Author's Note:
I wanted to make sure that I put this note at the start. I have forgotten to link this for two weeks in a row, which is a complete shame on my part. I wanted to truly thank hyompy on Tumblr for this amazing set of fanart drawn of some of the characters! Thank you so much, I can't believe it took until now for me to remember to link this! Please give the artist the love they deserve!
post/651145476843995136/i-doodled-a-bunch-of-fanfic-characters-yay-but-i
Morro paced back and forth inside of the Twin's throne room. His head was filled with many thoughts, not any of them good. It'd been a few hours since Monty and his friends had vanished. Morro had no idea of when they might contact him again, but he was willing to wait. He had to be willing to wait. It was the only hope of defeating those Twins now.
The Twins had left him here simply to have their own power. From what he understood, the Twins had sent Vermillion into the past and used them to alter the timeline. He remembered having his power drained, then dropped in the middle of a world that looked nothing like what Harumi's world had been described as. That was six months ago. Now, he'd been living here, in the Twin's palace for those months, waiting for someone to show up. He'd thought, perhaps, that the others wouldn't come for him. That the Twins would now have a base to retreat to, a place that was all their own. Now, however, he knew that he had a chance. One, little, chance.
His pacing brought him to look back towards the two thrones in front of him. Before all this, he'd never heard of the Twins. From what he understood, they did exist in his world, he just hadn't met them yet. He'd learned of so many things by being plugged into that Iron Doom. When he wasn't passed out from pain or kept away from the Twins, he had gleaned the fact that each of the places he'd seen were other worlds. How they came to be, he hadn't gotten. But he'd seen from the Twins in Mage's home that they weren't dealing with just one set of them.
Each world had been so different from the last. Even now, Morro didn't fear the fact his power was gone; he still had his Chi, after all. No, his fear was what exactly the Twins planned to do with it. He hadn't seen much of this world before it'd happened, but he knew this world was some twisted, dark version of the fate that would befall every world the Twins would touch. It was why he was so eager and ready to help Monty, even if he knew Monty hated his very existence.
Thinking about all of the worlds, however, had one question that couldn't quite leave his mind: Who exactly was Monty?
Morro's pondering was suddenly cut short as he heard the sound of the doors to the throne room opening. He turned, expecting to see Prime again. Instead, his eyes widened as he immediately dropped down into a bow. Even if it sickened his gut to do so, he wouldn't dare raise a hand against the Twins. Especially as they walked towards him.
"Ah, Morro!" Acronix laughed as he approached, "Now now, we said no need to bow to us."
"Indeed," Krux smirked, "But that doesn't mean we aren't… pleased to see someone who understands their place."
"You've shown me how powerful you are already," Morro muttered, "You are deserving of my respect, required or not."
"See, brother, this is why I like him," Acronix tapped him on the shoulder, letting Morro stand up, "He knows his place, and he doesn't try to fight us like everyone else!"
"If everyone was willing to submit to power, we wouldn't have had to go this far," Krux shook his head, "Soon, we will force everyone to bow, power or not."
Morro said nothing as he stepped aside, letting the two walk by him. Slowly, Acronix and Krux took their seats in their thrones. Acronix grumbled about the comfort of it before splaying out in his throne to get comfortable. Krux, looking at his brother with ire, sat up straight with posture so proper Morro was certain no wall was straighter than Krux's back.
"How has the breeding been going?" Acronix asked, "Are we on schedule?"
"Yes," Morro nodded his head, "I spoke to Commander Blunck today. He says that the only tower behind production is Tower 34. He will make sure it is up to quota by week's end. He's asked to use the artificial farms for further sustenance."
"Granted," Acronix waved his hand, "See brother! I told you keeping at least some of that girl's tech was useful for our cause!"
"Not this again," Krux pressed his hand to his head, "We agreed to confine all modern implements to the area around the towers. Are you trying to ask for more? You know that if it was up to me-"
"There wouldn't be a single piece of electricity around, I know!" Acronix groaned out, "You don't have to remind me every other minute," Acronix smirked, "Oh, brother! Now that we have some time to ourselves, I wrote our army a new battle song!"
"You mean a war chant, yes?" Krux frowned, "You are aware that most of warriors do not speak, yes?"
"Oh we'll work out those details, just listen!" Acronix smirked, pulling his MP3 player off his armor and cranking the speakers up, "I wrote it myself!" The song began to play a simple chorus backed by the thundering of blacksmith forges:
The Vermillion Warriors on the RISE!
Not one Vermillion and we're READY for the fight!
Not backing down! NO! Just building up! HEY!
The Vermillion Warriors on the RISEEEEEE!
"Hrmm… not bad," Krux nodded, "I admit, it has a certain charm to it. And it's very emblematic of our armies."
"Oh, I wrote the whole song, that's just the first chorus!" Acronix beamed, "Here, listen to it, I had fun making the bass-"
"Time Twins!" Prime's voice cried out across the room. Their gazes and Morro's own were drawn to the doors, flung open by Prime's arms.
"Ah, Prime!" Acronix sat up and lifted up his MP3 player, "How have you been? Here, I want your opinion on something-"
"Why have you not attacked Over and his allies yet?" Prime asked as he made his way across the room, "You've not contacted me or Ophiod since you revealed the Iron Demise!"
"Ah… we've simply had no mission for you yet," Krux shook his head, "We decided that you completed your task in buying us time to complete our machine. A good leader knows when to give his allies rest."
