Pearl: Hello, dear readers! Welcome back to another Sid chapter! Yes, out hybrids have escaped the prison at last, but things are far from over! Still… I think most of you all will like this chapter. I know Truephan and I enjoyed writing it. It's probably even one my favorites… heh! Well, happy reading!
A/N: truephan here: Hello again, everybodee. Thanks again for all your wonderful reviews and support. We thrive on it! Now back to the story….Of course y'all have already guessed that even more mayhem is in store for everyone, right? So, are y'all ready for more things happening in the Realm Beyond Time? I certainly am! So, without much more ado, time to roll it! Enjoy!
Chapter 25: Reap What You Sow
The next day in the Real World soon arrived. But back in the Realm Beyond Time, the Observants remained oblivious to the hybrids' escape…
Or, how Iluzisto's had gained full power…
But what the Observant Council was focused on during this entire time was that today was the proper time for the execution of Danny Phantom and Vlad Plasmius. Except that, the Prison Head Iluzisto, who was supposed to be bringing the condemned before the Council for the last time, had yet to arrive with them at the Council room.
It was irritating at best. Everything had been already arranged and properly prepared, too. The requirements for the bonds surrounding their Ceremonio de Ekzekuto (1) had already been fulfilled. The prisoners had been given a fair trial and had been rightfully found guilty to the highest degree. They had further been marked for execution by the brands on their foreheads; and lastly, the prisoners were in proper condition and had time to repose before this day. So through it all, the Observants had upheld their laws.
All that was left now was to execute their Ceremonio de Ekzekuto through the bonds of Timeless Magic.
They just needed the hybrids here. After all, every time in the past that they had to perform this type of execution, they never did it without the prisoners present—nor without the entire Council there.
The difference this time was that it wasn't just the Council that had come to witness this particular execution. Every single Observant in existence was gathered here. And they were all waiting and eager to finally eliminate the half-ghosts and the threat they posed to Time and Existence.
Clockwork was also there, but would rather not have been. He had more important things to do. But Justeco had insisted upon it since he had been the prosecutor and he obliged.
However, as earthy time passed, the Observants began to grow even more impatient.
"Does anyone know why the Prison Head has yet to arrive with the two prisoners?" Justeco asked, sitting on his chair with an unhappy expression.
He usually did not voice such improper questions to the Council in general. At any other time, the leader of the Observants would have simply asked his question directly to the Master Liaison; but Okulo had left a moment ago to see what was keeping Iluzisto.
But when no one answered, the judge quickly looked over at Spektanto and pointedly demanded, "Well?"
The former defender quickly raised his arms and answered, "Do not gaze at me! My work with those two dangerous creatures is done."
"Clockwork?" Justeco questioned, sounding more aggravated.
The Time Master, who had been calmly fiddling with the clock on his staff, paused; but then passively looking at Justeco, he replied, "I'm sorry…Did you say something?"
The judge all but growled; but right then, Okulo finally floated in.
But he was alone.
Pulling the liaison aside to avoid a scene, Justeco quietly demanded, "Okulo! Where are the Prison Head and the prisoners?"
The liaison's eye almost curved into an evil smile; but he forced himself to keep a calm expression. He knew exactly what had happened just yesterday. And although he had initially been furious when Iluzisto had told him the crossbreeds had escaped, that anger had turned into excitement when the Prison Head had further told him that the creatures had not gotten away without Iluzisto getting from them what he needed for their next plans to be set in motion.
Okulo knew exactly what was taking Iluzisto so long to arrive, but he wasn't about to spoil the 'surprise' for the Observants…
And… Okulo had just one more part to play, one other little detail that needed to be cleaned up… He needed to make sure those half-ghosts would not cause him and Iluzisto any future troubles…
Quietly clearing his throat and ignoring the annoying fact that Konsilisto had joined them—even when he had expected it—Okulo replied, "It seems he got caught up with his duties in the prison. He is… speaking with his guards. But he has informed me that he would be here shortly. I am sure it will not be much longer…"
"Not much longer?" Justeco repeated, affronted. "Everyone is waiting! Whatever is keeping him can wait until after the hybrids' execution! No, this is unacceptable! Master Liaison, return to the prison at once and order the Prison Head in my name to bring Prisoners 485 and 484 to this council room at once!"
Okulo raised a finger to protest, though he respectively said, "I will do as you order, High Tribune. However, if I may suggest something…" And seeing the annoyed, but expectant, look on Justeco, the liaison continued, "I believe we all agree that it is highly improper to delay such a serious and delicate ceremony as is the Ceremonio de Ekzekuto. And it has been delayed enough. I suggest that we begin the ceremony without the prisoners present. After all, the requirements have been met. The brand they wear has marked them for this moment; therefore, they do not need to be present. Why do we not activate the Timeless Magic Spell now, while we wait for their arrival? In this way, when they do arrive, all that will be left is to see through the final act of the Ceremonio de Ekzekuto."
Justeco's eye narrowed a bit, though he looked uncertain. He then glanced at the High Council members, and saw they were whispering among each other.
"That…," the High Tribune began hesitantly. But he then suddenly shook his head, "Your suggestion sounds appropriate and beneficial… However, we have never begun this ceremony without the condemned present. They have a right to witness the order of their execution… No, Master Liaison. Your suggestion is not proper."
"With all due respect, High Tribune, I find it even more improper to continue to keep all the Observants waiting any longer." Okulo paused for a second for effect, before asking, "What example and image will the Observant High Council project towards our other fellow Observants when we allow two condemned criminals to dictate our proceedings, especially one as sacred as the Ceremonio de Ekzekuto?"
This time, the murmuring got louder, and Justeco glanced nervously around the room. However, before he could say anything Okulo added more.
"As the leader of the Observants and High Tribune of the Observant High Council," he said with a reverent voice, "it is in your right to resolve unexpected matters such as this current delay. After all, we respect your judgment and expect your wise leadership to guide us when we are caught in unwanted dilemmas… "
Justeco almost cringed at those words, but his counselor suddenly tugged on his cloak and grabbed his attention.
"Perhaps we should heed the Master Liaison's suggestion, Justeco," Konsilisto whispered to him. "We do not want anyone to believe that we are dependent on outsiders to carry out our proceedings, nor do you we want others to believe you are not superior enough to make decisions outside normal circumstances…"
Justeco sighed, still reluctant. He surely hated breaking customs. And… he also still firmly believed that the hybrids deserved to be present and see the entire proceedings of the Ceremonio de Ekzekuto. But… this had indeed been delayed enough. And… he also didn't want to appear weak or indecisive among those who looked up to him for guidance.
"Very well," Justeco at last said. "But make sure Iluzisto has brought the prisoners here for the very end, Okulo."
"I will send word to him at once, High Tribune and return post haste," Okulo said with feigned respect before darting outside the room. In reality, however, it was all for appearance…
Turning to the rest of the room and raising his voice, the High Tribune then announced, "If there is no objection from the High Council, then we will step outside our normal order and begin the ceremony without the prisoners' presence once Okulo returns. At least, we can set the Timeless Spell while we wait for their arrival. What say you Observant High Council?"
"Aye! Proceed!" they responded all too quickly, clearly also wanting to get started already.
Clockwork raised an eyebrow with the Observants decision before he glanced over at Okulo who was barely containing his smugness. The Time Master resisted the urge to shake his head and just quietly continued to watch his employers.
Justeco glanced at the opening door of the Council room. Okulo had returned. Once the doors had closed again, he sighed before turning his attention to his head guard.
"Antovid, dismiss the guards to the outside of the courtroom so that we may begin," Justeco ordered.
Okulo almost grinned in triumph. He also knew that only Observants and those they deemed worthy were entitled to be present for that part of the ceremony, which meant that most of the guards had to be sent out of the courtroom for a moment. In fact, only the Head Guard would be allowed to be present for the next proceedings; and, of course, the rest of the Observant guards would be just outside the doors courtroom—should they be needed…
"Yes, Justeco… send them out," Okulo thought with amusement.
Seeing and hearing the doors close and checking that only the Head Guard was left, the High Tribune continued.
