The dark night skies of Earth Land rang with the sounds equal to that of a sonic jet. Planes moved remarkably fast, but moving at sonic speeds close to the ground was Garchomp. The Mach Pokémon was living up to his name, speeding so fast across the skies that he didn't look like anything more than a dark blur.

"Dragon Rush!"

The sound of his dark, grave tone rattled spines as his entity was enveloped in a dense, draconic energy in the shape of a dragon, with wings spread out and Garchomp sailing in the head of the beast. Without any regrets, he blitzed at sonic speed, passing in a straight line across several Face bombs. As the energy around Garchomp dissipated as he sailed through the air, the Faces glinted before shattering to pieces. Five fell in one go, all clumped together and the mighty pillars littered their white curse against the gravel.

As Garchomp ascended, he glided and stared down at the numerous Face bombs in the distance. "Doesn't these things ever run out?! They just keep popping up!" He yelled. It was fun at first because he got to grow loose, but with the time span short, and still maybe thousands – if not hundreds – left, it was beginning to annoy him.

Looking at another Face bomb in the distance, he glared at it with no mercy. He opened his mouth, exerting another hostile shout that could make a Tyranitar stiff. "Alright you stone faced freaks, now you're just annoying me!" His fangs glowed and elongated. He sprung ahead, lunging at the nearest Face with a white trail on either side of his mouth.

"Crunch!"

Garchomp snapped his jaws as he ploughed right through another Face, shattering it to pieces behind his air-breaking wake. The sonic waves produced from his lunge pulsated through the air, sending white rock everywhere. However, after that last assault, Garchomp began to wince. Grunting, the Dragon/Ground-type began to fall to the ground, his teeth gritting as his intense eyes narrowed. He landed on a knee, but the bone snapping thud made and his body and neck hunched over was a maleficent indication to his condition.

He panted in and out, trying to catch his breath. Normally Garchomp would have no trouble in taking down so many, even if it did aggravate him later; yet the confrontation with Acnologia earlier still lingered. As he managed to get up from his knee, his body was still having some hesitation. He looked down, seeing how his muscles were like beating hearts.

"Great. If I keep this up, my body is gonna keel before I smack another one of these ugly rocks down." He grunted. He looked back from the direction he came from, seeing the endless miles of Face bombs he destroyed. It looked to be hundreds of demolished white rock littered everywhere. "…gnnngh, guess moping around won't solve anything."

However, as he began to turn around, there was a faint but swift sound that caught his attention.

"What?"

In the distance, his eyes saw something like a cloud white fly across the sky. It made another insidious sound as it closed in, much to Garchomp's shock.

His eyes widened. "Is that what I think it is…?"

The white, feathery dragon shouted out as she smashed straight through a single Face, falling it much like what Garchomp has. The beast sprawled and sailed over Garchomp's head, making a shadow over him as he stared up and behind with disbelief.

"Where did that thing come from?" He was met with an answer – the sound of another, deeper roar, no deeper than his own. He stared out ahead, seeing a metallic, shimmering creature with a shark-like head bellow.

Picking up another wave, he pivoted and looked right, seeing yet another white dragon flew in the distance, smashing his way through a Face bomb. When he turned left, he picked up the faint sign of a jet-black shadowy dragon flaring through the skies, destroying another Face without any effort.

The Mach Pokémon was looking left, right, and above, where he suddenly found himself in foreign territory with large dragons flying in a circular pattern over his head. He was unsound, and if he wasn't pushed over already, these dragons looked as powerful as Legendary Pokémon. Even he wasn't stupid enough to confront them all at once.

"What's happening?!" He exclaimed.

"Pokémon." A voice announced. "Do not be afraid."

Garchomp glared up, questioning the feminine sound that granted no ill will.

"We did not come in search of your challenge. We have come in the assistance of this treacherous cause." Another mature, male voice announced.

Garchomp watched slowly as the four dragons began to descend slowly, all of them bearing different attributes. As he stood in the center, he glared around with a high guard as one dragon had white feathers and abundant tails. She had a huge mane of white fur, and blue eyes. The other dragon was of raw iron, coated in shimmering shining armor with gauntlet-like claws. Another dragon was white, but had a gray beard and curved ear-like horns. The last one had red eyes and a shadow-like scaly body with black showy flares running from the head down the back. All four dragons looked down at Garchomp while still noticing his snarling sharp teeth.

"Who are you?" Garchomp questioned.

"Please remain calm. We did not come here to disrupt you." The bearded dragon said. "We have come in our own cause as well."

Garchomp's eyes narrowed.

"Please allow us to introduce ourselves." The feathered dragon said. "I am the one they call the Sky Dragon, Grandeeney."

"I am Metalicana. You better remember it, especially since I got the better looks than you." The Iron Dragon said, however, his snarking went unanswered as Garchomp didn't seem to care.

"I am Skiadrum. Welcome, Pokémon." The Shadow Dragon stated.

"And I am Weisslogia." The White Dragon announced. "We thank you, and welcome you at the same time. I understand this is on short notice, but we have little time to say."

Garchomp could've questioned what their motives were, but even he wasn't blind nor deaf. By their looks – even the gruffy Metalicana, he knew that they bared no ill will, nor an obstacle against him. They all seemed willing, as he could tell by the eyes. While he did ease up, he still had wonders lingering. "Okay, so what do you want now? If you're not with that black beast, then what are you?" He asked.

"Acnologia. The one you successfully weakened and repelled." Skiadrum said. "He has been the scourge of us dragons. It was thanks to the likes of you and your Trainer that Acnologia has finally been revealed his very own weakness."

"Now with the Dragon King sullied, that shall give Igneel the chance to destroy him once and for all." Metalicana spoke.

"So then there's more of you then." Garchomp figured.

"It's not a big stretch, but yes. Just the Fire Dragon King, Igneel." Weisslogia announced. "As we speak, he has engaged in battle alongside Rayquaza, to cease Acnologia advances on his path of destruction."

