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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 1903543" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 91: Two as OneThe three Alraxians were still recovering from the constant assaults they had endured for however long it had been. They all looked almost as bad as they felt. Dark was slumped back against one wall in the circular room, her eyes wide open and staring at the two others. She couldn’t seem to gather the strength to even glare at them anymore, and simply sat there, wings flattened and generally broken. How had that occurred so easily? Nothing had been done to her and yet her body was exhausted! That bastard! Her Akan...any Akan deserved punishment! Damn them all! She should have simply killed Him when she’d had the chance.    Sitting directly across from Dark was Light. It was slightly amusing to see them keeping as far from each other as possible. Or rather, it would have been if amusement was possible at this point. Light had found a comfortable spot against the wall and curled up tightly, tail flicking slightly every few moments. It wasn’t out of annoyance as much as fear. All of those things she’d been shown could have been easily ignored except for one. Just one stayed with her each time. It was that child. The small child in the Darkwing’s hands that she’d murdered. Somehow nothing else mattered except that child. Not far from Light, sitting off to her left, was Akan. He was sitting in a fairly casual way with his back to the wall, carefully watching these two Shadows. It was interesting how similar they were, yet so completely different. Right here in front of his eyes was that struggle that everyone held within themselves between right and wrong. Yet here, it was personified. It was unreal, but he allowed himself to focus on it anyway. It distracted his mind. Pulled the thoughts away from that avenue they kept trying to take.    Closing his eyes a moment, Akan knew that the fight was pointless. How was he supposed to let go? How was anyone expected to move on? Sure, you could bury it and hide away for years, but eventually it would catch up and you’d have to confront it. But how? When there’d been no chance to say goodbye. When, despite the risks that all knew were there, it was your own fault? Killing a faceless enemy was easy. He was the enemy. He was evil, cruel, horrible. He never should have lived and you were doing the galaxy a favor by killing him. But being responsible for the death of one on your own side? One of those people that you knew were good, righteous, and fighting for the right thing. These people doing everything they could to do what was right, and you were right there helping them. And then, they die because of you. Does that make you the enemy, too? The evil? There’s no grey area...you’re either one or the other. And the good would never kill their friends and allies.    When Akan’s eyes opened again, he looked to Dark again. She caught his eye, and they watched each other for a long time. It was strange to see Shadow in her, but he did. Only short flicks of her in the eyes. It was the way Dark was watching him. That cold, analyzing stare hiding behind it a thousand things that even she didn’t understand. It was amazing to see that Dark was even throwing out a heavy barrier to hide a confused interior. Even she didn’t understand who she was. And she never would. Not like that. Light wouldn’t either. Akan could see that more than anyone. And that’s why he found his voice and spoke.    “You two can’t go on like this.”    That was all he needed to say. It got both of the other’s attention, but not on him. On each other. Dark growled a weak ‘no’, but there was no sound from Light at all. Or at least, not until she looked to Akan and saw the serious look on his face. Something about that proved to her that no matter how much she feared her Dark, she was nothing without it.    “He’s right,” she said quietly, sitting up some and trying to look less afraid than she really was.    Dark managed a glare, pulling back and barring her teeth, “Never.”    This was going to go on for a long time. All of them knew it. Two of them, however, knew that there was a way to change the outcome. Light was the first one to recognize it, obviously knowing herself better than Akan did. In the same calm voice, she just said, “You need strength. You are weak now.”    Again, Dark glared, “You are weak!”    “Yes, I am,” Light said in that matter of fact tone that could drive anyone in the galaxy crazy, “I’m just as weak as you are. But that could be different...”    The way she trailed off was perfect. It was enough to catch Dark’s attention. The one thing she wanted. Power. Power to get out of this place. Power to kill Him. Power to live free of all these humans. Dark was not inherently evil, she simply wanted Power. She wanted the power to achieve what Shadow wanted. It was an odd way of doing things, and it was almost pitiable. But Light knew which buttons to push, and exactly what sequence to do it in.    It may have only been a tiny change in Dark’s expression, but it was easily noticeable. She said nothing, but Light got the message. So, Light continued talking, “You could have more power. You would have it.”    “But I would not be who I am!” Dark suddenly snapped, her entire body jumping forward suddenly. She barely moved, but it was almost as if she’d forced herself to stop the pounce halfway through.    Light did not smile. She wanted to, as that was exactly what needed to be pointed out, but it would only anger Dark more than she needed to be angered. Quietly, emotionlessly, Light responded, “But you are no one. I am no one. Half an Alraxian is not an Alraxian.”    Silence. Long silence. It dragged on until Dark finally spoke, “Do it.”    Light allowed herself a smile this time. Even Akan smiled. Slowly, Light got to her feet. She used the wall to brace herself, finding that her legs were still a bit shaky. Once her tail had assisted with the balancing(an action which Akan still didn’t completely understand), Light stepped over towards Dark. The winged Alraxian had gotten to her feet easily, forcing any signs of struggle back. It was a moment later before the two of them stood face to face. A moment Akan would burn into his memory as something one couldn’t forget. It was like all those old holodrama previews where evil confronted good. Except neither of them were wholly one or the other.    Carefully, both of the Alraxians raised their hands, pressing their palms together. Light took a short moment to look back to Akan, and she smiled. It was the first time he’d seen her happy. Akan couldn’t help a smile of his own, nodding to Dark so that she wouldn’t ruin this. Turning her attention back to Dark, Light started speaking, “Light and Dark. Together as one. Together again as–“    ”Shut up!” Dark snapped, though she didn’t move, “Those damned rituals don’t matter! Just get on with it.”    Light didn’t say anything, she simply did what Dark had said. Akan tried to watch. Or rather, he told himself that he’d try. But he couldn’t. It was like seeing that morphing for the first time. Something was inherently wrong with it, and everything in Akan was disturbed by the first few seconds of watching the two bodies begin to melt into one. So, he’d closed his eyes. This was probably worse, as it left the rest up to his imagination, which got a few hints from the link.    And then he heard a voice. A voice so familiar he’d never need to think for half a second to identify it. It was Shadow. Not Light. Not Dark. Shadow. The real Shadow. The voice sounded confused, lost, and slightly annoyed because of this, “What’s going on?!”    Akan opened his eyes and laughed. He couldn’t help laughing. Shadow stood there, completely herself, looking around like she was lost. She had taken only a moment to stare at him, giving him that look that demanded an answer for what he was laughing at. Akan, however, couldn’t seem to stop his laughing.    So Shadow just glared and tried to figure things out on her own. Last thing she remembered they were out in the desert walking and...oh! Slowly, memories from both Light and Dark caught up to her. Shadow took a few minutes to absorb all of it and catch up. Once she’d done so, Shadow walked over and kicked Akan not-too-gently, “Shut up!”    “Ow!” Akan whimpered slightly and held his side, but started to get to his feet anyway, “Good to have you back.”    “Good to be back,” Shadow said, turning to look over the entire room, “So do we get out of here now?”</blockquote>

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