AN: We ain't got time to bleed folks! Here is the latest chapter, and start to the interesting story arcs that will be seen here. Each of our heroes will go through some encounters and situations. Some of these chapters might take longer, but others won't, so we'll see how it goes!
Hope everyone has a great day, and makes due with what makes you, you!
So, do ENJOY!
Arc 8: Crisis Of The Multiverse
Chapter 42: From Zero
It was an awkward encounter, a first meeting done wrong.
"This is, strange, I suppose."
The carriage ride was taking quite a while, as the five ladies sat there, staring at each other. The little girl tapped her mother's shoulder, getting her attention.
"Mama?"
"Yes?"
"Sooo, they're like my papa, right?"
"Um, well...the thing is, while your papa was indeed from another world, their situation is a little different."
Taygeta scratched her head, trying with all her might to figure this absurdity out.
Then, the Beatrice who did not belong here had to ask, as she and Emilia sat across from them.
"Listen, we'd like an explanation, if that would be possible."
"Betty understands you are out of the loop in this precarious incident, or the circumstances surrounding it, I suppose."
Beatrice nodded, so the one did belong here, began to speak.
"Right now, as Betty assumes it, you've been summoned to a parallel timeline."
"Timeline? Such as the means Subaru used his Return By Death?"
"...So you know about that as well."
"Several years ago he told us the circumstances."
"That makes explaining easier. Ours used his ability to send his very memories and experiences into a divergent timeline, he was in fact creating even more timelines, does yours do the same?"
"...No, he lost the ability."
"Then that's the case then."
"Why?"
"Our timelines don't mesh together, while the Algol Tree was destroyed years ago, many in fact, in our timeline; yours only recently did. This is similar to how a black hole is only seen within a gap of time, I suppose."
"So it was delayed, I suppose?"
"No, your reality simply came into being after the war."
Now, our Emilia questioned her.
"What war?"
"...Some call it the Forgotten Crisis, as only a handful of people actually recall it, a few others call it The War of Powers...but it was simple, we mostly refer to it...as THE INFINITY CRISIS."
"Infinity. Crisis?"
"The war...against Satella, Anti-Monitor and their Apocatastasis Society, I suppose. Entire timelines were destroyed, billions died across the merged universe...and several of our friends died as well."
"Goodness, then we're fortunate we weren't involved."
Taygeta decided hug her mother, making the Emilia who was King decide to finally ask.
"Then, that little girl is…?"
"Yup, her name is Natsuki Taygeta."
"You...You have a child with him?"
"Of course, we got married after the war, she is his last gift to me."
"Last gift?"
"I think you can tell, what happened."
Now, it was dead quiet in that carriage.
The feeling of this otherwise beautiful carriage drive through the lush forest, was met with an air of sadness, knowing that bright smile was gone in this time.
"I am sorry."
"It's okay, I've learned to move on from it all."
"I guess we're just lucky."
"Wait, so Subaru is alive in your world?"
"Yeah, he gets beat up a lot, but he does well enough."
"Ahaha, sounds like him! And, how is Bruce?"
"...Bruce?"
"Yeah?"
"We don't know anyone named Bruce, is he also a Red Lantern?"
Now, their questioning came.
"Red Lantern? Beatrice, did you hear that?!"
"Indeed, Betty is concerned, I suppose. Why would you two know what a Red Lantern is, and not Bruce Wayne?"
Noticing the confused looks on their faces, Emilia rubbed her brows, deciding to explain further.
"Yeah, Subaru is a Red Lantern, he's their leader."
"No. No, this is wrong, a leader, I suppose? How many of them are there?!"
"At least a hundred, maybe a little more, we lost some when we attacked the Tower."
Both stared back at each other, with their Emilia frantic.
"What about Shaula?!"
"...She's dead, and good riddance."
"Good riddance? How can you say that?!"
"The woman deserved it! She was the reason we lost Ovidius!"
"Ovidius? He's a friend? How is that possible?!"
"Why? What happened to him here?"
"He died, he attacked us to try and get to Shaula, Beatrice and Shaula killed him."
"What? What is wrong with this place?!"
"I CAN ASK YOU THE SAME THING!"
Beatirce, had her eyes shine purple light, her entire body surged with mana and gravity altering magic, silencing everyone in that carriage.
"ENOUGH."
"B-But Beatrice-"
"-You know better than anyone, that some timelines are vastly different than our very own. Lest we forget the coin flipping fate of some worlds, I suppose? Lest we forget allies like Natsuki Rigel or Zarestia, or on the other side of the spectrum, I suppose? Such as the Sin Archbishop of Pride or the Sword Saint Bruce?"
"I know, but this is just too much."
Emilia hugged her daughter tightly. Beatrice sighed, and looked at both Emilia and the other version of her.
"Just glancing at you, Betty is sure circumstances have gone completely different than our own, I suppose. Thus, Betty would like to do some comparing and contrasting, does that sound fair?"
"I think so, I suppose."
"Very well, let's see where our timelines diverged ...how about we start at the time, Subaru and Emilia went to the Capital."
So they did, and both sides, two entirely different versions of our heroes, were forced to divulge exactly how things differed.
And...it was not pretty.
Eventually, the carriage parked in front of a well looking Estate, looking quite similar to Roswaal's, but with white marble, clearer windows and much more trees all around. Inside, the situation was a complete shock and terror.
"Garfiel, is dead? You guys killed Priscilla? Priestella was destroyed, you guys lost Roswaal and started a World War?!"
"Don't make it sound like we're bumbling buffoons! What about you people?! You let the Witch of Envy break out!"
"That was outside forces moving against us, not like we purposely did that! Meanwhile you and your people got so many people killed, for nothing!"
"They killed Rem, now her soul is in a gemstone!"
"Because you guys are out of control, it led to all this!"
Both Beatrices told them to stop, but the two were still angry with each other.
"That's enough both of you, I suppose. Looking at how things are, and how this version of Betty houses the body of Mother, Betty is not sure what else could be done about it."
"Nothing can be done, the past is the past, and all of us have made our mistakes. Even here, they cost us to lose too many friends to count, I suppose."
"And them? Entire cities were annexed by them, Halibel-san is dead...and they made Crusch-san a terrorist."
Emilia, the one from said world, slammed her hand on the seat, furious.
"What do you know?! Here you are still the meek little girl who has had to get things done by other's hands! I've had to get my hands dirty, had to watch as my friends had to kill so many people to keep us all alive!"
"...So if you had a chance, would you kill Crusch Karsten?"
Her eyes went wild in a surest moment of bloodlust, frightening Taygeta, surprising the other Emilia and concerning both Beatrice's.
"As the King of Lugnica, I will do what is necessary."
"...I pity you."
"...Like I care, my Subaru is alive, so is Puck! Because I was able to make it happen, I was able to grow the hell up and see how things aren't always black and white!"
"Nothing is, but if it makes sure Petra doesn't lose her legs and Rem still has a body to fall back to, then aren't you a little contemplative about the deeds you committed?!"
Both Emilias stared at each other with daggers in their mind and heart, yet it was when Taygeta hugged her mother even tighter, that this kinder Emilia decided to drop it. The Emilia, from the world where she truly had to get her hands dirty stomped out of the carriage, giving herself some breathing room.
Beatrice glanced at her back, her butterfly irises reflected her, and the spirit could only hum a tired breath.
"Your world has been through even more than ours, I suppose."
"...Ever since that Ring came over, things have been changing so fast. I've never seen such a rapid progression in human kind, not for a long time."
"Betty noticed just now, you don't fully speak the same way I do, I suppose. Why is that?"
For a moment, our Beatrice could only hold back a choke in her throat, before licking her lips and speaking again, but lowered her eyes.
"I made too many mistakes, I suppose. I betrayed Lewes, I attacked Roswaal, stole my Mother's body...and the amount of people I helped kill, who probably didn't even deserve it...what gives me the right to think I'm the same person, I suppose?"
