Hello again, readarrrz :3 Irate here with another part of The Clash! :D Sorry if I'm lengthening the fight scenes, but the information is just piling up that it's the perfect time to show you guys.
Honestly, I didn't enjoy making this chapter, because of the fight separated into 3 parts (yes it's in three parts -.- ) and that Dyne could be a little... OOC at the beginning, but I honestly wanted to add some character to him towards Ichika. I just wanted to clarify how Dyne works with Ichika as an alter ego, or personality. But that's enough talk, get with the Infinite Stratos! It doesn't belong to me either!
EDIT: AAAUUUGGGHHH I'M SO STEWPID DX WHY WHY WHY WHYWHYWHYWHYWHY
*ahem* Uhh I accidentally put in a rough draft instead of the final copy of this chapter *guilt*
please forgive meee...
Past: April 5th, 2032, in an unknown realm and time:
This world we live in… from the once pure and innocent, is now filled with the heavy sins of humankind. As I foresaw the upcoming events in the distant future, they would have spelled the world to end in complete disaster. But now… I feel that there is no choice, but that it's time to make a decision…
CLACK! "Come on, show more aggression when fighting!" CLACK! CLACK! WHACK!
The wooden swords were clashing against each other out in the open. I was standing there in a kendo robe, holding a wooden sword with two hands, sweaty in their grip. In front of me was my sparring partner, against my golden-haired… ummm… 'soul-mate' Dyne. He held his own wooden sword with one hand, but he had a soft look on his face as he was parrying every attack with ease. His eyes though tell me that he's serious. "I would be, but that's not how I fight!" I whined back at him. He then sighed and lowered his sword to his side. He can't deny that it was true.
"Ergh… you plan to stick with your tactics…?" He said, as he scratched his head with much disappointment. "I can't really say how we're going to synergize well…"
I could only scratch my head in much disgrace, as I threw away the sword and turned into thin air. Dyne did the same with his wooden sword, and both of us went to the edge and sat down, admiring the outdoor feel.
When I first met Dyne… or when he first met me, he showed me the ways of kendo and swordplay. From the basics to the ways of (a few) masters throughout history, like the simple slash on certain points of the body, to grasping the blade in a perfect clasp and grip without getting any of your hands cut. It was long and gruelling, but in this... dream-like reality, days here would feel like an hour back at reality. I never thought that I would grow towards him, as we both took a break and gazed out in the open.
The scenery… it spread out all around Dyne and I as awestruck surroundings… the open roof of a clock tower, high above the clouds and in the sky. I looked below to see a massing sea of white clouds and if I looked harder, the blue sea of the Earth. The sun shined down on the back of my head, heating my black hair shorter than a bowl cut. As I took a look at Dyne, he had long golden hair outstretched up to his kneecaps in this realm, instead of in reality where it was shortened by me. His golden eyes looked different than mine; a fierce outlook with a sense of… justice.
After moments of silence, I took a sigh and sat up. "The first week has past by and we already gotten ourselves into a fight…"
"Hmph! She's gonna have it coming…" Dyne just scoffed and replied back. The softness disappeared when he huffed and was filled with determination. "The English really have no respect, you know."
"I know that, but at least show mercy…?" I nearly looked down to see the sights, but I felt Dyne's hand rest on my shoulder, but with a firm grip.
"The world isn't nice, Ichika. Why should we be?" He reminded me, with a guilty smile plastered on his pale face. Those painful past tortures and heartbreaks were what he was referring to as 'the world'. I could only turn to him in disgust.
"So? At least don't kill her!" I tried to tell him not to. Even though Dyne came into living as another soul alongside mine, all he could think about was… well, on more negative motives. It doesn't really surprise me though, especially after everything I've been through.
"Eh, no guarantees." He shrugged and continued to look to the open sky. "Besides, you're fighting the English princess this time, are you not?"
Oh, that's right. "Can Chrono help me out at least? Not like last time when she didn't communicate to me with that fist-fighting lady..." I felt ashamed by saying that, but I didn't know why. But after I said that phrase, a cloud of data appeared and-
BONK
Ow…!
