The darkness was all consuming. An endless, quiet, cold abyss that offered nothing but the overwhelming presence of emptiness. At least, for someone who was bothered by such things, Rahim just stared into the nothingness with his usual dead stare.

The events that happened before he found himself in this void played over and over in his head. Garret had heard him confess to all his sins and mortally wound Walter Stonewell. Upon hearing all of that, Garret had restrained him then told the Queen that there may be a way to bring back the Captain. It stood to reason that this black abyss was a result of whatever plan that the alchemist had designed to bring back Walter.

As expected, Rahim could not force himself to wake up on the mortal plane. Garret's handiwork most likely, but the avenger felt nothing. No presence trying to force him into another prison or anyone else in this space. He glanced around the abyss, there was no way to tell which direction he would be going in. Walking was an exercise in futility anyway.

This abyss he was in was a representational space, not a physical one. Walking could get him where he wanted to go but he did not need to. Father's book had explained that if one knew exactly where they needed to go then they would be there as they existed everywhere in their own soul.

Rahim pictured the courtyard and imagined himself standing in it, he felt his consciousness pull in a far off direction but his feet remained anchored where he was. That was all it took for him to have a pretty good guess where he was.

He was aware that Envy and Wrath's anchors got mixed together. With the two of them completely out of power, they could not contest one another as they would normally, instead, their souls were able to remain stable. He hypothesized that as the two souls could not fight one another for dominance, they kept themselves separated to avoid any complications. However, they must have some kind of link to one another to exist in this one body, so this black abyss was likely the buffer connecting the two. Nothing here to maintain from either of the planes.

Envy's soul was likely in the opposite direction of Wrath's in a representational sense, but going to that plane would make no difference.

Where Rahim needed to go was wherever Garret would take Walter. The Captain's body was dying right now, usually there would be no saving it, however should he obtain the ability to heal from either Wrath or Envy then Walter could save himself. Transferring that ability though would require Walter taking in one of their souls and establishing dominance over one of them.

Currently, it looked like neither could put up a significant fight to stop the Captain as well as Garret who knew what he was doing.

Wrath's soul would be the easier of the two to transfer. The predator had strong feelings of respect toward Walter and would likely surrender himself to the Captain if it meant the latter would survive. However, Walter had to be willing to take over Wrath's soul and given that the old man threw away his victory for his protege, it was likely that they wouldn't sacrifice the Furious' soul.

That left Envy, taking over his soul would be a challenge even with his depleted reserves. Rahim was sure that they could pull it off but doing so would leave one problem. If they transferred Envy's soul to Walter's then that would leave Wrath's with Rahim. Taking over Wrath's soul would be a much simpler affair due to the fact that Wrath was bound to his body. No matter how accustomed Wrath got to his body, at the end of the day, his body was originally made for his soul.

The chaos that resulted in Rahim's imprisonment destabilized the balance his body previously had and while he attempted to stablize it, he was shoved into a prison that stripped him of all control. It was a miracle that Wrath didn't destroy himself, splitting into multiple personalities all of which had self destructive motives. Also, Rahim did not understand controlling his soul past the basics Wrath figured out over the years.

With his current knowledge level, he could reasonably find his way back to the mortal plane.

A stray thought suggested he should head for Envy's soul, to cut off Walter and Garret before they succeed in their mission but he stayed where he was. A fight in this space, with the condition they were in was liable to trigger a meltdown of all the souls involved. The two Sins would clash, squishing Walter, Garret, and Rahim together the planes would overlap and with no cooperation either one of them had to be destroyed or both would self destruct.

Garret knew that and was likely taking every precaution to avoid a fight, however Rahim knew that the process of transference would open a clear pathway for any to see. The avenger would wait until he had a clear sight of where he needed to go.

Walter looked around Wrath's courtyard, the old and decaying atmosphere was a sight to behold. It took him looking around the wide open expanse to realize that it looked like Arendelle's palace courtyard. He might've been surprised but he remembered who's courtyard he was standing in.