"I am sorry."
"If only apologies actually helped, then I'd thank you, from deep within Mother's heart."
Now, Beatrice exited out of the carriage, leaving this world's counterparts inside the carriage.
"Beatrice?"
"Yes?"
"I knew the Multiverse was equal parts beautiful, and also terrifying...but could-"
"-We both know what happens when timelines start getting meddled with, I suppose. We need to stay out of it, help them at least get back to their homes...and be done with it."
They too, exited out of the carriage.
Once they did, a man hopped off the driver's seat, a meek but recognizable man.
"To think though, we'd be dealing with this crazy stuff like this again."
"Right? After last month, I'd hoped that it'd die down a bit."
"But then again, Emilia-san, will there be anything else you need?"
"Nah, you can go hang out with your daughter."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you Otto."
Otto Suwen, who was now in his late thirties nodded and headed back to the carriage, driving away and waving them goodbye.
"Beatrice, do we know who could be inside?"
"Most of everyone is busy today."
"Shaula?"
"No, thankfully she's with Vega in Kararagi, I'd hate to imagine what these two would do if they saw her."
"And most of the kids are investigating something for Gustav, sooooo…?"
"Betty believes it's just Sarah and Rem for now."
They walked over, when the saw their two alternates turn around. They could see they both calmed down considerably, not saying anything, but their guilty expressions was the best apologies they would get.
"By the way, um, other me?"
"Hm?"
"How come you weren't more worried about your little girl running around the forest by herself?"
"Well, Beatrice was around and she wouldn't let anything happen to her...and speaking of spirits, she has her own to protect her."
"Ah, her...her, her OWN?"
"Of course, she's a Spirit User just like her parents after all!"
Taygeta got giddy and gave two thumbs up.
"Wanna see her?"
"Um, sure?"
"Okay!"
Taygeta clapped her hands together, and swirls of wind and gold particles appeared behind her, then she opened her eyes, and all the wind, gold formed something.
Antlers.
Golden radiant antlers, which had such a glow to them, it was beyond words. At the end of the antlers black mass formed out of it, soon it became a body. It was a deer, a hind, a being that was taller than them, dwarfing Taygete. It's eyes, completely golden, no iris but sparkles to it nonetheless.
Taygeta allowed it to lower her head and hugged it around the neck.
"Incredible."
"Wow."
Rem and Emilia were stunned beyond belief.
"Look at this cute lil' girl! This is Cerynitis, when I was three or so, she came to me and became my contracted spirit."
"Came to you?"
Emilia leaned closer to her other, more aggressive version, whispering to her.
"In fact, it's an Artificial Spirit, we all contributed to its creation."
"How can you make them without Ovidius?"
"Bruce eventually learned, he passed the techniques on to his daughter, Alejandra."
Watching the stunned reactions by their counterparts, amused them greatly, until…
"Ah, Emilia, everyone, welcome back!"
Both of them turned around, seeing her.
Seeing them.
It was Rem, her hairstyle is the same, yet she wore not her famous maid outfit. Instead, it was an adorable black jumper dress with a blue shirt underneath, and cute little black shoes. Even more than that, she had earrings, quite a difference in the image of a simple dressed girl.
However, what shocked them most, was what she was doing. Well, she was pushing a wheelchair forward, helping the woman who sat on it.
The woman?
Sarah Remendis.
Sarah had a comfortable all black coat dress on, with a black cloth over her eyes.
"Sarah?"
"Yes, goodness, it sounds as though there is a commotion going on here."
Then, Rem finally saw how many people there were, and who they were. She came to a halt, staring in absolute disbelief.
"Another Emilia, and, and...the Witch Echidna?"
Sarah now also realized what was going on.
"Beatrice, is this-"
"-It's exactly what it sounds like, I suppose."
"Yes. Then...I suggest we all head inside."
"Is anyone else there?"
"Incorrect, though it would be no surprise if one of the kids comes to say hello later."
Rem decided to cease her distracted stares, and shook her head.
"Please, let's all head inside."
They did so, and everyone was filled with confusion as to what was going to happen next.
Inside, Taygeta took a nap in her room. The little child rested snuggly with her Spirit, unaware of the meeting taking place.
Sarah took a sip of tea, setting it down as she began to speak.
"Yes, I see. Your world has been through a lot."
"Your…"
Emilia choked up a tad, before getting the nerve to let her thoughts flow out.
"Your death really shook us up."
"I can only imagine, though I'd believe I would be on your side in those circumstances."
"How, how did things go so differently here, compared to our world?"
"Yes, that's just the way the Multiverse works I'm afraid. Outside of pure logic, we can only watch as things unfold."
"Then its out of our control?"
"Not necessarily, but even if you, yourself, commits to an idea or plan, another timeline can potentially branch off. Or so Beatrice and Barry have told me?"
"Barry?"
Beatrice got up from her seat, standing by the window and watching the bright sky.
"A few months ago, an old friend of ours named Barry Allen got summoned here, I suppose."
"Is he, important, I suppose?"
"Indeed, he's referred to as The Flash, he's known not only as the fastest human on their world...but is one of only a handful of people in their universe that remembers the battle we fought in."
"Did he eventually, well, leave?"
"Correct, he simply phased out of here and got back to his world. Just after a few days of being here."
"Then, will we too-"
"-No, Betty thinks there may be a way to get you home, I suppose."
They were excited, but Beatrice finally turned around and informed them.
"It will take a bit of time, as I need to contact another Great Spirit such as myself."
The gemstone, housing Rem's soul which they allowed to make a connection with everyone in this room, began to voice her total shock.
"Beatrice-sama, you are a Great Spirit?!"
"Of course I am, I suppose! Who else is more than qualified to be of such high class strength than the mighty Beatrice!?"
Rem decided to explain.
"During the war, the original Dr. Fate-sama used his magic to unlock Beatrice's latent potential, now she is one of the Five Great Spirits."
"Five of them?"
"Beatrice is the Great Spirit of The East, representing Yin Magic. Each one represents one or more of magic classes, including the one Beatrice intends to contact."
Beatrice floated off the ground, and began making her way for the door.
"I will be out, checking for a good spot to see if Betty can meet him, I suppose. In the meantime, everybody just relax and catch your bearings."
She left, right as Rem got up from her seat.
"Then, if it is possible. Um, can Rem speak with your Rem? There is so much I wish to talk about and ask."
"I mean, I guess that'd be fine?"
Emilia looked at the gemstone next to Puck's, seeing a few bright glimmers, realizing that Rem agreed. She took off the necklace handing it over to Rem, she put it on and giddly ran off to be alone with it.
Emilia sat back on the couch, as Beatrice glanced over at their remaining two guests...but the Emilia of this world got up.
"I'm going to check on Taygete, Sarah will you be alright?"
"Yes, quite so."
"Need anything?"
"Can't think of anything."
"Alright, I'll be back."
Emilia walked off, leaving the two visitors of this world, alone with Sarah. The wheelchaired woman sighed, as she asked.
"Yes, may I ask you something?"
"G-Go ahead."
A sternness arose in her voice, which startled Beatrice and Emilia.
"What do you plan to do, once you get home?"
Rem walked through the halls, giggling as she listened to the gemstone.
"Oh my goodness, seeing onee-sama chase Genau out of the restroom, wrapped in a towel was just too much!"
"Ahahaha, this Genau sounds like fun."
"He is. Subaru-kun and others love having him around, no matter how obnoxious he can be."
"If Rem thinks about it, Meili-chan has a white wolgarm named Wilson. So if Rem is correct, then he's the alternate version of him."
"Well, Rem is glad he's safe in this world."
"Right?"
Soon though, Rem was ever the more curious about this ghostly version of herself.
"So tell Rem, are you and Subaru-kun an item?"
"HUH?"
"Well?"
"...Maybe in the past."
"I'm sure he cares for you, even like this."
