A/N: truephan here: Yes, looks like we're back—just like a bad penny! But, hey, you know, a penny saved is a penny earned. Or is it a penny for your thoughts? Or pinch a penny?
Ms. Hyde: Would you please shut your mouth, dearie? The readers don't want to hear any of that blather. They want to read the story!
Truephan: You're absolutely right about that Ms. Hyde! So, instead of asking for a penny of their thoughts, I'll just ask the reader to keep their minds opened like a book…Or is it that they're like a book? Or do I throw the book at them?
Ms. Hyde (with hatpin in hand): Let me at her!
Truephan: YIKES! OK, have fun everyone! Enjoy and Byeeeeeeeee!
Pearl: Yeah, late update. My fault again! Vlad muse wanted to go to Disney on Saturday. He likes to wear his mickey hat! XD
Vlad muse: Do not! You made me wear it!
Pearl: Aw, but you looked so cute! Be glad I didn't make you wear a Minnie hat! ha-ha! Okay! Enjoy the chapter! No hybrids, but it's an important chapter! *winks*
Chapter 27: Meted Justice
Iluzisto was still not satisfied as he continued to soar through the Ghost Zone in search for the young crossbreed's portal into the Real World...He had complete control over the Realm Beyond Time. He had condemned its Observant inhabitants to certain extinction. And impressively enough, he had even thwarted that smug Clockwork, making the overconfident Time Spirit powerless to do anything to stop him now that he had his Time Staff.
He should be feeling triumphant, but it still wasn't enough for the wicked spirit. He had not been able to get to the crossbreeds yet! Perhaps, then, regurgitating his most relishing thought would help him…He suddenly chuckled. Perhaps those thoughts would help him whittle away the time...
His silver-blue eye suddenly glistened with delight at the thought of the Observants—especially Justeco, his sniveling counselor and the High Council members—being locked up like helpless sheep in a pen in that undiscovered cave in the Real World. But more than that, how ironically delicious it now was that all of his former, haughty rulers would be subjugated to the insult of Time as much as he had been; yet theirs would be more agonizing. Their ghostly bodies would fully feel the ravishing effects of Time and be in agony to such an extent that when at last they faced extinction, it would be a true blessing.
Time! Ironical Indeed! It seemed he couldn't keep himself from manipulating it whenever it benefitted him. And not just Time, but Existence as well! ...But why should he stop interfering with Time and Existence when he so loved twisting them and making them squirm until they bent to his will? And now more than ever he was going to enjoy doing that even more, as these had merely been the start of his darker purpose, the spark of his evil destiny…
He then huffed at the thought that suddenly bubbled up from his brain before the evil ghost smirked at the sadistic twist of it all. The Observants' own self-righteous and prideful snobbery against other beings had been their own undoing! If they had not been so blinded to thinking themselves the most superior of ghosts, they would have seen him for who he was, and he would not be here. Too bad for them and too good for him! They would now be facing their own extinction because of it! He had even started that for them, too, since he had been able to absorb all of the energy of a few of them before he had them banished—especially that wretched Okulo. Now, he had even more strength, thanks to those arrogant fools!
Served them right, too! After all, the Observants failed to realize that he was the superior spirit—over all beings! That must have been the true reason why they had condemned him. They were envious of his powers. They feared it! No Observant before had ever had the power to create illusions from sheer will as he. Any other Observant had to use some outside relic to enhance their own pitiful powers—like Okulo's pathetic orb. He chuckled. Even now, that was his as well.
Still, even as he relished the thought, Iluzisto was still not satisfied with the Observants' failure... And that just brought his thoughts full circle: his own failure, the one failure on his list that he wanted to erase from all existence before he would complete his ultimate plans. And when that failure was erased, so would any pocket of resistance that might interfere with him; that might prevent him from achieving ultimate control, ultimate rule over all of Time and Existence in both the Ghost Zone and the Real World! After all, he had shown how easily that had been done before and now…now, it would be even easier…
His mind actually eased, caressed with the echoes of his last thought, which momentarily distracted him from his quest. Once he was victorious here, he would extend his terror to other worlds and dimensions. His name would be feared and respected by all of Time, all of Existence. He even had picked a name most fitting for his most supreme station: Iluzisto the Invidious!
The illusionist spirit's mind drifted even more with the intoxicating wafts of power.
No one, not even Clockwork, could oppose him!
