EPISODE 23: HEARTS OF LIGHT OR DARK [PART 2]
Summary: While Marluxia will apprehend Naminé during the Six Nations Festival, Larxene has arrived in Arzenal…both sides will not expect surprises on their ends…
A/N: I thought I could fit everything in this second part, but I decided to make a third part for reasons [7/1/25 Update: I edited this chapter after finishing the next chapter] … Disney and Square Enix own Kingdom Hearts.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cross Ange or any of its characters or original plot, excluding the original characters I created for this story. This is a spin-off series of the main 'Cross Ange: Living Hell' story. Please read that before here.
Cross Ange and all its rights belong to King Records (Japan), Sentai Filmworks (USA), and Sunrise/ Bandai Namco Entertainment (Japan). This fanfiction is meant for entertainment only and not for profit. This story contains heavy language, blood and violence, and mild sexual themes not for audiences under 16-18 years old.
After finding the source of the world where Naminé ended up and split from Marluxia, Larxene emerged from her Corridor of Darkness and stood on a small beach under a volcano-like island with tall cliffs adorned with one or two mechanical landing strips on its rocky sides, in the middle of nowhere at the ocean with no way of getting into another piece of civilisation. Even from the beach, Larxene can hear women's voices and the sounds of machinery, which shows that this must be some military facility. Well, no matter anyway.
"Hmph. Even if that little witch isn't here, maybe I'll have fun relieving stress." Larxene scoffed with a grim smile, anticipating at least a good fight. At least, wherever this place is, Larxene will have some female company to lighten her mood as entertainment, unlike being the only woman in the Organization.
Had she looked up when she headed inside through the metallic opening at the base, she would've noticed a mysterious figure floating in the sky above and farther from the island, making it impossible to fly unless he could do magic. But this spy effortlessly hid his presence not even Arzenal's surveillance defence picked him up, seemingly looking down and inspecting the unfamiliar intruder entering the facility, sensing dangerous energy and a heartless soul to guess how the unfortunate victims shall face their future deaths…
…Unless this intruder will be the one to die from him…
...
At Arzenal's Command Centre, Commander Jill read through each report detailing analytics of the previous DRAGON raids every day based on the three Squads' shifts, including the earliest the First Squad have ever got this morning, due to the humans' so-called proud celebration of the Six Nations Festival currently happening today. That brought Jill's attention to the new shift in Misurugi's part for the festival since their princess's exile, her parents and former Emperor and Empress's deaths, and the new but young yet arrogant Emperor. Hopefully, to Jill, Rush must have also taken part in the festival to offer his false allegiance to Ange's brother for whatever the world leaders and their master's plans he can use to inform her of potential advantages of the new Libertus for retribution and revenge. She was about to call for Salia of plans for tonight's meeting when she heard horrified gasps from Olivier, Hikaru, and Pamela and looked up in time; all their computers glitching wildly than normal while the white ceiling lights also flickered madly until they all switched off by itself, leaving only the bright sunlight outside the windows.
"What happened?" Jill demanded the three girls hurriedly typing their inactive keyboards, but their blackened screens were useless.
"All the intercoms and systems gone down! It seems all of Arzenal's electrical circuits have gone down!" Pamela notified in dread, to Hikaru and Olivier's shock.
"All gone down?" Jill muttered in suspicion and confusion. What could jam their systems to have a blackout at an odd time? Is it HIS plan? Suddenly, Jill's communication device rang, so she picked it up and demanded the other line. "What's going on?"
"Commander! There's an intruder in Arzenal…she's not using Light of Mana but lightning – GAAAAAHHHHH!" The panicked voice of one of Arzenal's security guards called in horror, alarming the three girls, just for them and Jill to shudder in apprehension from the same voice shrieking a shrill scream through the line until it instantly died in a second. But, ignoring the three girls staring at her in fear of whatever happened, Jill managed to hear the mention of an intruder and a sickeningly cold and unfamiliar woman's voice laughing like a witch at the same time as the guard's screaming and what she could guess was a blast of cackling like an electricity noise.
What the hell?
The Six Nations Festival has officially begun, and the entire world, save for one, erupted into massive cheers at their yearly gathering event, unaware of a group of people watching over them for mysterious or false reasons of protection against potential violence. Joining the crowd with Rush, Moon with Ular and Hebi, Embryo, Aya, and Khalifa after splitting from the former's team and Tusk, Naminé stood beside her father as everyone watched the festival starting with the opening parade made up of each nation's best performance squad for their costume designs and march routines amazing the spectators.
After that, each ruler was given half a minute of speech in encouragement for the Six Nations Festivals, all in the people's happiness before the festival resumed to the people enjoying their time checking on the treats, conversations, and games. Holding Rush's left hand when he kindly offered, Naminé accompanied him as the false daughter she tried to pose, looking around her surroundings while watching how the people would use the Light of Mana. Having the power to have whatever you desire just by the mind would be an interestingly useful magic. Still, Naminé must keep her thoughts in check when Rush tells her and suggests making people see her as a 'severely Manasthamtic daughter', inspired by Khalifa.
"We'll just look around a bit and then try something interesting that they offer," Embryo notified his children, holding Khalifa against his body and right arm while grasping Aya's hand with his left hand, Moon and Naminé who the children are also informed of his temporary role as the Human Killer's superior he told them that he planned it as his concealed identity he thought about in a meeting he had with the world leaders, which aggravated the three old men of the council who despise Rush with multiple, mysterious reasons apart from his role, according to Moon towards Naminé.
"You guys do that while I'll check in case whoever comes after us, even if it's Naminé's abusers." Rush nonchalantly exclaimed with a flat frown, and his bandaged hand leisurely rested on his gun hanging on his hip. Although it is understandable to be on guard, especially from Organization XIII, Naminé sadly frowns on her worry for Rush's poor self-care for his job, aware of people's reactions even from Haven, peeking at her companions to see Moon, Embryo, and Aya also frowning their concern facing Rush.
"Rush?" Moon called, attracting Rush, Naminé, and Embryo to see Hebi whispering something in his ear again. "Hebi is wondering what would happen if people started asking about you and Naminé as father and daughter?" Moon translated.
"Ah, that is true…Moon, why is Ular in your bag?" Embryo's initial agreement shifted to confusion towards Moon and his duffel bag hiding Ular. Initially startled, Moon gently held his bag with his arms and slowly unzipped it slightly open for Ular's head to faintly pop out in view, hissing its forked tongue at the group looking at him. "…He said he hates when your people start screaming their heads off from seeing him." Moon shyly translated Ular's words towards Embryo and his children, watching Aya bravely and gently stroke a hand on Ular's head, hearing him coo in acceptance with his true voice.
"Cowards/ Cowards." Khalifa and Aya spoke and signed in annoyance, with the latter resuming stroking his hand on Ular's head inside his bag. "Aya, Khalifa, hush…although it is true," Embryo whispered with a confident smile, unknowingly bringing Rush to look at him with Naminé spotting a glimpse of a small smile on his half-bandaged face, which slowly made her smile in hope to cheer Rush up today.