"Observant High Council and fellow Observants. We are gathered here today to see through our rightful laws and ways. The Ceremonio de Ekzekuto is indeed a delicate and sacred ritual, one which we do not bestow upon just anyone or without certain requirements. However, in this occasion, we are once again faced with the duty and burden to call upon this proper form of execution in order to uphold for what we stand: Justice."
Justeco paused for a moment before continuing, "As the watchers of the Realms of Time and Existence, we dedicate our own existence to protecting their proper continuance. That means that although we do not directly interfere, we have the responsibility of making sure that nothing threatens either of these two Entities' own existence. But, when a threat does arise on rare occasions, it is our further duty to find a solution, and if necessary, to eliminate that threat. In this current instance, however, we are faced with something that we have never seen in all our existence: We are now being faced with not just one threat to the time line and all that exists, but two. Danny Phantom and Vlad Plasmius—the only true half-ghosts in existence—have been found guilty of several crimes against Time and Existence. And after having properly examined the weight of the threat they pose, it has been decided by this Observant High Council, that that weight is too great to allow their continuing existence. We are left, then, with the regrettable solution of eliminating them from the timeline permanently."
"However," Justeco added in the same grave voice. "Their elimination will be carried out in accordance to the Observant Laws. The Ceremonio de Ekzekuto is preformed through Timeless Magic. And although Prisoners 484 and 485 are yet to be present, they have been marked for execution. And therefore, we will begin the Timeless Magic Spell… Observant High Council, please rise and extend your hands…"
Once the council members, including Konsilisto, extended their hands towards the center of the room, Justeco did the same.
"In accordance to our laws, we must now unite as one to call upon the powers bestowed upon us," Justeco said as his hand began to glow not with its regular purple energy, but with blood-red energy as only proper for this grave occasion.
And then the High Tribune began to summon their spell, "Mi, Kapo Observema Justeco, hodiaŭ alvok al la potenco de Sentempa Magio plenumi nian dekreton kaj efektivig justecon tra la Ceremonio de Ekzekuto." (2)
"Las ĝi esti sekve, por ni estas kiel unu akordo por ĉiuj vidi kaj aŭdi," (3) the rest of the Observants chanted after him.
"Sentempa Magio Sorĉo, fari vin veran hodiaŭ kaj gvidilo vi tiuj ni havas observitan kaj markis kiel minacoj." (4) Justeco continued.
"Las ĝi esti sekve, por ni estas kiel unu akordo por ĉiuj vidi kaj aŭdi."
Once again, Justeco continued, "Helpo nin protekti Tempon kaj Ekzisto de ilia malbonega kaj malordo. Don ni justeco kaj liveri ĝin tiuj mark la momento ni don la vorto de ilia pereo." (5)
"Las ĝi esti sekve, por ni estas kiel unu akordo por ĉiuj vidi kaj aŭdi," the council repeated one last time.
The second after they finished, a red beam shot out of Justeco's hand, followed by similar beams the color of spilt human blood from the rest of the High Council. The beams joined together and illuminated the room with their power. But shortly after they joined, the rays turned black with their murderous intent before molding into a sphere which floated in the center of the room.
The sphere, however, soon began to mold until it turned into two sets of recognizable numbers: '484' and '485'.
For a few seconds, the black energy-molded numbers floated there, before suddenly, they began to crack. In the next instant, the two sets of numbers exploded into shards of light which vanished into the atmosphere, leaving behind a chilling wind as cold as… death.
The Observants all lowered their hands before Justeco said, "The spell has been set. The prisoners must now be presented in front of this Council to carry out the final act…" He paused a moment before announcing what he had expected, "Iluzisto, if you could…"
However, when Justeco looked towards the door, he realized that Iluzisto and the prisoners were still not present!
Now furious, Justeco pointed a finger at Okulo and demanded, "Master Liaison! Seek out the Master Prison Head at once! His irresponsibility is beyond an outrage now!"
This time, Okulo became a bit nervous, now also agreeing that Iluzisto had delayed enough.
But before the liaison could think of what to do, a calm and confident voice suddenly sounded from nowhere within the room and quickly captured everyone's attention.
"No need to send your errand boy twice, Justeco. I am here," Iluzisto said as he came out of his stealth mode and slowly floated into the center of the room, his eye slightly curved into what seemed to be an amused smile.
Okulo jolted at what Iluzisto had just called him. But although it angered him, the liaison kept quiet, knowing there were more important things going on right now…
The judge blinked, also thrown off by the Prison Head's sudden appearance, and more importantly, his lack of respect by calling him by his name, and…
"Where are the prisoners, Prison Head?" Justeco asked, baffled.
"Oh, you mean the crossbreeds… Ah, yes…. They have escaped," Iluzisto calmly answered, placing his hands behind his back to hide the fact that the bracelets that once restrained his power and kept him in the time stream were gone.
"What?" the judge exclaimed, while the others matched his alarm with gasps. "How is that possible? And why have you not gone after them?"
The illusionist spirit really didn't care how the crossbreeds had ultimately escaped; but they were indeed gone. His guards had searched everywhere for them yesterday after they somehow disappeared from the hallway in which, from the reports of his guards, had all the indications that the hybrids had been trapped. But even when his guards had been thorough in that search, they found nothing. Though Iluzisto was impressed that the crossbreeds had somehow managed to just 'vanish', he, too, had wondered how, especially since his guards had insisted that they had not gotten past them. They had had them trapped.
Iluzisto ultimately had to conclude the only logical outcome: the crossbreeds had somehow figured out how the Realm Doors worked and used one of them to escape. How? He did not know that, either. Still, he knew that the crossbreeds could not have done that without help. That infernal Kvargvid had created enough of a distraction and Iluzisto wouldn't be surprised if that creature had been the one responsible for showing the crossbreeds how to open the Realm Doors….
Then, there were those human children and that one ghost. Iluzisto was just as astounded that they had been able to get into this fortress, much less get the crossbreeds out of the cells and successfully escape. That was a more interesting question for him since those outsiders couldn't have possibly known the 'ins and outs' of this complex. But really, none of that mattered for now.
The edges of Iluzisto's eye curved higher into a smirk. "'How' is indeed a good question. But there will be plenty of time for all of that later. After all, I cannot just let them escape when I did promise myself to finish them off with my own hands. That… and, I believe they can still be quite useful," he added evilly.
Justeco tensed and warily asked, "What do you speak of, Iluzisto?"
The illusionist spirit chuckled. "Your arrogance truly blinds you—all of you," he said, sparing a glance around the room and seeing everyone was there—just as he wanted…
All the Observants gasped before Konsilisto, who had been standing on the right of Justeco, quickly moved forward a bit and hissed, "How dare you speak to the High Tribune—to all of us—in that manner?"
"As easily as this..," Iluzisto said evilly before suddenly aiming his staff at Konsilisto and firing a blast at his chest.
Justeco jolted with another gasp, while the other Observants now looked horrified—well, all except for Okulo, who was still quietly watching the scene unfold with sick amusement.
Meanwhile, Clockwork just kept his staff close to him, looking a little tense; but otherwise, just kept a firm frown on his face as Iluizsto turned against his own kind...
But when the High Tribune was too stunned from the attack on his counselor to react, the head Observant Guard, Antovid, stepped forward in defense.
"Guards!" he shouted, knowing the rest of his companions were just outside the council room doors.
But no one came.
This time, the edges of Iluzisto's eye curved into an evil grin at the sight of the stunned Head Observant Guard. "Guards?" he mocked. "Oh, you mean these guards…"
The main door to the council room abruptly opened and the Observants gasped again when they saw Iluzisto's own loyal prison guards walk in with the Observant guards bound and gagged.
Antovid instantly floated back when all the Observant guards were thrown right in front of him.
"What is wrong, Antovid?" Iluzisto taunted when the Head Guard could only stare wide-eyed at all his restrained and helpless companions. "Where are your mocking words and leers at me now?" But when the remaining Observant guard still said nothing, the illusionist spirit chuckled and added, "Finally speechless, I see…"
"But I am not!" Justeco abruptly exclaimed, after helping Konsilisto get back up. The leader of the Observants was thankful to see his counselor was only stunned and would be okay.
However, Justeco was now furious and it showed through his entire being as he sneered, "You are a fool, Iluzisto! I do not know what you are planning to accomplish, but you will do nothing! You might have been granted some power, but it is not enough! And it will never be enough to do anything as long as you wear those power-restraining bands!"