"Ahem, Master Ichika." Chrono tried to act cool and unconvinced when she arrived to both of us in a surprise entrance (i.e. landing on top of my head). "For the third time, I haven't ditched you in that fight! I was only scanning her IS!" She suddenly tried to overreact to the phrase I said a few seconds back.
"Yeah, sure…" I just responded back, easing the pain off my head. Chrono then softened up and gave a (^.^) face at me.
"Anyway, Chrono, is it ready?" Dyne asked.
"Yes, Master Tempo!" Chrono gave a fierce nod, and then she did something that I have not seen before. She materialized herself and foamed around Dyne's hands. Soon, a golden cannon, with a star face on the front, emerged from his hands. I could only stare in astonishment, but also wonder… didn't I see that cannon before?
"Wh-Whoa!" I didn't think Chronos had this power. Dyne then spun the huge cannon around with just his finger by the trigger, then aimed and fired in front of him. The blast emerged was a fearsome red energy laser that zoomed ahead to the sky. The blast exploded far off in the distance, painting the blast zone red.
"Surprised?" Dyne said as the cannon disintegrated into data to form back into Chrono.
"Where did you get that?" I asked.
"Copied from the 'scary' Madorka and her dorky IS!" Dyne replied mockingly as it followed up with a laugh. Chrono only sighed, as I did too.
"Master, you need to learn consideration." Chrono made a (=.=) face at Dyne, but he brushed it off.
"Oh, Chrono, you know I always consider you!" Dyne tried to act cool. But then he serious'd up and looked at me with a face of a commander. "Keep an eye on him in battle, will you?" Dyne smiled as he got up. He sure is sporadic…
"Will do!" Chrono opened its compartment and out came a robotic hand. It gave a salute and it only made Dyne smile a little more. I sweat-dropped a little from the enthusiasm.
"Hey, what's with the look, Ichika?" Dyne looked at me with my sweat-dropped look.
"Ehh, nothing!" I looked away. "It's just that you two act really close together."
"Heh… priceless look as always." Dyne said. He enjoyed himself a small laugh, but then suddenly-
GONG GONG GONG!
The sound of large bells has rung the air. The sky was turning a deep orange, then purple. As I turned, the sun was going down, and the moon was about to arise. What this means: it's nighttime here, but morning has arisen in reality.
"Before you wake up, Ichika," Dyne asked me in last second before I was about to jump. Jumping off the tower and down to the shallow Earth… was a kick-start back into waking up. "If you're in trouble, I'll have to intervene. Don't want our IS to have an empty vessel!"
I could only nod and smile, as I jumped down into the black abyss past the clouds…
…and now I should've realized this, but… he was going to take control of me anyway. But is it really right… right for us to shove someone down to hell now? And for justification from what she only just said…? Cecilia… she had better watch herself.
Present: 10:13AM, April 6th, 2032, in the midst of the brawl at the Arena:
The [Chronos-'Star Cannon'] homed its lock-on feature that targeted the two IS models, and fired a crimson laser. One of the IS took a direct hit, while the other dodged out of the way, but only obtaining a minor scrape on the leg.
"How's that for trying, ladies?"I simply smiled smugly. They acted like targets for me to shoot. Such stupidity.
Suddenly, the communications opened up to see Chifuyu's face, now looking even more surprised and fearful. What's she shocked about?
"Dyne! What is the meaning of this?!" She shouted through the screen. "How are you able to get the [Silver Zephyr]'s [Star Cannon]? No possible IS can steal weaponry from another personal IS!" Amateurs…
"Oh what was that? Can't hear you over the sound of me gunning!" I only joked as I kept firing the cannon to the two IS, now taking more direct hits than pure scrapes and lucky dodges. "Really, is it THAT painful to see these pilots go?"
"T-That's enough! You won't get off so easil-!" Chifuyu kept giving me warnings, but she's shaking a little… Nah, she can't be! I gave myself a little laugh to shake it off then closed the intercommunications. I had enough of her bullshit anyway…
The 'targets', finally blasted a numerous amount of times, fell to the ground with barely any energy left. Not only that, but the pilots themselves was also bruised and badly damaged everywhere. I turned my head to see Elna, shocked and frightened by the sheer power of Chronos.
