Date A Re:Live

S2 Chapter 38: Miku Fantasia, Part 3

By : Tohka_Yatogami

...

Summary

Even a similar story can take it's own path. Shido and Mana are amnesiac siblings living with their friend Kotori, however the past catches up to Shido when he nearly runs into a space quake, and his world changes as one girl asks... "Are you here to kill me?" (Stronger Ratatoskr, weaker DEM, games & movie are canon to story) [Shido/Tohka/Harem]

Get ready everyone, this is act 3 of the Miku arc! We'll be starting things off with Tohka singing Q&A for the Raizen High team while the AST resumes their fight with the DEM forces, and from there... well let's just say I don't need to say it because you've probably already noticed it under these author notes, at least depending on how you're viewing this chapter right now ^^;

Things are gonna get crazy in this chapter, and it's only the tip of the ice burg for what's coming everyone's way in-universe, and I can assure you this last leg of Season 2 is going to introduce and reveal things that are gonna turn heads for everything in the story's universe, especially in regards to a deeper story behind the Inverse Forms as Tohka's Nightmare has already hinted.

What's my favorite part about what's coming next? While Tohka's still got main character status for the rest of Season 2, all of the Spirits are gonna get a chance to shine because they all need to work together for what's about to happen next. Oh, and the best part? There's a surprise coming, and I can't hint it due to automatic spoilers if I describe it in any form, but you'll love it :3

I will saw this now, the lyrics for Q&A? Unlike Monochrome I couldn't find the dub lyrics, and it's too hard to make them out by listening, so... kinda like I do with the intros, I'm going to be making them up. My apologies there, though I'm no stranger to some songs having lyrics you can't find, sometimes even ones without official releases like that "Hang On" song from the first Beyblade series' G-Revolution season.

The stage has been set, and now it's time to truly make this arc start to sing! Now, lights, camera and... *holds out megaphone* ACTION!

-Inverse Miku, Code Name: [Siren]-

Demon King: Lilith - Gabriel's Demon King counterpart, Lilith takes the form of a darker version of the translucent keyboard, and the organ is transformed into a black and silver version of itself that looks like it came from and was made from materials in Hell. Unlike before, Spirits not immune to the sound if they're sealed and don't have their Astral Dresses equipped to protect them, with Rinne and anyone holding her power being the only exception. Any attempts to jam or counter the signal will also fail. The only way to avoid the song of Lilith is to simply not hear it, requiring someone to block out any sound from reaching their ears, or at least the sound of Lilith itself. Lilith also possesses the ability to fire off sonic waves alongside Miku.

- Alternate Form: Aria - The Inverse counterpart of Gabriel's March form, and Lilith's primary method of support. Where the March enhanced the physical strength of the user and any listener of Miku's choice, but had the limitation of being unable to give than more than one type of enhancement and an entire group could only be given the same enhancement. Aria allows all types of enhancements to a group, and even allows those she effects to safely use all 100% of their body's power, avoiding the usual harm it would cause.

- Alternate Form: Sonata - The Inverse counterpart of Gabriel's Rondo form, and Lilith's primary method of defense which can also be used to restrain others as well. Where Rondo was limited by the Spirit's threat ranking and was useless against Inverse Spirits, Sonata is powerful enough that only an Inverse Spirit that's multiple ranks higher has a chance to break free of the bindings, and a Spirit that isn't Inverted will be completely immobilized. Rinne is the only exception, provided she's at full power.

- Alternate Form: Fantasia - The Inverse counterpart of Gabriel's Solo form, and Lilith's primary offensive technique. Where Solo would brainwash people aside from those with an immunity to the song or had a way to block it from reaching them, while still being able to stay true to themselves, Fantasia causes those its brainwashes to ignore any existing views the user had and focus solely on Miku's wishes, while only being avoidable to those who can block it out due to the dark spirit power infused within the song.

- Alternate Form: Anthem - The Inverse counterpart of Gabriel's Requiem form, primary method of healing and its most pacifistic technique. Where the Requiem could create an analgesic effect, and could help reduce or heal damage, including damage that was considered fatal, Anthem ups that to an even higher level. The song now removes fatigue, eliminates all pain and can heal anyone still alive into making a full recovery.

- Alternate Form: Capriccio - The organ body of Lilith changes form into what can best be described as a mini-battleship that moves on land and possesses an armada of sound and sonic based weaponry. Along with being able to emit sonic wave attacks alongside Miku as it can in its default form, the Capriccio can converge every spot it fires sonic attacks with Miku's voice to make a living sound cannon that fires a beam of sonic energy, the force is so strong that it disrupts all territory based defenses not powered by an Ashcroft device.

