Episode 21: The Next Level
Alright, you all. It's time again for a chapter I call (BIG PLOT REVELATIONS AND IMPORTANT STUFF HAPPENS) kind of chapters. This really took a lot of me. From an emotional standpoint. I had so many feelings writing this one. I hope you'll see my passion in this one.
1602: Yeah, Terry. Women like a guy who can embrace their feminine side a little bit. And I felt it was time for Aqua to get the apologies she deserved.
That guy: Oof to Susie indeed.
EndeavorT: Yep. And he's probably going to utter it again here.
Thenewsubwayguy: I figured it was time for a more lighthearted and funny episode, even if it's sandwiched between some big and serious chapters.
NondescriptNorbert: Thanks so much my dude. In all honesty, we all needed a fun chapter after the SCP Foundation.
SteelRobot: Oh yes, my friend. It's time to topple more of Gjira's forces.
ThelastCyberKnight: I k we you'd be a bit bummed at Iida's departure. But he went out like a Chad
Superwheeltires: Actually, I will address that stuff about Charlie soon. Just gotta wait until the next aftermath to see how that turns out.
Happiness studios: Nothing gets past you. Sorry if you weren't the biggest fan of the last chapter. Just keep in mind I put a lot of extra work in this chapter. It got me really emotional writing it.
Well, I won't stall for longer. Let the story commence!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
This time around, there was no Chris to do the recap. We open up immediately where the last episode ended. The crew were all in a barren desert, the plane looking to be in a slightly crappier condition than normal.
"Kidnapped?!" Edward exclaimed. "What do you mean he's been kidnapped?!"
"Are you high?! It means what it means!" Susie snaps. "We were just going about our business, and suddenly the plane shakes like crazy. Everything went dark after that."
"That was literally what happened to us." Tari said.
"When we finally came to, we found ourselves here, and Chris nowhere to be found." Kiryu adds
"Okay, but how do you know somebody abducted him?" Edward asks.
"Because they left behind a message." Harley says, holding up a small, black cube "I don't know who the little shit is that left it, but it seems they're responsible.
"Well, don't leave us in suspense!" Jack says. "Show us the message."
Everyone there (including Chef and the interns), stops to see the message. Harley puts the cube on the ground, and a light sprouts out of it.
The light shows a holographic projection, taking the appearance of a small girl. She had short green hair tied with a red ribbon, and matching eyes that gave an eerie air of uneasiness. Although, one of them immediately recognized this child.
"Wait a second!" Jack exclaimed. "Monaca?!"
"What? Somebody you know?" Kiryu asks.
"Not in a good way."
Monaca then begins to speak her message.
"Greetings, Edward Elric, and his cohorts. I'm speaking on behalf of Gjira, who has asked me to try my hand at putting a stop to you."
"Of course it had to be Gjira." Tari groaned.
"As you can see, we have captured the one called Chris McLean." Monaca continues. "And Mr. Byakuya Togami has been abducted as well."
"No! They stole master?! Again?!" Jack cried.
"Shut up, she's still talking." Susie told her.
"You're all probably drawing a blank at what to do. Well, I've disclosed coordinates to Towa City. Meet me there, and you might just have a chance to take them back. But should you accept, just know I'm not alone. My new friends will show you the true meaning of despair. Puhuhuhu!"
The message turns off, and they're all shocked at this turn of events.
"We need to go now!" Jack orders. "Who knows what they're doing to master Togami."
"So how do you know this creepy kid?" Joe asks.
"She was the leader of the Warriors of Hope. A group of children who murdered adults in the name of Junko Enoshima, to make Towa City a children's paradise. Monaca was their leader. She may look cute and friendly, but she's a manipulative little psycho who tried to force a friend of mine into despair."
"She's also one of Gjira's Ultimate 7." Edward explained. "I only knew the names of them, but this is the first time seeing her. From what Boss told me, she's probably the smartest one of the seven."
"Well, we've unknowingly dealt with four of them, so she should be no different." Harley said.
"I do wonder what she means by 'new friends.'" Jack said worriedly. "She can't be referring to the Warriors of Hope. Its gotta be something or someone else."
As for Edward, he knew full well what he had to do. He looks at Tari, and they both nod.
"Should've known this had Gjira written all over it. Jack is right, though. We can't just let them keep Chris and Byakuya with them. They may be asses, but they don't deserve that. Guess it's obvious what we gotta do."
"Rescue mission?" Susie asked hopefully.
"Rescue mission."
"Alright, so it's settled then." Kiryu says as he looks at the coordinates kept inside the box. "We need to find a way there and rescue them."
"Aren't you being a little too impulsive?!" Miu asks. "It's obviously a trap! We go there, and we fucking die!"
"You think I'm not well aware of that?" Edward asks her. "This is now our problem. I'm not letting them die, especially if Gjira has to do with it."
"Well count me out! I quit! I'm done! I'm outta here! Fuck this shit, because I'm out!"
Miu then attempts to walk away, but Ed pulls her back by her shoulder.
"Did you not hear me, dickcheese?! I said I want no part of this!"
"We're in this together, Miu. We all promised. Why are you deciding to bail on us now?!"
"BECAUSE I'M SCARED, OKAY?!" She yelled.
Silence follows, until the inventor starts sobbing.
"I've been thinking about this lately." She said bitterly. "I saw what we're up against. I don't want to die. I'm not some superhuman that faces villains on a regular basis like most of you. What can I do against them, huh? Huh?! Nothing, compared to you guys. How are you not scared of this?! I didn't sign up for this show to fight an evil tyrant. So I'm going home."
They all felt sentiment for her words. She felt inferior to them, and feared she'd just die facing Gjira. She didn't ask for this. None of them did.
"We're screwed, OKAY?! That's why I'm backing out now. I know to quit when I'm ahead."
Ed mulls over what she said for a moment. Then he finally figures out what he needed to say.
"You wanna know something?!" He tells her. "I'm scared too."
"Huh?!"
"You don't think I'm not scared? Well you're wrong. I'm utterly terrified. You're completely justified in feeling scared. Deep down, we all are. But when you face a problem you can't run away from, you never face it alone. You guys showed me that."
He pauses for a moment, to let Miu soak in his speech so far.
"And I've already suffered worse than anything death can do. I've been to Hell and back for you guys."
"Yeah. I'm very terrified." Terry adds. "And I've already died once."
"The guy's right." Waluigi says. "Waluigi don't wanna go losing his life, but darn it, he's going to fight back if he can help it!"
"When the world shoves you around, you get back up and shove back." Harley states. "We knew that Gjira guy would try something else, and we promised we'd be ready."
"So what am I supposed to do, huh?!" Miu asks.
"You do what we can't do." Ed answered. "And we'll do what you can't. Look, I'm not some perfect hero that can do anything. I may be smart in alchemy, but compared to you, I'm not talented inventor."
He then looks over at Terry. "I'm not some martial artist that trained all his life on the streets."
Then he looks to Tari. "I'm not some super advanced AI."
Lastly, he looks at Susie. "And I'm not a monster who lives life on the edge. You see what I'm saying now?"
"I think so." Miu says. "I'd just need to do what only I can do. You'll do what only you can do."
"Yep. Take all of our skills and put them together. We'd be unstoppable. But I can understand if you're still not sure about this. If you want to leave, do it now. I won't hold it against you. Same applies to everyone. If any of you want to leave, do it now."
Nobody moves, and Miu is surprisingly not as well.
"You know what? You'd all be fucked out there without my golden brain." Miu says with her trademark cockiness. "So what the hell? Let's go rescue those assholes."
"If there's punks that need thrashing, I ain't missing out on that." Susie says.
