Author's Note: This is it folks, the finale.
Black Rock Shooter and co. belongs to Huke.
Dragon Slayer kept dashing through the areas, Maid Gunner and Underworld Vulcan following closely behind, with the rest of the ground about a few feet away from them as they all headed towards the abyss, or what was the abyss. As they passed through the areas, they noticed how some of them got affected, the ground cracking slightly while rock formations rose from the ground. It wasn't hard to imagine what effect Geshumaru's area was having on the Otherworld, but seeing the insignificant damage was proof enough, an event like that could shift everything as it was. Getting closer, they could make out the trees before stopping at a rocky ground, the wasteland surrounding Geshumaru's home intersecting with the grass and trees. Before they could move forward, Dragon Slayer turned to face them, her amber eyes conveying a message unlike any other.
"Remember, whatever happened here, don't show to anyone else," Dragon Slayer told them, "Now, let's get Shooter..."
They leaped through the over-grown ground before entering the forest, the wasteland's dust seeping into the forest slightly, mixing with some of the mud and dirt. The forest looked a bit damaged from the reentry, some trees snapping off from their base while chunks of earth laid away from where it came from, shattered. They reached the edge of the forest until they broke through, entering the field where the palace laid in ruins, wreaked from the tremors and destruction the Spirit Eater managed to let out. There was a small sense of foreboding layered around the field, something that wouldn't leave so easily as Dragon Slayer neared the palace, trying to catch any noise she could get. She gambled everything on B RS surviving, and if she didn't win and survive, then she will have to deal with Gold Saw and the others, which is more troublesome than it's worth.
"Damn it, where are you Shooter..?" Dragon Slayer thought, gritting her teeth.
"I admit, it's was a good idea to get us out of here," Gold Saw commented, looking towards Dragon Slayer, "But, where is B RS?"
Dragon Slayer looked away from a rubble, staring off to the sky, "I'm wondering that too..."
Gold Saw narrowed her eyes, "If she's dead-"
"It would be problematic if she died since Mato would die as well, right?" Dragon Slayer told her.
"We don't have time for your games Dragon Slayer, it's over, so stop thinking like you can win at practically everything," Geshumaru told her, "I know you made a gamble on Shooter's life, but if she's dead..."
"You all are implying that I killed her, when I didn't," Dragon Slayer dismissed, "Besides, it's better to wait, we don't know if she survived, so don't start thinking that I killed her..!"
A sharp bang occurred around the rubble, causing Dragon Slayer to look back as her words rang true and B RS slowly got out, her body healing from the damage gained from the fight. Maid Gunner and Vulcan watched Dragon Slayer back away as everyone else sans Geshumaru rushed towards her, helping B RS get out of the rubble. For someone like her, who placed people at risk for her own benefit, it was better to stay away and watch the moment pass, but Geshumaru wasn't going to let Dragon Slayer have that moment. She made her way through the clearing towards the amber-eyed Anomaly, not caring if Maid Gunner or Vulcan intervenes, more focused on getting her answers. Turning around, Dragon Slayer looked at Geshumaru before she continued walking away, gesturing to the girl to follow her.
"I'm not surprised you want answers, but you already got them," Dragon Slayer told her, expressing boredom, "So, what is it this time?"
"All this was to destroy the Spirit Eater, so why does Shooter look like she did before her death?" Geshumaru inquired.
"Well, I already told you the answer to that, but the reason she appears that way is because that's what she's meant to look like," Dragon Slayer explained, "The existence remains the same, even the colors despite going monochrome"
"So, is there more to being an Anomaly?" Geshumaru asked.
Dragon Slayer looked at her, raising an eyebrow, "Why that question?"
"I know that if you couldn't beat the Spirit Eater, no one could," Geshumaru told her, "So how did Shooter survive, does this have anything to do with your plans for Mato?"
"... That's quite astute," Dragon Slayer remarked, "Of course it ties in, but it's obvious their connection isn't a normal one, besides, I want to keep an eye on them"
Geshumaru frowned, "Not like you haven't..."
"This time, I want to make sure nothing drastic happens since they aren't 'normal' partners," Dragon Slayer stated, "There's no clear results on a connection between an other self turned Anomaly with a self-destructive real self like Mato, it's unexplained"
"Just another experiment for you," Geshumaru sighed.
