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ladybug_archiveBased on the most recent RP. Crystal will be doing the full-length fic, as it's largely her idea, but I wanted to write out my version of the climax. X3 This is rather LOTR-esque, clearly establishing Scott and Elliott in Frodo and Sam's roles. ♥ Fictional Rockapella only!
"Scott! Throw it in!"
They were standing at the top of the volcano, peering into the crater. The lava bubbled below, the bright, fiery colors casting ominous lights and shadows on the inside of the mountain. The hot air ascended, burning the two men's faces as they stared into the deathtrap. Their hair was wildly blowing around their faces, partially obscuring their views of each other.
Scott trembled, clutching the wretched jewel in his hand. They had come so far from home, struggling to be rid of this curse. . . . The curse that he had brought down upon them when he had unleashed that witch and become bound to the stone as the only one who could carry it. He had not known she was so evil; he had honestly believed she was an innocent woman trapped in a horrible situation, as she had told him. And he had broken the seals binding her inside her prison.
Now she was making good on her promise to bring about the Age of Shadows. The sky had long ago turned dark over most of the world, flashing with red lightning every few moments as if to signal the arrival of an otherworldly storm.
People were being turned to stone left and right. He shut his eyes tightly, trembling at the memories. Greg! Greg had run at the wicked woman, trying to arrest her, and she had responded by casting that spell, sending stone snaking over his body until he had been entirely encased. . . . Scott had run to him, screaming in horror and pleading for him to say something. . . . But Greg was dead, frozen in time. . . .
Barry was dead too, at the bottom of the mountain. Their airplane had crashed in the wasteland of this abandoned country, the pilot frozen in stone, and they had been forced to trek through endless miles of nothing, fighting off the woman's minions all along the way. But they had managed to stay together until they had arrived here. Then the jewel had flashed---a horrible, treacherous light Scott never wanted to see again. It had faded, leaving Barry in the same plight as Greg.
"Keep going!" he had managed to say before the stone covered him completely.
There had not even been time to mourn over him. They had been forced to keep going, as he had told them to do.
But Sean had kept a secret from them. He had been stabbed during the last battle with the witch's skeleton army, which they were aware of, but they had not known how ill he felt. The wound had been enchanted, or cursed, or whatever you wanted to call it. He had stumbled, growing more weakened by the moment. And when Scott and Elliott had rushed to his aid, they had discovered a nightmarish truth.
"The wound! There's stone spreading from it!" Elliott had cried in sheer horror and alarm.
Scott had gone sheet white. "No!" he had screamed, grabbing onto Sean in desperation. "No! We can't lose you too! We can't!"
Sean had shuddered, gritting his teeth against the agony. "You have to go on without me," he had said, looking from Scott to Elliott. "It looks like I'm going to be a statue in a few minutes." He had reached out a shaking hand, laying it on Scott's shoulder. The stone had quickly spread over his arm, covering his hand as well.
Scott had stiffened as the warm hand grew suddenly cold. "Sean . . . !" he had choked out, trying to hug his friend one last time. There had been no chance to say goodbye to Barry before he had been gone.
Elliott had reached out too, his eyes wide and filled with anguish. Sean had smiled at them both, but it had been forced.
"Just promise me . . . you won't trust her," he had rasped, looking to Scott. "Please promise me . . ." But the stone had trapped him then. Scott had not been able to make the promise. He had sobbed, hugging the stone form before an equally heartbroken Elliott had gently pulled him away to resume the trek.
They could only pray that destroying the jewel would restore everyone.
But the woman's voice was always with him, telling him that he should not do this, that he would be condemning his friends to their doom. Only she could save them, and she only would if he stopped resisting her. And Scott was growing panicked and filled with doubt. What if she was right? What if he could only rescue them by swearing allegiance to her? Yet . . . how could he do that? How could he become a dark lord to her dark lady? His friends would never want that.
Still . . . they would be alive. . . . If she would really do as she said. . . . Sean had warned Scott that she was just lying, that she would turn Scott to stone too, in the end. And common sense said that was true. But there was still the nagging doubt, born either from his own insecurities or the witch's manipulation. He was not sure which.
