53 | LONG LIVE |

"WE'RE ALL DEAD," Alec declared to himself as he surveyed the group of vampires and half breeds all gathered in the living room of the Cullen's house.

Although the room was filled with gifted vampires from all over the globe, Alec knew they weren't enough. All he saw were prizes Aro could pick and choose from. Benjamin of the Egyptian coven was an obvious target—Alec had never seen a person manipulate all four elements; Zafrina of the Amazon coven, her ability to project a vision into others' minds was comparable to Alec's paralysis. Of the other animal-drinking coven of Denali, of the five, Alec predicted Aro would collect Kate for her touch of electric shock, or Faith, their newest member, for her ability to make people relive their worst nightmares.

"This is the largest gathering of allied vampires I've ever seen," Garrett retorted defensively.

"Way to be optimistic, man," Faith, the red-haired Denali scoffed. Tanya patted the new vegetarian's shoulder supportively, shooting an annoyed look at Alec.

"My armies were half this size and I conquered the south," Maria crossed her arms arrogantly. She had arrived earlier that day, aggravated she had to follow Rory's command, but she was tolerable enough. Peter and Charlotte glared at her every chance they got.

"We are not fighting the Volturi," Carlisle said sternly to the war-ready vampires.

"You still think they'll listen?" Vladimir smacked his lips together in disbelief. He traded a shocked look with Stefan.

Stefan sneered at everyone, "When Aro wants someone from a coven it's never long before evidence turns up proving that coven committed some crime. You have several people he wants, the psychic, the mind controller, even his own bloody witch twin. He won't be merciful."

"So he's done this before?" Bella turned to Alec, their primary source on the Volturi's strategies and motives.

Alec had offered to teach them all how to fight, but Carlisle turned it down on the principal that no fight would be necessary. Alec thought they were all fools, but didn't push the matter.

"It happens so rarely, but yes," Alec confirmed in a bored tone. "With Chelsea, the one who keeps the guard loyal and obedient to the Volturi. Grayson, the lie detector, belonged to the London coven before they were found 'enslaving' werewolves. And with Demetri. You think World War I was a coincidence?"

Eleazer gasped in shock. "I never realized it was a pattern."

"Apparently he always pardons one person whose thoughts he claims are repentant," Edward said sourly. "This person always has an ability. And they're always given a place with the Guard." He looked at Alec, who nodded in confirmation.

Bella frowned deeply. "This is all about Rory."

"Actually," Alec corrected the newborn, "It's about the psychic, Alice. He has no one like her. Aurora and I are on the naughty list—he'll kill us to keep her." He was already resigned to his fate—he only hoped to cause as much damage to his old coven before it all ended.

"Which is why they all left," Rosalie pointed out. Emmett rubbed her shoulders comfortingly. They were all missing their absent family members.

Carmen stepped up. "Why does he need witnesses?"

"To spread the word that justice has been served," Alec answered sarcastically, his eyes darkening with anger at his former coven. "After he slaughters an entire coven."

The Egyptian stood to his feet, pulling alongside his mate as he moved to the backdoor in a hurry, "Benjamin, Tia—we're leaving."

"And where will you go? What makes you think they'll be satisfied with my sisters?" Edward called out after the retreating Egyptian. The bronze haired vampire shook his head, "What's to stop them from going after Benjamin next? Or Zafrina or Kate or Faith or anyone else with a gift? Anyone they want. Their goal isn't punishment, it's power. It's acquisition."

"Took you all a lot longer to get the gist," Alec rolled his eyes.

"Carlisle might not ask you to fight, but I will. For the sake of my family," Edward continued, glancing at his daughter and wife. "But also for yours. And for the way you want to live."

The room went quiet. They hadn't realized what they were getting into fully. They thought it was a confrontation. No one realized it could be a revolution.

"The packs will fight," Jacob was the first to break the silence. He crossed his arms, "We've never been afraid of vampires."

"We will fight," Faith spoke for the Denali coven. She exchanged a nod with the other golden-eyed vampires, who were proud of their newest member's assertiveness.

