Chapter 6: The Future: Long Lost

Riku groaned as he regained consciousness. "Second time in two days I've woken up with no idea where I am." He sat up and rubbed his eyes before getting a look at his surroundings.

He cried.

He couldn't stop the tears from rolling as green grass filled his vision, something that hadn't existed in ten long years. This alone told him that something very good or very bad had happened. Riku closed his eyes and lay back down, his palms laying flat on the ground so he could just feel the soft blades beneath him. He thought he'd died and gone to heaven, and would have welcomed. He was awestruck, so fixated on the feel of the grass beneath him that he almost didn't notice the sound of running water nearby. Not just running water, but a waterfall in the distance. Without opening his eyes Riku stood and faced the sound of the water. Then he opened his eyes and let out a soft sob.

Not far off was the edge of a forest, from the sounds of it teeming with birds and insects and other animals. A small stream came out of the forest, water running smoothly and cleanly over sand and rocks visible at the shallow bottom. Even a few fish swam along. The stream went right past where Riku stood and his sister and friends lay, still unconscious. And in the distance was a single mountain, close enough to be clearly visible but far enough away that it almost blended in with the blue sky. Riku guessed that the stream came from melting ice on the mountains snowy peak.

"Guys, wake up… I think we're dead." He said, sounding almost happy.

Riley was the first to stir. "Riku," she grumbled as she got to her knees, "As much as I love your brand of humor, I think that…" then she opened her eyes and stopped mid-sentence. "… I think you might be right. This place looks like paradise… like…"

"Heaven." Riku finished for her.

The others were soon awake as well and they all shared the same reactions to their new surroundings; shock, awe, tears, and disbelief. But they were so fixated on the beauty before then that it wasn't until Logan turned around that they realized something. This was an oasis of life on a world and death. When Logan turned around he saw, not twenty meters away, the end of this paradise. A straight line running for miles where grass met dead earth. When the stream hit this line the water within it became black and murky, probably poisonous as well. Oddly enough none of the fish swam passed this line, instinctively turning around and heading back up stream when they got to close.

"It's almost like they know they'll die if they pass there." Sarah said as she knelt by the stream, examining it. She was right by the line where the grass stopped and she started breathing a bit heavier. "It's weird… when I get too close I get this… this draining feeling. Almost like the world beyond is going to kill me."

"That would explain it." Bonny agreed.

"Kids, look over here." Nina called.

"Yeah, come see!" Peter called after.

"It will blow your mind!" Hunter added.

The six older children walked over to where the older women and the two youngsters stood. They saw a second line where the grass ended, this one at a sharp angle from the first. Nina and the boys were standing not far away from where the two ends met, and right at the intersection, driven into the ground, was a large copper key. "Is that what I think it is?" Hikari asked.

Nina nodded. "It's the Key of Anubis." And indeed it was; a large copper key with the handle masterfully crafted into the shape of the head of the Egyptian god of the dead. "But what is it doing here? I thought Lilith and the Destroyer obliterated the Keys of Eternity a decade ago."

"Let's find out." Peter suggested. He took a few steps forward, but before he could even reach out to grab it he was knocked onto his back. Nina went to help the boy to his feet while the others moved to defend them from Peter's attacker… a man in ninja's garbs.

"I apologize for the rudeness of my greeting," the man said, "But I'm afraid I can't allow you to take the Key of Anubis, nor the other two."

"You gonna stop us, buddy?" Logan demanded.

"If I must, but I'd prefer that we skip these shenanigans and get down to business."

"Who the hell do you think you are, attacking my cousin like that?" Hunter demanded.

"Who do you think I am?"

There was a brief pause, not a guess among the group. But then Nina pushed her way forward through the wall of teenagers and took a long look at the man. Then her mouth fell open slightly. "Rush?... Is that you?"

"It's been a long time, Sloth." Riku said.

Nina chuckled. "I go by Nina now. My days as a Sin are long over."

"Glad to hear it. Unfortunately my ties to the demonic forces remain… slightly less severed."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Bonny asked.

