This is gonna be the chapter where I try to work in that "new idea" I mentioned previously. I just hope it plays out well enough. It'll be a treat for anyone who happens to be a fan of Final Fantasy VII, because let's just say Cloud won't be the only character from that series here...
"For what it's worth," L'Arc said to Aris, "we don't have anything against you."
"That's the truth," Therese added. "Please believe us. It pains me that we have to do this, especially after all the kindness you've shown to us. But we really do have no other choice."
"Without all four Heroes able to fight, this world will be totally powerless against the Waves!" Aris exclaimed.
"We're aware of that," said L'Arc. "That's the idea."
Therese turned to L'Arc. "I think he'll understand if you explain it properly."
L'Arc sighed, holding his scythe like a hiking stick. "I'll put it simply," he said to Aris. "Therese and I are Heroes, just like you. We're from another world. Not another universe, like you."
"I get what you mean," said Aris. "I've been to universes with parallel worlds within them. Joker's universe is like that." He was referring to the Metaverse, an alternate reality within Joker's home dimension.
"Our world is teetering on the brink of annihilation," Therese added as lightning flashed from the blue sky portals overhead. "Just like this one. And there's only one way to stop it."
Loretta landed Corviknight with Raphtalia in tow, dismounting and rushing to her brother's side. "So, what you're saying is..."
L'Arc nodded. "Basically, we've got something we need to fight for, too," he said. "That's why we can't afford to lose. You understand me, right?"
"I understand," Aris affirmed.
"Good," said L'Arc. "But, if you and I are gonna fight, let's keep it fair and square. One on one, no outside help from people or Pokémon." The red-haired warrior brandished his scythe. "Prepare yourself, Shield Hero."
Back on the Queen's flagship, Melty and her mother observed what was going on between L'Arc and Aris. "This whole time, they've been after Aris's head?" said the crown princess.
Queen Mirellia lowered her spyglass. "We have no other choice than to brand them as enemies of the Heroes." She addressed her soldiers. "Listen up! Those two adventurers are hostile! We will defend the Heroes and eliminate them!"
The soldiers replied in unison. "Yes, ma'am!"
Meanwhile, the other three Heroes staggered to their feet. "Okay," Motoyasu strained. "This isn't funny."
L'Arc smirked. "You guys should've just stood down."
Itsuki whipped out his bow and opened fire, only for L'Arc to block it with his scythe. Motoyasu readied his spear and attempted to attack, his thrust being immediately parried. Ren went in next, only to be knocked back down by the red-haired scythe wielder.
From the boats, archers fired, raining down arrows on L'Arc and Therese. The blue-haired mage lifted her right hand and cast a barrier of swirling blue flames, shielding herself and L'Arc from the incoming projectiles.
"Therese," said L'Arc. "Do your thing."
"Of course." Therese lifted her left hand. "Power of jewels far and wide, I beseech thee to heed my call. Come to me!"
The Starfire gem in her bracelet lit up, and a gale-force blast of wind rocked Aris, Loretta, and Filo. Therese's bangs blew in the wind, revealing what looked like a gem embedded in the center of her forehead. "My name is Therese Alexanderite," she said as the gem glowed. "My friends...be the force that destroys my targets for me! Bejeweled Meteor Shower!"
From the sky, blue-flaming meteors rained down on the ships. Aris, Filo, Raphtalia, and Loretta continued to hold their ground.
Before long, the meteor shower and the wind died down. Several ships were in flames, severely damaged, or both. "Don't worry, L'Arc," said Therese. "I'm only making sure we aren't interrupted." She lifted her arm once again. "Now, my friends," she chanted, "protect my targets from the destruction around them! Bejeweled Silver Lining!"
In a burst of azure light, rain began to pour from the heavens above, quenching the flames on the battered ships.
First she tries to kill them, Aris thought, and now she's helping them? What's with these people?
"We're only after Aris," L'Arc said. "Loretta, Raphtalia, Filo, this isn't about you, so...you'd best stay out of this."
"That's right," Therese added. "Aris is our only target."
