Alright guys here's the next chapter. I am so sorry it took me so long to get this out, I have been incredibly busy, and I haven't had much time to write. I hope you all can forgive and I'll try to get another chapter out real quick as an apology.
Before I start though, I would like to address something real quick.
I know how this might sound but I just wanted everyone to know this up front. I did not write this chapter or the previous one as any sort of commentary on current event occurring in the United States. I'm a huge fan of Bioshock and I loved Bioshock Infinite. I simply added in the story and showed how the two characters that I've developed would react.
You have Luna who was bullied when she was younger and then later trained by Riley who taught her not to waste her time caring about bullies. And then you have Riley who slaughtered everyone in Konoha because she viewed them as bullies, and hateful people and because they had openly attacked her mates and friends.
Columbia, as it is written is a place of extreme racism, and bigotry. You can't even compare it to the times as the people of Columbia have been shown rounding up mixed race couples to pelt them with baseballs. Use people of color as human sacrifices, like the raven worshipers did, and even have them used as a source of cheep labor. It isn't a modern view set, to show that the people of Columbia are extremists, and that those who aren't are the exception, not the rule.
In Columbia this bigotry and hatred are bred into them. They are taught since birth to hate and ridicule people of other races and religions, and that it's not only alright to ridicule them but to harm them as well. When I refer to the people of Columbia, I am quite literally referencing a cult. If you haven't played the game then I wont blame you for thinking I'm writing these people out of context, but if that is the case then you need to go and at least read of Synapsis of Bioshock Infinite, or at least about Columbia, because this place is uncharacteristically bad. Even seen through the eyes of Booker who is from that era, that place is fanatical.
One of my reviewers stated that Columbia was like a Nazis' ideal dream city. And they weren't far off. Now… on top of being a place of fanaticism, bigotry, hatred, and racism, the people of Columbia were also preparing for war with the rest of the world. I shit you not, Comstock was gearing the city up for war, that makes them a threat, one that Riley would simply destroy, once it presented itself. And as a final note, Riley did say to father Comstock before Skorge killed him, that everything he had done to Elizabeth, Riley would repay a thousand times over, on the people of Columbia, so I think they've sealed their fates.
Now… as I said at the end of the last chapter, this small arc will be finished after this chapter. I plan on doing one more little side adventure before returning to the main story for a while, so keep offering suggestions for me.
Broken Angel
Chapter 63
"RAAM, Skorge… track down the Vox leader, Daisy Fitzroy. Contact me once she is located. Kill any police or military personnel you come across. Kill anyone who gets in your way." Riley ordered as she sealed Father Comstock's body into Kamui for later use.
"Right!/Right!" Both of her familiars growled in reply before racing off. They were headed in the direction of Finkton, the cities main manufacturing district.
Riley proceeded through the city earning amazed and terrified looks from people as she walked down the streets. She made it a few blocks before a group of soldiers appeared in her path.
"Stop! The street is closed." The nearest one shouted, before noticing her wings.
A few people nearby gazed at her in terrified awe as she stood passively before the line of soldiers. It seemed they were busy looking for Riley and Luna, and had closed off a section of the city that the two had already been in. Guess they hadn't heard about what happened to their prophet yet.
Right about then, Riley began to feel anger permeate through her bond with Luna. Riley guessed that her mate had made it to the tower, and had seen the labs. Riley knew of them through Comstock's memories. She knew of the experiments. Of the spying. She knew that they had her daughter caged like an animal. She knew how they kept her power shackled and absorbed it for their own use. And most importantly… Riley knew just what kind of painful twisted experiments they had performed on the girl. She could see them clearly through Comstock's memories. See how they dragged an unconscious Elizabeth into the labs, when she was still just a little girl, how they performed tests on her, and even removed her pinky finger for other tests. The thought caused a snarl to erupt from her lips.
They removed her less and less from her prison over the years, with the last time being about seven months ago. To see her daughter experimented on… to know that the two held similar pain from their childhoods, ensured that Riley would deliver no mercy onto these people. In her eyes, they had few redeeming qualities. These people reminded her too much of the people of Konoha. She didn't care that they came from an entirely different time. She didn't care that their bigotry may have been more normal in this day and era. The fact that they reminded her of Konohagakure no Sato, combined with the fact that they were planning to attack the rest of the world, added in with the what she now knew of her daughter's suffering, ensured their demise.
"What will you do with the children here? Surely they could be of some use? Plus you have the Vox. With those two groups plus what we now know about the creation of Vigors and Salts, ensures you could gain a powerful force, if you play your cards right." Hashirama reminded her. He was always one to protect life when he could. And while he agreed Columbia, in it's current form, must be destroyed, just like Konoha, he never agreed with the slaughtering of children. If it had to be done, then it should be done quickly and painlessly. By using Kurama in the attack against Konoha, it ensured that the children present would die quickly. It was the most that could be asked for in the situation. This however was different as you weren't going to fit Kurama's massive body onto this floating city, so that meant this would take a bit longer. So if it was possible to keep the children alive, and rehabilitate them, then Hashirama would as least try.
He was aware of how angry Riley was though so he tried not to make it sound like he was forcing her to reconsider. Only her mates had ever been able to disway Riley's rage when it was at this level.
His question managed to pierce her anger, and Riley mulled it over for a moment. She had already planned on using the Vox to eradicate the Founders and Columbia's fighting force, but she hadn't considered what to do with the children.
They may not be magical, but with the addition of Vigors and Salts, that didn't mean as much as it used too. So… with a few moments of thought, Riley came to a decision. In a burst of speed her tails shot out and speared the squad of guards.
The group of nearby on-lookers let out screams of terror and shock and immediately started to retreat. Riley simply let out a chuckle as she proceeded past the police blockade. Just like before, the police and soldiers quickly targeted her and launched a desperate attack to try and stop her advance. Dozens of armed men and woman rushed at her, and Riley unleashed a flurry of magical and physical attacks.
The carnage and bloodshed that followed would forever ingrain itself into peoples nightmares. As she cut through the squads of soldiers, Riley was making her way towards one of that tallest buildings in the city. She had plans to place Comstock's body there as a warning, and a declaration of her intent.
