PROLOUGE

Split

(?'s/Emperor's P.O.V.)

"It seems the plan didn't work"

I stated angrily with an edge of anger as I slammed my fist on top of the table, which made everyone jump a little. I picked splinters out of my hand as I tried to contain my anger.

"I gave ALL of you ONE job!"

I shouted in the same manner, which was received with a slight nod from the individual next to me.

"I don't care for this at all either"

The individual murmured with a low hissing sound that accompanied the other words that it spoke. I knew that since he had survived, our mission was going to become extremely difficult.

"Indeed, knowing her, I thought she would've been killed by now!"

Another voice commented cruelly as I felt his presence enter the area. Unphased, I waved my hand in front of me and a screen formed in front of me.

"Emperor"

I stated with clenched teeth, and the screen flickered on.

"This is the one who's been giving you all the trouble!?"

The individual stated on the verge of laughter. I looked to the individual next to me and formed a smile at the edge of my mouth.

"Should I spare him?"

I asked with my voice barely above a whisper. The individual didn't move, but rather twitched, and the individual started choking.

"He's a ghost; he won't die unless I decide to kill him"

The figure stated with a raspy laugh that came afterwards. I nodded in agreement, set my jaw and looked back at the screen.

"I know that this overgrown lizard seems to be the one"

The figure stated with hatred. I shared that same emotion; I knew what he was capable of, and because of that, I wanted him dead as soon as possible.

But to do that, I need a reliable team

I thought as waved my hand again. The screen flickered off and I closed my eyes.

"Not only does he possess the weapon that can kill me, but he also has the key for my arrival at his disposal"

I started with a minute trace of concern as the area went dark again. The table disappeared and the familiar sense of rubber slightly rubbing against my hands and feet returned. It was the only thing that I could feel, other than my hatred for HER. I balled my hands into fists, and the strands of rubber started to heat up.

"Her entire line will be deceased when I'm done!"

I shouted and the thin strands started glowing an angry Red-Orange color. The figure laughed as A thought started to creep into my mind.

"Where are the Claw Fragments!?"

I asked quickly and nervously. I looked around frantically, as they were supposed to be hanging right in front of me, but not only could I feel their power in absence, but another presence that was not one of our own. In that instant, I knew who it was. I cleared my throat, stood all the way up and squared my shoulders.

"After all these years, being my personal mercenary, you would do this!?"

I asked tensely, looking over my shoulder at the individual I never thought I would be saying this to.

"I'm not doing this to go against you"

The figure said, arching his back as he started tearing off his claws. Each one was ripped off with a sick tearing sound that was accompanied by blood and lots of it.

"This certainly is new"

The figure next to me stated with some curiousity as it raised its right arm.

"No; don't do that"

I hissed, which caused the figure to look at me oddly.

"I want to see where this goes"

I replied with an evil smirk as I looked back at the creature, and now, the claws were glowing.

"Do you have a death wish?"

I asked as the figure started writhing in what seemed to be pain.

"There's no way out of this place"

The other individual stated as he got to his feet shakily.

"You got bored of watching a ghost choke?"

I asked the individual next to me. I got no response, but I felt that we shared the same answer mentally.

"There's always a way"

The creature managed to get out between his gasping breaths. He took deep and long breaths as I knew he was trying to keep himself from killing everyone.

"By doing this, you would save me the unneeded effort of me having to kill you myself"

I remarked with a shrug, which got a laugh from the ghost.

"Thieves are despised, do you know that?"

I asked, cracking my knuckles as I started walking towards my victim.

"I haven't had the pleasure of killing anyone in a while, but I believe that you'll suffice for blowing off some steam"

I stated curelly with a smile of the same as I reached for his neck. The moment that my fingers brushed his neck, a shockwave of pain coursed over me. I staggered backwards and tried to keep the balance I seemed to have lost for some reason. My vision was swimming and my joints were starting to become pained as well.

"You seem to have forgotten"

The creature started as it stood up shakily.

"The reason why I was your prized mercenary is because of your engineering feats"

He said with a curt laugh as he cut a circle into the ground around him. I drew a sharp breath and stood up straight.

"You do understand that the punishment for treason is everlasting agony?"

I asked the creature as it started to twitch. I knew that it was due to the fact that immeasurable power was coursing through his body and was barely able to contain it.

"I understand that, but I will say it once again"

He groaned as he finished drawing the circle around his body. At this point, I was done with him.

I can always make more puppets to do my bidding

I thought as a cruel smile crawled across my face.

"You are indeed my creation"

I started slowly, which made the figure next to me twitch once again.

"You are prolonging the inevitable; just execute the traitor already!"

