I don't own Kamen Rider W or Symphogear G. Those belong to the creators. I'm doing this story for fun, not profit.
Case 9: When You Stop Being You
Thanks to Ver using the Solomon's Cane, Nastassja was able to locate him using her equipment.
"Found him. Maria, contact Shirabe and Kirika and give them the location." Nastsassja told Maria.
"Yes, Mom." Maria said as she contacted Shirabe and Kirika, and Nastassja was about to enter the cockpit to take off and head to Ver's location…
"Oh did I arrive at a good time?" Nastassja and Maria turned and saw that Ryubee had entered their mobile base.
"Ryubee-san." Nastassja said.
"Actually, you arrive at the 'worst' time." Maria told him and Ryubee was offended to hear that as he gasped and placed a hand on his chest.
"My, my, Maria-kun, that's hurtful. I thought you were raised with better manners than that." Ryubee said.
"Oh don't give me that fake modesty." Maria said and Ryubee smirks.
"Maria, stop! Now is not the time for that." Nastassja told her and Maria bit her lip as she lowered her head, and Nastassja turned to Ryubee. "I apologize for that. But I assume the reason you're here is because you've brought him."
"But of course. Why else would I be here?" Ryubee said as he turned to the door. "You may come in now."
The door soon opened and walking into the room was a man, who couldn't be seen due to the shadows. When they saw the man, both Nastassja and Maria narrowed their eyes.
"So this is him? The associate you told us about?" Nastassja asked.
"But of course." Ryubee answered as he looked at the man as well. "I know he doesn't look much, but I assure you, he'll make a wonderful addition to your cause. Now, no need to be shy, please introduce yourself."
The man bowed his head at Nastassja and Maria.
"A pleasure to meet you, Nastassja-san, Maria-san. My name is…" He said as if there was only silence when he told them his name.
(Bloody Stream by Coda)
(Instrumental)
(Mitsuki and Philip are seen walking together, Mitsuki putting on his hat and Philip closing his book, and they point at the screen before the title appears in front of them.)
(Shijima no soko kara…)
(Mitsuki is in his office going through his case files, before Kanade handed him a cup of coffee that he happily accepted.)
(Mezameru sono hashiratachi toki wo koe…)
(Philip was having his usual interesting research moment as he was writing on his whiteboards, before he accidentally wrote on Chris's face as she was walking towards him, Philip flinched before Chris slaps on his face. Then images of their friends and allies appeared one at a time.)
(Shinku no chishio ga…)
(Ryu is seen looking at his Accel Memory before he walks forward.)
(Tachiagaru yuuki wo hikiawaseru!)
(W, Accel, Hibiki, Tsubasa, and Chris are seen surrounded by Noise before they turn to each other and nodded before they charge at the Noise battling against them.)
(Uketsugu ai wo sadame to yobu nara!)
(The mysterious Shroud is seen walking in a dark alley before she turns to the screen showing her white bandage covered face with black sunglasses.)
(Hohoemu me de tsugi no te wo…)
(The Nephilim is in its cage with Ver looking at it with an evil grin before the Nephilim roars. Then images of the Kamen Riders and Symphogear users' enemies appear one at a time, before finally showing Ryubee looking above the Gaia Well.)
(Yami wo azamuite setsuna wo kawashite! Yaiba surinuke yatusra no suki wo tsuke!)
(Shirabe wearing her black Symphogear armor fires from her head compartments, then to Kirika swinging her scythe around and finally to Maria wielding her lance as she uses her HORIZON†SPEAR attack.)
(Tsuranuita omoi ga mirai wo hiraku!)
(The three black Symphogear users are standing atop a stone pillar looking down upon W, Accel, Hibiki, Tsubasa, and Chris as they get ready for battle. Then an image of a younger Maria reaching out to her sister Serena appears, and then shows the present day Maria looking at Airgetlám in sadness before a teardrop falls from her eye and onto the pendent.)
(Like a Bloody Storm atsuku Like a Bloody Stone! Ketsumyaku ni kizamareta innen ni…)
(W in his Cyclone-Joker Form is seen doing some kicks and punches as he was spinning around, and changes into his Heat-Metal swinging his Metal Shaft around, and soon changes to his Luna-Trigger firing with his Trigger Magnum, and changes to his Fang-Joker attacking with his Arm Saber, and the final spin shows W in a new and unknown form.)
(Ukiagaru kienai hokori no kizuna nigirishimete!)
(Now both Kamen Riders and Symphogear users alike are seen standing side by side as the Nephilim in its final form looking down at them, as the floating city the Frontier raises to the moon.)
In the Section Two base the operators gave their report of their pursuit squad.
"Intelligence has lost contact with the pursuit squad!" Sakuya told Genjuro.
"We're also detecting a Noise-materializing pattern. It's probably..." Aoi told him and Genjuro lowered his head in some sadness but soon hardened his resolve as he raised his head and gave them his orders.
"Send Tsubasa and Chris-kun now! Also contact W! Secure the man with Solomon's Cane, no matter what." Genjuro ordered them.
That is when Sakuya and Aoi had detected a waveform pattern on his computer.
"I'm detecting a different high-output energy pattern than that of the Noise!" Sakuya told him.
"Analyzing it now!" Aoi said and came up on screen was the name 'Gungnir', which was much to everyone's shock and horror. "Don't tell me…"
Then the screen changes to Hibiki's waveform status which further tells them that she was the one battling Ver and the Noise under his command.
"The...Gungnir…" Genjuro mutters.
(With Hibiki)
Starting from that very fist, Hibiki had slowly changed into her Symphogear armor.
Hibiki's fist pierce through that very Noise's body, splitting it in half as it turns to ash. Hibiki then roared as her punch sent a shockwave, which frightened Dr. Ver as Hibiki stood in front of him.
"This fist...My life…" Hibiki said as she tightly clenches her hand in front of her and glares at Dr. Ver. "They are Symphogear!"
Then the scar on Hibiki's chest lights up as her body started to glow as well, and Hibiki felt intense power and heat coursing throughout her body.
