Surge and Destroy
Following the direction of the light, the groups came together and found Naraku and the defiled Shikon Jewel. His body was damaged after being struck with Kagome's arrow and the Jewel still had a faint spark of light. "You found me," Naraku said coyly. "I hope you realize that this is your only chance to kill me."
"Don't remind me," Emily said, striking him with her Lucent Beam. But Naraku was protected by his barrier and the light went in different directions.
"Haven't you realized it yet, Princess?" Naraku asked. "Light and dark are always battling each other not just in this world, but in the other worlds you've visited. It's no exception here. Until you defeat me, I control this place."
Kagome drew her bow again, but before she could shoot her arrow, Naraku's miasma was released at everyone's feet. Quickly, Emily purified it with her Remedy breeze and she gave her friends another boost of Moon Energy.
"I'll admit your magic is getting stronger, Princess, however, this miasma is much more potent," Naraku told her. "You may be able to withstand it thanks to the power of the Millennium Star, but even with your magic, your friends will still be exposed and succumb to its effects."
"What are you more afraid of, Naraku," Emily asked, "Me using my Millennium Star or Kagome firing her sacred arrow?"
It seemed to be a little bit of both. Either way, he wasn't going to give his enemies the opportunity to destroy him. It actually didn't seem to matter. As long as his enemies were hateful and bitter towards Naraku, the Sacred Jewel would continue to be defiled.
Sango tossed her hiraikotsu, cutting through Naraku's demonic energy and even through his barrier. However, the miasma remained intact with her weapon and she breathed it in as her weapon came back to her. Seeing this, Emily used her Remedy breeze to heal the poison in her body. She didn't want Kagome to waste her arrows.
"Thank you, Emily," Sango said gratefully.
"Don't mention it," the blonde told her. She gasped of shock, sensing the power of the Cobalt Star shard in Naraku's possession. He's finally using the Cobalt Star shard.
After recovering, Naraku took on a new transformation once again. "Can you sense it, young princess? The time has finally come to end this once and for all."
"I couldn't agree more," the blonde girl said in acknowledgement. She placed her hands close to her chest, but stopped herself. She couldn't bring herself to use the Millennium Star, not after what everyone was telling her. Emily was worried that if she did use it, it meant that she desperately needed Millennia's help and couldn't rely on her own strength. What choice did she have? Naraku was using his Cobalt Star shard.
"What's wrong, Princess," Naraku taunted. "Are you afraid?"
She wouldn't deny it. She lowered her arm and confessed. "Yes, I am afraid. I thought I was determined, but not so much anymore. I seem to have lost my confidence."
"Good," Naraku told her. "You really do know your limits. Not that it matters. Whether or not you use the Millennium Star, you will die here."
All of her friends gasped. "What does he mean?" Kagome asked.
Naraku decided to explain. "The princess can use the Millennium Star to destroy me, but if she should spend every last energy in her body, the Millennium Star will be reduced to dust and your precious princess will die."
"No, you can't!" Kagome cried.
"She won't," Max declared. She flew in and stopped at Emily's side. "I've come to understand that even if you were destroyed, Naraku, the Shikon Jewel would live on. As a result, Emily would only die in vain."
"Indeed, Lady Max," Naraku said in agreement.
She wasn't finished. "However, the forces of light and darkness clash within the Sacred Jewel despite the fact that it's defiled." She grins and asks, "Naraku, what would happen if the powers of light and darkness combined instead of clashed?"
"You intend to use the powers of both Stars to destroy me and the Sacred Jewel?" Naraku asked with fear in his tone.
"Individually, no," Max answered. "Together, yes."
"Max-,"
"It's our only chance," she interrupted. "You know that."
Emily did know as much, but she didn't want Max to die using her power. Still, she had no choice. That was when she came to accept that she couldn't rely on her own power alone. She really did need the strength, support, and wisdom of the people around her. "Let's do it."
Inuyasha was confused. "What the hell does Max think she can do?"
"Just as established, she's going to use her Cobalt Star shards," Sesshomaru answered. "When that happens," he paused. Rather than finish, he told his brother to observe.
Emily released the Millennium Star from her heart and transformed into the princess. Max placed her hands close to her Cobalt Star shards and she became the Dark Knight. When their transformations were complete, the girls joined hands and became engulfed in a silver flame that took on the form on a bird.
