The groups soon arrived inside of the office of Fortuna Entertainment as they looked around in awe.
"Ah. Smell that? The smell of idols, entertainment...and cold hard cash." Vector said.
"Of course your ideals would be on money." Espio said.
"Hey, money is the most needed thing in the world. It pays for food, clothes...and paying off debts to pissed off mafia men." Vector said.
"I don't even want to know about that last one." Sheena said.
"You're probably in better legal shape if you don't." Vector said.
"Hard to believe it. We're standing in the same room all idols have stood in before becoming famous." Rarity said.
"Yep. Seems monumental." David said looking at posters of the latest hit songs, shows, and movies.
"And pretty soon, some of you guys will be standing with them as real stars." Viola said.
"Yeah. We're gonna be real stars." Sonata said.
"Although, we might need some proper training for that to happen." Ming said.
"Ugh, you adventurer guys always gotta put a damper on the mood. You just gotta go with it." Natsu said.
"We're just stating facts, dude." David said.
"Speaking of which, I've heard there's a Kurono/Tsurugi joint concert coming up." Scott said. "It might be a good opportunity to convey in different styles."
"Oh, the best part hasn't even been shown yet." Touma said opening the blue door on the other side revealing a grass floor and a large tree.
"What...is this place?" Maka asked.
"The Bloom Palace. It's a place for Mirage Masters." Touma said.
"This place...there is something about it that makes me feel nostalgic." Chrom said appearing as did Caeda.
"Yes. For me as well. I wonder why that is." Caeda said.
"Caeda! Where have you been?" Tsubasa asked.
"She's been with you all this time. Same with Chrom and Itsuki. You just couldn't see them outside the Idolsphere." Touma said.
"Ah, that makes sense." David said. "After all, they cannot be seen in the real world."
"We kinda already figured that one out, Dave." Rainbow said.
"Again, stating facts." David said.
"Hey! You here, Tiki!" Touma shouted.
Sitting on the stone slate was the familiar green haired girl herself. "Oh! Touma!" she said coming over to them.
"Let's see. Green hair, dragon motif, sleeps and lazes about a lot under a tree. Yep. This is definitely Tiki." Jexi said.
"Wait, do you...know me?" Tiki asked.
"Well we have met before more than once. But, you don't remember us, do you?" Jexi asked.
"No, but I wish I did. For some reason, all Mirages have lost their memories of who they were before arriving in this age." Tiki said.
"That explains why Chrom didn't recognize us." Robin said.
"There must be something going on… This wouldn't happen naturally." David said before spotting a woman behind a pillar. "Um… How long has she been staring at us?"
"Since we got here, I'm guessing." Ramona said.
"Hey, you can come out. We won't hurt you." Hope said to the woman behind the pillar.
"So, you all finally came. It's been a long time." she said walking out as the group looked. She had long blue hair and royal clothing and wielding a sword.
"No way! Lucina!" Rainbow said charging at her.
"Yeah. Missed you too." Lucina said.
"I don't believe it. How did you…" Linkle began.
"Believe me, I wanted to rejoin for some time now. But things got in the way." Lucina said.
"I know how that feels." Hope said. "So, you've been hearing about the Trials?"
"The what? I wouldn't know about that. I haven't left this room for six months now." Lucina said.
"Lucina...how did you get here?" Erza asked.
"Well...I was patrolling Ylisse because of rumors of Risen sightings. But there were no Risen, only strange Phantoms that roamed the lands." Lucina said. "They were grabbing warriors, including my father. And taking them to strange pillars of light. When I saw the same was about to befall Tiki, I rushed in to save her. When I woke up, I was in this modern city and was found by this company."
"Hmm." Rainbow said poking Lucina.
"What are you doing?" Lucina asked.
"Just wanted to check something. She's not a Mirage." Rainbow said.
"Kind of figured that from her story." David said. "Anyway, Lucina, do you know what's been going on recently?"
"I'm afraid I know about as much as you sadly." Lucina said. "All I have been doing was training."
"I see. Forgive me for asking." David said.
"Just a question here, we can't use mirages, can we?" Rainbow asked.
"I don't think we can...at least not right now." Sectonia said.
"Yeah. It probably would've been the case if I hadn't gotten myself knocked out back there." Scott said.
"We don't need mirages. We've done fine without them so far, so they shouldn't make a difference." Celti said.
