Heart
of Melting Blood
Legend
of the Moonlight
Written
by: Lone Wolf NEO
Conceived
by: Lone Wolf NEO
Author's note: Guilty Gear is copyrighted by Sammy Studios whereas TPYE-MOON holds the right over all games under the company's label: Tsukihime, FATE, etc, etc, etc…. Lone Wolf NEO does not own any or all real-life features or whatever facts featured in this story. He does, however, own the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. The author would really appreciate it if readers do not plagiaries everything inside this story without his knowledge.
Author's note: this chapter contains silliness, Internet meme, a lot of reference to a certain Internet community, and even event crashers. You have been forewarned.
Chapter
26
This
Be Free-For-All
He stood in silence. Alexander found himself returning to the place he wished the least to revisit. He slightly frowned; it had been 10 years, and yet the land never showed its sign of aging. It was as if he had left the place only yesterday.
Summer
has come and past
The
innocent can never last
Wake
me up when September ends…
Standing next to him was John, who was looking at the cemetery in understanding. Being raised in a religious environment, the captain of the Jellyfish Pirates knew what the man in black uniform was facing and made a salute to the grave. "I wish I could bring some flowers, Mr. Hahn," he uttered.
"You shouldn't force yourself, Mr. John," Alexander replied. "But I'll highly appreciate your offerings."
Like
my father's come to pass
Seven
years have gone so fast
Wake
me up when September ends…
John grinned. He patted Alexander's shoulder and headed to Mayship. "I'll see what I can give."
Alexander nodded. "Thanks, Mr. John."
Here
comes the rain again
Falling
from the stars
Drenched
in my pain again
Becoming
who we are…
With the Jellyfish pirate leaving, Alexander took his time and knelt next to the tombstone. He read the engraved message on the stone that read:
"In loving memory of Hikaru, the Gear Handmaiden (2168-2172). You may have been gone, but your heart will always stay with us."
He smiled. He put down the bouquet next to the tombstone. He backed off and gave out a salute. "I have to go," he uttered, "but I'll promise to visit you as often as I can." He turned around and headed to Mayship waiting on the riverside.
As
my memory rests
I'll
never forget what I've lost
Wake
me up when September ends…
He halted and glanced at the cemetery. "See you again, my first love."
x-x-x-x-x
Somewhere, in a hot spring premise…
"No way!" exclaimed the girls. "Is that true?"
"Yes, it is," shyly Sion replied. "I know it was so sudden, but… when Alex proposed me into marriage… I was so overwhelmed."
Dizzy quickly approached Sion. "Did he say anything when he asked you to marry him?" she asked, even as her eyes shone in disbelief.
Sion silently nodded. "He asked whether… I would stay with him for the rest of his life. Then…" She giggled, whilst childishly ran her hand through her lavender hair, now free of restrains. "Then I just said yes."
Dizzy let out a happy coo and took hold of Sion's hand. "I'm so happy to hear that. I hope both of you will live happily ever after."
Sion smiled and held her hands in return. "Thank you, Dizzy."
"Speaking of which," Arcueid uttered and observed the area around her, "it's been a while since we last had public gathering here. Sion wasn't with us, I think."
"Hot spring…" May sighed and massaged her tired shoulder. "It's kind of fun when girls like us are gathered in one place."
Hotaru laughed. "Girls? Some of us are married already, May-chan," she teasingly replied. "You, too."
May pouted. "Yes, I know some of us should've been called Mrs," she interjected. She looked around her and saw faces familiar to her in the area. "We have Arcueid, Dizzy-chan, Hotaru-chan, Hibiki, and Mai…"
"What is Hikki doing at this time, I wonder," the black-haired girl pondered and gazed into the night sky.
"We have Baiken with us…" May uttered.
Baiken was having a smoke with her trademark pipe when she glared at the camera. "What?"
"We also have Justine…"
"I missed Sol-chan…!" Justine whined, faking a cry. "He doesn't even care of my feeling!"
"And Athena too…"
"Me too…" Athena sobbed.
"Okay, I shouldn't continue counting these people," May said.
"What about me?" Kagura asked.
May turned to her. "Oh, I forgot about you," she said. "Ah, we also have our FATE colleagues with us right now."
