Scenario VIII-Epilogue: An Undocumented Battle
Chapter I-Reunited
"Guess we go this way?" Miroku said, as they made their way through the misty Zoo.
Alphonse shook his head. "No, I don't think so."
"We came from over there, so we should be headed this way." Lucy said, pointing south.
"Ahh, right. That's what I meant to say." Miroku laughed.
"You're really hopeless, aren't you?" Ikki said.
"A monk let's Buddha guide him. Well then, shall we?" Miroku said, glancing at Kaede.
"We've got company." Kaede said.
The others looked up as Kyoko ran towards them, followed by Musica.
"Kyoko? Musica?" Ikki called out, waving to them.
"You two came all this way to catch up to us?" Alphonse said.
"Would we be right in guessing you're here to send us off to dreamland?" Miroku said.
"So you've caught wind of my plan." Musica said, smirking, though it looked more like a grimace due to his injuries.
"So, you're going to stop the manikins?" Kyoko said.
Lucy nodded. "We have to do something. If we don't stop them now, there'll be even more to fight later."
"I trust you know you may well meet your ends?" Musica said.
"We all do." Alphonse said.
"We all want to win this thing, though. We're just going about it different ways." Ikki said.
"Guess so. Well, I'll help too. We're trying to do the same thing after all." Kyoko said.
"Then let us go. The longer we talk, the greater the beasts' numbers grow." Musica said.
"Us? Meaning you too?" Ikki asked.
"If you fail, your lies are wasted. It's best I add to your numbers." Musica stated.
"Well, not gonna argue with that. Better to have more help than less. But…" Miroku glanced over at Kaede, who looked away.
"Do what you want?" she said, and the group began to set off.
Chapter II-Road To The Void
"Kaede." She looked over her shoulder at Musica.
"What?"
"I will not ask for forgiveness, but I apologize." Musica said.
Kaede scowled. "When you turn your weapon on someone, apologies don't cut it."
"You're right." Musica said, looking away. They stood in silence.
"The others, they're really all right?" Kaede asked.
"Yes. Of that you can be sure." Musica promised her.
They stood in silence again. "If you hadn't started tracking down the truth, I don't think any of us would have ever made it out of here. You've got my thanks for that much. But that's it. Don't expect me to forgive you for dragging other people down with you." Kaede told him.
Musica nodded.
"We've got a long hard fight up ahead of us. If you're coming, I wanna see you fight harder than you ever have." Kaede informed him.
Musica smirked. "You've nothing to fear." he said.
Kaede stared off in the distance. "There's an evil presence to the south— The manikins must be gathering there."
"Well, guess we've finally made it this close." Alphonse said.
"It looks like the point of no return." Miroku said.
"Let's go an fulfill our mission!" Lucy exclaimed.
Suddenly, there was a rumble. The earth cracked apart and fire rained from the skies, as ash clouded the air.
"The land of Chaos. We draw closer to our destination." Musica said.
"I wonder how the crystals supposed to show itself…" Ikki said as they headed through the apocalyptic land.
"If we had time to adapt our powers, would things have been different?" Lucy wondered.
"But how would we have adapted?" Alphonse said.
Ikki crossed his arms. "Maybe things went wrong because our minds and Cosmos's minds became distant."
"Our minds became…distant?" Kyoko said.
"We're too busy fighting the manikins. We're nowhere near ready for Chaos." Ikki said.
"You have a point. Eve our final objective has become to stop the manikins." Miroku mused.
"If we can destroy the door to the Rift, the next ones can share their minds with Cosmos. So, in a way, what we're about to do is really important, and really close to the crystals.
"Hmm, you're actually making good sense, Ikki. Our enemy becomes Chaos only in the next conflict. Then we'll share Cosmos's will." Miroku said.
"Maybe you're right. I would like to believe that." Lucy said.
"I guess it won't hurt anymore if we're wrong… Maybe we should believe." Alphonse said.