"...Rem is, not sure what goes through his mind anymore."
"Did you ever go into full detail of how you felt about him?"
"Did you?"
Rem smiled.
"A long time ago, Subaru-kun kept dying by the hands of the Witch's Cult. He was ready to give it all up and run away with Rem to Kararagi. He offered his hand to me, offered a life together in a place far away from danger."
"And you said no?"
"I felt that, if Rem left with him, a large part of Subaru-kun would also be left behind. So Rem told him all the things I've loved about him. How much Rem wanted to help him, how much I cherished him. How he was my hero, how I looked at him differently than the others. And eventually reminded him, that nothing was ever truly over. But those things can always restart."
"That, things could start again...yes, all of it. That we could start again...FROM ZERO."
Rem could only be proud of herself, remembering how her words had saved her beloved from simply surrendering from everything.
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you get to say that?"
The voice of the gemstone, was choking up, struggling to keep her breath controlled. This Rem knew why.
"...You never said that to him."
"No! Rem always wanted to yell, speak or even whisper words such as that to him, hoping to bring him back from what he was transforming into, keep him from falling down."
"And?"
"...The Subaru-kun Rem sees now is different, too different."
"How?"
Rem asked this softly, wanting to try and comfort this spirit that inhabited the stone.
"Rem wanted to tell him...hic. Hic! Rem-"
"-Go ahead."
"Rem wanted to let him know, that no matter how much he had fallen to darkness, that he still had the courage to reach out his hand to someone in need. I loved how he stroked my hair, called my name or just said a single word...it'd make my heart feel warm. His eyes, though they looked stern they would soften when he was being kind. His fingers, though he had soft lovely ones, but when they clutched mine I knew the strength behind them. When we were walking when we...he would occasionally turn around and check if I could keep up. His sleep, so adorable. He would look unguarded, like an infant with eyelashes on the long side. Touching his cheek to calm him down or touch his lip when he wouldn't notice my heart would ache terribly. All of this, because I loved him, and always would no matter who went against him. HE WAS MY HERO."
"And now?"
"..."
"Speak your mind."
"...I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW! He has been steeped in darkness too long, that sometimes he sacrifices people to get the outcome he desires! He no longer strokes my hair, how can he since I don't have a body! His words? Sometimes they can feel cold, and when he says a name, it's an authorized death sentence. His eyes look more stoned and tired, portions of that light or spirit of his greatly diluted. His finger, so worn, hard and burnt, one would realize all the battles he suffered through. For the longest time he would not walk with me, just have someone like Wilhelm-san or Frederica-san guard me, who never tried to outpace me. His sleep, oh his sleep. IT HURTS. Hurts to have seen him toss and turn, claw at his own arms and cry out Rem's name or someone else's that he's lost. All the nights he'd wake up in the middle of the night tear filled and in a depressed state, only to do some minimal exercise to exhaust himself, to help himself fall back asleep! When I would touch him, sometimes, sometimes, maybe sometimes, he would feel cold to the touch, like he was dead. Subaru-kun is so stressed all the time, he tries to hide it. But Rem always catches him drinking, having relations with Nijino-san and the occasional white hair in his scalp. Rem is...Rem is...REM DOESN'T KNOW ANYMORE! I DON'T! MY HERO, MY BELOVED HERO IS NOT THE SAME, PARTS OF SUBARU-KUN ARE GONE, ALL BECAUSE YOUR WORLD IS YOURS! WHY IS YOUR SUBARU-KUN DEAD, BUT A HERO?! WHY IS MINE THE WAY HE IS?! WHY?! IT'S NOT FAIR...not fair."
"..."
Rem stood there, listening to her outburst, long winded plea to something tangible...but it was for naught. She knew it, everyone in the building knew it.
Their Subarus were different.
One had died years ago.
The other?
Died when he put on that Ring.
Rem whispered sweet nothings to the gemstone, for they were nothing. No advice from that world, or any other...COULD EVER CHANGE THE COURSE OF EVENTS THAT HAD TRANSPIRED. NOR, COULD THEY CHANGE NATSUKI SUBARU BACK.
Such was the cruelty, of a little thing called the Multiverse.
Sarah sat back on her wheelchair, having heard what she needed to.
"Yes, I see. You can't change anything, so you will not do anything."
Both ladies appeared ashamed of how she worded it, and felt the pressure of her eyes, EVEN IF SHE WAS BLIND.
"Yes, listen now you two. Though I have not much time left in this world, as pieces and sections of my body fail, I still have a kind of wisdom to share with the two of you."
"And that would be?"
"Aha, Yes, well, I would suggest trying to not just focus on the moments of now, the present I mean. Try and focus on what could be, of the future."
"The future?"
"Yes. Natsuki Subaru is already intent on spreading the influence of the Red Lanterns all over that world, and with the furthering of the mysterious Crossing Effect, it'll definitely happen. Yes, even as the King of Lugnica, you have little sway in what the populace desire; but try and make plans, write amendments, making sure to limit their influence."
"What about your world? Huh? How did you handle this all?"
"Yes, actually, we have a democracy here, similar to the Royal Selection, and have had several Presidents in the past and such. The current one, is Garfiel's half-sister Rafiel Thompson, she is quite stern, but fair to all people...though she has a penchant for trying to have other countries do some, well, outrageous trading deals. But that's, just her upbringing at play."
"So, we should host a democracy?"
"Yes, or more in fact, anything that doesn't lead to the Red Lanterns wrestling the country from your hands."
"..Hmmm…"
"Whatever you decide, I'm sure it'll work itself out."
She gave them a smile, letting them know it could potentially work out.
Rem returned to the room with the others, having calmed her other self down. She sat down, observing the quiet and peaceful day their city was having.
"Rem?"
"Yes Emilia?"
"Um, well, it's strange for you to say my name without an honorific."
"Rem has been good friends with Emilia for a long time, and Bruce-san taught me to speak without always using honorifics."
"You keep mentioning Bruce, who was that exactly?"
Rem's face froze, then slowly saddened, but quickly put on a pained smile.
"Bruce was someone also summoned to this world along with Subaru-kun."
"Really?"
"Absolutely true, not just him, but people who would become our friends, and others who would become enemies also followed. It changed things not just for Lugnica, but the entire world."
"He must have been really important."
"Oh yes, ahaha! Bruce was a legendary hero for the entire world."
"Oh, for what?"
"He helped Subaru-kun defeat soooo many enemies! The White Whale and Sizable Hare. Not to mention, The Sin Archbishops of Greed, Sloth, Gluttony and the original Scarecrow."
"Wow, wait-"
Emilia noticed something odd in her words, thus she had to ask.
"What do you mean original?"
"...Indeed, original. Currently, we are in a proxy war against a new Scarecrow."
"New?! How?"
Sarah rolled her wheelchair closer.
"The original Scarecrow was a terrible man who was a member of the Witch's Cult, he was also a spirit user contracted with a single yin spirit. During the war in Priestella, Garfiel-kun and Julius-san killed him, but his contracted spirit, Amygdala, was free to roam the world. Eventually, some time after the Infinite Crisis, he was reformed when time and space were fixed, altering him into the new Scarecrow. A being with powers on par with the Great Spirits."
"Impossible, I suppose! He is that powerful?"
"Yes, I cannot tell you how many times we've run into him and the devastating fights we've had, some of which have forced us to change maps due to the damage."
"How is he still alive? Wouldn't Reinhard do something about this?"
"...Reinhard is dead, remember?"
"Oh. OH. In this world...I forgot, sorry."
"Now, they cloned him."
"CLONED?"
"It means to make a copy, but it's more a freak of nature. He only had a flaming skull for a head, and uses two ridiculously large swords as weapons. We refer to him as, Gräuel. He is merely another puppet for the Anti-Life Society."
"Who?"