Saber smiled at May. Rider nodded; the eyeglasses she wore, the isolated corner she was seating at, and the book Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy she was reading, reflected the very image of the purple-haired woman's hidden genius. Sakura giggled when May pointed at her. Illiya waved to May and jumped into the water, splashing Saber, Sakura and Rin with hot water.
"When are you getting married, Hibiki-chan?" The question gave the Takane heir a major impact that she blushed furiously. Hotaru laughed at the reaction and nudged her elbow against her waist. "Aw, come on! We're not going to laugh at you. You love Lone Wolf-san, don't you?"
"But I…" Hibiki nervously looked around her. The girls were already expecting for her answer. She laughed silly and fiddled with her fingers. "Well, we did discuss about our marriage, but Lone Wolf-san… seems to be pre-occupied with his works."
"What's the matter? Worried that someone else will get him first?" Dizzy asked. "O, I remember now. Mriya, Lone Wolf's ex-girlfriend. You can't ask him of marriage because you're worried that she might get angry at him."
"Right?" both Dizzy and Hotaru asked.
"Chigau!" Hibiki exclaimed.
Lia was the quietest girl among the group. She was nervous, for the good reason. She had never been indulged in a public gathering, much less an open hot-spring session. Being raised under the watchful eyes of her brother and her custodian Valentino, the latter being the leader of the Dragoon Society, she led an isolated life, far from any contact with the outside world. This was her first ever outdoor experience, and she was thankful to be in women's presence; she easily got scared whenever she was with another man.
Arcueid giggled again. "You know what," she said, her eyes foxily glancing at the nervous miko girl," I've been thinking of that girl since she joined us. For someone who's just 17 years old, she looks pretty well… grownup."
Lia realized the True Princess' hidden agenda when she looked at her. Zealously she covered her half-naked chest and growled at Arcueid. "Don't dare doing that to me," she demanded.
Arcueid, instead, laughed and waded toward Lia. "Aw, our sweetie doesn't want to have her beautiful body checked," she said. Her hands in the air, she took aim at Lia's body and made a devious laughter. "Come to mama, little girl."
"I'm not a little girl anymore!" Lia ran away from the vampire princess, but she was caught even before she got out of the water. She cried for help, trying to flee Arcueid's 'dangerous' embrace, whilst the rest of the girls blinked at Arcueid's body check-up.
"Is Arcueid always like that, Sion?" Hotaru asked.
Sion nodded. "Shiki always complains to me of Arcueid's… around-the-clock inspection." She looked at her bosom, held it and blushed. "Sort of."
Arcueid continued laughing. Her hands were already probing all over Lia's body, while her arms wrapped about her in a tight embrace, preventing her from escaping. "I never thought our Lia-chan is one well-developed girl. Lolita face with big breasts… no wonder why Alex's lucky to have a pretty little sister."
"Why are you suddenly involving my brother?" Lia demanded.
Arcueid just giggled. Her hands were now over Lia's breasts, and she was too eager to have them examined. "Now let's see whether she can make a perfect bride."
"No! Not there! Don't do it! Don't do it… AH!"
x-x
"Oh crap." Bridget growled at the excitement of the female group at the other side of the hot spring. He and his male companions were separated from them by only a frail bamboo screen that stretched across the area, and he was trying to make himself comfortable in the water. "When I thought I could spend the evening alone…"
"Come on, Bridget," Anji interjected and fanned himself with Zetsu. "It's not bad to have outdoor hot spring once in a while."
Bridget glowered at Anji. "But is it a good idea when guys sit here, while girls next to us having fun in the hot spring?"
"Why, yes it is Mr. Bridget," Anji answered. "Besides, you were the one who was very eager to peek at them."
"Boy, you don't know how fun it is to sit here, listening to their chatters and giggles and frolics," Iori said as to reinforce Anji's statement. "Your precious wife is with them."
"I concur," Shiki nodded.
"Oh, yeah? " Bridget questioned the men. "Then what if they have their body examined?"
Body examined?
The sexually challenged Brit, the Japanese who claimed to be too sexy for his shirt, the Tohno heir whose sister have a mixed-up chemistry every time he was around, and the inheritor of both Yagami and Orochi blood diagnosed positive with ASCS (Acute Sister Complex Syndrome), went into a wild imagination. It was a disastrous, hilarious combo that should not have taken place, as their mind flew into their fantasy world. With Arcueid continued her 'physical examination' and Lia crying out (it was not known whether it was of pleasure or of distress, since the men dared not peeking at the women), they suddenly cried out in bliss and bled their nose.
