Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all rights to all characters (save for those of my own creation) in this series of discussions… especially for the one who acts quickly.
~保護者~
"Pain"
~保護者~
The sunlight creeping through the crack in the curtains woke Satsuno from his dreamless sleep. Scrunching up his face, he was quick to turn over and pull the blankets up to cover his head, leaving only the tips of his ears poking out. It was much nicer under there. Darker. He, like most beings of Darkness, functioned best as a nocturnal creature. He didn't like bright lights or crowds or the sun and daytime in general, much less anything that went along with it. More than half of the people he had once ruled over were the same way. Why should he have to get up during the day?
Of course, the thought did occur to him that he had reason to this time. Multiple reasons, in fact. But being half-asleep made him entirely disinclined to care about that. Or about his perhaps more than slightly immature behavior at the moment. But at least he had an excuse for the time being. So long as Seiko stayed in bed, he could reasonably do the same. He intended to do just that.
Much to his misfortune, Seiko slipped out of the bed within the next couple of minutes, doing a series of light stretches. "I will not allow you more reason to stay in bed longer than necessary. We still have things to attend to," she said gently.
Satsuno muttered something under his breath. A moment later he said, "I deem this necessary."
"Up," Seiko said easily, turning to face him. "You cannot escape the sun, dear."
"It is technically possible for me to destroy it," Satsuno argued, only half serious. With great reluctance, he shoved the blankets aside and sat up.
"I am sure there would be many far less happy than I, should you do so," she argued in return, a smile on her face. "Continue. You are not out of the bed, currently."
"Life would go on, as it always does. Being happy is not a requirement." Satsuno pushed the blankets further away and stood. Purely out of habit, he immediately started to reach for both his armor and his crown. Then he remembered and, after slight hesitation, retracted his hand. He instead just stepped into his shoes.
Seiko remembered her earlier habitual reach to grab her own crown, fidgeting her fingers together for a moment before shrugging. "I am sure that in many cases, life would not go on."
Satsuno only huffed at her and set about quickly finger-combing his hair. It had gotten ruffled during their sleep, but he soon had it back into some semblance of order. Good enough.
"What are our plans? We know little about everything occurring," she pointed out.
"There are people here still, though Sonic appears to have left." He shrugged a bit. "His half-brother may have some answers."
Seiko nodded with a vague hum of approval. "It may do well for us to speak to him, regardless. He seems to have a stronger grasp of modern day advancements."
"Did you notice?" Satsuno suddenly inquired. "He almost appeared bonded with the technology in a way. Not unlike how magic users are bonded with magical items of their own creation."
"I did," Seiko agreed.
"It is strange." With this said, Satsuno approached the door and opened it, ready to finally face the day. The woman nodded and followed him quietly.
Almost as soon as they stepped out into the hall, a small blur darted past them. Satsuno narrowly dodged out of the way in time. Then the blur returned and stopped on a dime in front of them. "Sorry, mister," a little girl apologized, eyes wide. "I didn't mean to almost trip you."
After blinking mutely at her in surprise, Satsuno slowly replied, "...It is fine." He couldn't really reprimand her about it. After all, he distinctly recalled being scolded by his own mother for doing the very same thing many a time as a child. And besides, this child wasn't his.
Seiko smiled warmly to the girl. "You are alright, yes?" she asked gently.
"Uh-huh," came the easy reply. Then the little girl spontaneously blurted out, "You're pretty, miss! Like my auntie. But she's pink, and you're blue just like my nana and papa and uncle."
Only two of those terms wound up being familiar. Two were not. Satsuno subtly frowned. "Nana and papa"?
Seiko took it in stride, deciding to let the unknown words be unknown rather than questioning it now. "Is that true? You have quite a lovely color yourself. The white of your chest and red in your hair compliment it well."
Almost as if she'd forgotten about it, the girl moved a bit of her hair into her face to look at it. Then she moved it back. "I guess so. I got it from my daddy. We don't look like the rest of our family, but I like our colors best." She thought for a moment before adding, "But I guess uncle Sonic's color is nice, too. I like Papa's better, though. It's not as bright."
Seiko nodded slowly. "There is a certain beauty and power in the color of the night, child. Wear it proudly," she murmured ever so gently.
The girl tilted her head. "Um… okay." She fidgeted, on the verge of asking a question, but ultimately seemed to decide against it. "I'm gonna go play now, bye!" With that, she darted off once again.
"...She is… energetic," Satsuno eventually commented.
"That is true," Seiko agreed easily. "Let us continue."
Satsuno shook his head and began walking down the hall at a leisurely pace. "And she calls him 'papa'? It is a strange word."
A vague nod came in response as she followed beside him. "It is true. I was curious about that."
"Indeed." They stepped out of the hall into the living room and found, much to Satsuno's subtle surprise, a teenager sitting there.
The boy was fiddling with a device on his wrist, the very same one that Sonic had worn, but immediately stopped upon noticing them. "Oh, uh… hi?"
Seiko blinked only once before nodding her greeting. "Hello to you as well. Might I ask your name?"
"Erm… Soren," the boy said after some hesitation. "Are you looking for my dad?"
"I believe so, yes," Seiko murmured gently. "My name is Seiko."
Since it was technically the polite thing to do, Satsuno followed Seiko's lead and added, "I am Satsuno."
Soren's eyes widened a little in apparent recognition, but he didn't pepper them with questions. Instead, he stood up and moved so that he could point down the hall. "See that door at the very end? That's my dad's room. There's another room within that one, and that's where he is right now. You can probably just knock and go in, but… I mean, I could get permission for you if you want it, I guess."
"He is more familiar with you than he is with us, so I believe it may be in our interest to ask that much of you," Seiko said gently.
With a small nod, Soren stood up. He skirted past them and led the way down the hall, saying, "Once you guys are in, though, I'm gonna go ahead and go back to the living room."
"That is quite alright, thank you," she responded gently.
The boy is nervous, yet almost at ease. Strange. Having taken note of this, Satsuno followed along in relative silence.
Soren reached the door he'd indicated. A quick knock was soon followed by words. "Hey, dad? I'm coming in." He opened the door before a response could come and waved them along before stepping inside.
Sure enough, there was a second door inside just as Soren had said there would be. It was already open, and a voice calmly spoke from within. "It would not have killed you to wait for an answer." Despite the words, there was no hint of chastisement in his tone.
"I know, but I want to get back to the game you let me take," Soren admitted. "I was having fun with it. Uncle Sonic picked some good stuff for us to use." He edged toward the door. "On that note, uh… bye. Oh, and those people wanna talk. Bye." He promptly vanished back down the hall.
Seiko blinked once and watched him go before gently rapping her knuckles against the door. "Shadow? May we come in?"
"Yes," Shadow answered simply. The reply was closely followed by the sound of something hard being laid down onto an equally hard surface (perhaps a table). Satsuno stepped into the main room and glanced into the one where the younger man was. The contraption sitting atop a worktable in the room looked oddly like a cannon while also being far too small for such a thing. But he decided not to ask.
Seiko stepped along after Satsuno, but unlike him, she decided to question Shadow. "What is that?" she asked, pointing at the contraption.
With scarcely a glance at it, Shadow replied, "A gun. It is my weapon of choice."
Satsuno repeated the unfamiliar word back slowly. "...Gun?" Shadow nodded. "It almost resembles a cannon."
