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goldstonegolem64 · 5 years

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Book 1 Hope returns Chapter 38 Unleash the beast By Goldstonegolem64

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JQ820nUujk&t=21s

Haggar sat in her lab looking through the record of Root rot see as he had the biggest profile out of all four of her new pilots. the report was from a Subcommander that was well known for hunting dangerous game and was the first and only to survive being hunted By Root rot and his clan on there home world. The original reason the subcommander was because they had caught wind a the beasts on this moon had a weird ability to Evolve rapidly to survive the harsh jungles. The report Told of How this subcommander had found this clan of Florian's light years away from their homeworld.The report told her that the Florains there had grown to have the same ability as the rest of the wild life an had build there village in side of a old abandoned temple and the clan had adopted the religion of the temple. The rest of the report was just the subcommander watching the clan over for about six deca phebes. Nothing of interest happened through the phebes but that was until the last deca phebes in which one of the sub commander troops decide to hunt one of the florian despite his orders and killed it.

It turned out that the florian was pregnant with twins and that was when everything started going down hill. It all started when the same troop that disobeyed went missing along with three plasma rilfs .Then came the feeling of being watched and unit that was sent to find the missing soldier also went missing followed by their warship being destroyed by a overcharged plasma rifle placed in the armory causing a chain reaction that trapped the crew there. She then read as that the crew was picked off one by one by a unforeseen force that seemingly adapted to whatever strategy they had come up with to hunt it. The subcommander then write that maybe the florain that was killed was the mate of what was hunting them and this was all just revegen for what was taken from them. But what happened next caught her attention. The report read that The florian that was hunting them was the.

The report stopped before she could see what had been hunting them.She assumed that it was root rot. But there were some things that didn’t add up. Like how did he get onto the warship without being seen. How did he get on learn how to work blaster or even overload it to begin with. She then looked through the rest of the reports and saw something that caught her eye. Root rot was a know Bioterrorist and used gases of different varieties to mark targets , grow small hounds or mindless minions ,some paralyzed other corroded flesh and metal. one caused anyone to in haul it to laugh themself to death if exposed to it for too long. One send crowds into rage fueled blood bath . As she was looking through the reports the door to her lab opened

“ What is it ?” Haggar said not looking toward who ever entered her lab

“ lord Zarkon has requested your pressaion. “ the druid said

“ Alright “ Haggar said as she closed the report and got up from her seat and left the lab.toward the throne room.

Elsewhere the Castle of lions was hovering over a desert world where the s.o.s came from

“ I know were all going down there but before that What's the game plan?” Jay asked

“ well we have made contact to the other two outposts on the neighboring planets. Both are untouched but Hq as order a quick evac just in case they’ve been compromised “Ace said as she walked into the room

“ So we're not gonna go down there to see what happened there” Hunk said a little hopeful

“ Yes you would be correct hu-” Allura was cut off when another message

A screen appeared to reveal a rebel soldier that was galra with a huge cut across their face. There was two other soldiers in the background one was dead on the floor and the other had wings and their face was hide behind them as they were looking out into the hallway .

“ If anyone can hear this please come help us were the only survivors here and were being hunt by that thing. It killed everyone with no remorse and it started to hunt who was ever left” the sound of footsteps could be heard in the background” Shit it found us please be quick come on sky lets going “ then the message stopped

“ Well here we go.” Hunk said

Jay coulded help but think that the rebels voice sounded. But he just pushed that though to the back of his minded.” So let's get down there and save those people” Jay said as he was walking out of the room towards the hanger bay thinking that all this seemed a little fishy

“ You heard the Man lets get going” Ace said to her team as she followed Jay

A few minutes later

The lions, The valkyrie, Two rebel ship and the Prometheus were flying down toward the outpost

“ So how many people were working at that outpost anyway?” Adam Asked

“ Normally there are about fifty to a hundred depending on the importance of the outpost location” Ace said

“ Ok my confidence has lowered a bit” Lance said feeling a little unsure about there chances of find those to guys alive.

“ Hey jay you’ve been unusually quiet something on your mind?” Adam asked

“ it’s nothing i just don’t have anything to say on the matter at hand” Jay said

“He things this whole thing is a bit fishy but he doesn’t have enough evidence to prove it” Val said outing her pilot

“ Why would you think it was a trap? “ Shiro asked

“ It just something doesn’t feel right about this whole thing. i mean it might be just the way i was raised to question anything that seems just out of place. like the second message or the person who sent it and no it’s not because he was galra/ It because he’s voice sounded familiar and i can’t remember where i heard his voice before.It suck that i can’t remember and i normally remember this things ” Jay said

“ Like how you remembered to tell Adam and i about the mix up” Shiro said

“ Or that you have a huge bow for long range attacks” Adam said

“ Or the fact that you can turn into a hucking lizard monster.” pidge said

“ Ok i get it i have a bad memory. I get it but still i dont trust this. Also pidge i do remember that i can turn into a ten foot tall hulk lizard i just don’t trust myself to be incontrol when i go into that form . Mainly do to the fact i haven’t turn fully into berserker state yet and there is no way to say for sure that i won’t kill you all if i full turn” Jay said

“Well it’s good to hear that your concerned for us. But now i’m kinda scared for you to turn.”Lance said

“ Ok i don’t know what this berserker state is but Um can we talk about the out of place Jungle that is seemingly growing out of the listening outpost in the middle of the desert.”Ace said as she looked at the now overgrown outpost that was protected by a dome that covered the roof

“ Alright everyone be ready for anything down there “ Shiro said as he started to Land the black lion near the entrance of the out post

“ Ok quick question why how is this place hidden if it’s out in the open like this?” Pidge asked as she land the green lion

“ it’s an abandoned colony who would ever look here. But i guess someone came looking ” Rolo said

“ Well let’s not dread on the past they knew what they were getting into when they join up with us “ Ace said

A few minutes later the team entered the outpost and slowly moved through out the seemingly abandoned outpost. Everything in the outpost was covered in vine with buds growing on them that were weirdly pulsating

“ Ok Jay do you know why there pulsating ?” Hunk asked

“ My dad might but hell if i know” Jay walked away from the group to investigate the closet vine.” i may not be in the same league as my dad when it comes to things like this but if you gave me sometime i could probably figure this out” As Jay got closer to the vine Jay could hear the sound of a heartbeat coming from the vine.” Ok that is weird “ Jay reached and touched the vine it was weirdly warm and the heart beat started to get faster. Jay then removed his hand and the heart beat started to slow down “ I’m not going to do that ever again.” Jay said as he stepped away slowly.

“ Good to know now lets keep going “ Keith said

The team continued to move. As they did the the vines begane to cover the floor as the bud were now about the size of people and the heart beat sound was now louder than before.

“Thank god shay stayed behind with Allura and the others” Hunk said

“ Hey guys i know this should have been asked earlier but seeing as at the highest there would being about a hundred. lowest being about fifty people that were stationed here. I’m just curious where are the bodies?” Lance asked as he looked at one of the buds that was close to them.

“Your right lance where are the bodies?” Matt asked as the sound of things moving around in the distacts

“ Ok that doesn’t sound good. We need to find those survivors quick “ Hunk said as the motion sensor went off showing two dots moving towards them.

Everyone turned to face what was coming weapon drawn. they All waited for a few seconds to see what came and what they say was the two rebels that were from the second message.The two looked surprised to see them and raised there hand up

“ Please don’t shoot were not your enemies “ the first rebel said

“ Yeah we were the ones who called you here “ the second rebel said

“ Ok we found the survivors now lets get ou” Lance was cut by the sound of an alarm and flashing red lights going off followed by the sound of huge metal doors closing. Then the alarm and the Lights stopped

“What was that ?“ Matt asked

“ That was the sandstrom Alarm were going to be stuck he for a bit.My names is Quill by the way and this guy next to me is Sky now before were found by that thing let's get inside of the safe house we set up just in case we were here for a while” Quill said

Shiro noticed that both of this two’s armor had very obvious damage and blood splatter that would only occur if someone's throat was slit or had their head bashed. Shiro had seen and done many horrible things during his time as a gladiator which did help him see somethings that other wouldn’t notice. He was coming up with a plan to see who this two were. Only for ace to step forwards

“ Who are you two and why do you to reek of the empire?” Ace asked with a growl in her voice

“ I Don’t know what you mean by tha-”

“ Don’t lie i can tell that blood and armor isn’t your now i will ask again. Who are you?’ Ace asked as she raised her blaster.

