One World: Many Souls
Chapter 65: Waiting Here to Catch You
Arial's Point of View:
"Ms. Terians, do you know who's picking you up today?"
"Yeah," Chuckling lightly, I knew already the answer to that question when my mother called me the night before. "My brother and cousins are coming to get me. They'll make sure I get home safe."
"That's wonderful to hear." The nurse at my side was kind as she rolled me around in a wheelchair. Of course I could walk myself, but they wanted to air on the side of caution after what I had been through due to the blast, the loss of the muscles and skin on my legs... and...
Losing Lexi... and finding out I was pregnant with our kid. I... I knew it was a thing... I wanted that life with Lexi once things had settled down maybe... but to lose her so early and to raise our kid alone... It scared me...
But that was something I would focus on later. My mother already wanted me home to help me recover, and to figure out how to stop this evil person who wanted our family dead. A family meeting was going to be taking place the second I got home, and we would figure it out.
Eras, Aunt Frisk and I had already been attacked. There was clearly someone out for the entire family.
And that was what we needed to focus on.
"Arial!"
Jumping out of my thoughts, I was surprised when it was Hannah that came running up to me. The nurse who was driving my wheelchair slowed down so Hannah could hug me before she looked over my features as she saw one of my hands was bones then and no longer covered in flesh as it had been before. She carefully looked at the limbs before a single comment came from behind her.
"You look like Dad."
"Yeah, I'd think so now that I look more like a skeleton, E."
"How you feeling?" Impact looked around my twin to question me as he stood there. Zakhar was there as well with his arms crossed. Granted I doubted that he would let the dynamic duo go just about anywhere on their own. Especially after the attack that happened.
"Fine, just wanna go home." I sighed. "Besides, I need to talk to Mom and Dad. We all do I imagine."
"Yeah, she's just waiting on us."
I blinked at that. "Why didn't Dad come get me then? He can just teleport."
"After what you've been through? Nah ah." Impact quickly waved his hands is disagreement. "You're not well enough, besides, it not like we're going far to get you home. It doesn't matter if your psychically okay, if your emotionally or mentally unwell, him teleporting you can throw you off, bad. He refused to do it."
I rolled my eyes. "You sure it wasn't just him being lazy?"
"Ari." The tone that Eras used always when I wasn't listening, because he knew I didn't want to cross him. I loved my twin dearly, but at the worst of times, he was the absolute best and worst parts of Mom and Dad combined.
"Alright, alright." Zakhar took to pushing my wheelchair to the car as per hospital policy, even if I could walk. "Let's just go okay?"
"We'll get your paperwork." Eras sighed as he turned to our silent friend. "Can you and Hannah get her in the car?"
"We got it, E."
Arial's Dream:
"You know you don't need to be so stubborn about it, Ari."
My eyes shot open as I looked around carefully to see I wasn't in the car heading home anymore with my family members. No... I was out on an open beautiful underground field filled with echo flowers. The walls held that damp, blue hue from the glow of them, and the vines danced down each wall. I recognized this place, it was a special place that was in the underground that was stunning, and meant a lot to my parents, and it was the place where Lexi and I shared our vows when we merged our souls together during our last vacation before she... she...
"Stop looking so sad, I'm right here you know."
My gaze moved to the side of me, and I could see I was dressed in the white gown that I had bought online with the help of Lexi. She was in her own gown, so lacy and stunning when we decided to merge our souls together without our family knowing. Lexi was nervous about telling her family, being that of a lesbian and falling in love with her best friend... She had no idea what their response would have been, even with me being a member of the Terians family. Even with them knowing me, she wasn't ready to tell them.
And it looked like I was going to be telling them on my own.
"I am sorry... I never wanted to leave you alone like this... or with our kid on your own..." Lexi stepped toward me, the lace of her dress brushing against the ground. The couple of echo flowers within ten feet of her kept repeating her words back at me on rotation every time the words stopped. "I wanted to spend our lives together... and I wanted to come out to your family when we got home..."
"I know..." I sighed. When I went to hide my head in my hands, trying to hide from seeing her, her flower bouquet was in my hands. Those stunning lilies, I remembered how she loved that flower and had some decorated in her hair. They made her blond hair look darker compared to their lighter complexion. "I wanted that too."
"So, I need you to be strong. I know you can be, and I won't be far." I felt the soft fingers of her lifting up my chin, and when my eyes met hers, they then had a bright red glow that I'd never seen before. Tears spilled from the sides as her hand came forward to my chest. She carefully pulled it back and out came my own bright pink soul. Off the side of it was a little blinding white chain that held a shattered soul, pierced right through the center.