"Just one of many, but I wouldn't tell you that..." Dragon Slayer thought, "Anyways, it's best if we move on, go enjoy your time with them and go relax in the real world for a while, I'll handle your home while you're gone"
As Dragon Slayer took another step, she felt something hit her nose and looked up to the sky, watching rain slowly fall upon the land and on them. The moment was unreal, but fitting since the sky above them got covered slightly by clouds, which blocked the blue-and-black checkerboard sky. Dragon Slayer pursed her lips as she walked away, leaving Geshumaru confused by the weather as her robot slowly approached the field. Dragon Slayer placed a hand on its shoulder for a moment before heading off with Maid Gunner and Vulcan, relief swirling within her as she let out a long waited breath. She felt like crying, but she didn't, letting the rain hit her face and drop down to her chin before it fell to the ground, walking away from her victory.
Still, she knew it was far from over, but she didn't care at the moment, they all deserved rest after what they went through.
Mato heard the drowned sounds of birds chirping outside, the light from the sun entering her room as she slowly opened her eyes, remembering what happened last night. The whole fight against the Spirit Eater and nearly losing until they pulled off a miracle, which shifted the tides in their favor, a good thing despite being a massive close call. Getting up slowly, Mato go out of her bed and headed downstairs, watching her mom prepare more breakfast while Hiro was sitting at the table, already eating his breakfast. Mato was happy that she and B RS managed to win, but she didn't feel as excited as she should. B RS words cut her deep, despite her being honest about who she is and what she will do, it just didn't sit well with someone like Mato, who saw firsthand what B RS can do.
Even so, Mato said good morning to her family with a smile on her face and enjoyed her breakfast, which was well-deserved and she wasn't going to look down on such a gift. After eating her breakfast, Mato headed back upstairs and changed from her pajamas to her school uniform, the Autumn air slowly getting colder with each passing day. Grabbing her bag, Mato headed off, putting on her shoes quickly before bolting out of the house, barely hearing her mother's warning to slow down. If she won, then she had to make sure her friends are alright, since she doesn't fully trust Dragon Slayer based on what she did. Lost in her thoughts, Mato didn't know she was going to collide with someone until she was a few steps away from doing so, with no chance on stopping herself.
"Oh crap..!" Mato shouted.
They collided and fell to the ground, Mato groaning slightly until someone punched her upside the head, "Are you an idiot, watch it Mato!"
"Ah, sorry Kagari..." Mato said as she looked up, seeing Kagari's angry expression, "Kagari..!"
Kagari watch Mato hug her out of the blue, causing the blond-haired girl to feel confused, "What the..?"
Yomi and Yuu walked up to them, Yomi giggling slightly, "Well, isn't this interesting development"
"What?!" Kagari exclaimed, pushing Mato away from her.
"That's definitely Kagari, so that means..." Mato thought as she got up, "We did it..!"
Kagari groaned in irritation, "It's too early in the morning for this..."
As they all walked to school, Mato told them in detail about what happened with the Spirit Eater, and fought against the machine, almost losing at key points in the fight, only for B RS to find a way to get them back on track. There were changes in expressions, ranging from excitement, to worry, to content and everything in between them. Mato concluded the story with B RS trying to fire through the amount of earth coming down on them, telling them for a moment, it was like they were going to get trapped inside. Mato didn't know what happened to B RS since she needed to sleep, but just said that she managed to get through and got outside. If she knew how correct her story was and stayed for the rest, she would have known about her friend's other selves waiting for her.
As they entered the school, noting that they had a bit of time before class starts, they headed towards the consultation room. Within the consultation room, Saya was tilting her cup every way, her eyes restraining emotions within. Waking up last night after getting ejected from Gold Saw was an unusual experience, but it's that Dragon Slayer has played with them all from the start, not caring if they hate her or anything. Just tempting fate by itself was irritating to those who want to live their lives like anyone else, even thought the concept isn't as realistic for her like it is for anyone else. Taking a sip, she felt a chilling sensation at the back of her neck, turning around to see what that was about until she heard the door slide open, the rest of the group entering one by one.
"Ah, morning," Saya greeted, "Sorry Yuu, I had to leave early, had a lot of things on my mind..."
Yuu nodded, "After last night, it's understandable"
"So, care to tell me what happened on your side of things Mato?" Saya asked, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip out of her cup.
So Mato started telling the story she told to everyone else to Saya, but the grown woman only paid half of the attention she wanted, her mind lost in her thoughts again. Dragon Slayer didn't seem like someone who is quite 'cheerful', if that was even the best way to describe the amber-eyed Anomaly, Maid Gunner and Vulcan stated enough to disapprove of who Dragon Slayer is. If the spike in anger that Gold saw felt is anything, Dragon Slayer seemed like a being tortured by her past and uses it to strengthen herself. So the big question that remained in Saya's mind is who exactly is Dragon Slayer and how did she become who she is? Pushing her thoughts aside, Saya focused on Mato, figuring that the answers will come out one day, but it won't happen for a while until she can meet Dragon Slayer with Gold Saw, alone.
