Date A Re:Live
S2 Chapter 46: Choronzon Havoc, Part 11
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]
Wow! Everyone, you've given me so many reviews in the last few days that I'm honestly surprised, so I wanted to thank everyone for that. It was really nice to hear, I also wanna give a shout out to the author of "Alive A Live" who read this story and found it great, Jack555RIPper ! His story is great, and if you like a character that terrifies you, the reader, this story is for you. So I'd check it out, and for some added trivia? Based on what I've read, his story has the honor of being the first to show Mukuro in any form in a DAL fanfic, so congrats to him ^^
To answer a review from Seeker213: "Normally you'd be right, but that's not what I've planned. For one, the Arbitel can't get any footage, it's only meant for battle. Plus, I think you've missed a few details on why any footage Westcott could get wouldn't do him any good. The DEM main branch's upper half was destroyed half while Choronzon's rooted in the lower half, which would imply to people that they caused Choronzon to appear."
"Also, Marina's fight? She didn't even try to hide her true nature, ripping your opponent in half and then grinding your foot over where a fragment of their body fell does not look heroic at all. As for the Inversions, they've only been fighting their respective counterparts, meaning he'd be showing the real Spirits trying to stop them so... basically, the only footage he can get would aid his enemies' heroism , and makes the DEM look like the villains ^^;"
"The biggest reason why this isn't happening though? Well, that's a spoiler, so you'll need to read the chapter, let's just say even if Westcott planned to do it... he would have been too slow. Oh! Thanks for that insert song suggestion, you were right, it totally fit the mood I had for Yoshino and Inverse Yoshino's fight. As a result, I've decided to add it in there."
Now before we begin the author talk of the start notes, I think you all remember me saying how I'd explain more on how Tohka had already destroyed Inverse Tohka a few times during the multiple fights we've had so far? Well, since Tohka already had her main fight with her, I've made every fight with her dark counterpart, and by extension every time she destroys Inverse Tohka again, all off-screen moments. I figured you didn't wanna see her win multiple times in a row in what would be the same or a very similar manner each time.
To give you an idea of when she destroys her again, any scene where Inverse Tohka's suddenly missing for a moment, Tohka needed a quick break to catch to recuperate, or Inverse Tohka appeared unscathed is when Tohka had just recently destroyed her before Choronzon revived her, so it's already been a good number of times. She is starting to run out of steam though, as while Tohka may be able to turn her willpower into strength to fight with, that doesn't do anything for her stamina or sore muscles. This is the chapter where her fumes will finally run out.
OK, now to officially begin the start notes! This time we'll have Yoshino be taking the stage against her Inversion, and this one's gonna be the most interesting since originally, Inverse Yoshino was none other than Yoshinon before she 'died' and went back into Yoshino. Is that still the case here? Well, a unique way of answering that is while the Inverse Form's body might be the one Yoshinon used only aged up, this Inverse Yoshinon isn't her. She sounds like her and looks like her, but Yoshinon is truly gone even through her Inversion. Hopefully Yoshino can accept that.
As for Tohka herself, how will things go in her case? Her Inverse Form just keeps coming back, she can't seem to destroy it, and because of that... Choronzon's purple eye gem isn't breaking. Makes you wonder, what am I gonna pull out of my bag of tricks for this chapter's big reveal? Well, you might be surprised when it happens. I'll just say now, in this chapter... you're about to see something BIG!
So now with that cleared up, only one thing left to say. Here we go everyone, the Final Round of Inverse Spirit fights... *hits the gong* BEGIN!
The sight of Tohka and Inverse Tohka clashing their Halvanhelev and Paverschlev at each other filled the sky, Tohka shouted as she swung while Inverse Tohka barely showed any reaction... and yet her mouth and eyes began to show slightly irritation. Soon their swords broke and shifted back to normal as each of them slide across a rooftop.
"I don't care... how many times I have to destroy you, because... I'm going to save Shido no matter what!" Tohka exclaimed, holding Sandalphon out. Upon hearing this, Inverse Tohka suddenly showed a more emotional response. Almost as if she wasn't a separate being at the moment.
"What is it with you? What is it... that irritates me so much!?" Inverse Tohka demanded, anger on her face as she held out Nahemah the same way.
[I am not happy with this either, this fight is clearly a mockery to us. How dare you insult our power.]
[Us insult you? Oh please, you're copying my partner's form and face, we're the insulted ones! Now we're gonna end this and make you see the power of a real Spirit! Let's go Tohka, time to take her down!]
Tohka nods, jumping ahead as Inverse Tohka did the same.
'I don't care how tired I am, I'm going to win this no matter what! This is the path I've chosen for myself... and I'm gonna keep walking it! I'll never give up... not today, not ever!' Tohka thought, soon clashing blades with her dark half.
Rinne and the others kept moving on their horses, looking around for Yoshino and Tohka to no avail. Rinne sweated as the current remaining time that was left made her nervous and looked behind her to look at Marina.
"Let me guess, countdown check?" Marina sighed.
"Yeah, countdown check. You mind?" Rinne asked, making Marina sigh again as she opened her one panel and checked before Marina paled. "...It's in the single digits now, isn't it? It has to be."
Marina didn't reply and showed it.
~ETA until the second Chaotic Divergence charge is ready: 8 minutes
"8 minutes!? It'll fire any minute now, what are we're gonna do? Yoshino's still gotta win her fight and I don't think Tohka's found any solutions against purging Inverse Tohka in a permanent manner." Rinne sweated, soon hearing a familiar sound as she turned. "Wait, that's... she made it!"
The ship had its territory up because it couldn't properly use its Invisible Realizer right now, but the Fraxinus EX-Celsior flew overhead as it arrived closer, Rinne waved at it as it hovered near the ground and soon opened up. Reine poked her head out.
"Sorry for the delay, as a precaution we're having the rest of Ratatoskr's available ships evacuating the rest of Europe. We're ready to hold all the survivors. Though we can't get those horses on with us. I hate to say it, but you'll need to send them off for them to survive this." Reine replied, and soon one man got off his horse and rubs its cheek.
"This is where we part ways old Strong Heart, take the herd and get somewhere safe. Don't worry about us, hopefully we meet again one day." The man said, the horse neighs in response. Once everyone got off, the whole herd equines gallop off out of the city towards the safety of the wild. "Alright, every on board!"