He trembled, staring at the stone in his hand. It was innocent-looking, the fire casting sparkles across its purple body. How could something so small be causing so much pain and suffering?
And what if by destroying it, he was really killing his friends for certain?
"Scott!"
Elliott's voice dragged him back to the present. The older man was staring at him, alarmed and worried. "What are you waiting for? Throw it in!" he exclaimed.
Scott stared into the pit. Was it his imagination or had the lava level risen? Maybe the thing was about to erupt. They should not be here! But . . . if it flowed over . . . and Sean and Barry were still here. . . .
He held out his hand, shaking as he extended it over the edge. His fingers would not uncurl. They clutched the gem as if life itself depended on its existence.
And what if it did? How could he take such a gamble with his loved ones' lives?
He cried out, stepping back. "I . . . I can't," he rasped. "I . . . I just can't."
Elliott stared at him, his eyes wide. Many emotions coursed through them in a matter of seconds---horror, confusion, bewilderment, terror . . . heartbreak.
"We came all this way!" he cried. "Sean and Barry and so many countless others have been sacrificed because of this woman's evil! She'll never turn them back! The only way to save them is to throw the amethyst in there and destroy it!"
Scott trembled. Elliott was right, of course he was right . . . but the doubt would not go away. The feeling that he had to hold onto the gem---he had to see if the woman would keep her word!---was growing stronger. It was difficult to even think of anything else.
"Yes," she whispered, materializing in front of them. "Come to me. Walk away from the pit. Your friends will be spared. All you have to do is be my king."
Scott stared at her. That was all. . . . No, it was not all! He would have to give up everything---his identity, his integrity, and probably his life. . . .
"Promise you won't trust her!"
Sean's words echoed through the chambers of his mind. But the woman's words, spoken in her deep, hypnotic voice, were drowning out his friend.
"Come to me," she said again. "Yes, come and save them. Embrace the new order, the Age of Shadows."
Scott took a step forward.
And Elliott screamed, running towards his friend. With that one action, Elliott's world was being brought down and shattered into thousands of pieces. He had lost Greg and Barry and Sean. Now he was going to lose Scott, to a fate worse than death!
"No!" he wailed. "No, Scott, you can't! If you go to her, we---and the whole world---are doomed!" Hot, unshed tears glistened in his eyes. "I can't follow you if you go down that path." He would never stop fighting to bring back the Scott he knew and loved, but he could not do what this woman would want of him. And Scott could not, either. She would order him to do treacherous, evil deeds . . . maybe even to torture and kill people. And when he would refuse, she would be rid of him.
Elliott shook his head, trembling as he stared at Scott. "Please . . . don't go where I can't follow," he whispered.
Scott froze, his heart tearing in two. "El . . ." he whispered back. He could not do this. He could not turn against his dearest friends! He had to throw this thing away. That would save them, wouldn't it?
Wouldn't it?!
But the sorceress had lost patience. She had almost convinced Scott to come with her, until this meddler had interfered. Her eyes flashed in fury.
"You!" she cried. "You will not poison his mind any further!"
A burst of dark energy glowed in her hands. Before Scott could do anything, she was sending it point-blank at Elliott.
There was no chance for Elliott to run. He gasped, throwing up his arms to try to shield himself. It did not help him. As the burst of magic faded, Elliott was standing exactly as he had been a moment before. He would never move now. His dead eyes were frozen in panic.
A blood-chilling scream tore from Scott's lips. "Elliott! Elliott!" He stared at the stone figure, emotions crashing through his heart and soul. Elliott, who had always been there for him . . . the Sam to his Frodo, endlessly loyal and kind, never abandoning him on their desperate quest, never blaming Scott for setting this witch loose even though Scott was berating himself for it every moment. . . . Always with a comforting smile, whether or not he really felt like smiling. . . .
He would never smile again. He was captured for all eternity just like this, vulnerable and terrified.
Something inside Scott broke. He whirled, regarding the woman with sheer contempt and hatred.
"You killed him!" he screamed. "You killed Elliott!"
Her lip curled. "He was a bad influence," she said. "Come now, my little prince, and become a king! Rule over this new world with me!"
