Thunder clashes as Axel crosses swords with his Doppelgänger.
Dark Axel pushes Axel away and jumps up high, raising his sword to slice Axel in two. Axel sees this and dodges out of range, "Damn you!"
Axel stands and raises his stance, "We will not falter...!"
Everyone below was slowly fighting off the enemy... They were winning. "We will never back down, because we can't. Retreat isn't in our vocabulary!"
Dark Axel charges at Axel, slamming his sword down on the Luminary.
Axel blocks the attack, "Gch-!" He then pushes the Darkspawn away before hurling a Zap.
Dark Axel bats it away with his hand, before shooting a massive sword into the air. It looked exactly like the Sword of Shadows.
"DIE!" He roars as he throws his hand down, Axel runs just in time to avoid it's impact.
In Arboria, Veronica took a spear from Serena as the two started to take down Shadows and Shades one after the other, occasionally using Kaswoosh and Kasizzle.
The twins then go back to back. "They just keep coming!" Veronica shouts, Serena gasps as she bats away a small Frizz.
The Arborian Sorcerers who fought alongside the twins were injured and fought from cover, peaking out to shoot the occasional Crack or Frizz.
Serena didn't have enough magic power left to heal, neither did Veronica. Both now grew tired...
"Hahaha! I never thought I'd see you again!"
Veronica turns in shock at the voice, "Not you again!"
The thuds of metal footsteps is heard. A sharp clang as the shaft of a familiar halberd is shown. "I, Rashimon have been revived. I will not show you any mercy...I will torture both of you until you scream your last!" The Shadows and Shades back off as Rashimon approaches the twins.
Veronica growls, "Fine then! I wanted to properly throttle you for what you did to me and Serena!"
Serena grips her spear tightly, "Normally I'd say no to anger and violence... But after what you did to us in Puerto Valor, we will make sure you get what you deserve!"
Rashimon charges at the twins. "HHHRAAAGGH!"
He'd swing his Halberd and the twins raise their spears, stopping the attack.
Jade defeats every enemy before her, with the help of the Gallopolisian Knights. But soon she felt strange, in her chest.
Something was trying to get out. Something agitated, angry and spiteful.
Suddenly Jade's 'Demon' bursts out. No damage was visible on Jade herself.
Looking up at her Doppelgänger, she sighed. "Why now...?"
The Doppelgänger didn't answer. She was being controlled. She then draws her spear.
Jade draws hers, "Get back! This is my fight...!"
The two Jades cross spears and thus begun to dance in a flurry of swipes and kicks.
Until Jinxed Jade jumps back to avoid a well aimed thrust. It was Prince Faris! "You forget that this is my kingdom-to-be! It is my duty to defend this kingdom with my life."
Jade was about to decline his aid, but he was right. "Alright..." her left hand had a very slight glow to it...
Jinxed Jade sneers as she readies herself.
Erik finishes off the last Gyldenaut and Mia, the last Gyldebritches.
Soon a boom was heard, the clouds flicker an ominous purple. "Axel... He's gonna be ok, right?"
Mia looks to her brother, who smirked, "Course he is! He's not a normal guy, he's a hero. He's the Luminary! But more importantly, he's my best friend!"
He said that, but deep down, Axel was a brother to Erik, and he wanted to go to his aid, but alas, he could not fly... Until he felt like it...his left hand glows a bright yellow...
Sylvando had finished off the last adversary.
Nothing was in sight. He looks at the direction of the castle...the flashing of purple was bad, there was little golden lightning... Was Axel losing?
"Come on, Darling! You can do this, you have us behind you, cheering you on!"
The Parade members look up at the sky as well. They knew Axel was facing off against the big bad by himself. "Go Axel! "C'mon Luminary!" "Go, Go, Lu-Min-Ar-Y!"
Don Rodingo shouted, "Si! C'mon Luminary! If you are a legend, you would find defeated this 'Dark Spawn' by now! Shall I march up there and show you how a REAL man fights!? Huh!?"
Sylvando smiled, "You've got this for this! Make the final push and score one for the good guys, Honey!" Sylvando hears something, a glow in his left hand?
Rab folds his arms and strokes his beard, chuckling. "Not bad at all! Heh heh heh! Hm...?" He'd look up at the thundering skies. "Don't worry lad...! We'll be right behind ye! We'll be up there in time to help ye, but make sure you leave some action for the rest e' us!" He sees his left hand glow, "hm...?