Loretta drew Lumiere. "You mess with my brother, you mess with me, you blue-haired slut!"
Aris held out his arm to stop her. "Stay your blade, sis. I can handle myself." As Loretta reluctantly stood back, Aris addressed L'Arc and Therese. "You're only after me, then? Well, so be it!"
"If you're gonna be mean to him, I'm gonna kick both of your butts all the way to Shieldfreeden!" Filo exclaimed.
Raphtalia said nothing, simply drawing her sword.
L'Arc leaped at Aris, rearing his scythe for a strike. The weapon was halted by the Master Sword, and Aris pushed L'Arc back with a kick to his abdomen.
Raphtalia and Filo went at L'Arc from either side, their attacks blocked by a scythe and an ax. "Air Scythe Suite, First Stance: Wind Blowout!"
L'Arc was surrounded by a powerful tornado, sending Loretta and Filo away. The redhead sprang from the whirlwind at Loretta, who was saved by Aris blocking the attack. "Sis, now!" the male Hylian exclaimed.
Loretta lifted her hand, clenching a fist and punching the ground beneath her. "Din's Fire!"
A wall of orange flames flared up around the Hylian twins, moving outward and knocking L'Arc back. The redhead cried out. "L'Arc!" Therese exclaimed.
L'Arc quickly recovered. "Don't worry, it didn't hurt that much. I just feel like I've been sitting in a hot spring that's slightly too hot." He turned to Aris and Loretta. "You kiddos sure are good at keeping things interesting."
"Our top priority is rescuing our men," the Queen commanded to her soldiers. "Move them to the remaining ships."
"What about the Heroes?" said one of the soldiers. "They're all in the water."
"Their party members have taken rowboats to rescue them," responded Mirellia. "They can handle it."
With a huff of resolve, Melty Melromarc left her mother's side to join them.
The crown princess jumped into one of the rowboats, which housed one of Itsuki's party members. The green-haired girl gasped, startled. "Princess Melty!"
"Take me to Aris, now!" Melty ordered.
Green whimpered. "We just got back from rescuing Sir Itsuki!"
"Just shut up and do it, for fuck's sake!" Melty had just cursed for the first time in her life, and she mentally reprimanded herself for doing so.
The Master Sword struck L'Arc's scythe several times, being parried all the while. Aris raised his shield to block yet another strike, only for his left shoulder to somehow get nicked by the blade of L'Arc's scythe. "Ngh!"
How did that happen? he thought.
Therese lifted her hand. "Bejeweled Sin Flame!"
Aris went to block the attack with his shield, only for the roaring sphere of blue flame to disappear before hitting him. A high-pitched feminine voice spoke, "I'm sorry..."
Therese looked down at her bracelet. "Of course...you don't want to fight him, do you? It's okay, I'll use a different one."
Aris took three potions from his Magic Satchel, tossing them to Raphtalia, Loretta and Filo. "Drink up."
The former princess, the soon-to-be Filolial Queen, and Aris's girlfriend all downed the potions in a matter of seconds. What's up with that attack L'Arc hit me with? Aris thought. Does it ignore any means of defense? Probably not, since I wouldn't have taken that much of a hit from just the tip of his weapon. I think I might have a hunch here.
"Well, I gotta say," said the male Hylian. "Wasn't expecting that kind of attack."
"Bingo," L'Arc affirmed. "The higher my target's defenses, the more damage the attack deals. In other words, it's the perfect counter against the Shield Hero. Luckily for you, my policy is to fight fair. I've got nothing to hide."
Fight fair? thought Aris. We're trying to kill each other! I believe he's done this before. He's trying to throw me off my game.
Someone cleared their throat. "Oi!"
Filo looked. "Mel!"
"How'd you get here?" said Raphtalia.
Melty stood firm in the rowboat. "I hitched a ride."
The green-haired girl from Itsuki's party groaned.
"You haven't finished the Wave yet," Melty commanded to Aris. "So hurry up and take out their kneecaps already. We're all tired and we wanna go home."
