The morning glimmer of the rays of sun embraced the new morn as their light lushly covered the mountain peaks. Its iridescent rays illuminated the valley below. A light breeze brushed against Laura’s forehead as she sat comfortably upon the slightly damp green grass whose blades brushed up against her bare thighs. The icy breeze that had come with the eclipse of the sun slowly faded as the light beams of heat slowly crept up over the mountain peaks and cast its light into the dell, eventually falling upon the young girls figure. Her presence was a lonely one as her only company was that of flocking birds making their home in the trees.
She remained motionless in the wind like a newly carved statue being examined by the sun. Her eyes remained shut as her hands were folded in her lap. She needed to concentrate to regain a grip on herself and above all else she needed to control her emotions. She failed in her past and now looking toward a future…possibly brighter one, she wanted to get a few of her past demons out of the way; and she had many of them. The demons plagued her past and tormented her soul to this day and she needed to extinguish them before she could move on with her life. Ever since the Skrull invasion and her replacement she had been having these visions…No nightmares. Of blood, pain and hate. Of darkness that cast its shadow like a hand over a poor helpless defenseless world.
“What does this mean?” Her thoughts rung in her own mind like the resounding bells of the Cistine Chapel. But her peace of mind was instantly shattered at a surge of pain; as if lighting just pierced her veins. Her muscles bulged as she fell face forward on the ground. Her nails dug into the soil as a cloud blocked out the shimmering rays of sunlight. Laura slowly began to regain her composure taking in deep breaths as she staggered to her feet wiping the dirt from her hands. Her midnight blue locks fell over her shoulders as her eyes glanced around curiously though she noticed nothing, not even a shifting shadow.
With this as her alarm system she walked clumsily away like a small child nonchalant and with little attention to what was around her, and of course: She didn’t look back. “Laura…” her body froze; her heart raced as she remained still and motionless. That voice, she knew that voice, and it struck fear into her very heart. Gathering her strength she eventually spun on her heel instantly unleashing her Claws to face whatever it was behind her. Her brows raised in inquisitiveness as she saw nothing except for a mysterious fog that began rolling in. The emerald eyes assassin was not one to be so easily intimidated and so she turned and began walking at a swifter pace. Her bare feet grazed against the now icy grass, which felt like blades slicing against her feet.
As she began to make her way into the forest she heard it again: High pitched like a bird, yet in a hissing manor like a viper. Her name was now continuously being called. Slowly her hands began to wrap around into a fist as she glanced over her shoulder. The fog had now completely engulfed the valley and the dim grey light from the blocked out sun caused eerie shadows to dance upon the darkness. Turning herself around so as to face the uncertain danger she slowly unleashed her claws. Her two twin blades followed a smooth entrance as they simultaneously slithered into position. Ready and poised she heard the snapping of twigs now behind her. This was disconcerting. Spinning into the direction facing the forest before her, she pointed her claws. It was days like these she desired to be able to speak.
But now with her back to the creeping mist she was unable to see a figure slowly form out of it, gathering up the shadows of the wood as if to fuel its hunger. At first it was a large hulking mass of smoke, formless but as it slowly approached Laura with its fumes like grasping hands, the silhouette of a young woman became visible. Her hair as dark as midnight and her clothes were that of the fumes and swirls of smoke that hurled around her. And her eyes;, the silver tone eyes of a witch. The young Lycan still utterly unaware of what was going on behind her took a step back. And as she did her foot fell into the reach of the miasma that had been grasping so desperately for her. A dim blue glow now started to resonate from Laura’s hand as she prepared herself to run but as she was about to the light was snuffed out as hands formed by the fog were places over her mouth….
A grave scene, statues like bugs littering the courtyard. The sky was red like the foreshadowing of a war. The ground was cold and icy and no wind blew, in truth the atmosphere felt as if there was no air at all. Laura’s frozen body broke into movement as her fist was relinquished, while she turned around. Like a disorientated animal removed from one home and placed into the next, her breathing was heavy like that of a horse that had been running for days. All together Laura felt as if she had been missing for years and only now reintegrated herself into her own existence. Her clothing was also altered from a casual jeans and shirt to her vibranium mixed suit that clasped to her like a second skin. As her eyes searched for any sign of life, any signof familiarity she noticed something painfully familiar: Darkchild’s Grave.