A black-furred shoulder lifted minutely in some semblance of a shrug. "They have their similarities." Saying nothing more of it, Shadow set about putting away the various strange tools that rested atop the table around the weapon. As he did so, he spoke again. "Soren said you wished to speak. What do you need?"
"We wish to attempt to understand the circumstances we have been revived into," Seiko answered. "Among other things. We believe you may have more answers than we do."
Shadow seemed to consider this for a moment before inclining his head. "Ask your questions. I will answer what I can."
It was only after very brief consideration that Satsuno asked one of the more important questions on his mind. "What has become of the kingdoms and clans of our time? We were told they no longer exist."
"Not in the truest sense," Shadow agreed. "Some old clans still exist in the form of the same communities and families continuing to live with one another as they used to. Virtually all of the old kingdoms, however, are gone. They were this way prior to Sonic's birth."
Seiko frowned in thought, shifting her weight onto one leg. "I see. Is there more to this that you know?"
Shadow sighed. He almost seemed reluctant to say, but eventually he revealed something unexpected. "Your kingdom remains, in a way. But succession did not go the way you likely envisioned it would." A pause. Then he elaborated, "Father did not take the throne. Past experiences left him scarred. He has… issues with authority. It was always his intention not to be the one occupying roles like yours."
A flicker of sadness came over her face, as she had once wished for Kaden to have taken over in their stead, but she wasn't forward with that information. "Might you know who did?"
He didn't even bat an eye. "I did."
She blinked a few times in response to this, caught off guard. "Is that true?" she found herself asking, though she didn't truly doubt he was telling the truth.
"I took it as a matter of obligation. My brother was next in line after Father, but he also did not ascend the throne. I would not have, either, had the world not come to a point where it is in desperate need of organized leadership to keep people alive."
"I see. I commend your claim of the throne, then," Seiko murmured gently.
Shadow turned his head away. "It was a necessity," he reminded. "I am not meant to be a leader of others. I will be relinquishing my role as soon as I am no longer needed. With your return, you will be free to do what you wish with your kingdom at that point."
"Do you truly wish to relieve yourself of the role?" Seiko asked gently in return.
His response was firm. "Yes. I am not the right choice for it, at any rate."
Seiko didn't want to push the matter much further, simply nodding in response. "We can speak more on the matter another time, surely."
With a slow nod of agreement, Satsuno spoke back up and changed the subject. "What is the nature of the bond you possess with the technology of this house?"
Shadow gave him an odd look. "...How did you know that?"
The other man leaned back against a wall. "I sensed it when we first entered."
After a lengthy pause, Shadow let out a sigh and said, "It is not merely a 'bond'. I am a part of it and it is a part of me."
"...Please explain," Seiko said in response.
Another sigh, this one heavier. "I was not born. A madman, essentially, built me. I am not fully biological. Much of me is mere technology. As a result, I have the ability to connect with other technology in various ways. Hence the 'bond' he sensed." This last part was said with a vague gesture toward Satsuno.
Seiko's eyes narrowed. "Madman, you say?" she asked softly.
This time, Satsuno noticed clear hesitation before Shadow replied. "Mad, utterly insane at one point, but… a genius. A wicked one."
She took a mental note of this and nodded in response, her gaze softening a touch. "I see. That is… unpleasant," she murmured. "The two…" her voice trailed off and she glanced vaguely at one of the walls, as if looking through it. "Three children here. Two of them are yours… correct?"
Shadow nodded slightly. "Yes. They are."
Satsuno spoke up again. "If you believe this to be overstepping, then say so. However," he met Shadow's gaze with a calm certainty, "they are not entirely related. Half-siblings, like you and your brother. Correct?"
This drew Shadow's brows downward. "We are not fully certain of that yet," he eventually said. "The possibility of it was only brought up recently."
"And then there is you," Satsuno continued, his focus unwavering. "Even if one were to ignore the technology you say is within you, much of what I sense from your energies is entirely unknown to me. The ties to our family are clear and plain to see, but the rest is steeped in mystery."
Looking away again, Shadow let out a breath. "That's… a lot to explain." His shift in speech pattern didn't go unnoticed. It had lost most of its stiffness in the face of… what? Consternation, perhaps? "If you don't care for a long story, it can be discussed later. It has almost nothing to do with the important matters you're here to learn about."
"It is something I would be delighted to know about," Seiko responded softly.
This time, he fixed her with a look. Almost as if he were debating asking her why. He looked away after a moment. When he started to explain, he stuck with the shortest explanation he could. "I told you I was created. Excluding the technology, as he said, I was made from the blood of two individuals. One was Kaden. The other was the leader of an alien race. That is where the 'mysterious' portion of my heritage comes from."
Seiko nodded slowly. "I see. That would certainly explain why we were unaware of the origin."
Satsuno frowned slightly at the implications. Two strong, royal bloodlines… and yet he sees himself as unfit to lead. Curious. He studied the younger man closely, mind working fast enough that time around him seemed to slow to a crawl. Perhaps it is in some way related to the "madman" he spoke of, and the way he reacted when it was brought up. He did not show emotion, but the hesitation and the sudden lack of detail appears unusual. The emotions that came from him in that moment, as well...
Seiko's gaze toward Satsuno said that she had come to a similar conclusion, but she didn't speak toward him. "All of that aside, I am aware that there are things going on that we are not fully aware of. Could you perhaps get us caught up?"
Crimson eyes blinked slowly. "Have you been told anything already?"
It was this question that pulled Satsuno out of his thoughts. "Largely pertaining to Kaden, his current status, and the threat of demons upon this world. Little else."
Shadow read deeper into Satsuno's words, it seemed, because he didn't bother repeating the explanation of Kaden's state of leadership over said demonic threat, or the fact that he was currently contained. Instead, he moved on to other things. He started with something unexpected. "I understand that your- ...Our… people are aware of beings known as Immortals, correct? They feature in the two major religions of our race from that time period."
"I am aware, yes. Incredibly powerful beings that maintain balance and existence… to keep it simple," Seiko murmured. "What of them?"
"One of them has waged a war," Shadow told her carefully. "Or, rather, he has taken it upon himself to continue one. Immortals of old knew they were missing knowledge and rapidly losing kin. The reason for both of those is a woman who learned how to steal Immortal abilities. She now seeks what all inflicted with insanity do. The destruction of everything."
"Evil beings are always such a drag," Seiko muttered in annoyance. At least come up with a more interesting goal, by the gods.
Almost as if he'd heard that thought, Shadow continued, "I do not know how true this is, but I have heard rumor that her goal is to reshape everything in her own way once it is all wiped out. It is our goal to prevent this, but it has not been going well."
"Even more original," Seiko grumbled. "If this is the case, surely you all have been making some sort of organized effort, yes?"
"In a manner of speaking," Shadow said with the barest hint of a sigh. "But this is a war fought on multiple fronts. It is not just her and the demons that we face. There are others as well. The man I spoke of earlier has returned, along with a creature of Darkness that once split this world apart into multiple pieces. When Father first died, it was by overusing his magic to seal that creature away in the core of the planet. It is back now and stronger than before."
Seiko tapped her foot lightly as she listened to this, frowning in deep thought. "I suppose both of those are threats that will need to be dealt with in due time. I would prefer this planet not be destroyed."
With a frown, Satsuno waved a hand for Shadow to go on. "There are others, are there not? Tell us what they are."
"The Nocturne Clan was active shortly before the beginning of your lives, yes?" Shadow asked him in turn. Satsuno slowly nodded. "The seal that kept them bound broke and released them long ago. They were fought back, defeated, but have recently been revived once more."
