Episode 12: Operation Dissolution 3:
~Legend of the Magic Six~
So who's it gonna be
The one that you only need
I gave it all and all you gave
Was sweet misery
Kaarina raised up her staff before stabbing the void with it, making a crashing like sound. This time, she was not alone as her partner Makoto Hanamiya and their son Tatsuya Himuro were all dressed in monk-like clothing. The dream seer smiled before chanting a new prophecy to all the realms…
"Six Stars have set their destiny in motion again…but now confront the darkness that shattered them. This new tribulation will spark the beginning of their resurrection…or the probable ending of all things. Should they find themselves saved…their time to officially reunite…is not yet here. But when they finally do…the final war will begin…"
"Mother, will everyone finally survive the final negation that you speak of?" Tatsuya asked.
Kaarina looked at her son with a smile, "If Chaos and Cosmos finally end the war…then perhaps eternal peace in all the realms may be possible…at least for those that have connected to everyone who believes in them."
"What about the witches?" Makoto asked.
"If all goes into plan…the Magic Six…will soon face off against them…"
Up in the void, the hologram images of Alpha!Earth, Beta!Earth, Suiei!Earth/Duniya, Delta!Earth, Camelot Magna, DM!Earth and Olympia Magna orbited around the paradise planet Idaina Magna.
"Soon…Suiei Cosmos…the Senshi of All…" Kaarina whispered, "A new cosmic order…a new ontological existence…will you finally come to fulfill your destiny?"
Eternal Summer Café
As time passed since her initiation, Stefani's fame in music and advocacy in the LGBTQIA+ realm allowed her to own this café while keeping her musical title. However, today was a gloomy day as the news about the horrific monsters and the Suiei Senshi trying to fight them off led her to a song she heard of in a dream…a song that her other self explained that it was from a movie…
Where the north wiiiinnnnnd meets the seeeeaaaaa
There's a mothhhheeeerrrrr full of memooorrrrrryyyyy
Come, my darling, homeward boooouuuuunnnnnndddddd
When all is lost, then all is fooooouuunnnnddddddd…
She looked up to the skies from her window, seeing lightning striking all over with darkness and red-blood swirling all over. While her memories were forgotten (yet to resurface), she knew deep down something about her life was also in darkness…also lost…but later found…that brought her here.
The Suiei Temple, Idaina Magna
Hiyori walked around anxiously in circles as he, Natsuya, and Nao were informed that the battle in Aeurpoa City as getting intense. Since their departure, Hiyori couldn't bear but to feel anxiety about this whole thing.
"I don't understand…what is the Legend of the Magic Six," Hiyori said, "Why are they so important?!"
Natsuya remained silent while Nao lowered his head for a moment before answering, "No one told you?"
"Of course not! It's like every time I see Ikuya and Asahi hanging out with them…I feel like an uninvited guest!" Hiyori replied, "And those two think they complain about being on the sidelines…"
"Well for one, you didn't cross their paths appropriately," Nao stated, "Even if you did live on Lynwin-Mu, their paths did not intersect with yours."
"I did try to dig out the legend but even so…everything that was accessed to others was blocked for me," he answered, "It was as if they think I was going to steal some big secret…"
"Well for sure, they did carry a big secret," Nao replied.
"I couldn't even be there to support Ikuya," Natsuya sighed, "He had to face the world on his own…"
"Well after helping Ikuya live on Lynwin and being some older bother to him…I think the truth is what I would like to know" Hiyori stared at the two, "Nanase, Tachibana, Matsuoka, Hazuki, Ryugazaki, Marotta…these gods…what are they and why should I even care to know their legend?"
"Come…then let us take you to the temple…" Nao answered.
Back on Duniya: The Climatic Battle – Alex vs. the STYLE FIVE!
Alex's eyes widened in shock as the masses of Elder Bairns in all various shapes and sizes and animals roamed through the streets as darkness leaked from the skies above. The barriers from the swimming guardians were struggling to protect the humans as they huddled in fear inside all the buildings.
But it wasn't the only thing that struck him…these five beings standing before him were a cross of a butterfly, shark, penguin, mixed into human-like bodies but not in the colors of flesh.
The dolphin had a stream-like body in sky-blue and sliver streaks with a triton. The Shark was muscular in gray and silver with a long-tail behind and carried a machine gun. The butterfly's body was black with a near-humanoid face with shades of violet, purple, and lavender colored wings and carried two spears. The Penguin had black, white and specs of yellow fur, but its mouth was disgustingly large with sharp teeth on its beak. The Orca was also strong like the Shark but its body was black and white with two tails and had six-limbs arrangement with massive fists on four of them.
"T-those monsters…" Seijuurou muttered, "Are they…? No! IT CAN'T BE! WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?! HOW ARE THEY EVEN HERE IN THIS WORLD!?"
"This is the main cast…Alex…" Verrado's voice echoed, "Kill them all and you will finally break the Dark Curse that you've longed to fulfill."
"W-wait what!?" the red-haired gasp, "What the hell did she want you to do!?"
"Stay out of this," Alex said, gripping his sword, "This is my battle."
"No! I refuse to leave you! Never again! Not what happened back then in Italy!" Sei barked back, "If you really are the Alex that I remember then these guys here…"
"They're Elder Bairns; I have to slain them!" he answered.
The magic carpet swooped down to grab the red-hair as it could sense the danger finally starting. He protested to let go while Isuzu struggled to calm him down.
"If anything goes wrong, we'll be there for him!" she answered.
