliness was merely a reflection of her own.

Every time their eyes met there was confusion, ecstasy, curiosity, fear, and longing. She knew she longed for him. He longed to pull away the layers of her enigma. She wanted to know him. He wanted to know how to know her. She smiled every time she saw him. He waited every day for that smile that lit his world. She was afraid to get any closer. He was afraid to let her any farther in.

So they sat on either side of the room, discretely observing one another. He sat by himself, at his own table. She sat with her friends, quiet and reserved. Each wanting to approach the other, but always hesitated. Always sitting, waiting, watching, and wondering just what was on the other's mind.

Everything with him was always more complicated than she wished it could be.

Still…She smiled, she never gave up on Warre—

Breathing was beginning to come ragged to me. My concentration diminished, my powers cancelled out. Both victims of my attack slouched to the ground like limp dolls, neither in any shape to fight. Forcing myself to focus, I prepared to resume my task. Mistress wanted them dead. I would see it done. The girl seemed to be fairing better than the other, as she began to struggle to push herself into a sitting position.

"Tenni…" she said so softly, I could barely hear.

"Silence!" I screamed, blasting her. She gave a cry, bracing herself as she took the attack. The minute it stopped, a groan issued forth from her. Her eyes rose to mine, pain filled and saddened.

"Oh Tenni, what has she done to you?" The red-head asked, tears in her eyes.

"Stop it!" I cried, "Stop it! Stop talking to me as if you're my friend!"

"But I am Tenni! I am you're friend!"

"Hey…"

Brown eyes glanced up, meeting silver.

"Tenni! Hi, what's up?" The blond girl shuffled anxiously.

"I-I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure, anything."

"You're my friend right?"

"Of course!" Her lips settled into a concerned frown, "Is there something wrong Tenni?"

"I just wanted to be sure. You're my first friend. My… only friend."

"Oh Tenni, I'm sorry."

"Would you mind if I told you you're my best friend?" A mischievous smile spread on her features.

"I wouldn't if I can call you one of mine."

"Thank you Lay—"

"Auuuuhhhhghhhhhhhhhh!"

I clawed at my face.

Kill her!

She's my best friend!

She's the enemy!

Layla's never done anything to hurt me!

She is insignificant!

She's all I have left… Will is… Mom and Dad are…

Finish her!

"NO!"

I crumpled to the floor. My head felt like it was going to explode. It was so hot, it burned! I had to follow orders, but, I couldn't kill Layla. Never Layla. Layla who always cared. Layla, who never intentionally cause me harm. Layla, who was an infinitely better person than I ever could be. I could never take the life of someone like her, who deserved to live so much. I couldn't stop it. The orders. They were growing stronger. I couldn't keep fighting it. If I tried any longer, I'd lose. There was no fighting it. I felt something encase my own hand. It was Layla. She'd dragged herself towards me and had laid her own upon mine.

"Tenni." There were tears in her eyes. "It's Will…"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" I repeated, curling into myself, "I'm so weak. I let him die!" Sobs issued forth from me as I curled in on myself, my restraint dimming.

"No Tenni, it's not your fault!"

KILL HER!

"NEVER!" I yelled convulsing wildly.

I looked Layla in the eye one more time pleadingly. I wanted her forgiveness. I wanted her to understand that I never wanted this to happen. That this was to save her and Warren. I glanced at Warren, who by now was sitting up, and his expression confused. So many things I wished I could've told him. Things that should've never been kept secret for so long. It was with bitterness that I realized that I had been too afraid to see the truth before. Too afraid to believe that someone like Warren could care about me, even when it had been so obvious.

Warren had been as afraid as I had been. We were both damaged and alone. Will had been able to save me from falling into it completely, but Warren had suffered much longer. He became so suspicious of kindness. I wanted to prove that I could care. That he could trust me. Neither of us had predicted this outcome. But it was too late to go back and fix anything. The damage was done.

"Forgive me."

