ROK
(Destiny)
The rush of wind before them. The infinite power rushing up to them.
This is so strange…..
Sonic looked over the sea, onto the tiny town 30,000 feet below. The small sea
port of Vladiviostok seemed to blend in with the sea at first glance, though
looking more Sonic noticed the buildings and boats.
Quit it. Knuckles gave Sonic a sharp mental slap.
Ow!
We've got to keep our minds on the mission. Knuckles turned to the front. And
him…
Sonic looked at their leader. Tails Prower, also a phima, a strange
beckon of power. There was so much Sonic wanted to ask him. But there was so
little the fox would answer to.
…Tails….
Hmm? The fox seemed distracted by something.
What……why did you shout out 'ophion' when Lien-Da became that dragon?
Because that's it.
What's it?
Lien-Da. Tails' voice was a little worried. She has become an Ophion.
What the hell…?
A black demon of the entropy. Knuckles could tell that Tails was about to
go into story mode as they entered the snow fields of Siberia. When Chaos
held sway, it was before the big bang. There was nothing. The tiny space of
atoms that was out universe lay in a corner of the vast nothingness. Chaos
wished to smother it before it became. So from the waste came the terrible
Universal Serpent, Ophion. It attempted to squeeze its power, but instead its
squeezing caused the very thing Chaos tried to prevent. The serpent was
covered, like cement covering a rock, and it now lies dormant under the roof of
the stars forever.
But then why-
Any creature with dark thoughts which revert to their avatistic mass forms have
the risk of become an Ophion - a dreaded serpent of darkness, almost the
manifestation of Chaos. A tiny black spot could be seen in the distance,
and Tails spoke again, this time as if to assure himself in a superficial way
that the impending battle was just a dream. Normally, this doesn't happen.
But the power of the Silver Crystal caused improper magic equilibrium - too
much power was used in an improper way to destroy a book with only limited
magical properties, no matter how much power the information within can yield.
And so that caused entropy, allowing Lien-Da to revert to avatistic form in its
most hellish.
Over the snow of Siberia, the roar came. Knuckles could feel the sweat coming
off his forehead, knowing that the battle drew ever closer, and that they would
have to stop that which had once been flesh.
More powerful than Gala-Na, with the crystal….
But we have hope still. Though it is our disadvantage as well. Tails had no
wings like the others did. He seemed much more like a diety without them than
Sonic or Knuckles did. As we draw closer, the power is fleeting. And that
gives us little time, as well as cutting Lien-Da short.
What do you mean, 'the power's fleeting'?
What I mean, Tails replied as they flew up, Is that the power is
weakening.
What?!?
Its true. Our fusions will not last forever.
How? Sonic was getting tired of Tails keeping things from them. How
come?
Because we are on Earth, and now that the presence of the Silver Crystal has
emerged, the Super Emeralds are starting to weaken a little.
Greeeat.
Sonic couldn't help but glare at the fox phima as they went higher and
higher up into the sky.
So the powers are canceling each other out! And the closer they are…..
Knuckles gave a slow nod. Then, no matter what, Lien-Da will win?
Why do you say that?
The explosion of the two set powers canceling each other could kill everything!
Knuckles shook its head. Or put everything back in a state of dormancy.
That's how it worked with the other set of emeralds when the Silver Crystal
acted the first time!
….Don't you think I know that?
The way Tails said it made the two shift uncomfortably while they fly.
But it means that as the Silver Crystal's cancellation power grows, the more
she uses it, Lien-Da weakens as well. Think of that, Knuckles.
Yeah. I know that.
The black serpent mass was now below them.
Let's go…..
Before Tails could protest, Sonic swooped down at an alarming rate upon the
dragon, a roar from his mouth.
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Lien-Da noticed him, but before she could react, the hedgehog phima was
upon her, his adrenaline pumping with exhilaration that he had gotten in an attack.
With his sharp teeth, he lashed in for her neck.
