The Time the Sky was Dark

Hero, Pt. 2

This... This is the final chapter, guys.

I... I'm not sure if it's the music (Remember me by Thomas Bergerson) Or.... That it's just... Over.

Guys, thank you so much for spending time with me, reading this...

Just... Wow. Thank you. The reception for this story was amazing, and to think it's about to come to an end. I just... want to cry. Thank you. Thank you all.

- - -

     Crystal could only watch as another one of her precious friends died, watched the light fall from their eyes as they closed, watched the warm blood gush from their wounds, feel her heart shatter into a million pieces. Not that it was ever that whole to begin with. She hung her head as waves of grief choked her, caused her body to spasm. Tears dripped down her cheeks and she bit back a scream. It was like the world had simply faded away. All was darkness, all was nothing.

     Why did Celeste have to be the one to die? Crystal wanted to scream. Why did anyone have to die, especially for someone who was as good as dead anyways?! It hurt... It hurt when she knew their death was in vain. Keenan, Aiden (although he'd live), now Celeste... Why wouldn't they let her protect herself? More so, why couldn't she protect /them/? It hurt to breathe, to know it was at the cost of someone's loss. That fool... She was going to die anyways... Why...?

     What else could go wrong? Rise was hurt badly, Celeste was dead.... Was time really worth all this? She looked forward to the future- it didn't seem so bad. At least there was life... The drops of doubt fell like rain, and she bowed her head further, laid next to Celeste. Her nose lay on Celeste's thigh, her muzzle in her blood, wishing with all her might for one more time jump. One more time, go back in time, force Celeste to go to the future with her father. It would have hurt, but she'd be /alive/... Alive... The ache was deep, clutching her, making her feel as though she'd never be happy again... She supposed she wouldn't... Soon, she'd be wiped from existence...

    Bring on the rain. What was one more drop? She bit back a sob as she lay there, praying for some miracle, that this wasn't real, that this was a dream. Promising she'd remember Celeste were useless. She was going to die, and what was memory to the dead? There was nothing she could do, could have done... Her thoughts overflowed, and she felt the darkness of loss- oh so familiar nowadays- consume her. She fought to keep her head above water as she drowned in despair.

     Celeste... Why? He needs you.... I need you... You were... my friend... I... I love-

     Wait, what was that last...? Crystal's eyes snapped open at the sound of an ugly scream. The world around her seemed unreal- the colors too bright, the sounds too loud. She didn't belong here anymore. Her muzzle darted up. They were still in the middle of a battle. Rise was immobile, trembling, sobbing. She nudged him gently. She had to make him remember the battle. They couldn't die here, not after what Celeste had done for them! She nudged him desperately, and he pushed her away... But he didn't touch her. She was knocked back by darkness itself. His aura, his memories... They were taking over her. Before she could even cry out, she was dragged into his dreams, his memories, she saw through his eyes.

     She could see, she could feel a flash of fear as a scream erupted, and something green knocked into him and dashed away. Her lens rocked, he was running, maybe? They were talking now, but all she could hear was his thoughts and one word 'Zapdos'. She was surprised to find herself so highly regarded in his thoughts, even if it was only for her fighting abilities. Was that all she was to him, a fighter? Suddenly she knocked him away as a thunderbolt that would have surely killed him hit. She was knocked away, and Crystal wanted to scream. It was like watching her die again... Rise's emotions clouded her thoughts, overcame her, choked her essence until all she could see was his thoughts running through her mind.