She moved quickly through the streets. The few guards or soldiers that got in her way were easily dispatched.
Even as she moved through the streets, Riley was busy scouring Fink's memories, gaining a better understanding of the Vigors and Salts. What they truly were? Where they came from? All of that. She was running scenario's through her mind, if it was possible to condition a group of regular people young, to accept the magic of the vigors so that they pass that magic on to their children, then maybe she could breed magic into these people.
Riley had noticed that the children running around Columbia, had more magic then the adults, which she began to attribute to the Vigors. Meaning, if she could get the people of Columbia on a Vigor and Salt regiment and keep them on it from a young age, by the time they made it to her own time, two or three generations would have passed and maybe the magical potency of those that made it that far would be high enough to qualify as magical.
It bore looking in to, and she was most certainly scouring Fink's mind for more info. With this, not only could she gain Columbia as a powerful base for later use, but also a large army of magically powerful and loyal followers.
She already had plans on how to control Daisy Fitzroy, she just needed to find the woman first.
-Meanwhile-
"This could finally be our chance Daisy. The Founder's forces are going crazy fighting someone in the streets. We could use this to our advantage." Daisy Fitzroy was in a serious discussion with her lieutenants. She had been informed of the two woman launching an attack on the raffle and freeing the couple there. Now the whole city was being rattled as gunshots sounded off constantly.
"I got a call from one of my boys over in Finkton. He says the officers there are going nuts. He says Fink was one of the first to go down." Another of her allies stated.
"What do we know about the people doing this?" Daisy asked her collection of followers.
"Two women. Young. They look like teenagers. But they're wielding some form of vigors that I've never even heard of. One, a dainty little blonde haired white girl that couldn't be more then fifteen, took down the same number of men during the attack at the raffle. The other, a dark haired woman, looks a bit Asian, probably a mix of Asian and white, moved like I ain't ever seen before. Dropped a half dozen armed guards in the time it took me to blink." Yet another of her men, informed her.
"I'm telling you… we should use this opportunity. I heard a rumor from hightown, the founders are scrambling, no one knows where the so called prophet went." The first man said again.
"Comstock's missing?" Daisy inquired, as everyone turned their attention to the man who had spoke.
"From what I hear. No one's seen him in over an hour, and in the middle of an attack, that could only mean one thing." He stated.
A few people let out laughs or smiled at the thought. If Comstock was dead, then the time for a revolution was most definitely at hand.
"Settle down everyone. We still have an issue we need to resolve before anything can happen." Daisy calmed the crowd as they grew more excited by the prospect of their enemy being gone.
"Yeah. We need weapons. If Fink is gone, maybe we can get the Gunsmith down in Finkton to start working for us?" One suggested.
"Yeah… that might work." Daisy mused. Right then, the doors to their hideout flew open and two massive figures stepped in. Everyone inside shot to their feet, grabbing anything nearby to use as a weapon.
They quickly focused on the two at the door, and found themselves staring down, RAAM and Skorge.
"Oh…. Shit…"
-At the same time-
Riley stood atop one of the tallest buildings in the city. Nearby strung up by his feet, was the corpse of Comstock, put on display for all to see.
She spotted a large airship moving towards her. It's gun aimed in her direction.
With a single handsign, Riley released a massive fireball from her lips. It shot right towards the airship and completely consumed it.
For a moment, Riley stood in silent contemplation. Finally she glanced around the floating city and spoke. Her voice amplified by the Sonarus spell.
And unlike the magicals that had some minor resistance to the immense charisma and influence in her Youki, the muggles that lived here, had no such resistance. Everyone stopped as she began to speak and her ghastly words filled the air.
"People of Columbia… Father Comstock… is dead." She began, and like that, the fuel needed for a revolution was ignited.
-Meanwhile-
"I'm your mother." Luna stated with a smile.
"Wh-what? That's… that's impossible. You… you're younger then I am." Elizabeth replied as she eyed Luna in confusion.
"You know better. I'm sure you realized long ago that the holes you can create don't just lead to other places, but times as well." Loki countered.
Elizabeth looked thoughtful for a moment before focusing her full attention on Luna. "You're really my mother?"
"One of them. Yes." Luna answered.
"One of them?" Elizabeth parroted.
"Yes. Like I said, I am Luna Lovegood. Your sire is Riley. Riley Slytherin Gyffindor Ravenclaw Uzumaki Uchiwa Senju Black." Luna listed out all of Riley's technical last names. Now that Lily, Minato, and Tsunade were dead, Riley was the head of Ravenclaw, head of the Uzumaki, and the heir of the Senju clan since the title passed to Kushina.
"That's… a lot of names." Elizabeth noted.
"She's the head of a lot of influential and powerful families." Luna clarified.
"She? You're both… girls?" Elizabeth inquired, as even more confusion washed over her.
"Well no. I'm a girl. Riley is actually whatever gender she wants to be. She identifies as female most of the time, but due to the fact that she has full control over her physical body, she can change her gender at will, so technically she can be whatever she wants to be. From my understanding, she changed her sex to allow for your conception." Luna explained.
"That's amazing. So… you're from another time? You can do the things I can do?" Elizabeth questioned as excitement began to build within her. She had always wanted to know more about who she was and why she could do the things she did. Now she might just have some answers.
"Sadly I cannot do the things that you can. If I could, maybe I could actually locate a Snorkack." Luna replied, unintentionally slipping around the daughter she shared with Riley.
"Then how did you get here? Was it… my other mother?" Elizabeth inquired, still a bit unsure of how to address Riley.
"No. Actually an alternate version of you from another timeline tracked Riley down and offered her a way to find all of our children in this timeline. You see… this alternate version of you wanted to have her family reunited but, because you and the other's exist in this timeline, and she doesn't she'd never feel at home here. So she contacted Riley and asked her to reunite all of her lost siblings. In all truths, I'm only fifteen. I haven't had you yet and I might never actually have you. But we share the same blood, and the same genetics. We are family. And when we were offered the chance to find you and the others. We took it." Luna explained. Elizabeth meanwhile had taken a seat to process all that she had just learned.
