Realm Sagas: Story 19: Everything Dies By: Chandra Rooney ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Legal stuff: Sonic & Knuckles, and all related characters are copy-right of Sega and Archie comics. The X-Files and all related characters are copy-right of Twentieth Century Fox. KTE, and Jack are copy-right of KTE. Vampire Sephiroth is copy-right of Vampire Sephiroth. The Green Gibbon! is copy-right of GG! Joya Nappo is copy-right of Joya Nappo. Moon Echidna, Gabriel Shadows, Ashrire, Tonia, Leslie, Sailor Evil, Lirsage and all other original realm sagas characters are copy-right of Chandra Rooney. All the characters and ideas presented are my own, unless otherwise noted. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Everything Dies"-- from "Herrenvolk" "Hasta Manana, Always be mine/ Viva forever, I'll be waiting/ Everlasting, like the sun/ Live forever, for the moment/ Ever searching for the one" --from "Viva Forever" {it's a song, not a show} ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter One: Vampire Sephiroth looked at the objects on the table before him. It had been a long time since he'd seen them. But he didn't need to think about that time. *That* Sephiroth was dead and long buried. It had been for the best. Such a weak, idealistic fool wouldn't have lived nearly as long as he had. "All but three," he whispered, closing his green eyes briefly. He lightly fingered each Master Tool, remembering its name with little difficulty. This wand was the Silver Crescent Moon Wand, and it belonged to the Sorceress. This, the Blade of the Guardian, belonged to the Guardian. Here, was the Princess's Scepter, the one they took only hours ago. Lastly, the one he was most familiar with. The Ring of Change. "Foolish Gibbon," he muttered, lifting the green ring. "You should never let this leave your side." He paused. "A pitiful lot. All of them." The Green Gibbon! had acted on his own. Attacked Ashrire prematurely. Sephiroth would have had it occur after the Protectors had fully assembled. Not that it really mattered. "The Game is all that matters," He stood. "In the end, the Green Gibbon! will play his part just as I've planned for him to. But now..." he flashed fangs at the darkness. "It's time to put him to use in the present." He laughed, and placed a hand on the Black Materia by his side. "Soon. Soon, the angel will return to the heavens. And I will have the Book of Shadows." "Green Gibbon!," Vampire Sephiroth smiled. "I've been looking for you. May I say how pleased am I with your action on Ashrire?" "He's still alive," GG! muttered. His expression was hard to read. "You think I really care about your opinion Soup Broth?" "I have a task for you to attend to. You must have heard by now that we have secured another Master Tool. But I fear Sailor Evil is not happy that you have yet to bring her Jack's sword." He paused. "I will admit it pleases her to have k.a. to bargain with, but why wait?" "Get to the point." GG! snapped. "Why, k.a. was so kind as to tell us where the Realm Protectors are hiding. I want you to go there and take the sword." "Sure," his tone was sarcastic. "I'll just walk in there, and walk out. Gee, nobody will notice that." Vampire Sephiroth smiled slightly. "Who said anything about *you* walking in there?" Chapter Two: k.t.e. opened his eyes. There were noises coming from across the room. Somebody was opening drawers and closet doors. He sat up. "Mista Lir?" "Uh...go back to sleep, kid." the figure said. k.t.e. hopped out of bed and walked over. "Watcha lookin for, Mista Ash?" "I told you to go back to sleep," Ash replied. "I kin help." k.t.e. pulled open a drawer. "Watcha want me to find?" Ash paused. "Jack's sword. Do you know where it is?" k.t.e. frowned. "Who's Jack?" "It's a sword made from a chaos emerald," Ash added. "I know where that is!" k.t.e. replied happily. He crawled under the bed and pulled out something wrapped up in cloth. "I saw Mista Lir put it there." "So you don't get big unless you actually touch it?" Ash grabbed the bundle from him. "That's good. Wanna come and play with k.a.? I'll give you a Drano cookie if you're really quiet..." k.t.e.'s brown eyes