Kevin sat solemnly on the same couch from before, inside the McCloud household. He was lightly bruised and beaten as Krystal treated some of his wounds, but that was not at the forefront of his mind now. He had just related the story of what had recently happened in last battle to everyone around who would listen.
Rose sat on the opposite end with Amy. The little cougar girl, who now looked up to Rose as a kind of big sister, watched Kevin with a slightly saddened look on her face. She was certainly no stranger to losing family, so she empathized with him in a big way. Rose sighed as she gently patted Amy, looking just as solemn as her friend.
"I can't believe he'd do something like that…" Fox spoke softly, pacing around the room a bit. "In all the years I knew Wolf O'Donnel, the last thing I'd ever consider him doing is something noble…"
Krystal nodded softly to her husband as she cleaned some of Kevin's scrapes. "I think it goes to show you once more that the bond of family can overcome even the greatest shadows of this universe."
"Still…" Kevin spoke softly as he lowered his head. "I just can't believe he's already gone, again…I never even got to say hello to him…or goodbye…" Another tear welled up in his eye once more.
"Kevin…" His adopted father, Ned, walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I think what he did was for the best in the long run. Think about it. If he had stayed alive, he still would have been struggling for control with that creature inside of him. I mean, sure, he won control for that moment, but it probably wouldn't have lasted."
Ned sighed as he rubbed his son's shoulder. "I think he realized that he had to repair the damage that those Arch-Grongi fellows had already inflicted on him, and the ones they harmed, in any way he could. He sacrificed himself, to give you and Rose an even better chance to save everyone else. And in the end, that's what's important."
Kevin nodded slowly and looked up to his living father. "You're right…"
Ned smiled a bit. "You know, I was against your getting involved in all of this fighting, with Rose and everything else. But I think Wolf realized what you were capable of long before I started to…I think, in a way, he saw you needed to be encouraged, and not held back, like I tried to do with you." He sighed a bit. "And in that regard, I think that made him the better father."
"Aw, Dad…" Kevin got up and hugged Ned. "You're a great dad…you took me in, even knowing who I was, and where I came from. I don't know if anyone else would have…you took a chance on me, and I think that makes you the best father around here."
Kevin smiled and nodded silently. "Thank you…son."
The two hugged for a few more seconds, as Rose looked on fondly. Fox kneeled by the couch and patted her back, as Krystal smiled up at two, her med kit still out on the table.
Moments after this touching display, Fang came into the room, tapping Fox on the shoulder.
"Hey Fox…" He spoke, gently, trying not to abruptly break the moment.
"What is it, Fang…" Fox replied, not completely paying attention at the moment as he kneeled next to his daughter.
"Ricky's come back…" Fang simply spoke as he stood over him.
Fox's eyes shot wide open upon hearing this, getting up and walking for the front door, as Krystal looked on at her husband quizzically. Rose got up slowly as Kevin rose gently, thanking Krystal for treating him.
Fox walked past Jimmy, who was repairing some of the M3 unit for his resting Father, his mother watching him with interest.
Fox and Fang walked outside first, seeing the cheetah standing out in the front yard of the home, just staring at everyone.
"Ricky!" Fox shouted as he walked towards his assistant. "Where the hell were you? A lot has happened since your vanishing, and we've got a ton of work to d-"
He was interrupted when Ricky suddenly reached out and grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off his feet.
"RICKY!" Fang shouted in shock, pulling out his blaster, as Fox grunted and gurgled in the cheetah's grasp. Rose ran out upon hearing Fang shout, and stopped dead in her tracks.
"Dad!" She screamed.
"The time has come to end this charade…" Ricky growled in his true voice, tossing Fox aside, as if he were nothing but a doll. Fox grunted as he crashed into a tree near the house.
"Fox!" Krystal shouted as she saw this, running out to her husband's side.
"Damn it Ricky…" Fox grunted again as he slowly got up with his wife's help. "First you disappear without warning, now you attack me…Is this how you repay me? After all that time I looked after you, when I saved you on that ship?"
Ricky laughed, almost demonically, as he grinned and narrowed his eyes, which were now glowing without pupils. "You mortals…so easily fooled by what you see. You don't even recognize the dead when they're right in front of your eyes."
"Oh my god…" Rose saw her marked hand glowing. She clapped her hands over her muzzle, as the realization hit her. "It's him! HE's the third Arch-Grongi we've been looking for!"
Ricky slowly turned his attentions towards her. "You're very sharp. Perhaps that's why the troublesome Oorgi I wish to eliminate resides in your bloodline."