All the survivors get on board, and soon Reine looks to see Choronzon flapping its roots, intending to take flight as it tried ripping the last section of its roots out. The Commander of Ratatoskr's Tenguu branch gulped at the sight of the ultimate Demon King.
"So... Shido's inside that thing? Are you serious?" Reine asked, biting her nails slightly.
"Yeah, it is." Rinne confirmed, grimacing slightly. She turned to her and put a hand on her shoulder while smiling. "Don't worry, I'm saving my son and this world. Just keep these people safe for now. Believe in us, because we believe in you."
Reine nods and takes her hand in a brief shake before the Fraxinus EX took back into the sky and flew away from the chaos and hopefully the present gaze of Choronzon's remaining three eyes. The Spirits all turn towards Choronzon right after.
"Alright guys, let's get back in there and find our friends." Mayuri stated, everyone nodded. Though at that moment they saw Marina flying off. "Where are you going!? The fight's over that-"
"It's your fight now, I did my part. All I'll tell you is that the moment you see Choronzon's body break out of the ground and take flight... the rest of the time until another Chaotic Divergence charge will be complete." Marina replied, soon zooming back towards the Arbitel.
"...Rio doesn't like Marina, she makes Rio angry." Rio replied, pouting slightly as everyone but Maria nodded with her. Rinne soon picks her daughter up.
"Come on, even without Marina, we can still do this!" Rinne declared, soon taking flight and leaving a rainbow trail of spirit power that faded into pink shortly after. The other Spirits soon following close behind.
Marina zipped through the air before vanishing from view and reappearing within the Arbitel, everyone looking towards her as she landed inside. Westcott turned to her as she cracked her neck back into place.
"Marina, how well have your efforts been?" Westcott asked.
"How about we let the evidence speak for itself?" Marina smirked, soon having her wires reveal everyone but Tohka and Yoshino's dark spirit power and the possible dark spirit power of Choronzon in her possession. "Only the power of [Sovereign] and [Marionette] are left, and then when we get the chance... Choronzon's power will be ours."
Westcott gave a smug look before laughing a bit.
"Everything's going according to plan, while we may have had a few hiccups today, we'll still be singing our victory song in the end." Westcott smirked, making Marina smirk with him.
"Sir Westcott, if I may ask... how do we deal with the fallout? We have nothing to prevent the world from turning against the whole DEM from this incident. No footage to use in our favor, and even if we did we don't have any footage to actually use." Chinami wondered, and Wescott simply chuckled. "Uh... Sir Westcott?"
Westcott looked forward at the screen showing the outside, the still struggling Choronzon nearly almost free of the ground as its final roots began to shake, the ground ripping slightly.
"Who cares how the world sees us now? What matters to me is what the world will end up seeing me as, that's all my dream needs. It's only a matter of time before everything in this world is reshaped into my own image." Westcott replied, soon cackling heavily. "Only a matter of time."
Zadkiel was seen chasing after its Demon King counterpart, Yoshino making her Angel rush ahead as fast as it could, trying to catch it.
[Master, why are you so determined to catch her? Better yet, why is she running from us? It's the exact opposite of what the other Inverse Forms have been doing so far!]
"Because... I think it's her, it has to be!" Yoshino replied, making her Angel's eyes widen.
[Wait, you're not saying what I think you are, right? Are you seriously thinking that your Inverse Form is Yoshinon?]
Yoshino nods.
[That's crazy, she's already gone! There's no way that it can be her!]
"I don't believe that, Yoshino... whenever we Inverted back when I could do so freely, she was always the one in control. She was part of me. The part of me that represented my Inversion, it has to be her! I know it!" Yoshino stated, trying to be hopeful.
Zadkiel went silent, and it had good reason to... it was more aware of possible reality. Yoshinon had merged with her so often, and Yoshinon had always spoken through its voice, it knew the deceased puppet well because it made her, but couldn't bear to break Yoshino's heart.
After a moment, Inverse Yoshino and Astaroth stopped by a large area that acted like a large arena of sorts, Zadkiel and Yoshino slid to a stop as Yoshino looked at her Inverse counterpart. A familiar eye patch over her eye, the same one from her old Inverse Form.
"Yoshinon, it's me! I know I look different, but I swear it's me!" Yoshino called out, Inverse Yoshino looked at her. Soon she started laughing to Yoshino's surprised. "...Yoshinon?"
"Oh yeah, I'm Yoshinon! I have the same nearly white, pale blue hair. The same glowing red eye, the same voice and personality, and even the eye patch. I'm totally your old friend Yoshinon, aren't I? Oh... wait a second..." Inverse Yoshino stated, soon turning at her as she smirked. The eyepatch evaporated into an illusion.
"No, I'm not! I just share her form, she's been dead as she was since back then! So sorry for your utter disappointment! Face the facts, your friend isn't ever come back. Worst of all... your Angel knew, but you didn't listen."
Yoshino stared and backed up a bit on Zadkiel, the Angel lowered its head as Yoshino teared up and began crying. Finally... the dam broke and Yoshino screamed loudly as she cried, looking at her dark counterpart as Inverse Yoshino cackled at her.
'Yoshinon...' Yoshino thought, shedding more tears as a group of memories entered her head.
A young Yoshino walked through the streets of a town, one that had been ravaged by the Spacequakes back during the time shelters had yet to be created. Yoshino's expression was all shaken and distant, all before her was the sight of many dead bodies. She was one of the few survivors.
"Mother... Father... Big Brother... everyone? Where are you?" Yoshino begged, walking aimlessly as she tried to find them. Her shock was so great she hadn't even realized she had just passed their lifeless bodies. "Where are you? Come on, stop hiding or we won't be able to go home. I have to take my bath, and then eat dinner."
Yoshino soon began walking out of town as it rained, she still hadn't reacted to anything, and then her foot suddenly slid across some mud and she fell down a hill, tumbling down it until she tumbled onto a river and drifted with it as her unconscious body managed to land on a log that carried her above the water.
After a while of drifting across the water, the log eventually hit something and Yoshino was thrown off, but luckily by a shore line. Yoshino slowly woke up and looked at the puddle flowing before her, she saw her distant face... and soon her eyes blinked as she regained her senses, realizing the awful truth.
