~~~~~~~
Miranda's and Sparrow's hands met in a palm strike, Miranda notices the tree from the distance moving slightly that panic rose. She was paying attention when Sparrow had swung her leg against her neck and pushed her to the ground, making Miranda pass out. Sparrow caught her breath and ran towards the direction where the disaster was at. She stopped once she saw Davos being choked by a vine, she took her dagger out from her waist and cut the vines to set Davos free. Davos coughed as he rubs his neck that was left a red mark, he didn't say anything other than.
Davos:What happened? Do you think Danny is okay?
Davos was a bit worried when he asked her, but she just slightly shook her head, unsure.
Sparrow:I'm not sure. Let's go quick
Davos agreed and both ran in the direction of the chaos. They stopped when they see Danny sitting over vines in front of endless trees. Davos and Sparrow ran towards him as they called out to him with excitement in their voices. Danny listened as he tilted his head to the side, a drop of sweat dripped down his chin. Davos and Sparrow stopped in their tracks when they see Danny suddenly jump up and summon his fist. Danny stood in a defensive pose with his back against the tree; he glared at them with a fiery gaze past the locks of his blonde dirty hair.
Davos:Danny! It's us! Did you forget you freed us?
Danny's glare had softened and the glow had faded away. Danny coughed as he slid down to the ground with his back still against the tree. Sparrow and Davos ran towards him to worry; Davos was supporting Danny with his hand on his shoulder while Sparrow had two fingers against Danny's wrist. His wrist was pounding loud and rapidly so she breathed out relief through her nose.
Sparrow:You're fine...just tired. What happened?
Danny moves his leg up with his arm resting over his knee, the other leg laid flat against the ground and laid his head back against the tree. He then finally spoke with a hoarse voice.
Danny:I...don't remember. I think I blacked out...I have gotten a weird dream about it too. People were screaming and I saw you two...I wanted to approach you but my arm was stuck then the rest is a blur. I came back seeing Conal save Sssesthanag then I came out of the vines...Do you know what happened? How did I get here?
Davos and Sparrow were hesitant to speak as they gave each other anxious glances, their expressions were still solemn.
Davos:You were moving on your own Danny...even we don't know what happened. You kept moving like a puppet without any acknowledgment
Danny:...puppet?
Sparrow:We assume that it was your iron fist getting defensive and controlled your body in the meantime but we never heard of it...plus your heart stopped beating for a moment until your fist started glowing
Danny:...
Davos:The chi of Shao-Lou can't bring people to life so this was unheard of
Danny moves his hair behind his ears and looked awkward from this.
Sparrow:Danny, what's wrong? If the iron fist can revive people then this is an important discovery
Danny:It...doesn't bring anyone to life. I didn't die...
Davos:What? But your heart stopped beating...
Danny:I know. I caused that to happen
Sparrow and Davos were both instantly confused and sat down to listen to Danny's explanation.
Danny:Ever since I have gotten the iron fist I had to train longer than others, I had to learn some techniques that would be useful for me to strike an enemy with the fist. I was taught to pause my heartbeat for a minute to mislead enemies
Davos:Father taught you this?
Danny:He did. After Conal and Miranda left the city, he taught me. The chi of Shao-Lou is connected to my heart so for Sssesthanag to not locate it and find it, I had to pause my heart for the iron fist to disappear temporarily. He thought he managed to kill me and didn't bother me any longer so he left, he could sense the earth around him to feel the pulses of one's heartbeat and their movements so I had to play dead
Sparrow:...
Danny:When I set you both free then I blacked out for a minute and began to form my fist first but I didn't felt the force to do so...my heart was barely beating back to normal so I had to get into deep meditation. I couldn't hear, see, or do anything until I managed to feel the strength to stand up and form the fist...Until I felt a surge of sudden energy in my bones, and I felt like wanting to burn myself alive. I heard people screaming, you two appeared, then I was knocked out the entire time and woke up here
Danny was speaking like retelling an old childhood story to the two teenagers. Davos and Sparrow were in awe of his words and sat silent, beginning to process everything that was just told to them.
Davos:So the chi can't revive someone...Then how were you still alive with the chi from Shao-Lou if you had your life source taken away? You must've died instantly
Danny:The chi is Shao-Lou's life source isn't it? I'm its holder so it has no choice but to keep me alive without my life source...It was risky wasn't it?
Sparrow:It was. But alas, you're still alive so that's fine with me...You're fine and moving now since you took out H'ylthris on the way
Davos:I'm just glad that we didn't have to get into a fight when we go back to speak with your spider boyfriend, I don't want to be involved in a waterfall
Davos spoke as he stood up alongside Sparrow, Danny softly laughed after he finished talking. Danny then stood up next and turns back to the direction where "Conal" and Sssesthanag went. Danny's face changed to a serious expression and turns his head back forward in silence.
Danny:I know why Sssesthanag is doing this...he told me that he wanted to overpower humans for the toxicity around us. He plans to remove their life sources and kill every single human so we could go extinct
Davos:He's insane! What makes him think that we would let him kill humans for nearly killing him?!
Sparrow:...it sounds more like vengeance on his part
Danny:No, not really...he says that he wants to save the planet and says that humans are the cause of everything, he believes it'll be better with humans becoming extinct...As much as I disagree with his actions I think...he's right about this
Davos:Danny! You think that we should die as well?!
Danny:No I'm not. I don't agree with his actions but he has a point...
Davos:His plan is ridiculous! You shouldn't agree with someone who will annihilate the human race!
Sparrow:I agree. Given their abilities, they're too dangerous to be kept alive, did he say anything else?
Danny:...he...said that he was working alongside Master Khan so he gave him a stone. It's the stone similar to the hideout that Khan had when he tied us in...
Sparrow:Stone?
Davos:It's a stone that made him do his sorcery and taken Danny's friends back home...before we killed him
Danny:You killed him
Davos:He's dead now and Danny destroyed the stone...did Khan gave one to the H'ylthris? What for?
Danny:Master Khan went to them for a plan to take over K'un L'un, so if they taught him to control vines and work with him then he'll give them K'un L'un and gave them the stone...Sssesthanag had accidentally told me that they had to use the stone as their life source and everything else is powered by it before they learned to remove life sources
Sparrow:The stone is the source of their power and their life source...does it control the pods as well?
Danny:I think so...he haven't said much about it
Davos:We should destroy the stone to free our father. Do you know where it is?
Danny shook his head. Davos clicked his tongue as he began to look over at Sparrow, then she spoke.
Sparrow:Miranda. She might know where it is
Danny:...
Davos:Why should we trust her? She's a traitor and agreed to kill Danny! She couldn't wait to kill him when she first saw him!
Sparrow:It's the only idea that I have. Miranda has been working with the H'ylthris the entire time so she must know where the stone is and how to destroy it
Davos:Danny is the only one who is able to destroy it, how can she know?
Danny:Sounds good. Let's talk to her
Danny spoke calmly as he stood up, Davos gave him a glare with a crooked brow.
Danny:Since Miranda might know then you two should go with her...it's better for us to split up for this to work
Sparrow:What will you do?
Danny:I'm going after Conal and Sssesthanag, we don't know if they're planning to escape...I might be able to catch up since Sssesthanag is wounded
Davos:...I'll go with you
Danny:No
Davos:Sparrow can manage the traitor alone!
Sparrow:Daniel, I'll be fine by myself
Danny:No! I have to see Conal myself
Davos:And do what?! You're not thinking that you can talk him out of things can you?!
Danny was silent and his eyes had somehow softened and looks down, his fists clenching besides him. Davos found this hilarious and idiotic of Danny. He couldn't help but let out a clogged laugh in between his words.
Davos:You're serious aren't you? You're goimg to talk to him?!