Hendrik clashes blades with the familiar Knight. The one that attacked Axel at the beginning of this adventure. "SIR HENDRIK. I AM TAKING YOU DOOWN!"
"You dare underestimate the willpower of Heliodor!?" Hendrik roars in response, slamming the hilt of his weapon against the stomach of the Knight before slamming his greatsword on it, "Ignorance!"
The Knight gets up, before clashing with Hendrik, it pulls away, pushing Hendrik on the defensive with quick, wild swipes.
But Hendrik dodges and shoulder bashes the Knight hard, before impaling the Knight through the chest, "You're done!"
The Knight pulls away as it is fades to dust, it's gaping hole spewing purple fog.
Hendrik looks to the sky. He could tell Axel was having trouble... "Luminary! If you can hear me! You are not fighting alone! I, and all of your companions are fighting to protect the world we hold dear! But most importantly to protect the world you hold dear!" Hendrik smirks as he hears the other companions' words, not realising his left hand is glowing.
Serena and Veronica both strike at Rashimon. Who effortlessly blocks the attack and lunges for Serena, but Veronica jabs it's Halberd with her spear and strikes it's helmet, causing it to wobble slightly.
Serena and Veronica then stand back to back, smirking at him as they charge, spears ready to impale him.
But suddenly It grabbed them by their necks, they drop their spears as their parents, run out, only to be grabbed by shadows.
"I grow tired of playing... Screw what my master says, I am killing you both!"
Serena and Veronica suddenly begin to choke and gasp as he puts pressure. The Arborians begin to plea and beg, as they are at magic point.
Suddenly Rashimon stops... The companions words reach Arboria, and Serena and Veronica's struggling breathes are hushed.
But they do listen, and Veronica tears up, he's fighting alone and probably is losing...
Serena tries to pry Rashimon's hand to breathe, as does Veronica, and both let out a loud gasp of air.
Rashimon hears this and tightens his grip fourfold.
Serena and Veronica let out a wheezed cry as they mask their pep ups.
Suddenly, Veronica pulls Serena close.
Before Rashimon could pull Serena away, the twins' hands collide and they point their palms directly in Rashimon's visor.
It gasped, it's red eyes the size of pin needles. "OH SHI-"
Suddenly, The Twins unleashed a beam version of Magic Burst.
The beam shoots across the land, as Rashimon burns up inside it, leaving it's hands behind. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo...!"
Veronica and Serena cough heavily as they struggle to breathe. But the Shades and Shadows stare at them in fear. "N-No way! I'm going back to the darkness!" "Aye! I ain't lettin' sum sisters vap'rise me!"
The monsters flee in fear and everyone cheers as The Twins exchange glances at each other before hugging one another tightly, tearing up as they defied death.
They look to the skies, a massive purple orb is above the clouds, "Axel... come back to us... come back to me..." She then gushes it all out, "If you die, I swear to the almighty that I'll kill you!" She'd inhale, "PLEASE! JUST COME BACK TO US!"
"Axel...We can't get to you...not with Cetacea...! We're sorry...We did our best, but we failed in protecting you...!" Serena weeps, "Forgive us...!" She now cries completely... That was until Veronica notices the glow on their left hands, " S-Serena!"
In the castle, Axel was losing badly. He was losing ground, losing stamina and endurance. He'd slump to the ground on one knee.
"Is that it? Is. That!? IT!?" Dark Axel knees Axel in the face, "Mordegan was a better fight! Even Sylvando was a better fight! Come on!" He'd pick up Axel by the hair, chucking him into a wall, then suddenly teleporting beside him and kicking him in the gut.
Axel sluggishly throws a punch and he does a good punch, but Dark Axel reels back and headbutts Axel down on the ground, "AAGHH!"
Dark Axel removes the top of the castle, rain pours onto the Castle Throne Room. He begins to float up above the clouds, "I think it's time to end this... don't you think?"
Axel and Dark Axel suddenly hears Erik... Axel makes out the words of him being more than just an Luminary... but his best friend... Axel slowly gets up. "You're not my best friend... you're my brother..."
He hears Rodingo shouting and Sylvando egging him on! "Alright... I'll score one for us! For all of us!'
He hears his grandfather, "Sorry Grandpa... But I may end up completely devastating him..."
He hears Hendrik, "Thank you... I'm honoured to have fought alongside you...
He hears Veronica crying... begging for him to return... he'd laugh, "I'll... I'll come back to you...!" He'd tear up slightly... "I'm coming back to you after this...!"
