-Chapter 22-

"Dammit!" Jaden cried, dropping to his knees, he slammed his fists onto the bloodstained stone beneath him, his heart in shambles having failed to protect his dear friend like he had promised, and for losing probably the love of his life all at once to the most evil being in the universe. Turning to Alexis, he shouted, angry with her and Hassleberry for holding him back. "Why, Alexis!? Why would you do that!?"

"Because you can't take her on alone!" She shouted back, her own heart faltering at the loss of the little prince. She had known the boy for many many years, and he was a dear friend. Seeing such an innocent soul in the hands of such an evil force with no intention of keeping him alive once his usefulness was no more, it tore her heart in two, much like the pain she felt when her own brother had been taken captive, and very nearly slaughtered before her eyes. "You know this, Jaden. And look at us!" Gesturing to the rest of the party, Jaden saw how tired they looked, and the blood splashed upon them, be it their own or of a soldier whom they had felled. "We can't just rush into a battle with that witch! If we do, we won't win!"

"She's right, Jaden!" Hassleberry interjected, wiping what foreign blood he could from his tanned flesh, grateful for even a moment to catch his breath from the battle. "It's true, I don't know much about what's really goin' on, or what that demon's beef is with you. But I was engineered for battle. You can't win with weary troops. And definitely not alone."

"But Sy! A-And Jesse…!" Jaden argued, his widened eyes frantically searching for an answer. For what to do. He was created to be used as a tool for Yubel's destruction, but he was no tactician. He had no idea what to do now.

"We will not abandon them." Bastion spoke, tending to Chazz's wounds, reopened and new, as best he could. Though with little knowledge of medicinal magicks, he lamented to himself, able to offer the weary and wounded warrior little true help. "We cannot. I was charged with looking after Jesse by the divine Rainbow Dragon. On many accounts I'm afraid I have failed in this task. But I will not allow myself, nor any of us to fail in such a task now."

"But what can we do?" Axel asked from the sidelines, inspecting Viper's now lifeless body, lying in a pool of his own blood where Yubel had dropped him. Looking out upon the scene, the halls of the fortress were silent with death. Yubel had come and gone, slaughtering all in her path. He suspected in the entire fortress, only they had been left alive. "In all my years, I've never seen a being like that."

"Because there is no other being like that." Jim added, joining the side of the mercenary, looking out as well over the death surrounding them. "Not from what I understand."

"She said… she's taking them to the center of all creation…" Chazz recounted, not quite as actually hurt as he was drained of energy from his previous wounds and the fatigue of battle. Yet still he cringed as Bastion did his best to clean the gash on his forehead, using what little healing magic he knew to help. "H-How the hell are we even supposed to get there…?"

"I-I don't know…" Jaden admitted, a deep and heavy sigh escaping his lips as he sunk back into a slumped position, completely emotionally defeated by what had just occurred. He just didn't understand it. He had summoned Neos once before when he was emotionally charged, why hadn't it happened again this time? Why couldn't he stop her right then and there? Why couldn't he complete their mission and save his first real friend? Why…

"Why couldn't I save you either, Jesse…?"

"Well there has to be some way!" Alexis supposed, more than likely correct. After all, if she wasn't then Yubel wouldn't have been able to go there in the first place probably. Though with a former celestial turned demon, who could say, really? But the question lingered in the air, driving them all up the walls not knowing what to do. Not just any portal would be able to take them to a place like that, and even if it could not just anyone could open one like that. No, they'd have to find another way. But to travel to a place such as that…? There would be no other way.

"I fear the way could be shut to us." Bastion sighed, shaking his head at the thought of coming so far only to be shut out at the final gate. Finished with what he could do for Chazz he moved the warrior over to the nearest wall, resting him up against it so he could properly rest until they figured out even a semblance of what to do next. "We cannot reach the center of creation. Not without help."

