My C-Key is weird. Super weird.
The first time I saw her, she was knocked out in a bed. I thought she had a battle, and she was resting. Or maybe she was sick? But Mommy told me that she wasn't.
Did you know Mommy likes someone? I won't tell who! I called him Daddy and he smiled at me! I was happy. Mommy has prettier eyes though. And her name is pretty! Her name is Skyra. It means 'born of Sky'. My name is just Skye. It's boring.
There's another person in the room, besides me and my C-Key. Everybody else went to go have a secret meeting. I'm supposed to be watching with sharp eyes. And I'm also supposed to be quiet. But I don't think my C-Key will mind if I sing to her a tiny bit. Songs will help her get better.
There's another person in the room. It's a man. His name sounds funny. Steven. It's a human name, though, so I guess it makes sense. Torr said he went through shock. I wonder, was it like a Thunder Shock? Those aren't good for my wings.
Torr is a good singer, even though he's a water and ground type. Maybe the elements in his head cancel out? Or maybe they mix, and that's why his voice sounds nice. Aiden thinks it's nice, too. Aiden's funny.
Torr and I sang together for my C-Key. Torr calls her Lexa and Daddy calls her Alexa. But I think her full name is Alexandra. What an ugly name. I think I'll call her Selex. That sounds nicer. It means 'star-follower'. Or maybe I can just call her Alex.
Steven is very beautiful, though. His hair is like smoke and very soft. His skin is smooth, like stones in a river.
Steven wakes up. He looks scared, but when he sees my C-Key, he gets out of bed and stumbles to her. I'm supposed to be very quiet and watch, so I don't move. He lifts the sheet and gets into bed with her. But it's very narrow, so they have to cuddle together. He kisses her hair. I think he's crying.
"Stay safe," he is whispering, "There are so many things that can hurt you." And then he goes back to sleep. His arm is under her head and they look like two trees I saw once that grew together and wrapped around each other.
I wonder if Steven is Alex's compass? How do humans say compass? Soulmate? That's an ugly word. Steven looks less worried since he's next to her now. But Alex looks like she is hurt. I should sing to her more.
I'm just about to, when everybody walks back through the door.
"What?! Skye! I told you to watch them!" Mommy whispers.
"I did watch them!" I say. I am proud of my sharp eyes. Daddy laughs, but he looks very tired. "Is Steven Daddy's friend?"
"Huh. I wonder, cupcake," he says and walks over to the bed. I think he is going to shake Steven awake, but instead, he grabs Steven's collar and rips him off the bed and onto the floor. Steven gasps when the breath pours out of his lungs. Daddy puts a quick foot on his throat. "Good morning, Steven. We have two minutes before your Pieces come back and possibly rip us to shreds. Alexa is currently unconscious, so I don't think she'll be listening to what we say. Now talk," and he squishes his throat a little. When Steven doesn't say anything, Daddy shakes his head. "Be glad I'm the one doing this, friend. Torrent would gladly jerk your teeth out one by one."
Steven speaks as best as he can with a foot on his throat.
"I'm a liar."
"We know that," Torr spits. "We just don't know to what extent."
Steven puts an arm over his eyes.
Is he crying?
"I'm a liar," he repeats, but he also continues, "When Ash came here, he renamed himself Red. A new place, a new name. I was instructed to show him around. He was supposed to be a guest, almost. A visiting dignitary. The first person from another dimension. He wasn't even supposed to have Pieces. But then," Steven laughs bitterly, "then I fell for him, and my father couldn't have me dating some no good low-life, so he put Ash on the project to test PENs. Nobody knew how Ash really was, except me. How charismatic he was. How cruel. How vibrant. How insane. And I should have stopped him, but I didn't. Wasn't I his downfall, then?"
"So now what?" Torrent retorts, "So you're just projecting that crush on Lexa now? Is she your new plaything? Your new toy?"
Steven bites his lip hard, furious. It starts bleeding.
A creepy laugh from the door. It's Stavros.
"How interesting." But he doesn't look like he wants to come closer. "Bastion, look at his face. Do you see it? How pitiful."
Bastion nods, but she doesn't speak.
"Do you guys like watching him suffer for your own sick kicks?" Aiden grinds out.
"Maybe?" Stavros is grinning, "He's like a small child compared to us. It's fun to watch him flounder."
