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Forever Rising Phoenix	By : ImagineLayla131 Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 7147 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE WALKING DEAD FRANCHISE. ALL PROPERTIES OWNED BY FRANK DARABONT, AMC, ROBERT KIRKMAN AND TONY MOORE. NO MONEY/PROFIT IS BEING MADE OFF OF THIS FANFICTION!

Chapter List
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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE WALKING DEAD FRANCHISE, SLEEPING BEAUTY WALTZ/ONCE UPON A DREAM, AND TIME BOMB OR DANCING THROUGH LIFE. ALL PROPERTIES OWNED BY FRANK DARABONT AND AMC (TELEVISION SERIES), ROBERT KIRKMAN AND TONY MOORE (COMIC BOOK SERIES), PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY, THE OLD 97'S, AND STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, RESPECTIVELY. I ONLY OWN MY OWN ORIGINAL IDEAS AND CHARACTERS.
WARNING: LANGUAGE, SOME VIOLENCE, FEELS, AND SEXUAL INNUENDOS!
Chapter Twenty Seven: From One Sister to Another
Something terrifying had take place amongst them, and even though the initial threat was gone, they knew there would most likely be others out there. The combined speeches were enough to get everybody on the right page. Without saying anything, the rest of them stepped forward and placed their hands together. They were setting out to prove that they were strong united, not divided.
AN HOUR LATER
Everybody stood in a single file line outside of Inventory Range, in the middle of the field across from the solar plant. They had done target practices before, but this one was going to be the most emotional, because the plan was to go deeper than they ever had before. Delilah walked up the line until stopping in the middle, knowing all eyes were on her.
"Ok, raise your hand if you remember your first kill, alive or turned." Pretty much everybody raised their hands.
"Now, I want you to raise your hand if you've had to take out somebody you loved." Delilah watched as quite a few people raised their hand. Rick, Carl, Maggie, Ivan, Brandi. Slowly, Delilah raised her hand as well.
"Lastly, raise your hand if your first kill, alive or turned, was somebody you loved." Only her and Carl raised their hands. The confession brought them closer together in a way. She started walking down the line again. "My first kill was my best friend. I wasn't prepared at all, I was petrified and traumatized, not to mention by myself. If it weren't for a hideous head mold sculpture, I'd be dead, which is why I insist on these training sessions despite our more experienced members, but practice makes perfect. Something bad has already happened, something worse might happen in the future. Either way, you've got to be ready to fight back and defend yourself. You're not always going to be able to rely on somebody else to protect you, you might be alone." Delilah stopped walking when she got to the middle again, watching everybody take her words in. "When you're out there, it's going to be different than it is now. There won't be the music or us cheering you on or yelling to try harder, but it's to help you build confidence and a better mindset. It's so when you do get in a situation, you believe in yourself and your abilities and can properly handle things. Got it?"
She watched them nod and smiled, feeling better that they were grasping the point instead of thinking she was nuts. "Ok, let's get to it! I'll go first. Mac, get the cadavers ready. Rick, you'll time them." Delilah started to walk off when a voice emitted into the air.
"Wait!"
She turned around to see it was Lizzie. "Yes, Lizzie? Did you have a question?"
"Yeah. Why do we have to kill the walkers?" Lizzie was oblivious to the unavoidable questioning glances that everybody threw her way, even Delilah was baffled and figured she was joking.
"Ha ha, very funny." She brushed her off and turned around, figuring her leg was being pulled. "Mac, get the-"
"No! Why? They aren't really dead."
Delilah glanced over at Rick, both of them sharing the same confused yet worried expression. Once again, she faced Lizzie.
"Yes, they really are dead."
"No, they aren't. It's just a second life form, like what Buddha said, they're reincarnated." Lizzie crossed her arms and pursed her lips. Delilah's annoyance at how defiant Lizzie was acting overshadowed how she was impressed with the knowledge.
"You don't reincarnate like that, and this isn't it."
"You're always talking about Phoenixes, you believe in that, why not reincarnation? Give them a chance."
This was the last kind of argument she wanted to be having, because it was obviously a moot point, and Delilah was beginning to get concerned over Lizzie's outlook on the walkers. "Phoenixes are ashes of the firebird rising up, the story doesn't allude to them hurting anybody. This isn't some blockbuster slasher movie where it's only makeup and CGI, this is the world we live in now. Parents, children, friends, pets, animals, relatives, lovers. They aren't who they used to be, they look at us and only see nourishment. They no longer hold any type of human emotion or feelings, we're their prey, not their friends."