"Yes, from the ashes of the Witch's Cult rose a world spanning group, the Anti-Life Society, they seek to end misery by showing the fruitless of all life. They seek a supposed Anti-Life Incantation, once found, it would apparently infect the world with a spell that would mean their victory. We do our best to stop any and all of their machinations."
"What is their strength, I suppose?"
"Countless soldiers, spies, twelve Shadow Generals and three other spirits."
"Spirits, similar to Scarecrow?"
"Yes, he created them from his own Od, known to all as THE EVIL SPIRITS. Der Amboss, Anthrax and Rosenrot."
Der Amboss, a beautiful scantily dressed woman with gold hair and silver eyes; and the lower half of a giant golden orb weaver spider.
Anthrax, a being with the head of an ox skull and piercing blue snake eyes, a full jet black jester costume made up the rest of his body.
ROSENROT, a large one, almost as tall as the nine foot tall Scarecrow. Red spike covered armor from every inch of his body, an intimidating red helmet with two large horns protruding the sides, same color. He was completely red, except the curved visor or slit of his helmet, where his eyes should've been seen...nothing but radiating neon green energy leaked out of it. No one could actually see his eyes, or face.
"Who has given the most trouble?"
"Rosenrot. He is the muscle of the Society, his connection to the world itself allows him to control plant life, mutate it and all sorts of magic attacks belong to him, I suppose."
"Even with peace all around you, conflict is always arising?"
"Such is the dilemma of actual life."
Sarah then brought it all to a halt, noticing a strange feeling, but sighed in relief.
"That was Beatrice-sama, she has finished her conversation."
"Oh?"
"Yes, let's head outside to see her."
They did, trying to clear their minds. But how could they?
The fact of the matter was, these unexpected guests have had to deal with the mounting evidence of how much they truly screwed up.
Emilia, struggled with the choices she has made a King.
Beatrice, haunted by her actions and inactions after meeting him.
Rem, jealous of this fantastic world filled with not only heroism, but also romance.
They felt jolted, they were nerve wracked.
Now, they would be forced to take this info, and do something with it. Something, or maybe nothing at all?
Who knew?
As they were outside, a young boy was speaking with Beatrice. Emilia came outside, having put Taygete to bed and was quite surprised.
"Oh my, I didn't know he'd be coming this early."
"Huh? Who is it, um, Emilia?"
Rem hurried and hugged the young man tightly, to the amusement of her friends and confusion of their counterparts.
Rem let him go as he tried catching his breath, and that was when they got a really good look at him.
"Oh my god."
He looked exactly like Natsuki Subaru, save for his blue hair and eyes. He wore a blue tracksuit and jogging pants, with only a white line running on the sides of them.
"Jeez mom, can't you show a little restraint?"
"Of course not, Rem always wants to remind her little Remus how much she loves him."
"How about not smothering me?!"
"No way."
"TOO FAST OF AN ANSWER!"
The little kid turned his head and saw their guests, forming answers in his head as to why their was another Emilia or as to the other woman next to them. But he was a witty child and got the answer quickly.
"Hey, are they like Uncle Barry?"
"In a way yes?"
Emilia tapped her other self on the shoulder.
"That was the guy who visited Flash, right? Remind me why that was his name?"
"He's the fastest man alive. He can run across the world and back in a few minutes!"
"What kind of magic is that?! Or is it a Divine Protection?"
"Nope, it's something called the Speedforce. We-We actually had another visitor about a year ago as well, one who could also use the Speedforce."
"And?"
"He was from a timeline where Bruce and the witch Pandora had two children, of pure evil. In this case, his son was called "Red Death". He caused us a lot of grief and killed a few of our friends, eventually Vega and Shaula both sent him back to his world."
"But, your family is still okay, right?"
"...Yes, of course."
Both of them smiled, as the other Beatrice asked.
"So that boy-"
"-Yup, that's Rem and Subaru's kid Remus. I heard she wanted to use Rigel, but there is already another Rigel in another universe. So it was decided to give him a brand new name, differentiating him from other versions."
"Maybe we can do that as well, I suppose."
"You guys have children?"
"No, not yet at least."
Beatrice blushed, making Emilia grin mischievously.
The Great Spirit Beatrice patted Remus on his head.
"Now then, would you mind heading inside with your mother, I suppose? We have important things to take care of."
"Um okay?"
"Go watch your sister, make sure she is comfortable."
"Alright."
He nodded, awaiting his mother, who quickly sprinted over and handed the gemstone back to Emilia, but did hear one last comment from it.
"He's beautiful."
"Thank you. Good luck, Rem will pray for your success."
Rem turned around as Remus took her hand and they hurried inside.
"Beatrice, do we have anyone guarding her?"
"Of course, Betty made a call...and speak for the devil, there he is."
Everyone turned their attention to the clouds above them, making out a winged figure flying through them. It startled the visitors, but they noticed that the denizens of this world, seemed relaxed, even happy to see it. It curved in the air, leaving a trail of condensation on the tips of his wings, leaving cloud lines in the air. He flew down fast, above the lush grass, creating a vortex around himself. He then carefully accelerated, before coming to a complete stop before Beatrice.
They all could only marvel at this person.
A metal suit, from head to toe, making up sharp looking boots and sharp claws. His eyes shined a menacing lime green, much like the fiery flames on his back or the Bat shaped symbol on his chest. The two horn on his, small but somewhat sharp looking gave him a much more fearsome appearance.
"Who is that?"
"Well Emilia-san, or other me, I guess? Ahem, that there is the son of Bruce and Frederica."
"They had a kid?!"
"Yup, and not only that! He continues Bruce's legacy, a duty handed down to him, a name and title made only to someone who becomes the embodiment of justice."
"Justice?"
"Ahuh...he's the new, BATMAN."
"Bat, man?"
The green wings dissipated, and Batman landed on his feet, nodding to Beatrice.
"I got your message, so I arrived in time?"
"Well on time, I suppose. Good on you!"
"Thanks, is that them?"
He glanced at the two of them, then had his helmet fold back, like it had a mechanical duty to. And revealed his face...slicked back black hair, blue eyes, handsome features...and sharp teeth, like someone they knew.
"Holy crap, he looks like his mother so much."
"Quite so, even I'm shocked how much he takes after Frederica, I suppose."
Even Rem, was shocked by the appearance of this man before them.
He then made his way forward and extended a hand to them.
"Hello, my name is Kerberos Baumann Wayne, also known as Batman. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Wow, um, hello."
Emilia shook his hand, and then Beatrice.
"So I take it you are Emilia and you are Beatrice?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Beatrice informed me of the situation. While she assists you with the travel back to your timeline, I will guard the estate, in case of any trouble."
"A-Alright?"
"Good luck to you two, and the soul inside that gemstone."
Rem was stunned that he figured all this out so quickly-
"Let us hope that former Great Spirit with you, can handle your protection."
Puck finally came out in complete shock over being spotted by him, or more like sensed him.
"As sharp per usual your skills in deduction is, I suppose. Betty expects nothing less from Bruce's son."
"Too kind of you Beatrice, but Nemesis is still more perceptive than me."
"Hmph, maybe so, but he can be too lazy sometimes! Betty will make sure to have him bring him into shape!"
"Dad would appreciate that."
He then moved past the visitors, but still spoke with Beatrice as he walked away.
"I'll be sure everything is alright on my part."
"Be sure of that, I suppose."
"See you later Aunt Beatrice."
"We'll catch up soon, I suppose."
Emilia got a pat on her shoulder, seeing a somber expressed mother ask her a favor.
"Can I, see him?"
"Oh, sure."
Puck floated down, and this world's Emilia cradled him softly into her palms kissing his cheek.
"It's good to see you Puck."
"Yeah, I heard this version of me, is dead. Right?"
"Yeah, Anti-Monitor killed you and stole your mana in the war. I wasn't able to do a thing."
"How strong was this Anti-Monitor?"
"Too strong, not even Reinhard or Superman-san could stop him. In fact, no one actually defeated, he just sort of disappeared at the end of the war."