Quinn and Skyver looked at each other then back to the paladins. Both notice that a root was snaking its way towards the silver paladin unseen by all twelve paladin in front of them.

“ Well it looks like the gig is up” Skyver said

“ Yes it is. Well one of you already knows me . Hello Jay it got to meet Face to mask” Quinn said with a smile on his face

Jay felt dumb that he couldn’t remember what Quinn sounded like.’ Well it’s good to finally put a face to a voice. How's your sister doing?” Jay asked genuinely concerned for his frenemies sibling

“ She lives thank the goddess and it good to see that your friends made it out alive too. Good to know “Quienn said as he watched the root slowly wrapped around Jay’s ankle

“ Stop stalling where is that thing “ Ace barked

“ You’ll meet him shortly” Skyver said

“ Say hello to hi when you meet him Jay” Quinn said

“Wait wh Shit “ Jay suddenly lose his balance and felt himself being lift into the air then was quickly slammed into the ground followed by being very quickly pulled away from his teammate

“ Jay !?!?!?” everyone yelled as there friend was being dragged away.pidge was the closest to jay an quickly ran after him

Everyone was about to Follow them but stopped in their tracks as the sound of the heart beats got louder and the bud that was near Lance started to shake violently

“ We should get out of here before All hell breaks loose “ Quinn whispered

“ We should “ Skyver said as he heard the Sounds of water rushing nearby followed by the sounds of hyena like laughing. So he grabbed onto Quinn and took to the Sky before the paladin could notice

“ What the Hell is going on ?”Lance said as he leveled his Bayard to the bud he was standing next too.

“ I don’t know “Hunk said as the sound of laughter and screech's could be heard coming towards them

“ Where the hell did those two go“ Ace Yelled looking for Skyver and Quinn

“ Forget about them and look around us” Rolo said as dozens of dog like creatures that looked like they were made up of the same vines and flowers that covered the floor were walking toward them followed by Humanoid being that looked like shorter version of the thing they all saw on the first message

“ Everyone stay together.” Shiro said as he activated his arm.

“ What about Jay and pidge ?” Matt asked worried about his sister

“ Jay and pidge can handle themselves and if they get into trouble Jay can call val into help“ Shiro said

“ Here they come” Nyma yelled as the crowd of enemies started running towards them.

“ Fire at will” Ace said as she opened fire onto the crowd Followed by everyone else as keith and Shiro ran into the charging crowd.

Elsewhere Jay was being dragged across the city streets. He was being slammed into walls every time he turned a corner. Until he grabbed onto his bayard and flipped onto his back and aimed for the vine that was wrapped around his foot. His first few shots missed. Then stopped aiming for the vine and aimed for his boot.But before he pulled the trigger he changed his foots size then fired bowing the boot apart along with the vine. Jay slide across the ground before stopping

“Go to Phobos they said . It will be easy money they said . You’d be back in a few days they said. Fuck you Damien for telling me about this job.” Jay started removed his now destroyed boot followed by the his other boot then he put both in to his pack. Jay then got to his feet and looked around the area “ Where the hell am i.” Jay then heard the sound of claws clarting against the floor “ Jay turned to look towards what was running towards him. It was a dog like creature was running toward him it teeth were bared as it ran towards him. Jay pulled his revolor and Shoot the beasts front leg of causing the beast to tumbled forwards and stopped a few feet away from jay .the beast struggled to get back onto it’s feet . Jay felt bad for this thing as it struggled to get back up. jay then leveled his revolor again,closed his eyes and fired again.

The sound of a body hit the floor. Jay open his eyes to see the beast on the ground dead. Jay quickly remove the shells and replaced them as he did the sound of something being dragging across the ground “ Great what now “ Jay said as he again turned to look were the sound was coming from. to see two humanoid being walking towards him the bigger one had a huge piece of dedre while the other just had its sharp claws “ So are you here to kill me ?” Jay asked

The two stood there not taking before both of them charging forwards

Jay was caught off guard by how fast the the two were as he nearly dodged the big one’s debre club only to be kicked in the side by the smaller one which was follow by the big one clubbing Jay in the face knocking Jay backward. His view started to see the red hue again.But he had to fight back the urge to let into his rage. Jay quickly got back to his feet and dodge another swing of the big ones club and summoned his Bayard two his left hand and fired both guns into the big one . Both shoot tore through the big ones chest killing it instantly. Jay turn to face the smaller one as it tried to tackled him. But Jay sidestepped and avoid the tackle he quickly turned and pointed his bayard at the back of his attacker’s head and pulled the trigger . But the thing avoid the shoot and slapped the Bayard and the revolver out of Jay’s hands followed by a punch to Jay’s gut . Jay was surprised by how quick it reacted to the shoot.

Jay stumbled backward before a few feet as a Flurry of punches and Clawed swipes hit him . Jay’s anger started to build up again and this time he let the anger take control an as another punch came toward him. He grabbed the fist and pull his attacker in close and smash the thing in the face with his left hand followed by a right hook to the jaw that caused the thing to stumble backwards as this happened jay grabbed the Ax off his back and swung it and caught the thing in the neck and detached it’s head from it’s body. Jay watched as the thing’s body and head hit the ground. Jay was breath heavily as his anger subsided. Jay noticed that his helmet’s visor was cracked. he pleased his ax back and he moved the helmet.

“ I really need to be move careful. I can’t afford to die right know” Jay said as he dropped his helmet and walked towards his Bayard and revolver . As he made his was there he heard the sound of something running towards him again. He turned to see Pidge running towards him. A smile of relief came across his face but that quickly turned to a pain as he felt something punch through his gut . He watched as a look of terror came across pidge’s face .

“ I’m not going to lie you look not like I thought you would “ A raspy voice said behind jay. Jay looked down to see a thorn popping out of his stomach “ But what you are will make lady Haggar happy and see how you fight I wonder how she’ll make you better” Jay felt the thorn being pulled out of him” unless you die here “

Pidge was petrified as she watch her friend fall to the floor as a pool of blood started to form where he lye. she didn’t know what to do because fear had paralyzed her body as she watch a goliath of a man walked out of one of the nearby building

“ Run Pidge run and tell the other to leave. “ Jay said as he struggled to get back up. But as he did a Val's voice appeared in the back of his head

“ What is wrong ?” she asked

“ I’ve been impaled and. No You stay away from her! ”Jay yelled as he grabbed on to the foot of the new foe as he was walking toward

“ Such heroic nonsense.” root rot turned and looked down towards jay and picked him up by the throat “ What will you do if I don’t stay away from her. Kill me hunt me down. Chase me to the ends of the universe. I’ve heard it all from thousands of different people from hundreds of different races and I kill or out live them all. So tell boy what are you going to do them if I do this?” Root rot said with a twisted smile as he raised his free hand an shootout a vine toward the now running pidge. The vine screamed throw the air and stabbing pidge right below the calf muscle of her right leg She let out a scream of pain as she to fell to the ground as the vine came out of her leg “ No running “

“ NOOOOO!!!!!” Jay yelled as his rage burst forwards as he grabbed the ax off his back and slammed it in his foes face as his shin started to turn a dark red

“ Ha HaHahHahahahahahaha. Did you thing that would work boy “ Root rot said as he remove it from his face and dropped it on the floor “ What was that suppo AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” Root rot screamed as his hand was cut off . He quickly regrow his hand and looked toward the silver paladin. He noticed that the paladins left hand was glowing a bright purple he also notice how the paladin’s skin had changed color and the hole in his stomach was slowly closing as his body ” What are you boy?” Root rot asked as excitement start to appear in his voice

