Through Maroon's Eyes|✔

Chapter 50: Soar Among The Stars, Brother

  The Allens were among the YJA (Young Justice Arizona), fighting a group of Roalstins, and Shift.

  "So why did he do that to you again?" Zippy asked, upper-cutting a Roalstin. 
"Because," I said, stabbing Salazar into a Roalstin's side, who was about to attack my dad from behind, "Something about Charles ordering him to. Nasty git, Charles." "Yeah, he sounds real nasty!" Payton said, kicking a Roalstin in the back, making it dash off into the dark forest.

  "Anyone see Shift?" I asked, the remaining Roalstins circling us. Zippy gulped. "No, Maroon, lost him just a minute ago." Me dad said, keeping his eyes on the Roalstins. I nodded, "Thanks dad." 

  Suddenly, Zippy fell back to the floor, and a Roalstin vanished from the circle. "The hel-" Shift appeared in front of me, but I blocked his blade with the Severus's navy blue hilt. He hissed ,"Foolish Allen! You should not have come!" "Yeah, well," It took me a moment to find the right words. "Well i'm no coward! I fight for what I want!" 

  He shot daggers at me. "And what's your desire, exactly?" "For you to be-" I stepped back, immediately  stepping forward, and slashing at Shift's stomach. "Gone!" Severus's tip had made a large cut across his stomach, making him stumble back, vanishing.

  "Everyone! Be at ready!" My dad yelled, as me mom, who was in the center of us, tended to Shift. Snowy fired a beam of thick ice at a Roalstin, making them stop in their tracks. The Roalstin opened it's mouth to roar, but the ice had already covered it's entire body and head. "Good one, Snow!" Zeke said, firing at the Roalstin snow it. 

  A grey vapor floated through the ice, towards Zeke's staff: The Roalstin's soul.

  "Seriously, Zeke, you need to tone that down. You'll become a villain if you use it too much." Passion advised, slapping a Roalstin's ankle with her tail. "Right, sorry, Passion." He flushed. I smiled. 

  "Someone has a crush." I said, Martin's stretched arm returning to it's normal length. He nodded, turning his head. "Yeah, he totally does." We thought for a moment: What could we do to make them get together? But there was a more important matter at hand.

  And my brother's life was at hand.

  "Maroon!" My mom cried, "Zippy's hurt!" "Yeah, I know mom." I called back, stabbing a Roalstin. Her tone of voice changed. "H- He isn't well!" The world seemed to slow down as I turned around: Worry clouded my head.

    Zippy was lying on my mom's lap, his ears, mouth, and chest bleeding. There was a small river of blood next to him, dark red. Which means it wasn't there before. I dropped Severus, like he was holding me back from my little brother. Martin caught him, watching me run back to him. He seemed to realize what happen, his smile melting into a frown. He seemed to know what would come next. 

  He turned, yelled, and slammed the blade of Severus into a Roalstin. He was angry. About something.. I was yet to know. I knelt down, and looked at Zippy. "Zip! Zip! Are you ok?" I asked, eager for his response. He coughed out a bit of blood, but smiled. 

  "Yeah, for now, bro."

"You idiot! You scared me to death! I- I thought you were dying.." "Y-yeah.. so did I. But I'll be-" I barely saw anything. I saw a blur of someone-- Shift. Then he was gone. Zip bled faster, now from his legs as well. There was a dagger.

Stabbed right into his heart.

  "NO!" Me and my mom cried. The world slowed down. My mind was clouded by anger; angry at Shift. Clouded with sadness; my brother was dying. And I couldn't do anything to help him.

  Zip smiled. "I- I guess I was wrong." My mom let him hit the ground gently, backing up. She gasped, tears stinging her eyes. "H- he got me. G-game over, I guess." He said, his eyes half closed now. 

  The rest of the Allens turned, and rushed to Zippy. Zippy was on my lap now. "Z-Zippy?" Katelyn asked, her eyes stinging with tears. "A-a-re you ok?" Zippy shook his head sadly, smiling lightly. "Sorry, Katie.. I guess not."

  Payton and my mom kept quiet. My dad took off his mask, and put it on his heart. Zippy looked up at me, and smiled. "Thanks for.. being there Mar. I- I appreciate all you've done. Just for being there. Y- you're my best friend. And my big bro. I couldn't ask for anyone better."

  He looked over at Payton and Katelyn. "You two dummies- I love both of you so much. You were my big sisters. You kept me safe, and made sure I went down the right path. Tell Olivia she had a older brother. Not Maroon, but Zippy. I fought till the end, anyway, I think I deserve something. Tell her my favorite color was yellow. Tell her I love her, and hope she lives a happy life."

  My parents were in tears, and Payton failed at keeping a stern face. Zippy looked at me one last time. "I love you, bro." A river of tears ran down my face. "I- I love you too, Zip." I said, giving him a hug. The last one he would ever get.

  He smiled, and his eyes finally closed. I let go of him, my hands forming fists. I swallowed.

     "Soar among the stars, brother. Don't let anyone stop you."

  Zippy was dead. And Shift was responsible for it. I was going to make him taste his own medicine.