A/N: Hello everyone! Welcome back to this story! Today we wrap up the DL-6 arc! I hope you enjoy!
The preparations for the journey were prepared. Edgeworth had spent the entire period of his removal from knighthood shining his armor. He wore it here and had saddled upon his grand horse, preparing for the long journey that had awaited the group.
Phoenix had prepared his luggage and everything he needed for the trip. His sheathed weapon sat on his holster, preparing for whatever may come. Maya had suited up in her regular clothing, with a few slight changes. Where her exposed long legs would be, there were large plates of metal armor.
von Karma had been wearing a golden suit of armor with several jewels encrusted across the base of his armor.
"Are you all ready?," exclaimed Phoenix. The group responded positively. Their horses began to trot across the plains of Japanifornia.
"Do we know where that man could've fled to?," questioned Phoenix.
"There are sightings of him from the city of Carmathen," spoke von Karma's menacing voice ",We journey there and attempt to find more information."
"Carmathen!," said Phoenix, baffled ",That's the furthest I've ever had to travel!"
"Luckily, it's on the edge of the grand ocean," spoke Edgeworth ",If we travel as fast as possible, we may be able to prevent his escape."
"Let us depart!," exclaimed Phoenix. The group rode off to accomplish their duty.
"W-Wright," spoke Edgeworth ",I-I-I'm remembering something from DL-6. A recurring dream."
"Edgeworth? What is it?"
"It's where we're being attacked by the strange force at DL-6 and in my attempt to attack it I throw a dagger and fall unconscious. I hear a terrible scream before I fall unconscious."
"Edgeworth? You don't think?"
"Wr-Wright, I-I-I can't be certain of anything," said Edgeworth.
"S-s-Sir Edgeworth," spoke Maya, in a caring tone.
"Let's just finish our journey," spoke Edgeworth, clearly conflicted ",I-I need more time to ponder on th-this."
"Maya? Any luck with your powers?," questioned Phoenix ",Can you do it? Can you use any magic?"
"I-I-I can't do much, Nick! I-I feel so useless! I'm failing at accomplishing this basic task!," exclaimed Maya ",I can only make a small flicker of light! Light is the easiest form of magic, and yet I can't even do anything with it!"
"M-Maya," spoke Phoenix, concerned for his younger friend.
"Nick, let's just hurry up," said Maya ",We need to finish our task." At that moment, a large explosion was heard from within a nearby forest. Within moments, a large portion of the woodlands was ablaze. The group began to ride off to assist, when von Karma stopped them.
"Waste of time. We are here for one objective. Anything else, is meaningless!," exclaimed von Karma. The rest of the knights ignored him and began to ride into the shrubbery. von Karma sat on his horse, sighing.
When they entered the forest, they saw a red headed girl standing with her back against a tree, horrified at what she was seeing. In front of her, a man wearing a long, black surcoat stood, holding a long katana. They were both facing a large flame. Emerging from the center of it, a woman held her hands out and suddenly the flames dissipated.
"Well Simon? How did this look this ti-," spoke the woman ",Oh! Are these knights!"
"What! What just happened?," questioned Phoenix.
"O-oh. I'm currently studying several different forms of magic and I recently began work on creating dragons. They've been extinct for several hundred years, and I wished to bring them back," said the woman ",Oh! I'm Metis Cykes, this is my understudy who is training to become a knight, Simon Blackquill and over there is my daughter, Athena Cykes."
"Pleased to meet you!," said Maya.
"Ha! Reviving the dragons is impossible," spoke von Karma, who was approaching from behind.
"My last experiment went fairly well. I was able to sustain a dragon for several minutes. This resulted in an explosion. Ultimately, it was his flames that ended him. Still, I'm experimenting."
"Hmph," said von Karma ",As 'interesting' as this is, I suggest we leave to go and hunt our prey. NOW!"
"Very well," said Phoenix.
"Farewell!," exclaimed Metis.
"They're strange ones, aren't they?," said Simon.
"They are knights. They are the pride and joy of our kingdom. And we know how relations with Khura'in are roughening. They'll be needed more than ever soon enough."
"Mommy! I like knights!," chirped the voice of five year old Athena Cykes.
