CHAPTER 9: CLASH! BEINGS OF FUTURE AND PAST.
(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)
"Elemental Release."
As Thomas's older variant then said those words, a bright golden light shined across the room, blinding Thomas and Lady. When the couple opened their eyes, they dropped their jaws, for they were now in a desolate wasteland.
"What... How is this..."
"Did you honestly think that an Elemental release only releases a weapon's element, Lady?"
"Actually no." She replied. "An elemental release doesn't just release a weapon's element or magic, but also their... memories..."
Her voice trailed off as she then realized it.
"You... used your memories to make a projection of this place?"
"Correct." Replied the 38 year-old. "However, you can't just use ANY memory of your own in an elemental release. Only ones that are tied with you and your weapon can be utilized."
"I see." Lady replied. "But what is it about this place that ties you and Excalibur?"
"It's the aftermath." The 18 year-old Thomas replied. "This wasteland is what remains of his Sodor after the fight against Lux-Tembris."
Lady gasped in great shock as she then looked at the other variant of her husband.
"It's true, Lady. My Sodor became like this, after I did that massive slaughter of my friends, and my failure to prevent the evil goddess from sapping all the mana from the magic railway. And to be frank, those are just two of many things that I regret when being a so-called king."
Tears began to stream down from Lady's face. From how she looked, it was very clear that she was heart-broken. As both versions of Thomas then began to fight once more, a certain Goddess of darkness was watching through a glass orb. Lux-Tembris's sneer got broader and broader as she watched both versions of Thomas fight one another.
"A being from a near future?" She remarked to herself. "Oh THIS is just perfect! This gives me an even better plan than syphoning Sodor dry of mana. Oh yes indeed. HA! HA! HA! Oh yes!"
As the woman began to laugh maniacally, she left her spot to make even further plans for when she was finally freed. Back on the projection of the wasteland, Thomas was catching his breath as his two blades were in his hands, shattered once again.
"Just give up already, Thomas Billinton." Said the 38 year-old Thomas. "It's hopeless to go on. If you don't want anything bad happening to your friends, then kill yourself."
Thomas just gave scowl, as he took in what his 38 year old variant said to him.
"ARGH!"
"CLASH!"
"So I see." The Older Thomas observed as his 18 year old counterpart struggled to push his blades back. "I just it's just only natural for you to deny me."
"Wouldn't it?!" The 18 year old Thomas replied, as he then leapt back and tried to slash the man in front of him, but to only have his arm caught by him.
"Too slow." The 38 year-old replied. "I know your every move, Thomas Billinton. You're nothing compared to me. That said..." He went on. "Though it may seem evil, if you think about it more, me bringing death upon you is my act of mercy for you. For I don't think you would want to have the king's spot as I have."
"Idiot!" The 18 year old in blue snapped in reply. "It's not that I want to be a king, but I'm going to be one no-matter what I say!"
Thomas tried to throw another strike at the older variant of him, but to only have the 38 year old restrain him with his back against his.
"You're right." The Older variant replied. "You will be a king no matter what you say. You are the holder of Excalibur and the very lover of Lady Allcroft. Even though you know that you are never truly sure that you're worthy of any of it."
"Argh! Just... Shut up!"
"Don't deny it." The 38 year-old remarked. "You know that I am right. We are one of the same after all. Though most of my memories are fading, there is one that still very much stands. The anger, fear and despair as I laid there on the floor as I watched Hunter kill my three adoptive siblings. And the sadness I felt when it was all over. You just were just plagued and haunted by these memories, not wishing to have a repeat of it all. That's really all it came down to when you became a Sorcerer-knight."
Thomas just stayed silent as his older self began to cut through Caliburn's reforged blade.
"Since that day..." The 38 year old went on. "You grew so attached to Lady and your family that you would not be able to let them go if they died. It is for that reason... DID YOU BECOME THE SLAUGHTER YOU WERE!"