Sparrow:Davos, calm yourself
Davos:Why Danny?! He took part of abducting my father and half the city to kill them! He led us on and betrayed us! He nearly killed you by removing your life source and trying to trample you with vines! Why do you still want to talk this out? How will this even work?!
Sparrow:Davos!
Sparrow had grabbed Davos's arm tightly from approaching Danny in case he would unexpectedly hurt him. Danny didn't give a response by keeping his head down, not willing to look at Davos's raging expression with his eyes widened. There was silence for a few seconds as Davos was silently catching his breath through his nose, waiting for an answer from Danny. Sparrow just looks at the two and lets out a small sigh before Danny spoke.
Danny:I didn't say that it would work...I just want to know if he'll be willing to stop this...Just let me try to talk him out of this
Davos:You-!
Sparrow:Yes. We understand Daniel...we'll interrogate Miranda
Sparrow lets her hand free from holding Davos's arm then she gets closer to Danny. Danny froze when Sparrow was suddenly an inch away from him, her lips then began to move beside Danny's ear. Danny's had turned pale and lowered his head to hide his trembling lip and eyelashes from what she whispered to him. Sparrow backs away and gave Davos a small nod; he and Sparrow walked away from Danny but Davos gave a look back. Danny had straightened himself and runs into the trees without looking up to see them. Davos looks back forward and spoke.
Davos:What did you say to him? You couldn't have agreed to his idea...talking this issue out is impossible given from our position
Sparrow:I know. I'm not fond of his idea either...which is why I told him that if talking doesn't work, he has the order to kill him
Davos:He doesn't like the idea...I can tell he doesn't
Sparrow:He doesn't have a choice. It's either Conal or the human race...it's obvious which choice he'll choose
Davos:...will Miranda agree to help us?
Sparrow:She will. If not, then we'll force her
Sparrow's tone was dark and cold without a quiver. Davos silently agreed while they continued to keep walking towards the direction they last gone through to find Miranda still unconscious on the ground.
While this was happening, "Conal" had taken Sssesthanag far from where Danny was left. Finally, after jumping down in a small space of tree that was far, he gently places his brother down against a tree. Sssesthanag releases a cough while "Conal" knelt down to him, roots had crawled out of his fingers to attach itselfs into Sssesthanag's shoulder and chest.
"You're fine...I'll take you back to Khan's gem to heal your wounds"
"No...we won't have time"
Sssethanag's voice was husk as "Conal" kept trying to reattach his roots to his body. Sssesthanag looks at his expression full of irritation, he forms a wide grin with a sneer.
"What? Do you hate me dragging you down?"
"...of course not. It's Daniel Rand...he nearly killed you and yet all you could do was talk"
"Hahaha! I'm the younger one...it's obvious I have to take my role like other human siblings..."
"You're...unbelievable"
Sssesthanag lets out a dry chuckle as "Conal" kept silent, focusing on the roots connecting since it wasn't working. Sssesthanag looks ahead to bushes that was filled with pink flowers. For some reason, he was attracted to the flowers; they were pink Hydrangeas that seemed to glow under the rising sun with the sky still dark. While "Conal" was still agitated with the lack of progress the wounds were healing, he notices a tear run down Sssesthanag's cheek. When he looks at him, he saw more tears running down Sssesthanag's face with his expression still serene.
"Is something wrong Sssesthanag?"
"...I'm...not going to live, aren't I?"
"You will. Don't think negatively at a time like this, we still have to avenge the others remember?"
"...Yes...but, perhaps I deserve this. I deserve worse than death"
"You don't. We'll figure everything out"
"...Sssesthugar...did you know that I experienced this feeling before I fought with the Young Dragon? I saw people inside their pods...they were lifeless like skeletons. Someone took their life sources away in their comas. I assumed it was him...I did it. I kept saying 'sorry' over and over...I never experienced through anything like that. It felt weird...I felt a heavy weight in my chest and I couldn't breath from seeing it....Have you gone through that in Conal's body?"
"...I did. I would say that I was Conal the first days after I copied his entire memories but after I took his life source, I began feeling attraction to his lover. I didn't know how it meant to have a feeling like that after taking a life source and memories...I believe that you're feeling the same too. The more you take in from that person, whether it be a quarter of their memories, you'll still be that person and their life source just connects with it...at least, that's what I think"
"...so I'm his twin then...How troublesome. To think that I'm about to be the same person as the Iron Fist...it's laughable. Hahaha...Now that he's alive I'm sure his managed to depend on other's life sources and his fist until he receieves this one back. Imagine the look on his face once he knows the truth from me..."
"We can still kill him. If we do then you'll live by taking the other life sources from him"
"Hahaha...he's managed to kill everyone else except us...we're the only two left"
Sssesthanag looks over at "Conal" and forms a gentle smile, his cheeks stained with tears. "Conal" hand was grabbed and led up to Sssesthanag's throat but "Conal" backed his hand away.
"What are you planning?"
*"Conal" spoke anxiously*
"Remove my life source...that way you'll atleast be even with Daniel"
"No. If I do that then you'll instantly die..."
"I know...I rather die being of use to you than die under his hands...I can only depend everything on you"
"I won't be able to take in another life source, Daniel could do it because he's the Iron Fist...if I take this then I'll...-"
"It'll be fine...we tried didn't we? I would rather much die with someone by my side...and not be left behind again"
A rushing feeling was in "Conal's" stomach that was heading up his throat. Sssesthanag grabs his hand again and slowly led it around his throat, still forming his soft smile. Tears began to slide down "Conal's" cheek from still being met with Sssesthanag's smile, he was still wearing Danny's skin so all he saw was Danny smiling back at him. "Conal" refuses to look at his face anymore so he drops his head down, fighting back the tears when his hand had shoved into his brother's neck. The palm of his hand was burning as if it was on fire when he felt the glowing life source and Sssesthanag's body slowly withering from his feet up to his chest. A whisper had came out of Sssesthanag's mouth before "Conal" takes his hand out with the life source in his hand. When he moves his head back up, he could see the bright radiant life source glowing on his hand, his eyes was still clogged with tears. Then, he saw the pile of withered vines and branches in front of him where Sssesthanag used to sit.
Tears couldn't be held back so they streamed out from his eyes as he tightly held the life source in his hand. A whimper escaped his lips when he arched forwards and tears fell down onto the ground.
"I'm sorry..."
Is what Sssesthanag last said before he turned into nothing but vines. "Conal" had said this again which it was choked with sobs. Now he was the one that was alone.
~~~~~~~
Ava was still tossing and turning on her bed, still unable to sleep. She was terrified to experience that nightmare again and seeing the look of her family's faces covered in blood, having to reexperience the firey burn behind her back and still from still smelling metal mixed with blood and flesh.
Ava stared at the wall while still hearing the beeping of machines in the next room. Her heart was beating rapidly from Awilda in her dream, was she going to kill her team as well? In fault of the amulet? She gave it up for her family and her team paid the price...Ava couldn't take it anymore and forced herself to jump out of bed, and walk out of the toom to Awilda's room. The hallways were dimly lit and empty without a nurse around. She snuck into her sister room despite her back aching and her legs tingling from laying all day.
Ava was nervous to get close to Awilda but she bit her lip and sat on the chair beside Awilda's bed. The heart machine was still beeping in an average pace along with the needle connected to her arm with an oxygen mask on her mouth. Ava had inched her hand to touch Awilda's and when she did, her arm trembled from how cold Awilda's hand was but she held tighter trying to warm it up. Ava lets out a sniffle once tears began to form, she was ecstatic to know that her sister is alive and survived. She was overjoyed to know that she won't be going through this loss alone from Jessica's words, as much as Ava hated her attitude, she felt a bit of respect for her.
Ava felt Awilda's finger starting to twitch so she looks at her face, tears flowed down when Awilda slowly opened her eyes. She blinked a few times to get used to the darkness around the room and her eyes caught sight of Ava's joyful and crying face. Ava could tell that Awilda wanted to make fun of her from her judgmental look in her dark brown eyes.