Worm…
He was suddenly lashed by a strange wave of energy, throwing him back off of
Lien-Da. With a roar Lien-Da prepared to try to continue her exodus but was
suddenly stopped by two more figures.
Back! Demon! Tails looked at the serpent. We will make it quick for
you. You won't get past us.
The three faced each other; they knew what was happening; their battle indeed
would be quick but more decisive than anything they had ever been entangled in.
You! Lien-Da snarled. Why, why didn't I think you were a
threat, boy!
You can't think at all.
Suddenly, Knuckles' tail swung around, and he lurched up on her, slashing her
face.
Care to finish what we started? Monster of the dark!
You…. Lien-Da seethed. Bastard!!!
She slashed at him as well, but Knuckles leaped up, smacking her with his tail.
This was met by her grabbing it and throwing him down hard to the ground
thousands of feet below.
KNUCKLES!!
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
Down below, Tails could see the tiny dot hit the ice at such a rate it split
the earth in various directions, shaking it as it did. The dot seemed to sink
into the large hole it created for itself, it had gone in so fast and with such
strong force.
Your turn, boy. Tails turned to look at the serpent. You'll be next.
Hell no!
Lien-Da was suddenly smacked hard in the face by another tail. She seemed to
fall but boisted herself before Sonic could smash her in the face again.
How does it feel when your head's smacked off?!
You fool. The serpent's eyes flashed; it was obvious that already she was
weakening. You think draining my power will stop me? You will be just like
the Ancient Walkers. HAH!
Suddenly, with a whip of powerful energy, the serpent blasted the two down as
it shot up higher in the sky.
T-Tails!!!!
Sonic could feel his strength return the further Lien-Da went up. He turned to
see a glowing Tails.
What did she mean by that?
…The Days of Fury…
Tails!!
Come on!! Tails shot up after the serpent. We have to stop her!!
-----------------
Slowly, the echidna phima rose out of the crater of snow, slowly
surveying the damage.
…..Oh, no….
It was obvious that any town that might be nearby would be completely
destroyed, and anything within a good radius was assuredly damaged. Knuckles
quickly shook out whatever kinks he had in his body.
You won't get away with this, Lien-Da!
-----------------
Please help me…..
Sonic could almost see the princess holding out her pale hands to him as he
body-slammed Lien-Da again.
Leaving so soon?
You are persistent. Lien-Da opened her mouth. That will be your undoing…
The blast she gave off, which would have killed the hedgehog before, as it
almost had on the bloodied field of Albion, hardly stung him now as it engulfed
his gigantic body.
No effect….
For one following in the steps of the Ancient Walkers you are doing a fine job,
Lien-Da sneered.
Stop talking like that!
All that's left is to watch you fail to save pathetic Serenity, and you like
they will watch the sad eons roll by as the Emeralds continue their sad
rampage….
Tails stopped in front of the Ophion, and Sonic could see his eyes slit.
We won't fail. We'll save her, and you will regret your words.
And what are you going to do? There was no reply. See, there is no way
for you to stop me. All I have to do is run from you, go to Tokyo, destroy your
stupid ideas of destiny….
Sonic could feel himself weakening, and though Lien-Da was obviously weakening
and buying time, he was starting to have trouble listening to her.
Destiny……mine……………in ancient………..Walkers…..
Those heiroglyphs….
SONIC!!!!
*WHAM*
Lien-Da was suddenly upped by the sound of a loud roar, followed by a loud
crunching sound as Lien-Da suddenly flew even higher into the sky until she
seemed to disappear into the confines of dark space.
Knuckles!!
Come on. Knuckles turned to Tails. What did she mean about the Ancient
Walkers? What heiroglyphs, Sonic?!
The Ancient Walkers were the three chosen ones during the Days of Fury.
What?!?
They were brought to destroy the Emeralds, and be willing to risk their lives,
but the people of Mobius refused their mission and cursed them to eons of
bondage.