Pidge was still on the ground holding her leg she was no long in pain do to her suits healing unit. but she was still bleeding. So she pulled out her Bayard. bite down on her gloved knuckle and began to cauterize the hole in her leg . She screamed into her hand as the hot plasma burned her skin. She slammed he fist in the ground. She continued with her work only to stop when the sound of bones popping and snapping out of place joint . She turned to see her teammate start grow in size his skin turned a dark red .She watched as his arms and legs started to double in size as well as elongating along with his head which turned into a gator’s his eye had a farrell look to them. The she heard the sound of ripping clothes and the cracking of metal as jay’s armor broke open to reveal small spikes that line the back of his spine and final a two ended tail ripped it’s self out of the black jump suit. Pidge remember that jay had changed once before back on the balmera but it looked nothing like this or what the file on berserkers had show . she guess this was what happened when he let the beast take control or maybe each berserker looked different in their berserk form and she was not going to stick around to find out if this form of her friend could tell the difference between friend or foe. She tried to get up only to fall back down when she tried to place weight on her right leg

“Oh that’s not good “ She said to herself as she started to crawl away from the area

“ Don’t go to far little one because when I'm done with this one your next” Root rot yelled . Then the vines that make up his body part to show of the handled of a blade that he quickly grabbed it and pulled out his hunting knife “ If only we were back on my home world you would have made a great tribute to the blighted one. “ Root said as he watched his prey slowly walk around him on all fours it’s teeth beard it’s tails swaying slowly and in a blink of an eye it was on top of him. Root unraveled his lower half and used it to tangle and stabbed shut the beast mouth to prevent it’ s teeth from ripping him apart only to have it’s claws rack across his body a few times . He laugh as he felt the pain shoot throw his body . he return the favor by burring his knife deep in to his foe back.

The beast let loss a roar of pain and began to rampage through out the intersection he had been dragged. Slamming his head into the streets light poles and abandon buildings when that proved useless the beast charged forward and slammed through the nearest building and it kept charging through building after building leaving pidge by herself.

Pidge wanted to followed her friend but she couldn’t really walk and she decide to leave rover back on the castle so la-Sai could upgrade him. The she remembered that her Bayard had a grappling hook as she summoned his Bayard something caught her eye. IT was jay’s revolve it was just lying there on the floor she used her Bayard to drag it over to her. She quickly picked it up only to be caught off guard how heavy this thing was but it also made sense seeing how strong the bullets were. As she looked at the revolver in here hand. then she throw the grappling hook toward the light post behind her and she pulled the trigger and slide across the street slowly down before hitting the light post she did the several more times before she nearly hit someone that turned the corner

“ Woah watch here your throwing thing Pidge Pidge !?” lance yelled as he saw his teammate on the ground

“ What happened to your leg” Hunk asked as both boy ran to her side

pidge was happy to see her two teammates “ i’ve been stabbed in the leg and i lost a lot of blood “ pidge said as she slowly started to feel dizzy

“ You were stabbed in the leg by who “ Lance asked as he pick up his teammate

“ By the guy who killed everyone so we should get as soon as possible “ she said as everything was coming in and out of focus

“ Where’s jay?” Hunk asked now every more worried then before

“ fighting that thing in his berserk so i think he can handle it but we should tell the other about as they can help him just in case “ pidge said before passing out from the blood lost

“ We need to get her back to the castle now “lance said as he started running back to the rest of the group

“ What about Jay ?” Hunk asked as he followed lances

“ He is a literal tank with a healing factor he can handle himself “ Lance said

Elsewhere

the beast had ran aimlessly through building hoping to dislodge. As his foe bombarded him with gas that melted his armor and skin and a knife stabbed in his back over and over again. But he pushed through the pain for the other that their other half cared for. For the ones he was charged with protecting. as he changed he could smell gasoline or something similar and changed direction towards it .

“Hey boy where do you think your going “ Root said as he grabbed his hunting knife again and dragged the knife Across his preys back then he unleashed as tornten of corrosive gas into the wound and listened to his prey scream in pain. It brought him unending joy to hear this. But that stopped as he was slammed into something metal and the smell of gasoline perforated the area.He felt fear running through his body for the first time in a long time . he quickly unraveled himself his vines and pulled out his knife and stabbed this prey in the eye causing his target to stumble backward .The beast roared out in pain the charged straight toward his foe. Root quickly side step and swung his blade cutting off one of the two tail.That was counter by The beast’s back leg kicking him in the back “What are you boy one minute your mindless the next you think you can outsmart me not going to lie i’m impressed i never thought i would fight something like you “ Root watched has the tail he cut off started to regrow along with every wound that he had inflected on to his prey back. then the beast turned around to face him and pointed it’s left hand towards something behind him.

Root looked behind him to see what was behind him only to head butted into a building and the smell of gas got stronger then he was pinned down by the beast then it’s claws ripped him apart. He watched as his limbs were being torn off him then the beast stepped back a few second and opened his maw about to eat bite of his head . “ Ok you earned this one boy but no i’m not dying here to day also ” Root said as a bud appears on his chest and release gas into the beast mouth. The beast started to cough violently do to the fact that his lungs were on fire. Root watched as the beast started to shrink in size and returned to it normal human form he watch as the beast now boy was on the ground blooded beaten and struggle to breathe . Root laughed at this as his body slowly started to regrow itself” But i’m sorry but you need to die. But if it make you feel any better it will be quick and painless or less pain then the last few minutes” Root got up and cleaned of his blade as he walked towards his prey “ To be honest you weren’t the strongest berzerk i fought but your young so you don’t have the exprain like the others “ Root got closer to his prey and grabbed him by the face to see the fear in his eyes only to see rage and spite and that the right eye was fully healed .He smiled seeing this “ Good you die like a man then” Root Then raised the knife then lowered it after seeing the marks on the boys face then a smile came on his face.then it disappeared when his teammates appeared “ What do you want

“Lady haggar’s has new orders for us” Skyver said

“What are they “ Root rot growled

“We are to return to base now” Quinn said as he look at the beat face of his rival as

“ What about the boy can i kill him”

“ No She wants him alive but she doesn’t want him to be captured for some reason” Skyver said

“It’s because they can’t have Voltron go on a rampage to get him back “ Quinn said

Root rot growled loudly before looking down “ Got news boy you get to live another day . “ Root rot said

“ I {cough} Haerd {Cough} You{cough} Ass{ cough}” Jay said throw coughs

“ What did you do to him?” Skyver asked.

“ i starved his body of oxygen so he could no longer hold his monstrous form. “ root rot said as he started to walk away followed by his teammates

Jay lied there barely breathing his body fatigued from changing covered in his own blood and was wearing melted armor as the smell of gas slowly caused him to fall asleep. His last thought before he passed out was am i going to die here and as he passed out he heard the sound of metal bending and the sound of wind whipping wildly out side then he passed out

Val had ripped through the metal wall off the listening outpost them moment she felt her pilots heartbeat started to fade. She flow over the city and found her pilot lying there not moving. She knew that he was alive and she very carefully picked her pilot back carefully with her wing and slowly slide her pilot into the cockpit through the hatch on the top of her head. She then turned back to the hole she created. She could hear her pilots breath

“ It alright my pilot everything will be alright “ Val said as she flow towards the castle of lions.

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liberty-flight · 6 years

Text

Breathing Onto Embers

@the-flame-and-hawks-eye guess who’s your secret santa?

Shay did you like the clue I left in your inbox? lmao

I noticed you like turning Riza into an egg.

This is only the first chapter. I have a few other planned out. Still no solid plot but more snippets of moments from this AU.

So enjoy egg!Riza. Oh and young!royai in the beginning.

Premise of this AU for everyone else: Everyone has a “alternate” form that’s a mythical creature. Riza is a phoenix, Roy is a dragon. Others are not relevant atm.

“I have a question.”

Riza pauses her reading, interested immediately in what the question may be. He sounds hesitant and it makes her curious.

The peaceful afternoon studying across the table in the library had been slow and comfortable. She had just gotten up to bring them a snack when he had spoken.

It was the first time either of them had talked in over twenty minutes, each of then engrossed in their own reading.