Elizabeth was by no means ignorant of the multiverse. She had seen alternate realities and versions of herself through the tears, but she was never brave enough to actually venture through to meet them. So that part wasn't overly confusing. In fact it made total sense. But then, why was she here? How did she get here?
"If what you say is true. Then where do I come from? How did I get here?" Elizabeth inquired.
"Well… Riley and I live in Britain. As for how you got here. From what your alternate self told us… there was an attack when you were a baby. You accidentally used your powers to protect yourself and your siblings but it caused all of you to be scattered throughout the multiverse. Since then, timelines have come into being where you exist naturally, and this is one of them. So… technically speaking you aren't an Elizabeth from another time. You are this timelines, Elizabeth, who's appearance was due to time travel. Make sense?" Luna answered.
"Yeah… it makes more sense then you might realize. What year do you come from?" Elizabeth inquired.
"When we left it was the year 1996." Luna replied.
"1996. So… you came here to take me away from this place right?" Elizabeth inquired hopefully.
"Yes. We came here to take you home. Where we can all be a family." Luna replied with a smile.
Elizabeth's face lit up at that. She had only ever dreamed of actually having a family. She was so lonely in her tower. No friends. No people to talk to. Nothing but books and the occasional visit from her jailor. She wanted to be free. She wanted to see the world.
"What's Paris like in 1996?" Elizabeth inquired as she thought about being free to explore and live her life.
"It's quite nice from what I hear. One of my fellow mates is French, so she could tell you more." Luna answered.
"Fellow mates?" Elizabeth parroted back in confusion.
"Oh… I'm in a polygamous relationship with Riley. She actually has three other mates. One she's due to marry soon." Luna explained.
"Wow… that's… interesting." Elizabeth replied. She was curious how something like that worked. She had no experience in the relationship field and her isolation in her tower meant that she had little in the way of judgment towards a multiparty relationship so she merely accepted it.
Right then, a series of smaller explosions rocked the tower and everyone's eyes were drawn to the window.
"What is going on out there?" Elizabeth asked, fearfully.
"'Riley' is what's going on. The city out there isn't what you would call ideal for someone like Riley. There are a lot of hatred and malicious people out there. Since we got here, a multi-race couple was tied up and raffled off to be pelted with baseballs. We learned that only a certain race of people can hold any meaningful position, while the rest are forced to wash floors and do other menial labor. We also found some poor Asian man being fed to Ravens. Needless to say, there is a great deal of hatred in the city below. This place reminds Riley too much of Konoha in the way it treats people who are different or whom they view as threats. Plus one of Riley's mates is a Veela, a non-human being, and so the racism, hits a little close to home for Riley. Plus it probably doesn't hurt that Riley is technically half Asian. Or at least she was..." Luna stated, earning a shocked and sickened look from Elizabeth.
Elizabeth for her part didn't understand racism or bigotry. She had never been exposed to it, so the concept of judging someone based on their skin color, or their place of birth was completely foreign to her. It all truths, Elizabeth only cared for social interaction. She only ever wanted a friend to talk to. Someone to spend time with. So people hurting people for whatever reason was abhorrent to her.
"My other mother is causing these explosions?" Elizabeth asked as she looked out the window and spotted an airship moving into position near a tall building only for it to be consumed in a massive fireball.
"My god..." Elizabeth mumbled in disbelief.
"Riley is dispatching Columbia's military forces. I think she intends to take the city for her own." Luna mused, earning a nod from Loki, telling her that she was right.
"So she's killing people?" Elizabeth asked with fear lacing her tone.
"Yes. Lot's of them. I think she intends to force the Vox Populi into a revolt to overthrow the founders. And then if I had to guess, I would say she plans on ensuring the Vox run this city according to her will, so that it can used by us later on in the future." Luna guessed.
"That's horrible." Elizabeth muttered as she thought of all the people dying.
"Is it? I used to think so as well. I used to think that all life was sacred. That by killing someone, you were lowering yourself to their level. That you were just as bad as them. But… my views have changed. Killing is in our nature as humans. People kill for all kinds of reasons. Some kill out of hatred and racism. Some kill for their religious beliefs. Some kill for their countries. Some to protect themselves. I kill for a simple reason. To protect that which I love. If someone poses a threat to my loved ones… then I'll kill them and be done with it. Criminals, monsters, hateful people, these kinds of people are a threat to those I love. Does it make it wrong to kill them? You could argue that. In my experience Elizabeth there is no excuse for killing. There is nothing that truly 'excuses' the act. But… there are reasons. I have mine… and they help me sleep at night. They ensure that I never think twice about the person I've put down. I just remind myself that this person could have hurt my loved ones… and it makes any guilt I might feel go away." Luna explained to her earning confusion and surprise from Elizabeth.
For Elizabeth, it was surprising to hear that this young, petite girl had killed before.
"So… It's alright to kill people because they might hurt you?" Elizabeth asked with disbelief.
"No. But to me… it alright to kill someone who 'will' hurt you. Or someone you care for." Luna replied.
"I don't understand." Elizabeth replied.
"I don't go down the streets killing everyone I see because they might hurt me. But if I run into a murderer, I know this person is going to hurt someone. That someone could be someone I care for. If I kill this person then they are no longer able to hurt the people I love. If I run into a rapist... I know this person is going to hurt someone else. Someone like me. If I kill him, he can't hurt me or anyone else. Does that make me a murderer? I believe some would think so. I personally don't think it lowers me, to kill those that hurt others. I've only ever killed someone who was a threat to me, or a threat to people in general." Luna explained to her, earning a look of contemplation from Elizabeth.
"But… isn't killing wrong?" Elizabeth asked. She had no experience in this area, only the many books she had read so she honestly didn't know. She herself had never killed anyone and the idea of doing so, terrified her.
