Eep! I forgot to add in the last chapter that the spells used in this story are taken from the Orphen series. Because I was planning on making a crossover between this series and that one after finishing this, but as you can probably tell, I never got around to it. Another day, another chapter. Keep on keeping on!

Disclaimer: Chrono Crusade and all its characters rightfully belong to Daisuke Moriyama-sama. x3

Pandaemonium Arise! (part 18)

The demonic armies were beginning to break through Eden's force field.

*BAKHAAOOOOWW*

The demonic armies had broken through, and Rosette, Chrono and I were surrounded. Rosette mulled over what Chrono had said. She loaded her gun and raised it, we all stood back-to-back.

"...You're right." She said, "I can't let myself..be distracted...this is the perfect chance to go for the gold!" She aimed her gun at the minions and used it in burst-mode.

*KABAM* *BOOM* *KREEE*

"Make for the Central building! It's our only chance!" shouted Chrono.

"Right on!" I answered, "Let's get outta here!"

All three of us turned and ran straight for the Central building. I noticed that we weren't heading for a door, but a large wall-sized window.

"Wait, no time to find the door?" I asked dumbly.

Chrono ran ahead of both Rosette and I and crashed through the window, breaking the glass and sending pieces flying.

"Well..." I said, "I guess that works a treat."

Rosette and I ran in and saw a tall automatic door closing. Chrono, however, stood at the window as he saw Aion being beaten to death by Duffau.

"Is that the best you've got..Aion?" said Duffau.

"Aion?" said Chrono.

I pointed my arm in the direction of the closing door, "Hurry! Before the doors slam in our face!"

"Chrono!" Rosette called out.

A demon had whooshed its way through the window and went straight for Chrono, who just barely dodged the attack.

"Hey, there's more coming!" I exclaimed.

Chrono reached for the opening at the bottom of the firearm box on his back and pulled out a sword to use it.

*KSCHIING* *WHOOSH*

More Pursuers were entering the building quicker than ever.

"Sisters of destruction!" I declared.

*BOOM* *BOOM* *KBOOM*

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH..!" Rosette was screaming as she utilized the bullets in her gun.

*BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM*

The doors were closing really fast and Rosette and I were already on the other side. Chrono fought his way through the horde of demons and quickly slid through the door. Rosette continued to fire her gun and I went on casting my spells.

*BOOM*

The door had closed.

"Whew..better get away from here, they door may not hold for long." said Rosette.

The surroundings were walls covered in big pipes and the room was pretty dark.

"Let's get a move on." said Chrono.

We were all walking down the hall in silence, all that was heard were the footsteps of the three of us walking.

Chrono pulled out a dagger from his pocket and handed it to me, "Here, this belongs to you."

"Eh..?" I replied, glancing at the weapon, "Never seen it bef– " I gasped, and took the dagger from Chrono, seeing that there were strange inscriptions carved into the blade, "These..these are..."

"Sorcerous runes." Said Chrono, "We were hoping you could translate them for us."

" squinted at the engravements, "I dunno...this writing's so ancient I can't even see it well. Plus I didn't exactly read too much into the language of sorcery when I was studying that book back at the Order."

"It may come in handy, keep it with you." He said.

"Uh..thanks." I looked back at the dagger in my hand and tried harder to read it.

Rosette loaded her gun and looked at me, "...So, how was he?"

"Who?" I lifted my head back up.

"Joshua." She replied.

"Oh..yeah..." I stared at the dagger blankly.

"...Heidi?"

"He's not himself...that's for sure. It's just too sad..."

"What?"

"Truth is..he remembers me but...he doesn't remember you."

Rosette gasped.

"I'm sorry to hear that..." said Chrono.

"Yeah, well..." I started to say, "I am too, truly I am...I wish there was something I could do...but it's not gonna be easy..I mean I'd do anything for him, really. Even though he HAS changed, he's still the person I'm only so worried about right now."

Rosette paused for a long time, "Heidi..?"

"Hm?"

"...Are you into my brother?"

I flinched back, "N-no! It's nothing like that at all! It's not what you think!" I was waving my hands about and my face was flushed.

I grabbed the back of my neck and smiled awkwardly, "Heh..!"

"Sure…" Rosette replied, casting a sideways glance at me, "I understand..."

I was still blushing when I watched at her with a wide-eyed, unsure look on my face.

"Rosette, Heidi, look!" said Chrono.

"Eh?" I said.

"Huh?" Rosette replied.

We had stopped at an enormous window through which we saw something in a large room that made me gasp.

"What..is this?" Rosette asked.

"You're telling me." I uttered.

"No idea…" said Chrono, "I've never seen this – Rosette look!"

"Yes, there they are." I stared in wonder, "Joshua, Azmaria, and the rest of the Apostles."

Inside the room, Joshua turned, his wings whipping the air as he did, "Let us commence with the Oratorio..by the power of my horns, I shall summon...Pandaemonium!" His fingers pounded the keyboard.

*VMMMMM*

Rosette had her hands on the glass window and was watching through it, "A pipe organ..."

"A gigantic pipe organ..." I added.

"Joshua! Azzy!" Rosette shouted, "DAMN...they can't hear me!"

She reloaded her gun.

"STOP!" Chrono exclaimed, "This place is CRAWLING with the essence of the Astral Line..I don't think it's wise to use the Tetragammaron here! Who knows what'll happen if we did..."

