The steel cage containing Bochiborof floated down a hallway made of crystal and decorated with golden statues of past rulers of the Light civilization. Walking ahead was Rosia, who dutifully ensured that nothing and nobody would help the prisoner escape. During the short alone time he was granted, the wolf tried punching the bars, but they did not even dent, no matter how hard he tried. He was truly trapped, there was no hope for avoiding his upcoming fate.
"I can't believe it's all come to this," the plushie uttered.
"This all happened because of your poor choices," the humanoid replied.
"Come on, we were once allies! Don't you remember our war against Deadman?"
"I will never forget it. But we were a team only back then, after that we've all gone our separate ways. If you truly wanted to preserve your friendship with me, Metal Avenger, Glenmalt and Sasoris, you shouldn't have broken the pact all creatures had agreed upon." Rosia turned his head to look Bochiborof in the eye, although his were obscured by the helmet's green visor. "We trusted you, we viewed you as a close friend, and yet you chose a monster over us. I'm sorry, but as you reap, so shall you sow."
"And what about my feelings, huh? In all those years after the war had ended, I went from the Darkness civilization's hero to just another Funky Knightmare, almost as if my Draguner status was all that mattered to them, and I had even lost that!"
"A consequence of your neglect, no doubt."
"More like me no longer having any Draghearts to use and being stuck in constant partying with my kind, all while that fat cat Duenyan Emperor stole the spotlight and proclaimed himself the new ruler of the Funky Knightmares. Do you have any idea how painful it is to see yourself become irrelevant to those around you after they once looked up to you as their last hope?"
"No." Rosia's response was short and formal.
"Don't tell me you've somehow managed to remain an important figure among the Justice Wings!"
"I did not, I had just accepted that I've played my part in serving our society and moved on. Now I am performing guardian duties for our jail and I find solace in that. The greater good should always be more important than personal fame."
"This is where we disagree." Bochiborof sat down with arms crossed. "And here I hoped that in honor of what once was, you would at least give me a pass."
"I cannot. The law is clear and I must obey it. Pray that the court will give you lenience."
Rosia escorted the caged prisoner through a pair of opened pearly gates, which led into a large courtroom. They went down a small pathway with seats for witnesses on the left and right. In front of them was a tall judge's tribune near which hovered a dark purple gem with hands and a red eye in its center - Ov Sidia. The room was crowded, small Metallicas standing by the walls, acting as guards. Bochiborof managed to recognize in the crowd a few Mafi Gangs, which obviously did not give a damn by his fate, as well as his former allies: the blue robot Metal Avenger Revenge, the armored human Glenmalt and the masked green squirrel Sasoris Rage, the trio giving him looks which ranged from disappointment to downright disgust. Did they actually know of his full exploits while in the human world? The floating cage landed in front of the judge, who hit the tribune with a small hammer, its noise filling the entire room.
"The court is now in session!" Ov Sidia announced. "We are gathered here today to lay eternal judgment to the actions of one Bochiborof, Aloof Fighter. This Funky Knightmare of the Darkness civilization has been caught violating the sacred pact which all civilizations partook in fifty years ago when we have severed our ties to the human world. Not only did he come in contact with a being residing there, but he has been observed on multiple occasions aiding said being in acts of torture, murder, tyranny and conquest. Among his and his master's victims were the former chosen duelists of each civilization." The gem creature paused, allowing his words to sink in for the audience. Murmurs of shock and bewilderment spread among them. "For transgressing against the pact and repeatedly bringing grief to the human world, we thereby find the accused..." Ov Sidia slammed the hammer once more in the tribune. "...guilty! Do you have anything to say in your defense, Bochiborof?"
There was nothing to say. The plushie sat with his head lowered down, coming to the realization that he truly had no friends there. Had his former war buddies even been his true friends to begin with? If they were, they would have jumped to his defense. Judging by the silence filling the courtroom, he was truly alone.
"I summon Bochiborof, Aloof Fighter!" echoed Demon Subaru's voice inside his head.
