One World: Many Souls
Chapter 62: Unimaginable Mistake
Eras' Point of View:
We sat on pins and needles at home while we waited to hear from our parents. It was hours ago that we saw them leave to find Arial. Cali told me that the report Mom had been given said that there was a high chance that she died and Lexi lived.
But I could feel otherwise, my twin was still alive and I could feel it.
Connie was resting upstairs. She didn't know much of what was going on while she was resting. She was having an awful time being pregnant after coming home, so we were all rotating to take care of her. Cali had been helping mostly, but Pristi and Joker had gone in a few times to help out as well. We rotated every few hours to check on her, but be there when she needed us. She knew I was home, I could feel it. But we kept the information to a minimum so as not to upset her.
I know she could feel something was wrong, but we wouldn't say anything until we knew more.
I paced back and forth in the living room before I heard my phone go off. It was the like the house came to life as my youngest siblings came to me, and Cali was hanging around the corner, listening in.
"I'm here."
"Eras, she's alive."
The deepest sigh came out of my lungs when I heard that. I couldn't help but fall into the couch and put the phone on speaker so everyone could hear.
"I knew it... thank fucking god..."
"While she is alive, there has been a lot of damage." Mom continued on slowly. "She's going to need a lot of time to recover, baby bone. She... doesn't look the same right now."
"What do you mean, Mom?" Pristi came over next to speak. She curled up into my side to get better access to the phone. "What happened to Ari? I know... Eras said you got a report that she might have died... what happened to her?"
"She... baby bone..." I could hear my mother stepping away for a moment to whisper to us, most likely outside the room they were keeping Arial in. "She has no hair on her head, it all got burned away, and she lost the skin and muscle on the side of her body. Her bones remained behind since she's part skeleton and she can use them, but it's like my hand. And... I'm sorry to tell you all, but Lexi has passed away."
"Oh shit... Lex is gone?" Joker cursed as he paced before us. "Lexi's like, her partner in everything..."
"And it gets worse, though perhaps better with time." My mother sighed before taking a moment to pause before speaking once more. "She and Lexi had a spark together. She's pregnant. The doctor's just confirmed it, and Lexi is attached to her."
"That..." Cali slowly began to approach, looking at the phone nervously as she stepped forward into the living room where we were all gathered. "That's horrible... that guilt will eat her alive..."
"I know... which is why we'll bring her home as soon as we can. And all of you need to be a lot more careful from now on. It's evident now that our family is being attacked, and I don't have all the details." Our mother paused for a moment, most likely peaking in on Ari before returning to us. "We'll be passing this message along to everyone to be on high alert. We don't know for certain how long this will last for, but we'll see if Arial knows anything when she wakes up. Eras... I know you need to get back to Impact and Hannah. Just be careful and stick together. We don't know what's going on yet, and keep in contact. I'll be letting your uncles and aunts all know what's going on."
"You got it Mom. Just... let me know when Ari is up so I can talk to her, okay?"
"Of course, baby bone. The rest of you say home for a bit. Joker, Pristi, I'd like you two to call out of school for a few days due to Arial being in the hospital so we can stick together. And Cali? Stay close to Connie. She won't be able to handle a lot in her condition right now."
"Of course, I won't leave her alone unless she needs it." I could see Cali blink and turn her head worriedly away. "We just... need to be careful that we don't overwhelm her either. It was already so much on her coming home. She thinks she made a horrible mistake and that you and Dad won't forgive her..."
"I'll be more careful, Cali. Thank you for telling me that. I know it won't be easy on Connie for a while." Our mother commented softly. "So then... I'll leave you kids be, so be careful and stay safe."
"We will Mom. You too." The line ended after that and I put away my phone. Sighing deeply, I settled back into the couch thinking about everything.
"Um... E?"
I glanced at Pristina as she hesitantly sat down beside me. "Yeah Pristi?"
"What... do we do now?"
"We'll be alright Pristi, just listen to Mom. She and Dad won't let anything happen to us." I put one of my arms over her shoulders to let her lay against me. "We'll be okay."