"We must be getting close." Kyoko said, as they entered a large white building, like a research facility.
"You can almost feel the evil here." Lucy said.
"Manikin headquarters, huh? I wonder what it's like inside." Ikki said, skating backwards, facing the others.
"Someone's sure relaxed." Kyoko said.
"Well, it's not like I'm worried. Just… You know…we've never been there." Ikki stared.
"I guess that's something." Alphonse chuckled.
"I suppose…" Lucy said.
"I doesn't seem as scary if there's something to look forward to." Kyoko said.
"There's not really a lot to be looking forward to, is there?" Miroku said.
"This from the high-spirited lecher monk?" Musica said.
"Touché! But see, I'm trying to keep everyone positive. No need to glare at me." Miroku said, seeing the look on Kaede's face.
"Nobody's glaring." Kaede said.
"She's just concerned." Musica said.
"Concerned? Oh, about all the manikins, right!" Miroku said.
Chapter III-My Road
Suddenly, a familiar high-pitched cackled sounded, and the Millennium Earl emerged from a doorway. "Searching for something?" he said. The seven faced him, ready to fight.
"Continue down this path, and there will be no return for you." the Millennium Earl said.
"Thanks for the tip. We'll be sure to keep that in mind." Kyoko said coldly.
"Assuming you should survive." the Millennium Earl cackled.
There was the sound of a sword being unsheathed, and Lucia stepped out from behind another doorway. "For the time being, you may indulge us in battle here. By the time we're done, all will be over." he said, shouldering the massive sword.
"What?" Musica demanded.
Lucia sneered jeeringly. "Surely you sensed something amiss? The manikins are all but gone from this place."
"What's going on?" Kaede shouted.
"The manikin horde should be arriving at its destination as we speak." Lucia snickered.
"It's destination?" Lucy said.
"Where's that?" Ikki asked.
Musica gasped suddenly. Then scowled. "So, this is your game."
"What do you mean?" Alphonse said.
Both Lucia and the Millennium Earl laughed. "Even a goddess could not hope to defeat such overwhelming odds. But she will have to do her best. The manikins march on Cosmos's throne." Lucia said.
"They what?" Kaede gasped.
The Millennium Earl cackled. "Have you forgotten? Warriors robbed of their master disappeared into the darkness. A true demise, from which there can be no hope of rescue or return."
Musica stepped forward, facing the two warriors, his spear aimed at each of them. "The rest of you go on ahead!"
"Musica?" Lucy gasped.
"What about Cosmos?" Ikki demanded.
"It's too late." Musica said.
"Too late?" Alphonse said furiously.
"Even if we went back now, we'd never make it in time. Only thing we can do is trust our last line of defense to hold." Miroku said.
"There's a limit to what one man can do. Every moment we waste is another blow against him. I'll hold them here while you destroy the portal! If you don't hurry, we'll fail at even that!" Musica shouted.
"But…" Kyoko began.
"I can hold my own. When I've finished them, I'll follow behind." Musica promised.
"See you on the other side. Come one, let's go!" Kaede shouted, and they ran off, leaving Musica facing the two enemies.
"Quite the kind-hearted soul, aren't we, Lucia?" the Millennium Earl chortled.
"It matters little what they now know. They have no means of stopping that which is to come." Lucia smiled.
"Truly?" the Millennium Earl said. Suddenly, he raised his umbrella, blocking Musica's strike. Lucia charged forward. Musica spun the spear around, blocking the attack. "I'm afraid time runs short for you." the Earl sniggered.
"Truly. Then let us make this quick." Musica spun the spear around, forcing them back.
"Dark Explosion!" Lucia roared, striking the ground with his sword, and there was a deafening boom, that caused the walls to buckle. Musica leaped out of the dust cloud. Then he threw it into the air.
