Ghost stories-and other tales Chapter 88: Epikaos8, a rise of the guardians fanfic

I'm SO SORRY!

I know I said I would be updating again, but the day I posted Prank War my sister was admitted to the Emergency Room with Preeclampsia, and in order to save her life and her baby's life, they had to do a C-section and take the baby out THREE MONTHS EARLY.

My nephew was born at 2 pounds and two ounces, and we have been at the hospital nonstop for the past few weeks, not to mention I was living at my sister's house taking care of her two other kids until she was released from the hospital and well enough to drive on her own without popping any stitches.

BUT! My little nephew is completely off the ventilator, he doesn't need an IV anymore, and he is even able to accept his mommy's milk! Basically the only thing keeping them from taking him home is the doctors want him in the incubator until he is at least five pounds.

Now….Epikaos!

"And now, ladies and gentleman, the moment you've all been waiting for…It's a do or die battle of the bands!"

Jack took a deep breath, his shaking hands gripping the microphone, and then ran onstage. It was time for them to finally put this demon to bed, and end this endless feud. North followed his little brother, he and Aster each grabbing their guitars and slinging them over their heads and resting them comfortably along their side. Tooth jogged onstage, doing a twirl and a bow before taking her place behind the drums, replacing Jack for this one song. Sandy stood, hesitating just for a moment; long enough to look across the stage to where Pitch stood behind the curtain awaiting his turn, and give a confident grin. Tonight was their night, and no one would take it away from them, even if they crashed and burned, at least they would go down fighting.

Aster and North nodded their heads in time, counting down the beats while Sandy got to his post, then began the beginning of their guitar solo. Jack stood in front of the crowd, ready to sing the song of his life, to shatter any thoughts that he was weak, and to make a stand once and for all for their dreams.

Where are the people that accused me?
The ones who beat me down and bruised me
They hide just out of sight
Can't face me in the light
They'll return but I'll be stronger

God, I want to dream again
Take me where I've never been
I want to go there
This time I'm not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it's unmistakable
No one can touch me
Nothing can stop me

Tooth did an impressive combo on the drums, bringing the beat back into the second verse, and Jack once again began to sing, sweat dripping down his face as he belted out the song for the whole audience to hear.

Sometimes it's hard to just keep going
But faith is moving without knowing
Can I trust what I can't see?
To reach my destiny
I want to take control but I know better

God, I want to dream again
Take me where I've never been
I want to go there
This time I'm not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it's unmistakable
No one can touch me
Nothing can stop me

Tapping out the time with his foot, Jack looked down at the floor, feeling the rhythm of the song reach the bridge, and he slowed down, his heart bursting as suddenly the night felt so much bright. He couldn't explain it, but somehow Jack felt like he was lighter than air, floating, like with each note icy white wings were unfurling behind him, and at the climax of the song he would explode in a blast of light and shoot into the sky like a blue rocket and find his freedom in the atmosphere.

Forget the fear it's just a crutch
That tries to hold you back
And turn your dreams to dust
All you need to do is just trust

TRUST

Syncing his breathing with the beats of the beats of the song, Jack smiled wide and sang for all he was worth, pointing a pale finger to the sky.

God, I want to dream again
Take me where I've never been
I want to go there
This time I'm not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it's unmistakable
No one can touch me
Nothing can stop me

NOTHING CAN STOP ME!

The last notes died away, and the audience burst into screams and whistles of appreciation. Jack stood smiling on the stage, his chest heaving; head tilted back, his eyes closed as he absorbed the cheers and applause. This would do, this was what he hoped for, and now he could leave the stage satisfied that he had put his heart and soul into their battle.

The teen's reverie was cut short by strong arms lifting him up, and blue eyes snapped open to see Aster and North placing him on their shoulders, each screaming encouragement to their fans, urging them to shout louder and scream out their band's name.

"EPIKAOS, EPIKAOS, EPIKAOS!"

Tooth and Sandy joined the trio on the stage, pumping their fists, and jumping up and down while Jack lifted his arms high above his head, a wide grin splitting his face.

The announcer raced onstage, his free hand waving the crowds to calm down "Alright, alright!" He shouted over the screaming "if you love them so much, don't forget to vote for them after the battle! Now…Without further ado, Dark Thoughts!"

Pitch wandered onstage, a strange look covering his face, before taking his place behind the main mic. Epikaos did not miss this look, but they back off the stage, looking over the young man currently prepping his guitar. To be honest Pitch looked beyond haggard, he looked like he hadn't slept in the past week since they saw him at the hospital.