"Stavros," Steven's voice is very quiet, but there's no more smile on Stavros's face. It looks very sad.
"Ash was not your fault, Steven," Stavros says. And this is how I know he loves his C-Key. "Falling in love is not your fault. Loving him was not your fault. And being unable to spare him from the wrath of his own pieces was not your fault. It's been two years. We've told you this everyday for two years."
"Okay, right," Aiden interrupts, "Ash is Red and Red is dead. How insightful. It even rhymes. But what I want to know is what the fuck happened yesterday? Did you see her eyes glowing? She was talking to you, Steven, as if she knew you from a while ago. And she was reminding you of someth-" Torr moves over and steps right in front of Aiden. There's a whoosh and then steam. Aiden is frustrated when Torr holds his hands. "I'm trying! I'm fucking trying, you piece of over-glorified sushi!"
"A seed," Stavros says and taps his own head, "A seed in her mind. Tell me, Torrent. You've been with her the longest, yes? Did she ever act weird? Complain of voices talking to her?"
There is silence.
"One time, she got out of Foxglove's hold and started to laugh maniacally," Daddy says.
"No, it was before that, too," Mommy adds, "She said she heard voices, but she thought it was just the electricity from Wally."
"No," Torr mutters, "even before that. In the very beginning. When I first met her. When she tried to choose me as a starter, she fainted. In her sleep, she was screaming that she didn't want to choose the Torchic."
"Ah, since the very beginning then." Stavros walks over to Steven, who's still on the floor, arm over his eyes. "You asleep, Steven?" Steven shakes his head. "What I think, is that there is a very malicious, very present spirit lodged in her. Go to bed, Steven. Come on, get up." He pulls Steven up. "Come on, climb in next to the little lady."
"No," Torr snaps, stepping in front of her. "I don't trust him. I don't trust any of you."
"But you trust me, right?" Daddy says gently, wrapping his fingers around Torr's hand. There is a struggle written on his face but Torr finally pulls away.
"No," he shakes his head, "this time, I don't even trust you."
"ASH!"
I jump, because she surprised me, but Torrent turns fast to Alex.
"And that's curtain call for us, Bastion," says Stavros. He hooks an arm around Bastion's shoulder and walks out of the room.
"Lexa? Lexa! Look at me!"
"Torrent?" Her eyes focus on him. They look like the sky. With little golden bracelets. "Torrent, I had a good and bad dream. Torrent, Ash was here, I'm sure of it. He was alive and he wasn't dead but I know that's not real life. I know he's dead but... but no, he's dead. He can't be alive." She puts her face in her hands and flops back to the pillow. "What a good and bad dream."
"Lexa, you okay?" Torr loves his C-Key very much, too. Because I can feel it curling from his words, this adoration and worry and love. He leans over and puts his forehead against hers, hands cupping her cheeks. "Lexa, you-"
"-fainted," Daddy cuts in smoothly.
"Briar!"
"Yes, Torrent?" His voice is as gentle as his hand.
Torr grits his teeth. He hugs Alex very hard.
"I was worried."
"I'm okay, Torrent. My head hurts, though. I wanna sleep more. Steven, you look sick."
Steven does look very sick. He looks pale and shaking. He doesn't even respond but shakes his head very slowly.
But when Alex pets the bed next to her, he smiles a little, tiny bit. He walks over and she squiggles over so he can sit down.
"I want a poem," she says, pulling the sheets up to her chin. There is a smile on his mouth, not in his eyes. He is doubtful and unsure. I wonder why?
Torr looks at him with unhappy eyes as he slowly stretches out next to Alex.
He speaks in a lullaby voice:
"Some days are band-aid days.
restart, peel off the backings -
stick them on your skin or heart,
to keep your arteries in place.
cups of coffee, all the tea it takes.
put your crown down for today.
let me be the first of many
to remind you of your name;
watch it rain from glass palaces.
it fades,
I swear it passes
you have a lifetime of other chances,
it's okay to sit down
for a scrape.
Some days are just band-aid days."
I know I'm supposed to be quiet, so I don't say it, but I think that's a really nice song. I want to sing it, but Mommy will be mad, so I don't.
Everyone is very quiet, and Steven is combing Alex's hair with his fingers. She looks sleepy again.
"I wished I wasn't so messed up," she says. Her eyes are almost closed.