"Hey, if they die, the show's over." Terry says. "Be kind of lame to go out like that."
"These guys are going straight to Hell." Jack said as she gleefully licked her scissors.
This brings a smile to Ed's face. Despite the situation, he was pleased that they were all still willing to fight alongside him. And his joy was helped as he was holding SCP 999.
"Alright guys. Looks like we're all in agreement. As soon as the plane's good to go, we'll set out."
"It's all taken care of now." Chef says as he walks over to them. "That Ginyu Force is fast."
"Good." Kiryu says as he hands Chef the coordinates. "Chris is located here. Think you can fly us there?"
Chef looks over the coordinates for a second. "That's gonna take a few hours to get there from here. But it shouldn't be a problem."
"Well guys?" Tari asks. "Think we should get going now?"
"It's gonna be a long ride." Waluigi sighed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Not so long after this, the plane was now back in the skies, en route to Towa City. The cast sat in silence together in economy.
"So, uh…..anybody got any ideas to pass the time till we get there?" Susie asked awkwardly. "No? Nobody? Oh well."
"I know this might sound weird, but I'm looking forward to punching out some bad guys." Terry said. "Got a few new moves I wanna try out."
"So, crazy girl, anything else we gotta know about this kid?" Waluigi asks.
"Other than being a master manipulator and good with robotics, there isn't really much that I can think of." Jack answers. "Still, she talked about some 'new friends'. That worries me."
Sitting over by herself, Miu is seen looking down at her plasmid. The one she was gifted by Tenenbaum back in Rapture. A gift for saving a child's life. It gave her an idea.
"Do what only I can do, huh?" She thinks to herself. "Maybe this thing can help me do that. I just hope I don't turn out a monster like Fontaine."
"Hey, you don't mind if I sit here, do you?" Joe asks.
"Go right ahead."
"Merci."
The boxer then sits down next to the inventor.
"Can I tell you something?" Joe asks. "You're not the only one who feels like they can't do much."
Miu sits up and looks at him. "Okay, you've piqued my interest. Go on."
"I mean, look at me. I'm probably the one guy here who no one expected to make it this far. The odds have always been stacked against me. If you think you're scared, then I'm probably feeling it ten times worse. But I'm not the type to give up. Even if I have my butt handed to me, I won't go with the stereotype and run away. I fight on, even until my last breath. I'm probably not the best at giving pep talks, but I hope I could at least inspire you."
"That's actually a little reassuring." Miu says. "I guess not all of us have to be some big damn hero. But for me, I'm not sticking by the sidelines as a jobber. At the very least, I have to help somehow. So thanks. That eases my nerves a bit."
"Hey, it's no problem. But I think you stand a better shot than I. You've still got your whole life ahead of you."
"Well, no time like the present." Miu says as she fills a syringe with the plasmid.
"Wait, what are you doing?!"
She jams the syringe into her arm, and drops to the ground howling in pain. The others quickly notice this and gather around her.
"FUCK ME IN THE ASS WITH A BIG BLACK COCK, THAT HURTS!"
"What's wrong with her?!" Edward asked.
"I don't know!" Joe cried. "I was just giving her a pep talk, and she injects herself with something!"
Terry, Waluigi, and Susie immediately look at each other.
"The plasmid!"
"What do you mean?!"
Miu quickly stops screaming, and pants as the pain subsides.
"Miu! Are you okay?!" Terry asks.
"I'm…*huff*...fine. That was a fucking rush."
"Why'd you do that?!" Edward asks.
"I gotta help in some way. This plasmid was given to me because I helped someone. Figure I'll use it to help us now. Kinda symbolic when you think about it."
"Well? How do you feel?" Tari asked.
"Weird. My insides definitely feel different. Like I chugged a six pack of Red Bull or some shit."
"Show off some cool powers!" Theo says. "Shoot a beam or something!"
"That wouldn't be a good idea right now." Kiryu tells the platformer. "We just got this plane up and running again. Miu, save whatever power you have for when we get there."
"Sure, whatever. As soon as I find out what it is I can now do."
"All you maggots listen up!" Chef barks over the PA system. "We're nearing Towa City!"
Edward looks out the window and sees it in all its glory. Or former glory. It was a large artificial island, appearing in disrepair. Broken down buildings, factories, bridges, and research facilities were the most notable landmarks. The sky around the area was red and misty. A few explosions occurred down below.
"I expect villains to have state of the art headquarters, but at least they break the trend." Ed said grimly.
"Men, ladies, I need you all to take a parachute and jump out to the city below." Ginyu says as he enters the room. "We can't land here. This is your best shot."
"Wait, once we rescue Chris and Byakuya, how are we gonna get back here?" Susie asks.
"We'll have to cross that bridge when we get there. Your top priority is saving them."
The rest of the force hands the cast each a parachute. Once they have them on, Kirbo then opens the door, and "Poyo's" them to jump out.
"Ready guys?" Edward asks. They all nod, and he's the first to jump out, carrying Tickles in his arm.
"Geronimo!" Susie yells as she jumps out.
"Okay!" Terry says as he jumps.
"Crackerjack!" Theo says as Tari jumps out, holding onto him.
"I'm coming, masterrrrrrrrr!" Jack yells as the last one out.
"Godspeed, you crazy kids." Ginyu says.
"Ed, you better be careful." Alphonse says worriedly.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(Towa Hills)
We open up on a large office building with an airship docked on the roof. Inside, we see Monaca, still in her wheelchair, sitting in a small room, observing the cameras placed all over the island. The Ultimate Despair was decimating what few living people were here. Quickly, she noticed something on one of her flying camera drones.
She saw a party of about ten people descending down. She sees that Edward and Genocide Jack were part of this group, and began to laugh villainously.
"Puhuhuhu. He's finally here. I wasn't quite sure if he'd really come. I forgot how stupid grown ups could be."
"I heard that, you little shit!" A voice said as he stepped in. This person was a very short man with frizzy dark hair, and a black suit.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Psycho. I meant most adults." Monaca said with childlike innocence.
"It's Dr. Psycho! Get it right!"
Psycho looks at the surveillance video, and grins as soon as he sees Harley is with them.
"Payback is gonna be mine, you bitch! It's like killing two birds with one stone."
"Call up the Ultimate Despairs." Monaca orders. "Tell them their playmates are here."
Psycho takes out a walkie talkie.
"Listen up you demented fucks!" He barks. "We got some special guests dropping in! Give them Hell! Especially the blonde that looks dressed like a clown stripper!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The crew is now slowly descending upon the island. Everyone is silent, steeling themselves for what's ahead. This was gonna be different then escaping Big Mom or stopping an undead army. This was a rescue mission, first and foremost.
"Waluigi is starting to have second thoughts about this." Waluigi said nervously as they were getting close to the ground.
"It's a bit too late for that." Harley reminds him.
"You're quieter than usual, Kazzy." Terry says to Kiryu. "Something wrong?"
"I feel something below." Kiryu says darkly. "Something, no, someone, familiar."
"Stay on your guard, guys." Edward reminds them. "As soon as we touch ground, let's see if we can have someone give us directions."
Finally, they hit solid pavement, in the middle of what appeared to be a street with several businesses. Cars, buildings, and trash lay scattered about. What appeared mostly intact was a restaurant called "Pig Boy".
They take off their parachutes and look around.
"Looks like 28 Days Later came 28 days early." Susie remarks.
"No kidding….." Edward says, looking around. "Let's see if we can find some directions."
They walk down the deserted street, until they begin to hear some commotion.
"Hold up. What's that?!" Susie asked.
"Sounds like….screaming." Kiryu says. "Yare yare….I got a bad feeling about this."
