Slowing Down

Terra was sitting down on a chair. With a bunch of other people around her in a circle. She was wearing A grey button-up crop-top and jeans under a fur coat. Her hair was completely let down. And she had socks and slides on. She wasn't paying attention to the person talking at that point. The therapist in the middle looked over to Terra

Terra: Look, Mr. Hudson. I get why I was invited here. But I didn't agree to take part.

Mr. Hudson: Don't be so pessimistic Miss Lorenz.

Terra: You can call me Terra.

Mr. Hudson: Okay Terra. Please share with the group.

Terra: U-um sorry. What was the question again?

Mr. Hudson: How do you believe the last couple weeks have changed you?

Terra: Uh...I don't know if I changed. I guess the world around me has changed into a better place. And I guess that makes me happy.

Mr. Hudson: So you care about the people around you deeply?

Terra: I mean, who wouldn't?

Two younger men were whispering to each other.

Cheap man: Such a goodie two shoes...She acts like she actually did something to change it.

Vulgar man: I know right. Helluva bod though.

Mr. Hudson: Anything to say men?

Both men stayed silent.

Mr. Hudson: I thought so. Thank you Terra.

Cheap man: Hudson, isn't that everyone? Doesn't that mean we can leave?

Mr. Hudson: Yes. You can go.

Everyone went but Terra.

Terra: Is she okay?

Mr. Hudson: Stable at least.

A couple men wheeled in A tied down Amelia. She had dampening cuffs on. Along with an arm cast.

Mr. Hudson: Hello today Amelia.

Amelia: What do you want?

Mr. Hudson: We have someone here today.

Terra: Hi Amelia. How are you holding up?

Amelia: Shitty. Thanks to you.

Terra: I came to check on you. And I wondered if you wanted to go somewhere.

Amelia: The graveyard.

Mr. Hudson: Is that a threat Miss Ashi?

Amelia: I want to see my brother.

Mr. Hudson: I don't know if we ca-

Terra: That's fine. I'll keep an eye on her.

Mr. Hudson: *sigh* That's fine.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Terra and Amelia got dropped off at the graveyard. Amelia had power dampening cuffs on her arms and legs. Like bracelets. The guards in the car stayed close by. Amelia led Terra over to Donny's grave.

Terra: Amelia…

Amelia: Back off.

Terra: Seriously? You know I can't do th-

Amelia: I said back off!

Terra went silent and left Amelia by herself. She walked across the street into a store. The two guards in the car kept their eye on Amelia.

Amelia took a deep breath.

Amelia: I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I don't think I ever will now. Please forgive me. Because I'm a failure. Everyone around me doesn't understand. Things would be better if you were here. I could kill everyone that wronged us! They're sick. Disgusting.

Terra came up behind Amelia. She hadn't heard what she said.

Terra: I miss him too.

Amelia: Yeah.

Terra: Are you ready to go back?

Amelia: No. One more thing.

Amelia took off the choker she had always worn. Red with a charm in the middle. She set it on the grave.

Amelia: That was a gift from him. I don't deserve it.

Terra: Why? I mean. He gave it to you. Why wouldn't you keep it close.

Amelia: You remember what I did when I went back in time. I failed him.

She thought about the moment she killed Terra in the erased timeline. Donny's screams at her echoed through her.

Terra: Didn't you…?

Amelia: I killed you.

Terra: Yeah…

Amelia sat the choker she had down in front of Donny's grave.

Terra: Look. Whatever you did is in the past. Look at what happened to you when you tried to take it back. You're in an insane asylum now.

Amelia: I'm not insane!

Terra: It doesn't matter whether you are or not. I'm just saying, try and start a new life. I bet Donny would be happy for you.

Amelia: You don't-

Terra: Yeah! I don't know what he would say. But it doesn't look like you would either. He wasn't that complicated. Shouldn't be hard to know he'd be happy to know you got over him. Instead of suffering for his death that you had no part in.

Amelia: But I was the leader of the blue coats! I agreed to it!

Terra: He'd probably go anyway.

Amelia: But he didn't go when I said it was a bad idea!

Terra: Then what happened?

Amelia: Then...Millie died. And you died eventually.

Terra: Maybe someone had to die. There was no way around it.

Amelia: There had to be a way!

Terra put her arm on Amelia's shoulder.

Terra: We aren't gods Amelia. We can become as powerful as them. And pretend to be them. But our roots are human. We were brought up human. We can't change that.

Amelia: You spent years trying to change something you thought was wrong. Why couldn't I have?

Terra: I-it's different, isn't it? You went back selfishly.

Amelia: Don't take the high road on me. Let's leave.

Terra: Wait.

Terra took out a flower. One she had gotten from across the street. She sat it on the grave.