Garrett glanced over at Kate and stood as well. "This won't be the first time I fought a king's rule."

"We'll join you," Ben smiled at Edward with his mate.

"No," Amun shook his head.

Ben clenched his jaw as he stared at his creator. "I will do the right thing, Amun."

"You may do as you please," Carlisle reassured them, but hopefully, because he knew the more support they had, the more likely they would make it through.

"We will stand with you," Scots declared.

The Amazonian sisters stood proudly. "So will we."

Around the room, each witness pledged to fight and witness, even if they all died, they at least died in honor. It was inspiring and full of optimism.

Jacob blinked at the crowd. "That didn't take much."

"In the meantime," Alec surveyed the crowd, stepping up with a cocky demeanor, "allow me to educate you all on how to not embarrass yourselves while on the battlefield."

"Take away the pretty boy's magic mist and then we'll see who's the embarrassment," Faith snorted, sizing the ex-Volturi guard.

Alec sneered at the girl. "Gladly."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Carlisle interrupted, ever the peace-maker.

Edward looked around the room, proud that they had a real chance at winning. "We'll see."

➖

"A century and a half ago, I lived with my people, the Mapuche," Huilen said to the group as they waited for the sun to go down.

It was still too risky, even knowing time was ticking, but they had too much to lose to make a foolish mistake now. Rory leaned on Jasper's shoulder as they sat in Huilen and Nahuel's hut. Alice listened attentively to the tale, recognizing every word as evidence for their case.

"My sister was Pire, named after the snow on the mountains because of her fair skin. And she was very beautiful—too beautiful. One day she told me of an angel that found her in the woods, that visited her by night. I warned her." Huilen shook her head mournfully. "As if the bruises on her skin were not warning enough. I knew it was the Libishomen of our legends, but she would not listen."

"She told me when she was sure her dark angel's child was growing inside her. I helped her run away into the deepest parts of the forest—I knew even our father and mother would agree that the child must be destroyed, Pire with it. She searched for her demon angel but found nothing," she spat out, infuriated by the memory.

Nahuel let out a small growl at the mention of his father. "My father came looking for me a few years after my mother's death. I had two sisters—three now— but then, he was surprised by a male. He expected me to follow him like the others." He made no attempt to disguise the disgust in his tone. His handsome face distorted slightly. "I see him from time to time, but I have no desire to join a man who abandoned my mother when we needed him."

Jasper looked at Huilen, his mind abound with curiosity. "How did you become like us? Did Joham turn you?"

Huilen shook her head and glanced at her nephew, "Nahuel bit me when I tried to lift him from my sister's body. I crawled away to die—not getting very far mind the agony—but Nahuel, even as a newborn babe, followed me and was sleeping by my side when I awoke."

"You have venom?" Rory asked Nahuel in surprise. "Even your sisters?"

"No, they are not venomous, but whether that's due to gender or a random chance...who knows?" Nahuel shrugged. "I assume your niece is not venomous then either?"

"No, she likes to bite Jake and he seems fine enough," Rory snorted as she remembered the little girl's habit of biting her Imprint every time she wanted food, wanted attention, or was bored.

"Jake?" Nahuel raised his brow.

"My stepbrother who is also my niece's...never mind," Rory shook her head in disdain. "It's way too complicated to explain it all right of this moment."

➖

The pile of dry wood Jacob had managed to gather promptly caught on fire after Benjamin happily tossed a fireball on it. Jacob sat next to the vampire and his shy mate on a log, smiling at the makeshift bonfire. "That's what I'm talkin' about. A little pre-battle bonfire. Telling war stories," Jacob warmed his hands above the flames. "Or just standing there like frickin' statues," he snorted, his gaze landing on Alec and a majority of the others.

Since deciding to join each other in arms, they trained and practiced and prepared for battle. Now, they were ready for whatever was to come. Like Alice had predicted, the snow stuck to the ground just before the new year and rumors of the Volturi's arrival was anticipated within the next day. They had all decided to set up camp in the woods next to the baseball field, heeding her warning.