'Power is bursting forth within me…' Hibiki thought a leaf flew towards her but the moment it made contact on her shoulder it was set on fire as it burned into ash in front of Dr. Ver.
"What?!" Dr. Ver said in shock as he could feel the intense heat from Hibiki reaching him.
Miku and the others could feel the heat as well as they stood behind Hibiki.
"This heat…"
"Is it from Tachibana-san?"
"What's going on?"
"You always show up at the worst times, and ruin whatever I'm doing!" Dr. Ver shouted in rage as he summoned several more Noises with the Cane, but Hibiki wasn't intimidated by their numbers as she began to sing and assumed her combat stance.
(Cue: Seigi wo Shinjite, Nigirishimete)
Hibiki soon begins to battle the Noises as she dodges two attacks from one of them and punches on it, and kicks another Noise charging at her and lands two punches on another Noise in front of her.
As she was fighting, Miku couldn't help but feel worried about Hibiki.
Hibiki soon jumps in front of a group of Noises and begins punching and kicking through them one at a time as she keeps on moving forward.
"Hibiki…" Miku mutters.
"Always! Always! Always! Always! Always! Always! Always!" Dr. Ver said in rage and frustration as he summoned more Noise with Solomon's Cane.
Hibiki's gauntlet soon changes forms as the turbine rapidly spins as the Noises move towards Hibiki, and the thrusters on Hibiki's ignited as she charges at them.
"There!" Hibiki shouted and Dr. Ver started to mumble in fear she was getting closer to him.
Then an explosion appeared from Hibiki's attack, and as it died down the Noise that was under Ver's control soon turned to ash.
Dr. Ver was becoming more desperate as he summoned more Noises with the Cane and they soon moved towards Hibiki to battle her and Hibiki readied her fist to battle them.
The pistons attached on her boots extend as she readies her fist and jumps at the Noise in front of her using her pistons to give her a boost, and Hibiki smashes through the Noises with her fist as she heads straight towards Dr. Ver as he screams in fear but then to Hibiki's shock a large disk appeared and blocked her fist.
(End of song)
"A shield?!" Hibiki said before she saw Shirabe and Kirika wearing their armor as they stood behind Ver.
Shirabe was using her Gamma Style: Friction Blades to block Hibiki's fist as Kirika was behind her giving Shirabe support as she used her Sealed Strike: Pinocchio to secure herself on the ground as the blades were stabbed into it.
"A saw, in fact." Shirabe said.
"Shirabe-chan? Kirika-chan?" Hibiki mutters as she was surprised to see them here.
"My Shul Shagana is actually far more versatile than its scary appearance would indicate. It's an effective defensive weapon, as well." Shirabe told her.
"Even so, the two of us at full strength are just barely managing to hold her back." Kirika said as she and Shirabe were slowly being pushed back.
"I'm sorry, Kiri-chan. I can't brace myself with these heels." Shirabe told her partner.
"It's fine!" Kirika assured her.
The tiltrotor was seen flying in the air as it was cloaked as Nastassja, Maria, and their new ally were heading to Kirika, Shirabe, and Dr. Ver's location.
"Heretical technology, based on the Sakurai Theory, is not the exclusive domain of the Special Disaster Mobile Response Team. The doctor's summoning of Noise allows us to easily track his position." Nastassja told them.
"Still, that was pretty impressive especially in your condition. I could see why Ryubee-san has high hopes for you." Their new ally stated.
"But, Mom…" Maria said in worry.
"I'm aware. If we've detected it, so have they. Let's hurry." Nastassja told her and Maira nodded before she turned to their new ally.
"As much as I dislike the idea of working with you, can I trust you to help us?" Maria asked and their new ally nodded.
"But of course. You have my word." He told them.
"Kirika. Shirabe. Did you two hear that?" Maria asked them through the radio.
"Recover the doctor and get out immediately." Shirabe told her.
"That's the idea, but…" Kirika said as Hibiki pushed them back some more and the black Symphogear users continued to stand their ground before Hibiki was forced to jump away from them, and Kirika and Shirabe jumped back as well as Kirika was carrying Dr. Ver in her arms.
Then the four of them landed on the ground as they faced each other.
"Dealing with her won't be that easy!" Kirika stated.
Hibiki begins to pant as the scar on her chest becomes brighter and she soon begins to feel an intense pain in her chest as Hibiki falls on her hands with her hands on her chest.
Hibiki was panting even heavier and faster as she could feel her heart beating loudly as the pain started to become even worse.
As Shirabe and Kirika were wondering what was wrong with her, Dr. Ver stood up with a crazed grin on his face as he held two injection guns in hand as they were filled with LiNKER.
"Since you're working so hard, I have a present for you two!" Dr. Ver told them and as the two black Symphogear users turned at the mad doctor, he soon injected the LiNKER into their necks as he pressed the trigger of his injection guns, which made Kirika and Shirabe jump away from him as they placed a hand on their neck.
"What did you just do?!" Kirika asked.
"LiNKER…" Shirabe said as she realized what they were injected with.
"We still had time before it needed renewing!" Kirika told him.
"That's why I'm using it now. The only way to deal with that monster is to fight it with more power than you currently have...And to make that happen, the first thing to do is to increase your compatibility values." Dr. Ver told them as he pushed up his glasses.
"But that means the stress from the overdose..." Shirabe said as she knows what will happen to both her and Kirika.
"Screw you!" Kirika exclaimed at the mad doctor. "Why would we do that to help you?!"
"You will...No, you have to. You would never have come to save me out of a sense of duty or because you consider me a friend!" Dr. Ver told them with a crazed tone and look before he gave them a reminder on why they should follow his command. "Which means that the old hag's condition must have worsened, so you came running to me!"
Both Shirabe and Kirika angrily glares at him as Dr. Ver knelt down to pick up Solomon's Cane and the Nephilim's heart.
"Nastassja is sick, without my skills as a biochemist and without Museum's resources, she won't survive." Dr. Ver told them as he pointed his finger at them. "Now, why not use that power, currently beyond your limits, to save me?"
