REVERSE/REBIRTH: ESPIO'S TALE
Tomo the Chameleon © Kiba Sniper
Chapter Fifteen: Twilight, Part 2
Last time on Reverse/Rebirth:
After discovering the defeat of Duskmon at the hands of the Keyblade Master, Espio continued his journey through Castle Oblivion. On the next trip, Espio found himself back to the old shores of Destiny Islands, where he suffered greatly from his memories. All his friends had disappeared and Espio was left alone. But the torture did not end as the dark chameleon once again encountered Oracle of the Order. Forced to relive his dark memories through Oracle's influence, Espio's will slowly deteriorated and left him vulnerable. And once finding the opportune moment, Oracle forced our hero to see the light.
The scene opens to a clear and illuminating void within time and space – the Realm of Light. It was here that Espio the Chameleon was discovered floating aimlessly through the endless dimension, unable to see of move. The Dark Chameleon could feel it – his life was slipping away within the eternal light. If there was ever a time when he wished Mephiles would provide him with the fierce darkness, now would be the time. But then again, that was how he got here in the first place. It was a long moment before Espio faintly realized that his body was slowly evaporating into the void.
"I'm...fading." Espio murmured softly. "Fading away...into the light. Maybe...it's better this way." His lower body had already erased itself. "I gave myself to the darkness...and look what I have become. There will never be a day that I don't regret opening that door." The remainder of his body vanished, but his voice still lingered. "It's time for me to disappear."
"You won't fade away." A feminine voice called.
The Hero of Darkness gasped – he recognized that voice. And though he no longer had eyes to see with, he could faintly see the face of his friend within the depth of his heart. Amy Rose stood firmly within the Realm of Light like an angel of God, giving guidance to the lost souls.
"You can't fade, Espio." Amy said certainly. "There is no power that can defeat you – Not the light, not the dark. So don't run from the light and don't fear the darkness because both will make you stronger."
"Make me stronger?" Espio echoed. "Even the darkness?"
"Yes; strength that's yours." Amy stated. "The darkness inside your heart – it's vast and deep. But if can truly stare into that darkness and never try to look away, you won't be afraid of anything again.
"All this time..." Espio said. "I've been trying to push the darkness away."
"You've just got to remember to be brave." Amy advised. "Know that the darkness is there and don't give in. If you do that, you'll gain strength – The kind that is unlike any other." She smiled happily. "You'll be able to escape the deepest darkness."
"And I'll be able to..." Espio said strongly. "See in the brightest light."
"Follow the darkness." Amy said. "It will lead the way to your friends."
"Can I face them?" Espio asked worried.
"You don't want to?" Amy giggled.
"You know I do." Espio replied as Amy's presence faded. "And I will...with my strength – My dark strength! I will seek the light and the darkness! I will find my true path!"
The Realm of Light was suddenly tainted as a powerful flow of darkness and shadows formed in the heart of the void. And when that darkness passed, the Hero of Darkness returned to his physical form with an unexpected change. By accepting the darkness within his heart, Espio's skin had inherited a much darker shade and his eyes transformed to a demonic-green. His Dark Suit was torn asunder and replaced by black and white coat with red inner lining. Espio the Chameleon had truly become master of the darkness. And sensing this, Mephiles approached the dark soldier though his own use of darkness.
"That's right, accept that darkness." Mephiles chuckled malevolently. "And in turn, you will accept me."
"I'm only going to say this once, so listen carefully." Espio muttered darkly. The Seeker of Darkness was caught off guard as his former follower grasped his throat. "Get out of my heart!!"
The Seeker of Darkness was banished from the chameleon's mind, leaving only a faint trail of darkness behind. The darkness left reshaped itself into the Soul Eater, but the moment Espio grabbed it, the blade underwent a transformation of its own. The weapon looked similar to its old appearance, but with an angelic wing at the teeth of the blade, an angel and devil wing forming a hand-guard around the handle, and the Heartless symbol acting as the Keychain. Espio couldn't believe it. The weapon that should have chosen him in the past was now accepting him as its master – the Keyblade.
"After all this time, I can finally see clearly." Espio murmured softly, swiftly turning on his heels. "And now I see you!"
He swiped his Keyblade across the air, banishing the light.
The scene returns to the fragmented lands of Destiny Islands with Espio safe from the reaches of the light. The Keyblade Master of Darkness stood firm with his chosen weapon gripped in his hands a few feet away from Oracle's backside. The Looming Prophet gasped horrifically as he dropped to his knees, holding the bleeding scar forming on his chest. Deathwing, who had finally recovered from his slumber, gapped at his partner's sudden appearance. Espio merely smirked.