Garrett plopped onto the next log. "Name any American battle—I was there." He pointed at his chest with his thumb proudly.

Jacob thought for a second. "Little Bighorn."

Garrett smirked, "I came this close to biting Custer," he pinched his thumb and index finger together before pouting, "But the lndians got him first."

Kate appeared on Garrett's lap. "Try Oleg's assault on Constantinople. He didn't win that one on his own."

"If you're talking battles, you're talking the Eleven Years' War," Liam, a lie detector from Ireland, joined in the group around the bonfire. "No one does rebellion like the Irish."

"You lost the Eleven Years' War," Faith pointed out.

"Aye," he nodded with a roguish grin. "But it was one hell of a rebellion.

"That's nothing—human wars were nothing compared to the vampire ones," Maria interjected, perching on top of a nearby boulder. "I reigned over the south for decades before the Volturi outlawed newborn armies. Suddenly they were too much of a risk, bah, those newborns were too stupid to try me." She rolled her eyes annoyedly.

Charlotte scoffed, glaring at the Mexican vampire, "Puh-lease, we all know those armies failed when Jasper left you. No one was actually scared of you."

"Burn," Emmett guffawed with Rosalie settled on his lap.

Maria sniffed in disdain, narrowing her gaze at her old newborn soldiers. "Yet you and your mate ran from me for two decades before you realized I didn't care about two insignificant vampires."

"Yeah, because you were too busy running from the Volturi," Alec spoke up, causing most of the group to stare at him.

It still bewildered them that the witch twin had left the coven they were facing when morning came. A few were still paranoid he was playing a trick. Some were very interested in the so called emotionless shadow.

"When we ruled, everything came to us," Vladimir sneered, garnering everyone's attention to the old rulers of the vampire world. "Prey, diplomats, favor seekers. Such was our power."

"But we never put on white hats and called ourselves saints." Stefan raised his chin, "We were honest about what we were."

Vladimir and Stefan glared at Alec as they spoke. Alec simply leaned against the tree casually, and raised his brow challengingly. They wouldn't do shit.

"We sat still for a very long time," Vladimir glanced at his skin, "We didn't notice we were beginning to petrify."

"Perhaps the Volturi did you a favor when they burned your castles," Alec drawled playfully.

For a moment, the others feared an altercation, until Stefan merely laughed.

Vladimir huffed and pointed at Alec, "We've been waiting 1,500 years to return that favor. We have been ready to do battle for ages."

Alec smirked, gesturing broadly, "Burn them all."

Maria looked across the fire, meeting his gaze boldly. "Even your sister?" she asked curiously. She had heard of the famous witch twins, untouchable and inseparable.

Alec stiffened, in all the haste and chaos, he had nearly forgotten of his twin, what his leaving her alone meant. Never mind it was the right thing to do, the twins never in a thousand years had been apart for so long. Something about it all was wrong. Instead of answering her question, he lowered his gaze to the fire.

➖

They were somewhere between Guatemala and Mexico, having hardly stopped since leaving Peru in attempt to make it to Forks before the Volturi. They only stopped to feed and regain their strength for the upcoming confrontation.

"It's New Year's Eve, Ali," Rory said a little bitter of another holiday away from home, "We already missed Christmas. We're going to miss the bloody confrontation, too."

"Sweetheart, once we get this over with, we'll celebrate Christmas everyday if you want," Jasper kissed her cheek and Rory sighed, knowing she should stop being so bratty.

"I'm sorry, I'm just stressed," Rory apologized. "I guess it's just hard to wrap my mind around this being it, this is it. For once, I'm not running away from something. I'm running toward the danger, toward the fight."

It was difficult to deal with how fast everything was happening, but Rory had to suck it up. She had a feeling what would happen on the field would change everything. Rory was determined to ensure her family and friend's survival through the storm.

"We didn't travel this far for you to lose hope now," Huilen remarked sharply. "Get yourself together."

Rory nodded slowly. "We either win or die trying," she whispered to herself.

