Horizon, Part 2: The Path of Light, Chapter 23: The Curtain Falls
Horizon, Part 2: The Path of Light, Chapter 23: The Curtain Falls

The sky remained a paltry black tinged with hues of neon from the luminescent land formations spotting the bleak oceans. Darkness lapped at the rudder of the SS Thed, eerie nothingness that cascaded from the thickness of the void; a void that encompassed the whole of the world. From the bright green shores of Summers to the fiery orange streets of Onett, to the jolting pink treetops of Deep Darkness, Raltise's evil work knew no bound. No bounds, that is, save for a single sanctuary, a final vestige against the global onslaught that Raltise's villainy had invoked.

Tongues of darkness licked at the shores of the small island, struggling to overtake it. They wavered precariously at the ocean's edge, making headway this moment, then the next, but always being forced back by some unseen power. Regardless of the strength of the Nightmare Rock, this infinitesimal blotch of land would not fall under its sway. While the void snapped at the sandy beaches, the remainder of the island lay untouched; beyond the sandy harbor, a straight, jungle-lined dirt path led to a monumental rock mountain jutting from the island's surface. An unearthly light seemed to emanate from the formation.

"I guess that's our stop." Dan motioned to the untouched island directly ahead. Penetella sidled up behind him.

"So you sayin this is what we've been after all this time? Crazy foo." He muttered. His attention was diverted by a scuffling coming from port. With a gasp, Kageru hauled himself over the side and onto the deck. Bruiser and Lucky ran over to him.

"Hey, you okay, kid?" Bruiser's eyes were a fountain of concern. Kageru had managed to hang onto the anchor while the ship was charting its course; at last, as they reached the island, he had found the strength to scramble up the side. His lungs were waterlogged; Christina, returning from below decks, rushed across the hardwood floor and pushed Bruiser aside before administering mouth-to-mouth to the ailing digital boy. Once, twice, and the boy broke into a coughing fit, spewing murky water from his mouth. Christina stood up, brushing the dust off her knees. Kageru was fine, but unconscious. She looked at Bruiser.

"You're his friend, right? Maybe you should stay here and look after him." Bruiser nodded. Lucky chimed in.

"I think I'll stay, too. This whole thing is a little too much for me." He collapsed against the rail of the deck in exhaustion. At that moment, scuffling was heard below deck, and in a moment Narcy and Chartreuse emerged. Chartreuse's button-down shirt was buttoned haphazardly and one shirttail was sticking out of his pants. Narcy's hair was disheveled in a chaotic manner, her pigtails forgotten. Both were grinning suggestively. Harsemhin, who had been quietly observing the deck's events the whole time, raised an eyebrow curiously.

"What exactly happened to you two? You've been missing for the entire boat ride." Narcy blushed. Chartreuse continued to grin insanely. A brief pause followed, and Harsemhin decided to drop his line of inquiry. Matt stepped up beside Vincent, who was at the wheel.

"Might wanna ease it in. Don't want to strand ourselves, right?" Vincent nodded.

"Yeah. Assuming we get out of this place, you mean." Matt nodded grimly. Two figures arrived from below decks, wearing sailor uniforms. Several pairs of eyes shifted in their directions. Paula and Poo looked about briefly, spotting the makeshift hospital from the battle, and rushed over to it. Jeff was conscious, taking deep breaths of air at a time to regain his strength. Ness was out cold. Paula knelt down, dipping her fingers in a nearby bowl and splashing cold water onto his face.

"Ness, wake up!" She urged. The young protector stirred from his rest, raising his eyelids ever so slowly. Paula smiled down at him. He frowned.

"Am I still dreaming...?" He whispered faintly. "Paula...you're alive?" Paula nodded solemnly, her golden locks bobbing up and down. Ness was wide awake instantly and he gripped her in a hug, tears trickling down his cheeks from happiness. Narcy looked at Chartreuse, then back to the two, and smiled.

The SS Thed dropped anchor a few yards from shore. Skulryk stood at the rail, wildly snapping photos of the island. "Amazing..." he whispered. Indeed, the island was a sight to behold, for amid the blackness of Raltise's perpetual night, it stood out like an undying candle. Gazing upward, he could see that the light extended to the heavens, piercing the blackness and delivering a pure blue sky. The darkness, obviously, was trying to force this pillar of light downward, trying to crush it, but to little avail. What ever power this place held, Raltise could not penetrate it.

