(A/N: Leave it to my all-time favorite song to pump me up for a chapter. Here we go)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of Symphonia

3rd person pov

"I assume you have a plan o great genius," Emil said to Urahara.

"Yeah, I've got a plan," the shopkeeper said and flared his reiatsu, "It's called kicking some serious ass."

Emil laughed deviously, "I like that plan. Tenebrae anything we should know about these monsters?"

"Other than the fact that they are all backed by the destructive force of Solum's core making them several times stronger than normal there's not much to say. You and your comrades are powerful enough to deal with them. Although I would advise against going one on one," Tenebrae stated.

"Very well then," Emil stated. "Everyone form up and choose an enemy, but Brute is mine."

"And mine," Marta stated preparing her spinner, only to remember it had been confiscated. "Er…"

Urahara suddenly handed Marta a weapon similar to the one she was using, but it had three prongs and they were all ancient looking. "I figured they'd snag your equipment so I picked this up. It's an efficient spinner called the millstone."

"Fearsome name," Emil commented.

"Right then," Marta equipped the millstone, "Here we go. You and me Emil."

"Actually Marta, let me take him alone," Emil told her.

"But…" Marta was disheartened.

"It's not that I don't think I can't protect you, but don't forget, this is your father. Your emotions will cause you to hold back. I'll leave him alive though, I promise. I won't do anything to cause you grief," Emil told her.

"Let your little pet do what he wants Martmart," Alice chimed, "After all, you did a good job at fighting last time. I'd like a rematch."

"You're on!" Marta scowled.

All the warriors formed up together. Lloyd and Kratos teamed up against the large, but defensive Orcrot. Yoruichi and Urahara fought the fast, but dangerous Laliah. Zelos and Sheena faced the big and brutal Cerberus. Genis and Regal, who was still in condition enough to fight, combined their efforts against the dreaded Earth Eater. Raine and her mother fought against the deadly Simoriah. Presea and Colette formed up against the Talos.

"Hmm," Emil thought, "I believe the odds could be stacked a little more in our favor." He snapped his fingers and Athenos, Zephyr, Terremotto, Raziel, and Gerios appeared. "Take a pair and stick with them. Fight alongside your allies!" Emil commanded.

The monsters understood and did as they were told. Terremotto went to help Zelos and Sheena. Gerios went to fight the Talos. Raziel went to help Yoruichi and Urahara, like they needed it. Zephyr, an enemy of the bug family, went to help the Sage women. Athenos chose to help Genis and Regal.

"Right then, now where were we?" Emil looked at Brute and then said with a confident smirk, "Oh that's right," he drew in energy, "I was about to kick your ass!" He launched forward at the commander of the Vanguard. "Heavenly Tempest!" Emil went spiraling through the air at the enemy commander.

"Field Barrier!" Brute blocked the strike and Emil was repelled.

"Not bad, Light Spear Cannon!" Emil thrust his sword forward and a burst of energy flew at Brute. The commander smirked and deflected the attack with his bare hand. What? Without a weapon?

"Too bad boy, but nice try," Brute channeled mana and attacked with a spell. "Eruption!"

"Ignis! Protect!" Emil coated his body in fire and protected himself from Brute's fiery spell. "Eat this you bald bastard!" Emil let out the energy he had conducted in a burst of energy. "Phoenix Rage!"

"Whirlpool!" Brute fired forward the watery energy at the fire, most of it was doused, but what remained Brute shook off as if it was nothing. "This is power of Ratatosk," the commander mocked. "Ha! You have five centurions and I have only one and I am more powerful than you? Pathetic!"

"Don't mock me!" Emil shouted. He ran forward and began delivering a flurry of strikes. "Sword Rain Alpha!" The strikes were blocked by a barrier conjured by Brute. Every strike was repelled, even the ending shockwave. Damn it!

"Fool, know thy place and eternal suffering be thy destiny," Brute chanted, "Violent Pain!" A dark magic circle opened around Emil as the dark tendrils posed to attack and engulf him.

"Tenebrae!" Emil shouted.

"On it!" the dark centurion replied appearing above the knight. He absorbed the dark spell into his system and fired it straight back at Brute, but the attack was blocked.