It stayed quiet for a while. While we sat about and tried to get back to our normal lives, at least we knew Arial was alive. There was what we needed to hear. But her recovery wasn't going to be easy. I wasn't worried about her physical wounds; they would heal and she wouldn't let them get to her. But her emotional and mental ones? She just lost her best friend, who was more than her best friend, and she's going to be having a baby as well...
We were in for a rough road ahead of us...
Angel's Point of View:
I sighed once I was off the phone with my eldest son. I was thankful he was home with the younger kids. Even if only for a short time, I knew that things were unsettling. Having us rush out to get Connie and Cali home with Connie's condition not the greatest, and now that Arial has been hospitalized with everything that happened to her... It was worrying.
There was clearly something going on that we didn't know enough about.
"Angel."
At my husband's voice I darted back into the room. He was laying carefully in the hospital bed beside our daughter to help keep her warm. Though I could see her eyes were open, widely looking around until they landed on me.
"Mom?"
"Hey baby bone... did you sleep okay?"
"Enough so my head isn't spinning..." She carefully sat up in her bed, being careful of the wires attached to her. She carefully looked over herself before she noticed once more her bone-like hand. "How bad off am I?"
"Well... you've lost the hair on your head, and your arm and leg lost its muscles and skin. But as you can see, being part skeleton, you can still use your limbs as you did before. Your magic is protecting your limbs now." Carefully letting my hand settle against her cheek, but I didn't want to hurt her. "And while you were sleeping, we did have an exam done to see how well your little one is doing. It turns out you're about two months along..."
"That far... I... I can't believe it..." Carefully reaching to her abdomen, Arial blinked, watching slowly. "Were... they okay?"
"Yes, everything is okay." I moved my hand to hold hers. She tried to close her hand around mine, but struggled a bit. "Despite everything, they're okay. We'll make space for you at home so you can have plenty of space to rest and recover, okay?"
"I... I tried to s-save her, you know?" Arial became emotional at that. "I tried... but that doctor..."
"Who was that man, Ari?"
"Dr. Baldeth... the same one who tried to take us from you when you were pregnant with me and Eras, Mom." Her eyes landed on me, glowing lightly at her anger. "And this isn't the end... Luke Madden is involved, some people were possessed that were there, and he didn't deny Luke's involvement. And... Silke Terians is involved as well. He noted... that she wanted me dead."
"You...?" I couldn't help but share a stunned look with Sans before facing her again. "Did he say why, Ari?"
"No... I don't know why..."
"Precious..." Sans' eyelight began to glow as he looked at me. "Don't know if this sounds strange... but what's the likelihood Silke gathered up people she figured out hated us? If that crack doctor's involved after his business was taken 'n his licenses, that fucked up Luke who almost ruined Frisk's life... s'possible Mettaton might be involved too... they were the worst who were against us 'n shit."
"We ruined their lives when they crossed us, so they're looking for pay back..." Nodding slowly, I gave Arial a kiss before pulling away. "You're father and I need to run home and check on the others, but the butler staff will be staying here to keep you safe Arial, and we called in a favor for someone to keep you company."
"Who?"
I turned toward the door and called back. "You can come in now."
"Good, about time I get ta see my niece!" With a solid kick to the door, almost landing off its hinges to open naturally, Undyne stepped inside the room with her eldest son in tow behind her. "Come on, Zak! We got work to do!"
"Yes ma'am!" In he marched, decked out in armor no differently than his mother. While Undyne's armor was still that of the same black color she had for all the years I'd known her, her son was in basic gray armor to show his recent acceptance to the lower ranks of the guard. I could see Arial staring at them in wonder before glancing back at us.
"You got Aunt Undyne and Zak to stay with me?"
"You better believe it. And don't worry about Aunt Al and your cousins, they're going to the house to stay together. No one will be alone." I could see the visible settle of her nerves at that, while I stood from the bed. "We'll talk more once this has settled down. Compared to your brother, you hid your relationship with Lexi far too well. You'll have to share those memories with us."
"We-we were going to..." Arial struggled to keep her nerves calm, thinking back to her best friend. "We... had a small ceremony, got married... we were going to do a big one once everything settled down... our souls merged..."
"It's okay, baby bone..." I couldn't resist giving her another hug while she cried. "It's going to be okay. You rest, and we'll take care of this. We'll get back at them, for Lexi. Okay?"
But she wasn't able to talk then. Carefully I let her have a few moments to cry before I saw her drifting away from us. She was still too tired for much physically, and that was when I lifted my head to Undyne. "Keep her safe, I'll call you as soon as I can."
Undyne's pleasant look was gone the second Arial was asleep. Her eye narrowed and she nodded stiffly, as any guard would do to their employer. "You got it, Angel."
"Good. Let's go Sans."
My husband was at my side in an instant. He took my hand and in an instant we were gone and back to our offices back in our home. Instantly I was on the phone as well as he. We had a lot of research to look for and limited time to do so. There were too many targets on our backs and our family, and not a reason why known by anyone.
I first had to make sure everyone knew to be on the lookout. Because I had a horrible feeling in my gut. Things were going to move fast, and it wouldn't be long before we see those people against us making their next move.
Witch's Note:
(Halloween sighed as she stood side by side to her best friend and sister, Mystic Girl. The two women stood together among the woods in camouflage while they waited and watched around them for the situation. It had been a long road to get where they were that day.)
(In the weeks prior, their forces had managed to take down many supply lines that led back to their old base their enemies had taken over. The wonderful friends and allies who helped them destroyed so many, and their cries echoed across the battlefield. They marched in anger, in rage, in frustration, in victory. They would not fail.)
(With a glance upwards, Halloween looked upon her old base with longing in her eyes. The same castle like building in the woods held plenty of cover, a wonderful vantage point for those sneaking in who didn't have abilities like those Halloween had managed to acquire. Her good friends and allies would slip between all the cracks. She didn't keep all secrets on file for that very reason if someone was to take over her home. Something she was still pissed about. And something that would never happen again. They would liberate their home, and return once more.)
Halloween Witch: (Linking her com with anyone who could hear her, Halloween opened their channel.) To all who can hear me, we've made it. This is our final battle, and final destination. It won't be an easy fight. Espect many of the variety of mind-controlled people, or those with special abilities here. Taking Silke down and her forces won't be easy, but we've come so far, so don't stop now. Try your best to avoid any innocent casualties, if possible, but we all know that its unlikely if the enemy takes advantage of our kind hearts.
Mystic Girl: We're getting back our home! We're tired of hiding in the shadows because someone doesn't like who's in charge! (Mystic Girl glared out to the battle field before her and shouted once more.) Now who's with me?!
(Many cries echoed all over from the few small forces the women had gathered. They charged forward toward the castle that stood before them like a looming omen. With one last glance to her sister, Halloween pulled out a weapon she was given by Jegur. A scythe nearly as big as her stood over her figure while green energy surged from within, powering the weapon. Vines appeared over her body to assist with keeping the weapon attached to her hands as it was spun around in circles before she took an offensive position to dart forward.)
(On the other hand, Mystic Girl hissed out and summoned from yellow energy within to create two machetes in hand. The blades were reasonable sized, perhaps a bit smaller then normal to fit with her petite size, but she flowed with them beautiful, as she also prepared herself for battle. The weapons hummed with yellow energy.)
Halloween Witch: You ready, Sis?
Mystic Girl: Fuck yeah. Let's do this shit. I want our home back.
Halloween Witch: Agreed. Watch my back, and I got yours.
(With a simple nod to each other, both women darted forward, leaping into the fray before them hat glowed red, and bloody.)
You are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here, you are here…
YOU ARE HERE
FIGHT!
FIGHT!
FIGHT!
Special Note: Sorry for the slightly late posting guys, its been busy over here with me taking care of Jegur since he had surgery last week. I've been taking care of him. But here we are at the fight! Go nuts if you want to describe an opponent you face and what you do! Have fun! And we're gonna beat these guys! Love you all! -Halloween Witch