Watchers - IC [Closed]

[Charlia]

"Don't be so naive, Ichiru," she said in a low tone. "You know as well as I do that the time of falling apart has long come and gone..." She smiled.

"She'll stay calm for now. But in the meantime, you'll have to deal with me."

"Unfortunately, it seems that is correct," Ichiru answered, while turning back toward Merlin. He then poked another orb with his sword, waiting for a response. He had seen angry people throw tantrums before. He didn't see Charlotte's response to his actions any differently.

"Why do you care so little, Ichiru Hashimoto? You witness suffering and yet you don't even seem to care. After your own suffering... After all that you have gone through... Why are you like this? Is it... perhaps... guilt, that haunts you in this way?"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Ego Merlin

The sword did nothing to the orbs. The sword passed through it as if it was air. They continued their attack on the chained Merlin. To be more specific, Merlin's Ego. They had freed his subconscious but now they had to free the ego, the self confidence of Merlin. Anyways, the orbs seemed to pick up the speed and ferocity of their assault. Merlins Ego's screams slowly faded, until he said one thing. "Don't lose yourself."

The orbs stopped suddenly and just floated in position.

[Luminesa]

"Unfortunately, it seems that is correct," Ichiru answered, while turning back toward Merlin. He then poked another orb with his sword, waiting for a response. He had seen angry people throw tantrums before. He didn't see Charlotte's response to his actions any differently.

"Why do you care so little, Ichiru Hashimoto? You witness suffering and yet you don't even seem to care. After your own suffering... After all that you have gone through... Why are you like this? Is it... perhaps... guilt, that haunts you in this way?"

"It would not be news if you told me I was haunted. I figured that out when I was six years old," he answered, watching as the orbs stopped in front of him.

[Charlia]

Ego Merlin

The sword did nothing to the orbs. The sword passed through it as if it was air. They continued their attack on the chained Merlin. To be more specific, Merlin's Ego. They had freed his subconscious but now they had to free the ego, the self confidence of Merlin. Anyways, the orbs seemed to pick up the speed and ferocity of their assault. Merlins Ego's screams slowly faded, until he said one thing. "Don't lose yourself."

The orbs stopped suddenly and just floated in position.

...Merlin?

No! Interfering fool!

Eve?

Shut up.

Charlotte pulled her arm free of Everton's grip, sick and tired of being held back from helping someone she cared about.

She ran forward, and this time refused to let Ichiru stop her. She kept herself ready in case the orbs started to attack again, but meanwhile simply drew the weapon the angel had given her and attempted to cut through the chains.

[Luminesa]

Ego Merlin

The sword did nothing to the orbs. The sword passed through it as if it was air. They continued their attack on the chained Merlin. To be more specific, Merlin's Ego. They had freed his subconscious but now they had to free the ego, the self confidence of Merlin. Anyways, the orbs seemed to pick up the speed and ferocity of their assault. Merlins Ego's screams slowly faded, until he said one thing. "Don't lose yourself."

The orbs stopped suddenly and just floated in position.

"...'Don't lose yourself'..." he repeated, walking toward the orbs and then proceeding to walk around Merlin, trying to think of what they possibly needed to do next. "...We cannot attack them...but I wonder...if we tried to unchain him, would they respond then?" He then lifted a hand, and his eyes glowed white. Yet as he did so, he saw Charlotte barrel forward, slashing through the chains wildly. "Charlotte, wait!" he exclaimed.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Ego Merlin

The sword bounced of the chains with a loud clang sound. Merlin's Ego remained silent. Upon closer inspection anyone would find that his eyes where sealed closed. Strange markings where over his eyes, as the chains were hit, more symbols became more visible. The world around them all started to slowly darken.

The orbs continued to float there, slowly but surely a sound became more and more clear. It was the sound of hundreds if not thousands of whispering voices.

Why?

You didn't stop it.

Did you even try?

I will be free.

