Whew, seems like my chapters are getting longer, and they're getting darker to.
Anyways, this has been the chapter I've been wanting to write for a long time.
Thanks again to evil Ratchet96 for the input and reviews, keep it up! Also thanks to Katratzi for their input and reviews and to Trekker77 for their reviews.
Anyways, can't wait to see what you all think about this.
Chapter 13 …Melancholy,
The flight to Parson lasted for three hours. Everybody was chatty except for the older crew.
"Kaden," Leo started, "To Ebony this is personal. Chances are she means you harm."
Kaden nodded, "Yeah probably, but if she just wanted me dead why didn't she just kill me in the court?"
"Like Leo said," Rykk answered, "It's personal. She wants to do this on her terms and that's got my tail twitchy." Rykk sighed as he saw the eager group chatting away. They were either new to the world or new to combat. Both options weren't good; for them, or the group at large. "Unfortunately we are at the disadvantage here. We have little knowledge about Ebony, we're meeting in the most dangerous place on this world, and we have a bunch of newbs."
"What do you guys think of Ebony?" Kaden asked Leo, Atlas, and Rykk.
Atlas answered first, "When Oi was after a bandit around two years ago Oi stopped en a bar. Oi overheard some men an' lombaxes talkin' about a witch in te forest. Oi jumped ento te conversation. Tey said tey heard a woman's sinister laugh and dere she was. Two of tem saw a figure move trough de trees. Te only ting tey could see was dat et was a lombax she 'ad two horns. Oi tought de story was a myth. Not until de court anyways."
"Well," Rykk said, "She can teleport, command lightning and green fire, and has some kind of telepathy. Lord knows what else she can do."
"We have a wildcard to," Kaden said, "A bunch of them. She may know you Rykk, but these guys will be a surprise."
A few hours later Max landed the Atmo a quarter of a mile from the dead city's outskirts.
"So how far is it to Parson's square?" Ratchet asked.
"Five miles give or take." Rykk stated as he looked at the city. The buildings were a combination of stone, metal, and wood. Most buildings were in pieces and crumbling and were reminiscent of the Victorian era. The city was grey with a hint of cold blue. A thick layer of clouds hung over the city, blocking most of the sun. "A good thing about Hammer and VIM, they've made you all immune to the Dark Radiation. Otherwise you'd all be dead or mutated within an hour."
"Mutated to what?" Talwyn asked.
"No idea…" Rykk responded as he stepped forward and entered the city. "Tread light and quick, we don't want to draw attention."
The city was quiet as the group entered. It was also cold, it's ground was a grey/blue instead of crimson the clouds made them almost forget it was daytime.
Ratchet clutched his wrench, the stillness was unsettling.
Sly held his staff at the ready, his ears craned for any sound outside the group. He sniffed the air and smelled dirt, metal, but couldn't pick up anything else.
Rykk had his Tonfa swords out; he showed little emotion, no fear, just determination.
Talwyn was ready to blast anything that got too close.
Carmelita held her hands out in front of her, ready to shoot blue flame.
Atlas held his Vector revolver, scanning the area.
Leo had his Vector shotgun at his side.
Bones and Bentley were told to stay behind.
Clank was allowed to come; he hovered close to Ratchet and had a small arc caster in his device.
Draxis had changed into his Prowler form. Though he was shaped like a Prowler; Draxis' fur color and eye color was the as when he was a lombax.
Fen had Ferra flying near the group. Through her, he was scouting the area. He held a pair of straight, short swords.
Arco was armed with a wrench similar to Ratchet's though it had blue highlights on the metal.
Kaden held a double ended wrench similar to Alistair's. He stood in the center of the group and everyone stayed close.
As they walked Sly asked, "Why would anyone want to come here?" His voice was a whisper.
"Te Dark Radiation Cores," Atlas answered, his voice too was quiet. "Tey are wort a'lotta money. Dat an' te energy tey shed es powerful."
"Isn't the radiation what keeps this place desolate?" Ratchet asked.
"Yeah," Leo answered, "The amount one core leaks isn't enough to do this. Parson had/has a vault that held dozens, if not hundreds of cores. When Calamity destroyed the city, the cores were scattered and the combined Dark Radiation leakage over the years has made Parson into this."
They had walked about a mile in when Sly heard something. It was footsteps. He looked in the direction but saw nothing.
Ring around… the Rosie…
Everyone froze as they heard a woman slowly, and hauntingly sing.
"What the heck is that?" Arco whispered to Leo.
A pocket… full… of posies…
The voice echoed through the quiet, creepily empty, and wrecked streets. The group began to move, slowly closer to the interior of the city.
Ashes… ashes… we all… fall… down!
Out of the corner of her eye, Carmelita saw a glimpse of a white figure.
Ring around… the Rosie…
Sly's pulse quickened. "Can Ferra see anything Fen?" Fen shook his head.
What… do you… suppose we…?
Leo spotted a figure with a long, white rob vanish behind a building.
Can do… to fight… the daaarkness… in which… we… drown…?
The last phrase shook Draxis' nerves more than a little. His Prowler tail quivered.
Ring around… the Rosie…
Fen tried to even-out and slow his breathing. Murray was visibly shaking and quivering his fists.
This evil thing… it knnoooowwwss me…
Rykk, though not outwardly showing anything, was shaking on the inside. Kaden's eyes were darting around trying to see the source of the creepy singing.
