PEBYEEOK-PREKOSEOVENEET
(Pedophile)
"What is a siphon, sir?"
The young voice echoed through the crystalline hallway. The black cat, upon
asking, rubbed against the brown and black cloth as she scampered to keep up.
Her mentor, not much taller than her, looked down upon her and smiled under his
cloak.
"It," he replied. "Is something I hope you don't have to see. It
drains energy from unstable and powerful matter in order to reduce its
powers."
"Truly? Like a…" The word seemed hard to form. "A laser?"
"No no." The mentor chuckled. "Compared to a siphon, the laser
is more like a pinch, a prolonged pinch. A bright light comes from the barrel
of a laser, so if you ever see one, just remember to duck and cover."
"And a barrel is on a gun! And a laser is like a gun only it doesn't run
out."
"Exactly."
"This will be hard to keep straight," the cat moaned. "I have
never seen those types of weapons, let alone done battle with one!"
The crystalline doors opened, and a garden, silent save for the flowing water,
cascaded before the two, teacher and student, mentor and protege. The two began
to walk down the staircase, the black cat's sign glistening on her forehead.
"But aside from those awful weapons, I daresay you come from a very
confusing and boring world, sir."
"Confusing, yes. Boring?" The cloaked mentor chuckled. "I would
not go so far to say that."
"But you do not plan on going back there, do you?"
"No." There was a hint of sadness in the mentor's voice. "I do
not think returning is….quite on my mind yet. I am still in a bit of a rut
about my home."
"A rut?"
"I….I simply do not wish what happened upon people, but I just do not know
how I can stop such horrible things from happening again."
"Life is a mystery, master." The cat held her mentor in the highest
respects, and as such always either addressed him as 'sir' or 'master'. "I
think you have solved some of them. The queen is happy, and the kingdom is
forever in your debt for what you have done."
"Heh." The teacher chuckled. "Yes. The plague was horrible. But I
guess I did something right."
The teacher's head went down, and the cat simply sniffled. Her mentor was
always a touch sad. Then again, when such a tragedy that befell upon her mentor
befell upon anyone, one would always be mournful, sad, regretful of the past.
About what they could have said before those they cherished were blinked out of
existence. The cat knew what that was like. The queen also; her parents were
both murdered coldly, without justice.
It was then the cat noticed something was missing.
"Master?"
"Hmm?" She had interrupted his moment of reflection. "Yes?"
"Your book."
"Oh." The mentor smiled again. "I didn't need it. I left it in
my chamber."
"Truly? But I thought you would start writing in it again."
The cat loved how her mentor wrote. He always wrote hastily, quickly, filling
pages. He had brought with him a small but thick book of blank note paper, and
it was already half full.
"I wonder," the cat inquired. "When will you be writing in it
again?"
"……….Soon, Luna." A flock of white birds fluttered into the sky, the
bright blue planet hovering in the distance. "Soon."
-----------------------
The memories of the past. A past, tainted by war, greed, disease and strife.
But it was a past that had been saved. Saved, perhaps, by one man.
Luna's thoughts traversed from each moment spent with him to each moment she
watched Locke shudder in pain.
"Locke…."
"…Please…." The voice murmured. "Don't leave me….father…"
Luna shifted uncomfortably. Delirium had set in after that last attack of disease,
and he had been mumbling ever since. It was only small comfort that the pox had
not completely covered his body, because those that had he had inadvertently
picked. Also, the diverticulitis and the aneurysm…
It is all falling upon him. Luna thought. He is not human. He was
never introduced to the human condition. Now, in human form, he is suffering
terribly.
Without much to do, only to watch as Kakyuu leaned over him, her face lined
with worry, Luna jumped up onto an end table. She found herself landing on a
soft bag, its flap open, as she did.
Hmm?... Looking up, seeing Kakyuu too occupied with Locke to notice,
Luna began pawing through the bag. She did so as quietly as possible - she
could feel clothing, food, the leather inside.
Upon feeling around in the outside pockets, and smelling an unusually powerful
stench of dead ants, she realized that the bag was of Locke's belonging, his
only link to Mobius, his world....
..........Eh?
The crinkling of old paper suddenly came into Luna's earshot.
Wait a minute....
Quickly padding through, and trying to keep attention off of her at the same
time, she felt more papers, crinkled, weathered papers, under skin. Digging
through, she finally accomplished rescuing three old papers, browned by age,
ripped and withered at the edges.