"Naminé, we'll think of some fake names if people ask about our identities. Like a random surname which I thought off before we left Haven." Naminé blinked with a soft gasp in surprise when Rush elucidated her, a tint of confidence slowly bloomed inside her to nod with a softly determined frown. "Just for today, your full name here is …Naminé Shinra." Unaware of Naminé looking at Rush with a noise of awe from her mouth, surprisingly making her excited, Rush's declaration made Embryo release a spit-take of air in aghast, surprising Moon, Ular, Hebi, Aya, and Khalifa. "…And if anyone threatens you to say my name, my fake first name will be Rufus -!?"
BAM!
"Why are you using Rufus's name as your fake alias and you both's surnames!?" Embryo annoyingly demanded Rush, who was now lying against the ground in the nearest alleyway, Embryo managed to take them in without the people noticing by his magic from a single punch in the head with Naminé, Aya and Moon trying to wake and shake Rush's body in dread despite noticing his briefly mocking pout. As for Khalifa, she silently and sluggishly moves Rush's bandaged finger to write a fake death message on the ground and beside his head: Here lies Mister Rush, dead by Padre.
'…Why does that name sound familiar?' Moon initially wanted to ask himself what he strangely thought about Rush's fake name but was more concerned about his condition from unknowingly angering Embryo just from the name.
"Come on, man. It's not like your boyfriend will have a cameo in this chapter. Or it will be funny if he does." Rush tiredly chuckled from his painful grin once he slowly climbed and turned to sit on the ground, facing Embryo, who pursed his lips with muffled noises of annoyance. He closed his dim but beautifully glowing green eyes with a tired sigh before opening them to glance at Naminé and Moon.
"Naminé, I support Rush pretending to be your father while you're here, but promise me not to let him use that name for today," Embryo exclaimed, confusing Naminé to tilt her head to the side. "W-Why?"
[Elsewhere…]
"Achoo!" Rufus was about to start his meeting with his father's former, and now his current, subordinates when he suddenly felt his nose itchy and immediately released a brief sneeze against his sleeved arm, startling everyone, including Darkstar for seeing a glimpse of vulnerability from the current and young President of Shinra. '…Is someone or Cloud Strife thinking about me?' Rufus wondered in confusion and suspicion once he lowered his arm with a sniffle, although he heard a sad whine and saw Darkstar approaching him, his mouth and canine holding a pack of tissues for him from taking it out of nowhere.
"Thank you, D." Rufus acknowledged with a faintly soft smile after petting D's head and accepting the tissues, using one to wipe his nose clean before he stashed it in his pocket, making himself presentable to address the room of the Magnus Materia Project.
[Back to the story…]
"Human Killer! Aya!" Rush's group had just left the alleyway and started resuming their walk when they heard Rush and Aya's names being called by the food stall beside them, seeing the two young children slightly older than Aya smiling at them. The boy has light chocolate brown hair and black glasses, while the girl has short cherry-red hair. Still, Naminé can see that their friendship is strong and sincere and that their relationship is like Sora and Kairi's from their memories. When the children called Rush by his role, both their parents and the closest stalls beside them heard them and noticed them with mixed surprise, fear, or tinge of anger shifting into confusion at seeing Rush more relaxed than what they remembered him as.
"Hey, kids! Great to see you two still together. Sir, these two are the kids Aya met, and I rescued them the day before 'the Worst Day in History' happened." Rush briefly smiled at the two children, who beamed in happiness at him, and Aya waved a hand with a grin after Rush introduced them to the latter's father, serenely smiling at them. "This's your stall?" Rush asked.
"Yeah! Our mums and dads are making my mum's delicious cream dishes!" The bespectacled boy nodded as his friend meekly touched her index fingers with a soft blush on her face. "W-Would you, Aya's family, and your daughter like to try some?" The girl offered with a smile.
"How adorable. I'd love to try something I never tried." Embryo chuckled with a pleased smile, although something he said attracted Rush's confusion.
"What do you mean, never tried? You enjoyed the Haven food, even the sea-salt ice cream." Rush noted, watching the girl's mother kindly giving a cream-stuffed disc-shaped bun to Aya, Khalifa, Naminé and Moon while the boy's mother and pâtissier started preparing two more for Rush and Embryo. Naminé smiled appreciatively at both her treat and Granny's sea-salt ice cream made for her before she followed Rush's team out of Haven, knowing but couldn't try her world's sea-salt ice cream.
"Oh, yes, I did. The food from your land is the first time I've ever had anything that…a normal person would indulge in compared to the food I eat when invited to the council's gatherings. I was referring to trying something outside those gatherings, the same as this is the first Six Nations Festival I ever made an appearance." Embryo admitted with a faintly embarrassed smile and chuckle. After a second of processing, Rush decided to blink his single eye at Embryo in surprise until everyone, including the people nearly passing them, watched him turning to plant his mismatched hands on the children's stall and shock them with his, first time to everyone, disbelief reaction.
"Kids, this is a serious situation! My friend is forced to eat…royal food!" Embryo and the children in their group were surprised to see Rush dramatically gasping at the two children in surprise. However, the latter two kids stared at Rush in bewilderment and naïve innocence, even when the little girl lightly tapped a hand on Rush's bandaged eye without angering him. "He doesn't know what real food tastes like and the love we put in it." It was when Rush confirmed that the two children understood and froze in horror.
"Ahhhh!" The children's screaming immediately surprised everyone watching the confrontation, with the little girl being the first to stop and turn towards their parents. "Oh no! It's not good! Mummy, Daddy! We need to help Human Killer's friend try our food!" The little girl hurriedly begged.
"W-Wait a minute!" Naminé, Moon with Hebi and Ular, Aya, and Khalifa watch Embryo trying to dismiss the light situation in surprise and embarrassment, shifting his attention from the people watching them in surprise and even concern for him to Rush now looking at him. "Human Killer, why is this important for you?" Right when he asked, Embryo felt Rush's bandaged and gloved hands swiftly grabbing his forearms and started screaming at being aggressively shaken front and back by Rush.
"When people make food, man, you would know when you eat it if it's made from the pure heart of others or simply for appearance! The most decorated, exquisite food you and the royalty have tried may be good just by taste, but a simple-looking dish that looks nothing like that tastes different because you will know how much a person puts their love and care for others!" Rush clarified with an exaggeratedly angry and serious frown that terrified the people watching him and Moon hugging Naminé, Aya, and Khalifa, with the former three silently screaming their fear and the latter never showing any emotion from her blank frown.
As soon as he finished shaking Embryo, dazing him with inaudible mumbling, Rush realised the people's reactions towards him, briefly startling him but trying not to show too much surprise from what he had just noticed from his explanation. "…Sorry, I shot my mouth off. And I know I fumbled what I was trying to say." Rush apologised, straightening Embryo to stand and lightly brushing his hands on him. However, what he said further surprised the Mana human citizens, who were unaware of Rush's true personality, which Naminé noticed until everyone spotted one of them nervously scoot closer.