"The bands?" Iluzisto asked innocently. "Yes… But there is one problem with them," he added with a sigh before he raised his arms a bit and finally showed his wrists. "I seem to have lost them."
"No!" Justeco gasped out. "How…?" But realizing how serious this was, the High Tribune turned his eye to Okulo and cried out, "Master Liaison! Subdue this treacherous Observant at once!"
But Iluzisto abruptly threw his head back and laughed.
"Okulo!" Justeco shouted again, both confused and disconcerted when the Prison Liaison did not move a muscle.
Okulo finally spoke up, cold smugness in his voice, "Forgive me, respectable High Tribune, but I have decided I no longer care to serve under you… Therefore, I will not heed your decree…"
Justeco's eye further widened—if it was possible at this point. However, he looked as horrified as he did surprised. He had not expected this at all!
But before the judge or any of the Observants—who all looked as alarmed—could say anything, Iluzisto mockingly interjected, "Now, Now, Master Liaison. Let us not be unfair. He is still the leader of the Observants, after all. I think you should respect his command. You should subdue the 'treacherous Observant'…"
Okulo looked at Iluzisto for a moment, and understanding his underlying message, the edges of the liaison's eye curved evilly as he replied back, "I suppose you are right…" Okulo pulled out his green orb and it began to pulse darkly with his power as he turned his eyes to Justeco and sneered, "I will subdue that treacherous Observant for you…"
The Observants cried out in alarm when Okulo suddenly aimed his orb at Justeco and fired a green beam right at his chest. Even Clockwork, who had still been quietly watching everything, frowned a bit in surprise.
The Time Master was a lot more interested in these turn-of-events than he let on. He had known, of course, of Iluzisto's plans up until he had had those bands on, which had kept him in the timeline and in Clockwork's 'line of vision.' But Okulo was a spirit, as were all the Observants. And Clockwork could not see their actions through the timeline. So, although the Time Master had foreseen this would happen through Iluzisto's previous actions in the timeline, Clockwork didn't really know how it would all end—especially for the Observants…
Or, for him…
"No!" Konsilisto cried out when his leader wheezed in pain and dropped to his hands and spectral tail after Okulo's beam penetrated him.
Okulo's eye narrowed as he stepped forward and said, "You are not worthy of being our leader, Justeco! Look at how weak you are compared to me!"
"I-I do not understand…," the judge answered through the pain in his chest. "W-Why are you doing this? Why are you helping Iluzisto? I have always treated you with respect, Okulo!"
"Ingrate! You do not know the meaning of respect!" Okulo angrily hissed. "I have served you unconditionally for centuries and all you have done is to use me to do your biddings! Do you think I am so worthless that you have forced me to interact and meddle all this time with lower life-forms and abominations? My power and intelligence deserve more than being some errand and stable boy for the disgusting creatures you lock up in that filthy speck of a prison! As I said, you do not deserve to be called the 'Head Observant!' And I further say that the time has come within our timeless realm for a true change—a new era!"
Okulo gripped his orb tighter before he evilly said, "My orb now holds complete control of your core, Justeco. And you will do as I command. Rise and come forward…"
Konsilisto gasped as his leader was forced to do just that; but although he moved forward to aid Justeco, Iluzisto quickly raised his staff in silent threat at the counselor, forcing him to halt and just watch helplessly as Justeco was controlled by Okulo's orb.
Once Justeco was floating right in front of Okulo, the High Tribune stuttered out, "You are behind this… You somehow helped Iluzisto break his controlling-bands!"
Okulo chuckled. "I have been doing a lot more than that. As you are now, Iluzisto is also bound to me. He does as I say."
Iluzisto said nothing to the comment, though there was an unreadable spark in his eye…
"Do you see, Justeco?" Okulo continued. "I am the true mastermind behind this mutiny! I am the one with the true power! And once I realized it, I further understood that in all this time I have never been rightfully appreciated by any of you. You never acknowledged how special, how important I was. But no matter now. I have at last rectified your and everyone else's mistake. Fear not, though, I will bring about a new order to our kind. I will make the Observants the superior beings we are. No more of this 'watching on the sidelines and letting others do our biddings!' No! We will seize control of our destiny and bring down all those inferior creatures who do not submit to the Observants' laws! And we will do it with how it should be done: with true power and force!"
"What is this blasphemy of which you speak?" Konsilisto whispered out. "That goes against all of our Observant laws and ethics. And, you talk as if…"
"As if I was the leader of the Observants?" Okulo finished, his eye somehow curving into a grin.
All the Observants' own eyes filled with shock at their realization.
Okulo laughed before looking at Justeco and saying, "It is time I take my rightful place. And that rightful place just so happens to be where you are. Justeco…, bow before your new leader."
Justeco grunted as his core was seized by Okulo's power yet again and he dropped down in front of the former liaison.
Everyone could only stare on in dread, all too fearful to move even a muscle to help their former leader. Even the smug Antovid was frozen in place, seemingly forgetting his responsibility to protect the Observants in favor of preserving his own after-life.
And Clockwork just... watched.
"No…," Konsilisto choked out. "You cannot do this! You cannot just force yourself to be our leader!"
Okulo's eye narrowed at the counselor and he raised his orb at him as he darkly asked, "And what are you going to do about it, fool? Mark my words. Anyone who does not accept and respect me as their leader will be sentence to eternal imprisonment at Iluzisto's prison at my command!"
"W-We are your kin. You cannot do that to us, Okulo," Konsilisto fearfully said, though he floated back a bit in fear of the orb being aimed at him.
"Believe me, it is not so hard to betray your kind when they have betrayed you, first, Konsilisto…," Iluzisto suddenly spoke up.
But raising his gaze from where he was prostrated on the ground, Justeco turned his head to the only one who could help them now…
"Clockwork… s-stop them!" the former leader of the Observants gasped out.
But before the Time Master could say or do anything, Iluzisto just laughed. "Clockwork? What is he going to do? Freeze us in time?" The evil spirit glanced over at the quiet and pokerfaced Time Master; but seeing no reaction from him, Iluzisto looked back over at Justeco and haughtily reminded him, "I have destroyed the bands, Justeco, and that means the Time Master has no power over me… In fact, he has no power here at all. Among his own kind, among those outside the timeline, he is as weak as you are… It is sad, really…"
Now more hopeful when he could see that Clockwork was still on their side, Konsilisto spoke up again, "His time powers might not affect spirits, but he is more powerful than you both!" And growing even bolder with that fact, the counselor focused on the Time Master and demanded, "Clockwork! In the name of the High Tribune Justeco, subdue Iluzisto and Okulo at once!"
But the time spirit just frowned at Justeco on the ground before looking over at the High Counselor and calmly replying, "No."
Konsilisto glared at the time spirit and gasped, "No?"
"I will not help you," Clockwork clarified coldly.
The counselor's eye widened in disbelief.
And though Justeco was just as shocked by the Time Master's refusal, he stirred with sudden fury now that even Clockwork had turned his back on him!
Justeco strained to look at the time spirit and struggled to sound demanding as he uttered, "Do not forget you work for us, Clockwork! Your duties are to us! You serve us!"
"My duties are to the timeline. And you all have just severely jeopardized it," Clockwork answered, for once an actual glare on his face. "I will not clean up the mess you Observants have made—not this time."
Up to this point, all the Observants had been too horrified to do anything. Their after-lives had been ones of passivity and indifferent observing for so long that they were numb at these turn of events. But now that it finally dawned on them that they were in real danger, panic broke out among them, and all those that had once been sitting on the rows of seats around the room, abruptly jolted and fled towards the nearest exit.
But Iluzisto quickly raised his staff and an illusion of a wall of purple flames suddenly lined the entire circular room blocking all the possible escapes.
"Leaving so soon? But the fun is just about to start," Iluzisto said evilly, and his guards made his point clear by aiming their energy-sticks at the Observants and forcing them to back away from the exits.
"Why are you doing this, Iluzisto? How are you doing this?" Justeco asked in shock.
It just still made no sense! Even with Okulo's help, there was no foreseeable way for Iluzisto to free himself of those power-inhibitors as he had! They were practically indestructible! How had he done it?
