Enjoy!
How It Should've Been
Chapter 23: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
"Deadly? Deadly is what I would call an understatement." Amelia remarked as Sirius, Harry, Hermione and Luna stood around the table.
"Hey!" Harry exclaimed in protest. "This is not their fault." He defended roughly.
"They did betray us." Hermione pointed out. This only seemed to be like adding fuel to the fire.
"We don't know why!" Harry argued angrily. He was looking down at the table with his palms flat out leaning on the surface.
"Look-" Sirius started only to be cut off.
"Harry's right." Luna interrupted. "We don't know why. Maybe there's something more." She suggested optimistically.
"They killed your father Luna. How can you say that?" Hermione shook her grimly. Luna swallowed before sharing a look with Harry. A look that was caught by the other three.
"He-he wasn't my real father." Luna admitted quietly. "I was adopted." She didn't meet any of their eyes as they look at her sadly. She took a shuddering breathe before continuing. "I think I know who my father is though. And that is why I have to believe there's more to it. That can't be it." Luna insisted with a new resolve. That was when it seemed to click for everyone why she was pushing this.
"Hunter… you think Hunter is your father." Sirius stated more than asked.
"I know. I just somehow know." Luna shook her head. "And I know there is more to this."
One Month Later
While Luna had best wishes at heart, it was becoming apparent there was no hope of it being true any longer. Over the weeks prior, the group had had a number of run ins with the two immortal Masters. Every time, they were taunted and over powered. Just seeing people they loved, people they had once trusted with their lives so cold and heartless, was heartbreaking. They killed without mercy. The body count was stacking up, and it didn't seem to matter. But most of all, the end goal of it all? Unidentifiable. A lot had been revealed in the past month. L&W has come into the light with the group. They had played their games but nobody knew the rules nor the objective.
All it seemed to be was killing pointlessly. At least, to everyone but Harry. Harry figured it out. Not on his own though. During the many run ins with Alex and Hunter, he had made eye contact with Alex several times. But it was over the weeks that he noticed the gradual, nearly unnoticeable change in them. They were dark and calculating, yes. But when they looked at him, they held something hidden deep down. He could see it. And that was why, even a month later, he was the only one with hope that something deeper was in fact going on. In the many encounters, he was the one person Alex only threatened to kill. Not a move was made. And when they fought, albeit rarely, he knew she held back. He knew that if she wanted him dead, he would be before he could even blink.
He was the only one that saw that though, that saw any of the signs. Even Luna began to lose hope. None of them saw the subtle signs Alex had meant for him to find. Maybe they weren't meant to. Maybe she didn't want them knowing. He didn't know. But what he did know was yesterday, something was different. It was just a look or a sign in combat. It was a paper that only found it way into his pocket after all was said and done. He waited until he was in private to read it and he was thankful for that choice once he saw what the paper contained.
The Island of The War
Twelve Day. It Ends.
Don't Lose Hope. Tell.
He knew what it meant. He knew of the island as well. Twelve day, noon. It ends… well that could only mean one thing. And tell? Well that's exactly what he was doing as he called a meeting and sat it down on the table in front of the group.
It was the next day, at twelve during the day that Harry snuck out and apparated to the mainland that was a about mile from the island. It was still close enough that he could make out the island in the distance.
It hadn't mattered what he said. They weren't convinced. They believed it was a trap. That Alex was playing his emotions. And honestly, he would've thought that to. If not for the fact that he knew Alex nearly as well as himself. Even if she lied and he couldn't see through it, maybe it was his perception of the world. A perception so close to her own, maybe that was what let him see it. Maybe it was the fact that she told him not to lose hope. Hope. Something Alex would say breeds eternal misery. That was his sign that it was real.
It was cemented as real when an explosion sounded in the distance drawing his attention. It came from the island. Harry went to make a dash, ready to apparated when two hands held him back. He shrugged and fought them off to whip around to see Sirius, Amelia who were shortly followed by Hermione and Luna.
"Get him out of here. He wasn't supposed to see this. None of them were." She directed as Sirius agreed before reaching for Harry who backed out of his reach shaking his head in confusion.
"Supposed to see what?" Hermione questioned as she and Luna came up behind the two adults. Sirius and Amelia shared a looked as Amelia sighed.