"That's unacceptable," Prime walked up towards the thrones. He stood at the base of the stairs, directly beside Morro. Morro stepped back, feeling the weight of Prime's emotions as he stared the Twins down.
"Why?" Acronix looked down at Prime, "You did everything we asked of you and more. Recruiting you was one of our best decisions we ever made! You deserve some rest. Go home and upgrade your mech or whatever you do for fun."
"Over is still out there," Prime slashed his arm across his chest, "As long as he remains, your plans are in jeopardy! The power of that beast he became, it was the power of the Overlord's true form," Prime raised his head, "Can you defeat someone as violent and powerful as him?"
"Hrmmm… and what exactly are you asking us to do about it, Prime?" Krux raised his eyebrow, "You understand that you and Ophiod have finished your task, yes? What good does fighting for us further give you?"
"The satisfaction of seeing this fight through to the end," Prime's eyes lit up with passion, "I'm the one who saves everyone, and I can't do that if I know there is a threat like him still out there. You brought me into your mission, now let me finish it!"
Acronix and Krux took their time to look at each other. They shared a silent conference with each other, asking the other about what they should do. Morro took his time to analyze Prime, trying to figure out what he wanted here. The anger and lust in his eyes for this mission was one Morro couldn't understand.
"Very well," Acronix nodded, a grin spreading over his face, "How about this? We'll give you a small army of Vermillion. You go and hunt down Over. In fact, why don't you start with somewhere that we'd been meaning to pay back for a long time?"
"Anywhere," Prime gripped his fist, "I'll do it. I'll hunt Over down!"
"Then you may take an entire tower of Vermillion with you," Krux held his arm out, "Go. Commander Raggmunk will tell you the details of where you are to start."
"Do this," Acronix smirked, "And we promise once that group is defeated, you'll have not only your lover back, but your entire team."
Prime looked up at the group, then he nodded his head firmly. He turned and walked out of the room, a powerful stride that felt as impactful as the footfalls from his mech. When the doors shut behind him, Morro felt a question welling inside of him.
"Why?" Morro turned to look at the Twins, "Why are you letting him go?"
"Because no matter what happens, it benefits us," Krux nodded his head, "You would do well to learn that about plans, Morro. If he succeeds and destroys Over, it brings us one step closer to complete and total domination. If he fails, we learn more about how desperate they're becoming to stop us. And either way, we demonstrate the power our armies have achieved in such a short time."
"Do you intend to give him back his world?" Morro asked.
"Being a bit bold today, aren't you?" Acronix smirked, putting his hands behind his head, "Of course we are. If he does what we ask him. After all, that means if we ever need him again, he'll be jumping at the chance to work for us."
"What shall we do about Ophiod and Oni?" Krux asked his brother.
"Oh, I have a feeling Ophiod is still willing to do anything we ask," Acronix smirked, "And as for that third wheel, we'll deal with him as it comes."
The two nodded to each other. Morro looked up at them, then turned away from them, silent. Acronix waved his hand, telling Morro to leave the room. As he made his way out the same doors as Prime had, he could only look back one more time as the rulers of this new world plotted whatever they had planned for not only his own life, but for those they had employed.
In a bed deep inside the city of Ouroborus, Skales slept. The Hypnobrai's legs kicked fitfully as he did, his body cold to the touch and pale in the face. His eyes were shut tightly as he squirmed several more times in his rest. Eventually, a lamp fitted with a glowing orange crystal, radiating warmth down across his body, led him into a more gentle rest.
"How is the Prince's knight?" A young Venomari asked the snake beside them.
"I hear that the Queen herself healed him for hours," A female Fangpyre responded to the other snake, gently moving a broom back and forth across the floor in front of the room, "So he has to be fine, right?"
"I hope so," The Venomari responded, "I imagine the Prince would be heartbroken if he was hurt."
"Do you think that he and the Prince are…?" The Fangpyre asked. Before the Venomari could respond, an Anacondrai guard slithered down the hall.
"Have you finished cleaning this area?" The Anacondrai asked.
"Y-Yes sir," The Fangpyre chirped out.
"Then you should move somewhere else," The Anacondrai nodded, "Her Highness has ordered this room off limits unless given permission."
The two snakes quickly nodded, picking up their brooms and cleaning supplies to make their way down the hall and away from the room. The Anacondrai left the way he came. As the two found their way to a staircase, the Venomari nodded his head.
"I'm going to clean the next floor, you take this one?" The Venomari pointed down the stairs. The Fangpyre nodded her head and descended down the stairs. The Venomari turned and walked up the stairs and off into another hallway. They waited until there were no signs of anyone coming, then his eyes flashed orange.
Slowly, the Venomari's body faded, melting away as magic dripped down their body. Ophiod appeared in the place of the green Serpentine. Looking around again to ensure nobody could see him, he chanted a small spell and opened a portal in front of him to teleport away. He slithered through it, the magic fading away from the hallway as quickly as it came.
Ophiod emerged deep underground. He was in a large chamber, one that he knew far too well. Leaning up against one wall emblazoned with a massive symbol of a snake on it was the Scroll of Forbidden Spinjitzu. From the split in the wall, it was clear it could slide in as a door. To Ophiod's right was a wall that had several tiles that had once acted as the seal for the door. Now, it was but one of two locks.