I whirled, "Yeah? You got a better idea then, smarty?"

"AAARGH! That's it, we have no choice!" Rosette grabbed the pocketwatch around her neck, "Chrono, I'll release the seal! GOOOOoo...! Do it! SUPER-SINNER-SPECIAL-STRIKE!"

"Will you calm down already?" Chrono answered, "AND I KNOW OF NO SUCH TECHNIQUE!"

The apostles were singing on their platforms with all their might, not stopping to rest, but their voices were loud and strong. So strong there were even tears of blood streaming down their eyes.

"Then I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth..." They were singing, "For the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away...Now the dwelling of God is with men...and he will live with them...I am the Alpha and the Omega...The beginning and the end..."

Rosette was watching in disbelief, "Azmaria..? What the heck's going on? Have they been brainwashed or something?

I suddenly heard this ringing in my ears, then they felt like they were burning. I started to have the biggest headache I had ever experienced, "AAAAAAAAAAHH..!" I put my hands to my ears.

"Heidi!" Rosette exclaimed.

"AAAAAAAAAAAH..! The noise! STOP this INSANE racket! AAAAAAHH..!"

"What's wrong with you?" Rosette asked anxiously.

I gritted my teeth, "Uuuughhh...!"

"Why those kids are suffering as they're synchronizing the Oratorio! And with the guardian not doing her duty, she receives her punishment."

"(That voice…)"

*BEEP*

A holographic video call of Shader appeared behind the window, blocking the view of the room.

"GAH!" Rosette was startled and she stumbled backwards landing on her backside.

":Sorry bout that...this was the only way Shader could communicate with you." Said Shader through the video, "You don't mind hearing Shader out, do you?"

"Shader!" Chrono exclaimed.

"J-jeez..." said Rosette, "That made me jump!"

"Long time no see, Chrono. Shader really missed ya!"

I was lying on the floor clinging to my ears in a wreck, trying to ignore the ringing in my ears and hysterical noise in my mind, "AAAAAAAHHHHH...! Not the noise, stop the noise!"

"Can you explain what's happening to Heidi?" Rosette asked.

"It could be the work of the Astral energy..." Chrono tried to answer.

"We've done a lot these past fifty years...and the time has come for our dream to come true!" Shader explained, "See...we're gonna use the Astral Line to obliterate Pandaemonium! Boosting the Apostles' output with that giant pipe organ should do the trick..."

I was still lying on the floor grunting and groaning, "Guys...a little...help, please? AH..AAAAAAHHH..!" I began to wonder whether I was going through the same pain and misery Joshua felt four years ago. I pondered this thought, "No, it can't be..it can't..."

The screen was now showing Duffau, the pursuer demon we saw outside, standing in front of a brutally wounded Aion.

Duffau raised his fingers and pointed them forward, "Onward, troopers!"

Silence followed.

"What? Why?"

*PING* *KZZZZZT*

Duffau was being paralyzed by some sort of unknown force, "AH...! I-I can't move!"

Aion wearily stood up and faced him, "To think, that the simplest of lessons..are actually the hardest ones to teach! On hindsight though..you simply weren't paying any attention! Did it ever occur to you..that all this was just a ruse?" Aion pulled out a gem and placed it into a slot on his arm.

"Rosette, look!" said Chrono.

"AH!" she exclaimed, "That's a summoner's jewel!"

Aion was beginning to heal himself with legion which was working impossibly fast.

"I-Inconceivable..how could his legion possibly work so fast?" Duffau queried, "What...have you done? How did you paralyze me?"

"Nothing..I only aroused 'Her'." said Aion, "Do you not hear it too, Duffau? The Oratorio sung by the Apostles...and the sound she makes as she awakens from her slumber..."

The screen showed the Astral energy waves travel across the ocean and stop at one spot, where something gigantic rose from the the depths.

*SSSHHHHH*

"The Patron..of every single demon..the demon realm..Pandaemonium!" Shader announced.

*BAWHOOSHHHHH*

A gigantic deformed city-sized realm that looked like a fierce creature swept its way across New York City. The city was drowning in the massive wave of water. Rosette's eyes widened and she had the freakiest look of shock-horror on her face.

"The Astral line..is the alarm clock capable of awakening Pandaemonium from her long slumber..she is now in a state of confusion and panic..therefore she is unable to effectively control her 'Legion'." Shader explained.

"It's a form of control code that can manipulate the 'geas'?" Rosette asked.

"Yes, legion are technically 'demons' aswell...so even THEY must answer to a higher authority..for the legion are a part of Pandaemonium..."

"Thus, all demons and devils have a weakness..." said Aion, "One that is intrinsically linked to our 'Dear' Mother..." he grabbed onto Duffau's horns, "And these would be it..."

"The horns?" Rosette exclaimed.

"Yes." Shader replied, "They not only act as our energy source, but as antennae aswell."

I was curled up on the floor while I continued to wince and shiver in pain from the noise in my head.

"To deal with Pandaemonium..we need someone who can manipulate the Astral Line..posesses horns..and has a body untainted by the legion!"

"Josh..ua..." I uttered.

Shader was facing Rosette, "Your brother was just perfect, y'know...we're in his debt..."

A few banners were made in regards to this story back in my early days of typing it up. You can find them in my account on the old site, or on my deviantArt. (my Homepage in my profile)