Why didn't you protect me?

You should have stopped it.

Why?

[Charlia]

Ego Merlin

The sword bounced of the chains with a loud clang sound. Merlin's Ego remained silent. Upon closer inspection anyone would find that his eyes where sealed closed. Strange markings where over his eyes, as the chains were hit, more symbols became more visible. The world around them all started to slowly darken.

The orbs continued to float there, slowly but surely a sound became more and more clear. It was the sound of hundreds if not thousands of whispering voices.

Why?

You didn't stop it.

Did you even try?

I will be free.

Why didn't you protect me?

You should have stopped it.

Why?

Frustrated, Charlotte gave up trying to cut through the chains, and then started to look for a way to perhaps unravel them.

Then the voices began.

As she listened, she grew angrier, until she finally cried out.

"Leave him alone!" she shouted. "If you have to torment someone, believe me, I have plenty for you to work with! Just leave him alone!"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Ego Merlin

The orbs started to vibrate, obviously agitated by Charlotte's shout. Slowly, they all grew, and started to change shape. The Dream Walkers mark glowed for a second on each changing orb, but disappeared once the orbs became shaped into different people. Out of the crowd, a few figured became obvious.

A king.

A little girl.

Void.

But, most prominently....

"A little whore thinks she can stop this."

[Luminesa]

Ego Merlin

The sword bounced of the chains with a loud clang sound. Merlin's Ego remained silent. Upon closer inspection anyone would find that his eyes where sealed closed. Strange markings where over his eyes, as the chains were hit, more symbols became more visible. The world around them all started to slowly darken.

The orbs continued to float there, slowly but surely a sound became more and more clear. It was the sound of hundreds if not thousands of whispering voices.

Why?

You didn't stop it.

Did you even try?

I will be free.

Why didn't you protect me?

You should have stopped it.

Why?

"...What is this?..." He turned and looked around, wondering if something was coming. "Is someone there? Who's out there?" he demanded.

[Luminesa]

Ego Merlin

The orbs started to vibrate, obviously agitated by Charlotte's shout. Slowly, they all grew, and started to change shape. The Dream Walkers mark glowed for a second on each changing orb, but disappeared once the orbs became shaped into different people. Out of the crowd, a few figured became obvious.

A king.

A little girl.

Void.

But, most prominently....

"A little whore thinks she can stop this."

I knew it. They're going to go right for Charlotte, Ichiru thought, and in her mental state, she's going to fall for it. "Charlotte, don't listen to them!" he called to her.

[Charlia]

Ego Merlin

The orbs started to vibrate, obviously agitated by Charlotte's shout. Slowly, they all grew, and started to change shape. The Dream Walkers mark glowed for a second on each changing orb, but disappeared once the orbs became shaped into different people. Out of the crowd, a few figured became obvious.

A king.

A little girl.

Void.

But, most prominently....

"A little whore thinks she can stop this."

The voice cut through the swirling emotions in Charlotte's mind, reducing each and every one until only one remained.

Fear.

She turned, slowly, hoping desperately to be wrong, but knowing she wasn't.

"...M-Michael...you're dead," she breathed. "I killed you. And I-I'm not a whore... You're lying! And I will stop this!"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Ah fear. How about you keep your voice down?" He said, "All that this bastard knows is that he failed to protect you. To him, I am alive as ever. And I have come to take back what is mine. How about you come here nicely? It would be a shame if I have to come over there."

Acting independently, each figure spoke.

"You abandoned the kingdom we built...." the king started, a large number of the other figures whispered assorted words and followed the king as they approached Merlin's Ego. "You failed to protect my legacy. You let my name fade into legend."

"You promised to protect me. You promised to make sure I lived a happy life. You promised me...." the little girl spoke and started approaching Merlin's ego from a different direction. "But you killed me. You did not protect me."

"I will be free. Nothing stopping that." Void said, just chilling in place, "You can't stop me. It will happen."

