Freedom Fighters Base
X said, "So, you have to get the High Ruler to take off his mask in order to complete this change of heart?"
Makoto said, "That's right."
X said, "I'll write your suicide notes. Last time I remember a person asking about his identity, or even just his mask, he tore them in half. And that was somebody that worked for him. I can only imagine what he'd do to a Resistance member who is also a Phantom Thief."
Garnet said, "Naruto. You know him better than anyone else. What would be enough to get him to remove his mask?"
Naruto said, "I don't know. I was his mind controlled dog. He didn't exactly tell me his life story."
Ryuji explained, "Not sure if this helps but, all throughout his palace was this pale, bloody little girl ghost that appeared everywhere.
Ann said, "It's constantly saying things like 'Its your fault' and 'Stop hiding. Face your mistakes!'. It's almost like he blames himself for causing her death."
X said, "So the animal feels remorse. How sad."
Akira said, "If we could figure out who it is, we can figure out how to use her to get the High Ruler's mask off."
Futaba said, "Uh, guys?"
Futaba and Tails were working on the computer and pulled up camera footage showing the lab. The High Ruler was talking to Shockwave about the construction. The High Ruler said, "I know what I said. The situations changed. Their already closing in on the treasure in my Palace. If they steal it, everything we've built falls apart. I'm asking you to stop the enhancements to speed this along now. Before we had more time, but now we're gonna have to make some cuts."
Shockwave said, "Yes sir. Removing the cybernetics will allow me to finish this process by either tonight or tomorrow morning.
The High Ruler said, "Good. I want you to check any and all messages we receive. If one is the Phantom Thieves' calling card, delete it. I also want Decepticons posted around the fortress. We can't let anyone unauthorized inside that could get a calling card to us."
Shockwave said, "Yes sir."
When the camera feed ended, Ryuji said, "Damn it!"
X said, "Welp, there went that."
Makoto said, "If we can't get a calling card to him, how can we do this?"
Futaba said, "I think I might know a way to kill two birds with one stone."
Everyone turned to Futaba.
Futaba explained, "All while we were in the palace, I was picking up a slight interference. I thought it was because we went underground, but it stayed consistent, until we reach the mask door. I think that mask is more than identity protection and a voice changer. It's like an all in one Heads Up Display, and communicator. I think if I can get into his server, I can send a calling card right to his mask. It'll be in his face and he can't escape it, unless he takes the mask off."
Ryuji said, "Would that work though? Wouldn't he need to read the whole thing?"
Morgana said, "Not necessarily. A calling card works by letting him know his desires are a treasure. With what Mishima has told him, he probably already knows about it. Just seeing a glimpse of the calling card would do the trick."
X said, "Then, in panic, he rips off his mask. Two monster birds. One perfect stone."
Futaba said, "That runs into three stumbling blocks. One: He'll be able to trace the signal immediately, two: he'll probably hop back into the Metaverse to protect his treasure alongside his shadow. And three: I need a relay point that's near him to bounce the signal off."
Haru said, "We'll have to take on TWO god-like beings at once?"
X said, "I can handle the High Ruler while you guys fight his shadow and get the treasure. As for the signal tracking and relay, BT may be able to send out your signal on a rotating frequency, keeping it hidden."
Futaba said, "Actually, there are five stumbling blocks. Number four: He has to see one of the Phantom Thieves looking at him without his mask. And five: After the calling card is sent, we only have that day to pull off the heist. If we mess up, we can't get his treasure ever again."
X looked at Morgana and said, "You guys really like making this difficult, don't you?"
Morgana shrugged as X said, "Ok. So we have to send a signal to his mask, get something to block it so they can't track us, I need to go with you to fight him in the Metaverse, and he needs to see one of you guys seeing him with his mask off. Did I miss anything?!"
BT said, "You are only missing the aspect that we are within a single-day deadline before the High Ruler resurrects Oryx, and brings about eternal darkness across the multiverse, and the part that states that this will be the one opportunity to pull off this plan."
X looked up and said, "Thank you, BT. That makes me feel so much better."
"You're welcome, commander."
X said, "That was sarcasm, BT."
Makoto said, "I'll go."
