Chapter 14 – A Battle Filled With Soul (Part 2)
Resta's POV
"Here I go!"
"Attack!"
"Sweet Syringe!"
"Love Syringe!"
*BOOM*
"H-Hey! I did it! I think I'm getting the hang of this, Ami!" Compa cheered after pulling off something called a 4-chain for her first time playing this Puyo Puyo game.
…
Which is a weird name for a game, now that I think about it.
"That's great, Compa! Keep it up!"
"Will do!"
"Tch. A lucky strike." Revati said. "But that will be your last and only stroke of it. You will all perish here."
"Hah! that ain't happening, you moody little psycho! I'm still raring to go! With or without these rainbow jellies! *creepy giggle*" Meanwhile, Neptune was still all powered up thanks to the fusion of the two stone's powers. It was still crazy to me that she can use the powers of the Zodiac. And to the point where she even created an entirely new power for herself.
Then again…Amitie's looking pretty crazy herself. With whatever this "Light Soul" thing she turned into. It's still pretty freaky just looking at her.
I guess these two really are cousins…
"Still so freaking cocky…your existence is starting to annoy me. No wonder Arfoire wishes to destroy you."
"She tried…and after many years and so many attempts, she still hasn't taken me out. You can't kill off the freaking protag. Arfoire will learn such a rule…and so will you. *creepy giggle*"
"Tch. Shut up, already. You're so damn annoying." Revati was getting angrier…but you couldn't really tell by looking at her. Her face was so…emotionless and empty. Only fueled with the hatred and desired vengeance she long sought for 10 years as a dead soul. To get rid of me and the others…and continue her path of evil and destruction.
…
…
…
At least…I think that's how it was.
"Ha! Now, you know how we all feel right, Resta?!"
…
"Uh…Resta?" Neptune asked.
"Hey! Resty!" Compa yelled. Which brought me back to reality from a moment of spacing out.
"H-Huh? Oh…sorry, everyone."
"What's with you?" Amitie asked. "Why are you spacing out at a time like this?"
"Well, soon after we started this…"Puyo Battle" thing…a weird memory popped up. A memory of Revati, nonetheless."
"Huh?" The three girls were confused.
"A memory…" Revati said. "…so, you remember executing me and wiping out my kingdom 10 years ago huh, Resta?"
"Well, that's the thing…I don't."
"What?!"
"For some reason…my memories of you are rather recent. As if I've known you since before any of this ever happened…and you were a completely different person. But I don't know why…"
"Tch! Stop saying such nonsense! You and the other princesses destroyed my kingdom! Slaughtered my people! And worst of all...took me out with them!"
"Did we, though? I mean…what reason would we have to do such a thing?"
"A-As if I freaking know! I was completely blindsided! Point is…for the past decade, I've sought out revenge on you all! To make you all feel the everlasting pain of losing everything! And live out your anger as a lonely soul!"
As Revati grew angrier, the power around her due to her Zodiac Stone grew to a substantial amount. These feelings of betrayal and revenge have consumed her soul…to the point where there's no chance of calming her down.
"And now…NOW…Now that I have been revived, I shall take my revenge on ALL of you! And eradicate anyone else who gets in my way! No matter what world I reside in!"
"*sigh* There's just no talking to her…"
"Hey, Resta…" Amitie said to me. "…is it really true that you did all those things to Revati and her kingdom?"
"I…I don't know, Amitie. I mean before, it was a permanent memory. But now…for some reason…my memories of 10 years ago are vastly different from what Revati is saying. I don't know what to think anymore."
"Resta…"
"Grr…Now you are starting to piss me off, Resta! I'LL SEND YOU ALL TO THE FORBODING AFTERLIFE!" The aura around Revati was getting darker my the minute. Her emotions taking control of pretty much everything else.
"*meep* Revati's getting SUPER angry!" Compa whimpered.
"Then we don't have a choice now…" Amitie said. "…Let's take her down so that we can figure out what the truth really is."
"You still in this, Resta?" Neptune asked me. "After all…I still want to keep that promise to you."
"Neptune…" I went silent for a bit. Then grew a smile on my face as I joined the other three upfront. "…Yeah. I'm ready. Let's take this girl down!"