Ava:Awilda...you're awake...
*her voice was trembling as she had a huge smile that her salty tears had slid into*
Ava wiped her cheeks and eyes before removing the oxygen mask from Awilda's mouth, it looked like she was trying to talk but her voice was hoarse. Ava presses her foot at the bottlm of the bed to move the bed up so Awilda could be sitting up. Awilda watches silently when Ava decided to hurriedly rush out the room to grab a cup of water from outside the room. Ava was shaking and wanted to scream now that her sister was finally awake. The cup of water in her hand was spilling over before she forced herself to remain calm after a single deep breath and walk back into the room.
As she entered and closed the door behind her, Ava notices Awilda looking awkward. She was fidgeting with her nails and looked okay...she didn't look pale or weak as she thought she would be from being in a coma for over a day. Ava just decided to ignore it and sat down, then hands the cup of water to Awilda who just gave her an glance and take it from her hand. Ava's hands were starting to sweat so she wiped them on the knees of her legs as she nervously spoke.
Ava:How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?
Awilda shook her head, stoll avoiding Ava's face. Ava was still glad despite her cold attitude at the moment.
Ava:I'm happy you've woken up! I thought I would be the only one who would live and be alone...your husband and kids will be happy to see you woke up!
Awilda:...I first woke up last night, I just didn't want to stress you so I told the nurses not to tell you
Ava:Oh...you should have told me that you managed to wake up and just wanted a nap...that way I could've left you alone
Awilda:...how are your injuries? I didn't expect you would come back
Ava:It's nothing...I've been used to this for a while
Awilda:...cabrona...you shouldn't have came back or you could have died...
Ava looks down with sorrow in her eyes as tears began to form again. Awilda didn't say anything and looks away from her.
Ava:Mami and the rest are...g...gone
Awilda:...the nurse told me. Which is why I wanted to be alone and not disturb you...
Ava:...it's my fault. I shouldn't have left and instead stayed to protect you and mami...but I left anyway back to the amulet...I'm sorry
Awilda:...Ava I-
Ava:Have you contacted your family left? They must still be waiting for you to wake up
*she wiped her eyes as she forced a smile. Awilda just nodded and continued looking forward, Ava could see that Awilda wanted to say something but couldn't as if she was trying to glue her lips closed*
Ava:What's wrong...?
Awilda:...Ava...it hurts to say this but...let's not see each other anymore
Ava:...do you need some more rest or-?
Awilda:No. Let's stop associating with each other as sisters...I'm disowning you Ava
Ava's body trembled as she sat still on the chair. Her nose was burning from breathing faster and heavier from these words. Disown? Why? Why would her own sister disown her after going through hell? Did she do something wrong? Ava's head was filled with questions and self doubt that she began to sweat.
Awilda:It won't work out anymore...I'm sorry
Ava refuses to believe it. Awilda was her only family left and now she was being kicked out...Ava won't take this.
Ava:Why...? Did I...do something wrong?
Awilda:...you did. You killed our family...
Ava:...I-I didn't...! I would never hurt mami and abuelita! I would never...! I...I love them! Why would I hurt them?!
*she asked while she stood up from the chair. She was breathing heavily as Awilda didn't twitch in the slightest*
Awilda:The amulet. You should have given it up long ago but you didn't...the amulet had brought trouble to us and killed our family...how is it not your fault?
Ava:...I'm not wearing the amulet anymore! I quit wearing it after I left the house! I never wanted to cause trouble!
Awilda:...it was too late Ava. We were attacked after you left...if you removed it earlier then we could have avoided this. You chosen your team and SHIELD over us...did you think this is what we wanted?
Awilda's words gave a stab in the chest from Ava remembering her dream. Awilda was covered in blood but managed to blame her for everything...perhaps she was right. If she gave it up earlier then this shouldn't have happened! Her brother would be healthier and alive, her mom and abuelita would be alive, and her aunt would be unharmed and happy as always while kids were running around her in the backyard. Maybe the team should die for her family to live...but what would be the differences? One was teammates forced to work together, few had common things with each other, the other, was her blood related family who cared and loved her...what things have been better if her team died instead of her family?
Ava felt a sharp pain in her heart of thinking this and shook her head rapidly to herself in disbelief.
Ava:No! I'm not leaving the family! Don't leave me alone Awilda...please?! I can give everything up from SHIELD and the team! As well with the amulet! I'll burn it and throw it in the lake! Just don't leave me alone...
*her pleading was filled with stuffed tears in her throat. Awilda didn't spare her a glance*
Ava kept calling her name hoping for an answer and for Awilda's 'just kidding', tears didn't stop falling down from her cheeks.
Awilda:...I'm not your sister anymore. When this is over, we'll head back to the house to pack our things out...you're not my sister, you're not my kids's aunt and my husband's sister in law. You're a stranger to our family Ava...I don't want any damage to my family from your mess anymore
Ava:Awilda! I don't want to be kicked out...Mami wouldn't want this to happen
*she was speaking through sobs but this only made Awilda grip his fists against the sheets*
Awilda:Don't bring up mami! You don't have the right to call her anymore! She's gone because of you! All of this is because of you! Are you happy now?! I don't want anyone to be involved with a power freak like you! Everytime I see you...I see papi! You're just like him! And you'll die like him! At least he knew when to leave us so we wouldn't be involved! He died alone and so will you! We don't want to be involved when that happens!
Ava just kept bawling out tears and kept calling out Awilda's name in disbelief like a little girl who gotten hit. She was pulling on the bed sheets but gotten violently pushed back by Awilda that it knocked her back on the floor. Awilda was annoyed of her crying that she yelled at her again with pure anger.
Awilda:Get out! And stop crying! We're not sisters anymore so stop trying to make me feel bad! If I even see you try to contact me or my children then I won't hesitate to call the police on you!
Ava was trembling as she held back her tears. She wipes her eyes and stood up with her shaking legs. Ava's face was flushed red and she walked over to the door, she remained silent hoping Awilda would change her mind and be kinder to her. This would work while she was younger whenever she would beg Awilda to play with her since her dad was out but would only get yelled at to get out of her room. Ava would always cry right after as she began to leave but Awilda would always change her mind and do what she wanted. This habit stopped as they both gotten older.
Ava wouldn't look back but she knew that Awilda wouldn't easily change her mind like years ago, so she left. Awilda didn't say anything as she heard the door next door began to close. She could hear Ava's sniffles from crying and trying to hold back sobs since Ava kept holding back her tears and would swallow them down her throat. Awilda allowed a single tear run down her cheek and more tears followed after.
~~~~~~~
Miranda was awoken by a smack across her face by a tree branch. She spat out blood to the ground as she stared coldly at the siblings in front of her. Her hands were tied by vines behind her back and was sitting against a tree, Sparrow and Davos stared down indifferently at her.
Sparrow:Where is the stone?
Sparrow's voice gave chills to whorever heard it, Miranda acted calm and refuses to talk by turning her head away. By this, she gotten kicked on her shoulder against the ground by the side. Sparrow kept her foot pressing down on Miranda's arm that was pressuring her against the ground.
Sparrow:Where is it? It powers everything here so tell us where it is before I crush your arm
*she added more weight on her arm but Miranda still denies to speak*
Davos:Even a dog can respond back after a kick...she's useless Sparrow. Even Danny knows that...
Miranda:Dan...Danny...he's alive?
*she managed to blurt out with a low voice*
Davos:Why? So you can try to kill him? We'll kill you if you even have the chance! What kind of sister are you to agree to kill your younger brother?!
Miranda was tight-lipped. Sparrow looks down to her and notices her brooding expression.
