(SHIRO'S POV)
"BODY DON'T FAIL ME NOW!" I hissed. I could feel my muscles contracting in an aggressive manner.
"C'mon kid! Push yourself!" Eliza shouted.
"I'm...Trying!" I growled.
"HURRY UP! Finish this and you'll be done for the day!" Tatsu said.
I grit my teeth and continued to push harder against the ground. Gabby and Viz were both cheering me on as I neared the end of my final rep.
"You got this Shiro!" Gabby said.
"I'm...DONE!" I said with new found pride in myself.
"Great job on the push ups kid! You ready for dinner?" Eliza asked.
"I would love to eat right now but I kinda have a two ton rock on my back." I said with sweat dripping down my face.
"Alright you big baby. Hang on. I got it." Gabby chuckled. With one arm, she easily lifted the large rock off of my back and threw it to the side like it was a small pebble.
I collapsed to the floor and began panting heavily. "Aw geez... I'm exhausted…" I muttered as I laid down on my back. "Damn! I never thought that push ups could suck that bad. Eliza...You are one cruel lady." My mentor smirked at me.
Gabby kneeled down next to me and giggled. "You know that you're training with me tomorrow, right?"
"I don't care if you make me swim across hot lava. I trust you way too much." I said to her.
She pecked my forehead and helped me to my feet. I could see my future self watching us from the corner of my eye. "Yeah... I'm pretty sure you won't be so eager tomorrow…"
"...Why is that..?" I asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Ah it's nothing really... I'm sure you'll be able to handle it." She said.
"Shit…" I muttered.
After we set up a small campfire and caught a couple of fish, we decided to just sit around and tell stories. Gabby was currently talking about her times in HazenReach.
"I never used to understand why HazenReach was so divided. I mean, I lived in the lower parts of the large kingdom with my parents. Tazorac lived next door with his wife and kid. I used to visit every weekend and sometimes after school. My aunt would make some of the best peach cobbler." Gabby spoke to us.
"Damn... I never had that before." I said, wondering. "I usually ate the fancy shit in the palace, or the crummy ass prison food in jail…"
"Well I mostly filled up on squirrels and deer. You know… Whatever me and Haruka could get a hold of." Viz said.
"How DID you meet Haruka?" I asked.
"I tried to...you know kill him, but boy did that plan fail." The wolf said.
"What the heck happened?"
"Long story short, I was a stray BattleBeast that tried to prove myself to others like me. You see, I was nothing but a useless Omega in one of the more agressive wolf pacts. I was laughed at and pretty much seen as a joke to my pack. One night, I decided to go out and find a strong opponent so that I could increase my strength in order to best my Alpha in combat. I just so happened to stumble into it one of the strongest men on the planet. I attacked, he kicked my ass and then decided to spare my life. He used some sort of sealing ability that bound me to a contract in order to help me grow. Said contract in now in the hands of the world's biggest jackass." Viz said.
"Hey!" Both me and my future self shouted.
"One day, I'll find my old pack and show them all who's boss. I'm glad I left... though I did leave behind one person when Haruka took me under his wing." Viz continued.
"Was it your little, mutt girlfriend?" I asked with a grin.
"First of all, she was a wild cat, and second of all, I never got to tell her how I really felt about her…" Viz said with a downcast expression.
"...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" I began laughing my ass off.
"Shiro?!" Gabby and Eliza said with shock.
"This little pup fell for a freaking cat!" I said cracking up. "And you say that I have no taste?!"
"Fuck you beta male!" The wolf snarled.
"I think I'm crying! I GOTTA PEE!!!" I said through gasps. Vizeron growled, jumped on me and sank his sharp teeth into my bicep. I yelled in pain as I attempted to vigorously shake the mutt off of my arm. "OW!!! Fuck off you little shit rag!"
After getting Viz off of me and cleaning my fresh new wound, we all went back to sitting at the campfire and telling each other more stories. Given Viz's slight aggravation, we decided to switch to Tatsu. Eliza suggest that he give us more future stories so he decided to tell us more about how he ended up in our timeline.
"Well I guess that I could start from when I got back from my three year trip from the Nether Realm. I was twenty one at the time and I had decided to go and visit one of my masters in hopes of restoring some of my lost abilities. As you guys know, I lost some of my most powerful tools for combat. As of now, I'm at about forty percent of my true strength. One of my most crippling loses, was the loss of the Seven Deadly Sins style. I had learned that ability by training with the princess of hell. She was a great teacher and a great… friend…" He said.
"What happened to her?" I asked.
"Her father Schepulturath killed her in cold blood…That bastard…" He growled.