"All of them?" Seiko dared to ask.
"So far as we are aware, yes," Shadow answered. "Ix and Shade were, regrettably, included in this revival."
She clicked her tongue and three of her fingers tapped against her side. "Is there more?"
"We have not found them yet, but more than likely a race of robotic enemies we once faced have also returned," Shadow revealed. "They were a vast army adept at travelling throughout space. This world was but one of many that they targeted for death."
A fourth finger shifted and she nodded before asking, "Robotic?" Satsuno silently seconded her confusion.
"Think of a golem, animated through magic," Shadow easily explained. "A robot is animated through technology and electricity, and are made of metal instead of stone or some other material."
"Similar to some of the works of the fox clans and this technology that has been explained, then?" Seiko raised an eyebrow.
Shadow nodded just a little. "Yes." He paused for a brief moment before continuing. "As far as worse threats go… there are a few in particular you need to know about now, not later."
Satsuno frowned a bit deeper. "Explain. We are listening."
"First," Shadow muttered, "relates to the chameleons. I understand you were deeply allied with them in the past. Given that, I assume you understand the nature of their Darkness when it is properly awakened."
"I certainly do. I have seen the… behaviors in person. We now have a mutual respect for one another… provided they live," Seiko answered.
The younger hedgehog continued without missing a beat. "The man you befriended, Shei. He and his partner live again, the same as you. Their son, Espio, also lives in this era. Lately, however, Espio and his mother have both been suffering effects from their Darkness, by far the worst of which has been seen in Espio."
Seiko's face seemed to light up at first before hearing the bad news. She clicked her tongue and nodded slowly. "Considering Aniko and Shei's bloodlines, I am far from surprised it would be worse for their child. It is good to hear that their child lives as well. I had wished to see him grow."
"He was practically still a baby when last we saw him," Satsuno agreed quietly. Then he said, "How fares his mother, then? It is less severe, you said, but to what degree?"
Again, that half-shrug. "I can't say. She does not see fit to reveal much when around outsiders like myself."
"It very well could be far worse than she has allowed to be seen," Seiko murmured. "That woman is incredible at concealing things and keeping things under wraps… though I suppose that is a natural trait of a proper shinobi such as herself."
Satsuno nodded. "What of Shei, then?"
Shadow glanced away, almost as though trying to think of how best to say this. "Gone," he finally revealed. "He has been missing for some days now. There was an… incident. Little has been said by either Espio or Aniko, other than that there was some sort of an attack. Previously dormant energies within him were forced to the surface, and he fled. Likely to keep his family out of harm's way."
"Where has he gone?" Seiko asked immediately.
"If they know, they have not said," Shadow told her. "No one else has located him."
"I will begin on that when I am able, then," Seiko said affirmatively. "I will not sit idly by."
"I did not expect you would. However, there is an issue with that plan," Shadow cautioned. "That energy is no mere Darkness. It comes from the source of evil itself."
Hearing this, Satsuno involuntarily stiffened. The moment he was able to collect his thoughts, he demanded, "Malevolence?" A grim nod answered him.
"Judging by his character, I would not have guessed such," Seiko answered with a surprising coolness to her voice, despite the information just given to them. "I will simply have to plan around it. A minor inconvenience."
"This is not minor," Satsuno hissed at her, his temper unexpectedly flaring. "You did not see what that creature did to our world after you passed, Seiko. There was no more day, only night. People perished simply by breathing the air. Every soul was tortured. Our entire kingdom was brought to ruin with a glance."
Seiko let out a soft sigh. "Satsuno. You know that is not what I was saying. Finding a way to help those I care for means that I will let nothing stand in my way. I am not calling Malevolence itself minor." She then far more gently added, "Please do not speak to me that way. We need not lose ourselves in front of our grandchild."
Resisting the urge to growl, Satsuno turned his head away. Part of him wanted to pace in an effort to work through his sudden spike of emotions, but he didn't let himself do that, either. Instead, he quietly demanded, "Does he merely draw upon this power, or is there some other explanation for it?"
"Malevolence's first spawn was not only born of its energies, but of its body," Shadow reluctantly explained. "It was considered to be its 'child'. That child then disguised itself as a chameleon sometime long ago and bore a child of its own. That child was Shei, though by all accounts he was never aware of this until recently."
Seiko frowned a little at this. "Is that so?" Only another slight nod answered her. She suddenly decided to ask a completely unrelated question. "Regarding the fox clans, whatever became of them? I am aware of the ruin of our own kingdom, but they were reclusive and seemed to do well."
"They were largely wiped out in ancient times, though the details of why are sketchy to this day," Shadow shrugged. "Some family groups remain here and there, having assimilated into modern society. Two of our allies are foxes, one having been with us far longer than the other. They are both inventors just as their ancestors were."
"I wish to meet them someday soon. I do believe they would talk circles around me in regards to technology, but they were always so fascinating and skilled," Seiko murmured. "Intelligent, as well."
"That will be easy enough to arrange. I am in regular contact with them." Very subtle eye movement betrayed itself, then Shadow said, "They are most likely busy in preparation for future events. When they have free time, I will know."
Seiko nodded gently. "That is understandable."
Shadow seemed to think about something before frowning very slightly and asking, "Your old weapons. Were they buried with you?"
Satsuno frowned again himself. "I had planned to have mine with me, but I suspect that did not happen. Seiko was not buried with hers."
"Are you asking for when an inevitable fight breaks out?" Seiko asked.
"It will be soon," Shadow answered. "If we are unlucky, within the next day or less."
"I see," Seiko murmured.
Almost without warning, Shadow suddenly instructed, "Wait here." Then he vanished.
Satsuno looked over at the spot where the other man had been moments before. He can teleport. Good to know. His gaze shifted back over to his partner. "Any guesses as to where he went?"
"Somewhere that has weapons," she remarked easily. "Unless he wishes to surprise us with a confectionary treat, which I would not complain about."
Previously calm eyes rolled. "Your sweet tooth knows no bounds," he quietly accused.
"I will learn of this era's capabilities to create proper sweet treats. I will be sorely disappointed if it has not been improved," the woman commented. "And I will absolutely drag your ass with me."
"So long as you do not force me to try every sweet you find this time," Satsuno sighed. "You may enjoy such foods, but I do not."
Seiko openly mocked his words with her hand, raising an eyebrow. "I said you will be joining me. At least a majority will be tested by your taste as well."
"Absolutely not," Satsuno refused. "I have no desire to subject myself to this yet again."
"You cannot resist me forever, Satsuno," Seiko responded simply. "I will come out victorious."
"You do not currently possess the means to force me into obedience," Satsuno pointed out coolly. "As such, you can make no such claims."
Seiko rolled her eyes. "I would not do so in the home of one of our grandchildren. They do not need to see that."
"They do not need to hear it, either," he reminded her. "In case you forgot, the children remain in the home. They do not need to overhear what you are implying."
"I sometimes wonder if you listen," Seiko huffed, crossing her arms. "I would not do so here, and you know good and well I would not subject such young children to anything of the sort."
"I listen," he suddenly quipped, "but willfully ignore. When I feel like it, at any rate."
Seiko clicked her tongue and tapped another finger against her side. "An issue added to the list, it seems."
"Do not pretend as though you will hunt me along with them," Satsuno huffed.
"I may well do it if you continue to be obstinate," Seiko countered. "You know better than to test me."