Mika spoke up. "Delilah's right, Lizzie. They're dangerous now, it's why Carol had to kill Daddy." Even though she was frightened that she had to kill anything, she had come to accept it because it's what had to be done. Unfortunately, her declaration was met with a menacing glare from her sister.
"Shut up, Mika. You're too young and stupid to know what you're talking about."
This whole scene reminded Delilah of how Christine used to be so nasty, even at that age. Rick and the others could definitely tell that's where her mind was at. It crushed her heart to watch Mika cowering under Lizzie's words, she couldn't let this go on. "I don't want to hear you talking to your sister like that again. You're the only family the two of you have now, you need to stick together. Plus, she's right."
"You're not our mother, and you're not Carol, you can't tell us what to do. I think I know what's best for my sister, better than you do, Delilah."
THANK GOD I'M NOT YOUR MOTHER.
Delilah could feel herself getting even more annoyed, who did this kid think she was? If Delilah dared to talk to her elders the way Lizzie was speaking to her, she would have ended up with a mouthful of soap.
"Lizzie, knock it off." Carl interjected, sparking a stare down between the two. Whatever credibility she had earned with him for grabbing Judith was now gone, she hadn't changed at all. Delilah and Rick exchanged a glance at each other, neither one knowing where the hell this was going.
"Don't tell me to knock it off, or I'll spill your secrets."
His glare intensified. "You wouldn't dare." She shot him a sly look and crossed her arms.
"Yeah, I would." Lizzie turned back to Delilah. "Delilah, did you know that the boys watch you and the other girls strip? And yesterday Carl told Brock and Jason that you're probably his dad's three hole wonder."
"LIZZIE!" Carl exclaimed
"CA-RL!" Rick shouted, frowning at him. "Where the hell did you learn such a vulgar thing? That's disgusting!"
Delilah knew her face was burning and her mouth flew open, not just over what Carl said, but that Lizzie ratted him out like that and in front of the entire group. This had gone on far longer than it should have. "I don't know how things worked where you come from, but around here, that kind of attitude isn't going to fly. You're sitting out today."
Lizzie blinked, in shock. "What? Why?"
"Why? I'll tell you why: it's because you're acting incredibly defiant, sassing off to your sister, and ratting out your comrades. You think you have all the answers, so why should you need to practice, right?"
"Ok, I'm sorry! Phoenixes aren't that bad."
Delilah was further stunned. Out of all the things Lizzie needed to apologize for, that was what she picked?! It really made her question what type of upbringing these girls had before the outbreak.
"The Phoenixes the least that you need to apologize for, and you need some time to think it over. When you figure out the other reasons that got you pulled out of practice and you're ready to discuss this maturely and with respect, I'll gladly let you come back and participate." She turned to Joy. "Joy, can you take her back to Leisure Zone? Have her write three sets of standards, a hundred times for each one. "I will not disrespect my elders." "I will not sass off to my sister." "I will not be a narc in front of others.""
Joy nodded and approached Lizzie. "Come on, let's go." She gently guided Lizzie the other way, but not before an outburst.
"This isn't fair!"
"No, it is! It's what I had to do when I was little, and I'm in charge, so it's what you're going to do now. Don't let her out of your sight, girl." They could all feel Lizzie grimacing as they walked away.
Carl was utterly embarrassed, not only that the secret was revealed, but what he said yesterday as well. "Delilah, I'm really sorry."
She shot him a sideways sympathetic smile. "Don't worry about it, buddy. I've been called way worse. Taylee, Dom-Dom, Lucas, cover your ears." She waited until their ears were covered before speaking. "Sorry to be so crude and vulgar with what I'm about to say. For the record, since all of you were unintentionally brought in, I am not a three hole wonder, but as far as they go, to each is own." Everybody started laughing, Rick and Carl immediately went red in the face. "You can uncover your ears, little ones." Delilah walked over to Rick. "I know you're pissed, but let's just let this one slide, k? At least it was his words this time and not his actions." She messed with Carl's hat and winked.
Rick nodded, figuring she had a point. "True. Whatever you say."
