CHAPTER 7:
CONFLICTED REVOLUTION
Another dimension
Anegawa's theme from samurai warriors goes here (you pick the version)
This is it… the final steps…- grand tought, for he was close to achieving his goals, they managed to figure out the way to combine the worlds through the ancient machine, the dimension link system, that the ancients left behind…
However, that didn't eased his mind, for the reveal that the brawl stars universe is the same one of the samurai warriors tales, only it's future, meant that no matter what he did, the brawlers would indeed be forced to strife, this was a somber reminder that everyone would have to fight… and that he would indeed harm those he cared, even more if he tried his hardest to hide them from the strife and struggles of the world…
For as much as those kids are zany and might be too battle happy… they deserve the right to a more peaceful life… and yet, i have to pull as cruel of a maneuver as orochi once did… and involve them in the strife that shall define the world… sometimes, the world hates me…
He laughed, he knows he deserves most of what has been brought upon him, but he has to move forward, thus, he walks through dimensions, preparing to arrive in dream land, take the star rod, fuse the worlds… and ensure the war doesn't last long, thus ensuring that the scars of conflict and strife don't traumatize neither the brawlers, not the younger kids from the puyoverse…
But only time will tell who shall be made to strife…
Enough delaying the inevitable… this ends here.- and with a determined look, he donned the red Hood of the crimson reaper… and rushed to dream land, more accurately, the fountain of dreams.
Elsewhere, at the sunset steppe
On some distant plains in perpetual twilight, in which spirits would loom and connect with the world of the living, were the departed would be given the right to part with their loved ones in a final conversation, or could decide to bind themselves to them as guardian spirits, a train of gold, cyan and orange made it's way for the fallen to finally depart…
This was sunset steppe, the spiritual dominion of dream land, located on the southern end of cookie country, on it's frontier with dream land itself.
On the lonely road, there were walked three figures unnatural to dream land, yet hired to protect it at the king's request upon the looming threat.
The first: a Young kid on an orange and grey jacket, wielding a sword, having grey pants, brownish black hair and blue and yellow shoes, this was matias, a smart, deadpan and confident kid who tends to tackle many things by himself, and was talking to an older man, who he shared countless adventures with, the man in question had a golden longcoat with yellow lightning trims, a blue cravat, cyan pants, and carried a golden axe with a blood red eye in the middle, he had gray hair, and a Little beard, this was Gregory grand, the son of evaristus grand… to a certain extent.
The last man had a military uniform in green and blue, black and lavender boots, armor plates from the sengoku era, wielded a katana with a bloody red blade, a broadsword forged with obsidian and steel, and a simple flintlock that could shift into a combat knife, was a red head, bore a painful scar, and like evaristus, he had heterochromia, whereas his left eye was green, his right eye would be bloody red, this was Thomas Oldfrey, who's chasing evaristus out of a pursuit to avenge his family, given that on his eyes, it was evaristus who killed his father…
The only thing he knows is that the scarlet reaper was guilty, and since evaristus wields such a mantle, he must be the one responsible, thus he was more or less on his own, only travelling with Gregory grand due to respect for his mentor, the man who taught him all he knew about combat and honor…
Can't say i'm surprised your old man might be responsable.- mat said.- still, why would he seek so many artifacts…
Knowing him, he's not pursuing their power to become invincible…- Gregory began to reason.- he strictly and firmly believes that only your power and bonds are enough to carry your ambitions forward… he seeks them for something else.
Well, at least we know where he's going next, so that he shall finally pay for his crimes.- muttered thomas, polishing his broadsword, for as much as he wanted revenge on his father's supposed killer, he didn't want to murder him… thus, he sheated his katana, and drew the broadsword.
(still… killing a family… that's far lower than what he usually could step down to)- Gregory pondered
Thus, the trio walked onto the fountain of dreams, taking the sunset steppe as an alternative route to try and ambush evaristus, who after arriving in dream land, decided to walk through rainbow resort.
The valley was eerily silent, when it received them, hollow empty, and the express was nowhere to be found, it wasn't a complete mirror to how terra flora was ruined by the darkmess, but it was also similar to how devastated barrendale mesa was after the rabbids arrived and especially after the spark wars of the mushroom kingdom's cosmos…
The winds however, knew different… and so did evaristus, for his treck through the rainbow resort, as pristine as it was, also made him remind of what was to come… at the same time, he once visited the sunset steppe on his free time to prepare his mind for the final step…
As he saw the hollow valley, he found gears, cords, and batteries, machinery unnatural to the spirit's rest… as mainly steam and solar power were the norm in the steppe of eternal twilight, this slowly unnerved him… the color of the machine pieces only served to agravate it… for it was crimson red, such a color, while a semblance of his weapons, this one was the crimson of blood, rather than his scarlet.
As his reminiscense got too deep… he found himself already on the fountain of dreams…
Finally… it is time.- evaristus would have prefered the rainbow sword as to the star rod… but one fragment of the star rod conducts more dream energy than the complete sword… and besides, the rainbow islands deserved to remain together…
As he rose his scythe to chip of the handle of the star rod… a gunshot interrupted him.
Got you.- it was thomas's flintlock that fired… only for a scythe to head his way.- WHAT?!- and impacted him, thus forcing him to Dodge to the main plaza of the fountain.
However, before evaristus would even come face to face with his father, a scythe also arrived towards him… and it was meant to kill him…
WHAT!- as he dodged, he began to see the perpetrator more clearly.
