Author's Notes: As those who've played the game know, at the end of Episode 6, there are two different endings. The Bad ending has the Guardian sacrificing themselves to give everyone else a future free of the Profound Darkness. The Good ending sees the Guardian, along with help from Matoi, Hariette, Hitsugi, and all of creation, finally vanquishing the Profound Darkness in its primordial form. What follows is a hypothetical "Worst Ending." As with my other PSO2 story, my own Guardian, Zigurd, is the one featured. I hope you enjoy it!
Phantasy Star Online 2
The End of the Guardians
It was done. Shiva, the nigh-invincible Goddess of Annihilation, now stood before her opponents, taking her last breaths. The one who had posed a threat to all of existence had been laid low by the two champions of ARKS: the Guardians Zigurd and Matoi. After breaking through her seemingly unbeatable defenses with the aid of ARKS and their allies, the Guardians made a decisive strike, cutting Shiva down with their combined power. As the Goddess of Annihilation dropped her weapons, she stood there, facing away from the Guardians, contemplating her defeat and final moments.
"Disappointing…" Shiva said through forced breaths. "Oh, how mortifying. My victory was not granted, and so we're doomed to repeat history once more…"
Zigurd, the first Guardian, tilted his head curiously at Shiva's statement. He asked what she meant by her words, and Shiva responded in kind.
"It should be obvious...in the end, we are no more than vessels for the universe. Everything you and I have recorded, all will return to the beginning...and repeat itself."
Shiva slowly turned to face the two Guardians, who still stood with weapons at the ready. A sinister sneer etched her lips.
"A final question for you…" She poised, looking directly at Zigurd. "If you were made to choose between destroying the very universe, and disappearing...what would you do?"
Shiva slowly began to stagger over to Zigurd.
"As long as photons exist...no...as long as you and I exist...that is the choice we will continually face…"
Shiva now stood no more than a few feet from Zigurd as she began to fall. Zigurd reached out to catch the Goddess, but she dissipated into a red aura, and then she was gone. Zigurd and Matoi both sheathed their weapons. Victory had been secured, and life would continue on, or so it would seem…
Zigurd lurched forward, clutching his chest with both hands. A tremendous aura began to well up within him.
"What?!" Matoi, his fellow Guardian, cried out. She sensed the power that was emanating from her dearest companion, and it was a power that she knew all too well. It was the power of the Profound Darkness. Matoi had once been a host for this terrible entity, so she knew right away what was happening. However, the darkness welling from within Zigurd was far more potent than what had once consumed her.
"I'm detecting high purity F-Factor readings! Where did it come from?!" Xiera, the Guardian's mission handler, could be heard through their comms.
"It couldn't be...the original Profound Darkness...taking over?!" Xiao, the administrator of all of ARKS, said right after.
As the all-consuming power began to eat away at Zigurd, he knew what needed to be done. In that single instant, Zigurd knew it was time to execute his final task and complete his mission as a Guardian of ARKS. There would be no future for anything or anyone with such a horrid entity still existing, so he had to take it somewhere it could not cause any more wanton destruction. However, nowhere in the universe would be a suitable place to try and contain such a colossal presence, and Zigurd knew this. No, it was not a matter of taking the Profound Darkness to a different location, but rather, to a different time…
Another power began to well up within Zigurd, barely noticeable over the rapidly swelling Profound Darkness.
"I'm detecting a massive dimensional warp! Are they trying to teleport somewhere?!" Xiera cried.
"No…" Xiao said, his voice sounding panicked. "It's...it's the Time Stream...stop! How far back are you trying to go?!"
Matoi knew of this power as well. It was a power Zigurd had been bestowed by Xiao to travel through time. He had used it before to learn of Matoi's sordid past. Though he had not used it since then, he was calling upon it now, in only the most dire of circumstances.
"No, please! DON'T!" Matoi pleaded with her comrade, who ignored her cries, using all of his will to bring the Time Stream's power to full.
As the power of the Time Stream reached its apex, ready to whisk Zigurd away to a time unknown, he stopped for just a brief moment. Taking one last glance at Matoi, he smiled at her as best he could. He was being ripped apart from the inside out by this power, but still did his utmost to put his best face forward in his last time seeing her.
Zigurd reached out to Matoi, as if he were trying to take hold of her. But the power erupting from within him was far too much for Matoi to approach him, so she could only stand there in despair as tears began to freely flow down her cheeks. Zigurd lowered his hand back down, knowing that it was futile.
With his chance to end this war once and for all quickly slipping away, Zigurd mouthed very familiar words to Matoi. They were words that the two of them knew all too well.
"Don't cry...smile..."
And with those final words, Zigurd closed his eyes and activated the Time Stream. The miraculous power flared to life, and Zigurd prepared himself for his final act as a Guardian. He would secure the future of ARKS, and of life itself, with this noble sacrifice. Most importantly, he would save the future of the one he held the most dear to him, and that was his fellow Guardian. Matoi was his everything, his entire reason for existing, and he would not let her future be destroyed by this evil presence, even if it meant that he could not share that future with her.
"What happened?!" Xiera exclaimed through the comms. "The dimensional warp has stopped!"
Zigurd's eyes shot open upon hearing Xiera's voice again. He was still in the present, and that same darkness was still welling within him, about to erupt outward.
"It's...too late…" Xiao said. "The Profound Darkness has stopped the Time Stream. It knew what Zigurd was attempting..."