"Silver Burst!" he shouted, and a ray of blinding silver light shone form the spear. Lucia and the Millennium Earl roared in pain, clutching at their eyes. Musica leaped into the middle of them, and spun the spear around, knocking them aside. "Silver Stream!" Musica shouted, and a tendril of silver burst from the spear, knocking Lucia's sword out of his hands. Then, Musica turned, and drove the spear through the Millennium Earl. The demon coughed up black blood, scowling.
"Fight until you are bloodied and battered. The manikins will not be stopped. If you go onward, know you shall not return alive. You shall die knowing how powerless you are." the Millennium Earl said, and discorporated in black smoke.
A sound made Musica turn, as Lucia picked up his sword.
"Surely you don't intend to stop me…not now, with the end so near." Musica said.
Lucia stared. Then he smiled as he sheathed his sword. "I believe I owe you thanks. I had begun to abandon hope. I thought the cycle endless, and Haru, beyond saving."
"Our work isn't done. If we fail, it was all for nothing." Musica said.
"Should you go one, your undoing is assured. You are certain you do not wish to see the next battle?" Lucia asked.
"No all roads have a future waiting at their end. But this is mine." Musica said.
"Then from be it form me to stop you walking it to the end." Lucia said, and vanished in a flash of black light.
"There will be an end to this. A true end. I promise you that." Musica said, and set off through the ruined building.
Chapter IV-Free-For-All At The Rift
The six stood there, staring at the massive gleaming hole in the ground. Black mist swirled around it. The sky above was a sinister black. Not even starlight and moonlight shone. The darkness and evil was so heavy, it was tangible.
"The portal." Alphonse said.
"We will close the gate to the Rift— That's the only goal to focus on now. We can't worry about anything else. Musica and the others are in the same boat. Worrying won't help us no, since we can't go back… So… I'll believe in them—and carry on." Kaede said.
"I'm…glad that I'm with you all now." Ikki said.
"I agree…but we don't have time for talk." Kaede said.
"Would we have gotten back all of our memories if we kept fighting in this world?" Lucy said.
"Yeah, if we're to believe Musica. Not that having our memories would make a difference." Alphonse said.
"Unless that's the ticket to going back home, but that doesn't seem to be the case, either." Miroku said.
Kyoko clenched her hands tightly.
"Are you getting nervous, Kyoko." Kaede asked.
"Not really. I don't remember enough to make me nervous. I actually feel secure, being together with my friends. But…maybe a tiny bit scared. Because you guys are my only friends. And not just you guys, but everyone who's sleeping too…" Kyoko said softly. She looked up. "It is all right if I call you friends, isn't it?"
"Of course we're friends! It makes me sad to hear you ask that now." Miroku said.
"Everything we've all been through, leading up to this moment, are what drew us together. Without them, I wouldn't have made so many friends." Alphonse said, and Lucy nodded in agreement, smiling.
"Our battles together are what I remember best. Those memories matter most to me as well." Kaede said.
Kyoko smiled, her eyes glistening. "…Thank you. What matters to me now—what I've missed—is the feeling I'm not alone. So no matter how scary things might get—I know everything will be alright." Kyoko said. Then they approached the portal.
"Say, Miroku… How did you and Alphonse found out about the door to the Rift, anyway?" Ikki asked.
"Because I have intel-gathering skills!" Miroku said. The others stared with narrowed yes. "One of them just told us flat out us."
"We were also told to be prepared for endless battle and certain doom." Alphonse added.
"Be prepared for certain doom— So are you?" Kaede said.
"No use thinking about that. We'll just destroy the door and go home." Ikki said.
"It's not gonna be that easy. They're coming at us with greater numbers than we've seen." Kaede scolded.
"I know that." Ikki said.
"Do you? Because you're only going to be a burden if you're not serious." Kaede said.
"Are you going into this to lose? Is that how you beat an enemy?" Ikki asked.