The question was answered as they saw a group of around five people running towards them.
"There's more of them!" A woman screamed.
"Monsters!" A man yelled. "Get the hell away from us!"
One of them throws a rock, and it hits Waluigi in the head.
"Ow! Now is that how you welcome your guests?!" Waluigi retorts.
"Calm down." Edward tells the civilians. "We're not here to cause trouble."
"Oh yeah?! Well some of your friends look like them!" The man from before yells, pointing at the cast.
"Them?! What do you mean?! We just got here!"
"I mean that-"
BAM!
The sound of a bullet echoes as the man drops to the ground. The small crowd coders as they turn to the sound of the gunshot.
"Well we'll well." A familiar voice sneered. "Look what the cat dragged in: Cat shit! Pubuhuhu!"
A pink haired man with red eyes struts out, wearing a black suit and jacket, dictator hat, an eye patch with an X on it, and a scepter he used as a cane. He currently twirled his cane for flamboyant effect, as smoke trailed out the tip. The crew gasps, as he looks just like….
"Boss?!" Tari and Edward said.
"Giovanni?!" Joe also exclaimed.
"Close, but not quite." This "Giovanni said. "Yes, I'm Giovanni Potage, but not the one you know. I'm an Ultimate Despair serving Lord Gjira."
He aims his cane at the other civilians and guns them down like the guy before.
"Ultimate Despair?!" Harley chuckles. "What kind of batshit crazy thing is that?!"
"Uh oh." Jack said worriedly. She knew what that meant.
"Uh oh?! Why uh oh?!" Terry asks her.
"I come from a separate timeline." Despair Giovanni explains. "Not another universe, but timeline. We were brainwashed to be despair in human form."
"You're a monster!" Tari yells.
"Puhuhu, monster doesn't even begin to describe us." Despair Giovanni says. "We've committed atrocities so abhorrent that giving us the death penalty wouldn't be enough."
"So you're not the boss we know? That's a relief." Edward says. "Wait, did you say 'us?'"
"Indeed I did."
Despair Giovanni snaps his fingers, and more Ultimate Despair appears. One appeared to be like Deadpool, only now dressed in a half black half white spandex suit.
One that looked like Spinel showed up, her gem cracked, and wielding a three bladed scythe.
The next was Kiryu, dressed in a pure white blazer as red lightning sparked out of his eyes.
Lastly was Wendy, with chalk white skin and a scar across her face. She wore a black straitjacket, had a giant snake coiled around her, and stood atop a small wyvern dragon.
And they all shared the same, red, eyes.
"This is freaky." Kiryu mutters as he looks at his evil counterpart as it glares at him.
"This isn't looking good." Joe said worriedly.
"You don't look good, you chump!" Despair Deadpool jokes. He brandished his katanas, and leaps towards Harley, who blocks with her bat.
"Minions, get your asses in gear and kill them!" Despair Giovanni barks.
"The real Giovanni wouldn't treat his subordinates like that!" Edward said. He throws Tickles to Tari, who gets out of the way of the fight, and catches Despair Spinel's scythe as she tries to hack him up. He uses his alchemy to transmute the scythe into a small metal statue.
"I'm still not defenseless!" She says as she stretches her fist back and punches him.
Author's Note: Sorry to interrupt the action. From here on out, going to be referring to the Ultimate Despairs as simply UD to shorten it for your convenience. Thank you. And now, back to the fight.
"Back away! Back away!" Waluigi cries as he throws Bob-ombs at UD Kiryu, who slowly walks towards the purple cheater. This Kiryu tanks the explosions like it's nothing. Just before he gets to lay waste to him, Terry steps in the way and punches UD Kiryu in the gut.
"Tch. You're pretty strong." UD Kiryu scoffs.
"You ain't the real Kazzy, but this is as good as I'm gonna get fighting him."
Terry's leg combusts into blue flames, and he throws a spinning roundhouse kick to the evil doppleganger's head.
"Burning Crack Shoot!"
UD Kiryu grabs his leg and slams him back and forth like a toy.
"Little help here?!" Terry asks someone.
"Kinda busy here!" Susie says as she's fending off UD Wendy and her dragon. Susie lops the wyvern's head, and UD Wendy breaks free from her restraints.
"Sky Dragon's Roar!" UD Wendy fires a blast of wind from her mouth, but Susie quickly counterattacks.
"Red Buster!"
Susie swings her ax so hard she sends out a red arrow shaped projectile. The Red Buster breaks through the wind attack and hits UD Wendy right in the chest.
"Gggraahgh!"
Believe it or not, Susie's attack was enough to take her out. UD Wendy's eyes go blank anime style as she collapses to the ground.
"Tch. The real Wendy is stronger than this." Susie remarks triumphantly. "Either we've gotten super strong, or you guys are all pushovers."
Terry finally breaks free of UD Kiryu's grip, and his body begins to glow gold.
"Mother Earth, give me your energy." Terry says as he absorbs the earth's life force.
"W-WHAT?!" UD Giovanni exclaimed. "Gjira didn't tell us they were this strong! Gjira is unbeatable! Which means we are as well!"
Terry's body basks in a golden aura, and he spins around like a mini gold tornado. UD Kiryu crosses his arms together to tank the hit.
"Hakkyokuseiken Ogi!" Terry says. "Hadou Senpuu Ken!"
The tornado hits UD Kiryu, and he's battered with a flurry of suped up spinning punches, until he's sent flying.
"I know for sure I've gotten stronger!"
"Didn't know you could do that." The regular Kiryu remarks as he's helping Harley fight UD Deadpool.
"Hey, the fight with Big Mom gave me the inspiration to improve."
We move back to Edward, and UD Spinel is beginning to overwhelm him with a flurry of punches. Despite being an alchemy prodigy, he was a skilled hand to hand combatant due to always sparring with his brother. UD Giovanni takes this opportunity to try and snipe Ed. He aims his cane gun at him and smiles.
"Say goodnight, runt."
Miu quickly notices this and leaps in front of him.
"Ed! Look out!"
As if in slow motion, Miu is directly in front of Ed as UD Giovanni fires the bullet. As it flies towards Miu, the bullet stops its trajectory, and moves in the opposite direction at greater speed. UD Giovanni gags as the bullet hits him in the chest. He collapses to the ground, and everyone stops fighting as this goes on.
"No…...we can't lose." He gasped. "Lord Gjira….will not fail!" With these last words, he breathes his last breath and slumps down.
Everyone slowly looks at Miu, who looks at her hands in disbelief.
"Did….did I do that?" She questions. "And did I just…...kill a man?!"
"I think." Tari says. "You sent the bullet right back at him.
"Sorry to interrupt this plot revelation." UD Deadpool says as he walks to Miu. His swords point at her as she's still in shock. "But we have to put you out of commission.
Miu turns around and grins at her spandex clad foe. "Let me test something."
She holds out her hand, and his katana shake wildly.
"W-w-w-what the fuck?!" The swords fly out of his hands, and Miu moves her hands around. The swords stab DP in the chest, and she lifts him into the air.
"Did the plasmid…..give her magnetism powers?!" Edward wondered.
"Holy fuck! I'm Magneto!" Miu exclaimed. "Very fitting for the Ultimate Inventor! Get outta here, shithead!"
She flings UD Deadpool far through the sky, off into the horizon.
"Easy peasy! I'm fuckin' genius! Sure hope they don't come back."
You've all still got me, you know!" UD Spinel says. She cartoonishly scrunched up her arm like a sleeve and is ready to punch Miu, but there's a loud…..
CLONK!
UD Spinel drops to the ground, with a goose egg bump on her head. Behind her was a teenage girl holding a lead pipe. She has short, dark brown hair with a tint of green, and wore sailor fuku school uniform with a white blouse, a red necktie, and a turquoise collar, line trim, and skirt.
