Ultima

"Japolo!" called Tiara as she flew around the bottom of the cliff, "Answer me, where are you?" She had the foresight to think that her Partner wouldn't fall straight down, instead perhaps be buffeted to the side by a rock in the path, but had been at the wrong place at the wrong time to witness Graham and Japolo as they climbed up. It was again, just Tiara's luck that she would have a much more difficult time with this.

Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation come through her. Tiara then saw it look as if parts of her body were almost phasing out, and new parts simply appearing. Her left arm appeared to be an artificial gold claw like Graham's, her feet seemed to be furry with pointed claws like Japolo's, a furry ferret's tail was suddenly behind her, and she could feel a half mask over her left cheek. But just as suddenly as these changes began to occur, they vanished. Tiara was left to wonder what exactly was going on with this now.

"I wonder, could this be the fusion attack that was spoken about by Sienna? Or am I just going crazy? It had better be the former, because I don't want anyone to see me go insane. Wouldn't that just go over well with the Elder, he'd have me committed to solitary confinement for the rest of my life," she said.

* * *

Meanwhile, both Graham and Japolo were feeling the effects too. Graham thought he saw his claw arm vanish, the arm Tiara had crafted for him. Then, he felt his mask begin to fade. Japolo nearly freaked as his legs and tail seemed to just disappear. But when the field left them, they were both whole and a little confused. This didn't seem like something that happens everyday. There was definitely another force at work here, but neither of them knew exactly what this other force was. However, they were on their guards.

Suddenly, another growl caused them to turn. There, coming out from behind the rocks, were a whole squadron of the Ryukami. It looked as if the plan to separate the Princess from her Partner had been intended, now they could deal with the lifelines attached to Japolo and Graham, trapping them. Tiara would then be forced to retreat, and come back without aid. Else she wouldn't be able to make it back home.

Japolo asked, "What now? These are dangerous beasts, their fiery breath is enough to melt the rocks around us. I do not know about you, but a strategic retreat might be for the best. We must meet up with my Princess, and then work together to destroy the demons one at a time. Better safe than sorry."

Graham licked his lips. "As for me, I want to fight. I can't be killed a second time, so I can buy you the necessary moments that it will take to get away. You find the Magic User you came with, I have my own duties. In the name of my Lady Tiara, I will destroy all of these demons!" He then transformed his right arm into whips of flesh, and latched onto several of the Mihan Demons. Dragging them close, Graham drew his claw arm to slash them all. Japolo simply looked on, he knew now that this must be the one he seeked.

But Japolo had one minor problem, there were enough Ryukami to block his path as well as to deal with Graham. He wouldn't be able to bring Tiara to help. All he could do was fight with his feeble battle skills and hope she came before it was too late. So he too barred his teeth, and struck out at the first one.

* * *

Tiara felt it again, the strange sensation. But this time she didn't see her body phasing in and out. That was a good sign, now to get her rear in gear and find Japolo. Something told her the sensation and her wayward Partner were connected. So she began to fly around the mountain again, and the emanations that hit her were coming on stronger. Finally, she spotted the fray, but due to the sheer number of demons she couldn't get a clear view of the participants. However, she knew that one of them was definitely Japolo.

The young woman flew into the battlefield at top speed, landing right next to the ferret. By this time he was practically spent, having fought against so many at once. Unlike Graham, Japolo had little skills to aid him in multiple combat. Graham could strangle several at once with the morphing arm and still have his claw ready to watch for attacks from the rear. Also, Japolo's size made him vulnerable to most enemies.

"There you are," Tiara whispered as she picked him up, "We've got to get out of here, we can't fight so many at once." But just as she said that, the sensation hit her again. This time, Tiara let out a scream as pain shot through her physical shell. Suddenly, Japolo vanished, his energy becoming one with Tiara's. Across the battlefield Graham did the same. Winds whipped around the woman, and she transformed into the form that Sienna had spoken of; the fused form of a Magic User and two Partners, the form Ultima.

In this new form, Tiara still had her red hair that flowed behind her head like wings, and her golden eyes. But now, her black leather clothing was a little less revealing, covering her neck, breasts, torso, and rear with only a little hole for her bellybutton. Graham's claw and mask adorned her left, while she also had acquired Japolo's tail and legs. A pair of gold bands were present as well, one on the right upper arm and a second on the left upper leg. Now, Tiara was ready to do battle with the Mihan demons all by herself.

"So, this is the fusion power that Sienna told me about. I can feel you both are with me; Graham, Japolo. With all our powers combined, we can destroy the Mihan Demons," Tiara spoke out loud. As the Magic User, she had primary control over movement and her voice was the one heard when she spoke. But in her mind she could hear the voices of her Partners, both ready to give advice when she needed it.

Tiara flew up into the air, higher than the Mihan Demons could reach. Then, she began to chant, "Power of the Universe, come to me now. I am Tiara, Divine Sorceress, and master of Ultima. Aid me in this battle, to slay the enemies that lay before me. Now, obliterate!" Suddenly, a great surge of power left her hands. It began to explode, showering each one of the Mihan Demons with light. Then, they were gone.

The walls of the Land of the Dead began fading out. Tiara found herself on the grass outside of the cottage once more. Lena - - who had gone outside to sit in the sun - - and Leon - - who was guarding her in case the Mihan Demons appeared - - wondered just what had appeared before them. It looked like Tiara, when she was transformed, but there were other features that didn't fit. And where was Japolo anyway?

Their worries were assured shortly thereafter. Tiara began to glow, and she felt herself returning to her true body. Japolo appeared on the grass before her, still a little tired from his ordeal with the Mihan. And standing right next to her, tall and proud, was Graham. Lena sighed with relief, it was a success.

- - - -

I told you they'd meet in the next chapter, not that they'd have a profound reunion. My friend Phoebe thought that meeting through the fusion technique would prove quite entertaining.