"Ugh...what…" Hope said before the other half of the group awoke on a large ship.

"This is...the Bermuda." Chun-Li said.

"Huh, so it is." Mark said. "Makes sense, that's where the fountain portal connected at the start."

"Looks like we're missing half our group. Meaning they either got sent to that haunted house or the Willamette mall." Hope said.

"I'm betting Willamette. That is where we ended up." Cheetah said.

"It's a mystery all right." Neneko said.

"A mystery that will be left in infamy." a voice said as Riemsianne floated over the deck.

"Riemsianne." Simon said.

"Man, we just keep running into each other, don't we?" David asked.

"This time, I'm here for Toma. I have not forgotten the shame he's put me through." Riemsianne said.

"So you're after revenge?" Hope asked.

"No… I'm after something much more valuable. HIs eternal servitude to me." Riemsianne replied as Toma's eyes started to cloud over. "I've done this to him before...I can again."

"This look in his eyes… He's being mind controlled." Cheetah said.

"Seriously? This is just like what Vera went through with Grodd." Sectonia said.

"I remember him being capable of such. Toma is in a pretty bad position right now." Cheetah said.

"Hmm...oh...I know how we fixed this last time." Luffy said before pulling back his arm before giving Toma a punch.

"Gah! What the heck was that for?" Toma said, snapping out of it.

"Finally back to reality, huh?" Fulgore asked.

"Ugh...can't believe I fell for it again." Toma groaned.

"A bother...luckily he's not the only one I can entice." Riemsianne said as the Morolians along with Coco Tapioca appeared.

"Even the Morolians? This girl really gets around." Hestu said.

"You said it. Well, guess it's time to swab the deck." Simon said.

Chapter 33

Die Even Harder

"Let's give it to 'em!" Hope said as they attacked Riemsianne's forces.

"Riemsianne and Coco Tapioca are the two biggest threats here." Mark noted. "If the rest of us clear a path, then two teams can take them down no problem."

"Mark, I think you're miscalculating." David said.

"Your friend is right, you know." Mugen answered back, as he appeared on the opposite side, with Selvaria, who was in her Valkyria form, except she was emitting a powerful aura.

"General Bles? But wait… Something's different." Riela said.

"Well, she ain't the Selvaria you know… No, she's much different." Mugen answered back. "But I suppose that's not important now. This is the moment that we both have been waiting for, Richard. One last fight to see who finally wins. No running, no hiding, and nothing held back."

"Nothing held back? As if you were?" Richard stated.

"Well, maybe I was taking these fights seriously. However, I wasn't going all out, because I'm not throwing all in until it's the right time." Mugen answered back, shaking his head.

"Well, there is going to be one benefit from this. Their fight might end up tossing Riemsianne's mooks overboard." Leopardmon said.

"Oh, actually, that reminds me. Riemsianne… I'll give you fair warning… interfere with my fight, and I'll make sure you'll regret it." Mugen declared, his expression turning cold when making his threat. "You can have the other heroes as you like, but my fight is with Richard alone, and I will suffer no interruptions. This is not just a threat, but a promise that I will certainly keep."

"Fair enough. I only need them gone anyway." Riemsianne said, sending out the Morolians and Coco Tapioca.

"Right then, let the final round…" Mugen declared, before charging up, as a purple aura lingered around his figure, as he drew his weapon. "...begin."

As Richard and Mugen dueled on the other side of the deck, as Kaguya and Selvaria ran interception against each other, the others cleared the pool of the Morolians.

"Moralians overboard!" David called out.

"Eddy, Double D, see if you can toss out Coco Tapioca!" Hope said.

"Certainly!" Double D said. "Eddy, we'll distract the contraption. Then Ed will ram it and send it into the ocean."

"Great idea, Sockhead!" Eddy said before he turned to the Morolian. "Alright, chocolate pudding, here we come!"

Battle Start:

"Time to get this sucker!" Eddy declared.

"Now, now, let's be careful about this, gentlemen-" Double D started.

"The mighty Eds will defeat you, villain!" Ed cut Double D off.

Ready...Fight!

Eddy and Double D attacked Coco Tapioca full force, forcing it back until it was time for Ed to jump in.

"Justice for all!"

Ed jumped into the fight, attacking the Morolian with powerful blows before he jumped into the air.

"Prepare to meet your maker!"

Ed delivered the final attack as a head dive, causing Coco to lose balance and fall off the ship.

K.O.!

End Battle:

"Yay, the Eds win again!" Ed cheered.

"Yeah, we showed 'em!" Eddy laughed.

"True, but not without leaving ourselves open…" Double D sighed.

"That takes care of that big lug." Hope said. "You're all alone, Riemsianne."

"Hmm...I am a bit outnumbered. But...it will matter little when Jedah gets his way." Riemsianne said as she flew off.

"Oh believe me, missy, Sectonia and I have got special plans for him." David said.

As the other battles were reaching their conclusion, Mugen and Richard clashed blades, as they were in a dead-lock.

"I guess that you're still not going to push it your all?" Mugen asked back. "You do know that I'm not holding back, and that-"

"Who says I need all my power to beat you? You might be clever and strong, but I faced worse." Richard answered back, before he then broke the dead-lock, and slid under to do a side-kick that knocked Mugen back. "Kaguya! We're finishing this!"

