Chapter 64: Never Look Back

The group decided to rest for the night. There was no point in going to the Palace of Shadow without rest after that last adventure, not just yet. They ended up rushing Rolf and Lee to a nearby hospital.

Double D was unable to sleep that night. He instead took another trip to the docks.

He sat down on the same bench he did before. He fell on it and sighed.

The air was cold that night. He could see his own breath condensing. Double D took a breath on his hands and rubbed them together to warm himself.

He was frowning. Double D looked up into the sky. The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. In the distance, he could catch a quick glimpse of Glitzville. He turned and saw the same constellations he saw before.

Double D looked up again. This time, he saw the glowing orb that was the moon.

He sighed and sank onto the bench. His eyes closed and he growled quietly.

'Why do things have to be the way they are?' Double D thought.

He opened his eyes and stared back at the night skies. Clouds began to cover the moon.

'I don't know how much more I can take.' In his mind, he thought about the day's battle. How he watched two souls become lost forever.

'Sure, Crump was a terrible enemy. But still…' He thought about watching him fall into the dark abyss before the base exploded.

'And then TEC. He was so innocent.' Double D thought, staring into the stars. 'All he wanted was to save us. It shows you how one can't be bound to a certain fate. Anyone with a conscious can decide their own destiny. I just wish it hadn't come to this.'

He sighed again. He watched for a minute as the clouds eventually covered up the moon.

Double D got up from the bench. He slowly walked over to the dockside. His shoes touched the edge as he stopped. He looked down into the water to stare at himself in his reflection.

What was looking at him back was a sad and regretful boy. He could see just how uncomfortable he was.

Double D said nothing. He looked up again to face the night sky.

'I can't let myself feel bad like this.' Double D thought. 'Tomorrow is the day this ends. This will be the toughest day of my entire life. I must save this world once and for all. For everyone that is counting on us. And for TEC.'

The moon reappeared from behind the moon. Its glow was lighting up the dockside, making his reflection clearer.

"Don't worry, TEC." Double D said, staring at the moon. "I'll tell Peach your message. We will save the world, that's a promise."

Vivian was also unable to sleep. She sat beside Eduardo Jr. in his bed as he rested. She looked down at the floor in sadness.

"It will be over very soon." She said very quietly.

She looked around the room. It seemed very quiet. In fact, it looked like quite a few others had decided to step outside, because some of the beds were unoccupied.

'I can't believe the turn my life has taken.' She thought. 'Double D was perhaps the greatest thing that ever happened to me. He saved me from my sisters, and myself. He has done so much…'

"She's no-where near evil!" She remembered what he said. "In fact, quite the opposite! She's one of the greatest people I have ever know!"

Very slowly, a smile formed on her face. She gave a quiet and joyful laugh.

'Since that day, I also met this group. They treat me like family. They are so kind, all of them. Even Rolf. He may act like he hates me, and he has a good reason to. But somehow, I feel he likes me deep down.'

Vivian looked up with her smile.

"Thank you so much." She said quietly to the sleeping group.

Unknown to her, Eduardo Jr.'s eyes slowly opened. A small smile appeared on his own face.

'You're welcome.' He thought.

Eddy and Goombella had stepped outside as well. They were on the roof, sitting down on chairs, just looking up into the starry skies.

"So, I guess tomorrow's the big day." Eddy said.

"Yeah." Goombella said with worry.

"Somethin' wrong?" Eddy asked back.

"I won't lie. I'm totally nervous about this." Goombella said.

"What's the big deal?" Eddy asked. "We go in, stop the bad guys like we usually do."

"But this is different." She said. "We're gonna go up against the toughest bad dude in, like, a millennium."

"I can handle it! Trust me, they won't know what hit 'em." Eddy said.

"Mean it?" Goombella asked.

"I swear it! I've been at Glitzville long enough to pick up some sweet techniques." Eddy said.