Sei's hand trembled as he could feel the nightmare of betrayal back on Earth…everything that went totally wrong on their mission in Italy…and now this…what the hell happened to Haruka, Rin, Makoto, Nagisa and Rei?
"I don't understand," he breathed, "IS THIS OUR FATE?! ARE WE TO SUFFER AGAIN!? ALEX, PLEASE DON'T KILL THEM! THEY'RE YOUR ALLIES!"
It was an awkward silence for several moments as Alex's heart was fluttering about this arrival yet…
The five charged to attack him. Alex propelled himself back and called upon a large wave of energy to blast them back. His head throbbed horribly as something was trying to pry his mind to break open with this scene before him.
The curse…can it really be broken…they're Elder Bairns, right, Alex thought, I have to slay them but why is my body screaming no? Why are my reflexes not doing what they should be doing?
The Dolphin charged up quickly and shoved him down as the Shark and Orca grabbed both of his arms while Butterfly and Penguin pinned him on the legs. Alex breathed heavily as his body was still hesitant about all of this. He wanted to break the curse desperately but…
Water…a living thing…you dive in and it bares its fangs…
It is hungry…territorial…
"T-that voice," Alex muttered.
As the Dolphin was about to stab him down, Alex roared violently, unleashing sonic waves to throw them back. The Butterfly!Elder Bairn unleashed a rain of flesh-eating butterflies but the red-haired threw up a shield of water to protect themselves.
"I told you to leave me!" Alex answered.
"NEVER!" Seijuurou replied, "I failed you once before and I won't let it happen again! Listen to me, those five beings are not Elder Bairns…they are not your enemies. Whatever the witch wants you to do, do not act it out!"
"Alex, I may not have met you, but your reputation proceeds you," Isuzu answered, "You're very important to us more than you remember."
As distracted by this, the Orca!Elder Bairn struck Alex's leg with his tail, stabbing it through. He yanked it out before making a slash attempt at it but missed as he felt something sharp in his heart.
"If you do not kill the Main Cast…the Elder Bairns will feast upon all the humans in this town," Verrado's voice threatened in his head.
Alex roared angrily as he could feel the blood in his veins rapidly going through his body and head. Was it his fate that he had to kill them to end the curse? Was this the only way out?
The five Anthro Elder Bairns grew in size, reaching about 10 feet tall or so as their facial features grew more terrifying with sharper fangs and mouths like a horrible nightmare.
"No…I already killed Odysseus…and already I felt something off about this…as if everything is dying," Alex muttered.
The Elder Bairns growled loudly and charged their way over to him. Alex propelled himself back as he had to concentrate on his heart and what it was trying to tell him…
"We…we are the last generation of humans that can live out and function normally in our lives," said Alex, "Autism is primarily affected in the amygdala and the cerebellum of the brain."
Alex pointed at the structures and explained a bit more on how each cells and neurons that make up the brain are further divided to DNA and Proteins that help make the structure.
"The brain stem is where it all begins during development," concluded Alex.
"Let me get this straight," said Rin, "So you're saying that… the brain stem is like damaged with this...methylation?"
"And that if there's too much of it...it'll spread out?" asked Haruka.
Alex sighed and answered, "That's probably it…but if that's even true…how one can fix it? That's the question that needs to be…"
"Well...I do like to read, sometimes go out for walks...I tried to live a somewhat simple life... after all of the stress," replied the boy as he slumped down into the water and broke to the surface again.
"You said that you haven't been swimming for a long time…" said Haruka, "May I ask why you stopped?"
Alex looked down at his own body and remembered those days when he was…
Oh god no, never again , he thought, I cannot tell anyone how I truly felt…but it doesn't matter anymore since I'm no longer like how I used to look; but still.
Before Alex could give an answer, he turned to see his brother snoring a little bit louder. The older brother blushed and said, "Oh Sergi…"
The city of Mayfield stood before them, nothing but rubble and a wasteland as mountains of rubble were piled all around with a handful of cars trying to pass through the old city. Some of the areas were cloudy and foggy while other areas smelled foul and rancid of human decaying flesh and bone.
"T-This town…" said Rin.
"It was once beautiful and flourished...but as you guys saw it the other day...it's nothing but death, danger, and druggies here…as well as other types of people," replied Alex.
"That…was a ton of people I've never seen before," added Haruka, "Their behavior…"
"Well I remember learning about this through sociology," said Rei, "But I didn't think it would be such intense."
"Some of those people though, they were like looking and talking to us…" began Nitori.
"No they weren't…they got their Bluetooth phones on and they talk on through there…" replied Alex, "It's the way most of them live…sort of."
"But I've never seen such diverse individuals too," said Makoto, "Has Mayfield been a diverse town also?"
DM-Rei sniffed out some tears but Alexa smiled a little and said, "But…he's here…in spirit, just like the others."
Before he could answer, everyone gasped as they all saw the deceased Alex, Makoto, Nagisa, and Haruka floating before them.
"Y-you guys!" gapsed DM-Rei, "Y-you're all here!"
"Rei-chan!" smiled DM-Nagisa.
"We may have been physically perished but we never left this world," said DM-Alex.
DM-Makoto and DM-Haruka smiled to them as DM-Rin said with crying tears, "Y-you guys…"
"The Shadow Mafia are finally defeated," said DM-Alex, turning to the other Magic Six group, "Thanks to your help, you were able to bring back the light to this world."