But then, he frowned in a moment of doubt. No. It was not impossible, but it could be difficult nevertheless. There would be some that would no doubt resist him:
Humans. He then scoffed at the mere notion of it. He already knew all too well how easy it was for him to fool their petty minds with his illusions. Especially for those who lusted for power and for control over other human lives…Yes, it would be very easy to fool them. And once fooled, they would be easy prey for his devices…
Ghosts. He sneered, quickly diminishing the thought! How even more ridiculously simple to subdue them! After all, once they were tricked into believing his illusions were real, those chimeras would be their undoing!...Undoing indeed! He would be able to absorb all of their energies at will, thus becoming invincible for all eternity!
Spirits. Yes, they could pose a problem. But, fortunately, he was in the process of eliminating the most obtrusive ones, the ones that might have raised an alarm to the other spirits: the Observants. The others? Possibly. But then, usually the spirits kept to themselves in their own realms. If he left them alone, he was certain that they would leave him be.
But then, he grunted in anger as he finally realized what had been really bothering him, why he was not satisfied. His thoughts had come full circle —again. That was the problem. It was that failure he wanted to so much erase that had been gnawing at him all this while. It was neither human nor ghost, but, human and ghost that would give him the most resistance. No, his failure, his opened scab of an ego wound, would be those two powerful crossbreeds!
Yes, he had finally become all-powerful from their special powers and had even almost been able to completely destroy them. But because of his own foolishness, they had escaped! He paused. He suddenly realized how even more foolish he had been to have let them escape! They were such unique creatures that they might be able to recover and restore their powers! And once they had returned to full strength, they could be a threat to him. Together, those two might stand a chance and be able to wage a battle that could tip the balance toward defeat—but only if they were ready for him! But if he could catch them off-guard again, attack and defeat each of them separately…Or, better yet! If he could rip out their central cores from the moment he could get a chance to get at them, then he would have no need for other ghosts. With the power of the two crossbreeds, if he totally absorbed their own cores within his core, he would be invincible!
The thought suddenly seized him as if he were an addict, and he thoroughly drew in the high of what would be the certain promise of his complete power over all of Time and Existence. He actually felt dizzy with the enticing hunger for it all.
But then, his thoughts drifted back to reality. It was time to rid of himself of the infernal Plasmius and Phantom—permanently! He knew he had to, since secretly, he was embarrassed that they had escaped him in the end…But they had not really escaped him now that they were under the Timeless Magic curse.
The thought calmed him again and he slowed in speed. He still had….time, especially when he was sure that by then he would have enough control of the Time Staff to roll back time enough so that the curse would be made undone moments before he would pluck the crossbreeds' cores right from them. After all, he could not expect them to just allow him to take what he wanted from them with open arms, weak or not. Not to mention, the crossbreeds still had their allies who would interfere! He would have to lay out his plans carefully, as he always did.
In the meantime, he would amuse himself with taunting and tormenting his former rulers once more. After all, why not? That kind of sport would actually help charge his mind into thinking through the steps in pursuing and defeating the crossbreeds. So, for now, it was best for him to clear his mind.
But he found his thoughts wandering all the same as he was. And they all centered once again on the crossbreeds. He frowned in anger. Of course, his best chance would be to lure them into the Ghost Zone so it would be all the easier to force them into their ghostly forms once more. And once they were ghosts, they were his….
But how to get them there?... But, of course! And he would not even need to force them there. He chuckled. He really had Clockwork to thank for that knowledge! Even now, that foolish Time Spirit was no match for his superior intellect. Still, he kept focus on his emerging plans. He knew how he could get them into the Ghost Zone: by capturing or making them believe he had captured the one human creature who was dear to the both of them: Maddie Fenton!
He smiled at how these plans were shaping into very clever ones! But, of course, he would not expect less of himself!
Nevertheless, he had to find that portal!
Alas, however, even after searching diligently, he could not locate that blasted portal. Even the Time Staff was not helpful in that task. He was not certain as to why, but could only suppose that it had no power to locate human-made objects.
But then, how to reach the crossbreeds? He frowned in thought….and one delicious one presented itself to him before it actually made him angry. Of course! There had to be one, another portal into the Real World he could use! The thought angered him more, though he had to admit that he really wasn't surprised!
And… he knew exactly who could tell him where he could find that alternate entrance…
He concentrated on his improved staff, only to narrow his eye in irritation as nothing happened and so he was forced to slow his body to a stop. He inspected the Time Staff and grunted in anger. It seemed he still couldn't use it while moving! He had to stop and concentrate, which annoyed him to no end! He growled. No. He would not let that be another failure.
He then grasped the Time Staff more firmly as he slightly chided himself. "I will not fail and I have had more than enough time with this staff! And now I wish it to be the perfect time to pay a visit to the ones who will help me..."
