Chapter 19: Paradiso – The Mount of Trials

Alito's quest of redemption!

(Featuring Kako Takafuji of Idolmaster Cinderella Girls!)

Meanwhile...

Chris destroyed numerous frozen towers back upon the Isla del Sol with several slashes from her scythe; her hatred seething upon her body more and more...

"Countless times I have failed...all because they interfere with my plans to destroy the ones responsible for my downfall and for Muse's disbandment!" Chris snarled angrily, her tone dripping with seething hate.

"Not to worry, dear...your hatred will soon tide them well enough!" Erida frowned. "But you have to take a rest first!"

"I thought you are not one for me to rest last time?" Chris shot back .

"An exception this time, dear!" Erida replied as she turned around and clasped her hands close to her chest while gritting her teeth. "I myself have never expected the Infinite One to deliver such damage – looks like he truly lived up to his name indeed. Then again, you will recover soon enough!"

"Soon enough?!" Chris snapped as she unleashed a huge shockwave to destroy another giant skyscraper from the distance. "How long is 'soon enough' gonna take? If Muse ever got reunited by my hands, but the ones responsible for the disbandment in the first place were not crushed, then all I have done might as well be moot!"

Erida turned her back and shook her head slowly.

"By my own name...this is not what I have planned...I must think of some ways to delay her from going out while building up her hatred, otherwise she would be hoisted by her own petard if she's gonna go charge in head on after every battle...especially if it is against The Infinite One...I need time!" Erida frowned.

"Sure...but while A-RISE might be famous and all, there is one person who did support them passionately, and that possibly contributed to Muse's disbandment." Erida smirked.

"Wait...what?"

"Don't you remember? The one who constantly teased Honoka? Isn't she the one who's constantly at odds with Honoka, one who initially shows support to A-RISE, one who's only willing to show her care and concern for Honoka only AFTER she fell sick after the No Brand Girls performance in the middle of a rain-filled roof?" Erida recalled.

"Yu...ki...ho..." Chris gritted her teeth as her aura flared up to an even deeper shade of crimson. "Yuki...ho...Yukiho...but how?!"

"Need I remember the Wonder Zone incident?" Erida smirked.

Chris trembled with anger at the mention of that; Yukiho back then went in the same maid cafe that Kotori applied in and saw Honoka and Umi applying for the same Meido job – teasing ensued.

It would seem alright; Chris was unaffected by it all, just slightly annoyed.

That was, until now.

"You know...and I am sure you will, if only Yukiho had not teased Honoka in Akihabara in the first place...then maybe Muse would not have disbanded; Muse would have won the first Love Live because Honoka would not have to worry so much about gaining her sister's approval and thus won't have to overexert herself prior to the No Brand Girls PV...then maybe all those hoo-hah would never have happened!" Erida declared. "And you know what the worse thing is?"

"W...what?" Chris stammered.

"All of this teasing...all of her attempts at getting Honoka to disband Muse indirectly...was all because she – and Arisa – were fans of A-RISE!" Erida bellowed.

It all made sense to Chris, or whatever her broken psyche had interpreted it out to be...

Yukiho teased Honoka for the sole purpose of getting the latter to understand that she would never be as good as A-RISE – the team that the former supported.

This, in turn, caused Honoka to make an subconscious effort to work herself even harder and to prove herself that she's not a fluke. That in turn resulted in Honoka's physical overexertion during the No Brand Girls PV performance and the eventual withdrawal from the first Love Live, with A-RISE - Yukiho's favourite band at that time – as the winner.

This in turn, nearly caused Muse to disband, and nearly caused the world to go Armageddon no thanks to Legion – the embodiment and amalgamation of pure, untamed, bestial, misguided hatred towards the idol industry.

The teasing also had a long term subconscious psychological effect on Honoka that somehow resulted in her decision to disband Muse in the end...

To make things worse, Yukiho's attempt to help Honoka with her diet was all just a ploy to let Muse disband, because it would means that Honoka would have to overexert herself once again!

Or at least that was what she thought...such is her broken mind...

"Yukiho only pretended to care for her sister so that she can get away with her crimes and use the 'We are sisters, and siblings fight sometimes, though we are still family that cared for each other in the end' card...but we are not gonna be fooled by her cunning personality...are we now?" Erida smirked.

Chris flared up...Yukiho had played her for fools!

"You need plenty of energy to torture her...my dear sweet..." Erida grinned as she presented a magenta glove filled with infernal energy. "I know that is what you want."

"I...Infernal demons? How is it?" Chris shot out.

"Oh, nothing much...you remembered how Bayonetta destroyed Alraune, the Whisperer of Dementia and Insanity?" Erida recalled.

"Yeah...so what is it?" Chris wondered.

"It seems as if some part of Alraune's 'essence' still lingers around even after most of it was absorbed by Rodin's craftsmanship for the creation of Alruna..." Erida replied.

"Alraune's hatred?" Chris frowned.

"Yes...my dear. Her hatred somehow attracted my attention, so while you are busy fighting with Rodin, I sent out a few of your angelic lackeys to brave through Inferno and locate where Alraune's lingering hatred possibly loitered around; found it near the River Cocytus." Erida grinned. "With your hatred and hers combined...the fact that both of you shared hatred of insurmountable powers, I foresee a wonderful revenge streak waiting for you...as you capture Yukiho soul via Alraune...and make her scream for mercy, for she is one of the Judas responsible for Muse's disbandment!"

No word needed to be said...

"Yukiho, for I once thought that you really cared for your sister...Now you will feel how it is to be in the receiving end...of my hatred!"

Back at the hospital...

"Her execution leaves a lot to be desired." Bayonetta nodded. "The end does not justify the means; although in her perspective, it's the inverse."

Saiai nodded softly.

Alito began tearing up silently even more, shaking her head while immensely wrecked with guilt.

"I can still hear them, the innocent screaming for mercy, for help, stuck in my mind; I have no chance..." Alito shook her head as she clutched her head.

"But you had a chance, Alito!" Jeanne shot back. "You were manipulated by Erida's hatred, sure, but you had remorse in you; you knew when to draw the line and persuade your Lady to stop!"

"But I am unforgivable still! I still have the blood of many innocent people that I have spilled over the years..." Alito shook her head.

"Blood that you spilled against your will," Jeanne frowned. "Blood that you spilled because you were just serving orders; because you thought you had no choice; because you were unsure whether or not this is what the Fuschias wanted until now!"

"Jeanne is right! You can still stand up and face it because you know when to draw the line and question your Lady's ideals!" Hoto shot back.

Alito shook her head...

"That's not true at all, nya!"

The rest widened their eyes in surprise when they saw both Hanayo and Rin standing beside Bayonetta, as seen over the Umbran Watch.

"Rin? Hanayo?" Bayonetta replied in amusement. "Did our conversation cut off your beauty sleep?"

"Nonono..." Hanayo shook her head. "We're just heading back from the washroom when we overheard the conversation as we pass by..."

"Can't blame you – a group of people talking all at once and not getting the attention of one would be a surprise and a half." Bayonetta replied.

"Nothing doing, Bayonetta..." Hanayo dismissed. "It's Alito-sempai, right?"

"Yeah, she had woken up not too long ago." Jeanne spoke over the Umbran Watch; Alito looked down in shame, afraid of facing Rin and Hanayo's possible ire.

"Alito-sensei, nya..." Rin responded as her heart sank a little.

"…" Alito looked away. "In the end of the day...I still did terrible things...it's just...horrible."

The rest stayed silent, all ears as to what Alito might speak of next...

"Although we have different views on how we should take care of Muse, both of us have the same aim in mind - to ensure that Muse would win Love Live and stay by our side..." Alito explained. "I thought that I failed the Fuschias because My Lady broke down trying to keep Team Muse from disbanding after the Sunny Day Song PV and our lost against Bayonetta for the first time, that's why I want to make it up to the Fuschias by serving my Lady with whatever I have even more."

"I thought that something was wrong when Erida came into the scene, yet I...yet I just kept telling myself if all go smoothly, everything would be fine, but then the killing happened..." Alito shook her head. "Yet Chris kept telling me that all of this is in hopes that Muse would be back one day, that by doing what we are doing, Muse would be back...because no one would oppose, mock, tease, parody, or make them obsolete anymore. I thought that Chris has her reasons...but then again, it just doesn't feel right..."

Saiai sighed softly.

"So that's why you're conflicted?" she replied. "Cognitive dissonance?"

Alito nodded softly.

"Cognitive...wha nya?" Rin wondered.

"Cognitive Dissonance - a psychological state where a person thought that he or she is doing something presumably for a good cause, but felt that somehow – deep inside - there's this niggling feeling of discomfort and conflict against her own morals."

"Stress as a result of that?" Rin wondered.

Saiai nodded softly. "Alito is experiencing dissonance in the past, questioning her own morals with Chris's morals – inconsistency is formed, and thus mental stress happened as a result."

"…" both Rin and Hanayo looked on in concern.

"But maybe one day I might be numb to it all...lose myself in all this...this...travesty...this bloodshed I committed in declaration to be loyal to the last of the Fuschia's bloodline..." Alito gave a wry smile.

"It will never happen, we know it, Mrs Nishikino knows it, and even Mrs Minami knows it!" Hanayo rebutted.

The rest nodded.

"I am already without hope! Just...just look at me...I'm a monster!" Alito shook her head and gritted her teeth underneath her unkempt hair.

Rin shook her head, pouted like a cat, and crossed her sarms in defiance to Alito's claims.

"Our Alito wouldn't be that kind of person who would just angst about her current predicament right now, nya! She would be the one who would grit her teeth while making things better for us despite Chris's instability, and not behaving like this!" Rin pouted.

"You ain't a coward; I am sure Muse and A-RISE would never want to see you whimper like this!" Hanayo nodded in agreement. "Besides...besides, you are why Rin could even make the final decision to try on the Winged Bell Bridal Dress in the first place!"

Flashback - Love Wing Bell

"This...dress, your friends must have placed in their effort to make this dress for you, so why not wear it?" Alito simpered.

Rin hung her head down and sighed softly while blushing.

"Will I...comfortable in this? Or everything that...that would confirm Chris-sensei's fears?" Rin wondered.

"Not in a million years - My Lady is scared, yes...but there is never anything wrong in loving what you have always wanted; heck, I don't think you will ever lose your self-confidence in the process..." Alito shook her head. "You have always wanted to try something feminine...right? It suits you, I'm sure."

Alito then took a deep breath and sighed.

"There will be people who will laugh at you, people who will tease you, people who said that you are girly and whatnot..." Alito continued. "But this is the reality of life...you can't always please everyone, not even as an idol; the most important thing is to show them how confident you are in just being you - the Rin Hoshizora that everyone would at least respect..."

"I am sure everyone of your friends and behind...and cliché as it may be, you will always look beautiful in our eyes - not because of who you want to be, but because you comfortable with who you already are - someone's who is willing to make the first step into better expressing your feminine charm, someone who's willing to take the first step at wanting to just be who you are!" Alito nodded firmly.

"We're all behind you, Rin! Teased or not, we know you will look cute in that outfit, not because it will please others, but because it will suit you comfortably!" Hanayo nodded.

Rin looked at Alito, then turned around to gaze at Hanayo, Eli, Nico, Maki, and Nozomi in their groom outfits, and then turned her sight back upon the wedding-like dress...

Rin had to take the first step; Alito and Hanayo were right...

And besides, she had felt that it was a dress that she thought she could wear and feel better in conveying her charms despite her boyish looks...

Yet she kept refusing those claims initially; she had to be bold if she had to take the first step into doing what she loved – being comfortable in who she wanted to be...

Just herself – nothing more, nothing less – just Rin Hoshizora...the girl who wanted to convey that she can be just as comfortably cute and feminine, as she can be boyish at times...

