Dark and looming it stands, rising above the clouds, high above the plane to a part unseen by mortals. The austere architecture of the building could scare even the bravest of men. But that wasn't the worst part of it, the worst part was the feel. It was like a sickness radiating off the building, reaching out and wrapping its tendrils around her.
Honey hadn't wanted to make it to the castle, or at least she thought she hadn't wanted to make it. But here it is, standing tall against the background. This did not belong here. It did not belong in the Plane. She had to rid the Plane of this impurity, it was spreading far too quickly and destroying whatever came in its path.
Like Espio.
Like Sonic and the others.
Like anything or anyone who had the ability to stop it, except her. She had been spared the rod simply because they could use her. They had used her; they had used her to create this mess. She had created this mess, and it would be hers to fix.
Because in all honesty, could she truly blame them for everything that she had done, every stupid mistake that she had made. She had been given a great gift, a great responsibility, and all she had done was selfishly hog her power for herself. Not once had she considered her friends or the gravity of the situation. All she had done was wish for what she wanted.
I'm ready…
She wanted to think that she could handle anything whatever those...monsters would throw at her. But she's one person, one person with powers she doesn't understand and doesn't want.
Too much self-pitying though. It's time for her to move on. How does she approach the castle though? Does she simply walk up and walk in. No doubt those demigods are waiting for her inside. Perhaps she should sneak in? How would she do that? The windows are rather high and even if she flew or climbed, how would she get into the castle without being spotted. There were no answers, no way for her to get in.
Her legs feel like cement, unwilling to move. Her body ignores its most basic command, leaving the girl unable to breathe. She can't wish or will her way on, but she must.
As if beckoning her in, the front doors swing open, revealing the foyer within. Scared eyes glance into the castle, expecting to see someone there waiting for her, but there is no one there, just the empty foyer staring back at her.
Swallowing the dryness of her mouth, Honey takes her first step, and then her next, and her next. She could do this; she can save everyone.
All too soon, Honey is within the castle and the doors slam shut behind her. She doesn't let this deter her though. She is tired of being scared, it's time for her to end this.
"Where-" the girl yells out, but her voice dies in her throat before she can bravely call forth her enemies.
"There was a saying the Overlanders used to use." Honey tries not to jump when she hears the voice. Her eyes frantically search the foyer looking for the source of the voice, only to find nothing.
"Where-" once again, the girl's voice dies in her throat before she can get her thoughts out.
"Cat's got your tongue?" The voice mocks.
"I wish you'd take me to Mighty!" The girl yells out angrily, stomping her foot for emphasis.
"Of course my dear Wishing Queen," the title is spat with such disrespect and condensation that Honey almost cringes. But it doesn't matter, for within a second, she is standing right before Mighty, or what is left of him.
Mighty's body slowly seems to be dissolving into nothingness. Currently, the armadillo is missing an arm and a leg and his left ear only appears as wisps of cotton candy that will dissolve into nothingness with the slightest touch.
"It took you long enough." It's the blue demigod who enters the room. It tugs on one of the chains binding Mighty to the wall and hums in appreciation as he finds them still tight. "I've been waiting for you, young Wishing Queen."
"What's happening to him?" Honey asks, staring worriedly at her friend.
"He's being wiped from existence. Don't worry, it's a painless process." The demigod assures.
"I wish Mighty is free." Honey quickly wishes.
"Tsk, tsk child. You know, your wishing is so vague. It makes it so easy to manipulate them. Here, let me liberate Mighty of you." A shot of energy knocks Honey into the wall.
A low groan escapes the girl's throat as she makes her way back to her feet. As she looks up she is met by the presence of both the green and red demigods flanking in to support their leader. Within each of their palms an energy bolt awaits slowly growing in size in order to finish off the young girl.
"I wish you would all go away." Honey tries exasperatedly. Nothing happens and the demigods bring their arms back, ready to deliver the final blow.
Worry creeps into Honey. It had been so long since she had fought and her body was no longer in shape to battle three-on-one. Furthermore, she had been relying so heavily on her newfound wishing abilities that she hadn't worked on her fighting. She couldn't take them on in any form of hand-to-hand or weapon combat and knowing that her wishing is useless makes the matter all the worse.
She has to think and quickly, what would the others do, what would a hero do at this moment? Not a single thought enters her head. She isn't a hero.
Three bolts of energy hit her square in the chest sending her through the wall. A battle ensues as the girl tries to remain conscious. She can feel a tugging in her mind as the darkness lulls her into security.