The purple wolf gasped upon hearing it, his blue eyes opened wide. The same phrase echoed again and again. There was no doubt, that was his master, struggling to summon him back in the human world. If not for the cage which was binding him to the creature world, he would have managed to escape. All he needed was a distraction, anything to help delay the sentence and give him time to devise a plan of escape.
"I object!" the Funky Knightmare shouted, catching everyone's attention.
"State your reason for the objection," Ov Sidia replied.
"This trial is a farce! All of you, the jury, the guards and even the witnesses are a bunch of hypocrites!"
"Explain to us why you think so."
"You claim you care about justice, freedom, peace and all that jazz, but when it comes to my own personal freedom, you decide to trample all over it because I did something 'bad'. If me going back to the human world was such a huge problem, why the hell didn't you come kidnap me over a week ago? Is it because I've reunited with Demon Subaru-sama and decided to loyally follow his path once more? Or because we've done whatever the hell we wanted while there? And don't you go around accusing us of being evil, because if you actually cared about human affairs, you wouldn't have severed your ties with them! For all the mightier than thou crap that you spew, you've barely lifted a finger to come face off against us or choose new duelists to represent you, other than Hajime, so I'd say that your general apathy makes you just as evil as us, if not more so!" Ov Sidia stared at Bochiborof in indignation at his gall. "So tell me... why in the actual fuck do you still give a cat plushie's ass about the Earth?"
"You mistake the issue of your crimes as a dilemma of moral righteousness. No, we wish to stay away from the human world, period. But we have accidentally unleashed you upon them, thus you should be our concern and not theirs. If your master wishes to keep plaguing the Earth, he will do so without your aid."
"Oh really? If that's so, then you should retract your full support from Hajime and take back those new cards he got!"
"We will not, as the new chosen Light duelist, he will need all the aid he can get in the upcoming battle."
"So it's a-ok for you to interfere in human affairs, but not for me? I was right, you indeed are a bunch of hypocrites!"
"That is enough out of you, Bochiborof!" the gem creature raised his voice while knocking with the hammer. "The prosecution has heard your full testimony and thus has decided not only that you are guilty, but also on what sentence you should receive." Silence once more befell upon the gathering as they all eagerly awaited the judge's decision. "Normally we would execute you here and now for such treacherous acts, but having in mind your brave contribution to the war against Deadman fifty years ago, we will mercifully offer you a life sentence in prison instead."
Before the purple wolf could comprehend his sealed fate, a sudden earthquake shook the entire courtroom. What followed next was an explosion of great proportions which tore the ceiling asunder and scattered the crowd. The Metallicas all flew outside, headed by Ov Sidia, to deal with the unexpected attack. As the smoke dispersed, Bochiborof rubbed his eyes and saw that the bars of his cage had been torn open by a piece of rubble. Not wasting any time, he punched the rubble away and jumped out of his imprisonment.
"And what do you think you're doing?!" Rosia spoke from behind as he got back on his feet, armed with his trademark angelic spear.
"Going out on early parole, that's what!" The plushie immediately threw a punch into the humanoid's face, his helmet cracking upon colliding against the wall. "If you chose to condemn me, then I stand corrected in my decision to follow Demon Subaru-sama. Nobody will keep me and my master apart!"
"Your bond with that monster is unholy," the Justice Wing replied as he struggled to keep his balance and not collapse on the floor. "Please, for the love of our former camaraderie, just accept your sentence with dignity..."
"Don't you dare question my loyalty to the master!" Bochiborof snapped, his patience long gone and replaced with a bloodthirsty angered expression on his face. "Whosoever wishes to stand in our way will pay dearly!"
Rosia was taken by surprise as the former prisoner jumped at him and knocked the spear out of his hands. In the next moment he found himself pinned to the floor and being punched repeatedly. Lost in the heat of the moment, all that the wolf could think of was the pummeling of his former comrade until he was left as nothing but a lifeless bloody pulp. It felt good, oh so good, was this the kind of rapture that Shinobu preached in her sermons and Demon Subaru claimed he would bless the world with? Whatever it was, he did not want the feeling to stop, he needed more, for the taste of vengeance was too alluring.