But Scott's eyes flashed. He ran back to the edge of the volcano, the stone gripped tightly in his hands. "I'd rather be dead!" he yelled. "If I'd done this at first, Elliott wouldn't already be dead!"
And the witch panicked. "No!" she screamed, rushing to grab the jewel away from her pawn.
Scott glowered, letting go of it without any trouble. It fell, splashing into the lava as ripples went out from the center of the impact. The volcano rumbled, sending Scott falling backwards to crash into Elliott's statuesque form.
The woman's scream echoed all around them as her influence over the world shattered. She vanished, leaving only a fallen piece of jewelry that disintegrated upon hitting the ground.
The sky roared, the red lightning fading as the storm began to lift. A peaceful blue hue was just beyond the deep clouds, ready to take their place.
The stone crumbled, releasing the people who had been bound around the world.
Back in New York, Greg snapped to in his office, staring around in amazement. He was still holding the handcuffs. Blinking, he set them down on his desk.
"That was . . . weird," he muttered to the room.
Inside the airplane, the pilot started as he straightened up, looking for the agents. He started the engine, lifting off as he flew towards the volcano in the distance. It was going to blow. He had to get to them first!
At the base of the mountain, Barry drew a deep breath. He was alive. . . . They had done it. Scott had done it. A smile crossed his features.
Farther up, Sean toppled over with a yelp. He lay on the ground, staring up at the lightening sky as his vision was restored. He laughed in relief and joy.
"I knew we could count on you, Scott," he grinned. "You and El. . . ."
Scott, still against the cold body, stiffened as the stone began to shatter. El? Was El going to be alright? And . . . would he . . . could he ever forgive Scott for wavering?
But as Elliott was released, his eyelids fluttered shut. He toppled forward into Scott's lap, not moving.
Scott froze. Why . . . why wasn't Elliott getting up? Had he been too late? Or . . . was everyone dead under the stone, never to revive?
Had he made the wrong decision?
"El?" he choked out. "El, I . . . I did it. . . ." His voice quavered. "I broke the spell. But . . . you . . . you were supposed to be alright! Everyone was supposed to be alright!" He shook as he gathered the limp body into his arms, turning Elliott to face him. The other man was deathly pale and still. It was obvious that he had passed on.
The dark energy. . . . No one else had been turned to stone with that. . . . Had there been something extra in it that had . . . killed Elliott for real? That was it. That had to be it. The witch had murdered him!
"No!" Scott sobbed, holding Elliott's body closer. "It's my fault. . . . If I hadn't hesitated . . . if I'd thrown it in right away. . . ."
The world had been saved, but not for Elliott.
Scott trembled, unable to quell the grief-stricken tears. "El . . . your pleading is what brought me back to my senses," he whispered. "But now you're the one who's gone on. Please . . . if you can forgive me . . . or even if you can't . . . don't go where I can't follow! . . ."
Behind them, the volcano rumbled again. Scott glanced over his shoulder at it. Somehow, he had to get down. . . . He had to get El down . . . and see what had become of the others. . . . Even though he did not want to move at all. He wanted to keep kneeling right here, losing himself in his sorrow.
But Elliott would never want that. Neither would the others. They would be so grief-stricken about Elliott, without losing Scott too.
Drawing a deep, shuddering breath, Scott got to his feet. He stumbled, keeping hold of the lifeless body as the tears continued to fall.
And Elliott groaned, his eyes flickering as the teardrops splashed against them.
Scott stiffened, his heart hammering in his chest. "Elliott?!" he cried, his voice strangled. Was it possible? Elliott had come back?
"I'm not dead," Elliott whispered, his eyes opening halfway. "I wasn't dead." He gave a shaky smile. "And of course I forgive you, Scott. My best friend. . . ." He reached out, hugging Scott as best as he could with one arm.
And overwhelming joy swept over the tortured young man. He could not even speak. "El," he whispered, holding him close as he stumbled on down the mountain. El, you're alive!
"Hey!"
Scott looked up, seeing a tall man waving nearby. His joy---and his smile---widened.
Sean, you're alive!
He staggered the rest of the way over. Sean hugged both him and Elliott, being careful of his wounded shoulder.