"Depending on who you ask. Yes. If I asked a man on the street of Columbia if it was alright to kill a black man, he might say yes depending on who he is. But if I asked the same man if it was alright to kill a white woman, he'd probably say no. If you were to ask me, is it alright to kill a man for no real reason other then to steal his stuff, I would say no. But if you asked me if it was alright to kill a man, because he would hurt you if given the chance, I would probably say yes. It's all a matter of perspective. I think hurting people because of their skin color, or their beliefs in a god, to be wrong. And I wont shed a tear if the people who perpetrate such acts are brutally slaughtered. Why? I don't know. It's just how I feel. And it doesn't matter what color that person is or what beliefs they hold. I would have no love for an Asian person who went around hurting Spanish people, just as I would have no love it if were an Irish man going after Italians. Skin color doesn't matter to me. And by my perspective, attacking someone because of their skin color is wrong. Does that mean I'm right? Who knows. It's all a matter of perspective. The only difference is... I have the power to say what I believe, and back it up. I stand by my words. A large portion of the people down there, are much the same. It doesn't matter which side of the fence they're on. The Vox stand against the Founders, the Founder encourage bigotry, the Vox encourage rebellion, they're all doing something. When you do something, that brings you into it. All of the people down there, standing against Riley, they made that choice with their actions. She doesn't just kill people because they disagree with her. There are racists back home that glare at and ostracize one of her lovers, and she doesn't kill them. There were even people who bullied me, and Riley never killed them. She may have played some pranks on them and scared them, but she never hurt them." Luna replied earning a curious and contemplative look from Elizabeth, while Loki merely smiled at Luna, knowing that Riley would be proud of that answer.
"Why not?" Elizabeth inquired.
"Because they never put their words to action. They have never hurt Fleur, One of Riley's other lovers, or me. They have never tried to harm us. They've glared or sneered or whispered, they've even stolen things from me, but they've never attacked us. And because of that... Riley allows them to live. She instead tries to change them. To change the way things work. But here... it isn't just looks... it's action. Couples being pelted with baseballs, people used as human sacrifices in a building that was quite literally a connecter between two streets. It wasn't even hidden. And then there's you. I'm sure Riley knows just as much as I do about what these people have done to you... It's probably taking everything she has not to just tear this city to shreds." Luna explained earning a very thoughtful look from Elizabeth.
Elizabeth just sat silently for several moments as she mulled over Luna's words. Meanwhile Luna gazed out at the city, wondering to herself if it truly was as odd as Elizabeth seemed to think for Luna to hold this viewpoint. Luna herself had never questioned it. She had never really doubted the things she believed in. But why was that? Why did she hold such convictions? Why did she believe that there could be a good reason for ending a life?
The answer wasn't a difficult one. Riley. It was hard to argue with Riley. It was hard for Riley to seem wrong. Perhaps she was just 'that' charismatic. Maybe it was something else? But Luna never doubted the beliefs she had developed from watching Riley. And many of her friends were much the same.
After several more moments of silence Luna spoke again. "As I noted before, there is probably another reason why Riley is slaughtering the Founders and their army. If this place was just bigoted, she probably wouldn't think twice about it. Riley doesn't exactly have a thin skin about racists. As I said she has to deal with it aimed at Fleur all the time."
"So then why is she attacking this place?" Elizabeth asked when Luna paused.
"For Columbia, it's a combination of things. First off, they were preparing for war with the rest of the world. Secondly these people probably exemplify those back home that hold such beliefs and what they could do if they weren't so terrified of Riley. Thirdly, this 'utopia' probably reminds Riley of her place of Birth. Konoha was a city where only those that belonged to the haves, could flourish. If you were one of the have-not's, then your life was extremely difficult. And the final part, most likely has to do with what she's seen from Comstock's memories in regards to what they had done to you. I mentioned it before, and I'm not sure if you are aware or not, but the people below haven't exactly been treating you right." Luna answered giving Elizabeth a focused look.
Elizabeth had listened as Luna tried to explain Riley's resentment of this place, and for the most part, it actually made sense. If you wanted to think a certain way, that was your right, but when you chose to make it physical, that was when a line was crossed. Thinking and saying things is one thing, but actually attacking someone is something else entirely. But it was that last part that really caught Elizabeth's attention.
"What do you mean? What did they do to me?" Elizabeth asked as her face twisted in confusion.
"Below us, at the base of this statue, are a series of labs, dedicated to studying you. We found charts, films, photos and various documents, detailing experiments they have performed on you, as well as different studies they have conducted over the years." Loki replied when Luna hesitated.
"They were experimenting on me?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes wide in disbelief, her voice filled with fear and disgust.
"Yes. We can show you if you would like." Loki replied.
Luna merely let out a sigh, and then nodded at the direction the two had entered from. Elizabeth was silent for a moment. She felt violated. To her knowledge, she had never left this tower. However… all her life, she was being watched and experimented on. She felt sick. Her eyes fell to her missing pinky and she suddenly felt even worse. Then they fell to her other hand, where the black feather resided. It glowed with unholy flame within and she suddenly felt angry. She glanced up at the two, then in the direction they had pointed. Quickly and with purpose she marched in that direction. She needed to see all of this for herself.
And so they led her back. Elizabeth was firm and focused. Her eyes flitted left and right when they led her to a room she had known all her life, and there, where the mirror had once been, was now an opening that led into an observation room. That was strike one.
They led her back to the elevator and took it down. When they exited, Elizabeth felt feint for a moment. The large machine that was siphoning energy from her, glowed brighter then before.
"What is that thing?" Elizabeth muttered as she clutched her head with discomfort.
"We believe it is drawing upon your power. Either they are trying to weaken you, or they are attempting to harness your power." Loki explained. That was strike two
"This way." Luna stated as she helped Elizabeth through the chamber. When they reached the other side she glanced over at Loki and gave an order. "Loki… I want this place destroyed. Could you take care of that please?"
Loki nodded and smiled, he quickly turned his attention to the chamber and set about planting bomb tags.
Meanwhile Luna led Elizabeth out of the chamber, where the two paused so Elizabeth could catch her breath. Once that was done, Luna led her to the dark room that held dozen and dozens of photos of Elizabeth.
The poor girl could only gawk, wide eyed as she scanned the room. There were pictures of her doing everything from eating to sleeping, to even bathing. She felt violated. These people were watching her, like some sort of animal. She set about the room looking at each picture as the sick feeling in her gut grew.
