Esper found what remained of the Sacred Chamber that contained the Orb of Light.
Fortunately, the Orb remained. However, instead of the Chamber being Ten stories above her, it was now at ground level, surrounded by broken walls.
The Catter also spotted what remained of the Grand Sister. Her empty cloak laid in a heap next to the Orb. It seemed that her Duty to Protecting the Orb outweighed her own life.
“Even the strongest of us...” Esper shook her head in sadness as fresh tears ran down her face. “If the Grandsister couldn’t stop this monster... how can I?”
“She didn’t have the connection to the Source that you do, Esper.” Uroloki answered. “Do you recall the first time you saw the Orb? And even now, how bright it is?”
“No other Sister before you saw it so brightly.” Uroloki said. “Sees it so brightly. Now, touch the Orb. Take its power into you. Become that which you were born to be. The Cleansing Fire.”
Esper picked up The Grand Sister’s robe, and tied it around her shoulders. She took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
“I wish to Avenge my sisters. I wish to Avenge my Friends. I wish...” She paused. “To Avenge my Love, Ico.”
She placed her hands on the Orb.
“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” She screamed in pain and pleasure as the power of the Source was absorbed into her being, coursed through her. Her jacket nearly dissolved and ripped as her muscles nearly doubled in size. Her always messy hair stood on end.
She rose a foot off the ground as energy crackled around her and a beam of light surrounded her, shooting up to the Heavens.
After a few seconds, or a life time, she couldn’t tell, she fell to her knees.
“You are now more powerful then you could possibly imagine, Esper.” Uroloki said. “You have the power of all Alchemy flowing through you. As promised, I, Uroloki, the Spirit of Vengeance, have become part of you and have given you my power. Together... we shall erase all Evil from this world.”
Esper stood up and looked at her clenched hands. The crackled with energy. “We shall purge all evil. We shall Avenge my Ico.”
“Esper.” A cool female voice said from behind her, suddenly.”
Esper spun around. Her now glowing eyes fell upon the Cloaked Stranger that had once brought her to the school so many years ago.
“Esper?” Esper asked angrily. “No. I am not Esper. I am the Cleansing Fire. I Am Evils Bane.” Her power surged as energy crackled around her body. “I am UroLoki. The Spirit of Vengeance and Fire.”
“You cannot destroy that Beast.” The Stranger warned. “Is this what Ico would have wanted you to do? To become?”
“You do not get to speak her name!” UroLoki snapped. “She is gone! I will make that monster pay for ALL THAT IT HAS TAKEN FROM ME!”
The Stranger winced at her voice and the power that she now controlled.
“Please, Esper.” The Stranger pleaded. “Do not act so rashly. Do not tempt Fate.”
“Fate?!” UroLoki hissed. “Speak not His name to me! Fate is foolish and cruel. Fate cares not for me, so I care not for him.” She barred her sharp teeth. “Stop me yourself, if you can... Princesses.”
Princess Celestia gasped. Her blue cloak dissolved, revealing itself to be a human Princess Luna.
“Well?” UroLoki asked with an evil smile.
Celestia shook her head. “Alas, We cannot. Your power... is beyond even ours. However...”
“However, this course that you wish to travel down, the path that you seek,” Luna continued, “Will lead only to disaster. One that you love, you sister, needs your help. Your Wind... and another, needs your help. Both are prisoners of Evil.”
“Evil?” UroLoki spat. “I will deal with Evil soon enough.” She swished her cloak and walked off into the night.
Princess Celestia and Luna sighed deeply.
“She is beyond our help. She must deal with Him now.” Celestia said sadly.
“Then let us help the One that we can.” Luna said simply with a confident nod. “The Watcher is in desperate need Guidance. Let us go to her.”
With a gust of wind, both Princesses were gone.
