Chapter 9- Flytrap
NO INFORMATION

"If it's not the days I dreamed of, I'd rather have this..."

"I can still feel your warmth on my fingertips."

"I wrap it up in my palm."

-Megaman Zero 4: Freesia

I have no choice in this, do I?

It flies against everything I fight for…

Everything I stand for is shattered.

Everything I trusted was a spy.

And anything I thought was on my side…

Betrayed me.

She loaded her rifle silently, letting out a soft sigh. Her brown hair was brushed back so she could see more clearly to take the shot. The rifle had been equipped with a tranquilizer round, and several standard lead shots in case that failed. Her shotgun lay in the corner of her abandoned base, rusted and cold.

It was almost as if her brother was right there by her side, whispering in her ear, "How could you have been so blind?!"

"R…Brother…. I… I don't know…"

She slipped the rifle over her shoulder, standing up. She adjusted the scarf around her neck, making sure it didn't fall off again like when she talked to…

"G…Gah…"

A white flash at Coumarine City heralded her arrival. A Flare Grunt rushed over to her, "So, you're Sakura?" The sniper nodded silently, steel in her brown eyes.

"…Aren't you supposed to be at your post?" she asked, glaring at him, "I don't want to sign your shirt or whatever, so you can politely piss off and leave me alone."

The grunt laughed, "Heheheheh… I heard from the boss that you posed as a Flare Hunter to get close to the target so it would be easier to take them down." His red shades reflected the sunlight from the skies above, "How cunning… and fashionable. Would you like-"

Crack.

In a single deft movement, the man's arms were limp and broken. Sakura lowered her fists, "No." She tugged on her cap, walking off.

"I'm on a boat! I'm on a boat! Everybody look at me, I'm on a Mewtwo Fracking Boat!"

Chris moaned, turning to Ryu, "Stop that! It was funny the first few times, but now it's just stale! Stop it, I say!" Ryu smirked, creating a megaphone of fire in his hands, "Your move." The two pokemon glared at each other, before growling/yelling their various battle cries and leaping at each other…

"HURK!"

Ryu grimaced, as Chris suddenly made a dash to the ship's railing, throwing up most of her breakfast into the ocean. The firey fox standing behind her shrugged, "I'm just really disgusted right now. I think I'll stop singing…"

"NOT!"

"GRAAAH!"

"You're listening to 3.25 FM, The most popular radio station in Kalos, and this is 'Purifier Units' with 'Tomorrow's Sun'!"

Aile hummed to herself, steering the ship at full speed across the blue waves. In the background, the radio blasted out Johtoese lyrics out loud. Y stood by her side, holding up a pair of binoculars, "The view from here is really pretty, I'll say! I wonder how the others are coping?"

X knelt over a nearby rubbish bin, letting out a groan, "U…Ugh… Why… why do boats need to be so bumpy…?" Nearby, Go and I were sitting on a bench, Go trying to catch on the sleep she missed last night and me grooming Epona's mane with the Z-Sabre.

Hah, just kidding. I brought shears. Did you honestly think I would risk using my sword for something like that?

Epona flinched as I cut gently away at a sensitive part of the grassy patch, so I patted her back gently, "Don't worry, girl. I know we're so far from the ranch, but I think I know this area. We'll be back in the city before you know it, and then we can go and buy… more hats!" I paused for a few seconds, thinking dreamily of all the loot that awaited me once we returned to the city. Hats… Delicious cream cakes… Good wifi reception…

"We interrupt your listening for this public announcement!" Aile turned up the radio, "Lumiose City North and Central is currently under an extreme blackout. Citizens are advised against heading into these areas. Affected buildings include Grande Boutique, Cake Central, and most prominently, the Lumiose Tower."

I sat bolt upright, "NOOOO! Oh well, at least the Wifi's okay. I couldn't live without the Internet."

"As you know, the Tower provides our fine city with its celebrated fast Wifi connection, so connection times may be slow until the crisis is resolved. Do not panic. We now return you to standard broadcasting."