My god....
Luna's eyes widened when she saw what she had pulled out, and she violently
restrained herself from screaming. There was no time to lose.
Without a single word, the papers were picked up into Luna's mouth, and the cat
quickly padded out of the room, still unseen by Kakyuu, unseen by the
Starlights who looked down upon Locke.
--------------------
"Tails!!!"
The fox looked up at the tent flap as Sonic burst in, wiping his black bow.
Gasping, the wide-eyed hedgehog pointed.
"Sonic."
"All right, kid," Sonic snarled. "I don't know who you are, or
when you possessed Tails, but I know you're not the Tails I'm friends
with!"
"I'm not?"
"You'd better explain yourself, buddy." Sonic's eyes slit.
"What's happened to me, why I look like this and where the hell you put my
friend!!!"
Tails looked at Sonic, his eyes seemingly unimpressed by the rage.
"I don't know what you're talking about." the fox shrugged after a
moment. "I figured you'd understand after you transubstantiated into this form.
But I guess I was wrong."
"Transu-WHAT?!"
"Transubstantiation." Tails looked down. "The forced evolution
into a form or being not familiar to the evolutionee. I thought you would see
it. But the shell must not have opened completely."
"Evolution? Shell?! What are you-"
"If you calm down I'll tell you." Tails' voice suddenly sharpened.
"Instead of coming in like a drunken maniac. I'd expect more from a
hero."
The words slapped Sonic in the face. Looking upon his friend, he searched for
meaning to why he was acting so different, yet could find none. He knew
he was acting differently, but Sonic could see no trace of emotion to detect
that Tails even cared.
"It is complicated to say to you, because obviously your understanding has
not yet opened up." Tails shifted his body. "But I will try to
explain this in terms that you can understand. The simple fact of what has
happened is that, like Knuckles, you have evolved, and you are ready to accept
the power which is destined for you to control. The ultimate power of your
evolution, possible only through your death and rebirth."
"D-death?!"
"You had to die in order to evolve." Tails took the shocked question
in stride. "This is because you were given a special power not accessible
to most people. Infinite power. The Chaos Emeralds being a great source of this
infinite power. The Chaos Emeralds exemplify the highest achievement of
infinite energy. Right?"
"Yeah."
The black ear twitched in comprehenshion. This makes sense. Common
knowledge, but sounds good to me so far.
"Right."
"Wrong."
"What?" The contradiction was swift and blunt. "But you
ju-"
"You're wrong, Sonic. In truth...." Tails gave a sigh. "There
are two types of unlimited power - that which is controlled, and that
which isn't." Tails gave a breath. "The basis of whether or not an
unlimited power is controlled is set by one thing - that being, controlled
power is understood completely by the user, and therefore all of its power can
be used. Uncontrolled is the opposite - the user can only do a limited number
of things with its power because the user will not understand how to use it
all. Uncontrolled power allows a user to accomplish more, but because the user
is not to understand uncontrolled power, nobody can truly claim to hold all of
its secrets."
"In other words…?"
"Chaos Emeralds." Tails looked up. "Uncontrolled power in its
most infinite, yes. But in order to control that power, one must have a
Controller, a harbinger of neutrality, so that the user can master both
sides of the spectrum."
With that, Tails stood up, walked to Sonic and placed a hand directly into his
chest. As he did, a soft glow came from the fur.
"T-Tails?!?" Sonic began to sweat. "Wha….what are you
doing?!"
"You'll see."
Quietly, Tails took his hand off, and the glow disappeared. Sonic looked down
at where Tails had touched him, confusedly, before looking back up.
Strange….something…
"Now." Tails nodded. "Go outside."
"Um…" Sonic crimped an eye. Riiight…. "Ok…"
"No!"
Tails' voice had such a sharp edge that it stopped Sonic in his tracks even
before he began to walk.
"What in..?!?"
"I want you to go outside," Tails muttered. "Without
moving."
"Without…"
"You can do it. Just think."
"Think…"
Think….about what?
About being outside?
How will I get there if I………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………..
……………………………..
……………………………..
Wait. From deep down inside of his body, Sonic felt something welt up. It
was almost like a white spark of something waiting to ignite. No. He's
right. I can get there without moving. If I cannot move…………
……………………………Yes.
I can feel it now.
I know what to do.
