Hello my fellow readers!
Hope you all are doing well and enjoying Crystal Rainbow. Now I've come to notice that those who are reading my stories and leaving me reviews to want to make art for my stories are scammers or A.I.
For the scammers, stop this. You're hurting innocent people who only want to read and you have nothing to gain from this than just a sense of satisfaction.
To my real readers, thank you for sticking by. For the scammers, stop.
I wanted to address this since a friend of mine is having a similar issue. Don't fall for the fakers.
Episode 36: Promises
Day 01
Underneath a black-night sky lied a massive bridge known as Bronze Gauntlet. This massively huge bridge connected itself from a city to a large island. Unfortunately...it's construction is not yet complete. Nearly there, but not quite due to the late hour. By the end of the month the bridge will finally be completed and many people can access both the city or the island as much as they want. For now, it is off limits to civilians and nobody should dare enter on it unless they wish to fall into the depths below.
Standing up top on the middle of the Bronze Gauntlet a hooded person stood, crossing his arms. The hooded figure lowered his head, directing his attention on the incomplete bridge. Uncrossing his arms the hooded figure jumped into the air and pushed his body to the right, descending onto the bridge's cables. Turning his body his shoes made contact with the cables, making him quickly go down at a fast rate. Sparks flashed from his skates the more he grinded on the cables until he leaped and twisted his body, accelerating his momentum and causing more sparks to erupt.
Reaching the bottom the hooded figure leaped into the air once more, only this time he pushed himself to the left. Landing onto the hard concrete, the hooded figure pushed himself forward, swerving his body left and right while lowering his upper-torso. The more he swerved, the more his speed increased. Spotting a hole coming up the hooded figure lowered his upper-torso a little more and jumped into the air. Pushing his body forward, he slowly rotated until he was right back up and landed right back onto the bridge. Leaning over to the right the hooded figure jumped and landed onto a rail, grinding right on it before landing back down.
Raising his head, the hooded figure saw a large gap on the bridge. Adding some more pressure onto his legs, he started swerving a bit harder until he reached the edge of the gap and jumped. Twisting his body the hooded figure raised up his legs just a bit until he came right back down on the opposite side. Up ahead the hooded figure spotted several construction signs blocking the entrance to the island and...turned himself around, showing his back against the signs. Standing up straight he bent his knees with each passing second until...he jumped high into the air.
Pushing his body back the hooded figure flipped himself him around and around, and around 'til he landed right onto solid concrete. Spinning his body he planted his right hand on the ground, stopping his momentum.
Raising his upper-torso, the hooded figure raised his left hand and removed his hood, revealing himself to be...Kameron Evans. Placing his hands onto his face, he removed his goggles and lifted them onto his forehead. Looking up he let out a couple breaths, putting his attention on the bridge.
'Been a while since I skated. The old girls still work.' Kameron thought to himself, looking down at his skates.
'Time for a restart. This time, let's make it a little more radical.'
Day 02
Breath after breath, Kameron pushed himself further and further. Coming up to the edge he bent his legs and jumped high into the air. Keeping all of his focus onto the building ahead of him he started to drop more and more from the air until he made it across. Upon landing he quickly lowered his body and rolled onto the roof before picking himself up and continued to run.
Lowering his upper-torso he slightly leaped into the air, raising up one of his legs and rotating himself until he landed right back down. Twisting his body again he kicked the air and spun again, flipping himself forward over and over until he turned around. Flipping into the air he touched the roof with his hands. Adding in some extra pressure, Kameron pushed himself into the air once more, flipping himself in various directions and landing right back down on his feet.
Sucking in some air and exhaling it out of his mouth he pushed onward, jumping off of the building he was on and landing onto another rooftop.
Day 03
Descending below, Kameron landed right onto a large tree branch. Lowering his body and placing a hand onto the branch, Kameron's eyes and Gemstones glowed cyan just as he pushed himself off of the branch at a single burst of speed.
Thanks to his goggles preventing the air from hitting his eyes, Kameron leaped from one branch to the next in a matter of seconds without loosing a single step. Small hums left his lips, feeling the cooling winds hit him while the sun above continued emitting heat every passing minute.
