It Comes in Many Shapes and Forms C16

It Comes in Many Shapes and Forms

Part 16

But eventually a greater peace will accept me. It’s scary at first, but it instead is a true calm euphoria I don’t think mortal men and women are supposed to feel until their time is truly up. And it’s not lonely. Everyone… everyone… is there. Even if they haven’t died yet or even have been born yet. That’s the secret to what I guess is best described as heaven. It’s omnipresent.

Dizziness. A haze. Blacked out.

They were… his, friends and family. And they were nearby. Yet their voices were distorted and far away, for Sonic couldn’t focus enough to understand them anyway. Those far away screams were all he heard before unconsciousness claimed him. Sonic was a fighter and tried to stay true, but it wasn’t pain he was fighting against. No. It was just to stay afloat and catch another glance. And the climb was so high. So heavy were his eyelids. When he opened them if briefly for just moment, the scenery that he saw before was replaced by a moving ceiling. He… was being carried somewhere, face up as the gurney underneath him sped forward.

It was almost in slow motion, his eyes closing again to block out more information. But a fight to tilt his head slightly to his left and reopen his weary eyes revealed the outline of a yellow figure. Tails… To his right… Rock. Without really knowing what was going on, nor at full consciousness or awareness, his ability to just briefly point out two friends gave Sonic at least enough comfort to relax. His eyes shut closed, and he was too tired and too weak to reopen them. This time, sleep welcomed him in an embrace, a troubling sign for someone so close to death.

Spyro’s glance at the mirror in front of him lasted for longer than a minute, as the image staring back at him seemed to be glaring at him wrong. The dragon in the mirror didn’t recognize what he saw. Of course Spyro’s reflection couldn’t think, it just merely reflected the troubling mix of thoughts in the real dragon’s head. Confused but not really understanding why, instinctively he tilted his head sideways, something he was prone to do when pondering something. His reflection did the same, the purple irises mirroring his own clearly showing the outward signs of bewilderment.

Giving up on his train of thought, which quite frankly wasn’t much of anything, Spyro tilted his head down and closed his eyes. As the seconds passed by and gave way to minutes, the thought which Spyro had had earlier, before seeing himself in the mirror grew farther and farther from recollection. And it was an important thought too; it was the reason why he was all confused and felt… out of place.

“I…” He muttered the word I, doing so as naturally as ever before. Although it also sounded off. How could it be both? This question Spyro had no answer to. In raising his head once more, something appeared in his peripheral vision, and as such he turned his head to see it, only to see the yellow forearm and red membranes of his right wing. They both fluttered up and down rhythmically with his breath, and did so more pronounced whenever he walked. There’s nothing special about that, his wings have been a part of him for his whole life, but at the same time seeing them as part of his own body and responsive to his commands was so surprising. And speaking of appendages, his hands were on the floor and he felt way lower to the ground than normal. Which was disorienting since it meant the ground was moving apparently faster as he strut weirdly enough as well on all fours. Everything mentioned beforehand were normal routines and sights, and yet it was all just so confusing! This was all hitting him all at once; every second revealed something paradoxically normal and off about himself. It all was something unaccustomed to and jarring which he somehow remembers but didn't understand. The unfamiliarity began to close in on him, causing him a sensation similar to claustrophobia. It got his heart racing as noticing his growing paranoia only made his panicking worse.

Startled, he needed to move to flee from all this, and doing so had Spyro inadvertently make it outside before stumbling and falling to the ground for being unused to moving so fast. Getting up gingerly, a look around revealed a somewhat familiar sight: Artisans. Although it wasn’t the name to which Spyro recalled, it was years upon years of nostalgic imagery and great days throughout his life attached to his place called Avalar. Just looking at a place this familiar brought up such salient memories; fond and cherished ones held dear to his heart. Of course the source of these memories was Spyro’s mind, however as with his own features before, these powerful memories felt unfamiliar to his subconsciousness. That’s what it was, it was like his subconscious was grinding against his mind and body. Spyro wasn’t explaining this using these words or reasoning per say, but ultimately that’s what it felt like as he spotted other dragons whose names he could recall but didn’t understand why he knew them.

All this prolonged nervousness had Spyro on edge as he now back peddled slowly. He was in front of his stone house and his tail rubbing against the stone marking the façade of his humble abode (he didn’t quite remember) had Spyro turn around instantly to investigate the strange sensation. Looking at his tail brought up more confusion, how long has that… always been there? I don't… understand... myself?

