Author's Note

Back again with another chapter. I have went through and seen your comments and have responded. And you are right, but the issues mentioned are easy to fix. So let's get into this. And I did kinda throw this together because it will be a few days before I can update, so I would want to give you guys a little more for the moment and that you may like. Please leave any helpful feedback, and the next chapter should be posted around Febuarary 5th or 6th, hopefully.

Shakedown

Alister walked into the gym, his head beginning to dip. He felt that what his mission to save his friends was crazy, if nothing else. He doubted Adagio was right when she told him to fix the past. And he was a fool for thinking he could.

"This wont work," Alister muttered, forgetting how close he was to Lucille.

"Say something?" Lucy turned around, waking backwards, turning towards the bleachers, her shoes squeaking against the brown wood floor.

"No, it's just that-"

"It's just what?" Lucy manuevered, going around a glass podium, "Cold feet?"

Alister scoffed. "I am here, aren't I? That was something. Why don't you try dealing with this? It's not a walk in the park."

"Jeez, sorry." Lucy said. "Maybe I could try dealing 'with this' problem," the girl made air quotes. "If I knew what has you bummed."

Whack!

Kicking a stray basketball across the gym, it hit against the door and rolled to a stop.
Lucy looked over in false surpise, taking the time to sigh and grasp his hand and lead him to a seat.

"Okay, take a seat," Lucy spoke in a soft tone, cracking a small smile. "I can tell that you feel some type of way, but the best way to handle this is to talk about it. I know I've done the same with Io whenever she had problems, so I think we can handle this."

"How? Talking won't make it any better, if anything worse." Alister said, yanking his hand back. "You weren't there."

Lucy saw that he had a point. But she knew if she wanted to reach him, he would have to be in a position where he has the flow of talking under control. She backed away and gave him space and then she asked, very simply; "Can you tell me what won't take you of your comfort zone?"

Alister thought on telling her, especially since Io hasn't said a word since they got inside and was intent on having a one-sided staring contest with him. Adagio never said that telling anything would change the future, which it could, but not telling could make it to where things stayed the same.

And Adadigo and the girls dying for nothing weighed on his mind heavily.

"Okay, okay." Alister decided. He would really be shooting a shot in the dark, and he had to get it right. But they couldn't have the whole truth. They wouldn't understand. "If you saw me. . .pop into existence, then you can guess that this is some sort of time travel, or something."

"Ok, Lucy spoke quietly, urging him to continue. "I kinda figured that. Well, that or smoke and mirrors."

"And I was only able to get here thanks to a. . .good friend. A really good friend. And I've got to fix a big problem, or things may be worse than what they were when I left," Alister walked up to the scoreboard, seeing the numbers with a lack of light. He thought about how he almost finished high school, and seeing a school brought a frown to his face.

"What happened?" Io asked, hair dripping down to the floor as her she followed, looking up to see a glint in his pale green eyes.

"My friends. . ." Alister's voice echoed before settling. ". . .were killed. .in cold blood."

Lucille gasped, instantly connecting the dots, and all the more, feeling sorry for the boy. It was a sensitive topic, but Lucy didn't have any clue about losing a friend, aside from a pet or two dying. She would ask, but she would hate asking.

"Why?"

. . ."That part, I actually don't know. Maybe cause they were different, maybe revenge. But it doesn't matter. Not anymore."

"And why's that?" Lucy asked. Then she saw him flash a devilish smile, his gaze set on his clenched hand. He seemed to perk up when his eyes rose for a second. Reaching into his pocket, he brought out a black, fingerless glove.

"Because," Alister put on the glove, his mind seeming to be made up. "I know exactly who did it, but make no mistake," he growled. "They will pay. . .in blood."

"Wait, what?!" Lucy asked, walking in front of Alister to see his eyes blurred. "I don't think we should be going that route. I mean, I am sorry about what happened to your friends, but do you really think that you need to do that to get even?"

"Yea!" Io agreed. "Isnt killing wrong?"

If only the two of them knew. Alister knew that a lot of things were wrong, but people still do them, but was that so wrong? To kill only because someone else has?

"Yea, Io. It is." Alister said. "It is but I cant not stand around and do nothing. That's not what I do. And I didnt get sent here for nothing. And I have an idea what I need to do to make this worthwhile."

Shing!

"And I think I know what I need to do, too," Lucy pressed her blade into Alister's neck, causing him to freeze up. "I had hoped it wouldn't have to come to this, but I heard enough of your babbling."

"Lucy!" Io shouted, running over only to stop when her sister shot her one dirty look that instantly made her stop in her tracks and shrink. "What are you doing?"

"Just making sure he has the resolve to do what it is he says he will, otherwise it's hot air to me, Lucy commented with a grim undertone. "Because I won't have a part in this if his reasons aint true."

"But, Lucy-"

"Lucy, nothing!" Lucy shouted. "Shut it for one second, and listen. . .because I will only say this once. Tell me, right here, right now; if you know for sure you can weather this storm, and you are sure about this, and. . .you can consider me in."

"Sis!" Io tugged at Lucy's coat. "That's bad!~"

"Why."

Lucy looked up, seeing Alister back away. Why, indeed?

"Because I want you to have absolution, not vengeance. I've seen too many people lose things because of a grudge. And killing is wrong, no matter what. So I will help, but you need to promise me you wont go for that, or I'm not gonna help you," Lucy glared at Alister, determined.

Io looked at her sister as she looked at Alister, putting her weapon back. He wanted to argue, but he knew it wouldn't get him any further than where he was. In his mind, nothing would deter him from the mission. He would put a bit of knowledge from Aria; to use the people around you.

He had to go along for now, if only to help his own cause. So he would have to make this seem true in their eyes.

Taking a moment to think, his head throbbed after a moment of deep-thinking. He wasnt so sure he could do this, but there was no other way to know.

"Fine. I promise I won't kill. . .but I will have answers, that much I know."

Lucy nodded, waiting with a curious eye.

"But, there is something for me that you can do to make this go by faster." Alister said. "What school is this?"

"Crystal Prep Academy. Why?" Io looked at Alister smirking.

Telling them to follow him back outside, the rain began to die down, only for the rain clouds to still linger around. He walked over to a bench and wiped it off, sitting down.

"The people that did this are closer than you think. Just over yonder, if you wanna be specfic."

"Ok, why are you telling us this? And how does help you in any way?" Lucy wondered, folding her arms and frowning.

And that was what Alister wanted to hear.

"Because, to get my revenge and make sure things are set in the place, the right way, I'm going to redo 12th grade in order to do it."