Don't Be Afraid (Stranger Things Fanfiction)

Searching Memories

Three Years Later

Eleven's P.O.V.

   "Are you ready?" Morty asks.
    I nod my head, a little nervous.
   "What should I look for?"
   He ponders for a few moments. "I honestly don't know. Anything will do. Just make sure to withdraw if it seems like too much, alright?"
   I nod my head. It has been years since the sleepover where we'd witnessed Morty standing against our enemies from the Upside-down. Shorty after we'd approached him, practically begging him to teach us, to make us strong. It took a bit of explaining on our parts, and a bit of deliberation on his, but eventually he agreed.
   I have since excelled far from my starting point before. Telekinesis is still my strong suit. Well, that along with finding people. But, lately he had me focusing on matters of the mind. He says that this will help me better understand people and therefore enable me to help them better.
   That is what we are doing right now, but as I look into the eyes of my family's protector, I wonder just what I might see. He has always been cryptic about his past afterall. Whether it be about where he actually came from or if he actually has any other friends or family waiting for him elsewhere.
   I take another breath and reach out to grip his extended hand, closing my eyes and focusing at the same time.
   There is darkness, like the one I've walked before but with this strange fog encompassing everything farther than five feet from me. Before I could start to panic I could feel his mind pulling me in a specific direction, guiding me.
   After a bit of walking, I come across Morty, who is now clad with robes of white, in a kneeling position. His eyes are shut and his aura is radiant.
   I hesitantly move in front his kneeling form. He doesn't move, doesn't seem to notice my presence.
   "M-morty?"
   Still no response.
   Hm...
   Suddenly, one of my first memories with Morty strikes me, giving me an idea. I reach out and slowly place my hand on his head, feeling everything else fall away. I can feel his different memories coursing through him and I wonder at which one to select.
   After a little while of searching I feel drawn to a memory that seems to have been of great significance to him in the past. I focus on it, bringing it to life.
   Suddenly I'm seeing through his eyes as he falls to his hands and knees, confusion gripping him.

