Academy Chronicles: Rise of the Skylanders
Chapter 26: Ultimate Light
MAKOTO NAEGI'S P.O.V
"We're trying our best!" I called out to Tails from the DEUS watch on my wrist given to me. Me and Kyoko are running through the factory, hearing the battle rage from outside the steel and stone walls.
The factory itself is by no means modernized, but one wouldn't exactly call it primitive. Machinery and shut down robots were abundant, as the place was presumably operated by a race of intelligent beings years ago.
What matters though is making it deep enough into the factory to reach the foundation of the island, and destroy the machine connected to it.
However, Monokumas patrolled the factory inside and out, so if we aren't running, we're taking cover to shoot the guards before continuing. I'm still not comfortable with using any weaponry, but with Kyoko by my side, we made do.
She gave me the confidence to keep going, that even someone like me can be a great asset to the team.
"Now I can see why Komaru likes this. Eheh…" I chuckled after landing another successful hit. "Shooting those red eyes are kinda satisfying."
"I suppose." Kyoko said, reloading her shotgun. "I wouldn't say this is fun, but it's… intriguing."
"So it is fun!" I replied. "Don't they mean the same thing, almost?"
Kyoko merely shrugged, almost as a sign of defeat before taking one more shot with a loud bang.
"…This area's clear. Let's go." The detective told me, running out of the pile of rocky debris we were hiding behind to walk down the stairs to the next level.
That is where I felt a wave of heat come to me like a sudden gust of wind.
"Oh… when did it suddenly… get so hot?" I asked, unzipping my hoodie slightly.
Kyoko looked up, pointing out something in the air.
"…Steam." She observed. "Something's active, this must be it."
We looked down at the stairs, peeking through some gaps in the solid railings to see this massive, glowing modern machine: Clearly out of place and recent, so it had to be planted by LOSE. It's adorned with gears, conveyor belts and screens indicating status reports as these masked humanoids come out.
Their neon linings differ between each other, signifying their elemental alignment before marching into a portal, where the sounds of the fighting outside can be heard. Connected to the machine is a large pipe-looking object, which led to a large hole in the ground that was emitting pure light.
"That must be the Elemental Foundations Hugo was talking about." Kyoko told me.
Right she was, I even felt it from here. It was nothing but pure, potent energy. In my mind, I could picture everything from the fire of a volcano to the darkest depths of the ocean.
We slowly walked down the stairs as Kyoko explained the plan.
"We only have one shot, if we're unsuccessful in taking that machine down in one blow, we're dead." Kyoko told me. "I'll go down and investigate the machine; you take cover and prepare to aim at whatever I tell you to. Understood, Makoto?"
"Wait, what if they find you? You'll be dea-" I began to raise my voice before Kyoko silenced me.
"I won't be. Believe in me, okay? We still need to have that date this weekend, remember?" She smirks.
I blinked for a moment and nodded, before finding cover under a pile of broken down Arkeyan bodies. I saw Kyoko sneak off, taking as much cover as possible to avoid the guards protecting the machine.
…In this case, the Monokubs.
"Okay, move it, move it! We need the Skylanders killed by around… 6 pm tonight, have a celebratory dinner, and then destroy the multiverse. Capeesh?" Monosuke told the others as they marched into the room, holding a massive to-do list that reached the floor… even though it contained only three items.
It must be a means to seem busier and therefore productive than you actually are.
Cling! Cling!
The sound of something small, like a pebble, or a screw bounced across the empty factory, startling the Monokubs.
"Look! Look! I hear something!" Monotaro told everyone. "Let's all check it out and leave the factory completely unattended!"
"That sounds like a terrible strategy!" Monokid shouted. "Let's do it!"
All the Monokubs then left the main machine, leaving it open for Kyoko to fully investigate it. However, she still needed to stray from the front, or else she'd be caught in the Liberators' line of sight as they flooded out of the creation chambers.
Kyoko's head then appeared from the other side and tilted to the side, cueing me to follow before getting on her DEUS.
"Makoto," She whispered into it. "Get over here. I found a seamline large enough for a bullet to pass through."
With that news, I quickly made my way down the stairs as carefully as possible. There's no sign of the Monokubs yet, so that's a good sign.
Tiptoeing my way to where Kyoko is, she showed me the target. There, a gap between two metallic panels. It's large enough for me to peek through. So I did, looking into the machne.
From my limited vision, I can see turning gears and Elemental energy seeping through a couple translucent pipes. Kyoko's voice then whispered into my ear.
"If you could aim between those two large gears in the middle, it could jam the whole thing." She told me.
"G-Got it." I said. I then whipped out my shotgun and pointed it between the paneling. I stopped, though. I tried to compose myself. This has to work, this needs to work…
"Alright, you can do this. Everyone's counting on y- UGH!" Kyoko groaned, between dragged to the side and hitting the ground with a thud.
This immediately triggered me to turn around.
"Kyoko!"
But who's behind me wasn't my girlfriend. No…
…It was Monokuma.
"Oh, Makoto, honey! Gimmie a smooch!" He laughed, before backhanding me with immense strength, knocking me into Kyoko.