"E-excuse me!" Rush and a tired Embryo looked at the woman holding two paper plates of food in each hand, trying to be brave when she offered with a slowly kind smile. "I'm sorry to overhear this conversation. But I must agree with the Human Killer on trying food made from the heart. So would you like to try our samples?" Although surprised, seeing the woman food seller promoting her food and how surprisingly tamed the Human Killer prompts some other food sellers to get closer with their sample foods.
"Oh, yes. Please try our famous dishes! Surely, you both can see how we put our efforts into making others happy with our food!" One by one, the people went closer and unknowingly pushed Rush, Embryo, and their children against each other, squishing them with Naminé and Moon groaning and whimpering in pain. Rush and Embryo tried not to hit their faces to avoid another accidental first kiss from Misty's baptism when they felt the pressure slowly grow aggressive from the oblivious food sellers and chefs, especially when one accidentally held his cold promotional drink against Rush's bandaged eye to release a hiss in pain and annoyance. "Have our delicious drinks, sirs!"
"Stop, stop, stop, dammit!" Everyone hurriedly stopped and backed away when Rush suddenly yelled in anger, terrifying even his group seeing Rush look like he would maul everyone with his bare hands and gun, exaggeratedly infuriated than the heartlessly emotionless frown everyone had seen and remembered him for years.
"We'll try some of the stuff; just don't squish us like fruit pancakes, you nearly killed our kids! Cheeses Fries!" Rush reprimanded citizens that circled them, harshly panting out of his gritted teeth; all looked like their lives almost exited out of their souls for accidentally angering someone willingly killing their kind and Norma. Even those who wanted to complain or vent their anger at the gunner couldn't find their voice for their lives at stake, especially inside the Six Nations Festival.
"Y-Y-Yes, Human Killer…" Rush sees everyone timidly nod their agreement and fear, although he is confused at seeing Embryo hugging his children, Moon and Naminé also hugging each other in horror towards Rush, making him furrow his bare eye in stoic confusion. "…Guys, I'm not yelling at you." Rush affirmed.
Releasing a brief whimper in fear but trying to be brave, Naminé hurriedly looked around without hitting Moon's head and Embryo's torso in their embrace to look for something she could use to cheer Rush up, managing to spot something from a random seller closer to them who noticed her glance at him.
"Excuse me? Can my father and I try that, please?" Naminé requested once she felt Embryo removing his arm from the children, walking closer with her hands raised for the two small packets, each bearing a chocolate chip cookie bigger than a normal cookie, on his hands.
"O-O-Oh, of course, little Miss Human Killer!" The terrified cookie seller hurriedly handed her the two packets and backed away to join the others. Curious, almost everyone watched in astonishment as Naminé wordlessly called Moon to follow her move until both children stood in front of Rush, who looked at the two in confusion until Naminé handed him one cookie packet.
"…Here, Father." Rush wasn't expecting Naminé to shyly offer him the cookie as he ignored everyone watching the scene in surprise and apprehension for his response and reaction. Still, seeing Naminé and Moon smiling nervously at him instead of being afraid slowly made Rush relax with a subtle smile, not caring about everyone watching him raising his arms and tenderly stroking their heads to hear their dim but appreciated noises. "…Thanks, kids." Seeing Naminé and Moon's closed eyes but happy smiles releasing chuckles…Rush is glad of willingly acting like a fake father just for today.
"Mister Rush is happy, Padre," Khalifa noted in amazement as she and Aya were held in Embryo's embrace after removing Naminé and Moon to help Rush as his fake children. The family of three ignored the dumbfounded citizens and sellers watching and mumbling remarks at Rush eating the cookie and faintly but sincerely smiling at the two young adults as one of them closest to them slowly but kindly gave Aya the piece of a treat when the albino boy was staring at it.
When he looked at Rush rubbing one of his hands at Moon's head before Naminé again…his subtly pleased smile unconsciously made Embryo smile his pleasure for being happy at Rush the Human Killer being as humane as others seen as presumed of them.
"What is the Human Killer doing!?" On the open-air stage that places a massive table and throne-like seats accommodated the world leaders and their families' satisfaction with overseeing the Six Nations Festival, the first person to start complaining from watching their shared Mana screen showing an incident farther from them was the Galia Emperor, gritting his teeth as his fury of watching the damned Human Killer and Master Embryo surrounded by their citizens over what the former told the latter and now associating in the festival as a commoner. Even the shocking sight of the open murderous soldier angrily shaking their master made most of the council react in agitation or disbelief that Master Embryo was not punishing him even in front of their children. "That brat rallied OUR people to corner our master just to have common food!"
"Master Embryo should've joined us overseeing the festival instead of being treated like a peasant!" The Marmeria General Secretary minimised his crossness from this and their meeting last night by taking bites of his food, plated by the servants. Just remembering the context of their master's 'temporary role' refuses to leave their minds, almost breaking a few of their brains out of anger.
'Until our plans for the future have been put into action, I wish to start attending our world's events out of curiosity about your people enjoying themselves in YOUR celebrations, with the first being the Six Nations Festival tomorrow. If you wish to serve me, obscure my identity from your people.'
Out of the council, three of them and Rosenblum's family are infuriated by Master Embryo's wishes to act like a human AND introduce himself to unknowing people as the Human Killer's superior to be the same level of authority as his loyal servants. Unfortunately, they cannot object out of fear of not only Master Embryo's punishments but also because they have never seen their master genuinely interested in attending their events instead of being in the shadows. Either way, if they play their cards right without angering him, the rulers can convince Master Embryo to comply with their wishes to be equal with their God through his power beyond the Light of Mana. Not even his so-called children and the Human Killer will stop them from achieving their goals. However, they are oblivious that some do not think the same as those focused on their desires…
"Surely, all of you can see how Master Embryo is enjoying the Six Nations Festival more than we realise?" Queen Parvati Velda's serenely amused voice surprised everyone at the table, who all hurriedly looked up to show the Human Killer and Master Embryo watching their children participating in painting eggshell art onto the clean patch of ground alongside some of the other people. The sight of Master Embryo's amazed smile while talking to the Human Killer and both watching over their children prompted President Irijah and Julio's bewilderment or Rosenblum, Marmeria, and Galia's apprehension. "This is his first event made by our cooperation every year, but the Human Killer is helping our master experience how our people go on and indulge in their entertainment compared to how we work hard to maintain our peace from the Norma and the old humanity who wanted to reclaim their destructive history." Queen Parvati continued with a pleased smile shared by Misty and Seri Ranka for watching the Human Killer, who luckily did not kill anyone who would come after him and slowly acted more humanely than everyone's cruel thoughts.
