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When Rosalie had agreed to take part of this expedition, having her trauma's dug up and left out in the open hadn't been what she signed up for. She hadn't come here to watch someone she cared for die right before her eyes, unable to do anything once again. Rosie bit her lip tightly and averted her gaze. The other's were doing everything in their power to save Gunner. [break][break]

There's was nothing left for Rosie to do but pray, and she wasn't the praying type. If only she'd had some background in medicine or had some pokémon with healing abilities. But she had come woefully unprepared. But all hope was not lost it would seem. For in the land of death and life miracles were possible. [break][break]

The sounds of breath returning to lungs caused Rosie to snap her gaze back to Gunner. Where he once lay crumpled on the floor, the smell of reeking burnt and charred flesh surrounding them was now replaced by smooth skin being mended and tended to at a rapid rate. It was like a scene right out of a blockbuster. [break][break]

Rosie wiped at her cheek as she stared down at him in shock and awe. Every question she was about to ask about the probability of something like this happening was countered by the fact that they were in the spirit realm and nothing was as it seems here apparently. Rosie felt the tightness in her chest ease slowly as she stepped aside to allow the other's room to check on Gunner. [break][break]

She didn't want to impose, not to mention she'd rather not show that she was a crying mess just a few minutes prior. He'd never let her live that down. "Thank you for helping, you two. I can't imagine what would have happened without your quick thinking." Gideon said as he addressed the pair once he was finished checking up on his brother. Caleb responded humbly and Rosie just shook her head. "I...didn't do anything." she muttered softly before tightening her hands into fists at her side. [break][break]

With a clenched jaw Rosie turned on her heels and set off towards the river. She could hear Caleb suggest they head in that direction just as she did so, so she quickened her pace and headed towards their original point before they had been interrupted. Besides, Rosie needed a distraction. Otherwise she'd think to much and that would only continue to hinder her and the group's progress. [break][break]

As she approached the riverbank she noticed a gimmighoul waiting beside a boat large enough for the group to board. Azure orbs scanned the environment before lingering on the gimmighoul and boat before deciding to deposit a few coins to this...peculiar ferryman of choice. Rosie waited for the rest of the group to arrive before letting them know she already paid for their fare. [break][break]

Once everyone was securely boarded onto the boat they began to cross the misty river. She wasn't sure what was waiting for them after this trip but she'd use this time to try and re-center herself and get herself back on track. Closing her eyes she attempted to meditate like she was taught to. When she was under witness protection offered to her by the League, she had to work on regaining normalcy. [break][break]

Kanto had ripped her apart and rebuilt her into someone who fit Rocket's ideals. But she was no longer a member of Rocket and so everything she had learned needed to be reevaluated. It was during this time that she learned to meditate and how that offered a great sense of comfort to her weary mind. [break][break]

It was working for a bit, at least before she heard a familiar voice whisper her name. Snapping her eyes open she looked around the boat but none of her team members had said anything to her. She frowned, close to writing it off before she heard her name being whispered again. This time she looked around again before catching a reflection in the water. [break][break]

She had to be dreaming because what she was looking at made no sense. But then she was reminded of what happened to Gunner and then suddenly...[break][break]

Rosie rushed to the side of the boat where she'd caught a glimpse of her older brother Nicolas looking back at her. Rosalie's expression became immediately pained as she gripped the railing of the boat so tightly her knuckles turned white. "Don't look like that. You know this wasn't your fault, Rose."[break][break]

Rosalie felt her eyes prickle once her brother addressed her the way he used to. Shortly after images of her mother and father joined beside him. "It's so nice to see you again darling. I'm so sorry for leaving you to fend for yourself." her mother apologized and Rosie finally broke down. [break][break]

Hot tears streamed down her face while her shoulders curved forward and shook as she cried. Her heart still ached for her family it would seem. No matter how much time had passed they were taken from her too soon and she'd always miss them. They were her everything. She grabbed at her chest as her thoughts poured out even though she couldn't utter a word. "What I wouldn't give to be with you all again."[break][break]

Her father was quiet for a moment before extending a hand towards her. "If that's your wish cupcake, then you can join us." Rosie looked at them in disbelief, tears still running down her face. Be with them again? What did they mean that she could join them? She looked as her mother and brother nodded seemingly understanding her hesitation. [break][break]

"We won't force you, but if it's what you wish, we won't stop you either." her brother said with his reassuring smile. Rosie sniffed for a moment as she thought. What was left for her anyway? Pain? Suffering? She'd almost been crushed by a meteor, Rocket were on her heels again, and now there was the added pressure of war on the horizon. All Rosie ever wanted was to be free. [break][break]

Free. She could be free. Here, with them, her family.[break][break]

"Take my hand cupcake," her father said to her and Rosie reached out. Rosie's once bright azure pools dulled and turned lifeless, almost as if she was in a trance. "Yesssssss" As she reached out to the water's surface the images of her happily family morphed into something wicked, but it was already too late. "Got you." a wicked growl spoke loudly so that the rest could hear before spectral hands grabbed Rosie's arms and pulled her under. [break][break]

The movement was swift. Once Rosie was underwater hundreds of specters began to claw and grab at Rosie's flesh. "This is what you deserve." they cried out. "You killed us. You made us like this." they screamed. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!" They were right. How could she hope to join her family when she'd committed so many sins after they were gone? Her hands were stained crimson, there was no saving her at this point. She didn't even feel any remorse. It would seem her humanity had left long ago.[break][break]

