Vyser: Hello there everyone!

Vex: Yes… hello there!

Vyser: …Where'd you come from?

Vex: Hello! I've got a teleportation unit that gives the user the ability to go anywhere in any world.

Vyser:…Mind if I see that?

Vex: No! It must never fall into the hands of a human!

Vyser: But you're a human.

Vex: Nice comeback. But I'm no ordinary human.

Vyser: Yeah ya freak! What kind of human lives for thousands of years without looking like he's over the age of 27?

Vex: A lucky human.

Vyser: Bastard…anyway, I don't own ToS or the characters you all submitted.

Vex You suck.

Vyser: Where'd that come from?

Vex: Fortune cookie.

/---- ---- -- -- - -- --- - - - -- - - -- -- -// - -- - -- - - - - -- - - - -- - - --/

Chapter 44: True Ideals

// -- -- - -- - --- -- -- - -- - - -- - -- -- //- -- - - - -- - - - - -- -- -- - --- --//

The warm breeze blew over the battle-scarred field outside Iseillia as the Renegades gathered the remains of the Tech-Droid army. A number of the group members were helping as well…most of them anyway. A majority of the helping group was watching Tyron dancing with four fully functional Tech Droids.

"One more time! It's fun to stay at the…" Tyron continued to sing as he and the Tech droids danced to a familiar music. "Y! M! C! A! It's fun to stay at the Y! M! C! A!"

"He's actually pretty good," Sane chuckled as Kerro just slapped his forehead.

"Please don't encourage him," Kerro moaned as he turned towards the returned Iseillia. "Anyway, Lloyd and the others did such a good job that a majority of the groups headed back to the base…so what's taking the rest of them?"

"Uh, well Zeek and that Vezerini guy got injured so they're letting him rest, then some of the group have friends and family in the village," Sane answered as he counted with his fingers. "And to sum it up…Lloyd's getting something that will be able to prove useful against Exodus."

"Wonder what it is?" questioned Kerro as Tyron finished his song.

"Any requests?" Tyron asked as Kerro groaned.

"How about you just shut up?" growled Kerro as Tyron jumped towards him.

"DON'T INSULT ME!" Tyron roared as the Tech Droids followed him and jumped towards Kerro.

"Oh crap!"

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"Okay, so Sealth is going to be the head of development," stated Gyro as he wrote down the names on a notepad. "Liminate's going to be the entertainment, Drogue will be the bartender, and me and my copies will be the workers."

"Sounds good to me," said Sealth as Liminate looked from the bush where the previous Mecano generals hid inside Iseillia.

"I think those guys are almost done taking care of the scraps," Liminate whispered as the others slapped their foreheads.

"You don't have to whisper Liminate, we don't have to worry about to them hearing us," sighed Drogue as Liminate cocked an eyebrow.

"Whatever! Hey…did we think of a name for our Carnival/Casino?" Liminate asked as the rest of the group looked embarrassed. "Also…what are we going to do with him?" Liminate gestured to the knocked out Kai.

"Take him with us, I guess," replied Gyro.

"As for a name?" continued Sealth.

"Let's think…maybe we should include Mecano in the name," suggested Drogue. "For respect out of Tech, ya know?"

"But what else? It can't be generals…" started Sealth as everyone got into the pose like the thinker.

// ---- ---- ---- ----- ---- -- - -- - -- -- - --/--- --- ----- ---- --- --- --- -//

"Hey Dirk!" Lloyd greeted as he entered his home's area. Dirk was standing outside with Noishe.

"Ah Lloyd…a great amount of time has passed since you last visited," replied Dirk with a smile.

"Wait…Dirk didn't you notice the huge city that just disappeared?" asked Lloyd as Dirk raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't really notice the city go away, those lights every night did keep me up though," said Dirk as Lloyd sighed. "So what brings you back here?"

"I've come to gather something that will help me and my friends."

"Very well, give my regards to the others."

"I will," Lloyd replied before he started walking towards his mother's grave.

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"Quite a lovely town around here," Luna said putting her arms behind her head.

"True, what do you think Drake?" Duke asked as his friendly dragon companion squeaked loudly. The cool breeze blowing through the leaves of the tree above them.