"Damn... Schepulturath even goes as far as to kill his own daughter?! What the fuck is with that guy?" I said.
"It's my fault she was killed. I said some things that I shouldn't have. Her father was planning on forcing her into something that she wasn't ready for. He wanted her to marry the son of Lucifer. I spoke out of term and convinced her that she should make her own decisions…" Tatsu said.
"You were trying to help her. I wouldn't ever want to be in her position." Gabby said.
"I keep telling myself that...but the pain never manages to go away." Tatsu shook his head. "I'm rambling now. Let me get back to the actual story." He cleared his throat and stared at the fire in front of us. "I had gotten back from the Nether Realm feeling much more disdain than before. I was angry and I wasn't afraid to show it. I began to distance myself from people. All of my friends... I cut them all off. I had to find a way to beat the other half and I was willing to do anything in order to build up my strength for that fateful day. I had to build up my skills. Unfortunately, while I was attempting to reforge myself, Metagenesis was quickly beginning his plan to eradicate the Earth's population."
-Future Flashback-
(FUTURE SHIRO'S POV)
The Griescayle Isle. It was peaceful. The sounds of roaring water filled my ears as I meditate in front of the waterfall. The wind blowing through my hair causing my brown locks to sway with a melodic rhythm that kept me at ease. It was simply peaceful in this beautiful setting of nature. Though I wasn't truly at peace. Regardless of my current habitat, my other self is still out there with the red man and Schepulturath. I could hear the subtle sounds of people fleeing in terror. I know that he's the cause of their suffering...but I can't save them from any of it. That fact killed me. It really did. I hated not knowing what to do. I hated feeling so helpless. Knowing that it was a part of me that was murdering millions of innocent, defenseless people both old and young pained me to the core. I needed a solution and I needed one fast!
~CAAAAAWWW~
The shrieking sound of a birds cry filled my ears. My eyes snapped open to see a large hawk circling me. I narrowed my eyes and stared at the creature. The bird descended to me. It had a scroll in its talons. I knew right away who's this bird was.
"Atmus? What are you doing here?" I asked the winged creature.
"Master Yukio sends an urgent message." The bird said. I took the scroll and opened. I read the message that was intended for me to receive.
Word is, you're back from your trip.
Isabel and I insist that you join us for dinner tonight.
It would be a pleasure to see you once again my friend.
Please do consider stopping by.
You know where to find us.
-Clyde Isabel Yukio
I stared at the message with a stone cold expression. I wanted to come but I just couldn't understand how they could be so casual about this, what with Metagenesis roaming the planet. We are all in mortal danger right now.
"..." I was stuck in thought.
"It would truly please Master Yukio and Lady Isabel if you came. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. It would be little to no trouble at all." The bird said.
"It's not that. It's not that at all. I know they mean well but I just don't know if this is the time for that." I said.
"It's only for one night. It wouldn't hurt to at least stop by. I am well informed that you have no place to sleep tonight either. They have also set up sleeping quarters for you as well." Atmus continued.
"... I'm only stopping by. I'm not planning on staying the night or anything." I said.
Atmus nodded. The bird flew around me and in seconds, I was teleported to a modest size home that was next to a crystal blue lake. "Here we are Mr. Shiro." Atmus said.
I walked over to the door and looked at it. I sighed and knock on it. Within seconds, the door flung open and on the other side was my blonde haired friend and longtime rival.
"Well well well...if it isn't Shiro. Goddamn! How ya been man?!" Clyde asked with a grin.
"I'm uh... I'm hanging in there you know." I said while rubbing the back of my neck.
"Please do come in." Clyde said. I stepped inside of the tidy home. I instinctively removed my shoes at the door before proceeding inside. Clyde walked me all over, showing me a small tour of the house. He was happy. That's a happiness that was hard to find these days. "So what happened during your three year trip to the Nether Realm?" Clyde asked, enthusiastically.
"Well to be honest, it was kind of a waste. I had no means of getting back my powers. Hell all I managed to do was find out how many more souls ended up there." I said back with a bit more irritation than I meant to. "Heheheh, enough about me though. It's been three years. I hope you and the misses been holding up?" I asked.
"I know times are real bad right now, but Isabel and I have been holding onto hope. Negativity is the last thing that we need right now. Hell, when did pessimism ever really help?" He said with a small smile. "Regardless of the situation I'm happy with my life. I'll do whatever I can to protect them..."
"Them..?" I said with a questioning tone.
We ended up walking to the dining room. Clyde had gestured me to have a seat at one of the end chairs. I complied with his wishes and took a seat admiring the decor of the place. I can hear the sound of someone slowly coming down the stairs from the second floor.