"T-that's me…I…" Alex gasped as the visions from his heart showed him the truth. His eyes glowed golden yellow, enabling him to see what lied beneath the Five Anthro Elder Bairns…
Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, Rin, and Rei…trapped inside the monsters' flesh…
"I-I remember…oh my god…everything that happened…" he muttered before crying out, "Y-You guys! STOP FIGHTING! IT'S ME!"
The five Elder Bairns stopped for a moment in confusion to see the golden yellow lights of his eyes. Raising his hands up, a silvery-heart shaped pendant necklace appeared as a ghostly figure of a god-like entity floated behind him.
"H-he finally remember!?" Seijuurou gasp with a tear of hope in his eyes.
At first the power seemed to be working as the mutated transformations began to reverse itself. However, a massive lightning bolt struck between them, breaking the connection. Both then necklace and the ghost disappeared as the five Elder Bairns resumed their attack at Alex.
"Foolish human! Even if you do remember them, you cannot save them!" Verrado's voice echoed in his head, "The only option is to kill them!"
"No…" Alex breathed, "You pressure me into killing them is part of the equation for your evil plans! You blackmailed me to cast the curse to save my family, but I see the truth now! All of this is leading up to this very moment! We lost ourselves in betrayal…I won't let it repeat itself, NEVER AGAIN! YOU SET THIS UP TO KILL OUR TEAM ONCE MORE!"
Alex's eyes glowed yellow and red once more as he raised up his sword, concentrating on his blood power like never before. While it was true that the Shrovetide covenant was still happening, the only other option to end this before it was too late…
Anastasia and her team raced across the alleys just as they saw a corpse lying dried on the ground. Despite being recently killed, there was no blood around.
"W-what in the name of…!?" Laura gasped.
Akiteru used his wand to identify the body before transferring the knowledge to the girls. Anastasia gasped in horror before running up to the body of Kyle. She was horrified to see no arms on him but nonetheless…
"N-No…PAPAAAAAA!" she cried as tears poured out from her cheeks before they landed on Kyle's chest. The other girls huddled together in sadness.
"W-we're too late…" Anastasia muttered, "H-how did this happen?!"
Everyone turned to see more Elder Bairns approaching. The girl combined their magic to repel the monsters out of their way.
"Ana, we have to hurry and find Alex! Maybe he's still alive!" Maya answered.
"She's right, we'll have to deal with this later," Laura agreed.
"I'll preserve his body for now. You girls and Kei go on ahead," Akiteru replied.
They left the area as Kei looked back at his brother, hoping that he'll be able to fend for himself.
The Crystal Chamber, Atlantis, Olympia Magna
Julius and the powers coming from the other kings connected to the six crystals as well as the heart of Atlantis, showing him the pathway to Duniya as a portal finally opened. It was a long struggle to open this map, but he knew that the action there was going to be the pivotal point of all existence.
"Must you do this alone Julius?" Antonius asked.
"…I have to," he answered, "For this is my wish and the price must be punishment for doing this wish. Keep the gateway open until I return!"
Antonius ran his way into the water to hug him, "I love you…please come home safely at least."
The high king smiled sadly before stepping into the gateway.
The Shop of Wishes
Watanuki looked through the basket of water as he saw three worlds being connected by very powerful magic; one of darkness and the other made of light.
"You know…the last time three worlds were connected…it was when Syaoran and the others fought that game and Sakura used her life to split up the power," Mokona Larg stated.
"Yes, but this time…the chess game is the Dark Curse," he answered, "The chances for this to work out for the better is 2-1."
"If Haruka and the others were revived…then why is it they became Elder Bairns?" Mokona asked.
"The Dark One reconstructed their bodies after their first deaths in that world. Thus, the five of them were born from dark magic and thus any memories of their previous lives were gone. As for Alex, he was reborn on the other Earth…but yet the five of them were also on that same planet. The flow of time in Hyperion is almost nonexistent yet they have day and night cycles," he explained, "And now Julius…has come to the board and wishes to change the future…by returning to the past…"
"Will he succeed in doing this?" Mokona looked concerned.
The Suiei Temple, Idaina Magna
Hiyori listened to Nao (mostly) and Natsuya about the Suiei Gods and the Suiei Senshi adventures on Earth, Duniya, and Olympia. At first, he was unimpressed on how the gods had to 'hide themselves' as humans in fear that the latter would try to steal the magic from them. But then it all made sense as such evil forces also want to obtain that power as water was the first magic that appeared on earth.
"What can I do to help?" Hiyori finally asked.
"There's not much we can do but…" Nao began.
"No, there has to be a way!" he answered, "If something happens to Ikuya…and the others…"
Hiyori looked at the Alpha!Timeline book as his other self was constantly with Ikuya from their days in America as middle schoolers, through 3rd year students at Shionezaki, and first years at Shimogami…
"If my other self was able to help then…I must too!" he concluded.
"You do not have magic," Natsuya answered, "It will be dangerous for you to go."
The earth shook as everyone in paradise panicked at what was happening. The trio went outside as they didn't see any darkness or evil coming here but something felt horribly wrong.
"I'm tired of just being useless," Hiyori muttered, "We were attacked by those witches earlier…and I know Ikuya is in deep trouble!"
"Do you only care for Ikuya?" Nao asked.
"…I do but…what about the others? I…I feel inferior to them. That's why…I wasn't at the wedding of Pandora! I would feel like an unwelcomed guest!" he said.
"No one should be unwelcomed," Natsuya stated, "It's your fear holding you back. If you want to help, you must embrace the power and be able to enter the unknown."
"…how am I supposed to get this power?" Hiyori asked.