widened. "I like cookies..." "Uh, Sailor Evil?" the green fox asked. "I, um, have some bad news." "What now, Kit?" Sailor Evil asked. "The prisoner has escaped..." "What?!" "He's gone," Kit looked sheepishly. "I...um, he knocked me out." "If I might pass judgment, m'love," Vampire Sephiroth entered the room. "Kit is hardly worth the trouble he causes." "Truer words never spoken, Sephy," Sailor Evil paused, looking at him. "So, he's free. It just makes the next course of action all too clear. You were right from the beginning. We'll just have to kill him." She paused. "Extend an invitation." He smiled. "For some reason, I doubt that will be necessary." "k.a.!" k.t.e. waved happily. "k.t.e.!" the small red echidna ran over. But he saw the other and his blue eyes darkened. "This is mista Ash," k.t.e. said. "He brought me so we could play." k.a. frowned. "That's mista Geen." He pointed to the Green Gibbon!. "You got tricked, k.t.e.!" k.t.e. turned around. "Hey! Mista Geen! Where'd you come from?" "You two are so stupid," GG! muttered. "But I bet Sailor Evil's gonna be happy to see this." "I gots an idea," k.t.e. whispered. "We can be tricky too." "Oh-tay." k.a. nodded. "We're not stupid," k.t.e. told GG!. "We're cute." "Yeah," k.a. nodded. "I betcha you wanna let us go cause we're so cute." "Make funny eyes," k.t.e. whispered. He looked up at GG! with kawaii eyes. k.a. did the same. "Oh, please," GG! laughed, making kawaii eyes back. "Hey, you think that makes you cute? I can do that too. And I can make a little upside-down triangle smile too." He showed them. "We're still cuter," k.a. said. "Yeah, and I'm the cutest," k.t.e. added. "Watch this. Hellwo mista Geen, kin I have a cookie?" "You are not cuter than me." GG! replied. "Yes we are!" they chorused together. "Oh, yeah? Gimme one reason why you're cuter than I am." "Cos we're little," k.t.e. said. "Everyone knows little kids are the cutest," k.a. added. "And you're big. So we're cuter. Nyah!" "Oh, yeah?" GG! put the cloth-covered sword down. "Watch this." He changed to be five, and then glared at them with kawaii eyes. "Now, you just try and say that I'm not the cutest." "You're not cute, you're just silly!" k.t.e. grabbed the sword. "You're gonna be in be trouble mista geen!" k.a. laughed. "You get him good mista Jack!" "Hey you little brats tricked me," gg! whined. "Not fair!" "Oh, shut-up." Jack sheathed his sword. "C'mon, k.a. Let's get outta here." "Hey, wait..." GG! changed back to normal. "I can tell you where the Master Tools are." Jack paused. "Whaddya think, k.a.?" "Mista Geen is bein tricky again," k.a. replied. "No, Gibbon's honor!" GG! protested. Jack back off cautiously. "Why would *you* help *us*?" "Because...uh..." GG! paused. "Um...it would really tick Soup Broth off?" "That was the best you could come up with?" Jack asked. "I believe the intent was to stall you, not aid you," Vampire Sephiroth stepped into the room. "Welcome, Jack. Tell me; how is Shadows?" "What do you care?" Jack snapped. "Stay close k.a." "Oh, I think his health is of the greatest importance." He smiled. "To the survival of your team." "Shadows? Gabriel Shadows? What is that supposed to mean?" "Without a guide," a pause to sneer. "You're well...lost." Chapter Three: Lirsage sat up. He blinked green eyes, and pushed his hair away from his face. Something didn't feel right. "You're just being paranoid," he muttered. But then again, a gut feeling had never steered him wrong before. He stood, and went to the next room. "k.t.e.?" No sound. Good. The kid was still asleep. A quick peak in the room showed otherwise. Drawers were pulled out. The room had been turned upside-down. k.t.e. was gone. After a look under the bed, he discovered that the sword was missing too. "Dammit." He turned to another door, and knocked softly. "Moon?" After waiting a few moments, he turned the knob and went it. She was sitting up. "What is it, Lir?" "k.t.e.'s gone. And so is the sword," he replied. "Maybe he took it," she suggested. "I thought of that. But you haven't seen the room. k.t.e. knew where the sword was. He wouldn't have any reason to tear the place apart looking for it." "Has Ash gotten back