Chapter 24 – Spider VS Tiger
"So there you are…" Ram, the oni maid in pink, murmured. "…Emilia-sama."
"…" In response, the half-elven princess remained silent.
After Subaru had entered the Tomb, Ram in return had been walking through the woods in search of Emilia. She actually already had an idea of where she could be, but what made her unsure was the Royal Candidate's apparent apathy to retake the Trial after her failure the previous night. Thus, Ram was now standing before a tree stump in the middle of the forest, behind which Emilia sat, hugging her knees and sobbing silently.
"Emilia-sama…" The maid repeated as her tone grew firmer. "I don't care whether you hear me out or pretend to ignore me, I've come to say my piece regardless of your intentions or actions afterwards, and as such, I'll speak them. Take them as you will, for Ram only looks to get you to stand up and look at her once she finishes."
"…"
"Did you know that Barusu has returned already?"
"?!" Emilia was shaken out of her stupor after hearing her words. "Subaru?! Already?! But-!"
"It seems he and his associates were flung here by Beatrice-sama's magic." Ram admitted before continuing. "Did you know? The real reason behind him returning to the mansion?"
"…Was it not to attend Anastasia?"
"He lied about that." Ram answered indifferently.
"…Shut up." Emilia growled, not believing her.
"That was an excuse so you would let him go." The maid mercilessly continued. "In truth, he needed to leave because an assassin you are familiar with was aiming to kill everyone in the mansion."
"…Shut up-"
"Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Hunter, raided the mansion. And had Subaru not left you here, Frederica and Petra would have died."
"…That is…"
"And now, Barusu has returned with mercenaries belonging to Anastasia-sama's camp with the intention of slaying the Great Rabbit."
"The-?!"
"Look above." Ram pressured as she noticed she had gained her liege's attention. "The clouds above us, covering the sky… They are not natural."
"…Huh?"
"Roswaal-sama has been manipulating the mana in the atmosphere to change the climate, to make it so that the snow in Sanctuary will attract the Rabbit."
"The snow…" Emilia's eyes widened at such a proclamation, especially so knowing how loyal Ram was to Roswaal. "Roswaal is-?!"
"He is banking on the rumors of you being a witch to isolate you. Once that Rabbit descends on us, it is over. We will all die." Ram proceeds with frustration. "And Barusu has returned to prevent that."
"Subaru… is…" Emilia bit her lip, not wishing to hear anything else.
"Barusu is not invincible. Even if he pretends to be… You know this. WE know this." Ram pleaded. "As we speak… Right now, I saw him enter the Tomb to perform the Trial in your stead; he's desperate to evacuate the Sanctuary before it turns into a bloodbath."
"…How do you-?!" Emilia turns to look at the maid with anger, irritated by all the oddities she continues spouting, as if she were mocking her… Only to notice that Ram was frowning with sadness. "Ram…?"
"Emilia-sama…" The maid bows, breaking her façade of stoicism as she begs the candidate. "Please… Save Roswaal-sama."
"…"
"He's drunk on his desire." Ram shakes her head while continuing to bow. "To use you, to reach Barusu, to discard everything and everyone in such a pursuit…"
"Ram…"
"Barusu looked for you, he wanted to make sure you were safe, that you could retake the Trial and save everyone… Imagine how overworked he must be if he had to rush into that damn Tomb just to do it in your stead, Emilia-sama."
"…!" Emilia took a step back in surprise at the consideration of the maid.
"He won't leave, not until he can save everyone. It would seem what is happening with the Rabbit here is not his sole concern, if he is willing to trample on his trust for you to perform the Trial." Ram gripped her dress with fury at her own words and Subaru's actions. "With such a mentality… Can you imagine succeeding in the Trial if he is that desperate?"
"…"
"Emilia-sama." Ram said again as she produced Puck's crystal from her dress' pocket.
"?!" Emilia was left aghast by the appearance of the crystal. "Tha-That's… Why do you have this?! Ram!"
"…I snatched it from Barusu's bag when he entered the Tomb." The maid admitted. "I know you must be disappointed in yourself… If you hid here, hoping Barusu wouldn't find you."
"…"
"But please…" Ram said while extending the hand holding the crystal towards Emilia. "At the very least… If you wish to succeed in the Trial… If you wish to save Barusu from his self-destructive impulse to take responsibility over YOUR stumbles… Even when he is not your servant anymore…"
"I…"
"Please, face your past as well." Ram's voice grew stern as she finalized her plea. Then, noticing that the half-elf wouldn't take the crystal, the maid decided to leave it sitting atop the tree stump.
"Puck… I… Ram, I don't think…" Emilia clenched her fists with vexation as she looked away from the stump.
"I told you, didn't I?" Ram cut her off. "I came here to make a selfish one-sided request from a maid to her liege; to pull at the strings of your heart so you can get off your butt. I don't care what you think. I do not care for it, nor for your past. And if it worries you so much that Barusu would judge you for your failures, then you have not been paying attention to anything he has done up until now. Barusu would most likely not judge you for it either. Maybe he'll get mad and give you an earful, much like myself… But we wouldn't hate you for failing. We'd hate you for giving up."
"…"
"If you are just pretending to be pathetic for the sake of gaining Barusu's pity, that's on you. But I, for one, don't want to die with regrets because you couldn't get it together."
"Ram…"
"If you want someone to insult you or harm your self-esteem because you think you deserve it, then just stay here and let everyone else do the work. We don't have time for such idiocies." Ram shook her head at the hesitation displayed in the half-elf's mannerisms as she turned around to leave. "And if you don't return to the Tomb and Barusu fails like I know he will, then I'll take the Trials in his stead. Maybe that'll teach him who the superior being is."
"But you aren't a half-?" Emilia's gaze turned soft midsentence as she realized the meaning of Ram's words. She's not a half-blood nor does she possess a mysterious qualification like Subaru, so it should be impossible for her to take the trials unless she was willing to risk her life like Roswaal. "Hehe… You actually care about Subaru more than you care to admit, huh?"
"Hmph! Don't be ridiculous. I don't care for that Barusu, I couldn't be bothered for such a waste of air… But Ram's Rem does." Ram huffed with annoyance.The maid backtracked on her kindness by shifting her care for Subaru on her sister. "What do you think Rem would say if Barusu kicked the bucket? She'd be inconsolable."
"Rem…" Emilia thought of the blue oni. "That's right… She's still waiting for us back at the Capital…"
"If you are done feeling sorry for yourself then…" Ram turned to look at Emilia one last time before sinking into the forest.
"…" Emilia looked back to the crystal at last.
"Please, save us." Leaving those words behind Ram left.
"Ram..." Emilia finally grabbed the crystal with her hands, glaring at it as memories flashed through her head.
"My name is Natsuki Subaru! Not only am I completely clueless, I'm also completely lost!"
"It is kind of embarrassing, looking back on it, but I'm glad you helped me, so… Thanks Emilia."
"I told you, I just wanted Puck to be honest."
"Subaru… To be honest…" Emilia gritted her teeth. "You weren't honest either… But if you had, would I have trusted you?"
"Probably not…" The crystal answered.
"…" Emilia's eyes narrowed at the response of the Great Spirit residing within. "That question wasn't meant for you to answer."
"I know that, yet… It stings a bit that you won't talk to me as kindly as you did before."
"Do you deserve it?"
"…No, I suppose not."
*SHWOOM!*
Green light particles gathered before Emilia, and as they came together within the crystal, Puck manifested.
"Lia…"
"Shut up." Emilia shook her head as tears of anger and confusion threatened to fall from her eyes. "You don't get to call me that."
"…Let's talk, shall we?" A dejected Puck said while forcing a smile.
"…"
"At least once… Like Subaru said-"
"So NOW that you can't use me, you use his name to get to me?" The girl growled. "I'm tired of the lies!"
"I… I'm sorry for that; let me get my paw out of my mouth and start over." Puck shook his head as a frown escaped him. "I don't like Subaru."
"…" Emilia glared.
"But… I can see… No, I see now that what I did was wrong."
"That's why I don't want to see you-!"
"But is what you want what you need?" Puck interrupted Emilia, not backing down from his stance. "Remember the reason you entered the Selection! The promise Roswaal made! Elior forest and its people! The frozen elves! Can you save them by staying mad at me and ignoring your past?!"
"…Hngh…" The girl's fists trembled.
"As I said, I don't like Subaru." Puck continued. "Yet, he had a good reason for separating us. I… I was coddling you. More than you needed, in fact. I was- I was just using you for myself, I'd guess-"
"So you admit it?"
"I didn't let you grow… O-Or stumble. Or rather, I doubled down in thinking that your safety meant everything else was disposable. So I…"
"How could you think like that?!" Emilia shouted, furious at the notion.
"…I was… I still am, even if you don't like it, if it was between you or the world, I'd choose you-"
"But such a stipulation…!" The girl cried in anger. "Ending the world?! Do you even realize how many people you'd be killing?! At that point, you are not choosing me, you are- I don't know WHAT you are choosing, but it's not me!"
