Serena awakens first...her eyes scanning everything in the tent. Nothing changed, just the same as last night, with Veronica stretched out in an unladylike fashion. She sighs happily as she puts on her shoes and exits the tent.

Erik awakens to sees her leaving and of course, followed after her.

Serena sees the sun rise above the mountains and clouds of Erdeza.

"It's a nice view, huh? Y'know, I'd never thought I'd see a view like this in all my life."

Serena gasped quietly as she turns around. He was shirtless, vest in his left hand. He'd put it on as she has a blush on her cheeks, "S-I...Erik? What are you doing up...?"

He'd shrug. "I saw you get up, and I thought you needed some company. I mean, you're bound to be nervous, right?"

Serena nods slowly, "Y-Yes... I'm worried about what will happen afterwards... I mean... What happens if we defeat Mordegan? I would of liked the adventure to last a little longer..."

Erik shrugged, "This was a field trip for me, too. I mean, it was annoying thanks to Veronica, but hey. I ain't complaining, much..."

"I heard that, you dolt!" Veronica marches up to him, "You have the nerve! You were complaining too!"

Erik folds his arms, "I wasn't complaining! You were whining about sore feet, hungriness, sleepiness, etcetera."

Veronica huffs as she stomps her foot down with a strop. "H-How dare you!"

Serena smiles, "Please don't fight, you two, you'll wake everyone else!"

Erik points his finger at Veronica, who growls, a scowl on her lip before she huffs.

Erik chuckled, "I'm gonna go see if there's apples or something nearby." He'd walk away as Veronica sticks her tongue out and slaps her butt in a 'Comin' get it!' manner.

Serena kneels down beside Veronica, who raises an eyebrow.

"What were you and Axel talking about last night?"

Veronica itches her neck, "Well... it was mostly him... I don't think you'd believe me..."

Serena giggles, "Of course I'd believe you! You're my sister!"

Veronica nods, "Well... Axel actually had a vision, I think, of the future, where... I died."

Serena put a hand to her mouth.

"...And that...he was in denial of the whole thing...He said how you and I...how everyone made him feel happy and alive. Then he said after you all defeated Mordegan, The castle began to collapse...you all didn't make it and it pushed Axel over the edge..."

She inhales, "He then stole Mordegan's power and usurped his throne...and leaped across to another timeline.

But after being defeated by Another Axel and... another version of us, he came to his senses and was able to follow the other-... Well...when he came to the Temple, he broke down..."

Serena frowns, "That explained his slightly red eyes... And why he's so happy around us... Veronica... I want you to... Keep this a secret. I don't want to trouble Axel with this."

Veronica nods, "I was planning to."

Erik came back with a few apples, he tossed one to Veronica, who began eating it. Her eyes became lines with a small vertical line at their edges. Aimed directly at Erik, giving a "Hmmmm..."

Axel awakens in his usual outfit. Erik waved with a hand, "You slept like a log... usually you snore a lot."

Axel shrugs, "I cleaned my nose, apparently it's a sign that you're about to get a cold."

Veronica smirks, "Making excuses? *Munch*"

Axel shrugged as Rab, Jade and Sylvando joins the four. "Ahh, I feel much better. Whenever yer ready, Lad."

Axel nods, "Let's go." He said as everyone prepares to carry on trekking up to the platform.

As everyone puts the orbs in, Erik chuckled, "Anyone got the urge to shout something about summoning a dragon?"

Rab looks to Erik. "Not really."

Soon, the familiar rainbow road appears before them.

"Now I feel like Racing." Erik comments.

"Shut it." Veronica replies immediately.

The group makes their way up the road.

Veronica shudders as she looks down, the world right below her.

Erik looks down as well, "You scared of heights?"

Veronica looks up, "a little..."

Suddenly, her hand is taken by Axel. "I'll help you till we get up."

Veronica huffs, "I'm not a child!" She looks down again, "B-But can you walk faster please?"

As they reach the World Tree, Veronica bolts to safety. "I hate heights."

Axel chuckled, "Glad I could help." He said with a thumbs up. Sylvando smiled, "Oh darling! You're such a hero!"

Veronica blushed as she folded her arms.

As Axel climbs up the vine everyone followed suite in single file... Ladies last of course.

They enter the Heart of the World, finally the Sword of Light before them glowed bright and full of power.

This was Axel's sword, past down from Erdwin.

Erik felt uneasy. "Anyone feel a little... Déjà vu?"

Serena thought to herself... "Now that you mention it..."

Sylvando raises an eyebrow... Extending a hand to touch the heart of Yggdrasil. Only to have it electrocute him slightly, "Agh! Ouch! That wasn't very nice!"

Rab looks to Sylvando. "Maybe it will open for Axel, here. Go on, Lad."

Axel nods as the heart opens for him... But suddenly he feels a sudden urge.

A sudden clanking of armour, sound of sword drawing and a flash of purple and violet. Everyone sees Axel, Sword of Shadows drawn as he smirks at none other than Jasper.

"Hm? How did he..." Jasper spoke to himself in shock.

"How did you find us here?!" Erik shouts, as Jasper quickly rebuilds his composure. "Find you? I've been following you this entire time!"

Jade growls as she prepares to attack him. Only to have her dive kick stopped by a mysterious force.

She is blown away, Jasper raises the Purple Orb. "Now...fear the power of the darkness!!" He shouts as he summons a shockwave at the group.