"Haha. Then may be in a few years you can become one."
"If you continue to waste our time like that, Sir Wright, then I'm afraid that we won't be able to arrive at our destination within a two days," spoke von Karma.
"Someone could have been in danger!," exclaimed Phoenix.
"Does that even matter? We were given an assignment and we shall do it... perfectly," spoke von Karma.
"But our job is to protect the peo-."
"Our job is to do what is assigned to us perfectly! Nothing more!," exclaimed von Karma ",Your ideology is one of a bygone age."
"That's enough! No more debate about ideologies and other nonsense! Our purpose right now is the old man!," exclaimed Edgeworth.
"Edgeworth...," said Phoenix. The group continued to traverse through the lands of Japanifornia.
"How could the old man travel so far in just a few mere hours!," exclaimed Phoenix.
"There's only one explanation. Forbidden Dark magic," said Edgeworth ",One of the few magics currently marked as forbidden. Performing this magic will cost you your life."
"What is it?... ," spoke Phoenix.
"It's a form of magic that grants incredible power to an individual temporarily," said Edgeworth ",It's never permissible. Only if it's available in a life threatening situation."
"Even if it's available, someone is bound to be executed through torture, regardless of if it was life threatening," said von Karma ",To use it, you need an incantation and a potion. Simply making the potion is unforgivable, let alone using it."
"Our neighboring kingdoms have very different opinions on this magic," said Edgeworth.
"It allows you to travel between two incredibly distant locations in a matter of minutes," explained Phoenix.
"It can grant a user incredible magic," said von Karma ",I have never witnessed it. It grants the user enough magic to conquer an entire army."
"Wright. Remember in our younger days how we learned of the Massacre of Agarian," said Edgeworth ",This is what caused that. This is also what deemed this magic unforgivable."
"B-but! The Massacre of Agarian was a terrible tragedy! It claimed the lives of every member of both the Japanifornian and Khura'inese armies during the war several hundred years ago. You can't tell me that the reason the armies were wiped out was because of this horrid magic!"
"This magic does have limitations," said Edgeworth ",It must be preserved. To use it all at once would only cause a large blast and would result in the user losing their consciousness. If you don't use it, you can preserve it for multiple days. This can prevent death from coming to you during those few days."
"It appears as though our target decided to use it all at once," spoke von Karma ",Maybe that is how he managed to flee. He cannot use it again. It takes all of one's energy to enter the state. For him to rebuild all his energy, he will need several weeks."
"Then we must hurry!," exclaimed Phoenix.
After several days of travel, Edgeworth has never looked worse. His eyes were bloodshot from a lack of sleep. von Karma gazed into the distance menacingly, as though trying to frighten it. Phoenix wouldn't blame the distance for fearing von Karma."
"We have about an hour of travel remaining," said von Karma ",Remember, we need to be at our best. We have confirmed he is a magic user."
"Oh. If only I could still do something," said Maya.
"Witch girl, are you any good with a sword?," questioned von Karma.
"Not at the level of a knight," said Maya.
"Then you're useless," spoke von Karma.
"ENOUGH!," exclaimed Phoenix ",von Karma! That's enough of your insulting."
"Nick. There's a nearby waterfall. Maybe if I can stay there and tap into the element, maybe I'll be able to be a little useful."
"Maya..."
"I'll be back with you later!," exclaimed Maya. She had rode off on her horse and the rest of the group continued towards their destination.
"Wright... I'm sorry, but she can't worry about her self image if she doesn't have her life," said Edgeworth ",Give her time."
"You of all people are giving me people advice, Edgeworth."
"Hmph. She was useless, so we disposed of her," said von Karma.
"Grrrr." Phoenix had an unmatched anger towards the veteran knight.
After they had arrived at Carmathen, they began to search the perimeter.
"We've been traveling for several days," said a Edgeworth ",It's very possible that he fled."
"That's enough!," exclaimed a voice.
"Y-you!" The old man had stepped out.
"A-a-are you Yogi!?" Edgeworth's voice was filled with emotion.