"Dizzy and Hotaru used to have fun with each other," Rock sighed. "Now they don't do it. Oh, for God's sake, they must keep doing their shoujo-ai romance!"
"Hey! That's against the teaching!" Ky interjected. "I shall not allow such acts of sinners to take place on this earth!"
Rock glanced at the scandalized knight. "You've been telling that to me for hundreds of time, yet you always ask me to take candid photos of them. Don't pretend you forgot the photos of Dizzy and Hotaru taking bath at the waterfall."
"Bloody hell?" Ky screamed out. "Rock! You heretic! Your sin is beyond…!"
They heard a loud moan across the bamboo screen. They suddenly became quiet. Once again, wild thoughts took place, and things did not get any better -- or worse -- than this. Ky and Rock gazed emptily into the space, imagining of their beloved wives frolicked and giggled while performed questionable acts of lovers. They did not even care of whether it was scandalous or not. Bridget, Anji and Shiki were still in their fantasy world, oblivious of Rock and Ky, and they smug and laughed like a hungry man suddenly presented with bouquet.
"OW!" Their nose exploded in bloodbath. They sank into the pond and slowly rose to the surface. Their face was marked with a blissful smile. "This is heaven…" they said in unison.
"Damn." Archer growled. "Stupid guys… thinking of naked girls having fun with each other…" He was at the farthest side of the pool, and was leaning against the rock formation. "And I don't even have the chance to mess with Rin!" He screamed in dismay and roughly scratched his itch-less head. "Stupid girl…"
He sighed. His eyes rolled into the heavens, Archer let out a long sigh and slowly succumbed into the warmth of the hot spring. "It's a relaxing day…" Berserker nodded, his huge, muscular body overshadowing the FATE gentlemen; Lancer shrugged, even as he urged Shirou to eavesdrop the girls; Shirou protested at Lancer's suggestion and exploded in rage when the Servant mentioned Illiya's name.
(Author's comment: "We all are pedo for Illiya. Sigh…")
"Come on, guys!" they heard Bridget exclaiming in anticipation, whilst the Brit stood proud from the water. "We must not allow this golden opportunity to go away! Who's with me, if you know what I'm talking of?"
Anji lifted his left hand. Iori lifted his right arm, uttering "I may be a bad guy, but I always get the better chance than Kyo." Archer and Lancer simultaneously threw their fists into the air. Shirou reluctantly lifted one hand, shaking his head in dismay. Berserker, not knowing what Bridget was talking of, simply lifted his hand.
Shiki could only laugh silly. "Here we go again…"
Rock nudged Ky. "Hey, Ky, 100 bucks for taking a picture of Dizzy and Hotaru."
"No way! I don't have money that much!" Ky exclaimed.
Rock laughed. "Oh, how can a police officer possibly so poor?"
"I am not poor! And I no longer work with the police!" Ky snapped.
"O RLY?" Rock replied.
"YA RLY!" Ky said.
"O RLY DESU?"
"YA RLY DESU!"
"O RLY DESU-DESU-DESU?"
"YA RLY DESU-DESU-DESU!"
"STICK GOES WHERE?"
"O SHI-SACRED EDGE!"
"OHNOES! NO WAI!"
Ky fired a Sacred Edge at Rock -- how he managed to insulate the lightning overdrive from electrocuting people inside the pond is not known -- but it missed its target. Instead, it went toward the bamboo fence and destroyed the barrier in one swipe. In an instant, everything became silent as the men and women looked at each other in their cloth-less form. On top of that, the women were not amused.
Extremely not amused.
Veins popped out of Baiken's forehead as she reached for her katana. "Die."
So did May, whose fists were taut and shivering in wrath.
"Emiya Shirou…!" both Saber and Shirou growled.
"Iyaa! Shiki/oniichan no ecchi!" Arcueid and Illiya moaned and covered their naked chest.
The rest of the girls? Well, they simply covered themselves with their towel and blushed in embarrassment.