The runt had come to think Arendelle as his home, it wasn't too much of a stretch to see him unconsciously model his soul after it. Speaking of the predator, the Captain could not see the runt. Garret had said that he felt several different entities inside the predator. First was Rahim who was in a far enough place to not be a problem, then came Wrath, followed finally by that entity that outclassed Envy during their battle.

Garret was mostly concerned about that entity. It was able to defeat Envy without transforming completely and obviously had a more definite control over Wrath's abilities than the predator himself. The alchemist could feel the entity being everywhere around them but somehow oblivious to their intrusion. While it was good news that the two of them weren't detected Garret was sure that when they found Wrath, that advantage would disappear.

"We need to hurry, we must find Wrath then lead him to the physical plane before Rahim or Envy makes it there first. If they can map their way back to the physical plane first then both your body and my son's body will be theirs for the taking."

"And how exactly do we 'lead him to the physical plane'?"

"When we find him, we have to stir his consciousness and get him to reestablish his link from his soul to his body. Since he's been living in Rahim's body for some time now, it should be second nature for him; but due to his clash with Envy that forced Father's anchors to mesh and contaminated Wrath's link to Rahim's body which allowed Rahim to take over."

Walter turned to his companion who spoke in a detached tone as if he was studying something. He seemed to try and keep what he was thinking from the Captain but the old man could see it in his eyes, the last hour alone had shaken his core beliefs. He was a father first, his only priority should be protecting his children but with what Rahim had done, he was now taking steps to imprison his son instead of saving him.

Not only that, the very thing he blamed for corrupting his son had turned into someone that his late wife would've wanted for a son. When Walter told him about the trap in the throne room, he also took the time to tell the alchemist about who Edward was as a person.

The boy was selfless, kind, honest, hardworking, and noble.

A far cry from the Sin he was bound to.

Garret wanted to hate Wrath, to blame him for all the pain that occured in the last twenty odd years. The death of his late wife, the loss of his son, losing his home, all of it. However, what he didn't want to admit was that once upon a time, he was Wrath, a mindless beast on a leash. Unleashed upon people he didn't have the mind to even consider sparing. He killed because it was his only mission in life.

Wrath killing his wife would be the same as any weapon killing his wife, he could not blame the weapon, but he could the killer. The alchemist knew that Talib had to have some hand in it, given his sudden appearance and the kidnapping of Rahim that same night. Not being able to stop him back then left a heavy scar on his life.

It was what made him consider killing 'Garret'.

The version of himself that alternated the Southern Isles and Arendelle was easy to track down and replace. He'd always kept to himself and studied, any one of the others could replicate that behavior. Replicating the soul on the other hand to have the same signature was another matter entirely. Each version of himself, while essentially the same, all had their own distinct pieces of the soul that made them all up. Its what helped distinguished them from one another, if one were to be killed by another, then the 'killer' would have two pieces instead of one which was a dead giveaway for any of the others.

The studious version of himself didn't even resist, it was easy to kill him and modify both of their souls so if anyone came calling they'd assume that Garret had killed the renegade.

He thought he'd feel some sort of elation killing someone who was apart of Talib, that shared their face but no such feeling came. The opposite came actually, he felt the full weight of his life hit him when he realized that he could easily assume Garret's duties and hide in plain sight forever. That killing one of the versions of himself would have no impact on Father at all.

None of the other versions of himself knew this or they just pretended to not know, but Father hated all of them. They were forever a reminder of what he couldn't do, what he lost. Their only use to him were menial tasks he could send one of his other pawns to complete.

It was ironic, Wrath had been apart of Garret and Talib once upon a time and the former hated Wrath for what he did and the feeling was mutual. Yet with Wrath leaving and having a life of his own, he was now following in the footsteps Garret had taken in the beginning, the only difference was that he didn't lose a wife or killed someone that was apart of his collective.

Oh wait…Envy is dying right now so I guess we have that in common too.

Garret let out a long sigh that Walter clearly noticed but did not say a word. It was so much easier to hate and blame Wrath but him doing so made him a hypocrite given that Haruna allowed him to have another chance at life when many would argue he didn't deserve.

