A/N: Chapters up to 19 have been revised and edited! Enjoy!
Chapter 119: Drunk Manifestation
August 19th
Peach paused putting her Jenga block on the leaning tower of their game, noticing the rumbling coming to a complete stop. For the first time in a while, it was silent.
"Is it over?" The Inkling asked, sitting beside Peach.
Peach stood up and glanced over to an empty couch, remembering Bayonetta. "I think so. Bayonetta said she was going to take a bathroom break, but it's been a while since she left."
"Wamee. . ." Marmalade trembled, hugging herself. Peach smiled and knelt to the orange Inkling. "Don't be afraid, Marmalade. Everything's going to be just fine."
Her smile was a facade. And Marmalade could tell it was the smile she used to hide her emotions. Peach got up on her feet and turned to the nearest window, catching a glimpse of the rays of light, beaming through the ruined mansion. After minutes of waiting, most of the Smashers gathered back to the living room.
"Everyone. . ." Peach was left speechless. From their earlier determination, the Smashers came back with defeat in their entire bodies. Dried blood, visible injuries, and an expression of defeat. Some showed more critical injuries. Young Marth lay on the sofa with Miru as blood seeped through his abdomen. Solo, also in critical condition, was placed on a different couch, laying beside Eight.
"Makato, Robin, Robin. . . please. He's dying." Marth pleaded.
"Am not. . ." Young Marth huffed out, holding onto his stomach.
"His wound is deep. I did what I could." Miru said.
"Yes, of course, we'll do our best." F. Robin said, rushing to Young Marth with her tome.
"I'll find what I can salvage," Makato said, jogging away from the Smashers.
"Aiya. . ." Min-Min couldn't help but look at the streaks of white on Makato's pink hair and her purple-tainted eyes. With the exhaustion of the battle, nobody took notice.
"I trust the girl. The other me can heal up Little Marth. I'll accompany Makato to gather ingredients." M. Robin said, following Makato.
"Just when we were reaching our limits, the Sephiroths disappeared." Vanguard Ike breathed out.
"That was me, you're welcome. . ." Richter coughed, jumping onto a couch.
Peach watched the Smashers with fear in her eyes, taking a gulp. There was a miscount with the Smashers. Everyone was here, except for Cloud and. . .
"Daisy." Peach walked up to the drained-out AC Cloud, balling her fists. "Where's my Daisy?"
Her question made AC Cloud glance the other way. He couldn't focus on saving Daisy at that moment when the Sephiroths ganged up around his group. He hoped his younger self, Cloud, would have the proper answer for Peach, but he wasn't there. Was he okay?
Peach tried again, this time, grabbing hold of his shirt. Tifa watched with a saddened look.
"You promised you would bring her back. Where is she? Please, don't keep me waiting. I. . ."
". . ."
"Why aren't you saying anything, Cloud?" Peach asked, squeezing his shirt. "Where's Daisy?!"
"Wamee. . ." Marmalade murmured.
"Consider her dead."
Peach froze at the icey voice and turned her head to the brown-haired teen. Arusu crossed his arms and sat on the couch with no injuries whatsoever. Only his hands were bruised, coated in blood.
"What was that? Dead? You're telling me. . ." Peach switched gears towards Arusu and marched over to him. Her presence unfazed him, as he stared back at her with no expression of caring.
"You watched her die? No! Y-you can't be serious!"
"Daisy's strong! She can't die!" Marmalade cried out.
"Arusu is just thinking the worst-case scenario, ya!" Eight said, trying to defend his elder brother.
"Cloud didn't say anything when I asked. . ." Eleven said. "She wasn't there when we arrived on the rooftop."
Ike turned to the Older Cloud. "So, what do you think happened to Daisy?"
AC Cloud crossed his arm and lowered his head. "She's alive. . . for now. It's only a matter of time until Sephiroth-"
"We have to save her! I know we can do it!" Peach said.
". . ."
Peach was given another silent answer, which brought up a bad imagination in her mind of Daisy.
"It's pointless, Peach. . ." Young Marth murmured. "She's dead and gone. . . that's the sad truth."
"We can't say for sure, right?" Marth asked.
"As much it pains me to say. . . let's just consider her dead and get you guys back home. . ."
"Even you. . .?" Peach froze, looking at Young Marth. "How can you give up so easily?! You know what- -I'll go look for her myself!"
"Why can't you ever shut the hell up, Peach?"
A voice that hadn't been heard in such a long time spoke up, as he approached the injured Smashers. Everyone turned to Ganondorf, noticing his walking became limping. Injuries scattered all over his face. Right behind Ganondorf was Bayonetta, who showed visible injuries along with Cloud.
When Peach saw who Cloud was holding, her eyes moistened up immediately as she ran toward them. "Daisy!"
Daisy responded with a mild snore, making Peach grin a bit.
"No more candy tears, Peach. . ." Bayonetta huffed out.
"She's safe. . . ah. . . thank God." Roy sighed.
Young Marth cracked a smile as a tear line, circled down his cheek. Marth smiled and relaxed his shoulders, knowing Daisy was safe. Everyone for the first time was able to relax.
(oOoOoOo)
Makato and Robin arrived back at the living room with a few potions, enough for everyone to go around to take sips. Not a full recovery for most, only Young Marth and Solo were allowed one full bottle for themselves. After minutes of resting and chatting with each other, Daisy slowly opened her eyes, drowsy from the earlier nap. Marmalade being the emotional type, squeezed her like a huggy wuggy. The question that everyone wanted to know about, AC Cloud looked over to Bayonetta was a stern gaze.
"How did you get Daisy back?" AC Cloud asked.
Bayonetta crossed her legs and leaned even further down the dusty couch. "Let's see. . . it all started with a scream."
(oOoOoOo)
Hours Ago. . .
Living Room
. . .lp! . . . help! Help!
Bayonetta broke out of her gaze after sleeping off from Peach and Marmalade's boring game of Jenga. A cry for help and a familiar voice it was. Daisy. It was almost like her spirit was crying out to her ears. The Umbra Witch glanced over to the two girls, as they continued to pull out blocks and stacked them up.
'So, they didn't hear it? Only me, huh?'
After concluding what she heard, she got up from the couch and pulled out her guns. Marmalade took notice of her and stood up. "Where are you going?"
'She's in trouble.'
Bayonetta smiled at the Inkling and patted her head. "Girls, I'll be back. A little quick bathroom break."
"Wamee? Don't go!" Marmalade hugged her legs to keep her from moving.
Peach pulled Marmalade away from Bayonetta and nodded. "It's just a bathroom break! She'll be back!"
"Be sure to take care of each other while I'm away~" Bayonetta adjusted her frames before walking away. She continued to walk until she was away from the girls and bolted into a sprint and formed herself into a bat. Small yet perfect to head to the rooftop, where she heard Daisy's scream in that direction.
(oOoOoOo)
Rooftop
Cloud let the rain take over his emotions, staring up at the clogged clouds. Timing. It seemed the timing was his biggest issue and. . .
