Chapter 4
Manifestation
High up in the sky above Arubi Island, the Arbatel fired its weapons at Fraxinus which was still cloaked. Luckily, the deflector shields held out.
"Damage report!" called Reeve.
"Portside territory, reduced by twenty percent!" replied the tactical officer.
"Damage to the fleet is minimal, Commissioner," added another.
"It seems whoever's on that ship has found us out. Prepare to disengage the cloak and return fire. All personal, prepare for impact. Fighter squadrons guide the bombers to the enemy capital ships, and keep the enemy fighters busy," said the acting captain.
The crew nodded, and the fighter craft surged ahead, while several more stayed with them.
"Attention all units, this is Acting Captain Tuesti of the RGRO commanding the Fraxinus. All squadron leaders report in," he said into the intercraft.
"Fraxinus, this is Blue Leader, standing by," replied one pilot.
"This is Gold Leader, standing by," added another.
"This is Red Leader, standing by," finished the third.
"Sir, those are RGRO ships!" cried one of the Imperial officers.
"Alert Admiral Izunia at once!" said one of his superiors.
"Red and Gold Squadrons, attack formations, but defend the fleet! Blue Squadron, get to Arubi Island and reinforce our strike force!" Reeve said.
"We copy you, Captain. Alright, half of Blue Squadron, with me!" said Blue Leader.
"Copy Blue Leader," said Blue 5.
"Right behind you, boss," added Blue 7.
"We won't have long," finished Blue 3.
"Blue 2, you have command until we return. Assist our other squadrons in this attack," said the squadron leader.
"Roger, I'll do what I can," replied Blue 2, and he led the other half of the squadron back to the fleet.
Blue Squadron raced past the Fraxinus, consisting of a strike force of Goblins, Imps, and Advanced Stingray fighters. With them was a Deathguise class troop transport carrying RGRO soldiers for the battle.
"Get me Commander Itsuka," Reeve said.
"Yes sir," replied the communications officer, and she patched Kotori through.
"Commander Itsuka, we have engaged Imperial forces over Arubi Island, and are sending soldiers to assist in the counterstrike. It appears that DEM, the organization that was responsible for what they've done to Mana has arrived to cause trouble," he explained.
Unfortunately for Yoshino and Yoshinon, their show was shut off, which meant that they wouldn't see the ending.
"Looks like trouble's brewing people, let's go and help Shido, Sora and the rest of our friends out," said Snow.
"You got it, Snow," replied Lightning.
They soon raced through the corridors, and launched from the after shuttlebay, where they landed safely away from the battle, but had to take care not to get entangled in the Yamai Twins' battle, which was being controlled by Nuno, who had both of them under his thumbs.
"Yes, keep fighting each other. Let your sibling rivalry end in blood. That's what you were born to do. There's no point in the real Yamai returning to life, so long as you keep this up," he said.
Shido tried to tell them to stop, but Tohka warned him that trouble was coming. Several green lights appeared around them from the shadows of the forest.
"What are they?" Shido asked.
"Model number DD007," came a voice from behind.
"Who's there?" Riku asked after he and his friends joined the battle.
"Bandersnatch," Ellen Mira Mathers said to them as she stepped out.
"What the…? Ellen Mathers?" Roxas asked.
"Transfer power to the defensive field, portside!" Reeve said.
The blast struck the shield, causing minimal damage.
"We've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to capture you alone, but it appears that we've miscalculated. However, those other two spirits who are fighting each other are of little concern, thanks to one of our allies making them fight through a little manipulation," she explained.
"Yes, Mathers is correct, boy. As you know she's part of the A.S.T, but she is with Deus Ex Machina Industries, the organization that took dear sweet Mana Takamiya from you when she was still an infant, after your birth parents died, leaving you alone to be raised by the Itsukas, until I saw how you saved Tohka by taking her power," grinned Kurai.
"Bandersnatch force, engage!" cried Boadicea.
The mechs charged forward, but Tohka and the others quickly cut them down, until some Magitek Soldiers showed up.
"Go get 'em, guys! Show no quarter!" called Sazh, who fired his guns at them.
"Gladly, Sazh!" replied Vanille.
"What the…? Who are you guys?" questioned Tohka.
"Funny you should ask, sweet cheeks. We're called Team NORA, and I'm its leader, Snow Villiers, husband of Serah Farron, and hero of Radiant Garden," grinned Snow.
"I'd suggest you leave Tohka alone at once!" snapped Lightning.
"Yeah, you better back off, or we'll get serious about taking you down!" added her sister.