Jack quickly recognized who it was. "Dekomaru?!"
"Toko?!" The girl exclaimed, dropping the pipe.
"Er, not quite. Toko's sort of out of commission at the moment. It's a long story."
"Did you guys see that shit?!" Miu happily exclaimed. "I took out two of those fuckers singlehandedly. Thank you, Tenenbaum!"
Most of them ignored her gloating, and were wondering who this mysterious teen was.
"Who is she, Genocider?" Tari asks.
"Um, sorry for the sudden surprise." The girl says frantically. She calmed down and properly introduced herself. "I'm Komaru Naegi. A…..friend of Toko's."
"So she's your friend?" Kiryu asks the killer.
"Yep. Only one. I still don't see you all as my friends."
"Nice to see she's got a friend." Terry says. "No offense Jack, but you and Toko make it hard to approach you."
"None taken. Even then, we're just now getting used to you all."
"Guys, we're getting a bit off track." Edward reminds them. "Remember why we're here."
"Yeah yeah, we know." Susie says. "Rescuing two assholes, we got it."
"Don't you dare badmouth master like that, you daughter of Barney!" Jack snaps.
"Why does everyone say that about me?!"
Komaru sighs. "See you're still obsessed with Byakuya as ever."
"Aw, don't be like that Dekomaru." Jack sweetly tells her. "You come really close in people I give damn about."
"I…..see." Komaru says awkwardly. "Anyway, why are you guys here?"
"A rescue mission, plain and simple girl." Waluigi tells her. "Chris and Byakuya are being held captive by some creepy kid named Monaca."
"Monaca? Should've known." Komaru says bitterly.
"Right, and we need to get to her." Edward explains. "We get to her, find them, and get the Hell out of dodge."
"Then Jack and I have a good feeling where they are." Komaru tells him. "At Towa Hills."
"Wait, we could've just asked you?!" Susie says to Jack.
"You didn't ask."
"Could you guys please show us the way?" Edward asks.
"Uh, sure." Komaru replies. "Though I don't have my hacking gun with me, I can't really fight. Even if the threat this time isn't mechanical."
"Did you not see us just manhandle those 'Ultimate Despairs?'" Harley reminds her. If there's any more, I'm pretty sure we'll be able to handle them."
"Alright, lady! Lead the way!" Theo cheered.
Komaru nods, and leads the pack as they follow her through the city. Unbeknownst to them, a few figures watch them from above. Weirdly, they each stood on floating books.
"Jeez, how many Devil Fruits did your family have?!" A figure that looked like Tari said. This version of her was dressed in a black catsuit, her meta runner arm now built like a giant piston.
"Over a dozen." A figure that looked like Katakuri replied. He had longer and more wild hair. He wore a black cape, and a gold hook hand. The freakiest part was that he had a second mouth on his stomach. It was filled with rows of sharp teeth and a long serpent-like tongue. "Turns out when you cannibalize Devil Fruit users, you get their powers. At least the Despair keeps me from kicking the bucket. Otherwise, my body would've exploded."
"Do we go after them now?" One that looked like Charlie said. She now wore a white dress with blood stains, a red crown, and a more demonic face.
"Let's wait." UD Katakuri answers. "Save us for last, just in case the other Despairs fail. Clearly, we underestimated their strength. I'll step in if all else fails and take them to Miss Monaca personally."
They all laugh maniacally as the books fly off. "Puhuhuhuhu!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
We now move back to the crew, walking through a desolate subway tunnel.
"Wow. You've really been through a lot lately." Komaru says to Jack. "So Toko is gone?"
"Afraid so." Harley says. "One too many zaps, and that side's just gone."
"I gotta ask, what's someone like you doing on this island?" Susie asks Komaru.
"The last time Toko and I were here, I stuck around to help people after the last time things got crazy here. It's also a long story."
"I see." Kiryu remarks "So you've dealt with this before?"
"Kinda. Not too long ago, Monaca returned, and this time, she didn't have any Monokumas or the Warriors of Hope. This time, it was the Ultimate Despair. Only, many of them looked like you guys."
"Yeah, we figured that part out already." Waluigi says. "Waluigi just hopes there's not one of him."
"I'm still startled to see one of me." Kiryu said. "I don't even want to know what it did."
"I know I'm not one for pleasantries, but thanks for helping us out, Komaru." Jack says.
"It's nothing." Komaru tells her. "Just glad to help a friend out."
"Guys, aren't you all surprised at my new power?! Miu reminds them. The inventor was putting on a little show with some scrap metal. "I'm starting to get the hang of this.
"Gotta admit, that looks pretty useful." Terry tells her. "And it sure did help us out back there."
"No duh! I bet we'll cruise through this mission easily."
"Don't jinx it." Edward says seriously. "Im at least glad it isn't Chris who puts us in a dangerous setting this time."
It was then that Tickles began to shake nervously.
"Huh? What is it, boy?" Edward asks him.
The sound of clanking metal edged closer as the cast prepared themselves. Tickles hid behind Komaru's leg.
"Who goes there?!" Edward yells. "More of those Despairs or whatever the Hell you call them?!"
"You guessed right. Fire in the hole!"
A missile flies at them,
"Hit the deck!"
They drop to the ground, and the missile hits a wall far behind them.
"This is fuckin' crazy!" Miu cried. "Show yourself, assholes!"
What appeared was a spider-like contraption crawling along the wall. We see a Despair Miu sitting on the chair above the contraption. She was dressed in a pink jumpsuit, green apron, and welding mask.
"Holy shit, it's me! I look badass!" Miu congratulated.
"You're complimenting the enemy?!" Waluigi yells.
"You'd do the same if it were you."
"Wah, guess you got Waluigi there."
"Hey, wanna see my ultimate creation?!" UD Miu said excitedly.
"Uh, no. We'd much rather just go." Joe said nervously.
"Don't wuss out on me, ya cowards! Come on out, baby!"
A robot flies in and lands next to her. This time, they were introduced to UD Reg. He was now more to her height, with a black metal body, and a guard over his mouth, with missiles and rocket launchers strapped to his arms.
"Wait, Reg?!" Miu cried. "They made one of you two?!"
"Sorry, you. But I built him this way! He follows no orders unless they are to kill. Isn't he a precious little murder machine?!"
"No way, you freak!" Edward yells. "You're going down!"
"Hey, Ed." Miu said. "Let me handle them."
"Wait, what?! Are you sure?!"
"I can beat them. My new power will make mincemeat out of this copycat bitch. You guys might wanna step back."
"Oh ho, a challenger approaches?!" UD Miu squealed as Miu stepped forward. The contestants all stepped back to give her space.
"I hope you know I've destroyed countless brats who thought they were ballsy enough to take me on!" UD Reg warns.
"Jokes on you, I have no balls!" Miu quips.
UD Miu began to get irritated at her counterpart. "Reg! Kill her!"
UD Reg's arms open up, revealing an array of firearms large enough for an army.
"I hope you know what you're doing, slut!" Jack said worriedly.
UD Reg fires all of his weapons, but Miu stops them in midair.
"The Hell?!" UD Miu exclaimed, her eyes practically popping out of their sockets cartoonishly. "How can you do that when I can't?!"
Miu sticks her tongue out. "Because unlike you, I save people! This power symbolizes that!"
The weapons swirl around above, along with all the scrap metal that was nearby (trust me, there's a lot on this island for obvious reasons.) Miu even controls UD Reg, and adds him to the mix.
"Master! Save me!" UD Reg pleads.