And between the two of them, there was a gleaming sparkle on the corner of my soul.
"That's the beginning of our baby. We can see them here. Our beautiful baby. And one day they'll be a little one we can hold- oh, sorry, that you can hold. I can for a little while, while they're still attached to you here, as I can feel their soul forming attached to yours, but... it won't be for long. Once they're born, only your hands can feel them. But I'll try to be here as much as I can for you. You can see me anytime you want, like your mom can see your grandparents. They're nice people. I'm learning so much from them and I only met them that day in the hospital when your mom was about to drop the hospital on everyone."
I struggled to let out a laugh as tears rolled down my face. The memory was still so recent as she did such a thing. I loved my mother, but she was very protective of those she cared about, and regardless of the fact that I was in the army, that I fought on the front line, I was still her baby girl that she was diving for even as an adult.
"That sounds like her..."
"And she'll be there for you in these tough times. And all the rest of your family. You'll be okay. But the first thing that has to happen? Those terrible people have to go away."
Holding Lexi close to me, feeling her skin between the fabric, I held her close to me.
What she was telling me was right, and I had to get justice for her. She was killed trying to help me take those people down. I had to make sure that I saw it through to the end. With the mastermind behind her death gone, as I'm sure the rest of the family wanted.
"Once all that is over, you can recover, spend time preparing for our baby... you gonna name her one of those font names like yours?"
"It is a family tradition. Plus, when you see that style of writing as a person speaks all the time, it kinda makes sense."
"Wait, you can see what I'm saying?"
"Of course." I blinked at her. But it morphed into a smile as I watched those words come out of her mouth. "Fairwater. Very delicate, soft, and decorative. Has a cursive flair to it."
"I don't even know what style that is..." Lexi sighed as she stood there against me.
"I'll make sure to show you later, promise. Okay?"
"Yeah..." Lexi paused before she shot up from where she was resting. "Looks like our time is almost over for now... The ride back to your home is done. They're turning onto your driveway now."
"Already...?" I couldn't help but bite my lip at that. "We barely got any time..."
"We'll get more. I know you need some help resting, so I'll help you with that. But I know this needs to happen first or you won't rest for our baby." She stepped backward, standing in the arch we made for the day we had our souls merge. "So go do what you have to do. And I'll be waiting."
"Uh..." Looking around, I was a bit worried about how to leave our space, since the cavern appeared closed off. "How do I leave?"
Lexi giggled before stepping back over to me and turned me toward the rapid water that flowed into our room. "Do you see the deep water before you?"
Letting Lexi guide me, I looked to where she pointed down into the water where slightly calmed water turned into a stream, and I saw there was some sort of white mist below it.
"What the hell is that?"
I couldn't the hide the scream that came out of me as Lexi shoved me in. I barely heard her shouting she loved me before I was swallowed by the roaring waves.
Later that Morning:
"Ari?" My lackluster sleep was disturbed by soft words into my ear. "We're home. Time to wake up."
The waves of water I was pushed into were gone as I shot awake in my seat. I would have shot forward and hit the person who spoke to me if it wasn't for the restriction of my limbs by magic.
"Easy, baby bone." The words were soft as I had moments to calm down and look at reality. The face came into focus before me as my mother leaned into the car to help me. The crows feet edged into the side of her face from spending the last couple of decades raising six kids and leading a nation.
That was the most comforting feeling having her there and by my side through it all.
"I'm okay Mom. I'm okay."
"Did you have a good dream?"
"Yeah... something I'll have to talk to you about later..."
"That's okay, can you walk?"
"I would have been all over that hospital if it wasn't for the nurses and doctors freaking out about my limbs and thinking they were going to pop off any second."
"Okay. I'm here if you need me."
My mother stood back then to allow me a moment to try to step out of the car myself. As I twisted myself in the car seat, I let my boney hand grab the edge of the car door's edge to help pull myself out. I could feel the boney foot of mine moving around in the boot I was wearing. It was so strange to feel how different the shoe was as my foot no longer had the extra skin and muscle.
But, I had my grip, I had my movement, I would be okay.
I took some careful steps out of the car where my mother stood ready, but gave me space to let me try.
"Lookin' good, Ari." Blue mist appeared on my other side with my father at the ready. Even as he looked so carefree, I knew he was worried. The lingering blue magic was there as he was ready to teleport or grab my soul if something happened. I knew what he was like. He cared, but just wasn't that great with expressing it at times.