Delilah smiled, trying to ease the situation. "Good." She gave him a kiss on the cheek before walking out to the center again. "Alright, I've got a little treat for the kids. Since you behaved while I was gone, I'm keeping to my promise of performing The Nutcracker Suite." The kids all started cheering, making her laugh. "Except I couldn't find the tape, but I have a feeling that what I came up with will definitely suffice. MAC!" She turned around to see Mac standing by the back of the truck.
"Yes, milady!" Mac Lords was about six foot six, with short salt and pepper colored hair, crinkly hazel eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses, and a thick Scottish accent. He was a doctor in Maine before the outbreak and had gotten separated from his wife and two daughters after a walker invasion at the camp they took refuge in. Afterwards, Mac became a loner until he made contact with Ivan and Brandi over the Iridium phone, which was how he arrived at Jellbany. Although he had a tough guy demeanor and often spent time off by himself, he was a rather kind man who got along with everybody unless rubbed the wrong way. The kids adored him and always tried to climb up on him, which he got a kick out of, but his favorite was Delilah, he thought of her as the older daughter he never had.
Delilah smiled wickedly at him. "LORD OF THE DANCE, UNLEASH THE FREAKS!"
"You got it, wee lassie!" Mac always called her that, smiling to himself as he opened the back, revealing about a hundred gurgling walkers. Ivan figured out how to design and build a guillotine like door inside the back of the truck to let a certain amount of walkers out at a time. He let out about ten or so before closing the door again.
Delilah watched the walkers, knowing with how slowly they trudged that it would take a couple minutes. She turned to Madison. "Rhinestone Cowgirl, cue the music!"
"Yes, Sergeant Sexy!" Madison grinned as she pressed "Play" on the cordless stereo. They both watched everybody's faces as Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty's Waltz" began playing. Some people laughed, others just looked dumbfounded while the kids were in awe. Delilah stood in front of them, pumped up to the max.
"ALRIGHT! THEY TOOK OUR WORLD, OUR LOVED ONES, NOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT. ARE YOU WITH ME?!" The strings and horns began to intensify and get louder, but she was getting the crowd pumped up as they started cheering.
"WE ARE INVINCIBLE, WE ARE STRONG, AND WE ARE GONNA SHOW THESE WALKERS THAT THEY CAN'T MESS WITH US!" She raised her arm up in the air, Rick and Carl looked on. In a way, it reminded Rick of the fights that occurred at Woodbury, but Delilah had already explained that this was done to get their adrenaline rising in order to perform at maximum capability. They both watched as she began doing pirouettes and other ballet moves, she was actually pretty good, all that was missing was a stunning costume, but the three of them were trying everything not to laugh.
The horns ended and the strings picked up again, playing the "Once Upon a Dream" bit. Delilah whipped out her baton and began spinning it around. "You must have one hundred percent focus, never lose your target, and think quickly on your feet. Always be prepared for an ambush and how to get out of it." Knowing that the walkers were closer than she thought, Delilah turned around and threw her boomerang blade at them, decapitating two heads before it flew back and landed in it's holster. Both sets of strings accelerated and the horns led in as she approached them slowly, gracefully twirling the baton, until they were only inches away. Delilah began spinning, twirling the baton every which way, even round housing a few walkers, fully decapitating all of them. This was an excellent way to alleviate stress and take out frustrations. She finished them all off as only the strings came back in for a bit before the second set. Delilah turned around, smiling at her work. "THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE, MY TROOPS!" She smiled as she received a huge round of applause from everybody and bowed, tucking one leg behind the other, plie'. "AND YOU CAN DO IT, TOO! RHINESTONE COWGIRL, GIVE ME A TIME BOMB. MAC, GIMME MORE! MICHONNE, LET'S PUT THE LETHAL DUO TO WORK!"
Michonne walked over to Delilah as Madison quickly switched out CDS. The air filled a frenzied electric guitar melody was accompanied by drums as "Time Bomb" by The Old 97's started playing. Delilah turned to Michonne as she approached her. "You ready?" She was met with a smile.
"I'm always ready."
"That's what I like to hear. Let's do this!" More walkers came towards them. Rick and the others watched as Michonne raised her katana and Delilah had the baton. Once they started slaying, it was like a synchronized samurai battle, absolutely beautiful and captivating. They were all in awe so much that Rick almost forgot to keep track of the time. Delilah and Michonne spun around, slashing limbs and chopping off heads, until there was nothing left but a bloody show. The girls high fived each other. "THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE! Carl, you're up. Rick, time!"
