Hey, anyone know how to report people on this site? Some chick stole aika08's (honeycat94) character Aikara the Monkey. (gets the pitchfork)

Characters (C) Respective Owners

Ch. 20: Jet's Shadow: The Ark's Creator

Gulp. I had been a long time since I last gulped, and I have a pretty darn good reason too: Shadow Jet. We thought Jet sealed him into the farthest crevice of his heart, but Jet always said that he could've broken fear at anytime time. However, that was only if he was in utter, uncontrollable rage. Let me tell you, dears readers, this was bad.

Shadow Jet's eyes scourged us, glaring at Stream, me, and finally, Cannon. Cannon was aghast, staring in utter horror at the dark hawk. He trembled, holding his fans loosely as he approached him. Shadow Jet smirked lightly before clutching Cannon's throat.

"You murdered not only my father and my friends' family, but you killed Storm?!" he shrieked, tightening his grip. Cannon gasped, begging for release. "Begging doesn't work for me!"

Cackling wickedly, he threw Cannon against the hard, yet grassy floor. Leaping up high into the air, he crashed his fist directly into his gut. Cannon screamed, but Jet was too upset to even care. Raising his Ark of the Cosmos, he aimed his Ark directly at Cannon's face.

"Being the gentleman that I truely am," he said cynically, "I've decided to rather genorously give you some last words. What worthless wit are you going to spout, huh? Beg me some more?" His tone grew rough, and his glare was embedded onto his face. "Even if you killed my best friend and father."

The orange avian was twitching, staring horrified at Jet. His eyes wavered, trying to keep himself calm, even though it was futile. Finally, he was able to catch his breathe. "D-do you know what, Jet?"

"What?" he snarled as the Ark slowly powered up.

I was slowly getting to my feet as Stream attempted to move towards her precious leader, but she was paralyzed mentally. Fluttering my wings helped me try to get to him, to try to help. To try to not feel so weak and useless.

Suddenly, Cannon burst into laughter. The same laughter he belted when he revealed on the murder of Acceleration. Holding his hand to his forehead, Cannon was smirking after the sudden shriek. Only to stop once more when Jet's Ark finally powered up.

The new color of the once grey Ark with a green hue, was now blackened with that same emerald light. Jet's face was contorted with fury as he simply grinned, but this wasn't that same grin. It wasn't the same cocky grin, but a smirk that was filled with frustration.

"What's funny is that I was being fair." Jet's Ark sparkled brighter than before as he stood, towering over Cannon. "GRAVITY BEAM!" A charged up blast like that of a particle beam, but only made of gravity, came and smashed Cannon directly on his chest. Cannon didn't even get the chance to scream as the beam hit him.

Cannon's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and his body fell limp. The falcon was still breathing? Yes, he was. Surprising though because this Jet was one to always kill his opponent. As if it were a desire for bloodlust.

Jet smirked over his body until Stream suddenly screamed. His eyes glowered over to her, glaring putridly. Stream rushed at him, fist prepared. Jet merely smirked and caught the fist. She cried out, vainly attempting to break free, but it proved to only end in immense pain. Jet swatted her away with the backside of his palm.

Weakly, I managed to flutter over to him. My yellow Master Ark glowed brightly, making Jet glance over his shoulder towards me. His lower green Ark's aura diminished slightly. Jet glared at me.

"Just what are you doing, fool?" he demanded, hovering over me using gravity.

Taking a breathe, I plunged in. "Jet, you have to stop!"

"Stop?" he repeated incredolously. "You dare ask me to stop when that monster killed Storm!?"

Biting my tongue, I tried to reason with him. "But would Storm want you to go insane and just kill everyone you see?"

Yeah, great reasoning, right? Jet paused, eyes narrowing down on me with inquisition. Or was that hatred? Maybe both. The currently heartless hawk roared down at me. "You ungrateful bug! We Babylon Rogues gave you a place to call your home! We Babylon Rogues treated you as an equal! We Babylon Rogues-"

"That's getting a bit old," I remarked, smiling a little.

Jet lunged at me, smacking me straight across the face. I faltered and landed directly into a tree. I struggled to get up, but Jet grabbed my throat and repeatedly smashed me into the same tree. He was saying something, but I couldn't understand. It hurt too much to think. Jet finally panted, chucking me into the ground. The hawk hovered over me, not moving. Just watching.