Terra: It just feels right. Come on. We have a little while left. Do you wanna go somewhere?

Amelia: Mhm.

Amelia and Terra walked past the guards in the car. Who started to follow them. But Terra waved at them to stop.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Amelia and Terra arrived at a dojo that Millie attended. Where she sharpened her skills. Millie was sparring with someone. She seemed to be going easy. He blocked a kick from her and then caught the next one. He flipped her on her back and looked down at her.

???: Don't go easy Mills! You know I'd still take you if you were going all out.

Millie got to her feet. She seemed flustered.

Millie: Amelia!

Millie came up to Amelia and hugged her. Amelia didn't react. Just blushed.

Millie: Thanks for filling in for me at the therapy session today Terra.

Terra: No problem. It was actually kind of interesting. You know what else would be interesting?

Millie turned to the man she was fighting.

Millie: Hazel, is it okay if me and Terra here spar? I promise, she's more skilled than she looks.

Terra: Hey!

Hazel: You don't call me Hazel, it's sensei! But yes, you may spar.

Terra squared off against Millie. Hazel came over to Terra.

Hazel: Don't be surprised if she goes easy!

He repositioned himself in the middle of the room.

Hazel: Slap hands and go!

Terra and Millie approached each other and they slapped hands. They distanced from each other and Terra closed the distance with a jump front kick. Millie dodged and threw a punching combo at Terra. She blocked all Millie's blows and kneed her once. Millie blocked Terra's second knee and pushed her away. She lunged forward and punched at Terra. She dodged and Millie's hand landed in the ground. Terra came in with a punch. But Millie did a leg sweep and dropped Terra to the ground. She rolled back and did a back handspring. Millie jumped back. While Terra did a flip into a axe kick. And turned to where Millie dodged and kicked her in the stomach, side and then side of the face. Followed by a kick. Millie barely slid back. She came in and punched Terra in the face. Terra went flying back and slid across the ground. She realized the punches and kicks she was hit with from Millie actually started to hurt a lot more.

Hazel: That's time!

Millie put her hand out to help Terra to her feet. Terra got up on her own.

Hazel: No hard feelings kiddo. This is a martial arts studio for metas and mutants after all.

Terra: Oh, I've dealt with my fair share of metas and mutants. Promise me.

Hazel: Not like that I hope. You're completely unprotected!

Terra: ...That's right.

Millie: It's hard to adjust without your armor. Huh?

Terra: Yeah I guess. Maybe I could train somewhere.

Hazel: I mean, it's not like you did half bad against Millie here. Why don't you stop by here if you wanna train?

Terra: Okay.

Hazel: Any previous belt rankings?

Terra: I was a Blue belt where I trained.

Hazel: Seriously? You should totally be a black! You use mostly simple moves. But your form is nearly perfect. And even your advanced moves are executed great! I bet if you and Millie's fight wasn't stopped you wouldn't have stayed down. Where'd you train?

Terra: We had to really earn our rank where I trained. It was like being a soldier.

Hazel: I hope our training is enough for you.

Terra: I'll pop in on occasion.

Terra bowed to Hazel. He was surprised. But he bowed back.

Hazel: So does paying per class work for you?

Terra: Oh yeah...that's fine.

Hazel: Looking forward to seeing you!

Millie: Come on Terra.

Hazel: Oh yeah, is your other friend okay?

Amelia had been fixated on Hazel for a while. With an envious look on her face.

Millie: U-uh. She's fine!

Terra, Millie, and Amelia walked outside.

Millie: Wouldn't want to go to all classes?

Terra: I doubt they have the routines I'm used to. I'd rather train alone. I'll spar there though.

Millie: So be it. Amelia, are you doing okay?

Amelia: I'm fine.

Millie: Are you jealous or something? Me and Hazel only train...now.

Amelia: Sure. There's something devilish about him. He might take you away.

Millie could barely say anything.

Terra: Don't worry Amelia! That's not the case at all. He treats all his students the same.

Amelia: Yeah right.

Terra: Ugh...insane people…

Millie: I'll bring Amelia back to the mental asylum. You can go about your day Terra.

Terra: Alright...thanks.

Millie: Yeah, no prob.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Terra walked to her apartment. She saw a paper on the door. She laid down on the bed.

Terra: Ugh...I have to get a job.

She had looked at the paper on the door. "First rent due in a week."

Terra got up and started searching for jobs on her phone.

Terra: None of these are remotely interesting! Why would I pick up trash to make some money? Ugh, it'll only be due in a week…

Terra looked at a calendar she had on her wall. There was a date two days away. "Funerals"

Terra sighed. She thought about her killing Amala with Leon's sword. Then to Michael being pulverized by Empyrean.

Terra: That's enough tragedies for you Leon. And for me.

- - - - - - - - - - - -