Zigurd's face contorted in agony. In that one moment of hesitation, in saying his last goodbye to his dearest Matoi, he had given the Profound Darkness the opportunity it needed to strike.
Zigurd tried once more to activate the Time Stream, but the power had been sealed just before it could activate. Now, there was only the darkness within him that was reaching its boiling point. Zigurd clenched his teeth as he once again looked at Matoi. She was still trying to get close to Zigurd, but could not due to the Profound Darkness' influence continuously forcing her back.
"Zigurd!" She cried out in desperation.
"Matoi!" Xiera yelled through the comms. "It's too late for him! Get out of there!"
"No!" Matoi shrieked back at Xiera. "I can still save him!"
"Xiera is right! Zigurd is lost to us! You're our only hope now! Withdraw immediately! That's an order!" Bellowed Xiao.
Matoi looked at Zigurd, whose form was beginning to fade away due to the crushing influence of the Profound Darkness. His face was wrought with agony as he fell to his knees in front of her. Looking directly into his eyes, Matoi could feel the immense pain he was suffering right now, and it was almost too much for her to bear.
"Zigurd…!" Matoi exclaimed, her voice quivering. "I won't...I won't leave you!"
Zigurd shook his head in response, motioning for Matoi to leave immediately. He knew all too well what was coming, and did not want to see his cherished companion suffer because of his failure. Tears began to fall from Zigurd's eyes as he felt what little of his own being that remained begin to disappear. Calling Matoi's name one last time, he was engulfed in a flood of dark energy. His entire form melted away amidst the surge.
"Zigurd!" Matoi screamed at the top of her lungs. She tried once more to approach him, but the immense power that was spewing forth kept pushing her away, no matter how hard she tried to get closer.
"Matoi, you have to get out of there! Now!" Xiao yelled into the comms yet again, hoping to talk some sense into his one remaining Guardian.
"Xiao!" Xiera exclaimed. "The dark energy that engulfed Zigurd, something's changing within it!"
"What?!" Xiao exclaimed. "Matoi! Status report! What's going on?!"
Matoi stood there in complete shock. The flood of darkness that had overtaken Zigurd had finally subsided, and where he once knelt, a new figure slowly rose to their feet. Their head was tilted downward, resting on their chest.
"It...it can't be…" Matoi said meekly. "Persona…?"
The all-too familiar figure of the Dark Falz that Zigurd had become in a different timeline slowly raised its head to face Matoi. But this was not the same Persona that Matoi had once known…
Its form was Persona's, but yet, there was much more to it. Matoi could sense multiple entities directly in front of her. There was no mistaking it. She could feel the presence of all five Dark Falz, as well as a massive power welling underneath them.
[Elder], [Luther], [Apprentice], [Gemini], and [Persona]. This new figure was the embodiment of them all. It had Persona's mask and coat, but along with that, it had traces of the other Dark Falz as well. Apprentice and Gemini's head adornments were a part of its mask, with Elder's hair jutting out from behind it. There was a large crack on the left side of the mask, and from that, Matoi could see the piercing glare of Luther's golden eye. What appeared to be tears of blood ran down the figure's cheek, going underneath the mask.
"What in the world is that?!" Xiao said in disbelief. "Its power is beyond belief! This isn't just a Dark Falz!"
"This is...the new form of the Profound Darkness…" Matoi whimpered. Drawing Clarissa III once more, Matoi held her ground as the crushing influence of this new enemy nearly crushed her under its sheer power. It eyed her curiously, but stood completely still, making no attempt to communicate.
"Matoi! You don't stand a chance against that thing! Retreat!" Xiao ordered once again.
Knowing that Xiao was right, Matoi lowered her weapon and clutched her free hand to her chest tightly. Though it tore her to pieces inside, she knew that Zigurd was indeed lost to her, and her only option now was to abandon him to his fate as the Profound Darkness' new host.
"Zigurd…" She said softly as tears flowed from her eyes. "I'm so sorry…"
Matoi began to make a swift retreat, but stopped dead in her tracks when the figure that was once Zigurd spoke.
"...Ma...toi…" It called out, the voice coming from it a multitude of personalities speaking in unison. She could hear all five of the Dark Falz, and just barely under them, the voice of her beloved.
Matoi turned to face the Profound Darkness' new host once again, her face a mixture of confusion, and anticipation.
"Zigurd…?" Matoi called out.
Was she wrong? Buried deep underneath all of that darkness, his voice was only barely audible, but she could still hear it.
"Snap out of it, Matoi!" Xiao yelled, trying to bring her back to her senses. "That isn't Zigurd! It's trying to trick you! Get out of there!"
"Don't…" The figure spoke again. "Don't...cry…"
Those same words immediately brought all of Matoi's defenses down. Those words, only the two of them knew the gravity of the situations they had been spoken in before. He was in there still, without question. She could now feel him, faintly, even amidst the suffocating darkness that encroached him.
"We promised...we'd see this through...together." Matoi said to herself.
Matoi slowly inched closer towards the embodiment of darkness, keeping her weapon at the ready.
"Matoi! Don't do this! Please!" Xiera tried to plead with Matoi.
With a quick wave of her hand, Matoi shut off her comm system to finally block out the incessant nagging of Xiao and Xiera.
"Matoi? Matoi! Please respond!" Xiera called out to her console, getting no response whatsoever. "This…this can't be happening!"