"Thanks Dad." I tried to show him a grin. "I look more like you now."
"Eh. Bein' a skeleton is overrated. Would rather be a hue-man."
"Dad, you've used that pun way too many times over the years."
He chuckled at me, but it wasn't the same type of laugh I was used to when he was having a good time, and we all knew that with the situation that was going on. We were all on edge after so many of us were attacked.
We had a lot to talk about inside.
"Let's get inside." My mother urged, a gentle hand at my side that was only there as a reminder rather than an order or trying to hide me. She knew she couldn't stop me from being a part of this.
The group of us made it inside. I could see my siblings, cousins and other family members already inside. I didn't think my mother's dining room could hold many people as we entered and I was steered toward a chair set up for me. Once I was seated, it was then that my mother took a deep sigh and began.
"Alphys." My mother began by turning to our aunt. "Let's start with a recap, and then what you found out."
"R-right..." Our aunt looked rather sad as she turned to a white board where she had lots of information written along with diagrams. "T-to review... Arial and Lexi were a-attacked along with her troupe at the s-seaside c-cottage to the northern region of Terians territory. D-days later... both s-simultaneous a-attacks on Dr-dreemurr castle, and Eras a-and Impact, took place. Those attackers... w-we're people w-who we-we're fond o-of the Terians f-family. Dr. Baldeth... the doctor y-you first saw when p-pregnant with Eras and Arial, Angel. Luke Madden... who had b-been quite an issue for Frisk... and Mettaton... who honestly has hated both Angel and Frisk for a long time."
"And she's my birth mom..." Impact muttered softly.
"Son..."
Many sad looks were thrown to Impact, but it wasn't the battle at the time. His emotions would have to be settled later about the event. A conversation for him to have with Uncle Papy and Aunt Lilly. But it wasn't like Impact didn't know how he was connected to her.
"A-after examining M-mettaton's body... I found records in h-her back up memories of w-who is b-behind this..."
"And that is?" Mom asked sharply, though I know she was trying to keep herself together.
"A b-branch of the Terians family. The final remaining living member of Victoria's brother's family... Silke Terians..." Aunt Alphys looked directly at the previous king and queen of the monster kingdom, along with the current. "Chara's younger sister... and the very family who had been trying to kill off the main family of the Terians for the last few decades... H-her pa-parents a-are r-responsible for the d-death of your parents, Angel... and for influencing Richard to be so... bad... and hospitalizing your grandmother..."
The entire house shook at that. It was only for a second, but I was glad I was sitting as my mother's rage showed its true ugliness before us all. The entire family screeched at the sudden surge while she stood there strong, clenching my father's hand. He didn't say a word, other than to let my mother latch onto him.
"So she can't be allowed to live then."
It was a statement, not a question. She turned to G.G with a stoic look to her.
"Grandmother."
"I already know what you need to do Angel." G.G. already must have known what thoughts were going through her head. "For the safety of not only the territory and the entire country, and the other territories, she must be dealt with. I'm assuming you plan to lead the assault?"
"Of course." Then my mother looked at my father. "I can already assume you won't let me go without you, yes?"
My father gave off a deadpan look with an eerie smile. "What made ya think otherwise Precious?"
"You'll need people to keep her from escaping right?" Eras was the first to chime in. "Let us help with boxing her in. We'll stay out of the fight if you want Mom, but at least let us keep her from running away."
"I will be of course helping with that as well." G.G. informed everyone readily.
"I will too." I chimed in quickly before a seething look flared to me from both my parents. "Don't give me those looks. I need to see this through to the end. For Lexi and myself. I'll only use my magic and stay close to someone. I know I'm not up to snuff. But you can't bench me."
"She can stay with me, Angel." Aunt Frisk easily stepped forward. "I'll be there, I have to be, and Asriel is coming with me."
"Damn right." My uncle noted before looking at my great uncle and aunt. "And we'd really appreciate you two staying with the triplets while we're gone."
"...if that's what you deem best." Aunt Tori said softly.
"I will come in the case that anyone gets hurt." Uncle Papy noted softly before turning to Aunt Lilly. "I... should assume you'll be doing the same thing?"
"Of course." Aunt Lilly nodded quickly at that, narrowing her eyes at him. "Besides, we're not letting Impact go without us."
"And I'm not letting my friends go without me." Zakhar commented dryly.
"I wanna go too!"
"You should probably stay here..."