yet?" "No." She opened her mouth to reply, but stopped. "What is it?" he knelt beside her. "You've got that look in your eyes." "It was Jack. He and k.a. are trapped at the Realm Destroyer's head quarters. He's holding his own, but they know all they have to do is get his sword from him..." "I'll wake the others," Lir stood. "And then I'll call the FBI." "Why involve them?" Moon asked. "At this point we're pretty much out of options. They have the Master Tools. They have k.a. And if we don't hurry, they'll have k.t.e. too." He turned to leave. "Lir," she began. "Yes?" "How'd you know? About k.t.e. being in trouble." He shrugged. "Lucky guess." Agent Mulder offered Joya Nappo the coffee. She accepted. "Now, tell me what happened at your store," he said. "Again?" Joya protested. "I've been over it three times already." "I want to make sure I've got the story," Mulder replied. Joya sighed. "Okay. Fine. I went into the back to-" The phone cut her off. Mulder picked it up. "Mulder, here." "Agent Mulder," the voice on the other end sounded young. "This is Lir Hunter. We met earlier today. I hate to bother you, but my brother's gone missing. We didn't know who else to call." Mulder frowned. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hunter. I don't remember you. When exactly did we met again?" "Just today. We were talking in your office this afternoon." "This afternoon," Mulder paused. "So you'd like to see me?" "Yeah. Jack was supposed to be going to see someone. He left an address. Can you meet us there?" "Certainly." Mulder grabbed a pen and paper. "What's the address?" "He and his partner will meet us here in fifteen minutes," Lir said, hanging up the phone. "I worry about humans. He didn't seem to remember me, Moon." "The guy's had a rough day," Moon replied. "He was held by the Realm Destroyers." "Let's get down there." Gabe turned to her. "I'll go on ahead, and see if I can't find Jack and k.a. You and the others go and met this Agent Mulder." "Gabe," Moon stopped. "Be careful. You still don't seem 100%." "I'll be fine." Gabe paused. He kissed Moon's face quickly. "Safe travels, Moonbeam." He turned to Lir. "Take care of her." Lir punched him in the shoulder. "We're just going down the street. Jeez, don't act like this is the last time we'll see you, buddy." "I'd feel better if we stuck together," Moon muttered. Gabe's green eyes were troubled. "I'll miss it. I know it's for the best that it's given up, but I'll miss it." "Miss what?" Leslie asked. He pulled out the leather-bound book. "This belongs to you, Leslie. I was hoping it would come to you under happier conditions, but it can't be helped." "What is it?" Leslie asked. "Your Master Tool," Gabe called, and then was gone. Chapter Four: Joya Nappo couldn't believe this. First she'd been hauled off to some rat-hole office in the basement of FBI headquarters, and now she was being taken to a warehouse. "Scully, I could not have met this boy. I didn't escape until I called you tonight," Mulder was telling his partner. He shook his head. "Yet, he insists that I did meet him." "I don't understand why you don't remember it," Scully replied. "I was right there. But I'm glad you agree with what I said earlier. Their story doesn't add up." Mulder looked over at her. "What do you mean, you were right there?" "Mulder you came back to your office this afternoon with a young girl, who claimed she was the sister of one of the boys." She paused. "Are you saying that wasn't you?" "No, Scully. I'm saying it couldn't have been me. I did not get free till this night." "Okay, Mulder, if it wasn't you, who was it?" Scully asked. "Your evil twin?" Mulder sighed. "The one that came into the cell...you remember I told you all about this." Scully sighed, and rubbed her temples. "Yes, the green fox." "You don't believe me." Mulder said, shaking his head. "After all we've been through together, and you won't believe me." "Mulder, listen to yourself. A talking, green, two-tailed, biped fox attacked you, and stole your trench coat?" "Can I go home now?" Joya asked. "I need you to help identify the guy who attacked you." Mulder paused. "This address that kid gave me is the same as