"... Skales…" Ophiod whispered to himself, slithering over towards the wall. It'd been easy to impersonate one of the cleaning staff to get close enough to keep an eye on Skales. He'd hoped by now that he would wake up. Yet there was still no sign of his love opening his eyes. From what he'd seen, Skales was still alive, but it would take time for him to wake up.
Ophiod turned his eyes to the staff. He remembered the first time he'd used the thing. Oni's smoke had forced him to remember. Standing in this room as he was made all of the strength he had in his body fade. Just looking at the door behind which his father slept along the Great Devourer, he felt as though he was still that young child whose mother had begged him to help seal away his father as he stormed through the city he'd grown up in.
Slowly, the Viper slithered over and picked up the scroll. Even now, it felt as though it'd grown ten times heavier. He'd felt the raw power inside of it. He had felt what the return for his desire was. He'd brought down a beast that rivaled the power of the First Spinjitzu Master. And yet, he'd also felt the cost it held. The cost of his desire.
"... Why?" Ophiod whispered, "Why was my desire to free my father not enough for you?!" Ophiod shut his eyes tightly, "Why did you take him instead?!"
Ophiod understood now. What Lloyd had said to him about the scroll at that Monastery, in a time that felt so long ago. When he'd used it in Harumi's city, it'd fed upon his desire to free his father, to be the true prince his people deserved. Yet when he'd asked for more, it had decided to take more. To take the desire he truly had in life.
"Why am I not enough?!" Ophiod gripped the staff, "I have to be enough! I need my father free! I need to be more than the Half-Breed! I need to be the Prince that all of them can be proud of! Why… why?!"
Ophiod knew why. He had always known why. Ever since that day he found Skales half-dead in the snowdrifts, running from a fate of his own making. Ever since he'd healed Skales to health and taught him everything he knew. Ever since he'd risked his own life to win Skales' own. He knew that if Skales had said the word, he'd have abandoned everything to be with him.
"Father…" Ophiod reached up, spreading his hand against the door. He could feel it, the heat and warmth of the Devourer behind it. Somewhere among that beast, was his father. Sealed inside with it, a chaotic weapon nobody could hope to control. He let go of the staff and instead put both hands against it, lowering his forehead against it.
"What do I do, father?" Ophiod whispered, tears streaming down his face, "Why did you have to leave me?! Why did you leave me with the duties of being the Prince, in a world that despises my very existence?! Why did you abandon mother, when she was willing to risk everything for you?! Why?! Why could you not be here to… why did you have to… why…"
Ophiod let his tears fill him. He wanted to be anywhere other than this room. Anywhere other than these memories that refused to leave him alone. Yet he knew that he had to hide here. He had run away from his mother. If she knew what he was doing, she would stop him. She would stand in his way. Arcturus would aid her. The only ones that stood behind him would stop him. So he had to hide here, while his mother healed Skales. While he waited for his chance to leap back into battle, and… and…
"If only he wasn't powerful… if only I could bring him down without the scroll!" Ophiod spat, "Over… he forced me to do this, all of them did! If I could just... if he didn't have that power!"
Slowly, Ophiod's hand looked down to the scroll. He looked towards it, as he thought of something. Something to do about that. If he could take his chance, then… then he could do it. All he had to do was…
Ophiod's thoughts carried him off to his rest. Slowly, the Viper sat down, curling his tail around his body to try to insulate himself. Inside of the cold, deep prison underground, he wrapped his arms around himself and closed his eyes. As he curled in on himself, he became nothing more than a ball of scales and tears.
"Harumi?" Lloyd asked outside of Harumi's door, "Harumi, are you… are you there?"
There was no response from inside of the room. Instead, Krux' shook his head. Lloyd stepped back. Behind that door was Harumi, where she'd gone the moment she came back from her world. Outside of that door, alongside Lloyd and Krux', was Monty and Lulloyd. The four looked at the door in worry.
"She's… not said a word ever since she got back," Lulloyd looked down in fear.
"Yeah, I'm starting to think maybe bringing a girl barely over her past trauma into a new heaping batch of it was a bad idea," Monty rolled his eyes sarcastically.
"Monty," Krux' frowned, "Now is not the time."
"When is the time, then?" Monty turned around, "I told you what we saw. The Twins have wiped her world away. Gone. They killed everyone who could have posed a threat to them. We don't have time to sit here and think about things, we have to start doing something."
"Like what…?" Lulloyd whispered, "What can we do?"
"We… we have to find a way to fight them," Lloyd raised his head, " We'll find a way."
"Rather than rushing headlong into battle, we should figure out what the Twins are planning," Krux' nodded, "That is the best way forward now."
"Oh? Like the way you 'figured out' their plans by letting them invade your nation for months?" Monty glared at him. That action was enough for Krux' to frown.
"I will not say that my plan was foolproof, but I knew I had the best chance of stopping them!" Krux' shook his head, "I will not be insulted for what I did. The only ones that I wish to have judge me are those that saw the conflict through from the start."
"Yeah, and we were the ones that even got Mage to a point he could help you," Monty scoffed, "So if we hadn't showed up, you'd have just let everyone sit back and get conquered. So maybe you should be willing to take our insults."
"Monty," Lloyd starred the ghost down, "Now is not the time."