Kaede scowled. "You stuck up, little—"
"Now, now, let's not fight each other." Miroku said, stepping between them. "We're all marching forward to stop the manikins. You, me, Ikki, all of us. The best way to prepare ourselves for what's coming up ahead is to stay united. Listen, I wish there were an easier way to go home. I don't want to go diving into danger. That's the same for everyone—but none of us has the choice of backing out now. I can't just sleep and let the others handle the dirty work…disappearing aside. I'm hardly one to preach, but I'm sure we'll know what to do when the time comes."
The group continued to stare at the portal, devoid of manikins.
"If we destroy the door, we can restore calm here—and those sleeping can wake up and start fighting again." Lucy said.
"Lucy…maybe you should stay behind. You have people you want to protect here. Your memories are from your homeworld. You won't forget him, even if you slept." Kyoko said.
Lucy shook her head. "No—I will do what I can. I'll fight—so Natsu and Gajeel can put an end to their duel in the future. They'll be alright; those two are strong. I'll believe in them and walk my own path." Lucy said. She reached into her pocket, and pulled out a large group photo of thirty-some-odd people standing outside a large building. Right in the middle, were Lucy and Natsu. "This is the end of our time here. The next will be yours. I wish I could have walked together with you, but there's no path for us to walk on yet. I'll make your path this time. Everything'll be okay, Natsu." Lucy said, and tucked the photo back in her pocket.
"Just like Equivalent Exchange." Alphonse muttered.
"What's that?" Ikki asked.
"Something from mine and brother's homeworld. In the world of Alchemy, there exists the law of Equivalent Exchange. It says: 'Humankind cannot gain anything, without giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost." Alphonse told them.
"So, we give up ourselves and seeing our friends, to give them another chance." Kyoko said sadly.
At last, they stood on the rim of the portal.
"You can feel the evil teeming inside." Lucy said.
"As soon as we break it down and get rid of all the manikins, we win for good!" Ikki said, raising a thumbs-up. then he lowered it. "'Course, if we lose. I won't be able to go help that girl. But she'll make it fine. If I can't someone else will find her. Saya." Ikki smiled.
Suddenly, a loud chorus of sinister laughter echoed around them. In a burst of black light, Crocodile, Ulquiorra, Nnoitora, Grimmjow, Pride, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Gluttony, Diva and Naraku appeared.
"At last, you've reached the end of the line." Crocodile said, spitting out his cigar.
"Step aside." Kaede said.
Diva laughed. "'Step aside', she says. Do we look like sidesteppers? Your little game ends here."
"Are you crazy? All we have to do is go through you." Ikki said.
Naraku chuckled. "Through us, and through the manikins preparing to emerge at this very moment? You believe you can defeat us all?"
"We'll do fine. Just stay out of our way." Lucy said.
Nnoitora smirked at her, pointing his zanpaku-to at her throat. "Hey, bitch, remember my promise. Now I get to see that blood of yours spread everywhere."
Pride smirked. "The vitality of humans! Let us see how long it takes to break that." he said in his eerie reverberating voice."
"This time, there's no getting away." Kyoko said.
"So, monk, you've come." Lust said.
"Yeah. Can't stay, though. Got plans up ahead." Miroku said.
"Lust, Lust, can I eat them all, now?" Gluttony asked.
"Very soon, Gluttony." Lust said, stroking his bald head.
"Too…much…trouble…to…fight… But…must fight…so…I…can sleep…" Sloth rumbled in his deep, slow voice.
Wrath smirked, and removed his eye patch.
"There is nothing ahead that will change your situation. The only thing that awaits is your inevitable doom." Crocodile said, holding up his hook hand.
"So, what's your point?" Kaede spat. "You can spout threats all day, we're not turning back now!" she shouted, with a yell, both sides charged towards each other. Pride leaped into the air, and black tendrils like shadows emerged from his feet.