After the fashion event

"Alito-sempai...thank you..." Rin gave a soft smile as she took a bow.

Alito, however, looked down with a tinge of guilt...

"Am I...doing the right thing?" Alito shook her head. "Something tells me I am...but...I am also disobeying My Lady's orders..."

"They aren't orders...they are her fears, that's all." Eli nodded. "You did the right thing."

Alito gave a sad, albeit wry, smile as a tear slowly streaked across her cheek...

"I don't even know anymore, but I guess that's life for me, eh?" Alito shook her head as she stumbled on a little, almost falling down.

"A...Alito-sempai, you look pale! Are you alright?" Hanayo shot out in worry.

""Shall I call my mom?" Maki followed up in concern.

"Don't worry about me..." Alito smiled weakly. "Rin, you look beautiful; I am sure others would have said the same...stay strong, yeah? Don't end up like I am..."

It did not took Rin that long enough to see through Alito's lie and figured what happened...

Alito was punished.

Punished for failing to dissuade Rin's attempts to wear the Love Wing Bell Bridal Costume...

But Alito successfully persuaded Chris, despite having to take the full brunt of the Icy Maiden's punishment in the process - the Fashion Show was not disrupted at the very least...

Nonetheless...Alito still kept by Chris's side, though again, Rin - as book-dumb as she was - found it not hard to see why.

'My Master, right or wrong."

Alito would swore undying loyalty towards the one family who gave her a roof over her head, a work to do, and most importantly...willing to accept her as part of their family despite her status as their maidservant.

Even if it meant serving someone who - for all intents and purposes - might be misguided and cruel to her, no thanks to her past, she would serve her...if only because serving her equates to serving the Fuschias.

After all, no matter what they do, both women had the same goal in mind – the success of Muse and to ensure that their hiatus after the first Love Live fiasco would be a thing of the past.

"To think she would go that far to protect me..." Rin thought. "To protect everyone of us while we attempt to make this fashion show a success...and all while she's doing her best to serve the Fuschias while gritted her teeth despite punishment from Chris-sempai..."

She then closed her eyes and nodded as she gave a warm smile.

If Alito was willing to grit her teeth and tide through the dark times, who's to say Rin herself cannot?

"Thank you, Alito-sempai, nya!" Rin nodded with a cute smile on her face.

Flashback end...

Alito soon raised her head and gazed upon both Rin and Hanayo, widening her eyes slightly in shock...

"We know that you won't become the next Chris...the fact that you're able to understand when the line's been crossed said it all!" Rin nodded. "And don't say that it's just for this one time, nya! Rin know that there are many, many more you have done - defending us during our attempts to win the second Love Live!"

"The only reason you have become what you are was also because of our departure...but we know that you have remorse in your heart to doubt Chris's methods in the first place!" Hanayo nodded along.

"..." Alito looked down once more; shocked that people are willing to forgive her despite the atrocities...

Knowing that the tension was still high between both sides, Saiai nodded as she got up slowly.

"Alito needs some rest for now...maybe we can continue the chat tomorrow." Saiai suggested.

All of them nodded save for Alito, who was still staring blankly; Rin and Hanayo smiled sadly.

"Alito-sempai, you will get well soon, right?"

The Maiden of the Wind looked up and nodded slowly.

"Yes." She replied.

After the call ended, Jeanne also got up to leave.

"Now you see it, Alito?" Jeanne asked. "There are people who knew that you felt guilty for the things you have done, despite against your will, and they are willing to give you a second chance because of it!"

"Miss Jeanne..." Alito asked. "Why...did you want to help me?"

"People who are misguided before...deserve a second chance, yeah?" Jeanne simpered.

"From experience?" Alito wondered.

Jeanne gave a soft sigh and nodded softly.

"I am forced to work with the Loptr possessed Balder to track down Cereza after I lost her in an angel raid gone awry three hundred years after the Great Witch Hunts. Although Cereza understood my intentions in the first place - my aim to help Cereza recall her name was for her to reawaken her Left Eye of the World to protect the Umbran Pride and face her destiny once more, while Loptr-Balder wanted the Left Eye to resurrect the Dea Jubelius for Earth's destruction – I was somewhat guilty over how that came close to me betraying my one and only Umbran Sister..." Jeanne nodded. "But that was in the past; Cereza had never blamed me in the first place; there's no need for me to feel guilty after all that misunderstanding occurred."

Jeanne than pointed her right index finger towards a shocked Alito.

"Stand, Alito. Don't be afraid to face that once fearful past of yours; don't ever run from it! Embrace that past of yours instead and move on – stand up and face that fear you once thought to have run away from!"

"But...have I ever failed the Fuschias? I mean...My Lady said so...herself..." Alito shook her head.

"I am sure that the Fuschias would never want to see their daughter fall into the path of evil in the first place!" Jeanne shot back. "I am sure you know them as benevolent beings in and out, right? Heck, I am almost certain the Fuschias were internationally recognised by the Adventurers Agency, am I right? "

Alito nodded furiously.

"Yes! Their benevolence is what made me pledge my loyalty towards them in the first place; they treated me well and even acknowledge me as a part of their family!" Alito shot back.

"Then I am sure they wouldn't even want you to end up just like their daughter did! You are her Voice of Reasoning once before, but you too were misguided with grief. However, you know how to question your master's morality and know how to draw the line during our last battle – tis the first step! " Jeanne nodded firmly. "Would you want any more atrocities to happen, now that you take the first step? Think about it."

Alito gazed at her as Jeanne as the Umbran Prodigy slowly took her leave, with Hoto patting her shoulder softly.

"We believe in you...Alito." Hoto simpered.

"Yeah – your heart is filled with remorse, and we know you want to turn things around despite the things you have done against your will. You can't escape your fears forever, Alito...you have to stand up." Saiai nodded softly.

As the rest left, leaving Alito to calm down on her own, the Maiden of Wind's mind went back to the time when she was accepted by the Fuschias after the Gnade's death.

"This is our daughter, Chris Fuschia. She will be under your care from then on when we have work. Do take care of her well and truly, okay?" Chris's mother smiled weakly on her bed.

Alito Gnade, then eight years old, gasped...

"But...but Mr and Mrs Fuschia...to...to gain such...such a responsibility like this...?" Alito's eyes widened with shock – she would never believe them to say that!

"Alito..., don't call us by our formal names, dear." Mrs Fuschia chuckled weakly. "For eight months since you've been by our side, you have worked doubly hard to ensure that we would have as little complications as possible – I felt, no, we felt guilty that you are helping out at such a young age along with a group of servants."

"N...nothing doing, M...Mrs Fuschia. Everything I did was of my own accord; I will repay the Fuschias in anyway I can, because you gave me a home for me to live..." Alito replied shyly, but raised her head and frowned in determination. "A home to stay in, after all the terrors that be..."

"That's why it has to be you...Alito." Mrs Fuschia nodded softly. "You're one of us now – not just because of your family's connection with us, but also because of everything you have done."

"Welcome to the Fuschias, Alito." Mr Fuschia chuckled softly.

Tears began streaming down her cheeks as Alito felt a huge sense of warmth gathering close to her heart...

The warmth of having a family as close as her original ones...

"Yes, yes! I, Alito Gnade, faithful servant of the Fuschias, will do anything to repay you all!"

The memories they had...be it happy, sad, painful, joyous, and the sorrowful ones...

"What she's doing is just...just plain genocide..." Alito shook her head softly.

Recalling the encouragement that Rin, Hanayo, Jeanne, Saiai, and Hoto gave to her hours earlier, Alito frowned and clenched her fists.

For once, her mind was finally clear.

Whatever it was, what Chris had done was completely wrong; succumbed to her grief and sorrow and became selfish in her pursuit of happiness.

The Fuschias were a benevolent family that she could admit completely without any hesitation; surely they could not accept this kind of outcome, right?

Certainly not, but Alito herself had no other choice at that time; she herself admitted that.

With every killings, with every musicians, fans, and even idol group that Chris slew or attempted to slay, the Maiden of Wind felt that this was not the Chris that she had came to know, respect, and willing to serve.

She just did not have the courage to do so; she admitted herself as a coward before, believing that there would be a light in the end of all that genocide no matter the conflicting ideologies.

Now?

The news about Chris's assault on the Summer Music Festival not too long ago was the last straw; Chris had gone way too far...

Sure, Her Lady had indeed suffered, but it did not have to warrant dragging everyone – even innocent people – down the drain with her!

Alito...

Alito's eyes widened as she slowly sat and looked round her.

Alito...help, help us!

"That voice..." Alito wondered who could sound so familiar until she sifted through the atabase in her Project Ventus and gasped.

"K...Kaori?" Alito wondered. "Hang on...I thought that violinist had passed on peacefully thanks to Rodin freeing her?"

"K...Kousei – Kousei and the other souls...they are in danger!"

"W...What?" Alito frowned. "Kousei is dead?"

"Please...some of the souls might have been purified and bee freed, but some of the souls are still trapped in the reaches of Paradiso!" Kaori replied anxiously despite her best attempts at keeping calm.

Alito closed her eyes and nodded softly.

The fact that Alito was willing to take the first step into atoning herself after realising her mistakes meant one thing for sure – she was willing to find another alternative solution to the predicament she was in right now.

No time for angst, no time to mope about...

Even if people ain't that forgivable, she had enough with all the senseless violence against the innocent fans who only wanted to support their favourite musical team in one piece; to do what they love to do throughout their lives!

Her mind had been made...

Come hell or high water, she would do whatever she could to help Kousei, Kaori, and the remaining souls trapped in Paradiso to attain their afterlife rest that they ever so needed – even if it meant paying the price with her life.

Accessing Project Ventus's waypoint identification system.

During her time while serving under Chris and Erida's servitude, both Chris and Alito had built-in waypoint teleportation system that allowed for convenient teleportation to and from Paradiso.

Some of the souls were purified alright; Bayonetta and co managed to purify the souls that Chris had captured over the years out of their hatred. However, Iustita had to interrupt their moment short...

Other than the Graveyard of Memories and the Sea of Stars, there could only be one other area of Paradiso that the souls were kept until Erida's possible return...

It was a place where the souls of Man once sought the mountain's power – a light source known to purify souls in legends foretold...

The humans in the medieval ages have called it the Mt. Trials, for whatever it was worth; but one thing is for certain...

It's located at the exact same continent as Paradiso.

"They need my help..." Alito closed her eyes and nodded firmly. "Wait for me...

Paradiso – Mount of Trials

"I will have to find Kaori and the rest before it's too late...every part of Paradiso must have a Detaining Prison that Chris must have built to store the souls inside, with their purpose being to fuel their anguish in time for Erida's return." Alito frowned as she entered said area. "As for the detaining area here...it's located close to the summit!"

Contrary to her belief, however, everything seemed very quiet...too quiet, it seems, only voice the anguished wailings of souls howled their laments through the skies.

"Have to be careful...my analytical system isn't as powerful as the ones in Project Tundra, so I have to be wary of possible ambushes." Alito thought.

As Alito ventured through the mountain, the anguished wails grew louder and louder, sending chills down Alito's spine...

"I deserve it..." Alito looked down, but she shook her head soon after as she remembered Jeanne's words just now.

"But there is no time moping about what went wrong now...best to make the most that I can to make things right!" Alito frowned, determined to see through it, come what may.

Soul Detainment Area - Crystalline Hall

"Over here! Miss Alito, right over here!" Kaori's eyes lit up in hope as she saw the flying Maiden of Wind approaching the blonde's direction.

"Miss Kaori Miyazono..." Alito replied as she landed on the ground. "You called for my help...but how?"