Sparrow:Do you regret hurting and misleading Daniel?...you can help him by telling us where the gem is so we can take this place down and free our father
Miranda looked hesitant for a few secomds but began to speak again.
Miranda:If I do...you won't hurt Conal, he's...the only one I have left
Sparrow:Daniel will try to see if he can talk everything out with him, in the meantime, lead us where the gem is
Danny was walking past trees as he looks down to his fist. He was trying to remember everything that happened but he would only get a headache instead. Danny couldn't come up with any other plan when seeing "Conal" again that doesn't involve both of them trying to kill each other. Danny heavily injured Sssesthanag so no doubt "Conal" will murder him at first glance. Danny looks up to the sky to see the sky in a dark blue mixed with light blue and orange with the sunlight peaking out. It was hard to believe that all this happened in the span of a night, for Danny it felt like days has passed by. He could barely process everything that happened from the ground's sudden rumble under his feet.
Danny stops and remained a stoic expression after letting out a deep breath, the leaves in the trees were falling to the ground from the earthquake. Danny steps back when the trees in front of him were torn down by vines, then "Conal" stepped out from the torned down trees. Danny's brows were pulled together with his eyes slightly widening from "Conal's" bulging eyes. Veins were popping out of his neck that was crawling up his jaw that were a dark green and throbbing with a light yellow glow.
Danny:Conal...what happened?
Danny's voice was light as a low whisper from seeing "Conal's" current chaotic state. His heart was beating like a loud drum when "Conal" was glaring at him, his eyes full of hatred when he clenches his fists tightly.
"Daniel Rand..."
"Conal" growled in between his gritten teeth as more vines had crawled out of the trees from behind. Danny felt a chill from his low tone then he quickly looks around. He realized that Sssesthanag wasn't with "Conal" so he suspected that he could be hiding in the trees waiting to ambush him.
"What are you looking for? My brother...?"
Danny froze and lowered his eyelashes before turning forward to "Conal".
Danny:Conal...let's talk...we can still avoid this
"Talk? About WHAT?! Talking can't brush over the damage you caused! You ruined everything..."
Danny:Conal, stop this...I don't know what made you think your plan will work so think more about this
"I have dealt with enough with you...I formed the plan with my brothers...but thanks to you, they're gone and now I'm alone...All I can do is make sure they're at peace by killing you..."
Danny:Conal...please stop. We can talk...not everything have to be resolved with violence, let's talk everything out
Danny was speaking cautiously as he slowly places one foot after the other, slowly approaching "Conal" who's expression was still twisted, the green thumping veins crawling up his cheeks. A drop of sweat was forming on Danny's forehead as he had his arms raised in front of him as if he was taming a wild animal. This wasn't calming "Conal" at all, only making him more irritated that the vines around him began to crawl and circle around Danny like snakes. Danny formed a small gulp in his throat when he stops and moves his eyes down to the vines with their thorns poking out. He looks back up at "Conal" and spoke in a soft tone.
Danny:Conal, what about Miranda? Don't you love her? You're not alone...you have her, so stop this please...You can leave with her and stay together...
At this, "Conal" anguish gaze seemed to have softened a bit but, his brow glued to each other when the ground under Danny began to shake. Danny frantically looks down and leaps backwards before the shaking ground had struck out roots.
"Don't...bring her up! Will you take her away from me too...? Will you lock us up?!"
Danny:We won't...we'll let you go if you stay down, you can still walk away from this
Danny could see "Conal" was thinking deeply on this. "Conal" was facing the man- no kid, who brutally killed his brothers and gravely injure his younger brother, Sssesthanag. All he could feel towards the "righteous" kid is disgust...he looked too much like the little brother he was forced to kill. A rage was burning through his body of seeing Danny's entire appearance, his personality, his abilities, his cowardice, and his naive and ignorant beliefs of "talking fixes everything". How gullible. "Conal" was forced to rip his brother's throat out, he'll rip Danny's throat out with that same hand and burn his body alive. But Miranda...He was biased about her at first but he made up his mind. Why would he choose to give up his plans for someone he met for a year than a family member who he knew for a lifetime?
So now, vines had shot straight at Danny. He bit his tongue when he slipped around the vines and uses his hand to cut them in half, but they kept going around him. Danny was thinking to himself if he should use the fist since in contact with the vines, it withered but it would mean to use it to kill "Conal". Stubbornly, Danny yelled out again to try to talk sense into "Conal" as he kept slipping and dodging past the vines.
Danny:Conal! Think clearly about this! Do you really want to leave Miranda and not talk over this?! The human race aren't as bad as you think!
He managed to loudly speak before his ankle gotten grabbed by leaping over a tree branch and jumping to the next. "Conal" was steaming. The veins began to thump rapidly and loudly as he continued to crawl up his face and towards his eye lids.
"Really? Why should I even care? Because there are good people trying to help others like you? Lies...all of it are lies!"
His arms had turned into a long thick vine, then he swun it around the trees in front of him, causing the trees to be cut in half and fall on top of each other. Danny managed to jump out of the way before the tree he was on fell down over the vines that were chasing him. Danny landed on his feet and turns over to "Conal" concince him some more but the vines had rose from the cut trees and continued to chase after him. Danny was still hesitant to use the fist and getting a bit impatient; "Conal" noticed this from Danny's twitched eyebrow from afar.
"What's wrong Daniel? Won't you use your fist? Try to kill me like how you killed my brother!"
Danny was unwilling despite the countless amount of vines chasing after him. "Conal" just slowly tilts his head to the side with a dead and cold expression on his face while raising his arm then moving his finger. This action had summoned vines from behind to wrap around fallen cut trees and cut out large pieces of bark to form sharp spears. They were heading straight towards Danny but managed to flip his way from getting stabbed by one, but recieves a cut past his left arm when he managed to barely dodge it. Danny was on his feet as he pants while looking at the cut on his arm that was already staining his green outfit.
"Will you use your fist or not?! You're the Immortal weapon and yet you won't fight with it?! You looked so tough earlier, where did your enthusiasm go?!"
"Conal's" words were ringing into Danny's ears that made him glance at his trembling hands. Danny still stubbornly clenches his fist, "Conal's" eyebrow twitched as he tightened them tightly. Then he began to remember what his deceased brother had told him that made him act unhinged before the kid had hurt him. "Conal" had formed a small smile by imagining Danny's torned expression of his crime, his pale and dumbstruck eyes of finding the truth, he'll be so astonished that he'll be trembling and will kill himself instead, he wouldn't even need to touch the hardheaded child to kill him. But, "Conal" feels a rough feeling in his chest, he clenches his jaws and fists by just remembering his brother's face before he died. He thought, do I have the will to see my brother in pain again? Can I risk seeing him die again by my hands?
His arm had turned a dark green with the vines and roots tangled together from the tips of his fingers. "Conal" watches his fingers turn back into regular human fingers and looks back at Danny who was staring at him with his usual determined expression as he ignores the blood from his arm drying up from the cold wind.
He'll make a good substitute...a shame he bleeds like every other human from foolish guilt.
Danny:Conal. Come back home...we'll stop fighting and go back to normal. I'll leave you alone as lomg as you stop doing actions like these with Miranda...
Every human has a weak point, this will be interesting to tire him out...
"Really? We'll get back to normal? We'll go our seperate ways and you'll return back to your holy city for a celebration? Everything was your fault after all, do you still have face to face everyone from the damage you caused?"
Danny:Conal! I don't want to fight with you anymore! Let's stop...and go back home
*the last sentence sounded like a whimper with his eyes glossy*
"Conal" had slightly widened his eyes but from afar, it looked like his face was still unmoving. He lets out a scoff and slowly walks towards him, a step slower than the last as he spoke in a cold tone.
