Chapter 29: Walking down hell
Subaru, Sora, and Emilia were wary as they saw the girl in front of them introduce herself as Daphne, the Witch of Gluttony. The three stood there with their guard up, listening to what the witch had to say.
"I'm here because Chid-Chid asked me to come, but I don't want to be awake any longer than I have to be, so please don't drag this out with dull conversation."
Daphne paused herself and began to smell something that got her attention. As she smelled, her taste buds began to water.
"Oh...This might be toxic to me..."
The giant coffin moves away from the three really quickly, catching the three off guard which caused Emilia to ask what was going on. The coffin begins to move in an excited movement, as if it is happy which reflected a bit of what Daphne was feeling.
"My body is throbbing. Subarun, you give off a scent that I really, really love..." The coffin holding Daphne starts to head towards the group which makes Sora and Subaru pull out their keyblades in fear that they are going to be attacked. As the coffin got closer to Subaru, Daphne continued to speak, "It's making me want to eat you."
"Witch of Gluttony, please don't do that. My friend Subaru is not food. If you want food, I can give you some."
"Wait, Master Sora, when do you have food on you?"
"I have this when it is needed." Sora created a small bright light before a plate with a delicious meal appears in his hand before he looks at Daphne to see what she will say. She looks at Sora and smells the food, making her curious on how the food tastes.
"Soran, could you move the food closer to me please."
"Sure thing."
Sora did this and quickly was surprised when Daphne started to immediately eat the food Sora provided. Emilia and Subaru were both wary of this for a moment before Sora walked away from Daphne with caution, seeing that she finished the food he gave her. She continued to chew what was in her mouth for a moment before swallowing it.
"Witch of Gluttony, did you like it?"
"..."
"Um..." Sora spoke with some uncertainty in his voice until Daphne looked at Sora's direction and smiled in a way that caused him to pull out Kingdom Key once again as he feared that she might try something. As he prepared for a fight, Daphne began to speak in an overjoy tone of voice,
"That was delicious! I didn't throw up and it made my stomach crave for more!"
"Hehe I'm glad you liked it. Sadly I would need to find the ingredients to make another one of those plates but should we ever cross paths again, I wouldn't mind giving you food."
"Master Sora, since when do you cook?"
"Since I helped Little chef make the food."
"Little chef? Who is that?"
"A friend of mine. But anyway, Witch of Gluttony, we wish to speak with you about something."
"Yes, we would like to talk about the Three Great Mabeast." Emilia spoke with confidence, having been the one wanting to ask the question.
"Tella-Tella, it's been a while, hasn't it?" Daphne turned towards Emilia as she recognized her voice as someone else. Sora and Subaru both figured that she is probably confusing Emilia for Satella yet the fact that Daphne is confusing Emilia for the Witch of Envy by their voices is very unnerving. Emilia was simply confused by this yet she quickly went to clarify Daphne by stating that she was Emilia.
"Hm. Okay Lia-Lia. You said something about the three Mabeast."
"The White Whale, The Black Serpent, and The Great Rabbit." Sora spoke in determination, wanting to help Emilia. Daphne took a few seconds to process before realizing what they were speaking about.
"Oh, the whale, the bunny, and the snake?"
"Why in the world did you make those things?"
"Huh? What was that, Subarun?"
"Why did you set those things loose on the world?! Do you realize what they've...Why did you do it?! Why did you make monsters like those?!"
...
"The White Whale is very big, isn't it? It would sate so many appetites if people ate it, don't you think?"
"Huh?"
"And the Great Rabbit can multiply itself indefinitely. With them around, no one would ever have to go hungry."
"But the great rabbit is the one eating everyone. From what Subaru said, it has been causing trouble for the people when you said it is for the people to eat."
"Soran, don't you think it's a bit selfish to try to eat another without considering the possibility of being eaten yourself? The same goes for you three." Daphne's coffin was moving as she spoke before getting close to the three.
"Don't you all think everyone takes gluttony too lightly? The appetite is the most important of all the desires that keep people alive. Even if the heart feels sated, people die if they don't eat."
