[Opening: Project M Theme]

FusionFall Infinite

Grand Finale

Chapter 56: Time's Up

[Neo Bayview, Outer Towns]

[Cues: Grand Theft Auto San Andreas OST – Backing Beat 2]

It had the day after the fight. After Elvin was defeated…after he was erased once and for all. Sure, the country was damaged and kids attended Saint O's were going to have to attend online school, but there was a level of peace. Ryker was still sore, but was beyond happy to be ease and have his son returned to him. As were others who sent their kids off for safety. At the moment, Ryker had simply called up his friends to meet him at the barn for a bit of a picnic.

"There's an air of finality…like the adventure's ended." Ryker remarked.

"Maybe it's because you're getting old."

The group turned to see Joshinari, Delia, and Deandra had arrived. Deandra ran off to play with Rai and the other children save for Dendy and K.O. who were with everyone else.

"Old? I'm not old. I'm only 24." Ryker remarked. "Aren't you hitting 30?"

"Yes, I am…as are others on this table. But that's something I have no issue with that. I'm already got my life on lock. I got an empire, financial security, and family. I'm actually on my way to having another kid. Delia's two months along." Joshinari explained as they took their seats on the picnic table. "That's partly why I didn't join the fight."

"And the other reason?" Gwen asked.

"Turns out Elvin was connections to the RN computer network. Before they cut him off, I managed to hack in and made sure to steal as much money and supplies as I could. Managed to steal several of their robotic goons and a planted a bug for the Order in exchange for getting me and my team's bounties frozen." Joshinari said with a smirk. "Like I said, it's time I 'retired' from villainy to more a neutral approach...and join forces with you, Ryker."

These got raised eyebrows.

"I know what you're thinking, but Josho's been thinking about this for some time seeing how happy our daughter is with her cousin in her life. We don't want to come to blows to force conflict." Delia said. "Besides, we both want the same thing…the best for our kids and a grip on the market."

"Considering your dealing with Annabelle isn't exactly working out given the damage to her family business." Joshinari remarked as Annabelle groaned.

"I have to confess something. I…lied to the public that the Terminators who caused the explosion at the airport. I was hoping to shift the blame to get out of paying for damages, but it didn't exactly work too much. Probably less than I should…but it took a bite out of our funds."

"I know you're a good guy, but that's a pretty shitty thing to do." Enid remarked.

"I'm sorry for trying to protect my dad and the team's funds." Annabelle snapped back.

"Cooler heads. Both of you." Wilhamena said as Bernard got out the cooler.

"I do want to say thank you. You, Bernard, Enid, Priyanka, and Butters for serving as defense for those evacuating the planet." Ryker said mirthfully. "And are we expecting anyone else?"

"Red was going to show up but she's with her team. They're actually debating joining Jade Company."

"Yeah and make this team more of a clambake." Butters said dryly as he cracked open a soda. "I swear there's barely any guys in his team to talk to."

"I feel your pain." Saki, Kaze, and Ryker said at the same time.

"It's not that bad." Pink said.

"And where the hell were you?" Jasper asked.

"If you must know, I was tracing the source of those portals. One opened in Neo Bayview and after I managed to slash up the bots, I went into the portal…and you're welcome that I was able to prevent more bots from coming…and escape with my life." Pink touted as she did not notice the arrival of a familiar hovercar.

"Looks like you had quite the adventure, mom."

Steven got out of the car with Connie with grocery bags of several items.

"We bought meat." Connie said as Ryker got up to roll the large automatic grill out from the barn. "The extra that you asked for, Ryker."

"Good, we can get started cooking." Ryker said activating the automatic grill. "I'm glad you accepted my invite…Greg passed on it."

"Yeah, we wanted to accept so we can tell you both something. We want to rejoin Jade Company." Steven remarked.

"You do?" Priyanka asked.

"Honestly, it's where we feel at home. I know others have left…but we realized…we don't want to leave you guys. Ryker, you made me and Steven who we are today. And considering after everything that's happened, it's ride or die." Connie said earnestly as they were loading the meat onto it.

Ryker simply nodded in acknowledgement. Pink Diamond was simply at peace to be able to catch up with her son as the food was cooking. Ryker got a cigarette lighting it up with his ki before taking a drag.

"Are you seriously going to have a cigarette? And not offer me one?" Joshinari said as Ryker tossed him one before he lit it up.

"So…about my offer?" Joshinari asked as Ryker relaxed taking another drag before blowing out smoke.

"I have a caveat. I want Bishops in on this new organization we are going to do. He's a good guy and could use all the help he can get considering he has to deal with the remaining Metsu Emeralds to deliver to us and Rendo Nexus breathing down his neck." Ryker said plainly.

"All right, he can handle the branch in his neck of the woods. I'll have to send one of my crewmates over with a peace offering. But we are going to have to settle on a new name for this corporation…for tax purposes. I was thinking the Jade Infinity Corporation. Considering UzuCorp is in the shitter for the foreseeable future…this is our time." Joshinari said. "And I can move that brothel off-world."

"You drive a good bargain, cousin. Luckily, I stole enough of Rendo Nexus's money to fund this endeavor." Ryker said with a smirk. "But if I'm going to be apart of this…I need a vote from my team. Anyone opposes?"

Noes all around before Ryker's cell phone rang leaving him to answer.

"Ryker Blackthorn, speaking."

"It's Amethyst."

"Amy, it's good to hear from you. You guys doing all right?" Ryker said putting the phone on speaker.