Justeco sat upon the cold floor of his makeshift prison cell deep within the foreboding bowels of the earthly cave. His lone bloodshot eye was lowered, covered by the hood of his black-and-gold cape, as he sullenly stared at the floor. Even doing that reminded him of all the life energy spilt from his errors since his ghostly aura both accentuated and reflected the blood-red lining of his cape. He shifted uncomfortably, even when his body was also hunched over and his spectral tail was bent upward enough for his elbows to rest upon it. He had already thrown his arms over the hood surrounding his eye, hoping for them to shield him from his emotions—and to drown out the incessant ticking of the clock that Iluzisto had created for their cell.
All in vain.
He groaned in guilt and some real pain, both constant reminders of what he had done. Still how he wished he could be totally alone even when surrounded by his cape and his wretchedness, so that he could wallow in it in peace!
But no! Iluzisto assigned a roommate to him to further his torment. And that cellmate was none other than Konsilisto, the advisor who had been constantly at his side during the crossbreed's trial and among other duties for as long as he had memory. But the former High Tribune instantly regretted that thought, even as he could not help but feel it at the moment.
Still, seeing Konsilisto in his current condition was an even bigger burden to Justeco now that the poor advisor was wailing in his own misery…and therefore, adding to Justeco's own. Not that seeing the pitiful Observant in such dire straits was something the former High Tribune had not seen before. In fact, he knew his advisor all too well. And he knew that Konsilisto was too rigid, and even too sensitive a spirit to be able to resist any kind of…inconvenience, any kind of stress.
Justeco sighed at his next thought. He now wondered why he had even listened to Konsilisto's often misguided advice for these many timeless centuries. Again, it was probably because he felt sorry for him. Even still, there was that other reason—that… stronger reason…
"Konsilisto?" Justeco called softly.
But when his counselor just continued to cry, Justeco sighed and glanced around. And seeing there was no one to hear his next words, he turned his eye back to Konsilisto and this time more tenderly called, "...Brother?"
This time, Konsilisto glanced up; but hearing his brother address him in a way only reserved when they were alone only filled the advisor with more sorrow, and he buried his face again and wept harder.
Justeco sighed once more as he briefly lowered his gaze, feeling more pangs of guilt inside him. So what if they were brothers? Sometimes, brotherly influences were best left at home and were not to be taken into in extreme and important matters such as ruling a race of spirits.
How the former High Tribune now wished he had come to his senses about his brother then instead of now, when it was too late! If only he had heeded his own gut feeling about rejecting what Konsilisto had advised just of late—that is, about putting the half-ghosts on trial—none of this incredible mess would have happened.
But, now that Justeco thought about it, it wasn't just Konsilisto's doing that he had ordered the trial of the half-ghosts. After all, he as High Tribune had the final say-so. He startled a bit with all these… thoughts. He was suddenly aware that he finally understood the concept of...time...including seeing beyond what was in front of him. But this new sudden realization was too disconcerting. And as quickly as he felt that, he tried to erase the unpleasant thought even as he was even more aware that Time was trying to lock it in.
He sighed a bit when he felt another thought coming, one that would come to his rescue. Instead, he groaned when that more brutally painful thought from before erupted again. But still, he knew that it was true and would have to face that truth no matter how hard it stung: that as Head of the Observants, he was now responsible for the destruction of Time and Existence—entities that he and his whole race swore to protect! He had done more harm than any single creature in the universe with that realization. He heaved in sorrow and guilt.
But then, he heard another sigh of sadness and looked up. Konsilisto's eye was now reddened from all the ghostly tears he had unashamedly been shedding since they were locked up here. Pitiful thing!
He pulled himself up and floated over to his brother before putting his arm around him. "Come, come, brother. At least we are still well this earthly hour. And soon, it will be time for us to view the others, as it has become our new and proper custom!"
Konsilisto knew to what his brother was referring. That was just another cruel joke to which Iluzisto had subjected them. The evil spirit had created a magical viewing orb—not unlike a human two-way mirror—which allowed them to watch—but not hear—the slow and agonizing decline of their kin. And this portal would appear every three hours. He could tell that by each agonizing tick of that infernal clock! But the other Observants would not have the same luxury of sharing Justeco and Konsilisto's cruel fate.
"But that will just mean we will be closer to knowing the time of our extinction!" Konsilisto lamented, throwing his hands up to his tearing eye.