"What? You've never seen a dark Keyblade Master before?" Espio chuckled.
"That's...impossible." Oracle grunted, pushing to his feet. "How could...find me in the...light?"
"Even the light can't get of your disgusting scent." Espio proclaimed. "It was a simple matter of following the darkness straight to you."
"You filthy hypocrite." Oracle growled spitefully. "I intend to make you suffer. I will make you see that all your dreams are a mere illusion!"
Espio scoffed at the jackal, which irritated him further. With the last of his resolve vanished, the Looming Prophet reached his shoulder and ripped the Black Cloak from his body. He wore a pair of silky, white pants with a white sash reaching over his left shoulder, a pair of white/yellow shoes with red laces, two golden ankle bracelets, and a pair of golden bands on his wrists. The enraged jackal reached behind his back and summoned a pair of twin sickles in each hand. Deathwing quickly took to his partner's side as they prepared to face this experienced warrior.
Looming Prophet: Oracle
"You are become a grave nuisance." Oracle glared, raising his weapons. "You must be dealt with swiftly."
"Greater men than you have said that before." Espio replied, drawing his Keyblade forward. "Believe me; you'll end up just the same."
"I wouldn't count on it." Oracle stated certainly. "I am an opponent that cannot be beaten. I have seen it all: you past, present, and future. And I have foreseen your imminent defeat."
"Don't make me laugh!" Espio shouted.
The Hero of Darkness jumped ahead – his coat flapping in the wind – and swiped his Keyblade across the jackal's chest. Oracle raised his left sickle to block the initial attack and stabbed his right sickle for the chameleon's heart. Not having enough time to block the strike, Espio threw his hand in front and captured the blade. To either warrior's astonishment, a thick layer of darkness coated the chameleon's hand, preventing the blade from piercing him. Using Oracle's astonishment to his advantage, Espio flipped backwards and kicked the Looming Prophet in the chin. Oracle backtracked several feet, holding his bruised chin at the same moment Espio rebounded off the ground. However, the Hero of Darkness was made able to make it within five feet before he was deflected in midair by an unseen barrier. The dark chameleon tumbled on the ground, keeping a firm grip on the Keyblade.
"Very impressive." Oracle complimented. "You are the first to touch me since the Superior."
"It's not really that hard." Espio commented as he kicked back to his feet. "Judging from your attacks, you are weaker than your little dog. What kind of elite is weaker than the soldiers he commands?"
"You should never underestimate your opponent." Oracle said sagely. "You never know when they might surprise you."
Espio didn't bother to take his threat seriously and raced across the island fragment for the finishing blow. But while the dark chameleon wasn't paying attention, Oracle's eyes had once again undergone their unknown transformation.
Espio jumped overhead and stabbed her Keyblade downwards, forming a large gash across the jackal's shoulder. And once landing, he swiped the twilight weapon across the jackals chest for thrusting his hand forward, expelling a sea of black flames.
"Now I've got you." Oracle thought confidently.
The Hero of Darkness reached within a few feet of the jackal and kicked off the ground, just as Oracle had expected. Espio stabbed his blade downwards, only to miss by a wide margin as the Looming Prophet sidestepped. Recovering from the shock, Espio landed and swiped his chosen weapon across the jackal's chest, only to watch him jump back. The dark chameleon was quickly growing frustrated and thrusted his palm forward, expelling a sea of black flames. And just when it looked like the Looming Prophet was prepared to die, the black flames were blocked off by an invisible barrier. Espio growled lowly as Oracle stood nonchalantly as the black flames were brushed aside.
"Is that all?" Oracle said smugly. "I was hoping for more of a challenge."
"How did you do that?" Espio questioned. "How did you know where what I was going to do?"
"I really hate repeating myself." Oracle grinned. "I already told you I can see anything: past, present, and more importantly, future. The shadows of fate are clear to my eyes and course of history is open to me."
"You can see the future." Espio said slowly. "That's how you have been predicting my movements."
"Now that you realize this, I have one question left." Oracle said. "How can you defeat a man who can see your every move?"
The Hero of Darkness made no motion to answer this and stood firmly in his place. He needed to think things through against such an opponent. A creature that had the ability to know every possibility imaginable was a lethal one, especially during a life threatening battle. The dark chameleon stealthily dragged his foot a few inches closer, not wanting to alert the Looming Prophet. That it was already too late once Oracle activated his powerful eyes.