"That's... an interesting story Mato," Saya told her before looking at her watch, "I suggest you four head to your home-room now"
They nodded and left one by one, leaving Saya to her thoughts.
B RS sat on top of a structure in the Sky Gates, looking over the vast area where the situation between her and Gold Saw started, blue eyes traversing over some of the ruins. The cataclysm, though minor, thoroughly spread itself throughout the Otherworld, causing certain sections in areas to get destroyed, turning them to ruins within minutes. Even so, the area still looked better than the average wasteland, and the ruins just gives it an added character, making the Otherworld having something more than the variations in color. Hearing the clacking of heels, B RS looked behind her and saw Dead Master nearing her, one of her skulls floating down below until needed. B RS wasn't sure why she was here, but if it's anything, she could use some company after what she had to deal with in the Spirit Eater.
Dead Master reached her and sat down, "I guess things are back to normal..."
"They aren't," B RS stated looking off to the right.
"B RS, I don't understand Anomalies, but I know that you fight for what you think is right," Dead Master told her, "Killing me just to stop the misery is an example of that, but it seems like you don't get yourself anymore"
"That's because Mato made things complicated, but I can't blame her for it," B RS told Dead Master, "She was bound to find out about the Otherworld, it's just that moment wasn't the right one..."
Dead Master looked at her before looking off into the distance, "The time I spent in the real world was unreal, but I think I can understand what STR sees"
"You just don't get me, right?" B RS asked.
"You became... distant, ever since you got out" Dead Master said, "It feels like a part of you died and got replaced by something else, does that make sense?"
B RS looked at her before getting up, "There are things about my existence that's off, and I don't like it since that puts me in a troubling situation"
"Why can't you learn about how Anomalies work," Dead Master asked, getting up as well, "Doesn't Dragon Slayer or Geshumaru know anything they can tell you, like how some of us can speak like you?"
B RS looked down at her gloved right hand, remembering how that new power coursed through her body as she and Mato fought the Spirit Eater, how it changed her. She remembered the Spirit Eater saying something about her abilities being improbable, so why does it feel like it's right, but very off-putting in her essence. None of this made any sense to her, from beginning to the end, why does she feel torn even after she became whole? Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she looked at Dead Master and arched an eyebrow, wondering what Dead Master was thinking. The scythe-wielding other self grabbed B RS's right hand and grabbed it, applying a slight squeeze.
"Stop asking yourself questions, you won't get anywhere," Dead Master told her.
B RS grimaced, "What else can I do, I don't know when Geshumaru will appear and Dragon Slayer is reclusive, what else is there?"
"Just do what you think is right, that is why you're here," Dead Master told her, letting go her hand, "I don't have to become an Anomaly just to know you, I just need to exist, whether for Me or Yomi, I'm here"
Dead Master removed her hand from B RS's shoulder and started walking away, snapping her finger to signal her skull to come back. B RS stared at her right hand before looking at Dead Master's back, which was slowly disappearing through the horizon, her skull following shortly behind. B RS knew there are questions that can't get answered simply, as there's no clear way to answer them. Looking throughout the horizon, B RS balled her hand into a fist before she leaped off the structure, her jacket billowing as she headed down below. Even if she can't get the answers she wants, she can still go throughout the Otherworld and fight for what she believes in, never giving up when her back is against the wall.
Landing on the ground, B RS broke into a run, hoisting her summoned Rock Cannon over her shoulder as she headed towards her next destination.
Saya watched the sun set slowly over the horizon, the colors changing a bit as every minute passed, a beautiful sight for anyone who likes watching it go down until the moon replaces it in the sky. Going through some paperwork, Saya let out a sigh as she was finishing up, packing away some of her stuff as the door to the staff room slid open. She looked towards the open passageway, watching the student president from the year above enter, square rimmed glasses blocking chestnut-colored eyes. For some reason, Saya felt warning signs go off in her head, but ignored them as the girl walked inside the room, her eyes not moving away from Saya as she tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear. Forcing a smile on her face, Saya looked at the girl, watching her lean against a wall.
"Can I help you?" Saya asked.
The girl chuckled in a familiar way, causing those chills to come back, "I wouldn't worry about me Saya, or should I say, Gold Saw..?"
Hearing the tone coming from the girl caused the warnings to go off in her head again, "Dr... Dragon Slayer..?"