"If I could explain it so clearly, then I promise I could! If I could be there to always protect you, so I would not have to consider such a thing, I promise, I would… But I…" Puck argued back. "But I… I'm sorry…"
"So even now, you won't tell me why…" She gritted her teeth as the glare intensified.
"If you knew, would it make a difference?"
"…No." Emilia denied as she turned her head to the side, avoiding meeting glances with the Spirit. "No, it wouldn't. It'd just be another lie in the pile, I guess…"
"…"
"Independent of the reason… I…" She had trouble organizing her words and thoughts, feeling her frustrations resurge just by looking at the feline Spirit. "If you would kill in my name like that… There's no way I could condone such a thing…"
"And if…" As Emilia looked away from him, Puck's gaze grew resolved. "And if I could make it up somehow? Make it up to you?"
"Bold words." Emilia spat back. "That you can 'make it up'?! Don't think I- I don't so easily forget, you know?!"
"…Lia-"
"I told you not to call me that! You don't get to call me that!" Emilia growled with rage.
"…"
"Back at the Capital! When Subaru confronted you!" Emilia bellowed; speaking in an ominous tone as her glare intensified. "You threatened to kill him! You were THIS close to stabbing him in the neck! He even bled, I was sure you were about to murder him!"
"…I'm sorr-"
"Had I not been there, you WOULD have killed him! I know you would have! Even though he had just saved my life! Even though… Even though I drove him away…" Emilia shook her head in confusion as her feelings shot out in all directions. "Even though you promised to protect me… Why couldn't you be there to do anything whenever I needed you?"
"Emilia…"
"You might have been there for Melakuera… But whenever it is someone else helping me…" The girl's stare was cast downwards as she fluctuated between anger, sadness, shame and disappointment. "It's as though you cannot have it… As if the mere thought of someone else having your precious 'doll', being there for her, broke you…"
"…"
"Was I… *Hic!*" Emilia sobbed as she continued talking. "Was I really just that to you? To everyone? *Hic!* Just a doll? O-Or a half-devil?"
"…No." Puck shook his head as a weak smile painted his face. "If there is someone who didn't see you like that, then it was probably Subaru. No, it IS Subaru."
"…"
"Even if he would fool around, or mess up, he'd make it up to you despite the risk, right?" Puck nodded as he swallowed his own pride. "If I could be like that for you, then I would have…"
"Puck…"
"I hate doing this but… But…" Puck struggled as he spoke his next words. "If I break our contract…"
"?!" Emilia's gaze focused back on him. "The contract… Is not-?! But you never showed up again!"
"It was never broken… But I did not know how to best approach you since the argument." Puck attested with mixed feelings. "Subaru was the one holding onto the crystal this whole time, after all."
"So the contract- Even if I couldn't speak to you, the contract was still…"
"I'll break the contract, Emilia." Puck resolved himself. "Once I do so, the seal over your memories shall be dispelled. That should help in retaking the Trial."
"My…" Emilia held her head in confusion at his words. "My memories…?"
"Emilia!"
"I love you so much."
"M-Mother…"
"If it is for my precious daughter, the least I could do is take the first step, right?"
"But if the contract is broken… You…" Emilia hesitated, pondering on whether it was right or not to speak her next line…
If the contract breaks, will I ever see you again?
She thought with sadness.
So there is some hope, that you will not hate me forever?
And Puck, as her contracted Spirit, answered back.
"That's unfair, answering like that…" Emilia lamented with frustration how she had to admit that… She didn't want to part ways with Puck.
She hated his guts; she resented the fact that he was willing to kill Subaru and she especially despised the promise that he would be capable of destroying the world in her name… Yet even then, it was just as Subaru had predicted when he kept the crystal instead of disposing of it. Emilia did not want to part ways with Puck, her only familial figure.
"How can any of these feelings be fair…? Even now… I still cannot hate you, as I want… How can that be fair?"
"I swear to you…" Puck said as he began lighting up. "I love you, Lia. You are my daughter, no matter what."
*SHWOOOOOOM!*
*CRA-CRACK!*
"P-Puck?!" Emilia flinched in surprise as the crystal ruptured. "You are-?!"
"I'll repeat it, and I'll say it a million times more if necessary." Puck smiled as glee returned to his voice. "I hate Natsuki Subaru! However… He's a real swell guy despite it all, isn't he?"
*FWOM!*
*CRACK!*
"Ah…!" Emilia raised her arms, trying to catch Puck with her hands in desperation as he vanished and the crystal broke. This, of course, was futile. "Ah… P-Puck… Wait…!"
Emilia muttered her contracted Great Spirit's name with sadness as he dissipated into thin air. Their contract was now, officially… Broken.
"PUCK!"
And as the half-elf cried, in silence, observing from the shrubbery…
"…"
'Ryuzu' stared at the tearing girl.
Turning the clock back slightly…
…
…
…
"…ua…" In the distance, a sound was heard.
…
…
"…kua…" Was it a cry? Or perhaps a growl…
…
…
Hmmn… wha-?
"KUAAAAA!"
"Guh-?!" Subaru woke up with the world around him moving and shaking. "Wha-wha-wha-?!"
"KUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
*BOMF!*
"Oof!" The boy gasped as he tumbled to the floor, right before the stairs to Echdina's Tomb. As he wondered what was going on, he scratched his head whilst scanning the surroundings. "Hungh… Huh?"
"KUA! KUAAAA!" Patrasche, who was supposed to be waiting outside, was now repeatedly roaring a mere few centimeters from his face.
"Whoa, whoa! Easy, girl, easy!" Subaru quickly eased his steed while scratching her snout. "Patrasche! Calm down! Calm-! Huh?!"
"Kua~!" Patrasche purred as Subaru caressed her.
"Huh…" The boy took in the surroundings with surprise. He quickly noticed a stinging sensation from when Ultron had hit him in the left cheek, as well as the weight of Karen's motherboard in his right hand.
Karen… Moreover, this pain… Wait, that's not all-!
"We are outside… But my meeting with Echidna just ended? How did I-?"
"Ku?" Patrasche tilted her head with wonder as Subaru ceased petting her.
"Did you…" The boy raised an eyebrow at the Ground Dragon. "Did you actually… You actually went in there?! Just to rescue me?!"
*PLAF-PLAF-PLAF!*
"…" With nary but silence and some tail flaps against the ground, the dragon answered Subaru's question.
"Seriously?!" The boy gawked in awe as he hugged the lizard's head, pocketing Karen's motherboard inside his bag as he did so. "Goodness… To think you'd go in there just to help me… Dammit girl, you are gonna make me cry!"
"KUAAA!" However, as he embraced her, Patrasche shook him off.
"Huh?!" The boy flinched in confusion as he looked back at his steed. "What is it?! Is something-?!"
*RUSTLE-RUSTLE!*
"NATSUKI-SA~N!" From the direction of the forest, the merchant Otto burst through some bushes. Entering from the path connecting the village to the Tomb, the boy was riding atop his own draconic companion Frufroo; carrying in his arms and back the clearly injured bodies of the Pearlbaton triplets. "NATSUKI-SA~N! WHERE ARE YOU~?!"
"O-Otto!" Subaru quickly ran up to him, but as he did so, his spider-sense noticed the danger behind the merchant. "?!"
My spider-sense?! Is it finally-?!
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Garfiel roared brutally as he pursued the group.
"UWAAAAAAA~! HE'S HERE!" Otto shouted as the blonde beast appeared behind him.
*ZOOM!*
*ZCLAP!*
"GRRRRRRRRR!" As Garfiel attempted a swipe of his left claw with the intention of cleaving the battered Otto in two, Subaru dashed forward and punched the beast's arm away.
"U-UL DONA!" Taking advantage of the distraction,as Subaru and Otto drew some distance from the boy; the merchant raised his hand and conjured a spell.
*CRA-CRACK!*
*CRA-CRACK!*
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!" Garfiel was left helpless as Otto summoned an spherical wall of earth and rock around him, trapping him in a cell of Earth-mana.
The merchant sighed with amazement as he trapped the half-beast. "Uwaaaa…"
"Nice save, Otto!" Subaru complimented as he put on his mask. As he did so, the Avenger took a quick look at the skies above.
Good… The clouds have only just converged. There's still no snow in sight.
"I-I'm just glad you were around to-" Otto scratched his head with relief.
*CRACK!*
"?!" But as suddenly as they had relaxed, Garfiel's arm broke through the dome created by Otto.
"Otto! Behind me!" Subaru ordered as he took a combat stance.
"N-Natsuki-san?!" Otto timidly inquired as he took Patrasche, Frufroo and the Pearlbaton siblings to the top of the Tomb's stairwell. "Can you fight already?! I thought… I mean, that you couldn't, so-?!"
"What? You came here thinking I would be unable to? Were you suicidal? I mean, it flatters me to think you wanted to faint in my arms, but I don't swing your way. Hehe, get it? Swing?" Subaru snickered at the despaired Otto.
"Please, don't joke about it!" The merchant reproached.
"Don't worry, Otto." Subaru shook his head. "I can fight now! Let's just say, my conditions have changed slightly… For the better, even!"
