A Digimon Frontier Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez
Author's Notes:
I hope this is a pleasant surprise to everyone who has been waiting for another swift yet, meaningful update on this fanfic.
I didn't expect to finish writing this so soon but, ah, well. It is a good thing that I finished it anyways.
I won't turn the Author's Notes into a lengthy speech so, just go on an read the chapter! Enjoy!
End of Author's Notes
The Rabbit on the Moon
Despair and Hope
Where there is hope, one is bound to expect despair to accompany it, for without despair, the power of hope diminishes, and its importance is not thought of.
However, as strong as the clutches of despair may be in times of darkness, hope should never be forgotten. For each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
Despair can never be eliminated, however, for black and white are the colors of photography. They symbolize the alternatives of hope and despair to which mankind if forever subjected.
Takuya panted and dropped on his knees to the ground. He felt as though he could pass out at any moment, his energy drained and spent as if he had run a long marathon without rest.
His throat was sore and dry, sweat trickled down his muscles which were aching. His sight was blurred and his breaths were haggard.
"H-how...?" Kouichi asked, his voice shaking. He had felt the power that flowed out of Takuya when he was using the barrier. It was the same feeling he felt whenever Izumi was using her powers but, at the same time, it was more than that feeling. "How did you do that?"
Takuya forced himself to stand but, he managed to do so barely and with the assistance from Shinya who allowed Takuya to lean on him.
"Izumi lent her powers to Takuya." It was Shinya who answered, and as he did so, he could feel a thousand different questions whirling in the minds of their allies and companions. His mind, quick as ever, had managed to devise an explanation to each of these potential queries.
"What do you mean 'lent her powers'?" Kouji managed to ask in between deep breaths. "What happened to Izumi to let him use her powers?"
"She...was tired from fighting with Takuya, trying to free him from his clutches - which she eventually did manage to do." Shinya explained, choosing his words carefully. "She wanted to fight along still but... we told her it was dangerous for her condition. So, she merged her powers with Takuya thinking that this way, she can still fight with us... even if she is far away."
Whatever was to be said, whatever words should have been exchanged at that point was lost when Chaos spoke, clapping his hands, obviously amused at what had occured.
"Bravo, Takuya." Chaos said, the dust that billowed from the clash of powers, slowly subsided. "It seems you have managed to utilize one of your amazing abilities - the ability to assimilate the power of others."
Takuya glared at Chaos, the being responsible for all that has happened and the reason why Izumi had to become the new guardian of the world tree. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth in anger.
"Don't." He heard Izumi's voice but she did not see her. "Don't hold on to anger, Takuya. You will only make Chaos that much stronger."
Takuya inhaled and exhaled slowly, calming himself down. He didn't need to tell her that he knew she was right.
Takuya knew that he couldn't allow anger to flow through them so easily. But, even with that knowledge, the fact remained that it would be hard to let go of his anger, and to let everyone do the same. Anger is part of who they were. An emotion that all sentient beings possess.
"Ability?" Junpei asked, surprised. "You have that ability, Takuya?"
Takuya shrugged, or at least, tried to. "I don't know about that. All I know is that Izumi has allowed me to use her powers, and I am going to use it along with the accursed flame to fight along side you guys, and put an end to Chaos' schemes."
Chaos laughed. "Do you think those powers will be enough? I think not!"
"We won't fully know that until we try, right?" Takuya said. If the others nodded, that was something they had not thought of: How will they know if they are strong enough to defeat Chaos if they were not willing to try and fight him to the best of their abilities?
"Takuya's right." Teppei said, he wore a grin on his face. "If our power is enough or not... we won't really know until we give it our all. I suppose, even under this circumstances, we can still surprise you, Chaos."
Chaos laughed once more. "There is nothing that humans can do that will surprise me now. You humans are all the same believing that you can do all the things you set out to do and even believing that you are better than gods and can replace us. Well, I shall show you the despair that comes from such a thought!"
At those words, and, even before Takuya could recuperate after such a feat, Chaos once again let up another attack. This time, he used the same dark flames that Takuya could conjure.