"They're gone. I'm... I'm all alone!" Yoshino sniffled, tears forming in her eyes before she looked up to the sky and cried heavily. The rain itself got heavier as if it was crying alongside her.
A now teenager age Yoshino was seen walking through a light drizzle inside a forest, after having spent years at an orphanage and having no one adopt her, she finally decided to grab everything she owned and left in the middle of the night.
"Goodbye everyone..." Yoshino waved, soon continuing through the rainy skies of the black night.
As Yoshino walked through the vast forest before her, she eventually found a few bunnies and smiled at them as she watched them scurry. They cuddled together before hiding from the rain and she sighed.
"You all still have each other, be happy." Yoshino smiled somberly. Soon enough, she heard rustling and looked around worriedly, panic filled her heart went... she saw nothing come out from the bushes.
No, not nothing, but rather there was nothing seen, yet clearly there. Some mosaic that hid what was present. Yoshino could however faintly make out that she was seeing what looked to be the silhouette of a small child. It was Rio in her Phantom disguise.
"(Oh! My apologies, I didn't scare you, did I? I wasn't sure someone else would be here.)" Phantom replied, making Yoshino look closer at her before trying to touch her. She felt Phantom's body despite its invisible nature. "(Y-yes, what you see is true! I'm invisible, now... please it! It tickles!)"
"Sorry!" Yoshino apologized, quickly moving her hand away.
Phantom soon noticed the sad look in Yoshino's eyes, and moved in closer to her.
"(What's wrong, why do you look so sad?)" Phantom asked, making Yoshino blink and look at her.
"I'm... I'm all alone." Yoshino replied, and making Phantom blink as Yoshino began to cry. "I lost my family to a Spacequake long ago. Got lost from my home, and now... I just left the orphanage because it was too painful to stay there. I don't want to be alone anymore."
Phantom stared at her, and soon thought a bit before digging through her Sephira Crystals and seeing one of them start to glow.
"(Do you want to make your wish a reality?)" Phantom asked, showing her the Zadkiel Crystal. "(This is a Sephira Crystal. It you touch it, you'll be transformed into a Spirit and gain the power to do that. Know this, there's a group who'll hunt you down to steal it. If you want to turn back, say so now.)"
Yoshino stared at the crystal, she reached out for it only to pull it back... but then reached out again and touched it as Zadkiel bonded to her, forming her Astral Dress around her. She stared at herself as on that very day, her life changed forever.
Yoshino was looking at the horizon alone, sighing heavily at what she saw.
"I wish... I had a friend with me, I don't want to wait... or be by myself." Yoshino replied, and soon the Zadkiel Crystal responded to her.
Without her even realizing it, her outfit changed into a bunny themed rain coat and her teenage form was replaced by an 8 year old's body, something blue formed around her left hand and began to take a shape when...
"Hey there, did you call for me!?" Yoshino looked as a white rabbit puppet suddenly appeared on her hand, making her look shock. She still hadn't realized her age had been reduced, almost like she honestly believed she was as old as she looked. "Allow me to introduce myself! My name is... Yoshinon! We're gonna be best friends, aren't we?"
"Yoshinon..." Yoshino repeated, soon smiling. "Yoshino, I have... a friend!"
Yoshino gasped loudly as she saw Yoshinon starting to turn into blue spirit mana and flickering away.
"No... Yoshinon, Yoshinon!" Yoshino cried, it was finally time for her disappear. Everyone all gave a sad look. Rinne kneeled by Yoshino and put a hand on her shoulder, and looked at her.
"Yoshino, don't hide how you feel. Let Yoshinon know your sad. That way, she can at least go in peace knowing you cared and will always remember her." Rinne stated, and Yoshino sniffles before nodding a bit. She stepped back.
Yoshinon soon weakly moved her head, and after a long silence since she kept getting worse and worse...
"Yoshino... I'm sorry, but... it seems like it's time for me to go. I was... never met to be here, it's time... I gave back... what's yours." Yoshinon cried, her one eye shedding some tears. "You have... others here for you now, you... won't be alone... without me."
"Yoshinon... please, don't leave me. Everything I have now is because I had you. It's not fair... why can't you be here too!? Why do you have to disappear, I care for you so much, you're... you're like my sister." Yoshino cried, hiccupping a bit. Everyone tearing up as they watched.
Yoshinon weakly rubbed Yoshino's cheek.
"Leave? Yoshino, you silly... I am you... I won't be leaving because I'll... always be inside of you. I just won't exist as... my own being. So stay... strong, no matter what... you have to be what I was for you... on your own." Yoshinon continued, soon hugging her. "I love you... Yoshino. Goodbye."
At that moment, Yoshino hugged Yoshinon back before she dispersed into blue particles fully, all of which float into Yoshino. At that moment, Yoshino cried loudly and everyone else begin to shed tears as well.
Yoshino soon gripped Zadkiel tightly, making her Angel looked at her.
- (*Persona 4 - I'll Face Myself*) -
[Yoshino?]
"Zadkiel... tell me, is it wrong for me to get mad at someone like her? Is it wrong that I want to hurt her?" Yoshino asked, shaking heavily.
[...For someone as cruel as this? No, no it isn't.]
Yoshino looks at Inverse Yoshino angrily, and screamed louder as for the first time in nearly forever... Yoshino's powers emitted steam, surprising Inverse Yoshino as it burst out of the Angel who gave a similar roar to her scream.
"OK... maybe I ended up saying a bit too much." Inverse Yoshino mumbled, Astaroth looking a bit worried itself. Zadkiel roared before firing off the steam, causing the dark half to quickly move out of the way before the steam began melting through the whole area with its heat. "Holy shit!"
Inverse Yoshino soon turned to see Zadkiel and Yoshino appear right before them, blasting them with the steam again. Inverse Yoshino screams in pain as her Inverse Astral Dress barely causes her to survive the attack. Astaroth was shaking a bit as well, and the two looked at their originals with glares.
"Alright, if that's how you wanna play it then here we go! HRAESVELGR!" Inverse Yoshino screamed, causing Astaroth's armor to break off and form the rabbit like Mini-Hraesvelgr, they all swarmed around the area before Yoshino and Yoshino sit in place, the Angel soon roaring as a cyclone of ice formed across the area.
