Free: Heart of the Sixth Magic! フリー!第六魔法のハート
-Book 1: Hidden Illusions 隠し錯視-
-Book 2: Forbidden Covenant 禁断コヴナント-
-Book 3: The Last Legend ザラストレジェンド- (You are here)
Author's Note and Guide:
Welcome my friends and fellow readers! Can you just believe that we are on the finale? What started out as two fan-fics (Memories of the Sea and The Last Race) of the Swimming Gods expanded to five more amazing, sexy, fanservicey, and yet badass adventures of our favorite swimming gang!
However, I must give you a word of warning, this story is not like the others...for there are some "possible, controversial" material that are sensitive. This was NOT meant to point fingers at anybody but rather to show you a "darker" side of the storyline.
This particular trilogy was to express some personal issues that "Alex" had in his personal life as well as the interactions of other people that he has encountered. If you noticed closely, this "Alex" is actually the same person who is writing this story. (Yes, I am this "Alex" and I did a "self-insertion" to the series). Although it's not the case that I am reincarnated in real life (I wonder how badass I would be with a sword like that), LOL, but it was quite an experiment to see what it was like to be a "swimming homo" and all of that.
But most importantly, I tried to make sure that the storyline was still centered on our lovely five: Haruka, Makoto, Rin, Nagisa, and Rei for it is they that they have destroyed the "Time Loop" and that mess and created this "Time Continuum" so mankind can continue to live on in a forward timeline. I hope you all can at least appreciate on what has been happening up to this point of the storyline.
This finale story however, is not only just to compete the trilogy but to also express some "real-life" themes and concerns such as bullying, trust, bonding as well as "Life, Death, and Rebirth" (Keep those three ideals in mind as you read). This story may change your views about this fan-fiction for the better or for the worse. I cannot guarantee on the outcome of this because of these "certain topics" that will show up a couple of times.
But do not fear, there are still SHIPS and PAIRINGS so be at ease. You will still have your fun, typical fan-service as promised but be prepared to read this story with maturity and understanding because this is NOT like the other fan-fics that you have read up to this point. There will be some really shocking twists and revelations that none of you readers can even IMAGINE.
Oh and by the way, if you had ignored the warnings about not reading the other stories, be prepared to get confused and lost because everything that was in the previous stories will finally come together in place in this grande finale! However, you still can access them on my homepage so don't be afraid to look back and review what has gone before.
With no further ado, I shall now present to you all the DEFINITIVE FINALE of my Free! Iwatobi Swim Club Fan-Fic Series: the Free! Iwatobi Suiei Gods Saga!..."The Last Legend" (ザラストレジェンド)
With love and all-due respect,
~AveraxMagna
Prologue: 悪のルーツ...The Roots of Evil…
What do you believe defines a person? It's not about the flesh and blood that everyone has on the outside…but yes, it is a part of what humans are. However…
What I am looking for is something further beneath the surface…a person's true character.
Can a person be defined by hereditary traits? Or is it their emotions through their upbringing?
Does nature define you…or does nurture decide? I suggest we try a little experiment…
Flashback: Lander Elementary School
Alex hid behind the equipment in the gymnasium as he tried to avoid getting hit by the dodge balls. He had no desire to play such a game because he had heard enough bad stories of this, not to mention that he only enjoyed the water.
How much longer I can live like this, he thought as he cried to himself.
Eventually he was dragged away from the situation and was brought back to the classroom for questioning on his lack of participation in gym class. Despite this, he cared for work, his grades, and trying to outsmart many of his classmates in order to prove his value.
Until one day…
"Mamma," said Alex, whilst watching the swimmers at the Olympics on TV, "I liked how those people jumped into the water…"
"Ah so you like to learn how to swim?" she asked.
"That would really be cool!" he smiled, "Because, the water is more peaceful than dodge balls flying around."
"You know, there is someone from Cleveland that is a famous swimmer," she answered, "And she won a gold medal in the Olympics."
"Really!? Who!?" asked the boy, wondering about who would this person is.
Days Later...
"Wow!" said Alex's father, looking at the permission slip, "A trip to the Rockwell Automation? That's engineering there!"
"Yeah, apparently, there are four other students that won the trip to this place…as a field trip," smiled Alex, "It'll be quite a nice time. It's not far from the school."
"It is a unique place indeed," said the mother, "We'll get you to go there."
Alex giggled with excitement. He remembered that he was "nominated" back in the winter awards ceremony but didn't won the trip. However, this time, for the "Spring" awards ceremony, he did and he was going on a field trip with four other students.