"If you really think that I will let you try to stand in my way, then I'm afraid that I may have to take Princess by force if need be," remarked Ellen.
"You're crazy! Not a chance!" barked Riku, and he lunged at her.
"Sailor Moon, take out those soldiers! Everyone else, protect Tohka and Shido!" said Sora.
Everyone nodded, and the battle began, with all the Warriors of Light fighting bravely. But suddenly, Tohka's bad feeling came true, as she saw Ellen transform into combat armor.
"Well, aren't you resilient," she said to them.
"Bandersnatch squad, Magitek Soldiers, and Imperial ground units, engage at will, but leave Princess to Mathers," Kurai added.
"Follow me, Sora!" Tohka said to her friend.
"I'm way ahead of you, Tohka!" replied Sora, and they charged at their opponents.
"Heartless! Don't let the others interfere!" cried Boadicea.
The battle had begun, while Reeve continued to direct orders to ensure that Fraxinus would not be damaged, as well as continue the assault on the enemy fleet.
"No one dies! Remember, if we do, Sora will be immorally crushed!" Reeve said to the crew.
"Aye!" replied the crew.
The crew was amazed as they continued to endure, thanks to Kotori's assurance, while on the ground, Tohka, Sora, Riku, Ellen, Kurai, and Boadicea fought furiously with each other. But to the soldier, she was treating it like a game, rather than a fight, while everyone else held off the enemy forces.
"Come on, is that really all you got, Princess?" she asked.
"Well, there's more than you think," Cloud answered for Tohka, as he arrived for a planned ambush on the lesser units, and cut them down.
Enraged, Mathers forced Tohka back, then broke Sandalphon.
"Tohka, fall back!" cried Axel, as he blocked the soldier's attack.
Tohka nodded, and quickly retreated back to Shido, who was suddenly cut off.
"Don't intervene, boy! This girl will be coming with us to become Sephiroth's newest apprentice, and Vanitas will be joining as well," glowered Kurai, pointing the blade of ruin near his neck.
He pulled out his comlink.
"Arbatel, this is Kurai. Tell my brother that we have the girl shall soon be ours, after she is put to sleep. Then we will bring her back to Headquarters, where our ally will gladly see to it that she's trained by Sephiroth," he said.
"Understood," replied the hanger control officer, as the bandersnatch moved to take her away.
"You leave her alone, right now!" cried Shido.
"Silence, boy! There is nothing you can do for Princess now. Nothing! You have failed! You are weak! Broken! And a coward! That's what you truly are, Shido!" grinned Boadicea.
"Wrong! I am nothing like that at all! YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER!" screamed Shido, and he unknowingly summoned Sandalphon to his hand.
Without warning, all the Bandersnatch mechs were cut down, along with the soldiers and Heartless. Both Ellen and Shido were surprised.
"Nice one, Shido! Chalk one up for the good guys!" grinned Barret, as he blasted the other enemies back.
Above, the battle raged, as the two sides continued exchanging fire. But now Reeve had enough.
"Arm Mystletain, and target the enemy ship!" said Reeve.
As the Arbatel was about to attack again, they were soon struck by a beam of light that erupted from Fraxinus' bow. The shields went down.
"You've truly shown me a new form of art, Tuesti. But, it matters not, I think our little game ends here," Azrael said with a grin.
He turned to the crew.
"Arm all guns and destroy Fraxinus. Make sure there are no survivors," he told the crew.
"No way. Shido summoned Sandalphon, Tohka's angel? But how?" Sora asked, as he fought off the enemy.
"That, I don't know. But, I have a feeling that he's truly become a man now," grinned Yuffie, who batted the other Heartless away with her Shuriken.
"Ah, of course. So you've absorbed Tohka's powers after you kissed her. I should've realized sooner, boy. However, you will come with us, and Sora as well, along with Tohka," grinned Boadicea.
"How about you leave them alone, you witch!?" snapped Sailor Venus.
"Venus…" Tohka murmured.
"I will never allow you to lay a finger on them for as long as I live, and neither will the rest of us who are part of this family," she said firmly.
Above, the crew saw that the Arbatel had barely evaded the blast, until Reeve was informed that they were on a collision course.
"Don't allow them to collide! All units, fire at will!" he cried.
But he had a secret plan in mind, which would enable them to defeat their adversaries.
"You've nowhere to run, Tuesti. Nothing you do can avert your destiny. Unless of course, you try to alter it, which will only prolong the inevitable, and there's no point in stopping the inevitable. This Kamikaze run will mean we both die together," grinned Azrael.
