Arcadia has once again pulled through and survived a big bad. This time...it was someone they thought they could trust. With Sero winning the fight and the disappearance of Shoto, where does Arcadia stand now? What happens next?
Jade- I was still partially awake, and I heard Hanta and Shoto's conversation. "Night Shoto...sleep tight." Hanta said, gripping Shoto's arm and walking out of the tent with Kirishima following behind him. I turned and saw mom covering up Shoto and tucking him in. "Mom." I said, weakly. "Jade! I thought you were asleep already." Mom said, dad's jacket over her shoulders. "No I'm in a lot of pain, it's hard to sleep." I said, weakly. I looked sickly and pale, like I was on death's doorstep. "I'm sorry sweetie." Mom said. "After everything, I...think I'm ready to forgive you mom." I said. "Jade..." mom began, and I took her hand. "I won't lie, I hated you for so long...so many years for all that you did to me...I was bitter and angry, and I wanted you to suffer 1,000 lifetimes of pain. But, lying in that chamber getting tortured day in and day out by Barbra and her people? I realized, I don't want to be bitter and angry anymore. It's too much, I'm so sorry mom." I said, crying as I hugged her. Mom wrapped her hands around me. "Baby you have nothing to apologize for. I felt the same way. I hated myself, I wanted to make myself suffer for what I did to you, Elarza, Lapis, Zeke, and Seth. I hurt you, and I hurt you so bad sweetie...you have every right to be angry." Mom said. I gripped her tighter. "I don't want to be angry anymore." I said, hugging her. Mom hugged me back and I just...I broke in her arms, crying, and she held me close to her rubbing my hair and kissing my forehead "Forgiveness is a powerful tool, it lifts a weight off your shoulders. But never forget where you came from and like a phoenix, you will rise from the ashes and be born anew." Mom said, and I nodded, hugging her, falling asleep in her chest.
Jax- I was watching Lilith and Jade from outside of the tent. I clenched my fist feeling more guilty than ever for what I did to them.
Jade- Morning came and mom came in to check on Shoto and I. Shoto was still asleep. "We made you a new brace." Mom said, showing me the ACL brace:
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^^^(Source: Google)^^^ "And when you're feeling better, we'll start walking again, ok?" Mom asked, and I nodded. My body was in a lot of pain and I was exhausted and malnourished, but my mom and TC were taking really good care of me. I would sleep on and off throughout the day, and walk once, but I was tired and just wanted to sleep.
Shoto- I was pretty much fully functional with my body wrapped and I had gotten back to normal for the most part. Hanta and I told each other about our ordeals during and after Xia's attack. "Now then, back to business. We have got a lot going on." Hanta said. "Clearly." I said. Hanta caught me up to speed on everything: the repairs, the virus that was making some people sick and its cure, the Harbingers, the supply shortage, and why all of the clans were here in Arcadia. "So...they want to help?" I asked. "Apparently, they've been helping us rebuild and gather food and clean water. There is one change that you need to note. Gray is now the leader of the costal people since Xia killed Kana. He's gonna take Kana's body back to Ovanta for a proper ceremony and burial. Elarza is gonna go with him, she says he asked her because he needs someone to help support him until he's feeling more up to the task." Hanta said. "Has she told Jade yet?" I asked. "She's gonna tell her when they leave." Hanta said. I nodded. "Thank you for everything Hanta, it means a lot to me." I said. "Sure, but please...don't ever leave for that long again." Hanta said. I laughed. "Sorry Hanta, I don't know what I was thinking when I charged into the portal Xia made. I just ran." I said. "You were thinking about Jade, and we are so glad you brought her home." Hanta said. I chuckled. "You're too optimistic." I said. Hanta chuckled. "I don't envy you Shoto, what you do? I could never lead this." Hanta said. "I dunno, you did a pretty Grand Slam job." I said. Hanta smirked, and then sighed. "What's weird to me is we haven't heard from your dad, Seraph, Tomura, or Akuma in a while...even Barbra is keeping her distance." Hanta said. "Barbra's plan to get Jade failed, so she has to regroup. Tomura is pretty much under Barbra now. Seraph...I dunno what her deal is. And I don't think we'll hear from Akuma ever again. He's dead." I said. "What?" Hanta asked. "Toya killed him." I said. "What!? How!? Why!?" Hanta asked. "Toya I guess realized Xia was off and asked Jade who hurt Xia after pressing his blue cremation flames into her abdomen and screaming and yelling at her...Jade told him it was Akuma, and then Toya disappeared, and later they said Akuma passed away from the extent of his injuries I gave him, but...Toya burned him alive." I said. "How cruel of Toya...to do that to her...it pisses me off." Hanta said. "You should have seen how I found her...you'd be extra pissed." I said. "Those bastards need to pay for what they put her through!" Hanta said. "And they will, but let's not start another fight until Arcadia is ready." I said. "Yeah, understood." Hanta said. "Hey...do you think Jade is ready for some tinkering?" Hanta asked. "She'd probably like the distraction, it'll keep her mind off of how much pain she's in." I said. "I may have a task for her." Hanta said. "The Harbingers?" I asked. "Yeah." Hanta said. "Yeah." I said. We walked into the doctor's tent. "Hey Jade... you up for a little tinkering?" Hanta asked. She looked awful, she was pale and sickly with black bags under her eyes, and she was so malnourished that it hurt my stomach to just look at her. "What for?" Jade asked, weakly. "The Harbingers are getting too close to Arcadia." Hanta said. "Yeah...what do you need?" Jade asked, weakly. "We need to find a weakness or a weapon to use against them." Hanta said. "Get me a book on Harbingers and then I can help." Jade said. Hanta nodded, and he grabbed a book from the library on Harbingers. Jade began to read it as Hanta and I left her in the tent.