'I was too late. . .'
Not wanting to be part of Cloud's silent rain watch, Arusu marched for the door. "Let's get out of here. Eight, carry Solo. It's time to go."
"Ah. . . ya." Eight stared at Arusu's back before glancing over to Solo. The turquoise in his hair was soaked in his crimson blood. The rain continued to spread the blood till his clothes were halfway soaked.
Eight teared up, reaching for Solo's arms, pulling his lifeless body. Cold and wet. Like a corpse. He seemed dead. He looked dead. He definitely played the part of being dead.
"We. . . gotta go. . ., Eleven." Eight hiccuped, dragging Solo towards the door.
Eleven frowned over to Cloud for a few seconds before walking back to his brother. "Right. . . Coming. . ."
When the three of them left the roof, it was back to the sound of the heavy rain. Back to his thoughts. Thoughts of regrets. Thoughts of despair.
'Just when she needed me the most. . . I failed her.'
"If you wanna jump, go ahead." Ganondorf made himself known on the rooftop, walking towards Cloud with a smirk. Making it to the railing of the roof, he glanced down. "Have a great fall."
Cloud never gave a response from his lips, but rather his actions when he pulled his Buster sword from his back, aiming it toward Ganondorf. It was the reaction Ganondorf was waiting for, curling his fist in a purple aura.
"Heh, just try me."
Cloud then lifted his sword, taking the challenge. When he was about to land a strike, a small glistening butterfly caught their eyes right between them. It glowed and formed into a tall woman. . . the only tall woman beside Palutena that they both knew.
Back into her human form, Bayonetta held her pistols in her hands, giving them a twirl. "Alright, boys. Enough dicking around. There's still time to save Daisy, and I'll need your guys' help."
Two complete reactions from Cloud and Ganondorf. Cloud was surprised, yet his eyes widened in worry. And Ganondorf. . . didn't care. The dead and bored look in his eyes. Interested.
Bayonetta turned to Ganondorf, cutting the grin from her mouth. "Maybe I should explain a bit deeper in the matter. Ganondorf, stopping Sephiroth means a future for the rest of us. Right after we arrived back at our home, I saw a future where we all die. Sephiroth continued his rain and destroyed the Smash Mansion. Our Smash Mansion.It's about time we end this once and for all. Don't you agree?"
Ganondorf remained silent while showing off his glare.
Cloud did the answering for Ganondorf, nodding his head. "Let's do it."
The majority rule whether Ganondorf answered or not. Bayonetta cracked a smirk and shot the distance in front of her. The bang created a portal that lead to a dark, enchanting space if they were to hop on across.
Cloud and Ganondorf stared at the portal and glanced at Bayonetta.
"Sephiroth took Daisy in this realm. . ." Bayonetta explained, pointing to the black portal. "I hope you're all ready. We're not leaving until Daisy is back alive and Sephiroth's corpse is on the floor."
"As it should," Cloud said, walking into the portal first.
When Bayonetta noticed Ganondorf's still posture, she aimed her pistol toward his nose. "Don't be shy. Piggies first."
Ganondorf grunted, making his way into the portal. Whether he liked it or not, Bayonetta wasn't about to leave until Ganondorf cooperated.
(oOoOoOo)
Present Time
Bayonetta rubbed the dust off with her fingertips from the couch. "I would go into more details, but we should save that until we head back home. To sum it up, in the realm, we caught up and fought the real Sephiroth. Cloud, of course, never taking an L in his life except for depression, was able to defeat him. His corpse disappeared after that, so that begs the question if he's still alive or not."
Daisy's eyes sparkled from Bayonetta's heroism, ignoring Cloud and Ganondorf. "Bayo. . . netta." Her cheeks came to a cherry red, glomping her into an embrace. "Make me your second wife!"
Bayonetta popped a vein, as her initial reaction was to jab her pistol into Daisy's forehead. "Are you assuming I have a wife? Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
"W-what's wrong with coming out of the closet?" Daisy averted her stern gaze through the Umbra Witch's lenses.
Cloud watched the two girls. His eyes form large black dots as his eyebrows saddened.
"What's with the puppy look?!" Bayonetta noticed Cloud's puppy stare, shoving Daisy back to the couch.
Peach smiled at Daisy. "So, is it all over. . .? Are we finally done?"
Bayonetta nodded. "For now at least. Daisy's safe, Sephiroth's gone, let's go home."
"If Bayo said it, let's do it!" Roy cheered.
"Yes, it's finally over. . ." Tifa sighed.
Richter groaned from the idea of leaving, rubbing the back of his neck. "If only we had something to drink. . . Oh, this would be such an occasion to do so."
"Couldn't agree more." Ike and Radiant Ike said.
"It's not like we have a full cabinet of wine and beer." Young Marth said. He then glared over at the taller and muscular Ike. "And don't act like you're not aware of that, you big idiot."
"Aiya!" A light bulb appeared above Min-Min's head and her eyes gleamed. "Min-Min make drunken noodles for celebration!"
"Drunken?! That's my girl!" Richter snapped his fingers at Min-Min's foodie idea.
"Food, ya!" Eight cheered.
"Ah. . . yay. . ." Eleven wished he could form a bright expression like Eight; however, his two older brothers kept him from doing so. After Solo recovered, all he did was send death threats under his breath toward Arusu. As for Arusu, being the cool-headed brother, ignored him.
"I'll help you, Min-Min." F. Robin offered.
"Me too!" Peach said.
"Same here," Miru said.
"I'll help as well," Tifa said.
"I'd help, but these bones need replenishing," Daisy said.
Marmalade raised her hand. "I want to help too! I'm not really good but. . ."
"Aiya, Min-Min works alone, but on special occasions, okay!" Min-Min said.
AC Cloud watched the group heading into the kitchen. Then he turned to Roy, Marth, Mega Man, Eight, and Eleven who searched to find anything festive. The rest either recovered on the couches or made light conversations. It was all nostalgic. The sight of the Smashers reminded him of his fellow Smashers. . .
"It's okay to cry. We're getting drunk, anyway." A large hand was placed on AC Cloud's hair, forcing his head down to his shoes.
"Shut up, Ike. . ." AC Cloud's throat cracked. Vanguard Ike just had to mention that word.
Vanguard Ike smirked, rubbing his hair. "Marth wouldn't let me do this to him."
"I can see why. . . You squeeze our skulls for the fun of it."
M. Robin sat next to Makato after they'd gathered ingredients to make a healing potion.
"Are you sure you're feeling. . . alright?" M. Robin asked.
Makato smiled. "I've never been so happy in my life. . ."
The tactician tried to ignore it, but her behavior made him change his mind. During their search. . . beside Min-Min, M. Robin noticed her half-white hair and one, right purple eye.
(oOoOoOo)
Flashback
Hallway
"Find anything useful?" Robin stood in place, watching Makato digging into a corner. It was weird seeing her hair white while she kept some of her sanity. At least so far. . .
"Makato? Mama?"
"Look what I found." Makato got on her knees, turning around to show Robin an ingredient.