"Ah there she is! My beautiful wife!" Clyde exclaimed.
I turned back to see Isabel standing at the entryway to the dining room. Her curly lavender hair was cut neck length. She was wearing a loose blue sundress. The thing that caught me off guard was her enlarged stomach.
"Hello Shiro." She said with a soft smile.
"Hey...Izzy... You... Your gut…" I began to trail off.
"That's right Shiro...She pregnant! I'm gonna be a father." Clyde said with a smile.
"Wow... Congrats you guys. I'm happy for you two." I said with a slight grin. "When are you expecting?" I asked.
"In about a week from now. I'm so excited!" Isabel said gleefully.
"You guys thought of any names yet?"
"Yes actually." Isabel said. "If it's a boy, we'll name him Aruome."
"If it's a girl, then we'll name her Xenovia." Clyde said.
"You two really did look up to your mentors." I said. It was no surprise that they'd name their kids after their mentors.
"Amora raised me and showed me what it meant to heal instead of to hurt. I am forever grateful for her wisdom." Izzy said.
"I will never forget Xena's teachings. She took a chance with me and I refuse to let her knowledge go to waste. She was more of a mother to me than my actual one." Clyde said.
"I feel you on that one man." I said to him.
"Well I better go get the food set up." Isabel said.
"Please dear, let me handle that." Clyde said.
"I'll help as well. I'd hate to be an inconvenience to you both." I said.
"You two can settle down. I can handle this on my own." Izzy said with confidence. She really has changed since she and Clyde tied the knot. I'm glad.
Once the food was finished we all sat and ate together. Isabel's cooking was as good as I remembered. Eating her food was bringing me back to the good old days when life was simpler. I enjoyed this moment of tranquility. It was nice to see my friends. These are two people that I could trust and to see them happy right now filled me with everlasting joy. Though it was only a matter of time before this would all go away.
"Hey Shiro, I wanna show you something as soon as I finish clearing the table." Clyde said.
"I hope it's not dessert because I'm stuffed." I said holding my stomach.
"No it's not that. It's outside." Clyde said chuckling.
"You two boys don't worry about the table. I'll take care of it. "Isabel said.
"Honey, are you sure. I don't want you to over exhaust yourself." Clyde said with concern.
Isabel pecked his cheek. "I'll survive. Now, you two head out and enjoy yourselves. You're best friends and it's been three long years. Go catch up on old times." She said to him. "We'll be waiting here when you get back." She rubbed her stomach.
"Alright…" Clyde kissed her cheek. He then kneeled down and kissed her round stomach. "I love you both. Be safe." He said.
After his interaction with his wife, Clyde and I headed out of the house. We walked through the forest to the nearby lake. The moon shined brightly against the clear water. Clyde and I sat down by the water staring out at the lake.
"I just can't believe it. I'm really going to be a dad! When Isabel first told me I was overcome with joy but now that we're expecting in a week I'm a little nervous. Truth is Shiro… I'm scared." Clyde said.
I was surprised by his words. I wasn't sure how this was supposed to feel. The hell would I know about being a father. It was strange and a little unsettled to think of bringing new life into the world. This must be tearing apart on the inside. Another mouth to feed, another head to protect. I bet that it is overwhelming.
"Clyde… You're like the smartest guy I know. You're always confident and prepared for anything. Not to mention you're like one of the strongest guys I know. Pretty sure being the second strongest user of magic has its own set of perks." I said with a smirk. "My point is, you'll be a great dad. If anyone's going to have that role, it's you. Plus, if it's any consolation, you've got Isabel. She's like the best woman to have as a mom." I said to him.
He grinned at that. "Yeah I guess…"
"You know despite everything that's happening, I have faith that you guys will make it as a family." I said.
"Heheheh...Yeah man…I sure do hope so." He said.
"Trust me. You two have been alright for this long. What's a few more years?" I said with a sad smile. I looked at him. He gave me sad expression. "What's wrong?"
"Well...You know how I've been...Now tell me your side of the story. I know what happened between you and Gabby... I'm really sorry about that Shiro… Izzy and I should have been more considerate. I'm pretty sure our display of affection didn't help ease your pain." Clyde said sadly.
"Meh, don't you worry about me. I'm happy for you two. It's about time someone was happy in this world. I wish you and your family well. No point in letting me drag you guys down. My problems are my own and I'll face them myself." I said seriously.