"But what if we don't make it?" Goombella asked.

"It'll be fine. don't be worried, 'cause I'll be there." Eddy said.

"Aw, that's sweet." Goombella said. "Yeah, I guess you're right. There's no reason to complain. We have gotten through tough spots before."

"Yeah." Eddy said. "I'm gonna hit the sac, I'm tired."

"Wait, before you leave…" Goombella said, lost in words. "I… uh…"

"Yeah." Eddy said. His face turned a little red. "I know. Me too."

Goombella smiled.

"Let's get some rest. Tomorrow sounds like it's gonna be our big day." Eddy said.

"Kevin, are you still up?" Nazz asked quietly.

"Gee, I don't know." he whispered sarcastically. He and Nazz where both sitting up in their own beds.

Nazz sighed. "You should get some sleep; we got a big day ahead of us."

"I should have said the same thing about you, y'know." Kevin replied.

Nazz didn't reply.

"Something on your mind?" Kevin asked.

"I've just been thinking about something." Nazz said quietly.

"You should sleep on it." Kevin said.

"I'll be alright for now, Kev. You probably want to rest thought." Nazz said.

"If you insist." Kevin shrugged. "I'll see you in the AM."

Nazz watched him lie back down and pull the sheets over himself.

Nazz looked around.

'…things are so complicated.' Nazz thought. 'When this all started, it was just me and Double D alone in this new world. I thought I finally had the chance to tell him…'

She looked around for a moment. As far as she could tell, every was sleeping.

'But then, as we progressed, we found Kevin and Vivian. I have a feeling Vivian and Double D are pretty keen on each other now.'

Nazz sighed softly. She laid down on her own bed.

'And now, it's too late to tell him how I feel.' She thought.

A few seconds passed. She turned back to Kevin, who had quickly fallen asleep.

'But then there's Kevin. I can tell he likes me a lot.' She thought. 'Maybe I've been overlooking him. After all, he did change for the better…'

She started to close her eyes.

"Maybe, perhaps…" with that, she shut her eyes and slowly fell back to sleep.

The room was unusually cold. Koops had to wear his hood. He decided after an hour of insomnia that he wouldn't go to sleep anytime soon. Instead, he walked downstairs to the restaurant.

"Ah, Koops. What can I get you?" Podley asked.

"I'll have the usual." Koops said.

He sat down at a table. All of the tables were unoccupied by now, because it was considerably late. He lifted his two feet onto another chair and leaned back.

As he did, he looked up and faced the ceiling.

"Couldn't sleep, either, eh boy?" Koops heard someone. He turned around and saw Bobbery behind him.

"No." Koops said quietly. "I guess not."

"Anxious about tomorrow?" Bobbery asked.

"I suppose you may say I am. I mean, we have gone a long way since we started, but still. I heard this supposed to be very, very terrible." Koops said.

"Remember, rumors aren't always true. We'll be in and out in no time. With people as powerful as Double D for allies, it shouldn't be that difficult."

"It's not them I'm worried about. I know they can all take care of themselves." Koops said. "It's others whom I'm worried about."

Bobbery sat down at the table. "Care to tell me about it?"

Koops was silent for a moment. "Did the others tell you why I joined?"

Bobbery shook his head.

"I joined this group quite some time before you did." Koops said. "It was far away, back in my hometown."

"Petalburg?" Bobbery asked.

Koops nodded.

"A fine, serene place. The locals are friendly there. I visited once." Bobbery said.

"You have?" Koops asked.

"Yes. I met this fellow named Koopley. A good, brave man, he was."

"Oh, that was my father!" Koops said.

"What a coincidence." Bobbery said. "I think I visited while you were but a young lad."

"I don't recall." Koops said.

"Yes, indeed! This was when you were about 3 or so, a month before Hooktail began to terrorize your village. You where such an adorable little kid back then." Bobbery said. "But now, you're much older, wiser. When I saw you, you were a nervous boy. Now you are mature, a man."