Taking sight of the ingredient, Robin's face went just as pale as her hair. Not only the smell of sweaty cheese, the dead animal she held had fresh blood, oozing from its rotten corpse.
"T-tis thou a d-dead rabbit?" Robin gulped. The way she held it by the ears was more gruesome than its opened mouth filled with maggots and small unidentified crawlers.
"This is perfect for a healing potion, right, Robin?" She snickered while commenting.
Robin gasped. "That? For poison?"
"Healing." Makato answered.
"That rabbit is giving birth to maggies. Not like it can give birth to them, and maggies are just a cute term for maggots, which those bugs are the literal spawns of Satan."
"And?"
Robin was caught in a daze from her one purple eye. "Y-your eye. . . and hair. Is that a new look?"
"Hmm? I'm perfectly fine." Makato gripped the dead rabbit.
Robin shivered and walked up to her. "Hehehe. . . okay. As much as I don't want to do this, I'll just confiscate this-" Robin then took the rabbit from her and dropped it like a hot pocket. Except the body was squishy, cold, wet, and itchy. "Eww~~! I can't even FATHOM how you held that. . . thing!"
Makato stared at her hand covered in bugs and blood. "For some reason, when the Sephiroths appeared, I could see clearly. New information has been embedded into my brain. Things I've never thought of using. . . so much knowledge."
Robin glanced at her now clean hand, watching her graze her cheek right below her purple eye.
'Maybe I'm just high that her hand got cleansed from that demonic abomination.' Robin responded with a chuckle. "I'm sure you're tired; we call it sleep talk. Let's find something that is vegan-friendly. I don't want Solo to kill you if he figured out you fed him a rabbit corpse as a healing potion."
"Ah, okay."
'Seriously? Rabbit? I never thought about it!' Robin went his separate way to find ingredients. Few minutes of searching. . .
"Robin, I want to show you something."
"I'm ready." Robin made a 180 toward Makato, disrobing himself, but paused halfway at Makato's smoky purple aura, covering her hand.
"Oh? Witchcraft? Boring."
"I'm a wizard, not a witch." Makato focused her attention on the aura she held. "This may sound bold, but I'm going to make a potion out of thin air."
"Out of what now?"
She then began her process without answering Robin's confused question. He watched the performance in a daze. A string of green and white flowed to her palm and from the bottom, crystalizing itself from thin air.
"Wuaaa." Robin sweatdropped. The cork as well topped off the potion.
"Finished!" Makato held the final product and showed it to Robin.
'So organic. . . and natural! In under a minute she made it! A potion! Where did she get the ingredients? How did she get the ingredients?! Ok, Tachibana, totally not jealous.'
"Can you teach me~?" Robin clasped his hands together, feeling submissive.
"It's not something I can teach."
"Aww, I'll be your favorite student ever!" He then took another peek at the potion she made. 'How strange. . . that potion screams Spirit Halloween, but more demonic. Heh, who cares, right? Lol. Maybe it had to do with her dark side. This is the time I've seen half of herself make a potion. That must be the key.'
"Makato," Robin said, pointing at his eye. "You have another purple eye."
Like a virus, her white hair covered more than half of her pink hair, and her other ocean eye was now taken over by the sharp purple.
Makato answered with a laugh. She laughed longer than she should, which freaked out Robin. It wasn't the same as her normal, cutesy laugh. It was like a maniac's laugh. Yet, she showered signs of sanity.
"It's no problem. A simple camouflage will do." Makato used her other free hand glowed the same radiance and hovered her hand over the top of her head and then her eyes.
Words were drying up from Robin's throat, shocked at what he was seeing. She never had that kind of power, ever! And just like that, a little trip to the other Smash Mansion suddenly awakened her newfound power. At this rate, she could make a potion without blending them in a pot. All she needed was. . . was her hands.
Seconds later, her hair was full-on pink and her eyes were back to their ocean blue. Like magic, it never happened in the first place.
"This should do. . . Oh, how things become so easy to do!" Makato grinned wider, glancing at her demonic-looking potion, and hovered her hand over it, changing the appearance to a normal glass-in-a-liquid look. "Perfect. The potion is ready; let's head back to the others."
The potion was completed in a way Robin couldn't explain. Unnatural. That was the word.
'Why am I. . .' Robin followed Makato from a short distance rather than side by side. When Makato stopped her footsteps, Robin also halted to a stop.
"Also. . . Robin." She turned to him, placing her finger over her lips. "Would you please keep this a secret? I don't want to worry the others."
"Of course. I swear I won't tell a soul." He raised his right hand while crossing his fingers behind his back.
'. . . so. . . terrified?'
They continued their walk back to the living room, in silence. Not one of them spoke to the other during the trip. Robin furrowed his eyebrows toward her long hair and shrugged to himself.
"I can't be scared of a girl. I'm probably horny. Tee-hee~!"
End of Flashback
Robin grew unsettled, knowing that her appearance was just a cover-up. Makato stood up from the couch and began walking. "I'll be right back. . ."
"Uh. . . okay. . ."
(oOoOoOo)
Arusu kept his attention straight, sitting by Solo on the couch. ". . .It was for your own good. Your safety matters to all of us."
"Says the bastard who almost murdered me," Solo grumbled, puffing his cheeks. "We ain't brothers no more. From now on, you're my enemy."
Solo's comment made Arusu smirk a bit. "Once we get back to our new home, I'll treat you to some moon pies."
Solo went silent and straightened his back from his favorite treat. He slowly turned to his older brother, showing disbelief in his expression. "I hate you so much."
"Love you too."
"Awww~! You guys are so adorable!" Daisy petted Solo's hair like he was a Persian cat.
"He'll break your wrist. I wouldn't advise touching him." Arusu warned.
"Once you get to know him, this little fellow is all bark no bite." Daisy grinned, continuing the petting.
"But I do know him," Arusu said. At least that was what Arusu thought. After making a glance toward Solo, his eyes widened in shock. Solo, not reacting to her pets. He stood there, showing his stubborn look like always.
Maybe there was more to know. What happened on the roof between them before Arusu came?
"And I also hate you." Solo aimed his glare right at Cloud.
"And I should care why?" Cloud leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed, staring back.
"You killed Sephiroth. He was supposed to be my prey." Solo's face tightened in rage but felt another light stroke to his head. His eyebrows released away the tension, relaxing his shoulders. "Consider yourself lucky. If it weren't for Daisy petting my hair like I'm some kind of bitch, I would have ripped out your throat."
"Such an obedient dog you are!" Daisy added a scratch below Solo's chin, which shocked both Arusu and Cloud.
"Shut up!"
'How?!' Arusu and Cloud thought in disbelief. Solo wouldn't let anyone touch him; not even Eight! Yet, somehow, Daisy was able to tame him like a lion.
(oOoOoOo)
Graveyard
"Wow, this isn't a mood killer at all. I thought we were looking for the nonexistent wine." Ike said, following his older self down the lines of tombstones. Not just random tombstones. The ones right behind the mansion in the backyard.