"Damn it…!" Xiao cursed under his breath. "It shouldn't have been this way…!"
Xiao shot out of his seat and stormed off, leaving a bewildered Xiera there alone.
"Wait, Xiao! Come back!" Xiera called out to the administrator, but he ignored her as he left the room. Now the one solely responsible for the mission, Xiera began to try and formulate a plan. Her mind raced a mile a minute, trying to figure out a way to get Matoi out of there, and before long, she had an idea.
"Regius!" Xiera exclaimed, remembering the leader of the Council of Six was on the corrupted mothership along with the Guardians. He was their last line of defense that was holding back any reinforcements from getting to Shiva to aid her, so he was the closest to their position. Xiera switched over her comm channel and hoped that Regius was still in fighting shape.
"Regius! This is Xiera! Please respond!" Xiera called out. There was a moment of silence, in which Xiera nearly lost hope, but before long the elder CAST finally responded. He sounded like he was exhausted, but still active.
"This is Regius, what do you need, Xiera?" Regius responded.
"Regius, I need you to get to the Guardian's position immediately!" Xiera ordered.
"Did something happen? I noticed that Shiva's reinforcements finally stopped appearing, so did we win?" Regius questioned.
"I don't have time to explain everything, but we've lost Zigurd to the Profound Darkness!"
"What?! That's...that's not possible!" Regius stuttered. "What about Matoi?!"
"She's still there, but she refuses to withdraw! She's our last remaining Guardian, Regius! If we lose her too, we'll have no one left who can possibly fight this! You have to get to her right away and save her! Please!"
"I'll get there as soon as I can!" Regius said. "Count on it!"
Regius, though exhausted from holding the line, immediately got to his feet and began to trek further into the mothership, hoping to save ARKS' last chance of victory.
Meanwhile…
"I know what I have to do…" Matoi said as she looked at the embodiment of the Profound Darkness that stood before her. It still did not move an inch, and simply continued to stare at Matoi as she inched closer to it.
"Zigurd…" Matoi whimpered. "Can you hear me…?"
The figure that was once Zigurd tilted its head at Matoi slightly, but did not respond. The single eye that could be seen through the cracked mask seemed to burn a hole into Matoi's very being with how intensely it stared at her as she continued to make her way over to it.
"You can…right…? My voice can still reach you, I know it…" Matoi said. "And do you know why? Because it was the same for me. Even when I was lost in the darkness, I could still hear your voice. It guided me…helped me find myself again. I know it has to be the same for you...so please...talk to me…"
"...Mat...oi…" The distorted voice of the Profound Darkness' newest host came from behind the mask once more. This time, Zigurd's voice was a bit louder over the Dark Falz' voices. Matoi's instincts were correct. Her voice was still reaching him, and he responded in kind.
"I'll save you, Zigurd...no matter what it takes...because…"
Matoi's eyes began to water again as she took in the sight of what was once her fellow Guardian. She had been saving these words for when everything was over, when peace had finally been attained, but now, she had to bare her heart to Zigurd in an entirely different way than what she wanted, and it made the task even more difficult.
"...because…" She said just above a whisper, still hesitating.
This was not how it was supposed to be. Matoi had it all planned out in her mind. The two of them would defeat Shiva and begin their new life together, embracing the peaceful future they created. She would tell Zigurd her true feelings, he would return them, and Matoi could finally live out her dream of being a normal girl with him. It was something she wanted more than anything else. She wanted to be at his side, not just as a member of ARKS, not just as a Guardian, but also as a normal girl.
What Matoi yearned for, more than anything, was to finally live a life of peace and contentment. She had seen her fair share of battle, heartbreak, and sorrow, even as young as she were, and now she wanted nothing more than to live out her days with the one she cherished. Zigurd, and only Zigurd, could make that dream a reality for her. All of the hardship, pain, and suffering was supposed to be over once Shiva was defeated, but now, a new nightmare had begun. Zigurd had been consumed by the Profound Darkness, and what little remained of him was quickly fading before Matoi's very eyes. He was her everything, her reason for existing. This was Matoi's very last chance, and she knew it. The time had come to put her heart on the line, and she hoped that her next words would reach him.
"...because I love you, Zigurd!" Matoi finally shouted, her voice breaking in desperation.
The figure stood there for a few more moments, as if it were reacting to Matoi's proclamation.
"M...at...oi…" It droned again.
The Profound's host slowly raised its hand. Though it looked like it was offering it to Matoi at first, seconds later, what could only be described as a heavily-corrupted version of Zigurd's Coated Doubliss, the weapon he had just used to slay Shiva, appeared in its grasp. Within the blink of an eye, the edge of the blade was at Matoi's throat, hovering a millimeter away from it. The blade quivered as the Profound Darkness clenched it. Matoi could see the conflict in the single eye that showed through the mask. It darted rapidly around in its socket, a sign of the conflict going on within. Zigurd was still fighting, only now from inside his own body. It was a titanic struggle to prevent this terrifying entity from claiming the life of the one he held so dear, but for the moment, Zigurd was holding steadfast.
"Leave...me…" Zigurd's voice was heard again, sounding slightly louder than the others.
"I won't." Matoi said defiantly.
"You can't...save me…" He told her. "Save...yourself…"
"I refuse to live in a world without you, Zigurd." Matoi proclaimed. "I'm not going anywhere."