(Inside Section Two's base)
The readings in Hibiki's body began to change as her condition had reached the red zone.
"There's an instability in Hibiki-chan's condition!" Aoi reported.
"Is this...caused by Gungnir's invasion of her body?" Sakuya said in worry.
"Where are Tsubasa, Chris, and W?" Genjuro asked.
"They're hurrying to the area." Aoi said.
Chris was riding in a helicopter as it headed to Hibiki's location, Tsubasa was riding on her motorcycle as she headed there as well, and W was heading there as he was inside of his RevolGarry.
"But it will take a little more time." Sakuya said.
'I swear, Hibiki, you're always so reckless. You better not do anything crazy.' W-Mitsuki thought as he was going to give Hibiki a good scolding after they helped her.
"You…" Hibiki mutters as she fights through the pain and slowly stands back up.
Kirika and Shirabe begin to feel the effects of the LiNKER overdose as their bodies begin to shake, and having no choice given the situation they have no choice but to use it.
"Let's do it, Kiri-chan!" Shirabe told her friend and partner as they faced Hibiki. "It's our job to bring the doctor back to mom."
Dr. Ver chuckled to hear that as he pushed up his glasses.
"Our Zessho?" Kirika asked and Ver grins.
"Yes...Sing, girls! Clinical trials have proved that if your compatibility values reach maximum, the backfire's impact can be lessened! So, with that LiNKER I just injected you with, you can sing as many Zesshos as you want!" Dr. Ver told them with a crazed grin and tone.
Both Shirabe and Kirika gritted their teeth.
"I guess we have no choice!" Kirika shouted.
Hibiki had managed to push Dr. Ver and the Noise away from her friends so that they would be safe.
"It'll be okay, right?" Yumi asked in worry.
"Of course. Tachibana-san can't lose here!" Shiori assured her and Kuriyo.
"But if we stay here, we'll get in Bikky's way. Let's get out of here now!" Kuriyo said as she and the others ran away but Miku was hesitant before she left as well.
Hibiki placed a hand on her chest as the scar on her chest glows brighter even more and the pain started to get even worse. Hibiki grits her teeth before she hears a familiar song.
"Gatrandis Babel ziggurat Edenal."
Hearing that shocks Hibiki in horror as she knows what that song was.
"No...Is that a Zessho?" Hibiki mutters in dread as she sees it was Kirika and Shirabe singing the Zessho.
"Emustolronzen Finé el balal zizzl."
In the tiltrotor, Nastassja could hear them singing the Zessho as well.
"Then I've done this to them, too?" She thought out loud.
Hibiki pants as she knows what would happen to Shirabe and Kirika when they used that song and its power.
"Gatrandis Babel ziggurat Edenal. Emustolronzen Finé el zizzl."
"No...A Zessho, using LiNKER, will rip out the life right out of the wielders!" Hibiki told them.
"A double Zessho, from the goddess Zababa! That's the perfect solution for this situation, as long as I have this...I'll be able to take this back, too." Dr. Ver said as he looked at the Nephilim's heart as he rubbed his hand on it.
After they had finished singing the Zessho, both Shirabe and Kirika felt an intense power and pain coursing throughout their bodies as an aura appeared around them.
Shirabe's armor begins to change forms, as her hairpieces open up and boots and gauntlets extend as well as a large saw appear out of them.
'The Shul Shagana's Zessho is an endless series of strikes from a spinning wheel. Even if I can't slice her into pieces, as long as I can stop her from moving…' Shirabe thought.
Kirika spins her scythe around as it begins to change forms and extend in size as well.
'Then the Igalima's Zessho will cut the target's soul in half with a single strike. No physical means of defense will protect you. It is absolute death!' Kirika thought as she and Shirabe were ready to attack Hibiki with their Zessho enhanced attacks but…
"Gatrandis Babel ziggurat Edenal. Emustolronzen Finé el balal zizzl." Hibiki sings her own Zessho as well.
Seeing and hearing her singing that song made Dr. Ver frown as he looks at Hibiki, and Shirabe and Kirika soon begin to feel their increased power beginning to drop to normal levels.
"Our energy levels aren't rising enough to activate our Zesshos?" Shirabe said before her armor changed back its base form and the aura around her body died down.
"Pressure loss?" Kirika said in shock as the aura around her body dies down and her scythe changes back to its normal shape and size.
Hibiki could only stare at them in disappointment as an aura appeared around her body before she assumed her stance.
"Set Harmonics!" Hibiki said as she unleashed a burst of energy around her body as it spread throughout the city.
"She's stealing the energy?" Kirika said.
The light on Hibiki's scar turns black as she pressed her feet on the ground and it burns beneath her feet as fire appears under them, and Hibiki grits her teeth as she fights through the pain and power of Kirika and Shirabe's Zessho energy.
"I won't let you two...use your Zesshos!" Hibiki swore as the vents of her armor opened up, and Hibiki brought her gauntlets together as they combined together on her right arm.
The turbines in Hibiki's combined gauntlet spins rapidly, as Hibiki roars as she thrust her fist into the sky above her to unleash the stolen energy from Kirika and Shirabe in the form of a rainbow color tornado as it heads towards the sky.
Seeing that stunned both Shirabe and Kirika as they watched Hibiki unleashed all that energy.
Miku and the others stop running as they see the tornado as well.
"No...Hibiki's leaving me." Miku said as she ran back to where Hibiki is.
"Kohinata-san!" Shiori calls out.
"What's wrong? Hina, don't go that way!" Kuriyo calls out but their pleas were ignored as Miku kept on running to that tornado.
In their mobile base, Maria, Nastassja, and their new ally had seen the tornado as well as it soon died down.
On the monitor next to the controls, they saw that Hibiki's armor had changed back to normal but the user of Gungnir had lowered her head and arms as her body was still bright.
"She took all that raging, destructive energy into her own body?" Maria said as she remembers seeing Hibiki doing that with Tsubasa and Chris.