"How long do we have left?" Nahuel asked Alice.

Alice bit her lip worriedly. "The Volturi will arrive in hours, but we're too far away."

Rory smiled reassuringly, her confidence renewing with the realization they had nothing left to lose and everything to fight for. She glanced at the setting sun. "Like I said, we already missed the holidays, might as well be fashionably late."

➖

"The redcoats are coming, the redcoats are coming," Garrett muttered under his breath as the Volturi appeared on the horizon, an approaching storm they were all ready to weather.

All attention was on the Volturi, their display truly impressing to say the least. The outer perimeter was grey; the color darkened with each line of bodies until the heart of the formation was deepest black. The gray-cloaked figures spread to the flanks while the darker forms surged precisely forward in the center, each movement closely controlled. Shades of crimson red fabric flashed from under the heavy over-cloaks of the three masters and the core guards.

Yet, even with the clear color code that divided the group, they moved like a perfect wave, with boundless grace, slow, but deliberate. Impenetrable, unbeatable, and most of all, prepared to destroy everything in its path.

Alec narrowed his eyes, feeling a sense of disgust at the pageantry of it all. It sickened him to think that he was once so proud to be part of the obsidian crowd creeping upon the snow. He knew their true purpose, their true intentions, and he knew in that moment he would do everything in his power to tear it all down, brick by brick, limb from limb, ashes to ashes.

"Do you guys rehearse that?"

Alec looked away from his former coven to Emmett, who stood with Rosalie in the frontline. Everyone was paired off in their covens or mates and Alec had neither. Emmett tilted his head to emphasize how the Volturi had arranged themselves as they neared.

Alec debated not answering the question, but he had nothing to lose, literally. Why the hell not? He met Emmett's questioning stare with a small smirk and gave a small nod in confirmation. "Practice makes perfect."

Under his breath, Emmett chuckled. "I knew it."

"They did come," Vladimir whispered to Stefan, eyeing the sheer number of the nearing group in disbelief.

"The wives," Stefan hissed back. "The entire guard. All of them together. It's well we didn't try Volterra."

And then, as if their numbers were not enough, while the Volturi advanced, more vampires began entering the clearing behind them, all garbed in white. It was easy enough to understand their mindset—their expressions of fury and disgust said it all. This was the angry mob, whipped to a frenzy and slavering for justice they were sure the Volturi would deliver. Most looked like they hoped for more than just an opportunity to witness—they wanted to join in striking down justice.

Everyone settled into a tense silence, staring each other down. Alec's gaze was locked onto Jane's. She was just as focused on him from right beside Aro and the masters, the other core guards surrounding them looked just as angry to see Alec standing with the Cullens.

"Aro's looking for Rory and Alice," Edward whispered, intently reading Aro's thoughts.

The two pieces Aro had come for, had arranged this whole elaborate guise of justice, were missing from action. The thought brought Edward a certain pleasure, although he missed his siblings.

"He found me and he is certainly not happy," Alec muttered under his breath. To his surprise, a few of the others fought to hide their smiles at the comment. Aro, Caius, and Jane looked particularly sour to see him amongst those they believed were guilty.

Garrett nodded at him approvingly. "I never thought I'd appreciate a Benedict Arnold in our midst ever before this glorious moment."

One vampire in the opposing force did not seem to belong to either party; Irina hesitated in between the two companies, her expression of horror unique among the others. Irina's gaze was locked on her family's position in the front line. Alec looked back to see the expressions of the golden-eyed vampires, the girls in particular seemed very upset to see Irina standing with the Volturi.

Aro lowered his hood, causing a domino effect as the other two masters and the rest of the Volturi copied his motion, like puppets on strings.

"Aro," Carlisle stepped forward, projecting his voice as though he was speaking to Aro face to face and not with an entire field between them. "Let us discuss things as we used to, in a civilized manner."

"Fair words, Carlisle," Aro replied, a thin smile spread across his face. His eyes were two red lasers that burned in anger at the allies the Cullens had gathered. "But a little out of place, given the battalion you've assembled against us. Turning my own against me."