He'd hear Serena beg for forgiveness on abandoning him... But he'd tear up, his said tears dropping from his chin, "No... I'm sorry for asking you to leave me..."
He then hears Jade...she spoke calmly... "When I first met you. I was honestly unimpressed... But throughout my time accompanying you, I was proven wrong time and time and time again. You surprised me... And it was thanks to you that me and Rab breathed easily..."
Axel smiles and stands firm. "I should thank you Jade. It was thanks to you that my mother didn't die in vain. Yes we were separated... But I was sent to a good family thanks to you. I met Grandpa Chalky...my stepmother, Amber. My best friend, Gemma... If it wasn't for you..." He'd tear up once more, "I wouldn't of survived... I'd never see anyone of you guys... Jade... Grandpa... Hendrik... everyone...thank you for everything...!"
Jade hears the reply... She'd leans on the stone balcony and...teared up, her left hand glowing brightly... Faris smirked and looks at the sky, "You have a way with women, my friend! Come! After this, you must share a drink with me someday! As fellow Princes!"
He'd wipe his tears. "We should..." he smiles as he breathes in and exhales. "Companions of The Luminary...come to my aid!"
Suddenly, Erik, Jade, Rab, Hendrik, Veronica, Serena and Sylvando are engulfed in a yellow light. They answer his call and soon, join him.
Veronica smiles and hugs Axel tightly while Serena tended to everyone's wounds.
Rab looks up immediately, "T-That's the Pearly Gates! When did 'e learn-... ah sense an'ther user up there!"
Axel gasps as he looks up.
Dark Axel smirks as a ghostly version of his Rab powered up the Pearly Gates. "Now Luminary! I shall send you into the afterlife! And decimate this world and finally end the suffering you've put up with for your entire life!"
Axel spreads his feet and legs and gathers energy in his left hand, the sigil on his hand powers up. "That's where you are wrong! I realise now that struggle is apart of life! Every time Darkness is born, The future Luminary will follow my steps!"
Rab powers up his Pearly Gates. "Ah know ah may not be around t' see me great grandson grow up! Nor see the next Generation of Heroes! But a' least I can defend it, from chumps like you!"
Hendrik clenched his fist, "I shall be a teacher and guardian to the New Generation, so that they may grow into heroes of legend and stop extremists like you!"
Sylvando frowned, "I was really hoping we could talk it out! But you will not, will you? Sorry Honey! But you're getting a tardy and a time out!"
Erik sighed, "Guess our deaths in your world really pushed you over the edge...Damnit...! If only it didn't have to resort to this!"
Jade looks up at the purple Pearly Gates. "Axel...if you broke from this... Then you must of seen us as more than family...if so...then we're sorry..."
Serena and Veronica lock hands. "People of Erdeza... We require your assistance...offer your magical energy to the Luminary...!"
Veronica continues, "Our very existence lies on your hands... We cannot let this evil defeat the Luminary and take away the light from our world once more!"
Everyone raises their hands from the mere mention.
King Carnelian, Derk, The mermaids and their Queen, Krystalinda, The student girls of the Academy, The Gondolian citizens... Everyone around the world was lending their power to Axel.
The sigil now glowed bright, lightning the room up.
Dark Axel grew agitated, "Fine! Show me the power of the Luminary's friendship! I WILL CRUSH IT ALONG WITH YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS! SOLAAAAR FLAAAAAIRR!"
A dark version of Solar Flair flies down toward the earth at high speed.
Axel charges Quadraslash for the last few seconds, "HrrraaaaaaAAAAAAAAAGGGGHH!"
Both Rab and Axel call out "SOLAR FLAIR!"
Both attacks clash in a mighty clang, purple and yellow sparks and shockwaves fly across the skies and breaks the clouds and winds pick up to typhoon levels of aggression, the denizens of the world sees the power struggle clearly, and the Seer knew who will win...
"YOU WILL NEVER WIN! I WILL CRUSH YOU WITH THIS AAATTTAAAAAACK!" Dark Axel roars with venom. Arm stretched out, Axel does the same.
"NEVER! WE NEVER GIVE UP AND WE NEVER SURRENDER. Especially NOT TO YOU!"
Veronica looks at Axel with tears in her eyes, she stretches her arms out and begins to give him her energy. Even going so far as to Over-Exert herself.
Soon, Veronica doubled over, holding her stomach and head, making a "Hng..!" Noise.
That power of hers was enough to get an advantage.
Dark Axel shakes his head, "No...! No! This can't be!"