But Iluzisto ignored the judge and turned his dark gaze on Clockwork. "So…you really are not going to try to stop me?"
"Even if I wanted, I could not stop you now," Clockwork calmly replied.
"True," Iluzisto said smugly. "But… I am not buying your submissive act, Clockwork. I know how your clever mind works. And… I know how your staff is the source of your power and more."
Clockwork didn't respond.
But Iluzisto suddenly glared menacingly at the time spirit and aimed his own staff at Clockwork. "Yield me your staff, Time Master," he suddenly demanded.
"I said I would not help the Observants. However, that does not mean I will help you, Iluzisto. I will not give you my Time Staff," Clockwork answered seriously.
"You forget, Time Master, that I was once an Observant," Iluzisto answered back smugly. "And although the Observants falsely say that they do not interfere with the timeline, they—and I—have the ability to will it to some extent. After all, we can see through it at certain times. And that means, I can easily take control of your Time Staff."
"You would have to take it from me, first," Clockwork answered coolly.
"Why of course…," Iluzisto said in the same smug voice and suddenly used his illusionist power on the time spirit.
Clockwork tensed, but then frowned when his staff suddenly disappeared from his hand. He stared back at Iluzisto and said, "An illusion. I know my staff is still in my hand, Iluzisto."
"Perhaps. But if you cannot see it, how are you going to keep it from me? And how are you going to use it to protect yourself?"
Clockwork jolted when Iluzisto suddenly fired a blast in his direction; but he instinctively reacted and raised one of his hands in front of him, creating a blue barrier to protect himself.
The purple beam violently ricocheted away from Clockwork's shield. But several Observants gasped in dread before ducking and narrowly avoiding the illusionist spirit's ray.
Clockwork narrowed his eyes and then counter-attacked, throwing his own blue beam at the illusionist spirit.
Iluzisto chuckled darkly at the challenge and aimed his black weapon as Clockwork's ray neared him.
Suddenly, Iluzisto's black weapon seemed to 'suck' Clockwork's beam right into it, just like a black hole sucks in anything that comes near it. An instant later, however, Iluzisto was snapping his black weapon behind him before thrusting it forward with a cracking sound at Clockwork. That same blue energy ray then shot right back out of it, only that it was more solid and still attached to the tip of the black weapon. And just like a bullwhip, the blue glowing strand wrapped itself tightly around the Time Master before he could react.
And the moment it did, Clockwork's arms were forcefully pinned at his sides and a thump sounded at his feet. The Time Master then knew he had just dropped his staff—as Iluzisto had wanted.
The illusionist spirit wasted no time and levitated the now visible staff before drawing it to him. Clutching it tightly, Iluzisto's eye glistened in triumph. He was right. That had all been too easy….all because his incredible, crossbreed-enhanced energy had been able to squash whatever power the time spirit threw at him as easily as a small insect! Truly, now that he no longer had his inhibiting bands, Clockwork had no real power or control over him!
But the instant his hand had wrapped around the Time Staff, the rod's blue glow faded and then lit up with a purple hue, while the clock on the top of the staff turned a dark plum.
Clockwork's frown deepened but he said and did nothing, even as the illusion of the bullwhip pinning his arms vanished and his hands were freed once again.
The Observants, on the other hand, backed up some more from Iluzisto and his guards, while Justeco and Konsilisto stared on in dread.
Iluzisto sighed, feeling his hunger becoming more satisfied at the feel of the Time Staff's power. He knew only those with some form of time-power or magic could command it. And, conveniently, being an Observant, that included him. Perhaps, he could not command it to the extent that the Time Master could, but it would still serve its purpose. And as he grew more powerful, Iluzisto was sure he would eventually master it… completely.
Meanwhile, Okulo's eye had widened in surprise. In fact, he was so surprised that Iluzisto had just taken Clockwork's staff that the liaison lost slight control of Justeco, who instantly took the opportunity to rise and back away from the two evil spirits.
However, before Okulo could even think about what the Prison Head was doing, Iluzisto, looked over at Antovid and asked, "Do you have your energy-cuffs on you?"
The Observant Guard, who had hoped to stay in the background, gasped at being addressed, but then fearfully nodded.
"Good. Restrain him completely," Iluzisto commanded, gesturing with his head to Clockwork.
Antovid's eyes widened behind his helmet. "I… No! I cannot!"
Iluzisto immediately aimed his own staff at the guard and fired it.
"No!" Justeco exclaimed when their remaining free guard was swallowed up into a ball of purple energy. Antovid's ghostly body convulsed under the vengeful purple power, twisting and turning in agony until the hand shackles were shaken from him. As soon as Iluzisto heard the clang of the manacles on the floor, he flicked his wrist. Instantly, a purple lightning bolt charged through the still-encased Antovid and the hapless Observant guard instantly vaporized, leaving a pile of glowing ashes raining upon the handcuffs already on the ground.
All of the Observants were stunned to silence and dread at what they had just witnessed.
Iluzisto ordered one of his own guards, "Retrieve the cuffs from what's left of that pathetic maggot. I waited too long to repay him for all of his foul insults….And now, it's time to finish my other priorities…"
As his subordinate did as was commanded to him, the illusionist spirit's glare homed in on Konsilisto before he said, "You. Come here."
Justeco suddenly turned defensive. "Leave him be, Iluzisto!"
But the Prison Head narrowed his eye further and darkly said, "Do not oppose me, Justeco. Or, you will be the next I execute."
That was enough to jolt Okulo out of his shock. H-He executed Antovid? And he was threatening to execute again? What was Iluzisto talking about? They agreed that they would only punish those Observants who would not accept Okulo as their new leader. But they had said nothing about destroying anyone!
Okulo gripped his orb again and it suddenly began to burn green. "What are you doing, Iluzisto?" he demanded. "You are swaying from my plans, and I do not like it!"
Iluzisto quickly turned his attention to his ally and the corners of his eye curved as he innocently answered, "I do not understand how I am swaying from your plans, Master Liaison. You are now the leader of the Observants. And the others are clearly too afraid to do anything against you. Is that not what you wanted?"
Okulo's glare faltered and he replied, "Y-Yes, but we were not supposed to condemn anyone to the Oblivion! They are our race, Iluzisto. And our guards are loyal to us! What you just did is repugnant to all that is proper and all that we hold dear! I have not ordered you to harm anyone, so stand down! And… And give me Clockwork's staff! That weapon now belongs to me! I am now the Head Observant, and only I hold the right to control the Time Master and his power!"
Iluzisto stared down at the time staff in his hand, as if considering Okulo's command.
"Hmm… No," Iluzisto calmly replied at last, looking back at Okulo. "No, I do not think I will."
Okulo jolted, but then his eye narrowed. "What?"
"I said, I will not give you Clockwork's staff, nor will I stand down. Why would I? I have only just started. In fact, perhaps now would be a good time to mention that I have decided to change our plans. I will not imprison anyone. No, I think I prefer something more…final. I am going to send every single Observant into the Oblivion."
Okulo gasped. "Are you insane? That is genocide! You are going to extinct our entire race?"
Iluzisto happily nodded. "Correct. Every. Last. One. Well, except for me, of course…"
The Observants only pressed further away from the evil Observants, clearly scared out of their minds with the promise of their demise.
Okulo, however, stared in alarm for a moment; but once the significance of the Prison Head's last words finally sunk in, the liaison quickly raised his hand and aimed his orb at Iluzisto.
"You think you can turn against me?" Okulo sneered. "Fool. You are bound to me! You might have escaped the High Council's controlling bands, but you are still on my leash. And do you know what humans do to their inferior pets when they turn on them? They put them down. You have outlasted your usefulness…. Goodbye, Iluzisto! "
A beam of green energy shot out of the orb and right into Iluzisto's core…
But this time, it did nothing!
Okulo gasped before quickly firing again, only to end up with the same results. "No, this cannot be! Why are you not succumbing to my orb's power? Why is it not destroying your core?"
Iluzisto chuckled before he said, "Really, Okulo. Must I explain to you how your own orb works? Very well, then. I have been intently and secretly studying it myself for some time, so I suppose I can give you a little lesson…"
Iluzisto lightly touched the glowing purple clock-piece at the top of Clockwork's staff as he calmly explained, "This Time Staff is such an amazing creation. Those with weak minds can only understand so little when one tells them what it is and what it does. …Is that not right, Clockwork?"