Everyone glanced at Alec, who didn't react to the stares. He kept his gaze locked on his sister's. Jane, her expression once fierce and sure, wavered under her brother's stare.

Carlisle shook his head, "I can promise you, that was never my intent." He raised his hands in a peaceful manner.

"For once, Aro," Alec spoke up, his voice filled with resentment, "I am doing what is right."

More than a few cloaked vampires bristled in outrage. Alec's mere support of the Cullens was a grand statement. The Volturi's hostility grew tenfold. Others felt their respect for the former member grow just as much.

"You're defending a girl who isn't even here to explain her actions and a coven who created an immortal child, no worse sin exists," Caius sneered, his lips curled into a fury.

Alec shrugged in response, knowing not saying a word would piss Caius off more than anything else. He had lived with the bastard for a millennia, he would know.

"No laws have been broken," Carlisle said furtively.

"We see the child," Caius pointed at Renesmee who huddled closer to Bella's leg. "Do not treat us as fools."

Carlisle shook his head, "She is not an Immortal! These witnesses can attest to that. Or you can look," the Cullen patriarch added, gesturing to Renesmee. "See the flush of human blood in her cheeks."

Renesmee pressed herself closer to Bella's legs as if she could hide from the hundreds of eyes on her.

"Artifice!"

"I will collect every facet of the truth," Aro interceded before Caius did something more drastic. He walked forward from the array, staring at the person who started it all. "But from someone more central to the story. Edward, as the child clings to your newborn mate, I assume you are involved."

Edward nodded, giving Bella and Renesmee one last look before crossing the distance to meet Aro. The minute it took was filled with a tension, both side ready to snap at the slightest wrong movement. As soon as Edward was before Aro, he gladly offered the tactile telepathic his hand to show him the truth.

Aro's eyes snapped open after a few minutes. Behind him, his coven was eager to hear the verdict. But instead, Aro looked past Edward, and at the young girl attempting to brave the scrutiny. "I'd like to meet her," Aro said, releasing Edward's hand as his eyes filled with curiosity.

Without any hesitation, Bella held Renesmee's hand as they began walking forward, Jacob at her side, and Emmett joining the group for added protection. Soon, they all stood before Aro and the Volturi. The danger was impalpable.

Aro grinned as Bella joined Edward's side protectively. "Ah. Young Bella. Immortality becomes you."

His gaze landed on the small girl between Edward and Bella. Up close, the other vampires could not deny the child was undeniably living, her heartbeat fast as a hummingbird, her warmth filling her cheeks, the blood in her veins. It was unarguable proof. She was not an Immortal Child.

Renesmee met his stare with a raised chin, remembering her aunt's words to never allow a man to intimidate her.

Aro giggled boisterously as he faced the hybrid child. He bent down a little to meet her eye to eye. "I hear her strange heart."

"Hello, Aro," Renesmee said softly, but as confidently as she could manage. He reached out to take her hand, but instead, she swiftly placed her palm on his cheek. A power move her aunt Rory would be proud of. She focused on projecting her memories of her life to the man who would decide her family's fate.

His eyes went blank as she showed him the truth. After a moment, Aro gasped, "Magnifico!" and stepped back to face his coven. He was smiling, yet his eyes were filled with irritation.

"Half mortal, half immortal. Conceived and carried by this newborn while she was still human." He gestured to Bella who brought Renesmee closer to her. Aro smiled again. "Not created by the venom of any present or missing vampire here today."

"Impossible!" Caius snarled.

Aro glared at the platinum blond. "Do you think they fooled me, brother?"

They went quiet as Bella ushered Renesmee and Edward to retreat, seeing it best not to be in grabbing distance when the Volturi made their decision. Jacob snarled and growled before following the family.

"Bring the informer forward," Caius demanded, turning to face Irina as two guards shoved her forward. "Is that the child you saw?" he asked impatiently.

"I-I'm not sure," Irina stammered, her eyes darting back and forth.

"Jane."