She did want to ask Human Killer and Master Embryo about the former's daughter earlier, knowing he was hiding her identity to fool everyone earlier despite their slightly similar appearance. Still, she is confident he will tell her the true explanation after the festival.
"O-Oh, indeed, Queen Parvati!" President Irijah timidly agreed, distracted from searching for someone he was looking for in the massive crowd after parting from the Human Killer's team. "It is unusual for our master to express such excitement, especially the festival. But I see this as a fresh change for the good."
"Then, it is acceptable for the Human Killer's new role as Master Embryo's bodyguard, as he is to us." Julio proudly noted with a confident smirk, unaware of Riza looking at him from behind his seat, when everyone heard another angry complaint from the Galia Emperor whirling his head at him from the other side of the table. "Pah! Preposterous!"
"If our people knew the truth of Master Embryo, they would've grovelled and served under him as the true God he is, with us as his proud equals!" King Rosenblumconceitedly scoffed, although he felt a finger poking at his right forearm to see Blair smugly smiling an oddly seductive smile, pointing a gloved finger at Master Embryo in the Mana screen.
"Then surely, Father, since Misty has her betrothed, that'll leave me with the opportunity to marry our master!" Everyone wasn't expecting Blair's bold self-made decision, even her family was aghast at the thought of a young - and unknowingly arrogant - woman as Rosenblum's eldest daughter to marry their master and creator of their world.
"What a ridiculous suggestion, Rosenblum!" The Marmeria Republic Secretary boastfully laugh, shocking and angering the Rosenblum family, with Seri Ranka Velda holding Misty's hand to reassure his fiancé. "We just recently found out about Master Embryo's wife – good riddance that whoever she was is dead. But the thought of him marrying any other woman will be disastrous!" The Secretary further taunted, making Blair exaggeratedly gasp in her agitation.
"How dare you regard my daughter's suggestion as ridiculous!? Our girls are our pride and joy, so Master Embryo should be more thrilled to marry Blair than mourning for some unknown wench who gave him disgusting children, even one who has Manasthma!" The Rosenblum Queen screeched her anger at the big man, still laughing his cruel pleasure with everyone watching in displeasure.
Unlike Blair coldly smirking her heartless pride at her mother's defence and her father trying to defuse his wife's temper without losing composure, no one but the Velda family noticed in concern and sadness towards Misty's silent glare facing elsewhere to hide her sorrow, anger, and trepidation for her family embarrassing themselves and their awful words regarding their Godly master's late wife and his predicament about her passing. 'I'm sorry you have such an awful family, little one…' Queen Velda mentally apologised towards her future daughter-in-law, sadly smiling at her son comforting her before fuming her intensity to almost everyone on the council. She should also apologise to Master Embryo when she will notify him of this disgusting conversation after the festival.
"D-Dear, please…" King Rosenblum waved his hands, trying to calm his wife, unaware of his other daughter's sorrow behind him. As much as he wished to find something positive for Blair, the king must agree with his fellow men…Master Embryo shouldn't be stooping low from his powerful, Godly role to be a human by getting along with another, even if it's the King's daughters.
"I'm sorry, Ama…but even if we are royalty, I feel that your master wouldn't enjoy the pleasure we have more than right now." Away from the other rulers, Seri Ranka shifted his attention from Misty, still holding hands, to his mother in sadness. His words prompted the surprised Queen to look back at the Mana screen, showing more of the Human Killer and Master Embryo's families participating in the festivities…what she just noticed proves her son right about Master Embryo.
'You are right, Seri Ranka.' Queen Parvati mentally acknowledged with a soft gasp. For years, the six official rulers and their ancestors served Master Embryo in their highest duty…but this is the first time anyone has seen him smile and act with such happiness. It is almost as if…he is a free man instead of a proud leader the council wanted to serve him. And there is only one person who helps make this happen…
"Julio?" Julio heard Queen Parvati calling him from his left to see her still looking at the Mana screen but with a hopeful smile. "I don't know if your father thinks the same as Rosenblum, Galia, and Marmeria…but please find the time to plan meetings with both Human Killer and Master Embryo if you wish to garner their favour for your new rule as Emperor of your land." Not seeing Julio's curious but slowly interested expression, knowing the child will do ANYTHING to please their master despite executing his parents, Queen Parvati can only pray in her heart of what she will never say to the council.
'…Human Killer…please keep making our master happy.'
Unaware of the oblivious Mana world and their world leaders, their leader and animal tamer still fooling their enemy and his children, Rush's team perched on top of one of the tall buildings and away from any Mana camera drone flying in the air to record everything. "Hmph. So even his so-called vassals are pissed at their master and Rush together." Cynical scoffed her anger after watching Ammo's live recording in his Man-dle showing the council's table, ironically sharing their discomfort and annoyance when Misty's obnoxious sister coldly reveals her desire to marry Embryo and their mother speak ill of his late wife Rin, making Hyacinth horrified and sad for her friend that she even feel sympathy for the enemy and their children still in Rush's company.
From their multiple screens showing their recordings from different angles, the team spied on Rush, Moon, and Naminé's part in the Six Nations Festival and as always, they couldn't be dumbfounded how Rush easily fooled Embryo just by treating himself as a person rather than keeping his guard up for potential backstabbing.
But each sight of Rush's group participating in the festivities continuously baffled his teammates in surprise or anger. After the Mana-humans accidentally push and nearly squish Rush, Embryo, his children, Moon, and Naminé to promote their products, but the former two men stop themselves from repeating their accident in Misty's baptism, they look at their surroundings intriguing them, try some of the games and exhibitions, and Moon, Naminé, Aya, and Khalifa joined with some of the children and young adults helping paint beautiful art on the ground, which Naminé showed herself as an expert, with the adults watching in fascination, including Rush and Embryo.
The most flabbergasting part for everyone was when Embryo curiously tried and unknowingly won a ramen-eating competition against other competitors bigger, muscular, or fatter than him in such a large score number that confounded everyone by how he not only composedly took his time eating compared to the desperate men passed out from overeating but also how everyone noticed he did not shed his weight to be constant. And, instead of being disgusted as the team hoped, Rush was initially surprised but impressed that he suddenly held Embryo's left hand with his bandaged right hand and lifted them over their heads the same as their other free hands… "My boy won!" The sight of Rush confidently and childishly declaring Embryo the winner in front of the spectators, both men smiling, brought everyone, Moon, Naminé, Aya, and Khalifa, to cheer, whistle, and clap their amazement, further disbelieving or astonishing Rush's team.
"Tch! Our former people cheer at Commander Rush instead of angry insults before this!" Apache growled, his blood kept shuddering and boiling in anger when seeing Commander Rush not attacking but interacting with everyone and Embryo on sight, even if he had to be on guard, but the people slowly losing their fear, although hopefully unlikely, of Commander Rush. Apache almost jumped out of the building when he saw a few people he recognised from his old Galia life conversing with Commander Rush, Embryo, and their children, only for Red Death to easily hold the furiously struggling weapons user in his muscled arms.