"We received a tip on the location over a week ago." She admitted biting her lip. "A plan was made."
Harry shook his head vehemently when he say Sirius grim look. He knew what it meant. "You said you didn't believe me!" His voice rose. Sirius looked at him sadly.
"I am sorry pup. She diverted from the plan. You were never supposed to be brought into this, let alone here."
"The plan?!" Harry's voice rose as his anger did. Hermione and Luna looked as in the dark as he was. "Was all of this an act? Has she been faking it the entire time?" He demanded.
"I don't know." Sirius admitted. "It's like Amelia said, one week ago we got a tip. We didn't believe it, thought it was a trick. We had seen how merciless they were. But the next time we ran into them." He shook his head and paced. "The next time, we could just see the signs. They weren't noticeable unless you were looking for it or unless you had insider information. But after that, a plan developed. But you were meant to be kept out of it. That was on her for bringing you in."
"You made me think I was seeing things! You made me think she was heartless." Harry exclaimed stepping back further from them. When Amelia went to speak, another explosion cut her off. The argument faded as they all stood as a group, facing the island, watching on helplessly.
Meanwhile
After the first explosion went off, people were running around the compound trying to find the source and disable and fix whatever caused it. All but one person was actively helping.
"Alex, what the hell do you think you're doing? This is an attack. We're not supposed to be on their side!" Hunter growled keeping a tight grip on the her leather covered arm. Alex roughly yanked her arm out of his grasp.
"We're emotionless, not mindless." She countered angrily. "So why act like it? Hm? Like lost puppies? Aren't we supposed to be superior?" Alex reasoned. When Hunter didn't respond, she shook her head and turned away from him. "You do what you want to. But not playing the role of mindless assassin any longer." She moved forward and it was only when her hand was on the door handle turning it that Hunter called out.
"I don't know what you plan to do Alex. But we're supposed to stick together. And I'm not going to let you do something stupid." He called. He noticed Alex take a glance down at her watch before she turned her head to side and looked at him from the corner of her eye.
"And you can't stop me. Hunter, leave. Leave the compound. Being here would be a mistake. Go help them." She suggested in a tone that made it sound like anything but a suggestion.
"Why? Why would you want me to help them? L&W has everything, they can give us anything. Why would we turn that down for people that have no chance?" Hunter question confused.
"Because sometimes there are lines you shouldn't cross. And before you say anything, this has nothing to do with emotions. Or even moral rights and wrongs. Hunter I'm not afraid to cross any line. I've crossed nearly every one. But you're better, you have somebody that needs you more than ever right now. Take this chance and go make things right. Go. Now." She ordered before leaving the room without another word.
Hunter's brows furrowed and stuck his hands in his pockets. Frowning, he pulled his right hand out tightly clenching a crumbled up paper. Uncrumbling it, Hunter read the two words on the paper. He would recognize the handwriting anywhere, Alex's. But that wasn't what got his attention about it. It was the words themselves.
Help Luna
He reread the words so many times he would've never had to look at the paper again to forever remember what it. He didn't understand what it meant. Looking for any other clue, he flipped the small paper over. On the back were the words:
Get out and help your daughter dumbass
His eyes just finished scanning the last word when the paper in his hand became in focused. His vision blurred as his head pounded. It felt like something was going to explode in his head as he fell to his knees clutching his head. Gritting his teeth, he held back that shout of pain. The world seemed to waver and shifted before his eyes before it felt like something flipped and suddenly the pain stopped. Breathing deeply, he looked at the clenched paper in his hand. Snapping to attention, he shot up and out of the room, sprinting in the opposite way Alex went, even if he didn't know it.
Upon exiting the room Alex had chosen the opposite way on her path. Making her way through the twisting and turning maze of halls through the compound. Glancing at her watch, she watched the timer continue to count down. Five minutes. She had left Hunter five minutes ago. So that gave him ten to get out of the compound and off the island. Without any distractions or problems it was just enough for him, maybe with one to spare.
Hunter reached the portal room and immediately booted up the one for shore. The portal was open within seconds. He quickly set the closing time for ten seconds and stepped through where it opened on the shore. Coming out of the portal, Hunter spotted Sirius, Amelia, Hermione, Luna and Harry and ran over.
