~Prologue: Crossing Blue
Water…a living thing…
When you dive in, it bares its fangs
But there is nothing to fear…
For it holds memory…like the sea…guarding the truth.
Every drop contains a piece of the puzzle…
Some of happiness…others of darkness…
And some carried secrets like none other…
And now the greatest truth…will, at long last, be told…
A single drop descends from the unknown emptiness…
Sending powerful ripples across the void with an echo so subtle.
Right after, a single beam of light represents time, flowing through the darkness before breaking into two lines. Each takes a separate path but occasionally would intersect in a common time frame before separating again. One could say it looks like a helix of DNA…others might think it's a work of art.
But the two lines, each represent a story that mirrors each other, however…how does it all end? Where is the final destination?
To get there, let's go back to where it ALL began…
Long ago when both Gen 1.0 and its Twin Counterpart timelines were still originally whole…
A warrior was born half-human and half-monster but was blessed by very special, magical beings whose love of water was shared with him.
He would one day…become the feared conqueror of the ancient world. However, that single legend would split into two, both with different outcomes…but the same fate of death pushed them to the unknown.
Regardless, this man vowed to destroy the monsters that threatened the humans, conquering village after village. Some believed that he could have been related to the darkness born from the Elder Bairns.
His journey would span beyond millennia, entering an era of athletic swimmers who turned out to be descendants of great power born from the era he originated from. Their fates entwined, the bonds they carried, the passion they shared, tested them.
As the story was split into two alternative tales, both universes fought their very hardest to overcome the evil that bestowed upon them.
More time has passed, but a new vow was made…one to give happy endings to all.
And now…an untold story sheds its light…
With so many lives at stake…and a future hanging in the balance
All these ups and downs now point to what may be…
The Final Reckoning.
Ancient Greece:
Several Years after the Mizu Gods disappeared
After the first split from Dark Mirror & Gen 1.0 and its first intersection back…
The ships were traveling for nearly two weeks, bringing King Philip and his two sons to an island in the distance of horizon. While Olympias protested to her husband to not take them on this mission, the father reassured that they would one day need to understand about working with humans.
He watched Alexander (8 y/o) and Arrhidaeus (5 y/o) staring at this mysterious land ahead with awe and wonder. They could only imagine what sort of adventure would be there.
"B-brother…I'm scared," Arrhidaeus said.
Alexander turned to him, "Arrhid, it's going to be fine. We have enough people to look after us."
"Mama said that there are monsters that live on this island…" he replied.
"Well, I'm sure father will be able to cleave them with ease," the high prince grinned.
"This is not something to jest about!" the younger half-brother answered.
"Now, now," Philip calmed them, "You have nothing to worry about. In fact, there are humans on this island. And plenty."
"Then…who are we meeting with exactly?" the older son asked.
"He's a powerful ruler…one who rules his people without hesitation. Artabazos…" Philip smiled.
They get off the ship after arriving on land but for some reason…the young prince turned to the water as he almost heard what sounded like drops impacting the quiet seas.
Water…a living thing…
"B-brother?" Arrhidaeus looks at him.
"Huh? Oh, um…excuse me," he answered, "I must have been distracted."
They quickly catch up to their father as the city of Rhodes. This city was filled with houses with stunning aqueducts, gardens, trees, and roads of cobblestone. The people there were going about their own business while some of the warriors escorted them to the main palace where Artabazos resided.
"Master, we have visitors from the mainland," one of the guards announced.
"Bring them in," he replied.
The trio walked in as Artabazos got up on his feet and welcomed them. Both Arrhidaeus and Alexander got instantly bored with the diplomatic conversation already but…
Two other young boys emerged from one of the pathways of the hall.
"Arrhid, look," Alexander pointed to the two.
"There are kids like us?" he asked, surprised.
"Pardon for the lack of introduction of my sons," Artabazos realized the arrival of the other two kids, "Both of you, kindly introduce yourselves."
"High Prince Mentor of Rhodes," the older boy announced.
"And I'm his younger brother, Prince Memnon of Rhodes," the younger one introduced after.
"Prince Alexander…from Macedonia," he answered.
"And I'm Prince Arrhidaeus," the half-sibling greeted.
"Yes…your names hold such value," Mentor noted them.
"To think we'd finally meet you both! It's quite a rare opportunity!" Memnon smiled.
"Why are you both even here anyway?" Mentor asked.
"Well…um…" Arrhidaeus twiddled his fingers.