"DAMNIT SHIRO! You don't get it! We're your friends. We don't want to see you hurt. We share a fraction of that pain. When you're feeling down, then we feel down with you. We want to make sure that you're okay. It's been rough for you. You been trying so hard to find a solution so this Metagenesis problem. Literally been bearing this whole burden on your own shoulders and that's not fair for you. You need help and we wanna give that to you but you have to let us. I know it's hard going through what you are right now. You've lost your powers, lost your partner and to top it all off, you lost your girlfriend. All of this in span of a few years. Isabel and I rarely see you anymore. Just last month Gabby and Zero came to see us and during the whole reunion that we had, all we could think about was where you were." Clyde spoke with intense emotion.
"..." I was speechless.
"I still care about you dude. Even her and Zero to an extent. We want to help you but we just don't know how. Help us help you." Clyde said.
"... I'm sorry...but I can't...not yet at least. I still need time to reflect. To be alone with my demons. Losing Eliza was one thing… losing Vizeron was another… All I want is for this to stop. I want the killing to end, I want the pain to just go away. I want to fix this but I can't… I FUCKING CAN'T!!!" I yelled. I wanted to cry so badly… but I couldn't.
"Shiro…" Clyde muttered.
"I can't... Truth is... I'm fucking scared! More and more people are dying and I can't stop it! I'm afraid of losing more people. I'm afraid of losing you guys. Losing Viz hurt… It hurt real bad...I wanted to save him so badly...but I couldn't do it. In that moment of weakness, I crumbled. I can't handle much more of this Clyde… I'm a broken man… A man slowly losing his will to live. I can't even cry anymore Clyde. I know I'm beyond depressed but for whatever reason, I just can't shed a single tear anymore."
"... Listen Shiro... You've got a lot on your plate...so I'll tell you what I think will be the best option. Gain some closure. You need to go talk to Gabriella and Zero and come to terms with the way life is now. Once you've done that much, I would recommend that you regain control of your powers and find yourself. After you've done that, decided on whether or not you want to settle down with another lucky soul or fly solo. Either way, as long as it's the choice that you're comfortable with, than it's the one that will suit you." Clyde said.
"That makes sense I guess... I'll look into it." I said.
"It's up to you, buddy." Clyde picked himself up off of the ground. "It's hard to believe this is where I proposed to her… Time flies Shiro…"
"...It sure does." I said. I got up from the grass and stared up at the moon.
"You're welcome to stay the night at our house if you'd like. I'm pretty sure a bed is nicer than a cave." Clyde said.
"No it's fine. I appreciate the offer but, I think I'm going to hit the road." I told him. He gave a slightly disappointed look.
"Are you sure. If you're worried that you're imposing, it's no trouble at all-"
"It's not that. I've got a lot to take care of. I only came for a visit." I said to him.
"Oh...Okay then." He lifted his hand. I turned around and shook it. "Don't be a stranger. We're your friends so try to keep us updated from time to time."
"Got it. I'll see you guys soon. Give Izzy my regards and let me know how the baby is." I said to him.
Clyde nodded. "I will. Take care of yourself, Shiro." He said.
"You to Clyde." I said back while flashing him a grin.
-Present-
"That was the last time I ever saw the Clyde of my time alive." I said to the group. Gabby had long since fallen asleep with Viz. That only left Eliza and young Shiro.
"What happened to him?" The younger me asked.
"From what Atmus told me, Metagenesis found their home, killed Isabel and their unborn child while Clyde was out communicating with Dex. He would soon face his worst nightmare when he returned home. Clyde stricken with a mixture of grief and unbridled rage, sought after his family's murderer…He didn't have to look far. Metagenesis was waiting for him inside of a wasteland near his house. Clyde fought with all of his might but only ended up being decimated by my evil half." I told them.
"God damn…That's terrible…" Eliza said with a horrified expression.
"What the hell is up with that guy? He really killed Izzy and her unborn kid?!" Young Shiro asked. I simply nodded.
"From here, things only manage to get even worse." I said.
-Future Flashback-
I sighed as I read the sign. "...Frost Park…" I muttered. I slammed my fist against my chest, effectively stopping my heart. I blacked out for a split second before I snapped back to reality with my Vengeance Suit on. I trudged through the thick white snow. If it weren't for my suit, I would have froze to death in this blizzard. I continued to make my way up the snowy mountain, through deep and dense mist until I reached a large castle made completely out of solid ice. Before I could even knock, four knights made of ice emerged from the snow and surrounded me with icy spears.
"Are you serious? I don't have time for this." I grumbled.
"State your business in Frost Park!" One of them said.
"GODDAMNIT! Zero, it's me, Shiro!" I shouted at the castle.
"Last warning! State your-"
~SWOOSH~
I swung my Scythe of Vengeance and shattered all four of the guards. "Open...The FUCKING...Door!" I shouted.