When they spotted him coming towards them quickly, all of their wands were out and pointed directly at him. Hunter stopped in his tracks and raised his hands above his head as a show of peace.
"It's me. Like really me. Emotions and all." He tried to assure them. Amelia's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"How can we know to believe that?" She demanded not faltering. Hunter slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out the slip of paper holding it out. The group shared a look before Sirius cautiously reached forward and took it. He read both sides and looked up brows furrowed.
"This is Alex's writing." He revealed in which had Harry reaching for it.
"I know. She slipped it into my pocket and told me to go." Hunter recounted and then looked around again. "Where is she?"
"What do you mean?" Hermione wondered curiously.
"She left the room before I did." Hunter explained. "I thought she was already here." Hunter admitted worriedly.
"If she's not with us and she wasn't with you…" Amelia trailed off as they all Came to the same conclusion at almost the exact same time.
Alex entered the center command room at the same time that Hunter was going through the portal off of the island. The time on the watch read two minutes. The only one in the room was Lily, who had her back to Alex, upon hearing the door open she turned.
"Alex. What do you need?" She questioned evenly in greeting before turning back to the desk.
"Did you really think it would work?" Alex questioned as she took slow steps forward.
"What?" Lily asked confused but didn't look up again.
"Your plan. All of it. Your pick. Did you really think it would work?" Alex clarified and repeated. Lily froze in her motions and slowly turned to look at Alex who was now only two feet away. Lily was immediately drawn to Alex's eyes as her own widened slightly.
"You flipped your own switch." Lily muttered in realization and shook her head in disbelief. "That's not possible. At the very least you need a reminder." She mumbled to herself but was still loud enough for Alex to hear.
"Oh but I had one." Alex reached into her own pocket and pulled out a folded up paper before tossing it onto the desk. Lily swallowed before picking it up and unfolding it. She skimmed the page before looking up at Alex.
"Where did you get this?" She demanded.
"It's always the same with anyone looking for power. You all think you're unbeatable and can't be touched." Alex chuckled. "That's where you made the same mistake that everyone else has. You underestimated me."
As Lily and Hunter were leaving the twin Oracles, a paper caught Alex's eye. She grabbed it and skimmed it before folding it up and taking it, leaving the room behind.
The night their switch was flipped, they were sitting in there own rooms, alone. A crinkle in the pillow case got Alex's attention. She reached in and found a folded up paper. Unfolding it, she read.
The Master Of Elements become mindless slaves of Death, killing without mercy nor remorse. A reminder can be it all it takes but never shall be allowed one.
It's the people that matter most to us that make us wish to remain whole. We can not be whole without every piece of ourselves, emotions and all.
It is these people that will free the masters from their cursed duties.
It is them, who will restore the masters to their rightful place as the most powerful immortals alive. Without emotions, what is there to truly fight for?
Upon finishing the last line, it got Alex thinking. What was it referring to? Who? Why would emotions make them more powerful?
"Because having something to fight for makes wars worth winning." Her own voice sounded distantly from somewhere. Looking around, she noticed the setting changed. She were now in a bedroom and to people were sitting on the bed, side by side. It was herself beside a younger Harry, fourteen at most. She smiled slightly as she remembered the memory.
"How do you do it? Win wars against monsters and titans and primordials?" Harry had asked Alex as they entered the room. She was leaving again.
"Because I have a reason to win." She smirked as if knowing something he didn't.
"What?" Harry questioned curiously head tilted.
"I have something to get back to." The smirk was still there as they sat down. "Because having something to fight for makes wars worth winning. Remember that."
"Why do I need to remember it?" Harry asked confused. Alex's smirk diminished slightly as it now held a slightly sad element to it.
"One day you might need to remember that. We are always stronger when we have something to fight for. It's something you should always remember. Just in case."
The memory swirled as it faded and Alex was back in her room. She was hit with a sharp pain in her head as her own words took affect.
"Now who seems full of themselves." Lily sneered. Alex smirked and shook her head.
