Eight: Season 3

Episode 66: She is Risen

  Xia-
  Shoto was still looking for answers, and he hadn't asked me yet. Maybe I was freaked out for nothing. Maybe he didn't suspect me because I was his "girlfriend" even though I was faking all of it.
  I decided to surprise him today. I made food and walked to the tower where he had been holed up. "You...look like you could use some good ol' sunlight." I said.
  "Oh...Xia." Shoto said, rubbing the back of his head.
  "Come on baby, take a break for...for 5 minutes to see your lovely girlfriend." I said.
  Shoto smiled and closed the book he was reading. "Yeah." He said, and I took his hand.
  I guided him to the coastal line under a palm tree where I laid out a blanket and sat the basket down. He smiled, and we bowed to the food. "Thanks for the food." We both said, in sync, breaking our chopsticks and digging in.
We ate the food, talking and laughing as we sat under the palm tree...I guess, I was overthinking this because he doesn't seem to suspect me.

Hanta-
We were all almost fully healed from being malnourished and abused by the prison guards at Barbra's settlement. I was fidgeting with my lighter, sitting on the ground in Ember Grotto.
Aizawa sighed and sat down beside me. "Hanta, I know you. You only fidget with your lighter this much when you're nervous or anxious kiddo." Aizawa said.
I shook my leg and took a deep breath. "I can't help but think about...what they're doing to her." I said.
  "You can't think about that Hanta. Jade made her choice, and that choice was to save all of you no matter what happened to her after." Aizawa said, gripping my shoulder.
  I teared up. "Why did it have to be her!?" I yelled, my voice cracking, and Aizawa gripped my shoulders as I sobbed.
  "It's not fair...she's been through enough." I said.
  "I know son." Aizawa said.
  I bawled into his chest as he held me against him. I swear...when I get my hands on those bastards, I will kill them and no one is gonna stop me.

  Xia-
  Shoto and I finished eating and we held hands as we walked the coast line barefoot. Shoto sighed. "I'm sorry I've been so distant the last five and a half months Xia, this whole missing persons situation has me all over the place. I feel like I find a lead and then it doesn't pan out. These are my friends, my people...my family. And missing them...is like missing a part of me." Shoto said, and I gripped his hand tighter.
  "You really care about everyone...don't you?" I asked.
  Shoto smiled. "More than anything in the world." He said, and I teared up.
  "Oh! Xia, why are you crying?" Shoto asked, as he put his hand on my back and held me against him.
  "It's just..." I began, the pressure was getting to me, and he was making me feel like shit. "I'm really sorry Shoto." I said.
  Shoto smiled and held me against his chest. "It's ok Xia, I have you...and you've been here for me the whole time." Shoto whispered, kissing my forehead.
  I gripped him tightly, squeezing my eyes shut. "You're too good for me." I said.
  "Nah, I'm the lucky one." Shoto said, and he kissed my lips.
  I kissed back and we headed back to Arcadia.

  Shoto-
  I walked her home, and then headed to the tower. I sent a message to Kana, Tianzo, Aspen, Felix, Archer, Tilcax, Cassidy, and Pherrah. I told them, and only them to come. Leave their wings to protect their homes...I had a feeling something sinister was about to wash over Arcadia.
They all showed up at night, Tokoyami guiding them into the tower. I closed the doors.
"Shoto...why did you tell just the clan heads to come?" Kana asked.
"Because I know who the traitor is and she's not an easy foe to beat. I asked just you guys to come just as a precaution, in case anything happens to you here...your people are protected and have someone to lead in your places." I said.
"I see, so who's the—" Kana began.
BANG!
Kana fell to the floor a gunshot to her heart. "KANA!" Tianzo shouted, as he wrapped his hands in water to try and save her, but his hand got shot.
"Tianzo!" Tilcax shouted, holding him up.
"I wouldn't try that if I was you." Xia said, and we all put our hands up. She looked at me. "How long have you known?" Xia asked.
"Not long, a month or so." I said.
"I had you pegged for an idiot baby, looks like I miscalculated." Xia said.
"Where are my people?" I asked.
"The little search party Hanta sent should be long dead by now, and Hanta and the ones that figured this out from the start have all been executed by Barbra. Oh, and Midoriya is strung up on a cross in the center of Arcadia with thousands of cuts all over his body, bleeding out a slow and painful death right now...in case you were wondering. He has a month before he dies." Xia said.
"Jade?" I asked, biting back tears.
"She's alive, for now. Though, I can't say in what condition." Xia said, and she laughed evilly.
"You monster!" Pherrah yelled out, and Xia shot her in the knee.
Pherrah screamed out. "You're one to talk." Xia said.
"What do you want Xia?" I asked.
"It's simple really, Arcadia and the 9 clan heads have been a thorn in Mistress Barbra and King Enji's sides. I was sent here to tear you down from the inside out, and now that the cat's outta the bag, I can do just that. I will burn Arcadia to the ground until everyone here is dead. And we've already got plans to seize the territories of the other clans. And the start is to put all of you on display for all to see what happens when you stand against the Royal Dynasty. But first, I'm gonna bide my time with you. I never did get to have sex with you to see who's better in bed, you or Toya. Admittedly, I'm curious. I guess I'm about to find out." Xia said, laughing evilly.
  "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" We all screamed out.