THUMP! A speeding arrow buries half of its head into the target. Ellia pulls back on her bow again, ready to unleash another in the Peterson's backyard. Standing behind her, Delle holds a new magic stick in her right hand, unsure of what to do. "It's ok to be nervous," Ellia reassures. The toboggan wearing girl looks down at the melting snow. "I want to train with you again, but..." "But you're scared?" *sigh* "Yeah."

The pixie rests her hand on her taller friend's shoulder. "Take as much time as you need. Me, Gren, Komo, we'll wait as long as it takes. And if you don't want to do this anymore, that's fine too." The comment puts a half smile on Delle's face, knowing she meant so much to her friends. Dove slides the glass back door open just barely enough to say, "Girls, come inside. Kurt's got some news."

Bron limps over and relaxes in the recliner, then rubs his swollen knee. "Ellia, think you can give me some more of that magic, fairy dust?" The apprentice rolls her eyes and gently waves her wings over her mentor. "Ah, that's nice." Standing in front of the false fireplace, Kurt addresses the group. "What Fryste did is unacceptable, and I'm gonna fight it as much as I can. But...since I'm no longer a state Symbiolic, Bron will take over as mentor for all four of you, at least for the time being."

Delle sounds troubled as she says, "But we like having you as a mentor. No offense, Bron." "None taken," he replies, turning to Ellia, "Don't stop." Once again the pixie waves her wing over his knee. The sad faces on the teens cause Kurt to shake his head. "It's not my choice to make. Trust me, I wish I could stay...But if standing up for the truth and exposing Fryste's lies costs me everything, it'll be a price I'll gladly pay."

Now the man wears a sad smile. "You kids have all grown to be excellent Symbiolics, but more importantly, you've become family. To Dove, Little P, Bron...and me. I'd still be a drunken mess if I never became your mentor, so if you ever need help, I'm always here." Everyone in the room smiles now, except for Komo, who ponders the word, Family...

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In the master bedroom, Dove sits on the floor, placing another piece of a crib together. The name "Grace" appears to be painted in green. Just behind her, Komo stands at the door. "Dove? Can I...talk for a minute?" The pregnant mother grunts as she rises from the floor. "Oof. I'm a therapist. Listening is what I do."

Both sit on the edge of the king-sized bed, and Komo asks, "What would you do, if someone in your family did something...really bad? How would you handle it, I guess?" Dove nods and stares at the unfinished crib. "Speaking from experience, I would be upset, angry, confused, and unsure of what to do. Thanks to mood swings, I have all of those in one day sometimes."

The two share a light laugh, and the mother returns to the question at hand. "When Percy told me what he did to your mother, it took me a while to forgive him, but he needed that..." A slight anger enters Komo's face at the mention of her mother's murder. "...He never forgave himself, and he carried that burden everywhere. Even went as far to recruit you just to make sure you weren't plotting to kill me and Penelope." The bulky girl quickly interrupts, "I never wanted to-" "I know. That's what I kept telling Percy too. But if you're asking what to do when a family member does something awful, the short answer is, forgive them. You'll carry that weight forever if you don't."

The answer enters one ear and goes out the other. "Figured you'd say that," Komo says. Dove simply smiles and rubs her patient's back. "Sometimes we just need to hear someone else say what we already know. If you need to talk more, I'm always open...Now that'll be fifty dollars." "What!?" "Kidding!" Now both laugh, and Komo helps the mother up from the bedside. However, the watch bearing arm that holds her rumbles. "Jang's Hand. Their back again," says Komo in a sad tone.

Downstairs, the apprentices gear up for battle. "I'll drive you kids there," says Kurt, "It's about the only thing I can do, legally." Everyone runs out the front door, with the shield maiden slightly behind. "Wait," a small voice calls. Komo stops and turns around to see little Penelope run up and hug her legs. "Big sister!" The tense warrior melts her battle hardened stance and smiles like never before. She scoops up the little girl in her arms and spins. "Little sister!" After placing her back down, Komo smiles at Dove. "I didn't tell her to do that," the mother says, "Now go kick some butt." Komo nods and runs out the door, once again thinking of the word, Family!

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The thirty story high, capitol building casts a looming shadow on the road leading towards it. Traffic on the eight lanes comes to a complete stop, with many honking their horns in frustration. One man leans out the window to yell but gazes in wonder at the floating figures overhead. With glowing, pink eyes, Doll Face carries Jang's Hand and the Zion Outlaws. "FIRE!!" A police captain from the ground commands, followed by a barrage of stun rounds. The armored Stag claps his hands and opens them to summon his hexagonal barriers. Floating above the others, Kronia fixes her eyes on the capitol building, dawning a stone replica of Jang's crown.

A few blocks ahead, Kurt's beat up, blue Reign limps into view. Smoke spews from the exhaust pipe, and the teens inside look concerned. "Well, it could be worse," says the driver. BLAM! The exposed engine catches fire. "It's worse." Everyone exits the car, and their former mentor steps to the sidewalk. "I can't help you in battle, but I'll make sure any innocents are protected. You kids got this!" Gren nods in agreement, then readies his water shuriken. Komo bears her shield. Ellia pulls an arrow from her quiver. And Delle hesitantly ignites the tip of her magic stick, almost scared of it.

Jang's Hand makes their landing on the other side of the intersection, where Kronia and Komo have a brief staredown. Vik primes his crystal gauntlet alongside Dusty and Pamda. The sniper teen also locks eyes with Gren, recognizing that this may be their last encounter. The crown bearing Kronia shouts, "Your father's dead, Komo! Why do you defend a government that kept you from knowing the truth!?" "I'm not defending that," Komo counters, "I'm protecting my family!"

The statement triggers a reaction in the gladiator, growling in anger. "Do we mean nothing to you!? After all those years of watching you grow up!? Do you not care!?" Relaxing her aggressive stance, Komo replies, "You've all done bad things, but I'm willing to forgive you...if you surrender." Xavier and Dolly glance at each other, then at their unhinged leader in front. Between her heavy breathing, Kronia yells, "If I have to kill you, SO BE IT!!" The gladiator lifts her mountain axe skywards. "FORMATION!! JANG'S HAND!!"