"Uh, thanks." Koops said shyly.

"Sorry to interrupt. Go on with your story." Bobbery said, resting back down in his chair.

"Anyway, I was indeed a timid boy then. I admit, I was the largest coward that ever existed. But once they came to my town, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to prove myself strong."

"And you have, apparently." Bobbery said.

"Well, I was trying to prove it to my dad, but mostly for someone else." Koops said.

"A woman?" Bobbery asked.

Koops didn't say anything, but turned red.

"I knew it." Bobbery smiled.

"Yeah, I was doing it for her."

"It's such a great thing, to have a relationship." Bobbery said. "A true one."

"I suppose so." Koops agreed.

"Do you truly feel like you belong with her?" Bobbery asked.

Koops nodded.

"Then do it as soon as you're done. Let her run into your arms and embrace her." Bobbery said. "I know just how great it can be." Bobbery paused, as if he were looking for the right words. "When I was with Scarlette, that meant my entire life. Even now, though we can't be together here anymore, we are still together. I think of her every day. True love never dies."

"Koops, your drink's ready!" Podley shouted.

Koops jumped up from his chair and grabbed a large mug.

"Is that a tasty tonic?" Bobbery asked. "Boy, that thing's got enough sugar to keep you up for hours!"

Koops sighed and sat back down, placing his drink on the table.

Bobbery looked at the cup, then Podley. "Podley, could you get one for me as well. It appears this will be yet another sleepless night."

Unlike most of the others, Rolf was asleep in a cold bed in a hospital. The room was silent, accept for the beeping of the heart scope.

Rolf suddenly began to shake. His hands curled into fists, and he began to toss and turn. The heart scope's beeping began to increase in speed. Rolf started to whimper softly; his eyes still shut…

Rolf's Dream

Rolf was completely surrounded by darkness. He looks at himself. He looked and felt younger. He was a mere child, no more than 8 years old.

"Where is Rolf?" He asked in a measly child's voice.

"Brother Rolf!" Another child's voice called him out. Rolf turned around.

A small little girl was running towards him, waving, with a big smile on her face. This would of appeared to be any other child through the eyes of others, but to Rolf, she was an angel.

"Sister Reina!" Rolf shouted.

His giggling sister ran to him. "Hi, does Rolf want to play today?"

"Reina!" Rolf shouted with joy.

He tried to hug her, but his body merely fazed through hers.

Rolf gasped. "Reina! Is Reina okay, sister?"

Reina was completely unresponsive to his words.

"Let's go play, Brother!" She repeated and started to run away from him.

"Sister?" Rolf asked. "Sister, please wait for Rolf!"

He began to run after her, holding out her hand to try and reach her. His hand got closer and closer. It was like a game of tag. Finally, he got close enough, and tried to touch her shoulder.

Suddenly, everything fades around him. He found himself on the side of a shore. Hundreds of people crowded around the area. Reina and his Nano and Nana stood beside him.

"Our village has come to pay honor to the Shepard!" a man said. "The Shepard will be leaving for the rest of this season, to help the nearby village!"

The group gave a cheer, including his family.

'Oh yes, Rolf remembers.' Rolf thought. 'This was the day Rolf's father departed to help a poor village thrive again. …this was the last day Rolf saw him.'

"Father will be gone forever?" Reina asked innocently.

"Father shall return in one season." Nana said. "Do not worry, child."

"No, he won't!" Rolf shouted. "Father won't come back! That village will be destroyed in the next week! don't make him go!"

"Oh Rolf." Nano said. "Such an imagination."

"NO!" When Rolf shouted, he sounded like a sulking child. "Please don't let him go!"

"Don't worry, Brother Rolf." Reina said, comforting him. "We shall at least always have each other. Nothing can talk that away."

Rolf tried to touch Reina again. His hand tried to reach Reina. Suddenly, everything around them faded. It was just Rolf and Reina standing together in the darkness.