"The Sonata Violin - it's with me even until death and it's capable of transmitting voice waves through special arcane strings." Kaori nodded.

Alito looked away as she shook her head softly.

"Kaori...why do you call for my help?" Alito wondered.

"Because I believe that you're still a good person." The blonde violinist smiled softly.

"I don't expect to be forgiven...though." Alito shook her head. "They have every right to..."

"Gee...you and your angst, kinda reminds me about Kousei, ya know?" Kaori gave an amusing smile. "I never said it will be easy, but neither should you be denied of some support and some people believing that you ain't bad after all, right? I am sure people will sense remorse for your actions, so you will be worth their time, I'm sure!"

"Kaori..." Alito replied softly, feeling a lump in her throat.

"I myself have my fair share of wrongs too...making fun of Kousei; even employing some slapsticks upon him when I should have known that Kousei had dealt with psychological scars before in his life...and finally realising that by doing so, I am no better than his mother." Kaori smiled wistfully.

"You might be, but I am sure Kousei is grateful for you that you colored her life through other means - when you are not being like his mother, that is." Alito frowned. "And you do know how to stop yourself from that slapstick when the time comes...and encourage Kousei properly. That's what separates you from Kousei's mother - the ability to hold back when you realise that you are pushing your agenda way too far before you lose yourself in the cloud of your own dreams!"

"You see...?" Kaori simpered. "The Chris now would have continued to insult me even further. But you...you are not her. You are you - I know you are gathering the courage to stand up to your past, I know you can."

Alito wondered how.

"Faith..." Kaori nodded. "But I digress. Let's hurry – Kousei and other souls related to him and I are all inside here!"

"Hang on a minute, Kaori."

"Aie?"

"Kousei...died? How is it even possible? I am never informed about this!" Alito shook her head. "And not just that...everyone related to him died too? I know that your fans and those related to you – like your parents – died, but...Kousei? How?"

"It surprised me as much as it does to you too." Kaori shook her head. "But Kousei...was killed after a week after I died – in the beginning of spring - as was the rest."

"But...how? She never told me that her crusade would have Kousei thrown into the mix...she even told me that he had suffered way enough and that she did not kill him because she thought the pianist is suffering fate worse than death .I thought that she had some sort of standards at least...despite all the atrocities." Alito widened her eyes as she turned her sight back towards Kaori, who nodded in return. "Besides, she told me on that day that she will be overlooking the angelic troops' numbers herself...and I didn't dare to question her plans because I thought she would tone down the crusade because Muse is reuniting..."

"I am in love with him, remember?" Kaori sighed softly. "As was Kousei...for all your loyalty to the Fuschias back then, do you really believe that Chris would hold on to her word after she succumbed to hatred?"

Alito shook her head slightly; Kousei had never deserved this...

Never mind that Chris never told her about her 'crusade' included Kousei in the mix, what mattered was that Chris destroyed a boy who had met equal amounts of sorrow as Chris did!

Abused by his perfectionist of a pianist mother, becoming tone deaf as a result of the constant abuse, having being orphaned at a young age due to his mother's death, inflicted with the trauma of his mother haunting him throughout, and having to live a monotone life for ears before someone – Kaori – came in and inspired his life, coloured his life, and even made him appreciate music again through all the hardship!

Both Kaori and Kousei did not deserve this...

The containment units' interior were no stranger to Alito; souls wailing everywhere – some sorrowful and some angry – but it always brought a chill in her spine every time. she entered said area with Chris in the past.

Even more so now, since her moral conscience began kicking in more than ever, yet she still steeled her nerves

When both Alito and Kaori reached the central area, the souls' wailing hitched up furiously, with some souls murmuring dripping with doubts and curiosity while some hissed with utter disgust and discontent upon the Maiden of Wind's arrival, knowing the atrocities she had committed while under Chris and Erida's name.

"There he is! Kousei!" Kaori's eyes lit up as she rushed forward to hold Kousei by his hand, only to be repulsed by the soul containment barrier!

"Kaori! Are you alright?!" Kousei shot out in worry.

Alito rushed forward and slowly helped the blonde violinist up on her feet.

"It isn't called the 'containment field' for nothing..." Alito sighed. "And Kousei...I'm..."

"Don't be...you never knew that I would have ended up in this state - you were lied to." Kousei nodded softly. "But really...thanks for answering our call for help."

The other souls, however, were not that pleased...

"Kaori? I thought you said that you are bringing in help?" one of the fans shot out.

"Yes, yes I did!" Kaori nodded. "So I brought Alito along!"

"But isn't she the one who served the Icy Maiden?" another shot out in protest. "How can we trust that woman? Heck, she might even be lying to you; trying to sell us off to Chris in the end!"

"Woah, woah, woah...but wouldn't it be redundant for her to try to sell you all off to Chris if all she's gonna do is to place you back in here anyway?" Kaori questioned. "And don't, for a second, think that I am mind-controlled, blackmailed, or something!"

"Hold on a sec, Alito isn't as bad as Chris, I am sure of it!" Kousei frowned. "She even appreciated all kinds of music - even our kind of music - compared to her master who was willing to commit a blitzkrieg on everyone who wasn't a fan of Muse in general!"

Flashback - Episode 20

"Yes please, like Kaori said...again, would you kindly?"

Both Kousei and Kaori raised their head up and saw the person standing in front of her - a maiden with long green hair and a sleek, simple emerald dress with little frills, and a dark purple necklace around her neck.

"Aren't you...?" Kaori wondered.

"Yes...it I." the woman nodded. "My Lady called me Lifebane...but my name is Alito, Alito 'Ventus' Gnade."

"You...want us to play the piece we want to play?" Kaori wondered.

"But I thought your la..." Kousei wondered - he knew about Chris's battle with Kaori, being the only person who believed that the battle existed in the first place - if the battle wounds were of ANY indication.

"I know what you mean, Kaori Miyazono, and Kousei Arima. That is why I specifically choose this moment to listen in on your duet, before things go out beyond recognition..." Alito kneeled on both knees as she bowed slightly.

Alito then charged up large amounts of arcane energy, gathered it around the group, and have them teleported to the exact same piano area where they have their second round preliminaries during spring...

"Before My Lady gets wind of my Absence without Official Leave, please...grant me this selfish request of mine!"

Sensing the sincerity in her voice, Kaori turned towards Kousei and gave a soft nod.

"No harm...right?" Kaori simpered. "Besides...this might be our only chance at it...if things don't go our way."

Kousei knew about Kaori's choice of participating in a surgery that had a chance to cure her illness, yet he knew that there might be just that chance she might...die.

No sugar-coating here, it was either do or die...

Who was to say whether tomorrow might even happen?

Kousei looked at Alito, then at Kaori, then at the piano, and to which he gave a sad smile.

After playing the Chopin`s Ballad No. 1, Op. 23, Alito took a deep bow once more, tears slowly streaming down her cheeks despite her attempts at keeping her calm.

"That was the most beautiful piece I have ever listened to...Kaori and Kousei...thank you." Alito simpered wistfully.

"You...appreciate it...unlike Chris?" Kaori wondered.

"Yes, yes I do." Alito nodded softly.

"Wouldn't she...punish you?" Kousei wondered.

"If I stay on longer, that is..." Alito nodded. "My master maybe too caught up with hatred right now to notice my absence, but she will find out soon enough and punish me for helping an 'enemy' in her term."

Alito nodded softly. "I love the music that you have been playing all along; I just did not dare to tell my master because of her hatred...I keep a straight face for fear she would see through my façade. But today...today, at least I can see a beautiful duet featuring you and Kousei - even just this once. And for that...I thank you."

It was at this point that both teens knew that Alito...was not really that bad to begin with...if at all.

"Why would you want to serve your Lady then?" Kaori wondered.

"Sometimes I even wonder about this myself...but for the sake of the Fuschias...I have to stick by her side no matter what." Alito shook her head softly.

"My Master...right or wrong."

Alito shook her head as she shot back, "Kaori, Kousei...I am alright with them worrying about their survival and doubting me in the first place...I did heinous things during the last few years, after all..."

Chatters echoed among the others; some admitted they might be a bit too harsh towards the Maiden of Wind, but many remained doubtful - just as Alito expected.

"The cheek of you to admit that to us!" another soul shot back. "We don't need your help if you are the one helping us; you have stained enough blood for way too long!"

"You mean bastard!"

"To imagine that your master would have done such a thing in the name of her own selfish desires...and you helped her with executing her aim? Heartless bigot!"

"I call for calm, please!"

A firm, but fair voice echoed through the unit as Alito's eyes widened in surprise at the voice source, for she well and truly knew who that female voice belonged to.

Just as Alito assumed, a translucent soul with a traditional light blue kimono drifted past the crowd and slowly landed just before the soul containment field, staring face to face with the Maiden of Wind.

The woman's blue kimono petal patterns seen upon its silky cloth, a ponytail tied on her head, small hazel eyes, a silk scarf worn around a neck, and she sport twin front 'tails' as hair. The woman gave a small smile.

Alito's eyes widened with shock as she seemed out of breath one moment, yet looking down with shame the next as remorse soon coursed through her very veins...

"K...Kako...Miss Kako Takafuji..." Alito looked up, still surprised at the turnabout of event. "How? How is it that Chris...?"

"Met the same fate as Kousei...killed off for real..." Kako smiled sadly.

"You know her?" Kaori wondered.

"Who wouldn't know her? The Lady of Fortune, whose special powers including able to unlock a person's hidden talent, powers, and the likes." Alito replied. "You mean...she killed you because she knows your rising status as a singer capable of introducing many audiences - both young and old - into the traditional Japanese culture without being weeaboos, right?"

"I guess you know her motive by now..." Kako looked away slightly with a tinge of regret. "Except that this time...she somewhat 'thanked' me for giving her the power needed to destroy whoever gets in her way, thinking that what stopped her from attaining her dream all along was the lack of deterrence, before I met my end by her bare hands..."

"Wait, powers?" Kousei shot out.

"You know about the legendary Project Programmes, right, Kaori and Kousei?" Alito wondered.

"Yes...yes, extremely powerful magitek systems that allowed a person to fully control immense amounts of Arcane Energies in general, more than what the humans themselves could ever imagine..." Kaori nodded.

"Isn't that the thingamajig that Chris showed Kaori the first time round?" Kousei wondered.

"My Lady – eighteen back then and just out from her depressed state after suffering for nearly a decade - and I managed to rescue Kako after we intercepted a terrorist attack on Guam's Summer Live Concert; the terrorist wanted to make full use of Kako's legendary 'The Luck Element' in order to create a totalitarian state ruled by abject fear and authority. Cut the long story short...we managed to stop the terrorist just in time before anything gets way worse." Alito explained.

She continued, "We were injured, however, and we land ourselves in the nearest hospital despite slaying every single terrorist member in the group thereafter..."

"I can sense their sorrows; both of them orphaned at a young age. At first I thought I can sense some good in both of them which is why I decided to bless both maidens with my Luck Element, in the hopes that they can discover their meaning in life and overcome their sorrows in the coming years..." Kako smiled wistfully.

"The huge amounts of arcane energies blessed to us were far too strong for our augmentations back then to handle, and thus a new augmentation had to be revised and created to handle said pressure; the Project Programmes formed as a result." Alito concluded.

"Guess this time...Chris is indeed consumed by the sorrows that plagued her much, and thus abused her powers in her Knight Templar way..." Kako shook her head sadly.

"I'm...sorry, Kako..." Alito shook her head, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists while holding her tears as much as she can...

"Apologizing for what you have done is not going to help you bring back those that were killed by your hand." Kako replied calmly.

Alito stood still, her head hung in shame as she nodded softly.

"I know..." Alito replied quietly.

