Chapter 99: Finish The Promise
Humans cannot exactly imagine utter nothingness. A concept of absolute emptiness, a pure blank slate. Where none of the human senses can pick up anything at all. Even time itself does not exist. Thousands of years could pass, and nothing would change - because there is nothing to change.
This fate would soon reach every corner of the planet. Every single country in the world would be blotted out by darkness, never to be seen again. There would not even be a single soul left to recall those places. Annihilation was the fate for all matter – and it would not just be Earth that vanished, too. The entire universe, as infinitely vast as it was, would lose all light.
A large number of souls had been ushered into this new age early. Having been subjugated by a higher power, their efforts to prevent it had been futile. All their blood, sweat and tears had been for absolutely nothing. Here, their very beings would fade, a precursor to the mass exodus that was bound to follow. An eternity of silence approached, with nothing to echo throughout the infinite bleak darkness.
Yet one person in here had recalled something vivid in their memory. A most terrible night, in a grim underground hell, saw this person lose someone they held dear. So dear, the knowledge of their demise would haunt them forever. Yet as their beloved painfully passed away, he made one last request.
That his partner, equally cherished, did not give in to her grief. Not while she still had a mission to carry out, one of momentous importance. And that was to save the planet.
"...Zao." Amara said. "Zao, I know we made that promise. But it looks like I couldn't do it. At least, in our last moments...I can think of you."
She shut her eyes. Not that there would be any difference, but it helped. She let herself go back to that hot day on the beach, the time she had been sent by Sophie to get ice cream. A warm, summer's day in June. Amara had only imagined a fairly average day with a co-worker, not one worth telling about in detail. Then she had encountered...him.
Never before had she met a man who smiled so much. It seemed impossible to break through his chipper attitude, his way of seeing the good in everybody he ever met. That moment their eyes were locked, standing on the burning sands of the Saragel beach...Amara had wanted that time to last forever. The first time they had ever met, they exchanged numbers. Neither of them had any idea just what lay in store, but the future looked bright for the both of them.
Let me go back then. I want to be there with you one last time. I cheated death countless times, but it looks like my luck finally ran out. If these are my last moments, then...I want to spend them with you...
|Normal World - Farawell|
"W-What's going on?!" A man screamed. "Is that a giant mirror in the sky?"
"No, you retard!" A teenage girl yelled. "That's another city flying towards us!"
"What the – that's our city in the sky!" A demure woman said. "This can't be happening! Where's my boy?!" She ran off, screaming her son's name. He, like many other civilians, had vanished.
"Catherine...is this it?" Julia said. The two girls held each other, watching the horror unfold above.
"I have no idea! But...we can't get away..." Catherine said, aghast.
The tallest building in the city – the seventy story Motus Obelisk – struck its counterpart above. As they did, they seemed to merge together, disappearing. Little by little, each floor met its mirror image, and vanished with each other. The area around this building got dark fast, as it did for the other skyscrapers in the city.
"It's over..." An elderly woman said. "It's...all over..."
Another man arrived on the scene. He had awoken in the chaos to notice his wife was gone. For the past couple of hours, he had searched frantically for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. Kaman had barely able to sort out the memories of his other life. Dealing with such despair all at once had almost driven him insane. Yet something had clicked at last.
There was another world, where the rebels his other self had befriended were fighting their hardest. Or at least, they had been. Had they lost? The two worlds were closing in on each other, and soon both would overlap each other – completely casting each other into the abyss.
"Aimee...no!" He said. "Is she gone...? Blaine, too...? All of you, so strong, but you couldn't do it? Then...what the hell am I supposed to do? Just stand here and watch as everything gets torn apart?...Maria! Where ARE you?!"
The growing darkness continued to spread, as both cities pushed into each other. The end had come, on the promised day, after all.
In the affluent Nova Albion, privilege did nothing to ease the distraught civilians. More and more people were resigning themselves to their fate of imminent destruction. Even the children, lost and confused, had stopped looking for their absent parents. They sat down, whimpering, without any idea what to do. No one was in a calm enough state of mind to reassure them, for they too anticipated eventual destruction.
"This looks bad..." Alastair said. "I can't even feel the other me."
"Same with me." Bianca said. "I thought I could feel myself fighting a ferocious battle, then suddenly nothing at all."
"Does this mean it's all over?" Kazuya asked. "Our enemy up there...its name escapes me, but it seems to have won..."
"Everything's gone crazy!" Richard said, shaking his head. "There's no one left we can count on!"
"...Maybe so." Alastair said, grimly. "I really have no clue what else we can accomplish now...I don't want to admit defeat, but -"
"I doubt anyone here has a plan..." Bianca said. "Let's not go any further. We've done all we can for the people. Whatever happens next is in God's hands."
The four were crestfallen. Their other selves were part of an elite fighting unit, one that had the potential to put these 'Shadows' in their place. Yet all of them had gone, to place unknown. What was left?
The stood side by side, and held hands. The massive buildings of the city were merging with those of another world, slowly cancelling each other out. Soon, darkness would be all that was left. Not a single human being could survive this. What would become of the outside world?
Alastair think he knew. This frightening elegy of doom would play out all over the planet, and beyond. Not even the stars in the night sky were safe. The exact opposite of the Big Bang was about to happen, taking everything it touched to an eternity of desolation.
Hiding in an alleyway, shaking, was Keisha Vivaldi. Tonight, she had finally seen everything her other self had been through. Misery and isolation. Thieves that had slit throats and bombed innocents. And after their own deaths, she had embarked on a self-destructive quest for revenge.
Alone, and confused, she had followed Richard and his friends to see what they were doing. They had tried their hardest to convince the people to calm down and support each other, but that was all but impossible now. Everything was coming to a dark end, she could tell.
"Blowing myself up really was for nothing after all..." Keisha muttered under her breath. Now she knew why, sometimes, she felt apathy for her boss. Why she was reluctant to socialise with him. Her lust for revenge had spilled over into this world...perhaps it had contributed to her moody behaviour.
"So...in either world...I waste time hating others for pointless reasons?" Keisha admonished. Richard was right in front of her, silently awaiting his untimely end. In this final moment, he would at least be with his dearest friends.
Slowly, she stepped towards him. She had lost the nerve to speak to him earlier, but now there would be no other chance to speak her mind. This man, whose parents had ruined her family's dream...she knew by now. He was not to blame. And it had been foolish to hate him in turn.
