My Last Hope (Truth Series 4)

36: Reunion

A/N: So yesterday I officially graduated! And today my parents got me the graduation gift of my very own laptop! A portion of this chapter was written on said laptop.

But other than this awesome news I also injured myself three times in the last month. About three weeks ago I sprained my left ankle which required a brace. Four days later I tore a ligament in my right knee. I was on crutches for about a week and a half. Now I just wear a brace for it and go to physical therapy. Then today, as childish as it sounds, my swing broke while I was on it. I have sprained and bruised my shoulder. So yeah. It's fun.

Unknown POV

Jimmy and Rythian stare at me. Jimmy's eyes are wide and his mouth hangs open slightly. Rythian has the same expression but he recovers quickly. He sends a grin my way. Most people wouldn't notice because of the scarf that covers his mouth but I've known him long enough. He nudges Jimmy with his elbow. Jimmy snaps out his stupor and tackles me in a hug. I laugh and embrace him with a grin.

"It's only been a few weeks." I whisper.

"I know but I thought I'd never see you again." He replies voice thick with hidden tears.

"I told you I would visit."

"Yeah but that doesn't mean I won't miss you still."

"Fair enough." I agree with a small laugh. Jimmy and I pull away from our embrace and I see that Rythian and Duncan have walked over to us.

"Good to see ya, kid." Rythian ruffles my hair.

"Hey!" I swat his hand away playfully.

"Glad your back Soro!" Duncan grins.

"Yeah!" I grin back. "I see that you and Ryth are getting along better. Are you still under a truce?"

"Actually no. We don't have a truce." Duncan replies.

"We've been trying to argue less since we came back from Earth awhile ago." Rythian expands.

"Glad to hear it." I smile wholeheartedly.

"Hey, kid!" I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I'm not a kid. Then again Ridge is over a hundred years older than me. The demigod joins the reunion of sorts. With his are the bald man and the purple eyed blonde. "There's some people I'd like you to meet." He gestures to the bald man. "This is your grandfather, Notch. Dad, this is Soro Whitefire, your grandson." He gestures to me in turn.

"I've heard great things about you," the man, Notch, compliments. Not knowing what to say, I just send him a warm smile.

"This," Ridge gestures to the woman next to him. "..is your mother, Sierra."

Too stunned to say anything we just stare at eachother. My mother is a beautiful woman. She has tan skin, long blonde hair, and bright amethyst eyes. She wears a long white dress with light purple designs that compliment her eyes which are now tearing up. She reaches out with one hand and caresses my cheek. A tear rolls down her face and a loving smile graces her peach lips. She pulls me into a hug. Not missing a beat I return the gesture. "I've longed to see you again, my son." She whispers. "I've heard off the hardships you have faced. I'm so sorry I could not be there for you."

"Even if you had been there," I reply so only she can hear. "...there's only so much a parent can do for their child."

"I know. But still..." She hugs me tighter. "I missed you so much."

"I'm sorry I can't say the same. It's hard to miss someone you don't remember meeting. But I can say this, I have dreamed of meeting you."

"Am I everything you dreamed of?"

"I guess I'll have to wait and find out." We separate from our hug. As we do I notice that most of the people have left the room. The only ones that remain are my mother, Notch, Ridge, Jimmy, Rythian, Duncan, and Brice. "Have you met my friends?" I gesture to the four in gesture.

"I have met you brothers and the scientist fellow. Sorry I never caught your name." My mother replies.

"Duncan," said man states.

"And you are?" She turns to the other blonde.

"Brice." He holds out his hand as a gesture of welcoming. My mother smiles and shakes his hand. "I'm Seto's boy friend."

"Oh! So you two are dating!" I wrap my arm around Jimmy's shoulders. "Last time I asked you about it you wouldn't tell me anything!"

"Yeah, because I knew you'd be like this." Jimmy retorts shrugging me off. I laugh as he straighten outs his sorcerer cloak thing. It's almost like he's trying to salvage what's left of his dignity. Don't tell him I said that! "What are you doing here anyway?" He demands sassily. "I thought you didn't want anything to do with this place."

"I didn't. Still don't. I don't mean to offend anyone here. You guys are great but there's not much of a life left for me here. Not after most everyone believed I died five years ago."

"I know why you didn't want to come back. I'm asking why you did."

"Shit happens." I reply stubbornly. I hold back a grimace as a sharp pain forms in my chest.

"Soro," RythIan commands sternly.

I sigh. "Back on Earth Brine confronted me. He threatened the lives of my friends unless I returned here to fight him. Or in his words so he could kill me. But I'm not going to let that happen."

"You had friends there?" Duncan teases.

I roll my eyes. "Yes, actually I did." I turn on him with a glare. "I had nothing better to do considering I didn't remember a damn thing about this place."

"Calm down." Rythian mutters to me in Ancient Craftian.

"Sorry." I reply. "It's been a long day." The pain increases.

"A long day, how?" Duncan questions. "All you did was go from one dimension to another."

"Yes. And in that time I also said goodbye to several of my friends and people that I had spent seven years getting to know, trust, and love. I even said goodbye to the love of my life. On top of which I flew part way around the world and spent a majority of my magic casting the spell that would get me." The pain spreads. I feel light headed and it's getting harder to breathe.

"Soro," Rythian warns. I smile at him weakly. "There's something else going on. What is it?"

"Nothing." I choke out through the pain. I grit my teeth.

"Soro!" My brother's voice is strong and unwavering. He commands the truth with unspoken words.

"It's nothing," I repeat. I grit my teeth standing tall against my brothers unseen strength. My willpower is broken by a gasp as the pain surges to agony. My hands clasp the area above my heart. I struggle to stay standing. My mother is at my side immediately. She holds me steady as I start to collapse.

"Soro! Soro, what's wrong!?" She begs me to answer.

"I don't know." I mutter. My knees give out and I fall into my mother's arm. "I don't know. They didn't know." Everything is hazy. I feel so lightheaded. I can't focus on anything. I hear voices. I don't know what they're saying. The world blurs around me. I close my eyes. Motion sickens me. And the pain. "Hurts." I can hardly hear my own voice. I don't know if anyone else can hear me. "It hurts." I get the vague feeling of someone touching my face.

"Soro." My eyes flutter open. I see a blurry face. "I need you to focus." A voice commands. I try to do as he says. It's hard to do anything. I blink once trying to clear my vision. It doesn't work. I struggle to open my eyes again. "Soro!" I'm shaken lightly. "How long have you had this problem?" I open my mouth to answer. No words come out. The world vanishes before me.