Much like the original Miu, this one was scared in a situation like this. Her cocky facade dissipated as she trembled in her chair.
Miu takes all the metal, and it surrounds her arm until it appears she has a giant metal fist.
"Holy crap, that's amazing!" Harley marvels.
"Guess what?! " Miu says to her evil counterpart. "Get Fisted!"
The metal fist crashes into UD Miu and crushes her and UD Reg.
"Metal Domination!" Miu said.
"Did she seriously just give that attack a name?!" Jack questioned.
"It's like something out of a manga!" Komaru said excitedly.
With both UD Miu and Reg knocked out, the metal falls off Miu, and she drops to her knees, panting heavily. The crew rushes over to her.
"Are you alright?!"
"That was awesome!"
"Take it easy!"
"It's fine." Miu said weakly. "That one just took a lot of energy outta me. I'm spent at the moment."
"You're spent, you say?!" A creepy voice from above asked. "Then let me make your journey easier! Candy Trap!"
Purple tendrils crashed down, but only some of them were able to get out of the way. They grabbed Miu, Tari, Susie, Waluigi, Harley, and Theo,
"What the heck is this?" Tari said as she struggled to get free, but to no avail.
A man drops down from the ceiling, now showing to be the Ultimate Despair for Katakuri. The purple candy tendrils came from out of his back Doctor Octopus style.
"No way! They have one of him?!" Terry exclaimed. "This isn't good!"
"Oh shit...I've seen enough hentai to know where this is going." Miu groaned.
"Get that out of your mind, pervert!" UD Katakuri snapped. "I'm evil, but I'm not a sicko!"
"Let them go now!" Kiryu thundered.
"How about no? I'm taking them with me to Miss Monaca. Gjira will break their spirits, and join his ranks as loyal warriors."
"Give them back now, dammit!" Edward yelled, running to attack him. UD Katakuri uses his future sight and grabs Ed's arm. Kata's arm glows red and heats up, while Edward screams in pain.
"Aagh! Katakuri can't do that!" Edward yelled.
"You'd be surprised, runt." UD Katakuri brags. He drops Ed to the ground, and proceeds to walk away, carrying some of his friends in tow.
"Meet us at Towa Hills." He tells them. "You want to get everyone back, then you're gonna have to face us there. Once and for all"
"Let us go, you ass!" Susie threatens as she tries to bite herself free.
"Save us!" Waluigi pleads.
"Ed! Don't give up!" Tari says. "Promise you won't die!"
Ed gets back up, and hears her words. He wipes a bit of blood off his face.
"Yeah…...I promise. Even if it kills me, I'm not giving up!"
"Then prove you're not all talk, boy!" UD Katakuri cackled as he left their sight.
Once he was gone, the only ones left besides Edward were Kiryu, Terry, Joe, Jack, Komaru, and Tickles.
"His powers were the most dangerous." Edward says. "I'm glad you guys didn't get in the way. He probably would have killed you all on the spot."
"Man, why don't villains just finish off their enemy right then and there?"
"It's all a game to them." Kiryu replied. "They're obviously leading us into a trap."
"I just know that's what she's planning." Komaru said. "All to bring us to despair."
"I was close to going down that route once." Edward remarks. "But if they want us to come to them, then we're coming at them with full force. If Gjira wants war, that's what he's getting."
"I heard ya there. Let's go rescue our friends!" Terry cheers.
"How about you guys just stay back and let me and Dekomaru handle this?" Jack tells them.
"But I thought we were doing this together." Joe reminds her.
"I've been thinking the whole time we've been here…." Jack begins. "And I think you guys should just get back to the plane. I'm sick of hearing this friendship talk, you got that? That's why I wanna do this without you all. Friendship doesn't fix problems. Does it cure cancer? No. Does it solve world hunger? No. Does it end wars? N. O!"
"Jack, you won't win by yourself." Edward explains. "That's why we do it together. We promised that. We wouldn't have made it this far without each other."
Jack's eye twitched in fury. "You're really beginning to piss me off, runt!" Ed begins to look angry at that comment. "I'm done takin' orders from you! You're just like others Toko and I have known! You say you're friends and want to be our friend! But they lie, just to make you look like a fool! You're no different! You all are! You don't know what we've been through all our lives! This has nothing to do with you! I'm going in, getting master Togami, and I'm outta here! I could give two shuts about the others! Hopefully, we will never see any of you again! You especially!"
Ed takes a deep breath before choosing his next words. He had to be careful with what he said next. She is a serial killer, after all.
"You're lying." He tells her. He remembers what Tari told him a couple weeks ago. "Quit lying to yourself. Say what you really want."
"That's it!" Jack yells as she takes out her scissors, then runs towards Ed. "Once I slice that throat of yours, you'll stop talking nonsense once and for all!"
Ed remains still and serious, despite the fact he was close to getting his throat slit. Right before she could stab right into him, and grabs Jack's hand to stop her.
Jack turns around, and sees it was…..
"...Komaru?!"
Komaru didn't look mad, she just looked sad.
"Don't do it." Komaru tells them. "Please? He's trying to help you."
"Since we are friends, I give this a pass." Jack says firmly. "But these clowns? Screw them! Sticking their noses in my job to rescue master! They're nothing to me!"
"You don't mean that!" Komaru yells. "I literally trust these guys, and I just met them! I care about you too much to let you go in by yourself! It's suicide! Please! Listen to them!"
"Even though I know she's still in there…." Edward tells her. "I know Toko would also think the same. We may not be your friend….."
…
…
"...but you are our friend. We're really willing to risk our lives for each other. You're no different. You're just as important to us. You are one of us. Always have been. If you don't see that now, you will never see it."
This hit the killer hard. She dropped her scissors, and slumped to her knees. Jack began to weep uncontrollably. It was then that it finally hit her. After everything she did, said, or acted towards them, they were not giving up on her. They cared. She couldn't help but cry tears of joy and sadness.
"I don't want to lose master." She sobbed. "But I also don't want to lose any of us. I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
She continues to cry, until all of a sudden, she sneezes, then continues to cry.
Her face changed. No longer did she have the demented red eyes, or long tongue. It was no longer just the tears of Genocide Jack, but Toko Fukawa.
Toko didn't know why she was here, or what's happened in a traditional sense. But she felt it. She felt them accepting her. They're willing to die for a friend. No, they always did accept her as a comrade. They were all freaks and weirdos like her. She hated that it took this long for it to sink in.
Deep down, both sides now wanted the same thing from them. Toko looks up at Edward, still crying.
"Edward...please….help."
Ed's expression remained stoic. Very quickly, he took Tickles and placed him on her lap.
"Uh huh."
Edward steps forward, takes a deep breath, then yells, "OF COURSE WE'LL HELP YOU!"
(Cue the badass music.)
Ed looks behind him, at Kiryu, Joe, and Terry. The three were just as quiet and serious as he was.
"Guys, let's go. Time to finish this."
There was a three way split screen, where they responded with "RIGHT!"
Ed looks over at Toko and Komaru, Komaru was helping her up. "Lead the way."
Komaru nods. "Got it."
Toko does as well, and begins to smile. "Ed….thank you."
The two of them lead, with Ed and the others walking side by side like badasses. These four knew they were ready for the toughest fight yet. But little did the villains know, they aren't playing games anymore.
While they all walked, Tickles thought to himself. About Edward.
"This man….." The creature thinks (the voice sounding like that of a child. "So kind. The one who needed help most, bringing a smile to those who need it the most. He could be the one. The one I've waited for…...the next Hero of Happiness."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(Towa Hills)
The rest of the captured crew were now in Monaca's room, as Monaca, Dr. Psycho, and the Ultimate Despair laughed at them. The captives were trapped in mochi cocoons, being hung low to the ground, with their faces being the only part that's exposed.
