Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all rights to all characters (save for those of my own creation) in this surge of recollections… especially for the one who has so much that he doesn't want to remember.

~保護者~

Hello, MelGamingPlays! Yep, yep she has... haha. Well, the "how" question will be answered below, but the answer to "why" will come later. ;)

~保護者~

"Ashes of Time"

~保護者~

It went without saying that Jet was far from used to this sort of thing anymore.

There was so much emotion in the air, everything from confusion and shock to old pangs of grief and loss, not to mention joy. And then there were the people, two of which he was no longer even used to seeing alive. While he was used to - and comfortable with - one or two people being around him at a time, he was unused to being in the presence of an entire group (albeit a small one) of close friends and allies. Not these days. Yet here he was, and here they were, and the scene before him was unfolding irrespective of his growing disquiet.

He was no longer used to this.

Present here were emotions that he was not prepared to face.

There were things he needed to be doing.

And yet here I stand… unable to leave, he mused, watching expressionless as the other people here interacted. It wasn't even that he was incapable of it, either. It was more that he felt somehow obligated to remain… and that sense of obligation kept him rooted to the spot where he stood.

Across the room, Cream tearily hugged and spoke with Shadow, Wave, Tails, Espio, and Sonic. She, like Sonic, had been brought back to a life as a physically younger version of herself (she couldn't have been older than maybe twenty) while retaining her past mental age, knowledge, and memories. A simple assessment of her aura proved that, also like Sonic, her power had not waned in death. She was as strong as she had ever been, that much was clear. What was not clear was why she was even alive now. Why had she been revived? He knew not the answer, nor did he believe that even Sonic did. However, he suspected the answer would reveal itself soon enough. At least, soon enough to matter.

"-and that's it, really," Tails was saying when Jet finally refocused on the conversation at hand. The fox stood across the room from Jet with the others. They were gathered in the front room of Jet's home (dangerous though it potentially was for them to be here at the moment), and most of the others were seated on the couches. Wave, however, was leaning against a table near the right-most couch. Jet himself was leaning against a wall, arms loosely crossed. "That's everything that's going on right now."

In the wake of Tails's heavy words, Sonic released a gusty sigh. "I wish you would have waited a while before making us tell you this stuff, Cream."

Cream wiped at her eyes (she had been crying with surprising joy for a time) and shook her head. "No… it's better that I know now." She offered one of her almost legendary smiles. "How else am I meant to help you all?"

Her question made Wave's own mouth quirk up into a smirk. "...I suppose that's true enough."

Smile growing a touch, Cream shifted over to lean against Espio's left side - like a daughter would do with her father. It was a scene Jet recognized from his own past, a thought that triggered the recurrence of an old ache in his chest. He strove to banish that feeling, focusing instead on what he was seeing here and now. Namely, that Cream was indeed leaning against the chameleon who had raised her after Vanilla's passing… and Espio was completely allowing it. It was irrefutable proof that their bond remained as strong as ever - proof in and of itself that Espio's emotions were returning somewhat (however subconsciously), and had been since that time so long ago. Bonds, after all, required emotional attachment.

He would know.

Once comfortable, Cream looked over at everyone again. "With all of this going on, what have you all been doing?"

Jet did not answer that question, nor did Wave. Tails, however, was more forthcoming. "Well… Sonic and I have mostly just been hanging around," he shrugged. "Not here, mind you, but back on Mobius."

This question made Cream's eyebrows raise a touch. "This is not on Mobius?"

"No, this is a different world," Tails answered. "It's called A'latria."

"And what world is this?" Cream asked. The question likely could have been worded better, but the others understood.

"My home," Jet answered simply. She asked for no further explanation, and he opted not to offer them. Instead, he looked away, trying to will away his sudden feeling of tiredness. Social interaction always drained him substantially.

Instead of pressing the matter of this world and its existence, Cream asked perhaps the most important question she could have asked at this point. "Why am I alive? And how?"

Tails was visibly struck by this question. He perked up, ears going straight. "Hey, that's right! How is she alive? I thought only Sonic could revive people, and he clearly didn't do it. And I don't think he could have revived himself, come to think of it."

"You're right," Wave answered slowly, shaking her head. "He didn't bring her back, and he didn't revive himself. He didn't need to."