Go woke up, "…Did somebody say the Wifi was down…?"

"FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

The loud cry echoed in the ocean around the ship, scaring away several small pokemon in a 10 mile radius.

We gasped, as Aile whimpered, "Not so loud! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Go snapped her fingers, "THOSE FLARES DID IT! I JUST KNOW IT! I KNOOOW IT, I TELL YOU!" I shook her, "Get a grip, Go! It can't be them! How could they cut power to an entire city?! It's probably just a natural mistake."

Y rubbed her chin in thought, "Not really. The Kalos Power Plant in the Badlands provides solar and geothermal energy to the entire city. It's just a matter of finding a switch and turning it off, and certain areas of the city would lose power. If someone took control of that station, they would practically own the city."

Go growled, "I TOLD YOU! IT'S THOSE BLOODY FLARES!"

I restrained her again, "Don't jump to conclusions! Anyone could've done it! It's not always the Flares!"

"We are in position, Lord Lysandre. What is your command?"Sakura asked.

The man with the firey red hair stood before the monitor, a glass of wine in his hand. He had reason to celebrate. Today, one of his worst enemies would be taken into his custody. Today, he would strike a crippling blow to the fools who opposed his rule. Those who claimed to be able to 'Hunt' so many of his forces down.

He took a sip from the alcoholic drink, "I want you to crush him. Just when he has received his Gym Badge, you may engage face-to-face."

"…Why can't we just shoot him now when he enters the city and take him all the quicker?"the sniper hesitantly asked.

"Because I want him to see you."

"W…What?!"

The dark man smirked, swilling about the red liquid in the glass vessel in his hand, "Isn't it more wonderful when old friends meet?" The sniper stared at the mafia boss, before speaking her mind.

"You're mad."

"Yes… But I have power." Lysandre spoke, glaring at the sniper, "Do not think for one second that I want to work with a low-life plebian like you, who works as a female entertainer in her spare time. I simply want you to takel Flare Hunter Z, then you receive the money for it. I want him, in his final moments, to be pulled out of the fantasy he lives in, in which everyone helps him out. In truth, the world we live in is built on lies and deception. And what better way to tell him this truth than via betrayal?"

"If you refuse, I kill you. If you attack back, I will kill you. However, once this job is complete, you are not under my control, so you may attack back. Futilely, of course. Either way, I kill you."

The sniper growled, "Shut yer trap, Ass-Chin!"

She switched off the comm, leaving the dark lord to his thoughts.

"Do not dwell on it. I know her, and she's been a pain for so long."

Lysandre turned around, and another massive screen in his base turned on. This one had the Master on it, the man who was behind the plan all along.

"She… and… him… Back then, they wounded me so gravely… They turned me into what I am now."the dark figure spoke, a dark aura coming from his figure. Lysandre nodded, "I am aware as well. Master, you have a right to want to quash them."

"Then why have you failed so horribly in ending Flare Hunter Z's life?! We must hurry up our plans. He knows."

"What of?"

"We picked up this transmission yesterday between Black and Z. He states that he is aware of our plan to end his life, and he has worked out from N's foolish use of the kunai, he has worked out what out our plan is. Perhaps he isn't the idiot we thought he was…"

"What of your side of the plan, milord?"

"Those… Those ninja…They are foiling plan after plan of my team, they have the legendary blade in their possession, and I fear negotiations with our sponsor may break down rapidly. In addition, our plans itself were stolen from a secured vault in Hoenn by spies. They even destroyed Delta Operation."

"…How upsetting."

"WE MUST NOT FAIL THIS PLAN! I trust you have control of VIS, do you not?"

Lysandre smiled to himself, "Yes… Even if Z managed to escape our snare, he will surely die by its hands."

"Excellent… I must leave. Ghetsis wishes to inform me on an edit to our plan… A plan to break Black's soul."

"Just what I despise… It must be added as soon as possible."

The large screen switched off, leaving Lysandre to his thoughts.

'Flare Hunter Z… How pitiful.'