"Well, it does look like a good change of sight. Having people see Rush more than the Human Killer, and Rush having a break for once…" Tusk nervously smiled, hoping to ease everyone's worries and praying that the team could at least see that Rush deserved a normal break instead of killing EVERYONE…unfortunately, Cynical's voice broke his thoughts in shock.
"But we don't want that!" Cynical complained while ignoring Hyacinth, shocked and saddened by her outburst, trying to calm her down. "Have these people forgotten that they're why the Norma girls are sent to Arzenal, the smart people left them to help us in Haven, and everyone hates Rush for doing his job protecting them for years?"
"And now, Julio accepted Velda's decision to have Rush serve under him!" Ammo angrily grits his teeth after listening to the royal council's conversation. However, his disdainful tone attracted the group, with Red Death slowly putting Apache to sit once he slightly calmed down.
"Ammo, wouldn't THIS help with our case? Rush can record Julio's plans, so we'll know, and he'll give them to Commander Jill at Arzenal for retribution." Red Death reminded Ammo, who was exasperated by his dilemma. Yet, when Jill was mentioned, Tusk heard an angry growl from Apache's mask.
"But the thought of US getting near the Misurugi family pisses me off, even if Rush has to pretend to slave away under that royal prick who exiled his sister in Arzenal just for secrets!" Unaware of Ammo after responding in cruel sarcasm, Tusk felt his heart aching in bafflement, almost in rage, when Ammo mentioned Ange in the same hateful tone he felt to Julio. Unfortunately, Tusk couldn't find his voice when he backed away and sat a bit farther from the team after listening to Apache notifying Red Death with his voice oozing in cold professionalism, unlike Rush's whenever he kills people in boredom.
"Captain Red Death. I still think Commander Rush shouldn't trust too much of Arzenal's Commander. That woman will do something that will hurt, even kill, our leader, and she will be to blame…" He didn't think about it until now, but Tusk slowly felt afraid and disgusted with what he was hearing today and other things that would make it difficult to comprehend…No wonder Rush kept everything about him out of his team and Haven's knowledge, and he and Jill are the only two people he trusts with his secrets in Haven and Arzenal…
"My…You people's hearts also bear negative emotions like the rest of them in this filthy world." A strangely but dangerously soft and cold male voice remarked out of nowhere and a bit farther from the team, alarming them in horror. Everyone quickly gets on their feet, with Hyacinth, Ammo, Apache, and Tusk pulling out their chainsaw, baton, Apache's single staff with his gauntlets releasing his blades, and dagger while Red Death and Cynical ready their fists when they glared at the source of the voice to see what shocks them.
In front of them from nine o'clock and almost standing close to the building's edge was a man taller and more muscular than Rush and Embryo, dressed in a slightly exact but knee-length version of Cynical's leather black coat and high-heeled boots. But his has long sleeves, no Plenum Chamber Cord, matching black gloves, silver accessories on the chest, and his hood was held back to reveal his, what made Ammo scrunch his face in repulsion, flamboyantly handsome face almost like a woman, blue eyes, and ruffled pink hair. Behind and on his side, further alarming the team, are a group of humanoid, floating monsters with no face underneath the long and pointed, faded pink hood of its matching faded pink and white jacket bearing oversized and pointed shoulders, wide elbow-length mittens holding a long, pink bladed and green-handled scythe, flower-like skirts with green spiky roots as its legs. There is a strange white emblem on their foreheads, but that is not important.
'Filthy?' Red Death wanted to ask what he heard earlier but decided to order the intruder, noticing how dangerous he presumed besides smiling grimly nonchalantly. "Who are you?"
"I'm of no importance. I'm merely here to collect someone who accompanied you, who must return to me." The pink-haired man answered with a shake of his head to the team, looking at the Six Nations Festival under them at the side. The team followed his attention, focusing on Rush's group as Naminé and Moon happily received a gift from Aya and Khalifa from another kind stall owner conversing with Rush and Embryo.
"You mean Naminé?" Tusk realised. The pink-haired man faced back to them with another nod, answering his question, but he was about to speak when Cynical took a step forward to stand beside Red Death, her face scowled with a furious glower snarling at the man...
"If you're here for her…good!" Almost everyone, including the pink-haired man in black, blinked their eyes in shock at Cynical's outburst, but Apache also spoke before the pink-haired man could even ask, as furious as Cynical was. "That means our leader can end his ridiculous plan, and you can have her back to where she came from!"
"Cynical, Apache, stop!" Hyacinth grabbed Cynical's right arm with her left hand inside her wide sleeve, distraught that Cynical and Apache had been unable to calm down since Naminé arrived in Haven. But Cynical furiously pulled her arm away from her hand. "Hyacinth, this will never work from the beginning!" Cynical rebuked the horrified chainsaw woman.
"Of course, no one will believe the thought of Commander Rush having a fake daughter to hide her identity and having the enemy help him! We have to save him before he'll die outside our reach!" Apache chimed in, unaware that the man in black and his monsters were watching their argument instead of pursuing them on sight.
Although irritated by being ignored and hearing such awful words from these heartless soldiers, sensing their hearts have the same level of darkness as everyone except for the few he spied on earlier, Marluxia mentally picked up some pieces in mixed reactions. So, their leader is aware of Naminé, possibly also being in another world, but still helps her by acting as some heroic father. It's odd to have a plan of a Nobody as a fake daughter…yet Marluxia can see this as noble. But why is his team against that? He doesn't even have a heart, yet he feels he should be sorry for their leader. "You two must be the rudest members of your team for saying such things and spying on your leader and his friend…" Marluxia immediately spoke and pointed a finger at the ones called Cynical and Apache, attracting his opponents now stopping their argument, although the two complainers grimaced their fury at him, he looked back at their leader, Naminé, and their companions in their festivities. "…But I see they look like a happy family."
Unaware of the pink-haired girly man, Ammo described his appearance, what he unknowingly said, innocently by his tone, prompted one of them to immediately dash and leap from his allies towards the enemy with a gauntlet fist reaching closer to the smugly curious face leisurely looking back, unaware to see the striker's face and reaction from their positions.
"Apache, wait!" The second Red Death called in dread…
BOOM! BAM!
Everyone stopped whatever they were doing from witnessing in dismay multiple but strong-looking, pink explosions erupting from the top buildings alongside a familiar woman's voice screaming her agony above their heads, attracting Rush, Embryo, and the children's surprise…seeing and sensing something dangerous after a few more explosions releasing a boy's scream from the air, the two men swiftly grab Moon, Naminé, Aya, and Khalifa in their arms and leapt away the same time as the frightened citizens running away screaming but unknowingly avoided multiple bodies violently crashing into the ground from the air, creating craters onto the ground by the impacts. Landing farther from the crash sites, Rush and Embryo had just placed the children when they heard the people gasping in horror at the source to look in front of them and see what immediately horrified Naminé with a gasp and hid behind Rush, catching his attention.