"Max and Emily have joined together as one," said Sango.
"That's a Firebird," Miroku observed. "According to the legend, the Firebird is the ultimate weapon of the Knight of Darkness."
"Then that means," Inuyasha was saying, "Max isn't just a servant to the Dark Lord, but she's also a Dark Knight?"
"And Princess Emily is the Light Knight," Sesshomaru added. "The Firebird can only be unleashed when the Knights of Light and Darkness join together and become one."
"Will they both be able to destroy Naraku and the Sacred Jewel," Kagome asked. Everyone was just going to have to find out.
Naraku growled in fear. He hadn't anticipated that the girls would both use the power of the Stars in this way. In fact, this was the first time Max had ever unleashed the power of the Firebird. The powers of Light and Darkness had now merged. The Firebird broke through the barrier and attacked Naraku. "Damn you girls!" he cried. He tried to recover, but his body wasn't reforming.
Even the surrounding walls and floors of flesh began to tear open and release miasma. "It seems Naraku is at the point of desperation," Sesshomaru wondered. The others thought the same thing as they were watching the Firebird fighting with Naraku.
The Firebird opened its wings and its light shone down on Yugi, Joey, and Kaiba. Exposed to the light, the boys began transforming as well. They had now taken on their forms as Millennia's warriors.
"Look at that," Kagome said in astonishment. "Now you guys have changed too."
"This is our true form as warriors of Millennia," said Yugi. "The Firebird must have used Millennia's light on us so we could transform and help."
"Makes sense," said Inuyasha. "The Firebird does have the power of Millennia's light and Cobalt's darkness."
Joey was also finding that he could breathe better too. "Not only have we transformed, but we're better protected against the miasma."
"Let's help the girls," Yugi declared. He drew his sword and saw light emanating from it. Light was emanating from Kaiba's staff and Joey's bow and arrows as well. "Our weapons must have received Millennia's power as well." Curious about how it works, Yugi slashes his sword at a wall of flesh. Not only did he wound Naraku, his attack also purified the miasma and turned it into light and mist.
"Awesome," Joey cheered. "It's like Shaymin's attack Seed Flare." He remembered that Seed Flare had the power to take in polluted air and release it as water and sunlight.
"And Emily's Remedy breeze," Yugi added.
"Now we can destroy Naraku for sure," said Kaiba. He pounded his staff against the ground to purify everyone's surroundings. As the others breathed it in, they discovered that the pain in their bodies from breathing in the miasma was disappearing. Joey shot his arrow, releasing a lightning that was destroying pieces of flesh that were falling.
Inuyasha helped out as well. He used Meido Zangetsuha to create blades of Meidos to cut through Naraku. Sesshomaru used his Baksaiga to attack the mounds of flesh as well. Now Naraku would slowly be destroyed piece by piece.
Naraku was down to his last resort. He knew he had to use the Cobalt Star shard and the Sacred Jewel. But as he held the Jewel in his hand, the Firebird snatched it with its beak and devoured it.
Inside the Firebird, Max and Emily held the Sacred Jewel in their hands and channeled their power into the Jewel. The combined powers of light and darkness began to overpower the clashing forces of Midoriko's spiritual power and the demons' demonic energy.
"Shikon no Tama, begone forever," the girls decreed, and the Sacred Jewel began disappearing from their hands.
Naraku sensed it. "So you actually did it," he snarled. "You really did manage to destroy the Sacred Jewel after all."
"That's right," said Emily. "The Shikon no Tama has been rid from this word."
"It's time for you to meet the same fate," said Max. The Firebird charged towards Naraku once again. He tried using the power of his Cobalt Star shard, but the girls' combined power was overpowering him. The light of the Firebird's flames was burning him and the powers of darkness were hurting him as well. He began fading as the powers of light and darkness were taking him.
An escape route was created for the heroes when Sesshomaru used Baksaiga and the opening continued to expand as the pieces of flesh came into contact with Naraku's body. Now everyone could leave this place and watch the end of Naraku once and for all. The Firebird was the last to come outside. It opened its beak and unleashed rays of light and darkness, attacking the spider and obliterating it.