"Just visiting…and getting to know more about this…world," Alexander said.
"World, huh? Quite the ambition," Memnon answered.
"Speaking of the world, the legendary Olympics are going to be happening very soon by the next full moon," Mentor replied, "One of my friends will be making a debut in such events like the chariot racing."
"Sounds fun!" Arrhidaeus said.
"Well, as much as games sound lovely and what not, I am personally on my own road to a dream," Alexander answered.
"What do you mean?" Memnon asked.
"I wish to become humanity's greatest defender that has ever known," he smiled.
Memnon and Mentor looked at each other as if this person in front of them spoke mad or something…bizarre. Regardless, they took the conversations further by discussing the armies and what not but also kept the topics still interesting about culture and other worldly things they could only imagine.
When it was time for the trio of Macedonia to head back out, the two Rhode Brothers looked at each other.
"I'm worried…" Mentor said, "I don't know if this Alexander is going to accomplish such a feat."
"Brother, let me go to the mainland and learn how their system works," Memnon answered.
"No. Not by yourself at that age. We'll make this operation between us…together," Mentor replied, "It'll be our little secret."
Memnon nodded, "Yeah. I won't tell anyone. I love our kingdom…I wish nothing ever happens to us."
"Then let's make sure that our home…stays our home," Mentor said.
Drip…Drip-Drop!
While sleeping at an inn with his father and brother, the older prince feels a cold breeze before opening his eyes to see himself standing on water with skies so pure and clean.
"T-this is…" he breathed.
Take your marks!
BEEP!
He turned to find where the source of that voice and noise were, but nothing was visible to him. When he looked down, he saw a reflection, but it was clearly not his own. Frightened, he tried to run from it. However, the image followed likewise like a shadow.
Upon taking a second look, it was a man that almost looked like himself, but the bizarre skin-like outfit with such exposed skin along with a strange head covering and as well as something over his eyes. It was quite different than any warrior he encountered.
He tried to call to this person, but his voice was suddenly inaudible and suddenly, he was sinking underwater, being choked by the pressure…
I-I'm going to die like this, he thought.
"Such a poor kid…who doesn't realize his talent…" a dark voice rumbled.
He tried to flail his arms and legs, getting back to the surface.
"Run all you must, but no matter where you go…the darkness will always haunt you!"
The prince woke up from this bizarre dream and nightmare as the moonlight was still out in the skies. He sighed, lying back down on the soft fur as Arrhidaeus and Philip were both sound asleep.
Every night, I almost feel like this dream is telling me something, he thought, even now…I don't feel like…I belong to anyone…will there ever be a time and a place for such happiness for everyone?
He turned his head to see what almost looked like a shooting star. With that he closed his eyes and silently made a wish…hoping that someday…it will come true…
But will it ever come true? Will that future he envisioned become a reality?
Planet Duniya: Post-Destiny War
October 25, 5161
Chirottori's landscape and its surrounding areas crumbled with the sun finally appearing for the first time shining through the long-lost land. The Mullerians of varying shapes and sizes wake up to see what has become of their home.
Among the rubble of the former fortress showed six separate piles of clothes with six floating colored star-like spheres. Moments later, the spheres of light drifted away to the skies above, restoring the Chirottori Castle and reverting it back to its former glory with an aura of light and beauty instead of dark and menacing.
With this, a lone figure finally arrived with a determined look on his face. His clothes were loose yet bonded to his spirituality.
"And in the end…they chose this," the stranger lowered his head, "Together with the Dark One…they bring peace back to this world but with the price of their lives…but despite this…Chaos will return to destroy this world."
One of the Mullerian fairies who witnessed this arrival floated its way over. The stranger turned his head to them, "Have no fear little ones, the Legend of the Magic Six will live on. They liberated this homeland…but alas it has become defenseless…"
"Who…are you?" the fairy asked.
"…I am the Guardian of Time, the Master of the Four Fundamentals of all the Omniverses. Suiei Kronos, the final Primordial Senshi," he replied.
"Your eyes…you're blind?" another fairy questioned.
"I paid the price for my original self…to see again. My sight is accessible through my Staff of Theias…which views the past, present, and future," Suiei Kronos continued.
"Is there a future for this world?" one of the Orc Mullerians asked.
"In due time, another variation of the Magic Six will come here…their origins will differ, their stories…intwined…their destinies…tested…for The Final Reckoning will decide it all."