The large ice doors swung open. Walking towards me was none other than Zero himself. He slid over to me and on sight, narrowed his eyes at me. "Tatsugami...What brings you to my frosty fortress?"
"Cut the bullshit! You know exactly why I'm here. Or at least your... your…" I couldn't finish the sentence for the life of me.
"My wife, my lover...my Gabby." He finished for me.
"Fuck you." I said to him.
"Sorry but I'm a married man." He said back.
"...You know what... I'm not gonna even gonna swing. I want to, but that's beneath me." I said. "I need to talk to Gabriella."
"We were about to have brunch. I can slide you a strip of bacon before you go." He said.
"Fuck your brunch, fuck your bacon, and fuck YOU!" I snapped.
"Why so hostile, friend?" He asked.
"I swear to every god if you don't let me in, I will literally dice your ass and feed you to that bastard ass Hydra." I hissed.
"Jealousy is a terrible thing Shiro." He said.
"...You know what…Ghost style!" I shouted. I phased through the cold asshole and stepped inside.
"Hey!" Zero shouted.
"Gabby!" I called out to her. On instinct, she ran down the huge flight of stairs with a silk, red gown on. Seeing her automatically brought up old feelings. It hurt me to see her. I didn't want to be here but I had to honor Clyde's words.
"Shiro?" She said my name with that sexy, mature voice that I wished I could hear more often.
"...Hey Gabby…" I said awkwardly, while getting out of ghost style.
Without warning, she hugged me tightly. My heart raced instantly. I haven't felt her touch in years. I missed her so much. I hated being so distant from her. Hell, it was distance that split us up in the first place. I loved her but I had to make sacrifices. Ones that would haunt me for the rest of my days on Earth.
"How have you been?" She asked me.
"I don't even know…" I said, unable to fully return the hug.
"Please, sit down. Make yourself comfortable while I make us all some tea." She said.
I took a seat on the soft couch. The truth was, I couldn't ever be comfortable. I was quite tense these days. I wasn't sure how to go about my current life choices. Being here only exposed my current flaws even more so. I wanted to leave but I have to trust in Clyde's advice. If I'm going to move past this and become a stronger person, then I have to end this suffering. I need to push past this built up angst. Our love for each other has dwindled and though I might have recurring feelings, I know that I've lost her for good.
Zero walked over to the white love seat and sat down. He looked at me with his usual cold stare. "Seriously though, why are you all the way out here? Why would you want to visit us now of all times." He asked.
"I got some shit to say that I should've said earlier in life. You know, before I left for my trip. I wanted to state my piece before I was too late." I told him.
He kept his chilling expression but nodded with approval. "I see…"
My gaze faltered and I stared quietly at the coffee table in front of me. Gabby had returned with a tray of tea cups and a kettle. She poured Zero a cup of Earl Grey with two sugar cubes and a squeeze of lemon.
"Here you go Zero." She said with a soft smile.
Zero gave her a smile that I didn't think was possible to come from him. "Thank you, dearest." He said to her.
"Shiro what kind of tea would you like?" She asked. I have Earl grey, chai, green, peppermint…Uh Shiro?"
I hadn't noticed that I was staring at the floor with a forlorn look on my face. I was distant and I didn't even realize it. "Huh? Oh uh...Green tea is cool with me." I said.
She handed me a cup and moved to sit with Zero. "So what brings you here Shiro?" She ask.
"... I'm assuming that you don't know what happened to Clyde and Isabel." I said.
"Are they ok? How's the baby?" Gabby asked.
"They were killed. Metagenesis got a hold of them. He murdered Isabel and their unborn kid. When Clyde went out to avenge his family he died as well." I said with a dark tone.
"... They're dead? That can't be right. I thought that Clyde would've at least been able to hold his own against him. If he died then what's next?!" Gabby exclaimed. Tears were beginning to streaming down her flushed cheeks. Zero consoled her as he gently wrapped his arms around her. Oh, how I wished it was me.
"I buried the two of them a few days ago, outside their house after I found their bodies. It was nerve wracking to say the least...Bad news aside, I didn't come here to say any of this. That was only a heads up. My other self is sure to come after you two as well. Luckily this place is hidden in the mist so it is quite hard to locate without prior knowledge." I said.
"That it is." Zero said.
"What I'm really here for… Is to say… congratulations." I said.
"... Congratulations?" Gabby repeated with slight confusion.
"You two are happy together, right?" I asked in a bittersweet tone.
They looked at each other and smiled. "Yes. Yes we are." Zero spoke.
"Then take pride in that fact. Not many people can say that they have someone to love... Especially during situations like the one we're in now. You two are strong. The strongest on the planet aside from me. You have each other to take care of so… Watch each other's backs." I said.