"Believe…" they both answered, "Think about the reason why you swim…what do you want to achieve with it?"
"I…" Hiyori began before closing his eyes and opening to see himself in some dark void where he could see his other self dressed in swim gear and half of the jacket was in Shionezaki and the other in Shimogami. His eyes were closed.
"T-this is me…?" Hiyori muttered, "I…I was able to make it this far?"
The other Hiyori opened his eyes finally and held his hands, "You were lonely like I was…playing alone in the sand box."
He looked at his other self and replied, "I had no other choice…mom and dad were never around and when they did…I was neglected. The Legend of the Suiei Gods interested me because they were able to at least have some companion to be with…that is why I hunted them down. I thought…maybe I could have a guardian angel like them."
"The same way as I was close to Ikuya," the Alpha!Hiyori answered, "I thought he would have the answers but it turns out…it wasn't enough. The fact that he kept chasing after his old friends confused and angered me. But I finally understood why…that I swim for the sake of my heart."
"M-my heart…?" the other Hiyori looked confused.
"The heart of you is what holds the power to become…stronger," the Alpha!Hiyori answered, "Call upon it…and you'll find yourself where you need to be."
"…I'm surprised that you know this despite coming from a different timeline," Hiyori shrugged, "But of course the only reason why you know that is that we are connected but once we separate…"
"I'll forget that I've met you and that my story must continue my own way," Alpha!Hiyori stated, "But you will remember and that will help you…find where you belong."
Hiyori looked down at his fist to see a pen-like wand with a star-shaped hilt and a polar-bear symbol on it. It started to glow in a dark-forestry green color as the Alpha!Hiyori vanished back to his world.
"URSUS PRIMAL POWERRRRRRRR…MAAAAKKKKEEEEEEE UP!"
The void shattered back into the light as Hiyori underwent his transformation sequence. Natsuya and Nao nodded to each other as they also took out their wands.
"MORUS PRIMAL POWERRRRRRRR…MAAAAAKKKKKEEEEE UP!"
"TIGRINUS PRIMAL POWERRRRRRRR…MAAAAKKKKKKEEEEE UP!"
Up in the skies, the dark portal finally overwhelmed the senshi, throwing them onto various rooftops as they all grunted in muscle ache and exhaustion. The Elder Bairns were starting to break the barriers and preparing to feast on the humans. Artemis began to fall from the skies, heading down to his death but a great power of white light struck the skies, blinding the monsters down.
"W-who is that…?" Tsubasa muttered.
Power was flowing back into their bodies, refueling them in a way they never felt before. Tsubasa, Ikuya, Hikaru, Shin, Kotarou, and Asahi gasped on the new arrival before them who carried Artemis in his arms.
"T-This can't be!?" Asahi's jaw dropped.
"NEO KING JULIUS!?" Ikuya shouted.
The great king of the Atlanteans smiled and answered, "Hello again, Suiei Kirishima…and Suiei Shiina. I see your team has grown."
Artemis woke up and gasped to see the king holding onto him. He jumped out and floated with the others in shock and joy.
"But this is impossible! Your power shouldn't be in this world," Ikuya answered.
"I know and what I am doing is something of a great violation but now…this world and soon the rest of the worlds beyond here will crumble away. I came here to stop what will soon happen," the king replied.
"What are you talking about?" Kotarou asked.
"The witches have formulated a plan by reuniting the Magic Six here in this world but the five of them have been mutated into Elder Bairns. If Alex…kills them, it will destroy all the worlds including mines," the king replied, "The past and the future will crumble."
"What do you intend to do?" Tsubasa asked.
"…By doing what I do best," the king smiled, "For now, we must prepare ourselves…"
Fortress of Chaos, Hyperion
Ataxia grunted angrily upon seeing the great king from Atlantis coming to Duniya. This was indeed not what was anticipated. The Dark One slammed its chalice down with some drink splashing off.
"That interfering little…" the darkness hissed, "So this is the power of the Solar Crystal…not only it can transcend space but also time…"
The Dark One returned to the scene of battle and gasped to see Alex doing something the unpredictable. Surely it was something that should not be foreseen in the cards.
"The plan was to destroy all of reality again starting with the deaths of these people…with that it will undo the Delta!Earth and Alexa would've never fulfilled his mission to rebuild Olympia Magna…thus killing that world off and I would at last obtain the Solar Crystal to rebuild a new Cosmic Order!
"Thus, I recreated the STYLE FIVE from that dark Earth realm and injected all my power to make them…broken…hopeless…unforgiven…merciless people. When they began to realize the truth, I stabbed them with the blood of their final member to turn them into what I call…the final solution to destroy Cosmos' grand scheme!"
"So, are you saying that the Magic Six is resurrected?" Kaede asked as he appeared in the room.
"I did reconstruct them…except for Alex because that space-time boy from another world meddled his fate, giving him a chance to start fresh…and become a symbol of hope. However, I was able to alter his personality into focusing on swimming until that bastard reincarnated Julius appeared to alter his fate unknowingly!" Ataxia continued.
"What you will do now?" Kaede asked, "Lord Chaos?"
"Depending on the outcome of this moment…the final war will soon begin and I shall extinguish the future Cosmos when the time is right," Chaos replied, "Now go back to Verrado and tell her she has her one and only warning from me…"
Back in the battle:
Alex concentrated on his sword and body as the STYLE FIVE Elder Bairns readied to attack the hunter once more. A red aura glowed over the hunter before he was lifted off the ground a few feet.