With a huff, Satsuno abruptly changed the subject. "What do you think of him, then? We have not seen much, and yet his energies have been revealing."
"My words should have been sufficient," Seiko answered. "I think well of him."
"Beyond that," was the very slightly frustrated response. "You know I did not mean it on such a basic, surface level."
"I merely wished for you to be more specific, though I suppose I can indulge you this time," Seiko said lightly. "He is incredibly interesting, and I see how he is related. Soren seemed to think well of him, and oftentimes the opinion of a child can be rather revealing. There was little hesitation for him to speak to Shadow."
Satsuno inclined his head, agreeing. "Strength and pain intermingle freely in him," he murmured. "Both appear to be powerful factors in his life, both past and present. I assume you felt it as well."
Seiko's feet tapped lightly. "I noticed. That madman will be sorry when I get my hands around his neck."
"He hid it well, very well in fact, but he seemed to fear the man - whoever he is." Satsuno shook his head a bit. "That strikes me as entirely unlike how Shadow normally appears to be."
"Trauma," Seiko said easily. "That would be the most likely reason, considering the way he spoke."
"Indeed. And I do not know that this can be overlooked." Satsuno regained his frown. "I agree with you, in that that man must be dealt with sooner rather than later."
"It cannot and will not be overlooked," Seiko agreed.
"Until then," Satsuno sighed, "I believe our next course of action should be paying Aniko a visit. It sounds as though she would benefit from some support now, and we are of better use there given that we will be of little use in a fight until we rest more."
Seiko didn't want to agree, but she did so… begrudgingly. "That is likely the case. I hate to hear that her family is struggling as well. They were… fun."
"And their boy… Espio. I should like to see how he has grown up." Satsuno tilted his head. "He was a remarkably sweet and well-mannered little kid."
"This is true," Seiko murmured. "Shei as well, but I still must plan to bypass Malevolence's energy. I am sure it would be unpleasant to come into contact with."
"It is the worst agony one can experience," Satsuno revealed quietly. "I would ask that you do everything in your power to avoid that pain."
"The worst pain was the loss of our child," Seiko said just as quietly. "I would suffer all the pains of existence to have him. I will not let such a thing prevent me from doing what I will… but I will certainly heed your warnings and prepare well."
"And you will return to a son who is still alive and healthy," Satsuno reminded with surprising gentility. "He will be safe soon. We will all ensure it."
"It will be that way," Seiko said easily.
Right about then, Shadow reappeared. With him, he carried five swords in their sheathes, which he laid out carefully across his table. Before Satsuno could even ask, he said, "Father crafted seven swords during your time. One, my brother now carries. Another is carried by our father to this day. These are the ones that remain. Given that they come from your time period, they are the best weapons we have available for you to borrow."
Seiko wasted no time in flicking a hand and calling one into her hand with magic. A vague moment of investigation led her to carry the sheathed blade at her hip. "Thank you."
Glancing at her, Satsuno raised a subtle eyebrow. "You should at least look at it more closely than that, Seiko."
Though she rolled her eyes, the woman unsheathed the blade in a flash, holding it directly above the table with her arm extended. The handle and sheath were ordinary enough, although it shimmered somewhat in the light, but the blade itself… it glowed with a faint light blue sheen. Seiko quietly examined the weapon she carried before murmuring, "Kura."
Shadow offered a small nod. "The sword of the moon. Father used more magic in the forging of that blade than any of the others."
Without even appearing to move, Seiko sheathed the blade once more and nodded. "The magic reached out to me and I reached back. The craftsmanship is like… virtually nothing I have come across."
"He poured centuries of his life into each one," Shadow further revealed. "I do not know the extent to which he devoted himself to these weapons, but the results speak for themselves."
"Certainly. I nearly cleaved the table simply by moving the blade too close," Seiko mused. "Though, perhaps my own strength has lent to such."
Satsuno, meanwhile, had found himself inexplicably drawn to the darkest weapon on the table. The handle and sheath were both black, but decorated by thin lines of crimson. When he unsheathed it, the blade was virtually as dark as his Darkness itself. "...Zeika?" he frowned.
"Yes," Shadow acknowledged. "The sword of night."
"Suits you well, with your hatred of the life-giving sun," Seiko commented lightly.
"It does not grant us all life," Satsuno grumbled. "Some of us, it brings only discomfort for." He sheathed the sword and held it down at his side.
"Regardless, I does work well for you, as well as your family line," Seiko pointed out. "Incredibly so."
With a nod, Satsuno had to agree. Then his mind switched gears. He had been hiding the truth this entire time, but now he suspected he was reaching his limit for now. So he said, "I… am going to go lay down again. I do not feel well."
Seiko nodded gently. "I will join you in a moment, Satsuno. Go rest." He left without another word. The woman then turned to Shadow and passed along a soft smile. "It was a pleasure to speak to you properly, and I thank you for bringing us weapons to use."
Almost as at a loss with basic conversation and pleasantries as Satsuno, it would seem, Shadow eventually just nodded and said a simple, "You're welcome."
She only smiled at this and turned to leave as well. "If you have need of us, you know where we will be. I have no qualms with one of my kin waking me." Shadow nodded a little, then set about carefully gathering the remaining three swords in order to return them to where they had come from. As she began stepping through the door, Seiko stopped and passed one quick glance back to him. "Your children are adorable. Raise them well, as you have been." With that, she left to rejoin her partner.
~保護者~
"How old is he, Kath?"
Kath looked up from his book. He was seated in a chair beside his bed, keeping Laralei company as she rested. Only, she wasn't entirely resting anymore. She'd been awake for close to twenty minutes now. He'd been able to tell that she'd been thinking, so he'd left her be. Now it seemed she was ready to talk about what was on her mind. "Seventeen," he answered, looking back down at the pages he was holding. "Technically, he is far older."
"How old would that be?"
"Several million, from what I understand."
Laralei grew quiet. She took her time considering the matter before admitting, "I had not expected such an age. To think it has been so long…" She trailed off and rolled over to face him. Fingers brushing across his knee prompted him to look up again. "Tell me again," she softly pleaded.
He needed no convincing. Closing his book, he set it aside and took her hand in one of his. "Sein, Alana, and Jet are all alive. They are uninjured, taken care of, and overall doing well enough. They are alright."
Her eyes closed with a heavy sigh. "...I know," she eventually said. "I know. But… thank you. For reaffirming it for me." Kath inclined his head, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Gradually, she relaxed again and opened her eyes. "I admit… I did not expect her to name her son after her partner. But the name is fitting, I believe. Especially as he goes by the translated form of it."
"It is," Kath agreed. "She named him well."
With a tug on his arm, Laralei silently convinced Kath to leave the chair to sit beside her on the bed. She sat up enough to lean her head against his arm. "What is he like?"
Now it was his turn for an admission. "I have not interacted with him much, nor have I seen him many times. I only know some things."
She wrapped her arms around his middle and relaxed against him. He moved his arm to rest over her shoulders. "Tell me anyway."
"He is quiet," he told her. "Sometimes he is as quiet as I can be. At other, rarer times, he almost appears as boisterous and expressive as Sein. He possesses the same capacity for deep emotion as both of his parents, and the same sense of justice and morals. Her iron will is present in him in spades."
"You mean your iron will," Laralei teased.
Kath huffed at her. "Whether or not your statement is accurate is irrelevant here," he half-grumbled, nowhere near as annoyed as he pretended to be. She just laughed under her breath at this display. He shook his head but continued. "He has your feathers," he revealed. "They are precisely the same shade of green."
