REWRITTEN (23/4/18)
Abzu suddenly stopped abruptly as an attack hit the ground before her, causing red dust to fly into the air. Abzu's gaze moved upwards towards the attacker with a tilt of her head.
As the smoke cleared, Yuna cried out the name of the person: "Eden!"
o-o-o-o-o
Eden narrowed his eyes at Abzu. "To protect the Earth that Aria loved—that was Pegasus Koga's wish and that is why I will defect you!" Eden's voice was calm but strong. Abzu simply shifted, lifting her low head so her chin was in the air as she looked down at Eden with her ruby red eyes. "Koga would want that."
Eden lifted his fist up and let it spark with lightning. Abzu blinked her eyes, they slid Athena, ignoring Eden.
Eden leapt, but Abzu grabbed his flying fist without even sparing him a glance.
"What's wrong? You'll have to go through me!" Abzu slowly looked towards Eden, the look send a shiver down his spine. Abzu grinned at his discomfort.
Abzu attacked and Eden dodged it, before attacking again. "Tonitrui Saltare!"
The last one sent Abzu skidding far back; she dug the balls of her feet into the ground to slow down. She swiftly lifted her head as Eden threw another attack at her.
"Tonitrus Feracalos!"
The attack formed a large ball of energy, leaving the four other Saints gasping at the sight of it. Eden despite not showing it, a part of him hoped that he didn't have to kill Koga.
The energy ball exploded, suddenly Dark Cosmo shot right through of the ball and hit Eden in the stomach, sending him to the ground. He quickly got up and jumped at Abzu as she did so too. They smashed their heads together, sending them stumbling apart.
They recovered immediately and attacked each other again, Eden punched Abzu's stomach with his lightning and then punched her in the face with his other fist. Eden kept punching her using his element. Their fists hit one another.
Abzu thrust her head up and let out a scream of anger, but was cut off by Eden as he punched her stomach. Eden smashed into Abzu, the God taking the hits as they smashed through the rocks scenery.
Eden jumped back and watched the slowly settling dust. He saw Koga's figure in the cloud and he suddenly remembers that it was Koga's body. If they—no, when they got her back, she'd probably want her body not damaged too much.
He spotted Abzu; her head was down, a smirk on her lips. Once again it had sent a shiver done his spine, he wasn't going to say anything out loud, but he would do anything to see goofy Koga again.
What? Eden blinked.
He was knocked from his thoughts when Abzu raised her Cosmos. She flew at him, her fist catching Eden's arm and leaving corruption on his wrist. It exploded and Eden screamed out in pain.
o-o-o-o-o
Yuna sat up as did the others when they suddenly they felt the Dark Cosmo, Ryuho questioning it. "Wh-What was that?"
"Corruption?" Yuna asked as they stared in the direction of which it came from.
o-o-o-o-o
Eden stumbled back, hitting the rock behind him. Abzu stood in front of him. Staring, he... fascinated them. She tilted her head. Why? The God had no idea, was it their host?
Eden saw this, she seemed... in thought. Eden frowned. About what?
Abzu scowled, muttering:, "Hush girl."
Eden's head snapped up, was she talking to Koga? It was the only logical explanation, that also meant that Koga wasn't beyond gone—she could still be brought back!
Eden took the chance to jump over her and that seemed to snap Abzu out of her thoughts, she turned sharply and attacked him. The tip of her shoe court Eden's chest and a burst of Dark Cosmo exploded.
o-o-o-o-o
"If... if that's corruption, I have to go." Yuna climbed to her feet.
"Wait, Yuna." Yuna turned when she heard Haruto's voice.
"But it means that if he burns his Cosmo, he'll die!" She argued.
"Eden is looking for a chance... he's risking his life, drawing Koga away from Athena and us, to use his ultimate attack. If we go, we'll get in his way."
"His ultimate attack?" Yuna asked, gut clenching. "But what will happen to Koga?"
"To be honest, I don't know..."