Monty looked at Lloyd for a long moment, then sighed, "You know what, you're right. Now isn't the time. Because right now, we don't have any time. Can't be wasting what you don't have, isn't that right?" Monty growled, "I'm going to go check on my sword."
Before anyone could stop him, Monty put in the coordinates for the Fire Tribe and activated his watch. A moment later, he fell into a portal at his feet, fading from view alongside the vortex. Krux' looked down at it with a stern gaze.
"H-He deals with stress by getting, mean," Lulloyd defended, "Please, don't, hold it against him. He's… he's gone through a lot and, I-I'm sure he's just not sure how to handle it."
"Someone who can only deal with his pain by turning it onto others is not an ally, but a thorn in one's side," Krux' shook his head, "That is what I was taught. I understand his power, but his words will hurt more than they help."
"Well, we can't worry about Monty right now," Lloyd gripped his fist, "I… I didn't like the idea of Harumi going and, if she's hurt this badly then… then…"
"... Then we have to do something to help her," Lulloyd looked up at Lloyd, "Right?"
"Exactly," Lloyd crossed his arms, "We have to do something. We need to talk to her and… we have to do something to help her."
"If I can offer my own advice," Krux' shook his head, "Right now, none of your words are going to reach her. You would do well to simply allow her to rest. She's gone through much, and thought she was ready for it. Seeing everything that you believe in taken from you is…" Krux' shook his head again, "I can't say I understand, but I think it's for the best."
"But…" Lloyd looked up, causing Krux' to reach down and grip his shoulder.
"Perhaps you would like to train with me," Krux' nodded, "I promise, it will help to get your mind off of things."
Lloyd looked over at Lulloyd. Lulloyd gave him a long look back, trying to read what he was thinking. Lulloyd, however, nodded his head and stepped forward towards Krux'.
"I think that's… a good idea," Lulloyd looked over at Lloyd, "We… h-have a lot to think about, right? Let's, try not to worry about it, right?"
Lloyd, recognizing the value in what Lulloyd was saying, slowly nodded his own head. Krux' gained a small smile as he turned, leading the two away and off towards the training grounds behind the palace. As the three left, Lloyd couldn't help but look back towards the door that beckoned for him to open it and help whoever was beyond it. Instead, he left her alone with whatever she was thinking to try to finally clear his own head.
"Here you are, friend!" Ray panted as he held up the newly reforged blade, "It took my best tools, but I think this is some of my best work!"
Monty looked down. In Ray's hand, he held a newly crafted Sword of Sanctuary. The blade was shorter than before, and the crossguard had been reduced in turn. The blade, however, appeared thinner and sharper, carrying even more light reflecting off its surface. The hilt had been redone as well, moulding the crystal fully into the blade rather than being held inside. The sword, while looking the same from a distance, had been clearly shaped for something more around Monty's preference.
"Thanks," Monty took the thing and held it upright. It was slightly lighter, which he expected. He slowly moved to spin it around in his hand, feeling the new distribution. With a smaller crossguard, the blade felt more elegant to spin about. Something that he would have picked in the first place. He took a step back from Ray and summoned a column of wind around the thing, then rapidly spun the blade around in his hand again. He formed a small cone of wind under his feet to skate about in a circle, slashing the thing about as hard as he could. He stopped and leapt into the air, bringing it down and over his head and stopped it a mere inch from the ground.
"This is good," Monty nodded his head, "Feels a lot better."
"I knew you were Wind Tribe!" Ray snapped his fingers, "Don't quite get the body but hey, we all got things about us, don't we?" He laughed, "I made it a bit lighter and put more weight in the hilt for you. Not to say it's lost any of its strength! I added a small bit of the metal we use here, it'll keep your blade from breaking again. I don't think I have to tell you anything about how to use it now, eh?"
"Nope, "Monty slid the sword into the hilt on his back, shrugging his shoulders to get used to the way it now sat, "Thanks."
"Tell Acronix that I need to work more on his new swords!" Ray saluted the ghost, "They'll be even better than Aevum when I'm done, mark my words!"
Monty didn't say another word. Instead, he just walked away from Ray. The man rolled his eyes but disappeared back into his blacksmithing forge, knowing full well he had other orders. Monty walked along a few more steps, over towards one of the many paths over the massive lava rivers.
"Well," Monty nodded his head, "How'd it feel?"
It feels… nice, The sword responded, It feels more like something you would use. If you are to be my master, then it is only fit that I am a sword you wish to use.
"Exactly," Monty nodded, "Now was that so hard?"
Now all you have to do is find Sanctuary, The sword replied, And you'll be on your way to defeating every foe you ever face.
"Ah yes, there's always something else, isn't there?" Monty sighed. If the sword had eyes, it would have raised an eyebrow.
Monty, is everything alright? The sword asked, You were unduly harsh on your friends today. I believe you are guising your own fear under your anger.
"Aren't you the therapist?" Monty grumbled.
I understand why you have had to do that thus far, Monty, The sword continued, But you have said it yourself: we have no time to waste. If your emotions are preventing you from finding Sanctuary, then-
"Then maybe we shouldn't sit around and talk about this," Monty grumbled, "I'm just thinking about other things, alright?"
About Ronin? The sword posited. Monty grumbled.
"Yeah, about Ronin," Monty gripped his fist, "I'm not supposed to wonder where he's gone. But I know something is up. And I need to find him."
"Ronin's gone?" Lulloyd's voice sounded off from behind Monty.