"While the mighty Igneel is handling Acnologia, we have our own cause as well." Skiadrum said.

Garchomp turned towards them, his footsteps firm with every turn. "Okay, I'll bite. What is going on?"

"Pokémon…please allow us to offer you our thanks and gratitude." Grandeeney insisted.

"You and your Trainer, you two have gone above and beyond what could've been managed. You both destroyed the many Face across the continent, and on top of that, you have repelled Acnologia and wounded him once again." Weisslogia answered. "You have used your own powers, and the might of Acnologia against the Faces across the continent. As of now, even with your condition, you have pushed yourself to destroy half the bombs. As dragons to one another, we give to you our condolences for the exhaustion you and your kind had to go through in the fight against Acnologia."

"We dragons shall do what we can and rip these hunks of junks apart." Metalicana said.

Once again, Garchomp was caught by surprise. "What?" He questioned.

"We can understand your resentment after the pain our kind caused. It will not be easy for us to reprimand ourselves for what has been written, but please let us pay you back in kind for what Pokémon has done for us." Grandeeney said. "We shall collaborate this one time, with dragons and Pokémon unifying under one cause."

Weisslogia leaned down, looking at Garchomp in the eyes. Yellow eyes glared at one another without a blink of a scale. "We will follow you, just as humans that we have followed. Let us do good, and together, magic shall thrive once again."

Garchomp looked around at the many gargantuan beasts surrounding him. He wasn't sure what to think exactly, let alone who to trust. By all means, he trusted Nic, and he was tasked to stop Face, because Nic knew Garchomp could do it, even if it did exhaust his body. But with how Acnologia wore him down from before, and how he and Nic already destroyed half the Face bombs already, there really wasn't an argument to be made. If he had all his strength and they were enemy dragons, Garchomp knew he could take them on and slash them down, but their power wasn't as grand as Acnologia, so even in his fatigued state, his durability could make one or two fall. But this wasn't the case. They were allies, and he knew better than to question their motives if they wanted to help destroy Face. Ultimately, he lowered his head.

"…fine." He agreed. "But don't get in my way."

"Fingers crossed." Metalicana sneered.

Grandeeney spread her angelic wings, raising her head high. "Now with us unified, we shall destroy Face! Dragons, Pokémon, let us hurry with time we have!"

"Don't get all mushy." Garchomp warned. He crouched and used his tail to help him ascended. He began taking flight, gliding up into the skies with the dragons following all around him.

"We shall all fan out. I shall deal with the south." Weisslogia said.

"I can handle the north." Skiadrum said.

"I shall destroy the east." Metalicana spoke.

"And I shall cover the west." Grandeeney announced. "Let's go!"

Garchomp let out one more loud roar, the airspace shrieking loudly with a blood-curdling bellow. With some energy back, and some acquaintances, he knew now the odds of stopping Face intensified. And now with his job easier, he used his revitalized mind and zipped away from the spreading dragons, diving towards northeast. He blitzed towards another Face, raising his arms as they glowed green for a Dual Chop.

"Okay you tons of bricks, time for the rest of you to blow down!" He yelled. He passed two Face bombs, green arches trailing behind as he passed them with Dual Chop. The Dragon/Ground-type roared out once more as he went at sonic speeds, diving once again into the white fray.


Acnologia roared in the skies, exerting a hot breath that bellowed outwards against Igneel and Rayquaza. Any residual smoke in the area, dissipated, revealing Acnologia with little wounds except for the grand ones Nic and Garchomp inflicted before. The Dragon King closed his mouth and coldly glared at the red and green dragons.

"Looks to me he still has some bite in him." Igneel said.

"That I agree." Rayquaza stated.

Acnologia brought his head back, only to reel it forward and unleash another powerful roar. The blue beam fired shot straight ahead, expanding towards Rayquaza. The beam, however, was easily maneuvered around as Rayquaza serpentine and swerved in a spiral up the beam's sides. As the beam dispersed, a blue explosion was in the faint, cloudy distance.

With Rayquaza at point-blank, the Sky High Pokémon opened his mouth and began to manifest multicolored energy.

Recognizing the assault, Acnologia used his instincts and ascended at the last second, dodging Rayquaza's Dragon Pulse. The beam stretched outwards, the head and wings expanding far out, fading away in the distance like Acnologia's assault, becoming a rainbow haze in the far beyond.

"Don't think that I'm so dumb as to not learn, Pokémon." Acnologia gravely sneered.

"Then did you forget about me?" Igneel questioned. The Fire Dragon King was revealed to be above Acnologia, making the Black Dragon glance up to see the red beast. What he was met with was the flaming axe kick of the mighty Igneel's Fire Dragon's Claw. The axe kick to the head made Acnologia sunder straight down.

Rayquaza swerved out of the way as Acnologia descended past him, but he disregarded the concept and watched as the Black Dragon pick himself up and spread his wings. He flew in an upward arch, climbing back into the air.

Igneel descended by Rayquaza's side, glaring at their opponent. "He's a really tough neck to break."

Rayquaza lurched forward, roaring out loudly, again making the airspace shudder with vibrations.

Recovering from that last blow, Acnologia roared back at them. The Dragon King did not waste a second's time as he dove straight for the two dragons, while Igneel and Rayquaza followed. As the proximity was decreasing, Igneel brought a fist back that was wrapped in hot flames, while Rayquaza was outlined in green and used Extreme Speed. Acnologia opened his mouth and readied a point-blank roar in retaliation.

All three attacks collided with one another, and the high skies lost all clouds around them. The dark vortex that was above them had dissipated, and a bright flash enveloped the air above. The light let a ripple exert outwards that went on for miles on end. The impact of all three made the explosion become a giant sphere of green, blue, and searing flames that continued to implode onto itself. The earth shook apart as the shockwaves from the attack reached the ground. Gruesome fiery waves bellowed outwards and made everyone down below who was on the sidelines take cover as the triple threat made the dust and earth break into pieces. A few were just about blown away even.