Many eyes trained themselves on this spectacle. It was at this point that Siris came out of the sidehatch, carrying Talus's lifeless body. Luna followed closely behind him. They two walked quietly across the deck, to a series of pulleys that hoisted a lifeboat. Siris carefully laid Talus' body on the boat, and he and Luna climbed into it. Bruiser took his cue and began lowering the boat into the water. Narcy looked to Chartreuse, nodded, and the two hopped into a second lifeboat, also accompanied by Harsemhin, Dan, and Matt. Vincent, Christina, Penetella, Rustopher and Skulryk took a third; the chosen four climbed into the last one. Lucky and Bruiser aided them in lowering the boats to the water below. Kapeka flitted across the surface of the water ahead of them.

The boat ride wasn't long; the SS Thed was a mere twenty feet from shore. Siris jumped out at the last possible moment, wading through the water and dragging the rowboat ashore while Luna held Talus's head in her hands. Christina jumped out as her boat pulled ashore as well, laying out a small tarp on the sandy shores. Siris and Luna picked up Talus's body and laid it on the tarp, folding it around him. The procession continued, everyone emptying the boats and leaving them ashore. Siris picked up the wrapped body in both hands as Penetella and Harsemhin led him to a burial spot, each hoisting shovels on their shoulders. Across the beach the seventeen trekked in a solemn line. Before them, the mountain loomed. Penetella and Harsemhin stopped short of the straight dirt path, off to the side somewhat, near a grove of grass and trees. They struck the ground with their shovels.

Emotion exploded with each successive blow, channeling their anger and frustration into the dirt. Crisp brown earth sailed in a chaotic array, arcing in either directions as the two dug the young man's grave. Siris and Luna stared wordlessly as the plot began to form. The rest merely gritted their teeth and steeled their eyes. One foot, two...Harsemhin wiped his brow and paused briefly, catching his breath. He gazed upward at the eerie blackened sky caving in on the pillar of light. His forehead creased and he returned to his work. Three feet, four...

Luna bit her lip to hold back the tears. Siris looked at her, overcome with sympathy, ready to cry as well, but miraculously holding it all back. He looked into his arms, to the wrapped body of his fallen comrade -- no, friend. He reflected on Talus's words. Would we have been friends? Siris flinched his eyes closed at the thoughts, but decided in the affirmative in the end. He set his face in a stoic mask, and on what he had to do.

Five feet, six...it was done. Harsemhin and Penetella stepped back, wiping the sweat from their brows. Siris placed Talus' body gently on the ground and unwrapped it, then jumped into the grave plot. Luna gazed at the young man's face, his white hair now matted on his forehead from the tarp. She noticed his blue thin-rimmed spectacles, slightly cracked, but still intact on his face. She removed them slowly, folded the earpieces in, and pocketed them. Siris motioned to Penetella and Harsemhin, who helped lower the body into Siris's arms. He placed Talus gently in the dirt, and with the assistance of Penetella and Harsemhin yet again, hoisted himself from the grave. All surrounded the burial plot, hands clasped, staring down silently.

Siris was the first to speak. "So...this is a final goodbye." He whispered. Many nodded solemnly, hesitantly in affirmation. Chartreuse stepped forward.

"He was a brave young man...we would never have gotten this far without him. Still, it's difficult to say farewell like this...this should never have happened." Ness chimed in.

"We have to kill Raltise. To avenge him. And his father." Several nodded silently in agreement. Siris noticed tears streaming down Luna's face, and he placed his arm around her. She leaned against him, weakly, sobbing gently. Rustopher coughed.

"Tis a terrible calamity to befall such a fine lad. We must put an end to this, once and for all." Harsemhin sighed, and nodded to Penetella.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..." He recited the familiar phrase. He and Penetella began tossing dirt into the hole. Six feet, five...Luna straightened, drying her eyes and looking up at Siris. She sighed. He placed a finger to her lips.

"Long good-byes never were necessary." He whispered. She nodded. Four feet, three...something at her feet caught her eye. She knelt down to find a perfectly formed red rose. Two feet, one...

Luna plucked the rose from the ground and stood. Harsemhin and Penetella were packing the ground tightly. She held the rose to her chest, cradling it like a child. The solemn seventeen moved away, toward the straight dirt path.

When everyone had gone, Luna stepped toward the grave, and laid the rose gently on the mound of dirt. She stood up, the ocean wind blowing through her hair. She pulled a strand back from her eyes, gazing at the ground. A smile crossed her lips.

"Goodbye..." she whispered.

----

"We should head for the mountain...but we can't be sure if Raltise will arrive -- or if he's already here for that matter. We need a few people to stay on shore and keep a lookout." Harsemhin stated concisely. Penetella stepped forward.