*CRAAAAAAAAAAAKKKK!*
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGH!" Garfiel, not being one to dawdle about when in his monstrous beast form, rushed the hero the moment he broke free and Subaru looked back at him.
"Be patient, won't you?!" Spider-Man yelled as he jumped around, dodging Garfiel's claws.
*DASH!*
*SWISH!*
*WHAM!*
*SMACK!*
"GRAAARGH!" Even though Subaru had succeeded in maneuvering around Garfiel's assault, enough to land a few solid jabs at his ribs, the blonde boy remained undeterred in his offensive against the arachnid.
*SLASH!*
"Gagh!" Subaru yelped in pain as Garfiel slashed the tip of his claws across his back. The wound wasn't deep in the least, but an injury was an injury nonetheless. "Oi! My parachute was there, asshole! You gonna pay for it?!"
"RRRRAAAAAAAARGH!" Garfiel however did not care, choosing to continue attacking instead of talking.
"Tsk!" The Avenger clicked his tongue in annoyance.
*THWIP!*
*THWACKK!*
"GRBUH?!" Garfiel mumbled incoherently as Subaru webbed his head in strings, only to immediately after follow with a kick under the jaw.
"Seriously! Your moves are all raw strength!" Spidey said as he stepped back from the dazed beast. "You really think you can beat me like that, lasagna lover?!"
Crap, I taunt, but I'm on my limit as well. Those hits were all meant to be packed with electric shockwaves… But I couldn't produce a single spark! I'm out!
Subaru thought with exasperation.
I guess, even with the spider-sense back, Ultron really beat me around more than I thought… I'm exhausted… It'll be a while before the next discharge!
"GR-GRAAAAAAARGH!" Garfiel charged again as Subaru braced himself, the two engaging into a fight of endurance.
From the sidelines, Otto stared incredulously.
"Th-This is insane…" The green merchant trembled slightly as he witnessed the absurd fight.
I know Natsuki-san is fighting to save my life because I cowardly ran here after Garfiel beat us… But we don't have the time for this!
"…!" The merchant stared upwards from the chaos, at the clouds. "We need to hurry… NATSUKI-SAN!"
*SWISH!*
"A bit busy here Otto-!" Subaru shouted back as he dodged another of Garfiel's attacks.
"The longer we take, the more likely it is to snow!" Otto yelled back. "We have to get this over with!"
"You think I don- WOAH!"
*FWOOOOSH!*
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Garfiel growled as Subaru barely escaped being split in two.
"ANY BRILLIANT IDEAS, I'LL ACCEPT THEM!" Spider-Man screamed with alarm as the movements of the half-beast grew fiercer and unpredictable by the second.
"Er-!" Otto brainstormed as Subaru held Garfiel back.
"No… So if there really are some in Sanctuary…"
*SHWOOOOM!*
Otto's memories returned to when they had first arrived to Sanctuary, back to the gemstone Frederica gave them.
The gem that whisked Natsuki-san away… Wait!
"Natsuki-san!"
"You have and idea already?!"
"RRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
*SWISH!*
"I'M ALL EARS!" Subaru pleaded as Garfiel attempted to trample on his skull.
"The-The stone!"
"Huh?!"
"The gem Frederica gave us!" Otto explained. "Do you have it?!"
"I-!" Subaru attempted to talk, but Garfiel interrupted with yet another swipe.
"RRRRAAAAARGH!"
*SLASH!*
"GUGH!" The boy grunted as Garfiel slashed his left bicep. "You-!"
*SLAM!*
*FWOOOOM!*
"GRURGH?!" Garfiel groaned as Subaru's kick launched him back into the forest.
"Hah… Hah…" Subaru panted with exhaustion.
"Natsuki-san!" Otto pleaded. "Do you have it or not?!"
"The gem is in my bag!" Subaru's eyes lit up as he remembered.
"?!" Otto looked hopeful as well as he heard those words. "Hold on a second! Natsuki-san!"
*SWISSH!*
*SWISSH!*
*SWISSH!*
*SWISSH!*
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Garfiel roared and roared as Subaru continuously dodged his strikes. "JUST DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"SO YOU CAN TALK IN THAT FORM, HUH?!" Subaru mocked as he danced around the boy's movements. "HERE, CATCH THESE HANDS!"
*SMACK!*
*SMACK!*
*SLAM!*
"GARGHAGH!" Garfiel groaned in annoyance as Subaru punched him over the head, making him fall over.
"NATSUKI-SAN! I'VE GOT IT!" Otto shouted as he braced himself to throw the gem at Subaru. "CACTH IT! STAB HIM WITH IT!"
"STAB?! OTTO, WHAT ARE YOU-?!"
"JUST DO IT!" Otto barked as he threw the gem at the bewildered Subaru. "EY!"
*FWIP!*
*CATCH!*
"?!" Subaru caught the gemstone in mid-air, and as he did so…
*FWOOSH!*
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Garfiel roared as he rushed the Avenger from behind.
"NATSUKI-SAN!" Otto shouted in a panic. "DO IT NOW!"
"…All or nothing, I guess!" Subaru muttered as he quickly turned around.
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Garfiel growled as he had never done before while attempting to behead the Avenger.
*SWISH!*
*STAB!*
"GRGH?!" The half-beast looked baffled as Subaru managed to dodge his strike at the last moment, retaliating with a stab on the side of his own ribs instead. "GAGH!"
*SHWWWWOOOOOOOM!*
"…Have you calmed down already? Garfiel…" Subaru murmured as Garfiel untransformed. The gemstone Subaru stabbed him with sucked his mana dry.
"*PANT!-PANT!* Ghgh…" Garfiel moaned in annoyance. "Ya asshole…"
"All the insults are gonna get you is an ass whoopin', you know?" Subaru narrowed his eyes with frustration at the stubbornness of the teenager. "I mean, for real! Did you really have to be the three musketeers back there? Mimi looks like shredded cheese!"
"M-Mimi is not dead… Yet." From atop Frufroo, the barely conscious Mimi quipped back.
"Well, she may not be dead, but she has seen better days, I'm sure of that…" Subaru shook his head. "The point is: Garf? Give up. You cannot win-"
"YA DON'T GET TA CALL ME THAT!" Garfiel roared as he swung at Subaru again.
*SWIISH!*
"Hey, hey! That's not nice!" Subaru taunted. "That's not nice at all!"
"TSK!" Garfiel gritted his fangs as he stood up from his slouched position on the ground.
*WHINGH!*
"?" Subaru's eyes shone with curiosity as Garfiel produced two small shields from behind him. "Those are…"
"It ain't over til' the fat lady sings!" Garfiel bellowed as he intensely glared at Subaru.
"…I think that's my line, dude." Subaru chuckled as he remembered saying the exact same thing to Ultron.
"Ya better get ready…" The boy ranted one last time before attacking Subaru. "Hoshin was Banan's sunset… So I won't give up 'til ya are a shitstain on da ground!"
"…Wrong choice, bud." Subaru growled as well.
*DASH!*
*SWISH!*
*FWOOOSH!*
*SMACK!*
"Bagh!" Garfiel failed to land a single hit as Subaru calmly dodged his every attack. As he dashed forward again, Subaru punched him in the gut, prompting an involuntary moan of pain.
"You are acting like a stubborn brat." Subaru sighed with disappointment. "I would know; I'm 'stubborn brat' supreme! Add to that spoiled."
"…G-Graargh-!"
*SCACK!*
"Geh!" As Garfiel tried to punch Subaru again, the Avenger simply smacked him in the nose with his elbow, making it bleed.
"Although, unlike you, at least I have the balls to own up to my stupidity." Subaru stood tall before the irritated boy. "When are you gonna man up and-?"
"DEAAAAAGH!" Garfiel rushed again, but Subaru tripped him over with ease.
*THUD!*
"Bugah!"
"Do you have to growl about everything?" Spidey scratched his head with pity. "Seriously, you already lost. Even with those shields, you cannot land a proper hit. It's…"
"HAH!" Garfiel ignored him, nevertheless, rushing forward as he prepared another loosing punch.
"HYUP!" Subaru jumped over Garfiel, displaying a superior display of stamina to the tired half-beast.
*FWISH!*
"Just- SERIOUSLY!" Garfiel screamed, as he grew tired of Subaru's antics. "Who are ya?!"
"…A messenger from hell, Spider-Man!" Subaru posed ridiculously as he landed.
*DASH!*
"STOP FUCKIN' 'ROUND!" Garfiel rushed again, his right shield's edge positioned with the intention of beheading the Avenger.
*WHIIISH!*
"Sorry, but asking the clown not to clown isn't very… clownish." Subaru snickered as he dodge Garfiel's careless attack. "You get my vibe, don't you?"
"No…! Hah…! I don't…! Hah…!" The blonde boy panted in exhaustion and frustration.
"No, you do." Subaru shook his head with amusement. "You perfectly understand now how I don't get anything about 'Snow Blights' or 'Arkalbs'!"
"SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUP!" In a last-ditch effort, Garfiel mustered all the mana he could and transformed his right leg into its beast form mid-kick.
"HUNH?!" Subaru mumbled in confusion as he blocked the blow.