"By connecting with others, she can control a Zessho. Then, this is nothing to her?" Nastassja said.
Their new ally was deeply intrigued by this as he looked at Hibiki on the screen.
"Fascinating. I was told about this, but the power of a human and relic hybrid is truly remarkable. Oh how I would love to study her." He said with a grin.
Nastassja then begins to cough in her hand as Maria turns to her.
"Mom!" Maria said in worry as Nastassja managed to stop coughing.
"Don't worry." Nastassja said but blood appeared on her hand.
Then they noticed that Chris, Tsubasa, and W had appeared on the radar system as they headed to Hibiki's location.
"These signals…" Maria said.
"They've caught up with us." Nastassja said.
"Then it would appear this is my time to make my move." Their new ally said as he stood up and Maria and Nastassja turned to him. "Don't worry, I'll make sure those girls are safe. Though you may want to stay clear, I can't promise you won't be caught up on what I'm about to do."
He soon leaves the cockpit as the door opens for him and closes as he leaves. Nastassja then contacts Kirika and Shirabe.
"Can you hear me?" Nastassja asked as she spoke through Kirika and Shirabe's communicator. "Bring the doctor and return immediately."
Shirabe and Kirika look at the weakened Hibiki.
"But if we attack now…" Shirabe said this was the perfect chance to finish her off.
"Three high-speed signals are approaching your location. Probably the Ame no Habakiri, Ichaival, and the Kamen Rider." Maria told them and hearing that surprised Kirika.
"And you're under strain from the LiNKER overdose, as well." Nastassja reminded them as their mobile base came out of cloaking as it began to land close to them. "Obey our orders. And don't worry, our new ally will keep them occupied while we escape."
Their new ally was seen in the cargo bay, as he was in Dopant form but couldn't be seen due to the shadows as he flicked his wrist as the door opened.
"A new ally?" Shirabe said in confusion.
"Understood." Kirika complied.
Then the black Symphogear users grab onto ropes from the tiltrotor and when they enter they soon see the Dopant who is now their new ally, and Dr. Ver recognizes him.
"Oh it's you." Dr. Ver said as the Dopant turned to him.
"It's been a long time, Dr. Ver." The Dopant greeted the mad doctor.
"So you're our new ally. I'm amazed Ryubee-san had called on you to help us." Dr. Ver said and the Dopant chuckled.
"Well what can I say? Things are getting too interesting to pass up. So I might as well make my debut here." The Dopant said as he jumped out of the tiltrotor.
The tiltrotor closes the cargo bay door and goes back into cloaking as it flies away.
"I'm better than I'd expected…" Kirika mutters in amazement as she looks at her hands. "Even though we sang our Zesshos?"
"Did she protect us? Why would she protect us?" Shirabe said in wonder.
Miku had soon arrived and spotted Hibiki standing on a large crater.
"Hibiki!" Miku said in worry as Hibiki fell on her knees as yellow rocks appeared on her chest.
Miku ran to Hibiki and reached out to help but retracted her hand as she felt the intense heat from Hibiki's body even from a short distance.
"No! Hibiki!" Miku shouted as she was about to run to her again...
"Miku!" Said W as he ran in front of Miku and held her back. "Don't! You'll only hurt yourself if you keep on like this!"
"He's right!" Chris, wearing her armor, said as she moved behind Miku and held her back as well. "You can't help her in the state she's in!"
"But Hibiki…" Miku mutters as she cries while W wonders what to do.
That is when they saw Tsubasa riding on her bike racing towards them as she sings.
"Imyuteus Ame no Habakiri tron."
Tsubasa soon changes into her Symphogear armor, and then the blades on her feet move and combine in front of her motorcycle forming a large blade pointed forward.
As Tsubasa continues to drive forward her bike jumps in the air and slashes through a water tank on top of a building that was right next to Hibiki.
Cavalry Flash
With that the water in the tank spilled out and splashed down on Hibiki to cool down her body as most of the water turned to mist due to the heat of her body.
"Hibiki! Hibiki!" Miku calls out as W and Chris continues to hold her back.
Tsubasa walks out of the mist as Hibiki was now wearing her school uniform and was sleeping on the ground.
"I wasn't able to protect Tachibana?" Tsubasa said with a hint of frustration.
"You couldn't protect her?" Chris said as she and W let go of Miku before Chris ran up in front of Tsubasa. "What are you talking about? Did you know this would happen to her?! Answer me!" Chris demanded as she grabbed onto Tsubasa's shoulder.
"Chris-chan…" W-Philip mutters before he and Miku knelt down to Hibiki's side as W picks her up in his arms.
"Hibiki...Hibiki!" Miku said in worry.
"Don't worry, it looks like she's only unconscious." W-Mitsuki told her as he looked down at Hibiki before he slightly pulled down her shirt to check her chest and saw the stones on her chest.
"This looks bad. But hopefully the doctors in Section Two will help her." W-Philip said.
"Yeah, but…" W-Mitsuki mutters as he tightly clenches his hand in frustration. "Damn it...How could I have let this happen?!"
"Mitsuki…" W-Philip said in worry on how his partner is feeling.
W picks up Hibiki and carries her in his arms as he stands up, he and the others were about to leave the city, but soon stops as a strong gust of wind pushes W and the others back.
"The heck was that?" W-Mitsuki said before W-Philip noticed something about the sky.
"This is...Everyone look!" W-Philip told his friends as they looked up at the sky.
That is when they notice that the sunny sky with white clouds begins to change and the clouds soon turn into dark lighting clouds which was much to their shock.
"What the...what's going on?" Tsubasa asked.
Then a thunderbolt shoots down at them which surprises them.
"Incoming!" W-Mitsuki said as he grabbed Hibiki and Miku as he, Tsubasa, and Chris jumped out of the way of the incoming thunderbolt as W was carrying Miku and the unconscious Hibiki.
"The hell?! How did that happen?!" Chris said before she dodged another thunderbolt.
As Tsubasa dodges another incoming thunderbolt she turns to W as he dodges another bolt as well.