Roy had been her father’s apprentice for years now, and she thought of him more as her friend more than her father’s student. Most of the time.

“A question for me, I’m assuming,” she responds dryly, a smile edging onto her face.

“You assume correctly,” Roy is quick to reply, amused smile softening his hesitance.

Riza raises her eyebrows in question as the silence stretches.

Roy fidgets in his chair before looking down at the book opened in front of him, fingers running along a paragraph she’s not at an angle to read.

“I’ve been reading about phoenixes…”

She isn’t surprised to hear that, she has been reading up on his form as well, however she’s curious to hear the question that has apparently arisen from his reading.

“I’m not sure if it’s a personal question is all,” Roy prefaces the question, giving her an apologetic shrug as their eye meet. “Or if you’d know the answer.”

She doesn’t reply, waiting to hear what the question is. She tries to think of the most intrusive question she can imagine but can only think of grooming habits which, while not exactly a matter for the general public, wouldn’t be out of place between friends….She thinks. It depends, Riza guesses.

She feels nervous despite herself, bracing for any awkward questions or answers.

“How does being reborn work?” Roy asks, eyebrows coming together in earnest confusion. “There isn’t much about it the books I’ve been reading, but it’s what phoenixes are most known for. It seems…strange.”

Riza feels her tense anticipation melt away in an instant. Of course that was what he wanted to know.

“I don’t know much, it doesn’t happen often,” Riza admits, watching as Roy’s confusion deepens.

“Really?”

She hums, nodding her head and retaking her seat across from him.

“Really. It’s actually pretty rare,” she shrugs, “I don’t really know any other phoenixes, but I think so.”

“This book says ‘reborn from the ashes’,” Roy says, eyeing the book in front of him. Riza looks and sees an illustration of a red bird emerging from a glowing golden egg, wings spread in triumph.

It brings a small smile to her face.

“I do know that’s not right,” she says, reaching over to point at the picture.

“What?”

“When it happens the person won’t be fully grown. They just hatched, so they’re chicks.”

“You turn into a baby?” Roy asks, incredulous and nearly sounding concerned.

“No,” she corrects, amused by the way Roy’s eyes narrow in suspicion and thought. “I said ‘chick’, they’re alternate form is young. The human form stays the same age, except healed of injuries. You can’t turn back into a human until you grow up enough in your bird form, but I think it doesn’t take as long as actually growing up.”

“I would hope so,” Roy mutters, looking back at the book again. “So…the ‘ash’ part…?”

“Egg, not ashes,” Riza replies. “But there is probably ash left over from when you turn into an egg, and ashes and other flammable and warm things are good nests. Maybe that’s what it means.”

“Why is it rare? Besides the trouble it is to be an egg again.”

“Because it’s really dangerous. If someone tries to do that they’re probably going to die, because of how risky it is you could die anyways from just trying. It’s putting out your Fire, and that’s usually deadly.”

Roy knew enough about a phoenix’s fire to understand that. It was the reason Riza didn’t like rain very much. In young phoenixes even rain could be dangerous if they were out in their bird forms. And if Riza was any indication even in their human forms it could make them susceptible to illness.

If it went out then the phoenix died.

“Usually?”

“Always. Except when trying to be reborn. Then our Fire is put out, it’s why it’s so deadly. All that’s left is our Spark.”

“Never heard of it,” Roy admits.

“I guess if our Fire is like breathing then our Spark is like our heartbeat,” Riza said slowly, testing the comparison. “I don’t know how to explain it. The Spark is the Fire’s beginning, there can be a spark and no fire, but not the other way around.”

“Like an ember.”

“Yes, like that. Once it dies…we can’t come back. No matter what.”

There was a moment of silence as Roy digested the heavy statement.

He was lost in thought, contemplating the illustration in front of him, until Riza spoke again.

“Why would that be a personal question?”

“It’s death?” Roy says, unsure. He was embarrassed now. “Some people don’t like to talk about it, or it’s rude. And it’s also a…health thing, I guess. I don’t know, I wanted to be safe.”

It’s sweet, Riza thinks. And a little funny.

“I think molting is a bit more personal,” she reasons.

Roy flushes at the mention of it but tries to keep his expression blank.

He didn’t care what Riza said, her feathers were pretty and to see stray bright plumes around the house was nothing compared to the patches of scales he was prone to leave behind. His scales were gross like that, in his opinion.

“Most people will never have to try to go through being reborn,” Riza says, bringing his out of his thoughts of embarrassing scales. “If you have to try then something already went badly. Bad enough that the risk is worth it.”

Riza bites at her thumb nail, eyes focused somewhere in the middle distance as she falls silent. Roy wonders what she’s thinking, almost asks but decides that the hint of sadness in the lines of her expression are enough of a warning to steer clear of the subject.

“Well, thanks for explaining, Riza.”

She smiles in response, and Roy returns it.

It was a mistake.

A stupid one.

And the mistakes of a commanding officer too often got soldiers killed.

She had warned him, that was the worst part.

It wasn’t as if he’d ignored her, wasn’t as if he hadn’t taken what she’d said into account. He had, Roy wasn’t so impressed with his own strategic genius as to ignore others when they spoke, especially not his lieutenant. She was his right hand for a reason, he trusted her to take command in the event that he couldn’t.

He had taken her concerns into consideration, had decided to move forward anyways.

He didn’t care that an official review of his orders had found him blameless. He didn’t care what anyone said.

He had made the wrong call and someone had gotten hurt.

It was always a risk, they were soldiers and soldiers got hurt. Soldiers died following orders from their superiors. Dying in your uniform wasn’t an unrealistic thing for them to expect, Roy knew that.

It didn’t matter though, none of it mattered.

He’d fucked up. To make it worse he should be the one in the hospital, he should’ve been the one bleeding to death, the one with a wound on his heart.

“This would have happened anyways, sir,” Havoc stated, interrupting his thoughts.

“Maybe,” he agreed, taking in the smell of cigarette smoke.

Entertaining his morbid thoughts outside of the hospital’s main building Roy is too tired to be surprised that Havoc had found him here. He’s even less surprised that the second lieutenant would use his vice as an excuse to stay.

“Can’t smoke inside,” the man had explained, flipping open his lighter.

It didn’t explain why he had chosen this side of the building to smoke at, but Roy didn’t have the energy to snap at him for it.

It had been over a week since the mission gone awry, over a week since she’d been admitted into the hospital.

Today they were expecting her to wake, they had stabilized her enough to try to coax her into a life saving procedure.

It was in the nature of the Phoenix to be reborn in the face of death, but it was a balancing act that required careful monitoring.

Most of all they had to stabilize her first. Death was so much faster than even fire, even with her nature it had been close. Too close.

The second bullet compounded with the infection proved to much, had she been anyone else….anything else, she might have already been dead.

She might still be dead, he quickly amended, hating himself.

“No wonder they kicked you out, you’re smoking too.”

Once again snapped from his thoughts Roy glared at his subordinate. He couldn’t deny the trail of ashy smoke escaping his mouth and nose, it burned his sinuses and the back of his throat felt raw. His eyes stung from the smoke, now that he’d taken notice of it.

He hadn’t noticed.

His smoke was different than a cigarette’s. It smelled (and tasted) strongly of sulfur, and was harder to ignore than a cigarette’s milder scent.

Roy was still angry. At himself, at the criminals, at the hospital for asking him to ‘please calm yourself.’

That was his subordinate they were taking care of, his lieutenant. She was his-!

“Colonel.”

More firm this time, even Havoc was losing patience with him. Doubtless the other man was tense and agitated as well, this situation was easy on none of them.

“If you calm down, they’ll let you back in,” Havoc noted dryly, Roy even thought he could detect an underlining hint of impatience.

He probably wanted to be inside, but had decided to follow his wayward temperamental Colonel outside instead.

Admittedly it was what she would want. They both knew that.

“What’s going on in there?” He asked instead of replying.

“Same thing. Waiting,” Havoc took a moment to take a drag, the end of his cigarette glowing bright, “…they called in next of kin.”

“The General,” Roy clarified.

“Rebecca,” Havoc corrected, “but she called him, yeah.”