As Rosalie sunk deeper and deeper, weighed down by the souls of the dammed, she didn't resist. Instead, she figured if this had to be how she went, she might as well go. What was left for her in the land of the living after all? Her chest burned as the last of her air left her lungs in a few bubbles before it all faded to black.
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Rosalie was surrounded by a space of nothingness. It was pitch black as far as the eye could see and it was cold, damp, and she was alone. Was this the afterlife? No heaven or hell but just pure loneliness? She supposed that was what she deserved. To be dammed to spend the rest of her life alone until even her consciousness would lose shape.[break][break]

How did she get here? How did she end up like this really? She knew the answer but she couldn't help but still have regrets. If only she'd suggested her brother attend a different university. If only she called her brother home weeks before they lost contact. If she'd convinced her parents to stay home and instead hire talented individuals to bring her brother home would they still be alive?[break][break]

What about when Rocket captured her after murdering her family right before her eyes? Why didn't she just follow suit? Why was she such a coward? How could she make the choice to live knowing that she'd be force to do unspeakable things to people in the process? Was it her hatred for the murderers of her family?[break][break]

What about when she found solace in Cillian Quinn and Caelan? Befriended the enemy? What about the moments she found pleasure in her job? Like when she worked beside Zev Harcourt and drank their praises after every successful hunt. What about how nowadays she was still nothing but a dirty traitor? A filthy liar. She readily took a task from the enemy and actively decided to hurt Caleb, someone she'd grown to...[break][break]

She didn't deserve to feel sorry for herself.[break][break]

On the outside, as her team members worried for her, as she rested in Caleb's arms, her body was still and her limbs were cold. In fact, the hue of her skin actively paled as her blood cooled and almost a supernatural frost began to slowly coat her body. Just like Gunner before, a pool of light began to gather and collect right above her body. Her soul beginning to shed from her body to move on to the afterlife. Try as they might, nothing seemed to be working. No CPR, no medicine, and no heal seemed to be stopping the deathly frost that was slowly crawling up Rosie's body to encase her in a tomb of ice.[break][break]

Muffled sobs echoed in the world in-between life and death. Rosie's body trembled as she lamented at her wasted life, at least until she felt a frim hand on her shoulder. Her sobs paused for a moment as she looked up to see her father's hand on her shoulder. "P-Papa?" she muttered in disbelief as she wiped at her face.[break][break]

Behind him her mother looked at her with an empathizing gaze and her brother stepped and knelt down to take her hand. Unlike the illusions from before, even though they didn't say anything just yet, she felt they were real. Suddenly guilt washed over her again as she felt wrong to suddenly feel relief in their presence. [break][break]

"Rose, look at me." Nico called out to her just like he used to whenever she'd have one of her crying fits when she was younger. "You're still the same old crybaby." he chuckled softly before pulling her into his arms. Slowly the rest of her family surrounded her to comfort her which only made Rosie cry more.[break][break]

"I don't deserve this. I'm a monster." she managed to croak out. "I don't want you guys to see me like this." she said as she covered her face in her hands. She felt her mother's reassuring hand on her back and her brother tightened his hug around her. It was her father that finally spoke up after a moment of silence. [break][break]

"So are you just going to feel sorry for yourself?" he asked in a firm voice. "Charles..." she heard her mother call out but he paid her no mind. Rosie sniffed as she looked up at him. "What?" she blinked, confused. "Are you gonna continue to pity yourself or are you going to do something about it?" he asked again. "What happened to that grit you used to have? That stubborn determination? The will to fight?"[break][break]

"What would I fight for anyway?" Rosie muttered as she looked down at her hands. "Your life!" her father shouted and she stared up at him. "You think feeling sorry for yourself is going to erase the things you've done? It won't. And if you feel as sorry as you say you are you should be working to fix the issue not letting it fester out of control."[break][break]

Rosie pressed her lips into a firm line. "Atonement." her father said as she gently pushed his son away and pulled Rosie to her feet. "You don't deserve peace, not after everything you've done. But you do have a chance to make things right. To spend the rest of your life working to pay for the wrong you've done. That's what you fight for. Because otherwise, that's how they win."[break][break]

In that moment the dark space around them shifted and changed. An explosion of light took over and suddenly Rosie found herself and her family smack dab in the middle of a meadow of flowers. She turned back to look at her father who's hard and steady gaze never left her. "I know you have the heart to do the right thing."[break][break]

He was right. She didn't want to be coddled, she didn't want to be comforted. She needed someone to speak to her frankly and put her back on the right track. And to above all remind her what she was fighting for and who she was fighting against. It was easy to give into despair but she was thankful for the vote of confidence her father gave her. [break][break]

"Thank you." she said as she looked back at her family. A strong gust of wind began to pick up blowing the flower petals all around them. At the edge of the meadow was a shimmering door. "Go, you don't belong here." her brother called out as he gave her a gentle push. Rosie stumbled forward about to leave before quickly turning around to give her family a hug. [break][break]

"I love you guys." she said and as they all embraced one last time they all chimed in, "We love you too." Rosie wasn't going to live for the League or Rocket anymore. She was going to live for herself and do the right thing according to her. For so long she'd been waiting for someone to give her permission to do so when she had the power to do so herself all along. As she exited through the shimmering door she was blinded by light before muffled sounds began to ring in her ear. [break][break]

Just like with Gunner, the light began to return to her body and the ice and frost melted from her limbs. Slowly color returned to Rosie's skin and a rhythmic pulse returned to her heart. Rosalie coughed up water before gasping for air. Her left hand clutching onto Caleb before she finally managed to crack her eyes open. "You...saved me. Thank you." she said as she glanced up at Caleb's worried face.
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