Landing onto another branch, Kameron jumped off and landed right onto grass below. Wasting no time he burst right on ahead, passing by a plethora of trees and numerous squirrels who were gathering nuts. Puffs of air exited his nose with every step he took, but his speed slowly increased the more his Gemstone and eyes glowed.
Zipping pass a upcoming tree, Kameron made his way toward another one and upon reaching it he leaped into the air and planted his foot right on it and ascended upward. Stretching his arms out he grabbed every branch in front of him and circled around it to get higher and higher like a bird. Latching onto another branch with two hands, Kameron spun himself around and around until he let himself go, flinging himself through some leafs and high into the air.
Flipping himself back, he spun his body a couple of times until he flipped himself upright and crashed right onto the solid ground.
Falling onto his knees and placing his hands onto the grass, heavy breaths left Kameron while his chest started rising up and down. That...was definitely a rush. But...that alone wasn't enough. No, not even halfway there. Catching his breath, Kameron let out a sigh and pushed himself back, allowing his back to hit the grass and making himself look up at the clear sky.
"Still...got...a long...way to go." Kameron said with every breath.
Day 04
Gritting his teeth, Kameron slowly raised up his leg and slammed it right onto the dried up ground. Lifting up his other leg he pushed himself slightly forward, slamming it onto ground and nearly stomping onto a crawling lizard.
Right behind him stood a large boulder with several crystal chains coiled around it. Two chains connected to the boulder were stretched out and were attached onto Kameron's wrists. With every step he took the boulder moved with him, but due to it's size only a minimum amount of movement was made on it. Still, thanks to Kameron's biology he continued moving on with the boulder.
Caws entered his ears, making him look up to see a Vulture flying high in the air and making a circles around a skeleton laying next to a cactus. Kameron gave a grim look at the skeleton right when the Vulture flew down and started pecking at it's bones.
Maybe when he's done...Kameron will come back and give the skeleton a proper burial. For now, he turned away and kept on going while the sun above emitted a large quantity of heat. But what else will you get when moving a boulder across a large canyon?
Day 05
As the sun was setting over the horizon in Beach City and the pure-blue skies were turning to orange and violet, the moon herself was slowly making herself known in the distance.
On Island Street lied a massively large white two-story house. The house itself had two large windows above and three large windows below. In front of the house stood a large apple-tree with a long wooden bench-swing next to it. In front of the entrance laid a long brick pathway connected to the sidewalk and in front of the front-door. Next to the door on both sides were a large variety of flowers, ranging from Marigolds, White Roses, Sunflowers, and Lilies.
In the back of the house stood a large patio near the beach itself. Next to the backdoor was a long white couch with a black pillow on it's left side and a purple pillow on it's right. In front of the couch were two more couches and all three surrounded a large glass table with a vase of Pink Roses in it.
Sitting on the white couch, Elizabeth stared out at the beach and placed her attention onto her boyfriend, Kameron. These pass few days have been...a little unnerving.. Finding out that Kameron's father and siblings use to be conquerors before coming to Earth has been...a lot to take in. But...right now, Elizabeth was looking at something that made her heart skip a beat, and slowly crack.
On the beach Kameron slowly pulled himself up and slowly lowered himself down on a self-made pole constructed out of crystals. Shirtless, Kameron kept his attention onto the house and his girlfriend while slowly pulling himself up and lowering himself down.
'Ninety-five. Ninety-six. Ninety-seven. Ninety-eight...' He thought to himself with every pull-up.
Without his shirt on, Elizabeth saw several large scars on Kameron's bare chest. Ranging from his upper pectorals to his lower abs and sides. Some would says scars made you look cool and can sometimes be a sign of toughness, but...that wasn't what Elizabeth thought about at all with the way she was looking at them. This is the cost Kameron made when becoming a Rainbow Gem, and Elizabeth was slowly understanding that the more she gazed at the scars.
Soon, Kameron lowered himself and released his grip on the pole. Falling onto the sand his self-made pull-up bar broke apart and each crystal from it went right into his body before getting absorbed into his skin. Heavy breaths exited Kameron's mouth while he looked down at the sand with sweat-drops fall from his body. One-hundred pull-ups...all in one day.
Getting up from the couch, Elizabeth quickly jogged over to the stairs near the beach. As soon as her feet touched the sands she rushed over to Kameron with a worried expression.
"Kameron."