Placing her hand on the blade of Zigurd's malformed weapon, she gently guided it away from her throat and lowered it. The corrupting energy that flowed through the weapon stung at her skin, and Matoi winced at the feeling of it. The weapon itself still trembled in the Profound's hands, being held at bay solely by Zigurd's nigh-immeasurable drive to protect Matoi.
After moving the weapon a safe distance away from her, Matoi dropped Clarissa III to the ground and slowly placed her hands on the mask of the Profound Darkness' host.
"Please...let me see your face...the face of the one I love…" Matoi pleaded, tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks once more.
The Profound Darkness stood as still as a stone, being locked in place by the Guardian's spirit that resided within it. Though it wanted to end the existence of this meddlesome opponent, it could do nothing as the mask that hid its face was slowly removed by Matoi.
Moments later, Matoi succeeded in removing the mask of the Profound Darkness. She dropped it to the ground and took in the entirety of what she saw. Both of Zigurd's beautiful cerulean eyes had been replaced by Luther's cold stare, and the tears of blood continued to trail down his cheeks, forming small puddles on the ground where they fell. The sclera surrounding his pupils had turned as red as that same blood that continued to seep down his face. Despite this however, even though his appearance had been warped by the Profound Darkness' corruption, in her mind, Matoi could only see the face of her beloved.
"Zigurd…" Matoi whispered as she placed her hands on his face. As he was a bit taller than she was, she stood on her tip-toes as she slowly began to inch her lips closer to his.
"Ma...toi…" Zigurd's voice came out once again, almost drowning out the voices of the other Dark Falz entirely.
Zigurd closed his eyes as he felt Matoi's lips meet his own. Though he had been buried by this overwhelming darkness, and his body was no longer his own, he could still feel Matoi's soft touch, just as he could hear her voice. It was the only thing that he could feel anymore amidst the crushing influence of the Profound Darkness.
As he continued to taste Matoi's kiss, a new sensation began to sweep through the Profound Darkness' host body. Zigurd could feel it just the same. He could feel himself starting to regain some semblance of control. The darkness that was drowning him was slowly beginning to subside. The feeling he felt was somewhat familiar, similar to after his and Matoi's victory over [Gemini] on Harukotan.
Zigurd's eyes shot open upon that realization, and he immediately did everything he could to force Matoi off of him. However, his body would not comply. Zigurd began to panic. This could not happen to him again. He could not let her take all of this darkness and try to sacrifice herself once again. This was his mission, and his alone.
Try as though he might, Zigurd could not muster up the strength to remove himself from Matoi's kiss. He felt the darkness continue to siphon out of him and into Matoi. The same situation that he once had to go through was happening a second time, and just as before, Zigurd had no way to object or prevent it from happening. He was going to lose everything he ever cherished once again. Or so he thought…
Zigurd finally felt Matoi break away from him. She staggered backward a few steps, panting heavily.
"I knew…" She said through forced breaths. "I knew I wouldn't be able to absorb it all...even if I had Clarissa the White...it would still be impossible for me to take on that much dark energy...but…this should suffice..."
A surge of darkness began to flare up around Matoi now, identical to what had engulfed Zigurd during his transformation.
Matoi closed her eyes, and a wave of darkness washed over her. With its hold over him weakened to an extent, Zigurd finally managed to wrest control of his body away from the Profound Darkness for a few moments, and in that time, he reached out to Matoi.
"...Don't worry…" Matoi's voice called out from the darkness surrounding her. "I'm still here, Zigurd...I told you, I won't ever leave your side again…"
The darkness enveloping Matoi subsided, and she, too, had been corrupted by the Profound Darkness' influence. The form Matoi had now taken was all too familiar to Zigurd, as it was a memory that had forever been burned into his psyche.
Matoi stood before Zigurd in her Viel coverings, the very same that she had been draped in upon her corruption after their victory over [Gemini]. Matoi was now another embodiment of the Profound Darkness, very much the same as Zigurd. What was before one overwhelming presence, now stood two. These new vessels, the only ones left in the universe that were suitable for the Profound Darkness' immense power, were borne from the Guardians, ARKS' only hope of survival.
Moving her hands to her face, Matoi removed her own half-mask that covered her eyes and dropped it to the ground. Just like Zigurd, her eyes now had tears of blood trailing down her cheeks, another symbol of the power of the Profound Darkness taking over her body.
"Why…?" Zigurd's voice came through more predominantly now, though the Dark Falz could still be heard speaking in unison with him.
"I can't live in a world without you, Zigurd." Matoi said once again. "I can't, and I won't. If this is your fate, then it's mine as well."
Matoi returned to Zigurd's vicinity and picked up her weapon. Upon touching the hilt of Clarissa III, the weapon was instantly corrupted by the Profound Darkness and transformed into the same weapon she had once wielded as its host, the Apocalypse Staff Requiem. Holding it in one hand, Matoi drew ever closer to Zigurd and wrapped her free hand around his waist and looked into his eyes.
"Please…" Matoi spoke, her voice faltering. "Let me hear your voice...just yours...one last time…"
Fighting with all of his remaining willpower, Zigurd forced the Profound Darkness back entirely so that he could honor the request of his dearest companion. For what little time remained, Zigurd once again had full control of his body and his mind. In those fleeting moments, he spoke the words he had held deep down in his heart, meant for no one else in the entire universe than his fellow Guardian.