Espio stood his ground for a few short moments before launching himself forward with a sudden burst of speed. But in doing so, the dark chameleon left himself wide open on all sides. Once realizing this, Oracle stabbed his sickle into the dark warrior's chest, only to watch it phase through. It didn't take long before the Looming Prophet realized that the Espio he attacked was an illusion and the real one appeared from behind. The Hero of Darkness swiped his Keyblade the jackal's neckline, severing it completely.
"He's becoming more ruthless." Oracle smirked. "He definitely shows promise in the right hands."
"I've got you now!" Espio yelled.
As the Looming Prophet had predicted, the dark chameleon kicked off the ground in a burst of speed. Espio left himself purposely wide open for a strike, but Oracle did nothing to counter it. Instead, he watched as the crafty illusion passed through him and swiftly turned on his heels. The Looming Prophet discovered Espio's position and knocked the Keyblade away with his sickle. Find an opening in the chameleon's defenses, Oracle swiped his weapon across the chameleon's back, ripping a small section in his coat. Espio dropped to the ground and groaned silently from the pain.
"Such a pathetic performance." Oracle said, raising his sickle overhead. "But in the end, you are still..."
What he was, Espio never found out. When he realized that Oracle had taken the final blow, he turned on his back and glared at the Looming Prophet. In an amazing turn of events, Deathwing had somehow found a way through Oracle's perfect defense and headbutted the jackal in the chest. The Looming Prophet skidded backwards; breathing heavily, as Espio slowly crawled to his feet.
"What happened?" Espio thought confused. "If He was able to see all of my moves, why didn't he know that Deathwing was about to attack? Unless..." He spoke aloud to his partner. "Deathwing, I need you to attack again!"
The thestral foal nodded in understanding and spread his wings to take flight. Oracle growled lowly, loathing the winged monstrosity with every fiber of his being. He looked toward the darkened sky and found that Deathwing had used the environment to camouflage his body. But this did not worry Oracle as he activated his special eye.
Deathwing emerged from his place in the dark skies and pelted towards the Looming Prophet. Oracle easily sidestepped the attack, but the thestral foal rebounded off the ground and headbutted the jackal in the side.
"This little pest doesn't know when to quit." Oracle commented.
Just as he predicted, Deathwing appeared from the bleak clouds and made a swift dive for the ground. Oracle sidestepped the assault and prepared to summon a barrier to repel the thestral when the impossible happened. Espio appeared directly to the jackal's right side and jabbed his elbow into the Looming Prophet's neck. Oracle staggered awkwardly, temporarily dazed from the unexpected attack, and left himself wide open for Deathwing to head butt him from behind. The foreseeing jackal tumbled across the sand, watching the duo in disbelief.
"But how?!" Oracle gasped ominously. "No one has ever been able to counteract the powers of my Senken! Not even the Superior! How were you able to defy your future?!"
Your Senken may be useful, but it has one fatal flaw." Espio said pointedly. "At first, I thought those eyes gave you that power to see everyone's future. But when Deathwing attacked you, I realized that your Senken can only predict the future of one person at a time." The Looming Prophet stammered in horror. "Your powers definitely make you invincible in a one-on-one match, but against two people, your eyes are useless."
"This...this can't be." Oracle stammered fearfully. "How would this boy spot a weakness that not even I could notice? Who is he?"
"It look's like..." Espio smirked, raising his Keyblade. "You're finished."
From that point, Espio sand Deathwing charged simultaneously. Oracle knew he could use the power of the Senken to avoid at least on of them, but then he would be left unguarded against the other. With that in mind, the Looming Prophet threw out his hands and formed an invisible barrier, which stopped both heroes in their tracks. The thestral foal snapped and clawed at the barrier, but Oracle's power was limitless when he used the power of his barrier – it collected from the energies around him. But while his partner fruitlessly tried to break through, Espio passed his hand over the barrier, feeling its form.
"So you have discovered the power of my Senken." Oracle said heavily. "But your efforts will be in vein if you can't even reach me. All I have to do is take out that winged rat and you're all mine."
"I wouldn't go that far." Espio said coolly. "In fact, this barrier is completely useless."
"What?!" Oracle roared furiously. "That's a lie! My barrier is indestructible!"
"Actually, you gave me the key to break it earlier." Espio said pointedly, leaving the jackal confused. "It's true that your barrier would be able to throw of physical and magical attacks alone. But it's nothing compared to what happens when you combine both of them."
It was at that point the Looming Prophet had realized his fatal error. He had never expected the dark Keyblade Master to defeat the Senken and unknowingly revealed the secrets to shattering the barrier. Espio raised his Keyblade to eyelevel, waving his other hand directly over the twilight sword. A thick layer of black flames coated the Keyblade and its master stabbed the weapon through the barrier. With his last defense penetrated, Oracle could only watch in terror as the Hero of Darkness approached – his weapon lit with fire. And in one swipe, the foreseeing jackal was forced into the air and hovered momentarily before dropping back to the ground.