I struggled to my feet. My wings ached as they helped me flutter up towards him. He still didn't move, so I raised my Ark. Jet copied the motion. His Ark brightened with a tedious hue of reverbrating black, while mine glowed a sunny yellow. Light versus darkness.

"Why are you opposing me, Charmy?" Jet asked in a commanding tone.

"This is wrong, Jet! You aren't like this. This ain't you. Shadow Jet is not you!" I stated, glaring back at him, even though I was heartfelt.

Jet's beak carved into a sneer. "I know this isn't me, but I'll do what I must to get revenge for Storm." He frowned, sighing. "Do you even care that Storm is dead?"

"O-of course I care!"

"Well, than why the hell are you fighting against me?!"

No reply. We just stared at each before we unleashed the power of our Arks. A Gravity Control was issued from both of us. Gravity around us suddenly depleted while Stream tended to Cannon. I noticed that and growled from the back of my throat, wondering how she could even be near such a demonic cretin. However, there are times for thinking and times for fighting. And this was a time to fight. Jet was quick to lunge first, being the latter in the duel. He aimed with a barrage of sudden kicks that I barely managed to avoid. Well, most. I was kicked in the face, but I grabbed a hold of his leg. Aiming my stinger profondly, I smirked and stabbed him on the...well, his butt.

Jet sqawked, holding his rear while I burst into laughter. Flinching, I gulped to face a completely outraged Jet. His feathers were still dark, and the same for his pupilless eyes made my heart sink. I thought that a little, harmless joke would make him more at ease. Guess that was a mistake, right?

"That was the biggest fault of your life!" Jet screamed, Ark now a complete black; even the little green part was turning a grey.

Yeah, big mistake...

Roaring, Jet lunged at me until a black hole suddenly appeared between him and I. It was my Ark of the Cosmo glowing brightly, but I hadn't done anything. Jet tried to stop himself from being sucked inside, but the gravity was to potent to be diffused and in went Jet.

I called out his name was the vortex suddenly vanished. I waved my Ark furiously, wondering what had happened. It refused to give off any shine or essence of power; it just remained like a hunk of metal. Cursing to myself, I angrily flew over to Cannon and Stream and gasped.

Cannon was an wreck, but somehow alive. The falcon had blood exiting the corners of his mouth and a gaping hole on his shoulder. His chest moved up and down rather slowly, signalling his only pulse. Stream was hovering over him, weeping.

Finally taking notice to me, she asked through her sobs, "W-where's J-J-Jet?"

I shrugged. "My Ark just went crazy and made a black hole that sucked Jet inside."

"Because I made that hole," a sinister voice replied.

"Rodrigo!" I cried, glaring at the black crow.

Violet eyes danced with amusement at my misfortune. With his beak curled into a demonic grin, he gave me a flop of his hand, some sort of wave. "To answer that feeble-minded question of yours would be a waste of my time, but rather another unhappy ending to you."

"Where is Jet?!" I shrieked, Ark suddenly springing to life.

Rodrigo's Arks, the purple, red and blue one, were placed delicately on his wrists. Two on one, one of the other. Suddenly, another vortex came out and there was Shadow Jet looking enraged. Rodrigo merely glanced over at the demonic hawk. He raised his Arks, blasting a wave of gravity at him in the form of a black cylinder line. Jet managed to dodge and rushed at him. Jet swatted his adversary's head with his foot and smirked, but Rodrigo remained standing.

"Just what are you?!" Jet screamed retaliating with an assortment of punches.

"Me? Why, I was the one who designed to Arks of the Cosmos!" Rodrigo explained, snatching both of Jet's wrists. His Arks glowed, and the one on Jet's wrist started to wriggle off. It popped directly off and landed on Rodrigo's now two-Arked wrists.

With the Ark removed, the evil from Jet's body was slowly removed. His feathers turned to correct shade of jungle trees, along with his eyes and chest feathers. Rodrigo chucked him into me, but I managed to catch Jet. Jet gasped, holding his head in sudden pain. Usage of the Shadow Jet formed always ended with Jet having severe headaches afterwards.

"Boss, are you okay?" I asked, shaking his shoulder gently.

