There are lots of stories in the MoFo, and more each day. Some funny, some sad. Some intelligent, some insane. Some with a message, some just to be heard.
There are lots of stories in the MoFo. They may not all connect, or be coherent, but they are there. Each one as important as the other.
There are lots of stories in the MoFo.
This is just one of them.
Part 1: Beginnings of self-discovery
Nostalgia is a funny thing. It can affect you even if you werent around at the time.
At least, that was the case with Allik. For reasons unbeknownst to him, he had an affinity for the past. Which was why he liked to browse through the archives in the library. It was fun finding out about the events that had happened before he had arrived, and in some cases the ones that happened after hed arrived but had forgotten about.
This was why he had been at the library that night. Being at the library was not unusual in itself, but what was unusual was the amount of time he spent there. Normally he would leave before sunset, which would give him enough time to reach his apartment before nightfall. But that night, before he realised it, it was dark outside.
When he did realise it, his initial thought was to check his watch. Actually, his initial thought was wondering why it was dark outside, but he soon figured that one out. He had his alarm set to go off about five minutes before the library closed, which was about the right time to leave. He figured that his watch battery must have run out. Surprisingly his watch was fine.
He shrugged it off. It was no big deal. He had probably just been too engrossed in his reading to hear it. Besides, it wasnt as if hed missed a bus or anything. As far as he could see, the worst-case scenario was that he would be home a little later than normal.
Allik returned the book to its shelf and headed for the door. To his surprise, it wouldnt open. He stood for a while looking at the door, thinking about why it wasnt opening. He tried pushing it but nothing happened. So he pulled the door instead. The door opened a little bit, so that bacteria might squeeze through it if it was thin enough, but quickly closed once he let go. It was then he realised that the door was locked.
Naturally Allik was worried. It must have been later than hed thought. After desperately pulling the door with all his might a few times, he realised that he wasnt going to get out until tomorrow.
Allik slumped to the floor, cursing himself for not hearing his watch. Then he cursed the librarian for not alerting him. After a moments sulk, he began to rationalise the situation. It was only going to be one night in a library. And hey, there were worse places to be locked into. In fact, when you looked at it, a library was one of the best places.
Oh dear, he thought sarcastically, I am locked in a library. However will I survive surrounded by all these books? And in this warm condition?
Wait a minute. Why was it warm? It hadnt been warm outside when hed first entered, so it could only have been central heating. But would they really leave the central heating on all night when no one was around? The only advantage to this Allik could think of was that it would be all toasty warm in the morning, and it didnt seem worth all the money that it would cost to do so.
Then again, he wasnt really complaining. If it was mysterious warmth or explainable cold, hed rather go with the former.
So he really only had myself to blame for what happened.
As he turned back to get the book he had been reading, Allik suddenly felt overcome by a mysterious force. Something was holding him into place. He struggled as hard as he could, trying desperately to free myself. No good. His legs might as well have been lead.
At this point, with a wit that Sherlock Holmes would have been envious of, Allik deduced that something strange was going on. But what? And more importantly, was it going to be good or bad?
A voice called down from above. A voice Allik recognised. Looking up, he watched as the roof was torn open, revealing a stormy sky. Lightning surged down in front of him, narrowly missing his body. Helpless, he continued watching to see a man, or at least what he thought was a man, wrapped in a white hooded cloak fly down toward him.
Impressive, Allik thought, after mentally screaming his brains out. He stared into the darkened face of the floating figure in front of him. He thought he knew the face, but it was impossible to tell under the hood.
The figure pulled back his hood to reveal his face, which confirmed Alliks suspicions.
You look just like me!
Well yeah! Why do you look like me?
Waityoure the Voice?
Butyoure about three months late. I was expecting you back in February
Youre saying I need you now?
Allik shook his head, a puzzled smile emerging on his lips. Wait a minute, slow down. I need time to take this in. Okay, youre the Voice. I get that. But why do you look like me in a rip-off Spectre costume?