As if the instinct had been within him since he was in utero, Sonic's hand
suddenly shot out in front of him, his knees slightly bent, his palm open.
"Power of Chaos, into my soul…" he mumbled. "Lay unto my
hand!!"
Tails watched as Sonic's hand shot up to the ceiling, as if it meant to touch
they sky.
"CHAOS…..CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
It was almost as if Sonic had been shot again, for another burst of light shot
from his chest, engulfing him. This time, however, the light was brief, and
Sonic's body shifted with it, sputtering out of reality as it did.
Yes…..yes…. Tails knew.
"Huaaah!"
The sound of cracking bones and tree branches, followed by a thud from the
ground outside, confirmed Tails' hope. The tent flap opened, and Sonic burst
back in, gasping.
"Holy…!"
"You see?"
The words… Sonic thought. As if I always knew them...
"Such is the power of the Sailor Crystal."
"The what?" Comprehension fell again. "Sailor Crystal?"
"The controlled power."
"Yeah ri-"
"Tails?!?"
The two looked over to the right. In front of them was Knuckles, his eyes
widened.
"Tails....."
It was obvious he had only come, but Tails knew why Knuckles had come.
Go on...
"How...." Knuckles looked at Sonic. "How did you know of the
Silver Crystal...."
-----------------
Antithesis took a deep breath as he approached the pointed tents within the
forest. The flag of Albion seemed to mesh perfectly with the darkened night
sky.
Be calm....do not show your fear...
"Halt!"
Instantly, the guns were upon him. Antithesis simply looked at the troops
surrounding him, his mind unimpressed by his boss's show of military might.
Nevertheless, he could feel an iota of fear nagging at him. It was there only
because he knew the fighter had seen him approach from the direction of
Knothole.
"State yourself!"
"......Antithesis." The brown echidna took a breath. "I simply
wish to relay a message to the Echidna Council."
"Relay your business here with the Echidna Council!"
"I am..." Mustn't reveal too much.... "a neutral
investigator of the battle today. Sent by the Echidna Council. I wish to convey
a message to them."
The guns slowly lowered. Antithesis looked around as the trooper gave his word
consideration. His word, fortunately, was enhanced by his assistant robing, the
sign of his status in Albion's bureaucracy. He no longer considered his
city a democracy, as Gala-Na so ardently wished to believe; democracies allowed
all the citizens to decide upon killing children and unarmed peoples. A
democratic decision could not rest upon the wishes of one person.
"Very well." A gun motioned towards a larger-than average tent.
"Communication is that one right there."
With a nod and a salute, the brown echidna hurriedly invited himself to the
tent, where he was faced with a gigantic computer. It was a military type,
surprisingly lightweight, but capable of performing many tasks. Antithesis
silently congratulated himself as he silently opened the folds of his robe, a
folded piece of paper within. With such memory in the computers banks, a simple
letter would be no problem...
Almost as quickly as he had taken the paper out and placed it upon the faxing
module, the purpose of his journey was finished with the simple click of a
button. Without another word, Antithesis quickly took back his papers, rounded
the corner outside and disappeared into the bushes.
Perhaps the new light shed upon the happenings of Gala-Na's campaign could
persuade her to do otherwise and withdraw, the aide thought as he huddled
in the bushes, his chance to escape completely not yet in sight. When the
Council - no, the Elder Judges - see what she has done behind the backs of the
people, and confront her, she will have no choice but to withdraw...
Antithesis found his moment to escape, and he ran down the clearing, entering
into the protective shrubs on his way back to the village. Being Gala-Na's
worker bee had its advantages. Those who worked for her knew her inside and
out. And Antithesis, who would come back again for the results of his attempt
of clarity, knew better than anyone that such a political setback for Gala-Na,
a woman who prided in her political ethics, could be just the thing to save the
Acorn kingdom – and maybe Albion - from
total destruction.
------------------------
"No!! Don't leave me!!"
Each of them, fallen through with blood and hate. Locke could only close his
eyes.
"Don't leave..."
The bodies twisted back and forth, turning into Atrava, then Dimitri, then
nothing. Memories, seeping into his mind, mocking him, some to dust after, some
to the sky, others simply staying. Laughing.
Fool. You fool!
Then the memories turned into Knuckles. Poniting at him in mockery. His eyes
like endless fire.
