The final chapter! A slightly delayed Happy Christmas, if you celebrate it, and if not, then I hope you had a really lovely day!

Just a brief thank you to everyone who has returned and re-read this story every day, even when I wasn't exactly managing to update it on the right days all the time! Your reviews and favourites and follows mean a lot to me, and it's wonderful to come back to the fandom properly after so long away and see that it's still active in its own little way. Phosphorus will be continued in January, and there are some more ideas floating in my head that are starting to take proper form, so don't think that I'm going anywhere!

This chapter really isn't Christmassy, to be honest. And, despite appearances, it is not the start of a new multi-chapter fic! Just getting that out of the way.

Dynamis

The heavens sang their songs slowly, but he always heard them in his dreams. Sometimes it took him a long time to understand what it was he was hearing, and sometimes he spoke the words that he had been given before he understood them at all, but he was the conduit through which the constellations spoke. That was his role.

So when the freezing night crystallised his sleeping mind on to two terrifying concepts, he was up and moving almost before he realised he was awake.

Hail to the arriving king, sang the stars. Terrible is his power, and mighty is his kingdom.

All must stand, or all will fall, the constellations replied.

Even now, more than ten years after the event, Dynamis still had nightmares of being forced under King Hades' will. He had thought that Hades' return would be impossible, but the stars never lied. And if Hades was returning, he was going to need all the help he could get.

"I speak the will of the heavens," he said, hearing his voice ring around his ancient temple home. "Another threat approaches hence, and we must once again rise to meet it."

"Funnily enough, I'd already figured that bit out."

Dynamis startled, then relaxed. As usual, he had forgotten about the young man he shared the temple with, who was standing leaning against the stone pillar to the left of the door arch. Tithi had grown tall in the past few years, and was now almost the same height as Dynamis. Sharp and smart and with a constant thirst for knowledge, he had been more than just a friendly voice in the otherwise lonely temple for a long time now. He learned everything with a voracity that both shocked and pleased Dynamis. If it hadn't been for Tithi's insistence on returning to the lower altitudes and going to visit the Japanese bladers once or twice a year, he might even have considered training him up as his protégé.

"So you know of what I speak?" Dynamis was vaguely aware that he was still speaking with the voice of the heavens, and struggled to switch his tone to a less formal one. "How do you know?"

Tithi just laughed. "Well, if it hasn't been obvious to you that there's something building up in the world, then you don't leave your mountain often enough, Teacher. Besides, I think you'll find everyone decided to gather anyway."

"And what does that mean?"

"Tithi, have you got him ye – oh. There you are, Dynamis. Come on, everyone's waiting for you."

Everyone? Dynamis stared at the newcomer – a tall young man with white hair and a red streak over his right eye. "Ryuto. What are you doing on my mountain again? And what is this everyone you speak of? How can everyone be here?"

"It's the Solstice!" Ryuto laughed. "And it's the twelfth anniversary of the fall of Nemesis, what better day to announce that we've got another fight on our hands? Tithi sent out a message telling everyone that you two were hosting a reunion that you just might make an important announcement at, so everyone's turned up and I mean everyone. Sneaking them on to the mountain without you noticing was pretty tough, but there's secret tunnels that go all the way through the maze below. Gingka and I mapped them together, so we found a secret entrance. Come on!"

"Tithi." Dynamis said, voice just a little bit dangerous. Tithi shrugged.

"I know you, Teacher. You were starting to look at the sky too much, and not pay attention to the Earth. If the world needs the Legendary Bladers back again, we're going to need all of us. And if you want to know how important it is, Gingka's here."

That… changed things. Gingka was more willing to show his face at gatherings now that his epic quest across the world was over, but it was still difficult to track him down when you wanted him. Dynamis followed Ryuto and Tithi to the entrance to the temple and stared down into the lower courtyard in shock. They hadn't been exaggerating when they said everyone was there.

Tables had been set up in between the ancient stones, and a huge bonfire was burning right in the centre. On one side, a group he vaguely recognised as China's team were busy setting up a buffet table, whilst a pair he knew much better – Legendary Blader Aguma and Bao just next to him – worked on building the bonfire to a more manageable size. On other other side of the courtyard, Tsubasa Otori, Madoka Amano, and Yuki Mizusawa and a woman Dynamis knew only as Hikaru were deep in conversation. Yuki kept pointing up to the stars excitedly, and Dynamis suddenly remembered that Yuki's role had been very similar to his the last time they had all been needed. It was good that he was here again.

They weren't the only ones who had been on King Hades' Island. Dynamis knew the man with black hair tipped with green – Masamune, that was his name – had been there, and he knew the two next to him from the helicopter ride home, Zeo and Toby. He'd never forgotten their faces, seemingly so energised when he was so exhausted, and the way Zeo had kept reassuring all of them that the shadows in the corners of their eyes were not the threat returning for yet another round. It had been a peace and hope he had clung on to until he could get his own mind in order, letting someone else take that burden of watching just for a few hours. The group of three, along with the Legendary Bladers Chris and King, were apparently trying to put decorations up on the stones, stringing ribbons through the holes that made the Cygnus stones and tying lanterns between them.