"Philip, could a Dopant be doing this?" Tsubasa asked.
"Possible. But it's hard to say what sort of ability it has." W-Philip told her before he and Tsubasa dodged another incoming thunderbolt.
The moment the three of them landed on the ground, a strong gust of wind appeared in front of them as they stood their ground against it as W was holding Miku and Hibiki close to him to keep them secure.
That is when a tornado appeared in front of them, and as W and his friends stood against the strong gust from it that is when they saw a figure inside the tornado.
"What the hell? Is that a person in there?" Chris said.
"Yeah, it must be a Dopant? But what sort of ability is this?" W-Philip said in wonder.
"Greetings. W and the heroes of the Lunar Incident." The Dopant inside the tornado said to W and his friends.
"So you know who we are. Then you must work for Museum." Tsubasa said as she brought out her sword and Chris brought out crossbows and aimed them at the Dopant while W moved Miku to his back to protect while keeping the unconscious Hibiki secured in his arm.
"I mostly prefer the term associate. But I am here because of an agreement I made with them." The Dopant told them.
"An agreement?" Chris repeated in confusion.
"Just who are you? You can't be a normal Dopant after what we've seen." W-Philip stated.
"Very astute of you, W. But I can't reveal that just yet. This is only just a prelude for me." The Dopant told them.
"A prelude?" W-Mitsuki said in confusion.
"Don't worry, when the time is right, you will see me again. I suggest that you prepare yourselves until then." The Dopant said as the tornado he was in flew upward. "That is if you'll survive."
"No you don't! You're not getting away!" Chris shouted as she fired at the Dopant, but then a mist appeared around the tornado he was in and soon disappeared as Chris' energy shots passed through the mist which surprised her and the others. "What the…"
"He's gone?" W-Phililp gasped in shock.
"This whole day has been nothing but bad luck lately." W-Mitsuki said as he could tell things are going to be more complicated from here on, especially for Hibiki.
Unknown to our heroes, is that a woman wearing a black hat and coat was spying on them behind a wall of a ruined building.
"This is turning out to be a complete mess. To think that man had decided to join in as well. Now it's becoming too much for them to handle. Perhaps it's about time, I put my own plans into motion." She said as she walked away and disappeared into the shadows.
The group known as Finé was able to find refuge in the mountain side, surrounded by a forest where they could be safe.
Dr. Ver was doing a scan of Nastassja as she was lying on a medical bed after he had given her the usual treatment.
"The numbers are stable. For your age, you have amazing endurance. Or did you use every ounce of mental energy you had?" Dr. Ver asked with a smile, and the black Symphogear users were standing by Nastassja's side as they were relieved to hear that.
"I'm relieved." Shirabe said.
"I'm really glad!" Kirika said in agreement as Nastassja turned to them.
"Oh? So her operation was a success?" Said their new ally as he entered the room they were in as the black Symphogear users and Dr. Ver turns to them.
'What was I trying to make these gentle children do?' Nastassja thought to herself. 'I should have realized sooner that playing terrorist wouldn't do anything to free us from this curse.'
Mitsuki, Philip, and the others had brought Hibiki and Miku to Section Two's Mobile base.
Hibiki was in the medical room where the doctors were surgically removing the stones on her chest.
Mitsuki, Philip, and Miku were in the rest area of the base as they were seated on the couch where Miku was praying for Hibiki's well-being as Mitsuki placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort and Philip had his hand on Miku's as Fang was on his master's shoulder.
Ogawa soon arrived which got their attention as they turned to him.
"Our immediate first-aid attempts were successful." Ogawa told him and Miku soon stood up as Mitsuki and Philip removed their hands.
"Successful? Then Hibiki's okay?" Miku asked.
"Yes." Ogawa said and Mitsuki sighed in relief to hear that as he and Philip stood up.
"That's a relief." Mitsuki said.
"But it doesn't change her current problem right now, doesn't it?" Philip asked and Ogawa reluctantly nodded.
"I'm afraid so." Ogawa told them.
Mitsuki bit his lip to hear that as he used the brim of his hat to hide his eyes and Philip lowered his head as Fang rubs his hand behind it to comfort him.
"Also, Philip," Ogawa said and Philip raised his head at him. "The commander wishes to speak with you. He said it was about the thing you've asked for."
Philip's eyes widened to hear that while Mitsuki and Miku were confused to hear that.
"Genjuro-san!" Philip calls out as he, Mitsuki, and Miku walk into the bridge.
Waiting for them was Genjuro and with him was Kanade, Tsubasa, and Chris.
"Oh good, you're here." Genjuro said as Philip walked up to him.
"So...Were you able to find anything?" Philip asked and Genjuro nodded.
"I do. But if you want, we could talk about this in private." Genjuro told him as he and Philip turned to their friends.
"No, it's alright." Philip shook his head. "I want them to know about this as well. This might affect all of us."
"Umm...Philip, care to explain what's going on?" Kanade asked.
Philip sighed as he turned to his friends.
"Alright, everyone, I want you to keep calm and listen to what I'm about to say." Philip said before he told everyone about the theory he has about the Sonozaki family and the evil organization Museum.
"What? The Sonozaki family has connections to Museum?!" Mitsuki asked as he and the others were surprised by this, and Philip nodded.
"Yeah, at least that's what I think anyway." Philip told them.
"Okay, but if that's all true, why would you think that?" Kanade asked.
"Well, it was when and after we helped Wakana-san during her problem with her former manager. She said the name 'Gaia Memory' after we saved her." Philip explained.
"Oh yeah. That's right." Mitsuki said as he remembered that.
"And not only that it was during our encounter with a commander from Museum, during our first battle against the Violence Dopant. During a fight, my hand made contact with hers and it felt so familiar to Wakana's when she touched it." Philip said and Chris' eyebrows twitched to hear that.
"Okay, I understand the reason for this. But Philip, you have to understand this is a little far-fetched even for you...no offense." Kanade said.
"None taken." Philip said.
"Anyway, for all we could know, that is all just coincidences." Kanade said.