Axel smirked, it had a sense of eagerness. He steps forward, "Heh!! Have a taste of your own medicine!!" He shouts in a rather excited tone as he slices through the shockwave with ease.

Jasper widens his eyes, then smirks. "This will be interesting...! Come on, Darkspawn! You shall meet your end, here and now!!"

Axel takes stance as everyone draws their weapons.

As Jasper powers up, Sylvando draws his rapier, immediately lunging forth.

Jasper quickly raises the sword to parry and riposte, but Sylvando steps back to evade the swipe, only to counter with his own.

Jasper jumps back in time to avoid a Frizz from Veronica, who then takes out her whip, twirling it around her with a cocky smirk on her face.

She'd attack and Jasper raises his sword and bats the whip tip away, "Pitiful!"

Veronica points behind him.

Jasper turns to see Serena's foot collide with his face, stunned, he'd hold his forehead, "Agggh...!" He growled.

Rab charges at him with his claws, followed by Jade.

Jasper sees the two approaching and blocks Rab's attacks, but fails to stop Jade's leg from batting him hard.

Erik prepares to charge at him, but Jasper channels his power into the orb and shoots a laser, which skiffs his side, "Arghh!!"

Erik holds his side, red staining his vest.

Serena runs to Erik, "I'm coming Eri- Aagh!?"

She's suddenly stomped on, she cries out as she coughs up blood.

Veronica sees this and let's out an angry cry, whipping Jasper in the face, as she prepares for a second whipping, he channels a barrier around himself.

The whip bounces off, and he casts Zammle.

Veronica is hit by a critical cast and see lets out a scream of pain, falling to her knees as she clutches herself tightly, crying out once more.

Before Jasper could reach her, Axel steps in his way and Rab tends to Veronica's wound.

Jasper and Axel cross swords, "Finally...! I've been waiting for this moment!!"

He sets up a barrier, "No!" Cries Jade.

"I will finally destroy you and my master will have no equal...! Are you ready to die!?"

Axel smirks back, to Jasper's surprise, "Ohh! I'm ready, truth is...are you?"

Suddenly, Axel pushes Jasper away and strikes him, breaking the barrier surrounding him and Axel, as well as the shield protecting him. "What!?"

Axel takes stance, failing to notice the cracks in the sword, and Jasper not noticing the cracks in his Orb.

"Damn you, Darkspawn!! DAMN YOU!!!"

He conjures a beam of darkness, as does Axel. But the Sword of Shadows easily overpowers Jasper's Orb, and Jasper is struck hard.

He falls to his knee. Jade runs at him, She strikes him with a hard Harvest Moon and sends him to Erik, who uppercuts him and Flame Slashes him to Sylvando, who Swooshes Jasper to Serena, who in retaliation, attempts to strike him with Thunder Thrust, and succeeds, sending him to Rab, who swipes at him a few times before sending him to Veronica.

She powers up a critical Kafrizz.

He is struck by it lying bloody and defeated.

Jasper rolls onto his front. "Damn...you...!" He gets up on one knee.

Axel stands before him. "You're done...so just stand there!" He'd turn to face the Heart of Yggdrasil.

Jasper stands up, "I cannot disappoint my master...not a second time...! That is why!! YOU WILL DIE!!!"

Axel now shows full bloodlust, "YOU DAMN FOOL!!!"

He sends a full beam wave to Jasper. Completely destroying both the Orb and the Sword of Shadows.

Jasper has his armour completely damaged, dented and broken. He falls onto his front... lifeless.

Veronica and Serena gasped... Rab looks to Axel, who is already making grab for the sword. But before he could, King Carnelian and Hendrik appear.

Hendrik looks around. Rab speaks up. "Your highness! It seems your friend, Jasper has been planning to backstab ye for quite a while now...!"

Jasper shuddered slightly... "M-Master...! Help...me!"

King Carnelian drew his Steel Broadsword, cutting Jasper down in cold blood. "Hmph...! You loathsome cur! You dare think now to betray me!? You deserve a fate worse than death!"

Hendrik widens his eyes. As does everyone else.

King Carnelian turns to face Hendrik, "Thank you, Hendrik, for showing me what Jasper had been planning..."

Hendrik was at a lost for words. But he salutes. "Your Highness."

King Carnelian turns to face Axel, who nods as he goes to take the Sword of Light.

The sword glows finally as it is in his hand. With a raise of the sword, it's true power is revealed.

"Magnificent...!" King Carnelian says in awe. "Luminary...may I see the blade?"

Soon, a mysterious force careful swooped in and struck King Carnelian, causing him to take a step back. "Agh!" He'd growl, but regains his composure.

"Ahem...Lord Robert. It seems time has not been fair for you."

Rab nods, "Aye, but I ain't stoppin' until Mordegan is history."

King Carnelian nods, "I see...Well, You are all invited for a feast, in celebration of the Luminary."

Rab raised an eyebrow, "So sudden? Are you sure?"

King Carnelian nods. "Of course! I shall return to Heliod- hm?" He spots Jade.

"Hello Father..." She spoke so out of character...

King Carnelian widens his eyes, "Jade! I- this is a surprise!" He clears his throat quietly, "We must return and talk, we have many things to discuss...!"

Rab nods, "Aye...many things..."

King Carnelian and Hendrik turns to leave. Axel feels a little uncertain of the whole situation... A lot was different than before...so much different...

But alas, Jasper was defeated and Mordegan didn't reveal himself. Axel will have to wait for Mordegan to unveil himself before he can strike him down...but...

He'd power up Zoom to head to Heliodor with his group.