"Yeah, well I don't see that happening." Axel scoffed. He knew what kind of 'help' Bastion was referring to. He had never put much stock in the idea of celestials and he could tell he probably wasn't the only one there who felt that way, at least in part. No celestial had ever been revered in the sixth dimension from what he knew, and even if there had, none had ever shown them their power or given their aid. His was a forsaken place, and celestials meant nothing to him. "In my experience, celestials don't just help people. If they did, they'd have gotten rid of Viper a long time ago."

"It doesn't work that way." Jim said, somewhat familiar with the celestials despite being the man of science he was. But in his studies he had come across a small fount of celestial knowledge. Enough to educate himself on the basics at least. "They don't just make decisions like that. They may be gods in their own right, but they don't play god. Not to the tune of killing, at any rate."

"Whatever." Axel scoffed again, crossing his arms as his gaze turned once more to Viper's cold corpse, starting to fear the fallout his homeland would suffer once news of their tyrant's death swept the land. The power vacuum that would ravage them all…

"But what if they could help us…?" Alexis posed, her light hazel eyes landing on Jaden, the idea fully formed in her mind. There wasn't that much to it really, only one thing could be done. And with Jesse taken prisoner, Jaden was the only one who could see it done. "Jaden, you have to talk to them. To the spirits and the celestials. You can do that too, can't you? Like Jesse could?"

"In theory, he should." Bastion nodded, making sure Chazz was alright for now before moving to Jaden's side, placing a comforting hand on the distressed brunette's shoulder. "Before, until his memories were restored and his spiritual power unsealed they couldn't speak to him if not only in dreams. But now, after such a strong awakening of power in him, he should need only try."

"But I… I don't…" Jaden sighed, shaking his head at the Brit's observation. Of all the things Jesse had been able to teach him about the strange powers they shared, communion with the spirits was one he had not been able. "I don't know how..."

"I'm aware." Bastion answered, kneeling down beside him so the two were at eye level, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, truly wanting nothing more than to help all he could. "But there's no time to worry about it now. You do want to rescue Jesse and his highness, don't you?"

"Of course I do!" Jaden insisted, feeling his chest tighten with emotion at the thought of the precious ones he had only just lost. They both meant so much to him, if only just in different ways. Syrus was the first person who had truly cared for him or even genuinely gave him the time of day. They had become so close so quickly, as if in some other life they had been as close as brothers, and that flame had been rekindled. But Jesse... those were feelings of a much different nature. From the moment he had laid eyes on him, Jaden could feel it in his heart, though he didn't understand why at the time. Not another person could even begin to catch his eye, and he was always drawn back to Jesse. It felt like their spirits were drawn together, like he could no longer live without the fair beauty by his side, to hold and touch. And as it had turned out, Jesse felt the same. It truly seemed to be love on both sides. "I'd do anything to get them back…"

"Then you must try." Bastion persuaded gently, beckoning the brunette focus on the task at hand. "They want to speak to you, Jaden. You can feel that, can't you? All you need do is focus. Concentrate, and their voices will come to you."

"O-Okay." Jaden nodded, taking Bastion's advice to heart all he could. The desire to see his friends safe, to have Jesse stand beside him once more. He could feel it all swirling around inside of him. Letting out a heavy sigh, Jaden closed his eyes, shutting out his surroundings he listened for the celestial voices calling out to him from the astral plane. For a moment, all was still and silent. Not a sound could he hear within his mind. But as the seconds turned to minutes, Jaden could feel a presence there, and a pull on his thoughts as if he was being beckoned to follow the voices which sounded on the edge of a thought. Far away and whispery, Jaden reached out with his spirit, surprised that he could see his own arm reach out, yet he could feel that his physical body had not moved an inch from where he was knelt. And yet strangely enough, he could hardly feel his own body at all. Looking around in the darkness he could see through himself, like he had been reduced to a mere spirit on the edge of darkness. Another moment passed, and he felt the pull return, much stronger than before. All around him the darkness faded into a bright light as around him Jaden could begin to see faces, so many faces. Not unkind or unknown, but the faces of those he had seen within his cards. His spirit had been brought to the astral plane.