"Uhh… girls…" Bridget spoke, trying to ease the rising tension, "can we talk?" This was answered by a giant pink whale summoned from thin air, which hit Bridget right on his face. As if on cue, the women tossed everything they had up their sleeves: dolphins, killer whales, anchors, chains, maces, whips, light sword, pillows, stones, crucifixes, a certain Haro converted into high-explosive suicide unit…
x-x-x
Lone Wolf NEO was smacked on his head. "Bad Lone Wolf," Yuuki interjected, her hand holding a huge sledgehammer trembling in anger. "You know you can't use Haro without permission from Lacus."
"It can't be helped!" Lone Wolf NEO replied. "I got my real life mixed up with Zero Hour and its cheap-ass mod…" He shuddered at the thought of Lacus Clyne, the pink-haired Coordinator of Gundam SEED, becoming a Zero Hour general and commanding a horde of Suicide Haro to enemy general's base, with Strike Freedom providing aerial support. "I need Prozac."
"No cause is too great!" a GLA rebel shouted out from nowhere.
x-x-x
…and so much more as the women cried out in blasphemy.
"BAAKA HENTAI YAROU! WOMANIZER! ECCHI! PERVERT! LECHEROUS! PEEPING TOM! GET OUT OF HERE!"
"WAAAA! WE'RE VERY SORRY!"
Several minutes later…
"Hi, guys!" along came Hikki's voice. "What's going on?" He blinked many times in surprise as he arrived at the scene: while Berserker hid in a corner, fiddling with his fingers in shame, the men were floating in the hot water, unconscious but still living. He laughed at the scene and scratched his head in wonder. "Well, I think this isn't the right time to have a hot-water bath…" he uttered and left the area.
x-x-x-x-x
Lone Wolf NEO was silent. Caster, too. Both of them were not saying a word. Sitting beside Lone Wolf was Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne, the leading characters of both Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny whom the author invited to the evening tea. Taking her place next to Caster was the Priestess of Wind Village Talim; she, too, was invited by Lone Wolf NEO. Sitting beside Lone Wolf NEO was Link; he was puzzled as of why he was invited to the tea session.
"I was very surprised," Caster uttered while taking a sip of tea. "To be invited to an evening tea by my author fellow. This has to be the most memorable day I ever have."
"It indeed is a strange occurrence," Lacus said and put down the teacup she was holding. "For someone with the unlimited privilege to alter the universe with his own willpower, inviting us for this friendly congregation must be intriguing."
"There must be something important behind this gathering, isn't it Lone Wolf-san?" Kira asked.
"I would like to know, too," Talim added.
Lone Wolf NEO coughed and brought down the hand that held the ceramic cup. "You know, whenever I get to have my friends gathered in one place, they tend to say, 'Lone Wolf, why are you calling us?' 'Lone Wolf, you know you shouldn't burden yourself.' 'Oh, don't worry about us, Lone Wolf.'" He chuckled and took a sip of the green tea. "What? Can I not ever do that? Inviting my buddies for an evening tea and having friendly chat?"
Caster foxily giggled. "Oh, Lone Wolf. You don't have to be shy with us, you know," she uttered.
"I wish I could, Caster," Lone Wolf NEO said, shaking his head as if in disappointment. "I wish I could."
"Then what's bothering your mind?" Talim asked.
Lone Wolf NEO stared at the priestess. He smiled, and glanced at the anxious Link. "What the hell's wrong with you? And what are you doing with that floor, Link?"
The warrior elf of Legend of Zelda glared at Lone Wolf NEO. "Nothing. Just testing the durability of this floor," he said and tapped the floor he was seating on. "LOL."
Lone Wolf NEO batted an eyebrow. "O RLY?"
Link laughed. "YA RLY." He was tossed by a cushion and thrown several feet backward. When he got up he saw the cute face of angry Talim, growling at him in disgust. "What was that for, Talim?" he demanded.
"You fail your English, Link," she interjected and pouted.
"Hey, don't give me that face," Link said. "You'll only look cuter in that."
Talim blushed at the comment and tossed several pillows that came out of nowhere. "Stop teasing me, Link!"
"So, Lone Wolf," Caster said, "what's the commotion? I know you won't call us for nothing."
"I am curious to hear Lone Wolf explaining his reason of summoning us," Lacus uttered.
Lone Wolf NEO shrugged. "My colleagues… no, the lone wolf of Holy Orders and the lavender alchemist of the Atlasia House are getting married," he spoke, "I was asked to arrange the ceremony, and I need to make their day as unique and as memorable as possible."
