“Get off of me!” Leo growled as he elbowed me away.

“Leo, it’s not-”

“Hey Leo, I know exactly how you feel,” Lux spoke up.

She got up from the couch and strolled over to us.

“You have no idea what you're talking about." Leo huffed and turned away from her.

“I watched my dad beat Stryder to the ground every day after my mom died. Not only did I watch, I did things to get him to get beat. And I enjoyed watching him suffer.” She kneeled down to Leo but he refused to look at her. “I was bitter, I was hurt, and I was jealous. Can you relate to that at all?”

He sighed.

“I always wondered what it was like to be as innocent as him. Someone who could still see the good in the world even after they suffered. No matter how hard I tried, I wasn’t a good person. I was always more like dad, and he was always more like mom.”

Lux moved her hand out and ruffled Leo's head.

“What the hell are you-!”

“And that’s okay.”

Leo smacked her hand away.

“How is that okay!?”

“I looked up to my mom just like you looked up to yours. It doesn’t make you a monster because you’re different. You're just you, and that’s okay. I’m bolder and aggressive just like my dad is. But that doesn’t make me him, and my mom didn’t love me any less for it. Be honest with me, do you think your mom had favorites?”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Then he sighed.

“She wasn’t that type of person.” He mumbled.

“Exactly, and neither was my mom. So don’t be afraid to embrace who you are. Once you do that, that’s when you can really make a change to be who you want to be. Jack helped me embrace who I am, and now. I think I’m ready to face the world, without a mask. You should wait on judging your brother until you get that mask off.”

"I see, that puts some things into perspective for me." I could see his cheeks turning red. "Thanks for that."

Lux snickered.

"Of course, us in the bad sibling club have to stick together right?"

The bad siblings club…?

"I suppose." Leo said with a smirk.

"Lux, I'm glad you got things figured out." I spoke up, which made Lux jump.

She chuckled and scratched the back of her head.

"Yeah, well Jacks been really good for me, ya know?"

"No, he's not the one facing the issues head on. That's all you, give yourself credit." I stood up and walked over to her, and she did the same."Don't forget that I love you. As far as I see it, you're the best sister anyone can ask for."

Lux's cheeks turned red and she looked away.

"Well I have a long way to go before I agree to that. But thank you. I love you too, Mr. Grown man." She chuckled.

"This doesn't change what I said before though." Leo said as he stood up. "I still don't think we can reason with Elo."

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I turned to him.

"I understand, however, that doesn't change how I feel." I looked over to Rushon. "He believed he deserved a chance at redemption. So I'm going to do whatever it takes to give him a chance to see the sky in Rushons place."

"I don't think I'll ever understand that idealistic mentality."

"It's one of Stryders specialties."

"Like I said before, we're going to win. No matter what, we will take our city back."

"Yeah!" Lux cheered. "Even though I can't do anything but hide!"

"And you're doing great."

Lux opened her mouth to talk, but she stopped as we heard creaking coming from upstairs. Creaking that sounded like footsteps.

"Lux go to the back, just in case, Leo against the wall by the door." I said as I summoned light armor over myself.

I stood in front of the doorway and waited. The creaks crept closer and closer, making their way toward the steps. It's probably just Bean and Zack. But in the event Jormungand found us, I can rush and give them time to leave. Maybe even a surprise attack would work.

My mind went blank as the sound of creaking steps slithered into my ear. I held my hand out and got ready. Then something hit me. I only hear one pair of footsteps. This reality only made my heart start to race. That means it can't be Bean and Zack. The place had no lights, and the staircase upstairs seemed like an endless abyss. Which only set me more on edge.

However, I breathed a sigh of relief as the small goblin fumbled down to the last step.

"False alarm, it's just Bean. Where's zack?"

"Master Zack has engaged in combat with the one known as Jormungand and Elo."

"He what!" Leo cried as he ran over.

"Yeah is he okay!?" Lux squeked as she ran over to us.

"No time, we're leaving now." I said as I darted up the steps.

"Wait we need a pla-"

"If we don't move right now Zack could die! Just tell us on the way. Let's go." I demanded as I continued up.

Zack what the heck are you thinking!? Don't die on me.

I rushed to the front door and kicked it down. I turned around and saw Bean running as fast as his little legs could carry him. He leaped over the broken door pieces and Leo followed behind. Then, Bean started to shift and turned into his flight beast form. I hopped on and so did Leo, then we zoomed off.

"So explain what happened!" Leo yelled over the rushing wind.

"We intercepted a smoke signal, which we later found was caused by Valentina. Upon landing Jormungand and Elo were present. Alexis seemed to be on the side of Jormungand, but restrained for some reason."