WHAT?! The Ancient Walkers….they were really….cursed?!?! Sonic understood. You
mean…if we don't beat Lien-Da…
There's more to it than Tokyo being destroyed?! We'll be cursed like the
Ancient Walkers are?!
….It's the truth…..
Tails could still see Lien-Da up in the sky, though her silhouette was becoming
fuzzier.
Our power, stemming from the fusion of the Silver Crystal and Chaos
Emeralds, he said softly. The Chaos Emeralds are too chaotic to be given
to the people of any world in this plane. They were an accident. That's the
truth. An accident!
Sonic and Knuckles simply stared at the fox, unable to say anything.
When…the Chaos Emeralds hit Earth and Mobius, it caused a terrible outbreak
of inhumanity that no one has the seen the likes of since, even here. It
was as if Tails had been there, seen it himself. The Ancient Walkers, they
found that they were special. They could stop the violence. So they became
their phima forms. But theirs was cursed. The people fought back, and
because they failed their mission they were cursed to preside over that which
they were sent to destroy. That….is why the Ancient Walkers exist.
Damn….
Now, it is out turn. Tails started to fly up, regenerated. We must stop
the cycle now, its us that has to destroy these last seven Chaos Emeralds.
And….there is only one way to do it, and that is through the Silver Crystal.
Tails….. Sonic's eyes widened. Won't……won't it….
Do we have a choice?
Sonic looked at Knuckles who simply beat his wings. Looking up to the sky, he
saw the stars, and to the horizon, he saw the serpent digging closer to Tokyo.
Let's go.
-------------------
Locke saw the blackness approaching in the distant sky.
"She's here…"
------------------
HALT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even in the highest reaches of the atmosphere, in space, Lien-Da couldn't
escape the three as they surrounded her.
Admit it! Knuckles appeared before her. You're finished.
Am I....
Lien-Da looked over towards the city. It was so close, but she could feel
herself weakening from the power of the Super Emeralds.
Give up.
...............Make me.
Before anyone could stop her, Lien-Da gave another, terrible roar, and with
mouth open came the single largest blast of power to ever hurtle towards the
seemingly defenseless city, enhanced by the flames of the atmosphere, smashing
into the entire country of Japan.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Sonic could do nothing. Lien-Da's body tensed as it exerted the power, relaxed
when it was finished. The city was finished, she knew it.....
............and that's when it happened.
*TWAP!!!!*
What...
The tentacle suddenly wrapped around what could have been her throat. Then
another around her chest, another around her hands and another around her feet.
Down below, with her power, she saw the city begin to clear. It stood still,
the monolith protecting it....
No.......NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Suddenly, a spray of tentacles wrapped around the serpent tightly, disabling it
as Tails moved in for the kill.
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAARRRR
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
RRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!"
TAILS!!!!
The two other phimas had been dumbstruck, first by the power Lien-Da used, then
by the effects of it on them - they felt weaker again - and the results of the
attack. Then this.
Tails began to glow as Lien-Da writhed.
TAILS!! WHAT-
Leave!
We're supposed to fight together!!
Sonic went to hit Lien-Da as Tails held her in his tentacles, but was suddenly
smashed in the face by Tails himself.
Tails.... Knuckles' eyes widened. Why....
Go…. Clinging onto the black dragon, Tails turned towards his two
accomplices. I will use the remaining power of the seven super emeralds
within me to absorb that of the Silver Crystal back out of this monster and
into my body. Alone. When that happens…
No!!! Knuckles screamed. The last time someone did that alone…!!
"I will use the power of the Silver Crystal to purify this Earth! Silver
Crystal Power!!!"
Knuckles?!
You'll cancel the emeralds out and DESTROY yourself!!! Knuckles' voice came
almost pleading. I saw it happen once with my own eyes. Your body can't
handle it, much less as Sailor Moon's did!! If we stay to help you….we might
all live…..