- Powers: While in her Inverse Form, Miku's powers are amplified to dangerous levels similar to that of Kurumi's own Inverse Form in its corrupted state, as what normally could combat or protect people while she's in her normal form is now rendered useless due to the dark spirit power breaking all of those limitations apart. Even Spirits who normally aren't affected are at risk should they not be wearing their Astral Dress upon her using the Fantasia to take control of them.

Miku's Mind powers also manifest beyond her sounds, allowing her to manipulate Lilith to a greater degree than she could manipulate Gabriel's powers and abilities, as well as allowing her to hear the emotions in one's mind and allowing her to act in response to them. The most dangerous ability that Miku's Inversion gives her is a silent scream, making it possible for her to use her power without someone ever hearing her use it. Luckily, just like her normal form, her fatal weakness is her powers fail to work on someone who can't hear her song, and if she runs out of spirit power she'll lose her voice temporarily until her mana recovers.

Risk Factors: AAA

Spacequake: A

Spirit's Astral Dress: C

Demon King Rank: AA

Strength: 100

Consistency: 87

Spiritual Power: 191

Agility: 92

Intelligence: 95

"[Next up ladies and gents, for our final act for the day, its' a band performance from Raizen High!]"

The group all turned at that.

"That's our cue, we better hurry down there." Shiori noted, and everyone headed over while picking up their instruments. After doing so, the stage lit up and showed them all to the crowd who began cheering. 'If it weren't for the fact our freedom's on the line, this would actually be kinda cool.'

Everyone got into position, and then... they noticed Origami was suddenly shaking like a wind-up toy.

"Origami, what's the matter?" Shiori whispered.

"I'm sorry, but I think I may have, sort of, kind of neglected to mention that..." Origami whispered back, sweating heavily. "...I have terrible stage fright!"

The whole group pales that.

"What do you mean you have stage fright!? Worse, why wait until this moment? If you had warned us beforehand I could have changed into Miku and just swapped places with you! Now we're pretty much screwed!" Natsumi whispered angrily, making Origami shake more.

Shiori looked at the crowd, most of them seemed confused about why they hadn't started playing yet, this was bad... if they didn't start soon they'd be disqualified. Luckily for Shiori, Tohka managed to quickly think of a plan.

"Origami, your tambourine's right here." Tohka smiled, surprising Origami as Tohka handed it to her. While the group was confused the crowd seemed to buy it and Tohka soon whispered to the others. "Just start playing, trust me."

- (*Date A Live II - Q&A*) -

While none of them knew what Tohka was doing, they did need to start before they got disqualified, soon Kaguya hits her drumsticks to announce the group to start playing. Shiori and Kotori starting jamming on their drums before Natsumi and Yuzuru quickly followed, Kurumi began playing her keytar and Kaguya began beating on the drums.

After the beta picked up a bit, Yoshino and Origami began shaking the tambourines, a stronger beat with everyone playing begins, and then came the fatal moment someone had to start singing. Origami was expecting she'd have to when she couldn't find her voice, but then...

"[Racking my brains over this and that... I begin thinking of unnecessary things, then I can't admit to my mistakes. So I give out excuses, all because of my strange pride!]" Tohka sang as she shook to the rhythm, surprising the others since they had no idea how well she could sing, much less sing as good as she was now.

"[I raise myself high onto a shelf, because I feel human affairs are beyond my mind... but I don't have any intention of admitting that!]" Tohka stretched out her right hand and slowly waved it across her, before putting down and doing the same with her left and then raising it high as she winked at the others.

(Moving through the motions... I shake around like a small tic tac!) They nod as Origami and Yoshino began hit their tambourines by their heads.

(They say go hard and work for it, but how... do I do that!?) Kaguya kept hitting her drums as she spun them between hits.

Their fellow students from Raizen High all wave their glow batons high and cheer at that moment, and that seemed to rile up the crowd alongside them as they do the same. Miku showed surprise as she noticed this.

"[Attention! Question! I'm sailing across the ocean, but now I'm in a storm! How do I... escape it? By just moving forward!]" Tohka sang as she, Origami and Yoshino, with the latter two keeping the tambourines in their other hands, raised their hands up high and waved them like they were waving for someone's attention.

(Yes! No!) Shiori and Kotori wink in response to the words.

(Yes! No!) Natsumi and Yuzuru do the same as the former two.

"[Its yes, I see the horizon coming up just beyond the shore! And its vivid colors, have melted the frozen field of time!]" Tohka jumped up with both hands high in the air.

The glow batons of the crowd were swaying back and forth, the stage lights moving with them.

"[Even though I'm filled with this and that... I still get riddled with needless anxiety, creating things the strangest under the claim that they've necessities!]" Tohka sang, resting a hand to her chest before slowly bring it out as she walks across the stage which lights up and turns purple.