"So why exactly are we still here?" Zelos asked turning away from his black jack game with Jet, Suzu, Genis, Sheena, Dai and Heath. "Hit or stay?"

"Yeesh, ya dimwit, a majority of our group is back at the Renegade place," explained Dai as he looked at his cards. "Two of our members are injured, Sera, Raine and Colette are treating them, Kratos and Locke went to get Yuan. And we're waiting for that stupid over-equipped Tech to cool down before we can retrieve the spirit. And hit me."

"Cool…but I'm sssssssoooooooooooooooooooooo bored!" moaned Heath as he pulled his hair. "This place is too quiet! I wish something exciting would happen!"

"Don't jinx us! We don't need more bad luck! Not with what's been happening," sighed Suzu as Jet laughed out loud.

"Come on sis! I'm strong enough to take any opponent that comes our way!" Jet laughed as he showed his cards. "And I got 20!"

"Yeah you really proved that against the Mecano Generals," pointed out Genis as he flipped his cards to reveal a King and an Ace. "And I got 21…that means I win!"

"Damn it!" roared Jet as he threw the cards into the air. "Why can't I win?"

"Oni-chan, you really need to chill out," Suzu sighed as a loud laugh filled the air.

"Better listen to your sister shorty. Anger just clouds the cosmic wavelengths."

"What the hell?" Sheena questioned as the group looked around.

"Vulgar language gives off bad vibes dudes and dudettes."

"Who is saying that crud?" Luna asked as everyone drew his or her weapons.

"Whoa! I'm not here to cause a fuss…and if you're looking fer me I'm on top of the tree."

Everyone in the group quickly glanced up to see a relaxed Vex, resting directly on the very point of the treetop. Not only did he look relaxed, but also his clothes changed, he was now wearing a red overcoat along with black pants, no shirt, and dark red sunglasses. Of course his right arm was covered with armor.

"VEX!" yelled everyone as Vex spun around to balance himself on the tip of the treetop with his pinky.

"Oh…so you remember me," Vex chuckled before he jumped off the tree. "I'm so flattered." Vex then landed on the ground, sticking the landing. "A perfect 10!"

"What do you want you creep?" Duke growled as Drake hissed loudly.

"What everybody wants, and I want the Spirit of Volt," answered Vex as he began to walk towards the steaming junk pile that used to be Tech. "Let me acquire it with out interference and I'll promise that you will all live…for now."

"Like we're going to let you do that!" Jet yelled as everyone charged towards Vex towards the front.

"I thought as much," Vex thought as he closed his eyes. "If that is what you say…then face the technique that helped me killed thousands of men!" Vex quickly opened his eyes, which were glowing pure crimson red. "Hades' Glare!"

A red aura erupted from Vex's eyes that quickly poured over the group. Images of darkness flowed over their eyes, showing pain and suffering that came upon the years that have passed. When the aura disappeared, the entire group was breathless, their eyes dimmed due to the fear.

"Enjoyed the visions? They were created by the many ways that I killed my foes," Vex sighed as everyone dropped to their knees. "I know how you people feel…when I first used that technique I felt the same. Now then, it's time to get the spirit."

"Someone…stop him…" Genis barely spoke his entire body shaking as Vex passed him.

"It's impossible…only one person ever escaped this technique," chuckled Vex before he ran directly to Tech. "Now, Vulcan's Fist!"

A powerful energy forged itself into Vex's right hand, then with a flash of red light, Vex slammed his right fist into the remain of Tech. As soon as the contact was made the entire machine shattered into scrap with a glowing jewel flying into the air. Vex just smirked as he leapt for the jewel then grasp it between his fingers.

"Easy as pie R squared," commented Vex as he lifted the jewel into the air, the sun casting a small purple light over Vex. "Now…I think I'll have to have some fun with you all…only thing is, who should be the lucky one?"

Vex slowly stepped towards the frozen group, his steps creating loud echoes. As he was only a foot away from Genis, he cracked his neck then raised his right fist that slowly glowed.

"It's been so long since I killed an elf, at least 1…maybe 2000 years," stated Vex as he held up the spirit. "And now…it's time to say goodbye!"