"Let's get off this thing," he said. "The airplane's circling overhead and the volcano's ready to burst open. Are you as ready to find Barry and go home as I am?!"
"Oh yeah," Elliott said, returning the embrace.
And then their other friend was finding them, hurrying to where they were reuniting. Scott's joy was nearly ready to burst.
Barry, you're alive!
And he finally found his voice as they turned to travel the rest of the way. "Guys . . ." He swallowed. "I . . . I'm so sorry. . . . I caused this. . . ."
"She was manipulating you!" Sean returned.
Elliott nodded. "You were only trying to be kind, and she used that." Anger crept into his voice. "I can't forgive that."
Barry nodded too. "She's the one at fault," he said. "Not you."
Quickly he herded them to where the airplane was waiting. The volcano was beginning to spew lava now. It was running down the hills and crevices, quickly gaining on their location. He all but shoved them up the ramp and inside, following suit as the door slammed shut.
The pilot was forced to take off before they had the chance to get settled. They sprawled on the floor, being jostled as the airplane rose into the sky. But then it straightened its course. Far below them, the volcano continued its eruption. The ancient land was being covered in lava.
Scott shakily sat up, looking around at the others. They looked back, the full force of what had happened sinking into their hearts. They were alive! They had survived and the world was going back to normal. Greg was surely safe, too. Yes, there was Elliott's laptop, displaying a flashing communication from Greg asking if they were okay.
Scott laughed out of pure joy, pulling Elliott, Sean, and Barry all into an embrace.
"Thank you, my brothers," he said quietly. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, but you've given it anyway. And I'll do my best to make it not have been in vain."
"Of course you deserve it!" Sean exclaimed.
Barry nodded. "And if you needed to make up for anything, you've done it," he said.
Elliott hugged Scott close. "Everything's been set right now," he agreed.
Scott shut his eyes tightly. "But . . ." He shook his head. "You . . . all of you were encased in stone. And El . . . whatever she did to you, it was supposed to kill you even if the spell was broken!"
"It didn't," Elliott said firmly. "I held on." He looked at Scott. "And your voice . . . I heard your voice and it brought me back."
Scott opened his eyes, giving Elliott a weak smile.
Sean frowned. "She did something else to Elliott?!" he exclaimed.
Scott nodded. "Because I hesitated," he choked out. "I didn't know how to promise I wouldn't trust her. It . . . it was so hard not to listen . . . and worry that she was telling the truth. . . . And because of that, El was almost killed trying to save me!" He looked at Sean and Barry. "It's El who deserves all the credit. He got me to come to my senses."
Sean was silent, laying his hands on Scott's and Elliott's shoulders. "But you didn't have to listen to him," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, you're both heroes."
Barry nodded in agreement. "You both are," he said.
Scott was not sure he could ever believe that about himself. But he finally just smiled, holding onto his Sam.
"Scott! Throw it in!"
They were standing at the top of the volcano, peering into the crater. The lava bubbled below, the bright, fiery colors casting ominous lights and shadows on the inside of the mountain. The hot air ascended, burning the two men's faces as they stared into the deathtrap. Their hair was wildly blowing around their faces, partially obscuring their views of each other.
Scott trembled, clutching the wretched jewel in his hand. They had come so far from home, struggling to be rid of this curse. . . . The curse that he had brought down upon them when he had unleashed that witch and become bound to the stone as the only one who could carry it. He had not known she was so evil; he had honestly believed she was an innocent woman trapped in a horrible situation, as she had told him. And he had broken the seals binding her inside her prison.
Now she was making good on her promise to bring about the Age of Shadows. The sky had long ago turned dark over most of the world, flashing with red lightning every few moments as if to signal the arrival of an otherworldly storm.
People were being turned to stone left and right. He shut his eyes tightly, trembling at the memories. Greg! Greg had run at the wicked woman, trying to arrest her, and she had responded by casting that spell, sending stone snaking over his body until he had been entirely encased. . . . Scott had run to him, screaming in horror and pleading for him to say something. . . . But Greg was dead, frozen in time. . . .