"I suppose." David said. "I'm pretty sure only a few of us would have the aptitude for it, anyway."
"None of us need it. Now, when do we get to the fun idol stuff?" Rainbow asked.
"Tomorrow. You all can just go home and rest. There will be a studio ready in Shibuya for all of you." Touma said.
"Alright." David said. "Oh, and...thanks for helping us out back there."
"Don't mention it. Just doing what any hero would." Touma said.
The groups were soon leaving and headed back to their ships before they saw a familiar blind musician.
"Well, never took you guys as entertainers." Noise said.
"Noise!" Celti said.
"Why the heck is she here?" Brook asked.
"I'm a contracted performer for Fortuna Entertainment. Same with the rest of the Rhythm Knights." Noise said.
"Somehow, I'm not surprised." David said.
"Wait, does that mean you've pretty much completed 10 worlds?" Lloyd asked.
"Oh hell yeah. Now, I'm just kicking back and rocking it out till I can blow you three fighters off the stage." Noise said.
"Well, it's going to take a while. We're not even halfway done." Zelos said.
"Oh that won't matter for long, not with the plan they got for stragglers." Noise said.
"I think we heard about that before we got here. There weren't a lot of details about it, though." Regal said.
"Because they were still being panned out. In a week, they'll introduce a new way to earn points: Team Tourney Battles." Noise said.
"Well, that was out of the blue." David said as he and Leia got their notepads.
"Basically, if a pick has five or more allies, they can challenge another pick with around the same number to a fight, both groups using points are bargaining chips. Winner takes the loser's points." Noise explained.
"Sounds kind of risky." Genis said.
"As are other kinds of gambling. It's meant to be risky." Scott said.
"Course you don't have to bet all your points, just the amount that's still needed for the opposite team." Noise said. "But if you get challenged to a fight and you refuse, you're automatically disqualified from the trials. A way to make sure you still have the same drive as when you left."
"We do. We've just been kept busy." David said. "Plus, we all have a long day tomorrow."
"Yeah. Keep telling yourself that." Noise said heading inside.
"Don't let her get to ya. Let's just get through tomorrow." Jexi said as they returned to their ships.
"Ditto." Scott said.
The next day, while Itsuki, Tsubasa, Sonata, Rarity, Titanica and Sunny were in Idol training, the rest of the group doing their own thing as Jexi, David and Hope were in Shibuya.
"So, I can only guess things are going quicker for you than they are for us, Hope." Jexi said.
"Hmm. Let's see. Battled Snagem, escorted girls, defeated evil villagers, battled Skyler and even found a legend in nature." Hope said.
"That's five. So, this is stop six for you." Jexi said.
"Yeah. Just four more after this one and I am done." Hope said. "But, hearing about that tourney thing yesterday makes me think...there is a faster way to finish."
"What would that be?" Jexi asked.
"If I were to fight against a pick with more allies, I can take their points and be done with it." Hope said.
"So, I wasn't the only one having the same thought." Jexi said.
"Sometimes, we just can't seem to stop thinking the same thing." Hope said. "Drake's been up my butt lately, so i wanna pay him a visit."
"Too bad you won't. Cause I'm battling Drake." Jexi said. "And Raz is under him. David, I'm sure you want payback against him."
"Yeah. I mean, I technically won by default because he gave up, but yeah… After what he said about Masakado, we have a bit of a score to settle." David said. "But I don't pick up some new techniques, he's going to wipe the floor with me. Nothing I used had any effect last time."
"Cause last time you were also fighting Asmodeus. He's not a normal demon, he's a demon king so it makes sense he wouldn't share the same weaknesses as most demons." Jexi said. "But be that as it may, Raz holds his own pretty good too."
"Plus Raz isn't the only one we gotta worry about. Blade and Drake are the top ones we gotta look out for." Hope said.
"But with the rate they're going, wouldn't they have 10 points already?" David asked.
"But Drake is a dragon man and has a strong sense of pride. He won't turn down a fight even if it risks his early completion." Jexi said.
David was in thought before he snapped back to reality. "Sorry. I was just thinking about Ryuji for a moment. Although, at that point, he did say he'd form a hero team of his own, so it had me wondering."
"Yeah. It's possible he predicted himself being selected and scouted those being picked to become his teammates." Jexi said.