Right, Grumman wasn’t on Riza’s official records as next of kin even if he should be. He realizes he never asked when Riza had put down Catalina. Had it been when she was deployed to Ishval? At that point in her life she would have had no one else…

“They’ll most likely be here soon,” Havoc continued, “and wonder where Hawkeye’s commanding officer disappeared to,” he finished pointedly.

Roy clenched his teeth, tasting ash and feeling too long teeth try to fit themselves into his mouth.

“Fine,” he spat, turning to march back inside.

He ignored Havoc extinguishing his cigarette behind him.

Maybe he had been outside longer than he’d realized. Catalina and Grumman were both already there. In a turn of what he expected the general was in civilian dress and Catalina was in uniform.

He was his civvies as well, but it was still a surprise.

“Mustang,” Grumman sounded tired when he greeted him but not angry.

Roy nodded in acknowledgement, turning to face Catalina. He braced himself.

From the moment he’d entered the room he had felt her glare, a chilling dagger aimed at the side of his head.

They’d had a strange tolerance that sometimes warmed to friendliness with each other, but sometimes it regressed to outright hostility. Riza had claimed that they were too headstrong to get along without problems.

Havoc had, more accurately in Roy’s opinion, said that they were too competitive and protective of Riza (and her attention) to get along.

She said nothing, dark blue eyes glaring holes into him until she looked away without a word.

He almost said something, but couldn’t find the words. He was too angry, too worried, to think of what to say. If he tried he doesn’t doubt he’d start an argument and the last thing they needed was a scene in the hospital.

He might not have liked Catalina all the time, but he did like what she did for his subordinate. As long as he’d known Riza she’d never had a friend like Catalina, one that could almost be a sister. Family that was outwardly protective and loving, fierce in her affection, was something Riza had never had. Roy appreciated that more than anything.

Even now he and Grumman were put to shame in the presence of Catalina, their quiet muted affections for Riza seemed terribly halfhearted in comparison.

Grumman who was not even listed as kin, Mustang who had put her in the hospital in the first place. Both of them superior officers who kept Riza at an arm’s length unless in the most private of venues.

Roy spared a moment for another mental kick to himself for his stupidity and thoughtlessness.

The thought was reinforced in the next moments.

“Rebecca Catalina?”

Every head snapped up to stare at the nurse who had approached them.

The woman in question sprang to her feet in response.

The nurse spoke to Catalina in hushed tones, Roy couldn’t make out the words. His heart was pounding against his ribs, the anxiety was painful.

Rebecca turned to address them, tense but not distraught. Roy felt himself relax an iota at the sight.

“She’s awake and Riza agreed to try,” a moment of hesitation before continuing, quieter and more anxious, “…they figure the infection might get worse at this rate, so this could be the best time. She’s as strong as she’s going to get.”

“Can we see her?” The question left his mouth the moment Catalina had stopped speaking.

The nod he received in response was all the permission he needed.

#fmasecretsanta2017 #fma #the-flame-and-hawks-eye #royai #creature au #my writing

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egosamsara-blog · 7 years

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march 16, 2017

today marks the day my cousin, nessie russell, would have been 21.

in another world i’m sure i’d tease her about how i’d just be counting down the days until september 1st so that i would be 2 years older than her again and make a corny ass joke about how we could now drink in a bar together.

i have been dreaming of this day since i turned 21 – 1.5 years ago. not because i like drinking, but because finally nessie and i were going to be “official adults” in the eyes of american society. i didn’t see her much the last couple years of her life so this is the thought i would fall asleep with at night. always some “next” destination to get to. the present was never good enough for either of us it seemed.

but i didn’t wait until i was 21 to start getting fucked up on legal drugs. i found them in a medicine cabinet in my grandfather’s house in upstate new york when i was 16. i didn’t know much about oxycontin other than it was a pill that got you high, and thank god for that because the cannabis i was smoking at boarding school kept getting me pulled out of class and put on work project. it stank too much, but this pill – i could crush it up and put it in water and sip it all day long. no need to go to the liquor store. and i had a lot of them. but then i had none of them. and then i needed them.

and then i needed them for 4 more years. arrests, running away, being put in mental hospitals, self harm…. i have traveled through at least 20 states all the way up to canada and down to mexico. i could have bought a house, a boat, and a comfortable life with the money i blew on roxicodone and dialudid.

i wasn’t finished; i kept running in circles for 2 more years. crushing up pills didn’t do the trick anymore, i needed a spoon and an endless slideshow of public bathrooms.

i honestly didn’t want to stop. at this point every shot of white china was mixed with the prayer of “i hope this is too much”, a spike of guilt, and a chuckle of remorse. and fuck pills, they were too expensive by now.

i was not alone. when i was 17 my high school in connecticut was spilling over with every single type of pill. every person i talked to had a similar story to mine. we were scribbling furiously away, afraid that if we didn’t live fast enough we wouldn’t be worth remembering. we all graduated from pills to heroin. some forgot what happened in high school but i remember.

i’ve always remembered everything. that’s why i wanted to escape – i saw how drugs were infecting my generation and it scared me shitless. nessie saw it too. she also saw something else i didn’t see until she passed.

nessie loved herself. she saw a light within herself and held onto it as tightly as she could, even through her addiction. i always admired that in her and i wanted it as well. she was so beautiful, the way she’d move through a room with no idea that everyone was staring at her. she was always glowing.

but i guess people, places, and things stole that away from her. by the end of her addiction she wrote to me, “i never thought it could get this bad for me… i thought i was different.” she died several weeks later.

she had so much beauty in her life, but opiates are a dark drug. they put one in the womb of bliss – warm and floating free, feeling the dopamine and serotonin reverberating through your brain. then when they leave they put you on a metal dissection tray, pin you down, and rip you open from head to toe. one has no choice of what comes spilling out.

this is an hourly struggle for heroin addicts. sometimes less than that. sometimes i couldn’t refill the syringe fast enough. it depended on the way my brain felt that day. why would we do this to ourselves, you ask? who wouldn’t be addicted to euphoria? how many of you curl up in a warm fuzzy blanket and watch netflix for 10 straight hours with the blinds closed and a plate of microwaveable food next to you? a glass of wine? a xanax?

now… how many of you turn another cheek at someone who gets their kick from shooting up heroin? is it not the same? aren’t we all trying to escape somehow?

in 2006 Purdue released time-release oxycontin. one could easily take the time release coating off, which became extremely trendy for opiate addicts to do. by 2012 people i knew and loved were starting to die.

Brendan Shay – he made me laugh for 20 straight minutes once when he drove me from my house to a party with a car full of friends.

Christopher Wells – a talented musician who i did theater with… he would play the piano or guitar and sing during play practice. i would sit on the bench or lay down and listen for hours.

George Hammond – one of the brightest smiles in my memory. every time i looked at him he made me smile, no matter my mood. ask anyone they would tell you the same.

Brad Allen – he used to play the guitar and keyboard for whoever would listen. always cracking a smile; we called him ‘happy brad’ for a reason.

Caitlin Pieretti – she loved so deeply and fully and never missed a chance to make your day better. even if you were bugging out she had a joke to crack to even out the vibe.

Brent Rodney – one of the most giving men i’ve ever met. if he didn’t have a dime he’d give you his time. i loved him so much from the day i met him to the day he died.

Shawn Cagle – he didn’t care how young me and my friends were, he and Brent were always so kind.

Jackson Conroy – i was in the same church as him growing up; vacation bible school, youth group, ski trips. his family makes beautiful music to this day.

Bruno, Vinny, Dre, Harold …

these friends i have listed are few of the many. their ages ranged from 19-26. i got worn out trying to think of all of them. i can only write so many obituaries in one essay. what all these people have in common is that pharmaceuticals didn’t work for them. when an addict goes into a detox, they are put on maintenance meds such as suboxone or methadone so that they don’t get sick from the lack opiates in their system; then they’re loaded up with xanax so they don’t shake; anti-depressant so their brains never feel normal again; sleep meds so they can stop thinking at night when the ideas are most important.

usually getting to a detox facility is another journey within itself. many heroin addicts in america are in the north east, so they have a white powder heroin often cut with pharmaceutical grade fentanyl. fentanyl is more potent that street heroin by 1:50 grains but looks the same. that means 1 grain of fentanyl is as powerful as 50 grains of heroin. this makes getting the dosage right very dangerous, and many addicts aren’t aware of this. many are aware of this and mess with it anyway. the point is, heroin overdoses are common. a drug called narcan is used to bring addicts back to life.