"It's not a bad thing. In fact it's the only reason I'm more or less alive. They underestimated my will power, fortunately, and I managed to escape their control. But enough about me, I suppose you're wondering about this little oasis. Well… this is my humble abode and the last refuge for life on earth. I call it the ark."

"Clever." Hikari said.

"Not really. But it is appropriate. This is quite literally the only place left on the planet where life remains. And had you removed that key from the ground, young man, you would have destroyed it all… as well as me" Rush demonstrated by sticking his hand beyond the edge of the oasis. The suit seemed to deflate as it went over the edge, as if the only thing inside the ninja garbs was Rush's spirit. "Do you see?" Rush asked as he retracted his hand.

"Hey, I'm the comic relief. Sue me." Peter huffed.

Rush shook his head and gazed out into the wasteland. "The Key of Hades. The Key of Anubis. The Key of Hel. These three Shen Gong Wu form a triangle, making a barrier which the Great Eye and the Oni's influence can not cross."

"Oni?" Riku asked.

Rush chuckled. "That's right… you don't know his name."

"The Destroyer." Riley said.

"Is that what you call him? Appropriate, I suppose… But we have important matters to discuss. I've been watching you all through the Yin-Yang Bird for some time now."

"What?" Hunter shouted.

"Then why didn't you get us out of there?" Sarah demanded.

"Because you were safe there!" Rush growled, glaring at them. "… or at least you were for a while. But then they found you some how, and I had to bring you here sooner than planned."

"Oh great. There's a plan." Bonny grumbled.

Suddenly a thunder-like rumbling erupted from the sky and Rush looked straight up. Dark clouds were gathering overhead. "Come. We don't have much time." Rush ordered, begging their trek towards the forest. "The Great Eye approaches. The Keys of Eternity may guard me and the creatures that reside here from its gaze, but you nine are free to leave at your will. It can spot you, and if it does everything I've worked for will be lost."

"Then why did you bring us here?" Logan asked.

"Because you are the only hope that this world has." Rush said. "You are the last of humanity, and so long as humanity remains hope exists… That is their weakness. The higher demons you've encountered may be able to withstand it, but to lesser demons hope is like poison. They can't exist in a world with even the slightest possibility of their defeat. I can't pretend to understand why this is, but it is true."

"That's really poetic and all, but I'm not getting the point." Nina said, crossing her arms as they entered the forest.

"The point is that you can defeat Lilith, her father, and their forces. You all have a long journey ahead of you… and you'll need some tools."

From there Rush was silent, and it wasn't long before they came to a small pond at the base of the mountain, a waterfall pouring down into it from the melting ice and snow above. "Wait here." He said before stepping into the water, moving forward until he was completely submerged. After a few minutes the group became worried, thinking he may have drown, but after several minutes more he emerged carrying a bulging bag.

"Where were you?" Hikari asked.

"I hide all of the Shen Gong Wu I managed to salvage in an under water cave… an ideal hiding place when one doesn't require oxygen."

"Really?" Hunter asked.

"I'm just a suit, kid. No body in here." Rush said as he stepped back onto land, setting down the sack. "Now let's see here. Eight Shen Gong Wu to help you with your journey." First he pulled out a black and silver rug. "The Shroud of Shadows to keep you hidden." Next, a pair of chopsticks. "The Changing Chopsticks for tight situations." Then a very real looking heart. "The Heart of Jong for allied most unexpected." The severed tail of a reptile. "The Serpent's Tail for quick escapes." A telescope adorned with the shape of a bird. "The Eagle Scope to guide you." An ancient mirror. "The Reversing Mirror for any x-factor you might encounter." A horn in the shape of a rooster. "The Rooster's Crow for a distraction. And in case any ass kicking is in order…" and finally, he revealed a golden statue of a pig. "The Sleeping Boar."

"Yeah, that last one made my day." Peter said.