By pure reflex, Monty spun around and drew both the SoS and Ivory, pointing them at the source of the noise. Lulloyd stood there, unfazed at the sudden display of violence. Instead, he waited for Monty to lower his weapons before smiling at him.
"I knew you'd be here," Lulloyd smiled, "Is that your new sword? It's cool. Looks, a lot nicer, really."
"You?" Monty sighed, putting away Ivory and the sword, "What do you want?"
"I uh, I know you well enough to know when something's bothering you, Monty," Lulloyd told him, "And, it sounds like it's Ronin."
Monty scoffed, but didn't say anything. He instead looked down towards the massive flow of lava that went right through the tribe. He tried to put his thoughts on other things, like how anyone was able to live so close to this stuff. Instead, Lulloyd walked over to him and looked down at the lava himself.
"W-Woah, I uh, didn't realize they were really on the side of a volcano," Lullyod grimaced nervously, "I-I just got the coordinates off your watch earlier and, uh, wow this place is really hot," Lulloyd shook his head as sweat beads appeared on his face printing, "Hope I don't melt up, r-right? I mean, I trained a bit with Krux' but, uh, I was worried about you."
"You're terrible at jokes," Monty groaned out, "Just go ahead and spit out what you wanna ask me now that you already heard it."
"Okay," Lulloyd sat down beside Monty, "So… what's going on with Ronin?"
Monty gave a long sigh, looking down and across the lava that poured around them. With a small flick of his hand, he surrounded Lulloyd in a cone of wind, lowering the heat around him with the cool breeze. After a few moments, Lulloyd relaxed a bit. Monty's expression, however, made it clear thanking him wouldn't be a smart idea.
"He's… in hiding," Monty grumbled out, "Something's going on. He wasn't at the shop, and REX was still there. I went to all the places that we're meant to hide out at and… he just wasn't there. No sign of him."
"Then… maybe he's hiding somewhere that you, don't know?" Lulloyd offered, "Didn't, you tell him to hide?"
"I did, but this doesn't feel right," Monty gripped his fists, "He would leave me some kind of clue. Something that… something to tell me where the heck he is!" Monty growled out, "And now I can't stop thinking about it!"
Lulloyd watched how Monty simmered angrily in front of him like that, deciding not to try to push him right now. Instead, he just waited for Monty to calm down enough for him to look down at the lava.
"I… think you're just worried about him, Monty," Lulloyd mumbled out, "I mean, I'm worried about everyone back home to. That's… pretty normal, right? Haven't you and Ronin… been separated like this before?"
"Never without knowing where we are," Monty gripped his fist, "And it's stupid of me to even worry! We deal with some bad people, don't rely on the cops, all that. And we have a whole thing if the shop gets attacked. We've even had to handle it for a long time."
"How long have you and Ronin been…" Lullyod rotated his hand, "Y-You know?"
"We partnered up fourteen or so years ago," Monty sighed, "See how stupid it is for me to worry now? I'm not supposed to worry about him. He's supposed to go take care of himself, I take care of me, then we just.. Meet up when it's done."
"...Wow, uhm, I-I didn't realize how old you were," Lulloyd blinked, "Uhm… I-I mean. It's, not a bad thing to worry about people, e-even if you know that they're gonna be okay. That's, totally normal, Monty."
"For you, maybe," Monty turned away from him, "You actually grew up with people that did care."
Lulloyd wasn't sure what to do with that statement. Instead, he decided to step closer to Monty and look him squarely in the eye. Monty looked back at him, trying to figure out what he was supposed to take from it. Instead, he was just made to glare at Lulloyd.
"If… this is eating you up so much, I think, next chance we get, w-we go and find Ronin," Lulloyd nodded, "I don't think, Lloyd would like that, but you can't focus on the battle if… you're all this worried. You're worried that something happened to him so… we go and we find him for you."
Monty didn't say anything. Instead, he just gave a loud grumble and then pushed past Lulloyd. Lulloyd, however, knew that was the closest thing to a yes he was going to get. He smiled at Monty for a moment, then went and followed after him.
"Let's just get out of this place," Monty stretched his shoulders out, "I got my sword, that's all that matters."
"Yeah, let's," Lulloyd nodded. The two opened their portals in near sync with each other, soon teleporting off and away from the fiery village.
Lloyd groaned out as he laid against the wall outside of the training grounds. Fighting against someone that had the ability to temporarily pause and reverse time was not fair. He never knew what Krux' would do next, and sometimes Krux' knew what he would do next. It was so unfair he didn't even want to think about it. Even now, almost an hour after it was done, he was still reeling from the soreness of being thrown around like that.
Still, keeping up his training was important. Lloyd knew that if he let himself start to falter with that, he'd end up making this even worse for himself. He needed the practice against fighting someone with the power of time on their hands. He had to be ready for it. He had to be ready for anything now that… that…
Lloyd felt his mood dropping. This team was fracturing. He had to get them out of this slump. He had to do something to make it clear they could win. If he didn't then… then everything Wu said to him wasn't going to work. Even if Master Wu and his team believed in him, they couldn't go on this trip with him. For some reason, the Twins could move around all the Vermillion they wanted, but he couldn't take even his friends with him. All that training had only let him take his mind off those thoughts for so long.