Rose slowly backed up as the Cheetah slowly walked towards her. "We can do this one of two ways…you can either surrender your spirit, and that of your precious Oorgi to me for absorption…or you can resist, and I'll be forced to break open your flimsy mortal form and scoop them out of you."
"I think we both know which option I'm going to take…" The scarlet vixen responded, holding up her fist, as Kuuga's symbol glowed on the back.
Ricky's smile slowly faded. "You're quite the fearless type, child, and I respect you for that…but you're not that smart." He held out his arms as a fierce red glow came over his body. Rose stood, as her eyes widened in a combination of amazement and horror, as Ricky's mortal disguise began to crack apart.
"During the time that my late colleagues were keeping you busy, I was slowly merging the spirits of the remaining grongi with my own being." He spoke intensely, the true voice of Zagi coming through. "Consequently, I am more powerful than Faust and Mephista combined."
Rose swallowed as Zagi's true form emerged from a flash of light, obliterating his mortal façade. He flexed his wings as his muscles bulged out even more, looking especially powerful and intimidating.
"Face it, child…" Zagi growled. "For the first time in this useless mission of yours, you now face a battle you cannot win!"
"Don't count your aparoids before they hatch, asshole!" A voice suddenly shouted out. Zagi looked over Rose's shoulder, as Kevin suddenly ran out, in his full M3 gear. He promptly fired a barrage of lasers from his Gatling gun, each one smashing into Zagi's belly. Zagi was caught off guard by the attack, as he growled and was thrown back.
Zagi landed in the middle of the street, as smoke came off his body. He rose onto his feet once more, and slowly shook his head.
"Entertaining…" He grinned lightly. "But equally pointless, I'm afraid…" He stood to his side, and fired an immense red beam from his left hand. It soared towards the McCloud house, ready to obliterate the structure.
Before it did, though, Rose had quickly raised her hand to the sky, yelling "KUUGA!" Within seconds, the light came over her, and transformed her. She was now the Oorgi warrior, who was now protecting the house with an energy shield from her hands.
Kevin ran out in front of Kuuga, and hurled a grenade at Zagi. It exploded right on the Arch-Grongi's chest, as he growled and grunted. His chest burned slightly as he backed off and used his powers to douse the flame.
Kuuga eased off on the energy shield as Zagi was distracted. She then reached up and made her sword materialize in her right hand brandishing it slowly. Zagi responded by reaching out with his own right hand, a staff with a scythe-like blade appearing from a black energy source.
"This is your moment of truth, Child!" Rose's conscious heard her grandmother speaking. "You have the opportunity to defeat this evil creature, take all the Grongi souls he's collected, and end this conflict! Do your best, Rose!"
Kuuga nodded slowly as Kevin backed her up with a barrage of fire from his Gatling gun. Zagi slashed through the laser blasts easily with his weapon, as Kuuga rushed over to meet him with her sword.
Crowds gathered to watch on the streets now, keeping their distance as the two clashed blades. Zagi came at Kuuga with a downward slash, as she brought up her sword to block it, and kicked him away. She gracefully swung her weapon from side to side, twirling it up towards Zagi, as he blocked with his staff.
He twirled his own weapon, throwing Kuuga off-balance before jabbing the end of the staff into her stomach. He followed it up quickly with a jump kick to her chin. Kuuga grunted and fell back as Kevin ran in to attack, his blade weapon now attached.
The blade whirred to life once more, as Kevin swung for the Arch-Grongi's neck. Zagi quickly blocked the attack by suddenly making a second staff appear from his original. He blocked the blade, as he then used his power to turn the staffs into twin black swords.
Zagi's muscles bulged with his newfound power, as he swung his left blade over to Kevin, slashing him across the chest plate. He then followed it up with a swing towards the recovering Kuuga with his right sword.
Kuuga quickly deflected the attack, before she violently slashed at him diagonally, from left to right. She was madly trying to score a hit on him at this point, as he simply sidestepped and parried with both of his swords. He then twirled both swords above his head, and created a black energy wave. It nearly cut through Kuuga's blade as she blocked it.
It was then that Zagi quickly took to the sky. Kevin fired away with his gun, but to no avail, as the Arch-Grongi weaved to avoid each shot. He then put away his swords, and held out his palms, balls of black energy forming in them. He hurled one at Kuuga as she took to the sky as well, avoiding the ball as it smashed into the road below, making a huge crater. He then hurled the other one at Kevin, who ran over to get any innocent bystanders out of the way. The ball crashed violently into the ground as the force threw him, smashing into a tree.
Kuuga flew straight towards Zagi as he angrily fired a few more beams at her. She avoided each one, flexing her wings out as she flew in with her sword out. She thrust it at Zagi as he tried to move aside, only to end up with the tip of it in his side.