Lost ghosts… surround me…
All eyes darted towards the front of the group, down the road they were on. The last line came from that direction. When they saw the source, everyone, and I mean everyone, was frozen with fear.
Standing down the road was a woman with a trailing, white robe. Skin was a blue/grey color and she had long black hair that slowly turned white at its end. Her arms were down and she just stood still. Her head was down and they could not see her face. Everyone's eyes went wide as her head rose. She had no mouth or nose, just two eyes that were closed. She slowly opened them. She didn't have any pupils or irises. They were black but the center of her eyes were white; the black slowly faded to white. Her eyes had no expression as she sang the final line. The voice seemed disembodied as her eyes blinked slowly.
I can't… fall… down.
With that she smoothly and quietly walked/floated off the road and vanished behind a building. Again, the streets were silent.
The group didn't move for a good five minutes.
Rykk was the first to do so. "I think that was the Siren." He stated just barely a hint of fear in his voice.
Sly stammered, "W, w, what?"
"Read about her. There was an explorer a while back that wrote down what he saw. One thing he mentioned was a ghostly woman roaming the edges of the city. What she wants or if there's more like her, no one knows."
"I… think it best if we keep moving." Leo suggested and everyone agreed.
For the next two miles all was quiet. No one spoke and all weapons were at the ready.
Sly's ears then heard something faint, something akin to skittering. He turned in the direction. He then heard a light chirping/chattering noise come from behind some rubble. Soon the same noise rang out in all directions around the group. Everyone began to scan their surroundings.
"Over there," Draxis said as his Prowler form got ready to pounce.
Crawling out of ruined buildings and down broken walls were thousands of small, imp-like creatures similar to the nocturnes Kaden had described. The problem was that they were all a pale blue/white color, had pure red eyes, no pupils, and sharp black claws and teeth. They all stood in around 4'6" or 5' tall, so they were all shorter than those in the group. They were all smiling as they ran at the mostly-scared gang.
The group yelled as they too charged the army of mutated nocturnes.
Sly blasted and shocked any nocturnes that got within reach of his staff. He would teleport around, stunning the short beasts. He also climbed up walls to jump off and would perform a ground blast.
Ratchet slammed and blasted any that were close to him. Though he eventually put his wrench in its special Utility and grew to twenty feet tall. His shirt ripped apart, it wasn't like it was doing him an good anyway. The nocturnes snarled as he crushed them under his feet and whacked them with his hands.
Fen was slicing away with his swords. He was fast and acrobatic. His moves were smooth and incorporated a lot of spinning motions. As such, he cut paths through the horde. He had Ferra turn into a swarm of bees and used them to torment and distract the demons.
Draxis was slashing and biting the haunting crowd as a Prowler. His roars echoed through the streets. The black blood of the mutant horde lined his maw and claws.
Talwyn was flying overhead and bombarded the army with concussive blasts. The things could jump impressive heights and she had to kick them off her legs and arms occasionally.
Carmelita covered herself with blue flame and began to roast any within her range. They yelped and chirped at the fire. Any imps that tried to bite her were vaporized in sapphire flame.
Murray was bashing the crowd with both his metallic fists and with seismic blasts. The blasts knocked those in their paths to the ground and made them loose their footing.
Leo was rapidly spinning his shotgun and firing. His reload rate was very impressive. Orange Vector pellets left his weapon and blew apart usually two imps at a time.
Arco was using her shields to blast and knock the foul imps away. She also gave protection to anyone that asked. The main one was Leo, so he could reload his shotgun.
Atlas rapidly fired his pistol in all directions, even behind him. His shots very rarely missed and he was very quick to reload.
Rykk was a machine. He coldly, quickly, and precisely cut and sliced his enemies. He was smooth but didn't show the raw passion and anger he had when he fought Calamity. His face was empty, even as he blasted them with Alter or would vanish through the ground to surprise his foes.
They fought, for over ten minutes they did. They put many of the mutated nocturnes out of their misery.
This is taking too long; we can't fight these things all day! Ratchet thought. The imps were climbing on him, they kept hacking but his skin was too strong for their claws. They inevitably got swatted away.
Apparently Rykk was thinking the same way. "We need to move now! Ratchet! Grow to fifty, hold those who can't fly in your hands, and run down the road!"
Ratchet nodded and he felt his body grow from twenty feet, to fifty feet tall. He lowered his hand and Sly, Carmelita, Murray, Kaden, Clank, Atlas, Arco, and Fen all piled onto his palm. He put his other hand gently on top of them and then began to run down the road they needed to go. Hundreds of nocturnes were flattened under his enormous feet.
Leo shot jets of purple plasma from his feet and flew after Ratchet.
Draxis morphed into a giant eagle called a Plain Hawk and flew that way.
Soon they outran the nocturnes and were making good speed.
Rykk was concerned about one thing, Ratchet's steps created tremors and was wondering what was going to feel them.
"Ratchet! Look out!" Talwyn yelled as a gigantic, mutated Hunter lunged at him. It was twice the size of the one they had seen on the Plain. It had white fur on its head that faded to black near its rear. Its pupils were glowing red while the rest of the eye was a bright yellow. For the moment, it was the about the same size as Ratchet.
Ratchet was mostly able to dodge the beast. It nicked his shoulder and knocked him back. He kept the occupants in his hands save as he fell backwards. When he landed he set them down and prepared to fight the giant, demonic wolf.