Suddenly, a few more people, who looked to be from the stone age began advancing on Merlin's ego from a different direction. A female figure was the one to speak. "My son. How could you? We warned you." she said, "You couldn't control it. Why did you do it?"

Near Ichiru another group of people began advancing. They looked to be from WWII Japan. "You knew it was coming. You knew they where making it. Why didn't you stop it?"

[Luminesa]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Ah fear. How about you keep your voice down?" He said, "All that this bastard knows is that he failed to protect you. To him, I am alive as ever. And I have come to take back what is mine. How about you come here nicely? It would be a shame if I have to come over there."

Acting independently, each figure spoke.

"You abandoned the kingdom we built...." the king started, a large number of the other figures whispered assorted words and followed the king as they approached Merlin's Ego. "You failed to protect my legacy. You let my name fade into legend."

"You promised to protect me. You promised to make sure I lived a happy life. You promised me...." the little girl spoke and started approaching Merlin's ego from a different direction. "But you killed me. You did not protect me."

"I will be free. Nothing stopping that." Void said, just chilling in place, "You can't stop me. It will happen."

Suddenly, a few more people, who looked to be from the stone age began advancing on Merlin's ego from a different direction. A female figure was the one to speak. "My son. How could you? We warned you." she said, "You couldn't control it. Why did you do it?"

Near Ichiru another group of people began advancing. They looked to be from WWII Japan. "You knew it was coming. You knew they where making it. Why didn't you stop it?"

Ichiru stared at the people who walked toward him, and he was shocked. Wait...what? He turned and stared at the faces. All of them were gloomy and downtrodden, covered in soot and burned in many places. Radiation burns. Their clothes were torn, and some of them even had skin missing. They looked like zombies.

Backing away slowly, he gripped his sword tightly. No...no, this is all part of the dream. This is all part of the dream. I cannot let the Dream Walker do this to me...I cannot let him win... he told himself, his eyes glowing white in self-defense.

[Charlia]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Ah fear. How about you keep your voice down?" He said, "All that this bastard knows is that he failed to protect you. To him, I am alive as ever. And I have come to take back what is mine. How about you come here nicely? It would be a shame if I have to come over there."

Acting independently, each figure spoke.

"You abandoned the kingdom we built...." the king started, a large number of the other figures whispered assorted words and followed the king as they approached Merlin's Ego. "You failed to protect my legacy. You let my name fade into legend."

"Oh," Seren said with a smile. "King Arthur, isn't it? Fascinating. Really, though, you do realize that being legendary isn't that bad. The real version of a legendary figure. Technically, that's me as well. You've never heard of Sherlock Holmes, I'm sure, but... ah, well. Why not meet the real thing? Or are you just going to stay there and bother someone who can't fight back?"

---

...Wait, you're calling him...

Now, that's ironic.

"He saved my life," Charlotte said boldly. "And when this is all over, I'm going to tell him so." She did approach him, bravely, intending to destroy him. "And you're wrong. I was yours. I'm not yours anymore."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Where did the frightened little whore go? Bravery really doesn't suit you." He smirked, "Do you really think Merlin will escape this? Even he has no power here. As long as fear reigns, he will not be free. So just give it up, and return to me. You are mine after all. No matter what you believe. I will always own you."

Meanwhile the king, and his people continued advancing. "My legacy. My people. They all perished into legend because you abandoned them." the king continued, not acknowledging Seren.

[Charlia]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Where did the frightened little whore go? Bravery really doesn't suit you." He smirked, "Do you really think Merlin will escape this? Even he has no power here. As long as fear reigns, he will not be free. So just give it up, and return to me. You are mine after all. No matter what you believe. I will always own you."

Meanwhile the king, and his people continued advancing. "My legacy. My people. They all perished into legend because you abandoned them." the king continued, not acknowledging Seren.

Seren just scowled and muttered darkly.