the place that I was being held at." "So, you think these kids are a part of this?" Scully asked. "I think they are going to answer a few questions I have, yes," Mulder stopped the car. "We're here." Scully gestured to the group of people standing off to one side. "That blond guy, the one with the red streaks. He's Lir Hunter. I don't recognize any of the others." "Well, let's go and find out then," Mulder unbuckled. "Everyone out." Gabriel looked into the room. Vampire Sephiroth was expecting him. k.t.e. and k.a. were tied up in the center. "No come in here!" k.t.e. yelled. "Issa trap!" He sighed. He walked over to them. "It doesn't matter. I don't have a choice." "Of course you don't," Vampire Sephiroth stepped out from the shadows. "At least not any other choice you would make." "I've been told what to do. I know who I am now." "Then you must thank me for awakening you to your...purpose." "I thank you for nothing. I have always known what my true reasons for being here are." Gabriel withdrew a wooden staff. "Allow the children to go free. It is between you and I tonight." A cold smile. "The Demon and the Angel? The Darkness and the Light? One will win. One will die. I assure you; it will not be I." "Let k.a. and k.t.e. go." Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "Do it." "Ah, for old times sake." Vampire Sephiroth laughed. He drew his masamune and cut the ropes binding them. "Run along now, children. I'll be seeing you soon enough." k.t.e. hopped down. "C'mon, k.a.!" k.a. looked at Gabriel. "I don't wanna leave mista Gabe." He shook his head. "In the name of the Goddess, k.a., go. Don't worry about me. They're waiting for you outside." k.a. hesitated, but then ran after k.t.e. "Now, to business." Vampire Sephiroth lifted the masamune again. "A stick is all you've been allowed to use against me? Somehow I doubt that your Goddess realizes my power." "Power corrupts." Gabriel switched grips on the staff. Chapter Five: "Agents Mulder and Scully!" Lir waved. "Over here!" "Mr. Hunter," Scully nodded. She turned to the girl with them. "This is Miss Joya Nappo." "Oh, how rude of me," Lir turned to the others. "These are my friends. Tonia, Leslie, and Selene." Scully looked at the silver-haired girl. Her dark blue eyes were familiar. "Nice to meet you all," Mulder nodded. "Now, if I could ask you some questions, Mr. Hunter." "LIR!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" two voices yelled as one. A few seconds later two small, red echidnas tackled them. "k.a.! You're okay!" Selene picked up her brother. "Ugh! Leggo my leg, k.t.e.!" Lir exclaimed. "Awww, cute!" Joya smiled. "What the hell?" Scully gasped. "Now do you believe me?" Mulder demanded. "Of course these ones are shorter, and well I don't think they're foxes." "Nuh uh!" k.t.e. shook his head. "We're kidnas!" "What's a kidna?" Joya asked. "You look like echidnas to me." "Dat's what k.t.e. said!" k.a. cried. "Where'd they come from?" Mulder asked. "We ran from Se-seph-" k.a. frowned. "Sephiroth!" k.t.e. finished for him. "And then Missus Bad Julie-su tried to grab us-" "-But we got away from her! She's funny!" k.a. laughed. "She called us funny names when we got away!" "Then we sneaked past Mista Geen," k.t.e. continued. "But he was busy playin a video game an didn't even see us!" "Mista Geen is silly! He was makin funny eyes at one of the video ladies," k.a. added. "What about Gabe?" Selene asked. "Did you see him?" "Yep," k.a. hopped down from her arms. "He said you run and don't worry about me." "He's gonna fight Sephiroth," k.t.e. told Selene. "He had a stick! And Sephiroth had a big sword!" "Speaking of swords..." Lir dropped down beside him. "Where's yours?" "Tricky Mista Geen took it." k.t.e. replied. "He's got it." "Nuh uh," k.a. laughed. He ran back into the building and returned draggin KTE's sword. "I took while he was tellin the video lady how pretty sure was." "Oooooohs," k.t.e. made a grab for it, but Lir took it. "Maybe it's best you wait a little bit." Scully frowned. "Wait. That's the same sword Jack pulled on me." "Very good," Lir glared at her. "For that you get a cookie. Wanna go for the milk and guess the rest of