The Hunter was standing back a second; it hadn't seen anything like Ratchet before. It was snarling.
Ratchet focused and maxed out his size. He now stood over fifty feet taller/bigger than the Hunter. Ratchet growled and ran at his attacker. The beast growled and charged Ratchet. Though Ratchet was now twice its size, the Hunter was ferocious and hungry. Ratchet kicked the Hunter in the face and sent it reeling. He then grabbed it and threw it into a crumbled building.
At that time, everyone was glad that Ratchet had the ability he had. The sounds of their fight roared like a thunderstorm.
Everyone else couldn't relax; they were soon approached by a horde. The horde was a mutated form of the creatures that attacked Ratchet, Clank, and Talwyn when they first came to Agrona (they are called the Clan). Their appearance was ghoulish; they had thinner, pale blue fur, long claws on their already long fingers and toes, and most of them had their mouth agape like a ghost. They were slouched forward and ran with their arms slightly trailing behind. When they got close, they would try to slash or bite. Dried bloodstains were on many of the mutated Clans' mouths and claws.
The crew got to hacking, blasting, burning, and knocking their attackers. The fight lasted for a few minutes and was an incredible display.
Everyone was surprised when the bloody and beaten corpse of the Hunter fell on top of/crushed most of the Clan.
The crew looked behind them and saw Ratchet; the hundred-foot tall lombax had a look of determination. His towering figure was intimidating; there was still a decent amount of Clan left and they were charging the group. Ratchet casually raised his foot. The big, furry, yellow appendage blocked out whatever sunlight made it into the city. He then brought it down onto the Clan, killing about two-thirds of them. The rumble of his crushing footfall was sent through the ground. The rest of the Clan took off, yelping and grunting in fear.
Ratchet then shrank from a hundred feet tall, back down to his five-foot tall, normal size.
Talwyn ran up and hugged him. "You were amazing!"
"Dang dude, you just took out a Hunter with your bare hands!" Draxis exclaimed. He was still in the form of a Prowler.
Rykk nodded, "Well done."
Kaden didn't say anything, but gave his son the look of approval. That was all he needed to give him.
"That reminded me of the Technomite incident…" Clank stated before chuckling, "…Only, in reverse."
"Oi would've hated ta foight dat ting," Atlas congratulated, "Tanks Ratchet."
Ratchet shrugged, "No problem, being that size, feels… good. I love it."
Clank asked, "Everyone ok?"
Sly looked down, he had a good sized cut on his upper arm. "I got cut a bit." He said and Clank hovered over to him.
He scanned the wound and bandaged it. Others in the group had similar cuts and wounds. It took Clank only a few minutes to heal them.
Again it was quiet and they had only a mile or so left. They ran the rest of the way. Thanks to Ratchet, the other creatures were too scared to approach them.
Rykk, Leo, and Atlas, led the group the rest of the way to the city's center.
As they approached, Talwyn landed and Draxis turned back into his normal lombax form.
The square was big, open, and empty. The crew scanned the area looking for Ebony.
Kaden yelled, "Ebony! I'm here! Show yourself!"
The group waited for a few minutes. "Over there," Arco stated and pointed.
Coming out of an old, crumbling church building was a floating orb of green flame. There was also a slow, haunting sound similar to a clarinet being blown. The orb of flame re-entered the church.
"Let's go." Leo said and the gang followed the orb.
The glowing green flame ball led them deep into the dark, dilapidated building. It led them to an old stairwell and down the stairs. "I don't like this," Rykk stated, his pupils glowing yellow. "She's leading us to a confined space. Plus, Ratchet's ability will be made useless if we go down there."
Kaden sighed, "I know, but we don't have a choice." He then began walking down the stairs. The group reluctantly followed. Best Rykk could tell, the stairs led them down at least a good seven stories below the street. The orb then led them down a hall that opened into a circular, stone arena/throne room. The room was empty save for a large, roaring green fire in the center. It also had four other doorways, where they led, they didn't know. Sitting atop a throne overlooking the fire and the entrance was Ebony. Her long, black robe trailed from the throne.
"I trust my pets didn't kill some of you?" She said; her voice elegant with an insincere-politeness.
"They didn't kill anyone…" Kaden stated and stepped forward.
The news made Ebony put on a sad expression, she whimpered softly before performing her infamous, sinister laugh. "Oh dear, that means we've got a bigger audience."
"Bigger audience? What do you want?" Kaden asked. Ebony's passive-aggressive manner was aggravating him.
Ebony stood up, she looked at Talwyn and smirked. "Ms. Apogee, why don't you ask Kaden what happened to your father? Heeee knnoowss…" She said the last part in a sing-song ton and pointed her staff at the chief for emphasis.
Talwyn froze for a second before turning to Kaden. Of all the things she wasn't expecting to hear that. "What is she saying?"
Surprise, fear, and hurt appeared on Kaden's face. "I, I, I, don't know…"
Talwyn noticed the look on his face and she realized he did know, "What happened?!" Her blue eyes became a bit wet.
Ratchet couldn't move he didn't know what to make of the situation.
Kaden jumped at her outburst but didn't speak. Everyone was silent and could only watch.
"Oh," Ebony said with a pitiful tone, "He's dead, Max Apogee died in this city."
Tears began to run down Talwyn's cheek, "Kaden, WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Kaden stammered, it was evidently painful for him, "Y, y, years ago, h, he came through a portal to this world. We became friends. I… I had sent scouting parties to this city to retrieve Cores. But they all either disappeared or came back badly hurt. I thought Max could handle a party…"
"But he was never heard from again…" Ebony finished, her voice had venom in it.
