We were back... Home sweet home... Sorta. For Sam and Pepper anyway. I haven't got a proper home. Unless you count sleeping in a friend's or someone's house fro a day or two or weeks. But still. That isn't a real home I haven't gotten one.

"We'd better heal up guys!!!" Pepper said enthusiastically.

I plopped Sam on the couch. He had a little silly smile and was snoring despite his scratches. I let go of his jacket... Sad... I gave it a bit of a hard time with some accidental bloodstains because of my cut.

I propped Sam's head on a pillow. I smiled at the fact that he slept like a baby. But it was kinda cute watching him.

Pepper sat down on a footstool and was concentrating her own power on my hand. The soothing relief washed all over me. It was great to be able to relax again.

I hesitated. Should I stay any longer? The longer I stay, the more I let my friends get even more hurt.

So? Hurt em' even more! I great big sock in the gut oughta get through their senses.

Shut up!!! Do you even think that I would like killing them?! I'd instantly regret at least a smack in the face. Not to mention Sam is very fragile.

"Feeling better?" Pepper asked me. Bandaging the rest of it. It couldn't be healed completely seeing as Pepper was very injured and hobbled a little when she walked.

Sam, we weren't sure. But he was very much alive.

Just shut your trap and slap im' one to wake im' up. It's just simple genius.

Well... I am smart... Smart enough not to hit him.

"Sam is OK right?" I asked Pepper awkwardly and started ruffling his cute little spikes of messy but insanely cute hair.

Oh boo. Hoo. Hoo! Let him die already!!!

Sometimes, I just don't understand myself. We're just jokers and suddenly... We're in a relationship. Destiny is a weird thing isn't it?

"He's fine, just a lazy little guy as always." She said.

"A lazybones."

I got a block of cheese from Pepper's fridge and cut a slice. I tossed it back in the fridge and waved the cheese in front of his nose. I dunno. A... What was the word?... Rejuvante? Yeah.

Sam flinched and I immediately knew... He was just a lazy-daisy-ding-dong-dingle who was dozing off as ever. I smiled. I could give him a tease but he would always be my Sam.

"That's Sam brother you got here." I said.

"Feel free to praise me." Sam said grinning mischievously.

"Old Sammy." I handed him the cheese slice and he disappeared with it in the kitchen. Then, he came back with a sandwich.

"Hey! Spare a bite for your sister!" Pepper said.

"Naw. I'm the one who almost died.

Then, he looked disturbed.

"Aw... My jackie got bloody." He said teasingly in a baby-ish voice.

"Sorry. I carried you here." And I showed him my hand. The whole thing was bandaged. Gross bandage indeed.

"You'd do that for me?" He asked babyishly. "How sweet."

"I'll blast you again if you're just gonna tease me." I said holding my amulet and twirling it around my finger.

"Ok. Ok. I'd do a million things for you. Annoying Pepper for eternity is one of them." He pointed at Pepper with his thumb.

"Hey!" Pepper said.

I left the room quietly while they were arguing. It was great to see them. And to leave would pain me way too much. So I have to leave now. Or I'll regret it and there will be no way to save anyone

"Guys... I'm sorry I have to go. Don't try to stop me or come. I burden you way to much guys." I opened the door and stared at the huge snow mounds forming.

"But there's a snowstorm outside... The worst one we've had in ages. Every 100 years the snow and clouds build up rapidly and massively." Pepper said. "And it's released now. You can't leave or you'll get snowed."

"And die. I know you wanna leave so... Just let us help.you for now." Sam said.

I sighed... I shifted in place. If that storm is the only thing that will keep me from leaving then that's the only reason why I'll continue to stay.

I shrugged it off. I dumped my bag on the floor. Great. I'll feel more regret than ever saying goodbye this time.

"You in a bad mood Heat?" Sam asked placing his arm around me.

"Yeah... It hurts to say goodbye." I said softly.

My bangs rustled and covered some of my face. I really hate leaving some places especially if they were really great places with amazing people. And it all brought me back to one person.

Mom.

Tamsin.

I pretended not to care but the pain hurts. Physically and emotionally.

He brushed the bangs from my face again like before.

"I'm sorry Sam. Just... Please don't worry about me right now." I kissed his cheek and walked into Pepper's bedroom and shut the door.

I turned off the lights in the room, shut all the windows, and then lay down on her bed. I could hear their voices outside talking about me. They were muffled but understandable enough.

"Look, let her stay in my room for a while. She seems depressed. It's going to be hard for her to leave."