"[I try to be given things to feel great, and feel like I'm actually somebody! Yet that for that reason, I question... am I really free?]" Tohka spins and motions a hand to Kurumi who flashes a peace sign, and then to Natsumi who spins before kneeling to the ground.

(Breaking through the red madness! I mix blue joy with a white sight!) Tohka shoots her right hand up, making the stage turn white and then blue shortly after.

(Even if it's too little... I'll make it become "enough"!) Tohka rocks her left arm to the side as the stage turns red before jumping up, making it take a brief black color before it shatters flashes back to normal.

"[Attention! Question! I'm flying across the wind, but now I'm stuck in a cloud of fog! How do I... dispel it? Start spinning around!]" Tohka waves her hands in the air, making the crowd mimic her.

(Yes! No!) Kurumi and Kaguya both stretch a hand out in response to the words.

(Yes! No!) Origami shakes her tambourine in response to the words.

"[Its no, the hidden path out is just down below! Now that I've escaped, I'll look up at the sky!]" Tohka slowly rose her hands up in an arc shape.

The stage goes green and releases a small burst of light out, distorting the view of everyone on it.

"[The question... remained in my eyes! That answer... keeps ringing through my ears! These words, that have my attention, are just... so... special!]" Tohka sang, simply shaking to the rhythm with her eyes closed.

"[This cipher... its circling my favorite colors! This mystery... its playing my favorite songs! My experiences, they're shuffling around, and its... like... an... new... adventure!]" Tohka kept dancing to the beat, slowly opening her eyes.

Tohka raised her hands, breaking the distortion as the stage went orange. Soon sliding back as Kotori and Shiori briefly took frontal stage, Shiori gave a fast jam while Kotori soon spun across the ground still playing as each of the stage colors used phased by again in a flashing repetition until slowing down and getting back up as the two let Tohka back in frontal stage.

"[Attention! Question! I'm digging into the earth, but now I'm trapped underground! How do I... escape it? Push your hands up high!]" Tohka sang as she waved both her hands in the air, soon shooting them forward and giving an L shape with each hand.

(Yes! No!) Tohka raised her arms up and to her right.

(Yes! No!) Tohka raised them again, but to the left this time.

"[Its yes, the land blocking me has knocked aside! And the sight that's before me, it's the wonderful hue of dawn!]" Tohka spun before jumping back with the others as the song near its end.

Soon everyone got close to each other as they each jammed their last jams and Tohka winked to the ground.

- (*insert song end*) -

At that moment, the crowd all cheered and applauded to their song. Shiori panted from exhaustion as Tohka glomped her and laughed happily.

"We did it, we really did it!" Tohka exclaimed.

"It's all thanks to your quick thinking, why didn't you tell us you could sing?" Shiori asked.

"Uh... I think I was distracted by the tambourine." Tohka chuckled embarrassingly, making the others sweat drop before they chuckled with her.

Jessica zoomed closed to Mana, now equipped with the Scarlet Licorice.

"FIRE! FIRE!" Jessica screamed, launching all the artillery she had in the machine, and Mana failed to dodge due to new upgrades added to it. After clearing from the smoke, Mana noticed some blood trickle from her forehead.

"Crap... we're starting to run on fumes here." Mana coughed, the DEM forces giving them more trouble than initially expected. Soon enough the sight of the reinforcements came. "Uh guys, we have a problem!"

Everyone looked to see what looked to be the Einherjar equivalents to the Alice and Jabberwocky units, these new units were called the Medusa and Drake respectively.

The Medusa units all fly around and form multiple territory barriers to cover the DEM forces while the Drakes open slots to fire multiple beam blasts at them. The AST was all quickly knocked back, most of them crashing against Tenguu Square's roof, leaving only the SSS trio, Saya and Mana left.

"No... this is bad!" Saya sweated.

"That's an understatement, we're the closest to being screwed we could right now." Leonora grunted, sweating a bit.

Chinami stares at the remaining group, motioning Jessica closer.

"We have more important things to do, so do us a favor and die." Chinami declared, drawing Arondight while Jessica readies the Scarlet Licorice for another shot. However right before they could fire... a sudden beam fires from above, smashing through most of all three automaton types.

"What!?" Jessica called out in shock. Right afterwards, something rushes by from high in the air and cuts through most of the wizards' flight packs, causing them to start descending to the ground while Jessica saw the Scarlet Licorice fall off and teleport away for repairs, forcing her to draw her sword Clarent out. "Who did that!?

Her answer came as the attacker soon zoomed into view by the remaining AST, revealing Artemisia wearing the Bahamut. Shortly after, Karen floats down holding a smoking Mjolnir in hand.

"Karen? Artemisia!?" Jessica gasped, even Chinami was worried since these were Ratatoskr's strongest wizards. Artemisia smiles at the others.