We made landfall in Coumarine City at mid-day. Immediately, I couldn't help but think something was wrong.

"You're just being paranoid." X laughed, when I informed him of these worries, "I think we scared them off for now, so they probably wouldn't even DREAM of attacking."

Y shook her head, "Let's not make any assumptions now, X. They could strike at any time. Go, you think that too, don't you?"

Go sighed, retying her ponytail, "Sometimes I wonder who is the 'Hunter' in this situation. There Team Flare is, chilling out with the rest of the world, and here we are, scurrying between towns like mice in a maze. And not to mention the fear of being taken out at random… Ugh… Now I'm a little jittery."

Ryu turned to her, "Then let's handle the Gym! X, Y, go and do something not dangerous. I'm going with Z to scout out the Gym." X folded his arms, "Isn't that normally what I do?"

"Yeah, well, I just have a bad feeling about this place…" he muttered, glancing around, "The sooner we can GTHOH the better."

I nodded, turning to Go, "Let's go."

Go mounted Epona, and I kicked off the ground, hoverboard beneath my feet.

Ryu was about to take off as well, but then Y stopped him, "Um… What's…GTHOH?"

"Why, Get The Hell Outta Here, of course! See ya!" Ryu smirked, taking off in a burst of flame.

Faster and faster she ran, swinging across vines. She ducked down, white scarf blowing in the wind behind her. She turned around, and spotted the two other Flare Grunts following, each armed with FAMAS SMGs. She growled, "So, this is what I've become…?"

She swung over to a better spot, just hidden by the various leaves around her. Just as she did, she activated her camouflage gear, blending into the surroundings.

"…I give my life, not for honour, but for you."

Go looked over her phone, "Oh, you'll like this one, Z. The Gym Leader, Ramos, is a Grass-Type herder, just like you!" I stared at her, "…Excuse me?" "One of his main Pokemon is a Gogoat, and the others are just copious amounts of Sunflora! This is so cool!" Go looked like a kid wanting to watch two superheroes fight, her eyes twinkling, "Z, will you prove to me, once and for all, that YOU are the greatest Gogoat Herder ever in this battle?! Are you a bad enough person?!"

Epona and I gave her the same, blank stare, "No."

"Oh, fine. Be that way." Go fake-pouted, spinning her phone and attaching it back onto her belt. Chris, not quite understanding sarcasm yet, growled, "Look what you've done! You've hurt her feelings!" Ryu barked a laugh, "Sure, sure."

MISSION START!

I grabbed onto a vine, "Alright, Go. If the last few gyms, and that tower are any indication, I can safely assume that there is something good at the top!" Go noted the giant tree down in her notebook, "And I got another structure for the list! Alright!"

She tossed her grappling hook up to a branch, scampering up quickly. All of a sudden, bullets began flying out of nowhere at her, "WAUGH!"

I Dash-jumped onto her rope, using my sword to slice the bullets into halves rapidly, "GO! SHOOT THEM!" She groaned, holding onto the rope with one hand and the shotgun in the other. With several grunts, she finally managed to pump it with her teeth, and took aim.

"Flare Grunts?!" She gasped, "Z, you were right!" She fired, missing horribly. However, this slight distraction was enough for me to double-jump onto the central pillar, and soon both grunts lay on the ground, unconscious.

As we kept climbing, Go brought up an important question, "Hey, Z? How do you manage not to kill anyone with that thing? It is a sword, and you practically swing it around like you want to cut something. Yet, all it does is knock out enemies."

I brought up the weapon, "Hmm… Maybe the weapon changes when I use it in battle so it knocks enemies out instead of cutting. After all, Zygarde's soul is in this thing, right? Maybe he acknowledges that I don't want to kill, so he does that."

A Flare Grunt suddenly dashed at me from behind, but I brought up my blade in time to counter him. He jumped back, pulling out his assault rifle and firing it at me. Once again, my blade zipped up to counter it.

All of a sudden, a soft clink sounded, and he fell over, electrified. I looked around, but no one was there.

"Why did you shoot him?!"