Subaru, Sora, and Emilia were very disturbed by this since what she presented wasn't totally wrong yet that type of thinking is not a normal human behavior. Subaru was the one to respond to what they heard in a reluctant tone,
"What you're saying is partly right, but-"
"You all would understand, too, if you are starved to your limit. You all will see what sort of world my bunny and I live in."
"What if we told you nicely that we wanted to get rid of the Great Rabbit, could you help us?" Emilia asked with a nervous tone of voice. Daphne looks at Emilia, noticing the kindness in the half-elf's voice. She was silent for a moment before answering,
"The Great Rabbit relies on mana to find its prey."
"Wait, you don't mind helping us?"
"If we must eat to stay alive, it wouldn't make sense to deny that we must kill to survive, Lia-Lia. It's naturally drawn to places that have a lot of mana, so you could use a powerful magic user as a lure, then wipe them all out at once when they gather there."
'So it seems we will need the assistance of Roswaal for this.' Sora thought to himself as he felt a chill in his back to have to trust someone he doesn't really want to help.
"I heard it can multiply indefinitely. Won't there be some that separate from the group?"
"There may be many of them Subarun, but they all share one consciousness. They don't have the wisdom to avoid being killed or anything."
"I mean that is better than nothing but we would need a magic user."
"We could rely on Roswaal."
"That's also what I had in mind Emilia."
"*Yawn* Are you three finished with me now?"
"Yeah. We probably will not get why you created them, but we've learned a lot. Thanks on behalf of the three of us. Also we will destroy the Great Rabbit. Master Sora, Emilia-tan, and I were strong enough to take down the White Whale, the Great Rabbit is next. You'd better not come crying to us, 'Mother'. Those things have been running rampant for 400 years. That's long enough. I'm gonna wipe them out without a trace."
…
…
…
"I would expect it with a half-elf like Lia-Lia, who reminds me a lot of Tella-Tella...but if you honestly say you humans…" Daphne's coffin began to shake with the sad frown in her face beginning to shift into a sinister smile. "...are capable of such a feat, then go ahead and try it."
As Daphne had given the three a bit of fear in them before she disappeared, fearing that she would've freed herself from her restraints and attacked them. As the bright light engulfed the place for a brief few seconds before disappearing, the three were met with Echidna once again.
"Well I am pleased with how you three survived though I must say, Sora, I've never seen Daphne happy with anybody before. Also I've never seen anyone attempt to give her food, that honestly was interesting to watch."
"Hehe I didn't think that I would get Daphne's favor."
"Aside from my master somehow getting Daphne all happy, it is nice to see someone who isn't crazy or deadly right in front of us."
"That's one way of putting things, Natsuki Subaru. Though I was concerned when Typhon jumped in the moment I tried to give my body to Daphne."
"Oh, her."
"Yes, the Witch of Pride. She's very much a child, as you three saw. She was so eager to meet you two specifically, that she jumped right out. And the one who saved you, Natsuki Subaru, and repaired your arm, Sora, was the Witch of Wrath, Minerva. So? Did Daphne give you three any useful information?"
"Yeah, sort of. To tell you the truth, I think we will be able to pull off against the Great Rabbit but the true problem is the mansion. The Sin Archbishop of Lust, which is why I want to ask if you know what abilities the Witch of Lust can do."
"Ah yes, Carmilla, the Witch of Lust. If this Sin Archbishop of Lust can do faceless bride, then you are indeed in trouble."
"What does Faceless bride do?" Emilia asked, knowing that it would annoy Echidna since she has to respond to her because Subaru is around.
"Hmm. Carmilla's authority captivates people, making them so absorbed in watching her that they forget how to breathe, losing all sense of awareness to the point that they won't recognize someone stabbing them or any other possible harm. This can also cause one's heart to stop and kill them without the person realizing."
"Great, if that isn't hard enough but that does beg the question, why is the Sin Archbishop very different then? Like her ability was to shape herself into another person or even a dragon yet it isn't the same since none of us were captivated with her so-called beauty."
"She could be using a version of Faceless bride but that's just speculation."
"Well at least that'll get us somewhere, thank you Echidna."
"Of course."
Echidna smiles and creates a portal for them to leave yet before the three left the dream world, Subaru turned towards Echidna to ask her if she could allow him to remember her since he is aware that without the memories of the dream world, he would go insane. Echidna nodded at this and quickly tapped his heart to take back the compensation yet she warned Subaru that he owes her.