it?" Mulder bent down and grabbed k.t.e. "Hey!" he cried. "Just gettin a closer look at you," Mulder replied. "You're all...furry." "You're all tall!" k.t.e. shot back. "My Daddy's tall," k.a. announced. He was watching Scully. "Is he red like you?" Mulder asked. "Nope. My Daddy's all silvery like Mommy and Moon." k.a. stopped. "How come I'm not all silvery?" Selene pulled Lir aside. "We've got to go after Gabe." "I know," Lir paused. "Get Tonia and Leslie to get the kids outta here." He pulled out a portal generator. "As much as I hate to show this to a couple of humans..." "Agreed," Selene nodded. "It's not safe here." "Tonia, Leslie," Lir waved them over. He showed them how to work the generator. "It'll take you to a KTE's home realm. Stay there and wait for us." "No way!" Tonia protested. "You're not ditching us!" "Don't argue. It doesn't concern you." Lir paused. "Gabe is my best friend." "And he's my Soul Bond," Selene added. "Take the kids and get out of here." "But..." Leslie protested. "Leslie, please," Selene cut her off. "All right. C'mon k.t.e. and k.a.!" Leslie called. "It's bed time!" "I DON'T WANNA GO TO BED!!!!!" k.t.e. yelled. k.a. hid behind Scully. "NO! NOT BED TIME!!!! IT'S PLAY TIME!!!!!!!!" Tonia grinned. "If you come now you can have a snack." k.a. peaked out. "A cookie?" "Yes," Leslie nodded. "Some of those *good* cookies, k.t.e." "Oooh," k.t.e. tapped Mulder. "Lemme go, please. I wanna go have some cookies." Mulder put him down. "This is what the government is hiding? Hyperactive echidnas?" k.a. and k.t.e. waved, then followed Leslie and Tonia to the back of the building. "You said that was Jack's sword," Scully seemed to have regained her wits. "I did." Lir nodded. "Then you said it belonged to the little red thing.." "First off," Lir snapped. "k.t.e. is an *echidna*; not a little red thing. Second... humans are stupid, and you are no exception." "Lirsage," Selene hissed. "All humans?" Joya asked. "Oh, you're excluded from that generalization, Joya," Lir said. "How's the conquest thing going?" "Not bad. Did I tell you a couple of vampires and two furries broke into my store and stole something?" Joya asked. "No, really?" Lir blinked. "Jeez. I'm telling ya, Joya, vampires are the scum of the realms." "What'd they look like?" Selene asked. "Oh, a purple hedgehog, a green fox." Joya frowned. "The guy vampire was tall, silver hair, green eyes. Trench coat. Oh, yeah. He had a really big sword. The girl...I don't know. She was dressed up like some sailor scout or something. It was all a little too halloweenish-trick-or-treat for me." "Sounds like Vampire Sephiroth and Sailor Evil," Selene frowned. "I hate to run off, Joya. But we really have to go help our friend..." "No, wait." Joya frowned. "There was something else. The sailor girl had a wand with her. I recognized it. She held it near the selves and it beeped. Then the guy took a Druid Wand from the self and muttered something about a Princess' Scepter." "Another Master Tool?" Lir asked. "Has to be." Selene nodded. "Thanks, Joya. I owe you one." "No problem! See you round the HPF?" Joya asked. "Yeah, I guess so," Selene called back. "Hey GG!!" Joya smiled. "You're here too?" "GG!?" Mulder looked up. The Green Gibbon! was glaring at Selene and Lir. No, he was glaring at the sword in Lir's hand. "Ohmigod," Scully whispered. "Mulder is that..." "I don't know how you got that thing," GG! was saying to Lir. "But you give it back! I worked hard to get it! You can't take it!" "Hello GG!. Have you been introduced to Agents Mulder and Scully?" Selene asked. "Don't you even start," GG! snapped. "You know I don't like the X-Files!" "That's the one," Mulder pointed. "Okay, you're under arrest!" GG! turned to look at them. His jaw dropped, as did both his electrified tails. "Eeeeeeeeeep!" "Hey GG!!" Joya called again. "Oh, hey Joya, s'up?" His left tail twitched slightly. "You wouldn't have any Drano cookies handy would you?" "Nope, sorry." Joya shook her head. Lir gestured to the door. "Now, while Joya's got him distracted." Selene nodded. "Right. I just hope we're not too late." "I certainly hope you didn't come here expecting to defeat me," Vampire