"Hey guys, sorry we were late. Karen had to help me fully adjust Bahamut so I would be able to use it full power without any problems." Artemisia replied, soon turning to Jessica with a serious look. "It's been a while since we saw each other, back when I was brainwashed into aiding DEM industries!"

Jessica growled.

"Truth is this is perfect, I've wanted to knock you down ever since I took your position!" Jessica declared, she thrust Clarent forward to release a beam strike, but Artemisia's unique territory formed and pushed it back before she punched Jessica in the chest, throwing her into Chinami's arms as she was knocked unconscious.

"No way..." Chinami breathed, shocked how easily Artemisia overpowered her. Then again, Westcott hadn't updated her Mordred with a stronger model, meaning it was at a disadvantage to what the Arthur and Lancelot CR-Units could take.

"Come on, let's finish these jokes off." Karen stated, readying Mjolnir again. However, she suddenly got a bad feeling and turned around. 'Wait a moment, where's Ellen at!?'

Suddenly the remaining Medusa units all light up and form a barrier to trap the AST in.

"Sorry, but we can't let you interfere with Adeptus 1's work." Chinami declared, readying her blade as the other DEM wizards and automatons grouped around her. Karen sweated as she and the others all rushed forward, hoping to break free of the barrier before it was too late.

Back inside the Tenguu Square Building, each of the school's performing groups were gathered on the stage which was pitch black due to the lights being turned off, they were waiting as the staff prepared to announce the results.

"[And now, here are the results for the 15th Annual Ten-Oh Festival! First off for the entertainment portion of the events, the winner school is...]"

Soon the light appears over Eibunishi High's group.

"[Eibunishi High School, for their amazing Treasure Hunt giveaway!]"

'We won't know the other rankings until the overall vote, so we can't tell how well ours did unless we get First Place on one of them.' Shiori thought, some sweat trickling down her face.

"[Next for the food service portion of the events, the winning school is...]"

The light appears over Senjo University High's group.

"[Senjo University High School! Now finally, for the performance portion of the events...]"

As expected by Shiori's group, Miku had the light shine over her for that one.

"[Rindouji's All-Girls Private Academy! Congrats to you three, now we'll tally up the scores and decide the overall winner of today's festivities! The winner is...]"

Tohka took Shiori's hand, and at that moment Miku turned to her.

"There, you see? You didn't score first place on any event. Without that, you don't have a chance of winning now, it's already clear you've lost. See that? You lost because you were too dependent on your friends." Miku smirked, making Shiori sweat a bit as she cupped her cheek.

"And a promise is a promise my dear, you and all eight the Spirits you've sealed will belong to me now. Isn't that right? No need to worry though, I'll be taking proper care of you so there's no need to be apprehensive-"

Suddenly a spotlight formed over Raizen's group.

"[I don't believe it! In a surprise twist, the winners are the kids of Raizen High!]"

At that moment, Miku suddenly froze and turned to see the result screen... Senjo High was third at 685 votes, Rindouji had scored 727 votes... and Raizen High scored 728 votes, just enough to give them the win!

"What?" Miku gasped, unable to believe what she just saw.

"[Raizen may have no obtained the top spot in any events, but their performance, their haunted house and maid cafe all managed to score at least 240 votes and take all the second place spots! Managing to overcome Rindouji who had a surprise upset by having only their performance overshadow all overs this year.]"

Natsumi soon pulls out her phone and checks the votes.

"She's right, they got 524 votes for this contest. However, their other events barely scratched 100 votes each due to not meeting their usual standards." Natsumi confirmed, showing them. "That means their focus on the performance cost them victory!"

Miku's eyes became distant at that information, while Shiori was hugged by all her girls as they celebrated. Miku's hands began to tremble as if she was having a panic attack.

"You've gotta be kidding me... it doesn't make sense. There's no way they're actually serious about this..." Miku said, her voice looking all shakily as Shiori and the others noticed her having something of a breakdown. "Don't you all know... I'm Miku Izayoi you fools. Understand? Don't you all understand?"

"Oh no... Shiori, do something! I'm getting heavy signs of a you know what! Quick, try to calm her down! Be... uh, I don't know, humble and tell her Rindouji only lost because they ignore their other events?" Maria shouted, starting to sweat in worry.

Shiori nodded, soon turning to Miku.

"Miku-" Shiori tried to say, only for Miku to look towards them with an almost broken look on her face, some of her hair frizzing in the front.

"Just stop... my song won first place, I was supposed to win." Miku gasped out, and now Shiori saw Maria's worries. Though she felt Miku's sanity was more at stake now.

"Calm down Miku, the announcer said it herself. We only one because all three of our events worked together to win, not just the stage." Shiori replied, Miku didn't say anything as she kept staring.