As the smoke cleared out, Igneel flapped his mighty wings, looking unscathed from the point-blank impact.

Acnologia veered from the dissipating smoke as well, glaring without any new scratches.

Rayquaza slithered up from the smoke cloud, swerving into a semi-coil and veering down at Acnologia.

"We're just getting started!" Igneel shouted. Shooting at Acnologia, the two dragons momentarily interlocked head, their skulls bashing and shivering spines down below. With neither side giving an inch, Igneel eventually went on a stronger offense, swinging his toe claws for another sinister flaming kick. Acnologia dodged the attack and thrust a claw forward, but Igneel used his forearm to deflect the swipe and circled around. Acnologia followed suit, swerving around in the skies until he began to lock onto Igneel.

Tailing Igneel from behind, began to open his mouth for another roar, but suddenly a hammering force got to his body, and began to snake around him. The Black Dragon was questioning until a blur of green was seen. It revealed Rayquaza, and he had Acnologia coiled around his serpent-like body.

"This time, it's you to go down!" Rayquaza announced. He began to descend rapidly, his speed shockingly remarkable as Acnologia's weight was being dragged down. The descent was steep and hefty, and land was coming into view in second after second. Acnologia's mouth was open was his vision momentarily went blank upon impact. Rayquaza uncoiled, and in the process, slammed Acnologia with the momentum into the earth. The force of the attack was of great might, and a geyser of dirt erupted as the earth broke apart for the umpteenth time.

Rayquaza swerved back into the atmosphere, roaring out loud and craning his head as the dust began to settle, revealing a large pile of rock and dirt and a deep crater created from impact. The dragon swerved his body around, slowly inspecting the damage, but then stopped.

Igneel glared down, looking with equal wonder. "Did that ring his bells?"

A small speck of rock moved in the pile. Rayquaza jerked up and knew the fight was far from over. He swerved into the sky again just as the pile shattered. Dust again clouded the sounds of rock breaking, and from the dust cloud emerged Acnologia, climbing for Rayquaza and Igneel once more.

"It's going to take more than that to ground me, dragon!" Acnologia yelled.

As Acnologia closed in, Rayquaza and Igneel readied as the enemy dragon's glowing red eyes confirmed he was out for their blood in this fight.


As the rampaging in the skies amongst dragons and the Legendary Pokémon unfolded, Mard Geer was standing opposed to Nic and his Greninja, though he seemed less composed given what happened.

"Seems as though the skies are quite loud on this night, wouldn't you say?" The Underworld King said.

"As loud as the screams that you've caused for so many." Nic retorted.

Mard Geer chuckled at Nic's grimacing fact, but otherwise he was unmoved. "That's what is called reality. The reality of the matter is that no matter what happens, my Master E.N.D shall unfold. Once I deal with the likes of you, I shall take great pleasure in ripping it back from that meddlesome dragon spawn."

Nic and Greninja took, stances, ready for battle. "You'll try."

"But we won't allow that." Greninja said.

Mard Geer narrowed his vision as thorns began to slowly swerve all around him. The spikes on them were sharp, and he had everything set to attack. 'Kyôka.'


Watching the dragon skirmish in the sky, Kyôka was bewildered with all the events that have played out. She couldn't comprehend as to how everything was going to plan. She had no idea if Mard Geer was behind this, or it was all Nic. She was lost, until her ears picked up on a small static connection.

'Kyôka, it is I, Mard Geer.' The voice answered.

Kyôka went wide-eyed at the telepathic connection made with her leader. 'Lord Mard Geer?'

'Listen carefully. The dragons above have become a hindrance to us. More so with all these wretched Pokémon scurrying around in our world. We need to speed up Face's activation.' Mard Geer announced. 'You are in the control room, are you not?'

'Yes, Lord Mard Geer…unfortunately Lord Keyes and Sayla have both been defeated. We no longer have anybody to manipulate the ex-chairman.'

'Worry not, Kyôka. For we do have an answer…you.'

Kyôka's eyes widened.

'Remember that lacrima where the chairman centered his magic? It's still there.' As mentioned, Kyôka looked above her head, seeing the giant globe with panels. Though no pictures or diagrams are present. 'To do so, you must use Organic Link Magic with your own body.'

'Organic Link Magic?'

'Yes. Kyôka, you shall become the new Face detonator. With your Organic Link with your powers, you can accelerate Face's activation. Once that is accomplished, all mages will be powerless against the might of us demons. And that leaves the rest of us to revive E.N.D and destroy Nic and all Pokémon who oppose us.'

Though the plan did seem to be of good ideals, the consequences reached Kyôka. 'But, Lord Mard Geer…' She grew excessively unsound from the prospects made. 'If that does come to fruition…won't my life be lost?'

There was an unpleasant silence, one that left Kyôka with a bitter chill down her spine.

'So what? Are you afraid of death?'

Mard Geer's saying made Kyôka gasp. A nervous level exerted from her, which is what Erza caught onto. She stared at the demon with question.

Ultimately, Kyôka knew what had to be done. She had to hurry, and by no means was there a point of no return. She had to won, for the sake of E.N.D and of Tartaros. Her nervousness faded away with a dark glare set instead. '…no, I dare not fear death. He who is forbidden is but a worse behemoth to fear. Death itself is but a blessing I shall take over him. If this means victory in the end, then so be it.'

'Good. Now go.' With that, the telepathic connection Mard Geer made faded, and Kyôka was left to stare up at the lacrima with her new - and final – purpose.

Kyôka reached up, her fingers stretching up and connecting with the lacrima's bottom. "This is for the sake of Lord Zeref!" She announced.

"What is she doing?" Bellona questioned. "Is she insane?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't look good." Minerva answered.