"...Shiro." Zero started. "For what it's worth... I'm sorry for… well you know…"
"I get it. Just keep her happy and keep her safe. That's all I can ask for at this point." I said to him. I stared at my undrunk tea. I looked at my reflection before my eyes snapped open. My other self stared back at me with his sadistic eyes.
I FOUND YOU!
I dropped the cup to the floor, shattering it to pieces. "Oh shit!" I shouted.
"What's the matter?!" Gabby asked.
"He's here! He knows where we are! He's fucking coming!" I said with panic.
"That's not possible! How could he find us so easily?!" Zero asked.
"I don't know, but we need to get ready for a fight. If we attack together then we might just be able to kill him, or at least keep him away." I said.
"So you're going to stay and fight with us?" Zero asked.
"I couldn't live with myself if I ran away and didn't help you guys. I already lost three friends to that sack of shit. You two are all that I've got left." I said.
"Alright then. I'll go wake up Koriju." Zero said.
"I'll get myself equipped." Gabby said.
I stared outside of the window. I looked to see dark storm clouds coming our way."Hurry up you two. We don't have much time." I said to them.
After some time went by, we all waited outside of the castle. I stared at Metagenesis as he began to come closer and closer into view. He was approaching fast and we all had to work up the nerve to face him. Deep down inside, I had a feeling that this would only end in tragedy.
Metagenesis stopped directly in front of us. His white hair flowing in the cold wind. His baggy, black pants swayed and the purple tattoos on his open torso glowed and pulsated. A wicked smirk plastered on his face. His purple eyes were showing only the most cruel and sadistic expression. "Shiro, Gabriella and Zero… How's life treating you?" He asked.
"What do you want?!" Zero asked boldly.
Metagenesis glared at him. "Hmm… I have quite a bone to pick with your ass, Zero." He hissed with a venomous tone. "But before that, I need to converse with my… lesser half."
"Fuck you too…" I said.
"So tell me, how much stronger have you gotten since we last met?" He asked.
"Not sure... Never really got a chance to let loose." I snapped back at him with confidence.
"Is that so? Now I'm curious. I just got done slaughtering the Greek gods. Totally banged the shit outta Aphrodite and Athena. You know how it is. Had to display my godly might, ya dig?" He said as if he were sizing me up.
"... I'm gonna enjoy seeing you die." I said to him.
"You and I both know that you will never see that day. I'm the god of the gods. I can't be stopped. I get more and more powerful every day. This is power that no amount of meaningless training can get you. This is the power of he who takes what he wants...and after I kill you, I'll take that time manipulation shit that you have. It'll be great seeing every timeline worship me. I'll be the known throughout all of history!"
"That won't happen. Even if you do kill me, you won't be able to use chronomancy the way I could before. You see, after you split from me, all of my power got reset. Some of my skills were locked and will never return. Chronomancy for me, was reset and locked for you. Not only do I have to retain my skill with it but you'd also never be able to wield it as your own ability." I said.
He glared at me. His teeth grit in anger. "I assure you... I WILL find another way." His fist began to glow purple.
~WHAM~
Spit flew from my mouth as I dropped to my knees. I held my aching stomach as pain surged throughout my body.
"Shiro!" Gabby shouted.
"Lay there and think about how much of an ass you are." He said to me with a smirk.
"P…pr...Prick…" I murmured.
"Ah, there it is. That classic Shiro vocabulary." He chuckled.
"Koriju, blast his ass!" Zero shouted.
A large beam of cold energy slammed into Metagenesis, pushing him back. We all thought that it had worked until he absorbed the beam into the palm of his hands. "And now it's my turn." He held his hands out and pushed a blast forward, slamming into Zero. Zero stood there and shrugged off the attack.
"Next time, try to hit me with something a little hotter." Zero said, clearly unaffected by the counter blast.
"Hot you say? I got just the thing. You can thank Clyde for this one." He cupped his hands. A small, bright, orange orb of light swirled around. "Ward of Flames: Blazing Inferno!" He launched the fiery blast forward towards Zero.
"Dodge and send off two more blasts." Zero commanded.
The Hydra nodded all four of its heads and flew around, barely avoiding the flaming attack. While this was going on, Gabby had been trying to get me back to my feet. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I was stumbling around still trying to gain bearings. The moment I got up, a shockwave sent me flying back to the snowy ground.
Gabby looked up to see Zero barely holding his own in the sky. She looked at me and sighed. "I gotta go help Zero. He needs me right now. Are you gonna be okay?" She asked.
"I'll be fine. Just go already." I said dismissively.