The European champions he recognised from Tithi's descriptions. Team Excalibur often invited Yuu and Tithi to challenge them, recognising in them the core of a strong and unique tag-team. Tonight, they seemed to be wearing wreaths on their heads, and were making more that they handed to anyone who walked by their table. How odd, Dynamis thought. Crowning themselves like kings and queens – was that what the heavens had meant? No, that had spoken of a single King, and a threat of terrible power. As strong as the European team were, they were not a threat of that calibre. In fact, they would be welcome assistance.

The African team, including Kyouya Tategami, were easier to recognise. Nile, Demure, Kyouya and Benkei sat just out of the glare of the fire, eating what looked like gingerbread they had brought themselves, and talking with someone he didn't recognise at all.

"That's Hyoma," Tithi said quietly in his ear, noticing where Dynamis was looking. "He's Gingka's childhood friend, he helped me track him down. Normally he'd be guarding his village in Japan, but even he knows how important this is going to be, so he's here too."

"It really is everyone," Dynamis wondered. "But how did you know I would have an announcement to make? Even I didn't know what it would be until I spoke the words just before you got here."

"I know you can hear all the voices of the constellations," Tithi smiled, "but I can hear Quetzalcoatl. He's ancient. He knows when things are about to go wrong, even if he's only got a tiny bit of the picture. So yeah, I didn't know exactly when you'd work out what the message from the heavens was, but I knew by the time everyone got here you'd have figured out something was happening at least."

"Besides," Ryuto said. "Even if you hadn't worked it out, it was about time that we all got together again. It's been years since I've seen some of these guys." He darted off down the steps to where Masamune, Chris and King were hanging more lanterns up. "Hey, let me help!"

Tithi briefly put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to carry this alone," he said. "Tsubasa and Yuu taught me that Christmas time is best when you're surrounded by the people you love. It's not exactly Christmas, because that's not what we're celebrating, but it's the Solstice. Twelve years ago, we were strongest together, and it took all of us to bear the burden of protecting the world. Let us take some of it again. That's what we're here for."

Dynamis looked at his young friend, really looked. "You've grown wise," was all he said, but Tithi lit up like a Christmas tree, eyes sparkling in the light from the bonfire.

"Hey Dynamis! Hey Tithi!"

Dynamis looked down. At the bottom of the steps, smiling up at them, stood Yuu Tendo and Kenta Yumiya, both much taller than Dynamis remembered. Yuu waved when he realised Dynamis had spotted them.

"Hey Yuu!" Tithi called, and scampered down the steps to greet his friends properly. Dynamis watched him go fondly, but with a sense of wonder that he hadn't had before. Had everyone changed so much in twelve years?

"Dynamis."

He knew that voice. "Gingka Hagane. It would seem that I am the last to know of something this time around. I am… not used to this."

Gingka Hagane straightened up from where he had been lurking in the shadow of the door pillars. "Tithi likes surprising people. You most of all. He seems to think you deserve it."

"I am not fond of surprises," Dynamis muttered, and Gingka laughed.

"He did mention that you might have something important to tell us," he said, changing the subject. "Let me guess, it's not good." He looked around almost sadly. "I doubt Tithi would have gone to so much trouble to make sure everyone was here at the same time if it was good."

Dynamis sighed. "No, it is not good news, Gingka. This celebration cannot continue too long. The heavens tell of something coming, something huge and dark and terribly dangerous, and the arrival of a King of terrifying power. More than that I do not know, but we must prepare for it as soon as we can, or we will fall before we even have a chance to fight."

"Of course there's something coming," Gingka said, eyes so much older and wiser than they had been when he had stood before Dynamis that first time, uncertain even of the power he held let alone his role in protecting the world. "You don't have to know the heavens to see that. All you have to do is watch what's happening to the world. And we're here to learn as much as we can all together. But… just for today, can't we have peace, and happiness, and love?"
Dynamis opened his mouth to object that the darkness would not stop just because it was Christmas, and then shut it again.

"Yes," he said. "Everyone gathers together in peace and friendship tonight. It bodes well for the future that all of us are together again. It will not be easy for the enemy to split us apart, and if we stand together we will be far stronger than we could be alone."

Gingka smiled. "Come on, then," he said. "Let's go and enjoy the party."

Stepping into the noise and bustle that was nearly thirty people in his usually-empty courtyard felt surprisingly comforting, like the warmth of home after too long outside in the winter air. Dynamis hadn't quite realised that he'd actually missed the bladers he knew. He followed Gingka to join the little gathering of WBBA bladers, Tsubasa and Madoka and Hikaru, all of whom greeted him enthusiastically. Moments later, Dynamis saw Nile nudge Kyouya and point out Gingka, whereupon the Lion immediately stood up and came to join them as well.

