EXCULPATE'S REMOVAL

Path to Radiance - Route E-12

Exculpate the Blaster

First comes the worst, and Exculpate took leaving the worst out of the three. She knew her allies pretty well, and it's hard to leave a place where you thought you belonged. There were no words that could possibly ever explain how she truly felt, but as her interpreter, it was only logical to try.

The time had come, and the time was too soon. Exculpate's work had truly just began, as she'd gotten the trust of many an Aichi, and was even about to find her vanguard, that long ago… she departed from. Her own Aichi went missing, and since then the quest to find him was on. Kai was important to her, yes… but he had vanished as well. In a way, it was almost as if she were searching for two vanguards at once. She wanted to apologize to both of them when she could, and make up for lost time. She wanted to see the Aichi of the original timeline grow up, and to help him in times of need… since, after all, she wasn't there to just idly sit around and do nothing. It wasn't in her character, and she wasn't about to get lazy now of all times.

Although… what she came there for in the first place… was for Blaster Blade Liberator. She was to help him grow up as well, to unlock the hidden potential within him. As a Gold Paladin, he was very strong. His relationship with the original Alfred in his timeline were strong enough to be brothers for life, not as romantic as it was awe-inspiring. He had become Blaster Blade Seeker, and finally had gotten back to where he belonged- in the Royal Paladins. Things had been finally looking up. Link Joker wasn't around anymore, and reconstruction started in several hard-hit areas, especially in the Royal Paladins' land. It was very lucky that Citadel Victoire wasn't hit too badly, since the Pure-heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei, was not there at the time of reversal. Fortunately, she was unversed by Blaster Blade Liberator… which instilled a hope even further in her that he would grow to be a fine knight. She had, in her own spare time, been talking to everyone for moral support or helping construction when she was able and not hospitalized- she owed the life she had now to the Royal Paladins and Alfred. It was the least she could do.

Yet, something was amiss. It was a troubling feeling in Exculpate's heart. Something that she would have never guessed possible, not in any of her most terrifying nightmares… but regardless of the near-impossibility that claimed her thoughts… it came to life. Her current vanguard, known as Shine… was on the verge of non-existence, and since avatars weren't able to clearly speak to one without psyqualia very well, all she could do was watch her… though she wasn't one to idly stand by. Action had to be taken… and any way she could, she was going to get to the bottom of the occurrence.

Through her connection with Blaster Blade Seeker, she tried communicating with him. The line was open, but no answer. Not one. She waited… waited… for hours, nothing was said to her, but to others… he had been ignoring her? Why? This was drastically important, and he wasn't even giving her an inch, not even a little information. This hadn't happened before… whenever there were issues, they would always talk it out. Did he not need her anymore? Were his true colors… finally showing?

Then, catastrophe struck. Her vanguard was planning to sever the connections she had, with nearly everyone. It was plea for help in disguise, ignored… by the ones she had even cared about the most. Blaster Blade Liberator… Aichi… nobody? Not even a word to be said? As much as she called out to them, nothing. This was the first time Exculpate had ever lost a sliver of hope in humanity. Not even Phantom Blaster Dragon had ever that much harm, and he had killed Alfred. The love of her life. Now, her vanguard would soon cease to exist as well, a taboo that was very unforgivable.

The ever-vigilant blaster was listening for any hints, until she heard something that made her go into shock. It was more than pain, it was.. appalling. Her vanguard had tried to open her heart out, even a little, just to get silence. Exculpate tried to communicate somehow, but… silence. She couldn't help but feel such pity, such sadness… was this the place where she belonged? Where others would do her vanguard wrong?

No. It wasn't. Day in and day out she could hear nothing but the tears and agony of her vanguard, knowing that it wasn't the place for her, and after all that time, all of the bonds she'd made over time had gotten severed. This meant that soon she would find herself back in the alternate universe as well. It wasn't as important as trying to bring her vanguard back to the light from the tainted darkness corrupting her, but she would only always do her very best to try.

Exculpate's card glowed faintly, having been abandoned in the room of her vanguard for quite sometime. At first, there was no response at all… but ever so slowly, she seemed to be coming back to the calming light more and more, much to Exculpate's relief. It was a relief to know that she was going to be alright. Internally, her vanguard wasn't alright. That was the one thing she'd failed to notice.

Her vanguard's time of tears had been over, but Exculpate's time was just beginning. She had every intention to ask why such a thing happened, why nothing was done. Approaching him… was not difficult, but a few meters from him, in nearly an instant, she felt herself being destroyed from the inside out. Feeling split in two as she collapsed to the ground, the crystals on her armor started to shine brightly. This meant that Nouvelle's power had either been tampered with, or, or… he no longer needed her. Gasping for air, she could only stare blankly in his direction. "Ames… why?" With only a small breath, her body faded into light. Her last sight was of Blaster Blade Liberator.