"Bochiborof, what the hell have you done?!" shouted a young man from behind. He was tall, with brown spiky hair, and wore an armor which was red on one side and blue on the other, a pair of swords sheathed at his back.
"Hehehe, my good old buddy Glenmalt, it's been too long..." The giggling plushie turned to face the Human Baku. "Where did the nerdy robot and whiny squirrel go?"
"Our old brothers in arms have run back to seek refuge from the attack outside. I was going to join them, but after seeing what you did to Rosia, I cannot."
"Glenny, Glenny, your heart was always in the right place, but you just never could stop caring about your friends. This may one day prove to be your undoing!"
"I could say the same to you – your blind loyalty to that demonic fiend has cost you a lot! Look at you – the entire creature world has rejected you for your actions and wishes to punish you. You've become the embodiment of that which you've fought, no different from Deadman!"
"Don't you dare compare me to that idiot! At this point I no longer give a damn about what the creature world thinks, all that I wish is to go back to my master!"
Glenmalt reached a hand behind and pulled out a large sword, its blade blue and decorated with the stars of the cosmos, a pair of red dragonic horns above its handle; he pointed the weapon at the battle happening in the sky, where the crystal Metallicas were fighting against a demonic purple phoenix surrounded by an army of cyborg Mafi Gangs and floating household objects.
"The civilizations are at war again, we as part of the old generation should set an example and teach the new races that cooperation is the best way of survival, just like in our war with Deadman! Please, there's still a chance for you, renounce your loyalty to that fiend and I'll try talking Ov Sidia into giving you a shorter sentence, then after you serve your time you can-"
"Let me stop your rambling right there, because there's no way in hell I'm wasting any more time here when my master needs me!" Bochiborof leaned down and picked up the blue spear with angelic wings. "If you choose to stand in my way to the master, then I'm afraid you'll have to go down just like Rosia did!"
"I can't believe it, they were all right, you have changed. If my old friend is gone, then I'm afraid I will have to stand in your way!" Glenmalt struck a pose and pointed his sword at the plushie.
"Bring your best shot, hero boy!"
All of a sudden, the Funky Knightmare's gloved hand burst into flames, causing him to cry out in agony. He was no longer a Draguner, therefore he could not touch any Dragheart Weapon, lest his body burst into flames. How could he have forgotten such a crucial detail? Still, he had to resist if he wanted his future by Demon Subaru's side assured. Ignoring the pain from his burning hand, he pointed the spear at his opponent and uttered, "Didn't you hear me the first time? I said bring your best!"
"So be it..."
Glenmalt rushed at him and immediately struck at the spear, stopping his opponent's attempt at a block and pushing both blades right into his right shoulder, severing off his golden spike and cutting his golden chain necklace. Through gritted teeth, Bochiborof growled and slid the spear from beneath the sword, aiming for the Human Baku's stomach, but he was quick to dodge and get behind him, kicking the back of his head in response. The small plushie rolled down the marble floor, burning hand still gripped around the spear, and crashed into the judge's tribune.
"Give up this battle already! You are not a Draguner, you can no longer properly wield Dragheart Weapons, there is no possible way for you to get past me!" Glenmalt warned as he took slow steps towards him.
"Don't you get it?" Bochiborof struggled to get back on his feet. "I will not give up, no matter what you do or say. You can bring a united army against me like we once did when we fought Deadman and it would not make a difference, for I will not stop until I rejoin my master!"
"If that's your final choice, then I will have to stop you, no matter the cost!"
What followed next was a pathetic struggle in which Bochiborof could barely use the weapon to defend himself due to the pain it caused in his hand, while Glenmalt kept cutting into him. When all was said and done, the toy wolf was on his knees, plush coming out from all the cuts inflicted on him, yet his charred hand was still gripped around the spear which kept burning him.