Sakura growled, "They're disobeying orders. We were told not to engage him directly. What are they doing?"

"…That's stupid!"

I kept running up the side of the tree, Go swinging with a combination of her grappling hook and vines. As we climbed, yet even more grunts appeared, but they were easily dismissed with a few shotgun blasts or slashes.

After what felt like an eternity, I landed on the top of the tree with Go, gasping for air, "Thank… Zygarde… I… Don't think…"

"Oh! Hello there! Would you like some tea? It's organic!"

We looked up and saw an old man sitting before us, wearing a green beret and clothing. He was clearly outfitted as a gardener, but I couldn't help but think the unusual clothing her wore was more than just that.

"Ramos…you…are?" Go puffed, too tired to bother arranging words properly. Ramos nodded, "Yes! So, you are the Flare Hunters? And with that legendary blade too, I see."

I gasped, "How?!"

"Boy, do you think this uniform is simply the garb of an aged man such as myself?" the gardener asked, "Well, no. These clothes I wear are none other than those of the Kalos Resistance Force during the war!"

Go studied the clothing, "…But why are you wearing it to fight someone as simple as us?"

Ramos picked up a cup of tea from a nearby table, taking a sip, "That's because I heard you were coming, of course! The legendary hero of our era! So I thought I should wear the same clothing that I wore decades ago when I last saw him."

I shook my head, "…I'm no hero. I'm just… Z."

"Really now? Do not pretend that you are just another boy in red! The sword in your hands is ancient, as old as the wood on this ancient tree. May I tell you, back in the war, this very tree was home to the Resistance Base. Our commander was a funny person as well. He had just the oddest ideas, like the time he was convinced that fairies were with him. Oh, and before the war, I was a teacher, and prior to that, a sailor. Back when I was a teacher, there were these two girls in my class, who loved singing. Ah, and that was how I met my first love too, as a sailor…"

"OJII-CHAN!" Piku yelled, obviously exhausted.

Go shook herself awake, "I'm very interested, yes, but this is still a gym battle, is it not? Well, let's get this train wreck rollin'!"

I stood up, "Yeah! Right!"

[BATTLE!]

[VS RAMOS!]

Ramos sent out his Gogoat, and it charged right at us. Epona jumped forth from a beam of light, tackling him to the ground. A series of Razor Leaves sliced her chest. She swiftly dodged, lowering a shield of leaves before her in case of another attack.

"SOLARBEAM! ALL SUNFLORA, INTO POSITION!"

'Huh?' I pondered, 'Sunflora? How will that help him in the slightest…"

Suddenly hundreds upon hundreds of Sunflora appeared out of nowhere before Epona. The little goat's expression at this turn of events was the summarization of "OH SHIT!".

"FIRE!"

The Skidoo yelped, dodging and trying to dodge the massive amount of lasers that blanketed the room in a hail of fire! Ryu jumped into the fray, creating a flame shield around himself and absorbing all the blasts. The fox then spun his stick around, transforming it into… A firey sniper rifle?!

"FFFOOOUR TWEEENTY BLAAAZE IT!" Ryu screamed, spinning around and inexplicably hitting most of the Pokemon with small fireballs, sending them falling down. Ryu mimed reloading, "Wot M8, GG! R8 8/8 GR8 M8 Don't H8!"

Go pointed behind him, "Look out!"

Ryu barely glanced over his shoulder when the Gogoat ran him over, sending him sprawling on the wooden floor. Ryu groaned, "Ow… I call…Hax..."

Epona growled, creating what seemed like a grassy version of my sword and leaping into battle. The Gogoat let out a roar, charging once more. Epona jumped out of the way, letting him skid to a stop on the ground before jumping in and slashing from behind. The Gogoat suddenly mule-kicked Epona, sending her flying into a branch on top of the tree. Leaves rained down upon us both.

I gritted my teeth, "Grr! He's more experienced than I thought! Go, can you heal Ryu?" The programmer pulled out a potion, "On it!"

I then turned to Chris, "Chris, do you know…?"

