Chapter 9: Hello Mr. Evil
Ron couldn't scream anymore, it hurt to much. The pain had become all consuming, and for a brief moment he dare wish for it all to just end. Then he felt a warmth, close to him. A warmth that chased away the pain enough that he opened his eyes. He could see through a small window in the shrine he was in, that Jake was stuck much like himself in the shrine next door. He gasping in surprised only to cringe as his body raged at him for moving at all. Ron looked in horror at Jake; the asian was swathed in light, and looked to be in such terrible pain. All he felt was a desire to help his friend, and part of him cried for him to do something! Anything to bring an end to the other boy's suffering. He noticed then as Jake slowly opened an eye and despite the pain smiled at him. Then he heard Jake's voice, in his heart, in his soul, it was all around him and yet the other boy's lips didn't move an inch.
"Hey man, sorry about this. Figured you could use some back-up for this crazy Hand of the King deal." Ron chocked back a pained sob, his body wanting to sub come to the mind shattering pain. He suddenly felt the pain lessen slowly being replaced by a warmth. He looked to Jake and again was surprised. Standing between them was the silhouette of some kind of creature. Ron coughed a pained gasp in surprise, it was much the same creature as that depicted by the statues that he and his friend found themselves trapped by. The shadow, almost ghost like form looked to Jake first, then to Ron its voice was deep, frightening to hear. An yet it gave him a scenes of calm, of peace, as if no matter what he was feeling physically; it was all just something for his mind and soul to over come.
"You two are the Hands of the King. I Agito, the godzilla that currently holds the crown and title of king of all of gaia's guardians; have had my mind and soul awaken to act as arbiter for your trail young ones. If I find you wanting, you will perish and the search will begin anew for Hands of the King."
"If however, you surpass yourselves and pass the trial in victory. Then I will recognize you as the Left and Right Hands of the King. From that point foward you will be tasked by Gaia; the mother from who we are all born from and ultimately in death return to."
"She scenes a time of great change, of great danger approaches. She feels...that my time as King draws near to its end. When my rule ends it will be time for you the Hands of the King to find the one who will become King of Monsters, the King of Guardians, to find the next Godzilla to stand above the world."
"You and the next Godzilla may either stand as only destroyers, reigning death and destruction upon the land and all who would threaten to kill the earth. Or...you will stand as saviors, not just of the earth but of all who live here. The ultimate choice rest with you. Be warned young ones those who you will ultimately judge will be watching."
Ron and Jake both looked through the shadowy aspersion and gave each other a reassuring nod and then turn to the being who stood between them, who stood with them. As one they answer. "READY!" the shouted and with that they heard a serious of thunderous roars that seemed to shake them to their core threatening to destroy them utterly. Then all became quiet and dark.
Outside the Shrines of the King, Mothra stood defiantly with Spud and Trixie as the Huntsclan drew closer; the hunters having finally gotten of the shock and awe of the twin spires of swirling light, energy, magic and chi that had surrounded the two small shrines. Rose stalked forward as more of her hunters dropped from the raiding skiffs. "I remember you two..." She said with almost a pained voice. Spud and Trixie remembered her too; she had been such a hated enemy...and such a dear friend. Their experience with Rose was one of the reasons they felt drawn to Ron and his own suffering. It was so much like their own, they had only begun to heal when Ron came into their lives. His smile, his friendship, his loyalty and just amazing skills and talents were among the other reasons they go along so well. The two shook away their thoughts of hesitation. Ron and Jake were helpless as far as they knew. For once the American Dragon would be needing protection. They; his friends, would be the protectors, for Jake and Ron.
"Well it's been a while." Rose said removing her face mask and clasping it to her belt. "I am leader of the Huntsclan, to you humans I offer this one and only warning. I beg that you take it. Please, step aside. Our objectives do not include slaughtering helpless people..." She focused her eyes on Spud and Trixie, the two of them having their crossbows pointed at the hunters. "You two...I only ask for you to move because I remember that...for a short, tortuously short time...we were friends." Spud could see a tear fall from the corner of her eyes. Trixie grunted as she took a more aggressive stance as she aimed the crossbow more specifically at Rose. "No can do girl. Spud and I are not going to let you near Jake."
Rose narrowed her eyes as she raised up her rune enchanted halberd. "Don't you mention that monster's name!" She snarled, before turning her attention to the women who walked slowly in front of Spud and Trixie. "Child do you mean to turn this place into a field of suffering and death?" She asked, Rose just smiled cruelly. "I will do what is needed to save humanity! Actions for the greater good sometimes require sacrifices." Rose aimed the magical weapon at the women and fired a bolt of violet lightning at her.