"Think it's so funny?!" Susie growled. "When I'm free, I'm gonna make you punks eat your stomachs!"
"Wanna bet?!" UD Terry asked menacingly. His hair was now shorter, but more wild and spiked. He wore his usual clothes, but they were all black, and he didn't have his trademark hat. With him, he wore brass knuckles with spikes on them. "You all will serve Gjira, and we're gonna crush your spirits until you do so!"
"Why the fuck are you with them, Psycho?!" Harley angrily asked.
"Simple." Psycho replied. "Revenge on you! You had the chance to have ultimate power, and you gave it up! And you ruined my chance to wield that power! That's why you're all going to suffer for what you did to me!"
"So…..a friend of yours?" Waluigi asks Harley.
"Was." She answered. "This little shit is a backstabbing, misogynistic little asshole who's only out for himself!"
"That's because I worked under a softhearted bitch like you! I don't take orders from women! But look at you now." Psycho taunts. "You're defenseless. And screwed!"
"Can somebody shut this little faggot up?!" Miu cried.
"Shut up, you stupid cunt!"
Everyone gasped at this. He just proved his misogyny even more.
"Ohhhhh…...you're dead." Susie tells him.
"Too bad you're trapped!" UD Aqua says. dressed in a revealing white and blue kimono, and her hair was now fashioned in a sharp ponytail. "So that threat is meaningless! What Gjira wants, Gjira gets!"
"Get real!" Tari tells her. "Ed's on his way right now to take you all down! Then we're coming for him!"
"Defeat Gjira?!" Monaca laughs. They all laugh at her silly declaration. "You can't possibly hope to defeat that….. thing!"
"What do you mean thing?!" Theo asks. "Is that like me?"
"Not in the slightest." UD Charlie says.
"He's a monster far beyond normal comprehension." Monaca says. "The laws of reality are laughable to him. He's destroyed many a galaxy, hoping to die a glorious death."
"Can't the dude just kill himself?" Susie asks.
"He's so unkillable he can't even harm himself. No wonder he's a depressed mess."
"We're not scared of him." Tari firmly stated. "It doesn't matter how invincible someone thinks they may be."
"Whether you're scared or not, it makes no difference when a literal force of nature takes control." Monaca tells her hostages. She then takes out a key. "Your host and Mr. Togami are currently held in a cell not too far from here. If you submit and pledge your allegiance to Gjira, I'll let them go."
"NEVER!" They all yell at the same time.
Monaca begins to frown with disappointment. "Huh. What a pity. If you won't yield now, then we will have to use force."
The Ultimate Despairs rise up and get ready to torture our heroes until they break their spirits.
UD Aqua holds a power drill. "Maybe after I poke some holes into you, you'll start to listen."
UD Katakuri holds out his hook. "I'm gonna enjoy this."
The crew braces themselves, until the building begins to shake, and knocks the Ultimate Despairs off their feet.
"Earthquake!" They yelled.
"No…" Monaca says. "It's not an earthquake."
The sound of explosions could be heard from below, and getting closer.
"Then what the hell is it?!" Psycho angrily asked.
The heroes knew full well what was about to happen.
"They're heeeeeere." Susie taunts. "You're about to watch all Hell break loose."
The door to the room breaks open, as it flies off its hinges and crashes into Psycho. We see Edward, having just kicked the door open. Everyone else who was with posed epically behind him.
"You guys!" His captured friends cried in relief.
"Where. Is. Monaca?!" Edward asked darkly.
Monaca was a bit shocked, but put on a faux smile for this visitor.
"Why, that would be me." Monaca said sweetly. "You got here faster than I-"
Ed was not having any of it. He moves quickly, getting in front of Monaca and punching her in the face so hard she flies out of her wheelchair and crashes into the wall.
"Give back everyone you've taken!" Edward thundered. "RIGHT! FUCKING! NOW!"
UD Terry quickly rushed to Monaca and got her back in her chair. "Ms. Monaca, are you okay?!"
Monaca wipes the blood off her face, now looking pissed beyond belief.
"Kill them all. Now."
The Ultimate Despairs all leap at Edward, but Kiryu and Terry leap in the way and block them.
"We'll hold them off!" Terry tells him. "Kazzy and I will be your wings!"
"Ikuzo!" Kiryu says.
"Those two are monsters!" UD Tari remarks.
Edward looks over at Joe and Komaru. "Guys, free the others. Toko, come with me!"
Ed and Toko confront both Monaca and Dr. Psycho.
"I've waited so long to finally meet you, Edward Elric." Monaca gushes.
"Shut up!" Toko yells. "This ends here! Give Chris and Master back!"
Monaca smiles as she holds the key they need. "Then you're gonna need to take it from me first! Mr. Psycho, time to unleash our secret weapon!"
"I was gonna do it anyway!" Psycho barks. "Don't order me around like that! We're equals!"
"Whatever."
The ceiling breaks open, as a giant mech comes down. A large machine with six arms, four spider-like legs, and a face resembling Monokuma's own. Five of its arms carry weapons. Drills, a missile launcher, an ax, a rifle, and a staff.
Monaca and Psycho fly up anime style and pilot the machine. Monaca lands in the cockpit on the staff. Psycho is inside the robot, piloting inside.
MAGE ROBOT: BLACK SUSPIRIAN MARK 2
"That's awesome!" Theo exclaimed, marveling at the giant Gundam like robot. "Shoot a beam!"
"Don't like it!" Joe tells him as he and Komaru cut them free. (Toko had lent them each a pair of scissors to do so.) "They're the enemy!"
"There, that should do it." Komaru says triumphantly as she frees Waluigi. Now, they were all finally freed.
"Thanks, you guys." Tari tells them. "That helps a lot."
"No problem." Joe says bravely. "I think Kiryu and Terry need some help!"
He was right, as it was currently a 5v2 fight, and they could only do so much.
"But Edward and Toko also need help!" Komaru brings up. Ed and Toko fight the giant robot, with Edward using his alchemy to use the environment to his advantage. Toko had forced herself to sneeze, and Jack now helped in the fight. Still, they were having trouble against the Black Suspirian.
"Everyone, pick an enemy!" Tari orders as she rushes to Terry and Kiryu's aid. Waluigi and Susie follow her, while Harley and Miu join Ed.
"Need a hand?" Susie says as she rams UD Charlie away with her battle ax. "Or an ax?"
"Appreciate the help." Terry says as he and UD Katakuri trade blows.
Kiryu, now glowing with a yellow heat aura, beats the crap out of UD Terry, and punches his face to the ground. Waluigi's piranha plant has UD Aqua in its clutches. (She may be evil, but it's still Aqua, so it's no surprise she's the weakest of the bunch.)
Meanwhile, with the other fight, the extra help helped out a bit.
"So wait, Toko's back." Harley asks as she dodges a missile blast.
"Yep." Jack answers as she slices off one of the drill arms. "Let me tell ya, it was an emotional overload for us earlier. Guess that finally woke her up. You were a psychologist. You should know lots about this."
"Okay, I'm not 100% sure how plausible that is. That defies the laws of what I know."
"Really?" Miu tells her. "All the crazy shit we've seen on this show, and you find that hard to believe?!"
"Miu, you got enough energy for another magnet attack or something?" Edward said as he broke down the shotgun arm.
"Maybe. But you're gonna need to give me time to prepare it."
"It better be a good one!" Harley says. She leaps up at the robot, and smashes open the cockpit and whacks Psycho with her bat.
"Ow! Ow! Get off me, bitch!"
"Maybe if you stopped spouting misogynistic crap like that I would!" She says as she keeps hitting him with the front of her bat.