An unfamiliar and strangely handsome man with pink hair and blue eyes, wearing a long revision of Cynical's black coat and surrounded by flower-looking monsters wielding pink and green scythes, pinning Rush's team members and Tusk's bloodied and barely conscious bodies against their landings and discarded weapons.
"Marluxia!" Rush heard Naminé whimper her fear behind his back, feeling her hands scrunching his back and coat to know how terrified she was of seeing one of the Organization XIII members that would lock her back to this Castle Oblivion. A peek at Embryo beside him to see him silently nodding at him and being prepared to fight answered his private debate of what to do, even if it meant having Embryo to help him fight monsters or people from other worlds…that'll give Rush the fun he wants.
"You, imbecile!" Everyone, including the man Naminé called Marluxia, heard King Rosenblum's voice angrily shouting from a speaker with Rush, Embryo and their children turning around to see the open stage with a giant Mana screen hovering in the air and revealing the royal council's faces, almost everyone glares at Marluxia in fury. "Who are you, and how dare you try to break our peace with your monsters?" Rush and Embryo look back at Marluxia, sneering his anger at the Mana screen, understandably annoyed by being yelled at by the obnoxious king…
"Wait, hold on..." Rush called Marluxia, snapping his surprise as everyone, including the spectators, watched Rush briefly whisper something in Embryo's right ear that immediately astonished him when Rush finished whispering. First opening his mouth in confusion, Embryo weakly snapped his left fingers for a flash of light to manifest and form into a megaphone that Rush grabbed with his gloved left hand before running to stand towards Marluxia, leaving Naminé staying put with Embryo, Moon, and the children watching in confusion….
"Here you go." From their positions and trying not to lose consciousness from their humiliating defeat, Red Death, Cynical, Hyacinth, Ammo, Tusk, and Apache mentally gawked their shock at Rush, carelessly, handing their attacker a megaphone possibly to help him respond to being called imbecile by the council, despite their states. 'R-Rush!?'
"Oh, thank you kindly." Initially surprised by the murderously bandaged gunner's kind gesture, especially when seeing his shockingly empty eye with no light, Marluxia smiled his appreciation and accepted the megaphone. Once he watched the bandaged man return to his dumbfounded friend, Naminé, and the children, Marluxia held and switched on the megaphone before ready to speak back at the rude council at the stage instead of joining their terrified spectators… "Who are you weaklings to call me that, despite your disgusting hearts filled with darkness as almost everyone here?"
"Weaklings!? You dare refer to us, the rulers of our nations, as weaklings!?" The Galia Emperor roared, baffled and enraged at the intruder's response and the Human Killer's gall to hand him Master Embryo's megaphone despite noticing the demons circling their master. This reminds him of the failure of his Harmony Gala.
"Yes. And since you revealed yourselves as rulers, it's no wonder almost everyone here is pathetic. Not even these fighters who tried to defeat me are no match." Marluxia noted in dissatisfaction, nodding towards the fighters still pinned against the ground. The coat imposter brunette woman weakly snarled her fury at his remark, which he ignored to look back at Naminé's helpers. "However, I'm here…for these three people before me." Everyone was stunned when Marluxia raised his free arm and pointed a finger at Naminé, Rush, and Embryo. "I originally came here for the girl, but you two gentlemen are the only ones I can see with my powers that are more powerful, strong…and sane than everyone in this world."
"You can't take our master!" Outraged by this disgustingly feminine-looking man's words and goal involving Master Embryo, the Marmeria Secretary immediately howled his mind, unknowingly shocking everyone, including the crowd, Master Embryo, and Human Killer, by revealing his master's identity. "You can have - even kill - the Human Killer and his daughter, but not Master Embryo! Our master created this world, our humanity, and granted us with the Light of Mana!"
"W-W-Wait, you just revealed our master's identity to the public!" President Irijah gasped in horror before Julio demanded in anger or apprehension. "What were you thinking!?"
"We never accepted our master to act as the Human Killer's superior and pretended to be a commoner! Surely, Master Embryo is grateful that we reveal his…!?" The Marmeria Secretary hissed in vehemence, wanting nothing but his pride for himself and their master being the true God he is. But when he looked back at the crowd, hoping to see the reaction that would please him…what they saw horrified the council. Not once, until now, has Master Embryo looked so furious that it shows like he is a demon with his glowing green eyes widening in such rage straight towards them.
'You miscreants!' Embryo wished he could openly yell his anger at the blabbermouth Secretary for revealing his identity in front of the traumatised people now looking at him and Rush. He can hear them mumbling about his identity, but he must deal with Marluxia for Naminé's safety since he noticed how Rush willingly wants to protect her.
"Oh?" Marluxia muttered, his hand still holding the megaphone. From what he noticed, this bandaged man was the Human Killer, and his friend was Master Embryo, Marluxia saw that the latter wanted to keep his identity a secret when he glared his disdain at his creations for revealing it. Interesting. Perhaps he can still use this advantage….right after one last taunt to these cowardly rulers. "…You old losers have some nerve, revealing what should be hidden from your people's minds and ordering me to spare your so-called master. I might as well drown this world in darkness and still collect who I'm here for."
"Still, why do you want me, my daughter and superior?" Rush asked Marluxia to get his attention. Although relieved that Rush hid their identities as he wanted from the people, Embryo felt sad inside that Rush was forced not to call him a friend, reading his mind using telepathy to know Rush wished to call him as such.
Marluxia furrowed his eyes in amusement, now believing that Human Killer was fully aware but helping Naminé, and carelessly threw the megaphone away to the side. When he did, Marluxia, Rush, and Embryo looked at the unknown source of a random man's voice, suddenly screaming 'MY LEG!' out of nowhere in confusion and annoyance before the three looked back at each other.
"Surely you know your daughter's powers are beyond everyone here. The people here, including your team, are unknowingly but willingly born with darkness in their hearts, and you two are the only ones with unusual hearts and powers that can be useful for my plans. Which is why I shall take you three with me!" Marluxia elucidated, raising his right arm and open hand over his head. Curious, everyone witnessed a glowing pinkish-red Sakura petal materialising and slowly falling onto his awaiting palm, bursting into countless flurries of Sakura petals, which manifested into Marluxia's pink-bladed and green-handled Graceful Dahlia scythe, forcing the citizens to scream and run away like the cowards they are while the Human Killer, Embryo, and the children stay put to show Marluxia their bravery.
Rush pulled out his gun from his hip, and Aya and Khalifa used their Mana to summon their rapier and pan-drum harp, but Embryo stopped himself from lowering his weapon stashed underneath his right sleeve. 'No, I can't reveal my weapon here…' Embryo reminded himself, pondering what to fight with when looking at Marluxia and Rush ready to fight each other…until he got an idea.
