Nudge the Quileute18

Staying at the Day and Night School and Saving Renesmee

Nudge's POV

I was going to stay at the Day and Night School, or that had been the plan, until I learned that my cousin's imprint, Renesmee was in danger and when I learned that the Denalis had to pass the Day and Night School to reach the Cullens, I suggested that the Denalis pick me, when they asked for someone named Nudge.

That was who had called. Edward had called one of the Denalis' cell phone, Kate, who was the sister of the leader and asked her to pick me up from the Day and Night School. I was leaving early to save a part of my family. I quickly e-mailed Fang and said, "Get to Forks. Ed knows where to go. Follow him. I'll meet you there. Bring everyone. Nudge."

I had a lot of schoolwork to do, though, but since I was trying to save the world, I usually got out of trouble. Then the Denalis pulled into the parking lot and Kate came into the main office and said, "My name is Kate. I'm here to pick up Nudge." Then I got called to the office, and I'd already packed all of my stuff into a bag and I was just waiting for that call. I jogged to the office and joined Kate, who quickly signed me out and steered to the car we'd be taking. I was a little shocked by how nice the car was; it was the nicest car I'd ever ridden in before in my entire life.

Five minutes after I'd been introduced to the Denalis, I started rambling. "Don't worry. I told some of my friends that we needed their help and hopefully, they'll all be there by the time we arrive. If not, I'll tell them again and then we can save Renesmee and then those mean Volturi people won't have any reason to bug us again and we'll be able to save Renesmee and Dr. Martinez and the world, in only a matter of minutes and this car is so nice. It's the nicest car I've ever ridden in, in my entire. And is it bulletproof or armored? Because if it's not, which I'm guessing it's not, because normally you just have you vampires in it and you're not on the run from very evil companies who are out to destroy you and the planet and you have to save the world, without getting killed." and I kept waiting for someone to tell me to shut up, when abruptly, as soon as I realized no one was going to, I clamped up. Kate stared at me and said, "Do you ever shut up?" "Nope." Then Tanya, stared at me and groaned. "Great, so now we get stuck listening to you for the entire ride." "Maybe not. You just have to tell me to shut up or my ears are bleeding or something like that and I, I guarantee it, will shut up."

When we reached the Cullens, I held up my hand and said, "Wait. I want to try something." I pressed my hand against the door and murmured, "Edward, Bella, their child, Renesmee, and, my cousin, Jacob are inside. They're absolutely terrified. They think that the Volturi are going to come to kill them. Someone told the Volturi that Renesmee was an immortal child, when she is. She is something different than the Volturi have ever known.." I turned and faced the Denalis and Eleazar said, "You found all that out, just by touching the door?" I nodded and said, "Yeah, it's a gift, a skill of mine. I can touch something and feel the emotions of the last person who touched and it and some of the history behind it." Then Tanya, Kate, Carmen, Eleazar, and I quickly greeted Edward. He noticed that I was already pretty upset and said, "We'll help you after we're done dealing with the Volturi." I nodded my head slowly and then after I learned about Renesmee, I was ready to help. Then I learned that the Volturi wanted to destroy her. I ran off, to think and clear my head, but then returned, much calmer. I stood next to them and tapped Edward on the shoulder.