Would he be willing to listen, when everyone was doomed? Only time would tell...
|Other World|
The Ornatu Legion were still running themselves ragged, despite the dire situation that had reached catastrophic levels. Sure, the Shadows may have vanished to parts unknown, but something utterly confusing was happening in the sky. In Farawell, some soldiers were checking up on a small housing estate.
"Mommy, is that the secret weapon?" A young boy asked, pointing to the sky from his bedroom window. "The one those Ate Her Box people told us about?"
"...I don't know, honey." The mother said, tearfully. "Stay with mommy...please..."
Her husband stood firmly behind them, gazing in fear at the other city flying into theirs. Buildings were starting to disappear, and in their place was utter nothingness.
"They all believed in that broadcast, didn't they?" Cuiling asked. "Aeternus knew exactly what they were doing! Get everyone's hopes up, only to crush them in the most heartless way possible! It's so obvious to me now! I...I'm a failure! Wǒ hèn wǒ zìjǐ!"
"I don't know what to do anymore..." Bruce said. "We've been running around trying to calm everybody down, but...even we can't relax! Another city is flying into us!"
"Not just any city. That's our city above us." Esther said. "Our only hope is that those rebels can do something."
"Of course they can. Our own Commander is fighting with them." Steven said. "It's been hours, though...are we just going to have to wait until everything goes bye bye?"
There was an uncomfortable silence. Neither of them knew the situation. Nor could they do anything to provide aid to the real fighters here. Time itself had completely halted, refusing to progress to daylight. A night was spreading over everyone's heads, one that would never be lit up by the stars or the sun ever again.
Further away, in Legarte, some soldiers were on guard in a big public library. Many Aeternus employees had been evacuated here courtesy of an Obliterator, and aside from one man, all of them had been accounted for.
"Thank you for recusing us, Ms Rebeau. Yet I can't see...hmm...where is Hanley?" A woman named Naomi Wong asked, looking around. "You said you didn't leave anyone behind!"
"Mr Grant Hanley?" Sheila asked. She gulped, shuddering. "...Which department was he in?"
"He was with Business and Commerce." Reiko Kitayama said. "He didn't seem too bothered when they broke through our barrier. He just went to his room and napped. Well, in this organisation, unless you're in the Ater Vox or one of their top soldiers, you're zako."
"...That roughly means 'small-fry', by the way." Leanne Grimsby said dismissively. "I suppose when you're as powerful as Nihane Kronos, you don't need to remember the names of normal, hard-working people like ours. Grant, though, he managed to get through to Mr Nadal..."
Sheila gasped. On that floor, she had discovered an employee not far from a meeting room, who was in a pool of his own blood. She and her soldiers ultimately decided it would not be wise to take his body with them, as the priority was taking everyone else to safety. Now, however, she cursed her choice. His family would never be able to properly say goodbye.
"Miss Rebeau...?" Lois Noble asked. "Are you alright? Do you know where Grant is?"
"I don't know..." Sheila lied. "I need to inquire with the others in my unit! They'll know where he is!"
Frantically, she ran off to another section, bursting into tears. As the soldiers and Aeternus staff witnessed this outburst, the mood darkened even further. One of the few optimists working at Aeternus had died, and his son was nowhere to be found. And there was something else that had just dawned on Sheila...memories of another world. Where she worked on a magazine of some kind. Those who worked alongside her...two of them had already died in this timeline. And the others were rebels, those who she had been instructed were her mortal enemies.
She let out a pitiful wail, kneeling in the corner, while her comrades went to her side.
Word got around fast, even at five in the morning. The headquarters of Aeternus had fallen, and some had outright refused to believe it. Those closer, however, were devastated. Only Aeternus had kept them from succumbing to the Shadows, even if it meant absolute control over what was left of New Motus City. With their government completely destroyed for the second time, were they destined to die?
Staring out of a Legarte community hall's window were Stella and Seraphina White. They uttered not a single sound. Any attempt to get information had failed, and it had been many hours since their fateful reunion with their daughter. Could any hope of a new start have been shred to pieces that quickly?
"Sophie..." Seraphina said. "Please, come back..."
Stella gulped, shaking. A dark silence had filled the streets of this city for many years now, but this time it was worse than ever before. A vague semblance of hope had existed, that someone out there had the power to kill more Shadows. Now that the city was hurtling towards total banishment, that glimmer of a better future was gone.
No one knew the truth behind their predicament. Even if they did, it would not matter. Those that did have that blessed power of 'Persona' had disappeared beneath the city, and as far as Sophie's parents knew, they would never be heard from again.
Stella shed a tear, the first of a thousand. And there would be nothing to make those tears go away. Not until her beloved child returned. She would wait right there, until one of two things happened.
Her daughter's return, or doomsday.
|Via Aeternum|
"...Just get it over with!" Amara shrieked. "Just make us go away! You've won! Stop dragging this out! I thought you wanted us dead as soon as possible? So make it happen, already!"
Just then, there was a flash of blue light. It was blindingly bright, exacerbated by the immense darkness that extended infinitely. And when it was over, she felt something beneath her feet. Invisible ground, that she could walk on. Behind her, she could not see the door she had arrived through. But up ahead, there was something there, lying in wait.
"What?!" She said. They were too far away to see, but it was a person. And they were looking straight at her. Gasping, she looked down at her body. She hadn't faded away. She was still here, breathing, and her heart was pounding. At first, her footsteps were small, yet each one echoed for what seemed like miles. Then, realising how far away her target was, she took longer strides, and the beat of her feet grew even longer. Finally, she started running, desperate to reach the person waiting for her.
Took your time. You always kept me waiting, didn't ya? Not that I minded that much. Always did love seeing you all dolled up. Especially that black dress you wore on our first date.
Amara was speechless. The white figure finally revealed himself. Zao Yuria was standing right in front of her, smirking away as he had always done.
"...You again? This is the second time in one night." She said, smiling a little.
"Course. You guys keep getting into big trouble. I mean, you went through death's door this time..." Zao said. "Things have gone down the toilet, haven't they? Janus thrashed you guys, and you all ended up here. And any minute now, the world's going to end."
"...I know." Amara said, sniffling. "You made me promise...but I couldn't do it. I wasn't strong enough, with or without everybody else. Zao, please forgive me..."