Justeco cringed at his brother's poor choice of words. Once again, his decision was, in a sense, still catastrophic! The time of the extinction of the half-ghosts was far more delayed than their own!… But in the end, did it really matter? The time for the viewing portal to appear was drawing near and they would be expected to be present. They really had no choice. He jolted at his next thought….Just as he had given no choice to the half-ghosts!
Still, the former High Tribune shook his head, trying to fling those thoughts out of his mind. He succeeded, but that didn't void the fact that they would have to go to their assigned spot to check the viewing orb. He cringed, wondering if this would be the…hour that an Observant would finally have succumbed to Iluzisto's own meting out their punishment—and thereby rub his and his brother's imaginary noses in their errors and thereby feed into Iluzisto's hunger for savagery, no doubt! Still, Justeco knew he had no choice.
There was that word again: 'choice'! But before he could give it any more thought, the viewing orb appeared. Justeco sighed as he glanced at the clock. It was here just like clockwork….
Clockwork!
Justeco had almost forgotten about him and how the Time Spirit was just as much a prisoner as he and his kin. But then his eye narrowed in distain at the thought. Served his former employee right for having refused to help them! If Clockwork had only….interfered!
Justeco stopped at the thought before frowning at the next. Still, that was not the point. Right now, he could give the Time Spirit a great big chunk of his mind! As if Clockwork was perfect or had the audacity to refuse doing his job. In fact, Justeco could imagine Clockwork looking at him right now with those unemotional eyes that were just corks on top of all the bottled-up opinions that the Time Ghost undoubtedly had. Just wait until he could see him again! He huffed. And just like Clockwork to dig at him, even when he wasn't even present!
But suddenly, Justeco had a strange sensation seize his central core and just as sudden, Justeco felt that he couldn't blame the Time Spirit. Or, not fully, anyways. After all, it was through his doings as former High Tribune that Iluzisto had gained enough power to take control and capture the Time Staff, and in turn, put all of Time in peril. So, ultimately, the greatest part of the fault was his. Still, the truth seared his central core and he didn't want to think about it any longer. After all, he never once thought before this moment that he was even capable of making errors!
Justeco and Konsilisto floated in silence as they anxiously began to count heads in the viewing orb. They both sighed in relief at the same time. Though many of the Observants were looking worse for the wear, not one of them had perished yet. But they knew this was not the end. The incessant ticking of that nearby clock, which only seemed to grow louder as each minute tramped by, made certain that they not forget…
The two brothers had hardly settled back into their dank cell when they heard a loud noise just toward the entrance to this part of the cave.
And, unfortunately, the noise was very familiar!
The two Observants tensed. They could tell it must be Iluzisto, as the arrogant illusionist spirit was accustomed to barging into any entrance.
Justeco floated over to his cell door and anxiously grabbed its bars, waiting for whatever Iluzisto would demand of them this time.
But Konsilisto just shivered in fear near the far side of the cell.
Finally, the illusionist spirit stormed up to their cell door, his purplish-black and ominous weapon already glowing with his ire.
The two imprisoned Observants then trembled a little but remained silent, waiting for the angry spirit to speak or act first.
Iluzisto did not want to admit that he was having trouble getting to the crossbreeds. Instead, he tersely demanded, "I need to use a faster means into another part of the Real World. You will show me how to do that!"
Suddenly feeling his conscience—and an odd courage—stir within him, Justeco merely replied in a demanding voice, "What other evil do you plan to commit, Iluzisto?"
The former Prison Head answered him with a cruel blast from his weapon, which harshly slammed the former Head Tribune into the hard ground.
Justeco groaned in pain, barely comprehending what Iluzisto then said, "You dare speak to me in this manner? You no longer command anything save maybe the vermin that may perchance crawl in to accompany you here!"
Konsilisto gulped and motioned for his brother to lie still.
When he noticed what his brother was doing, Justeco's eye narrowed, his central core now burning with righteous anger. As he pulled himself up off the ground, he bravely said, "You cannot intimidate me, Iluzisto! And you will not get away with anything that you may have planned."
This time, Iluzisto laughed arrogantly before zapping the former High Tribune with an even more potent blast.
His maniacal laugh increased just as Justeco cried out in even more pain this time, and his body crashed into Konsilisto before the brothers fell to the ground.
Iluzisto floated closer to the cell door, and jeered, "Now, how do you like to be the receiver of meted justice, Justeco? The reality of it certainly stings and your feelings are just as bitter now, are they not?"
But Justeco didn't want to entertain him with any answer, as he pulled himself off of the ground.