"Damn it he's too good," Emil grit his teeth.

"What's wrong Knight of Ratatosk? Is this your limit?" Brute scoffed. Emil growled and sneered. "Give it up. You were a fool to attempt to try and face me alone. What do you hope to gain by such a feat in the first place?"

"I swore to Marta, swore to her that'd I'd bring you back to normal. I also aim to prove that I am strong. If that guy in the bucket hat can injure you then so can I," Emil shouted.

"Fool, that man is a Soul Reaper with years of experience, you are a mere boy. Do you really think you have what it takes to stand up to me?" Brute asked.

"I do," Emil said with a determined look.

"So be it, die by your arrogant determination! Stone Blast!"

"Tenebrae," Emil said calmly, "offer me some of your energy."

"Can do," Tenebrae replied. The dark centurion gave Emil some of his energy and Emil radiated with battle energy.

"Dark Demon Fang!" Emil launched the dark energy at Brute. The commander blocked with a barrier, but this time it cracked. Got you, Emil said and rushed forward and put both hands on his sword. "Devil's Maw!" He slammed down in front of Brute and launched and explosion of force in front of the Commander. Emil realized all too late that Brute had created a more powerful barrier and then blasted Emil away with an energy beam from his staff sending the young swordsman sprawling away. Emil backflipped in midair and landed on his feet. Crap, now what?

"Fool, did you really think you could best me? No matter how hard you try you will never be strong enough to best me or break through my defenses," Brute declared.

"You arrogant bastard," Emil scowled, readying his sword again, but he knew it was fruitless. If only I had more energy, just a little more power…more power? That's it! Emil stood in place and let mana naturally flow through him. I'll beat him at his own game. "By the power of Ventus I call upon the raging winds to smite thee! Hurricane!"

"What?" Brute had never heard of such a spell. And how would he? Such a spell was privy to the one, the only, Ratatosk. Brute was ripped through as shockwaves of air blades came in from all directions before a blast wave of air erupted from beneath him.

"Not so tough when your facing down techniques you can't defend against," Emil said and smirked, "Earlier you mocked the Centurions, but they'll be just what I need to bring about your downfall and shatter your defenses!"

"Don't get smug with me boy! Field Barrier!" Brute covered himself in his large hexagram arranged barrier, "Try and break your way through this!" he taunted.

"Oh believe me I intend to," Emil responded. He chanted again. "By the power of Tonitrus I call upon the souls of the unavenged to run my enemy through with the sword of their fury!" He unleashed the energy he had built up. "Take this! Final Punishment!" Lightning channeled from all around and zapped Brute's barrier until a giant sword of Lightning, bigger than the one normally seen in Indignation Judgment, slammed straight through the barrier and exploded. "Never tempt fate," Emil stated. Brute however was still standing, only minor scratches. "Well so you're still standing. Of course it would be boring if it ended just like that."

"Grragh!" Brute attacked with an energy beam. Emil dodged to the side.

His defense is totaled so he's taking to the offense, excellent. "Raining Fangs!" Emil fired the needle-like shockwaves.

"Spiral Flare!" Brute's spell collided with Emil's attack, but the swordsman wasn't about to let the match be fair.

"Dual Death!" Emil sent out two powerful shockwaves and then followed up with another arte. "Thunderous Tiger!" He performed a sideways revolution and let a stream of lighting shoot off his extended blade and impact with the ground. Brute was hit dead on. He got back up and he looked really pissed. "So I finally got you angry, good, maybe now you'll take me a bit more seriously."

Brute's eyes flashed yellow with rage, "You young fool. Don't underestimate who you're dealing with. I am Commander Brute Lualdi, descendant of the fabled King Sylvarant of the Sylvaranti Dynasty. I will not be bested!" Chaotic energy flowed freely from Brute.

Urahara landed near Emil momentarily to pass along a message, "Careful Emil he was pretty damn dangerous when he got like this the last time." He then went back to his own battle.