"No, he's mad," gasped Captain Paddington.
"Saturn, stop the Bandersnatches! I'll distract Ellen!" said Xion.
"With pleasure, Xion," replied Sailor Saturn.
"Resistance is futile, Shido. Give up now, or everyone dies," said Kurai.
"Never! Not on your life!" remarked Shido.
"Very well, break his entire skeleton!" commanded Boadicea.
"You're breaking nothing!" snapped Vincent Valentine who arrived, and blasted them back.
"Shido! GO!" shouted Barret.
Shido nodded, and with Saturn and Xion's help, he cut them down.
"Come on, guys, let's all show Shido how we fight," said Ventus, and they all charged at the larger numbers.
(Well, looks like it's time to play NRG's Instruments of Destruction for this intense battle)
[Verse 1]
Iron birds of fortune
Adrift above the skies
Cloudy revelations
Unseen by naked eyes
Flying tools of torment
Will penetrate the sphere
Erupt the rock of ages
Bringing final fear
[Chorus]
Instruments of destruction
Tools of foul play
It's a violent eruption
Existence drifts away
[Verse 2]
What's it really matter
When nothing really counts
Grave eternal darkness
When drained of every ounce
And when the nightmare's over
The final from the storm
Dust of all creation
To ashes we transform
[Chorus]
Instruments of destruction
Tools of foul play
It's a violent eruption
Existence drifts away
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
Instruments of destruction
Tools of foul play
It's a violent eruption
Existence drifts away
[Chorus]
Instruments of destruction
Tools of foul play
It's a violent eruption
Existence drifts away
[Chorus]
Instruments of destruction
Tools of foul play
It's a violent eruption
Existence drifts away
[Outro]
Aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh!
Oh!
At the same time, the Arbatel was struck on the starboard side.
"So you've managed to employ a tactic that Kannazuki taught you, didn't he? You are truly a worthy rival, Tuesti. Perhaps it's time for me to abandon this vessel," oiled Azrael, and he left the bridge, leaving Captain Paddington appalled and enraged, as well as desperate.
Suddenly all the mechs shut down, which surprised them.
"It seems that central control has been destroyed, and now our flagship is fighting an air battle with the RGRO. However, both Yamai siblings are very close to destroying each other, and that means they will cease to exist, forevermore," mused Kurai.
Desperately, Shido grabbed Tohka's hand and with all of his friends following behind them they raced off to find both Kaguya and Yuzuru, who were still locked in their duel.
"Let them go for now. We'll have our opportunity to capture them at a later time, if we are patient," said Boadicea.
They soon teleported out of the forest through the dark corridors, while the battle above continued to rage. As the Arbatel was about to flee, they saw that Reeve's plan had worked. A realizer had managed to damage the control room beyond repair, much to their surprise. Below, Shido and the others arrived at the beach, where they saw a horrible sight.
"Oh, so you've arrived, Shido. However, you are too late. Kaguya and Yuzuru are just about ready to deliver the final blow that will end their lives," grinned Nuno Harime.
"No! How could you!? This has to stop now! Listen to me! You can't let them do this! This is not how it's supposed to be! They deserve to live!" cried Shido.
"They deserve to live, you say? HA! No spirit has any right to live, unless of course, they were to be taken and put through some experimentation at our home base. What you do now is already useless," he remarked.
"Sorry, but that's not what I believe in!" countered Shido.
He tried everything to get Kaguya and Yuzuru to snap out of their trance, but it was no good.
"Pull it together, Shido! They're not a lost cause yet! But, we have to get their attention," said Riku.
"Riku's right. If we give up now, only then will they destroy each other," added Sayaka.
"I share in their sentiment, Shido. You're the only one who can truly stop them," admitted Tohka.
"That's right. Try to put yourself in Nero's shoes, and you'll always find a way to ensure that any sibling rivalry can end, by giving everything you've got with your heart, Shido. That's what enabled you to call Sandalphon to your hand. Now, you are truly worthy of being a Warrior of Light, who fights to ensure that no spirit shall be harmed by those who want them erased from existence," agreed Sora.
"Yes. You know the way. Find the balance, and use it to draw the attention of both Kaguya and Yuzuru," finished Aqua.
Everyone else offered Shido their assurance as well, which gave him even greater strength. At last, with everyone's help, he managed to unleash a mighty swing that parted the clouds, creating a stronger gust of wind. Both siblings were surprised as they saw what happened, despite being under Nuno's control.
"So you've managed to get their attention, Shido. Very impressive," smirked Nuno.