"But...I can understand that there is remorse in you - the fact that you are harbouring doubts and regrets about Chris's methods were evident enough...It's just that you didn't have the courage to stand up to her - for fear of death and the fear that you will be thought of as a failure to the Fuschias." Kako smiled softly.

Alito's eyes blinked several times, surprised at Kako's verdict; both Kousei and Kaori nodded and gave a soft smile too.

"What did I just say, aie?" Kaori chuckled softly. "Even Kako believed you have a chance."

However, some of them were not amused, unsurprisingly.

"Do you know where you are right now?" Kako asked.

"Mount Trials - a third part of Paradiso next to Graveyard of Memories and the Sea of Stars." Alito nodded. "Once thought lost by the fogs of time, my Lady found it when she took over Paradiso by force and explored the whole area for soul containment units."

"You may know that people in the distant past wanted to search for its power source, but did you know the object they are searching for that would give them said powers?" Kako asked.

Alito shook her head.

"The Obelisk of Truth located at the mountain's summit." Kako replied calmly. "Legends have said that this crystal from Paradiso will grant an audience to those who are worthy enough to brave through the mountains' harsh conditions. If you have the heart to redeem yourself..."

"Don't believe what that accurse Wind Maiden is trying to convey! She's just trying to garner more sympathy so that she would stab us in the back!" one of the souls interrupted.

"Fool us once shame on you, fool us twice shame on us! Ain't gonna fall for that with just words alone!"

"Yeah! We need you to pay for your penance!"

"Just get out of our sight! We rather go insane without hope than to be with someone who served a once famed adventurer gone insane!"

"Coward!"

"Please, quiet down!" Kaori shot out. "It's not helping both sides; the angels will be attracted to our voices if we keep this din up!"

"Alito here just lacked the courage to go against her master because of her conflicted thoughts – mistaking that what she's doing at first and staying at Chris's side as being loyal to them!" Kako frowned calmly. "People like her are just misguided; they should at least be given a second chance to redeem themselves if they have the courage to do so! Besides, it's not as if Alito had a say in this; everything she had been doing had been forced upon by Chris's will and guilt tripping!"

Sure enough, before anyone started to give a damn, numerous chatters in angelic tongue began echoing through the hallway, and a huge bang followed soon after, bringing the rest into a huge startle.

"It's either we run, or we're busted! Let's go!" Alito frowned; the safety of the souls she attempted to rescue was all she could think off now.

"What? We trust you, one who had once slain our bodies and took our souls away just to fuel some ancient goddess's return? Are you off your rockers?" One of the young fans of Kaori shot out.

The rest also voiced their similar sentiments, but Kousei called for calm.

"Whatever it is, you have to believe us! It's either we escape the hell out of here, or it's curtains!" Kousei shot back.

"You have to believe us, everyone!" Kaori pleaded. "Alito here has already harboured an uncountable amount of grief and sorrow held within her heart; she felt remorse for the fact that she had to do all those atrocious things against her will and I firmly believe that she is still a good person – just misguided against her will and morals!"

Before anyone could even hazard a thought, a huge bang can be heard from afar, followed by several noticeable hearings of angels rallying one another.

"T...they found us!" one of the kids' souls shot out in horror.

Too late, though, the Affinities managed to find their way and caught up with the souls, but Alito stood in front of them with her lance and shield at the ready.

"Heh...had enough fun evading my forces, Alito?" Chris smirked as she walked out from the smoke, staring head to head with the rest. "I do comment you, though, for breaking into my soul containment unit...though I never expect that whore to entice you with her words!"

"Chris..." Kako frowned. "My biggest mistake..."

"You called it a mistake, Kako...I called it a triumph as long as Muse belongs to me!" Chris snarled.

"Enough is enough, My Lady!" Alito shot back. "Must more blood be spilled just to quench your insatiable hatred?"

"Nothing will ever quench it completely, my dear. Only their screams of sorrow and the extinction of their kind from the lands of Earth would satisfy my thirst!" Chris shot back.

"For what? Just because of some people who choose to support Muse's legacies? Or people who ain't got anything to do with Muse at all, but choose to be fans of Kaori instead?" Alito shot back. "They are genuine fans; they want nothing to do with you, your likings, or anything related for that matter!"

"Ahh...self-preservation as always..." Chris yawned. "You lots bored me, just wanting to save yourself the trouble of getting killed so you just lie and lie out of your arse, hoping that I will be stupid enough to believe everything..."

"Is your mind...that twisted, My Lady?" Alito clenched her fists while gritting her teeth, unable to believe that the Icy Maiden would have fallen so hard. "Did you seriously believe that you can protect Muse from your quote unquote 'Harsh realities of life' by spilling innocent bloods?"

"Twisted? Ha...hahahahaha...HAHAHAHAHA!" Chris cackled. "Dear, oh dear...Why can't you see that my family had taken care of you, taught you life skills, treated you with warmth, and even recognised you as a part of their family...and yet you are standing here, determined to protect these...these bunch of liars from their doom. Aren't you a twisted mind in and of itself?"

"That's your perspective? Are you being so negative that everything around you is out to get you, to make you devoid of happiness, hope, or even joy? I know, heck, we know that losing loved ones is a painful thing, but...but Muse isn't dead. They will come back once in a while, and they will be happy having one another by their side; wouldn't you be happy for them?" Kako frowned.

"As expected of someone who was quickly becoming a famous singer in the whole damn world..." Chris yawned. "I was right in ridding you; you, Kaori, and Kousei were one of the very few leaders who would lead musicians into overriding Muse's legacies. You all represent the harsh reality of society – vultures waiting to scour that one dying person to feast on its eventual rotting corpse...while I represent the guardian that will protect their only chance of survival!"

"Just because reality is harsh doesn't give you an excuse, or doesn't justify your destruction of any innocent beings!" Kousei shot back. "They only want to hear the emotions, sweat, blood, and tears..."

"Blah, blah, blah..." Chris smirked. "Excuses! All a bunch of excuses to justify wanting to rid Muse, to erase them from the music industry, to make them succumb to the eventual harshness of society!"

"What would it take you to understand what we said? Is anything gonna get to you?" Kaori frowned.

When will you all learn to tell the truth? Just say that you all want to destroy Muse, then at least the death I should give will be a quick and easy one!"

"I see..." Alito gave a wry smile. "You're just going to assume everyone is out against you as long as he or she is quickly becoming famous in the realm of music, no matter how much we're going to tell you, huh?"

"And you are going to betray me...just for the sake of protecting these liars, ain't you?" Chris glared.

Alito grunted. "I know that I'm the one responsible for the thousands of death I have wrought - even though it is under your twisted will - and that I am too much of a coward to go against your will in the past, thinking this must be under the Fuschias' will and that it cannot be helped. That fact is true, until now..."

Alito then looked up, angry tears streaming down her eyes.

"You killed Kousei - that one boy who had never wished any harm from you in the first place; he who - for god sake - just wanted to have someone to love, someone to inspire and colour his life back to normal, and to play a duet with that same someone whom he fell in love with..." Alito shook her head as she clenched her fists till her fingernails drew blood. "Not only did you destroy his body, you too destroyed his family, friends, fans, and EVERYTHING THAT IS RELATED TO HIM IN THE SOCIAL NETWORK just to satiate that grief of yours! And not only that, you destroyed Kako Takafuji, the woman who gave us our powers in the first place; she, who wished that we can use these powers we acquired in hopes of finding the meaning in our lives and finding the meaning of Humanity, and this is the kind of...favor you're returning to her?"

"A necessary compromise!" Chris declared.

"You are not the Chris 'Quattro' Fuschia I have once respected and love..." Alito frowned as she continued. "And I am sure the Fuschias would never want to see their one and only precious daughter succumbing into such...pure, unadulterated hatred and bigotry! I refuse to continue any more slaughter in your name if that is what you think as 'proving my loyalty' to you! Chris 'Quattro' Fuschia...I AM DONE! I AM DONE WITH YOU AND YOUR UNJUSTIFIED MEANS OF SLAUGHTER UNDER THE NAME OF PROTECTING MUSE!"

"Do you even think, for a second, that your bravado would make those souls here think twice about wanting to haunt you and beat you up, huh?" Chris grinned evilly.

"Let them! I deserve it...I deserve everything that I have done so far, and if they are willing to hate me forever as a means of penance, then so be it!" Alito shot back angrily. "Because I had grew enough from all those senseless killings you have wrought, thinking that this is all for the sake of Muse, when in actual fact you are just too caught up with your own grief that you become a selfish prick! If my death can satisfy their justified desire for vengeance, THEN SO BE IT!"

Chris flared up upon realising that her once loyal servant had broken the last straw with her betrayal.

"I have no need of machinations from insects such as you...Alito. You have failed the Fuschias; you are disowned from this family with effect from today! Angels, BURN THEIR SOULS DOWN TO THE LAST QUARTER!"

"YOU SHALL NOT HURT THEM ANYMORE!" Alito shot back as she charged up a large amount of wind energy via her Project Ventus and charged towards what seemed to be hundreds and hundreds of Gracious, Glorious, Grace, Glory, Urbanes, Fearless, Fairnesses, Beloveds, and Ardors!

"Enjoy whatever few precious minutes left in this world...fools." Chris smirked. "I need not get my hands dirty when I have better things to do...Yukiho..."

"What?" Alito frowned. "You mean...?"

"See you around...if you ever had the chance to survive them...that is!" Chris bellowed.

Despite managing to plough through several angelic troops by means of sheer force of will, the angelic troops soon broke through Alito's relentless assault, recovered from Alito' shock attack, and gradually barged towards her, overpowering her...

Alito was not about to give up and charged forward to launch a powerful shield bash, stunning them temporarily as she unleashed a huge swiping slash that threw them back several feet from where they were thanks to tornadoes as an after attack effect.

"Fall back now!" Alito shot out as she struggled against the swiftly recovering Gracious and Gloriouses, her eyes glowing blue as she unleashed a blinding light that threw the rest of the angels off balance for just a few seconds, enough for her to gather large amounts of wind energy and ensnarl them in a highly-pressurised whip-like pneumatic structure!

Without a second's thought, Alito rushed towards a strange-looking holographic computer that was keeping the soul containment field active, forcibly hacked past the entire containment mainframe within minutes, and switched off the containment field immediately!

The souls were stunned - did Alito really just did that? "The alarm inside the mainframe had been designed to go off within seconds flat despite successful hacking - My Lady designed it as a failsafe in case someone hacked it in - so we had better bail whether we like it or not before more angels get the wind of it!" Alito frowned.

"You do this...for us?" one of the souls shot out.

"I don't need you to forgive me; I just need you to at least trust me, just this once! We have to go, NOW!" Alito signalled.

The souls, realising that Alito could be trusted after all, quickly picked up their pace as they flew all the way to the mountain's grans summit, where a large, ordinary moss-covered obelisk resided.

Despite Alito's valiant efforts at keeping the angels away with her sword slashes and shield bashes, more angels poured in and added more resistance; it's practically hopeless...

The angels were closing in; Alito gritted her teeth as she bite her lips, chanted something arcane with the blood stained on her thumbs, and called forth a giant wind barrier that covered a large radius - enough to cover Kaori and company.

"This Wind Barrier can only hold off the angels' assault for some time..." Alito frowned.

"How long?" One of the souls shot out.

"Hopefully there's more than enough time for me to tackle whatever that I may face inside this...this obelisk." Alito replied as she faced Kako's soul.

"I take it that it's that obelisk, since it's the only one here...right?" The Maiden of Wind wondered.

"Seems like it – as you said it's the only sole object sticking out like a crystal thumb. Legends have it that it is the final test for people who sought to find the light and redemption within themselves..." Kako nodded. "Again...many have sought it in the past - yet none of those seekers have returned. The seekers' partners have described the terrors they have seen could upon escaping the mountains, but not many would believe them..."