"There's something you've got to see before you leave." Vanguard Ike said. Right after that, he stopped in front of a tombstone. Ike read the name on the tombstone in his mind and lowered his eyelids.
Makato Tachibana: 19XX-20XX. Queen of Potions
"I can't bring her back to life, but I can steal your girl if you don't listen to what I got to say."
"Seriously, what the fuck?" Ike showed a snarled look at the vanguard.
"The last thing I want from you is that you have the same future as I did." Vanguard Ike crossed his arms, eying only the tombstone. "Years ago, Makato could never make potions with paper. She was like your Makato, using raw ingredients. One day, Makato took a visit to her home and later came back with white hair and purple eyes. She confessed that for the sake of obtaining her other dark half, she had to kill. . . her mother."
"Makato killed her mother?" Sweat dripped from Ike's cheek. Shocked. It was never like her. Murder on her mind? Yellow tape around her body? A fucking homicide? Why? How? She was never violent, to begin with!
Ike shook his head. "No, this doesn't make any sense. Why're you telling me this?"
Vanguard Ike paused for a moment, touching the tombstone. "I learned that Tachibanas who possess the power of the mind are the most dangerous ones. Which is why her mother sealed half of her darkness into herself. Makato was at her limit with just ingredient-based potions, and somehow knew the solution was her darkness to become one again."
The wind carried on the silence for a brief moment before Vanguard Ike opened his lips. "The worst part was. . . Her family didn't even know the Queen was dead. Makato. . . She told me after taking her darkness from her mother, Makato was able to write her name on a piece of paper and cloned her mother right to the hair. It wasn't a doll, it was just as if the Queen was absent for a second."
Chills ruptured Ike's spine, speechless. Even disguising her death, the Makato from this world thirst for power.
"Later, Makato disguised her hair and eyes back to the way it was and came back to the mansion." Vanguard Ike clenched his fist and sighed. "That was when she told me everything. She hid the truth from her family and her childhood friend. Everyone. . . except me. Because of that, I decided not to leave her."
"Why. . .?" Ike looked away from the tomb and turned to his older self. Vanguard Ike studied his eyes. There was a hint of disappointment and judgment from Vanguard Ike's conclusion of Makato.
Ike shook his head. "How could you still love her? She murdered her mother- -her innocent mother- -in cold blood for power. . . That's someone she could never bring back."
"Maybe I'm just a fool. . . The truth was all I needed."
"You're not a fool. You're an idiot."
"Bruh, I'm you from the future. You're gonna make lots of dumb choices." Vanguard Ike said. "Anyone's capable of murder, even your Makato. Early on, she had doubts about her power when we were finding Daisy; just like my Makato. I don't want that tragedy to happen again for you or Makato. You mustn't let her gain back the other half of darkness."
". . .Her other half. . ." Ike muttered. It wasn't a topic that was discussed out in the open. He remembered his fair shares of Dark Makato appearing from the blue due to anger or jealousy. And each time was never a pleasant time. Compared to Makato, Dark Makato's possessed massive strength both in her potions and combat.
And that was only half of her.
Ike then glanced at the tombstone one more time, thinking of his visit to Niho. Makato's parents. . . the cells. . . the war against Mikoru.
Ike jolted his head up at his older self and snapped his fingers. "Her father. King Utora." Ike answered. "That's right. . . we met her parents in the underground jail. Her mother was the Queen of Healing. Her father knew sealing magic and. . . other mumbo jumbo."
"That's great to hear. Her father most likely sealed half of her darkness into himself for Makato's sake." Vanguard Ike then dug into his clothes and tossed the object in his hand over to Mercenary Ike.
Catching it, Ike uncurled his fingers. In his hand was a small, red box. Soft and round on the edges. It was a perfect case for a ring.
Ike arched a brow towards the small box. "You've gotta be kidding. . . I'm already getting mixed feelings and you're giving me a ring-" He opened the red box just to confirm his words. Gold with a simple design to show how much Vanguard Ike spent on a low budget.
"My biggest regret was relying on time. Ike, if I were you, propose after you talk to her. Make sure she's not having that sense of doubt or a hunger for power. Also her appearance. Her eyes and hair. Keep a lookout on that as well if they go off. Do it before I do. I hate being single." Vanguard Ike said.
Ike sweatdropped. "Isn't that-"
"-Too soon? That's what I thought until she died. Jokes on me." Vanguard Ike took one last glance at the tombstone before walking back to the ruined mansion. "Seize every opportunity."
Ike thought he should be happy with a ring, but. . . the conversation about Makato killing her mother for power gave room for second-guessing as he closed the box. "Thanks. At least you save me a ton of money."
"It's not like I'm giving it to you. You have until tonight."
"Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you? This ain't 9-Minute Fiance."
(oOoOoOo)
Living Room
"Noodles is ready, yes?!" Min-Min and her assistants left the kitchen with hot, piping bowls of drunken noodles. Most that could smell the food gathered back to the living room to enjoy their celebration meal. Along with the noodles were a few party hats, streamers, and poppers to fill in the details. Some old bottles of juice and wine were also brought into the light for the occasion. To top it off, jazz music from the dusty speakers filled away the awkward silence.
Richter lifted his bowl of noodles in the air, spilling some of the sauce on Marmalade's shoulders. "Alright everyone, gather round to the true Christ follower!"
"Wamee. . ." Marmalade grumbled.
"Speech! Speech! Speech!" Roy, Peach, Daisy, Eight, and Min-Min chanted.
"Speech. . . speech. . ." The others that didn't call his name looked at each other, now murmuring along.
The chanting died down once Richter signaled a moment of silence with his free hand. "This journey has been a hell of a ride. Let us not forget our fallen brethren from the other world and hope to come back strong as ever!"
Min-Min tilted her head and gave a deep stare as if she didn't understand a single word.
Richter glanced at Min-Min and curled his lips in disgust. "Jesus Christ, Min-Min, I'm not a special needs kid! Anyway, let's get drunk with these noodles!"
The Smashers raised their bowls and cheered. Cheers to a new future in the parallel Smash Mansion.
Robin took a sniff of the noodles and poked his finger. "These don't have alcohol in them."
F. Robin rolled her eyes. "Of course, you cis-degenerous. Drunken noodles don't have alcohol on them."
"Poor, Richter. . ."
"Aren't you happy, Cloud? You don't have to live in fear anymore. It's all over." Peach sat next to AC Cloud, holding her bowl of drunken noodles.
AC Cloud sat in silence for a moment, gazing at his noodles. "It's like this bowl of noodles. . . A surprise that we didn't know we have. Soon. . . it will be gone."
"Aww, Cloud~!" Peach teared up, loosening the grip of her bowl. "Just come with me to Smash Mansion!"
"That's not happening, Peach." Young Marth darted a glare at the mushroom princess as he walked by. "Ike, Cloud, and I promised that we-"
"Time to eat, Mar Mar!" Daisy caught him by surprise, scooping him off the ground, and swaying him like a baby.