"I don't like being ignored," she whispered, and with a snap of her fingers, five more incarnations of her surrounded the king.

"Please," she said darkly. "Don't try to ignore me."

---

"No!" she shouted. "You don't own me!"

You can't... You can't...

She wasn't sure how long he stayed there, watching her tremble from the cold and terror, but eventually he stood. Another moment passed, feeling his eyes still on her, still looking at her in all her shame, and then he turned, leaving her alone.

She wanted to cry.

But she didn't. She couldn't.

And that made the ache all the more unbearable.

"I won't let the only hope I have left die," she choked. "I won't. I've already died a thousand times over thanks to you, I don't ever have to die again!"

Her blade appeared in her hand, and she took a fighting stance.

"Go ahead," she said coldly. "Come on, then. But this time, your lust will have to go unsatisfied. I'm done being your slave."

[Luminesa]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Where did the frightened little whore go? Bravery really doesn't suit you." He smirked, "Do you really think Merlin will escape this? Even he has no power here. As long as fear reigns, he will not be free. So just give it up, and return to me. You are mine after all. No matter what you believe. I will always own you."

Meanwhile the king, and his people continued advancing. "My legacy. My people. They all perished into legend because you abandoned them." the king continued, not acknowledging Seren.

Ichiru listened to the voice, as it was speaking, and he also focused on the voices talking around him. As he did so, they quickly blended together in his mind. In fact, they all blended way too well together, to the point where the words all became one disjointed message.

Where did the frightened...

Why didn't you...

Doesn't suit you...

You knew..

A group of people now surrounded him and grabbed his arms. They stood around him and stared, horrifying and eternally undead. All of them were unrecognizable, but their words were very familiar to him.

They all perished...

You could have stopped it...

You abandoned them...

A person then walked through the crowd, completely invisible, and then wrapped their arms around Ichiru's neck. A head buried itself in his shoulder, wetting his shoulder with tears.

...Return to me...return to me... it whispered.

Ichiru shuddered for a few moments, where he stood. He lost focus, trying to see who was hugging him. Feeling them didn't help. He couldn't smell them or anything. But he knew that he needed to get away. As he was able to split reality from his own thoughts, he awakened.

...I can't...

His eyes glowed again, and then his wings unfurled on his back.

...I can't come back...I can't...

He summoned light in his hands, and a huge ring of light threw every one of the visions away from him. He watched as the white light reminded him...it reminded him...

Let us go!

He drew his sword, and he turned from them and rushed to Charlotte's side. "We won't let fear reign here, then. We'll destroy it together. All of us," he declared.

[True Refuge]

For quite a while, Everton lurked back and stayed quiet. He had little to say, little to fight with. Kiri was settled on the floor before Charlotte had been sent sprawling into him by Ichiru and she had gone into a emotional rage. Merlin's past had appeared in the form of so many people. Everton knew none of them. He hadn't learned enough from the short time Merlin had been his acquaintance, leaving him somewhat confused as the other Watchers shouted valiantly and Charlotte stood up to Michael once again.

He proffered a tired glance at the still quite quiet and definitely not fearful Kiri. "This is a pain," he murmured, "being forced to fight without my Cane, not that it's worked on anything so far. What a day..."

Battle for Merlin's Ego
Suddenly, a few more people, who looked to be from the stone age began advancing on Merlin's ego from a different direction. A female figure was the one to speak. "My son. How could you? We warned you." she said, "You couldn't control it. Why did you do it?"

"A family, hmm?" he muttered with a grin. Finally, something that applied to him personally. "Disappointed in your child, are you?" he continued, diving his hand deep into his sit. The straight razor flicked out. While not a weapon, it was a blade nonetheless. It'd do.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Oh really?" he said, only then did someone walk out from behind him. Someone Charlotte would recognize. Her twelve year old self. "You have always been mine. And you always shall be."

The king looked at Seren, "This has nothing to do with you. Move." the king said and his followers echoed.