Noticing Embryo's odd silence and collected composure, everyone and the world leaders still standing on the stage, witness Embryo calmly raise his right arm and open his hand in front of Marluxia's face, slowly collecting everyone's curiosity shifting in surprise at a large, glowing, light green sigil of light magic, bearing a faceless fox head symbol in the centre with particles of light bursting from the sigil for seconds until a big, white line of light exploded in front of Embryo's hand, he then closed to now hold a weapon no one, not even Marluxia and Naminé would expect Embryo to wield after his light magic faded. A large sword or gun-like blade made of steel with a head and teeth at the crown resembling what would be a key with six small spikes as the teeth, coloured black with purple linings on the blade to the head to the diamond-shaped guard connecting the orange handle Embryo is holding. The silver keychain under the sword's guard has a silver token resembling an angel-like woman.
'A Keyblade!? No…an imitation!' Marluxia mentally gasped in shock but realised from sensing Embryo's weapon, knowing what a real Keyblade is like, to recognise a fake. Naminé's reaction confirms his thoughts, but he watched Human Killer remarking his partner's fake Keyblade in amazement instead of his cold and empty scowl. "Dude, that looks sick! Your sword looks like it's made of Para-mail parts!"
"Not my official weapon, but I made it for this fight, inspired by my Ra… Mail." Embryo smiled his pride initially twitched in embarrassment, but he immediately shook his hands, twirling his fake Keyblade facing the head down, to cheerfully beam his excitement towards Rush, collecting his and the children's surprise and happiness, even Naminé expressed from her awe of Embryo's fake Keyblade to her serene contentment to their joy. "But creating and wielding even a fake Keyblade is amazing! A dream weapon so many hearts and souls wished to wield!"
"So proud of you, man." Marluxia watched the Human Killer praising Embryo with a calm smile, and the latter closed his eyes, still happy for creating a fake Keyblade. He doesn't know why, just from visiting this world filled with people having darkness in their hearts, even to take Naminé back to their world…but Marluxia found himself smiling in satisfaction at seeing the two men's hearts and Embryo's dangerous light shining brighter that could outshine everyone's darkness. But further confusing Marluxia to look down, he sensed the darkness and emotion in Human Killer's nearly dead team still in his Reaper Nobodies' restraints…
...Anger, fear, and disgust…towards their leader and his friend? He did plan to torture the Human Killer's team, mostly the awful woman in the shameless Black Coat, for information…perhaps he can still use their darkness to his advantage since Marluxia WILL bring Embryo and his partner out of their world for his goal to overthrow Organization XIII!
"Good…" Marluxia chortled, reclaiming Human Killer and Embryo's attention to focus on him and the start of their first fight when he aimed his Graceful Dahlia at them before holding it in place, ready to summon more Reaper Nobodies in his aid. "Then prove how you two are the only ones capable of fighting me!"
The second she walked inside the military base from the beach, Larxene immediately surprised the group of women who could be the security guards with her arrival and appearance. "Hey, who are you!?" One of the guards demanded Larxene, all girls were ready with their electrifying batons in their gloved hands. But instead of revealing her identity and being intimidated, Larxene scoffed a cruel smirk and swiftly raised her gloved hand, conjuring the crackling ball of yellow lightning before she threw her lightning spell at the girls. When they dashed forward, assuming that they could dodge the lightning orb and reach…it detonated into a blast of lightning bolts that erupted and nearly blew up the entire hallway, affecting the surroundings' electrical system, and filling the air and Larxene's ears with the deafening screams from her victims. The sight of her lightning killing even the living people outside Organization XIII's quotas of turning them into Heartless and Nobodies pleased Larxene to laugh out loud and kill the last surviving guard who called through her walkie-talkie before resuming her walk, now getting rid of rodents.
Minutes almost became an hour of walking through this big facility as Larxene would occasionally bump into any of this place's female residents, dressed like the guards from earlier or wearing their uniforms, their confusion at seeing Larxene turned into horrorstruck fear as the last thing before they were electrocuted to death by lightning. "So boring!" Larxene loudly complained after frying two girls, who were strangely holding hands together like a couple, just when she realised from being distracted that she somehow ended up in some wide space where one side was a hangar filled with gigantic robots while the other side was more like a mall, confirmed by the large banner 'Jasmine's Mall'. And, incensing Larxene further, most of the surviving residents have been grouped and noticing her arrival, cowering in fear or ready to fight the intruder.
"Halt!" Everyone heard a voice squeaking in horror and anger with a large group of women, now dressed in revealing-like, different-coloured flight suits and aiming their handguns at her, while the cowardly green-haired woman summoned a forcefield of translucent green light protecting her instead of shielding her soldiers. "I-I-I am Inspector Emma Bronson! I order you to cease your violent terrorism on Arzenal or else!" From top to bottom, Larxene snarled her annoyance at seeing the magic-using woman's cowardice, that killing her might be a waste of time.
"You're getting on my nerves!" Larxene rebuked, materialising lightning on her arms and hands now summoning her Foundre knives in a flash, alarming everyone witnessing her lightning magic only to react too late… Larxene, her body engulfed with lightning, swiftly sprinted all over the mall in inhuman speed and charged at any girls she zoomed into, slashing them to bleed and burn as pitched black husks with screams as their final words. Larxene ignored the shrieking, cowardly Inspector during her killing spree when she ran away but she didn't notice a few more women had emerged from the other secret hallway at the back.
"Commander! Second and Third Squad are dead! And First Squad are severely hurt!" Jasmine notified the arriving Commander Jill and Maggie running towards her and Vulcan, the dog whimpering in fear that relinquished its courage after the intruder women started bombing the girls with weirdly powerful lightning magic. Maggie gasped in shock at the casualties' gruesome deaths littering Jasmine's Mall, and Jill furiously gritted her teeth, planning on avenging these girls especially spotting First Squad's, luckily, barely unscathed but alive bodies, including Vilkiss's pilot.
Larxene finished and dismissed her Voltic Rush ability when she looked up and saw almost every victim was barely alive with severe burnt and scratch marks that could've killed them, immediately boring Larxene to scoff from her sneer. "…No one can defeat me." Suddenly, Larxene spotted another girl, weirdly dressed like a maid, running towards one of the alive fighter girls with short blonde hair and fiery ruby eyes and immediately raised her hands, glowing a green light, before summoning the same green forcefield of light as the cowardly Inspector in front of Larxene.
"Leave my mistress and everyone alone!" The maid attempted, angrily demanding Larxene despite failing to faze her. Looking at the maid and her mistress, snarling her fury at her, Larxene mused her cruel delight of something as she slowly reached closer to the maid and mistress, readily raising her right arm again crackling with lightning for a final blow. Whether this one might be a princess or something royal by her title, at least Larxene can eradicate her if she's not some Princess of Light.