A figure with a blood red Hood and twin scythes, bloody, rusted yet vicious, arrived to face them… barring the scythes, he looked exactly like him when he took his scarlet reaper persona…
END OF THE LINE DAD!- Gregory told the figure, given his similar appearance to evaristus, he assumed it to be him.- this will end soon, so just give up .
Not today son.- the figure responded.
(you know i would not give up son, did you feel unease at this impostor of your father?)- evaristus noted.
Well, what are you ploting grand?- mat asked.
That's a nice question… but ever Heard of the world of strife?- the man asked.
HOW DID YOU KNEW?!- evaristus was shocked that the impostor knew his plan…
Oh no…- mat realized.- aren't you planing to-
Bingo.- the man responded.- And it will not only involve our world and us, it will also involve dream land… the puyo puyo universe, starr park, lunatea as well, and lastly… the warring states, in fact… we'll PARTAKE IN THE SAME BATTLES AS THEM!- the man said, as if the plan and idea was his.
Why do you do this?- oldfrey asked.
because, our society bécame weak, we bécame chained to the wills of the collective unconcious, to the media and the politics above we're slaves… and when i CONQUER THE LAND, i will END THAT!... –was the answer of the man…
But first!- the man created an ilusory barrier of puyo blobs… -this doesn't involve ya… as for YOU!- HE POINTED AT EVARISTUS… WHO WAS NOT THERE!
NO!- for the moment Gregory and the imposter turned over, evaristus gave the copycat a simple menace: stay out of my life, stay out of my business
AND STAY OUF OF MY FAMILY!- and a scythe meet the imposter's back, as he was thrown outside the trio's range of sight… and evaristus placed the handle of the star rod in a replica… before the power of dreams became naturally conducted by the fake star rod, with his job complete, he let the star rod back where it was…, turned around to face the trio, and told his son:
Let my intentions be clear, Gregory: i do not mean for the world to fall into chaos, i do not intend for ill will to fall onto this world, i simply mean to test whether or not there's hope for the land… and i seek to ensure nothing tragic occurs… i promise in my honor as a sinner and father… i only mean well for the world.- was his words.
Then WHAT ABOUT TIMOTHY, YOU ALMOST KILLED HIM!- oldfrey rushed.
Timothy?!...- this… this shocked evaristus even further.- WHO DID THAT TO YOUR BROTHER oldfrey?
HOW DO YOU EVEN ASK, IT WAS YOU!- HE ANSWERED… but doubt began to enter his mind, as evaristus' answer wasn't from a killer… but rather, a confused blamed man.
Still, why do you want to do this?. Why go all this way just to fuse the worlds?- Gregory asked.
Simply put my son… i had enough of humanity constantly delaying their responsibility, their refusal to face their sins head on… and before that destroys them for eternity…- was evaristus' answer.
As for your brother… perhaps a crimson figure did harm him… but that doesn't mean it was me… for all you know, i saw another figure… and he seemed more like the kind of sinner to do such a deed…- he told oldfrey, in a solemn yet understanding way.- but for now, farewell my friends… we'll meet again, once the land of strife opens the road to the future.
As he opened a rift, he looked at his son, glad to have gotten the right to meet him… however, he also took a peek at a blue butterfly.
Already getting involved mr. Igor… a good omen for the world it is…- evaristus tought, as he entered the rift… and left dream land.
However, the trio didn't took it so well.
WELL… we failed.- matias said, bluntly.- how does he always get ahead of us?
It seems he was too far ahead for us, as expected of my father.- Gregory mutered.- but the way he talked, is as if something caught him of guard and forced him to improvise, as if he was in a panic…
And if what he said about a figure in red impersonating him is true… are you ok, oldfrey?- he asked.
Yes… barely… for i still wish to set things clean with him… however, i'll also concede that he was not involved in timothy's accident… thus, i'm starting to fear there might be another figure… and i might have killed an innocent.- that realization struck oldfrey bitterly…
No matter pal… we gotta move forward and tell the King, for evaristus has the power of dreams… and i fear what world would be the result of his plans… i still trust my old man enough to say he means well, for as extremist he might be at times to get things done.- Gregory assured them.
Then he spots the letter… the two letters; the one sent by adeleine… and a mysterious blue envelope.
Flashback- the velvet room
This is indeed, a puzzlingly benefitial development.- igor said as he saw the events occur…
What is it master?- asked lavenza, a White haired girl with golden eyes and a velvet blue dress, as she held her compendium in a surprissed manner.
As you can see, this tome predicted that evaristus would complete his quest and gather all five pieces.- igor began to resume.- but the events of the battle changed; first, the introduction of another scarlet-hooded man revealed to us that evaristus' intentions might be more noble… and that something or someone is trying to bring ruin to him and his family… but didn't succeed, as we could see here. Second, the fact that rather than sending the four kids to live on the sengoku era… the spirits of the warriors managed to pull them safely to another time for just a day… thus, it seems the reputation of the grand family to defy fate is indeed true.- igor said, impressed.
Then what should we do? If the man evaristus faced is far more powerful to the point he could give us a prediction of fate by him just posing as evaristus… who's to say he holds the power to fool us?- lavenza, preocupied, wondered.
I wouldn't be worrying about that… for we lacked information of that man… but now that his existance has been made clear, the sea of souls is now able to see his actions clearly, simultaneously allowing us to see what evaristus truly has meant in store- igor clarified.- thus, i want you to send a letter to the King of dream land… one that shall arrive with the letter of miss adeleine… and soon after those two, the artist and her fairy friend shall return home…
Very well… -lavenza, more calmly, wrote the letter, and transformed into a blue butterfly as she went to deliver it.