Caster giggled. "Ah, Sion-chan…" she sighed dreamily. "You're getting married already, huh? What a naughty girl you are."
"A marriage, isn't it?" Kira uttered. "This should be interesting. What do you think, Lacus?"
Lacus smiled at him. "I will try my best to be of Lone Wolf's assistance. It will be an honour for Coordinators like us to help the Author."
"When do we get started?" Talim asked.
Lone Wolf NEO stared at his chronograph he was holding. "About 48 hours from now. First, I need to determine who's going to be invited and where the wedding's going to take place. Can the three of you do this favour for me? The ceremony?"
Caster smiled. "Of course we can. Just leave it to us," she said with a wink.
"We will," Lacus and Kira answered in unison.
Talim stopped tossing pillows at Link and turned her attention to Lone Wolf NEO. "The Priestesses of Wind is willing to offer their service to those who need it," she said.
"By the way, Lone Wolf," Caster said. "I heard you're going to propose your girlfriend. How's it going?"
Lone Wolf NEO choked the tea he was drinking. "Caster! Why are you asking in a sudden?" he demanded between his coughs.
Caster simply grinned. "Aw, you know you and Miss Takane are made for each other. Besides, Saber often tells me of how romantic both of you are."
Lone Wolf NEO blushed. "We're just lovers! What do you expect of us? Married couple?" He realized what he had said and slapped his forehead, headshaking in dismay. "Damn it! I wasn't supposed to say that!"
Lacus giggled. "Perhaps Lone Wolf and his girlfriend should consider their future marriage during the wedding ceremony," she suggested. "Isn't that right, Kira?" she asked, in which both Kira and Talim nodded to answer yes. This caused Lone Wolf NEO to blush in embarrassment even more, and Caster laughed at his reaction.
His eyes rolled to the ceiling, Lone Wolf NEO could only sigh in his heart. "Oh, please…"
x-x-x-x-x
48 hours had passed. Preparations for the wedding were flawless, and everything was set to celebrate the newly wed couple. The crews of Archangel, Coordinator's primary battleship cup command centre, had wholeheartedly agreed to let Lone Wolf NEO use their ship as the venue for the wedding ceremony. Lone Wolf NEO had arranged the marriage to be attended only by those who had relationship with the married couple-to-be, both directly and indirectly. Thus, the list of people from the universes of TYPE MOON, Fatal Fury/Mark of the Wolves/King of Fighters, Guilty Gear and the ex-Dragoon Judges.
Sion was nervous. Never had in her life before would she experience wedding, much less getting married to someone. She stared at the very reflection of her own self in the mirror; the image of the female heir of the Atlasia House donning wedding garment was a sheer contrast from her usual appearance, and she felt uncomfortable.
"I know you're afraid, Sion," Caster uttered. She acted as Sion's personal assistant, and she knew what the young woman was dealing with. "This is your first day of becoming a woman, and you should know what lies on your path once the tie's bonded." So saying, she put her hands upon Sion's shoulder and softly massaged them. "Just relax and pay no attention of all the problems. When the bishop asks you questions, just answer all of them with honesty."
Sion sighed in pleasure at the massage. "But Caster, I… I'm afraid I'll just spoil the day," she uttered.
Caster giggled. She leaned forward and rested her head on Sion's right shoulder. "Aw, you shouldn't say that," she said. "Besides, whoever going to mess with you shall have to face me first." She, then, placed an assuring kiss upon Sion's flushed cheek. "Rest assured. There won't be anything wrong for today."
Sion just smiled. "Thanks, Caster."
Meanwhile, at the groom's room, Alexander was already standing next to the mirror. Donning the complete gear of the Holy Orders, he looked almost like how his appearance as a Holy Knight used to be. Black/dark grey uniform, black scarf tied around his neck, double kodachi clipped on his belt ("For safety reason," he said), and the most striking feature the black knight ever had: the cross scar on his left cheek, which he let it exposed to the open air.
John entered the room. "Mister Hahn, are you ready?" The cowboy pirate was Alexander's best man, and it was his duty to escort the groom to the main hall.