"But... Yeah... She seems like she just wants this adventure done with. The pain might be too much for her."

"You love her too much and she does too. That's one of the reason's why she could get a heartache."

I hid my head under a pillow and muttered a little. Sometimes, having a small, short scream in depression makes me feel better. I preferred being alone when I was so depressed.

I clenched my fist. I didn't want to cry for a
while. I've done so much crying since I've been here.

It's just sometimes better to be alone.

***

I opened the windows, turned on the light switch (the light which practically blinded me.), and unlocked the door. By now the storm died down.

I grabbed my pack and opened the door. The snow was thick. But the storm caused walking through to be hard.

I gulped. I hope they don't see me...

"I'll teleport you to Flame's Core."

I flinched. Then I turned around cautiously Pepper and Sam were looking at me with small smiles.

"I know you wanna go. Don't forget me OK?" Sam held my hand.

"Yeah... Me too. We'll get you through Flame's Core." She hugged me but looked really sad. "This really is goodbye?"

"It's been great knowing, seeing, and being a jokester with you guys. But it's my destiny to remember my past." I said.

"Why remember the past when we could all spend the future together." Pepper asked.

"Because... I don't know who I really am. This is who I am now because I have a faded memory of who I really am." I said.

"What matters is now. You are Heather. A jokester, a friend..." Pepper started.

"More than a friend, an ally, a sometimes tomboy." Sam said. "You're good as you are now."

"You don't understand. You don't understand anything that's wrong with me at all." I said.

"We do. You're already perfect as is." Sam said taking hold of my hand. "But I'll still teleport you past Flame's Core."

I must have had an expression that made him say

"If you like it or not. I'll be there, and I'd do everything for you. Even a sacrifice." And his own expression was Stern but his eyes were filled and brimming with mixed emotion.

"Thanks..." I knew they didn't and probably wouldn't understand. I need to know who these people are in my flashbacks. A past family? A reincarnation? Does that even exist.

Most probably not!

Yeah, yeah suck a pineapple. They don't care about you. And you don't care about them so just kill them already!!!

They care... But they don't understand.

"Go. I'll wait here. Stay safe alone." Pepper said.

"I'll be gentle with her." Sam said. He led me through the snow and and a few meters then looked back and snapped his fingers.

I closed my eyes and felt the teleportation begin.
We were in front of a metal door.

"Stay safe Heat. I'm really gonna miss you." He hugged me. The warmth of that blue jacket and the smell of Sam reminded me that I would never be alone. I was truly at home.

"So... You do understand?..." I asked him in he tightest of hugs.

"To be honest... No... But If you need me... I'm only one call away." (OK... I know I wrote that. I'll be honest I couldn't think of anything else to write in that part.)

I took my phone out from my bag.

"I hate to admit but I never even asked and got your number." I said.

He grinned and took a few quick flicks with the buttons. And he got my number on his phone.

"Gah!" He suddenly exclaimed.

"What's wrong?!" I asked.

"Stand still. I'll put the phone flashlight on and scare it away. Try not to look scared either."

I gave a small smile so I wouldn't look scared. I did feel something... On my ear...

He flashed the flashlight and I felt it left. I took a deep breath.

"It's gone." Be said trying not to smile for some reason.

"What was it? On my ear?..." I asked him.

"A... Flierfly." He said slowly.

"Ok. I'll miss you." I told him.

I walked forward. One step. I looked back, he wasn't there anymore. I truly was alone.

I held the cold metallic door handle and opened it. Darkness was everywhere... It surrounded every pure inch of the room.

I dare walked in and the door closed behind me. One more step forward... Lights.

A bright white flashed and practically blinded me on the spot... a spotlight?! I blinked and squinted at the other figure far in front of me.

"Greetings! You remember me don't you?" The voice blared. The grinding metal and gears clanking made the answer quiete clear...

"You!!! Cyborg lady!" I shouted.

She smirked. The expression made me feel as if she was ready to watch me die on the spot.

"It's Cyber darling... And look who's come to visit." She pointed at the mist.

The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the room. A figure approached us... Pepper?!

"Pep... What are you doing here?..." I asked. I was in complete shock... We couldn't fight... Not like this.

"Your bag." Cyber said pointing at the floor.

I grabbed my sword in case. "Pep I..."

"I'm sorry too... Heat..." She said.

Her fan appeared in her hand and she had already sent an army of her red light bolts charging at me.

My sword and amulet glowed which was a sign that my defense system was on.

