Skyrise

Battle Against the True Spectre

Dragonfly

     He threw two attacks. One left, one right. "Is that all you've got?" I joked.

     "No. Remember how Oak said I could teleport? Well, he was talking about Chaos Mode. A condition in which the soul doesn't care anymore. It usually gains a special power. I manipulate time. And everyone on this island can turn it on at will. So... You ready? Because once I turn this on, you won't be able to run away."

     I held out my hammer. I felt my arms go loose. My weight shifted to my toes. I would help him. "Just go."

     "Alright." He transformed before my eyes. His left eye glowed blue and orange. He wore tattered robes and magic curled up from the ground and around his feet. He no longer had his jacket. This was the true Spectre. "Now. You're stuck here. Get comfy, because we'll be here a while."

     A barrage of attacks rained down from all directions. I jumped up and swung at the attacks, sending them spiraling off. However, they just kept coming. I acted. "Spectre, I can help you!"

     "Just give up! There's nothing left to help." More attacks. Suddenly, the attacks teleported closer. I yelped and struggled to keep up. I rolled out of the way of one attack and into another. The pain blinded me as I staggered around. "Ghost of the Future!" He sped attacks up and slowed them down.

     He's not controlling the attacks. I reminded myself. He's controlling time. Great. Another opportunity to act. "You don't have to beat yourself up anymore! If you let me help you, we can carry your burden together!"

     "Why? Why would I trust you? You have to remember, I just met you. Moon-Blast!" I was losing health fast.

     I jumped up and, instead of jumping over an attack, I jumped on top. I ran along the tops of the attacks, jumping from arrow to magic arrow. I jumped up and hugged him around the neck.

     "Please, Spectre! You're hurting me!" I screamed.

     "C-Cloud...?" He asked, a whisper in his tone. He suddenly swung his staff up, delivering a sharp blow to my groin. "What did you just do?!"

     "Nothing!" I yelled as he swung wildly again, tears blinding him. He stabbed, I parried. We clashed weapons, each of us swinging wildly to try and accomplish a single act. He dropped down and swiped my legs out from under me. I fell to the ground. 24 health. I got up and continued trying to talk him down. "Would Cloud approve of what you're doing?"

     "I guess it doesn't matter now. I would heal you, I really would, but I want you dead. You know how it is. Die."

     It surprised me how logical he could be, especially in battle. Even when his opponent is failing miserably. Even when attacks are being thrown at his best friend from all directions.

     "You know how else you remind me of my brother?" He slowed down, allowing me to deflect attacks. He looked pained, and I knew I had pulled it off! Soul Sync had worked! "You both cared. Even when I smile, insist I'm fine, attack to drive you away. You see it. I'm not fine. People just assume I am. Isn't that sad? Isn't that pathetic? I didn't have time to say good-bye. And now... Here we are, he's said hello again in you. And I hate you for that. It's just not fair! Because you see my flaws and think they're human." He wiped a tear away from his cheek, frowning. "You see my mistakes and call them experimentations." Another tear. "You look at my horrible, brooding darkness, and you only see light. I... I'm just..." The battlefield faded away. "I'm just so tired, and I know I have to keep going." He stopped trying to hide his tears. "I've made things so difficult for everyone, and I'm still not okay."

     I was silent. The attacks weren't coming. "Sure, you're not fine, but I think if I help you, you can be someday." I said.

     He sniffled. "Maybe you're right. I just..." He smiled. "I don't need you getting hurt because you got too close. I need someone like you. I can be fine, but not on my own." Tears fell down his face. "I don't want to hurt you or anyone else. I'm so... I'm so sorry!"

     "We don't need to fight anymore." I welcomed him with open arms. He crashed into me, tears rolling down his face. "I missed you, pal." He was a little taller than me, my head fit perfectly at the base of his neck as he sobbed uncontrollably. He suddenly made a noise like someone had stabbed him from behind.

     "Spec--?!" I was cut off as a wave of magic rushed out from him. I lasted for as long as I could before blacking out.
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What just happened? Is everyone okay? Why does everyone seem to injure our hero? Lemme know!