Her heart raced as sweat droplets began to slide down the side of her face. The tips of her fingers could not find peace as they fidgeted continuously. Without thought she found herself drawn to it, like the opposite end of a magnet. Visions flashed before her eyes, her capture, their first kiss, his death as hero, the search she remembered…everything. As her feet dragged upon the ground she found herself now looking over the coffin as she slid her hand slowly against it. The stone etching of his face was faded but still distinguishable. Suddenly tears began to build up in her eyes but she swallowed them back. “I do not love you….anymore.” she thought to herself as a vision of the newly renounced Star Spangled Banner hero, War Killer took grasp of her thoughts.
Shaking her head violently she formed a fist and slammed into the stone out of anger. “You miss him don’t you?” There it was again, that voice. Like the temptress so sweet to the first one who hears her but like the sting of a viper to those who follow its commands. “You wish dearly to do it over again don’t you?” The tone was now getting more audible. It was no longer a whisper in the wind, it was the voice from beyond. “To love him over and over again.” Talons emerald orbs had remained closed for the time being but now she had, had enough of these games. The motion was so swift yet came so simply, she had trained with this weapon; it was time she used it. Her jade eyes were opened now electrifying blue as her right fist was clenched. Spinning on her heel like a tornado she pointed them toward the figure and unleashed her claws, which like a cannon unleashed a bolt of blue fire mixed with lightinng.
It coursed through the air and once it came in contact with the stone wall, pieces of brick went flying everywhere as the dust of the ground was unsettled. The young girls breathing had now turned into a feral gasping of air as she stood more like staggeredto her feet. Her right hand hung loosely on her body as if it had gone limp. Yet from all the dust the same silhouette emerged as her voice rung out “Well done little Laura, am I suppose to be impressed?” Her words were like daggers but the magician’s daughter refused to let it get to her. “The KOV has been resurrected, Lord Darkchild is in command, and he desires your presence.”
A look of disgust filled Laura’s eyes as she shook her head blatantly and turned to walk away. Yet as she did the female was once again standing before her and this time reached for her wrist. Laura’s eyes stared astonished at her counterpart that apparently had her own Ideas “I do not think you understand….you are going whether you like it or not.” Talon wanted to pull away but the icy grip that X-23 had placed on her wrist was irremovable. Pain surged through her body as young Laura was brought to her knees letting out silent screams and cries. Tears swelled in her eyes as her body felt as if it was being burnt or thrown into a boiling pit of lava. Her eye shut as darkness made its home in her mind.
Her eyes flickered as light flooded into them. Letting out a silent moan of pain she slowly sat up as her hands rested upon an icy floor. Her hair hung over her face as her disorientated mind attempted to grasp ]the situation. Staggering to her feet she fell on her face as her foot slid, unable to anchor. Her face was flat against an icy surface as she slowly pushed herself upward with the palms of her hands. Looking down at the floor she gasped at her reflection, for she could see it. Now getting to her feet as she unleashed her foot claws to anchor her, she turned around to find her face against what appeared to be an icy wall. Gazing intently at it she could not take her eyes off the reflection of herself. The reason she was staring was simple, her emerald eyes, they were gone.
All that remained was silver moon lit eyes that appeared like that of an animal. Her dry lips parted as a scent entered her nostrils; someone else was there. Leaning her head against the wall with her fist she let out a sigh “I shall fight….”. She mouthed the words but no sound escaped past her lips. Looking at her reflection once more, at her midnight blue Vibranium uniform of earth 529, she knew X-23 was playing a game and she would have to play along…no, Darkchild was playing a game and right now she was a mere pawn. Her anger for the child of darkness boiled high and she was determined to make him regret bringing her here like a misguided anima! “Fight!” the hissing sound. She froze once again until it hit her. X-23 wasn’t gone…she was back inside her. That’s why Laura’s eyes were different; that’s why this was possible. X-23 had once again lodged itself within her soul for whatever reason she would have to wait and see.
Shaking this off she turned her attention to her opponent who in truth she did know: Portrait they were once members of Wolf Pack together but never interacted, which was probably a good thing. Laura would have hated to kill someone she knew. She wasn’t just part of this thing to be part of it, she was going to be part of it to win, and if she had learned anything she knew in order to win she would have to be determined: she wanted to win. Making her way to the center of the icy battle field she could hear cracks with each step she took. Swallowing deeply she knew this whole place was unstable and she knew that she was going to have to take out this female fatal in order to continue onward. Simultaneously both Talons unleashed echoing loudly off the icy cavern walls. Laura’s moon lit eyes glared at her opponent as she let a sigh escape her “let the battle begin”.
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