"Like I needed that advice," Emil chuckled. It doesn't matter. I've got my own power within me. Time to show Brute what happens when I get serious. "Fiend Fusion!" Emil flashed exploded outward with energy and covered himself in a powerful violet and yellow aura. Similar colored lightning sparked around Emil. Let's see how Brute likes dealing with me when I fight with full force. Emil let out a fierce battle cry and forward. Brute stood where he was and let out a wave of Chaos. Emil ran right through it as if it were nothing. Brute had the most surprised look on his face when Emil reached him. "Nice face." Emil laughed before slicing Brute up his front. The man backed away and unleashed another show of force. Emil stood his ground and flipped his sword behind his back. "Darkness devours! Ain Soph Aur!" The brilliant blast of light broke through Brute's attack and slammed into the Vanguard captain. He retaliated with a concentrated staff beam. Emil dodged out of the way, but Brute followed him with his attack and concentrated beam. Emil ran around and around, before ducking under the wave and shouting "Ventus! Support!" A fierce gust of wind blew behind Emil and he went flying towards Brute. "Havoc Strike!" Emil planted a kick right into Brute's stomach sending the man flying out of the president's office and into another room.

Brute teleported straight back into the battle. "That's it!" The commander slammed his staff down on the ground. "This has gone on long enough. I will show you…I will show you the full extent of my power!"

"Do your worst!" Emil dared, taking a defensive stance.

"Oh I intend to," Brute said as a crack formed in the ground beneath his staff, holding it firm in place. Brute held his hands out at his sides. "Darkness, death and oblivion," lightning began to surge around the bald commander. "Approach from the gates of chaos." Emil realized the energy surging beneath him all too late. "Ragnarok!" A blast of fierce energy exploded beneath Emil as he screamed out in pain.

Hearing Emil's scream Marta turned his attention to him momentarily. "Emil!" she stopped when she was forced to block Alice's incoming attack.

"Your battle is with me Martmart you shouldn't lose focus like that or it could cost you your life." Marta just growled and repelled Alice.

"Radiant Gale!" Marta back flip kicked Alice away and turned her attention back towards Emil where the battle was raging. "Emil," she watched though as his form still stood standing as the dust began to clear.

"That's impossible!" Brute growled.

"What's impossible?" Emil asked, "You said it yourself Brute. You have one centurion." Emil held out his outspread palm. "I have five. I'll admit you put on a good show. When your attack hit I'll admit for a moment there I thought I was screwed, but that's when I remembered that I'm not alone," More of the smoke blew away and a small lava dragon was near Emil along with a mid-sized white wolf, a green and blue griffin, and a dark mauve horse stood by Emil. Tenebrae was also nearby.

"Whoa," Genis took a moment to observe the spectacle, "Are those…?"

"The other centurions," Raine marveled at the sight.

"They protected me and they helped me turned the tide in our battle," Emil stated, "And now Brute, they will help me defeat you." Emil declared. He held his sword out at his side as all of the Centurions, save Tenebrae, began to fade into mana and disappear into Emil's blade. "I will show you that while you are indeed powerful that there is still strength in numbers." Emil held his sword down at an angle towards the ground. "Playtime is over Brute. I'm going to end it here," Emil declared. He unleashed a surge of energy, temporarily paralyzing the commander as Emil rushed forward towards the commander letting loose several furious sword strikes. "This is the final strike!" Emil tore through Brute, u-turned and front flipped exploding a massive pillar of energy in his wake. Brute was sent flying. Emil took the position of Ain Soph Aur, but a different technique all together was being channeled, "Take this! Devil's Hellfire!" Emil launched a monstrous violet and red energy blast at Brute, engulfing the man. The staff the man wielded shattered and Brute fell to his knees. All the monsters he had summoned disappeared in an instant and Emil called back his own servants. Marta was so wrapped up in the spectacle she had let Alice slip out the back. She grumbled to herself, but realized it was of little consequence. Emil's Ratatosk personified self, took a deep breath. "You can handle the rest from here." He switched back to his regular persona. He took one look at the damage to Brute and the office and just uttered in sheer amazement. "I did it."

Ichigo suddenly shunpoed back into the area. "What'd I miss?"

"Oh nothing, just the entire fight between Emil and Commander Brute, plus some fireworks, nothing too major," Urahara joked.