"I'll pay you back somehow."
"Well if you should find yourself on a third time here, I'll ask you something."
Subaru nodded and quickly joined Sora and Emilia to leave the dream world to return back to the real world. As the three go through the portal, Echidna sops a bit of her tea before smiling,
"I wonder how you will handle the problems ahead, Natsuki Subaru. Will this be your loop or will you fail once again? All of this fascinates me."
Subaru, Emilia, and Sora returned back to the real world with Subaru holding his head as he started to feel the sting he had when he was banging his head on the ground. As Emilia assisted in healing Subaru's head, she asked the two keyblade wielders,
"What did you two saw in the trial? Be honest."
"I got to see my old friends again...got to say my peace."
"And I got to talk to my parents, even though they will be arriving in this world soon, I am happy that I got to make peace with them in a way."
"Oh...Well I'll work hard to pass the trial!"
"I know you can do it, Emilia-tan. I believe in you."
Subaru smiled and gave a thumbs up to cheer Emilia up some more before Sora came into the conversation to ask what is the plan since they would need to make sure that they succeed this loop in order to help keep their memories of Subaru's Return by Death. Subaru answered the question by saying,
"We will act normally with you all telling them that I nearly lost my mind."
"Wait Subaru, isn't that going to make Garfiel very suspicious of you?"
"No because Garfiel would think that I failed the trial."
"But you didn't."
"I know Emilia but I rather have him believe that than know that me or Master Sora passed because otherwise he will have no trust towards the two of us."
Emilia was not too thrilled about this but determined to get Subaru out of this loop alive so she won't forget the secret that was bestowed upon both her and Sora, she nodded to show she understands before the three start making their way outside the graveyard. As they start to go outside of the graveyard they run into Ram, Garfiel, and Otto who were worried for Emilia. Garfiel asked the three what happened only for Sora to answer that by saying,
"Unsure, we passed out but when I woke up I quickly got Emilia to wake up when we saw that Subaru was losing his mind."
"How so?" Ram asked with some concern hidden in her regular tone of voice.
"He saw something that sort of made him bang his head in the ground with a lot of force. We managed to calm him down so you all don't have to worry about it."
"Barusu, you were supposed to help Emilia-sama, but it seems you accomplished the opposite of helping."
"I know I know..." Subaru looked down with disappointment since he does recall how he made Emilia and Sora panic when they saw him banging his head while he was losing his sanity. Garfiel looked at Subaru as he was thinking about what he heard on what happened in the graveyard. All Garfiel could do is pat him on the shoulder as if he knows the feeling before telling the group that they should discuss more on the trial.
Subaru paid attention to this loop and concluded that it was the best loop yet since not only is Emilia's determination to beat the trial not broken but he also got a chance to get closer to her much more since both his Master and Emilia know his Return by Death. This is the loop he wants to succeed in, which made him want to spend time more with the two so he can talk more about his experience.
Later that night, Subaru and Emilia got a chance to speak together alone in the forest when Subaru went outside after their meeting and his fourth reunion with his parents. Emilia went outside and noticed Subaru all alone in the forest, prompting her to go talk with him. She pats him in the back and sits next to him as she asks Subaru if he is alright.
"Y-Yes, I'm alright. Just got a lot on my mind."
"You know you can talk to me, Subaru. Stop trying to do everything on your own!"
"Okay...I guess I just don't want to fail this loop...after the luck I got in revealing my secret to you and Master Sora, I'm happy that you all know yet if I die..."
"Subaru..." Emilia paused herself, although she was afraid that he may die once again, she had a desire to save him. After hearing all that he did just to keep her alive, she couldn't just let him suffer anymore.
"Subaru."
"Huh? Oh sorry Emilia-tan, I was just thinking about not wanting to mess this up."
"I'm going to save you."
"What?" Subaru was dumbfounded by this as he didn't expect this at all. He stood silent as she continued to speak to him in a determined voice. "I know that...you can't die, but I know that you can't keep it up forever. Deep down, you're just like me, a normal person."