Mothra snapped an arm and hand up holding it palm up a small cloud of glittering scales appeared around her. The bolt fired by Rose struck the cloud and began to bounce off them before it zigged zag and was sent back at her. Rose ducked as the bolt streaked passed and frowned. Mothra grew to that of an angered mother about to scold a misbehaving child. "If you wish to test your limits young one. I will be happy to give you that test." With those words, a set of red, white, black, and gold moth wings spread from behind her back as she took up a defiant stance against the huntress. Spud and Trixie came to stand next to her. Soon others of the villagers were at their sides, monks and priests, fishermen, and simple woodsmen all stood ready to protect their home. "Sooo you all wish to fight beside this bitch huh? Then you can all just die." Rose raised a gloved hand and gestured at the mass of people. Her hunters opened fired not with arrows or spears as they might have before; instead the snap of cannon fire and machine guns soon ripped through the evening air.
{x}
Ron did not know where he was or what had happened. He found himself walking through a city of sorts. It was advanced looking in conception, but it reeked of suffering and death. It was clean, orderly, from where he walked he saw below people going about their lives. "Where the hell am I?"
"BOO-YAH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
The sudden insane cackle drew his eyes from the scene of the streets below to the space to his left. Standing there was someone he had been told about, shown pictures of, however he had thought he would never meet this person. For this person was himself. Standing there dressed in black combat boots, small plates of armor on his leather pants covered his thighs, knees, and crotch. He wore a tight black under armor shirt. Over this was a black jersey, and a black leather jacket that while it was long armed it only came down to just under his chest. A large chest piece of black armor bearing the red letter Z rested over his chest. Flowing from his utility belt were four small plates of black plate hanging from these and flowing like it was part of a trench-coat in some unseen, unfelt wind were broad strips of black silk. On his hands he wore black leather gloves, with armored claws over each finger. Covering his eyes was a visor with a red lenses running through the center.
"Well my goody ultra clumsy loser twin self! What do you think?" Zorpox asked as he stalked over to stand on Ron's left side. The crazed teenager gestured with pride to the city before them. "This is the City of Trinity. This is what will become of the world when I and two others, become the most powerful evil villains this world has ever known! What do you think please tell me!" Zorpax chuckled as he looked to Ron.
The other boy looked back out to the city. He could see nothing wrong with it; it was in fact the opposite of what he had expected a city or place with an evil overlord in charge of it would look like. The other boy just laughed more insanely at Ron's confused face. "Shocked aren't you!?"
Ron turned to his twin and nodded. "What is so shocking?" Zorpox suddenly asking, his insane demeanor seeming to calm a bit yet still looking as insane as a mad hatter.
"I see no crime...no trash, not even any poor people. I'd figure everyone would be suffering, slaves, toiling without end for you or who ever the evil rule was of a city." Ron said looking back out to the city. Zorpox just smiled in pride.
"Of course Ronald, it is however only logical. If one is to rule would it not be in their best interest to make sure those that will be under their boot know their place and ultimately realize it is for the best?" Zorpox asked gesturing to the people below. "They are ants, no different when stepped on or when put to work. They are worthless, mindless, weak insects as individuals. Together they are an army, a force the likes of which only mother nature could conceive of!" Zorpox started to laugh crazily again.
"This is what could happen Ronald. This is a world without war, without crime, without suffering. Look up there." Ron followed the clawed digit to look at the sky, there was something like a solid line or bar high in the sky going on as far as the eye could see. "That is an orbital ring, connected to it is a solar power generation system. There is no more fighting of power for it is given openly. All that is asked of the people, is that they know their place, don't fight it, and simple live their lives out in their assigned place." Zorpox smiled with pride at it all.
"What happens to those who do not want this, who dream of more, what happens when they ask for something different in life?" Ron asked turning to his twin. Who suddenly grew a sad frown. "Oh those people are sad, they make me sad. Because, they ultimately are the kind of people who refuse to learn their place and so we have to kill them." Ron gasped when he watched Zorpox draw a large revolver from his coat and brought the barrel to aim at his head. "Just like you!" Ron barely dodged the shot, the close graze burning his ear and making it ring as the shock-wave passed over him and he feel clenching at his ear and side of his face.
"You see Ronald this is my dream. A world where all know their place, have no reason to fight it, I have absolute power and all the nacos I want when I want them." Ron grunted as he pushed himself into a back-flip dodging another shot of gun fire. As Ron stood up he heard a voice shout out from everywhere and no where. "RON!"