"I love you, Matoi…" Zigurd's voice shined through, no hint of any of the Dark Falz present with those words.
"...And I love you, Zigurd, always and forever…" Matoi whispered. Zigurd wrapped his free hand around Matoi's waist and lowered his head to rest on hers.
"Don't cry…" Zigurd said one final time, feeling the control of his body beginning to weaken once more. Matoi could feel the exact same surge of dark energy within her. Her body was quickly becoming that of the Profound Darkness' plaything, just as Zigurd's was.
The Profound Darkness, with its secure hold on the Guardians, would overtake them and use them as its vessels to smother all of creation, leading to the end of existence itself. No one else in the universe had the power to resist it. No planet, no dimension, nothing would be spared complete and utter destruction. The Guardians, the last hope of ARKS, had failed.
As Zigurd and Matoi's last moments of control of their own beings came to an end, Matoi spoke one final time to her beloved Guardian.
"...there's no more tears, only a smile…"
Regius neared the threshold of the sanctum where the two Guardians were located, and as he did, a tremendous pulse of dark energy erupted throughout the area. So powerful it was that it nearly blew the weary CAST off his feet. Regius staggered backwards a few steps, trying to catch his bearings. The shockwave emanated throughout the entirety of the area for a few moments, before finally subsiding.
"What in the world was that…?" Regius pondered as he entered the sanctum. What he saw upon entering caused the battle-hardened warrior to fall to his knees in shock.
"Xiera…" Regius reported solemnly. "I was too late…"
Some time later…
"Xiao...are you ready to go?" A voice brought the ARKS Overseer back to attention. It was Xiera. "We can't keep putting this off forever."
Xiao was standing on the bridge of the ARKS ship, overlooking the vastness of space. Sarah, the lieutenant of the General Affairs Bureau and Xiao's closest friend, stood a few feet away.
"I know…" Xiao said, bowing his head in shame. Sarah immediately went over to Xiao and took hold of his hand.
"I trust you'll be okay here on the bridge by yourself, Xiera?" Xiao questioned, to which Xiera nodded.
"It's probably better this way, I don't think I'd be able to keep myself composed with everyone else around me." The Hi-CAST admitted sheepishly. "I'll watch from here."
Xiao and Sarah bowed courteously to Xiera, then left the bridge and began to make their way to the commons area. As the door closed behind Xiao and Sarah, Xiera brought her hands to her face to wipe away the tears that began to trickle down it, her previous façade melting away instantly.
As they made their way out of the bridge, Xiao stopped and began to think aloud as to where ARKS now stood.
"Xiao?" Sarah questioned, looking at the ARKS Overseer.
"Why, Sarah?" Xiao asked as he looked into Sarah's eyes. "Why did it have to be this way? There were so many calculations I ran, and so many possible outcomes, but why did it have to be this one?"
"I...I don't know, Xiao…" Sarah said, downtrodden. "I wish it could have been different, but this is what came to be..."
"...I thought I had all the answers, but when it comes down to it, I'm just a failed imitation of Xion. If she were still around, I know she could have done something to prevent this…" Xiao said.
Sarah clutched Xiao's hand even tighter upon hearing him speak so despondently.
"Xiao, don't say that. There's no telling if even Xion herself could have predicted this outcome. Please don't call yourself a failure, because you're not. Not to ARKS, not to Oracle, and certainly not to me. You did everything you possibly could. Remember, the Guardians gave each and every one of us a gift, and we can't waste it by feeling sorry for ourselves." Sarah said while clutching Xiao's hand tighter.
"Gift?" Xiao said. "What do you mean?"
"The gift of a future, Xiao." Sarah pointed out. "It may not be the future we wanted, but at the very least, we still have one."
Xiao looked at Sarah for a few moments, contemplating her words, and then smiled.
"You're right, Sarah. I may not be able to compare to Xion, but I've brought ARKS this far as the Overseer. And as Overseer, it's my duty to finally close this dark chapter in our history, and look forward to the future. A future that would not have been possible without them."
Sarah nodded in approval at Xiao's resolve, and the two made their way to the commons area. In the center of the plaza, where Quna's heartwarming and morale-boosting concerts were normally held, a podium had been erected. Gathered in front of the podium were ARKS members of all kinds. From lowly recruits, to enlisted officers, from normal civilians, all walks of life were waiting with bated breath for Xiao's arrival. Seated on opposing sides of the central podium were six seats. In those seats, the Council of Six were positioned, also awaiting Xiao's arrival.
Directly in front of the seats for the Six were two more seats, filled by the Admiral of ARKS, Ulku, and her adjutant, Theodor. Though she was the supreme leader, Ulku could not find any words to speak, choosing instead to let Xiao do the emotional heavy-lifting. She opted to remain silent, doing her utmost to keep her composure with the help of Theo.
While most of the Six were also equally stone-faced, one member in particular was having a much harder time keeping themselves composed.
"Hey, Klariskrays." Said Huey, Commander of the Combat Division. "Chin up! We can't let this get us down! We're the Council of Six, and it's up to us to be the face of ARKS!"
"Huey…" Klariskrays, Huey's Lieutenant whimpered, tears slowly cascading down her face. "Why didn't they come back…?"
"I wish I knew, Klariskrays. I thought for sure we won, and we did! But…"
Hearing even the normally-infallible Huey's sense of pride become deflated only made Klariskrays' tears fall heavier upon her face. Scooting his chair closer to her, Huey brought his arm around Klariskrays.
