Bloody Dawn - MCD AU [REWRITE PENDING]

Forty - I Had a Name for this Chapter but I can't Remember What it Was

Laurence looked out the window at the stormy skies. It was certainly different, seeing the skies, but it wasn't as if he hadn't gotten used to it, what with all the time he spent in the Aether as Drake the EliteWing.

But yet the thought of water coming down from above was still unsettling. It was as if a huge wave would wash everything away, get rid of all of Laurance's progress and make the whole cycle repeat again, like the endless loop Laurence was currently trapped in--

"Sir?" A voice, a voice similar to that of someone Laurance once loved, shook Laurance out of his thoughts. Turning around, Laurance found himself facing his trusted general, Ivy.

Laurance sighed. No, he wasn't okay, but Ivy hadn't asked that. Did he have any orders for her? Ugh, why was he cursed with scatterbrained-ness? Looking back to Ivy, Laurance replied with a grimace. "Yes? Why are you here?"

Ivy rolled her eyes as she gave a snarky reply. "Forgive me, sir, for thinking you would need someone to comfort you."

Laurance chuckled, sadly smiling while looking out the window. "You don't need to be so rude about it. I just... didn't expect you to do something like this... thanks."

Ivy smiled, then resumed her stoic expression. "The New DAWNS Aether faction still remains at large, sir. I assume you'd want me to handle this?"

Laurance sighed. Again. "You can try, but unless every angel in the Aether is under the effects of the potion--which is impossible, given what we have--someone will always reject our views and rebel. You can make things hard for them, and certainly try to take it down, but I don't see a point in putting all our resources into it."

"Of course, sir. I shall see to it that the rebels are kept on their toes. Anything else? A drink? A chat?" Ivy questioned half-jokingly. She missed the old Laurance, the one she knew back when she herself was an imp in the Nether. She missed her tail, her fangs, and--most importantly--she missed Cadenza. She missed Garte. She missed Zianna.

How far we have fallen. I wish we could go back to the good, innocent days, from before the Great Massacre, when we were all teenagers without a care in the world.

Back before this whole spin-cycle time loop started. Those were the days. When we were free to do stupid things, free of consequence and issues like this.

"Are you still standing here? Go on, I've got things to do." Laurance's reply was harsh, but Ivy knew it was because he was hurting. Ivy herself was hurting. Which would explain why her reply was just as harsh.

"Oh sure, you've got plenty to do, with everyone around you is dead or has left. You've got plenty to do."

Laurance turned around, glaring at Ivy, who glared back. "And you'd know all about that, wouldn't you? You know nothing of what happened, you were hardly there!"

Ivy snapped. "I was there enough to know that Cadenza left for a reason, Laurance! You were crazy then, and probably are now! Zianna and Garte are dead now, aren't they? Because you couldn't leave well enough alone when that--that artifact--fell into the Nether from the well on Kasumi Mountain!"

"Yeah, well--" Laurance's enraged reply was cut off by the sound of thunder, as the clouds above opened up and soaked the Aether below, the heavy rain drumming against the window. Both Laurance and Ivy paused their argument to watch the storm. "You're right." Laurance conceded. "We shouldn't have messed with the artifact. If we hadnt, we wouldn't be here."

Laurance turned away, his shoulders heaving as he began to sob. "I miss them, too. But I can't do anything about it as I am. You know that."

Ivy's expression softened. "I know... it's just hard to keep going, when two of our friends--and their son--are dead. It's hard top keep going when she's missing still." Putting her arms around Laurance's shoulders, Ivy leaned against her superior. "And it doesn't help that your old girlfriend dumped you this time around."

Laurance sighed, letting his general hold him, enjoying the comfort. He missed the good old days, when he wasn't struggling to hold things together.

+=+=+=+=+

Travis stood, looking out over the remains of his burnt village as the rest of the group--Kawaii-Chan, Katelyn, Vylad, Jeffrey and Nicole--caught up to him.

Katelyn looked out at the remnants of the village, frowning as she did. "But... there's supposed to be a village here!" Throwing her arms up and spreading her wings in frustration, Katelyn screamed at the heavens, outraged.

Travis stared out at the remains of his village, dreading the story he would have to tell.

Well, guess it's time to tell them.

"You've been avoiding it for long enough, Travis."

Kate, be quiet.

"Make me."

I don't have to listen to you.

Travis sighed. Turning to his friends, he said, "Welcome to the village on Mount Kasumi, the City of Snow."

"That is, what remains of it."