"They're Saints." Ryuho spoke, his face grim as he continued. "Both Eden and Koga-chan are Saints that protect Athena, even if it means ending one's life to do so."
o-o-o-o-o
Eden jumped backwards, leaping off the rock he had landed on just in time to avoid Abzu as she smashed it.
To protect the beautiful world. That was what Aria wished for, Eden quickly dodged Abzu's fist. She quickly leapt after him. And to do that, I need Athena's power. Even if it means I must fight a God.
Eden dodged her once more, Abzu took a breath and she growled as she stared at Eden, her face full of rage as the entirety of her eyes flashed red.
She gritted her teeth in frustration. A small exhale escaped Abzu's mouth as Eden placed the ball of his foot on her forehead.
"I will not lose!" The rocks where Abzu had hit with her punches finally gave way and collapsed as Eden continued. "I won't let you lay a finger on Athena!" Eden pressed down and launched himself off her. Abzu's head flung backwards in a painful gesture but she still stared up at him with her glowing eyes. Abzu raised her Dark Cosmo higher and it became darker in colour.
"This is the end." Eden activated his seventh sense, the dark spots flashed and grew as he used his Cosmo.
"Roar, my Cosmo! Orion's Devastation!"
Abzu growled, she closed her fists in an attack. Abzu and Eden unleashed their strongest attacks. Abzu raised her hand and the Dark Cosmos flew up and hit Eden's.
Abzu's attack was pushed back slightly but the Dark Cosmos suddenly expanded around the large ball that was Eden's attack. The ball was shrunk down in size until it was nothing, Eden stared at it in shock.
Abzu's fist was clenched as she stared up at him before uttering. "Be gone." She opened her fist.
The ball exploded silently, forming a ring but then a larger flash of light exploded in a greater size. It distorted everyone's view of colours.
Eden screamed.
Yuna, Ryuho, Souma and Haruto watched in shock and horror. A figure could be seen from within the light.
Abzu began her way towards the tree again.
o-o-o-o-o
"E-Eden..." Yuna whispered as she stood staring at the crater that had formed from the explosion.
"He disappeared?" Souma asked.
o-o-o-o-o
Abzu once again made her way forward, a sinister grin on her grey face. She expanded her Dark Cosmo, listening as it roared like a dragon before disintegrating.
It was a show of strength and dominace.
A show that the fight with Eden didn't even make a scratch into their Cosmo.
o-o-o-o-o
Eden opened his eyes, blinking slightly. He stood. "What is this place?"
"The Dark Cosmos of Pegasus." Eden gasped and looked towards his mother as she spoke. "It is amazing... Abzu's darkness grows so strong."
"Mother? What happened to me?"
Medea looked up from the crystal ball, answering her son. "I brought you here..." She teleported in front of her son, gently laying her hand on his cheek. "Before Abzu could kill you."
She was met with silence for several moments.
"I must go..." Eden turned; he already knew what he was going to do, his mother wasn't going to change his mind.
Medea narrowed her eyes. "Abzu's power is vast. You cannot defeat them as you are."
Eden stopped. "I have to go..."
"Let me finish... you needn't fear their power, so long as you have the staff."
Eden blinked, turning to his mother. "The staff?"
His gaze moved to the crystal pillar, inside of it was a staff, but not just any. "Aria's staff?"
"The power of that staff extends beyond simply syphoning Earth's Cosmo. With the power of its light, you could restrain even Abzu's power. Abzu will slay Athena very soon. And then, you will use Abzu's dark power to create a new order for this world and you will be the ruler of that new world."
"That's right..." Eden began in realization. "I still have Aria's power!"
Medea blinked in confusion before she pursed her lips.
"Using Aria's power of light, perhaps I can lift Abzu's darkness from Koga!" Eden continued.
"Eden... what are you saying?" Medea asked, eyes narrowing.
"Mother, let us end this." He was met with silence. "Mother, give me the staff."