"What happened to Grimmjow?" Sheena asked.

"He ran off, something about meeting me at the conclusion. I have no idea what he's talking about though. If Brute's taken care of the mission's almost as good as won with regards to the Vanguard," Ichigo responded.

"Daddy, are you okay?" Marta rushed over to him.

Suddenly wild cackling could be heard from the doorway as Decus appeared. "Finally…finally I found it." He looked like a stir crazed psycho. He ran forward, ignoring the cuts and scrapes delivered to him by the party as if they were one inch scratches.

"Decus!" Marta was shocked to see him only to get tossed aside.

"Give me…the core!" Decus shouted at Brute. With unrelenting fury Decus plunged his fist into Brute's abdomen and tore out a seed shaped, brown object.

It was…inside him? Ichigo was wide eyed.

How did he pierce skin like that? Yoruichi wondered. He's not an arrancar so he doesn't have hierro, but I can sense fierce, chaotic energy from him.

Decus held up the core. "It's mine…it's mine again. Ahahaha!"

Ichigo tapped Decus on the shoulder from behind. The crazed villain turned around only to get punched in the chest by the teen's fist. Decus went flying out of the office and through another wall, to god knows where. The core however, did not go with him and Ichigo scooped it up. "Thank you." He tossed it to Marta. "Here." Marta however didn't catch the core and it merely rolled to her feet.

"Daddy," she was in a daze looking at her father's fallen form.

Kratos' sixth sense suddenly picked something up. "Lloyd this way," he urged.

"Got it," Lloyd followed suit. Urahara, Yoruichi, Genis, Colette, Presea, Zelos, and Sheena followed suit.

"W-wait where are you all going?" Emil stammered.

"Guess Kratos must've sensed cleanup, we can let them handle it," Ichigo said.

"Somehow I don't think it's quite that simple," Virginia said. "You three should go. Raine and I will take care of Brute and Regal."

Ichigo nodded. He was about to leave when he noticed Marta still in a daze. "Hold up a sec Emil," he told the blonde.

He put a hand on Marta's shoulder, "Hey, snap out of it." he told her firmly. When Marta didn't respond he squeezed her shoulder a bit and she flinched and came out of her daze. "Right now we have a job to do. Your father will be fine. Raine's a good healer and you know how good Virginia is from watching. If she says your father will be okay then he'll be okay. We can't just stand around here moping. Our friends need us. I can sense conflict up ahead and I can only guess one person who'd still be at full power right now. So quit moping, hatch the core and let's go."

"I-Ichigo," Emil was intimidated by the teen's tone and choice of words.

However, though harsh, they snapped Marta out of her funk, "You're right, I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize," Ichigo told her.

Marta nodded and picked up Solum's core. She hatched it without delay. Suddenly all the monsters except Terremotto were forcefully summoned. Zephyr's body turned red and he grew out a long, crested beak. Athenos' skin turned blue and a golden, helmet like object appeared on his head. The stinger on his tail was replaced by feathers. Raziel's body turned dark blue as light blue blades formed on his arms and a similar colored crest coated itself along his forehead and arms. He was also now human sized. Gerios transformed as well. His head reduced in length to human sized. His body turned red and he was now about as tall as Ichigo. Rows of sharp teeth accented his mouth. "Well now it Athenos and Gerios have reached the final stages of their evolution. They now stand in the forms of a Sphinx and a Salamander. Most impressive. As for Zephyr and Raziel they are in their penultimate stages: A phoenix and an Archdemon." Tenebrae stated.

Ichigo chuckled, "Heh heh, we sure picked a couple of good monsters to tame. These guys sure look like the servants of a Knight of Ratatosk."

Emil switched to Ratatosk mode, flicked his wrist and desummoned the monsters. "In any case we should hurry up ahead. You sense it too, right Tenebrae."

"Sense what?" Ichigo asked.

"Aqua's presence," Tenebrae stated.

"So I was right, Richter is here," Ichigo stated. "Let's go."

The group charged in the direction of Richter only to come in on one ugly scene. Genis, Colette, Presea, Zelos, and Sheena were knocked out. Lloyd was down, using his swords to balance him and just to stay on one knee. Kratos was on the verge of reaching his limit too. Yoruichi was breathing hard and Urahara actually had a serious look on his face. The only enemy in the room was Richter.