Eventually Luna led her to the room with the projector. She showed Elizabeth the videos of herself going about her daily life. She watched videos of herself learning to pick locks, or studying code, or even singing and dancing. Each time the slides referred to her as 'subject' she felt even worse.
Luna quickly led her through the labs, showing her everything there was to see. Including the operating tables and restraint chairs that had more then likely seen use at one time. She felt pain sting at where her pinky had been when she saw those things. That had been strike three. At this moment, Elizabeth was feeling so many emotions it would be impossible to describe her current status in a single word.
Eventually they made it out of the building, and Elizabeth had to step towards the edge and take a deep breath. She felt so violated. Even as explosions rocked the sky and the sounds of gunshots filled the air, she couldn't bring herself to think about it. She could only think of how her whole life had been nothing more then a sick game to these people. She was a lab rat. A bird in a cage. She felt tears sting at her cheeks, as the sickening feeling welled back up.
It took only a few moments but Elizabeth became aware that someone was holding her hand. She then felt a head rest on her shoulder. She glanced over and saw that it was Luna whom was offering her comfort.
"It's alright. Riley will make them pay." Luna whispered.
Elizabeth let out a pained huff, when suddenly a loud screech filled the air.
Elizabeth's eyes shot to the sky. She recognized that sound better then most. It was her jailor and he did not sound happy. She scanned the skies, worried that he was looking for her, when suddenly she spotted him. Soaring high above the city, her metal jailor, the Songbird.
He seemed to be chasing something. A small black dot in the sky. Elizabeth watched her jailor give chase, watched it follow the dot, follow it high above the city then back down towards it. Finally she saw the small black figure turn and fly straight towards Songbird.
Elizabeth felt herself tense. Her rational mind knew what would happen when they collided. A small figure versus a large one, the outcome was simple math. However… this wasn't simple math, and physics mattered little when magic was involved.
To her amazement, it was Songbird that went flying when the two clashed. The giant metal bird plummeted towards the city and collided with some buildings, disappearing from sight.
Elizabeth felt a sudden sense of relief wash over her. She held very little love for her one time friend. All he was to her now, was her jailor. Her eyes drifted up to the sky and she focused on the dark figure in the distance.
It took only a moment for her to realize that the figure was a person. A person with two large black wings jutting from their back. Elizabeth's jaw fell open as her eyes fell to the feather she clutched in her hand. It was glowing brightly even as the wind whipped by them. Elizabeth kept glancing between the feather and figure in the sky as she put the pieces together.
"That's..." Elizabeth gasped out, unable to put her thoughts to words.
"Yes. That's Riley. Quite intimidating isn't she? I'm guessing she's dug through more of Comstock's memories. I wonder if she got to the part where they removed the end of one of your fingers? I would guess… yes." Luna noted.
Elizabeth couldn't believe it... The feather that had always been with her, the odd little item that was a constant companion to her. She now knew where it came from. It was her mother's. All these years, she had, had a piece of her family with her. She clutched the feather to her chest as she watched the winged figure hover in the sky.
"Shall we go and meet her?" Luna inquired.
Elizabeth was silent for a moment as she glanced around at the city. She was finally free. For the first time in her life, she was free.
"Yes. Let's go and meet her." Elizabeth stated as she locked arms with Luna and the two proceeded forward.
A few moments passed before they were joined by Loki. The three walked in relative silence as the sound of fighting and pitched gunbattles filled the air.
The bridge connecting to monument island had been lowered so the three were able to walk away. They were about half way across the bridge when Loki activated the bombs he had planted and a massive explosion tore the great statue in two.
Elizabeth took pause as the statue erupted. She could feel her power swell and grow in ways she never knew it could and yet... the feelings that were running through her mind at the moment prevented her from taking any joy in the renewed feeling of freedom. Instead her mind was focused on her parents. Her two mothers. Man, that was such an odd thing to think and yet, it made Elizabeth happy to think it. She had parents. And they cared for her.
The three proceeded forward for several minutes. As they proceeded, the sound of fighting grew more and more intense. Luna guided Elizabeth over to a wall for cover as the fighting grew closer. The three plastered themselves against the wall as over a dozen armed soldier came running around the corner. The were obviously government troops, and they seemed to be running from something. A few turned to fire back at where they came from only for the entire squad to be sent flying by a massive gust of wind.
Elizabeth felt her heart stop when she heard a loud vicious snarl, if came from just around the corner, and to her amazement and terror, a massive black dog-like creature stalked onto the street.
"Fenrir." Luna greeted pulling herself off the wall. Elizabeth was very hesitant to move, even as the large beast turned and inclined it's head towards Luna.
Fenrir glanced at the three of them, it's sickly yellow eyes glancing over all three of them before settling on Elizabeth. The beast stared at her for several moments before offering a polite bow.
"Don't be afraid. He wont hurt you. Fenrir is another of your mother's familiars." Loki informed Elizabeth who was just now realizing she wasn't in danger from the massive wolf.
"One of my mother's… familiars?" Elizabeth replied as she stared at the shadow wolf. It's skin was as black as night, and all over it's body were strange symbols. The beast towered over her, and held an intimidating and eerie feel to it.
"Yes. A familiars is a servant bound by magic, to serve the master. I am a familiar. So is Fenrir. Your mother created the two of us. In a way, we are siblings, the three of us, all born from mother's power." Loki explained earning a curious gaze from Elizabeth while Luna nodded in agreement.
"That's..." Elizabeth began only for a massive explosion to rip through the sky. They all turned to where the blast had come from and watched in awe as one of the giant airships streaked by, it's hull was ablaze and it was plummeting straight towards the earth.
"We should hurry. If Riley's anger gets the best of her, this city wont be floating for much longer." Luna noted and took Elizabeth's hand. The two started to run, followed quickly by Loki, while Fenrir let out a roar and dashed into the shadows of a nearby alleyway.
The small group rushed through the streets, while Luna was calling out for Riley over their bond. She knew Riley was somewhere nearby, so she just kept moving forward.
They rounded a street corner and found themselves squared off with a group of armed men and woman. There was nearly twenty of them, each one adorned by some sort of solid red coloring.
The large group trained their weapons on the three of them, Loki instantly put himself between Luna and Elizabeth, and the group of gunman.