A faint humming noise grabbed Spyro’s attention, and then the golden glow of a familiar, lifelong, cherished friend brought up so many foreign memories of the dragonfly. He felt the love swell inside of him for Sparx, but once again didn’t consciously understand it. Yet… his subconscious that was in opposition to this body did at least recognize Sparx. A brief comfort and break from a long string of uncertainty. “Sparx” Spyro said softly in his own voice. Spyro pronounced each syllable gently and with care since that was what he subconsciously was accustomed to doing so. But unlike subconsciously expected, there was no discomfort or jaggedness to his speech. It just came out fluently and responsibly, with no discomfort or itching in his throat.

Sparx immediately noticed something off. Since he was personally linked to his brother always meant he was deeply entangled with him, at the most elementary level. And as magical creature Sparx was even more in tune with the philotic twine he had with Spyro, so since something was so noticeably off with Spyro was quite concerning. It wasn’t his lifelong brother in front of him, yet someone familiar. There wasn’t a name attached to this person since Sparx didn’t remember things with words. His memories and feelings were all thoughts and conveyed with just emotions unlike those who communicate with languages. However, without knowing the name, Sparx could still more and more start to understand why he didn’t recognize the Spyro in front of him. The way Spyro pronounced his own name, the way he inflexed and stared at him softly and meekly versues confident and boldly were major clues because he’s seen and heard these patterns in another person before... quite recently.

Meanwhile Spyro couldn’t tell what was on Sparx’s mind. He was just there, following me around. Not surprising but I apparently was used to that, and even welcomed his constant presence. Done with battling the futility of thinking things without understanding why along with Sparx's presences having a positive effect on Spyro's attitude, the curiosity in his spirit surfaced and he now was willing to explore this confusingly familiar land. He always deep down enjoyed the thrill of visiting new lands, meeting new people, exploring the world in all of his adventures. It was what he enjoyed doing the most regardless if it was recreational or “work related,” saving the world and what not. It’s what he always did with his dear sister…

Spyro doesn’t have a sister… I don’t have a sister… Wait? Trying to think of the solution didn’t come up with anything, since in his mind and memories he knew he doesn’t have a sister. But in his soul he knew, he SWORE he had a sister. I love… her. I… miss her. Feeling heartbroken at the core, but also confused and dismissive at the physical level brought about a myriad of alternating emotions which Spyro’s body was actually used to. After all he had been loathing himself for what he did several days ago, to the person he loves. A tear formed, for both the loss of his sister and for the loss of his love, emotions joining together from both the soul and the mind, two opposing forces now feeling synchronized. It was overwhelming, and Spyro let the tear form and fall before wiping it away.

Sparx felt the turmoil, but also noticed the two reasons for it due to his deep connection to Spyro. His sister? He misses his sister and the love of his life, all at once? How is that… wait, this presence, in Spyro’s body. Is that… his love?

“I was wondering if you know where Spyro is?” Elora asked with concern. Hunter was beside her as she spoke with the kind Elder Dragon at his normal spot in front of Artisan’s grand water fountain.

“He’s still in his home if I recall. Normally at this late in the day he’d be out and about. But I fear recent events may still be troubling his ailing heart.”

He... Nestor knew, didn’t he, Elora thought. Spyro must have confided his secret with him, or the old sage found out on his own. Either way Nestor was like a grandfather to Spyro, and Elora knew that. “You… know, don’t you Nestor? Did... Spyro tell you?” Hunter, not too aware of Spyro’s relationship with Nestor, just assumed Elora meant the recent events surrounding Crash’s death. But Nestor of course knew Elora’s true meaning behind her question.

“Spyro came to me when he was ready, and I in turn was ready to help him. How my advice I gathered through spiritual meditation has unfolded I do not yet know. But today I feel my old-ish wisdom, is needed right here instead. You felt the same way about Spyro, didn’t you Elora?”

There was no point in questioning how Nestor knew this. He just tended to know things, which Hunter always claimed made Nestor’s normally cryptic speech “weird,” but in reality was structured to help those who paid attention. “You what, Elora? What’s Nestor talking about?”

