The title of this chapter is a reference to how in Final Fantasy 7, the final disk of the game was solely the final bosses in terms of story. That being said, we're almost done.
I don't have much else to say here… Except that I have a lack of fan character applications. I decided to split Samuel's backstory into more than 2 parts, maybe 3 or 4, i dunno. Those applications can be in the form of a review, or a PM, I don't really care, I should get it either way, so… Go for it.
"Let me figure out where everyone is first. We don't know what Ivo's up to." Samuel said. Ray nodded as the Ring began to glow.
Samuel saw an image in his head of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles on a blue biplane, chasing after Ivo.
Jennifer and Jasmine were facing off against a figure in an orange cloak. Shadow, Rouge, Silver, and Blaze were chasing after Eggman Nega.
Song: Deep Dive - 358/2 Days
Samuel ran out the door with Ray in hand. "Big has Sonic and pals coming for him. Let's go help Jasmine and Cream!"
Ray nodded. "Right!"
Samuel looked forward. "I just hope we get there fast enough. We aren't as fast as Sonic!"
Samuel grabbed onto a rope and swung up as high as he could to launch himself above the city. "Ray! Can you see em'?" He asked.
Ray held onto Samuel's hand and stabilized their trajectory so that they could see easier. "There!" He pointed towards a few flashes on the ground.
"Launch me!" Samuel said.
Ray nearly dropped him. "Are you sure?" He asked.
"Do it!" Samuel held his staff in his right hand. "I know what I'm doing."
Ray spun around for a short while, then let go of Samuel's hands.
Samuel went flying towards the flashes, and soon he could see a fight was taking place. "Faster… Faster…
Song: Midna's Theme - Zelda: Twilight Princess
Samuel landed in the area with his staff at the ready.
The cloaked figure slacked her weapons and turned to Samuel. "Hey Samuel. Long time no see. Did you want to finish her off?"
Samuel turned to Jennifer to see her wounded. She seemed scared. Samuel looked over to Jasmine and Cream. They seemed to be watching him to see what he'd do. Samuel turned back to the figure. "Eh. Not really. What I'm concerned with is…" He pointed his staff at her. "... who are you? And how do you know me?"
The figure removed her hood to reveal a lionesse. "It's me. Lucy." Samuel simply stared. "Come on! You remember me. Right?" Samuel gave a short nod. "Good." Lucy walked up to him. "My father told me that now's the time your memories should be recovered."
Samuel finally lowered his staff, but still looked at Lucy apprehensively. "You know about my amnesia?"
Lucy nodded. "You happened upon us with a blank stare. You wouldn't talk to anyone. This was before the split between our fathers. When your's found out about your amnesia, he didn't look too worried. He seemed satisfied, even. That was the day before he began talking about taking the fight to the vampires." At this she stared off to Jasmine and Cream. "He spoke about a secret plan they had, and that we should wipe them out before they do so to us. But my father said that if anyone had a secret weapon it was us, and that we should focus on protecting ourselves instead of going to war."
Samuel closed his eyes. "So my memories aren't complete yet." He opened them. "Why do I get the feeling this secret weapon has to do with me?"
Samuel saw Cream walk up to Lucy. "Excuse me, miss?" Lucy looked down at her. "My name's Cream. I hope we can be friends."
Lucy stared at Cream, as though she couldn't believe her ears. Samuel bent down and pat Cream on the head.
"I'm not so sure Lucy's too open to the idea. She was raised traditionally." Samuel laughed. "Oh well. Can't win em' all."
Lucy stared at Samuel with bewilderment. "You're being nice to it?"
Samuel stood up. "She's not an it."
Lucy shook her head. "Letting you leave the camp was a terrible mistake." Samuel turned to her.
"Then why'd you let me leave? I'm sure being with people who knew me would've helped my memories return faster." Samuel spoke with a calm air in his voice.
"My father thought it would toughen you up to see the world. He had hoped that you would become strong enough to prove yourself to the rest of the clan."
Samuel feined thought. Then turned to Lucy. "Screw the clan."
"What!?" Lucy said.
"You heard me. What's the clan done for me? If anything, it's brought me suffering. I'm happier here, with friends." Samuel said.
Lucy tried to speak, but choked on her words for a second. "What about me?"
Samuel was silent for a moment. Lucy looked down, then Samuel spoke. "I feel like there's more to you than what my memories tell me, but I remember only pain." Samuel put a hand on her head. "I can remember small bits of happiness, but I don't know what caused it."
Song: Event - Strategy
Ray landed next to the group. "Samuel, you got things under control here?"
Samuel nodded. "Alright. Ivo and Nega both chose today to put a plan into action. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles went after Ivo, and Shadow, Blaze, Rouge, and Silver are chasing Nega." Samuel looked at the Telepathy Ring again. "We should divide ourselves to cover the most ground. Cream, go find Amy, and meet up with Sonic and Big."