"Jaden." Neos greeted, offering an acknowledging nod to his prized creation. And yet within his powerful and booming voice, there was a melancholy. As if he knew, and had seen what had transpired. "It has been too long since your spirit visited this hallowed place. And yet even so, I know the circumstances of your presence here are not ideal."

"Neos…" Jaden halfway gasped, still very much awed by the sight of the celestial even after such a meeting as the one they had shared previously. But looking upon the great celestial, an anger stirred within his heart. Clenching his fist Jaden narrowed his eyes at his maker, needing to know the truth. "Why didn't you come? Why did you stand by and let me fail? Let her take my friends!?"

"Be calm, child." Neos instructed, indeed feeling terrible about what had happened. About everything the poor thing had been put through. "I am sorry. But I was unable to reach you in that place, even with your heart calling to me. The tyrant formerly known as Viper, had joined with Yubel. And together they created an environment that my power could not traverse."

"Yubel…" Jaden growled under his breath, his hatred for the demon growing by the second. "She's taken them to the center of creation. She plans to use Syrus's power to summon portals at will to cause all of the dimensions to collapse in on each other and be completely obliterated!"

"Yes, I heard…"

"Please, you have to take us there!" Jaden pleaded, his desperation beginning to peak through his anger and confusion. "We have to stop her! That's what you made me for!"

"We made you to be a conduit, in which our celestial power could be channeled, and harnessed into a power that could destroy Yubel." Neos elaborated, crossing his arms at the youth. "I myself was a naive fool when you first came to be. I sent you to the field of battle alone, with no companions by your side, and only my power to use." He sighed, remembering that fateful day as if it had only just happened. The shame and guilt he felt, knowing he had wasted all of their time and effort to squander the boy on a vain hope. "But you were not ready. Your body too weak, your heart with hardly any feeling. You had no purpose, no drive. You could not use my power, thus I had failed. And that day Yubel tore you asunder. Leaving your body destroyed, but your soul alive, however fragmented."

"Yes, I know." Jaden nodded, recalling the tale that Jesse and Sheppard had recounted to him. "I know all about that, now please! You have to take us to Yubel!"

"Jaden, you must listen." Neos commanded, a sadness coming through his normally strong and stalwart tone. "On that day, when your body was destroyed, your soul lingered on as you know. Also as you know, your spirit was cursed by Yubel's dark power." Nodding along Jaden listened, sensing there was more to the story than even he knew. "Your spirit survived, only because Yubel's curse unbeknownst to her, was the only thing keeping your soul from being torn apart as well."

"W-What does that mean…?" Jaden asked, fearful of what Neos would say next. It couldn't be anything good, that was for certain, but it seemed for certain as well that the path he was to walk would soon become that much darker. "If that curse is all that's holding my soul together..?"

"It means, young Jaden. That when Yubel is no more, and her dark curse fades…" Neos sighed, sad that it had come to this. "Your soul will tear itself apart. And you will be lost to yourself, to your friends… and to the one whom you love…"

"Jesse…" Jaden thought aloud. It broke his heart to think that saving him and the rest of the universe would mean they would only be torn away from one another again. But it hurt him even more to think about how much pain Jesse would feel if he failed, and all creation was destroyed. Trapped by Yubel's side, her prisoner for eternity. Even if it meant they couldn't be together again the way Jaden wanted… as long as Jesse and the others could be free of harm… he would gladly pay that price.

"Know that there is no turning back now." Neos said, placing a strong hand on Jaden's ghostly shoulder, a great grief in his heart. "I'm sorry, young one. This was all my doing. Had I not been so hasty in my own attempt to send her back to oblivion, had I not treated you only as a tool with which I could use my power to destroy… you would not have had to bear this burden."