"I suppose so." David said. "I have a feeling this lineup is about more than just eliminating the competition."
"Yes. Plus, even if one of us do fight Drake...can we stand against his new move? The one that beat Ryuji." Jexi said.
"Well, a normal person wouldn't." David said. "That attack was insane. I really thought he killed him for a minute."
"An Elite Art. A move that goes past secret. And it just absorbed your attacks and added to its power, so fighting against it isn't an option." Jexi said. "Best would be to withstand or evade."
"Yeah...seems like a tall order there." Hope said.
"But...I'll still go for it. After we're done on this world...I'm challenging Drake." Jexi said.
"Alone? Don't you want me to help?" Hope asked.
"To the tourney thing." Jexi said.
"Oh right right." Hope said.
"But the question is, who will handle the others?" David asked. "I guess it's only a matter of a test of wills."
"Especially considering we don't know who else is on it." Jexi said before they saw darkness swirling above the square in Shibuya. "That cannot be good."
"No mistaking it. An enemy Mirage!" David said.
The three of them charged towards the area where they saw a large mirage appearing as a woman with bird like wings and a horse lower half.
"Wait, that face. That's Aversa! That woman who fought under Gangrel." Jexi said.
"And from I've been getting, she's been manipulating Ayaha since she disappeared. This became very personal for Tsubasa." David said.
"Wow. How very accurate and...surprisingly predicted before we saw the whole thing." Jexi said. "Point is, she was an enemy then and one now."
"That goes without saying." David said.
"If I remember correctly, she's a spear user, so those with swords won't last long." Hope said.
"Guess I'm best sitting this one out." David said.
"You know what beats spears in the fire emblem weapon triangle? Axes." Rainbow said before patting Presea's back. "You got this, Presea!"
"Yeah. Go help Tsubasa and bring her sister back." David said.
"Leave it to me." Presea said before stepping forward.
"Wait, be careful. Aversa was a Pegasus Knight as she is now. She'll be constantly flying." Jexi said.
"That'll be a problem. Presea doesn't have a lot of midair attacks." David said.
"Anyone a good battler in the air?" Hope asked.
"There's Sectonia, but she has swords as well." Zelos said.
"And lightning magic. That should at least be effective against her." Genis said.
"Hang on!" Hope said. "Pegasus Knights are weak to bow attacks."
"I'm on it." Teba said pulling his bow as he fired a Shock Arrow that brought Aversa down to the ground.
"She's down! Bring the Ax Down, Presea!" Rainbow said.
"This...is the end!" Presea said as she swings her axe at Aversa, causing an explosion which sends the axe to the air and she grabs it. Presea flips as she swings her axe on the ground in front of Aversa, causing a larger explosion. "Crimson Devastation!" When the attack was over, Presea clasped a hand to her heart. "There's no way to turn back time…"
K.O!
The Crowd in the idolsphere cheered for another excellent performance.
"Got any victory quotes here Presea? You stole the show." Hope said.
"Enemy defeated." Presea said.
"Presea, no one can stand against your axe!" Lloyd said.
"Uh… Thank you!" Presea said in a shy tone.
"With that...Aversa is gone once more and the people are free." Jexi said as the skies above them cleared up.
"Yep. Looks like things are looking up." David said.
"And ain't that a pretty sight." Zaveid said pointing to Tsubasa as she was hugging her own sister in an embrace.
"We'd best give these two some time to catch up." Vera said.
"Yeah. She's been waiting a long time for this." Nami said.
The next day…
"Well, yesterday was very crazy, wasn't it?" Lucy said.
"No doubt about that." Sectonia said.
"Still, fighting Aversa brings us back to our days of fighting in Ylisse." Rainbow said.
"Yes. Us against Plegia and the Demon Lords." Luffy said.
"It was around the time I first met the Dimensional Heroes." Hope said.
"Yeah. Those Demon Lords were a mess around the worlds, but they're all gone now." Jexi said.
"Hey, I heard Ayaha started working here now. As a secretary." Sonata said.
"I think things are gonna get only more interesting from here on out as we train." Rarity said.
"You got that right." Ramona said.
"It's only just gotten started." Leia said.
"Now, let's get on this gravy train and continue your path to idolhood...with 50% for me." Vector said.
A/N: Inspired by Jexi the Hunter and Hope the Victor