Purdue produces suboxone and narcan. Janssen Pharmaceutica produces fentanyl, a toe to the leg of Johnson and Johnson who’s hip is…. guess who? Purdue.

let’s imagine none of this matters and this was a simple health epidemic. let’s imagine this was all political and no emotion was set in, let’s imagine that thousands on thousands of young lives were not stolen and thrown away. let’s imagine that a whole generation isn’t being looked at like scum of the earth for picking up some medicine that we thought was safe to take.

did you know in america opiates and amphetamines are considered okay to prescribe to an 11 year old? i was prescribed benzos when i was 15. did you know that the human brain develops way up into your 20s? did you know that the human brain is very sensitive to foreign chemicals? i’m sure you did… now why the fuck didn’t the doctors?

when trump released his health care reform, trumpcare 2017, he gave those struggling with mental health a special shout out. 1.3 million young americans will lose coverage under trumpcare. trump wants to take out a requirement in the ACA that gives coverage to those struggling with mental health issues. you don’t even have to like opioids… if you are depressed you have a “pre-existing condition”.

so even if you hate politics, now is the time to care about them. because if we, the future generations of america, do not stand up and fight now – who will be here to do it later?

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anatemori-dughter-of-art · 5 years

Text

Twins Of Olympus

The horn and the eye

Chapter 1

As I thought I was going to die I braced myself, but instead, I was pushed aside. What I saw next would haunt me for the rest of my life the python wrapped itself around Mom's body “MOM!!!” I yelled

May 28 20XX 7:30AM

“Lance, Lance!” I yelled will slamming my fist against the bathroom door “levanta damme!” Lance said "uhhg, dude it's the last day of school. Why are putting makeup when it's just a day" I shout back "that's enough you two" said a voice from behind me, I turned around to see Mom "Mom can you please tell Lance that there is no point in having make up for the last day of school".

Just then the door swung open revealing a tan-skinned, dark Caramel hair and ocean blue eyes with hints of sea green around the pupils twelve year old, "first of all Lana, I'm not even adding my usual amount and second if your going to leave ya better look good doing it" he finished shutting the door.

"can you at least give me a brush and my toothbrush" I asked the door then opens with the items thrown out, luckily I caught them, rolling my eyes and I head down stars "Mom, I need a cup and some toothpaste" I shouted "grab some from the downstairs bathroom and I'll set a cup of water out for you" she said as I went to the bathroom passing by a window I noticed the gray clouds forming and I know to bring an umbrella.

*****

Lance and I sat together eating breakfast "remember, we have a plane ride scheduled for 4:30" Mom said as she took a seat in front of us she looked exactly like me and Lance but with gold like eyes "so Mom, gonna tell us why we're going to new york so suddenly" Lance asked as we finished up our food "I tooled you already there is some business I need to take care of there."

Curious I ask "like what" once again she adverts her eyes "nothing you need to worry about" she responded, getting up and walking away "why did you ask" Lance said "I just want to know why she booked a plane ticket at the last minute before summer, when we already had plans" I tell him "come on sis, it's not like we're going somewhere mysterious it's new york we've gone there before" he says will taking both our plates to the sink as I grab our phones.

"No, we went to new york ones, that place was jersey" we both shudder at the memory of jersey "and that trip was a disaster in its own right" he said as I hand him his phone, as we head to the door "Mom where leaving" I shout out I then here thundering footsteps from up stars "wait you two" she said as she comes closer "Mom, are you okay? your acting weirder than usual."

Lance said, "yes, I'm alright Lancy I just came to ask do you two still have you sea charms?" I take mine out from under my collar so does Lance, to show her are sea green, water droplet shaped gems held in place with a silver band and chain it was a gift she had made before we were born “yes Mom, we have them” Lance said “good just be back before 4 and don't-” she was about to continue, but we cut her off “don't talk to strangers, don't pick up weird thing, you find on the street and ignore all odd sounds” we say in unison after being told this hundred of hundreds of times.

We each hugged her and left out the door we raced to the bus stop just as the bus parked, as we got on there were surprisingly a lot more kids then I thought, taking a front-row seat the bus started rolling “Man I miss Henry” Lance said well looking out the window “don't forget Rex and Shay” I add mentioning are old friends who were of on there yearly summer camping trip.

We’ve known each other for years thanks to being neighbors, “but it can't be helped, they do this every year” I tell him “but do they have to do this every year, can't they just stay for one summer” he whined “but hey look at the good news we can visit them on our trip there in...dammit, where was it again” I try thinking of were that camp Shay told me was “Long Island, New York.” Lance suddenly shouts out “yup, that's the one, we could go there a be like a surprise visit” I suggested “that's a great idea but we need to do it like in an awesome way” he said starting to think up of a good prank “we could sneak into the camp, and get into there cabin and blame!?surprise” I said as we started thinking up ideas to prank Shay, Henry, and Rex.

******

Booooooooorrrrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggg that is what my whole day has been, not only are my friends not here but this stupid storm has been going on the whole time. The weather report said it'll be a thunderstorm for the next few days “come on, Lana cheer up a bit just because the wethers down doesn't mean you have to” said the most Annoying and irritating voice in the history of man “I'm not in the mood Adom” I responded “oh come on don't be like that we're old friends aren't-” “no we're not” I snap at him.

For this entire year he's been a pain in my neck, “yo, what's up guys” I turn to see my brother standing there, “nothing much, we're just having a little chat” the annoyance said “sweet, if it ain't important then I need a word with you sis” he said I got up as both of us heading out the door parts of it being the last day, teachers don't care“thank god, you got me out of there” I tell him as we lean against the large windows near the stars.

“The dudes been bugging you since the start of the year, thought I could help one last time” “you make it sound like we're not coming back” I tell him “dude, did this one year of peace erase your memory of how many schools we've gone to” he says trying to hold in his laughter “but most of them we're your fault.” I tell him chucking a bit “oh really? then who's idea was it to set the pool on fire?” he asked “hey!, we both watched the sharknado marathon it was your idea two” I tell him well trying and failing at not laughing, “yes, we did have the same idea but who followed through with it” he tells me “oh, so we're going there, ok who in their right mind would let open the animals out of there cages?” we stopped laughing for a sec before bursting into a fit of giggles.

“I thought they looked lonely, and I could have sworn someone told me to,” he said well on the floor “who brother? the horses” I say sarcastically as I sit on the floor “maybe, but we have to agree the train incident was both are doing” I nodded in agreement that was both our faults. As we sit in a peaceful silence listening to the ongoing sound of the rain, which Lucky was going down.

*****

“Why in Hades name are we doing here” said a girl “for the hundredth time I sense an odd presence here” said another one which sounded older much older “well I don't smell I single thing, let's face it you're just making things up after-” the speaker was cut off after they reached the stars and spotted us “hi” Lance said “we heard you were looking for something?” I said as Lance and I both got up.

“yes we're looking for some-...” the girl with brown curly hair and brown skin stopped talking and...sniffed? the air so did the other two woman “what, are you two?” one of the women said which made me and I bet Lance as well feel uncomfortable he grabbed my hand as we both started backing away. Because something was telling me to run like hell from these women, “your sent-sniff- it seems like death-sniff- but it's just like him” all the women say the last part together as they start chasing us down the hallway.

“More, there are more of them” one shouts “kill them, don't let them meet, don't let them grow into their power they'll ruin our plans.” Shouted another as we ran through the hallway till we saw the upstarts back door pushing them open we quickly closed them well sealing them with a nearby chair, outside was still a little rainy as we ran down the stairs and into the gym closing the door behind us as well we ran to the gym stares which where pushed back for practice.