Confused, Cream lifted her head to better look at the swallow. "He didn't?"

"I suppose it's easy to forget," Wave said, "because we have such limited interactions with only one of them, but there are two other beings of Chaos."

Sonic's ears shot straight up. "You mean Ythene and that… Queen of Chaos, right?"

This time, it was Jet who answered. Because, suddenly, he remembered the truth of this matter. He so rarely managed to forget things that this quite startled him, but he made no effort to show it. "Yes. Teyan is unable to act outside of her own realm currently, as their realm is sealed, but with her unique abilities Ythene can manipulate Chaos wherever it exists." He uncrossed one arm and made a slow sweeping gesture toward Sonic. "She is responsible for this. She revived both of you through him."

Silence was the only reply to his revelation for several long moments before Cream breathed, "That's… amazing." Wave gave her a small smile.

Shadow chose that moment to completely change the subject. "You will need some means of defending yourself," he told Cream frankly. "Powers are no longer enough… for anyone."

"Hnn… that matter can be dealt with," Jet murmured. He pushed himself off of the wall and began walking over to the young woman. As he walked, a small and nondescript black box appeared in his hand. Offering no explanation once more, he merely held his hand out to pass the item over to her. Still mostly leaning against Espio's side, Cream leaned forward a bit to accept it.

The moment her fingers brushed against the palm of his hand, there was a spark.

Without warning, they all found their minds lost in visions of Jet's past. Though Jet attempted to block out the flow from entering his own mind as well, he found himself strangely and utterly powerless to do so. The memories came against his will, and soon he was drowning in them… and so were his allies.

(-)

Eyes slightly narrowed, Jet crouched atop his utterly wrecked ship as it floated listlessly through the dark depths of space. Looking around, he spied his attacker and muttered a small curse to himself. Malevolence hovered there, not even deigning to give him an ounce of it's attention at the moment. Instead, it opted to examine the small Immortal treasure it had ripped from his ship with the intent to steal.

Irritated by everything going on here, he stood up and grabbed the handle of his sword which was sheathed at his hip. "You should be looking this way, bastard," he called coldly.

For once, the monster opted to verbally reply to him. "I think not. Everything I need is already in my hand… and you pose no threat to me as you are, worm."

Growing increasingly irritated and now also feeling concern, Jet eyed the stolen artifact Malevolence was holding. He had been transporting it to a sort of safehouse meant for items such as this one. Another few minutes and he would have been there, safe within its defensive barriers, and this wouldn't have been happening. "You can't even use such an artifact," he muttered, hoping he was correct. His teachings, incomplete as they were thanks to the past murders of his kin, left him with so few things he truly knew.

"Can I not?" Malevolence challenged, finally turning around to face him.

"You can't," Jet reiterated, more firmly.

Malevolence canted it's head slowly. "...I see… so you are not as ignorant as I had believed." Jet scowled at it, but it suddenly broke out into one of its signature wild and horrific grins. "But it matters not. You see… this artifact is a conduit used for the magnification of power. I may never be able to utilize it to its full extent as your can may, but it will serve me well regardless… and with it I will lay siege to your precious home as I so long ago promised." That horrible, horrible grin grew as Jet went still from sheer surprise and alarm. "Your people's civilizations will fall," his enemy continued, words slow and menacing. "Their worlds will be turned to dust. All will suffer… and you will bear witness to it all, helpless to perform your duties and defend them."

Before Jet could even react, Malevolence appeared directly in front of him and seized his arm in a vice-like grip. "You're coming with me… king." Unable to fight back suddenly, Jet was dragged along with Malevolence as it teleported to New Babylon. The infamous Era of Darkness had begun.

(-)

Jet had retained only the vaguest of memories as he fought against his mysterious illness on Mobius. It had been nearly three days of nothing but suffering. His fever was so high no one could stand to touch him, and it had been causing seizure after seizure to occur on top of everything else. He couldn't hold down any food, drink, or medicine, he was vomiting (or just dry heaving) constantly, breathing was a never-ending struggle, he was in severe physical agony… To make matters worse, he couldn't even get a few minutes of sleep to help get through this. But he supposed, distantly, that it didn't even matter either way.

