Chapter 25: Painful Sorrow...Happiness awaits.

As the heroes raced up to find what had became of Joshua, he was still standing, but he seemed to be shaking. His body continued to crackle. Excess energy flickered around Joshua's body, before he fell to his knees.

"You idiot! You used all of your power! Be thankful you're still...huh?!" Toxic stammered.

Small explosions erupted around Joshua. His legs began to turn grey, then into stone. He stopped shaking, before looking at everyone that was around him. A small amount of blood was trickling down his shirt, before waist had been enveloped in stone.

"Joshua! You're...What's happening to you?!" David yelled.

Joshua let out a small groan of pain, before his chest was covered with rock. He turned his head.

"The...The power of the Gameboy Crystals...has been exposed to my body...for too long...it was unavoidable this was going to happen...In a few minutes, I'll be nothing more than a cold, dead rock. Ah....Argh!" Joshua groaned.

Zac tried to cast a healing spell, but was restrained by Eiko.

"He...He knew, Zac. There's nothing we can do. This was his choice..."

"Eiko...Adis...Everyone......" Joshua started.

"See ya..."

His body finished it's transformation. A life-like statue of Joshua stood there for a few seconds, before it simply turned into a cloud of sparkling dust, blown away by the wind...

-Joshua's Mind-

>It seems I'm here...again. I'm not really surprised though. This outcome was going to happen regardless of what I done. Maybe it's time for me to...have eternal rest...This dimension is
free...even though it may take some time to rebuild the shattered lifes...they won't need me. I think...I can die without any regrets...< Joshua sighed, slowly closing his eyes.

"Wait! You can't sleep yet!" a voice called.

From the darkness, a small veil of light shone done before Joshua. Small stars floated around it, before he found himself looking at Rachel's face, beaming happily at him. She wrapped her arms around him and let out a cheer.

"You've managed to come so far...yet you want to die? Do you really want to be with me that much....? Joshua...I know you may have absorbed the power of the Gameboy Crystals, but it isn't over yet. You're still alive. Otherwise, this place wouldn't exist. This is your concioussness. Though it appears you to be you may have lost your body... it is still intact. The emotions of your friends is what is keeping you alive...Amazing..isn't it? The energy you thought would kill you, ended up saving your life instead." Rachel laughed.

Joshua turned away and looked around in the void. Large video imagaes displayed his memories of what had happened up until now. He felt kind of relieved to know he was still alive, plus knowing that his friends were still in his mind...and heart. Looking around some more, he saw images of his Great, Great, Great Grandfather, Sir Johnathan Lightwalker. He looked like he was at least 30, probably forty and had black, spiky hair. His eyes were a light blue, with a shaven beard. His armor was almost identical to Joshua's and he held his sword in his left hand.

>He seems so different from me...He was a great hero, huh...? Rachel...Why is this all re-occuring? Why is it showing me things of the past that I haven't seen? Rachel? RACHEL! Where are you?!<

A demonic figure, about Joshua's height floated down before him, drawing a sword. His laughter echoed through Joshua's mind...The Dark One...

>He still must exist in some part of my memories! I've got to stop him from getting back too much power. Dark One, you will not control me for anything. I made a promise...I am going to keep it...and you won't stop me!< Joshua yelled.

The Dark One simply lashed forward with his sword, making Joshua float to the left to avoid it. A quick series of weak slashes followed, beginning to build up the damage on Joshua. He began to find his t-shirt ripped, and another attack caught him off guard, creating a large scar down Joshua's side. Blood began to flow from the wound slowly, but it remained motionless, staying in the same spot in mid-air.

>Huh....My body....something's...happening...< Joshua murmered.

The bright aura surrounded his body, lighting up the sub-dimension. He faced the Dark One, to find half of his face was missing. His skull was worn out by the ravages of time, his visible eye span around in it's bloody socket, causing Joshua to feel a bit ill. Quickly doing something on instinct, he grabbed his swords and stabbed them straight through his foe's eyes. A loud, furious scream could be heard, as a large vaccum appeared, sucking The Dark One...straight to Hell...

Joshua floated down to the ground, his body still bleeding, hoping to find some sign of Rachel. She was here before...The Dark One appeared. Racing through the entire room, he found no sign of her...He sat down, saddened at his failure...

"I'm always with you...I'm...watching you...forever, Joshua. We'll see each over again...I promise." Rachel called.

Joshua span around, to find Rachel ascending into the air, waving while smiling happily. Tears streamed down her eyes as she slowly vanished into a cascade of twinkling stars. Joshua stood there, wiping some tears from his eyes, before everything went white around him. He began to float in mid-air, before he vanished.

"I'll see you again, Rachel. It's a promise...that I make to you..." Joshua whispered.

On Mobius...

As everyone left back to celebrate and mourn Joshua's passing, a star flew down from the heavens. To everyone's surprise, it changed shape, before Joshua re-appeared, standing before them. They all stared, like they had seen a ghost.

"Hey."

Seb and Zac simply stood there, slightly shocked, while Eiko and Adis ran up to him, hugging and crying at the same time. A few explanations later, they all began to walk back to the main city of Mobius, Station Square: Beta. As they did, Eiko decided to ask a question.

"So, Joshua. You've decided who you like more? Me, or that girl over there?" Eiko asked slyly.

"Hey! The 'girl' has a name, you silly teenager! Besides, I think he..." Adis started.

Joshua turned around for a few seconds, sighed and then a smile crept across his face.

"If you wanna know, you'll have to catch me first!" he mocked, before he raced off into the distance at top speed. Everyone raced after him, trying to catch up, laughing all the while. Things seemed to be back to normal at last. The Video Dimension was at peace once again. A truce had been signed against both The Forces of Light and Dark, ending all battles between them. Hopefully, the dimension should be able to thrive...

As the day finally ended, a starry sky spread across the horizon, for all to see. Fireworks exploded in bright colors, signaling the start of a new age...and this ends our story...for now. Our heroes have still got much to do to rebuild the Video Dimension...