I will not allow the Elder Bairns feed anymore humans…the only way to sever the ties between them and the humans is…
The Elder Bairns across the metro felt their bodies being dissolved before absorbing into the sword as everyone watched in confusion on what was happening. The Chiroptfa and the Mullerians were also shocked on what was happening.
With a signal from Rasputin, Stellaluna and Goliath followed the former to see where the dark energy was trailing to.
Above, Neo King Julius, Artemis, and the other senshi watched what was happening as the STYLE FIVE Elder Bairns grunted before collapsing down to their knees. At first, they felt something ripping apart from their bodies but sure enough, their bodies began to melt back to their normal human forms but Alex was beginning to twist and change into a hybrid of a black-like dragon with two tails and a pair of chiropera-like wings. His eyes were green-ish in irises with the sclera still white as a human's as his ears were now pointed.
"W-what the hell has happened to Alex!?" Asahi gasped.
"The future…is he…?" Julius muttered.
"We have to stop him before he kills the others, right!?" Artemis asked.
"I think…he's made up his mind…" the king looked concerned.
"A-aren't you going to stop him?! That's why you came here right?!" Ikuya looked at him.
"I came here…for the STYLE FIVE," Julius answered, using his staff and the crystal to create a protective barrier over the five unconscious humans, "They will be safe from all harm as long as I am here. The witches are a powerful enemy that must be defeated in order to safeguard all the realms and stories from being altered."
"Is that what they are trying to do?" Kotarou asked.
"It's part of a grand scheme that I still do not know fully but…yes…they are trying to break the past and the future apart. As Swimming Guardians, I will inform you that it is important that the Magic Six team…the ones that fell apart in an alternate world must be reunited and protect you…Artemis," the king explained.
"Protect…me?" Artemis looked confused.
"Yes…as you will one day become Suiei Cosmos…you have a lot to learn and great power must be harnessed into you," Julius smiled.
"How long will you be here?" the young man asked.
"…As long as my power can hold me up. But then…I must rest for a long time," the king replied.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Artemis looked worried.
"Don't fear for my life little Arty, we have more reasons to worry about," Julius answered.
The group saw Seijuurou and Isuzu on the flying carpet, arriving to them as the former spoke, "Alex has rose to his…"
"I know," the king replied, "He has become far beyond who he used to be…but…if he does remember them, he will not kill them."
Alex looked at the fallen humans, confused on what happened to them and started to worry that they could be dead…
I-I couldn't have killed them, I extracted the darkness of my blood from them and back to me, he thought.
The sound of hyenas filled the air as Verrado reappeared at the scene along with Dracula and Alucard binding Pegasus in chains. Cassio and Salem were also present.
"At last…the great power that we promised them," Verrado sneered before adding, "Your kind is much more predictable than humans."
Alex roared out a dragon call before approaching to the group as he could feel raw power from all the Elder Bairns ready to feast upon his prey. With a simple gesture of his arms, he blasted the other witches (except Verrado) away as Bucephalus neighed loudly and flew to hide.
He was filled with anger and vengeance for all the damage this witch as done to him, his family, his friends, and now this very moment, he was ready to take down the one who started this entire mess…
Kei, Akiteru along with Anastasia and the girls arrived to see the horror happening as the latter recognized her father in his semi-Elder Bairn Anthro form.
"I-It can't be!?" Laura gasped.
"So, this is their plan…!?" Kei narrowed his eyes.
"Whatever it is…I fear it's a trap," Akiteru commented.
More people showed up on the other side of the plaza area as Kuroo, Kenma (with the completed conch shell), Noya, and Hajime along with Tekela and Zulion arrived.
"H-honey look up…is that?!" Tekela gasped.
Zulion looked up and recognized the light from Neo King Julius, "It can't be!"
"What's going on?" Kuroo asked.
"The king…is here!" Tekela replied as Kenma's eyes widened in some shock.
H-he's here, Kenma grunted to himself in confusion.
"But do the witches know that?" Zulion whispered.
Before any sides could try to analyze what is going on, Verrado and the witches used their magic to bring the crowd together and lock them on the ground.
"What an audience we have here today…one of which will finally witness our great Chaos," Verrado announced, watching them struggle to break free from the dark magic lightning that kept them in place.
Alex charged his way over with each step getting louder, but Anastasia managed to break free from the magic (as her inner magic started to shine in her heart) to reach to her father.
"STOP! STOP!" she cried out as she landed in front of him, "I'm so sorry I failed you but please return to me…for all of us! For our family! We'll find a better way to defeat these witches! I know this isn't your doing…I know who you are…"
Alex breathed heavily as his eyes narrowed in anger with a hiss, "You do not…"
Anastasia nodded her head before answering, "Yes I do…you're my father…"
He looked at her as the powerful flames on his body simmered down as his anger was extinguish. Alex gasped as Verrado was ready to unleash another sacrifice spell on them as they were in her "trap" but seeing what she was about to do, Alex spun Anastasia around, pushing her out of the circle and took his sword before impaling it himself.
The young lady gasped as her eyes began to tear up and whimper, watching her father crumble into ash as Alex smiled sadly while closing his eyes…
At last…the Shrovetide…dissolved as all the Elder Bairns that were in the sword crumbled into dust, leaving beheld the hilt that once held the blade. But despite this…
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Anastasia collapsed down to her knees as her tears splattered around the remains of her father. She could barely breathe at this loss…of both her fathers.