"And should I refuse?" They stared at one another. Medea glared. "No... not after all I've done!"
o-o-o-o-o
The Saints watched as Abzu grew closer and closer to the tree and Athena.
"Koga..." Yuna whimpered.
"That isn't Koga anymore." Haruto spoke, brows scrunched up.
Souma walked forward. "No..." He stopped. "But whether it is or not, stopping her is our job!"
Ryuho stepped up next to Souma. "Because we're her friends and because we're the ones who protect Athena..."
"We will protect the world that Athena and Aria cherished!" Haruto declared.
"That is what Eden wants," Ryuho added.
"And above all, what Koga wants!" Souma finished.
o-o-o-o-o
"No, Eden... in just a few moments, the rule of darkness will be complete." Medea continued.
Eden clenched his fist, glaring at his mother before arguing. "I don't want a world like that!"
"Very well, then." Medea raised her hand and her crystal ball appeared. "I shall not let you have this staff, not when the darkness's victory is at hand." She raised her Cosmos and she flew up into the air. "Never!"
"Mother!"
o-o-o-o-o
Souma and Ryuho rushed Abzu, tapping into their seventh sense.
"Lionet Explosion!"
Abzu smirked and raised her hand, stopping it by covering the attack with their Dark Cosmo. Abzu sped before Souma and kicked her leg up, he was thrown to the side with a spot of corruption forming.
"Souma!" Yuna cried.
"Rozan Hyaku Ryu Ha!"
Abzu raised their Cosmo as Ryuho attacked her, the Dark Cosmo grabbed the dragon illusion and crushed it, banishing the attack. Abzu used the chance to punch Ryuho's shield, it smashed into pieces and blasted a spot of corruption on to his arm.
"Ryuho!" Yuna shouted.
"Hakurouken: Toga Shissou!"
Haruto's attack, much like the previous two, met the same fate. Haruto went flying with a cry as corrupt exploded onto his skin.
"Haruto..."
"Koga!" Souma screamed.
Abzu looked behind her when he had called out Their host's name.
"I'll... I'll stop... yo-" Souma was cut off by Abzu zooming passed him. Souma turned to look at her in bisbelief before his chest exploded. He collapsed.
o-o-o-o-o
Eden dodged the attacks Medea she threw at him, she teleported away when he went to attack in return.
"I never expected you would truly fight me. Do you not remember the greatness... the kindness of the darkness? The nights as a child, asleep in my arms... the only thing protecting us from the light that burns all. Only the darkness will bring us salvation." Medea mourned.
Eden landed on the floor and blocked his mother's attack again. "I don't want a world ruled by darkness!" He missed one and he was hit, unable to move. "I-I can't move..."
"You will not be able to move for a while. Stop struggling, and rest... until the new world is created." Medea smiled as she teleported back to where she had been beforehand by Aria's staff.
Eden looked out the corner of his eye, his gaze landing on Aria's staff as he continued to struggle to get out of the paralyzing hold. He clenched his fisted. "Aria..." He let out a yell as he burned his Cosmo, breaking the hold.
"Eden, why will you not understand my feelings?" Medea asked her son, eyes filled with sadness.
"Aria, my sister, my father... people I cared for lost their lives. If only I had begun earlier. To protect those I cared for, to walk my own path... Perhaps I could have saved them!" Eden declared. "Mother, I will protect that beautiful world. That is my wish! Let me have Aria's staff."
"I shall not." Medea replied and raised her Cosmo, intending to repeat her attack from before. "Stay there a while longer. The creation of the new world is upon us."
"Mother!" Eden clenched his teeth. "The shining world loved by my sister, Aria, and my father who was human. Protect it!"
"I shall not! I despise Athena's shining world." Medea sent out an attack.
Eden raised his seven senses. "Orion's Devastation!"
The attack broke Medea's and she gasped. The crystal that encased Aria's staff began to crack before smashing, releasing Aria's staff that was glowing brightly.
Eden walked up the stairs once the lights had faded while his mother sat on the floor in defeat.
"How ironic. Aria saved me."
