Yay! I'm so close to the end! As far as I'm concern! This is the longest story I've ever written and I'm so glad people reads it! Well, here's the eighteenth chapter.
Chapter 18: Once Upon a War
"Created from the dark and brought by angels, I summon you. Ren, Tsu, Shin, Zen, Zii, Mei. Kill all evil and lead with power. Arise," Mikan chanted and before her, a yellow light shone beyond a small rock.
Then, the seven demons appeared before Mikan. Genzou, the leader appeared behind all six of them. "How may we serve you, Master?" Genzou asked and all the demons bowed in respect to Mikan.
"I need you to cover Persona. I want to dispose all the barriers my mother and Takashi did around their soldiers. Those soldiers must be precious to them so I want them dead," Mikan said.
"Consider it done!" Genzou said and all seven demons rushed into different routes to get to those soldiers.
"Mikan nee-san, we've covered the first group. Shizuka and the other two groups are after the ones that are moving away from Damien-san's offence team," A chibi said using his telepathy power to Mikan.
"Good, my mother and Takashi are on the way. Make sure most of the enemies are surrounded," Mikan said and faced Natsume and Satoshi.
"Sakura Mikan," Takashi appeared when he dropped from the air. The air was now breezy and cold. His appearance was colder.
You are a Fire Alice holder, he's your opponent. Fire beats Ice, right? Natsume heard Mikan whispered to him.
Depends really. A cold air can sometimes blow off the heat. Natsume reminded and Mikan shot him a glare but it wasn't actually directed towards him but to an empty path where Natsume saw a shadow of a female walking down with a smirk.
Natsume's eyes widened when there were a few more AAO soldiers walking behind Yuka Azumi. Natsume'll take Takashi, Satoshi'll get those soldiers and my mother is mine to kill! Mikan sent the message to Natsume and Satoshi and they nodded.
Yuka Azumi was wearing a regular green trousers with an army designed top and a small light green cap. "Nice to meet you, Mikan," She sneered on Mikan's name as though it was something so filthy.
"Mother, how nice of you to join us," Mikan snickered. Satoshi was already in combat mode, standing with his two ice swords at hand and glaring at those soldiers which just chuckled at Satoshi's small body size.
Takashi and Yuka both were paying attention. Looks like no one wants to fight against me, Natsume thought. Satoshi disappeared with the wind and appeared behind those soldiers. Silently, he sliced them to pieces with just a swing of his sword. Blood shattered everywhere but when Satoshi fought them it doesn't seem to be at all like violence.
"Yuka?! Where are our back up?" Takashi asked when he couldn't sense any presence of his men.
"I brought them with me a moment ago!" Yuka turned around and saw blood dripping from Satoshi's hands and twenty dead-sliced bodies lying on the ground. "No way!" Yuka cried and turned back her gaze to Mikan who was smirking.
"Satoshi, return to Damien and hold on to your position until you get my signal," Mikan said and Satoshi ran deep inside the woods. "Let's end this for good!" Mikan gritted her teeth and turned herself to Maaka. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail with a hibiscus stuck on the hair band and her eyes turned into a deep shade of blood-red.
"I'll take her!" Takashi shouted and was about to attack only until Yuka pulled him back.
"No, she's mine. Take that boy and then join me," Yuka said and held out her palm. Takashi walked past Yuka and stood face-to-face with Natsume. "I am a full master of the Stealing Alice and the Instant Teleportation Alice. With just a slight touch I can steal your Alice," Yuka boasted.
Maaka folded her arms and smiled cunningly. "Really, mother? I can steal your Alice without even touching you. And…which Alice do you tend to steal? If you haven't notice, I am the Master of Alices. I have each and every one Alice in this world," Maaka said and Yuka's eyes widen.
"You wench!" Yuka shouted and ran to aim a punch to Maaka only Maaka didn't dodge it but just accepted it.
"Mikan!!!" Natsume shouted. When he was about to run to get to Mikan, Takashi shot ice needles in front of Natsume to prevent him from going anywhere.
"Hyuuga Natsume, you're the weakness behind Mikan's mind. It'd be a great pleasure of killing you," Takashi grinned. I trust you! Natsume heard Mikan say in his mind.
Natsume stood up and made balls of fire around him. It shape shifted into arrows and shoots straight towards Takashi. Takashi made an Ice Barrier around him and the arrow evaporated when it touched the barrier. Takashi bent down and stood up then turned around. He raised his arms and slammed it to the ground.