Without speaking further, Suiei Kronos sent the remaining clothes of the Magic Six to Aeuropa City in random spots where they would be eventually found and put into a museum together, bringing humanity more questions about their world…despite being censored again and again…
"And now…it all begins…again," Suiei Kronos muttered before disappearing from sight.
Our World, Beta!Earth
March 2022
Phoenix, AZ
While driving back to Surprise on the Loop 101 West, Sandro took a deep breath and sighed on the traffic. Once again, the google maps betrayed him as an accident took place just beyond the i-17. At one pause, his mind wandered on the same question he kept asking…
"What would it be like…if they were real in this world?
Or if I was in their world?
…would all of space-time collapse?"
It had been a few weeks since being signed off from one of the hospitals in Gilbert. With the world now entering a new crisis, he could only hang onto life day by day. The pandemic made things more difficult along with the inflation here in Arizona. Not sure whether to blame it on society, or himself…all he wanted was a place of his own…to support his brother.
Finally, the traffic moves again as he makes his way to the West Valley.
Since working at this 'new lab', he was promised to be only working at the Gilbert hospital for a week in November and the other through downtown for a week before being 'signed-off'. However, that was all a lie…a disorganization…a mess. Despite finally regaining the techniques he learned back in Cytology school; it was still a struggle to make each step of the way.
Not to mention, one of the physicians in the Endoscopy realm was a huge ego factor, favoring one particular person out of the entire cytology department. Not that he cared who it was…at the same time, he knows not to give in to that narcissist.
Just why does this world have to be like this, he thought, why is there always dissatisfaction in this world? Is it the work of Chaos trying to destroy us from the inside out by flawing human nature?
Shaking his head, he reflected what happened earlier in the morning when he ran into another doctor who surprisingly asked him to 'go out'…possibly a date? Was he finally going to fulfill his gay side? Hard to say.
I need to take it slow with him, he thought, I can't be like poppers for sure. God knows where that guy did with his legs…and yet he tries to turn me on with his failed attempts. Thank God I know better about health. At least this doctor is genuine…for me…
Finally getting off of the freeway, he returns home just after 6 in the evening before greeting the grandparents and heading to his room, crashing to his bed as usual. Since moving out here, these last few years have slowly caused him to feel drifted away.
Another month left till the finale, huh, he thought, I wonder how their story will end. I'll miss them when all is said and done…but I am sure they will want me to keep going. Even if I grow old…
Alpha!Earth:
The Final Stroke – Part 1
An innocent, young youth opened his eyes as three of his friends jumped onto him with joy and tears in their hearts. It was quite a victory for them as Elementary students with whole futures way ahead of them…
Haruka rested his body in the public pool here in one of the wards of Tokyo. Since the move to this new place and his beginnings at Hidaka University, a lot of developments have occurred.
Restoring his bonds to his middle school teammates, meeting the highest-class swimmers with standards beyond his imagination, he could only reflect that night when he screamed out at the bay.
Makoto walked his way in to pick him up, knowing that the Takagami festival was underway. Haruka sensed the change in the air, so he flipped over and swam beneath the water before emerging out at the edge of the pool where he sees Makoto's hand reach to him after flipping his hair around.
"You've always swam so well, Haru-chan," Makoto smiled.
Haruka frowned, "I told you to stop with that."
Regardless, he accepts the hand as Makoto comments, "It's just that you've always are at peace in your element, Haru."
With a sigh, they headed out from the pool area as Haruka turned his head to see the reflection. An instant flash has gone by…
JINGLE-JINGLE
JINGLE-JINGLE
For a moment he almost heard that noise but yet, his brain didn't process it. With a shrug, he muttered something about being ordinary at 20 years old…
Camelot Magna
Post-Destruction of Story Tower & Cauldron of Characters
Apollo finally arrives at the outskirts of the city but frowns upon sensing a great barrier protecting this central place of magic. With a sigh, he raises up his right hand as great bursts of dark magic erupt, trying to shatter down the magical shield.
Several guards appeared to block Chaos's pathway, knowing the history of Dark Ones that tried to cause havoc here. With a frown, Apollo knocks them out in a deep slumber.
Apollo makes his way over towards the barrier as more guards try to stop him. Moments later, the ground breaks loose and swallows them into the dirt.
"No one dares to challenge me…how pathetic," Suiei Chaos finally speaks as the skies finally darken, "I guess there won't be any more creations from scratch."