Suddenly Dark Solar Flair shatters in a spectacular show, Dark Axel curls into a Ball. "NOOO-"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Axel frowns as he looks up. "I didn't want him to die..." The party lowers their heads.
Erik gives a slight chuckle. "Brings a whole new meaning to killing yourself, huh?"
Veronica makes a snicker noise with her nose. She suddenly doubles over in howling laughter.
Everyone looks at her as she suddenly socks Erik in the gut. "YOU MADE ME LAUGH AT YOUR DARK HU- Mmgh!?" She hold her mouth and stomach. Serena gets a bucket and... Yeah...
Suddenly a metallic clang, and Dark Axel and his Sword of Light lands harshly. He inhales slowly... "I... just wanted...to go back to the time before s-she died... before Veronica died... before everyone died..." He rolls over weakly. Before seeing Axel and his team, Dark Axel finally breaks, and starts crying.
A bash on the ground.
"Please kill me...I can't live anymore...not without my friends...no, my family..."
"But if you die, then the sacrifices of your friends becomes wasted." A girl's voice is heard.
It was Veronica in her kid form!
Dark Axel stares at her... Before straight up hugging her. "I'm sorry...! About everything!"
Veronica's child frame suddenly poofs into a more womanly figure. It was the Seer. "Don't be... You were lost and frightened...
Dark Axel melts slightly in defeat, he knew it was too good to be true... "I want to see her... hear her, feel her..."
The Seer nods, "I can help you... return to your timeline... But you must find your own way to return your world to normal. I am also taking your Darkspawn powers from you..."
Dark Axel nods... The monsters below returned to their natural habitat to inhabit...
Dark Axel stands. I'm sorry, Axel..."
Axel smiles, "don't be. I was thanks to you that I...bonded with my friends even more..."
Dark Axel frowns, "Wait!" He suddenly turns.
"In the Dundrasil Region, there is a cog wheel you can use. Find someone called a Timekeeper."
Dark Axel nods as he was sent to his own world.
Axel falls to his knees. "Unnngh...we all need a vacation."
Rab strokes his beard, "Heh heh! Lad, ah was already on a little Vacation!"
Veronica smiles, "Maybe a week at Puerto Valor? Or maybe Gallopolis? Oh! Maybe even Hotto!"
Serena looks at Veronica after she recommended Hotto. "Where we got separated?"
Veronica itches her head, before lurching forward slightly, turning pale, "Damn...it...!" Serena puts the bucket under Veronica.
Sylvando smiled, "If we go to Puerto Valor, I'll start up my parade and give a little performance before I leave! Axel Darling, want to be an assistant in one of my first few performances?"
Axel smiles. "Of course! Erik can join in all"
Erik blushed in embarrassment, "Axel, wait, I have sta-" Sylvando suddenly puts an arm Axel and Erik,
"Splendid!"
The castle that Dark Axel had used, slowly collapsed, but it was a spell conjured by Dark Axel's Darkspawn powers, as such it merely ceased to exist, saving Yggdrasil from being branches.
In Puerto Valor, the performance that the whole party was going to do was surprisingly the last one. It was a play titled, "Zardo and Vindictius: Dynamic Duo" It was a comedy/action. And it was regarded as superb.
The party and the extras were praised for it, of course!
After the play and everyone went to resume they daily life, Axel walked through the area that he and Veronica fought Rashimon.
Veronica sees this and hugged Axel, who was still in his outfit, a black armour with a dark red cape.
"Hey, Veronica... what's up?"
The blonde smiled, "I'm thinking...do you... want to go somewhere private?"
Axel raises an eyebrow, "Like the usual place?"
Veronica coyly smiles, "Uh uh... Follow me..."
Axel was dragged along by Veronica to a... Place just outside Puerto Valor. And the night turned even greater...
It was a happy end for him and his companions...no. his family.
Dark Axel finds the wheel in question... He frowned as he looked at the devastation of his world. All it took was the victory of his first opponent to open his eyes...
He looks down at the wheel in his hand. "Guys. I'll see you soon." He smiles. He was eager to make amends for everything.
The Seer sees him call Cetacea, whom the Seer informed of Dark Axel's reforming.
After meeting the Timekeeper and going back in time before the world tree's death. Dark Axel had to hold back his emotions and play it safe. But he informed the team of Jasper, and Veronica of her death and his breakdown...
Skip through Calasmos Two's defeat and Dark Axel...nay, Axel Two held the little Veronica Two in his arms and his party around him, talking amongst each other, Axel Two hugging her tightly... He didn't need power. He had everything he wanted here...