With the angels beginning to wail on the barrier itself, Alito realised that the barrier might dissipate sooner than she thought - there was not much time...

"Like it or not...this is it!" Alito frowned.

"But the chances of you making out alive? You heard what the woman said..." One of the souls called out.

"I promised myself to put down that bloodstained past of mine, and I will not go back on my promise now!"

Kaori placed her hand on the Maiden of Wind's shoulder and gave a small smile - the same smile she gave to Chris before...

"Have faith...Alito - you're still a good person! We believe in you!" Kaori nodded.

"You are destined to a great fate, Alito." Kako nodded. "it will be your chance to turn this blackened spear of yours into one of light..."

"Kousei...sorry that this had to happen..." Alito bowed lightly.

"Don't be...it's never your fault in the first place; you will find out soon enough!" Kousei nodded readily.

Alito looked upon Kousei, Kaori, and Kako, nodded softly, and rushed towards the obelisk itself in a huge blinding light...

Alito soon found herself in a crystalline area with a giant mirror situated in front of her; particles of light floated around the room while an ambient - yet eerie - hymn echoed through the room.

"You who have answered and conquered yourself, you have done well to come this far despite your many odds." The voice echoed.

"The Obelisk of Truth?" Alito looked around her just as she caught sight of her lance and shield glowing and detaching themselves from the Maiden of Wind.

"For many years have humans of the medieval Times have people sought the benevolent light, but none have passed. Since the Witch Hunts of 500 Years ago, this area had been sealed to and passed down in legend as the lights of Paradiso have grew corrupted to their ambitions of cleansing Humanity from their 'flaws'." The voice echoed. "Until today..."

"Even the light isn't free from corruption by their own ambition born out of bigotry and narrow-mindedness against humanity." Alito thought.

"But Chris...she did not discover it...why?"

"Her heart tainted with hate, sorrow, and darkness...and unlike you, who seek redemption, she believed the end justified the means regardless of the wrongs she did." The crystal responded.

"But now for once...a warrior stepped forth. Yes...I can sense your willingness to rid yourself of that bloodstained, sorrowful past of yours. But tell me...is denying your past always the option to go?"

"What?" Alito wondered.

Alito felt a huge pain surging through her body as she soon collapsed on the ground; a huge dark orb forcibly purged itself as it infused itself with the Crystal of Truth and summoned forth another Alito that had bloodshot eyes, purple veins coursing through her palms, and the exact same outfit as Alito, only with a darker shade!

"Just as the Umbran Witches have their Witch Trials to prove their worth...so will this trial prove yours!"

"You..." Alito gasped.

"It's been long enough, huh, you coward?" Her dark reflection scowled.

"I..." Alito looked down.

"After all the things you have done, do you think you can simply just forget it and walk away as if it's made of magic, HUH?!" Dark Alito shot back as she unleashed a huge swiping slash from her own spear made of pure hatred...

Alito managed to react in time, raised her shield, and blocked the slash with all her might, but the huge blast from the aftermath caused her to collapse on one of her knees as she winced in absolute pain.

"Why, Alito? Why do you do this? For what reason are you casting that past of yours? TELL ME!" Dark Alito yelled.

"I don't want to participate in Chris's unjustified slaughter anymore!" Alito shot back as she threw her huge lance straight towards Dark Alito, who proceeded to dodge it by means of pirouetting.

Alito, however, quickly leapt towards the air, launched herself into a dynamic kick right towards her dark counterpart, and kicked her right in the chest by surprise. The dark soul, however, surprised the Maiden of Wind by grabbing her legs and tossed her down to the ground while attempting to launch a pile driver from above, but Alito gasped and managed to roll away from the attack.

The Maiden of Wind landed on both of her feet with a backflip and raised her shield just in time to parry a huge stinger attack from her dark counterpart, but Dark Alito recovered swiftly and launched a blitz slash faster than Alito could react, sending her crashing her upon the other side of the crystal battlefield!

"All these years, Alito...All these years you have been avoiding me like the plague; you think that everything sorrowful about the Gnades' death will be gone because you have the Fuschias by your side...You shunned me, avoided thinking remotely about me because you think it will make you weak!" Dark Alito bellowed.

Alito got back on the fight with a overhead spin slash that homed towards her dark counterpart, followed by launching forth into a barrage of wind drills bombarding both sides, and numerous slashes that tore through her dark counterpart's body.

"All I just want is to make that pain go away..." Alito shook her head as she frowned and deflected numerous wind projectiles from Dark Alito, while counterattacking with several sweeping slashes on her own; her dark counterpart returned the favor with punching the lance sideways and getting in close and personal with rapid punches and kick, sending both sides flying back towards the opposing side of the battlefield.

Alito frowned as she struggled to get up and coughed out blood as she soon found herself blocking and fighting back through an array of Dark Alito's shield bash, slashes, and sweeping kicks.

Throughout it all, however, Alito's shield began cracking up by Dark Alito's sheer physical power; Alito soon relied on using her Genesis Flight System in an attempt to fly by every bit of Dark Alito's attack for a close-in encounter.

Her attempts at doing so were met with little success and a huge boot to the chest sent her crashing down yet again, but Alito gritted her teeth, leapt towards Dark Alito, and brought her crashing down the floor as both figures tumbled across the battlefield while exchanging fisticuffs.

The dark counterpart launched a right hook on Alito's chest, but the Wind Maiden grabbed Dark Alito's left hand and launched a swift kick in kind.

Dark Alito weaved through Alito's slashes and bashed her body in with her shield; Alito turned her back on the rebound and surprised her dark self with a sweeping sword slash.

Dark Alito launched a cross slash across Alito's chest; the latter responded with rapid fire punches that unleashed highly-pressurised air blasts that tore through her dark self's body!

Yet despite the entire counterattack, Dark Alito did not relent, not one bit; injured as she was...she only got more and more enraged!

Dark Alito rose to the skies, charged up a large darkness orb, combined with the element of wind, and unleashed giant of streams of comets straight towards a surprised Wind Maiden, who proceeded to dodge past several meteors, but was soon blasted by the quaking shockwaves through a mistimed dodge...

Numerous comets soon plummeted upon the Wind Maiden's body, sending her body and Project Ventus into critical levels as her body caked in blood...

"You know that you can't simply defeat me...I know everything about your moves, in fact, I am the only that closely resembles you!" Dark Alito shot back, but still surprised as she saw Alito stumbled past the debris and stood up valiantly, albeit with heavy breathing and struggling to keep up a steady standing...

Alito winced as she shook her head, thinking of possible ways to defeat the Dark Soul once and for all...

No matter what she did, it just could not let up no matter how damaged she became; she just gets enraged...

Is there really nothing she could do? No matter how many times she never gave up?

Stand, Alito!

"Huh?" Alito wondered.

Don't be afraid to face that once fearful past of yours; don't ever run from it!

"Miss Jeanne?"

Embrace that past of yours instead and move on – stand up and face that fear you once thought to have run away from!

"Face my past...can I?" Alito wondered.

Faith...Have faith!

"Kaori..." Alito thought as she closed her eyes to visualise something...hopeful.

Hopeful...underneath what she perceived as her sorrow she suffered over the years.

Somehow, through all the painful thoughts of sorrow and grief, Alito could feel something...joyous.

Flashback - Spring Festival from seven years ago.

Age of Alito Back then: 26

Age of Chris back then: 18

"Mama...mama! Waaaaaaa..."

Alito found a group of young kids of five children crying; seemingly lost...

"Are you alright? You all look lost...where's your parents?"

" They are gone; can't find her..."

"Where is she? Waaaaah..."

"Oh dear..." Alito shook her head as she looked around to find somewhere safe, but the crowd said otherwise.

The group of kids sobbed as they nodded readily.

"Oh dear...if they continue sobbing people might get irritated fast..." Alito then looked around her and saw a candy seller with exactly five candy floss on sale.

The sobbing children soon felt something fluffy bristling across their faces; Alito brought the candy floss to cheer them up.

"Here you go, children!" Alito flashed a soft smile. "Those sweet feelings will take away those sadness for just a while; wouldn't want your parents to be too worried for you, yes?"

"Candy! Yay!" The children flocked around, much to Alito's amusement.

"Hey, hey, hey...easy there! Everyone will have one candy floss!" Alito chuckled softly.

In this moment, the children's spirits were lifted; Alito heaved a sigh of relief.

"I will help you find your parents, I promise you all..." Alito simpered.

"Promise?"

"Yes it is, promise!" Alito chuckled softly.

"Wats your name, big sis?" One twin tail girl spoke.

"Alito Gnade." The Maiden of Wind nodded.

The short brown hair boy shot out, "Big Sis Alito!"

"Hahaha...easy there, little boy!" Alito chuckled.

Within a few minutes of getting to know one another, the group managed to find their way to the Lost and Found counter, where they found a worried couple along with three children.

The couple caught side of both Alito and the five children, just as the five children on Alito's side ran towards the couple and crying in relief...

"That big sis helped us find you, mommy and daddy!"

"We're sowwy!"

"Sorry!"

"Mama...papa...sorry!"

"Oh, it alright...we're just happy that you're all back...just don't wander off next time around, okay?" The brunette heaved a sigh of relief.

"We pwomise!"

The brunette and her husband then turned towards the Maiden of Wind and bowed in gratitude.

"Thank you, miss...we are so worried about where she could have gone!"

"You have our deepest thanks, miss." The father simpered.

"Thank...thank you! Big sis!"

"Big sis, thank yiouuuu!"

"Me thank big sis, big sis the best!"

"I did nothing much, Mister and Missus." Alito simpered. "Just am happy that you're all reunited, at the very least..."

She then kneeled down and nodded softly towards the kids.

"You all behave yourself the next time round...kay?" Alito winked softly.

The group of kids teared up with relief and nodded readily.

"I have to take my leave now; my Lady needs my assistance helping out at the Adventurers' Guild Spring Festival." The Maiden of Wind bowed.

"Pwease don't leave...big sis!"

The Maiden of Wind could feel a small tug upon her frill dress as she turned around to see the kids gathering around her with puppy eyes, begging her not to leave.

"It seems that they took a liking to you despite the little moment spent with you!" the mother chuckled softly. "They're probably grateful that you helped her out when they're lost in such a crowded place."

"Oh..." Alito blushed lightly. "I just did not expect that I would make an impression on them...that fast; again, all i did was to help them find you..."

"First impression usually counts, especially on kids..." the woman chuckled. "Especially when they needed a mother figure to take care of them..."

"Mother figure?" Alito wondered, but did not take long enough to understand where the couple was coming from.

"You mean...you're guardians of an orphanage?"

"Yes, yes we are...We can see that you like children, yes?"

"O...Of course...yeah..." Alito gave a shy smile. "Yes...yes I do."

"It's not that often we see people with such a liking to kids...and besides, having me and my dear taking care of a huge mansion designed to house the orphans is hard when we might have Adventurer matters occasionally popping up from time to time..." the woman nodded softly. "I guess that if you are free...you can ask your Lady's permission to play with them, if you like."

"Mommy Alito!"

"Sis! Sis! Join us in house, please!"

"The Merry-go-round! I wanna go round that thing, Big sis!"

"Big sis! Big sis we hope you can play with us more whe you come!"

"You look beautiful, big sis! I wanna be like you one day!"

"I want hugs from big sis; your arms are so soft!"

Alito slowly teared up as she quickly wiped them off, smiling softly like a mother should.

"Yes...Yes, why not? I would be honored!"

Flashback end

Those were the times...the years when Alito something warm despite still suffering from grief wrought by the Fuschia's near-extinction a decade ago.