"Stop this at once! Both of you! Please! Your sibling rivalry is over!" called Shido.
"It will never end, Shido. None of this ever truly revolves around you. None of it! One who knows nothing can understand nothing," scowled the son of Sephiroth and Nui.
He turned to the twins, and strengthened his mind stitching powers.
"Kaguya! Yuzuru! End it now!" he cried.
"That's enough! I decide the winner of this duel, as they told me before! So you should know this! The true Yamai will be decided by me!" shouted Shido.
This only caused Nuno to howl with demented laughter.
"You? You will be the arbiter of who the real Yamai should be, Shido? That's nothing but a stupid joke," he said.
"It is not a joke, Nuno! The choice that I've made is both of them!" countered the other boy.
"I see. Then you truly are naive, Shido. You cannot have both siblings. But if that truly is your answer, let's see if you can truly live up to it, after I have them cut you down to size, piece by painful piece. Yes, they have their strengths, but they do not deserve to be with each other at all. That's why sibling rivalries will end in death. The truth is, when the real Yamai split apart, it created a never ending rift, and thus the only thing that Kaguya and Yuzuru cared about wasn't each other, it was themselves. That's what they chose to believe. As for the options they have, I can give them four. 1: Yuzuru slays her sister and thus becomes the true Yamai. 2: Kaguya slays her sister and the result is the same. 3: In exchange for giving up their spirit powers they would both get to live. And 4: Rather than those previous options, they still destroy each other, and you, Shido. After all, having a fourth option is probably something that my parents would truly agree on. What you've done is nothing but foolishness, and it will never work at all," remarked Nuno.
Then he turned to both siblings.
"What say you, Kaguya and Yuzuru? Will you destroy both Shido and each other, or will you agree to die in each other's arms?" he asked them.
Then he looked down at Shido, as the twins were now truly conflicted.
"However, a human boy who wields Sandalphon, the sword of Tohka, can never change what has been written. But seeing that you split the wind and the clouds, you've truly shown that you are arrogant, and now you will die for it," finished Nuno, and he lunged at Shido, as he fell unconscious.
But as he did…
"Kaguya and Yuzuru, FINISH THIS!" he shouted as he descended towards the unconscious Shido, which caused Tohka to stand in front of him with her arms at either side.
She was shielding him from Nuno's blade, which was near her neck.
"Yes, Master Nuno," they replied in an eerie monotone.
They soon charged at each other one last time, but were stopped by Sora, who assumed his Equestrian form.
"Kaguya and Yuzuru, this battle ends now. I refuse to let either of you die, just like how Shido won't. And yet, even though he stopped your second attempt to settle your score for the final time, then as his friend, I say this. This score is settled. Therefore, if you continued, there would be no winners. Only losers. Also, I now free you from Nuno's control with the power of light," he told them, and his aura engulfed them, and broke the mental stitching.
"Hey, Sora, thank you, for freeing us from Nuno's control. Also, you were right all along. Our sibling rivalry would only end with the both of us being losers. And yet, at the same time, I can tell Shido's right as well, just as Yuzuru does," said Kaguya.
"Agreement: You have my thanks as well, Sora. You are truly like Shido, just like Ruby and Usagi are. It was you who taught us to try and cherish the other, even though you intervened just as he did once. However, because of what Nuno did, there is no forgiving him," added Yuzuru.
"Then how about this? When we get you guys to Tengu City, I'll be sure to help Shido buy some kinako bread for you to eat, and you can both attend Raizen High School, as new students in Shido's class. Also, a lot of the guys would actually welcome you with open arms. Call it hypothetical, but you'd be very happy to call them your new friends, and maybe, we could walk the streets of that city, passing by a lot of people and places, and learn new things together. That's why, you'd not only be friends with my family, but I'm fairly certain that Shido would be honored to have you be part of his family. Also, we can stuff ourselves silly after everything that's happened, like my friends from another world, protected by a Saiyan called Goku," replied Sora.
This made both twins slowly float up to Sora and wrap their arms around him.
"Once again, thank you, Sora. You've taught us a lesson that even Shido could've, and we'd be honored to be your friends, if everyone's okay with it," sobbed Kaguya.
"Acknowledgement: I too wish to be friends with you and everyone else, Sora. So this time, we'll be together, and not die for something immorally stupid," Yuzuru sobbed as well.
Sora hugged them back, and the estranged group of three hovered in the sky above. Suddenly, they broke the hug when they saw the Arbatel descending towards them, as Captain Paddington ordered the deployment of the last of the Bandersnatch to capture them all.