"Die!" he shouted, and fired them at Lucy. Nnoitora ran forward at the same time, drawing back his zanpaku-to. Suddenly, Alphonse dashed forward, slamming into him, and grabbed the tendrils Pride unleashed, and tugged. Pride gasped as he was pulled down. Lucy removed her whip and swung. Suddenly, Diva grabbed the whip and pulled, while pointing her sword at Lucy. Wrath appeared above Lucy as well, his sword aimed at her. Suddenly, Miroku struck Diva in the side of her head with his staff. A shadow passed over Wrath, and he looked up as Ikki slammed into his head, bringing both ATs down hard on the homunculus. Sloth roared, and charged forward. Kyoko dashed forward, and grabbed the back of his overalls. With a yell, the Dying Will Flames blazing, she lifted the massive beast off his feet, and through him towards Ulquiorra, who was engaged with Kaede. Ulquiorra leaped back from Kaede's vectors, then struck Sloth with the back of his hand, sending him smashing through a wall.
Lust and Gluttony ran forward, as Envy and Greed jumped into the air, followed by Grimmjow. Lucy held up a key.
"I open the Gate of the Crab: Cancer!" she shouted. There was a burst of light, and a man in sunglasses, carrying two large scissors, with crab legs from his back, appeared.
"FOOD!" Gluttony yelled, and lunged forward. Cancer spun around, delivering a bone shattering kick to Gluttony, sending him tumbling backwards into Lust.
"You're dead, wench!" Envy shouted, and he and Greed through a punch each. Suddenly, they were pulled to the ground, as Alphonse grabbed their legs. Suddenly, shadow engulfed them all, as Pride rose into the air, his eyes gleaming. Kaede jumped after him, her vectors clashing with Pride's shadow tendrils. There was a sudden cloud of sand, and Crocodile appeared behind her, swinging his hook hand, which Kaede dodged.
Grimmjow smirked as he and Diva faced Ikki. Suddenly, Grimmjow laughed. "Yes! This is the battle I've longed for. The way it should be!" he exclaimed. Suddenly, he raked his sword across his teeth, and the weapon glowed. "Grind, Pantera!" he shouted.
There was a massive explosion. Suddenly, something feline struck Ikki, sending him crashing into Diva, who grabbed him, and through him through the air, where Sloth brought his fists down on him. Ikki coughed up blood, and looked up. A cat-like foot stood before him. Ikki stared up into the face of Grimmjow, whose appearance had drastically changed. His ears were pointed, like a cats, the green markings on his eyes running up to them. His short hair now fell to his waist. His fingernails had extended into claws, with blades coming out of his elbows. A long cat tail swished back and forth, protruding from his spine.
"This is my resurrecion, kid." Grimmjow smirked, as green projectiles slid out of his arm, and fired at Ikki.
Lucy dodged Greed and Nnoitora's attacks, while Kyoko joined Miroku in fighting Wrath and Envy, while Alphonse engaged Gluttony, Lust and Ulquiorra. "Those keys… I want them." Greed said greedily.
"After I've killed her!" Nnoitora exclaimed, striking at Lucy, who dodged. "I've had enough of your running about." Nnoitora hissed. He raised his sword into the air. "Pray, Santa Teresa!" he shouted. There was a crackling sound, and horns erupted out of the side of his, while his arms split apart into three separate arms, while a long, wicked scythe appeared in each hand. Nnoitora raised his scythes, ready to strike. Suddenly a spear struck the scythes, and Musica passed over head, turning and struck Nnoitora in the back of the head.
"Musica!" Lucy exclaimed. Suddenly, Nnoitora smirked.
"Did you plan on stabbing me in the head? Well, I'm sorry." Musica gasped, as Nnoitora reached behind him, and grabbed the spear. There was no damage to Nnoitora at all. "You can't cut me. My hierro, iron skin, is the hardest of all Arrancars!" Nnoitora exclaimed, throwing Musica into the air.
Kyoko moved backwards quickly, leaning from side to side, as Wrath swung his sword at her, his left eye gleaming.