"Oh dear. Looks as though my partner is having a bit of trouble." Monaca said worriedly. She saw that most of the Ultimate Despair were defeated as well. She really underestimated these guys. They were nowhere near close to Gjira's power, sure, but they weren't pushovers. Even Glass Joe.
Suddenly, a voice snapped Monaca out of her thoughts.
"Hey, loli-bait!" Miu exclaimed. "Get a load of this!" Miu gathered so much metal around the building that her left arm was now an electromagnetic railgun cannon. The railgun shook and crackled with electricity.
"A railgun?!" Psycho screamed. "How's a woman smart enough to make that?! Where's your power source?!"
"I am the power source, you little gremlin!" Miu replied. "I'm gonna be totally spent after this, but it's worth it if it's gonna kick your asses!"
The villains look and see the mech now lost most of its arms. It was practically helpless at this point.
"Guys, get out of the way! This is gonna fucking rock!"
As they do so, the railgun fires off a huge blast. "Electro-Penetrator!"
"Did she really name her attack again?" Waluigi groaned. "And it's another double entendre?"
The blast pierces through the mech like a hot knife to butter. This causes it to explode, and Monaca and Psycho both fall to the ground. When Monaca hits the ground, the key falls out of her clutches and Waluigi catches it. Miu's cannon arm breaks apart, and she collapses to the ground, using all of her remaining energy for that attack.
"Good job, Miu." Edward says. "Waluigi, go find Chris and Byakuya."
"Waluigi will find them faster than you can say...well…...something!" Waluigi says as he runs off to find them.
They all look down at their defeated enemies. Monaca couldn't get up due to her handicap, so Edward squatted down to talk to her.
"We'll be taking everyone and leaving now." He said triumphantly. "Tell Gjira he's getting war. Not just with him, but everyone under him. We're whooping all of their asses."
Monaca looks sad, but smiles as she pulls out a remote.
"Puhuhuhu! If I die here, so be it." She says as she presses a button.
Alarms blare across the island, like a fire drill. This begins to send everyone in a panic.
"What the hell did you just do?!" Kiryu asked.
"This island's set to explode in five minutes." Monaca explained.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Everyone screamed.
"That's right. And I have one last trump card to keep you all from escaping here alive. ULTIMATE DESPAIR! I ORDER YOU ALL! CODE BLACK!"
As if by robotic command, all of the Ultimate Despairs in the room all levitate into the air, along with Monaca. They all merge together into a bright ball, and break through the ceiling.
"Are they trying to escape?!" Komaru wondered.
"Did you know she could do that?" Terry asked Toko.
"Um, no." Toko answered. "That's new."
The entire island shakes this time. As if things couldn't get worse.
"I'm getting out of here!" Psycho says as he tries to run away. Unfortunately for him, Harley picks him up and hits him into the wall like a baseball with her bat.
"I don't think so."
They see a large figure look through the window. It appeared to be a large green eye, like Monaca's.
"That's not good." Kiryu says as he slumps Miu over his shoulder.
Suddenly, the roof is ripped open like a toy, and we see Mpnaca has now transformed.
She appeared to be kaiju sized, having a reptilian/t-rex body, bat wings, large mantis claws for hands, and the heads of the Ultimate Despair lay around the neck, crying out in pain as they wiggled around.
Monaca's head was very large. Her eyes took a swirly pattern, her skin was chalk white, her hair was purple, and had large red lips that housed sharp fangs, and a sharp mouth inside that mouth.
"No way! She merged with them?!" Edward cried.
"PUHUHUHU!" She laughed. "I AM THE OMEGA DESPAIR! YOUR TIME IS UP!"
Waluigi finally runs back in with Chris and Byakuya, who both look unharmed.
"Thanks for saving me, you guys!" Chris told them. "I knew you guys wouldn't let this pretty face die. I-WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!"
"In video game terms, the final boss." Tari said firmly.
"We can't stop that thing!" Terry said. "We're practically worn out from fighting already!"
Edward looks concerned, until he feels Tickles tug at his leg. Something in him told him to hold him, so he quickly picked him up.
"You and I are now as one!" Ed hears a childlike voice in his head.
"W-what?!"
Monaca's mantis hand comes at him, ready to crush him. Then, out of nowhere, Tickles screams.
Just as the attack is about to hit, Ed and tickles block it, and are engulfed in a bright light. This pushes everyone As they begin to witness a new transformation before them. As this goes on, the sound of bells could be heard echoing far and wide across many worlds.
"What is happening?" Kiryu asked.
"Something's happening with the both of them!" Susie said.
(Meanwhile, in another part of the world…..)
(The Realm of Non-Existence)
A place of great intrigue and mystery. Leading to worlds and universes yet to be seen or believed.
We see a young boy, possibly around twelve years old. He has black hair, shirtless, is blindfolded, wearing red pants, and has a weird, iron belt, along with combust arm pads. As he stands outside the gate to this place, guarding it. He hears the bells echoing, and gasps.
"Do you hear it, Torrica?!" He asks. "The Bells of Hope are ringing!"
"It's been millennia since I've last heard it." A rough, yet calm male voice said. "It seems he's chosen him this time. He's putting his faith in that boy. It seems we will be meeting him sooner than expected…..Steam Lad."
(The Skies Above Towa City)
Chef is flying the plane to pick everyone up at Towa Hills. Chris messaged him that they got him, and he was on his way. But he's shocked to see a giant monster and a bright orange light.
"What in tarnation is going on now?!" He exclaimed. "Don't tell me that's where they are."
"Okay, I won't tell you." Gura says. "But it might be."
(Back to the Fight)
The light dies down, the bells stop ringing, and Tickles is now gone. What remains is Edward, whose clothes now turned black, and black flames flare off his shoulders. His hair was now orange, spiked up, and flaming. Not to mention he felt stronger, and felt like he dropped some weight.
Everyone looked at him with shock and fascination.
"Ed…..what happened to you?" Tari asked.
"I….don't know." He says as he looks at himself now. "It feels weird. Heh heh. It actually tickles. It tickles so much, I can't stop laughing."
He then chuckles to himself, with this tingly new feeling filling him with childlike happiness.
"I DO NOT CARE IF YOU'VE CHANGED!" The Omega Despair roared. "NONE OF YOU ARE MAKING IT OUT OF THIS ALIVE!"
She brings her claw hand down again, and Edward catches it in one hand, and crushes it!
"AGGGGHH!" The monster recoiled in pain.
"This feeling….I'm so happy!" Edward happily exclaimed. "I feel so strong!"
He kicks his feet up and flies into the air.
"Now he can fly, too?!" Komaru said.
"Whatever he's doing, he needs to hurry!" Susie says. "Or else we're all gonna be blown to kingdom come!"
Ef, now in the air, stared down the Omega Despair at eye level.
"WHAT ARE YOU?!" The Omega Despair questioned.
"I'm really happy right now." He answered. "I'm feeling so joyful, I can do anything!"
She began to look upset.
"YOU FOOL! QUIT SMARTING ME OFF!"
She opens her mouth, and charges a beam, kaiju style.
"Let's see if this works, Tickles!" Edward says. He puts his hand out and glows with an orange aura. He laughs joyfully at this feeling.
"Oh god...this really tickles!"
The Omega Despair fires out a hyper beam, and Ed fires out an orange beam that's even larger. The beams clash, but Ed's attack cuts through hers, and puts a hole through her chest.
"Awesome! He shot a beaaaaam!" Theo gushed.
"What the hell?!" Most of them wondered.
She roars painfully as she begins to fall to the ground.
"GJIRA-SAMA…." she said for her last words. "WON'T…...LOSE…..!"