"In the flesh, so to say," Dragon Slayer told her, "I needed to possess someone since I wanted our conversation private, and this is the perfect time to talk"
Saya frowned, steeling herself, "So you were the one I felt in the morning"
"Sorry about that, but you couldn't see me even if you tried, reflective surfaces is a trait Anomalies can use to speak with their real selves," Dragon Slayer explained before her face turned grim, "I want to talk to you about something I learned, and I want you to not tell the others about it"
"So it's that important?" Saya inquired.
"It might not seem much, but to me, it changes how everything happened," Dragon Slayer told her.
Saya could feel the stress lines forming on her face, even if they weren't, just from thinking about what Dragon Slayer told her. She doesn't know about what Dragon Slayer meant about the information possibly changing how everything happened. It's obvious everything went wrong with Geshumaru and Dragon Slayer two of the three suspects behind the situation. Still, if it was that troubling and she is coming to her, just to talk about whatever Dragon Slayer found out, then that says everything since the both of them aren't exactly on even ground. Sighing, Saya gestured towards a chair and Dragon Slayer walked towards it, taking it from a desk and sitting down, her left leg crossing over her right.
"Alright, so spill, what's worrying you?" Even if her tone was different from what it was throughout the school day, Saya's professional skills just kicks in.
"When the Spirit Eater drilled a hole in me, it said something about a savior," Dragon Slayer told her, "The word itself just says everything"
Saya arched an eyebrow, "So you think someone 'saved' the Spirit Eater?"
"Not just saved, but caused the problem to occur," Dragon Slayer said, her eyes narrowing, "In other words, creating a connection between it and Shooter, which would cause the chain of events to occur as we saw it"
"So someone is screwing around with things behind the scenes," Saya mumbled, "That's troublesome..."
"More so when you tie minor events that happened in the Otherworld to it," Dragon Slayer told her, leaning forward, "I'm all for a good fight, but these minor events caused more trouble for mostly everyone who knows Gold saw, that would mean STR, Dead Master, and B RS herself"
"Wait, are you talking about... Underworld Icicle..?" Saya asked.
Dragon Slayer arched an eyebrow, "Underworld Icicle... I never heard an other self called that"
"So she's new?" Saya wondered.
"No, that's impossible since my tomes would have placed her information," Dragon Slayer denied, "Furthermore, I'm an observer, so I oversee the actions taking place in the Otherworld, but she didn't do anything throughout the ninety years I've existed, until now..."
Saya blinked in confusion, "Wait, so what does this mean..?"
Dragon Slayer got up from her seat, cupping her chin as she walked around, "That Icicle isn't 'normal' by any means, so whoever or whatever she is, the four actions she took upon the Otherworld affected how everything went about"
"So she's the cause behind all this, behind all that happened to us..?" Saya inquired, slightly frustrated.
"I'm not sure, but what I do know is that she made a mark, and tempting me is signing your death-warrant," Dragon Slayer said, turning towards Saya, "Well, I believe that is it, please don't tell anyone about this conversation"
"I won't," Saya told her.
"Good, and don't worry about this girl, I'll return her to the room where I get her from," Dragon Slayer told her as she started exiting the staff room, "Saya, you may not consider this, but being the de facto leader among your friends shows you know a lot about the working of the Otherworld, and your bond with Gold saw is quite exceptional"
Saya watched Dragon Slayer slowly close the door, "If you ever became an other self, I might just have to fight you, and relish in every moment of it"
The moment the door closed, Saya rushed towards it and slid it open, looking through the hallway so she could find Dragon Slayer. When she couldn't see the girl, Saya moved back into the staff room and slid the door shut, never knowing Dragon Slayer was hiding behind a corner, a smirk on her face. She couldn't say that everything was coming together, but she's starting to get the pieces she needs. Frowning, Dragon Slayer started walking towards the classroom where she possessed the body she is in, thinking about what could happen soon. She knew that if someone makes a massive move while making minor ones, that person is focusing on one goal that's hidden in the shadows. Looking back, Dragon Slayer narrowed her eyes as she caught a small glimpse of a small shadow receding into the others, her paranoia holding true.
"Perhaps I should take this body home and adjust her memories," Dragon Slayer thought as she headed towards the classroom, "Sometimes, it's best to keep secrets in the dark..."
Magma flowed below the molten rock bed as broken, scattered pieces of metal rested on top of it, a mechanical head resting not too far from them. As energy flickered in the head, two mechanical wolves rushed towards the pieces, letting out a low howl as someone walked towards the area. The energy flowed through the head, causing the Spirit Eater to awaken in its ruined state, only to hear a violin playing, which caused a sense of panic within the machine. Before it could try anything, shadows surrounded the head and raised it into the air, the black mist turning it so it could face Underworld Icicle, who kept playing her violin. As she played it, the machine heard it, the crackles of fire as the wolves retreated from the flowing magma, which destroyed the Spirit Eater's destroyed body.