Soon, Lloyd found himself wandering about the palace again. He hated feeling like he was hiding like this. He hated thinking that he could, somehow, fail himself, fail the people around him. He wanted to save them, he wanted to keep them all safe. Not just the people of this world, but everyone in Monty's world, and Lulloyd's home, and his own world, and… and everyone. He'd already failed them once. He'd let the Twins destroy one world, and everyone in it. He couldn't let that happen again.
Lloyd wandered into the throne room, light pouring in from the entrance that would lead him to the rest of the Time Tribe. He'd thought about going out and exploring it before, but he hadn't had any drive to. If he tried, he'd just worry about other things and come back inside. Plus, he wasn't exactly shaped like everyone else in this world. He didn't want to cause a ruckus. His thoughts were deep enough that he wandered right by Acronix', sitting and working on some papers on his throne, without a word.
"Lloyd?" Acronix' called out, "What troubles you?"
"Huh?" Lloyd looked up and over towards Acronix', shaking his head, "Oh… just, the normal things, really. Nothing that we can fix."
"I see that," Acronix' stood up from his throne, "But sharing some details may help your mood."
Lloyd paused as he thought about that, then he shook his head, "It's… nothing that can really be fixed. I'm… I'm just feeling worried about everything. Worried that… this is all my fault."
"Hrmm?" Acronix' crossed his arms, "What do you mean?"
"The… the Twins," Lloyd turned to look at the alternate version of his now foremost enemy, "They came from my world, my… my fight. They stole my power to start everything. And now look at them! They… they've been doing all of this now, and…"
"I think you're overthinking that," Acronix' responded, "And I'm certain you've had this conversation before. You're looking for someone to agree with you, aren't you?"
"I… what?" Lloyd blinked.
"That conversation. Blaming yourself for everything. Waiting for someone to say it was so you can affirm your guilt," Acronix' sighed, "I've had that same conversation with myself many times, Lloyd. And I will say that it gets you nowhere."
"You have?" Lloyd blinked, "Oh."
"Yes, I have, and that's why I'm saying this," Acronix' reached out and gripped his shoulder, "The first failure is as equally important as the next one. And the next. And all of those after it. Tell me, are your friends here to support you?"
"Yes, they are," Lloyd nodded.
"And do they hold what you've failed to do against you?" Acronix' asked further.
"Not, really," Lloyd mumbled out, "But, sometimes I think they should."
"Then perhaps you don't need to hear this from me," Acronix' let go of his shoulder, "But it's not going to do any good to hold onto that guilt. Don't simply forget what you've done, but don't ignore the fact that you can do even more good if you keep moving forward."
The words that Acronix' gave him were enough to make Lloyd feel as though he was looking at someone far older, and far wiser. Acroinx' was a young man, tasked with leading his tribe alone after having to banish and reclaim his brother, and now he was giving Lloyd advice on how to move forward. Lloyd had nothing but respect for him, even as he nodded his head.
Before either of them could speak, however, two people quickly ran through the door into the room. One was a young guard with deep blonde hair and blue-painted armor, gasping out as he heaved for breath with his spear. The other was Krux', equally as winded and his face red from having exerted himself so much. Lloyd vaguely recalled Krux' saying he was going on a scouting mission before he left the training grounds.
"Sir!" The young guard quickly shouted, "There is an army of Raiders heading right towards us!" Acronix' blinked in shock.
"It's true, brother," Krux' panted, his face dripping with sweat, "They're on their way… an army. T-They'll be here within the hour."
"The hour?!" Acronix' shook his head, "How?!"
"That's not all, sir!" The guard bowed his head, "T-There is a giant leading them, a blue giant!"
"...Blue giant?" Lloyd turned to Acronix', "That sounds like Invictus. A blue giant with white armor, right?" The guard nodded his head, affirming his fears.
"Then… raise the alarm," Acronix' stood up, "We will not allow the Raiders to threaten our home a second time! If they've given us an hour, we will need half to mount our defense!"
"Does this mean you intend to lead them?" Krux' looked up hopefully.
"No… it means we intend to lead them," Acronix' stepped down from his throne, reaching out and giving his brother a powerful shoulder grip, "You wished for the chance to prove yourself to the people, yes? Then get your armor. We lead them together."
Krux' eyes widened into shock, then a flash of gratitude came across them. Rather than say anything, however, Krux' lead with his actions, quickly turning and rushing into the palace to retrieve his arms. Acronix' turned to Lloyd after his brother was gone.
"Gather your allies," Acronix' frowned, "They are here for you, aren't they? You will help us defend the tribe."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Lloyd turned, "I'll grab the others and meet you at the gate!"
Acronix' didn't need any other confirmation. Quickly, he rushed off to follow where his brother had gone to arm himself. Lloyd went the other direction, heading to the stairs and up to the quarters where he and the others were staying.
"Lloyd?" Lulloyd's voice sounded off as soon as Lloyd rounded the corner to the hallway. The brick ninja already had his brick and sword on him, "The guards are going everywhere, what's going on?"
"Prime is leading an army of Vermillion right for us," Lloyd informed him with a pant, "Go get Over and Mage! I'll get Harumi and Monty!"
"Already here," Monty walked up behind Lulloyd, his new sword on his back, "We'll handle Over and the kid."
Lloyd didn't have time to argue. Instead, he raced his way down to the room Harumi was staying in while Monty and Lulloyd quickly went off to Over's room. Lloyd skidded to a stop in front of her room, throwing the door open, ignoring privacy as he shouted.