"What the hell happened here?" Ichigo gasped.

"So, this is the power of the demonic realm of Nifilheim is it?" Urahara asked.

"Richter," Emil spat.

Richter took notice of the blonde. "Emil, I've decided that your form no longer matters to me. I will kill you."

"Good. So you have the resolve to do that do you?" Emil positioned his sword behind his back, charging mana into it.

"Emil, wait don't…" Ichigo tried to warn the blonde, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Darkness Devours! Ain Soph Aur!" Emil fired off the powerful blast of energy.

Richter crossed his weapons over his chest and blocked the attack. "This arte…this timing…so indeed…YOU ARE RATATOSK!" Everyone, save a few, were shocked at hearing these words. Emil himself was also surprised. The moment didn't last when Richter countered Ain Soph Aur shouting, "Eternal Recurrence!"

"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo countered with his Bankai's Getsuga, having never left the form from battling Grimmjow. The attacks collided against each other and dissipated.

Emil switched to his regular self, "I…I remember…" he became Ratatosk again, "And then he…GAAAAH!" Ratatosk shouted out in agony, before he dropped to his knees and

"I will avenge Aster's death!" Richter shouted.

"So I see…I get it now. It wasn't you who killed Aster it was Ratatosk," Ichigo said.

"That's right," Richter responded.

"So you think means and methods don't matter as long as you get what you want? First you use Daddy to kill all of those innocent people, and now you want to kill Emil, who always believed in you?" Marta rebuked.

"Aster was also innocent!" Richter ran forward.

Quickly Ichigo leapt in front of Marta to block the strike, but was easily knocked aside. Richter's strength had improved greatly due to a currently unknown phenomenon and Ichigo was still woozy from his battle with Grimmjow. With the last of his strength Lloyd suddenly ran forward and attacked Richter with his Demonic Tempest attack. The glasses wearing dual wielder dodged the attack. "I cannot allow Ratatosk to be killed," Lloyd stated.

"Lloyd Irving! Why do you insist on getting in my way? Why does it matter to you?" Richter demanded out of the young twin swordsman.

"At this moment, I'm going to stop you as Emil's friend!" Lloyd shouted. "Demonic Circle!" Lloyd struck the ground with one of his blades and created a splash area of energy that quaked out towards Richter. The Vanguard member jumped and backflipped to avoid the shockwave, only to have to turn and dodge a midair assault from Kratos. Richter skidded along the ground, teeth clenched in frustration.

"It seems even the power of Nifilheim has its limits," Kratos commented.

"Got that right," Urahara said, now back to messing around, "Hado 63: Raikoho!"

Richter dodged to the side and narrowly avoided being hit. "Damn," he cursed.

"Aramis!" Alice called. Atop the floating creature was an unconscious Decus and a smirking Grimmjow. "Richter, let's go!" she urged.

Richter nodded. "Mortal Winter!" he shouted. A surge of water rose around him and he used it like a spring board and took to the air. Aramis lowered itself and Richter, along with his companions, escaped.

"Glad that's over," Ichigo sighed, "Emil are you all right?" Emil didn't respond, he merely slumped forward and fell unconscious. "Emil!"

Tenebrae appeared next to him. "He'll be fine soon enough. His memory has fully returned, possibly due to the awakening of Solum's core."

"Wait…so you mean…Tenebrae why did you lie?" Ichigo shouted.

"As his most faithful servant, I did what I had to in order to keep Ratatosk's identity a secret. However, now that the enemy knows that Lord Emil is Lord Ratatosk keeping him in the dark would only be detrimental to the mission," Tenebrae stated.

"Speaking of the mission," Urahara said, "We should return to the Altamira hotel and get some rest. A lot of us are pretty banged up from Richter wielding that ridiculous amount of power. I'll send word to the members of Soul Society to let them know what's going on. After everyone's recovered we should meet on the lookout in the Lezareno main office to discuss what to do next."

"Sounds like a plan," Ichigo said shouldering Emil over his back. He looked at Lloyd. "And what about you?"