"Well, if nothing's happened, somebody must've beaten him."
"Sure, but we lost you...hell, so many of our friends died. Slade, Pamela, Reinhard, Wilhelm, Rom-jii, Leonard, and it's just, so good to see you again."
Emilia teared up as she dug her face into his little body. Everyone could only watch humbly at the woman weeping, seeing a long lost friend back, even if it was momentary.
"Lia."
"Oh wow, I haven't had anyone call me that, in years."
"Lia, I understand how much you miss me. I can only hope this meeting between us will help you out in some way."
"It is, it will and it can. I am just overjoyed getting a chance like this!"
Emilia's words would sometimes be muddled by her sobs, but the message got through loud and clear.
"I have to go inside now, make sure my little girl is okay."
"Hey, she is beautiful, I am so happy for you Lia."
"Thank you, please take care of yourself."
"I will, I promise to my daughter that I will live another hundred years. Just for you, and only you."
"Thank you, bye."
Puck nuzzled himself against her face, right before gave him a kiss on his little forehead. She let him go and he floated back to his owner, allowing Emilia to bow goodbye to them.
"Good luck with everything."
Emilia also took the handles of Sarah's wheelchair, pushing her along.
"Yes, farwell Emilia-san, Beatrice-san, and Rem-san, to you as well Puck-sama. Be well, and I hope your future is bright."
They all bowed, and Emilia took Sarah inside.
The Beatrice of this world hurried over to them, and put her hands to her hips.
"Now then, let us hurry off then."
"Where to Beatrice?"
"According to Swamp Thing, there is a dimensional disturbance near the border of Vollachia. We will be heading there and hope that it's the appropriate means to get you all home."
"That's fine and all, but who is this, Swamp Thing?"
"...He's the Great Spirit of The Center, I suppose. In the aftermath of the Crisis, a piece of his consciousness bound itself to our world, and as a result he is now recognized as a Great Spirit."
"Th-This world is crazy!"
"Enough, we have no time for you commenting on the state of this world, I suppose. We need to get going."
Beatrice waved a hand to beside her, and the pink halo hovering on her back glimmered.
"Grand Ermac."
A tear in space opened next to her, big enough for all of them to fit through. Emilia glanced inside, seeing a forest on the other side. Unsure, they were hesitant to enter, but watched as Beatrice walked in, and Puck flew in.
"Come on Lia, it's safe."
"O-Okay."
They all walked through the portal.
Once through, it closed behind them, and they could see the beautiful forest around them, with so much vegetation growing, the light was sporadic. The trees were so tall, that was obvious by the small patches of sunlight that broke through at points.
"Come now, there it is, I suppose."
In Front of Beatrice, was a strange sight. The very air, or at least a large section of their vision looked to be morphing around. Swirls of light could be made out, but other than that, it was like the space in front of them was being swirled around by an unknown force.
"This is-"
"-A dimensional disturbance, and as Betty has just checked, it is the true means by which you may be able to return home."
"But how, we were spinning around this huge tunnel of super fast light, how do we navigate that?!"
"Nii-chan, er um, Puck should be able to sense which portals should take you home, I suppose. As well as the other Betty."
Beatrice while seemingly concerned about what she said, took a deep breath, swallowed her worries and nodded.
"I have the memories to back me up, I'm sure I can manage, I suppose."
"Now I truly know, that you are Betty, I suppose."
Both Beatrice's smiled, before they all began making their way to the fissure of time and space.
"Betty will warn you, these tunnels can be treacherous, be careful, I suppose. Falling into the wrong one will send you to another timeline, or worse, an entirely different universe!"
"We'll do our best!"
"Betty hopes so Emilia, I really do."
The visitors, having their moment to look back one last time, watched as Beatrice waved them goodbye.
"I, Beatrice, The Great Spirit of The East, Empress of Time and Space...pray for your happy ending."
Blessed as such, they all waved goodbye and entered the fissure, bursting into light and disappearing into it.
Beatrice sighed, letting her hand down…
"You think Betty could be snuck upon?"
Beatrice spun around firing countless Minya Spears, devastating a large section of the forest behind her. Several cloaked men and women were dead on the ground...but, a large figure was making its way through the debris.
"Betty is stunned to see one of you out here, I suppose."
"Beatrice should always know that our eyes and ears stretch across this world, I do declare. How would one not expect one of us to be around to find or notice this temporal disturbance."
"Don't think for even a second, that Betty would allow you to use this for any of Scarecrow's machaniations, I suppose! I can already sense it's going to dissipate anyways, you came for nothing!"
"Not at all, all I need is a few seconds with it, just to figure something out...I DO DECLARE."
Rosenrot, an Evil Spirit, massive in size and in power, had arrived.
Beatrice smacked the ground sending out a massive pink shockwave, but Rosenrot ran at it, punching it into bits. Those bits shot around tearing up the area around them. Beatrice flew across the grass and had barriers fling out, like spinning saw at Rosenrot, but he stomped the ground causing large vine to get stabbed and then self destruct. Rosenrot made it to Beatrice, punching and kicking at her, but she was quite nimble and dexterous, dodging them. His missed hits, creating huge gusts of wind that stripped trees of their leves and sent poor animals flying through the air.
Beatrice backflipped away, summoning two massive pillars of pink light that shot up to the clouds, which swirled with violet currents.
"You've improved yourself since we last met Rosenrot!"
"Indeed, I still have the power to envoke nature to my violence, I do declare."
As he said that bright red roses sprung out of the ground, shimmering in the light.
"Just seeing this upsets Betty to no end!"
"Why? Is it because it reminds you of-"
"-Speak her name, and Betty will strand you in the deepest pits of nothing, causing you to go mad and kill yourself!"
"Upset now, Beatrice? Regardless, there is the issue of you being in my way, and I will remedy that!"
"Really now, I suppose?"
"Of course, I do declare."
He had his roses bunch up, become red energy and fire out at Beatrice. Beatrice grabbed the two pillars and used them as blunt weapons to defeat the projectiles. Rosenrot hurried over and swung his fist at the air, allowing a massive vine to spring out of the earth trying to smash into Beatrice. She used her pillars as spears to destroy the vine. But was stunned when Rosenrot, despite his massive size twirled in the air, and launched sharp mana infused petals of his hand, like a machine gun down at her.
Beatrice created a barrier above her, allowing the very forest around her to be shelled to pieces. She then swung her body around and slammed the barrier at Rosenrot, who punched it to pieces. She then made a magical construct of an axe and tried to strike him with it, he parried it with one of his clawed hands, slamming it to the floor instead of him. She let go of it, floating above the ground and began smacking magic spheres at him, which made him fall to one knee. But he uppercutted her, then had a flower open up on his hand palm thrusted her with it, causing a massive shockwave to send her flying away. He then rushed to the dimensional fissure, noticing it was shrinking, but Beatrice appeared in front of him, allowing a barrier to tackle him back.
"Damn! You stopped time and got around me!"
He then stabbed his hand into the ground and pulled out his signature weapon, it was a large weapon, looking much like a double bladed sword, but instead of katanas or broadswords at each end, they were double bladed battle axes, a true feat of power. He used each end to try and attack Beatrice, but she made sure not to allow any hit to touch her.
Flying around him, she grabbed the air and began to try and distort space, in theory trying to smash him between dimensions. He shot out of the attempt and tried slicing her head off with one end, then spun it and tried disemboweling her. But she was agile and small, helping her evade such attacks, then he landed a knee on her face, then punched her away. With her flung away, he stomped the floor and sharp bamboo trees erupted from the ground and bashed her away. At the end of those shoots, green beams fired out, resulting in a huge area of not just the forest, but a nearby mountain to be riddled in destruction. Beatrice shot up into the air and fired pink beams from her eyes, and Rosenrot did the same but his were neon green. They clashed in the air, resulting in an explosive result that could be heard all the way to the capital of Vollachia.