Zao shook his head, and held Amara in his arms. She burst into tears, which streamed down her cheeks and into the dark depths below. "I guess it's okay to cry. God knows how many times you had to comfort me back then. But you know what this means?"
"W...What?" Amara said.
"That you're still alive. Janus tried to destroy all of you, but you're here with me. And your heart's still beating. You're not a ghost...you're real. That means Janus couldn't just blot out your existence! And you know why?" Zao said.
Amara shook her head. Yes, she might still feel alive. But for how much longer?
"I guess it's not something you know. More like you feel it. Forget about how uber-mega-super-ultra powerful Janus is. Against Janus' will to destroy everything, your will to survive prevailed. In this space, where nothing should exist, you're still holding on. And you won't stop. Not until you get out of here."
"Out of – but how? I can't even see the way we came in..." Amara said. "I can't even see the others!"
Zao smiled. "Not yet. But listen. If you had disappeared right then and there, I'd be gone for good. Since you're still here, I'm with you right now. Janus wants to eradicate memories and feelings, so there will be no more Shadows – and it, too, will go away. But if you're still able to remember everybody else, they too won't be erased."
"I don't understand...are you saying I can just bring them back?" Amara asked. "Zao, I don't know what to do! I want to stop Janus, but everything we did failed!"
"No, Amara. Not yet. The fact that you're here means that the Eternal Road hasn't been complete. Janus is stubborn...but so are you." Zao said, smirking. "You can still do this. Just...answer one question. And I don't want you to think about it. Just say what comes out. What does it mean to live?"
Amara didn't know what this was supposed to prove. If her will to live was enough, then she could have stopped Janus from trapping everyone in this limitless void. Still...she knew she had to answer him. She held her hand over her heart, and spoke.
"To live...is to always look forward!"
She gasped. Flying out of her heart, radiating light, was the Sun card. It spun around, and stayed between her and Zao. Before she could say anything else, it got brighter, and the other Amara stood next to her.
"What? Where...did you come from?" Amara asked.
"I don't know! I was just looking around for anyone at all...and then I heard Zao's voice talking to me. Just out of nowhere, he asked me what it meant to live. When I told him...I ended up here."
"You see?" Zao said. "There's still a lot of power in you, Amara. But it'll take a lot more to get ourselves out of this mess. Anyone out there, if you can hear me...answer me! What does it mean to live? Just say the first thing that comes to mind!"
There was a period of silence, as the Sun card remained alone. Amara's heart sank. Was this it? Only her and Zao? However, his smile did not falter. His hope was undying. And finally, a voice spoke.
"To live is to be brave for my loved ones."
Two Strength cards appeared, and fused together. Now they joined the Sun card, and the soft sound they made grew louder. They seemed to be trying to gather power, but with only two, they weren't so potent.
"To live is to make my dreams come true."
Another pair of cards, this time of The Moon, appeared out of nowhere. Again, they merged, and joined the other cards. More power was gathering, marginally more than before.
"To live is to be loyal to your friends."
The next pair of cards, Magician, were quickly merged into one. This card took its spot in the deck, and by now the energy was starting to look quite impressive.
"To live is to always gain wisdom."
"To live is to never forget happiness."
"To live is to prove your worth."
"To live is to move on from the past."
The voices of Sophie, Priscilla, Kyle and Dan echoed loudly through Amara's ears. From their souls, came the Priestess, Empress, Hermit and Hanged Man cards. This deck made eight now, and its power grew tremendously. Amara couldn't even see Zao clearly anymore, as the light from the cards was so strong. They also made a soft, almost angelic humming sound.
"To live is to cherish time with friends."
"To live is to tend to the beautiful world."
"To live is to never back down from challenges."
"To live is to share laughter with others."
Those voices...Alastair. Bianca. Kazuya. Richard. The Holy Cross had spoken, not content with fading away. The Justice, Lovers, Hierophant and Chariot cards manifested, and thus this fledgling deck of cards had grown to twelve. Their power seemed to double, each card drawing out more potential in all the others. Yet there were more to come. Amara listened, hoping and praying. The others would come. She had to believe that.
"To live is to never stop achieving."
"To live is to always find new experiences."
"To live is to always push myself to the limit."
"To live is to lead others away from ruin."
Lucy had survived. Shirley, too. Those girls couldn't be stopped, no matter what. And Roger and Karen were determined in both worlds. Their voices lead to their cards of Devil, Death, Emperor and Tower appearing, making sixteen total cards. By now, the power gathered by the cards was tremendous, shining every speck of darkness in this foul realm. And yet, there were more voices that needed to be heard. Or this was just a false hope.
"To live is to unite the people of the world."
"To live is to bring liberty to the innocent."
"To live is to bring peace with every step."
"To live is to protect what's important."
Tara and Matthew, the two Clairdol inhabitants, would never dream of failing now. Nor would the eternal pacifist Aimee, or her devout brother Karl. Temperance, Judgement, Star and Fortune joined this deck, bringing it up to twenty. The once faint hum was tremendous, sounding like a choir's loud rhythm, and the cards were in a circle now, surrounding Zao with their light.
"...Everyone? You're all here?" Amara asked. Sure enough, everyone who had spoken was there, all around Zao. "I don't believe it...Zao, you're amazing! I mean...you always were."
"Not half as amazing as you." Zao said, managing a smile. "There's someone else that needs to be here. And their heart is far away, convinced there's no hope at all to turn the tables. Truth is, their voice needs to be heard. But they keep telling themselves that they're meaningless. That there really is no point to being alive. You know that's bullshit, right? You all told me why you're alive. Even with how bad things have gotten, there's something inside that keeps you tickin' on."
"Ethan." Aimee said. "Yes, of course...he would have blamed himself for everything that has happened. His life has been a lonely one."
"Yeah, it sounds like it..." Bianca said. "Oh, Ethan...what if he disappeared for good?"
"Now you know that's not true." Zao said. "I mean, Amara remembered me, and I showed up here. And as we thought of all of you, you all showed up here alive and kicking. Ethan's out there. We just need to call for him. Guys, I once thought a lot like him. That I didn't have a reason to be on this planet. Meeting you and joining your side proved me wrong. Now you've got to convince him, before it's too late."
"...Ethan!" Amara cried. "Where are you?"
"Ethan, please! We're waiting here for you!"
Meanwhile...
It's useless. I completely failed. And now the entire universe is going to end, thanks to me. At least I can go with them.