She collapses to the ground, and they all separate. Monaca and the Ultimate Despair lay unconscious outside Towa Hills.
"The power of positivity….triumphs all!" A dual voice of Ed and Tickles said. He then feels a weird feeling again. Not a ticklish one, but a painful one, like straining your body too hard.
He and Tickles suddenly separate, and fall out of the sky. Luckily his friends were able to catch him and the little orange blob.
"That was awesome, dude!" Terry tells him. "What was that?!"
"I'm not sure." Edward says. "I felt so liberated. We both did."
"ONE MINUTE UNTIL SELF DESTRUCTION!" an automated voice said across the island.
"We'll have to talk about this later!" Tari said worriedly. "We need to go now! Where's Chef?!"
"Right here, kids!" Chef says as he finally arrives on the scene. Korone and Barrett drop a rope ladder down through the completely open ceiling.
"Climb up! We need to go!"
One by one, they each climb up the ladder. First Chris, then Byakuya, then Terry, Susie, Kiryu, Miu, Joe, Waluigi Harley, Tari, and Theo.
Once Edward grabs it, a hand suddenly grabs his foot and tries to pull him away.
"What the?!"
It was UD Spinel, her face now looking dented like a broken toy. "You will not get away!" She shrieks.
"Edward!" His friends all scream from above.
She then cries out in pain as Toko quickly slices through her arm.
"Toko! Komaru!" Edward cried.
"Dont worry about us! Get going!" Komaru tells him.
"We can't leave you guys behind!" Edward said.
"But this is what friends do!" Toko tells him. "Thank you guys! For everything you've done for me!"
Her face began to morph, and suddenly, half her face was Toko, and the other half was Genocide Jack. For a brief moment.
"PROMISE YOU'LL KICK GJIRA'S ASS FOR US, ALRIGHT?!" Both halves asked him.
With tears in his eyes, Ed nodded.
"I promise. Thanks, you guys."
The plane flies into the air, as Toko and Komaru fight back against the last Ultimate Despair. Edward is pulled up as the plane flies away from Towa City.
They all painfully watch as the island explodes, engulfed in a fiery explosion.
The whole crew looked very sad at what transpired. Even those as self centered as Chris and Byakuya.
"I wanted her out of my life...but not like this." Byakuya said.
"They're gone." Edward said painfully. "They sacrificed themselves...to save me."
Tari consoles him with a hug. She also began to cry. "I know. We miss them too."
"You heard what she said." Joe said as he tried to hold back his tears. "Don't let her sacrifice be in vain!"
Edward looks at Tickles, who holds out his pseudopod hand. Edward takes his hand, and begins to smile a bit. "Don't worry, Toko. We will."
As he looks at Tickles, he says, "you and I really pulled off some amazing stuff, huh? Wonder if we could pull that off again."
They all stay silent and mourn Toko and Komaru as the plane flies off. The mission was a success, but the result was bittersweet.
(Meanwhile)
In the wreckage where Towa City once was, two figures gasp for air as they emerge from the water. It was Toko and Komaru, who miraculously survived the explosion, though they looked very dirty and banged up. Both friends held onto a large piece of wood floating in the water.
"I don't know how, but we lived." Toko said. "And i was fully ready to die right there." She looks to the horizon and sees the plane flat away, flying off. "At least they made it safely." She finished.
Komaru looks at Toko and smiles. "You know, I'm happy to see you've changed so much. All because of them."
"I couldn't have done it without having them as my friends." Toko said, beginning to smile. "I hope they win. And Komaru …..I'm...very glad you were there for me too. I have you to thank more than anyone."
Komaru smiles, and responds by giving Toko a kiss on the cheek, to which the writer blushes wildly.
"And thank you." Komaru says sweetly.
(A jungle somewhere in Asia)
Zandrill rests at a tree as he types something on a device.
"Guess Monaca has failed as well." Zandrill says. "Gjira told me if that happened, that I should step in next. And you will help me."
He looks over at, surprisingly, Gideon Graves.
"I'm still curious how I am still alive?" Gideon says, feeling his neck.
"Thank ANTICS technology." Zandrill says. "It gave him the illusion he'd alain you. But I still think you have potential."
"So you basically disobeyed Gjira?" Gideon asked.
"Yes. And I'd do it again. Our goals aren't entirely aligned. I told him I'd rescue Magneto, but that was a lie. A front. I told him I was unable to. We will make our move next to stop Elric and his friends. Should we succeed, you'll be forgiven for sure for your insubordination."
Gideon grins maliciously as he clutches the hilt of his sword.
"This will be fun."
(The Destroyah)
Back on Gjira's airship, the tyrant trembled on his throne, dropping the barrel of booze he was chugging. His children watched him with concern.
"What's wrong, master?!" Sura asked. "Are you still thirsty?!"
"Are you mad about Monaca's failure?" Ghido asks.
"Can I have a banana?" Kogus asks.
"The Bells of Hope!" Gjira stuttered. "The Hero of Happiness….he's really chosen him as the second one, huh?! Will I finally be free?! The final battle battle draws nearer!"
Gjira looks over at a nearby prison cell.
"Hey, you! You never told me your little friends were this strong! But make no mistake! I will be free from this curse! And you will all be reduced to nothing!"
The scene pans inside the cell, and we see Rick laying against the wall, beaten up and bloody.
"Thought you'd try and steal from me again?! Fat chance! Now you're feeling a taste of my wrath. Tell your friends to stop playing games, because I am serious! Soon, the final seal will be broken, Rick Sanchez! A war to end all wars is near! So get ready!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say shit is getting real.
To be honest, I had a lot emotions writing this one. I laughed writing some parts, I teared up writing some parts, and thought to myself "what happened?" This story has gone a completely different direction than many of you probably thought. A battle to decide it all is coming soon. But until then, keep in mind now that Monaca is defeated, Ed's really coming into his own as a good friend and leader, everyone pulled their weight this time Gideon isn't dead, and Gjira has Rick prisoner.
Now, we say goodbye to Toko/Jack. I knew their days were numbered, but I wanted to give them one Hell of a sendoff. Her journey has been an interesting one, and I'm satisfied with how her arc ended. I knew I needed to go all out for it, and I think I did the job. Originally, Psycho was gonna bring Toko back with his abilities, but that changed partway through writing, as i liked the idea of bringing her back in a more emotional and climactic way.
You're all also probably wondering "WHAT THE HELL KINDA POWER UP DID EDWARD JUST PULL OFF?!" Well, I can't spoil the details of it yet, but this is something I've been planning in the story for months. Let's just say there's some story to it, that's for sure. But I'm not the one who will tell them. Somebody else is already planning to do that soon. Man, we still got so many questions.
Here's what's in store for next time. This challenge will be a lot easier. (If you can even call what just happened today an official challenge.)
Next time, our final nine head to Garreg Mach Monastery, from Fire Emblem Three Houses. (A game I've fallen in love with lately) It'll be like Hogwarts, but instead of being students, they'll be the teachers, teaching a school for knights, cultivating in a battle of the houses at the end.
We'll have all your favorite students. From gentle giant Dedue, to noblest of Nobles Ferdinand, to tiny prodigy Lysithea, to shy and skittish Bern-
Phone Rings!
Hold on, guys. Let me get that.
Hello? Yes? What do you mean Bernadetta isn't gonna be there?! Oh, right, somebody suggested her for my other story. Sorry, it just slipped my mind. No, your mom, ya jerk!
Click
Sorry about that. Well, every student will be there, with one exception. So until then, please review and let me know your thoughts if you want. Me, I'm gonna get some rest. Until next time, this is MemeKing, signing off.