Kyôka reeled herself up and used her talons to grip onto the globe. Inserting her claws into the lacrima, she began to transfer power. The process began to sting as she cried out. The demon shrieked as she began to initiate the link. Her body began to glow, and all around her, several dots began to flicker.

Erza turned left and right, seeing the many dots. Her nerves began to lengthen in astonishment. "What is this?" She yelled.

The markers began to reproduce, multiplying until they were spread thin, like little Volbeat tail lights.

"What are those things?!" Panther Lily exclaimed.

"I'm not sure…but are they markers?" Happy inquired.

"Yeah…but why are there so few of them?" Lector noted. "Weren't there thousands of those Face things?"

"Yeah, and they're slowly fading away too." Frosch pointed out.

True to what he's noted, the near thousands of dots were fading away consecutively, almost every few seconds. It was an odd concept, especially for the ill-informed. They didn't understand, and yet Kyôka didn't take notice as she was busy infusing her magic into the globe. As many Face markers were still disappearing, the globe Kyôka was attached to continuously shrunk. It began to minimize, similar to the move Minimize, yet it shrunk to where it was but the size of Kyôka, who was shrouded in a new unknown figure.

"What you see are the Faces on this continent." She answered, even with her figure shrouded, her shape gave shivers down everyone's spines. "Organic Link complete. I am now the Face detonator itself."

"What?!" Erza gasped.

"What did she…?" Happy muttered.

"She did it to speed up Face's countdown?!" Panther Lily yelled.

Bellona narrowed her vision. "I was right. She is insane."

"These demons." Minerva growled,

Kyôka shadowy smirked. "Well…" She chuckled weakly. "By all means, I made things easy for you humans, wouldn't you say?"

"What's that mean?" Erza questioned.

"Dear Erza, I made things simple for you and your friends. If you simply kill me, then congratulations, you have stopped Face." Kyôka explained. 'Though it doesn't matter; once Face activates, I'll die regardless.'

"You have most certainly boasted some confidence." Minerva pointed out. "Can you not see yourself at the opposite end of victory?"

"No…" Kyôka darkly glared at Minerva, the way she stared upside down left the mage unsound. "But I can see you fall." The demon suddenly jumped off, blitzing at lightning fast speed down towards Erza and Minerva. As she passed the two, she slashed her mighty claws without a misstep. The slash to Erza shattered her armor, while Minerva suffered a more gruesome note; she was slashed across the side, her injury to where the pain inflicted made her gag and see everything a time-slowing haze. Kyôka revealed her new form as she stopped on a knee, which was her helmet returned, but with longer protrusions resembling horns. Her hair was replaced by a hefty tuft of feathers that went down in a long, tube-like ponytail. The pauldrons and high knee guards were layered by feathers, and black armor was around her abdomen, revealing her stomach and her large chest.

"Etherious Form – Kyôka, Goddess of the Slave Planet!"

Minerva gagged loudly as that swift attack made her fall over, slamming onto her side with a large thud.

"Minerva!" Erza shouted.

"Milady!" Lector cried out.

"Damnit! Minerva!" Panther Lily exclaimed.

Minerva was wincing on her side, using her hand to suppress her side wound. She gritted her teeth, the pain too great to allow her to speak.

"Minerva!" Erza's sword chipped away, leaving her with great worry. She angrily turned around to face Kyôka, all while requipping her rapidly falling armor into her Black Wing Armor for quick cover. "You'll pay dearly for what you did." She declared.

"Erza…" Minerva grunted.

"Don't worry Minerva, I'll deal with her."

Kyôka raised her head, emitting a powerful shriek into the atmosphere. Her pupils were devoid of eye color, so she was unaware of the few signals disappearing every few seconds.

Overhead, everyone could see the countdown clock:

32:41

It suddenly changed.

21:56

"She's making the time accelerate!" Happy shrieked.

"So she really is using Organic Link to speed up the process!" Lector announced.

Bellona gritted her teeth. With Minerva and herself incapacitated, the odds were stacked against Erza. "Hurry, Erza." She said. "You have to win!"

"I know!" Erza lunged after Kyôka with her armor around her, sword in hand and ready to go another round against the demon.

"Hmph." Kyôka smirked as she brought her own arm around. "Come on! Are you seriously believing humans can best me now?!" She slashed her arm, creating a vicious shockwave that burst in front of Erza. The knight sidestepped and dodged at the last second, the but the waves made her slid off a few feet. Kyôka stood proudly over the sea of dust created, smirking maliciously at her prey. "My Curse Power in this form intensifies. With every second, my power grows, and that means every second closer to your miserable end."

Erza slashed her sword as she closed in, but Kyôka crouched and jumped backwards, evading Erza's attack. "And now that I have activated Face with Organic Link, my life's sacrifice will bring ruin to you all!"

Erza was once again hit with terror. "You did what?!" She yelled.

Once finishing her skid, Kyôka's fingers twitched as she leered at Erza. "But I hold no regrets." She swung her right arm from the side, creating a crescent shockwave that bent towards Erza. The redhead used her sword to block the incoming shockwave, but upon impact a dusty burst erupted. The impact shattered her sword, and she slid backwards with a loud yell.

Erza got ground and slid on her heels to a halt. "You would give up your life for a cause so blasphemous?"

"If it's for my Master E.N.D, then I will do whatever it takes!" Kyôka made a whip with her elongated claws added with her Curse Power. She swiped it, but Erza jumped and dodged. Evading the groundbreaking impact, she sailed overhead, requipping in the process.

"You're mad!"

"It is destiny!" Kyôka pivoted, grabbing a pillar without effort and tossed it up towards Erza. The knight flashed, her requip fading just as the pillar concealed her. Suddenly the pillar had white lines before it split apart to pieces. As the pieces fell to the ground, it revealed Erza in her Heaven's Wheel Armor, two swords in hand. Kyôka, however, was undeterred. "It is the Demons of Zeref's destiny to return to him. We were all born by Zeref, and thus we follow that one path. And Mard Geer will guide us."