Eden said nothing as he continued to walk towards Aria's staff.
"I never should have let you near Aria. Why did I not foster the darkness in you? I..." She stopped as Eden wrapped his hand round the staff.
"But that's not the only reason, is it?" Medea looked down, smiling bitterly. Eden frowned. "I'm such a fool."
o-o-o-o-o
Yuna screamed as she was thrown backwards, grabbing her left leg as corruption began to fester. Abzu walked on, slowly ascending the hill towards the tree.
"At this rate..." Yuna mumbled but gasped when there was a bright golden light with an explosion of familiar Light Cosmo.
Abzu stopped and stared at the person holding the source of the Cosmo; Eden. He stared back at her.
"That is..." Abzu flinched back, gritting her teeth.
"Abzu..." Eden began, "Return to the world of darkness!" Eden held up the staff and it began to illuminate a bigger and brighter light.
Abzu flinched again and held an arm up to block the light as she growled animalistically. Eden watched her closely, she lowered her arm slightly to reveal those russet brown ones he knew.
Koga stared up at Eden, her eyes wide with confusion but as soon as he had seen those eyes they flared back into the ruby red ones, revealing that Abzu had grabbed control again.
Abzu gritted her teeth and raised their Dark Cosmo, fighting against the Light Cosmo that threatened to force them from their host. No, they weren't going to allow that.
Yuna stared in amazement. "What's this? He's chasing Abzu out of Koga's body?"
Abzu stumbled, eyes widening as the light overpowered their grip. Forcing their host's consciousness to semi-awaken from her slumber and their own consciousness out from her. They used this to their advantage, swiping at Eden but growled as they were blocked.
Blocked by Medea; Eden's eyes widened.
"M-Mother?"
Her crystal began to crack as she spoke in a soft loving tone. "Live strong, Eden." She turned her head to look at him and her crystal cracked more and more until it broke and she was engulfed in Dark Cosmo.
Abzu snickered and used that moment to smack Eden, sending the Orion Saint flying and his grip on Aria's staff vanished.
"Eden!"
Yuna looked towards Abzu's consciousness as they wrapped an appendage around the golden staff and—CRANK-SNAP.
The sound of Aria's staff breaking echoed and the pieces fell to the floor scattering everywhere. Abzu returned to their host.
Abzu's eye flung open as she stared up to Athena, a wide sadistic smile craved her face. "Now you're all that's left, Athena."
Eden barely managed to raised his head, gritting his teeth together as he watched Abzu. Yuna stared on in fear, tears forming in her eyes. Her eyes trailed to the pieces of Aria's staff as they clattered to the ground and down a chasm.
Yuna flinched as the Dark Cosmos roared again and shifted into wings upon Abzu's back.
This isn't Koga anymore. It's the God of darkness, Abzu, her eyes hardened as she gazed upon her friends and comrades, Eden, Soma, Ryuho... Haruto. She climbed to her knees. "There's no one else." She swayingly got to her feet. "I'm the last remaining Saint..." She looked towards Athena. "Athena..."
"I am grateful for the guidance of the stars and Athena. I shall be a great Saint and protect Athena and the happiness of the world's people!"
Yuna stared for a moment longer before a determined look crossed her face.
Abzu looks to the corner of her eye to see Yuna standing, said girl gasped and stepped backwards, sudden confidence vanishing.
"The darkness... the darkness is coming towards me." She whimpered as she watched the Dark Cosmo spread outwards in a threatening manner, Yuna fell to her knees, her body shaking as Abzu stared her down. A silent warning, a 'don't interfere any further'.
"Yuna..." She gasped, flinching when she heard a voice within her mind, her eyes widened. "Aquila Yuna."
Yuna looked towards the tree where Athena hung. "I have watched your battle this entire time."
"Athena?" Yuna frowned.
"Yuna, the light is still there." Yuna mouth became ajar. "Inside your heart..."