'Current Status. Ryu down. I'm getting thrown about like a sack of potatoes, and this guy's not going down.' Epona thought angrily, shaking as she stood, 'Maybe if I combined my power with someone else's, I could easily-'

"Never give up, Epona."

Epona's ears pricked up, as a familiar load rested upon her back, "You have never failed me before, have you?"

Upon Epona's back was none other than her original rider and my mother, Grace Auditore da Firenze.

'R…Right! But you're not a combat rider…'

"Yes, but we were bred for speed. So instead of focusing on what the enemy has, focus on what we have!"

Epona nodded, 'G…Got it!'

"Hit it with all you got!"Grace declared, kicking Epona's sides like she had so many times before…

"WELCOME, ONE AND ALL, TO THE UNOVA COUNTY SKIDOO LEAGUE RACE FINALS! TODAY, WE HAVE RACE FAVORITE TRON 'LEGENDEN STERBEN NIE' BONNE AND NEWCOMER, BUT VERY FAMOUS AND DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF ALL RHYHORN RACING FANS, GRACE 'OÙ LE VENT SOUFFLE' AUDITORE DA FIRENZE, COMPETING FOR TITLE OF THE FASTEST SKIDOO IN UNOVA!"

Epona looked around herself, a little scared of all the people around her. A familiar warm hand rested on her shoulder, "It's really scary, isn't it?" She brayed softly, nudging the boy, none other than young future Flare Hunter Z.

His mother walked over to her, "It's almost time, Ed! Is Epona okay?" The brown haired boy nodded, "Yeah! She's a little scared of all the crowds, though…"

'I… I'm not afraid of my opponent now.'

She kicked off the floor, dashing around behind the Gogoat. The giant goat spun around, as the Sunflora around it lit up the arena with SolarBeams. Grace pulled back on the reins, dodging the beams, before Epona took a clean hit to her body.

Go gasped, "Epona!" I chuckled, "Don't worry. I got this. SOLARBEAM!"

The smaller Skidoo landed on the ground, glowing a golden hue. Grace held on, "FIRE!"

"READY?"

Epona gritted her teeth, as did her rider. Grace breathed, "Want me to tell you something?"

"SET!"

"I've never ridden a Skidoo before. And Tron has been in more races than I have." The brown haired woman lowered the goggles over her eyes. Epona looked up at her in disbelief for a few seconds.

"But when I'm situations like this, I just remember a little mantra my own father told me…"

"GO!"

"Hit it with all you got!"Grace yelled, kicking Epona's sides as the gates swung open.

'I intend to.'

There was a loud whine, as Epona charged up a yet even more powerful Solarbeam before her. The air rippled around the front of the glowing energy ball, as the arena darkened. Epona growled, aiming directly at the Gogoat.

"THEY ARE NECK AND NECK HERE! IF ONE OF THEM SLIPS UP, IT COULD SPELL THE END OF THEIR CAREERS!"

"SKIII!"

That wasn't good. That sound was rarely good. Grace gasped, "A nail in your hoof?! Somebody left them on the track… Epona, we can't turn back now!" Epona looked up into her black eyes, still galloping at full speed.

"I know it hurts, but please hold on for just a little longer! When we finish this race, we can remove the nail!"

The pain… It burned through her leg… The most vital part of a Skidoo…

"Don't give up! Faster!"

Pain…

"I'm not giving up on you, Epona!"

'…I'm not giving up!'

Epona let out an adrenalin filled cry, blasting into the lead. Behind her, she dropped a seed of some sort…

A massive explosion, and she rocketed forward.

'TIME TO FINISH THIS!'

She fired the beam.

A massive yellow line streaked across our vision, as the absorbed energy was launched back to sender, amplified in the Skidoo's body. How, we may never know.

The Gogoat took the full brunt of the hit, falling back rapidly and turning back around to counter-attack. Grace gritted her teeth, "No way! Faster, Epona! HAAAAH!"