"Got that!" Kaguya H answered back, as she swung her halberd around, and used the tip of the pole to knock Selvaria into Mugen, as the two of them were back-to-back against each other, as Richard and Kaguya H moved into position.

Multi-Attack: Lunar Dance

Richard charged right towards both enemies, before knocking them into the air, as he quickly turned back.

"Kaguya, initiate AOE tactics!" Richard called to Kaguya H.

Kaguya H then stood below the enemies, before she then raised her hands. "I've got your perfect skill right HERE!" She declared, before firing waves of crescent projectiles that bombarded the duo from every angle.

Richard then leapt into the air, before he then sliced through them in a single blinding motion, as a moon-lit background appeared behind him, before both opponents fell into the ground, as Richard and Kaguya posed with blade and halberd.

Multi K.O!

As soon as Mugen tried to get up, he instead fell back onto a knee, wounded by the fight.

"Ah, damnit… Looks like that's it for me." Mugen cursed.

"Mugen, are you well-" Selvaria asked with concern, before she then was forced to use her lance to keep herself standing. "...It seems that despite everything you have given me… I am not capable enough to aid you."

"You've done enough... The fact that you treated me well and stood by my side no matter what, I could never criticize such fair loyalty." Mugen smiled back.

"Loyalty, huh? That's a quality very few enemies we have faced tend to have." David said.

"Only when it goes to someone worthy of it." Mugen answered back, before turning to Richard. "Well, as I promised, this is the end. I actually feel sad that we'll never be able to meet again after this… But because we fought to our heart's content… There will be enough time for me to reflect on my actions, and make peace with what is to come."

"Time…?" Kaguya H answered back. "But you're…"

"Wait, what do you mean you wish to reflect on your actions, and make peace… Don't tell me…" Richard remarked.

"...Hah... Of course you'd care that much for me. After all, despite everything I have done to antagonise you, you knew that I never went too far. Hell, after everything, you still wanted to know who I was…" Mugen answered back.

"Heh. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you never considered Richard an enemy to begin with." Cheetah said.

"Huh? What do you mean by that? What can you possibly…?" Selvaria started.

"Believe it or not, Cheetah and I are pretty much in the same boat. We started off as enemies, but as time went on, we understood a little bit more about each other. Over time, we got used to each other's company and she even helps us out at points." David said.

"Albeit...indirectly, but it's just as he said." Cheetah said.

"If you ask us, I think you see Richard as more of a rival than an actual enemy." David said.

"So that was… Mugen… That was why you spoke so highly of Richard, despite the fact that you were enemies…" Selvaria muttered to herself, lowering her head.

Mugen only laughed heartily at this, before wiping a tear from his eye.

"I've been read completely, by someone who barely knows me. No wonder you're the tactician guy out of all of the heroes." Mugen complimented David. "...And the fact that you made the Cheetah a friend by giving her someone to believe in… I guess there is always good in this world, no matter what else. I suppose that I should admit the truth then…"

"Are you sure…?" Selvaria answered back. "...No, it's the right choice, we're defeated. We have no right to hide secrets at all."

"You are right about one thing. Richard was not my enemy, by choice at least." Mugen answered back. "Tell me heroes, do you know what the terms 'Designated Hero' and 'Designated Villain' are?"

"Um… I think so. They're the two figures destined to lock in conflict with each other, right?" David asked.

"...Yeah. More or less, except when you're designated for a role, it doesn't matter what kind of person you are, you are forced to act in that role, no matter what." Mugen answered back, before his expression became solemn. "And to be assigned the role of villain for someone who cherished the hero as a close friend… It is one of the worst things for those terms to relate to, only topped by a sociopath becoming the 'hero'."

"Close friend… What do you-" Richard remarked, before he then recalled the first time the two met. "You're… You're really…"

"Been a long time since we saw each other. You disappeared from the face of Earth, and became this mighty hero, and now we finally meet again, albeit in different circumstances." Mugen smiled back. "It's a shame that this tale will come to an end soon, but I'm happy enough to say all of this to you at last."

"Yun… Is this what you really want? Tell me, why… Why all of this? WHY!?" Richard asked, his expression cracking with emotion, mixed between disbelief and shock.

"...Because I was unfortunate enough to be cherry-picked and molded to be your antithesis… The destroyer to your saviour." Mugen answered back grimly. "I suppose that it could have been worse… Had the Darkness themselves didn't perish, I would have lost myself completely to the curse shackled around my heart, and my soul. But you saved me… Although it didn't end my problems."

Richard remained silent, before Mugen continued. "That curse within me, it was a curse meant to corrupt me into a villain. And it still burns strong." He stated. "The specifics of the curse were that I were to oppose you, or suffer agonising pain that will make me wish for death. It was a fate worse than death, I tell you. As I have seen from one of the 'failures'.

"But… You know that it doesn't have to be that way." Cheetah said.

"She has a point. I mean, that's what you have Selvaria and that other Cia for, right? To help shoulder the pain that you yourself can't bear." David said.