"Huey...you said...we should be the face of ARKS…" Klariskrays said through her sniffles.
"You're absolutely right, Klariskrays. We are the face of ARKS, but we're also human, so we're allowed to have emotions, just the same as anyone else. If those emotions mean tears at a time like this, then I'll be your shoulder to cry on. Just remember, there's a time to cry, and there's a time to smile. I want these tears to lead to a smile, because we both know that's what they'd want."
Klariskrays smiled at Huey before burying her face into his shoulder, silently weeping into it.
"Man, look at Mr. Philosophical over here…" Zeno, Lieutenant of the Instruction Division, said musingly. "Never thought you had it in you to be something besides obnoxiously loud, Huey."
"Come now, Zeno." Reprimanded Casra, Commander of the Intelligence Division. "Huey is just doing what he feels is best for Klariskrays. If Echo were up here with us, I know you'd be doing the exact same thing."
Zeno bowed his head quickly at Casra's accusation.
"I suppose you got me there, Casra…"
With a quick scan of the area, Zeno's eyes quickly found his newlywed wife, Echo. She was in the front row, trying to hold herself together. Her eyes were red from crying, just as Klariskrays' eyes were. Zeno waved to Echo and gave her a reassuring smile. She waved back and responded with a small smile of her own.
The loss of Zigurd, in particular, had affected Zeno and Echo quite a bit. Upon his enlistment in ARKS, he was trained by the two, and though he had long since surpassed them in power and rank, he always was grateful for the guidance they had given him that set him on his path in life.
"Hmph." Another voice snorted. "Is all this really necessary? I don't think either of them would want to be put on a pedestal like this."
The voice belonged to Quna, Zero of the Six, Lieutenant of the Intelligence Division, and pop star idol of ARKS. Though she normally kept out of the public eye while in her non-idol persona, today's occasion called for nothing less than every member of the Six's presence, even the one who had for the longest time been kept secret. As she was not a regularly publicly acknowledged part of the Six, she instead sat in between Casra and Zeno.
"My my, aren't we irritable today." Said Maria, second-in-command of the Six and the Commander of the General Affairs Division. "You don't have to be so reserved, Quna. We all agreed to do this, didn't we?"
"Yes, but…" Quna trailed off.
"You may be putting up a front, but these experienced eyes of mine don't miss a thing. I know you treasured the Guardians just as much as we did, maybe even more so, am I right?"
"That's...none of your business…" Quna mumbled.
"You may not think they would have wanted to be propped up in such a way, but it's up to all of us to remember what has brought us to where we are now. If we don't, we may very well wind up making the same mistakes that led us to this point. Wouldn't such a blunder bring shame to their memory?"
Quna lowered her head and shut her eyes, trying to block out Maria's all-too-true words of wisdom.
"You'll understand, someday." Maria said, putting the matter to rest. Turning her head, she looked at her brother, Regius, the leader of the Council of Six and Commander of the Instruction Division, who stood as still as a stone, not speaking a word.
"And what about you?" Maria poised. "What do you think, Regius?"
Silence was the only answer Maria received, to which she shrugged her shoulders in response.
"Typical…" Maria said to herself.
"Reggie…" A voice said lightly. The voice belonged to a being that very few present were even able to see or hear. It was the voice of Alma, the first Klariskrays, and someone who Regius held very near and dear to him. She stayed at Regius' side, wanting to be as close to him as she possibly could.
"I know you'll do great, Reggie." Alma said reassuringly. "Let's make sure they both know how much we all appreciate what they did for us."
A quick wave of chatter began to ripple through the gathered crowd, signaling the arrival of the Overseer of ARKS. With Sarah at his side, Xiao briskly made his way to the podium, shooting a glance at each of the Council members seated at either side, as well as the Admiral and her assistant. The chatter quickly subsided and the area became morbidly quiet, the people looking on with anticipation.
As the cameras on Xiao focused in, broadcasting the upcoming speech to all of the ships in Oracle and throughout the universe, Xiao readied himself for the hardest announcement he had ever done. The broadcast could be heard across worlds and dimensions alike, reaching out to all of the allies of ARKS who could not be at the ceremony proper.
On the planet Harukotan, within the shrine of the Divine Ashmaiden, Sukunahime, the broadcast was attended by a large portion of the Daybreakers, with the Ashmaiden's bodyguard, Kotoshiro, overseeing the procedure. At the front of the procession was the Ashmaiden herself, stoic and silent.
"Lady Sukunahime…" Kotoshiro began to speak to his charge.
"Don't, Kotoshiro…" Sukunahime silenced her protector. "I'm alright. I'm so...so proud of them. They did what was necessary. They saved us all. How could I feel anything but pride?"
Though Kotoshiro was blind, and could not see the sorrow on the Ashmaiden's face, he could hear the despair in her voice, giving the lie to her words. The two Guardians were the first people to befriend the deity of Harukotan, and Sukunahime was overjoyed to finally have someone to talk to as an equal, rather than having to see and hear the same blind admiration she always received from her subjects. They had become an irreplaceable part of Sukunahime's life, and now, they were both ripped away from her, leaving the Ashmaiden with that same lingering feeling of loneliness and solitude once more. Having to reign over this heart-wrenching procedure to bid her first two friends goodbye was not an easy one, even for a divine being.