This made Laralei sit up to look him in the eye. "Truly?" she asked, or perhaps demanded.
"Truly," he confirmed. "The color of your bloodline lives on in him."
A smile made its way onto her face. "It is our bloodline, remember? You are a vital part of it now. Do not pretend otherwise. Alana and all those to come after her could never exist without you and me." She shifted again, going back into more-or-less her original position. "What of his eyes, then? Yours are so… beautiful. Alana has them already, but what of Jet?"
"He has the same," Kath told her. "Though, their precise shade varies depending on the lighting. At times, they appear vibrant. Electric. At other times, they are so light as to appear ethereal or heavenly. Sometimes they are icy, perhaps even glacial in appearance. Every so often, they are the same shade of blue as a perfectly clear sky. It is… incredibly unique. I have never seen such a thing in many living beings, people or animals, before."
"I see." With this thoughtful murmur said, Laralei grew quiet. When she spoke again, the subject matter she brought up was slightly different. "I should like to see him sometime, when it is safe to do so. But, in the meantime, I truly do wish to speak with Sein more. I understand Alana is away for now."
Sadness crept into her aura. That wouldn't do. Kath found himself giving her a comforting squeeze with his arm and saying, "She is never gone too long. She will return soon. When she does, you will have plenty of time to spend with her. As for Sein, he seldom strays far to begin with. He is nearly always close by. As soon as you feel better rested, you can easily find him."
"Will you lay down with me?" she suddenly asked. "After that day, when we'd thought we'd lost you forever… I had so many dreams about you simply being there next to me, breathing peacefully, resting… But I never wanted dreams. I want the real thing."
There was no way he could ever deny this request. Not when it came from her. Not when there was so much hurt in her aura when she said it. He carefully resituated them so that they were laying on their sides facing one another. She tucked herself up against his chest with his chin atop her head and his arm found its place draped over her waist, just like it had so many times in the past. He relaxed immensely without even realizing it, and so did she. "You should sleep," he murmured, a quiet reminder.
"I will," she promised. "I only have one more question. Just one more, and I will rest."
"Ask it. Anything." He closed his eyes trying not to let his mind peacefully wander in response to his sudden state of deep comfort and warmth. At least, not just yet. As soothing as this was, he still needed to focus for a bit longer.
"On that day, just before the explosion, word reached me that you had not made it off the planet," Laralei revealed to him. "I could never bring myself to tell those two, but I heard rumors that you had died before making it to a ship. And then, whether or not that was true, the planet was blown to bits regardless. You were never seen again. And yet… you lived. Please, Kath. Tell me how."
Kath let out a heavy sigh. "I did die. The energies the Therians harnessed that day were… vile. We'd had no way of knowing back then, but it tainted with a variety of different forms of Darkness. It took me over a century to study it all fully. The forces we contended with on that day was a highly volatile and lethal combination of their own dark magics, demonic Darkness, Malevolence's Darkness, other forms of corrupted Arcane magics, and some of the corrupted energies from the Nocturne Clan. How they came to possess such things is… another matter entirely."
She let him continue without interruption, knowing him more than well enough to understand that he was building up to a larger point. "What you heard was true. I hadn't made it off the planet. I secured Azerel on a ship with several employees from the palace, then went to try and find you. By that time, the explosions and earthquakes had long since begun. It wasn't until nearly ten minutes later that I discovered that Astral Babylon had taken off with you, Sein, and Alana all aboard it. I'd been unable to see it from my location."
No doubt sensing the pain in his own aura, she inquired, "You heard that we were caught up in the largest initial explosion around that time… didn't you?"
"And that the ship appeared to have been torn apart," Kath confirmed quietly. "I saw much of the debris being scattered through the sky overheard not long after."
"But you were so far from the source of the blast, and thus our location, that you could not see us use our auras to repair it," Laralei was quick to realize.
"No. Had things been calmer, I might have been able to see the debris flying back to the ship to rejoin it-"
"But the light from further explosions made that impossible."
"Yes." Kath hesitated for a long moment before continuing. "I let myself… become too caught up in my emotions. In essence, I froze where I was, unable to react with the mere idea of you all dying… weighing me down like it was. Hell was descending upon us all, and I could not move. I only learned much later that yet another explosion had begun almost directly underneath where I'd stood. It tore through me, but not long enough to destroy me. Azerel and three of the people from the ship somehow found me, and I was told that by then my heart had stopped."
Though Laralei visibly winced, he continued. "I was dragged aboard the ship, which then fled. One of them somehow brought me back once we were in space, mere seconds before one of the final blasts, but I did not awaken for weeks. By then, you and the comparatively few people who had escaped following your ship were long gone." He frowned to himself, unwilling to relive all of this and yet knowing he simply had to.
"The magics contained within the energies that destroyed our home were at their strongest at that point, naturally. As you and those with you had escaped before then, you were relatively safe. We, however, were not. All those who would one day reach this world with me narrowly escaped with their lives. The magic that hit us devastated our ranks but also sent us all hurtling through space. It was described to me as feeling like every ship in the vicinity was being dragged alone by an unstable, ultra-powerful warp-drive. By the time everyone reemerged, they were in a region of space no one knew."
Laralei nodded slowly. "And with you unconscious, they all wandered… just like we did." He nodded in return, just as slow and disturbed. "But eventually you did wake. And you found many of our people a new home. I feel I must speak for all of our people when I say… thank you for that." she leaned up to kiss his cheek. "You took care of everyone when I could not be there to help. You did beautifully. Our people prospered. I always knew you would do well in your role."
Kath took in a breath, let it out slow, then gave in and gently nuzzled the top of her head. The instinct was old, yet no less familiar to him. He could practically feel her smiling when she nuzzled back up against him in reply. "Go to sleep," he quietly commanded. "There will be more time to speak later." Apparently satisfied for now, she ceased her restless movements and questioning. Her eyes closed and, gradually, she succumbed. He had half a mind to follow suit, given how at peace he felt right here in this moment.
If only every moment could be like this one.
~保護者~
Soft footsteps heralded the approach of someone to Aniko's home in Hyale. There was the faint sound of something long and fluffy moving, perhaps even waving slowly up and down, then a gentle landing on the porch. Then the person responsible for the noise softly called out, "Lady Aniko? Are you home?"
Aniko's pained mood was briefly pushed aside for her confusion and curiosity. She lifted her head and slowly walked to the doorway. "I am…" she answered, taking a moment to gaze at the one who had called for her initially.
Warm brown eyes looked at her, equal parts sad, concerned, and tentatively happy. Their owner quickly bowed. It was clear who she was. "Hello," she murmured. "I apologize for intruding. I only just returned, and you were closest to where I entered the village from…"
The chameleon stared silently before wrapping them in a gentle hug. "Y-you're back…" she said gently.
Smiling even with tears in her eyes, Cream hugged her back. "Yes… by some miracle. It was not Mister Sonic's doing, but… I am here regardless."
"It doesn't matter," Aniko responded in kind. "Your return is cause for celebration, Cream."
The bunny offered her another smile. "How have you been? Well, I hope?"
Aniko's smile faded a little and she gently pulled away, shaking her head. "No… things have not been well…"
Cream looked at her for a short moment. "I do not mean to pry…" she began, "but if you wish to talk about anything, I would be more than happy to listen. If not, we can change the subject. I would not mind."
"I would rather not speak about it, now," she murmured. "I would rather focus on the fact of your return. I am sure that Espio will be incredibly happy to see you once again."
