A/N: OMG! I'm sorry I haven't updated in such a long time. My parents think that I'm addicted to the computer (as if! XD) and trying to get me to be more active. So now I have to play outside and exercise and all that good stuff. Yay me. So anyway, here is the long-awaited chapter! And yes, it will include a song as I promised. I'm sure ALL of you are familiar with this one, it's an AWESOME song. It's "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson, as you can probably see by the title of this chapter. I will just be using the choruses of the song. So...enjoy!
Chapter Twelve: Breakaway
Larissa she sat on the shoulder of the Super Robot, looking out at the twinkling stars in the sky. She was still awestruck at the beauty of nature that surrounded her. She took in a deep breath as she heard someone approach and sit down beside her. Dana.
"Dana, we need to talk."
Dana cocked her head, ready to listen. But something in her pink eyes told Larissa that she also had something to say. Larissa turned and sideglanced at Dana. Dana was staring out at the stars, fiddling with the silver locket around her neck, her tail swishing back and forth nervously.
"There's something on your mind, Dana." Larissa didn't just state the comment; her kind tone suggested that Dana go first. Dana glanced at her briefly, then dropped her gaze. Larissa could tell that what her friend had to say was serious. "Dana, don't be afraid to tell me anything."
Dana sighed softly. "Larissa, there's something I've got to tell you...I should've told you sooner." Tears formed in Dana's eyes, but she looked away quickly so that Larissa wouldn't see. But she wasn't quick enough, for Larissa did see the shimmer of tears.
"Dana?" Larissa asked, genuinely concerned.
Dana, still avoiding eye contact, murmured quietly. "The day I lost my temper...well, while you were out of the room...Mandarin called." She swallowed hard.
Larissa listened attentively, not interrupting. She watched and listened to Dana with rapt and concerned attention, her heart jumping in fear at the mention of Mandarin. What had he said?
Dana continued, her voice trembling slightly. "Mandarin assigned us with another task. H-He said...He said to bring the Monkey Team to him so we could destroy them once and for all...tomorrow." Dana choked on a sob and looked away.
Larissa's spine went rigid, and her whole body went cold. No, no, no! This couldn't be happening! It felt as if the burdens on her heart had grown even heavier. She gently laid a hand on Dana's shoulder, struggling with her own emotions.
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly...
"Dana..why didn't you tell me?" Larissa's voice held no accusation or anger; rather, it held confusion, uncertainty, and fear...something that was shocking to Dana. Larissa wasn't easily afraid. In fact, she was quite brave.
A sorrowful expression clouded Dana's pretty face. "I..I don't know. I'm sorry."
I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky.
"The truth is..I've got something to tell you, too," Larissa admitted. Dana looked at her curiously, the look in her eyes saying that she hoped it wouldn't cause any more bad news.
Larissa looked Dana in the eyes. "Dana, I joined the Monkey Team today," she confessed, watching as Dana's sad expression changed to anger, to horror, and finally, to disbelief.
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change...
"Larissa..how could you?" Dana spat fear-and-anger-covered words, making Larissa cringe at her friend's reaction. "Have you been thinking of yourself all this time? What about me, Larissa? Do you think this is any easier for me? No! It isn't! You and I both know being evil is what we were created to do, and there's no changing it! Don't you see? We can't change it! As much as I want to, we can't!" Angry and sad tears trickled down Dana's cheeks.
And breakaway.
Dana took a deep breath, calming herself. Larissa sat and absorbed the painful blows, not taking any need to defend herself. She had once thought the same way Dana did.
Her expression softening, Dana compassionately reached for Larissa's hand. "I'm sorry. This is hard for me, too. I've befriended the Hyperforce...and have had the time of my life. I never knew living could be so much fun." A wistful smile crossed Dana's face, then disappeared as quick as it had come. "But you know what the cost is, Larissa. You know how ruthless Mandarin can be." A shudder ran down Dana's spine. "We can't turn our backs on our destiny, Larissa. What good would it do? We'd be forever running away from him...and no matter what, he'd always track us down." Dana let go of Larissa's hand and hung her head.
"Dana, that's where you're wrong. Being evil is not our destiny."
Out of the darkness and into the sun...
Dana's head snapped up in surprise. Larissa continued. "If I've learned anything while I'm here, it's to follow your heart. To do as your heart says," she added, patting her chest.
But I won't forget all the ones that I love.
Dana remained silent. She stared out at the stars. "Sometimes I wonder if there's any hope for us," she whispered.
Larissa gently laid her hand upon Dana's shoulder, turning Dana around to look at her. "Can't you see, Dana? We do have hope! Everything falls into place when you trust your heart."
Dana frowned, not easily giving in. "Larissa.."
"No, Dana. I'm tired of running. I'm tired of living in fear. I'm tired of carrying out Mandarin's dirty work. But most of all...I'm tired of living the wrong life. We've been following the wrong path all along, Dana! That's why we've never been truly evil. We weren't created for the purpose of evil. We were created for doing good. I'm certain of it."
I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change...and breakaway.
Dana blew out a frustrated breath. "Life can be so confusing."
Larissa gave her a comforting embrace. "I know, Dana...I know." When they separated, Larissa sighed. "I also found out something about Mandarin. He was once the leader of the Hyperforce. But he turned his back on the Monkey Team and turned to the evil ways, as their creator did...the Skeleton King."
Dana gawked at this new piece of information. Just as quickly, her shock turned to fury. Why does Mandarin expect us to follow in the pathway of evil, when he turned his back on what he was created to do? That hypocrite! Dana took a deep, calming breath as she cleared her mind. She could get enfuriated if she let herself...but she wasn't going to. She finally realized what all Larissa had said was right, as she fully took in Larissa's words. How blind I was!
Dana turned and smiled at Larissa, surprisingly feeling an inner calm. Anything could happen to them at this point, but she felt...at peace. Content. Their hearts had been right all along, but they just had to take the time to listen...and obey.
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly...
"Larissa, you're right." Dana looked at the twinkling, near-black sky. "The emotional scars of the past blinded me...I wasn't open to what you're saying." She turned and looked Larissa in the eyes. "But now I see you were right all along. I don't want to live this way anymore." Dana shook her head. "No matter what it costs, I want to do the right thing." Immediately the burdens lifted and Dana felt more joy and freedom than she'd ever had. Larissa saw the new light in her friend's eyes, and the warm feeling in her heart grew. At last they had acknowledged the fact that this was where they belonged...but they still had many trials before them.
"What do we do now...about tomorrow?" Dana asked, although they both knew the answer.
With a mere fleeting glance between them, the two friends knew what they had to do.
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye,
I gotta take a risk,
Take a chance,
Make a change,
And breakaway.
Out of the darkness and into the sun,
But I won't forget the place I come from.
I gotta take a risk,
Take a chance,
Make a change,
And breakaway.
A/N: Wow! Totally dramatic, huh? My friends always say I switch from crazy random girl to drama queen. LOL! I hope you guys liked this chapter. The next one will also have a song in it, and it will be surely interesting. So...until next time, my faithful reviewers! Now, click that button at the bottom of the page and make my day...REVIEW!