Erza sailed straight down, slashing her two swords. "You're mistaken!" She landed, but Kyôka jumped away at the last second, evading the cross slash. Erza glared at her adversary, angrily staring into her eyes.

"You chose death. That was the biggest mistake you've made rather than forego a path with your comrades. You really believe death is the ultimate answer? That's nothing more than a folly!"

"Silence!" Kyôka shouted. Her voice boomed, her stretched claws creating a gust that made Erza cover up. The intense wave of energy was so great that Erza was being pushed back; to add insult to injury, her armor was chipping along the edging.

"What-?!" Erza was stopped by green lightning that flared from the demon's body. The green lightning flared everywhere, intensifying in searing agony as it was like Discharge. It was let loose and everything ran haphazardly all around. The green lightning suddenly flashed as Kyôka violently shouted in increasing volume, and then it discharged into bolts that struck everything.

"Aaaaah!" Happy screamed in agony. Apparently Erza wasn't the only one stung by the green lightning. Happy, Panther Lily, the remaining Exceeds, Minerva, and Bellona were all screaming out as green lightning struck them. Mirajane included, though it was insult to injury that she was in enough pain.

Erza was gritting her teeth as her sensory was on edge. Everything she was feeling was starting to hurt, even her own sense of breathing was hard to make sense of. Her eyes were wide, intense pain shooting through them. "What is this…my body…" The more she struggled, the more the green static around her stung. "My body won't move…"

"Distressing, is it not?" Kyôka casually strolled slowly a few more feet forward. "I have used my abilities to strip you of defenses of your pain. Even with the slightest breeze, you'll feel severe agony." She looked off to the peanut gallery, smirking as she saw their wretched states. "However I think I went a little overboard as ever. Your comrades feel agony as well."

Erza was sweating profusely as she couldn't move. The raspy breathing she was giving was hurting her own throat. As she exhaled, the more her insides were beginning to compress. It was like her body was tearing apart from the inside out and vice versa. It was hard enough to move, let alone move as Kyôka took full advantage and blew a small huff. A breezed shifted a strand of Erza's hair, and the knight arched back, screaming violently and loudly and green lightning stabbed at her nerves. The pain she felt was beyond any measures, and it was like being sliced apart, or bit into. Tears pulsated from the corners of her eyes in response, and the sound of her anguish shivered everyone.

Happy was clutching his stomach, shuddering in pain. "It's like…I'm being stabbed all over." He whimpered.

"I can't…feel anything…!" Panther Lily grunted.

"It hurts…it hurts…" Frosch was on his side, crying as it was worse than any stomachache he's had.

"Y-yeah…but Erza's got the worse of it." Lector labored.

"Damnit…" Bellona gritted her teeth, unable to even twitch as she and Minerva were hard of breathing.

Erza was stiff as a statue before her convulsed body fell over. Thudding on her back, the knight was advanced by Kyoka. The demon walked over nonchalantly with a swing in her hips and smirked down at the distressed knight. She raised a foot and stomped on her stomach. The sensation of pain was so great that even with Erza's gaping mouth, no screams of pain came out. Her voice had been torn out of her.

"Brings back old memories, don't they Erza? Being unable to move…just like the torture chamber." Kyôka taunted. Her victim could only shudder and gag as air was of no supply. Inhaling only served to sting and hurt her throat.

The clock read a new time, which was:

18:42

Kyôka raised a claw, holding it over Erza's chest armor. "This armor really is annoying." She swiped at the armor, chipping off a piece. "You have such flawless skin!" She ripped off another chunk.

"Leave her alone~!" Happy cried out, tears running down his face.

Bellona couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Erza…is this…?" She watched the demon rip at her skirt, the sensation of lust in a sadistic way, the treachery and satisfaction of dominance displayed, it was sickening. She couldn't believe this was what she was at a point.

By the time Kyôka threw away the last of Erza's armor, she was nothing more than a shriveled body. Erza's bangs covered her eyes. Her whole body was seen with scratches, bruises, and all she had on were tattered and torn clothing that barely obscured her personals. By all means she looked dead as she wasn't responsive, yet the sight wasn't enough for Kyôka to take. She wanted more. She wanted to make Erza submit. She wanted to show the human that demons were of superiority. One way or another, she will show her own possession of Erza, even by means of killing.

"Before leaving this world, you shall give me my final appeasement. I will give you true despair, and I will savor every bite of it." Kyôka sadistically leaned down, looking at her with wide, lust-filled eyes. "Away with your sense of sight." With a snap of her fingers, Erza's vision began to fade away. Her eyes grew hollow in color, and slowly, the vision of a cackling Kyôka faded, until at last there was nothing but absolute darkness.

"Touch…taste…smell…hearing…"

Erza began to lose any and all senses. The ground and rock beneath her was no longer felt, like instead she was floating. The taste of blood and saliva gurgling in her mouth was gone. The smell of fried body and rot was deprived of her nostrils. Lastly, the sound of Kyôka and her maniacal laughter was gone, fading away. And just like that, everything that Erza had was deprived.

'Everything…it's all gone…'

Erza floated in a dark space, devoid of anything, like her own void within her subconscious. Nothing but her own thoughts to be her company till the ending days. There was but eternal darkness and a void to expand further in her own pity. Her fate sealed by the deprivation of what she needed to live. 'So is this my fate in the end? Am I to die like this? Alone?' The deprived female began to meekly muse in the irony of her situation. 'All of my efforts, are they in vain? Have I done nothing more than just be a handicap to everyone this whole time? Do I really deserve to be alone after all?' The bittersweet days of her slavery began to edge into her once again. 'I don't want to bare those days again…this darkness, it's but my own conscience bewildering me to no gruesome end, is it?'