*BLAM!*
"UNF!" The Avenger groaned in pain as his arms flew upwards, exposing his abdomen to a clean hit.
"GOTCHA!" Garfiel's eyes sharpened as he locked onto the opening, dashing with both shields with the full intent of gutting Subaru then and there. "DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
*WHOOOSH!*
"…Ah…" However, in an absurdly impossible fashion for a normal human, Spider-Man contorted downwards in a flash. In a display of elasticity better fitted for a circus performer than a fighter, Subaru had trumped all over Garfiel's efforts to defeat him. "Ghk…!"
"…I said it already, didn't I?" Subaru stood up from his place on the ground. "Although that last hit tells me you are still there… You are not fighting at your best aren't you?"
"..Shut up…" Garfiel grumbled.
"…You are strong. Really strong, if that beastly display is anything to go by."
"NATSUKI-SAN!" Otto wondered from afar. "ARE YOU NOT DONE YET?! WE HAVE TO-!"
"Give it a second Otto!" Subaru barked back, stopping the merchant's complaints. "But Otto is right… We can't deal with this any longer."
"I don't care if ya think I'll give up…" Garfiel trembled with rage as he stared at Subaru. "But ya ain't doin' whatever da fuck ya wanna do until I'm dead on da ground!"
"See? That's the problem!" Subaru complained, ignoring the boy's taunts. "What's with you thinking we are here to kill you?! Are you stupid?!"
"Ya don't-!"
"I don't care about what you wanna say, muscle head!" Subaru shouted back, stopping Garfiel's rant. "You think I'm here to kill you?! Destroy Sanctuary?! Would I have saved your sister if I wanted you dead?! Would I have taken the problem to come back with a measly three mercenaries just to destroy this place?! You are letting your anger and frustrations take the decisions, not your brain moron!"
"AN' I SAY I DON'T CARE-!"
"THEN YOU SHOULD!" Subaru bellowed with anger, making the boy flinch in surprise. "YOU SHOULD CARE, IDIOT!"
"…" Garfiel clenched his fists with bitterness.
"What has you so riled up against me, huh?!" Subaru pointed to himself as he reprimanded the boy. "And don't give me the 'Witch's Scent' or any other bullshit! We both know that's not it!"
"Ya don't…!"
"It's because I'm an outsider?! Or because I took the trial instead of Emilia?! Maybe that I spoke highly of Frederica?! You afraid I get chummy with her?! Ah! That must be it!" Subaru taunted the silent blonde boy. "You hate your sister that much, huh?! Sure must be nice for you! Laying all the blame of everything on a girl that's not even here!"
"IT'S NOT HER I HATE, YA FUCKER!" Garfiel cried as tears brimmed on the corners of his green eyes.
"?!" Subaru took a step back in shock at the display. "You-"
*SLAM!*
*CR-CRACK!*
"It's you! The outsiders! The outside world!" Garfiel shouted as he stomped the ground repeatedly, cracking the earth under Subaru's foot.
"Woah!" The Avenger jumped back a few feet in surprise. "So you still had some tricks, huh-?!"
*SMASH!*
"Ghuk!" Subaru yelped as Garfiel successfully landed a rising kick against the hero's injured left cheek.
"You keep taking from me!" Garfiel sobbed incoherently, laying all his grievances on Subaru. "The outside! You keep taking from me! From all of us here!"
*SMACK!*
"Kuh!" Spider-Man appeared troubled as Garfiel gained a second wind, attacking wildly and barely giving him enough time to block. "Okay, okay! I hear you! Vent it out!"
"Hah… Hah…" Garfiel panted as Subaru goaded him into talking. "Sh-Shut it…"
"Tell me what you are afraid of, Garf!" Subaru demanded. "You can't just tell me you hate the outside for no reason! Why do you hate it?! Huh?!"
"Ya wouldn't get it!" Garfiel shouted as he buried his fists underground.
*CRASH!*
"…Uh-Oh." Subaru mumbled as he predicted what was about to happen. "Hold it bud! Wait- WAIT! GARF!"
"HYIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHH!" Garfiel exclaimed as he used his tremendous force to lift a part of the ground up as though it were a slab of concrete.
*CRAAAAAAACK!*
*CRAAAAAAACK!*
*CRAAAAAAACK!*
"HOLY MOTHER OF-!" Otto gawked in awe and terror as he witnessed Subaru lose his footing.
"WOAH-WOAH!" The Avenger jumped at the last second as Garfiel let go of the earth slab, in an attempt to bury Subaru alive.
*WHOOSH!*
*THWIP!*
*SLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMM!*
*CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSHHHHHH!*
"Alright, maybe you want to dial it down a little-?!" As Subaru landed, further away than he was before, Garfiel rushed again. However, this time not towards Subaru… But towards the Tomb's entrance, where Otto and the rest were standing.
*DASH!*
"GARFIEL!"
"RYAAAAAAAARGH!"
"W-Wai! Wait!" Otto implored as the feline approached at sonic speed.
*THWIP!*
*THWIP!*
*THWIP!*
*SNATCH!*
"Gaghack!" Nevertheless, as he was about to pummel the entrance to the Tomb, Subaru webbed Garfiel's arms, stopping him in his tracks. "L-LET GO!"
"The hell I will! Hngh!" Subaru shouted at the blonde boy. "What gives?! We were having a real nice chat right now, weren't we?!"
"Ya don't-!" Garfiel cried, ignoring the terrified merchant on the verge of fainting before him. "If I destroy da entrance, then no one has ta take da fuckin' trial! End of story!"
"More reason not to let you!" Subaru angrily snapped as he pulled Garfiel back down the stairs to the Tomb.
*FWISH!*
*SLAM!*
"GRARGH!" The beast boy landed on his back, infuriated by the Avenger's action. "YOU-!"
"Yeah, me!" Subaru quickly got on top of Garfiel, restraining his arms. "Now you don't get to escape-!"
"RAAAARGH!"
*CHOMP!*
"ARGH!" Subaru moaned in pain as Garfiel bit him in the shoulder with his fangs. "IHGH!"
"N-Natsuki-san!" Otto shouted with worry.
"This is-!" Subaru's gaze focused on the raging blonde as he delivered a punch to his gut. "IS NOTHING!"
*SMACK!*
*THUD!*
"GUHAGH!" Garfiel was thrust into the air, landing ten meters away from the injured Subaru.
"Ghgh!" The Avenger groaned as his left shoulder bled red steadily onto the ground.
"Natsuki-san! What are you waiting for?!" Otto wondered in a panic, not understanding as to why Subaru would allow himself to be injured by an exhausted Garfiel. "Just beat him already!"
"If I do that, will Garfiel snap out of his foolishness?" Subaru quipped back, making Otto flinch.
"…Maybe… Not… But we don't have time for-!" Otto tried to argue to no avail.
"It's because we think we don't have time that we'd be dooming him if we don't do anything right now!" Subaru justified. "Maybe that doesn't make sense in words, but you know what I mean! Just let me deal with this Otto! Trust me!"
"…" The merchant bit his lip as he readjusted his hat. "…Just let it be known, if we fail, my grave must state: Killed because of Natsuki-san's foolishness! Hmph!"
"That's more like it, Ottotto!" Subaru laughed at Otto's complaint.
"It's Otto!"
"Now then, Garf…" Subaru turned to look at the injured boy lying on the ground. "Where were we?"
"…Ghk!" Garfiel gritted his blood-soaked teeth in frustration.
"Is the cat scared to talk? Did you actually swallow your own tongue?" Spidey taunted, irritating Garfiel.
"What do you know, huh?!" The boy stood back up groggily, bleeding all over as Subaru mocked him.
"I know that you're half-assed, just like me!" Subaru silenced the boy. "That you think you are some hot-shot! That you can do a~nything alone, protect e~veryone from the dangerous outside world… That you are the wall, the barrier that protects everyone! Yet, that wall never existed to begin with! Because the moment someone from the outside comes, all the bravado goes out of the window and you start flailing around like a headless chicken! Baring your fangs to anything and anyone in some act of superiority everyone but you notices it is just empty bravado. Because it turns out that you are just some scaredy cat that hates his sister for leaving him-!"
"IT'S NOT MY SISTER I HATE!" Garfiel growled amidst tears. "IT'S MY MOTHER, DAMMIT!"
"Oh? So you hate your mom, huh?!" Subaru continued teasing, trying to get the feline to explode and spill all his secrets and insecurities. "So what?! She left little Garfiel and Frederica here and left for herself?! Man! That sure sucks, huh?!"
"DON'T TALK AS IF YOU KNEW ANYTHING!" Garfiel ran towards Subaru, interrupting his spiel as he attempted to tackle him.
*SMACK!*
*THUD!*
"Gakh!" Yet the Avenger simply tripped him over again. "Dammit! Dammit! Stop fuckin' 'bout! Why can't I kill you?!"
"Cause your heart isn't on it." Subaru said with a condescending attitude. "It's your mom you are mad about, not me-"
"I don't hate her, fucker!" Garfiel screamed from the ground pitifully.