"Gingka," he said, voice half welcome and half challenge. "You've been gone far too long, I haven't been able to have a proper battle with you for years. Just wait until you see mine and Leone's-"

"New special move," Yuu, Kenta and Tithi chorused from behind him, then all burst out laughing at his offended expression.

"C'mon, Yo-yo," Yuu grinned. "You've been saving that special move for months. When did you create it? Last November or something, wasn't it? And you still haven't used it against anyone else just because you want Gingka to be the first to face it."

"I'll accept your challenge," Gingka said, and as Tsubasa opened his mouth to object, clarified "After we get down from the mountain, okay?"

"Fine. I've waited this long, I can wait another day."

"This is wonderful," Madoka said, looking around. "I haven't seen everyone all together in the same place since the first anniversary."

"Team Wang Hu Zhong, Team Excalibur, Team Dungeon, Team Wild Fang," Hikaru counted them off on her fingers. "It's certainly an unusual collection outside of a world tournament. Then you've got every single Legendary Blader as well."

"All except one." Yuu's smile was fond but a little sad. "There'll always be one missing."

"Nah," Kenta said, with a similar look in his eyes. "The Dragon's always in the sky. As long as his stars are in the sky, he's still with us in spirit."

Madoka nodded. "Actually, look up," she said. "This observatory was built to mirror Cygnus, but look which constellation is just to the north-east."

"That's Draco!" Yuu got there first, identifying the stars that Dynamis knew so well. "And that's Pegasus on the other side of Cygnus, look!"

"All where they should be," Gingka said. "All together, all part of the heavens. That's why we're all here. Just one constellation can't light up the sky on its own. You need all the stars of heaven to do that."

"That's why we came along," Wales said, coming up to join the group and bringing the rest of his wreath-crowned team with him. "We might not have been part of the last battle, but we can't fight this one alone, and if we waste time trying to get everyone together, it's just handing help to the other side. We'll be ahead of them this time."

"We must not get complacent, Wales," Julian said before Dynamis could say exactly the same thing. "Just because we have a head start doesn't mean we can waste it by thinking that we're ahead. Everyone needs to be on high alert."

"We will be," Tsubasa promised. "We've got worldwide resources this time. We'll be ready. No matter what the Darkness throws at us, we'll answer it with the light of hope and our burning beyspirits!"

"That sounded like a speech my dad would make," Gingka said. "You really are the Director of the WBBA." Tsubasa shrugged.

"Food's ready!" Aguma called across the courtyard, interrupting. "Come and get it!"

The next few minutes were filled with movement and chatter as the reunited bladers regrouped for the feast the Chinese teams had laid out for them.

"Ah, Chinese food at Christmas," Masamune grinned, and then laughed when he got curious looks from most of the others. "It's a cultural tradition thing, you wouldn't get it."

"Like The Snowman?" Tithi asked, and got even more blank looks.

"Are those wreaths traditional where you come from, Sophie?" Hikaru asked.

"Not really? They're not traditional to the country or even the culture, they're just a thing my family does every year."

"I think that's a tradition, Sophie," Madoka said. "We've all got traditions at this time of year, I think. It's nice to see other people's traditions for once. That way we can learn about them and respect them."

"The anniversaries were meant to be a tradition," Yuki said. "I thought we'd all meet up once a year to remember things, but it just didn't happen that way."

"We all got busy," Benkei shrugged. "I only managed to get away from the shop for long enough to come to this because the café next door agreed to lend us a few workers."

"But the important thing is that we're here now," Gingka said firmly. "All together as one team to stand against the Darkness. We can do this, just like Tsubasa said. We have the Legendary Bladers and their power, we have the strongest teams from all over the world, and we have the ones who have always supported us no matter what. If we stand together, we cannot lose!"

Kyouya straightened up proudly. "I don't like working in teams," he said. "But if this is anything like last time, then I guess I'd better get used to it."

"Aw, Yo-yo likes us!"

To Dynamis' surprise, Kyouya didn't object to the nickname, merely rolling his eyes as he took another steamed bun.

"Kyouya's letting me call him Yo-yo?" Yuu asked in mock surprise. "Now that's a proper Christmas miracle! Not like the one I got last time."

"And what exactly do you mean by that, Yuu Tendo?"

The world fell silent. Not even the wind blew as every person gathered in preparation to face the Darkness turned to look up at the temple. Several expressions went clear through surprise into shock, and two in particular went from shock to joy.

The stars had announced the coming of a king of terrible power and might. Dynamis had assumed that was King Hades, or worse. But as he turned with the rest to look towards the source of the voice, he suddenly understood.

Crowned with stars, a man stood above them on the steps of the temple, eyes burning candle-gold and coat flaring like a storm behind him, hair as white as snow with a streak of holly-berry red. Behind him, looming like fire against the sky, a sinuous figure of a great creature blocked the sight of the constellation it had come from.

"Impossible," Kenta breathed.

The heavens had not told of a King arriving. They had sung the advent of an Emperor.

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FIN

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