Alexander turned to him. "I'm ready." He looked back at the mirror, examined the reflected image of his self, and nodded. "Let's go."
x-x-x-x-x
The crews of Archangel were busy. Led by Lacus and Kira, they scrambled around the venue to ensure the flow of the wedding ceremony not be disturbed or caught in difficulties. While Lacus was stationed at the command centre -- she expressed her regret for being unable to join Lone Wolf NEO's company -- Kira was in charge of the ceremony that took place in the main hall. Already, the invited guests were eager to see the couple officially declared as husband and wife, and nothing made them more excited than seeing them kiss on the podium.
"Here comes the bride!"
All attentions were diverted. They had arrived: Alexander and Sion, both standing at the end of the red carpet, and both gorgeously dressed up. At the same time, the military band played the loudest song they could afford of, and before long confetti and flowers scattered around the hall.
Sion shyly blushed when she noticed many eyes staring at her, and frowned. "I'm afraid, Alex…" her voice trembled to speak.
"Have no worry, Sion," Alexander told her. "This won't take long."
The bride and the groom, escorted by their best man and woman (John and Saber respectively), slowly walked toward the altar where Talim and several priestess were waiting. They halted in front of Talim, and remained still as Talim signalled at her colleagues to perform the ritual. She started talking in native language and made several gestures in the air, whilst the other priestesses walked around the couple, reciting ancient texts in unison with their leader. The marching band music stopped and was replaced by the exotic music of the Wind Priestess, and the atmosphere became both calm and mystical.
"I say, Link-san," Shiki said as he watched the ritual with the guests, "your girlfriend is quite a charming girl. How lucky you are."
Link simply sheepishly laughed. "Why, thank you for the compliment."
Satsuki, Ren, Hisui and the rest of the residents of the Tohno Mansion could not help but to smile. They congratulated Alexander and Sion in silence, wiping off tears off their eyes. "Yokatta, ne…" Satsuki said, in which they nodded in acknowledgment.
Sol glanced at Ky. "So, after this, I don't expect you to have grudge against him," he said.
"Is that a sarcasm, Sol?" Ky demanded. Sol ignored it and nodded to the beat of We Are The Champion he listened on his iPod. "Damn it! You play ignorance on me!"
Lone Wolf NEO nodded at the scene when he noticed Caster, Dizzy, Hotaru, Arcueid, Justine, Athena and Rock foxily staring at him. "What?"
Iori patted his shoulder. "It's your turn now, man," he said. Lone Wolf NEO was startled by the comment and blushed. He turned to Hibiki who was, too, blushing.
"Anou, Lone Wolf-san…" nervously Hibiki said.
Lone Wolf could barely find his strength to speak. "Hi… Hibiki…"
Lia said nothing. She was standing next to former judges Logan and Hayabusa, and could only congratulate her brother from distance. "Don't worry, Lia," Logan said and ruffled his hand against her head, "you'll get the chance someday."
Lia simply nodded. "Umm."
"And so," Talim said as the ritual dance ended. "On behalf of the Priestesses of the Wind, I pronounce you, Alexander Hahn, and Sion Eltnam Atlasia, husband and wife. The ring, please." Her assistant gave her the ring, in which she handed it to Alexander. The groom gratefully took it and inserted it into Sion's finger. A faint blush tinted her face the moment the ring firmly rested in its place.
"Alex…" she whispered.
"Sion…" Alexander spoke her name.
"Sir," the Priestess of the Wind said, "it is now customary to kiss the bride."
Alexander leaned forward. He lifted the veil over her head and stared into her eyes, as if asking for confirmation. She answered with a shy smile, and Alexander took it as the reply he needed. He took the inviting lips into a kiss, and held her close as he claimed the prize he sought after. The audience clapped and cheered for them, now officially married, and gave them a standing ovation.
Alexander released Sion from the kiss, just close enough to stare at her eyes. "I love you, Sion."
Sion smiled. "I love you, too, Alex."
Talim sighed in relief and smiled. "Now, everyone, let us--"
The door opened. From it came soldiers who were kicked into the floor, and several men armed with sword entered the hall. The audience were caught in shock, as the uninvited guests headed toward the altar. They halted as they were several feet away from Alexander and gave way to a man in robe. Alexander watched at the robed man, who tossed the black cloth and revealed a battle suit from underneath it; it was complete with broad sword, shield, javelin, tonfa and dagger. This man was clearly fully prepared for an all-out duel.
"Hello, Alexander," greeted the 'guest'. "It's been a while."
Alexander was not amused. He knew that voice. In fact, he recognized it too well his heart burnt in hatred. "What has brought you here, Valentino?"