But the Time Master still kept quiet, his seemingly indifferent eyes locked on Iluzisto as the illusionist spirit continued to caress his stolen staff.
Iluzisto chuckled again, knowing Clockwork was internally fuming in spite of his emotionless stare. Still, he turned back to Okulo and continued, "Your orb is also a very unique piece. Not many understand how we spirits have such unique gifts and powers, either. And ironically, very few spirits themselves understand that as strong as we are against those within the grasps of time, we are weak against our own kind. I suppose it keeps us from turning on each other—or, from it rarely happening, anyway!" Iluzisto laughed some more.
But Okulo looked as confused as ever, and a growing fear was rapidly overcoming his boldness.
"I-I still do not understand…"
Iluzisto's amused look abruptly turned into a dark glare as he said, "You brainless maggot! Your orb is unique because it can work against ghosts and spirits! But the Time Staff negates your orb's influence against the holder of the Time Staff because it keeps me, its new master, protected from other spirit's powers and timeless magic! In short, your orb and any other Observant power are useless against me as long as I hold this Time Staff! Why else do you think the Observants have never been able to truly control Clockwork? Fool, he's more powerful than any of you! He only serves under you because somewhere in his manipulative and conniving mind, it conveniences him!"
Clockwork blinked in surprise at the indirect compliment, though he knew it was only uttered by the evil spirit because Iluzisto hated the Observants more than him. Still, it was both amusing and ironic. Iluzisto was very right, of course… more than he realized.
Still, the Time Master kept his thoughts and emotions to himself and just quietly continued to watch—doing absolutely nothing as things turned from bad to worse….
Then again, Clockwork had uttered the truth: he really could do nothing against Iluzisto. The spirit was also right in saying that no matter how powerful any other given spirit was, it was all but powerless against its own kind….unless that spirit possessed an instrument of mysterious origins… Another irony, the time spirit supposed.
"Do not fret, though, I will permit you to keep your title as 'Head Observant'," Iluzisto said mockingly at Okulo.
But although Okulo was now too shocked and terrified to say anything, Justeco spoke up again. "Okulo, you ignorant spirit! Did you truly think you could control Iluzisto? Have you forgotten all he has done—why we were forced to restrain him and keep him from his true potential?"
Okulo turned to look at Justeco before he spat back in a trembling voice, "Y-You are just as ignorant! You and the High Council granted him power! Without it—"
"Silence!" Iluzisto commanded sternly. "You will have plenty of time to argue among each other for who is to blame. For now…," He extended a hand at Okulo and further demanded, "Hand over your orb, Master Liaison."
Now, Okulo really panicked and he suddenly pleaded, "No, not my orb! Please, Iluzisto! My orb is sacred to me!"
But when he saw Iluzisto's eye flash red, Okulo recoiled in fear before extending his trembling hand still clutching his orb.
"No! What are you doing? Do not give it to him!" Justeco exclaimed, hoping to convince Okulo to snatch it back. He was certain of what would happen next if Okulo yielded Iluzisto his orb…
Iluzisto moved over to Okulo and calmly took the orb from the liaison, and the magical crystal turned purple with the touch of his power.
"Okulo!" Justeco yelled in warning again.
"Silence, Justeco," Iluzisto commanded evilly and the orb pulsed a deeper purple, immediately forcing the former Head Observant to stop talking.
Okulo floated back a bit as Iluzisto's eye turned back to him. "Thank you, Okulo. You have been most helpful. For that, I will spare you from the fate I have in mind for the rest of the Observants."
Okulo swallowed before quietly stuttering out, "Y-You w-will?"
"Yes," Iluzisto assured him with a glimmer in his eye, before he suddenly aimed the orb in his hand at its former master.
"No!" Okulo gasped out, raising his hands in a plea. "Iluzisto, I helped you gain freedom! I helped you with all your plans and to keep them a secret from the High Council! If nothing else, at least grant me mercy!"
Iluzisto's eye curved evilly again. "But I am going to grant you mercy. You will not suffer, Okulo. I will make your destruction quick." His voice turned darker as he added, "No one controls me—especially not some pathetic coward like you. And it is now I who tells you: you have outlasted your usefulness. Good-bye, Master Liaison!"
"NO!" Okulo cried out when the orb Iluzisto was controlling fired a beam of purple energy at his chest. But as the orb grew darker, a pain consumed Okulo's core and he screamed in pain.
"No, stop!" Justeco wanted to cry out, but his voice would not work. Okulo might have been power-hungry, but the Head Observant had not wanted this fate for the liaison!
Okulo's cry soon vanished as his body ignited with a purple hue before he suddenly exploded into sparks of bright light which burst out like shattered glass.
However, when it was over, a lone white sphere remained floating in the place of Okulo before the orb in Iluzisto's hand somehow pulled it towards it; and in an instant, it was absorbed into it.
Iluzisto curiously studied the orb as its bright glow returned back to its normal intensity. He knew that the orb had the power to destroy the core of the ghost or spirit it controlled, or to absorb its power as its own; but it had been the first time Iluzisto had witnessed the orb's doing that. It had been quite interesting.
"Such a nice little toy," Iluzisto said to himself with a chuckle.
But suddenly remembering everyone, the Prison Head cleared his throat before slipping the orb into his cloak's pocket. He then smirked when he saw the panicked looks on all the Observants' eyes—even Justeco and Konsilisto looked horrified.
"So, where were we?" Iluzisto asked pleasantly before adding, "Oh, yes… Konsilisto, come forward…"
With the orb now put away, Justeco was able to speak up and he pleaded, "Iluzisto, I implore you. Leave him be. Leave them all be. I am at fault! It is I who has forced you under the Observants' control! Do to me as you want, but I beg you. Do not harm Konsilisto—or any of the Observants! They are your kin!"
"I have no kin," Iluzisto replied darkly. "And you—and they—will pay for what you have done to me… Konsilisto!"
Justeco looked about to protest again. But in spite being scared out of his mind, Konsilisto placed a hand on the judge's shoulder which silently told him to yield.
He then floated over to Iluzisto, and with a trembling and pained voice from his previous attack, the counselor quietly asked, "W-What do you want, Master Prison Head?"
"Trupo," Iluzisto called wickedly to his guard holding the energy-cuffs he had ordered to be picked out of the ashes of Antovid.
Seeing Iluzisto pointing to what he still had in his hands, the guard stepped forward and he handed them to his leader without hesitation.
Iluzisto then turned his attention back to Konsilisto and replied, "Here. I want you to restrain the Observants' little time guardian dog."
Konsilisto cowered when he knew exactly what the illusionist spirit was telling him to do. And with a trembling voice, he replied, "Even without his staff, Clockwork is—"
"Konsilisto," the Time Master suddenly interrupted him. And when the counselor turned his eye on him, Clockwork raised his hands in front of him in submission.
Konsilisto's eye widened. He didn't understand it! Why was Clockwork being so compliant when he could—?
"I am waiting," Iluzisto suddenly growled, pulling the counselor from his thoughts.
Konsilisto resisted the urge to glare at Iluzisto. Even if the evil spirit pretended otherwise, Konsilisto knew Iluzisto feared Clockwork, which was why he wouldn't risk restraining him himself.
But now knowing better than to say anything, Konsilisto finally took the power-inhibiting cuffs from the illusionist spirit. He then went over to Clockwork, who had his hands lowered back down again, though they were still in front of him.
"What are you doing?" Konsilisto whispered, his eye wide with uncertainty and disbelief.
"I told you: nothing," Clockwork answered back emotionlessly.
Konsilisto only slightly hesitated before stepping a bit closer to the time spirit before finally placing the shackles around his wrists, which instantly suppressed Clockwork's natural powers.
But as he did, no one—not even Konsilisto—saw how Clockwork discretely touched the counselor's robe inner pocket and pulled it slightly open….
Konsilisto turned back around to look at Iluzisto and asked, "Anything else?"
"Yes. Get out of the way," Iluzisto suddenly said evilly and fired a purple ball of energy in the counselor and Clockwork's direction.