Barry was dead too, at the bottom of the mountain. Their airplane had crashed in the wasteland of this abandoned country, the pilot frozen in stone, and they had been forced to trek through endless miles of nothing, fighting off the woman's minions all along the way. But they had managed to stay together until they had arrived here. Then the jewel had flashed---a horrible, treacherous light Scott never wanted to see again. It had faded, leaving Barry in the same plight as Greg.
"Keep going!" he had managed to say before the stone covered him completely.
There had not even been time to mourn over him. They had been forced to keep going, as he had told them to do.
But Sean had kept a secret from them. He had been stabbed during the last battle with the witch's skeleton army, which they were aware of, but they had not known how ill he felt. The wound had been enchanted, or cursed, or whatever you wanted to call it. He had stumbled, growing more weakened by the moment. And when Scott and Elliott had rushed to his aid, they had discovered a nightmarish truth.
"The wound! There's stone spreading from it!" Elliott had cried in sheer horror and alarm.
Scott had gone sheet white. "No!" he had screamed, grabbing onto Sean in desperation. "No! We can't lose you too! We can't!"
Sean had shuddered, gritting his teeth against the agony. "You have to go on without me," he had said, looking from Scott to Elliott. "It looks like I'm going to be a statue in a few minutes." He had reached out a shaking hand, laying it on Scott's shoulder. The stone had quickly spread over his arm, covering his hand as well.
Scott had stiffened as the warm hand grew suddenly cold. "Sean . . . !" he had choked out, trying to hug his friend one last time. There had been no chance to say goodbye to Barry before he had been gone.
Elliott had reached out too, his eyes wide and filled with anguish. Sean had smiled at them both, but it had been forced.
"Just promise me . . . you won't trust her," he had rasped, looking to Scott. "Please promise me . . ." But the stone had trapped him then. Scott had not been able to make the promise. He had sobbed, hugging the stone form before an equally heartbroken Elliott had gently pulled him away to resume the trek.
They could only pray that destroying the jewel would restore everyone.
But the woman's voice was always with him, telling him that he should not do this, that he would be condemning his friends to their doom. Only she could save them, and she only would if he stopped resisting her. And Scott was growing panicked and filled with doubt. What if she was right? What if he could only rescue them by swearing allegiance to her? Yet . . . how could he do that? How could he become a dark lord to her dark lady? His friends would never want that.
Still . . . they would be alive. . . . If she would really do as she said. . . . Sean had warned Scott that she was just lying, that she would turn Scott to stone too, in the end. And common sense said that was true. But there was still the nagging doubt, born either from his own insecurities or the witch's manipulation. He was not sure which.
He trembled, staring at the stone in his hand. It was innocent-looking, the fire casting sparkles across its purple body. How could something so small be causing so much pain and suffering?
And what if by destroying it, he was really killing his friends for certain?
"Scott!"
Elliott's voice dragged him back to the present. The older man was staring at him, alarmed and worried. "What are you waiting for? Throw it in!" he exclaimed.
Scott stared into the pit. Was it his imagination or had the lava level risen? Maybe the thing was about to erupt. They should not be here! But . . . if it flowed over . . . and Sean and Barry were still here. . . .
He held out his hand, shaking as he extended it over the edge. His fingers would not uncurl. They clutched the gem as if life itself depended on its existence.
And what if it did? How could he take such a gamble with his loved ones' lives?
He cried out, stepping back. "I . . . I can't," he rasped. "I . . . I just can't."
Elliott stared at him, his eyes wide. Many emotions coursed through them in a matter of seconds---horror, confusion, bewilderment, terror . . . heartbreak.
"We came all this way!" he cried. "Sean and Barry and so many countless others have been sacrificed because of this woman's evil! She'll never turn them back! The only way to save them is to throw the amethyst in there and destroy it!"
Scott trembled. Elliott was right, of course he was right . . . but the doubt would not go away. The feeling that he had to hold onto the gem---he had to see if the woman would keep her word!---was growing stronger. It was difficult to even think of anything else.
"Yes," she whispered, materializing in front of them. "Come to me. Walk away from the pit. Your friends will be spared. All you have to do is be my king."
Scott stared at her. That was all. . . . No, it was not all! He would have to give up everything---his identity, his integrity, and probably his life. . . .