"Daniel Rand...you clearly don't understand do you? Despite you and my brother wearing the same face with similar interests...you're really dense. My brother cared for our fallen siblings whom you've killed, unlike you...do you not care about your home that you weren't there to protect it? Especially since...we killed half of them"
Danny:I know you killed over 20 people including my friend...that's not near half
"Hah...did you not notice when you left your pod along with your partners? Bodies are in pods...all of them are turned into skeletons like your old friend, Conal...who do you think killed them?"
Danny felt his entire body turn cold and get goosebumps. His eyes were staring widely at "Conal" who stopped in his tracks with his hands behind him. "Conal" lets out a breath out his nose with his chest rising up and down when he notices Danny nearly tilt over. Danny's vision was becoming blurry along with his heavy breaths and heavy heart beats.
Danny:Y-you...killed them?
A tug pulled in "Conal's" chest. Why was he lying to him?
"Of course we did. I'm surprised you never noticed their rotting corpses in the pods...we wanted to make an experiment if one of us can take more than one life source...it failed"
"Conal" curses to himself of these pathetic lies. Still questioning himself why he was lying to him, would it even make a difference? Would this even make a calm and trained monk from a holy city to even crack in fury? "Conal" wouldn't ignore that he atleast wanted to see Danny go feral, he really wanted to see it just to taunt him for this failure.
Danny's fists were glowing as he tightens his hands into a fist, his entire body had stiffened with his eyebrows drawned together as he had his head slightly tilted down to the ground. He was avoiding "Conal's" appearance as he was barely thinking and seeing straight, his fists just happened to lit up on his own from imagining the skeletons from people who he tried to save, if he even tried to look at "Conal" now then he'll just see the corpse he found who was brutually tortured for over a year when they last seen each other. A heavy breath came out after the other from Danny's mouth with his face red, he wanted to kill "Conal" for the crimes he committed and will commit but he thought of Miranda...wouldn't she be alone if "Conal" was gone? Wouldn't she hate him some more and leave him? Maybe she would try to kill him...not like Danny would object it.
The glow in his fists had glowed away and was now in a dazed state, ignoring the vines shooting straight at him and tying around him. Danny fell to his knees with his arms tightly wrapped against his side, his felt his chest suffocating but he didn't try to defend. "Conal" was feeling odd so he kept his distance from him incase he does a surprise move like how he did to Sssesthanag.
"Giving up? So quick? I barely put on a fight and you easily gave in"
Danny didn't give a response, just staring straight down to the ground.
"Of course...you've been taught your whole life to control your emotions from the monks and Yu-Ti. You've been taught about being calm and block negativity in your mind and yet...you managed to be free in the open world unlike here. Are you fed up with the holy city?"
Danny:...It's my home...why would I be...?
*he muttered with his voice deep and hoarse*
"Out of pure curiosity. As a H'ylthri we never managed to get the same emotions as humans until we took on different roles of human siblings. We've seen that every human has a specific role in a family that they're identified as...so we took on a role as siblings. The youngest acts the most immature, the oldest is the wisest. Like humans, we judge those who are different from us either by beliefs, morals, or actions..."
Danny:...shut up...
"Daniel. Do you feel different in the holy city? More different than the outside world?"
Danny:...I feel the same...just...shut up
"Hmp. Do you take me as a fool? I can feel that you're lying...The fist is making you a walking beacon and more powered than you even imagine...everyone sees you as a god and you hate it"
Danny:Shut up! I don't feel different! I'm the same as everyone else! I know people who understands me! Stop saying things you don't even know!
"Conal" had faintly smirked to his sudden outburst by raising his head up to look at him. Danny places his head back down, panting, he clenches his teeth together and spoke again softly.
Danny:I'm sorry...I shouldn't have acted like that...
"Conal" could nearly laugh at that. Sorry? The Iron Fist was apologizing to someone who tied him up for raising his voice...how hilarious. "Conal" managed to put on his cold expression again after he cleared his throat.
"Daniel, you're naive. At least I thought you were...You're a smart kid who managed to earn the title of the Iron Fist at a young age, an earlier age than the holders before you and managed to live. Clearly outstanding that you took my entire family out..."
"Daniel, you're aware of my plans aren't you? We're doing what you're planning on doing...bring peace and taking out the trash in the planet"
Danny:...
"You fight to protect people and help them live better lives but evil doesn't disappear...it never will. I care about this planet Daniel, like you do, and I'm solving the issue by removing the cause of the problem. Whatever you fight for in the end...is meaningless"
Danny was quiet, his lips trembling. "Conal" glances at Danny's left shoulder and squinted his eyes at the sight of it by remembering Sssesthanag's ripped left arm.
"Say...you won't use the Iron Fist will you?"
"Conal" walks closer to him and kicks Danny back against his chest, the vines had rose from the ground and wraps it around Danny to keep him tied to the ground, it's vines around him was getting tighter and tighter until he can't move again. Danny grunts from the kick and "Conal" walks over him and kicks him in the head. Blood was forming in the back of Danny's head that was staining his hair, Danny was already half conscious at this point with his vision blurred into pixels and his ears ringing. Tears formed in his eyes when the vines freed his left arm but the rest of his body was still tied. "Conal" grabs his left arm and tightens his grip on it to form a huge purple bruise of his handprint, making Danny let out a winced moaned that sounded like a gasp. He was tired.
Despite not moving as much as he thought, he still felt tired. His vision was already fading into black. But he heard a bone crack in his arm, causing him to arubtly widen his eyes from the shocking pain of his bones breaking apart in his arm. "Conal" felt unsatisfied from Danny's painful closed grunts and groans that he only gave him a side glance at him.
"Summon the fist. Don't you feel pain? Don't you want to kill me?"
Danny shook his head as he bit his lip but "Conal" twists his arm again, another painful groan left his mouth.
"Why not?! I killed everyone! I will kill your friends and home! Yet you won't kill me? How stupid!"
*he twists his arm tighter"
Danny:C-conal...! Stop....please...
"You're begging? How embarrassing! Why is the Iron Fist begging under my feet to not try to break his arm before ripping it off?!"
Danny:Conal...stop...let's just stop doing this...cough...I don't want to kill you...
Danny was gasping as he spoke. "Conal" seemed to have frozen after hearing him and just furrowed his eyes.
"How...foolish"
~~~~~~
Miranda and the other two siblings had ran into a stone room that was covered in vines and eggs that believed to the H'ylthris, barely looking as if they'll be born soon. Davos felt disgusted at the sight of gross and slimy eggs while Sparrow and Miranda walks towards the green gem jn the mjddle of the room.
Miranda:The stone was given by Master Khan as payment for the H'ylthris to support their energy and lifespan in. They were use it if they didn't have a life source and when the eggs are still aren't ready to hatch. It also powers everything that was made by the H'ylthris so it would free the pods without harm
Sparrow:How do we destroy it?
Miranda:I suspect that we cut the vines to cut off all energy from its source...but the vines fight back and are more difficult to cut into since they were made with Master Khan's sorcery and the vines from the H'ylthris
She speaks as her and Sparrow faces the vines in the corner of the wall that begun to move from the unfamiliar temperature in the room by Sparrow and Davos. It rose up like a snake with it's thorns poking out before charging towards the three of the siblings, they all dodged as they took their sharp weapons out.
Miranda:I can cut the vines while you two distract it! I'll need time to be able to do so!
Miranda commanded as she rolled back before she gotten touched by the vine. Sparrow just agreed from her silence unlike Davos who began to speak in offense.
Davos:Who made you come up with this?!
