The Steel Inquisitor barely gave any thought to the new comers. He pulled out his vials of metals and downed them quickly. Using Duralumin to enhance his Brass, Huon slammed Aizen with a powerful wave of Soothing, trying to beat him into submission. Aizen staggered as he got up, and the shell completed forming about him.

"Impressive Steel Inquisitor," the Soul Reaper noted. "You used a spike to get right at me, and by powering up your Soothing abilities, you thought you could get me mentally to cave into this fight. I assure you, my resolve is much greater than the powers of Allomancy!"

"It all depends," Huon growled. "Everyone! Attack!"

"Don't need to tell me twice," Bill seethed.

"Wheeeeeee!"

Pinkie Pie flew out of the sky, somehow, and crashed into Aizen. He batted her away, but barely caught Bill's flaming fist as it came for him. Still, the fire engulfed the Soul Reaper's new form. It did not leave even a smudge.

The ground opened up to swallow Aizen, but he remained hovering in the air. He swung his blade Bill, slicing open the demon's eye. Bill roared with rage and wheeled away, as a barrage of bullets showered the traitor. His blade moving swiftly, Aizen deflected each and every bullet.

"You are trying to put me of balance once again," he noted. "It's all part of the Steel Inquisitor's plan to weaken me with either Rioting or Soothing. Even if it did work, would it be enough to break through my defenses?"

Discord appeared and wrapped himself around the Soul Reaper, binding his arms to his sides. "You didn't fall like I expected. How odd. Rainbow Dash, if you'd please?"

"Aye, aye, Captain Wuz!"

The flying pony slammed rear hooves down on Aizen's head and slammed into the hole. Discord snapped his fingers and the earth closed up.

"Now, I know that will hardly hold him," the monster said matter-of-factly, summoning some arrows from his quiver. "But this will give us the time we need to properly prepare."

"I think not," Aizen shouted as he erupted from the earth, spraying rocks in every direction.

Aizen was a brilliant sun in human form to Huon's spiked eyes. He hated looking at the man. But he didn't want to die just yet. There was still too much that he needed to figure out about the universe. About himself. And through the mental link with Ricardo, he realized he was not entirely alone. It oddly comforted him to not be alone in that feeling and way of thinking. If he wasn't going to die in this fight, it was time to do something he had not wanted to use until the end.

Huon burned Atium.

Let's see what this would-be-god can do against this, Huon thought grimly as shadows sprouted out everywhere.

These were the shadows of events as they were about to transpire. With this metal, his sight was impeccable unless another was also burning Atium. Hefting his enhanced axes, he charged for Aizen. The encased Soul Reaper's shadow raised a hand, followed soon by the real Aizen. A beam shot out of it at high speed. Huon saw it coming a mile away, and easily changed his path to avoid being hit as the shot was discharged.

I can do this, Huon assured himself. I can cleave right through that shell of his and kill him. I'm not just some Steel Inquisitor, I'm the High Executioner!

Aizen's future self started acting faster. Before Huon closed the distance, he saw Aizen jabbing a finger like a sword at him in rapid succession. Huon could see where the man aimed, but at the intense speed at which he was firing, Aizen filled the battlefield with attacks. Rainbow dash struck again, Aizen batted her away easily. He continued to cut through the bullets Revolver fired.

Huon tapped speed to mimic his opponent and came face to face with Aizen. He saw the hand rising to grab his axe and the sword swinging to take him in the side. He grinned as his foresight finally gave him the advantage that he needed. He altered the angle of his attack and threw out his other axe to catch Aizen's sword hand.

It all happened in a blur. Aizen caught Huon's axe haft and broke it with his grip. He also changed the angle of his word's swipe and struck low. He sheared Huon's left leg from his body.

Howling, Huon tapped strength, speed, and weight from his Feruchemical spikes and smashed his face forehead right into Aizen's covered face. The Soul Reaper fell back for a moment and Huon, still using his three attributes, swung his second axe down and drove it deep into his foe's chest.

There was a torrent of light and air and Huon was thrown backwards. Blood sprayed in a trail underneath him. Aizen rose to his feet, his shell already reforming, but this time a bright gem glowed on his chest. It was the Hogyoku.

"Well done, Huon," Aizen congratulated. "You managed to break my covering for just a moment. But as you can see-"

He stopped short as four red pillars erupted around him. Huon had not heard the shots fired as he had attacked the traitor, but Revolver had fired another set of traps. Red chains shot from the pillars and took hold of Aizen's wrists and ankles.

"Now," Revolver shouted.

Five arrows struck Aizen in the back. Air, Water, Earth, Fire, and Spirit. A magic circle appeared around Aizen and spun. Pinkie Pie played a tune and Big Mac grew larger and stronger from the magic music. Rainbow dash brought in a dark cloud and hopped on it, casting a bolt of lightning to the war unicorn's sword, charging it.