He was going to die, he knew he was. Everyone around him new he was done for. It was just a matter of time before he succumbed to his illness and perished yet again. This was just the curse of his life, forever doomed to repeat this cycle whether he liked it or not. He lived to die, and he died to live… but what the hell was the point of it all? Once, there had been a purpose behind his suffering, a light in his life that had made his burden bearable for a time. Now, however, he saw nothing left worth fighting for. He had so few relatives left, so few friends, and he hadn't seen or heard from any of them in centuries. There wasn't even some sort of grand purpose or goal for him to pursue anymore, no specific evil to hunt down and vanquish.

So what the hell was the point?

He existed to live. He lived to die. He died to live. And yet… to die, even permanently, was to have existed, wasn't it? Wasn't continued existence supposed to be a good thing? Something everyone seemed to long for? But existing wasn't the same thing as living. Life meant so little to him these days… Maybe it even meant nothing. He no longer knew. It no longer even mattered, at least for the moment.

Breathing was getting harder. The strength to even so much as open his eyes no longer existed within him. His stomach churned and clenched in a valiant effort to empty itself once more, but that task had long since already been accomplished. The time for yet more death was nearly upon him. And in that vague darkness, hovering somewhere between actually being alive and being truly dead, a strange new thought floated through his mind.

'If to die is to existed… then why do we live…? What's… the purpose of something so… utterly meaningless…?'

(-)

There was nothing to watch in this memory, as he recalled most vividly the words he had spoken and not the actions he had taken. These words, recorded into a Stone of Lore so like the one he had listened to during the group's first ever conflict with Malevolence, haunted his mind… even so many thousands of years after left his mouth.

"What you fail to understand is that I see you.

I was there today - perhaps you noticed me, perhaps you did not - as you were introduced to our library, our vast accumulations of knowledge, for the first time. Your knowledge is deep already, but your interest in the Trokkelar army is too great. I see a fire within you, a spark that - if tended to properly - could become the fuel you need to be among the greatest of our kin that has ever lived. But every speck of Light can cast great shadows, and the shadows you already turn to are far darker than you realize.

You asked for me by name today as you and your guide toured the building. How you know of it already, I do not know. But you asked, and I watched. I watched as your aura brightened with the chance to test your mettle against someone you view as a challenge. Make no mistake, Child of Valor. I will challenge you. Every step you take, every conclusion you come to, every little thing you think you understand - I will openly challenge it all… but not out of disdain.

I wish for you to grow, Tein, to move beyond the shadows you have so unknowingly opened yourself up to. There are many lessons out there for all of us to learn, and one I hope you someday come to understand is belief in yourself and the Light you, like us of all, carry within. If we cannot have faith in ourselves, how can we ever have faith in others?

As of this day, you have no faith. It is why the shadows cling to you, greedy for every bit of control that they can hold over you. Have faith, Tein, and do not fall into the Darkness. You may feel alone now, but nevermore. We are kin, all of us. Even in the darkest of shadows, even when others cannot, I can see you. I can only hope that one day you will find it in yourself to realize that."

(-)

In a memory very much like the last one, there was again nothing to see… merely words to listen to.

"I have said it before, but I will say it again… truth is among the only truly Immortal things in existence.

I believe that all things, good or evil or in between, do eventually come to an end. As sacred as life is, not one flame of existence can last forever. That is, in part, how people such as I can exist without upsetting the fragile balance of the universe… because even Immortals eventually cease to live. In the end, when all else has gone, only truth remains. Allow me, then, to share an unshakeable truth that must never be forgotten… Especially if we are to ever defeat the scourge that threatens us to this day. It is as I once told a very old friend of mine...

'Life is, in many ways, akin to water.

It is fluid, mobile.

Water may do as it wishes, but it must disturb everything around it, even if only in minor ways, to do so.

Anything might disturb the flow.

The option then is to accept these obstacles and go over them, forge a path through, or take no risks and go around.

This is the element of resilience… but even water is not impervious to damage.

A flick, and some has gone.

A swipe, and the rest is taken out, leaving nothing behind.

Life… it is just as fragile.

Perhaps… it is even more so.

Do not follow in the footsteps of many.

Walk instead in the footsteps of the few.

Do as they have done.

Never allow yourself to waste the gift of your existence.'