The darkness flies up towards the skies to send a wall of destructive energy sweeping across the dimension. Chaos could hear the Mahotsukai panicking like the humans, trying to stop the mess but each touch would eliminate their lives like butter. It wouldn't be long before this place would just be another realm of trash when…
A great burst of energy appears, halting the oncoming wall of darkness and death. Suiei Chaos frowned before turning to see who dared to finally challenge him.
"Enough of this!" Suiei Kronos answered.
"Heh, I never expected a senshi who is between the path of myself and Cosmos to even exist," Suiei Chaos laughed.
"You can't just wipe away something that can allow even anything to exist like that!" Kronos continued.
"Oh, but you see, Kronos…I already have the truth as my weapon," Chaos replied, "And soon, that Greatest Light will shatter…and everything and anything will be drawn back to me the way it should have been."
Angered, Kronos raises up his weapon, flash-freezing Chaos in a time stop-like spell. Chaos growled but vowed revenge when the time is right…knowing that Cosmos will soon make its way here…leading to the Final Reckoning…
"That truth is yet to be revealed," Kronos muttered, "And the Greatest Light will travel to where you and Cosmos first erupted."
Alone in a distant, unreal, darkness of solitude, a solo figure watched through a bubble-like orb showing the two kings using the powers of the crystals to bring life back to planet Duniya and later again on Terabithia. With a wave of his hand, he then analyzed the recent events on Spherus Magna, Articora, Terabithia, Camelot, and countless other realities.
Finally, he was looking at two variations of planet Earth…one of which existed the story of Haruka and other swimmers without their "so-called" king…and the other a total inverse…where the 'story' was only a mere project but the "boy" existed…now as a grown man working as a Cytotechnologist but is also a writer and an artist.
"Hehe, even now he writes the fate of the swimmers…yet he puts his brother as the 'true author'," the figure smirked.
His outfit was a dark, gunmetal gray, sheer-netted shirt with asymmetrical sleeves with his own musculature seen through. His pants were long and wavy like harem style with intricate designs of darkness and light blended as one. The figure's eyes were bloodshot in irises, his hair color was dark brown fade pattern with an ombre of red fluff at the top. The facial hair was also dark brown, near black as his soul.
The figure grinned with a malicious look on its eyes, finally seeing the great energy longed to resurface.
Despite being told by the great shadow that this power is only a descendant of true power, it was enough for this person to know WHO this person held THIS power and its connection to the source of ALL power.
"So, you finally returned to life…Alexander…and my, you found a handsome man to share the pain with too. Such beautiful light, both the Macedonia Dragon and the Ithaca Phoenix Crystals. Looks like I'll be having a feast with all that power including those of your fellow guardians," the figure spoke, "And once I obtain them…I will destroy all variations of your kind."
The figure closed his eyes and reflected a life long ago…on an island…with its own government and wealth. However, it became what he called 'trash' when his encounter with a powerful warrior had gone wrong and lost everything…including his brother. As a result, he was ostracized and banished from home.
Despite this, he encountered the Dark One who promised him great power and revenge. This led to a bizarre journey of his own until he finally reached this ghastly, distant place, at the edge of all space-time. However, this place is where it all begins…and ends…the Edge of the Omniverse.
In exchange for this power, one condition was required…
"And no matter what he still outwitted me," he grips his fist, "I knew he would have survived. The only question was when would he return? Now at last…I will finally rip everything away from him."
With that said, he walked down the cold, widening stairs towards a massive white wall meeting at a black wall. Moments later, the two walls dimmed down before shifting into a galactic, multiple, space-like projection, just inverted in colors. Anyone would think this is just some nightmarish visual presented. But to Memnon, this was the source of power.
"It's time…to begin," he makes a sicken grin, "Come forth…my Shadow Guardians…let us bring forth absolute destruction! Lord Chaos nor I will not tolerate any failures!"
A low hum was heard before several great bursts of energy flashed out of this "wall" and soared into the main halls of darkness. It was indeed…the time to launch their attack. The Guardian of Singularity makes a sickening grin of malicious intent as the plan was now in motion.
"Hurry to me…Suiei Marotta…" he whispers, "And you'll soon realize what it means to be nothing."
Memnon's eyes stare menacingly at the visuals of these so-called happiness, bonds, and swimming with a sheer malicious grin on his face. The bells outside make a low, ominous tune…
BONG…
Zooming out beyond the shadowy Rhodinean Cathedral Palace, and its Cursed Garden, the rivers of Hell, to the mysterious Seas of Infinity, and the protection barriers that held this realm far beyond the known reaches of space-time…
BONG…
In Hyperspace speeds, far across the endless galaxies and other universes…showing cameos of all the worlds seen from Gen 1, 2, and 3, finally lies planet Duniya in orbit of its star, showing a few flashes of Iwamara and Neo Sportsbrooke with the Aquatics Global Arena.