"What's your problem?" I asked with a smile, acting like nothing happened. But I then pressed on. "Weren't you going to destroy me because of your face? Like… oh right! How your boss sent you and those people to annihilate me?" She was hard-pressed and her breaths were starting to quicken, but she didn't waste a moment to strike again, this time aiming her carbine of missiles on her shoulder to me. But firing at a close range?
"W-Why can't you just shut up?!" She screamed at me and fired a salvo of missiles at the proximity of 10 feet towards the smug me. But I already knew what my next plan was.
"[Age of Ice]!" I commanded, and I slashed my sword in the air. The air was chilled down to the absolute zero and the missiles flew past me in such chill that they simply landed on the ground unchanged. I felt the gasping of the audience tingle with every sudden action I do, and even more from my opponents and the watchers from the tower.
Chifuyu's POV
"J-Just how powerful is that IS?!" I kept gaping in awe and staring in bewilderment as each sudden move and action Dyne and his IS did overthrew every single attack, whether it was from guns or swords. It… it was just impossible for anyone to fight so seamlessly for anyone that isn't an Orimura! But is he really my brother…? I gripped my fist tightly, so smitten out of rage that it drew blood, and one side of the command board was seemingly smashed and pounded by me. "It couldn't be him! It couldn't be his skills! It's just the IS, that's all!" I kept yelling at myself to convince me of that fact, but my body still couldn't accept it.
"Please, Orimura-san! Calm down!" Yamada tried to compose me, but to no avail. She tried every method, but nothing can calm me from the rage I had for my brother. I shoved her away and kept unleashing my anger at the image of my brother utilizing the golden IS, mocking my every character.
"How?! I, the pilot of [Brunhilde], was trained to do this! Yet how does he do it like me without the poured sweat, blood and tears?!"
Past: 4:34PM, June 4th to December 21st, 2021, at the Orimura household's large backyard:
Training… everyday, after a lengthy run, hearty breakfast, extreme kendo and weight training, large lunch and training with the model battle suit Tabane gave me. That was my routine during the days, regardless of rain, sun or snow.
Training… where intense doesn't even match the description of my run. Whenever I take the early-morning run, it would be up the 10,000 steps up towards the temple, then down 3 times, while carrying two sacks over my shoulders, holding ten 60-pound dumbbells. Once my breakfast is down, the kendo dolls were reinforced with steel and the weights usually go by 100s.
Training… I never get tired of it, since my body became more and more used to it. My parents treated me harshly, but also told me to never give up. Seeing how I was the eldest out of the three, I was seen as the exempt model as the family head and a lot was expected from me. I didn't mind though; many things can be achieved from anyone by force, whether pain was brought among them. But who knew that I was the first person to use an Infinite Stratos by my idiot, but genius Tabane-san, or IS for short. Of course those pieces of the news never got to anyone… until the incident she and I led that changed the world. (They did spoil Madoka-nee though, which I was a little envious about, but that's beside the point.)
Training… it pays off when you're the strongest woman in the world. The history of the world that the creator, Tabane, needed to be rewritten, as my comrades of war have stated, was ready once the world knew of IS. The revolution that we call the [Age of Rebirth], where we purged the unjust and the unfit in our new world went underway for roughly six long months. The IS users all around the world, who were female, rejoiced and enjoyed the killings. Many others, mostly our targets- errr, I mean… the males, despised us, but they were new driven under our heels. Since that day, many referred to it as [The Purge of Society].
What does this mean? They think it's just plain destruction, but it's their folly. They think our actions were unjustified and nearly wrought man out of history, but it's their folly. They think the new idea of a new world was unnecessary and that our methods were destructive…
But it was their folly.
The world revolved around power, and only those with power can rule. That time, it was the society's shift to females being the dominant role…
…until he, the heretic, came into our level. He was only just a sick and dumb middle brother and, as expected, the family hated him since he never followed the beliefs of staying on the low levels. He wasn't even considered to be human, according to us. But then… he just appeared out of nowhere… and just spawned an IS, right in front of us; even worse, it wasn't even made by the creator… But worst of all, everyone cheered for him and wanted him, as the news said. My parents even tried to reconsider labeling him as a heretic. He stole my parents' attention… just like that… even though I was supposed to be their heir.
Who… or what… is this heretic supposed to be?
