Hello once again Fan fiction! First off, I want to apologize for the wait once again. I meant to have this out two hours after the last update, buuut I ran into a few snags. So to make up for it, and in the spirit of the Christmas season, I'll have a few gifts for you guys. But before we continue, I know the wait on my updates can be a pain. So please, if you can please check out Wolvehulk and Jjmt. If you love this story, you're going to enjoy the work these two have to offer! Now then, without further ado, I present Chapter 25: Rebirth! This one takes place the night after Carmelitas investigation.
Disclaimer: Sly Cooper does not belong to me, but if it did I would've made changes to Thieves in Time. Seriously, you dropped the ball Sanzaru.
Chapter 25: Rebirth
In her quarters, Dr. M's prized soldier could be seen practicing with her knives and fists. Since her failure in Venice, she had been training harder than ever to ensure she didn't fail again. Finishing one last combat maneuver, she stilled herself as she caught her breath.
"Hello Neyla." spoke an all too familiar voice. With a devilish grin Neyla turned to its source, to find the shadowy apparition of an owl.
"Never thought I'd see you again, Clockwerk" she said approaching him, noticing that the shadow glitched erratically every few seconds. "And from the looks of things you've certainly seen better days" she said with a slight chuckle, which ceased upon seeing his unamused expression. "In any case… How are you here?" She said her tone becoming serious.
"How I'm here, holds no relevance, all you need to know is why." he said his voice sounding broken up and choppy.
"Is that a fact?" She asked her eyes locking with his. A part of her simply wanted to ignore the demonic owl, but at the same time, what was the worst that could happen? With a chuckle she made a decision. "Alright, I'll bite. You have my attention."
"To get right to the point, I'm losing what little hold I had left on this reality." he spoke simply keeping his eyes trained on the tigress. "Soon I'll cease to exist in this world." he said his glitches steadily growing worse and worse. This peaked Neylas curiosity.
"This… is a joke right?" She asked. But the silence from the owl showed otherwise, and that terrified the tigress. "T-then why come to me of all people?" She continued and this earned a dark chuckle from the owl.
"Simply put… I don't like leaving loose ends, and I'm intent on finishing my mission. Even if it's from beyond the grave." he said his eyes turning to narrow slits, making Neyla shift uncomfortably.
"B-but that still doesn't explain why you came to me." she said wanting to reach for her knife. Her response gained another chuckle from the owl.
"Simply put, I wish to aid you in your quest to destroy Cooper and all he holds dear." he said as his shadowy form detached from the wall, becoming a standing silhouette on the floor in front of the tigress. "And with the hate I sense in you, you might be able to handle what I offer." he said his voice fading out for a moment.
"a-and what would that be?" She asked as the owl loomed over her.
"I offer you power, what's left of mine at least." he spoke moving around her. "You wouldn't gain the benefit of my longevity, but you'd certainly acquire a much needed combat edge." he continued. "Just imagine it." he said touching Neylas head with a talon. What she saw, sent chills down her spine.
Before her very eyes she saw a vision, a vision of herself locked in combat with the targets of her anger. She saw herself tearing through carmelitas troops, one by one, before sending the inspector to a gruesome end. "In accepting my gift, you'd become my champion." echoed Clockwerks voice.
In another, she could find herself standing over the mauled remains of Bentley. And impaled, with her hand through his chest was Murray. "Your strength and power would be unrivaled, no creature would be able to stop you." he continued.
In one other she found herself, locked in fierce fight to the death with a vengeful Sly. As they fought she could sense the sheer intensity and fury from both. But in the end, he fell when she took his head off his shoulders. "Even Cooper, with all of his might, wouldn't stand a chance." he continued. As she was about to go into another, she was suddenly back to reality. But not before seeing a glimpse of her, facing the ninja warrior she faced in Venice.
"Whoa…" she finally said still in awe. This earned a dark chuckle from the owl.
"Now that you've seen for yourself… what do you say?" he asked again. This sent the tigress into deep thought. It was a really tempting offer. but, on the other hand, The last decision she made involving the old bird, nearly cost her her life and mind. Clockwerk noticed his wings were beginning to fade, he was running out of time. "I suggest you hasten your decision Neyla." he continued. After a few more seconds, she came to a decision.
"What happens to me if I accept?" she asked curiosity in her voice, earning the ire of the owl.
"Simply put, your body will go through a few… minor changes to properly accommodate. Other than that, you'll still be you. No strings attached." he finished as he extended his claw to her."Now… do you accept?" he asked his voice starting to distort.
Before she made a move, she took one last look into his eyes for any trace of treachery. But what she found, was surprising for the bird. Desperation, desperation and resignation. Maybe what he was saying was true, that this really was it for him. His one last attempt at wiping out his centuries old nemesis. Taking a deep breath she raised her hand to him, ready to shake it.
"If it means the end of Cooper, then I accept… Clockwerk." She said a new determination in her eyes. If he could, the owl would've given a grin to rival the Grinch, as he grabbed Neylas hand.
"Very well!" as he did Neyla felt a painful surge of power course through her body. "Then by the power of the Ancients I, Clockwerk, give you the last of my power." She writhed in his grip. "Take this power, take it and use it to destroy all who stand in your way!" she screamed as she felt the pain get worse and worse. To any in the room, they would've spotted two ethereal wings sprout behind her back. "No longer will you be known as Neyla, but as my champion of hate, Chrona." he said finishing his incantation.
As the surge reached its peak, a massive flash of light filled the room, then cleared. His new champion had collapsed on the floor a hole in the back of her shirt. In place of the ethereal wings, large white feathered owl wings had taken root. As his champion, she too would bear his symbol.
Taking one last look at her, he gave a resigned sigh. He gave her that power for one reason, but if she truly used it as intended would be beyond his lifted his talons up to his face and let out a relaxed sigh. He was now steadily fading from existence. Taking one last look at his slumbering agent, he closed his eyes.
"My power is yours now, use it wisely." he said, his deterioration speeding up. "Fare thee well, Chrona." he said as he finally accepted deaths soft embrace, fading from existence. Clockwerk, was no more.
After he vanished, two of Dr. Ms soldiers came in to check on the fallen tigress. They were taken aback by her new appendages, but decided to leave all investigation till she was conscious. Reporting their findings through their communicators, they lifted the slumbering clone and carried her to the infirmary.
And that's all she wrote for this chapter! So, I finally came up with a name for Neylas clone! What did you guys think about it? As per usual I can only hope I did a good job. And as promised I'll be dropping a few things to make up for the wait. Then after I'll get cracking on the next chapter. And if I know I'm a broken record at this point, but for those of that have stuck with me, seriously thank you for your support. It means a ton to me. I hope you guys have a Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year! Till next time, this is Sephiroth 200 signing off!
P.S. Extra huge shout out to Jjmt, this wouldn't have made it here without his help! Thanks for helping me figuring things out bud!