"Why… why didn't you tell me? You knew who I was!" Talwyn yelled at Kaden. She shot him a hurtful glare. "Did you know?" She looked at Ratchet. Her face read of pain, hurt, hate, and anger.
Ratchet was shocked that his father knew about Max. He shook his head, "I, had honestly, no idea."
Talwyn saw that Ratchet was telling the truth. She yelled and knocked Kaden to the floor with a blast, "You liar! You knew who I was! You knew my father was dead! You… didn't… say… anything!"
"He abandoned him, didn't send any help, any rescue, he… let… your father… die!" Ebony exclaimed. "Only told him that there was one party lost before him; in truth, there were six!"
Talwyn looked back up at the dark entity. "How do you know that? Did you help kill him?"
Ebony laughed, "No, but I was there." She turned her attention back to Ratchet. "Seems that all of the Ellipses abandon their friends eventually," She said spitefully, "Right Ratchet?"
Ratchet was utterly confused and upset. "I… don't… know… YOU!"
"I know you!" She shouted in anger and spite. The outburst was uncharacteristic from her passive-aggressive tone. "I thought I did once..."
"Once?! Who are you?!" Ratchet shouted.
Ebony looked down and closed her eyes as green flames spun around her. They hid her for a second.
Ratchet almost fell down as the flames died down.
Clank almost short-circuited upon the sight.
Standing above them, was a yellow-furred lombax with blue eyes.
It was Angela Cross.
"You left me… alone." She still had the horns and was still in the long black rob. "I thought you would have come back. Then Max saved me from Tachyon and took me here." She then turned to Kaden. "And you, you sent us here and LET US DIE!" The green flames appeared around her again and the green fire in the center of the room exploded. It knocked everyone down as Angela's fur turned pale white and her eyes began to lightly glow the yellow/green color. She then fired a purple and white lightning bolt at Kaden and another at Ratchet.
They both yelled and writhed as the unnatural lightning coursed through their body.
Ratchet's eyes grew wet as the pain faded; he felt both anger and pity for Angela/Ebony. "Angela… what happened to you?!"
"I was abandoned, like father… like son… and I changed. We all changed didn't we?" She addressed the whole group. "Some of us have more coming." She flipped her hand casually; a wisp of green flame followed her motion.
Two nocturnes came from one of the doorways; each carried a Dark Radiation Core. One came in from the right, the other from the left. Ebony snapped her finger and each core levitated from their grasp. Each one had green flames underneath them.
"The core to my right…" The flames flashed underneath the core she spoke of. "…contains a nice enough Being. Yes, I can see them, as can Rykk." She said as she smiled and winked at Rykk.
Rykk furrowed his brow.
Ebony continued, "… as I was saying. This one is nice enough, just wants to settle with a host. Doesn't mind if the host is dominate, just wants to live." She then turned to the other, "This one," she clicked her tongue, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, is a naughty one. It wants to, well; think of Calamity but with, other… sick desires. Kaden, step forward please. Everyone else, stay back!"
Kaden stepped away from the group, his ears low.
Ebony then levitated the bad orb to Kaden, he looked at it.
"Take it,"
Rykk yelled, "Don't touch it!"
Ebony shot Rykk with lightning. It made him fall and yell.
Kaden jumped and put his gloved hands on the orb. There was a brief white flash across the orb's surface.
"Now drop it,"
Kaden looked at the orb and imagined the monster inside. "You, Angela, you're a Bonded?"
She pulled down on her robe and showed a bright green symbol on her pale shoulder. It was shaped like a V and had a line down its center. She then told the group how she changed. "We tried to escape with a core. Before we got it, I called for help but none came or responded. During our escape attempt I dropped it. Max was far enough behind me that the Being inside didn't split and enter us both. I was going to die and Max gave me an injection of Healer. It allowed me to fully change. After giving me the serum, he was killed by a Hunter. You… left us… because of you… Angela died."
"I… I… couldn't send any… we… couldn't risk more lives." Kaden was visibly upset and stammered and shook. "Rykk, what kind of Being is in this thing?"
Rykk studied it, "She's right, that thing is a murderous Being. If it could, it'd kill us all and drink our blood."
Kaden breathed uneasily at the news. "I… can't drop this. I can't unleash it."
Ebony raised her chin, "Fine," She pointed at Ratchet. A dark, shadowy figure, a puppet, flew from her and entered Ratchet.
He yelped as he felt the forceful entry of the puppet.
"That's how you gave me dreams?" Ratchet stated; he was doubled over as the puppet was hitting the pain receptors in his body. "You put this thing in me as I slept?!" He felt violated.
Ebony nodded, "Yep just had to make sure the cat wasn't around."
Rykk growled at the insult.
Ebony continued, "Now, if your father doesn't cooperate, I'll slowly stop your heart." She then smiled and Ratchet felt a burst of pain in his chest.
Ratchet gasped as the pain subsided and was able to, shakily, stand.
Rykk slowly made his way to Sly. He touched Sly on the shoulder.
Sly, and everyone else, were silent and could only watch the dangerous drama unfold.
Sly jumped as he heard Rykk's voice in his mind. "Hey, I just put my puppet into you. It's the only way we can talk without her knowing."
"We can't let that Being get unleashed into anyone can we?"