He looked down at the stopwatch. "Ten seconds exactly."
Delilah smiled brightly. "Hell yeah!" She walked over to Rick, patting Carl on the back as he walked by, getting ready to shoot. "Knock 'em dead, tiger!" It was practice and fun rolled into one.
AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER
"Great job, everybody! Let's give ourselves a huge round of applause!" They all started clapping and whistling, making Delilah smile. "Enjoy the rest of the day and remember that you are your own super hero! Mac, Carl, have fun cleaning up." The crowd diminished, going their own separate ways. Delilah walked off towards the parking lot, not too far from Leisure Zone. As Carl made his way over to Mac, Rick followed Delilah.
"You ok?" He asked as he approached her. Rick could tell how tense she was, the spat with Lizzie seemed to have rattled her. Delilah turned around to face him.
"How do you do it? This parenting thing, I mean. I don't even know how my mom did it."
He chuckled. "It's not easy, but you learn a lot along the way, which factors in with what you already know."
"I hardly know anything, but I do know I won't let that kind of behavior happen again. At least I had my mom to fall back on." She nodded her head in Mika's direction, watching her walk away with her head hanging down. "Look at her, she has nobody, she's all alone without her defiant brat of a sister. Doesn't it just break your heart?"
"Yes." Rick nodded.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe it's a good thing that Helter Sketler is out looking for Carol. Perhaps once she gets here, they'll be less hostile and timid. Hostile for Lizzie, timid for Mika."
"Helter Skelter?" He raised an eyebrow.
She nodded. "Yeah, it's my nickname for Daryl. I nickname everybody after a song at some point. In this case, it avoids the whole rhyming game." Delilah glanced over at Mika. "Either way, I need to talk to her. Mika!" They watched as the little blonde haired girl turned around. "Can you come over here for a second, please?" Mika made her way over to them as Delilah glanced at Rick. "I know I'm not her mother, and I'm not trying to be. All I'm wanting to do is to let her know that somebody is on her side."
He smiled, she really had such a huge heart. "I think she'll more than appreciate it."
"Let's hope so." They looked down as Mika walked up. "Hey, dewdrop. How are you?"
"I'm ok. Is this about what happened earlier? Am I in trouble?" The little girl twirled her hair a bit nervously, watching as the two adults both shot her confused looks.
"What? No, you're not in trouble, but I did want to talk to you about that." Delilah bent down to her level, putting her hand on Mika's shoulder, pulling a bag out of her pocket with the other hand. "Here, have some Jelly Bellies. Take the whole bag, it's the Disney Princess mix."
Rick watched the interaction, thinking that it was kind of cute that Delilah always tried to ease situations with Jelly Bellies.
Mika's face lit up. "Thanks, LaLa!" She dug into the bag with a huge smile on her face. After the whole "Mommy" blunder before leaving for Fort Gaines, Delilah had taught Judith to call her "LaLa" and it caught on very quickly with the other kids.
Delilah giggled at how excited she got. "No problem. Listen, I know what it's like to be the little sister and to have a big sister acting not so nicely. Sisters are complicated, but you know that she loves you, right?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I know." Once the words came out of her mouth, she began to doubt them. Her sister had changed so much.
"Lizzie's just confused and isn't grasping the reality of what's going on, but she shouldn't be talking to you like that. Next time you have a problem, you know you can come to me or Rick or Madison and we'll talk to her. Plus, Carol will be back soon, I know you guys are more familiar with her than me."
"Carol's really nice, Lizzie will be happy once she's back."
"I'm sure she will. I also know what it's like to have lost a parent. My dad died when I was around your age. My mom and I were really close, but she went to Europe before the outbreak. I stayed behind with my sister and boyfriend."
Mika asked a question that was the last thing Delilah expected. "What happened to your sister? Why isn't she here at Jellbany?"
Delilah felt herself hesitate, she wasn't sure how to answer that question. Rick was curious as to what her answer would be. "She left me behind one day, on purpose, and she took my boyfriend with her. Christine wasn't a very good person, or a very good sister, but I loved her anyway, because love is forever."