"That a girl, Resta! *creepy giggle*"
"These emotions…these happy-filled emotions…they piss me off so damn much! Seeing you all so freaking happy angers me deeply! I'll erase this happiness away…just like how mine was 10 years ago!"
"Bring it, Revati! This battle is ain't over yet! Hahahahaha!"
All immediate focus then went back to stacking up Puyos. Each of our objectives is to take down the opposing player. In an attempt to save all worlds…or watch them all be erased.
"Now…"
"Disappear…"
"Alrescha…"
"Fumalsamakah…"
"Delta Piscium…"
"Epsilon Piscium…"
Revati was the first one to set off. And without any effort, she started performing a 6-chain with her stack of Puyos. Creating a huge pile of Garbage Puyo just hovering over our heads.
"Crap!" Amitie yelled. "Guys! If we don't get a 7-chain or higher, that pile of Garbage Puyo is gonna hurt BAD!"
"I'm on it, Cousin. *giggle* Time to see what this Aquarius power can REALLY do." Neptune then started stacking the Puyos in such a high speed that it was almost hard to keep track of them. I'm pretty sure it was her first time playing…but it looked like she's already a freaking pro at it.
I guess being a gamer really does have its benefits…
"*giggle*"
"You ready~?"
"Sadalmelik!"
"Sadalsuud!"
"Ancha!"
"Ekchusis!"
"Aquarii!"
"Return~!"
*BOOM*
"Tch! Damnit…" Neptune had successfully gotten rid of the gray rock things from over our side and flung it back to Revati's. And since she didn't counter in time, the pile fell on her in a huge rush.
"Alright, Neptune!"
"You did it, Nep-Nep!" Amitie and Compa cheered.
"F…Fools. Th-This is…not over yet!" Revati said as she staggered to get back up.
"Revati, listen to me." I said. "These memories…I don't think they're true. Something must've made us think these things."
"And now you're…you're DENYING them?! You're denying the pain and suffering you brought upon me?! Now you've done it, Resta! Now I will show you ZERO MERCY!"
And in almost an instant, we were ambushed by a full combo of Revati's attacks. With the pink hand from before swiping us in the air…making deep cuts in our stomachs in the process…slamming us all to the ground, and blasting us with multiple spheres of dark pink energy.
And in such a rapid succession…it really hurt a lot.
"Owie…" Compa whined.
"D-Damn…th-that hurt…" Neptune said.
"R-Revati, calm down!" I yelled.
"Calm down?! CALM DOWN?! You expect me to calm down after all the nonsensical crap you just told me?! You Scorpios truly are stubborn! Now…accept your demise and get the hell out of my sight!"
"R-Revati…"
"Van Maanen's Star…"
*BOOM*
*screams of pain*
Once Revati blasted us again, I felt my body getting weaker. To the point where I started losing consciousness.
I wasn't dying…at least not yet. But the fact that I was being brutally murdered by a group of psychos who wanted nothing more than gruesome revenge…and Revati being one of them…claiming that I wiped out her and her kingdom when I'm having trouble remembering it all of a sudden…it's truly one of the worst ways to live out the rest your life.
If only things went a different direction…if only we learned the truth to these memories…if only…
If only Revati would freaking listen to me…
Revati's POV
"They're dead. About freaking time." I said as I looked over the multiple lifeless corpses that laid before my eyes.
People of the Lilac Kingdom…your princess has finally avenged you.
"Nyahahaha! Nice going, Revati! You made them all look like a joke!" Appearing behind me was the girl known as Ridel. Congratulating me on a job well done.
"Yeah…whatever. I got my vengeance against Resta…and even got rid of those CPUs and Light Soul for you both. Now…fulfill your end of the deal and revive my kingdom."
"Yeah…well, about that…Raffiche!"
*BOOM*
"Tch! What the hell?!" I yelled after Ridel had attacked me out of nowhere.
"So, here's the thing, Revati…we were never going to revive your kingdom. You were just a pawn in a quest for revenge! Nyahahaha!"
"A pawn…so, you used me! Both of you! Reviving me was nothing more than a joke to you two!"
"Ding, ding, ding! You're right!" Ridel went silent for a bit. "Although…since we're ditching you here, I might as well tell you this."