"Inside my heart?" Yuna looked down at her chest, raising a hand to her armoured chest that covered her heart. "That's right..." She mumbled. "As long as I hold onto hope, the light... the light is right here!"
She stood once more with a determined look. "I will fight, believing in the light." She raised her Cosmo. "No matter how deep the darkness, Koga, the light is still within you!"
She increased in Cosmo. "I will call back that light! My hope... my heart as a Saint... they will reach you!" She leapt into an attack, her foot coming down on Abzu but was blocked by the Dark Cosmo as it shielded Abzu.
She leapt at Abzu again. "Divine Tornado!"
Suddenly Abzu released Dark Cosmo in a short but overwhelming burst, it sent Yuna flying with a scream. She hit the ground creating an indent.
"Koga..." Yuna mumbled as she stood once again. "Remember. Koga! No matter how bad things were, you always got up. No matter how much it hurt, you followed the path of light."
Tears welled up in Yuna's eyes thinking about the time they had spent together travelling.
"You changed the Dark Cosmo into light! You could never fall completely into darkness." She shook her head as tears fell, she raised her head and they fell from her face. "I believe in you!"
Abzu stopped for a moment, Yuna looked up in hope but Abzu simply continued.
"Blast Scythe!" Yuna attacked once more but was stopped and Abzu glanced over her shoulder sending an attack back at her.
Yuna panted as she lay on the floor, Koga... come back to us...
The smoke cleared giving Yuna a clean view of Abzu. She raised her hand as if to reach out to Koga, tears falling from her eyes again. "Koga!"
Abzu, now annoyed with the blonde, held her hand out and a ball of Dark Cosmo formed in it. The darkness shot out and grabbed Yuna, hoisting her into the air as she gasped in pain.
"Yuna!"
Yuna was released and she hit the ground. She whimpered. "Koga..."
Abzu's wings shifted as she lifted from the ground, making her way towards the tree. She stopped and floated feet away from Athena. Abzu smirked her head tilted in doing so. "Now for you to simply fade into the darkness, Athena."
"Koga... when you were a baby, you were covered in Dark Cosmo. I wasn't strong enough to dispel it. We fought to protect the love and freedom of every creature on Earth. But the battle called down the God of Darkness, Abzu. And you were caught in all of it, you were so small. I protected you, and raised you with the light, so the darkness would not take you. However." Tears formed in Athena's eyes. "I was unable to completely protect you."
She thought back to when Koga was still just a baby, watching as the redhead stumbled towards her. Koga let out a laugh looking over her shoulder to the smirking Seiya.
"Koga, the days I spent with you were wonderful. Remember those days, filled with light, Koga!"
Abzu raised her arm again, a ball of darkness formed in her hand as Athena's tears fell from her eyes. "Koga, I believe you will return to us."
Yuna stood slowly holding her arm. "I believe in you, as well Koga." A small pink orb floated around her.
Souma's eyes fluttered open. "Koga, I believe in you." An orange orb floated above him.
Ryuho opened his eyes. "Koga-chan..." A small blue orb floated by him.
"Koga..." Haruto whispered. A grey orb floated next to his head.
"Pegasus-chan..." Eden mumbled. A purple orb shone by him.
The five orbs floated down the chasm where Aria's broken staff had fallen. As they reached the bottom, they illuminated the surrounding area to reveal Seiya locked in chains of darkness. They felt to the floor and gave a soft chime sound, startling the Gold Saint awake. They began to glow brighter and Seiya opened his eyes, watching as the Cosmo took the outline of Aria before floating towards him. As soon as they touched the chains, they broke; freeing him from his prison.
o-o-o-o-o
Abzu paused, turning her head to look over her shoulder. Athena's eyes opened as they both felt a familiar strong Cosmo.
Suddenly golden Cosmic beams shot from the ground as it shook. Yuna gasped as the Bronze Saints all looked up. Cosmo formed into golden feathers and fluttered down and they revealed the form of Seiya.
"Seiya." Athena breathed in relief.