The figure hissed, but it was too late; the moment I lifted my foot to take a step forward, he took his front right foot off the floor and slammed it into the circle.

"NO!"

I yelled as unbearable bright White light filled my vision. I woke sometime later to pain coursing in waves over my body. I got to my feet shakily and looked around. I saw nothing unusual until I looked over the right side of my shoulder.

"You!"

I seethed with hatred. I whipped around and balled my hands into fists. Wires rose from the floor and wrapped themselves around my feet, ankles, wrists and neck as I prepared to erase this individual from existence. She stood regally, with White glowing wings that complimented her Gold feathers. The frontal scales were of the same color, which only complimented her White scales that covered her body.

"You will not prevail"

She stated, sending me into a rage.

"You think that!?"

I roared, raising and lowering my arm, which materialized what the Yoshi species called a "DeathBringer". It fired its shot and the individual sighed, waving her hand, which bent the stream around her body and it impacted the area behind her harmlessly.

"The illusion of power has blinded you"

She continued, looking at me with those piercing Blue irises of hers.

"Receiving power from another power makes you powerless!"

I yelled, launching from my spot. The wires moved with me, adding speed, and as I wound up my right arm, they added more power by coiling themselves around my fist and wrist.

"What you are doing is wrong"

She breathed as she became translucent and I barreled right through her and fell flat on my face. I growled in frustration and sprang back to my feet. I slowly turned to face her again. She was looking solemnly at me as if I was being condemned.

"I'm only able to offer you this one more time"

She said softly, extending her arm out to me. My lips curled at the edges, exposing my sharp and serrated growing teeth.

"I don't need your pity or the so called 'salvation' you can offer me!"

I raged back, which caused her to sigh.

"Your decision is final; I can do nothing more"

She sighed as she returned to her standing neutral position. Her wings started to curl around her body as if she was trying to protect herself from something.

"Scared!?"

I taunted her as I felt my muscles start to grow in mass.

"You want to see true power!?"

I asked giddily as I finally understood what I had been missing since I had been here.

"The book of destiny has yet to be written!"

I shouted as I let the changes take over. I let my mind be consumed by the very thing that I was reluctant to build in the first place.

"Your power against mine, servant of the 'Most High' !"

I taunted her as an even more brilliant light than the one that he used to escape me filled the area. I could feel the tension of battle start to consume the area as the light died down. I had to blink a couple of times to get the dancing lights from my eyes, but I thought that I was hallucinating when I saw the other individual next to her.

"No…..not you!"

I exclaimed nervously as I took a step back in fear.

"I…...I killed you; there's something wrong here!"

I continued as the floating individual landed on the ground gracefully. She was now glowing with a radiant and brilliant light that hurt my eyes if I tired to focus on her, so I stared with hatred at the other individual, who was taking an object from his hood frill.

"I knew that you would make that deal and start this war"

The other creature started as he uncurled the only thing that could damage me to my knowledge.

"That…..that thing….survived!?"

I breathed nervously as the other creature threw the weapon to her.

"It seems that you weren't that thorough with the decimation of the laboratory"

She said with a smirk as the signs started flashing in the power gems of this weapon.

"It was very fortunate he decided to attack the upper part of the lab and not the secret lower part where we forged this weapon with our ally"

The other creature murmured as he materialized lances around his body, with the points aimed at me.

"Originally, this weapon was made for peacekeeping, but you just had to use it for war, didn't you!?"

She started as a new element formed in the eyes of the weapon I had sought to destroy: 死.

"Now now S-"

The other creature started, but she ignored the other creature and the weapon's Turquoise Green color started fading and the pulsing Blue lines dimmed as well.

"Get ahold of yourself!"

The other creature cried as the fear passed and anger returned. The doubt went away as well.

"You condemn my actions of rage, but yet you succumb to the same!?"

I asked in a taunting manner as the weapon finished its transformation of color. It was now Black in color with Red lines that pulsed in time with her heartbeat.

"There's not much I can do now"

The other creature sighed as he raised his hand and lowered it, sending the lances at me. She launched as the same moment, which left me little time to react. I dodged the first spear, which missed my neck by millimeters, grabbed the second one as I backrolled away from her slash with the weapon I knew could kill me and resetted just in time to start blocking her furious slashes.

"Divine judgement has fallen upon you; accept your consequences!"

She seethed as she continued slashing with the energy sword.

"Fall back; the ReBorn can't take the damage you're inflicting!"

The other creature called out, but I knew that her mind was lost in the weapon's grasp. What I hadn't known, was that the other creature was preparing something. By the time I realized this, it was too late. I parried the frenzied slash that was aimed at my throat, sending her off balance, but as I was about to laugh at their futility, I stopped moving.

"What's this!?"