Subaru looked at Emilia with shock as he heard the girl that saved his life declare that she will save him, something he declared to himself to do for her. He turned away with red cheeks before saying,
"I honestly don't deserve being next to you, Emilia."
"I wish for you to be happy, I don't want you dying over and over until the Subaru I care about is gone."
"Well I...I don't know about that, I wish for a future where you all make it out together."
"Yes but you should be included among the people you wish to save! I don't want you to be alone when something bad happens anymore which is why your previous loop will be the last time you will die, I promise."
Subaru smiled at this and before he was about to walk back to the church to sleep along with the others, Emilia allowed him to have a lap pillow since she felt like he needed it. Subaru took the opportunity to lay down on the lap pillow while talking to Emilia about his parents, happy to see them once again. As he spoke about his family, Emilia asked how he was back when he was in his world, curious about Subaru's previous life. This bothered him since he didn't like talking about his past yet he didn't want to keep things from Emilia anymore.
"I was a nobody."
"How come?"
"I didn't have much going for me. Everybody associated me as my father's son, as the son of the great Natsuki Kenichi. Because of that, I tried everything to live up to my father's legacy but eventually I found myself more alone than ever. I gave up on life and wanted...wanted..." Subaru began to cry as he really didn't have anything going for him, feeling worthless yet he was surprised that Emilia was petting his head in an attempt to comfort him. She knew that it was tough for Subaru to speak about his previous life, seeing that he had such high expectations to meet and feeling the weight of the world.
"It's okay, I'm here for you."
Emilia stayed there with Subaru for a while to comfort the boy before the two decided to finally head to sleep. Before they split paths, Emilia quickly said to Subaru,
"Please make it back safely from the mansion, you and Sora."
"Don't worry, I will!"
The next day, Subaru talked to Otto and told him that Sora and himself were off to the mansion to make sure that everyone there is alright. Otto was at first skeptical of this until Subaru told him that he is counting on him to take care of Emilia and of his parents for him. Seeing Subaru relying on him made Otto trust his friend while Sora had asked Ram to keep Garfiel distracted long enough for Subaru and him to leave Sanctuary. Both keyblade wielders have formed a plan to leave sanctuary to make sure they take care of the mansion problem first. With the two keyblade wielders riding Patrasche to the mansion, Sora turns towards his apprentice and begins to say,
"You sure it is a good idea to leave Emilia on her own here?"
"I trust that my parents will take care of her while we are gone. I also entrusted Otto to help."
"Seems like you have things under control."
"Thanks to you and Emilia. You both helped me so much yesterday, I honestly don't know where I would be without you two."
"No need to mention it, we are friends after all."
"You are right Master Sora, we are friends."
Subaru and Sora both with Patrasche managed to get past the barrier without any trouble and continued on towards the path to the mansion with Subaru informing Sora of all the details he could remember of the second loop, knowing that the attack on the mansion is something they must prepare for.
Once they arrived at the mansion, Subaru and Sora both looked around to make sure nobody was around. Once confirming that, the two approached the mansion and knocked on the door to which Frederica answered the door.
"Subaru, Sora, it is nice to see you two again."
"It's nice to see you two, Frederica. I know we are early but I need you and Petra to take Rem to the village and take cover."
"Wait, what is going on?"
"Subaru got information that someone might attack the mansion, so me and him are evacuating everyone here. We just want you to be safe."
Petra and the knights all had noticed from one of the windows looking down on the entrance that Subaru and Sora had returned, making the four curious on what was going on. They quickly managed to catch up on the conversation with Petra running to give Sora a hug. Yabuto, Kishida, and Waraki all gave Subaru a welcome handshake of their own before they all asked what was going on. Subaru explained the situation to which Yabuto commented on.
"You should really have us knights be on the front lines to fight off whatever fools dare to step here."
"Hehe I always enjoy your commitment to join in on a fight, Yabuto, but I need you three to protect the village. I have a feeling that they will see Frederica, Petra, and Rem heading towards the village. This is where you three come in and protect them from getting harm."
"Hmm seems like the newbie here is quite the strategist, right boys?"
"Right!"
"Correct!"
"Alright then newbie, we will follow your plan, as long as we can be helpful is what matters in this case."
"Good to hear."