It's all your fault. It was Knuckles but his voice was far more
foreboding, almost like Athair's. Did you really think the shell could save
your son?
"Shell?"
I told you! The voice laughed. I told you to never reveal to anyone
what you did. Your tools fail you, and so does your simple thinking! The
voice suddenly warped again, into one he had seldom heard. You are not
worthy to be of my line. I gave you the power to change the world, power she
had, and you still failed.
Knuckles had Steppenwolf's voice now, yet it was impossible because Locke had
only met his ancestor once, when Earth was in danger. Yet there he was,
ingrained within Knuckles, the power he had given to them...
"Locke......"
A light suddenly pulsed through onto the bloodied field, covering Locke and the
Knuckles incarnate.
You know what it means. Knuckles' body shifted and disappeared. You
must face the truth of your worthless existence......the truth you
created.....you cannot escape from it.....
The light from the voice brightened, and the memories, the shifting bodies,
disappeared. Locke gave a gasp as the light engulfed him more, but it was
welcoming to him, licking him clean. He fell backwards from the staggering
power, but he didn't care. The darkness was gone.
------------------------
"Bring them forth."
The judges' faces were set in stone as Gala-Na entered alongside the other
councilors and sub-councilors, the senators. The Hall of Justice was looming
upon the attendees of the emergency meeting; the statue of Steppenwolf loomed
behind the Chief Minister of Justice, a man named Ovashenie, who
unceremoniously sat in the middle of the three high judges of Albion
civilization. He, an elder man well advanced in age, waited until both the
Council and Senate were seated.
"Head Councilor Gala-Na, please rise."
The group began to murmur as their leader rose.
"Your Revered Excellencies." The councilor gave the obligatory, if
short, bow to the three. "It is an honor to be here on such short
notice."
"The honor," Ovashenie stared back, "I must say, is
one-sided."
"Excellency...?"
"Councilor Gala-Na..." The head justice cut her off, continuing as he
shuffled through papers. "It has come to our attention, by the faith of
Aurora, that you have sent several squadrons of our forest protectors, the
'Tiger Forest Fighters', into an unprovoked situation against unarmed masses in
Knothole." Seeing the concilors murmuring louder at this, "Perhaps
you can explain, Councilor?"
"Revered Excellencies..."
Gala-Na knew why she had been called long before. She knew that her unchecked
attack would be costly, perhaps devastatingly so, both in terms of troops and
perhaps her career in politics. But she had not come unprepared.
"Revered Excellencies, I organized this attack as an answer to evidence
found around the Floating Island. It appears, from evidence we have collected,
and from feelers, that the party responsible for the heinous attack, and
possibly for the mysterious vines which destructed our town, is none other than
the guardian of the island, Knuckles." There were several gasps in the
crowd; unheeding, Gala-Na continued. "I, as Councilor, am allowed to call
upon the military when force is needed to retaliate against such crimes against
echidna society, and I believe on Aurora's good faith I did what was justified
and necessary."
"Indeed, Head Councilor?" Ovashenie's expression did not change.
"Indeed."
"Then, indeed, perhaps you can explain this."
With that, Ovashenie took out a paper from the folds of his gown. Murmurs came
from the crowd again, and Gala-Na's face became confused.
"This was sent to us - we shall not say how it was sent - but we have
received it from an Albion who was present at your assault." Ovashenie saw
Gala-Na's eyes leap with shock and fear. "It goes as follows:"
"Respectably to the Revered Excellencies, the Honorable Judges of Albion:
"I am writing to you on the basis of utmost importance.
I am a citizen of Albion, of the city which housed those who conceived me with
the expectance that I would bring into the world a sense of justice and
compassion, which all Albions, under guidance of our patron Steppenwolf and
your Revered Excellencies, are expected to hold in the highest regards. It is
with the lowest of hearts and the greatest of burdens that I must write this.
Justice and compassion are needed most in the place I am currently upon.
"As of last night, we, those who are currently residing in Knothole both
permanently or otherwise, have been free for seven hours (as of this writing)
of an assault which could only have been committed by those the most brutal and
callous intent. Knothole, who has seen its share on injustices, has just
endured yet another one. Sadly, it was at the hands of Albion's own.
"The Albion Forest Fighters have attacked a kingdom that is nursing wounds
from the mysterious storm of vines, just as we in Albion are bent on
recovering. However, they have attacked and injured, even killed, innocent
civilians, unprovoked. There has been no reason for this atrocity.