"Promise you won't trust her!"
Sean's words echoed through the chambers of his mind. But the woman's words, spoken in her deep, hypnotic voice, were drowning out his friend.
"Come to me," she said again. "Yes, come and save them. Embrace the new order, the Age of Shadows."
Scott took a step forward.
And Elliott screamed, running towards his friend. With that one action, Elliott's world was being brought down and shattered into thousands of pieces. He had lost Greg and Barry and Sean. Now he was going to lose Scott, to a fate worse than death!
"No!" he wailed. "No, Scott, you can't! If you go to her, we---and the whole world---are doomed!" Hot, unshed tears glistened in his eyes. "I can't follow you if you go down that path." He would never stop fighting to bring back the Scott he knew and loved, but he could not do what this woman would want of him. And Scott could not, either. She would order him to do treacherous, evil deeds . . . maybe even to torture and kill people. And when he would refuse, she would be rid of him.
Elliott shook his head, trembling as he stared at Scott. "Please . . . don't go where I can't follow," he whispered.
Scott froze, his heart tearing in two. "El . . ." he whispered back. He could not do this. He could not turn against his dearest friends! He had to throw this thing away. That would save them, wouldn't it?
Wouldn't it?!
But the sorceress had lost patience. She had almost convinced Scott to come with her, until this meddler had interfered. Her eyes flashed in fury.
"You!" she cried. "You will not poison his mind any further!"
A burst of dark energy glowed in her hands. Before Scott could do anything, she was sending it point-blank at Elliott.
There was no chance for Elliott to run. He gasped, throwing up his arms to try to shield himself. It did not help him. As the burst of magic faded, Elliott was standing exactly as he had been a moment before. He would never move now. His dead eyes were frozen in panic.
A blood-chilling scream tore from Scott's lips. "Elliott! Elliott!" He stared at the stone figure, emotions crashing through his heart and soul. Elliott, who had always been there for him . . . the Sam to his Frodo, endlessly loyal and kind, never abandoning him on their desperate quest, never blaming Scott for setting this witch loose even though Scott was berating himself for it every moment. . . . Always with a comforting smile, whether or not he really felt like smiling. . . .
He would never smile again. He was captured for all eternity just like this, vulnerable and terrified.
Something inside Scott broke. He whirled, regarding the woman with sheer contempt and hatred.
"You killed him!" he screamed. "You killed Elliott!"
Her lip curled. "He was a bad influence," she said. "Come now, my little prince, and become a king! Rule over this new world with me!"
But Scott's eyes flashed. He ran back to the edge of the volcano, the stone gripped tightly in his hands. "I'd rather be dead!" he yelled. "If I'd done this at first, Elliott wouldn't already be dead!"
And the witch panicked. "No!" she screamed, rushing to grab the jewel away from her pawn.
Scott glowered, letting go of it without any trouble. It fell, splashing into the lava as ripples went out from the center of the impact. The volcano rumbled, sending Scott falling backwards to crash into Elliott's statuesque form.
The woman's scream echoed all around them as her influence over the world shattered. She vanished, leaving only a fallen piece of jewelry that disintegrated upon hitting the ground.
The sky roared, the red lightning fading as the storm began to lift. A peaceful blue hue was just beyond the deep clouds, ready to take their place.
The stone crumbled, releasing the people who had been bound around the world.
Back in New York, Greg snapped to in his office, staring around in amazement. He was still holding the handcuffs. Blinking, he set them down on his desk.
"That was . . . weird," he muttered to the room.
Inside the airplane, the pilot started as he straightened up, looking for the agents. He started the engine, lifting off as he flew towards the volcano in the distance. It was going to blow. He had to get to them first!
At the base of the mountain, Barry drew a deep breath. He was alive. . . . They had done it. Scott had done it. A smile crossed his features.
Farther up, Sean toppled over with a yelp. He lay on the ground, staring up at the lightening sky as his vision was restored. He laughed in relief and joy.
"I knew we could count on you, Scott," he grinned. "You and El. . . ."
Scott, still against the cold body, stiffened as the stone began to shatter. El? Was El going to be alright? And . . . would he . . . could he ever forgive Scott for wavering?