Hearing her voice, Kameron slowly lifted his head and saw his girlfriend standing in front of him. She frowned at him with shaking and sorrowful eyes. Her expression...made his heart hurt. He opened his mouth to speak, but Elizabeth fell onto her knees and wrapped her arms around him. Taken back by her action, Kameron slowly placed his hands on her waist while she slowly increased her hold on him.
"I'm... I'm a little sweaty." Kameron told her quietly.
"I don't care." Elizabeth whispered in his ear.
Pulling away from his body without letting go, Elizabeth looked into her boyfriend's eyes with fresh tears erupting in hers. Watching the tears fall onto her cheeks, Kameron's eyes dilated and started to shake. No... No, no, no. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off when she lunged her head forward and connected her lips with his. A muffed gasped exited Kameron, but that mattered little when Elizabeth pushed herself on him more, causing them both to fall onto the sands behind them. After a couple seconds, Elizabeth removed her lips from Kameron's, making both of their cheeks blush while they continued looking into each other's eyes.
"I...I'm sorry." Kameron said softly.
Elizabeth's tears fell onto his cheeks as she closed her eyes and lowered her forehead onto his.
"I don't blame you." Elizabeth replied sadly. "I know that...these past few days...you needed to train after what happened. And I understood that, but...you're pushing yourself too much, Kameron. And those scars..." She added softly.
"Yeah..." Kameron whispered. Increasing his hold on his girlfriend, Kameron slowly raised both her and himself up, making it so that she was now sitting in his lap and coiled her legs around his waist while wrapping her arms around his body. "I need to get stronger. I know that probably sounds like an excuse, and...it is, but...I need to be prepared for whatever happens." He added, raising his hands onto Elizabeth's back.
"What about the fireworks?" Elizabeth whispered. "I still want to see them with you. That's why I'm here."
Lightly pressing her onto his body, Kameron held her close and closed his eyes. That's why his girlfriend is here with him and his family in Beach City. To see the fireworks. He hadn't forgotten about that and...part of him still wants to do that. However, that was before Lapis appeared, took the ocean, and he was given the biggest bomb drops of all time: The Corrupted use to be Rainbow Gems and/or Crystal Gems. And his father and siblings were conquerors from space. That's still weighing on his mind, but even so, he needs to keep training so that he can be prepared for whatever might happen.
Soon enough, Kameron opened his eyes and lightly pushed Elizabeth away, making her gaze at his neutral expression.
"I want that too. I really do. But...something is gonna happen soon, I know it will, and I have to be ready for it." Kameron said softly.
Uncoiling her legs from her boyfriend, Elizabeth got off his lap and stood up.
Kameron slowly got up and turned around, making his girlfriend look at his back as he directed his attention at the ocean. On his back she witnessed more scars from his shoulders to the center and lower areas.
"I made a promise." Kameron said to her.
Placing a hand on her chest, Elizabeth curled her fingers into her small summer dress.
[Song Start]
Elizabeth: This is damaged. Really damaged. And that doesn't make you "wise".
You're not special. You are different. And I don't want you to die.
Let's be normal?
See a movie?
See our friends? Or Watch TV?
Let's make brownies? Or go bowling?
Don't you want a life with me!?~
Turning around, Kameron saw Elizabeth tearing up and starting to cry again.
He immediately approached her, held her in his arms as she started to sob.
Can't we please just be teens?
That's what I want to do.
Please, let me in.
I want to be with you.
Raising his hands, Kameron used his thumbs ands wiped away Elizabeth's tears as she held him.
Seeing her cry... Hearing her sob... It made his heart ache.
Elizabeth: People hurt us.
Kameron: Or they lie.
Elizabeth: And yeah, that really blows.
But we let go.
Kameron: Can't do that.
Elizabeth: Please try and heal the holes.
We'll go dancing?
Kameron: Practice techniques.
Elizabeth: Eat some chili-fries?
Watch the night-skies.
Kameron: Gotta keep fighting.
Elizabeth & Kameron: Please look into my eyes!
Elizabeth: Can't we please be teens?
Kameron: That's just so hard to do.
Elizabeth: Please, just let me in.
Elizabeth & Kameron: I want to be with you!
Wrapping their arms around each other, the couple held one another as tightly as they could.