Iluzisto's eye narrowed in hate, but he nevertheless said, "Oh, I see now that your voice is mute for the first time in your existence, Justeco! So, now, how would it feel to have you match that disability? Match it, that is, with a permanent blindness to justice, as you so willingly carried these many centuries?"
With a flick of his purplish-black staff, a slender metal rod suddenly appeared in front of the former High Tribune.
Konsilisto's lone eye widened in dread, but he was too terrified to speak or move.
The rod then began to glow, pulsating with heat as the vibrancy of its now reddened tip brightened.
"Your tricks do not frighten me!" Justeco still managed to utter, in spite of the fact that his green pupil had widened a bit in fear.
But Iluzisto had noticed. He jeered, "Oh? We shall see whether you continue with your arrogance! Perhaps this little tool of mine will help persuade you to show me another portal closest to my designation."
Seeing the peril his brother was now in finally goaded Konsilisto to utter, "But you have the Time Staff! It can transport you anywhere!"
"Do you not you think I know that, fool?" Iluzisto hissed before firing an angry beam at the Observant.
Konsilisto was thrust to the ground at the blow and he moaned in pain.
"Leave him be, Iluzisto!" Justeco quickly demanded.
The illusionist spirit grew even more irritated at the former Advisor's comment and the former High Tribune's command. They must then know that something was wrong. But it did not matter whether he confirmed or denied their suspicions. But he would make them tell him what he wanted to know.
He then hissed, "You do not command me, Justeco! Try it again, and I will do worst to your cowardly sibling! And as for the Time Staff, I have yet to master it! At the moment, it is not reliable where it places me—in time or designation! I have to have another means!"
"But the only way into the Real World is whatever portal you could create to get here!" Justeco desperately offered when he saw the hot rod at his eye-level pulsing brighter and hotter. But what really frightened him was the threat to his brother.
"That is not true! There was another, the one upon which you had me put a permanent illusion to hide its sealed entrance!" the angry illusionist spirit countered back. "And, therefore, I would not put it past the 'High and Mighty' Tribune and his pathetic Council to keep a portal secret from the rest of us—just so that you may escape should you be pressured to actually act upon any force against you!"
Justeco's eye narrowed in his own anger. Still, he would not give in and kept mute.
The red hot rod suddenly began to move toward Justeco. The Observant unconsciously backed up, but the rod still slowly pursued him—right at pupil level. Before he knew it, Justeco had his back to the wall, next to his brother, who was still on the ground.
"Please..." Konsilisto pleaded quietly, though he stayed on the ground as he continued to watch what Iluzisto was about to do to his brother.
But Iluzisto shot the former Advisor a dark look, and further threatened, "Silence, worm. You're next!"
Konsilisto could only shake in fear after that.
Meanwhile, the rod still continued on its slow approach, and just when Justeco felt it was too close, the former High Tribune began to throw his hands up to shield his eye.
But before he could successfully do that, Iluzisto pulled out a now very familiar orb which still had control of the former High Tribune's core, and the evil spirit ordered, "Hands against your side, Justeco. And you will watch."
Justeco gasped as his hands unwillingly pressed down against the wall, pinning him there.
Now Justeco was helpless as the hot rod continued on its slow, purposeful course. He groaned in pain and fear when he could now feel the first burning touch of the poker's heat as it neared his large green pupil. And he couldn't even close his eye because of the orb's power over him! As it drew even nearer, and the heat intensified, Justeco groaned more loudly as he felt and smelled the outermost part of his eye being singed long before the actual poker was near enough to penetrate his ghostly flesh.
In the meantime, his brother continued to tremble in dread but was too petrified in fear to act.
His own fear at last overwhelming him, Justeco suddenly found himself yelling, "Enough! I will tell you where the other portal is!"
Instantly, the rod disappeared, along with its searing heat.
Iluzisto opened the cell door and quickly floated to his still-bound prisoner. Locking his glare on Justeco, the evil spirit said with distain, "You disgust me with your passivism! And I knew you were a coward from the moment you did not destroy me!"
He then turned to Konsilisto who was now at his feet and jeered, "And I knew you were a sniveling coward from the moment I set my eye on you! You are nothing but a pathetic sycophant ready to blind any Observant eye with your misguided justice!"
The illusionist spirit floated nearer to the former Counselor of the Council, and Konsilisto unconsciously backed away, crawling with his arms behind him, until he was pinned against the wall. The counselor spirit's eye widened in fear as Iluzisto's weapon drew nearer.
Unfortuntely, Justeco was still held in place by Okulo's orb's power, and even though he pleaded for his brother to be left alone, it fell on deaf ears.
