Moonlit Destiny
Author's Note: Wrote this eighteen years ago. It's full of cringe and OOC moments, but I'm preserving it for posterity. Enjoy the story and R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of the Rockman EXE series.
Pairing: Established Netto x Tohru.
Summary:
Dark Chip Syndicate Nebula begins production on a reality-altering weapon. Amidst the chaos, Hikari Netto and his friends must battle countless Darkloids and creatures of another world to save their own.
Chapter 18: Paradise Lost
"Soon you will wish to join us. Be a part of us. You will face the same fate as your dear Tohru!" the green-haired demon laughed, his hand glowing brightly before the left armrest of his throne burst into flames.
Netto found himself outside after several minutes of running. A small bridge ahead of him extended into the distant fog. With it, he could get as far away as possible from Pandemonium.
Only one problem remained: The creatures were still lurking in the shadows. He'd be caught if he chose to follow such a route.
"Rockman, what should I do?" Netto lifted his PET. "Rockman?"
There was no response, only static.
"Dammit! This stupid world!" Netto looked around for another escape route. He could hear strange sounds echoing in the fog. It was the sound of running water.
A river under the castle?
I could take my chances and see where it goes…
Netto finally made up his mind. It was better than the other way! He leapt off the bridge, holding his breath as he fell into the murky water. After his body hit the water though, Netto realized his mistake. The water was thick and suffocating. He couldn't bring himself up for air. He drifted into unconsciousness, the river carrying him further into the unknown.
When Netto coughed his next cough, water spilled from his throat. He dragged himself onto shore, his entire body aching. The area was silent, and like the rest of Paradise Lost, foggy. There were dead trees arching against the landscape, their branches like claws.
Out of the corner of his eye, Netto noticed something peculiar. He couldn't tell which direction was north, south, west, or east in this world, but that was…a town?
Samael said that Paradise Lost is everything dark. The pain, the sorrow, the despair, the nightmares, the fears. Was that what awaited him?
Netto began walking toward the town, his mind fixated only on how much he missed Tohru. He had been walking for quite a while, yet he couldn't be sure how much time exactly because his PET's clock wasn't working.
"Such a strange place." Netto took his first steps into the town.
The buildings looked worn and decrepit. There were burn marks everywhere, as well as dried blood on the walls.
"Such a dark place. I wish Tohru-kun were here."
The boy took note of how the fog blanketed everything in Paradise Lost. He could be lost here forever.
He ran behind a butcher shop when a loud moaning filled his ears.
A small group of creatures was walking the streets. Some of them didn't have any heads, while others had heads that looked as if they were ready to pop. Two of them had large arms that ended in stubs, and another had a triangular-shaped head.
Just by looking at them, Netto derived that the monster with the triangular head was their leader. It was much larger than the rest, and had a sharp blade at its side it pulled with its arm.
"WHAT?" Netto bolted away from the wall upon hearing a terrible screeching sound.
The creatures did not acknowledge Netto's presence, even though he was now standing by them. He looked up at the wall, spotting a creature with sharp metallic legs and arms. Its face was void of any features, too twisted by human suffering to have eyes or a nose.
"I have to get out of here!" Netto backed away, ready to run. Unfortunately, he bumped into something solid.
It was the creature with the triangular head.
Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap! the boy chanted in his mind as the monstrosity lifted its blade high in the air. It brought the blade down, nearly cutting Netto's left arm off!
Is it blind? I'm right in front of it! Netto stood still. Maybe it can't see me if I don't make any noise!
It studied what was there.
Netto forced himself to smile innocently as the creature shifted its weight around. Don't see me! Don't see me! Please, don't see me!
It started to look away.
Netto sneezed, the creatures all turning their attention toward him.