"It's okay." Jaden said, reaching his own hand up to Neos', the fire of determination burning within his eyes. "I don't like it, but this is what destiny chose for me I guess. For all of us. And Yubel has to be stopped, now. I know the cost, but I don't care." Shaking his head Jaden clenched his fist, trying not to think about what that demoness could be doing to his friends now. "Even if I did, there's nothing I can do but fight. I have to save my friends and their worlds! We have to stop her, the both of us!"

"Indeed we must" Neos nodded, proud of the child he and the other Neo Spacians had made. Perhaps being able to experience humanity had truly evolved him after all.

"But I've been thinking…" Jaden sighed, a thought he had been lingering on finally allowing itself to rise to the forefront of his mind. Something he had been quietly thinking about for quite a while now. "Is destroying Yubel… really the only way…?"

"What's that?"

"It's just… she was abandoned by everyone who ever cared about her, or she cared about herself." Jaden posited, thinking back to everything he had been told about her, and everything she'd said. "By you. I think… I think she needs help."

"Even after all the harm she has caused you and your friends? The entire universe?" Neos asked, surprised the young one would turn his thoughts on a dime so quickly. "You would still assist her after all the damage she has done…?"

"You created me to destroy Yubel. To clean up the mess you made for you." Jaden narrowed his eyes at his creator for a moment, ashamed to think how dismissive the deity had been of someone in such need of kindness. All of them had been. "But no one deserves to be destroyed."

"I see.." Neos sighed, beginning to see just how horrible he and the other celestials had been to Yubel in the past. When all was said and done, it wasn't just humanity that abandoned her. Even the celestials themselves had turned their backs on her, branded her an evil abomination when what she needed was kindness. "Well, my boy… It seems that you are a far more virtuous soul than any of us could hope to be on this astral plane."

"Then you'll help me save Yubel? And my friends?" Jaden implored, desperate to free his friends, especially if he could help the entire universe by helping them and Yubel. True, he was still horribly angry with her for everything she had done at harm him and his friends, not to mention so many different dimensions. But at the end of they he realized, Yubel had only become so twisted and hateful because no one had given her a reason to care for others again, or ever showed her kindness when she needed it. Besides, Jaden himself had been a somewhat broken soul, and he had people to help him. He could help but think that if anyone had thought to help her all that time ago when she was in such need, then maybe Yubel wouldn't have turned out this way.

"If that is what you wish." Neos nodded, ashamed that he and the other celestials hadn't thought the same sooner. "However, I'm afraid with how far Yubel has descended into her inner darkness and consumed herself in hatred, to cleanse her heal and return her to the benevolent way she was… she will need to be reformed as you were. And as I told you, child. When her darkness fades, your soul will no longer have an anchor. Are you truly certain?"

"I already told you, I don't care what happens to me." Jaden reaffirmed, his resolve never once wavering. "Not as long as my friends are safe and the darkness is gone."

"Very well. We'll do what we can. I only hope Yubel will allow us to give her this aid..." Neos nodded, remorseful that Jaden was so willing to allow himself to be destroyed, but so proud that the boy had become a far better person than Neos could ever have hoped to be. "Now come. Even with me by your side, we cannot win without your companions. I may be able to strengthen your body. But it is they who strengthen your heart."

In the darkness of the abyss, Yubel stood before the center of the twelve dimensions. A large crystal with which twelve fragments were segregated, yet as they floated along around the crystal, the fragments remained ever bound to it. A divine blue light reached from the crystal itself, binding the twelve crystal fragments not only to the crystal's body, but to each other as well. But the light was growing dimmer, the dimensional bonds beginning to be cut by anger and mistrust. The dimensions were barely holding on as it was. The large, beautiful baby blue crystal was all that kept them together. And with the powers of the captive prince she kept, Yubel was more than prepared to break it. Chuckling darkly to herself she turned to the prince's orb of imprisonment, a small smirk crawling across her face as the little one's eyes began to open at last. Blinking rapidly, Syrus reached his little arm up to his eyes, wiping the tiredness away as a small, high pitched groan exited his lips, wearily reaching for his head in an attempt to sooth his throbbing headache.