I asked nervously as the other creature started glowing Gold in color.

"My name is Master Keel, and by my judgement, the threat that you pose is significant and unacceptable; for everyone's safety and security, I cast the Law of Destruction on your body with my soul as Atonement!"

The other creature stated as A giant Gold sword cut me vertically in half and another cut me horizontally. I cried out from the pain as everything went dark. A shockwave went throughout the area and I descended into the endless darkness once again.

"I will rebuild myself Siren"

I vowed to myself.

"You will also fall Master Keel; neither of you are true Masters!"

I seethed as I found my soul in the darkness.

"All I need to do is find a gateway to the physical world"

I murmured, chuckling uncontrollably. That chuckle turned into maniacal laughter that echoed around me as I crushed my soul in my hand and my body started to reform itself.

"I'm coming for you, Child of Promise!" I yelled into the abyss.

Emperor's P.O.V.

I cried out in frustration, slamming my fist into the wall, which sent shards everywhere. Those who were following me flinched because of this.

"Can any one of you do ANYTHING!?"

I growled from the almost uncontrollable rage that the Devil Gene influenced me with. I had not learned to live with this, and Lemon's absence was not helping anything.

I know that she's pretty shy, but this is ridiculous!

I exclaimed mentally, balling my hands into fists. I lowered my head to look at the floor and stopped walking. Since I had done this without warning, the individual behind me walked into me and fell to the floor.

"What was that for!?"

She exclaimed softly. She then immediately stiffened as I looked over my shoulder at her.

"Get up NorthWind and don't challenge me!"

I said quietly as I looked at the other end of the hallway. The doors were barred and had been covered with wood. They were nailed to the doors in a cross-like manner.

"Why are these doors artificially shut?"

I asked tensely, fighting back the evil within me. Whenever I was close to these particular doors, it writhed inside of me as if it was excited or greatly distressed by whatever was here.

"Emperor?"

One of them asked nervously, which took me from my thoughts.

"What?"

I responded indifferently, looking over my shoulder once again. The one that had asked for me was Rose, who oddly hadn't taken an aggressive tone for some reason.

It sure it out of her character

I thought as she started speaking.

"These doors were sealed by your mother; supposedly-"

She said, but was cut off by a hiss from Frostbite.

"Don't mention her name; it sets him off!"

She hissed, silencing Rose, who glared at her. I looked back at the door and relaxed my hands. One of the ways that I was able to drive the Devil Gene away was by letting the energy flow from my body, to the ReBorn. I had asked Halcyon many times how I could drive away the Devil Gene's impulses, he either wouldn't answer or would find some work for me to do. It bothered me for some reason, but I couldn't put a reason to it.

"You say that with sincerity?"

I asked angrily, looking back at the ground.

Why isn't he telling me what I need to know?

I asked myself as I looked up at the door again and started walking. The others exclaimed softly and one of them ran around me and stood in my way. She was breathing heavily as if her lungs were being restricted. She had her arms out to block me, which sparked the Devil Gene's uncontrollable rage.

"Get out of my way"

I growled, balling my hands into fists again, but this time, I felt an abnormal presence from the ReBorn; it was a feeling that I couldn't describe, which bothered me more than NorthWind standing in my way. Instead of lashing out, which I knew would kill her, I looked over my shoulder at Sunrise, who was twirling a bottle with his right hand and looking at me oddly.

"If you don't mind me asking"

He started slowly as I watched the bottle spin. I did this for two reasons. One: I was intrigued by how he could. Two: I wanted to know why he was doing this.

"What do you want to say?"

I growled, looking back at NorthWind, who seemingly had gone limp, but was still standing.

"If you could change him, I don't think you'd get far; even Rojo couldn't-even after giving him that pendant!"

He remarked, which sent a shiver down my spine. Sunrise had been sick ever since the incident on the beach; that's what I was told, but I wasn't sure how he could stand after what had happened. Suddenly, without me telling my body to, my right hand went to my neck.

Wait! Where is it!?

I asked myself frantically as I pushed aside NorthWind, who yelped quietly as she staggered backwards into the wall. I might've pushed her a little too hard, but there were so many things on my mind, and the one I wanted to put away forever.

"What's beyond these doors that you want to keep me from so bad!?"

I growled, as I walked stiffly over to the doors. Just by standing in front of them, I could tell that whatever was beyond these doors was something extremely powerful and the evil inside of me writhed in fear or pain.

"This is not the time for you to see what's behind these doors"

A new voice told me, putting a hand on my shoulder, which startled me, but I didn't show it by reacting.

"You really think-"

I started angrily, but stopped cold when I met his face. I felt a wave of cold and numbness course over me when I looked into his Purple irises. They were experienced and full of torment, but the aspect that scared me the most was that he could kill me, but hadn't yet for some reason.