"You overestimate me. I'm afraid, I'm selfish." Mugen shook his head. "I was struck with fear, as the Supreme of Darkness showed me the consequences of my failure. I knew that I couldn't stomach ruining Richard's ideals, but I was too scared to think otherwise. Even when he finally perished from this reality… the curse lingered. But with the time I learned… I figured out a loophole, which is why I was able to become an affable villain through all of this."

Mugen then placed a hand over his chest. "It depends on perspective, you see, the perspective of those witnessing. As long as I am seen as 'villain of Richard' by the majority, then I will not be under the threat. I don't need to do villainous acts, such as enacting genocides, making promised threats. All I have to do is keep the image that I would commit it, and people would naturally see me as a villain, without me staining my hands in the blood of the innocent." He answered back. "That is how I became the villain who had a noble heart, however ironic it seems."

"...Then the reason you did this… is because you had enough of lying to me, is that it?" Richard asked back.

"...You could say that. All I wanted… was to see you rise up to true heroism… to see you one last time, before I inevitably perish from all of this." Mugen answered back. "After all this time, I'm not afraid to suffer anymore. I'll kill myself before the curse takes hold, and then this sorry state of affairs will end. I will be at peace, and you'll be-"

Richard then walked forward, and smacked Mugen's head with a powerful back-hand, which rattled Mugen.

"Huh… Why did you…" Mugen barely uttered.

"Why should I leave you to die… You're my friend. I made a promise that I would save anyone who was suffering. That includes you." Richard stated firmly with a steely look in his eyes. "Don't talk of dying as if you deserve it, I know that you're better than that."

"Richard has a point. You shouldn't talk about death so casually, even if it is to end your suffering." David said.

"...But the curse… It is not my wish whether I want to die or not, it's how I choose to die." Mugen remarked.

"...Not unless there is a way to undo that curse." Kaguya H suggested, before turning to Valkyrie. "Valkyrie… How much magic do you know to counter curses within one's soul?"

"That is something beyond my own power. If Lenneth and Leonora were to combine their power with me, I should be able to-" Valkyrie stated before the fountain started glowing and the rest of the group appeared.

"Don't worry, we'll help however we can." Leonora said.

"What the?! How much of that conversation have you heard?" Belladonna asked.

"Just enough. So, Mugen's had a curse on him this entire time?" Connor asked.

"From what he just told us, yes." Cheetah said. "It's been eating away at his body and mind for quite a while. If this continues, he will most certainly die."

"That is right… It'll be a matter of days…" Mugen shook his head.

"...All of you… I know that this might sound idiotic coming from me… But I have only one request… Please save him." Richard spoke quietly, as his tone betrayed sorrow, while he lowered his head.

"We understand. We'll do what we can. Lenneth, Valkyrie… Let's do it." Leonora said. The three women kneeled around Mugen and placed their hands in front, light streaming from each of them.

Mugen then fell back, as globs of darkness began to expel itself from his body, as the murky purple liquid-like substance touched the light, dissolving into purple wisps which faded soon, as the process took a while, before no more came out of Mugen.

"...Yun?" Richard asked, before Mugen slowly raised his head up.

"Didn't hurt at all. Just a bit numb that's all, but now that's done…" Mugen remarked, before slowly getting up, and patting his chest gently. "...I feel a lot more lighter than before. Guess that curse was a weight on my heart after all, heh heh."

Richard then walked up to Mugen, before he then embraced him tightly with a smile, with tears of relief from his eyes. "...Welcome back, Yun." Richard softly whispered.

"...As do I." Mugen muttered gently, patting Richard's back, before they let go of each other. Mugen then proceeded to flash a smile. "Sorry you guys had to see such a sappy little drama before you all. But I guess this ended for the better, didn't it? All thanks to your new friends, Richard."

"I'm glad you're better, Mugen. But still, this isn't over yet." Hope said.

"Of course it ain't. Barl's gotten a real power-up from all I heard." Mugen dusted himself off, before he then flexed his blade. "Huh, at least I didn't lose all of my power. Not much is lost, so I can be of some help for you."

"Wait, let me come with you. If Mugen is freed from his own shackles, then I still have the responsibility of aiding him. If he comes with you, I will fight also." Selvaria declared.

"General Bles…" Kurt said.

"...You have seen my other self. We are both similar in our pasts, but we came from different futures. I may not be the same one that is still loyal to the Empire, but as someone who was formerly her, I only wish that you'll forge past this hatred, and find a new purpose. I died in honour, and I was given a new life because of it." Selvaria answered back.

"I have no complaints. We will need all the force we can. You won't mind, right Imca?" Kurt asked.

"She's not the Selvaria we're against… so I'll abide by it." Imca said.

"This is a glorious unity! It must be celebrated!" Sidon said.

"Um, I don't think this is the best time for merriment, Sidon." Soma said.

"Oh contraire. Riemsianne must've been on this ship for a reason. So until it reaches its destination… We basically have it all to ourselves." David said.

"So…. cruise ship party, anyone?" Ty asked.

And so, the group reveled in the luxuries aboard the Bermuda, living it up as the ship sailed to its destination.