"Dangerous place to just be running around." One of the gunman warned.
"We're on our way to meet someone. Please let us pass." Luna stated.
"They could be spies." One of the gunman noted.
"You are all members of the Vox Populi. I respect what you are trying to accomplish for this city but if you do not cease with threatening my master's family, I will be forced to harm you." Loki warned.
"Ha… big talk from this guy. You got twenty guns trained on you. Now you best start talkin' lest this turn violent." The leader of the squad ordered.
Loki merely let out a sigh and muttered something under his breath. From Luna's shadow emerged one of the wraith, earning startled gasps from the collection of gunman.
With an earsplitting screech the twenty gunmen fell to the ground, clutching their ears in pain. Faster then lightning, Loki dashed forward, and disarmed all of them.
"What was that?" Elizabeth asked as she pulled her hands away from her ears.
"The wraiths cry. Riley created them to serve as our bodyguards. This is mine, he follows my shadow around. I named him Moonbeam. I didn't know he was still here." Luna replied as the wraith faded back into Luna's shadow.
"Moonbeam?" Loki inquired with a chuckle.
"Yes... what else was I to name him?" Luna inquired, tilting her head curiously.
Loki just stared at her for a moment wondering why at times Luna was the most insightful person on the planet and why other times she was just so odd.
"Magic really is amazing." Elizabeth noted as she stepped over to Luna's shadow and inspected it, but found no trace of the missing wraith.
"Yes. It is quite amazing. Though what you can do is no less amazing." Luna replied earning nod from Elizabeth.
The three proceeded past the group of writhing Vox Populi with Loki giving them an apologetic glance as he passed.
"They seem a bit on edge." Luna noted as they passed onto another street.
"This is their chance to seize the city for themselves and make some changes to the way things work. Of course they'd be hesitant and cautious of anyone and everyone not flying their flag. Still though, they were threatening you two. Mother does not take kindly to threats on her family, even from her allies." Loki stated. Luna nodded while Elizabeth scanned the skies.
It seems Elizabeth was curious to catch a glimpse of Riley again.
The three quickly rounded another corner and came across an interesting sight. The crashed remains of Songbird. The three stood in silence for a few moments when suddenly the massive machine started to move. Slowly the three approached it, the machine was badly damaged, one of it's wings were broken, and much of it's chest had been torn away, either from the impact with Riley or when it crashed.
"You know… he was my first friend. He was the only one to ever be there for me, as far a I knew. But… as I grew up… I began to hate him. Hate him for keeping me locked in that tower. Is it wrong to hate something that doesn't really feel anything?" Elizabeth inquired as she approached her old friend.
"No. A lot of people hate things that can't feel anything back. This thing was created to keep you locked in that tower. But it was your only companion." Luna replied.
Meanwhile Songbird had spotted Elizabeth and was reaching out to her, it's rebreather tube had been dislodged and it wouldn't be going anywhere, anytime soon with all the damage that was done.
"Is it wrong that I still want to help it?" Elizabeth asked sadly.
"No. It just means you're a good person." Luna answered.
"If you help him, he may turn on us." Loki noted.
"That wont matter." Luna stated her eyes on the sky above them. Loki glanced up and found Riley floating down towards them.
It took a few moments but Elizabeth took note of the silence behind her and spun around just as Riley touched down.
Elizabeth stared wide eyed at the winged woman for several moments. She was shrouded in a tattered pitch black cloak, her jet black wings hung elegantly from her back, and her tail swayed by her feet.
"Hello my love. Everything go alright?" Riley inquired to Luna.
"Yes. I saw some things that I didn't like but Loki blew them up for me." Luna replied as she stepped over to Riley and wrapped her arms around her.
"That a girl." Riley replied with a smile beneath her hood, before turning towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked nervous as Riley slowly approached her. The closer Riley got, the more Elizabeth's cherished trinket, began to heat up. She also heard Songbird let out an angry hiss even as it sputtered and faded.
"Hello, my dear." Riley greeted her as she removed her hood.
Elizabeth let out a startled gasp as she looked upon her other mother's face. The eyes, the horns, the sharp teeth, all made her look incredibly frightening and yet… there was a certain beauty to her. Something that Elizabeth just couldn't put her finger on.
"Hello." Elizabeth finally offered a greeting.
"Hmm... She has your eyes Luna." Riley noted.
"But your eye color." Luna replied. Riley offered a nod of agreement. Elizabeth's eyes were the same deep blue that Riley's had been once upon a time.
"She's pretty like you as well Riley." Luna stated after a moment earning a light blush from Elizabeth and a smile from Riley.
"Um... it's nice to meet you. My name's Elizabeth." Elizabeth offered after a moment of silence.
"Riley." Riley responded with a warm smile. It was an odd thing. Even with how frightening she looked, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a great deal of warmth from Riley's smile.
"I'm sure there's alot you wish to talk about. I just need to end this conflict and deliver a few parting words to the Vox leader and then we can go home." Riley stated. Elizabeth took a deep breath before nodding and smiling.
At that moment Songbird let out another pained rasp and reached out towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth turned to her old friend. A great deal of pity evident on her face.
"Do you want me to fix it?" Riley inquired as she stepped up next to her daughter.
"I do... but he'll just attack us." Elizabeth replied with a bit of sadness.
"Maybe not. He is mostly machine. With a living brain controlling the body..." Riley began as she pulled out her wand. She knew this thing from Fink's memories. Songbird was created using the actual brain of a person. In a way is was a cyborg. (My head canon since Songbird doesn't have a complete origin. Wiki says it's supposed to be man and machine.) Kotoamatsukami was quickly on her lips. The machine began to sputter a bit but Riley felt the thought imbed itself and her magic took hold.
Being such a simple minded being ensured that the single thought was enough to shift the creatures whole being. With a wave of her wand Riley cast a Reparo Maxima and Songbird began to piece back together. Elizabeth watched in awe as the massive construct repaired itself and returned to how it had looked before the fight.
"I placed a thought in it's mind. It'll only follow your commands from this point on." Riley informed Elizabeth.
"Really?" Elizabeth inquired as Songbird finished being repaired and rose to it's feet.