Oracle: Defeated
"Ugh!" Oracle moaned aloud. "After all you protest, you're still like everyone else on the side of darkness. When it comes down to it, you are the same as the Heartless leader."
"I am nothing like him." Espio said defiantly. "I know who I am."
"When did that happen?" Oracle taunted; he pushed himself to his feet. "You were always terrified of the darkness before."
"Not anymore!" Espio shouted.
The Hero of Darkness raced across the island fragment, taking note of the fear within the jackal's eyes. And in a flash, Espio appeared on the other side of the Looming Prophet. Oracle and Espio remained unmoving for one moment until the jackal cried out in pain before disappearing into the darkness. The chosen Keyblade Master stared at the spot where the jackal disappeared with intense interest, allowing his Dark Form to evaporate. With a serious expression, Espio walked closer to his partner, who was yapping happily.
"Don't get too comfortable." Espio said sternly. "He managed to get away at the last minute. That attack I used didn't go deep enough to destroy him." He clenched his fist, which gained a dark aura. "But now that I have no reason to fear the darkness, I will use it as my greatest weapon to protect my friends."
The thestral foal nodded proudly and nuzzled his partner's leg, who patted his head in appreciation. And at that very moment, the blank door of Castle Oblivion returned to them in a flash of light. Without the light or the darkness to stop them, Espio and Deathwing continued on with their journey through castle oblivion.
The scene alternates to the dark gathering chamber in the lower levels of Castle Oblivion. Without Erazor or Mewtwo to occupy the space, the room seemed much bleaker then it usually did. A portal of darkness emerged from the floor, depositing the defeated Oracle before fading. The Looming Prophet still suffered the effects of Espio's assault and used the nearest wall to support himself.
"What...is he?" Oracle panted, pounding his fist into the wall. "No one has ever won the darkness the way he does. It's impossible."
All of a sudden, he felt another set of beings occupying the room and turned his attention to the center of the room. A portal of darkness emerged once more, leaving behind Terro and Tomo, who had just returned from Duskmon's defeat. Due to the lack of light in the room, Oracle easily mistook Tomo for her brother and pushed himself against the wall, hoping to escape.
"What's the matter?" Terro smirked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Oh, it's only you." Oracle sighed in relief. "Then that must mean Duskmon has been defeated and Tomo has been freed from Kumori's control. This could work to our advantage. We can use Tomo to defeat her brother."
"There's just one problem with that." Terro said coldly. The Looming Prophet looked confused while his former partner turning to the killer kunochi. "Do you remember who this is? Oracle is the man who manipulated you to fight Sonic – the same guy who convinced you to become a pawn in Duskmon's game."
"Oracle..." Tomo murmured.
"If you want to fight your brother again, you'll need more power." Terro proclaimed. "The power of darkness you possess is nothing compared to him at this moment. But there is a way to gain the power necessary and it's in this very room."
"Terro!" Oracle exclaimed. "What are you saying to her?!"
"Haven't you figured it out by now?" Terro smirked victoriously. "Why don't you use that special eye of yours to find out?"
The Looming Prophet had no idea why Terro wanted him to use the Senken, but willingly agreed. Oracles eyes traveled farther into the future – at least one year from the present time. And what he saw was nothing he had expected. Terro was fighting, but he had willing discarded his Black Cloak with a proud grin on his face. He stood back-to-back with a blue hedgehog wielding a Keyblade and faced a circle of silver-skinned beasts.
"You!" Oracle yelled shockingly. "I heard rumors that there was a traitor in the Order! I thought they were talking about Muskdon, but it was really you all along!"
"You know..." Terro said, acting as if he wasn't listening. "He's as good of a place to start as any."
"You can't do this!" Oracle roared.
But by that time, the remainder Oracle's existence had expired. Tomo swiftly rushed across the room and trapped the Looming Prophet by his throat, raising him off the ground. Oracle was defiantly and tried flailing in hopes of breaking free. The fear was evident in his eyes as the energy that had collected within his body was slowly absorbed by the impassive chameleon. Oracle continued struggling until he was no longer able to do so.
"So sorry, old friend." Terro said tauntingly. "You just found out way to much...Realoc."
Light and Darkness meet together on the same path. Will Espio's newfound strength allow him to overcome the trails of Castle Oblivion? Will Tomo be able to defeat her brother? And what has become of Mephiles? Find out on the next Reverse/Rebirth!
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