Jane lifted her chin, but before she could do anything, Irina spoke up, "—She's changed. This child is bigger," she admitted, looking from Renesmee to Caius.

"Then your allegations were false," Caius hissed, his voice cold and callous.

"The Cullens are innocent," she declared, "I take full responsibility for my mistake." The blonde looked across the field, making eye contact with her sisters as she said, "I'm sorry."

Caius signaled to the guards and without much gusto, Irina's arms and head were ripped off simultaneously. Bella moved to cover her daughter's innocent eyes, to protect her from the impeding horrors as best as she could.

"Caius, no!" Edward shouted as Caius grabbed a lit torch and emblazoned Irina's body.

"Irina!" The Denali coven rushed forward in horror and vengeance and pain.

"Blind them!" Edward barked as Kate, Tanya, and Faith made way to attack the Volturi, which would be enough reason for the Volturi to begin the battle.

Before Zafrina could interfere, the Denali sisters were enveloped in a paralyzing smoke. Alec ignored the astonished whispers as he concentrated on keeping the three from attacking the Volturi.

Garret tackled Kate who tried to run forward blindly, despite his eyes rolling back in agony from her electric shock, he held her down.

"Give me my sight back," Tanya demanded, looking lost as Eleazer and Carmen held her down.

"Don't be stupid," Alec muttered to a struggling Faith.

"Tanya, this is what they want," Edward whispered to her calmingly, "If you attack now, we'll all die."

Seeing the girls had calmed down, Alec released them from his gift. The frontline reassembled again and they looked forward despite the pain of losing their own.

A little peeved that the Denali coven had stopped, Aro gave Jane a look. She nodded and surveyed who to inflict pain on in the Cullens side. She targeted Edward first and the man crumbled to his knees.

Bella snarled, but she had expected the other side to try this strategy Alec had warned them of. The Volturi were trying to trigger an attack so they had an excuse to retaliate. Instead, Bella closed her eyes and focused on expanding her shield until Edward stood again. He walked back to Bella's side.

Jane faltered in surprise. She blinked and tried again, this time aiming for Esme, then Amun, Benjamin, the wolves; but her efforts were futile. Bella had successfully shielded her family and friends. The corner of her mouth lifted as she made eye contact with a mystified Jane.

"It's working," Edward muttered proudly.

Aro raised his hand to stop Jane. He was impressed, inferring what had happened easily. Greed gleamed in his eyes.

"Aro," Carlisle spoke again, not liking the extended time, "you see there's no law broken here."

"Agreed." Aro allowed himself to nod. The Cullens and their allies looked happy, optimistic it was all over, until Aro turned to face his coven and witnesses, a contemplative express on his face. "But does it then follow that there is no danger? For the first time in our history humans pose a threat to our kind. Their modern technology has given birth to weapons that could destroy us. Maintaining our secret has never been more imperative. In such perilous times, only the known is safe. Only the known is tolerable."

"Oh, cut the shit, Aro."

Both sides let out sounds of astonishment and shock. From the forest between the two parties, emerged a lone figure appeared dressed in a red leather jacket, black turtleneck, black jeans, and stiletto boots. She smirked darkly as all eyes landed on her.

"Rory?" Edward smiled widely at the sight.

Both sides of the battle turned their attention onto her, the elusive Aurora, the mind controller. She had returned and she was not alone.

Alec let out a sigh of relief at her appearance, glad he wouldn't die without seeing her one last time. The Cullens were filled with happiness and renewed hope at their families return.

"Aurora!" Aro looked like he had just won the lottery even though she had just disrespected him to his face. He clapped in elation. "There you are, my girl, I must say I've missed you dearly since you disappeared all those months ago. We were all beginning to worry you wouldn't make it. But alas, here you are."

"I'm sure you were all broken up about it," she retorted dryly.

She received even more shocked looks for her feisty response. Those who had never met Rory were certainly receiving an accurate first impression of her character.

Aro's smile faltered at her disrespect, but grew once more as he spotted Alice and Jasper behind her. "And you've brought your mate and the lovely Alice as well. We're so glad to see you all here, what a joyous reunion."