I did? Yeah, that sounds like something I would think. But what do I need you for at the moment? Everythings going fine
Yes, it is. Everythings great. Couldnt be better
But if Im wrong, and youre me, then doesnt that make you wrong as well?
Swell. So, what new problem arises for our epic hero?
Well duh! I just said I thought everything was fine!
What? Whats fascinating?
No, it isnt. Not in the slightest
Yes, yes. Finding out is good. I like finding things out. Tell me! Allik shouted, frustratedly.
Yeah, one. Why pick such a clich quest? Allik asked, in a manner he thought unreasonably calm given his situation.
And with that, the Voice vanished. And so did Allik.
Bwa-ha-ha-ha! So, you thought you could beat me again, eh?
Suddenly aware of where he was, Sonic the Hedgehog lifted his head to gaze at Dr. Eggman, who was sitting in some kind of floating doomsday machine, with seven large cannons attached to its underside.
Well, Id like to see you try, fools! Eggman sneered.
You wont get away with this Eggman! Tails cried from Sonics left.
Yeah, why dont you just give up? shouted Amy from his right.
Give up? When I have the power of the Chaos Emeralds at my disposal? Never! Eggman lowered the cockpit visor. Sonic could hear the engines starting.
Sonic, weve got to take out those Chaos Cannons! Knuckles pointed towards the cannons.
No sweat! Piece of cake! Sonic smiled, and ran towards Eggmans latest weapon. He now remembered what he was doing here. Eggman had taken all the Chaos Emeralds and was using their power to generate beams of Chaos energy. Now he had to stop him before he started his assault on the world.
Well, that wouldnt be too hard. It took a long time for the Chaos Cannons to fire, and the lasers Eggman was letting loose at him now were too slow to reach him. This was too easy. Sonic jumped and spun into the barrel of cannon number one. He rode the following explosion away from the deadly robot.
Lucky hit, hedgehog! Eggman shook a fist from inside the cockpit. Sonic laughed, and came back for a second attack. Then he stopped. Suddenly he didnt feel right. He looked around as if for the first time.
Sonic, what are you doing? Get back in there! Knuckles called out.
Waitthis isnt rightIm not supposed to be here Sonic started swaying from side to side, holding his head. Im not
Sonic!! Amy, Tails and Knuckles cried. Sonic removed his hand from his head just in time to see the Chaos energy heading straight for him, and it was too late to dodge. The last thing he felt was the warm feeling of the beam as it engulfed him.
********************************************************
Optimus Primes optic sensors detected the fusion cannons beam, and leapt to the left to avoid it. He quickly stood up and returned fire. Behind him were his Autobot troops, all fighting for what he remembered to be the last time. Ahead were the Decepticons, and in front of them was the owner of the fusion cannon that had fired at him. The worst of all mechanoidsMegatron!
Your life ends here, Prime! Megatron shouted over the sound of the battle.
Megatron? Wait, Im Optimus Prime? Nothats not right
Malfunctioning Prime? Dont worry, Ill put you out of your misery! Megatron sneered, aiming his fusion cannon and firing it dead centre at Optimus.
Optimus, no! cried Jazz, as the cannons beam put a hole through the Autobot leaders body.
*****************************************************
No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!
James Bonds eyes widened, as if suddenly realising the laser was slowly rising up to cut his body in two, starting in a very painful place. He had to work fast in order to escape Goldfingers deadly device.
Wait, why was he here? How come he was tied to a board? And why couldnt he remember anything? Before he could answer his questions, the laser penetrated his body and began its long dissection of his body.
*****************************************************
EX-TER-MIN-ATE!
Who am I? What am I doing here?
It didnt matter, really. The Doctor was dead in the next second. And he wasnt going to regenerate this time.
*****************************************************
Prepare to die, Green Lantern!
Why cant I remember who I am?