"Welcome back, little one." Yubel greeted, chuckling at the small boy as he immediately turned to look at her, a fear present in his eyes at the realization of his position, and with no knowledge of what had occurred to get him there the fear was even greater. "I trust you slept well."

"W-Where am I…?" The fearful little prince asked, backing away from her as far as he could, trapped within the magical orb as he was. "What… what do you want with me?"

"Your highness!" Jesse shouted from the other side of Yubel's form, having recovered from their tumble, he banged his fists against the orb though he knew it would do little good. "Are you alright?"

"Jesse?" Syrus questioned, perking up a little at the sound of the familiar voice, his warm accent adding a fresh air of levity somehow despite his worried tone. But he was Jaden's friend, and he had protected the young prince. That was enough for the beauty's presence to be a comfort to Syrus.

"Yeah, it's me!" Jesse nodded, annoyed that Yubel was blocking his view of the small bluenette, keeping them from laying eyes on one another to be certain they were both unharmed, as Syrus having been unconscious, wouldn't have known either way. "I'm here!"

"Oh, how touching." Yubel chuckled mockingly, amused by their human emotions like their pitiful concern for one another. "I hate to interrupt your reunion of sorts. But I have vengeance to achieve."

"And what good will that do you?" Jesse questioned, narrowing his eyes at the demoness, clenching his fists as she reached into Syrus's orb, gently caressing the small boy's face as she thought about the inevitable destruction of the universe. "I'm sorry that humanity forgot about you. But that's no excuse to just destroy everything!"

"Silence!" She shouted, tightening her grip on the small boy, eliciting a high pitched squeak as her claws lightly sank into his fair skin, unable to pull himself away. "You know nothing!"

"Maybe I don't." Rolling his eyes, Jesse sat back in the orb, leaning against the magical walls, he let out a heavy sigh. Closing his emerald eyes, his thoughts wandered back to Jaden. "But either way you'll never succeed. Not with Jaden still out there."

"We shall see." Yubel answered, her tone rather flat in comparison to her usual calm rage. Tearing Syrus from the imprisonment orb, the boy struggled in her grasp to little avail. Dragging the child closer to the creation crystal and throwing him down onto the dark ground, the never ending void beneath them struck fear into Syrus's heart at the sight of the swirling darkness beneath them. Narrowing her eyes at the noble child, Yubel reached her arm out towards him, a dark mist gathering in her palm. "We shall see, indeed."

"J-Jesse…!" Syrus exclaimed, slowly backing away from Yubel as best he could not having risen back to his feet, quickly glancing back and forth from Yubel and Jesse, his eyes begging the beauty for assistance. Though he knew none would come. Banging on the orb once more, Jesse started to loath his position even more, wanting nothing more than to have the chance to defend the near-helpless prince.

"Leave him alone!" Jesse called, almost desperately banging his first against the magical orb, watching helplessly himself as the black mist that had converged about her palm shot out at the little bluenette, ensnaring him in its grasp before he even had the chance to try and get away, though in such a place as that there was nowhere for him to go, and he didn't dare use his powers in such a place. In fact, he wasn't even sure they would work correctly in that place. Wriggling about as best as he could manage, Syrus struggled against the firm hold of the mist, fearful of what was to come.

"Your powers are now mine to command, little one!" Yubel laughed, a slight purple glow coming over her body, spreading to the mist as she raised her hand, lifting the small boy a short ways into the air, the mist locking him in place for her to do with him as she pleased. Reveling in his fearful eyes and pitiful struggles for freedom she could only continue to laugh, and with Jesse powerless to help she felt that much more unstoppable. It was a feeling she had not felt for over one thousand years. "And with your powers combined with my own, I will reduce these twelve dimensions to ash and ruin. And I shall finally have my peace!"