Sparrow:Just distract it Davos. We don't have a choice
Sparrow spoke loudly with her cold tone as she swung her dagger across the vine. Davos just grumbles to himself and approaches towards Sparrow's side. Miranda had quickly snuck to the back of the vines, she could see the rough texture of the vines and lets out a sigh. Miranda scans her eyes past the vines and swung her katana past thinnest vines that seemed to harm the large vine that was attacking Sparrow and Davos. The vines had turned its end towards Miranda and began to charge towards her, Miranda blocks herself with her katana in front of her to block her face. She instead gotten pushed against the stone wall, Sparrow had stabbed her dagger inside the large vine with brutal force, the vine began to shake around and swun around the room to hit Sparrow and Davos at their chests. Miranda tightens her grip on the hilt of her katana and quickly cuts the thick vines. One by one the vines began to fall as the vine had slammed itsef against the stone wall, causing the room to shake. Sparrow slowly stood back up to not fall down from the shaking room.
Sparrow:Help Miranda cut the vines
*she commanded towards Davos who was starting to stand up*
Davos watches dumbly to Sparrow who ran towards the chaotic vine and grabs the hilt of the dagger and pulls it out. Davos ran beside Miranda and moves the sharp side of his daggers against the vines as Miranda did the same with her katana. The huge vines had went after Sparrow, Sparrow swiftly moves away from the vine as wel as trying her best to avoid the thorns. The dagger was pointed up as she held the tilt, when she ran dodges she stabs the dagger inside its skin and drags it down with her wrist unharmed.
The vine had went chaotic again and slams its body sideways against the wall to attempt to slam Sparrow to get impaled by it's thorns. Sparrow managed to duck under and slip to the other side, Davos was filled with sweat from noticing Sparrow's near death experience in the corner of his eye. Miranda had finished cutting the vines with one left that Davos was currently cutting now, she called at Sparrow and threw her katana at her. Sparrow grabs the sharp blade of the katana then moves her hand at the hilt and stabs it inside the vine, then pushes the blde deeper until the vine stopped moving and landed on the ground.
Davos had cut the last vine and the vines around them had wilted, the eggs covered with slime had been turned into moss. The green gem in front of them was still shining brightly before it faded away. Sparrow takes the katana out of the wilted vine and hands it back to Miranda.
Sparrow:Thank you
Miranda didn't say anything other than a small nod, then places it back into its shealth. Miranda's eyes had suddenly widened and ran past Sparrow to the exit, Davos was about to follow but was stopped by Sparrow placing her arm in front of him.
Sparrow:Let her go...Daniel will hopefully handle her
Davos just stared at her before he turns away with a nod as he places his weapons away.
Davos:Father should be free, let's go...
They both then ran out of the stone room after to head back to the direction of the pods. On the way, they could see the plants around them wilting, the barrier of vines around the place was crumbling down that causes the ground to have a small earthquake. Animals were running in all directions towards the wilting wall of vines.
Danny was gritting his teeth from the twists and turns from his left arm, the pain was so unbearable that he just wanted it to be cut off. He tried his hardest to break free from the vines but he would be out of breath in the process by it's grip getting tighter and tighter. Danny was struggling to keep his eyes closed or not, they seemed to burn everytime he blinks along with his throat burning and getting dry. "Conal" was still emotionless from this and felt his hand lose grip of Danny's arm, causing Danny's arm to fall and turn numb. The vines wrapped around Danny were slowly letting loose that he managed to crawl out with his working arm, gasping for breath along with throbbing on his head.
When he looks back to "Conal", he can see "Conal" stumbling backwards with winces of pain. The bright veins on his face were thumping repeatedly as his entire body was showing textures like snakes moving up and down his body. Some roots from his knees and elbows would pop out and start squirming around in the air. When Danny saw a clear look at his eyes, he noticed that "Conal" didn't have eyes. His eyesockets had holes in them with pure darkness in them with roots and small vines peaking out. Danny could nearly puke at this sight and when he looks around, the wall of vines around them were crumbling down and the ground faintly shake. "Conal" has managed to stand still with his knees still buckled forward, but he slowly stood back straight without a small sound of his heavy breathing.
When "Conal" turned around to face Danny, the hole in his stomach was formed from when Danny had punched him earlier. The green gem had reversed his injuries by Danny and now lost the connection to the gem now that Sparrow and Davos had probably destroyed it. The empty eyesockets in "Conal's" had formed back to normal to his dark brown eyes, they were red from seeing a faint sight of Danny who was pushing himself to stand up. Danny stood forward with his knees nearly giving out, he looks at "Conal" past his bangs as he loudly spoke hoarsely with pants and nearly cracking.
Danny:Conal! Just stay down...we'll be able to handle this if you stop...
"Again with this bullshit..."
He ran towards Danny and exchanged blows with him. Danny kept avoiding them and used his uninjured arm to defend himself and block his attacks.
Danny:Conal!
"Daniel Rand!"
He shot a punch against Danny's chest with vines growing out from his fist, his arm expanded that it had pushed Danny against a tree. Danny grunts as his felt his chest being pressed by "Conal", he walks towards Danny with his other hand that was forming long roots and vines. Danny's left arm was swaying back and forth, it was swelling as blood was dripping out the corner of his lips. Danny's vision was doubling when "Conal" approaches him, the roots and vines were reaching towards Danny's neck as he finally stood infront of him.
"Truly pathetic...Yet here I was, assuming you were a foe that we had to be worried about"
The roots and vines wraps around Danny's neck and tightens his grip, Danny was coldly looking at "Conal".
"I wonder...you went hectic while attacking my brother and I'm curious, if I can be more powerful with your life sources"
(Sources...?)
"This time, you won't depend on Shao-Lou anymore..."
Danny:Conal...
Danny muttered in a whisper with his eyes nearly rolling back. "Conal" was silent from Danny's pained expression when he looked at him, Danny had a small and faint smile.
Danny:Will you...kill me?
"Conal" furrowed his brows and tightens his grip around his neck, he moves his head forward then pushes his head back against the tree. "Conal's" expression was stoic.
"What? Do you think I won't do it?"
Danny lets out a dry short laugh from his bloodied lips. He spoke with his voice dry.
Danny:I wouldn't be surprised...I knew someday I would die like this
Danny's voice was trembling as well as his right hand slowy grabbing onto the vines wrapped around his neck. His grab on the vines were soft and tender like a paw when he had his eyes water and red. "Conal's" lips was slightly open while they were trembling, then he closed his mouth shut. His brows had rose when he stares more at Danny's expression, it looked like a switch was pulled. Danny notices this before his eyes fully closed with a single breath escaping, then his head had fell forward.
"Daniel...? Are you...?"
What's wrong with me? Why am I acting like this?
His breathing was trembling once he felt the heartbeat from Danny's body stop. The vines that was wrapped around his neck had crawled back and forms back into his arm. The other arm was still holding Danny's body against the tree. "Conal's" eyes were glistening as his breathing began to shake, his eyes were wide and twitching. Then he froze. The roots that was holding Danny against the tree was burning, Danny still had his hand over it and it was glowing. The burn was heading up to his arm so he freed his grasp on Danny's body making him fall down. "Conal" stumpled back as his left arm was withering as it crawls up his shoulder, his uses the side of his right hand to slash it down his elbow, cutting the withering arm off.
Danny had opened his eyes and began to force himself back up to look up to "Conal's" face full of bewilderment as he looks down to his arm.
"You...nearly destroyed my arm. By tricking me...Is this how you killed my brother?"
"Conal's" voice was full of venom when he slowly looks at Danny, his face turning black when looking at him.
Danny:Conal...
"Enough! I have had enough of you! You're nothing but a fool and liar!"
His right arm had turned into vines as he continued to speak, Danny was tightly furrowing his brows while biting his lip, the fist of his right hand clenching tightly. "Conal" had darted towards Danny, his eyes widened when he saw a glow in front of his eyes, Danny's eyes widened from a sharp pain from his stomach with "Conal" in front of him.
Danny was sitting against the tree with "Conal" knelt in front of him, he had his head slightly tilted down to Danny's stomach. Danny was stabbed in his stomach by "Conal" as his glowing right hand was in his neck, feeling the hotness from the two life sources, that were his and Conal's.