"And normally, I would agree. But there was one fact I couldn't ignore." Philip said and hearing that really got his friends' attention.
"Like what?" Mitsuki asked.
"It was the fact that Wakana-san's older sister, Sonozaki Saeko, uses a Gaia Memory herself, a gold type Memory." Philip answered and his friends were once again surprised by that.
"What? Are you serious?" Chris asked and Philip nodded.
"Yes, and she was the same Dopant that appeared in Begin's Night." Philip told them.
"Oh her…" Mitsuki said that brought back some bitter memories for him.
"That is when Philip contacted me." Genjuro said, getting everyone's attention. "After he told me about this, he wanted my help to see if I could find anything, and I agreed to help him."
"I see. I figured you were acting a little secretive lately. I understand your reasons, but you could've told me about it." Mitsuki told his partner.
"Or me." Chris said and Philip nervously chuckles as he rubs the back of his head.
"Sorry. But you have to understand that this was a little personal for me." Philip told them and Mitsuki sighed as he shook his head and Chris huffed as she turned away from him.
"And the reason why you're telling us this, is because you must have found something, didn't you?" Tsubasa asked the commander of Section Two.
Genjuro sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well, I wouldn't say that." He told them and the others blink to hear that.
"What do you mean?" Philip asked.
Genjuro then pressed on a few buttons on his console to bring out something on the screen.
"This is a hospital recording of the agents I've sent to spy on the members of the Sonozaki family. Be warned, this is not a pretty sight." Genjuro told them.
That is when several videos appeared on screen, and to Mitsuki, Philip, and the others' shock and horror they saw Section Two agents in hospital rooms but they had terrified expressions on their faces.
One was seated on his bed with a blanket around his body as he was mumbling to himself.
One was seated on the corner of his room hugging himself as he was shaking like a leaf as one of the doctors tried to touch, he only just screamed in fear and swung his arms at the doctor telling them to stay away from him.
One was restrained on a bed as he was screaming at the doctors around him, telling them to stay away from him.
The other videos showed more agents just like them.
"We've only just found them like this. As you could see they're too terrified to tell us what they know. All they ever say is that they can't because of him and that he'll find him and punish them." Genjuro told them.
"It must have been that fear Dopant again." Philip concluded, and hearing that caused Tsubasa to flinch as she noticed her hand was shaking as she grabbed onto it.
"Which only proves that the Sonozaki family are more involved in this than we originally thought." Genjuro said.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Kanade asked. "Why don't we report all of this to the authorities and arrest them."
"Hold up, Kanade. It's not that simple." Mitsuki said.
"Why not?" Kanade asked.
"Well, for one thing, the Sonozakis is a well respected and influential family. Even if we report all of this to the proper authorities, we can't arrest them without any hard evidence." Mitsuki told her.
"Mitsuki's right. And given Saeko has a Gaia Memory herself, it's possible that the other family members might have access to one as well. We'll just create more casualties that way." Philip said.
"They're both right. For now, I say the best move is to wait and see if they'll make an opening for us." Genjuro said.
"Dang it…" Kanade mutters as she scratches her head. "I hate it when you're right. All three of you."
"Great way to concede like that. You're really wise beyond your years, old lady." Chris told the redhead and Kanade glared at her.
"What was that you brat?!" Kanade exclaimed as he grabbed hold of Chris' neck and gave her a noogie.
"Hey! Stop that! You old hag! Let me go!" Chris shouted as she struggled to break free.
The others chuckled as they watched before Genjuro coughed in his hand which got everyone's attention, and made Kanade let go of Chris as the latter moved away from her.
"If you're done, there's something else I must share. Philip-kun, I found some info about that other thing you've asked for." Genjuro said and Philip's eyes slightly widened to hear that.
"Really?" He asked and Genjuro nodded.
"It appears that you were right. The Sonozaki family did have a son, their youngest child to be precise. And he passed away 10 years ago." Genjuro said and Philip's eyes widened to hear that.
"10 years ago…" Philip repeated and Mitsuki realized something.
"Wait a minute. That was when he was still making Gaia Memories with Museum." Mitsuki said and the others were surprised to hear that.
"No way...Then wouldn't that mean that Philip is…" Kanade mutters in realization.
"W-What was his name?" Philip asked, and Genjuro sighed as he folded his arms.
"Well apparently, his name was Sonozaki Raito." Genjuro told him, which shocked Philip as his eyes slightly widened as he took a few steps back.
"Philip, is something wrong?" Mitsuki asked.
"A-Are you absolutely sure about that? Was his name really Raito?" Philip asked and Genjuro blinked before he nodded.
"Yeah, that is what I could gather." Genjuro told him.
Philip lowered his head as he was stunned by this revelation.
(Meanwhile)
After Nastassja was able to recover thanks to Ver, the mad doctor decided to hold a meeting with her, the black Symphogear users, and their ally as they were in front of him.
"Okay, let's get to the point." Dr. Ver said as the table in front of him opened up and revealed a screen underneath it, and showed live footage of the Nephilim's heart.
"This is the Nephilim's…" Maria said.
"Its awakened heart, which I spent so much effort in recovering." Dr. Ver told them and their new ally was deeply fascinated by this.
"Interesting. Despite the fact it lost its body the heart continues to live. Is this because it finally achieved its true power?" He asked, and Dr. Ver nodded.
"Quite so. By giving it the requisite number of relics, it was finally able to unleash its full power. This heart and what you acquired five years ago…" Dr. Ver said and Maria flinched to hear that as Ver pointed his finger at her. "Have you forgotten? The Shenshoujin that you, Finé, stole from a Mt. Minakami excavation team."
"Yes, that's right…" Maria mutters as she averted eye contact, and their new ally raised an eyebrow to see her expression.
"Maria's memories have not completely recovered." Nastassja said, getting everyone's attention. "Regardless, for the immediate future, handling the relics is my job. We'll discuss this in private."
"My apologies." Dr. Ver bowed his head. "Moving on...The Shenshoujin, which breaks Frontier's seal, and the Nephilim heart that activates it are in our grasp at last."