"What the? Just what the heck is this thing exactly!?"
Inverse Yoshino was surprised how much Yoshino was able to do compared to usual, was it all because of her anger for mocking Yoshinon? She heard something break and saw the broken automatons that were still slightly producing a territory begin to shatter as ice encompassed them, making her move back slightly.
"Alright then... TRISHULA!"
"SIRYON!"
The two had their Angel and Demon King respectively combine with their bodies like armor, with Yoshino's being more like ice and Inverse Yoshino's like icy flames. They both held their arms out and fires off their respective tornadoes of ice. As Inverse Yoshino's was about to overpower hers...
Yoshinon's single eye sheds tears as a crying whimper begins to escape her mouth, the puppet with Yoshino inside it stares for a moment, but then suddenly the V shaped mouth opens along with the eyes to become blue dots.
"...Then let me be your hero this time." Yoshino said.
"Huh?" Yoshino suddenly gasped, looking at Yoshino in surprise. "What?"
"You remember don't you, why you were born. Why you became more than just a part of me." Yoshino asked, moving closer and cupping Yoshinon's face.
"You were who I wanted to be, someone so brave, so strong, someone not so pathetic. The greatest person that I wanted to become... but I knew it was who I'd never be. I'm just a shy, scared and timid girl who's too afraid to hurt others and just runs away rather than even trying to fight back."
Yoshinon just kept staring.
"I realized it so easily... that I don't like pain, or being scared, I'm a big scaredy cat. I thought anything that feels had to despise them, even when they attacked me I was sure everyone did so was as scared as I was. Maybe I was wrong, I still don't know if I really was or not. When I got afraid, I'd freeze up, I couldn't move, think or speak and that left me doing nothing but standing there hoping I'd be saved. Then you came, you saved me, gave me the strength I didn't have on my own."
"Yoshino..." Yoshinon breathed.
"You were by courage, my strength, and most of all... you were my friend. Now, I want to be there for you. You've given so much to me, it wouldn't be fair if at least once I didn't pay you back for everything you've done for me." Yoshino finally finished, holding onto Yoshinon's hand. Yoshinon's visible eye shined at that.
"You'd still trust me? Even if I end up making another mistake like this one?" Yoshinon asked, and Yoshinon nods at her. Yoshinon's single eye closes before tears come out of it and underneath the eye patch.
"You're... so kind Yoshino, I don't know what I did to deserve you."
Yoshinon suddenly felt herself being pet, making her blush in response.
"W-what are you petting me for!?" Yoshinon asked loudly, still blushing from the sudden contact. "You really are a lucky lecher aren't-"
"It's OK."
Yoshinon blinked in surprise at that.
"I think I get it, you were only trying to protect your friend, not hurting us just because you had the power to." Shido said, smiling at Yoshinon and making the Inverse Water Spirit stare in awe. This man was so forgiving, even after all she had done... she smiled and bopped Yoshino against her forehead.
"Huh?" Shido wondered, then noticed Yoshinon and Yoshino switch places.
"You really don't hesitate to speak your mind, even if you sound like a dork doing it!" Yoshinon said before laughing a bit, making Shido blush slightly. "But still... you're a good person. Right Yoshino?"
Yoshino nods.
"He is." Yoshino replied, soon looking at Shido. "You're someone we can trust, the first people other than Yoshinon... that I can call a friend."
All of the girls suddenly squeal from Yoshino's cuteness, while Shido smiles.
Yoshino's tears flood out before she focused and started to overpower the cyclone with her own, making Inverse Yoshino become the one that needed to hold her attack back, soon shaking in fear and terror.
"Yoshinon, I get it now... you're not coming back. I can beg, scream and cry but it won't happen in any form. So now... with the power that represents you..." Yoshino cried, soon with an intense stare. "I WILL FIGHT!"
Yoshino screams as her cyclone blasts out, the sight of her spirit power manifesting a blue rabbit within the cyclone to the surprise of Inverse Yoshino before it smashes into her along with the entire attack. Inverse Yoshino's eyes widen as it shoots through, and shatters Astaroth apart.
Yoshino soon pants and walks towards Inverse Yoshino as she saw the entirety of her body freeze up, and soon after that... Inverse Yoshino looks at her before sighing as her head was encased in ice... and then her body shattered as blue spirit power. In the distance, Choronzon screamed as the blue eye gem shattered, leaving only the pink and purple to remain.
"Yoshinon... I'll never forget, I promise." Yoshino sniffled, looking at the sky as her silhouette forms briefly.
- (*insert song end*) -
Yoshino soon hears the others all fly into view and see her, she wiped her tears as she did. Rinne looks at her and walks up to her in concern.
"Yoshino... are you OK?" Rinne asked, and Yoshino nods.
"I'm fine, I'm just... putting an old doubt to rest." Yoshino replied, sniffling as she wiped another tear she just shed. She looked at Rinne before breathing. "How many of us left before we've finished all our fights?"
Rinne soon turned to see a purple streak and a dark purple streak flying across the sky.
"Only one more, it's Tohka. The problem this is Inverse Tohka's revival ability... just how many times has she actually beaten her without anything happening to the purple eye gem?" Rinne wondered, looking at Maria. "Think you can trace their spirit mana to find out?"
"I can try, based on possible disruptions of dark spirit power, my estimate is that..." Maria began, soon sensing the ripples in Inverse Tohka's power before gasping. "I can't give a clear number, but I think she's beaten her at least half a dozen to a dozen times!"
Everyone gasped at that, while Rinne began to sweat in worry.
"That many!? Damn it, and we're running out of time before Choronzon's able to start move-" Rinne began, only for the ground to start shaking and tossing everyone around a bit as the sight of Choronzon's final group of roots ripping from the ground. Everyone stared in horror at that.
"No..." Rinne breathed.
~ETA until the second Chaotic Divergence charge is ready: ...EXPIRED
Choronzon began laughing madly before the form of his body shifted as his roots flapped, and soon... it changed into something like a mutant giant bird with a stub as a head, its two eye gems vertical on sad stub to represent its face. It kinda looked like a zombie version of the Pokemon Yveltal if it had a bump for a head and no feet.