"No, it'll be another Calamity to deal with. Need you to teleport to Ebony and distract her. If I can get my puppet into Ratchet I can prevent her from killing him. However, she'll know the instant my puppet is in him."
"We've got to be fast." Sly thought.
"Yeah, wait for my signal."
Ratchet yelled, "Dad don't!" He paid for that comment as a sharp pain hit his chest again.
Ebony sneered, "Fool, now do it."
"Sly, get her,"
The next events happened within a few seconds.
Sly teleported and ended up behind Ebony. He grabbed her.
Rykk flew his puppet from Sly, milliseconds before he teleported, and it entered Ratchet.
Ratchet yelled as the puppets inside him raged against each other.
Ebony yelled, spun, and threw Sly to the side.
She then grabbed the other orb and it flashed. Sly teleported to the other side of her but she somehow guessed where he was going to go. She flung the orb and it broke at Sly's feet.
There was a flash and the unearthly yell from a Being freed from its prison. It looked like a dark mass of black energy. The mass looked roughly humanoid; it had a circular head, short arms and legs. No hands or feet. The head had two; expressionless eyes and unknown whispers came from the Being. It studied Sly for a split-second before it flew into him.
Sly yelled, though it was the good Being, Bonding was still excruciating. He fell to his knees and clutched his head.
Carmelita shrieked, "SLY NO!"
Sly felt the thing in his head, "Asnar arrana dano trebea." A flash of pain flew through his mind as it scanned his memories.
"Gah! What? What are you… aaahhh!"
"Do not be afraid," a cold, clear voice rang. It bore no gender. "If you are a good person, I will let you control this body. But the changes are inevitable."
"Changes? Ack! What kind?"
"You are a good person, you may have control. Do not be afraid Sly, you may keep your name."
"Keep my name? YYYYAAAAAHHHHH!"
While the struggle happened in his mind, it was quite a show on the outside. Swirls of black, red, and white energy swirled around Sly. They also were entering him, coursing through. He was yelling, screaming, and howling. He was tensed up and his eyes were closed. At one point he opened them and his eyes were a swirl of black, red, white, blue, grey, and purple. Ebony stepped back to admire her work. "Thought that second orb would be useful…"
Carmelita was in shock and fury gained inside her. She yelled and fired a stream of blue flame at Ebony.
Ebony waved her hand and a wall of green fire blocked the stream. The impact created a dazzling swirl of blue and green.
"Hush, fighting will start soon enough." Ebony smirked as she shifted her attention, "By the way Draxis, thanks for the heads up on his teleportation, you've been most helpful to me."
All eyes turned to the now, shocked young, lombax.
"What?" Rykk asked. "What is she meaning?"
Ebony smiled she reveled in the situation, even though her initial plan failed. "He gave me a full report on everyone's abilities. Did it through a dream to and he thought I would let Arco live in exchange."
Arco looked at her boyfriend. "You, betrayed us?" She was hurt and felt an anger spring up inside.
Draxis was now very upset and visibly regretted his actions. "I didn't have much choice! She said she'd kill you if I didn't tell her!"
Rykk sighed.
Leo shouted, "Let's deal with this later! We have more pressing issues."
Kaden still held onto the bad core and everyone turned their attention to Sly.
Rykk, and well everyone, wanted to attack Ebony.
Rykk couldn't, he was partially distracted by his puppet still fighting Ebony's inside Ratchet. That and Ebony could've easily taken advantage of Sly's immobile and desperate condition.
Having been given VIM, Sly didn't need anything to save him from the Being's Dark Radiation.
Sly slowly began to morph. His fur turned into a dark, deep blue color. There were two, brightly-glowing, red lines. They started around his eyes, ran along the side of his head, down the sides of his neck, down his back, converged on the middle of his back and ended as one line above his tail. His eyes glowed red, no pupils, but the whites of his eyes were black. On his chest a symbol formed; a red hexagon. At each of its points, lines converged on the center. Inside the hexagon was a smaller octagon. It was his mark as a Bonded. His apparel also changed. It turned into a pair of dark grey pants, and a black, hooded, sleeveless jacket. There were holes in the hood for his ears and the hood was up. His eyes glowed from behind the hood. The sleeveless jacket showed that his symbol was also on his upper arms. He had not gloves, no shoes, no hat, and no mask.
The energy swirls lasted for a minute before they were sucked into him. When they vanished, his fur faded to its normal color and pattern, except for the red lines. His eyes mostly changed back, except his irises, they stayed red. His apparel changed back to normal.
Sly stood up and Ebony shoved him down to his friends. He was still stunned from the Bonding process and landed on his back. "Well, that was a good show." She held up her staff and a blast of green flame left the staff's top. She then withdrew her puppet from Ratchet and it flew back into her.
Rykk also withdrew his puppet and it entered him.
After she did that, there was yelling, chattering, moaning, and groaning coming from the other entrances. "My pets will entertain you." Ebony said as she sat back on her throne and a horde of mutated nocturnes and Clan poured into the chamber. "Oh, I'll relieve you of that." She said as she used her green flame to pull the core out of Kaden's hands. She held it before it vanished. She presumably put it in a Utility.
"Sly, let's see what you can do now." Rykk stated when he heard the crowd, before they appeared.