"I mean look at how much you scored for your song? That proves we wouldn't have ever beaten you with our song. You're just too good of a singer, but that wasn't the only contest that mattered. I couldn't focus on them though, so my friends had to work to cover my shortcomings. If you had been willing to let the others run your other events, then we'd have lost no matter what."

Miku only stared more, her eyes starting to be shadowed by her hair as Shiori's words echoed through the air. A certain memory resurfaced through her mind as she was seen speaking before a bald haired man with a goatee. That man? Edgar F. Carroll, the DEM member killed by Westcott during the time Kotori was sealed due to trying to take over DEM Industries.

"Being famous or a TV star, that doesn't matter to me. All I care about is making my music for others to enjoy. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be extra nice with you just to get it." Miku's voice echoed, not aware who she had been speaking to.

Then the sight of a certain magazine article and broken CDs, before seeing a certain face she made in the mirror as she looked like she was screaming came to her mind. All because of the words Shiori spoke.

'I'm... not weak... I'm not helpless! No, I'm not... I'm not!' Miku thought, her thoughts racing as awful memories began to overwhelm her mind. 'I'm not the same person who lets someone like that man ruin everything! I'M NOT'

"Please, you don't have to be alone anymore. I know I saw something different about you when you were on stage. I'm sure that's the real you, let her do more than sing-" Shiori continued, however...

"Shut your mouth." Miku replied, and Shiori suddenly gasped as Miku's body began to emit dark indigo energy... it was starting! "I said... SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"

Suddenly dark indigo spirit power forms and blows everyone back a bit as a gold organ and translucent keyboard formed behind and in front of Miku, but the dark spirit power envelops them creating a silver and black nightmarish organ that looked to be made from the depths of Hell itself, while said translucent keyboard became darker.

The crowd all murmurs in fear and confusion as Miku's form reappears, but now... she was in her Inverse Form. Her usual neat hair had become wild, almost representing how much of a mess her mind was in from the revelation Raizen had won first place, and her hair clip had the moon turn silver while the lilies became black and somewhat wilted.

The choker she had before was snapped down the middle, and her dress had changed into a mostly black, with some dark indigo designs and a bit of red lining in places. Her skirt had shrunken to become fairly short, the sleeves of her dress had melted away and her breasts were almost so little covered that you'd think the dress was meant to fully expose them minus the now smaller flaps that were all that covered her naughty bits. Her midriff was also on full display, a cut exposing it and making her dress look like a jacket.

Her stockings had been cut down to a third of their size, and as black as her dress, while her heels had become high heels and become much spikier in design. Her gloves now didn't cover her fingers, with all that covered her palm and the back of her hand being a small bit of cloth worn around her pointer finger. The bow on her back, as the two large strands were in tatters and strewn with holes.

"She... she entered her Inverse Form! She's not [Diva] anymore, she's... uh..." Maria began, soon thinking for a moment. "...She's a [Siren]."

"Sing it... sing!" Miku screamed, slamming her fingers on the keyboard before her. "Lilith... FANTASIA!"

[FACE MY SONG, AND OBEY MY MASTER!]

Soon Miku's voice screamed out, and her Demon King echoed and magnified the effects of it, Shiori felt her senses overload briefly while everyone else who was hit by it froze like they were in a trance.

Rinne gasped as she felt it coming, and soon activated her Limit Astral Dress as she screamed, forming a thick aura of her power around the Fraxinus as a shield before the sound waves breached out and spread across most of the city, the DEM and AST fighters were unable to hear it due to the Medusa' territories shutting out all the sound.

"Huh?" Mana blinked as she saw the sound wave distortions, and gasped. "Oh no... is Miku-"

Suddenly Mana was slashed by a Drake, causing her to cough up some blood as she dropped onto the territory's bottom. Artemisia and Karen both look before everyone but them suffers the same and look to see Jessica back on her feet.

"No, not this time! I won't lose to you anymore!" Jessica smirked, soon charging another blast. Meanwhile the Fraxinus was taking a heavy hit from the blast, most of the systems going haywire despite Rinne blocking the sound.

"Do something, we gotta at least stay air born or we're dead!" Kannazuki ordered, everyone quickly typing in response while Mayuri and Rio held onto Rinne terrified. Mayuri transferring over to her Android body as her hologram began to have trouble staying stable. "Hurry!

Soon the lights all went out in the ship.

The glow batons everyone was holding dropped, making it look like they all flickered out slowly as the crowd closest to further from Miku had theirs hit the ground. All of the Spirits stared and stopped moving, the heavy feeling of the dark spirit power almost holding them in place.

Soon, the only light in the entire area came from Miku and the Demon King Lilith, and a few screens of light shining on the sides of the auditorium and stage. Shiori stared in horror at the sight before her.