"At last, I am free from this building and this land's shackles!" Choronzon laughed victoriously, soon he flew high into the air and after getting far enough, looked at what remained of the continent of Europe after the devastation of 30 years ago.
"Most of this continent was destroyed 30 years ago, now... time to mark the message of my destruction by taking out the rest before I annihilate the entire world! Chaotic..."
Everyone saw the familiar attack begin to charge, even Tohka saw it from where she was and gasped in horror before quickly rushing to the ground. Inverse Tohka simply didn't move, knowing Choronzon would just revive her again if the attack took her out.
"CHRYSAOR!"
Tohka's throne forms before she kicked it and shifted it into its vehicle form and flew off on it, while with the other Spirits...
"Everyone get away right now, he's gonna fire! Move! MOVE!" Rinne screamed, and they all quickly took off into the sky. The people in all the Ratatoskr ships looked in horror, as did some nearby areas in Asia and Africa that noticed the light of that attack.
"...DIVERGENCE!"
The beam of dark spirit fired off in a vertical manner towards the ground, and struck in the crust of England's land, consuming Inverse Tohka before it began ripping through the entirety of England's ground and spread throughout the rest of the continent.
Due to loss of land that connected Europe to other continents from the original Spacequake, the blast didn't spread beyond Europe, though that mattered very little. In just a few seconds... everyone in the vicinity saw the entire continent shatter into nothingness, a debris of rocks falling into the ocean.
The other Spirits, watching from the skies near the edge of Asia, with Tohka watching from somewhere she had managed to land the Chrysaor all looked in horror. Even Mukuro saw it from space, and while she wasn't showing a reaction, she knew the severity of the act.
"All of Europe... it's gone, he destroyed it!" Miku gasped, everyone else was just too silent to speak. After managing to breathe a bit, Rinne tapped her headset.
"Reine, status update... how many people did you manage to evacuate? How many survived?" Rinne begged, she needed to know how high the number of survival was. "Don't lie to me either, if I don't tell me the truth I won't forgive you!"
Rinne heard a shaky breathing sound come from Reine before she answered.
"Based on what I can predict... evacuation was around 75-90%, there's still ships I can't account for and the sudden severity of the attack that may have led to those ships having crash landings. Either way... a whole continent is gone, and even if it was just fauna and flora, there were casualties." Reine admitted, and Rinne's whole body shook.
"Dear god..." Rinne breathed.
Soon enough, the Fraxinus' systems begin to flicker as something begins to manifest, and it wasn't just there either... all across the world and even the Arbitel came a forced broadcast no one could turn off showing Choronzon's body staring at them. Inverse Tohka reformed on his head, sitting on it like a perch.
"Hello people of Earth, before you scream in terror at my visage, I think you should listen carefully! After all... I'm trying to tell you about your entire world's Armageddon!" Choronzon cackled, and everyone watching stayed to listen from pure terror.
"I don't know if most of you have noticed, especially if you live on the opposite hemisphere or on Australia, but I just blew up and destroyed the entirety of your smallest continent. I believe Europe was its name?"
People suddenly started to gasp, and Choronzon smirked as they began to realize the threat he presented.
"In only a short bit of time, I plan to do the same to the entire world, and nothing you can do will stop me! Though before I meet my demise... I thought you should all know a truth about your world from 30 years ago. Because it relates to how I was born today!"
"Born?"
"What is that thing talking about?"
"It's the incarnation of the Spacequakes, they're finally going to kill us all!"
"Someone help us!"
People all began flying into a panic, and Choronzon continued as they did.
"Beyond three decades ago, many people visited an area of the world and those who fell in were said to be lost forever... but that was false, they didn't die. They fell into another world similar to this made of energy, with a race of beings that were powerful yet pacifistic human-like creatures also born of energy known as the Spirits. They took care of the Humans, until 30 years ago a project was made to bring them back."
"That project succeeded and all the Humans returned to Earth, and all of them intended to welcome the Spirits to their world from the gate that had formed between them. However... one man had been the reason those people ended up there, and it was part of a plan to create that gate. Once he did, he destroyed the Spirit Dimension just because he was a sick bastard! Oh, and the best part? He's the reason you're always getting hit by Spacequakes!"
People suddenly went wide eyed and murmured, while Westcott just watched bored at the whole thing.
"How interesting, I personally enjoy someone who's vain attempts to struggle against me become so grand. Murdoch was a prime example." Westcott commented, while Chinami just stared at his odd choice of reply. Then again, the others always pointed out her own oddities so she had no room to talk about his.
"Only a single Spirit survived the massacre, and yet she still had faith in all of you, faith in Humanity... but the souls who died knew the truth. That man was your method of destroying us, you used our own pacifistic nature to make us defenseless! You're all power hungry, and now... I'll be casting judgment by bringing you and your world to extinction! All of you have this man, and this man alone, to blame for all this. His name is..."
Soon the screens show an image of Westcott's face, surprising most of the world as the man who ran DEM Industries and invented the Realizers to help the world recover from the Spacequakes' devastation was being labeled as the one who caused it to even happen.
"That's right, Sir Isaac Ray Pelham Westcott is the culprit! Think about it... who else could have known how to use magic to make that so-called Realizer tech of yours over than the one who destroyed the world that it came from!?" Choronzon roared, and everyone murmured while still panicking.
"Choronzon actually exposed Westcott? Dear god, after everything's over... what's gonna happen to the world? What will Westcott do, what will... my goodness, I don't even know what to say or think anymore." Reine breathed, the shock overloading her.
The sight of the Spirits fighting against Choronzon and her Inverse copies he had created along with the Rinne clones were soon scene.
"These beings are humans who've been blessed with the power of Spirits and become Spirits themselves, trying to fight back and be your ridiculous hope before my power swallows them! Enjoy the time you have left, because there is nothing that can stop me now!" Choronzon finished, soon cackling madly.
Tohka stared at Choronzon angrily, and soon she screamed as she formed Halvanhelev before she rushed forward to attack him. She held her blade up high as she prepared to swing down on Choronzon and her Inverse counterpart.