The Justice League watched as Green Lantern was blown up in the vacuum of space.
********************************************************
Allik woke up on the floor of a white room. At least, he assumed it was a floor. When he looked at it, it was like gazing into infinity.
What? he quietly moaned.
Trial?
And in that instant, Allik remembered. He remembered his body changing, his mind altering so that he thought he was someone else, and how wrong it felt being that person.
How could I pass? I died every time
What was the point of it?
Couldnt I take a quick break?
Cute so far. ^^
I'll wait until you're done for the rest of my comments. 😉
When Allik came to, he found himself back at the library. Everything looked exactly as it had been before he left, except it was daytime now. Allik had to shield his eyes from the almost blinding brightness of the sun.
"What am I doing back here?" he asked drowsily. "I thought I still had two trials to go"
He rose from the table he had been lying on and shook his head to attention.
"Unless...was it just a dream?"
He had to admit, it was very probable. But it had felt so real. Then again, how could it have been? Since when did hooded dopplegangers drop out of the ceiling and send you on crazy quests? Things like that didn't happen in real life, or at least not to sane people.
His eyes now adjusted to the new light level, Allik headed towards the door and gave it an experimental pull. It swung open with ease, letting in a cool, refreshing breeze. He smiled. This would teach him never to get locked in a library again. Psychadelic dream sequences could ensue.
Well, it was time to go home. Goodness knows he was about twelve hours late.
"Hi Allik" called someone to him as he walked down the street. Allik called back before realising that he didn't know who the person was. A complete stranger saying hi to him in the street. That was new.
"How's it going Allik?" someone else asked as he continued on his way home.
"Fine thanks" Allik answered, puzzled that people seemed not only to know his name but also wanted to greet him. This sure was a friendly neighbourhood, even if it was kinda unsettling.
"Hey Allik" a woman said in seductive tones as she passed him. Allik stopped dead in his tracks. People did not normally do that(as much as he wanted them to), friendly neighbourhood or no. What was with everyone today?
A young kid ran up to him. In his right hand was a pad of paper and his left a pen. "Excuse me sir, but could I have your autograph?" the young kid asked.
Caught offguard by this request, Allik nearly fell backwards in surprise. He gingerly took the pan and pad and made his signature of one of the pieces of paper. "Er, here ya go kid" he said, handing back the pad and pen.
"Wow, thanks Mr. Legend!" the kid smiled, and ran off down the street. Allik watched him go, entirely mystified by the kid's behaviour. As he saw him turn the corner, he observed a large band of what looked like journalists and camera crews come around another.
Once they sarted running towards him at impressive speed, he worked out that they really were journalists and camera crews.
"Mr. Legend, a word please?"
"How does it feel to be you, Allik?"
"What's the secret of your success Mr. Legend?"
These were only some of the phrases Allik heard from the mob of people. He beamed in delight. All this attention...it was unbelieveable.
Then his smile vanished, and his face drooped. "Oh wait, I get it now. This is the second trial, isn't it?"
The crowd, as one, showed their disagreement.
"No, I'm right. This can't be real. I don't deserve this attention. I haven't done anything worthy of it"
There was a loud outcry of responses implying that the crowd didn't agree.
"Give it up Voice. I'm not falling for it anymore"
The crowd became silent. Suddenly, the people merged into one entity, which reshaped itself to form the embodiment of the Voice.
"Why are you putting me through these things, Voice? Is it just to remind me how worthless I am?"
"Well that's the impression I'm getting!"
"Just hurry up and vanish us, will you?"
The Voice did just that.
Allik found himself back in the infinite white room. The physical incarnation of the Voice stood by his side.
"About as much as I was for the others. What is it? You going to show me what life would be like if I never existed?"
The Voice pointed forward, and instantly a hole appeared in front of them. Allik looked at the hole, and realised he was staring at himself. But not his real self. There was something a bit more upbeat about him, some kind of cheerfulness that exuded from his body.