"No... she's used her voice on everyone." Shiori gasped, before her eyes widened. "And the speakers were still on, just how far did her song travel!?"

Miku soon turned to Shiori, her eyes glowing menacingly and any sweetness her face had before was now replaced with complete cruelty.

"They were your friends, weren't they!?" Miku asked mockingly, soon smirking darkly. "So darn reliable and committed... and so easily bent to my will!"

"Miku... stop this, I know this isn't you!" Shiori begged.

Miku soon cackled and tapped her keyboard, causing the entire ground to suddenly stand up and move like zombies without any will of their own. All of the glowing with her spirit mana as it empowered them, a few of the Rindouji girls suddenly grabbed Shiori.

"Oh, and first thing's first... how about you finally drop that filthy transformation!" Miku shouted, blasting a burst of spirit mana at Shiori. It knocked her down, and dispelled Natsumi's transformation, turning him back into Shido who stared in shock. Did Miku just imply she knew he was Shiori all along?

"You think I didn't figure it out? After I realized my voice didn't work on you it was just too obvious, why else would anyone visit a spirit so recklessly? I just ignored it because you somehow actually became a girl, but now I don't give a damn about that. Plus, I'd rather see you destroyed as a man so I don't hold back!"

Shido's eyes widen as he managed to throw the girls to the side and doge a blast of ice and soon some of the shards exploding, he stares in horror as Yoshino was riding Zafkiel, but her eyes were glowing indigo. Natsumi soon floated in her Astral Dress with the same applying to her.

"Uh, uh, uh! We didn't say you could dodge that!" Natsumi cackled, looking at Shido viciously.

"You can't hurt her anymore, we won't let you." Yoshino said, for once showing anger on her face which she never did before. Shido stared in horror as he realized what this meant... Inverse Miku could actually control Spirits.

Soon Shido felt himself blasted with beams of light and gusts of wind as the Yamai twins holding their Raphael bows and Origami focus at him, all with the same eyes marking Miku's control of them.

"Hah, you idiot!" Kaguya smirked.

"You made a foolish choice to bring us all here, and now you'll pay the consequences for that decision." Yuzuru stated.

"Now I see why Nia said you were lucky, because you never consider what goes wrong. It just never had before now." Origami said, using a tone not unlike Chinami's stoic and cold demeanor. "A pot of bad luck that's going to leave you dead."

Suddenly a ring of fire surrounded Shido before shadows grabbed him, and her turned to see Kurumi and Kotori with once again... the same eyes. Shido wasn't even willing to look at Tohka now, seeing her with those eyes? That would be took much after seeing the others with them.

"If you're dumb enough to go against our mistress, then you deserve being torn to shreds!" Kotori cackled, swinging Camael onto her palm.

"Ooh, such a poor idiot. I wonder how we should properly decide his punishment?" Kurumi said, showing a creepy smile.

Miku smirked and prepared a sonic shout while all of the others prepared their own attacks, and a defenseless Shido could only watch in vain as they all fired... but then suddenly purple crystals formed and shielded him to everyone's surprise, and a sandstorm soon blew out and blinded them.

"What the?" Shido muttered in shock, only to feel himself grabbed to the stands where everyone watched Miku's performance. He looked to see Tohka in her Astral Dress... but her eyes were still the same! "Wait a second... Tohka, you're not under Miku's control?"

"Huh!?" Tohka yelled loudly, holding her hands by her ears after seeing Shido's mouth move. "I can't hear you Shido, what did you say!?"

Shido blinked at that... but then it made sense, Tohka wasn't under Miku's control because she didn't hear her. The question is why? She seemed fine until the moment before Miku's inversion.

"Oh wait, I forgot I had these in!" Tohka yelled, soon removing a second headset from one of her ears. "There we go, I forgot to take it out after we finished singing."

"Wait Tohka, don't take it-" Shido warned.

"Too late, now she's mine!" Miku shouted, soon firing her voice at Tohka. The Energy Spirit felt her head shake a bit before blinking, her eyes still unchanged.

"Uh... no? Why should I?" Tohka asked, surprising Shido and Miku. This time Shido had no idea why it didn't work. "Shido, what's going on?"

Shido was confused until he heard a faint static as Maria got through.

"Shido, thank goodness you picked up. What's the situation?" Maria asked.

"Miku's Inversion took control of everyone except me and Tohka, I'm likely immune due to some of the power of mom that's in me from that time she made me seal her. Tohka on the other hand I'm not sure why?" Shido replied.

"Hmm... was there anything different you noticed?" Maria asked.

"Well, Tohka had her... Astral Dress on! I think I get it, the others weren't wearing theirs. She only needed her ears blocked to protect her while she wasn't wearing it. Still..." Shido answered, turning at the situation. "Things have gone downhill, beam us up!"