"Then you just hate the outside world because she left?! Because Frederica left?! I won't get it until YOU tell me, you brat!" Subaru screamed back. "Because if you don't answer, I'll just sing it to everyone in the world how little Garf hates mommy!"
"I JUST WANTED HER TO BE HAPPY!" Garfiel cried with tears in his eyes as he covered his face in shame.
"…" Subaru remained silent as he saw the boy finally vent.
"WHEN I ENTERED THE TOMB- WHEN I SAW HER- WHEN SHE LEFT-! *HIC!* I THOUGHT SHE COULD BE HAPPY! IN DA OUTSIDE WORLD! BE HAPPY WITHOUT ME OR SIS' TA WEIGHT HER DOWN! CAUSE WE WERE EYESORES! *HIC!* BUT THEN-! THEN, AS SHE LEFT-! WHAT PURPOSE IS THERE IN HER DYING TA A FUCKIN' LANDSLIDE O' ALL THINGS WHEN SHE LEFT, HUH?!"
"…"
"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TA DO THEN, HUH?!" The blonde boy sobbed uncontrollably. "IF SHE LEFT FER HER HAPPINESS… I WANTED HER TA BE HAPPY… BUT IF SHE LEFT JUSTA DIE BEFORE EVER BEIN' HAPPY-! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TA DO, HUH?!"
"You…"
"THAT'S WHY-!"
*DASH!*
"Garfiel?!" The boy dashed towards Subaru again while screaming his heart out.
"IF I CAN STOP THINGS FROM CHANGIN'-!" Garfiel swung at Subaru.
*WHIIISH!*
"Kuh!" And the Avenger dodged.
"IF NO ONE GETS TA DA OUTSIDE WORLD-!"
*WHIIISH!*
"IF I CAN BE THEIR SHIELD-!"
*WHIIISH!*
"IF I CAN PROTECT 'EM FROM A WORLD DAT'LL TRAMPLE ON 'EM-!"
*WHIIISH!*
"WHY SHOULDN'T I, HUH?!" Garfiel shouted as he failed once again to land a punch. "WHY SHOULDN'T I PROTECT EVERYONE FROM SUCH A WORLD, HUH?!"
"…While the sentiment is there, that just sounds like you trampling on everyone else's wishes for yourself, Garf." Subaru criticized.
"YA KNOW NOTHIN', SO QUIT ACTIN' AS IF YA KNEW!" The boy shouted back. "SOME OF US REALLY HAVE NOTHIN' BUT HERE! IF WE GO OUTSIDE, THEN WE'LL HAVE NOTHIN' LEFT! NOT EVERYONE CAN GET BACK UP! DAT IS WHY I'M HERE! TA PROTECT 'EM ALL!"
*DASH!*
*SMACKKK!*
*CRACK!*
"NATSUKI-SAN?!" Otto yelped in surprise. Subaru… took Garfiel's punch to the face head on.
"…Huh?" The blonde boy sounded astonished as he noticed his fist landed. "You… Why didn't ya dodge?!"
"…Weren't you the one trying to beat the shit out of me just now?" Subaru responded with a cocky grin as he unmasked himself. "*PTOO!*"
"?!" Garfiel noticed with shock how, even though he had punched Subaru cleanly, the boy had not moved an inch. Instead, he stood still as he spat the teeth Garfiel broke with his punch on the ground. "Y-You…!"
"Now that you have spilled your guts… You mind if I prep myself?!"
"H-Huh?!" Garfiel grew nervous as he stared Subaru in the eyes. It seemed the hero was done fooling around, being the boy's punching bag. "Wh-What are ya-?!"
"You are a knucklehead Garf! Just like me!" Subaru mocked. "But unlike me, you don't need a lecture to get back up… You need discipline! You want to show up with all that gung-ho attitude, thinking you invincible?! Go ahead! I'll answer in kind!"
"Y-Ya…" Garfiel's knees shuddered as Subaru stepped forward.
"If you want to know the pecking order~!" Subaru began winding his right arm, readying his fist. "What you need-!"
*DASH!*
"Hunh?!" Both Otto and Garfiel were left slack jawed by Subaru's action.
"IS A GOOD ASS KICKIN'!"
*SMASH!*
"BAAAAGH!" Subaru punched Garfiel in the cheek the same way he had punched him earlier. "Agh…!"
"Hm? Maybe that wasn't enough?" Subaru wondered with genuine shock when Garfiel managed to withstand the punch. "Alright! Round two, you-!"
"Wait! Natsuki-san!" Otto rushed forward, stopping Subaru as he noticed what had happened from the outsider's perspective.
"Huh?" Taking a closer look, Subaru finally discovered what Otto wanted to point out. "Garfiel…"
Garfiel Tinzel had passed out standing up.
"…Oh, boy. Frederica is going to beat my ass for this." Subaru mumbled as he realized he won.
*RUSTLE-RUSTLE!*
"So you finally put that idiot Garf in his place, huh?" As Subaru and Otto marveled at their victory over Garfiel, Ram came out of the bushes.
"…Hey Ram." Subaru saluted. "You aren't gonna get mad at us for-?"
"Shut it, disgusting-waste-of-air-brute-abomination Barusu." Ram insulted much to the Avenger's chagrin.
"You don't have to string together so many words for an insult! Or more like, why are you insulting me now?!"
"Shush it; speak only what I've come here to know." Ram cut him off, her demeanor turning serious.
"Uhmm…" Otto tilted his head with worry. "Wha-What do you-?"
"…Ram already knows that we are opposing Roswaal." Subaru stated to the confused Otto.
"…You aren't gonna get mad at us for-?"
"Don't ask imbecilities as well, sorry-looking-mop Ottotto." Ram mocked anew.
"Augh… It's Otto…" The merchant deflated.
"Barusu." The maid inquired again, earning the hero's attention. "What is your real objective?"
"Huh?" Otto's eyes lit up in confusion as Ram spoke. "Well, just to save Sanctuary and Emilia-sama, right?"
"I didn't ask you fool, I asked Barusu."
"Natsuki… san?" Otto turned to look at his partner with worry.
"…" Subaru hesitated. "This might sound crazy…"
"Wait, you actually have another objective?!" With disappointment, Otto frowned.
"Just, let me speak man!" Subaru shook his head at the outraged merchant. "You deserve the truth Otto. Both you and Ram, after all the insanity we've gone through…"
"…" Ram narrowed her gaze stoically on the young man.
"This is…" Otto could feel the dread oozing off Subaru as he spoke.
"The truth is…" Subaru shuddered as he spoke. "Ultron, a genocidal villain from my world, is coming to the Capital in three days."
"…Did-Did I just hear right?" The nervous Otto stuttered in response.
"Nope, all real." Subaru shook his head whilst pointing at Mimi and her brothers. "It's the reason I got Ana to lend me her three midgets over there."
"To be fair… Beatrice-sama confirmed so as well…" Tivey spoke as he woke up.
"Though, Ricardo trusted him too…" Hetaro mumbled as he bandaged his own head.
"…Is it really the kind of danger that would require you to be there, Barusu?" Ram inquired indifferently.
"It's more accurate to say that it is the kind of danger for which every single fighter available should be present." Subaru confirmed. "The Avengers had to come together to beat him the first time around, so it's likely Reinhard wouldn't be enough alone now that he is even MORE powerful than he was back then."
"EH?! THE SWORD SAINT IS NOT ENOUGH?!" The merchant was startled by the bomb dropped by the Avenger.
"But if we left for the Capital right away, we'd be abandoning the Sanctuary." Subaru commented with frustration.
"…So you've decided to go through the greedy route and save everyone instead of choosing who to save, am I wrong?" The maid sighed with exhaustion.
"Yep." Subaru smirked with satisfaction. "You can't be a hero without the drive to save as many people as possible, so even if the challenge looks impossible, I'm going to save THE HELL out of everyone!"
"…Why do you have to make it sound like a threat though?" Otto sweated at Subaru's wording.
"…Let's just say, I owe it to a certain blondie that wouldn't let me give up." The Avenger snickered remembering Minerva. "You don't know her though so no sense in asking me who, by the way."
"If that is the case…" Ram continued as Subaru finished.
"Hm? What is it Ram?" Subaru wondered.
"If you want to solve all the issues here, I'm going to have you help me with a little something."
"…Roswaal, right?" Subaru said, prompting a nod from Ram.
"I'm going to work you to the bone to save Roswaal-sama from himself, so be prepared you useless Barusu."
"Ugh… When you put it like that, I almost don't want to do it…" Subaru lamented, making the maid glare at him.
"You will. End of discussion."
"…Geez, alright! OKAY MOM! Just… Stop glaring…" Subaru looked away from the maid. "YOUR glares are actually scary."
"If you are going to take care of Roswaal, then leave gathering the villagers of Sanctuary to me!" Otto proposed. "That way we'll save time, right?"
"Yeah, I guess." The hero nodded with approval. "You do that alongside Mimi and the others, Otto."
A while later…
…
…
"Hngh…" Garfiel mumbled incoherently as he woke up.
…
…
"…Oi…" The sweet mewling of a humming child disturbed the silence of Garfiel's unconsciousness.
"Hngh… Wha-?"