"D…Damn you." Ange wheezed in pain behind Momoka's Mana forcefield, feeling her entire system still hellishly vibrating. But luckily she survived this deranged bitch's rapid lightning attacks, spotting glimpses of her squadmates either barely surviving like her or unfortunately dead like the others. Ange looked up and snarled her fury at the blonde woman in the black coat, her devilish cruel smirk flaring her teeth made her more dangerous than, ironically, Norma. The intruder raised her right hand, glowing and crackling with her lightning magic, and swiftly threw it down for a punch through Momoka's forcefield to kill them…
…Only to be sent flying away and crashing miles away from them by a strong force knocking her by her left side, shocking Ange, Momoka, and those who were uninjured or slowly waking up in agony. "What the?" Ange grunted a gasp, but she heard the annoying Inspector screaming and looked at their other side to see the source of that kick…Ange painfully blink her eyes in shock or confusion.
"Ahhhh! That's the monster from the Galia's Harmony Gala!" Larxene had just processed whatever dared attack and threw her away from her kill when she heard the loud woman screeching, making her ears bleed. However, the word monster attracted Larxene to look at the source and immediately react with dumbfounded anger. The human-sized monster who appeared out of nowhere resembled a humanoid and a band conductor alongside a floating drum with a pair of drumsticks, violin, and trumpet orbiting their master. But she was confused about what she sensed and spotted the emblems on themselves.
'What the…That looks NOTHING like a Heartless or Nobody!' Larxene deduced, readying her knives to destroy the Heartless-looking freak. Possibly noticing her position or anticipating a battle, ignoring everyone else watching in dread or suspicion, the conductor Heartless started waving his arms and red, lightning bolt-shaped baton just for everyone to hear fast-paced music out of nowhere and watch the monster's three floating instruments speedily flew towards Larxene also running after them. [Background/ Battle Music: The Tumbling from Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep]
But instead of Larxene starting the first fight, she witnessed in shock that the monster and its instruments strangely glow a mist of green light and energy and outspeed her more than she normally moves with the trumpet and violin playing and blowing sound waves that somehow hurt her from both sides, stunning her even when the violin and trumpet flew away just for the drum to take their places by the drumsticks beating the drum charging at Larxene, forcing her off the ground and onto the air.
'W-Why!? Why is this random monster moving faster than me!?' Larxene mentally growled in anguish and fury after the instruments finished abusing her and landed on the floor. But like earlier, she wasn't given time to react when the band conductor monster swiftly flew towards her with its baton elongated to be held like a staff and started twirling it around with both hands, hitting Larxene while skating around her like a whirlpool of attacks for seconds until it flew backwards. At the same time, the band conductor monster shrunk its baton to its original size but also broke it into five smaller-sized knives that it threw in Larxene's direction, strong and fast enough to send her flying straight to a wall with a gasp of pain.
Larxene gasped and wheezed, surprisingly staggering just from the monster attacking her, unsure if it was protecting the base and the girls or not. But she could feel that she could still fight when she quickly climbed onto her feet...but she caught glimpses of black particles growing into mists of darkness rising from in front of her, confusing her until she painfully lifted her arm and hand to see, shocking her, her starting to fade from the arm, body, and shoulders. "I'm fading...!?" Larxene realised in dread, looking up to everyone from the nearly dead victims to the band conductor monster's glowing red eyes, watching her slowly shrouded in darkness to disappear. Furious, Larxene wanted to resume the fight, but she could feel her heartless body quickly grow lighter inside, forcing her for a last-minute escape not before thinking to herself...
'...Marluxia, it's up to you!'
With its new advanced intelligence after its resurrection and new life as a demon summons, The Symphony Master Unversed and its instruments faintly hover inches off the ground and watch as its opponent, which would've been its first kill, is about to fade out of existence into darkness from her injuries it gave her only to quickly use darkness to escape, possibly back to her world outside here. Right after it looked around for the outsider and its instruments returning to its side, the Symphony Master heard guns clocking and whirling around to be greeted by some of the living and uninjured Norma women and their leader aiming their guns at the former Unversed and instruments, faces scrunching in fear, anger, and suspicion.
"Any of you girls still standing, kill it." Although relieved that the surprising monster from Galia's Gala stopped the fight with the human intruder who disappeared from covering into darkness, saving the survivors from joining the numbers of casualties mostly Ange and Salia, Jill will not lose the chance to eliminate the demon in front of it, strangely its green-coloured clothes made her seeing the demon resembling someone else. She doesn't even need the Inspector screaming her head off in fear, tightly gripping her hands on her left shoulder. "Y-Yes! Please kill that monster!"
But instead of the demon proceeding to escape or fight, everyone heard another yet different music suddenly playing out of nowhere to look around in confusion, unaware of the demon again swaying its arms and baton conducting its three instruments playing the music. [Background Music: Dearly Dreams from Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep].
First listening to a few notes, Jill, Inspector Emma, Jasmine, Maggie, Vulcan, and the other Norma girls immediately felt their minds, bodies, and hearts go lighter, and their vision gradually blurred into colours, confusing Jill, who tried her best to wake up and glare at the demon still playing the music...but her mind and hearing immediately shut themselves and her vision blackened into darkness, not realizing that she is the first to fall unconscious onto the steel ground before the others joined her from behind.
Due to the seriousness of Arzenal's destruction inside, no one would've noticed a lone, awake figure sitting cross-legged onto Arzenal's gardens closer to the cemetery, holding his hands above the large patch of yellow flowers that quickly grew bigger than its original amount from the ground. He did plan to debut himself into Arzenal and fight the intruder who started killing the innocent Norma women, but his demon summons offered itself to fight her since it originally originated from their former world as an Unversed before its resurrection and near extinction. He finished growing more different flowers with his powers when he looked up and saw his demon summons returned and hovering in the air, drastically smaller than normal due to its new abilities as a demon summons.
'I did it, Master! I made sure not to kill the intruder and become stronger than before being your demon summons!' The Symphony Master signed with its hands, already learning how to communicate without a voice, with its summoner leisurely raising his hands to hold his demon summons hovering inches above his palms. The hooded man warmly smiled his pleasure, sensing the rare happiness for a former Unversed with sad-looking glowing, red eyes.
"Good job, Maestro. I'll treat you with whatever you like once we return." The Symphony Master's summoner calmly acknowledged, watching the former signing his hands and fingers. What it signed for a response amused the summoner to smile and the three instruments bounced its happiness, delighting of whatever it wished for a reward. "...Oh, that's nice of you. Thank you." The summoner accepted, reaching one hand off its demon's feet and lightly patting a soft pet on the Symphony Master's back and head, smiling at its sincere satisfaction with the praise.
Now that one of the three anomalies has been neutralised, the last thing he can do is revive the Norma girls who were killed with Arzenal's memories of the earlier events erased.
A/N: Like the top A/N, I wished I could fit everything in this chapter, but I don't want to delay or overwrite like the previous chapter. [7/1/25 Update: I added more Larxene scenes because the final chapter of this story also became 10,000+ words long.]
- I tried my best with the Cross Ange-esque Keyblade I made: Hysterical R-Mail (?)