Elizabeth tensed, expecting it to attack and try to take her back to her prison. But it didn't. It just stood there watching them.
"It is now driven to follow your commands. Tell it what to do and it will obey." Riley explained. Hearing that, Elizabeth grew quiet for several moments. After some time she began approaching the large metal construct. She still half expected it to lash out and grab her but it's giant eyes remained a passice green hue.
Once she was within reach she paused. Songbird stared down at her for several moments before it reached one of it's massive hands out for her. Elizabeth flinched at the movement but did not flee. Instead she reached out and touched the large gloved hand as Songbird let out a low melodic coo.
After a few moments of running her hands along Songbird's gloved palm she finally accepted the creature's passivity and locked eyes with it.
"The founders... the one's who hurt me and used us both... find them and toss them to the Vox Populi." Elizabeth ordered, her voice firm and filled with resolve.
Songbirds eyes suddenly turned red and with a loud screech it took to the skies.
"Hmph... Someone seems to have a bit of a mean streak." Riley teased. Elizabeth shot a glance back at her and gave her look that said 'right back at ya.'
Riley laughed at that before approaching Elizabeth.
"Well done. The beast will serve to demoralize the Founders and their armies now that it is no longer under their command." Riley stated. Elizabeth gave her a look but nodded in acceptance of the compliment.
"Could we do what you need to do so we can leave? I don't wish to be here any longer." Elizabeth asked after a moment. In reply Riley offered a smile and nodded.
-One Hour Later-
An hour passed by, during which time Riley returned to fighting while Luna, Loki, and Elizabeth found a small garden overlooking nothing but the sky and decided to spend some time in the peace and quiet.
Loki had thrown up privacy wards to keep out the sounds of battle and then he stood guard while Luna and Elizabeth chatted.
Now, in a safe setting, Elizabeth allowed her curiousity to flourish and she bombarded Luna with questions. She asked about personal things, information about Luna's life and her person. She asked about magic and all the amazing things it could do and she asked about Riley.
Luna enjoyed talking about magic and Hogwarts. She was a little hesitant to talk about her past as that involved her mother's death, which was a sensitive topic for her. She kept that mostly to herself but did tell Elizabeth all about her time in school and even showed her all the different kinds of magic she knew. Elizabeth for her part was utterly blown away. She had seen some strange things through the tears, people shooting bolts of fire from wooden sticks or wands as she now knew them. She had seen people breath fire, people summon blades from thin air, she had even once seen what she now knew was magic, being used to levitate a massive chunk of earth into the sky and turn it into the moon. But even with all of that, there was something about seeing Luna perform magic right in front of her, that just amazed her.
Luna, after having heard about some of the things Elizabeth had seen through the tears, immediately sent those thoughts to Riley whom found it both amazing and hilarious.
It was an interesting thing, talking about Riley. For Luna, she didn't know what to really say. She was deeply in love with Riley, but was also aware of Riley's faults. So it seemed only right to start with those.
She talked about Riley being a bit of an authoritarian. Riley was a control freak. While she liked to have fun and kick back, when she was doing something, she had to be involved in planning or at least be in the know. Riley despised being in the dark. She didn't like not knowing things. This led her to being incredibly curious in regards to pretty much anything. Riley also took the liberty of using her natural Empathy abilities to understand those around her. While she was an expert Legilimens, she rarely used it in an active attack. Though she did often use passive Legilimency, which allowed her to read peoples surface thoughts. So... Riley wasn't someone who stayed out of other's business. So... I guess in a simple explanation, Riley was nosy.
As for other faults, Luna could list. Riley was very aware of her power. She didn't overestimate herself and she never underestimated her opponents. What she did do however, was use this information against everyone. Riley wasn't afraid of anyone, and she wasn't afraid of letting other's know just how screwed they were if they fought her. Some may call it arrogance, but she wasn't truly arrogant. Arrogance would be her overestimating herself and underestimating her enemies. She didn't do that... she just didn't try to hide the power difference.
Another fault... Riley was incredibly paranoid, not for herself but for others. All Luna needed to do was reference the Wraith hidden in her shadow and Loki at the door, and Elizabeth started to get it.
One more fault was that Riley attracted too many Nargles. It took forever for Luna and the rest of Riley mate's to clear them all up at the end of the day and yet, the following day, more Nargles would appear.
Elizabeth didn't know what to make of that, but Loki, at the door thought he had just pieced together what a 'Nargle' was in Luna's mind. They inhabited Mistletoe and they caused trouble. Luna often mentioned them around troublesome teenagers... Yep... Nargles were probably teenage hormones. Ya know... that thing that causes all teenagers to do really stupid shit.
Eventually though, Luna ran out of the bad... she really didn't have many complaints about Riley, and her faults were just that, faults. Everyone had them. So she now moved on to the positives. Talking about how good a friend Riley was, and how much she cared for others. She talked about how strongly Riley loved, and what she would do for those she truly cared for.
To be considered one of her precious people was an honor and a privilege, especially as Luna hinted that Riley hadn't exactly had the best childhood.
The two spoke for quite a while about many things, but eventually Loki informed them that Riley was about to finish what she was doing and that it was time to go.
-A short while Later-
Luna and Elisabeth found themselves standing at a balcony. Below them was Riley and about a hundred cheering Vox soldiers, including Daisy Fitzroy.
"This is a gift. Do not misuse it." Riley warned as Ralael.
"We wont. Of that, I swear." Daisy replied.
"Remember our deal. I will be watching." Riley stated before spreading her wings and taking flight.
Riley quickly disappeared from sight and quietly rejoined her mate and daughter.
"Ready to go?" Riley inquired.
The two nodded and they all headed off. For the last hour Riley helped the Vox flush out the founders alongside Songbird. Once all of the founders were captured, government forces surrendered and the city fell under Vox control.
Riley had ended up using Kotoamatsukami on Daisy to ensure that she wouldn't lead the Vox into the same position the founders had. Luckily the Vox was made up of all different races so the chances of another race conflict starting was low but Riley refused to leave anything to chance. She made a deal with Daisy to give her the city in exchange for a few promises. Besides that Riley left a few Wood clones in the city to keep watch until Riley could return in eighty years.