Zagi roared a bit in pain as some of his blood began to seep out. He then pulled out and swiped at Kuuga, who simply flew away from him. The Arch-Grongi growled as he summoned even more power from the Grongi spirits inside of him. Instead of manifesting any of their abilities, he was using their energy to increase his own abilities hundred-fold. His muscles increased in size once again, as did his wingspan, as he angrily launched another array of beam attacks at the swift Oorgi.
Kuuga then quickly summoned her bow. She held out her arms, and pulled back, before launching an energy arrow at him. It didn't work though, as Zagi simply slashed it in half with one of his big claws.
Kevin slowly removed his helmet as he recovered from the last attack, watching all this happen as he stood there, wondering what to do know. Nothing he could do was hurting this creature…but still, he HAD to find away.
Before he could even begin to think of something, however, a ringing went through his ears. He rubbed one of them a bit, before he heard a voice call to him.
"Son…"
Kevin gasped as he turned around. "Dad!"
The Ghost of Wolf O'Donnell stood right before Kevin's eyes, visible only to him as he smiled. "Yes Kevin…I'm here."
"We both are…" Another familiar voice called to Kevin, as Myra's ghost walked out to meet Wolf.
"Mom!" Kevin exclaimed, already getting emotional again. "I don't believe it."
"Believe it, Son…" Wolf smiled. "After my sacrifice, Your mom was already in this new world, waiting for me to join her…Ever since my first death, I wandered in darkness. My existence was without purpose, without meaning."
"But thanks to you, Kevin…" Myra smiled, continuing for her lover. "Wolf re-discovered himself, and found a purpose…one greater than even I could have imagined."
Kevin nodded. "Protecting me, right?"
Wolf smiled. "More than that, son…Providing you as well…"
Kuuga continued to fight with Zagi, landing on the ground. Zagi soon followed suit, trying to finish her off with a strong beam of black energy. He fired it from both of his hands, as The Oorgi caught it in an energy shield. She stood there, holding back the strength of the attack.
Myra's spirit smiled to Kevin. "You were trying to figure out where Faust's spirit had gone, right?"
Kevin nodded wordlessly.
Myra motioned to Kevin's right side. "Well Kevin, you need look no further than your right hand…"
Kevin blinked a bit as he took off his glove, and looked at the front of his hand, then the back. His eyes opened widely, as he saw a symbol on the back of his hand, very similar to Kuuga's.
"You see son…" Wolf spoke again. "My actions inspired Faust…his mind was opened to all of the wonderful things that mortals are capable of…and he now thinks that those things are worth protecting. That's why he's now reformed, and rejoined his Oorgi brethren. He wants to join in the fight with Kuuga against the Grongi, and for this task he has decided to merge with your bloodline."
"Wow…" Kevin simply responded, looking over the symbol some more.
Wolf spoke once more. "He has given up the name of Faust…he now wishes to be called by his old Oorgi name…Noa."
Kevin looked up and nodded slowly to his father, as he spoke one last time. "I would say 'Make me proud' right about here, son…but the truth is, you already have." He smiled gently.
"We love you, and believe in you Son…" Myra smiled as she spoke once more. "Now go and fight for your home!"
Kevin nodded gently, as the image of his parents slowly faded. He then turned to see Kuuga bravely holding back the strong beam that Zagi was shooting towards her. He walked, slowly and intently, closer to the area of the action, many of the onlookers watching him now.
He then slowly raised his right hand to the sky, and called out the name of his new Oorgi partner.
"NOA!"
A BRIGHT flash of light came over his body, and began to change his form. The display was so impressive, even Zagi called off his attack, watching along with Kuuga. Everyone else watched in awe, including Kevin's adopted father, Ned, who gripped both of his hands hard, as his jaw dropped.
The light soon vanished, as a new figure stood in Kevin's place, the M3 armor discarded at all of his sides. The figure was an impressively built Male Oorgi, with the same white fur and flowing hair as Kuuga. Long gauntlets covered his wrists, as he wore an ornate chest plate, shorts, and shin-guards, also like Kuuga's. Both of his eyes glowed impressively, as his large, angelic wings flexed in back of him. It was the true form of the Oorgi warrior, Noa.
"You…" Zagi growled as he realized who this Oorgi used to be. "You mortal-loving traitor!"
His attention completely shifted from Kuuga, as he roared, and charged towards Noa. Noa was ready for him though, as he ran to face Zagi head on. He ducked down slightly as Zagi lunged for him with his right fist, flexing his wings as he caught Zagi around the neck with his right arm. He shifted his weight, and completely flipped the Arch-Grongi over, making him fall and tumble onto his back.