Meanwhile, in another dimension…
"It's starting, Hitsugi." A voice said solemnly.
Hitsugi Yasaka, Kohri Washinomiya, and Al, three key figures of the Phantasm incident that happened on Earth, were also gathered, awaiting the start of the ceremony. Hitsugi, like Sukunahime, had found friends and allies in her interactions with ARKS, in particular, the Guardians. Her own power, that of the Avatar Arm, Ame No Murakumo, was awakened through her adventures with Zigurd. This power was the one she had used to safeguard her home planet throughout the crisis with the Mother Corps and Deus Esca.
More than that though, Hitsugi had gained a new sense of self-confidence and purpose in life, and she now lived to the fullest because of it. Her dearest friends, Kohri and Al, had volunteered to attend this small gathering with her. They were all seated in Hitsugi's dorm room at Celestia Academy, gathered in front of her computer. It was through this computer that the broadcast from Xiao was being projected, a broadcast that was authorized by Xiao himself.
"Hitsugi...are you...gonna be okay…?" Al questioned innocently.
"Yeah…" Hitsugi trailed off.
There was a knock on the door, with all three looking to the new arrival.
"Am I late?" The voice of Enga, Hitsugi's older brother, called out as he entered the room.
"Big brother?" Hitsugi said with a tilt of her head. "How did you know what was going on?"
"Earth Guide got the announcement too. All of Mother Corps are gathered at HQ right now to watch along with them. I had a feeling I was needed elsewhere, so here I am. I would've at least invited Och to come along, but it's a little cramped in here as it is."
"You didn't invite Och? She's gonna make you pay for that later." Kohri warned.
"Pfft, I think I can deal." Enga shot back.
"Will Miss Och go on one of her rants again?" Al questioned. "She can get kinda loud."
"You don't know the half of it, Al." Enga said with a snicker.
"So, how come you're here, instead of with them?" Kohri asked.
"Well duh…" Enga said. "I gotta be here for my little sister, of course!"
"Ugh…" Hitsugi groaned. "Give it a rest, will you? I can take care of myself."
"Come on now…" Enga said lowly. "You're not fooling me any more than you're fooling Kohri and Al."
Enga made his way over to Hitsugi and sat down, putting his arm around her.
"You don't have to act tough all the time. We're all here for you. Let it out. Believe me, it'll help a lot more than you think."
Hitsugi crossed her arms in a huff and sat there for a few moments, before her lip started to quiver.
"You big idiot…" Hitsugi said as tears began to fall down her eyes. Wrapping her arms around Enga's waist, she began to let her emotions show freely. Enga motioned to both Kohri and Al, and they joined in, all embracing Hitsugi. Turning their attention to the monitor, the four of them began to listen to the ceremony.
Back on the ARKS ship, another of the closest allies of the Guardians stood solemnly at the back of the crowd.
"Hey, hey, hey…" Risa said aloud, looking down at her weapon, the Cosmogenic Arm, Hariette the Celestial. "Are you awake in there? It's starting."
"I'm here…" Risa's weapon responded.
Hariette, like so many others gathered at the ceremony, also had developed a deep bond with the Guardians. Zigurd had traveled to the world of Omega and aided Hariette in her own personal turmoil. Due to his efforts, and the support he received from ARKS, Hariette was able to overcome her own trials within Omega, eventually leading to Hariette becoming one of the original Photoners, and in turn, the Cosmogenic Arm that was wielded by Risa. Risa and Hariette were two sides of the same coin, united thanks to the efforts of Zigurd and all of ARKS.
"You sure you don't wanna see this in person?" Risa asked. "I'll give you control, all you gotta do is ask."
"I'd...I'd rather not…" Hariette responded.
"Well, that's just rude!" Risa quipped. "You're not gonna say goodbye to the Guardians in person? How very, very rude!"
"Stop it, Risa…" Hariette said. "It's hard enough to be here...at least when I'm like this, no one can see the tears…"
"Hmph, suit yourself then!" Risa said. Turning her attention to Xiao, Risa and Hariette began to listen as the ceremony got underway.
With a quick glance back at people whom he called both allies and friends, Xiao began to speak to the audience, gathered across universe and dimension alike.
"Everyone, thank you so very much for coming. Today, we say goodbye to the two heroes who saved the universe….no, they not only saved our universe, but every facet of existence, from complete annihilation. It is because of these two brave souls that we are still here, and I felt it only right that we honor them for their valiant efforts."
Xiao looked out over the people gathered in front of him, and smiled slightly.
"I believe Regius would like to say a small piece. Regius?" Xiao said, turning to Regius. As Xiao stood to the side, Regius made his way to the podium. The elder CAST looked over the crowd for a few moments, cleared his throat gruffly, and then began to speak.
"Fellow ARKS members, you know that today we are gathered here to bid farewell to the greatest heroes ARKS has ever known, but you have not been informed as to how this all came to be. I was…I was the last one to see our two Guardians alive…"
Regius gathered his thoughts of that harrowing event, playing them back in his mind so that he could recant them to the audience with perfect accuracy. It was a scene that would remain with the elder CAST for the rest of his days. With his resolve steeled, Regius began to explain the fate of Zigurd and Matoi to the captive audience.
—
The figures of the two Guardians, corrupted by the Profound Darkness, stood before Regius as he entered the sanctum. The surrounding area showed signs of tremendous damage, no doubt caused by the blast of energy that had originated from the Guardians being completely overtaken. Rubble was strewn about the area, and in the middle of it all, were the new harbingers of the end times.