"That's me?" he asked, pointing at the Allik in the hole.
"Oh, an alternate dimension deal" Allik sighed in relief. "Yeah, I know about those. So what could've made me him?"
"Is that supposed to be a dig at me?" Allik asked, frowning.
The Voice raised its hands, and what seemed like infinite holes appeared around them, floating through thin air. Allik looked around, viewing the various realities.
"Wow. These are all me in another universe?"
The Voice pointed out an Allik brandishing a knife and staring murderously out of a window. Allik looked away quickly.
Allik saw himself in an expensive suit, sitting in a chair surrounded by money.
Allik felt himself floating from what he had thought to be the ground His newfound flight allowed him free rign to discover the other hims. It was incredible seeing what he might have become given the chance.
One hole showed a female version of himself. Another showed him in a padded cell wearing a straitjacket. Yet another showed him riding a giant mech.
One particularly strange hole, shaped more like a mirror frame, saw him as a human teenager sitting at a computer. Long curly hair, straggly beard, a little overweight. Not the ideal version of himself.
Eventually he settles back down by the Voice.
"Well what?" Allik asked.
"Huh?"
"Really?" Allik stroked his lip with his finger. A chance to change himself, eh?
Allik thought. He thought, pondered, wondered and considered. He floated in thought for quite some time. Then he spoke.
"No thanks"
"I don't accept your offer. I don't want to change myself. I'm happy just being me"
"Positive" Allik nodded. "Besides, if this is the third trial, then there's no other answer I can give to pass it"
"I've worked it out. All these trials have been about knowing who I am, and the life I lead. About acceptance. So if I'm to pass this one, I need to stick to who I am. And I will"
The holes in reality disappeared at once. The Voice smiled.
"Yeah, I figured it out, but there's one thing I still don't know. Just what are you anyway?" Allik pointed at the Voice.
"Wait, if you knew I would pass, why did you put me through it?" Allik asked.
The Voice levitated before Allik.
A blinding flash of light eminated from the Voice.
Everything faded to white, and then black.
Allik woke up back in the library, just as the Voice had predicted. A librarian had arrived for work, but must not have seen him when she came in. Or, more likely, she had ignored him. Allik smiled. This really was reality.
Picking himself up from the floor, he walked over to the doors and pulled them open. Like in the second trial, it was bright outside, with a cool breeze blowing. He walked out of the library, a big stupid-looking grin on his face. He decided that the occasion needed a tune, but couldn't think of anything appropriate. He wanted to sing Frank Sinatra's 'That's life', but didn't know the words. Finally, he thought of something that would fit the mood.
"When darkness falls, leaving shadows in the night, don't be afraid, wipe that fear from your eyes. If a desperate love, keeps on driving you wrong, don't be afraid, you're not alone"
Perfect, he thought, as he made his way home.
"You can run with us, we've got everything you need. Run with us, we are free. Come with us, I see passion in your eyes, run with us" he sang, as he set off for a new, happier life.
Well guys and dolls, it finally happened. I actually reached my kilopost, and it only took me three years, three months and a day (yes, I have been counting). If I'm lucky, that's some sort of record, and I can get some sort of prize. Like maybe a commemorative cushion?
Well, now that that's over with, I can enjoy the benefits of being a kiloposter. Wait, there are no benefits, are there? Drat. Then I'll do what I always did. Enjoy you crazy people make discussion and occasionally join in.
Now that you've read the kilopost, maybe you would like to leave a note of congratulations, or offer me your ETERNAL SOUL! Just the first one would do.
Oh, and if you read this far, congraturations! A winner is you! Give yourself a prize (but hands off my commemorative cushion!)
Nice story. Despite chats I have with certain ppl, I'm rather attached to my soul so you definitely won't get the latter.
Congratulations, Allik ^_^ **hands over a box of french fries**
As for my own prize, **magically receives all Knuckles plushies that Darkest Light had stolen**