Konsilisto gasped and turned intangible in time for the attack to go harmlessly through him. But now without any sort of power, the blast hit the Time Master directly in the chest and sent him slamming into the prosecutor's desk.
Clockwork hissed before he slowly stood from the broken pile of wood. "That's an excellent weapon the Observants gave you," he commented, controlling the pain in his voice as he slowly turned his gaze back to Iluzisto.
Justeco and rest of the Observants cringed at the fact, as well as, the implications of Clockwork's comment.
But Iluzisto hardly noticed the Observants' reaction and nodded proudly. "Yes, it is, is it not? Of course, I have perfected it with my power and added features," he said, lightly touching the sharp needle-end at the top. "But, you know, an improvement is needed… And thanks to you I have the best improvement right here in my other hand…"
Clockwork's eyes slightly narrowed when he watched Iluzisto bring his staff close to his own stolen Time Staff.
And the two suddenly merged into one, though overall the staff still looked more like Iluzisto's original black staff.
Konsilisto slowly backed away until he was back at Justeco's side.
But the judge grew even more furious and suddenly growled at Iluzisto, "You will not get away with this! You will be stopped!"
Iluzisto just laughed heartedly in response to the cliché remark. "And who exactly is going to stop me? Clockwork? Is he not the one who does your dirty work—as he calls it?" But when Justeco only glared back in response, Iluzisto continued. "Well, surely not Clockwork. As he said, he cannot stop me now, especially when I now control his Time Staff and when his new home, for what remains of his existence, will be my wonderful prison…"
The Observants gasped again when Iluzisto suddenly snapped his fingers and several guards grabbed Clockwork from behind and began to take him out of the Council room towards Iluzisto's prison.
"Make sure you give him a proper welcome," Iluzisto told his guards evilly.
Clockwork said nothing as he was led out, though he did glance back at Justeco one last time before he was taken away…
"Now that your time guardian dog has been caged, let us continue," Iluzisto said smugly. "You mentioned something about… stopping me?" He chuckled. "Are you going to stop me, Justeco? Are any of you going to stop me?" he asked, looking around the room full of Observants, who only cowered when Iluzisto looked at them.
"I think not," Iluzisto said smugly, his eyes back on Justeco. "Not to mention, I will be the last thing on your mind after what I plan to do with all of you. And thanks to Clockwork's staff and those crossbreeds' endless energy supply, I can now have my revenge! And… it will start with a trip to the Human World…"
The Observants began to panic when Iluzisto raised the staff in his hand and the whole room became encased in blue energy. With a flash of light, Iluzisto sent himself, the Observants, and several of his guards through a time portal. And they were suddenly all in a murky dark cave…
"W-What have you done?" the Observants gasped out, instantly realizing they have been forced out of their realm and into the human world—into the time stream!
"We are at a place called the Rockies," Iluzisto replied happily. "Well, one of the many caves around here, anyways. But this cave I have picked out just for all of you…" he told them evilly before he called, "Guards…"
The Observants cried in surprise when they were all suddenly scattered by Iluzisto's guards, and forced through the many tunnels in the cave by their goading weapons. They all cringed in fear at the foreign sounds the cave made, since no place in their realm dripped of unseen water or carried the echo of every little pebble that fell when they had brushed against a wall. Not only that, they had never felt so much darkness, coldness, or moisture before, and that unsettled them just as much.
The last tunnel they were herded through opened into a large common area, off of which were other halls that contained cells located in the deepest part of the cave.
And for some reason, Iluzisto ordered his guards to halt them at this common area for now…
Floating over to Justeco even as he watched his guards corral the rest of the Observants so they would all clearly hear him, Iluzisto asked with amusement, "So, you like it? It took me decades to construct this masterpiece—especially when I could only sneak out moments at a time—with Okulo's help, of course. It cannot compare to my prison back home, but it will serve its purpose now..."
"You cannot keep us here, Iluzisto!" Justeco exclaimed, along with the other panicking Observants. "We cannot survive in this realm!"
Iluzisto rolled his eye. "That is obviously the reason I brought you all here…" He then evilly added, "I know the true reason why you use Clockwork to do your biddings. I was once one of you all, after all. See, I know your weaknesses. And you all have quite a few. So, ultimately, the whole 'vowing not to interfere' is just your way of covering up those weaknesses. And the reason the Observants use Clockwork to do their dirty work is this: the moment an Observant leaves or is taken out of his precious Realm Beyond Time—the Observants' comfort zone—he becomes powerless. Well, except for myself, of course. If anything came out of being disowned by my own race and being forced into the timeline by those wretched bands it is that I have evolved immunity to that weakness. Not without a price of course."
He almost shoved his reddened eye into Justeco's own eye. And then ignoring how the former Head Observant had gasped and floated back in surprise and fear at the illusionist spirit's abruptness, Iluzisto still growled, "I can now repay you and all of the other Observant fools for all the pox and craters littering my body. These scars and blemishes ravished my body because you subjected me to time all those centuries. Had it not been for my special powers, I would have succumbed to the Oblivion long ago."
"We did not know!" Justeco gasped in defense, only to be hotly interrupted by the illusionist spirit.
"How could you not? How else would you explain my features slowly deteriorating, making me more than an outcast of camaraderie but also of body? I am forever deformed thanks to you all! Or had you never bothered to notice?"
Justeco's eye lowered to the ground. They had been indifferent to the changes in Iluzisto at first. But through the centuries, they had become accustomed to those deformities and never given them another thought.
The veins around Iluzisto's red pupil pulsed in hate as he said, "Unlike I now, you all cannot set foot in any realm found within the grasp of time for too long because it begins to affect you. You will become like me—and more!"
"You cannot destroy us, Iluzisto! You will cause a serious imbalance to all existence!" Konsilisto said fearfully.
"And you will perish with knowing that fact!" Iluzisto suddenly snarled. "Did you all really think you could keep me under your control? Did you believe you could lock me up in some spit of a prison doing your work for all eternity without consequence? You will pay in ectoplasm for that mistake! I am no one's puppet!"
"Please, we do not have your unique powers or endurance. Time will wilt us away in this place!" Spektanto suddenly exclaimed from within the crowded group. "Have mercy! You were once an Observant, too! Surely we can work things out! Please! Just give us a chance! Give us more time to mend our wrongdoings against you!"
Several Observants quickly agreed and began to plead with Iluzisto.
But Iluzisto just watched them, a satisfied gleam in his eye. Suddenly, though, he raised a hand, silencing their pleas. "Perhaps I am being too harsh... Considering our history together, I should show some mercy."
Justeco and Konsilisto glanced at each other and then tensed, while the others also tensed, but in anticipation and hope.
"I will do as you say, I will give you all more time…"
Before anyone could question what he meant, Iluzisto quickly raised his staff and slammed the bottom of it against the ground. The Observants cried out in fear as a flash of blue light expanded through the cave, shaking it briefly as the energy coated its stony gray walls with almost dark blue, pulsing energy. But at that very moment an energy-made clock face appeared and floated in the center of the room, its ticking second hand doubling in speed.
Gasps soon followed their surprise and the Observants began to stagger back, their physiques and appearance slowly becoming weaker, as if they were rapidly aging…
"What? Is this not what you asked for?" Iluzisto asked with an evil laugh. "You wanted more time; so I gladly complied! Time now moves twice as fast within this cave; and therefore, your destruction will come twice as swiftly! I say that you are not for long within this world's time line before you are extinct." The illusionist spirit paused a moment, lazily twirling the staff of his black weapon before he gripped it tightly and added with wickedness, "You know, I can speak from experience when I tell you that time is a strange phenomenon, which you will soon experience... To some who are not aware of it, it moves swiftly; to others who anxiously watch its passage, it seems to drag on endlessly. Yet, the same amount passes onward for all creatures caught up in it… But even though you do not know yet what I mean, I will estimate that you all will not survive more than seventy-two hours here—an eternity for you who have never experienced it. And I want you to have every excruciatingly long second of that slow and painful time thinking about all that you have done and have deserved!"