As Subaru and the other knights all went to get Rem safely into a carriage, Frederica took the time to speak with Sora.
"Do you think we will be safe in the village?"
"I do but that is not the full plan. You all will just wait in the village until we can either get Beatrice to leave or we defeat the intruders. Regardless I just want you to take care of Petra, Rem, Patrasche, and of Subaru's silly knight friends...and of course yourself."
"That's quite flattery of you but what is the full extent of the plan."
"Regardless of the outcome, we will be heading to sanctuary because you all will be needed for the trouble that is coming there."
"Alright then, I will eagerly await the moment you and Subaru join us, hoping along with Beatrice-sama."
"Yes, we will be waiting for your safe return, Sora-sama."
Sora smiled at Petra and quickly patted her head before waiting for the others to get to their location. Petra and Frederica went to grab their things for the journey ahead. Once everyone was settled and ready, they all wished the two keyblade wielders luck on their quest before heading to Arlam village. As the two saw them off, Subaru turned towards Sora and started to tell him everything he learned regarding Beatrice, having put the pieces together on what Roswaal meant by saying of the one since Beatrice is waiting for the one to help end the contract she is bound by.
"The one? I don't trust Roswaal but if you think this'll help us, then I trust your judgement, Subaru."
"Yes but I think it should be you, Master Sora. You are capable of saving people and you might be the one who can save Beatrice from the hell she is in."
"That is a lot of trust you have in me, thanks."
"Anything for you, master."
Subaru and Sora nodded at each other as they were prepared to save Beatrice from the contract that she has been stuck in. The two looked around for a bit until they found Beatrice's door and quickly opened it so it didn't move. Once inside, Beatrice looked at the two as if she was expecting them there.
"You both are finally here, I suppose."
"I brought Master Sora here because I know of your contract, Beako. It's time you were freed from it."
Beatrice was intrigued at how Subaru has become, compared to the last time how he was confident that he was going to change a future that is destined for darkness, he was going to let someone else fix things for him. Beatrice would complain yet she had suspected that either keyblade wielder was possibly 'That Person' for her. She looked at the two and continued to speak.
"Do as you wish. It's all quite ironic either way, I suppose. The end of a contract that lasted a long, long time...By bringing an end to the end of the end, I will truly be set free this time indeed. Of course...I suspected either one of you, I suppose."
Subaru and Sora looked at each other for a moment with Subaru nodding at his master, confident that he can save Beatrice from the contract she was bound to. Sora approached the petite girl and began to speak.
"We are here to take you outside, Beatrice."
"What are you talking about, I suppose?"
"We have to leave the mansion and I want you to join us, side by side."
"But why, I didn't ask you to-"
"I know but being lonely here for four hundred years, it must really have taken a toll on you. I had a friend, a Keyblade Master by the name Aqua, she was trapped in a place alone for over a decade and it almost corrupted her if it weren't for my friends and I. That is why I'm here for you, Beatrice. I don't want you to be alone and feel the loneliness you have been for so long."
"..."
"I know the book as blank pages, meaning that it doesn't show you your future anymore."
"What? How did you...?"
"I just know it but I want you to know that you do have a future. I want to help build that future with you, to join Subaru, Emilia, Rem, Ram, even Roswaal, and me onto the future we all share. You are not alone."
Beatrice looked down with a sad expression while holding on to the gospel she so desperately wished to see something, anything new on the pages that had been blank for so very long. She looks up after a moment and asks the question,
"Are you that person? Will you...be that person for Betty?"
"I..."
"Wasting time as always."
A voice spoke which caused all three in the library to get their guards up since they were aware that someone had interrupted Sora and Beatrice's chat. They looked around with Sora and Subaru having their keyblade in hand. As they looked, they eventually spotted both Saix and Replica Riku standing on the other side of the library.
"Who let you all in, in fact?!"
"We let ourselves in, speaking of which, Sora, you really are going to accept this girl over Kairi, Rem, over everyone else? You do realize what she wants is someone who would put her first, think of her only and knowing you, you wouldn't be able to pull it off. You care so much about everybody that you make a poor friend."
"Don't you dare talk to Master Sora like that, asshole!"
