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chapter twenty-five, You are my Real Sister

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"IS THE FLOOR SECURE?" Clarke asks, looking to Bellamy for an answer in which he sighs before responding with words. "For now. Jaha and the guards are tied up in a bedroom" Bellamy says and Nova listens in.

"We took out the elevator and the ladder as we climbed. The stairs are collapsed. No-one's following us" Pike answers and Clarke nods her head as she walks over to Ontari's and body and stands above it.

"Great, then we have time" Clarke says and Nova furrows her eyebrows.

"Time for what exactly?" Nova asks as she steps next to Clarke.

"An Ascension Ceremony" Clarke answers and Nova tilts her head in confusion.

"Iris isn't an option. We discussed this" Nova says starting to get angry. "She might have to be" Clarke says and Nova's expression drops into a serious one. "Unless we can pull this off" Clarke declares.

"We're not putting the Flame in Ontari's head. We're putting it in mine" Clarke states and Nova immediately shakes her head.

"No, No! You're not doing it. We'll get Iris in here and she can get what she always wanted" Nova says and Clarke shakes her head. "No, I can do this" Clarke says and Nova scoffs.

"Clarke! That thing killed Emerson in seconds, liquified his brain or did you forget that after you did that to him?" Nova asks and Clarke takes deep breathes. "Emerson wasn't connected to a Night blood" Clarke says and Nova furrows her eyebrows.

"Neither are y-" Nova begins. "Transfusion?" Pile interrupts and Nova turns to look at him.

"Not exactly" Clarke responds, and Nova sees Abby slowly stand to her feet.

"Connected like mount weather" Abby explains and when Abby says those words Nova can't help but think of the pain she felt in that place.

Clarke nods her head and walks over to her mom. "Yes, Everything we need is in your medkit" Clarke states and Abby nods her head slowly. "No, it's too dangerous, and there are too many variables" Abby says and Nova claps her hands once.

"Exactly, Clarke don't kill yourself over this" Nova says before Octavia and Iris burst through the doors of the throne room.

"Whatever you're doing, you'd better do it fast" Octavia says and Nova furrows her eyebrows.

"Why?" Nova asks and Octavia and Iris look over at each other.

"They're climbing" Iris answers and Nova looks around at everyone in the room and everyone rushes outside to the balcony and looks down to see chipped Grounders and people of the Ark scaling the building.

"Oh my god..." Nova breathes out and Clarke looks over at her mom. "I have to do this" Clarke states and Abby places a reassuring hand on her daughters shoulder. "I'll help you" Abby says and Iris chimes in, "What are you guys doing exactly?" Iris asks and Nova looks over at her.

"Something that stops you from having any power" Nova answers as she follows Abby and Clarke back into the throne room.

Clarke sits on the throne. Abby puts a needle into Clarke's arm. Clarke grimaces, then nods at Abby. Nova stands next to Clarke for comfort as Iris paces back and forth around the room.

"Balconies greased. No one's getting into through here" Pike warns walking back into the room.

"There's enough lamp oil to cover every window and floor except in the Commander's chamber." Bellamy states. "Then that's where the fighting starts. We'll dig in there" Pike says exiting the throne room, leaving Bryan to limp after him.

"We're all set," Abby said, her eyes filled with a mix of determination and worry as she looked at Clarke. "Okay, you ready?"

Clarke took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Nova's. "I'm scared," she mumbled.

Nova knelt down to Clarke's level, gripping her hand firmly. "I'm right here. I won't let anything bad happen to you," she reassured, letting Clarke squeeze her hand for comfort before turning to her mom and nodding that she was ready.

Abby flipped the switch, and Clarke's blood began to flow through the tube into Ontari. She did the same with Ontari, and the black Nightblood began to flow back into Clarke. Nova watched in shock and fear, not knowing what this could do to Clarke but hoping it would stop ALIE.

"I can't believe you guys are doing this," Iris muttered, her voice tinged with anger.

"We have to," Nova replied, her tone resolute.

"I could've done this! You don't have to get Clarke killed!" Iris shouted, motioning to Clarke.

"No one is dying! Especially not Clarke," Nova stated firmly, squeezing Clarke's hand even tighter. Clarke glanced over at her mom, a small, brave smile on her face. "This will work," she said.

"And if it doesn't?" Abby asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"If it doesn't work, then she dies. If she doesn't try, then she dies with the rest of us when the climbers get here," Murphy interjected, stepping up next to Abby with his hand outstretched towards Clarke. "If we're gonna do this, I'm going to need the Flame."

Abby hesitated, her protective instincts flaring up, but Clarke's pleading eyes made her relent. "Mom, please. He knows what he's doing. You have to let me go," Clarke said softly.