"P-put me down!" Young Marth's face burst into red, squirming in her grasp. Embarrassed to catch anyone's attention, Young Marth's eyes wandered off like flies until they caught Solo's.
"Lil Larp," Solo grumbled, slurping his noodles.
". . . Don't look at me, scum. You have no right to be near Daisy." Young Marth didn't back down from his intense stare.
Solo glared at the young prince before letting out a wicked chuckle. "Keh, kekekeke. . . like you'd be here to see it."
"What was that?!"
"Have fun at home with your orgy, orphan," Solo smirked widely before walking away.
'That son of a bitch!'
"Ah, don't listen to him. He's just happy that there's real food to eat." Daisy said. "Honestly, I wish you could come with us. There's more to life than to mourn. You have the right to be happy. Ike and Cloud, too."
". . .Mh. . ." Young Marth lowered his eyelids and sighed. The right to be happy. Her words lingered inside his head, now contemplating his decision. "Perhaps I should talk to them. . ."
(oOoOoOo)
Throughout the party, Makato wandered off once again, isolating herself away from the others. As long as she was away from the noise, she could hear her voice. Her voice.
"We were meant to be together. . . Our father took half of our power to manifest our true self." Dark Makato slithered behind Makato, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. Like a spirit, Dark Makato wasn't visible to anyone but Makato.
"Our true self was to make potions without the use of searching and blending for ingredients. Just by your tongue, speak what you want and we'll make it. Remember earlier? You've done it. . .! That was beautiful!"
"Yes, that is what I desire," Makato muttered, staring into the distance.
Dark Makato laughed, stroking Makato's cheek. "Good news, Sephiroth has awakened your power. Your true power! Just for a moment, we've connected! Now, we don't have to be separated! To take back the power of the tongue, I need the other half of me. . ."
"How do we obtain the other half. . .?"
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"What?! Father?!" Makato cupped her lips, breaking off from her trance. She looked around, hoping to be alone, but no.
How long was Ike standing behind her?
The distance between them was far enough to recognize a person from a mile away. Regardless, fear drove inside Makato's dilated pupils. Did he hear the conversation? No, did he hear Makato speaking to nobody around?
"Hey. . ." Ike cracked a wave. "I've been looking for you. . ."
Makato looked away from his gaze before glancing back. "O-oh. . . Hello, Ike."
'Good, no white hair or purple eyes. . . That's a good start.' Ike thought. He was relieved for a bit and it made him walk closer to Makato.
Makato blinked away the shock from her eyes and held a fist between her chest. She smiled, attempting to calm her racing heart.
'Why does she look scared? Maybe cause I stood behind her like a fucking creep. Best to calm her down.'
Face-to-face, Ike held her hand and kissed her palm. That was the only thing he could do at the moment.
Makato stared at him, keeping her smile intact. Ike then removed his lips from her palm, still holding it. "We need to talk. . . But before that, isn't there something you wanted to ask me?"
"O-oh?" Makato turned to the floor, trying to recall the memory. Nothing. Just her new founding power to create without ingredients pushed the other reminders into the trash.
Makato brushed her fingers against her forehead as she furrowed her eyebrows. "I can't seem to remember. . ."
"That's alright. I'll go first." Ike took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Makato, you're not hiding anything, are you?"
". . .H-huh?"
"Call me a red flag for interrogating you, but I need the honest truth," Ike said. "Just swear to me. . . you're not the type to kill. You wouldn't kill anyone for power. . ."
Makato opened her lips, but no words came out. Ike knew the sound of her voice whether she was lying or being truthful. The longer she stalled for an answer, the more chances of Ike growing suspicious.
"I swear. . ." Makato kept her eyes locked on his own. "I'm not that kind of person to shed innocent blood."
"You're not feeling sad or anything. . .?"
". . . I'm not sad. . ."
"Good, I'm glad to hear. . ." Ike sighed. "I'm. . . happy to hear that." He repeated, slumping his head on her shoulder.
"Is. . . is everything alright?" Makato sweatdropped, reaching her arms for his back. now putting her arms around his waist. "Why would you ask such questions?"
"The fight with Sephiroth got me tripping a bit," Ike answered immediately. "Forgive me."
". . ."
It grew silent as they remained in their hug. Ike's mind wandered off to the ring stuffed in his shirt. 'She only answered part of my question. . . I want to trust her words, but I can't. Makato's hiding something. I can't give her this.'
Ike then lifted his head, giving a pat on her shoulders.
"Ike?" Makato asked.
"We'll talk later," Ike said, avoiding eye contact. He then turned away, walking in the opposite direction where she stood.
"He's not happy. . . I can feel it." Makato frowned, recalling the cold gaze from his eyes. "I gave him my truth. . . at least part of it."
Dark Makato in a ghost form crept behind her leaning against her ear with a sharp teeth grin. "He'll understand. Once we reveal our true selves, we'll become the Queen of Potions! Patience. We'll tell him the truth later and make him happy."
Makato teared up, ignoring her dark self. "I remember what I wanted to ask him. . . but now, it's too late. . ."
"Why not ask me about it?" Ike's voice called out.
A large hand grabbed hold of her shoulder. Makato turned her head from the touch and looked up.
"Ike. . .! You're back. . .?" She trailed off the question, arching her head up more. Vanguard Ike appeared before her with a blank expression.
He then reached for her cheek, rubbing the tears that subside from her eyes. "Just by your eyes, I can tell you're hiding something, and you decided to keep the truth from Ike. And just like that, a broken relationship. . ."
Makato stared at his calm demeanor. Why would the Ike she knew be asking questions about power and killing-?
"It was you," Makato muttered. The answer was right in front of her.
It could only be the older version of Ike. He lived through the years, so he was obligated to tell Ike about his past life.
Her tears bubbled up. Shaking her head, Makato grabbed Vanguard Ike's hand away from her cheek. "You told him something to make him lose trust in me. Why. . .? Why would you do that? I thought you were different."
Vanguard Ike smirked. "It doesn't matter now. You were the first to betray him when you lied to him."
". . ." Her eyes flashed purple for a brief second. She had to remain calm. Keep her breathing in check.
"But, I won't say anything. I won't tell Ike what you're hiding." Vanguard Ike took a step towards her. She responded with a step back, maintaining her space.
"I'm. . . not hiding anything." Makato denied.
He took another step, and then she stepped back. The pattern continued until Makato pressed her back against the wall.
His hands reached for the wall between her shoulders, locking her in place. "Under one condition." Vanguard Ike stared at her lips, putting his leg between hers. "Marry me."
"No." Makato groaned from the discomfort placed upon her.
"Ok, that's fine. But, I can keep your secret. You can trust me." He answered. "Make all the potions you want without ingredients. I don't care, as long as I'm with you."
". . ."
Vanguard Ike smirked from her silence. "You know, I gave Ike a ring so he can propose to you."
"What?" Makato's eyes widened.
"From your reaction and your finger-" He paused, checking her ring finger. "He never got on one knee. . ."