"You won't be able to keep dodging me forever. Nothing can escape my Ultimate Eye." Wrath said, as Kyoko jumped back. Alphonse and Greed, meanwhile, continued to throw punches at each other, the sound of metal hitting metal echoing loudly through the Rift. Envy leaped into the air, his face split into a manic grin, as Kaede continued to battle Pride and Crocodile. Kaede turned, and her vectors came up, shielding her, as Envy through a massive punch. Suddenly, there was an eerie shriek. Kaede turned, and her eyes widened in terror, as red eyes appeared in the darkness at Pride's feet, and multiple mouths filled with pointed teeth leered up at her, staring hungrily.
"You may not be human, but let's see if your terror is the same as a humans." Pride said, and the dark tendrils surged towards Kaede. Scowling, Kaede spun her vectors, slicing through Crocodile, who turned into sand, and shoved Envy aside as she hurried to the ground.
There was a thud and explosion as the tendrils crashed into the earth after her, and Ikki and Grimmjow were blown backwards. Lust suddenly leaped through the air, landed on Grimmjow's shoulder, and jumped off, spinning in a cyclone, her long claws held out. Ikki skated backwards quickly, as the claws tore through the ground. There was a snarl as Gluttony lunged forward, mouth open wide. Ikki jumped into the air, and landed on Gluttony's head, then kicked off, sending Gluttony crashing into the ground.
"Leo! Aries!" Lucy shouted, raising the keys, and the two spirits appeared beside her. Both of them joined Cancer, and grabbed two of Nnoitora's arms.
"You pieces of shit!" Nnoitora roared.
"Now!" Leo shouted, and the three spirits tugged. Nnoitora screamed as his arms were torn out of is body, and the spirits through them away. Nnoitora stood there, scowling. Then he smirked, and six new arms sprouted. Suddenly, a sword passed through Cancer's chest, as Ulquiorra stabbed him. Nnoitora cackled and ran forward, picking up the scythes, and began to attack Leo and Aries, as Luc fought Ulquiorra.
Meanwhile, Sloth watched, laying on the ground. "Don't…want…to…fight… Too…much…trouble…fighting… Living…is…also…too much…trouble… But…then…so is…dying…" he groaned. Slowly, he got to his feet, and breathed in deeply. Then he vanished. Alphonse was knocked off his feet as Sloth appeared, and collided into him at blinding speeds.
"So fast…" Kyoko gasped, looking away from Envy and Wrath.
"I'm…the….fastest…Homunculus…" Sloth said slowly, then he charged forward again. This time, Alphonse held out both hands, and stopped him. With a yell, Alphonse pushed against the ground, and began shoving Sloth back. Sloth growled, and dug his feet into the ground.
Suddenly, Kyoko yelled, clutching her left arm, which was bleeding. Wrath held up his sword, and jerked it, tossing off the blood. "A true warrior never takes his eyes from his opponent." Wrath said. Kyoko scowled, and fired flames from her hand. Envy smirked, and kicked them aside. Then he gasped as Miroku kicked him hard in the face. Suddenly, they were all blown off their feet as Pride and Crocodile once again engaged Kaede in a violent swirl of vectors, shadows and sand.
Meanwhile, Ikki skated across an infuriated Greed's shoulder, as Diva swung her sword at him. Grimmjow scowled, and held out his hands, and his claws glowed.
"My ultimate attack, Desgarron." he snarled, and swung his hands. Ten claw shaped energies soared towards Ikki. Ikki crouched down, then jumped high into the air, so high it looked like he was flying. Then, with a battle cry, he soared down, and slammed both feet into Grimmjow's face, hard, knocking one of Grimmjow's fangs out. Meanwhile, Miroku aimed his right hand at the battlefield, and grabbed the cloth around his hand.
"My friends! Hold on tight! Wind Tunnel!" Miroku shouted, removing the cloth, and the massive gust of wind roared again, pulling everything towards the hole in his hand. The fighters groaned, struggling to hold on.
"Lust! Don't let me go!" Gluttony whined, holding Lust's hand, as she dug her other hand and feet into the ground.