But as Elliott was released, his eyelids fluttered shut. He toppled forward into Scott's lap, not moving.
Scott froze. Why . . . why wasn't Elliott getting up? Had he been too late? Or . . . was everyone dead under the stone, never to revive?
Had he made the wrong decision?
"El?" he choked out. "El, I . . . I did it. . . ." His voice quavered. "I broke the spell. But . . . you . . . you were supposed to be alright! Everyone was supposed to be alright!" He shook as he gathered the limp body into his arms, turning Elliott to face him. The other man was deathly pale and still. It was obvious that he had passed on.
The dark energy. . . . No one else had been turned to stone with that. . . . Had there been something extra in it that had . . . killed Elliott for real? That was it. That had to be it. The witch had murdered him!
"No!" Scott sobbed, holding Elliott's body closer. "It's my fault. . . . If I hadn't hesitated . . . if I'd thrown it in right away. . . ."
The world had been saved, but not for Elliott.
Scott trembled, unable to quell the grief-stricken tears. "El . . . your pleading is what brought me back to my senses," he whispered. "But now you're the one who's gone on. Please . . . if you can forgive me . . . or even if you can't . . . don't go where I can't follow! . . ."
Behind them, the volcano rumbled again. Scott glanced over his shoulder at it. Somehow, he had to get down. . . . He had to get El down . . . and see what had become of the others. . . . Even though he did not want to move at all. He wanted to keep kneeling right here, losing himself in his sorrow.
But Elliott would never want that. Neither would the others. They would be so grief-stricken about Elliott, without losing Scott too.
Drawing a deep, shuddering breath, Scott got to his feet. He stumbled, keeping hold of the lifeless body as the tears continued to fall.
And Elliott groaned, his eyes flickering as the teardrops splashed against them.
Scott stiffened, his heart hammering in his chest. "Elliott?!" he cried, his voice strangled. Was it possible? Elliott had come back?
"I'm not dead," Elliott whispered, his eyes opening halfway. "I wasn't dead." He gave a shaky smile. "And of course I forgive you, Scott. My best friend. . . ." He reached out, hugging Scott as best as he could with one arm.
And overwhelming joy swept over the tortured young man. He could not even speak. "El," he whispered, holding him close as he stumbled on down the mountain. El, you're alive!
"Hey!"
Scott looked up, seeing a tall man waving nearby. His joy---and his smile---widened.
Sean, you're alive!
He staggered the rest of the way over. Sean hugged both him and Elliott, being careful of his wounded shoulder.
"Let's get off this thing," he said. "The airplane's circling overhead and the volcano's ready to burst open. Are you as ready to find Barry and go home as I am?!"
"Oh yeah," Elliott said, returning the embrace.
And then their other friend was finding them, hurrying to where they were reuniting. Scott's joy was nearly ready to burst.
Barry, you're alive!
And he finally found his voice as they turned to travel the rest of the way. "Guys . . ." He swallowed. "I . . . I'm so sorry. . . . I caused this. . . ."
"She was manipulating you!" Sean returned.
Elliott nodded. "You were only trying to be kind, and she used that." Anger crept into his voice. "I can't forgive that."
Barry nodded too. "She's the one at fault," he said. "Not you."
Quickly he herded them to where the airplane was waiting. The volcano was beginning to spew lava now. It was running down the hills and crevices, quickly gaining on their location. He all but shoved them up the ramp and inside, following suit as the door slammed shut.
The pilot was forced to take off before they had the chance to get settled. They sprawled on the floor, being jostled as the airplane rose into the sky. But then it straightened its course. Far below them, the volcano continued its eruption. The ancient land was being covered in lava.
Scott shakily sat up, looking around at the others. They looked back, the full force of what had happened sinking into their hearts. They were alive! They had survived and the world was going back to normal. Greg was surely safe, too. Yes, there was Elliott's laptop, displaying a flashing communication from Greg asking if they were okay.
Scott laughed out of pure joy, pulling Elliott, Sean, and Barry all into an embrace.
"Thank you, my brothers," he said quietly. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, but you've given it anyway. And I'll do my best to make it not have been in vain."