Nova sighed, her eyes flicking to Murphy as he took the Flame from Clarke's hand. Clarke's grip on Nova's hand tightened as she leaned her head forward. "Do it!" she shouted.

Murphy took a deep breath, his voice steady as he said, "Ascende superius." The Flame shot out tendrils, and Murphy placed it at the nape of Clarke's neck. It burrowed under her skin, and Clarke screamed in pain before going unconscious.

"Clarke! Is she okay?" Nova asked frantically, her heart pounding as she turned to Abby, who quickly checked Clarke's pulse.

Abby nodded, her expression a mixture of relief and anxiety. "She's alive. We just have to hope this works," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The room fell silent, the tension thick as everyone watched over Clarke, waiting for any sign that the dangerous procedure had succeeded. The fate of their world rested on her shoulders, and all they could do now was wait and hope.

"Her heart's racing" Abby says, and Nova swallows a large lump in her throat. "Get that thing out of her head!" Abby shouts and Murphy shakes his head.

"I said, get that thing out of her head!" Abby shouts again as Clarke wakes up quickly and breathes heavily.

"No, no, not yet" Clarke states and Abby places a hand on her arm. "Are you in any pain?" Abby asks and Clarke shakes her head.

"No, I'm okay. I know how to stop ALIE. I have to take the chip" Clarke states and Nova scoffs in disbelief.

"What? No way... you'll- you'll die, you can't" Nova says as she slowly let's go of Clarke's hand.

"I have to go into the City of Light and find the kill switch" Clarke argues and Iris scoffs. "This is ridiculous!" Iris shouts and Abby turns Clarke face towards her.

"Clarke, listen to me. ALIE wants the Flame. If you take the chip you're giving it to her. The second someone sees you, ALIE is going to know you're there. She'll kill you. If your mind dies, you die" Abby says and Nova shakes her head slowly.

"Clarke... you can't" Nova breathes out. "The Flame will protect me. I don't know how I know...I just know" Clarke states as Bellamy walks back over with a chip in his hand.

"I believe you" Bellamy says and Nova looks between Clarke and Bellamy. "Do you even know what you're looking for?" Nova asks and Clarke clears her throat.

"I'll know when I find it" Clarke states reassuringly and Nova nods her head slowly.

"Do it then" Nova says as Abby leans down and places a kiss on Clarke's forehead. Bellamy gives Clarke the chip and her eyes close slowly.

"I sure hope this works" Iris says and Nova looks over at her. "Do you? Do you really want it to work?" Nova asks and Iris shakes her head.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Iris asks and Nova chuckles humorlessly. "No" Nova answers with no hesitation as she crosses her arms over her chest.

"It's okay... I've got Clarke," Bellamy reassured. Nova sighed deeply, descending the steps and passing Iris. They stood in silence outside the throne room, the air thick with unspoken emotions.

"I loved you... you know that?" Iris said softly, her voice trembling.

Nova didn't meet her eyes.

"I loved you... then you left to find her, and I didn't know what to do," Iris continued, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry... for everything. For killing Naira and trying to kill you and Clarke."

Nova finally looked at her, a mix of pain and anger in her eyes. "Sorry isn't going to cut it for me. You lied to my face but claim that you loved me?" she asked, her voice steady but filled with hurt.

Iris sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping. "After all of this is over, I don't want to talk to you ever again. I want to go on with my life and not have to worry about you. And I don't love you, Iris. I never have; it's always been Clarke, and it will always be Clarke," Nova stated firmly.

"It'll be Clarke until you realize she doesn't love you as much as you think she does," Iris shot back, bitterness seeping into her words.

A door creaked open in the distance, drawing their attention. Fio emerged, his expression concerned.

"Is everything okay out here?" he asked.

"Everything's fine. Just talking," Iris replied quickly.

"I wasn't asking you," Fio said, his gaze fixed on Nova.

Nova smiled up at him, a faint glimmer of warmth in her eyes. "I'm fine, Fio. I promise," she said.

Iris's face fell, sadness washing over her as she realized her own brother barely acknowledged her. She cleared her throat and walked away, leaving Nova and Fio alone in the hallway.

"Fio, you are my brother, but I know Iris is your real sister. I'm okay with you talking to her. I shouldn't get in the way of that," Nova said, her voice tinged with understanding.

Fio shook his head. "Iris will always be my sister, and a part of me will always love her, but... a part of me will always hate who she has become. And-you're wrong, Nova. You are my real sister too," he said, his voice filled with conviction.

A small smile tugged at Nova's lips, and she looked away, blinking back tears. Fio wrapped his arms around her, and Nova hugged him back, finding solace in their bond.

They shared a quiet, comforting moment until...