"Silly girl," Verrado answered, "The secret to being successful is by instilling fear to society and using that fear against your enemies. When the Magic Six saved this world from Pandora's Dark Curse, I spread the story on how terrifying their powers truly are and that alone put the society to try to forget the legend. When the dark curse was cast, I put you and the other girls into seeing men in their worst traits in order to amplify that fear as well as reawakening Abigail's homophobia despite finally moving on with herself."
Anastasia growled angrily as she landed a blow against the witch, leaving a small scratch on her face. In response, she pinned Anastasia's feet and snarled, "I know you think I am a monster. But all of this...is done for our great ruler...oh Chaos!"
Julius called upon the Solar Crystal to dissolve the bonds as he and the others landed at the site of confrontation.
"You witches have done enough damage to many innocent lives!" he shouted.
"I see you finally violated the laws of magic. You could make a valuable member to us," she answered, "Tell me, Julius…are you gonna use some magic bubbles to break the curse? You do know the consequences of it, don't you?" she teased.
As the others began to get up, the Conch Shell began to glow as Anastasia's eyes were drawn to it. Realizing it that the power was calling to her, Kenma ran and handed it over to her, "HURRY!"
"STOP NOOOOOOOOO!" Verrado screamed but it was too late.
Anastasia blew the horn as series of low-horn soundwaves were unleashed, exploding a series of waves as the former, the girls, Rasputin, and others that were poisoned by the witches felt something healing from the inside out.
The ashes both in the plaza and in the other alley from blocks away began to swirl upwards, towering up to the skies slowly as everyone watched the strange magic unleashed.
"It can't be!" Verrado growled upon seeing what was happening.
Alex woke up to see himself alone in the darkness. At first he believed that he was finally dead but then he saw strange looking symbols appearing to him in neon-outline colors of blue, red, green, and yellow.
"I-I recognize the Green Wildcat Paw for Mayfield and the Yellow Sun for Arizona State but…" he muttered.
The two other symbols showed a winged-like creature in blue and the other in crisscross like patterns in red. He touched them as a shocking image from a forgotten memory returned to him…
"IWATOBI…SAMEZUKA…THE SCHOOLS OF WHERE HARUKA AND THE OTHERS WENT?!"
The four school symbols flew off, prompting Alex to follow them. What felt like a minute of running was like eternal, but he found a group of six crystals standing out from what looked like a pond of water. As for the four school symbols, they remained above him.
"T-These crystals…are they…?" he looked shocked, stepping in as it was knee-depth.
The golden-yellow one with the dragon symbol approached to him. He touched it and the six crystals turned white before all the crystals shot beams of light upwards as the water depth shrunk to a puddle. Above, the darkness revealed a cascade of memories:
From Ancient Greece, his meeting with Odysseus, his first reincarnation in Mayfield and later his journey in Iwatobi with Haru and the others, to the failed mission in Italy, the rebirth on Delta!Earth as a swimmer at Arizona State, his wedding to Kyle, the family growing, the Dark Curse…
"All these memories," he looked at them in awe.
He turned to see another version of himself looking at him up in the hologram of memories and images showed the Magic Six team that survived the Shadow Mafia and Rei's betrayal.
"A-are you…?" Alex asked.
"Yes…I am you…from where we did survive the mission in Italy," Gen 1.0-Alex replied, "I am so happy to finally meet you even though I am far beyond this realm!"
"Tell me, is it wrong if I go back in time to undo what they have done to us?" Alex questioned.
"Of course it is. Despite how hurtful it was…it would destroy everything you and the others have done after your deaths," the Gen 1.0 version said, "However…you can change your future here and now…show yourself!"
The young man gasped as his outfit changed once more as bits of the crystals swirled together before merging to his clothes…turning from the white hoodie cloak to a long-length sunrise yellow with a pink ombre design with accents of sky blue, white, and a silver trim. His pants and inner shirt blended into onesie-like while his head donning a simple designed tiara made of white gold and crystal.
As this was happening, he gasped as the memories revealed his family suffering the horrible fate of the Shadow Mafia before they were also reborn on the Delta!Earth as well as Sergi becoming the chosen 'author' to guard the book. It also showed Sergi as the reincarnated Arrhidaeus.
"My family!" he cried out as he saw close-ups of his parents and brother waving out towards him. His cat also appeared before they all reappeared to him in person, standing so proud and in tears of joy. The Marotta family finally reunited in this fateful moment.
"Oh Sandro…we have missed you!" Connie hugged him.
"Mama…papa…Sergi…and Cali!" he replied in tears, feeling his cat flirting across his legs, "H-how are you here and did the curse also turned back the clock on you guys!?"
"We never stopped praying for you," Tony answered.
"You are found…my brother," Sergi smiled, "Even though the curse was cast, you were the key to bring hope back to the balance of the universe…starting with the resurrection of your team."
"Even though I love and cherish them, I wouldn't be here without you," he looked at his family, "You chose to have me in two worlds and now…we can return and celebrate a new chapter. My entire life…and lives…form this day forth…I shall reclaim my name…as Sandro!" he vowed.
"You have always been our Sandro," his father replied.
"I know…I'm so sorry I didn't embrace my name the way I should have," he answered, "I love you."
"And we love you," Sergi answered, "We will wait for your return."
"Yes, and now as we gift you…your newfound power chosen by the great king himself!" Gen 1.0-Alex replied.
"Break the curse and come home with your family as soon as you can…" Connie said, "I need to see my granddaughter graduate."
"Before you do…I'll be…back too," Tony added.
"F-father…!? Y-you…alive!?" Sandro gasped.