The man then said as he sliced through Caliburn's blade and stabbed the 18 year old in the leg. As Thomas then stumbled on to the ground, he picked up his blades, and they re-forged themselves as he tried to defend himself from the 38 year old.
"You're driven by a ridiculous idea that you can prevent the deaths of all those whom you love! Believing that they can last forever! Believing that you can go on with no needing of letting go!"
"CRASH!"
"ARGH!"
"Thomas! No!" Lady cried in horror, as she said her husband got stabbed in the stomach.
"You're a very major fool, Thomas Billinton!" Said the 38 year old as he raised his sword. "Nothing lasts forever, and that's something you need to learn!"
"SLASH!"
"ARGH! AH!"
"If you can't accept that truth..." The 38 year old then said as he began to conclude. "Then let your wishes, and hopes drown you!"
(POV: Thomas [18].)
To be frank, everything he said, from my wishes to always have those I love most live forever, as well as not be able to let someone go, is all true. However... I couldn't help but look back to see if there was something he missed. I looked at the heck that the battle with Lux-Tembris brought. I saw the heck that he had during his days alone. I even looked at the heck that was within my toughest of fights. Nothing had been missed.
"It looks like that you're right." I admitted to the figure whom I was to one day become.
"I haven't always lived too wisely." He replied.
"Seems to me that you lost quite a bit."
"Apart from my friends and family, I actually haven't." He then replied. "Not one thing ever in my... Wait." He then went on. "I actually might have. Something I've forgot."
I looked back at the heck that started it all. As I looked at my 13 year old self, I began to watch closely to find the real meaning of this particular day.
"What was the point of me going on after this? Why did I wish to become a Sorcerer-knight?"
As I looked on, I began to notice how solemn and saddened that me and my family were by the deaths of my adoptive siblings. It was then did IT occur to me.
"Here's what you forgot!" I said to my part of myself who was the one I'm to become. "At first, it may just seem a decision driven by a gruesome memory of the past, but there was another factor driving it and that was determination. The determination that drives the hope that you won't lose anyone else that you love, a wish for this pain to only be felt once and to never be felt again. A wish to never fail those you love ever again."
As I continued to watch the memory, I saw a golden glow appearing in the eyes of myself for just a split second. Though I wasn't sure if it actually happened back then, one thing was for certain, that glow was a reminder, a reminder, on the person I was, and the role I have. Stepping forward, I began to climb up a hill. When I reached the top I found a sword waiting there. As I looked at it, I knew what was now to happen.
"Are you sure that a life as a king is what you want?"
"If it means that I have to protect those whom I care about, then yes." I replied as I then grabbed onto the handle. "I vow to always protect my home with the best of my abilities and ensure that no chaos would ever come!"
As I then drew the sword out of the hill, my path and decision was final and absolute.
(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)
As Lady and the older variant looked on where the one of this timeline landed, they both gasped in shock as Thomas got back on his knees. Then without another word, a certain golden seal flashed in his eyes, and the scabbards of both Excalibur and Caliburn began to use an intense amount of healing power on him. As his wounds then closed, Thomas grasped onto the handles of his swords and called out a certain pair of words.
"Elemental Release!"
As sparks surrounded him, the 38 year old fired two bolts of lighting from his sigils, but to only have them deflected by the 18 year old.
"I won't be beaten by you!" Thomas cried out as he stood back on his two feet, with his golden swords sparking from the mana that re-forged them. "I'll never be beaten!"
"It appears that you're finally at the threshold between us." The 38 year-old remarked. "But what good would it do you? You still have much to practice and learn compared to me."
"My limbs and heart still work!" Thomas replied back. "By the way, I honestly believed you that you were right, but now I believe otherwise."
"What?"
"Being right is the only thing you seem to care about right now." Thomas explained. "But that doesn't matter. I WILL become the king that's by Lady's side, and just as you are trying to do with me, I'll use every ounce of my strength to rid the part of me that's you!"
(To be continued...)
Will be changing the rating to M when I post the next Chapter.