"Geez, they're just so eager to interrupt these moments, aren't they?" he said.
"I have to agree with him on that," smirked Kaguya.
"Agreement: This has gone on long enough," replied Yuzuru.
"Okay then, let's rock them like a hurricane," grinned Sora.
"Aw, yeah! Now you're speaking our language!" grinned the lance wielding twin.
The pendulum wielding twin nodded as well, and together they combined their strength to form a bow and arrow, with Sora standing on the tip.
"Ready, aim, and FIRE!" he cried.
"Raphael, EL KANAPH!" shouted the twins, and the arrow surged towards the ship, as well as destroyed the bandersnatch mechs.
It surged through the hull, and into the sky where Sora immediately assumed his Divine Saiyan Soul Drive form, as he looked back at the ship.
"This will end it," he declared.
He placed his hands to the right side, after attaining Super Saiyan Blue.
"Ka…me…ha…me…HA!" shouted Sora, and a beam of pure blue light burst out of his hands, surged towards the ship, and obliterated it in one blast.
"Holy crap," murmured Shido, as he watched from a safe distance.
Debris soon fell into the ocean below, while Azrael grinned with pride.
"No! It can't be!" gasped Nuno, as he heard the explosion.
But then Kaguya and Yuzuru landed between him and Shido.
"Counterclaim: I'm afraid it is, Nuno! You are beyond forgiving! You manipulated us into trying to kill each other so that we could continue fighting in the afterlife forever! A crime of that magnitude is something we can't forgive!" countered the pendulum wielder.
"That's right, and now it's you who will be rocked like a hurricane!" added Kaguya.
"Damn you! If I'm dying, they die with me!" he cried.
"No, they aren't! You're dying alone!" remarked Sora.
(Okay, guys, time to play Rock You Like A Hurricane by the German rock band Scorpions for this fight, but go with the Beethoven Remix of this song)
"Tohka, you and Shido have done enough. Now, you and everyone else can leave Nuno to us," Kaguya said to them.
"Agreement: We will fight beside Sora, because it's our honor, and this time, Nuno will be defeated!" agreed Yuzuru.
Then both the twins and Sora lunged at him, and the fight was on, as their weapons collided against Essence Shard.
"[Verse 1]
It's early morning, the sun comes out
Last night was shaking and pretty loud
My cat is purring, it scratches my skin
So what is wrong with another sin?
The bitch is hungry, she needs to tell
So give her inches and feed her well
More days to come, new places to go
I've got to leave, it's time for a show
[Chorus]
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
[Verse 2]
My body is burning, it starts to shout
Desire is coming, it breaks out loud
Lust is in cages till storm breaks loose
Just have to make it with someone I choose
The night is calling, I have to go
The wolf is hungry, he runs the show
He's licking his lips, he's ready to win
On the hunt tonight for love at first sting
[Chorus]
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
[Post-Chorus]
Rock you like a hurricane!
Nuno, caught by surprise by this fierce three on one battle, barely fought with all of his strength, as he soon realized that he had underestimated the bond between siblings, even as he was being cut down, but his healing factor was now being pushed to his limits regardless of the number of injuries he was sustaining.
"This is the end of you, Nuno! Never again will you control people for your own selfish desires, or your parents, despite what Ragyo taught you!" cried Sora, and both he and the twins charged at him for one final assault.
[Chorus]
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
(Come on, come on, come on!)
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
(Come on, come on, come on!)
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
[Outro]
Here I am!
Finally, Nuno was sent flying back, battered, beaten, and broken.
"Game over, Nuno!" declared Kaguya.
"Declaration: You have lost this battle. Now you shall never again deceive us into killing each other," added Yuzuru.
"And the next time you try to bring harm to any of my friends, just know this. We'll be ready for you!" agreed Sora.
Nuno, enraged and humiliated, vanished into the dark corridor. However, in the hotel, Origami lay in bed, battered and beaten, even after Cloud cut down the bandersnatch that tried to hurt her.
"Good to see you're still alive, Origami. Thankfully, you suffered only minor injuries during our scuffle, but it was reduced to scrap iron, while the rest were shut down thanks to our allies," explained Cloud.
"Both you and Cloud should be proud of your accomplishments in saving me," agreed Reine.
"Damn skippy, and don't you worry 'bout Shido. He's a tough kid, and he's got a lot of good friends with him. Besides, once he comes back, we'll be sure to give Kaguya and Yuzuru Yamai a warm welcome to Raizen High," grinned Barret.