Elizabeth: Let us please be teens.
Kameron: I don't have the right.
Elizabeth: Well, what's it gonna be?
Lightly pulling away from him, Elizabeth looked into Kameron's eyes as her remaining tears fell onto her cheeks.
Elizabeth: I want to be with you.
Kameron: I want to be with you... and fight!
Her eyes lightly widened.
That...was his choice? Both?
Closing her eyes, she let out a sigh and pulled his face to her, making their foreheads touch each others.
Kameron closed his eyes too, letting Elizabeth connect her head with his.
Elizabeth: This is damaged.
Kameron: Badly damaged.
Elizabeth & Kameron: But...your love's too good to lose.
Elizabeth: It feels tighter.
Kameron: Growing closer.
Elizabeth: I'll stay if I'm what you choose.
Kameron's eyes widened.
Kameron: I can't be a normal teen.
Elizabeth: If I am what you choose.
Removing her head from her boyfriend's, Elizabeth stepped away from Kameron and locked her eyes on his.
Kameron: I don't have that right.
Elizabeth: 'Cause you're the one I choose.
Kameron: Why are you making me choose?
Elizabeth then took another step back and turned around, making Kameron look at her back.
Elizabeth: Please... Decide on what to...choose~
[Song End]
The atmosphere fell into silence... The only sounds remaining were of a small gust of wind and small waves crashing onto the sands.
Kameron continued looking at his girlfriend's back as she stood completely still, waiting for him to make a choice. He already made a choice! He chose both her and to keep on fighting. But...it was pretty clear that the choice he told her wasn't a really one. But...what was she really making him decide? What does she want him to tell her? He...wasn't sure.
Lowering his head, Kameron directed his attention onto the sands below his feet while curling his fingers into his palms. He closed his lips, unsure on how to respond to her at the moment.
Not hearing anything from his mouth, Elizabeth slowly sucked in some air into her nose and slowly exhaled it out of her mouth. Perhaps he was uncertain on what do to. That wasn't too hard for her to understand, given his silence. But...he didn't know what she was having him decide.
"Kameron. You're not the only one who is protecting the planet. I'm sure you know this. And you shouldn't push yourself to the brink." Elizabeth said softly and gently. "I want to be with you. To see the fireworks. To have fun. And enjoy our summer vacation. But...after what happened, your mindset changed. So...that's why I'm asking you to decide on what you need to do."
Walking away from her boyfriend, Elizabeth made her way back to the house and went inside.
Now alone, Kameron closed his eyes tight and increased his grip in both hands. His teeth clenched against each other as his nails dug themselves into his palms. Blood started erupting out of his palms and dripped right out of his hands.
Great... Way to screw it all up, boyfriend.
The next day inside the house, Kameron sat down on the floor in his room with his back against the door and his head in his knees while his arms were coiled around his legs.
Through his bedroom window rays of sunlight shined, illuminating the room. However, it didn't matter how bright outside was anymore.
He screwed up... That's the honest truth after what happened yesterday. He screwed things up with Elizabeth, his first girlfriend, and now...he can't even come out of his room.
He made her cry. He made her worry. And now...he has to make a decision or else...
That very thought made him dig his head into his knees even more. That's probably what'll happen. But...he doesn't want it to happen. He can't let it happen. But...it is a possibility. And if Elizabeth chooses that option, then...he has no say in it. It's her choice if she wants it, no matter how much Kameron doesn't want it.
*Knock Knock*
"Kameron?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Kameron slowly lifted his head and placed it on the door, making a small thump.
"Honey, please open the door. I wanna take to you."
Letting out some air through his nose, Kameron picked himself up from the floor and turned around before grabbing onto the doorknob. Twisting it he opened the door and on the other side was his mother, wearing a white Summer dress.
Seeing the sad and depressing expression her son was showing, Christie frowned. That look alone was enough for her see the many things that were going on in his head.
"May I come in?" Christie asked.
Kameron nodded, stepping to the side so his mother can come in before he closed the door. Turning his head he watched her walk over to his bed and took a seat. Seeing her pat the space next to her, Kameron walked over and took a seat next to her.
"Elizabeth hadn't come out of her room either. Did something happen between you two yesterday?" Christie asked.
Kameron looked away and nodded.