Without hesitating, Shinya jumped in front and let go of his own brand of flame. The black and white flames danced and roared with each other, trying to engulf the other in an attempt to overwhelm their enemy.
"I can't keep this up..." grunted, his outstretched hands, from where the white flames were being summoned, beginning to shake.
Takuya nodded, he then turned towards Kouji and the others and asked, "Can you guys attack Chaos from here using whatever powers you have?"
Everyone nodded save for Kouji who simply stared at Takuya. He didn't want to have anything to do with whatever Takuya has planned.
Everyone had prepared to retaliate, with Shinya still fighting with Chaos for dominance over the flames, when Kouji walked up to Takuya and said, "I still do not trust you."
Takuya did not look at him as he replied, "Yeah, I know."
Lumina forced herself to stand up. She was still weak from fighting against Chaos. Though she may be a goddess, she was a goddess of light, love and life, as such, fighting had never been part of her repertoire. She did all she could to stand up against Chaos but, against him who was born for battle, Lumina could only hold her own for a short while before fatigue could set down on her.
She continued to wonder, even until now, how things could have ended up as they did. She wondered what the Celestials: Solaris of the Sun, Luna of the Moon and Vesper of the Stars, would think of them now. Perhaps they are as disappointed of them as she was.
"How will I explain to them this?" She wondered as she pushed herself to stand up, watching as the Chosen Ones fought against Chaos with all of their might. "How will I explain what had become of Chaos?"
She then remembered what they had promised the Celestials, the beings who created them: to oversee and protect Endlessia...even at the cost of their lives. Both she and her brother, Chaos, had swore that oath using the ancient tongue. It was an oath that should have bound them to their word but then, Chaos broke his oath and she learned that even they whom people worship as gods are capable of such misdeeds.
Admittedly, Lumina was at fault as well. She had broke the oath many times in the past however, what she did was not as extreme as what Chaos did. She had thought it to be for the best interest of all when she created the Dragon Tome and used it to shackle humans and bind them to do what she wants, stripping them of their freedom. She had chose to cast away her belief in them and their ability to do good. And, she would have continued doing so if it were not for the first of the Chosen Ones who had shown her the error of her ways.
One of the many things that made her different from Chaos was that she accepted the fact that she made a mistake and did her part to correct that mistake.
As she watched the humans fight against Chaos once again, Luminan could not help but feel the shift in the world below. She felt Endlessia rumble and she remembered how Lunesca was designed so that what was happening in that place could be felt by the world below.
The power, overflowing from both the Chosen Ones and Chaos was endangering Endlessia. If the battle is not won soon, or not stopped, then Endlessia would end up in a poor state and return to how it once was - uninhabitable.
The ground trembled and volcanoes began to wake from their long slumber, threatening to spill the hot, molten rocks out of their mouths.
The animals of all shape and sizes, all kinds of animals from beings of the sky to beings of the earth and water, shuddered as they could feel that something terrible was happening.
The wind howled with fury and large waves crashed through the shores threatening to engulf anything in its path.
Storms raged in every and all parts of the world. Storms whose intensity surprised those who had lived long enough to know that such storms should and could never exist.
The fury of nature lashed out on the world in every possible means, causing fear, panic and havoc to ensue.
Those who were oblivious to the fight occurring in Lunesca could not help but wonder in fear if the end of the world has come. Even those who knew of the battle believed that it was time for the apocalypse and they wondered if the Chosen Ones had failed.
A murmur of prayers and wails of panic, fear, and disbelief rang on Endlessia. It was so much so that the battles and skirmishes occurring near and far was put to a standstill and people clamored in search of a safe haven. All wondering how much longer before the sky falls down on them and the ground gives way and swallow them whole.
In all of this, the feeling of despair was strong, everyone seemed to have abandon the feeling of hope for they felt their powerlessness and knew that there was nothing that they could do.
Chaos growled as the attacks hit him and snapped him out of his concentration, causing him to lose the battle with the flames against Shinya. They saw that he was wounded but, they soon saw Chaos' wounds disappearing, being healed by the negative emotions that he was using as his power.