"I'll do it, sucka. No jibba-jabba's gonna happen while Penetella's on the job, foo." He nodded gruffly. Kapeka flitted beside him.

"I'll stay too. If Raltise shows himself, I want the first shot at him." Her voice was low and menacing. Harsemhin nodded.

"Alright then. The remaining fifteen will go investigate the mountain. Shall we be off?" The intrepid group headed down the long road, the gleaming mountain obscuring their view of the distance. Siris frowned, looking at a road sign to his left, the metal marker rusted with age.

"I think they're telling us something..." He murmured. Dan looked up to the road sign. Horizon Drive clearly emblazoned the marker.

"So I guess we're on the right road then." He whispered. Christina nodded agreeably.

"Well, let's be off. You never know what could happen. Though...so much has happened in the past couple of days that I think I'm ready for anything." Vincent chuckled.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I thought I'd be relaxing in Summers right about now. Instead I'm out saving the world, imagine that?" Matt rolled his eyes.

"Hey, stick with us. It won't be your only time, believe me." He muttered exasperatedly. Luna brooded.

"Let's just get this over with."

The mountain now loomed before them. The surface itself was jagged, rough and worn from weather. The rock itself was jet black, and yet a strange white light seemed to emanate from it. The aura was decidedly a good one; Siris could feel positive waves pulsating from the inner sanctum of the rock. Before them, aligned perfectly with the path they were on was a rock-hewn entranceway. The doorway glowed a startlingly bright white, and Narcy had to shield her eyes from the spectacle. A figure was framed within the doorway. Fifteen heroes immediately went on guard, fearing the worst. A cloaked figure strode quietly out of the light, into the path. His head was hooded, and his hands were crossed underneath the robe. He stepped aside, motioning to the doorway.

"Come, you are now on the Path. The Light awaits you." The man's voice was of an ethereal tone, seeming to come and go with the wind. Siris frowned.

"Excuse me, but...who are you?" He inquired. The strange figure chuckled.

"Can't you tell?" He paused. "It's me! The Apple of Enlightenment." Harsemhin stepped back in surprise. The Apple chuckled once again. "You assumed I stayed in Null? No, these are troubling times, so I am here, watching over the Path. Although I cannot guard it, I can guard those who enter it. That is why I must tell you that he whom you seek is already here." Luna let out an audible gasp.

"Raltise? He's trying to harness the power?" The Apple nodded.

"Yes. But alas, despite his twisted brilliance, he cannot grasp the true nature of The Light. It will, however, be revealed in turn." He paused,. surveying those before him from the darkness of his hood. "Raltise. You must be careful of him. A more dangerous creature is known nowhere else in the cosmos. He is, and has always been the heart of all evil that consumes men's souls." He gazed into the sky, yet nothing was visible under his hood.

"There are stories about him, you know...how he has driven men mad. Pursued them in their dreams, twisted their realities to nightmares. Some even say he killed Wolfman Jack with a trident." Siris blinked. "Well, I don't know if all of them are true, but you must be cautious. Enter. Find The Light, and use it to undo him." His nonexistent eyes were focussed on Ness. The Young Protector of the Earth nodded, and led the way inside.

Time and space warped around the group as they entered the light. The entrance faded away behind them, into the mists, and it was as if they were in an entirely new dimension; a dimension permeated by pure white. Siris felt a warmth encircle him, and he felt at ease. This was surely a good place, a place that evil could never touch. He turned to Ness.

"So, where do you suppose he is?" Ness shook his head.

"I have no idea. I mean, he's after me in particular, right? He'll come out of hiding eventually if he's planning on attacking." He stopped walking. "Well, here's as good a place as any. Not like the landscape has much variety." He muttered. Paula sidled up beside him.

"Ness, you have your heart set on this, don't you? Killing him, that is." Ness nodded.

"Hey, I'm the protector of the Earth, after all. Gotta live up to my reputation." He smirked playfully. "Besides, he's had his fun. And he's caused too much death and sorrow. I will never forgive him for what he did to the three of you a year ago. He's the worst kind of evil there is, and I've gotta stop him." Visions of gold fluttered before Ness' eyes; visions of the Mani Mani, glittering in the light of the midnight sun that was closing in on the helpless city of Fourside. Visions of his friends' deaths, although he hadn't seen them, were still part of his consciousness. Hatred welled up inside him, and he wanted nothing more than to tear Raltise apart with his own hands. Poo sensed these sentiments, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ness, my friend, you should not think such thoughts. They will only lead you to hurt yourself and those you care for. Kill Raltise; but do it for honor, and justice -- not for revenge." Ness pondered this, and nodded thoughtfully.