The darkness bubbling around her began to speck. Within the darkness that lied above, there was but a small light that twinkled like a star. 'What is that? A star?' The star grew brighter, until it became a white light that banished the darkness surrounding her. For some reason, the cold depth turned to a warmth. 'This light…'

'Erza? Are you there?' The resemblance if said voice was uncanny. The voice made Erza's heart pulse with vibrant shock.

'Nic? Is that you?!' She answered, almost frantically.

'Yes, it's me. You know better than to doubt this voice, do you?'

His mild question mused Erza, despite the heavy irony. 'I suppose you're right. My mistake. How are you talking to me right now?'

'I'm using my Mind Form's powers to make a telepathic connection. I saw green lightning in the distance and I got a bad feeling. Is everything alright?'

'Honestly, I wish I could say no. This demon has it in for me I'm afraid.'

'That makes two of us.'

Erza grew surprised. 'What does that mean?'

'Mard Geer really has it in for us. Greninja and I are barely getting close with his thorns intervening. Apparently he isn't letting us get out of this alive.'

'Mard Geer is giving you a hard time? That sounds foolhardy.'

'Tough call, but didn't you say you were in a bind yourself?'

Once again, Erza found herself grinning. 'Is this really the time to pull the other's legs?'

'Guess not.' Nic mused.

'Nic, do you know why Acnologia is here?'

'I can guess…it's because he's still after Garchomp and I. We came across him as we were dealing with Face's bombs and he challenged us. He intends to exact revenge for being humiliated as the Dragon King.'

'You battled Acnologia?!'

'Yes, though it did a number on us, we sundered him with heavy tolls. I went back to my world to ask Rayquaza in assistance against Acnologia, giving Garchomp time to handle destroying Face's bombs.'

'So that's why all those markers kept vanishing.' Erza thought to herself. 'You really did wonders this time. You know that?'

'I wouldn't worry about Garchomp. I have faith in him, just like I do for you.' There was static in his voice, the silence interrupted by a disrupting shout on Nic's end. This led Erza to grow increasingly worried.

'Nic? Are you still there?'

'…yeah. Greninja and I are pouring everything onto this demon. You said you were in trouble, right?'

'Sadly.' She grimaced. 'I was in battle against Kyôka. Minerva and I were holding her off well until she used Organic Link Magic and changed her form.'

'Changed her form?'

'Yes. Minerva was struck down regrettably, and now she's attacked my pain receptors. I can't feel anything anymore. I was deprived of my sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing. All I saw was dark before I heard your voice. Honestly, I wonder if I can actually defeat her in time.'

'You can.'

Erza once again was shocked by Nic's words. 'Huh?'

'You and I both know lying down on the job will not solve our problems. Remember when we were separated during the war? What do you think motivated me to get along with Jellal? You. You were in my thoughts even when I was chained up when the Rivolta enacted their plan. I can't think of another reason for me to not stand when I'm fighting for something I want to return home to. We fought by the other's side. We saw the other bare pain. We survived the apocalypse. We chose to stay and be with each other, forever. We even made a house for our unity. I won't throw it all away just because I lost senses. I have a reason to fight, and it's because of that I won't lie down.'

Erza's frown began to teeter into a soft smile. 'You're right. What was I thinking? I can't stay down like this.'

'Then rise. You will find a way. You always do.'

'No, WE always do, Nic. The Pokémon always help us with that.'

'Yeah. That's true…Erza.' His voice went silent for a second, but not long enough for Erza to get worried. 'When this is over, when we finish our ends, let's find the other. Let's find Vanessa, and let's just be that way for as long as we can.'

'I would like that.'

'I wouldn't have it any other way.'

'Nic, wait for me…I love you.'

'I love you too, so very much.' With that, Nic's voice began to go silent, but the light surrounding Erza's subconscious never faded. The smile she had had the fire that burned with passion.

Kyôka towered over Erza, mockingly cackling at the fall of the redhead. "This is despair! This is my victory to behold! Even with no future for myself, you pathetic humans have nothing to gain but agony in your end!" She mockingly laughed, the cynical tone making everyone else bitterly tear up as their hope began to dwindle. She slammed a hand against Erza's face, pressing hard to give her the sensation of being crushed. "I won't kill you, but this shall be but the beginning! I'll make you experience true hell! You'll make for an excellent puppet for Lord Mard Geer! Slowly, and dreadfully, your body and soul will rot away until you're nothing but a shriveled pile of despair!" Kyôka's malicious laughter escalated, her joy rising at the lust-filled prospects. "I'm so jealous! To think you're thrilled is nothing compared to feeling it! Just try and say how grateful you are of such a fate bestowed onto you!"

"Ni…" Erza muttered weakly.

"What?" Kyôka looked down, ceasing her conquering.

"Nic…I will…" Erza's fingers began to twitch.

Happy and the others looked with wonders as they watched Erza moving.

"This can't be…" Kyôka was flabbergasted with Erza beginning to stir. As the long-haired knight started to rise, the demon stepped off her. Within her own bewildered state, there was a sudden pressure change, one that she felt from afar. The demon swiftly turned her head to where there was a giant pillar of water in the distance. The rise of the pillar bewildered her. "What is that?!" As she looked around, she realized that within her glory, the markers were vanishing. "What is happening to all the Face markers?!" She looked back down at Erza, but more frantic than ever.

Erza was slowly back to her feet, teetering left and right with exasperating breathing. Her nerves and sense of pain was like stepping on spikes, the wind being of razor blades, yet she somehow ignored it. "This light that you gave off…to this day it still shines in my darkness. I feel alive when you are there with that smile. Even now you continue to fight for my sake." She began to requip slowly, glowing. "Not just you that changed me. It was Pokémon. They have become the influence that brought us together."

"This can't be…" Kyôka quivered.

"How is she standing?" Minerva baffled.