Maria sighed.

"No can do, the ship's systems have all shut down from the sound wave! You're lucky that Rinne shielded us or the Fraxinus could have fired on Tenguu Square." Maria answered, making Tohka and Shido pale slightly.

"Sorry, but I'm afraid fighting your way out to even just run is all you can do until we get it back up. Right now, Mayuri lending me her electricity is the only reason the headset's even working so I can talk with you. Oh wait, your mom wants to talk."

"Shido, I think I know a way to help you fight back without needing the Spirit Ascension to help you, which admittedly is too dangerous to use where you're at right now." Rinne replied, making Shido listen. "...Summon Uriel!"

Shido blinked.

"Wait, but you just said to not Spirit Ascend! I'd have to use-" Shido tried to reply, but Rinne cleared her throat.

"Let me explain before you jump a gun. After I had you seal me, I had Reine scan your spirit mana and began studying it to see if it had any effects on you, and just recently realized you've gained somewhat of a downgraded level of the Spirit Ascension, passive abilities." Rinne explained, making Shido's eyes widen.

"Each Spirit gives you one. For me, that's a weaker cyan colored Uriel. Not sure about the others, I'll need to actually sense your aura to confirm that for you. For now, at least use my Angel, maybe you and Tohka might be able to free the others from her control, they should still have resistance, you just gotta shock their senses some-"

Shido soon heard the connection fade out, likely from Mayuri using up all her lightning, right as Tohka stomped the ground to make a boulder fly out to counter a gale the Yamai twins shot at them. Seeing this, Shido focused a copy of Uriel that had the pink designs replaced by Cyan ones.

"Just how do we shock their senses? I don't think knocking them out will work, even then we likely won't be able to!" Shido stated, sweating a bit.

"Wait... her Demon King!" Tohka gasped, getting Shido's attention. "It's what let her control everyone, if I can damage it, that should do it!"

Tohka jumped forward, making Shido reach a hand out... only to hold Uriel out as a guard when Origami, Kotori and the Yamai twins flew over towards him with their Angels all aimed and ready to attack. Tohka soon unleashed a large slash wave, only for Yoshino to make an ice barrier to block it.

"Was that all?" Miku mocked.

Suddenly Miku screams a sonic blast, shooting Tohka up into the sky and getting the attention of a certain someone as she did.

"Tohka!" Shido screamed, soon turned as the rest of the Spirits minus Miku swarmed him all at once. Shido swung Uriel to push them back a bit, but Miku sang and they began pushing through. "I... can't hold it!"

"Hah! You fell for it, game over Miku!" Tohka shouted from outside, soon smashing through the ceiling right above where Miku was. Miku and the other Spirits all turned as Tohka flew directly at her.

"Hah! I won't even let you get anywhere near me!" Miku declared with a smirk, soon preparing a sonic scream... only to see Tohka fly right past he. She gasped upon realizing Tohka's actual target was... Lilith! "Don't you dare!"

Tohka swung Sandalphon against the Demon King, causing a huge gash across its body, and only Miku heard its painful screams.

[The pain! It hurts, make it stop!]

Suddenly the hypnotized Spirits all feel the holds on their minds suddenly dispel, all of them crashing into the ground, weakened and drained from Miku's control over them. Shido sighed in relief. Tohka herself collapsed onto her knees, she had taken more damage than she realized.

"They're free now, that's what matters." Shido smiled, only for him, Tohka and Miku to suddenly see a cross shaped attack cut through Tenguu Square's ceiling. After the smoke cleared, Ellen was seen descending through it, having been the one to create it with Caliburn.

"How exciting, for one our plans are going how we want. Looks like Mikazuchi and Bailey's team did their jobs right." Ellen said, a bloodthirsty smile on her face as her pride and arrogance showed without reservation. "Though I had other plans to amend that had it failed."

Tohka struggled to get up, looking at Ellen.

"Ellen, I should have known you'd show up! It won't matter though!" Tohka growled.

"Oh please, I'll just take you under my command!" Miku smirked, firing her voice at Ellen who simply smirked as it passed by to no avail. "No way, that's impossible! You shouldn't be able to avoid my voice!"

Ellen cackled.

"Oh please, as if anyone could sway me from Ike. At least I'd like to say that. What's really the case is 30 years ago, the first Spacequake gave me power that makes me immune to certain effects of Spirit powers, you voice included!" Ellen stated, holding out Caliburn.

"Now time to acquire my targets, all Ratatoskr affiliated Spirits and the Inverse Spirit that they've recently labeled as [Siren]! You're all beaten and exhausted, this is no competition anymore!"