Grace drew a crossbow (Not that Epona could see it), taking aim and firing several bolts at the Gogoat's most vulnerable points; the legs. Take it from a herder himself, if one gets even the smallest splinter in the hoof, it could badly cripple it. And with something as big as a crossbow bolt…

"HAAAAA!"Grace yelled in unison with her Skidoo, pushing on despite the pain. Their opponent was now a pink dot, far behind them. Epona could feel no pain now, no hesitation.

She was one with her rider. And her rider was determined to see this race through.

"AND GRACE CROSSES THE LINE, MAKING HER AND HER SKIDOO THE FASTEST IN UNOVA! THIS IS INCREDIBLE PEOPLE!"

The brown-haired woman whooped, dunking her fist, "YES! FINALLY! I MADE IT!"

Her son, watching from the sidelines, ran over to his mother, hugging the little Skidoo that had led her to victory. It was all the little brown-haired boy could reach.

"Mom! You won!"

"I sure did! Ed, tonight we are going to party like there's no tomorrow!" the rider smiled. The young Z cheered, "Yay! I call dibs on the ice cream!"

"But after we take that nail out of Epona's hoof, of course!"

"Aww, mooom!"

Epona smiled to herself internally.

"He's wounded! Now's our chance! Ryu!" Grace (Okay, so maybe it wasn't her…) called out. Ryu nodded, having finished spraying a Potion over his wounds and lighting up his firey sword once more, "EAT THIS! FIREBLAST!"

He with a few deft flicks of his wrist, he drew the kanji in the air, and with another, he sent it flying at the opposing Grass-Type. Epona hurled a seed from a vine, and it exploded violently, decimating the opponent.

Ramos clapped his hands, "Stop! That is quite enough. You have proven your worth, Flare Hunter Z. In fact, that final move is one that I perfected. I call it Blast Seed. However, it takes one a long time to perfect the move, yet your Skidoo was able to master it first try. Truly, you are indeed the son of Grace."

"You know my mother?" I asked, standing up straight.

"There is no better breeder I know than her. When I saw your eyes and your pokemon's fighting style and movement, I had no doubt that you were he. Truly, the sword upon your hip could not have chosen a better man." Ramos spoke.

Epona looked up at her rider, and Chris sat atop her, shaking, "…?" "Z told me to do this… He said you always seemed more courageous when she rode you… And you were! I'm going to ride you more!" The Lucario straightened up, patting Epona. She whinnied happily, before pausing.

'W…Wait. If she was only pretending… Then she wouldn't have known her catchphrase…'

"Hit it with all you got!" Grace declared, kicking Epona's sides.

'So… Then that means…'

Epona smiled, bowing her head and closing her eyes, 'Thank you, Grace.'

"It is a shame she is not truly here in person. I would tell her that she has a wonderful child… and that he deserves this!"

Ramos handed me a small metal badge, and I collected it, "Th…Thank you! Alright!" Go cheered with me, "YES! That makes four badges, for all those kids playing along at home!"

I closed my eyes, raising a fist into the air. I was unbeatable.

Little did I know how far I could fall…

"I'm sorry."

I turned around at the sound of the familiar voice.

"S…Sakura?"

Brown eyes filled with tears met mine. Ramos gasped, "Who are you?!"

Ugh… That question…!

"I am Sakura Ha… A Team Flare Grunt."

"W…What?! How did you… you turned?!" Go gasped, reaching for her shotgun. I gritted my teeth, "X was right!"

I'm… I'm not…

"I'm sorry, Z. Duty calls. I have been ordered by Lysandre… To take you out!"

I edged back, blade armed.

(SAO II- Ignite)

This can't be true… I'm his ally… I shouldn't be fighting him…

"Now, without a second thought, pull the trigger on this inconsistent world."

Flare Grunts began to pour into the room, aiming their FAMAS at us. Go gasped, "We're surrounded… Z! It's a trap!"

"I can't believe I must do this…" Sakura breathed slowly.

I thought I understood what kindness meant…

From the warmth of a shed tear.

She aimed her rifle shakily at my head. A red laser sight locked onto my forehead. I let out a gasp.