"OI!"
*BONK!*
"OUCH?!" Garfiel woke up fully as someone hit him over the head with a staff. "WHO DA F-?!"
*If you are awake, then get off my lap already you stupid cat." Ram derisively insulted as she pushed the confused Garfiel from his resting place on her lap.
*THUD!*
"Unf!" The poor blonde boy grunted as he fell face first to the ground. "Ungh… What da hell was that even about?! Huh?!"
"Oi! He really woke up!" Mimi, who looked more like a mummy than a child, cheered with awe. "Hehehe! Mimi's miraculous spell of resurrection worked! It worked!"
"What spell?!" Hetaro, her brother, complained in horror.
"You just beat an unconscious guy in the head!" Tivey, her other sibling, followed through.
"Mind you, it's the same guy that tried to kill us…"
"Maybe so, but-"
"Do you want to accompany him in the beating?!" Mimi retorted to her equally mummified siblings.
"N-No!" The two yelped.
"That's what Mimi thought!"
"Hold it; you just admitted that it was a beating and not a spell Mimi." Otto pointed out.
*BONK!*
"YIAGH!" Otto buckled over as he grabbed his aching knee; Mimi had busted it with her staff. "MY LEG!"
"Anyone else?!" Mimi raised her staff with contempt. "Mimi welcomes all challengers! Come get sum'!"
"…" Garfiel was left astonished by the silliness of the scenario displayed before him. "Wha-?"
"Yo!" Subaru popped next to him as he recovered. "You finally up Graf?"
"?!" Gafiel crawled back slightly as the Avenger surprised him.
"Hey… You do remember you lost, right? Fair and square and all that crap?" Subaru pointed at him.
"Ya…!" Garfiel growled. "Yer right… I lost, didn't I…?"
"KUA~!" Patrasche gloated beside Subaru, seemingly laughing at the blonde.
"Yep! Completely and pathetically might I add?" Subaru haughtily answered, much to the boy's annoyance.
"Tsk…!" Garfiel stood up, looking down on the sitting Avenger.
"Hoh~!" Subaru smirked at the boldness of the boy. "You want a round two already? Man, how stubborn!"
"N-Natsuki-san? I don't think it might be a good idea to provoke him…" Otto advised with caution.
"No, there's no need." Ram shook her head, understanding that Garfiel wouldn't be stupid enough to do such a thing after being beaten. "Garf."
"…" The blonde boy turned away from the group, ready to run away from it all. "Hmph! Do whatever ya want… I lost already."
"…" Subaru, however, glared as Garfiel spoke.
"Dat's wha' ya wanted, right?! Fuck me up?! Well, congrats! Ya won! Now leave me be-!"
*PUSH!*
"?!" As he ranted, Subaru stood up and pushed Garfiel on the shoulder, directing him towards the stairs leading to the Tomb's entrance.
"You sure are cocky for somebody that lost, huh?!" The Avenger growled in anger.
"Wh-What da hell…" Garfiel made a nervous expression as Subaru stood a few centimeters from his face, a furious expression painted on the Avenger's face. "Whazzit, huh?!"
"Boss-Bro?" Mimi tilted her head in confusion.
"Natsuki-san?"
"Barusu." Ram spoke with indifference. "Is this really necessary?"
"I'm just going to impart my own mentor's wisdom on Garf here, Ram." Subaru turned to look at the maid with a smirk, the complete opposite of the face he had given Garfiel.
"Hmph! I didn't realize anyone that would think you worthy of mentoring could hold any wisdom." The maid huffed with exasperation.
"HARSH!" Subaru yelped in pain as Ram's words stabbed him in the back.
"Just make sure he is not as dumb as you by the end of the lecture."
"LECTURE?! What's he goin' on 'bout, Ram?!" Garfiel attempted to ask to no avail as Subaru pushed him again.
*PUSH!*
"Geh! What da hell?! What is it already?!"
"What is it?!" Subaru shouted furiously as his brown-black eyes stared directly into Garfiel's greens. "That's my question, asshat!"
*STOMP!*
"Huh?!" Garfiel took a step back as Subaru took a step forward, the two ascending the stairs to Echidna's Tomb in the process. "I lost already didn't I?!"
*STOMP!*
"It's not about the fight! It's about why the hell did we have to fight in the first place, moron!" Subaru yelled into Garfiel's ear.
*STOMP!*
"Huh?!"
*STOMP!
"Stop saying 'HUH?!' like an idiot, idiot!" Subaru reproached yet again.
*STOMP!*
"We came here from the mansion, Hetaro, Tivey and Mimi, all to save YOUR ass from the Rabbit! All after fighting an assassin! Do you have any idea the risk your sister went through so we could come here to save you!?"
*STOMP!*
"Yet what do we find?! An idiotic kid that couldn't be bothered to listen!" The Avenger mocked relentlessly.
*STOMP!*
"M-Me 'self was just tryin' ta-!"
*STOMP!*
"No, this is where you ZIP IT! Alright?! The adult is talking!"
*STOMP!*
"You were trying to protect Sanctuary?! What bullshit! You were making a tantrum, plain and simple! Nothing more!"
*STOMP!*
"Gukh…! Ya-Ya don't-!"
*STOMP!*
"What if somebody had died to your tantrum today?!"
*STOMP!*
"…"
*STOMP!*
"Different story, right?! Because that's on YOU!" Subaru shouted as he pointed to Garfiel's chest with anger.
*STOMP!*
"And if YOU were to die… I feel like that's on me." Then, with resignation and slight sadness as he recalled his previous loops… Subaru shuddered with sadness.
*STOMP!*
"…!"
*STOMP!*
"I can't live with that in my consciousness."
*STOMP!*
"Wh-What do you want me ta say?! Sorry?!"
*STOMP!*
"Sorry is not enough!"
*STOMP!*
"Then what?! Then what, huh?!"
*STOMP!*
"…That is what I want you to do." Subaru pointed to something behind Garfiel's back.
"…?!" As the half-beast turned around, he realized that what Subaru was pointing to was the entrance to the Tomb. "D-Dat is…"
"I know you have qualification. You admitted to that yourself. If you cannot do that, then I'm not returning these." Subaru produced from behind him… The pair of shields that Garfiel had been using during their fight.
"O-Oi! Those are mine!" Garfiel finally noticed his naked arms, how his shields were missing.
"You said you were a shield, right?! Who were you protecting when we fought, huh?! Or when you tried to kill the triplets or Otto, huh?! Come on! Tell me!" Subaru bellowed as he refused to return the shields.
"C'mon! Don't do this!" Garfiel complained like a child.
"You AREN'T a shield! You weren't protecting anyone with your foolishness!" Subaru reprimanded. "You want these back?! You can't have them! Not until you prove me you CAN be a shield, because you are not one right now!"
"Kh…" Garfiel cried as Subaru belittled him.
"You have two options!" Subaru, nevertheless, did not back down on his harsh demeanor. "You either prove me wrong by going in there… Or you turn around, return to the village, and let US do the heavy lifting! That is it! No more!"
"But those shields are mine!" Garfiel growled pedantically through the tears yet again, his voice cracking as he pleaded. "I cannot protect anyone without them! I-I'm not a SHIELD without them-!"
"If you are nothing without the shields, then you shouldn't have them." Subaru laid his ultimatum with the very words Tony gave him, although suited to Garfiel this time around.
"…" The demi-human's eyes grew wide in shock at that argument, rethinking all of his actions up until now. "I-I…"
"Your choice." Subaru then left the boy there, walking past him and descending the Tomb's stairs.
"…" Garfiel trembled like a kid who lost his mother as he stared at Subaru's figure.
This should be da perfect chance!
The boy thought as he turned around to stare at the entrance to Echidna's Tomb.
If I destroy da entrance… Then nobody can enter! Nobody can take da Trial!
However, as he thought his sinister, petty plot to get back at Subaru… The Avenger's words resounded inside his head.
"Do you have any idea the risk your sister went through so we could come here to save you!?"
"What if somebody had died to your tantrum today?!"
"You AREN'T a shield! You weren't protecting anyone with your foolishness!"
"If you are nothing without the shields, then you shouldn't have them."
"…" Subaru's words struck Garfiel deeply. Enough for the boy to take a leap of faith. "DAGH! SCREW IT ALL!"
Garfiel ran into the Tomb, discarding all thoughts except for Subaru's words.
"…Took you long enough, Garf." The Avenger smiled as Garfiel ran.
"Tough love, huh?" Otto smirked as Subaru smiled.
"What a pair of idiots… Or maybe trio, counting Emilia-sama." The ever-prideful Ram shook her head, disheartened. "How did I come to serve under such fools?"
*SHWOOOOM!*
The stone walls of the Tomb lit up in blue hues, signifying the beginning of the Trial… and Echidna smirked as it began.
First, you need to face your past.
Afterwards…
"Barusu." As Garfiel took his trial of the past, Ram turned to Subaru. "About Emilia-sama…"
"You know where she is, don't you?" Subaru answered immediately.
"I told her to come here." Ram confirmed. "I gave her Great Spirit-sama's crystal and a reprimand, so she would come."