Forcing more mist from her body she assailed the young bluenette, wrapping the mist around nearly his entire body she secured him in her grasp, forcing his arms away from his sides the mist bound them at wingspan, allowing slight freedom of his hands for the activation of his portal power. As the mist wrapped itself tightly over the boy's mouth Syrus could feel Yubel's dark magic attempting to take control, trying to hijack his powers to force him to open portals for her. A moment longer passing, Syrus felt a powerful jolt of energy surge through his body, eliciting a muffled cry to tear itself from his mist covered mouth, the jolt enough to lower his guard just enough for her magic to take hold. Forcing him to comply with her scheme. Letting out a series of muffled screams Syrus could feel powerful surges of dark energy shoot through him, feeling almost as if his entire body was on fire. Jesse shouted as he tried desperately to break through the dark orb containing him, almost begging Yubel to let the small and fragile boy go, watching in horror as a blue light emanated from the boy's hands, and below the creation crystal, a portal formed. But no ordinary portal. A dark, evil sort of thing with Yubel's dark magic spewing out of the swirling blue, creating a sort of vacuum type force, the force pulling against the crystal as the light and dark energy of the two powers swirled around one another, creating a vortex that if left unchecked would most certainly tear the crystal and the dimensional crystal fragments apart piece by piece.

"Now, it has begun!" Yubel cackled, taking great pleasure in Syrus's painful screams and Jesse's desperate pleas, all the while her nearly insane sounding laughter echoed throughout the void, more than a little pleased with what she had done and set in motion. However, even she had to admit as well, that there was still very much a loose end in her scheme.

"Yubel!"

Throwing both of their heads back at the familiar voice, Jesse's eyes widened as a wave of relief washed over him at the sight of the love of his life and the rest of their team. Yubel however, was far less pleased.

"Jaden-"

"-You!" She shouted, cutting Jesse off before he could speak further. Narrowing her eyes at the party she tightened her grip on Syrus, the mist squeezing him tighter as another muffled scream escaped his lips, his gray eyes screwed shut in pain. "You're too late, Jaden! Soon the dimensions will collapse! Then each and every one of you will die, and I will finally have my peace!"

"I don't think so." Jaden glared, his eyes fixated on Jesse and Syrus. Even with his newfound desire to help Yubel, a calm rage began to wash over him seeing his boyfriend imprisoned, and his best friend clearly in pain. Raising his reclaimed blade in her direction, the others followed suit, their wounds granted healing by Neos before sending them on their way to the end. "Now release my friends!"

"You must be joking." Yubel chuckled, sending another powerful surge through Syrus's small body, forcing him to open a second portal to further strengthen the vortex, beginning to slowly but surely force the crystal fragments to shift in their magical bond with the crystal itself. "They're mine!"

"Think again!" Jaden declared, gripping his blade tighter he charged forward, the others following his lead as they ran at her, Yubel's eyes widening for only a moment at the sight. But there were only seven of them, and they were pathetic humans. She thought surely she could destroy them as easily as she had in the past. However, she underestimated just how strong a human could be if given the proper chance to make a stand.

"Thundara!" Bastion shouted, pointing his staff at the demoness, a bright bolt of lightning shot from the weapon, smacking directly into Yubel's body, a loud yell coming from her lips as she gasped at having actually taken damage from such a pathetic attack. At that time, she couldn't help but recall the devastating blow she had been dealt by Jaden and Neos before. Growling, she knew now that the assault had left her vulnerable to a human attack.

"You won't be destroying anything!" Jim shouted, unleashing a small firearm that Axel had taken from one of the fallen soldiers, insisting that if they were really going to fight, Jim would need an actual weapon rather than just Shirley to protect him. Firing upon Yubel, the bullet sank into her left arm, black blood seeping from the wound as she let out another shout, her anger growing by the second. "Not while we still stand against you!"