"Oh, come on! I'm face to face with the two people who practically carried my trials back in the day! You didn't think this was a set up? My, my… working at a desk must've made you go rusty!" Monokuma continued to mock.
"Huh…?! How did you know we were here?!" I gasped, struggling to get up.
"Oh come on, Sonic is so crap at lying!" Monokuma explained. "There's no way people as relentless as you would just… get left behind! I knew you would try to take us out from the inside, so I planted some bait!"
He then pointed at the machine.
"I tore off a part of the machine and placed it with intentionally small panels! And you fell for it hook, line and sinker!"
Kyoko then got up. "Impossible… How could I have been so blind?" She panted.
"Oh, you feelin' despair?" Monokuma asked in a mocking voice. "Good! About time you feel that!"
His claws then extended.
"…I've waited for far too long to kill you two! To give you the punishment, the execution y'all deserve! Put up your guns, Naegi, this is the final showdown!"
"Trap all you want, Monokuma… but I'm not giving up!" I managed to choke out on impulse. Guess when facing off against Junko, I seem to get my groove back.
I proceeded to pull out my gun and began to shoot. Monokuma countered by reflecting each bullet with his claws, but one managed to scrape his arm.
"Lucky shot." He growled.
He then lunged forward at me to strike, but that's when Kyoko delivered a kick to his stomach and sent Monokuma flying.
Kyoko then stood up from her kick, dusting herself off, retrieving her rifle.
"Whoa, uh… when did you learn how to do that?" I asked.
"As a detective, you have to prepare for criminals trying to impede your investigations, even physically. It's basic martial arts, but it's effective." She told me with a small smile. "Come on, if we beat him, we can still stop that machine."
Monokuma meanwhile got up and looked at the Liberators marching.
"What are you waiting for?! Get them!" He told the soldiers, but with no response. Their eyes are on the prize on what they were programmed for: Going into a portal and destroy the multiverse. No time for anything else, it seems.
Monokuma shook his head. "We're gonna need to friggin' patch these guys!"
The bear then began to run to us, bullets flying from us, desperate to impede his progress. But even when they hit him, it doesn't stop him from running forward.
We then collide. Guns firing, and fists flying. I managed to deliver a punch to the bear's cheek, who in return punched me back. It bruised slightly, but I can't let it stop me.
My world, all of our worlds are at stake! Kyoko delivered a couple knee strikes to him, and overtime, Monokuma adapted, ducking when those attacks came. He then followed up with a scratch to Kyoko's leg.
"Ghk!" Kyoko sputtered out as drops of blood began to leak onto the floor.
"No!" I shouted in retaliation, shooting Monokuma in the knee, causing stuffing to pop out.
Monokuma looked at me, growled and delivered a palm strike to my gut and jumped into it, pushing me back.
As I flew, though, I delivered a flurry of bullets, using all of my ammo without even knowing it. This put a couple holes into Monokuma as he stumbled.
"Kyoko…" I told her as I kept myself standing. "You okay?"
"Just a couple scratches…" She said. "Don't worry… this won't be like last time."
My eyes then opened as I looked back on the last time Kyoko was in danger. The Future Foundation Killing Game… She put her life on the line for me.
The traumatizing sight still haunted me from time to time, seeing her on the floor, eye bleeding and the half of her skin dark and cold…
…And how only by a miracle she survived that.
"Yeah, it won't." I told her. "I swear it."
We then stood up to see Monokuma preparing another attack.
"I hope you aren't bettin' on that…"
The bear jumped up, preparing to land another strike. Kyoko prepares to charge up another kick, and I decided to reply with a punch. We thrust forward at the bear, I closed my eyes…
SHING!
I opened them to see his claws pierce through flesh. Pink blood splattered across his gunmetal claws.
"Ugh!" I muttered out somehow. I felt nothing but a numbness, yet when I looked down… I saw his claws piercing my stomach. His paw then moved forward, the claws full sheathing themselves into my body.
Once things finally registered, I was filled with a stinging pain like no other…
…He's killing me.
"Whoops! Aimed for her instead! But… beggars can't be choosers!"
Monokuma then pulled his claws out as I got on my knees and keeled over. I couldn't believe it as my vision started to fade. Now Kyoko's left… and she can't last long…
"Makoto! Makoto!" Kyoko yelled out to me, shaking my body. "Are you okay? Come on, get up!"
I never saw her in such panic. I needed to say something… I don't know… Everything feels hazy.
"…I'm… sorry…"
Kyoko stared at me, eyes widened before turning to Monokuma. She then ran ahead, yelling in anger. The emotional mask has cracked as Monokuma laughed.
It's as if he expected this all along. Grunting, punching, kicking, slashing, these faint noises echoed in my ears for minutes on end as I began to lose more and more blood.
Eventually, Kyoko fell down next to me. She doesn't seem to be dying… but is too weak to fight anymore.
"No… I'm… sorry…" Kyoko told me.
We then began to be dragged somewhere by our legs. I could tell that was Monokuma by his final rant.