To think such a mortal man would defy his end and gain the powers of a wild card… and yet, you're as foolish as always Lucius, for i confidently cast the vote on humanity's salvation, as evaristus did… because i just know, kirby's hope and determination shall be enough to ruin your schemes.- igor said to himself, as he closed lavenza's compendium, and with his grin… awaited for the timely momento he would meet the heroes.
Returning to the present.
Gregory opened the letter, and was met with a velvet blue ink, a seal of a blue chain burning with an azure flame… and then a photo of a long nosed man grinning, and the girl in the velvet blue dress…
To the reader of this letter, King dedede of dream land and kirby of the stars:
It has come to my mind the recent chain of events that has transpired in this week, i simply must say they're utmost peculiar and interesting… but also threaten the balance of the world… and while evaristus might be a noble soul… i can sence many more that do not share his kindness to keep them in check… if anything, they seek to destroy the world or rule with an iron fist… however, i'm confident and assured it will be you who thriumph, for your resolve and goodwill shall lead the way to the future, and i'm sure our help might not even be necessary… in fact, you count with an advantage, as a fellow friend of yours has made great friends and allies in the world of strife… however, the demons of war are looming, and many will struggle… however, i know you shall help them… but if you ever need help in your quest… then just look at a velvet door… and we'll be there to support you on your quest…
So long as you take responsibility for your actions, and remain true to yourself… this Alliance shall lead to a prosperous future to all of us…
With everything said, farewell… for soon we shall meet again, sincerely:
Igor, the watcher of the velvet room.
The king's going to have a great time Reading this.- Gregory bluntly stated.
King dedede's theme from battle royale goes here
Dedede's castle
So… it seems adeleine and ribbon have been up to something while gone, eh?.- the King stated.
It was a complete accident, i swear, something took over the machine and opened a rift in the space time continuum…- taranza apologized.
If we wished to send a friend to another world on purpose, we wouldn't make a black hole out of the nothing to do so, not that we'd want to.- magolor stated.
It's incredible, there was a blood red eye in the screen when that happened, is as if it was hacked…- susie explained.- and our hacker is still out.
Well, at least i'm glad adeleine made friends there, and that she's returning… you can say, this was a well ended accident. HAHAHAHAHAH.- the King jested in good graces.- you can leave… but ensure that pile o' volts is a genuine welcome hall that's fool proof, we don't want anyone being thrown to another world by a hacker.
Very well then.- susie answered.
You can't fool this wizard twice with the same trick.- magolor boasted.
Rest easy your majesty, you might need all the strength necessary if what the letter said was true, and there's a far more worse evil than that of grand.- taranza told him.
Good bye- the King bid his farewells…- hey, bandee.
Right boss.- bandana dee answered.
-I want you to tell the waddle dees to prepare a feast, one for adeleine for when she returns.
Ok. Right away sir.- and bandana dee was about to leave…
A feast for who i might ask?.- adeleine opened the doors of the castle.
Adeleine… you're back… no world can hold a dream lander down, HEHEHEHE… so how was your trip- the King asked.
It was great, we met kenshin and shingen, as well as a lady named aya (kenshin's sister), a man named kanetsugu naoe, as well as sakon shima and masayuki sanada, not to mention we reunited with lidelle and sig.- she told him.
Guess the puyoverse has been doing quite fine after the puyo soul incident… heh.- the King said.
So it seems those fools are doing well back home.-uyijasu appeared and asked adeleine and ribbon.
Yup, however, mysterious blood red creatures have appeared in their battle at kawanakajima… for what they described them as, they resemble demons… but are more mechanic than living…-ribbon explained.
That sure doesn't paint a better situation for us.- dedede stated.- heh, at least we have allies to keep the odds even… seems like shingen and kenshin are good people.
Indeed, they can be foolish and stubborn, but they're well meaning.- uyijasu answered…
Now, let's start planing ahead for the battle at hand…- dedede said…
Only for a snake eye to appear on the sky.
WHAT WAS THAT?!.-adeleine asked scared.
Sire, the waddle dees seem to have spotted an eye, a serpent's eye to be exact.- explained general doo.
This can't be good.- was dedede's answer.
Meanwhile
On another dimension, the dimension link
Well… i have gotten everything… while i did wish i'd got the full fragment, a functional replica which can channel dream power is good enough with that intervention…-evaristus was reminiscing of the encounter… until.
BOSS!- fang called him on a rush.
Evaristus made a quick movement for his phone- what's going on fang?.- he asked.
There's countless brawlbots and machines heading to starr park… it's like a rebellion.- he explained.
Oh no… OH NO!.- was evaristus response.
Seems like everything's going according to plan… perfect.- the mysterious figure was revealed to be travelling on a rift of his own, heading to starr park to settle the score with grand.- let's hope your rebellion doesn't end, garlen.
Elsewhere, On waddle dee town
Waddle dee town's theme goes here.
As the brawlers that went to dream land enjoy the sights of waddle dee, town, playing tilt and roll kirby (and developing a hatred for game shop waddle dee), eating at the cafetería (leon and jessie took a big mouth of the carby strawberry cake… while shelly and bibi took a hamburger), and fishing (kirby was the one to fish the bling bling blipper… i gave it fight… but me, janet and Bonnie were thrown into the lake…
Something was up when we received a call from back home.- bea resumed.