A rumbling sound startled Natsume and he looked up and saw the Ice Needles shooting down from above. "Don't bother to run, these things are like missiles. They search for heat! And since you have the Fire Alice, you are its main target," Takashi said.
"Thanks for the info, loser," Natsume said and ran towards Takashi.
"Something as stupid as this won't work. Those needles won't attack their creator," Takashi continued.
"Who said I was running to you?" Natsume smirked and ran forth to Yuka Azumi.
"YUKA!!!" Takashi shouted and Yuka turned around and found Natsume heating her body temperature. Natsume made fire around Yuka's position and the Ice Needles changed their course to Yuka and Natsume who was just behind her.
"Maaka!" Natsume shouted and Maaka grinned. Maaka pulled back her hands and turned her body fast and shot her finger pointing to Natsume. Natsume's body temperature suddenly decreased and he felt his Alice draining away from him.
Takashi was running as fast as he could to drag those needles away from Yuka. When Natsume's Alice finally was absorbed to Maaka's hands which turned into an Alice stone, the fire around Yuka disappeared. But Yuka's body temperature was still high since Maaka was now controlling it.
Takashi blocked Yuka and got shot by the needles. "Crap!" He cried and fell to the ground. Minor spots of blood were present.
"Takashi!" Yuka screamed. "You dare do this to your mother?!" Yuka shouted to Maaka.
"Mother? What mother? You're not my mother! You're only possessing my mother's body! Luna Koizumi-chan!" Maaka laughed an evil laugh and Yuka's eyebrows creased.
"How long have you known of this?" Luna asked.
"Three…four years. According to my father, I was to kill my mother if I should stay alive but that isn't the case. It's either me or my mother that should kill you," Maaka said and she reverted back to being Mikan.
"You are the threat to my family! You are the threat to my life!" Mikan shouted and held out her palm towards Natsume. The Alice Stone shone in red and Mikan threw it to Natsume and his body absorbed back his power. "Burn Takashi!" Mikan shouted.
"NO!" Luna screamed and teleported herself behind Natsume. "I'll suck your Alice if you do!" Luna shouted when Natsume was about to burn Takashi.
"I don't care!" Natsume screamed and burnt Takashi alive. Luna saw this and instantly bit Natsume's neck. Natsume's scream was horrible and eerie even Mikan had to shut her eyes and ears.
"Die!" Luna screamed and Natsume fell to the ground lifeless. Mikan continued to burn Takashi and Luna's expression was lifeless.
"Takashi! Use your Ice Alice! Use it! Evaporate the fire! Takashi! Takashi! Takashi!" Luna shouted and tried to get through the fire. Mikan continued to make the fire bigger. She heard Takashi's cries in her head. She wanted to stop but Maaka didn't.
"Maaka! Let go of my powers!" Mikan screamed.
"No I won't! That guy deserves to die!" Maaka screamed back.
"He didn't do any harm to you! You were the one who killed his wife!" Mikan shouted back.
"His wife was the one who cursed me to become a lost spirit!" Maaka shouted back and controlled Mikan's body to make a bigger and hotter fire.
"And you found me! You know I can return you to the other side!" Mikan shouted and Maaka calmed herself.
"I know…I'm sorry," Maaka said and the fire cooled down. Mikan saw Takashi still breathing lightly. She glanced at Natsume who was dead on the ground. She saw Luna crying next to Takashi.
War only makes people grieve and feel sad. War makes us lose the people we love. War doesn't solve anything. Mikan walked over to Takashi and sat down. "I'll let the both of you stay together," Mikan said and Luna was controlling her anger to scratch Mikan.
Mikan held her palm over his forehead. And once more, her hand glowed in a dim orange color and Takashi's breathing stopped when Mikan and Luna saw his chest stopped moving.
"What did you do? Why did you kill him?" Luna screamed.
"The both of you don't belong here," Mikan chanted. "He was from the past; you're from another world after you died when Natsume killed you five years ago. Give me back my mother!" Mikan said and a huge gust of wind blew straight behind Mikan and blew Luna's hair.
Mikan looked at Luna so seriously with her eyes gazing. Mikan took small steps towards Luna. "I'm talking to the spirit inside you, rise," Mikan said and Luna passed out. On the ground lay Yuka Azumi's body.