The emotions emanating from the world below was aiding Chaos, that much they knew, healing him of whatever wounds they may inflict on him and renewing whatever energy he has lost.
In a sense, Chaos was invincible and he will remain that way unless they could find a way to stop the negative flow of energy. Katsuharu could not help but note how they would have a better chance of turning water to gold than finding a way to stop Chaos from feeding off those energies.
"Of course that would be easier." Snorted Tomoki, even amidst the danger that they are facing, the young Chosen of the Ice and Snow can find time to laugh. "You can do that since that is within your power, Katsuharu... You are the Chosen One of Metal."
Tired as they were, they could not help but chuckle at that.
"Perhaps you humans do not see the gravity of the situation." Chaos said as he saw them laughing, as tired as they were.
"Well, we didn't really think there would be gravity here on the moon." Joked Junpei under his breath. It was loud enough for his friends to hear causing them to chuckle even more.
Chaos eyes burned with anger. Whether he heard what Junpei had said or not, they didn't know. Without another word, Chaos once again attacked them with the same ball of energy as before however, this time, the amount of energy on the attack was even more staggering than before.
Takuya did as he had before, summoning a barrier with the aid of Izumi. The barrier crackled, threatening to break under the immense pressure. Takuya's breath became shallow as he felt his strength waning even more.
"If this keeps up, I'm going to deplete even my life force." He thought to himself.
"Use Milanai, Takuya." Izumi spoke in his mind.
"No. You said so yourself, Izumi, Milanai is dying. If I do use the World Tree's power, that will only quicken the process... and, who knows what'll happen next." Takuya responded to her suggestion. "No. I won't use Milanai's power."
"You'll die if you don't!" Argued Izumi. She could feel him fading while trying to maintain the barrier and protect their friends.
"I would rather die than learn later of what'll happen to you when the World Tree is gone." Takuya's tone held such a finality in it than he thought Izumi had accepted his answer.
"Don't be a fool, Takuya!" Retorted Izumi. Without another word, Izumi allowed Milanai's power to flow through her and to Takuya who could do nothing but accept it.
With Milanai lending her strength, Takuya was able to hold the barrier long enough until the energy from Chaos' attack was depleted. When the attack vanished along with its threat, the barrier immediately crumbled as Takuya fell to the ground.
Chaos laughed. He could feel Takuya's strength ebbing away into nothingness and he knew that the young man could not hold on for much longer nor could he summon a barrier strong enough to hold out his next attack.
Without waiting for Takuya to recover, much less giving him the time to do so, Chaos summoned all the strength he could muster without hurting himself, and formed it into a much stronger attack. Without delay, he immediately flung the attack at the humans.
With all his will, Takuya forced himself to stand and block the attack with another barrier.
"Where is his strength coming from?" Chaos found himself asking. "He is but a human!"
"Takuya, this is dangerous!" Shinya said amidst the roar brought by the collision of powers.
"I don't...have a choice!" Cried Takuya as he placed all his effort in powering up the barrier that was beginning to flicker.
Another surge of power flowed through him from Izumi and from Milanai. But, the amount of power from them combined could not hold out the attack much longer. Izumi made it known to Takuya as the leaves of the giant tree began to turn from its vibrant green and golden colors to a pale brown.
The Chosen Ones, seeing the barrier slowly being deteriorated by Chaos' attack could only hope and pray for a miracle for they knew that if no miracle would occur, if no force were to step in and help, they would surely meet their doom.
Without waiting for his attack to die down, Chaos released another energy attack. It was in the same magnitude and force as his earlier attack. When the two energies collided, it powered up the attack and within seconds obliterated the barrier protecting the Chosen Ones.
Takuya closed his eyes as he saw the massive energy making its way towards them with the broken pieces of the barrier in its backdrop.
"This is it, then?" He thought to himself before he blacked out from the strain of having to call upon such advance barrier and having to use it to deflect Chaos' attacks. "In the end I was powerless... I am sorry, Izumi."