Far away from the crowd of people, a person floating aimlessly was lamenting their dismal fortune in life. Their name had been lost. Memories were slipping away, and now all they knew was one thing. That they were responsible.
My mind is going blank now. Yet I don't seem to mind. Whatever I forget isn't worth remembering. Not when we'll vanish any minute now. The other people with me must be so angry. Have they all disappeared? I can't see anything at all, or feel anything. I lived alone, I die alone. How appropriate. Well, at least I won't have to say goodbye to anybody. I can just die, and never trouble anyone again.
The trail of self-hating thoughts was halted abruptly, however, as the man's ears picked up sound. People shouting something, rather desperately. They were upset, he could tell, but he had no idea what they were saying. It sent shivers down his spine, though. Why did he feel guilty for ignoring these people? Where were they?
...They're calling for you.
"...I beg your pardon?" The man spoke. "Who are? I don't even know my name!"
Really? They certainly know yours. They're practically screaming it. Listen to me. Janus may have used you, but does that make you responsible?
"Of course it does. I should have never listened to that monster! It's now got the world in its clutches, and there's nothing I can do about it!" The man shouted.
You always give up too easily. Never did well under pressure. But I think I understand what you're trying to do. You're afraid that people will hate you for being trapped in this expanse of nothingness. So this self-loathing you're doing will help cushion the blow. You'll accept dying as punishment, right? I thought I you knew better than that.
"I'm sorry. I never wanted any of this to happen. I only wanted a place to call home. Little did I know the answer was right in front of me. New Motus City. And now that place is going to disappear, it and every single person that lived there. I don't know what I can do."
It won't disappear. Not while so many people are begging you to return to them. You may have lost your name and sense of self, but they haven't forgotten you. And I certainly couldn't. Not after all those years I waited for you to come home.
"Are they really waiting for me? The one who dragged them into this sorry mess?"
That isn't what they think. I can feel it...you will too, soon enough. They want to know you haven't been lost. In their minds, they think of you. You have to show them that you're still here. Please, listen to them. One of those voices is crying for the man who saved her a long time ago.
"...I will. But who are you?"
You'll remember soon enough. This is all I can do for you now. Some day, we'll be together again. I'm looking forward to then. For now, you have to be strong. Take care.
The boy smiled, hearing the soft, soothing voice fading. So he wasn't alone after all. This unknown woman had such a soothing, kind voice. And it was a familiar one – a person he had known long ago. He knew he couldn't let her down now. Far away, he could see a faint speck of light. Curious, he landed on the 'ground', and walked towards it. As he did, the voices grew louder.
"...han! Ethan! Please, don't go away! We need you!" One of them shouted.
"Ethan...?" The boy said. "That's right. That's me! I'M Ethan! Ethan Walters!"
That was the name he had known as an infant. One he had tried to replace, but it had managed to survive. And now it had come back one more time. A simple name had a lot of power attached to it, he realised. It was his identity. This one he knew he wanted, now more than ever.
He ran, eager to meet the people that were reaching out to him. Amara was there, he knew. And so were all the friends that had supported her.
|Via Aeternum|
"Ethan, please!" Other Amara cried. "You have to join us here!"
"I will! I'm coming!"
Everyone looked around. Far away, waving, was Ethan. He was not his usual stoic, brooding self. This time, he was happier than he had ever been. And seeing everyone there brought joy to his heart.
"You're alive!" Aimee cried, ecstatic.
"I'm sorry, everyone." Ethan said. "When I ended up here, I blamed myself for getting you all trapped in here. But...it's not quite over, is it? You guys really won't quit. If that's the case, neither will I!"
"Good to see ya." Zao said. "You know, you look a lot better with a smile on your face. Ethan, you see these cards here? They're everyone's power, trying to combine. We just need another card. All you need to do for me is answer one question. What does it mean to live?"
"...What?" Ethan said, momentarily stupefied.
"Don't think about it too hard." Amara said. "Just tell us what comes to mind. You can do it. Janus thinks life has no meaning, right? Then we need to show it why we're still living. All of us."
He stared Amara in the eyes, and glanced at everyone else. They nodded, with warm smiles on their faces.
That's right. We're with you now, Ethan. I won't let you be on your own anymore. No more self-pity. You have to embrace life, not reject it. Please...
"To live is to...never forget who you are." Ethan finally said. "H-huh?!" Out of him came a card with a golden border, not blue. The alternative to Judgement...the Aeon. It flew into the deck, finally completing the circle of power.
"My Arcana...?" Ethan said. "The Aeon. The truth in oneself. It's wondrous! I didn't know something like this was in my heart."
"Who are you kidding? Everyone's got potential. You just needed help realising it." Zao said.
"Zao..." Amara began. "Should we ask you what your meaning is?"
"Course not. I'll tell you what it meant for me to live." Zao said. His eyes seemed to be welling up with tears, as he basked in the glow of the cards. He suddenly floated up, above the grand radiance of this deck. "To live...is to never forget how to smile!"
As always, his face reflected his powerful statement. Out of him came the card of zero – infinite possibilities. The Fool. And laid out before it was the stages of a soul's journey. This card briefly hovered each of them, before flying into the centre. Now, the light had grown so strong, it covered all of the cards. There was a piercingly loud sound, and beneath this luminescence, something truly marvelous was beginning. The grand revival of everyone's souls.
|Normal and Other Worlds|
Each city was moving closer and closer together, blotting out the wonderful cityscape. Thousands of buildings were blending together, and as they did, they vanished – taking with them the hard labours of those who had constructed these wondrous buildings, as well as the unlucky people inside them.
No one budged an inch, as they watched more and more of their city being sucked into the other. Between the two, all one could see was complete darkness. Solar Ray Mall was bathed in a dark red light, and it seemed to be shifting between the doomed military base that had one stood in its place. The same ghastly effect was occurring with every other Divine Spark, except for Kanaloa.
In the Normal World, the entire place was covered in red light. Parts of it started to flicker, like a faulty light. Something unearthly was shining below Pride Square, casting an odd purple light into the dark hole above it. And if one looked carefully, one could see facilities that had never existed in Kanaloa.
A gigantic, elaborate skyscraper that dominated over the meager tower blocks. A laboratory that switched rapidly between being intact and exploding. Even bigger than that, however, was a gigantic power generator that seemed to be trapped in a fiery explosion, raining debris all over the land.