"I'll see you at Anastasia's graduation," he replied.
Sandro nodded before turning to see his Gen 1.0 self leading him back to the light…
The soundwaves smacked at the massive walls that surrounded the entire megacity as the Chirpotfa and the Mullerians watched to see what happening. Cracks grew, slowly starting to crumble down as the humans gasped to see such power being unleashed from the core of the city.
The two clouds of ashes resembled to form a massive black dragon and a white phoenix roaring out to the skies beyond. Verrado gasped in horror as the two beasts unleashed their powers to destroy the remaining three towers and a rainbow of light finally exploded, breaking the curse…
Rasputin, Stellaluna and the army appeared while Dodecadron also joined in followed by Sergi. The breaking of the curse also broke the magic from the witches as the audience pinned to the floor got up before turning to their common enemy.
Anastasia smiled upon the sight of the beasts, feeling both her fathers' aura in them. The two gigantic creatures flapped their massive wings and looked at their grown daughter who was supposed to graduate from her school until the witches appeared.
The STYLE FIVE were finally waking up too before they also saw the massive winged creatures. They could sense Alex there too as the were also smiling in hope to see their final teammate appearing to them.
Verrado's reaction was horrified, realizing that the entire plan failed right before her very eyes. Anastasia turned to her and said, "What you've done was beyond unspeakable…all you ever wanted is inflict pain and suffering just because you think that's what magic can do. Well I'm not you…I am not a lost girl, a hamster, or some hopeless street rat who draws for attention. I am Anastasia Marotta and Alice Anderson…both sides of the looking glass as a swimmer…an artist…and yes…I admit of my magical heritage as well. You chose hate…" she replied.
"But I choose love…"
Verrado hissed as her body shook with tremors of anger. She flashed her hands out towards her with weaken fire magic while Anastasia attacked back instantly with her light magic, blasting the darkness to the witch. Seconds later, it struck the evil as she yelped in pain with her body twisting and morphing into a black, lifeless tree with roots.
"You think this is the end but…we have only begun…" the witch echoed her final words before she merged into the tree. Seconds later, it disappeared from everyone's view along with the other witches.
The Dragon and Phoenix landed down as the crowds moved out of the way. Anastasia turned to hold hands with her fiancée Elise as they watched the massive creatures transforming back to Alex and Kyle respectively as the flames and water magically revealed them.
As Alex wore his new outfit from the void encounter, Kyle also donned a cloak-like hoodie but in the original white color from his husband's with an ombre of mint-green and sea blue towards the bottom with golden trim. His inner shirt was a tank-top in lavender color and black trim to it while his white pants were flowy but had leggings.
In tears of joy, Anastasia ran over to hug her fathers while the other girls joined in. The STYLE FIVE smiled as they took their turn to reunite with their teammate as well after the family reunion.
"Is it really you?!" Rei asked.
"Everyone," Alex smiled and extended his arms out. The STYLE FIVE ran and grouped in a hug together, crying with so much tears of happiness.
"Oh Alex-chan! How did we not find you before?!" Nagisa added.
"We are so happy you are all back," Seijuurou grinned.
"Yes, us too," Makoto agreed.
"We were lost in our own path of darkness," Haruka answered, "But coming to this world…somehow…we felt you and yet we were bound to the dark one."
"It doesn't matter now, the curse is broken, our team is back," Alex replied.
They turned to see Noya hugging and crying at Kei like a maniac as Akiteru greeted the ex-volleyball players while Dodecadron and Rasputin were talking to Stellaluna and Goliath. Kenma stood with his parents with a low smile. Iwaizumi and Kuroo helped Noya to relax upon this reunion.
"I see now," Kenma noted, "I finally realize why I wanted to leave Atlantis…"
"And that is?" Tekela asked.
"Somehow, I felt the wind telling me about all of this…trail and challenges…curses and heroes…I was so bored back home despite our world being whole again," Kenma answered, "It's like a video game but in real life…"
"I'm guessing you don't want to go back, do you?" Zulion asked.
"Perhaps not…but one day I do wish to see everyone again," Kenma replied, "I do miss Shouyou and the others."
As the Magic Six were being introduced to Kyle, the King of Atlanteans made his approach.
"Y-your majesty! I'm sorry I didn't notice you," Alex gasped as he bowed, "But more so…how did you…get here?"
"My dear friends," Neo King Julius stated "I have come here because your lives are in greater danger than ever before. The witches that have manipulated all of you are at large and will do anything to destroy you."
"King, you're not telling us that we must be separated again, are you?" he looked concerned.
"The truth is…this reunion here should not have happened this soon because it is a time paradox. Haruka and the others here were taken to Hyperion but should have been reborn on Earth…the one where you and Kyle share a life together despite sharing the fact that you are also Alexander and Odysseus in the past," Julius answered.
"But…" Rei began, "We have a lot of questions here…there's a lot to figure out! We have no idea what world we were in and why we were separated in the first place!"
"We have so much to catch up on, we can't give up now!" Rin agreed.
"I know but…someday…you'll know why I have to do this," Julius answered, tapping on his staff to the ground and everyone suddenly fell asleep (save Tekela, Zulion, and Artemis).
"K-King what the hell is this?!" Tekela snapped, "And just how did you get here to this world?!"
"There's not much time before my power begins to backfire on me," Julius answered, readying his magic, "Haruka and the others must fill in the paradox by going back in time to Delta!Earth. Their memories of Alex will be forgotten until the time has come for their resurrection with the Suiei Gods. They will cross paths again with him of the past but they will not remember who he is."