Ignoring Hunter, Elora responded, “Yes. However I acknowledge how things have played out… and accept my part in causing the way things have turned out. I just... want to be here for Spyro, Nestor. Whether what once potentially was between us comes to be again or not I do not care… I just don’t want him to be alone when he's lost his best friend. No one should have to do that, especially not Spyro. He’s given so much for the world, he doesn’t deserve to blame himself for what isn’t his fault. I can’t stand to seem him this way.”

Hunter wasn’t completely blind to this; he at least knew Elora and Spyro were really close friends. But he held his tongue for now; this conversation didn’t need him butting in. Nester meanwhile let out one sympathetic sigh before he replied. “That’s, noble of you Elora. Having the best interests of your friends over your own, it’s a special form of love. Yes, I do know what was between Spyro and his friend; though I found out most likely after you did Elora. I only vaguely foresaw the tragedy that was to blacken Spyro’s joyous heart. And not in time to do anything to stop it. That’s the curse of my gift, oftentimes, being reduced to an observer in other’s lives. instead of a beneficiary. Spyro’s yesterday took advice I gave to him to find closure, and I pray it helps ease his burdened heart. I, too, can’t stand to see Spyro like this. His… ‘rad’ and ‘cocky’ personality I also enjoy the most. It’s what’s made him famous after all… besides his adventures saving the world.” That made Elora and Hunter chuckle. “I feel I’ve done all I can in helping, but perhaps you have yet to do all you can do Elora. And if I can guide you towards doing so as well, then someday we’ll see Spyro’s slick smile restored once more.”

Now smiling and renewed with partial confidence, Elora nodded her head before humbling responding to Nestor. “Anything you can tell me I’ll gladly listen to. I’d give anything to see Spyro smile again as well.”

“Very good” Nestor said looking past Artisans two guests and towards a familiar sight. “He’s right over there.” Elora and Hunter turned around immediately surprised only to noticed Spyro indeed walking out and about in the green grass of Artisans, oblivious to Elora, Hunter, and Nestor. “And… oh boy, maybe I haven’t done everything yet after all. Cause I’m not sure that’s Spyro?”

“Wait what?” Hunter said confused. Meanwhile Elora looked closer and had this weird feeling. Unexplainable… but also intuitive, like how she guessed Spyro loved Crash. Without knowing the words for it Elora sensed something off. “Spyro?” she asked unsurely.

 Beep… Beep… Beep.

The same pitched noise, over and over again repeating a little less than once a second was the only sense Sonic had that tied him to reality. The rest was blackness. This was the fate his coma granted him. Senselessness: a void; deprivation of all tactile sensations. He was standing on the line between life and death, and in this dark grey area where afterlife and life was made indistinguishable for brief moments: Sonic heard his heart rate monitor even though he was unconsciousness. The beep agitated him because he couldn’t naturally tilt his head to look at the source of the sound like any strange noise would cause someone to do. Sonic didn’t even know for sure that it was a indeed a heart rate monitor. Whatever it was prevented him from entering a deep sleep and that was super frustrating.

Beep… Beep… Beep.

˂Oh shut up you stupid infernal beeping! Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep here!˃

The sound of his voice was echoing, primarily because it wasn’t his actual voice echoing. It’s was instead what he was thinking, and there was plenty of space in the infinity of all reality for his thoughts to echo.

˂In the infinity of what? The ****? Yo, narrator sounding guy, can you tell me how I get back to Mobius? Kind of in a bind here if you know what I mean.˃

What was most confusing for Sonic was the lack of direction. The beeping now stopped echoing due to a lack of focus on it, but now a absence of sound sound didn’t help in identifying Sonic’s location. He just was somewhere without any visual description.

˂Hello! Don't ignore me! I’m talking here, jeez... Man it’s like I’m in an echo chamber. Hello… hello… _hello. Hello… hello… _hello.˃

Like standing in a black void, looking around and not seeing anything, the sense of loneliness was really starting to kick in.

˂Pssh, you can say that again.˃

Except it wasn’t… For Sonic didn’t have a body at the moment to instinctively feel the nervousness. And the perceived emptiness around him wasn’t actually empty. It was just a lack of understanding with these new rules of awareness. Things were different as an aiúa adrift.

˂As a what? The hell are you talking about?˃

With only his feelings, his personality which defined his character now adrift in the ether, slowly but surely Sonic felt those nearby, for the philotic connections between his aiúa and theirs were strong and evident. He’s known most of them for years. Tails, Amy, Sally, Nichol, Knuckles, each spirit was nearby, frozen in place as Sonic "flew" to each one to identify them.

