Chapter 11: Eggman's Passing
All alone in the Training Hall was a certain chameleon who was in his usual meditation. Surrounded by the only light in the room, he struggles to focus in the candlelight. His inner turmoil causes him to fidget incessantly. What would be the cause?
His trouble past. Or the Dragon Warrior for that matter.
Never in his years, would he expect the Dragon Warrior – the chosen one - to be an untrained, overweight, cocky, light-hearted hedgehog who doesn't take his Kung Fu very serious. How was this beacon of hope going to bring peace to not just Station Square but also to him? A lot of things were cluttering Espio's mind while trying to find inner peace. He has spent many years trying to achieve inner peace but so far; no dice.
"Inner peace," Espio said to himself. He is trying all his might to fight the darkness that is beginning to cloud his mind. But it was futile. No matter how hard he tries to shake it off, it keeps coming back. "…inner peace…i-in…in-in…inner peace." He continues to mumble the same words over and over and twitching his eyebrows in frustration.
Meditations are usually this quiet for Espio. If he was not interrupted by a faint buzzing sound in the distance. Which does not help him at all. The chameleon turns around.
"Would whoever is making that buzzing sound, quiet down!" he commanded. A second later, the noise halted. Silence has filled the air again. Fully satisfied, Espio goes back to his meditation.
"Inner…"
WUMP!
Something drops in from the open ceiling that Espio opened up earlier for a cool breeze. The chameleon rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Oh, great. What now?
He angrily gets up; ready to scold the intruder who disturbed his alone time. But he suddenly smiles when he see who it is.
It was Charmy, the message bee. The master hasn't seen the bug since he sent him yesterday morning about securing Prison Island all because of a vision that Eggman had. And since the bee has made it back safe and sound, he just hopes that the news that Charmy brings will lighten his mood after what has happen the past two days.
Charmy was on his back; already exhausted from flying all the way from Prison Island and hasn't stop since then. He sits up to get a view of the master.
"Oh, Charmy. Excellent," he chuckles. "I could use some good news right about now."
Just when he was about to speak, Charmy hesitates. After what he has experience back on Prison Island, it's nothing but bad news. Charmy touched his fingers together, nervously. He knows Espio is not going to like this news one bit.
After an awkward moment, Charmy finally speaks. "Actually…"
After hearing the full report of Prison Island, Espio wasted no time trying to find Master Eggman. At this time of the night, he would likely to find the great master under the Peach Tree. Eggman spends most of his time under the ancient tree; either doing meditation or practicing his Tai Chi forms. Right now, he is doing an ancient Tai Chi form that only the skilled martial artist can perfect it. The blossom petals that have felled from the branches are floating elegantly down to the ground.
Espio is rushing across the courtyard; approaching the master. He was nearly at the brink of concern. "Master! Master!" he called out.
Holding his staff high in the air, Eggman still continued his form without stopping. "Hmm?"
The chameleon was out of breath by the time he got to the human. After hearing the news from Charmy, he knew that he should tell Eggman. "I have… it's… it's very bad news."
Eggman just smiles at his student's anxiety. Doesn't that chameleon know how to relax? He thought Epsio's meditation would help but it seems that it doesn't.
"Ah, Espio. There is just only news," he said; halted his Tai Chi before turning to face the chameleon. "I can assure you that there is no good or bad."
No, make that worse.
"Master, your vision… your vision was right! It's Shadow! He has broken out of Prison Island! He is on his way as we speak!" Espio blurted the horrifying news.
There was a slight pause in the air. Why? Because for the first time, Eggman was speechless. He couldn't believe that he was right. He took a second to get back to reality. "That is bad news…" he said. He thinks for a second before looking up with a smile, "…if you do not believe that the Dragon Warrior can stop him."
The chameleon just stares at him. As in Sonic can stop him?! He's kidding, right? No-one would think that that big hedgehog can stop the greatest menace that the world has ever seen. "The hedgehog? Master, that hedgehog is not the Dragon Warrior. He wasn't even meant to be here! It was an accident."
Espio tries to reason with him but Eggman repeat the one sentence that the chameleon was starting to be familiar with. "There are no accidents."
The chameleon sadly sighs as he looks away from his master. He has heard the same line and he knew Eggman was going to say it again. "Yes, I know. You've said that already. Twice actually.
"Well, that was no accident either," Eggman added.
Espioholds up three fingers. "Make that three."
Eggman takes a good look at the chameleon. He has known the creature for many years now and ever since the battle with Shadow, he notices that Espio was in war. With himself.
Sensing his friend was in trouble, Eggman steps forward. "My old friend, the hedgehog will never fulfil his own destiny, and your own, unless you have let go the illusion of control."
Now, the chameleon was incredulous and confused.
"Illusion?" Espio turns to face him. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.
Guess it was time for another lesson from the great master himself.
"Yes. Look at this tree for example, Esipo." Eggman begins as he and the chameleon look up at the tree's branches. The blossom petals continue to fall gracefully onto either the ground or the masters below. "I cannot make it blossom when it suits me, nor make it bear fruit before its time."
Does Espio have a problem with controlling his and everyone's fate? Their destiny? To make sure they go his way? Espio turns to face the human. "But there are things we can control!" He kicks the tree and a hundred peaches fall to the ground. Eggman just gazes at him in silence.