Seiya hovered in front of Athena, his arm held out blocking Abzu from Athena. Abzu kissed her teeth, glaring at him as her lips pulled back into a snarl.
Seiya opened his eyes to stare at Abzu.
The God was first to speak, their voice multiple and yet Koga's own tone stood out the most. "I thought you had disappeared into the depths of the darkness."
"A pure light and the voices of the young saints, who never gave up, woke me from Mars' darkness. During my fight with Mars, I leapt into the darkness to prevent your revival, Abzu. Mars regretted that the power of darkness had taken him. He knew there was a chance that his actions could revive you. Mars protected me so that the darkness would not take me... so I could still fight where he had failed! He knew that if the life of hope should overcome him, it would reach me."
Abzu raised her hand again, a ball of Dark Cosmo forming.
"Stop." He ordered but Abzu continued, sending her attack at Seiya. The Gold Saint raised his Cosmo and blocked.
"Koga, can you hear me?" Seiya voiced. "Remember, Koga... you are a Saint! The Pegasus Saint, who protects Athena!"
Abzu smirked mockingly at his attempt. "My name is Abzu." Her eyes glowed red as she spoke. "The God of Darkness, Abzu!" She threw her arm down and Seiya's shield broke. He was thrown to the ground, but he stood again as Abzu landed.
Seiya glanced over at her, an idea forming in his head, I only need to get close for it to work!
"Koga." He lifted his head. "Has Abzu taken you over completely? Even the voices of your fellow Saints, of your mother's... even my own cannot reach you?" He exhaled, swallowing. "If you are truly Abzu, I must fight... I cannot let you kill Athena! Let's go!" He clenched his fist. "Pegasus Ryu Sei Ken!"
The attack when straight towards Abzu, she gasped covering her eyes from the too bright a light, giving Seiya the chance to move his plan to the next stage.
He leapt forward just as the light died away, Abzu not having enough time to move suddenly found her head within the Golden Saints hands.
"Remember Koga!"
Suddenly a bright light filled their surroundings.
o-o-o-o-o
Seiya's eyes snapped open, they immediately danced about. He recognized his surrounding as the island Koga had grown up on. He glanced upwards, the sky was dark yet he could see clearly as if it were daytime.
He licked his lips and expanded his Cosmo, focusing on finding Koga's consciousness. He allowed his Cosmo to lead him towards the woods and as he closer to Koga's location, he realized where she was.
The cove.
He reached the edge and peered down, spotting Koga's curled up form within the middle of a circle of dark coloured flowers and vines covered in thorns.
He leapt down and as he got close, the vines came to life. He flinched back as they swiped at him. A defence mechanism, he realized. No doubt placed by Abzu.
He got into a stance and sent a blast of Cosmo to destroy the vines, to carve a path for him but they just regrew before he could even attempt to rush through.
He cursed.
"Koga!" He called. "Koga!"
She twitched, he watched as her lids fluttered. Even from here he could see the bags under her eyes and the dazed expression. Her russet orbs slid towards him as he called her name again.
Her eyes cleared up. "Dad?"
Seiya sighed, watching as she struggled to push herself up. She looked to be fighting against nodding back off to sleep, no doubt having been forced into said sleep by Abzu when they took over her body.
She glanced around in confusion before focusing back on him. "W-what happened?"
His chest clenched painfully.
"Abzu took control of your body." he answered, watching as her eyes flash with remembrance and burn with tears.
She grips her hair tightly. "Fuck!" Her body shook. "I-I don't know—"
Seiya flinched as a tugging sensation pulled at him. An angry tugging. He grimaced, knowing Abzu had discovered what he was trying to do.
"Koga." He started, her eyes returned to him. "You're a Saint of Light, regardless of your element. Your friends believe in you, I believe in you and so does your mother. It's your body, your mind, fight against the one invading!"
Seiya groaned as his head painfully pulsates as the tugging gets worse.
"I've gotta go." Seiya rushed, watching as Koga's eyes widened. "Remember, Koga, fight!"
And he was gone.