And the truth was, he hadn't.

Whether he liked it or not, Pitch had seen the faces of his former siblings play over and over in his mind every time he closed his eyes, and for some reason a small part of him that he thought was dead was slowly resuscitating. Because that night at the hospital after he had left the room, he hadn't walked down the hall, he had stayed standing near the door. Be it because he was giving in to the curiosity of what they would say when he was no longer in the room, or he just didn't feel like leaving yet, Pitch had stood outside the door, and he heard their words. He listened to the sobbed pleas, and whispers of how they wished they could have saved him, and for some reason, those words had caused his iron resolve to give an almost imperceptible crack. Maybe that was why he had decided to go along with their plan, maybe that was why he had so willingly discarded his former scheme to set North up as an unfit guardian, he didn't really know, but what he did know was that he was finding it extremely difficult to sing right now, much less play his guitar.

"Something's wrong with Pitch," Jack whispered.

"Yeah," Aster nodded.

"Is he…alright?" Tooth quavered.

Sandy shrugged his shoulders as his teeth worried his bottom lip and signed "I…don't know."

Pitch started a halfhearted guitar solo, and opened his mouth to sing, but a croak resounded through the stands from the speakers. A fan screamed for Pitch to get off the stage, and the young man flinched visibly. The song that had just been performed by Epikaos swirled in his mind, as he thought about the freedom, light, and sheer joy they showed in their music. While Pitch only ever felt darkness, and chains weighing him down, he felt like there was no escape and all he could find was a suffocating hopelessness that made him groan in pain on his bed until dawn.

He wanted it. He wanted their freedom of song, the joy that shone in their eyes, he wanted his family back.

The realization hit him so hard, that he stumbled backwards from the microphone, and swayed dizzily on his feet. Sandy burst from backstage, immediately grabbing his brother, and twin topaz eyes met without hate or malice for the first time in almost a decade. Tears welled up in Pitch's eyes as he saw his brother gaze at him with concern, and a strangled sob clenched in his chest.

"Why," he whispered brokenly "why do you still care?"

Sandy smiled, and signed with one hand "You're my brother, and I'll always love you."

Suddenly the stage no longer existed, the fans shouting in displeasure faded away, and the agent that was currently shouting and waving his arms with angry confusion dissolved into the night air. Pitch turned around, and slowly wrapped trembling arms around his twin, his fingers digging into the lighter man's shirt as he buried his face into his brother's chest. Heart wrenching sobs shook the two of them, and Pitch clutched his twin to his in an iron clad embrace.

"I'm sorry," he wept "I'm so sorry!"

Sandy merely held his twin, giving him a gentle squeeze in an unspoken "It's ok, I'm here,"

"I-I-" the darker twin choked a muffled plea into Sandy's torso "I want to g-go home, I-I w-want to be a f-family again…please…"

"All you have to do is ask,"

Pitch snapped his head up, red eyes gazing on the rest of the band, Tooth standing next to him, one delicate hand covering his fist as lavender eyes twinkled at him happily. "Really?" Pitch whispered "Even after I hurt you?"

"Aw mate," Bunny chuckled softly "what kind of family would we be if we didn't forgive ya after ya bawl like a baby in front of hundreds of fans?"

"Yeah," Jack laughed "besides, if we could choose between staying mad at each other or letting bygones be bygones… Well, I think we all know what we would choose."

"Agreed," North nodded, though his stormy blue eyes still showed a hint of hurt "but I cannot say that amends will not have to be made."

"I understand," Pitch replied his topaz eyes dropping to the floor in shame "I don't know what I can do, but I want to make it up to you…somehow."

"How about you make it up to me by telling me…What is GOING ON?!"

The group jumped at the booming voice of their announcer, who was currently standing next to them chest heaving, and eyes bugged with anger. North winced while the others scrambled to explain themselves before Pitch cut them all off.

"I'm resigning," he said firmly "Dark Thoughts is pulling from the competition."

"WHAT?!" the man screamed "But what about all those fans?! And what about the inevitable refunds for the obvious lack of show that they are getting?! These people paid for a concert, not an onstage SOAP OPERA!"

"WAIT!" Jack shouted bringing all attention to him "If they want a concert, we'll give them a concert, Pitch you're still singing the next song. That way they still hear both of us and at the end they can still vote but no matter who wins the loser doesn't have to step away from the music business!"