"Fools!" Yubel roared, her anger only adding to the dark aura surrounding them, the atmosphere about the void growing heavier with the weight of her deep seated resentment and rage. Forcing yet another shock wave through Syrus's tiny body, the mist about his mouth parted, the boy's heart wrenching screams echoing throughout the void in pure pain and fear as she forced one final portal to overlap the two she had already forced him to open. Stopping in their tracks, the party could only listen in horror, watching the sparkle and consciousness fade from Syrus's gray eyes as his screams were reduced to mere pained whimpers while what little strength his small and fragile body possessed began to fail him. "Nothing can stop it now!"

"J-Jaden…" Syrus whimpered weakly. His eyes barely able to stay open, Syrus looked to his dear friend, his vision darkening as the pain and fatigue slowly took him back to the shadows. "Help…"

"Sy!" Jaden called out, instinctively reaching for the young lad though he was nowhere near within reach. Seeing the bluenette's eyes finally droop closed as he faded from consciousness again, Jaden felt a tightening in his chest. Growling under his breath, Jaden gripped his blade in both hands, mustering every ounce of his strength for a single blow to the demoness. Chuckling quietly to herself, Yubel floated closer to the unconscious prince. Gently taking his adorably boyish face into her hands, she could feel the party's anger. It was glorious.

"I must thank you, little one." She chuckled again, taking the boy into her arms as the mist binding him dissipated into the void beyond. "You have been most useful to me." Turning back to Jaden, she offered a dark smirk, hardly seeming to be affected by Jim and Bastion's attacks anymore. "Perhaps I shall reward him for his service. And make him my prisoner for eternity as well."

"You bitch!" Alexis yelled in fury, taking up her sword as she ran at the demoness, not about to let her oldest friend be left in the clutches of such an evil and heartless being any longer. Frowning at the princess, Yubel tossed Syrus aside, trapping him inside of the orb imprisoning Jesse as well. Scrambling to collect the small boy, Jesse took Syrus into his arms and gently but earnestly tried to rouse him from his unconscious state.

"Foolish girl." Yubel scoffed, still underestimating the strength the children possessed and had been further blessed with. Raising her hand against the incoming attack, Yubel gasped at the sight of Alexis's sparkling blade. "How…!"

"You underestimate us!" Alexis answered, taking a mighty swing with her sword, she managed to cut her now white blade just barely through the skin of Yubel's side, though where the blade struck and her black blood began to flow, a white light remained. Burning into Yubel's demon flesh with a holy fire, she cried out, daring not to clutch her wound for fear of the celestial burn. "We have the celestials backing us up this time!"

"How dare you!"

"Jaden!" Jesse called to his dear one, gently cradling Syrus's small form in his arms, worried for the small prince.

"I'm coming, Jess!" Jaden called back, nodding quickly to the others they nodded back, swiftly moving to join Alexis by Yubel's side, keeping her distracted enough for Jaden to make a move. With Neos on their side they certainly had the advantage in this battle. Gifting them all some of his strength, Alexis and Chazz's blades had been gifted the power of a celestial flame, able to deal harm to Yubel's demonic body. Bastion's spells too had been bolstered a fair amount, and Jim, Axel, and Hassleberry too now stood a chance against her. But to bring her down for good, Jaden would not only need Neos's help, but Rainbow Dragon's as well if they were going to save her too. And his was a power only Jesse could invoke. Meaning to both stop and save Yubel, Jesse would have to be liberated first.

"Hurry, Jaden! We don't have much time!" Jesse worried, glancing over to the vortex Yubel had managed to create. All around he could feel the fear and anguish of all the dimensions, crying out for the gods to save them as they too could feel their homes being slowly torn apart. Quietly moaning as he laid in Jesse's grasp, Syrus tried to force himself to awaken, but the pain of Yubel's assault on his body was great and unmerciful.

