The Price of Revenge: A Bloodstained History {closed temp}

[Shadow Dragon]

"Glad she's going to be all right," said Tristan.

[ganondorf2]

"Come on. Lets get you back to the others," Nova said, carefully picking her up, "Just don't turn to your real self for a bit."

"Of course," she said.

Ganondorf flies back with her, while Andrew jumps back on the castle platform, and changing back to his human self just as the clone lands himself.

Someone was watching at this time, before disappearing into the woods.

[Shadow Dragon]

Brandon smiles at this as he turns to see Ganondorf with the older dragon, "Everything all right?"

[ganondorf2]

"I think so," he said, "She's probably a little tender from what I had to do, but I think a little rest shell be good."

"I will handle that," Andrew said and takes her into his arms before walking away.

Ganondorf sighs and said, "I wasn't sure if what I did would work to be honest."

"Looks like it to me," I said as he makes sure the cover was back on right.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Me too," replied Brandon.

"Yeah, I'm glad everything worked out," I said, trying to relax now.

[ganondorf2]

"I have a lot of questions however..." Kain said, "I don't remember that cover."

"Be glad it's on," Nova said, "Unless, you want to get infected by what I have."

"Pass."

[Shadow Dragon]

"Agreed," said Brian.

"So now what do we do?" asked Tristan.

"I think we should relax while we have the chance now," Zali told everyone, "we're going to need it after all that."

"Can't argue there,"

"How are you feeling, by the way?"

"A little stiff in the right shoulder, but I'm all right."

[ganondorf2]

"Be thankful its just that..." Kain said.

"Dont start," Ganondorf warned.

"Just chill guys," I said, trying to calm things down.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Trust me, I'm not complaining," Tristan reassured.

[ganondorf2]

Kain growls and walks off before I said, "Best you come with me. I know a place to relax at."

"You do? What makes you think I need it?" he said.

"Trust me, you do, so stop whining..."

Nova stays out of that and said, "I'm just going to walk away... Trust me on it..."

Maxwell was amused at the last part.

[Shadow Dragon]

"What's his problem?" Brian questioned.

"Enough," Zali said.

[ganondorf2]

"You don't want to make her mad, trust me," Ganondorf said.

"Just go in that room please," I said to Kain, and all I saw was shrug, but did it anyway.

"Way to take charge," Maxwell said impressed as Akuma walked in.

"I try to, though I'm not in favor of it."

[Shadow Dragon]

"I agree," I reply to Ganondorf's words.

[ganondorf2]

"Anyway, thats all over with I hope," I said.

"Agreed. Let's get to do what we were supposed to do," Ganondorf said with a sigh.

[Shadow Dragon]

"In all seriousness, let's just go back to one of the castles and rest," said Zali, "we'll need it."

[ganondorf2]

"Lets go to mine then," Ganondorf said, "Unless you wish to see Samantha first. She's at Bowsers."

[Shadow Dragon]

"That's what I want, yes," Zali nods, "she has the right to know everything that's happened...and I want to see if her ankle's healed enough for her to come with us."

"I'm all in favor," said Brian.

"Yeah sure," said Luke with a shrug.

[ganondorf2]

"Bowsers it is then. Thankfully its not far. I've seen him head back there to check on her," Ganondorf said, walking ahead, "Lets go."

My team followed close by.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Once we get there, let me go see her first," said Zali, "I don't think she'd appreciate it all of us seeing her at once after what she's been through."

"Of course," said Kyle.

[ganondorf2]

"Of course. Take all the time you need. I'm going to see to Athena while you're with her anyway."

"Alone as well?" I asked to which I see a nod.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Yeah, I think you both have good ideas there," said Kyle as he walked with everyone as Zali and the rest of us kept our eyes forward.

---

Samantha places her fingers on her eyes as she rubs them from them being strained. She had been sitting up in bed all day with a book in her hands, now on her lap. It was about all she could do without moving around and disturbing her healing ankle, after all, which was in a cast resting on top of a pillow. A pair of crutches leaned against the wall next to her bed, so at least she wasn't bed bound the entire time.

The draconess takes the book and continues to read it, turning a page as she did, making sure not to move too much to prevent disturbing her injury.

[ganondorf2]

We get to the door to her room and Nova said, before walking off, "All yours. Take as much time you need."

I start to wonder about the clone once more, but say nothing on it.

[Shadow Dragon]

The door was open anyway, and Samantha looked up from her book, "Oh!" she closed it and set it aside on a nightstand, "Zali!"

"I see you're quite comfortable," Zali teased.

"Far from it," she sighed, "I've been held up in here for hours and already bored out of my skull."

"Well you have to take it easy,"

"I know, I know, you don't have to lecture me," she rolled her eyes, "I broke my ankle, not my spine, after all."

"Either way, I'm glad to see you're in good spirits," he replied, "we came to check on you."

"So then where are the others?"

"They're waiting in the main room right now. Think you're well enough to come back with us?"

"There's nothing I can do right now," she replied, "I can still barely walk, for crying out loud."

"Sounds like you're getting stir crazy," Zali smirked.

"Like you wouldn't believe," she tries to make light of the situation until she notices the distant look on Zali's face as he stared at a wall, his smile fading, "Zali?"

The scarred-faced dragon didn't answer, but sighed and lowered his eyes to the ground.

"Well, if you want me to come with you, I can-"

"It's not that," he replied.

"Zali," she replied, shoulders sinking as she noticed a change in his demeanor, "what's wrong?"