I wonder if I can handle with these other people, thought Alex.
Days after, Alex went on a day-trip with a selective group of students on such a trip to this fancy, futuristic place that deals with various engineering technologies such as biological, robotic, mechanical and more. The Rockwell Automation was home to the largest automation in the world where products from Allen-Bradley and Rockwell Software brought advancement in innovation.
The five boys were taken on an all-day tour as they explored the place with two adults who guided them around. They got to see the meeting halls, the engineering chambers as well as the products room and other offices. It was quite a sight to see the past and the future-styles together as one.
During lunch, the five students sat in a cafeteria while Alex sat alone. However, one of the other boys turned to see him and got up to join him.
"So you must be Sandro," said a young boy as he sat down across from him.
"Yes I am…and who might you be?" asked Alex.
"Taylor," said the other boy, smiling, "You used to play Wall-ball with us a few times remember? You're not too bad…but you seemed a bit…odd?"
"Oh um, I'm just…different, I guess," shrugged Alex, "I just don't always follow the conformity."
"Well I like that," smiled Taylor while he ate his sandwich, "I guess it makes you unique unlike the others."
"I'm more of a swimmer actually," said Alex as he took a sip of his water.
"Oh? Well no wonder you're so unique," laughed the other boy with a smile, "So you can swim all of the strokes?"
"I guess so," blushed Alex, "I'm still in training but I'm enjoying it."
"So then, have you gone to this summer camp program called Sports n More?" asked Taylor, "We got swimming and other sports there."
"Well I have told my parents about the flyer and they might allow me to go," he answered, "I just don't know how much I'll fit in but I guess it's worth a shot."
"Well one thing for sure is that we do a lot of swimming, so I think it'll be fun," smiled the other boy, "You should join!"
It was from that single moment of curiosity that these two would be enemies…enemies that would last almost the entire days of their middle school times. A battle between these two powers played their parts in various, appropriate times such as prank wars and other shouting matches as well as intramural games.
Alex would never forget that he would try to play intramurals in order to prove himself that even though his specialty was swimming, he could still play decent in other sports when the odds were in his favor. However, it led him into nightmares of memories and haunted visions that would forever cursed him…
This kid, who at first appeared to be warm…just grew jealously over Alex and provoked him with his allies on how weak he was at other sports and not being like them and all of that. Sometimes in school, he would pretend to be his friend when it was all just an act but even Alex knew better than that.
The war continued during the camp seasons when Alex and some of his classmates that joined him formed a team that vowed to stay together and made sure that despite their lack of athletic abilities, they would find a way to defeat their opponents once and for all. But in the end, it was all about taking some money away…
But the scars of bullying would never leave the poor boy…whether it was a year, 5 years, 10 years, or even 50 years...in his heart, Alex wished he could have avoided that day when he wanted to go to that place…but at the same time, it led him to many different events that he would have never dreamed of.
However...what happened to this "Taylor"...will forever be a mystery.
Years Later…
Alex packed his bags up as he looked at his brother and his parents. He had selected to go to California to study and live out on his own. However, he had to find a job there as soon as possible since he didn't had much money to start with.
"Are you certain about this?" asked the mother.
"I'm sure," he answered, "None of the colleges here have what I want to study."
They took him to the airport where he traveled out west to L.A., California. However, he had already registered for the classes, the payment plans, loans, etc.
It's gonna be a long ride, thought Alex, both to pay for the trip, and college itself.
He waved a goodbye to his family before going through the lines of the airport. He wondered to himself on what would life be in a different area of the country. The furthest west he ever went to was Phoenix, Arizona where his grandparents lived.
After arriving at the L.A.X, he looked at the specific address that he received from the email as he took a taxi to the campus. The Santa Monica State University was located in the heart of the city as the hills scattered around. There were at least several different shopping plazas with the houses scattered around.
He arrived at the dorms after he went through the registration but had a lot to settle in. However, he was not in the mood to completely unpack everything so he made sure to lock the door to his dorm and took his key.
Terran Nost, Main Headquarters
"He's finally here," said Cassi as she looked over the cameras.
"I see," replied Leon as he looked over the tablet, "The young prince has finally made it."
"What will happen from here?" asked the secretary.
"He'll need a place to live at…on his own…let us prepare for that," he replied as he got up and the two walked to the computer chambers but went through a secret door where it led to a small shrine with a silver sphere floating over.
"Let us grant him…a wish," said Leon as he stared at the sphere, "Right…witch?"