"Poor thing…" Jesse thought, taking pity on the prince, he reached deep within himself. Calling forth the power of the crystal beats residing within his soul, he begged them to aid him now. "Please. Lend me the strength of your spirits, that Syrus may be healed." Placing his right hand gently on Syrus's chest, a white light appeared where Jesse's hand was laid. Closing his eyes Jesse concentrated, praying silently for the boy to heal. Glowing brighter for only a moment the light sank down into Syrus's chest, disappearing into his fragile body. Feeling the boy's rapid heartbeat begin to slow back to a normal pace, Jesse felt relief come to him again. Opening his emerald eyes once more, Jesse watched as Syrus's face grew more relaxed, his own eyes just barely cracking open.

"It's alright now, your highness…"

"Sy! Jesse!" Jaden called, skidding to a stop beside the purple orb he pressed his hand against the mystical shell, dying a little inside not being able to reach through and pull them out. "I'm so sorry! This was all my fault! Are you two alright?"

"I think we are now." Jesse nodded, laying Syrus down before moving closer to the edge of the orb, pressing his palm up against Jaden's own, taking in the feeling of the brunette's spirit, and how comforting his presence was now. Pressing their foreheads against one another's, the orb in between keeping them from fully touching, the two boys shared a silent reunion. Words unable to express how happy they were to be with one another again. Though, Jaden could only feel a bittersweet comfort in Jesse's presence, knowing that all too soon, they would be torn apart yet again.

"Good." Jaden sighed in relief, the smallest smile coming across his face. Glancing past him to Syrus, Jaden felt relief once more as he saw the bluenette's eyes open again, released from his slumber by Jesse's healing prayers. "Get back, Jess. I'm gonna bust you guys outta there!"

"Okay." Jesse nodded, hurrying back to Syrus he took the boy back into his arms, pulling them both back to the far side of the orb, nodding once they were as far away as they could get in the admittedly small sphere. Taking a deep breath, Jaden gripped his blade, mustering the strength he had intended to unleash upon Yubel, he called for Neos's divine power to flow through him once again. Closing his eyes for a moment, Jaden's body was engulfed in a holy light which flowed away from his body and into his short blade. Firing open his eyes, Jaden unleashed a mighty battle cry, slashing at the orb the same holy fire which continued to burn Yubel as the others inflicted upon her what wounds they could, Jaden could sense the sphere's structural integrity weaken significantly from what it had been before. Letting out one final shout, Jaden threw his fist into the holy flame, the dark orb shattering from the final impact as the celestial light spread over the darkness, expelling the evil which ensnared the two bluenette's. Freed of their prison, Jesse and Syrus descended safely to the ground beneath them. Placing the tired but still awakened prince back upon his feet, Jesse kept a hand on his shoulder to steady him, aware that even with hiss previous help, the boy was still in at least a little pain.

"Jesse…!" Hardly able to contain himself any longer, Jaden threw himself upon the celestial child, wrapping his arms around him in a firm yet gentle embrace. Burying his face in Jesse's neck, he held on tightly, almost as if he thought if he let go, Jesse would simply vanish from existence. "I'm so sorry…!"

"Oh, you idiot." Jesse sighed lovingly, wrapping his arms as well around the brunette, running his long and dainty fingers through Jaden's silky brown hair, taking in every possible second as his heart filled with love for the celestial hero. "It's not your fault…"

Catching the event out of the corner of her eye Yubel roared in anger at the sight of the reunion. Her body burned with holy fire, black blood pouring from wounds she hadn't thought possible for her. And behind her she could feel her vortex weakening as her own power was being dulled, and Syrus back in control of his own. For the first time in a thousand years, she could feel herself becoming desperate. Everything had been going according to her design, Jaden helpless in her presence at every turn. But now, at the very end, it was all crumbling down around her. Just as it had all those centuries ago. In the broken, shattered black shell where her heart once was she could feel it. Jaden's own heart was too strong. And in the end, he was going to overcome her. But that didn't mean she was willing to lay down her arms and willingly be destroyed. Yet she took solace in knowing that once she was gone, so too would the curse she had inflicted upon him all that time ago would fade. And in that moment, Jaden's soul would be shattered, and he would be torn to pieces just as she would be.