"Of course you deserve it!" Sean exclaimed.
Barry nodded. "And if you needed to make up for anything, you've done it," he said.
Elliott hugged Scott close. "Everything's been set right now," he agreed.
Scott shut his eyes tightly. "But . . ." He shook his head. "You . . . all of you were encased in stone. And El . . . whatever she did to you, it was supposed to kill you even if the spell was broken!"
"It didn't," Elliott said firmly. "I held on." He looked at Scott. "And your voice . . . I heard your voice and it brought me back."
Scott opened his eyes, giving Elliott a weak smile.
Sean frowned. "She did something else to Elliott?!" he exclaimed.
Scott nodded. "Because I hesitated," he choked out. "I didn't know how to promise I wouldn't trust her. It . . . it was so hard not to listen . . . and worry that she was telling the truth. . . . And because of that, El was almost killed trying to save me!" He looked at Sean and Barry. "It's El who deserves all the credit. He got me to come to my senses."
Sean was silent, laying his hands on Scott's and Elliott's shoulders. "But you didn't have to listen to him," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, you're both heroes."
Barry nodded in agreement. "You both are," he said.
Scott was not sure he could ever believe that about himself. But he finally just smiled, holding onto his Sam.
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 01:50 pm (UTC)I love the vivid imagery about the volcano and the red lightning...
just like Mordor...And Scott thinking that Greg, Barry, and Sean are dead becuase of the encasing... so saaad... ;__;
I love how Scott isn't all-out corrupted by the stone like Frodo was with the Ring... it makes the whole thing so much more intense and sad... ;__;
And Elliott's reaction to Scott taking the step towards Veran is all kinds of hurt/angst... ;___; And the "Don't go where I can't follow" line... **hugs the line** It fits so well... ;___;
**hugs Scott for destroying the stone**
**snerks at Greg's reaction**
Poor Scott and El... ;___; Scott using the same line for Elliott is always poignant... **hugs them** And Scott realizing that he can't lose himself, too...
**squees at Elliott and the others being alright** I love the squee of everyone forgiving him unconditionally, and Sean saying that they're both heroes. X3
**adores the ending line**
Hmm, I definitely want to milk the h/c for all its worth when I write the fic. It probably won't make it to the forums, though...I see it about four or five parts long, since I'll want to expand on a lot of things...X3no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 01:59 pm (UTC)Yes, thinking of Mordor was definitely a big inspiration. ♥
;___;
**nods.** Plus, Scott already got corrupted. XD;
I love writing Elliott getting emotional, but so saaad!
Ah, Greg. XD Suddenly inserting a bit of humor.
**hugs them too.**
Writing the ending squee was definitely fun! And going back to the Frodo & Sam comparison.
Yay expanding! ^O^ Is she still going to possess Eartha, or will it be more like the RP?Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 02:19 pm (UTC);__;
True. XD;
**hugs Elliott**
X3
X3 Hmm, She might, but then will let her go once the other three realize that she's no good...no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 02:51 pm (UTC)I wish my Carmen fic would take off, but I guess I have too much going on in other fandoms. LOL. Maybe i'll just work on it little by little.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 02:57 pm (UTC)I wanna see LOTR too....
Yeah, maybe working on it a little bit at a time is all you can really do at this point.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 03:53 pm (UTC)Hmm. I'll have to see if I can borrow Guy's copy of FEllowship of the Ring...
And that's what I'm going to have to do. With the New Moon hype starting up....heh. Twilight Fan to the very end.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 04:14 pm (UTC)(There's an amusing bit where El pretends to be Superman while Scott carries him in Superscam. LOL. And Scott tries to get El to waltz with him at the end of Heavy Metal Meddler. XD)
**hugs LOTR.**
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 04:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 04:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 06:52 pm (UTC)That was so sad, when El was frozen with such a look on his face ;__; I wouldn't even want to look at him, if I were Scott!
Huzzah for Scott giving the sorceress getting exactly what she deserves! And for everyone coming back! And for Greg providing temporary comic relief!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-26 02:22 am (UTC)I think he was too horrified to look, and too horrified not to look. o.o
XD Yay bits of comic relief and happy endings!
Thanks!