When Ichiru left them, the Japanese group continued advancing on Merlin's ego, "You saw the planes. You had the power to stop it... Why didn't you?"

The female figure did not speak to Everton as she lead the family towards Merlin's ego. "You acted against our wishes. You were foolish. You killed us. Why? Was the power worth it?"

[Luminesa]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Oh really?" he said, only then did someone walk out from behind him. Someone Charlotte would recognize. Her twelve year old self. "You have always been mine. And you always shall be."

The king looked at Seren, "This has nothing to do with you. Move." the king said and his followers echoed.

When Ichiru left them, the Japanese group continued advancing on Merlin's ego, "You saw the planes. You had the power to stop it... Why didn't you?"

The female figure did not speak to Everton as she lead the family towards Merlin's ego. "You acted against our wishes. You were foolish. You killed us. Why? Was the power worth it?"

Ichiru ignored the voices, and he glared at the visions as they continued to walk toward Merlin. "There has to be a way to defeat them. But how? We cannot hit them..." he muttered. He then sighed, and he called toward Merlin, "Merlin, you have to fight back! You cannot let these voices all tell you that all your good work has been for nothing! These voices do not know you! They only know your fears, but your fears are not you! Please, listen to us!"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"But... They speak the truth... I can't answer them." Merlin's ego spoke, "I could have stopped the bombs. But I didn't. I should have stopped them. I failed..."

[Luminesa]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"But... They speak the truth... I can't answer them." Merlin's ego spoke, "I could have stopped the bombs. But I didn't. I should have stopped them. I failed..."

"I could have as well!" he shouted desperately, painfully opening a wound he had wanted to stay closed. "I could have stopped it as well! I had the power to do it, I was there! But I didn't. I despaired and nearly lost everyone. And we won't let you do that! We won't let you despair!"

[Charlia]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Oh really?" he said, only then did someone walk out from behind him. Someone Charlotte would recognize. Her twelve year old self. "You have always been mine. And you always shall be."

The king looked at Seren, "This has nothing to do with you. Move." the king said and his followers echoed.

Seren just blinked at him in surprise, the other versions of her vanishing.

She wasn't used to being ignored.

It reminded her of something... something she didn't want to remember.

"Please, Mel... Can we just talk? It hurts. I want to know how to fix it."

"Go away, Hania."

"Mel, I need help! I can't be like this anymore! I want to be like you! You wouldn't be in any pain. You don't feel anything."

"...You want to get rid of your emotions?"

"...I don't want to hurt anymore. Sentiment... sentiment is a chemical defect found only in... only in the losing side... Mel! Help me!"

Seren shook her head.

"In that case," she muttered, "I'll just find someone else to fight."

---

The little girl looked so familiar. Her dress was torn, her face stained by tears. Her eyes were wide, filled with confusion and pain... and yet a submissive resignation, an utter lack of hope. An emptiness.

"No..." Charlotte breathed.

One of her greatest fears--that she was still that same empty, used-up shell, nothing more.

She'd add 'nothing less', but she didn't think it was possible to be anything less than the broken, shamed girl she used to be.

"...no... NO!"

The strangled cry tore from her throat, an anguished wail full of impossible horror, and then it hit her.

These are Merlin's nightmares.

Not mine.

I'm not the one who's suffering here... unless I allow myself to suffer...

She tore her eyes away from the vision and ran. She got as close to Merlin as she possibly could, and then just spoke.

"You didn't fail, Merlin," she said, as loudly as she could. "Do you hear me? You shouldn't torment yourself like this. You shouldn't allow him to torture you. You're better than that. You're thinking that you failed to protect me, that you didn't save me from my nightmare... but that's not true. You saved my life, Merlin."

Now she was crying. The emotion of the moment, remembering.

"...r-run..."