Beatrice used her time abilities and fast forward time around herself, using amazing speed to get back on the ground, and dash next to Rosenrot. But something tried to attack her from behind, so she used a barrier to block it. Noticing it was claws that tried to attack her, she knew exactly who it was.
"I didn't think I'd see you again, I suppose. One of the Shadow Generals, Callaloo."
Callaloo snarled at her, drool and bile escaping her fangs.
Unlike her counterpart in the other world, this version wore completely menacing black armor with a red bandage over her left eye. History changed, due to the World War never occurring in this timeline, she never met Jolokia. Eventually, she was one of the first witnesses to Anti-Monitor's arrival, causing her mind to go mad at the sight of the death and destruction he unleashed. Perfect for Scarecrow to take advantage and get her to join.
She continued her attempts at slicing at Beatrice, but the Great Spirit stopped time and went around her. Time resumed, and she used a force push to slam her away.
Once the Great Spirit turned around, she saw the one thing she had no desire in seeing...Rosenrot jumped into the fissure in space.
"NO!"
Aiming her palm, she could only watch as he tuned into particles of light and vanished into the portal.
Callaloo then saw their victory assured and pulled out a scroll, which activated a teleportation spell which helped with her escape. Beatrice stood there, alone, with nothing but destruction around her. She glared at the fissure, as it finally closed, returning the space to normal.
"Betty sure blundered this time, I suppose."
She pinched her brows and sighed.
"Let's hope this is the last time I ever see that spirit again."
Levitating above the ground, she knew she'd have to do a formal explanation to the Empress of Vollachia about what had occurred.
"Priscilla should be a bit understanding on the issue, she might even be happy to learn of Rosenrot's departure from this timeline, I suppose."
Narrowing her eyes...she spoke the truth.
"HE'S SOMEONE ELSES PROBLEM NOW, I SUPPOSE."
Beatrice flew away, later fibbing to her own family about defeating Rosenrot and sending the visitors off, without a hitch.
Scarecrow would be informed of their success in having someone venture into the multiverse, but also knew of the possibility of Rosenrot eventually failing...so he'd get to work on making a replacement, just in case. Nothing would deter him.
Like that, this world would have continued to move on, even the forest that was destroyed, would someday come back to normalcy, as if none of this ever happened…
.
.
.
.
.
Natsuki Subaru smiled goofly, but eagerly at his date.
"So let's go?"
Emilia could only give a smile, one filled with an overwhelming ambiance of tenderness and joy. So she and Subaru, were off to their date, a far off memory from long ago. The half elf wore a completely stunning dress, with her cloak in her arms.
In this case, there was some leftover snow on the ground, from after a festival they had. Snow sculptures, snow fights and a night of blissful drinking were had. In the end, this day was going to be one that had joy and a warming atmosphere…
"HUH?"
Subaru and Emilia were walking out of the gates, as she had a beautiful white and pink dress, far too stunning for words.
Yet they came to a halt.
"Beatrice! This isn't right, I recognize this day, that dress!"
"We've ended up in a timeline that is still somewhat in the past, I suppose!"
Puck sighed as he glanced around.
"The energy felt right, but it must've been a mistake. Beatrice, do you think we can find a way out of here?!"
"Maybe so...Um, they seem to be staring at us."
Subaru with a basket in hand, Emilia who had her Presence Shrouding Cloak in hand, did just that. Disbelief filled them, as they failed to produce a sound.
The gemstone, only audible to the ones she was with, spoke.
"Knowing this, Rem knows that she is watching them from the window right now."
"How obsessed were you back then?"
"Rem is always observant of Subaru-kun, Great Spirit-sama."
Subaru tried to speak up.
"Subaru-kun!"
"Rem?"
Rem, Ram and Roswaal came out to see what the commotion was about; possibly due to Rem informing them.
Rem rushed to Subaru's side intending to protect him against the strangers...until she saw who they were.
"Emilia-sama? The Great Spirit-sama?!"
"Hey, um, this might sound weird, but we're sort of lost."
Roswaal stopped all his steps and stared, tears forming in his eyes.
"T-Teache-"
"-Please knock it off Roswaal, I suppose."
"I suppose?"
"Yes, it's as you might have guessed."
Beatrice placed her palm on her chest.
"The one who inhabits Mother's body, is not Mother. It's me Beatrice, I suppose."
"What?"
"In my timeline, I was killed in an explosion at Gusteko, Ovidius placed my soul in our former master's body, Echidna."
"What?"
"Are you just going to be annoying and say that all day, I suppose?"
She frowned and tapped her foot, but exhaled and looked around.
"I don't sense anything yet, maybe we are not close enough yet?"
"Beatrice, do you think we could ask them if they noticed anything strange?"
Subaru finally spoke.
"Emilia?"
"Yeah?"
"You are Emilia right?"
"Duh, of course! Nevermind that, have you guys seen anything strange, like the air bending or something like that?"
"W-Wait, the only thing strange I've seen is another Emilia and Puck, and a woman I've never seen before talking and declaring herself like Beatrice."
"Damn, then we'll just have to make due."
Emilia tapped her chin, contemplating what to do. But Rem got in front of them, in a defensive manner.
"Be careful everyone, this could be some sort of trick! We can't be sure if we can even trust them!"
"Rem, are we even sure they are enemies? They do seem to be genuine in what they say."
"Emilia-sama, we have to always be on guard, especially after all the trouble faced in the capital and near the village, we must be vigilant!"
Beatrice scratched her hair and glanced around, but kept noticing Roswaal wide eyed at her.
"Could you stop staring, it's getting creepy, I suppose."
"Why the hell are you in her body?"
"I already told you, it was the only way to keep my spirit in this world, or my timeline."
"Why didn't I try to stop this? Hmmmm?! Why would I ever let something so foul and disgraceful occur to my beloved teacher?! Hmmmmm?! That would never happen! I would not allow any soul to disgustingly inhabit my teacher's body! So why-"
"-You died."
"HUH?"
Ram and Roswaal were stupefied by her harsh tone.
"Before they did the procedure, you were killed by Cecilus Segmunt in Vollachia, I suppose."
"What, what was Roswaal-sama-"
"-It was pretty much the initial skirmishes that led to the World War."
Subaru flapped his mouth up and down, trying to get his head around it.
"World...World, war?"
"Indeed. But the time for mindless conversations is over-"
Suddenly, a shadow appeared, shrouding the denizens of this world. Beatrice and Emilia turned around...seeing a large, red armor wearing being...the only source of any other color was the green curved slit in his helmet, radiating a green energy.
"Hello there."
"...You're-"
Emilai pushed Beatrice out of the way, as she glared at him.
"Puck!"
"Got it!"
Puck fired ice spears, but Rosenrot spun his doubled axe in a circular motion, blocking them with ease. He then looked over and saw the startled counterparts.
"Oh? So I have made it into the Multiverse, easily spotted once I see Natsuki Subaru and Roswaal L. Mathers still alive. Maybe I should fix that, I do declare."
He punched the ground and vines erupted out of the ground heading at them, Rem made a barrier of ice magic. With them blocked, Rem spun her head around screaming.
"Everyone, run for your lives! Rem will hold him off-"
Rosenrot rushed forward and punched through the barrier...straight through Rem's chest.
"BLEGHH!"
"The maid, I recall you were one of Subaru's wives, yet here you are nothing to him…"
He raised her up and slammed her to the floor, then as he walked forward, he tilted his head.
"...And she is nothing to me."
STOMP.
He stomped her head into mush, leaving a single blue eye to pop out and roll over to Subaru's feet.
"Rem?"
Rosenrot charged, as Ram, a complete screaming and sobbing mess, flung wind magic at him. Yet he pushed past them, even slapping some attacks away. When Ram swung her arm, Roswaal motioned his hand and fired a powerful and fire/wind combo attack.