She jumped up off of the ground and sent Metagenesis flying with a punch to his jaw. He slammed down into the snow and glared up at her. "If you wanted to die all you had to do was ASK!" He forced her away with a blast of soul energy. She slammed harshly against the wall of the ice castle.
"Gabby! You motherfucker!" Zero yelled with aggravation as he began to give off a white aura. "Koriju blast his ass, straight to hell!" The frost Hydra charged up an enormous blast of cold fusion in all of its heads.
"I've been there already...Not too impressed, I must say." He said with a smirk.
"Do it now!" Zero demanded. All four heads blasted simultaneously, creating a large super beam that flew towards Metagenesis.
"That's more like it!" The huge blast collided with him. He was engulfed in the blue tsunami of cold fusion. As the blast faded, Zero was left in shock as Metagenesis stared at him with a devilish smirk. He was completely unfazed by the blast.
"So you wanna try that again..? If not, then I think I'll just…" He vanished and reappeared in front of one of the four heads. In the blink of an eye, one of the heads shattered soon followed by the rest. Zero was left in state of shock. He couldn't believe what had happened. He grit his teeth at the loss of his BattleBeast.
"You just made a big mistake!" He growled.
"Oh, do go on. Your anger is quite thrilling to see." My other self spoke with a mocking tone.
"Shut up!" Zero shouted as he sent small, sharp shards of ice towards his opponent.
"This again?! Oh boy, you are making some bold decisions right now." Metagenesis smirked. The shards of ice shattered as they made impact with his skin. "How does it feel to know that your utterly powerless against me?" He asked as he walked forward, ignoring the shower of ice shards. "Why don't you use that other form? You know, when you turn all batshit crazy. I mean, it won't do you any good but it'll at least serve as something else that I can toy with for a bit before I kill you." He stopped right in front of him. "C'mon… Make something happened…" He gripped up Zero by the throat. "Don't tell me you're all out of will to fight. I expected better from your frosty ass."
"...You ain't shit... You're gonna die one day… I know now that I can't beat you...but I'll be damned if I let you humiliate me! I know when I'm beaten! I refuse to be your fucking plaything!" Zero snarled.
I had to help him… He was in trouble and I had to help! I used all of my might to pick myself up and glared. I don't know how a singular punch could affect my body like this but it didn't matter. I had to fight him!
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Before I could spring into action, Gabby lunged from the icy wall and charged at Metagenesis. Her longsword grew three sizes and was now a bright red color.
"Interesting…" Metagenesis smirked. Gabby's sword impaled him. Blood spewed from his new wound. He collapsed to the floor as she repeatedly stabbed him in his torso.
"Don't you DARE touch him!" She snarled. Her eyes were as red as the blood staining her blade.
"Gabby…" Zero said in awe.
She kept stabbing him and stabbing him. His blood turned the snow beneath him red. All while he was getting stabbed, Metagenesis was laughing.
"That's right, bitch! Spill my blood all over the place!" He shouted.
"Shut the fuck up!" She screamed. She shoved the blade deep into the laughing bastard. He seized his laughter and laid sprawled out on the snow.
"Is...is it over?" Gabby asked Zero.
"Not yet. I need to make sure he stays dead." Zero said. He walked over to the fallen man and spit on him. "Demented jackass…" He lifted his hand up and aimed at Metagenesis. "Stay dead!"
"...How about NO!" Metagenesis pointed his index finger at Zero and shot a small beam of soul energy through his leg. Zero dropped to the floor and held his leg.
"ZERO!" Gabby shrieked with concern. As she made a move for her fallen spouse, she was shot through her right shoulder. She tumbled to the snow and winced at the pain in her right shoulder.
"And the bitch is down!" He chuckled.
Metagenesis ripped the large sword from his body and crawled off of the floor and sent them and evil grin. "What a lovely sight." He stomped over to Zero and picked him up. "So how'd it feel..?" He asked him.
"What...are you... Talking about?" Zero said. The pain seemed to be setting in.
"How'd it feel to know that you had my sloppy seconds?" He placed a hand on Zero's chest.
"Fuck you! I love her and she loves me!" Zero yelled.
Purple energy swirled around Metagenesis. Purple static formed around his hand. "I used to say the same thing…"
"KYAH!" I drove my foot across his face sending him flying into a mountain in the distance. I plopped down on the snow with Zero. "You good?" I said.
"Y...yeah...What the hell took you so long?!" Zero asked me.
"Sorry. My body ain't exactly working right at the moment." I said.
"So...That kick actually do anything for us?" Gabby asked while struggling to get up. Zero limped to her aid and propped her up over his shoulder. He froze their respective injuries.
"No. He'll be back...and he's gonna be pissed like shit… You two need to leave." I said to them.