"In lieu of this, I, a humble servant of Aurora, Steppenwolf and you
Revered Excellencies, do ask that this onslaught be stopped, or if not stopped
to give reason for it. I pray this, on the soul of Albion."
The entire courtroom looked on, their eyes widened, their thoughts racing.
Without another word, Ovashenie placed the paper back into his folds and looked
upon the Head Councilor, awaiting her reaction.
"Councilor Gala-Na," The judge looked down on her. "I would like
you to explain this to us. I above all know that we are in dire straits, with
the Floating Island destroyed and more bodies returning, as well as our
attempts to keep this under wraps, but....this...if it is true, and I feel that
it might be, given your recent hawkish actions - you have overstepped your
boundaries, and that is a dire violation of the laws of this land as well as an
abuse of office. What have you to say for yourself?"
Gala-Na looked at it, her mind racing with fury. Though it didn't seem so to
her fellow councilors, deep down she felt she had the initiative, the right, to
attack he whom had done so much to cause so much pain. Yet now, when her
country needed her most, she was on trial for the very thing that was saving
Albion.
"Your Revered Excellencies..." she began again. "I..."
"Also did the attack without permission of the Council. Explain."
"I..." Gala-Na could feel the constituents turn on her in whispers.
"I can explain....I felt it neccesa-"
"To kill innocents?" The words cut through her. "There is no
explanation for doing such! Councilor, I have shifted through the records, and
I see no efficient evidence to stand by your claim that the guardian of the
Floating Island is indeed responsible for the massacre on the Floating
Island."
"W-what?!" Gala-Na could feel her cheeks redden. "Revered
Excellency...!"
"There is no evidence." The judge to the left pointed to her.
"But we will forgive your blatant overstepping. You have a career worthy
of greatness, and no one wishes to see the leader of Albion deposed over a
misunderstanding. Simply have the forces retreat. That is all, and we will send
our forgiveness to the Acorn monarchy for the upsetting foolishness."
At this point Gala-Na lost it. With an angry flare in her eyes, she pointed
angrily to Ovashenie, her voice angered.
"I have something to say." Her glare could almost cause the judge to
combust into flames. "This entire court is a mockery to the people of this
city!"
"Councilor! You are out of order!"
"This whole affair is out of order!" Gala-Na turned to the attendees.
"I have worked to try to protect this city, and all I get for my troubles
is a telling to like I am a child! What thanks is this for helping all of
you?!"
The room was completely silent. Gala-Na knew she had made a mistake.
"Councilor." Ovashenie's voice was dark. "We were readily
prepared to forgive you your transgression. Sadly, your behavior begs
otherwise. We WILL NOT tolerate blasphemy of such immature proportions!"
The crowd began to roar its approval of the judges. For the first time, Gala-Na
could feel the helplessness rage within her as she looked around. She was
alone, all alone.
"And such forth, until you give an acceptable apology for your actions, as
well as withdrawing your forces..." The gavel slammed down, like an
exploding bomb. "We hereby move to censor Gala-Na, Head Councilor of
Albion, from any and all hearings and movements by the political structure of
this city! On the authority of Albion, on the soul of Aurora, so it shall be on
the hearts and souls of your excellencies, the Council!!"
The crowd shifted, nodding and shouting its approval. Never in Albion's history
had the leader of their congress ever evoked such anger in the room, and the
anger followed Gala-Na as she stormed out, tears streaking her face, her anger
knowing no bounds.
I will show you... Teeth clenched, Gala-Na could only think of the monster
who destroyed her. I will show you all! And then, to Knuckles!
---------------------
"...........................Locke..............................................."
Slowly, from the strange sea of darkness, of twisted memories, of the mind's
blackness, the light which blotted the blackness, Locke slowly re-emerged. His
eyes slowly opened back into the present of hopelessness, his head on the soft
pillow. His body ached with disease.
A dream...
"Locke."
The voice echoed into his mind, and his mind struggled to identify the heavenly
tone, its origins. For a moment, he saw blue eyes again, blonde hair down her
face, a sad, relieved smile. Yet....
"........Kakyuu?"
He knew his illusion was unreal, and he ordered his mind to shift the image its
rightful colors. Blonde and blue became red.
"Oh." Reality back in focus, Kakyuu smiled at Locke as he began to
come back. "You're awake. I'm so happy."