Rush ignored him. "Now listen carefully. I'm about to send you all out on the single most important task of your lives. There is something you can do to rid this world of the Oni, Lilith, and their influence. I'm not sure how, but I know someone who does. You will meet them at the Temple of Master Monk Guan. I will be able to transport you part of the way, but you'll have to travel by foot most of the way."

"And how are we supposed to get there?" Riku asked. "We don't even know where we are."

"Guan's Temple lies to the east." Rush explained. "It will take you several months on foot, nearly a year, but you can do it. Just follow the rising sun and turn your back to the setting sun."

"Well let's get going then!" Bonny declared, placing the eight Shen Gong Wu back in the sack and slinging it over her shoulder. "The sooner we can do this the better!"

"Hold on." Nina broke in. She took a few steps toward Rush. "Something's not right here… where's Jack?... and Mimi, Julia, and Elena? How do we know you're not in league with the Darklings and Lilith?... What are you up to, Rush? What's your game?"

Rush didn't answer right away, turning to look at his reflection in the pond. He took a good, hard look at himself before speaking. "I am sorry, but the Yin-Yang Bird was not fast enough to rescue Mimi, Julia, and Elena. They were captured and likely killed by the Darklings…" He paused, giving the children a moment to take in his words. "… And when I sent the bird back for Jack I lost contact with it. I have no idea what happened to them." He paused again and turned away from the reflection of his faceless mask. "As for my game, it's quite simple. I want to die again, but on my own terms… I want to be at peace, to be able to see Raven's sweet face again, but the only way I can do that is by knowing that I used me second chance for a good reason… not selfishly like the first time."

"Rush…" Nina said, now regretting that she had doubted him.

"It's all right. You had every reason to be cynical. Now I'm going to teleport you all as far as I can, but you'll have to hoof it from there."

"Yeah, we heard you the first time." Logan said. "Let's just do it already!"

Rush nodded and instructed the nine of them to stand in a line. Then, using his demonic powers, he made them disappear in a flash of darkness. But as the light returned to where they once stood, Nina remained there, her arms crossed but with a sly smile on her face. "I knew you were going to keep me here." She said. "So I ask again… What's your game?"

"I'm sorry, Nina, but I can't allow you to leave… You require protection." Rush said.

"Meaning?"

"The baby's life can not be risked."

~GUAN'S TEMPLE~

"I told you they wouldn't be here. What made you think they would?" Dark Kim said.

"Where else would they be?" Dark Saya asked as she, the other three Darklings, and Omi perused the ruins of the once proud temple. What had once been the magnificent courtyard had been completely demolished, the only remaining standing structures being a small portion of the main building and four statues… statues that had once been Guan, Chase, Hannibal, and Wuya. "This is where they made their final stand ten years ago. If for nothing else they might come here for the nostalgia."

"Yes, because nostalgia is definitely on their priority list." Dark Rai chuckled. "Right up there with reversing the apocalypse and turning us back into their parents."

"Well do you have any better ideas?" Dark Saya asked. "The Great Eye hasn't spotted them yet. While it is possible to hide from our master's pet, a group of more than four would make it nearly impossible. There are ten of them. Now there is nowhere on earth that the Great Eye can't see, so unless they're off world, which I doubt, they're in a place of some sort of importance… or very, very clever."

"And very, very tasty." Dark Clay said, drooling.

"Yes, they are dear." Dark Saya agreed, rubbing his arm. "Now, even if they're not here, it wouldn't hurt to set a trap or two, would it?" Neither Dark Rai nor Kim responded. "What say you, Omi?" But he did not reply either. He was gone, somewhere else in the temple. Dark Saya shook her head. "Always wandering off… Now let's get to work, you three."

Omi had wandered off into the remaining structure of the temple. Half a hallway and the meditation hall, that was all that still stood. Master Monk Guan's once beautiful inner sanctum was now only a shadow of its former self. The hearth at the center of the room had been shattered, the walls were cracked and the floor coated with dirt and sand, the roof seemed to be on the verge of collapsing. Omi remembered this place well, but the memories of what had happened here, what he had done there, what he became there… they had faded. Though he knew he'd been there before hand, the only event that he remembered happening there was looking into his mother's face and, for the first time, knowing that he loved her… and he had to prove it.

