It's a warm, pleasant day, but Edward wakes with a headache that does not want to shift. He grimaces as he moves towards the kitchen, wishing this world's rules about fixing things extended to his head, to take some painkillers and get some food down him. It would be today that he wakes with a headache, he thinks, the one day that is full of meetings and preparations.
Today will not be a good day, Edward thinks. Still, he gets his head down and prepares to head for the laboratory, heart heavy in his chest. Time is ticking, even for this mysterious world, and there are so many things to do. And so many things that won't be done at all.
Edward does feel sorry for Ace, and his chest tightens when he thinks about the what ifs and might have beens. Ace is his biological nephew, though Ace has no idea of their connection. Edward has stayed away, recognising what Ace's arrival meant the moment he'd seen Ace on the temple floor.
None of them have the power to travel through worlds, at least they're not supposed to. Ace was never supposed to come here, and Edward knows it's his mother's power, her mirror, that allowed Ace to do so. Roger had a hand in it too, giving Ace a hammer that could destroy planets, though he doubts Ace knows the true purpose of his Aratama.
Edward sighs. It's not Ace who is the problem. It's Aratama's power, and the power of the hammer is why they have to send Ace back to his own world. Kyoto is an unstable world to begin with, and bringing a hammer that can destroy the entire world here means the end is only a matter of time away.
The thing is, from what Marco's told him and from what Edward remembers about Ace's arrival, opening the portal to this world wasn't what Ace had had in mind. Edward is sure Ace never meant to come here, and it makes what he has to do that little bit harder. He has to send Ace away, lie to him even so he can betray him, and Edward hates it. If he doesn't, though, this world and its people will fall. He knows Ace would never allow that, but Edward won't tell him. If he tells Ace, Ace will tell Marco, and Edward can never deny Marco anything, even if it means they have to watch this world fall to pieces.
Izo's face is grim as Edward enters the laboratories, heading downstairs to where their project lies. Bishimaru is a giant gamble, essentially, and Edward poured every inch of abilities he thinks might be able to make the leap from world to world into it. Bishimaru is the only way Ace will be able to cross between worlds, and Edward has no idea if his plan will even work. It's better than sitting around waiting, and they've done so much of that already. Marco will hate him, but better for Marco to hate him than this world fall.
"We're running the last of the tests," Izo says, looking down at a clipboard he was just handed. "Bishimaru seems to be running well today."
Edward nods, drawing his lips together tightly. He hates to do this to Ace, but this world means everything to him, Marco means everything to him. He'll protect this world, no matter what, and Ace can continue the search he's on for Roger. Everyone gets what they want, if Edward turned a blind eye to the relationship between Ace and Marco.
He should have kept Ace away from Marco, he thinks. Except, Edward knows that wouldn't have worked. There are some people, some souls, that are simply draw together no matter what, and Ace and Marco would have been drawn together no matter. Edward knows his brother never does things without reason, and there was a reason he saved Marco, even if no one was aware of it. Ace and Marco meeting could have been foretold by the Creator himself, Edward thinks, and his gut twists at the betrayal he is about to pursue.
"What time will he arrive," Edward says, and Izō checks his watch before speaking.
"In an hour or so. We're going to clear out this level so Ace can engage with Bishimaru." Izō scrawls a few things down on the paper before him, handing the checklist over to a waiting scientist when he's done. Edward can feel his gaze and he returns it evenly.
"It has to be done," Izō says, and Edward nods slowly. It does, and that's why it's terrible. "What will happen to his familiars?"
"They'll be okay," Edward says, and he takes a step closer to Bishimaru. It's a gorgeous specimen of ingenuity and science, and Edward feels proud of his team for making such a colossal robot. It gleams golden before him, and while Edward knows he's about to do something awful, he feels excitement build as he thinks about finally getting to see Bishimaru work.
When Ace walks in, Izō is already in the control room. Edward watches as Izō gives them – Ace, Marco and the two familiars that is – a quick tour of the control room. He can see Izō explaining to Ace what they want to do, and Ace looks genuinely excited. Of course, he has no idea this isn't a simple test of strength as Izō's marketing it. Marco looks unimpressed and Edward wonders if he knows.