He sighs, "Well... I did come here to check up on you, yes...but there's...something else I need to inform you."

Samantha pulled no punches as she tells him with a serious face, "Then don't beat around the bush and just tell me, Zali!"


{I'd better go. I'll see you later.}

[ganondorf2]

{I was going to say the same. Later}

Some of my team start to head out as well. While Link and Broly stay with me for the time being as I head toward the Pokemon area back my crystal castle.

Something was watching as this was going on, before taking off.

[Shadow Dragon]

In an attempt to take advantage of the quiet, I walked away from everyone to locate a room to take a nap, knowing that I was going to need it after earlier. I wasn't fully healed from this anyway. I just didn't want anyone calling me out for grieving longer than I probably should.

I then see Zali walking in the opposite direction, and stopping beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder, then walking away. I turn my head slightly to watch him walk off, wondering what that was all about, but I didn't say anything. I then continue walking down the hall, to see a door open and Samantha inside. As I peeked through the room, I saw that she was sitting up on the bed, her head down in silence. The rims of her eyes were slightly red, an indicator that she had been crying a little. She senses my presence and looks up at me.

"Zali just told you, didn't he?" I ask.

"Yes," she replied, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve, "but I'll be fine, really."

"Looks like you're taking it better than I did," I admitted, albeit embarrassed about it, "much better. I just...couldn't handle watching him die like that... We got revenge on the one that killed him, at least-"

"Zali-" she interrupted, "told me EVERYTHING. I don't need to hear it from you."

I froze at that, then nods, "OK."

"I'm sorry," she sniffled, "I just..." she sighs and sat in silence for a moment, staring at the wall. I then realized that she was just still in shock, that's all, but even so. Before I could get another word in, she spoke, "Can we talk?"

[ganondorf2]

Athena was in a room herself, thinking about something when Ganondorf walked in and asked, "How's it going?"

"Could be better," he said, honest about it.

"You still feel bad too? As that man said, 'its okay'."

"I heard Aeon got in touch with you. I see it did wonders. As I told the others, its complicated as well hard to understand it. Took me years."

[Shadow Dragon]

I didn't object to her request. As I walk into the room, she moved a bit to the side to allow me to sit on the bed with her, but instead, I pulled up a chair and sat down across from her, knowing it was more respectful. She sat in silence for a moment, her head turning down to the floor.

"Shawn didn't tell us anything until a year after he joined us," she told me.

I look at her with confusion, "Huh?"

"About the last group he was in...and about you..." she replied, "I didn't believe him at first, and it took me a while to do so."

"I can't say I blame him," I replied, "All that sh*t we've been through... That's why I left it all behind and got a fresh start."

"Any regrets?"

"Other than leaving them behind, no," I replied, "I wanted to leave that part of my life behind me, but it didn't work. Never thought I'd run into anyone from the group again...let alone one who is part of a gang of dragons. Not saying it wasn't a nice surprise, but-"

She chuckles and replies, "Human or not, Zali saw potential in him and accepted him as one of our own. Helps that he had experience with the streets. I mean, Sparky mentioned the Black Bloods before, but never mentioned you or the members."

"Probably thought we died after splitting up. I thought the same for him and the others." I sighed, eyes half-lidded, "I don't blame him though; I don't like to talk about my past much either. Too many bad memories. I don't even think anyone here knows about the life I tried to live, back when I joined the gang. That's how much of my past I tried to bury. Surprised to hear he did the same with his own."

"Except he struggled with it since he joined us, too,"

I was surprised to hear that, but I didn't respond to it.

[ganondorf2]

"What is one that confused you the most?" Athena asked.

"They are all confusing equally. Best I don't talk much about it. Just I help to make sure nothing is broken when it comes to time. I saw what would happen if it's not...aligned so to speak."

"Bad?"

"Not just. It was a nightmare. I rather not talk too much about it."

[Shadow Dragon]

"Sometimes...he would wake up screaming," she replied, "said he had nightmares of incidents he survived."

"What kind of incidents?" I ask, knowing but was curious anyway.

"He told us he got into a scuffle with a rival gang once," she replied, "they wanted revenge on them for killing one of their own."

That made a memory trigger in my mind, and not a pleasant one either, "He told you about that night...where we lost one of our own?"

"That's it,"

"God," I sigh, remembering it all too well. The memory of fighting off a rival gang, trying to save one of our own, only for that guy to die from a bullet wound to the chest and a slit throat. "I was too slow. I mean, I've killed the guy that killed Joseph, but...I've never forgiven myself all the same," my voice was shaky, "and Phil, Joseph's brother, never did, either. If the rest of the members are still alive..." I pause, remembering that Sparky had a surviving cousin who was also part of said gang that doesn't know what happened to him, "God dammit!" I slam my hand on the wall, but tried to keep myself together.

"Hey, it's OK," Samantha tries to reassure, not knowing what I was thinking.

I shut my eyes tightly, "I'm sorry, I can't talk about this anymore."

"Then stop straining yourself," she replied, "I'm sorry, but-"

"No, it's not your fault," I reassured her.

[ganondorf2]

"Well...how did you deal with it afterward?" she then asked.

"Very carefully," Ganondorf half joked.

"I'm serious!" Athena said now annoyed.

"So am I," he said, "You have to be careful and not take it to heart too much. Not to be cold, but you have accept what happens when told that it has to happen. To deal with it, I try to go somewhere quiet. To think and to keep my voices in check."

"Voices?"