Before Vex could move another muscle, a green eagle swooped down snatching the summon spirit in its talons. Vex watched in awe as he narrowed his eyes.

"What the crap! Where'd that green eagle…wait green eagle?" Vex contemplated before a hidden force caused him to keel over holding his gut. "Cheap shot!"

Then with a black blur, a massive form tackled Vex sending him into the air. Vex winced flying through the air…when suddenly four three-clawed hands gripped him by the limbs then threw him straight to the ground with a mass of debris forming from where he landed.

"Alright! Who done it?" Vex roared as four figures appeared from the debris, each of them familiar and in unique poses.

"Let's answer that question with roll call!"

"Liminate! The Copycat!"

"Drogue! The Sonic Wind!"

"Sealth! Of the Shadows!"

"I'm Gyro…and I'm not saying it."

When the debris fell back to the ground, Drogue, Sealth and Liminate were in various poses while Gyro was just shaking his head.

"Oh great…the Mecano Generals are here," Sheena growled as the four Mecanos anime dropped to the ground with a loud crash.

"Is that anyway to speak to people who are here to help?" Liminate asked as he raised the summon spirit crystal in his right hand. "After all, that wasn't just some random green feathered eagle attack."

"Is there ever a green eagle?" Genis asked as Vex jumped back up to his feet.

"What are you imitators doing here?" Vex growled before he cursed under his breath. "I thought you'd be long gone when Tech was out of the picture."

"We're not really the Mecano Generals anymore," replied Drogue as his drills began to spin extremely fast. "Besides…we're real people who have minds. We won't throw our lives away."

"By pissing me off and skewing my karma…" Vex snarled while an aura surrounded him as his muscles began to grow. "You just did!"

"Mecanos! Go!" announced Gyro as the four jumped into the air above Vex.

"That won't help at all! My ultimate technique will prove that! ARES RAMPAGE!" roared Vex as he jumped to the same air level as the four Mecanos. When he did, his entire body began to spin till he was a red discus shape.

"Scatter!" yelled Sealth before he disappeared into the air.

Drogue just dropped like a rock, as did Gyro…however, Liminate was still in the air while Vex was spinning directly towards him.

"Liminate! Do something!" Gyro yelled as Liminate was engulfed in light.

"Too late!" roared Vex as he spun into the light only to come out not hitting anything. "Huh?"

"KWA!"

Vex stopped spinning to see that Liminate had turned into a green hawk with the summon spirit in his talons. Liminate began to fly extremely fast away from Vex who began to spin once more.

"Nice try!" Vex yelled as he spun directly towards the escaping Liminate.

Liminate flew even faster to try to escape from Vex's attack, but it was all in vain. Vex slammed directly into Vex, stopped spinning then delivered a harsh chop kick that sent Liminate towards the ground. As Liminate was a few feet from the ground he quickly transformed himself back, then threw the summon spirit towards Drogue.

"Tag your it Drogue!" Liminate yelled before he crashed into the hard ground. "Ooooooooooowwwwwwwwww!"

"I got it! I got it!" announced Drogue before he caught the summon spirit. "And away I go!"

"What the?" Vex questioned as Drogue began to steam then ran off in one direction.

"Haha! You can't catch me!" laughed Drogue turning his head to see Vex in hot pursuit running right behind him! "What the heck!"

"My Hermes Heels help me match the speed of any foe!" yelled Vex as he began to run faster.

"I'm the fastest around!" Drogue roared as he picked up the speed, Vex following behind.

/ --- -- - -- - -- ---- -- - - - - -- - - -- - //- -- - -- -- - -- -- - -- -- - -- - //

"It's nice to have Iseillia back to normal," Colette stated as she and Raine walked out of the schoolhouse.

"Yes, but have you noticed a lot of yelling?" Raine asked when suddenly a black blur of wind quickly passed them. "What was that?"

"Whoa!" Drogue yelled as he ran backwards to stand in front of Raine and Colette. "Hello ladies."

Before Raine or Colette could say anything, a red blur tripped over Drogue sending the blue flying over and landing on the ground with a smack. When the dust that was kicked up, Vex appeared dazed.