"It is certainly possible," Cream agreed, her trademark smile growing ever warmer. "I believe I just missed him earlier. I ran into Armaris and spoke with her regarding a difficulty she was facing, but by the time I went outside where she'd gone, they'd all left. However, I did meet the sweetest baby girl…" Cream wiped a happy tear from her eye. "She said the child was his. She was such a beautiful person to meet."
Aniko nodded slowly to this, gently guiding Cream inside. "He has been blessed with two children. One is yet still an infant," she explained. "They are both adorable."
Cream's eyes lit up. "There is another?"
The female chameleon nodded gently to Cream. "Yes. They are named Zei and Sako."
Despite not being fluent in their language, Cream understood enough to grasp the meaning of those words. "Their names are perfect," she murmured. "The beauty of spring and the danger of the blade… Any shinobi would be proud to have names with such meaning."
Aniko was briefly taken back by the fact that Cream possessed this knowledge, but she ultimately let it be. "This is true. And they will surely be everything that they can be as they grow up."
Though she undoubtedly had questions about these kids (chief among them being when they had been born, given that she hadn't been dead that long), Cream chose to hold them back. Instead she asked, "How has he taken to fatherhood?" She hesitated for just a moment, then added, "I know he did not ever see himself suited for such a role, even when he took me into his care and raised me."
"He has performed well, but… I am of the opinion that he does not believe himself a good father, nor does he believe it is safe for them to be around him," Aniko murmured, crossing her arms. "I have been meaning to talk to him, but certain circumstances have kept me preoccupied."
"May I ask what you wish to say?" Cream carefully pried. "Perhaps I can help. I cannot promise such a thing, of course, but I would be more than happy to try."
"Many things," Aniko said softly. "He has had a lot on his mind recently." Cream patiently waited to see if she would continue, not wanting to push for more if Aniko was unwilling to say. "Much of it I am unsure of what he is thinking, and I do not wish to give improper information."
"I can try to help," Cream reiterated. "If I know what it is you wish to tell him, I can do my best to find out how he may respond to it."
Aniko crossed her arms lightly. "Truthfully… I wanted to assure him that he is doing well as a father, among some other things."
Cream offered her a small smile. "Lady Aniko, if I may be so bold… Even if he were to wholeheartedly believe that for himself already, hearing it from you would mean nothing less to him. I am sure of that."
She didn't respond to that for some time, ultimately taking a seat against the wall and letting her head fall onto her knees. "I do not know if it will even help him. I feel as if existence itself is driving a rift between us…"
The younger woman looked on with concern. "Why do you say that?"
Aniko didn't dare raise her head, simply asking, "What do you know of the origin of his Darkness?"
"The origin of it?" Cream asked in turn.
"Essentially… where he inherited it all from," Aniko murmured. "Born of two of the three strongest and most evil clans of the shinobi." She paused for a long moment before adding, "As well as heritance from Malevolence itself." Notably, she was far more quiet as she spoke the last sentence, as if worried about how Cream might react.
Though Cream's eyes went wide, there was comparatively little dismay in her tone and expression than one might expect. "Truly?" she breathed. Then she murmured, "This explains so much…"
Aniko tightly clutched at the top of her own head, letting out a deep breath. "This has drawn the attention of so fucking many problematic people. They want to use him," she growled. I just want to love him as my son…
~保護者~
The impact of Zareil's spear shook the ground and it left a trail of gore every time it was called back. She threw it again and again, practicing her aim on demons she had designated to be used for target practice. Her aggression and temper only grew the longer that she was away from Kaden, and now she had no reason to hold back. Her hateful gaze flicked to the right and she commanded that the armies be raised faster. They had a score to settle, and she had more planning to do. The demon she'd spoken to agreed to do so quickly and left, leaving her to call her spear back once more and discard the bloodied weapon onto the ground once more.
Zareil sat atop the throne she'd erected for herself beside Kaden's and tapped her foot slowly as she thought. If Mephiles does his job, Steam and Rose will be dead or incapacitated. The ones who will be facing me are most likely to be the Immortals or one of the chameleons. In that case, I may well need to prepare something to even the field. Her eyes roamed the citadel silently before it clicked. There absolutely were others that could be corrupted, but it was a matter of who to corrupt. Ylden, as much as she'd prefer to have someone of his caliber, was not on the table. He was holding the Realms of Death together, but that did leave the option of Armaris.
The chances that she would be well guarded were high, so Zareil dismissed it entirely. She wouldn't be worth the trouble unless she could fully corrupt the cat and turn her on her friends. Her mind turned to Shadow and the threat from Toru came to mind. Deciding against it entirely, she instead focused on the one who issued the threat to begin with.
She set her mind on that and moved on. They now had two more Gods among their group, with one wielding powerful magic and the other being able to manipulate time to some degree. Draining Kath's Light again felt like a promising potential, but it was Eona's Light, and she had now personally tasted what it was like to be on the receiving end of such energy twice. She would take the chance if it was available, but it felt too risky to make him a target currently. As such, she instead set her sights on another being of Light. One that had been giving the heroes far too many tools and had been much too helpful since she arrived. Rose would need to be handled, and doing something to her likely meant that Eila would be unable to act further. Getting to Rose would be easy, too, since she often fought on the frontlines.
Aside from that, there was the possibility of 'borrowing' power from another demon to quickly overwhelm whoever fought her. Though this whole plan still left several people unaccounted for. People such as Wave and the Gods or Goddesses… Or Jet. Part of her felt as if she could handle those weaker than Jet with the consumption of at least one strong being, but she was unlikely to be able to consume any of the people she was trying to kill. They would likely save each other, but any chance she got, she would absolutely have to take.
Zareil stood and called out for the generals, letting them all know of her current plans. They didn't follow her as much as they would Kaden, but just maybe she could get their aid. The strongest of the bunch, the one just below her in strength, approached first. With a nod of contemptuous, obligatory respect, he demanded, "What is the meaning of this? You intend to storm that world alone?"
"If I must, I will," Zareil answered. "If we do not retrieve Kaden, I believe we may not be able to return him for some time."
"It is a fool's errand," he scoffed. "The Immortal alone will be sufficient to repel you."
"Jet is not there," Zareil corrected. "He is increasingly preoccupied with his own shit. The other two Immortals are all that remain, in that regard. They can be dealt with."
"What of the chameleons, then?" the general asked her pointedly.
Zareil let a thick, red fog emanate from her body. "Incapacitate and corrupt. Turn them on their allies, if possible."
"The one you have repeatedly fought will not succumb," he told her. "It is not in his nature."
Her straight face suddenly morphed into a grin. "The best emotion for corruption is anger. Something he is well acquainted with."
Though his eyes narrowed, the general didn't argue the point. "And what of the woman and her son?"
"The woman certainly will succumb. Her poor family is falling apart at the seams," Zareil murmured mockingly. "The son… well, he is likely to be affected. He hides it well, but his emotions are volatile. There are assuredly fears to be played off of."
Crossing his arms, the general posed a new question. "The two Immortals who will remain. I trust you are not fool enough to have no plans for them?"
"One will be affected, though to what degree I am unsure. The other will have to protect them. Given the chance, I could strike one down before the other recovers."
He gave this some thought before unexpectedly nodding. "It is similar to what our god would have done. That is acceptable."
"I have but one thing to ask of you. Bring others the news, especially to those who listen to me solely out of obligation. I want to unleash the full might of our armies on these pathetic fools," Zareil muttered.