-This is shelly, who's speaking?
- shelly, you hear me?- a voice called
-Yes i do… (she recognizes the voice) colt?!
- so… how was your Little trip?- as asked
It was great, dream land's such an idillic and peaceful place… -she answered- how's home?
-Wish it was great, but something is approaching, and is unlike anything we've seen before, it's part animal and part mecha… and unlike the brawlbots… they seem fully violent… not to mention there's brawl bots everywhere… and they seem more feisty than usual.- he resumed.
WHAT!- was the brawlers (and bandee's) responses.
What do they mean with an unknown enemy?- bibi muttered.
Stu's in danger sis.- Bonnie was worried for her surrogate father.
I know… we have to help.- she answered.
Guess we're returning home to a rumble… what a welcoming comitee.- leon joked.
Let's hope everyone's alright.- jessie exclaimed.
Those enemies described disturb nita… animal and machine… what sort of dangers such a combination would bring…- she wondered…
It was clear their home was in danger, such, shelly had a clear choice.
-we'll be heading right away.- shelly answered, the enemies described unnerving her.
Really?- bandee was surprissed, but also calm
We'll be glad to help you then.- kirby assured her.
Thanks… but this is between us brawlers…- she told him- but if the enemy proves too strong… jessie, leon, you're in charge of calling for support from kirby if things go sour.
Ok.- the two aswered.
Then you might want to ride this.- bandee pointed at a warp star.
Thanks… you truly are special.- she replied in appreciation.
Farewell kirbs, take care.- bea bid her farewells… as the brawlers returned home.
Good luck kids.- kirby wished them good luck, for something (mainly experience), told him this assault would be far more than what it seems.
Something just seemed truly wrong… far more wrong that sunset steppe's discovery at the southern end of cookie country taking so long…
What would receive the brawlers: a brawl… or the first conflict of this new world… either way, my fiends shall prove their worth to you garlen.- the mysterious figure said.
They better do so… because we're going to war…- he told him, in an arrogant, doubtful and suspiscious tone.
Worry not… i only seek our mutual benefit… i assure you, the quicker we destroy starr park, the faster tenebrae hue shall achieve his dreams… and you'll punish the traitor of grand.- he told his ally.
very well… just don't try to betray me… or our partnership might be ended with a silent void.- garlen threatened.
As for you.- he refered to the brawl bots and the fiends.- after so long of being controlled by these brawlers, after so many beatdowns and scrapped companions, after being the chew toy of starr park… nay, the world… it is time we rose… it is time we lay claim to the land… it is time TO CONQUER THE LAND!... now, WHO'S WITH ME!
And with that question, the robots cheered, their programs hijacked before hand…
Well then… now…- garlen's claw shone red… and his grin became malicious…- LET THE CONFLICT BEGIN!
Edo castle's theme from samurai warriors 2 goes here
Starr park
The sight of a smiling six pointed star was a sign of wacky, zany, fun yet respectable brawls… barring the occational cospiracy, dark secret or crystal's acting weird…
However, it would be more fitting a face of grim determination…
As colt kept firing his pistols at the brawl bots, the fiends, wolfs with steel fangs and werewolf claws, rushed ahead, and while fang's kicks, nani's lasers, brock's missiles, and everyone in starr park was able to keep their cool… something felt odd.
Deep bellow, in the ruins
Can't believe a battle's right atop our lair.- fang muttered, annoyed yet amazed.
Can't we just simply blow them up?- asked bean.
Nope, you nitwit, we don't know who are allies and who're enemies, so until grand arrives, we don't fire.- was fang's response.
Then evaristus arrived.
Well, then, speaking of the man himself… how's it going boss?.- fang greeted him
Aside from being shocked by this assault, ok… and i got the last piece.- he replied.
Very well… bark, place it on the pedestal… kick it into overdrive.- fang comanded
Only a Little more…- grand pondered.
Back outside
Geesh, these punks are sure a lame audience- poco remarked as Phoenix and beettle fiends started surrounding him, crow, chuck and amber.
And these guys seem to take the heat too well, and while smacking them with the cane seems to do the trick (smacks another Phoenix to the floor), chances are, it might break before long.- she muttered.- HYAH!- and another Phoenix fell.
These guys won't simmer down.- crow said, annoyed, knife after knife the brawl bots felled, yet the sniper models still got to shot them, surrounding them, and while they were able to keep them surrounded and defeating them… the fiends were giving them more problems… for as much as he slashes at one, more arrive, and a crow like him can only take so much before long.
FULL STEAM AHEAD!- and chuck wasn't doing any better, as while his steel train allowed him to blast through the plaza turned battlefield, they were still being easily surrounded, as if the enemy was cordinating their efforts to trap and Split them.
It' be better if we got space to breathe for a rehearsal.- poco realized.- mind if you open us a road?
I'll do you one better, a free ride outta here.- chuch responded.
Well then, guess our flames ain't extinguished yet.- amber celebrated. As she, poco and crow hopped aboard, and chuck drove his train. His trusty iron horse, straight into the thousand fiends, thus, escaping for a while.
The scrapyard was not looking better, as piper fired shot after shot from her parasol, the bruiser bots acted as meat shields for an armadillo-like mech with iron hot plates, as hot as magma… but less durable… these magmadillos were for raids and assaults, one could deduce.