However, Sephiroth was now speaking in her mind.
"Do you desire to be by his side, Origami? All you need to do is shut off all forms of attachment to those you are around, such as Tohka, and everyone else. Only then, will you truly have power," he said.
Inside the forest, Shido, Sora, and their friends stood with the Yamai Twins.
"Hey, Shido, we wanna thank you for everything. It means alot," said Kaguya.
"Indeed. Sincere thanks. We will both be in your debt forever," agreed Yuzuru.
"It was his honor," Sora replied.
"We know. And as a way of properly thanking him, we'd like to give him a gift," smiled the first twin.
"Petition: Please close your eyes immediately," added the second twin.
Shido did so, but before the twins could give him their gift, they soon heard a cruel chuckle from behind them.
"Very impressive, boy. I see you've managed to quell this sibling rivalry, which would have granted me the perfect chance to take advantage of the situation Nuno created, and eliminate them both at once. However, since that opportunity has gone to waste, I will eliminate you instead, and Boadicea will help me. Oh, and just to level the playing field a bit…" Kurai said.
Then he clicked his fingers, and a huge swarm of Heartless, Bandersnatches, Magitech Soldiers, Imperial marines, and Heartless appeared all around them from all directions.
"Kurai, you bastard!" Shido snapped, as he took up Sandalphon again.
But Boadicea lunged at him, then sent him flying back, making him scream. The back of his head struck a tree rendering him unconscious, which in turn made Tohka's sword vanish in a flash of light.
"Shido!" cried Tohka, and she ran to him.
She took his face in both her hands, and looked at him with pure fear in her eyes.
"Shido. Shido. Shido. Oh no. No, no, no, Shido!" she said in desperation.
"Leave him be, Princess! If you want him to live you must come with me. But should you refuse…" Kurai said to her.
Then he used Dark Break on one of the Bandersnatches, reducing it to scrap and tiny fragments.
"He'll end up like this bandersnatch I destroyed of my own accord. And believe me, it will most certainly be an unpleasant sight," glowered the imperial warlord, and he laughed coldly at her.
Sora turned sharply towards the Son of Galaxia, as his eyes turned red, which meant that his still evolving powers had now activated, and instantly caused a bandersnatch to explode into tiny fragments.
"Tohka, look after Shido. Do everything you can to make sure his wounds have fully healed through Compa's will power. Everyone else, I need you to protect them by keeping their lesser minions away from them, while Kaguya, Yuzuru and I take care of both Kurai and Boadicea. After that, the Yamai twins will most certainly be part of his family, and Rainbow Dash will most certainly be happy to have a new best friend at her side," Sora said to her, and he summoned his Keyblade to his hand.
"Sora, even though Shido's decision to have both of us made us realize that our sibling rivalry would result in either one or both of us dying, we've also come to accept that it's something that you'd view as truly immoral. But, seeing Boadicea attack him is something that none of us can truly tolerate, just like how we can't forgive Nuno and Kurai!" Kaguya explained to Sora.
"Agreement: Both Boadicea and Kurai must pay for what they've done, even if it means perpetuating the cycle of vengeance, the opposite of justice," added Yuzuru.
"Shido is a stubborn idiot! Hand over Tohka or he dies!" she snapped.
"That's something none of us can ever allow at all! You're going to pay for letting Nuno take advantage of the siblings' rivalry, which would have resulted in something really terrible that would break both mine and Sora's morality, and that's something that we can never forgive nor forget! We're the Warriors of Light, who fight for Love and Justice! And so, on behalf of the Moon and Kingdom Hearts, we're punishing you!" Sailor Moon snapped back at her, when she stepped out of the shadows along with all the other Warriors of Light.
"I share Sailor Moon's sentiment. For I, Tuxedo Mask, the caped crusader, will never allow any villain who wishes to separate Tohka from Shido, which will lead to her succumbing to despair. After all, the Fire of Hope will always burn brightly in our hearts, as long as we affirm our strong belief in hope," added Tuxedo Mask.
"Slaughter them!" cried Kurai, and the large army charged at them in full force, turning the forest clearing into a battlefield.
He then turned to the trio, pointing his Blade of Ruin at them.
"That girl will be Sephiroth's apprentice," he glowered at them.
"Never!" snapped Sora, and the Yamai twins nodded in agreement as they summoned their angels.
"Kaguya, Yuzuru, are you ready?" he asked them.
"Roger!" they replied, eyes brimming with determination.