Locating Wrath was simple, the problem was that he wasn't alone. The alchemist could feel them, all of them. The furious and vengeful revenants that surrounded the predator like his own personal force. When he tried to focus on one of them, all he got were wails of rage and a singular desire to kill. Wrath was a void, Garret couldn't feel anything coming off him.

Usually, that would mean the predator's soul had been completely stripped of its individuality and was about to be converted into sustenance and power.

The alchemist didn't think that was the case as Rahim couldn't have been the one to do it since he didn't have the chance and Envy was unresponsive at the moment. That entity could have done it but the more he focused on it, the more he felt that wasn't the case. Those beings that were hovering around Wrath all felt like that entity, their desire to kill was plain to see, if the entity wanted, it probably could've made the predator into one of them or just destoy him altogether. Instead they were just on standby, content with just being around the predator.

His earlier hypothesis that the entity would be well aware when they attempted to rouse Wrath was being proven by the hateful army surrounding the predator.

"I've located Wrath, but it seems he's being protected by a sizable force. Fighting them is out of the question as we are only guests on this plane, as such we ultimately have no authority over anything here. Only Wrath would be able to contend with them."

Walter face configured itself into his usual frown and he wished that he had a cigar. "Then how do you propose we get to him?"

"Reaching him isn't a concern. As we are only guests, there's little they can do to us as well. Since your soul is currently slipping from the mortal plane, I was able to channel it along with mine putting, you in a state of half death. While in this state I was able to stream our souls into Wrath's while keeping a line to my body in the event we needed to leave. Thanks to that, we aren't a part of this plane so we can observe and communicate. Typically, I wouldn't have bothered with channeling your soul into mine then taking you to another soul but the only way you can survive is if you bond with Wrath or Envy and using their abilities to sustain your life. Ordinarily, I'd suggest going to Envy first to save your life but with Rahim in play, we need to ensure Wrath makes that link first."

The Captain absorbed the information quickly and it took just a second to realize one crucial fact. Since they couldn't interact with anything on this plane, then it would be up to Wrath to contend with the force surrounding him and map his own way back.

All they could do was watch him do so.

Garret started walking out of the courtyard with Walter in tow, the two of them passing under the ruined gateway and down a flight of steps before stopping in front of a lake of some sort. The old man described it as such from the reflective surface and the very subtle ripples coming from seemingly nowhere.

The alchemist turned to Walter

"He is below. Remember, this is a representational space."

With that, Garret stepped onto the surface and quickly sunk into it with ripples being the only evidence that he was there at all. The Captain narrowed his eyes and considered the danger before telling himself he was already dying anyway.

The world instantly changed when he went under. It was dark and he felt such weight crushing him. It felt like he was underwater but he did not feel his lungs fill with water. He sank and sank until he finally hit the bottom. Garret came into sight as soon as his feet touched the ground, the alchemist turned to him to give a quick once over before facing another direction.

"Wrath is just ahead of us."

The two men walked into the darkness, the only semblance of light being the muddled ceiling above them that was the surface they just passed through. As they walked, weapons started to appear by them, one by one they stood, old, rusty, abandoned remnants of something or someone. Garret paid them no mind, but Walter eyed each and every one of them until one of them caught his eyes and had him halt midstep.

The alchemist must've heard his companion as he stopped and turned. "We don't have much time to waste."

Walter, knowing better than to touch anything, pointed at what had drawn his attention. Garret followed the old man's finger to a pair of daggers. There was nothing particularly special about them however, he knew that all things weren't what they seemed in another's soul.

"Those daggers…I remember Greed having a pair of them..."

The alchemist knew the answer to Walter's unspoken question thanks to his last trip to Wrath's soul and his experience with Rahim's katana.

"Those might've been his but they could easily have belonged to someone else. Wrath has killed many warriors over the years, sustaining himself on their rage and hatred. Its likely this is all that remains of those warriors."

Walter said nothing as he remembered Greed's desperation when it came to finding Wrath. He stroked the man's anger to make him more prone to mistakes but the Captain knew all too well how it was to lose yourself to the loss of family. Deciding against asking anymore questions, the Captain followed Garret deeper into the dark, noticing more and more weapons appear around them.