"And after a long time, we've found the Frontier's exact location." Nastassja said and Dr. Ver claps.
"That's right. Our crazy party preparations are all set! All that's left is for humanity to dance to our capriccio!" Dr. Ver told them as he began to laugh maniacally.
"We'll move the plan into the final phase shortly. But for now, I'm going to rest a little…" Nastassja told him as Ver stopped laughing as she took her leave.
Their new ally was left in deep thought about this.
'It would seem things are progressing faster than I realized. But still...I wonder when she'll make her move in all of this.' He thought as he brought out and looked at his Gaia Memory.
(Next day)
Miku was in her classroom as they were having a class about globalization as one of the students heard her book.
Miku wasn't entirely focused on class right now as she turns to Hibiki's empty chair next to her. She then remembers being told about Hibiki's current condition.
(Flashback)
Mitsuki wanted to be the one to tell Miku as he showed her an x-ray picture of Hibiki, where the Gungnir relic fragments begin to spread throughout her body much to Miku's shock and horror.
"This is…" Miku mutters as Mitsuki uses the brim of his hat to hide his eyes.
"The relic fragments buried in her chest are eating away at Hibiki's body. If she keeps on fighting like this...she'll cease to be the same girl we both know." Mitsuki told his childhood friend.
"In other words...if Hibiki doesn't fight again, it won't hurt her anymore?" Miku asked.
"For Hibiki, you and I are the most important ties she has in her everyday life. But right now, I think it's best that I distance myself from her and let you be the one she spends her peaceful times with." Mitsuki said and Miku was confused to hear that. "If she spends more time with you than with me, away from the fighting, it might be the one thing that can stop Gungnir from taking her over. But if I stay close to her, it only brings her more trouble."
"But, Mitsuki, you know that's not true." Miku told him.
"Even so...This is my choice." Mitsuki stated and Miku was saddened to hear that. "Just promise me...That from here on, you'll be the one to protect Hibiki."
(End of flashback)
Well she was still saddened that Mitsuki will choose to distance himself from both her and Hibiki, Miku swore in her heart that she will protect Hibiki no matter what.
'I will protect her.'
(Meanwhile)
Mitsuki and Philip decided to have lunch in the Flower okonomiyaki restaurant, they invited Tsubasa and Kanade to join them which they accepted.
They were seated on a table together as the owner brought their meal as she placed the plates of okonomiyaki on their table.
"Here you go. Enjoy." She told them as she left.
"Thank you." They said before they clapped their hands together. "Itadakimasu!"
They soon begin eating the okonomiyaki.
"So good...This is exactly what I needed. Thanks again for inviting us, you two." Kanade told the two detectives.
"It's no problem. And besides I think we needed the company." Mitsuki said as he ate a piece of his food.
"But still...I can't help but worry about Tachibana. Here we are enjoying a good meal, while she's barely clinging to life." Tsubasa said.
"I know how you feel. But there's really nothing for us to do, but hope that someone in Section Two will find a way to help her." Kanade said as she took a bite of her food and chewed on it. "But Mitsuki, are you really sure about this? Distancing yourself from Hibiki and letting Miku watch over her."
"I'm sure." Mitsuki said as chew on his food before he swallowed it. "Miku will contact me if something goes wrong. Besides, distancing yourself from a friend is the best way a Hardboiled guy can protect her."
"Sure…" Kanade mutters before she turns at Philip. "Also Philip, I notice that Chris isn't with us. Didn't you invite her too?"
"Oh...I did...but she refuses to talk to me. She's still a little mad at me for keeping the whole Hibiki thing from her." Philip told her and Tsubasa.
"I see." Tsubasa said as she took a bite of her food while Kanade chuckled to hear that.
"Man...I wish that girl would just admit it already." Kanade whispers to Tsubasa and she nodded in agreement.
"Agreed." Tsubasa said before she noticed that Philip hadn't touched his food yet. "Philip, is something wrong? You didn't touch your food."
"Eh?" Philip said in confusion as he looked down at it and saw that she was right. "Oh! You're right, I just noticed that. Sorry."
Philip took a bite of the okonomiyaki and slowly chewed on it.
"It's good…" Philip said in an emotionless tone as the others looked at him in worry.
Kanade then whispers to Mitsuki.
"I'm really worried about Philip. He's been like this for a while now."
"Yeah, I agree. But this is something for Philip to work things out for himself. All we can do is watch over him and help in any way we can." Mitsuki whispers to her.
"I understand that, but even so…" Kanade mutters in sadness.
"But is it really true though?" Tsubasa whispers to Mitsuki. "That Philip really is this, Sonozaki Raito?"
"Well that's what Philip believes. And given what we learned yesterday it has to be true." Mitsuki said as he remembered their conversation with the others yesterday.
(Flashback)
After learning of the Sonozaki's connection to the organization known as Museum and being told about the family's long deceased son, Philip told them how he met Sonozaki Saeko and how she called him Raito.
"I see. So that's what's going on." Mitsuki said.
"So you really think you're this long deceased son of the Sonozaki family?" Kanade asked.
"Maybe. But it's mostly just speculation and guesses right now." Philip told her and the others.
"But can't you just look it up in the Gaia Library and read a book just to be sure?" Chris asked and Philip sighed.
"That's the thing, I did find it. The book that contains my...or rather the memories when I was indeed this Sonozaki Raito. But unfortunately it's password protected. I can't unlock it even if I try." Philip said.
Chris flinches before she turns away from him and rubs the side of her head.
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Chris told him.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it." Philip told her.
Philip then turns to Genjuro.
"Genjuro-san, were you able to learn how I...or rather how this Sonozaki Raito had died?" Philip asked.
Genjuro sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well the details are still sketchy at best, but apparently he died in a car accident." Genjuro told him.
"A car accident…" Philip said before he direly chuckled. "I expected it to be a bit more dramatic than that."
"Philip." Mitsuki said as he placed his hand on his partner's shoulder. "You shouldn't say something like that. I know you're troubled about this, but don't forget you have me and the others with you."