But when the needle-like tip of the purplish-black rod finally rested against Konsilisto's neck, Iluzisto stopped.
Iluzisto's eye glistened with amusement. How easily Konsilisto cowered under the merest of threat! Still, the illusionist spirit pressed his weapon slightly against Konsilisto's neck as he finally and smugly told Konsilisto something that Konsilisto thought no one else but he and another knew, "Such a coward and a fool you indeed are, Counselor! You were so blinded, you did not see that he would never have been involved from the beginning of this whole affair! And you did not see that it was precisely my doing, my power which fooled your myopic eye! But then again, you are so foolish, so sniveling that compared to you, even a youngling could have seen the ruse! So, even having my distain would be better than you deserve!"
Konsilisto's eye sudden widened with the sudden realization to what Iluzisto was alluding. From the beginning, he had been so easily tricked! But then, he lowered his eye in shame. He knew deep down that he deserved every insult that Iluzisto threw at him! After all, he now knew he had failed as Counselor. This was all his fault…
Justeco, meanwhile, frowned in confusion as to why Iluzisto was addressing his brother so cryptically; but he was so upset, he didn't give it another thought. Instead, he also gazed downward, choked with his own shame. He suddenly realized the bitter truth in the evil spirit's words about him. And he thought about all the mess that he and the Observants had made. But then, those very words joggled his brain.
They were almost exactly what Clockwork had once said! Though he was still angry at the Time Master, he could not deny how true those words were.
He looked up at Iluzisto, whose eye was still glistening with glee after humiliating his former Tribune and oppressor and his pathetic counselor.
"Clockwork was right!" Justeco finally muttered, though he had only meant that for himself.
"What? What does that meddling, arrogant spirit have to do with this?" Iluzisto growled.
"Nothing!" Justeco replied in fright. Still, he knew what he had to say. "But, the portal you wish to use is in my chambers. It will actually take you to any place you wish. You merely need to tell it where you want to go…"
"But, brother!" Konsilisto suddenly blurted out, and Justeco firmly interrupted him.
"Not now, Konsilisto! We have no choice in this matter!"
Konsilisto's eye widened; but for some reason, he understood what his brother was saying and he said no more.
Iluzisto laughed again in triumph. "Just to let you know, then, Justeco, former High Tribune! While you continue in your decay, you will have plenty of time to mull over several things. One of those is that you have committed the utmost crime against Time and Existence with your failure to keep me from ripping your governing power from you, and, of course, there is the matter of Clockwork's Time Staff. But now, you will have the blood of the two crossbreeds on your pathetic hands, now that I know the quickest way to them. I nearly totally destroyed them when I had them in prison, and again when they tried to escape. But now, I have to thank you that I did not; though even then, their annihilation is secure. And I want to leave you both with the thought that it all is because of your doing that this has been possible. But more than that…."
He stopped just as he waved his weapon. Suddenly, an image of both of the half-ghosts appeared, and they looked beaten and they were bound against the wall just opposite Justeco.
"I might not have full control of the Time Staff, yet. But I am quickly learning as you can see. Observe, the near future!" Iluzisto said wickedly, pointing his improved staff at the image he had just conjured up. "I know that you cannot resist that urge to observe, just as you will not be able to forget this!"
Iluzisto suddenly shot a blue beam from his staff at the image and it began to play forward. It showed the Iluzisto in the image moving forward and shooting a beam right at the younger half-ghost, who just as quickly yelled and reeled from the onslaught.
Iluzisto turned slightly away from the still yelling victim and glared at Konsilisto, before he hissed, "And this is what will happen to the one you said would rescue you!"
A moment later, Danny Phantom's chest peeled open; and just as his face widened in terror and his screaming increased, a strong green light poured out from the gaping hole in his chest before it turned to white. And at his last heartbeat, a pure white orb finally exited the young half-ghost's body and was quickly absorbed by Okulo's orb.
Danny Phantom's body then melded back into a now dead human teen before his skin shriveled as quickly as a snail being exposed to salt.
Through the entire scene, Iluzisto had been right! Though both Observants were trembling in terror, they were mesmerized by what they thought was the future scene that had just unfolded. They cringed but did not turn away when the same thing happened to the older half-ghost, only that the light that had spewed out of his chest was red before it melded into white.
Vlad Plasmius' body had also melded back into a dead shriveled man.
Then, with lust filling his reddened eye, the Iluzisto in the image pushed Okulo's orb into his own chest before he and the two Observants' cells lit up with Iluzisto's new power.