"Oh, that tasted so good!" He laughed. "If I could rewind time, I'd relive this moment over, and over again!"
"It's only a matter of time until this machine pumps out enough Liberators to overthrow your friends! It's a shame you won't live to see that, though!"
He then forced us to sit up. I held my hands over my wound to delay the inevitable as we looked at where he took us.
In front of me and Kyoko was the glowing hole of pure Elemental energy.
"Now, I wonder what would happen if I dunk ya here? Engulfed by fire? Drowned in water? Buried by earth? Consumed by darkness? It's like a lottery of death!" Monokuma asked. "And you two just won your tickets!"
He waddled behind us and laughed his signature laugh. "Puhuhu! Ah, what the hell? Once more, for all time's sake!"
He cleared his throat as we helplessly stared into the abyss. Kyoko took out her bloody hand, leaving it open for me to grab it. My hand leaves my open wound to grip it tightly. I felt warmth.
The gloves were off…
"Now, I prepared a very special punishment for the Ultimate Hope, Makoto Naegi AND the Ultimate Detective, Kyoko Kirigiri!"
I gripped it tighter…
"Let's give it everything we've got! IIIIIT'S PUNISHMENT TIIIIME!"
And with a strong push, we were engulfed by light.
…
…
….
When I awoke, we were floating in a white and black abyss. The two colors swirled around in harmony as they made up the empty scene. I looked at myself. I still looked horribly worse for wear, but for whatever reason I felt normal.
Kyoko was the same… but she was curled up in a ball as she floated. She was trembling.
"Kyoko!" I called out, floating to her. "Kyoko… are you okay?"
"…We couldn't do it…" She muttered to me. "Because of a single oversight… an obvious oversight… we lost."
"Kyoko…"
"The entire multiverse will perish… and it's all my fault…" Kyoko sobbed. She's crying.
For once in my life… I saw her cry.
"Kyoko… don't put this on yourself." I told her. "I should've been better at fighting, I should've shot without hesitating… I should've…"
Kyoko then turned to me.
"I… suppose we're both to blame." She said, wiping her tears as we floated in this empty void together.
"I guess so." I said, nodding.
We said nothing for the past few minutes, coming to peace with our defeat… until I spoke up.
"I thought Monokuma said this would be non-stop torture." I pointed out.
"…He did saw it was a lottery as to what would happen. Guess we fell into the safest option." Kyoko told us.
"Luck strikes again, huh? At least we got each other." I told her.
"Mhm… yeah…" Kyoko responded with a forlorn sigh.
I replied with a sigh of my own as I looked to the sky, at how the light and dark mingle. Almost as if the concepts of hope and despair are in harmony, co-existing as a single entity.
"Kyoko… if for whatever reason, we did manage to beat Monokuma…" I asked. "Did you think I would've been a good hero? B-Be honest."
"You are already." Kyoko told me. "I told you already, that you've done so much. Even without powers or skills. You saved many lives… and brightened up others."
"How you speak gives them strength to fight, and your own words gave us strength too… How you see things, how you think… that's your real superpower."
She then floated up to me, cupped my cheeks with her hand.
"And I'm glad I was able to see that to the end. I love you, Makoto…" She told me as the took me in for a gentle kiss.
I relished that moment. I closed my eyes as we took it in. I felt a warmth build up in my heart, and it spread all around me.
As we separated, Kyoko said one more thing.
"You were more than the Ultimate Hope for me. You were the Ultimate Light of my life."
The positivity I felt from that was overwhelming. I could still feel warmth surge up within me…
"Makoto…?"
I felt my head getting light, it's as if the whole world was spinning as the swirling colors moved around.
"Makoto…?!"
She's right. She was always right. Positivity is a superpower… and I spread it to so many. They needed me. I feel… I feel…
"Makoto!"
I opened my eyes out of my trance.
"H-Huh?" I asked. "What is it?"
I then looked up. I noticed that the entire place is black. Pitch black. Yet, I can still see Kyoko…
"Uh, look at yourself." She told me.
Looking down, I noticed my whole body began to emanate that same white that used to be a part of this void.
"You… absorbed it all." Kyoko told me. "All the light."
Watching my hands pulse with power, all my wounds began to heal. I felt good as new. No, I felt better than new! I felt like I could do anything!
I noticed the blackness start to disappear too, seeping into Kyoko herself. Her eyes widened in surprise. The entire void became a hot pink as we practically absorbed the Elements themselves.
I was glowing white… she was glowing black. Imbued with the powers of light and darkness.
"H-How?" Kyoko asked, simply.
"I feel… like, our hope… and our despair… and our spirit managed to control the foundations!" I smiled.
"How do you know that?!" Kyoko asked me, still bewildered.
"I don't know!" I shouted in happiness. "Just a hunch!"
We both looked up to see a glimmering hole above. An exit. Without saying another word, we willed ourselves a means to get out, as light came out of my feet, darkness from Kyoko.
We blasted off at bewildering speed as the power we bear grows on grows. I closed my eyes, ready to expel something special for Monokuma once we come out.
"Junko Enoshima… it's time for a rematch!"