Even stranger, however, were flashes of all of this sinking into the earth, along with the earth itself. A destroyed armoured vehicle. A metal fortress breaking apart. People from Kanaloa had never seen anything like this. They were caught between two different eventualities, one in which their lives in this crime-ridden place had been allowed to continue...and one in which Kanaloa had been cast aside, to make room for a cruel dystopic government.
This, however, seemed to herald the end of New Motus City. Centuries of unity and prosperity were over. A little known metropolis, that seemed to attract the entire world's attention nevertheless, was to be the epicentre of the apocalypse.
And yet, something glimmered faintly in the darkness. Everything suddenly stopped, as Takanawa's skyscrapers had nearly devoured each other. The dim light in the middle of the dark sky suddenly burned bright, and was growing in intensity.
Brave warriors from both worlds had found new strength. And their loved ones, in either world, would be watching. This light, whatever it was, signalled one thing. The world had more time. Whether it was too late, however, was all up to Philemon's chosen ones.
|Via Aeternum|
Amara couldn't believe what she was seeing. Zao, as if he was alive and well, taking the reins and preparing the group's final advance. It seemed when it came to Personae, everything got turned on its head. The only thing that mattered was one's grasp on their inner self. The hidden self that many try to deny. Amara knew one thing, though – her hope was not extinguished.
"Is there anything else that needs to be done?" Roger asked.
"Everything is set. Only one problem." Zao said cautiously. "Any minute now, Janus will notice that we're not dying like we're supposed to."
"And so we have to fight it again." Aimee said. "I'm ready for it now. Let's begin."
A dismal orchestra, conducted by a ghost? Laughable. The only tune you can play is plagued with discord. You will perish here, no matter how hard you persist.
"Janus!" Bianca cried. "What are you going to – ah!"
Far in the distance, red evil lights appeared. In pairs of two. Sure enough, they were Shadows. Just as Zao had sensed. And they were approaching, faster and faster, in hordes. Minotaurs, Mothers, Relics, Idols, Knights, Mushas, Hands, Cupids, Dancers, Mayas, and many more were among their ranks, all at their peak.
"Shit!" Blaine shouted. "What do we do?"
"Just summon your Persona! All of you!" Zao said. "With this much power, we ought to drive them off! Go, Rashnu!" His Persona appeared, stronger than before, to join the mighty army of Personae that had just been summoned.
"Are we gonna have to fight all of them? ...Then bring it!" Karl said, snarling. "Your goons don't scare me, Janus!"
Amara expected to have to battle the Shadows the normal way, except there were far more than she had ever seen. Hundred, or perhaps thousands, were hurtling towards the team. Conventional warfare would take far too long. Ishtar and Nepthys, however, seemed to have different ideas. They went to the light, and faced the army approaching. So did all the other Personae.
What happened next, however, was even more extraordinary. From the light, a gigantic forcefield exploded, radiating with the power of the entire Major Arcana. As the Shadow militia neared, it burned brighter and brighter. Yet when they all came into contact with it, there was a grand flash, and...the first wave of Shadows were completely vaporised. Those that weren't were destroyed entirely by the shockwave, that ripped apart everything in its path. It did not matter what form the Shadow was. They simply did not stand a chance.
"What the hell have we just done?" Lucy asked. "How many Shadows did we just kill?"
"More than the fish my Grandpa ever caught. And that's not all!" Zao said. "There's another batch coming!"
You dare defy us? You wild card, refusing to let death be final...let this be a lesson to you. Your last stand will amount to nothing at all.
It seemed there were plenty more fish in the sea. And they were all drawn to the bait. There were thousands more Shadows approaching, hungry for blood. They were much stronger this time...yet so were their targets. The forcefield extended, and grew in magnitude. Even before the Shadows reached it, they were torn to shreds. Even with all their magic and offence, some even pulling off Megidolaon, God's Hand, Brave Blade and Agneyastra, this newly born power outmatched it by a thousandfold.
"Yeah!" Amara cheered. "You can throw a million more at us, but it won't do you any good! Maybe now you'll beg us for mercy! Go on, do it!"
Accursed girl! Taunting us, when we can slaughter your entire kind?! To think we were prepared to be courteous to you. You leave me no choice. Come, my loyal friends! Traumatise these ignorant fools, and this time, don't fail!
Amara bit her lips. From afar, thirteen red 'eggs' appeared, each with a reversed, slightly corrupted Arcana on them. These eggs 'hatched', and writhing out of them were the Trauma Shadows - Harlequin, Sorceress, Diva, Yggdrasill, Vidofnir, Temptress, Stallion, Cherub, Compendium, Warlord, Chronicle, Rider, and most terrifying of all, the Mummy.
"The end is nigh, you sinful mortals. My brethren, this shall be our last stand. Humans may consider us monsters, but that only proves one thing. They are the monstrous ones, and must be destroyed! Starting with these self-righteous heretics!"
"Oh great, not these goons again." Other Blaine said. "Zao, you think we can hold out against all of them at once?"
"We might as well give it a damn good try! You already beat all of them twice now. One more round should be a piece of cake!" Zao said. "Come on, you bastards, show us what you're made of!"
"You?! How dare you persist, even after your pulse ceased! Your corpse festers in the soil...why does your soul burn so brightly! I shall have to destroy you - this time, with our full power!"
Each Trauma Shadow began to unite, shining in an eerie red glow. Their ultimate power was merging with each other's, resulting in a gigantic red ring of death. Each one struck it with their weapons or bodies, and this ring closed in on the blue forcefield that protected their sworn enemies.
"Ah!" Lucy cried. "It...it's hurting me..."
"Me too!" Dan shouted. "That's gonna kick like a mule!"
"Don't tell me this is as far as we can go...please, no!" Alastair despaired.
"I...will not yield..." Sophie muttered, despite the massive strain. "No...I will NEVER yield to the likes of you!"
"Come on...everybody, don't give in..." Other Serena said.
"All of us will be free from this worthless life soon. Yes, I can finally be saved from these torturous coils of existence. No longer will any souls be born, to live then die! The paradise we have been searching for will be ours! Hallelujah!"
"You disgusting freak!" Kazuya chided. "You don't have any right to say that word. Everyone, we've got to fight back! Doesn't matter how hard it hurts. The alternate is letting everyone else die!"
"Well said. I don't want to see these monsters take away anything. Not my flowers. And definitely not my friends." Bianca said. "This is not the end!"