Lumina saw it as if it was playing before her in slow motion. She saw how Chaos' attack breached and destroyed the barrier that Takuya had conjured. She felt, as the goddess of life and as the one who gave Endlessia the World Tree, Milanai, aiding Takuya in his plight. She saw the look of triumph etched in Chaos' face. And, at once, she knew what she had to do.
Mustering as much speed as she could, Lumina flew to the aid of the Chosen Ones who were too shocked to know what was going on. She placed herself in between the hunter and the prey, defending the Chosen Ones with her own barrier.
Lumina winced as the attack clashed with her defence and at once, she experienced what Takuya had to go through with his barrier.
She heard the chosen ones gasp as they saw her standing before them, deflecting Chaos' attack and the look of annoyance in Chaos as he realized that she had step in to defend the humans.
Calling forth another power, Lumina managed to quell down the attack. Once the energy subsided, she told Shinya to see how Takuya was doing, something that the older Kanbara agreed to do.
She did not look at him as he clamored to get to his brother and check up on Takuya. Instead, Lumina's attention was placed all on Chaos.
"You broke another oath, sister." Chaos sneered. "For one who talks of values and laws, you did not seem to care breaking them and bending the laws in your every whim."
"'A god must never interfere in the battle of mortals.' That is the rule you are referring to, is it not, Chaos?" Lumina asked. The Chosen Ones noted how weary she sounded and looked. "I did not break that oath for this is not a battle between mortals. Not only that, I have sworn to do everything I can and aide in anyway necessary in order to ensure the protection of the world. I am fulfilling that oath by helping the Chosen Ones fight against you."
"I may be the God of Darkness, Chaos. However," Chaos spoke in a menacing tone. "I am still using the body of the king, Seraphim, and as such, I am still a mortal though my powers may be well above them. I have yet to retrieve my godly form and powers. You have broken an oath, Lumina!"
Lumina was taken aback. She had forgotten that small fact. As realization dawned upon her, she felt her strength leaving her, such was the price of breaking an oath, an oath spoken with the ancient tongue.
"Step aside, Lumina." Warned Chaos as he summoned another powerful energy at the palm of his hands. "This is still a battle between mortals. Should you continue to defend them...well, I am sure you know full well the consequences of your actions."
Lumina did not budge however. She remained where she was standing, full of dignity and the desire to protect the Chosen Ones and readied herself to defend them once more.
When Chaos realized that Lumina was not going to heed his warning, he raised his hand and said, "So be it."
The attack flew towards them and Lumina immediately called forth her barrier after she, herself, had summoned her own attack to meet with Chaos' head-on.
It would appear, however, that Lumina made a mistake in calculating the strength of Chaos' attack, for when his and her attacks collided, Chaos' energy easily destroyed Lumina's attack and, within seconds, was fighting with Lumina's barrier.
"Damn it!" Grunted Kouji as he pounded his blood fist into the ground, pushing away the pain he felt when he hit it. "We can't keep defending forever. We can't hope to win if all we do is defend!"
"But how are we suppose to attack him? He's faster than us, we can't outmaneuver him." Kouichi asked, reminding Kouji of his attempt.
"I can help you with that." Lumina said as she heard what the Chosen Ones were discussing. "My attack may be weak but, I can help increase the speed of one of you and hurl you to Chaos."
"Hurl one of us? What do you mean, goddess?" Junpei asked, though he already has a vague idea of what the goddess is planning to do.
A small, playful smile manage to escape from Lumina's lips. "You'll see. So, who will it be? I can only send one person and protect that same person only once. So choose carefully, heroes."
Without thinking twice, Kouji stepped forward. "I'll go."
Everyone, save for the goddess, looked at him like he has lost his mind, which they also asked him in unison. He was wounded, battered and tired, after all.
"Are you sure, Kouji Minamoto?" the goddess asked, she didn't face him for she was still concentrating on the barrier.
Kouji nodded. She could feel the determination in him. Lumina could not help but wonder if Kouji has still placed his faith on the prophecy.
"Very well. Get ready." Was all Lumina said.