As Erza's requip faded, it revealed her hakama and sarashi combo. "People have been taking you from me, and so many times I fought hard to keep you. This time I will fight not twice as hard, but a hundred times harder!" She reached backwards, to everyone's shock she clutched a Poke Ball.

"She can feel it?" Bellona questioned.

Erza lethargically tossed the Poke Ball, and out came Doublade. The Sword Pokémon looked determined as she began to separate, the tassels slowly getting around Erza's arms. To her, it was like tangling weights around her. Again she ignored the pain.

"Even if I cannot see…even if I cannot hear, or even feel anything, I will not waver!" Bending one of Doublade's hilts to hold like a kunai. She used the hold for a harsh uppercut to Kyôka's chin. The demon fell backwards with a gagging pain from Erza's insidious assault. The pain in Erza's arm raged like a million Thunder strikes. It was like her arm shattered like glass, yet her hold on Doublade only tightened. "You call this pain?!" She yelled. "The greatest pain for one to bear, is their hope and love lost!" Once more, she began to think of Nic. "Until I see my loved ones again, I will not break! I will show the greatest strength is overcoming pain! And I will be guided by not just the light, but by Pokémon!"

"We shall be her eyes and ears! Strike us all you want, but we will not stop until we make you feel despair from the path you chose!" Doublade said in unison.

Kyôka recovered from the blow and looked back with astonishment. "How is she doing that?"

Bellona looked on, her grin returning at long last. "That's the Erza I know. Someone who's too stubborn to stay down."

"She's back." Panther Lily smiled.

"Aye!" Happy cheered.

Kyôka was losing patience. As she glared harshly, she was shocked to see the panels all around and the markers slowly vanishing. 'What is happening here? She's lost all five senses, and yet how is she still wielding her Pokémon? And why is Face fading away? This doesn't make sense? Lord Mard Geer, what is happening?!'

'Kyôka, are you still there?' A familiar voice called out inside the demon's head, bewildering her.

'Lord Mard Geer!'

'What is happening? Why hasn't Face gone off yet?'

'I don't know! The markers and Faces are all rapidly disappearing!'

'What?!'

'I don't understand, what is going on here? At this rate, Face will be lost!'

'...these humans and Pokémon…they are ruining everything! Kyôka! Destroy them and detonate the remaining Faces-!' Suddenly, there was a harsh slam sound, and the connection with Mard Geer was cut off.

"Lord…Lord Mard Geer-?!" Suddenly the demon was cut off by Erza slashing Doublade with Slash. The Normal-type move slashed across Kyôka's stomach. The violent slash made her yell out as she slid back several feet on her feet to a grunting halt.

Everyone smirked as Erza was back on the offensive. They were amazed that she was still fighting, but even more so with how she lost her senses.

"How is she doing that?" Lector asked.

"Yeah, and what was that pillar of water?" Pather Lily asked.

Happy began to smile. "I think I can guess who." It was no doubt in the Exceed's mind that similar cyclone of water shooting up belonged to a certain creature who shared a bond with someone.

"Greninja!" Frosch chirped.


"Gngh!" For some reason, Rogue began to feel a chill run down his spine. He looked over his shoulder as he laid on the ground. "What was…that?"

"What is it, Rogue?" Sting asked, sprawled right beside him. Like him, Sting was also banged up badly. "You feel something?"

Rogue stared out where the pillar of water was from before, his nerves still prickling with uncertainty yet he did not press it further due to his wounds. "…it's nothing." He lied.


Kyoka was wide-eyed at the Slash she was hit with. As Erza stood there, raspy panting the only sound made, the demon was frustrated beyond all reason. "You shouldn't even see me! What is it with these Faces disappearing?! Answer me!" She bellowed.

Panther Lily began to smirk. "I think I know how she's attacking now. It must be her Pokémon guiding her." He explained.

"Her Pokémon? How?" Lector asked.

Happy's eyes widened as an epiphany sprung into his noggin. "Oh yeah! I forgot! Pokémon have these things they use called Abilities! They're these cool powers that allow Pokémon to do something…" The Exceed then tilted his head in wonder. "But I forgot what Erza's was."

It was surprising, but they understood. If they had more Pokémon intel, they'd know that Doublade's Ability was No Guard, but with that under lock and key until further explanation, they were all just sitting there, shocked as Erza and Doublade sprang into action.

"Doublade! Swords Dance!" Erza announced.

Doublade surrounded her and her Trainer with illusionary blue swords that circled them from above. The swords crossed over their heads, and Doublade was briefly outlined in a thick red aura, Attack prowess increasing.

'Is her…' Kyôka was beginning to draw conclusions. 'Is her Pokémon guiding her?'

"Fury Cutter!"

This time, Erza guided Doublade in an opposite arch swipe. The glowing blades left trails of weak light that connected with Kyôka. The Bug-type move again made the demon slide back, this time slamming into debris that made dust fly. Once again, the sharp swing made Erza feel like her arms snapped, but her hold on the Steel/Ghost-type did not waver.

Kyôka arose again, her eyes nearly devoid of pupils. "STOP!" She screamed out. She's had it, and as she bellowed out, more and more Face markers continued to vanish. Once again, there was a jump on the Face countdown.

5:16

And even then, time was ticking faster.

"Damnit! Time is speeding up!" Bellona exclaimed.

"Hurry, Erza!" Happy shouted.

"It's no good. She can't hear." Panther Lily reminded him.

Kyôka was overcome by frustration. Whatever she was supposed to do was in the norm. With Face vanishing and Erza and Pokémon defying her, she was lost. It was like a switch turned on and the demon had lost all her control. She ferociously slashed at Erza with her sharp claws. The impact was swift, hasty, and by all means unpleasant.

"GAH!" Erza's bloodshot eyes widened, her mouth gagging as it felt as though the demon tore her entire left side in that one blow. The sense of pain felt was like a gunshot that blew out her organs. Her screams were hollow, and she couldn't even hear her own gasping shouts.