The general straightened. "We will come, but know it is not for you. We serve the god alone." He turned and started to leave, only to pause and turn back around. "However… there are some who will not be as willing. In his stead, only you can give permission to… persuade them. Grant me that, and I will do what I can."
"It will be done. Get the information for the plan to them, and you will find it easier to do so. We have a similar goal," Zareil said.
He nodded. "Indeed." With that, he turned away a second time and walked out of the room.
The demoness tapped her foot on the ground slowly and let out a long sigh before walking through the citadel. Her spear appeared in her hand, and a flick threw the blood off of it. She approached the place where she stored her weapons and placed it upon the empty rack before claiming another. The hefty, bladed weapon rested on her shoulder and she gripped the handle tightly. "I will kill them all. Nobody gets away with taking my God."
~保護者~
Though he did not know it, he was a pet.
Her pet.
And it was high time that she paid her pet some attention again.
Ignoring the blinking lights and glowing screens lining the walls of the corridors within the ARK, Nareish walked along. Gerald was a distance away from her, but that was fine. She was in no hurry. She quite liked walking, in fact. With each step, she would literally grind the world beneath her feet. Or, in this case, the hulking space laboratory. But that was of no consequence right now. Far more important matters weighed on her mind.
One of them has fallen asleep. The one who represents Mind, who created the Babylonians with all of their creativity and intellectual prowess. I believe the name she claimed was Aethra, was it not? Nareish hummed thoughtfully to herself. She and the creator of the da Asani have been awake the longest. He will likely follow her into slumber soon. As for the other two… So long as they do not needlessly expend energy, they will remain with us for a time longer. However, they were also awake the longest prior to their first sleep, thanks to the warring between the early races. They will not last much longer.
She turned a corner, phasing through tightly sealed doors that would otherwise have barred her path. In the room beyond, she found the man she was after. After eyeing what he was working on for a moment, she quietly greeted, "Hello again, Doctor."
At the moment, he was fine-tuning the latest creation. He didn't respond for a few seconds, finishing whatever part he was on before pulling his head back and turning to face her. "Ah, hello, Nareish. Quite a fine time for your appearance, I might say."
Dark eyes blinked slowly. "Oh?" she drawled. "And why is that?"
"I finished what I believe will be something… interesting," Gerald answered, standing up and looking over his own creation. "There are some small touch-ups to be completed, but I thoroughly believe it will be of use."
"Explain what you have been doing." Her words were part command, part invitation. She was willing to listen, at least for the moment.
"It learns," Gerald said with no little amount of excitement. He quickly realized that there was so much more to explain and continued. "This robot is a machine designed to learn, adapt, mimic, and abuse the people it fights. Had it been organic, I would say it was near perfect, but alas the right specimen hasn't come along." The man sighed. "In short, it is something that I made to use the far more advanced fighting techniques and skills that these… pests have taken so long to hone and turn it all against them."
Some of the boredom faded from Nareish's eyes, but not all of it. Still, it was a step in the right direction for him. "Tell me when it will be ready."
"Within the next few days, perhaps sooner," Gerald revealed with a growing grin. "The final steps on my end will be simply ensuring that everything is functioning and feeding it data before allowing it to begin it's learning and killing process."
That timetable fit well with her own schedule, she noted with satisfaction. "The forces containing us here weaken. One of the four responsible for it has succumbed to the need for sleep. The rest will follow. Ensure your project is complete by then, doctor."
Gerald nodded easily before speaking up. "If I may… the one issue that plagues a machine such as this is forces that it cannot replicate. Things that are sadly beyond the capabilities of mere machine. Might there be a solution for this?"
"It will last however long it lasts," Nareish dismissed with a wave of her hand. "I will offer it some protection, but I will not make it invincible. It is a waste of my abilities, and I have larger issues to focus on. As do you, in fact. Your property is still in need of being returned to you sometime soon. I am working on that, as opposed to caring for your robot."
"I merely am using this as a means of remaining productive while we are unable to make use of it," Gerald said, vaguely irritated at the fact that he was being kept from Shadow. "I do not wish to waste more time on this than necessary."
"Tell me something about your life's work," Nareish suddenly said. "How is it that he was able to wrest himself free of your control to begin with, to break out of the programming you had built into him from the first moment of his life?"
Gerald tapped his foot slowly, thinking on the matter. "It may well have had to do with Black Doom. Black Doom took it in its early stages of development, which were the years I needed most to keep it in isolation. Sadly, Black Doom took on a paternal role and greatly sabotaged more than my work, but my best project as well."
Nareish inclined her head slowly. "I will leave that issue to you, when the time comes. Regaining full control, that is. But I will fulfill my word and bring Shadow back here so that you will have that chance. You must simply be patient." She shifted her weight onto one leg, thinking. "Now, then… I have a new question. I know you collected the blood of another powerful being on Mobius. You learned the blood was ancient, from several thousand years before your own life. Did you ever learn anything else about the person whose blood you found?"
"I am aware that it is of the same hedgehog species as Sonic," Gerald murmured slowly in response. "They were male and exceptionally powerful… and the blood was found in the ruins of Chun-nan, where it was plain to see that it had been ravaged by beasts in the past."
Finally, Nareish gained a ghost of a smile. "Very good. Now what would you say to having the chance to finally lay eyes upon your subject and study him? Albeit, only with the eyes and ears."
Gerald raised an eyebrow at this, curious. "I would enjoy the chance."
"Then you will need to come with me - now. There is not much time." Nareish waved an enigmatic hand. "I will freeze time for you. Or, rather, around you. Myself, him, and you remain normal. But I will not maintain this for a prolonged period. Once it is over, your time will be limited to however long it takes the chameleons to notice your presence. I imagine it would be only a matter of moments." Another faint smile. "My suggestion is that you leave before then. Is that understood?"
Gerald walked over to her and nodded as she spoke, setting aside his tools. "I believe I understand. That one… Toru. Should I merely be present for too long, I believe he would kill me before I noticed him appear," he said easily.
"Long before then," she agreed easily. "As for the man you are going to see, however, do not fret this time. Beings a touch higher than myself have him contained as well. However temporarily. He cannot harm you." She opened a portal by his side.
The man walked through with another nod, taking nothing more than a second to gaze upon his surroundings before turning his attention to the being he had come to see. "Hm… so it was you?"
A deep scowl was set upon the face of the other man, whose distinctly molten flooring had apparently been frozen as well. It was evident that he didn't appreciate the resulting chill. Glowing eyes snapped open, already locked on Gerald. "You are lucky I am in here," a soft, smooth voice darkly declared, "or you would have been dead the moment you arrived."
"I am aware," Gerald answered easily, kneeling down to closer inspect the being inside. "There are many who would have me dead, but that time has not come… yet. I have many more things to do."
Almost as if reacting to some unspoken cue, a thin black spike of pure energy surged forth from the ground. It stabbed straight through the innermost portion of the barrier, digging through it until he was almost, almost halfway out. But it was there that the spike was forced to halt. It had been aimed straight for the center of Gerald's forehead. "Too bad you did not come somewhat later," the other man remarked with malignant casualness. "That would have been a suitably bloody end for you."
Gerald didn't flinch, nor did he shift away. The man grinned maniacally and practically cackled. "There is only one end befitting of me, and it is nothing you could ever give to me. It is built by my own volition."