These punks sure know their way out of a scrap pile.- pam was starting to become nervous, her scrap blaster was taking countless enemies, the assault and bruiser models were easily falling, and she occationally caught a beetle in it's tracks, thus weakening the foe's manpower… yet there were a hundred more, and her healing turret would not last long enough…
GRRRRRAH!.- a blast graced bo's arm, injuring him… and unlike what many wounds would be just laughed of in starr park… this one felt painful, truly painful… the steel felt like it was meant to kill, and was designed to prey on the victim's blood…
The attacker was no slouch either, a duck with bladed talons and a water propulsed jet truster.
These fiends are unnatural even to the night- mortis was losing some focus, as the foes seemed too similar to creatures of lore…
And even emz was starting to lose it, because she didn't had time to stream…
However, hope does indeed come from unexpected places.
As a giant drill rose from the ground, devastating a group of hundreds of foes, and piloting it, were grom, ash and moe, the personel of clearing and the owners of the medieval sector of the park.
So… we took too long in clearing the trash?- ash jested, knowing the morales were low.
Nope, just in time.- brock was happy, and was the first to enter the tunnel made by the trio.
They got bo's arm, can you help him escape, for the wound seems to deep for even my finest support machinery.- pam resumed what happened to the trio.
Consider it done, because these punks are driving me more insane than the kids.- thus grom offered a hand towards bo, who took it and joined the trio in their drill, but not before leaving some hidden mines for their foes.
As pam made her way, she took nani with her, as they left the scrapyard, one similar to the one back home, yet different… she took one of jessie's spare turrets, and with her trusty wrench, modified the firing frequency and habilitated both gadgets… before jumping onto the pit, she was followed by piper, mortis, and emz… as they escaped from the park.
On the snowtel…
These pests truly are the worst.- mr. P was in a fierce battle to defend the few who took the snowtel as a sanctuary… and while the snowtel wasn't attacked by the brawlbots, they were attacked by a gigant edge and King doo, who seemed far more corrupted, with steel pieces and cords running through them… not to mention a risen killing intent, and while his assistant mini P robots gave them a painful fight, they were still standing.
Mind if you freshen up?- lou then threw a mix of super cold ice cream he saved for intense brawls in summer… and it was enough to trap the knight and one eyed fiend.
Geesh, what a wash… tought for a second we would be forced to scram.- gale said, relieved.
Well, don't rest in glory, for i've finally got the results of the investigation… and yes… it seems that somehow, the spirit energy, the musou indeed is part of our world…- mr. P explained
Whowza, that truly changes the paradigm.- gale said, as an understatement
That's interesting and all… but what about the eye in the sky?- lou called for their attention.
whuzzaWHAT!- was mr. P's shock at seeing a snake eye in the place… no, AS the sun…
lunatea
just what is that?- chipple asked, as the sun began to form a snake's eye…
and a recently arriving leorina, tat and guntz also caught wind of it.
Seems like the sky gota n eyesore.- tat punned, trying to remain calm.
Something tells me there's someone behind this… raise your guard.- guntz warned.
Primp town
As lidelle and sig returned home… they saw a snake's eye on the sun.
Is ecolo pulling a prank of his?- lidelle asked panicked.
NOT THIS TIME.- the cosmic trickster answered.- this is something i would do… but something feels off… like it's setting up something else.
Great… guess we'll have to make due with the weapons.- sig muttered in blunt disliking of the situation
Mushroom kingdom
What in the name of the seven seas is that?- bobbery asked, as he, goombella, koops and Flavio led the rogueport forces to the mushroom kingdom, in an attempt to support them.
Is the sky… mad at us?- koops asked in fear.
Don't tell me cortez's angry at us… has the spirit betrayed us?- Flavio asked shocked.
I'm afraid this is something not even i could do…- the spirit of the King of pirates said.
On bowser's castle.
Bowser and junior overlooked the skies… seeing the eye, it only meant one thing.
Crud.- was bowser's simple answer, as junior began to gather the koopa troop in preparation…
As atop all worlds… the eye began to open…
Back to the lair…
This is it… are you ready?- evaristus asked.
Ready?... you really ask right as we're about to begin… HA, i like your nerve.- was fang's response.
I'm always ready to blast away with fireworks.- bean said.
And bark just gave a thumbs of approval…
Well then… Then… LET STRIFE BEGIN FOR THE FINAL TIME!- and with that, the six artifacts began to glow: the element infused ring, the power star, the puyo souls, the crystal, the star rod's replica and the spear of sanada yukimura…
And in all the worlds, the eye of the snake opened fully… before everything was consumed in a flash of light…
And the worlds would be one… and share the same strife.
Back to starr park
Meg was rushing back to her crew, max and surge, who were providing cover for everyone…
The corrupted kyle wasn't making it easy.
For he held his pickaxe like a scythe… around her neck… and unable to move her mech, she was forced to fire…
She managed to hit him… but he shrugged it of.
What's the matter, can dig your own escape… or are you supers just for show?- he taunted.
Says the one who betrayed their own crew due to a silly rebellion.- meg returned
Well… then look at your surroundings, we've overtaken most of the park, most of your friends are retreating… and even if colt and max put a great defense, we'll soon catch them… so i think your time is up. HAHAHAHA- WHAAAAAAAAAA!
Shut up… y-y-y-you big traitor.- stu rammed onto him, before using his firework blasters to send him away.
Thanks stu… but it seems our time's running out.- meg said… and while she was firing her mech at the countless foes… it did seem like they were outnumbered… she would go fighting…
-We'll save everyone… i'm sure of it
Approaching starr park were the nighty knights, seeking to conquer the land, the armies of lunatea, and schezo, dark prince, raffisol and strange klug…
Alongside them, many koopas, goombas and bowser's minions walked forward.