"What happened?" Christie asked.
Turning his head to his mother, Kameron opened his mouth, "We were talking and...she wanted me to make a choice. I gave her my answer, but...it wasn't the right answer. And she asked me what was what I needed to do."
Christie lightly hummed when her son was finished talking. "What he needed to do"? That could mean many, many different things. However, given the context of what occurred a couple days ago and her son's overtime training, it wasn't too hard for her to see what was going on in his mind.
"Let me ask you, honey." Christie said honestly. "What matters to you the most?"
Kameron's eyes widened at his mother.
PING!
Before Kameron could respond, he shifted his attention to his phone sitting on his nightstand. Turning his head back to his mother she nodded her head, allowing him to reach out for it. On his screen he saw a Gem Icon and tapped on it before it opened a map behind it and placed itself onto a location. Standing up, Kameron turned to his mother again with concerned eyes.
"I gotta go." Kameron said.
Christie stood up from her son's bed and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close to her.
"Remember what we talked about and you'll find your answer." Christie whispered in his ear. "I'll talk to Elizabeth while you're gone."
"Thanks, mom." Kameron replied. "I love you."
"I love you too. Always, no matter what." Christie said, tightening her hold on her son.
They both separated as Kameron pulled out his Warp Whistle and blew right into it, surrounding himself in a array of green light before he vanished.
In a burst of light, Kameron emerged at his destination.
Upon arrival the skies above were dark and shrouded in nimbus clouds, released streams of rain. From left to right he took notice of various buildings and lit up signs. Most notably, there were no signs of life anywhere...
Raising his hands onto the back of his hoodie, Kameron placed his hood on and lowered his goggles onto his eyes. The area itself gave a melancholy vibe. Nothing but rain and silence. It felt...actually nice, and reflected how he felt right now.
Stepping forward, Kameron began walking. Step after step splashes of water hit his feet, yet he kept his attention on the path forward with a frown across his lips.
Coming up to a corner he stopped in his tracks once he turned into it. Up ahead were various wrecked vehicles and a few cracks in the road. No alarms were going off, so that meant this happened some time ago. Stepping onto the road, Kameron looked closer at the vehicles and didn't see anyone inside. That was good, no-one got injured or hurt. But...right when he took another step two black portals erupted from the ground in front of him. From the portals Corrupted made themselves known to him and rose right up until the portals closed beneath them.
These Corrupted had humanoid shapes with sharp claws on their hands and feet, gray eyes, long tails, sharp fangs, and black Gemstones located on their bodies. Before...Kameron only saw them as nothing more than monster. That's what they were then and that's what they are now. But...after the revelation from Amethyst, part of him wanted to know how Gems turned into such creatures. Is there a way to help them? Maybe...restore them to normal? Is it a possibility? There had to be, but right now...monsters are monsters.
Raising out his hands, two crystals erupted from his palms and began expanding at a rapid rate. Soon, both crystals took on the form of two blades and were then wrapped in Kameron's hands.
One of the Corrupted snarled at him and leaped forward, stretching his claws out to him. Without delay, Kameron spun his body, waving his left arm out and slashing the Corrupted in half.
POOF!
In a flash the Corrupted's body burst into black smoke and it's Gemstone fell right onto the ground.
Seeing it's kin defeated, the remaining Corrupted lunged toward Kameron. Raising out his claws it slashed at him, but Kameron merely stepped back, making the claws barely hit their mark. Slash after slash the Corrupted kept on attacking and waving it's arms at him, but was unsuccessful. However upon the ninth slash, Kameron stood completely still and allowed the monster to attack him.
Drips of blood exited from his body and landed on the ground, mixing in with the water. Small grunts exited his lips, yet he remained standing and slashed his right arm at the monster.
POOF!
With only one attack, the monster burst into smoke and it's Gemstone fell onto the ground of blood and rain.
Lifting up his crystal swords, Kameron placed them on his back, making them stick there. Lowering himself he picked up the Gemstone and walked over to get the other one. With both in his hands he placed them in a bubble and tapped it, sending it away.
Letting out a small sigh, the wounds from the Corrupted's attack began to close themselves up and some new scars were forged. Downside, his favorite hoodie was shredded, but he's got more to replace it in the same style, so it wasn't all bad.