"Shut it, false keyblade wielder. The only reason you are even useful is because of the weapon you hold. I can guarantee without it, you are nothing."
Subaru looked at his keyblade and knew that Replica Riku was right in what he spoke yet he looked up at him with determination in his eyes. He had already felt that weakness when he was in the capital recovering, having no weapon yet he had his friends helping him out, pushing him to a future where he could stand beside them.
"That's enough, Riku!"
"What do you know about friendships? All you've ever done isw abandon your friends. When you abused the Power of Waking, you were only thinking about yourself, not caring how others would feel if you disappeared. You allowed your friends to grieve for you while you are in another world, having the time of your life. What kind of friend is that?"
"Shut your mouth!"
"Huh? Oh it seems like the weak and pathetic keyblade wielder would like to speak."
"Yeah that's right, I am the weaker keyblade wielder! I know what it feels to be weak, I know I may never get as strong as Master Sora but even so, my friends will stand by my side and I will not fail them! Neither will Master Sora! He had to leave his home and friends behind to save one who died, he has done more than you can ever hope to accomplish! It doesn't matter what happens in the end, we are all going to make it out of this together for a bright future!"
As Subaru finished speaking, he did not hesitate in charging at Replica Riku and prepared to attack him, causing Replica Riku to summon his weapon for a fight only for everyone to stop when they noticed that someone had started to open the door to the library.
"My My, I didn't realize the fight was going to be in here."
"Elsa..."
"Sora, darling, it has been a while since we last saw each other."
"I do not wish to fight you."
"My My, why are you going soft on me now?"
"I just have someone to focus my attention on, where is Capella the Sin Archbishop of Lust."
"Wow, this boy must love me if he dares to say my name and my title in such a calm manner. I must see this love for myself." A female voice spoke unfamiliar to everyone but Subaru. Capella entered the library and looked around, amazed by the amount of books there was before returning her attention to Sora.
"Now what kind of girl are you into, one who is pretty and as an innocent face...hmm." Capella changes into a girl with red hair and a pinkish attire, a lot like Kairi which did surprised the keyblade wielder but didn't fool him along with Subaru. All Sora did was stayed silent with a serious facial expression while he continued to listen to Capella speak, "Is this not what you seek? After all, for someone who has a heart of gold as they say, you should probably find beauty on the innocent looking."
Sora could only look at Capella with mere disgust as she is taking the form of Kairi to mock him. He closed his eyes and held his hand onto his chest before speaking to the Sin Archbishop of Lust,
"You speak about love but you are only focused on what people think regarding looks but you don't understand that there is love in caring for someone past their looks, into their souls. The inside of someone matters most and you have a darkness hanging in your heart."
"I wouldn't call it darkness, more like the amount of love I have for the world."
"How is that love? That is not love. I witnessed a friend nearly die for a girl because he cared so deeply for. I watched a sister nearly die for the sister she wanted to protect. I died to save the girl I cared for the most, the girl you mock me with. That is what love is, caring for those that you value not by looks but by what they are inside."
"Wait, did I hear that correctly? You died, I suppose?"
"Oh yeah, I guess I never told you the story of when I became a heartless."
"My My Sora, I didn't realize you had the potential of reviving yourself. Now I definitely want to face you off right now!"
"Hold on there Elsa, mother as to teach this boy what love is." Capella speaks while returning to her usual form with a more angry look in her face. She was angry at what Sora was speaking off regarding love, making her hand change into a dragon's hand.
"Listen here you little shit, love is one who views the beauty of someone. The inside of a person is nothing more than fake."
"You are wrong! I've seen it countless times on my journey with all the friends I made, that love is more than just that! It's about caring for someone and who they are as a person!"
Sora spoke with passion since he knows how love works now, having had the chance to experience it with the time he spent with Rem and the love he holds so dear for Kairi. This however was the last straw that broke Capella into attacking Sora, wanting to kill him for having the wrong idea of love in her opinion. She tried her best to slice off his head yet the keyblade was strong enough to block one of her most powerful attacks even when restraining herself.
'This boy...is fascinating! No wonder Elsa wants to see his bowels so badly!'