"I won't let you! I won't, give me... back... SHIDO!" Tohka screamed, swinging down on the blade. Only for Inverse Tohka to stop it with her bare hand. Tohka gasped as she suddenly coughed out blood and gasped as she saw she reached her limit. 'No, I... I can't, not yet. Please body, just a bit more strength!'
[I'm sorry Tohka, but... I don't have any more power to force out either. The last of our steam's fumes, we're all out!]
Tohka stared in horror before Choronzon's lower roots, which were acting like a tail, constricted her tightly and nearly choked her. Choronzon laughed as she showed her to everyone watching.
"Tohka! You bastard, let her go now!" Rinne declared, causing her and the other Spirits aside from Mukuro to all rush at Choronzon.
The ultimate Demon King turned at them before widening his pink eye, creating a strong was so fast no one had time to react, and soon it felt like a heavy hammer hit them all and sent them to the ground. Choronzon laughed again as he shifted to show their downed forms while Rinne looked weakly.
"No... Tohka, Shido... this can't be it."
"Do you see that Humanity? The only ones fighting for you, the only ones who could fight for you, they have all fallen! As of now... your world is finally doomed, all of you shall fall into the shadows of despair! Though if you still don't believe me..." Choronzon stated, moving his eyes like a smirk.
"While I may have separated the dark power that was created by Westcott and infected her source of power, using it to make the identical woman you see standing before me... I can do so much more than that, so I shall turn your hope into despair itself!"
Tohka and everyone all gasped as Choronzon's pink eye gem glowed, and Inverse Tohka soon moved to Tohka before putting her hand on her and began pouring out dark spirit power like a wildfire. Tohka screamed in pain, and soon everyone noticed her body start to flash, slowly being forced into an Inversion!
"TOHKA!" All of her friends screamed, while the rest of the world all screamed as Choronzon's cackling gets louder and louder. Assured that he would have a complete and flawless victory as he destroyed the world.
'No... Shido, I'm sorry... I couldn't protect you. I broke our promise.' Tohka said, feeling her consciousness fade away.
Within Tohka's mind, Tohka's consciousness manifested as her mental age, representing its form as what she looked like when she was only 7. She was crying and sniffling as she walked through a dull and dim realm of snow, trying to find Shido with no success.
"Shido, where are you... tell me, please! I'm scared! I need you, please!" Tohka sniffles, and as she did, the sight of an equally young Inverse Tohka suddenly grabbed her and held her into the air.
"Shut up, I'm tired of your whining. I told you before... you will be the messenger of our rage!" Inverse Tohka stated, tightening her grip. "Now, it's time you accept that role and stop-"
Tohka kicked Inverse Tohka in the face, surprising her.
"And just why do I have to act on your stupid hate and vendettas!? You think it's any more right to do this, to use and force someone as... as your tool? I don't want this, I'm a living being... and yet you treat me like an object! Is that what the true Spirits did!?" Tohka cried, making her Inverse counterpart stare at her.
"Rinne said... you're the souls of every Spirit who lived in the realm that my powers came from. I get it, your world was destroyed, but you can't just have a single individual define an entire species. If that's the case, then we could say all Spirits are evil because you caused 6 billion Humans to die with the Spacequakes!"
Inverse Tohka's eyes sharpen and she slammed Tohka onto the ground.
"Shut up, don't justify yourselves! That's just karma, getting what you deserve, and you attacked us first so turnabout is only fair play! Now time for you to-" Inverse Tohka shouted, preparing to knock out Tohka and fully complete the takeover... only for a hand to grab her.
"No, don't involve her. She's not to blame. In fact, no one is but me for being too blind to see I was being used. Humanity doesn't deserve to be a target because I chose to fall in love with Rinne, and neither do your souls for the anger that's been lashing out at Humanity."
Inverse Tohka and Tohka both turn at the sound of the vice, and show shock as they see... Seigo Takamiya standing before them!
"It's you, you're the one who corrupted the mind of our kind's only survivor! The one who made her a Human sympathizer!" Inverse Tohka growled, looking at him in anger and trying to attack him. However, he grabbed her other rest and held her down as she looked at Tohka.
"Tohka, it's been so long hasn't it? I've seen your physical form... you've grown into such a beautiful young lady. My son's lucky to have a girl like you who loves him, and wants nothing more to protect him." Seigo smiled, and Tohka's eyes shook before she cried. "Hey, don't cry Tohka."
Tohka sniffles and looks at Seigo.
"How am I not supposed to? Shido is still trapped in Choronzon, I have no power left, and I'm begin forced into my Inverse Form and likely I'm going to lose myself to it. I'll be gone... I wasn't strong enough to protect him. I broke our promise!" Tohka sobbed, and soon she felt Seigo rest her head on hers.
"Seigo?"
Seigo looks at her, and gives an apologetic look.
"You've had a terrible burden, and I won't say I understand it. I don't know how that burden feels... and I may never know. After all, I'm technically dead by all means, my memory is all that lives on now. However, let me ask you this Tohka, you know why Shido inverted, right?" Seigo asked, and Tohka lightly nodded.
"That's right, don't you get it? You are his hope. The light that stops his suffering, it's not just you either, but your light shines the brightest. That's because it's also true the other way, and the reason for that is... you know in your heart he's the one thing you want to protect and treasure more than anything else."
Tohka gasps lightly, and soon Seigo smiled at her.
"If you don't have any more strength, then wish for Shido to let you share his with you. Look at how much you've grown recently. Natsumi, Kaguya and Yuzuru, Miku... you were the one that let their hearts open to Shido's. You're not alone, and you will not give in. Shido is your hope, as long as he's alive... you won't fall to despair!"
Tohka's heart suddenly began to glow, and her Sephira Crystal shined brighter, surprising Inverse Tohka as Tohka put her hands on it. Seigo looked at her before he nodded, and Tohka's eyes teared up as a certain pair of memories began to shine in her mind.
Tohka held onto the leg of her mother as she and her father where present in a building, today was the day they would attempt to bring Seigo and the rest of the Humans stuck in the Spirit Dimension back home. Unlike her current day self, her hair was black because the original Spacequake had yet to change her in any manner.
"Mama, I'm scared... I just wanna go home." Tohka whimpered, hugging her mother's leg tighter. Tohka's mom, a beautiful and curvaceous lady with long black hair and a gifted bust that showed where Tohka got hers from, wearing a black shirt and a white lab coat with a purple skirt. She looked at her daughter before soon rubbing her head.