"Princess..."
Locke closed his eyes, his head hurting, his body flaring up with fever, and
his side screaming. The memories of sleep still harkened at him, snarled at
him. It's all gone...
"I....I hope you are feeling better. You certainly look better."
Kakyuu quietly put her hand under his neck. "Here."
The tea was warm in his throat, and it felt good. This entire body felt sore,
and it felt good for someone to hold him up like this. As his eyes began to
scan and re-take his surroundings - the spare room in Hikawa - he noticed
something on his hand.
"Kakyuu..."
"Oh." The tea quickly went down, holding his hand down. "No. You
mustn't pick those. That's part of the problem, this pox."
"Pox...."
"Yes." Kakyuu's face saddened slightly. "An element of the human
condition, I'm afraid. Its attacked you, as well as other maladies."
"How....did I..."
"We don't know." Kakyuu looked down. "Whatever the reason, your
body is not used to this type of disease. We thought about that while you were
gone."
"A while?" A question began to rise. "How-"
"A week." The tea went into his mouth. "Please. Don't exert
yourself. Drink."
Locke closed his eyes again, the tea soothing his throat. As he leaned, he felt
Kakyuu's hand under his neck, bending up so that he might be able to savor his
drink. Her scent was in his nostrils. It filled him as the tea did, but instead
of nourishing his body, it somehow nourished his battered soul, enticing him to
do her bidding.
Intoxicating...
"Is it good?" Her smile fit with her aroma, with her tea, simply
sweet. "Its camomile. Makoto gave this to me for when you awoke. You tossed
and turned so much in your delirium, we knew you would be tired upon
waking."
"Delirium..."
Panic began to seize Locke at the word. He knew what had happened to men in the
fit of fever; they were liable to say anything that came to them.
"Princess."
"No." Kakyuu shook her head. "Kakyuu. To the man who saved me,
it's unfair for you to think of time with me as something formal."
"....Kakyuu...." It sounded far better and felt far better on Locke's
numbed tongue than 'princess'. "What did I say in my delirium..."
Kakyuu's eyes widened in surprise. She looked down, her hand slowly guiding
Locke's neck back towards his pillow, which felt far too uncomfortable and hard
upon his hitting it.
"It would be shameful to tell you now." Kakyuu leaned down to him,
her eyes saddened. "From one kindred spirit to another, I couldn't bear to
see you in pain if I told you."
Locke could feel rose petals on his cheeks as she finished her speaking. They
softly brushed on his cheek, pausing for a moment in one particular spot. The
roses, however, smelled like lilacs to Locke, and it caused his heart to pound
furiously.
The scent stayed as Kakyuu straightened herself up. She looked over towards the
door, her face etched with suspicion. After a moment, however, she shook her
head.
"You need your rest." Her hand glided down his face. "Please,
sleep."
Locke could feel a strange power course through his body as Kakyuu's hand caressed
his reddened, pox-spotted face. Slowly, he felt his eyes grow heavier until,
finally, he relapsed back into a deep, and thankfully dreamless, sleep. It was
the first time a woman had ever done that for him.
-------------------------------
"Really!" Yaten huffed. "That old man, Locke. Pilfering Usagi
first, and now necking up to our princess!"
"I don't know what to say about that cowboy." The two went into the
bathroom. "But he looks so dirty and sneaky. Not fit for anyone."
"Like what Haruka called him, a 'sugar daddy'."
"Grabbing for skirts, I assume…"
"Lay off of him."
Yaten and Taiki both turned their heads. Seiya silently carved a bar of soap,
her head and hands peeping out of the tub of bubbles.
"He's got enough on his mind with his sickness for you to be saying such
things." Seiya looked up at the two. "So just let him be."
"Seiya!" Taiki looked at Seiya as if she had suddenly sprouted
several more heads. "You can't be defending that dirty
pedophile!"
"He's not a pedophile."
"Oh, and being divorced is better?" Yaten shuddered.
"What would the people of Kinmoku say of….him….if they knew Kakyuu
was even thinking of him?!"
"Come on." Seiya rolled her eyes. "Why does Kakyuu have to judge
her happiness upon what the people want all the time?"
"Because she's a princess!" Yaten shouted. "She's the
heir to the throne of the Star Queen, her mother, Kakyoku! The ruler of our
system, and princess of Red Ceres! She doesn't need to mingle with an old,
slovenly, divorced, temple-worker Mobian echidna that's only remotely trying to
be human!"