Everyone looked at Makoto.
Makoto said, "The High Ruler does have our names, but he doesn't have our faces. I should be fine if I don't tell him my name."
Tails said, "You're gonna need another identity then."
X said, "Alright. Since we need our wits about us, we carry this out tomorrow. Here's hoping that it goes better than the last time we tried to beat him."
Star asked, "What happens if Oryx is brought back?"
X said, "We'll need everyone down there if it comes to that. No matter what, he will not win tomorrow."
Fortress
The High Ruler walked outside of his fortress with the X-blade in hand. He said to himself, "With the X-blade, I unlock the gates to Kingdom Hearts."
He raised the X-blade into the air, causing a swirl of clouds to appear over head. The clouds began to open and break apart, revealing a massive, blue, heart-shaped aura in the sky. He raised his hand into the sky, and from it he drew a white orb, that fit in his two hands. He said to himself, "The Heart of Oryx, granted to me by the grace of Kingdom Hearts. With this, everything falls into place."
The next day...
Makoto was walking up to the High Ruler's fortress. Her fingerprints were slightly altered, and she was wearing special contacts provided by Tails. She was stopped at the front by a Decepticon. The Decepticon said, "Hold it right there. Any and all entering civilians must be identified before allowing entry."
The Decepticon held out his hand and scanned Makoto's eyes and fingerprints. The massive machine said, "Amy Blaze. You are free to enter."
As Makoto walked in she thought to herself, Amy Blaze? What kind of name is that?
Inside the fortress the High Ruler was inside his laboratory, handing Shockwave the Heart of Oryx. He said, "When the time comes, whether or not I'm here to witness it, bring him back to life. If I'm not here, play the hologram recording to get him up to speed on what's happened."
Shockwave nodded.
The High Ruler heard a small alert go off and he looked down at his wrist. He pushed a button on the watch, and a screen opened up, showing Makoto inside the throne room. The High Ruler said, "Shockwave. Continue your work. There's something I have to deal with."
The High Ruler dissipated into smoke and floated into the throne room, reforming in front of her. Makoto kneeled before him stuttering, "My lord. I-I-I have travelled far to see you. I only wish to be in your presence."
Makoto held a hand behind her back, pressing a small button between her index finger and thumb. This sent a signal to Futaba's laptop. Futaba and the other Phantom Thieves were with BT in an abandoned building near the High Ruler's fortress. When Futaba prepared to send it, an error message appeared on her computer. Futaba said, "Uh oh." Ryuji asked, "What 'Uh oh'?"
Futaba said, "It's not sending. Something's wrong with the computer."
BT said, "Allow me to analyze it."
BT held out his hand and a small energy field enveloped the laptop as BT scanned it with his eye. BT said, "I've downloaded the software. Running diagnostics. This will take roughly 8-10 minutes."
Haru said, "We don't have 10 minutes. Makoto's inside there right now two feet away from that monster. Who knows what he's doing to her?"
Fortress
Makoto was inside a private room with the High Ruler. He was fixing the two of them drinks. He said, "What do you like to drink?"
Makoto said, "Uh, just water, please."
She thought to herself, What is taking you guys so long?!
The High Ruler handed her a glass of water while he held a glass of champagne. He double tapped the lower part of his mask, opening it and revealing his mouth. A shadow cast by the upper half of his mask blocked most of its features, but Makoto could vaguely make out scars over his mouth. He took a sip of the champagne then looked at Makoto and asked, "So. What do you want to know about me, Ms. Blaze?"
Makoto said, "Well...I know that you don't like people to ask about your past, but I would like to know, why?"
The High Ruler sighed and said, "Because I want to forget about it. I'm not blind to what I've done, or how people see me. If I could erase the trauma of my past, I would. Because it wouldn't have created me. I am a monster. The reborn devil. But if I allowed that to stop me, I wouldn't be on the verge of starting a new dynasty."
Makoto asked, "What does that mean? What is it that you're trying to gain?"
The High Ruler said, "I only want salvation for humanity."
Makoto said, "What?"