"You need not worry." spoke a deep voice. At once, the fighting ceased, as everyone looked up. Their eyes widened, as a massive dragon floated above them, it's golden eyes narrowed at Miroku, and the Wind Tunnel ceased suddenly.
"It can't be…" Ulquiorra gasped.
"Shinryu…" Musica breathed.
"That dragon that cleanses all…" Diva whispered.
"The portal is not to be destroyed, or saved. I have come to end this petty fighting, with a true warrior, one more terrifying than anything in your wildest nightmares. A god from the future." Shinryu growled.
There was a burst of flames in the middle of the battlefield. A monstrous figure stood there. The figure stood over ten feet tall, its reddish-brown, muscular skin containing bright patches like lave. Three layers of armor like spines rested on its shoulder, over four arms with clawed fingers. The figure swished its long tail, which was covered on a row of red spines. Each of the figure's six toed feet ended in sinister looking claws. A blood red jewel, tied to a piece of cloth was tied around the figure's neck. A loincloth, held in place multiple skulls was tied around the figure's waist. Suddenly the warriors stared at the figure face. The figure's elongated teeth were bared, and jutted over his top and bottom jaw. A pair of green horns jutted out from above it's eyes. A second pair of horns, shaped like crescent moons rested on top of it's head. A third and final pair of red horns, each three feet long protruded from either side of its head like ram horns, one of them broken. The beast sat on its haunches, snarling.
Crocodile's eyes widened. "Chaos…" he gasped.
The seven heroes gasped.
"That's Chaos…" Alphonse said in fear.
Suddenly, the beast roared, and flames erupted from it. Crocodile, Ulquiorra, Lust, Envy, Diva and Naraku managed to leap out of the way. Miroku stabbed his staff into the ground, and a barrier surrounded the heroes. However, Nnoitora, Grimmjow, Gluttony, Greed, Pride, Sloth and Wrath screamed as they were incinerated by the wave of flames. Chaos roared again, and began running around, snarling, running on his upper arms and legs, his second pair of arms dragging across the ground.
Shinryu chuckled. "Yes, and no. it is Chaos, but not the Chaos you know. There are parallel worlds, were every choice makes a different future. This Chaos is from one, a future where he won every single conflict between him and Cosmos. My power, granted to him, has driven him insane with rage. He is like a wild animal. He is Desperado Chaos." Shinryu said, and vanished.
"Wait!" Envy shouted, once more turning into the green dragon, chasing after Shinryu. "Take me to Hohenheim!" Envy snarled, vanishing into the orb of golden light Shinryu left behind.
Desperado roared again, turning to the heroes. Crocodile watched as the beast smashed into the barrier repeatedly, magma dripping form it mouth like a rabid animal. Then Crocodile turned to the others. "We're leaving. Forget the others, they're expendable." He glanced across at Kaede, who met his eyes. "This is farewell, warriors of Cosmos. He will keep you busy. And should you best him, the manikins will entertain you until the sky falls upon your heads." Crocodile said, and the five remaining villains vanished.
Desperado howled with rage as it attempted to shatter the barrier.
"I can't hold this much longer." Miroku said. Lucy held up a key.
"I have an idea, but I need time." she said.
"How much?" Alphonse asked, as the barrier began to shatter.
"Five minutes." Lucy said.
"I don't know if we can last that long." Ikki said, as they jumped back as Desperado successfully destroyed the barrier, and lunged forward, its jaws snapping.
"Do it. Keep him off Lucy." Kaede ordered, and the six charged forward. Lucy held the key tightly in her hands, and began to whisper words in a foreign dialect. Desperado roared, and spun in midair. Ikki swerved to the side, then grinded down the beasts' tail. Desperado snarled, and swiped its claws at him. Miroku removed scrolls from his robe, and jumped into the air, placing them on Desperado's head.