"You-You cannot…," Konsilisto began as he supported his now aging body against a wall. But it really wasn't the sudden awareness on how heavy his body felt that just now focused his thoughts. This was another kind of burden. The weight of his conscience. He knew this was all wrong. But then, the counselor felt a sudden stirring within him. It was a strange sensation, one he didn't really recognize or understand. Still, he felt a strange kind of strength from it, something that prompted him to glare weakly at Iluzisto and then abruptly shout, "Danny Phantom will stop you!"
Everyone suddenly stilled, including Justeco who looked shocked by Konsilisto's claim. But then the Observants looked at one another, a spark of hope returning to their gaze.
But a loud laugh jolted everyone again and they turned their eyes to Iluzisto.
"You all are such hypocrites!" Iluzisto exclaimed, still laughing. "You think the young crossbreed is going to help you? After all you did to him and the other crossbreed? After all you accused them of? After sentencing them to death?"
The illusionist spirit chuckled some more before amusedly adding, "No one is that stupidly noble. Besides, the boy stands no chance against me, not even with the older crossbreed at his side. I have deeply damaged their cores. They will probably never recover, in fact…"
"Regardless, they escaped," Justeco suddenly spoke up. "They escaped and you could do nothing about it!"
"Fool!" Iluzisto sneered. "Their escape was merely a fluke. Do you know the things I did to them? I have scarred them for what remains of their life! …You should have listened to them when they tried to tell you the truth. But, of course, you are all too closed-minded to listen to reason or to non-Observants, even when it was staring at you in the face. I barely had to even raise a finger to get you all to do my bidding, and for that, they hate you all as equally as I they despise me."
Iluzisto suddenly paused, but he then abruptly chuckled and added, "Even Clockwork warned you. He told you of the amount of power the crossbreeds have. He told you not to bring them together."
"You said you kept them separated!" Konsilisto snapped, though he was mostly angry with himself…
Iluzisto scoffed, his glare seeming to bore a hole right through Konsilisto with a sudden odd understanding. "You all are so pathetic. You have known Clockwork forever and you still cannot even interpret his words. You brought them together with this trial! And I just used it to my advantage." Iluzisto's eye curved into an evil smile as he said, "It was all too easy. I took their energy time and time again. You practically handed me two keys to my escape and revenge!"
"That is how you destroyed your bonds!" Konsilisto gasped. "You used their energies to regain your full strength—and more!"
"Well, that took you long enough," Iluzisto replied dryly. "But, yes. And do not forget that all the while I had them in my prison, your ignorance and haughtiness allowed me to torture them to an inch of their sanity and lives as well as steal their precious ectoplasmic life energies. And I intend to finish the job…"
The Observants tensed, not liking the sound of that.
"You know why the crossbreeds will not be able to help you, even if by some miracle they would want to?" Iluzisto asked darkly. "Because I plan to deliver your final verdict to them—just through my own means. And…" The evil spirit chuckled, "Thanks to you all having been stupid enough to activate your little 'doom spell' on the crossbreeds, it will be all too easy."
Justeco gasped. "No, it cannot be! You… You tricked us into commencing the Ceremonio de Ekzekuto beforehand! You wanted us to activate the Timeless Magic Spell over the half-ghosts to keep them weak!"
Iluzisto laughed some more. "Yes, Okulo was so good with manipulative words, was he not? I was present in stealth mode the whole time, hearing how easily he convinced you fools. I will admit, I did not expect the crossbreeds to escape. That is why I realized that I needed to make sure that although they escaped their physical chains, another form of shackles would remain on them. And… that condemning spell you Observants are so good at was the perfect thing. As I said, thanks to you all, the crossbreeds are as helpless as they were while in my prison. They are as trapped and doomed as ever—and all if it, thanks to you all!"
Justeco and Konsilisto just stared back horrified, though internally they cringed every time Iluzisto rubbed it in that all this was thanks to them...
"But as I said, I plan to deliver their final verdict myself… You see," Iluzisto continued sneakily, "I was paying attention through the entire trial against the crossbreeds. And thanks to you all, I know all about that dark creature hidden in Clockwork's Tower…"
"No! You cannot free him!" Justeco suddenly cried out.
"Free him?" Iluzisto asked, amused. "Oh, please. Why would I want to do that? No, I have no interest in that creature. But, you see, I did learn one thing. And that is that that creature had become the most powerful and evil ghost in all existence. But I know why…."
Iluzisto grinned with his eye again. "He is made up of both crossbreeds. That creature has both of their cores fused inside himself! Do you realize the importance of that? Whoever can obtain that sort of power, whoever can obtain their cores, would be invincible! And guess who will be obtaining them? ME!" he said with a victorious laugh. "It will be all too easy. All I have to do is reach right into them while they are in their ghost forms and rip out their cores, and fuse them both with my own! And it will all be so easy now that I have Okulo's orb!"
"You… You planned all of this, didn't you?" Justeco whispered fearfully.
The half-ghosts really were doomed! Either they were going to be eliminated by Iluzisto, or the curse of the Timeless Magic Spell was going to make them weaker and weaker before doing them in—just as it was meant to do!
Iluzisto shot a glance at Konsilisto before his eye sparked with victory as he replied, "Of course I did! I had plenty of time to plan it down to the last detail! I was just waiting for the right creatures to set my plans in motion, and, even then, thanks to you, I learned of them. So, once again, you are responsible for choosing them for me! And those crossbreeds have proven to be more useful than I could have ever imagined! Once I have both their cores fused with my own, I will be more powerful than that creature in Clockwork's Tower—my powers will be limitless! And with Clockwork's Time Staff now in my possession, I will be unstoppable! I will become the Master of Time and all Existence!"
"The half-ghosts will never allow it!" Konsilisto said, though his voice was beginning to waver.
"I told you. They are weak at best after what I did to them, and we all know they will only continue to grow weaker with the spell…," Iluzisto replied evilly. "I doubt either will be able to do more than gasp in pain as I take their cores from them. My only regret is that you all will not be around to see me become all powerful and take control of Time and all Existence!"
This time, the Observants were too shocked to say any more, so they could only stare fearfully at the evil Observant.
He chuckled at their silence. But then he raised his now time-willing staff again, motioning for his guards to deposit the Observants in their respective cells.
Even though some struggled against what was happening to them, they were all finally forced into the deepest part of the cave and into the cells there. Most of those cells were arranged in a 'U-shape' formation, opening to a small foyer just before that foyer opened into a lone hall. The Observants ended up there and were placed in their cells in groups of six.
However, Iluzisto had other plans for Justeco and Konsilisto.
The former High Tribune and his counselor gasped as they were forced farther away from the other Observants and into a cell that was in a more remote part of the cave. And to make sure that they were well locked up, Justeco and Konsilisto were escorted to their own cell by Iluzisto himself.
Iluzisto did not want to risk any chance of the former Head Observant somehow rallying the other Observants, even if it would really all be in vain. And he also did not want the pair to know where the other Observants would be. And, of course, he wanted to save them for his 'entertainment' later.
Once everyone was secured, Iluzisto ordered and transported most of his guards back to the prison within the Realm Beyond Time. He knew he did not need but a skeletal crew of them here, since nothing but the Time Staff could undo the spell he had placed over the cave. Not to mention, the Observants were too weak, as well as too pathetically passive and cowardly, to even hope to escape. Plus, there were other ways to keep them compliant…
Their fates were sealed.
Iluzisto smirked at the fact. But, he then raised the staff again and spun it in the air creating a portal to Amity Park. "I must be heading off. I have realms to rule… And two crossbreeds to kill!"
Justeco, Konsilisto and all the other Observants sat totally helpless in their cells, too frightened and too shocked to voice what was burning in their central cores. And even though at this moment of time all the Observants were essentially separated from each other, and as the floating clock continued to callously tick with their doom, all of their minds were united in guilt and in shame on one thought:
What have we done?
Clockwork sighed in annoyance as Iluzisto's guards finally left, locking the very new door and promising to return to give him that 'proper welcome'.
"The things one must do for the timeline…," he muttered, looking at one of his wrists currently chained to the wall, before dryly adding, "I need a new job."
The time spirit then glanced around the cell, knowing all too well that it was the strongest and most secure prison cell in Iluzisto's prison. But when Clockwork's eyes stopped on familiar drawings all over the walls, he smirked.
They had locked him in Kvargvid's cell.