"Yeah, we'll always be there for you." Kanade said as the others smiled in agreement.
"Everyone…" Philip mutters before he smiles back. "Thank you, it means a lot to hear that."
"It's no problem." Mitsuki told him as he patted his shoulder.
"In the meantime, I'll keep looking into this. If I find anything else about the Sonozakis, and this Raito-kun, I'll let you know." Genjuro told him.
"Thank you, Genjuro-san." Philip nodded.
(End of flashback)
Mitsuki, Kanade, Tsubasa and Philip were still enjoying the okonomiyaki while Philip still continued to eat slowly as the others continued to watch over him.
"I understand that this is a big shock for Philip. But I thought he would be happy that he's getting closer in finding his lost memories." Kanade said.
"Well...I think he is happy, but I think that's the problem." Mitsuki quietly told her and Tsubasa.
"What do you mean?" Tsubasa asked.
"He might be worried if regaining his memories will change him, and there's also the fact of his so called 'accident'. Something tells me there's more to it than that, and that's what really worries him." Mitsuki told them.
"Oh I see." Tsubasa said with some understanding.
"So for now, I think it's best that we let Philip sort this out himself. That's the only way we can help him." Mitsuki told them.
"Alright, but I still don't agree with this." Kanade said as they went back into eating.
As Mitsuki was eating he looked at his partner, as he was in deep thought about this whole Sonozaki Raito theory.
'But still...could Philip really be this Sonozaki Raito? If so, how did he die, and how could he be alive? I think the one person who knows for sure is Sonozaki Ryubee.' Mitsuki thought.
Kirika and Shirabe were buying supplies in a supermarket, and after getting what they needed they left the store carrying their bags of supplies in hand.
"Shopping's a lot of fun, but when there's all this stuff to buy, it's just boring work!" Kirika stated.
"Nothing to be done for it. Until the side effects from the LiNKER overdose wear off, we're in charge of the chores." Shirabe tells her and Kirika turns to her partner before she moves in front of Shirabe as they stop walking.
"I'll carry those for you! You don't seem to be doing well." Kirika said.
"Thanks. But I'm fine." Shirabe assured her.
Kirika then thought of something that Shirabe might agree with me.
"Okay, then we'll take a break!" Kirika suggested.
Maria had decided to take a walk with Nastassja as she pushed on her wheelchair as they were by the riverside.
"After all that's happened, I understand now...How weak my resolve and dedication were. And what the result of that will be." Maria said before she moved in front of Nastassja to face her. "That's why, Mom, I-"
"There is no need." Nastassja stated which confused Maria.
Kirika and Shirabe decided to have their break next to a building that was in the process of being demolished.
Kirika and Shirabe were seated on a pile of stone plates to enjoy a bread snack.
"There are many bad things, but we're so free. Back at the orphanage, I never could have imagined it." Kirika said as she took a bite of her bread.
"Yeah, you're right." Shirabe nodded as she looked at the bread snack in her hand as she hadn't removed it from its bag.
Kirika then lowered her head in sadness.
"We were locked up there to serve as vessels for Finé's soul. And Maria took her soul, in our place. It's so scary to think about losing who you are, but we ended up putting that burden on Maria." Kirika said before she finishes the rest of her bread and after that she notices that Shirabe had her eyes closed as she was sweating and panting. "Shirabe! Have you felt like that this whole time?"
"I'm fine...I rested here, so…" Shirabe said as she stood up but stumbled on her feet.
"Shirabe!" Kirika said in worry as Shirabe falls onto a pile of standing pipes as they fall to the ground and Shirabe falls on her hands and knees.
Then suddenly more pipes that were on top of the building fell from it as they headed towards Kirika and Shirabe which Kirika saw as she was kneeling next to her friend and her eyes widened as the pipes were about to hit them…
Philip was in the Gaia Library as he was walking through the nearly endless rows of bookshelves to admire the many books within them.
Philip still doesn't understand why, but the Gaia Library was often a smoothing place for him as it always helped calm his nerves.
But despite that, Philip was still in deep thought about anything in his mind.
"I suppose I should be happy that Maria-san isn't the inheritor for Finé's soul. But still, I can't help but wonder, did Finé truly find a new host or did she finally decide to move on and let this world go." Philip said.
That is when he heard footsteps that were close to him but in a distance, and being both surprised and curious about this, he looked and saw a familiar blond haired woman walking into a path of the bookshelves.
"Was that...Wait!" Philip calls out as he follows her.
Philip had followed the blond haired woman for a while until he spotted her walking out of a path and Philip walked out of it as well, but soon saw that she was gone.
As Philip was looking around for any trace of her, he soon spotted a black book lying on the ground. Being curious he walked to it and picked it up to look at the book and saw a familiar name on it, Finé.
Seeing the book surprised Philip.
"It couldn't be." Philip said as he opened the book and read through it.
"I don't need you to play the role of the new Finé anymore." Nastassja told her.
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Maria asked in confusion.
"You are Maria Cadenzavna Eve. You are only gentle Maria, without Finé's soul within you." Nastassja told her, and unknown to them, that Dr. Ver was overhearing their conversation as he was hiding behind a tree. "Finé's soul did not enter any of the vessels...That's all."
Dr. Ver smirks as he closes his eyes as he wasn't surprised by this.
Philip had finished reading all the info he could learn from this, and this caused him to raise his head with a serious look on his face.
"I see. So that's how it is." Philip said as he closed the book in his hand.
The falling pipes created a large dust cloud, and Kirika had her eyes closed as she braced herself for them but noticed she didn't feel a thing.
"Huh?" Kirika said as she opened her eyes.
Then to her shock, she saw that she was producing a barrier from her hand as it was in front of the barrier which had protected both her and Shirabe, who was unconscious, from the pipes.
Kirika was left shocked and confused on how she was doing this.
"What...is this?" Kirika mutters.
To Be Continued…Farewell N/Memory Kids
And there you have it, I hope you like it. Review to tell me what you think of the story.