"…Good." Subaru nodded with approval.
"I thought you'd be disappointed." Ram raised an eyebrow with surprise. "Don't you have anything to say to her?"
"…She already knows my complaints, as well as the fact that I'm her friend, regardless of what happens. All that was discussed as such when we first fought back at the Capital. She just… She just had yet to digest it properly." Subaru denied vehemently. "You notice how she's been clingy to me since a while back?"
"You mean when you assaulted her purity before you left for the mansion?" Ram teased with an evil eye. "When you came out with a cowlick and disheveled?"
"I-I NEVER DID ANYTHING SO FILTHY!"
"I jest… Partially. Heh!" The maid chuckled smugly. "But yes… Emilia-sama has been quite odd for a while now."
"If I coddle her any longer, I must as well be as guilty as Puck." Subaru scratched his head sheepishly. "That's why, I think she can only recover if she can stumble and get up by herself. At least this time around."
"So that in the end, we can be there for her once she gets the resolve to get up again?" Ram continued. "You can be quite cruel, Barusu."
"Hey, hey! You were of the same idea!" Subaru chuckled now. "If I have to fall and get up by myself, why can't she? Even if Emilia herself does not want to believe it, I believe in her… And I know that she can get back up. So she will."
"…Yes. Ram knows this as well." The maid smiled.
"Hn? Is something wrong, Ram?" Subaru wondered as Ram stared at him.
"…You saw something inside, didn't you?" The oni wondered while staring at the Tomb.
"…A lot, actually." The images of a motherly Rem, as well as all the other universes flashed in succession within Subaru's mind. "More than I could be comfortable to share…"
"That would explain it, I guess."
"Huh?" Subaru wondered as Otto interrupted. "Otto?"
"You have a different air about you since exiting the Tomb, Natsuki-san." The merchant complimented.
"…You mean that as an insult?" But Subaru didn't get it.
"I was complimenting you!"
"Believe it or not… You somehow feel more 'mature' since exiting the Tomb, Barusu." Ram commented. "It almost sickens me to say that, so treasure your superior's compliment."
"Mature?"
"Take that as you will." The maid turned away from him. "Even for me, it is difficult to pinpoint the reason."
"…Huh…" The hero was left confused by such words.
*RUSTLE-RUSTLE!*
"Ah!" Whilst the shrubbery shook, Otto mumbled in surprise as he looked back towards the forest. "That's-!"
"Hmm?" Mimi and her siblings turned to look as well. "Hey! That's Emilia-sama!"
"Emilia..." Subaru muttered as he saw her in the distance, walking in their direction.
"And two Ryuzus?!" Otto then mumbled in shock.
"…Are those the eyes of Sanctuary, or the Ryuzus we know?" Subaru looked troubled.
"Did Garf spill that much? That blabbering buffoon…" Ram shook her head with exasperation.
"No-Not exactly…" Subaru tried to deny without having to imply his 'Loops'.
"…" Emilia, leaving the Ryuzus that escorted her behind, approached the Avenger hurriedly, not running but definitely speed walking.
"U-Uhm…" Subaru stumbled on his words as she approached, until suddenly, she was already before him. "…Hey~."
"Subaru." Emilia's face was a mess. It was clear from just looking at her that she had been crying beforehand. However, her expression looked hesitant more than sorrowful. In her hand, the obvious reason in display: Puck's broken crystal. "You…"
"I-I'm back-!" Subaru tried to comfort to no avail, as Emilia interrupted him.
"You lied." The half-elf spoke calmly.
"…And you failed." Subaru responded.
"…" Otto made a nervous expression as he could swear sparks were flying between their gazes.
OH OD!
The merchant cried internally.
"Hmph!" However, Ram smirked with satisfaction, knowing that the two weren't at all upset.
"…Pft!" Subaru chuckled first, and soon after, Emilia followed as well. "Ahahahahahaha!"
"Hehe!" Emilia giggled as Subaru laughed.
"…Did I miss something?!" Otto inquired in a panic as he failed to understand the reason behind their laughter. "Natsuki-san?! What is going on?!"
"Emilia came back after failing twice! How pitiful!" Subaru pointed at her with glee.
"And Subaru came back after lying! How shameless!" Emilia pointed at the boy back as she giggled.
"I fail to see how this is a laughing matter!" Otto remained unconvinced, nevertheless.
"*Sigh…* It's quite obvious, really." Ram sighed in disappointment. "I thought you were a good judge of character, Ottotto."
"IT! IS! OTTO!" The merchant shouted. "And explain already!"
"…If Barusu didn't care nor believe in Emilia-sama, do you think he would have returned while yelling her name, worried sick?" Ram explained. "Likewise, if Emilia-sama didn't believe in Barusu, would she have come back after he lied to her face about leaving on a business trip?"
"That just sounds like negatives to me!" Otto still failed to understand.
"I think it just means…" Emilia wiped the tears of laughter off her face as she decided to explain to Otto. "I know of the dangers already… Well, at least the reaaaaaaally immediate ones like the Rabbit."
"O-Oh…" The merchant rubbed the back of his head apologetically. "Sorry for keeping quiet about that, Emilia-sama…"
"Hnhn." Emilia shook her head. "You and Subaru were right not to tell me."
"Huh?" Otto narrowed his eyes in befuddlement.
"If you had told me, especially after being as… erm… insecure as I was…" Emilia had trouble voicing her thoughts. "I would have probably labeled you as liars, like Puck. Made it about myself, I mean…"
"Uh-huh…"
"What I'm trying to say is… Ram's harsh words, as well as Subaru's…" Emilia's eyes threatened to spill tears, but her gaze grew sharp regardless. "If I am to maintain my objectives and promises, I must be capable to stand tall, against all kind of trials."
"Objectives, eh?" Subaru commented with a smirk.
"About them… I guess I never told you, did I? The reason why we fought back at the Capital…" She lamented with regret. "I… The reason behind my candidacy-"
"Sorry, but that train already departed." Subaru said as he raised his index finger. "Or more like, you can tell me later, once you've accomplished what you must do."
"…I understand." Emilia nodded in response. "Although, I don't really comprehend what a train is…"
"Just a vehicle from my world, not something you should trouble yourself with Emilia-tan!"
"…" The girl smirked as Subaru called her by her nickname.
"Hm? Is something wrong?" The Avenger inquired as Emilia went silent.
"All… All I do is stumble… And then, I can only ever get back up if someone is beside me to lend a hand." The half-elf bit her lip in frustration. "In truth… it is quite vexing, if not discouraging."
"Emilia-tan…" Subaru tried to reach out to her, but Emilia immediately interrupted.
"Please… Don't." The girl smirked as she denied the comfort. "I have to be able to stand by myself, remember?"
"You are right… I'm sorry."
"I'd rather hear a 'thank you' for the reminder though." Emilia smiled as she teased Subaru.
"…Hehe. Yeah, thank you Emilia."
*SHWOOOOM!*
"Ah!" The lights of the Tomb died down as Garfiel exited, making Subaru and company stare upwards at the entrance in surprise. "There he is!"
"Hmngh…" Garfiel grumbled as he descended the stairs, looking at Subaru's smug face pissing him off. "Dammit… No matter what, dat ugly face o' yers is frustratin'."
"First of all, owch." Subaru mumbled with disappointment. "Second of all, how did it go?"
"…It was a disaster." Garfiel chuckled.
"That bad, huh?" Ram sighed with disappointment.
"I realized… Things I didn't know. No… I did know 'em, I just didn't wanna accept 'em…" Garfiel blushed with embarrassment as he rubbed the scar on his forehead. "'Bout my mother… How she loved me an' sis, even when I wanted ta deny it…"
"I see." Subaru smirked at this.
"Da only concrete thing I can say is I got sum' closure at last." Garfiel admitted with a smirk.
"Young Gar…" TheRyuzus approached the blonde boy. "We are…"
*PAF!*
"Eh, tis' fine ya old hags." Garfiel reassured as he patted the clones' heads tenderly. "Ya just wanted ta help me, right? On my objective… Keepin' everyone safe."
"U-" The Ryuzus sobbed as he spoke. "Uwaaaaaaaa!"
"Even though I was da stubborn one fer chargin' ahead at ugly eyes…" Garfiel hugged them as he tried to shift the blame of the disaster on himself and Subaru, away from them.
"Oi! Let go off my eyes already!" The Avenger complained.
"Now then…" The group looked upwards at the Tomb's entrance as Emilia spoke. "I suppose it is my turn now."
"Break a leg!" Subaru said, prompting everyone to look back at him in confusion.
"…Why would you-?" Emilia tilted her head, weirded out by his encouragement.
"Er, it's just an expression from my world!" Subaru attempted to backtrack unsuccessfully.
"Well, it sure sounds stupid." Garfiel quipped with a smug smirk.
"As naturally moronic as Barusu is, in fact." Ram added.
"…I have to agree with that, Natsuki-san." Otto nodded, followed by the Pearlbatons and the Ryuzus.
"Oh! Screw you all! Hmph!" The boy huffed pettily.
"…" Emilia however stood still, staring silently at him before asking for a favor. "Subaru?"