   I look down at my hands, the ones now shrouded in this strange grey energy. Wait, grey energy? What, what had happened?
   Looking around to get a bearing at my surroundings I become all too aware of the scene unfolding before me.
   Great knightly armored warriors of light, clashing with a variety of monsters and darkly clad assailants.
   I caught sight of the knights' leader, and memories stared flowing back to me.
   Valerie Zadamei, Oracle and leader of the Guardians chosen by the Father. She was was quicker, and far more powerful than the rest of them, which is saying something since each and every one of them was a legendary champion in their own right.
   There were other warriors in the midst of everything, that neither side were touching for some reason.
   Wait. Those were the Belators. My Belators. We had come here to stop an ancient and supposedly unkillable evil. I had led them here, alongside the Guardians, with my second in command at my side.
   My second in command. My best friend. Where is he?
   I look behind me to see the Gateway that we had come to destroy in all its entirety. I shiver, remembering I had just been in it...with Arodedus, and that...thing. Then, as if on cue, my best friend Arodedus walked out, and my heart soared.
   That was until I saw his eyes. Nevermind the new, terrible black  armor he now wore that seemed to emanate malice. Nevermind the great mace he now held that practically bled wrongness.
   His eyes were no longer his. No, I had seen these eyes before when facing that thing. These eyes were the embodiment of evil. Not some made up melodramatic evil that humans so often scoffed at nowadays, but the actual, real thing.
   Just like that I knew I wasn't looking at my best friend anymore.
   "Arodedus..." I breathe. Unable to help myself.
   His face contorts into a dark grin.
   "Master."
   Even his voice was no longer recognizable.
   "You're not looking so good Master." He sneers. "One might say you're looking rather grey." He chuckles before turning to the battlefield and raising his voice to a great roar.
   "Destroy the servants of the Most High brothers and sisters! Our old master is lost, and now I shall lead us down a new path!"
   To my complete horror nearly every one of them obeyed, and took up arms against the now horrifically outnumbered Guardians.
   How could I not have seen this in them?
   No, I knew they were capable of this but ignored it. How could I have been so foolish?
   I turn back to Arodedus seeing him heft his great mace high, aiming at the Oracle who, for the first time since I've met her, seemed to not know the blow was coming.
   I am there in an instant, faster than I can think, blocking his blow with one of my great wings. Wings that I, up to this point, had no idea I possessed.
   His eyes widen in surprise.
   "Not like this Aro." I say through clenched teeth.
   "Step aside Hill." He snarls. The Oracle makes ready to fight him but I shake my head at her, at which she reluctantly nods and leaps back into the fray.
   "No. Just stop Aro. We can get you help. We can get it out of you."
   For a brief second I can swear I see his eyes shift, back to something resembling my old Aro. The one whom I'd taught and trusted so much to. But once the second passes those dark eyes are back.
   "Prepare to meet your end Master." He resolutely declares and I feel my heart ripping apart.
   "Aro, please don't do this..." I beg as he raises his mace yet again. It comes down for blood but I weave around with my new impossible speed. I realize that he has left himself open but I can't being myself to strike him down. In the background of all this I can feel something like our wills clashing in the air around us.
   As if realizing that I will not seriously raise my hand against him, he launches into a fury of attacks, both with his mace and fist that was now shrouded in dark energy. I dodge and block with my wings but as the rain of blows keep falling upon me I slowing begin to accumulate wounds.
   Part of me is screaming to strike back. To crush him, but I can't.
   Finally, after what seems like an excruciatingly long time I collapse to my knees in pain and fatigue.
   He stands victoriously in front of me. "I expected more Master." He mocks, hefting his mace for the killing blow.
   I close my eyes waiting for the mace to fall.
   It never did.
   "...Hill?" It's Aro's voice. Pained and struggling.
   I open my eyes.
   The cruel blackness is gone from his eyes. For the moment.
   "...Aro?" I manage to get out.
   "Hill, it's okay. I'm holding it back for the moment. But if you don't destroy me...us right now, it will be free to do whatever it wants with me. We won't get another chance."
   "Aro, I can't."
   "Yes you can. Don't worry, I'll be safe after. Forever. Just please, don't let it use me."
   Tears were now pouring down my face in an endless stream.
   "You're sure?" I utter. "You're sure you'll be safe, and that there is no other way?"
   "Yes." There is no hesitation. No doubt. My heart, whatever is left of it, is shattering. Still I stand up and gather all of what I now see to be my psychic might.
   "Thank you." He says. "For saving me all that time ago. For making me into a real person."
   I shake my head slowly, a small smile working its way onto my face despite everything.
   "It wasn't just me. It was you Aro. It was who you were. Who you are, in here." I gesture to his chest, and he smiles.
   "I'm ready Hill." He says shaking from the effort he must have been exerting all this time.
   I nod, smiling, tears still running down my cheeks, as I bring my full strength into a massive psychic bolt.
   "Goodbye Hill. My old friend."
   "Goodbye Aro. Until we meet again." My voice cracks, and I release my massive psychic bolt and blast my best friend from existence.

   I open my eyes, tears falling from them, completely astonished by what I'd witnessed. I see Morty with his eyes still closed, silent tears making their way down his face as well.
   I pull my dear friend into a hug, hearing him start to sob. It's the first time I've ever seen or heard him cry. I actually want to cry too, for the pain Morty had to endure, and the passing of his friend that he wrought with his own hands.
   But I don't. This is one of the few times he needs me to be strong for him, not the other way around. It is an honor I do not require even the slightest convincing to undertake.
   After tears stop falling and his breathing becomes normal he pulls away.
   "Sorry El." He mutters.
   "Why?" I ask not understanding.
   "For...you know. Breaking down a little."
   I shake my head. "No. Don't be sorry. It's okay." Desperately wanting him to understand. "We're all here for you Morty. I'm here for you. Like you were there for me."
   He finally smiles, putting me at ease, and stands up.
  "Thank you El." He says gratefully. "I'm gonna take a bit of a walk, okay?"
   I nod. But as he starts walking away I can't help but ask a question.
   "Was that your name before? Hill?"
   He stops, not turning around, before speaking up.
   "It was once."