"Wait was Alexis the traitor!?" Leo yelled.

A pit formed in my stomach as a wave of relief washed over me. Did I really not want it to be Val this bad?

"That is an unknown. The last visual I had was Master Zack going to save Valentina and Alexis."

"Did he have a plan in mind!?" I asked.

"Not that I'm aware, as soon as he saw the scene. He just moved."

Zack maybe impulsive, but running into a fight without a plan wasn't like him.

"Thank you! It would be best for you to watch! In the event we lose,take Leo back and protect Lux."

"What!?" Leo cried.

"Think about it. We just lose if you die, or get captured. Me and Zack can stall Jormungand. You can take down Elo with Bean. Then come back to assist us."

"Do you really think you can handle my father!? Hell, do you think Zack's still alive!?"

"This is the destroyer of worlds we're talking about. One invulnerable dragon isn't gonna kill him that easy!"

"It's sad that I believe that!"

I knew the situation was dire right now. But hearing Leo say he believed that. Made me smile. He was starting to get it, hope.

Soon we were over the city again, and the first thing I noticed was the gigantic pillar of smoke. It was coming from the downtown area, and Bean wasted no time zooming toward it. As we grew closer I could see the battle unfolding. Sparks of Zack's green flame flashed like a firework show below us.

"Down there!" I yelled at Bean who zoomed.

Thank goodness for these new railings! I would have flown off! As we descended down he started to slow, and I saw Elo rushing at Zack. Who was expertly dodging his blasts by jumping around on his solid air trick. Just as we were about to land, a funnel of fire shot out toward us. There was no time to dodge, the blast Pierced through Bean and sent Leo flying.

"Leo!"

The red mist started to secrete from Bean's body as it faded. I tried to look for Leo, but there was too much smoke and mist.

I leaped off the remains of Bean's body and tried to land near the action. I dropped and rolled to my feet, and as soon as I looked up. I was greeted by Zack's flying body. I tried to catch him, but he just slammed into me and we both fell back.

"Elo, get your brother. I'll handle the Heroes." I heard a smooth voice call out.

"Zack, you're okay?" I groaned.

"I wouldn't consider getting ping ponged by the godfather okay. But sure." He groaned as he rolled off of me.

We both sat up and I looked ahead of us. I could see the silhouette of a man walking through the smoldering green flames. He extended his hand out, and it immediately extinguished the fire.

He was wearing a dark obsidian suit that seemed flawless. Not a piece of ash, scorch marks, nothing. He ran his fingers through his fluffy blonde hair and shook his head. Opening his eyes to reveal the all too familiar piercing blue eyes.

"Is that him?" I asked as I stood up.

"Yeah, that's Leo's daddy. Valentina and Alexis were followed apparently. But thanks to your nerd girlfriend I was able to find them and get them away."

"Now boys-" Jormungand started.

Without a word I dashed at him. I summoned an Albion blade and went in for his face. But he was fast. As I thrusted the blade at him; he was already on the left side of me. He didn't strike, he just gave me a smile.

A shiver ran down my spine as I met his calm expression. I felt like I was just an insect to him.

I jumped back, and got some distance between us. But as I landed, I noticed I didn't drop. I looked down, and I noticed I was standing on air. This was Zack telling me he had me. Just trust him.

I shot forward at him again and slashed at his neck, just barely missing. I started to increase my speed and activated my eyes. I spun around and landed on the air on the right side of him. I kicked off and launched myself forward. But I didn't bother attacking. I landed back on the old air plate and shot myself above him. I tucked my legs in and kicked off on another plate and launched myself down at him. It was like he knew what I was planning. I saw him moving away as soon as I came down.

I stabbed into the ground where he was at and dispelled my sword. I went to reset myself. But he was already upon me. He rammed his fist into my face and I flew back, and immediately slammed into a wall. I gasped for air as the wind got knocked out of me, and I dropped onto the ground. That must've been a wind wall...

"You good?" Zack asked.

I coughed and forced myself up.

"Yeah, I've felt worse."

"Where are your manners? Attacking a man without even hearing what he had to say." Jormungand sighed.

"Shut up. I'm going to erase you for what you did." Zack growled.

"Now Zack, do you think that's the kind of language Annual would like to hear."

"Keep her name out of your disgusting mouth!" Zack roared.

"Ya know, if you keep talking to me like that. Maybe I'll have to give her a visit in the hospital. What was the room number again? Two or four right?" He said with a smirk. "I think you need to-"

My body was screaming. It was like a vice grip was tightening every part of me. But it was at that moment, nothing else mattered. My body just moved, my powers just activated, I was right in front of him. Every part of me wanted it.

I wanted to kill him.