She was going to kill me.

I was going to honestly die.

"Yet why do we keep hurting one another?"

"Thus giving birth to more hatred."

I can't do this to him. If we are to capture him… then I shall do it my own way.

If the strength acquired from the pain I keep locked inside,

Will someday softly cover the future, then...

The red dot sight flicked off. The clatter of steel on wood.

A sniper rifle fell to the ground.

Sakura slumped to her knees, head bowed. Her breaths were slow and gasping.

Then it hit me.

She didn't want to fight. But she was forced to.

"Now, without a second thought, pull the trigger on this inconsistent world."

"Do your duty."

W…What?

"I know what you need to do. Don't hold back."

Z…

"It's not your fault. It's not."

I…

"Step forward! Step into the light! If you're ready, and you're willing, and you're prepared to fight."

Softly, softly, embracing this red tear-covered sorrow…

She stood up at last, drawing a pokeball from her belt, "…Fine."

"Battle… VS…Flare Hunter Z…"

I poised my blade to strike. It was time. No more pain. No more hesitation.

Brown eyes acquired steel.

"GET READY!"Sakura yelled,sending out a Pokemon.

WARNING!

"In order for the sound of the beginning to take the place of my reverberated impulses!"

I dashed forwards, as seeds whipped past my ears. An Ivysaur, with a leafy green blade. It slashed forwards at me, and I dodged back to avoid the blade.

"TARGET LOCK!"

A gunshot. A searing pain shot through my arm! I let out a cry, as Ryu dashed in, his own blade drawn, "Z! Take care of Sakura! I'll handle big and green here!"

"Distorted noises echoing through my ears;"

"Gradually devouring up my memories!"

Flare Hunter Z dashed at me, lime green blade a mere streak of viridian. I reloaded my rifle. This was between him and myself.

This was my own fault. There was no one who could stop me believing that.

But even if I sent my prayers, and only stood stock still,

It wouldn't make a difference.

Gunshots rang through the arena. My scarlet blood stained the wood. Sakura locked onto me, firing yet another shot at my head. I dodged just as a lead pellet whizzed past my head. Without hesitation, she tossed the rifle over her shoulder, pulling an SMG off her back and aiming it at me. Round after round it spat, creating perfectly shaped lines of bullet holes around the room.

I dodged most of the bullets, but a single lead shot grazed my arm, slicing off part of my sleeve. I hissed in pain. Okay, looks like my clothes aren't going to survive this one…

I tossed my messenger bag on the ground behind me, and it slid across the wooden floor, coming to a stop before Go. Go… She was shocked. Too shocked to move, to breathe, to join in.

As far as she… and I were concerned…

This was where I fell.

"Even my heart's quivering sounds are undoubtedly growing weaker."

He was a wounded beast, rushing at me again in the hopes of attacking. A primal instinct of mine kicked in, and I switched out weapons once more to my pistol.

The first weapon I used when I met…

I froze up, the gun in my hand. I… I couldn't use it… It… it was…

So before the palely shining flame goes out…

She hesitated.

It was enough.

I dashed forward once more, sword in hand. In a single deft flick of my wrist, I cleaved the gun into neat halves, landing a kick on Sakura. She fell back, white scarf flapping as she skidded across the wooden floor. I turned my back to leave.

"Wait." She spoke.

I turned around. It wasn't over yet.

"Now, tossing all fear away, I'll unshackle this version of me that's still frightened by the past!"

He did it.

He shattered the gun in two. A bleeding line of scarlet stained the palm of my hand.

"I'm not going down that easy. There is still some fight left in me!"I yelled. What an odd feeling to want to do something, yet say another. Z glared at me, "It doesn't have to end like this."

"N…No… It'll end LIKE THIS!"I yelled, pulling out my most powerful weapon.

My shotgun.

Putting my faith in tomorrow, I'll smash down the rusted door.

An eyebrow flicked up.

A…Shotgun? Why would she draw such an odd weapon?