Sephiroth smiled, moving the masamune expertly through the air. "It disgusts me to see this is what you've become," Gabriel blocked with the staff. "I'd say it was an improvement." "I wouldn't." Vampire Sephiroth paused. The masamune hovered above the wooden staff. "Well, I suppose that's the difference between us, isn't it?" "Do you love her?" Gabriel asked. "I didn't think you were still capable of such an emotion." "Did you love *her*?" Vampire Sephiroth asked. "Yes." Gabriel didn't blink. "I loved her as much as it was possible. Just as much as I love Moon." "Still using that old Soul Bond trick?" Vampire Sephiroth swung the masamune, burying it deep into the wood. "What can I say? It must be a favorite of ours," Gabriel gasped, trying to dodge the blade. "I find it hard to believe I was once as unskilled as you," Vampire Sephiroth sneered, knocking him to the ground. "She's not your Soul Bond," he chuckled. "You don't have a soul." "Your bravado amazes me," came the sarcastic reply. "And if I had a soul, you wouldn't be here." "No. I wouldn't." Gabriel paused. "Are you going to kill me?" "I killed you long ago. I killed you as soon as I welcomed the power of the Black Materia. And I believe it was a good trade." He pressed the tip of the masamune near his throat. "But I'll give you the chance to talk. I'm slightly interested in what you might say." "You're too kind," Gabriel matched the sneer. Identical green eyes stared up into the ones that stared down. "Talk. I don't have much patience." "So that much hasn't changed." Gabriel paused, licked his lips. "Share with me. Tell me what you're up to. I'm going to die anyway. And I'm probably the only one who can appreciated it." "True." Vampire Sephiroth eased off on the pressure. "I'm going to ensure things go as they should." "You plan to kill Ashrire, then." "I've already killed him. I'm upset that he's returned." "The boy isn't Ashrire-kuh. He's a new soul. A strong one." A pause. "Ashrire. Soul Fire. His father named him well." "Your mastery of the Old Language doesn't impress me." Vampire Sephiroth snapped. "They follow the paths. And your as much to blame as I that they do." "We chose our own paths." He spat in Vampire Sephiroth's path. "And I chose death over becoming you." "You choose it again. You walk the same path." Vampire Sephiroth replied slyly. "If one with divine knowledge cannot escape it, then how can they?" Gabriel laughed. "Leslie has the Book of Shadows. She'll read it. And then they'll know who you are. And what you're planning." "She'll also know who you are," Sephiroth withdrew the masamune. "She loves you. And love makes us weak. She won't attack me. Not once she knows who you are." He raised the masamune above the boy on the floor. "Last words, Sephiroth?" A smile. "Yeah. You think that everyone's your pawn. But you're wrong. You're not the Master Player. You're just the Black Materia's pawn." He paused. "You can't kill me. Not without killing a part of yourself." His eyes burned with green fire. "Go on put that masamune through. You can't kill my soul. And you can't ever be me again, Vampire Sephiroth." " 'You can't kill me'," Vampire Sephiroth mocked. "How fitting. I'll see to it that it's put on your grave-stone." He sliced the cloth of his shirt, burying the masamune in his heart. "And I already decided that I did not want to be you." Chapter Six: That was how the found him. Lir winced at the body. "Sweet Goddess," he whispered. "Why didn't you wait for us, Gabe? You should have known it was suicide to go up against Vampire Sephiroth alone." "Is he...dead?" Selene whispered. Lir swallowed, face ashen. "With a wound like that? I say the chances are pretty good." She dropped beside the body. Tears spilling over. "Why?" He shook his head. "I wish there was more I could do for you, buddy. But at this point..." he closed the lids of Gabe's green eyes with a hand. "Rest in peace, my friend." Selene leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Good-bye, my love. I won't forget you." "I don't think anyone will," Lir took her hand. "Let's go. Tonia and Leslie are waiting for us." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------