I figured I owed you guys a happy reunion. (One of many) :)
Zion walks back to the kids' hideout, putting his hand up to lift the curtain, but doesn't move. Despite his intentions, all he said was true. All except that one lie, he did need Finn. It seemed no matter how many times he said it, it was still a cover. He sighs and lifts the curtain. He looks around the dark place and sorts through his memories. He runs his fingers on the claw marks Finn left, thinking.
Zion: It was worth it... And I don't regret anything I did with them. [He pictures a younger Finn and Zion in the corner]
Young Zion: Hungry? [His past self is leaned on the wall, watching Finn eat greedily, smiling at them]
Young Finn: How'd you guess?
Young Zion: [He shrugs] Just a hunch. How'd you find this place?
Young Finn: It's not exactly a top secret hideout.
Young Zion: I guess that works. [He holds out a hand] I'm Zion. You?
Young Finn: [They get up and shake his hand] Finn.
Young Zion: Well, Finn. What do ya say we get you some more food?
Young Finn: Really? [Their eyes light up and Zion smiles]
Young Zion: How good are you at acting? [Young Finn giggles and they walk out of the hideout]
Present Zion sits on the floor with mixed motions. He enjoyed the memory, but he still didn't like replaying it. He'd been faithful to them for all these years. If that was true he would be with them, laughing and joking, plotting their next job. He doesn't feel regret, just guilt. They'd forgotten about him lately, but this wasn't the way to get attention. He stands up and walks out, knowing what to do.
Chris: Zion, what took ya? [Zion enters and puts on a neutral face for him]
Zion: Had some catching up to do.
Chris: Ehh. When do we go?
Zion: Right now. [He whistles and the other kids come running] Listen up. Were going to someplace new. [They all get excited, thinking of the havoc they could cause, which Zion considers] I have some rules for you first. No stealing. [They all groan] No straying. [Read makes a face] No teasing them.
Nico: Aw man.
Zion: And most importantly. [He decides to end on a funny note] No flirting. [The boys laugh and Read snickers, while Lily rolls her eyes] Okay, now that that's covered. Let's go!
The kids follow Zion out with renewed curiosity as the head to the Rose Mansion. They gasp and Zion knocks on the door. Regina answers.
Regina: State your name. [She looks at all the children and sighs tiredly, revising her greeting] Names and business.
Zion: I'm Zion. This is Read, Chris, Nico, Lily, Luke, and Dash. [He gestures to each of them as he says their names] And we're here to see the twins.
Regina: [Under her breath] Honestly, what did I expect? [Louder where they can hear] Right this way.
She lets them enter first and follows them as she leads them to the twins' room. Luke tries to shift his yellow scales to blend in to the brown wall to steal a watch, but Zion sees his eyes and drags him away. Luke holds his arm as his scales shift back to their sandy yellow color. They arrive and Regina opens the door. The twins turn around quickly and the kids come in. All the boys, except for Zion, whistle and Lily elbows Luke. Phoenix ignores the others and runs up to Zion, hugging him tightly.
Phoenix: Zion! [He returns the hug and forces himself to stay calm]
Boys: Ooh... Z's got a girlfriend. [Phoenix looks over his shoulder and glares at them]
Phoenix: I'm not his girlfriend. [She steps back by her sister]
Destiny: I won't correct either side.
Phoenix: I hate you. [She sits on her bed]
Destiny: I figured that out when you tried to strangle me at birth.
Phoenix: I should've.
Zion: I bought some new friends for you.
Chris: Now I understand the rules.
Zion: [Laughs] Cool it, Chris.
Twins: [Suspicious] What rules?
All the boys: Nothing. [Lily shakes her head]
Lily: I'm embarrassed to be associated with these boys.
Destiny: Oh, you brought a girl.
Lily: What did you think I was, food?
Destiny: Well, if it comes to an apocalypse, I'm not ruling that out as an option. [She gives her her best terrifying smile and Lily becomes afraid that's a threat]
Lily: That's crazy!
Phoenix: Nah, it's called survival instincts.
Luke: Uhh... You're joking, right?
Destiny: Are we? [He gulps and changes his scales to match the purple wall]
Zion: [Steps between the girls and his group] An empty threat, that's all it is. [Luke's scales change back to yellow, but he doesn't look too reassured]
Destiny: [Her tone changes to accusing and she steps up to him] Where have you been? We haven't heard from you in days.
Zion: That's what I was coming to tell you. [He looks at the others and whispers] Can we bring the others outside so we can talk? [Destiny considers his request and opens the window]
Destiny: You losers know how to climb down?
Chris: Just watch me.
He runs to the window and jumps. Destiny, expecting him to fall on his face, is a little surprised when he lands on the fence. She watches him, with little apparent interest, as he swiftly climbs down and lands on the grass, smiling.
Destiny: Not bad.
She thinks for a second and smiles as she crouches on the windowsill, judging how far it is from the ground. She jumps and grabs a nearby vine to swing on. She lets go and nearly lands perfectly, until she feels something catch her. Chris is holding her and she becomes a little annoyed.
Chris: You okay?
Destiny: I'm fine. [She shoves him down to the ground as she stands up] I do it everyday and I would've done fine without you. [Lily laughs from the window and Chris shoots her a look she doesn't catch] Hurry up, slowpokes. [She gives him one last look of annoyance and rolls her eyes, scoffing, as she sits on the bench in the corner]
They each jump down and tease the ones remaining. Lily and Read are the last ones, letting the others go first to not show that they're afraid. Destiny finally looks at them, getting impatient, waiting for Zion to talk.
Chris: Come on, Read! Are you really gonna let a girl beat you? [Read looks down, calculating the safest, but less shameful way down] Get on with it!
Luke extends his arms below and nods. Lily jumps down and he catches her, setting her down and smiles at his catch. Read sighs, not wanting to look like a wimp and starts to jump, but he looses his footing and falls. Destiny spots this and runs to catch him. Read is surprised that the ground doesn't hurt him and opens his eyes, shocked that Destiny caught him.
Read: Um... Thanks.
Destiny: Yeah. [She notices everyone staring and she drops him, playing it cool] Next time, don't close your eyes. [He nods, not saying a word]
Everyone else: Read and Destiny sitting in a tree- [They both turn red]
Destiny: Finish that sentence and I will personally dig your graves! [Everyone looks at Phoenix while Destiny sits on the bench again]
Phoenix: I wouldn't test her.