"You disgust me."

Omi swung around and leapt into the air, bringing his leg into direct contact with Jack Spicer's face only for it to pass right through. As Omi landed behind him, Jack spoke again. "Don't bother trying to attack me, Omi. I'm just a hologram.

Omi glared as the false Jack as he stood. "What do you want?" he demanded.

"I know what you did Omi." Jack said. "Julia, Elena… Mimi. She was your wife… She was the mother of your sons… She was the love of your life, and you killed her! I am ashamed to say we were once friends!"

"The only friend I need is my mother!"

"Don't give me that bull!" Jack retorted. "You were the best of us, Omi! You were the best of us and look at what you've become! At least the others have an excuse. Rai, Kim, Clay, and Saya, they're all possessed by demons. But you… you're still in control. Your body is still yours and yet you follow them. Like a sad puppy with an abusive owner, you put your tail between your legs and do what you're told because you think, just maybe, you'll get some love in return. You—"

"My mother's word is law!" Omi broke in. "I must obey her… She loves me, so I must do what she says."

"Oh, please." Jack grumbled. "Don't you remember, Omi. Don't you remember the man who was more of a parent to you than that evil bitch ever was? He loved you, gave you a place to live when your foster parents died, gave you all the care you needed and then some, and yet you disobeyed him frequently… Look at yourself… Would Master Fung be proud?"

Then it all started coming back to him. "Master Fung…" he said softly as the kindly old face flashed through his head. It all came rushing back to him in a flood of chores, birthdays, training sessions, and other moments together. He could see everything, even his oldest memory of the old man. Omi had only been a year or two old at the time and had tripped, scraping his knee on the temple floor. Master Fung immediately came to his cries of pain, bandaged him up, and held him until he fell asleep. Omi dropped to his knees as more images filled his head, coming and going so fast that he thought his head might explode.

"That's good, Omi, remember!" Jack cheered, seeing that the tentacle tattoos all over Omi's body were fading as Master Fung resurfaced in his head. Soon the tattoos were no more than transparent shades on his skin, Omi was almost back!

But before the transformation was complete, a food crashed down on the device projecting Jack's hologram. Dark Saya then went over to her little brother into a tight hug. "Shhh, shhh, its okay, Omi." She whispered into his ear. "He's not here to lie to you anymore. Mistress Lilith loves you. The old man only wanted to oppress you… that's right, come back to us." An evil smirk appeared onto her face as the tattoos regained their solidity, confirming that Omi was theirs again. "All better?" she asked as she pulled away from him.

"Yes." Omi said in his monotone voice, nodding slowly.

"Good. Now let's go. Our work here is over."

Dark Saya grabbed Omi's hand and led him out of the meditation hall, and once outside she ordered Dark Clay to demolish it. He immediately went to work while Dark Saya conversed with Dark Rai and Dark Kim. "Jack Spicer has been here." She informed them. "He spoke to Omi directly… he can't be far."

"Forget about him." Dark Rai said. "Our priority is the children and the woman. We struck the Yin-Yang Bird when it retrieved Spicer, so it's unlikely that those two are with the other group."

"I suppose you're right." Dark Saya agreed. "Stick to our priorities… Come, dear"

Clay left only small sections of walls standing when he rejoined the others. The five took one last look at the four statues before they left. If the children did show up here, then they would be in for a very unpleasant surprise. Dark Kim waved at the Wuya statue as they disappeared in a flash of darkness… and as they left, the lifeless statue of Wuya produced a single tear.


(A/N) sorry for the short chapter, but I felt that that was an appropriate spot to end it. anyway, this is the last chapter of this story you guys are getting until I finish "Total Drama Dynamite" (which I plan on doing as quickly as possible without screwing up the last few chapters), as Im putting this back on hiatus. so I hope you all enjoyed your christmas present (and the late second part of it). For those of you who are interested, you can expect a new chapter of "Total Drama Hereos" out of me next.