"I can control when the fruit will fall!" Espio said before one of the peach falls on his head. The chameleon lets out a growl while Eggman chuckles for own amusement.
"And I can control..." Espio tosses a peach in the air with ease. He then leaps up, and using his lightning fast moves, he chops the peace in half, freeing the seed. The pieces and the seed began to fall but Espio was already on the ground, "…where to plant the seed." He then used two of his finger and thanks to his strength, he stab the ground, creating a small hole. He also produces a loud "Hi-yah!" when he made contact with the ground. A second later after he made the hole, the seed falls into his gloved hand.
"THAT is no illusion, Master!" he proved his point by tossing the seed into the newly constructed hole. He's right. There are some things that can be control. Eggman even understand it.
"Ah, yes," Eggman said. He steps towards Espio who begins pacing in frustration. "But no matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple, or an orange, or a banana... but in the end, you will get a peach."
And by peach, he means him.The chameleonstops pacing and turns to face Eggman. "But a peach cannot defeat Shadow!" Of course, he was referring to Sonic.
Eggman kneels down to where the hole is. "Maybe it can," he then used his hand to cover the hole with dirt. "If you are willing to guide it, to nurture it. To believe in it."
Espio was baffled by this. How can he do this? To believe in Sonic; knowing that he can defeat Shadow. Despite not getting along with Eggman for many years, he needs his help. More than ever. Maybe, he does have a problem with fate. And how they'll end up.
"But how? How? I need your help, Master," Espio pleaded for his advice.
The human can only simple shake his head. "No, you just need to believe," he advises the chameleon. He leans in towards his friend with this piece of information. "Promise me, Espio. Promise me you will believe."
The chameleon hesitates on the promise. He doesn't know if Sonic would be able to defeat Shadow once he arrives. With Eggman pleading him to believe in the hedgehog, Espio can't argue with that. Even after what they have been through.
"I… I will… try, master," Espio avowed. But he doesn't understand why Eggman is telling him this right now. Was something big going to happen? Guess he'll have to see in the nest second.
With Espio's promise to try and believe in Sonic for him to defeat Shadow, Eggman gives his friend a calm smile. "Good," he said. The human then stands up and glances up at the starry sky. The petals around them begin to rapidly fall from the trees as the wind picks up.
To Espio, it was just the weather. But to Eggman, it was a sign.
With a tear shedding from his eyes, he uttered one thing that he has been waiting for so long.
"My time has come."
Confused, Espio stares at him. His time… has come? What does that mean? Should he be worried?
He didn't have time to think it all because Eggman turns his attention on Espio. The human holds his staff out to him. "You must continue your journey… without me," he said, placing his staff in the hands of the baffled chameleon. Espio looks down at the staff.
"What… hold on… what are you…?" Espio utters before looking up. He watches Eggman who begins to walk to the edge of the building. With the petals wrapping around the human, Espio gasps in horror. He just realises what he's doing.
His time has come… for him to leave this world.
Although his legs are shaking at this moment, Espio manages to gain some strength to chases after him. "Master! You can't leave me! I still need you!" Espio begged.
But Eggman did not stop. Once he has gotten to the edge of the building, he turns back to the chameleon. He sees remorse all over Espio's face but Eggman did not regret it. He was glad to meet Espio and became his master. He was his most trusted student and a loyal friend. Eggman was glad to meet someone just like him. As the petals surrounded the human, Eggman salute to the chameleon.
"You must… believe," he uttered his final words. He closed his eyes and finally accepts his fate.
"Master!" Espio cried out.
But it was too late.
The once great warrior of all of Mobius begins to glow in a lovely blue light as he was now engulfed by the peach blossoms. The petals and himself then begin to ascend towards the starry night.
Pain has hit his heart bad. For many years, he hasn't got along with the human master. And now, guilt has taken over. Eggman has now entrusted him for being the new keeper of the Jade Tower and Station Square. While clutching Eggman's staff and the wind has begun to settle, Espio stands at the edge of the building; staring up to the sky as a mass of petals float up to the sky.
Eggman is gone.
Author's Notes: Well, that is pretty much it with Eggman. But he will be mention in the future chapters. Not only that, we are pretty much halfway there! Keep it up guys. In a few weeks, this story will be done and dusted.
Charmy is back after 3 chapters. YEAH! Unfortunately, this will be the last time we will see him. Awww. Hopefully, I find some way to put him in the future. YEAH!
To be honest when I first saw this movie, I did find Oogway's death scene to be very moving. It is pretty much one of my favourite scenes in the movie. And many more.
Also, on my profile, I put up a timeline of when the next chapters will be until the very end. Then, I will be having a week break like watching my shows, playing Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (I have finally got this game! The only problem is… how to play this game when it has the time limit even though I have the game guide? I need help), gathering inspirations, read my favourite novels before getting back into writing. The next story will be announced at the end of this story.
And lastly, I guessing everyone have heard more news about Sonic Boom. We are getting close to finding out more about the show and the release date of it.
And I guess that is pretty much from me. You guys know what do. If you don't,… look back a few chapters if you don't remember.
Until we meet again,
TheDragonLord2912
I do not own any Kung Fu Panda or Sonic related characters. They are property of Dreamworks and Sega. Other character who appeared in this FanFic belong to me.