Rosenrot ducked under, got on one knee and sliced upward with his weapon. Roswaal, realized all but his thumb were sliced off on his hand. Rosenrot kicked him in the chest, making a crater on the ground. Ram flung more wind blades, but he sliced them apart with his weapon, before she tried kicking him. He caught her leg, used his gripping strength and snapped her bone into chunks.
"GYAHHHHHH!"
"A version of Ram being this weak?! Where is your pride as the Oni Tornado of Kararagi?! Oh, but you are not that version, you are a mere weak over minded CHILD! I do declare!"
He spun her around, but made sure her face scraped across the dirt gravel, grinding the flesh of her skin and breaking teeth across the ground. Before he had enough and swung her away, smashing her through a wall of the Roswaal Estate.
Subaru was flat on his behind, his mind completely breaking at seeing this DEVIL begin decimating his friends. Beatrice ran over and fired Minya beams of which Rosenrot began spinning his weapon and deflected them again, making them go in different directions and explode.
"Subaru, get up! We have to run!"
"EMILIA?!"
His Emilia grabbed his hand and began making a run for it, right as their version of Puck flew out of the roof the Estate. He howled as he launched a multitude, a battalion's worth of ice spears down upon him. Rosenrot smacked the ground and a humongous branch of a tree, grew over him and blocked the spears, stabbing into it. THey ominously melted into the branch, before becoming blue roses, melting again and firing blue streaked spears of light, forcing Puck mauaver around them to get away.
Roswaal blasted magic of all kinds against Rosenrot, but he used his weapon to slice and pick apart each hit, with the most surprising form of mastery. Roswaal flew over, and lobbed an entire beam of swirling mana, pure blue flames with a yellow interior light source. Only for Rosenrot to mock his efforts, jumping to the side, through the flames. He landed a punch on Roswaal's face, scraping half the flesh off.
Rosenrot had his eyes shine, but Roswaal used a secret to get by.
His yellow eye was able to break some magic apart, rendering them mute and unusable. He activated it, smiling as the projectile would surely fail.
"You think too much in the realm of the old, Mathers."
He still fired the eye beams, which shot through Roswaals collarbone.
"Aghhk!"
"Oh my, here I got you, I do declare!"
He stabbed his axe to the ground and used one hand to grab Roswaal by his shirt.
"Foolish jester of a sorcerer, you may have had a chance against a simple magic user, or even a less skilled fighter than me! But to regretfully inform you, I have access to Cosmic Energy! In fact, I am one of only two below Scarecrow-sama to have offensive cosmic capabilities, I do declare!"
He squeezed his grip making Roswaal grunt in pain. The sorcerer fired different colored fireballs to his face...but only saw that crimson helmet only slightly dirtied by it.
"I can see now why it is you are dead in nearly every timeline, Mathers. You rely on measures that do not stack up against the changing times, I do declare. Then, if it is meant to be, let it be."
He used his other hand, grabbed the top of his head...giving a harsh push.
SNAP.
Roswaal's head bent so far back, it snapped off his neck, dangling disgustingly without a shred of support. He then had the branch disappear and tossed Roswaal's body at Puck who froze it, but was struck by a gigantic vine back down, devastating the Estate.
Rosenrot retrieved his double sided axe, which he elegantly referred to as Château De Axe.
He hurried, leaving a bewildered and injured Ram, whose face was pretty much destroyed and many teeth missing, stumble out and cradle the frozen head of Roswaal.
"My master…"
Beatrice planted her feet and had a ring of pink mana fire out against Rosenrot, who gave chase. He slid under, using his knees to do so, before hopping back up. Her Emilia had Puck summon two sharp ten meter long spears of ice. Firing them, they were both horrified as Rosenrot used his Château De Axe to smash each one to smithereens. He then stomped his foot and lavenders appeared under his feet, he kicked them and the petals launched. Emilia and Beatrice created barriers of different magic affinity...only for the petals to collide with and explode on impact.
The barriers broke and both were sent flying, rolling on the grass in defeat. Puck tried to continue his barrage of ice spears, but giant vines would spring out of the destroyed ground, protecting their master. He then aimed his sight at Puck, his helmet's slit flaming green. Puck brought out various barriers of magical circles filled with symbols of power. Rosenrot fired his beams, as Puck struggled to keep the attack from breaking through, but dived under and fired more ice spears. Rosenrot parried each of them away.
Beatrice got up, with energy of black mana swirling with purple smoke in her hands, and fired several blasts with them. Rosenrot rolled, ducked and hopped away as the attack destroyed everything around him. Emilia rushed over and landed a kick to his face, then made an ice sword hit him in the face, which shattered. She then used her punching and kicking from training to try and get him back more. Seeing her chance, she backflipped away, as Beatrice used her palms to create a gravity like field smash, which crushed everything there...except Rosenrot.
"Huh?!"
"WHAT?!"
Rosenrot simply walked out of it, green energy swirling out of his body, each step he took, flowers grew underneath his feet.
"Flowers are great are they not? They have simple desires to feed and pollinate, but they do not outright attack unless by some kind of freak evolution. They seek out the warmth of the sun, and the coolness of the wind, but they do not fear the rain or the darkness of the moon. Ah yes, they fear nothing. Which is where my power is birthed, to derive from no fear but my lord, I seek the beauty, I do declare. A world without life, but these which feel no fear, the beauty of simplicity. You are afraid, panicking, upset, angry...oh how delirious of it all, I do declare. Let me release you, and once I find the Tower that had been given the capabilities of universe traveling, then rest assured. I WILL RELEASE EVERY VERSION OF YOU ALL, FROM PAIN...I DO DECLARE."
He summoned a gigantic tree which sprung out of the floor, showing off how it was almost as tall as the Flugel Tree. He then jumped back, vastly far with extreme power and cut the tree. His power was stupidly too much.
The tree began to fall forward.
"LIA, BEATRICE, WE HAVE TO RUN!"
The tree began to descend and they ran away from where they predicted it would fall. As Irlham village all noticed the day had gotten darker, they too began to run, but their thoughts of escape, diminished. Pieces of bark from the tree broke off, smashing houses and people as they ran. They fell in random directions as people screamed in terror...only for them to be silent. Petra ran with her mother and father...only to have a piece of bark fall diagonally and slice all three of them in half. In the end, no one in Irlham village survived.
The tree finally fell and broke apart sections of the area and shot out a massive shockwave, tumbling everyone who wasn't Rosenrot.
The Emilia of this world, on her hands and knees, shook her head and looked around seeing nothing but the devastation.
"Subaru? Subaru!?"
"E-Emilia?"
Emilia frantically ran to the source of the voice.
"Subaru, it's Emilia, are you-"
"-Emilia? Emilia? Emilia?"
Looking down, she saw a calla lily which vibrated every once in a while and...imitated Subaru's voice.
"Emilia? Emilia? Emilia, Emilia, Emilia, Emilia? Emilia?"
"Oh dear-"
Vines sprang from underneath it, and wrapped Emilia's wrists and legs tightly, keeping her suspended above ground with her arms and legs spread out.
"Ugh!"
Freezing them did nothing, as soon as they broke apart, twice as many would take their place.
"Emilia, hey!"
Emilia turned her head and saw that Subaru was on the ground behind her, with a clearly broken left leg.
'Hang on Emilia, I'll get you out of there!"
"Subaru thank goodness, you are-"
Then Subaru noticed, that in the midst of the destruction that was wrought, something was right next to her.
"Here, I release you."
Red armored hand, with claw like fingers, stabbed into Emilia's side, and sliced clearly and slowly. Rosenrot walked briskly past her, disemboweling her as he did.
Emilia teared up and coughed blood, whimpering and choking.
"I feel terrible about killing an Emilia so young compared to the one I know, I do declare. But if fate had killed you elsewhere, then suffering would rear its head, and so I free you from it. Be thankful, I do declare."
He walked past her, as her internal organs flopped to the ground, and Emilia would twitch and cry some more, before she stopped moving. The vines let go and her body dropped like a rock.