Turning his head, Kameron soon leaped over the wreckage of vehicles and pushed himself forward, wanting to see if that was all the Corrupted he had to fight.
Up ahead Kameron soon came up to a huge skyscraper with large beaming lights shining off of it. Decreasing his speed he began walking up to the building and stopped dead-center. Raising up his head while more raindrops fell on him he gazed at the dark clouds and a sudden thunderclap echoed through his ears with a surge of lightning pulsing through the clouds.
All of a sudden several black portals circled around him and similar Corrupted emerged right out of them. Roughly around ten of them, Kameron raised his hands and gripped onto his crystal blades, pulling them off of his back. But...while he kept look up at the skyscraper he noticed a figure standing on top of it. She raised up her hand and pulled her large sword off of her back. Bending her knees she leaped off of the skyscraper and began to descend.
Thanks to the lights coming off of the building, Kameron got a better look at who the figure was. The red hair... The battle-armor... The blade... He knew her and narrowed his eyes within his goggles.
'Vanessa.' Kameron thought to himself.
Flipping her body forward, Vanessa landed right in the middle of the area with a loud thud. Upon seeing Kameron, the two turned around and had their backs against each other. Without a word they each pushed them forward, directing all of their attention on the Corrupted.
Watching two leap themselves into the air, Vanessa increased her grip on her blade and swung at them.
POOF!
POOF!
Destroying their bodies, she directed her attention on three more. Twisting her body she lowered her blade and sliced right through one's torso before raising her blade and slashing another right in half.
POOF!
POOF!
Only one remained... The Corrupted snarled and leaped high into the air before stretching both of it's claws at her. Glaring at it, Vanessa bent her knees and jumped right at it. Pulling up her sword the creature slashed right at it, but the sword didn't break. Pushing the creature back, Vanessa watched it go higher in the air while she returned to the ground. As soon as her feet made contact with the ground she immediately jumped right back up and swung her blade at the creature.
POOF!
At the same time, Kameron swiftly circled around one Corrupted to the next, slashing right through their torsos.
POOF!
POOF!
POOF!
POOF!
One by one each Corrupted erupted into smoke. Only one remained and it slowly took a step back, but Kameron quickly rose right up to it and pierced his sword into it's stomach and raised it up, slicing it in half.
POOF!
Last one... Retracting his blades, Kameron picked up the Gemstone and turned around to get the rest.
Vanessa picked each one up too and stored them into her suit. When the last one was placed she turned her head and looked at Kameron.
"You're Green's kid, aren't you?" Vanessa asked.
Putting all of the Gemstones in a bubble, Kameron sent it away and silently nodded at Vanessa.
With that conformation, Vanessa raised her blade at him. Kameron didn't flinch or expressed any kind of shock at her actions as she lunged at him with her sword. Watching it come at him, Kameron leaped out of the way and slid on the wet ground.
"Your dad got me demoted. And since he's not here, then you're the best I got at taking it out on." Vanessa said, pushing her toward Kameron.
Lifting up her blade she slashed it right at him, but Kameron merely dodged her attack by rotating around her and kicking her in the back. Tumbling forward, Vanessa soon fell right onto the soaked ground.
"Miss. You're wasting your time fighting me. If my dad made you mad, take it out on him. Don't take it out on others." Kameron replied with a emotionless tone.
Turning his body, Kameron walked away as Vanessa looked at him. Narrowing her eyes and gritting her teeth, Vanessa stood up and rushed straight toward him. Lifting up her sword she swung it right at him, but to her surprise, Kameron turned around as the sword impacted his chest.
SPLURSH!
A large burst of blood dispersed right out of Kameron and sprayed right onto Vanessa, hitting her face, her armor, and her blade. Grunts exited Kameron's mouth as well as a gush of blood. Lowering his head his knees started to shake, yet he remained standing and the fresh wound Vanessa gave to him began to close itself up, making yet another scar.
Vanessa merely watched when Kameron was pushing himself back and landed right on his back. The rain above started to pick up as the D.H.P. soldier looked down at the kid she just attacked. Closing her eyes she placed her blade on her back and picked up Kameron from the ground, holding him in her arms. Small breaths exited his mouth, easing the tension slightly before Vanessa began to walk.