"I have something to say. At first, before I met Renesmee and learned the danger that she was in, I thought I was more human or more werewolf than bird, but learning what the Volturi wants to do to this little girl, makes me wonder. Am I human or am I bird or am I werewolf? Lately, now to be exact, I don't feel very human anymore. I'm not sure what I see when I look in the mirror anymore. I see a girl, a werewolf, and a bird, but which of those three am I? When I think of me, I picture someone with wings. I know I'm not normal. There aren't any kids to hang out with who are like me. Besides the flock. I know I don't fit in anywhere. I don't even fit in with the flock. I don't fit in with either of the two Packs. I just don't. Neither does Embry. We're both different. We're both mutants. We're both freaks. This world isn't set up for people like me, like us. Nothing in this world is designed for us, designed to make us comfortable. We always stick out, we always make do. People want us, or want us dead, because of what we are, not who we are. It's hard. And it's no different from what the Volturi want to do to Renesmee. They want to kill her, not because of what or who she is, but what they think she is. It's not fair. She shouldn't have to be scared, to suffer, because of them. Why would she hurt anyone? Why would she want to? What if she wanted to fit in, to be normal, to be a part of the real, the human, world, especially if she could? What if she could fit in with normal people and not stick out, not hurt anyone, to be normal? If we can get the Volturi to listen, we should be good to go. If not, I will fight to the death, to save Renesmee." Abruptly, I clamped up and everyone just stared at me. I looked down at the ground and Bella said, "You really have a great deal of insight into situations, or you're just really good at coming up with ways to compare events in your past to what's happening now." I merely nodded and remained silent. Jacob said, "Wow. How old are you, Monique?" I paused and said, "Eleven. Why?" "It's just that you seem really mature for an eleven-year-old, physically, mentally, and emotionally." I shrugged and then said, "A little heartbreak, a little fighting to the death, a little meeting Max's parents, a few air shows, a few near-death experiences, a little of one of my friend's and her half-sister's and Embry's imprint's mother being kidnapped by our latest enemy/enemies—Mr. Chu and Chu Corporation—it all ages a girl." Edward said, "I guess we can assume you're in, right Monique?" "Right," I said. "And if necessary, I will fight. It's time I got back into the battle. And, after all, this all is a test. Everything that's ever happened has been a test or a game. We can win, but we can't play fair. We gotta play hard and dirty." Edward, Tanya, Kate, Carmen, Eleazar, Bella, Jacob, and Renesmee all nodded in agreement to let me and my friends help, but then Fang e-mailed me back, saying that they couldn't come. They had to go through some training in the military, which meant it would be up to me to find a way to stop the Volturi from getting what they wanted—to destroy the Cullens and sweet, little, Renesmee.

I was going to save Renesmee, Dr. Martinez, the world, stop the Volturi, and Chu Corporation if it was the last thing I ever did. Edward looked at me and said, "Thank you, Monique, for your courage, your determination, to stand with us, no matter how badly we're outnumbered." I shrugged and said, "Jake's my cousin. After all, I've worked way too hard to keep Bella alive back when she was still pregnant with Renesmee and I'm not gonna let the Volturi destroy what I tried so hard to protect from the whitecoats, evil scientists who were plotting to eliminate half of the world's human population—three billion people."

Then a bunch of other vampires joined us, some were willing to fight if necessary and others were just there to witness. Of course, one of the witnesses, Alistair didn't help when it came to being hopeful that we would win. He hid in the attic and sulked. "Of course, now they'll know I was here. No way to hide it from Aro at this point. Centuries on the run, that's what this will mean. Everyone Carlisle's talked to in the last decade will be on their list. I can't believe I got myself sucked into this mess. What a fine way to treat your friends." But he left earlier, because he thought it would be too dangerous to face the Volturi, and apparently he had the best chance of escaping the Volturi, because he was a tracker who just felt a tug toward whatever he was tracking. A couple of people, Amun and his mate, Kebi, threatened to join the Volturi against us, but Benjamin, a really cool vampire, managed to get all of the other vampires to stick together. I didn't like the two Romanian vampires, Stefan and Vladimir, and Jacob and I called them "Dracula 1" and "Dracula 2" because, after all, Dracula was from Romania and Bella and Nessie agreed with us, that the Romanians were our least favorite visitors. Personally, I'd rather fly through a hundred hurricanes than have to deal with the Romanians. They were just plain creepy, but according to Bella, Caius, the snowy white-haired member of the Volturi was creepier than both of the Romanians put together, but I found that very hard to imagine.

Later we all had to declare ourselves and Embry arrived just then and walked over to me and said, "Ella's fine, just really freaked about her mom. Her aunt and uncle agreed to let her provide their house as a safe house for Renesmee and Jacob, should they have to run away, so it'd be easier for me to help you help the Cullens and Renesmee." I nodded and said, "I'd expected that. Now are we going to stand with the Cullens during this fight, to protect Renesmee, or not?" Embry looked at me and, holding out left fist the way we always did right before bed, said, "Of course we're standing by the Cullens." I stacked my fist on top of his and tapped his fist with my right hand and he tapped mine. I then faced Carlisle and said, "Embry and I will fight." Jacob nodded and then said, "The packs will fight alongside the Cullens as well. We're not scared of a few vampires." Of course, most of the other vampires, including the Denalis, who had arrived first, along with me, were willing to fight alongside the Cullens.

All of the vampires and Jake gathered in the baseball clearing, the day of the Volturi's arrival. We knew that if we had to fight, some of us would not be returning. We just didn't know who would die and who would survive. Earlier, Embry had given Bella Ella's aunt and uncle's address, because he said that Ella would be willing to help Embry in anyway she could, including helping Nessie and Jake escape, because Jake and Nessie were pretty much a part of her family as well as the Cullens and Denalis, and me and Embry's. Then the Volturi entered the clearing like an army. It did not look good. Just then, Sam gave the signal, and the seventeen wolves who were hiding in the forest, including me, burst out of the trees and joined the vampires.