"Harumi!" Lloyd gasped out, "We're under attack!"
When Lloyd opened the door, the sight was one that made him flinch. Harumi was balled up in the corner, her ninja suit stripped off her body and clutched in her arms. Her underclothes were stained with tears and looked dirty. There was an aura around her, however, that made it feel as though he was stepping into a well of regret and misery. One that made him want to turn around and walk away, as though confronting it would lead him to feel even sicker than he already was.
"H-Harumi," Lloyd, however, pressed on, stepping into the room, "The Time Tribe is under attack, we have to go and help them!"
Harumi didn't say anything. She was so still Lloyd swore she was asleep. But instead, she was simply lying there, still with her eyes open. Lloyd took a few more steps forward, hoping that she would even turn to look at him. But she didn't move at all. She was little more than a doll, crumpled up and clutching her ninja outfit.
"Harumi, please!" Lloyd shook his head, "We need you!"
"No…" Harumi mumbled out, "N-No, you don't. You all don't need me… don't…" Her voice rung hollow, "I brought her back, I saved them, it didn't matter… nothing mattered…" Harumi gripped her legs, "Thought I was strong enough… thought I could…"
"Harumi!" Lloyd took another step towards her, but Harumi wasn't budging. Lloyd tried to think of something else to say, but he hadn't seen her like this before. And even now, he could hear guards rushing down the hallways outside the room. He… he had to go and help the others.
"We can't just sit here and…" Lloyd tried again.
"I'm going to fade away anyways," Harumi buried her head into her suit, "What's the point…?"
Lloyd looked at her again. For a long moment, he considered gripping her arm, dragging her to her feet, telling her she had to go and help them even if she was like this. But he knew right now wasn't the time. Something about this state felt as though Harumi had been in it before. He couldn't place why, but he could tell she was grieving. And forcing her to fight through it, wouldn't help. Was this what Carnelian meant with what she said Harumi had felt as her father…?
"I… I'm going to go fight, then," Lloyd shook his head, "I-If you feel the need to come with us then, I'll be there. I-If not then… just… stay safe, please."
Harumi didn't respond or even twitch. Lloyd, realizing what he had to do, turned his back on Harumi and rushed back down the hall, closing the door on the way out. He couldn't worry about her right now. He had to focus on the people here who were in danger. The Time Tribe was under attack and they had less than an hour to prepare.
Lloyd rushed back to his room, grabbing hold of his swords and strapping the scabbard for them onto his back. Once they were slotted in, he stopped. He looked down at his pillow, taking it in. Slowly, he reached inside of it, pulling out something. A purple mask. A Mask of Hatred. For a long moment, he considered putting it back. But for some reason, he… he couldn't. Instead, he opened up his ninja gi, slid it inside, and then raced his way back down to the palace entrance.
"Lloyd!" As soon as Lloyd hit the bottom of the stairs, Mage's voice called out to him, "Lloyd, we can't find Over!"
"What?" Lloyd slid to a stop, "What do you mean?!"
"We mean he's not in his room," Monty and Lulloyd stood behind Mage, the ghost looking down with a scoff, "He's picked a wonderful time to bail on us."
"He's… he's not there…" Mage gripped his fists, "D-Do you know where he could be?!"
"What? No!" Lloyd shook his head, "Why wouldn't he be here, I thought he was still recovering!" Mage bit his lip.
As the group argued, the right hand of Krux', Teran, walked down through the palace, wearing thick armor alongside a massive sword. When he heard their conversation, he veered off towards them with a nod.
"I saw him," Teran, now dressed in armor bearing the colors of Krux', called out from the stairs, "If only for a moment!"
"You have?" Lulloyd asked. Lloyd vaguely recalled Teran being the assistant to Krux'.
"I spotted him an hour ago, he was flying away from the mountains," Teran shook his head, "I just got back from a scouting party, we were going to report it. He was flying due west from here."
"That… would lead to the Amber Tribe ruins…" Mage shook his head, "But, why is he..?"
"Don't have time to care," Monty hissed, "What about Harumi?"
Lloyd shook his head. Seeing that, Monty gripped his fists in annoyance. Lulloyd looked up at him in worry, and Mage gained an even guiltier look on his face. Seeing their expressions, Lloyd reached up and gripped his gi. His hand pressing against what was under it.
"We can't worry about that," Lloyd stepped forward, "If Prime is leading them, that means he's coming after us. We can't let innocent people get hurt for our fight. We go out there to defend the people, understood?!"
"Y-Yeah," Lulloyd affirmed.
"It's… all we can do," Mage whispered.
"Yeah," Monty grunted.
"Then let's go," Lloyd turned to the entrance to the palace, "We have to defend the Time Tribe!"
At the wall that surrounded the Time Tribe, Lloyd stood alongside Monty, Mage and Lulloyd. All had their weapons drawn. Lloyd could see the newly forged SoS that Monty carried, but he didn't know how to comment on it. Instead, he stood with perhaps a few hundred guards also stationed along the top of the wall. The gate was shut tightly, with a wall of bricks already being built up behind it to ensure that it was even harder to break through. In front of them lay the path that lead through the mountains down to its base, the only path that they could use to get to them.
"Where are they?" Mage asked, gripping Aevum's hilt nervously, "I… I don't see them."
"Because they don't want to be seen," Acronix' boomed his voice as he stepped up to the wall beside them.