(It's time to play Ghost River from the Nightwish Album Imaginaerum for this battle between Sora, Kaguya, and Yuzuru, and Kurai and Martini, while everyone else clashes with the soldiers, fighting machines, and Heartless under their command)
As the battle between the Warriors of Light and the forces of darkness had begun, Sora, Kaguya, and Yuzuru soon charged right at their enemies, and the fight was on as they engaged in a deadly three on two battle, while Riku led the defense of Shido, Tohka, and Compa, as he knew that his best friend and the Sailor Guardian of the Moon wouldn't want to see another of their best friends die in front of them.
"It's a long road down the river deep 'n wild
Every twist and turn a wonder-dale
It's a scary ride we'd give anything to take
Let yourself bleed
Leave a footprint on every island you see
Hey you, child of rape, the riverbed awaits
Snow white, pitch-black, your life such strife
Heavenward, deep down, I'll show you such sights
Believe it, we live as we dream/scream
He will go down he will drown drown, deeper down
The river wild will take your only child
He will go down he will drown drown deeper down
The mills grind slow in a riverbed ghost town
He will go down he will drown drown, deeper down
The river wild will take your only child
He will go down he will drown drown deeper down
The mills grind slow in a riverbed ghost town
He will go down he will drown drown, deeper down
If you want me, do come across"
"There's no forgiving someone who'd want Shido dead, you bastards!" shouted Kaguya, as she and Yuzuru attacked Boadicea.
"Maybe you should learn to know your place!" Boadicea snapped back, as she struck back at them, drawing upon even greater darkness within her blackened heart to have them eliminated.
"What is it you dream of, child of mine?
The magic ride, the mermaid cove?
Never met a kinder heart than yours
Let it bleed
Leave a footprint on every island you see
I am the painted faces, the toxic kiss
Sowing of doubt, troll beneath the bridge
Come across
Death by a thousand cuts
Believe it, we live as we dream/scream
He will go down he will drown drown, deeper down
The river wild will take your only child
He will go down he will drown drown deeper down
The mills grind slow in a riverbed ghost town
He will go down he will drown drown, deeper down
The river wild will take your only child
He will go down he will drown drown deeper down
The mills grind slow in a riverbed ghost town
He will go down he will drown drown, deeper down
If you want me, do come across"
(Instrumental break, as Sora and the Yamai Twins draw on a new strength, that they've never known that they had in their lives, even in the many times they've fought, despite Kurai and Martini's taunts, until Sora suddenly finally loses himself to a sense of bloodlust and attacks Kurai in a blind fury, while the Kaguya and Yuzuru continue their clash with Sephiroth and Quinella's daughter, who has a truly tactical mind about how to try and break someone's will to fight, which also leads to both siblings doing the same thing Sora's doing)
"I am the desert-scape, the sand inside your hourglass
I am the fear and abuse, the leper children
Every eye sewn shut
We will go down we will drown drown, deeper down
The river wild will be our last ride
We will go down we will drown drown, deeper down
The mills grind slow in a riverbed ghost town"
Sora's Mother:
Beautifully shy as you are
Never lose your heart
And do come across
Banishing the rage in his heart, believing that his mother was calling to him with her heart, Sora then called Kaguya and Yuzuru to his side, and they soon unleashed their team combo called Hurricane Omnislash upon their enemies.
"He will go down he will drown drown deeper down
The mills grind slow in a riverbed ghost town
He will go down he will drown drown, deeper down
If you want me, do come across"
(And the song ends with Sora and the Yamai Twins emerging victorious over their enemies, right as Shido wakes up just in time to see the Imperial Warlords' armies devastated by the Warriors of Light, which does surprise him, but then he turns to Sora who attempts to try and kill Kurai for good, only to see his Keyblade stopped by Sandalphon)
"It's over now, Sora. You've won. I know that you want them dead, but as Sailor Moon told you, you shouldn't compromise your own morality," he said to him, and Sora slowly stepped back, just as Shido pulled Sandalphon away from Kurai.
"You may think that this is the end, but…" Kurai growled at them, but he fell to the ground, unconscious from the attack.
"Azrael, have a shuttle dispatched to the coordinates I'm sending to you! This mission has failed," Boadicea said into her comlink, as she picked up the imperial warlord and fled for her life.
Once they were gone, Sora relaxed, but his eyes still flared with determination, as they changed back to blue. Then he gained a calm look, and turned to the twins.
"Kaguya, Yuzuru, thank you. Also, I want to promise you guys this. We'll all protect Shido together. After all, he's not just a friend to any of us. He's family. And the only way we'll let them get to him, is over our dead bodies," he said to the twins.