Aris smirked, brandishing the Master Sword. "Gladly." He addressed L'Arc. "Look. Good strategy, I'll give you that. Those defense-reversing attacks are really gonna fuck me up if I'm not careful. But I'm more than just defense. I've got a darkness-sealing sword, which was forged by a Goddess, mind you. And even if I didn't have the Master Sword, I could just dodge all your attacks. They'll be worthless against my Air Strike Shield. So you know what? I'll use 'em if I have to."
Loretta sighed. "Aris! Why in Farore's name would you reveal your strategy?"
"It's a fair fight now," Aris answered. "L'Arc revealed his."
L'Arc smiled. "Seems like we both know what cards the other person's holding. In that case, let's do this!"
The redhead ran at Aris with his scythe. The Hylian dodged, countering with a swing of the Master Sword. L'Arc attacked again, only for Aris to activate his Chimera Viper Shield. When L'Arc's scythe connected with the shield, two midnight black snakes emerged and sunk their fangs into the exposed skin of his right arm.
Therese shot a jet of blue flames at Aris, and Melty countered. "Zweit Aqua Shell!" A powerful stream of water blocked the fire.
Loretta jumped at L'Arc, suddenly disappearing in a green cyclone of Farore's Wind. Filo jumped in with a kick, blocked by the adventurer's scythe. The female Hylian appeared once again, readying Lumiere. "Gotcha!" exclaimed the redhead.
"One step ahead!" called out the male Hylian. "Lycanroc, get him!"
The Rock-type sprinted at L'Arc and plowed into his side. Filo and Melty called out in unison, "Typhoon!"
A watery tornado blew L'Arc away. Aris stopped the flailing adventurer with Air Strike Shield before rushing him with the Master Sword. He managed to land a slice to L'Arc's shoulder. Smirking, he reared his blade for the kill.
"Protect him!" Therese fired a Bejeweled Ruby Blaze at Aris, who was saved by Loretta casting Nayru's Love. An explosion ensued.
L'Arc held his wounded shoulder, wincing. He was still standing, even after probably the best combo the Rebellion of the Shield had. "Gotta say," said the redhead, "this hurts like a bitch. You really are a good swordsman, even if you are the Shield Hero."
"When you said you'd be using Air Strike Shield for defense," added Therese, "we never expected you to use it as a trap. You're good at mind games, too."
"What can I say?" said Aris. "I'm always four parallel universes ahead."
L'Arc raised his scythe. "I got bored real quickly fighting those monsters on Cal Mira. But there's nothing like a man-to-man battle with real strategy involved!"
A voice sighed. "Will you both please quit fooling around?"
A jet of purple light shot from one of the sky vortexes and blew a ship to pieces. In a flash of amethyst, Glass appeared before Aris.
L'Arc smirked at her. "Well, hello, Glassy," he said. "What brings you out here?"
"I got tired of waiting."
"Who is that woman?" said a confused Melty. "I'm getting shivers just by looking at her."
"That's Glass," Aris explained. "She almost killed us during the last Wave, and now...I guess she's in cahoots with L'Arc and Therese."
Glass smiled seductively. "It's so good to see you again, Aris."
"Can't say the feeling's mutual," the male Hylian deadpanned. "Lemme guess, you're here to kill me, too?"
"I am," said Glass, "but I didn't come alone."
"I know," Aris replied. "That's why L'Arc and Therese are here."
"No, it's not just them."
BGM: One-Winged Angel - Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix
A small patch of black clouds appeared out of nowhere in the sky. It was a miniature cyclone, a small hurricane of sorts. There was no rain, however. A lone figure descended from the miniature cyclone's eye. It was a man with flowing silver hair, a black leather coat, and a katana as long as he was tall.
Back on one of the ships, Cloud was stunned, and terrified. The ex-SOLDIER remained silent, as if about to have a panic attack.
As for Loretta, she was also shocked, but not the same as Cloud. She glared at the silver-haired man, and uttered a name with icy rage in her voice.
One-Winged Angel
SEPHIROTH