Everyone watched, as Kuuga ran in to help her new Oorgi ally. She lunged in and punched Zagi across the face as he got back onto his feet. Noa followed it up with a jump kick on Zagi's chest.
Zagi fell back, before he eyed the two Oorgi. Defiantly, he flexed his wings, and roared fiercely. Kuuga and Noa were unfazed, however, as they prepared for the next attack. Zagi lunged at them again, only to have Kuuga duck down and punch him right in the stomach. Zagi fell back, and then lunged again, as Noa lunged out and smashed him with both fists on his chest. He then pulled back with his fists, hitting the Arch Grongi again.
Kuuga then watched as her new partner hold up his right fist. Every inch of the fist began to glow with a firey energy, as he growled, "Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh…" in a very calm, concentrating way, his voice very deep and imposing now.
Noa then held out his fist, and spun, as Zagi tried to hit him again. Noa promptly smashed into his gut with the glowing fist, and at the same time released the energy. The beam launched Zagi high into the sky, as Noa kept shooting the energy out.
Zagi kept on flying higher, and higher into the atmosphere, before he realized he was being quickly pushed out of it. He soon found himself hurtling into outer space, before he finally was able to break up the beam. The Arch-Grongi panted heavily as he was absolutely stupefied by this development, his heavy breathing echoing in the vastness of the cosmos, as he floated over the planet's surface.
"We shall NOT be denied!" He yelled down at the planet. "Two Oorgi by themselves can't make a difference, no matter how powerful! You mortals are all mine!" He then gathered all the energy in his body into his hands, gearing for a major last-ditch attack.
Back on the surface, Kuuga and Noa were already prepared to strike back. Everyone watched as the two waved their arms around, gathering all of their power. They then launched two impressive beams of light energy out towards space.
Zagi soon launched his attack afterward, a huge beam of black energy shooting down towards the planet's surface. It soon met up with the combined light beams, and they crashed together, a major tug-of-war ensuing.
A huge series of explosions rocked the skies as the beams went back and forth. Zagi's beam gained strength at first, but its power was desperate, and shaky in its ability to sustain. Kuuga and Noa, however, had the power of faith on their side. Faust's conversion was further proof of how there could be good in almost anything. Both Rose and Kevin realized at that moment, that if one had the capacity for evil, why could one not have the capacity for good, also? If one could believe in darkness, one must also believe in light at the same time.
This realization that there would always be light left in this world, no matter how much darkness tried to cover it, helped to bolster their faith, the very same faith Aida spoke of, in a way they had never felt before.
The skies filled with more explosions as Kuuga and Noa both growled and pushed on in concentration, fueling the growing energy of the beams as they soon began to overpower Zagi's beam.
Zagi grunted as he struggled to hold back the combined beams. It was all for naught, however, as they got closer and closer to him in space.
"NO….NO….NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"
The beam soon overpowered him, and came over his form. He held out his arms, and roared out in pain, as the combined beams obliterated His physical form. A great explosion could bee seen from almost all over the planet, as the blast sent a kind of halo across space.
Noa simply stood now, and held out his right hand, pulling in Zagi's spirit. Kuuga held out her own paws, as the remaining Grongi spirits were pulled down towards her. Noa soon absorbed Zagi, ending the Arch-Grongi race once and for all, as he then helped Kuuga send the remaining Grongi spirits to be re-sealed once more.
Silence ruled the air for a few moments, as bystanders came out of their hiding places, slowly realizing all was safe. They then shifted their attention to Kuuga and Noa, and began to cheer their saviors. The two Oorgi simply stood there, acknowledging the praise of the New Cerinian people.
"You have both done well…" Rose and Kevin heard Aida speak, as they slowly shifted back into their original forms. "Once again, innocent lives are safe from the threat of the Grongi for another 500 years. The time has come for the Oorgi protectors to rest once more. Live well, both of you."
Rose and Kevin watched as their symbols vanished from their hands slowly. The work of Kuuga and Noa was all done now. They were sad to see them go, Kevin especially, since he had only just gotten to know Noa. But they accepted that the Oorgi warriors were no longer needed.
Rose looked over to Fox, and Krystal, who were holding Amy. She nodded to them gently, as they smiled warmly to her. Kevin also saw Ned giving him a congratulatory smile and thumbs-up, obviously very proud of him as well. Noa simply nodded, as Jimmy, Fulton, Topaz, Fang, and the others, were all joining in the cheers.
Once more, all was right with the Cerinian spiritual world.
Stay tuned…epilogue on the way!