Capella was impressed as she can tell that Sora was not going all out when he deflected her attack, which made her curious if she could do anything. With the Authority of Lust she attempted to change Sora into a bug yet nothing happened. This greatly confused her but before she could process, Sora charged at her and started going on an offense against her. Elsa wanted to join in and help mother but Beatrice shot a purple icicle at her direction. She got up from her chair and set her gospel aside before looking at Elsa with a serious facial expression.
"I will be fighting you, I suppose."
"Now, I haven't disemboweled a spirit before. This should be interesting."
"Hmpt! As if I would lose to a mere human, I suppose!"
Beatrice created more purple icicles and started to fire them towards Elsa, beginning their fight properly with her in the offense while the Bowel Hunter was on defense. As this is going on, Subaru turned his attention towards both Replica Riku and Saix.
"Let me ask you jackasses something, whose side are you on? Are you on our side or on the sin archbishop's side because they are going to harm some good people and Rem!"
"Let me clarify something to you, kid." Saix spoke in a serious manner, "Neither you or the witch cult interest our needs. If anything we would want the witch cult destroyed since they interfere with Master Xehanort's plans but that does not make us allies. Master Xehanort wants to reform kingdom hearts in this world to further his goals. Although we are not the real versions of Organization XIII, we could become real should the thirteen darknesses clash with this world's seven lights."
"What the hell are you on about? What do you mean you are not the real versions?"
"None of your concern but as we said, we only fight with Sora should it align with our plans, otherwise we don't have a reason to help."
Saix turned towards the direction they came in from and created a corridor of darkness in order for Replica Riku and himself to leave. Subaru noticed this and knew that can't let them leave since they needed at least one of them to stay and help the fight. He first was going to ask for them to help yet he realized that it would only end in them leaving regardless so he thought of another idea. He pointed the keyblade directly towards Replica Riku in order to challenge him,
"I recall something about seven guardians of light, how about you test me? Allow me to kick your ass and prove to you that I'm a worthy fighter!"
"Ha! I'll beat you without even breaking a sweat!"
"Won't know unless you try."
Saix pondered on this for a moment, having been aware that Master Xehanort's plan requires seven lights, regardless if it is seven princesses or seven guardians. They have accounted for the guardians to be Sora, Emilia, and Reinhard for sure while Rem is a candidate. They wanted to ignore Subaru since he isn't a true keyblade wielder but due to him having won back his keyblade, he does need to be tested to see if he really has what it takes to at least be a strong enough candidate to be a guardian of light. He looks at Replica Riku and gives him a nod, which causes the replica to ask,
"Are you sure about this? You know he doesn't stand a chance against me, let alone will I let him survive this fight."
"If that proves to be the case, then it would be one less problem in our path and it'll motivate Sora to actually put effort into the six guardians he will group together."
"Alright but don't blame me if the boy disappears."
"Hmm." Saix went into the corridor of darkness alone before it closed with Replica Riku feeling happy he gets to do something other than stand around and talk. He has a smile for a moment before he turns towards Subaru with a serious grin on his face.
"You will regret challenging me, foolish boy."
"I know I'm foolish but I'm not as weak as you think!"
Subaru charged at Replica Riku once again, slightly confident that he had a chance in holding off Replica Riku on his own. As he goes for a hit, Replica Riku easily deflects off the attack before overwhelming the young boy.
'Damn, this one is tough...but I will not lose so easily!'
Subaru quickly jumped back and was about to cast Fira yet Beatrice noticed this and quickly fired an icicle directly at the two, surprising them since they weren't expecting their fight to be interrupted so abruptly. Subaru turned towards the direction of the icicle to see that it was Beatrice that interrupted them.
"No magic here, idiot. I don't want you burning this place or freezing it, I suppose."
"Sorry Beatrice."
"Just don't damage any of the books, in fact!"
"I won't!"
Subaru turned back towards Replica Riku only to receive a kick to the gut.
"You really are a novice, didn't Sora teach you to never lay your eyes off of your opponent? Man you are a pathetic keyblade wielder."
"I know I'm a novice but didn't you fail to gain the keyblade from Master Sora? After all you had all the power yet he still beat you!"
Replica Riku disliked hearing this greatly, causing him to charge directly at Subaru with immense force until all of a sudden Sora got in between the two and deflected the attack. Subaru was surprised by this along with Replica Riku.