The High Ruler explained, "When I took up the mantle of the High Ruler, I saw the greed and corruption in people. In everyone. It consumed me and slowly but surely it would consume everyone else. I only want to save their souls from eternal damnation. That's why I slaughtered so many when I invaded. A small group to spread my teachings of true purity. The thing is, it's not just here that people screw each other over for their own gain. All over countless worlds it's the same selfishness and evil. With Oryx, and his entire army, I'd be able to bring balance to this universe. We could be the shepards that lead these sheep to their true haven. Anybody who refuses to understand this, doesn't deserve my salvation. They deserve to burn."
Makoto swallowed as she raised her glass to drink water, unaware of how much she was shaking. The High Ruler said, "Are you Ok? You seem a little nervous."
Makoto said, "W-what? No way. Why would I need to be n-nervous?"
Makoto began coughing.
The High Ruler said, "Because I just laid out my entire goal to you and you think I'm insane. You're the first person besides the Arbiter I've told truthfully. Everyone else, I just say it's for revenge or something like that. They don't understand the truth. Here's the thing, Makoto..."
Makoto, still coughing widened her eyes when she heard her real name. She collapsed to the ground, still coughing.
The High Ruler said, "Just because I'm not blind to what you think of me, doesn't mean I think I'm wrong. What would they do without a true king? A question your sister should've considered when I paid her a visit."
Makoto, struggling to talk through her coughing said, "Sae? What...did you...do?"
The High Ruler waved his hand as Makoto was lifted to his face. He said, "She refused my teachings. Now she burns. Just like you."
Makoto's coughing began to stifle and bubbles began forming in her mouth as she fell on her back, looking up at the High Ruler. The High Ruler said, "Don't worry. That poison won't kill you. The worst it does is put you in a death-like state. After all, I need some leverage against the Phantom Thieves before they..."
A red card flashed in the HUD of his mask. On it was written...
High Ruler
The evils you've committed against countless innocents will not go unpunished.
We are going to steal your tainted desires and force you to repent for your sins.
Signed, The Phantom Thieves
The High Ruler said, "NO!" He began smashing the mask, reaching the sharper ends of his gauntlets underneath, finally wrenching it off. Makoto managed to get a good look at his face before she passed out.
Asylum Palace
The Phantom Thieves, minus Makoto, were standing inside the palace right outside the mask door with X. Red alarms started blaring and X said, "Well, looks like the card worked."
A voice over the intercom said, "Warning! Primary bulkhead opening."
The mask door began to hiss and blast apart. Slowly it wrenched open, revealing only darkness inside. Akira said, "It worked. She must've seen him without his mask."
Ann asked, "But where is she?"
Yusuke said, "I think it may be fair to assume that the High Ruler might have discovered her."
Akira said, "If that's the case, the only way to save her is to get in there."
The Phantom Thieves and X rushed alongside each other running into the darkness. Suddenly a great light blasted around them and they were on a small rock arena, surrounded by a green fog. Overshadowing the arena was a Marker, twirling and pulsing in midair. Morgana said, "That weird twisty thing! I think that's the treasure."
Ryuji said, "That's a big treasure! Can we even get it out of here?"
Morgana said, "We might have to destroy it!"
Suddenly, the High Ruler and Shadow High Ruler landed in front of them. The High Ruler held Makoto in the air, by her neck, in her Phantom Thief attire. The High Ruler said, "I think you know how this goes. She's in a near-death state. I can fix her with..."
He pulled out a syringe.
"...this adrenaline shot. I'll only do it if you leave this place. I know what happens if you leave. You'll lose this treasure forever. So what'll it be? Your friend or your justice?"
X said, "I choose..."
She slowly unsheathed her sword.
"JUSTICE!"
She suddenly dashed forward at lightning fast speeds, cutting a gash in the High Ruler's side. He dropped Makoto as X then stabbed him in the hand with her sword, causing him to drop the syringe. She grabbed it, dashed forward to Makoto and jammed the needle into her arm. Makoto woke up in a sudden gasp as she tried to gain her bearings. X said, "You're gonna be fine. You're body will filter out the poison. We're in his treasure room, and about to fight him and his Shadow. So get your shit together."
Makoto slowly got up as she began to regain her cognitive functions. The Phantom Thieves stood side by side with X prepared to fight the two godlike beings.