Aro read Edward's mind, and then read Nessie's mind, but then he lied to her about hurting her friends and family. Then I noticed Embry tense and stare at Demetri. I wondered what in the world could possibly be wrong with Embry and asked, "Embry, what's wrong?" "That guy there, the one called Demetri, is destined for Angel. He's her soulmate and he wants to kill us." "Yeah, that could be a problem. Ideas?" "I think I have an idea. We'll blackmail them. Use Angel as leverage." "Absolutely not, Embry." "Leah is gonna imprint. On Ari. I really hope Max doesn't kill her." "That's impossible. Ari died." "Maybe that was a fake Ari and the real Ari's still human." "Maybe." "It would so cool to see Max's face when she sees her brother is still alive." "Yeah, it would be." "Want to know anything else?" "Anyone else?" "I feel a little bad for Tanya, though" "Why?" "Her soulmate is the Gasman." "Vampire venom heals most things in normal people, right?" "Yeah, why?" "I was thinking maybe if Gazzy became a vampire it might solve his enzyme-balance problem." "Or it might make it worse." "Who knows." "We'll find out soon enough anyway, but I really hope we were not still around when that happens." I froze and stared at Embry and then thought, "Oh, man, Embry. You just got a new skill. Can I tell them about me?" "Sure, Monique." He grinned happily, but I didn't tell Sam or Jacob a word of the conversation that Embry and I had just had.

Then Caius motioned to Irina and when he pulled out a metal thing that he was obviously going to use to kill her with, I concentrated and yanked it away from him and Tanya caught it before it could clobber me in the head. I sent a smirk into Jake's and Sam's heads and they grinned back at him, as did both of their packs. He glared at Irina and then said, "Say your goodbyes." Then someone in a little girl voice said, "Goodbye." And then a metal pole sliced through the air and walloped Caius in the head. He staggered and collapsed to the ground. Then I saw Angel. She glanced at Irina and screamed, "Run, you idiot! Get out of here! Fang, unleash the secret weapon!" I stared as Total started running throughout the Volturi and all of the guard tried to grab him or Angel. Then Max swooped downward and grabbed Caius, but then dropped him and ignored him and flew throughout the Volturi, along with Gazzy and Iggy. Fang was somewhere in the Volturi crowd and slipping silently and using his new skill managed to get right behind Caius. Caius finally managed to get up and muttering to himself angrily, rejoined Aro and Marcus. Fang tapped Caius's shoulder and then said, "Boo!" Caius didn't even flinch, until Fang shook his head and appeared. Fang turned, grabbed Total, threw Total upward, Angel ditched her pole and the two rocketed away. Then the guard captured Irina and Caius killed her.

I didn't think that it was fair for Irina to die and when Tanya and Kate leaped forward to avenge their sister, I grabbed Tanya's pant leg and tugged, trying to pull her back. I wasn't going to let anyone else get killed. I thought over and over, "I'll make Max go to Denali. She'll help you. I know she will." Edward told Tanya and Kate this and they both nodded weakly.

