//------------------------------// // Arc XII Episode XIV: Justice Through Darkness // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// Back at Crystal Prep… Sunset and the others started to regroup, when they noticed something from the corner of their eyes. “Hold up,” Aria called out, pointing to the shaking bushes near the school’s property, “Think we missed someone.” Everyone turned to look… Sure enough, something was causing those bushes to shiver. It eventually revealed itself to be a woman with a similar yellow complexion to Sour Sweet. She had on a red business-skirt and heels--a form of dress fitting for one of the school’s staff members. “What the--hey!” Sunset called out to her, not realizing who she was just yet, “It’s okay! Everything is safe now! You can come out!” But oddly enough, the woman chose not to approach those who had taken their time to save the day. Instead, she snuck through the bushes and attempted to flee down the street…? “Hey, wait!” WOOSH! But she was suddenly forced to stop on a dime. Why? A giant wall of black miasma suddenly appeared, cutting off her escape route. Moments later, hefty footsteps would slowly make their way through the darkness, and out emerged a certain shadowman… “AH!” the woman yelped and tried to back away until her anxiety caused her to trip and land on her bottom, hitting the ground with a thud. “Wh-who are you…what do you want from me??” The man paced towards her with a slow, threatening gait--each footstep echoed as soon as he took the next. The billowing darkness surrounding his body forced her into a state of dread with a cold sweat as he came closer and closer. And when he spoke, it was a heartless, chilling tone that sent shivers through her spine. “What do I want? You’re clearly mistaken. You see, the fear of death is a patient mistress…unlike life. But I find it fascinating the lengths individuals will go to when they’re forced to face such fears…” “W-what are you t-talking about?” the woman continued to deny any wrongdoing in a desperate attempt to save face. “I-I…” But the shadowman wasn’t having any of it. He cut her off, and spoke with enough tranquil fury to cut into her soul. “Do yourself a favor and drop the pestilent, infantile persona that you use to shield yourself from the fact that you’re ultimately a neglectful, heartless, wretched speck of insignificant scum.” “S-stop!” the woman rose to her feet and stared the man down, “Y-you can’t prove anything! You’re just trying to tear my family apart based on assumptions! You’re the one who--” “Save it.” The black miasma disappeared--and what did that proverbial curtain unveil? A police car in which a female officer exited, and walked out with a box of tape recorders. “On these tapes are audio files of every time you’ve caused your niece physical and emotional pain. Smart girl she was--able to gather all the evidence she needed so that we could put you to trial. You have the right to remain silent, Ms. Pomelo Squirty. Anything you say can and will--you know the rest.” Pomelo was in disbelief. Some of the color had left her face from the initial state of shock that she found herself in. Aidon deactivated the shadow form from his body, causing his voice to return to normal as he folded his arms. “Give up. You’d do all of us a favor by going quietly. Your niece has been through enough trouble at your hands, causing what is likely a lifelong personality disorder. Don’t make it any worse.” “...” Pomelo’s arms and legs twitched uncontrollably, followed by her eyelids and her heart rate increasing twofold. A whirlwind of emotions swam through her head in that moment, causing rage to well up within her body--and with that, came irrational actions. “What is it going to be?” Aidon asked, only to be met with-- “Shut up you homewrecking cretin! Stay out of my business!” WHAP! A rather unexpectedly strong right hook to his jawline. It didn’t hurt that much, but it did stun the man for a second, causing spit to fly from his mouth. “Freeze!” the lady officer shouted as she drew her stun gun. But the second time Pomelo tried to throw a punch-- GRIP! Aidon grabbed both of her arms and held both of her wrists by one hand. “You’ve just earned yourself an assault charge as well. Anything else you’d like to add?” “Piss off!” she screamed, “I hope you choke on glass and die alone you bitch! You ain’t got no right to tell me about how I raise my child!” “...” Aidon shut his eyes. “Lay into her. Wreck her shit for daring to harm you and your students. You can get away with it since she cast the first strike.” “...No.” His magic flared up ever so slightly, causing him to tighten his grip upon her wrists…but he ultimately let it--and her go, dropping her on the ground with a thud!, and walking away. “Get her out of here, officer.” “Wimp.” “I’m better than that.” Even though he had tamed the darkness, there were still times such as this where the temptations tried to overtake him. But he refused to allow that, instead rolling with the punches. “W-w--how dare you?!” Pomelo continued to yell as he walked off, “He hurt me! That was assault!” “Tell it to the judge,” said the female officer as she put cuffs on the woman and escorted her to her vehicle, “You’re lucky he didn’t do more than that. Ladies like you need to learn how to not pick losing fights.” As the police car drove off, the professor removed his glasses and cleaned them with a handkerchief he kept in his suit’s pocket. “Hrrrgh…” he grumbled to himself as he recalled the woman’s words. While they came from a petty mouth, to say they didn’t hurt would be a lie. Sunset approached him moments later with a concerned frown on her face. “...Professor? Is everything alright?” “Yes,” he replied with a sigh, “That woman is going to face repercussions for her transgressions. I couldn’t be happier.” “I heard what she said though…” Sunset went on, “There’s a phrase that humans like to go by: ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.’” “I’ve heard of it, yes,” said the shadowman, “How does that apply here?” Sunset rubbed the back of her neck and explained, “Weeeell…let’s just say I absolutely hate that phrase. Yes, it’s important to not let words get to us, but some things, when said, they cut deep…deeper than any knife, sword, or magic laser ever could. My point is…it’s okay to feel hurt by that comment. It was rude, and stomped on a very touchy subject for you. But know that we’re here for you.” She offered him her best smile in an attempt to get him to smile as well. “Even if you aren’t my teacher, the last thing I want is to see another one lose their mind.” And what do you know? It worked. With a small sigh, Aidon smiled, and accepted Sunset’s words. “...I appreciate that. Just as words can cut, they can also heal. You’ve displayed that perfectly, Ms. Shimmer.” “Well thanks…let’s just say I’ve learned from the best,” Sunset replied with a bashful grin as she thought about Princess Twilight. “But for now…we need to get to the hospital,” he spoke up, noting everyone else’s absence. “I assume Sour Sweet, Sugarcoat, and the others are already there, yes?” “Oh yeah. We need to catch up with them,” Sunset replied with a nervous sigh, “I just hope Sour’s okay after all of this…”