Jet moaned and held his head in his hand. "Not really, kid." He took a gander over to myself and than to Cannon. His eyes widened in astonishment at his horrific deeds. "Did I do this?" With his voice a mere whisper, it scared me. So I nodded, and Jet was sullen. He stared over to Cannon's body, beak a slight gape.

"Lord Rodrigo, it-it's Cannon! He's-" Stream was cut off by his sudden growl.

"Cannon, I gave you direct orders to finish these two off, and yet you allow Jet to go into his heartless form and nearly kill you," he scolded to his groaning body.

Cannon's emerald eyes flickered to life. His orange feathers, once vibrant and kind, were now dead looking. The falcon glanced over to his leader, whispering, "Lord Rodrigo, I could not...finish them off for you...I-I am so sorry. I am...a...a failure..." His voice was distant as though he spoke through a crackling cell phone. He hacked up blood, making Stream and I wince.

Rodrigo didn't take his eyes off him. "You have served me for so very long, Cannon." Cannon turned his head towards him, cringing with struggle and effort. "I suppose I can forgive you this one time."

Cannon's face illuminated, returning the shine to his ruffled feathers. He appeared like his wounds were merely scratches now. Stream helped him to his feet, heaving Cannon's arm over her shoulder. She glanced over to her master and thanked him.

"Wait, you aren't going to heal him?" Stream asked, staring at her lord in confusion.

Rodrigo gave a sickening guffaw. "Now, why should I? My forgiveness is enough."

"You...you!"

"I what?" Rodrigo glared over at her direction, making her feel as though she would faint again. "Well?"

Stream bit her tongue and glanced over to Cannon. He appeared defeated. His master betrayed him, refusing to heal him. I would feel the exact same feeling, except mine would be out of pity until later.

Smugly, the crow raised his four Arks, floating high above into the air. "Now, now, I guess I'll just make your lives much more difficult."

"You, the greatest traitor in the history of the Babylon Rogues, are the creator of the Arks of the Cosmos?" Jet asked as I helped him stand. Jet winced, holding his head, and I could tell another headache occured.

"I found it quite necessary," Rodrigo cooed, smoothing his long white cloak. "Stolen and whathisface were too pathetic to realize my inventions, my Arks of the Cosmos. Back on the our spacecraft, the Babylon Garden, I purposely sabotaged the engine room with my Arks. However, Stolen found me out. We fought, and tragedy struck. Most of the Babylonians lived, except for Stolen and I. Smartly enough, I channeled my soul in the master unit, saving myself."

"Okay, this guy is a whackjob," I thought taking a short breathe as I let the information settle in my mind.

Jet suddenly lunged at Rodrigo, but Stream grabbed his arm, restraining him. Flying at Rodrigo myself, I unleashed the power of my Ark. A black hole was created, and I jumped in. Diving at speeds equal to Sonic the Hedgehog himself, I dove at Rodrigo, but he, too, created a black hole and crashed into me with his fist. Crying out on contact, I was propelled into a wall as Rodrigo followed me at an incredible velocity, plowing his fist into my gut with everything he was.

I crashed into one of those darn trees, again. Stupid trees, and yeah, I know they help us live by giving off oxygen for us to breathe, but still! That hurt! Coughing up, I spat a loogie at the ground. Only to find Rodrigo hovering over me and gently landing on the ground. My Ark glowed, and I glanced down to it. Eyes widening, I snatched my Ark when a sudden burning sensation overwhelmed me.

"You do realize that you're dealing with genius that created the Arks, correct?" Rodrigo sneered deviously. "Even though the Master Ark controls the lesser Arks, I can control all of the Arks by just using my mind."

"Doesn't mean you'll get this back!" I shouted defiantely as the burning increased. Biting my lip, I ignored the sudden bleeding I had induced on myself.

Rodrigo's Arks decreased in their shimmering, and my pain stopped. Taking a few sharp, light gasps, I found the succulent air rather refreashing admist the chaos. He glared down at me before grinning and chortling. A black hole appeared over his head, and he leaped through it.

"I'll be waiting, honeybee! Only there will you find out about your true past!" Rodrigo bellowed, but it turned hollow as the vortex vanished.

"My past? What the heck does that mean? Eh, maybe he just had a little too much crack in the morning," I pondered, staring at the vast emptyness of the room.