"I never saw him dirty." Seiya looked down. "And you don't know
what you're talking about. Mobian echidnas can be noble."
"Oh yeah?" Taiki crossed her arms. "Tell me one time when Mobian
echidnas ever even lifted a finger for Kinmokians, or for anyone at
that."
"I'm sure there have been times-"
"Seiya." Yaten turned away. "I have stated it before. I shall
state it again. I will never trust those from the race of thieves who
stole the Tskintsu. They are all a pack of dogs."
Seiya said nothing as the two left the bathroom. She simply crushed the bar of
soap in her hands.
-------------------
"How…do you know about Sailor Crystals?"
Knuckles repeated the question. Sonic looked at the echidna, than back at
Tails, his thoughts more and more confounded by the new words.
"Tails..."
"How else?" Tails looked confused. "I learned of their
power."
"Their power…"
"It covered this world for two hundred years."
"Ok…" Sonic began to take steps back. "You are really
beginning to scare me, Tails…I think you're pulling my leg and it's not
funny..."
"Sonic, why are you scared?"
"Because….I mean…it's not possible!" Sonic looked at Knuckles.
"This 'Sailor Crystal'....whatever that is.....can't be as strong as Chaos
Emeralds! Chaos Emeralds are the basis of ultimate power!"
"Yes, that's true, at least to you. But Knuckles could easily
disagree."
"What do you mean?"
"Tell him," Tails turned to Knuckles. "What you saw."
Knuckles looked at Tails, slightly uncertain and unnerved. Tails simply nodded
his approval.
"All right…." Knuckles turned back to Sonic. "Sonic, you may not
believe me, but….there is a warp on this planet."
"Tell me so-"
"No. Nothing until I finish." Knuckles shook his head. "And I
don't mean a warp zone. I mean, an honest to goodness warp - a wormhole
of sorts - that leads to another part of the universe."
"Wha…?"
"It leads to a planet similar to ours. And on that planet is a power, a
great power, called the Silver Crystal." Knuckles took another breath.
"There were Chaos Emeralds on that planet as well. Someone tried to
harness their power to destroy this planet…..Earth. But the Silver Crystal…..a
Sailor Crystal, as Tails put it….it reversed the power of the Emeralds and
bathed everything in a cleansing spell. And everything was frozen for a
thousand years so that everything could be cleansed. But when it cleansed Earth
the power must have gone through the warp which leads to this world…..and the
power, it was obviously corrupted in some way…."
"So….." Sonic crimped an eyebrow. "You're saying that these
vines aren't a result of the bull you pulled outside against Albion?"
"Yes."
"This Crystal is responsible?"
"Yes."
"And we've been frozen for centuries."
"Yes…"
"I don't believe it."
"Sonic?!"
"I just don't. How can infinite power be controlled? And if this 'Silver
Crystal' is what you gu-"
"Sonic!" Knuckles slapped his forehead. "Figure…..Look, I know
it sounds ridiculous, but answer this! Has Dr. Quack figured out what happened?
Is there any scientific explanation from anyone?! And think about
this." Sonic opened his mouth but was cut off before he could speak.
"Albion's troops had Eggman's machinery with them. Where did they get it?
They sure as hell didn't make it themselves! And where is Eggman? I'll
tell you where. Dead! The Crystal power cleansed this planet too. And look at yourself!
You body has changed too. You may not feel different. But you definitely look
different."
"I……" Sonic stared at Knuckles, unable to answer.
"I………um……"
"Knuckles." Tails looked up at the echidna. "Everything you
said…..it makes perfect sense to me. Except for one thing."
"One thing?"
"The last part." Tails looked at Sonic. "The aging is a
possible side effect of the Crystal. Since Sonic had been "tainted"
by that bullet, it seems plausible that the energies from the crystal that
reside in his body, as it does in all our bodies, had to remove the impurity by
aging him, thus erasing injury. But the new look?" Tails pointed to Sonic.
"The black and red skin, the fur white belly? I don't think that had anything
to do with the Silver Crystal."
"Then with what does it have to do with?"
"The very same thing which allowed you to change into your green
form, Knuckles."
Knuckles' eyes widened at this comment. Rotor's did as well, but he kept his
tongue in cheek.
"The Chaos Emeralds?!"