Kouji poised himself. Lumina's thoughts flowed to him, letting him know what she intends to do and what he, himself, needs to do. Kouji could not help but grin at the goddess' plan, as dangerous as it might be.
The moment that the energy from Chaos' attack subsided, Lumina break down the barrier and, using the power of wind, hurled Kouji towards Chaos, his sword aimed at the god of darkness.
Sure enough, the Chaos did not expect this attack for he had already let another energy attack at Lumina and the Chosen Ones she is protecting and was focused on that attack.
The attack did not hurt Kouji as he flew above it but, with the barrier down, Lumina felt the full force of the attack. Kouji did not notice it but pressed on with his attack, managing to plunge the sword on Chaos' heart.
The god wailed in pain and fury as Kouji left his sword and jumped back, panting.
They gathered around her as she felt her energy fading. The attack that Chaos has unleashed was far more powerful than she had anticipated and, without the barrier, having been hit by it with full force has proved fatal to her.
They didn't speak, nor did they need to. She can feel what it was they wanted to convey - gratitude, fear, despair and...hope. As small a twinkle as it was, she could feel that their hearts were still hopeful despite knowing what awaited the goddess.
Having broken the oath she had given had drained her of half her godly powers. Having done it a second time made her almost a mortal. And, as such, despite whatever powers it was that was left within her, she has gambled all she can and placed her hopes for the future on the shoulder of these young heroes.
She knew the consequence yet, she as death began to take a hold on her, she could not help but smile.
She had done all that she could and, if there is on regret that was in her heart, it was that she couldn't save Chaos from himself.
With a final burst of light, Lumina vanished, leaving no trace behind.
Takuya floated in that all-too-familiar abyss of darkness once again. He sighed, having hoped never to return to that place.
He wondered if he would meet Izumi there once again and if Izumi would try to save him from his current predicament. But, try as he might, he could not find a means to communicate with her as he had been able to do before. He could not feel the tingling sensation, which was a sign that he and Izumi were connected in thought.
"So I am alone once again." Takuya sighed as he felt himself landing on an invisible ground.
"You are never alone, Takuya, no matter how secluded you may feel." Came a voice and, in a brilliant flash of light, Lumina showed herself to Takuya, lighting the darkened abyss. Gone was the darkness which was now transformed into a bright, white light.
The light was so bright that Takuya had to squint his eyes.
"Your heart connects you with the people you have met and will continue to do so in the future," the goddess went on. "That is the reason why, no matter how alone humans may feel, the truth remains that they are never truly alone."
"Goddess Lumina." Gasped Takuya as he realized who he was talking to. "What are you doing here? I-I mean...what happened? I thought this place was a recluse?"
"This place is not a place that anyone can stumble into." Came the confusing reply from Lumina. "This is not your recluse nor does this "place" belong solely to you. The Crossroad - that is what this place is called."
"The Crossroad?" Takuya asked. He looked around, hoping to see a branching road. All he saw, however, was nothing but white.
"It is a place where only those who has to make a heavy choice can enter." Lumina explained. "There is a choice that you have to make now, Takuya. The same goes for me."
"What do you mean?" Takuya asked. "What choice? Haven't I already made my choice with Izumi?"
Lumina shook her head. "That is her choice, not yours. You merely agreed to what she has decided. This choice, is something you alone need to make."
Just then, something materialized itself in the space between Takuya and Lumina, floating.
It was a sword filled with beautiful jewels, similar to the jewels that adorned the Throne of the Gods, as Takuya had seen, and the same jewels that they have seen on the Gates of Gaia.
The jewels shined with different colors, from crimson to gold; from blue to brown; from green to purple; from silver to bronze; from platinum to black. 12 jewels all in all. And in each jewel, Takuya could sense an immense power flowing through them.
The jewels were positioned so that they encircled the sword's pommel. In the middle of the pommel, surrounded by the 12 jewels, was an even larger stone. The stone was twice the size of the jewel and it glowed in a wave of colors, changing hues as the time flies.
The grip of the sword was as decorated as the pommel and it was shaped like intertwined snakes, with the mouth of the two snakes ending on the pommel. Both the pommel and the grip were made of an unknown, golden-colored material.