As they walked, the ever crushing feeling on Walter's shoulders increased. Each step almost had him regret taking it as he felt death breathing against the back of his neck. Usually, such a feeling wouldn't bother him, he'd been surrounded by death as long as he could remember. He was the form it took for a great many people and had often brushed with it to the point it didn't phase him anymore.

Until that one time the runt almost killed him during a training match.

It wasn't the fact that he almost was killed, it was the fact that when the runt looked him in the eyes, there was nothing there that was of the young man. It was like he had briefly switched places with someone whose sole function was to kill. It was only a split second but Walter knew that he had those same eyes before and seeing them in the runt's eyes made him almost reconsider his plans for the young man.

A shadow passed above his head that caused Walter to look up and realize why he had felt such pressure with every step he took. Above them, seeming floating underwater were hundreds of copies of the very man they were in here to find. All of them were dressed in the Mystic Guard's uniform with Rahim's katana in their right hand.

The Captain could feel their eyes tracking the two of them. It was as if the two of them were trespassing but the copies were ordered to not interfere with them because they all remained where they floated. Garret did not seem to notice or pretended to not notice as he kept his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead of him until finally he stopped.

Walter stopped as well and looked over the man's shoulder to see one copy staring off into the darkness with nothing in his hands. "Is that him?" The alchemist nodded and now chose to look up at the ones that surrounded the two of them.

"I'm confident that is Wrath, however we must proceed carefully. Its likely that the only reason the others haven't attacked yet is because we haven't interacted with Wrath yet."

The hairs on the back of Walter's neck raised as a voice spoke right behind him.

"You're incorrect, the only reason we haven't attacked is because you aren't who we wish to fight."

Whirling around, Walter was face to face with another copy of the man he'd come to find. His face was the same obviously but what set him apart was his eyes. They were not the dead eyes that Rahim had, nor were they the focused ones that the runt would have in battle. These ones had rage in them, not for any one person but seemingly for anything in existence. Meeting his gaze made Walter's blood boil, he could feel all the hate and anger in that single brief glance.

The Captain was able to hold his stare with the copy until it turned its gaze toward Garret who took a small step back but nonetheless spoke. "Who are you?"

The imitation tilted his head in mock confusion. "I am Wrath, yet what is that you see?" His face and tone did not have a hint of hostility in either but Walter could tell that this Wrath in front of them was all ready to pounce if they gave him a reason.

Garret thought it wise not to respond to the question, to contradict what he could feel. Wrath was behind them, the being in front of them, couldn't be Wrath. The predator should be unresponsive due to the battle with Envy and the precarious balance between the two Sins' souls would further increase the strain on him, causing him to remain unresponsive while a more stable balance was found.

"I see someone who's been biding his time, waiting for the opportunity to destroy the one he wants most." The alchemist's head shot to the old man who didn't seem to understand the concept of 'keeping his head down'.

'Wrath' turned to Walter and his face scrunched up his fake surprise. "How I will miss those curious insights you share from time to time."

"Why? Its not like you're dying. Your life isn't in any danger."

'Wrath' chuckled darkly as he walked past the two men and up to the one they were looking for. The imitation raised a hand to the unresponsive man's face and harshly grabbed it to examine it. "I suppose you could say that; my life isn't in any danger. You could also say I was biding my time."

"As entertaining as it is to hear you muse, we're all on a bit of a time crunch here, so are you going to let us get the runt?"

'Wrath' didn't even take his focus off the unresponsive man.

"Of course not. If I'm destined to be erased again, then I'll at least know the pleasure of destroying this waste of space." Walter frowned as Garret silently cursed. The latter began racking his mind trying to think of a way to prevent the imitation to follow through with his intention but so far his mind came up with nothing.

"If you're Wrath then I'm sure you've heard me tell the runt over and over that revenge is such a waste of effort."

The imitation finally slid his eyes over to the old man and fixed him with an irritated stare. "I'm all too aware of your views on revenge. However, it is the only thing that we have left, so you will not take away from that."

"Revenge against the runt? If you're really Wrath then what could he have possibly done to make you hate him so much?"