I sprinted to a dark corner of the room as the adrenaline built up slowly and finally found the wall. I climbed up before the red bolts could catch up to me. I stuck my sword on the top of the wall and... I swung it back down.

An avalanche shook the room. Pepper fell down. She wasn't taking the fight seriously... What was going on?...

"Why do you try fight me Pepper? What reason?" I asked her landing on the ground walking up to her. I could feel the adrenaline slowly through my veins I was beginning to hang on the edge of fear and weaken and well...

"NONE OF YOUR BUISNESS!!!" She screeched and sent one bolt in one familiar spot...

"The leg huh?... Just like where Flaubert got me right?... Except you're not here to heal me afterwards... You just want to finish me off...

"I'm sorry..." Her eyes seemed to tell but she just kept attacking.

I sprinted to my bag even with the pain groaning on me. I grabbed that old medicine kit from Marco and bandaged my leg as fast and as carefully as I could.

A bolt landed beside me almost as if it was aimed at me. I would have been dead. But the aim was off...

I sent a flurry of my own glowing rainbow bolts but Pepper dodged them all.

It was sad. The best friend and happiest girl I had met in Hearth... Is saddened by my own demise.

"Cyber... Why is she really fighting what's in it for her?" I shouted dodging some more bolts.

I raised my sword high and brought it back down with a bang. The rainbow blast sent Pepper flying towards a wall...

Oh no...

"Pepper I-"

"Please... Finish me off... I cannot bear to die trying to kill you."

"No. You are SO not dying."

She limped sitting up a little then her head landed on the

"She promised me that if I could bring you to Hearthian jail, then I would be her fashion partner." She smiled weakly. "But I guess this is the end. Remember my request at Lacer's?"

"No." I ran to bag and came back.

I held out some healing herbs. "You are not dying. I won't let you."

"That blast is what weakened me. Watch your powers OK?... When you finish me off, take my scarf and bring it with you to the end of your journey. When you're there... Bring everyone with you... And give it to Sam." She said.

"You are not dying please!!!" I placed herbs on all visible scratches and bleeds where she skidded.

"I won't be a traitor no more. Kill me now or I'll do it myself." She said.

"One last chance." I placed the last herbal leaf on her forehead. "I won't let you and I won't try to take your life. You've done so much now I'd like to do something."

"Ok then... Tell that to Cyber." She said pointing at her. "I won't kill myself then. But you be careful."

"You don't forget I will."

I charged up to her with a blast of my own and it knocked Cyber out of her own spotlight.

"Geez. This is television dearie, stop fighting the star!!!" She said.

I sprinted and I felt the adrenaline grow and stabilize. The pain would split me apart and then put me back together. Obviously mixed feelings.

"Cyber just stop! Just please stop and end this madness!!!"

"You want it to end?! I'll end you!!!" Her right arm became a large Canon and she took of that weird cape she always wears. Her mostly metallic body shone in the spotlight.

She sent a large blue blast of her own from her arm at me.

I reflected it with my own blast from my sword.

I needed to end this. Quick and easy.

"Sorry Cyber. Lacer will fix you..."

"What the actual fresh heck are you talking about?!"

I jumped behind her but she sent a blast at me and it hit my leg knocking me to the ground.

"It's obvious that I know you're weak point. Dearie... Give up already!" She said.

"I know yours too." I sprinted forward and she looked shocked to see me up on my feet again.

I swung my sword at her and she turned the other way around. I whacked her back with my sword and a plate came clean off.

"You weren't built properly." I said. I pulled the off switch indicated and Cyber collapsed onto the floor.

I sighed. Thank God this was over...

I slowly walked back to Pepper who was sleeping on the cold floor. The spotlight was the only light in the area I had. The camera was hiding somewhere...

I picked up my phone from my bag silently and slowly. I gazed at it for a moment and dialed Sam.

"Sam I-"

"I know. I know everything." He said.

"What?-" the camera... Must have been live... Many people know.

"She's dead isn't she?"

"No. She's alive but just care for her." I told him.

"You bet I will. Better than you ever could."

"Sam what's going on?-"

"See ya."

I felt like I was torn apart. I placed my phone back in my bag and cried silently. He probably broke up with me... "Things can't get worse can they?..."

You bet they will...

~~~

I am finally done writing dis shiz!!! I already have the art book out and my senpai has read!!😍! I can't get over dis shiz!!! See ya Nara!!!

-Neon😎😀😁😂☺😊😃😄😅😆😉🙌🙋 so happy