Moonlit Destiny
Author's Note: Wrote this eighteen years ago. It's full of cringe and OOC moments, but I'm preserving it for posterity. Enjoy the story and R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of the Rockman EXE series.
Pairing: Established Netto x Tohru.
Summary:
Dark Chip Syndicate Nebula begins production on a reality-altering weapon. Amidst the chaos, Hikari Netto and his friends must battle countless Darkloids and creatures of another world to save their own.
Chapter 22: Beyond the Shattered Memories
"Tohru-kun!" Netto smiled, his eyes filling with tears. "You're alive!"
The smaller version of Tohru pushed Netto away. "No. I am only what you want to see."
"So you're a figment of my imagination?"
"No. I too am a memory. I do not truly exist. But time is short. You cannot waste time here. You must stop Samael," he explained.
"But –"
"If Samael succeeds, your world will be destroyed and thrown into the depths of darkness!"
"What are his plans exactly?" Netto asked, now more determined.
"He wishes to fuse Paradise Lost to reality. Unreality will become reality. Reality will become unreality. He believes that by doing so, the perfect utopia can be fulfilled."
"How do I stop him?"
"Since the worlds are so close to each other now, the malfunction of technology in this world has ceased. You'll be able to confront him once you leave this place," Tohru answered.
"I don't want to leave you here though!"
"You have to. For this I am sorry, but I will let you see what you have forgotten, so that you may leave all this pain behind you." Tohru clamped his hands around Netto's face.
…
Netto opened his eyes, the blurriness fading slowly. "What is this place?"
"Mama, can I go play in the sandbox?" A boy pulled on his mother's dress.
"Is that me?"
"Yes. This is what you must see," Tohru whispered.
"All right, Netto. Just don't hurt yourself!"
"Yay!" her son cheered, running into the sandy play area. He waved to get the attention of the kid there, who'd already built a sandcastle.
"Tohru-kun, this is…" Netto began.
"Hi! My name is Hikari Netto! Do you want to play?"
The other boy looked up, slightly startled by the sudden gesture. He nodded timidly.
"Cool!" Young Netto patted the tower with his tiny hand.
"I remember…This is where we first met."
"You were my first friend. We were destined to be together."
Netto beamed.
The pale boy lifted his hands to meet Netto's knees. "Take these and defeat Samael."
"Battle Chips?" Netto blinked.
"Blue Moon Ray and Meteor Red Sun. These are powerful Battle Chips I used back in your world. They will help you in your battle."
Netto took the Battle Chips, watching the memory end.
"Do you want to try?" the boy asked.
The other boy remained silent, responding only with a nod.
"Let's be friends forever!" They both grasped a toy shovel simultaneously.
As it all faded to black, Tohru donned his hood once more and turned to walk away.
…
Netto was lying on the ground, dark clouds moving overhead. His PET beeped. It was its first sign of life since he'd been forced into this grotesque world.
"N…et…to…k…un…" Rockman's voice came through the static.