The Yamai Siblings nodded, then they kissed Shido, who recoiled in shock, but then Sora turned to Axel.
"Make sure you have extra coats ready for them, otherwise, we'll have a very envious Tohka ranting, raving, and screaming in Shido's face," he whispered to him.
It turned out he was right, for the instant Kaguya and Yuzuru's astral dresses faded away in particles of light, the Flurry of Dancing Flames tossed two black coats to them, which they soon put on to cover up their exposed bodies.
"Phew. Thank you, Axel," Shido sighed.
"Hey, it's what I do. But, maybe I should ask someone else to pass a black coat to another spirit after she accepts to have her powers sealed, which will lead to her astral dress fading away as Tohka, Yoshino, and Kotori's astral dresses did, seeing as their also spirits," he grinned.
But Tohka turned and looked at Axel, a content smile on her face.
"Actually, I'm just glad that you were prepared to pass some coats to them. That way, some of us can go shopping at Tengu City to buy Kaguya and Yuzuru some clothes they can wear," she said.
"That's a great idea, Tohka," squeaked Chibiusa, who was still dressed as Sailor Chibi Moon.
"Oh boy. There goes all the money in my wallet," groaned Mamoru.
"Actually, I have to agree with them too, Mamo. But at the same time, buying our new friends some clothes so that they can be seen as citizens of Tengu City can make them welcome amongst the people. That's why us girls will go shopping with Kaguya and Yuzuru to get them some new clothes," assured Usagi.
"Thanks, Usagi," grinned Kaguya.
"Hey, Kaguya, Yuzuru, you guys were good. Thanks for helping us out in those previous two battles," smiled Sora.
"Acknowledgement: You are most welcome, Sora," replied Yuzuru.
And soon everyone else agreed, but this would actually be an all girls shopping trip for them, while the twin siblings would be staying in the apartment complex next to Shido's home, which was being guarded by NORA, after they left.
"Well, in any case, Kaguya. Is it okay if we become friends?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, heck yeah!" she replied excitedly, and they exchanged a fist bump with each other.
"Well how about that? It looks like Kaguya and Rainbow have now become friends," said Rei, who had a content smile on her face.
Even Tohka felt content, although a tiny sliver of envy's shadow was slowly starting to take hold of her heart, which led to Fluttershy taking her hand.
"Try telling yourself this, Tohka. I will not be ruled by the shadow of envy," suggested Fluttershy.
"Okay… I will not be ruled by the shadow of envy," Tohka said to herself.
"Thanks, Fluttershy. But, if ever Tohka starts to feel down, I'm sure that Cody can counsel her with our full understanding," smiled Shido.
However, Mathers had managed to retreat, just as Sephiroth walked up to her, as she spoke into her comlink.
"I have confirmation. There's no doubt that Tohka Yatogami is the spirit, Princess," she said.
"I see. At the very least, we confirmed what we needed to know, which makes our mission a success. Good work. Return to base," replied Westcott.
"Right," smirked Mathers.
But then she learned that something else was on her mind.
"Do I have permission to ask you something else, sir?" she asked.
"Be quick about it," he answered.
"Do you believe it's possible that there's a human being who can handle the power of the spirits, or would you say that's a ridiculous notion?" inquired the soldier.
But Sephiroth chuckled.
"I can sense that what my daughter has seen is true. Shido Itsuka truly does have that power," he said in Westcott's stead, making her turn and jump back.
However, the One Winged Angel looked at the moon, a cruel smile on his face.
"Soon, Tohka. Very soon. You will learn what Kurai knows, and then you will become my apprentice, along with Vanitas," he grinned, then gave a cruel cold laugh, despite his calm and collected demeanor.
Back in the headquarters of Ratatoskr, Kotori stood before one of its executives, with her jacket fully buttoned up.
"I've just received a rather disturbing report. Much to my surprise, it seems your brother manifested an angel," he said.
"You're sure about this? Already?" the commander asked in surprise.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. If worse comes to worse, we may be forced to deal with him. If not, calamity could befall the spirits we worked so hard to seal. And you know as well as I that is not an option," answered the leader of the organization.
"I agree. We may not have any other choice on the matter, but Shido's demise would surely hurt both Tohka and Sora immensely, even if Kotori must be the one to do it, despite being the younger sister to him. However, I fear that Mana's response to that would be of pure hatred, and would even make her start to become irrational in her judgment. But, such actions should be considered as a final result, and we must always have some backups in case Shido calls forth a new angel," explained Vincent.