˂I’m doing what now? What am I like a ghost or something? Oooooh! Oh, do I have the phantom legs, too? Aw man… sadly not.˃

Each aiúa was still tightly woven into each atomon of their respective body via philotes, and even Nichole sort of was given her robotic mind and robotic body. But sure enough her aiúa was complex and strong like her living compatriots, and as such was able to dictate and willingly point her philotic rays towards those she cared about, and as such this web of connections made her a living being.

˂Aiúas, Philotes, that word that sounds like atoms, am I supposed to know what all this pseudo-science means? Actually, I have the vague recollection of hearing this before. Strange, it’s like everything happens twice in this story to both sides.˃

After investigating each aiúa within its body, getting close to each one and remembering the multitude of reasons why he’s tied to each in the first place, one finally bond struck a different chord than the others as he drifted towards it. The mind was robotic kind of like Nichol’s, but instead of single presence confined to a robotic shell, there was someone alive and someone else near that same body. A Reploid… and a living creature. And he knew this person… and loved him and the Reploid he was next to.

˂R-  Rock?˃

One of the aiúas and not the other one “turned to greet” Sonic. The Reploid: the aiúa Dr. Light was able to synthetically create and place within a machine because of his love and dedication to his craft, that Reploidian aiúa… did not turn to face Sonic. No, instead the living aiúa did. He felt alive just like Tails or Amy or Sally did. And unlike so many times before: it WASN’T the case of a Reploid actually being alive. No… it was a young man who turned to face Sonic. ˂Hello Sonic.˃

˂You’re… Rock, but I don’t know that much about you. That’s… really confusing. Okay, I don't know anything about you. Kind of like this whole floating in darkness nonsense. What is going on?˃

˂Well, this is quite natural for me, I’ve been like this my entire life.˃

˂Right… But I still can’t tell who you are, even though I feel like I do or should. You are Rock, correct?˃

˂Yes. X and I are both are Dr. Light’s children.˃

˂Well yeah, I know that. Both you and your sister are Dr. Light’s children.˃

˂No Sonic, you misunderstand. My sister over there and I, ARE… Dr. Light’s actual children. The two fraternal siblings who passed along with their mother so many years ago before we were born.˃

What? What is he… but then Sonic remembered that name brought up by Protoman a month ago when he (soon to be revealed as ironic) was standing over Rockman’s lifeless body: Dr. Nicole Lalinde. Sonic then Understood for real what Rock meant (now because he could sense his thoughts, too, even though that’s what’s been going on already). ˂Wait, so you're… literally Dr. Light’s dead son? But how is that possible? You died around two decades ago!˃

˂Very true. But I am and have been in the same situation you just entered for all of my ‘life’. Although I wouldn’t really call myself ‘alive.’ Even if Megaman X over there is.˃

˂This may sound… intrusive, but since I am just understanding this all too quickly now for some reason, you as a separate aiúa have been occupying the same body as Megaman has for all this time, unbeknownst to everyone. You and your unborn sister Roll have been doing so with your android counterparts?˃ Sonic didn’t have that strong of a philotic connection with Roll, so it was hard to sense her, but through Rock he could. She seemed happy to see me... well the deceased human aiúa half did.

˂Yes. For all of Megaman’s life, I have been vicariously through him living what could have been my own. It’s an experience I feel almost no other souls in the Omniverse have experienced. A "ghost in the shell" if I can call it that.˃

˂A… mind within a machine?˃

˂A nicer way to put it. Though Megaman and no one else was ever aware of my fate. Ever since my father created Megaman and Roll to aid his grieving heart, I still “floating” near him at the time attached myself philotically to his creation, and over time it became my home as my sister also did with Roll. I don’t believe I ever made Megaman more human, or maybe even ever had any impact on his life. But it gave me a chance to at least through Megaman’s eyes live life. It was a blessing for all the time I had to get a second chance at it. I don’t regret a single bit of it. Especially… and most certainly… after meeting you.˃