"No. . . This can't be. . . I remembered. I wanted- -I wanted to ask. . ."
"Oh. . ." Vanguard Ike's smirk faded away into an aloof gaze. "I see now. You weren't relying on Ike to propose, but you."
She nodded slowly. "When the fight with Sephiroth was over, I wanted to ask him to marry me, but. . ." She croaked, tearing up. "I forgot. All because of power."
"It wouldn't matter either way. Whether you proposed or not, Ike doesn't want to be with you anymore." Vanguard Ike then placed his hand on her thigh, caressing it.
His cold touch caused Makato to tense up.
"But I'm willing, Makato. . ." He continued, slipping more of his hand up her kimono.
"Please, stop. . ." Makato looked away, facing the ground. Heat arose from her cheeks from his touch.
"I'll show you a good time."
". . .No, just stop . ."
"And ease the pain from your heart."
Not wanting any more physical contact, Makato held his shoulders. "I told you earlier, . . . my answer is no. We've already talked about this."
Vanguard Ike stopped rubbing her thigh. "Push me away, and I'll believe you."
". . ." Her fingers curled against his shoulders, unable to make a move. "The person I want to marry, the person I want to grow old with is Ike. I'll hold on. . . just a little while longer. I know things will be okay between us if I just tell him-."
"I never asked about your next move. . ."
"I suggest you let her go."
Another voice was in the midst of their conversation. A random hand grabbed hold of Vanguard Ike's wrist. Right between them, they now faced their attention toward the teen in purple.
"It's none of your business." Vanguard Ike said, swiping away Eleven's hand.
Eleven kept a stern gaze toward the vanguard, now stepping in between them. "When a person is uncomfortable, it's my job to step in. I wasn't able to save her, but this time, I won't fail."
'Eleven. . .' Makato thought.
"Nobody needs saving." Vanguard Ike countered.
"Is that so. . .?" Eleven then pulled out a smartphone, showing his screen of Makato and Vanguard Ike. "I may not be as strong as you, but I'm not stupid. I've been recording your conversations from afar, and from the looks of it, it doesn't come out as pleasant. We can get everyone involved."
"Bastard. What's not stopping me from breaking your fingers?" Vanguard Ike glared, cracking his fingers with his hand alone.
"I'm about ready to share the video. Let's see who's faster."
". . ."
Makato froze in place, as sweat trickled down her cheek. The tension grew between the two, and so far not a word was uttered.
Vanguard Ike tense the crease in his brows and clicked his tongue. "How annoying. . ." His last words made him turn a 180 away from the two, walking. Eleven and Makato stood in place, watching his cape swing back and forth as he disappeared into the ruined hallway.
When the sound of steps wasn't audible, Eleven sighed, stuffing his phone back into his pocket. "I don't have to feel guilty anymore. . ."
"Thank you so much." Makato lowered her head into a bow, and her bangs made a shield for her eyes.
Eleven broke off the serious gaze and smiled. "I wanted to talk to you earlier, but couldn't find the right time. That's when I heard your voice. I'm glad I came at the right time."
Makato lifted herself from the bow, rubbing her eyes. "You must have heard everything. . . like you said earlier. . ."
"I saw the other Ike on my way here, and he didn't look happy. . ." Eleven explained, rubbing his hair.
She frowned and stared at the ground. "It's complicated. . ."
Eleven studied her eyes, watching them tear up again. Breaking off the smile, he curled up his fist. "You're an incredible girl. Any man is lucky just to be near you. Don't waste your tears on him."
"What?" She peeked up at him, with a bedazzled look.
Eleven's face flushed into a bright red, shaking his head. "N-nevermind what I said! An-anyway! I remembered what I wanted to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Can you make a potion for my brother, Solo? He has anger issues. I want you to make him a kind person to be around. He's such a handful sometimes."
Makato streched out her hand. "If you promise not to tell people what I'm about to show you."
"Ah, yeah. . . promise." Eleven agreed, raising his hand.
"Then your wish is my command."
(oOoOoOo)
8:00 P.M.
The party continued throughout the day until the moon shined. Some of the Smashers took the time to gaze upon the moon and the stars while taking in the breeze in the ruined mansion. And some Smashers called in for the day.
"What do you think's gonna happen when we get back?" Tifa asked.
Cloud crossed his arms. "Some peace for once. . ."
"What about our visit to Mishima Dojo?" Roy asked.
"Oh, yeah. . ." Miru said.
"Hehehe. . . so much for peace." Marth sweatdropped. "I don't know how Richter's able to snooze after bombing a dojo."
"Next to Min-Min! Super cute!" Peach said.
At another part of the ruined mansion, Young Marth, AC Cloud, and Vanguard Ike gathered together in an old room.
"What's this meeting about?" AC Cloud asked, leaning against a wall. Vanguard Ike sat in a chair, and Young Marth stood in the middle of the room, staring at the ground.
"Guys, should we leave or stay?" Young Marth asked. "Daisy's words got me thinking. We all deserve to be happy, right?"
"Will their world accept three doubles of us? I suggest we stay here and heal." AC Cloud answered. "Seeing their faces is more than enough."
A loud sigh escaped from Vanguard Ike's lips with a heavy hint of sarcasm. "This place is as dead as a grave. We go."
AC Cloud side-eyed Vanguard Ike before looking over to Young Marth. "Your call."
"We'll follow your decision." Vanguard Ike said.
". . ." Young Marth curled his lips. "Ugh, thanks for making it difficult. I'll let you know by the end of tomorrow."
"That's when they leave." AC Cloud said.
"Yeah, I know that. I'm not stupid."
(oOoOoOo)
Living Room
The living room became the bedroom for most Smashers to sleep. With couches and sofas as large as elephants, anyone could pick a couch to sleep on.
Eleven rushed back to his brothers sleeping on their couches. Eight and Solo were dead asleep; Arusu was the only one awake, sitting on the edge of the couch.
"Enjoying the moon, aren't you?" Arusu half-smiled, catching glimpse of his younger brother's eyes.
Eleven rubbed his hair and sat by Eight, who snored like a lion. "Y-yeah. No matter where we go, the moon remains the same."
"Once we get part of the Smash Mansion, things will be better for us."
"Wasn't the point to keep the princesses hostage?"
Arusu stared at him for a minute. "Since you're back, I can rest easy now. . ." Avoiding his question, Arusu yawned, snuggling himself back onto the couch.
". . .Whatever you say, Brother. . ."
(oOoOoOo)
Rooftop
"Something's wrong with me. . ." Ike muttered, staring ahead at the dead trees. After staring for too long, he pulled out the small red box. "Why do I doubt my girlfriend?"
"Whatchu thinking about?" A familiar calm voice joined his company, walking beside him to take in the night view.
". . ."
"Is that. . . a ring?" F. Robin leaned closer to the red object Ike held. Giving a disgusted look, she pulled herself away, crossing her arms. "The band that binds the poor, innocent maidens to do nothing but become a housewife. Women today are much more than that-"
"Robin, what are your thoughts on marriage?"