"HA! Got'cha Vex!" teased Drogue before he spun around and began to run again. "See ya later ladies!"

"Grr! Bastard!" Vex roared jumping up and began to chase Drogue once more with great speed.

"…Weird," Colette commented as Raine nodded.

"True, we need to follow them," replied Raine.

//---- - - -- - --- - -- -- -- -- -- -- - -- --- -// ---- -- --- --- --- --- --- --- //

"So I says to the Tech Droid, that's not scrap metal," Liminate chuckled while kneeling next to Jet. "That's my lunch! HA! HA! HA! HA!"

"For Martel's sake! SHUT UP!" yelled Jet as he stood up. "Hey…I can move! It's a miracle!"

"Yep, me ma' always told me that a bad joke can un-stiffen the bones and make you want to punch the teller of the joke," Liminate said before he got punched in the face sent to the ground. "I was kidding about that last part…"

"Just felt like it," replied Jet as the rest of the group stood up.

"What do you want anyway?" Zelos asked as Liminate jumped up on his feet.

"We simply wished to aid you before he started our new lives," Gyro answered.

"What exactly are you going to do?" Sheena asked as Gyro, Sealth and Liminate got into a pose.

"We're going to open a Carnival/Casino!" answered the three as the group sweat-dropped. "And when it's open you can have free admission!"

"Cool…is there going to be a buffet?" Duke asked as Drake rubbed his wings together.

"Pretty much," Sealth answered when suddenly Drogue stumbled into the area.

"Someone else take this thing!" Drogue roared before he threw the summon spirit towards Sealth. "Sealth you take it!"

"I don't want it! Gyro here!" yelled Sealth as he whacked the summon spirit to Gyro who juggled it.

"No! Here catch!" Gyro shouted before tossing the jewel to Genis. "Little elf has it!"

"Why playing with the summon spirit? We've got to keep it from Vex," Genis stated as Vex walked up behind him.

"Really? You aim to play keep away with me?" Vex asked as Genis turned around to see Vex cracking his knuckles. "Looks like I'll be able to kill you, you elf."

Before Vex could even make another move, a tap on the shoulder made him stop. Vex slowly turned around, to see a very pissed of Raine. Vex, for the third time in his life, was scared stiff.

"You were going to do what with my little brother?" Raine asked as Vex gulped.

"Well… you see…uh, um, nice lady with the demonic eyes," Vex chuckled sheepishly before Raine kicked him in the back sending him flying right into the tree head first. "Oh the pain."

"…Remind me never to insult her," Liminate whispered to Drogue as Colette walked behind Raine.

"Thanks Raine," Genis sighed with relief as Vex screamed from inside the tree.

"The squirrels! Save me from the squirrels!" Vex screamed while trying to pull his head out of the tree.

"He's supposed to be an all powerful Dark General?" Luna asked as Vex pulled his head from the tree with squirrels biting his head.

"Bad Karma! Dudes and Dudettes!" roared Vex as he snatched the squirrels from his head. "Stupid Squirrels!" Vex then threw the squirrels into the air. "Now I'll have to use my ultimate technique! MT. Olympus Thunder!"

From Vex a large golden aura surged, pulsing into the ground. After a few seconds the aura crashed back into him causing him to have his hair and clothes surge upwards. His eyes were glowing a bright white before his red jacket flew off revealing his bulging muscles and veins all over his arms and chest. Vex spun around, revealing on his back a large dark spirit that was etched into his back.

"NOW! I am the fist of the gods! The overlord of fighting!" roared Vex as everyone drew his or her weapons. "Now! Prepare to die!"

"We'll handle this!" Gyro said as his arm blades appeared.

"We've still a debt to pay!" said Sealth before he disappeared.

"Leave it to us!" Liminate announced as a light engulfed him, then disappeared to resemble a green version of Vex.

"He won't know what hit him!" Drogue yelled as steam flew off of him.

"Mecanos! Away!"

"Fools!" roared Vex as he charged towards the three Mecanos. When suddenly a powerful invisible kicks got him right in the manhood! "ARGH!"

"Take the nut cracker!" Sealth yelled still invisible.