Slowly, the hedgehog rose to his feet, eyes unemotional and unimpressed. "I believe my son," he drawled as he stepped closer to the barrier, "brought about the most fitting end to your life anyone could have. Interrupting all of your grand plans and letting you die with your own explosive mistakes…"
"Ah, Sonic… such a misled brat," Gerald shook his head in dismay. "Always interfering in things he had no business meddling in. How greatly I revelled in the pain he felt, the fear he experienced." He chuckled to himself. "I will bring that back in due time… all in due time."
"You see nothing but problems in him… and yet you made the pair of them brothers. That does not sound wise." The hedgehog shook his head, though the meaning of the action was never let on to. "In fact, I would say it was rather foolish."
"Death of blood by blood, what could be more incredible?" Gerald suddenly posed. "You wage a war against the very thing they stand for. Would you not have to strike them down, given their insolence and stubbornness?"
"You are a fool," the man reiterated with perfect calmness. "You will learn the depths of your mistake soon enough."
Gerald grinned. "Your mistakes may take time to be seen, but I will enjoy watching the show."
Suddenly, the hedgehog took another step forward. "Do you know many significant people your explosions utterly failed to kill? Seven. They all now come for you. They bring with them an ally whom you did kill, but will never harm again. Do you recall the name Locke, by chance?"
"I am aware of him, yes," Gerald replied. "Does it matter in the grand scheme of things?"
He was seemingly ignored. "He is something of a deity now. I believe he may, ah… smite you. And then there is the family of magic users, whom you have rightly pissed off. Not to mention the Immortal who is all too eager to spill your blood himself. Need I go on?" Those glowing eyes looked right at him again. "Your time is coming faster than you care to believe. For all your intelligence, even you cannot see into the future. Some of us, however, can."
"Even in the event I should die," Gerald answered with a vaguely annoyed sigh, "I will have left my mark. I will never let go of that which is mine, especially that which can persist even after my death."
"Marks can and often are erased. You were forgotten once. You can be forgotten again." Those glowing eyes suddenly became fiery. "And no matter what you try, you will leave no legacy in your wake. None. I will burn you and everything you ever were away until not even dust remains."
"Try as you might, but I will remain in the hearts and minds of a certain few," Gerald said easily. "You may well kill me, but I have no fear of it. I know what I must do."
"Memories only possess whatever power is given to them," was the calm-again reply. "Time will take care of that as well. Your presence will fade from even this avenue, and life will go on. You will not be remembered with the fear you so desperately crave. Only with disdain."
Gerald chuckled a little. "I have seen enough. You have proven plenty," the man said, already turning to go through the portal. "Thank you for this. I am sure Shadow will appreciate your contributions." The spike suddenly burst through. It stabbed through Gerald and beyond, where it curved into a vicious hook. Then it yanked back, ensnaring Gerald and slamming him back-first into the barriers with great force. Gerald gritted his teeth, but spoke regardless through the pain. "Not going to make good on your threats?" he bit out.
Almost taking on the appearance of an apparition now, the once-contained hedgehog stalked into view. Black flames licked at the ground everywhere he stepped. "I am sorely tempted… but now is not the time." Rather than turn those flames on Gerald, the man instead speared him through with another spike, then another. With him sufficiently pinned, the man approached even closer. "A word of warning… advice, if you will. Do not trust the woman. She revived you, did she not? Treats you well enough, at least on the surface? You believe yourself to be partners. I can assure you that you are not. Much as your projects are your pets, you have become one yourself."
The doctor writhed in agony with the various holes put in his body by these spikes, doing his level best to ignore the pain. He couldn't bring himself to speak for a long moment, but when he did it was through clenched teeth. "You're nothing more than a demon. Your words are meaningless."
"A demon… and a God twice over. My words bear far more weight than yours." The hedgehog crossed his arms and idly sent another spike through Gerald's right wrist. "Do you know what became of your grandson, by the way? He, too, found himself as a pet. It did not end well for him. I believe his head was seen floating aimlessly through space, apart from the rest of him, months after his demise. Even less of you will be found, however…"
"You yet still have not killed me," Gerald cackled weakly. "Lost your nerve, or do you wish to give me time to bring harm to the rest of your family?"
"You will die by the right hands, at the right time." A final spear dug straight through Gerald's other wrist as time began to inch forward around them. "In the meantime, consider your pain a parting gift. You will not be healed by her this time. She has already left you. I wish you the very best of luck with your robot." The spikes all retracted and Gerald was left to drop to the ground.
The doctor held back any sounds of pain with gritted teeth that strained under the pressure he was forcing upon them, shifting his weight so that he could stand and stumble through the portal. You… bastard… Once he was able to take a seat, he shakily regarded the holes in his wrists and how that had taken away his ability to do a damn thing. He relied so heavily on his hands…
He had been crippled.
Time returned in full as the portal closed. Kaden opened his eyes, back inside the trap. In truth, he had never left. He had merely projected his energies outward, as much of them as possible, in order to do what had been done. But now he had one more matter to take care of before the hole he'd created sealed itself shut. Closing his eyes again, he reached his mind out far and sharply demanded, "Steam."
The green hedgehog appeared shortly after, stumbling for a moment before righting himself. "What the fuck? You shouldn't be able to-" Steam's eyes widened and he moved to reach for his sword before realizing that wasn't necessary. "What's going on?"
Kaden opened his eyes again and regarded him calmly. "Gerald was here," he reported. "I was forced to act."
"The hell'd'ya do to him?" Steam asked before rubbing at his face a bit. Fuck… I'm fumbling my words.
"Stalled him, however temporarily. Had I killed him then, she would have been alerted." Reaching his mind out again just before that ever-shrinking hole sealed fully, he forced memories into Steam's mind. Gerald's memories, of his creation and his explanation of it to Nareish not even an hour prior. "He intended to unleash that upon you all within days. You were not prepared."
Steam stumbled again before once more collecting himself. "Shit… I knew he'd do something, but I wasn't sure what," he muttered.
"He was initially here to study me," Kaden further revealed. "That he has further plans for Shadow is clear. Do not let him near my son again."
"Kaden, I can't stop Nareish," he reminded. "I'll do everything in my power, but if she decides that she wants him, I can't do a damn thing."
"Untrue." Kaden gestured meaningfully to the dome over his head, then crossed his arms just as he had done earlier. This time, no attack accompanied the movement. "You have done the impossible by stalling her and her plans in the past. Doing so again may be the only chance Shadow has. If he winds up on that ARK again, that may well spell the end of the man we know."
Steam crossed his arms in response. "I've already worked on taking measures to prevent that, but you just did one major part. If you say he's stalled, then that means he can't work properly."
"At all," Kaden corrected. "For now."
"Wery's code will keep anything Gerald can do to change who Shadow is for some time. I helped do something similar in the past and the method we're using has only been improved," Steam murmured. "I have every reason to protect Shadow as well, and I'll be damned if I let anything happen without trying to stop it."
After regarding Steam closely for a moment, Kaden looked away and nodded. All he said was a simple, "Good."
"One more thing, while I'm here," Steam murmured. "When Zareil comes, we're not going to kill her. I am making certain that she's going to live through this because I know what can happen if she dies." Kaden glanced at him. He said nothing. The green hedgehog let out a light sigh. "You already know what's coming… I'll talk to you more sometime soon." Maybe once I've slept for more than ten minutes at a time…
~保護者~
13,183 words this time. Many thanks as always to Blazing Winds for his constant help and support. Posted (at about 8:50 p.m.) 05-10-21.