"Well~ I'm glad you asked!" Robin's face puffed up like a marshmallow and grinned. "Marriage is horrible! It's a one-way ticket for women to get abused by their partners! I love my independence! A ring won't define my freedom!"
Ike turned to her, still holding the ring. "I see. . . if I tell you to marry me-"
"Yes!"
"Huh?"
"For you, I'll marry you ten times over!" Robin's face exploded into a red cherry, placing her hand against her beating heart. "Well, I hate marriages so we could just date and- -HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING OF COURSE!"
". . .Okay. . . then."
"I said hypothetically speaking."
"And I said pineapple on pizza can cure cancer," Ike added, cracking a smirk. "Hey, Robin, if someone you loved is keeping the truth from you, what would you do?"
Robin fanned her face. "K-keeping the truth? There's gotta be a great reason for such. As for me, forget it. Even if the truth hurts, I would be highly offended that such a thing was kept away from me."
". . ."
"What's with the questions, Ike? Are you okay-"
Ike handed Robin the small red box. "I'm planning to break up with her."
"W-what?! Why?! Why are you giving me this?!" Questions mumbled out of Robin's lips like a waterfall, shaken by his choice. "Ike, this isn't like you. Could it be the noodles?! Yes, I told Min-Min to make them gluten-free but she didn't listen!"
"I thought about it for a while now. . ." Ike sighed. "Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions. . ."
"Yes, yes, yes you are. . ." Another voice, this time, was fearful and shaken to the core. The two of them turned their heads to Makato. But her appearance wasn't the same. Her hair was half white and pink. Her eyes were both tainted in purple. She aimed her right hand like a weapon, showing her palm towards them, as a dark aura coated around it, ready to take off at any moment.
"Makato. . ." Ike muttered in shock. The chances of Makato overhearing their conversation were high. No way anyone would appear before them with tears in their eyes after hearing about a potential breakup.
"This can't be right. . . No, no, no. . .!"
"She heard our conversations. . ." Robin muttered under her breath.
"This is the truth I was so reluctant for you to discover." Makato choked on her tears as the aura formed bigger in her palm. "It was when I noticed my ability to make potions was so easy, but it changed my hair and eyes. . . my perception. The way I used to think. I didn't want you to know until the time was right. It was all for nothing. Now, you want to break up with me? Because of. . . this?"
There were no words from the mercenary when she cried out in the night. He wished he could hold her, but the power she presented in her hand wasn't a good one.
The sanity caused a wide smile upon Makato's face, pushing through the pain. "My time here, I held on so much to see your face. Now because of my new power, you don't want me to get stronger?! You plan to take that away from me! That's why I held the truth! Remember, I swore to you I wouldn't kill my father!"
Ike furrowed his eyebrows, catching part of her contradiction. "You never mentioned your father when we talked."
"O-oh, I didn't?" Makato flinched for a second and then relaxed her shoulders. "I won't kill him. I love my father, I- -I'll find some other way to obtain my other half. Just look what I can do-!" Using her left hand, the potion was created from nothingness, materializing from the thin air in under a minute.
"Nothing. I used nothing to make this! How you ask?" Makato laughed, tossing her potion aside. The sound of glass shattering beside her, not caring for glass particles penetrating her ankles. "I just thought about it. Wait, till I can speak it. Then, I'll become whole!"
"Makato, lower your hand." Ike tried calming the situation without the need for violence. "You're not yourself. Let's talk about this-"
"Step away from her, and promise you won't break up with me." Makato interrupted. "Only then will I lower my hand. Robin forced you to think those thoughts, didn't she?"
Ike took a step towards her. "I-"
"I won't allow this!" Robin stepped right in front of Ike, spreading her arms wide apart. "You need to look in the mirror, Makato! You've become a monster!"
A blast of dark aura shot right by Robin's temple, cutting part of her hair. Robin went silent from the attack, staring at Makato's dilated pupils. Furiousiosity drove Makato's brows to a T; her skin paled up.
"Mon. . . ster? You calling us monster?" Makato lowered her right arm, shocked by Robin's words. "Our true self?!"
A roar of thunder bombed the night sky, and then the raindrops appeared one by one. Soon the rain poured down in a flash, soaking the three of them.
Makato lifted her head to the sky, unbothered by the rain pelting against her eyeballs. She rolled her head back to Robin and stretched her hand towards her. The aura surrounded her hand, only to show more strength and power than before.
"Only true monsters steal boyfriends! I'll kill you-!"
"That's enough!" Ike exclaimed.
". . .!" She grunted from his outrage and lowered her hand.
"Ike. . ." Robin muttered, glancing beside him. A stern look showed on his face, as he stormed over to Makato until he was face-to-face. Taking a closer look, he understood why Robin would call her a "monster".
It wasn't her.
It was something else.
But it also could be that the monster was her.
"Fuck. . ." Ike ran his fingers through his wet hair. "What made you like this? I don't understand. . ."
"This is the truth. My truth," Makato answered.
"If your truth means hurting others. . . your family, your friends, then I don't want any part of it."
"W-what are you saying-"
"We should take a break from each other."
Makato froze, shaking her head. "No. . . . Don't do this. I. . . but I swore-"
"I'm sorry."
More tears poured from her eyes, as she grabbed Ike's hands. "Don't do this, Ike. . ."
"It's for your own sake." Her hands were like ice, as he slipped his fingers out from her grasp.
Makato rejected his rejection, grabbing his hands once more. "Please, don't go. . .! I. . . there is something I wanted to tell you. If you're not in the picture then-"
". . . I'll be there for you, but not when we're together. . ." Ike held her hands for a brief moment and watched her tears run down her cheeks like a stream.
After a minute, Ike broke away from her grasp and walked past her. "Let's go, Robin."
". . .Ok." Being the third wheel was the most awkward thing that could happen to any person, and to witness a breakup? Robin sped walk away without a passing glance toward Makato.
(oOoOoOo)
11:30 P.M.
Hallway
"Princess! What happened to you? You're soaked!" Miru frowned, catching a glimpse of water, dripping from her pink hair to the soles of her feet.
"I w. . .as outsii, that's ll. . . 'm sorry." Makato slurred her words. Her eyes were fixated on the ground. Dead with no life in them.
"Tweet, tweet!" Miru-3000 frantically shook his head on Miru's shoulder.
"He's right. We need to get a fresh change of clothes for you-" Miru glanced at a tall muscular figure walking behind Makato, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Leave it to me." Vanguard Ike said. "I'll take it from here. Get some sleep, Miru."
". . .Okay, I trust you." Miru nodded. He took one final look at Makato, noticing her face puffier than before. Her skin was on the paler side. She never bothered looking at Miru.
'I'm afraid to ask what happened. . .' Miru sweatdropped. 'She was crying. . . Something happened. . . Forgive me. . . I wish I was there to know.'
"Princess."
"We'll talk more tomorrow. . . Don't worry about me. . ." Makato interrupted.
'How can I when you're giving me such a sad-!'