Something she knew; she reckoned it to be that feeling – Hope.

After Chris sold her soul to the devil, Alito barely had enough to make time to spent time with the growing children – who still regarded her as a mother figure...

Their understanding smiles...

Their squeals, their joyous face, their cries when they were sad...she could remember them all, and it was those memories that kept her from going deep further down the sorrowful path.

Through Dark Alito's rant and taunting, Alito heard a small beep upon her Project Ventus; she accessed the beep soon after, leading her into a mailbox...with an unread letter...

An unread letter sent by the teens of whom she had taken care for the past few years before they presumed her 'disappearance'...

"We made this letter in hopes that you can hear our thoughts!"

"Big sis, you will be back for us, right? After all of your troubles are over, right? I won't forget when you helped me deal with a bunch of bullies back at school...thank you!"

"When you can get over your grief and come back for us, let's have lotsa cakes!"

"Thanks to you...I am able to get to a good high school...I know you might think it's just emotional support, but that is more than enough! I'm not good at words...but...THANK YOU!"

"I now have a family to love, and a nice roof over my head...but I will never forget you, big sis!"

"I know that you'll return one day and visit us! You must be busy, right? We are waiting, wherever you are!"

Even after disappearing from their plain sight for the latter two years out of the four years while serving under Erida as she out of sheer guilt, the children whom she took care of still hoped upon hope that she would be back one day...

That familiar warm feeling of happiness gathered as a small flicker of fire inside her soul; the fire and the light that kept her alive...

Hope...

Yes, that was right.

My life need not be always filled with grief all the time...

In fact, they weren't always...

Through all the hardships, I felt joy...

Sorrow isn't entirely what makes my past; joy too, play a part.

No matter what...those memories, good or bad, are what made up my childhood...for better or for worst...

My parents...they might be gone, but it's something beyond my control...something I don't have the strength to prevent.

But now...

Alito closed her eyes, took a moment to think, and nodded softly; the Maiden of Wind knew that she could never hope to just simply overcome her past self simply by fighting against her...

The Maiden of Wind dropped both of her lance and shield o the floor as she began limping towards her dark counterpart.

"Fight me! Don't you wanna prove yourself?" Dark Alito roared as she unleashed a huge wind blast towards Alito, blasting her back several feet and tearing through her body.

Alito, gritted her teeth, however, as she gave a soft smile and trudged on forwards, much to her dark counterpart.

"Don't you want to cast aside that...that past of yours? To abandon what was yours in the first place?" Dark Alito shot back." Why aren't you fighting? You damnation!"

Alito still kept walking, seemingly unfazed by it all despite her limping...

"If you succeed this time, you are going to embrace the light and serve the people, BUT WHAT WILL THAT MAKE ME? Am I not you once before? Am I just a tool to you, just like how Chris treated you?!" Dark Alito teared up. "I'll come back no matter how many times you slew me down!"

"I know...my other me." Alito simpered.

What Alito did next, however, shocked her dark counterpart to the very core...

Now...I accept you.

Maiden of Wind grabbed the spear with her left hand, pulled Dark Alito into a warm embrace...and stabbed herself through the heart with the Dark Maiden Spear!

The Maiden of Wind's dark side widened her eyes as Alito continued to embrace her dark self while driving the spear deeper into her; blood began seeping out from her belly and her mouth as small speck of tears began forming from her eyes.

"W...why? Why are you...doing this?" Dark Alito's voice started to tremble as she shook her head in disbelief; her face a look of bewilderment and refusal. "Why?!"

"You are right...my other me." Alito smiled wistfully. "I can't just simply defeat you by fighting you...that's why I choose to accept you."

"H...huh?!" Dark Alito gasped.

"I ran away from my past self...I left you alone, shut you completely from the world all in hope that time itself would one day heal the wounds." Alito simpered. "But no matter what I do...I just can't escape your sight, or your influence, or anything for that matter; it just keeps haunting me, gnawing at my mind...so alone and waiting to be accepted just as much as I do."

"But no more...those days of me shutting you completely from my mind are over." She continued. "For once you thought you are alone; I will now say...you are not alone!"

Dark Alito shook her head. "I...no...I can't...I don't get it!"

"You are still a part of me in the end, my own past; for better or for worse, you are the reason I am willing to face you, to finally stand up for myself, and accept you as a part of me..." Alito nodded weakly.

Feeling a huge sense of warmth enveloping her soul, the bewildered soul felt something misty welling up her eyes as she returned the heartfelt embrace, sensing the sincerity in Alito's heart...

"I...I...!" Dark Alito stammered.

"You are not alone...because you are me! Thank you for defining 36 years of my life - for better or for worse!" Alito nodded and gave a motherly-like smile.

Dark Alito teared up and started crying silently, tears streaming down her cheeks as her darkened eyes slowly cleared up and her body began to glow in a soft, warm light.

"You idiotic...bastard...Never have I want to be an enemy to you in the first place...I just want...want to belong...to be loved...to..."

Alito nodded softly as she patted her dark self's back - just as a mother should upon her crying child...

"You have done well...brave maiden, for you know yourself more than ever." The crystal echoed. "The Fuschias, of whom you have served so far, would be proud that you can choose to embrace your own path."

Dark Alito nodded softly; for she was glad that her original self was willing to accept her – not reject her – to let go of the pain she had in her past.

"Thank you...my other me." Dark Alito nodded and simpered she extended her right hand to the Maiden of Wind.

"As am I..." Alito simpered along as she joined her hands with her counterpart, bringing her into an embrace and met her lips with her dark counterpart in a deep kiss.

"I am you...and you are me."

"To move on does not mean forgetting about my past, my sorrows, my joys, everything."

"It just means I choose to accept what had happened, happened..."

"To learn, to accept, and to move on from the trials I have learn..."

"Tis is the true meaning of Humanity!"

Kousei, Kaori, and the other souls were slowly cornered by the approaching angels; the Storm Barrier slowly ebbed away with the angels' relentless assault, bringing the souls closer and closer to oblivion...

A giant Beloved's axe swing brought about the straw that broke the Storm Barrier's back as it shattered into thin air; the angels slowly made their way and encircled around the group, like a pack of hyenas towards their prey.

Knowing their prey were doomed, the Fairnesses lunged...upon the first figure they set their sight upon – Kaori.

"KAORI!" Kousei yelled.

The blonde violinist covered her eyes as she attempted to shield away a hopeless situation...

"LIGHTBRINGER: LANCE OF REVELATION!"

Giant holy shockwave crashed straight towards multiple lunging angels all at once, scorching their bodies and vaporising them almost instantly, and blasting the angels back like bowling pins!

"I will protect the people whom I believe in!"

Kaori turned her back; her eyes lit up and her spirit swelled with hope...

For right in front of the blonde violinist stood a smiling Alito, renewed, confident, and with a warm smile etched across her face as she extended her hand.

"Are you okay, Miss Kaori?"

"You...you did it..." Kaori gasped.

Alito's aura glowed bright and warm, filling up the souls with a renewed sense of hope; her once dark green hair glowed yellow with warmth as her eyes glinted with a renewed sense of confidence.

The angels slowly backed away as they shivered in disbelief; Alito raised her spear towards the angels, bringing forth a wave of terror across her foes' nerves.

"Recalibrating arcane signatures."

"Project Ventus's arcane signature changed - symbiosis strengthened."

"System's rerouting - executing awakened mode."

"Loading security belt."

"Genesis Flight Systems Recalibrated."

"Elemental energy channelled - executing final scan check up."

"All Systems go."

"Operational Mode: ENGAGED."

"With the clarity upon my soul! Awaken, DIAMANTE!"

Alito, thanks to her purified Project Ventus, encased herself in a huge globe of light and unleashed a huge pillar of light towards the skies.

She soon spread her limbs out wide as she revealed herself in her upgraded form - a majestically beautiful wedding gown with golden highlights and winged motif and a piece of rose ornament decorating on its white, silky cloth. The robe parted ways from her waist down as it continued flowing down from her back to her feet and then some, flowing beautifully with the gentle wind.

Her hair became blonde as she wore a winged shape crown, complete with a white wedding veil; her hair grew to be just as long as Jeanne's.

Alito then crossed her arms as she materialised forth a beautiful Diamondia Spiral Shield and a silver holy lance - the Diamante.

Project Ventus - Operational Mode Activated

Weaponry Systems up by 800%

Defensive System up 760%

Genesis Flight System Upgraded.

Finalizing Operational Mode Data...

ON.

The Redeemed Holy Guardian

ALITO 'VENTUS' GNADE – ATHENA MODE

OST Used:The Sun Rises vs Hikaru Nara (Pure Platinum Infinite Climax Okami OST ReMIX)

The Angels present slowly backed away as some scurried away in absolute fear over the blinding aura!

Kaori's eyes widened in absolute awe...

"Incredible..." The violinist's eyes glittered with awe.

"Indeed it is!" Kousei gasped.

"And here I thought that redemptions like these existed only in legends, or once in a blue moon..."

"Such magnificence...!"

"Well, I will be hornswoggled! She did strive hard in wanting to be purified from her bloodstained past!"

"To think she's that determined to be free from her past so that she can protect us...Seems to us that we have wronged her to a extent..."

Everyone gazed upon the redeemed maiden with a sense of admiration and awe, for it would seem that she indeed held on to her promise of wanting to redeem herself after all!

"It would seem that you are never beyond redemption...Alito." Kako nodded and smiled softly. "I knew you had this in you all along..."

Alito's eyes focused and scanned the area within split seconds, tagging the enemies and planning ahead on which target she should strike next to minimize risk involving the souls.

One of the Gracious and Glorious duos commanded the Grace and Glory packs to attack, but Alito simply cleaved the ground and unleash a giant eruption of pure light scorching the angels' armors away and eliminating them all in one fell swoop in ground zero!

Alito's eyes glowed blue as she raised up her Diamante, infused it with a huge surge of lightning as it coursed through her veins and muscles, and smote nearly three-quarter of the entire Angelic troops with a huge clean Thunder Cut slice within split second!

"Jeezus!" One of the young fans of Kaori squealed in awe.

Numerous Gracious and Glorious charged forth, enraged, and ready to strike hard at Kaori, Kousei, and other innocent souls!

"Think again!"

Athena Alito ain't having any of that as she swiftly blinked right in front of them, surprising them!

"ABSOLUTE DEFENSE!"

Holding her shield with the strength of a feather and yet with the strength of a dragon's scale, Alito's Diamondia Spiral Shield glowed and unleashed a giant wavy blue aura that surrounded Alito and her allies behind her, completely nullifying the damage!

"TAKE IT BACK!"

With a huge gleam from her Diamondia Spiral Shield, Athena Alito send her foes' attack damage right back at them as huge bolts of light and electricity!

A giant Urbane managed to rush in from the sides in big steps towards Kaori and co's left side, catching them by surprise...

"Accessing Muscular Structure: Arcane Energy at Highest Level; bio-electrical signature maximised, Nerve Systems and muscles optimised for absolute precision and reactionary time."

"Maximum Power engaged."

The Redeemed Guardian Maiden flew right in front of the charging Urbane just as it unleashed a huge sweeping flame hammer, but Athena Alito channelled all her arcane energy and bioelectrical signatures throughout her body via Project Ventus, strengthened her body and her armor as a result, braved through the scorching projectiles, and raised her Diamondia Shield to parry the Second Sphere Virtue's hammer swing!

"Reactionary Boost: MAXIMUM."

Alito impaled the Urbane's guts, tore through its entire flaming armoured body via her Diamondia Lance before anyone could bat an eye, then blitzed towards the neighbouring Gravitas, executed numerous directional slashes, twirled past the Gravitas's attempt at a giant ice beam with a graceful Reversal pirouette weave, unleash a giant Thunderstorm Cut that sliced cleanly through the two giant Applauds - several Grace and Glory, Applauds, and even Affinities included - and blasting them hard with a giant bolt of electricity that disintegrated their bodies in a second!

