Aqua the Vaporeon Chapter 21

(Aqua's POV)
When the guard finally woke up, Knuckles managed to scare the information out of him. I learned two things. One, this army Sally was talking about went to a beach half a mile away from New Mobotropolis. Two, they took Espio with them. We tried to get more information out of him, but he refused. Even when Knuckles threatened to break his legs, he still refused to answer. "I will never betray the Queen of Black Tears! NEVER!" he yelled. "Even if you torture me until I bleed, I will remain silent." Soon after he said that, Knuckles punched him in the side of the head and knocked him out cold. "We know where they are now. We need to get going if we're going to save Espio." Knuckles said. Everyone agreed and we all managed to sneak out of the city. We figured if we defeat this queen, then they would all clear out of the city. 'I hope Espio's okay.' I thought to myself. 'Those words he said to me before I was taken away... please Espio, please be okay."

(Espio's POV)
The Gravedigger came up to Aqua with the chalice. It was filled with black tears, ready for me to drink. No matter how hard I struggled to break free, the black sap from the tree held both my hands and feet in place. Aqua gently took the chalice and came towards me. She held the chalice up to my face, but I turned my head away. "Please Espio," she said. "don't resist. Isn't this what you want? Isn't this what your friends fought for? No wars, no murders-" "NO MURDERS!!?" I yelled facing her. Aqua suddenly had a concerned look on her face. "What this sea is going to do to millions of people, YOU DON'T CALL THAT MURDER?!!"

Soon, some of the Gravediggers came up to me and held my head in place. "It's not murder if they will be alive. They'll be reborn Espio, reborn into the people that should have been here in the first place." Aqua said, slowly raising the chalice towards my mouth. I tried to close my mouth, but the Gravediggers held it wide open. I closed my eyes, seeing the Aqua I used to know. The Aqua I loved. 'Aqua,' I thought. 'I wish I could see you again, the real you. Even if it's only for a moment. Your beautiful face, your smile, and to hear your wonderful voice. Aqua...' I felt my tears ready to burst out like water from a dam. 'Aqua, I love you so much.'

"ESPIOOOOOO!"

(Aqua's POV)
When we got to the beach, I saw them. It was the army Sally was talking about. She said they called themselves 'Drowning Doom'. They were all looking at something. "Sally, hand me the binoculars." I said. When I looked through the binoculars, I saw something that shook me down to the core. I saw... me. She was wearing odd clothing, as if there were tiny little streams of black water rushing across her body. Her fur was a darker blue compared to mine. 'That's why everyone thought I betrayed them!' I thought. I saw that she was holding something in her hands. It looked like a cup of some type. I looked over to the right and saw something that terrified me so much, I thought my knees were going to go out. There I saw Espio, tied to a dead-looking tree with two guys holding his head upwards. "Oh my! Look!" It was Bunnie Rabbot who said that. She pointed towards the ocean and we all gasped in shock The entire ocean was completely black. 'No!' I thought. 'Wait, what is that cup filled with!?' And with that thought I looked through the binoculars again. I saw that the other me was getting closer to Espio with it. "Everyone!" I exclaimed. "Espio's in danger! We need to get to him now!" And with that, we all began running towards Drowning Doom. When I got closer, I saw the cup was just an inch away from his lips. With my powers, I instantly created two whips from my hands. "ESPIOOOOOO!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. That certainly got the army's attention.

I had to get to Espio. If I didn't get to him in time, he would be a part of Drowning Doom!