Chapter Twenty-Three: Awakening – Inverse
As I continued to fall into the cloud, eventually I felt myself landing on a white platform in a pure white area. I stepped forward, and as I did so, a flock of ravens flew off of the platform, revealing a stained glass floor. I looked up as the ebon birds flew off into the distance.
I stood on the stained glass pillar. It had a picture of Jason on it, with portraits of Amy, Serenity, and I surrounding him, with an ornate pattern surrounding the entire thing.
So little to do, so much time…Take your time. Don't be afraid. The door is still open. Now, step forward. Can you do it?
Okay, mysterious voice, I thought. I stepped forward to the center of the platform, and after I did so, three small platforms rose out of the stained glass. One had a sword, one had a shield, and one had a staff.
Power sleeps within you. If you give it form… it will give you strength. Choose wisely.
I already knew what I was going to pick. I walked up to the sword.
The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction.
Is this the power you seek?
Yes, I thought, while taking the blade. Without power, I cannot protect anything, but since I have nothing left to protect, I'll destroy.
Your path is set. Now, what will you give up in return?
The sword had disappeared from my hands. I turned around to face the two remaining weapons: the staff and the shield. I walked to the center of the pillar again, hesitated for a moment, then walked toward the staff.
The power of the mystic. Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin.
You give up this power?
Yeah, I thought, holding the staff. I've never been one for show, just finishing what I started. Who needs wonder?
You've chosen the power of the warrior. You've given up the power of the mystic. Is this the form you choose?
I nodded my head while walking back to the center of the platform. The trapezoid platforms then sank into the stained glass, and the glass itself began to shatter. I began to despair as the shattering reached me, then I began to fall into the white abyss.
After falling a while, I landed on another stained glass platform, the same as the last one, but with a different background color. Everything else was still white. I stood up, then looked around a little.
You've gained the power to fight. Use this power to protect yourself and others. Keep your darkness flowing freely.
I pulled out my Zangetsu and made a couple of slashes. Then a couple of Luce appeared, but I took them down easily. After that, the entire pillar became immersed in light. I found myself struggling to get away from it, but eventually the whiteness swallowed me.
I woke up, flailing to get away from the light that had swallowed me. The light was gone, though. I panted a couple of times, then stood up on another stained glass pillar with the same image, but yet another different background color. A transparent door stood in front of me.
I walked over to it and tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. Then a box appeared behind me. I pushed it around a little bit, then smashed it. A barrel then appeared. I did the same to it. Then the door solidified.
I opened it, and a great darkness swallowed me. When it was gone, I was standing in my old school's cafeteria. Amy, Jason, and Serenity stood there.
Hold on. The door won't close just yet. First, tell me a little about yourself.
I walked over to Amy. "What's important to you?" she asked me.
"Saving those I care about." I answered. It was vague, but was truthful.
"Is saving people really that important?" she asked.
Then I walked over to Jason. "What do you want out of life?" he asked.
"I want to be forgiven." I answered. I truly did want to be forgiven… both by him, and by Amy.
"Is forgiveness that big a deal?" he asked.
Lastly, I walked over to Serenity. "What are you afraid of?" she asked.
"The light." I answered. I was afraid of the light, but more so, what laid in it.
You want to save those you care about. You want to be forgiven. You are afraid of the light.
Your adventure began at twilight. You kept a strong, steady gait.
Yeah, sounds right. I thought. Then another flash of light brought me back to another stained glass pillar. Once there, many more Luce appeared. I slew them all. Then a path of curving, stained glass squares. I ran across them to another stained glass pillar. A dark sun stood in front of me as I walked up to it.
The closer you get to darkness, the greater your light becomes.
I turned around to see the stained glass behind me turning white in the shape of my shadow. It fleshed itself out and stood up on the pillar.
But don't be afraid. And don't forget…
The Genesis Luce then attacked me. I fought it off with my four blades, using the Soubasune and the Dragon Blade (a combination of my Zangetsu and Buster Sword) along with my new technique. After leaving it on the floor, I split apart my blades and sheathed them. Then I turned around to face the dark sun. But as I did so, the Genesis Luce got back up, and the platform under me turned white.
But don't be afraid. You hold the mightiest weapon of all.
Eventually the light swallowed me. I stood, horrified, as the Genesis Luce was about to strike be. Just before it did so, the light swallowed me entirely, and a shining light blinded me as I was once again whisked away to regions unknown.
So don't forget: You are the one who will close the door.