Present: 10:24AM, April 6th, 2032, at the ISA Arena:
"Hey sis! I hope you're watching this!"
His cruel, yet mocking voice made me look at the screen. I saw his face, encompassed with such killing and torturous intent, with dervish grinning. But what he held in his hand… was even worse.
"H-HEEEELLLLP MEEEE! ORIMURA-DONOOOO!" Elna, one of the hunters I hired to rid of the heretic, screamed in a pleading tone as she tried to struggle out of Dyne's grasp up in the air. She was being held by the head circlet of the [Uchigane], being crushed in-between by Tempo's gauntlet with such ease. Not only that, but her custom IS was bruised to the point of permanent damage. The wing parts were separated and left dangling on, while the legs were completely bruised and pounded, leaving prints. Her right arm was completely frozen over, unable to move from the permafrost, and the carbine was forcefully removed and destroyed, leaving only circuits from the right side of her face open-ended. Only her left arm could move, but it was trying to struggle and hit Dyne's gauntlet in vain. I was only gaping in speechlessness as I watched.
"She can't save you now, Scar-face Elna." Dyne gave a sinister chuckle at the nickname. "How's it feel to struggle at near-death?" Dyne then lifted Elna and what was left of her IS, dangling.
"S-Shut up… what did I do to deserve this?!" She questioned.
"You killed someone all because he talked back to you…" I only watched in horror as the grip tightened on Elna's skull. Blood started to leak a little. Dyne's face changed to an angrier visage. "What did he deserve to do to get himself killed by you, huh?! No one would have approved that justification to have the chauffeur killed!"
The chauffeur he mentioned… that was the time after when he was being tested and scanned at the National Security. They said that they found out nothing on how he was able to wield and IS though… Those thoughts was encircling me more, and making me want to actually kill someone now. Anger was filling me again, but this time, so was fear.
"B-But… he talked back to me…" was what she muttered in her voice. She definitely became scared, enough to know that Dyne is holding her life at stake. My fists were leaking with blood.
"Hmph… Always the same, from then to now…" He replied in a low voice, but then it rose in volume drastically. "When will humans ever learn?!" Upon hearing that lane, I immediately opened the intercommunications.
"What makes you think that you're God now, huh?!" I cried over to him on the screen. "What makes you think you're so damn special?!" He then turned to me, acting all cool.
"I hold a dear life that is sentenced to a death that you sent her to, my dear Orimura-sensei…" He said in such a soft, yet threatening tone. It made me shiver, back when he first appeared in golden armours of the IS. "But now… she's off the hook."
"N-NO PLEASE! D-DON'T DO IT!" Elna cried, in tears now and regretting everything she has done in her life. I only had my eyes widen with shock, frightened at what he's going to do to her. "I-I-I DON'T WANT TO-!" Dyne only smiled, as everyone watched in shock.
"Goodbye."
FLASH! With barely any action from him at all, except with a crack of the circlet of the [Uchigane], Elna screamed as a deadly dark flash engulfed her with the sound of ice. Suddenly, sheer cold burst from the streams of what remained of the IS and of her. Elna's scream was not heard, but her face realistically showed agony. The aftermath showed Elna, crystallized and killed by being engulfed in cryogenic force, or encased and splintered in ice. I couldn't believe what I saw, nor did the audience. The frozen statue of Elna didn't budge and its face kept the face of agony and sorrow, something that would give a normal child nightmares.
"And now she knows judgment…" Dyne casually said, smiling. I pounded my hand on the screen, hard enough to destroy the command board in one slam, and proceeded to go outside to the arena.
Houki's POV
I gaped and covered my mouth in fear and shock when I saw what has happened outside. Ichika-san- no… Dyne Tempo killing someone with no regret, and at the most terrifying way imaginable… he was never Ichika-san at all, as he would never do something like this… I nearly fell to my knees and nearly made my tears give way as some were starting to flow. I was starting to think that it wasn't so bad that it was Ichika-san that was in my room and fighting to be stronger, but this… this wasn't how he goes…
Ichika… why… are y-you a monster…?
Normal POV
"Hehehe…" Dyne gave a little chuckle as he turned the statue towards himself, focusing on the agonized facial feature of what used to be Elna. The scream was gaping and the eyes barely had its pupils anymore. He then did another thing unimaginable.
