"We cannot blame Ash, we don't know what the poison has done to her." Ricky argued as he and the rest of the Guardians, minus Ash, could be found in the HOK, having an emergency meeting, trying to decide what should be done after Ash's violent outburst.
"Agreed, but at the same time, she's still dangerous, trust me I know." Troy said as he rubbed a sore spot on his chest where Ash had pinned him earlier.
"You made things a lot worse by opening your mouth Troy." Marty said with a serious tone.
"I apologized for that, it honestly slipped out, but in a way I guess it's a good thing, for we finally saw the full extent of the poisons power." Troy said in a serious tone.
"Perhaps," RZ began as he had been silent throughout the Guardians meeting, merely observing and listening to their conversation, but also analyzing the footage of the battle, "but as Ricky said, we don't know the full extent of Endgame's poison." RZ said wisely, as Ish and Joseph where rubbing their chins in contemplation, neither having said a word during the entire meeting, but that would not last for long as the group turned to look at the two silent Guardians.
"Ish, Joseph, what do you two think?" Marty asked his friends.
"I can see both sides of the argument," Joseph began with a sigh, "Ash might be poisoned, but she did let those emotions get the better of her, but at the same time she did gain control." Joseph said with his own serious tone.
"Ish?" Ricky asked, hoping his leader would finally join the discussion.
"I don't think he's in a mood to talk." Tua said simply as he folded his arms, and tired to think of the reasons why Ish was not joining in, and their were several options.
"If all arguments have been heard, I think it's time to vote," Troy began, and that earned a look from Ish, "Ish I'm sorry, I honestly am, but you have to acknowledge that Ash is a potential danger to all of us-." Troy began as Ash unexpectedly entered the HOK, even though she had been asked to wait outside by everyone till after the vote had concluded.
"Guys, I'll make the vote easier for you," Ash said with a tear in her eyes as she walked over to where her NFL-R, lied on the floor, walked up to Ish, and handed it to him, "I can't be a Guardian anymore, not with Endgame in my head, trying to use me to destroy you guys, for that reason, I'm turning in my NFL-R." Ash said as she held back a sob as Ish took the NFL-R in his hands and before he could reply, she turned around and ran out of the HOK, tears rolling down her face.
"I can't believe that just happened." Ricky said in a low whisper, that everyone heard clearly, as Ish pocketed her NFL-R, and ran after the red-headed Guardian, as Ricky took a step to follow him, Joseph put a hand on his shoulder, and as soon as Ricky turned to face his friend and ask why, a head shake and a look from Joseph said it all without any words being needed.
"Ash, slow down!" Ish called after her as he finally caught up to her on the sidewalk leading away from the Hall of Fame.
"Ish, what do you want, I just want to be alone." Ash said as she continued to cry.
"I think being alone is the last thing you need right now, I think you need company." Ish said in a caring tone as he put a hand on Ash's shoulder, which earned a brief smile from Ash, but it quickly evaporated and was replaced by a grimace.
"Ish, just face it, while Endgame is in my head, I am a danger." Ash said in a defeated tone as they continued to walk down the sidewalk.
"Ash, she might be in your head, but she cannot control you-." Ish began as Ash spoke up and silenced him.
"Ish, she did control me, she's using me to destroy you and everyone else, I'm a living weapon." Ash said in a sad tone.
"Ash, she might have controlled you, but she cannot break you, nobody can." Ish said, and that surprised Ash.
"Ish, lets face the facts here, I am broken, and I doubt I can be fixed." Ash said as she began to cry a little harder.
"Everything that's broken can be fixed, expect for you Ash, for you are not broken, you are the strongest willed person I know, and that's no joke, and Endgame cannot break you." Ish said with a smile on his face as he tried to encourage his best friend.
"I already am." Ash said in a defeated whisper, which Ish heard clearly.
"You might not see it Ash, but Endgame must be afraid of you if she wants to destroy you, you've got her sacred Ash." Ish said in an encouraging tone, and that surprised Ash.
"I think she's scaring me more than I'm scaring how, and also... how the heck am I scaring her!" Ash yelled in annoyance, her eyes though remained green.
"Think about it Ash, she must know you are powerful, you've stood up to Sudden Death, Wild Card, the Anticorians, and now Endgame, as I said, you are the strongest person I've ever known, and that will never change." Ish said with a smile as he put his hand on Ash's shoulder again, and Ash finally let loose a big smile, as she took a risk and gave Ish a big hug, Ish was surprised by this, but he did not hesitate as he hugged her right back, and they both could feel the flutter in their hearts, as this moment could pass, but the feelings they where feeling now had been ignited, and they would not be put out easily.
I thought you all might like this emotional moment, take a break from all the darkness.