Then Aro said, "let us hear all sides of the problem." Of course, several people from our sides witnessed that Nessie was not an immortal child and some of them left to survive. Right before Garrett spoke, I ran off and phased back to human and rejoined the others and I muttered, "I wanted to speak for myself." Then Garrett asked, "May I offer a side to be considered?" Aro nodded and said, "Nomad." "I came here at Carlisle's request, as the others, to witness. That is certainly no longer necessary, with regard to the child. We all see what she is. I stayed to witness something else. You. Two of you I know—Makenna, Charles—and I can that many of you others are also wanderers, roamers like myself. Answering to none. Think carefully on what I tell you now. These ancient ones did not come here for just as they told you. We suspected as much, and now it has been proved. They came, misled, but with a valid excuse for their action. Witness now as they seek flimsy excuses to continue their mission. Witness them struggle to find a justification for their true purpose—to destroy this family here. The Volturi come to erase what they perceive as the competition. Perhaps, like me, you look at this clan's golden eyes and marvel. They are difficult to understand, its true. But the ancient ones look and see something besides their strange choice. They see power. I have witnessed the bonds within this family—I say family and not coven. These strange golden-eyed ones deny their very nature. But in return have they found something worth even more, perhaps, than mere gratification of desire? I've made a little study of them in my time here, and it seems to me that intrinsic to this intense family binding—that which makes them possible at all—it the peaceful character of this life of sacrifice. There is no aggression here like we all saw in the large southern clans that grew and diminished so quickly in their wild feuds. There is no thought for domination. And Aro knows this better than I do. Carlisle assured us all, when he told us what was coming, that he did not call us here to fight. These witnesses agreed to show evidence, to slow the Volturi advance with their presence so that Carlisle would get the chance to present his case. But some of us wondered if Carlisle having truth on his side would be enough to stop the so-called justice. Are the Volturi here to protect the safety of our secrecy, or to protect their own power? Did they come to destroy an illegal creation, or a way of life? Could they be satisfied when the danger turned out to be no more than a misunderstanding? Or would they push the issue with the excuse of justice? We have the answer to all these question. We heard it Aro's lying words—we have one with a gift of knowing such things for certain—and it we see it now in Caius's eager smile. Their guard is just a mindless weapon, a tool in their masters' quest for domination. So now there are more questions, questions that you must answer. Who rules you, nomads? Do you answer to someone's will besides your own? Are you free to choose your own path, or will the Volturi decide how you will live? I cam to witness. I stay to fight. The Volturi care nothing for the death of the child. They seek the death of our free will. So come, I say. Let's hear no more lying rationalizations. Be honest in your intents as well be honest in ours. We will defend our freedom. You will or will not attack it. Choose now, and let these witnesses see the true issue debated here. You might considering joining us. If you think the Volturi will let you live tell this tale, you are mistaken. We may all be destroyed, but then again, maybe not. Perhaps we are on more equal footing than they know. Perhaps the Volturi have finally met their match. I promise you this, though—if we fall, so do you." I then stepped forward toward Aro and said, "I have something for everyone present here to consider." Aro nodded at me and said, "Dog." " I have something to say. At first, before I met Renesmee and learned the danger that she was in, I thought I was more human or more werewolf than bird, but learning what the Volturi wants to do this little girl and her family, makes me wonder. Am I human or am I bird or am I werewolf? Lately, now to be exact, I don't feel very human anymore. I'm not sure what I see when I look in the mirror. I see Nessie, she looks perfectly normal, like she's human, Jacob, also seems normal, as do the Cullens, the Denalis, and all of the other vampires gathered here today, either to fight, or to witness. When I see myself in the mirror, I see a girl, a werewolf, and a bird, but which of those three am I? When I think of me, I picture someone with wings. I know I'm not normal. There aren't any kids to hang out with who are like me. Besides Embry. I don't fit in anywhere. I don't even fit in with the flock. I don't fit with either of the two Packs. I just don't. Neither does Embry. We're both different. We're both mutants. We're both freaks. And I'm sure Nessie feels the same way when she looks at her family—she's half-human and half-vampire. Her parents are vampires and her best friend is a werewolf, a shape-shifter but where would she fit into the world around her? The world isn't set up for people like me, like us. Nothing in this world is designed for us, designed to make us comfortable. We always stick out, we always make do. People want us, or want us dead, because of what we are, not who we are. It's hard. And it's no different from the Volturi want to do to Renesmee. They want to kill her, not because of what or who she is, but what they think she is. It's not fair. She shouldn't have to be scared, to suffer, because of them. Why would she hurt anyone? Why would she want to? What if she wanted to fit, to be normal, to be a part of the real, the human, world, especially if she could? What if she could fit in with normal people and not stick out, not hurt anyone, to be normal? If we can get the Volturi to listen, we should be good to go. If not, I will fight to the death. Jake, here, is my cousin. And after all, I've worked way too hard to keep Bella alive back when she was still pregnant with Renesmee and I'm not gonna let the Volturi destroy what I tried so hard to protect from the whitecoats, evil scientists who were plotting to eliminate half of the world's human population—three billion people. People died to protect Bella and Nessie. Children fought to protect their loved ones and others who they knew would be on Itex's hit list of people who must be killed. Some of those who died during the battle at the Itex world headquarters in Lendeheim, Germany, were younger than I. They were kids. For one of them, when they died, watching them die, remembering it, is terrible. His name was Ari Batchelder. He was one of my best friends' younger half-brother. He didn't understand completely what had happened to him, but he was ready to fight, even though he knew that there was a very likely chance he wouldn't return, alive anyway. And, so, like Ari, I stand ready to fight, even though, I too may not rejoin my family."