"Wow, this place isn't exactly the most exciting tourist attraction on the planet, is it?" Luna mumbled, waving her hand about and amusing herself with the way the mist permeating this place danced in reaction. Harsemhin paused, and placed a hand on his chin in contemplation.

"Well, are we just waiting for something? If so, what?" It was a question that consumed the thoughts of everyone there; what were they there for? To stop Raltise, of course, yet the unearthly one was nowhere to be found. Ness peered into the mist. A pair of spectacled eyes peered right back at him. He jumped back in surprise. A short, fat man strode forward, white bushy hair gracing each side of his head, and a thick white mustache covering his mouth. His labcoat fluttered about him, and he nibbled gently on a donut, the other hand thrust into his labcoat pocket. Jeff jumped in surprise.

"Dad!" He exclaimed, running forward and embracing his father in a bearhug. He wept tears of joy. "Dad, I never thought I'd see you again...how are you alive?"

Narcy strode forward curiously. "It makes perfect sense...if the gun harnesses the Path of Light, and brought you three back to life...then it would stand to reason that all those ghosts with unfinished business who found their way here would return to life. Amazing!" She whispered. Siris frowned.

"So you're saying...that Talus might be around here?" Chartreuse frowned.

"I can't be certain. His last thoughts were on life, so it stands to reason that he would have some unfinished business. But he might be a lost soul, just like so many others..." Luna sighed in response to this. They looked to father and son.

Jeff frowned. "Dad, why won't you say anything?" The good doctor remained eerily still, his hands at his sides. "...Dad?" Jeff whispered. A grin slowly formed on Dr. Andonut's face. A sickeningly twisted grin, one with yellow teeth...

Jeff lurched as he felt something sharp dig into his stomach. He let out a gasp of pain, then looked up into his father's eyes. No longer was he staring into the warm bespectacled eyes of the doctor, but rather two pupil-less, crimson ones. Before his eyes, the white hair melded to an auburn color, filling out the hairline and streaking it with red. The pallor faded from the doctor's face, becoming chalk white. Jeff looked down to where both his hands were grasping the man's wrist. The wrist was at the entry to his stomach; the fist had gone straight through the brittle flesh. The figure grew in stature, a cape flowing from behind, labcoat replaced by a black jumpsuit, spikes protruding from arms, legs and shoulders.

Raltise threw Jeff backward into the throng of startled spectators. Ness shouted in surprise and ran to his friend's side. The wound was deep; Jeff's stomach was split clean open, blood flowing from it. He was shuddering violently from the shock. Ness quickly cast a Lifeup spell, focussing his efforts into healing the wounds with due speed. Fortunately for Jeff, the Young Protector had not forgotten what he had learned. However, the Boy Genius was too stunned to recover all too quickly. Raltise let out a booming laugh.

"Well, well! My puppets have arrived for the final performance! Yes, yes...an epic showdown of great proportions, quite! However, not all marionettes are required..." So saying, the Puppetmaster gestured slightly with his arm, sending out an arc of energy that cut through the ranks like a knife. Siris and Harsemhin, the strongest magic users of the bunch, fell almost immediately, given their position in the ranks. Rustopher fainted as well, but more from shock than from the attack. Vincent and Chartreuse lunged at Raltise, but were met with a swift backhand that knocked Chartreuse backward and Vincent out cold. Christina ran to the fallen Vincent and propped his head up on her lap, gazing into the malevolent eyes of the madman.

Chartreuse tried once more. A spike on Raltise's arm shifted downward into his hand, and the nightmare-imbued demon launched it with blinding speed at the man. Chartreuse backpedaled, stunned as the projectile embedded itself into his leg. He fell to the ground, cringing, and Narcy ran to his side. She placed one hand on his leg, and cradled him in the other. The heroes continued to fall.

Dan and Matt attempted a small assault of their own, but hit nothing but thin air. Raltise merely fluttered his cape in their direction, and the two were encased in a dilation of time, freezing them completely in their tracks. Skulryk backed away, snapping photos of all that went on, when he noticed that Raltise's attention had turned to him.

"Well, well! The Alert Reporter! On second thought, I would like some photographs of my victory. Yes, please continue!" Skulryk reached into his pocket and procured his tape recorder as well, switching it on and aiming it at Raltise. He shuddered nervously as the Nightmare Demon approached.