"Hmm," Lloyd responded.

"You called yourself Emil's friend, I guess that means we're on the same side now?" Ichigo questioned.

"Got that right," Lloyd responded, seeming like his usual self.

"Good to know. We'll talk later. Right now we need to get everyone to the hotel," Ichigo told the red clan swordsman.

"Yeah, you're right." Lloyd agreed.

A few hours later…

Dusk was beginning to set over the horizon. Lloyd had recovered his strength and was now leaning on the not yet destroyed bridge by the Altamira tram way looking out over the sea. He stood there with his cheek resting against the palm of his hand while his other arm lay flat against the bridge as his fingers rapped the top of it.

"Lloyd," a kind voice called out to him.

Lloyd turned to see Colette standing there. "Oh Colette, are you okay?"

"Yes," she said and walked up next to him. "What about you, are you okay?"

"Me? Yeah, I'm doing okay," he said.

"You seem…back to your usual self," Colette said with a slight smile.

"Huh?" Lloyd was confused.

Colette explained, playing with her fingers, "When I first met up with you and Kratos you were still really cold, but I was just happy being at your side, even though I didn't fully understand what you were trying to do. But when we were at the Vanguard base and when we were at the building just now, you acted like the Lloyd I remember," She looked at him with a forelorn face, "The Lloyd...that left me six months ago."

Lloyd looked ashamed. "I'm sorry," he apologized.

"It's okay. I just want to know…I just want to know…why did you leave me?" Colette asked, looking sad.

Lloyd turned to face the ocean. "While I was keeping watch Kratos showed up…

Flashback

Lloyd's pov

I sat in front of the tent doing my best to stay awake. Whenever Colette and I were out on the open road I always sacrificed sleep until we made it to town to make sure she was protected. We had been at this journey to find and destroy Exspheres for a year and half now. As I sat in front of the dying campfire I noticed a presence. I stood up and reached for my swords only for Kratos to show up.

"Kr-Kratos…what are you doing here?" I was shocked to see him here. I thought he was in Luin taking up mercenary jobs.

"Lloyd there's something I need to ask of you," Kratos said, "I know it's quite selfish for me to ask something of you after everything I've put you through but…"

I shook my head, "No, go ahead." I was trying hard to hide it, but I was actually excited that Kratos was asking for my help for something directly. The fact that he needed my help meant that he not only trusted me, but that he also didn't think he could do it alone.

Kratos sighed and explained to me about Ratatosk and the Centurions and then asked. "Do you understand?"

I scratched my head, "I think so…basically this Ratatosk or whatever his name is using these Centurions to control mana. By why tell me that?"

"Because the mana is currently going out of control and the Centurions seem to be in a slumber. Ratatosk should've reawakened when the worlds were reunited, but from the state of things he appears to be in a deep slumber. Haven't you noticed climate changes as you've travelled?" Kratos asked me. I really hadn't. I never paid any attention to that sort of thing. He sighed, "Well there are and they're drastic. To put a stop to this…

End Flashback

3rd Person pov

"Kratos explained to me about collecting the Centurions cores to stop the chaos from continuing. He then asked if I could leave you and the others out of it," Lloyd told Colette. "I agreed without hesitation."

"But why?" Colette pumped her fists.

"Everything will be explained tomorrow Colette, please be a little patient. Just know that…I never meant to hurt you," Lloyd said.

Colette wrapped her arms around Lloyd from behind, "It's okay. I know that. I'm just glad you're back here with us. I'm just glad that you're still you."

Lloyd turned around, looking wet in the eyes. "You dummy."

"Huh?" Colette was surprised at Lloyd's choice of words.

"What are you trying to do make me cry?" he asked.

"It's okay to cry, sometimes tears are the best medicine," Colette told him.

"You're the only one I'd let myself cry for," Lloyd told her and then pulled Colette in for a hug. "Thank you. It was so hard being without you."

"Yes, for me too," Colette nuzzled into Lloyd's embrace.

"I love you, Colette."

"I love you too, Lloyd."

The Next Morning

Emil woke up feeling sore all over. He clutched his forehead. "Where am I?" He remembered Richter's words.