"You!"

I breathed, still looking at him. The individual laughed curtly, which sent me on edge. He had been affected by the disappearance of her as well, but he never told me how he actually felt at all and that bothered me.

"I would rather have you address me by my name and not just some menail term"

He responded with a slight edge, which bothered

"You speak without words and you have thought rationally"

He said with a minute trace of amazement that shocked me.

"Do you really want to see what's behind this door?"

He asked, brushing past me and positioning himself in front of me in a blocking manner like the other had done.

Do I really want to see?

I asked myself. There was so much that had happened that I wasn't thinking rationally, but I wanted to know. Not only was I fighting the Devil Gene, but I was fighting normality. The day to day life wasn't working out for me; I wasn't a ruler or a king!

You'll never be rid of me; there's NOTHING that you can do!

The voice taunted me as I stared Halcyon down. I knew that he could deal with me, but the thing I understood was that it would benefit no one.

"Do you think that what's behind this door will help find Lemon?"

He asked me, and I went cold. There was no possible explanation that I could find.

How did he know!? What could've possibly given it away!?

I asked myself frantically as Halcyon continued his cold look. I felt that he could see right through me! I wasn't sure how he could, but this was one of the things that bothered the most. The only thing I could do was look at the floor.

That's right; let that distrust ferment between the both of you! Let it drive you apart!

The voice continued, and this prompted me to set my jaw and clench my teeth together in anger. I hated dealing with whatever this was! It plagued me day and night, it never stopped, taunting me after every action!

"I do"

I sighed heavily, which made Halcyon laugh curtly.

"I thought you might"

He said, turning around and putting his right hand on the door. The area under his hand started to glow an Orange color softly. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but if this was going to make everything go back to normal, I wasn't going to look back or question how I was going to solve this issue.

"I can't guarantee that this will work"

Halcyon started, but I cut him off.

"I don't care if it will or it won't; I just care that it does something to get us closer to the goal!"

I exploded, which made Halcyon go stiff and someone from the group behind me whistle at a low pitch in what seemed to be amazement.

"I'm sure that you're upset over the disappearances, but that doesn't mean bitterness should constitute your actions"

He murmured as the doors opened inwards slowly with a heavy creaking sound.

"Halcyon!"

The others cried, as they started towards where he was, but I looked over my shoulder and they stopped. Looking back at Halcyon made the anger go away, and that was replaced with inquisition as I gazed into the doorway. The coloration was odd, as there was a wavy Green substance with Rings of Orange and Red that contrasted heavily with the base color.

"A portal, here!?"

NorthWind and Frostbite exclaimed softly as one of them walked past me. It was the Orange scaled individual, Sunrise.

"It sure is, although I would have no explanation as to why it would be in place of"

He started, but his voice trailed off as he looked at Halcyon. He looked back at Sunrise with narrowed eyes, and I wasn't sure if I was hallucinating or was being influenced by the Devil Gene, but I thought I saw Halcyon's Irises flash an Orange color as they looked at each other. I could feel tension between them, but I wasn't sure what they could be angry over.

"I don't know where this portal will bring you, but I have a feeling that it'll help your situation"

Sunrise said, breaking the tension-filled silence. At this point, I was done with everything. I clenched my hands even tighter, gritted my teeth so hard, I felt one break in my mouth and started walking forward slowly.

"I would suggest walking forward with a plan"

A new voice stated, stopping me cold in my tracks. I whipped around and saw an old individual of my species that was Grey in color. His scales were flaking at the edges and he had something on his back that was partially obscured from my view. I relaxed my hands and my anger was replaced with confusion.

"An old-timer?"

I asked in confusion, which caused him to chuckle.

"The rumors are true; you don't hesitate to tell others what you think!"

He marveled, but then his expression changed to a cold and steely look.

"You want to go in there with a plan; not just your usual headstrong strength"

He started, but I cut him off.

"You think it's not good enough!?"

I yelled back, which caused the others to flinch, except for him and Halcyon.

"I don't; what you'll face in there can take you on by their lonesome and you will need someone experienced in battle to accompany you if you want your desired outcome"

The individual stated outright, and in that instant, I knew who this was.

"I guess you're right, Mercury"

I sighed, turning back to the portal.

"Whoever wants to follow me, do so at your own risk"

I grolwed as I felt the magic energy of the portal start to course over me. The Devil Gene liked it, but I didn't care. My job was simple; retrieve the lost KILL HIM and return. It didn't seem hard, but Mercury's words resounded in my head as my vision went White.

What you'll face in there can take you out by their lonesome

His voice echoed in my head, which made me laugh metnally. What could be in there that's so scary?