This is an indomitable truth that will never change nor fade. But myself and my kin are different. We are not invincible… and we will not last forever. Unless something changes, and changes soon, we are the last there will ever be. Now, more than ever, we need allies… allies that never seem to appear."

(-)

"Why do you fight so hard?"

Pausing mid-step, Jet peered down the rocky mountain slope at his travelling companion. A slight frown graced his face as he carefully replied, "What?"

Puffing a bit in his efforts to join Jet where the hawk now stood, the other man repeated, "Why do you fight, Jet? You always act like you don't care, and you've certainly said as much before." He finally reached Jet, who was staring at him in silence. "So I was just wondering… if you don't care, then why bother?"

Frowning deepening a small degree, Jet turned and resumed walking. "I don't do it because I want to protect anyone, if that's what you're implying." 'Not anymore, at any rate…'

His companion hastened to follow. "So why, then?" he pressed. "Why do you do it?"

At this point, Jet had to stifle a sigh. There was no single or simple answer to that question, so he opted for the simplest one he had. "A life full of obligations… is the last thing I ever wanted." It was all he said, and he suspected it wouldn't satisfy his acquaintance at all.

It didn't. "That doesn't explain it," the man countered easily. "Not fully. Certainly not enough."

Jet rounded on him. "The hell do you want from me?" he demanded, perhaps a touch harshly.

The other Babylonian wasn't at all perturbed by this small display of temper. "A straight answer," was the immediate reply. "I want to know the truth. Why do you do it?" When Jet just stared again, not speaking, the other man pressed further. "Why do you fight? Why do you not give in?"

Silence. There was no straightforward answer… no one single indomitable truth behind what he did… and yet an answer was spilling forth from him before he could stop it nevertheless. "Because… if I don't fight… who will?"

(-)

Suddenly, everything shifted and a vision of the future opened up within everyone's minds. They saw blood and fire, death and suffering. There was horror and fear, shock and numbness. Pain overwhelmed all, alongside exhaustion and desperation. Every single one of them felt a sense of stange desperation - a desperation to understand why something was happening. But there were no answers to be found here… merely a single, distant voice that whispered to them…

"Little child… your life… is mine."

(-)

Jet jerked his hand away, breaking off the connection and ending the vision before it could continue. Not a word was spoken in the immediate aftermath. No one made a sound. Everyone just sort of stared at one another, no one quite knowing what to say or think or do. Only Jet knew what to do, and that was leave. So that was what he did. Just as young Cream opened her mouth as though to speak, he let himself vanish from the building in its whole… seeking refuge from his past and all the darkness those memories contained that had nearly been unburied.

There was only so much that time alone could erase.

~保護者~

3,381 words this time. So, I know this is late. I know not much happened in this chapter. Allow me to explain why (and please understand that most of my reasoning behind this delay is very serious). The first reason for this being late is simple writer's block and temporary lack of motivation. The second reason is... well, a lot more complicated.

A lot of you may have heard about the Camp Fire raging in California right now. For those of you who don't know, this is know considered to be the largest and deadliest fire in my state's history. Last I'd heard, more than sixty were dead and more than 140,000 acres had been burned. It started in the city of Paradise, which was razed to the point where it nearly doesn't exist anymore. Next to nothing is left. Do I live there? No, thankfully. I don't live in the other areas that are actively burning, either. But I do live extremely close to the danger zones surrounding the fire. The smoke is so thick that we can't go outside without masks - and even then it's risky to be out for more than a few minutes - and it constantly looks like my town is lost in fog. This beast of a fire is only fifty-five percent contained, and that number may drop drastically if the high winds we were experiencing before return.

We watch the news constantly, fearing word will come that the fires have reached the town next to us and that we'll have to flee as well. So, no, I haven't been writing lately... and I am very sorry for it. It's just hard to want to right when I'm so stressed out and so worried. So long as my town remains safe, I'll do my best to post as frequently as I can, but I can't make any promises at this point. Again, I am terribly sorry over this, and I ask for your understanding, everyone... hopefully this is all over soon.

Sigh... anyway, one last quick note. In that vision where Jet discusses how life is akin to water, much of what he said was taken from very similar lines shared with me by Blazing Winds over a year ago. So, of course, many thanks to him for that.

Posted (at about 7:15 p.m.) 11-17-18.