Though Regius at first thought to make a swift retreat, as he stood no chance against the two corrupted Guardians, he immediately discarded that idea when he looked at Zigurd and Matoi in more detail. In their last moments of control, they had decided the fate of the entire universe, and of themselves. Their corrupted weapons were firmly impaled into the abdomen of the other.
The Guardians looked over to Regius for a brief moment after they caught sight of him, then back to each other. With a smile on her face, Matoi's eyes slowly closed, and she fell to the ground, coming to rest on her back, that same smile vanishing from her face. Her weapon, buried within Zigurd's midsection, quickly dissolved into nothingness upon Matoi taking her final breath.
Zigurd's weapon, still being held limply in his hand, dissolved shortly after, and he fell to the ground alongside Matoi. As life left his body, he leaned over to his side and grabbed hold of Matoi's hand with what little strength he had remaining. His final sight before succumbing to his wound was that of his beloved Guardian. His eyes went blank, and then he, too, was gone.
Regius stood in utter disbelief at what had just transpired before him. The two mightiest warriors of ARKS now lay dead in front of him. Judging by their malformed appearance, Regius slowly pieced together the clues as to what had transpired before his arrival.
Using their own bodies as conduits, the Guardians had split the power of the Profound Darkness between the two of them, granting them the precious time needed to wrest control away from it and enact their final act of desperation.
With the Profound Darkness sealed inside their bodies, and with equal strength between them, the Guardians were able to mortally wound each other. The fatal strike on Zigurd had enough power to break the seal of the Time Stream that had almost succeeded in spiriting him and the Profound Darkness to a time unknown. As for Matoi, she took her fate into her own hands, choosing to forfeit her own life to remain at her beloved's side, even in death.
Still trapped within the bodies of the fallen heroes, the Profound Darkness was then engulfed by the Time Stream, taking both it and the remains of the two Guardians, to a time where it would no longer be able to sustain itself. In moments, Regius was alone, with neither a trace of the Guardians or the Profound Darkness left.
The war against the Profound Darkness, started eons ago by its mistaken creation by the Photoners, had finally come to an end.
—
After explaining the fate of the two Guardians, in all its somber detail, Regius gave the crowd a moment of silence to process the revelation, and then began to speak again.
"They knew what had to be done." Regius continued. "They demonstrated courage and strength unlike any seen before. Through their sacrifice, we have achieved victory. Though they can not be here with us to see what their efforts created, the very least we can do for them is honor that sacrifice. We owe them nothing less than that."
Regius bowed solemnly to the onlooking crowd, then made his way back to his seat. Xiao returned to the podium and smiled at Regius.
"Thank you, Regius." Xiao said.
Scanning the crowd once more, Xiao could see the looks of despair and sorrow spread amongst them. Knowing that he had to say something to lift the crowd's spirits, Xiao issued his closing remarks.
"Zigurd and Matoi's fates were always entwined, and neither could exist without the other. They both knew this, and it was that duality that pushed them forward, to make the ultimate sacrifice. I know many of you feel a great sense of loss, as I feel it just the same, but we should not grieve for the loss of Zigurd and Matoi. What they did, they did for all of us, and for each other. They were our Guardians, but now, it falls to all of us to be the new Guardians in their stead; the wards of the final gift they gave everything for."
Shooting a quick glance and a smile at Sarah, Xiao concluded his speech with one final sentence.
"That gift...is our future."
Xiao bowed to the gathering, which then erupted into a deafening applause. That same applause echoed through each of the ARKS ships watching the live broadcast. So loud it was that it could very well have been heard throughout the entirety of the universe, one now reaching a new chapter, a chapter of unending hopes and dreams.
As the universe celebrated its dearly-departed saviors, underneath a particular tree in the vast forests of Naverius, a smaller, more personal vigil was being held. Standing there were two more close acquaintances of the Guardians. They bowed their heads before the newly constructed memorial that lay beneath the tree. It was a simple headstone, but one befitting of the Guardians who gave everything for the future.
Though the Guardians had gained numerous allies throughout their adventures, these two were the first, and quite possibly the closest to the fallen heroes. Rather than partaking in the ceremony aboard the ARKS ship, they felt it more appropriate to say farewell at the place where Zigurd and Matoi's fates had become fully intertwined.
"I guess this is goodbye for now, huh…?" One figure questioned. "Thanks...for everything, mate. We'll see each other again some day, you can count on that. But...until then, you two get some rest, you've more than earned it."
Afin, the Newman operative who had joined ARKS around the same time as Zigurd, becoming his first friend, was joined by Filia. Filia was the medical officer who had been in charge of Matoi's care and well-being upon her discovery underneath this very tree so many days ago.
"No matter where you might be…" Filia said, a stray tear falling down her cheek. She quickly wiped her eyes, doing her utmost to remain composed. "I know you're happy, because you're together...now, and forever…"
Afin and Filia bowed their heads before the memorial as a light breeze came through the area, as if responding to the words of the two. The sunlight peeked through the cover of the treeline and shone down on the memorial, highlighting the words engraved upon it.
"In memory of the Guardians of ARKS, the greatest heroes the universe has ever known. Thanks to their sacrifice, there are no more tears, only smiles."
A new era had finally arrived, brought about by The End of the Guardians.