'If anyone from his family find out...I'm as good as dead.' Vanessa thought to herself while looking at Kameron's face. 'Why would you let me attack you after dodging my previous blows?'
Small grunts exited Kameron's lips as he slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry at first, but after a couple of seconds it began clearing up. In his field of vision there was no rain hitting him anymore. Instead, he saw a ceiling made of wood. Lightly turning his head he saw a large empty room and...Vanessa wearing a tank-top and shorts. Confusion filled Kameron's head until he turned it and saw his bare-chest and gray stretch-pants.
Apparently, he was laying on a bed with a candle-light illuminating his surroundings. His ears were still picking up the rain from outside.
Opening her eyes, Vanessa took notice of Kameron awake.
"Good. You're awake." She said, standing up from her seat. "I had to change your clothes so you wouldn't catch a cold." She added.
Turning his head back to the ceiling, Kameron let out a small sigh. "How much did you see?" He added, feeling like he needed to ask that.
Vanessa smirked a little, "Gotta say, you're the definition of a soldier with all those battle scars. And if you're wondering about your groin, I left your underwear on. I'm sure you're saving that for someone else."
Another sigh left Kameron's mouth. That's good to know.
"Why help me after cutting me down?" Kameron asked.
Vanessa's smirk disappeared as she crossed her arms. "Why let me cut you down after dodging me before?"
Kameron looked away from her, "I did something stupid and I punished yourself."
Cocking an eyebrow, Vanessa found that hard to believe. The kid can heal and regenerate himself, but willing to get hurt just because he did something stupid? That's suicide.
"Are you asking for death?" Vanessa said.
Kameron turned his head to look at her, "Not yet. I've still got a lot to do. Pain can be a teacher. So I let her do her thing and learn from it."
Vanessa shook her head. That's just crazy talk. Sure, she wanted to take out her anger on him, but hearing that he wants pain to learn from his mistakes, that's on a whole other level.
"Look, kid. I helped you because I don't want your family to give me an early death." Vanessa explained. "And besides, people make mistakes all the time. That doesn't mean you should want pain to learn from it."
Walking up to him, Vanessa grabbed his goggles from the nightstand and handed them to him. "I don't know what's going on in your head, kid, but if you die then those that care about you will be sad. I can tell that you're strong, but if really want to protect those you care about, then stop carrying all the burdens on your shoulders."
Kameron blinked at her while taking his goggles back.
"I was like you when I was your age. Wanting to protect everyone. Carrying all that weight. Accepting all that responsibility, but not realizing what it really means." Vanessa said calmly. She then turned her head, looking at her blade resting in the corner of the room. "My father gave me that sword. It belonged to him, but then he gave it me only when I understood what really mattered to me and what I needed to do."
Kameron's eyes widened. Those were the same words Elizabeth told him.
"I paid the hotel for the night. You get rest and leave whenever you want." Vanessa said, turning around and walking away. But...she then turned around and placed a hand on her while narrowing her eyes at Kameron, "Next time, don't hold back on me. I might get pissed again and need someone to take it out on. Promise?"
Kameron nodded, "Promise."
Vanessa nodded and walked into a room within the room before closing the door.
Putting his attention back on the ceiling, Kameron closed his eyes and let words roam around in his mind. There are many ways of being strong, but he has to keep pushing himself more than the rest of his family. Without strength, you can't protect anything... And you'll lose what matters the most. He knows that. He cares about his family too much to let anything happen to them, regardless if he's the weakest. He has a girlfriend now, which mean he has something else to protect and love. His best friends... The Crystals... So many people that he has to protect.
Then...his eyes shot open. He then lowered then and let out a long sigh. That's it... He found the answer to Elizabeth's question. Why did it take so long for him to figure it out?
Lighting gripping on his goggles, Kameron narrowed his eyes.
'I know what I need to do.'
End Of Episode 36.
Now, to be honest, I had a different direction with this episode, but I decided to go back to my original idea.
Things will clear up with Kameron and Elizabeth. So don't you all worry.
Now, coming up next is a an arc that I though about doing and after some thinking I think I'm confident enough to do it.
See you all soon. Have a good day everyone.
The song I used in this episode is called Seventeen from The Heathers: The Musical with some tweaks to fit the narrative. I do not own the song, it belongs to it's rightful owners.