The Second Moonlark: A KotLC Fanfic

Chapter Fifteen (Wait, Where Did Gisela Go?)

They were almost ready.

All of the planning and training was starting to pay off. Every time they practiced what they would be doing, they were more attuned and aware. Their unique skill sets allowed for slight changes to the plan, which would be necessary for going up against the Neverseen. Finally, Sonia deemed them able enough to take on their enemies- on one condition.

"I will handle Carnage." She could practically see the group bristling as she said it. They didn't like being told what to do like there was no other option, but Sonia had to do it. She had almost kept it a secret, but it had to be told so that they would understand.

"As you all know, I am Sophie's twin sister. I imagine we have many things in common, from what you've told me, but I know that we both have impenetrable minds- unless I allow you in, of course." She waited a moment, phrasing her next sentence. "Carnage is a Telepath, and his favorite pastime is breaking minds. If I engage him, hopefully it'll keep him from focusing on you." She hoped it would make sense to them. Sometimes it was hard to keep them all on the same page. But, naturally, Linh had to interrupt.

"No. We'll all fight him."

They all gaped.

"There is no way that we would let you take that risk for us, because you've done so much already. Quit feeling like you're worthless, because no one here is. You are one of us. Accept it." Sonia could feel some hard wall inside her breaking down, its contents pouring loose as she took in those powerful words of acceptance.

And started to cry.

As the group rushed to comfort her, she explained it through her tears.

"I've never heard those words before. All the time it was, 'Decent job, Sonia,' or 'Acceptable'. I feel like... I feel like every time I didn't hear that, it was making me hungrier to. Thank you." She roughly wiped the salty stuff out of her eyes.

"Thank you for accepting me. And now..." Just like that, she was back to her almost emotionless self.

"Now we have to fight back."

*****

They all stood back as Sonia procured her starstone. It probably wasn't a shock to them to see it- definitely not for Ruy- but it was clear that the blue-flashing stones still gave them shivers. As she rehearsed their battle strategy one final time, she could see that they weren't getting fidgety or nervous. They, these amazing, powerful elves who took her in. And she knew that there was no one she would rather fight with- or win with. She smiled, and held up the smooth stone.

The cold beam whisked them away.

*****

Sonia was taking a trip down Memory Lane.

She remembered all of the uses of every room they stealthily passed, and could still recall the pranks that she and Ruy had pulled in the halls. However, he was right beside her. She may have left her old life behind, but she had taken everything important with her. And now, she was fighting the less desirable dregs. It felt good, to pass the instruction halls and know that she had learned better morals than what they taught there. But pretty soon, that feeling disappeared. They were fighting ruthless, superpowered elves with a brainwashing machine on their side. Who knew, Sophie herself might be under the Whiteout's spell.

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

They passed room after quiet room. She had insisted they come at night, and she knew it was paying off- No one had the bad sense to traipse around in the dark of night, where they could trip over-

"Oof."

It was Keefe. He hadn't been looking where he was going, and had stumbled over- Oh, no. Oh, no.