“Why….ar...are...th..they….chas...chasing us!” I ask out of breath “ho...how...t.. the….hell... should…I...I...know” he responded just then his phone rang “hello? Mom!” he said I signal for him not to tell her{hi honey, I know school don't close for another hour but the storm cost are plane ride to be pushed up a bit, so I'm coming to get you two} she said on speaker phone “o-okay Mom see you soon” Lance said as he hung up the phone “we need a plan” he said “a plan, like what the car ride here is only ten minutes.”

I tell him as he got out of the stars and started picking the lock to the sports equipment, “yeah, but do you know what could happen in ten minutes” he tells me as he gets the door unlocked and grabs two baseball bats, handing me one as well as a football helmet “do you even know what they want? what if this is all just a prank and we were the ones taking it too seriously.”

I try to tell him because harming another person because of a prank would not be a good story to tell Mom, “Lana stop pertaining you didn't feel it too” he said looking at me through the football helmet “throws women, they didn't feel right they each felt really old but also very dangerous, I'm not taking any chances” the look on his face said it all he felt it to, of how every fiber of our being told us to run.

“Well, well, well, aren't you a clever one” said the voice from before, we turned to see she used the back freaking window to get in followed by the other two older women “w-who are you?what do you want” I ask them in which they laugh casing me to shudder “oh how wonderful, first are sister finally reformed and know we get to kill that brats siblings” said the older women who were in a full body cover from head to toe but left her old face reviled which shined red eyes.

“But would they like so snacks first, there only fifty percent off for a short period,” asked the other older woman who just like the other was also fully covered except for the face which also shined red... wait snacks?! “Stheno for the hundredth Time, stop offering people you're snacks,” said the first woman. Wait did she say Stheno that name “no way, Stheno as in sister of Medusa and Euryale” I said because there was no way anyone could be named that in this day and age “well aren't you a clever one, most of your kind don't usually connect the dots this fast” said who I think is Euryale then suddenly as if a fog cleared up I could see clearly.

The so-called Stheno and Euryale had removed their hoods to reveal coral snake and green vipers “oh my..” started Lance but was stopped when a freaking fireball was thrown at us, I jumped to the left knowing Lance did the opposite “that's enough talking time to die half-trash” said the curly haired girl who also transformed she now had completely white skin, flaming hair, fangs and one bronze leg and one donkey leg, and red eyes “she's an Empousa.”

Said Lance as we both got up and ran towards the boys bathroom but just before we met it Euryale raced towards us her hand just about grabbed Lance before I smashed my bat across her face, as we ran into the room and locking it “holy...what was that who were they” I freaked “well it looked to be three of Greek mythologies creatures have come to life and are somehow after us, why? you must ask I have no clue.”

Lance said as he started unscrewing the bolts from the air vents “what are you doing” I ask him as he got the vent open as he throws the vent lead on old clothes, the door bagging got louder and harder “getting us out of here, now come on” he said as he lifts himself up into the vents I look to see the door one last time before claiming up the steps and lifting up to the vents.

Just like in the movies as I got my legs in the door burst open “you, Clever little brats” I heard Euryale say as Lance and I both crawled around the vents you see the entire vent system is connected together “where are we going?” I asked “well we are dealing with Ancient Greek monsters here sis” he said taking a left “yes, I noticed is there a point to that sentence,” I asked as we took a right “yes, sis there is remember what Euryale said about Medusa.”

Oh ooh “she said she finally reformed” Lance hummed in agreeance as we took another right, “ yes that means that monster can be destroyed, but for a shot while all we have to do is find a way to kill them” he said as we finally made it to another exit “this leads to the kitchen” I snap my fingers “that's it, we could find something to use as a weapon” I suggest “no, remember what the Greeks and Romans used for battle.”

Ok, think, just think “umm...it was for Greeks Celestial Bronze and the Romans...Stygian iron?” I tell him in which he makes wrong answer noise “wrong, the Romans used imperial gold only Hades kid could use that iron, or death related gods and goddesses” he said as we jump out the vents “sadly we don't have either of those, so this is the next big thing” he said pointed around the kitchen “what know” I asked but just before he could answer my phone rang “hello?” {hey Lana just came to say that I'll be there in a minute} Mom said as she hung up.

“Ok Moms going to be here any minute we need a distraction” I tell him he thinks for a while before looking around the place “well then, I guess this is goodbye” he said as he walked towards a spot in the kitchen, confused I followed him till I noticed the fire alarm and emergency sprinkler system, “oh, okay but Henry and Shay and Rex aren't going to be happy” I tell him as he grabbed the fire alarm and me the sprinkler.

“Yes, they are especially when they tried so hard in keeping us here” as we pushed to buttons together causing the loud alarms and sprinklers to go of all over “Mom is going to kill us” I said as we ran out the school doors to the still cloudy sky “why would I kill you?” we turned to see Mom standing right behind us as a troop of screaming and shouting students and teachers come out of the school “Mom, this may look bad but we have a totally good reason for this” I say as Lance and I both lead her to the car as we all get inside she starts up the engine “you better have a good exploration on the way to the airport” she says as we leave the school.

Looking back I saw them, it looked as if they were staring right at us my best guess is they were.

*******

As we tried to explain to Mom what had happened Leaving out all the Greek parts the story was about three strange women who got into the school and were being suspicious so we followed them as we observed them more we realized they were there to do something bad so without alerting them we pulled the fire and sprinkler alarmed to chase them out.

All she said after that was to be more careful and tell an adult next time, as she called the school to tell them without telling who pulled the alarm. Right now where are in New York City in a rental car we took a small break walking around Central Park it was around 5:55, so people where getting off work soon “oh sorry about that” I say to the lady I bumped into casing her to drop her stuff “oh don't worry it was my mistake” she replied as I helped pick up her supplies “is this a jar filled with only blue candy” said Lance who was looking into the jar of only blue candy.

“Yes it is a thing my son and I have been doing for a long time” she said as we finished gathering all her things, “that sounds just like how Mom always makes blue and white sweets for us” I said which seemed to surprise her “is that so how lovely, where is your mother” she asked “she's by the car waiting for us, we're on a trip here in New York for the summer.”

When I told her that her face went a bit dark as if she was sad but it was only for a second she smiled again ruffling both me and Lance’s hair “ I never really got your names” I look at her “Lana, Lana McClane” I tell her “I'm Lance her twin and here is your jar” as he was trying to hand it back but she shacks here head “keep them, I bet you'll get hungry on your trip” as she said this are Mom called us over then the lady also started walking away.

“Wait, miss, what's your name?” I asked she turned around and with a soft smile said “it's Sally Jackson” Sally, why did it seem like you knew everything about us. I ask myself this as Lance and I walked back to the car it started pouring halfway there so we ran getting in, we drove in silence just as we were nearing a clearing which allowed us to see the ocean I then started hearing a loud thumping noise.

“Lance, Lance,” I said shaking him to wake up w-what…what?” he said in a drowsy state “do you hear that,” I ask him confused he listens just as a new sound enters a more hissing sound, next to the thumping, seeming to straighten up he rolled down the window. “Lance what are you doing? it's raining out there” Mom said as she looked at up throw the rearview mirror “I'm just checking something out,” he says just as a loud raw was heard from right behind us Lance got back in quickly well closing the window shut “what did you see?” I asked him “not much because of the rain but I was able to make out some detail, one has a huge human body but I do don't see the head and the other had a long neck I think we're dealing with a serpent.”

He says wiping of some water from his face “do we tell her” I ask “I already know” Mom said which freaked us out “umm..well then, Mom I think we need a discussion about what really happened in the school” I tell her just then a sudden thunderbolt struck down next to the car casing Mom to swerve around just then the hissing and thumping picked up the pace “what was that!” Lance yelled “lightning, it was lightning,” I tell him as Mom starts driving at high speeds just as we pass a strawberry field billboard.

“Can't you go a bit faster Mom!!” shouted Lance as he looked out the window the rain once again slowing down, as if it's taking a break “they're gaining on us” he continued as we swirled more and more almost getting hit by the bolts of lightning, “Mom where are we-” I was cut off when the car was flipped over, thank god, for seat belts cause we tumbled and rolled around till we landed somewhere.