"Yeah, Rendo Nexus seems to be withdrawing a lot of their guys. We'll be able to continue our journey to DBG-22 safely. We'll be arriving there quite soon." Amethyst stated.

"Amethyst, I got a proposal for you, but you'll have to call me when you're close to DBG-22. I think business should be held off…it's a day to celebrate after all. You have a good one, Ames." Ryker said before hanging up. "This really feels like the end of an era. I know it's not, but it's been a great run. I wouldn't change it for the world."

[Cues: Grand Theft Auto 3 – Ending Theme]

He put out his cigarette.

"We never had that clash…between you, me, and Kenji." Joshinari joked.

"Probably for the best." Saki said with a yawn. "But seeing that the universe has Fusion Monsters again…our dear President has inquired of restarting the old Fusion Academy…with me as headmaster. I'm pretty sure it's to keep us in check."

"No. It's more that if anyone should be training the next gen of hunters, it's a veteran."

Peridot arrived without her government entourage, Bismuth, or Lapis much to everyone's surprise given she was in much more casual clothes.

"I wanted to pick the right back for the job…considering you need the work." Peridot said before revealing she brought a pack of cups and a keg. "I bought beer…but I see you brought your cousin, Ryker."

"Oh please, I'm not a threat to this country." Joshinari said. "But where's your Vice President?"

"Covering for me while I 'attend to business'. So, are those burgers done or what?" Peridot said as everyone started laughing.

"Aren't you the President? You literally have chefs at your beck and call?" Carol snarked.

"It's suffocating having the security team around me all the time. I figured I'd like being President…but it's all rather stressful. Hell, the mess that Elvin left alone is going to take years to clean up." Peridot said as Ryker offered a beer. "Can't…I'm still kinda hungover. I drank myself to sleep to de-stress."

The rumbling of a car got their attention as a Corvette rolled up with the window winding down to reveal Bubbles.

"Madame President. I need to come with me, we got a bit of a situation. The Japanese Prime Minister is call-"

"Tell her to go fuck herse-No, I'll go and tell her myself." Peridot said getting up as she took a cigarette to light up. "So I guess I'll catch up with you later."

Peridot got in the car as Bubble drove off. As Bubble was driving, she looked over at the president who looked wistful.

"Bubbles, I've made a lot of mistakes trying to appease people in politics…and not the people who built me up and voted me in. It's time I fixed that." Peridot said putting out her cigarette.

"That's good to hear. Warper News Network is wanting a statement….want me to take you to them, instead?" Bubble asked.

"Yes. I need to make a statement." Peridot said with a grin.

Back at the picnic, Joshinari's phone buzzed with an incoming text message from Keitaro.

"Damn, we got to jet as well. Team meeting. We'll have to discuss the plans for our business…another time. Think you can watch Deandra?" Joshinari mused as he and Delia were ready to leave.

"Ok, but cousin, let's go bowling sometime." Ryker joked as Joshinari loved his eyes.

"Love you too, cousin." Joshinari said before dryly before looking at over at Deandra. "Deandra, I'm leaving. You can stay and enjoy the party with your uncle. Just keep out of trouble."

Deandra nodded.

"Be seeing you all." Delia said before she and Joshinari took off to the skies for home.

DING!

"Food's done…" Dendy said as Ryker opened up the cooler.

"Before we get to the food, a toast to our victory and to the bright future ahead." Ryker said using telekinesis to give everyone a drink. "Don't worry, it's cider."

"Good because I think Saki might be a father again." Mandy joked. "To Jade Company."

"To being back in business." Saki said raising his bottle.

"To not having to worry about the possibility of Metsu Chaos." Garnet said with a wink.

"To new opportunities…and our world still being together." Ruby said as Sapphire pulled her to her side.

"To a fact we still have a future." Sapphire said.

"To family." Gwen said. "Despite everything."

"To still having fast cars." Kevin joked getting a few chuckles.

"To now having enemies to punch again…we can't be getting rusty." Jasper said dramatically.

"I'll drink to that." Garnet said as everyone give cheers.

Ryker felt completely at ease and apple cider never tasted so sweeter to him. He was not sure he hit his peak…or even if he could stand to clash against his parents. But it all did not matter to him, he toiled and came out with his friends and family all in one piece. Sure, they had a lot to fix…but they'd do it together.

(A/N: It's all over at last. Six years and seven seasons, FusionFall Infinite is over. Of course, Project Blackthorn isn't over by any means. I did my best to bring as much as I could to come full circle with Jade Company as a whole. I personally felt the returning Elvin would be fitting final boss for this given his effect on everyone. The end result is something while happy is a bit bittersweet given the implications which I will hint with the release of the November edition of Warper News Network

There will also be a special bonus chapter for a A Drunken Knockout Marriage. I remastered majority of the story to fix a lot of the mistakes in it's writing, but before then and by this chapter's posting, all of the chapters of ADKM from Chapter 6 onward will be fixed. The bonus chapter will function as Kaze's and the extended cast's epilogue will be released for it in the near future. I'm also considering a Rick and Morty one shot to give some perspective on Rick and Merch's family given the finale.

As I mentioned since Kenji left the story, there is a Kenji series in the works that will continue the Rendo Nexus plotline (as well as Our Anti-Hero Academia). However, I do want to a bit of a break after such a big endeavor. I want to thank everyone for your support. It's been a wild ride…but now I look to other projects…and try to finish others.)

[Cues Closing Theme: GTA 3 Ending Theme]

FusionFall Infinite

2019-2022

Story Complete