Suddenly, Iluzisto laughed hideously, but the laugh did not come from the Iluzisto glowing in front of them. It had come from outside their cell door.
Justeco and Konsilisto immediately gasped and shifted their gaze, only to see that the real Iluzisto had retreated from their cell during his illusion. So, what they saw in the end was entirely a trick—or was it since he had the Time Staff?
Nevertheless, Iluzisto darkly laughed once more before he added, "As the future dead humans say: revenge is indeed sweet!"
He continued to laugh as he turned away from them, created a portal with the Time Staff, and left for the Observants' fortress and Justeco's secret portal.
Now, he had the crossbreeds…!
As Iluzisto left, the orb's influence over Justeco fell away and his arms were free. The former Tribune gasped at the sudden release and collapsed to the ground.
Konsilisto immediately pulled himself up off the ground and floated over to him. Without a word, he helped Justeco back up.
Both of them were still trembling, horrified at what they had seen and mortified at the sudden weight of their consciences.
Konsilisto was especially so upset that he could take it no more. He finally blurted out in a quivering voice, "F-Forgive me, brother! Forgive me for my foolishness and my cowardice all these years!"
"No, Konsilisto —" his brother began, only for Konsilisto to cut him off.
"Please, I must tell you!" He then paused, trying to muster his courage. "It is all my fault that we are here! It is all my fault that the half-ghosts are going to perish so horribly."
"What?" Justeco gasped. "How in the Realm could you—?"
But the former advisor interrupted him once more. "Did you not hear Iluzisto?"
"More than I wanted. But what does that…"
"That is not what I mean," Konsilisto insisted, cutting his brother off yet again. "I am speaking of what he said about Clockwork!"
Justeco's eye squinted in confusion before saying, "I am sorry, brother. I do not understand!"
"I am sorry that I did not confide with you earlier, Justeco, but before we had the half-ghosts arrested, I was warned by Clockwork—or whom I thought was Clockwork—not to utter a word to anyone, lest it caused a disaster!"
But when he saw Justeco frown even more in confusion, he hurriedly blurted out, "And now, I am ashamed to say that I was tragically deceived about this whole thing! I wanted so much to have our dignity restored that I…let Iluzisto fool me!"
Justeco was about to say something when Konsilisto raised his hand for him to be quiet. He then said, "Please, brother, be patient in hearing my explanation."
Justeco nodded, though he still was confused about his brother's unusual behavior.
Konsilisto paused a moment as he collected his thoughts. Finally, he continued, "As you know, you, I, and, really, all of the Observants have been dissatisfied ever since the results of the past events concerning the hybrids. I speak, of course, of the future evil self of the younger half-ghost and the actions of the older one concerning Vortex…"
Justeco nodded, knowing he was referring to Danny Phantom and Vlad Plasmius. He motioned for his brother to go on.
"But then, not too long ago, Clockwork met privately with me. He told me that Time, Existence and even our own race were in danger!"
"Clockwork?" Justeco then uttered, not believing what he just heard.
Konsilisto then said, "Yes, but I should now say that I thought it was Clockwork! Only now I know it was not! It was Iluzisto using one of his illusions to make me think he was Clockwork! Our discontent over the fact that the two half-ghosts were still free in spite of their past actions was known throughout the Realm, including the embarrassment it caused our leadership. I, in particular, was driven to rectify that. But I also can now see that Iluzisto used my foolish pride to his full advantage. And so, it was very easy for me to…let Iluzisto fool me into thinking that if we did not capture and condemn the half-ghosts, Time, Existence and our very race would become extinct!"
"And then, not only did he convince me of that," Konsilisto continued, "the illusion of Clockwork warned me not to reveal that to anyone, that it was my destiny alone to save our race and all that we hold dear and for once, to show all of the Observants my…mettle... And…and as you well know, I strongly advised you to put forth the order for capturing and organizing the trial of those two half-ghosts for this very reason! But as Iluzisto just reminded me, I so easily played into his plan! I am utterly ashamed of myself and do not deserve for you to hear of my counsel again! It has been my own foolishness that has destroyed our kin and has placed all of Existence and Time in peril! I am to blame for this whole tragedy!"
Justeco's eye widened in shock. Iluzisto had been behind this whole affair, then? And that only meant that if they had not put the half-ghosts on trial, then they would not be in this predicament! Iluzisto must have known that by bringing the half-ghosts into their realm, he could somehow come to power! He thought about that a moment later and his eye widened in dread. If Iluzisto could get to the hybrids now and absorb all of their power, he would be totally successful! But his brother interrupted his thoughts.