"You saved me. You did more for me than anyone has ever done. And I'll be honest with you, I don't know much about these other voices... but I'd like to think that I know enough about you to tell you that none of this was your fault. Just like you saved me, I'm sure you did what was right for the others. I know you, Merlin. And you're... you're too incredible to let yourself feel like this... Please... Don't fall into this trap. Don't hurt yourself this way! You're so much more than this... You're letting yourself think that you're a failure, that you're nothing. But you're not," she choked. "You're not. You're... you're everything... and I don't know how many times I'll have to tell you how amazing you are, but I'll say it as many times as I need to. You're an amazing, wonderful, beautiful person, Merlin. Never forget that..."

Closing her eyes tightly, she prayed that it would work... harder than she had ever prayed before.

[MEGA ULTRA DESTRUCTO LORD TOPIA]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Oh really?" he said, only then did someone walk out from behind him. Someone Charlotte would recognize. Her twelve year old self. "You have always been mine. And you always shall be."

The king looked at Seren, "This has nothing to do with you. Move." the king said and his followers echoed.

When Ichiru left them, the Japanese group continued advancing on Merlin's ego, "You saw the planes. You had the power to stop it... Why didn't you?"

The female figure did not speak to Everton as she lead the family towards Merlin's ego. "You acted against our wishes. You were foolish. You killed us. Why? Was the power worth it?"

Kiri stood from her place on the floor, she too had stayed silent for too long. Kings? Children? Corpses? Whatever. She didn't care. In fact, this entire ordeal was beginning to give her an annoying itch. She quickly made her way towards the commotion and stopped in front of Seren. Before her stood the king. The king was the pure focus of her attention, she couldn't care less about the rest of the other figures around her. Her attention was on the king. There was a strange itch at the back of her head, one that would not leave easily. Kiri glared at the so called king.

"Why must you do this!" She shouted.

"You are all just ghosts of the pasts! Why do you have to haunt him in the present!"

"It just doesn't make sense... I don't care if you're a dream runner or illusion walker or whatever! I am tired of this dream!"

Kiri sprinted at full speed towards the king, a faint gold stream behind her. Leaping into the air she flung her fist towards his face. She gave everything she had into the punch. Kiri's fist hit the king. Hard. Hopefully this did the job.

[Luminesa]

Battle for Merlin's Ego

"Oh really?" he said, only then did someone walk out from behind him. Someone Charlotte would recognize. Her twelve year old self. "You have always been mine. And you always shall be."

The king looked at Seren, "This has nothing to do with you. Move." the king said and his followers echoed.

When Ichiru left them, the Japanese group continued advancing on Merlin's ego, "You saw the planes. You had the power to stop it... Why didn't you?"

The female figure did not speak to Everton as she lead the family towards Merlin's ego. "You acted against our wishes. You were foolish. You killed us. Why? Was the power worth it?"

Kiri stood from her place on the floor, she too had stayed silent for too long. Kings? Children? Corpses? Whatever. She didn't care. In fact, this entire ordeal was beginning to give her an annoying itch. She quickly made her way towards the commotion and stopped in front of Seren. Before her stood the king. The king was the pure focus of her attention, she couldn't care less about the rest of the other figures around her. Her attention was on the king. There was a strange itch at the back of her head, one that would not leave easily. Kiri glared at the so called king.

"Why must you do this!" She shouted.

"You are all just ghosts of the pasts! Why do you have to haunt him in the present!"

"It just doesn't make sense... I don't care if you're a dream runner or illusion walker or whatever! I am tired of this dream!"

Kiri sprinted at full speed towards the king, a faint gold stream behind her. Leaping into the air she flung her fist towards his face. She gave everything she had into the punch. Kiri's fist hit the king. Hard. Hopefully this did the job.

"Kiri, punching them will not work. They are only visions," Ichiru warned her, as he watched her punch the king. He then listened to Charlotte's cries to Merlin's ego, and hoped they would work. Merlin had to listen to her, if he listened to anyone.