'Wrath's' irrated features vanished from his face as it took on an almost whimsical expression. "The fact that you have to ask me that question is exactly the problem. I've waited for so long and gotten so close. I thought that with getting to know you and finding balance in the past that I would get what I want, that finally he'd see me."

The imitation then frowned and his face for a moment, scrunched up in regret and it looked as if he was fighting tears. "But all any of you see is Rahim, nothing. but. him."

'Wrath' raised his free hand and claws sprouted from his fingertips before he slashed at the unresponsive man's throat. Garret shot up and was about to yell for him to stop when Walter shouted.

"I know who you are!"

The sharp claws pricked the soft flesh of the runt's throat as 'Wrath' turned to Walter with a tired expression. "You're lying, you're just trying to buy time. If they," the imitation gestured to the young man and Garret. "Don't know who I am, how could you possibly know?"

"Because I can see it on your face, it was the same look I had for most of my life. You've spent so long fighting since it was all you had. What most people don't know is that after living that way long enough, you lose yourself and become something entirely different. You become a weapon for whoever or whatever you're fighting for."

Walter then gestured around them.

"I first thought you were one of Wrath's victims, mad at him for only recongnizing Rahim and not any of the others but then I remembered the look in your eyes. The ones of pure rage not at any one thing or person, it was aimed at everything. You're furious that all we see is copies of Rahim, but we don't control that, Wrath does. And if you say you're Wrath then you could only be one thing."

'Wrath's' face turned expressionless but his eyes zeroed in on Walter's and the two of them held an intense staredown in silence. No words were passed between them but Garret could tell that the two of them had a profound understanding of one another. Perhaps it was a product of Edward's time with the Captain, whatever the case, 'Wrath' pulled his claws away from the young man's throat.

"The runt will never realize who you are if either of you cease."

"Father or Rahim will still erase me."

"Not if they hold no more power over you."

Garret was far too late in understanding the meaning of their exchange to react to 'Wrath's' sudden movement.

When Rahim felt the world shake around him, he knew that he miscalculated. The dark space that surrounded him was crumbling, pieces of darkness cracked and zoomed past him to a far off direction. As he watched them zoom past, he felt something pull at his entire being in the same direction.

It didn't take him long to figure out who was pulling him, that unmistakable presence had Rahim fighting to stay where he was. Wrath's soul was ahead of him, the path to his body was right in front of him but the transference didn't take time like he thought. It was sudden and violent and had Rahim wondering how Walter had managed to speed up the process so quickly.

Wrath couldn't be helping him, the predator and Edward were both still unresponsive, the old man would have to slowly guide them out. Even if they were awake, both of them were too weak to do anything. Rahim had used what little he had left to fatally wound Stonewell, with their reserves so low, they'd struggle to form a simple thought.

Yet here was being pulled by a force that he couldn't mistake as anyone but Walter. It was unyielding and demanding, he felt like he was being physically grabbed by the old man and there was nothing he could do to break that grip.

The sense of Wrath's soul vanished as Rahim was ripped out of his body.

Walter's bleeding and dying body shot out of Elsa's grip and stood up, startling her, Kai, and Gerda.

The large man had his back to them as he was breathing heavily with his arms shaking. The muscles in his upper torso almost tore apart the clothes he was wearing as they spasmed so much.

"Walter?"

Gerda's voice halted his body's sporadic movements. The three of them watched as the large man stood still for a moment before he began to slowly turn. Elsa had noticed that Edward and Garret hadn't moved yet so she didn't know what to expect when Walter shot up. She hoped this meant that the alchemist had succeeded in saving the older man's life but his silence sent a chill down her spine. She could hear her heartbeat hammering in her ears as he turned around to face them, his large stature for once moving painstakingly slow.

He finally finished turning…

…to show his face had been replaced with Wrath's.

Hey guys I'm deciding to try and shorten my chapters instead of me writing 7k in maybe redundant detail I'm gonna knock out 4-5k to get this story moving cause i have 30 chaps of the war of Arendelle and I feel I might be losing y'all. I'm sorry for the long update things have been a little hard lately but I'm sure they'll get better.