"Conal" had let out a sole breath while it was slowly turning to green, Danny's eyes were red with sweat dripping down his cheeks. A tear ran down "Conal's" cheek as he slowly moved his lips to speak.
"Y-you..."
Danny:I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...I-I had to...I-I didn't have a choice
Danny's voice was like a loud whisper with his pupils shaking. He spoke fast as he stared at "Conal" in front of him who still had his head tilted down. "Conal" seemed to have let out a small dry laugh and spoke, his words trailing off from vines withering as it crawled up to his chest.
"At least...I'm not the one left behind..."
"CONAL!"
A female voice shouted as her feet levated over the ground from her intense and fast running. "Conal" had glanced at her and notices it was Miranda. Her eyes were widening as her throat began to ache from the heavy and cold air she had breathed in. "Conal" lets out a last breath as he closes his eyes with a tear down his cheek. Danny's just froze as "Conal's" entire body turned into withered vines, his faint smile had turned to dust when it collapsed on the ground. Two life sources were in Danny's hand. His arm began to tremble and fall to the ground as green blood was dying his hand and dripping to the ground.
Danny was unable to let out any tears or see anything as if everything turned black for him. The blood kept spilling out from his stomach leaving a chill of cold air make contact with it, Danny wouldn't feel the coldness and burning pain. The two life sources had absorbed into his hand that it disappeared from his hand. Danny was at a trance that he didn't notice Miranda slip down in front of him to "Conal's" withered body. Her lips were red as she shakily grabs withered vines that was once "Conal's" arm and hand.
Miranda:Conal...! Conal...
The green withered vines began to turn to dust that slipped through her fingers. Miranda's hand began to shake as her crazed red eyes remained on "Conal's" body, her chest and throat were becoming heavy. Her cheeks began to be soaked and wet despite her mouth when she began to sob and wail, her throat was burning as her fists clenches on the withered vines. Her sobs were echoed around the forest as Danny remained silent, his back against the tree. Danny looked like a doll from how pale and silent he was from Miranda's cries. Danny finally blinked and just noticed Miranda sobbing over the vines in front of him.
Danny finally managed to move again even when he was slow to crawl closer to Miranda's side. His fingers were trembling when he reached for Miranda's cold hand hoping for some warmth, but only gotten his hand slapped away. The slap was loud enough to shake the leaves off the branches in the trees around them. Miranda's bulging dark blue eyes were piercing into Danny, her brows knitted in between as Danny had his emerald eyes widened without a blink. Heavy huffs left Miranda's nose as they began to flare in and out, Danny began to turn hot and sweat as he tried to form words but could only say her name.
Danny:M...Miranda...A-Are you ok-?
*he reached his hand out again but it stopped in midair when Miranda yelled*
Miranda:STOP! You...! How could you touch me...with the same hand that killed my only family...?!
Danny's upper lip trembled before he could close his lips together from Miranda's scorn as tears continued to cover her cheeks. Danny's eyes began to moist as he had his head slightly lowered down, his hands clenching refusing to look at "Conal's" deceased body of vines. After seeing Conal's skeleton, isn't it better to look at a pile of vines? He began to ask himself this question but would still refuse to turn to the body. Danny would still tremble to the sight of it from remembering the room covered in skeletons drowned in foul odor. Danny's head began to spin and could only reach again for Miranda's hand, his voice clogged in his throat.
Danny:Miranda...
Miranda watches Danny crawl towards her as he grabs her hand like a small child. Her skin turned pale with goosebumps, the tears began to dry from her narrowed eyes of disgust. Miranda pulled her hand away.
Miranda:Stop it! Asking for sympathy is disgusting coming from a murderer! You're dead to me! Always have been!
Danny was forced to listen to her outbursts that had stabbed his chest, causing his heart to stop beating. He could only breathe rapidly after Miranda finished, their colored anguished eyes meeting. This only made Miranda more disgusted and angry to wanting to rip her skin out. Miranda's chest was beating rapidly aswell from yelling at Danny, new tears began to form.
Miranda:I hate you...so much! Everytime I see you...I always see Wendall...You both took away the people that I cared about...! Why do you have to look like him...?
Miranda began to weep into her hands as Danny remained still and still shaken as he now stayed quiet. Miranda wipes her tears as her eyes began to burn when she looks back at Danny past her fingers. Her breath began to be shaky and had raised her hands out reaching towards Danny's neck, then in a blink, her hands were around his neck tightening. Her nails were digging inside the back of his neck as she was on top of him, his back was flat against the grass gasping. Danny grabs her wrists with his unbroken arm as he loudly gasp while looking up to Miranda's widened and red eyes, he squinted his eyes as the morning sun had rose over them and behind the back of Miranda's head. A tear had escaped his eyes as the grip around his neck tightened.
I'll kill him...I can kill him! He's not putting up a fight! With him gone...I'll have another burden to lose...he'll be gone forever. I'll avenge Conal and my mother...Someone who looks like him...shouldn't live. I hate him...I hated him as a brother...this will be good...
Miranda's eyes began to water again, her tears falling on her hands that were around Danny's neck. Her lips were trembling again and had lowered her head down and clenches her eyes, faint sobs were exiting her mouth. Danny had a soft grip around her wrists that had slipped off when the hands slowly released from his neck.
I can't kill him...I won't be able to kill my own brother...Why did we end up this way?
Miranda slowly gotten off Danny and flopped beside him, her knees were up against her chest as she dug her head into her hand to hide as more tears shed. Danny began to slowly sit back up as he painfully listens to Miranda's cries, he hesitantly reaches his hand out to her again but notices a dart in her left arm under her shoulder. Miranda had flopped to the side as light began to fade from her eyes, she last saw boots running towards her from the distance before her vision went black. A single tear escaped before Danny had stared dumbfounded and lowered his hand down, Davos ran towards him and knelt down to him then shook him.
Davos:Danny! Are you alright?
Danny didn't move much other than a short and barely noticeable nod. Davos was about to berate his response until The Thunderer and Sparrow approaches them. The kidnapped guards were tying Miranda hands and ankles up and began to carry her, The Thunder had his hands behind his back as he spoke in a stern tone towards Davos.
Thunderer:Enough Davos. We should get going to protect the civilians to go back to K'un L'un...the doctor will have a check on Daniel for any severe injuries
Sparrow:...Daniel? Can you hear us?
Sparrow asked as she stood beside the Thunderer. Davos had his hand on Danny's shoulder who was now in a dazed state. Danny shortly nods again but didn't look willing to stand up, so Davos grabs his arm and pulls him up.
The four began to walk after the rescured guards with Thunder walking in front of them, Sparrow was close behind him, and him and Davos were the slowest in the back. Danny could barely remember how they gotten home that felt like a second to him, despite the walk back home being an hour or two away. Everything sounded like static to Danny that he couldn't hear the sobs of joy of people reconnecting with their families and some eagerly waiting and approaching guards. Davos and Sparrow would look towards Danny hoping for a change of expression but Danny's expression still remained the same; his head low, with a dazed expression along with his dull emerald eyes. The little kid who had approached Danny for his sister had ran towards him and began to ask for her. A guard could only grab the kid's arm who began to scream and question towards Danny with his eyes already covered in tears. Danny didn't spare him a single small glance as id he didn't noticed the kid approached him in the first place.
~~~~~~~
Davos and Sparrow stood patiently in front Danny's old room as their dad and guards had left the city to investigate the H'ylthri's hideout along with Yu-Ti's curiosity. As it felt like hours, the doctor had finally stepped out with his medicines and kit in hand. Davos and Sparrow apporached him.
Davos:Is he okay?