"I'm afraid it is time to put you out of your misery," the young man regretfully spoke as he aimed his weapon at his defeated opponent's neck. "Forgive me, old friend..."
Was this really how he would end? At the hands of his former ally, while his master was desperately trying to rescue him? Images of Demon Subaru flashed in his mind, he remembered the hiding, the scheming, the spying, the torture, the murder, the conquest. Were they horrible things? Yes, he was aware of that. But his master made them so much fun, and he could not imagine doing them with anyone else. No, he could not die there, he could not fail his real friend.
In a split second decision, Bochiborof tossed the spear right into Glenmalt's knee, causing him to drop the sword. As the Human Baku reacted to the sudden pain, the Funky Knightmare grabbed the weapon's blade, turned it around so he could grip the handle and shoved the sword right into its owner's chest. A moment of silence fell between them, the explosions and war cries echoing from outside. The shocked Glenmalt stared at Bochiborof and noticed how much he had changed. Gone was the carefree hedonist who cared only about fun battles, all that was left was a psychotic murderer with a deadly loyalty towards the wrong being. And then it all turned black...
Triumphant, the plushie stared at the corpses of those whom he once considered his friends, and he could do nothing but laugh. He was once the hero of the Darkness civilization, a role model for other Funky Knightmares. Now he was the harbinger of Shishima's will, and he would stop at nothing to make his master proud. Picking up both the sword and spear, he focused on their power, and immediately his entire plush body erupted into flames.
Back at Sagakin, Demon Subaru punched the dueling table in frustration. He had spent what might as well been a full day trying to summon his minion from wherever he may have ended up, but to no avail. Had he truly vanished into thin air? Was this really the end of their relationship? He felt a strange emptiness in his heart, it ringed as hollow as when he had killed Nekohana out of fury. He had already lost a lot in the past thousands of years, he could not bear another great loss.
All of a sudden, a portal opened in front of him, a small shadowy figure slowly emerging from it. As it closed, he saw it was a purple wolf plushie wearing shoes shaped after wolf paws, dark purple pants, a dark red jacket and red boxing gloves with small skull symbols; demonic wings coming out of his back and red horns coming out of his head through a dark purple bandana, his once blue eyes now crimson red, and a pair of weapons held triumphantly over his shoulder. Demon Subaru immediately hid his shock and relief behind his mask of aloofness and casually spoke, "Welcome back, Bochiborof."
"Thank you, master. And you may call me Borof now. Yes, I am Borof, Final Dragon Edge!" the creature proudly declared, a smirk of insanity on his white face.
"I can sense that you have regained your power as a Draguner and have also grown a bit in strength. I don't know what happened to you, but you can save the gory details for later, we have work to do."
"Of course, sire! It's a pleasure to be back by your side! Tell me, what are your orders?"
"Go fetch Shinobu and Demon Sora. The time for the ritual is fast approaching. In the meantime, I will go get our third participant."
"Your will be done, milord!" Borof spread his wings and was gone as quickly as he came.
A few blocks away from them, Sayo hid behind a tree and watched how Hajime and Lori safely dragged the unconscious Jack in the direction of the college campus. Strangely enough, there had been no more sights of armed cultists stalking the trio. Had she managed to kill each of them? Or had they gotten better at hiding? Suddenly, she felt something small pierce her neck. She turned around and saw Demon Subaru wiping his mouth.
"Shishima, what are you doing here!?" she exclaimed, ready to pull out her deck.
"I've taken the liberty to control your body through your youkai blood, Nekohana. This is only temporary, as I desperately need your aid in a matter," he explained with a serious tone.
"You wha-" Before Sayo could utter another word, her mouth was suddenly closed shut, much to her utter shock.
"I need a third duelist to channel All Over The World's energy in this ritual, and I could think of nobody better than you, beloved. Worry not, as soon as we are through and I have my body back, you will regain full control. Then we can recover the time we have lost."
Unable to protest even verbally, all that Sayo could do was walk after Demon Subaru as they headed towards the city hall.