"Purify!" he shouted, an Desperado howled as electric energy encircled it. With a yell, Ikki brought his ATs down on the back of Desperado's neck. Alphonse placed his hands on the ground, and the earth rose, then fell down on Desperado's wings. The feral god roared, thrashing ot get up. Miroku tossed several sacred beads into the air, and they scattered across Desperado, binding him there. Ikki began to kick the air with his ATs, creating wind currents that slammed into Desperado, keeping him down. Kaede yelled as her vectors grabbed Desperado, and fought to keep him down, while Kyoko fired repeated X-Burners, and Musica fired Silver Arrows. Suddenly, flames surrounded Desperado, and he roared, releasing a wave of energy that knocked them back.
"Lucy!" Kaede shouted as she tumbled across the ground.
Lucy opened her eyes, as the key glowed. "I open the Gate of Life, of the Soul, and of the Universe: ULTIMO!" she shouted. A orb of light appeared, glowing with a radiance that blinded them all. It soared into the air, then dropped on Desperado.
"Move!" Kaede shouted, and they dispersed. Desperado roared in agony as its body began to dissolve, the orb of light engulfing it. With a final howl, Desperado exploded in a cloud of ash and flames, which vanished.
"We did it!" Kyoko panted, as Lucy fell to her knees.
"Things still look pretty rough for us, though." Ikki said, glancing. The others looked, as manikin after manikin began to climb through the portal, so many that they looked like part of the earth
"I'm sure you all understand our…situation. We came here to destroy the portal that connects this world to the Rift. It's the last thing left for us to do. But once we charge into those manikins, there's no coming back." Kaede said.
"But there's no other way. We've come to accept that." Alphonse said.
"Yeah. I think I'm just gonna have to accept it as well. If that's what it takes to win." Ikki said.
"It'll give us a chance the next time around." Kyoko said.
Kaede looked at each of them. "I was the one who wanted to fight until the end. I dragged you all into this. I'm sorry." she said.
"Well, did we just get a glimpse of your softer side?" Miroku said interestedly.
"We all knew how this would end from the start. No one here was stupid enough to expect otherwise." Musica said.
"Actually, this is all news to me." Ikki said.
"Maybe one of us…" Miroku muttered.
"Hey, I thought it might come to this. But even then, I still stuck with you guys." Ikki reminded, grinning.
"Nothing we do here will be in vain." Alphonse said.
"Our efforts will save someone in the next battle." Lucy said.
"Too late for doubts. And nobody blames you, Kaede. We're already involved in this." Kyoko said.
"Let us see this done." Musica said. He smiled as Kaede looked up at him. "It's not over yet. Not by a long shot. When the next battle begins, we will surely be on the road to victory. Forget the past. Don't torment yourself with looking back. Now is the time. We are at your side. We must face forward."
Kaede nodded as they faced the manikins. "Face forward. We can't go back." she said. Then they charged towards the onslaught of manikins.
Luffy's eyes darted back and forth as the manikins surrounded him and Cosmos.
"I'm sorry. At this moment, I can but lead you towards certain defeat. You wished for victory. You wished for an end to this conflict. As things stand, I regret there is nothing more I can do." Luffy said.
Cosmos shook her head. "It is I who should have done more. I wanted… I wanted to save you all from this nightmare." she said softly.
"Your divine power exists to protect this world. If you wasted it on us, and allowed the world to fall, what purpose would that serve? We are warriors—the chosen few who were summoned to this land to secure victory for you. There will come a future where that victory shall be one. And so I ask you: believe in the future. Stand by your heroes as the look to the next battle." Luffy stepped in front of Cosmos, shielding her from the manikins view.
"Though I once fought for you, that honor may now be lost to me. However… The light in my heart never once flickered or faded. And so I swear: I shall do my utmost to protect you, until the very end."
"I cannot—" Cosmos began.
Luffy silenced her with a sad smile. "Though I cannot join you in future battles, I pray you forgive me, Cosmos." Then he ran forward the manikins charged.