She watched the little girl's face fall. "Why would she do that?"
"She never really liked me because I got more attention than her. When it comes to siblings and favorites, attention should be equal in my opinion. In a way, it was kind of a good thing. If they hadn't have left me, I never would have rescued you and the others." Delilah didn't want to tell Mika the other reasons why she was glad that Christine and Billy abandoned her, she had revealed too much already, what she said summed everything up.
Mika smiled brightly. "My mommy used to say that everything works out the way it's supposed to."
Delilah returned the smile at her turn around and the truth of her wise statement. "That's true for the most part. When things happen, we have to keep calm and carry on. You know that quote, right?" She could tell by the confused look on her face that she didn't. "Never mind, don't answer that, it's fine. Too young and before your time, before my time, too. What I'm trying to say is that even though the world has changed, we all have to keep dancing through life."
Mika once again shot her a puzzled gaze. "Dance through life?"
Delilah nodded. "Mmhmm. It's a song from Wicked. I'll play it for you some time. Mika, I called you over here because I want you to know that I'm on your side and I'll always be here. In the words of Toy Story, you've got a friend in me." They were really sharing such a touching moment and bonding. "Oh, and remember, "Hakuna Matata" No worries." Delilah giggled, she really was a big kid at heart.
"I love The Lion King!"
"Me too. Go join the rest of the kids and I'll see you later, alright?"
Mika nodded. "Ok!" She wrapped her arms around Delilah's neck, giving her a hug. Delilah was taken by surprise as she hugged her back. It was such a sweet gesture. Mika let go and ran off. "Bye Bye!" They watched her start skipping and twirling, singing her own version of "Dancing Through Life" since she hadn't heard the actual song.
"Bye." Rick said.
"Bye, pumpkin." Delilah said as she rose to her feet, she could feel Rick looking at her and turned to him. "What? Is this about "Dancing Through Life"?"
"No, it's not, that was cute. Delilah, do you ever want kids?"
She felt herself hesitating once again, not sure why he was asking, but also not wanting to tell him that she wanted to have his kids. If this were the real world, she imagined Rick would be the type of man to get a vasectomy after two kids. "Of course, I do. I also have names." Delilah had a dreamy look on her face as she spoke. "If it's a boy, Santino Luca, and if it's a girl, Serena Giselle. Don't get me wrong, I've got about a hundred names, but those are my favorites. It'll happen if it's meant to happen. I mean, it's not like I can say I want to wait so I can focus on my career or something, look at the world now!" She chuckled to herself.
Rick cracked a smile. "Either way, I think you're selling yourself short. You've definitely got a terrific maternal instinct, you were very sweet with her and it was exactly what she needed." He didn't want to tell her that the thought of what it would be like having kids with her had crossed his mind once or twice.
"You don't think I'm an enabler? Am I? I just feel so bad for her. When I look at the two of them, I see Christine and myself. Seriously, we have no idea what their life was like before the outbreak or how their mother died. I'm assuming they were both pretty traumatized by her passing and that's why they act that way. One too afraid to kill anything but forcing herself to adjust, and the other not afraid to kill anything so long as their next life form is a playmate. Don't you know anything about their past?"
Rick shook his head. "No, you're not an enabler, you're a nurturer. These kids look up to you. As far as Lizzie and Mika, I don't know much other than that their dad was a mechanic before the outbreak. You should take it up with Carol."
Delilah nodded. "I plan on it. So, do you think everybody's talking about what I said earlier?"
He rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you said that, you're very out there and impulsive."
She giggled. "What can I say? If I wasn't, I wouldn't have gotten you. That and I know they're talking, you're the resident D.I.L.F."
Rick raised his eyebrows, preplexed. "What's that?" Delilah leaned in and whispered in his ear. When she pulled back, she saw that he was blushing. "Really? I am? Is that a good thing?"
Delilah smirked. "Hell yeah, that's a good thing. Except they can't have you because you're mine." She leaned forward, putting her hands on his shoulders and kissed him tenderly. Their foreheads still pressed together, Delilah gave him a sneaky look. "Although, you do seem to have a spanking fetish. Should I ask Madison to get us a pair of handcuffs and a paddle?"
They both started laughing as he pulled her in, kissing her repeatedly as she giggled in between like a lovestruck teen with her first boyfriend.
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Forever Rising Phoenix