"You're not messed up, Lexa."
"She is," Mommy argues. She hasn't talked in a while. Aiden makes a low rumbling in his chest, but stops when Torr glares at him.
"I am. There's something wrong with me." She and Torr reach for each other at the same time. I wish I had that kind of bond with someone. It looks nice. "I wish you had been my brother, Torrent. Or Brendan." But in the same breath, she says, "I miss Ash."
"So we're not going to tell her?!"
"Too risky. Ash may find out that she became aware of him. That might make him lash out."
"That's so fucking stupid!"
"There's no reason to make her stress even more, especially when we don't know how to get rid of him."
"Ah, but there is a way, isn't there?"
"What, you got an idea, you creepy magnet?"
"Aiden, calm down."
"I'm fucking calm, Torrent.
"Why didn't you tell me you were in a relationship with Calm?!"
"...that joke wasn't remotely funny."
"You need a powerful Piece, yes? And I know of one or three. But you may need to do something dangerous. And illegal."
"Oh. Them."
"They're not just a myth?"
"Oh, Torrent, you grew up in a lab, right? So out of touch with your heritage."
"Don't rub it in my face, asshole."
"They're real. But we aren't strong enough to face them, yet. Not nearly strong enough."
"Well, then. You have your goal, right?"
"Goal? More like our cliff."
"Keep climbing, little Numel. Or as you are prone to do, jump."
"And you really have seven brothers?" Alex asks.
"Yes, and they're all really mean to me! They pull on my dress and wings. When I said I was going to find a C-Key, they just said that they would be happy to see me go!" I pout. My brothers just have Leppa Berries for brains. "So I found Mommy!"
"I am not your mom!" Mommy says, exasperated.
"Come on, Skyra," Daddy says, petting my hair. His hands feel nice. "She's little."
"Briar!"
"Skyra," he says teasingly.
"You have such white hair," Alex says, holding my hand. "In my world, you would be an angel, with your white wings. But you would have a white dress, not blue. I like the blue better though."
"Where are we going, Alex?" I flap my wings a little to take an extra high jump.
"Meteor Falls. Steven said it was pretty there."
"Where is Steven going?"
"Who knows? Steven goes everywhere."
"Is Steven your compass?"
She tilts her head because she's confused.
"What's a compass?"
"Like a soulmate?" I try to think of another word, but I can't, so I chirp.
"She means boyfriend."
"Oh," Alex says. "No."
"Steven loves you a lot, though."
"I love Steven a lot, too. But that doesn't mean he has to be my boyfriend."
"Hm." I don't really think that's what I meant, but I'm still little, so maybe I'll know this language better when I grow up. Then I can ask her again. "Do you have a compass?"
"No."
"Is Torr your compass?"
"I'm her dad," Torr says, and he grins when Lexa sticks a tongue out at him. "Or her brother. Or her boyfriend. Maybe a bit of everything?" he asks, catching her hand in his.
"I hope you stay the same when you evolve, Torrent," Alex says, leaning against him. She doesn't see his face turn sad when he kisses her forehead.
Everybody has been sad lately. It's very strange. But I'm allowed to talk about it.
I can fly like Mommy does, but I like hopping on the crumbling stones a lot better. Sometimes, I tip them, but I try not to. It's a fun game. Hop, hop, hop.
Today, Aiden is in the ball. I think he's mad. But even if I were angry, I would rather be outside than in there.
Soon there's a really big mouth of a cave. I jump to touch the ceiling. It is very wet. There are also voices!
Mommy cocks her head. She can hear them, too.
"Someone's in trouble," she says, swooping low. Alex runs after her and I glide now. My legs won't be able to keep up. There is a small ledge and we look over it to see a group of humans. One of them is very frightened. He is wearing a white coat and has glasses. The others are wearing funny red sweaters with hats connected to them.
"Yes, I know, Professor Cozmo," one of them says. He has a long, red and black jacket on. His red hair is slicked back.
"A-a-and what you're doin-g is w-wr-ong!" This time, the man in the white coat speaks. Wow, he is very frightened.
"I'm aware, Professor Cozmo."
"Th-this is illegal!"
"I realize, Professor Cozmo."
"I am v-very good friends with D-D-D-Devon Co-"
"Professor Cozmo, we will leave this cave with the Meteorite. Whether to choose to give it to us, or we must injure you for it is the only difference."