"And thank you for not revealing even more of a fool I am from what disaster could have happened had I still spoken just a few moments ago. I am too ashamed to even mention of what I mean."
But Justeco did know what he meant. His brother had almost corrected him when he was giving Iluzisto false information!
But instead of being angry at his brother, Justeco was upset with himself. He realized all too well at the moment that he, too, was just as guilty as his brother in this matter. His shoulders drooped and his eye dulled with his remorse. He softly replied, "Do not dwell on any of it, Konsilisto. As they say, I do not have stones to throw!"
"You are kinder than I deserve, brother! But I now agree with your own unspoken advice! I will no longer be as blind or as passive to the events that press down upon us!"
The now determined Observant floated over to the cell door for no other reason than to look beyond it. Just as he grabbed onto the bars, Konsilisto leaned against it for support as he lamented, "But what can we do, Justeco? Oh, if only we could be free! If only we could see the future of this all!"
The Observant advisor's eye then dropped into a frown at an odd pressure at his hip.
Justeco's eye widened in surprise at his brother's last remark, but then he looked down and sighed, "I agree, brother! I also wish I could see the future of this, only so that I could see that there was hope in suffering our fate! Even so, I wish that we could help—and could seek help—in this terrible matter!"
Just then, Konsilisto gasped in shock as he floated back to Justeco.
"What is it, brother?" Justeco said, looking over to Konsilisto in sudden alarm.
His eye still widened in surprise, the former advisor merely pulled out a small key that had suddenly poked him in the side. It had been within the inside pocket of his cloak—something that he had never noticed before and could have sworn was never in his possession.
"I-It is a k-key, brother!" Konsilisto stuttered, still incredulous. "I-I do not know how it got there and never have seen it before!"
Suddenly, in his shock, Konsilisto dropped the key and it bounced a few times before it started to slide across the floor, threatening to slide out through the bars and out of their reach!
Both Observants instantly dove for the small piece of metal and successfully retrieved it.
Their hands still trembling even as they were determined to keep a strong grip on the small key, the two brothers looked at each other in confusion at the same thought.
Could it be possible?
"We shall never know unless we act instead of just look, Konsilisto," Justeco soberly said.
His brother nodded slowly and together they both floated to the door as one unit, both of them too afraid to let go of the key; and underneath, both afraid at what they were doing.
Finally they were there, at the lock.
They looked at each other again, each of them unsure of their actions.
Finally, Justeco said in almost a whisper, "Let us do it, brother!"
For some strange reason, both of the Observants could suddenly hear that infernal clock again. And each of its ticks sounded as chiding 'tsk-tsks' at what they were doing.
Still, they pressed on and both put the key into the lock and both of them also turned it.
They both then jolted a bit when there what seemed was a very slow, loud 'click' before the door swung open!
Justeco looked at the door and then to his brother, his eye blinking in disbelief. He finally uttered, "How is that possible? Iluzisto would surely not have been so careless. He only wants to see us destroyed! And no one knows of our peril, or our need and desire to help prevent this dreadful plan of Iluzisto's which will just as surely decimate the future!"
He suddenly jolted at his next thought. The future! Could it be...?
But he didn't question it any more! All that mattered was that they were being given a chance to fix things. They had—a choice! And he suddenly knew what he had to do.
Justeco furrowed his brow in determination and said, "You know, Konsilisto, Iluzisto was wrong. Revenge is not sweet. No, revenge can be just! Come, brother. It is time to take destiny into our own hands!"
A/N: truephan here: Well, well, well, everybody. Did you expect this from the O's? I certainly didn't! Heh-heh! But you know they finally did realize they had a choice! *Permission to groan* But hey, speaking of puns, did anyone check out rose13's 'Pun Day' page on deviantart? You should and we would love to join you in a 'Pun' war. It could make you happy and we all could have loads of puns! Ark-ark!
Ms Hyde: somebody slap that girl!
Truephan:Hey, Ms. Hyde, we're just having a little bit of clean pun! Lighten up!
Truephan: YIKES! See y'all and here is the website. Be sure to take out the spaces and the other stuff (astericks*) we have to put in so that FF will accept it!
htt p:/13ro sefa nf i** ctio v ian tart. com/ art/ *Pun -d*ay -25 170*38 4 0
Pearl: Hmm. I so loved this ending! Truephan's such a clever girl! Yes, a bit of a cliffy, but not so bad! It's exciting! Or, I hope you all think so! In any case, let us know! Ta for now, my dears!