Author's Notes: Hello fellow readers! Sorry for the late update. I had a crazy week at school! Please read and review! Thank you everyone! Enjoy!
Nightstar VS Sparrow Ch. 12
Sparrow POV:
I was panting loudly, once I finally caught up to Happy. The giggly emotion couldn't stop laughing at me and it was starting to get announcing. "What's so funny, Happy?" I asked once a transformed back into my human self.
"Haha… it's you silly! Hahaha… you look hilarious right now!" Happy was laughing at my now sweaty uniform and wild hair.
"Well quit laughing! It's your fault that I look like I've been through a tornado! Why did you have to go through the thickest part of the woods?"
"Hehe… because it's fun!" Happy cheered and let out another fit of giggles.
"Ugh! You're starting to give me a headache." I said while holding my head and massaging my temples.
"Hehe… sorry Me." Happy apologized. She finally stopped laughing and suddenly looked very bashful.
*Sigh* "It's alright, just tell where to go from here." For the first time, I started to scan my new surroundings. We were at the edge of the woods, and bordering the woods was what appeared to be another portal.
"Just keep going straight. The portal will bring you into Love's realm. She'll help you from there."
"Ok, thank you Happy!"
"Your Welcome, Me! Come again!" Happy waved me off, a huge smile on her face. I turned to face the portal, but before I continued, I had to ask Happy one more thing.
"Hey Happy, before I go, can you tell me where I can find Love? I don't want any more surprises."
"Hehe! Love finds you, silly!" Happy stated, like it was completely obvious. Her last comment left me confused, but before I could question her, she gave me a slight push through the portal.
The landscape remained the same, resembling the many parks my family and I would visit when I was younger. As I made my way through the woods, I noticed that each tree had a heart carved into it. In the heart was a name of something I loved. Sometimes it would be the name of my favorite video games or the name of my favorite foods. I also noticed that all the trees were of a different height and age. As I got further into the woods, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. I was constantly looking over my shoulder, but I never saw anyone. Suddenly the woods opened up to a large clearing. The clearing was in the shape of a circle, and in the middle of the circle, was a ginormous old oak tree. The tree memorized me, and I couldn't help myself when I slowly approached the tree, as if it were to run away. Unlike the other trees, this one was decorated with many carvings. On the trunk was the largest heart carving I've seen yet, and inside was the word FAMILY. The grand old oak also had a variety of branches going in ever-which-way. Each branch has names on them, the larger branches having family names and the smaller branches having individual names. "What is this place?" I asked in amazement. I let my hand gently trace the outline of the large heart carved into the trunk.
"This is my realm and that is your family tree." A mysterious voice answered back. I quickly turned around only to see the voices owner sitting high up in a nearby tree that bordered the clearing. Again the emoticlone looked identical to me, but this time her suit was completely purple. Instead of a wide grin plastered to her face like Happy, she only gave me a small, sincere smile.
"You must be Love, right?" I asked.
"Indeed, I am." Love replied.
"Well why are you up there, being all sneaky?"
"Let's just say, I love to sneak up on people." Said Love. She began to climb back down and then she joined me by what she had called, my family tree. "I see you've taken a liking to your family tree."
"Yeah, about that, what's with all the carvings around here?"
"Oh those. They're just labels. Helps to keep everything organized."
"Keep what organized?"
"Your love for everyone and everything, why of course."
"Um…think you could elaborate?"
"Hugh. I suppose. Look at the first carving, there on the trunk." Love directed as she pointed to heart shaped carving. I did as she told and listened carefully as she explained. "That heart reads FAMILY. This is because everything on this tree is what you feel towards you're family."
"But most of these names on the branches are of my friends and their families?"
"That is because these people feel like your family." I nodded my head in understanding and she continued. "Let's take this branch for example…" Love gestured towards the large center branch. "This branch is labeled immediate family. So therefore, the branches that extend from here represent those in your immediate family, like your Mother, Father, Crow, and Arella." I examined the branches she was referring to and saw that she was right. Each of the four branches had the name of someone in my immediate family. What puzzled me though, was why each branch was a little bit different. My mom's and dad's branches looked pretty much the same, only his looked a tad greener with more leaves. Crow's was just a tad shorter than my parents, but his too had many leaves to cover it. The branch that stood out the most was Arella's. Her branch was much shorter than the other's and a lot less green.