"You really think your paltry table game tricks are going to stop me," Aizen asked in an amused tone.

"Yes," the little dragon with a beard and silly hat said triumphantly. "This is the end of our boss fight!"

The larger pony came in and slashed across Aizen. The five arrows exploded into their respective elements, sending deep cracks along Aizen's crystalline form. The circle constricted and green light flooded into the cracks, mixing with the power of the Hogyoku. An explosion ripped Aizen's outer casing apart and two bullets took Aizen in the head and chest, punching massive holes into him.

The Soul Reaper slumped in the chains that held him erect.

"That was a little more gruesome than I was expecting! But hey! We won," the pink pony declared happily.

The Hogyoku flared and Aizen's voice floated on the air, "Don't be so sure of that statement. The Hogyoku knows its master and will not fail me."

In a manner of seconds, Aizen's body re-healed itself and the shell reformed around him. Huon seized the moment by downing two more vials and slamming his enemy with another enhanced wave of Soothing. Aizen jerked a little and his voice failed him. Finally, with great effort, Aizen broke the chains and pillars with his strength.

"I used the Quill to make sure that the Hogyoku took to me this time. There will be no silly shortcuts to my defeat as there was last time," Aizen informed them. "You all have skill and power, but I can match it and overcome it. Even with Darkstalker blocking the effects of my Kyoka Suigetsu, I have the senses and skill necessary to cancel out every single one of your attacks. Even foresight."

"Damn you," Huon growled in his grinding voice.

Lightning went up everywhere in the sky and ships started falling from the heavens in fiery ruin. In the heat of the moment, Huon had completely forgotten that they were there. Aizen did not slow his advance as a ship crashed behind him, throwing up a wall of dirt and flame.

Even through the raucous, the Soul Reaper's calm voice carried. "I see that Darkstalker has discovered a way of dealing with the Crown. A red herring. I intended on beating you with my own powers. You split your forces, and that will lead to your undoing."

Another shot rang out from the spreading gloom. Aizen caught the bullet between his fingers and crushed it, along with the spell it contained. Huon heard a sigh from the man as a figure shot out of the raining dirt. It was Revolver.

Aizen ran him through with his sword. As he did, Huon heard the thoughts coming from the man through their link. It was a muddle of anger and despair, but mostly it was one of peace. He knew he was going to die doing this, but he hoped it would mean something.

"Had enough," Aizen asked.

"Yes, and it should be enough for you, too!" Revolver snarled, "As I die, these guns will hit you with the worth of my life and dying soul!"

Aizen could not move fast enough and was consumed by a raging inferno from Revolver's guns. His own body burst into flame and ash instantly. Aizen was blasted through the air, his shell once more cracked open and he was rigged with shock.

In that moment, Huon realized something, the man had the right idea. There was no going back to the way things had been. Even using the Quill would probably not have worked out in the end. Had he turned back the clock to where none of this had happened, he would have still died. With a purpose yes, but not with one as noble as ridding existence of this beast.

This is insane, but that is what life is. It is not logical or controllable as the Lord Ruler thought. He died thinking he was in control. We all perish at some point. It is the way of the universe. A constant. What matters is how we face it. I am free of my brothers and their dogma. I am not sure who I am really, but I know what I can do.

They will all die, but let it not be at the hands of a man who betrayed us! In this one thing, I can find meaning, nobility, identity, and peace!

With that, Huon emptied his reserves of attributes and launched himself with his one leg and free hand. He flew at Aizen and then he Pulled. He Pulled with everything he had on Aizen's soul and sword and streak right down for him. He embedded his ax once more in Aizen's chest, crushing the Hogyoku.

There! Got it!

"Did you really think the Hogyoku could be destroyed by the likes of you," Aizen whispered.

Huon did not even register the Soul Reaper ripping his head clean from his shoulders. He was dead before either of them hit the ground.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aizen got up, his body healing from the combined attacks from Huon and revolver. With those two dead, Darkstalker distracted, and Bill still regenerating his eye, it would be easy to take down the My Little Pony gang and finish them off. He glanced up as a ship in the form of a castle merged with a spear, and made of pure white crystal cut through the air and severed a massive, black ship in two.

The Guardians had arrived. Aizen knew he should probably flee. But he still held the Quill. The Abominations would keep them busy as well. And soon he would emerge anew from the shell and begin his rightful ascension to godhood once more. There was nothing that could stop him.

"Sorry, Izzy, but you're wrong about that!"

Aizen spun about as he felt his presence. "You!"

Deadpool stood there, stark naked except for his customary mask on his head. He held two katana aloft and was ready to fight.

"Did you miss me, mother-"