Unbeknownst to everyone, they had been ensuring Nahuel and Huilen waited far behind in case things went wrong before they could provide their evidence. Rory chose to interrupt the confrontation first for the drama of it all.

They all held matching fierce expressions as they made their way across the snowy field, past their family and allies, as they headed straight for the Volturi. The trio made sure to give them reassuring looks as they continued forward. They were stopped by a barricade of guards when they got close enough to the core guard and masters.

"I have evidence the child won't be a risk to our kind," Alice spoke to Aro directly. "Let me show you."

Aro nodded to the guards and Alice was let through. However, Rory and Jasper were separated and restrained.

Demetri glared at Rory in particular, so infuriated by her presence that he gave her a little slap, "That's for being a pain in my ass these last few months."

On the opposite side, more than a few Cullens and Alec hissed at the action.

Rory rolled her eyes, but Jasper growled at Demetri threateningly. He attempted to free himself to defend Rory's honor, but his efforts were futile against Felix's strength. The tracker merely laughed, not realizing he had increased the target on his head.

Alice didn't stop until she was face to face with the Volturi king. They had one shot, everything was at stake, there was no time to look back.

"Ah, Alice, it's wonderful to meet again," Aro smiled creepily as he wrapped his hands over hers.

As Alice showed Aro her false vision, hoping it would scare him enough to not focus on the details, Rory fought a sinking feeling in her gut.  When the vision finished, Aro looked horrified, clearly he didn't want what Alice and Rory had been able to craft on the way to Forks to occur.

"Now, you know," Alice said harshly, pulling her hand back to herself. "That's your future. Unless you decide on another course."

Caius frowned as Aro remained silent and in shock. "Brother?"

"I trust you'll make the right decision as the Volturi always does. We'll give you a moment to reassess," Rory grinned broadly, surveying the Volturi smugly. "Until then, release us and get the hell out of my way. I have people to see, things to do."

The few guards who were holding her and Jasper instantly released them and parted to allow the trio to leave. Rory strutted past the whole guard and Volturi, with her mate and their best friend right behind her, across the field to her family's side, completely unscathed.

"She's a breath of fresh air," Stefan grinned as the faces of the Volturi showcased their animosity at Rory's utter disrespect.

Alec chuckled. "Damn right she is."

Once Rory got close enough, she broke into a run, focused only on her family. Those who watched smiled as Rory, Jasper, and Alice reunited with the Cullens. Bella and Rory hugged tightly, she kissed the top of Renesmee's head, ruffled Jacob's fur, gave Edward a hug, then moved onto embrace Esme, Carlisle, Rosalie, and Emmett. She felt alright again with her entire family beside her.

Rory looked at the person standing beside Emmett in shock. "Alec? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Oh, okay, I get it," Garrett chuckled quietly, watching the emotionless shadow become somewhat human as he spoke to the mind controller. "I, too, would leave the Volturi and everything I've known, for a woman like her."

Kate turned her head so quickly to glare at Garrett. She narrowed her eyes as he shrugged innocently. "She's hot."

"I took your advice," Alec murmured as Rory wrapped her arms around him. "It got kind of boring without you around."

Rory smiled and stood beside him, Jasper and Alice joining as well once they finished greeting the Cullens. Rory looked around at the allies they had made, waving and smiling at them as well (besides Maria, who Rory simply made eye contact with and nodded).

"They're at a lost on what to decide," Edward whispered as he read the other side's thoughts.

Everyone quieted down as they waited for the decision. The three masters looked across the field, signifying they had decided. Oddly enough, Marcus looked more unhappy than usual. The pit in Rory's stomach grew worse.

"We cannot alter our course," Caius announced sternly. "The child still poses a grave threat."

"But what if you were sure she could remain concealed from the human world?" Edward couldn't fight the smile on his lips as he read the thoughts around him. "Could we leave in peace?"

"Of course," Aro replied, "But that cannot be known."

"Actually," Alice interjected with a mischievous grin, "it can."