"Hm? Yeah? What is it?"
"…Can you accompany me to the entrance? At least that far?"
"Sure!" Subaru agreed, prompting the two to ascend the staircase to the Tomb's entrance side by side.
"…So, you failed as well?" Emilia asked Subaru, without looking at him, as her stare was fixated on the portal.
"Hm? Yeah, pretty much." Subaru nodded in response. "Echidna was quite rude… It felt like being punched in the gut repeatedly… Therefore, you won't get me to replace you at the last second. Sorry, but you have no do-overs left, Emilia-tan. This is your last life. No green mushrooms waiting on the other side to give you a one-up! No sir-ee!"
"I don't quite get all that you said, and this is my first and only life anyhow… But I don't want you to replace me." Emilia admitted with guilt. "In that sense, I guess I'm grateful you failed. Someone had to fail for me to succeed in the end, right?"
"I'd thank you if you could NOT phrase it like that?!" Subaru cried in shame as Emilia carelessly belittled him. "When did you become so rude to lil' ol' me?!"
"Still…"
"…We are pressed for time, so you'll have to take your Trials in a string, one after another." Subaru warned. "Can you do that?"
"Just watch me do them." The half-elf answered cockily, much to Subaru's surprise.
"He~h."
"Subaru." Emilia suddenly turned to look at Subaru with a resolved and focused gaze, similar to an eagle's eyes.
"…Such an intense stare makes me want to tremble in shock, Emilia-tan." Subaru understood that Emilia was now serious, not wanting to joke anymore. However, he wouldn't be himself if he didn't try to ease the situation regardless.
"There's something huge going on behind my back, am I wrong?" The half-elf clenched her fists tight. "Bigger than the Rabbit or Roswaal?"
"…" Subaru hesitated on what to say.
"Don't tell me. Not now. That'll just take my focus away." The girl smiled. "You can do so once I beat 'Echidna' at her own game… Once I can actually help. Once I'm not a 'Doll', but myself. I know now… That I have to be able to stand up by myself if I want to stand by everyone else, Subaru. I trust you… So, trust in me. Believe in me, despite being a ditz."
"Emilia-tan… Only if you believe in me, despite being a liar." Subaru smiled back at her. "Fair trade though… Also, I don't think anyone says ditz anymore!"
"Don't tease me that way! Geez!" The girl pouted in annoyance before turning to the Tomb again.
"Hehe!"
"I'm going, then."
"Ah, wait a sec! Emilia-tan!" Emilia was about to take a step forward before Subaru stopped her.
"Hm?" The girl wondered. "What is it? Is there something else you wish to say?"
"Well, it's just…" Subaru lamented with regret. "I couldn't leave you any cutesy messages inside or a gift, so…"
"If it's about a gift, I still have these." Emilia showed off the web-shooters Subaru had gifted her.
"…Oh…"
"If I need a reminder that you believe in me, I just have to stare at these." The half-elf smiled sincerely.
"Even so… I don't think I've done enough yet." The boy, however, contemplated still.
"Huh?"
"Here." Subaru raised his right hand, all fingers extended, expecting Emilia to do something.
"What is…?"
"It's a high-five." Subaru smirked as he explained. "I cannot complete the Trials, so that's your duty. Conversely, you have to do the Trials, so in exchange; I will rough Roswaal up for being an idiot. Take it as a baton pass, or a relay."
"…" Emilia gulped nervously before raising her right hand as well.
*CLAP!*
"YEAH! Now that's more like it!" Subaru laughed as he high-fived Emilia. "And one more time for VICTORY'S SAKE!"
*CLAP!*
"VICTORY!" Subaru yelled animatedly as he grasped Emilia's hand tightly, raising it in the air.
"V-VICTORY~!" Emilia yelped in return, being swept up by his antics and blushing as Subaru grabbed her hand.
"Hopefully that takes the nervousness out of you, because I really can't do jack anymore!" Subaru chuckled as he let go of her hand.
"…Expect me to go on a rant about my own goals once I'm finished, okay?! You may not be on my camp, but you are my confidant regardless!" Emilia shouted as she ran into the Tomb headfirst, without bothering to listen to anything or anyone anymore. "You wanted to hear them, after all!"
"…Sheesh, if I changed, then she did so as well. When did that happen?!" Subaru chuckled as he descended the stairs.
"Barusu." Ram called out to the boy. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Hngh?" Garfiel looked at the pair with curiosity. "What are ya on 'bout?"
"We still have someone else to confront, Garf." Subaru said as he threw Garfiel his shields. "Catch!"
*Fwip!*
"…" Garfiel stared at them for a few seconds before looking back at Subaru.
"We have to stop Roswaal." Subaru said ominously.
"The Margrave?" Tivey wondered. "Wasn't he injured?"
"Unfortunately, he might be more involved in this than previously considered…" Subaru apologized to the mercenary. "So we'll have to deal with him as well in order to defeat the Rabbit."
"To think a noble of the kingdom would be involved with a calamity…" Hetaro deflated with disappointment.
"Roswaal-sama's circumstances are special." Ram justified, attempting to protect her master's face in front of strangers. "You are still outsiders to Emilia-sama's camp, so let's just say the real fault lies with this 'Witch's Tomb' and the connection to his family's bloodline."
"So it's like a contract of his bloodline, eh?" Mimi wondered aloud.
"Hmm… That sounds like such a headache." Tivey scratched his head in confusion.
"So he's summoning the Rabbit because of an unfair stipulation… How unlucky." Hetaro sighed with pity for Roswaal.
"…" Subaru stood in stern silence as he allowed Ram to defend Roswaal.
"We'll talk about this in detail later, Barusu." Ram whispered to Subaru as she noticed his apprehension.
"…Yeah. Later." The Avenger dismissed.
"So da clown, huh?" The blonde boy scratched his chin.
"You owe it to us, Garf." Ram ordered in an authoritative tone. "It's the least you owe to us after I allowed you to lay on the lap of the girl you like. Make sure you bleed and sweat properly to repay the favor, you purrfect idiot."
"Huh?" Mimi tilted her head in confusion at Ram's words.
"Heh… No kindness from ya, eh Ram?" Garfiel smirked toothily. "But dat's what my amazing self likes 'bout ya anyways! Fine by me! Imma show ya my guts an' all 'fore dat clown, Ram!"
"Preferably, your disgusting guts will remain inside you by the end of this fight." Ram frowned at the wording with disgust.
"HOLD IT!" Mimi shouted, interrupting the banter, pointing her staff at Garfiel. "She's the girl you like?!"
"Uh… Did I miss somethin'?" The blonde boy inquired with vexation. "I don't think I caught yer name… Mimo, was it?"
*BONK!*
"YOWCH?!" Garfiel yelped like a cat whose tail was stepped on as Mimi hit him with her staff on the right knee. "WHAT WAS DAT FER-?!"
"IT'S MIMI!" The little orange feline cried. "HOW DARE YOU PLAY WITH A MAIDEN'S HEART, HUH?!"
"HUH?!" The confused Garfiel answered in befuddlement.
"OI!" Tivey joined in with his own staff in hand. "How dare you play with Mimi's heart, you boob!"
"Yeah, boob!" Hetaro accompanied by picking up his staff as well.
"What da-?!" Garfiel, still not catching on, scrambled for an answer. "Oi, oi! Hold it! I ain't do nothin'-!"
"Shut up!" Hetaro shouted as he swung his staff, hitting Garfiel in the butt.
*BONK!*
"Owch! Stop dat!"
"You deserve a hundred more at least!" Tivey reproached as he swung against Garfiel's stomach.
*BONK!*
"Gagh!"
*BONK!*
"Oh-hoh?" Subaru giggled at the situation. "What is this? Little Garf here was messing around with Mimi? Hehehe!"
*BONK!*
"Ah~Ah. I suggest you give up Garfiel." Otto advised as he snickered. "You did rough them up pretty badly, so they deserve to release some tension as well."
*BONK!*
"Da hell they do!" Garfiel complained as the Pearlbatons pinned him to the ground through swings of their staffs. "Oi! Ram! Help me 'self!"
*BONK!*
"…This is your reward for being a lecherous bastard Garf." Ram said as she sneered indifferently at the boy on the ground. "Just bear with your deserved punishment as a man already."
*BONK!*
"Oi!" Garfiel yelped again. "Oi! Stop dat!"
*BONK!*
"OIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Garfiel screamed for mercy to the uncaring heavens as Mimi, Tivey and Hetaro pummeled him into oblivion.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
WOOHOO! Garfiel vs Subaru DONE!
As you might have noticed, I skipped over Garfiel's trial because~… It would have been redundant as hell to touch on it when everyone here has either read the novels or watched the anime. We ALL know what happened there, and this chapter already has enough Garf to satisfy as it is, so there.
Yeah, Bully-Baru also activated on Garfiel, so no need to thank me for that. I would have liked a dance routine… But, that would have been silly. Sillier than normal, anyways.
Next chapter might take a while longer, so be patient! Next up is Emilia's Trials and Ram/Subaru/Garfiel vs Roswaal!
Take care everyone!