Sakura was a sniper. Her forte was ranged combat. It was just… reckless to want to engage someone with a sword which she clearly knew could reflect and defend against bullets with a simple shotgun. The range wouldn't be enough for her to-

No…

"YOU…. YOU GET OFF MY LAWN!" Sakura bellowed, dashing forwards. Her own dash boots… My blood ran cold.

Her proficiency… Her different uniform… Her equipment…

This was no ordinary Flare Grunt!

"Just like my strained feelings, cutting through the silent darkness…"

I fired my shotgun, sending Z flying back. He seemed to be distracted by something. He hardly put up any resistance, slamming into a branch. Z stood back up, sword poised to strike, "You're no ordinary Flare Grunt… Just who are you?"

I pumped my shotgun.

"Your killer."I spoke coldly.

The old me was dead. Only a fierce killing instinct remained.

He roared, dashing forwards. His blade danced wildly, but I carefully ducked under his wide slashes and attacks, landing a clean shot on his chest. This was it. The fight for who I was.

As the shooting stars flicker…

Most of my lower jacket was gone, tattered and torn. Ryu had long since been beaten, lying on the ground unconscious, as Go retrieved him worriedly. My exposed, bleeding chest felt cold as I shakily stood up once more. Sakura reached over her back, "Let's finish this fight, Flare Hunter. IDKFA! Z-SABRE!"

She drew… No... Way…

In her hands was none other than my own, wretched blade, glowing a deep lavender.

"The world will be born once more."

…Strange… Out of all the weapons I could have acquired, it was this one…

I gritted my teeth, holding a sword of dark energy in my hands. It had to come to this, Z…

We circled each other, like a pair of hunters surrounding their prey.

And then..

"And once I see the curtains rise across the night sky, then surely…"

They pounced! Lime green danced with lavender as the two fought. A dark energy coursed through Sakura's veins, an energy crafted from a strange other world. Z's blade shone with an almighty light, as energy charged up from within. Z slashed forward. Sakura brought her blade up to defend, giving her an opening to pull out another pistol from her pocket and land several clean shots on Z's chest once more. Z let out a yell, falling down. The battle had recognized this sort of fight. The familiar scent of adrenaline coursing through her veins, as Z stood up once more.

"Softly… Softly… embracing this red tear-covered sorrow…"

Both of them were wounded. Low on energy, struggling to remain standing.

Then, a single voice cut through the silence. It came from Sakura's headset.

Lysandre ordered the final attack from the Flares.

"Kill him."

"In order for the sound of the beginning…To take the place of my reverberated impulses…"

Guns blazed. Go was knocked unconscious by a grunt slamming the butt of his gun on her head. The programmer fell to the ground, blood spilling from the wound.

Flare Hunter Z's clothing tore, blood streaming from his body, as he dragged himself upright, flinching as bullets struck his body. He was standing not due to his body, but rather his will to survive. His sword was now a green flame, as he powered up his damaged and sparking Dash Boots one final time.

The death of Z.

"HYAAAAAAAAAH!"Z cried, slicing a clean cut across Sakura's arm.

The sniper barely flinched.

Z collapsed onto the floor…

With the last of his energy, he choked out last words to his allies… his friends… Anyone who would listen. Anyone who would care.

"I… I… I'm sorry…Go… Good fight…"

He fell at last. Edward Auditore da Firenze had been slain, protecting Kalos.

MISSION FAILED…

When the smoke cleared, I stood above the body of my slain enemy. He had been bleeding so heavily, but nobody noticed. His heart was slow, pumping out blood to burst veins.

Z was dead.

The Flares seemed pleased.

In horror, I looked down at my hands, stained in Z's blood. His sword lay by his body, deactivated and dead. His hat fell off in silence, revealing a brown fringe that fell over his eye. It was so young… So innocent…

Just like Red's...

No… NO!

I collapsed on my knees, sobbing and crying. I was too quick… I should have… have…

"IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!"

...He's really dead...?

The being opened its eyes briefly in shock, before closing them again in retreat to his home domain of dreams...

C'mon, Z! Wake up!