—-

The nothingness of space… that was where Exculpate was drifting at. A sharp feeling ran through her mind, her vanguard was no longer on the mortal plane. It was awful… to lose everything all at once. Why did things have to happen this way? It could have all been averted. Before she could gather another though, the portal of space and time opened up back to where she originally was after a while of drifting. It flung her back to the point where she left, to the ground; the time had not changed at all. There was a serene breeze flowing through the area that was nearing nightfall, but the area itself was not fitting to the darker mood she found growing within her. Even the strongest of warriors have their limits too…

—-

Slowly rising up and rubbing her head from the sudden impact, she looked around her. Yet, it hit her like a dump truck when she got to her knees, looking at the ground. No… no, no! Exculpate pounded the ground hard, tears streaming out of her face. She was having a mental breakdown. Why did it have to happen now? Why was this happening? She looked up at where Nouvelle would be… the altar of Kagero's highest mountain, unable to hold her feelings back any longer. The grass was wet with her tears from her red eyes- even more red from the constant crying. She would never have the answer, and she would never see anyone on the other side again. That universe was bound to perish eventually, because of this. THIS universe was going to collapse at some point! Crying out to the sky as she looked upwards, a croaking voice mixed with a violent gasp, she shouted his name. "…Nouvelle!"

Only the chosen ones could summon the god-dragon, the transcendent Nouvelle. Exculpate was one of those people… because he was the only one to ever defeat her in combat. He looked at Exculpate, a stern face that hid his very emotion… as always. The fact that the separation hurt her this badly… even though she was the United Sanctuary's strongest warrior… she was reduced to crying on the ground like a child. He couldn't help but pity the poor blaster. "This was how it had to be. Exculpate the Blaster, ever since it began, we both knew that eventually you would have to come back."

"What about my alternate self?! I was supposed to help him become stronger, like myself, so he could shine… so he could become more than what he was before!" She gasped between sobs, still pounding the ground as she spoke. "But my vanguard no longer exists, and I can't go back to that… because not only have I lost trust in them, my vanguard is GONE!"she weakly banged her fist against the ground, the loud sobbing reverberating even in the high grasslands of Kagero's peak. The fact that her alternate was capable of something like that… and she would never know why it happened.

"He is on his own now. It is your vanguard who snapped the connection, and therefore, I have nothing to say for it. I am truly sorry, Exculpate. I only wish you could have stayed as well. You lost Alfred, and now your alternate and your third vanguard… I can feel your pain. Take all the time you need, dear blaster of light. The repercussions of this I knew would be severe, so relax. It's over now… it's all over. We will start anew, even without the other universe. We will survive. The cycle goes on, and all we are able to do is move forward…"

Exculpate sniffled, slowly getting up and holding herself, eyes dilated much like a psychopath's would be. The pain came back in waves, attacking her heart like a piercing lance. To make matters worse, Phantom Blaster Dragon's spirit was constantly assailing her. Before all of this happened, she had nightmares. Nightmares of his revival. If he revived, the universe was surely doomed. How could she defeat him twice? There was so much placed on her, even now. "We will… survive… won't we?"

She genuinely wanted to believe it. Nouvelle nodded silently, and kneeled next to her, putting a claw on her shoulder. "We will. I promise. Not one tear shed will be unavenged, and not one cry will fail to have purpose. The United Sanctuary needs you back, and will welcome you with open arms. After all, you are OUR Blaster Blade, and you always will be. One of your dreams will soon come true. It is only a matter of time and patience. You aren't alone, we are with you."

His words calmed her down just slightly. It was always reassuring to know that at least someone was on her side, and that she did have a family to go back to. She had a past vanguard, even if it wasn't Aichi, even if it wasn't Kai. What if she wasn't completely gone? The hope was still there. Perhaps even if her light dimmed out, the internal light she possessed that drew the two to each other in the first place would remain eternal. She had friends here, too. Maybe she didn't have Alfred… but one day, in the distant future… she saw herself with him again. Was it only in her mind? The questioning echoed in her head, as she looked off the top of the mountain. The breeze was fierce, whipping her hair back and forth as Nouvelle looked on as well. The moon was starting to rise, a glimmer going across the entirety of the area as they both stared off. Exculpate powered down to Blaster Blade, the power leaving her for now… but right then, it didn't matter.

They would survive, no matter what.