"I will avenge Aster's death!"

"I'm…Ratatosk?" Emil asked himself.

Tenebrae appeared, "Lord Ratatosk." He said in reference to Emil.

"I'm Emil," Emil said defiantly as he stood up only to have to sit down. "Ow, my head."

"I'm sure you've remembered it all by now," Tenebrae said.

"I remember being killed by Richter. But how could that be my own memory? Ratatosk's core is on Marta's forehead!" Emil shouted, getting back to his feet.

"On the night of the Blood Purge, you hatched from your core in response to Lady Marta's cries for help. By placing a fake core on her forehead, you were able to turn the enemy's eyes towards her and away from you," Tenebrae explained.

Emil was horrified, "You're saying I did that so they'd go after Marta instead of me?"

"Yes," Tenebrae confirmed.

"That's horrible!" Emil looked away from the black centurion.

"Having just awoken, you needed time to regain your former strength. And the power you once possessed has started to return, little by little," Tenebrae stated.

Emil was silent for a moment before he clenched his fists in anger and squeezed his eyes shut. "I can't believe this. I was using a girl to save myself. A girl who told me she loved me! It's cruel!"

Tenebrae could sense the repressed animosity in Emil's voice. "You may have been cruel. As Lord Ratatosk, that is."

"Huh?" Emil opened his eyes.

"But the part of you that is Lord Emil has given everything to protect Lady Marta. And I detected no calculation or self-interest in that," Tenebrae responded.

"Tenebrae…" Emil was comforted by the Centurions words.

"This is of course one Centurions' impression," Tenebrae said in reference to Aqua's choice to sever her bond with Ratatosk, but Emil wasn't alert enough to pick up on it.

Emil and Tenebrae walked out into the hallway from the hotel room. Ichigo and Marta were waiting.

"Emil, are you okay?" Marta asked him.

"Marta. Who am I?" Emil asked her with melancholy eyes.

"Emil…"

"Tenebrae says that I'm not Emil. But I have memories of my childhood. Vivid memories with my mother and father!" Emil cried out.

"Memories can lie. They were added after the fact, so you could play the part of Emil more convincingly," Tenebrae answered.

"Tenebrae stop this!" Ichigo chastised.

"As I said before, now that the enemy knows Lord Emil is Lord Ratatosk, it would be dangerous to keep him ignorant of his true identity. And as a servant of Lord Ratatosk, it is my duty to keep Lord Emil safe," Tenebrae explained.

"I know that," Ichigo chided, "but at least give the kid a moment to catch his breath!" Tenebrae was instantly quiet.

"Emil," Marta said to the blonde, "Daddy wants to talk you, will you come?" Emil was surprised that the Vanguard commander wanted to speak with him, but agreed to it all the same. "Good, he's downstairs. We'll go together."

The party proceeded into the elevator and headed down to where Brute was lying in bed. Virginia was in the room as well, keeping him company. "Oh Virginia, you're here too?"

"She's been healing him and keeping him stabilized," Marta said. "She said she's going to wait here until he's well enough that the authorities can transfer him to Meltokio's prison."

"Oh, I see," Emil said.

"Mr. Lualdi," Virginia said, "Emil is here."

"Tell him to come closer," Brute groaned. Virginia urged Emil and the others forward. Emil stood right at Brute's bedside. The man definitely looked like he had seen better days. Emil could hardly believe that he had been the one who had inflicted most of those injuries. "Emil, I want to thank you for saving my daughter," Brute told him.

"I-It's fine," Emil stammered, "I'm sorry though…for what I did to you."

"No apologies are necessary," Brute said, "It's thanks to that that I was able to come to my senses."

"That and Decus ripping the core out of your gut," Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck only for Marta to elbow him in the gut for making a snarky remark in such horrible taste. "Ow."

"What did you want to see me about?" Emil asked.

"I hear that you are close to Richter," Brute said to him.

"Sort of," Emil stated.