BONG…
A lone shadowy swimmer is on the block, ready to make the dive into the water. Alex looks up and outward as a flash from his goggles indicates his power as a Swimming Guardian is within his blood.
RAGE ON MABSUSHII HIKARI
The waters churn to life as an explosion of magic erupts, revealing various galaxies and stars of all varying colors, representing the swimmers you have grown to know and love starting with the first young four Iwatobi friends…
SURUDOKU ME WO
Beneath the seas, Nagisa and Makoto look to the surface of the water in excitement and wander with their older selves dressed in the Naribusawa and Coach jackets respectively while Haruka and Rin make their infamous stare at each other.
The Mizu Gods floated behind Rin and Haruka as well as other variations of themselves…from their 'Prince forms' to their Arabian/Senshi forms.
SOMUKERU ISSHUN HEEEEE!
Again, their reflections of their existences connect each other as wavelengths of power were unleashed, vibrating all of water with an explosion of bubbles before creating…
~Free!~
The background takes to a rapid pace flying under the sea as the sunlight hits the water from above with subtle symbolic hints of the known spirit animals throughout the franchise and saga. A transition of the title flips over, becoming…
~Free! Cosmos Rebirth Chronicle – Journey's End~
Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, Rei, Rin, Sousuke, Momotarou, and Aiichirou ready their positions to swim their own respective styles off the diving blocks of Iwatobi High School and Samezuka Academy in a split screen style.
Hansha shiteku machi wo yugande miseteta
Katamuku faint blue
At three, they take off with a great splash of water and Cherry blossoms floating across the unknown field of stars with one side of them swimming and another side of them fighting in their senshi forms.
Nobashita boku no te wa mita koto nai
Keshiki he tsunagatta
Next up is another set of swimmers consisting of Hiyori, Aoba, Natsuya, Nao, Ikuya, Asahi, Kaede, Kotetsu, and Albert as they too were diving off the blocks in a split setting of the Iwatobi Middle School and the Training regimen pool from one of the islands of Iwatobi with the same magical effect.
Jinjou ja nai kanjou
Rettou ni sainamareta the way you want this,
In Ancient Greece, the conqueror of Macedonia fights against an army of Elder Barins of various sizes while a Shadowy armored warrior from Rhodes looms from above, using his destructive powers to attack the enemy down.
Anxious eyes chose down the blur point
On bended your knees!
At the strike of attack, the king of conquerors falls of his horse Bucephalus as everything around him turns dark. His eyes open in abyss as the present-day Alex sinks down alone in silence…with his wings broken and unable to pull him back.
Akogare no kisetsu
nageku without of say goodbye
"free" of emotion.
Finally, someone's hand grabs him, bringing the youth back to the surface in the same visual of Haruka being rescued from the darkness likewise.
Rage on mabushii Hikari
At the Aquatics Global Arena of planet Duniya, an explosion of light erupts on all the swimmers as Alex's face is in great terror to see them all vanish before his eyes right in the middle of the Olympics. A small tear could be seen from his left eye as the drop itself drips into an unknown wall of water.
Surudoku me wo somukeru isshun he
He turns to see Kyle and Odysseus also vanishing as memories of various swimming events were seen simultaneously; from the Iwatobi Elementary, Middle, High, Samezuka Academy, Hidaka vs. Shimogami, and the Japan Quartet Medley vs. Albert's Quartet team.
The sun is blazing on my armor
Furimuku hima wa nainda
With no other decision, the last standing swimmer shimmers into his Ultra Senshi form with a few shadowy allies behind him, flying towards an unknown field of stars and clusters with two sides being blue-black and the other side white and yellow hues. In the center of the two "masses" was a thin purple beam of energy leaking out electrical and magnetic fields.
On your mark atomodori dekinai
At the same moment, various shots of the swimmers getting ready for the Olympics begin as the medley could be seen in various stages of backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle.
Get set, hibiku go!
With this, the Magic Six dressed in their Olympius Duniya Jackets with the rainbow spirit animals behind them and their signature swim gear now stand above the water with their Ultra Senshi forms floating behind them in their battle poses. Now…the REAL Last Legend begins…
Will that future finally happen?