Even though Danny's companions and Skulker had freed Kvargvid using Observant weapons, they had not needed to destroy the chains since the locks had easily snapped open with one zap. So, it had been easy for the guards to connect the energy-suppressing cuffs on Clockwork's wrists to the chains still on the walls.
But it had been just as easy for the time spirit to foresee Iluzisto's guards' actions against him… For during this entire affair, they had been influenced by time.
Then again, even without his time powers, it didn't take much thinking to guess how these guards ticked. They were very loyal and followed orders down to the letter, but they lacked common sense and their actions were typically predictable.
It only made sense in their limited minds to lock up a strong spirit such as the Time Master in their strongest cell.
Except that they seemingly forgot that a prisoner had already managed to escape from this very cell. Oh, well. At least the guards had remembered to fix the damaged entrance and add a new reinforced cell door…
Not that Clockwork did not foresee that part, either… He had after all, also seen that Danny's friends and sister and Skulker would free Kvargvid from this place. It had been just a matter of… cheating a bit…
"I suppose my job isn't all that bad… After all, being the Time Master does have its advantages….," Clockwork said to himself as he pulled against the chains connected to the energy-suppressing cuffs on his wrists. And thanks to a bit of planning on his part and… Kvargvid's fight with Danny's companions and Skulker, the cracked wall gave and the chains broke free from the wall.
He ignored the dragging chains still connected to the cuffs on his wrists as he walked over to the large unused bed against another wall of the large cell. Without hesitation, Clockwork raised the mattress a bit and found a single key right where he had placed it the day he had visited Kvargvid's cell to replace the creature's power-inhibitors with… 'stronger ones'.
So, he had lied a bit, too. No matter.
It took minimal effort to unlock the cuffs on his wrists and regain control of his normal ghost powers, and with them, he destroyed the key—since he would not need it anymore. He ignored the empty-feeling that had been with him since his staff had been taken and instead proceeded to phase his hand into the mattress itself. He pulled out the other thing he had left there during his last visit to Kvargvid's cell.
Clockwork smirked as he raised his time medallion to his eyelevel. He might not have his staff, but his medallions could create time portals when you knew how to use them—and a portal was just what he needed when he couldn't phase out of the locked cell door of this cell…
Pulling the medallion away from his person, he sent his energy through it as he mentally told the ghostly relic to open a portal to his Clocktower. In an instant, a blue portal appeared from nowhere before it turned into a picture of his home.
He didn't hesitate to step through and he was suddenly at the entrance of his tower. The portal then closed behind him as he walked up to his door and opened it.
He then moved over to the holder for his medallions and neatly put the one in his hand back on its hanger. For a moment, his eyes drifted down to his empty hands, but he then sighed deeply.
"…I suppose I should check on my employers…," he thought with some irritation.
However, without his staff, he could not travel at will through any realm, including the Real World. Luckily, his tower had many doors, including some to the human realm—Not that he was planning on going there any time soon. But he felt somewhat obligated to at least keep an eye on the Observants. And since he had seen in the timeline how Iluzisto would place them into the time stream at this moment, Clockwork knew he could 'check' on his employers by using his Time Viewing Orb...
In any case, he had no intention of rescuing them. He tried to warn them; but as usual, they were too arrogant to listen. So, now they would have to reap what they sowed.
"Everything is as they wanted it to be," Clockwork said coolly as he walked across the main part of his home and eaved a hand across his viewing orb…
Iluzisto gasped when instead of the portal opening up where he had wanted—which had been near the young crossbreed's house—it opened up at the outskirts of Amity Park.
"How… strange," Iluzisto muttered, glancing at the staff in his hand, which still looked like his own expect for the added 'clock' at the base of the black crystal and the pulsing blue energy which alternated with his own purple one…
He had been sure he had commanded the staff to take him near the young crossbreed's home. After all, the time staff could open up portals to anywhere as long as you commanded it and had an image in mind of the place you wished to go—similar to teleportation, really. So, why was he now out here?
Iluzisto turned his eye to the city, only to jolt in surprise when he finally saw that there was a bright green shield covering almost the whole city.
He growled, remembering he had seen a smaller version of this strange barrier surrounding the older crossbreed's home when he had first gone there to capture him and the younger one.
"Fools," he sneered and aimed his weapon at the shield and fired a blast. But even with all its power, the attack did not penetrate and just bounced off the shield. Even more angered, he tried creating another portal, so that it was under the shield. But as quick as the portal appeared, it just as quickly fizzled out of existence.
"What is this made of?" Iluzisto wondered irritably, though he was just as baffled that he could not create a portal into the town. It was odd. Wasn't Clockwork's staff known for being able to travel freely through any time and realm? So, then, why was a mere energy shield keeping him out of this place when he had the Time Staff?
Iluzisto growled in growing frustration and tried to create another portal once more. But when that failed again, he even tried teleportation, and still, the illusionist spirit could not get past the shield!
"Wait…," he suddenly said thoughtfully, trying to recall some of things he had seen and heard at the trial. "I am sure that at least the young crossbreed has a permanent portal at his home. I could access it through the Ghost Zone!"
Iluzisto grinned and quickly made another portal, this one leading into the Ghost Zone. He didn't know where the young crossbreed's portal was, but he was sure he could find it! And perhaps this delay in his final plans for the crossbreeds was not all bad. He still had several things to prepare before he could properly deal with them…
"Escape is only an illusion, crossbreeds. Hide under your pathetic shield all you want, I will find you!"
Translations:
(1) Ceremonio de Ekzekuo = Esperanto for "Ceremony of Execution"
(2)"I, Head Observant Justeco, now call upon the power of Timeless Magic to fulfill our decree and carry out justice through the Ceremonio de Ekzekuto."
(3)"Let it be so, for we are as one accord for all to view and hear."
(4)"Timeless Magic Spell, make yourself real now and guide yourself to those we have observed and marked as threats."
"Let it be so, for we are as one accord for all to view and hear."
(5)"Help us protect Time and Existence from their evil and disorder. Give us justice and deliver it to those marked the moment we give the word of their doom."
"Let it be so, for we are as one accord for all to view and hear."
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Pearl: Say 'Aye' if you feel sorry for the Observants! *hears cricket* Aw, you guys are mean! Haven't you heard of forgiveness? Okay, okay! I gotta admit they had this coming. They have been complete jerks. But I do feel pity for them myself... *Vlad muse scoffs in disgust* What? Oh, fine. I'll be quiet! *sticks out tongue* Anyways, it seems we have a trigger-happy and power-happy-and-hungry, crazy, illusion-willing spirit with CW's staff and Okulo's orb on the loose! Oh crud! That's very bad... yup. Very bad. And... poor Vlad and Danny! It seems that on top of everything, they are now cursed by some killing spell! What the heck is wrong with your authors? I-I mean, don't worry! You know good always vanquishes evil in our stories... er, eventually. heh-heh! Okay, well, enough ranting! On to something more interesting. About CM, I am working on that next chapter. I have been busy as usual, but I am working on it. As for DoaS, no, I have not abandoned it. I just am so close to finishing CM that I've been focusing mostly on it. You know once I am finished with CM, I'll be able to give DoaS so much more attention; so you can say it's kinda on a 'hiatus', but not really since I'm not stuck on it or anything; and I AM working on it, just very slowly. At least, until CM is done. So, sorry for all those who are waiting for DoaS, but I promise to make it up to you as soon as CM is done! Kay?
Well, ta for now! Share your thoughts please... We've been missing a lot of you readers reviews who haven't been reviewing as of late. You are not obligated to do so, of course, but it really makes us so happy when you do. So, if you could leave us your thoughts, that would be awesome! Okay, ta for real this time! Thanks for all your support! XD
A/N: truephan here: Well, were any of you surprised with this chapter? OK, officially smart people, I'm sure you knew that the O's were going to get it, especially since the title of the chapter so deliciously tells you that…But did you think they would be condemned like this, to be subjected to the ravishes of time? And I'm also curious if you noticed that Iluzisto had gotten to look as ugly as he did with all those holes and blemishes all over him because he was affected by time with those wrist restraints. Just wondering about your thoughts, of course… so don't be afraid to let us know them! Until next time, then, dear readers, thank you for your support!