"It makes sense." Tails looked back at Knuckles. "Athair said
that, sometime in the future, we were to be Mobius's greatest champions. He
told us that it would be when we were a little older, yet he also said it would
be far into the future. And look. It is two hundred years after Athair's
warning. Our ultimate forms - fusions of Chaos and Sailor power, it seems -
transcend our 'super', 'hyper' or 'turbo' forms. But we ourselves did not age.
Our futures were thrown off by various elements….elements both unimportant and
universal. So, in order to make up for the imbalance in our destinies, when a
catastrophic event strikes our bodies, our bodies are simply reacting to our
intended design by aging." The fox's audience stared at him, shocked.
"The Chaos Emeralds are our main source of power, but when Knuckles first
used his chaos energies, he didn't have them completely under his control. But
after the Silver Crystal's powers cleansed him…"
"….He kicked major ass without killing anyone on our side!!!!" Sonic
gave a laugh of realization. "I don't know why, but it's starting to make
sense to me! It's the most ridiculous thing…..and I'm believing it!!!!"
"Believing what?"
The four suddenly turned to the door, where Antithesis stood, his face somber.
"Sorry…." His hand held out a note. "Knuckles, this…..this came
for you from the Albion camp. From Gala-Na."
Knuckles looked at Sonic, then at Tails, before reluctantly taking the
envelope. Slowly opening it, he read slowly, before closing his eyes and
crumpling the paper in his hands. With nothing to say, he left the room,
throwing the paper to the floor.
"Knux?"
Sonic looked down at the paper. He picked it up, uncrumpled it and began to
read:
"To Knuckles, Sworn Enemy of the Echidnas of the Great Albion:
"I, Gala-Na, Head Councilor of Albion, have a sworn duty to protect the
people of this world and others from the cruel advances of those who stand by
to destroy them - war criminals, monsters, murderers, terrorists and thieves.
They are those whom you have called your allies. For this transgression,
punishment must be laid.
"You are hereby challenged to surrender. I call upon you to at least show
up to the Albion camp within the next 14 hours to confess to your crimes, if
you feel any compassion for those you have destroyed. If you do not, then we
will not only continue our assault upon Knothole Kingdom, but we will also
consider the aforementioned kingdom to be your ally. Henceforth, there will be
no qualms to destroying each and every single villager our army may come
across. Age and rank has no bearing on the capability to perform evil.
"Signed in the presence of Aurora,
"Gala-Na"
Sonic's face turned red as he read the letter. His hands, followed by his arms,
began to tremble. His eyes closed tightly.
"I tried to convince her." Antithesis shook his head. "I tried
to tell her that Knuckles was innocent, that what they found in the sunken
island should have suggested outsiders. I sent a letter to the judges of Albion
with my case. But she won't listen to me. Anyone. She's so angry…..because of
that letter…….she's turned on me….on everyone."
"And now Knuckles is going to die because of this." Sonic seemed to
spit acid under his voice.
"………..I'm afraid so."
"No." Sonic's voice was dark. "Knuckles may not be a good
friend, But I won't let Gala-Na threaten innocent people. This has gone
too far."
As Sonic began to walk, he stopped turned around and looked back at Tails.
"I need to borrow those shoes..."
----------------
"....Here it is."
The three outer soldiers stood in the desert, their hair blowing in the breeze.
"Time is short. A crisis approaches him."
"Then there is no time to waste. The power of association awaits us in
battle."
Uranus looked at Pluto, her face confused. She could tell the comment was more
pointed towards her than to Neptune. She could only hang her head down.
"Then let us go, huh?"
With a shudder, Uranus walked foward, her body distorting, shifting, until it
went into the wind, mingling with the sand.
"Let us go."
The other two followed, their bodies becoming opaque and transparent as the air
around them, the atmic structure leaving one plane of existence and entering
the next.
-------------------------------
The startled light approaches.
It can sense the volatility of the situation. From around the world, hundreds,
no, thousands put in danger in the sacred city. How will it stop the violence?
What is causing the violence.
The startled light knows that ot must return. The chaos can be stopped. It must
return, spread its wings, rebirth once more. The world is approaching a new
awakening.
The light can only hope that its power will fulfill what it started out to do.
The promise it made. If it can not fill the void of hope for Earth, then the
light will be helpless. For it can only wish to be left unaware of what would
replace the light if it should fail.