"Hell no! There's no way we're leaving you to fight him alone!" Gabby said.
"I appreciate your concern but you two need to hurry!" I shouted.
"You can't even stand! How do you expect to fight?!" Zero asked.
"I don't… I'll keep him distracted while you two get the hell outta here." I said.
"No way man! I refuse to leave you behind. You helped me. It would be dishonorable if I left you behind." Zero said.
"Same goes for me. What happened between us in the past is irrelevant. Despite everything, you're still one of my best friends." Gabby said.
"Guys... please...just leave…" I said sadly.
"It's too late for that." Metagenesis said with a death glare aimed at me. He sent me a precise beam of energy through my chest. The blast put me down for the count as it pierced my right lung. I gasped for breath as my head slammed into the snow.
"Shiro!" I heard Gabby scream. I couldn't move, I couldn't talk, I couldn't feel and I couldn't breathe. All I could do was sit there and watch as Metagenesis stared down the other two.
"I'd say Jack Frost is next!" My evil self said with malice in his voice.
"You bastard-" The beam passed through his skull. Gabby's eyes widened instantly as Zero dropped down next to me.
Gabby dropped to her knees and sobbed while she held his lifeless corpse in her arms. I wanted to yell. To get him to turn around and target me instead. He thought that I was dead. But the truth was that I wasn't.
"No…" The brown haired woman cried.
"Don't worry Gabriella... You'll be seeing him real soon. You can both spend the rest of your after life together." He said.
"Why are you doing this? Tell me why?!" Gabby asked.
"It's simple... I was created by the hatred that laid deep within Shiro's heart. I am the physical personification of his hidden rage. Because of that, I was made to kill those that brought him pain." He said.
"Why attack the innocent, then? Why hurt the kids and elders? Why attack his friends?!" Gabby continued.
"The evils of the Earth feed my passion to kill. The only solution is to create a new start. Once I'm done with the Earth, I'll destroy the Nether Realm, then the Aether Realm! After all that, I'll create an ideal universe. One that would eliminate the hatred from Shiro Tatsugami." He said.
"... You're... you're insane." Gabby mumbled.
"It's time. You may now have my permission to die, Gabriella. Say hello to the other Shiro for me." He said before blasting a beam through her skull. He flung her body to the ground next to Zero. All I could do was look at their dead bodies. Metagenesis smirked at his work and blasted of into the sky.
-Present-
"I would've died had it not been for my Vengeance Suit. My suits healing factor kicked in and restored my vitals. Without it I'd of died long ago." I said. At this point, Eliza was the only one who was awake.
"That's some heavy shit… Are you okay?" She asked me.
"I failed in one timeline. I won't fail in this one." I said to her.
"It's amazing how much you've really grown. Looking at you and your younger self, you're both completely different." She said.
"I suffered through some dark times. I'm here now and I swear that I'm gonna change things. I'll protect everyone! Especially you." I said before getting up and walking over towards a good sleeping space. I laid down on a patch of grass. As I looked up at the sky, I began to get lost in my thoughts. My eyes widened when I felt a weight on my chest. Navy blue hair cam into view. I could feel my heart beating faster.
"I'll protect you too Shiro." She said softly. "So don't worry anymore."
"Eliza..." I muttered.
"Don't worry about the future. You're here now. I won't let anything happen to you." She said.
The images of my timeline's Eliza played through my mind. I missed her and I never wanted her to go. To see her comforting me now was... relaxing. I let myself calm down and for once in a very long time, I wasn't tense.
"Thank you." I said to her as I wrapped my arms around her. "You don't know how much this means to me." I said to her. A single tear fell from my right eye.
"It's okay...Now get some sleep." She said to me.
"Alright... Goodnight..."
-The Next Morning-
I opened my eyes groggily. The sun beat down on my pale face. When I made a move to get up, an odd feeling on my chest. As I make a move to look down, I see a navy blue haired woman sleeping soundly on my chest. My arm was wrapped tightly around her.
I gently nudged her and woke her from her slumber. "Hey, I guess we better go wake the others."
"Huh? Oh, yeah." She said while getting flustered. I'm was a bit embarrassed myself.
We got up and walked over to the rest of our group. Judging by the lack of sun, I was assuming that it was extremely early in the morning. I woke my younger self up with a well placed kick to the ribs. He glared at me as held himself.
"What the hell?!" He asked.
"Get up." I said sternly.
"It's like four in the morning!" He shouted, clearly upset with the fact that he was forced to wake up from his slumbering state.
"Yes...and winners train early in the morning before the losers. Now get up!"
"I hate myself..." He grumbled.