"More like honest. You showed us how you know what happens. And not only that but somethings are even future events. That was a mistake. Did you really think I wouldn't take advantage of any mistakes you made? If so, you give me to much credit. I'm not that noble. Hell, noble doesn't even come close to any word someone would use to describe me. But none of that's really important right now." In perfect sync, as Alex finished the last word a blast could be heard from somewhere in the compound. And they only keep happening.
Lily was looking around frantically before she turned and hit a button. Two portals opened. One for the main shore and the other for the backup compound. "Now it seems like you have a choice!" Lily shouted over the loud blasts. "Who are you going to chose?! The sister that always stood by you! Or the family that gave up on you like a lost cause? Choose!" Lily yelled as the ground began to tremble and the portals shook. Alex looked at one of the portal, gazing at it. It would take her off the island, out of the compound and to the other. Silently, she apologized to everyone before looking at Lily.
"I started this by bringing you back! Because I wanted us to stand together! That's how this is going to end! Together." Alex shouted over the blasts occurring all over the compound. The walls and floor shook.
"Then lets go!" Lily gestured to the other portal, the one that would led to her backup compound back in Britain. Alex shook her head.
"I think you misunderstood! This ends with us together! This ends for good!" Alex shouted. Lily's eyes widened as she began to understand. The ground shook again almost throwing them off their feet.
"You can die on your own then!" Lily screamed before she turned towards the portal. Time was running low as Alex reached forward quickly and grasped Lily's hand pulling her back. She spun Lily roughly so they stood face to face. Alex held tightly onto Lily's arms as she struggled and fought to get away.
"I'm not letting you leave here. We both end here!" Alex shouted over the explosions as they rippled the compound and island itself. Fire filed the halls of the compound rushing all the more closer.
"I'll see you there then!" Lily barked as the fire entered on both hallways into the room as it overcame the room the portals closed in unimaginable waves of magic that washed over the island as the entire island burst into flames in an explosion so big it created a explosion of water that soared sky high.
Harry, Hermione, Sirius, Amelia, Hunter and Luna whipped around at the sound of the massive explosion.
"No." Harry muttered. He shook his head and looked around, there was no sign of her. It was only the explosion of water from where the island should've been got his attention and everyone else's. They all looked up only to see the water falling from the sky and back into the ocean which was now void of any island that many of been in a five mile radius. "No, she had to have gotten off in time." Harry protested. "She always does. Her powers-"
"Wouldn't have worked with the dampeners in the walls." Hunter interrupted grimly. Harry looked at him in disbelief and shook his head vehemently.
"In the end she saved us all." Amelia said quietly. Harry rounded on her.
"No. She always gets out of it. She can't be dead. She-she can't." Harry cried as he fell to his knees, tear tracks treaded down his cheeks. "She wasn't supposed to save us all. She was supposed to save herself." He whispered in despair. Sirius's hand came up to his mouth cupping it as he shook his head and walked a few paces away and looking down at his feet, eyes glassy.
"She saved me. And now she's gone." Hunters voice was empty.
"If she's immortal how would she die?" Hermione questioned confused from her place holding Harry, looking between the distraught and sad group.
"She's immortal unless killed in battle." Hunter answered blankly, lips pressed tightly together as he stared as where the island once was.
"And it was a war." Harry mumbled nearly inaudibly. His voice was broken, he was broken.
That was where they remained for sometime. Sirius standing away from the group with Amelia hugging and comforting him. Hunter standing staring blankly in the direction the island had been with an arm around Luna's shoulders holding her to him in a hug as she had her face buried in his chest. The finally, Harry and Hermione. Harry who was kneeling in the sand holding onto Hermione desperately and Hermione who was holding him knowing there was nothing else she could do but be there.
But one thing was the same for at least one person in each other the pairings, they had lost someone important to them. Someone they held some type of connection to. Each in their own way. They lost someone that everybody hopes to never lose but does at one time or another. They lost someone they loved.
Damn. This was something I honestly never wanted to do in the beginning. I never even considered the possibility of killing Alex off. Never entertained the idea until about half way through and I got an idea as to how I wanted to end it. I had the idea for this style led in ending before I even had any idea how I would get to it. Anyway, what did you think? Did it sustain the climax? Worth it? See you in the next and last chapter. -DS