"All I have to do is try and defeat it then," Ace says as they step out onto the laboratory floor. Bishimaru whirs to life as Izō holds the controls, smiling easily. Edward moves from his observation perch, heading for the control room. The others will join him soon, but he isn't sure he wants to see Marco before Bishimaru starts moving.
"Let me know if it gets too much," Izō says, and Edward knows they're empty words. There's no stopping this, and his stomach drops as Bishimaru powers on, stretching upwards before looking down at Ace.
Ace looks delighted, Aratama already in his hand and ready to fight. He reminds Edward a lot of Roger in that moment, and he shakes his head, ignoring Marco as he enters the control room.
"Oyaji," he says, a little surprise curling his words. He hasn't realised what's going on just yet then, but he soon will.
"It's not fair," one of the familiars, Luffy, says. "How come Ace gets to do all these really cool things and we have to watch." The other familiar pats his shoulder gently, and Edward shoots them a look.
"You can have a go when he's done," he says, and it's the slight truth. When Ace and Bishimaru open the portal, Edward will send the familiars to him right away. It would be easier if they could fight now, but Izō will have a hard time keeping up with Ace and his hammer, let alone two familiars on top of that.
They watch in silence. Even Luffy seems enthralled by the fight, and Edward has to admit he is impressed. Ace moves skilfully. Edward recognises moves that the Shrine teach, and it makes perfect sense that Ace has mastered them. He's lived at the Shrine his entire life and Izō will have his work cut out for himself.
Bishimaru is strong, though. Ace manages to disable one of the hands, but they had and advantage. Edward knew about Aratama and how to minimise its attacks, and Bishimaru is the perfect counter for Aratama's power. They don't need the fight to last long, just to tire Ace out before they move.
Edward feels Marco move beside him when he nods. Izō's shot a look back at them, and Edward gives the silent command. His jaw is clenched and Edward's hands are shaking, but he keeps reminding himself that this has to be done, that there are no other ways. His eyes blur, and Edward hardly registers the fact he's crying as Bishimaru's mouth opens, jaws clamping down around Ace.
Marco jolts as if he's been swallowed himself. He moves, but Edward catches his arm gently, just a brief touch. Marco looks back and the look on his face is so haunting that Edward wonders if this world crumbling is really such a bad thing after all. Whatever fight Marco had in him drains as he looks at Edward, and there's a huge rumble, Bishimaru shaking before the robot stills, power draining and silence overtaking the laboratory.
Something is happening, Edward can tell, and the others with him realise it now too. The observation room glass shatters as Luffy and Sabo hurl themselves through it, screaming Ace's name. It won't be enough, not yet, and Edward narrows his eyes. This has to work, this has to mean something, they have to send Ace away.
"Oyaji," Marco says, and there is nothing but sadness in his voice. He knows what Edward has done, and Edward isn't going to make any excuses.
He can still hear Luffy and Sabo trying – and failing - to open Bishimaru's jaws, and Edward's heart sinks. Is Ace still alive? Izo's trying desperately to try and reconnect the controller with Bishimaru, but nothing seems to be working. Something is happening, but Edward has no idea if it'll be what they need.
Just when he's about to go down himself, a brilliant light pours from Bishimaru, mouth opening ever so slightly. It's blinding, and Edward turns away, almost too afraid of what he will see. He's never been afraid before and refuses to start now, so he looks, eyes widening as two figures are lowered to the ground by Bishimaru's hand.
"Rouge," Edward says quietly, and he feels Marco stiffen beside him.
Whatever they've done, Edward feels as if they're set on a one-way course, and there is nothing he can do to try and control wherever they'll be heading. As the light from Bishimaru fades, he wonders if he ever had control, or whether it's time to accept that he is too old.
Edward wipes his eyes and considers, hope blossoming in his chest. There are other options now, he thinks, watching as Marco clenches his fists, trying to summon up the courage to face Rouge. Edward doesn't know what will happen, but he thinks that might be okay.