"Don't worry sweetie, it'll be OK. This will be real quick." Tohka's mom replied, making Tohka nuzzle into her leg to calm herself.
Soon, the attempt to open the gate began, and after a while... Seigo soon fell through it with his children in tow, and before the three of them knew it... they were standing in front of Reine who gasped.
"Big brother... you're finally home!" Reine cried, hugging Seigo close. Seigo blinked and looked around before smiling as everyone cheered. They had finally gotten Seigo back to Earth and connected both words. Tohka stared in shock at the sight before her.
"Papa, who are these people?" Tohka asked, surprised and confused. Her father was a tall and handsome man with shoulder length black hair, styled in a messy yet attractive manner, wearing a white lab coat with a purple shirt and khaki pants.
"These are some of a few people we were trying to bring back home, and we succeeded." Tohka's father smiled, and soon Tohka looked at them... and her eyes met with Shido's. The two looked at each other, both blushing a bit as they did. "Come on, go say hi."
Tohka was briefly pushed away by her father, and soon she stopped by Shido, both of them still blushing.
"H-Hi, my name is... Tohka Yatogami." Tohka introduced, blushing with a nervous face.
"Hi, I'm Shido Takamiya. You're pretty." Shido greeted, making Tohka blush a bit more... but oddly made her smile a bit. "Nice to meet you."
Days soon went by, and Shido and Mana were currently living with Tohka and her parents for safety reasons due to Westcott's actions.
However today was special because it was April 10th, meaning it was Tohka's 7th birthday. Tohka's mom brought in the cake and placed it down, making the now purple haired Tohka smile at it.
"Alright, make a wish Tohka." Tohka's mom smiled, making her daughter nod before she breathed in and blew all seven out. Everyone cheered before Tohka smiled and blushed a bit, Shido looked at Tohka's parents.
"Mr. and Mrs. Yatogami, can I take Tohka outside to give her my present first? I wanna do it with just us." Shido asked, making Tohka's mom gasped silently before giggled. "What is it? Why are you laughing."
Tohka's mom began giggling a bit more before looking at the confused Shido.
"Oh nothing, I just think its adorable. Go ahead Shido, just don't take too long, OK?" Tohka's mom replied, and Shido nodded as he grabbed Tohka's hand and took her outside. Tohka's mom rested her head against her husband's shoulder. "Ah, young love. Reminds me how early we married and had our precious Tohka."
"Careful how you say that sweetie, or we'll feel old way too early." Tohka's father chuckled, making them both laugh in response. "Oh, wait a second, we can't for the same reasons as Reine! Boy, I sure walked into that mist of laughing gas."
Once outside, Shido took a small gift box of his pocket, holding the present he brought for Tohka as he held it out to her.
"Come on and open it." Shido said, smiling as held it.
"OK!" Tohka smiled, fully of energy as she takes the box and opens it, when she did she gasped as what she saw. It was a butterfly themed ribbon she saw a few days ago inside a store window, but her parents already did so much for her that she didn't have the heart to tell them she wanted it.
"You actually bought it for me? I love it Shido! Thank you so much, you're the best!" Tohka shouted cheerfully, hugging Shido close to her. Shido smiled as her pet her head, making her blush happily. "Hey, Shido?"
"What is it?" Shido asked, curious what Tohka wanted to ask him.
"What I want most in life is to protect you, so I can always hold you close like right now." Tohka smiled sweetly, making Shido blush a bit.
"Your welcome, it only felt right. Consider it a promise from me too, cause I'm gonna make sure to protect you too! We'll always be together, and when we get older, then we'll get married." Shido said, holding out his pinkie to her. "Promise?"
"Yeah!" The girl smiled as she nodded, wrapping her pinkie around his. "I'm happy, very happy Shido. I love you... let's always be together."
"Of course, we'll always be together." Shido said, and the two hugged each other close.
Tohka's eyes widen and she gripped that area of her heart tightly, looking at Seigo.
"Now go, half a year ago, Shido saved you when you fell into despair... now it's time you do the same. I know you can, so take that monster out and do just that!" Seigo smiled, soon vanishing and leaving her young Inverse Form to fall on the ground.
"Shido..." Tohka breathed.
She saw their first meeting, the day their feelings first formed.
"Shido..."
She saw the day he gave her the signature ribbon she's treasured ever since.
"Shido..."
Then finally, she saw the memory of their first kiss and reunion.
"SHIIIIIIDOOOOO!"
Tohka's body flashed, encompassing her entire mind. Her dark counterpart stared before screaming as the light blinded her
Choronzon kept cackling, seeing Tohka about to fully complete her Inversion, when...
- (* Magi, Adventure of Sinbad - Guidance *) -
...He suddenly saw Tohka grab Inverse Tohka's hand and force her off, suddenly releasing a surge of spirit power as she manifested her Astral Dress fully. Everyone who saw it was shocked at this result, especially Choronzon and her Inverse counterpart.
"Never! I won't fall here, I refuse to fall here! Do you hear me Shido? I'm coming to save you!" Tohka shouted, suddenly creating more spirit power than Inverse Tohka's as it poured out of her like a refracting prism.
"Whoa! What... what's happening!?" Maria gasped, unsure of what she was seeing. Suddenly she looks at the other Sephira Spirits who begin emitting rings of light as their Limited Astral Dresses begin glowing. "Everyone?
Each of their elements wrapped around them before shifting into the form of their Astral Dresses, causing them to finally manifest fully. Everyone stared as this happened, unsure of what was causing it.
"Wait, everyone! Look at Tohka's Spirit power!" Rinne gasped, and as everyone in the world saw via the broadcast, even shocking those who were in the Arbitel. Tohka's spirit power wasn't just dispersing Inverse Tohka's... it was getting brighter, becoming the opposite of the dark spirit power!
"I've... I've never seen this, what is she doing? Just what kind of power is Tohka drawing on? Please, if there's an answer out there I need to know it!"
Inverse Tohka showed fear as she tried to flood more dark spirit into Tohka and overcome her original's power, but her original refused to falter.