Subaru, his mind shattered and with tears gushing out of his eyes, watched as Rosenrot snapped his fingers, took a look at him and turned back around, leaving him there.
"Look at the flower, and be well, Natsuki Subaru."
Subaru did, and noticed a white rose had grown in front of him. He was mesmerized by it, smiling disgustingly as mucus and tears streamed down his face.
"Emili-"
The rose self destructed, completely wiping out his face, and his corpse fell with a loud thud.
Emilia and Beatrice kept running, as they reached their goal.
"Look! The fissure, we found it, I suppose!"
Sure enough there was the distortion they were looking for. And as they were about to reach it, vines tried to block their path, but Emilia flipped over and kicked them apart.
"C'Mon, he's almost here!"
Rosenrot was running after them, dodging projectile attacks by Beatrice and Puck. But the two of them noticed that the fissure was shrinking rapidly, and hoped the two last mist spells would confuse him enough to slow down.
They did so, and hurried off into the portal and escaped. But the combined Shamak spell failed, easily pushing out of it and making it to the portal, escaping Puck's foot trying to smash him. The now giant Puck of this world, in his true form, realized all parties escaped, his foot smashed right as the fissure disappeared. He shut his eyes as he began freezing the world, though he knew Reinhard would eventually come to kill him, preventing him from destroying too much of even Lugnica. He peeked over and saw the mighty Algol Tree, break apart.
Thus ensuring, the tragedy that occurred here, would never be undone. Ram hugged Roswaal's head, as her freezing body quickly broke apart.
"Strange visitors...I HATE YOU."
Her head shattered, and such was the end of this timeline's peaceful days.
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In the tunnel of timelines, a sudden gravity surge surprised both parties.
Rosenrot was sent hurtling towards the bottom and the other group was thrown towards the right side.
Now, they were once again forced away, unsure of where they got sent.
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.
Felix smoked his cigarette as he peeked back inside the carriage, carefully checking on Liliana and her baby.
"Hey you doing okay?"
"Y-Yeah, I am just a lilttle flustered, like come on! Just what the hell was going on?!"
"I'm pretty sure that was an Exogenesis attack, don't worry though, I am sure our boys in red will take them down!"
Liliana cheerfully smiled, thinking the same way.
"Now hang on Lili-chan, we just got to get to the nearby town and-"
When Felix looked ahead, his feline ears twitched when he saw their Ground Dragon suddenly cleaved in half. Before their carriage could go into a full crash, something stopped it. They could feel the carriage being shaken and then put back down. Once they opened their eyes, asured they would not take a nasty accident, they looked up.
"What the hell?"
Standing before them…
"Well now, Felix Argyle and Liliana Masquerade, it has been quite a long time since I've seen any of you."
They did not know it, but this was Rosenrot, a spirit of pure malice that was someone they should not have met.
"Now then, would you two kindly show me the way to the Tower? I can recognize this place as the origin of the disturbances that have been occuring, and I'd like to get to it as soon as possible. But I feel like it might be guarded, so would you...three, help me out? I believe so-"
Felix and Liliana both were frozen in fear and panic, as the baby began to cry.
Rosenrot, could only tilt his head, without a care. The green flames escaping the slit of his helmet, the sun giving the shadows a place to rest upon him.
That was when they could smell him.
Roses, pure and fresh.
Yet, not the kind filled with warmth and kindness, like that of a romantic gesture or a gift to a loved one.
No.
They were the kind you'd notice, at a funeral. Those filled with somber goodbyes and the quiet coldness of death.
And he relished in it.
"-I DO DECLARE."
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"Hang on, hang on. I know I heard him just now!"
Nijino flew around and across the trees of this area.
"Strange, I feel like I recognize this place, maybe?"
Kicking off a tree, in this purely orange hued day, as the sun was trying to set. Nijino had her hair flutter in the wind as she took in the forest she found herself in.
"Why, why does this place look familiar?"
After hopping off a small boulder, she heard it again, screams. Now knowing what she heard was true she hurried in the direction, and could easily hear what this voice was yelling.
"Why do keep leaving me behind?! What did I do to you?! What am I supposed to do?! What did I do wrong?! WHY DO YOU GUYS HATE ME SO MUCH?!"
Nijino now really began to fly, using her ring on overdrive to get where she needed to.
"Subaru."
Now flying up and through the leaves, she looked down and saw the mind shattering sight.
Subaru, was on the ground, crying to Rem who had her Morningstar drawn...on him. His leg was cut off, and he looked like he was in pain.
And he cried once more.
"Even when you said you'd cut my hair…"
Nijino shook her head, unbelieving at the complete mess of a situation she was bearing witness to.
"I really like-"
"-SUBARU!"
Nijino shot down, landing on her feet right next Subaru, leaving a red trail of light behind her. Rem was stunned in total shock by this sudden interference.
"Who-"
"-The one who should be questioning things, is ME!"
Nijino shot forward and slapped Rem across the face, causing her to fall on her behind. A sudden windblade came at Nijino, but she kicked it into pieces, making sure none of them hit Subaru, but cut up the ground around them.
"R-RAM?! YOU TOO?!"
Ram jumped out of some bushes in total malice against the would-be meddler.
"Would someone…"
Subaru stared at her back.
Rem stared at her malicious glare.
Ram stared cautious at the strange red energy emanated from her.
"Would someone care to, EXPLAIN TO ME?! WHAT!? THE?! FUCK?! IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Unbeknownst to her, she had stumbled into a timeline that had already occurred.
Now, her interference would change things, to be far worse than anyone would've expected.
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On a foggy day, where one could barely see two feet in front of them, two individuals walked within it.
One was a woman, the other a young man.
"Master, it looks I felt that weird stuff over those trees over there."
"Hm? Do you think it's important?"
"Like, for real, I just wanna check it out. It has a strange feel to it, so it could be really important."
The two were slightly breaking through the fog, letting anyone who was nearby get a clearer description.
But here, in this world, they'd know exactly who they were.
"Hey, maybe it'll be the kind of experience that melds our hearts together and brighten up our relationship."
"Doubt it, but it sounds well thought out."
"Boo! Sensei is being a meanie."
"Right, right."
Shaula grinned, with her hands to her waist.
"Hopefully whatever this is, it'll be the damndest best find we ever made."
"Who knows?"
And with her, with white hair and single blind eye...wearing a dark brown cloak, was him. Black boots, black open gloves and a simple black shirt, marking his simple mindedness, and the eerie to his character.
"But it wouldn't hurt to check it out."
Natsuki Subaru, this world's version.
Who was the eater of memories, traitor to his allies, and infamous mass-murder, kept his pace.
Because, he did only one thing. One thing along with his weapon Shaula for all the innocents they killed and destruction they had wrought.
A completely selfish and GLUTTONOUS inclination.
To fix.
To re assemble.
To sew back.
To...patch together.
Patching together, and continuing to live on.
Until the day comes where he would die, he would continue to patch it together, and live on…
And several yards away from them...a fissure in space, was forming.
[TO BE CONTINUED…]
AN: There's that now.
Rosenrot is named after the song from Rammstein, which is translated as..."red rose". He's been a character I've been meaning to introduce into the story for a long time, with this Arc being the perfect excuse to bring him and show off what he's capable of.
With this, Rosenrot will be one of the three main antagonist forces of this Arc.
And yes, as some of you Re:Zero fans might have concluded, Shaula and Subaru from the Gluttony What IF, will be the secondary antagonists.
Ending theme will consist of SCANDAL and their song, "Pinheel Surfer". Featuring all of our heroes, villains and victims of this Arc cheerfully walking alongside one another through a beautiful garden, while singing along with the song. Before ending on the image of a crying Subaru being comforted by Emilia's hug.
Other than that, look forward to Nijino's escapades in the Multiverse!
Next Time: Ch. 43 - "Devourer of Life"
Have a great Labor Day, see you next time!