"And now! Drill Frenzy!" roared Drogue as all of the drills on his clothes began to spin once more then he charged directly towards Vex.

"I don't think so!" Vex roared as he grabbed the invisible Sealth's head and threw him into Drogue. The force sent the two to the ground.

"Drogue…please turn off the drills," moaned Sealth who reappeared.

"HA!" roared Liminate as he began to fist fight with Vex.

"You can copy me! But you can't copy my strength!" Vex shouted before he took a punch to the face. Only to deliver a counter punch into Liminate's gut.

"We need to aim for the Dark Spirit!" yelled Gyro before he created three more of himself that were charging towards the roaring Vex.

Three of the Gyros jumped into the air and brought their blades upon Vex, who raised his right hand and caught all of them. Unfortunately for Vex, the true Gyro was behind him and stabbed his arm blade right in the back of Vex. Vex just stood there for a second, then suddenly with a loud shriek! His body began to turn gray. Three of the Gyros disappeared while the real one stood behind Vex. Everyone watched in horror as first Vex's left arm began to turn to dust, then the rest of his body began to follow the same.

"My life! NO! What a world!" screamed Vex as he began to decrease his size while his legs turned to ash. "With my last breath! I curse you all to an early grave!"

Gyro just stomped on the remaining physical part that was Gyro to turn him into pure dust. A swift breeze blew away the dust, leaving only Vex's pants, boots, gauntlet, sunglasses and his overcoat. Gyro just picked up the gauntlet and handed it to Raine.

"Here, this gauntlet has Vex's teleportation mechanism in it, you should be able to harness it back at your base," replied Gyro as Liminate took the Summon Spirit from Genis and lifted it up into the air.

"Thank you, we don't know what could've happened if you hadn't shown up," Raine thanked.

"No problemo! Just promise us you'll spread the word about our Carnival and Casino when we get it going!" Drogue replied as everyone began to laugh. "…I was being serious."

"So he's was after this little jewel…I don't get it," Liminate questioned as Genis tried to reach to take the summon spirit back.

"Careful Liminate! We need to make sure that doesn't fall into the wrong hands!" Genis yelled as Liminate chuckled.

"Relax! It's not like something is going to swoop down and take it," chuckled Liminate as suddenly a bald eagle swooped down and snatched the summon spirit away. "Well…I stand corrected."

"Poor Vex…he was the weakest of all of the Dark Generals."

"Oh great! Who else is there?" Sheena asked as the Bald Eagle flew towards a housetop. On the housetop was a familiar person…

"It's Zephyr!" yelled everyone as the Bald Eagle landed on Zephyr's shoulder then dropped the summon spirit in his hands.

"Quite true, thanks for the summon spirit as well as killing Vex…he was next in line for a promotion," Zephyr laughed as Genis prepared to fire a spell. "Don't even try it…because I'm gone."

"Uh…" Liminate stuttered while Zephyr disappeared and everyone turned towards him cracking their fists. "Okay…it looks like my fault, and I have one thing to say to that and it is…OH MY MARTEL IT'S GODZILLA!"

"GET HIM!" Genis roared as everyone started to charge at Liminate.

/--------- ----- ----- --- --- ---- ---- -- --//- -- -- - - -- -- -- -- -- - -- -- --//

"Master Exodus," Zephyr said as he knelt down in front of Exodus's throne. Chaos and Mithos were standing off to the sides. "I have brought you the summon spirit of Volt."

"Excellent," Exodus commented as Zephyr handed Exodus the jewel. "With this…with this! We can enact our True Paradise plan!"

"Yeah!" Chaos cheered.

"Most well," commented Mithos.

"This world has longed been plagued by racism, war, hate, and sorrow," Exodus spoke as he stood from his throne. "But soon…this world will be ours!"

// ---- ---- ------ --- --- ---- --- ---/----- ----- ---- - -- -- -- -- ----- -//

Vyser: And there you have it.

Zephyr: Truly an inspiring moment for bad guys everywhere…can I have that promotion that Vex was supposed to get?

Vyser: No.

Zephyr: Why not? He's not going to use it!
Vyser: Actually he already is…care to join him?

Zephyr: N…no thank you.

Vyser: Please review, reviewers!