The Volturi all just stared at me for a few seconds and then Caius scoffed and said, "You're just a kid. You have no life experience. Plus, you're just a kid and should have a guardian." I hissed in my breath and snarled back at him, "You're kidding. We've escaped from top-security prisons, lived through mental and physical torture, lived on our own for years, made tons of smarty-pants grown-up look fools without even trying, eaten desert rats with no A1 steak sauce, and you're telling me we're minors and have to have guardians? Listen, pal, I grew up in a freaking dog crate. I've seen horrible part-human mutations die gut-wrenching deaths. I've had people, mutants, and robots trying to kill me twenty-four/seven for as long as I can remember, and you think I'm gonna cave to state law? Are you bonkers? Life experience? Big picture? I've had more life experience in eleven years than you've had in—what are you, like, three thousand?" I noticed Caius shifting his weight uncomfortably and continued "You're the ones who don't have the life experience. Have you ever woken up with your mouth duct-taped shut, not knowing where you are or where your family is? Are you afraid of everything and everyone? Have you foraged for food in Dumpsters? Do you sleep with one eye open, because at any second someone might try to kill you? Have you ever opened a pizza box only to find a bomb? You guys don't have any idea." I noticed that everyone was supporting Carlisle freeze and identical looks of horror crossed their faces and I also heard Esme's gasp of horror at what I had to live through on a daily basis. Even among the Volturi, some of them looked horrified. Even Marcus, who had maintained a bored expression throughout the entire event, looked horrified. "Angel's only six. But ten bucks says she's been in more fights to the death than any of you, than anyone here. You!" I snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at Caius. "You are a pointless, pathetic, wastoid of a parasite, leech, bloodsucker, blood drinker, cold one, and vampire, who, when you die, are going to spend the rest of eternity roasting in hell alone." Caius spat back at me, "You can't hurt me." I shook my head and said, "Yes, Caius, I really can." Caius walked over to me and slapped me, but then I glared at him and snarled, "Why don't you go take a flying leap off a cliff. That would solve most of our problems right there." Everyone, including Marcus, and except for Caius, who was still glaring at me, all gawked at me when I said this to Caius. I glared at Caius and he said, "We need everyone here to be somewhat civilized, unless, of course, that's beyond you dog, because fair is fair." I stared at Caius and snarled, "You're kidding, right? Please tell me you have a stronger motive for me than 'fair is fair.' Life isn't fair, Caius. Nothing is fair, ever. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I need to be civilized because fair is fair? Try 'I need you to be civilized so I won't rip out your spine and beat you with it.' I might respond to that. Maybe." Of course, Esme was horrified again, but if anything about Caius changed, his eyes only grew colder throughout our entire exchange. Suddenly he looked as if he would be blushing with embarrassment or anger. Then he snarled at the watching vampires and shape-shifters, my family, "You will all forget this ever happened."

I glared at Caius and snarled, "Take it back." He asked, "Take what back?" "What you said about the Cullens breeding mutants here." "NO!" I glanced at Embry and he nodded and disappeared into the forest. I rocketed straight up into the air and said, "I'd so hate to do this, but you forced me to, Caius." He shrugged and then Embry joined me. We swooped down, grabbed Caius and flew steadily upward. "Where are you taking me?" he demanded, furious. "Mostly just up. Now take back what you said or else Embry and I will drop you from way, way up here and watch you go two dimensional—a little something we like to call 'flock splatter art.'" "I'll never take it back." "Okay," I said and I let him go. He yelled in terror and screamed, "I'll take it back." "Say it like you really mean it and be serious." He gulped and said, "I, Caius Volturi, take back what I said about the Cullens breeding mutants here in Forks. They do not breed mutants." "Thank you." We landed and Embry and I let Caius go and Caius quickly ran over and rejoined his two brothers—Aro and Marcus.

Five seconds later, I saw Max II running towards me. "Nudge, it's..." Suddenly a swarm of M-Geeks arrived and snatched Max II before she couldn't finish delivering her message. It couldn't be good. I'd ask Edward first chance I got, after this battle, if we survived, but the chances of that happening weren't so great.

Then Alice returned and after Huilen and Nahuel gave their witness to save Nessie, the Volturi left. After a few minutes, the news sank in and we all celebrated. We weren't going to die, today. I ran forward a few steps, jumped into the air, and did a perfect back flip, wings out and managed to go higher into the air while performing the back flip. Embry grinned and jokingly said, "You should've done at one of the air shows, Nudge." I grinned down at him and said, "Yeah, it would have been cool, if it was part of the choreography." Embry frowned, looked up at me, and I realized right away what he was thinking. "Let's go save Dr. Martinez!" Ed and I both yelled at the same time.