Numerous Fairnesses lunged in forward towards Athena Alito's behind.

"Activating Genesis Flight System - Reactionary Boost Increase."

However, the Redeemed Guardian twirled her back, unleash another holy sword slash upon their gaping jaw, forcing them to keel; Athena Alito then proceeded to block numerous fireballs blasting in her way, deflecting them just in time for her to unleash numerous cross and sweeping slashes, followed by a huge blitz slash that sliced them into two!

"Sliced 'em like butter on a hot knife, dang!" a redhead soul shot out.

"Amazing...!" One of the young souls' jaws went agape, astonished at Alito's relentless frequency.

"Wait...am I seeing things? She's here, and now she's over there!" Kousei rubbed his eyes.

"Teleportation in such a degree...wow..." Kaori gasped.

With Alito's soft, yet reassuring aura of light and warmth enveloping the once despairing souls, their will renewed once more as they stood up one after another, gradually rallying even more despairing souls to rise up to the occasion!

"Everyone, I got your back! Today...it's either we show them our desire for freedom, to show them our determination, or WE DIE FREE!"

"Command Aura: MAXIMUM."

Athena Alito roared as her voice rallied the souls to charge I forth while bellowing their war cry so loud, that Paradiso themselves rumbled throughout with the sounds and intensity of a thousand thunderstorms!

"CHAAAAARGE!"

"BRING THEM DOWN!"

"KICK THEY ASSES!"

"SMOTHER THEM BIGOTS DOWN!"

Within seconds of her command, every single souls involved in crashed upon the present angelic reinforcements with all of their might, blasting them into absolute oblivion!

Within seconds of the curbstomps, nothing but the corpses of angels and halos remained upon the enemies' side, with the souls cheering forth their victory.

"We are free, free from the Icy Maiden's torment!"

"God bless the sun, god bless Amaterasu!"

"Our prayers have not gone unanswered!"

"That was...incredible!" Kaori admitted. "How did you get such power and beauty all in one?!"

Alito told them what exactly happened inside the crystalline obelisk, right up until the part where she accepted her past self and became what she was now.

"What I'm now is a manifestation of my determination to face my past and the willingness to accept it and move on." Athena Alito nodded softly. "This, combined with the Project programme's ability to kick into overdrive and tapping into my inner psyche during dangerous situation, gave rise into Operational Mode."

"It's amazing to see how our world's magitek can be indistinguishable from pure magic in general - like Clarke's third law..." Kaori gasped.

"The Guardian...so it would seem that the crystal itself is sentient; intelligent and powerful enough to recognise your emotional capabilities - your determination - to get things right without losing yourself for what you are..." Kako simpered softly.

"Seems we are wrong about you, girl - looks like you are not completely irredeemable after all!" One of the souls followed.

"We're sorry..." one of the young souls – a fan of Kako's singing – apologised and sighed after.

"Don't be." Athena Alito shook her head. "You all have every right to doubt me; I wouldn't expect anything less when I first arrived. Sure, Chris might be the main one at fault...but I cannot say that it's never my fault too."

"The Road to Redemption might be long and hard...but you have our support and blessings; it's clear that you suffered for far too long, yet are willing to carry the burden of your sins with the willingness to repent." One of the old priestess souls - who were also a fan of Kaori's violin playing – prayed.

"So it would seem...a warrior determined to atone for her sins by not running away, but to face said evils with every strength and resilience. If that isn't someone determined to rise up from the ashes of her sorrows...I don't know what is!" Another soul nodded.

"Your heart was never without redemption; you were just misguided, is all. Sworn to loyalty from a bond forged with your master, you have stood up to yourself – the first step – to break that accursed bond!" Kousei nodded readily.

"It's Determination that can corrupt a person absolutely." Athena Alito nodded.

"You mean...?" Kaori wondered.

"Chris and I have determination - protecting our loved ones and wanting to make things right; it's just how we used it that decide if our path would lead to the path of good will, or utter self-destruction of our will." Alito nodded softly.

Kako nodded and smiled softly. "Looks like I have not made a complete mistake by blessing you with elemental arcane energies via my Element of Luck."

"Miss Kako...thank you." Athena Alito bowed down on one of her knees as she expressed her gratitude. "You have my promise that I will do anything to repay your faith!"

"No; thank yourself for making the decision to let go of your sorrows in the first place." Kako chuckled softly. "You proved to me that humans are capable of using their own heart to manifest their powers; it's the user that corrupts, and not the power in the end of the day."

Both Kousei and Kaori nodded and smiled as the rest congratulated Alito on her redeemed persona; she was misunderstood, and now she was freed from that bloodstained past of hers...

Athena Alito knew this was not the time to celebrate, not just yet, for she knew what Chris's next plan would be; she did not need to be smart enough to know it, for Chris had already hinted it on it previously.

"I have to hurry, though!" Athena Alito nodded. "Yukiho Kousaka and Arisa Ayase's are going to be in grave danger soon enough - Alraune's residual hatred left behind after Bayonetta's fight with her might be wrecking havoc as we speak!"

"Then what are you waiting for, girl?" Shot out one of the middle-aged souls, ""Get a leg on!"

"Show her that her selfish desire would not go well for her!" another teenage soul nodded.

"We're behind you, Guardian!"

"Show her that music is enjoyed by everyone, and not for the selfish soul of one!"

The other souls cheered along as they gave encouragements; Athena Alito turned towards Kaori and Kousei, bowed to the couple, brought their hands together, and kissed them softly.

"You have my eternal blessings, Miss Kaori and Mr Kousei."

"Alito!" Kaori and Kousei called out to her just before she took her leave.

The Holy Guardian turned her back one last time to see both lovebirds holding their hands as they slowly dissipated into the halation...

"You are still a good person...Alito Gnade...on behalf of all the souls you have let free...we thank you!" Kaori flashed her trademark smile before slowly fading into the peaceful afterlife - this time...for good.

"Well...you heard Kaori." Kousei simpered. "Thanks for freeing us from the Icy Maiden's wrath, Alito. I guess, words can't describe it...how happy I am."

"Then don't." Athena Alito chuckled softly. "It's best not to wrap yourself around some emotions of joy that you can't describe."

"Go get that Icy Maiden for us, yeah?" Kousei nodded.

"Now that on the other hand..." Athena Alito nodded readily.

"Go get that demon for us!"

"Kick her ass!"

"Show her how much more of a human you are then her! Bring her down to Earth!"

"Get that selfish prick!"

With only Kako left, the kimono-wearing woman of luck gave a warm smile, bringing a tingling wave of warmth upon Alito's heart.

"Go forth now, Redeemed Guardian of the Holy Wind!" Kako simpered. "Your destiny of a hopeful future waits!"

"You have my words, Miss Kako!" Athena Alito nodded.

If Kaori Miyazono, perhaps one of the most, if not the most, innocent - yet peppy and kind-hearted - girl who was willing to so much as FORGIVE her for what happened thus far...

If Kako Takafuji, the woman whom many people recognised as the 'Fortune Lady', can still believe that Alito herself was still a good person...

What's stopping her?

The road to redemption was hard...but certainly, a first step can be achieved, right?

Thank you...Miss Kaori Miyazono, Mr Kousei, and Miss Kako...

Maybe if we ever meet again in the next life, I would definitely call you three...

Friend...

"But first..." Alito frowned as she accessed her Project Ventus's satellite system.

"Project Ventus activated - locating Jeanne's Arcane Energy Signature via Multi Integral Interface."

"Location: Otonokizaka Area."

"Attempting contact..."

"Contact succeeded, initializing call up."

"Contact successful..."

"I hope that's more than enough flour for today...we almost ran out of those since sales picked up!"

Cheri went back from her usual early grocery shopping just before the Kousaka pastry store's opening time.

It would seem that nothing much had gone wrong lately; lightning probably would struck twice after the Resplendence incident...right?

Fate, on the other hand, preferred to play the other cards...

A huge fountain of purple arcane energy burst towards the skies, covering the summer skies and allowing chaos to reign once more in Otonokizaka as loud screaming and several loud crashes brought chills down Honoka's mother spine.

"What just happened...WOAH!"

*CRASH!*

Cheri managed to move to the side in time to see a huge spiky stalk crashed down just beside her; the huge shockwave blasted her back, however. She suffered light injuries, luckily.

"Spike stalks? Just what happened? More angelic attacks unleashed by Chris?" Cheri frowned as she rushed back towards the town, only to receive a huge shock.

The whole town, by then, were struck by numerous giant tendrils and spiky rose stalks; numerous civilians and Adventurer Guild Helpers were quickly evacuating to a safer place - whatever they can find...

Despite that, several unlucky citizens were soon ensnarled by rose whips; some were even entrapped by sticky purple goo spat out by several towering rose plants emanating dark and ominous auras!

Chaos erupted through the once peaceful town, though it did not take Cheri long enough to figure who might be in serious danger as well.

Yukiho...YUKIHO!

Mrs Kousaka's first reaction was to sprint back home in an attempt, fearing the worse might possibly happen...

Her fears were confirmed; Yukiho was nowhere to be seen.

Breaking into a cold sweat while feeling fear creeping through her back, Mrs Kousaka threw the groceries on the floor and swiftly dashed outside towards the streets in hopes to find Yukiho under all those chaos...

"She should be outside...maybe with those people whom she had evacuated successfully...right, right?!"

None whatsoever...not even in the outskirts.

Before both Cheri Kousaka could react to what's going on, a loud bang crashed just south of Otonokizaka Academy as she ran said area, only to reunite with Saiai, Hoto, and Cocoa.

"You all heard that?" Hoto frowned.

"it is loud, of course it's gonna be hard to miss..."

"You all alright?" Saiai shot out.

"Yeah...most of them managed to get out of here before anymore damage's done, but it seems not all of them did..." Hoto frowned. "Rose-like motifs just ensnarled those unlucky ones left, right, and sideways!"

"That's just way too sudden, isn't it? First off the angel attacks by Chris, and now this random hoolaboo!" Cocoa frowned.

"Oh no...don't tell me..." Cheri shook her head as beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

"Cheri, calm down!" Saiai placed her hands on the trembling mother's shoulder with a reaffirming grip. "Just tell us what happened; you seem pretty pale when we all arrived here!"

"She's gone...disappeared..." Cheri shook her head in worry.

"Wait, 'she'?" Hoto gasped.

"Yukiho..." Replied the worried mother.

"Wait...Yukiho disappeared?" Saiai frowned as she shook her head. "Don't tell me..."

Within seconds of uttering that, Saiai and co covered their eyes from a huge dusty shockwave, whereby a sinister-looking silhouette revealed herself as a slender feminine demon with a large rose-like headgear, scaly petals as her armor and skirt, scaly greaves filled with rose motifs, and a pair of rose-like sleeves filled with small braches and spikes wrapping said sleeves.

Saiai frowned, for she knew who that demoness was - she had the Antonio's Guidebook to thank for, after all.

"Alraune - The Whisperer of Dementia."

"Wait...the demon that took Umi Sonoda's soul!" Hoto frowned.

"Her name is of no use to me now...Saiai." Chris's sound reverbed along with Alraune's original voice. "Now she's filled with hatred - MY hatred!"

The Whisperer of Hate

ODIO ALRAUNE

"What?" Saiai frowned. "I thought you controlled the Angels of Paradiso by default! How is it..?"

"Hate is powerful, Saiai..." Odio Alraune chuckled slyly. "That Bayonetta may have defeated Alraune and Rodin may have absorbed her 'essence' in making the Alruna, but her hatred would never cease to exist...in fact it's more than enough for me to reconstruct her in my own image!"