Garlen was shocked
WHAT?!... HOW ARE THEY HERE…
But before he could even bounce back…
Argh… these punks are far too numerous, at this rate they'll ruin my face… because i'm not letting them get past here.- colt said in defiance, knowing his fate is all but assured.
HOW CAN THEY KEEP UP?!- max was slowly becoming too tired to keep fighting, as many energy drinks as surge could provide her, kicking, clashing and breaking the fiends and brawl bots was slowly catching up… and the brawl bots were far more vicious than usual, in fact, they managed to burn her left arm to a certain degree… this angered her and made her more proactive… but now… she was questioning if they were about to make it…
And with the many foes heading their way… it seemed like it was the end…
She would go down a hero… and fight to the bitter end… she knew, as long as her friends lived, she would die glad.
But before everyone could cross the gate (chuck with his friends, mr. P Being carried by gale and lou, and the tunnel made by grom, ash and moe)… aa single, red hooded man appeared.
So… do you need reinforcements or what?- he asked (now that the worlds were merged, it was time evaristus got to act…)- i'll take it from here. You cover your escape…
Thanks sire… (his voice… it can't be… but could…)- colt bemused, before taking the stranger of the crimson coat, as he guided everyone away.- EVERYONE, THIS WAY!
As the brawlers made their way… evaristus simply threw his hoodie… before standing atop the hill… the hill of the fused world's yamazaki…
And as the armies of sengoku japan, lunatea, the strongest of the puyoverse, some of the koopa troop led by the koopalings… and the machines led by garlen alongside the nighty knights… he had a simple thing to say.
MY NAME IS EVARISTUS JUDAS GRAND, REVENANT OF FATE… AND MY GOAL IS TO SEE HUMANITY'S POTENTIAL… THROUGH THE BRUTAL YET HONEST FLAMES OF WAR… IF YOU THINK YOU CAN RULE THE LAND OR STOP ME…
THEN GO AHEAD… AND SEE IF YOUR AMBITION CAN TRULY SHAPE THE WORLD!- he boasted, a challenge to many…
As a mysterious rifflemen with the emblem of a three legged crow took his stand… he grinned.- to be a guy who has made us relive this nightmare… he seems nice enough, chances are either a bullet will be enough…
And thus, he pulled the trigger…
Theme of orochi-rebirth mix goes here
And inmediately a scythe not only was headed his way, it Split the bullet in half… as if he predicted his shot…
However, the scythe then returned back to grand, as the splite bulle tended up flying into the countless foes, mainly, the fiends, of which many were similar to yo-kais, namely kyubeys, as well as the occational Phoenix and werewolf…
And evaristus didn't stop there, as he simply rushed towards the countless tanks of volk, and rushed through them with ease, cleaving the threadmills, severing the cannons like cutting a trunk… and yet, only slapping the soldiers, as if giving them mercy.
In his own words: a warrior only deserves death, once they've found their resolve… and accept that their death is an inminent truth of it… and still decide to keep living… thus, testing if they truly have the resolve to do so.
Resuming onto the battle, schezo began harnessing a White lightning through his sword… only to be inmediately made to block and take a defensive stance as the head of a bruiser brawlbot went his way.
WHAT's the MEANING OF THIS?!- he asked in shock and disbelief.
It simply means to focus on the battle my friend… but with that demon of yours… i'd rather leave you alone… besides, my battle's not with you.- was all he got before evaristus left.
WHY YOU?!, YOUR FORCES WERE MEANT TO BE INVINCIBLE, AND NOW WE'RE COMPLETELY BEING OVERTAKEN BY ONE SINGLE MAN, EXPLAIN THAT LUCIUS!- garlen was VIVID, as not only did lucifer's plan collapse in and out of itself, he was dodging scraps after scraps of not only the cyber fiends of lucius… but also countless brawl bots, as if destiny decided to thwart them on the worst time imaginable.
Lucius… only ha done thing going on his mind: IMPOSSIBLE… YOU CAN'T BE THE SAME GRAND OF OLD… CAN YOU?!- his bloodlust was severely weakened by the realization he might be dealing with what grand's truly capable of… speaking of.
He was cutting his way through the chosokabe army, sending them paking back to their island, considering them worthy opponents who were too early to join the fight… he inmediately jumped away from a black hole… he was annoyed at who made it…
The dark prince and ecolo, the dimensional tricksters of the puyoverse
So… stop your silly Little conquest, you crimson fool, unless you want the entire puyo hell unleashed upon you.- was the dark prince's boast.
Your Little machine can fuse worlds? That's neat, you going all gung-ho against everyone, not so much… so i'd rather take you out so i can enjoy the chaos in peace thank you.- truth be told, ecolo was a Little annoyed, for he enjoyed causing chaos, but this… this seemed to be far more sinister than just a mere prank, by the way he saw the man fight, he knew… he meant to conquer…
I'm afraid the burden i bear is one that makes me unable to comply… sorry for this.- and in a quick flash, he backhanded the two with the handles of his scythes… before rushing forward, beating knucklotec, cookiatel, reznor, and the airship hosting the seven koopalings in quick succession (he lost time trying to make the brawl bots aim at the ship… like 30 seconds, he got annoyed)
Only to be seen by shelly, jessie, bibi, bea, nita, leon, janet and Bonnie upon arrival…
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!- shelly asked, in a panic, seeing the ongoing battle
Seemed like an performance gone wrong, horribly wrong…- Bonnie said somberly, as starr park laid in ruins, barely holding itself together, and unlike last time, most places weren't were they could usually be, as if moved from reality…
Guys, is it just me… or is evaristus grand the one responsable for all of this?- janet asked…
However, the sight of the fiends described by colt standing there, broken and lifeless like machines… painted a diferent picture…
Did… he just saved our friends… why?- bea asked.