"Tell me what?"
"Oh, you know…that it was actually Kurome who murdered you and all the Pisces in your kingdom, manipulated everyone's memories to believe that it all happened 10 years ago, and made you believe that it was the other five princesses. Fully circling the plot of using you for your Zodiac Stone."
"WHAT?!" I grew extremely angry.
"It was a pretty crazy plan, to be completely honest. Didn't think it would work…but you fell for it, hook, line, and sinker! So glad I was wrong! Hahahaha!"
I…Impossible…so, Resta was right. All of these decade-old memories and feelings of hatred…were all a lie. I was revived…no…I was murdered…only for them to use my powers. And I fell for it completely.
"You…You psychopaths! You murderous psychotic bitches! I lost EVERYTHING! My people! My kingdom! Even my own ****ing life! And it was ALL for my stone?! You two are nothing more than monstrosities from Hell!"
"Says the girl who just brutally killed 9 people without any once of remorse. You're just as big of a monstrosity as us, Revati. *demented giggle*"
"Tch…" I went silent. Knowing that she was right.
M…My people…f-forgive me. I was deceived to do such evil things…not worthy of your princess…
"But don't you worry, Revati. You can apologize to them all really soon…once I send you to the depths of Hell, that is! Nyahahahaha!"
Normally, I would be making some kind of retort to such a statement. But…I…I cannot focus. The knowledge of my people…my kingdom…and my life…were carelessly ripped out from existence just so a duo of little girls could use my stone for their own evil gain.
And, of course…I do not have any right to refer to them as "evil". Considering what I did to 9 girls who had nothing to do with it. Victims of the delusions of a false memory.
This is why…to atone for my sins…I shall not fight. I shall take this final blow…and return to the afterlife where I belong. Only this time…I will be living in endless torment.
A fitting punishment…for an abomination like me.
"Nyahahaha! Good riddance, Pisces Princess! You were useful until you weren't! Now, join your people in the depths of Hell! Monocromati…"
"Albaldah!"
*BOOM*
"*cough* *cough* Gah! The hell was that?!" Ridel yelled as her attack on me was stopped at the last second. She may not have been able to see it…but I did. And it looked too similar to…an arrow.
That spell…with an arrow…it can't be…
"Geez…to think that you two would be so messed-up as to wipe out an entire race just to benefit your plan." And then, out from the smoke, came someone who…I think…I haven't seen in nearly a decade.
The Sagittarius Princess…Sagey…
"Hey! The hell are you doing, Slave?! You're supposed to be under mind control!"Ridel yelled in anger.
"Oh, yeah…that. Truth is, I was never under your control in the first place. All those acting lessons really paid off. *giggle*"
"What?!"
"And that's not all. Look above you…Kaus Australis! *SNAP*"
With a snap of her fingers, Sagey summoned an arrow that she most likely shot up there beforehand and it landed on the downed 9 girls. Clearing them of most of their injuries done by me.
*giggle* Well…you actually proved me wrong about those acting lessons, Sagey…" Resta was the first to get up. And the others soon followed. Slowly rising due to their injuries still emulating pain.
But…the fact that they are able to get up at all is…rather impressive.
"Tch! You damn little…" Ridel said to Sagey before turning back to me. "Revati, do something!"
…
…
…
"Revati!"
"Piss off, you abomination of a creature." I said as I turned my back against her.
"What?!"
"Woah…Revati's not listening to Ridel. I wonder what happened…"
"I'll explain later, Amitie." Resta said to the girl. "Right now, we've got another threat to deal with."
"Heh…so, you're Ridel, huh?" The CPU named Neptune spoke."I've got some choice words for you for screwing up my soul, you twisted little girl! *creepy giggle*"
"Tch! Don't any of you push your luck." Ridel then quickly flew up in the air. Looking down on all of us. "I ain't staying to fight an unfair fight. This world's almost done crumbling apart and you'll all just die along with it. FOR REAL, THIS TIME! NYAHAHAHAHA!"
The psychotic girl then disappeared in an attempt to flee. And soon after, the ground we were standing on began to shake. Signaling that it was almost time for this area's demise. And soon…this entire world's.
All because I was blinded by a false sense of revenge.