The group stayed silent before nods and smiles broke out among the ranks. "Alright," the announcer sighed tolerantly "we'll hold the battle as is, the next song still belongs to Dark Thoughts, now hurry up and get on with it!"

"RIGHT!"

Pitch stepped back to the microphone, clearing his throat and looking over the faces of his fans. Suddenly his fingers felt lighter with the knowledge of his family waiting for him backstage, and a song bubbled up in his heart.

I've given up on giving up slowly, I'm blending in so
You won't even know me apart from this whole world that shares my fate
This one last bullet you mention is my one last shot at redemption
because I know to live you must give your life away

And I've been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I've been locked inside that house all the while You hold the key
And I've been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there's no way in knowing where to go, promise I'm going because
I gotta get outta here
I'm stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I gotta get outta here
And I'm begging You, I'm begging You, I'm begging You to be my escape.

I'm giving up on doing this alone now
Cause I've failed and I'm ready to be shown how
He's told me the way and I'm trying to get there
And this life sentence that I'm serving
I admit that I'm every bit deserving
But the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair

Slowing down for the bridge, Pitch smiled a brilliant grin to his fans, taking a deep breath he continued to sing the song that was being crafted specifically as a first step in apologizing and starting a new life with his family.

I am a hostage to my own humanity
Self detained and forced to live in this mess I've made
And all I'm asking is for You to do what You can with me
But I can't ask You to give what You already gave

Cause I've been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I've been locked inside that house all the while you hold the key
And I've been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there's no way in knowing where to go, promise I'm going because
I've gotta get outta here
I'm stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I've gotta get outta here
And I'm begging You, I'm begging You, I'm begging
You to be my escape.

I fought You for so long
I should have let You in
Oh how we regret those things we do
And all I was trying to do was save my own skin
But so were You

So were You

The song ended, and once again the place was filled with cheers, making Pitch and his band shout and whistle. Glancing backstage, the darker twin grinned when Sandy flashed his brother two thumbs up, and the young man responded with his own.

As the band walked offstage, the announcer ran to the middle and shouted into his microphone "Get out your cell phone ladies and gents! Text WINNER to the number on your ticket that corresponds to the band you prefer, and let's see who gets to go to LA!"

The two bands waited anxiously backstage as the clock ticked, and countless cell phones typed in who they think should win. Finally the results were in, and the man who would announce their fate was given a card. "The winner, after looking at the results given by the fans, is….EPIKAOS!"

Screams of triumph echoed into the night air, and tooth joined in with high pitched shrieking as she tackled Aster in a hug "We're going to LA!"

North grabbed his younger brother, and spun him around in a wild dance "We won!"

Sandy tugged on their hands, signaling that they needed to go onstage and thank their fans, but were met halfway by the band Dark Thoughts. "Guys," Pitch smiled as he held out a hand for a congratulatory handshake "you deserved this win."

"Well technically they didn't win."

Once again the entire group turned to look on the speaker only to freeze in surprise. A thin woman, accompanied by two other men walked onstage, dressed in fashionable suits, and steely eyes that assessed the musicians standing before them. "We only chose them because the tour in LA is for a crowd that is suited to their genre of music."

"Seriously?" Jack choked.

"Yes," the woman quipped back "it's called show business, granted you both have talent, but we merely came to see which newcomer would best suit the masses that would be in attendance of the show that will be performed. According to new statistics, young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five enjoy the uplifting youthful music instead of the darker tones that Dark Thoughts presents. But obviously that could change within a season, and then we'll be bringing Dark Thoughts in and leaving Epikaos out. It's how the system works."

"So all of this means…?" Jack sighed impatiently.

"It means that you are in," The woman replied as she walked offstage "and Dark Thoughts will be on our call list for next season."

Jack blinked "I feel like I got hit by snowplow," he said slowly.

"If that's our new agent," Bunny sighed "then we are in for a world of hurt."

"Oh I don't know," Tooth chirped hopefully "she doesn't seem so bad. Maybe once you get past her glacial features, and iron heart, she's probably pretty nice!"

The group lay silent for a moment before exploding into a round of laughter "You just keep thinking that Toothy," North guffawed.

Pitch sighed, enjoying the easy camaraderie of his siblings. He had forgotten the warmth of laughing with them, and how comfortable it was to be with his family without any grudges or hate standing between them. And now for first time in a long time, he was finally home.

EPIKAOS is now…Finished!

Hope ya'll enjoyed it!

The songs used in this segment were Unbreakable by the band Fireflight, and Be My Escape by the band Relient K.

Thanks for your patience and love!

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