Chapter 10: The Secret of Everything
Ryu landed on the hard ground below as jumped down the trapdoor Zeriros as securing, to which Specter and the kidnapped Melissa had gone down before him.
Viewing his surroundings, Ryu found himself in an underground passageway.
It was dirty, dark and miserable looking, but not backing down Ryu took a torch and ventured down the passageway, determined to stop Specter after being learnt the truth of his and Specter's past.
Specter murdered his parents, put his sister in hospital and plotted to destroy this world.
As a human, Ryu beat him in a fighting tournament Specter announced but rather than turn into justice, Specter took his own life only for Zamasu to resurrect him as a powerful Mewtwo, however he kept his memories and knew Ryu would be coming and waited.
But now Specter murdered Zamasu and had taken Melissa prisoner, Ryu could never forgive him for putting the beautiful female Lucario into such peril.
After a long walk downwards, Ryu came to a wooden door and saw the keys is still in the lock.
'Specter must have gone through the door.' Ryu guessed as he put the torch down, put his tiny paws on the door, pushed it open and, to his surprise, he saw an amazing view within, nothing but a whole blue space with white light stars moving all over the place were in the room.
Slowly entering the room, the stars began moving around and positioning themselves, seemingly wanting Ryu to follow them, which Ryu did.
And with each star he passed, he saw each one contained a memory of this world, one memory showed a different Agumon, a Gabumon, a Charmander and Squirtle having fun and another, followed by seeing a younger Guilmon and Renamon enjoying the sun set before the sea, another memory contained many Pikachus, Pichus and Raichus singing and dancing with each other and another showed Shoutmon marrying Lunamon.
Ryu smiled at the memories, feeling them warm and heartwarming.
None showed their massacre at Zeriros' hands and the rise of Zamasu and his group, though he did see one memory of the Rebels forming, as Zock welcomed Jack, James, Tina, Burn, Cloud, Tifa, Melissa, Ninji and Reggie with open arms with Blossom standing by his side.
And continuing to venture forth, Ryu then saw the stars were going towards a huge light in the distance, surrounding by various stone pillars.
But then he saw a familiar female Lucario, unconscious tied to the stone slab in the centre.
"Melissa!" Ryu called out in concern as he ran towards the slab.
"Hold it right there, little one!"
Hearing the voice, Ryu skidded to a halt and turned to see floating towards him was Specter himself, his arms crossed and glaring down at the little Pikachu.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you rescue her yet. She was just bait to lure you here." He told Ryu, who glared back.
"Specter..." Ryu snarled.
"You murdered my parents, put my sister in the hospital, you hosted a tournament to end all of mankind and now you put my new friends in great peril!" He then said, his tone full of hate.
"It seems you finally recovered most of your memories. Good. Good." Specter commented as he landed on the ground before him and said. "I knew those Goddesses would bring you over eventually. I've been waiting for this day for far too long."
"So you're only here to seek revenge?" Ryu asked, earning a nod from Specter, before he added. "Yes, and I still plot to end all of mankind, or in this world all Pokemon and Digimon kind."
"See that light over there?" Specter then asked, causing Ryu to look up and at the huge light in the centre.
"That is the Secret of Everything itself! One touch and a wish is granted!" Specter announced, stunning Ryu.
"The Secret of Everything..." Ryu gasped as he looked at it. "That is what Zeriros was preventing us from retrieving, right?"
"Exactly. He merely wanted to use that secret as a power source for his fortress, however, now that he is gone, it is ours' to use. And by 'ours', I mean one of us will use it." Specter replied, causing Ryu to turn back at Specter and glared at him, knowing if Specter got what he desired, all would be lost.
"It is poetic that I was resurrected as a Pokemon. You won't believe the debts I had to go through with that Zamasu idiot. I was forced to go through with his idiotic plans to enslave all Pokemon and Digimon. He was planning to brainwash your friends first so they would serve him and Xehanort in his conquest. However, thanks to you, that failed because his mind control cannot be affected by humans, or those with the human genome within, like you and me." Specter said, clenching his right fist as he then snapped. "Instead of crushing all mankind, I was forced to work like a servant to that idiot!"
"Well don't take that blame on me. You're the one who got me to enter your tournament in the first place." Ryu said back in reply.
Agreeing with him, Specter nodded, before he said."Yes, and I planned to have you kill me so you could finish what I started, letting your rage consume you. But for some reason you spared my life as though I was worth it!"
"I knew killing you would never bring my parents back and I was planning to turn you to the police. You were a fool to take your own life." Ryu scolded him.
"I had to do that, that is what you don't get!" Specter replied as he began to undo the straps on his coat, bracing himself for battle.
"Because I never sleep well in any world knowing I share it with you! Your death is my remedy. That is why that after I was revived as a Mewtwo, I've begun training to harness my new powers, waiting for Cosmos and Terra to bring you here to this world, and to make sure I don't lose to you again! Having to put a real effort into anything is a first for me, Ryu. I will make sure you suffer for that too!" He yelled, tearing his coat to pieces and releasing a powerful dark purple aura, showing his power and showing off his entire Mewtwo body.
"It's true you're a lot stronger as a Pokemon than a human, Specter, there's no question about that, but it has been a long time since we last fought and since you haven't noticed, I am a lot stronger now, thanks to the orb of past Pikachus." Ryu said in reply, throwing his jacket over to Melissa and let a yellow aura circle him.
"I'm a Psychic-type and you're an Electric-type. Seems like I have an advantage. But of course, that doesn't matter because on us being part human, advantages mean nothing." Specter said, which caused Ryu to say in reply. "We shall see."
But before he attacked, Ryu asked. "Answer me one thing: the Secret of Everything. You plan to use it to your own advantage?"
"Of course. Once I kill you and all your friends, I will use it to destroy this planet and then I'll return to the human world and crush all mankind. And you...?" Specter replied as he smirked darkly.
"I will revive all the Pokemon and Digimon slain by Zeriros and your party's hands. That is my wish for the Secret." Ryu told Specter, who just scoffed.
"Well it sounds to me you care about this world now as well. I thought you'd want to return to being a human afterwards." He said, making Ryu ask. "Why should I?"
"I am not leaving my new friends behind. Besides, I have more friends here than the human world. I am afraid I will not let you get your hands on the Secret" Ryu then stated in a determined tone.
"Fine by me, but enough talking. Now it's time for us to settle things." Specter said as he got into a fighting position, followed by Ryu, just as a lightning storm began, where bolts of thunder crashed around the two enemies.
Then Ryu and Specter lunged forward and their fists clashed, creating a huge flash as the pair began their fight.
However, while Ryu was facing his past, so too was Cloud against his dark form, the BlackGuilmon, Sephiroth.