While bibi saw his fighting style, and her mind was afraid... of what it was eerily similar to…-(his scythes… as fluent and deadly as… orochi?!... my family always warned me that orochi wielded a scythe with the finesse and brutality that decimated armies… and grand… is he orochi's successor?)
Suffering, pain, missery… yet gratitude and mercy… such conflicting emotions… why the winds carry them with such equal intensity?- nita, for some reason, was able to feel the emotions of the battle… the juxtaposition and contrast between the emotions painted a vivid battle in which many clashed between one another… the why… she can't figure…
Returning to grand
And inmediately, he's surround by the forces of the takeda clan and the uesugi clan.
Seems like you aren't from here, nor mean well.- sakon said.
In the name of justice, i, kanetsugu naoe shall stop your evil.- kanetsugu said, in a noble, yet menacing term.
I'll gladly fight you… but i'd rather have the one who sent the fiends…- he points towards garlen, who's atop starr park's ferris Wheel- and his colleague captured first, as evil as i am… killing is not on my ways…
And what makes you think we'd leave you alone?- sakon mused.
Knowing the one atop… only one of you might go… the other… might as well give me a good duel to the end.- evaristus boasted and clarified.
And garlen was losing it even more, as he decided to order all the fiends to kill anyone in their way…
This was senced by kanetsugu.- it seems you speak the truth, mysterious man… i shall punish the evil thinkerer… sakon, keep an eye on him.
Very well kanetsugu… show him the true meaning of justice.- he responded.- as for you… mind giving names, or i lost the introductions?
Evaristus judas grand, future- current enemy of humanity- he corrected himself.
And what motivates you to oppose humanity?- sakon asked, as he rushed with his cleaver to try and break grand's defenses
Simply put… i'd rather have humanity settle the conflict once and for all, i simply wish for them to finally end their squabbles and end the true meaningful fight for the future.- evaristus answered, while spinning in a fierce tornado, taking down countless soldiers of the takeda and uesugi clans.
You know… you sound a lot like orochi… did he inspire you?- sakon pressed on, with his cleaver being used as a hook to catch and throw one of grand's scythes, and on his querrys.
Indeed he did… after all, that demon had a creed and honor… and a good reason to ensure the conflict, i just simply wish to follow on his path and make my own…- he clarified, as he threw his scythes, one toward sakon, which he blocked, and another towards a thousand goombas and brawl bots, instantly taking them down… alongside catching raffisol of guard, as she was too focused on the fiends and soldiers to see the attack through.
Thus, i must also apologize… for i wished we met in better terms… but i simply can't just surrender now… so i must end this.- evaristus clarified with a hint of regret.
I did what i had to do… and you know, i can see it… you fight earnestly, no dirty tricks… and for as brutal as your techniques are, they didn't kill… you're hidding your goal, but i can see you're noble enough to honor your foes.- sakon resumed.
Atop the ferris Wheel.
NO NONONONONO.! Garlen completely lost it, first, all the fiends were completely wiped out, second, so were the brawl bots, the field was completely and utterly barren of his forces, to the surprise of him and Lucifer…
Second, tenebrae hue decided to withdraw the nighty knights as they saw the massacre… and now, they had to retreat.
Surprissed to say, garlen truly felt HATRED… only for a sacred tag to cover the ferris Wheel cabin.
WHAT THE!?- garlen reacted in shock
Stop right there evildoer, for your crimes against humanity, you must pay.- in front of him, stood kanetsugu naoe, who managed to climb through the ferris Wheel to catch him…
Garlen looked at his hat, and found it; the portal device on his hat that tenebrae gave him just in case something like that happened.
I'd rather enjoy my freedom… so later fools.- garlen triggered the device, escaping the battlefield.
He escaped, it seems he'll elude justice for another day, sorry my lord…- kanetsugu began to look at the battlefield, were one expects blood… simply was replaced with a lot of unconscious, bruised, yet alive bodies piled up…- but at least, there were no tragedies.
Thus kanetsugu made his way back to the uesugi main camp, prepared to fight if the world of orochi ever made him…
Returning to the battlefield
As guntz was firing his shinigami rush, evaristus simply jumped from the stalls, onto the cups, onto even the statue of the star itself… as he simply disarmed guntz, and told him:
Your father would be proud guntz, risking your life for your friends… but today's not your day… so leave, they deserve their friend… and you deserve a better battle than this one.
Guntz took on the advice with a grin (he didn't meant to win, he meant to learn about their foe, as he saw the battlefield, it was clear it wasn't the place nor time to fight)…
As for leorina, she simply took to the skies as she saw the brawlers, hoping for no interruptions…
And in the plaza of starr park… there stood one man, as evaristus drove himself to the edge, through a million foes… he began to pant…
HEH… guess this was… a far greater fight than i tought it could be…
And standing in front of him… were leon, jessie, bibi and shelly…
And this… is perfect.