Also her wood clones would serve as a reminder to the people that she was still watching. And that they had better not fuck up.
"So... how do we get to 1996?" Elizabeth inquired. They had just reached the edge of one of the city streets and it overlooked a sudden drop towards the ocean below.
"Well... you're going to go to sleep for a while. When you wake up... we'll be there." Riley answered.
Elizabeth looked nervous at that and glanced over at Luna, with whom she had started to form a bond with. "Will you be there when I wake up?"
"Yes. I'll be there. And we'll be home. We can be a family. And Riley will take us both to Paris." Luna replied with a smile, earning one from Elizabeth as well, while Riley merely glanced between the two.
At the edge of the street Songbird suddenly appeared, letting out a loud metallic wail to announce itself.
Elizabeth glanced at it. Then at Riley and Luna.
"Would you like him to come with?" Riley inquired.
"Can he?" Elizabeth inquired. As she had aged she had come to hate the metal being for it's part in her imprisonment. But now she understood that it was no more responsible for it's actions then a lion. It just did what it was made to do. With that understanding she allowed herself to see past it's years of keeping her locked away. Afterall... it did feed her, and bring her books when she wanted them.
"Tell him to be calm." Riley ordered.
"Stay calm my friend. I'll see you again soon." Elizabeth ordered. Songbird let out a hum and cocked it's head curiously.
Riley glanced at the machine and began drawing it into Kamui. Within moments it was gone, and Elizabeth was gawking.
"Now... it's time to sleep." Riley stated, and before Elizabeth could reply Riley locked eyes with her and Elizabeth was pulled into the darkness of sleep.
Riley caught her as she collapsed and gently rested her on the ground. She then created a wood clone. Within a few moments she had sealed Elizabeth into a scroll then encased the scroll in a stone box which she spent the next few minutes carving runes into. The runes were to ensure the Box was indestructible, so that only someone with Riley's Kamui could reach into it. She then handed the box to her clone and gave it a single order.
"Take her home."
The clone nodded and took flight, soaring off towards Britain where it would wait in silence for the next eighty years.
The two young lovers watched as the clone disappeared into the clouds. Luna was now cuddled up next to Riley and the two held contemplative looks.
"I like our daughter Riley. She get's me." Luna stated after a moment earning a chuckle from Riley.
"What do we do now?" Luna asked after a moment of silence.
"Not sure." Riley shrugged. She got her answer when everything suddenly went black and a loud metallic cracking noise filled the air.
Riley's eyes snapped open as the time turner around her neck burst into microscopic shards that faded out of existence.
"That was quite odd." Luna noted from her place, directly in front of her lover.
"You're back. Wow! You were right... you two just stood there for a few seconds staring off into space, and then pop... you were back." Katie stated from nearby.
"How did it go?" Fleur inquired.
"Oh boy... do we have a story for you guys. But first..." Riley activated her Byakugan and scanned the area around her house. With a smile she quickly led her mates outside and towards an empty plot of land a few dozen yards away from Riley's front door. She quickly used earth magic which lifted a large chunk of the ground up. beneath it all, sitting amongst the roots of grass and the worms was a Riley clone.
"Whoa! What is that doing there?" Katie inquired as she, Daphne and Fleur gave it a curious look.
"Keeping something or better yet... someone... safe." Riley replied as the clone rose up and hopped out of the hole. It then set the box down on the ground and dispelled. Luckily Wood Clones didn't pass memory back so Riley didn't get hit with Eighty years of nothing.
Riley quickly used Kamui to reach into the box and removed the scroll, it was still as pristine as when she had made it mere moments ago to her mind.
With a poof of smoke, Elizabeth appeared and with a quick Enervate. She was awakened.
"Hello sleepy head. Welcome to 1996." Riley greeted as Luna knelt down next to Elizabeth, whom hadn't felt a single moment pass in her dreamless sleep.
"Wow..." Was all Elizabeth could say as she glanced around at Riley's mates, and the surrounding countryside.
"Elizabeth... this is Fleur, Katie, and Daphne, my fellow mates. Ladies... this is Elizabeth." Luna introduced them all with a smile.
"Wow... I wasn't sure I would believe it at first but... damn... these really are our kids. She really looks like the two of you." Daphne stated as Luna helped Elizabeth to her feet and off the wet morning grass.
"Yep. Now... let's get her inside and introduce her to the rest of the family. I'm sure everyone has plenty of questions." Riley stated.
From there they all headed back to the house. Elizabeth for her part was overjoyed... she could see London in the distance and for the first time in her life, she was on solid ground. She wore a grin that nearly split her face in two... she couldn't of dreamed something like this, even if she tried. She knew that no matter what happened... she was going to enjoy her new life.
-To Be Continued-
Okay... sorry for the long wait. I hope that chapter was better then the last. I also hope I didn't step on to many toes, and I hope Luna's conversation with Elizabeth at the beginning didn't seem to out of Character. Like I said this chapter had everything to do with Columbia as it is portrayed in Bioshock Infinite, if you have a problem with that go bitch to the games creators. Also I know the Vox turned into fanatics in the game but I need to remind you that only really happened when you entered another reality where Booker was a martyr so I kept them as the Freedom Fighters that they were in the original Bioshock Infinite timeline. I'll reveal what happened to Columbia in the next chapter, and yes, Riley and Luna kept all their new powers from their time in Columbia. Like I said we'll have one more little adventure like this, probably another two chapters, and then we'll be moving on to a very awesome wedding. and some more relationship stuff.
I hope you liked how I focused more on Luna and Elizabeth bonding, rather then Riley and Elizabeth. I wanted to focus more on them seeing as how Luna is more intuitive, and I can see the two being friends. Don't worry Riley and Elizabeth will bond later, but for now it was nice to focus on some other characters for a bit. I hope you also liked the part where I had Luna list out some of Riley's faults, from her perspective. Because let's face it, Riley is a control Freak, she is nosy and she is incredibly paranoid. Please feel free to offer more ideas for future stories. I've been working on ideas with some of my awesome fans and have come up with what I believe to be a cool way to interconnect these side stories. Hope you enjoyed.
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