Heroes of the Past and Present
Disclaimer: Do not own Victorious, do not own the video game
A/N:
Chapter 7 (A Search Begins)
Aveline stepped out of her descendant's bedroom, slowly looking over her shoulder at the portal. She didn't know what would happen if it closed before she had a chance to get back, but she trusted that Bethany, Merrill, and Anders would work together to fix it. "So this is my house," she heard Jade and looked over to the girl. "There are a lot of things that I'm sure you won't know, and I don't have time to go over all the inventions that took place since the 1400s."
"That's fine. I'm not too concerned." She could deal with whatever there was, despite feeling vulnerable without her sword and shield. She had to admit, the future was quite a relief. When they stepped into the living area, she took in her surroundings and flinched at a strange box emitting movement and sounds. "What on earth is that?" Jade looked over to the black box on an oak stand and chuckled.
"A television, flat screen." She chuckled nervously and pushed the orb into her jean pocket. This could very well be harder than she initially thought. "I guess I forgot that I left it on, my dad isn't home right now…" Once Jade turned off the strange box, she led her outside of her home.
When they were outside, Aveline practically jumped out of her skin at all the noises surrounding her. Strange machines were flying by at incredible speeds, creating humming and whooshing noises. The air tasted and smelled foul, of pollution. There were strange silver poles running down an oddly paved road. She put her hand to her head and moaned. "I'm glad it was me choosing to come here, I don't know if the others could cope with all this stuff…" Another large machine flew by and she jerked her thumb towards it, "What in the bloody hell are those things?!"
"Right. That is a car. A vehicle invented about a century ago used for transport. We also have things called freeways. Did you have any mode of transport back then?"
"Yeah...we called them legs. Horseback was used too, but generally by the elite at first. Typically we walked everywhere." She wasn't sure if she wanted to even opt to ride in one of these 'cars'. "Do we have an option of walking?"
"Er…" Jade glanced over with a forlorn expression, turning her nose towards a stillmoving vehicle next to her house. "I guess we could walk. You might get motion sickness if you ride around in a car…" Aveline had no idea what motion sickness was, and she didn't truly care. Jade folded her arms over and looked down the street. "Now where did Beck go? I guess you really scared him."
"Varric says I have a tendency to scare the shit out of people." Her lips thinned and her brow furrowed, "It's not every day you fly through a portal and pop out in time to see your grandchild fixing to go at it…"
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that again…" Jade rubbed the back of her head and let out a sharp exhale. "Beck and I, we get deep into each other and well…sometimes it is hard to resist certain urges. I've never really done anything with him, but..."
"Have you ever discussed these 'urges' with your mother?"
"She's never really been around. I don't know if you had divorce back in your day or not…Mom and Dad have been separated for a while. Kind of like my friend's parents recently." She worried that she may have brought up something she shouldn't have. The two began walking down a sidewalk, with Aveline staying on the other side of Jade, away from these moving cars. "The Vegas. Their mom and dad divorced about a month or two ago, Mrs. Vega was having an affair with someone and decided she 'fell out of love' with Mr. Vega." Jade let out an angered scoff, "Like that's any kind of excuse."
"She had an affair?" Aveline rolled her eyes and clenched her fists, irritated that someone could do such a thing. She would never cheat on her husband, Donnic. "Sounds like the woman needs to learn a thing or two about loyalty. When you vow to stand by someone, you stand by them, no matter what." Jade looked up to her, sadness shone like a light in the girl's eyes. Almost immediately Aveline was overcome with concern. "Is something troubling you?"
"Eh…not really…" Jade cleared her throat and looked away, quickening her pace. "You know, I haven't been myself lately. It's strange, I guess it's just my friends. You show up and I start thinking…I remember briefly the stories that said what you were like. Strong, fiercely loyal to those around you…and I question how it could be that you would be my ancestor."
She tilted her head and picked up her pace, moving beside the young girl. "What do you mean? You seem like a good person." Jade scoffed once more, breaking out in a laugh.
"Yeah right. I'm not a good person, I've never been one, though I've tried so hard to be. Growing up, my older sister has always been the popular one and would always push me down, always told me I was a terrible person…So became a bitch made of ice, right? Now, one of my good friends is upset with me because I screwed up her sister." She felt her heart sink and bowed her head, searching for a reaction to the girl's story. It was difficult, and upsetting to see her great granddaughter struggling with friendship bonds.
"Have you talked to them?" Jade flung her arms out, then let them fall.
"I want to make things right, I really do, but…I have no idea how…I'm not accustomed to 'compassion'."
"So you've built a wall around yourself." She could understand that, and it was not surprising to see personal troubles surrounded even those in the future. Each of her friends suffered from some sort of emotional baggage, it was quite literally what brought them together. "Understanding what someone is going through, being a friend to them, it can be difficult…but in the end…it's not a bad thing. What are you struggling with exactly?"