Grand… is it really you, the scarlet reaper from dream land… it was you?!.- leon was in utter disbelief… all this time, evaristus grand was the same scarlet reaper who gave him such a nightmarish experience… and now… he was standing on his shoes from then, tired, bruised… yet still barely standing…
YOU… YOU… YOU LIAR!- jessie screamed.- we tought you were a visitor, a friend to make… AND YET YOU'RE THE VERY REASON WE HAD TO SUFFER IN DREAM LAND, THE VERY REASON MY FRIENDS WERE TRAUMATIZED, AND THE VERY REASON WE'RE IN THIS CONFLICT TO BEGIN WITH!...
Yes… i am… and i regret involving you in this.- he answered… somberly and bitter.
THEN, IF YOU TRULY REGRETED IT… THEN WHY DID YOU GO FORWARD WITH IT!?- she asked, rage getting the best of her…
Trust me when i say… i was forced between the sword and the wall… had there been a more peaceful method… i would have done so… but sometimes… only violence seems to get to people.- was his response, one that pained him to make.
We trusted you, we allowed you to live with us, we considered you an equal, someone respectable… i've even tought we could be friends… but we were wrong…- shelly began.- you lied to us, you fooled us… hid your true intentions fromus at plain sight… and yet… and yet, you still cared for us to save our friends… why…- she pointed her shotgun at him, seeking answers as he was too tired to retaliate
-Simply say… respect, because… i indeed enjoyed the time i spent in starr park, you've got a great group of friends… i didn't want you to lose them for my idiocy…
However… i have a job to do… and you have some friends to see… for i didn't just won the battle as a mere taunt… i did fight to save them… and worry not, they're ok… traumatized… but ok, after all… this sinner… is one to back up his Word with his own blood…- was his answer.
Jessie was livid…- you almost killed my friends in dream land… WHAT SORT OF RIGHT YOU HAVE TO YOUR CLAIM OF HONESTY?!
KILL THEM?!... if i did meant to kill them… i would have just done it… if i meant to kill them… would they be here… would you have meet your friends from another world?... because i can be many things… but a killer i will not be… and besides… they proved too united… heh… you could say… i simply tested their bond… unwittingly.
Jessie… she was angry, yet confussed… for she could see he wasn't lying, but he was also brutal and ruthless… she couldn't find what to believe from him…- then answer me this: why, why did you fight them in dream land… why did you made them feel death so closely?
Because… i wanted them to be ready… for the threats that would follow… (points at the fiends)… i wanted to see if you had the strength to move forward… and you did…
Thus, i can gladly say… it will be an honor to have you as foes… and i regret breaking our trust in such a manner… but the world… simply forced my hand, and it taught me a painful lesson: only conflict and strife speak the truth of the world… as for you… you have the potential to grow, to become truly magnificent people… but that mentality you had here, back then… was not one that would've helped you in the long run…
You could simply say… i saw myself in you, innocent, willing… yet too stubborn…- he clarified.
Leon's mind was conflicted… he was looking at the very man that made him suffer, the very man who taunted with the lifes of his friends… even if his eyes back then revealed his unwilingness, even if he was a man of Word… he still lied to them about his goals… and forced them onto this mess…
And yet, he wasn't mad… for it allowed them to meet many great people on the multiverse and make friends… he was truly conflicted.
Leave.- he simply told him…
Very well… i'm not in conditions to fight… but neither are you… so rest… and take this. (he hands them his scythes)… i'm… not worthy of them… and besides, you won our first battle… and thus, i'll make true in my Word…- he said.
Farewell my dear friends… take care… and show me… and the world… what you're made of.- he said, as he walked towards the horizon…
As for shelly and CO. Well…
Careful… careful… don't crash it.- taranza was guiding magolor as he landed.
There- magolor landed the lor starcutter.
SHELLY!- the momento colt saw his friend, he rushed to hug her.
COLT!- and so did shelly, the emotional pressure of so many reveals making her more emotional…
-I'm glad you're ok… but tell me… did you saw a scarlet figure?
-Yes i did, and i suspect it was grand, the strangest part was… he indeed fought to save us…
This caught shelly of guard… for her to hear that evaristus did indeed fought for his friends and starr park… and from colt no less.
As the two were getting back on track, jessie was searching for her mother… until she saw her.- MOMMY!
JESSIE! Come 'ere missy.- pam hughed her daughter with great care, seeing her Little thinkerer after her Little trip to dream land, making new friends daring new worlds… - how have you been?
Great, i meet new people in dream land, from a penguin that is King, a warlord who's reknowned as the lion of sagami… i've even met waddle dees…- she told her mom.
And how are you feeling?.- pam asked.
Fine… while i'm happy for the experience… i'm ANGRY that evaristus turned out to be the same person who attacked leon back in dream land… and i'm even more angry he truly fought to help you… because i can't seem to even decide whether to trust him or not… he was cruel to my friends, but also kind to you…- she explained.
My dear jessie… there's a Little phrase known as cruel to be kind… it means being harsh but honest… in order to help someone you care for… and he seems to be that kind of man- she said.
Sniff… thanks mom.- jessie replied, as she hughed her mother… doubts on her mind still remained… but she could face them on the future… for now, she had to rest, returning home, even through a warpstar tired them out…
Very well… now that everyone's here…- magolor began raising the Lor starcutter…- time to reunite with the King… SO ONWARDS, TO ODAWARA!
As the ancient star travelling ship rose to grace the skies, the winds began to flow into the capital of the hojo clan… as our heroes headed back onto the king's castle… and fate began to sing another verse of this tale.
END OF CHAPTER