"Alexandra?"
I look around to see a human in a blue bandana and black shirt and pants. He has very brown, nice looking skin. His eyes are just like Alex's! They're sky blue and have gold rings!
"Archie? Oh, you're here to stop Team Magma, are you? Well-" Alex stops when he takes a step closer. He looks angry and worried.
"Young lady, what are you doing here? Do you just run headfirst into dangerous situations? If you see that someone is getting mugged, you do NOT, under any circumstan-"
"Young lady?" Daddy says. "Why would you-" His eyes open wide and he lunges at Archie, grabbing him and twisting his arm behind his back. Even though he struggles, and even though Archie is much bigger, Daddy is a Piece, and Pieces are much, much stronger than humans.
"Briar? Let him go, he wasn't hurting any-"
"Alexa, step next to this guy for a second."
She does and Archie stops moving, horrified at something he must have just realized.
"No! You can't tell-"
"Oh, hell no," Torrent says quietly, looking at Alex and then Archie. "Oh, hell. Fucking. No."
"I was the only one that saw him last time. But now that I look at him again-"
"No, please!" Archie's voice is getting louder. "You can't! You'll destroy everything!"
"Torrent?" Alex looks uneasy. "Briar, what's going on?"
"Exactly the same," Mommy mutters, eyebrows down. "Their eyes are exactly the same." Daddy snatches the bandana off and we see messy black hair. Finally, Daddy let's him go and it's the first time I think I've seen Daddy very, truly, frighteningly angry.
"It's all your fault," he snarls at the man. "If you had been around the house more, she wouldn't have grown up like that. Leaving your wife to take care of two childre-"
"I know!" Archie's voice is sharp. "I didn't know this would happen-"
"Who in their right mind keeps away from their family for that long?! Not even after your son died, did you come back. Not even-"
"-I have thought of it everyday, Breloom!" Archie snaps. "And I have regretted it with the same intensity that I hate myself for it. But there is no choice but to keep moving forward. The water runs much deeper than we hear."
"I would kill you," Torr says quietly. I look to him. His headphones are over Alex's ears and he is holding her face to his chest. But Alex doesn't struggle because she trusts Torr, even though she can't see anything or hear anything. "I would kill you, but then I would rob Lexa of any chance she has of seeing her family again. So get ready, Archie." and he pulls off the earphones and turns Alex around. "Lexa, this is your father."
She just looks confused.
"What? Look, Torrent. Professor Cozmo is getting injured down there and, wait, I think he got knocked out. We need to help him. And Maxie is leaving, so we should stop the-"
Torr gives her a slight shake.
"Lexa, this is your father."
So she focuses her eyes on Archie.
"Oh. No, well, my father is in my world. He's overseas. He's actually probably in military, since everything he does is so top secre-"
"Lexa. Do you trust me? Okay, now, remember when you found out Professor Oak in the game was your grandpa? Remember when you found out that Steve Jobs had a foot in your world and our world? Remember? Now, knowing all of this, is it so hard to believe, that maybe, just maybe, that this is your father?"
"Archie?" the man called Maxie calls from below. "Are you ready? I got the Meteorite."
But Alex's eyes are looking, looking into Archie's eyes and I can feel everything crashing down in her head. I can hear memories and taste time giving her pearls from the past. Reality hits her like a stone. Archie's hand reach up a little, but they stop and he squeezes them into fists. He turns around.
"Dad?"
He is stopped by her soft voice. His back is rigid.
"I'm coming, Maxie," he calls and jumps down the ledge.
"Dad?" her voice is louder now, and she looks over the edge. Maxie looks up, surprised, then back at Archie, then back at Alex. His face crumples in pity.
"There's my cute niece," he says, but only I can hear it, because he said it with his aching heart.
"Dad!"
They turn and walk away.
"DAD!"
"Lexa-"
"I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR TWELVE YEARS! TWELVE YEARS, I WAS WAITING FOR YOU. I NEVER GOT A WORD, A KISS, A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR TWELVE YEARS. SO, FOR ONE, SECOND, CAN YOU PLEASE TURN AROUND AND TALK TO ME?!"
I can see those words fly and pierce him in his heart. He falters, but Maxie gently grabs his elbow and pulls him forward.
His tears smell like the ocean.