Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-47.144.239.92-20190927210232/@comment-43957690-20191021211808

Chapter 16:

Marella's POV

'''Marella sighed, her head resting on her fist, half bored out of her mind, half overwhelmed by... well everything. Today her mom had had an outburst, shouting nonsense, things that Marella knew weren't real, but still hurt. She'd shouted about Marella's ability, shreiking endlessly about how she wished that her daughter could ammount to something other than a Pyrokinetic.'''

'''She'd shouted over and over two words, both of them planting themselves in Marella's mind, weighing her down like chains. '''

Bad daughter. she'd said.

Bad daughter.

'''Part of Marella knew that she hadn't meant it. But the other half still wondered... Caprise Redeck's sanity had been destroyed... not her opinions.'''

'''At least the meeting took her mind off of things. She was able to worry about the rest of the world, not just her own problems. The leaping crystals had been a big find. Something that could turn the tides. '''

'''Right now, the collective were having a mental conversation about what to do. The Black Swan leaders whitnessed the voting, which had almost unanimously been in favor of taking the leaping crystals to wherever they lead. '''

'''Now it was all up to their judgment. Man, she wished that she was a telepath right now. '''

'''As Marella looked around the room, she tried to tell what the others were thinking. Sophie was definetily anxious, but there was also a dreamy look in her eyes. Lihn was looking down at her hands, appearing to hold back tears. Fitz was relaxed, bored looking, even. Dex sat next to her, fidgeting with something in his hands, but studying the collective with his eyes. Biana, on her other side, was biting her lip and clenching her fists, worried. Keefe... was asleep in his chair.'''

'''The collective conversed for about ten minutes, and unfortunately, their faces conveyed no clue as to what was going on in their heads. Finally, Forkle took his hands off his temples, and turned to the rest of the group, including her.'''

'''He spoke. "We have decided... that we will not allow you to take the leaping crystals."'''

'''Groans and objections swelled throughout the room. '''

'''"So we're just gonna sit around and do nothing?!" Keefe shouted, apparently awake now. '''

'''"We can't pass up on this chance to find Tam!" Lihn insisted.'''

'''Forkle held out his hands, gesturing for silence. "It's just too risky! We have chosen to examine this discovery in a safe way, a way that prevents the risk of losing more power."'''

'''"Is that all we are to you!?" Lihn shouted. "My brother and I?! Just weapons that you can use and protect for your own good!?!"'''

'''"That is FAR from what we see you as." Forkle assured her. "What I am trying to say is that if the Neverseen got ahold of one of you, they would have an even greater advantage, and more controll over what we do."'''

'''"But what if it's not a trap?" Marella said.'''

'''Forkle looked exasperated. "How could we possibly know that? At any rate, the chances of it being a trap are far greater than otherwise. From what Ms. Song," He gestured to Lihn, "And Mr. Dizznee" to dex, "And Ms. Vacker have told me abou their little misadventure, the Neverseen now KNOW that we have the crystals, and will be more likely to set a trap for us."'''

'''"Maybe they knew that that was what we'd think, so they didn't bother!" Biana shouted.'''

'''"ENOUGH!" Forkle shouted to all of them. "Our descision is final." He turned to Dex. "The crystals, please, Mr, Dizznee."'''

'''Dex looked down, but got up nonetheless, picking up the cylider containing the crystals, and walking solemnly to where Forkle was standing. He handed him the container. '''

'''Marella's mind turned sour. So much for progress.'''

'''Before Dex could get back to his chair, Mr. Forkle spoke again. "Mr, Dizznee, would you care to take the lid off of this and show me the crystals?"'''

'''Dex froze, his eyes wide. The tension in the room was hotter than Everblaze. Slowly, shamefully, Dex turned and walked back to where Forkle was waiting, his demeanor cold and dissapointed. '''

He shoved his hand onto his packet and took out the two crytals, hesitating only a moment before dropping them into the wrinkly, outstretched hand.

'''The cylinder had been empty. Marella cursed under her breath... they had been so close...'''

'''Dex walked back to his chair, saying nothing, looking utterly defeated. Marella felt sorry for him, and she could see hear Lihn's quiet sobbs from the other side of the room. '''

'''"You are all dismissed." Forkle's words escored them out, all slouching cross armed. Marella didn't know if she could forgive this one.'''

'''Before they left the Ruwen home, though, Dex tugged on her cape, silently. "Meet me in the emptey alicorn stable. Tell the others."'''

'''And then he'd dissapeared. Marella did as he'd said, but her heart wasn't in it. It had been a bad day all around.'''

'''Five minutes later, she and the others were gathered in the alicorn stable, a darkish, dustyish place. Dex stood atop a bail of hey, calling for their attention.'''

'''"We all want to find out where those crystals are going, dont we?" Those were his first words.'''

'''"How can we? Mr. Forkle took them." Sophie shook her head.'''

'''"He didn't take them." Dex said. '''

'''"Buddy, we saw him," Keefe said. '''

'''"Yeah. Nice try with the empty container." Biana said half heartedly, sitting on the ground and not caring about the dirt on the floor.'''

'''Lihn was beside her, sobbing silently into her hands. '''

'''And then a huge, rediculus smile that did not match the mood of the room spread across Dex's face. He jumped down from the hey bail, and Marella saw him reach into his pocket-a different one than last time, and bring out two crystals, exactly like the ones he'd just given Forky.'''

'''And then Marella realized his plan. "Wait, so the other ones were... Fakes?"'''

"Bingo."

'''A happy shreik filled the stable, and Lihn leaped from her spot on the ground, and into Dex's arms, hugging him tight. "You're AMAZING!" she cried, happy tears falling from her face.'''

'''Something swelled in Marella's chest. Hope. '''

'''There was somethining else, too, something that felf just a little bit like jealousy, when Dex blushed at Lihn's embrace. But she decided to ignore that, and focus on the hope.'''

They were FINALLY getting somewhere.

And maybe, just maybe, this was the key to defeating the enemy.

JUst some more copy and paste, if it's easier to read it on here.