CRUSH!
With just a simple but firm grasp, he crushed the frozen head like it was nothing, leaving only a pile of frozen dust. He then laid out the body and then-
SHATTER!
An even louder crush was heard and Chronos kicked the body with such force that it disintegrated into shining dust. It would have been graceful and a fine work of art in one's regard, if they didn't know what the snow was made of.
Dyne then scanned the audiences, looking at the mentally scarred faces of the students. The class grew increasingly frightened at Dyne's gaze, as it was sharper than a hawk and grimmer than the reaper himself, even having one of them faint. The two IS pilots that accompanied Elna in the assault were even more traumatized by the outcome, so overwhelmed that they deactivated their IS and ran away out the open arena doors for their own dear lives. But Dyne Tempo was not done yet. His eyes lay on Cecilia over the corner.
Cecilia, who has been watching at the corner crater all this time, was also traumatized from the killing that Dyne has done. Her eyes were widened with fear, and she was breathing heavy, but not to the point of hyperventilation. It reminded of how her parents have died tragically in a car accident. She put herself to the wall and looked down, being forced to revisit the horrible memories.
Past: 10:25AM, August 29th, 2021, at Tunnel 3 of the London England Transit:
Cecilia's POV
The Last Monday of August…
It was the best day I would ever have. Thankfully it was an England National Holiday, so it was expected, but I haven't seen them for so long… My mother is finally visiting!
After many days of waiting during my studies at summer vacation, my mother, Agatha "Ceruleus" Alcott, will finally come home and spend the day with me; and to where? We were going to see the Spinnaker Tower, just down at Portsmouth (when I was young, I didn't know why it was called that). My mother was gone for IS training and studies, and she handles so many businesses that she's always busy and has no time for me… But today she is finally going with me on a family vacation!
Sadly, the bad news is that it IS a family vacation. My slob of a father was accompanying us. My father… was just a spoiled brat! He doesn't do anything, and barely can do anything! He just sits around with wine, looking outside most of the day, thinking. And he has the maids and servants pushed around like he owns the place! I hate him! Mother told me that he's weak and disdainful, which I went into full agreement without hesitation. I would never marry anyone like him, not in the slightest!
Ahem… anyway, the Spinnaker Tower was our designation, and we went by limo, then by foot to enjoy the portside. I was amazed by the amount of boats that were there, and the sea was breathtaking. I could only imagine myself riding a motorboat across the sea with the wind passing by. It felt so exhilarating.
My mother was smiling at me, pleased by the sights that excited me. "Oh, Alcott. Wouldn't it be great for us to just set sail right now?"
"Yeah! It would be awesome!" I cried out with joy. I was smiling the biggest smile and was jumping with joy. If Mother would be with me along with the ride, it would surely be one of the best days of my childhood life.
"Yawn… That's too much work, Aggie…" A lazy voice yawned behind my back, as if it was trying to mock us. The slob called my father was lazily slouching off a lamppost, acting all lazy and ruining the fun. Wish we could just throw him off the boat instead. "Can't we just go home and relax?" He whined.
"Dear! I told you to quit that attitude!" Mother scolded him, but he acted like he didn't want to follow. Just like a spoiled child. "We've planned this and you promised that you wouldn't bring that lazy behavior!" But he just yawned and proceeded to sleep on the lamppost. This angered my Mother even more so, but all I saw on her face that was perplexing… was a smile.
"M-Mother?"
Present: 10:28AM, April 6th, 2032, at the corner of the ISA Arena:
The memory was cut short. A blinding chain of light passed right beside her head and pierced the arena walls, nearly catching her attention shocking and stopping her breath short. It was quite a dead shock, as more chains did the same at different areas. She dodged all six, but now she's pinned down to the wall, trapped at the chains. She then watched in fear, of her opponent, who has just killed another pilot in a gruesome fashion, walk to her to finish her off too.
"M-Mother…" She whimpered, shaking in her voice. "H-Help me..."
Dyne smiled.
Did anybody catch that Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories reference? :D
No? Awww *cries in the corner* Well, rate and review, like and favourite, comment and criticize, and have a good April! :)
Part 3 is coming, don't worry.