The blond knew the voice, and inside ached due to the sound of fear in it. It was Jake, he was calling for help. His help, the help of a best friend. "Oh don't worry about your friend Ronald, my best friend is taking care of him right now. So do no fret there will be a Jake around for when we rule over all of humanity and the world!" Zorpox fired again, Ron again barely dodged the shot, this time drawing a insane smile from the other him. "I must admit the instinct of the mystical monkey power is quite annoying to deal with." Ron stood up as he took up a fighting stance against his twin. "Where is Jake?" Ron asked.
Zorpox smiled and simple pointed a thumb down the road they were on. "In his part of the city. Why do you think this is named City of Trinity?" Ron blinked. Zorpox saw the realization dawn on the other him and began to laugh manically. "You do understand!"
"RON!" Jake's voice rang out again.
Ron narrowed his eyes at Zorpox. "What are you really planning here. Why are you here!?" he asked, the other stoppable sighing and half-heatedly flipped the revolver open and replaced the fired shells. "If you really really want me to tell you...You'll have to beat it out of me." Ron frowned as Zorpox raised his gun again. "However, I do feel that you will fail like always, and in the end my dream here will become reality!" Ron had never felt this sorta of anger before...no he had felt it before. He felt it when Kimberly called him for help after seven months of pushing him away and ignoring him. Zorpox, fired again and again. This time Ron ducked and weaved past the shots kicking off the street and flipping around until he landed in front of Zorpox in a handstand and kicked the gun out of the other teen's grasp and then spun around kicking the other boy back a few feet. Ron flipped back to his feet as he now stood looking down at Zorpox with a glare of anger to match Zorpox own insane smile. "Tell me." Ron ordered.
"BRING! I THINK NOT!" Zorpox cackled as he suddenly side kicked Ron's legs from under him, as he fell Zorpox flipped backwards and took up a stance similar to Ron's except his was more perfected than Ron's. "Ronald you fool do you really think you can best me!? I have everything you do and unlike you I am not weak, I do not hesitate! You will never defeat me!" with that Zorpox leaped at Ron to deliver a hard high kick, Ron rolled to the side and came up and caught the fist that had been coming for him. "We will see about that! Hi-yah!"
{x}
Jake cried out as he was sent flying into a wall, crashing through it and smashing the car on the other side as he landed on it. Slowly with a pained groan he sat up in the wreckage of the vehicle, gasping as he looked up, Jake bolted form the car just as he heard the beat of leathery wings and the sudden whoosh of a fireball. Jake landed a short distance from the car as it erupts in a blossom of fire and smoke. The sound of leathery wings beating against the wind drew the young dragon's eyes skyward. Flying there above him was a red dragon; however this beast was more feral in form. It wanted nothing but to ruin, destroy, to maim and kill anything and anyone. It was complete freedom from any scenes of right, or wrong. Jake knew of this side of himself well as he looked the other dragon in the eye, the burning embers the creature had for eyes sending a chill down his spine. "Why do you run from your true self?" The creature asked darkly, its horned head arching left and right as the sounds of it popping its neck into place; while it cracked its knuckles.
"I'll never become you!" Jake spat, growling as he fired a jet of flame at the dragon which easily snuffed it out with a strong stroke of its leathery wings. The creature grew a dark toothy feral grin along its snort as it looked at Jake's dissipating flame attack. It chuckled softly.
"You seem to think that it is a choice. You see, you're already who I am." The other Jake said as it landed on the ground with a soft thud, his tail snapping down into the ground leaving gash int he pavement of the ruined street.
"It is a choice, my choice. I will never become you. I will never let you get the power to do this horrible thing to the world." Jake roared as he charged the other dragon, the dark beast smirking at his attack, and quickly in a matter of seconds blocked Jake's blows before dropping down to crouch and kicking Jake's legs out from under him. As he fell the other dragon whirled around and smashed Jake in the head with its tail. The resounding crack echoing around the ruined landscape. Jake flew again against his will and smashed into another building. Old bones and ash exploding out from under his impact. Grunting he slowly stood up. The other Jake just calmly stalked towards him.
"You seem to forget easily Jacob, you see you already have become me. Or do you not remember that glorious first kill?" Jake's eyes widen in horror and shock, the images and memories of that cursed night flying back to him. The American dragon fell to his knees, coughing harshly as his body attempted to empty his stomach. This caused the dark Jake to just laugh coldly at his twin's suffering. "Of course you didn't stop at the first one did you? No it was to short of a taste that human died to fast. That was why we killed more isn't it?" Jake screamed as he tried to forget the images that flooded into his mind. "NO NO! I DID NOT KILL ANYONE!" Jake screamed, gasping as he was hauled to his feet and had the burning malice snort of his twin shoved in his face.