Sly shook his head, he seemed like was, ironically, recovering from amnesia. "I… I am still Sly… Sly Cooper… the Being… let me keep… my name." His head shot up like it all came back, like he had it all figured out. He looked at Rykk and grinned, "I can do this…" He then yelled, his fur turned dark blue and the lines glowed brighter. His clothes changed into the dark grey pants and black, sleeveless, hooded jacket. Sly then faced the horde and roared; his teeth, now sharper, were bared.
Sly charged and lunged at a nearby Clan. His body seemed to disintegrate into the Clan. The Clan jerked a bit and its eyes flashed, for a second they became the same as Sly's.
The crowd paused for a second in curiosity, and even Ebony was intrigued.
The possessed Clan turned and began to rip into the crowd.
All of the gang followed suit. They yelled in anger and rage as they slashed into the mob.
Ebony watched as her pets stormed into the room. Their numbers were many. They acted as a deadly barrier between the group and Ebony. She made no attempt to leave and just watched. She knew eventually one would make it through to her.
The group was fighting well, and Rykk was able to get an opening and leapt up onto the upper level. Ebony stood as Rykk flew at her. She raised her staff and a wall of huge, black thorns rose in front of her.
Rykk tried to phase through it but his powers didn't work on them. He flew right into the wall. The foot-long thorns were driven into him. They were driven into his shoulders, his side, his legs, and his neck. He yelled and fell. He summoned some Healer and applied it.
As he recovered Ebony dispelled the shield. She then zapped him with three bolts of lightning. Then, she surrounded Rykk in a cage of the dark thorns. The vines grew under him as well so he couldn't phase through the floor. "You stay put kitty, I've got someone to attend to." She said in a mocking tone before vanishing in green flame.
Rykk grunted in rage and frustration and began to claw at his cage of thorns.
Meanwhile most of the gang were fighting for their lives. Their foes seemed endless.
Sly had alternated from possessing Clan and nocturnes to killing with his new staff. It was the same, upgraded staff that Bentley gave him. However, it has changed. He could summon it at will and was now as strong as Rykk's blades, Calamity's blades, and Ebony's staff. Even though it wasn't bladed, it's blasts were powerful and its grapple was made stronger. Plus, Sly hasn't used all of his new tricks, just the biggest one.
Talwyn was blasting away and was quick. She was doing well, until… her gaze fell on a floating green orb of flame, a will 'o the wisp. It was like the last one but this one felt different. She felt drawn to it, she couldn't explain why but an irresistible pull drew her. She walked towards the wisp, it moved away up the stairs onto the higher platform. She followed.
The wisp and Talwyn walked past Rykk in his cage. He was franticly clawing and biting at the thorns and vines, "Talwyn! Don't! What are you doing?!"
It was obvious she was entranced or hypnotized by the will o' the wisp. It then slowly led her down a hall.
Ratchet and company were so busy fighting; they didn't know that Talwyn was missing.
Rykk tried to get someone's attention but his puppet couldn't through the thorns. The unnatural thorns seemed to quiet his yells as well.
A few minutes passed and the numbers of the horde dissipated. Soon Rykk was able to cut his way out of the thorns, "Ratchet!"
Ratchet finished off a Clan and then looked up.
"Ebony's got Talwyn!"
Ratchet's eyes went wide and he bolted with Rykk down the passage. The two outran the rest of the group who were just finishing off the few stragglers. When they finished they followed.
The passage was lit by torches with green fire, giving the passage a malevolent feel. It ended with a stone door.
Rykk looked through the walls, his pupils glowed yellow, "Stand back." Using his Alter, he pulled the door down. The passage opened into a small chamber, it was a dead end.
Inside stood Ebony, she was seemingly alone and was waiting.
"Where's Talwyn?!" Ratchet yelled.
Suddenly a forest of dark thorns grew in the passage and blocked the others out.
Ebony's face contorted into a look of disgust, hatred, malice, malevolence, and pity; "You poor simple fools! Thinking you could defeat me! ME! THE MISTRESS OF ALL EVIL!" She shouted as she grabbed her robe with her free hand. "Well here's your precious, girlfriend!"
Ebony yanked her robe aside and revealed Talwyn. She was in a kneeling position and looked up. Her eyes were solid black. Her skin a bright red color and her hair was longer, darker, and rougher. Her fingers were tipped with black claws and her teeth were yellow fangs. Her apparel was also vastly different. She now wore a simple, white dress. On the ground were the broken, jagged shards of a Dark Radiation Core.
Ebony laughed in malicious jubilation. Green flames appeared around her and she faded away.
Rykk simply looked down. He felt sick. Aw crap, this day has turned into hell.
She's… no… aw no… Ratchet began to weep and cry. "Talwyn… you're a… Bonded?"
"Talwyn" smiled, "I'm Enmity." With that she charged the two, her claws at the ready.
They split and Ratchet yelled, "We can save her!" He was heartbroken but still, there had to be some way to bring her back.
Rykk didn't respond as Enmity drew a pair of hook swords. "I can't wait to taste your blood." She said in a manically happy voice. "I can see your hearts beating that sweet liquid; your blood Rykk, oooh that'll be a treat!" She looked back and forth between Ratchet and Rykk, deciding who to attack. She surprisingly chose Ratchet.
He blocked her quick slashes with his wrench and was trying to get an opening to knock her out.
As she attacked she was giggling like a schoolgirl.
Rykk ran at her as soon as he got a clear opening.
Unfortunately, Enmity got an opening with Ratchet and blasted him into the wall. Her blasts were now red and much more powerful.