Five magical circles rested beneath the STYLE FIVE, spinning slow but increasingly faster until they disappeared.
"Everyone here will wake up again once my time is up," Julius stated, "But the memories of the STYLE FIVE...must wait to resurface."
"W-what am I supposed to do?" Artemis asked, "If your magic didn't put me to sleep…"
"I need you to go to the temple…the one you saw long ago…activate it and the powers will bring you back to my world along with Alex, Kyle, and their family. They too will forget this encounter with the STYLE FIVE, but they will remember everything else. The other swimming guardians will stay here to build a new base in preparation for the return of the Magic Six and the Suiei Gods," the king explained.
"W-what's gonna happen to you?" Artemis grew concerned.
Julius smiled, "My power will seal me away for a while…my freedom will be the price, but I will wake up again someday."
"N-NO!" Zulion and Tekela panicked.
"The others already know what's bound to happen and they will rule in my absence," Julius answered, lifting his hand to see it has begun, "Artemis! You must hurry before the crystal consumes me!"
Artemis jumped off from the ground as the waters from Suiei Oceania led hm to the southwest direction, heading for the village of Iwamara.
The Suiei Temple, Iwamara
Three beams of light struck just outside the temple as Natsuya, Nao and Hiyori appeared in their senshi costumes. The former two informed Hiyori on what they had to do here as Neo King Julius messaged them a while back about what was yet to come.
"Are there more of these guardians?" Hiyori was stunned by the temple's aesthetics.
"More than you can imagine," Nao answered, "It used to be just the six of them, but recent events had forced more guardians to appear."
"I hope this world has some sort of a bar," Natsuya grinned a little while Nao sighed in a sweat drop of annoyance.
Hiyori looked up to see what looked like a shooting star coming down towards them, but it was another guardian dressed in its own unusual clothing.
"Who are you?" Hiyori asked.
But Artemis didn't answer as his eyes were already faded into a blue hue as the temple began to resonate with him.
"W-what is he doing?!" Hiyori started to freak a little.
"It has called for him," Nao answered.
Artemis walked over to the statue that belonged to Alex's god, Suiei Marotta of Gen 1.0. He rubbed his hand on the stone that symbolized Suiei Necklace. The stone dissolved away, revealing he real necklace beneath. Both Artemis and the statue resonated in power, unleashing beams of light throughout the temple before breaking out to the skies above.
"H-he's awakening to the gods!?" Natsuya cried out.
"Whatever it may be, we must prepare ourselves!" Nao agreed.
"Look you guys! The skies!" Hiyori cried out.
Back in the city, the strange phenomena cracked the skies open as the portal showed a marble of colors in space-time warping. Neo King Julius looked at his two trusted men with a smile as the crystallization of his body grew more intense.
"K-King…" Zulion teared up.
"Remember…we can change the future!" Julius smiled before closing his eyes. The king turned into crystal before it disappeared back to the crystal chamber where the other eight kings cried for their beloved ruler upon his return.
The sleeping magic dispelled off as the crowds woke up again in confusion.
"F-father…what's happening!?" Anastasia asked as the Marotta family and their friends looked up to the skies. Elisa looked up too in increasing worry as she held hands to her fiancée.
Everyone watched as Artemis floated up to the skies with the six astral images of the Suiei Gods; each of them glowed in their respective colors of red, pink, yellow, blue, green, and violet. Artemis extended his arms out to the side as his aura turned white like the prism.
Bolts of lightning struck outwards across the ominous skies followed by massive rumbles of thunder and earth shakes. The senshi gasped as magical circles appeared beneath their feet.
"T-the designs…a-are they!?" Ikuya began.
"I got a feeling we're gonna be…" Asahi replied.
A voice rumbled from above…
"Life…and death…continue in cycle…our destiny…lies beyond the portal. Come…chosen ones…" Artemis spoke in a soft monotone. On his back, a pair of wings grew, unleashing greater power across the plane as a massive wind swept across the entire continent and seas followed by a gentle earth shake.
Several magical circles appeared beneath in all of the chosen people. Anastasia, Elise held tight with Alex and Kyle while the sisters huddled closely together.
Zulion and Tekela also watched as they realized it was Artemis opening the portal but what was the destination on the other side?
"The King…could it be…?!" Zulion gasped, holding onto Tekela and Kenma as they and Kuroo, Iwaizumi, Noya, and the Tsukishima brothers were summoned while Seijuurou and Izusu weren't.
Rasputin, Dodedacron, Stellaluna and Goliath also didn't have the magic beneath their feet. The other Hidashimo senshi cried out to see Ikuya and Asahi trapped in the magic as they were also not affected by what was happening.
The magical circles encompassed the chosen people as they all closed their eyes before ascending through a tunnel of the time-space void. If anyone were to speak about this night…one would remember it as phenomena that changed history and the future once more…
Book 1: The Curse of Hollywood Heights -END-
-TO BE CONTINUED IN: Book 2: Transfiguration of the Bell -
Synopsis: Artemis LeFay has gathered a summoning, bringing a handful of chosen ones to Olympia Magna in its Second Golden Age! The Great Neo King Julius remains trapped in crystal but the return of several sports anime crossovers and friends bring a new tribulation coming from the very heart of Sportsbrooke! Learn their final days on Olympia Magna with this exclusive curtain call arc of Generation 2.0!
Special Announcement: 2 ADDITIONAL EPILOGUE STORIES TO FOLLOW! STAY TUNED!