Tails……no…. Sonic shook his head. No. We're staying to help you! This is
all of our battles! This is that which we lived and will die for!
No. Tails' voice was sharp. Your bodies, even in phima form, cannot
withstand it for as long as I can. That's why I was chosen. I am the one to do
this, so that the threat of the Chaos Emeralds is finally gone forever, even if
now it is not the threat we face, its danger would still haunt you…
Tails' voice began to quiver and squeak for the first time as the dragon lashed
out at him under his grip. Sonic could truly see now why he had been so
uptight, so secretive. He was afraid. Afraid of his own inevitable destiny.
Knuckles could only gape, his words only now sinking in.
NO!! Sonic's psionic voice screamed. I WON'T LET YOU DIE!!!
Tails shook his head as his best friend threw himself at him, wings beating,
his cries calling on him to stop, to cease what he was doing alone. He looked
up at his friends, his eyes widened, meeting the hedgehog's for a second.
Sonic and Tails looked at one another in that second, and Sonic simply poured
everything out, even when his psionics overloaded and couldn't get everything else
in to his brother.
Tails, please don't do this alone…dangerous and we can't let you
I love you too much I don't want you to alone
Let us help you
Die together
…….
…….
…….
…….
…….
…….
A single tear came from Tails' eye.
Sonic….if neither of you will leave on your own, I'll make you leave…
The back tentacles suddenly lashed out at the two other phimas as they had at
Lien-Da, snapping around their necks.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Sonic's eyes simply began to drain at
Tails' rejection. TAILS!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TAILS!! STOP!!! Knuckles started screaming as well. This can't be
RIGHT!!!!!!!! They can't expect you to die!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!
The green glow came from Tails, and the phima could feel themselves shrinking
down, their powers transferring to their friend. The absorption of the Silver
Crystal into his body, as well as their power, began to have an effect on
Tails' body; he was beginning to bulge, more like his phima muscles were
balloons than anything else, but it was obvious that his body was beginning to
strain with the enormous amount of power brought on him.
Tails…. Sonic could feel his vocal cords returning to him.
"Don't….."
I'm sorry….Sonic…. Sonic could hear Tails' mournful words as his psionic
ability began to phase out as he was de-powered, his form losing the wings and
furs and claws. I don't want you to die…..goodbye…………………………………………………………
The tentacles then released the two, no longer the hybrid beast giants they had
been, but now just a normal sized echidna and hedgehog pair. Without their
power, they began to fall to the atmosphere.
"SONIC!!!!" Knuckles screamed.
Sonic felt his hand instinctively go up. He didn't want to do it. He didn't
want to be a coward, run off and let Tails taste nirvana alone. Even when he
was trained by Tails with his power, knowing that it was all he could do, he
didn't want to do it….
"CHAOS…………………………CONTROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The final flash of light the two saw, the green glow of Sonic's body. Then the
shifting of Tails, the thing he had become, a noble creature that had a whole
life ahead of him but would never get to enjoy it, to fire. And Lien-Da the
monster she was and always had been, dying, given up to a fate she never knew
she had coming to her, to fire. Then more fire, as they entered the atmosphere.
Then nothing.
-----------------
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!"
Howling, Lien-Da's body began to writhe less and less as Tails absorbed more of
the Crystal.
Nooooo…. Lien-Da's angry words weakened. You can't do this to me…..I would
have…..my new age………gone………………………………..
And then she was gone, her body completely drained of anything she had done to
it, right down to the treatment of the Tskintsu.
But Tails was still there, his body completely bloated with power. He knew as
well as Sonic and Knuckles now knew that nothing could change what needed to
happen. He knew also that what was going to happen with his body - now nothing
more than a Chaos vessel filled with an opposite power - would ultimately end
him. But he knew it had to happen. The power was ripping away at him, it wanted
to return to where it came from, for in his body it had the chance to do so.
Sonic………this is for you……………………………………..