"This girl, my friend's sister, Trina…" Aveline nodded understandably and glanced towards the right, flinching as another car shot past them. She shifted towards the left a bit. As she looked into the distance in front of them, she saw someone riding towards them on a two wheeled vehicle. Jade muttered about it being a bicycle, the nonchalance in her voice spoke volumes to Aveline. "I'm nothing like you. I'm a hypocrite. I realize that. How…how do you build a trust or a relationship with someone when that trust and bond has never even existed from the beginning? Someone you've mocked, torn apart, degraded…I'm not a bad person Grandma, I don't mean to be, I just…I don't know."
"Listen." She stopped moving and Jade stopped a few paces ahead, twisting around to look at her. The girl's body was shaking and her eyes quivered as her lips parted from each other. Aveline reassured her with a smile and gazed into her eyes. "A friendship with someone is rewarding in itself, I'm sure you're aware of that. So you've made someone an enemy, but no matter what, it is never too late to turn over a new leaf if you're really serious about it."
"That's just it. I started with no friends at all, I never even thought I would have any. This girl, she was popular, had friends, and I…I drove them away." Now that was devastating to hear. "I probably don't even deserve the people that talk to me anyway, I scare everyone away without trying. I'm intimidating as it is…I guess I sort of put myself in that position, wish I didn't, but oh well…"
"Intimidating?" She chuckled and glanced up into the clear blue sky, raising an eyebrow at a distant object flying through the air. Shrugging it off, she returned her gaze to Jade. "You know, people say I'm intimidating, but that's because I'm direct. I'm strong where I need to be. In life you have to find balance, Jade. Don't do what your friends want, just to please them, do it because it's the right thing to do. You don't have to control the situation, but when you know what the right thing to do is, you do it."
"I guess."
"Now, I don't know what you're going to do about this Trina. If you're serious about trying to create some sort of bond with her, then by all means do it. If it is possible, that is." From the tone in Jade's voice, the girl didn't sound convinced that she could form any sort of friendship with Trina. "I know it's a struggle, especially if the other person has been damaged by you. You have to work to show you're genuine. Trust and respect cannot be commanded, it must be earned. I'm the Captain of the Guard in my time, but I would have been laughed at if I just ran in and started barking out orders without first showing that I cared about them."
"I come across the wrong way…way too often." Jade took a moment to gaze at her, then turned away, scoffing. "Look at me unloading my problems on you when you have problems of your own to deal with. Namely, trying to find this descendent to wake your friend up…it sounds like that woman's got some good friends."
"We would all give our lives to protect Sarah, yeah. That's why I'm here, after all."
"I wish I could have that. I don't know if I can't tell sometimes, would they pull me from a cliff if I were hanging on a limb? I would…not out of fear or anything, but because I do care." Aveline watched Jade's hands close and her muscles tense. She reached out to her, resting a hand on her shoulder. Jade slowly looked up to her, frown lines framed the corners of her lips and a thin line began to form on her forehead. "Then show them that, Jade. Do everything in your power to show them that you care. You sound like you mean everything you're telling me, so I believe you. Another reason I believe you…you're my descendent, so you should have pretty strong loyalties where it matters. I would travel to hell and back for those in my life, would you?"
"Without question."
"Show them that. It won't be an easy path, but I can guarantee you that if you can make friends out of someone who you first made an enemy out of…then that will be a stronger bond than most." Jade began to smile and she stepped forward, hesitating for a second before giving Aveline a hug. The hug warmed her and gave her a spark of courage where she was feeling uneasy in this future, a far different world than she was used to.
"Thank you. I'll try, but I worry old habits die hard…"
"Even so, work at it. If you recognize a problem with yourself, then you need to work on whatever flaw it is. You're only human, Jade, nobody expects anyone to be perfect. Be honest and openminded, and others will show you the same respect. I'm sure you've heard this by now, considering this phrase was so often said by even my mother, but treat people how you want to be treated and they will treat you as such."
"Okay…I'll try…But first, let's find the person you're looking for." Jade took a step back and Aveline removed the orb from her pocket. The dot was still small and pointing in the direction they were walking.
"I hope the descendant is strong and capable of learning to fight, because we're going to need them…but I wonder, how many descendents might there be?"
"How many would be in LA, probably not many." Jade tucked her hair behind her ear and looked up into the sun. "It's a nice day out, and I'm starving. I need food, I really don't want to hold you back either."
"Well do you know if it's possible to grab some food and go?"
"Oh! Fast food restaurants, of course." Aveline raised an eyebrow as Jade grabbed her wrist and started pulling. This was going to be an interesting search and hunt. "We'll grab a burger real quick, walk and eat. I might call some friends to help you look, if you think that'd be a good idea."
"It's up to you…and what is a 'burger'?" Jade stopped and glanced over to her with an arched eyebrow.
"Wow, you are really missing out."
"I could probably say the same to you. As far as calling goes…"
"Phone." Aveline was skeptical of yet another new term. Confusion swept over her face and Jade let out another defeated sigh. "Let's not get into today's technology though." Fearing another lesson on the world of the future, she quickly nodded in agreement. Her stomach began to growl, causing her hunger to overtake her.
"Let's not, and also let's hurry with the food."
What are your thoughts? How did you like it all?