The group were inside multiple cells in the Fluxtopia prison.
"Well, while we may be captured, Flux still embarrassed himself in front of his former allies, his future scion and two of our escaped enemies." Hope said. "Gotta give Negativity credit for showing Flux the flaw in his strategy."
"Still, even though they're memories, they become erased the moment they try to leave this Universe. It feels like a prison." Ace said.
"This is what I have been saying about Flux since the very beginning. He is nothing more than an egomaniac who uses his mouth to write checks that his own brain can't cash." David said.
"Egomaniac or not, he's probably thinking up a way to get around that major flaw." Mark said. "We need to get out of here and kick his ass before he does. Unfortunately…it seems he picked up a few tips. Inertia fields plus Anti-Magic Fields. We can't break out."
"It would be impossible for him to try and find a way around that flaw, he's not the Color God of this Universe."
"Still, he's got us trapped tight." Ichiro said.
"Obviously, Ichi." Hapi said. "Maybe I should…"
"No, not in here!" Noel said. "If you summon a demon beast now in a cramped space like this, who knows what could happen!"
"Oh right, it's hard trying to keep one in." Hapi said. "Sorry, NoNo."
"Regardless, this is still the ultimate satisfaction on my part, for obvious reasons." David said. "I know he taped me for it, but I couldn't help getting a snark in. It was all for nothing. Everything he had worked so hard for fell apart by his own admission."
"We haven't gotten to that part yet, but we will." Mark said. "Once we beat him and throw it in his face that if he had just gotten rid of us when he had the chance…that's falling apart by his own admission."
"Well that's not happening if we don't find a way out." Emo said. "At the very least, someone should come looking for us eventually…but we can't wait for that. Any suggestions from the tacticians?"
"Hmm…? Wait, I… I think I hear something." David said.
They soon saw the darker Ace approaching the cells.
"Ah! He's come to finish the job!" Mari said as he unlocked the cell.
"No…he's working to set you all free." a voice said as Eikichi stepped out.
"So this is what you meant by the right moment." Ace said. "But how did you two…"
"I saved this dark counterpart from an incident and became friends." Eikichi said.
"You must flee….Flux is in his lab creating a way to break the boundary. If he does, his ambitions won't be mere fantasy." Dark Ace said.
"And let him finish his work so he can invade the Multiverse with his army of our corrupted memory selves? No way. Even if it's Flux, we're not running away." Hope said.
"Hope is right. The very thought of running away from all this is unfathomable. If he succeeds, it will tarnish everything we stand for." David said.
"This is our chance to counterattack and bring his schemes to an end." Ace added.
"I've fought Flux for a long time. If I didn't run from Ultimate Flux…I won't run now." Jexi said.
"He's being bodyguarded by his top commanders." Eikichi said. "You'd never make it through."
"Maybe not alone." David said.
"But we're not alone, are we?" Mark asked. "If Flux can take forces from our memories…"
"...Then so can we." David said.
"Fight fire with fire." Ace said.
"It won't work. He's got this entire memory monitored. He'll know if you try to leave." Dark Ace said.
"Why leave? We have all we need in this little memory." Jexi said.
"I see…you're gonna turn his own forces against each other." Eikichi said.
"Yes. We just need to reawaken the memories that were cut off. There has to have been a point he had taken each of them from." David said.
"That's not how this world works." Eikichi said. "Those beings…me…we're actual memories. There is no restoring. Besides…not like we'll even be here when you all depart."
"What do you…" Hope started.
"The nature of memory…we are a power source for these memories. With no one in this universe to remember them…they'll fade away." Sheer said.
"This place is like a sandbox. Wiping and recreating the board constantly." Dark Ace said. "I learned about this when guarding the boss…I mean Flux."
"That's why he didn't kill us." Tails said.
"We created this whole memoryscape when we arrived here, so leaving or otherwise fading will cause the entire world to disappear." Ichiro said. "If Flux took our lives right then and there, he would lose his entire army."
"Exactly. He's going to wait till he creates his solution and mass produces it before getting rid of all of you." Dark Ace said.
"Which is why we have to stop him." Hope said.
"So let's go then." Jexi said as they left the prison.
"I don't understand… we're only memories." Eikichi said. "Why are they so determined to…"
"I think you already know the answer to that by now." David said.
"And memories or not, you're still alive, with your own thoughts and feelings." Ace said.
"When we got here, I believed that what happens here doesn't affect reality, but… After seeing you again, I felt another sense of sorts." David said.
"You guys were affected, as your histories were changed. Although it was for their own gains, Flux and Ian proved that even memories can be affected in different ways." Hope said.
"Heh. That's just like you, Dave. And…I'm sorry that my death in reality was hard on you." Eikichi said.
"Hey, don't worry about it. You served as my conscience every step of the way. And I couldn't be more happy about that." David said. "So don't you worry… The one responsible will get their comeuppance soon enough."
"Go and do your thing then, my friend." Eikichi said.
"I will. Once again… It was good to see you again, Eikichi." David said.
As the group departed to stop Flux, Eikichi smiled as he and Dark Ace stood together.
"No matter the situation, Dave and his friends don't back down from it." Eikichi said.