When Lloyd turned to look at Acronix', he was almost awed by the sight. The young man stood in full battle armor. His armor was sleek and fit to his form, emphasizing just how much muscle he had under that smaller build. Massive metal pauldrons framed his shoulder, while the breastplate was layered with the same rippling design he'd seen from the armor the Twins used on their own bodies. His helmet shared the same deep zig-zag cut along both sides, yet a stripe of blue and green adorned each side and highlighted his face underneath. The ripples on his armor were painted blue and green intermitandley, leading to a symbol of a dragon's face surrounded by a Time Matrix around it on his left breast. His legs were similarly armored with the rippling metal. On his hips were two weapons: the small short sword glowing a bright blue they'd seen before, and a dagger on the other hip that was smaller and glowed a light green.
"Indeed," Krux' stepped up beside his brother. His armor was nearly identical to that his brother wore, yet instead of blue and green it was painted with red and orange. His pauldrons were also traded out for armor plating directly on his biceps. There was no armor on his forearms, which instead was replaced with the massive red and orange glowing gauntlets that slotted through his entire forearm. With the two standing together, Lloyd couldn't help but admire them. For a brief moment, he could see the two as a reflection of the Twins in a righteous and powerful light.
"Men!" Acronix' stood up, looking across the wall of soldiers, "We will defend our home! Do not give them any ground! No matter what they throw at us, this wall will remain! You are proud warriors of the Time Tribe, and you will stand! Your! Ground!" The group cheered.
"Today, my brother and I lead you!" Krux' continued, "I ask you to cast aside any doubts you hold for myself, my brother, and the Tribe itself! Defend your homes not for my sake, not for the Tribe's sake, but for every family that lives in these walls! Protect their lives as you do you own, and live to see the next sunrise!" The group cheered again. Acronix' gave a nod to his brother.
"Wow…" Lulloyd blinked, "That was… good."
One of the men on the wall called out. The assembled group of soldiers turned and looked down the path. At first, Lloyd wondered if there was something there he was missing. Yet as he saw, the entire ground was starting to rumble under whatever was marching up from behind the bend in the pass. The words of the two leaders were quickly put to the test as everyone held their weapons, looking down towards the oncoming army.
The first line of Vermillion, twenty wide, showed themselves. All pretense of Raiders had been ditched, instead wearing the distinct and shimmering metal armor of the Vermillion. As they marched towards the tribe, there was not a single hint of emotion on their face. Nor one on the next row. Nor the next. The next after that. The entire path began to fill completely with Vermillion as they marched along. The weight of their footfalls rocked the small slopes around them, kicking up a small bit of slate-filled dust as they walked.
The waves didn't seem to stop. Their march towards the Time Tribe was filled with hundreds of Vermillion. Perhaps almost a thousand. Each one refused to slow down as they walked. They were almost like robots in how precise and powerful their march was. And the more that came, the more the men of the tribe began to shake. Acronix' himself gritted his teeth.
"How many must there be?" Acronix' asked quietly to his brother, "There were not this many Raiders even at their camp!"
"Vermillion, they're called Vermillion," Monty sighed, "And it looks like the Twins are deploying a battalion."
There was a sound above them. With a massive flash of blue from the sky, something came rocketing down from the clouds. Invictus landed powerfully right in front of the Tribe, drawing its knives and flashing them into swords. The force of impact nearly threw some of the soldiers off the wall. Acronix' held his hand up, commanding them silently to hold their position. Lloyd watched as Vermillion marched up to mere feet behind Invictus' foot.
"You!" Krux' stepped forward towards the mech, not a hint of fear in his face, "Why have you come for our people?!"
"Give me Over," Invictus blasted Prime's voice through its speakers, "Give him to me or I will raze this place to the ground to find him! If you give him to me, I'll let you go!"
Lloyd looked up towards Invictus. Something about Prime's voice didn't sound right. Something about it was wrong, off. It was more unhinged, was the best way he could put it. He opened his mouth to speak, but Acronix' stepped up beside his brother.
"Whatever that beast is you are using, you cannot have anyone from this Tribe!" Acronix' shouted back at him, "Do not think you can intimidate us!"
"What about you, Lloyd?!" Prime shouted through his mech, turning to look directly at the four travelers and freezing them in place, "Are you willing to let this Tribe suffer for Over?!"
Lloyd was frozen in place. The full force of Invictus bearing down on him was too much. He could see the red waves behind him, each one carrying weapons. There was a real chance here that the Vermillion could overtake the Tribe with those numbers. And this was just a single battalion. But more than that, he could see something was wrong with Invictus. With Prime.
A gunshot went off, striking Invictus' eye. Monty lowered Ebony from his hand, holding the SoS up and straight towards Invictus. Lloyd turned to look at Monty with confusion in his gaze, but the ghost held a determination equal to that the Twins held.
"Yeah, fat chance," Monty spat, "You can take him from my cold, dead hands," Monty held up his ghostly hand, "Which, unfortunately for you, I don't have."
"Monty!" Lulloyd gasped. Monty hissed out the side of his mouth.
"You think he'd let us go if he knew Over wasn't here?!" Monty growled out, "Just follow my lead."
"Then… I guess you leave me no choice," Invictus leaned up, crossing its blades with a crackling power sparking between them, "I'll go through all of you if that's what it takes to finally get rid of him!"