"No, don't fall to it! Don't fall into despair! Shido is your hope, so don't you dare let him go!" Seigo's voice echoed out via Tohka's spirit power, making Rinne's eyes widen as she heard it. She looked to see an illusion of Seigo by Tohka's side.
"Seigo..." Rinne breathed, shedding tears at the sight. Then she gasped. "No way, could it really be possible? This miracle is..."
Tohka soon felt her mind in a realm similar to the one she felt herself in when she went through her Inversion, a white realm swallowed by her dark spirit power before it grabbed her like a hand's tight grip as she floated away holding a distant look.
This time, the realm was black, but was being illuminated a spirit power so bright, it was almost white instead of purple. (A/N: Think her Full Form's spirit power when she makes her final attack in the movie) This time it swirled and enveloped her as she floated closer with an unyielding look.
"SHIDO!" Tohka shouted loudly, her eyes becoming two shining pools of light.
At that moment, the new and unknown spirit power exploded out like a radiant star shining across through the darkest night. Inverse Tohka screamed as the light burned through her, blinding everyone who had to cover their eyes... and making Choronzon gasp as he saw the purple eye gem finally be broken!
"WHAT!?" Choronzon screamed in horror as he saw the purple gem break, and soon looked at Tohka's form enveloped within the mass of her new spirit power.
Soon the cocoon of Spirit power dispersed and blasted outwards, knocking Choronzon to the ground and dispersing the dark energy covering the area. When everyone regained their visage of Tohka... what they saw ended up shocking them all, even Rinne!
Tohka's butterfly ribbon had become slightly longer and the sharper aspects of its Inverse Form variation were present, but more curved to give it a graceful shape like a rare and exotic butterfly.
It had become a very bright and vivid purple as well, its black stripes all white, while the gold parts of it had become a crystal-platinum color with an iridescent sheen. A color scheme that has transferred to the rest of her new Astral Dress, which had become a fusion of both her normal and Inverse variations.
Her shoulder guards, gauntlets and their finger gloves were those of her normal form, but now the petal like cuffs had a second layer within, hiding between the gaps the original cuffs made, while the actual gloves themselves were no longer black but a bright white.
The middle area of her outfit was where the biggest fusion between the forms was seen, as it was mostly Inverse Tohka's midriff revealing outfit, but with the sections actually connecting and having some cloth of light form in between, only stopping at the area below her breasts. The part by her waist was also stretched out to look more like gym shorts than barely covering her unmentionables.
Tohka's ballgown like skirt had the side guards of her Inverse Form on the front and her normal form's side guards were just behind them. Both had their petal like extensions, with her normal form's extensions on top, the skirt's top half hiding her waistline the top half of her legs' skin. The inverse form's extension were directly underneath them, and the lower half of the skirt was translucent to show her stockings and her boots which were that of her Inverse Form's, only slightly larger and sleeker.
In her hands, the sight of what looked like a version of Nahemah in Sandalphon's colors, only less evil and deadly, and more noble and legendary was seen. Though presumably it wasn't Sandalphon if she was in a form like this. Tohka's purple hair waved in the wind, now having a dark purple-to-bright purple gradient colored hair in it, and soon she opened her eyes where were the purest purple anyone had ever seen.
Tohka soon gave a hopeful smile, while Choronzon shook in horror at the sight, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
- (*insert song end*) -
"What... what is this!?" Choronzon screamed in horror, unable to believe the sight before him. Tohka hadn't entered her Inverse Form... and yet this wasn't her normal form either. Just what was this power she had now? "What have you done!"
"I refused to fall into despair Choronzon, so get ready! It's time you faced..." Tohka answered, soon holding her evolved Angel out towards Choronzon.
"...THE STRENGTH OF MY HOPE!"
TA-DAH! Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to the very concept I've wanted to bring up this entire season! Where this is shadow, there must be a light to case it, and where there is despair, there must be hope that creates it when its lost. As a result, I created a counterpart to the Inverse Form born of extreme hope that's based on the Ain, Ain Soph, and Ain Soph Aur of the Sephirot. Say hello to... the Ethereal Form!
And yes, this is the very thing that's needed before a Spirit can max out their bond with Shido, they literally have no way to reach 100% until they can do this, it's pretty much putting complete trust in Shido and the hope he's given them. I will say this, Tohka may have accessed it, but that doesn't mean she's necessarily learned how to transform at will just yet... oops! Gotta stop there, that's all I can say without spoiling something.
I can say next chapter will reveal how this form came to be, because just like the Inverse Form, it originally didn't exist and therefore only the ten Sephira Spirits have the power to use it. Ultimately, I am so glad I finally got to type this chapter and introduce it! I mean it! This is one of those times you write a story and want to have a certain scene typed so bad it nearly drives you insane!
Well, there you go, this is why Westcott can't turn the situation in his favor... Choronzon beat him to it and yet Westcott doesn't care. I actually consider this in character for Westcott because he doesn't really hide this from his company, I mean... Murdoch tried to assassinate him with satellites and no one considered it overkill! In Vol 15, Westcott was actually pleased that Elliot actually gave him a hard time, so... yeah. I will say the next chapter will show why the world finding out doesn't limit him or his allies at all.
Well everyone, get ready... because next chapter is the Season 2 finale, and then after that you can expect the Ars Install and Rio Reincarnation movie arcs before we finally get to Season 3! I'm glad you've enjoyed my story so far, and now... let's finally bring this chapter of it to a close. The battle against Choronzon and Ethereal Tohka is about to begin! Now go for it Tohka, take him out for all the damage he's done and for destroying all of Europe, end this nightmare with every bit of power you have!
So that's everything for now everyone, see you next chapter. Until... stay awesome! ^^
-Spirit Bond Levels & Passive Abilities-
Tohka - 100%, MAX (Form a mana barrier automatically)
Origami - 95% (Teleport Dodging)
Yoshino - 90% (Dampen enemy territories)
Kotori - 92% (Healing from fatal wounds minus losing his head, doesn't work on wounds caused by blunt force)
Kurumi - 87% (Hide in his shadow, and only his)
Rinne - (Summon a weakened copy of Uriel)
Natsumi - 84% (Transform into Shiori)
Kaguya - 78% (Flight)
Yuzuru - 78% (Weight Manipulation)