"Just stop saying it like that…they all take the lead…not just him." Dark Ace smiled.
"I know. But… Seeing him the way he is now, just makes me glad that they are all here now." Eikichi said. "Wish… I could say the same for his other self…"
"I wouldn't worry about that too much." Dark Ace said. "He's already making moves of his own."
In the lab, Flux worked hard mixing a number of chemicals and fiddling with a number of devices.
"Geez…it's like watching a machine at work." Dark Jexi said.
"This is what the boss is like when he has something going on in his mind." Ian said.
"Can't believe that guy got to him this much to try and prove a point." Dark Hope said.
"He's not one to take something lying down. In fact, as soon as he's finished, he'll lead the army to destroy Dark Garden as payback." Ian said.
"Is that a good idea?" Dark Mark asked.
"Probably not, but he's suffered worse." Ian said.
"What I can't understand is, after so many times of humiliation and losing… why hasn't he given up?" Dark Hope asked.
"That's how he is. He could lose his life here and now but would force his body to come back to life just to defeat those heroes." Ian said.
"Talk about stubborn…can't help but admire him for that." Dark Jexi said.
"So even though his plans mess up, and even though he fails, no matter how many times he goes down, he just keeps getting back up." Dark Hope said. "He'll keep trying until he wins, even if it takes him years to do it."
"Ha…years? Try a matter of days." Flux said holding an elixir. "I've done this. This…will make all these memories last." he laughed.
"Wow…can't wait to…" Dark Mark said.
"Not so fast. This is the only dose. I need to mass produce it before anyone can get a drink." Flux said.
"Which is why you won't be leaving with it." a voice said as Dark David stood there.
"Something you wanna say?" Dark Hope asked.
"Look at his eyes…he actually intends to betray the boss." Dark Jexi said.
"Have any of you even thought about how much destruction could be caused if that elixir were to be distributed?" Dark David asked.
"Yeah…we'd be the ones causing it." Dark Mark said.
"And with our goody two shoes selves locked up, we'd take their places." Dark Hope said. "I plan to make my name actually mean something when I get outta here. Flux told me all about how I'm a laughingstock in the real world."
"Is there even any legality to it?" Dark David asked. "Does he really mean what he says?"
"Of course I do. I've shown them just as I've shown you. Now…you did well taking down Ice Boy…so I'll overlook this transgression if you turn and leave…right now." Flux said.
"That boy… I can see the intelligence in his eyes. He knows when someone spouts incoherence to his face. If I am his counterpart, can you prove the truth of your words?" Dark David asked.
Before Flux could say anything, Dark Mark dashed towards Dark David and grabbed him by the neck.
"Honestly…I couldn't give a damn if it's real or not." Dark Mark said as he tossed David's counterpart through the wall. "All I want…is to kill this so-called "beautiful" Multiverse."
"We'll be conquering it. But to substitute…" Flux said. "Jexi. Hope. Mark. This memory has gone rogue with madness. Kill him." he said as the three dark copies attacked Dark David and threw him out of the lab as they pursued.
"Pathetic… Pursuing me was exactly what I wanted you to do." Dark David said.
"You just don't know…when to stop running your mouth." Dark Jexi said plunging his hand to Dark David's heart. "I will dedicate this taking of powers from you…to my former master Lucius."
"How low you have sunk… I am disappointed." Dark David said before he let out a small chuckle.
Dark Jexi pulled out the heart and devoured it as Dark David fell over.
"Man that guy could talk. Though…why was he so confident?" Dark Hope said.
"Hmm. Ah…the lab!" Dark Jexi realized.
In the lab, Flux gathered some equipment as he saw three figures approach. "Ah…good. You all killed him off. Excellent." Flux said.
"Sorry…but…" one of them said as Flux saw it was the real Jexi, Hope and Mark. "This is a case of mistaken identity!" Hope said.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Flux said in pure surprise. "I see…that fool went and released you. Great."
"Hand over the elixir." Jexi said.
"Not a chance. Not when I'm closer now than I have been in so many years." Flux said.
"Fine." Mark said.
"We'll take it by force!" the three of them said.
"Wait! We can talk about this." Flux said. "My weapons are in the other room. Least let me…" he said as the three dogpiled him as the elixir went flying. "No!" he cried before Ian grabbed it. "Yes!"
"Boss! I'll go get this mass produced!" Ian said.
"No…that'll take too long. Just get to the main forces and tell them to invade the lab!" Flux said as Ian took off.
"I'll stop Ian!" Hope said, going after him.
"You do that. As for us…" Mark said, cracking his knuckles while he and Jexi started at Amadeus. "Why don't the three of us discuss how you royally messed up this time?" he suggested with a dangerous smirk.
"Messed up? Hardly." Flux said, pushing a button as metal surrounded the man before taking on the form of a large mech. "I was going to hold off since killing you would erase those memories…but now…I have been angered to my very limits!"
"Huh…now this really is familiar." Jexi smiled.
"I'd tell you to save the trip down memory lane for later, but we're already there." Mark chuckled. "Kick his ass?"
"Kick his ass." Jexi nodded as the two powered up.
"Hope you two are ready…cause we're going to have some fun tonight!" Flux said.