"THEN WHY ARE YOU ALIVE!?" Jake sputtered for a moment grunting as he was hurled into a wall and slumped to the floor. "You can tell yourself that you didn't kill anyone, you can lie to yourself all you want! YOU AND I HAVE HUMAN BLOOD ON OUR CLAWS! OUR TONGUES HAVE TASTED HUMAN FLESH!" Jake cringed as he heard these words despite covering his ears.
"No no no no!" Jake cried out as his twin leaped at him delivering a hard kick that sent him out of the building into its neighbor. The other dragon smiled at the still from of his good nature twin. "Don't worry Jacob, this will be over soon." Jake lay there his mind in a maelstrom of his own fear, doubt, and self loathing. He started to cry to himself. "I-I didn't want to hurt anyone...I-I didn't mean to..." Jake curled into a fetal ball as his dark twin came to stand above him. Suddenly a voice shattered the stillness of the world. "JAKE!"
The red dragon's tear filled eyes snapped open at the name. The voice, it was Ron's! "JAKE!" the voice called out again. His friend needed him!
Jake glared up to his twin. He grabbed his evil side's leg with his tail and pulled, the other dragon gasped as it was flung out into the streets, and smashing headfirst into a ruined pick-up truck. Jake got to his feet, his tears still leaving bright streaks of clear red scales on his dusty snort and face. He wiped his tears away, and took up a stance against his twin. "I-I may hate what happened, I may want to wish it never happened. That it was a dream, some horrific nightmare." Jake narrowed his eyes at his twin. "That will have to wait until I can help my friend. If your standing in the way of that...than your going down!"
The two clashed, in a tempest of flying claws, kicks, tail whips, and bashing wings. "WE ARE MEANT TO RULE! WHY CAN"T YOU SEE THAT THE DARK DRAGON WAS RIGHT?! ITS OUR BIRTH RIGHT!" the other dragon roared as Jake bit into his shoulder. He deliver a hard double-kick to Jake's underside sending the other dragon flying backwards. Jake gasp and coughed with the blow; having knocked the wind from him. He staggered as he slid to a stop falling once more to his knees and claws.
"We are the greatest of the magical beings on this world! It is our right to rule! Humanity must be put in its place!" Jake wheezed as he tried to stand, tried to get some air into his burning lungs. "JAKE!" Ron called out again. Jake growled as he slowly stood finding his twin charging at him. "I...am going...to save my friend." Jake leaped up performing perfectly one of the many moves his grandfather had tried to teach him. Jake suddenly saw things differently, it was as if something inside him had clicked into place. The other dragon noticed this a look of worry filling those burning hateful eyes. "I AM THE AMERICAN DRAGON!" Jake roared as he went in to a vicious assault on his twin, the other dragon for all of its power suddenly found itself on the defensive.
"N-no! How! How can I be losing!?" The evil dragon bellowed in pain as Jake racked his claws over his twin's face, followed by a flurry of punches. "Hijuchi! Uraken! Seiken!" Jake growled as he sent his twin flying through an entire building to the street on the other side. Jake now had focus, he had a goal, a single minded purpose for this moment.
He was going to put his heart, mind, body, and soul into that goal! He was going to beat this thing, he was going to surpass himself! He was going to save his best friend!
Jake snarled and growled deep in his chest, surging towards his twin. "RON!" Jake roared out as he fell upon his twin, plunging a claw straight into the other dragon's chest. He felt it grasp something that felt warm, soft, almost like a peach. He knew what he grasped it and pulled, the beating heart of all of his fear, anger, doubt, hate, and sadness was there in his hand, its life at his mercy. Slowly Jake closed his eyes. "What are you waiting for! KILL ME!" The other him said. Jake looked to his other self and slowly shook his head. NO
"WHAT!?"
{x}
"WHAT!?"
zorpox grunted as he was slammed into a wall, his right arm broken, and both legs fractured, as well as a few cracked ribs. He wasn't in condition to fight on. He turned his brown crazed eyes to his twin and slowly started to cackle. It was painful, and difficult. He soon had to stop as he coughed up some blood. Ron walked calmly over to him and after a moment lowered his face, a long face of sadness turning away from looking at his twin. "Why won't you kill me?" Zorpox asked genuinely curious.
Ron slowly lifted his head up, tears running down his face. "Because, as you said. You are me. I am you. To kill you would be killing myself." Ron sad before he narrowed his eyes at the other boy. "I will not kill you. You are me. Everything you have, everything that makes you who you are is mine!" Ron declared reaching out and grabbing Zorpox by the scruff of his jacket. "So...we will be one, we will be me." Ron declared and suddenly his entire vision was swallowed in light, the only sounds he heard was Zorpox's insane laugh, which sounded so much like his own. For some reason he smiled warmly before he started to giggle with it.