"I know I've done many terrible things, but allow me to give you one warning. The one who fashioned the Vanguard into the militant organization it is now was him. Do not trust Richter. I'm not saying this as an excuse for what I've done. I have a deep hatred for Tethe'alla and the Church of Martel. I founded the Vanguard for my own reasons. But if it wasn't for Richter, the Vanguard would have never attained the sort of power it now wields. His words had a strange quality to them. A strong pull that I couldn't resist," Brute stated.

"So does that mean that Richter was the one who gave you the power of Solum's core?" Ichigo asked.

"It was indeed," Brute stated, "I've ordered the surviving Vanguard members to lay down their arms. I'm sure most will follow my orders. But there are many others still loyal to Richter. They may regroup and thrust our world into chaos once again."

"Well then we'll just kick their asses," Ichigo stated outright.

Brute laughed and then coughed. Virginia stood up. "I'm afraid I must ask you to let Mr. Lualdi rest now."

"Okay," Ichigo said. "Come on Emil we should go to the terrace at the main office. Everyone's waiting for us."

"Okay," Emil agreed passively.

"Good luck," Brute told them.

Omake

As Ichigo, Emil and Marta walked forward, Emil's pace slowed. Tenebrae appeared. "Lord Emil is something the matter?"

"It's nothing really…I was just wondering…Tenebrae what form does Ratatosk take?" Emil asked.

"What do you mean?" Tenebrae asked.

"Well…I mean you kind of look like a dog and Aqua looks sort of like a Mermaid, so what does Ratatosk look like?" Emil asked.

"Actually the form Lord Ratatosk takes on is…is…" Tenebrae couldn't finish his statement and just began chuckling to himself.

Suddenly the ethereal form of a three foot tall tangerine squirrel with glowing red eyes, sharp fangs, bull horns, jagged claws on both its hands and feet and yellow, red and green symbols covering its body appeared and materialized. "Tenebrae you don't!" It shouted. Emil took a step back in shock. "I specifically told you never to tell my other self about our animal form and especially not to start laughing about it either!"

"Um, I'm standing right here," Emil piped up.

"I know," Ratatosk responded, his bushy tail rattling.

"Now, now Lord Ratatosk, your other half would've found out about your animal form sooner or later whether you had liked it or not. And after all we are Centurions; there is absolutely no shame in having an animal form that is considered more adorable or peculiar to the outside world. Also there are many intimidating features that squirrels have," Tenebrae said.

"Yeah well I find that hard to believe," Ratatosk shot back, "All the time back before Cruxis was formed it was always the same thing. I'm sick of this crap I will not tolerate—"

From out of nowhere Marta grabbed Ratatosk and hugged him, "Aww, it's so cute!"

"…being treated like a stuffed animal," Ratatosk sighed.

"Your fur is so soft," Marta pet Ratatosk. "Tenebrae can I keep it?"

"No," The centurion responded.

Marta, Emil thought feeling slightly heartbroken

End of Chapter

(A/N: LOL sorry I was waiting for a good excuse to use that particular gag. For those of you who aren't getting the joke In Norse mythology, there is a large tree that connects Earth, heaven, Valhalla (where the gods lived), and Neibelhiem (where the demons lived). This tree is called Yggdrasill. In its branches there is a large Eagle and within its roots, there is a ferocious Dragon. Now, the Dragon and the Eagle hate each other, but they can't actually meet because they're guarding the pathways to the different realms. So, they have a small squirrel run between them to pass insults to one another, and that squirrel runs up and down the tree all day long. This squirrel is called Ratatosk. Yes. That means, that Ratatosk, The Demon Lord (as called by Richter), the Summon Spirit, and the Creator of the Centurions is a squirrel. You never actually get to see Ratatosk in the game, which is endlessly annoying. However, it would be rather anti-climanic if you saw a squirrel on the screen. The omake and the above information are all courtesy of Cherry-sama on deviantart. Anyway there's more important things about the chapter than just the omake, like the fact that we got to see Ratatosk Emil actually being a badass and defeating Brute single handedly, plus a cameo of the other Centurions. Also we got some cute Colloyd fluff and now it's out in the open that Emil is Ratatosk. I know I already knew that going in, but it still gives me chills every time Richter does that line about Emil being Ratatosk. The story is reaching its epic conclusion. I've got to get to class so I'll see you all later!)