"Yes. I got revenge on Hammond and now... I'll get my revenge on you!" Yogi flew in the air, and launched a pillar of flame in Edgeworth's direction. Edgeworth attempted to use his armor to protect himself, but he was launched backwards. Phoenix charged at the man from the side and jumped up in an attempt to knock the man down. The man pulled a wave of water from the ocean behind him, and concentrated it on Phoenix. Phoenix placed his blade in front of him, which deflected a good portion of water, but the man froze the water and tightened his grip on Phoenix's blade.
His hand glowed purple, and he held his hand out at Phoenix. A purple blast enveloped Phoenix and before long, Phoenix had been knocked far back against a tree. Von Karma drew his weapon and launched himself in the air, before taking three swings at the old man, who deflected all the swings. Von Karma landed on his feet and drew a bow. He immediately fired several shots, one of which stuck in Yogi's right arm.
Yogi fell to the ground, and Edgeworth drew his blade and swung it into the other man. Yogi deflected the blade with a purple blast. Using a purple light of magic, he formed a sword which immediately consolidated into a very powerful weapon. He swung the weapon with seeming ease at Edgeworth, who parried with his own weapon. Interlocked in the dance of battle, the two victims of DL-6 swung their blades at each other with precision and striking accuracy.
Phoenix attempted to swing his own blade down at Yogi, but was parried and knocked back again. Von Karma attempted to sweep at Yogi's feet with his blade, but Yogi blasted the veteran knight back. Yogi dissipated his blade and concentrated a large blast at Edgeworth, which knocked him to the ground.
"I'm afraid it's over, Edgeworth!," exclaimed Yogi ",Now then... Join your faatheeerrrr!"
"Edgeworth!," exclaimed Phoenix. At that moment, a large gust of wind flew into Yogi. The man went flying backwards towards the ocean behind him. He regained his footing and caught a glimpse of what had knocked him down.
"M-Maya!," exclaimed Phoenix.
"Nick! I-I was only able to make some wind. My other abilities are completely locked. Do you have a plan?," exclaimed Maya.
"I-I will come up with one," spoke Edgeworth. Within moments the entire room was on his logical chessboard and his mind began to spin into action with the ability of the Edgeworth's noble family.
"Now then. We only have access to Madame Fey's wind ability against that man. The only other thing we have is our generic weapons. If she used wind to propel us forward, that man would blast us back. We need to overwhelm that man. Von Karma and I could attempt to charge at him while Madame Fey blasts her wind at that man. Then Wright could deliver the final blow, killing the man. That's the plan!"
Edgeworth laid his plan out for the others and they prepared. Edgeworth and von Karma charged the man and he responded by consolidating a sword again and parrying both of the warriors' swipes. Maya quickly blasted a gust of wind concentrated on the older man. Phoenix began to run at the man while holding his sword.
"This is the end," mumbled Phoenix. He swung his sword and the blade struck true. The man had fallen to the ground, gone from the world.
The group began to return back to the capitol city. They traversed through the treacherous lands, one location very near to the DL-6's resting place.
"Sir v-von Karma. I wish to confess a recurring dream of mine."
"What is it, Edgeworth?" von Karma seemed to be eager to hear what Edgeworth had to say. So Edgeworth explained the dream that he had to von Karma.
"Y-YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DL-6!" von Karma was enraged. He drew his blade and attempted to end Edgeworth's life.
"W-wait!," exclaimed Phoenix, drawing his own blade and parrying von Karma's strike.
"Can you give a better explanation for DL-6!," exclaimed von Karma.
"What if the true murderer was the person who was attacking them!"
"Hmph." Von Karma kept swinging at Edgeworth, all of the strikes blocked by Phoenix.
"Edgeworth threw a dagger. What if that dagger hit the real killer!" Phoenix swung with all his force at von Karma, who parried the blow.
"Then that person must've been someone who was on a nearby mission then!" Von Karma's blows we're perfectly timed against Phoenix's sloppy parries.
"The only one who could've been on a mission in the vicinity at that time was...," said Edgeworth ",... No! I-it can't be!"
"Sir Edgeworth?," questioned Maya.
"It was... von Karma!," exclaimed Edgeworth.
"What!," exclaimed Phoenix, swinging his blade at von Karma.