"C'mon, Brother!" Reina shouted.

She began to run away from him.

"Reina!" Rolf shouted, trying to catch up.

Reina was unfortunately running faster than he was.

"Please wait! Don't leave Rolf behind!"

As Reina was making even further distance, she turned her head, and giggled.

"Stop! Rolf doesn't want to lose Reina! WAIT!"

Her childish laugh echoed as she gave a playful wave to him. As she ran even further, she began to vanish into the darkness.

"Wait! PLEASE!" Rolf pleaded.

He continued to run hopelessly, as we watched Reina vanishing. Her laugher became quieter and quieter, until it had become dead silent.

Rolf didn't stop running. "REINA!"

Suddenly, from the area where she vanished, flames erupted.

Rolf stopped and gasped in true horror.

Thunder and lightning flashed all around him as the flames grew larger and larger, like a tower.

Then came a terrible cold wind. It was pushing him away.

"SISTER!" Rolf screamed as loud as he could.

"She is gone forever." A new voice said evilly that was followed by an evil laugh.

One who he knew as Beldam's.

Rolf suddenly began to lift into the air by the cold wind. He began to spiral away. "NOOOOOOOOOO!"

Rolf abruptly jumped up from his bead screaming.

He stopped abruptly when he realized where he was. There was silence again, aside from his hard panicked breathing and the rapid sound of the heart-scope beeping rapidly. It would be like that for the rest of the night...

Meanwhile, in a faraway dark, hidden place, three dark figures stood.

There was the sound of door hinges creaking open. A fourth figure walked in.

"She's here." Doopliss said.

"So, I see." Beldam said.

She kept her glare on the fourth figure walking in. It was May, but not the one everyone else knew. This May was in a black cloak that covered most of her body. Her blonde hair had grown a little longer now, long enough to half-cover her two serious eyes.

Her face had become a light pale. There was no expression at all on her face, accept seriousness.

May stopped and faced Beldam, Doopliss, and Marilynn.

"May. You have proven yourself strong. Better than our pathetic has been members." As Beldam spoke, Doopliss turned himself into Vivian, then Nazz, then Sarah, three who were once all members.

"Thank you, master." May said without emotion, bowing.

"Then your final initiation task begins now." Beldam said. "All you must do is show us you can harness true power."

"How do you want me to do that?" May asked.

"With this." Beldam said, holding out a familiar item.

"This is the Medallion of Life." May said. "The one you have used to possess Nazz with before."

"May, no one shall possess you for this. The reasoning we are giving you this medallion is because of it's other powers we can give you through it." Beldam said.

"What are these powers?" May asked.

"As you know, relics are able to contain magic in them which are released via spells." Beldam said. "I have granted this medallion with my own ice powers. Marilynn has added her lightning powers, and Doopliss has even given it his own transformation ability."

Beldam placed the medallion over May's head and on her neck.

"By wearing this, you are given access to our magic spells. However, you only have our basics. Of my powers you may only use two spells. Same goes with Marilynn and Doopliss."

"I understand." May said.

"By taking this medallion, do you accept all of your responsibilities?" Beldam asked.

"Yes, I do."

"Will you obey each and every command I give?" Beldam asked.

"Yes, I will."

Beldam smirked.

"Do you promise to use your new powers only for the Shadow sirens?"

"Yes." May said.

"All of those people who mistreated you in the past, even your sisters, have become your enemies." Beldam said contently. "Do you promise to destroy them all?"

"I will." May said.

Beldam reached down, then held out a hat that looked similar to the hats that the Shadow Sirens were wearing, only this one was white and green. She placed it on May's head firmly, so that it hid both her eyes.

"And will you promise to forget your previous life?" Beldam asked.

"I will." May said. "I'll never look back."

Beldam smirked. "Then, my member. Welcome to the Shadow Sirens."