"Good night, then~" Another figure appeared out of the blue. This time, a tall woman tapped her pistol on Miru's shoulders.
"Bayonetta. . .?" Miru turned his head towards her.
Bayonetta looked down at Miru and winked at him.
"Let's take you to your room." Vanguard Ike said, leading Makato with his arm around her shoulders. Miru and Bayonetta watched the two walking down the hallway until they were not in sight.
"I thought you'd be asleep," Miru said.
"Same here, darling," Bayonetta smirked. "Can you guess why it's this Ike rather than the one we know?"
". . ." Miru crossed his arms. "That's a good question. . ."
"This Ike is greedier. . . Until he gets what he wants, he won't stop."
"There's no way Makato would- -ah, nevermind. . . I rather not think about it. As long as she's happy. . ." Miru said.
(oOoOoOo)
Those who slept finished their day of celebration. Only a few stood awake. One trying to make their decision, one was weary of their decision-making, and one worried about the consequences of their decisions.
The three of them hung out at a different part of the mansion that provided a bundle of couches. Each one of them sat in the corner of a couch.
"I'm fucked guys, I can't sleep." Richter groaned, rubbing his hair in frustration. "No matter how many times I tried praying, God is saying I'm going to pay for what I've done! Damnit!"
Ike closed his eyes, crossing his arms. "You'll be fine. . ."
"Yeah, God said the same thing. . . Thanks. . ."
"I'm stuck either we stay or go. . ." Young Marth grumbled, laying on the couch.
"You'll be fine. . ." Ike muttered.
". . ." Not liking Ike's answer, he glanced over to him and chucked a pillow at his nose.
"Oww. . ." Ike quickly responded, grabbing the bridge of his nose.
Young Marth got up from the couch and chucked another pillow at the mercenary. "We need to talk in private. Follow me. Now."
". . ." It was a weird feeling that Ike somehow felt threatened by a kid. Kid Marth. Doing as told, Ike got up from the couch and followed the young prince to a nearby corner. As far away from Richter from any upcoming eavesdropping.
Young Marth leaned against a wall, staring right at Ike's eyes. "I've seen that look before."
"What look?" Ike asked, pocketing his hands.
"You broke up with Makato."
Ike paused his breathing for a second. "How. . . did you know?"
"Because our Ike broke up with her too. Years ago. It was when Bayonetta arrived at the mansion, Makato had her powers awakened."
"Wait, what?" Ike blinked more than he should, trying to digest what he just explained. "Ike never told me he broke up with her. And how old were you? Five? Two?"
"Sh-shut up!" Young Marth scoffed. "You really are stupid! I swear to God, Ike! That muscle pig isn't the type to help others unless it benefits him!"
"That bastard. . . he lied to me!" Ike curled his fist and shot it for the wall.
"Lemme guess, you learned about our Makato killing her own flesh and blood for 2.0 of potion making. Later tonight, your Makato had that same mindset for power."
". . ." Ike sighed. "You're right on the dot."
"I hate to say it, but our Ike is a lot smarter. Not only is he older, but you guys have similar futures and events. That muscle pig lived through it all, but you haven't. You know what that means, do you? What do you think his motive was when you, another carbon copy of himself, arrived? Bubble buddies?
"Your biggest mistake was listening to that muscle pig. What really happened was Ike broke up with Makato and later, they got back together after a few years. The break up between you guys was destined to happen. . ., but not by Ike's will. Not here."
". . ."
"He wanted you to lose trust in her in such a fast way, that you wouldn't be able to look at her the same." Young Marth smirked, shaking his head. "That muscle pig doesn't give a flying shit about you! His only objective was to make Makato his, even if it meant taking your future relationship with Makato."
"Regardless. . . it was my decision," Ike said. "He can try to take her, I don't care. . ."
"Try, huh? You two are like two peas in a pod. I thought I'd let you know, so you wouldn't have that ugly look on your face." Young Marth stretched his arms.
". . .I was worried that I made the wrong decision. I judged her sooner than I should and worried she might kill her parents. Her father sealed half her darkness inside of him."
Young Marth blinked a couple of times and nodded. "You know. . . maybe it's a good thing the break up happened here."
"What makes you say that?"
"At least while you two are apart, she may reconsider death to a loved one and find an alternative. Either way, I believe she'll be the happiest when the time comes."
"I swore I wouldn't kill my father! I'll find some other way to obtain it! Just look what I can do-!"
Her lingering words repeated in Ike's mind. ". . .I hope so. . ."
(oOoOoOo)
Ike's Room
"Everything will be alright. . ." Vanguard Ike smirked, petting her hair as they sat side-by-side on the bed. Things were going smoothly as he planned and predicted. "Let's change you out of those clothes-"
"It hurts so much, Ike. . .! This is all your fault! You! You!" Makato buried her face against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Never once she changed out of her clothes but used the opportunity to cry her heart out. And Vanguard Ike didn't mind.
"What do you want me to do about it? What's done is-"
Vanguard Ike stopped talking, feeling a gentle hit against his chest. Punch after punch, he stared at the top of her head.
"Bring him back to me! Take back everything you've said!" She cried. "This never should have happened. . .! If only I was. . . more careful."
Her punching began to subside, as she loosen her fist. Vanguard Ike kept silent and waited for her sobs to run out. He looked out the window to pass by the time, then the punctured walls; the desk with horrid graffiti.
"It wouldn't matter if it was me that ended your relationship or not. You were the one that discovered your true power." Vanguard Ike said, after hearing her cries coming to an end. "And Ike simply rejected it. That's all."
She kept her face hidden under his chest, squeezing his shirt. "You knew all this time. . . You knew Ike would break up with me. . ."
Vanguard Ike then broke from the hug and held her cheeks. With the only light source being the moon, it was hard to catch her red eyes from the tears she had shed. "If I knew, I wouldn't have given him the ring. Like I told Ike earlier, seize every opportunity. I gave him the choice. Ike made his choice, but he didn't see a future with you."
"No. . .! You're wrong. . ." Makato's eyes shriveled, as more tears poured down her cheeks.
"He rejected you."
"No, he didn't. . ."
"You're just an innocent girl, born into a family of wizards. It's not your fault." He then rubbed one of her eyes from any incoming tears. "Here we are now. . . You, crying. Heartbroken. . . Soaked from the rain. Was it worth it? Telling him the truth?"
". . ." Makato sniffled and remained silent, staring at her lap. Vanguard Ike stared at her, grabbing one of her hands. Compared to her cheeks, her hands were as cold as ice.
"But you know, Makato. I can make it go away."
"Mm. . .!" Makato shut her eyes tight, feeling his hand rubbing against her thigh. The same spot where he left off earlier in the empty hallway.
"I won't make you feel sad anymore. I won't judge you." He continued, sliding his hand inside her skirt.
"What are you- -doing?" Makato froze, gripping his shirt.
"Relax. . ." Vanguard Ike smirked. Changing their position, Vanguard Ike exaggerated his lean till Makato's back laid on the bed. "I don't want you to catch a cold. . ."