"Then what are we all waiting for?" Other Nathan said. "Let us all double our offence. Go!"
The others let everything out, their bodies flaring with the blue aura. This was the power of Persona, no longer a dim ember of the heart. A roaring inferno, filled with genuine, true feelings. The forcefield reacted well to this outburst of emotion. It expanded, slamming hard against the energy of the Shadows.
Their red energy finally dispersed, thoroughly beaten. One by one, each Trauma Shadow was destroyed, without having a chance to fight back. Their bodies broke apart, leaving only their masks. The Mummy held on for a little longer, but even as the master of its kind, it could not survive.
"...No! Not now! How many times...must I die before it becomes final?! This was...my only hope! Why...why...why is there no salvation for us?!" The Mummy shrieked.
The Mummy writhed in deep pain, as its body seemed to melt into the dark, and the set of masks sank into the dark abyss below.
This is absolutely ridiculous! How can you all be so powerful, after your colossal failure?! So be it. If you insist on prolonging your futile end, then we shall remind you exactly who you are interfering with!
The Aeternus symbol, in dark red, appeared far from the team. Out of it appeared black masses of energy, only distinguishable due to the supreme light being conjured up. Bathed in vermilion light was the gargantuan Ahura Mazda - the ultimate door of Janus. For a brief period, it had been joyous. Yet in this dark realm, which was to be the core of a new universe of nothingness, its victims had failed to surrender. Instead, they flaunted their power, dispelling every single lieutenant Janus could depend on. Alone, the two-faced god had been forced to fight one last battle.
"Looks like we've pissed it off big time." Matthew said.
"We still need some time..." Zao said. "Our last attack will finally neutralize Janus once and for all. Until then, we've got to counter everything they throw at us!"
"Understood." Karen said. "We can't rely on anyone but ourselves. I'll give it my all to destroy this thing!"
"It has nothing left to support itself." Roger said. "Alone, even gods are powerless."
"Don't say that just yet!" Shirley said. "Here it comes – holy SHIT!"
The forcefield was being subjected to the absolute test. First, a blazing Ruin Ignis was lit. Volcanic flames raged over the barrier, but it managed to keep its guard up. Janus then tried a Clara Heremus, yet the chilling cold was not even a breeze to those protected.
...What? How is this even possible? Damn you ALL! You can't endure our might forever! Complacency will be your downfall!
The elemental display continued. The frightening storm of Nebula Adeptus, the hurricane winds of Aer Irae, the titanic earthquake of Mersis Mons or the horrifically turbulent ocean of Mortuum – neither seemed to crack this forcefield. It was struggling to keep back the assault, to be sure, but it was truly almighty. Even the purifying light and cursed darkness, courtesy of Exactos Nobel and Horrenda Maledicite did nothing to shatter this ultimate wall.
"It's still too early. But we can soften it up a bit! Everyone, you have to be in sync." Zao said. "Got it? Follow my lead! Attack!"
Everyone cheered, beckoning their Personae with all their might. From the barrier came hundreds of orbs, colliding brilliantly with Janus. On both sides was ultimate power, neither able to succumb to the other. Not yet, anyway. Nearly a thousand blasts had struck Janus – damaging both its massive body and its even larger pride.
You sickening humans! Why must you be so tenacious? We will never acquiesce to your desire to live! This crippled you moments earlier, and it shall do so again! Die, so that this nullity can spread to every corner of the planet! NOW!
Amara gasped. Janus was exhausting its supply of power, in a desperate vow to murder all of the rebels. Limitless energy was gathering, rapidly expanding. Every fibre of it was filled with the desire to cause absolute destruction. Whatever it came into contact with was destined to be destroyed. Now, Ultima Judicio was launched triumphantly. It could never reach any power higher than this. When it reached the blue light that surrounded the team, it clashed, forcing it back. Neither power was willing to relent.
"Argh!" Nathan groaned. "It's...so powerful! Janus is leagues ahead of when we fought it head on!"
"We've got to...keep it away...somehow!" Amara said, panting for breath. Her whole heart and soul were struggling against this power. This sphere, threatening to detonate, would be more than capable of wiping out everyone for good. "Come on, Isis... Don't let it get through! I believe in you...in me!"
The goddess gave her enemy a hateful glare. Her radiant strength managed to stave off this attack. Every other Persona was following suit. Apsu's spear was driving the barrier with godly force. Daena's mirror reflected her magnificent wrath. Chehooit and Ehecatl, although of different mythologies entirely, were totally in sync. The graceful Earth deity and the wild beast accelerated their barrier's energy. At last, with a final push, the mammoth strength being hurled at them was sent flying back. Janus was too bewildered to escape from the agonising energy that exploded upon itself, almost breaking to pieces.
"We did it! Right?" Richard asked.
"I'm afraid not. Its not going to tantalise us with illusions of defeat." Priscilla said, anxious.
Janus indeed did not succumb. Its pieces fused back together, and while there was obvious damage all over its grand form, the door still towered over the foes beneath it.
"I guess you still haven't burst our bubble, huh?" Serena said, sticking her tongue out.
"What's next? You gonna bore us to death with another lecture?" Blaine asked, doing the same.
SHUT UP! SHUT. THE. HELL. UP!
The tenuous fabric of reality in this dimensional seemed to warp, from the resounding boom of Janus' voices. Amara shuddered. As powerful at Janus might be, she was not going to cower in fear, like she had done before those Maya Shadows.
Can we do nothing to frighten you? You already lost once, and yet here you are, guided by a pitiful ghost! Everything has failed. No Shadow can break through your defenses. Not even our devoted followers! Very well, then. You have forced our hand. When you are obliterated, remember this! It is for the good of us all, and everyone you know and love!
"I'll be the judge of that, asshole." Aimee said, smirking.
"So this is the mighty Janus losing composure." Karl said. "Gotta say, I like it better this way."
"That's right, bud, but you know what's coming next." Zao said. "Using the video game terms Serena taught me, Janus is one cheap bastard. You know how we all have one ultimate mega super attack, right? Janus has a ton!"
"That means we've got to increase our output..." Other Amara said.
"Yes." Alastair said. "Are the preparations still underway, Zao?"
"Yeah...sorry." Zao said. "Whatever happens next, you guys have to keep going. Give it everything you've got, and then some more! Break your barricade! There will be no holding back if you wanna win!"