I shall never…forgive myself for this…
Resta's POV
*BOOM*
*CRASH*
*MORE EXPLOSION NOISES*
The area around us was tearing apart. Pieces and pieces were crumbling and either disintegrating into nothing or being raised up into the deep blue spacey void. Becoming silhouettes of their own as they joined the other landmasses slowly floating in a sea of nothing.
"Wh-What do we do?! E-Everything's tearing apart!" Compa yelled in a panic.
"H-Hey! You two had wings when you turned into those…supergirl things before! Can't you just fly us out of here?!" Rulue asked Nepgear and Uzume.
"Are you crazy?!" Uzume yelled. "There's no way us two can carry us all out of here in time!"
"Then what, damnit?! I don't want to die in a different world!"
"ESP!"
We all then looked at Amitie as her wristband had turned into a ring of light-blue energy and the middle part of her blonde hair was now purple.
…
Also, she was floating. Probably should've said that first.
"Everyone! Quick! Get close to me!" She yelled.
"W-Wait! Amitie?! Wh-What the heck happened to you?!" Nepgear asked.
"I'll explain later! Just get near me!"
And with that, everyone gathered around Amitie as she was about to get us all out of here.
…
But then, I noticed that one person was still separated from the group. Standing all alone as the ground continued to crumble to pieces.
"Hey! Revati! Get over here!" I yelled at her.
Revati didn't respond. She just looked over at me and turned back around. Continuing to stand in the destruction of this resort port.
"Revati!"
"Leave me, Resta. Leave me to perish in the destruction of this world. It is the only proper punishment for the cruelty I have done to you all."
"What?! Are you serious?!"
"Revati, come on!" Sagey yelled. "It wasn't your fault that they tricked you! They tricked all of us, remember?!"
"That does not matter. I have brought shame to my people for being easily deceived. And plotting a murderous revenge with those twisted girls because of a false memory that I believed to be true. And so, because of that…I must die. For real this time. I must release my soul into the burning pits of Hell for all eternity. To receive the proper torment it so truly deserves."
And then…as she turned to face all of us…Revati said:
"My story ends here, Zodiac Princesses. This crumbling apocalyptic pier shall be my grave. And there is nothing you can do to ever change it."
Revati then fell backward into the crevasse the ground had made. Disappearing from our sights completely.
"Revati!"
"Resta, come on! It's too late now!" Jarne yelled at me.
"B-But…f-fine." I said. Giving in to the current situation.
As we prepared to escape the tearing resort port thanks to Amitie's weird powers, a sense of guilt kept filling my mind. One that was due to fake memories that led to me driving a fellow princess into a gruesome end.
And like she said…there was nothing I could do about it.
…
Except…for one thing.
Revati…The Pisces Princess…now, it's my turn to avenge you.
Author's Note: After the first of many Puyo battles to come, Revati learns the dark truth of how and why she was revived. And, overwhelmed with a tremendous amount of guilt, she takes her own life in the now falling apart Rebeat Resort. Letting her own story ending here.
…
Or…does it?
If any of Amitie's powers or her transformation, in general, feel at any at all familiar, that's because it's all from Puyo Puyo: Dream Land Invasion. The first crossover story I did with Puyo Puyo and Kirby. I've been wanting to say this since back in chapter 9, but…Dream Land Invasion (and the Kirby series as a whole) is going to have a great amount of involvement in this story. To what extent…I'm not completely sure yet. Though it won't be a triple crossover, I can tell you that much.
An update on my playthrough of Victory 2:
Good news is…I beat the game!
Bad news is…I got the Ascension Ending.
Thing is…I didn't know that this game had multiple endings. I mean, I knew mk2 did (one of them being…THAT ending). But this game, I didn't know. And when I looked up how to get the true ending (or the Revival Ending, as the game calls it)…turns out that I did everything right EXCEPT those Guild missions in Neptune's Hyper Dimension Story. I skipped those, not knowing they were a thing. And so, the true ending didn't trigger. So, now I gotta do the whole game all over again just to get that ending. It sucks…but at least the game's good enough for me to do it all over again.
Also, today is the 30th Anniversary of the Puyo Puyo series! Just felt like pointing that out. Because I just love the series so much.
Thanks for reading. Later.