"Besides...that's not why I am here, you lots; you probably are wondering where Yukiho is...right?" The Whisperer smirked.

"You mean...?!" Cheri's eyes widened in shock and fear, fearing the worst...

She was right.

The Whisperer of Hatred held one glowing orb for all to see; the slender figure sleeping inside the orb was all they needed to confirm its identity...

Mrs Kousaka widened her eyes as she shot out in horror while breaking into a cold sweat, "YUKIHO!"

"Hahaha...Cheri, seeing your suffering...if only you haven't gave birth to such a whore of a daughter, maybe I would not fall from such a height...yes?" Odio Alraune-Chris smirked.

"First Umi Sonoda, now Yukiho?" Saiai frowned.

"You...what have you become...?" Cheri shook her head as hot streams of tears flowed from her eyes.

"Me? A product of every one of you! Your daughter and that cheap lover whore you called Arisa...really, if only you taught Yukiho some manners..." Odio Alraune shook her head.

"She did you no wrong!" Cheri cried. "Yukiho is close to her; we are a family, after all!"

"CLOSE? YOU CALL THAT CLOSE?!" Odio Alraune, under control of Chris, "Yukiho...she mocked Honoka...mocked Muse's attempts at getting into Love Live, and she SUPPORTED THAT...THAT THING THEY CALLED 'A-RISE' TO BEGINNING IN THE FIRST PLACE! SHE NEVER GAVE HONOKA THE SUPPORT SHE DESERVED, AND FOR THAT CAUSED MUSE'S ULTIMATE DISBANDMENT!"

"And that justifies your hatred? Just because of something siblings occasionally do?" Saiai frowned.

"No matter what they did, they still care for each other in the end; it's those little things - good, awkward, sad, or even anger - that is what makes a family - members in a family bicker, but it's through those moments that we learn to appreciate one another!" Cheri shot back.

"Then you are wrong...whore." Chris smirked as Odio Alraune spread her arms out wide and summoned two giant rose stalks right beside her. "My definition of a family is to have no conflict at all...no teasing left, right, and sideways; no teasing less erosions between family bonds occur, and to show her absolute support through as compared to that Yukiho who shows nothing but teasing all way through!"

"Is this...why you want to kill my daughter? Because you think...you can be a better substitute?" Cheri clenched her fists angrily.

"Substitute? Hahaha..." Chris shook her head as her eyes glowed and frowned shortly after.

"I will ascend more to just a substitute to Yukiho...for I will prove the better sister to Honoka once I reunite Muse! I will raise my throne above that puny little soul that you called 'Yukiho's caring personality'!" Chris declared with pride as she pointed her index finger towards Cheri. "And you...asswipe, will be the first to witness it; you will beg for me...you will come to understand that I will treat Honoka with the best she deserves...I will make her disown you...and ascend to me as her one and only MOTHER!"

Odio Alraune made quick work to command the duo rose towers to ensnarl them with rose whips and stalks, rendering them completely helpless...

"You..." Cheri shook her head as she slumped on both of her knees, shaking her head.

"Just as we have feared; you would go after Yukiho after all..." Hoto frowned. "You...monster!"

"Like heck we're gonna give into your demand, you lunatic!" Cocoa shot out.

Saiai looked over at the skies and saw a tiny jet coming across Otonokizaka's way and kept her calm by clasping her hands together; she just hoped that it would be too late...

Odio Alraune materialised her long, indigo claws while charging up immense arcane energy...

"Poor, poor Cheri...you should share the burden with your daughter...after all, you gave birth to her in the first place! NOW DIE!" The controlled Whisperer of Dementia launched forth numerous spiked whips upon the mothers present...

"Seriously? That's the best you can do?"

*BOOM!*

The rest raised their head up high and saw Jeanne in her Cutie J outfit landing right in front of the group, materialised her Bloody Moon, and sliced the stalks away with a single iaijutsu slash, freeing them completely.

"Thank goodness you arrived, Jeanne...you sure do know how to make an entrance, eh?" Saiai heaved a sigh of relief.

"Someone tipped us off; although Madama Styx and I already felt something was amiss the moment we saw dark clouds harbouring over Otonokizaka." Jeanne grunted,

"Who?" Cocoa wondered.

"J..Jeanne?!" Cheri shot out.

"We meet again...accursed bitch!" Odio Alraune smacked her lips and smirked.

"So...you decided to strike again, huh?" Jeanne shrugged. "I still can't forget how you kept me captive as one of your so called 'lovers', ugh..."

"Do you really think that it was Alraune at that helm...and not someone else?" Odio Alraune frowned.

Jeanne raised her eyebrows in amusement, knowing what the Whisperer of Dementia was hinting on about.

"So...Chris, you brainwashed her under your command via your arcane powers...huh?" Jeanne grunted.

"Figured since Alraune captured you before, I would figure that I have all I need to eliminate you!" Chris's voice echoed as Odio Alraune shot back.

Jeanne shook her head and shook her head.

"Give me a break; I only got captured because I was knocked out of left field by a rebelling Gomorrah." Jeanne dismissed. "In other circumstances, she would have knelt for mercy. Still...have to admit that it was a close one back at Inferno."

Jeanne widened her eyes, but managed to keep her calm still upon darting her eyes towards Yukiho's soul encasing inside the soul orb...

"Yukiho..." Jeanne replied calmly. "So...you are going so far as to hurt Honoka's sister just so that..."

She then shrugged.

"You know something, Chris? I once thought you're gonna settle at being someone powerful enough to warrant a good fight, really." Jeanne sighed. "But now? Now I just pity that poor fucking soul of yours."

"I no need your pity!" Odio Alraune snarled.

Jeanne could only clasp her hands close to her face and gave a deep sigh.

"Look, Chris, like it or not, your tragic dream ain't going to happen just because you are going to tear through every single people expecting them to understand how you feel." Jeanne taunted. "You're just succumbing to your fear, coward!"

"What is this? I can't hear you over the sorrowful cries of people slew by my hands the moment I finish you off!" Odio Alraune roared.

Jeanne could only sigh as she shrugged.

"You know what? Why don't we see about it? I doubt you will sing a different tune once SHE arrives. And no, it's not Cereza; it's someone whom you use to reckon as your...'Loyal Bitch'."

Chris widened her eyes as her irises shrunk in terror.

"Wait...no...you mean...?!"

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Jeanne, hope I am not too late for the party!"

Saiai, Hoto, Cocoa, and Cheri gazed towards the skies, with their eyes widened shortly after.

For descending from the skies, was Athena Alito wielding the her Diamante and Diamondia Shield as she landed down beside the Umbran Prodigy, complete with her Genesis Flight System's 'Wings' spread out wide open!

"Took you long enough, eh?" Jeanne grinned. "About time!"

"Sorry if I hold you up, Miss Jeanne..." Athena Alito nodded softly. "And

She then turned her gaze towards Hoto, Saiai, Cocoa, and Cheri, and smiled softly.

"Mrs Minami, Mrs Nishikino, Mrs Yazawa, and Mrs Kousaka..." Athena Alito greeted as she took a bow. "Sorry for holding up!"

The rest, sans Jeanne, widened their eyes in surprise and awe; Both Hoto and Saiai's expression, however, soon turned into that of relief, joy, and hope upon realizing that Alito plucked up the courage and willpower to face up against Chris's selfish desires.

"Alito..." Saiai nodded. "There's no need to be sorry."

"You did it...you...you took the first step!" Hoto shot out in relief.

"Hey, at least you're fashionably late!" Jeanne chuckled. 'Sides, it's good to see that you ain't as misguided as Chris."

"Of that I am certain, Miss Jeanne." Athena Alito simpered as she unleashed several streams of light from her palms and scorched the maiming rose whips into a pile of ashes; she then stood back to back with the Umbran Prodigy.

"No...nononooo! IMPOSSIBLE!" Odio Alraune shook her head in fury.

"Chris..." Athena Alito frowned as she saw the small soul orb that Odio Alraune clenched it like a stubborn mule, and replied, "Miss Jeanne, how long before Miss Yukiho's soul goes completely belly up?"

"Give or take an hour." Jeanne replied calmly. "With Alraune's hatred at its absolute maximum, it's going to be no holds' barred!"

"No holds barred, you say?" Athena Alito frowned as she raises her stalwart lance. "Well, seems right up my alley!"

"And Miss Jeanne?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks...weren't it for you letting me understand that there are people who indeed care for me...probably I wouldn't even be standing here." Athena Alito bowed deeply.

"Gee, save the cheesy thanks for laters, yes?" Jeanne chuckled. "In the end, you make the decisions yourself; I just merely gave you directions, is all!"

"Yeah!" Athena Alito nodded and simpered.

Saiai simpered as she nodded softly; she always knew Alito had some good in her, no matter the amount of grief she had shared with Chris.

"The Road to Redemption is hard fought, but no one should say it is impossible...Hard? Yes. Arduous? Most certainly; but you are willing to admit your mistakes and fight for others...to save them through your effort." Saiai nodded. "And for some...it's more than enough to convince them that you have the courage to stand up against your former master's twisted ideals!"

"Thank you...every one of you." Alito simpered.

"Again, save the thanks for later!" Saiai nodded.

"What is...this..." Cheri's eyes widened in awe.

"We can cover those later...missus." Athena Alito simpered as she chanted some incantations and encased the women in a huge light barrier.

Cheri, though just as happy as Saiai and Hoto that Alito did indeed turn over a new leaf, was awed by the Redeemed Guardian's beauty and brilliance standing back to back with the equally graceful masked Umbran Prodigy.

Odio Alraune shook her head as she took steps back, unable to comprehend that Alito survived the encounter with the angels, much less an attempt at redemption and attaining the power of light!

"Impossible...IMPOSSIBLE, YOU BITCH!" Odio Alraune gritted her teeth. "I thought those angels will make you crawl back to your ways...or just let you be pummelled into oblivion for my betrayal..."

"And you failed, gloriously!" Jeanne taunted.

Athena Alito then materialised her Diamante Sword and Diamondia Spiral Shield all at once; a strong arcane burst blast through the town as huge arcane barriers soon covered them up to prevent collateral damage.

A huge aura surrounding Athena Alito soon erupted into a pillar of light so bright that it parted the night skies throughout the world, bringing shock to the Whisperer of Dementia...

"You...Chris...YOU HAVE CROSSED THE LINE!"

"Please...save Yukiho!" Cheri hoped.

Jeanne nodded as both her and Alito stood back to back; they gave a firm nod towards Mrs Kousaka before staring back at Odio Alraune.

"Ready?" Jeanne, in her Cutie J outfit, shot out.

As Athena Alito saw apparitions of what appeared to be Kousei, Kaori, and the rest of the souls that she freed from the Graveyard of Ordeals, holding their hands together and smiling softly at her, the Redeemed Guardian for the first time since ever, gave a confident smile.

The words of Kako Takafuji, Kaori, and Kousei whispering upon Athena Alito's ears and her smile that came on soon after sealed the deal...

"You are still a good person...always have been, always are!"

"Need to say more?" Athena Alito nodded.

"Alraune...face the judgement from the Light and the Dark!" Alito in Athena Mode declared. "Return Miss Yukiho's soul from whence it came!"

"Let's rock, baby!" Jeanne grinned.

(Scene ends with the present Team Muse's moms clasping their hands and their hopeful expressions looking forth at the back-to-back powerhouses - Athena Alito and Cutie J Jeanne - much to their relief; Kako Takafuji, Kaori, and Kousei's translucent figure standing behind both figures in admiration.)

Next Episode: Jeanne and Athena Alito vs Odium Alraune - We are a single light!