"The Young Dragon has recieved bruising from his neck and face along with a stab wound in his stomach. He must have been brutally beaten from his cracked ribs and left arm. The back of his head also has bumps from possibly trauma to the head...it's a miracle that he hasn't suffered a concussion or severe head injuries"
Sparrow:Will he heal?
"As long as he takes his medicines daily and care for his arm then he'll heal in less than a month. I would suggest not to force him on fights until he has healed"
Davos:Good...he'll be fine then. Anything else?
"Well yes...although it is....Ahem, he has gotten somewhat of a burn on his chest"
Sparrow:Burn?
"Y-yes..."
Davos:Is it severe? Why didn't you say it earlier?!
"I-I don't think it's severe Young Master...I am unsure of how he managed to recieve it so therefore I didn't brought it up...He had gotten a burn the shape of a dragon on his chest, somewhat of a tattoo..."
Davos:Tattoo?
"Y-yes Young Master"
Davos:He doesn't have any tattoos does he?
*he asks as he turns his head towards Sparrow who looked equally as confused behind her stoic expression*
Sparrow:Not that I know of Davos...I find it unlikely that he'd gotten a tattoo from the outside world
Davos:...thank you for your help
Davos and Sparrow both clasped their hands together to the doctor, the doctor hurriedly did the same before he quickly walked away. Davos and Sparrow looks at each other then Davos pushes the door open and walked in with Sparrow behind him. Danny's room was the size of the first floor from Peter's house and had a small balcony outside. They found Danny on his bed cross legged, he still had the dazed look on his face while his chest, stomach, left arm, and neck were wrapped in white bandages, there were also bruises on his cheek that had ointment rubbed on them that it looked glossy under the light. Danny's blonde hair was clean from blood along with the clean stab wound in his stomach under the bandages.
Davos:Father had returned back to the forest with Yu-Ti to inspect the area, we would want you to stay for today before you go back to the city
Sparrow:Miranda is in the dungeon, Yu-Ti had decided to punish her by death from her involvement with the H'ylthri
Davos and Sparrow waited for a response from Danny but he stubbornly stayed quiet. Davos's eyebrow twitched then he rubs his eyes with his fingers as a sigh left his mouth.
Davos:Danny, are you mute?
Sparrow:Davos
Davos:Danny, do you think you can ignore us just because you had to kill a tree? You had to kill him or wait for him to kill us! We even had to-...
Davos then glued his lips together from thinking back to the countless amount of skeletons in the pods they were captured in. He just clicked his tongue and Sparrow spoke instead.
Sparrow:Daniel, please understand. As the Iron Fist, or a warrior, you'll have to get used to situations like these...I hope you'll quickly be accustomed to this
Danny's jaw clenched with a small gulp down his throat. Sparrow glances down at the bottles of medicines that were sitting in front of Danny on his bed. She bowed as she spoke.
Sparrow:We'll wait for your recovery Young Dragon
Sparrow and Davos walk towards the door to leave the room, Danny barely lifted his gaze to watch their backs leave the room and close the door behind them. Danny turns his head to look out the window that showed the blue sky with small white clouds. He places his right hand against the bandages wrapped around his chest just to feel the sting against his skin. Danny hisses when he removes the bandage from his skin to see the huge tattoo. It was a black shape of a dragon with the same dragon design as his costume, it had a red burned outline around it. Then, his finger pushes a strand of hair behind his ear.
~~~~~~~
The Thunderer enters the stone room with the glowing green jewel then stops after he sees Yu-Ti and his servants standing in front of the gem, he had his hands behind his back inside his green robe. Thunderer walks towards him and bowed.
Thunderer:Yu-Ti, I have news about Daniel. He is now checked by the doctor and is resting in his room
Yu-Ti:Anything else?
Thunderer:A quarter of our people have been killed before we freed ourselves
Yu-Ti:Unbelievable! Did the plants killed them?!
*he asked furiously when he turned his head at Thunderer, his hands formed a first beside his hips. Thunderer remained calm and slightly tilted his head down as he nervously explained*
Thunderer:Davos told me that it was Daniel who killed them...Daniel was beaten brutally and gave his last strength to free my children...they had to make Daniel take in the life sources of others for him to come back
Yu-Ti:Your undisciplined children had forced my nephew to kill the people he sworn to protect! How shall I explain this to the elders and to the people waiting for news of their family?!
Thunderer:Try to acknowledge that my children had saved his life and saved us from the H'ylthri
Yu-Ti could only scoff to his words and face forward again.
Yu-Ti:Do they know if Daniel might remove life sources again?
Thunderer:They don't. Daniel must not know what happened either since he has no memory of it
Yu-Ti:I see...
Lei Kung faces forward to a soldier to not disturb Yu-Ti's deep thought. Lei Kung told the soldier to gather the corpses and transfer them to the garden in K'un L'un so it wouldn't be noticed. Yu-Ti stares at the glowing gem that gave a white shine to reflect his reflection, he glances at Lei Kung then turn back forward and spoke.
Yu-Ti:Lei Kung. I'll be transferring this gem into my studies for research
Thunderer:Research? Won't it be dangerous?
Yu-Ti:Possibly...if it is, then we'll destroy it. There is alot that we don't know from Khan's sorcery...I'll like to take this gem to do a study on it
Lei Kung remains quiet and looks at Yu-Ti in the corner of his eye, he furrowed his brows and cleared his throat.
Thunderer:As you wish...
Yu-Ti:Good. I'll be leaving now for my meditation with the elders, I want the gem in my study chamber by tonight
Yu-Ti just swayed his hand as he turns his body around to walk to the exit of the room with his servants. His hands were in his robes as they were folded in front, Lei Kung had turned his head and spoke, his eyes facing Yu-Ti's back of his green robe.
Thunderer:What about Daniel? Should we tell him the truth about committing this crime?
Yu-Ti paused. He was silent as if trying to find an idea, he simply spoke casually.
Yu-Ti:Just convince him to stay in the city. He won't know about...his mistake. I'll teach him a lesson on it Thunderer, he'll get used to this soon
Yu-Ti walked out of the room with his servants silently walking behind him. Lei Kung just scoffs as he turns away from the exit of the room. His finger taps against his arm as they were still folded across his chest, he then spoke loudly to the soldiers around him to move the gem to Yu-Ti's room. They all bowed and clasped their hands with a "Yes Master!" Lei Kung walks out of the stone room with his hands behind his back, a group of soldiers were stacking a huge pile of rotten withered vines. A soldier from that group had rushed towards him a bowed as he spoke.
"Master, we have gathered all the deceased H'ylthris. We're waiting for your next command"
Thunderer:...burn them
Lei Kung's voice was chilling and dark that made the soldiers look at each other uneasy. The soldier with Lei Kung had nodded and stood back up, he then gave the soldiers glances and they instantly lit up a match and tossed them in the piles of vines. The fire slowly crawled up to the top pile while black smoke rose up farther than the trees. The flames wavered and reflected Lei Kung's face to show the radiating brightness unlike the soldiers quickly getting away from the fire as they coughed by the smoke getting in their throats.
A golden apple in the untouched garden had reflected across Danny's green emerald glistening eyes. He was sitting on a bench as small snowflakes flew past his cloaked body. Danny was wearing white sack garments with a white wrapped belted around his waist with a white headband wrapped around his head under his blonde bangs and tied behind his head, it was a ribbon between his hair as he had a white hood. His lips were white along with his pale skin as the cold air flew past him making the white hood to sway with his hair. Danny slowly stood up and the white hood had draped down to his feet while approaching to the tree with the golden apples. The wind continued to move past him like an flowing angel from afar. He stared at the golden apple and slowly reaches his hand out to it. Perhaps...he could stay and eat the apple to become immortal to have a new life as king and soon forget all this. His finger twitched before he can touch the apple and his arm fell down back to his waist. A single drop of water had slipped down to his chin and landed onto the ground covered in snow.