I mouthed to him, before a tear slid down my cheek. I wrenched my hand away from Layla, and with the last of my will power, pressed my hands to my chest. For the first time since my powers had first manifested, I felt…cold. Looking down, I watched as the ice began to spread from my fingertips, running all along my body. Warren and Layla watched the process in silent horror, unable to say anything to stop me. I could feel my body shutting down. Everything felt heavier, so cold, so slow.

My vision began to tunnel out. Layla seemed so far away, as echoes of her scream reached me. The last thing I felt was a warm hand on my cheek before everything went black. Then, my world turned to ice.

"TENNI! NO!" Layla cried as she watched ice begin to coat the figure of her best friend.

Beside her, Warren surged forward, one hand lightly coated in fire. He gently laid it upon the blond girl's cooling cheek. To his dismay, it did nothing to help thaw the ice around her nor slow the freezing process. Cursing, he and Layla could only watch as in minutes, the ice completely covered her, transfiguring her into an icy statuette. Her hands were clasped in front of her, as if in prayer. Her expression was calm. Chin upturned. Lips were drawn into an almost-there-smile. Eyes that had been so flat before were now full of love and regret. Layla couldn't stand to look at her like that.

"Why Tenni? Why? How could you do this? How could you leave me alone? First Will, now you! It's not fair!"

A hand fell on her shoulder. Shifting her gaze to her right, she could see it was Warren. His other hand never left Tenni's cheek, nor his gaze ever leaving her face. A moment of confusion dissolved into pain-staking clarity as she took in the sight. She remembered how strange it had been when Warren had enquired after Tenni earlier. All those times she'd caught them talking to one another, all the strange looks she'd mistaken the stares to be for Will and not her. Warren Peace had fallen in love with Tenni Stronghold. If her guess was right, his feelings were returned. Tenni was just as guilty of loving him. Another sob tore through her, as she thought of the unfairness. She'd had so much to live for, so much she was leaving behind. Layla let her head rest on Warren's shoulder, her sorrow spilling onto it, her tears wetting his shirt.

"Admirable," Layla's eyes shot up to see Royal Pain standing over them, staring down at the girl encased in ice, "She'd rather sacrifice herself for you, than kill you." She heaved a heavy sigh. "I had such hopes for her. Molding her into the perfect villain. She would've been my second in command."

"You did this to her you monster!" Layla screamed at her, preparing to charge.

Warren's left hand rose and took her wrist, half-heartedly holding her back. His other remained in contact with the icy girl's cheek. Betrayed, she struggled to break free. This, villain, had taken two of the people she'd loved most away from her. She would pay!

"Layla, look."

He nodded in the direction of the broken window Will had been thrown out of. The sight that met her eyes took all the air from her. Floating there was Will, fists clenched and frowning down at Pain.

"What?" the villain demanded, turning to see what had taken their attention. It drew a startled gasp. "You're flying?"

"Yes," Will responded flatly, looking at Warren, Layla and his… His eyes narrowed as he looked back at Pain, hatred coursing through them. In seconds, he crossed the distance between himself and Pain and laid into her, flurries of attacks, anything he could unleash upon her. Deciding to finish it, he took hold of the villain and they soared to the ceiling. With as much strength as possible, he threw her to the floor. The villain gave a cry of disbelief as she struggled in vain against his assault. The impact of her hitting the floor caused all the floorboards where she had landed to shatter. Shooting down towards her, he lifted his right arm, his fist clenched tightly, and gave a mighty blow. It was so strong, the helmet Pain wore, crumbled to pieces under it. His fist rose again to hit her, but something stopped him.

"Will…" his angry eyes lifted to see Layla weakly make her way over to him. She all but collapsed at his side and took his fist into her own had, "It's not worth it."

"But Tenni—! She—!" He looked desolately at the ice statue that had once been his sister. Layla closed her eyes, tears leaking out from the corner of each.

"I know Will. I know."

Tears began to fall from his eyes as well. He leaned into Layla for support, her arms coming up to wrap around him, in an attempt to comfort him. It didn't help much.

Tenni was dead.

Na-Na: Sorry, I know this Chapter is pretty short, and this is such a terrible ending. There will be another chapter soon.

Next Chapter: Weightless

Post Date: In a Week or So