"Erza!" Doublade exclaimed.

"You stupid human!" Kyôka bellowed. "What is going on?! Do you honestly believe humans and lowly Pokémon can chance fates alike?! You both are nothing to us demons! We're better than you both! Know your place!" She snapped. She consistently slashed at Erza in same angles from one claw to another. Diagonal strike after diagonal strike. Erza was unable to move, unable to tell where Kyôka slashed at her. All she felt was pain and constant screaming.

"This is bad!" Lector yelled. "Erza's pain only intensified! Plus that demon chick increased her own power! Not good!"

"You have to endure it." Bellona bitterly remarked.

Kyôka never stopped with her frustrating slashing, not even as Erza began to bleed. The relentless demon slashed from the side once more, but was cut off when one of Doublade in Erza's left palm blocked with her shimmering blade, indicating Fury Cutter. "What?!"

"Enough of you!" Doublade exclaimed.

"You dare…!" Kyôka was about to attack, but Erza let out a shout as she swung Doublade's right blade. A trail of bright light followed behind the next Fury Cutter, this one slashing diagonally on Kyôka. The impact was so potent that it made her gag.

'What is happening?' Kyôka was met with a foot by Erza kicking her chin, sending another jolt through them both. 'No matter how much I try, they're not going down!' She regained balance and panted as she saw Doublade's hilts glowing a brighter light as Erza glared. 'Does she not feel pain at all?'

"Forward!" Doublade shouted.

Erza felt the tug by Doublade and went blitzing ahead. With a mighty shout, Erza and Doublade alike attacked Kyôka in a bright glint.

"FURY CUTTER!"

Both Trainer and Pokémon passed Kyôka, white trails following through the demon's abdomen. Kyôka screamed out as the blow from Erza and Doublade alike. The demon was unable to defend as Erza proved herself to be too strong. As time slowed down, the redhead's hair shifted meekly as Kyôka fell backwards. Her back slammed against the ground with a thud, bellowing loudly.

At the same time Erza struck the demon, there was a loud scream in the distant skies, where a large purple explosion became so large that it was seen from miles away.

Everyone there was baffled, but at the same time glad it was all over.

00:41

"Time's still ticking!" Lector warned.

"Oh no!" Frosch yelled.

Doublades' eyes furrowed. "Then we have to finish this, once and for all! Erza!" She looked at her Trainer, seeing the hazy bloodshot look in her brown stare. "Erza?" She questioned. "Erza?"

Suddenly, out of strength, Erza began to fall over. She dropped to her knees, her hold on Doublade lost. She fell on her stomach, thudding as loudly as the demon that fell behind her, leaving everyone with great shock.

"Erza!" Happy shouted.

Doublade stared with wide eyes at her unconscious Trainer. With worry catching her off guard, she looked back at the time.

00:25

The markers continued to disappear, a few barely present as they declined. She looked back at Kyôka, unnerved as to what had to be done. "Damnit!" She cursed.

Minerva narrowed her eyes, grunting at Erza unconscious. She couldn't move, and Erza most certainly was out. That left only one option. She looked over at Bellona, seeing as hiw she was looking at least able-bodied. "Bellona!"

The sky blue-haired woman looked back at Minerva. "What?"

"Now!" Minerva stretched her arm at Bellona, using her Territory Magic to shift Erza's place with Bellona. In a flash, Bellona found herself in front of Doublade, the action shocking the sword.

"What?!" Doublade looked at Bellona and then towards Erza, seeing as how they swapped places. "Erza!"

"Forgive me for this." Bellona said. Without warning, she seized Doublade by her guards. While shocked, the swords were aware of what may transpire, and even though they didn't like it, they knew it's what had to be done. Without a nay or say, they braced themselves as Bellona took a leap for the fallen Kyôka, and she let out a loud shout when impaling the blades into her chest. Blood spilled, the demon dying by the strike.

Bellona panted profusely as her vision was hazy. She was still exhausted from what Arbok did. She was even more amazed that her paralysis didn't hold her back this time, though as she pried Doublade away her body got static again and winced.

Doublade said nothing, but even after that battle, she was panting too. As she whirled around to conjoint herself on the guard once more, the blood on her blades flicked off, thankfully.

"Did we…win?" Frosch questioned.

Minerva looked around, seeing markers no more. To her inquiry, she looked up at the panels, seeing Xs over many of the locations where Face was. The markers were gone, and when she looked at the clock, her shock surmounted.

As Erza began to come around once more, she opened her eyes, no longer bloodshot. Weakly turning her head, she was met with sight once again, but what she saw only served to astonish her.

00:00

FACE

SIGNAL

LOST

Mirajane stared at the clock with confusion. "What happened?"


I'm back! Hi guys! Did you miss me? Sorry once again for it being a while before this update, but as I stated previously, I was on vacation with my family, but I'm back, and I established this chapter. I'm not going to lie, I was planning to update this sooner while I was working in conjunction with the whole "20 minutes earlier" stuff, but let's see where I go with all this. I'll make it work. I was trying really hard to work my way around my work schedule and some recent psychological issues I've been dealing with when making this chapter, but I'm all better now, and I do hope this was worth it.

So with Erza's fight, I wanted to do some unique twists, including the likes of Doublade. I wanted to make the fight more believable in terms of how it flows, and while I do think back to Bleach's Kenpachi VS Kaname fight, I instead went another path and had Erza guided by her Doublade's No Guard Ability. Just to make it seem more realistic. I also wanted to give Garchomp some screen time while he wasn't present as of last chapter, but I also made him take his own appeals with dragons working with him.

Next chapter will be much longer given the events that play out in Nic's perspective, but I assure you it will be worth it. I should be able to reach my promised estimate of finishing this arc by mid-June.

So as always, comment, review, and it's glad to be back to writing!