The impact stunned Ratchet badly. If he had been alone, she would've killed him. Her blades were able to put a few cuts in his tougher skin. He head was spinning and he struggled not to black-out.
Meanwhile, Enmity and Rykk were furiously exchanging blocks and strikes.
While Rykk was cold, calculating, and distant; Enmity was giggling and smiled madly as she fought.
In addition to attacking with her swords, she also tried to blast Rykk like Ratchet.
Rykk blocked the blasts with Alter. He would then try to counter but she would either dodge his shots or block them with her blades.
The exchange lasted for around thirty seconds.
However, Rykk was more experienced and a stronger Bonded. He soon got an opening and in a split-second, he; kneed her in the face, punched her in the throat, kicked her in the chest, and blasted her into the wall with Alter.
His attacks stunned her and she was lying on her front.
Rykk walked over to her; his blades in his hands.
Ratchet had just gathered his mind back together when he saw Rykk standing over Enmity.
For a second he was glad she was restrained. They could take her and find a way to cure her.
Then, Ratchet saw that Rykk had one of his blades resting a few inches from the back of her neck.
The young, warrior lombax was petrified.
Ratchet yelled, "Rykk don't! We can save her! We'll find a way to bring her back!" He pleaded desperately. His stomach turned in fear and emotional distress.
Rykk looked up, his face showed little remorse or any other emotion. "There is no cure. If I don't do this, she'll be just like Calamity." Rykk spotted her reaching for one of her blades. He'll never forgive me, but she'll be a terrible killer. I have to. "I'm so sorry…" with that he quickly severed her spinal cord, making sure it was as painless as possible.
Ratchet's face was drained of color as he watched Rykk drove his blade into her neck. Her black and red blood began to seep from the wound and he was in shock. Time froze, his heart fell out of his body as extreme loss, grief, sadness, and intense rage filled him.
Enmity shrieked and red energy exploded from her before she went still. The explosion was the Being dying.
Rykk felt tears escape his eyes. Though he looked cold, inside his emotions were a raging hurricane. For the sake of those around him, he would go somewhere private later to vent.
"You… you… you killed Talwyn," Ratchet stammered as his emotional dam began to overflow. He was kneeling over her dead body. She had morphed back to her normal look after the Being died. He yelled, ran at Rykk, and punched him in the face multiple times.
Rykk allowed it.
Ratchet was in absolute rage and grief. "We could've saved her! She could've lived but you murdered her!" Ratchet's face was soaked by tears of mourning and fury.
"No, we could not have saved her. Bonding is permanent." Rykk stated in an unintentionally cold manner.
Ratchet didn't accept that, "No! There's always a way out!"
Rykk, for some reason, couldn't stop his anger and despair from showing, "NO! THERE IS NOT!" He paused to regain control, "Now get angry at Ebony! She did this to her!"
Ratchet backed away from Rykk. His heart utterly broken and became filled with hurt and betrayal. "I am angry with her. But my people were right about you. You really are a murdering Bonded!" He said with a hard and firm tone. "You should be hanged."
Ratchet's words were worse than any blade. They cut Rykk's soul deep and made his cold expression change to one of hurt. He knew Ratchet would hate him and he knew that Ratchet's grief would drive him to say things; but he didn't expect to hear those particular words.
Ratchet shoved past Rykk angrily and held the body of Talwyn. He began to weep bitterly.
Rykk just stood with his back to them. He then began to cut at the thorns. Tears began to pour down his bitterly angry face. Using his anger and his blades, Rykk had an easier time cutting through the cursed thorns. Ebony, I'm going to rip you shreds. I'll rip your heart out and burn it! You'll pay for what you made me do! You made me kill someone like Calamity did! Ratchet hates me now and it's your fault!
Rykk soon met the rest of the group hacking their way through the thorns. Rykk barreled through the crew. "Rykk, what's wrong?" Leo asked.
Rykk was silent; the look on his face told the others to leave him alone.
The group rushed in to find Ratchet mourning over Talwyn.
Clank gasped when he saw the scene, "Oooohh noo," Clank cried. "How… did…"
"Rykk…" Ratchet said bitterly. "He did this…"
Everyone was stunned, none more so than Leo and Atlas. Leo looked around and saw the broken shards of the orb. "Talwyn, she was a Bonded?" Leo asked.
Ratchet nodded, "Yeah, but we could've found some way… something to turn her back."
Though Leo knew that was impossible, he bit his tongue. Ratchet was in no state of mind to correct.
"Oi can't take dis no more…" Atlas said as he held his head. "Dis world es hell."
Everyone was distraught and their hearts were conflicted.
The newly Bonded Sly was extraordinarily torn. On one hand he saw Talwyn's body and knew that if she was the evil Bonded, Rykk did kill her. He felt Ratchet's agony and too felt anger but he knew Rykk probably did the right thing. Still, to watch your friend kill your girlfriend, no matter if it's right had to be traumatic.
Kaden was the hardest hit. He was nearly an emotional wreck upon seeing his son's dead girlfriend. It's all my fault, my fault, my fault she's dead! My fault Ebony exists, I'm to blame! "Ratchet, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault." He kneeled down and put his hand on Ratchet's shoulder.
Ratchet looked up; his eyes were red and his face wet. "Maybe just a bit, but I don't blame you for her." Ratchet spoke of Talwyn. "Ebony is our fault, Talwyn is Rykk's."