“I-is everyone alive,” Lance asked as he was upside down I unclicked my seatbelt and quickly crawled out when I got to my feet was when I realized that my ankle was twisted Lance followed behind “you ok?” I ask him “yeah, just some bruises and scratches” “Mom!” we shouted together as we helped reach her out of the car which was in a ditch “are yo-you alright?” asked Lance as we helped her to her feet “run!” is all she said before we started sprinting up the hillside which was very hard thanks to the waist-high grass and broken ankle.

As we made it to the top of the hill, there was a roar we turned to see, thanks to the lack of rain and some moonlight what was chasing us this whole time and it wasn't anything I imagined, “holy hell” I said “son of a-” stated Lance but was stopped when the Minotaur charged straight at us “doge!” Mom yelled as we jumped out of the way, the thing went straight through the tree, I looked around for the other creature, till I noticed it was on the other side standing there it's Amber eyes glowing straight at me, it was the Python. Oh my god “Lance!” I yelled at him as he dodges the Minotaur “yeah!” he yells back “you good!” I yell back as he somehow jumped on top of the monsters back, “yes...get...Mom” he yells as the Minotaur for some reason got triggered and started smashing everything, trying to get Lance of his back.

I wonder what caused that, I race towards Mom who was on the ground I turned her over to see she was ok just a cut on her forehead just then I heard an odd sound like a dying raccoon, I look around to see Lance had stabbed the Minotaur with its own horn “oh man, that is brutal dude how did you do that” I yell as got off the ground and walked a bit closer. “I...have...no...idea...god...that felt awful...like I knew I was going to die, but something told me I had to fight” he tells me as the Minotaur turns to black ash-like dust “I was freaking out when I first jumped on the guys back, and when he went all hulk buster on me, oh boy I almost le- LANA LOOK OUT?!?!!” he yells I turned around to see the Python slithering head heading start towards me as I thought I was going to die I braced myself, but instead I was pushed aside.

What I saw next would haunt me for the rest of my life the python wrapped itself around Mom's body “MOM!!!” I yelled as Lance grabbed me and pushed us back as t-t-the...i-it…ate her it was ripping….h-her apart, I knew that I couldn't be frozen for too long, I looked around the place seeing some vines near my feet grabbing the vines and some nearby branches “L-Lance please, listen don't look, brother” I said as I moved his head away from the bloody scene.

“I need your help to make a slingshot with these vines and branches, Lance I need you to be strong just for a little bit longer,” I said between sobs and the cracks in my voice Lance seemed to finally get the point snapped out of it and grabs a branch. We quickly start building the slingshot well having to listen to the sounds of the python eating.

Thankfully the rain started falling again blocking some of the sounds “there I think the fourth ones strength and it” I said “but what do we use for a bow?” he asked worryingly “the horn, will use the horn” I tell him as I grab the horn we push it back “you're the better shooter, Lance, you take the shot” I tell him “ok, but can you please do it with me, my hands I don't think I can do this alone” he says with shaking hands I nod as we both pull the horn the four vines holding it and the branches together. We aimed just as the python took notice it rose it's slithery neck and charged towards us we got ready as it charged, we aimed at what looked like where the heart should be and we fired.

******

We fired at it right at its chest the python let out a harsh scream of pain or anger I don't care which as long as it suffered.

“We did it, we-sniff- we won” Lance said as he slowly got up and started walking towards Moms body I grabbed to stop him but was stopped by the sound of sticks snapping, adrenaline on and my senses on high alert more than ever Lance and I turn to see eight people standing a few feet “HELP!” I hard Lance yelled as he tried to run toward the people but fell over, do some pain but he didn't give up “help, please.”

he sobbed now that the danger had passed finally allowed to act out his emotions, feeling numb I start walking toward Mom I-I-I just want to be with her “please-sniff-please help are M-M-Mom she's, she's hart please” I hear him ple which followed lowed gaps and shouts of horror, but all I want to do is be with my mama “mama? mama please, mama wake up” I say as tears roll down my face but before I could get any closer someone grabbed me from behind “No! No! LET ME GO, I WANT MY MAMA!! LET ME GOT TO HER SHE’S HART LET ME GO!!” I yell and scream, punching and kicking the person holding me but it's no use they're too strong “MAMA!” I yell as I reach out for her, that's when a hand covers my eye “please, let me see my mama please” I beg them “I can't” said a male voice “I'm so sorry, we couldn't come faster I'm so sorry” he says as he carries me away.

In the end, I cry I sob and hug the person holding me “mama come back” I softly say as I grow tired from the pain, shock, and heartache and drift into the darkness.

********

“She's asleep” I tell them as I carry the girl properly “yeah so is he” said Percy “I can't believe those two had to go throw that, I know many demigods have gone through fights with monsters to get here but guys that was a python” said Annabeth as she held two objects in her hands “don't forget there Mom, they had to see her die right in front of them” said Leo “hey Annabeth what you got in your hands?” asked Piper trying to Change the sad subject “a Minotaurs horn and the python’s eye.”

She said downcast “wait, your telling me these two fight two legendary monster” said Carissa surprised “it seemed so” is all Annabeth said as we walked towards camp, as we entered the camp past the huge dragon perfecting the Golden Fleece waiting for us where Nico de Angelo and my sister Thalia and Chiron the centaur and camp trainer.

“What happened,” he asked “it's a long story, but let's get these two in the medical cabin first they've been through a lot,” Percy said he nodded in understanding and allowed us to walk by “what the...” said Nico “what wrong?” Annabeth asked he had a far off look on his face “you don't see it, but there's a ghost floating around those two” he responded pointing to the two sleeping kids in Percy and I’s arms. He looked confused “why do you seem confused Nico” I asked as he got closer to the sleeping kids “because the why this ghost is glowing it's just like, how my sister did when I summoned her.”

Just as he said that a ghost of a women around 5’4 who had brown hair and tan skin and eyes like gold she looked like the older version of the girl in my arms, she was in some kind of white robes crying “I'm so sorry...so sorry…” she kept repeating “ma'am” Percy said as he walked closer to her she pulled her hand out of her hands “we'll protect them no matter what” without even looking I knew all of us agreed on that, the woman ghost with a soft smile said “thank you Perceuse, thank you.”

Which surprised us all, how did she know his name but before we could ask she appeared right in front of me “oh Lana” she said looking down at the girl, Lana “my sweet daughter, I'm so sorry but please don't blame yourself, I will always love you” she said as she disappeared and reappeared in front of Percy “Lance my little sharpshooter, you're going to have get through this, I know you can” she disappeared again but this time besides Nico “please keep them safe, sadly just like you and me death will follow them.”

With this she disappeared completely “wait what do you mean” said Nico who looked around in a frantic attempt to find the woman but she was gone, forever “Nico calm down” said Annabeth “no, you heard what she said ‘like you and me death follows’ that must mean” “that you guys maybe related?” said Piper “yes” he said “then let's discuss this after we get them to Will” Chiron said agreeing to that we all walked down the hill as we made it to the medical cabin.

Will was waiting “what happened?” he asked as we lead the two down on the beds “these two dusted two of history's greatest Monsters, all by themselves it was-” Leo started but was stopped by Piper “that can wait, can you just help them” she asked Will nodded and got to work we all left to give him some peace.

Just as we got outside it started raining again, it was much harder than before “it's starting again” said Leo “Zeus wasn't this anger when his bolt was stolen, what's going on up there” said Annabeth “it's been going on all day maybe when Mr.D comes back will hear what happened” suggested Piper “I just hope this doesn't end badly” said Percy “like what?” said Leo as Percy held out his hand and controlled the water to form human side tunnels that lead to our cabins “like the end of the world, I'll stay back for Will, you guys should get some sleep” as each one left through the water tunnel I stayed behind “you staying Jason” he asked I nodded and pulled up a set as Percy holds the water tunnel till everyone left afterward we just sat and waited.

#Heroes of Olympus #Voltron #Lance and Lana #Twins Of Olympus

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