"I couldn't have killed Gregory Edgeworth. I don't have any form of scar on my shoulder. An enchanted dagger leaves a permanent scar."
"Not even the best of healing magics can heal that kind of scar," said Edgeworth ",It can't be possible."
"(If von Karma is truly without magic, it is impossible. But what kind of magic can bypass enchanted dagg-...) WHAAAAAAAAT!"
"Hmph. You seem to have come to something, Sir Wright." Phoenix swung his blade down at von Karma, who parried.
"Djinn!," exclaimed Phoenix ",A Djinn isn't affected by enchanted daggers! Every other creature is! It's the only explanation! Von Karma, let us test it!" Phoenix swung his sword and the blade simply fazed through von Karma's left shoulder, but the difference was that the blade was glowing with an incredibly bright heat.
"Aaaaaagh!," cried von Karma. A dark aura began to emanate from the tear of his clothing ",
N-No!" A large purple blast came crashing down at Phoenix, who couldn't do anything in defense of himself. He went flying far back.
"Yoooouuu! You killed my father!," exclaimed Edgeworth, drawing his own blade.
"Hmph. Yes Edgeworth. That man made a mockery of me! He succeeded in a mission where I failed! And you! You caused this permanent pain in my shoulder!"
"How did you disguise yourself as a human for all these years! Does anyone else know?"
"The only one who knew was my late wife," said von Karma. He dived at Edgeworth and swung his blade in a frenzy of motion that Edgeworth couldn't mimic. He could only hold his blade up and hope that none of von Karma's strikes struck true. Maya attempted to blast a large wind blast at von Karma, which merely knocked the man backwards. The trio regrouped.
"It appears as though the only way to defeat our enemy is to drain his power completely," said Edgeworth ",If our blades cut through him, his magic will all fade out of there and once he is out of it, he is gone."
"Then let us go with our swords," said Phoenix. The two young knights charged the Djinn in disguise. He fired several blast of fire at the knights, who continued running in that direction, while dodging his well placed blasts of fire. Maya used her wind to lift the two knights towards the now floating von Karma. He drew his blade and was in a full frenzy of motion.
Phoenix attempted to sweep his feet, while Edgeworth attempted to strike his chest. He parried Phoenix's weapon and ducked. Edgeworth's weapon merely scratched the side of his face. A large hole appeared and a large amount of his magic started to flow out of the hole. But that didn't stop any of the fighters. They all continued through the battle, hoping to strike their opponent.
Phoenix and Edgeworth struck him on his shoulder, which was now fully leaking an aura of strange magic. Von Karma cried in pain. Taking advantage of this, Phoenix and Edgeworth turned to stab him again. Phoenix drove the blade through the middle of the now weak Djinn. His magic was rapidly draining.
"I-I... DAMN YOU EEEEEDDDDDGEEEEWWWWOOOOORRRRTTHHH! I-I'll bury you with my bare hands! Death! Death!" The remnant of von Karma dissipated as the last of the purple aura exited his body, ending von Karma.
"Papa was a WHAAAAT!," cried Franziska after Edgeworth had given her the news about her father.
"I'm sorry Franziska," said Edgeworth. Franziska's sadness was very hard to deal with.
"He never told us? After all of this time?," said Franziska, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"No... he didn't."
"In the name of Queen Lana Skye, we hereby reinstate Miles Edgeworth as an honorable knight working for justice in the Kingdom of Japanifornia!" The ceremony had finished and Edgeworth had been reinstated to his position of knight.
"Nick. I've made a decision. I want to return to Kurain and continue to train."
"Why?," questioned Phoenix.
"I want to be useful to you. I-I-I will be back. I promise, Nick."
"Goodbye Maya."
"D-Dammit! What should I do! Uggghhh!" Miles Edgeworth's voice was plagued with peril and emotion. He had been reinstated, yet he had no beliefs or morals to go by any more.
"I will wait for the right moment to return. But as of now..."
Honorable Knight Miles Edgeworth Chooses Death
A/N: An there it is! There is the first major arc of "The Kingdom of Japanifornia!" For reference, that potion I was mentioning doesn't have a name as of yet. Anyways, I hope you all have enjoyed the series so far!
Cheers,
Muhammad S.