Before Kaden could respond, everyone jumped as they heard a yell/roar echo.
"What in blazes was that?!" Arco shouted.
Leo bolted down the passage and Sly followed.
The circular arena was quaking, black and purple energy filled the space. The Alter also had tinges of red in it. The energy was swirling around in a furious maelstrom. Pieces of rock and metal flew around in the Alter storm. It was deafening, the floor shook, the sound of rushing air, and the crumbling structure. Leo made a shield of plasma protecting Sly and himself from the debris and Alter.
Rykk was nowhere to be seen in the fury.
Leo yelled, "RYKK! Calm down! You'll kill everyone! It wasn't your fault! I know you had to!" Whether or not Leo actually believed that was irrelevant. If Rykk kept raging the way he was, he would destroy whatever was in his way.
There was another enraged yell from the storm. It was followed by a blast of Alter the knocked both Sly and Leo back. Leo stood back up quickly and brought his shield back up. Soon, they were joined by Atlas, Fen, and Carmelita.
"We need him to stop! If he keeps this up, we'll be dead!" Leo yelled. Debris ricocheted off the shield and he was straining to keep it up.
"Please!" Sly begged, "Please Rykk, please stop! Do you want to kill us?! I know you're not a murderer! Prove it now!"
His words seemed to resonate with Rykk, the storm slowed a bit. It then progressively got slower and slower. Then, the Alter froze. Strands of black and purple laced the room.
Fen reached up and touched a band of Alter. It made his fingers feel odd and it made them tingle. Some Alter stuck to his finger and he went to wipe it off. Instead, his fingers went through the stone. He jumped back instinctively but then did it again. After a few seconds, the Alter was drawn from his hand. He then noticed that all the Alter was converging on one point.
The Alter began to form a humanoid shape, it formed Rykk.
After a few seconds, he was done and he fell on his face.
Sly, Leo, Fen, Atlas, and Carmelita made their way down to him.
Leo and Atlas helped him up, "I… I… I can't believe… I did it again…" Tears were in abundance, they flowed from his green eyes. "They're right… I am…."
"We can discuss that later," Leo stated, partially because he was unsure himself. "We need to either go after Ebony or get out of here."
"That witch…" Fen started with spite. "She needs to pay. I'll send Ferra out, maybe we'll get lucky."
Leo nodded, "Do it."
Fen held his arm up in front of him. Ferra had withdrawn inside of him when the fighting stopped. She then reappeared on top of his arm. "Hornets," Fen commanded. Ferra dissolved into a swarm of them and they flew into the air. "That way I can see multiple things at once, and their eyesight is as good as a hawks." Fen said and then sat down with his eyes closed.
Carmelita approached Sly with caution. "Sly… are you…"
Sly looked at her, "I am still Sly. I'm Sly and more." He then smiled in a caring way, "I do still love you."
Carmelita smiled and she got emotional, "Ringtail, you may look different, but I can still see that gleam in your eyes." She said as she hugged him.
Sly hugged her back. For a second, he lost track of time. He just wanted to hold her, forever. Sly was, mostly, the same after all.
Sly blushed as he remembered where they were. "Carmelita, let's talk later, the situation now isn't good." His attention turned back to the present as he heard Leo.
Leo was trying to comfort Rykk so he wouldn't rage again. "Fen and Ferra will find her, we need to…" He was silenced as he saw Ratchet walk out with Talwyn in his arms. He had to grow a bit to hold her.
Ratchet glared at Rykk.
Rykk just looked away.
"Atlas, keep an eye on Rykk." Leo ordered as he approached Ratchet.
Atlas nodded and sat next to the self-loathing Bonded.
Leo ran up to the distraught Ratchet, "Ratchet, I'm so sorry. Fen and Ferra are looking for Ebony."
"I'm coming with you," Ratchet said lowly but with iron determination. "She will pay. First, can you do me one favor Leo?"
Leo looked at him; he figured he knew the request. "What is it?"
"I know you can fly, so… can you take Talwyn back? I don't think she'd want to be buried here."
Leo nodded, "Sure thing. I can have her preserved until you come back. Atlas, Sly; take care of these guys." He then looked at Clank. The robot/AI was exceedingly upset and displayed impressive amounts of emotion. "Clank, I have my short-range com set. I'll let you know when I'm back."
Clank's avatar nodded, "Yes sir."
Ratchet nodded slowly indicating that he wanted her preserved. He then said, "Thank you." As he solemnly handed her over, as he did, he kissed her on the forehead. "Love you…" He used all his strength to not break down.
Leo nodded; he was used to seeing this darkness, and took off through a hole in the church's roof.
Ratchet looked up into the sky. The dark clouds made him feel even more forlorn.
Well, well, well, a lot of things have been revealed. So, what do you think the many turn of events and the events themselves? Parson? The fight through the city? Ebony and Kaden's history? Draxis' deception? Max Apogee? Sly's Bonding? Talwyn's Bonding? Rykk killing Talwyn/Enmity? Ratchet's hostility towards Rykk?
And yes, the Ring Around The Rosie lyrics come from the Dead Space 2 trailer.
Please give me any thoughts, ideas, reviews, and/or criticisms you have.
They are needed.
Thank you,
Jerod2447
(This song, and the movies it has been in, is what inspired Ebony)
"Once Upon A Dream"
I know you,
I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you,
That look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream
But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream
I know you,
I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you,
That gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream!