Reset Everything to Zero--the Red Chain plot part two!

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

Who: Cyrus, Arceus, and whoever else wants to be involved
What: Cyrus's attempts to become a god, take 2.5. A followup to the previous thread, seperated for easier reference on Pix's suggestion.
Where: Dorms and outside
When: November 12th, early morning
Warnings: Dickitude of divine proportions Potentially the end of the world as you know it




The Red Chain burned in his hands, though there was no heat, no fire. Such irrationalities would be a thing of the forgotten past, Cyrus knew as he raised his hands to release the chain, to pull Arceus, the Original One, into its snare.

All things would end. All things would begin.

Comments

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

Though he was struggling to stand, Cyrus stopped as he heard Knuckles. This was compassion. This was what had made that trainer so strong. And he could sense that strength was as deeply rooted as it had been in her.

But as then, it was founded on illusion. "...how wasteful..." he murmured as he drew himself up as solidly as he could. "...Such emotions are mere illusions. And like all illusions, they fade over time until death banishes them forever." It was word for word what he had said to that girl, that moment mulled over in his mind ever since. She was truly strong, as was Knuckles, but it was a castle of shaky foundation. It could not stand. It could not last.

"...You are my enemy and yet you offer such things?" He deviated there. In that place years ago, he had simply told that trainer that it didn't matter, because she would never understand. But Knuckles had understood, hadn't he? No, that was another illusion.

Cyrus's hand came to his wounded side. "I will not let this dream end. I will not let it be overcome. The world I dream of will exist at any cost, and you have already shown your weakness."

He made a few staggering steps towards the Red Chain, or at least in its general direction, and managed to fake that he was wandering towards a nearby tree to lean against it.

[monotreme-101.livejournal.com]

Knuckles just sighed.

"Yeah, alright. Fine, Cyrus. Whatever you say. I'M the weak one despite YOU bein' the guy staggering around."

He placed himself in front of Cyrus, very inconveniently between him and the red chain. Knuckles didn't know it was there - he simply wanted to be able to look Cyrus in the eye.

"I think we're probably runnin' out of time and you're talking in circles... You gotta tell me how to end this or all we're gonna wind up with is a destroyed world. You're not a God, Cyrus... you were born a man and you're gonna die a man. You just need to decide if you wanna die today along with everyone else, or you wanna live to see tomorrow."

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"Physical weakness cannot...nngh...be compared..." There was more he wanted to add but couldn't. His strength had to be saved for that last-ditch grab for the Red Chain. He couldn't fail. And he couldn't be hasty either.

[monotreme-101.livejournal.com]

"Sure it can, dumbass." Knuckles replied, crossing his arms. "You ever see Arceus stumbling around like this, leaning on trees? Heck, when I was wailing on Groudon? She retreated and she still did it with plumes of lava and earthquakes and I bet most other Gods would be the same. I'm sorry to tell you this, Cyrus.... but you can't be a God if you get staggered by one punch from a Mortal like me, especially not when I'm not going all out. It just plain ole don't work that way."

He uncrossed his arms, placing them on his hips, like a Father scolding a disobediant child.

"I'm gonna ask you one more time - this process. How do we turn it off?"

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

Minor gods had, he knew. Those like Shaymin and Manaphy could be easily affected, and easily defeated. But they were more akin to nature spirits, though they were recognized as gods.

And he wasn't a god yet. Not just yet, and he couldn't endanger that.

Though he could remain standing for a bit longer, he flopped to the ground, wincing as his knees hit the pavement. The Red Chain was just out of his reach at this point, and he would have to get past Knuckles to grab it.

"...there is only one way," he hissed.

[monotreme-101.livejournal.com]

"Then you tell me what it is." Knuckles replied, placing a hand firmly on the man's shoulder. Not squeezing hard enough to hurt him, but hard enough to remind him that there could be pain involved if it came to that.

"You tell me what it is right now."

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"Only I can stop it..." He was the only one with the knowledge and experience to do so! Of course he was the only one!

"Release me and I will show you..."

[monotreme-101.livejournal.com]

"Haha - Nice try." Knuckles replied, lowering himself just a little further so he was closer to Cyrus' eye level.

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, we're all screwed. Tell me what to do and I'll help you but I'm not just lettin' you do as you please. Not right now."

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

It was a risk, and a major one. Should he take the chance of letting Knuckles know about the Red Chain's powers?

No, he couldn't. "I speak the truth. I alone can end this, as I alone began it."

[monotreme-101.livejournal.com]

"OK then... Just tell me what you need to do."

Knuckles released his shoulder and took a step back, but he was watching Cyrus like a hawk. There was just too much at stake to takehis words at face value...

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

Cyrus bit back the pain and straightened a bit, looking Knuckles in the eyes. "...The device formed with your Emerald." Yes, a bit of a reminder that Knuckles had had a part in all this. "That is the means to control this reaction. But I caution you that I tell the truth! I am the only who can set it right."

[monotreme-101.livejournal.com]

"....and if I let you get the device, give me your word that you'll use it to set things straight. I don't know how far I can TRUST your word... but I don't see much alternative right about now."

If he'd been thinking more clearly, he would not have used the words 'set things straight' considering how subjective that was.

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

Oh absolutely he would set things straight. Of course, that was what he'd been trying to do all along.

"I swear on my very life," Cyrus vowed. He was never one to take vows lightly, either, despite knowing full well that Knuckles wouldn't mean those words the same way he did.

[monotreme-101.livejournal.com]

"....OK then."

Knuckles still looked and sounded guarded.

"You're in no state to get it... where is it? Your dorm? Somewhere else? Just tell me what it looks like and where to find it, I'll bring it back here to you."

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"Where I bound Arceus..." He glanced up towards the broken wall, to the room where it had started. "A chain of red crystal. Do not touch it directly, but keep it contained."

Of course, he didn't say directly that that room was where it would be.

[monotreme-101.livejournal.com]

"Alright." Knuckles replied affirmatively. "Just keep yourself upright and supported on that tree till I get back, OK?"

Knuckles started off at a run. Unfortunately for Cyrus, that run took him in the direction of the red chain and as he brought his foot up, it caught against the sole of his shoe and flew upward into the air...