Amara smiled. To see him taking command this way was so inspiring. He had grown strong, even after losing his life. She had to show him how much she had progressed as well. Her body ached, every muscle being pushed to its limits, but she could go even further. And watching Janus' next move, she did just that.
The deck of Arcana Epitaph was sent out. Yet not just one card was selected. Every single one, even Aeon, was pulled. These cards tried to activate their cursed affect, to the shock of their designated victims. Somehow, this gigantic barrier of the Arcana repelled the cards, at least for the time being. The cards stayed suspended in the air, unable to do anything but waste their power.
"We're...not dying?!" Shirley exclaimed.
"I feel a twinge in my chest..." Kyle said, hoarsely. "But...this power we've summoned...it's blocking the cards! No one's doom is foretold!"
"That was just the prelude, Kyle." Tara said. "Here comes the next act. Never let your guard down! Not while Janus is still throwing punches!"
Millions of small clusters of energy gathered around Janus, and they began to collide. Eventually, the sheer power from the collisions resulted in an ominous, pulsating and gigantic monochrome sphere. It was a grim planet, where the ocean was pure white, but the landmasses were pitch black.
"Equinox...should have known." Kazuya said. "We used to crap ourselves at the thought of this!"
"And that was Equinox Lite. Janus here isn't wimping out." Richard said, pale.
"C'mon, big guy, no point getting afraid now..." Matthew said, clenching his fists.
The globe suddenly began to flash rapidly, and the ebony continents started to form a swirled mess with the ivory seas. Both statues of Janus rammed their weapons into it with their utmost strength, giving it a foreboding red aura. This planet normally would have crashed into the ground, yet it did no such thing. Instead, it attempted to crash on top of the barrier, causing it to tremble, and almost shrink. The sparks from the collision spread out over thousands of miles into the dark void. This barrier could not quite repel both the cards or this meteor, but it held up regardless.
"Holy shit!" Other Blaine yelled. "Can't we force this one off too?"
"That won't be so easy..." Other Nathan said, wary.
"How much more are we supposed to take?!" Other Serena cried.
"As many as we need to." Other Amara said. "I...I'll bear this pain...ugh...!"
"Here comes the next one." Zao said, wary. "Hold your positions!"
Around the entire team, a neon blue aurora appeared, with white lines resembling TV static. A squadron of glowing white rectangles appeared, constructing a dome like shape. Strange lines started to like them all together, causing the dome to solidify.
A giant shocking force was brought down on the forcefield, shaking it even more. Amara gasped – she thought she saw a hole being ripped through it. Luckily, it was just a moment of weakness. As well as this sensation, however, the barrier was also under assault from millions of bullets. It rippled, shook, and wobbled. Its strength was enough to guard the others, but not to dispel these attacks. Thus, the situation became a stalemate.
"Ow!" Lucy wailed. "This really hurts...it's like my body is going to snap any minute!"
"Please, hold on!" Shirley begged. "Lucy, you can't die on me! Not here!"
"Dammit! There's still more coming, right?" Dan said, grinding his teeth. "This shield better hold up...I don't wanna get fried!"
Unbelievable. This is your true power...? Enough to protect yourselves against my ultimate strength!? Then there is only one move left for us to make. Our confidence has been tried, but this time it will not falter. Consider yourselves fortunate for having lasted this long. Farewell, our equals...
The two statues of Janus held their hands, their harsh faces bearing down on the entire group. They span, faster and faster, until the energy created from their revolutions resulted in a strange helix of unimaginable power. It seemed to bear every hue of the rainbow, in every possible shade. The colours flared chaotically, until they began to merge together, resulting in pure white.
Delaying the inevitable, and prolonging the suffering of the two worlds, is purely on your shoulders. Do not transfer blame onto us!
Erasure had began. Roaring with absolute power, it started its advance on the forcefield. Janus had never been so determined in its years of 'life'. The need to use four of its ultimate techniques was unprecedented, but it was prepared to sacrifice every iota of nihilism it had in order to vanquish these opposing souls.
"No!" Aimee cried. "If it comes any closer...we won't make it!"
"Look at this covering. It won't hold up much longer." Karl said. Amara knew he was right – it was trying its best, but it was under severe stress from every angle. A cosmic medley of annihilation was being held back. Four would mean death...how appropriate.
"This really...is it, isn't it?" Nathan said, trembling. "I will do my best to resist, but..."
"No!" Zao suddenly said. "We've only just begun."
"Huh?" Amara said. "What do you mean, Zao?!"
"Everything has been so we can prepare for the real beginning of our journey. The Eternal Road the people of Amurdad dreamed of! It wasn't an ambition for absolute power, or yielding to complete destruction. It was all a metaphor for life! A never ending story!" Zao cheered.
At last. The moment had arrived. The light the cards had been bathed in had disappeared. Yet there was no deck of Major Arcana anymore. Rather, one grand card, revealing its face to the awed crowd. Number XXI. If the Fool was the outset of a human's journey in life, the World was the end – the complete fulfillment of its expectations.
"Zao! This is – what you used to defeat the other you, right?!" Other Amara yelled.
"Yeah...but this time, it's not just me at the helm." Zao said, smiling. "Today, our real Infinite Journey starts. Everyone, thank you for all your help! This is it, our counter-attack! Let's make it one to remember!"
Every single Persona, still present on the battlefield, stopped powering up the barrier. Rather, they sent their full energy and soul into the card, the combined resonance of human potential. The promised state mankind could reach. However, other Personae appeared on the scene. Thor. Hel. Cybele. Venti. Loki. Belial. Nebiros. Soma. Euterpe. These new arrivals immediately gave their complete and total power into the final Arcana. Such strength was unparalleled in the history of the island.
Finally, the card shone, causing the shield to finally stop giving way. It expanded, and finally managed to do something about the aggressors. Equinox completely broke apart, its fragments fizzing out. Each of the Arcana Epitaphs was unwritten, utterly neutralized. Neo Dimension did not stop firing its bullets, but it was powerless to take on the World. Its doors shattered like glass.
You must stop! Or the human race will never escape from the shadow of duality!
The barrier was right in front of the sole remaining assault from Janus – Erasure. In response, the card expanded rapidly, transforming it into a gigantic orb of energy. It contained the colours of the rainbow. There was not a single facet of human emotion that this orb did not have. Thousands of colours swirled in the orb, as the World Arcana faced defiantly at Janus beneath. And its masters, exhausted they may be, were in complete control.