[You failed..!]
As Icicle kept playing, the shadows twisted before they launched towards the right, smashing the Spirit Eater's head against a rock, damaging its black armor. The shadows then moved to the left and smashed the machine's head to the ground, cracking it as Icicle kept playing. It was a sonata directed towards anyone's death, or their failures to complete their goal. The Spirit Eater tried to speak, but the shadows seeped inside its mouth and kept it shut, the black mist moving down so the head was at eye level with Icicle. She slowly stopped playing and opened her eyes, her red-orange eyes filled with hate while her face showed no expression, giving an eerie sense of doom, with the person going to cause it not caring about it.
[One simple goal was given to you, and you got bested by Shooter and her real self, how disgusting...]
[Savior, please.. it wasn't my fault..!]
Icicle narrowed her eyes and tossed the bow, which shifted into a katana, directly into its left eyes, causing the Spirit Eater to roar in pain. Icicle frown as the violin transformed into a massive sword, black wisps shrouding it as she dug the sword to the ground, causing black tendrils to pop out. Raising her right hand, she formed it to look like a claw ready to close, the tendrils mirroring her actions as they closed in on the Spirit Eater's head. The machine didn't have to think about how angry Icicle was, her actions was saying everything instead of her words. The tendrils seeped into the shadows as they started compressing, causing the Spirit Eater to roar in aggravation and fear.
"I don't accept failures," Icicle told it, the words coming out of her lips smoothly, "If you can't do anything, then I have no use for you"
[Wait savior... Shooter was using a power that expanded the scope of Anomalies..!]
Icicle stopped closing her hand, but kept it in place, "Explain"
[Shooter and her real self.. used a power unlike anything, it was like they became one being...]
Icicle didn't react until she dropped her arm, the tendrils receding, "She gained an ability that went beyond her modus operandi, which is the main reason for your defeat..?"
[I was close... but she took advantage.. of the damage we caused...]
"Which resulted in you being devoured," Icicle summarized, "Truly unexpected, but it's understandable..."
[Please, just another chance...]
Icicle turned to it sharply, her eyes burning, "I do not accept failures, but I will allow one more chance"
[Thank you..!]
"Do not thank me, you haven't succeeded in your goal, and if you fail again, I will intervene," Icicle warned, pointing at the machine, "And the first thing I will do is destroy your existence"
The threat silenced the machine as Icicle walked away from the rock bed, the shadows lowering the head until it rested on the ground near the pool of lava. The two machines returned and bit into the armor, lifting its head and walking away, heading towards a higher elevation. The Spirit Eater knew that it was getting brought to the junk yard where all the scrap metal rested, and well as serving as a home for the mechanical wolves. The moment it had with Icicle reminded the Spirit Eater why she is, above everyone it knows, the most destructive and ruthless being in existence, more so than Dragon Slayer if it want to speak the truth. For some reason, the day she introduced herself to it, the Spirit Eater knew that she was beyond anything other selves could be.
Even so, it couldn't tell if Icicle was an other self, her existence appeared blurred when it tried to analyze her the first time they met. With the way the shadows bend under her control and follows her commands easily, it knew she is capable of backing her threats if she wanted to. Watching the electrical sparks around its head weaken, the Spirit Eater couldn't help but wait for the moment where it encounters B RS again, ready to rip the girl apart if she tried using that form again. It got cheated out of its prey twice, never managing to kill Dragon Slayer as she wouldn't start the execution code for the Palace of the End if she didn't expect the outcome. It won't let the past repeat itself, the machine swore as the wolves tossed it into the junk, moving away to find something to destroy.
Icicle heard the clatter of metal where she was standing, far off in her colosseum, sitting in a bone-like chair, "Black Rock Shooter... she not a problem; nothing will stop Ragnarök, that's guaranteed"
Icicle watched from her chair the area shifting as rock formations changed, the flow of time encircling her like a prison, just waiting to break.
Author's Note: Well, I got this far and I have to say, it's a thrilling ride working on Fallen Blue Sky like an idiot on coffee, despite it taking me over a year to finish thanks to my diminishing muse. Even so, I got this far and I can safely say this will have sequels and side-stories (which I'll get to after the sequels). So, for all of you who have read this story, reviewed it, and just cared to favorite this or set it among your story alerts, thank you. You guys give me motivation to keep going and improve a bit as this story progressed, but now one chapter ends while the next one begins. Please review and I'll see you all in the sequel, so stay tuned in, I got some epic stuff lying in wait!