Mind of War (On Hold)

From Shadowhunter to Guardian

Song heard a knock on the door. She ran down stairs and opened the door, there stood Onyx. His eyes were full of regret.

"Can I come in?" He asked.

Song nodded and gave him room to enter.

Onyx let out an exasperated sigh, "I can't be apart of Team Liberate anymore," he said looking her directly in the eyes. Her face didn't change, she didn't blink or flinch.

"So what's your plan now?" Song asked in a steady voice.

"I'm going solo," he replied.

"Solo," she repeated.

He nodded, "Being apart of a team was great, it really was. But I'm not the person who I have been pretending to be for such a long time. My parents have recently become outlaws, now I have to be the son that they need me to be. My life and heart is in another place. I feel guilty for having to do this. Song, never once think that you, that this didn't mean anything to me. Your focus, passion, and drive put fire in my blood. Your spirit and aspirations made me strong. Please don't think that all these years meant nothing, they meant everything. I hate having to be this person, I hate hurting you all like this, but, for my parent's and family's sake, I have to travel on my own road. It will be a lonely road, but it's the one that I must take. My father always told me that if you turn your back on what you need to do, you would never truly have what you want."

"And what do you want?" Song asked.

"I want this friendship to last several lifetimes," Onyx whispered.

"Then do what you need to do. If this is it, then thanks. You set a fire in my blood as well. I hope that even on your lonely road we can still be friends, and our paths can at least cross once again." Song said.

Onyx walked past her towards the door and said, "I hope so too." He paused. "Song, I will never forget you, and hopefully my lonely road crosses yours one day in the very near future."

"Same here, and Onyx, if you ever change your mind, I'm here." Song called to him and he walked out of the door.

Onyx looked back and smiled at her. Slowly, she closed the door as Onyx continue to walk away. Song closed the door and pressed her forehead against it. "I never would have thought he would make such a move. But bold moves are for the brave. I pray that he finds what he's looking for on his lonely road." Song said to herself. She decided to wait until they returned from the tunnels to tell the team about Onyx. Although his secrets hurt, apart of her still trusts him enough that if souls needed to be liberated, she knew Onyx would try to save them. He was not evil, he was bound to another mission and destiny. She would not hold hard feelings against him. He was old enough to decide what he needed and what he wanted from life and go after it with all his heart. She reflected on what Onyx said he wanted: "I want this friendship to last several lifetimes."

"I want the same thing, I want us to be allies in time of peace and in times of war. I want us to realize that as individual pieces of steel we are nothing, but melded together as a single sword we are strong." Song truly believed this, that unity brought strength and power, something that materialistic wealth cannot buy. So, she worried not because Song knew that they would be back together one unit, one team once again. Onyx needed to fulfill his destiny, but he needs friends too.

Onyx walked home alone, and for the first time in a long time he could breathe without a mask on. He could be himself, he had a specific destiny that he had to fulfill. There was definitely a pang of regret for departing from the team, but like he told Song, it had to be done. He made it home, his sister was sleeping on the couch. Onyx smiled at her before walking into the bathroom. He looked in the mirror for a long time. His dark brown hair had grown out and he had to move it away from his face to see his black eyes. "That's why they named me Onyx", he said to himself. He heard his mother's voice in his ear, Onyx is my favorite stone, it is symbolizes the ability to repel negativity and end unhappiness. His parents had prepared him for this day the moment he was born, bound to use his skill and bloodline to repel the negativity of the Shadows. And in victory, put an end to unhappiness.

He walked out of the bathroom and headed towards his parents room, it had been a while seen he had the courage to do so. It's been a little over a year since they were labelled outlaws and he hadn't been anywhere near their room since. Slowly, Onyx came to the door, turned the knob, and pushed it open. Nothing had changed, although they were on the run, it seemed as if they had never left. Everything was neat and in tact. The room still smells like his father's favorite cologne. He traced his hands over his parents pillows as he sat on his mother's side of the bed, he could still smell the gentle scent of her shampoo. Onyx sighed before his eyes fell upon a rectangular box lying on the bed. Has this always been here? Curious, he opened it. Onyx's eyes gleamed at what he saw, but they he was saddened because of the reason it was left behind for him. He had all the tools to fulfill his destiny: the memory of his parents, their words of wisdom, loved ones to protect, and a mission in his name. Although he had all of this, he looked around and he was alone. Onyx found himself missing the unity of Team Liberate already. He could only be hopeful that they would still want to be his friend upon discovering his true identity.

Until that time came, he had to focus on right now, the mission that summoned him. Now, complete with the Weapon of the Guardian, Onyx knew that the victory that had been passed down from generations was now his.

Most would not understand his journey, but he was no longer Onyx the Shadowhunter. Now, he was Onyx the Guardian.