Cannon suddenly lurched forward. Jet appeared behind him, fist curled up. Holding up his head, Cannon growled back at him, holding his blown-out shoulder. Stream glared at him, raising her fists.

"Just what was that for?!" she screamed.

"I'm not going to lie," Jet stated, eyes closed. "That was for Storm."

The room became sullen. It was at that moment did I recall Storm's supposed death. Wiping my tears from my eyes, I didn't want Jet to see me weep because I promised him that I wouldn't when I slapped him across the beak. By the way, don't slap birds on their beaks. It stings like venom injecting into your veins, which hurts too. Don't ask me how I know, I just do.

Cannon didn't reply and sighed. Coughing, he just started to spat out more blood. Thoroughly frightened, Stream moved closer to him when he raised a hand to stop her. Gingerly, he felt his forehead, feeling no opal and sighed.

"It was...m-merely business," he weakly replied. "An i-issue indicated b-by Lord Rod-Rodrigo..."

Jet grabbed him by his twin ponytails, forching him to his feet. "Business!? Storm was my first and best friend ever since I was an infant! We've been there for each other every single day of our lives, and he took care of me when my father or mother couldn't!" Tears started to well up in Jet's eyes. "And you took him away from me."

"Would...would a leader c-cry over a dead comrade?" Cannon asked, staring confusedly.

Jet nodded. "A true leader can cry when his closest friend is dead, and he knew he couldn't stop this tragedy."

Cannon stared at the broken hawk. Jet had tears leaking from his eyes like a broken faucet as the waterworks slowly came undone. Seeing Jet appear so pathetic made me cry out of sorrow as well. My vision was blurred, but I could make out the color of their feathers just barely. Stream's head was hung low as she covered a hand over her eyes so I couldn't tell if she was sobbing.

Cannon remained stiff as a board. He suddenly got down on one of his knees. "You...you w-win, Jet the H-Hawk," he sputtered, holding his wounded shoulder. "Y-You a-are the true...true leader of the Ba-Babylon R-Rogues..." He coughed, exhalting a large amount of blood before falling over.

"Boss, n-no!" Stream screeched as she and Jet knelt down by him. I flew over to them, wiping my puffy eyes with the underside of my jacket. Stream gently placed him on her lap.

He groaned, breathing getting heavy and slow. Giving off a grin for him was different than the ones before. It was the one he gave to me when we were in his vegetable garden; The same grin where he shielded himself with an umbrella. Cannon closed his eyes.

"It's-it's over for me," he weakly said. "I-I duly a-apologize for my...actions." He winced, head rolling to the side on Stream's lap. "Such a l-lovely warm lap you-you have, Stream."

"B-Boss..." Her tears strolled down her beak and onto his face. "Y-you can't go!"

He frowned, attempting to keep calm in his final moments. "Why not?"

"I-I...l-love...love you!" she blurted, her face entirely red.

Whoa, I honestly wasn't expecting that. Jet and I exchanged incredolous glances. Cannon's beak flew open, completely embarassed and flustered. He froze for a few seconds, taking the sudden confession into him mind, allowing it to warp. Smiling softly, he raised his somewhat bloody hand to carress the side of her face with his index finger and middle finger.

"You...you were always th-the kind one, Stream," he whispered. "The feeling...is mu-mutual. Goodbye...I love you." Cannon's head flopped over to the side, with a smile on his face. His heavy breathing had faltered and stopped.

Cannon the Falcon, Rodrigo's most loyal subject and leader of the Anti Babylon Rogues, was dead.

Stream burst into unsobered tears, as I allowed myself to cry in front of Jet. Jet remained passive, eyes clenched tightly. I could tell he was thinking about Storm, but not only him, but Wave. Was she dead too? At that moment, she didn't matter to me, but the death of Cannon really took a toll on me. He served a master that betrayed him in the end.

"I'll make him pay," I muttered, making the two avians look up at me. "I'll make Rodrigo pay for this!" I dashed up for the doors, kicking them open. Ignorant to Jet's cries to stopping, I flew on ahead, and the doors slammed shut.

--

Next: Honeybees Versus Babylonians

The death of Cannon comes swift and without any mercy given. Will Charmy defeat Rodrigo? Just what did Rodrigo mean about Charmy's past? Will Jet ever forgive himself for letting Storm go? Find out soon!