"SOL BURST!" a feminine voice exclaimed behind the wicked figure. Raltise turned in time to see a wave of energy roaring toward him, yet he made no move to counter it. The energy merely dissipated against him. He looked at Luna curiously. Then in a flash of light, he appeared behind her, gripping her wrists and pulling her arms behind her. He turned her around, grasping her chin in the palm of his hands and gazing into her startled eyes. He made a tsking sound of disapproval.

"Now, now, my dear...the same trick twice? You should know better." He leaned closer. "Perhaps I shall...savor you...yes. You will do nicely." He grinned wildly and licked his lips. "Oh, if only that poor fool Talus could see this!" Luna spat in his face. Raltise's grin quickly turned to a frown of contempt, and he backhanded Luna with a quick stroke. Her head fell to the side, limp, and he let her unconscious body drop to the floor.

Raltise cast his eyes quickly over the fallen bodies strewn about the whiteness. This pillar of blackness amid the light let out a maniacal strain of laughter. Following this, he turned his attention to the remaining four. Ness, Paula, Jeff and Poo stood defensively, both a psychic and physical shield surrounding them. Raltise cocked his head to the side.

"Ah, so this...weak shield shall protect you? Perhaps...but it is unlikely." The malevolent mastermind extended a hand and gave a simple flick of his wrist. The shields dissipated as if they were naught but air. Paula and Ness blinked confusedly. Then the protector nodded to Poo.

"PSI Rockin'!"
"PSI Starstorm!"

Red and blue energies mingled with white as the cascade of energy rocketed toward Raltise like a missile. Ness and Poo focussed all their energy into this intertwined attack, pushing their power to the limit, the energy of the whole world behind them. They screamed in battle-fury as the attack connected.

The PSI energy dissipated within Raltise's palm. Poo and Ness gazed wide-eyed at the horror. The malevolent one merely waved his hand, and Paula, Jeff and Poo fell to the ground, limp. In an instant, Raltise was before Ness, and he gripped him by the throat, hoisting him upward. Ness struggled violently as Raltise closed his fingers around him. The unearthly one grinned insanely.

"Well, Young Protector...it comes to this. At last...I shall enact my revenge. You shall fall before me, and then the cosmos shall be mine. But first...." The demon paused. "Yes, first...we shall provide you with an image before you go. Allow me to entertain you, yes, with the sight of your three friends dying before your very eyes! After all, you weren't there last time, so it is only fitting." He raised his open palm toward the limp bodies of Paula, Jeff and Poo. Ness gripped Raltise's wrist, struggling, and turned his wide eyes to his three friends on the ground. He closed his eyes. The emotion in him built to a crescendo.

Then a flash of pure, white light.

Raltise stumbled backward, releasing Ness from his hold. He gripped the hand that had held him in agony, and held it up. It crumbled slowly away, like ash. He let out a howl of mixed surprise and pain. He glared unbelievingly at Ness, pointing at him with the hand he had remaining.

"It's you!" He exclaimed. "The Light is in you! It has been all along!" His pupils returned, the crimson eyes dilating furiously. "But that still won't save you now!" He lunged at the Young Protector, ready to claim his revenge. However, he grasped nothing but thin air. Raltise was stunned. He looked about himself in disbelief. Then Ness struck from behind. Raltise toppled off his feet, coming to a crash on the ground below. He broke into a roll, and resumed his stance.

"No!" He cried. "You'll not win! Not now! Not ever! I have at last achieved Zenith, as I had planned one year ago, and now no one can stop me!" He shrieked at the top of his lungs. A large broadsword made purely of dark energies formed in his hand. He held it to his side, then lunged once more, ready to finish Ness off for good. Ness stood solemnly, his face in a stoic mask. He raised both hands, a strange, pure energy enveloping him in a blanket of white. He let the energy loose in a spike. Raltise connected with the energy sword.

A flash of brilliant white light followed.

Raltise came to a halt five feet behind Ness, the energy sword dissipating in his hand. He turned slowly to face the Young Protector, a startled smile on his lips.

"Yes, yes..." He whispered. "I see now...the Nightmare Rock of the boy's Nightmare shattered, revealing the path to The Light within him....excellent plan, brilliant plan..." He looked down at his opposite arm. The hand slowly crumbled to dust, and the decay traveled up his arm, consuming him. "Simply amazing..." he whispered, as his torso crumbled away, yet his upper body remained intact, slowly blowing away into the wind.

"The Apple of Enlightenment surely couldn't have predicted..." he never finished, as the winds of oblivion whisked him away.