"What the hell have you been up to?" Emmett looked at the trio.

"We made a few friends for the holidays," Jasper grinned, tightening his grip on Rory's hand.

Rory smirked, turned around, and let out a low whistle.

When Nahuel and Huilen stepped onto the snow, Rory hoped both peaceful plans would work out and Plan C wouldn't have to come to play.

"We have enough witnesses," Caius retorted angrily as the two stopped a few feet before the Volturi's frontline.

"Let him speak, brother," Marcus said, nodding at the hybrid.

"I am Nahuel, and this is my aunt Huilen, I am half-mortal, half-immortal, like the child." Nahuel nodded at his aunt solemnly, placing his hand on her shoulder, as they shared their life story.

Rory carefully watched Aro's reaction to Nahuel and Huilen's past, proving hybrids have long existed along the human and vampire world. Nahuel answered each question with ease. To his credit, Aro acted like he had truly never heard of the possibility of hybrids.

Complete bullshit.

"How fascinating," Aro said lightly as Huilen and Nahuel walked to the Cullen's side of the field. Bella wrapped the two new additions within her mental shield.

"These children are much like us," Marcus smiled softly.

"Regardless, the Cullens have been consorting with werewolves. Our natural enemies." Caius was truly scraping the bottom of the barrel to try and pin any crime that would stick.

"They aren't even true werewolves, they're shapeshifters," Edward clarified. "They are not beholden to the moon as much as we are to the sun."

Caius bared his teeth, annoyed their last straw had been pulled. Something in Aro's mind clicked.

"Is that so?" Aro tilted his head as he looked at the giant wolves growling behind the vampires in interest. After a moment, he turned around again to converse with his coven. "Dear ones, I believe we have all witnessed much today. It is clear the truth will always prevail and bring proper justice..."

Then, slowly, as Aro spoke to his people, horror crept on Edward's face. The mind reader turned his head to say one word to Jacob. "Run."

Bella froze, glancing at her daughter and best friend. "Take care of my daughter," she murmured as she looked at Renesmee one last time. Bella's hands went to her mouth to cover her sob as Jacob turned and ran away with Renesmee clutched tight on his back.

Rory zeroed in on Aro's face, whose previous look of defeat had faded into unbridled amusement. Shit. Plan C it was. Rory cracked her knuckles in preparation.

Everyone was confused on what had happened, they had all believed the Volturi would let them go free. They looked to the mind reader for clarity. Edward grabbed Bella's hand and speaking to everyone, he muttered, "He knows."

"Well, fuck," Esme said under her breath to everyone's surprise as she tightened her grip on her mate's hand. Carlisle gave her a concerned look as they all tuned in on Aro's next words.

Aro was shaking his head disappointedly as he surveyed the opposing group of the confused Cullens and their allies. "That was a nice trick, Alice, dear," Aro announced with a malicious smirk. Alice let out a cry of frustration and horror, she had not seen this coming. Rory squeezed her hand supportingly, they had tried their best. "But you said so yourself—you cannot see the futures of any sort of half-breeds." He had dropped the friendly act, which was a very, very bad sign. "I admit that was a clever idea, but I digress."

Aro smiled happily.

"Kill them all."

➖

FINAL CHAPTER UPDATE:

100 LIKES 50 COMMENTS

one of the things that always irked me about alice's false vision is that if aro could see every thought, he wouldve also known that it was impossible for alice to see the future of any wolf or hybrid, from both alice, edward, and anyone else whose mind aro read. this is aso inspired by the youtube video "How Breaking Dawn shouldve ended" where they animate the movie and fix/adjust the original ending to account for plot holes lmaoo

also i was tired of reading the same twilight fanfic ending over and over again, all tea all shade, yall writers need to fr add more plot twists instead of the same boring bella 2.0 plotline you give your original character 🐸☕

yall im lowkey hurt that chapter 52's goals werent met even tho like a thousand ppl read it 🙃 but im also bored rn so im updating this chapter w major cliffhanger. watch me not update the final chapter for a month since yall wanna keep playing 🤧🤧