"Your name shall be Yuka Azumi, your soul shall be painted with the Stealing and Teleportation Alice, and your body shall be protected by my light," Mikan chanted and the body glowed orange and it disappeared slowly.
"Go to the other world, Koizumi Luna," Mikan said then suddenly the clouds revealed a full moon and it brightened the woods. Mikan stood up and walked over to Natsume.
"Healing Sun!" Mikan chanted and the body glowed orange as well. "Your name shall be Natsume Hyuuga, your soul shall be painted with the Fire Alice and your body shall be protected by my light." Mikan chanted and the orange glow disappeared slowly.
"Satoshi! Now!" Mikan shouted then suddenly there were sounds of explosions around the school compound. She saw birds flying away from the source of the explosions. Yuka Azumi and Natsume finally woke up but slowly.
"Mikan," Natsume asked when he saw Mikan having slight scratches over her face. "Mikan!" He smiled and Mikan hugged him.
"You're alright," Mikan said and Natsume didn't let go of Mikan one bit. Yuka saw her one and only daughter standing right in front of her.
"Sakura Mikan," Her voice was low but sweet to Mikan.
"Mother," Mikan smiled and ran to hug Yuka.
"Mikan! Thank goodness," Yuka kissed Mikan's cheek countless of times. "They didn't get you! Thank goodness!" Yuka hugged Mikan tighter then finally let go. "Wh-What happened with Takashi and that awful girl, Luna?" Yuka asked when she only saw the body of the soldiers Satoshi killed.
"They're gone. They're far away from us," Mikan smiled. "Come on, Satoshi must be waiting for us," Mikan said and pulled her mother up. Natsume dusted his pants and walked next to Mikan. Yuka held Mikan and Natsume's hands. A few seconds later they appeared behind Damien and Satoshi.
"Mi-chan!" Damien called.
"Mikan!" Satoshi cheered. Mikan saw the ground filled with dead bodies and blood. She saw Lady Sinori coming forward to her and the Chibi-Chibi running around playing with the wind.
"It's over," Mikan said. "It's over," She repeated and Lady Sinori hugged her.
"I'm so glad you're fine, master!" Lady Sinori cried. Damien hugged Suzumiya-san and the Chibi-Chibi hugged each other. Mikan's demons finally came back after fighting next to her father and grandfather.
"What comes after this? I don't think any of us can resume to having a normal school life," Satoshi chuckled then Master Idnos and Master Kirian appeared before them.
"Yuka," Master Idnos whispered.
"Aikawa," Yuka said slowly. "You're…alive," She said and small droplets of tears formed in her eyes. She covered her mouth and Aikawa ran and caught up to Yuka and hugged her. "You're really alive!" She cried and hugged Aikawa tightly.
"H-Hotaru!!!" Mikan shouted and saw Hotaru walking towards her with Ruka and Subaru next to her. Tsubasa and Misaki rushed to get to Mikan. Narumi ran and greeted Yuka and Yuka hugged Narumi tightly. Subaru joined the hugging with Yuka.
Hotaru caught up with Mikan and hugged her. "You're safe," Hotaru whispered slowly. "Thank you," She whispered and sobbed slowly.
"Yeah, I'm safe," Mikan said and hugged Hotaru. Then there were noises when Mikan saw Koko, Kitsuneme, Yuu, Mochu and others running towards them.
"Did we win?!" Koko asked and Mikan nodded. Kitsuneme flew and started laughing with glee.
"We won!!!" Kitsuneme screamed. Mochu, Sumire and Nonoko were jumping and Yuu made an illusion of fireworks.
"It's over," Natsume whispered and Ruka stood next to him.
"It is," Ruka said.
"It's time to go home," Natsume said.
"What do you mean?" Ruka asked and Natsume stared at him with a sad smile.
"Mikan is going to turn us back into mortals," Natsume said and Ruka looked at Mikan who was laughing and cheering around with everyone. "She's going to take back everyone's Alices. We're going to return to what we were supposed to be, mere humans," Natsume continued. "I can see father again," Natsume said.
"We're going home?" Ruka asked and his voice turned more enthusiastic. "We're really going home!!" Ruka smiled and shot up a fist in the air.
That's the third-last chapter. Next would be the second last chapter. I hope you've liked how I arrange this story. Thank you for reading.