The cross-guard of the sword was shaped like a pair of dragon wings and was made of the same material as the pommel and grip with silver and platinum linings around it and another stone, similar to the one in the middle of the pommel, decorated the middle of the cross-guard as well.
The fuller of the sword had something written on it with the ancient language. The runes seemed to have been written using glowing ink, for even as Takuya starred at them, he could see them flickering in and out like they were made of blue flames.
The blade of the sword was made of celestial bronze. No rust could be seen nor were there dents or jagged edges on the sword.
"The Holy Sword, Eos." Lumina said, pointing to the floating sword just a couple of steps in front of her.
"This is Eos?" Takuya could not believe he was seeing the fabled ancient sword. "But... But I thought the powers of the Chosen Ones must be present and complete for it to appear."
"That was how it was when Eos first appeared before the humans." Lumina said, she touched the sword's pommel and felt a vibration of power from it. She then drew her hand back. "Eos appeared when Yuuki, the first human to ever bore the weapon, summoned it in hopes of ridding the world of Chaos' darkness. He managed to do that with the help of his friends who sacrificed their powers in order to call forth the sword...although, they did not realize that during their battle."
"They were the first humans, after the first war with Chaos, whom I have seen to possess an insurmountable will. Their will, their hopes and desires to defeat Chaos, resonated with their hearts and their powers calling the sword to Yuuki."
"Yuuki Granatis wasn't a Chosen One. He didn't possess any special ability. His only weapon was his heart and strong will. And he was the first human Eos chose after Eos was shattered to pieces."
"Why are you telling me this, Goddess Lumina?" Takuya asked. He was confused as to why Lumina was giving him a lesson on history.
"Because it is something you need to hear." Came the reply. Lumina then went on with her tale.
"The sword materialized from the power of the Chosen Ones that accompanied Yuuki during his final fight with Chaos. It is for that reason alone why many believe that to summon Eos, the power of the Chosen Ones must be assimilated. However, there is truth that the Chosen Ones are needed for when Eos was shattered, the jewels you see encased around the sword, disappeared into the hearts of men as energies that would later reveal themselves as the power of the Chosen Ones."
"So then... you weren't the one who blessed the Chosen One with their powers?" Takuya asked.
Lumina nodded. "It is through Eos that there are Chosen Ones to begin with. Eos is not just a sword or a holy artifact. Eos is also a sentient being, a being having a sense of perception and consciousness."
Takuya looked at the sword with a new light and asked, "So, why does it appear before me now?"
"Because it has chosen you to be the one to wield it...And, also because Milanai, through Izumi, had given you the ability to summon and wield Eos." Lumina replied. "However, the question remains if you would wield it or not."
"There is no question about that. If Eos is the only sword capable of piercing through Chaos' barriers, whatever they may be, and is the only thing that can stop Chaos and his plan then..."
"Be careful of your answers." Lumina warned. "Do not be quick to decide when you have yet to learn of what your choices may imply -what consequences would be born from your choice."
"There's a catch?" Takuya asked. He didn't thought of that.
Lumina nodded. "Eos' power is great. In exchange for his power, something of equal strength must be given as compensation. During Yuuki's final battle, Eos took the powers of the Chosen One. The Holy Sword drained the Chosen One of all their magical capabilities turning Yuuki's companions to normal humans who are unable to cast even the simplest of spells."
"During Kaien's battle, when my descendant, Shinji, used the Holy Sword he paid a price that could have ended up with him being the Guardian of the World Tree. Eos proposed to him that in exchange for wielding Eos, Shinji must give his life to the World Tree and be its guardian. It was only because Kaien took on the burden that Shinji was spared and the Holy Sword's services was paid."
"It seems," Takuya noticed a similarity in the two events that Lumina has stated, "that Eos decides for himself what the suitable payment would be."
Lumina nodded. "Yes. Only Eos can say what your payment would be and, you will only know of it once you have chosen to wield the sword. That is why you must choose carefully."