"NOW!" Zao cried. "THIS IS IT!"
Erasure and Infinite Journey crashed into each other, with a deafening thud and a blinding flash. For some time, each force tried to push each other back, so their targets could be destroyed. Amara was on the verge of collapse, but she had enough in her to give this last stand a final touch. She and her comrades, their hearts in unison, saw Erasure to its feeble end. Not a single speck of its might was left intact.
H-H-H-HOW?! We are the great Janus!
"Not...any...MORE!" Ethan screamed. "This time, I decide your fate!"
Nothing was left to stand in their way. Infinite Journey could finally take the first step. The minute it touched Janus, all hell broke loose. The darkness all around seemed to recede, as pieces of stone and metal flew from Janus and evaporated. Finally, the World card flashed one last time, and signalled the planet's detonation.
Amara could see nothing but masses of energy, in every possible colour and shade, bursting in front of her. From what it sounded like, however, the world around her was breaking apart. She and her allies screamed, yet their voices was drowned out by the spectacle unfolding before them. Yet she could see one thing. A black shape, resembling the door of Ahura Mazda.
It stood tall, despite the phenomenal energy it was being forced to endure. Amara's heart began to sank – only to soar, however, when she saw something. Massive cracks appeared, and each part drifted apart – and those too shattered, leaving only fragments to swirl away. The male and female idols, however, sank beneath everyone's feet, leaving behind their fading remnants.
Amara let exhaustion take over, and everything turned bright...
|Collective Unconsciousness|
Amara seemed to be sinking through space and time. Stars flew by, but nothing seemed to be in sight. This must have been the 'collective unconsciousness', she realised. Yet no one else seemed to be around. Scared, she looked all over, frantically scanning this astral plane for a friendly face. Instead, something flew by her at lightning speed.
"Hey!" She cried. It was a blue butterfly, scattering its scales into the air. She reached out to it, but it disappeared. However, its scales surrounded her, like the energy from her Persona. "Philemon...?"
Yes. Your feelings became your power, just as I told you many moons ago. I trusted with you a weapon that could slay the shadows born from man's hearts. It seems I was right to do so...at long last, the two faced god has been removed from all power. A formidable foe, to be sure. Yet in the end, it could not attain its wish. Humanity's will trumped its own.
"But...as long as humans live, Janus can come back, right?" Amara asked, worried.
Indeed. Yet do not fear. You have proven me right, just as others have done throughout history - humans can evolve. Not just adapting to survive...their way of living. If mankind can grow from this point on, then those humanity has unknowingly birthed will proper. Someday, Janus may grow fond of you.
"Yeah. I hope you're right. I don't want anything like this to happen again." Amara said. "No one else should have to see another Shadow!"
That would be ideal. Alas, the way humans are, a day like that is far off. Yet you should not lament this. People still have time to grow and change. Living is no longer just for survival. Humans have the privilege to create a wonderful society of wisdom. Even if it were to be thousands of years away, you should celebrate today. It is a stepping stone, like many others. Well done.
"Thank you. I think I can look forward to that." Amara said. Her species had progressed plenty over the thousands of years of their existence. Granted, there had been many crises in that time, man-made or not. Yet people had a way of bouncing back, and not as selfish individuals. Time would tell what New Motus City could accomplish in on the world stage, but she would be happy just to go back to a normal life. "Philemon, what's going to happen now?"
You're wondering where your friends are, correct? The time you see them all again will be soon. Yet not long ago, you had a heartfelt wish in your heart. One who shares that wish would like you meet you. I shall take you there...
|Memories of Waves and Light|
Her foot landed in something soft. So did the other one. She looked around, and saw a sandy shore appear before her. The sound of waves could be heard, and she turned – seeing the tide. And then, the bright sun in the sky, amidst the blue clear skies.
"...Saragel!" She cried. She walked around. The sand felt so real beneath her feet. In fact, she noticed she wasn't wearing her shoes anymore. Rather, the pair of sandals she had worn this summer. And her summery clothes were on her body now, not that thick purple coat. Out of nowhere, hundreds of people appeared on the beach. Kids playing with inflatable balls, a game of volleyball taking off, and a plane flying over head displaying a banner for a new restaurant. Just like that time in June.
"It's pretty, huh? Especially today."
She gasped. In front of her was Zao, sheepishly waving at her. Overcome, she ran and embraced him, holding him as close to her as she could.
"Here...I was starting to think I'd never come here again." Amara said.
"This day really means a lot to me. To both of us." Zao said. "I never once thought I'd run into such an amazing girl. One that changed my life – even if it didn't last as long as I wanted."
"You don't know how much I miss you..." Amara said, tearfully. "When I was in that dark space, all I wanted was to see your face one last time. I should have known you'd come up with something after all."
"I didn't want you to remember me that way I was when I died." Zao said, sadly. "You should never have had to see that. Or...any of this, really. But you still saw it through to the end. And you kept your promise after all."
"I did?" Amara asked, relieved. He nodded, and laid his hands on her face. She shut her eyes, and let herself be pulled towards him. Their lips met, for the last time.
"It's not every day my girlfriend saves the world." Zao said, happily. "Aimee and Karl can relax now. Their worlds will be just fine, I know it. Nathan can have his wedding. Serena will do well, no matter how well college goes. And Blaine's got a bright future ahead of him. You, Amara...I never doubted you. You'll be the best artist the city has ever seen."
"I had a great muse." She said, staring deep into his eyes. "You don't have anything to worry about now. I'll live. Even if you're not here, I'll hold onto your memory. This sunlight and the sea - whenever I see them, I'll think of you. Zao Yuria, the greatest fisherman this city will ever know."
Zao, elated, let his beloved tears of joy from his eyes. "...Thank you, Amara. For everything. I've got no more regrets either. I can leave you guys behind without worrying this time. We've done everything we needed to."
"Yeah, that's right." Amara said. "I...I finally realise how lucky I am. Moving to this city was the best decision my father ever made."
"I gotta agree with that. One swell guy, your papa. Tonight, don't go back to your place. Go home. He needs to know he still has you." Zao said, lovingly touching Amara's face. "I...I think it's time for me to go. And this time, I mean it."
"...Alright." Amara said, shedding her last tear. "Then this time, I can finally say...Goodbye."
She let go of him, for the last time. His body faded, but that smile would forever remain in Amara's memory. And she would not cry when she thought of it. Rather, she would smile with him.