"Master?"
"Don't worry Subaru, I can take care of this, just get Beatrice out of here, now!"
"Just don't die!"
Sora nodded and quickly turned towards Replica Riku and Capella, seeing the two attacking him together. Realizing that he is going to need to go all out, he changes into his final form with Oathkeeper and Oblivion on both his hands. As Sora prepared to face two powerful foes, Beatrice continued to face off with Elsa, pushing the Bowel hunter back for a moment until Subaru approached the petite girl.
"Beatrice, we need to leave now!"
"My My, leaving so soon? I'm having so much fun here."
"What do you propose we do, I suppose?"
"I think I have something up my sleeve, sham-"
"Al Shamak" Beatrice interrupted Subaru as she quickly figured out what he was trying to do and since he had a broken gate, she wasn't going to allow the young boy to try to cast a spell that would kill him. As Beatrice created a black mist, Elsa was stunned since she is not able to see anything with shamak while Capella and Replica Riku were still able to keep up against Sora, Sora deflected many attacks until he noticed an opening on Replica Riku. Taking his opportunity, he dodged one of his attacks and with Oblivion he hit his opponent in the face, sending him flying into a fall before turning his attention towards the Sin Archbishop of Lust.
"Transform all you want, I'm still going to kill you for your flawed view of love!"
"..." Sora stood silent for this, not feeling too much on the threat since he is confident in his abilities to take down the Sin Archbishop of Lust. The two continued their fight with Sora taking on the offensive side of the battle, giving Capella a hard time to keep up as he is damaging her with lots of powerful attacks yet each time she receives a powerful blow, she transforms into a different creature, changing up the fight bit by bit until finally Sora realized what she was doing. She was changing her body to heal herself easily, making it much tougher for the keyblade wielder to finish her off.
As Subaru is taking Beatrice out of the mansion, she looks back and begins to rethink the situation on how it could've been avoided should she had left with everyone. She then began to think on what Sora's answer could've been since he was going to answer her question if he is that person. As the two were heading into the forest, Subaru looked up and noticed smoke coming from the village's direction. This made Subaru worried since he began to think that something bad happened to the village. He runs quickly towards the path to the village until he notices a large amount of Mabeasts blocking the path with a girl who is dressed like Elsa.
"Oh, it's you two. Whatever are you doing way out here? I expected that Elsa to be sloppy but not Mother."
"You..." Subaru looks at the little girl with blue hair and starts to figure out that she looks extremely familiar. "...wait, you're..."
"I had so much fun when you played with us that day."
Subaru begins to recall that he and Rem went to save this girl when they thought she was in danger from the Mabeast. This got him angry since he remembers that the very first loop in this world, Sora went to save her which left Elsa to kill him and possibly kill Rem in that loop. He gave her an angry look only for the little girl to smile and bring in closer the Mabeast to her.
"You're a mabeast user?!" Subaru asked.
"I'm Meili Portroute. Don't call me by such an unappealing name."
"The village...What did you do to Rem and the others?!"
"I don't know who this 'Rem' is, but I did what mother asked. The big maid and the little maid from the mansion...it's a shame the little one turned out to be Petra-chan, though."
"A shame? What are you..."
"Don't worry! She is my friend. Once I find her, I'll make sure it is over in one bite so she won't suffer."
"Find her..." Subaru started to think to himself on this, happy that she is safe yet uncertain on what happened to her. "Meili, what happened to Petra?"
"Don't know, some guy with my hair color came and took her along with some sleeping girl out of here. My pets will find Petra-chan soon."
So he took her...I guess that is good but what happened to everyone else?
Subaru asked Meili what happened to everyone else only for their conversation to be interrupted when they heard a loud explosion at the mansion. They all turned towards the mansion to see a giant black dragon.
"Mother is having fun, I'm jealous."
"Hmm Sora will take care of this, I suppose."
"I hope so."
"My My, such faith in that boy."
Subaru and Beatrice noticed Elsa's voice and quickly turned their attention towards the Bowel hunter. Subaru got his keyblade out and prepared himself for a fight alongside Beatrice, both seeing that they were going to have to fight.