Ellen began zooming down towards everyone, and Tohka's eyes widened before she pushed her legs to jump at Shido, surprising him as she grabbed him.

"I'll stop her! Just get to safety, right now!" Tohka yelled, throwing him towards the ceiling and past Ellen... unfortunately for Tohka, that had been the wrong choice. Ellen quickly stopped and swung Caliburn in the reverse direction her arm had implied. Tohka gasped as Shido was knocked unconscious and grabbed by Ellen.

"Let me guess, you intended to use an attack that would have put him in harm's way if he stayed inside? Just as we expected. Oh, and it seems I made an error with my orders... I'm only set to capture a single target. Shido Takamiya!" Ellen revealed, causing Tohka to gasp. "So thanks for helping me, Tohka Yatogami!"

Ellen began to fly out, and Tohka jumped at her preparing to swing Sandalphon.

"No! I won't let you, release Shido right now!" Tohka screamed.

Ellen swung Caliburn against Tohka's Sandalphon, and to the latter's surprise she was being pushed back, Ellen looked at her smugly as she did.

"You're on your last knees and in a public place, your attacks don't have the strength that stopped me on Arubi Island. As much as I'd like to get my revenge... I can wait at least another day, so say goodnight!" Ellen declared, charging Caliburn and swinging it fast and strong.

At that moment, a large portion of Tengu Square's top half was blown off, and Tohka screamed as she was launched outside and onto the ground. The others doing the same as the blast flung them, even Miku herself was flung near where Tohka landed. Her Inversion quickly came undone upon landing.

"No, this can't..." Tohka breathed, struggling to get up. She looked up to see Ellen flying off with Shido in tow, causing her face to contort in horror. "No... come back, please."

Tohka shed tears as the one scene from her nightmare replayed through her head.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Tohka screamed, crying heavily as her body froze in place and just sobbed. Miku slowly got up, and soon noticed Tohka's face, her eyes widened as she did. "SHIIIIIIIIIDOOOOOOO! COME BACK!"

'That face... it's-' Miku thought, gasping as she remembered.

Miku stood before a mirror, soon shaking in pain, sadness and agony before she made a face as she screamed silently, shedding tears uncontrollably as the image in the mirror would be forever burned into her mind.

Miku suddenly felt her eyes shake, and suddenly... it was if that mirror broke, and she saw all her ugliness.

'This past year... this very moment, what... what have I done!? What did I become!?' Miku thought, soon teleporting away as Tohka failed to notice she had even been there in the first place. There was only one fact that was the truth before everyone right now. The DEM had launched a plan just to capture Shido...

...And for once against Shido's group, they had truly succeeded in every possible way.

Oh... my god... the DEM just had an actual victory, and Shido's been kidnapped! Every possible thing that could have gone wrong for Ratatoskr, Shido and the Spirits actually did go wrong. Worst part? We still don't know what they actually want with Shido, other than it's not good and fully relies on his Spirit powers. Also, looks like Miku finally realized how awful she became, she became the very thing that ruined her long ago.

Not to mention that everyone in AST is injured (Artemisia and Karen's will be shown better next chapter), Mana included, and are in no condition to fight. The Fraxinus is completely inoperable right now too, so quite literally... the Spirits are the only members of Ratatoskr left that can do anything to rescue Shido and stop what Westcott's planning. All I'll say is this, next chapter... it finally begins, but Miku's arc still isn't over yet.

Oh, and I should apologize, I said that the big reveal hidden in the intro would happen here, but writing the Q&A scene took up more of the chapter than I expected and ended up making it so I do need to make a part 4, so that's actually not until next Chapter. Good news though? It's going to happen pretty early in the next chapter so you'll see it soon after you start reading.

We've hit the climax of this fantastic performance, and we've truly hit our darkest hour in this story... so what's going to happen now? Only eight Spirits stand between Westcott and his plans for Shido, Miku's run off and is a mess, we have no idea where Nia is if Shido wasn't seeing an illusion of her earlier during the festival, and most of all... they don't even know where Shido was taken!

So see you next time on what will likely be the final act of Miku Fantasia, where we'll finally close the curtains and begin Season 2's final arc! Until then, stay awesome everyone ^^

-Spirit Bond Levels & Passive Abilities-

Tohka - 98% ( Form a mana barrier automatically )

Origami - 93% ( Teleport Dodging )

Yoshino - 86% ( Dampen enemy territories )

Kotori - 89% ( Healing from fatal wounds minus losing his head, doesn't work on wounds caused by blunt force )

Kurumi - 84% ( Hide in his shadow, and only his )

Rinne - (Summon a weakened copy of Uriel)

Natsumi - 80% ( Transform into Shiori )

Kaguya - 73% ( Flight )

Yuzuru - 73% ( Weight Manipulation )