~.~
"You've had a really hard journey," a saccharine voice coaxes her awake. The cat slowly blinks, trying to blink the sleep out of her eye. A bright light blinds her and the cat blinks rapidly, hoping for eyes to come into focus. Once her eyes focus, she is met by the image of another cloaked being, eerily familiar to the demigods she had been fighting for so long. Unlike of the demigods, however, this one's cloak is a creamy ivory and with white angel wings embroidered under the collar. "You deserve to rest now." The voice continues, extending a gloved arm to her.
Honey stares skeptically at this being. Cloaks had generally been a bad sign in the past, should she trust this new one. Every inch of her is screaming not to, but she's in some random place, with no information, and she's really, really tired.
"It's okay, I'm comfortable right here." Honey responds defiantly. She would not fall victim to another cloaked figure, regardless of how enticing its offer seems.
"Are you sure? I can take you somewhere to relax?" The voice continues in a soothing lilt, never once pressuring the girl.
"My battle's not over yet, I still have to fight. I have to save everyone." Honey mumbles to herself. The offer is so enticing, she has to remember why she is here, why she is fighting.
"I'm sorry you think that. Your battle is over. It ended a long time ago." Honey watches as the ivory cloak is shed from the being and replaced with a black one. The figure moves quickly, rushing towards her with its hand outstretched.
With only blackness surrounding her, leaving no true option of escape, Honey has to think on her toes. "I wish you were gone." The girl attempts feebly and to her surprise, it works perfectly. The being disappears before it has the chance to destroy her.
Deciding that her wishing power is working perfectly, Honey makes another simple wish. "I wish I was awake."
Unfortunately, this wish doesn't work out as well for her as she finds herself still in this darkness.
Sighing at her lack of luck, the girl moves to her feet, taking in the darkness all around. Choosing a random direction, the girl starts walking around, looking for any exit.
After what feels like hours of fruitless searching, Honey is ready to give in. The girl sits in the middle of the void, her knees pulled to her chest and her head resting on her knees. This must be someone's sick idea, leaving her stuck in her mind for an eternity, and to top it off, her mind is stunningly empty. There's nothing to her, as though she isn't real. She feels like an idea, cast aside to be forgotten. Perhaps if she is lucky, one day someone will add to her and bring her back to life. For now, though, she is nothing more than a scrap.
Who is Honey? A cat? A lynx? A hero?
No, Honey had never meant to be a hero, but there is something that she had always been good at and known to do.
Honey is a fighter, a person who is repeatedly beaten down, cheated, and forgotten, but keeps pushing and fighting until she makes her way back to the top.
Standing from her self-pity party, Honey stares intently at the spot in front of her. She isn't going to search for the door any longer. She's going to make the door come to her. She's not going out there to save the world; she's going out there to kick some butt, just like she's intended to.
As that final thought crosses her mind, a door appears right before Honey, and with a confident smirk, she walks right through.
~.~
With a gasp, the girl's eyes fly open. She should be dead right now. Surely those demigods wouldn't have allowed her to simply lay there. If they had really tried to trap her in her mind, she wouldn't have been able to escape. But then why is she here? Too many questions are being left unanswered.
Looking up, the girl finds herself once again face to face with the mansion. Pushing herself back to her feet, Honey smirks to herself. She is going to fight and she is going to win. With that last thought, the girl heads into the castle, prepared for anything that may come of this battle.
What Honey is surprised to see once she makes it back to Mighty's holding room, is two blobs, one purple and one blue, taking on the demigods as if they are nothing. The two beings move quickly, striking the cloaked figures and moving on before the demigods can retaliate, leaving Mighty completely unguarded.
The girl makes her way over to the fading armadillo. What once was a strong and great friend is currently only half an armadillo, with his eye downcast, as though he had given up.
"Mighty," Her voice comes out in a breath of air, shock and fear lacing the name. Mighty doesn't react, his head still down and his body unmoving. "Mighty," She calls again, her voice desperate, trying to place a hand on the armadillo's shoulder to shake him awake. But, her hand falls through the armadillo. "Mighty!" This time the name is screamed in shock and horror as the girl stares at what is left of her longtime friend.
"We can't save him here," Honey jumps at the familiar voice at the hand on her shoulder. "If we wish to put an end to this, we need to put an end to them."
"Espio?" There is a grunt in response and the hand disappears.
Getting up, the girl turns to see Espio with twin kunai in his hands. The blue blur finally comes to a stop, revealing itself to be Sonic.
Espio and Sonic. The two people she noted were missing, free and here to help her. Honey waits for Sonic to give some kind of command, but the hedgehog doesn't, staring at Honey instead.
"Fighting them isn't doing very much. Honey, how do we defeat these guys?" Sonic questions.
"You need to wish them away." Espio answers before the cat can get a word out of her mouth. His golden eyes bore into her own, cold and calculating, the Espio that everyone else knows.