"Enough!" It was my mother's holler who silenced the ever-growing voices who all wanted to help in this event. Once they were quiet, my mother spoke again. "We can't take everyone. Some need to stay behind to protect the people and make sure they stay safe. We don't know how long this will take. Sans and I will be battling Silke, those of Terians magic will be there as both observers and to make sure Silke doesn't escape. That will include Gram, Eras, Frisk, and Arial."
Mom paused for a moment to look at the more nervous set out her twin daughters who obviously didn't want to be involved in the fight. Settling her nerves, she nodded.
"Others that will come with us will be for medical or defensive reasons. I will only agree to a small amount. Asriel, Papyrus, Lilly, and Impact. I'll have you come for those reasons. And… Pristina, I want you on standby to help us if needed."
"Me... really?" The youngest of our family blinked up at our mother in surprise. "I didn't think you'd let me go..."
"I have to be realistic Pristi. Your abilities are like your father's. Should anything happen, you can teleport people out of there and get them to safety. Or help others here should something else Silke has planned against the people happen. Are you willing to do that if we message you?"
The elder teen paused before looking her mother in the eye. "You're going to kill her, right? After all the bad she's done to our family?"
"Yes." My mother was oozing confidence and determination. She wouldn't let the outcome be anything else. "She has to, or none of you will be able to live the happy lives I've always wanted for you. Or our people, both human and monster."
"Okay..." Pristina nodded softly. "I'll do what you need me to do, but... I'm gonna try and stay back as much as I can."
"That's good." My mother agreed swiftly. "We've agreed to a group, now, finding Silke is next. Alphys, do you have any leads?"
"M-mettaton was s-supposed to meet up w-with Silke after her attack on Eras and Impact. The s-same if Luke had survived, but his d-death was all over the i-internet after he died. We have the e-element of surprise... I think."
"Where was the meet up, Al?"
At my father's insistence, that was when Alphys looked deeper into the files on her computer. Her face went from determined and ready, then surprised in a moment.
My mother and all others watched on in bated breath. "Well?"
"I-its..." My aunt struggled to find her words. "Mt. Ebbott's summit..."
"Then we're going now." My furious glow of my mother's eyes made the entire room look red. "It's time for her to die."
Witch's Note:
(Halloween had taken careful time while continuing her steady march through the battlefield with Shadow beside her. The two of them spent the last week slowly making their way through that of the defenses and fighters, before they reached a point where Halloween had been worried she'd never see again. The front of her base. While she was happy to see it once more, she didn't like the new look. Many of the opposing guards laid at their feet while banners or the opposing army decorated her walls. What was once a beautiful old fashioned stone that had been weathered and covered in ivy to assist with the 'hiding in plain sight' feature, the stone had been scrubbed, cleaned, brightened. The building stood out far too much for her liking, and it would take some work for it to go back to the style it used to be.)
Halloween Witch: I'm not a fan of this Shadow, make sure this is the first of the repairs I work on once we finish this. (She slowly steps forward into the building, past the large wooden gates that had already been pulled off their hinges which allowed in a lot of light, cutting out a lot of the shadows she was used to seeing around the corridors, along with bright lights glaring from overhead.) And it would seem they were doing all they could to limit your powers as well. Let's fix that, shall we?
(Halloween took a moment to summon more vines at her feet. The majority of them reached up to smash away at the lights above, glass shattering to the floor. Halloween hardly let the rain of sharp objects bothered her as she moved forward in the then dimly lit hallway moving forward.)
Halloween Witch: Much better. Shall we Shadow? We don't have much more ground to cover. So... you know what? We're going out with a bang. (Halloween reached for her communicator and clicked the mic button on it.) Attention all units, commanders, fighters and the like. The door to the main base is open and our path leading forward is bare. Make your way inside and trash anything that is out of place. We'll clean up afterwards. And Mystic? Get your ass in here. Silke isn't far up ahead. We're taking her down-
(Halloween paused as the ground shook around her and many of the nanobots that Dasansi and his group were using were filtering through the walls of the castle, breaking all lighting sources in their way and removing any obstacles, physical or living. Halloween watched with glee before she hit the button on her communicator again.)
Halloween Witch: And if you don't hurry up, someone else will beat you to the punch. Everyone, let's move.
(Halloween marched forward with more determination in her step than before. They were almost there, she could taste the ending, even as Mystic Girl was screaming at her on the other end of the line to wait up for her. She wouldn't, oh no. Not when victory was so close...)
And so here it is-
The ending we all hope for-
Or is it? The final battle has not been won yet.
So march little heroes, make your move,
Because so little time is left.
I can taste it, the blood left behind in your wake-
Your victory smells delicious…