With one final gasp of pain, and hope, and joy, and love, and victory, he
exploded.
---------------------
The blast could have destroyed the world.
It could have been worse. But somehow, the blast was contained, almost
controlled, by the unusual strength of the spirit which absorbed the power.
The blast could be seen from the ruins of train tracks, the ground of the
battle, to the shores of Los Angeles. All around, white and green meteors hit
the ground, each place they hit revitalizing, resurrected. It was just as if
the world was being attacked again, but each hit was in fact giving the
opposite effect - the world was being healed, not torn apart. Many in the world
had not seen anything like it before. It was a miracle, many miracles. It went
on for three days, the miracles.
In Tokyo, the strangest miracle occurred - several meteors had hit the new
crystal monolith. The diplomats, who looked up, estimated a millions lights
seemed to hit the monolith, causing it to glow brighter than any phenomenon
they had ever witnessed. The final light was brightest of all - the light that
could have been a spirit. It entered into the momolith, a breath of wind, that
final power engulfing the city.
Even when the city was completely engulfed, when the light died to show the
brilliant crystal edifices the buildings became, there was still more.
No one understood what happened. No one knew of Tails. All they knew was that
their prayers had been answered.
-----------------------
Burned, bleeding, but not broken. Not yet.
The two combatants lay on the ground of the palace, stripped, changed once more.
The echidna was a dark brown, with longer dreadlocks, red tips and a larger
guardian stripe. The markings from his phima form remained.
The same with the hedgehog, who was now blue at the roots, slowly turning black
at the tips of his whole body. The fur still covered his chest.
".......................Sonic................."
Sonic slowly opened his eyes. They seemed glassy as Sally, now also affected by
crystal power, stared down at him.
"Sonic, answer me."
The Freedom Fighter stood over the two, waiting, holding their breaths.
"....................Sal...."
The words came out raspy, whispered; Sonic was still feeling lead tongue from
all the power. Next to him, Knuckles began to stir as well.
"Sonic, you're ok now....."
"......................No........................."
Sonic looked up into space, feeling dead. It was not ok, and he knew it. His
eyes clouded.
".....Why....."
"Sonic..."
"It.....it shouldn't have happened."
"Sonic!" Sally gave him a shake. "Don't, it's not as bad as you
think!"
"Not as bad!"
Sonic's eyes widened in horror, looking at Sally in a way he had never looked
at her. It stung to hear her so cold and heartless.
"How could you...."
"Knuckles...."
Knuckles looked up at the sky as he slowly stood, spotting Julie-Su in front of
him. The two simply stared at each other for a moment, not sure of what to say.
Then Knuckles blinked a few times.
"Is it possible...?" He gave a moan. "Oh, god, the worst day of
my life..."
"Is it?"
Knuckles heard his voice, and turned to see him. He and Kakyuu were together
again, for the final power had brought the soldiers back through strange fate.
"Usagi has returned," he murmured, though his voice was solemn.
"Tails, as well, though we might never see him in that way which he had
once been...."
The four looked at Locke, unable to comprehend.
"He's dead."
"Only in the way that you know death."
Locke went into his pocket. In a minute, she would come to find it,
important as it was to her. But they had to know.
"But alive, in other ways..."
His hand came out of his pocket. It opened up for all to see.
".....No...." After a moment, Sonic shook his head in disbelief.
"....I.....don't believe it."
The Silver Crystal looked as it had when it was taken by Lien-Da, but there was
something different about it. Sonic didn't want to look, because every time he
did, he knew where Tails had gone.
"It's true then, isn't it?" Knuckles could only look at the crystal.
"That all we did was for nothing. All that has happened, for
nothing...."
"I don't know."
Locke felt empty on the whole subject. The world was saved, but he knew that
the price would hang on their heads for a very long time.
"I'm sorry."
Sonic's face was buried into Sally by now. There was hope again, but redemption
for him would have to wait.