Valentino laughed and signalled his men to retreat. He stepped forward and holstered the broad sword upon his shoulder. "I believe I am among the uninvited guests. Don't you think it's a bit inappropriate for people like us to interfere with this ceremony?"
Alexander's eyebrows batted upward. "What?"
Valentino grinned and waved his hand to the main door. In an instant, several unrecognized people stormed into the hall and headed toward the altar. Several guards stood in the way, before being swept aside, and the newcomers proudly marched down the red carpet. They stopped behind Valentino, and turned their attention to the guests.
Justine, Athena and Hotaru were appalled when they saw one of the guests. "Doctor Getter?"
"I have returned!" declared the mad scientist, with appearance more insane and misunderstood than before. "With more tricks up my sleeves, I am now invincible! Fear my robotic tentacle monsters of death! AH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!"
Talim was in shock. The Azure Knight, the one who bore the Soul Edge, was staring at her with the eye of death. "Night…mare…!"
Mai and Misaki were not amused. Their former comrades of Eternal Fighter Zero were standing behind Nightmare, and they were as vengeful as before. Why they were involved in this event was not entirely clear, but it seem that they wanted to reclaim victory that slipped away from their hands in the previous encounter with Mai.
Logan and Hayabusa were even more not amused. Tanaka Eiko and the warrior monks were here, as well. In an instant they withdrew their weapons and stepped ahead of Lia. "You never want to question your loyalty towards the society, do you Eiko?" Logan asked.
"Silence, Rage," the warrior monk hissed.
"Lone Wolf-san!" Kira exclaimed as he approached Lone Wolf NEO. "I don't know how this happened, but the ship has been infiltrated. Somebody must have leaked the information to the enemy."
Lone Wolf NEO nodded. "Bring the guests to safety. I fear of an impending free-for-all." He later took a look around the venue. The non-fighting guests were safely evacuated from the area, and only the leagues of warrior remained with him. "Wow, I never thought the security guards to act this efficiently fast." He approached Hibiki and whispered something to her ear. The swordswoman stared at him in disbelief and demanded him to stay. He whispered at her ear again, and this time she understood the message. He signalled at Kira and disappeared from the crowd.
"Where is he going?" Kira asked Hibiki.
"He says there's something he wants to investigate at the observation post," Hibiki told him.
Alexander stepped forward. "Enough of this already, Valentino," he insisted. "I don't want to have anything with you anymore. Leave us alone."
Valentino swaged a finger in denial. "Uh-oh, I don't think that's the answer I want to hear. You see, I have longed to annihilate you from this world as early as your involvement in the Assassin Guild. Even today, the desire still burns inside of me."
Alexander lost his patience. He withdrew both swords and pointed of them at Valentino. "Don't you dare looking down upon me, Valentino. I will kill you if I have to."
Valentino laughed and opened his arms. "Be my guest." He dropped his arms, and in an instant the newcomers charged at the warrior league. The main hall now became a field of free-for-all, and it did not take long before a series of skirmishes took place around the venue.
Doctor Getter was among the first people to wage the war. Fully equipped with combat tools and automated mechanisms, he approached the self-acclaimed Darren's Angels and had a sinister laughter as the girls opened their battle stance. "Fool! You know you are helpless against my tentacle monsters! Submit to my will! The will of Doctor Getter!" he announced.
"We will not be oppressed!" Justine shouted. "Because we are Freddie's Angels! Fighting devils for love, peace and beauty is our mission! Nothing will stand a chance against us!" So saying, the girls made a distinctively cheesy kung-fu pose and shouted a battle cry.
"I thought we were named Darren's Angels," Hotaru whispered.
"Apparently Justine wanted it to rhyme with Charlie's Angels," Athena whispered back.
Doctor Getter laughed in maniac and deployed his arsenals off his body. "You fool! Freddie's Angels or Freddie's Demons, you will never win against me! I am Doctor Lens Getter, the world's Number 1 scientist! I am Doctor Getter, the greatest inventor of all! Go, Metal Widow Mark 2!"
A teleport door opened behind Doctor Getter, and jumping out of it was a giant mechanical spider that landed in front of Freddie's Angels. "This is only the beginning!" Doctor Getter said and pointed to the girls. "The beginning of your end! AH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!"
To Be Continued?
15