Alex walked through town as he saw through the TVs about a big lottery going on tonight. He walked up to a small shop and paid for a one-dollar ticket with a set of numbers down.
Yeah right, he thought, what are the odds that I'll win?
He returned to his dorm later that night and placed the ticket by the computer.
I do hope for a miracle though, he thought, I want to bring my family out here…
It was when he woke the next morning that the unexpected happened. However, with the miracle of him winning the ticket, he was given a phone call from a student on the campus that there was a house that was on sale which was located right by the beach. At first the boy wondered if it was a trap but he later found out that it was legitimately true.
Amazing, he thought as he looked at his new home before him, at least I don't have to start my year off at a dorm.
He turned to Nikon and said, "Well thanks a lot. I'm grateful to be here."
"I'll help you get through your semester, okay?" asked Nikon, "There's a lot in this town and at campus that you need to know."
"Sure thing!" he smiled.
Is he the one, thought Nikon as he recalled what Leon told him, will he bring change to this world?
Months Later:
"Are you sure?" asked Leon, worried.
"I am," said Cassi, "They're on their way to sabotage the city."
"Our friends in Pittsburgh will have to get them to safety," replied the headmaster as he made a phone call to the Terran Nost of Pittsburgh, hoping that it's not all too late.
Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Sergi sat on the swings while the mother was planting the garden; it had been several years since the family had a beautiful garden as the boys used to remember growing pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables and fruits.
However, he could only watch and wonder as the mother planted the seeds that would hopefully grow by the next summer.
"Sergi," called the mother, "Can you go fill this up with water?"
The boy got up and rushed over, took the pitcher and looked at the pipes before turning it on as the water poured in. He wasn't as great in terms of doing tasks like this but he giggled to himself. His non-verbal several Autism has set a long-term barrier between him and his family but he can somewhat obey orders and do favors.
The mother looked up at the skies and noticed it was getting darker...rather at quite a rapid pace.
"Honey, let's go inside," she said as they got in the house while the father drove in and and ran into the house. He was breathing rapidly in horror from what he was seeing earlier while driving.
"What's the matter?" she asked, "Honey? What's wrong?!"
"We have to get out of here!" he cried out, "We're no longer safe!"
"What? What's going on?" asked the mother when they heard loud booming from the outside.
They rushed to the windows and saw a nightmare coming to life; shadow blasts of energy struck several houses to shards while gigantic monster-like beings were eating the people. There was a knock on the door but they were too scared to open it.
Fires exploded out, humans were crushed, eaten, and torn open as the beasts charged their way into town while several hooded beings in dark cloaks watched their project unfold.
"Without that boy, this town is sure to fall," said one of the beings.
"Yes…that powerful one…has left this place, allowing this to end," hissed another.
"It's his fault for making us what we have become!" agreed another, "I cannot wait to see this place in ruins!"
The inhabitants of the area fled for their lives, screaming in panic as the monsters chased after them, feeding their bodies and blood and turning them to mush. Blood splattered everywhere; bones cracked and organs squashed and torn.
It was like a feeding ground all of a sudden as the shadowed beings unleashed more dark magic, wasting the city into ruins.
"Not even the Suiei Gods have come to this place," hissed one of the shadowed beings, "how sad…it would have been quite a way to end their legend..."
Sergi and his parents stood together in fear as they heard the door knocked down but it was a group of men and women with a helicopter soaring above the house.
"Please hurry and follow us," said the man as he extended his hand out, "We have shelter for you all."
"But what about the house here?" asked the mother.
"I'm afraid Mrs. Marotta, that this house may not even survive," said the woman, "Please hurry and leave with us."
The three followed the group as they climbed up the ladder to the helicopter as the city of Mayfield was nothing more than ruins, the fires, and monsters before them. The helicopter soared to the east where the family was taken in and rested with members of the Terran Nost who informed them about their older son's life in California and how they will be eventually moving there while they would settle the payments for them.
It would take several months for them until Alex went to Japan when they finally moved out and were taken to the new home in Santa Monica district of Los Angeles.
However, this journey was not over…for them or the others…as a long-awaited battle begins with the Suiei Gods…and this new enemy…has a name…a horrifying name…the Shadow Mafia!
Chapters 1, 2 and 3 will be released on January 2014! (TRIPLE CHAPTER UPDATE!)
Not sure if it'll be on New Years Day or the 8th. ^_^;;
But stay tuned on my tumblr blog (the-golden-demigod) for updates!
And stay tuned for the finale chapters of Book 2: Forbidden Covenant on December 30, 2013!