"Okay, I wish they would go away." Honey states plainly, sarcasm hiding at the edge of her voice. Just as she expected, nothing happens. In fact, their little conversation had given the demigods time to regroup, which they had. It was when Sonic was sent flying through a wall that the other two finally turned back to the fight.
"You think of something, quickly." His voice is cold as the chameleon dodges a burst of energy that had hit where he had been standing only moments ago. Two kunai appear in his hand and are quickly sent at the blue clad demigod. This is followed by a swift kick, which sends the demigod flying back.
"Um...I wish that Mighty is okay." Honey yells, glancing at the armadillo still resting beside her. Nothing happens.
"I wish the demigods would go away."
Nothing.
"I wish that the demigods would cease to exist."
Sonic makes it back into the fight.
"I wish Sonic and Espio were stronger than the demigods."
Espio sends a demigod flying through the wall, followed by Sonic spin-dashing another one to the wall.
"I wish the demigods were weaker."
Espio hits the wall with a grunt and slides down, unmoving.
"I wish the others were here to help."
No one appears. Honey frowns, thinking over why that wish wouldn't work.
"I-I...I wish..." Her wishes aren't working and she isn't clever enough to think of something different.
"You can do it Honey," Sonic throws the line out, but there isn't much behind it, and Honey is left to think that it is merely to say something.
"I wish Espio was alright!" Honey screams, and up pops Espio, as though he hadn't been knocked unconscious only seconds ago.
This is for naught as Sonic is sent flying out of the door. Contrary to what is expected of Sonic, the blue hedgehog doesn't come dashing in the door. Instead, leaving Espio to continue the fight.
"I wish Sonic was alright." With the wish, Sonic jumps up and rejoins the fight. Only for he and Espio to both be knocked into opposing walls.
"I wish Sonic and Espio were alright!" Honey proclaims, but nothing happens.
"Not this time. Now we can focus all of our attention on you." With a nod, the blue demigod sends the green one to Mighty.
"NO! Back away from him!" Honey screams, moving to stand in front of the armadillo.
The green demigod stops in front of the girl and simply tilts its head. It extends a single arm and a white mist pours out from his sleeve. Honey's arms go up in a feeble hope that they will protect her from whatever the demigod is spewing. When nothing happens to her, Honey looks out from behind her arms. Instead of mist flowing from his sleeve, it now seems to be flowing in. Blue, purple, and black mist flows into the demigod's arms. Hesitantly, Honey looks behind her and watches as whatever is left of Mighty is sucked into the demigod's sleeve.
"I wish...I wish-" Honey doesn't finish her sentence as bony fingers wrap around her neck.
The girl is carried to where the blue demigod stands. Honey struggles, grasping at the hand clutching her, but to no avail as the cat is brought face to face with the blue demigod.
Staring into the abyss of what lies beyond the demigod's hood, Honey thinks back to the start, to when she had first gotten her powers. Through the entire ordeal, every wish she had made had been to the benefit of herself. At first, it hadn't been to protect the ones she loved, it had been over a petty battle that she wished away her best friend and an even pettier desire that had brought them here.
"Why?" The word is croaked out as the cat stares at what might be her end.
"Why what? Why torture you and make you make us rulers of the world? That should seem pretty obvious."
"No, why aren't my wishes working? You don't control them, you controlled me."
The demigod doesn't react, instead he clasps his hands together for a moment, the bony features once again present to Honey. Something glows within the being's hands, and Honey had to turn away to not show her blatant fear.
Facing the green demigod, Honey notes how there is no more black, just thin strands of purple and blue being sucked into the demigod's sleeve.
Each demigod is preoccupied with their own thing, giving her a chance to escape and to right this wrong. The girl swings her head back, hoping to connect with something. She flaps her wings as hard as she can while using whatever strength she has to try and unfurl the fingers from around her neck. Luckily, her head eventually hits something hard and Honey is freed. Given this opportunity, the girl dashes away from the grasps of the demigods and prepares her final wish.
"I wish…I wish that none of this ever happened. I wish that I never brought us to this place. I wish that you all had never existed. I wish that I was still in the woods by my tree, away from people, where I can't hurt them. I wish I was never the wishing queen!" The red demigod latches onto her once again, preparing to finish her off, but it is too late.
A whirlwind comes in through the door, sucking in everything within its path. Honey watched as first the green demigod is swallowed, feels the red one release her and her own body taken into the vortex. Before her is a swirl of colors and the cat feels as though she is being ripped apart at her very core. Smudges and black spots start clouding her vision, and all the girl hears is a soft "Thank you," before everything goes black.
Author's Notes:
There is officially one more chapter for me to edit before I am finished. Woot! Woot!