"Why is Arella's branch so much shorter than everyone else's?" I asked Love.
"Because… you love her the least." Love answered, her voice filled with sorrow.
"Hey now! I love my little sister, she just gets on my nerves easily." I retorted, unable to believe what I was hearing. Love stared at me, her expression contradicting her name.
"I never said you didn't love your sister. If that were true then she wouldn't even have a branch. I know it's hard to hear, but you truly have much more hatred towards your sister than love. The same holds true for Mar'i. Why, her branch is even smaller." Love said and pointed to a tiny twig with Mar'i Grayson carved into it.
"I don't understand, how can I hate and love someone?" I asked Love, but she just shrugged her shoulders.
"To be honest, I don't know. I love everyone! That's my job, but only you can hold me back."
"What are you talking about? I've never held you back!"
"Well, I guess you partially hasn't, but Rage has, all the time. And sometimes Timid too."
"Well, where are they? I'll be more than happy to tell them to back off!" I growled. Love only shook her head in disapproval.
"You shouldn't say things like that. You'll only fuel the fire."
"Whatever, just tell me how to get to Knowledge so I can leave this place?"
"Very well. All you have to do is turn left from here. Continue west and eventually you'll pass through another portal, which will lead you to Knowledge and Wisdom. They should be able to help you from there." I nod my head in understanding and start the long trek through the woods.
Crow's POV:
After the battle with Dr. Light, I decided to read a good book, and relax in the common room. As soon as we returned, Mom made Sparrow go mediate with her. That meant that my sister and my room would be preoccupied. Darkstar seemed pretty disappointed too, but Nightstar cheered him up by spending some training time in the gym, just one-on-one. Stinger went with her dad to her room to work on some sort of new invention and Aunt Karen and Starfire were at the mall. I wasn't sure where Nightwing was, but I didn't care. As I was just starting to get into my book, Dad and Arella appeared in front of me.
"Thank you, Sweetie!" Dad thanked Arella. To be honest, I didn't even realize that they were gone.
"Where have you two been?" I questioned.
"Oh, just had to pick up some groceries." Dad replied. That's when I noticed the large brown bag in his arm.
"You didn't have to do that, Dad. There should be plenty of food in the kitchen." I said.
"Plenty for you dudes, but not enough for all of us." Dad stated, although I didn't believe him since Nightstar and I were the last to buy groceries just a couple days ago.
"Dad, we just bought enough food to feed an army. What else could you possibly have needed?"
"Well…um…we….er…your mother asked me to…um."
"Oh for Pete's sake Dad, just spit it out!"
"Hehe…Daddy had to buy Mommy – "
"Tea! Yeah that's right. I had to buy your mother's tea. You guys didn't have the kind she likes. Um…see." Dad interrupted Arella by covering her mouth with his free hand. When he removed his hand he pulled out a box of Jasmine Tea. I looked at him, then to Arella who just shrugged, indicating she didn't understand either, then back to Dad.
"Uh, Dad, you do know we have lots of Jasmine Tea already?"
"Yeah, well, you know your mother. She likes to make her tea from a bag, the old fashion way. Trying to teach her how to use that new Keurig thing of yours is like trying to teach her how to play video games."
"Yeah I guess you're right." I nodded in understanding. I decided not to push the matter anymore. I was more interested in getting back to my book.
"Mark, could you watch your sister, while I put this stuff away."
"Crap." I thought. "And just when I was reaching a really good part in my book!"
*Sigh* "I suppose so." I said.
"Thanks, Son! And try to sound happier about it."
And with that he left to put the tea and other groceries away, leaving Arella and I alone in the common room. Arella stared at me with a frown on her face.
"I'm sorry you have to watch me instead of reading your book." Arella apologized. Normally I would object to feeling that way, but there's no use in lying to a fellow empath. Instead I gave her a sympathetic smile.
"It's alright, Arella. I can read some other time." I told her, but judging by her sad expression she didn't believe me. "Hey, how about a game of chess?" I asked her. This earned me a small smile and a rapid head shake indicating that this idea pleased her. I smiled back and used my magic to summon a chess board and pieces. It sat on the table between the T.V. and the couch. Arella used her powers to summon a large pillow for her to sit in while I scooted off the couch and sat on the floor.
"Thank you, Mark." Arella said.
"Anytime, little Sis."