˂Me? Really?˃

˂Megaman for the few hours he had to face it wasn’t sure of what to think of you, while you instantly knew yet buried the notion in your subconscious that you loved him. I meanwhile knew it instantly and loved every second loving you. I know it would have been weird… if I actually was a teenage boy, to fall in love with you. But for as fulfilling as it was vicariously being alive through Megaman, I still don’t know the actual sensation of being alive… of not even knowing there’s any other state than just living within a body. I am what you’d consider a clean slate then. An aiúa not shaped or molded by its container. I’m neither human, nor Reploid, nor Mobian, mutant, dragon, whatever. I’m just a conscious entity, who was bound to be my father’s son but never had that chance due to tragic but unavoidable and predestined circumstances.˃

˂A Dragon? Those exist? Oh what am I saying I’m off topic here. That sounds terrible Rock. I’m so sorry for you. If it’s any consolation I do love you too. I embrace that fully now and always will.˃

˂Thank you, Sonic. Though, the thing is. The Megaman you and I previously knew is gone now. When you used my father’s vaccine against Megaman and purged Light’s Roboenza from his systems, I was so thankful. For a moment I thought I was going to be able to live through Megaman again. But then I couldn’t. I couldn’t “get back into him.” He was a discarded shell at that point, unfit for me to “tie myself into.” At that point I was so scared. I was adrift like you are now, for the first time in years. My sister wanted to help, but it was near impossible for her to cut herself loose from such a familiar home, and she wouldn’t do so under any other circumstance, plus doing so wouldn't help me in any meaningful way. And also... feeling you, my father, and Roll in such misery over Megaman’s death, it was so hard. The sadness was… hurting me physically; it made staying so hard even though I still desperately wanted to. And don’t get me wrong, your grief and everyone else's was everyone's right to have, it just intrinsically pushed me away. But none of you gave up hope, and Megaman X soon came. I was so happy, at a second chance to “live” once again, but to my surprise, X was already full. Dr. Light with his newest iteration of Reploid actually gave X a full aiúa. There wasn’t any room for me to stand side by side with X like I did with Megaman.˃

˂It’s funny you say that Rock. X did mention to me the he felt like two different “Reploids.” Are you sure… that wasn’t you?˃

˂I tried to make my way in, unobtrusively. But I couldn’t do it. It was… and is… possible for me to take X by force. We could swap places if I tried hard enough. But, that wouldn’t be right of me. I’m grateful for all the time I’ve had, including my short time knowing you Sonic. But I think, now… it might be the end of the road for me.˃

˂What are you saying Rock? Are you… dying?˃

˂Similar to you, though one more time than you have… I’ve lost my home where my aiúa belongs. But unlike you, my eviction is permanent. There’s only so long a bodiless spirit can cling to those he or she loves as anchors to reality he or she wishes to return and live in. But eventually a greater peace will accept me. It’s scary at first, but in reality it instead is a true, calm euphoria I don’t think mortal man or woman is supposed to feel until their time is truly up. And it’s not lonely. Everyone… EVERYONE… is there. Even if they haven’t died yet or even have been born yet or died so long ago. That’s the secret to what I guess is best described as heaven. It’s omnipresent. You on the other hand are still strong Sonic, and I believe you still have much, much time left  to be on this Earth or to visit mine. We're currently in your universe, btw. I wish you the best, Sonic, and I am so glad I was able to hold out long enough to meet you “soul to soul.”˃

The moment was so saddening, Rock was going to disappear forever to a place beyond. But the sadness only lasted for a moment. For Sonic then felt Rock’s acceptance and content with Rock's afterlife, and being able to feeling what Rock felt meant Sonic could completely understand and be happy for his love as well. ˂I’m glad then, too: the man behind Megaman. If this… really is our final goodbye, then can I have one last hug?˃

˂Huh, I’ll do you one better.˃ It was an embrace ever more close than when done physically. Two aiúas becoming one if only for a moment; a metaphysical kiss leading to literal bliss.

˂I may have just met you… and only knew Megaman for a few hours...... but I’ll always remember both of you.˃

˂You keep your eye out on X for me, too, alright Sonic. He’s like the little brother I probably would have wanted if actually alive, but your families are what you make of them.˃

˂You can say that again.˃ Sally and Tails instantly came to Sonic’s mind, which Rock immediately read from his friend as he started to fade from Sonic’s senses. ˂I’ll be sure to tell Dr. Light his children lived on in his creations.˃

˂I don’t think you’ll really remember this as a memory Sonic, just a dream. A really good one that’s real enough for the both of us.˃

Sonic then woke up from his dream, in a hospital room.