Takuya regarded the sword carefully. He did not dare imagine what compensation the sword would ask of him. He was no Chosen One and certainly not a descendant of the goddess. He didn't even know if he had the same bearing as the this Yuuki-person.
Thoughts swirled in his mind of what the sword may ask of him and those thoughts frightened him. What if what the sword asked would cause him to part with Izumi even more? What if what the sword asked for was something that, in the end, he could not give? What would the Holy Sword do then?
Lumina, on the other hand, regarded Takuya carefully. She knew that, if he accepts and wields Eos, Takuya has a chance of setting things right. However, she no longer has the power to help him during that time.
"You have been given a hard and heavy choice to make." Lumina said. "This is the first time in the history of Endlessia where something like this has happened."
"What do you mean? Something like what?"
"Do you remember the prophecy that Kouji Minamoto firmly believed would come to pass?" Lumina asked. When she saw Takuya nod, she continued. "That prophecy spoke of the Mirror of Light and the MIrror of Darkness. In times long past, the Mirror of Light and the Mirror of Darkness had always been one person, and that person had always been the one who wielded Eos. But, now, in this new cycle, the Mirror of Light and the Mirror of Darkness are two, different people."
"The Mirror of Light and the Mirror of Darkness..." And then suddenly, realization dawned upon Takuya. "My brother and myself!"
Lumina nodded once more.
"Kouji Minamoto believed him and his brother to be the ones in the prophecy when, in fact, it is you and Shinya." Lumina said. "It has always been destined that Shinya would be the one to wield the Holy Sword however, when you...assimilated Shinya's powers that fateful day, somehow, the fate of you and your brother became intertwined, so much so that you ended up here when it should have been Shinya who would make this decision."
"Then...it is not my right to decide..." Takuya said.
Lumina shook her head. "It is your right as much as his. It is, as I have said, both your fate and your brother's."
Takuya closed his eyes, Lumina's words echoing in his head. Suddenly, the thought of Shinya carrying another burden entered his mind and, at once, Takuya knew what he had to do.
"I want to wield the Holy Sword, Eos, Goddess Lumina." Takuya made his choice. "I don't know how I will fare knowing that this is a burden that my brother should have been the one to carry but... when I think of all the burdens and hardships that Shinya had gone through, being unable to do anything at that time... I can't help but think that I don't want to see him shouldering another burden such as this. I don't know what Eos would ask of me to give and, I am scared of what he could ask but... if this is the only way to defeat Chaos and ensure that peace returns to Endlessia... then, I accept this burden."
Eos glowed and floated towards Takuya. When the sword was right in front of the young Kanbara, it gave one final glow before it vanished. The moment it did so, Takuya felt a stinging sensation in his right hand, when he looked at it, he saw the same runes that he had seen engraved on the sword's fuller.
"What does this mean?" Takuya asked holding his palm up so that Lumina may see it.
"That is something I cannot tell you. You must learn of what the rune means by your own, it is only when you understand what is written in the palm of your hands, that you can summon Eos' true power and unleash the Holy Sword's true potential."
"Eos' true potential..." Takuya found himself thinking.
Just then, Lumina turned around and began to walk towards a different direction. Takuya tried to run after her but, despite her short strides, he could not catch up with her.
"Where are you going, Goddess Lumina?" Takuya shouted when he realized that it was pointless to run after the goddess.
"To make my own choice." Was Lumina's only reply before she vanished.
To be continued...
Post Author's Notes:
Whew, that made me tired. It's a lot longer than I had thought this chapter would be but, I hope I am able to convey what I want to convey in this chapter.
Maybe I have managed to answer some of the questions in this story but, I think I also managed to add another question. All of those other remaining open questions will be answered at the end of the story, though.
Questions such as: "What is the price Takuya had to pay?" or maybe, "What does Lumina need to choose?" , and of course, "What happened to Izumi?" will be answered next chapter (well, maybe not the 'what happened to Izumi?' part...yet).
Anyways, the next update would, at the earliest possible time, be on Sunday or Monday. So, until the next update, this is Sakura Martinez saying "PEACE" and signing out. Ja ne!
End of Post Author's Notes