"But…"
"You'll be fine." Samuel stared at the sky. "Ray, go get Mighty. You two are joining Shadows team to fight Nega."
"Isn't this overkill?" Lucy asked.
Samuel shook his head. "Something big's coming up. I can feel it. Ray, also tell Vector, Charmy, and Espio to find out what this master plan actually is."
"Alright." Ray and Cream ran off, leaving Samuel, Jasmine, Jennifer, and Lucy.
"What about us?" Jasmine said.
Samuel sighed. "The only thing left to do… Is something I must do on my own.
No Song
Samuel walked in a wasteland. Jasmine, Jennifer, and Lucy followed close behind.
Jennifer caught up and grabbed his shoulder. "Hey! What's your problem?"
Samuel ignored her. Lucy took Jennifer's hand off his shoulder. "You know, you can just say the word and I'll drive these two away. I've always got your back!" Samuel ignored her as well.
Jasmine walked silently behind. "Samuel… You're never alone. You've always got friends who care for you."
Samuel stopped. He turned around. "That's exactly why I have to do this alone. I've never done anything on my own!" He began to raise his voice. "I've never successfully done anything on my own! If I can't do this…" Samuel stopped suddenly. Jennifer and Lucy stood back. "What good am I?"
"You're no good. That's the point I tried to make." A voice appeared. They all looked towards it.
Song: Deep Dive - Kingdom Hearts II
"Vincent!" Samuel and Jasmine yelled.
Samuel turned to Jasmine. "You know him!?"
Jennifer stood between them. "He's her brother."
Samuel turned back to Vincent. He was a yellow bat with red eyes. His wings were red as velvet in front, and black as leather in the back.
Samuel looked at him in hatred. He held his hand to the back and cast a shield to the others.
"Hey!" Lucy yelled.
"Stay out of this!" Samuel yelled.
"Samuel has a heart! How lovely!" Vincent's facial expression was crazily happy. "I thought I crushed your hopes in life when I killed your family!"
Samuel ran at him and swung his staff at him. Vincent grabbed the staff in his hands. "Still no progress, I see. Your father would be disappointed"
"Screw my father! He lives, but not for long!" Samuel smiled evilly. "When I'm done with you…"
"You can't beat me, mut." Vincent's smile remained. "Even if you had all the rings you desire, you would lose." Samuel grew angrier
"I WILL KILL YOU!" Samuel pushed a button on his staff and it separated into two.
Swords.
He held one in his right, then had one held backhand in his left. He spun rapidly in an attempt to trap Vincent in a whirling tornado of pain.
Vincent stepped back constantly to marvel at the technique. The tornado began moving toward him at an even faster pace. Vincent ran back, but was too slow to escape the tornado.
Samuel stopped spinning to see the damage, but Vincent emerged unharmed. "What!?"
"You gave me a paper cut."
Samuel felt the dark energy coursing through him. The Chaos Emeralds were reacting to his anger. He felt their power. 'I will use ALL the power at my disposal. I wish I could fight him on my own. But I can't. But also, I can't drag anyone else into my conflict. This battle is mine, and mine alone.'
Samuel was surrounded by a red aura. The two Chaos Emeralds he had in his possession were swirling around him.
"Oh! You have Chaos Emeralds as well! If you had all seven, you might stand a chance!" Vincent mocked. "But I grow tired. I'll fight you some other time." Vincent jumped up into the air and flew off.
"GET BACK HERE!" Samuel began launching lightning bolt after lightning bolt at random. Jasmine, Lucy, and Jennifer silently thanked him for casting the shield beforehand.
No Song
"Samuel! Calm down!" Lucy screamed.
Samuel halted his attacks and turned towards them. The dark energy gathering around him dispersed on the spot. He knelt down on his knees, crying.
Looks like things are heating up! Vincent's shown himself, and he seems to be in a league of his own. How would he fare against someone like Shadow? Will you ever know the answer to that question? Not in this story.
Also, I have the final two chapters written, but I'm trying to decide if I should post them as is, post them together, or post them as one, long, continuous chapter. Chapter 10 ended up being 13 pages, 4002 words, while chapter 11 is only 7, 1859. (I just realised that that's all together, not separated into three sections, but chapter 9 altogether is 10 pages and 2979 words. Quite a bit less than Chapter 10, but more than Chapter 11) That's not even the reason I'm thinking about this. Just something I decided to look at. The real reason I'm trying to make this decision is just because I think it would be epic to have a super long chapter, but now that I look at it, the super long chapter is the penultimate chapter, rather than the final one, which strikes me as a bit odd.
As I edit these chapters to make sure I get as much of what was lost in translation back into translation, I find that these chapters are actually retaining my bold and italicized fonts, which is weird because it hasn't done that ever. Maybe I'm doing something right this chapter that I never did right before. Who knows.